Oxidative lipoprotein markers predict poor functional outcome in patients with minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Oxidative stress plays an important role in acute ischaemic stroke. However, the association of oxidative lipoprotein markers, including oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), oxLDL:high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and oxLDL:low-density lipoprotein (LDL), with functional outcome of minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between oxidative lipoprotein markers and poor functional outcome in patients with minor stroke or TIA.

METHODS

All patients with minor stroke or TIA were recruited from the Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients With Acute Non-Disabling Cerebrovascular Events (CHANCE) trial. The poor functional outcome included modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 2-6 and 3-6 at 90-day and 12-month follow-up. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the associations of oxLDL, oxLDL:HDL and oxLDL:LDL with poor functional outcome.

RESULTS

Among 3019 patients included in this study, the median (interquartile range) oxLDL, oxLDL:HDL and oxLDL:LDL were 13.96 (6.65-28.81), 4.52 (2.08-9.32) and 11.73 (5.27-24.85) μg/dL, respectively. After adjusted for confounding factors, patients in the highest oxLDL quartile had a higher proportion of mRS score 2-6 at 90 days [hazard ratio (HR), 1.78; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.26-2.52] and 12 months (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.01-1.99), and mRS score 3-6 at 90 days (HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.29-3.04) and 12 months (HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.09-2.89) when compared with the lowest oxLDL quartile (P < 0.05). Similar results were found for oxLDL:HDL and oxLDL:LDL.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher levels of oxidative lipoprotein markers are independent predictors of poor functional outcome in patients with minor stroke or TIA at 90 days and 12 months.

Minimum Spanning Forest with Embedded Edge Inconsistency Measurement Model for Guided Depth Map Enhancement

Guided depth map enhancement based on Markov Random Field (MRF) normally assumes edge consistency between the color image and the corresponding depth map. Under this assumption, the low-quality depth edges can be refined according to the guidance from the high-quality color image. However, such consistency is not always true, which leads to texture-copying artifacts and blurring depth edges. In addition, the previous MRF-based models always calculate the guidance affinities in the regularization term via a non-structural scheme which ignores the local structure on the depth map. In this paper, a novel MRF-based method is proposed. It computes these affinities via the distance between pixels in a space consisting of the Minimum Spanning Trees (Forest) to better preserve depth edges. Furthermore, inside each Minimum Spanning Tree, the weights of edges are computed based on explicit edge inconsistency measurement model, which significantly mitigates texture-copying artifacts. To further tolerate the effects caused by noise and better preserve depth edges, a bandwidth adaption scheme is proposed. Our method is evaluated for depth map super-resolution and depth map completion problems on synthetic and real datasets including Middlebury, ToF-Mark and NYU. A comprehensive comparison against 16 state-of-the-art methods is carried out. Both qualitative and quantitative evaluation present the improved performances.

[Genotype distribution of human enteroviruses isolated from swage in Shanghai during year 2013-2014]

Objective: To explore the time and genotype distribution of human enterovirus (HEV) isolated from sewage in Shanghai in 2013-2014. Methods: One sewage sample each was collected from two local sewage plants located in Minhang District and Jiading District on the same day at the day 24-28 of every month from 2013 to 2014. Each sample weighed 1 L. The specimens were concentrated by anionic membrane absorption, eluted with beef extract solution, and then used to inoculate RD, HEp-2, and L20B cell lines. A total of 249 enterovirus strains were isolated from sewage samples during the study period, including 185 non-polio enterovirus (NPEV) and 64 poliovirus (PV) strains, which were identified as vaccine strains. RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing were performed to identify HEV genotypes. Homologous analysis of VP1 sequences was conducted using BioEdit (version 7.0.0). Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the neighbor-joining method based on the alignment of VP1 gene sequences using MEGA (version 4.0.2). Results: Among 185 NPEV strains, 178 strains were successfully sequenced and classified into 15 genotypes, including coxsackievirus group B (CVB) 2, 3, and 5; enteric cytopathic human orphan (ECHO) virus 1, 3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 19, 20, 24, 25, and 30; and coxsackievirus group A 4. CVB5 and ECHO6 genotypes accounted for 33.5% (56 strains) and 24.9% (43 strains) of NPEV isolates, respectively. During the study period, HEV isolates were mainly isolated in summer and autumn in Minhang District. ECHO6 strains were frequently isolated from June 2013 to July 2014. Thereafter, the number of ECHO6 strains gradually reduced in the second half of 2014. CVB5 strains demonstrated scattered distribution from 2013 to the first half of 2014 and gradually increased in the second half of 2014. The distribution of ECHO6 and CVB5 strains in Jiading District was similar to that in Minhang District. In 2013-2014, CVB5 strains comprised C6 and C8 subgenotypes, which belong to two transmission chains and show large differences compared with foreign strains isolated during the same period. ECHO6 strains comprised C6, C8, and D9 subgenotypes, which belong to three transmission chains. Moreover, ECHO6 subgenotype D9 was a dominant subgenotype in Shanghai, with broad geographical distribution both at home and abroad. Conclusion: Poliovirus was identified as a vaccine strain in environmental surveillance from June 2013 to April 2014 in Shanghai. Several transmission strains of ECHO6 and CVB5 were identified, which were the dominant serotypes.

A unique antiphospholipid assay recognizing phospholipid mixture compared with criteria antiphospholipid immunoassays in lupus patients

Background While essential for the classification of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), anticardiolipin (aCL) assays lack specificity and anti-β2glycoproteinI (anti-β2GPI) assays lack sensitivity in this regard. Our aim was to perform a comparative analysis of the APhL ELISA assay (IgG/IgM) and criteria antiphospholipid (aPL) immunoassays in identifying APS-related clinical manifestations in a large group of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Serum samples from 1178 patients from the Hopkins ( n = 543), LUMINA ( n = 588) and Jamaican SLE cohorts ( n = 47) were examined for IgG/IgM positivity in aCL (in-house), anti-β2GPI (two commercial kits) and APhL (Louisville APL) ELISA assays. Correlation of assay positivity with clinical manifestations and sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and likelihood ratios were evaluated. A case series analysis was also performed in patients for whom there was isolated positivity in the specific aPL assays. Results The prevalence of aCL positivity was 34.9%, anti-β2GPI kit A was 22.6%, APhL was 11.5% and anti-β2GPI kit B was 7.6% in the study population. Anti-β2GPI kit B, aCL and APhL assays were correlated with venous thrombosis, while only APhL was significantly correlated with arterial thrombosis and consistently correlated with pregnancy-related morbidity. No significant correlations were noted for anti-β2GPI kit A. Sensitivity was greatest for aCL assays followed by anti-β2GPI kit A, APhL and anti-β2GPI kit B, while specificity was greatest and equal for anti-β2GPI kit B and APhL assays. Conclusions Overall, APhL antibodies, especially IgG, represent a promising biomarker for the classification of APS patients in the context of autoimmunity and in risk assessment with regards to pregnancy morbidity and thrombotic manifestations.

A crucial role of SUMOylation in modulating Sirt6 deacetylation of H3 at lysine 56 and its tumor suppressive activity

Sirt6 is a histone deacetylase with NAD(+)-dependent activity. Sirt6 has been shown as a tumor suppressor partially via inhibiting the expression of c-Myc target genes and ribosome biogenesis. However, how to regulate Sirt6 activity is largely unknown. In this study, we identify that Sirt6 can be modified by small ubiquitin-like modifier. Sirt6 SUMOylation deficiency specifically decreases its deacetylation of H3K56 but not H3K9 in vivo. Mechanistically, we find that SUMOylation deficiency decreases Sirt6 binding with c-Myc, decreasing Sirt6 occupancy on the locus of c-Myc target genes. Therefore, Sirt6 SUMOylation deficiency reduces its deacetylation of H3k56 and its repression of c-Myc target genes. Moreover, Sirt6 SUMOylation deficiency reduces its suppression of cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Thus, these results reveal that SUMOylation has an important role in regulation of Sirt6 deacetylation on H3K56, as well as its tumor suppressive activity.

Effect of neural stem cell transplantation combined with erythropoietin injection on axon regeneration in adult rats with transected spinal cord injury

We investigated the effect of neural stem cells (NSC) and erythropoietin (EPO) on axon regeneration in adult rats with transected spinal cord injury, and provided an experimental basis for clinical treatment. Forty Wistar rats with T10-transected spinal cord injury were randomly divided into four groups of ten rats: a control group (group A), an NSC-transplant group (group B), an NSC-transplant and EPO group (group C), and an EPO group (group D). Biotinylated dextran amines (BDA) anterograde corticospinal cord neuronal tracing and Fluoro-Gold (FG) retrograde tracing were carried out at the 8th week after operation to observe the regeneration of nerve fibers. The Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor score was used to evaluate restoration. 1) BDA and FG immunofluorescence staining: in group C, a large number of regenerated axons were observed and some penetrated the injured area. In group B, only a small number of regenerated axons were observed and none penetrated the injured area. In group D, only sporadic regenerated nerve fibers were observed occasionally, while in group A, no axonal regeneration was observed. In group C, a small number of cones and axons emitted yellow fluorescence, and no FG-labeled cells were observed in the other groups. 2) The BBB scores for group C were higher than those for the other groups, and the differences were statistically significance (P < 0.05). NSC transplantation combined with EPO intraperitoneal injection may benefit axon regeneration in rats with transected spinal cord injury, and accelerate the functional recovery of the hindlimb locomotor.

Inhibition of Drp1 by Mdivi-1 attenuates cerebral ischemic injury via inhibition of the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway after cardiac arrest

Mitochondrial fission is predominantly controlled by the activity of dynamin-related protein1 (Drp1), which has been reported to be involved in mitochondria apoptosis pathways. However, the role of Drp1 in a rat model of cardiac arrest remains unknown. In this study, we found that activation of Drp1 in the mitochondria was increased after cardiac arrest and inhibition of Drp1 by 1.2 mg/kg of mitochondrial division inhibitor-1 (Mdivi-1) administration after the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) significantly protected against cerebral ischemic injury, shown by the increased 72-h survival rate and improved neurological function. Moreover, the increase of the vital neuron and the reduction of cytochrome c (CytC) release, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) translocation and caspase-3 activation in the brain indicate that this protection might result from the suppression of neuron apoptosis. Altogether, these results indicated that Drp1 is activated after cardiac arrest and the inhibition of Drp1 is protective against cerebral ischemic injury in a rat of cardiac arrest model via inhibition of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

First-line erlotinib versus gemcitabine/cisplatin in patients with advanced EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer: analyses from the phase III, randomized, open-label, ENSURE study

BACKGROUND

The phase III, randomized, open-label ENSURE study (NCT01342965) evaluated first-line erlotinib versus gemcitabine/cisplatin (GP) in patients from China, Malaysia and the Philippines with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients ≥18 years old with histologically/cytologically confirmed stage IIIB/IV EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2 were randomized 1:1 to receive erlotinib (oral; 150 mg once daily until progression/unacceptable toxicity) or GP [G 1250 mg/m(2) i.v. days 1 and 8 (3-weekly cycle); P 75 mg/m(2) i.v. day 1, (3-weekly cycle) for up to four cycles]. Primary end point: investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Other end points include objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and safety.

RESULTS

A total of 217 patients were randomized: 110 to erlotinib and 107 to GP. Investigator-assessed median PFS was 11.0 months versus 5.5 months, erlotinib versus GP, respectively [hazard ratio (HR), 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22-0.51; log-rank P < 0.0001]. Independent Review Committee-assessed median PFS was consistent (HR, 0.42). Median OS was 26.3 versus 25.5 months, erlotinib versus GP, respectively (HR, 0.91, 95% CI 0.63-1.31; log-rank P = .607). ORR was 62.7% for erlotinib and 33.6% for GP. Treatment-related serious adverse events (AEs) occurred in 2.7% versus 10.6% of erlotinib and GP patients, respectively. The most common grade ≥3 AEs were rash (6.4%) with erlotinib, and neutropenia (25.0%), leukopenia (14.4%), and anemia (12.5%) with GP.

CONCLUSION

These analyses demonstrate that first-line erlotinib provides a statistically significant improvement in PFS versus GP in Asian patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC (NCT01342965).

Xylaria hypoxylon Lectin as Adjuvant Elicited Tfh Cell Responses

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) caused by FMD virus (FMDV) is a major health and economic problem in the farming industry. Vaccination of livestock against this highly infectious viral disease is crucial, and inactivated FMD vaccine has been effective at controlling infection. However, accumulated data show that the inactivated vaccine generates weak immune responses and that the oil formulation results in undesirable side effects. Mushroom lectins have recently been shown to display adjuvant effects when incorporated into DNA vaccines. In this study, to enhance the cellular immune response of FMDV antigen (146S), C57BL/6 mice were immunized with 146S combined with Xylaria hypoxylon lectin (XHL). The oil formulation (146S/Oil) was served as control group. Strong humoral immune responses were elicited in mice immunized with 146S/XHL as shown by high 146S antigen-specific IgG levels, and also in 146S/Oil group. Interestingly, XHL in conjunction with inactivated FMD vaccine activated strong Th1 and Tc1 cell responses, especially Tfh cell responses, in immunized mice. XHL stimulated dendritic cell maturation by upregulating expression of major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII) molecules and co-stimulatory molecules CD40 and CD86 in immunized mice. No XHL-specific IgG or inflammatory factors were detected indicating the safety of XHL as an adjuvant. Taken together, these results suggest the effectiveness of XHL at inducing cellular immune responses and therefore confirm its suitability as an adjuvant for inactivated FMD vaccine.

TBX6 null variants and a common hypomorphic allele in congenital scoliosis

BACKGROUND

Congenital scoliosis is a common type of vertebral malformation. Genetic susceptibility has been implicated in congenital scoliosis.

METHODS

We evaluated 161 Han Chinese persons with sporadic congenital scoliosis, 166 Han Chinese controls, and 2 pedigrees, family members of which had a 16p11.2 deletion, using comparative genomic hybridization, quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction analysis, and DNA sequencing. We carried out tests of replication using an additional series of 76 Han Chinese persons with congenital scoliosis and a multicenter series of 42 persons with 16p11.2 deletions.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 17 heterozygous TBX6 null mutations in the 161 persons with sporadic congenital scoliosis (11%); we did not observe any null mutations in TBX6 in 166 controls (P<3.8×10(-6)). These null alleles include copy-number variants (12 instances of a 16p11.2 deletion affecting TBX6) and single-nucleotide variants (1 nonsense and 4 frame-shift mutations). However, the discordant intrafamilial phenotypes of 16p11.2 deletion carriers suggest that heterozygous TBX6 null mutation is insufficient to cause congenital scoliosis. We went on to identify a common TBX6 haplotype as the second risk allele in all 17 carriers of TBX6 null mutations (P<1.1×10(-6)). Replication studies involving additional persons with congenital scoliosis who carried a deletion affecting TBX6 confirmed this compound inheritance model. In vitro functional assays suggested that the risk haplotype is a hypomorphic allele. Hemivertebrae are characteristic of TBX6-associated congenital scoliosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Compound inheritance of a rare null mutation and a hypomorphic allele of TBX6 accounted for up to 11% of congenital scoliosis cases in the series that we analyzed. (Funded by the National Basic Research Program of China and others.).

The Porous Structure and Mechanical Properties of Injection Molded HA/PA66 Scaffolds

Hydroxyapatite/polyamide-66 (HA/PA66) composite scaffolds were prepared using injection-molding technique, and also analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mechanical testing. Compared with common methods including solvent casting/particulate leaching, phase separation and so forth to fabricate scaffolds, this process is of a rapid and convenient manner. The increase of HA content can increase the stiffness of composite scaffolds accompanied by the reduction of impact strength, pore size and porosity. The storage modulus of composite scaffolds increases with increasing HA content and with decreasing porosity. The damping (tan δ) of PA66 decreases with the increase of HA content, and the α and β relaxation peaks of PA66 for the foamed HA/PA66 composites slightly shift to lower value, indicating that both HA and gas in the foamed HA/PA66 composites have an effect on the chain mobility of the polymer and the interaction between the polymer chains. The microstructure of the 30 wt% and 40 wt% HA/PA66 composite scaffolds with porosity more than 59 % and pore size ranging from 100 to 500 μm is similar to that of dry human trabecular bone. The obtained composite scaffolds with 30 wt% and 40 wt% HA have a compressive modulus of 232 to 443 MPa, and a compressive strength of 9.3 to 9.8 MPa, similar to or a little higher than those of trabecular bone, and close to those of the cancellous bone.

Glucocorticoid induced autophagy in N1511 chondrocyte cells

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether autophagy was involved in chondrocyte cells post Glucocorticoids (GCs) treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

LC3-GFP reporter plasmid transfection and western blotting analysis were conducted to determine the autophagic vesicles and autophagy-associated molecules in the N1511 chondrocyte cells post dexamethasone (Dex) treatment. And the N1511 cell viability was also determined by MTT assay.

RESULTS

We found that autophagy was induced in the N1511 chondrocyte cells post treatment with Dex of 5 µM to 1 mM, and the autophagy-induction by Dex could be inhibited by 3 MA and RU486, a GC antagonist. And the autophagy induced by the high dose of Dex (200 µM or 1 mM) was associated with a reduction of N1511 cell viability.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggested that GCs could induce autophagy, as might contribute to the viability reduction of chondrocyte cells.

Sources of pertussis infection in young infants: a review of key evidence informing targeting of the cocoon strategy

BACKGROUND

The relative contribution of different categories of contact in transmitting pertussis to very young infants, who experience the most severe morbidity, is the most important single factor determining the likely benefit of pertussis vaccination of their close contacts (the "cocooning" strategy).

OBJECTIVE

To identify, evaluate the quality of and summarise existing data on potential sources of infant pertussis infection in high income countries, focussing on infants under 6 months old.

DATA SOURCES

Online databases MEDLINE and EMBASE. Additional studies were identified from the reference lists of relevant articles. Study selection and analysis: Study quality was evaluated by standardised criteria, based on the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement. Pooled estimates of the proportion of pertussis cases attributable to various contact sources were calculated using data from the highest quality studies.

RESULTS

Nine studies met the inclusion criteria; seven included data on contacts of hospitalised infants less than 6 months old. Case definitions and methods of contact ascertainment were variable. Most identified sources were from the household, of which 39% (95%CI 33-45%) were mothers, 16% (95%CI 12-21%) fathers, and 5% (95%CI 2-10%) grandparents. Estimates for siblings (16-43%) and non-household contacts (4-22%) were more heterogeneous. For 32-52% of infant cases, no source was identified. Asymptomatic pertussis infection was found in 8-13% of contacts evaluated.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that the greatest potential impact of pertussis vaccination of adults to prevent severe disease in young infants comes from vaccinating mothers, followed by fathers, with grandparents having a minor role. Siblings varied in importance and, given recent data regarding waning immunity in vaccinated children, need further study. Non-household sources are also well documented, highlighting the potential limitations of the cocoon strategy to prevent severe infant disease.

Shortening tobacco life cycle accelerates functional gene identification in genomic research

Definitive allocation of function requires the introduction of genetic mutations and analysis of their phenotypic consequences. Novel, rapid and convenient techniques or materials are very important and useful to accelerate gene identification in functional genomics research. Here, over-expression of PmFT (Prunus mume), a novel FT orthologue, and PtFT (Populus tremula) lead to shortening of the tobacco life cycle. A series of novel short life cycle stable tobacco lines (30-50 days) were developed through repeated self-crossing selection breeding. Based on the second transformation via a gusA reporter gene, the promoter from BpFULL1 in silver birch (Betula pendula) and the gene (CPC) from Arabidopsis thaliana were effectively tested using short life cycle tobacco lines. Comparative analysis among wild type, short life cycle tobacco and Arabidopsis transformation system verified that it is optional to accelerate functional gene studies by shortening host plant material life cycle, at least in these short life cycle tobacco lines. The results verified that the novel short life cycle transgenic tobacco lines not only combine the advantages of economic nursery requirements and a simple transformation system, but also provide a robust, effective and stable host system to accelerate gene analysis. Thus, shortening tobacco life cycle strategy is feasible to accelerate heterologous or homologous functional gene identification in genomic research.

Biological effects of marine contaminated sediments on Sparus aurata juveniles

Chemical analysis of the compounds present in sediment, although informative, often is not indicative of the downstream biological effects that these contaminants exert on resident aquatic organisms. More direct molecular methods are needed to determine if marine life is affected by exposure to sediments. In this study, we used an aquatic multi-species microarray and q-PCR to investigate the effects on gene expression in juvenile sea bream (Sparus aurata) of two contaminated sediments defined as sediment 1 and 2, respectively, from marine areas in Northern Italy. Both sediments affected gene expression as evidenced by aquatic multi-species microarray analysis and q-PCR. Exposure of S. aurata juveniles to sediment 1 and sediment 2 altered expression of genes that are biomarkers for endocrine disruption. There were differences between the effects of sediment 1 and sediment 2 on gene expression in S. aurata juveniles indicating that the chemicals in the two sediments had different physiological targets. These results suggest that the classification of sediment solely on the basis of specific chemical profiles is inadequate, and not a true indicator of its potential to cause harmful effects. Our data also indicate that integration of physiochemical analysis and bioassays for monitoring the downstream harmful effects on aquatic organisms are required to gain a complete understanding of the effects of sediment on aquatic life.

ZD6474, a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, potentiates the anti-tumor and anti-metastasis effects of radiation for human nasopharyngeal carcinoma

PURPOSE

To investigate the capacity for ZD6474, a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, to enhance anti-tumor and anti-metastasis effects of radiation on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

NPC cell lines and xenograft models were evaluated following treatment with ZD6474 and radiation alone and in combination compared with untreated control mice.

RESULTS

Treatment with ZD6474 enhanced the anti-proliferative effect of radiation on NPC cell lines as detected by cell proliferation and apoptosis assays. ZD6474 also induced a significant increase in the radiosensitivity of NPC cells, with radiation enhancement ratios (RERs) ranging from 1.2 to 1.6. Despite the cytotoxicity exhibited by NPC cells following radiotherapy, the invasion and migration of NPC cells was found to be unaffected. In contrast, treatment with ZD6474 strongly inhibited the invasion and migration of NPC cells. When the administration of radiation and ZD6474 was investigated in vitro, the ability of ZD6474 to inhibit activation of the pro-survival signaling pathways induced by radiation was demonstrated. In vivo, ZD6474 significantly enhanced the anti-metastasis effects of radiation, while treatment with radiation and ZD6474 was found to be well tolerated and resulted in a strong inhibition of tumor growth.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest the combination of radiation and ZD6474 represents a promising strategy for the treatment of human NPC.

Power generation in MFCs with architectures based on tubular cathodes or fully tubular reactors

Tubular cathodes provide a method to obtain high surface areas for scaling up microbial fuel cells (MFCs), but the importance of the cathode shape is not known. We therefore examined power production using cathodes in various configurations (tubes or flat). The MFC with a single internal carbon cloth tube cathode (71 W/m(3)) produced more power than previously obtained with an ultrafiltration membrane (8 W/m(3)) due to the better performance of carbon material. This power density was slightly less than that of a flat carbon cloth cathode (81 W/m(3); 88 m(2)/m(3)) due to the lower total surface area of the tube (68 m(2)/m(3)) and not as a result of the tubular cathode shape. Adding a second tube increased power (83 W/m(3)) in proportion to specific surface area (93 m(2)/m(3)). Wrapping the cathode completely around the anode formed a fully tubular MFC (external tubular reactor) with a higher surface area that produced 128 W/m(3). Volumetric power density was highly correlated with cathode specific surface area (R(2) = 0.93, p = 0.008) and did not depend on the cathode shape (tubes, completely tubular, or flat). Thus, future MFC designs should focus on increasing cathode specific surface area.

Evidence for Photochemical Formation of H2O2 and Oxidation of SO2 in Authentic Fog Water

When samples of rain and fog water were exposed to ultraviolet and visible light, reactive transients such as hydrogen peroxide were formed and dissolved organic matter and sulfur dioxide were depleted. These results, in conjunction with those from previous studies, imply that dissolved organic compounds and transition metals such as iron ions are involved in the photochemical formation of hydrogen peroxide and other photooxidants in atmospheric waters.

Heparin inhibits P388D1 cells adherence and metastasis to peripheral lymph nodes in vitro and in vivo

Heparin is known to attenuate tumor metastasis mainly by inhibiting the interaction between L-selectin and its ligand. However, the mechanism of heparin on lymphoma is unclear. This report demonstrates that both L-selectin/h IgG chimeric protein and heparin treatment can significantly inhibit the adhesion of P388D1 cells onto lymphatic sinusoids and marginal sinusoids in vitro, that heparin can attenuate P388D1 cell homing to lymph nodes in vivo at 12 hours, and that heparin significantly reduced P388D1 cells metastasis to lymph nodes 18 days after injection. These results indicate that heparin may act as a ligand for L-selectin on the P388D1 macrophage-like lymphoma cell line to attenuate tumor growth and metastasis.

Optimal two-stage design for case-control association analysis incorporating genotyping errors

Two-stage design is a cost effective approach for identifying disease genes in genetic studies and it has received much attention recently. In general, there are two types of two-stage designs that differ on the methods and samples used to measure allele frequencies in the first stage: (1) Individual genotyping is used in the first stage; (2) DNA pooling is used in the first stage. In this paper, we focus on the latter. Zuo et al. (2006) investigated statistical power of such a design, among other things, but the cost of the study was not taken into account. The purpose of this paper is to study the optimal design under the given overall cost. We investigate how to allocate the resources to the two stages. Note that in addition to the measurement errors associated with DNA pooling, genotyping errors are also unavoidable with individual genotyping. Therefore, we discuss the optimal design combining genotyping errors associated with individual genotyping. The joint statistical distributions of test statistics in the first and second stages are derived. For a fixed cost, our results show that the optimal design requires no additional samples in the second stage but only that the samples in the first stage be re-used. When the second stage uses an entirely independent sample, however, the optimal design under a given cost depends on the population allele frequency and allele frequency difference between the case and control groups. For the current genotyping costs, we can roughly allocate 1/3 to 1/2 of the total sample size to the first stage for screening.

Bicarbonate concentration as affected by soil water content controls iron nutrition of peanut plants in a calcareous soil

Strategy I peanut plants are frequently subjected to iron deficiency when growing in calcareous soils, which contain high concentrations of bicarbonate. In calcareous soils under field conditions, it has been noted that chlorosis increases in severity after excessive rainfall or irrigation, but the chlorosis symptoms of peanuts are alleviated after waterlogged soils dry. A pot experiment was conducted simulating the chlorosis symptom observed in the field when peanut plants are exposed to fluctuating soil water content induced from rainfall or irrigation. We investigated the bicarbonate fluctuations resulting from adjustable soil water content (SWC) that could lead to bicarbonate-induced iron chlorosis of peanuts growing in calcareous soil. The experiments included three treatments of SWC (50% of water holding capacity (WHC), 80% of WHC, and 100% of WHC) under two levels of CaCO(3) concentrations (at 8.67% and 18.67%.) The results showed that the iron nutrition of peanuts could be regulated by different SWC at both CaCO(3) levels. Our observations indicate that iron deficiency chlorosis symptoms in peanuts grown in high soil water content were more severe, compared to those of peanuts in lower soil water content. A shift from high soil water content to lower soil water content could improve or eliminate the iron deficiency chlorosis symptom of peanuts. The HCO(3)(-) concentration in the peanut rhizosphere increased with increasing SWC and CaCO(3) content and it correlated with the level of soil water content. We suggest that variations in the soil water content could induce HCO(3)(-) concentration variation in the rhizosphere of peanuts. Consequently, the high HCO(3)(-) concentration, which is induced by a high water content in calcareous soil and a high CaCO(3) level, could inhibit the physiological response to iron deficiency of peanuts, resulting in iron deficiency chlorosis. The study indicates that a reasonable agricultural practice of irrigation and drainage should be considered to improve and prevent iron deficiency chlorosis of strategy I plants in calcareous soil.

Out of the Smokescreen: does an anti-smoking advertisement affect young women's perception of smoking in movies and their intention to smoke?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of an anti-smoking advertisement on young women's perceptions of smoking in movies and their intention to smoke. SUBJECTS/ SETTING: 2038 females aged 12-17 years attending cinemas in New South Wales, Australia. DESIGN/ INTERVENTION: Quasi-experimental study of patrons, who were surveyed after having viewed a movie at their local cinema. The control group was surveyed during week 1 and the intervention group, during week 2. Before seeing the movie in week 2, a 30 second anti-smoking advertisement was shown, which featured a well known female actor drawing attention to the prevalence of smoking in movies.

OUTCOMES

Attitude of current smokers and non-smokers to smoking in the movies; intention of current smokers and non-smokers to be smoking in 12 months time.

RESULTS

Among non-smokers, 48.2% of the intervention subjects thought that the smoking in the movie they viewed was "not OK" compared with 28.3% of the control subjects (p < 0.0001). However, there was no difference among smokers in the intervention (26.4%) and control (16.9%) groups (p = 0.28). A higher percentage of current smokers in the intervention group indicated they were unlikely to smoke in 12 months time (47.8%) than smokers in the control condition (31.9%) (p = 0.03). For non-smokers, there was no difference in smoking intentions between conditions, with 95% saying they would be unlikely to be smoking in 12 months time.

CONCLUSIONS

This "real world" study suggests that placing an anti-smoking advertisement before movies containing smoking scenes can help to "immunise" young women against the influences of film stars smoking.

Anaerobic bio-hydrogen production using pre-heated river sediments as seed sludge

Anaerobic bio-hydrogen production is the focus in the field of bio-energy resources. In this paper, a series of batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of several factors on anaerobic bio-hydrogen producing process carried out by pre-heated river sediments. The results showed that several factors such as substrate and its concentration, temperature and the initial pH value could affect the anaerobic bio-hydrogen production in different levels. At 35 degrees C and the initial pH of 6.5, using glucose of 20,000 mg COD/L as substrate, the highest hydrogen production of 323.8 ml-H2/g TVS in a 100 ml batch reactor was reached, the specific hydrogen production rate was 37.7 ml-H2/g TVS h, and the hydrogen content was 51.2%. Thereafter using the same pre-heated river sediments as seed sludge, continuous anaerobic bio-hydrogen production was achieved successfully in a lab-scale CSTR with gas-separator. At the organic loading rate of 36 kg COD/m3 d, the highest hydrogen production was 6.3-6.7 l-H2/l-reactor d, the specific hydrogen production was 1.3-1.4 mol-H2/mol-glucose, and the hydrogen content in the gas was 52.3%. The effluent of the bio-reactor contained some small molecular organics, mainly including ethanol, acetate, butyrate and their molar proportion is 1:1:0.6.

[Observation on the clinical symptoms and sporocyst excretion in human volunteers experimentally infected with Sarcocystis hominis]

AIM

To investigate the excretion of sporocysts and clinical manifestations in humans experimentally infected of Sarcocystis hominis.

METHODS

Three volunteers were infected by eating raw beef containing cysts of S. hominis. One ingested about 1,567 cysts in skeletal muscles of a naturally infected cattle; two volunteers each ingested about 14,740 cysts from an experimentally infected water buffalo meat. Fecal examination by zinc sulfate flotation method was conducted daily since d4 postinfection (pi).

RESULTS

Free sporocysts and oocysts were found in their faeces from d11-40, d12-23, d10-30 pi, and peaked at d18, d14, d14. All of them presented clinical symptoms such as abdominal pain, distension, watery diarrhea and eosinophilia 1 wk approximately 4 wk pi and were spontaneously cured within 29 days pi without taking any medicine.

CONCLUSION

All the experimentally infected persons had gastrointestinal symptoms and passed sporocysts and oocysts in faeces 10-12 days after infection and persisted for 11-29 days.

Dual action of n-alcohols on neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Alcohol is known to modulate the activity of a variety of neuroreceptors and ion channels. Recently, neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nnAChRs) have become a specific focus of study because not only are they potently modulated by alcohol but also they regulate the release of various transmitters, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine, which play an important role in the behavioral effects of ethanol. Whereas the potency of normal alcohols (n-alcohols) to potentiate GABA(A) receptors and to inhibit N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors increases with carbon chain length, we have found that n-alcohols, depending on the carbon chain length, exert a dual action, potentiation and inhibition, on nnAChRs in primary cultured rat cortical neurons. The mechanism of dual action of n-alcohols on nnAChRs was further analyzed using human embryonic kidney cells expressing the alpha 4 beta 2 subunits. Shorter chain alcohols from methanol to n-propanol potentiated acetylcholine (ACh)-induced currents, whereas longer chain alcohols from n-pentanol to n-dodecanol inhibited the currents. n-Butanol either potentiated or inhibited the currents depending on the concentrations of ACh and butanol. The parameters for both potentiation (log EC(200)) and inhibition (log IC(50)) were linearly related to carbon number, albeit with different slopes. The slope for potentiation was -0.299, indicating a change in free energy change (Delta Delta G) of 405 cal/mol/methylene group, whereas the slope for inhibition was -0.584, indicating a Delta Delta G of 792 cal/mol. These results suggest that potentiating and inhibitory actions are exerted through two different binding sites. Ethanol decreased the potency of n-octanol to inhibit ACh currents, possibly resulting from an allosteric mechanism.

Separation and determination of flavonoids and other phenolic compounds in cranberry juice by high-performance liquid chromatography

A HPLC method was developed for the separation and determination of flavonoid and phenolic antioxidants in cranberry juices. Free flavonoid and phenolic compounds were fractionated into neutral and acidic groups by means of a solid-phase extraction method, followed by subsequent HPLC separations. Combined flavonoids and phenolics were hydrolyzed by acid before HPLC analysis. This developed method provides a fast and high resolution of individual flavonoid and phenolic compounds. In cranberry fruit, flavonoids and phenolic acids exist predominantly in combined forms, such as glycosides and esters. A total of 400 mg of total flavonoids and phenolic compounds/l of sample was found in a freshly squeezed cranberry juice, which was distributed as about 44% of phenolic acids and 56% of flavonoids. Benzoic acid was the major phenolic compound. Major flavonoids in the freshly squeezed cranberry juice were quercetin and myricetin.

[A study on bacterial contamination of dental handpieces]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of different factors, including concentration of the bacterial suspension, number of stops set on handpieces, and different disinfectants, on bacterial contamination of handpieces and their clinical significance.

METHODS

Bacterial contamination of 20 handpieces were analyzed in different concentration of bacterial suspension, number of stops set on handpieces and after using different out surface disinfectants.

RESULTS

Statistical increment (P < 0.05) of handpieces inside contamination was observed relevant to increment of the bacterial suspension concentration. No statistical relevance was seen between handpiece inside contamination and the number of stops set on handpieces(P > 0.05). Disinfection with different disinfectants significantly decreased out surface contamination(P < 0.05), but no statistical change of bacteria (P > 0.05) was observed inside handpieces.

CONCLUSION

As the concentration of bacterial suspension is the key factor affecting the inside contamination of handpieces, oral cavity cleanness is essential before dental therapy. The surface disinfection of handpieces is necessary after dental therapy, but cannot prevent cross-contamination between patients.

Modulation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by halothane in rat cortical neurons

Inhalational general anesthetics have recently been shown to inhibit neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (nnAChRs) expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and in molluscan neurons. However, drug actions on these systems are not necessarily the same as those seen on native mammalian neurons. Thus, we analyzed the detailed mechanisms of action of halothane on nnAChRs using rat cortical neurons in long-term primary culture. Currents induced by applications of ACh via a U-tube system were recorded by the whole-cell, patch-clamp technique. ACh evoked two types of currents, alpha-bungarotoxin-sensitive, fast desensitizing (alpha 7-type) currents and alpha-bungarotoxin-insensitive, slowly desensitizing (alpha 4 beta 2-type) currents. Halothane suppressed alpha 4 beta 2-type currents more than alpha 7-type currents with IC(50) values of 105 and 552 microM, respectively. Halothane shifted the ACh dose-response curve for the alpha 4 beta 2-type currents in the direction of lower ACh concentrations and slowed its apparent rate of desensitization. The rate of recovery after washout from halothane block was much faster than the rate of recovery from ACh desensitization. Thus, the halothane block was not caused by receptor desensitization. Chlorisondamine, an irreversible open channel blocker for nnAChRs, caused a time-dependent block that was attenuated by halothane. These results could be accounted for by kinetic simulation based on a model in which halothane causes flickering block of open channels, as seen in muscle nAChRs. Halothane block of nnAChRs is deemed to play an important role in anesthesia via a direct action on the receptor and an indirect action to suppress transmitter release.