Head and Neck Diseases by Alexandros G.Sfakianakis: 07/06/17

Πέμπτη 6 Ιουλίου 2017

Amplification of F-Actin Disassembly and Cellular Repulsion by Growth Factor Signaling

Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017
Source:Developmental Cell
Author(s): Jimok Yoon, Sang Bum Kim, Giasuddin Ahmed, Jerry W. Shay, Jonathan R. Terman
Extracellular cues that regulate cellular shape, motility, and navigation are generally classified as growth promoting (i.e., growth factors/chemoattractants and attractive guidance cues) or growth preventing (i.e., repellents and inhibitors). Yet, these designations are often based on complex assays and undefined signaling pathways and thus may misrepresent direct roles of specific cues. Here, we find that a recognized growth-promoting signaling pathway amplifies the F-actin disassembly and repulsive effects of a growth-preventing pathway. Focusing on Semaphorin/Plexin repulsion, we identified an interaction between the F-actin-disassembly enzyme Mical and the Abl tyrosine kinase. Biochemical assays revealed Abl phosphorylates Mical to directly amplify Mical Redox-mediated F-actin disassembly. Genetic assays revealed that Abl allows growth factors and Semaphorin/Plexin repellents to combinatorially increase Mical-mediated F-actin disassembly, cellular remodeling, and repulsive axon guidance. Similar roles for Mical in growth factor/Abl-related cancer cell behaviors further revealed contexts in which characterized positive effectors of growth/guidance stimulate such negative cellular effects as F-actin disassembly/repulsion.

Teaser

Semaphorin/plexin signaling repels cellular growth and promotes actin disassembly. Surprisingly, Yoon et al. find that these effects are amplified by growth-promoting factors acting via Abl tyrosine kinase. These results reveal a role for chemoattractant cues in promoting the effects of chemorepellents and suggest complex interactions among growth-suppressing and -promoting pathways.

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Evolution of the Oral Microbiome and Dental Caries

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Our paper reviews how dietary changes during human evolution have contributed to the increased incidence and prevalence of dental caries in modern populations by shifting the oral microbiome from a "healthy" to "carious" state. We addressed two questions: (1) what is the microbial difference between the states of health and caries, and (2) how has the development of an agricultural diet impacted the oral microbiome?

Recent Findings

The application of next-generation sequencing has revealed the complexity of the oral microbiome and lack of a simple compositional difference between health and caries. Genetic analysis of the oral microbiome from contemporary and ancient humans has shown that the introduction of agriculture was associated with increased frequency of caries-related bacteria and the evolution of the key carious pathogen, Streptococcus mutans.

Summary

The adoption of an agricultural diet has contributed to a modern rise in caries by changing the oral microbiome ecology. Identification of evolutionary factors that have influenced the oral microbiome in health and caries, and how the two states differ functionally, as opposed to compositionally, may help to reduce the current burden of caries.

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Cancer therapies and the problem of me too many

Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017
Source:Seminars in Oncology
Author(s): Tito Fojo

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Calendar

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Calendar Listings

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Editorial Board

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Instructions for Contributors

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Substantial harm associated with failure of chronic paediatric central venous access devices

Central venous access devices (CVADs) form an important component of modern paediatric healthcare, especially for children with chronic health conditions such as cancer or gastrointestinal disorders. However device failure and complications rates are high.

Over 21/2 years, a child requiring parenteral nutrition and associated vascular access dependency due to 'short gut syndrome' (intestinal failure secondary to gastroschisis and resultant significant bowel resection) had ten CVADs inserted, with ninesubsequently failing. This resulted in multiple anaesthetics, invasive procedures, injuries, vascular depletion, interrupted nutrition, delayed treatment and substantial healthcare costs. A conservative estimate of the institutional costs for each insertion, or rewiring, of her tunnelled CVAD was $A10 253 (2016 Australian dollars).

These complications and device failures had significant negative impact on the child and her family. Considering the commonality of conditions requiring prolonged vascular access, these failures also have a significant impact on international health service costs.

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Renal keratinising desquamative squamous metaplasia: all that hurts is not stone

Description

A 66-year-old Caucasian man with history of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and 16 pack-year smoking was referred to us for evaluation of recurrent right-sided flank pain and suspected nephrolithiasis. His first episode of pain was 2 years prior to presentation, which was recurrent. There was no associated haematuria, dysuria, fever, chills, urinary hesitancy or incontinence. There was no family history of stones. He underwent multiple ureteroscopies, which have shown glistening, soft, acellular debris in the upper ureter. Last ureteroscopy and pyeloscopy showed normal underlying mucosa, renal pelvis and calyces with no evidence of malignancy. Subsequent MRI also did not show any malignancy. The last available pathology showed minute fragments of acellular keratin debris. Interestingly, he never had imaging evidence of renal stone, although had mild hydronephrosis one time. CT urogram demonstrated an ill-defined filling defect in the anterior right renal pelvis measuring approximately 13x3 mm in axial dimensions (figure 1). During...

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Transient neonatal hypercalcaemia secondary to excess maternal vitamin D intake: too much of a good thing

We report a case of transient neonatal hypercalcaemia secondary to excess maternal vitamin D intake in pregnancy. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in pregnancy are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, but there is no definite benefit to supplementation. The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology recommends routine supplementation with vitamin D₃ 400 IU/day, but higher dose preparations usually recommended for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency are readily available over the counter. This case highlights the risks of excess supplementation, especially at higher doses and in women without evidence of vitamin D deficiency. The amount used in this case was at the upper end of the generally accepted safe dose range, but still less than that commonly recognised to cause problems. Neonatal hypercalcaemia is a potentially serious condition. The current local or national recommendations for vitamin D supplementation and the possible adverse effects of excess vitamin D consumption should be clearly communicated to pregnant women.

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Intraparenchymal pericatheter cyst in ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure

Description

A 60-year-old man status post right parieto-occipital ventriculoperitoneal shunt with programmable valve for indication of delayed hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage returns to clinic 7 weeks after placement for insidious onset of headaches, confusion and gait imbalance. CT scan of the head without contrast revealed an intraparenchymal pericatheter cystic collection with severe oedema (figure 1). The patient denied systemic signs of illness, and laboratory markers for infection were low. A tap of the shunt reservoir revealed no spontaneous flow and difficulty in aspirating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Laboratory analysis of the fluid showed negative Gram stain, normal chemistry profile and cell counts. MRI of the brain showed a simple cyst with significant oedema, but no restricted diffusion or contrast enhancement of the cyst wall (figures 2 and 3). CT of the abdomen was benign, without evidence of pseudocyst or other cause of distal obstruction.

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Sternoclavicular joint osteophytosis: a difficult diagnosis to swallow

Unexplained dysphagia requires prompt investigation to rule out a possible underlying malignancy. We describe the case of a 60-year-old man who presented to his family practitioner with a 1-year history of increasing dysphagia with associated pain over the front of his chest. He was referred on to an ear, nose and throat specialist where no obvious laryngeal pathology was found at direct laryngoscopy, but an 'indentation' of the right anterior larynx, which increased with external pressure on the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ), was noted. A subsequent CT scan of his neck demonstrated osteoarthritis of the right SCJ with an abnormally large posterior osteophyte. The patient was subsequently referred on to an orthopaedic surgeon specialising in SCJ surgery and underwent an arthroscopic excision of his right SCJ. Soon after surgery, the patient's dysphagia had settled and his symptoms remain resolved 1 year post surgery.

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Cupping at the ends of ribs is not always rickets

Description

A 7-week-old baby boy presented with a history of cough, loose stools and respiratory distress since last 7 days. At admission he had a respiratory rate of 64/min, a heart rate of 144/min and an oxygen saturation of 56%. Chest examination revealed crepitations in both lung fields. Rest of the examination was unremarkable. Investigations revealed haemoglobin 82 g/L; white cell count 11.2x10⁹/L (differential counts: polymorphs 68%, lymphocytes 1%, monocytes 26% and eosinophils 5%); absolute lymphocyte count 0.11x10⁹/L; platelet count 102x10⁹/L and C reactive protein 239 g/L. Chest X-ray showed non-homogenous opacities in bilateral lung fields (more on right side) with an absent thymic shadow, cupping at the anterior end of ribs (black arrow, figure 1), flattening of lower end of the right scapula (white arrow, figure 1) and a spur at the inferior-lateral angle of the left scapula (white arrow head, figure 1). These characteristic radiological changes (ie, cupping at...

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Use of low-dose thrombolytics for treatment of intracardiac thrombus and massive pulmonary embolus after aborted liver transplant leads to recovery of right ventricular function and redo liver transplantation

This is a 61-year-old man with end-stage liver disease who experienced cardiac arrest secondary to a massive pulmonary embolus and intracardiac thrombus during cannulation for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in preparation for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Surgery was aborted and the patient was taken back to the intensive care unit in cardiogenic shock on multiple vasopressors. The patient was unresponsive to heparin bolus and too high risk for systemic thrombolytics or embolectomy. He was ultimately treated with 12 mg total of alteplase through his pulmonary artery catheter over 3 hours. He had subsequent resolution of his cardiogenic shock and proceeded with successful liver transplantation 5 days after his initial event without any bleeding complications. Low-dose thrombolytic therapy in the setting of absolute contraindications to thrombolysis allowed for recovery of cardiac function and, ultimately redo OLT in a patient with otherwise little hope of survival.

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Adrenal crisis in metastatic breast cancer

A female patient with oestrogen receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive invasive lobular breast cancer presented with progressive disease on CT scan. Some days after initiation of antineoplastic chemotherapy and anti-HER2 targeted antibody therapy, the patient presented with profuse diarrhoea, neutropaenia, nausea and weakness. Although Clostridium difficile was rapidly tackled as a causative agent of gastrointestinal complaints, clinical situation did not markedly improve despite proper antimicrobial treatment. The patient reported profound lack of energy, while nausea, vomiting and loose stools still persisted. Additionally slightly exaggerated pigmentation of nonsunexposed skin and mucosal areas led us to the assumption of proopiomelanocortin-derived peptide hypersecretion. The combination of highly elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone and low basal cortisol levels taken from a morning blood sample established the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency due to metastatic burden, leading to a near Addison crisis by gastrointestinal complications of chemo-immune therapy. Administration of hydrocortisone immediately relieved general symptoms .

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Contribution of arterial spin-labelling MRI in a case with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome

Central nervous system immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (CNS-IRIS), which occurs most often in HIV-infected patients, is an exacerbation of inflammatory reactions related to opportunistic infections as well as primary CNS malignancies both of which mostly occur in HIV-infected patients. However, differential diagnoses are challenging both clinically and radiologically. We describe a patient with CNS-IRIS due to toxoplasmosis whose ¹¹C-methionine uptake suggested lymphoma but whose arterial spin-labelling MRI led to the correct diagnosis.

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Hiding in plain sight: a case of chronic disseminated histoplasmosis with central nervous system involvement

A 64-year-old man presented with gradual onset of confusion, ataxia and 25-pound weight loss over 3 months. MRI of the brain revealed two enhancing cerebellar lesions suspicious for metastases. Positron emission tomography-CT showed enhancement of cervical and axillary lymph nodes. Left axillary lymph node biopsy showed no evidence of malignancy but instead showed fungal organisms morphologically consistent with Histoplasma spp. Disseminated histoplasmosis with central nervous system involvement was suspected. Further history revealed that the patient had been having subjective fever for the past several months. He has had mild pancytopenia for about 2 years, which had not been further evaluated. Additionally, he had an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy 3 months prior to admission, which had shown granulomatous gastritis. Subsequently, the diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis was confirmed by serological testing and bone marrow biopsy. The patient was started on liposomal amphotericin B. Unfortunately, the patient had a catastrophic stroke and was transitioned to comfort care measures.

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Persistent sacral chloroma in refractory acute myelogenous leukaemia

Acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) is a clonal process involving the myeloid subgroup of white blood cells. Chloromas, or myeloid sarcomas, are masses of myeloid leukaemic cells and are a unique aspect of AML. This case involves a 14-year-old boy with AML who presented with multiple chloromas at diagnosis. The patient's extra-calvarial masses and bone marrow involvement responded to chemotherapy; however, his sacral epidural chloromas persisted despite four courses of chemotherapy. The central nervous system, bone marrow and testes have been known to be sanctuary sites for AML. This case illustrates that the sacral spinal canal may potentially be a sanctuary site for the disease process also.

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Cryptococcal meningitis causing obstructive hydrocephalus in a patient on fingolimod

Cryptococcosis is a recognised opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. The long-term adverse effect profile of fingolimod, an immunomodulating agent approved for use in multiple sclerosis in 2010, is only just emerging. We report the first case to our knowledge of a patient presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to cryptococcal meningitis in the setting of fingolimod therapy. Extensive posterior fossa leptomeningeal inflammation with associated cerebellar oedema resulted in effacement of the fourth ventricle and obstructive hydrocephalus requiring urgent ventriculostomy. Induction, consolidative and maintenance antifungal therapy was prescribed and subsequent conversion to a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was successful in relieving the patient's ventriculomegaly. Awareness of these rare, novel and life-threatening complications of fingolimod-associated immunocompromise is critical as the use of such drugs is expected to rise.

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A rare case of malposition of central venous catheter detected by ultrasonography-guided saline flush test

Central venous catheter (CVC) insertion is associated with many potential complications; malposition of the catheter is one of them. A chest X-ray is routinely done to detect the malposition of catheter, but sometimes it has been seen that X-ray is time-consuming and its accuracy is also low for determining the exact position of the catheter tip. In our case, an ultrasonography (USG)-guided CVC was placed into the right internal jugular vein of the patient. As there was no ECG change obtained during insertion of guidewire and catheter, malposition was suspected, which was easily detected by a novel USG-guided saline flush test. We present a case report where USG was used for detection of a misplaced CVC (from right internal jugular vein to right subclavian vein). With ultrasound, the location of the catheter tip can be confirmed in very less time compared with chest X-ray.

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Vascularisation of the anterior lens capsule in an eye with excellent visual acuity

A 53-year-old phakic female with a history of nanophthalmos and hyperopia was incidentally found to have unilateral neovascularisation on the left inferoanterior lens surface on routine review for ocular hypertension.

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A rare case of Epstein-Barr virus mucocutaneous ulcer of the colon

Epstein-Barr virus mucocutaneous ulcer (EBVMCU) is a rare form of EBV lymphoproliferative disorder. The disease was recently described in 2010 for the first time in a case series and it was recently identified by the WHO classification of haematological malignancies as a separate category among the EBV lymphoproliferative disorders. We present a case of EBVMCU of the colon presenting as an ulcerating inflammatory mass in a female in her mid-60s who presented initially with abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The patient had extensive workup for her disease and due to progression of her symptoms, she was taken for an exploratory laparotomy. During the procedure, there was an inflammatory mass at the caecum and severe inflammation of the caecum and the terminal ileum and right hemicolectomy was performed. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology as EBV-positive lymphoproliferative disorder best classified as EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer.

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Eruptive keratoacanthomas in tattoos

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Characterization of CRF1 receptor antagonists with differential peripheral vs central actions in CRF challenge in rats

Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017
Source:Peptides
Author(s): Maiko Tanaka, Yoshiro Tomimatsu, Katsuya Sakimura, Yoshikazu Ootani, Yuu Sako, Takuto Kojima, Kazuyoshi Aso, Takahiko Yano, Keisuke Hirai
The aim of this study was to investigate peripheral and central roles of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in endocrinological and behavioral changes. Plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) concentration was measured as an activity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. As behavioral changes, locomotion and anxiety behavior were measured after CRF challenge intravenously (i.v.) for the peripheral administration or intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) for the central administration. Plasma ACTH concentration was significantly increased by both administration routes of CRF; however, hyperlocomotion and anxiety behavior were induced only by the i.c.v. administration. In the drug discovery of CRF1 receptor antagonists, we identified two types of compounds, Compound A and Compound B, which antagonized peripheral CRF-induced HPA axis activation to the same extent, but showed different effects on the central CRF signal. These had similar in vitro CRF1 receptor binding affinities (15 and 10nM) and functional activities in reporter gene assay (15 and 9.5nM). In the ex vivo binding assays using tissues of the pituitary, oral treatment with Compound A and Compound B at 10mg/kg inhibited [¹²⁵I]-CRF binding, whereas in the assay using tissues of the frontal cortex, treatment of Compound A but not Compound B inhibited [¹²⁵I]-CRF binding, indicating that only Compound A inhibited central [¹²⁵I]-CRF binding. In the peripheral CRF challenge, increase in plasma ACTH concentration was significantly suppressed by both Compound A and Compound B. In contrast, Compound A inhibited the increase in locomotion induced by the central CRF challenge while Compound B did not. Compound A also reduced central CRF challenge-induced anxiety behavior and c-fos immunoreactivity in the cortex and the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. These results indicate that the central CRF signal, rather than the peripheral CRF signal would be related to anxiety and other behavioral changes, and CRF1 receptor antagonism in the central nervous system may be critical for identifying drug candidates for anxiety and mood disorders.

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Filamin B: The next hotspot in skeletal research?

Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017
Source:Journal of Genetics and Genomics
Author(s): Qiming Xu, Nan Wu, Lijia Cui, Zhihong Wu, Guixing Qiu
Filamin B (FLNB) is a large dimeric actin-binding protein which crosslinks actin cytoskeleton filaments into a dynamic structure. Up to present, pathogenic mutations in FLNB are solely found to cause skeletal deformities, indicating the important role of FLNB in skeletal development. FLNB-related disorders are classified as spondylocarpotarsal synostosis (SCT), Larsen syndrome (LS), atelosteogenesis (AO), boomerang dysplasia (BD), and isolated congenital talipes equinovarus, presenting with scoliosis, short-limbed dwarfism, clubfoot, joint dislocation and other unique skeletal abnormalities. The formation of ossification center is opposite between SCT and LS, as SCT presents with premature fusion of carpal and tarsal bones, while LS shows supernumerary ossification centers of carpal or tarsal bones. Several mechanisms of FLNB mutations causing skeletal malformations have been proposed, including delay of ossification in long bone growth plate, reduction of bone mineral density (BMD), dysregulation of muscle differentiation, ossification of intervertebral disc (IVD), disturbance of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in chondrocytes, impair of angiogenesis, and hypomotility of osteoblast, chondrocyte and fibroblast. Interventions on FLNB-related diseases require prenatal surveillance by sonography, gene testing in high-risk carriers, and proper orthosis or orthopedic surgeries to correct malformations including scoliosis, cervical spine instability, large joint dislocation, and clubfoot. Gene and cell therapies in treating FLNB-related diseases are also promising but require further studies.

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Biphasic synovial sarcoma of the epiglottis: Case report and literature review

Synovial sarcomas are rare malignant tumors supposed to arise from pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells predominantly affecting the deep soft tissue of the lower and upper extremities in young adults. The occurrence of this tumor entity in the head and neck is very uncommon and hence, timely diagnosis and treatment of synovial sarcoma in this region remain a challenge.We describe the clinical and molecular pathological features of a biphasic synovial sarcoma of the epiglottis, a site where the primary manifestation of this tumor entity has not been documented to date.

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Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, and Cause-Specific Mortality in a Large Cohort of Women

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.

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Variations in Serum Free Thyroxine Concentration Within the Reference Range Predicts the Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome in Non-Obese Adults: A Cohort Study

Thyroid Jul 2017, Vol. 27, No. 7: 886-893.

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Use of fused deposit modeling for additive manufacturing in hospital facilities: European certification directives

The goal of this study was to identify current European Union regulations governing hospital-based use of fused deposit modeling (FDM), as implemented via desktop three-dimensional (3D) printers.

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Free-flap surgical correction of facial deformity after anteromedial maxillectomy

Anteromedial maxillectomy is typically performed in conjunction with low-dose radiotherapy and intraarterial chemotherapy. In doing so, the extent of surgical defects is reduced. However, nasal deviation and oral incompetence may ensue, due to cicatricial contracture of wounds, and may be distressing to these patients. Herein, we report a series of eight free perforator flap procedures (anterolateral thigh [ALT] flap, 6; thoracodorsal artery perforator [TAP] flap, 2) used to correct such deformities.

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Implant rehabilitation in fibular free flap reconstruction: A retrospective study of cases at 1-18 years following surgery

To determine the dental implant and prostheses success rate in a cohort of patients who underwent a vascularized free fibula flap (FFF) for maxillary or mandibular reconstruction.

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Hydroxyapatite collagen scaffold with autologous bone marrow aspirate for mandibular condylar reconstruction

This study was designed with the aim to assess the efficiency of hydroxyapatite/collagen (HA/Col) bio-scaffold with bone marrow aspirate (BMA) to reconstruct mandibular condyle in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis.

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The validity and reliability of computed tomography orbital volume measurements

Orbital volume calculations allow surgeons to design patient-specific implants to correct volume deficits. It is estimated that changes as small as 1 ml in orbital volume can lead to enophthalmos. Awareness of the limitations of orbital volume computed tomography (CT) measurements is critical to differentiate between true volume differences and measurement error. The aim of this study is to analyze the validity and reliability of CT orbital volume measurements.

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The pterygoalar bar: A meta-analysis of its prevalence, morphology and morphometry

The pterygoalar (PA) bar is a bony bridge resulting from the partial or complete ossification of a PA ligament. The aim of this meta-analysis was to systematically analyze and provide the most comprehensive data on the prevalence, morphology and topographical anatomy of the PA bar.

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Biphasic synovial sarcoma of the epiglottis: Case report and literature review

Evolution of anti-HER2 therapies for cancer treatment

Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017
Source:Cancer Treatment Reviews
Author(s): Sagun Parakh, Hui K. Gan, Adam C. Parslow, Ingrid J.G. Burvenich, Antony W. Burgess, Andrew M. Scott
The development of HER2-directed monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors have provided benefits to cancer patients, as well as produced many insights into the biology of the ErbB receptor family. Current therapies based on ErbB family members have resulted in improved overall survival with associated improvements in quality of life for the cancer patients that respond to treatment. Compared to monotherapy using either two antibodies to block the HER2 receptor blockade or combinatorial approaches with HER2 antibodies and standard therapies has provided additional benefits. Despite the therapeutic success of existing HER2 therapies, personalising treatment and overcoming resistance to these therapies remains a significant challenge. The heterogeneous intra-tumoural HER2 expression and lack of fully predictive and prognostic biomarkers remain significant barriers to improving the use of HER2 antibodies. Imaging modalities using radiolabelled pertuzumab and trastuzumab allow quantitative assessment of intra-tumoural HER2 expression, HER2 antibody saturation and the success of different drug delivery systems to be assessed. Molecular imaging with HER2 antibodies has the potential to be a non-invasive, predictive and prognostic technique capable of influencing therapeutic decisions, predicting response and failure of treatments as well as providing insights into receptor recycling and signalling. Similarly, conjugating HER2 antibodies with novel toxic payloads or combining HER2 antibodies with cellular immunotherapy provide exciting new opportunities for the management of tumours overexpressing HER2. Future research will lead to higher therapeutic responses, lower toxicities and providing insight into the mechanisms of resistance to HER2-targeted treatments.

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Variability in gut microbiota response to an inulin-type fructan prebiotic within an in vitro three-stage continuous colonic model system

Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017
Source:Bioactive Carbohydrates and Dietary Fibre
Author(s): G. Healey, R. Murphy, C. Butts, L. Brough, D. Rosendale, P. Blatchford, H. Stoklosinski, J. Coad
Gut microbiota have a major influence on human health and disease. Dietary interventions have been shown to beneficially modulate the gut microbiota and improve health; however, it appears there is large inter-individual variability in gut microbiota responsiveness to dietary interventions. We aimed to determine whether different fermentable carbohydrate content media, mimicking Western and Prudent style dietary patterns, influence gut microbiota response to an inulin-type fructan prebiotic using an in vitro three-stage continuous colonic model system. We demonstrated that the addition of an inulin-type fructan prebiotic led to shifts in the organic acid concentrations and bacterial taxa in both the low (LF) and high fermentable carbohydrate (HF) gut models. The shifts that occurred after the addition of the prebiotic significantly differed between the LF and HF gut models. Acetate increased in the HF gut models but decreased in the LF gut models (p=0.021). The increases that occurred in Firmicutes (p=0.026), Lactobacillus (p=0.045) and Mitsuokella (p=0.012) were significantly greater in the HF gut models. Megasphaera (p=0.033) and an unknown genus of Enterobacteriaceae (p=0.011) decreased in the LF gut models but increased in the HF gut models. The reduction in an unknown genus of Lachnospiraceae (other) was significant greater in LF gut models (p=0.040). Additionally, large inter- and intra-donor variability in gut microbiota responsiveness to the prebiotic were demonstrated. This study demonstrates that media with different fermentable carbohydrate contents caused variability in gut microbiota responsiveness to an inulin-type fructan prebiotic; however, these results will need to be replicated in an in vivo study.

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Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, and Cause-Specific Mortality in a Large Cohort of Women

Thyroid , Vol. 0, No. 0.

http://ift.tt/2sw3c9L

Variations in Serum Free Thyroxine Concentration Within the Reference Range Predicts the Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome in Non-Obese Adults: A Cohort Study

Thyroid Jul 2017, Vol. 27, No. 7: 886-893.

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Future Meetings

Thyroid Jul 2017, Vol. 27, No. 7: 985-985.

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Spectral-Temporal Modulated Ripple Discrimination by Children With Cochlear Implants.

Objectives: A postlingually implanted adult typically develops hearing with an intact auditory system, followed by periods of deafness (or near deafness) and adaptation to the implant. For an early implanted child whose brain is highly plastic, the auditory system matures with consistent input from a cochlear implant. It is likely that the auditory system of early implanted cochlear implant users is fundamentally different than postlingually implanted adults. The purpose of this study is to compare the basic psychophysical capabilities and limitations of these two populations on a spectral resolution task to determine potential effects of early deprivation and plasticity. Design: Performance on a spectral resolution task (Spectral-temporally Modulated Ripple Test [SMRT]) was measured for 20 bilaterally implanted, prelingually deafened children (between 5 and 13 years of age) and 20 hearing children within the same age range. Additionally, 15 bilaterally implanted, postlingually deafened adults, and 10 hearing adults were tested on the same task. Cochlear implant users (adults and children) were tested bilaterally, and with each ear alone. Hearing listeners (adults and children) were tested with the unprocessed SMRT and with a vocoded version that simulates an 8-channel cochlear implant. Results: For children with normal hearing, a positive correlation was found between age and SMRT score for both the unprocessed and vocoded versions. Older hearing children performed similarly to hearing adults in both the unprocessed and vocoded test conditions. However, for children with cochlear implants, no significant relationship was found between SMRT score and chronological age, age at implantation, or years of implant experience. Performance by children with cochlear implants was poorer than performance by cochlear implanted adults. It was also found that children implanted sequentially tended to have better scores with the first implant compared with the second implant. This difference was not observed for adults. An additional finding was that SMRT score was negatively correlated with age for adults with implants. Conclusions: Results from this study suggest that basic psychophysical capabilities of early implanted children and postlingually implanted adults differ when assessed in the sound field using their personal implant processors. Because spectral resolution does not improve with age for early implanted children, it seems likely that the sparse representation of the signal provided by a cochlear implant limits spectral resolution development. These results are supported by the finding that postlingually implanted adults, whose auditory systems matured before the onset of hearing loss, perform significantly better than early implanted children on the spectral resolution test. Copyright (C) 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Defects in dosage compensation impact global gene regulation in the mouse trophoblast [RESEARCH ARTICLE]

Yuka Sakata, Koji Nagao, Yuko Hoki, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Chikashi Obuse, and Takashi Sado

Xist RNA responsible for X inactivation is one of the most important epigenetic players for embryogenesis of female mammals. Of the several repeats conserved in Xist RNA, the A-repeat has been shown to be essential for its silencing function in differentiating ES cells. Here, we introduced a new Xist allele into the mouse, which produces mutated Xist RNA lacking the A-repeat (Xist^CAG5'). Xist^CAG5' RNA expressed in the embryo coated the X chromosome but failed to silence it. Although imprinted X inactivation was substantially compromised upon paternal transmission, allele-specific RNA-seq in the trophoblast revealed that Xist^CAG5' RNA still retained some silencing ability. Furthermore, the failure of imprinted X inactivation had more significant impacts than expected on gene expression genome-wide. It is likely that dosage compensation is required for not only equalizing the X-linked gene expression between the sexes but also proper global gene regulation in differentiated female somatic cells.

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Inwardly rectifying potassium channels regulate Dpp release in the Drosophila wing disc [RESEARCH ARTICLE]

Giri Raj Dahal, Sarala Joshi Pradhan, and Emily Anne Bates

Loss of embryonic ion channel function leads to morphological defects, but the underlying reason for these defects remains elusive. Here, we show that inwardly-rectifying potassium (Irk) channels regulate release of a Drosophila bone morphogenetic protein (BMP/Dpp) in the developing fly wing and this is necessary for developmental signaling. Inhibition of Irk channels decreases the incidence of distinct Dpp-GFP release events above baseline fluorescence while leading to broader distribution of Dpp-GFP. Work by others in different cell types show Irk channels regulate peptide release by modulating membrane potential and calcium levels. We found calcium transients in the developing wing and inhibition of Irk channels reduces the duration and amplitude of calcium transients. Depolarization with high extracellular potassium evokes Dpp release. Taken together, our data implicate Irk channels as a requirement for regulated release of Dpp, highlighting the importance of the temporal pattern of Dpp presentation for morphogenesis of the wing.

http://ift.tt/2tOA5SN

Acetylcholinesterase plays a non-neuronal, non-esterase role in organogenesis [RESEARCH REPORT]

Melissa A. Pickett, Michael K. Dush, and Nanette M. Nascone-Yoder

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is crucial for degrading acetylcholine at cholinergic synapses. In vitro studies suggest that, in addition to its role in nervous signaling, AChE can also modulate non-neuronal cell properties, although it remains controversial whether AChE functions in this capacity in vivo. Here, we show that AChE plays an essential non-classical role in vertebrate gut morphogenesis. Exposure of Xenopus embryos to AChE-inhibiting chemicals results in severe defects in intestinal development. Tissue-targeted loss of function assays (via microinjection of antisense morpholino or CRISPR-Cas9) confirm that AChE is specifically required in the gut endoderm tissue, a non-neuronal cell population, where it mediates adhesion to fibronectin and regulates cell rearrangement events that drive gut lengthening and digestive epithelial morphogenesis. Notably, the classical esterase activity of AChE is dispensable for this activity. As AChE is deeply conserved, widely expressed outside of the nervous system, and the target of many environmental chemicals, these results have broad-reaching implications for development and toxicology.

http://ift.tt/2svrQY4

Cell interactions, signals and transcriptional hierarchy governing placode progenitor induction [RESEARCH ARTICLE]

Mark Hintze, Ravindra Singh Prajapati, Monica Tambalo, Nicolas A. D. Christophorou, Maryam Anwar, Timothy Grocott, and Andrea Streit

In vertebrates, cranial placodes contribute to all sense organs and sensory ganglia and arsise from a common pool of Six1/Eya2+ progenitors. Here we dissect the events that specify ectodermal cells as placode progenitors using newly identified genes upstream of the Six/Eya complex. We show that two different tissues, the lateral head mesoderm and the prechordal mesendoderm, gradually induce placode progenitors: cells pass through successive transcriptional states, each identified by distinct factors and controlled by different signals. Both tissues initiate a common transcriptional state, but over time impart regional character and the acquisition of anterior identity depends on Shh signalling. Using a network inference approach we predict the regulatory relationships among newly identified transcription factors and verify predicted links using knock-down experiments. Based on this analysis we propose a new model for placode progenitor induction, in which the initial induction of a generic transcriptional state precedes regional divergence.

http://ift.tt/2tOA4yd

Wnt signalling controls the response to mechanical loading during Zebrafish joint development [RESEARCH ARTICLE]

L. H. Brunt, K. Begg, E. Kague, S. Cross, and C. L. Hammond

Joint morphogenesis requires mechanical activity during development. Loss of mechanical strain causes abnormal joint development, which can impact long term joint health. While cell orientation and proliferation are known to shape the joint, dynamic imaging of developing joints in vivo has not been possible in other species. Using genetic labelling techniques in zebrafish we were able, for the first time, to dynamically track cell behaviours in intact moving joints. We identify that proliferation and migration, which contribute to joint morphogenesis, are mechanically controlled and are significantly reduced in immobilised larvae. By comparison to strain maps of the developing skeleton we identify canonical Wnt signalling as a candidate to transduce mechanical forces into joint cell behaviours. We show that in the jaw Wnt signalling is reduced specifically in regions of high strain in response to loss of muscle activity. By pharmacological manipulation of canonical Wnt signalling we demonstrate that Wnt acts downstream of mechanical activity and is required for joint patterning and chondrocyte maturation. Wnt16, also downstream of muscle activity, controls proliferation and migration, but plays no role in chondrocyte intercalation.

http://ift.tt/2sw3ihu

Low molar excess of 4-oxo-2-nonenal and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal promote oligomerization of alpha-synuclein through different pathways

Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017
Source:Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Author(s): Leire Almandoz-Gil, Hedvig Welander, Elisabet Ihse, Payam Emami Khoonsari, Sravani Musunuri, Christofer Lendel, Jessica Sigvardson, Mikael Karlsson, Martin Ingelsson, Kim Kultima, Joakim Bergström
Aggregated alpha-synuclein is the main component of Lewy bodies, intraneuronal inclusions found in brains with Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. A body of evidence implicates oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of these diseases. For example, a large excess (30:1, aldehyde:protein) of the lipid peroxidation end products 4-oxo-2-nonenal (ONE) or 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) can induce alpha-synuclein oligomer formation. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of these reactive aldehydes on alpha-synuclein at a lower molar excess (3:1) at both physiological (7.4) and acidic (5.4) pH. As observed by size-exclusion chromatography, ONE rapidly induced the formation of alpha-synuclein oligomers at both pH values, but the effect was less pronounced under the acidic condition. In contrast, only a small proportion of alpha-synuclein oligomers were formed with low excess HNE-treatment at physiological pH and no oligomers at all under the acidic condition. With prolonged incubation times (up to 96h), more alpha-synuclein was oligomerized at physiological pH for both HNE and ONE. As determined by Western blot, ONE-oligomers were more SDS-stable and to a higher-degree cross-linked as compared to the HNE-induced oligomers. However, as shown by their greater sensitivity to proteinase K treatment, ONE-oligomers, exhibited a less compact structure than HNE-oligomers. As indicated by mass spectrometry, ONE modified most Lys residues, whereas HNE primarily modified the His50 residue and fewer Lys residues, albeit to a higher degree than ONE. Taken together, our data show that the aldehydes ONE and HNE can modify alpha-synuclein and induce oligomerization, even at low molar excess, but to a higher degree at physiological pH and seemingly through different pathways.

Graphical abstract

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Rifampicin-induced injury in HepG2 cells is alleviated by TUDCA via increasing bile acid transporters expression and enhancing the Nrf2-mediated adaptive response

Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017
Source:Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Author(s): Weiping Zhang, Lihong Chen, Hui Feng, Wei Wang, Yi Cai, Fen Qi, Xiaofang Tao, Jun Liu, Yujun Shen, Xiaofei Ren, Xi Chen, Jianming Xu, Yuxian Shen
Bile acid transporters and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf-2)-mediated adaptive response play important roles in the development of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). However, little is known about the contribution of the adaptive response to rifampicin (RFP)-induced cell injury. In this study, we found RFP decreased the survival rate of HepG2 cells and increased the levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), γ-glutamyl-transferase (γ-GT), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), indirect bilirubin (IBIL), total bile acid (TBA) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the cell culture supernatants in both a concentration- and a time-dependent manner. RFP increased the expression levels of bile acid transporter proteins and mRNAs, such as bile salt export pump (BSEP), multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1), multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2), Na⁺/taurocholate cotransporter (NTCP), organic anion transporting protein 2 (OATP2), organic solute transporter β (OSTβ) and Nrf2. Following the transient knockdown of Nrf2 and treatment with RFP, the expression levels of the BSEP, MDR1, MRP2, NTCP, OATP2 and OSTβ proteins and mRNAs were decreased to different degrees. Moreover, the cell survival was decreased, whereas the LDH level in the cell culture supernatant was increased. Overexpression of the Nrf2 gene produced the opposite effects. Treatment with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) increased the expression levels of the bile acid transporters and Nrf2, decreased the expression levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), PKR-like ER kinase (PERK), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), and inhibited RFP-induced oxidative stress. Moreover, TUDCA reduced cell apoptosis, increased cell survival and decreased the levels of LDH, ALT, AST, AKP, γ-GT, TBIL, DBIL, IBIL, TBA and ATP in the cell culture supernatant. Therefore, TUDCA alleviates RFP-induced injury in HepG2 cells by enhancing bile acid transporters expression and the Nrf2-mediated adaptive response.

Graphical abstract

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Examining a role for PKG Iα oxidation in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular dysfunction during diet-induced obesity

Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017
Source:Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Author(s): Olena Rudyk, Philip Eaton
BackgroundProtein kinase G (PKG) Iα is the end-effector kinase that mediates nitric oxide (NO)-dependent and oxidant-dependent vasorelaxation to maintain blood pressure during health. A hallmark of cardiovascular disease is attenuated NO production, which in part is caused by NO Synthase (NOS) uncoupling, which in turn increases oxidative stress because of superoxide generation. NOS uncoupling promotes PKG Iα oxidation to the interprotein disulfide state, likely mediated by superoxide-derived hydrogen peroxide, and because the NO-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway otherwise negatively regulates oxidation of the kinase to its active disulfide dimeric state. Diet-induced obesity is associated with NOS uncoupling, which may in part contribute to the associated cardiovascular dysfunction due to exacerbated PKG Iα disulfide oxidation to the disulfide state. This is a rational hypothesis because PKG Iα oxidation is known to significantly contribute to heart failure that arises from chronic myocardial oxidative stress.Methods and ResultsBovine arterial endothelial cells (BAECs) or smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were exposed to drugs that uncouple NOS. These included 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)−1-nitrosourea (BCNU) which promotes its S-glutathiolation, 4-diamino-6-hydroxy-pyrimidine (DAHP) which inhibits guanosine-5'-triphosphate-cyclohydrolase 2 to prevent BH4 synthesis or methotrexate (MTX) which inhibits the regeneration of BH4 from BH2 by dihydrofolate reductase. While all the drugs mentioned above induced robust PKG Iα disulfide dimerization in cells, exposure of BAECs to NOS inhibitor L-NMMA did not. Increased PKG Iα disulfide formation occurred in hearts and aortae from mice treated in vivo with DAHP (10mM in a drinking water for 3 weeks). Redox-dead C42S PKG Iα knock-in (KI) mice developed less pronounced cardiac posterior wall hypertrophy and did not develop cardiac dysfunction, assessed by echocardiography, compared to the wild-type (WT) mice after chronic DAHP treatment. WT or KI mice were then subjected to a diet-induced obesity protocol by feeding them with a high fat Western-type diet (RM 60% AFE) for 27 weeks, which increased body mass, adiposity, plasma leptin, resistin and glucagon levels comparably in each genotype. Obesity-induced hypertension, assessed by radiotelemetry, was mild and transient in the WT, while the basally hypertensive KI mice were resistant to further increases in blood pressure increase following high fat feeding. Although the obesogenic diet caused mild cardiac dysfunction in the WT but not the KI mice, gross changes in myocardial structure monitored by echocardiography were not apparent in either genotype. The level of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) was decreased in the aortae of WT and KI mice following high fat feeding. PKG Iα oxidation was not evident in the hearts of WT mice fed a high fat diet.ConclusionsDespite robust evidence for PKG Iα oxidation during NOS uncoupling in cell models, it is unlikely that PKG Iα oxidation occurs to a significant extent in vivo during diet-induced obesity and so is unlikely to mediate the associated cardiovascular dysfunction.

Graphical abstract

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Connexin43, but not connexin30, contributes to adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus

Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017
Source:Brain Research Bulletin
Author(s): Jiong Zhang, Stephanie Griemsmann, Zhou Wu, Radoslaw Dobrowolski, Klaus Willecke, Martin Theis, Christian Steinhäuser, Peter Bedner
The subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus represents a niche in which radial glia (RG)-like cells generate new neurons throughout postnatal life in the mammalian brain. Previous data showed that RG-like cells are coupled through gap junction channels, primarily formed by connexin43 (Cx43) and Cx30, and that the expression of these proteins is required for adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus. However, their individual function and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that Cx43, but not Cx30, is crucial for adult neurogenesis. To assess whether Cx43-dependent intercellular coupling between RG-like cells or rather channel-independent interactions of the protein regulate neurogenesis, mice bearing a Cx43 point mutation (Cx43G138R) in RG-like cells and protoplasmic astrocytes cells were employed, which was expected to cause channel closure without affecting the trafficking of the protein to the membrane. We confirmed the disruption of coupling between RG-like cells and astrocytes in the hippocampus of Cx43G138R mice. Proliferative activity and neurogenesis in the DG were significantly decreased in the mutant mouse line, indicating that functional Cx43 channels are essential for proper adult neurogenesis. The fate of proliferating cells in the DG was not affected by Cx43 mutation as revealed by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assays. Together, these findings suggest that adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus does not require Cx30 but channel-dependent functions of Cx43.

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Transitions in Prognostic Awareness Among Terminally Ill Cancer Patients in Their Last 6 Months of Life Examined by Multi‐State Markov Modeling

AbstractBackground.Developing accurate prognostic awareness, a cornerstone of preference‐based end‐of‐life (EOL) care decision‐making, is a dynamic process involving more prognostic‐awareness states than knowing or not knowing. Understanding the transition probabilities and time spent in each prognostic‐awareness state can help clinicians identify trigger points for facilitating transitions toward accurate prognostic awareness. We examined transition probabilities in distinct prognostic‐awareness states between consecutive time points in 247 cancer patients' last 6 months and estimated the time spent in each state.Methods.Prognostic awareness was categorized into four states: (a) unknown and not wanting to know, state 1; (b) unknown but wanting to know, state 2; (c) inaccurate awareness, state 3; and (d) accurate awareness, state 4. Transitional probabilities were examined by multistate Markov modeling.Results.Initially, 59.5% of patients had accurate prognostic awareness, whereas the probabilities of being in states 1–3 were 8.1%, 17.4%, and 15.0%, respectively. Patients' prognostic awareness generally remained unchanged (probabilities of remaining in the same state: 45.5%–92.9%). If prognostic awareness changed, it tended to shift toward higher prognostic‐awareness states (probabilities of shifting to state 4 were 23.2%–36.6% for patients initially in states 1–3, followed by probabilities of shifting to state 3 for those in states 1 and 2 [9.8%–10.1%]). Patients were estimated to spend 1.29, 0.42, 0.68, and 3.61 months in states 1–4, respectively, in their last 6 months.Conclusion.Terminally ill cancer patients' prognostic awareness generally remained unchanged, with a tendency to become more aware of their prognosis. Health care professionals should facilitate patients' transitions toward accurate prognostic awareness in a timely manner to promote preference‐based EOL decisions.Implications for Practice.Terminally ill Taiwanese cancer patients' prognostic awareness generally remained stable, with a tendency toward developing higher states of awareness. Health care professionals should appropriately assess patients' readiness for prognostic information and respect patients' reluctance to confront their poor prognosis if they are not ready to know, but sensitively coach them to cultivate their accurate prognostic awareness, provide desired and understandable prognostic information for those who are ready to know, and give direct and honest prognostic information to clarify any misunderstandings for those with inaccurate awareness, thus ensuring that they develop accurate and realistic prognostic knowledge in time to make end‐of‐life care decisions.

http://ift.tt/2uwENCv

Spectrophotometric analysis of the effectiveness of a novel in-office laser-assisted tooth bleaching method using Er,Cr:YSGG laser

Abstract

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the effectiveness of a novel Er,Cr:YSGG laser-assisted in-office tooth bleaching method with a conventional method by spectrophotometric analysis of the tooth color change. Furthermore, the influence of the application time of the bleaching gel on the effectiveness of the methods and the maintenance of the results 7 days and 1 month after the treatments were also evaluated. Twenty-four bovine incisors were stained and randomly distributed into four groups. Group 1 specimens received an in-office bleaching treatment with 35% H₂O₂ for 2 × 15 min. Group 2 specimens received the same treatment but with extended application time (2 × 20 min). In Group 3, the same in-office bleaching procedure (2 × 15 min) was carried out as that in Group 1, using Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation for 2 × 15 s on each specimen to catalyze the reaction of H₂O₂ breakdown. Group 4 specimens received the same bleaching treatment as Group 3 but with extended application time (2 × 20 min). Er,Cr:YSGG laser-assisted tooth bleaching treatment is more effective than the conventional treatment regarding color change of the teeth. Application time of the bleaching agent may influence the effectiveness of the methods. The color change of the tested treatments decreases after 7 days and 1 month. The clinical relevance of this study is that this novel laser-assisted bleaching treatment may be more advantageous in color change and application time compared to the conventional bleaching treatment.

http://ift.tt/2tn6TRS

Impact of air masses on the distribution of 210Pb in the southeast of Iberian Peninsula air

Publication date: October 2017
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 177
Author(s): E. Chham, F. Piñero-García, P. González-Rodelas, M.A. Ferro-García
The current research has been developed in the southern of the Iberian Peninsula in order to better understand the atmospheric processes and also the influence of the air masses origin and pathways in the transport of ²¹⁰Pb-aerosols in the atmosphere. Simultaneous measurements of the radionuclides ⁷Be and ²¹⁰Pb on airborne have been routinely carried out at Granada (Spain 37.177N, 3.598 W, 687 m a.s.l.) from 2010 to 2014. The long term monitoring evolution on ²¹⁰Pb is discussed in this study and also the useful ratio ⁷Be/²¹⁰Pb.The maximum monthly activity concentration for ²¹⁰Pb at ground level in Granada was detected during summer and early autumn (September), whereas minimum activity was measured in the winter. The monthly mean activity concentration for ²¹⁰Pb was 617.8 ± 33.0 μBq·m⁻³. The results show that the annual average ²¹⁰Pb concentrations in samples collected during the same period were almost constant.The lowest activity concentration for ²¹⁰Pb are associated with maritime air masses coming from Atlantic and Norwest of Spain, while the highest activity concentrations for this radiotracers were positively correlated with the arrival of mineral dust linked to continental air masses coming from Mediterranean, Africa and Local area. The concentrations values show a nice agreement with the relevant reported results.

http://ift.tt/2tXm5GZ

Atmospheric tritium concentrations under influence of AREVA NC La Hague reprocessing plant (France) and background levels

Publication date: October 2017
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 177
Author(s): O. Connan, D. Hébert, L. Solier, D. Maro, G. Pellerin, C. Voiseux, M. Lamotte, P. Laguionie
In-air tritium measurements were conducted around the AREVA NC La Hague reprocessing plant, as well as on other sites that are not impacted by the nuclear industry in northwest of France. The results indicate that the dominant tritium form around the AREVA site is HT (86%). HT and HTO levels are lower than 5 and 1 Bq. m⁻³ for hourly samples taken in the plume. No tritiated organic molecules (TOM) were detected. 26 measurement campaigns were performed and links were established between near-field ⁸⁵Kr, HT and HTO activities. Environmental measurements are in line with those taken at the discharge stack, and tend to demonstrate that there are no rapid changes in the tritium forms released. Out of the influence of any nuclear activities, the levels measured were below 13 mBq.m⁻³ for HT and 5 mBq.m⁻³ for HTO (<0.5 Bq. L⁻¹). HTO level in air seems to be influenced by HTO activities in surrounding seawater.

http://ift.tt/2uvXTsn

Distribution of heavy metals around the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy was used to measure the concentrations of heavy metals in 58 samples collected from the Barakah nuclear power plant (BNPP) area, UAE. The grain size distribution was symmetric, but the samples ranged from fine to coarse sand. The inverse relationship between grain size and heavy metal contaminations was validated. The pre-operational average heavy metal contaminations around the BNPP were 0.03, 0.40, 1.2, 2.05, 1.66, 1.6, 5.9, 7.3, 7, 8.8, 60, and 2521 ppm for Cd, Mo, Co, Cu, Pb, As, Zn, Ni, V, Cr, Mn, and Fe, respectively. The spatial distribution was more compact in the south compared to the north, with less severe contaminations in the east and west. The negative geoaccumulation indices suggest an uncontaminated area, and the BNPP has minor enrichments. All concentrations were significantly below the safe limits set by the Dutch guidelines. The levels of heavy metals reported in the UAE were lower than levels reported in countries around the world.

http://ift.tt/2uQyt8e

Functional Role of Kynurenine and Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor Axis in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

The pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is associated with increased levels of kynurenine, a tryptophan metabolite, which potentiated allergen-induced mast cell activation through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II.

http://ift.tt/2uwe6O1

A single amino acid in MRGPRX2 necessary for binding and activation by pruritogens

Substance P, a neuropeptide associated with itch, atopic dermatitis and inflammation, activates MRGPRX2, a member of the mas-related GPCR family. A specific amino acid in the receptor has been found to be critical for activity.

http://ift.tt/2tXvFtq

Results from the 5-year SQ grass SLIT-tablet asthma prevention (GAP) trial in children with grass pollen allergy

SQ grass SLIT-tablet treatment prevented asthma symptoms and asthma medication use in children with grass pollen ARC and no pre-existing asthma. This disease-modifying effect persisted after end of treatment.

http://ift.tt/2uwgQLs

Peanut-specific Tr1 cells induced in vitro from allergic individuals are functionally impaired

Peanut allergy is a life threatening condition which lacks regulatory-approved treatment. T regulatory type 1 (Tr1) cells are potent suppressors of immune responses and can be induced in vivo upon repeated antigen exposure or in vitro using tolerogenic dendritic cells (DC-10). Whether or not oral immunotherapy (OIT) leads to antigen-specific Tr1 cell induction has not been established.

http://ift.tt/2tXophk

Aktuelle Entwicklung der molekular zielgerichteten Therapie von Kopf-Hals-Karzinomen

Laryngo-Rhino-Otol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1600927

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents | Full text

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Extrakranielle Schwannome im Kopf-Hals-Bereich: Klinische Implikationen anhand von 20 Fällen

Laryngo-Rhino-Otol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-110860

Hintergrund Schwannome sind seltene, benigne Tumore, die von den Gliazellen des peripheren Nervensystems (Schwannsche Zellen) ausgehen. Während es für intrakranielle Schwannome, insbesondere die des N. vestibularis, etablierte Therapiestrategien gibt, liegen zu den extrakraniellen Schwannomen weniger belastbare Daten vor. Methode Es wurde eine retrospektive Analyse von 20 Patienten mit histopathologisch gesicherten extrakraniellen Schwannomen im Kopf-Hals-Bereich mit einem Schwerpunkt auf Tumorlokalisation und postoperativem funktionellem Therapieergebnis durchgeführt. Ergebnisse Die Schwannome im vorliegenden Kollektiv entstammten vornehmlich dem N. facialis (n = 4), dem N. vagus (n = 4) oder dem sympathischen Grenzstrang (n = 3). Die häufigsten Primärsymptome waren Schwellungen (n = 12) und Schmerzen (n = 3). MRT (n = 13), Ultraschall (n = 12) und CT (n = 3) wurden zur Diagnostik eingesetzt. In 18 Fällen wurde ein chirurgischer Behandlungsansatz gewählt (n = 14 komplette Exstirpation, n = 3 Teilexstirpation, n = 1 unbekannter Resektionsumfang). Komplette Schwannomexstirpationen von motorisch-efferentenNerven (n = 10) machten ein Absetzen des Nervens häufiger erforderlich, wenn bereits präoperativ ein motorisches Defizit bestand (3 von 4 = 75 % bei präoperativem Defizit vs. 2 von 6 = 33 % ohne präoperatives Defizit). Schlussfolgerung Extrakranielle Schwannome stellen seltene, meist vom N. facialis, dem sympathischen Grenzstrang oder den kaudalen Hirnnerven ausgehende, benigne Tumore des HNO-Trakts dar, die in der Regel chirurgisch therapiert werden. Mit postoperativen motorischen Defiziten bei kompletten Exstirpationen muss insbesondere bei bereits präoperativ bestehenden Funktionsstörungen gerechnet werden.
[...]

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents | Abstract | Full text

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Psychoonkologische Betreuung von Patienten mit Kopf-Hals-Tumoren

Laryngo-Rhino-Otol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1600929

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents | Full text

http://ift.tt/2uw2c6R

Aktuelle Entwicklung der molekular zielgerichteten Therapie von Kopf-Hals-Karzinomen

Laryngo-Rhino-Otol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1600927

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents | Full text

http://ift.tt/2tXB0kw

Hörgeräteversorgung für Erwachsene

Laryngo-Rhino-Otol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1600928

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents | Full text

http://ift.tt/2tXwrGS

Extrakranielle Schwannome im Kopf-Hals-Bereich: Klinische Implikationen anhand von 20 Fällen

Laryngo-Rhino-Otol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-110860

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents | Abstract | Full text

http://ift.tt/2tXcmQQ

Psychoonkologische Betreuung von Patienten mit Kopf-Hals-Tumoren

Laryngo-Rhino-Otol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1600929

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents | Full text

http://ift.tt/2uw2c6R

Yellow Nail Syndrome With Dramatic Improvement of Nail Manifestations After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Objectives: Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare disease of unknown cause characterized by the triad of yellow nails, respiratory manifestations, and lymphedema. Although several therapies for YNS have been reported, there is no common consensus in the treatment. In this case report, we present a case of 56-year-old woman with YNS, whose nail manifestation was dramatically improved after endoscopic sinus surgery for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. Methods: Endoscopic sinus surgery involving middle meatal antrostomy was performed for the case of YNS with chronic rhinosinusitis and bronchiectasis resistant to antibacterial drugs. Results: A month after the surgery, the patient's nails eventually showed dramatic improvement. Conclusions: Otorhinolaryngologists should recognize that chronic rhinosinusitis can be a symptom of YNS, and that the aggressive treatment including surgical approach for chronic rhinosinusitis may be a useful in the control of nail manifestation in YNS.

http://ift.tt/2svEXsd

Yellow Nail Syndrome With Dramatic Improvement of Nail Manifestations After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Favorable effects of Myo-inositol, selenomethionine or their combination on the hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress of peripheral mononuclear cells from patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: preliminary in vitro studies

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess whether blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and control women, were protected from in vitro H2O2-induced oxidative stress after addition of antioxidants.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: PBMC, from 8 HT women and 3 healthy women (controls), were cultured in the presence of 200 µM H2O2 alone, with subsequent addition of myo-inositol (Myo) (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 µM), selenomethionine (SelMet) (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 µM), or their combination (0.25+0.25, 0.5+0.5, 1.0+1.0 µM). PBMC proliferation, vitality, genotoxicity (Comet score) and secretion in the medium of the chemokines CXCL10 [IP10], CCL2 e CXCL9 [MIG] were the indices measured.

RESULTS: PBMC proliferation was decreased by H2O2 alone, and it decreased further and dose-dependently in either group (greatest decrease with Myo+SelMet in HT). H2O2 alone decreased vitality by 5% in controls and 10% in the HT group, but vitality was rescued by the three additions. The addition of H2O2 alone increased the Comet score at +505% above baseline in controls and +707% in HT women. In either group, each addition dose-dependently contrasted genotoxicity. Concentrations of chemokines in the medium were increased by H2O2 alone, and in HT women more than in controls. Each addition dose-dependently decreased these concentrations in either group, and often below baseline levels, with Myo+SelMet being the most potent addition (up to approximately -80% of baseline).

CONCLUSIONS: The tested antioxidants exert beneficial effects on PBMC exposed in vitro to H2O2-induced oxidative stress in both control and HT women. Particularly, the association Myo+SelMet is the most effective. After the demonstration of a favorable in vitro outcomes in a large cohort of HT patients, we could predict favorable in vivo outcomes given by the same supplement. Thus, one can select HT patients with a high chance of benefit from supplementation.

L'articolo Favorable effects of Myo-inositol, selenomethionine or their combination on the hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress of peripheral mononuclear cells from patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: preliminary in vitro studies sembra essere il primo su European Review.

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Sleep disturbances increase the risk of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sleep disturbances and dementia are two common and significant health problems in older adults. Investigations suggest that sleep disturbances might increase the risk of dementia. The aim of the present study was to systematically review and meta-analyze the predictive roles of overall sleep disturbances, their subtypes (e.g., insomnia, sleep disordered breathing [SDB]), and other sleep problems (e.g., excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep-related movement disorder, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, and nonspecific sleep problems) in incident all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia subtypes.

http://ift.tt/2uw6T0p

Influence of relative humidity on heterogeneous reactions of O3 and O3/SO2 with soot particles: Potential for environmental and health effects

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 165
Author(s): Xiang He, Shufeng Pang, Jiabi Ma, Yunhong Zhang
The heterogeneous reactions of soot particles with O3 and the mixture of O3 and SO2 were studied as a function of relative humidities (RHs). The reactions were followed in real time using microscopic Fourier transform infrared (micro-FTIR) spectrometer to obtain kinetic data. The results show that the ketone (CO) group is the main product of the O3/soot reaction, and the sulfate is identified on the surface of soot particles in the presence of O3/SO2. Both reactions are sensitive to RHs and surrounding water significantly promotes the proceeding of the heterogeneous reactions. For the O3/soot reaction, the pseudo-first-order rate constant increases from 3.2 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹ to 7.1 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹ with increasing RH in the range of 1%–82%. When O3 and SO2 exist simultaneously during the reaction, the reaction rate and uptake coefficient are all enhanced by about an order of magnitude as the RH increases from 1% to 83%. The high productions of the ketone and sulfate on soot surface are of highly hydrophilic, which play a key role in environmental effect under humid environment. The possible reaction mechanism speculates that products of aromatic carbonyls and dihydrofuran species on soot particles will be more harmful to human health.

Graphical abstract

http://ift.tt/2tnbAuQ

Quantifying the uncertainties of China's emission inventory for industrial sources: From national to provincial and city scales

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 165
Author(s): Yu Zhao, Yaduan Zhou, Liping Qiu, Jie Zhang
A comprehensive uncertainty analysis was conducted on emission inventories for industrial sources at national (China), provincial (Jiangsu), and city (Nanjing) scales for 2012. Based on various methods and data sources, Monte-Carlo simulation was applied at sector level for national inventory, and at plant level (whenever possible) for provincial and city inventories. The uncertainties of national inventory were estimated at −17–37% (expressed as 95% confidence intervals, CIs), −21–35%, −19–34%, −29–40%, −22–47%, −21–54%, −33–84%, and −32–92% for SO2, NOX, CO, TSP (total suspended particles), PM10, PM2.5, black carbon (BC), and organic carbon (OC) emissions respectively for the whole country. At provincial and city levels, the uncertainties of corresponding pollutant emissions were estimated at −15–18%, −18–33%, −16–37%, −20–30%, −23–45%, −26–50%, −33–79%, and −33–71% for Jiangsu, and −17–22%, −10–33%, −23–75%, −19–36%, −23–41%, −28–48%, −45–82%, and −34–96% for Nanjing, respectively. Emission factors (or associated parameters) were identified as the biggest contributors to the uncertainties of emissions for most source categories except iron & steel production in the national inventory. Compared to national one, uncertainties of total emissions in the provincial and city-scale inventories were not significantly reduced for most species with an exception of SO2. For power and other industrial boilers, the uncertainties were reduced, and the plant-specific parameters played more important roles to the uncertainties. Much larger PM10 and PM2.5 emissions for Jiangsu were estimated in this provincial inventory than other studies, implying the big discrepancies on data sources of emission factors and activity data between local and national inventories. Although the uncertainty analysis of bottom-up emission inventories at national and local scales partly supported the "top-down" estimates using observation and/or chemistry transport models, detailed investigations and field measurements were recommended for further improving the emission estimates and reducing the uncertainty of inventories at local and regional scales, for both industrial and other sectors.

http://ift.tt/2tmLuse

Multi-year application of WRF-CAM5 over East Asia-Part II: Interannual variability, trend analysis, and aerosol indirect effects

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 165
Author(s): Yang Zhang, Kai Wang, Jian He
Following a comprehensive evaluation of WRF-CAM5 in Part I, Part II describes analyses of interannual variability, multi-year variation trends, and the direct, indirect, and total effects of anthropogenic aerosols. The interannual variations of chemical column and surface concentrations, and ozone (O3)/particulate matter (PM) indicators are strongly correlated to anthropogenic emission changes. Despite model biases, the model captures well the observed interannual variations of temperature at 2-m, cloud fraction, shortwave cloud forcing, downwelling shortwave radiation, cloud droplet number concentration, column O3, and column formaldehyde (HCHO) for the whole domain. While the model reproduces the volatile organic compound (VOC)-limited regimes of O3 chemistry at sites in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and from the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) and the degree of sulfate neutralization at the EANET sites, it has limited capability in capturing the interannual variations of the ratio of O3 and nitrogen dioxide (O3/NO2) and PM chemical regime indicators, due to uncertainties in the emissions of precursors for O3 and secondary PM, the model assumption for ammonium bisulfate (NH4HSO4) as well as lack of gas/particle partitioning of total ammonia and total nitrate. While the variation trends in multi-year periods in aerosol optical depth and column concentrations of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and NO2 are mainly caused by anthropogenic emissions, those of major meteorological and cloud variables partly reflect feedbacks of chemistry to meteorological variables. The impacts of anthropogenic aerosol indirect effects either dominate or play an important role in the aerosol total effects for most cloud and chemical predictions, whereas anthropogenic aerosol direct effects influence most meteorological and radiation variables. The direct, indirect, and total effects of anthropogenic aerosols exhibit a strong interannual variability in 2001, 2006, and 2011.

http://ift.tt/2sSlAc3

Hospitalization and rehospitalization in Parkinson disease patients: Data from the National Parkinson Foundation Centers of Excellence

by Leili Shahgholi, Sol De Jesus, Samuel S. Wu, Qinglin Pei, Anhar Hassan, Melissa J. Armstrong, Daniel Martinez-Ramirez, Peter Schmidt, Michael S. Okun

Background

Patients with Parkinson disease (PD) are at high risk of hospital encounters with increasing morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the rate of hospital encounters in a cohort followed over 5 years and to identify associated factors.

Methods

We queried the data from the International Multicenter National Parkinson Foundation Quality Improvement study. Multivariate logistic regression with backward selection was performed to identify factors associated with hospital encounter prior to baseline visit. Kaplan-Meier estimates were obtained and Cox regression performed on time to hospital encounter after the baseline visit.

Results

Of the 7,507 PD patients (mean age 66.5±9.9 years and disease duration 8.9±6.4 years at baseline visit), 1919 (25.6%) had a history of a hospital encounter prior to their baseline visit. Significant factors associated with a history of a hospital encounter prior to baseline included race (white race: OR 0.49), utilization of physical therapy (OR 1.47), history of deep brain stimulation (OR 1.87), number of comorbidities (OR 1.30), caregiver strain (OR 1.17 per standard deviation), and the standardized Timed Up and Go Test (OR 1.21). Patients with a history of hospitalization prior to the baseline were more likely to have a re-hospitalization (HR1.67, P Conclusion

Hospitalization and re-hospitalization were common in this cohort of people with PD. Our results suggest addressing caregiver burden, simplifying medications, and emphasizing primary and multidisciplinary care for comorbidities are potential avenues to explore for reducing hospitalization rates.

http://ift.tt/2uuUoT2

Migraine and the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder among a cohort of pregnant women

Individually both migraine and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence estimates are higher among women. However, there is limited data on the association of migraine and PTSD in women during pregnancy.

http://ift.tt/2sverz1

A Systematic Review Including an additional Pediatric Case Report: Pediatric Cases of Mammary Analogue Secretory Carcinoma

Mammary Analogue Secretory Carcinoma (MASC) is a newly characterized salivary gland carcinoma resembling secretory carcinoma of the breast. Prior to being described, MASC was most commonly misdiagnosed as Acinic Cell Carcinoma. Though MASC is predominantly an adult neoplasm, cases have been reported in the pediatric population. Reporting and summarizing of known cases is imperative to understand the prognosis and clinical behavior of MASC.

http://ift.tt/2sSalAC

Suction drains in aesthetic breast implant exchange are associated with surgical site infections: A retrospective cohort study

Surgical site infection (SSI) following aesthetic breast implant exchange occurs in up to 2% of procedures. The effect of suction drains on SSI risk in these cases remains controversial. The goal of this study was to assess SSI risk in the presence of suction drains after aesthetic exchange of breast implants.

http://ift.tt/2tmJDne

A systematic review of the influence of burying or not burying Kirschner wires on infection rates following fixation of upper extremity fractures

Fractures of the upper extremity are common with bones in the hand most frequently fractured. Hand fractures are typically seen in men of working age, distal radius fractures in an older population following a fall and supracondylar fractures in children.1 Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation is the most common method of surgical fixation. One of the key decisions is whether to bury or not to bury the wire ends. Current popular opinion suggests that buried wires reduce infection rates. However, burying wires still retains a risk of erosion through the skin with subsequent pin site infection.

http://ift.tt/2sS1Q8s

Perioperative Antibiotic Use in Diabetic Patients: A Retrospective Review of 670 Surgeries

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has a high incidence in diabetic patients, with a reported incidence up to 21%. In severe cases of CTS, patients may undergo carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgery, which involves risk of infection and other complications. Some physicians provide prophylactic antibiotics to decrease risk of infection. Our study examines the effects of prophylactic antibiotic use, especially in a high-risk, diabetic population.

http://ift.tt/2tmT8CC

A Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for complex infected cranial defects overlying dura mater: An effective and safe procedure

Despite rare, large cranial infected defects involving dura mater are challenging for practicians. Many patients are poor candidates for immediate reconstruction because of original pathology, comorbidities or previous radiotherapy. Recently, few authors have reported the use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in association with a first-step debridement surgery with encouraging results (1-2). In our institution, when immediate reconstruction is not feasible, a standardized reproducible two-steps procedure has been established.

http://ift.tt/2sSjUzj

Multimarker study of the effects of antifouling biocide on benthic organisms: results using Perna viridis as candidate species

Abstract

Toxic effects of continuous low dose application of the antifouling biocide chlorine on marine benthic organisms were monitored using transplanted green mussels (Perna viridis) and a suite of biomarkers. Caged mussels were deployed in chlorinated and non-chlorinated sections of the cooling system of an operating electric power plant. Biomarkers indicative of general stress, oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase and catalase), and DNA integrity, along with expression of stress proteins, were studied to assess the effects. Deterioration in condition index with corresponding increase in DNA strand breaks was indicative of chlorine stress. Superoxide dismutase enzyme did not show any particular trend, but catalase activity was high during the initial days of exposure at the chlorinated site; later, it became almost equal to that at the control site. Similarly, expressions of stress proteins (HSP60, HSP70, HSP22, GSTS1, and CYP4) showed bell-shaped pattern during the period of study. Positive correlation among the endpoints indicated the utility of the multimarker approach to monitor the effects of continuous low dose chlorination on mussels.

http://ift.tt/2tmRMYR

Emission characteristics of toxic pollutants from an updraft fixed bed gasifier for disposing rural domestic solid waste

Abstract

Gasification has gained advantage as an effective way to dispose domestic solid waste in mountainous rural of China. However, its toxic emissions such as PCDD/Fs and heavy metals, as well as their potential environmental risks, were not well studied in engineering application. In this study, an updraft fixed bed gasifier was investigated by field sampling analysis. Results showed that low toxic emissions (dust, SO₂, NOx, HCl, CO, H₂S, NH₃, PCDD/Fs and heavy metals) in the flue gas were achieved when the rural solid waste was used as feedstock. The mass distribution of heavy metals showed that 94.00% of Pb, 80.45% of Cu, 78.00% of Cd, 77.31% of Cr, and 76.25% of As were remained in residual, whereas 86.58% of Hg was found in flue gas. The content of PCDD/Fs in the flue gas was 0.103 ngI-TEQ·Nm⁻³, and the total emission factor of PCDD/Fs from the gasifier was 50.04 μgI-TEQ·t-waste⁻¹, among which only 0.04 μgI-TEQ·t-waste⁻¹ was found in the flue gas. The total output of PCDD/Fs was1.89 times as high as input, indicting the updraft fixed bed gasifier increased emission of PCDD/Fs during the treatment domestic solid waste. In addition, the distribution characteristics of PCDD/Fs congeners reflected that PCDD/Fs was mainly generated in the gasification process rather than the stage of flue gas cleaning, suggesting the importance to effectively control the generation of PCDD/Fs within the gasifier chamber in order to obtain a low PCDD/Fs emission level.

http://ift.tt/2sS3K9m

Insectifugal and insecticidal potentials of two tropical botanical essential oils against cowpea seed bruchid

Abstract

Essential oils (EO) obtained from Xylopia parviflora root bark and Hoslundia opposita leaf via hydro distillation were analysed by GC-MS and evaluated for their insectifugal (repellent) and insecticidal activities against cowpea seed bruchid (Callosbruchus maculatus Fabricius), a cosmopolitan pest of cowpea seeds. X. parviflora was predominated by sesquiterpenes (59.57%), with the main compounds being β-himachalene (22.68%), 1,7,7,Trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-ol (19.68%), β-elemene (14.41%), 5(1H)-Azulenone, 2,4,6,7,8,8a–hexahydro-3,8-dimethyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-(85-cis)- (12.38%) and (−)-α-parasinsen (8.34%). The predominant compounds in H. opposita EO were 1,8-cineole (61.15%), followed by α-terpineol (16.81%) and β-phellandrene (13.25%). Percentage repellence at application rates of 0.66–1.32 μl/cm² (46.93–73.07%) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of control (17.73%). RD₅₀ (repellence dose for 50% of treated adults) for H. opposita (0.43 μl/cm²) was not significantly different from the value for X. parviflora (0.60 μl/cm²). Although higher percentage of male mortality than female mortality was observed due to topical application of the EOs, the disparity was not significant. The results of correlation of the chemical groups of the EOs with the insectifugal activity indicate that the observed bioactivity was due to the synergistic effects of the chemical groups. The two EOs are therefore recommended for incorporation into bruchid protection schemes in the tropics.

http://ift.tt/2tmAgE6

Chrysotile and rock wool fibers induce chromosome aberrations and DNA damage in V79 lung fibroblast cells

Abstract

According to global estimates, at least 107,000 people die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposure. Chrysotile accounts for approximately 90% of asbestos used worldwide. Artificial substitutes can also be cytotoxic to the same degree as chrysotile. But only a few researchers focused on their genetic effects and mutagenicity information which is useful in evaluating the carcinogenicity of chemicals. In this study, chrysotile from Mangnai, Qinghai, China, and an artificial substitute, rock wool fiber were prepared as suspensions and were tested at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 μg/ml in V79 lung fibroblasts. Chromosome aberrations were detected by micronucleus assay after exposure for 24 h, and DNA damage were estimated by single cell gel electrophoresis after exposure for 12, 24, or 48 h. According to the results, chrysotile and rock wool fibers caused micronuclei to form in a dose-dependent manner in V79 cells; olive tail moment values increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. When V79 cells were exposed to a concentration of 200 μg/ml, the degree of DNA damage induced by chrysotile fibers was greater than rock wool fibers. Our study suggests that both chrysotile and rock wool fibers could induce chromosome aberrations and DNA damage. These materials are worthy of further study.

http://ift.tt/2sSyG9b

Interrelationship between silicon, aluminum, and elements associated with tissue metabolism and degenerative processes in degenerated human intervertebral disc tissue

Abstract

There is a growing body of evidence concerning the significant role of silicon in development and composition of both connective and bone tissue. Bio-essential silicon shows strong chemical and biological affinity to aluminum, which is toxic and biologically inessential element. The presence of silicon was confirmed in a variety of tissues; however, it has never been examined in intervertebral disc tissue, neither in healthy nor in degenerated one. In this paper, for the first time in the literature, we present the content of silicon in the degenerated intervertebral disc tissue. We also compared the results of silicon analysis with aluminum values in degenerated intervertebral disc tissue in humans. We used chemometric methods to find correlations and similarities between silicon, aluminum, and elements associated with tissue metabolism (Mg) and degenerative processes (Zn and Cu). The presence of silicon was confirmed in all 30 samples harvested from 22 patients operated on due to degenerative changes. Its concentration was within the range of 5.37–12.8 μg g⁻¹ d.w., with the mean concentration of 7.82 μg g⁻¹ d.w. The analysis showed significant correlation between Si and both Al and Mg and weak or negative correlation with Zn and Cu, where the latter was probably the result of degenerative processes. Although silicon is considered essential in glycosaminoglycan and collagen synthesis in connective tissue, it did not show any correlation nor similarities with elements reflecting changes associated with the degenerative process of the intervertebral disc. Silicon showed significant correlation with aluminum, similar to those observed in other human tissues.

http://ift.tt/2tmpaPi

Water footprint and carbon footprint of the energy consumption in sunflower agroecosystems

Abstract

The aims of this study were to assess the energy requirements, carbon footprint, and water footprint of sunflower production in Kermanshah province, western Iran. Data were collected from 70 sunflower production agroecosystems which were selected based on random sampling method in summer 2012. Results indicated that total input and output energy in sunflower production were 26,973.87 and 64,833.92 MJha⁻¹, respectively. The highest share of total input energy in sunflower agroecosystems was recorded for electricity power, N fertilizer, and diesel fuel with 35, 19, and 17%, respectively. Also, energy use efficiency, water footprint, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, and carbon footprint were calculated as 2.40, 3.41 m³ kg⁻¹, 2042.091 kg CO_2eqha⁻¹, and 0.875 kg CO_2eqkg⁻¹, respectively. 0.18 of sunflower water footprint was related to green water footprint and the remaining 82% was related to blue water footprint. Also, the highest share of carbon footprint was related to electricity power (nearby 80%). Due to the results of this study, reducing use of fossil fuel and non-renewable energy resource and application of sufficient irrigation systems by efficient use of water resource are essential in order to achieve low carbon footprint, environmental challenges, and also sustainability of agricultural production systems.

http://ift.tt/2sSErUy

Sediment bacterial communities in a eutrophic lake influenced by multiple inflow-rivers

Abstract

Sediment bacterial communities are sensitive to environmental fluctuations, particularly external input sources. Studying the relationships between bacterial community distribution and the estuarine environment is critical for understanding the river-lake confluence ecosystem and the effect of inflow-rivers on lakes. In the present study, bacterial communities from the sediments of 14 estuaries and four pelagic sites of the Taihu Lake were investigated via high-throughput sequencing. The results demonstrated that Delta-, Beta-, and Gamma-proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Nitrospira, Bacilli, Anaerolineae, and Actinobacteria were the major classes in sediment bacterial communities of the Taihu Lake. In general, the inflow-rivers of different pollution types have distinctly different influences on sediment bacterial communities of the lake. The bacterial community composition and physicochemical properties of pelagic sites were closer to those of the estuaries of western region which was polluted by serious industrial and agricultural pollution. The bacterial community diversity of estuaries was lower than those of pelagic sites. Spearman correlation analysis indicated that α-diversity of the bacterial community was significantly correlated with C/N, total nitrogen, and total carbon in estuarine sediments. Redundancy analysis revealed that the variance in bacterial community composition was also significantly associated with C/N (24.9%) followed by total phosphorus (15.8%), nitrite (7.2%), and nitrate (7.7%) among different estuaries. This study provides a reference to understand the influence of inflow-rivers on the lake ecosystem, which offered a basic guidance for maintaining the ecological system and protecting the water environment of lacustrine basin.

http://ift.tt/2tmR11H

Effect of pH and polypropylene beads in hybrid water treatment process of alumina ceramic microfiltration and PP beads with air back-flushing and UV irradiation

Abstract

For advanced water treatment, effects of pH and pure polypropylene (PP) beads packing concentration on membrane fouling and treatment efficiency were observed in a hybrid process of alumina ceramic microfiltration (MF; pore size 0.1 μm) and pure PP beads. Instead of natural organic matters and fine inorganic particles in natural water source, a quantity of humic acid (HA) and kaolin was dissolved in distilled water. The synthetic feed flowed inside the MF membrane, and the permeated water contacted the PP beads fluidized in the gap of the membrane and the acryl module case with outside UV irradiation. Periodic air back-flushing was performed to control membrane fouling during 10 s per 10 min. The membrane fouling resistance (R _f) was the maximum at 30 g/L of PP bead concentration. Finally, the maximum total permeated volume (V _T) was acquired at 5 g/L of PP beads, because flux maintained higher all through the operation. The treatment efficiency of turbidity was almost constant, independent of PP bead concentration; however, that of dissolved organic materials (DOM) showed the maximal at 50 g/L of PP beads. The R _f increased as increasing feed pH from 5 to 9; however, the maximum V_T was acquired at pH 6. It means that the membrane fouling could be inhibited at low acid condition. The treatment efficiency of turbidity increased a little, and that of DOM increased from 73.6 to 75.7% as increasing pH from 5 to 9.

http://ift.tt/2sS3HKI

Fish as bioindicators for trace element pollution from two contrasting lakes in the Eastern Rift Valley, Kenya: spatial and temporal aspects

Abstract

Lake Turkana and Lake Naivasha are two freshwater lakes in the Kenyan Rift Valley that differ significantly in water chemistry and anthropogenic influence: Lake Turkana is believed to be rather pristine and unpolluted, but a previous study has shown rather high levels of Li, Zn, and Cd in the migratory fish species Hydrocynus forskahlii, questioning this pristine status. Lake Naivasha is heavily influenced by agricultural activity in its catchment area and by direct water use, and high levels of metal pollutants have been reported in fish. This study presents the distribution of nine important trace elements in liver and muscle of the nonmigratory red belly tilapia Tilapia zillii from Lake Turkana and from Lake Naivasha (before and after a significant rise in water level due to as yet not fully understood reasons). In addition, trace element levels in the common carp Cyprinus carpio from Lake Naivasha are presented. Metal concentrations measured in the liver and muscle of T. zillii collected in Lake Turkana confirm the pristine status of the study site, but contrast with the results obtained for the migratory H. forskahlii. Comparing T. zillii from the two lakes reveals a clear difference in accumulation patterns between essential and nonessential trace elements: physiologically regulated essential elements are present in a very similar range in fish from both lakes, while levels of nonessential metals reflect short- or long-term exposure to those elements. The comparison of trace element concentrations in the fish samples from Lake Naivasha showed lower levels of most trace elements after the significant increase of the water level. This study demonstrates that fish are valuable bioindicators for evaluating trace element pollution even in contrasting lakes as long as the way-of-life habits of the species are taken into account.

http://ift.tt/2tmIcoJ

Assessment of the potential health risks of heavy metals in soils in a coastal industrial region of the Yangtze River Delta

Abstract

Soil heavy metal contamination is a serious environmental problem. Human beings may be directly exposed to heavy metals in soils through the inhalation of soil particles, dermal contact, and oral ingestion, which can seriously threaten health. This study assesses the health risks associated with heavy metals in soils by determining the concentrations of eight heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cu, Zn, and Ni) based on 2051 surface-soil samples collected from the southern Yangtze River Delta of China. The mean concentrations were higher than the corresponding background values in Zhejiang Province and China as a whole, indicating an accumulation of heavy metals. The health risk assessment suggests that the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks in the study area were not significant. The non-carcinogenic risk for children was the highest, followed by those for adults and seniors; the non-carcinogenic risk for the entire population was less than 1.0, the predetermined threshold. Carcinogenic risk for adults was the highest, followed by those for seniors and children; a few sample points had a value larger than the threshold of 1.0E−04. Arsenic represented the greatest contribution to non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk. Meanwhile, ingestion of heavy metals in soil was the main exposure pathway for carcinogenic risk, followed by inhalation and dermal exposure. The spatial method of Getis-Ord was used to identify hot spots of health risk. Hot spots with high hazard index (HI) and total carcinogenic risk (TCR) for children, adults, and seniors were mainly distributed in core urban areas, such as Jiangbei, Haishu, Yinzhou, Jiangdong, and the urban areas of some other counties, which coincided with industrial, mining, and urban areas of the study area and were strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities. These results provide a basis for heavy metal control in soil, source identification, and environment management in the Yangtze River Delta and other rapidly developing industrial regions in China.

http://ift.tt/2sRZff0

Targeting FGFR in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

Abstract

Unlike for adenocarcinomas of the lung, no molecular targeted therapies have yet been developed for squamous cell lung cancers, because targetable oncogenic aberrations are scarce in this tumor type. Recent discoveries have established that the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathway plays a fundamental role in cancer development by supporting tumor angiogenesis and cancer cell proliferation via different mechanisms. Through comprehensive genomic studies, aberrations in the FGF pathway have been identified in various tumor types, including squamous cell lung cancer, making FGF receptor (FGFR) a potentially druggable target in this malignancy. Several multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors include FGFR in their target spectrum and a number of these compounds have been approved for clinical use in different cancers. Novel agents selectively targeting FGFRs have been developed and are currently under investigation in clinical trials, showing promising results. This article reviews FGFR aberrations and the clinical data involving selective and multikinase FGFR inhibitors in squamous cell lung cancer.

http://ift.tt/2tX5hjh

Αρχειοθήκη ιστολογίου

! # Ola via Alexandros G.Sfakianakis on Inoreader

Η λίστα ιστολογίων μου

Πέμπτη 6 Ιουλίου 2017

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