Relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis exacerbation frequency and asthma control

Objectives/Hypothesis

To determine the association between the frequency of acute chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) exacerbations (AECRS) and the degree of asthma control in asthmatic CRS patients.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

We prospectively recruited 108 asthmatic CRS patients as participants. Asthma control was assessed using the Asthma Control Test (ACT). The frequency of AECRS was assessed using three previously described indirect metrics for AECRS: the frequency of patient-reported sinus infections, CRS-related antibiotics use, and CRS-related oral corticosteroids use in the last 3 months. CRS symptom severity was measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Associations between ACT score and metrics for AECRS were performed using linear regression while controlling for clinical and demographic characteristics, including SNOT-22 score.

Results

ACT score was significantly and negatively associated with the frequency of patient-reported sinus infections (adjusted linear regression coefficient [β] = −1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −2.3 to −0.1, P = .033), CRS-related antibiotics courses (adjusted β = −1.4, 95% CI: −2.3 to −0.5, P = .004), and CRS-related oral corticosteroid courses (adjusted β = −1.5, 95% CI: −2.5 to −0.5, P = .004) in the last 3 months, independent of characteristics including SNOT-22 score. Poor asthma control could be detected using one or more sinus infections (70.6% sensitivity, 47.3% specificity), CRS-related antibiotics (50.0% sensitivity, 73.0% specificity), or CRS-related oral corticosteroids (58.8% sensitivity, 71.6% specificity) in the last 3 months.

Conclusions

AECRS are negatively associated with the level of asthma control in asthmatic CRS patients, independent of CRS symptom severity. These results highlight AECRS as a distinct clinical manifestation of CRS that should be routinely assessed in CRS patients.

Level of Evidence

2c. Laryngoscope, 2017

http://ift.tt/2hDN19M

Relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis exacerbation frequency and asthma control

Objectives/Hypothesis

To determine the association between the frequency of acute chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) exacerbations (AECRS) and the degree of asthma control in asthmatic CRS patients.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

We prospectively recruited 108 asthmatic CRS patients as participants. Asthma control was assessed using the Asthma Control Test (ACT). The frequency of AECRS was assessed using three previously described indirect metrics for AECRS: the frequency of patient-reported sinus infections, CRS-related antibiotics use, and CRS-related oral corticosteroids use in the last 3 months. CRS symptom severity was measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Associations between ACT score and metrics for AECRS were performed using linear regression while controlling for clinical and demographic characteristics, including SNOT-22 score.

Results

ACT score was significantly and negatively associated with the frequency of patient-reported sinus infections (adjusted linear regression coefficient [β] = −1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −2.3 to −0.1, P = .033), CRS-related antibiotics courses (adjusted β = −1.4, 95% CI: −2.3 to −0.5, P = .004), and CRS-related oral corticosteroid courses (adjusted β = −1.5, 95% CI: −2.5 to −0.5, P = .004) in the last 3 months, independent of characteristics including SNOT-22 score. Poor asthma control could be detected using one or more sinus infections (70.6% sensitivity, 47.3% specificity), CRS-related antibiotics (50.0% sensitivity, 73.0% specificity), or CRS-related oral corticosteroids (58.8% sensitivity, 71.6% specificity) in the last 3 months.

Conclusions

AECRS are negatively associated with the level of asthma control in asthmatic CRS patients, independent of CRS symptom severity. These results highlight AECRS as a distinct clinical manifestation of CRS that should be routinely assessed in CRS patients.

Level of Evidence

2c. Laryngoscope, 2017

http://ift.tt/2hDN19M

A 5-year prospective study on regenerative periodontal therapy of infrabony defects using minimally invasive surgery and a collagen-enriched bovine-derived xenograft

Abstract

Aim

The primary objective of this study was (1) to evaluate the 5-year clinical outcome of regenerative periodontal therapy (RPT) using minimally invasive surgery and a collagen-enriched bovine-derived xenograft and (2) to identify predictors for clinical attachment level (CAL) gain and vertical radiographic bone (RB) gain.

Materials and methods

Ninety-five non-smoking patients with ≤ 25% full-mouth plaque and bleeding presenting ≥ 6 months after initial periodontal therapy with ≥ 1 isolated interdental infrabony defect were recruited. Minimally invasive surgery (MIST or M-MIST) and a collagen-enriched bovine-derived xenograft were used in all patients. Patients were surgically treated by the same clinician and evaluated up to 5 years of follow-up. Multivariate analyses were used to identify predictors for CAL gain and RB gain.

Results

Before surgery, mean probing depth (PD) was 7.8 mm, CAL was 10.0 mm, and defect depth amounted to 5.2 mm. Seventy-one patients (33 men, 38 women, mean age 52) could be evaluated at 5 years. Mean PD reduction was 3.3 mm (SD 2.2), CAL gain was 3.0 mm (SD 2.1), and RB gain was 57% (SD 38). Forty-five percent showed ≥ 4 mm CAL gain, whereas 24% were considered failures (≤ 1 mm CAL gain). Forty-eight percent showed considerable RB gain (≥ 75%). Regression analyses showed that plaque was a significant predictor for CAL gain (p = 0.001) and RB gain (p = 0.005). Patients' compliance had a significant impact on RB gain (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Only patients with perfect oral hygiene and excellent compliance should be considered for RPT. Especially, the latter can only be assessed after sufficient follow-up following initial periodontal therapy.

Clinical relevance

RPT failed in 24% of the patients after 5 years. Regression analyses demonstrated a significant impact of plaque and patients' compliance on the long-term outcome. Only patients with perfect oral hygiene and excellent compliance should be considered for RPT. Patients should not be treated too soon following initial therapy, since compliance can only be reliably assessed after sufficient follow-up.

http://ift.tt/2xQIRBr

Characterization of semen quality, testicular marker enzyme activities and gene expression changes in the blood testis barrier of Kunming mice following acute exposure to zearalenone

Abstract

A total of 95 8-week-old male Kunming mice were randomly assigned into five groups and exposed to zearalenone (ZEA) at doses of 25, 50, and 75 mg/kg delivered by intra-peritoneal (i.p.) injection for 5 days. The testis and epididymis indices involving sperm quality and morphology, testis enzyme activities, serum concentrations of testosterone and estrogen, and the expression levels of the three gene and protein of N-cadherin, vimentin, and claudin 11 related to the blood testis barrier (BTB) were analyzed. Results showed that ZEA significantly decreased body weight and semen quality compared to the control group along with increased activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and reduced serum concentrations of testosterone and estrogen. At the mRNA and protein levels, expression of N-cadherin, vimentin, and claudin 11 significantly increased; however, the mRNA and protein of N-cad expression decreased. These data suggest acute exposure to ZEA reduces sperm quality and significantly decreases the concentration of serum testosterone and estradiol. In addition, the activities of the testis marker enzymes and associated mRNA and protein expressions of the BTB were also significantly affected. Our results demonstrated that ZEA has a significant impact on the reproductive parameters of male mice which showed compensatory response to strengthen the barrier function of the BTB following ZEA exposure.

http://ift.tt/2yyEgRr

Sphingobacterium spiritivorum bacteremia due to cellulitis in an elderly man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure: a case report

Sphingobacterium spiritivorum is a glucose non-fermenting Gram-negative rod, formerly classified as one of the Flavobacterium species. It is characterized by a large number of cellular...

http://ift.tt/2xEO7Zl

Bacterial cellulose skin masks—Properties and sensory tests

Summary

Background

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a versatile material produced by microorganisms in the form of a membranous hydrogel, totally biocompatible, and endowed with high mechanical strength. Its high water-holding capacity based on its highly porous nanofibrillar structure allows BC to incorporate and to release substances very fast, thus being suitable for the preparation of skincare masks.

Aims

The preparation and characterization of cosmetic masks based on BC membranes and active cosmetics.

Methods

The masks were prepared by the simple incorporation of the cosmetic actives into BC membranes, used as a swelling matrix. The masks were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), sensory tests, and skin moisture tests on volunteers.

Results

The results of sensory tests revealed the good performance of BC, being considered effective by the panel of volunteers, specially for adhesion to the skin (7.7 at the score scale), and improvement of the skin moisture (the hydration effect increased 76% in 75% of the volunteers that used vegetable extract mask formulation [VEM]), or a decrease in skin hydration (80% of the volunteers showed 32.6% decrease on skin hydration using propolis extract formulation [PEM] treatment), indicating the BC nanofiber membranes can be used to skincare applications.

Conclusion

The results demonstrate the BC can be used as an alternative support for cosmetic actives for skin treatment.

http://ift.tt/2hCMUeH

Bacterial cellulose skin masks—Properties and sensory tests

Summary

Background

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a versatile material produced by microorganisms in the form of a membranous hydrogel, totally biocompatible, and endowed with high mechanical strength. Its high water-holding capacity based on its highly porous nanofibrillar structure allows BC to incorporate and to release substances very fast, thus being suitable for the preparation of skincare masks.

Aims

The preparation and characterization of cosmetic masks based on BC membranes and active cosmetics.

Methods

The masks were prepared by the simple incorporation of the cosmetic actives into BC membranes, used as a swelling matrix. The masks were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), sensory tests, and skin moisture tests on volunteers.

Results

The results of sensory tests revealed the good performance of BC, being considered effective by the panel of volunteers, specially for adhesion to the skin (7.7 at the score scale), and improvement of the skin moisture (the hydration effect increased 76% in 75% of the volunteers that used vegetable extract mask formulation [VEM]), or a decrease in skin hydration (80% of the volunteers showed 32.6% decrease on skin hydration using propolis extract formulation [PEM] treatment), indicating the BC nanofiber membranes can be used to skincare applications.

Conclusion

The results demonstrate the BC can be used as an alternative support for cosmetic actives for skin treatment.

http://ift.tt/2hCMUeH

Variation in foliar uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in six varieties of winter wheat

Abstract

To investigate intraspecific variations of foliar uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), leaves of six varieties including Changwu 521 (CW), Hedong TX-006 (HD), Jiaomai 266 (JM), Xiaoyan 22 (XY), Yunong 949 (YN), and Zhongmai 175 (ZM) were exposed to three levels of (0, 0.25, and 1.5 mg L⁻¹) mixture of six selected PAHs (phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene). After 10 consecutive days of application, all the six selected PAHs (Σ₆ PAHs) were determined in the leaves of the six varieties of the winter wheat. There were apparent intraspecific differences in foliar uptake of PAHs in the winter wheat. The highest concentrations of Σ₆ PAHs in the leaves of YN variety (64.6 mg kg⁻¹) were approximate two times of the lowest concentrations in the leaves of HD variety (29.6 mg kg⁻¹). Both individual PAHs and Σ₆ PAHs in the cuticular waxes were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than those in leaves and far higher than those in roots, indicating that the cuticular waxes could play significant role in foliar uptake of PAHs. The present results also showed that the concentrations PAHs in leaves were positively (p < 0.05) correlated with the water solubility of the six selected PAHs. In addition, the present study suggested that there was basipetal translocation of PAHs in the winter wheat after foliar application of PAHs, although the mechanism was yet to be further studied.

http://ift.tt/2x2crER

The average concentration function of dissolved copper in Hun River, Liaoning province, Northeastern China

Abstract

Water samples were collected from Hun River to research the change in the concentration of dissolved copper and its distribution as well as accumulation during the dry season in 2013. The mean concentrations of dissolved copper in Hun River were 0.1057–0.1533 mg/l during the dry season. The results indicated that the most severe dissolved copper pollution were associated with the mining area, industrial area, and living area along the Hun River. The results also indicated that controlling the sources of copper pollution effectively reduced the concentration of dissolved copper in Hun River. The concentration function about time and spatial coordinate, average concentration function about time coordinate, average concentration function about spatial coordinate, and bounded mean oscillation space were used to evaluate the extent of copper pollution in Hun River. The error function, quartiles, and curve fitting tool were performed to determine the stations with high concentration of dissolved copper in Hun River. We furthermore obtained the upper and lower bounds of the error between two kinds of bounded mean oscillation spaces to explore the migration of copper pollution in Hun River. The results of the average concentration function and bounded mean oscillation space revealed that the long-term control measures of copper pollution and short-term control measures of copper pollution, the control of copper pollution in large watershed, and the control of copper pollution in small watershed in Hun River should be combined with each other. The strict policy and pollution control strategy should be implemented to ensure that the water of the Hun River meets the natural environment standard for the growth of aquatic life and human.

http://ift.tt/2fA9YGw

Influence of rapid rural-urban population migration on riverine nitrogen pollution: perspective from ammonia-nitrogen

Abstract

China is undergoing a rapid transition from a rural to an urban society. This societal change is a consequence of a national drive toward economic prosperity. However, accelerated urban development resulting from rapid population migration from rural to urban lands has led to high levels of untreated sewage entering aquatic ecosystems directly. Consequently, many of these regions have been identified as hot spots of riverine nitrogen (N) pollution because of the increasing level of urban point-source discharge. In order to address this concern, we assessed effects of urban development on ammonia-nitrogen (AN) loads using a panel data regression model. The model, expressed as an exponential function of anthropogenic N inputs multiplied by a power function of streamflow, was applied to 20 subwatersheds of the Huai River Basin for the years 2003–2010. The results indicated that this model can account for 81% of the variation in annual AN fluxes over space and time. Application of this model to three scenarios of urban development and sewage treatment (termed urbanization priority, sustainable development, and environmental priority) suggests that future N pollution will inevitably deteriorate if current urban environmental management and investment are not significantly improved. Stronger support for environmental management is very critical to alleviate N pollution and improve water quality. More effort should focus on improving sewage treatment and the N removal rate of the current sewage system in light of the increasing degree of urbanization.

http://ift.tt/2x2Ywyk

The 2017 complete overhaul of adjuvant therapies for high-risk melanoma and its consequences for staging and management of melanoma patients

Publication date: November 2017
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 86
Author(s): Alexander M.M. Eggermont, Reinhard Dummer
The spectacular outcomes of the phase III trials regarding nivolumab versus ipilimumab in fully resected stage IIIB/C–IV and of the combination of dabrafenib (D) plus trametinib (T) in BRAF-mutant stage III patients demonstrate that effective treatments in advanced melanoma are also highly effective in the adjuvant setting. In 2016, an overall survival benefit with adjuvant high-dose ipilimumab was demonstrated, and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer trial 1325 comparing pembrolizumab versus placebo will complete the picture in the early 2018. Toxicity profiles are in line with the experience in advanced melanoma, i.e. favourable for the anti-PD1 agents and for D + T and problematic for ipilimumab. The 2017 outcomes are practice changing and put an end to the use of interferon (IFN) and ipilimumab. In countries with only access to IFN, its use can be restricted to patients with ulcerated melanoma, based on the individual patient data meta-analysis recently published. Because of the results of the Melanoma Sentinel Lymph node Trial-2 (MSLT-2) trial, completion lymph node dissection (CLND) will decrease sharply, leading to a lack of optimal prognostic information. Prognosis in sentinel node–positive stage IIIA/B patients is extremely heterogeneous with 5-year survival rates varying from 90% to 40% and depends mostly on the number of positive nodes identified by CLND. This information is crucial for clinical decision-making. How to guarantee optimal staging information needs to be discussed urgently. Further improvements of adjuvant therapies will have to address all these questions as well as the exploration of neoadjuvant use of active drugs and combination approaches. Important paradigm shifts in the management of high-risk melanoma patients are upon us.



http://ift.tt/2xN2nyx

Multidisciplinary quality assurance and control in oncological trials: Perspectives from European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)

Publication date: November 2017
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 86
Author(s): Members of EORTC QACDenisLacombeCorneelCoensChristinede BalincourtLisaLicitraMarcelden DulkJean-PascalMachielsDamienWeberMartinSpahnRobertoSalgadoBerndKasperPeterHau.Working Groups of Scientific ExpertsFayBetsouKozoKataokaCarmelaCaballeroYanLiuCoenHurkmansSergeEvrard
Quality assurance (QA) programmes are one of the mainstays of clinical research and constitute the pillars on which European Organisation for Research Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) delivers multidisciplinary therapeutic progress. Changing practice treatments require solid evidence-based data, which can only be achieved if integral QA is part of the infrastructure sustaining research projects. Cancer treatment is a multimodality approach, which is often applied either in sequence and/or in combination. Each modality plays a key role in cancer control. The modalities by which QA is applied varies substantially within and across the disciplines. In addition, translational and diagnostic disciplines take an increasing role in the era of precision medicine. Building on the structuring effect of clinical research with fully integrated multidisciplinary QA programmes associated with the solutions addressing the chain of custody for biological material and data integrity as well as compliance ensure at the same time validity of clinical research output but also have a training effect on health care providers, who are more likely to apply such principles as routine. The principles of QA are therefore critical to be embedded in multidisciplinary infrastructure to guarantee therapeutic progress. These principles also provide the basis for the functioning of multidisciplinary tumour board. However, technical, operational and economic challenges which go with the implementation of such programmes require optimal know-how and the coordination of the multiple expertise and such efforts are best achieved through centralised infrastructure.



http://ift.tt/2fF5LoQ

Recovery of 3-Iodothyronamine and Derivatives in Biological Matrixes: Problems and Pitfalls

Thyroid Oct 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10: 1323-1331.


http://ift.tt/2xQnFvu

Do Lower-Risk Thyroid Cancer Patients Who Live in Regions with More Aggressive Treatments Have Better Outcomes?

Thyroid Oct 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10: 1246-1257.


http://ift.tt/2yNCjBu

Future Meetings

Thyroid Oct 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10: 1339-1339.


http://ift.tt/2xRfTSb

87th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association October 18–22, 2017, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Thyroid Oct 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10: 1213-1214.


http://ift.tt/2yNLEJx

Thyroid Hormone Receptor Alpha is Essential to Maintain the Satellite Cell Niche During Skeletal Muscle Injury and Sarcopenia of Aging

Thyroid Oct 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10: 1316-1322.


http://ift.tt/2yOJt8W

Referral Trends for Surgical Management of Graves' Disease

Thyroid Oct 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10: 1337-1338.


http://ift.tt/2xRDxxP

International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Vol.6,No.5 (September 2017)

Orbital Injury in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Sinonasal Inflammatory Disorders: Juntendo's Ten-Year Experience
Orbital Injury, Orbital Complications, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Orbital Fat
Paper Information Full Paper: PDF (Size:336KB)
DOI: 10.4236/ijohns.2017.65009

Catheter in Antrochoanal Polyp: Functions Intact
Antrochoanal Polyp, Catheter
Paper Information Full Paper: PDF (Size:835KB)
DOI: 10.4236/ijohns.2017.65008

http://ift.tt/2m3QcEl

MYC Controls Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Fate Decisions through Regulation of Metabolic Flux

Publication date: Available online 28 September 2017
Source:Cell Stem Cell
Author(s): Timothy S. Cliff, Tianming Wu, Benjamin R. Boward, Amelia Yin, Hang Yin, John N. Glushka, James H. Prestegaard, Stephen Dalton
As human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) exit pluripotency, they are thought to switch from a glycolytic mode of energy generation to one more dependent on oxidative phosphorylation. Here we show that, although metabolic switching occurs during early mesoderm and endoderm differentiation, high glycolytic flux is maintained and, in fact, essential during early ectoderm specification. The elevated glycolysis observed in hPSCs requires elevated MYC/MYCN activity. Metabolic switching during endodermal and mesodermal differentiation coincides with a reduction in MYC/MYCN and can be reversed by ectopically restoring MYC activity. During early ectodermal differentiation, sustained MYCN activity maintains the transcription of "switch" genes that are rate-limiting for metabolic activity and lineage commitment. Our work, therefore, shows that metabolic switching is lineage-specific and not a required step for exit of pluripotency in hPSCs and identifies MYC and MYCN as developmental regulators that couple metabolism to pluripotency and cell fate determination.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Cliff et al. show that, contrary to prior understanding, a metabolic switch away from glycolysis is not a required step for human pluripotent stem cell differentiation, and that, in fact, differentiation to ectoderm requires maintenance of high glycolytic flux via MYC/MYCN activity, indicating its role as a developmental regulator.


http://ift.tt/2xOTWmu

Jak1 Integrates Cytokine Sensing to Regulate Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function and Stress Hematopoiesis

Publication date: Available online 28 September 2017
Source:Cell Stem Cell
Author(s): Maria Kleppe, Matthew H. Spitzer, Sheng Li, Corinne E. Hill, Lauren Dong, Efthymia Papalexi, Sofie De Groote, Robert L. Bowman, Matthew Keller, Priya Koppikar, Franck T. Rapaport, Julie Teruya-Feldstein, Jorge Gandara, Christopher E. Mason, Garry P. Nolan, Ross L. Levine
JAK1 is a critical effector of pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling and plays important roles in immune function, while abnormal JAK1 activity has been linked to immunological and neoplastic diseases. Specific functions of JAK1 in the context of hematopoiesis, and specifically within hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), have not clearly been delineated. Here, we show that conditional Jak1 loss in HSCs reduces their self-renewal and markedly alters lymphoid/myeloid differentiation in vivo. Jak1-deficient HSCs exhibit decreased competitiveness in vivo and are unable to rescue hematopoiesis in the setting of myelosuppression. They exhibit increased quiescence, an inability to enter the cell cycle in response to hematopoietic stress, and a marked reduction in cytokine sensing, including in response to type I interferons and IL-3. Moreover, Jak1 loss is not fully rescued by expression of a constitutively active Jak2 allele. Together, these data highlight an essential role for Jak1 in HSC homeostasis and stress responses.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Selective JAK1 inhibition has emerged as a potential strategy for treating autoimmune and hematological diseases. Levine and colleagues show that Jak1 integrates multiple cytokine signals in normal and malignant HSCs to regulate their self-renewal and quiescence, highlighting further potential therapeutic benefits and risks of Jak1 inhibition.


http://ift.tt/2xPdas2

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Functional Lung Alveolar Epithelial Cells

Publication date: Available online 28 September 2017
Source:Cell Stem Cell
Author(s): Anjali Jacob, Michael Morley, Finn Hawkins, Katherine B. McCauley, J.C. Jean, Hillary Heins, Cheng-Lun Na, Timothy E. Weaver, Marall Vedaie, Killian Hurley, Anne Hinds, Scott J. Russo, Seunghyi Kook, William Zacharias, Matthias Ochs, Katrina Traber, Lee J. Quinton, Ana Crane, Brian R. Davis, Frances V. White, Jennifer Wambach, Jeffrey A. Whitsett, F. Sessions Cole, Edward E. Morrisey, Susan H. Guttentag, Michael F. Beers, Darrell N. Kotton
Lung alveoli, which are unique to air-breathing organisms, have been challenging to generate from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) in part because there are limited model systems available to provide the necessary developmental roadmaps for in vitro differentiation. Here we report the generation of alveolar epithelial type 2 cells (AEC2s), the facultative progenitors of lung alveoli, from human PSCs. Using multicolored fluorescent reporter lines, we track and purify human SFTPC+ alveolar progenitors as they emerge from endodermal precursors in response to stimulation of Wnt and FGF signaling. Purified PSC-derived SFTPC+ cells form monolayered epithelial "alveolospheres" in 3D cultures without the need for mesenchymal support, exhibit self-renewal capacity, and display additional AEC2 functional capacities. Footprint-free CRISPR-based gene correction of PSCs derived from patients carrying a homozygous surfactant mutation (SFTPB^121ins2) restores surfactant processing in AEC2s. Thus, PSC-derived AEC2s provide a platform for disease modeling and future functional regeneration of the distal lung.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Jacob et al. differentiate human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) into type II alveolar cells (iAEC2s). They find that iAEC2s display many of the functions, transcriptomic features, and surfactant-processing capacities that characterize primary cells. Finally, they derive AEC2s from gene-edited, patient-specific PSCs to model surfactant protein B deficiency in vitro.


http://ift.tt/2xO21YF

More on Altruism, Moral Behavior, and Assent by Children for Research

Publication date: Available online 29 September 2017
Source:Clinical Therapeutics
Author(s): Richard Shader




http://ift.tt/2xRgraH

Recovery of 3-Iodothyronamine and Derivatives in Biological Matrixes: Problems and Pitfalls

Thyroid Oct 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10: 1323-1331.


http://ift.tt/2xQnFvu

Do Lower-Risk Thyroid Cancer Patients Who Live in Regions with More Aggressive Treatments Have Better Outcomes?

Thyroid Oct 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10: 1246-1257.


http://ift.tt/2yNCjBu

Future Meetings

Thyroid Oct 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10: 1339-1339.


http://ift.tt/2xRfTSb

87th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association October 18–22, 2017, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Thyroid Oct 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10: 1213-1214.


http://ift.tt/2yNLEJx

Thyroid Hormone Receptor Alpha is Essential to Maintain the Satellite Cell Niche During Skeletal Muscle Injury and Sarcopenia of Aging

Thyroid Oct 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10: 1316-1322.


http://ift.tt/2yOJt8W

Referral Trends for Surgical Management of Graves' Disease

Thyroid Oct 2017, Vol. 27, No. 10: 1337-1338.


http://ift.tt/2xRDxxP

The neural development of conditional reasoning in children: Different mechanisms for assessing the logical validity and likelihood of conclusions

Publication date: December 2017
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 163
Author(s): Flora Schwartz, Justine Epinat-Duclos, Jessica Léone, Jérôme Prado
Scientific and mathematical thinking relies on the ability to evaluate whether conclusions drawn from conditional (if-then) arguments are logically valid. Yet, the neural development of this ability -- termed deductive reasoning -- is largely unknown. Here we aimed to identify the neural mechanisms that underlie the emergence of deductive reasoning with conditional rules in children. We further tested whether these mechanisms have their roots in the neural mechanisms involved in judging the likelihood of conclusions. In a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scanner, 8- to 13-year-olds were presented with causal conditional problems such as "If a baby is hungry then he will start crying; The baby is crying; Is the baby hungry?". In Validity trials, children were asked to indicate whether the conclusion followed out of necessity from the premises. In Likelihood trials, they indicated the degree of likelihood of the conclusion. We found that children who made accurate judgments of logical validity (as compared to those who did not) exhibited enhanced activity in left and medial frontal regions. In contrast, differences in likelihood ratings between children were related to differences of activity in right frontal and bilateral parietal regions. There was no overlap between the brain regions underlying validity and likelihood judgments. Therefore, our results suggest that the ability to evaluate the logical validity of conditional arguments emerges from brain mechanisms that qualitatively differ from those involved in evaluating the likelihood of these arguments in children.



http://ift.tt/2yfpMdl

International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Vol.6,No.5 (September 2017)

Orbital Injury in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Sinonasal Inflammatory Disorders: Juntendo's Ten-Year Experience
Orbital Injury, Orbital Complications, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, Orbital Fat
Paper Information Full Paper: PDF (Size:336KB)
DOI: 10.4236/ijohns.2017.65009

Catheter in Antrochoanal Polyp: Functions Intact
Antrochoanal Polyp, Catheter
Paper Information Full Paper: PDF (Size:835KB)
DOI: 10.4236/ijohns.2017.65008

http://ift.tt/2m3QcEl

Editorial Board/Reviewing Committee

http://ift.tt/2yfoRJV

Closing gaps in brain disease—from overlapping genetic architecture to common motifs of synapse dysfunction

Publication date: February 2018
Source:Current Opinion in Neurobiology, Volume 48
Author(s): Jochen Roeper
Recent progress in the synaptic pathophysiology of brain diseases is reviewed. To emphasize the emergence of common motifs in synapse dysfunctions across neurodevelopmental, psychiatric and neurological disorders, conventional clinical boundaries are disregarded and a decidedly trans-diagnostic, potentially unifying view of altered synapse function is promoted. Based on the overlapping genetic architecture of brain disorders, which often converges on genes related to synaptic functions, disease-related changes in basic pre-synaptic and post-synaptic communication, neuromodulation-gated changes in Hebbian plasticity, dynamic interactions between Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity, and changes in synaptic maintenance by autophagy and glial-mediated phagocytosis are highlighted.



http://ift.tt/2xQasCF

Editorial overview: Computational neuroscience

Publication date: Available online 29 September 2017
Source:Current Opinion in Neurobiology
Author(s): Christian Machens, Adrienne Fairhall




http://ift.tt/2fAjV75

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in salt-affected soils in the Natura 2000 area (Ciechocinek, north-central Poland)

Abstract

This paper aimed to evaluate the ecological risk posed by the accumulation of heavy metals in the salt-affected soils of the habitat covered by the EU Natura 2000 program in relation to the activity of soil redox enzymes. The research was carried out in the halophyte reserve in Ciechocinek (north-central Poland) which is a very specific habitat as it undergoes a long-term human impact related to both the operation of the medical spa town and the agricultural use of soils in the adjacent areas. The obtained results showed that the content of Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd in the studied soils exceeded the Polish standards. Based on the obtained data and statistical analysis, it was found that metals may come from two different sources: emission from household boiler rooms (Pb, Cd) and corroded brine sewage pipeline (Zn, Cu).They are characterized by limited mobility due to alkaline environment and strong sorption properties of the clay fraction and organic matter. The correlation analysis indicates that the dehydrogenase activities were negatively correlated with soil electrical conductivity (EC_1:5) (r = − 0.665, P < 0.05). Taking into account the protective status of the area, it is difficult to indicate definitely the solution concerning the land management. However, according to the authors, one should pay special attention to a possibility of using halophytes which occur within the reserve for phytoremediation.

http://ift.tt/2xEXIPW

Assessment and modeling of E-waste generation based on growth rate from different telecom companies in the State of Kuwait

Abstract

The present work assesses the production rate of cell phone e-waste in Kuwait by comparing the number of clients in three telecommunication service providers like Zain, Ooredoo, and Viva in the state of Kuwait over a period of 7 years from 2008 to 2015. An online survey was conducted to evaluate the growth in the number of clients in three cell phone companies, and the data analysis was carried out using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software. The prediction of the growth percentage of the number of clients in each telecommunication company was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and followed by the regression model. The study shows that there is an increase in the number of clients in all three companies (Zain, Ooredoo, and Viva) between year 2008 and 2015, and it was estimated that approximately 7.9 million cell phone users would be achieved in the first quarter of 2015. Based on this predicted number of cell phone users, the production of e-waste would be 3 kt per year with an average growth of 12.7%.

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Impact of an invasive weed, Parthenium hysterophorus , on a pasture community in south east Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Parthenium weed is a highly invasive alien species in more than 40 countries around the world. Along with severe negative effects on human and animal health and crop production, it also causes harm to ecosystem functioning by reducing the native plant species biodiversity. However, its impacts on native plant species, especially in pasture communities, are less known. Given parthenium weed causes substantial losses to Australian pastures' productivity, it is crucial to estimate its impact on pasture communities. This study evaluates the impact of parthenium weed upon species diversity in a pasture community at Kilcoy, south east Queensland, Australia. Sub-sites containing three levels of parthenium weed density (i.e. high, low and zero) were chosen to quantify the above- and below-ground plant community structure. Species richness, diversity and evenness were all found to be significantly reduced as the density of parthenium weed increased; an effect was evident even when parthenium weed was present at relatively low densities (i.e. two plants m⁻²). This trend was observed in the summer season as well as in winter season when this annual weed was absent from the above-ground plant community. This demonstrates the strong impact that parthenium weed has upon the community composition and functioning throughout the year. It also shows the long-term impact of parthenium weed on the soil seed bank where it had displaced several native species. So, management options used for parthenium weed should also consider the reduction of parthenium weed seed bank along with controlling its above-ground populations.

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Tumor vasculature normalization by orally fed erlotinib to modulate the tumor microenvironment for enhanced cancer nanomedicine and immunotherapy

Publication date: December 2017
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 148
Author(s): Qian Chen, Ligeng Xu, Jiawen Chen, Zhijuan Yang, Chao Liang, Yu Yang, Zhuang Liu
The abnormal tumor vasculature is one of key reasons that lead to the limited tumor perfusion as well as hypoxic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we uncover that by normalizing the tumor vasculature with erlotinib, a specific inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the tumor perfusion and tumor oxygenation statuses in different types of tumors including murine breast tumors, colorectal tumors, and squamous cell carcinoma tumors, could be remarkably enhanced. As the results, the tumor uptake of drug-loaded nanoparticles as well as their interstitial penetration within the tumor would be greatly increased for mice pre-treated with erlotinib at the oral feeding dose of 50 mg/kg, leading to remarkably improved chemotherapeutic efficacy of nanomedicine. On the other hand, owing to the erlotinib-induced normalization of tumor vasculatures, the relieved hypoxic state in the three different types of tumors could alter the immunosuppressive TME into immunosupportive. Such an effect together with the increased tumor retention of anti-PDL1 antibody, a clinically approved checkpoint blockade agent, finally contributes to the greatly improved tumor inhibition effect in cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, our work presents a general yet effective strategy using a clinical drug to enhance the efficacies of cancer nanomedicine and immunotherapy by normalizing tumor vasculatures and modulating TME.



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The training and creativity of professional chefs: Stoking the imagination in global gastronomic discourse

Publication date: 1 December 2017
Source:Appetite, Volume 119
Author(s): Leo Pang
The sameness of eating out has been criticised in some quarters of food media in recent years. In this paper I demonstrate through the case of three chefs in Hong Kong how this sameness is the product of global gastronomic discourse. I suggest that chefs play a crucial role in providing the content that fuels gastronomic discourses and also in delivering the experiences of the discourse on the plate to diners. The experience of chefs in cuisines such as Thai, Vietnamese and Spanish allows them to prepare dishes that attract plaudits from food media and fuel the imagination of potential diners. This experience includes professional training in a cuisine under a well-known exponent of the cuisine, which allows them to be associated with the image of their mentor. The other route is vocational culinary training, which gives the chefs the ability to create dishes that stoke the imagination of diners.



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The effects of dissociation on willingness to eat meat are moderated by exposure to unprocessed meat: A cross-cultural demonstration

Publication date: 1 January 2018
Source:Appetite, Volume 120
Author(s): Jonas R. Kunst, Christian Andrés Palacios Haugestad
Dissociating meat from its animal origins helps consumers deal with the cognitive dissonance resulting from liking meat but disliking causing pain to animals. Extending previous research, we tested whether dissociation would play less of a role for meat consumption in a country where average consumers are more frequently exposed to unprocessed meat (i.e., Ecuador) than where such exposure is rare (i.e., the US). Specifically, we randomly showed Ecuadorians and US Americans a pork roast with the head present or removed. Showing the head led to less dissociation, and subsequently more disgust and empathy for the killed animal in both countries, but to significantly larger degrees in the US. Follow-up analyses with participants' self-reported exposure to unprocessed meat supported the notion that these cross-cultural variations indeed reflected differences in unprocessed meat exposure. In contrast, disgust and empathy, in turn, predicted a lower willingness to eat meat and a higher willingness to choose a vegetarian alternative dish equally in both countries. Because the dissociation part of our model was substantially stronger in the US, it explained about double as much variance in willingness to eat meat and vegetarian choice in the US (63–72%) as compared to Ecuador (30–32%). In sum, the potency of the dissociation mechanism seems to depend on how used consumers in a country are to seeing unprocessed meat, whereas the subsequent affective mechanisms universally influence meat consumption.



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Eating out in Spain: Motivations, sociability and consumer contexts

Publication date: 1 December 2017
Source:Appetite, Volume 119
Author(s): Cecilia Díaz-Méndez, Isabel García-Espejo
Eating out is a consumer practice which is difficult to define. The study of this practice has traditionally been based on the work/leisure dichotomy. However, in Spain this is not so clear. If we analyse profiles, motivations, places and relationships, we discover an eating-out food model which is specific to Spain and in which food is not limited by this dual link with work and leisure. Eating linked to work does not respond only to instrumental needs. Leisure eating is not always a choice based on preference. Both contain a strong element of sociability which acts as a motivator and are linked to the familisme of Spanish society, whilst at the same time de-routinizing daily life, both at home and at work. This study is based on a national survey carried out in 2014 and helps to understand this consumer practice and those elements which are specific to Spain.



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Augmenting fruit and vegetable consumption by an online intervention: Psychological mechanisms

Publication date: 1 January 2018
Source:Appetite, Volume 120
Author(s): Jan Keller, Susannah Motter, Mirjam Motter, Ralf Schwarzer
ObjectiveFruit and vegetable (FV) intake was examined among men and women who participated in an online intervention. The psychological constructs involved were outcome expectancies, behavioral intention, planning, and self-efficacy. One purpose of the analyses was the evaluation of a self-efficacy treatment component. The other purpose of the analyses regarded the role of psychological mechanisms that might be responsible for individual differences in the process of behavior change.DesignA two-arm online intervention with a standard and an enhanced intervention group focusing on FV planning was conducted to improve FV intake, followed up at two and four weeks. The intervention groups differed by the additional inclusion of a self-efficacy ingredient in the enhanced intervention. Linear mixed models examined the intervention effects, and a longitudinal structural equation model explored which psychological constructs were associated with changes in FV intake. Participants were N = 275 adults of whom n = 148 completed the four-week follow-up. Their age range was 18–81 years (Mage = 32.50, SDage = 14.00).ResultsAnalyses yielded an overall increase in self-reported FV intake. Moreover, a triple interaction between time, sex, and experimental groups on self-efficacy emerged, indicating that men, independent of treatment conditions, reported an increase in their confidence to improve FV intake, whereas women developed higher FV self-efficacy when being in the enhanced group instead of the standard group. Planning, self-efficacy, and intention mediated between outcome expectancies, and follow-up FV intake.ConclusionBoth intervention arms produced overall improvements in FV intake. The enhanced intervention resulted in a steeper increase in self-efficacy in women compared to men, and compared to the standard intervention. A psychological mechanism transpired that included a sequence leading from initial outcome expectancies via planning, self-efficacy, and intention towards FV intake.



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The changing meaning of eating out in three English cities 1995–2015

Publication date: 1 December 2017
Source:Appetite, Volume 119
Author(s): Jessica Paddock, Alan Warde, Jennifer Whillans
This paper examines aspects of the experience of eating out in 2015 and its change over time. In 2015 we repeated an earlier study of eating out in three cities in England in with similar coverage of topics and mostly with identically worded questions, and conducted follow-up in-depth interviews with some of the respondents. We focus on the changing reasons and meanings of the activity as breadth of experience in the population augments and eating main meals outside the home becomes less exceptional or special. What we call 'ordinary' events have become more prevalent, and we delineate two forms of 'ordinary' occasions; the 'impromptu' and the 'regularised'. We describe the consequences for popular understanding of the social significance of eating out in 2015, its informalisation and normalisation.



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Bringing the immigrant back into the sociology of taste

Publication date: 1 December 2017
Source:Appetite, Volume 119
Author(s): Krishnendu Ray
The sociology of food consumption has emerged as a robust field with rich empirical material and engaged theorization about taste, omnivorousness, distinction, and practice theory. Nevertheless, there are continuing empirical and conceptual lacunae. Although transnational and rural-to-urban migrants play a crucial role in food businesses in many global cities, they are mostly unaccounted for in the sociology of taste. Taking the American case, in particular based on data from New York City, this article provides reasons for that gap and shows what might be gained if migrants were accounted for in the urban sociology of taste.



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Consumption of food away from home in Bangladesh: Do rich households spend more?

Publication date: 1 December 2017
Source:Appetite, Volume 119
Author(s): Khondoker A. Mottaleb, Dil Bahadur Rahut, Ashok K. Mishra
While consumption of food away from home (FAFH) is an established phenomenon among households in the developed countries, FAFH is a growing phenomenon in many middle-income and rapidly growing developing countries. Although, studies are available on the factors affecting consumption of FAFH in developed countries, there is a paucity of such studies in developing countries. This study examines households' choice of and expenditures on FAFH. We used information from Bangladeshi households and applied a double-hurdle regression model estimation procedure. Findings show that, in general, rich households are spending proportionately less on FAFH and, over time, the trend is continuing. Although households with female members who work in the non-farm sector are more likely to consume FAFH, educated household heads and spouses, and particularly urban households are less likely to consume and spend on FAFH. As the problem of food adulteration by dishonest sellers is rampant in Bangladesh, perhaps it discourages rich, urban and households headed by educated heads and spouses to consume and spend more on FAFH. Based on the findings, some points of interventions are also prescribed in this study.



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Save the Date! Lone Star Rhinology and Rhinoplasty Course Scheduled for November

The Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at UTHealth's McGovern Medical School is proud to sponsor 2017 Lone Star Rhinology... Read the full article...

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Dr. Amber Luong Receives 2017 Helen F. Krause, MD Memorial Trailblazer Award

Amber Luong, MD, PhD, associate professor of otorhinolaryngology, has been recognized with the 2017 Helen F. Krause, MD Memorial Trailblazer... Read the full article...

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ORL Frontiers 2017 Recap

More than 70 physicians and other healthcare professionals attended ORL Frontiers 2017, held last June at the Brown Foundation Institute... Read the full article...

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Transcriptomic responses of the endangered freshwater mussel Margaritifera margaritifera to trace metal contamination in the Dronne River, France

Abstract

The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera is one of the most threatened freshwater bivalves worldwide. In this study, we aimed (i) to study the processes by which water quality might affect freshwater mussels in situ and (ii) to provide insights into the ecotoxicological significance of water pollution to natural populations in order to provide necessary information to enhance conservation strategies. M. margaritifera specimens were sampled in two close sites located upstream or downstream from an illegal dumping site. The renal transcriptome of these animals was assembled and gene transcription determined by RNA-seq. Correlations between transcription levels of each single transcript and the bioaccumulation of nine trace metals, age (estimated by sclerochronology), and condition index were determined in order to identify genes likely to respond to a specific factor. Amongst the studied metals, Cr, Zn, Cd, and Ni were the main factors correlated with transcription levels, with effects on translation, apoptosis, immune response, response to stimulus, and transport pathways. However, the main factor explaining changes in gene transcription appeared to be the age of individuals with a negative correlation with the transcription of retrotransposon-related genes. To investigate this effect further, mussels were classified into three age classes. In young, middle-aged and old animals, transcription levels were mainly explained by Cu, Zn and age, respectively. This suggests differences in the molecular responses of this species to metals during its lifetime that must be better assessed in future ecotoxicology studies.

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Occurrence and source identification of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the Metedeconk River Watershed, New Jersey

Abstract

The Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority (BTMUA), which relies on the Metedeconk River as its primary source of water supply, initiated a perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) source trackdown study in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) after discovering that the concentration of one PFAA, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), was elevated at their raw surface water intake. Water samples were collected over eight sampling events between September 2011 and July 2014. Samples included surface water, groundwater, stormwater, sanitary sewer water, and commercial/industrial process water. Each sample was analyzed for ten PFAAs. Results from a set of samples collected from the 80 km² South Branch Metedeconk River watershed directed the focus of this study to a 7.5-km² area of interest. Within this area, a high concentration of PFAA contamination was documented in a localized zone. Subsequent groundwater sampling led to the identification of a plume of groundwater contamination emanating from an industrial/business park. The suspected source of PFAA detected in the river and drinking water intake was identified to a small industrial facility that used materials containing PFOA. Groundwater PFOA concentrations as high as 70,000 ng/L were found in samples taken within 200 m of the parcel and surface water concentrations as high as 130 ng/L were observed in the river. While various PFAAs were detected in the samples, particularly in groundwater samples, PFOA was identified as the primary contaminant of concern with respect to the river and the BTMUA water supply.

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The effect of vitamin E, l -carnitine, and ginger on production traits, immune response, and antioxidant status in two broiler strains exposed to chronic heat stress

Abstract

The present study was designed to find the effect of natural and synthetic antioxidants on the performance of two broiler strains under high ambient temperature. A total of 320 day-old chicks of Hubbard and Cobb were reared for a period for 21 days under the same nutritional and management systems. On day 21 onward, one subgroup was kept as control while other subgroups were provided with vitamin E (250 mg/kg), ginger (2 g/kg), and l-carnitine (500 mg/kg) in basal diets. Body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (P < 0.05) high in vitamin E-supplemented birds, while feed intake was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in l-carnitine supplemented birds irrespective of the strain. Antibody titer against infectious bursal disease (IBD) and paraoxonase (PON1) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in vitamin E-supplemented birds compared to the other treatments. The number of heterophils and toal oxidant status (TOS) were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in vitamin E-supplemented birds. Blood glucose was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in vitamin E-supplemented birds, while total protein was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in vitamin E-supplemented group. In conclusion, the supplementation of vitamin E at the rate of 250 mg/kg improved the antioxidant status and immune response in the two broiler strains. Further, the two strains perform similarly in terms of performance and other health status parameters with no significant difference.

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Swine flu: Brief overview

Saurabh Srivastava, SN Gaur

Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2017 31(2):37-37



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Diagnostic and treatment challenges in management of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis

Abhishek Bahadur Singh, Rashmi Upadhyay, Nitesh Tayal

Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2017 31(2):38-44

Among infections pertaining to head and neck rhinosinusitis holds a significant position both with regard to the prevalence and morbidity. Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) was initially considered a counterpart of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis when first diagnosed by Sa firstein in 1976 due to its clinical presentations and seemingly similar pathogenesis. Initially only Aspergillus was known as the causative, but now various other fungal species are known to cause chronic rhinosinusitis; hence, the terminology allergic fungal sinusitis was preferred. Exposure to fungi results in similar as asthma in atopic individuals, but then, some nonatopic individuals may also present with similar symptoms. It has also been studied that the presence of serum immunoglobulin E does not ensure the presence of allergy. Till date, there are several controversies regarding pathogenesis, whether humoral or immune mediated, population at risk, variations in presentations, diagnostic parameters, and treatment protocols. In this review, we try to revisit and learn from past documented experiences to further our attempt toward better understanding of the disease process, its diagnosis, and management.

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Prevalence of aeroallergens in patients of bronchial asthma and/or allergic rhinitis in India based on skin prick test reactivity

Raj Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Indu Bisht, Kamal Singh

Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2017 31(2):45-55

Background: Exposures to various aeroallergens play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma (BA) and allergic rhinitis (AR). On the basis of climate change, the prevalence of aeroallergens may vary in different regions. AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of the sensitivity to aeroallergens among patients with BA and/or AR based on skin prick test (SPT) reactivity in India. Settings And Design: This study was conducted at National Centre of Respiratory Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and Department of Respiratory Allergy and Applied Immunology, (Department of Respiratory Medicine), Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 (India). Subjects And Methods: A total of 4835 patients were screened from the Outpatient Department of institute during the period of August 2008 to July 2016. Out of 4835 patients, 4263 patients were performed SPT consisting of 2361 (55.38%) males and 1902 (44.62%) females, with a mean age of 30.06 years were included in the study. Diagnosis of BA and AR was made according to the GINA and ARIA guidelines, respectively. SPT was done with 58 different types of aeroallergens, which included grass pollens, weed pollens, tree pollens, dust, fungi, insects, kapok cotton, wool, and silk antigens. Statistical Analysis Used: Data analysis was done using Excel 2007. Results: Significant skin positive reaction (2 + and above) against aeroallergens were found in 1993 (46.77%) participants including 422 (9.9%) BA patients, 570 (13.37%) AR patients, and 1001 (23.48%) of both BA/AR. The younger adults aged 20–29 years were the foremost commonly affected group with 626 (14.68%) significant skin-positive patients. Among individual allergens, most common aeroallergen was mosquito (30.89%) and least common was Ehretia (0.37%). Conclusions: In different states of India, the mosquito was found the most common sensitizing allergen in BA and/or AR patients. Sensitization was the most common in the younger age group (20–29 years) patients.

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Epidemiology of bronchial asthma among children in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

Alhussen F Khawaji, Abdulhameed Basudan, Abdulrahman Moafa, Mohammed Faqihi, Mohammed Alhazmi, Taher A Mahnashi, Yaseen Haddadi, Abuobaida K Yassin

Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2017 31(2):69-75

Context: Asthma is a global problem, its prevalence varies among different countries and cities and age groups. In children, asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases and one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Aims: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of asthma among children in Jazan Region (JR), Saudi Arabia. Settings And Design: This is study conducted in Jazan region, saudi arabia among school age children. It is a cross-sectional study used a modified international study os asthma and allergy in children questionnaire. Subjects And Methods: The target study population were school age, witth sample size of 1200 distributed to all geographical areas. Statistical Analysis Used: The data had been entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 22.0. Descriptive statistics (e.g., number, percentage) and analytic statistics using Chi-square tests (χ2) to test for the association and/or the difference between two categorical variables will be applied. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The total study population was 1400, most of them were Saudi (1273, 90.9%). Male students were 840 (60.0%), and female students were 560 (40.0%). According to the residency, 811 (57.9%) students were lived in rural, 64.7% of them were male, and 589 (42.1%) of participants lived in urban area. Most of the students lived in plain area (840, 60.0%), and only 16.4% of them lived in mountain area in which 63.5% of them were male. Elementary school students account 54.1% of total students; about 63% of them were male. The prevalence of life-long wheezes was 17.7%. The prevalence of exercise-induced wheeze and wheeze during the last 12 months was 206 (14.7%) and 159 (11.4%), respectively. Students with the past medical history of bronchial asthma were 212 (15.1%), with no clear statistical significant difference in frequency between male and female (P = 0.161). Asthma was confirmed by doctor in 10% of participants. Conclusions: The prevalence of asthma among children in JR is slightly higher than those reported from local and regional reports.

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Study of prevalence of bronchial asthma in school children of 6–12 years of age in rural schools of Tumakuru district

Priyadarshini Bai Govinda Naik, Puttaswamy Ravikumar

Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2017 31(2):56-60

Context: Pediatric asthma is a serious global health problem. The recent rise in the prevalence of asthma was associated with environmental pollution, urbanization, and the change in demography. Aims: The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of asthma in school children of rural parts of Tumakuru district and to study its association with different epidemiological factors. Settings And Design: This study is a questionnaire-based study (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood-Questionnaire) carried out in four randomly selected rural schools of Tumakuru district. Subjects And Methods: The questionnaire was distributed to all the children (n = 1750) and asked to fill the questionnaire with the help of their parents. These questionnaires were given standard scores to diagnose asthma. Other epidemiological factors were also recorded in the questionnaire and studied. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical analysis was done using MSTAT software. Chi-square test was used to get the P value. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of asthma in our study was 3.12% (n = 51). Boys had a slightly higher prevalence 3.36% (n = 32) than girls 2.8% (n = 19). We found 58.8% (n = 30) of these asthmatics had allergic rhinitis and 19.6% (n = 10) had a history of atopy. Overall prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 8.3% (n = 137) and atopy was 1.13% (n = 23). Conclusions: The study showed 3.12% of children are affected with asthma, and its prevalence is significantly associated with epidemiological factors such as family history of allergy, high socioeconomic status, and use of fire wood for cooking.

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Pediatric peak expiratory flow rate nomograms for Ernakulam district

Jomon Mathew John

Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2017 31(2):83-86

Objective: To obtain the normal reference values of peak expiratory flow rates (PEFRs) among healthy school-going children between 8 and 12 years and thereby construct a nomogram. Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthy children attending schools in Ernakulam district over a period of 1 year. PEFR values were recorded using a Mini-Wright peak flow meter, and the best of three readings was documented. Results: Nine hundred and fifty-four students were studied. PEFR increases as the age increases. A similar trend was observed across various heights. Nomograms based on age and height were constructed separately for boys and girls. Conclusion: Established baseline values of PEFR in this study can be useful in diagnosing and following asthmatic children in Ernakulam district.

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Improvement in pulmonary functions and clinical parameters due to addition of breathing exercises in asthma patients receiving optimal treatment

Dipti Agarwal, Prem Parkash Gupta, Sushma Sood

Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2017 31(2):61-68

Background: Breathing exercises have been described to be useful in asthma management. Objective: The aim of this study is to detect the efficacy of breathing exercises (Pranayamas) in asthma patients using spirometric indices, clinical symptoms parameters, and requirement of rescue medications. Methods: A total of 60 stable asthma patients (34 females) diagnosed and received optimal asthma treatment for 3 months or more according to the GINA guidelines were enrolled. All patients continued their respective medications and in addition performed seven breathing exercises (Surya Bhedana Pranayama, Nadi Shuddi Pranayama, Bhramari Pranayama, Surya Nadi Pranayama, Kapal Bhati, Bhastrika, and Om Chanting) under supervision at Yoga center at our Institute for 3 months after inclusion to study. Spirometry, nocturnal symptoms, and the requirement of rescue medicines were assessed before and after breathing exercise intervention. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the dyspnea and wheezing in the study participants. Results: The mean age of asthma patients was 25.45 ± 5.41 years. After breathing exercise intervention, mean forced expired volume in one second increased from 2.492 ± 0.358 L to 2.745 ± 0.343 L and mean peak expiratory flow rate increased from 283.82 ± 51.12 L/min to 336.23 ± 51.47 L/min; the increases were statistically significant. The mean nocturnal symptoms score decreased significantly from 1.416 ± 1.619 to 0.067 ± 0.362. The requirement of rescue medications decreased significantly from 6.23 ± 2.95 to 0.90 ± 1.25 puffs/week. VAS scores for breathlessness and wheezing were significantly decreased. Conclusions: Breathing exercises provided significant improvements in spirometric parameters and significant reduction in breathlessness, wheezing, and nocturnal symptoms as well as requirements of rescue medicines in asthma patients who were receiving optimal asthma treatment.

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Endobronchial aspergilloma mimicking bronchogenic carcinoma removed through flexible fiber-optic bronchoscopy

P Hari Lakshmanan, Muhammed Jasim Abdul Jalal, Dhanya Jacob, Ami Maria Emmanuel

Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2017 31(2):94-96

Endobronchial aspergilloma is a rare, noninvasive aspergillosis. It may be associated with a parenchymal lesion and/or cavity. We describe a case of endobronchial aspergillosis mimicking bronchogenic carcinoma subsequently removed completely through fiber-optic bronchoscope itself. This case report, while highlighting the existence of this unique clinical entity, also throws light on potential treatment option which can be curative.

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Extant ape dental topography and its implications for reconstructing the emergence of early Homo

Publication date: November 2017
Source:Journal of Human Evolution, Volume 112
Author(s): Michael A. Berthaume, Kes Schroer
Dental topography reflects diet accurately in several extant and extinct mammalian clades. However, dental topographic dietary reconstructions have high success rates only when closely related taxa are compared. Given the dietary breadth that exists among extant apes and likely existed among fossil hominins, dental topographic values from many species and subspecies of great apes are necessary for making dietary inferences about the hominin fossil record. Here, we present the results of one metric of dental topography, Dirichlet normal energy (DNE), for seven groups of great apes (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus, Pan paniscus, Pan troglodytes troglodytes and schweinfurthii, Gorilla gorilla gorilla, Gorilla beringei graueri and beringei). Dirichlet normal energy was inadequate at differentiating folivores from frugivores, but was adequate at predicting which groups had more fibrous diets among sympatric African apes. Character displacement analyses confirmed there is substantial dental topographic and relative molar size (M1:M2 ratio; length, width, and area) divergence in sympatric apes when compared to their allopatric counterparts, but character displacement is only present in relative molar size when DNE is also considered. Presence of character displacement is likely due to indirect competition over similar food resources. Assuming similar ecological conditions in the Plio-Pleistocene, the derived masticatory apparatuses of the robust australopiths and early Homo may be due to indirect competition over dietary resources between the taxa, causing dietary niche partitioning. Our results imply that dental topography cannot be used to predict dietary categories in fossil hominins without consideration of ecological factors, such as dietary and geographic overlap. In addition, our results may open new avenues for understanding the community compositions of early hominins and the formation of specific ecological niches among hominin taxa.



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Hippopotamidae (Cetartiodactyla, Hippopotamoidea) from Kanapoi, Kenya, and the taxonomic status of the late early Pliocene hippopotamids from the Turkana Basin

Publication date: Available online 29 September 2017
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Jean-Renaud Boisserie
New hippopotamid specimens recently collected at Kanapoi (ca. 4 Ma) are similar to the taxon previously recognized in this site and referred to aff. Hippopotamus protamphibius. Their examination provided the opportunity to reassess the taxonomic status of this taxon. It appears different from the late Miocene hippopotamids from the Turkana Basin (prominently Archaeopotamus harvardi), but also differs from the late Pliocene–early Pleistocene aff. Hip. protamphibius, which is smaller and displays more advanced features (notably canine expansion and orbit elevation). In contrast, the Kanapoi material appears very similar to the material from the Hadar Formation (3.4 Ma–2.9 Ma). However, the current confusion surrounding the taxonomic status of the Hadar specimens, previously attributed to various taxa that may be identical, does not allow attribution of a specific name to the Kanapoi material for now and, while waiting for the revision of Hadar hippopotamid diversity, it is referred here to aff. Hippopotamus cf. sp. Hadar. This contribution allows recognizing that a large hippopotamid, possibly a transitional form between the late Miocene species and Plio-Pleistocene species, was distributed from Afar to Turkana between 4.2 Ma and 2.95 Ma. The marked endemism of hippopotamids in the Pleistocene rift basins therefore initiated after 2.9 Ma.



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Advances in paper-analytical methods for pharmaceutical analysis

Publication date: 1 January 2018
Source:European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 111
Author(s): Niraj Sharma, Toni Barstis, Basant Giri
Paper devices have many advantages over other microfluidic devices. The paper substrate, from cellulose to glass fiber, is an inexpensive substrate that can be readily modified to suit a variety of applications. Milli- to micro-scale patterns can be designed to create a fast, cost-effective device that uses small amounts of reagents and samples. Finally, well-established chemical and biological methods can be adapted to paper to yield a portable device that can be used in resource-limited areas (e.g., field work). Altogether, the paper devices have grown into reliable analytical devices for screening low quality pharmaceuticals. This review article presents fabrication processes, detection techniques, and applications of paper microfluidic devices toward pharmaceutical screening.

Graphical abstract

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Five-year performance monitoring of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cover system at a reclaimed mine waste rock pile in the Sydney Coalfield (Nova Scotia, Canada)

Abstract

Cover systems are commonly placed over waste rock piles (WRPs) to limit atmospheric water and oxygen ingress and control the generation and release of acid mine drainage (AMD) to the receiving environment. Although covers containing geomembranes such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) exhibit the attributes to be highly effective, there are few, if any, published studies monitoring their performance at full-scale WRPs. In 2011, a HDPE cover was installed over the Scotchtown Summit WRP in Nova Scotia, Canada, and extensive field performance monitoring was conducted over the next five years. A range of parameters within the atmosphere, cover, waste rock, groundwater and surface water, were monitored and integrated into a comprehensive hydrogeochemical conceptual model to assess (i) atmospheric ingress to the waste rock, (ii) waste rock acidity and depletion and (iii) evolution of groundwater and surface water quality. Results demonstrate that the cover is effective and meeting site closure objectives. Depletion in oxygen influx resulted in slower sulphide oxidation and AMD generation, while a significant reduction in water influx (i.e. 512 to 50 mm/year) resulted in diminished AMD release. Consistent improvements in groundwater quality (decrease in sulphate and metals; increase in pH) beneath and downgradient of the WRP were observed. Protection and/or significant improvement in surface water quality was evident in all surrounding watercourses due to the improved groundwater plume and elimination of contaminated runoff over previously exposed waste rock. A variably saturated flow and contaminant transport model is currently being developed to predict long-term cover system performance.

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MicroRNA-191, acting via the IRS-1/Akt signaling pathway, is involved in the hepatic insulin resistance induced by cigarette smoke extract

Abstract

Cigarette smoke causes insulin resistance, which is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the mechanism by which this occurs remains poorly understood. Because the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development of insulin resistance is largely unknown, we investigated, in hepatocytes, the roles of miR-191 in cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced insulin resistance. In L-02 cells, CSE not only decreased glucose uptake and glycogen levels but also reduced levels of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and Akt activation, effects that were blocked by SC79, an activator of Akt. CSE also increased miR-191 levels in L-02 cells. Furthermore, the inhibition of miR-191 blocked the decreases of IRS-1 and p-Akt levels, which antagonized the decreases of glucose uptake and glycogen levels in L-02 cells induced by CSE. These results reveal a mechanism by which miR-191 is involved in CSE-induced hepatic insulin resistance via the IRS-1/Akt signaling pathway, which helps to elucidate the mechanism for cigarette smoke-induced T2DM.

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Optimisation of critical medium components and culture conditions for enhanced biomass and lipid production in the oleaginous diatom Navicula phyllepta : a statistical approach

Abstract

Diatoms hold great promise as potential sources of biofuel production. In the present study, the biomass and lipid production in the marine diatom Navicula phyllepta, isolated from Cochin estuary, India and identified as a potential biodiesel feedstock, were optimized using Plackett-Burman (PB) statistical experimental design followed by central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM). The growth analyses of the isolate in different nitrogen sources, salinities and five different enriched sea water media showed the best growth in the cheapest medium with minimum components using urea as nitrogen source at salinity between 25 and 40 g kg⁻¹. Plackett-Burman experimental analyses for screening urea, sodium metasilicate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, ferric chloride, salinity, temperature, pH and agitation influencing lipid and biomass production showed that silicate and temperature had a positive coefficient on biomass production, and temperature had a significant positive coefficient, while urea and phosphate showed a negative coefficient on lipid content. A 2⁴ factorial central composite design (FCCD) was used to optimize the concentration of the factors selected. The optimized media resulted in 1.62-fold increase (64%) in biomass (1.2 ± 0.08 g L⁻¹) and 1.2-fold increase (22%) in estimated total lipid production (0.11 ± 0.003 g L⁻¹) compared to original media within 12 days of culturing. A significantly higher biomass and lipid production in the optimized medium demands further development of a two-stage strategy of biomass production followed by induction of high lipid production under nutrient limitation or varying culture conditions for large-scale production of biodiesel from the marine diatom.

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Influence of aromatic additives on Bismarck Brown Y dye color removal treatment by Fenton processes

Abstract

The influence of diverse aromatic additives on Fenton processes (Fe²⁺/H₂O₂, Fe³⁺/H₂O₂) has been evaluated by using the Bismarck Brown Y (BBY) di azo dye as target pollutant. Results indicate that all tested Fe³⁺-reducing additives (gallic, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic, and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acids, catechol, and hydroquinone) exhibited pro-oxidant properties during BBY dye color removal, mainly during Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ treatments. For example, in the presence of hydroquinone BBY color removal was increased from 22 to 83% for 60 min through the Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ process. The effect of non-reducing additives was less pronounced, among which salicylic and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids were more efficient at removing dye color than benzoic acid and methylene blue. It was suggested that OH radicals may have converted non-reducing additives into Fe³⁺-reducing intermediates, which had a positive effect on the treatments. On the other hand, antioxidant properties were observed during BBY color removal in the presence of higher concentrations of gallic and salicylic acids. These items of data indicate that a minimum amount of aromatic additive was enough to increase BBY dye color removal by Fenton processes.

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Lung injury and expression of p53 and p16 in Wistar rats induced by respirable chrysotile fiber dust from four primary areas of China

Abstract

Chrysotile products were widely used in daily life, and a large amount of respirable dust was produced in the process of production and application. At present, there was seldom research on the safety of chrysotile fiber dust, and whether its long-term inhalation can lead to lung cancer was unknown. In order to determine whether respirable chrysotile fiber dust of China caused lung cancer, four major chrysotile-producing mine areas in China were selected for this study. Chrysotile fibers were prepared into respirable dust. Particle size was measured by laser particle analysis, morphology was observed by scanning electron microscope, chrysotile fiber phase was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, trace chemical elements were identified by X-ray fluorescence, and the structure and the active groups of the dust were determined after grinding by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Male Wistar rats were exposed to non-exposed intratracheal instillation with different concentrations of chrysotile fiber dust. The rats were weighed after 1, 3, and 6 months, then the lung tissues were separated, the lung morphology was observed, and the pulmonary index was calculated. Pathological changes in lung tissues were observed by optical microscope after the HE staining of tissues, and the gene expression of p53 and p16 was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. First, the results showed that the particle sizes of the four fibers were less than 10 μm. Four primary areas of chrysotile had similar fibrous structure, arranged in fascicles, or mixed with thin chunks of material. Second, the elementary composition of the four fibers was mainly chrysotile, and the structure and the active groups of the grinding dust were not damaged. Third, the weights of the treated rats were obviously lower, and the lung weights and the pulmonary index increased significantly (P < 0.05). Fourth, the treated Wistar rat lung tissues revealed different degrees of congestion, edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, and mild fibrosis. Fifth, the p53 and p16 genes decreased in the Mangnai group after 1 month of exposure, and the other groups increased. The expression of p53 and p16 in each group decreased significantly after 6 months (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the respirable chrysotile fiber dust from the four primary areas of China had the risk of causing lung injury, and these changes may be related to the physical and chemical characteristics of chrysotile from different production areas.

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Effect of pH on hexavalent and total chromium removal from aqueous solutions by avocado shell using batch and continuous systems

Abstract

Solution pH appears to be the most important regulator of the biosorptive removal of chromium ions from aqueous solutions. This work presents a kinetic study of the effects of solution pH on Cr(VI) and total chromium removal from aqueous solution by Hass avocado shell (HAS) in batch and continuous packed bed column systems. Different Cr(VI) and total chromium removal performances of HAS were obtained in pH-shift batch, pH-controlled batch, and continuous systems. These results emphasize the great importance of determining the most appropriate pH for Cr(VI) and total chromium removal, considering the operational mode of the proposed large-scale treatment system. Total chromium biosorption batch kinetics was well described by the Elovich model, whereas in the continuous system, the fitness of the kinetic models to the experimental data was pH dependent. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and kinetic studies clearly indicated that the reaction mechanism of Cr(VI) with HAS was the reductive biotransformation of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), which was partially released to the aqueous solution and partially biosorbed onto HAS.

http://ift.tt/2fYkMPA

Assessment of stream water chemistry and impact of geothermal fluid in the up-Buyuk Menderes Basin, Turkey

Abstract

The discharge of geothermal fluid into the natural water environment may lead to serious damages. In this study, the impact of geothermal waste water on surface water has been investigated in the up-Buyuk Menderes River, Turkey. Thermal return water from district heating and from thermal bath in the Sandıklı region were the most important source of major solutes and trace elements to the up-Buyuk Menderes River and tributaries. The thermal contribution causes a drastic increase in Na, SO₄ ions, EC, and temperature of surface waters. The concentrations of As, Al, B, Fe, Cr, Li, S, P, Pb, U, Mn, and Zn are increasing dramatically downstream of thermal water inputs in the Kufi Creek tributary. In addition to natural thermal water inputs, water quality was impacted by anthropogenic trace and major element inputs from surface waters. The increased of some trace elements (Al, As, B, Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn, P, U) in surface water are related to anthropogenic activities such as agricultural activities, sewage effluents, and stockyards in the study area. Additionally, surface water quality of the up-Buyuk Menderes River and tributaries was evaluated according to standards given by the Environmental Protection Agency of both Turkey and USA. Our study demonstrates the influence of thermal water inputs on water quality of surface waters.

http://ift.tt/2hBBxnf

Life cycle assessment of a printed circuit board manufacturing plant in Turkey

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the environmental impacts of a printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing plant through streamlined life cycle assessment approach. As a result, the most effective recommendations on minimizing the environmental impacts for the mentioned sector are revealed and first steps towards establishing a country specific database are taken. The whole PCB production consists of two consecutive stages: namely board fabrication followed by the manufacturing of PCB. Manufacturing of PCB contributes the highest shares to freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential (FAETP) and ozone layer depletion potential (ODP). Eighty-nine percent of FAETP is found to be generated from the manufacturing of PCB. Almost all of this contribution can be attributed to the disposal of copper containing wastewater treatment sludge from etching operations to incineration. On the other hand, PCB manufacturing has 73% share in total ODP. Within the manufacturing of PCB, as etching operations are found to be of importance for all the impact categories except eutrophication potential (EP), it is recommended to focus further studies on in-plant control of etching.

http://ift.tt/2fYkFn8

Wide band gap Ga 2 O 3 as efficient UV-C photocatalyst for gas-phase degradation applications

Abstract

α, β, γ, and δ polymorphs of 4.6–4.8 eV wide band gap Ga₂O₃ photocatalysts were prepared via a soft chemistry route. Their photocatalytic activity under 254 nm UV-C light in the degradation of gaseous toluene was strongly depending on the polymorph phase. α- and β-Ga₂O₃ photocatalysts enabled achieving high and stable conversions of toluene with selectivities to CO₂ within the 50–90% range, by contrast to conventional TiO₂ photocatalysts that fully deactivate very rapidly on stream in similar operating conditions with rather no CO₂ production, no matter whether UV-A or UV-C light was used. The highest performances were achieved on the high specific surface area β-Ga₂O₃ photocatalyst synthesized by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) as porogen before precipitation, with stable toluene conversion and mineralization rate into CO₂ strongly overcoming those obtained on commercial β-Ga₂O₃. They were attributed to favorable physicochemical properties in terms of high specific surface area, small mean crystallite size, good crystallinity, high pore volume with large size mesopore distribution and appropriate surface acidity, and to the possible existence of a double local internal field within Ga³⁺ units. In the degradation of hydrogen sulfide, PEG-derived β-Ga₂O₃ takes advantage from its high specific surface area for storing sulfate, and thus for increasing its resistance to deactivation and the duration at total sulfur removal when compared to other β-Ga₂O₃ photocatalysts. So, we illustrated the interest of using high surface area β-Ga₂O₃ in environmental photocatalysis for gas-phase depollution applications.

http://ift.tt/2hERt8o

Results of the 2016 International Skin Imaging Collaboration International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging challenge: Comparison of the accuracy of computer algorithms to dermatologists for the diagnosis of melanoma from dermoscopic images

Computer vision may aid in melanoma detection.

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Targeting RNA helicases in cancer: The translation trap

Publication date: Available online 28 September 2017
Source:Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Reviews on Cancer
Author(s): Marise R. Heerma van Voss, Paul J. van Diest, Venu Raman
Cancer cells are reliant on the cellular translational machinery for both global elevation of protein synthesis and the translation of specific mRNAs that promote tumor cell survival. Targeting translational control in cancer is therefore increasingly recognized as a promising therapeutic strategy. In this regard, DEAD/H box RNA helicases are a very interesting group of proteins, with several family members regulating mRNA translation in cancer cells. In this review, we delineate the mechanisms by which DEAD/H box proteins modulate oncogenic translation and how inhibition of these RNA helicases can be exploited for anti-cancer therapeutics.



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EANM'17

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Epidemiology of REM sleep behavior disorder: both study design and measurement tool count

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by both dream enactment behaviors (DEB) and loss of muscle atonia during REM sleep (RSWA).1 To confirm the diagnosis of RBD, a history of DEB reported by patients/caregivers or recorded by video-polysomnography and the demonstration of RSWA during polysomnographic recording are needed.2 However, video-polysomnographic (vPSG) analysis is costly and time-consuming, which significantly limits the feasibility of conducting vPSG study for all subjects in a large-scale epidemiologic study.

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Novel immunologic mechanisms in eosinophilic esophagitis

Publication date: October 2017
Source:Current Opinion in Immunology, Volume 48
Author(s): Julie M Caldwell, Misu Paul, Marc E Rothenberg




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Cranial base length in pediatric populations with sleep disordered breathing: a systematic review

The aim of this study was to review the existing literature on the association between cranial base length (CBL) and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children. Searches were carried out using Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index. Modified NIH (National Institute of Health) quality assessment tool was used to assess risk of bias. Grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) was used to summarize the quality of evidence. Six articles met the inclusion criteria.

http://ift.tt/2x3CRkH

Subcutaneous mastectomy in female-to-male transsexuals – optimizing perioperative and operative management in 8 years clinical experience

The incidence of complications, especially acute hematoma requiring surgical revision in female-to-male transsexuals (FTMTS), is consistently highly documented in literature with up to 33 %. Since 2008 we perform subcutaneous mastectomies in FTMTS with an annually increasing number of cases. Due to an initially high hematoma revision rate in the previously published cohort (2008-2013), we implemented peri- and postoperative preventive measures and compared the results with recent patient cohort (2014-2016).

http://ift.tt/2fYajnh

The Emerging Role of Epigenetic Modifiers in Repair of DNA Damage Associated with Chronic Inflammatory Diseases

Publication date: Available online 28 September 2017
Source:Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research
Author(s): Ning Ding, Ashley R. Maiuri, Heather M. O'Hagan
At sites of chronic inflammation epithelial cells are exposed to high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can contribute to the initiation and development of many different human cancers. Aberrant epigenetic alterations that cause transcriptional silencing of tumor suppressor genes are also implicated in many diseases associated with inflammation, including cancer. However, it is not clear how altered epigenetic gene silencing is initiated during chronic inflammation. The high level of ROS at sites of inflammation is known to induce oxidative DNA damage in surrounding epithelial cells. Furthermore, DNA damage is known to trigger several responses, including recruitment of DNA repair proteins, transcriptional repression, chromatin modifications and other cell signaling events. Recruitment of epigenetic modifiers to chromatin in response to DNA damage results in transient covalent modifications to chromatin such as histone ubiquitination, acetylation and methylation and DNA methylation. DNA damage also alters non-coding RNA expression. All of these alterations have the potential to alter gene expression at sites of damage. Typically, these modifications and gene transcription are restored back to normal once the repair of the DNA damage is completed. However, chronic inflammation may induce sustained DNA damage and DNA damage responses that result in these transient covalent chromatin modifications becoming mitotically stable epigenetic alterations. Understanding how epigenetic alterations are initiated during chronic inflammation will allow us to develop pharmaceutical strategies to prevent or treat chronic inflammation-induced cancer. This review will focus on types of DNA damage and epigenetic alterations associated with chronic inflammatory diseases, the types of DNA damage and transient covalent chromatin modifications induced by inflammation and oxidative DNA damage and how these modifications may result in epigenetic alterations.



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“Path to intended violence” model to understand mass violence in the case of Elliot Rodger

Publication date: Available online 29 September 2017
Source:Aggression and Violent Behavior
Author(s): C.S. Allely, L. Faccini
There have been many different conceptualizations regarding Elliot Rodger's clinical presentation including claims of him having Asperger's Syndrome (Duke, 2014), psychosis and psychopathy (Langman, 2014) and a description of him as an "injustice collector" (O'Toole, 2014). This article proposes that Elliot Rodger's Narcissistic rage and its overlap with the Path of Intended Violence accounted for his attack in May 2014. Essentially, his narcissistic rage (that encompassed his sense of injustice and need for revenge) propelled him onto the Path to Intended Violence. Upon review of the literature and careful analysis of Mr. Rodger's case, we conclude that while these factors are likely more explanatory than factors related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with regards to his mass violence, ASD may still have been a contributory factor. Specifically, not only could narcissistic rage and progression on the Path to Intended Violence account for his attack in 2014 but the strongly indicated existence of Asperger's syndrome or high-functioning ASD also contributed to his difficulties and frustrations that he experienced. This paper highlights the clinical importance of identifying the risk factors or indicators in individuals who are on the Path to Intended Violence in order to inform the development and implementation of appropriate and timely preventative strategies.



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Zumba dancing can improve the pain and functional capacity in women with fibromyalgia

Publication date: Available online 28 September 2017
Source:Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Author(s): José Cortez Assunção Júnior, Hugo Jario de Almeida Silva, José Felipe Costa da Silva, Rafaela da Silva Cruz, Caio Alano de Almeida Lins, Marcelo Cardoso de Souza
IntroductionThe importance of physical exercise for patients with fibromyalgia (FM) is very clear in the literature. Dancing is a type of aerobic exercise that has great acceptance. In addition to the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise, Zumba works on motor coordination and also has socializing as a part that should be included in patients with fibromyalgia.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of Zumba dancing in improving pain, functional capacity, quality of sleep and quality of life of women with fibromyalgia.DesignA pre-post treatment design.MethodsWe evaluated 19 women with fibromyalgia, selected by convenience. Data were collected in the second half of 2016. Zumba dancing was performed twice a week for 12 weeks. Patients were evaluated at week 0 (T0) and at week 12 (T12), by the following instruments: VAS (Visual Analogic Scale), Likert Scale, TUG (Timed Up an Go Test), 6MWT (Six-minute Walk Test), FIQ (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire), PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), ESS (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) and SF-36 quality of life.ResultsWe found differences in pain (VAST0 = 6.21 and VAST12 = 4.53) with p = 0.001 and in the domain physical functioning of SF36 (T0 = 42.37 and T12 = 52.11) with p = 0.04. No differences were found for the other variables between the times.ConclusionZumba dancing as a form of treatment for three months for patients with fibromyalgia was effective in improving pain and physical functioning. Future controlled and randomized clinical trials should be performed to improve the evidence of Zumba dancing in women with fibromyalgia.



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Estimating bone mineral content based on different types of muscle strength tests

Publication date: Available online 28 September 2017
Source:Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Author(s): Lucas Bet da Rosa Orssatto, Ewertton de Souza Bezerra, Bruno Monteiro de Moura, João Antônio Chula de Castro, Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Antônio Renato Pereira Moro, Fernando Diefenthaeler
The aims of this pilot study were to verify which muscle strength tests better explain bone mineral content (BMC) of the femoral neck and lumbar spine and to develop predictive equations to estimate femoral neck and lumbar spine BMC. Twenty-nine subjects aged 56–76 years old (12 women and 17 men) participated in the study. Femoral neck and lumbar spine BMC was evaluated by Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Muscle strength measurements included maximal isometric voluntary contractions of knee extensors and flexors, vertical jump, 5-repetition maximum of the leg press (5-RMLP) and seated leg curl (5-RMLC), and handgrip strength. Women presented a moderate to strong correlation between femoral neck BMC and 5-RMLP (r = 0.819), 5-RMLC (r = 0.879), knee extensors peak torque (r = 0.699), and handgrip strength (r = 0.663), as well as between lumbar spine BMC and the 5-RMLP test (r = 0.845) and manual grip strength (r = 0.699). For females, the 5-RMLP and 5-RMLC tests most fully explained femoral neck BMC (R² = 0.859) and the 5-RMLP test and body mass explained lumbar spine density (R² = 0.757) for females. Men did not present correlations between BMC and strength variables. For females, the 5-RMLP and 5-RMLC variables explained the variations of femoral neck BMC, while 5-RMLP and body mass explained lumbar spine BMC. Future studies should evaluate a larger sample size and prioritize the strength tests with a greater predictive capacity.



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Heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions using engineered magnetic biochars derived from waste marine macro-algal biomass

Publication date: 15 February 2018
Source:Science of The Total Environment, Volume 615
Author(s): Eun-Bi Son, Kyung-Min Poo, Jae-Soo Chang, Kyu-Jung Chae
Despite the excellent sorption ability of biochar for heavy metals, it is difficult to separate and reuse after adsorption when applied to wastewater treatment process. To overcome these drawbacks, we developed an engineered magnetic biochar by pyrolyzing waste marine macro-algae as a feedstock, and we doped iron oxide particles (e.g., magnetite, maghemite) to impart magnetism. The physicochemical characteristics and adsorption properties of the biochar were evaluated. When compared to conventional pinewood sawdust biochar, the waste marine algae-based magnetic biochar exhibited a greater potential to remove heavy metals despite having a lower surface area (0.97m²/g for kelp magnetic biochar and 63.33m²/g for hijikia magnetic biochar). Although magnetic biochar could be effectively separated from the solution, however, the magnetization of the biochar partially reduced its heavy metal adsorption efficiency due to the biochar's surface pores becoming plugged with iron oxide particles. Therefore, it is vital to determine the optimum amount of iron doping that maximizes the biochar's separation without sacrificing its heavy metal adsorption efficiency. The optimum concentration of the iron loading solution for the magnetic biochar was determined to be 0.025–0.05mol/L. The magnetic biochar's heavy metal adsorption capability is considerably higher than that of other types of biochar reported previously. Further, it demonstrated a high selectivity for copper, showing two-fold greater removal (69.37mg/g for kelp magnetic biochar and 63.52mg/g for hijikia magnetic biochar) than zinc and cadmium. This high heavy metal removal performance can likely be attributed to the abundant presence of various oxygen-containing functional groups (COOH and OH) on the magnetic biochar, which serve as potential adsorption sites for heavy metals. The unique features of its high heavy metal removal performance and easy separation suggest that the magnetic algae biochar can potentially be applied in diverse areas that require biosorbents for pollutant removal.

Graphical abstract

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