Close proximity to blast: No long-term or lasting effect on cognitive performance in service members with and without TBI during blast exposure.

OBJECTIVE: Blast related characteristics may contribute to the diversity of findings on whether mild traumatic brain injury sustained during war zone deployment has lasting cognitive effects. This study aims to evaluate whether a history of blast exposure at close proximity, defined as exposure within 30 feet, has long-term or lasting influences on cognitive outcomes among current and former military personnel. METHOD: One hundred participants were assigned to one of three groups based on a self-report history of blast exposure during combat deployments: 47 close blast, 14 non-close blast, and 39 comparison participants without blast exposure. Working memory, processing speed, verbal learning/memory, and cognitive flexibility were evaluated using standard neuropsychological tests. In addition, assessment of combat exposure and current post-concussive, posttraumatic stress, and depressive symptoms, and headache was performed via self-report measures. Variables that differed between groups were controlled as covariates. RESULTS: No group differences survived Bonferroni correction for family-wise error rate; the close blast group did not differ from non-close blast and comparison groups on measures of working memory, processing speed, verbal learning/memory, or cognitive flexibility. Controlling for covariates did not alter these results. CONCLUSION: No evidence emerged to suggest that a history of close blast exposure was associated with decreased cognitive performance when comparisons were made with the other groups. Limited characterization of blast contexts experienced, self-report of blast distance, and heterogeneity of injury severity within the groups are the main limitations of this study.

Validity of the CES-D for depression screening in military service members with a history of mild traumatic brain injury.

Primary Objective: To advance knowledge about the value of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression scale (CES-D) for depression screening in military service members with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Research Design: Retrospective data from 336 military service members with a history of mTBI were extracted from a TBI Repository at a large military medical center. Participants included in this study screened positive for mTBI in a primary care clinic or soldier readiness processing center and were enrolled in the TBI repository from November 6, 2014 to May 31, 2017. At the time of enrollment, participants completed the CES-D and their electronic medical records (EMR) were searched for diagnoses of depressive disorders. Methods and Procedures: Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the CES-D was used to discriminate cases with and without depression diagnoses. Main Outcomes and Results: Area under the ROC curve (AUC) was .897. Sensitivity (.824) and specificity (.826) were maximized at a cut score of 18 or greater, slightly higher than the standard cut of 16 established for civilian samples. Conclusions: Results suggest that the CES-D is a valid screening instrument for depressive disorders in military samples with a history of mTBI.

[Expression and clinical significance of Ser10 phosphorylated p27(kip1) protein in human breast carcinoma].

Objective: To explore the expression and clinicopathological significance of Ser10 phosphorylated p27(kip1)(P-p27Ser10) protein in human breast carcinoma tissue. Methods: Tissue specimens were obtained from 111 cases with breast carcinoma from January 2004 to December 2005. And the expression of P-p27Ser10 protein for each specimen was detected by immunohistochemical (EnVision) analysis. Six representative paired samples of cancerous and paired adjacent normal tissues were collected and detected by Western blot. The relationships between the expression levels of P-p27Ser10 protein and its clinicopathological characteristics in primary breast carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed.The association of P-p27Ser10 and Jab1 protein was detected by co-immunoprecipitation method. Results: A high-level expression of P-p27Ser10 was present in cancerous tissues but not in paired adjacent normal tissues. The positive expression rate of P-p27Ser10 protein was as high as 88.3% (98/111) and 7.2% (8/111) in cancerous and paired adjacent normal tissues respectively (P<0.05). P-p27Ser10 expression was correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (all P<0.05). P-p27Ser10 expression was significantly correlated with Ki-67 (r=0.582, P<0.05), and inversely correlated with p27 (r=-0.426, P<0.05). Co-immunoprecipitation revealed that the association of P-p27Ser10 and Jab1 protein was increased in breast carcinoma. Conclusion: Over-expression of P-p27Ser10 protein might play an important role in the pathogenesis of breast carcinoma. P-p27Ser10 protein therefore represents a novel diagnostic marker and therapeutic target in patients with breast carcinoma.

Differential necrophoric behaviour of the ant Solenopsis invicta towards fungal-infected corpses of workers and pupae.

Necrophoric behaviour is critical sanitation behaviour in social insects. However, little is known about the necrophoric responses of workers towards different developmental stages in a colony as well as its underlying mechanism. Here, we show that Solenopsis invicta workers display distinct necrophoric responses to corpses of workers and pupae. Corpses of workers killed by freezing (dead for <1 h) were carried to a refuse pile, but pupal corpses would take at least 1 day to elicit workers' necrophoric response. Metarhizium anisopliae-infected pupal corpses accelerated the necrophoric behaviour of resident workers, with 47.5% of unaffected corpses and 73.8% infected corpses discarded by 1 day post-treatment). We found that fungus-infected pupal corpses had a higher concentration of fatty acids (palmitic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid) on their surface. We experimentally confirmed that linoleic and oleic acids would elicit a necrophoric response in workers. The appearance of linoleic and oleic acids appeared to be chemical signals involved in recognition of pupal corpses, and M. anisopliae infection could promote the accumulation of fatty acids on surface of pupal corpses resulting in accelerated necrophoric responses of workers.

First Report of Tomato yellow leaf curl Kanchanaburi virus Infecting Eggplant in Laos.

Tomato yellow leaf curl Kanchanaburi virus (TYLCKaV) is a bipartite begomovirus (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) reported to infect tomato and eggplant in Thailand and Vietnam (1,2). In April 2013, eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) plants exhibiting yellow mosaic symptoms were found in a suburb of Vientiane, Laos. Three symptomatic samples were collected. Total DNA was extracted from leaves by the CTAB method, and used as template for PCR using the degenerate primer pair AV494/CoPR (3). The PCR results suggested that the plants were infected by a begomovirus. The begomoviral genome was amplified by rolling circle amplification (RCA) with TempliPhi kit (GE Healthcare) following the manufacturer's protocol. RCA product was digested with the endonucleases BamH I, EcoR I, Hind III, Kpn I, Pst I, and Xba I, respectively. The fragments about 2.1 kbp (with Pst I digestion) and 1.5 kbp (with Xba I digestion) in size were cloned and sequenced. The sequence of the 2.1-kbp fragment showed similarity with begomovirus DNA-A component. A pair of primers for amplification of the full-length DNA-A, AF (5'-CTTCATCGTTTCTCAGCATCAT-3') and AR (5'-CACTTGCACACGATCTCTAAGA-3') were designed from the 2.1-kbp sequence. The full-length DNA-A was 2,752 nucleotides and encoded six putative ORFs (GenBank Accession No. KF218820). The sequence of the 1.5-kbp fragment shared similarity with begomoviruses DNA-B. The begomoviral circular DNA-B was amplified using the pair of primers BF (5'-GTAACAGCCGAAGTGCACG-3') and BR (5'-AATGGAGAGACACCAGTCTGCC-3') designed from the 1.5-kbp sequence. PCR yielded a product of expected size (~1.4 kbp). The full-length DNA-B sequence was obtained by assembling the two sequences. The DNA-B was 2,734 nucleotides and encoded two putative ORFs (GenBank Accession No. KF218821). The sequences of DNA-A and DNA-B of isolate Laos shared the highest nucleotide sequences identities at 99.0% and 98.0% with those of TYLCKaV-[TH:Kan 1:01] (AF511529), and [TH:Kan 2:Egg:01] (AF511527), respectively. The results indicated that the virus associated with eggplant yellow mosaic disease was an isolate of TYLCKaV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this begomovirus in Laos. Our results indicate that this virus may be spreading in Southeast Asia and scientists there should be aware of this virus when developing begomovirus-resistant varieties of tomato or eggplant. References: (1) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 87:446, 2003. (2) C. Ha et al. J. Gen. Virol. 89:312, 2008.(3) Z. F. He et al. Arch. Virol. 154:1199, 2009.

Comparison of effects of transversus abdominis plane block and thoracic epidural anesthesia mediated activation of inflammasome on postoperative medication, pain, and recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This work was developed to compare the effects of transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) and thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) mediated activation of inflammasome on postoperative medication, pain, and recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Then, the effects of two anesthesia methods on postoperative analgesia of patients were investigated and compared, aiming to provide reference for the selection of postoperative analgesia methods of laparoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this work, patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery were rolled into a TAPB group (30 patients) and a TEA group (30 patients). The blood pressure and stress indexes of the patients at different time points were observed and compared, and the doses of anesthetic drugs were recorded. Postoperative pain scores were evaluated, and postoperative recovery of the two groups was compared. Meanwhile, the peripheral venous bloods were extracted from the two groups before and after surgery for the determination of inflammasome proteins, and the detection results were compared. RESULTS: Data showed that the dose of sufentanil in TEA group was notably inferior to that in TAPB group (p<0.05). The blood pressure indexes in the TEA group decreased remarkably (p<0.05), while their changes in the TAPB group were stable. The slower point heart rate (HR), lower mean arterial pressure (MAP), and lower levels of cortisol (Cor) and norepinephrine (NE) in the TEA group were found when compared with the TAPB group during the period from pneumoperitoneum establishment to post-ventilation. After pneumoperitoneum establishment, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) in the TEA group was lower than that in the TAPB group at the same time point (p<0.05). The postoperative visual analog scales (VAS) score and numerical rating scale (NRS) score in TEA group were lower than those in TAPB group (p<0.05). After surgery, the protein level in TEA group was significantly lower than that in TAPB group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In short, the activation of inflammasome mediated by TEA could reduce the anesthetic agents used after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery and reduce the surgical stress response. In addition, TEA exerted a little effect on early immunity, which was safe and feasible, contributing to postoperative analgesia and recovery. In addition, its application value in laparoscopic postoperative analgesia was higher than TAPB.

Proprioception more impaired distally than proximally in subjects with hemispheric dysfunction.

Holmes noted that with hemispheric injuries proprioceptive disturbances were more marked in the distal than proximal limb segments and proposed that this difference was related to the size of cortical sensory representations. An alternative hypothesis is that sensation from distal segments projects to the contralateral hemisphere and sensation from proximal segments projects to both hemispheres. Selective hemispheric anesthesia was used to test these alternative hypotheses and revealed a decrement in distal but not proximal proprioception with hemispheric anesthesia, thereby supporting the bilateral projection hypothesis.

Anosognosia and confabulation during the Wada test.

Feinberg et al. proposed that right-hemisphere-damaged stroke patients with anosognosia for hemiplegia (AHP) confabulate seeing stimuli on the left side but those without AHP admit to having inadequate visual information. This study examines the relationship between AHP and confabulation using selective anesthesia of the cerebral hemispheres. Seventeen patients with intractable epilepsy were tested during intracarotid methohexital infusion. For half of the trials, subjects were stimulated on their paretic hand with a material (sandpaper, metal, or cloth), and for the remaining trials they were not stimulated. The subjects were trained to use a pointing response to indicate if they been stimulated and the type of material they had felt. Admission of uncertainty was defined as pointing to a question mark. Confabulation was defined as any material response to a no-touch trial. During anesthesia of either hemisphere, subjects with and without AHP confabulated responses. The AHP and non-AHP groups did not differ in admission of uncertainty. Our results support the postulate that confabulation and AHP are independent disorders, and therefore confabulation cannot fully account for AHP.

Epigallocatechin suppression of proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells: correlation with c-jun and JNK.

1. The mechanisms of the antiproliferative effect of epigallocatechin, one of the catechin derivatives found in green tea, in vascular smooth muscle cells were studied. The proliferative response was determined from the uptake of tritiated thymidine. 2. In the concentration range of 10(-6) to 10(-4) M, catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate and epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, concentration-dependently inhibited the proliferative response stimulated by serum in rabbit cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. Catechin and epicatechin were less effective in inhibiting the serum-stimulated smooth muscle cell proliferation, indicating that the galloyl group may be important for full inhibitory activity. 3. Epigallocatechin (EGC) inhibited the proliferative responses in different cells including rat aortic smooth muscle cells (A7r5 cells), rabbit cultured aortic smooth muscle cells, human coronary artery smooth muscle cells, and human CEM lymphocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. The possible mechanisms of the antiproliferative effect of EGC were further studied in A7r5 cells. 4. The membranous protein tyrosine kinase activity stimulated by serum in A7r5 cells was significantly reduced by 10(-5) M EGC. In contrast, the cytosolic protein kinase C activity stimulated by phorbol ester was unaffected by directly incubating with EGC (10(-6)-10(-4) M). 5. We also performed Western blot analysis using the anti-phosphotyrosine monoclonal antibody PY20. EGC (10(-5) M) reduced the levels of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins with different molecular weights, indicating that EGC may inhibit the protein tyrosine kinase activity or stimulate the protein phosphatase activity. 6. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of c-fos, c-jun and c-myc mRNA levels demonstrated that c-jun mRNA level after serum-stimulation was significantly reduced by 10(-5) M EGC. However, the reduction of c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels by 10(-5) M EGC did not achieve significance. 7. Western blot analysis using the antibody against JNK (c-jun N-terminal kinase) and ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) demonstrated that the level of phosphorylated JNK1, but not phosphorylated ERK1 and ERK2, was reduced by 10(-5) M EGC. Direct measurement of kinase activity by immune complex kinase assay confirmed that JNK1 activity was inhibited by EGC treatment. These results demonstrate that EGC preferentially reduced the activation of JNK/SAPK (stress-activated protein kinase) signal transduction pathway. 8. It is suggested that the antiproliferative effect of epigallocatechin on vascular smooth muscle cells may partly be mediated through inhibition of protein tyrosine kinase activity, reducing c-jun mRNA expression and inhibiting JNK1 activation. Tea catechins may be useful as a template for the development of drugs to prevent the pathological changes of atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis.

The possible mechanisms of the antiproliferative effect of fullerenol, polyhydroxylated C60, on vascular smooth muscle cells.

1. The possible mechanisms of the antiproliferative effect of polyhydroxylated fullerene (fullerenol), a novel free radical trapper, were studied in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (A7r5 cells) and compared with the effect of ascorbic acid. 2. Fullerenol-1 and ascorbic acid inhibited the proliferative responses in a number of cells, including rat aortic smooth muscle cells (A7r5 cells), human coronary artery smooth muscle cells, and human CEM lymphocytes (CEM cells) in a concentration dependent manner. 3. At the concentration range of 10(-6) to 10(-2) M, fullerenol-1 and ascorbic acid concentration-dependently inhibited the proliferative responses stimulated by serum in A7r5 cells. Fullerenol-1 was more potent than ascorbic acid. 4. The production of O2- induced by alloxan, a diabetogenic compound, was reduced by fullerenol-1 (10(-4) M) in the presence of A7r5 cells. 5. The cytosolic protein kinase C activity of A7r5 cells stimulated by phorbol ester was reduced by 10(-3) M fullerenol-1, but not ascorbic acid (10(-4)-10(-2) M) and fullerenol-1 at lower concentrations (10(-6)-10(-4) M). 6. In contrast, the membraneous protein tyrosine kinase activity of A7r5 cells stimulated by foetal calf serum was significantly reduced by fullerenol-1 (10(-6)-10(-3) M) and ascorbic acid (10(-4)-10(-2) M). Again, the inhibitory activity of fullerenol-1 was greater than that of ascorbic acid. 7. Our results demonstrate that fullerenol-1 and ascorbic acid exhibit inhibitory effects on transduction signals in addition to their antioxidative property. It is suggested that the antiproliferative effect of fullerenol-1 on vascular smooth muscle cells may partly be mediated through the inhibition of protein tyrosine kinase.

Genetic mechanism of leukemia predisposition in a family with 7 cases of acute myeloid leukemia.

This paper describes a family in which seven members, involving three consecutive generations, suffered from acute myeloid leukemia during the past 16 years. The genetic abnormalities were vertically transmitted in a Mendelian dominant manner without sex linkage. Cytogenetic approaches, such as G-banding karyotypes, micronuclei (MN), chromosome aberrations (CA), fragile sites (Fra), cell cycle time (Tc), sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), silver-staining nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NOR), and silver-staining acrocentric chromosome satellite association (Ag-AA), were investigated on 19 presently healthy members of the family, compared with 10 normal controls. The results showed that their G-banding chromosome karyotypes were normal, without a single similarly located fragile site being found to be carried commonly by the blood relations, although the rare fragile site frequency in the blood relations group was higher than that in the non-blood relations group or normal controls. On the other hand, SCE and Ag-NOR were lowered in the blood relations. In III-13 and IV-3 of the pedigree, in particular, the prolonged cell cycle time with distinctly abnormal SCE and Ag-NOR might predict a high risk for leukemia. Hence the follow-up of this remarkable family is being continued.

A study on a family with high incidence of leukemia.

A family with a high incidence of leukemia was investigated and followed up for 10 years. Up to now, 7 of 48 members in this family had acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. Chromosomal aberration was found in 3 healthy members, 2 of whom were found to have 47, XX, +5, -8, +Mar, del (7) (q22-qter) and 45, XO, -Y chromosomes and developed this disease 5 and 7 years later respectively. Pedigree analysis suggested that the hereditary defect in the family should rest on the maternal lineage. It is considered that hereditary factors play an important part in the pathogenesis of leukemia in the family.

[Clinical observation on the changes in plasma cyclic nucleotides in patients with leukemia before and after treatment and their relation to cell-mediated immunity].

UNLABELLED: Level of plasma cyclic nucleotides was determined in 47 normal subjects and 63 patients with leukemia. Follow-up was carried out in 20 of these patients. The relation between the level of cyclic nucleotides and cell-mediated immunity was studied. THE RESULTS: There was no significant difference in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) between the normal subjects and leukemic patients, whereas cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) level was markedly elevated and cAMP/cGMP ratio was obviously reduced in the untreated and unrelieved patients. There was no significant difference in the various types of leukemia. In patients with complete remission (CR) after treatment, their cyclic nucleotides were similar to those in normal subjects, but they remained abnormal in patients without clinical remission after treatment. In CR patients treated regularly for half a year, the cGMP level when first diagnosed was lower than that of patients who died soon or were unrelieved. Plasma cGMP level was negatively correlated to E-rosette forming cell (E-RFC) and cAMP/cGMP ratio was positively correlated to E-RFC. These results suggest that the plasma cGMP be used as additional parameter to monitor the treatment response and prognosis. Reduced E-RFC in leukemia may be related to the elevated cGMP and/or lowered cAMP/cGMP ratio.

[Active factors released by endothelial cells in acute leukemia].

In recent years, it is known that endothelial cells play an important role in the genesis of some diseases, but there are only few papers dealing with the role of endothelial cells in leukemia. In this study some of the active factors released by the endothelial cells in patients with acute leukemia such as von Willebrand factor, prostaglandin, fibronectin, tissue-type plasminogen activator and its inhibitor were determined. It was found that the levels of these factors changed significantly in patients with acute leukemia, as compared with those in normal controls, especially in cases with bleeding tendency and infection. The possible mechanism and the clinical significance were discussed.

[Biphenotypic acute leukemia. Clinical, morphological, cytochemical and immunophenotypic studies].

The blast cells from 2 cases of acute leukemic patients classified as M1 type by FAB criterion simultaneously expressed lymphoid markers such as SmIgG, CD19, CD20, DR, PAS in case 1 and CD9, CD10, DR, PAS in case 2. The blast cells of these two cases also expressed CD38 antigen. The data on phenotype and cytochemistry in these two cases fulfil the criteria of biphenotypic acute leukemia proposed by Dr. Gale. The problems in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this kind of mixed acute leukemia were discussed.

[Epidemiological study of blood stasis and plasma tissue plasminogen activator and its inhibitor activity in healthy aged].

According to the blood stasis survey of 77 healthy subjects in presenile geriatric period, in comparison with 35 healthy young people, it was found the 51.79% of healthy subjects had blood stasis. The detectable rate were significantly different among various age groups (P < 0.005), and the rate increase was age-dependent. Chromogenic peptide substrate analytical method was used to detect plasma tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity and ratio of P/t. The result revealed that the activity of plasma t-PA in presenile geriatric period subjects was significantly higher than that of young people (P < 0.01), but the activity of PAI had no difference in various age groups, and the ratio of P/t was markedly decreased. It showed that this was the physiological compensatory reaction of aging organism against hypercoagulability, and it was an effective way to maintain the physiological balance of the aged.

[Effect of age on hemostasis and plasma level of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha].

UNLABELLED: Hemostasis (HS) in 134 healthy subjects of over 20 years old was investigated. The cases with HS symptom were 45.5%, which increased with age. TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and T/K ratio were measured by radioimmuno assay (RIA). RESULTS: elevation of TXB2 was more significant in the middle age and old age than in the young group (P < 0.01). But the level of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in various age group didn't changed significantly; while the ratio between TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was more significant in the aged than in the young person (P < 0.01). The results revealed that there was hypercoagulable tendency with the increase of age, and it was correlated with TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. It is significant in theory and practice to prevent and cure the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease as well as HS with the traditional Chinese medicine.

Sexual function and health-related quality of life following anterior vaginal wall surgery for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

To assess female sexual function (FSF) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following anterior vaginal wall surgeries for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The retrospective study consisted of 116 patients. Chinese translations of the modified Lemack Questionnaire (not validated) and Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-Short Form 20 were used to assess FSF and HRQOL, 3 months pre-operatively and 12-24 months (mean 16.8 months) post-operatively. Sixty-one (52.6%, 29 in SUI group and 32 in POP group) of patients were sexually active before and after the operation. Overall, 12 (19.7%, six in SUI group and six in POP group) reported an improvement in overall intercourse satisfaction, 21 (34.4%, 8 in the SUI and 13 in the POP group) were decreased and 28 (45.9%, 15 in SUI group and 13 in POP group) were unchanged. Incidence of coital incontinence decreased significantly in SUI group. Frequency of intercourse decreased, vaginal dryness and pain due to it and asymptomatic vaginal narrowing increased significantly, following the surgery in POP group. There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of intercourse in SUI group, patients' perception of intercourse, frequency of orgasm and the importance of sex life in both groups. Partner discomfort remained unchanged. HRQOL improved significantly after the operation in both groups. There was no association between HRQOL and FSF in the post-operative period. In most patients, overall FSF did not impaired. All trans-anterior vaginal wall surgery positively impacted on the patients' HRQOL. A prospective study with validated questionnaire is necessary in future.