Minor physical anomalies in adolescents at risk for substance use and early sex.

Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) are associated with disruptions of fetal development. We propose that the same genetic compositions that contribute to the presence of MPAs, also predispose individuals to health-compromising behaviors, thus considering MPAs as particular endophenotypes.We developed a screening questionnaire for problematic conduct, substance abuse, and early sexual practice. A total of 108 adolescents (55 males, 50.9%) aged 11 to 19 years were recruited and further divided into case and control groups according to their answers to the questions of health behaviors mentioned above. We then measured their MPAs that included qualitative and quantitative physical features. Stepwise logistic regression and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to determine the predictive values of MPAs for behavioral outcomes.The obliquity of palpebral fissure and the head MPAs were negatively associated with substance use. In the ROC analysis, the model provided an area under curve (AUC) of 0.91 with prediction indices being 0.89 for sensitivity and 0.85 for specificity. In addition, the feet MPAs and outer canthal distance were positively, whereas the obliquity of palpebral fissure and ear rotation was negatively associated with early sexual practices. The AUC for early sexual practice was 0.91 and the prediction indexes were 0.87 for sensitivity and 0.88 for specificity.Certain MPAs were associated with adolescent substance use and early sex, which suggests a neurodevelopmental etiology for behavioral outcomes.

Comparison between traditional and small-diameter tube-assisted bronchoscopic balloon dilatation in the treatment of benign tracheal stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy between using a small-diameter tube-assisted bronchoscopic balloon dilatation (BBD) and the traditional BBD in the treatment of benign tracheal stenosis. METHODS: A retrospective study included 58 patients with benign tracheal stenosis from August 2009 to December 2014 was made. The patients who underwent traditional BBD were divided into group A, and who underwent a small-diameter tube-assisted BBD were divided into group B. The tracheal diameter, dyspnea index and blood gas analysis results were detected before and after BBD. Efficacy and complications were evaluated after BBD. RESULTS: There were significant differences in oxygen saturation (PaO2 ) during the operations comparing with before and after operations in group A (P = .005), while there was no significant difference in group B (P = .079). The tracheal diameter obviously increased (in group A, from 4.16 ± 1.43 mm to 12.47 ± 1.41 mm, P = .000; in group B: from 4.94 ± 1.59 mm to 12.61 ± 1.41 mm, P = .000). Dyspnea index obviously decreased (group A: from 3.21 ± 0.93 to 0.50 ± 0.59, P = .000; group B: from 3.24 ± 0.89 to 0.65 ± 0.69, P = .000). The immediately cure rate in both groups was 100%. Long-term effect was significantly better in group B than that in group A (85.3% vs 59.1%, P = .021), at the end of the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Small-diameter tube-assisted BBD obtains better safety and long-term efficacy than the traditional BBD in the treatment of benign tracheal stenosis. However, close attention should be given to the risk of the adverse effects caused by carbon dioxide retention.

Management of Benign Tracheal Stenosis by Small-diameter Tube-assisted Bronchoscopic Balloon Dilatation.

BACKGROUND: A limitation of bronchoscopic balloon dilatation (BBD) is that airflow must be completely blocked for as long as possible during the operation. However, the patient often cannot hold his or her breath for a long period affecting the efficacy of the procedure. In this study, we used an extra-small-diameter tube to provide assisted ventilation to patients undergoing BBD and assessed the efficacy and safety of this technique. METHODS: Bronchoscopic balloon dilatation was performed in 26 patients with benign tracheal stenosis using an extra-small-diameter tube. The tracheal diameter, dyspnea index, blood gas analysis results, and complications were evaluated before and after BBD. Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS version 16.0 for Windows (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: Sixty-three BBD procedures were performed in 26 patients. Dyspnea immediately improved in all patients after BBD. The tracheal diameter significantly increased from 5.5 ± 1.5 mm to 13.0 ± 1.3 mm (P < 0.001), and the dyspnea index significantly decreased from 3.4 ± 0.8 to 0.5 ± 0.6 (P < 0.001). There was no significant change in the partial pressure of oxygen during the operation (before, 102.5 ± 27.5 mmHg; during, 96.9 ± 30.4 mmHg; and after, 97.2 ± 21.5 mmHg; P = 0.364), but there was slight temporary retention of carbon dioxide during the operation (before, 43.5 ± 4.2 mmHg; during, 49.4 ± 6.8 mmHg; and after, 40.1 ± 3.9 mmHg; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Small-diameter tube-assisted BBD is an effective and safe method for the management of benign tracheal stenosis.

Yeast ribosomal protein L12 is a substrate of protein-arginine methyltransferase 2.

Type III protein-arginine methyltransferase from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (RMT2) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to apparent homogeneity. The cytosolic, ribosomal, and ribosome salt wash fractions from yeast cells lacking RMT2 were used as substrates for the recombinant RMT2. Using S-adenosyl-l-methionine as co-substrate, RMT2 methylated a protein in the ribosome salt wash fraction. The same protein in the ribosomal fraction was also methylated by RMT2 after pretreating the sample with endonuclease. Amino acid analysis affirmed that the labeling products were delta-N-monomethylarginines. The methylated protein from the ribosomal or the ribosome salt wash fraction was isolated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and identified as ribosomal protein L12 by mass spectrometry. Using synthetic peptides, recombinant L12, and its mutant as substrates, we pinpointed Arg(67) on ribosomal protein L12 as the methyl acceptor. L12 was isolated from wild type yeast cells that have been grown in the presence of S-adenosyl-l-[methyl-(3)H]methionine and subjected to amino acid analysis. The results indicate that L12 contains delta-N-monomethylarginines.