Public-private partnerships for e-government in developing countries: An early stage assessment framework.

Although public-private partnerships (PPP) and electronic government (e-government) have proven to be fruitful mechanisms for economic development and emerging economies seem to recognize their importance, consistent methods for analyzing the early planning stages of e-government portfolios are lacking. The present work utilized a comprehensive literature review to understand the evaluation criteria for PPP projects throughout the early-stage planning process. A qualitative meta-synthesis was employed to identify critical factors for PPP and e-government, with a particular focus on developing countries, PPP, and e-government criteria. Our research presents a framework named "PPP4e-Gov" (public-private partnerships for e-government). The framework compares risk and value factors of e-government PPP projects and adopts a weighted scoring model that estimates the risks that should be considered in a project and how much value a given e-government initiative may generate if the PPP option is chosen. As an illustration of how the framework may be used, the paper interviewed ten practitioners in Costa Rica who tried out PPP4e-Gov and showcased how to plan their e-government initiatives.

Diet Modification Based on the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program (ERAS) in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Colorectal Resection.

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program aims to maximize the recovery of patients by minimizing pre- and postoperative complications and stress. The program recommends providing preoperative carbohydrate (CHO) supplements and starting an early postoperative diet to reduce the fasting duration. Based on these recommendations, we implemented preoperative CHO supplementation and initiated an early postoperative diet in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection. We observed 3 patients as follows: a non-ERAS case, preoperative ERAS case, and pre- and postoperative ERAS case. The preoperative well-being and compliance of patients improved after implementation of the ERAS program. Moreover, the length of hospital stay was reduced. Therefore, we consider that the ERAS program may be helpful for the recovery of patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection.

Effects of Cervical Kyphosis on Recovery From Dysphagia After Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of cervical kyphosis on the recovery of swallowing function in subacute stroke patients. METHODS: Baseline and 1-month follow-up videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSSs) of 51 stroke patients were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the cervical kyphosis (Cobb's angle <20°, n=27) and control (n=24) groups. The penetration-aspiration scale (PAS), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcomes Measurement System swallowing scale (ASHA NOMS), and videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS) were used to determine the severity of dysphagia. Finally, the prevalence of abnormal VFSS findings was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline PAS, ASHA NOMS, and VDS scores between the two groups. However, the follow-up VDS scores in the cervical kyphosis group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p=0.04), and a follow-up study showed a tendency towards worse ASHA NOMS scores (p=0.07) in the cervical kyphosis group. In addition, the cervical kyphosis group had a higher occurrence of pharyngeal wall coating in both baseline and follow-up studies, as well as increased aspiration in follow-up studies (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that stroke patients who had cervical kyphosis at the time of stroke might have impaired recovery from dysphagia after stroke.

Effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on swallowing function in stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in stroke patients, and to assess the difference in swallowing function between stroke patients with COPD (COPD group) and stroke patients without COPD (control group). METHODS: The subjects included 103 stroke patients. They underwent the pulmonary function test and were assigned to either the COPD group or the control group. Their penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) scores and functional dysphagia scale scores were compared by performing a videofluoroscopic swallowing study. The intergroup differences in lip closure, bolus formation, mastication, and the oral transit time, laryngeal elevation, cricopharyngeal dysfunction, oronasal regurgitation, residue in pyriform sinus and vallecula, pharyngeal transit time, aspiration, and esophageal relaxation were also compared. RESULTS: Thirty patients were diagnosed with COPD. The COPD group showed statistically higher PAS scores (4.67±2.15) compared to the control group (2.89±1.71). Moreover, aspiration occurred more frequently in the COPD group with statistical significance (p<0.05). The COPD group also showed higher occurrence of cricopharyngeal dysfunction, albeit without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: This study shows that a considerable number of stroke patients had COPD, and stroke patients with COPD had higher risk of aspiration than stroke patients without COPD.

Resveratrol prevents streptozotocin-induced diabetes by inhibiting the apoptosis of pancreatic ß-cell and the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase.

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene; RSV) is one kind of polyphenolic phytoalexin that has many effects on metabolic diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of RSV pretreatment on ß-cell. Male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 200-230 g were divided into 4 groups: (1) RSV; (2) streptozotocin (STZ, 70 mg/kg, intraperitoneally); (3) STZ after 7 days pretreatment with RSV; and (4) STZ pretreated with nicotinamide. Fasting glucose concentration was measured and an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test was performed 72 h after STZ injection to determine the diabetic condition. The pancreas was removed 3, 6, 36, and 48 h after STZ injection. STZ induced diabetes in all rats not given RSV pretreatment, whereas none of the RSV-pretreated rats developed diabetes. Pretreatment with RSV inhibited apoptosis and reduced the activation of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). However, expression of the total length PARP was not affected by pretreatment. Our findings suggest that RSV protects ß-cells from STZ simultaneously with inhibiting the activation of PARP.

Inhibition of Akt/FOXO3a signaling by constitutively active FOXO3a suppresses growth of follicular thyroid cancer cell lines.

Akt-dependent FOXO3a cytoplasmic translocation is an important tumorigenic mechanism for escaping from apoptosis in cancer cells. In the present study, we examined whether non-phosphorylatable FOXO3a can inhibit cell growth of various follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) cell lines. Adenovirus carrying the FOXO3a-triple mutant (TM) sequence including point mutations at three Akt phosphorylation sites (Ad-FOXO3a-TM) was generated and transduced to the cells to mimic inhibition of Akt/FOXO3a signal. Transduction of Ad-FOXO3a-TM to FTC133 cells induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Injection of Ad-FOXO3a-TM suppressed the growth of xenograft tumors in athymic mice. Consequently, our results indicate that gene therapy based on Ad-FOXO3a-TM has therapeutic potential for FTC.

A dual-reporter system for specific tracing of pancreatic ss-cell lines that non-invasively measures viable in vivo islet cells.

Islet transplantation is a potential treatment for type 1 diabetes. Currently, islet graft survival is measured using invasive methods to determine blood glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels, even though these variables have limited value. To trace beta-cell survival and functional status, we constructed an adenovirus/adenoassociate virus hybrid vector (Hyb-DR) carrying two reporter genes, luciferase and green fluorescent protein (GFP), linked by the internal ribosome entry site and driven by the rat insulin II promoter. Luciferase activity increased and positive GFP expression was observed in beta-cell lines (MIN6N8 and INS-1E) infected with Hyb-DR. Using an in vivo imaging instrument, the GFP signal was detected in the flanks of nude mice 2 weeks after transplanting Hyb-DR-infected MIN6 cells into the kidney capsule. Coinfection of Hyb-DR with plasmids carrying beta-cell-specific transcription factors also resulted in expression of luciferase and GFP in the non-beta-cell lines (HepG2, FL83B, and YGIC5). Thus, the dual reporter system provided quantitative and visual information about the functionality of the islet mass and activation of the insulin gene.

Troublesome occipital neuralgia developed by c1-c2 harms construct.

Recently, Harms and Melcher modified Goel's approach, the C1 lateral mass and C2 pedicle screw fixation, and the new technique is currently in favor among neurosurgeons. Comparing to the advantages of Harms construct, the disadvantages were not extensively investigated. We experienced a patient with severe occipital pain developed after the C1 lateral mass screw placement for the traumatic atlantoaxial instability. We reviewed literatures about Harms construct with focus on the occipital neuralgia as a postoperative complication and suggest here technical tips to avoid the troublesome pain.

HoxD10 gene delivery using adenovirus/adeno-associate hybrid virus inhibits the proliferation and tumorigenicity of GH4 pituitary lactotrope tumor cells.

Prolactinoma is one of the most common types of pituitary adenoma. It has been reported that a variety of growth factors and cytokines regulating cell growth and angiogenesis play an important role in the growth of prolactinoma. HoxD10 has been shown to impair endothelial cell migration, block angiogenesis, and maintain a differentiated phenotype of cells. We investigated whether HoxD10 gene delivery could inhibit the growth of prolactinoma. Rat GH4 lactotrope tumor cells were infected with adenovirus/adeno-associated virus (Ad/AAV) hybrid vectors carrying the mouse HoxD10 gene (Hyb-HoxD10) or the beta-galactosidase gene (Hyb-Gal). Hyb-HoxD10 expression inhibited GH4 cell proliferation in vitro. The expression of FGF-2 and cyclin D2 was inhibited in GH4 cells infected with Hyb-HoxD10. GH4 cells transduced with Hyb-HoxD10 did not form tumors in nude mice. These results indicate that the delivery of HoxD10 could potentially inhibit the growth of PRL-secreting tumors. This approach may be a useful tool for targeted therapy of prolactinoma and other neoplasms.

Structural analysis of thermosome from hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus.

The purification and characterization of thermostable chaperonin of the thermosome family from hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus profunds are described. The purified thermosome is a homooligomeric complex and an ATPase with maximal activity at 80 degrees C. The electron micrographs obtained from negatively stained as well as frozen-hydrated specimen showed an eight-fold symmetry of chaperonin. They were about 15 nm height and 16 nm in diameter with a central cavity of 5 nm. In order to understand the ATPase cycling of thermosome, we analyzed the oligomeric structure of thermosome treated with several nucleotides.