Earlier biomarkers in fish evidencing stress responses to metal and organic pollution along the Doce River Basin.

The Doce River Basin (DRB) represents a well-described watershed in terms of contamination by metals, especially after a major environmental disaster of a mining tailing dam failure. Despite the massive mortality of the ichthyofauna, very few studies addressed the risks to the health of wild fish exposed to complex mixtures of pollutants from multiple sources. The present study proposed to investigate earlier responses of fish for assessing the impacts of multiple sources of pollution, considering: different niches of fish and target organs; and the influence of seasonality, associated with their probable sources of pollution. To achieve that, fish were collected along the DRB, and biomarkers responses were assessed in target organs and correlated with the levels of inorganic and organic contaminants. As one of the most prominent responses, fishes from the Upper DRB showed the highest expression of the metallothionein and oxidative stress parameters which were related to the higher levels of metals in this region due to the proximity of mining activities. On the other hand, higher levels of DNA damage and increased AChE activity from fish sampled in the Mid and Lower DRB were more associated with organic contaminants, from other sources of pollution than mining residues. The integrated biomarker responses also revealed seasonal variations, with higher values in fishes from the dry season, and pelagic fish showing greater variation within the seasons. The multivariate analysis integrating suitable biomarkers with chemical data represented an adequate strategy for assessing the ecological risks in the DRB, allowing the identification of distinct spatio-temporal impacts from multiple sources of contaminants. The continued exposure of the ichthyofauna representing future risks reinforces the need for ecological restoration and the protection of the fauna from the Doce River.

Introducing BITTSy: The Behavioral Infant & Toddler Testing System.

This manuscript introduces BITTSy, the Behavioral Infant & Toddler Testing System. This software system is capable of running the headturn preference procedure, preferential looking, conditioned headturn, and visual fixation/habituation procedures. It uses only commercial-off-theshelf (COTS) hardware to implement the procedures in an affordable and space-efficient setup. The software package, example protocols and data sets, and manual are freely available and downloadable from go.umd.edu/BITTSy, making this entire set of procedures available to resource-limited labs. Researchers can easily use BITTSy at multiple sites in a uniform manner, resulting in a standardized, powerful research tool that can enhance cross-site research collaborations.

Electrochemical microdevices for rapid and on-site determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration of antibiotics.

A tool for rapid selection of appropriate antibiotics may be useful to maximize the benefits of their effectiveness against severe infectious diseases. In this study, we propose a microdevice that works with surface tension-driven sample introduction and impedance measurements for on-site, rapid estimation of suitable antibiotics.

Hypertrophy of the extra-articular tendon of the long head of biceps correlates with the location and size of a rotator cuff tear.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess hypertrophy of the extra-articular tendon of the long head of biceps (LHB) in patients with a rotator cuff tear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 638 shoulders in 334 patients (175 men, 159 women, mean age 62.6 years; 25 to 81) with unilateral symptomatic rotator cuff tears. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the LHB tendon in the bicipital groove was measured pre-operatively in both shoulders using ultrasound. There were 154 asymptomatic rotator cuff tears in the contralateral shoulder. Comparisons were made between those with a symptomatic tear, an asymptomatic tear and those with no rotator cuff tear. In the affected shoulders, the CSAs were compared in relation to the location and size of the rotator cuff tear. RESULTS: The mean CSA was 21.0 mm2 (4 to 71) in those with a symptomatic rotator cuff tear, 19.9 mm2 (4 to 75) in those with an asymptomatic rotator cuff tear and 14.1 mm2 (5 to 43) in those with no rotator cuff tear. The mean CSA in patients with both symptomatic and asymptomatic rotator cuff tears was significantly larger than in those with no rotator cuff tear (p < 0.001). In the affected shoulders, there were significant differences between patients with more than a medium sized posterosuperior cuff tear and those with an antero-superior cuff tear. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the symptoms, there was significant hypertrophy of the extra-articular LHB tendon in patients with a rotator cuff tear. The values were significantly related to the size of the tear. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:806-11.

Effect of Gender Differences on Transplant Kidney Function.

BACKGROUND: Transplant kidney function is thought to be affected by sex differences, such as physical conditions including muscle volume, sex hormones, immune responses, and so forth. We examined the effect of sex differences on transplant kidney function. METHODS: The subjects were selected from kidney transplant recipients, who received kidney transplantation on our hospital between January 2000 and August 2015. Cadaveric donors and parent-child pairs with an age difference were excluded, then we included 47 recipients whose sex was different from the sex of the donor. We compared transplant kidney function between male donors and female recipients group (M→F, n = 20) and female donors and male recipients group (F→M, n = 27). RESULTS: Nadir creatinine value was higher in the F→M group than in the M→F group (1.09 mg/dL vs 0.76 mg/dL, P < .0001). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly higher in the M→F group than in the F→M group (66.6 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs 50.1 mL/min/1.73 m2, P = .002), and eGFR ratio (recipient to donor) was significantly higher in the M→F group than in the F→M group (1.13 vs 0.57, P < .0001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the only the sex of the recipient was significant prognostic factor of eGFR after renal transplantation (P = .037). CONCLUSIONS: The short-term kidney function of the graft from male to female was better than that of the graft from female to male.

The clinical and pathological significance of nitric oxide synthase in human pituitary adenomas: a comparison with MIB-1.

The purpose of the present study was to define the clinical and pathological significance of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in human pituitary adenomas, and to compare these values with those of the MIB-1 labeling index (LI) using an immunohistochemical method. Tissue specimens from 82 cases of surgically-treated pituitary adenomas were immunostained for hormone production for the MIB-1 LI and for the three NOS isoenzymes and five normal pituitary glands were immunostained for the three NOS isoenzymes as a control. The correlation between the clinical variables (age, functional status, tumor size, Hardy's grading, cavernous and/or sphenoid invasiveness, and progression) and mean MIB-1 LI, or between the same clinical variables and NOS immunoreactivity (IR) were analyzed. There was a statistically significant difference in the MIB-1 LI between macroadenomas and microadenomas, and between invasive adenomas and noninvasive adenomas. On the other hand, there was a statistically significant difference in the inducible NOS (iNOS) IR between invasive adenomas and noninvasive adenomas. Furthermore, the iNOS IR had a significant correlation with the MIB-1 LI. Invasive adenomas have a higher iNOS IR, and this correlated with the MIB-1 LI. These findings may be due to the function of iNOS, which plays an important role in tissue injury and repair.

Real-time estimation of tongue movement based on suprahyoid muscle activity.

In this study, we introduce a real-time method for tongue movement estimation based on the analysis of the surface electromyography (EMG) signals from the suprahyoid muscles, which usual function is to open the mouth and to control the position of the hyoid, the base of the tongue. Nine surface electrodes were affixed to the underside of the jaw and their signals were processed via multi-channel EMG system. The features of the EMG signals were extracted by using a root mean square (RMS) method. The dimension of the variables was reduced additionally from 108 to 10 by applying the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The feature quantities of the reduced dimension set were associated with the tongue movements by using an artificial neural network. Results showed that the proposed method allows precise estimation of the tongue movements. For the test data set, the identification rate was greater than 97 % and the response time was less than 0.7 s. The proposed method could be implemented to facilitate novel approaches for alternative communication and control of assistive technology for supporting the independent living of people with severe quadriplegia.

Atomic-resolution imaging in liquid by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy using small cantilevers with megahertz-order resonance frequencies.

In this study, we have investigated the performance of liquid-environment FM-AFM with various cantilevers having different dimensions from theoretical and experimental aspects. The results show that reduction of the cantilever dimensions provides improvement in the minimum detectable force as long as the tip height is sufficiently long compared with the width of the cantilever. However, we also found two important issues to be overcome to achieve this theoretically expected performance. The stable photothermal excitation of a small cantilever requires much higher pointing stability of the exciting laser beam than that for a long cantilever. We present a way to satisfy this stringent requirement using a temperature controlled laser diode module and a polarization-maintaining optical fiber. Another issue is associated with the tip. While a small carbon tip formed by electron beam deposition (EBD) is desirable for small cantilevers, we found that an EBD tip is not suitable for atomic-scale applications due to the weak tip-sample interaction. Here we show that the tip-sample interaction can be greatly enhanced by coating the tip with Si. With these improvements, we demonstrate atomic-resolution imaging of mica in liquid using a small cantilever with a megahertz-order resonance frequency. In addition, we experimentally demonstrate the improvement in the minimum detectable force obtained by the small cantilever in measurements of oscillatory hydration forces.

Complex genetic nature of sex-independent transmission ratio distortion in Asian rice species: the involvement of unlinked modifiers and sex-specific mechanisms.

Transmission ratio distortion (TRD), in which one allele is transmitted more frequently than the opposite allele, is presumed to act as a driving force in the emergence of a reproductive barrier. TRD acting in a sex-specific manner has been frequently observed in interspecific and intraspecific hybrids across a broad range of organisms. In contrast, sex-independent TRD (siTRD), which results from preferential transmission of one of the two alleles in the heterozygote through both sexes, has been detected in only a few plant species. We previously reported an S(6) locus-mediated siTRD, in which the S(6) allele from an Asian wild rice strain (Oryza rufipogon) was transmitted more frequently than the S(6)(a) allele from an Asian cultivated rice strain (O. sativa) through both male and female gametes in heterozygous plants. Here, we report on the effect of a difference in genetic background on S(6) locus-mediated siTRD, based on the analysis using near-isogenic lines and the original wild strain as a parental strain for crossing. We found that the degree of TRD through the male gametes varied depending on the genetic background of the female (pistil) plants. Despite the occurrence of TRD through both male and female gametes, abnormality was detected in ovules, but not in pollen grains, in the heterozygote. These results suggest the involvement of unlinked modifiers and developmentally distinct, sex-specific genetic mechanisms in S(6) locus-mediated siTRD, raising the possibility that siTRD driven by a single locus may be affected by multiple genetic factors harbored in natural populations.

An improved glycerin-jelly mounting procedure for permanent preparations of helminth eggs.

Many attempts have been undertaken to make permanent preparations of helminth eggs. However, the resulting preparations either lacked durability or tended to deform thin-shelled eggs, such as those of the hookworm. To overcome these drawbacks, we have modified 2 aspects of the glycerin-jelly mounting procedure. First, we gradually changed the media in which the helminth eggs soaked, from 10% formalin via water to a 70% ethanol and 5% glycerin solution. It took 10 days, which is much longer than the time required for the processes previously reported. Second, we used a hole slide glass instead of a slide glass. Eggs of 11 species of helminths have been prepared with this procedure, and have kept their morphology without apparent change for more than 4 yr.

Reliability and validity of Japanese version of the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire assessed by application in palliative care wards.

The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL), which consists of 16 items constructing physical, psychological, existential and support subscales and one item of overall quality of life (QOL), has been developed to assess QOL of terminal cancer patients. To examine if MQOL Japanese version (MQOL-J) is applicable, it was administered to 83 terminal cancer patients in palliative care wards several days after admission and then 7 to 10 days after the first interview. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for four subscales was 0.584-0.860. Sixteen items were classified into four factors by factor analysis, similar to the original English version. The results indicated that psychological and existential domains of the MQOL-J significantly related to overall QOL. Existential and support domains as well as overall QOL were significantly improved between the first and second interviews, although performance status assessed by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group worsened. It is suggested that MQOL-J can reflect perceived health status of terminal cancer patients.

Serum intact parathyroid hormone levels predict hospitalisation for heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether circulating levels of intact parathyroid hormone (intact PTH) in outpatients predict hospitalisation for heart failure (HF). METHODS: Eighty-eight consecutive outpatients with HF were enrolled in the study. The independent association between intact PTH and hospitalisation for HF was assessed using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Mean (SD) serum intact PTH levels significantly increased as New York Heart Association classes increased (I: 40 (21), II: 55 (24), III: 76 (46), IV: 131 (45) pg/ml). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed intact PTH levels >or=47 pg/ml to be the optimal cut-off points for hospitalisation for HF, with sensitivity 87%, specificity 71% and area under the ROC curve 0.82 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.91). After adjustment for variables accepted to be predictors for hospitalisation due to HF (age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, ischaemic heart disease, left ventricular ejection fraction, B-type natriuretic peptide, estimated glomerular filtration rate and cardiac drugs), intact PTH levels >or=47 pg/ml were associated with a hazard ratio of 7.13 for hospitalisation for HF (95% CI 1.79 to 28.4). CONCLUSION: Serum intact PTH levels obtained in outpatients with HF were shown to be an independent predictor of hospitalisation for HF.

An atomic resolution scanning tunneling microscope that applies external tensile stress and strain in an ultrahigh vacuum.

We have developed an ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope with an in situ external stress application capability in order to determine the effects of stress and strain on surface atomistic structures. It is necessary to understand these effects because controlling them will be a key technology that will very likely be used in future nanometer-scale fabrication processes. We used our microscope to demonstrate atomic resolution imaging under external tensile stress and strain on the surfaces of wafers of Si(111) and Si(001). We also successfully observed domain redistribution induced by applying uniaxial stress at an elevated temperature on the surface of a wafer of vicinal Si(100). We confirmed that domains for which an applied tensile stress is directed along the dimer bond become less stable and shrink. This suggests that it may be feasible to fabricate single domain surfaces in a process that controls surface stress and strain.

HLA-haploidentical nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation: induction to tolerance without passing through mixed chimaerism.

There are few reports of unmanipulated HLA-haploidentical nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation (NST) using only pharmacological acute graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. We present here a successful case of unmanipulated HLA-haploidentical NST for mediastinal large B cell lymphoma that was resistant to autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). The conditioning regimen consisted of fludarabine, busulfan and rabbit anti-T-lymphocyte globulin (ATG) in addition to rituximab. GVHD prophylaxis was performed using tacrolimus and methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg. The patient had rapid engraftment, with 100% donor chimaerism in the lineages of both T cells and granulocytes on day +12, but developed no GVHD clinically. The patient is still in complete remission past day +1020, with no sign of chronic GVHD without receiving immunosuppressive agents. HLA-haploidentical NST may be performed without utilizing mixed chimaerism.

Circadian rhythm of blood pressure is transformed from a dipper to a non-dipper pattern in shift workers with hypertension.

Shift workers make great use of health care services because they are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Whether the circadian rhythm of blood pressure rapidly adapts to shift work is controversial. It is unknown if shift work has adverse effects on blood pressure in patients with hypertension. To evaluate the effects of shift work, we examined 12 male shift workers with untreated hypertension aged 53.6 +/- 2.5 years. Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed three times as follows: the last day of a 4-day period of day shifts (09.00 to 21.00), the first day of a 4-day period of night shifts (21.00 to 09.00), and the fourth day of night shifts (21.00 to 09.00). Blood pressure at night-time dropped significantly in the day-shift workers, showing a dipper pattern. Average differences in blood pressure in the sleep-wake cycle were decreased by 8.5% at the beginning of night shift work showing a non-dipper pattern. After 4 days the pattern was completely reversed to a dipper pattern. The results indicate that the circadian blood pressure pattern is changed from a dipper to a non-dipper pattern on the first day of the night shift and reverses to a dipper pattern within a few days. We suggest that night shift work may have unfavourable effects on blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

Sacral adipofascial turn-over flap for the excisional defect of pilonidal sinus.

The aim of pilonidal sinus surgery includes complete resection of the lesion and filling of the resultant soft-tissue defect by some means; this has a major influence on whether a lesion will occur after surgical treatment. The creation of a sacral adipofascial turn-over flap for the excisional defect has been performed in seven cases of pilonidal sinus since November of 1992. During the postoperative follow-up period, which ranged from 10 months to 7 years 11 months (mean duration, 5 years 2 months), partial dehiscence of the wound as a result of fatlysis was observed and treated conservatively in one case; however, primary healing was obtained in the other cases. No recurrence was seen in any of the seven cases. This procedure is not indicated in patients in whom wide skin resection is required because of the excessive tension associated with skin closure in such cases. However, the method is convenient, less invasive, and reliable, and therefore considered to be useful in the treatment of pilonidal sinus.

Effects of therapeutic doses of human atrial natriuretic peptide on load and myocardial performance in patients with congestive heart failure.

The benefits of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) have been demonstrated. However, the myocardial actions of ANP remain unclear. Using relatively load-insensitive left ventricular pressure-volume analysis, the myocardial and load-altering actions of ANP in patients with moderate CHF were studied. After obtaining steady-state data using micromanometers and conductance catheters, ANP was infused in 9 patients with CHF at 0.01 and 0.1 microg/kg/min for 30 minutes, respectively. Hemodynamic variables, plasma ANP, and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels were determined before and 30 minutes after each ANP infusion. ANP at 0.01 microg/kg/min increased plasma ANP and cGMP levels from 73 +/- 34 to 139 +/- 34 pg/ml and from 4 +/- 1 to 8 +/- 2 pmol/ml, respectively. ANP infusion caused a significant decrease in end-systolic pressure without any changes in heart rate. End-diastolic pressure was significantly decreased but there was no significant change in left ventricular end-diastolic volume. The time constant for isovolumetric relaxation was decreased. ANP infusion at 0.1microg/kg/min caused further decreases in end-systolic pressure, end-diastolic pressure and volume, and the time constant for isovolumetric relaxation (p <0.05) without any changes in heart rate. The slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation was increased from 1.3 +/- 0.2 to 1.6 +/- 0.3 mm Hg/ml (p <0.05), indicating increased contractility. Plasma ANP and cGMP levels were increased to 422 +/- 44 pg/ml and 16 +/- 3 pmol/ml, respectively. Thus, ANP infusion increased cGMP generation, decreased afterload and preload, and improved left ventricular systolic and diastolic function.

Multiple pulmonary emboli with pulmonary hypertension caused by effort thrombosis and effective balloon venoplasty of the subclavian vein.

A 36-year-old woman with effort thrombosis of the subclavian vein associated with multiple pulmonary emboli was successfully treated with local thrombolysis of the subclavian vein using a pulse-spray catheter and systemic anticoagulation. Balloon venoplasty of the residual stenosis of subclavian vein was carried out and in follow-up venography 6 months later, there was no restenosis, and the patient has been asymptomatic for 12 months. Pulmonary embolism is not a rare complication of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis and should be managed as aggressively as lower extremity deep vein thrombosis.