[Lung transplantation for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: a case report and literature review].

Objective: To observe the efficacy of lung transplantation for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) patients and to improve the understanding of the therapy. Methods: The clinical data of a patient with autoimmune PAP treated with sequential homogenous bilateral lung transplantation were described and the literatures were reviewed. Results: This 55-year-old female patient was diagnosed with autoimmune PAP and had been treated with whole lung lavage for 19 times, but only achieved short-term symptomatic relief after each operation. Inhalation of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor occurred allergic reactions. Lung transplantation was performed on February 15, 2022, and a significant improvement in oxygenation and clinical symptoms were observed. The patient remained stable during follow-up. Conclusion: Treatment with lung transplantation is safe and effective for end-stage patients with PAP in the early phase, but the long-term effect remains to be observed.

Skeletal muscle-secreted myokine interleukin-6 induces white adipose tissue conversion into beige adipose tissue in myostatin gene knockout pigs.

Myostatin (MSTN) is primarily expressed in skeletal muscle and plays an important role in the regulation of muscle growth and development as well as fat deposition; however, little is known about the molecular mechanism through which MSTN regulates body fat deposition. Therefore, in this study, we sought to identify the signaling pathways through which MSTN regulates fat accumulation in pigs. MSTN knockout (MSTN-/-) pigs showed increased muscle mass, decreased fat mass, and a leaner body composition. In this study, we found that the adipose tissue of MSTN-/- pigs exhibits the characteristics of beige adipose tissue, and the mRNA expression levels of beige adipose marker genes, including UCP3, Cidea, and CD137, were significantly increased. Remarkably, the observed beige phenotype was not adipocyte autonomous but rather caused by muscle-secreted myokine interleukin (IL)-6. This occurrence results in increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in adipose tissue, which subsequently activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α and the conversion of white adipocytes to beige in pigs. Therefore, we concluded that MSTN deficiency leads to increased IL-6 secretion in skeletal muscle and activates AMPK in adipocytes, thereby increasing the beige adipose tissue in MSTN-/- pigs.

[Immunogenicity and safety of a boost dose of measles, mumps, and rubella combined vaccine for 4-6 years old children].

Objective: To investigate the immunogenicity and safety of a boost dose of measles, mumps, and rubella combined vaccine (MMR) for children 4 to 6 years old. Methods: Children, aged 4 to 6 years old, had vaccinated with 1 dose of measles and rubella combined vaccine(MR) at the age of 8 months and 1 dose of MMR vaccine at 18-months, were recruited in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Beijing, respectively. All children were assigned into 4, 5 and 6-year-old group. The children who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were vaccinated with 1 dose MMR vaccine, and were collected blood samples before vaccination and 35 to 42 d after the vaccination. During the study period, adverse events were collected at 30 min, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, 4-12 d, and 13 to 42 days after vaccination. Serum was tested for IgG antibodies against measles, mumps and rubella. Geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of measles, mumps, and rubella antibodies were compared among groups by analysis of variance or non-parametric test. Seropositive rates and adverse event rates were compared among groups by Chi-square test or Fisher exact test. Results: A total of 500 children were included in immunogenicity analysis and 535 children were included in safety analysis. The overall adverse event rate was 20.37%, the most of severity for adverse events was mild. The rates of local and systemic adverse events were 0.37% and 20.00%, respectively. Symptoms of local adverse events were redness. The main systemic adverse events were fever, followed by cough, rash and runny nose. Received a dose of MMR vaccine for booster immunization, the seropositive rates of measles antibody, mumps antibody and rubella antibody were above 99% for all 3 age groups, and there was no significant difference between groups. There were significant differences in mumps antibody GMC among groups (P=0.042), but no significant differences in measles and rubella antibodies GMC. Conclusion: The immunogenicity and safety of a boosted MMR vaccintion in children aged 4, 5 and 6 years were all similar good.

New Service Model for Common Mental Disorders in Hong Kong: a Retrospective Outcome Study.

OBJECTIVE: To review the first 8-month outcome of the Common Mental Disorder Clinic model in Hong Kong in terms of patient exit status and improvement in depressive and anxiety symptoms. METHODS: During the first appointment, patients were interviewed by a multidisciplinary team comprising a psychiatrist, a psychiatric nurse, and an occupational therapist. A multidisciplinary case conference was conducted to discuss clinical observations, diagnosis, issues of concern, and the optimal individualised treatment plan. Low-intensity interventions by nurses and/or occupational therapists were provided, as were optional, time-limited, protocol-based interventions by clinical psychologists for those with mild to moderate depressive and anxiety symptoms. Pharmacological intervention may be used when indicated. Upon completion of the treatment plan, patients were reassessed by the treating psychiatrist. Discharge options included discharge without psychiatric follow-up, step-up to psychiatric outpatient clinics, and step-down services. The self-administered Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) were used to assess the past 2 weeks' depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively, at baseline and at each session. RESULTS: From July 2015 to February 2016, 1325 Chinese patients received the new service. Of them, 170 men and 363 women (mean age, 52.6 years) completed the treatment plan. After treatment, their mean PHQ-9 score decreased from 11.06 to 7.55 (p < 0.001), and the mean GAD-7 score decreased from 9.94 to 6.54 (p < 0.001). After treatment, 42.4% and 48.2% of the patients were within the normal range of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, respectively, compared with 16.9% and 20.8% before treatment. The mean time to implementation of the individualised treatment plan was 82.33 days. Of the patients, 54.4% were discharged without any need for medical or psychiatric follow-up; 28% were stepped up to psychiatric outpatient clinics; and 17.3% were stepped down. The predictors of exit status were whether psychiatric medication was prescribed during initial intake (p = 0.011), whether psychiatric medication was prescribed at last follow-up (p < 0.001), the service period (p = 0.010), and the GAD-7 final score (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The first 8-month outcome of the new service model was encouraging, with shortened waiting time, reduced severity of symptoms, and better exit status (high recovery and step-down rates).

[The evaluation of dietary salt and potassium intake assessed by two 24-hour urine specimens among 284 primary and secondary school students].

Objective: To estimate the dietary salt and potassium intake by two 24 hour urine salt and potassium excretion in primary and secondary school students. Methods: The boarders from Grade 5 to 6 in a rural primary school and Grade 1 to 3 in a rural middle school in Changde City, Hunan Province were recruited from October to December in 2017. Subjects who had 2 and more urinary incontinence episodes or a history of kidney disease or diarrhea and girls in menstruation were excluded. The final analysis included 284 subjects. Questionnaires on basic demographic information were collected, and height and weight were examined. Two inconsecutive 24-hour urine specimens were collected in weekdays. The differences and consistency between two 24-hour urine were tested and dietary salt and potassium intake were assessed by the average of two 24-hour urine collections. Results: A Total of 284 participants was (12.1±1.5) years old, of which 148 (52.1%) were boys and 36 (12.7%) were overweight. In the first 24-hour urine, the volume [P(50) (P(25), P(75))=670 (513, 868) ml], potassium concentration [P(50) (P(25), P(75))=29 (21, 39) mmol/L] and potassium excretion [P(50) (P(25), P(75))=0.7 (0.6, 1.0) g] were similar to those in the second 24-hour urine [P(5)0 (P(25), P(75)) values were 660 (490, 916) ml, 30 (21,40) mmol/L, and 0.8 (0.6, 1.0) g, respectively]. But the sodium and creatinine concentrations, salt excretion in the first 24-hour urine [P(50) (P(25), P(75)) values were 175 (123, 219) mmol/L, 7.20 (5.15, 10.86) mmol/L and 6.6 (5.0, 8.7) g, respectively] were lower than those in the second 24-hour urine [P(50) (P(25), P(75)) values were 188 (133, 248) mmol/L, 8.66 (5.99, 12.47) mmol/L and 7.3 (5.2, 9.2) g, respectively] (all P values<0.05). The intraclass correlation coefficients between salt and potassium excretions in the two 24-hour urine were 0.534 (95%CI: 0.412-0.631) and 0.478 (95%CI: 0.341-0.587) (P<0.001), respectively. The mean±SD of salt consumed was (7.3±2.5) g (range: 2.3 to 18.8 g) per day by all participants. Overweight children consumed more salt [(8.2±2.6) g/d] than those non-overweight [(7.2±2.4) g/d] (P<0.05). The mean±SD of potassium consumed was (1.1±0.3) g (range: 0.4 to 2.3 g) per day. Boys consumed more potassium [(1.1±0.3) g/d] than girls [(1.0±0.3) g/d] (P<0.05), and overweight children had higher potassium intake [(1.2±0.3) g/d] than those non-overweight [(1.0±0.3) g/d] (P<0.05). A total of 212 participants (74.6%) consumed more salt than the recommended level and all participants had inadequate potassium intake. Conclusion: The problem of excessive salt intake and insufficient potassium intake of rural primary and middle school students was serious.

[The association between body fat distribution and calcaneal bone mineral density in children and adolescents aged 6-16 years in Beijing].

Objective: To understand the association between body fat distribution and calcaneal bone mineral density (BMD) in children and adolescents aged 6-16 years in Beijing. Methods: Children and adolescents were selected in 30 schools (8 primary schools, 21 middle schools and one 12-year education school) from Dongcheng, Tongzhou, Fangshan and Miyun districts of Beijing by using a stratified cluster sampling method from November 2017 to January 2018. A total of 15 030 students in grade 1 to 4 of primary school, grade 1 of junior and senior middle school were enrolled after excluding subjects who were not able to participate into this study due to trauma or other uncomfortable physical conditions or with missing key values or with diabetes and kidney diseases. Questionnaire survey, body composition and calcaneus bone mineral density were conducted. The relation of fat mass percentage (FMP), trunk to total fat ratio (TrTFR), trunk to limb fat ratio (TrLFR), limb to total fat ratio (LTFR) and viscera to total fat ratio (VTFR) with calcaneus BMD were assessed using the multivariate linear regression models after adjusting for possible confounding effects. The central fat distribution types were divided into 4 groups including type 1: both trunk fat and visceral fat greater than the sex-and age-specific internal P(75); type 2: barely trunk fat greater than P(75); type 3: barely visceral fat greater than P(75); type 4: both trunk fat and visceral fat greater than P(75). The central fat distribution types were included into the model in the form of dummy variables to analyze its relationship with calcaneal BMD. The sex-and age-specific z-scores of fat distribution indicators and BMD were calculated. Results: A total of 15 030 participants aged (11.4±3.3) years (50.2% boys) were involved in the analysis. In both genders, after adjusting for age, height, lean mass index, smoking, drinking, physical activity, milk intake, vitamin D and calcium supplementation, FMP, TrTFR, TrLFR and VTFR were negatively correlated with calcaneal BMD (all P value<0.05), while LTFR was positively associated with calcaneal BMD (all P values<0.05). Compared to the central fat distribution type 1, the regression coefficients (95% CI) of type 2, 3 and 4 were -0.253 (-0.418, -0.087), -0.385 (-0.567, -0.204) and -0.428 (-0.487, -0.369) in boys, respectively; the regression coefficients (95% CI) of type 3 and 4 were -0.158 (-0.301, -0.015) and -0.226 (-0.290, -0.163), respectively. Conclusion: Body fat distribution and central fat distribution in children and adolescents were correlated with calcaneus bone mineral density.

[The association between blood lipids and calcaneus bone mineral density in children and adolescents aged 6-16 years in Beijing].

Objective: To investigate the association between blood lipid and calcaneus bone mineral density (BMD) in children and adolescents aged 6-16 years in Beijing. Methods: Children and adolescents were selected in 30 schools (8 primary schools, 21 middle schools and one 12-year education school) from Dongcheng, Tongzhou, Fangshan and Miyun districts of Beijing by using a stratified cluster sampling method from November 2017 to January 2018. A total of 14 303 students in grade 1 to 4 of primary school, grade 1 of junior and senior middle school were enrolled after excluding subjects who were not able to participate into this study due to trauma or other uncomfortable physical conditions or with missing key values or with diabetes and kidney diseases. Questionnaire survey, blood lipid and calcaneus BMD were conducted. Multivariate linear regression was applied to quantify the association between calcaneal BMD as a dependent variable and blood lipid level as an independent variable after adjusting for the potential confounding factors. Furthermore, quantile regression was used to analyze the association between blood lipid level and different percentiles (P(25), P(50) and P(75)) of ultrasonic velocity values of bone mineral density, and parallel test was conducted for regression coefficients of different percentiles. Results: A total of 14 303 participants aged (11.4±3.3) years (49.9% boys) were involved in the analysis. The mean age of 14 303 participants was (11.0±3.3) years. 7 142 boys accounted for 49.9%. The mean±SD of calcaneal BMD, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were (1 540.9±33.8) m/s, (3.90±0.76), (2.18±0.62), and (1.40±0.32) mmol/L, respectively. The P(5)0 (P(25), P(75)) of triglyceride (TG) was 0.69 (0.49-0.94) mmol/L. After the adjustment of age, height, smoking, drinking, vitamin D and calcium supplementation, dairy intake, physical activity, FMI, and MMI, a significantly inverse association (P<0.05) between TG level and calcaneus BMD was observed in both genders, which the regression coefficients (95%CI) in boys and girls were -0.064 (-0.085, -0.044) and -0.073 (-0.094, -0.053), respectively. Conclusion: The level of BMD was associated with TG in boys and girls. Therefore, it is important to prevent children from hypertriglyceridemia for the bone health promotion.

[The baseline characteristics of School-based Cardiovascular and Bone Health Promotion Program in Beijing].

Objective: To describe the baseline characteristics of School-based Cardiovascular and Bone Health Promotion Program(SCVBH) in Beijing. Methods: Children and adolescents were selected in 30 schools (8 primary schools, 21 middle schools and one 12-year education school) from Dongcheng, Tongzhou, Fangshan and Miyun districts of Beijing by using a stratified cluster sampling method. 15 391 students in grade 1 to 4 from primary schools, grade 1 from junior and senior high schools were enrolled in the investigation with an exclusion of students who were not able to participate due to trauma or other uncomfortable physical conditions. The baseline survey including a questionnaire survey, physical examination and blood biochemical test was conducted from September 2017 to January 2018. Obesity, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, lipid, bone density and grip were evaluated. Results: The prevalence of obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia (impaired fasting glucose and diabetes), dyslipidemia, lower bone density were 22.3%(3 394), 14.8%(2 248), 10.4%(1 490), 20.3%(2 919) and 2.1%(316) in total respectively, and 27.2%(2 081), 16.3%(1 244), 12.8%(922), 22.2%(1 595) and 1.2%(94) for boys, 17.3%(1 313), 13.3% (1 004), 7.9%(568), 18.4%(1 324) and 2.9%(229) for girls. Boys had higher prevalence of obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia and lower prevalence of low bone density than girls (all P values <0.05) The mean of body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and grip of boys were significantly higher than that of girls (all P values <0.05).The mean of body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and grip of boys were significantly higher than that of girls (all P values <0.05), the mean of fat mass percentage, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol of boys were significantly lower than those of girls (all P values <0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of risk factors of chronic cardiovascular disease was high and the low bone density was appearing in children and adolescents in this study. The promotion of cardiovascular and bone health should be implemented in children and adolescents.

[Characteristics of cardiovascular health of children and adolescents aged 6-16 years in Beijing during 2017-2018].

Objective: To describe the status of cardiovascular health (CVH) of children and adolescents aged 6-16 years in Beijing during 2017-2018. Methods: The school-based Cardiovascular and Bone Health Promotion Program(SCVBH) was conducted from November 2017 to January 2018. 15 391 children and adolescents aged 6-16 years were selected from grade 1 to 4 in 8 primary schools, grade 1 in 21 middle schools and senior grade 1 in one twelve-year education school in Dongcheng, Fangshan, Miyun and Haidian Districts of Beijing by using a cluster sampling method. Seven cardiovascular health indicators, including smoking, body mass index, dietary intake, physical activity, blood pressure, blood glucose, and total cholesterol, were categorized as poor, intermediate, and ideal according to American Heart Association (AHA) criteria. The status of CVH was evaluated according to the criteria of the ideal CVH related behaviors and factors defined by AHA. Results: The proportion of children and adolescents with an ideal smoking, dietary intake and physical activity indicators reached 99.2%(4 982/15 108), 19.7%(2 921/14 805), 17.8% (2 499/14 056), respectively. The proportion of children and adolescents with 7 and 4-5 ideal cardiovascular health indicators was 1.7%(209/12 560) and 65.1%(8 176/12 560). The proportion of children and adolescents with 4-7 ideal cardiovascular health indicators, 2-4 ideal health behavior indicators and 2-3 ideal health factors was significantly higher in urban than that in rural all P values<0.001. The proportion of females with 4-7 ideal cardiovascular health indicators, 2-4 ideal health behavior indicators and 2-3 ideal health factors was significantly higher than that in males (all P values<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health of children and adolescents aged 6-16 years in Beijing during 2017-2018 was very low, particularly for healthy dietary intake and physical activity. Effective public health interventions should be implemented to improve the status of cardiovascular health of them.

[The analysis of the association of sleep with high blood pressure among children and adolescents aged 6-16 years in Beijing].

Objective: To investigate the sleep status in children and adolescents and explore the relationship between the sleep and high blood pressure in them. Methods: Data was from the Schoolbased Cardiovascular and Bone Health Promotiow Program (SCVBH) in Beijing. And 13 471 children and adolescents aged 6-16 years were selected from grades 1 to 4 in 8 primary schools, grade 1 in 21 middle schools and senior grade 1 in one twelve-year education school in Dongcheng, Fangshan, Miyun and Tongzhou Districts of Beijing during 2017-2018 by using a cluster sampling method. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect the demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits of children and adolescents. The blood pressure was measured by electronic sphygmomanometer. Multiple logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between sleep and hypertension risk. Results: The sleep duration was (8.4±1.1) hours. The prevalence of high blood pressure was 15.0%(2 021/13 471). The incidence of mouth breathing, slobber, snoring, and suffocate was 28.4%(3 823/13 471), 23.6%(3 184/13 471) and 18.7%(2 513/13 471), 2.8%(378/13 471) respectively. After adjusting for age, gender, snoring, mouth breaking, slobber, suffocate, the time for bed and sleep duration, we found that snoring and sleep duration (5.0-6.9 h) were both associated with high blood pressure (OR=1.49, 95%CI:1.32-1.69; OR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.28-1.81). Conclusion: Snoring and sleep duration were positively associated with high blood pressure in this study. Interventions focusing on sleep status should be developed to reduce the incidence of high blood pressure in children and adolescents.

BML-111 inhibits the inflammatory response and apoptosis of renal tissue in rats with hemorrhagic shock by inhibiting the MAPK pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The effect of lipoxin receptor agonist BML-111 on acute kidney injury and AKI in rats with hemorrhagic shock (HS) and its mechanism were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A model of hemorrhagic shock in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats was established, and recovered after 30 min of shock. 1 mg/kg BML-111 was intraperitoneally injected at the beginning of resuscitation in group BML-111. The concentration of serum creatinine, serum KIM-1 content, NGAL and inflammatory factors were detected. Renal tissue injury was examined by HE staining; TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis of rat kidney cells. Western blot was performed for the detection of the expression level of MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), Bax, cytochrome C and caspase-3,9 in rat renal tissue. RESULTS: HE staining showed pathological changes in groups group comparing to sham group. BML-111 group had a significant decrease in renal tissue injury. The scores of renal injury in each group were in accordance with the histological changes. The expression level of inflammatory factors in HS group was significantly higher than that in sham group (p<0.05). After BML-111 intervention, the levels of inflammatory factors in renal tissue were significantly lower than those in HS group (p<0.05). Meanwhile, NGAL and KIM-1 also showed the same trend. TUNEL staining showed that compared with sham group, the number of apoptotic cells in renal tissue of HS group increased significantly, and the apoptosis rate of renal tissue cells in group BML-111 decreased significantly. Western blot showed that the expression level of JNK, p38MAPK, and apoptosis-related protein in HS group was significantly increased, whereas the expression level of p38MAPK and JNK in group BML-111 was significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: BML-111 can reduce the inflammatory response and apoptosis of renal tissue by inhibiting the activation of MAPK signaling pathway in acute renal injury induced by hemorrhagic shock.

iNKT cells prevent obesity-induced hepatic steatosis in mice in a C-C chemokine receptor 7-dependent manner.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are characterized by an increase in hepatic triglyceride content with infiltration of immune cells, which can cause steatohepatitis and hepatic insulin resistance. C-C chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) is primarily expressed in immune cells, and CCR7 deficiency leads to the development of multi-organ autoimmunity, chronic renal disease and autoimmune diabetes. Here, we investigated the effect of CCR7 on hepatic steatosis in a mouse model and its underlying mechanism. Our results demonstrated that body and liver weights were higher in the CCR7-/- mice than in the wild-type (WT) mice when they were fed a high-fat diet. Further, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were markedly diminished in CCR7-/- mice. The number of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells was reduced in the livers of the CCR7-/- mice. Moreover, liver inflammation was detected in obese CCR7-/- mice, which was ameliorated by the adoptive transfer of hepatic mononuclear cells from WT mice, but not through the transfer of hepatic mononuclear cells from CD1d-/- or interleukin-10-deficient (IL-10-/-) mice. Overall, these results suggest that CCR7+ mononuclear cells in the liver could regulate obesity-induced hepatic steatosis via induction of IL-10-expressing iNKT cells.

Global strain field mapping of a particle-laden interface using digital image correlation.

HYPOTHESIS: The ability to identify the stress-strain relations correctly is critical to understanding and modeling any rheological responses of an interface. Langmuir-Pockels (LP) trough is one of the most commonly used tools for studying an interface. Most, if not all, existing studies assume a 1D uniaxial compression during a LP-trough compression experiment. It is hypothesized that the deformation field is far more complex than what is typically assumed. EXPERIMENTS: To examine this hypothesis, we custom-built a glass-bottomed LP trough equipped with a camera to capture a series of optical images asa carbon nanotube (CNT)-laden interface is compressed. A digital image correlation (DIC) technique was then applied to the images to evaluate the global strain field during compression of the CNT laden interface. The DIC-corrected strain data were subsequently analyzed with the surface stress data to quantify the surface shear and dilatational moduli of the CNT-laden interface. FINDINGS: Our experimental findings clearly show, for the first time, the development of a non-uniform and complex 2D strain field during compression. The local strains were further quantified and compared with the usual assumption of 1D uniaxial compression. Although the compressive strain averaged over the whole trough area closely resembles the 1D uniaxial compression strain, the 1D compression assumption underestimates the local strain by about 36% at the center of the trough, where the surface stresses are measured. This is the first study in applying the DIC technique to map out the global strain field asa particle-laden interface is compressed. The method may also be applicable to other systems with similar optical texture, allowing the correct identification of stress-strain relationship of an interface.

Impact of virtual reality games on psychological well-being and upper limb performance in adults with physical disabilities: A pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: There is limited information regarding the effects of interactive virtual reality (VR) games on psychological and physical well-being among adults with physical disabilities. We aimed to examine the impact of VR games on psychological well-being, upper limb motor function and reaction time in adults with physical disabilities. METHODS: Fifteen participants completed the intervention using Wii VR games in this pilot study. Depressive, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) and Capabilities of Upper Extremity (CUE) questionnaires were used to measure psychological well-being and upper limb motor function respectively. Upper limb reaction time was measured using reaction time test. RESULTS: Results showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in DASS questionnaire and average reaction time score after intervention. CONCLUSION: There is a potential for using interactive VR games as an exercise tool to improve psychological wellbeing and upper limb reaction time among adults with disabilities.

The significance of bromide in the Brust-Schiffrin synthesis of thiol protected gold nanoparticles.

The mechanism of the two-phase Brust-Schiffrin synthesis of alkane thiol protected metal nanoparticles is known to be highly sensitive to the precursor species and reactant conditions. In this work X-ray absorption spectroscopy is used in conjunction with liquid/liquid electrochemistry to highlight the significance of Br- in the reaction mechanism. The species [AuBr4]- is shown to be a preferable precursor in the Brust-Schiffrin method as it is more resistant to the formation of Au(i) thiolate species than [AuCl4]-. Previous literature has demonstrated that avoidance of the Au(i) thiolate is critical to achieving a good yield of nanoparticles, as [Au(i)X2]- species are more readily reduced by NaBH4. We propose that the observed behavior of [AuBr4]- species described herein explains the discrepancies in reported behavior present in the literature to date. This new mechanistic understanding should enable nanoparticle synthesis with a higher yield and reduce particle size polydispersity.

Liver and Kidney on Chips: Microphysiological Models to Understand Transporter Function.

Because of complex cellular microenvironments of both the liver and kidneys, accurate modeling of transport function has remained a challenge, leaving a dire need for models that can faithfully recapitulate both the architecture and cell-cell interactions observed in vivo. The study of hepatic and renal transport function is a fundamental component of understanding the metabolic fate of drugs and xenobiotics; however, there are few in vitro systems conducive for these types of studies. For both the hepatic and renal systems, we provide an overview of the location and function of the most significant phase I/II/III (transporter) of enzymes, and then review current in vitro systems for the suitability of a transporter function study and provide details on microphysiological systems that lead the field in these investigations. Microphysiological modeling of the liver and kidneys using "organ-on-a-chip" technologies is rapidly advancing in transport function assessment and has emerged as a promising method to evaluate drug and xenobiotic metabolism. Future directions for the field are also discussed along with technical challenges encountered in complex multiple-organs-on-chips development.

Effects of embryonic ethanol exposure at low doses on neuronal development, voluntary ethanol consumption and related behaviors in larval and adult zebrafish: Role of hypothalamic orexigenic peptides.

Embryonic exposure to ethanol is known to affect neurochemical systems in rodents and increase alcohol drinking and related behaviors in humans and rodents. With zebrafish emerging as a powerful tool for uncovering neural mechanisms of numerous diseases and exhibiting similarities to rodents, the present report building on our rat studies examined in zebrafish the effects of embryonic ethanol exposure on hypothalamic neurogenesis, expression of orexigenic neuropeptides, and voluntary ethanol consumption and locomotor behaviors in larval and adult zebrafish, and also effects of central neuropeptide injections on these behaviors affected by ethanol. At 24h post-fertilization, zebrafish embryos were exposed for 2h to ethanol, at low concentrations of 0.25% and 0.5%, in the tank water. Embryonic ethanol compared to control dose-dependently increased hypothalamic neurogenesis and the proliferation and expression of the orexigenic peptides, galanin (GAL) and orexin (OX), in the anterior hypothalamus. These changes in hypothalamic peptide neurons were accompanied by an increase in voluntary consumption of 10% ethanol-gelatin and in novelty-induced locomotor and exploratory behavior in adult zebrafish and locomotor activity in larvae. After intracerebroventricular injection, these peptides compared to vehicle had specific effects on these behaviors altered by ethanol, with GAL stimulating consumption of 10% ethanol-gelatin more than plain gelatin food and OX stimulating novelty-induced locomotor behavior while increasing intake of food and ethanol equally. These results, similar to those obtained in rats, suggest that the ethanol-induced increase in genesis and expression of these hypothalamic peptide neurons contribute to the behavioral changes induced by embryonic exposure to ethanol.

Unexpectedly high prevalence of Treponema pallidum infection in the oral cavity of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with early syphilis who had engaged in unprotected sex practices.

Between 2010 and 2014, we obtained swab specimens to detect Treponema pallidum, with PCR assays, from the oral cavities of 240 patients with 267 episodes of syphilis who reported engaging in unprotected sex practices. The detected treponemal DNA was subjected to genotyping. All of the syphilis cases occurred in men who have sex with men (MSM), and 242 (90.6%) occurred in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. The stages of syphilis included 38 cases (14.2%) of primary syphilis of the genital region, 76 (28.5%) of secondary syphilis, 21 (7.9%) of primary and secondary syphilis, 125 (46.8%) of early latent syphilis, and seven (2.6%) others. Concurrent oral ulcers were identified in 22 cases (8.2%). Treponemal DNA was identified from the swabs of 113 patients (42.2%), including 15 (68.2%) with oral ulcers. The most common genotype of T. pallidum was 14f/f. The presence of oral ulcers was associated with identification of T. pallidum in the swab specimens (15/22 (68.2%) vs. 98/245 (40.0%)) (p = 0.01). In multivariate analysis, secondary syphilis (adjusted OR 6.79; 95% CI 1.97-23.28) and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titres of ≥1: 32 (adjusted OR 2.23; 95% CI 1.02-4.89) were independently associated with the presence of treponemal DNA in patients without oral ulcers. We conclude that detection of treponemal DNA in the oral cavity with PCR assays is not uncommon in MSM, most of whom reported having unprotected oral sex. Although the presence of oral ulcers is significantly associated with detection of treponemal DNA, treponemal DNA is more likely to be identified in patients without oral ulcers who present with secondary syphilis and RPR titres of ≥1: 32.

Evaluation of FRNA coliphages as indicators of human enteric viruses in a tropical urban freshwater catchment.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between FRNA coliphages (FRNA GI to GIV) and human enteric viruses (human adenoviruses, HAdV, astroviruses, AstV, noroviruses, NoV, and rotaviruses, RoV) in a tropical urban freshwater catchment. Positive associations between human-specific coliphages and human viral pathogens substantiate their use as viral indicators and in microbial source tracking. Reverse transcription qPCR was used to measure the concentrations of viruses and FRNA coliphages in concentrated water samples. Environmental water samples were also analyzed for male-specific (F+) and somatic (Som) coliphages using plaque assay. The most abundant enteric virus was NoV (55%) followed by HAdV (33%), RoV (33%), and AstV (23%), while the most abundant FRNA genogroup was GI (85%) followed by GII (48%), GIV (8%) and GIII (7%). Concentrations of human-specific coliphages FRNA GII were positively correlated with NoV, HAdV, RoV, AstV, F+ and Som (τ = 0.5 to 0.3, P < 0.05) while concentrations of animal-specific coliphages FRNA GI were negatively correlated with HAdV and RoV (τ = -0.2, P < 0.05). This study demonstrates statistical relationships between human-specific coliphages and a suite of human enteric viruses in the environment.