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The goal of this study was to evaluate the free groin flap in the rat transplanted to the neck as a tool for extending microsurgical skills and to assess its suitability as a model for microvascular perfusion studies following secondary venous ischaemia. An analysis of 60 consecutive groin flap transplantations was performed in male Sprague Dawley rats with special regard to anatomy and operation times (Part I, animals No. 1-60). Following flap transplantation, the animals No. 10-30 ( n = 21) were used for the determination of the critical time period of a complete venous stasis of the free groin flap resulting in a total flap loss (Part II). The flaps of animals No. 31-41 ( n = 11) were used for assessing the feasibility and reproducibility of intra-vital video microscopy (IVM) of the flaps (Part III). The mean total operation time decreased from 166 (± 26) minutes ins the first 10 animals to 126 (± 21) minutes and 130 (± 12) minutes in the latter two groups of 10 animals, respectively. After a critical period of 35 minutes of a complete artificial venous stasis a complete flap necrosis occurred. IVM detected a higher functional capillary density of the skin of the transplanted groin flaps in the animals in which the flaps were rinsed with 1 ml of Ringer's lactated solution prior to I/R. In conclusion, this model is simple and reliable. The model may be a useful tool for evaluating and comparing the effects of various anticoagulants or vasomotor drugss on microvascular perfusion in critically compromised free flaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to ascertain whether self-control predicts heart rate, heart rate variability, and the cortisol slope, and to determine whether health behaviors and affect patterns mediate these relationships. A sample of 198 adults completed the Self-Control Scale (Tangney in J Pers 72:271-322, ), and reported their exercise levels, and cigarette and alcohol use. Participants provided a complete account of their emotional experiences over a full day, along with morning and evening salivary cortisol samples and a continuous measure of cardiovascular activity on the same day. High trait self-control predicted low resting heart rate, high heart rate variability, and a steep cortisol slope. Those with high self-control displayed stable emotional patterns which explained the link between self-control and the cortisol slope. The self-controlled smoked less and this explained their low heart rates. The capacity to sustain stable patterns of affect across diverse contexts may be an important pathway through which self-control relates to psychophysiological functioning and potentially health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mutations in the human presenilin genes cause the most frequent and aggressive forms of Alzheimer's Disease. They results in an increase of the 42 amino acid variant of amyloid beta peptide that rapidly aggregates into neurotoxic plaques. In addition, lack of presenilin activity prevents the proteolytic cleavage of the Notch receptor of intercellular signaling. The biological role of presenilins is evolutionary conserved in animals. This review summarizes recent results obtained from animal models to understand presenilin activity and malfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND:The goal of this studywas to determine whether the focused delivery ofAPCby rinsing of free adipocutaneous groin flaps shows protective effects on flap survival following a fatal secondary venous stasis in a rat model. METHODS: 36 Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to three groups and free microvascular groin flaps were transplanted to the neck in each animal. 20 hours postoperatively the flap pedicle was re-explored and the distal stump of the flap artery was catheterised. Animals in group I (n = 12) remained untreated, whereas animals of group II were treated with 1ml of Ringer's solution. Those in group III received 1 ml of APC (2 mg/kg). Afterwards the flap veinwas clamped for 35 minutes. The skin of the flaps and the native contralateral groinwas examined by intravital video microscopy using FITC-Dextran and CFDA-SE-labelled thrombocytes. RESULTS: APC-pretreatment significantly increased the functional capillary density (FCD) of the flaps. Flap viability was 8% in group I (n = 1/12), 9% in group II (n = 1/11) and 60% in group III (n = 6/10), respectively. No partial flap loss was detected. CONCLUSIONS: The focused delivery of APC resulted in significantly improved flap salvage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallothioneins are considered to be the primary player in the detoxification of and protection from cadmium, a teratogen, mutagen and potentially lethal heavy metal. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has only two metallothioneins, mtl-1 and mtl-2, thus making it an ideal organism to investigate the phenotypic effects of cadmium toxicosis. The functional importance of metallothioneins in cadmium trafficking was highlighted through the generation of viable green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing transgenes, a metallothionein null allele, as well as RNAi mediated metallothionein knock-downs. A highly sensitive dose and temporal transcriptional response to cadmium, but not copper or zinc, was shown to be equally prevalent in both isoforms. No measurable compensatory up-regulation of mtl-1 could be observed in the null allele of mtl-2, suggesting that both isoforms are independent and not synergistic in their mode of action. Exposure to cadmium affected all demographic indices measured, manifested by a reduction in body size, generation time, brood size and lifespan. These effects were magnified in the knock-out or wild-type subjected to a knock down by RNAi, however, only in the presence of cadmium. This substantiates the notion that metallothioneins play a pivotal role in the protection from cadmium toxicosis. Finally, an earthworm metallothionein–GFP construct could be activated in C.elegans upon exposure to cadmium, the results providing further evidence that the transcriptional control of metallothioneins is fundamentally divergent in lower invertebrates and not mediated via MTF-1 as in more complex organisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Morality is a set of rules that enable people to live together in harmony, and virtue involves internalizing those rules. Insofar as virtue depends on overcoming selfish or antisocial impulses for the sake of what is best for the group or collective, self-control can be said to be the master virtue. We analyze vice, sin, and virtue from the perspective of self-control theory. Recent research findings indicate that self-control involves expenditure of some limited resource and suggest the analogy of a moral muscle as an appropriate way to conceptualize virtue in personality. Guilt fosters virtuous self-control by elevating inter-personal obligations over personal, selfish interests. Several features of modern Western society make virtue and self-control especially difficult to achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focal gastrointestinal 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]-fluoro-D: -glucose (FDG) uptake can frequently be found on FDG-PET/CT even in patients without known gastrointestinal malignancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether increased gastrointestinal FDG uptake without CT correlate is an early indicator of patients developing gastrointestinal malignancies. A total of 1,006 patients without esophagogastric or anorectal malignancies underwent FDG-PET/CT. The esophagogastric junction, the stomach and the anorectum were evaluated for increased FDG uptake. Patients without elevated uptake were assigned to group A, patients with elevated uptake were allocated to group B. The SUVmax values of both groups were tested for significant differences using the U test. A follow-up of longer than 1 year (mean 853 +/- 414 days) served as gold standard. A total of 460 patients had to be excluded based on insufficient follow-up data. For the remaining 546 patients the mean SUVmax was as follows: (a) esophagogastric junction, group A 3.1 +/- 0.66, group B 4.0 +/- 1.11, p < 0.01; (b) stomach, group A 2.8 +/- 0.77, group B 4.1 +/- 1.33, p < 0.01; (c) rectal ampulla, group A 2.8 +/- 0.83, group B 3.9 +/- 1.49, p < 0.01; (d) anal canal, group A 2.7 +/- 0.55, group B 3.9 +/- 1.59, p < 0.01. Only one patient developed gastric cancer. In the case of an unremarkable CT, elevated esophagogastric or anorectal FDG uptake does not predict cancer development and does not have to be investigated further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presenilins are part of a protease complex that is responsible for the intramembraneous cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein involved in Alzheimer's disease and of Notch receptors. In Caenorhabditis elegans, mutations in the presenilin sel-12 result in a highly penetrant egg-laying defect. spr-5 was identified as an extragenic suppressor of the sel-12 mutant phenotype. The SPR-5 protein has similarity to the human polyamine oxidase-like protein encoded by KIAA0601 that is part of the HDAC-CoREST co-repressor complex. Suppression of sel-12 by spr-5 requires the activity of HOP-1, the second somatic presenilin in C.elegans. spr-5 mutants derepress hop1 expression 20- to 30-fold in the early larval stages when hop-i normally is almost undetectable. SPR-1, a C.elegans homologue of CoREST, physically interacts with SPR-5. Moreover, down-regulation of SPR-1 by mutation or RNA interference also bypasses the need for sel-12. These data strongly suggest that SPR-5 and SPR-1 are part of a CoREST-like co-repressor complex in C.elegans. This complex might be recruited to the hop-1 locus controlling its expression during development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to outline a model of identity crisis, it is necessary to distinguish two types. In an identity deficit ("motivation crisis"), the individual experiences a lack of guiding commitments but struggles to establish personal goals and values. In an identity conflict ("legitimation crisis"), the person has several commitments which prescribe conflicting behavioral imperatives in some situations, such that at least one commitment may have to be betrayed. The literature on identity crisis is reviewed in connection with this distinction, and an attempt is made to delineate the causes, the subjective experiences, behavioral consequences, and modes of resolution of each type of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resection of longstanding chest or abdominal wall malignancies can create extensive defects. Pedicled or free myocutaneous flaps [3–6, 8, 9, 12, 14–17] are often the choice for reconstruction. The omental flap, however, is a valid alternative [1, 2, 8, 19, 22]. A case is reported in which the omental flap was used to cover the defect resulting from the resection of an extensive basal cell carcinoma of the lateral thorax and abdominal wall. Fibrosis and calcification of the omentum lead to a stable abdominal wall without the use of synthetic mesh [20, 23]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]