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Background: The symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019, caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, were originally assumed to be mainly respiratory. With increasing knowledge, however, it turned out that the spectrum of complaints varies broadly with age and concomitant diseases. While many neurological symptoms were reported in the context of the disease, ranging from permanent fatigue to recurrent headaches and concentration disturbance, treatment approaches are still in development. This case discusses a possible treatment approach with immunoglobulin therapy and its outcomes.Case Presentation: We present the case of a 56-year-old Caucasian female patient who, following coronavirus disease 2019, developed peripheral sensory and autonomic disturbances that fell within subacute demyelinating neuropathy. Because a significant improvement in symptoms as well as in the results of clinical and electrophysiological examination was reported after immunoglobulin therapy, long-term therapy does not appear to be necessary.Conclusion: Given the significant subjective and objective improvement reported, this case provides additional evidence that immunoglobulin therapy can be considered in post-coronavirus disease 2019 syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One requirement for plasma spectroscopy analysis and modeling of neon discharges is a set of electron-impact excitation cross sections covering excitation from both the 2p6 ground state and from the four 2p53s levels. We present experimental measurements for excitation cross sections into four J = 1 levels of the 2p53p configuration from the J = 0 and J = 2 2p53s metastable levels. A complete set of cross sections into all ten levels of the 2p53p configuration (2px in Paschen's notation) from the ground state, the two metastable levels and the two resonance levels of the 2p53s configuration (1sy in Paschen's notation) are compiled in convenient form. The resonance cross sections are obtained from an empirical scaling relationship between the measured metastable excitation cross sections and the corresponding optical oscillator strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic β-cell dysfunction contributes to onset and progression of type 2 diabetes. In this state β-cells become metabolically inflexible, losing the ability to select between carbohydrates and lipids as substrates for mitochondrial oxidation. These changes lead to β-cell dedifferentiation. We have proposed that FoxO proteins are activated through deacetylationdependent nuclear translocation to forestall the progression of these abnormalities. However, how deacetylated FoxO exert their actions remains unclear. To address this question, we analyzed islet function in mice homozygous for knock-in alleles encoding deacetylated FoxO1 (6KR). Islets expressing 6KR mutant FoxO1 have enhanced insulin secretion in vivo and ex vivo and decreased fatty acid oxidation ex vivo. Remarkably, the gene expression signature associated with FoxO1 deacetylation differs from wild type by only ~2% of the > 4000 genes regulated in response to re-feeding. But this narrow swath includes key genes required for β-cell identity, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial fatty acid and solute transport. The data support the notion that deacetylated FoxO1 protects β-cell function by limiting mitochondrial lipid utilization and raise the possibility that inhibition of fatty acid oxidation in β-cells is beneficial to diabetes treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies postulated that increased oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during elevating exercise intensities reflects a specific activation of this region. Furthermore, the drop in PFC oxygenation often measured shortly before exhaustion is interpreted as a main factor limiting exercise. Nevertheless, a limitation of these studies is that they often measured NIRS only in the PFC. Within this study, we hypothesized that these findings are not region specific but rather result from systemic blood redistribution to the working skeletal muscle. NIRS was measured in three different brain regions and the working skeletal muscle during incremental cycling till exhaustion in nine healthy men. Oxygenated hemoglobin of the PFC increased from low to submaximal intensities and leveled off at maximal intensities. There was no drop in PFC oxygenation before exercise abortion. Interestingly, the occipital cortex was unaffected during exercise, while the motor cortex showed an increasing deoxygenation with elevating exercise intensities, just as observed in the skeletal muscle. In conclusion, this study does not support the notion that PFC deoxygenation is involved in the limitation of maximum exercise capacity. Against the hypothesis, the NIRS signals of the other cortices differed clearly, indicating that the previously reported findings indeed represent region-specific activations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilinear flow occurs when fluid is drained from a permeable matrix by producing it through an enclosed fracture of finite conductivity intersecting a well along its axis. The terminology reflects the combination of two approximately linear flow regimes: one in the matrix with flow essentially perpendicular to the fracture, and one along the fracture itself associated with the non-negligible pressure drop in it. We investigated the characteristics, in particular the termination, of bilinear flow by numerical modeling allowing for an examination of the entire flow field without prescribing the flow geometry in the matrix. Fracture storage capacity was neglected relying on previous findings that bilinear flow is associated with a quasi-steady flow in the fracture. Numerical results were generalized by dimensionless presentation. Definition of a dimensionless time that, other than in previous approaches, does not use geometrical parameters of the fracture permitted identifying the dimensionless well pressure for the infinitely long fracture as the master curve for type curves of all fractures with finite length from the beginning of bilinear flow up to fully developed radial flow. In log-log scale the master curve's logarithmic derivative initially follows a 1/4-slope straight line (characteristic for bilinear flow) and gradually bends into a horizontal line (characteristic for radial flow) for long times. During the bilinear flow period, isobars normalized to well pressure propagate with the fourth and second root of time in fracture and matrix, respectively. The width-to-length ratio of the pressure field increases proportional to the fourth root of time during the bilinear period, and starts to deviate from this relation close to the deviation of well pressure and its derivative from their fourth-root-of-time relations. At this time, isobars are already significantly inclined with respect to the fracture. The type curves of finite fractures all deviate counterclockwise from the master curve instead of clockwise or counterclockwise from the 1/4-slope straight line as previously proposed. The counterclockwise deviation from the master curve was identified as the arrival of a normalized isobar reflected at the fracture tip 16 times earlier. Nevertheless, two distinct regimes were found in regard to pressure at the fracture tip when bilinear flow ends. For dimensionless fracture conductivities TD < 1, a significant pressure increase is not observed at the fracture tip until bilinear flow is succeeded by radial flow at a fixed dimensionless time. For TD > 10, the pressure at the fracture tip has reached substantial fractions of the associated change in well pressure when the flow field transforms towards intermittent formation linear flow at times that scale inversely with the fourth power of dimensionless fracture conductivity. Our results suggest that semi-log plots of normalized well pressure provide a means for the determination of hydraulic parameters of fracture and matrix after shorter test duration than for conventional analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the feasibility of using the ratio of two argon emission line intensities at 420.1 and 419.8 nm to measure the effective electron temperature in argon-containing plasmas. Experimental measurements in numerous plasma sources reveal the ratio varies from a value of approximately 1 at high electron temperatures, to a value near 4 at low electron temperatures. This variation is understood in terms of the magnitudes of the electron excitation cross sections into the upper energy levels of the two transitions. At high electron temperatures, the upper levels of the two emission lines, the J = 3 3p9 level for the 420.1 nm line and the J = 0 3p5 level for the 419.8 nm line, are both primarily populated by excitation from the ground state and have similar optical emission cross sections. At low electron temperatures, excitation is dominated by excitation from the metastable levels which have very different cross sections into the two levels. Temperatures obtained with this line pair ratio in an inductively coupled plasma are found to be consistent with values obtained from a Langmuir probe as well as an analysis of the entire set of 2px → 1sY emission lines (665-1150 nm) under a wide variety of plasma conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparison of synthetic hydroxyapatite/silica oxide, xenogenic hydroxyapatite-based bone substitute materials with empty control sites in terms of bone regeneration enhancement in a rabbit calvarial four non-critical-sized defect model. In each of six rabbits, four bicortical calvarial bone defects were generated. The following four treatment modalities were randomly allocated: (1) empty control site, (2) synthetic hydroxyapatite/silica oxide-based (HA/SiO) test granules, (3) xenogenic hydroxyapatite -based granules, (4) synthetic hydroxyapatite/silica oxide -based (HA/SiO) test two granules. The results of the latter granules have not been reported due to their size being three times bigger than the other two granule types. After 4 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and un-decalcified sections were obtained for histological analyses. For statistical analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied ( P<0.05). Histomorphometric analysis showed an average area fraction of newly formed bone of 12.32±10.36% for the empty control, 17.47±6.42% for the xenogenic hydroxyapatite -based granules group, and 21.2±5.32% for the group treated with synthetic hydroxyapatite/silica oxide -based granules. Based on the middle section, newly formed bone bridged the defect to 38.33±37.55% in the empty control group, 54.33±22.12% in the xenogenic hydroxyapatite -based granules group, and to 79±13.31% in the synthetic hydroxyapatite/silica oxide -based granules group. The bone-to-bone substitute contact was 46.38±18.98% for the xenogenic and 59.86±14.92% for the synthetic hydroxyapatite/silica oxide-based granules group. No significant difference in terms of bone formation and defect bridging could be detected between the two bone substitute materials or the empty defect. There is evidence that the synthetic hydroxyapatite/silica oxide granules provide comparable results with a standard xenogenic bovine mineral in terms of bone formation and defect bridging in non-critical size defects. Kruse A, Jung RE, Nicholls F, Zwahlen RA, Hämmerle CHF, Weber FE. Bone regeneration in the presence of a synthetic hydroxyapatite/silica oxide -based and a xenogenic hydroxyapatite -based bone substitute material. Clin. Oral Impl. Res. , 2011; 506-511 doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2010.02039.x [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented related to the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.

An algebra is called term-linear if every term is equal to a linear term or a constant and every n-ary linear term is essential. The term-linearity is a generalization of the linearity of polynomials over ordinary linear algebras or vector spaces. In this paper, as a sequel to a previous paper, we present an explicit normal form for terms over an affine space over GF(3) by binary trees, which shows that the word problem for affine spaces over GF(3) is solvable. Using this normal form, we count the number of all essentially n-ary linear terms and apply the Csákány formula to show that an affine space over GF(3) is term-linear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadherins are Ca2+-dependent transmembrane glycoproteins crucial for cell-cell adhesion in vertebrates and invertebrates. Classification of this superfamily due to their phylogenetic relationship is currently restricted to three major subfamilies: classical, desmosomal and protocadherins. Here we report evidence for a common phylogenetic origin of the kidney-specific Ksp- ( Cdh16) and the intestine-specific LI-cadherin ( Cdh17). Both genes consist of 18 exons and the positions of their exon-intron boundaries as well as their intron phases are perfectly conserved. We found an extensive paralogy of more than 40 megabases in mammals as well as teleost fish species encompassing the Ksp- and LI-cadherin genes. A comparable paralogy was not detected for other cadherin gene loci. These findings suggest that the Ksp- and LI-cadherin genes originated by chromosomal duplication early during vertebrate evolution and support our assumption that both proteins are paralogues within a separate cadherin family that we have termed 7D-cadherins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intestine specific LI-cadherin differs in its overall structure from classical and desmosomal cadherins by the presence of seven instead of five cadherin repeats and a short cytoplasmic domain. Despite the low sequence similarity, a comparative protein structure analysis revealed that LI-cadherin may have originated from a five-repeat predecessor cadherin by a duplication of the first two aminoterminal repeats. To test this hypothesis, we cloned the murine LI-cadherin gene and compared its structure to that of other cadherins. The intron-exon organization, including the intron positions and phases, is perfectly conserved between repeats 3–7 of LI-cadherin and 1–5 of classical cadherins. Moreover, the genomic structure of the repeats 1–2 and 3–4 is identical for LI-cadherin and highly similar to that of the repeats 1–2 of classical cadherins. These findings strengthen our assumption that LI-cadherin originated from an ancestral cadherin with five domains by a partial gene duplication event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we review a variety of spectra for Ce compounds, i.e. valence photoemission and inverse valence photoemission, core-level and resonant photoemission as well as X-ray absorption, X-ray emission and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (MCD). Those spectra are theoretically analysed by using the single-site Anderson model with various final state interactions. In the first part of the present article we are considering intermetallic Ce compounds, especially several Ce–Pd ordered phases, as well as CeRh3, CeSn3 and CeFe2. In the second part we focus on insulating Ce compounds like CeF3 as well as related systems like Ce oxides. Also we compare Ce hydroxides to other rare-earth hydroxides. Discussions are given on the physical information derived from the analysis, especially through a few key parameters of an extended version of the previously considered Anderson model. Those parameters (i.e. the Coulomb interaction Ufd between 5d and 4f electrons as well as the core hole potential -Udc acting on the 5d electron) have necessarily to be taken into account in order to interpret the experimental L3 X-ray absorption spectra. Another important point stressed in the present paper is the surface/bulk sensitivities of the various spectra to be investigated and theoretically analysed. Also similarities and differences in spectral features between metallic and insulating systems are pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although corticosteroids such as prednisone are efficacious for the treatment of severe asthma, chronic administration of oral corticosteroid therapy is associated with significant adverse effects. Previous studies have shown that clarithromycin is effective in reducing bronchial hyperresponsiveness and allergen-induced bronchoconstriction. However, the effect of long-term clarithromycin therapy in patients with prednisone-dependent asthma is uncertain.Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of oral clarithromycin on prednisone daily dosage, pulmonary function, quality of life (QOL), and asthmatic symptoms in patients with corticosteroid-dependent asthma.Methods: This 14-week, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted at Pulmonary Associates (Phoenix, Arizona) and the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center (Chicago, Illinois). Patients aged 18 to 75 years with an established diagnosis of asthma and who had been receiving >/=5 mg/d of prednisone for the preceding 6 months were enrolled. After a 4-week data-collection period, patients received clarithromycin 500 mg BID for 6 weeks, followed by a 4-week follow-up period. The effects of clarithromycin therapy on prednisone dosage requirements, pulmonary function (as assessed using spirometry), QOL, and asthmatic symptoms (nocturnal asthma, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, wheezing, and cough) were assessed.Results: Fourteen patients (9 men, 5 women; mean [SD] age, 62 [13] years) completed the study and were included in the final analysis. One patient withdrew from the study due to clarithromycin-related nausea. After 6 weeks of clarithromycin therapy, patients were able to tolerate a significant reduction in mean (SD) prednisone dosage from baseline (30% [18%]; P- 0.020). Pulmonary function, QOL, and asthmatic symptoms did not significantly worsen despite reduction in prednisone dose. All patients who completed the study tolerated clarithromycin therapy.Conclusions: In this pilot study of patients with corticosteroid-dependent asthma, 6-week clarithromycin 500 mg BID was clinically effective in allowing a reduction in prednisone dosage, without worsening pulmonary function, QOL, or asthmatic symptoms. In addition, clarithromycin was well tolerated, with only 1 patient discontinuing therapy due to treatment-related nausea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flow distribution in fuel cells has an important influence on both the power density and efficiency of fuel cell systems. In order to effectively utilize the area, flow distribution should be as homogeneous as possible. In addition, pressure losses should be minimized with regard to the power demand of auxiliary components as pumps and compressors. In polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) the flow field is in direct contact with the diffusion layer. The main task of the diffusion layer is to distribute the reactants from the flow field towards the catalyst layer. To prevent diffusion overvoltages, the diffusion layer is in general highly porous and provides high fluxes of the reactants. Consequently, the flow distribution in the flow field can be superpositioned by a flow in the diffusion layer. In this paper, we discuss the interaction between the diffusion layer and the flow field. Experimentally, we characterized different diffusion layers with regard to their diffusion properties as well as different flow fields. Additional simulation studies help to understand the processes and to determine suitable combinations of flow fields and diffusion layers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Elastic peak electron spectroscopy (EPES) provides inelastic mean free path (IMFP) values in the near-surface region. Such values, which will be called effective IMFPs, might be different from these derived from bulk parameters. In this work we derive effective IMFP values from EPES measurements in the range of 300–2000 eV for SiO2 and Si3N4 using a Si reference. Corrections for surface excitation are applied. Our effective IMFP values agree well with those calculated from optical data in the case of SiO2; that is, the ion sputtering does not alter the SiO2 surface significantly. On the other hand, systematic deviations between our data and those provided by a predictive formula were found in the case of sputtered Si3N4. These differences are attributed to alteration in the surface layer caused by sputtering. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report on the first successful loading of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) with metastable He atoms from a Stark-slower. Thereby, deceleration of the atoms relies on laser-atom interact ion in an inhomogeneous electric field. We show that the results obtained are comparable with early results from other groups achieved with a Zeeman slower. The Stark slower, which is able to fully control the final velocity of the atomic He beam, is the first step in achieving complete spin independent kinematic control based solely on electric fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of supraspino–spinal feedforward–feedback (FF-FB) interactions on variability in locomotor rhythm and coordination were examined in in vitro brain–spinal cord lamprey preparations. Spinal locomotor networks were activated by applying 0.2 mM N-methyl-dl-aspartate (NMA) to three spinal pools: gill, rostral and caudal. Bathing the brain with zero Ca2+ saline altered supraspinal–spinal drive and FF-FB interaction while spino–supraspinal feedback was changed by applying NMA to the caudal pool only. Wavelet analyses indicated a non-uniform energy distribution in ventral root (VR) activity that shifted between frequency bands on FF-FB interruption. Wavelet analysis was used to extract 300-s long epochs of low frequency burst rhythm. These were analyzed using a sliding-window time-varying covariance method. From the autocovariance in each window, the cycle period and height of the first side lobe peak were determined. Rostral VR variability (determined from standard deviation and coefficient of variation of all cycle periods and the mean peak height) was significantly higher than caudal VR variability. FF-FB interruption significantly decreased the rostral VR cycle period and variability but the rostro-caudal gradient remained. The intersegmental delay was also affected. The caudal VR rhythm with NMA in the caudal pool only was slower but more variable than with NMA over the entire cord. These results indicate that the locomotor rhythm in the presence of supraspino–spinal interactions is slower but has a higher variability. The higher variability may reflect a dynamic stability of the system. Additionally, differences in local neural organization likely contribute to rostro-caudal differences in variability of the motor output. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Characterizes bands with at most nine essentially ternary term functions. Theorems; Lemmas and proofs.

As a class, the quinolone antibacterials can no longer be assumed to be both effective and relatively free of significant adverse effects. Recent safety issues with newer generation fluoroquinolones, and concerns regarding drug-use associated bacterial resistance have made all drugs in this class subject to intense scrutiny and further study. Levofloxacin is a second generation fluoroquinolone with a post marketing history of well tolerated and successful use in a variety of clinical situations. Quinolones as a class cause a variety of adverse effects, including phototoxicity, seizures and other CNS disturbances, tendonitis and arthropathies, gastrointestinal effects, nephrotoxicity, prolonged QT interval and torsade de pointes, hypo- or hyperglycaemia, and hypersensitivity reactions. Levofloxacin has been involved in only a few case reports of adverse events, which include QT prolongation, seizures, glucose disturbances, and tendonitis. Levofloxacin has been shown to be effective at dosages of 250mg to 500mg once-daily in clinical trials in the management of acute maxillary sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, community-acquired pneumonia, skin and skin structure infections, and urinary tract infections. There are data suggesting that levofloxacin may promote fluoroquinolone resistance among the Streptococcus pneumoniae, and that clinical failures may result from this therapy. Other data suggest that fluoroquinolones with lower potency against Pseudomonas aeruginosa than ciprofloxacin, such as levofloxacin, may drive class-wide resistance to this pathogen. Levofloxacin is an effective drug in many clinical situations, but its cost is significantly higher than amoxicillin, erythromycin, or first and second generation cefalosporins. Because of the propensity to select for fluoroquinolone resistance in the pneumococcus and potentially other pathogens, levofloxacin should be an alternative agent rather than a drug-of-choice in routine community-acquired respiratory tract, urinary tract, and skin or skin structure infections. In areas with increasing pneumococcal β-lactam resistance, levofloxacin may be a reasonable empiric therapy in community-acquired respiratory tract infections. Similarly, in patients with risk factors for infectious complications or poor outcome, levofloxacin may be an excellent empiric choice in severe community-acquired respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, complicated skin or skin structure infections, and nosocomial respiratory and urinary tract infections. Better clinical data are needed to identify the true place in therapy of the newer fluoroquinolones in common community-acquired and nosocomial infections. Until then, these agents, including levofloxacin, might best be reserved for complicated infections, infection recurrence, and infections caused by β-lactam or macrolide-resistant pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of cytokeratin 20 (CK20) mRNA is considered a promising candidate method for the detection of circulating tumour cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood of cancer patients. In this study we have investigated the diagnostic specificity of the CK20 mRNA detection in samples from healthy donors (HD; n = 33), intensive care units patients (ICU; n = 20) and bone marrow obtained from patients suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases (CID; n = 14). RNAs purified from stabilized lysates showed positive results in 24% of the HD group (8/33), 35% of the ICU group (8/20) and in 40% of the CID group (5/14). The use of Ficoll gradients to separate nucleated cells completely restored the specificity of this CK20 RT-PCR assay. The CK20-expressing cells are positively identified to belong to the granulocyte fraction of leucocytes, which appear to express the gene on a background level. Our results demonstrate for the first time that CK20 mRNA expression is not limited to epithelium. Its occurrence in normal granulocytes has to be considered in tests designed to detect circulating cancer cells or micrometastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different metal targets were investigated as possible source material for tailored laser-produced plasma-sources. In the wavelength range from 1 to 20 nm, x-ray spectra were collected with a calibrated spectrometer with a resolution of λ/Δλ = 150 at 1 nm up to λ/Δλ = 1100 at 15 nm. Intense line emission features of highly ionized species as well as continuum-like spectra from unresolved transitions are presented. With this knowledge, the optimal target material can be identified for the envisioned application of the source in x-ray spectrometry on the high energy side of the spectra at about 1 keV. This energy is aimed for because 1 keV-radiation is ideally suited for L-shell x-ray spectroscopy with nm-depth resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ag/NiO/Pt structures did (did not) exhibit reproducible resistive switching when a positive bias was applied to the Pt (Ag) electrode. X-ray photoemission spectra revealed that ultrathin NiO films on Pt (Ag) layers did (did not) undergo reversible chemical state change during heat treatment in a vacuum and oxygen ambient. Such differences in interfacial chemical interaction may affect filament formation and rupture processes near the electrode and hence alter the resistive switching behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the present study was (i) to evaluate the clinical performance of reduced‐diameter implants placed in the molar area and (ii) to test whether monolithic zirconia implant‐supported crowns lead to similar clinical outcomes compared to porcelain‐fused‐to‐metal crowns. Materials and Methods: A total of 76 patients needing a single implant crown in the posterior region were recruited. All patients received a titanium–zirconium reduced‐diameter implant (Straumann Roxolid, Tissue Level, Standard Plus, diameter 3.3 mm, regular neck) randomly allocated to receive either a (1) monolithic zirconia crown (test) or (2) porcelain‐fused‐to‐metal crown (control). Implant survival, prosthetic outcomes, and patient‐reported outcomes were assessed at crown delivery and after 3 years of follow‐up. Marginal bone levels (MBL) as well as clinical parameters including probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and plaque levels (PCR) were also recorded. Results: A total of 59 patients were available at the 3‐year follow‐up; 32 patients with a monolithic zirconia crown (TEST) and 27 patients with a porcelain‐fused‐to‐metal crown (CONTROL). 14 implants (11 implant fractures/3 aseptic losses) were lost leading to an estimated implant survival rate of 80% ± 5.1% (95% CI 70.8%–90.8%). Prosthetic complications were limited to the control group and involved minor chippings. Conclusions: This type of reduced‐diameter implant to support single implant molar crowns in the molar area cannot be recommended. Monolithic zirconia crowns appear to be a viable option in the posterior region showing similar prosthetic outcomes to porcelain‐fused‐to‐metal crowns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare subepithelial connective tissue grafts (SCTG) versus guided bone regeneration (GBR) for the treatment of small peri‐implant dehiscence defects in terms of profilometric (primary outcome), clinical, and patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs). Methods: Sixteen patients who presented with small buccal bone dehiscences (≤3 mm) following single implant placement were recruited. Following implant placement, buccal bone defect sites were randomly treated either with a SCTG or GBR. Six patients who lacked bone dehiscences after implant placement were assigned to a negative control. Transmucosal healing was applied in all patients. Patients were examined prior (T1) and after (T2) implant placement, at suture removal (T3), at implant impression (T5), at crown delivery (T6), and 12 (T7) months after crown delivery. Measurements included profilometric outcomes, marginal bone levels, buccal bone and soft tissue thickness, PROMs, and clinical parameters. All data were analyzed descriptively. Results: The median changes in buccal contour as assessed by profilometric measures between T1 and T5 showed a decrease of 1.84 mm for the SCTG group and 1.06 mm for the GBR group. Between T2 and T7, the median change in the buccal contour amounted to 0.45 mm for SCTG and −0.94 mm (=loss) for GBR. Patients' pain perception tended to be higher in SCTG than in GBR. All peri‐implant soft tissue parameters showed healthy oral tissues and no clinically relevant differences between groups. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this pilot study, treating small peri‐implant dehiscence defects with a SCTG might be a viable alternative to GBR. The use of a SCTG tended to result in more stable profilometric outcomes and comparable clinical outcomes to GBR. However, patient‐reported outcome measures tended to favor GBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Myocardial revascularization at extreems - Vojvodina STEMI network" by R. Jung and colleagues is presented.

Phase-resolved optical emission spectroscopy measurements in argon and neon inductively coupled plasmas (ICPs) have revealed a surplus of high-energy electrons in neon-containing plasmas. Differences between results of emission model analyses using neon and argon lines (as well as probe measurements) also indicate a high-energy enhancement in neon-containing plasmas. The abundance of these extra high-energy electrons is correlated with the sheath thickness near the rf antenna and can be reduced by either adding a Faraday shield (external shielding) or increasing the plasma density. A comparison of modelled and experimental values of the 13.56 MHz time modulation of select neon emission lines strongly suggests plasma series resonance heating adjacent to the ICP antenna as the source of the extra heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We exposed anuran eggs and tadpoles to vehicle control (0.7% acetone) or waterborne [{sup}3{end}H]2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) for 24 h (American toad, 0.003--30 mu g/L; leopard frog, 3 mu g/L; green frog, 0.3--100 mu g/L) and subsequently raised them in clean water. Neither American toads nor green frogs exhibited TCDD-related mortality, but leopard frogs showed significantly increased (10%) mortality over controls. Eggs and tadpoles eliminated TCDD relatively quickly compared with published data for other vertebrates, with t{sub}1/2{end} of 1 to 5 d (American toad), 2 to 7 d (leopard frog), and 4 to 6 d (green frog). Elimination rates were slowest for tadpoles fed nothing, fastest for those fed a low-fat diet, and intermediate for those fed a high-fat diet. Although not significant, American toads exposed to greater than/= 0.03 mu g TCDD/L appeared to metamorphose earlier, and those exposed to higher TCDD treatments appeared to metamorphose at a larger body mass than controls. Comparisons of these results with studies of fish early life stages suggest that anuran eggs and tadpoles eliminate TCDD more rapidly and are 100- to 1,000-fold less sensitive to its deleterious effects during development. These differences may be related to differences in metabolic rate, patterns of lipid storage and utilization, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor binding and signal transduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose To investigate the prevalence of postictal psychosis ( PP) in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy ( TLE) and to estimate the predictive value of various variables for the development of PP. Methods By retrospectively reviewing the charts of all patients evaluated with video-electroencephalogram ( EEG)-monitoring at our unit between January 1995 and February 2012, we identified 684 patients with TLE, of which 48 patients had a history of PP. Patients with TLE and PP were compared with 200 controls (patients with TLE without a psychotic history) on demographic, clinical, EEG and magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) variables. Results The prevalence of PP in our TLE sample was 7.0%. Aggressive behaviour during PP was present in 22.9% of the sample. Univariate analysis revealed that PP was significantly associated with early age at epilepsy onset ( P = 0.007), longer duration of epilepsy ( P = 0.002), presence of ictal fear ( P = 0.005), impaired intellectual function ( P = 0.045), and bilateral ictal and interictal epileptiform activity (both P < 0.0001). Using logistic regression analysis, ictal fear [odds ratio ( OR) 2.88; P = 0.015] and bilateral interictal EEG activity ( OR 6.40; P < 0.0001) were predictive of PP development. No association of PP with MRI pathology or epilepsy-relevant aetiological factors was found. Conclusions PP is a frequent and potentially dangerous complication within the course of TLE. Bilateral or widespread functional central nervous system disturbances rather than distinct structural brain alterations or certain predisposing aetiologies of epilepsy appear to be a risk factor for the development of PP. Ictal fear may be a predictive clinical variable of PP in TLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is capable of considerable plasticity, both in health and disease. After spinal neurotrauma, the degrees and extent of neuroplasticity and recovery depend on multiple factors, including the level and extent of injury, postinjury medical and surgical care, and rehabilitative interventions. Rehabilitation strategies focus less on repairing lost connections and more on influencing CNS plasticity for regaining function. Current evidence indicates that strategies for rehabilitation, including passive exercise, active exercise with some voluntary control, and use of neuroprostheses, can enhance sensorimotor recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) by promoting adaptive structural and functional plasticity while mitigating maladaptive changes at multiple levels of the neuraxis. In this review, we will discuss CNS plasticity that occurs both spontaneously after SCI and in response to rehabilitative therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We aimed to describe the changing incidence of thyroid disease in a population-based study in Tayside, Scotland (population 390 000) between 1994 and 2001. Design A retrospective, data-linkage, population-based study measuring the incidence and prevalence of thyroid disease. Patients All patients with newly diagnosed, treated and stable thyroid disease in Tayside were identified by electronic linkage of six datasets, including all regional biochemistry data, hospital admissions, deaths and a thyroid follow-up register. Results The overall prevalence of thyroid dysfunction has increased from 2·3% to 3·8% (1994–2001). The prevalence of ever having had hyperthyroidism increased from 0·86% to 1·26% in females and 0·17% to 0·24% in males ( P < 0·0001 for both). The standardized incidence of hyperthyroidism increased from 0·68 to 0·87 per 1000 females/year, representing a 6·3% annual increase ( P < 0·0001). The prevalence of primary hypothyroidism increased from 3·12% to 5·14% in females and 0·51% to 0·88% in males ( P < 0·0001 for both). The standardized incidence of primary hypothyroidism did not change and varied between 3·90 and 4·89 per 1000 females/year over the 8 years. Incidence of hypothyroidism in males increased from 0·65 to 1·01 per 1000 males/year ( P = 0·0017). Mean age at diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism declined in females from 1994 to 2001. Conclusions The prevalence of primary hypothyroidism and previous hyperthyroidism has increased in Tayside, Scotland. This is partly due to an increasing incidence of disease, increased ascertainment and earlier diagnosis of disease. This will result in an increased workload for endocrinologists and general practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the structural, magnetic and transport properties of La1-xBixMnO3 samples. As the Bi content increases, a structural transition from rhombohedral to pseudocubic and a magnetic phase transition from ferromagnetic ordering to cluster glass are identified. Metal–insulator (MI) transitions and large magnetoresistance (MR) effects are observed at low Bi doping levels, while insulating behavior of resistivity is found in the whole measured temperature range at high-doping levels. Two distinct ferromagnetic insulating (FI) states are found at low temperatures in this system. One can be suppressed and the other can be enhanced by applying magnetic fields. Possible reasons for the observed structural, magnetic phase transitions and changes of resistivity behavior with Bi doping are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Review the literature regarding the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) to prevent red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in critically ill patients. A computerized search of MEDLINE and EMBASE from 1966 through June 2003 was conducted using the terms erythropoietin, anemia, hemoglobin, critical care, intensive care, surgery, trauma, burn, and transfusion. References of selected articles were reviewed. A manual search of critical care, surgery, trauma, burn, hematology, and pharmacy journals was conducted to identify relevant abstracts. Six randomized studies have evaluated exogenous administration of erythropoietin to prevent RBC transfusions in critically ill patients. Studies vary with respect to rHuEPO dosage regimens, dose of concurrently administered iron, patient characteristics, and transfusion thresholds. Administration of rHuEPO rapidly produces erythropoiesis to reduce the need for RBC transfusions. The largest study conducted to date used weekly rHuEPO administration and found a modest decrease in transfusion requirements although the time to first transfusion was delayed. Reduced intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) was shown in only one study of surgical/trauma patients. Reduced LOS after ICU discharge was found in another study of severely ill patients (APACHE II score >22). Other clinical outcomes were not altered by rHuEPO use. No adverse events were associated with rHuEPO use although studies were not designed to evaluate safety. rHuEPO reduces the need for transfusions. A cost-effectiveness analysis of rHuEPO for this indication is needed. Defining an optimal dosage regimen, identifying patients most likely to respond to rHuEPO, and determining risk factors for ICU associated anaemia would provide information for appropriate rHuEPO utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ksp- and LI-cadherin are structurally homologous proteins coexpressed with E-cadherin in renal and intestinal epithelia, respectively. Whereas LI-cadherin has been shown to mediate Ca2+-dependent homotypic cell–cell adhesion independent of stable interactions with the cytoskeleton, little is known about the physiological role of Ksp-cadherin. To analyze its potential adhesive and morphoregulatory functions, we expressed murine Ksp-cadherin in CHO cells. In this report, we show that Ksp-cadherin induces homotypic and Ca2+-dependent cell–cell adhesion that can be specifically blocked with antibodies raised against the cadherin repeats EC1 and EC2. Ksp-cadherin mediates about the same quantitative adhesive effect (aggregation index) as LI- and E-cadherin. However, the cellular phenotype induced by Ksp-cadherin resembles more closely that of LI- than E-cadherin. This could reflect our observation, that Ksp-cadherin, as well as LI-cadherin, does not directly interact with β-catenin. In conclusion, both cadherins are thus not only structurally but also functionally related and may share other functions within their respective epithelia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary Objective: To review published data evaluating shorter courses of antibiotic therapy for nosocomial pneumonia and provide recommendations for minimizing antimicrobial use in intensive care units. Data source: Literature was identified through MEDLINE (1966 through 6/2002) and a manual search of critical care, infectious disease, and pharmacy journals was conducted to identify relevant abstracts. Data synthesis: Antibiotic use may be decreased by discontinuing therapy after 3 days in patients with low likelihood of nosocomial pneumonia. In addition, clinical guidelines or invasive diagnostic procedures may be effectively instituted to reduce duration of antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: Shorter-course antibiotic therapy may be beneficial in decreasing lengths of hospital and intensive care units stays, antimicrobial resistance, and total hospital costs. Further research is needed to determine the optimal duration of therapy in patients with nosocomial pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lineage-specific gene expression has been used for the identification of metastasis of cancers with unknown primary site or of disseminated cancer cells in haemopoietic compartments such as bone marrow or in lymph nodes. For the muc1, cytokeratin-19 and the CEA genes, the transcription in haemopoietic cells has been shown recently. Here, the expression of the mammary epithelium related antigens BA46 (lactadherin) and BA70 in lymphoid and myeloid cell lines, and in clinical specimens is analysed. By Northern-hybridization with specific oligonucleotides an ubiquitous transcription of both genes, independent from the provenance of cells or the chromosomal gender was found. Both mRNA molecules were amplified by rtPCR from the samples and the specificity could be confirmed by sequence analysis. Peptide-specific antibodies were raised in rabbits and used for Western-blot analysis and for immunocytochemical studies. Both antibodies reacted with total cell lysates from myeloid and lymphatic cells. In immunocytochemistry antibody P717 (anti-lactadherin) had a significant strong staining of the myeloid cell lines K562 and HL60 suggesting a participation of lactadherin in leukocyte-function. Using antibody P718, strong stains were seen in myeloid line K562 and lymphoid line ST486. In conclusion, our findings expand the results that the concept of lineage-specific gene expression is no longer valid at the molecular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor about the use of an automated thyroid register in the clinical management of hypothyroid patients.

Objective To test whether or not one of two emergence profile designs (concave or convex) is superior to the other in terms of remaining cement following cementation of reconstructions on individualized abutments and careful cement removal. Materials and methods A central incisor with a single implant-supported reconstruction was selected as a model. Six types of abutments (n = 10) with two different emergence profile designs (concave ( CC) and convex ( CV)) and three crown-abutment margin depths (epimucosal, 1.5 mm submucosal, 3 mm submucosal) were fabricated through a CAD/ CAM procedure. Lithium disilicate reinforced ceramic crowns were cemented with chemically polymerized resin cement. A blinded investigator attempted to remove all cement excess. Thereafter, the entire reconstruction was unscrewed and analyzed for the overall amount and the depth of cement excess. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to investigate differences between groups. When more than two groups were compared between each other, a Bonferroni correction of the P value was performed. Results Concave abutments presented significantly more cement remnants than CV abutments when the entire abutment area of the epimucosal margin groups was evaluated ( CC0 mm: mean 2.31 mm2 ( SD 0.99) vs. CV0 mm: mean 1.57 mm2 ( SD 0.55); P = 0.043). A statistically significant increase in remnants was detected when the crown-abutment margin was located more submucosally for every abutment studied (0 mm vs. 1.5 mm: P < 0.000, 0 mm vs 3 mm: P < 0.000, 1.5 mm vs. 3 mm: P < 0.000). The buccal quadrant demonstrated the least, whereas the oral and interdental quadrants showed the greatest amount of cement excess. Conclusions Concave emergence profile abutments and deep crown-abutment margin positions increased the risk of cement excess. Oral and interdental areas are more prone to cement remnants than other surface areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major concern in aquaculture is the use of chemical therapeutics, such as antibiotics, because of their impact on the environment as well as on the fish product. As a potential tool for reducing antibiotic use, we tested the application of low-frequency ultrasound as a method for enhancing antibiotic uptake. Rainbow trout juveniles ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to two different concentrations of oxytetracycline ( OTC), flumequine ( FLU) and florfenicol ( FLO), administered by bath after the application of ultrasound. After exposure, concentrations of these substances were measured in the liver and blood of treated fish. Results showed that the ultrasound treatment can significantly increase the uptake for all three antibiotics. The uptake of OTC for example, in fish exposed to an OTC concentration of 20 mg L−1 after prior treatment with ultrasound, was similar to the OTC concentrations in their liver and blood to fish exposed to 100 mg L−1 without sonication. For FLU and FLO, the use of ultrasound caused significant differences of uptake in the liver at high antibiotic concentrations. This suggests that the use of ultrasound as a technique to deliver antibiotics to fish can ultimately reduce the amount of antibiotics discharged into the aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Scalp cooling has been used since the 1970s to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia, one of the most common and psychologically troubling side effects of chemotherapy. Currently available scalp cooling systems demonstrate varying results in terms of effectiveness and tolerability. Methods For the present prospective study, 55 women receiving neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or palliative chemotherapy were enrolled. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of a sensor-controlled scalp cooling system (DigniCap: Sysmex Europe GmbH, Norderstedt, Germany) to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia in breast or gynecologic cancer patients receiving 1 of 7 regimens. Clinical assessments, satisfaction questionnaires, and alopecia evaluations [World Health Organization (who) grading for toxicity] were completed at baseline, at each cycle, and at completion of chemotherapy. Results Of the 55 patients, 78% underwent scalp cooling until completion of chemotherapy. In multivariate analysis, younger women and those receiving paclitaxel weekly or paclitaxel-carboplatin experienced less alopecia. The compound successful outcome ("no head covering" plus "who grade 0/1") was observed in all patients 50 years of age and younger receiving 4 cycles of docetaxel-cyclophosphamide or 6 cycles of paclitaxel-carboplatin. Conversely, alopecia was experienced by all women receiving triplet polychemotherapy (6 cycles of docetaxel-doxorubicin- cyclophosphamide). For women receiving sequential polychemotherapy regimens (3 cycles of fluorouracil-epirubicin- cyclophosphamide followed by 3 cycles of docetaxel or 4 cycles of doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide followed by 4 cycles of docetaxel), the subgroup 50 years of age and younger experienced a 43% success rate compared with a 10% rate for the subgroup pf older women receiving the same regimens. Conclusions The ability of scalp cooling to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia varies with the chemotherapy regimen and the age of the patient. Use of a compound endpoint with subjective and objective measures provides insightful and practical information when counselling patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare short implants in the posterior maxilla to longer implants placed after or simultaneously with sinus floor elevation procedures. The focused question was as follows: Are short implants superior to longer implants in the augmented sinus in terms of survival and complication rates of implants and reconstructions, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and costs? Methods A MEDLINE search (1990-2014) was performed for randomized controlled clinical studies comparing short implants (≤8 mm) to longer implants (>8 mm) in augmented sinus. The search was complimented by an additional hand search of the selected papers and reviews published between 2011 and 2014. Eligible studies were selected based on the inclusion criteria, and quality assessments were conducted. Descriptive statistics were applied for a number of outcome measures. Survival rates of dental implants were pooled simply in case of comparable studies. Results Eight randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) comparing short implants versus longer implants in the augmented sinus derived from an initial search count of 851 titles were selected and data extracted. In general, all studies were well conducted with a low risk of bias for the majority of the analyzed parameters. Based on the pooled analyses of longer follow-ups (5 studies, 16-18 months), the survival rate of longer implants amounted to 99.5% (95% CI: 97.6-99.98%) and for shorter implants to 99.0% (95% CI: 96.4-99.8%). For shorter follow-ups (3 studies, 8-9 months), the survival rates of longer implants are 100% (95% CI: 97.1-100%) and for shorter implants 98.2% (95% CI: 93.9-99.7%). Complications were predominantly of biological origin, mainly occurred intraoperatively as membrane perforations, and were almost three times as higher for longer implant in the augmented sinus compared to shorter implants. PROMs, morbidity, surgical time and costs were generally in favor of shorter dental implants. All studies were performed by surgeons in specialized clinical settings. Conclusions The outcomes of the survey analyses demonstrated predictably high implant survival rates for short implants and longer implants placed in augmented sinus and their respective reconstructions. Given the higher number of biological complications, increased morbidity, costs and surgical time of longer dental implants in the augmented sinus, shorter dental implants may represent the preferred treatment alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To test whether or not bone regeneration using deproteinized bovine bone mineral ( DBBM) is comparable to hydroxyapatite/silica oxide ( HA/SiO) and to test the effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rh BMP-2) as an adjunct to DBBM for localized bone regeneration. Materials and methods In each of the 10 rabbits, 4 titanium cylinders were placed on the external cortical plates of their calvaria. Four treatment modalities were randomly allocated: (i) empty, (ii) HA/SiO, (iii) DBBM, and (iv) DBBM plus rh BMP-2 ( DBBM/ BMP). The animals were sacrificed at week 8. Descriptive histology and histomorphometric assessment using a superimposed test grid of points and cycloids were performed. Results The mean number of points of the test grid coinciding with bone within the cylinder reached 124 ± 35 bone points for empty controls, 92 ± 40 bone points for DBBM, 98 ± 44 bone points for synthetic HA/SiO, and 146 ± 34 bone points DBBM/ BMP. The P-value for DBBM with and without BMP reached a borderline statistical significance of 0.051. However, the area of bone regeneration within the cylinders peaked for DBBM/ BMP and was statistically significantly higher compared with empty cylinders ( P < 0.05). The bone-to-bone substitute contact ranged between 32.9% ± 21.7 for DBBM, 39.6 ± 18.4% for HA/SiO, and 57.8% ± 10.2 for DBBM/ BMP. The differences between DBBM/ BMP and controls ( DBBM, HA/SiO) were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusions DBBM and HA/SiO rendered comparable amounts of bone regeneration. The addition of rh BMP-2 to DBBM resulted in more favorable outcomes with respect to the area of bone regeneration and to bone-to-implant contact, thereby indicating the potential of this growth factor to enhance bone regeneration within this animal model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Several small retrospective studies have observed that patients with a purely ocular manifestation of myasthenia gravis (MG) are significantly less likely to convert to a generalized disease when treated early on with corticosteroids. However, given the limited number of reported patients in the literature these findings still remain controversial. Methods In order to increase the number of published cases, we performed a retrospective analysis on 44 patients with newly diagnosed ocular MG who were subsequently either treated with corticosteroids or received no immunosuppressive therapy at all. The generalization rate was assessed at the end of a 2-year follow-up period. Results Whereas none of 17 treated patients generalized, 11 of 27 (41%) untreated patients developed generalized symptoms. The difference between the groups was significant ( P = 0.003). Conclusions Our results agree well with previous studies on this issue. Taken together, published data indicate risk ratios for generalization of below 0.32 under corticosteroid treatment in comparison to untreated patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigated bipolar resistance switching (RS) behavior of a top electrode/epitaxial NiO using Al and Pt as the top electrodes (TEs) and epitaxial NiO deposited at 500 °C (NiO-500) and 700 °C (NiO-700). We found that the contact between Al and Pt TEs and NiO-500 was a high resistance insulating contact, while the contact between the two TEs and NiO-700 was a low-resistance metallic contact. We also found that only NiO-500 with the Pt TE exhibited bipolar RS after an electroforming process. This study suggests that during the formation of the Pt/NiO-500 interface, the amount and behavior of oxygen at the interface seem to play the most important role in bipolar RS behavior. In order to improve the device performance, better control of oxygen content and its movement at the interface seems necessary. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]