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Background: Vocal fold (VF) scarring remains a therapeutic dilemma and challenge in modern laryngology. To facilitate corresponding research, we aimed to establish an in vitro fibrogenesis model employing human VF fibroblasts (hVFF) and the principles of macromolecular crowding (MMC).Methods: Fibrogenesis was promoted by addition of transforming growth factor-β1 to standard medium and medium containing inert macromolecules (MMC). Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and Botox type A were tested for their antifibrotic properties in various doses. Experiments were analyzed with respect to the biosynthesis of collagen, fibronectin, and α-smooth muscle actin using immunofluorescence, silver stain and western blot.Results: MMC led to favourable enhanced deposition of collagen and other extracellular matrix components, reflecting fibrotic conditions. Low doses of HGF were able to dampen profibrotic effects. This could not be observed for higher HGF concentrations. Botox type A did not show any effects.Conclusion: Based on the principles of MMC we could successfully establish a laryngeal fibrogenesis model employing hVFF. Our finding of dose-dependent HGF effects is important before going into clinical trials in humans and has never been shown before. Our model provides a novel option to screen various potential antifibrotic compounds under standardized conditions in a short time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study of values placed on wildlife by Bantu and Yaka Pygmy forest dwellers ( n = 200) in Northern Congo identified and analyzed two wildlife value orientations - 'anthropocentric' and 'biocentric.' The former, strongly displayed across all segments of both societies, was likely motivated by heavy reliance on bushmeat and human-wildlife conflicts, and was linked to attitudes approving the killing of animals for human benefit. The 'biocentric' orientation was more common among formally educated male respondents who do not hunt and positively linked to attitudes favoring conservation. Wildlife management strategies should consider including 1) sustainable local wildlife exploitation, 2) livelihood projects that provide a real alternative to hunting, and 3) human-wildlife conflict mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South-east Asia, ENSO-related droughts represent irregularly occurring hazards for agroforestry systems containing cocoa which are predicted to increase in severity with expected climate warming. To characterize the drought response of mature cocoa trees, we conducted the Sulawesi Throughfall Displacement Experiment in a shaded ( Gliricidia sepium) cocoa agroforestry system in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Three large sub-canopy roofs were installed to reduce throughfall by about 80% over a 13-month period to test the hypotheses that (i) cocoa trees are sensitive to drought due to their shallow fine root system, and (ii) bean yield is more sensitive to drought than leaf or stem growth. As 83% of fine root (diameter <2 mm) and 86% of coarse root biomass (>2 mm) was located in the upper 40 cm of the soil, the cocoa trees examined had a very shallow root system. Cocoa and Gliricidia differed in their vertical rooting patterns, thereby reducing competition for water. Despite being exposed for several months to soil water contents close to the conventional wilting point, cocoa trees showed no significant decreases in leaf biomass, stem and branch wood production or fine root biomass. Possible causes are active osmotic adjustment in roots, mitigation of drought stress by shading from Gliricidia or other factors. By contrast, production of cocoa beans was significantly reduced in the roof plots, supporting reports of substantial reductions in bean yields during ENSO-related drought events in the region. We conclude that cocoa possesses traits related to drought tolerance which enable it to maintain biomass production during extended dry periods, whereas bean yield appears to be particularly drought sensitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusion of cytotrophoblasts with the overlying syncytiotrophoblast is an integral step in differentiation of the human placental villous trophoblast. Multiple factors, such as growth factors, hormones, cytokines, protein kinases, transcription factors and structural membrane proteins, were described to modulate trophoblast fusion. However, the knowledge on remodelling of the membrane-associated cytoskeleton during trophoblast fusion is very limited. This study describes the link between remodelling of spectrin-like α-fodrin and intercellular trophoblast fusion. Experiments with primary trophoblasts isolated from term placentas and the choriocarcinoma cell line BeWo revealed a biphasic strategy of the cells to achieve reorganization of α-fodrin. Syncytialization of trophoblasts was accompanied by down-regulation of α-fodrin mRNA, whereas the full-length α-fodrin protein was cleaved into 120 and 150 kDa fragments. Application of calpeptin and calpain inhibitor III did not affect α-fodrin fragmentation in primary term trophoblasts and forskolin-treated BeWo cells, but decreased secretion of β human chorionic gonadotropin. In contrast, inhibitors of caspases 3, 8 and 9 attenuated generation of the 120 kDa fragment and a general caspase inhibitor completely blocked fragmentation, suggesting an exclusive function of caspases in α-fodrin remodelling. Immunofluorescence double staining of human placenta revealed co-localization of active caspase 8 with α-fodrin positive vesicles in fusing villous cytotrophoblasts. These results suggest that caspase-dependent fragmentation of α-fodrin may be important for reorganization of the sub-membranous cytoskeleton during trophoblast fusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renormalization group(RG) functions for the critical dynamics at the λ-transition in 3He–4He mixtures (model F′) have been calculated in two loop order. Comparison is made with the hydrodynamic transport coefficients as functions of the concentration of 3He. Improvement is achieved with respect to an earlier calculation based on a combination of one loop and two loop terms in the field theoretic functions, The non-universal initial values of the flow parameters take values more compatible with the physical expectation. As a corollary we obtain the field theoretic functions of model F describing the critical dynamics of the superfluid transition in pure 4He. Comparing with experiments in pure 4He improves the background value of the imaginary part of the time scale ratio between the order parameter and the entropy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent low-gravity measurements of the shear viscosity in xenon near its critical point are compared with theoretical results obtained within the field theoretical renormalization group (RG) theory. Nonasymptotic effects and gravity effects are included in our theoretical description, which allows a comparison outside the asymptotic region as well as with earthbound experiments affected by gravity. Comparisons are also made with the theoretical result of the mode coupling theory. In both theories no agreement with the frequency dependence of the real part of the shear viscosity within one-loop theory can be reached. The experimental value of the ratio of the imaginary part to the real part of the shear viscosity at Tc is found to be in agreement with the value calculated within the decoupled mode theory using the two-loop value for the critical exponent of the temperature dependence of the shear viscosity, but not with the one-loop value obtained in RG theory. Thus a complete two-loop calculation of the vertex function for the shear viscosity is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a major determinant in decision-making for surgery in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). This study was designed to investigate the short- and long-term effect of surgical resection for CD on HRQOL. Sixteen patients were investigated within one week before surgery and 3, 6, and 24 months postoperatively. Besides the Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI), four instruments: the time trade-off technique (TTO), the direct questioning of objectives (DQO), the rating form of inflammatory bowel disease patients concerns (RFIPC), and the Beck depression inventory--were used for assessment of HRQOL. CDAI decreased significantly after operation and 10 patients remained in remission for 24 months. Two patients had postoperative relapses and went into remission after prednisolone treatment. Four patients developed chronic active disease. HRQOL was significantly improved in all patients three and six months postoperatively. Except for the four patients with chronic active disease, all other patients (N = 12) had also significantly improved HRQOL after 24 months. In conclusion, surgical resections in CD lead to a long-term improvement of HRQOL with the exception of patients with chronic active disease. This finding might be taken in consideration for the indication of surgery in CD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Budesonide, although only topically active, is effective in the treatment of Crohn's disease. This study was performed to compare the clinical efficacies of budesonide and prednisolone in relation to the activation status of circulating leukocytes. Methods: Twenty-four patients with active Crohn's disease were randomized to treatment with either budesonide or 6-methylprednisolone. Clinical response was monitored by the Crohn's disease activity index, C-reactive protein, and orosomucoid. Expression of CD25 and CD71 on T cells and CD64 on neutrophils was determined by flow cytometry. The release of TNF-α and IL-1β by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was measured by ELISA. Results: After 2 wk of treatment a clinical response was observed in both groups, but it was more accentuated in patients treated with prednisolone. At baseline an up-regulation of CD71 and CD64, but not CD25, was found in active patients. Prednisolone significantly decreased the expression of CD64 and the release of TNF-α and IL-1β, but did not alter the expression of CD25 and CD71. Budesonide treatment failed to exert any effect on circulating leukocytes. Conclusions: The inability of budesonide to downregulate activated circulating leukocytes may contribute to the somewhat lower clinical efficacy of this topical steroid in the treatment of active Crohn's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We review the critical dynamics of fluids and mixtures. Special attention in the comparison with experiment is paid to nonasymptotic effects. Our theoretical results are based on the complete model H′ of Siggia, Halperin, and Hohenberg including the sound mode variables. Using the dynamic renormalization group theory, we calculate the temperature dependence of the transport coefficients as well as the frequency-dependent sound velocity and sound attenuation. In mixtures a time ratio between the Onsager coefficients related to the diffusive modes, which is directly related to the critical enhancement of the thermal conductivity near a consolute point, has to be taken into account. The sound mode contains, besides the dynamic parameters, a static coupling related to the logarithmic derivative of the weakly diverging specific heat. The deviation from the asymptotic value of this coupling at finite frequencies and temperature distance from Tc leads to additional nonasymptotic effects. Our theory, which derives the phenomenological ansatz of Ferrell and Bhattacharjee for pure fluids and mixtures near a consolute point, is also applicable near a plait point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although dynamic reconstruction procedures are preferred for treating patients with complete facial paralyses, static procedures are useful for various conditions. One such technique involves the implantation of gold weights into the upper eyelid. We have reported our experiences with 58 patients who underwent gold weight implantation for rehabilitation of eyelid closure with satisfactory results. To obtain better cosmetic results we developed newly shaped thinner weights. Four instead of three perforations in each weight enable better fixation to soft tissue. Since 40% of all cases also required additional surgery to rehabilitate other portion of the face, polytetrafluoroethylene (Goretex) soft-tissue patches were used for suspension to help correct midfacial and perioral asymmetry. From 1990 to 1996, 22 patients underwent this technique under local or general anesthesia. Except for 2 patients, no complications were observed. Overall, both gold implants and Goretex patches were found to provide good results in patients selected for facial reanimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor in response to the article "Psychological Stress and Disease Activity in Ulcerative Colitis: A Multidimensional Cross-Sectional Study," by S. Levenstein et al.