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NADPH oxidases (NOXes) and dual oxidases (DUOXes) generate O 2 .− and H 2 O 2 . Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) inhibits the activity of these enzymes and is often used as a specific inhibitor. It is shown here that DPI, at concentrations similar to those which inhibit the generation of O 2 derivatives, activated the efflux of radioiodide but not of its analog 99m TcO 4 − nor of the K + cation mimic 86 Rb + in thyroid cells, in the PCCl3 rat thyroid cell line and in COS cell lines expressing the iodide transporter NIS. Effects obtained with DPI, especially in thyroid cells, should therefore be interpreted with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of photobioreactors optimized to increase the biomass production from phototrophic microalgae cultures assumes a major concern for the economic viability of different processes (biofuel production, carbon dioxide mitigation, pigments …). The main aim of this study is to establish and validate a CFD hydrodynamic model for a flat panel airlift photobioreactor configuration. In this regard, experimental water flow rates induced in the riser of the reactor and the liquid circulation were compared to the CFD solution obtained thanks to the Fluent® software. The numerical simulation results were relevant. Subsequently, cultures of Scenedesmus obliquus (CCAP 276/3A) were achieved to determine an optimal injected air flow rate for our configuration of photobioreactor. This air flow rate was 1.5 L·min − 1 . Measurement of the mass transfer coefficient ( k L a ) of carbon dioxide in the culture medium was 3.10 − 4 s − 1 and the mixing time for this optimal operating condition is 312 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital-acquired infections have been associated with significant morbidity and mortality in critically ill surgical patients. However, little is known about mortality due to hospital-acquired infections in cardiac surgery. We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the cardiac surgery unit of a university hospital. All patients who underwent cardiac surgery over a 7-year period were included. Patients with hospital-acquired infections were matched 1:1 with patients with nonhospital-acquired infections based on risk factors for hospital-acquired infections and death after cardiac surgery using propensity score matching. We performed a competitive risk analysis to study the mortality fraction due to hospital-acquired infections. Of 8853 patients who underwent cardiac surgery, 370 (4.2%) developed 500 postoperative infections (incidence density rate 4.2 hospital-acquired infections per 1000 patient-days). Crude hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients with hospital-acquired infections than in matched patients who did not develop hospital-acquired infections, 15.4% and 5.7%, respectively (P <. 001). The in-hospital mortality fraction due to hospital-acquired infections in our cohort was 17.1% (12.3%-22.8%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection (hazard ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-3.49; P =. 005), bloodstream infection (hazard ratio, 2.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-3.63; P =. 010), and pneumonia (hazard ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.77; P =. 04) were each independently associated with increased hospital mortality. Although hospital-acquired infections are relatively uncommon after cardiac surgery (4.2%), these infections have a major impact on postoperative mortality (attributable mortality fraction, 17.1%). [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of VertigO is the property of La Revue Electronique en Sciences de l'Environnement VertigO and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revue du Rhumatisme Monographies is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The clinical case described in this paper deals with a young female patient affected by primary hyperparathyroidism caused by an ectopic parathyroid adenoma of a supernumerary intrathymic parathyroid. The patient had hypercalcemia, in association with increased levels of parathormone, but was otherwise asymptomatic. Genetics tests for mutation of the MEN1, HRPT2, and CaSR genes were negative. She therefore underwent laboratory and instrumental tests but localization results in the neck were negative - only an intrathymic nodule was visualized. The complete surgical ablation of the thymus was conducted, which highlighted a nodule that, at histological examination, was shown to be an adenoma of a fifth parathyroid gland. The existence of a fifth, hyperfunctioning, intrathoracic parathyroid appears to be a rare cause of primary juvenile sporadic hyperparathyroidism. This peculiar clinical case could be of interest in similar cases evaluated by other surgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of IBS, Immuno-analyse & Biologie Specialisee is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Diabetes & Metabolism is the property of Masson Editeur and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Unrepaired and misrepaired DNA Double-Strand Breaks (DSBs) were shown to be the key events of radiation-induced toxicity (radiosensitivity) and genomic instability (cancer proneness), respectively. We have previously shown that immunofluorescence with ?-H2AX and MRE11 biomarkers may account for unrepaired and misrepaired DSBs for doses higher than 1 Gy. Three radiosensitivity groups had been defined (group I: radioresistance; group II: moderate radiosensitivity and cancer proneness; group III: hyper-radiosensitivity). Here, we investigated X-ray doses ranging from 9 mGy to 2 Gy in three cell lines representative of these radiosensitivity groups. We observed a non-linear dose-dependent increase of the severity of DSB, suggesting a correlation with the phenomenon of hyper-radiosensitivity to low dose; a non-linear dose-dependent increase of MRE11 foci, revealing a dose-threshold for the radiation-induced genomic instability. Altogether, these data document the evidence of a threshold in low-dose response and strongly suggest the impact of individual factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews multi-scale computational homogenisation frameworks for the non-linear behaviour of heterogeneous thin planar shells. Based on a review of some of the currently available methods, a computational homogenisation scheme for shells is applied on to representative volume elements for plain weave composites. The effect of flexural loading on the potential failure modes of such materials is analysed, focusing on the reinforcement-matrix delamination mechanism. The attention is next shifted toward failure localisation in masonry unit cells. Subsequently, a recently developed computational FE² solution scheme accounting for damage localisation at structural scales based on RVE computations is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recent developments in remote sensing technology, in particular improved spatial and temporal resolution, open new possibilities for estimating crop acreage over larger areas. Remotely sensed data allow in some cases the estimation of crop acreage statistics independently of sub-national survey statistics, which are sometimes biased and incomplete. This work focuses on the use of MODIS data acquired in 2001/2002 over the Rostov Oblast in Russia, by the Azov Sea. The region is characterised by large agricultural fields of around 75ha on average. This paper presents a methodology to estimate crop acreage using the MODIS 16-day composite NDVI product. Particular emphasis is placed on a good quality crop mask and a good quality validation dataset. In order to have a second dataset which can be used for cross-checking the MODIS classification a Landsat ETM time series for four different dates in the season of 2002 was acquired and classified. We attempted to distinguish five different crop types and achieved satisfactory and good results for winter crops. Three hundred and sixty fields were identified to be suitable for the training and validation of the MODIS classification using a maximum likelihood classification. A novel method based on a pure pixel field sampling is introduced. This novel method is compared with the traditional hard classification of mixed pixels and was found to be superior. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) presents a wide spectrum of anatomical variants and clinical pictures depending on the topography and dimensions of the diaphragmatic defect and on the patient age. Most CDH cases acutely present with tachypnea, cyanosis, and respiratory failure within the first minutes to hours of life. Despite significant advances in neonatal medicine, this congenital anomaly still presents a high mortality rate, especially for associated malformations. On the other hand, there is a rare subset of CDH patients who present outside the neonatal period. The most common symptoms of late-presenting CDH include recurrent pulmonary infections, dyspnea, wheezing, abdominal pain, failure to thrive, vomiting, diarrhea and anorexia. Although late-presenting CDH generally presents good prognosis after early surgical correction, misdiagnosis is quite frequent because of its wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. The following case report describes a six-month-old infant presenting with acute respiratory distress and vomiting caused by late-presenting left-sided CDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Previous reports show that parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations may vary widely depending on the assay used to assess PTH. In this cross-sectional study, we aim to determine the usefulness of standardizing blood handling for optimal interpretation of PTH in patients with chronic kidney disease. STUDY DESIGN: Diagnostic test study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Predialysis blood was sampled in 34 long-term hemodialysis patients at a single academic medical center. INDEX TEST: PTH was measured by using 6 different automated second-generation assays (Elecsys, Advia Centaur, LIAISON, Immulite, Architect, and Access assays), 3 blood specimen types (serum, EDTA plasma, and citrate plasma), and 2 consecutive days of measurement (after thawing and 18 hours later with samples having been let at room temperature). REFERENCE TEST: None. RESULTS: A mixed statistical analysis model showed that the nature of the assay (P < 0.001) and nature of the blood sample (P < 0.001) significantly influenced variability in PTH concentrations, whereas day of measurement (day 1 or 2) did not (P = 0.5). Most PTH variability was caused by observations (96.8%), then manufacturer's kit (2.5%), and last, specimen type (0.7%). PTH concentrations measured in citrate plasma were lower with every assay method used than those observed in serum or EDTA plasma. The interaction between manufacturer and specimen type was of moderate statistical significance (P = 0.04). To evaluate the potential clinical consequence of PTH measure variability, we classified patients according to Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative cutoff values (PTH < 150 pg/mL; PTH, 150 to 300 pg/mL; and PTH > 300 pg/mL). Overall, statistical classification agreement was moderate to high for comparison between assays and high to very high between different blood samples and between days of measurement. However, we found that up to 11 of 34 patients were classified in different categories with some assays (LIAISON versus Architect) and up to 7 of 34 in different categories with different blood specimen type (citrate versus plasma in LIAISON assay). LIMITATIONS: This is a cross-sectional study that used single lots of reagents. There currently is no reference method for the measurement of PTH and no recombinant PTH standard for PTH assay. CONCLUSION: PTH variability caused by the nature of the assay and/or blood specimen type is large enough to potentially influence clinical decision making. A specified collection method therefore should be used for PTH measurements. In routine practice, we recommend serum PTH over EDTA or citrate plasma. Copyright © 2008 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]