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A variety of genetic techniques have been devised to determine cell lineage relationships during tissue development. Some of these systems monitor cell lineages spatially and/or temporally without regard to gene expression by the cells, whereas others correlate gene expression with the lineage under study. The GAL4 Technique for Real-time and Clonal Expression (G-TRACE) system allows for rapid, fluorescent protein-based visualization of both current and past GAL4 expression patterns and is therefore amenable to genome-wide expression-based lineage screens. Here we describe the results from such a screen, performed by undergraduate students of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Undergraduate Research Consortium for Functional Genomics (URCFG) and high school summer scholars as part of a discovery-based education program. The results of the screen, which reveal novel expression-based lineage patterns within the brain, the imaginal disc epithelia, and the hematopoietic lymph gland, have been compiled into the G-TRACE Expression Database (GED), an online resource for use by the Drosophila research community. The impact of this discovery-based research experience on student learning gains was assessed independently and shown to be greater than that of similar programs conducted elsewhere. Furthermore, students participating in the URCFG showed considerably higher STEM retention rates than UCLA STEM students that did not participate in the URCFG, as well as STEM students nationwide.

Lymphoceles are common following prostatectomy with lymph node dissection, but the vast majority are asymptomatic. We present a unique case of a large complex lymphocele tracking into the anterior space of Retzius following Retzius sparing prostatectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. The patient initially presented with shortness of breath and subsequent diagnosis of a submassive pulmonary embolism. Further evaluation revealed compression of the iliac vessels by the fluid collection. Following multiple failed attempts of drainage percutaneously, the patient required return to the operating room for peritoneal marsupialization, drainage of fluid collection, and evacuation of large amounts of clot within the collection.

Background Pneumococcal acute otitis media (AOM) has been previously considered as a more severe disease than that caused by other otopathogens, based on clinical and/or otologic scores. We sought to test this hypothesis in the pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV) era. Methods Children <6 years who presented with 'severe' AOM episodes with middle ear fluid (MEF) cultures during 2008-2013 were retrospectively identified. 'Severe' AOM episodes were considered if tympanocentesis was required or if spontaneous otorrhea was present. Data were extracted for demographics, clinical and laboratory tests. Children were categorised according to their PCV status as 'unimmunised' or 'PCV7/PCV13 immunised' and according to their MEF culture results into the 'pneumococcal' or the 'non-pneumococcal' group. Leukocytosis was defined as white blood cells (WBC) count >15 000/μL, and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level was considered as >50 mg/L. Results Of 295 eligible AOM episodes, 106 (36%) were culture positive. Children in the pneumococcal group (65, 61%) had a significantly higher WBC counts and higher CRP levels, were more often <2 years old and were more prone to complicate with acute mastoiditis (AM), compared to children in the non-pneumococcal group, P = 0.03, P = 0.02, P = 0.04 and P = 0.03, respectively. In the pneumococcal group, unimmunised children had higher WBC counts when compared with PCV13-immunised children ( P = 0.04), but there were no appreciable differences in CRP levels between unimmunised and PCV7/PCV13-immunised children. Conclusion Pneumococcal AOM is associated with higher leukocytosis and CRP levels than non-pneumococcal AOM. Circulating Streptococcus pneumoniae strains causing 'severe' AOM in PCV13-immunised children yielded lower inflammatory responses when compared with unimmunised children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:. Left hand dominance is a minority trait historically regarded as disadvantageous for surgeons. Contemporary scientific literature and folklore have shed new light on left handedness as a “boutique trait” and possible marker of gifted and exceptional individuals. Our subjective impression that left handedness is prevalent in the unique field of plastic surgery raised questions regarding the scope and possible causality of this phenomenon. Methods:. One hundred eleven medical doctors in our medical center filled out a 13-item questionnaire regarding hand dominance, medical speciality, and various creative outlets or hobbies. Results:. Sixty-four percent of the participating plastic surgeons were left handed (significantly higher than the approximate 12% of the general population; P = 0.007). Many of the left-handed doctors admitted to practicing musical instruments and various arts, crafts, and other hobbies. Conclusions:. Plastic surgery is a unique profession requiring astute minds capable of creative and “outside-the-box” thinking; traits we have learned in recent decades may be particularly keen in left-handed individuals, perhaps suggest a causal relationship to the conglomeration of a majority of left-handed plastic surgeons.

Background and Objectives: The success rates of surgical dental implant insertions are high. However, knowledge of patients’ recovery is still lacking. “Health-related quality of life” (HRQOL) questionnaires are gaining popularity in all fields of medicine. The present survey assessed the perception of recovery after the surgical placement of dental implants. Materials and Methods: Forty individuals (26 women and 14 men; mean age, 55 ± 12 years) filled a questionnaire evaluating patients’ perception of recovery for 7 consecutive days post-surgery. Confounding factors included age, gender, oral habits, smoking, bruxism, bone quality (tactile evaluation) and quantity, implant location, number of implants, implant type, length and diameter, one-stage vs. two-stage, and the need for bone grafting. Results: The most serious difficulties were found in swelling, which became minimal after 5 days, followed by eating everyday food, ability to enjoy everyday food, maximal pain and average pain (3 days); analgesics consumption (2.5 days); limitations in daily routine, mouth opening, and speech (2 days); swallowing and sleep (1.5 days); and, within 1 day, all other measures attained minimal levels. Gender, and implant location (anterior vs. posterior) were significant predictor variables exerting their different characteristic delayed recoveries. Conclusions: (1) Patients should expect, in general, recovery within 4 days after dental implant placement; (2) women will experience a delayed recovery, (3) implants placed in the intercanine area will result in postoperative eating difficulties for nearly one week, and (4) the number of implants placed during the same appointment has no effect on post treatment recovery.

Objective: The aim of this study is to review the outcome of pediatric patients suffering from acute mastoiditis treated conservatively and to correlate this to the evolution of our understanding of the shift in which mastoiditis has been transformed from a surgical to a medial disease. Methods: We performed a retrospective review patient files hospitalized in our tertiary-care center between 2005-2008. We examined the data concerning the infection which included: presenting signs/symptoms, prior otologic history, treatment (including both surgical and conservative) prior to hospitalization and during hospitalization, computed tomography (CT), hospital duration, complications and overall outcome. This data was analyzed and compared between different patients who underwent different treatment strategies. Results: Fifty-one patients were included in this retrospective review. Initially, forty-nine patients admitted to our hospital were treated conservatively. This treatment included intra-venous antibiotics, myringtomy and if needed subperiosteal abscess incision and drainage. Only 2 patients underwent CT scanning on admission. Further on, during hospitalization 4 additional patients underwent CT scanning due to continued fever or progression of local disease. All four CT scans showed no intra-cerebral complications, and so all continued with conservative treatment. Conclusion: Most cases of acute mastoidits may be treated with a conservative therapy regime. This regime, in our opinion, should include three branches: the first intravenous antibiotic therapy using a broad spectrum antibiotic. The second is myringotomy and the third branch is incision and drainage of subperiosteal abscess when needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thoracic outlet syndromes (TOS) describe a group of disorders that refer to compression of the brachial plexus or the subclavian vessels as they pass through the thoracic outlet. Ninety percent of TOS patient complaints are neurological in nature. These syndromes can be named according to the location of compression or the cause of symptoms. Many factors predispose patients to the development of TOS, such as occupation, gender, medical conditions, and genetic anomalies. Diagnosis is largely based on the history and physical examination findings. Most patients respond well to conservative care, but success in conservative management depends on an accurate assessment and development of a treatment plan specific to the patient's needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate specific DNA damage caused by nitric oxide (NO) induced lipid peroxidation, levels of promutagenic etheno adducts 1,N6-ethenodeoxyadenosine (εdA) and 3,N4-ethenodeoxycytidine (εdC) were measured in spleen DNA of SJL mice induced to produce high levels of NO by injection of RcsX (pre-B-cell lymphoma) cells. εdA and εdC levels were quantified by an ultrasensitive immunoaffinity-32P-post-labeling method. Spleen DNA of control mice (n = 5) had background levels of 9.2 ± 5.4 εdA adducts per 109 dA and 13.1 ± 5.7 εdC adducts per 109 dC. In RcsX cell-injected mice (n = 7), levels of these adducts were elevated 6-fold, i.e. 53.9 ± 39.4 εdA per 109 dA and 83.5 ± 57.8 εdC per 109 dC (P <0.05). Mice injected with RcsX cells and also treated with NG-methyl-L-arginine (NMA), an inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (n = 6), had significantly reduced levels (P <0.05) of both εdA and εdC (13.5 ± 5.7 εdA per 109 dA and 28.2 ± 15.7 εdC per 109 dC). These findings constitute the first available evidence of formation of etheno adducts associated with NO overproduction in vivo. The adducts were presumably formed from lipid peroxidation products such as trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), generated via oxidation of lipids by peroxynitrite. The results suggest that etheno-DNA adducts, among other types of damage, may contribute to the etiology of cancers associated with chronic infection/inflammation in which NO is overproduced. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Dan Region Reclamation Project (Shafdan) reclaims ~125 millions of cubic meters per year (Mm3/year) of treated wastewater from the Tel Aviv Metropolitan area. Following secondary treatment, the effluent is recharged into a sandy aquifer for soil aquifer treatment (SAT). Over the past three years, a decrease in recharge capacity was noticed. Several operational causes were considered including reservations regarding the tillage procedure of recharge ponds. Tillage of the recharge ponds facilitates aeration, breaking surface crusts and the removal of vegetation. The procedure includes deep (40−60 cm) plowing and shallow (10−20 cm) sweep-knives (SK) cultivator or discus. In this research, the existing tillage equipment was compared to a new equipment, which includes a deep subsoiler and a chisel-knives (CK) cultivator. The effects of each tool on the infiltration rate (IR), recharge capacity, and soil compaction were examined. The results suggest a significant improvement in the recharge capacity, up to 95% and 15% on average following subsoiler and CK cultivator treatments, respectively, with respect to the existing plowing treatment. In addition, the depth of the compacted soil layer increased from ~30 to ~55 cm after subsoiler treatment. It seems that this shallow layer, developed under an improper tillage regime, played a major role in the reduction of the recharge capacity. Essential understanding of other operational factors such as drying periods, preparation of the field, and soil micro-topography was also achieved.

Abstract Background The ability of drugs to reduce noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) has been evaluated in diverse experimental conditions (animal species, noise intensities, durations, assessment techniques, etc), making it difficult to assess their relative efficacy. The present study was designed to provide more uniform comparisons and to allow to a better understanding of the mechanism of the NIHL. Methods: The drugs studied included furosemide (loop diuretic) and the antioxidants N Acetyl-L-Cysteine, vitamins A, C, E with the vasodilator magnesium. Mice were exposed to a continuous broadband noise (113 dB SPL for 3.5 hours) and the NIHL was assessed in all animals before noise exposure and 1 week after with auditory nerve brainstem evoked responses (ABR) to broadband clicks and to 8 kHz tone bursts. Results Each of the drugs alone and in combination led to similar reductions in NIHL. Conclusions The loop diuretic furosemide, by reducing the magnitude of the endocochlear potential in scala media, probably depressed active vibrations of the outer hair cells and basilar membrane, resulting in reduction of free radical formation during the noise exposure. The antioxidants N Acetyl-L-Cysteine and vitamins A, C, E with the vasodilator magnesium presumably counteract the free radicals. Thus, the administration of the antioxidants to animals in which free radical formation had already been reduced by previous injection of furosemide did not have an additional protective effect on the NIHL.