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Congenital self-healing reticulohistiocytosis (CSHRH) is a rare type of Langerhans cell histiocytosis with potential for relapse and systemic involvement. Whereas CSHRH was traditionally considered a benign disease, there is an approximately 3 percent risk of mortality and a 10 percent chance of relapse. This article, using an extensive review of cases since Hashimoto and Pritzker first described the condition in 1973, highlights the various presentations of CSHRH and reveals high rates of relapse and systemic involvement in cases that specifically address features of CSHRH occurring within the first year of life. The findings from this review will highlight the importance of considering LCH in the differential diagnosis when evaluating a neonate with congenital skin eruptions. Timely diagnosis of CSHRH and treatment of systemic involvement may decrease the likelihood of adverse outcomes. These patients may require closer follow-up and monitoring than previously recommended, especially in the first year of life when relapses and systemic involvement occur most frequently.

Selecting one presently popularized winter wheat cultivar (Zhengmai 9023) and two cultivars (Abo and Fengchan 3) introduced in the 1950s and 1960s in Huang-Huai Plain as test materials, and by using minirhizotron technique, this paper studied the live root length, root diameter distribution, and net root growth rate of the cultivars. Fine roots with a diameter from 0.05 mm to 0.25 mm occupied the majority of the whole root system, and the fine roots with a diameter less than 0.5 mm accounted for 98% of the live root length. The average root diameter varied with plant growth, the variation range being 0.15 - 0.22 mm, and no significant difference was observe among the cultivars. The live root length was significantly positively correlated root number, suggesting that root number was the main factor for the increase of live root length. The most vigorous growth period of the roots was from reviving to jointing stage, and Abo and Fengchan 3 had a longer period increased root vitality, as compared with Zhengmai 9023. For Zhengmai 9023, its fine roots with a diameter more than 0.1 mm had an increasing proportion after jointing stage, which was helpful for improving plant resistance, root activity, and grain-filling at late growth stages.

Over recent decade, studies have shown that inflammatory reaction characterized mainly by the activation of microglia in the brain is implicated in the pathogenesis and processes of neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it induces or aggravates the neurodegeneration in the nervous system, and on the other hand, it favors the recovery of the injured neurons in certain conditions. The activated glial cells release pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species, which mediate the neuroinflammation-induced neurodegenerative diseases. The anti-inflammatory cytokines synthesized by regulatory T cells and neuropeptides secreted by neurons protect the neurons against neuroinflammation, through which neurodegenerative diseases are alleviated.

Based on the modified Penman-Monteith equation, and through the analysis of the relationships between crop coefficient and cumulative temperature, a new model for estimating the water requirement of greenhouse tomato under drip irrigation was built. The model was validated with the measured data of plant transpiration and soil evaporation in May 2-13 (flowering-fruit-developing stage) and June 9-20 (fruit-maturing stage) , 2009. This model was suitable for the estimation of reference evapotranspiration (ET(0)) in greenhouse. The crop coefficient of greenhouse tomato was correlated as a quadratic function of cumulative temperature. The mean relative error between measured and estimated values was less than 10%, being able to estimate the water requirement of greenhouse tomato under drip irrigation.

In an experimental field with maize/soybean strip intercropping, the transpiration of maize and soybean plants was measured with sap flow gauge based on heat balance method. In the intercropping system, the diurnal change of the sap flow rates of the plants fitted single-peak curve in sunny day and multi-peak curve in cloudy day. The plant sap flow rates were affected by many environmental factors, among which, solar radiation was the most important meteorological factor. The daily sap flow per maize or soybean plant showed significant correlations with solar radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and soil heat flux. During the observation period (June 1-30, 2008), the mean daily transpiration of maize plant (1.44 mm x d(-1)) was about 1.8 times of that of soybean plant (0.79 mm x d(-1)). Maize transpiration and soybean transpiration contributed 64% and 36% to the total transpiration of the intercropping system, respectively. Due to the spatial variation of stem diameter and leaf area, it would be necessary to install more sap flow gauges to accurately measure the sap flow of maize and soybean plants.

Objective: To investigate ideal methods to repair cervical cicatricial contracture in children., Methods: The expanders were implanted subcutaneously around the cervical scar and above the latissimus. After expansion was completed, the cervical cicatricial contracture was released and the wound was covered with local expanded flaps and free expanded prefabricated thoracodorsal artery perforator flap, leaving no injury to thoracodorsal nerves and latissimus. The wound at the donor site was closed directly., Results: From July 2007 to October 2009, 10 patients were treated. All the flaps survived completely. All the wounds were repaired totally and the deformities were corrected completely. The patients were followed up for 3-30 months. When the patients grew up, the flaps enlarged simultaneously. The flaps were not bulky and had a good color match. The scar at the donor site was inconspicuous with no functional morbidity., Conclusion: The fabricated expanded thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps is an ideal method for severe cervical cicatricial contracture in children.

Sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) fungi on apple fruit were sampled from nine orchards in four midwestern U.S. states during 2000 and 30 orchards in 10 eastern U.S. states during 2005 in order to estimate taxonomic diversity and discern patterns of geographic distribution. Forty apple fruit per orchard were arbitrarily sampled and colonies of each mycelial phenotype were counted on each apple. Representative colonies were isolated, cultures were purified, and DNA was extracted. For representative isolates, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) regions of ribosomal DNA were amplified and sequenced. In total, 60 SBFS putative species were identified based on ITS sequences and morphological characteristics; 30 of these were discovered in the 2005 survey. Modified Koch's postulates were fulfilled for all 60 species in an Iowa orchard; colonies resulting from inoculation of apple fruit were matched to the original isolates on the basis of mycelial type and ITS sequence. Parsimony analysis for LSU sequences from both surveys revealed that 58 putative SBFS species were members of the Dothideomycetes, 52 were members of the Capnodiales, and 36 were members of the Mycosphaerellaceae. The number of SBFS species per orchard varied from 2 to 15. Number of SBFS species and values of the Margalef and Shannon indexes were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in 21 orchards that had received conventional fungicide sprays during the fruit maturation period than in 14 unsprayed orchards. Several SBFS species, including Schizothyrium pomi, Peltaster fructicola, and Pseudocercosporella sp. RH1, were nearly ubiquitous, whereas other species, such as Stomiopeltis sp. RS5.2, Phialophora sessilis, and Geastrumia polystigmatis, were found only within restricted geographic regions. The results document that the SBFS complex is far more taxonomically diverse than previously recognized and provide strong evidence that SBFS species differ in geographic distribution. To achieve more efficient management of SBFS, it may be necessary to understand the environmental biology of key SBFS species in each geographic region.

Objective: Dopamine exists in the immune system and has obvious immunomodulating action. However, receptor mechanism underlying the dopamine immunomodulation remains to be clarified. In the present study, we provide the evidence for existence of dopamine receptor subtypes in T lymphocytes and show the roles of the receptors and the receptor-coupled signaling in mediating the dopamine immunomodulation., Methods: The purified T lymphocytes from the mesenteric lymph nodes of mice were detected for expressions of all five subtypes of dopamine receptor mRNAs by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Lymphocyte proliferation and production of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in response to concanavalin A (Con A) were measured by colorimetric methyl-thiazole-tetrazolium assay and cytometric bead array, respectively, after the cells were exposed to dopamine D1-like or D2-like receptor agonists and antagonists. Meanwhile, content of cAMP and phosphorylation of cAMP-response element-binding (CREB) in the lymphocytes were examined by 125I-cAMP radioimmunoassay and Western blot assay, respectively., Results: T lymphocytes expressed all the five subtypes of dopamine receptor mRNAs, i.e., D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5 receptors. SKF38393, an agonist of dopamine D1-like receptors (D1 and D5 receptors) only reduced the IFN-γ production, but did not significantly affect the proliferative response, IL-4 production, cAMP content or CREB activation of the lymphocytes. The SKF38393-induced decrease in IFN-γ level was blocked by the D1-like receptor antagonist SCH23390. Quinpirole, an agonist of dopamine D2-like receptors (D2, D3 and D4 receptors) attenuated the lymphocyte proliferation to Con A, and decreased the IFN-γ but increased the IL-4 production. Meanwhile, the quinpirole diminished the cAMP content and the phosphorylated CREB level in the lymphocytes. All the quinpirole-induced changes were reversed by dopamine D2-like receptor antagonist haloperidol., Conclusions: Five dopamine receptor subtypes of the two families, D1-like and D2-like receptors, exist on T lymphocytes of mice. Of the two families, D2-like receptors are more important in mediating modulation of T cell function than D1-like receptors. D2-like receptors are involved in suppression of T helper 1 (Th1) cell function and enhancement of Th2 cell function through negative link to cAMP-CREB pathway.

Field plot experiment was conducted to study the effects of soil moisture regime at different growth stages on the fruit size, fruit number, percentage of malformed fruit, and yield formation of greenhouse tomato under drip irrigation, and the relationships between tomato yield and irrigation amount. Moderate soil water deficit (50%-55% of field capacity) at tomato's seedling stage increased the fruit number but reduced the fruit size, decreased the percentage of malformed fruit, and made the fruit maturation mainly concentrated in later picking period. Severe water deficit (less than 65% of field capacity) at flowering and fruit-developing stages promoted fruit maturation, but decreased fruit number and increased the formation of small and malformed fruits. The soil moisture content higher than 80% or lower than 65% of filed capacity at fruit maturation stage less affected fruit maturation but decreased fruit yield, and lower than 65% of filed capacity also decreased the fruit number and increased the percentage of malformed fruit. No significant effects of irrigation amount on fruit maturation were observed. The correlations of tomato yield and its water use efficiency with irrigation amount could be well described by quadratic function. The fruit number and total yield were higher while the percentage of malformed fruit was lower when the soil moisture content was controlled at 60%-65% of field capacity at seedling stage, 70%-75% of field capacity at flowering stage, and 70%-75% of field capacity at fruit-developing stage, which could be used as the optimal soil moisture indices for the greenhouse tomato production under drip irrigation.

Topographic maps and columnar structures are fundamental to cortical sensory information processing. Most of the knowledge about detailed topographic maps and columnar structure comes mainly from experiments conducted on anesthetized animals. Towards the goal of evaluating whether topographic maps change with respect to behavioral demands, we used intrinsic signal optical imaging in alert monkeys to examine the spatial specificity of cortical topographic representation. Specifically, the somatotopies of neighboring distal finger pad representation in areas 3b and 1 were examined in the same awake and anesthetized squirrel monkey. In comparison to the anesthetized animal, we found larger cortical activation sizes in the alert animal in area 3b, where activation widths were found to overlap with even non-adjacent digits. This may suggest that in the alert animal, there is less inhibition across the somatotopic map within area 3b.

While functional imaging studies in humans have consistently reported activation of primary somatosensory cortex (SI) with painful stimuli, the specific roles of subdivisions of areas 3a, 3b, and 1 within SI during pain perception are largely unknown, particularly in the representation of mechanical evoked pain. In this study, we investigated how modality, location, and intensity of nociceptive stimuli are represented within SI by using high-spatial resolution optical imaging of intrinsic signals in Pentothal-anesthetized squirrel monkeys. Perceptually comparable mechanical nociceptive and innocuous tactile stimuli were delivered by indenting the glabrous skin of the distal finger pads with 0.2 and 2mm diameter probes, respectively. Within each of areas 3a, 3b, and 1, activations to mechanical nociceptive stimulation of individual distal finger pads were spatially distinct and somatotopically organized. We observed differential cortical activation patterns. Areas 3a, 3b, and 1 were all activated during mechanical nociceptive stimulation and were modulated by nociceptive stimulus intensity. However, with innocuous tactile stimulation, mainly areas 3b and 1 exhibited response modulation with different levels of stimulation. In summary, mechanical nociceptive inputs are area-specific and topographically represented within SI. We propose that all areas of SI are implicated in encoding the features of mechanical nociception, where areas 3a and 3b are distinctively involved in coding nociceptive and pressure sensation components of stimulation.

A field experiment was conducted to study the root distribution and water adsorption of maize and soybean in their strip intercropping. The results showed that under the condition of full irrigation, both maize roots and soybean roots were distributed approximately in triangle-shape in soil profile. Maize roots extended horizontally into a wider area, 58 cm away from the plant row and usually occurred in 16-22 cm soil layer. They were not restricted to maize root zone, but traversed into soybean strip zone. Soybean roots were horizontally distributed in a limited zone near the plant row, and their reached range was within about 26 cm. Both for maize and for soybean, their root mass density decreased with increasing distance from the plant row. About 90% of the root mass of maize and edge-row soybean was presented in 0-30 cm soil layer. The root mass density of maize at 10 cm from maize row was greater than that of soybean, but this density of soybean at 20 cm from maize strip was greater than that of maize. About 85% of root mass was distributed in 0-30 cm soil layer, and the variation of soil water content in intercropping strips also occurred mainly in this soil layer. In the maize/soybean strip intercropping system, soil water content decreased in the order of maize zone > soybean zone > middle zone, indicating that each strip-intercropped crop preferentially absorbed the soil water in its strip and utilized the soil water in intermingled zone later.

Observations on the light environment characteristics in maize-soybean narrow stnp intercropping system were made in 2006 and 2007 to study the spatial distribution of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in intercropped crop canopy, and to analyze the effects of light environment on crop biomass. The results indicated that in early growth period, the light transmittance at the bottom of the edge rows of soybean strips adjacent to maize was higher than that of the inner rows of soybean strips, while it was in adverse for maize strips. The horizontal variation of light transmittance at the bottom of crop canopy did not vary significantly at reproductive stage, and the average light transmittance was less than 7%. In soybean strips, the daily photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) above inner rows canopy in early growth period was 10% higher than that above edge rows canopy, and the average light transmittance of edge rows and inner rows in 1: 3 intercropping system (treatment I1) was about 15% higher than that in 2:3 system (treatment I2), indicating that the shading of maize strips on soybean strips was more senous in treatment I2 than in treatment I1. After flowering, there was a significant difference in the daily PPFD between inner rows and edge rows of soybean strips, but no significant difference was observed between edge rows. The mean light transmittance of edge rows and inner rows of soybean strips was 27% and 38%, respectively, and there was no significant difference between treatment I1 and treatment I2, which indicated that the shading effects of maize strips on soybean strips in treatment I1 and treatment I2 were similar at reproductive stage. The biomass of inner rows of soybean strips was larger than that of edge rows, and there was no significant different between edge rows, indicating that under adequate irrigation, the effects of different narrow strip intercropping systems on crop biomass were primarily due to the changes of light environment.

Background: This study presents the surgical technique of fractional lengthening of extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor digitorum communis and the superficial head of supinator, for chronic lateral epicondylitis. The anatomical basis for this surgical approach is reviewed. The results of surgical treatment in a consecutive series of patients with severe chronic lateral epicondylitis are reviewed., Methods: Twenty-one elbows in 17 subjects underwent surgery. All elbows had severe resistant symptoms, unresponsive to a minimum 6 months (mean 14 months) of a non-operative treatment protocol. All elbows showed either tendonopathy or a partial tear in the common extensor tendon origin at preoperative imaging., Results: All subjects were examined at a minimum of 1 year after surgery. The mean visual analogue pain (VAS) score reduced from 7.6 (maximum 10) preoperatively to 1.3 postoperatively (P<0.01). The mean preoperative ability to carry out normal work duties reduced from 4.3 (maximum 5) preoperatively to 1.5 postoperatively (P<0.01). Grip strength improved or remained equivalent following surgery. The mean VAS for patient satisfaction with surgery was 8.8 (maximum score 10). Using the Roles and Maudsley classification, 14 patients (82%) were rated good or excellent. Three subjects were rated fair or poor, were undergoing treatment for other pathology in the ipsilateral extremity and had ongoing compensation claims., Conclusion: Fractional lengthening of forearm extensors is effective treatment for severe and chronic lateral epicondylitis. Outcomes following fractional lengthening surgery are less predictable when other pathology in the upper extremity requires concomitant treatment.

Baishao and Chishao (Paeonia Lactiflora Pall.) and their close relative Danpi (Paeonia Suffruticosa Andr) samples were estimated quantitatively, based on their UV fingerprint spectra of the extracts obtained with chloroform, ethanol and water, by applying the common and variation peak ratio dual index sequence analysis method. The analytical results showed that the Baishao samples B2, B3 and B4 from the closest regions were the most similar samples. Their common peak ratios were larger than 70 percent and their variation peak ratios were less than 33.3 percent. However, there existed obvious differences among Baishao sample group 1 (B1 and B5), group 2 (B2, B3 and B4) and group 3 (B6) from different regions. The common peak ratios among group 1 (B1 and B5) and group 2(B2, B3 and B4) were lower than 60 percent, while those among group 1 (B1 and B5) and group 3 (B6) were less than 57 percent. The Baishao samples B1 and B5 from the same region collected in different years were of significant disparity, their common peak ratio was only 44.4 percent, but their variation peak ratios were larger than 100 percent. In fact, this method reaches the limitation of quantitative identification of herbs, and can distinguish at least two samples quantitatively.

The identification of visual contours and surfaces is central to visual scene segmentation. One view of image construction argues that object contours are first identified and then surfaces are filled in. Although there are psychophysical and single-unit data to suggest that the filling-in view is correct, the underlying circuitry is unknown. Here we examine specific spike-timing relationships between border and surface responses in cat visual cortical areas 17 and 18. With both real and illusory (Cornsweet) brightness contrast stimuli, we found a border-to-surface shift in the relative timing of spike activity. This shift was absent when borders were absent and could be reversed with relocation of the stimulus border, indicating that the direction of information flow is highly dependent on stimulus conditions. Furthermore, this effect was seen predominantly in 17-18, and not 17-17, interactions. These results demonstrate a border-to-surface mechanism at early stages of visual processing and emphasize the importance of interareal circuitry in vision.

In this paper, root samples of winter wheat and spring maize under intercropping were taken with large-bore soil auger, and the dynamics of their spatiotemporal distribution were studied. The results showed that both in vertical and in horizontal directions, the root mass of winter wheat decreased in power function, while that of spring maize decreased in exponent function. Multiple linear regression was made to establish the two-dimensional spatiotemporal distribution functions of intercropped winter wheat and spring maize root biomass, and the validation tests demonstrated that theses functions were available to describe the real growth status of test crops root systems.

Using optical imaging of intrinsic cortical signals, we examined the functional organization of visual cortical areas V1 and V2 of the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Previous studies have reported that adult marmosets do not have ocular dominance columns (ODCs); however, recent studies have called this into question. Using optical imaging methods, we examined whether ODCs could be detected in adult marmosets. We found evidence for functional ODCs in some marmosets but not in others. The activation patterns, when present, were relatively weak and appeared as a mosaic of irregular bands or islands. Consistent with studies in other New World monkeys, these data suggest the presence of ODC variability within the marmoset population. Orientation maps in V1 revealed iso-orientation domains organized in semicontinuous bands oriented orthogonal to the V1/V2 border, a pattern unlike that in Macaque monkey. The presence of directional preference maps in V1 was also suggested. In V2, similar to V2 in Macaque monkeys, stripe-like regions of orientation selectivity overlay the pale cytochrome oxidase regions of V2; zones not selective for orientation overlay the cytochrome thin stripes. However, unlike Macaques, we did not observe clear evidence for orientation maps overlying thick cytochrome oxidase stripes. In sum, our data suggest that significant organizational differences exist between the organization of V1 and V2 in the marmoset and that of Old World primates. Implications for the establishment of functional ocular dominance columns, the coestablishment of multiple featural maps, and cortical magnification factors are discussed., (Copyright (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Orderly topographic maps in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) serve as an anchor for our understanding of somatosensory cortical organization. However, this view is mostly based on data collected in the anesthetized animal. Less is known about these topographies in the awake primate. Even less is known about the relative activations of different subdivisions of SI (areas 3a, 3b, 1, and 2). Toward the goal of understanding the functional activation of SI, we conducted intrinsic signal optical imaging of areas 3b and 1 in awake squirrel monkeys. Monkeys were imaged repeatedly for a period of >2 years in awake and anesthetized states in response to vibrotactile and electrocutaneous stimuli presented to individual fingerpads. During this period, we found stable somatotopic maps in both the anesthetized and awake states, consistent with electrophysiologically recorded maps in areas 3b and 1 in the anesthetized state. In the awake animal, signal sizes were larger, but variability was greater, leading to decreased signal-to-noise ratios. Topographic activations were larger (in both area and amplitude) in the awake animal, suggesting either a less precise topography and/or more complex integration. This brings into question the role of a precise topographic map during behavior. In addition, whereas in the anesthetized animal strongest imaging signals were obtained from area 3b, in the awake animal, area 1 activation dominated over that in area 3b. Differences in relative dominance of area 3b versus area 1 suggest that inter-areal interactions in the alert animal differ substantially from that in the anesthetized animal.

Several brightness illusions indicate that borders can affect the perception of surfaces dramatically. In the Cornsweet illusion, two equiluminant surfaces appear to be different in brightness because of the contrast border between them. Here, we report the existence of cells in monkey visual cortex that respond to such an "illusory" brightness. We find that luminance responsive cells are located in color-activated regions (cytochrome oxidase blobs and bridges) of primary visual cortex (V1), whereas Cornsweet responsive cells are found preferentially in the color-activated regions (thin stripes) of second visual area (V2). This colocalization of brightness and color processing within V1 and V2 suggests a segregation of contour and surface processing in early visual pathways and a hierarchy of brightness information processing from V1 to V2 in monkeys.

Objective: To study the relation between psychological symptoms and physical parameters in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) at different stages of the disease., Methods: Physical parameters such as SCL-90, chest CT, T lymphocytes and subset and SaO2 were studied in 29 SARS patients at three different stages (initial stage, serious stage, rehabilitating stage)., Results: Patients with SARS showing severe psychological symptoms constituted about 41% (group I) and patients with SARS showing mild psychological symptoms (group II) constituted about 59%. There were no change of the psychological symptoms at the three stages in group I and II (P > 0.05). Statistical differences were found between physical parameters of group I and II in rehabilitating stage., Conclusions: Severe psychological symptoms such as obsession, depression and anxiety were found in a minority of patients with SARS and the psychological symptoms were not related with the change of physical parameters. The majority of the patients with SARS did not have severe psychological symptoms. Whether or not psychological symptoms were related to their personality needs further study.

The sensations of pressure, flutter, and vibration are psychophysically distinct tactile modalities produced by frequency-specific vibrotactile stimulation of different mechanoreceptors in the skin. The information coded by the different low-threshold mechanoreceptors are carried by anatomically and electrophysiologically distinct pathways that remain separate at least up to and including the input stage of primary somatosensory cortex (SI) in primates, area 3b. Little is known about the functional organization of tactile representation beyond that stage. By using intrinsic optical imaging methods to record from area 1, the second processing stage of SI, we present evidence that pressure, flutter, and vibratory stimuli activate spatially distinct cortical domains in area 1, further strengthening the foundation for modality-specific processing streams in SI. These modality domains exhibit an organization that is unlike the discontinuous modality maps in visual area V2 but more like the continuous visual orientation maps in V1. The results demonstrate that psychophysically distinct sensory modalities can have fundamentally different modes of cortical representation.

Background: Vancomycin-induced linear immunoglobulin A (IgA) disease, an autoimmune, blistering disease in response to vancomycin administration, is characterized by a subepidermal, vesiculobullous eruption and linear IgA deposition along the basement membrane zone on direct immunofluorescence., Case Report: We report the case of an 81-year-old man treated with vancomycin who developed diffuse erythema multiforme and tense bullae involving the palmoplantar surfaces. Discontinuation of vancomycin therapy resulted in complete resolution of this patient's cutaneous eruption., Results: Biopsy of a representative skin lesion demonstrated lichenoid interface dermatitis with focal subepidermal clefting, dyskeratosis, and prominent eosinophils. Direct immunofluorescence showed linear basement membrane staining with immunoreactants to IgA; indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated the presence of circulating IgG antibodies binding in an intercellular pattern. Immunoprecipitation studies using the patient's serum revealed 210, 130, and 83 kDa target antigens., Conclusions: Presenting with an initial clinical picture suggestive of bullous erythema multiforme, this patient's subsequent clinical course and direct immunofluorescence confirm the diagnosis of linear IgA bullous disease (LABD). His indirect immunofluorescence findings and immunoprecipitation results suggest that circulating non-IgA antibodies may represent a newly recognized immunopathologic feature of vancomycin-induced linear IgA disease, underscoring the variable and unpredictable manifestations of this drug-induced cutaneous disease.

Objective: Understand the public's current attitudes and knowledge about suicide and, thus, provide essential information to the development of targeted public education programs-important components of the suicide prevention effort., Methods: Seventeen mental health professionals who were extensively trained in the methods of conducting focus groups used a pre-tested focus group outline on attitudes and knowledge about suicide to conduct 101 focus groups and 18 individual in-depth interviews with a total of 842 community respondents from 6 regions in northern China. The focus groups and in-depth interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and analyzed using the QSR Nvivo text analysis software., Results: Most respondents believed that suicide was a greater problem in rural areas and among women and identified physical illnesses, economic problems and interpersonal conflicts (particularly family conflicts) as the main causes of suicide. Rural residents and women were believed to exhibit impulsive suicidal behavior because of their personal limitations and over-sensitiveness. Most thought that suicide was understandable and a small proportion felt that it was acceptable behavior in certain circumstances. Almost all felt that suicide resulted in the stigmatization and a loss of 'face' for the family. Most believed that one should show concern for persons who have suicidal behavior and their family members and expressed a willingness to have superficial social relationships with them but were unwilling to establish close personal relations with them. The vast majority believed that suicide was either very difficult or impossible to prevent., Conclusions: In China the community is tolerant, sympathetic and, in some cases, accepting of suicide but there remains a substantial underlying stigmatization of suicide. Community members have some misunderstandings about suicide; the most obvious misunderstanding is the underestimation of the importance of mental illness as a cause of suicide. The content of public health messages used in suicide prevention programs should be developed by combining findings from both qualitative and quantitative research.

The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to apply an 8-week customized exercise program to patients (Group E) scheduled for total hip arthroplasty, followed by a postsurgery exercise program, and show the effect on functional recovery compared with control subjects (Group C) who received no additional exercise apart from routine in-hospital physical therapy. Strength, range of motion, and physical function tests were completed by 57 patients at Week 8 and Week 1 before surgery and at Weeks 3, 12, and 24 postoperatively. No differences between the exercise and control groups were observed at baseline. By 1 week before surgery, patients in Group E had shown significant improvements for Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (total score, stiffness, and physical function components), and combined hip strength. Patients in Group E had improved hip flexion range of motion in the diseased hip compared with patients in Group C. Significant differences in outcome measures between Group E and Group C were observed throughout the postoperative phase from Weeks 3 to 24. The current study showed that customized perioperative exercise programs are well tolerated by patients with end-stage hip arthritis, and are effective in improving early recovery of physical function after total hip arthroplasty.

A case of primary Nocardial infection of the hand is presented. This case was notable for lymphocutaneous involvement, and the development of multiple ascending subcutaneous abscesses after healing of the primary lesion. This clinical entity is uncommon, and indicates an atypical infection. Prolonged cultures are required to isolate Nocardia. The infection resolved fully with multiple surgical debridements and prolonged antibiotic therapy.

This paper presented the development of an automated HPLC small-scale purification method for single bead compounds derived from combinatorial libraries. The method was found to produce higher and more consistent recoveries of purified compounds as compared to conventional manual HPLC purification. Using the manual method, the average percentage recovery of one synthetic compound was determined to be 24% and the coefficients of variation (C.V.%) of recovery were found to be greater than 38%. Using the automated system, the average percentages recovery of a standard compound at 600 and 1000 micromol l(-1) were determined to be 72.63+/-10.17% and 81.34+/-4.39%, respectively. This represented an approximate 3-folds increase in percentage recovery compared to that of the manual small-scale purification process. It was also found that the C.V.% of recovery were less than 15% at both concentration levels. The development of this automated method was found to be straightforward. The importance and implications of this study were discussed.

Many single-unit electrophysiological studies of visual cortex have investigated strong evoked responses to simple stimuli such as oriented gratings. Experiments involving other types of stimuli, such as natural scenes, higher-order features, and surface brightness, produce single-unit responses that are more difficult to interpret. Experiments with brightness, in particular, evoke single-unit responses that are typically weakly modulated. When the brightness is generated by a visual illusion such as the Cornsweet illusion, statistical tests are often necessary to distinguish true responses from baseline fluctuations. Here, using data collected from cat Areas 17 and 18 in response to real and illusory brightness stimuli, we provide a method for detecting and quantifying weak but significant periodic responses. By randomizing spike trains (via bootstrap methods), we provide confidence levels for response significance, permitting the evaluation of both weak and strong responses. We show that because of a strong dependence on total spike number, response significance can only be appropriately determined with randomized spike trains of similar spike number. Such randomizations can be performed for both stimulus-elicited and spontaneously occurring spike trains. By developing a method for generating randomized modulated spike trains (phase-restricted randomization) from actual recordings, we calculate upper and lower confidence limits of modulated spike trains and describe how measurement precision varies as a function of total spike count. Finally, using this randomization method, we describe how a correction function can be determined to correct for measurement bias introduced at low spike counts. These methods may also be useful in the study of small but potentially significant responses in other systems.

Optical imaging over extended periods of time in non-human primates presents serious challenges because the dura mater must be removed to expose the cortical surface. We present a novel nylon imaging chamber with a transparent artificial dura implant, which allows repeated, long-term optical recordings from the cortex. The cylinder of the chamber is inserted into a cranial trephination and held in place with a minimum of screws and acrylic cement. A round patch of artificial dura with a perpendicular wall protects the cortical surface and slows re-growth of dural tissue within the chamber. A cap, manufactured from the same material as the cylinder, is screwed into the chamber and seals it completely. Over a period of 1-4 months, the chamber required a minimum of maintenance and stayed infection-free without local antibiotic application. We repeatedly performed optical imaging in the same animal with the advantages of shortened preparation time. To permit precise alignment and comparison of maps obtained from different imaging sessions, we developed a program that calculated a 2-dimensional spatial transformation between maps of different magnifications, translations, and distortions. We suggest that these methods provide a practical solution to long-term optical imaging in the anesthetized or alert monkey. The exclusive use of non-metallic materials offers the benefit of a lighter and more compact implant, and the possibility to perform MRI scans after chamber implantation.

We studied the effect of the surface finish of the stem on the transfer of load in the proximal femur in a sheep model of cemented hip arthroplasty. Strain-gauge analysis and corresponding finite-element (FE) analysis were performed to assess the effect of friction and creep at the cement-stem interface. No difference was seen between the matt and polished stems. FE analysis showed that the effects of cement creep and friction at the stem-cement interface on femoral strain were small compared with the effect of inserting a cemented stem.

The macroscopic, radiographic, and histologic features of the prosthesis-cement and cementbone interfaces and adjacent bone were studied in 21 cemented hemiarthroplasties in sheep that had lived until sacrifice at 9 months. The features were compared with those immediately after implantation of the stem in the contralateral femur. The femoral stem was a double taper that was either polished collarless, matte collarless, or matte collared. There was no prosthesis to cement debonding or cement to bone radiolucent line immediately after implantation, and there was excellent interdigitation at the cement-bone interface. After 9 months there was no evidence of prosthesis to cement debonding and no stem with definite loosening. At 9 months after implantation there was evidence of bone remodeling with new bone filling what were presumed to be gaps at the cement-bone interface from immediately after implantation. Radiolucent lines at the cement-bone interface were found to represent trabeculation of the cortical bone rather than the presence of a complete fibrous interface, which was not seen. There was no difference between stem types. Sheep have been shown to be useful in a model of cemented hip arthroplasty and, although no differences were seen between stem types at 9 months after implantation, long term differences cannot be excluded.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that conventionally used procedures for semen cryopreservation may cause an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by sperm or by seminal leukocytes, which may contribute to poor sperm function following cryopreservation., Methods: Eighteen semen specimens with normal parameters from healthy male donors 22 to 40 years of age were each divided into two portions. The first portion was combined 1:1 with Test Yolk Buffer-Glycerol Freezing Medium and was frozen by gradual cooling into liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C). The second portion was washed and the cells were resuspended in Sperm Washing Medium (SWM) and incubated at room temperature to serve as controls. After a period of treatment, frozen samples were thawed and semen cells were washed and resuspended in SWM. ROS generation by semen cells from each treatment group was measured on a luminometer. Sperm motility, sperm viability, and sperm membrane integrity were also measured in both control and freeze-thaw samples. To further assess ROS generation by semen cells during the cooling process, aliquots of washed semen cells and purified polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were incubated separately at different temperature conditions (37 degrees C, 22 degrees C, 4 degrees C, and -20 degrees C). ROS activity in each treatment group was measured and compared with each other., Results: In both semen cells and PMNs, ROS activity increased significantly during the cooling process. The highest ROS levels were recorded in both groups when cooled to 4 degrees C. The ROS levels were extremely low in samples cooled to -20 degrees C and in freeze-thaw samples, probably due to marked loss of cell viability., Conclusions: Gradual reduction of temperature during the process of semen cryopreservation can cause a significant ROS generation by semen cells. ROS is particularly elevated during cooling if the semen sample is contaminated by more than 0.5 x 10(6) leukocytes. Removal of leukocytes from semen samples or treatment with antioxidants prior to cryopreservation may improve sperm viability and function.

Flexor tendon rehabilitation means control of the tendon healing process. It is therefore important to appreciate the physiological and biomechanical nuances of flexor tendon healing.

Recent studies have revealed a high prevalence of leukocytospermia (> 1 x 10(6) white blood cells ml-1 semen) in male infertility patients in the USA and certain European countries, and have implicated white blood cells as a cause of infertility. Since leukocytospermia may often be attributed to male genital-tract infections, its prevalence could vary widely in different populations depending on factors such as sexual practices and the prevalence of sexually transmitted pathogens. In the study described here the incidence of leukocytospermia was determined in a group of 101 male infertility patients and a small reference group of normal fertile men in Beijing, China. Seminal white blood cells (WBC) and WBC sub-populations were enumerated by peroxidase staining and immunohistological assay. Eight out of 101 (7.9%) samples from infertility patients and 0/10 samples from fertile donors were leukocytospermic. The incidence of leukocytospermia in the Chinese infertility patients was considerably lower than the 23% incidence observed in a recent study of infertility patients in the USA using a similar technique. All but one of the patients with leukocytospermia had a poor sperm count and/or poor sperm motility. However, due to the low incidence of leukocytospermia and the small number of patients in this group, a statistically significant association between leukocytospermia and poor semen quality was not attained. The simple peroxidase test correlated well with the more expensive and technically demanding immunohistological assay for detection of white blood cells in semen.

The high molecular-weight carbohydrate substances extracted in the aqueous and phenol phases by phenol-water extraction of Anabaena flos-aquae A-37 were found to be polysaccharides without lipid attached.