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Introduction Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries make up a significant proportion of conditions treated by military healthcare providers during wartime. Though many common MSK injuries may benefit from corticosteroid injection (CSI), a shortage of qualified military clinicians has led to diminished access to appropriate care. Longer wait times to receive treatment pose detrimental effects on military readiness and have garnered the attention of military leaders. One solution was the development of advanced training for United States Air Force physical therapists (USAF PTs) to gain clinical privileges in administering CSI. The objectives of this study were to determine in USAF PTs (1) the prevalence of those with privileges to administer CSI; (2) the type and (3) safety of MSK CSI administered; (4) incidence of CSI complications; (5) healthcare utilization following CSI; and (6) barriers to obtaining and practicing CSI privileges. Materials and Methods United States Air Force PTs with CSI privileges received instructions to follow a link to an anonymous Google survey. Electronic medical record reviews were conducted by three USAF PTs to determine the occurrence and severity of CSI complications provided by USAF PTs and advanced healthcare providers (AHPs). The principal investigator conducted further review of the patients’ electronic medical records to calculate healthcare utilization following CSI administered by USAF PTs. A hospital administrator selected cases of similar diagnoses treated with CSI by USAF AHPs. The number selected cases treated by AHPs are similar to the number of CSI cases treated by USAF PTs. Results Eleven USAF PTs held CSI privileges. No major complications associated with CSI were recorded. Of the 95 CSI cases treated by USAF PTs, 27 (28.4%) reported increased pain compared to 24 (27.9%) of 86 CSI cases treated by AHPs (P = .94). Healthcare utilization for the number of follow-up visits, imaging, and additional laboratory tests following CSI by USAF PTs was lower compared to AHPs (chi-square; P Conclusion Nine percentage of USAF PTs held CSI privileges. United States Air Force PTs were equally safe as AHPs who administered CSI and associated with a lower rate of healthcare utilization following the intervention. Training USAF PTs to administer CSI could be the standard for all USAF PTs who meet qualification requirements. Adoption of similar training and credentialing policies for civilian PTs warrants further exploration.

Binary metal oxide heterojunctions possibly will exclude the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers via interfacial charge transfer in assessment among the single-component photocatalytic material. Highly ordered samarium doped titania nanosphere have paid more attention to the exclusion of toxic organic pollutants. Tuning the shape, size, morphology, bandgap and defect optimization of titanium oxides (Sm2Ti2O7) improved as an enhanced catalyst which was synthesized by using the capping agent also acts as a reducing agent. Herein, we examine an environmentally pleasant Sm2Ti2O7 nanosphere with its various properties via assorted characterization techniques and wrapping of nanosphere makes them appropriate catalysts for the degradation of toxic dyes and show the highest efficiency via irradiation of visible light by declining the option of the exciton-recombination process. Therefore, the photocatalyst was found to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) both in the presence and absence of light, which is responsible for the decomposition of dyes into small fractions. In addition, HRTEM study reveals that the nanospheres are highly porous nature with high active surface area and small grain size are reported in detail. Keywords: Sm2Ti2O7 nanosphere, Optical properties, Electron spectroscopy, Rhodamine-B dye, Photocatalytic activity

A UV transmittable NLO crystal Hydrofluoric acid mixed Sulphamic acid (FASA) was synthesized and explored in aqueous solution by slow solvent evaporation technique at ambient temperature. Centimeter sized 3 × 2.8 × 1 cm3 crystal was harvested in a period of 25-30 days. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data manifest FASA crystallizes in Tetragonal P crystal system with lattice parameters of a = 8.12 Å, b = 8.12 Å, c = 9.29 Å and α=β=γ =90̊. The peaks in powder X-ray diffractogram were indexed corresponding to the (hkl) plane orientations showing the crystalline purity and perfection. FTIR spectrum authenticate the functional groups exist in FASA crystal system. UV-vis-NIR spectrum validated a wide transparency range with short UV cut-off edge closer to 200 nm. FASA endowed with larger dielectric polarizability. Kurtz-Perry powder test flashed the Phase matchable SHG efficiency 0.43 times KDP. Soft nature of FASA suits itself for crystal feasibility. The presence of HF with sulphamic acid delivered a mixed crystal system FASA suitable for UV nonlinear optical applications.

Palladium (Pd) is known to be released into the environment in the fine and ultrafine (at the nanoscale) airborne particle fractions mainly from automobile catalytic converters leading to an increase human exposure to this noble metal. It was reported that Pd can induce allergic reactions in individuals exposed to it via different ways. Some studies reported an increased number of eosinophils into airways following NP exposure in vivo in rodent models of allergies and inflammation. Knowing the importance of eosinophils in allergies, asthma and other lung diseases, it is surprising to observe that the direct effect of Pd at the nanoscale in eosinophils has been poorly documented. The aim of this study was to determine how Pd NPs will affect the biology of human eosinophils. Characterization of Pd NPs by dynamic light scattering indicates the presence of some aggregates when suspended in diverse solutions used here for the different experiments. Pd NPs did not significantly induce cell necrosis and apoptosis in eosinophils (0.5–150 μg/ml) as assessed by trypan blue exclusion assay, flow cytometry after staining with FITC-annexin V and propidium iodide and by morphological observations by optical microscopy. PD NPs, unlike the positive controls, did not induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) but were found to target the actin cytoskeleton, since actin was differently re-located intracellularly when compared to untreated cells as determined by fluorescence microscopy. Clearly, Pd NPs were found to increase adhesion of eosinophils onto human endothelial EA.hy926 cells. Using cytochalasin D, a cell-permeable and potent inhibitor of actin polymerization, this ability to increase adhesion was drastically reversed. Our results indicate that Pd NPs can target the cytoskeleton and increase the adhesion of human eosinophils by an actin-dependent mechanism. These findings show that human eosinophils can be activated by Pd NPs emphasizing the importance of fully investigating how these NPs could alter the biology of human cells involved in allergies, asthma and other lung diseases as well as in various other inflammatory disorders.

Members of the archaeal domain of life that lack homologs of actin and tubulin divide by binary fission in a process that is dependent upon orthologs of eukaryotic ESCRT components. Many of these archaeal organisms are hyperthermophilic acidophiles with unique cell wall structures, which create technical challenges for performing traditional cell biological techniques. Here, we describe the "baby machine" method for synchronizing microorganisms at high temperatures in order to study cell cycle-related processes. We also provide details for fixing, permeabilizing, and staining archaeal cells and ESCRT assemblies for observation by light microscopy.

Summary The three-dimensional organization of chromosomes can have a profound impact on their replication and expression. The chromosomes of higher eukaryotes possess discrete compartments that are characterized by differing transcriptional activities. Contrastingly, most bacterial chromosomes have simpler organization with local domains, the boundaries of which are influenced by gene expression. Numerous studies have revealed that the higher-order architectures of bacterial and eukaryotic chromosomes are dependent on the actions of structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) superfamily protein complexes, in particular, the near-universal condensin complex. Intriguingly, however, many archaea, including members of the genus Sulfolobus do not encode canonical condensin. We describe chromosome conformation capture experiments on Sulfolobus species. These reveal the presence of distinct domains along Sulfolobus chromosomes that undergo discrete and specific higher-order interactions, thus defining two compartment types. We observe causal linkages between compartment identity, gene expression, and binding of a hitherto uncharacterized SMC superfamily protein that we term “coalescin.”

Members of the archaeal domain of life that lack homologs of actin and tubulin divide by binary fission in a process that is dependent upon orthologs of eukaryotic ESCRT components. Many of these archaeal organisms are hyperthermophilic acidophiles with unique cell wall structures, which create technical challenges for performing traditional cell biological techniques. Here, we describe the "baby machine" method for synchronizing microorganisms at high temperatures in order to study cell cycle-related processes. We also provide details for fixing, permeabilizing, and staining archaeal cells and ESCRT assemblies for observation by light microscopy.

Background: \ud Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a contributor to embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Subgroup analyses from previous studies suggest that anticoagulation could reduce recurrent stroke compared with antiplatelet therapy. We hypothesised that anticoagulant treatment with rivaroxaban, an oral factor Xa inhibitor, would reduce the risk of recurrent ischaemic stroke compared with aspirin among patients with PFO enrolled in the NAVIGATE ESUS trial.\ud \ud Methods: \ud NAVIGATE ESUS was a double-blinded, randomised, phase 3 trial done at 459 centres in 31 countries that assessed the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban versus aspirin for secondary stroke prevention in patients with ESUS. For this prespecified subgroup analysis, cohorts with and without PFO were defined on the basis of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE). The primary efficacy outcome was time to recurrent ischaemic stroke between treatment groups. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding, according to the criteria of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. The primary analyses were based on the intention-to-treat population. Additionally, we did a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of studies in which patients with cryptogenic stroke and PFO were randomly assigned to receive anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy.\ud \ud Findings: \ud Between Dec 23, 2014, and Sept 20, 2017, 7213 participants were enrolled and assigned to receive rivaroxaban (n=3609) or aspirin (n=3604). Patients were followed up for a mean of 11 months because of early trial termination. PFO was reported as present in 534 (7·4%) patients on the basis of either TTE or TOE. Patients with PFO assigned to receive aspirin had a recurrent ischaemic stroke rate of 4·8 events per 100 person-years compared with 2·6 events per 100 person-years in those treated with rivaroxaban. Among patients with known PFO, there was insufficient evidence to support a difference in risk of recurrent ischaemic stroke between rivaroxaban and aspirin (hazard ratio [HR] 0·54; 95% CI 0·22–1·36), and the risk was similar for those without known PFO (1·06; 0·84–1·33; pinteraction=0·18). The risks of major bleeding with rivaroxaban versus aspirin were similar in patients with PFO detected (HR 2·05; 95% CI 0·51–8·18) and in those without PFO detected (HR 2·82; 95% CI 1·69–4·70; pinteraction=0·68). The random-effects meta-analysis combined data from NAVIGATE ESUS with data from two previous trials (PICSS and CLOSE) and yielded a summary odds ratio of 0·48 (95% CI 0·24–0·96; p=0·04) for ischaemic stroke in favour of anticoagulation, without evidence of heterogeneity.\ud \ud Interpretation: \ud Among patients with ESUS who have PFO, anticoagulation might reduce the risk of recurrent stroke by about half, although substantial imprecision remains. Dedicated trials of anticoagulation versus antiplatelet therapy or PFO closure, or both, are warranted.\ud \ud Funding: \ud Bayer and Janssen.

Although morphologically resembling bacteria, archaea constitute a distinct domain of life with a closer affiliation to eukaryotes than to bacteria. This similarity is seen in the machineries for a number of essential cellular processes, including DNA replication and gene transcription. Perhaps surprisingly, given their prokaryotic morphology, some archaea also possess a core cell division apparatus that is related to that involved in the final stages of membrane abscission in vertebrate cells, the ESCRT machinery.

Although morphologically resembling bacteria, archaea constitute a distinct domain of life with a closer affiliation to eukaryotes than to bacteria. This similarity is seen in the machineries for a number of essential cellular processes, including DNA replication and gene transcription. Perhaps surprisingly, given their prokaryotic morphology, some archaea also possess a core cell division apparatus that is related to that involved in the final stages of membrane abscission in vertebrate cells, the ESCRT machinery.

We describe here a two-yr-old boy with biliary RMS successfully treated by chemotherapy and LT. The child presented with obstructive jaundice at 20 months of age. A mildly vascularized, non-calcified, partially cystic lesion was visualized in the left hepatic lobe. Solid infiltration of the common bile duct and of both left and right hepatic ducts was suspected. Liver biopsy suggested a botryoid-type embryonal RMS originating from the biliary tract. After extrahepatic spread of the tumor was excluded, a biliary drain was applied and neoadjuvant chemotherapy was started. After the treatment, although reduced in volume, the mass was still unresectable without aggressive surgery and gross residual disease. LT with a reduced segment II/III graft was performed four months after diagnosis. The patient received six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy, and he is alive and recurrence-free 48 months post-transplantation. A posteriori, the transplant might have possibly been avoided with an aggressive resection with biliary reconstruction. Nevertheless, although the risk of the transplant has to be balanced against the chemoresponsiveness of the tumor, the four-yr disease-free survival of this patient suggests that, when coupled with effective chemotherapy, transplantation might be considered a potential treatment for unresectable biliary RMS.

ESCRT filaments wrap helically around liposomes and assemble into various helical structures in vitro. Dividing Sulfolobus cells further exhibit a thin, dynamic belt coating division furrows. Together these data suggest that spiraling filaments are involved in membrane scission., The endosomal-sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) is evolutionarily conserved from Archaea to eukaryotes. The complex drives membrane scission events in a range of processes, including cytokinesis in Metazoa and some Archaea. CdvA is the protein in Archaea that recruits ESCRT-III to the membrane. Using electron cryotomography (ECT), we find that CdvA polymerizes into helical filaments wrapped around liposomes. ESCRT-III proteins are responsible for the cinching of membranes and have been shown to assemble into helical tubes in vitro, but here we show that they also can form nested tubes and nested cones, which reveal surprisingly numerous and versatile contacts. To observe the ESCRT–CdvA complex in a physiological context, we used ECT to image the archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and observed a distinct protein belt at the leading edge of constriction furrows in dividing cells. The known dimensions of ESCRT-III proteins constrain their possible orientations within each of these structures and point to the involvement of spiraling filaments in membrane scission.

Recently it has been discovered that a number of eukaryotic viruses, including HIV, coopt the cellular Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT) machinery to affect egress from infected cells. Strikingly, the ESCRT apparatus is conserved in a subset of Archaea, including members of the genus Sulfolobus where it plays a role in cytokinesis. In the current work, we reveal that the archaeal virus Sulfolobus turreted icosahedral virus isolated from Yellowstone National Park's acidic hot springs also exploits the host ESCRT machinery in its replication cycle. Moreover, perturbation of normal ESCRT function abrogates viral replication and, thus, prevents establishment of a productive Sulfolobus turreted icosahedral virus infection. We propose that the Sulfolobus ESCRT machinery is involved in viral assembly within the cytoplasm and in escape from the infected cell by using a unique lysis mechanism. Our results support an ancient origin for viruses “hijacking” ESCRT proteins to complete their replication cycle and thus identify a critical host–virus interaction conserved between two domains of life.

Members of the crenarchaeal kingdom, such as Sulfolobus, divide by binary fission yet lack genes for the otherwise near-ubiquitous tubulin and actin superfamilies of cytoskeletal proteins. Recent work has established that Sulfolobus homologs of the eukaryotic ESCRT-III and Vps4 components of the ESCRT machinery play an important role in Sulfolobus cell division. In eukaryotes, several pathways recruit ESCRT-III proteins to their sites of action. However, the positioning determinants for archaeal ESCRT-III are not known. Here, we identify a protein, CdvA, that is responsible for recruiting Sulfolobus ESCRT-III to membranes. Overexpression of the isolated ESCRT-III domain that interacts with CdvA results in the generation of nucleoid-free cells. Furthermore, CdvA and ESCRT-III synergize to deform archaeal membranes in vitro. The structure of the CdvA/ESCRT-III interface gives insight into the evolution of the more complex and modular eukaryotic ESCRT complex.

Archaea are prokaryotic organisms that lack endomembrane structures. However, a number of hyperthermophilic members of the Kingdom Crenarchaea , including members of the Sulfolobus genus, encode homologs of the eukaryotic endosomal sorting system components Vps4 and ESCRT-III (endosomal sorting complex required for transport–III). We found that Sulfolobus ESCRT-III and Vps4 homologs underwent regulation of their expression during the cell cycle. The proteins interacted and we established the structural basis of this interaction. Furthermore, these proteins specifically localized to the mid-cell during cell division. Overexpression of a catalytically inactive mutant Vps4 in Sulfolobus resulted in the accumulation of enlarged cells, indicative of failed cell division. Thus, the archaeal ESCRT system plays a key role in cell division.

DNA replication is fundamental to the propagation of all life on the planet. Remarkably, given the central importance for this process, two distinct core cellular DNA replication machineries have evolved. One is found in the bacterial domain of life and the other is present in Archaea and Eukarya. The archaeal machinery represents a simplified and presumably ancestral form of the eukaryotic DNA replication apparatus. As such, archaeal replication proteins have been studied extensively as models for their eukaryal counterparts. In addition, a number of archaea have been developed as model organisms. Accordingly, there has been a considerable increase in our knowledge of how archaeal chromosomes are replicated. It has become apparent that the majority of archaeal cells replicate their genomes from multiple origins per chromosome. Thus, at both organizational and mechanistic levels, archaeal DNA replication resembles that of eukarya. In this chapter, we will describe recent advances in our understanding of the basis of archaeal origin definition and how the archaeal initiator proteins recruit the replicative helicase to origins.

DNA replication is fundamental to the propagation of all life on the planet. Remarkably, given the central importance for this process, two distinct core cellular DNA replication machineries have evolved. One is found in the bacterial domain of life and the other is present in Archaea and Eukarya. The archaeal machinery represents a simplified and presumably ancestral form of the eukaryotic DNA replication apparatus. As such, archaeal replication proteins have been studied extensively as models for their eukaryal counterparts. In addition, a number of archaea have been developed as model organisms. Accordingly, there has been a considerable increase in our knowledge of how archaeal chromosomes are replicated. It has become apparent that the majority of archaeal cells replicate their genomes from multiple origins per chromosome. Thus, at both organizational and mechanistic levels, archaeal DNA replication resembles that of eukarya. In this chapter, we will describe recent advances in our understanding of the basis of archaeal origin definition and how the archaeal initiator proteins recruit the replicative helicase to origins.

Background: During May–June 2010, a childhood lead poisoning outbreak related to gold ore processing was confirmed in two villages in Zamfara State, Nigeria. During June–September of that year, villages with suspected or confirmed childhood lead poisoning continued to be identified in Zamfara State. Objectives: We investigated the extent of childhood lead poisoning [≥ 1 child with a blood lead level (BLL) ≥ 10 µg/dL] and lead contamination (≥ 1 soil/dust sample with a lead level > 400 parts per million) among villages in Zamfara State and identified villages that should be prioritized for urgent interventions. Methods: We used chain-referral sampling to identify villages of interest, defined as villages suspected of participation in gold ore processing during the previous 12 months. We interviewed villagers, determined BLLs among children < 5 years of age, and analyzed soil/dust from public areas and homes for lead. Results: We identified 131 villages of interest and visited 74 (56%) villages in three local government areas. Fifty-four (77%) of 70 villages that completed the survey reported gold ore processing. Ore-processing villages were more likely to have ≥ 1 child < 5 years of age with lead poisoning (68% vs. 50%, p = 0.17) or death following convulsions (74% vs. 44%, p = 0.02). Soil/dust contamination and BLL ≥ 45 µg/dL were identified in ore-processing villages only [50% (p < 0.001) and 15% (p = 0.22), respectively]. The odds of childhood lead poisoning or lead contamination was 3.5 times as high in ore-processing villages than the other villages (95% confidence interval: 1.1, 11.3). Conclusion: Childhood lead poisoning and lead contamination were widespread in surveyed areas, particularly among villages that had processed ore recently. Urgent interventions are required to reduce lead exposure, morbidity, and mortality in affected communities.

Perianal rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare type of tumor with a relatively poor prognosis. We present the case of a patient who presented with a cutaneous perianal hamartoma at the age of 6 weeks. 21 months latter a recurrent mass at the excision site proved to be an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma involving the anal sphincter. A pathologic review of the two specimens confirmed their relatedness. This report highlights the need to maintain a high level of suspicion in cases of recurrence following excision of a benign lesion.

Single crystals of 8-Hydroxyquinoline(8-HQ) and Benzophenone substituted 8-HydroxyQuinoline(B8-HQ) are grown by slow evaporation of acetone at room temperature. Coloured crystals of 8-HQ and B8-HQ with good optical quality of dimensions 54 × 3 × 1.5 mm3 and 27 × 3 × 1 mm3 are harvested. Single crystal X-ray diffractometer was utilized to measure the unit cell parameters and to confirm the crystal structure. The presence of various functional groups in the molecule was ascertained by FTIR spectral analysis. The cut-offwavelength of 8-HQ andB8-HQwas centered at 350 and 356 nm. The functional groups in the molecule are elucidated by 1H and 13C-NMR spectral analyses. Kurtz Perry test confirms the SHG in8-HQ andB8-HQ single crystals.

Alignments of the sequences of the all members of the archaeal histone and Alba1 families of chromatin proteins identified isoleucine residues, I19 in HMtB and I39 in MtAlba, in Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus, at locations predicted to be directly involved in DNA binding. In all other HMfB family members, residue 19 is an arginine (R19), and either arginine or lysine is present in almost all other Alba1 family members at the structural site equivalent to I39 in MtAlba. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that recombinant HMtB and MtAlba do not bind DNA, but variants constructed with R19 and R39, respectively, bound DNA; and whereas MtAlba(I19) did not bind RNA, MtAlba(R19) bound both single stranded RNA and tRNA. Amplification and sequencing of MT0254 (encodes HMtB) and MT1483 (encodes MtAlba) from several Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus lineages has revealed that HMtB and MtAlba had arginine residues at positions 19 and 39, respectively, in the original isolate and that spontaneous mutations must have occurred, and been fixed, in some laboratory lineages that now have HMtB(I19) and MtAlba(I39). The retention of these variants suggests some continuing functions and fusion of the HMtB(I19) sequence to HMtA2 resulted in a protein that folds to form a histone fold heterodimer that binds and compacts DNA. The loss of DNA binding by HMtB(I19) does not therefore prevent HMtB from participating in DNA interactions as one partner of an archaeal histone heterodimer.

Resume Introduction Les hallucinations visuelles dans le champ hemianopsique apres un infarctus occipital ont une physiopathologie mal comprise. Observation Nous avons etudie la perception d’illusions d’optique chez un homme, avec antecedent d’infarctus occipital, ayant presente des hallucinations visuelles complexes dans son champ quadranopsique au decours d’une recidive occipitale controlaterale. L’association de ces deux lesions occipitales pourrait avoir genere une double perception visuelle consciente et dissociee, hallucinatoire par ailleurs et reelle de l’autre. Conclusion L’etude de la perception des illusions chez des patients atteints d’hallucinations visuelles pourrait contribuer a valider les theories actuelles d’une conscience visuelle non pas unifiee, mais composee de microconsciences.

Knowledge of the chromosome biology of archaeal species has grown considerably in the last 15 years, since the publication of the first full archaeal genome sequences. A number of model organisms have been studied, revealing a striking variety of mechanisms and modes of genome duplication and segregation. While clear sequence relationships between archaeal and eukaryotic replication proteins are well known, some archaea also seem to possess organizational parameters for replication and segregation that reveal further striking parallels to eukaryotes.

Procaryotic genomic DNA and associated proteins together form an irregularly shaped structure, designated as the nucleoid. In contrast to the range of different chromatin proteins identified in bacteria, almost all eucaryal genomes are compacted into nucleosomes, chromatin, and chromosomes by essentially the same four proteins, histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. This chapter describes several different families of archaeal chromatin proteins with unrelated structures, but with the common properties of abundance, small size, positive charge, and ability to bind to DNA with little or no sequence specificity. Alba does bind to both DNA and RNA in Sulfolobus species, but chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments argue convincingly that Alba is bound to genomic DNA and functions as a chromatin protein in S. solfataricus. Sul10a is the generic name of an abundant ~11 kDa DNA-binding protein investigated from S. acidocaldarius (Sac10a) and S. solfataricus (Sso10a). An NMR solution structure has been established for methanogen chromosomal protein 1 (MC1) from Methanosarcina sp. CHTI55. It is apparent that many different chromatin proteins have evolved, all of which must bind and compact DNA into complexes that are readily disassembled, or that are inherently compatible with DNA replication and transcription machineries. Gene expression requires transcription activators, for example, histone acetylases that help disassemble chromatin and so allow transcription factor access to the DNA. With the accumulation of genome sequences, it is now apparent that most archaea have the capacity to synthesize several different chromatin proteins.

Background: Patch testing with dust mite antigens might identify mite-sensitive individuals, particularly those with atopic dermatitis who can benefit from avoidance measures. Currently available dust mite allergens have not been well studied. Objective: To determine the proper dilution of 20% Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/farinae mix antigen (Chemotechnique, Malmo, Sweden) for use in closed patch testing. Methods: Eighteen nonatopic, healthy control subjects were patch-tested to the 20% concentration, yielding 15 (83%) positive reactions, most showing a decrescendo or persistent pattern suggesting an inordinately high number of false positive reactions. Dilutions of 1.25% to 0.1% in white petrolatum were used in patch testing 8 atopic dermatitis and 11 respiratory atopy patients, and 12 nonatopic controls. Results: Positive reaction rates to the 0.25% and 0.1% concentrations, respectively, were 87.5% and 62.5% for atopic dermatitis, 54% and 18% for respiratory atopy, and 33% and 8% for healthy controls. Using Fisher's exact test, the 0.1% diliution was shown to significantly differentiate rates of positivity among the 3 groups, particularly between atopic dermatitis subjects and healthy controls. Conclusion: We find that a 0.1% dilution of 20% D. pteronyssinus/farinae mix antigen (Chemotechnique) to be useful in identifying mite-allergic individuals with atopic dermatitis.

Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (BFM) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) consortia's treatment strategies for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in children are widely used. We compared the health effects and monetary costs of hospital treatments for these two strategies. Parents of children treated at seven centres in Canada, Italy and the USA completed health-related quality of life (HRQL) assessments during four active treatment phases and at 2 years after treatment. Mean HRQL scores were used to calculate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for a period of 5 years following diagnosis. Total costs of treatment were determined from variables in administrative databases in a universally accessible and publicly funded healthcare system. Valid HRQL assessments (n = 1200) were collected for 307 BFM and 317 DFCI patients, with costs measured for 66 BFM and 28 DFCI patients. QALYs per patient were1.0% greater for BFM than DFCI. Median HRQL scores revealed no difference in QALYs. The difference in mean total costs for BFM (US$88 480) and DFCI (US$93 026) was not significant (P = 0.600). This study provides no evidence of superiority for one treatment strategy over the other. Current BFM or DFCI strategies should represent conventional management for the next economic evaluation of treatments for ALL in childhood.

We examined mechanisms of recovery from aphasia in seven nonfluent aphasic patients, who were successfully treated with melodic intonation therapy (MIT) after a lengthy absence of spontaneous recovery.We measured changes in relative cerebral blood flow (CBF) with positron emission tomography (PET) during hearing and repetition of simple words, and during repetition of MIT-loaded words. Without MIT, language tasks abnormally activated right hemisphere regions, homotopic to those activated in the normal subject, and deactivated left hemisphere language zones. In contrast, repeating words with MIT reactivated Broca9s area and the left prefrontal cortex, while deactivating the counterpart of Wernicke9s area in the right hemisphere. The recovery process induced by MIT in these patients probably coincides with this reactivation of left prefrontal structures. In contrast, the right hemisphere regions abnormally activated during simple language tasks seem to be associated with the initial persistence of the aphasia. This study supports the idea that abnormal activation patterns in the lesioned brain are not necessarily related to the recovery process. NEUROLOGY 1996;47: 1504-1511

Until recently little was known about the cell cycle parameters and division mechanisms of archaeal organisms. Although this is still the case for the majority of archaea, significant advances have been made in some model species. The information that has been gleaned thus far points to a remarkable degree of diversity within the archaeal domain of life. More specifically, members of distinct phyla have very different chromosome copy numbers, replication control systems and even employ distinct machineries for cell division.

Background The present study was undertaken to determine the rate of occurrence of Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) among kidney transplant recipients and donors by application of direct detection methods and to understand HCMV infection/disease development among transplanted patients as a prospective study. Results Peripheral blood samples collected from 76 kidney donors and 76 recipients from September 2007 to August 2009 were subjected to pp65 antigenemia and Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays. Data were analyzed under Group A, B and C. Group A was further divided into sub-groups I, II, III, IV, and V for better understanding. Three, one and two donors in sub-group I, III, IV of Group A tested positive for real time PCR respectively. One recipient from group III tested positive for HCMV by qRT- PCR prior transplantation and remained positive one month post-transplantation. Three other recipients, tested negative prior to transplantation became positive a month after transplantation. Group B consisted of 18 donor-recipient pairs and one of the donor tested positive for HCMV by qRT-PCR. Eight recipients tested positive for HCMV one month after transplantation. The pp65 positivity and HCMV DNA load was high among group C recipients who mostly had symptoms of active disease. Significantly high values of pp65 antigenemia were observed among recipients of sub-group II (non-parametric chi-square test p = 0.007). Positive correlation between pp65 antigenemia and qRT-PCR value was observed. Thirty three of the recipients with disease treated with Valgancyclovir showed improved clinical outcome. Conclusion Our study showed that a significant proportion of kidney recipients develop HCMV infection following renal transplantation in spite of the absence of HCMV among donors. pp65 antigenemia assay and qRT- PCR methods can be applied to detect HCMV among kidney donors and recipients to monitor development of disease and these assays were predicative of HCMV infection among them. Clinical resistant to valganciclovir was not observed.

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic orthologs of tubulin play key roles in DNA segregation and cell division processes. Remarkably, recent studies have revealed that cell division can occur in the absence of this highly conserved protein. Members of the hyperthermophilic crenarchaea, that lack tubulin-like proteins, undergo division by binary fission. Here we review how this process is dependent on archaeal homologs of the eukaryotic ‘endosomal sorting complex required for transport' (ESCRT) system – an apparatus that plays a pivotal role in a wide range of membrane manipulation processes. Thus, two distinct machineries to drive binary fission have evolved in prokaryotes – one dependent on tubulin-like proteins and one dependent on the ESCRT system.

Assemblies of monodisperse FePt nanoparticles (NPs) are promising candidates for next generation data storage media with recording densities beyond 1 Tbit.inch due to their high uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which can reach 107 J.m-3 along the [001] direction of the face-centered tetragonal (fct) L10 ordered phase.2 Triggered by the seminal work of Sun and coworkers [1] the chemical synthesis of FePt NPs has been extensively studied for the last few years. As-synthesized NPs exhibit a chemically disordered fcc structure. Therefore a post-synthetic treatment of the NPs, such as thermal annealing, is necessary to transform the fcc structure into the ordered fct structure which exhibits the magnetic anitotropy. This phase transition is only possible for close to equimolar stoichiometry (Fe50Pt50) NPs. In this work we present results of in situ annealing of two populations of NPs. The NPs are chemically synthesised, more details can be found in [2].

We assessed the relative restraints that are provided by fourteen currently available functional knee-braces, using six limbs in cadavera. The tests were made at 30 and 60 degrees of flexion of the knee, and a mechanical loading system applied loads that caused anterior-posterior translation and internal-external rotation. The braces limited abnormal tibiofemoral displacements by 10 to 75 per cent in translation; there was more variation in rotation. This study demonstrated that functional knee-braces provide a restraining influence that may be beneficial in the control of abnormal displacements of the knee, but that the degree of restraint varies considerably.

The physiopathology of visual hallucinations in the hemianopic field secondary to occipital infarct is uncertain.We report the case of a patient with a history of occipital infarct who presented nonstereotyped complex hallucinations in the quadranopic field resulting from a second controlateral occipital infarct. Based on an experience with motion optical illusions, we suggested that the association of these two occipital lesions, involving the V5 motion area on the one side and the V1 area on the other side, could have produced the complex hallucinations due to a release phenomenon. The patient experienced simultaneously a double visual consciousness, with both hallucinations and real visual perceptions.The study of perceptual illusions in patients with visual hallucinations could illustrate the innovative theory of visual consciousness as being not unified but constituted of multiple microconsciousnesses.

Inflammation may play an important role in acute ischemic stroke. Experimental and clinical data suggest that post-stroke inflammatory responses are complex cascade phenomena, which may have detrimental or beneficial effects on outcome. This review focuses on the current understanding of inflammation effector pathways in focal cerebral ischemia and on therapeutic perspectives.Somatic markers, such as admission body temperature or C-reactive protein, seem to be correlated with outcome, but data are heterogeous and contradictory, perhaps because their kinetics are complex during the first hours of a stroke. The most studied effectors of inflammation are cellular adhesion molecules--CAM (including integrins, selectins and members of the immunoglobulin superfamily), leucocytes, microglia, and blood brain barrier permeability. Evidence from animal data has lead to some clinical trials investigating anti adhesion molecules and hypothermia. However, current results remain disappointing. Recent experimental data also suggest a possible beneficial role of insulin and statins, which may be mediated by their effects on the inflammatory response.Inflammation is an important avenue of therapeutic research in acute stroke. A better understanding of the inflammatory pathophysiology may help to a better design of clinical trials.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-containing complexes have been identified in different eukaryotes, and their existence has also been suggested in some Archaea. To investigate interactions involving aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in Archaea, we undertook a yeast two-hybrid screen for interactions between Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus proteins using prolyl-tRNA synthetase (ProRS) as the bait. Interacting proteins identified included components of methanogenesis, protein-modifying factors, and leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS). The association of ProRS with LeuRS was confirmed in vitro by native gel electrophoresis and size exclusion chromatography. Determination of the steady-state kinetics of tRNA(Pro) charging showed that the catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)) of ProRS increased 5-fold in the complex with LeuRS compared with the free enzyme, whereas the K(m) for proline was unchanged. No significant changes in the steady-state kinetics of LeuRS aminoacylation were observed upon the addition of ProRS. These findings indicate that ProRS and LeuRS associate in M. thermautotrophicus and suggest that this interaction contributes to translational fidelity by enhancing tRNA aminoacylation by ProRS.