Mycoses, EarlyView.
Τρίτη 26 Ιουνίου 2018
A Sensitive Assay for Proteases in Bioaerosol Samples: Characterization and Quantification of Airborne Proteases in Salmon Industry Work Environments
Abstract
Proteases are probably underestimated exposure agents in bioaerosols. Their roles as barrier disrupters in allergic sensitization and activators of innate inflammation call for more attention in exposure-response studies. The main objectives of this study was (i) to establish a suitable method for detection of small quantities of proteases in filtered air samples and (ii) to utilize the method to characterize exposure to proteases in a salmon industry work environment. Analysis of proteases in filtered air samples was based on zymography, using sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with 0.1% gelatin as substrate added in the polyacrylamide gel. Gelatinase activity was evident as cleared (unstained) regions. The area of these regions was quantified using image analysis (UVP Vision Works®). Standard curves with known amounts of active porcine trypsin were added to each gel. Validation of 11 non-linear standard curves showed R2 (range) = 0.8989–0.9882, limit of detection = 0.056 nM, lower limit of quantification = 0.161 nM, and coefficients of variations (range) = 20–28%. Sampling of bioaerosols in salmon industry was performed using polytetrafluoretylene filters with an airflow of 3 l min−1. All samples contained visible bands close to the size of porcine trypsin (23.3 kDa). The bands did not disappear in the presence of EDTA but abolished by Pefabloc, demonstrating that the enzyme is a serine protease, most likely salmon trypsin. Airborne levels of active protease were below the statistical detection limit in the filleting department but quantifiable in extract samples from the slaughter department. Three filtered air samples from the slaughter department showed air concentrations of 6.2, 16.5, and 27.0 ng m−3 air. We conclude that zymography is a sensitive and reliable method for exposure assessment of active proteases in indoor environmental samples. We recommend this assay for use in occupational studies to characterize and quantify exposure to active proteases in bioaerosols.Multispectral ex vivo photoacoustic imaging of cutaneous melanoma for better selection of the excision margin
British Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.
Effective anti‐programmed death‐1 therapy in a SUFU‐mutated patient with Gorlin–Goltz syndrome
British Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.
Efficacy of oral sirolimus as salvage therapy in refractory lichen planus associated with immune deficiency
British Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.
IgE and D‐dimer baseline levels are higher in responders than nonresponders to omalizumab in chronic spontaneous urticaria
British Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.
Acute toxicity and effects of Roundup Original® on pintado da Amazônia
Abstract
The toxicity of Roundup Original® (GLY), a glyphosate-based herbicide widely used in crops in Mato Grosso state, was determined in hybrid fish jundiara or pintado da Amazônia. The 96 h-LC50 of GLY was 13.57 mg L−1. Moreover, exposure to sublethal concentrations of GLY (0, 0.37, 0.75, 2.25, 4.5, 7.5 mg L−1) has not altered the survival rate (100% for all treatments). In fish liver, protein carbonyl (PC) levels as well as glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity, reduced glutathione (GSH), and ascorbic acid (ASA) contents increased when compared to control group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was reduced and catalase (CAT) has not changed. PC content has grown in muscle and brain, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) levels also increased in muscle, but in the brain, they remained unaltered. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity reduced in muscle but increased in brain when compared to control group. Our results suggest that short-term exposure to GLY induced alterations in the oxidative stress biomarkers in fish and can be interfering with their survival in natural environment; besides, these findings may be considered of high ecotoxicological relevance.
Glutamic acid assisted phyto-management of silver-contaminated soils through sunflower; physiological and biochemical response
Abstract
Phytoremediation is a cost-effective and eco-friendly technique for the removal of heavy metal-contaminated soils and water. The less availability and mobility of heavy metals in medium decreased the efficiency of this technique. The mobility and availability of these metals in the medium can be enhanced by the addition of organic chelators. The present study was conducted to investigate the possibility of glutamic acid (GA) in improving silver (Ag) phytoextraction by sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Different concentrations of Ag and GA were supplied in solution form in different combinations after defined intervals. Results depicted that increasing concentration of Ag significantly reduced the plant biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant enzyme activities (like catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase). Furthermore, Ag stress increased the Ag concentration and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in sunflower plants. The addition of GA alleviated the Ag-induced toxicity in plants and enhanced Ag concentration and accumulation in sunflower. The addition of GA enhanced Ag accumulation in sunflower roots by 70, 79, 58, and 66% at 0-, 100-, 250-, and 500-μM Ag treatments, respectively, as compared to control plants. In conclusion, the results showed that Ag significantly reduced the physiological and biochemical attributes in term of reduced growth of sunflower and the addition of GA alleviated the Ag induced toxicity and enhanced Ag uptake. The results suggested that sunflower can be used as hyper-accumulator plant for the removal of Ag under GA. Further studies are required to understand the role of GA at gene and microscopic level in plants.
Substantial evidence for the rhododendrol-induced generation of hydroxyl radicals that causes melanocyte cytotoxicity and induces chemical leukoderma
It is well known that melanin is synthesized from tyrosine, one of the essential amino acids, through the catalytic action of tyrosinase and plays a pivotal role in the pigmentation of living organisms. In the skin, melanin has been shown to protect skin cells from severe sun damage, especially from ultraviolet exposure [1]. Many cosmetic companies have developed a large number of lightening/whitening cosmetics for people who psychologically suffer from their skin color, age spots and/or uneven skin pigmentation.
A retrospective study of lichen planus pigmentosus with focus on palmoplantar involvement
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, EarlyView.
Does transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation have an antipruritic effect in lichen planus? A randomized clinical trial
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, EarlyView.
Increased incidence of chronic actinic dermatitis in relation to climate changes and air pollution during the past 15 years in Korea
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology &Photomedicine, EarlyView.
Effect of ultraviolet light on mood, depressive disorders and well‐being
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology &Photomedicine, EarlyView.
Potential cutaneous carcinogenic risk of exposure to UV nail lamp: A review
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology &Photomedicine, EarlyView.
Phototype reproducibility and relation to objectively measured skin sensitivity is best when burn and tan reactivity to sun are answered separately
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology &Photomedicine, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Predisposing factors that increase trigger digit incidence in carpal tunnel syndrome patients: A national, population-based study
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and trigger digits (TD) are often coexist, and they share many risk factors including diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis 1.In addition, carpal tunnel release (CTR) can also be associated with TD. Specifically, CTR increases the entrance angle of the flexor tendons to the A1 pulleys 2. This angle increase may cause additional friction between flexor tendons and the A1 pulley, which results in TD 3. When considering treatment for CTS, patients often ask about typical postoperative course and complications.
Poromas with large lumens histopathologically mimicking syringocystadenoma papilliferum: Report of three cases
Australasian Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.
Hospital‐based phototherapy: What is the cost to our patients?
Australasian Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.
Protective effect of skin‐derived precursors on photoaging in nude mice
Australasian Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.
Fragrance exposure in the UK: has there been a change in the last decade?
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Relationship and probabilistic stratification of EASI and oSCORAD severity scores for atopic dermatitis
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Expression profile of the amino acid transporters SLC7A5, SLC7A7, SLC7A8 and the enzyme TDO2 in basal cell carcinoma
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Identification of a recurrent mutation in ATP2C1 demonstrates that papular acantholytic dyskeratosis and Hailey‐Hailey disease are allelic disorders
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Short‐term exposure of human sebocytes to 13‐cis retinoic acid induces acnegenic changes
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Epidermolysis bullosa simplex generalized severe induces a Th17 response and is improved by Apremilast treatment
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Vesicular variant of Dowling‐Degos disease
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Prospective evaluation of frequency of genital lichen sclerosus in 79 patients with systemic sclerosis
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus is uncommon in New Zealand Merkel Cell Carcinomas
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Omalizumab in chronic spontaneous urticaria patients nonresponsive to H1‐antihistamine treatment: Results of the phase IV open‐label SUNRISE study
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Validation of a short form FLQA‐LS quality of life instrument for lymphedema
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Needs and preferences of patients regarding basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma care: a qualitative focus group study
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Hydroxyurea and Acitretin as a novel combination therapy in severe plaque psoriasis
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Secukinumab in pregnancy: outcomes in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis from the global safety database
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Autosomal dominant progressive hyperpigmentation and lentigines in a Japanese pedigree due to a missense mutation near the C‐terminus of KIT
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Keratinocytes derived from late‐onset psoriasis skin do not impair Langerhans cell migration
British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Subcellular localization and stability of MITF are modulated by the bHLH‐Zip domain
Pigment Cell &Melanoma Research, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Pigmentation Abnormalities in Nucleotide Excision Repair Disorders: Evidence and Hypotheses
Pigment Cell &Melanoma Research, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Anatomical Variants Of The Paranasal Sinuses In Patients With Mid‐facial Segment Pain: Our Experience Of A Cohort Of Twenty‐Three Patients
Clinical Otolaryngology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
The history of dermatology helps to understand debates of today
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 32, Issue 7, Page 1053-1053, July 2018.
Issue Information
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 32, Issue 7, Page 1047-1052, July 2018.
Reflectance confocal microscopy: a crucial role for actinic keratosis treatment monitoring
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 32, Issue 7, Page 1055-1055, July 2018.
Pioneers in dermatology and venereology: an interview with Prof. Otto Braun‐Falco
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 32, Issue 7, Page 1056-1058, July 2018.
Biosimilars
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 32, Issue 7, Page 1054-1054, July 2018.
Forthcoming Events
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 32, Issue 7, Page 1222-1222, July 2018.
Announcement
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 32, Issue 7, Page 1223-1223, July 2018.
Patient expectations and determinants of patient satisfaction in a dermatology outpatient clinic
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
The self‐assessed psychological comorbidities of prurigo in European patients: A multi‐centre study in 13 countries
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Facial Dermatitis: Epidemiological Retrospective Study and Patch Test
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Should we be testing for urogenital Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma parvum and U. urealyticum in men and women? – a Position Statement from the European STI Guidelines Editorial Board
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Autoantibody profile and clinical patterns in 619 Italian patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Evaluation of large clinically atypical vulvar pigmentation with RCM: atypical melanosis or early melanoma?
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Allergic contact reaction to antiseptics in very young children
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Congenital syphilis as a clinical and histopathologic mimic of neonatal lupus
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Endocrine mucin‐producing sweat gland carcinoma: A study of eleven cases with molecular analysis
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Pembrolizumab‐induced sarcoidal infusion site reaction
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Tattoo‐Induced Hemangioma An exploration of the potential for vascular proliferations following tattoo‐related trauma
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Genital basal cell carcinoma, a different pathogenesis from sun‐exposed basal cell carcinoma? A case‐control study of 30 cases
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Immunohistochemical Markers in Differentiation between Basal Cell Carcinoma and Trichoepithelioma in small Biopsy Specimens
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Endocrine mucin‐producing sweat gland carcinoma: clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical and molecular analysis of eleven cases with emphasis on MYB immunoexpression
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Dermal xanthomatous infiltrates after brentuximab vedotin therapy in mycosis fungoides with large cell transformation: a novel histologic finding
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
The human IL‐17A/F heterodimer regulates psoriasis‐associated genes through IκBζ
Experimental Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Mild electrical stimulation with heat shock reduces the inflammatory symptoms in imiquimod‐induced psoriasis mouse model
Experimental Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Topical silver and gold nanoparticles complexed with Cornus Mas suppress inflammation in human plaques psoriasis by inhibiting NF‐κB activity
Experimental Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Possible Roles of Basophils in Chronic Itch
Experimental Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
The role of skin barrier in occupational contact dermatitis
Experimental Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Increased expression of IL‐33 in rosacea skin and UVB‐irradiated and LL‐37‐treated HaCaT cells
Experimental Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Control of cell death‐associated danger signals during cornification prevents autoinflammation of the skin
Experimental Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Molecular pathogenesis of cutaneous lymphomas
Experimental Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy as an Adjunct for Clinical Partial Removal of Deciduous Carious Tissue: A Minimally Invasive Approach
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Effect of Monochromatic Light on Circadian Rhythm of Clock Genes in Chick Pinealocytes
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Polymer Dots as Effective Phototheranostic Agents
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Light‐controllable Transcription System by Nucleocytoplasmic Shuttling of a Truncated Phytochrome B
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
A Bioscreening Technique for Ultraviolet Irradiation Protective Natural Substances
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Non‐mammalian Hosts and Photobiomodulation: Do All Life‐forms Respond to Light?
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
6‐Formylindolo[3,2‐b]carbazole (FICZ) is a Very Minor Photoproduct of Tryptophan at Biologically Relevant Doses of UVB and Simulated Sunlight
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Apoptosis, Paraptosis and Autophagy: Death and Survival Pathways Associated with Photodynamic Therapy
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Body Anatomical UV Protection Predicted by Shade Structures: a Modeling Study
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Evaluated UVA Irradiances over a Twelve Year Period at a Sub‐tropical Site from Ozone Monitoring Instrument Data Including the Influence of Cloud
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy as a Reliable Means of Comparing Ultraviolet Radiation‐Induced Erythema in Extreme Skin Colours
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Review on Non‐Occupational Personal Solar UV Exposure Measurements
Photochemistry and Photobiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Immunotherapy with oral administration of humanized anti‐CD3 monoclonal antibody: A novel gut‐immune system‐based therapy for metaflammation and NASH
Clinical &Experimental Immunology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Treatment effect of CDKN1A on rheumatoid arthritis by mediating proliferation and invasion of fibroblast‐like synoviocytes cells
Clinical &Experimental Immunology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Genetic contribution of suppressor of cytokine signaling polymorphisms to the susceptibility to infection after traumatic injury
Clinical &Experimental Immunology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
The microbiome in autoimmune diseases
Clinical &Experimental Immunology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Circulating serum miR‐223‐3p and miR‐16‐5p as possible biomarkers of early rheumatoid arthritis
Clinical &Experimental Immunology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Body odor aldehyde reduction by acetic acid bacterial extract including enzymes: alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Crocin, a natural molecule with potentially beneficial effects against skin aging
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Vichy Thermal Spring Water (VTSW), a cosmetic ingredient of potential interest in the frame of skin aging exposome: an in vitro study
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
In Vitro Skin Penetration of Petrolatum and Soybean Oil and Effects of Glyceryl Monooleate
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Cinnamic acid derivatives in cosmetics ‐ current use and future prospects
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Exploring pathways for sustained melanogenesis in facial melasma: an immunofluorescence study
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.
Effects of water temperature and light intensity on the acute toxicity of herbicide thiobencarb to a green alga, Raphidocelis subcapitata
Abstract
The present study investigated how principal environmental factors such as temperature and light intensity change the toxicological properties of thiobencarb (TB) herbicide to the green alga, Raphidocelis subcapitata. At first, we investigated the inhibitory effect of TB (0, 15.6, 31.2, 62.4, and 125 μg L−1) on growth of R. subcapitata at five temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 °C) for 144 h exposure and calculated 72- and 144-h effective concentration values (EC10, 20, and EC50) for growth rate. All EC values significantly decreased with an increasing temperature. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II in R. subcapitata exposed to 125 μg L−1 of TB was also significantly inhibited with increased temperature. These physiological effects could explain the lower EC values at high temperatures. Then, single and interactive effects of TB, temperature, and light intensity on growth rate were investigated by three-way of analysis of variance. As a result, single and interactive effects were detected in all explanatory variables. These results suggest that temperature and light intensity change the acute toxicity parameter in R. subcapitata exposed to TB and must be considered in evaluating the risk of TB.
Estrogen agonistic/antagonistic activity of brominated parabens
Abstract
The estrogen agonistic/antagonistic activity of 16 brominated by-products of parabens was assessed by using a yeast two-hybrid assay transfected with the human estrogen receptor α. Characterization of synthetic compounds including novel brominated parabens was performed using 1H-NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. For the agonist assay, five C3–C4 alkylparabens exhibited significant activity (P < 0.05) relative to that of 17β-estradiol, ranging from 3.7 × 10−5 to 7.1 × 10−4. In contrast, none of the brominated alkyl parabens exhibited agonistic activity. In the antagonist assay, 12 brominated alkylparabens and butylparaben exhibited significant antagonistic activity (P < 0.05). Their antagonistic activity relative to 4-hydroxytamoxifen ranged from 0.11 to 2.5. The antagonist activity of C1–C4 alkylparabens increased with the number of bromine substitutions. Benzylparaben exhibited both agonistic and antagonistic activity, and these activities dissipated or were weakened with increased bromination. Thus, increased bromination appeared to attenuate the estrogen agonistic activity of most parabens such that it resulted in increased antagonistic activity, a feature of parabens that had not been previously described.
The coupled study of metal concentrations and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of lichens ( Hypogymnia physodes ) from the Świętokrzyski National Park—environmental implications
Abstract
SO2, NOx, and metals (including Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Mg, Fe) present in airborne particulate matter are a major threat to preserving good air quality. The complicated pathways and transformation processes that can change their physical/chemical state in the atmosphere renders identifying their origin extremely difficult. With the objective of alleviating this difficulty, we identified and characterized potential local and regional sources of atmospheric pollutants using bioindicators (Hypogymnia physodes) from the Świętokrzyski National Park (SE Poland): 20 lichen samples were collected during winter (February; heating period) and summer (June; vegetative period) seasons and analyzed for metal contents and free radicals concentrations. Our results indicate that the highest gaseous pollutant levels were observed during the heating season, along roads (NO2) and at the highest elevation (SO2). The semiquinone/phenoxyl radical concentrations correlated during the heating season with the atmospheric SO2: ln (free radicals concentrations) = 0.025 SO2atmosphere + 39.11. For Mn/Fe ≥ 2, the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra presented a hyperfine splitting. Results showed that since 1994 metal concentrations increased for Cd, Mn, and Mg, Fe remained somewhat constant for Zn and Cu but slightly decreased for Pb, in agreement with the phasing out of lead in gasoline. Finally, a principal component analysis (PCA) identified two main factors controlling variability within the analyzed parameters: air pollutants transport over long distances and local fuel combustion by both transport and home heating.
Extension of Disease Risk Score-Based Confounding Adjustments for Multiple Outcomes Of Interest- An Empirical Evaluation
Abstract
Use of disease risk score (DRS)-based confounding adjustment when estimating treatment effects on multiple outcomes is not well studied. Using an empirical example comparing dabigatran versus warfarin on ischemic stroke and major bleeding risk in 12 sequential monitoring periods (90 days each) using the Truven Marketscan database, we compared two approaches for combining DRS for multiple outcomes: (1) 1:1 matching on prognostic propensity scores (PPS), created using DRS for bleeding and stroke as independent variables in a propensity score (PS) model; and (2) simultaneous 1:1 matching on DRS for bleeding and stroke using Mahalanobis (M)-distance, against traditional PS-matching. M-distance matching appeared to produce more stable results in the early marketing period compared to both PPS and traditional PS-matching; hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for unadjusted, traditional PS-matching, PPS-matching, and M-distance matching after 4 periods were 0.72 (0.51-1.03), 0.61 (0.31-1.09), 0.55 (0.33-0.91), and 0.78 (0.45-1.34) for stroke, and 0.65 (0.53-0.80), 0.78 (0.60-1.01), 0.75 (0.59-0.96), and 0.78 (0.64-0.95) for bleeding. In later periods, estimates were similar for traditional PS-matching and M-distance matching, but suggested potential residual confounding with PPS-matching. These results suggest that M-distance matching may be a valid approach for extension of DRS-based confounding adjustments for multiple outcomes of interest.Prolonged Leisure-Time Spent Sitting in Relation to Cause-specific Mortality in a Large U.S. Cohort
Abstract
The majority of leisure-time is spent in sedentary behaviors such as television viewing. Studies have documented that prolonged leisure-time sitting is associated with higher risk of total, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and "all other causes" of mortality, but few have examined the "other" causes of death in detail. To examine associations of leisure-time sitting with risk of specific causes of death, data were analyzed from the CPS-II Nutrition Cohort, a prospective U.S. cohort including 127,554 men and women who were free of major chronic disease at study entry and among whom 48,784 died during 21 years of follow-up (1993-2014; median=20.3 years, IQR=4.6 years). After multivariable adjustment, prolonged leisure-time sitting (6+ vs <3 hours/day) was associated with higher risk of all-cause, cardiovascular disease (including coronary heart disease and stroke-specific mortality), cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, suicide, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonitis due to solids and liquids, liver and other digestive disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, nervous disorders, and musculoskeletal disorders mortality. These findings provide additional evidence for associations between a broad range of mortality outcomes and prolonged sitting time. Given the pervasive nature of sitting in contemporary lifestyle, this study further supports that encouraging individuals to reduce sedentary time may provide health benefits.Groundwater nitrate contamination and associated human health risk assessment in southern districts of Punjab, India
Abstract
Consumption of high NO3 containing water may pose serious health hazard especially in children (< 5 years). The source of NO3 in groundwater includes surface leaching from wastewater and waste dump sites, animal excreta disposal, industrial effluents, and N-based fertilizers, etc. This study aimed to investigate the concentration of NO3 in groundwater of 14 intensively cultivated districts of Malwa Punjab, India, and its possible health hazards in local residents. The sampling of 76 sites revealed the concentration of NO3 in ranges of 38.45–198.05 mgL−1, and over 92% sites showed the high level of it than the safe limits as decided by the Bureau of Indian standards (45 mg L−1) and World Health Organization (50 mg L−1). The possible health hazards of high NO3 intake was estimated using USEPA human health risk assessment (HHRA) model for both adult and children. Results of this study suggested the chronic daily intake (CDI) in the ranges of 1.09–5.65 and 2.56–13.20 in adult and children population of this region, respectively. The hazard quotient (HQnitrate) value was > 1 in most sampling locations ranging 1.09–5.65 for the adult and 2.56–13.20 for children population of Malwa. This study indicates that 93.42% adult and 100% young population of the Malwa are at higher risk of chronic toxicity by excess NO3 intake. The HHRA results suggested a high vulnerability of a local community to NO3 toxicity in this region; therefore, there is an instant need to take preventive measures to safeguard the health of local residents.
Early Drug Development in the era of Immuno-Oncology: are we ready to face the challenges?
Abstract
The classical development of drugs has progressively faded away, and we are currently in an era of seamless drug-development, where first-inhuman trials include unusually big expansion cohorts in the search for early signs of activity and rapid regulatory approval. The fierce competition between different pharmaceutical companies and the hype for immune combinations obliges us to question the current way in which we are evaluating these drugs. In this review, we discuss critical issues and caveats in immunotherapy development. A particular emphasis is put on the limitations of pre-clinical toxicology studies, where both murine models and cynomolgus monkeys have underpredicted toxicity in humans. Moreover, relevant issues surrounding dose determination during phase 1 trials, such as dose-escalation methods or flat vs. body-weight dosing, are discussed. A proposal of how to face these different challenges is offered, in order to achieve maximum efficacy with minimum toxicity for our patients.Comprehensive molecular classification of localized prostate adenocarcinoma reveals a tumour subtype predictive of a non-aggressive disease
Abstract
Background
Management of localized prostate cancer is a major clinical challenge since most of these cancers won't evolve but a majority of patients will still undergo a life-changing radical surgery. Molecular studies have shown that prostate cancer can be classified according to their genomic alterations but none of the published prostate cancer molecular classifications could identify a subtype corresponding to non-evolutive tumours. Materials and methods
Multi-omics molecular profiling was performed on post-radical prostatectomy material from a cohort of 130 patients with localized prostate cancer. We used unsupervised classification techniques to build a comprehensive classification of prostate tumours based on three molecular levels: DNA copy number, DNA methylation, and mRNA expression. Merged data from our cohort and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort were used to characterize the resulting tumour subtypes. We measured subtype-associated risks of biochemical relapse using Cox regression models and survival data from five cohorts including the two aforementioned. Results
We describe three prostate cancer molecular subtypes associated with specific molecular characteristics and different clinical outcomes. Particularly, one subtype was strongly associated with the absence of biochemical recurrence. We validated this finding on 746 samples from five distinct cohorts (P = 3.41 x 10−8, N = 746 tumour samples), and showed that our subtyping approach outperformed the most popular prognostic molecular signatures to accurately identify a subset of patients with a non-evolutive disease. We provide a set of 36 transcriptomic biomarkers to robustly identify this subtype of non-evolutive cases whose prevalence was estimated to 22% of all localized prostate cancer tumours. Conclusion
At least 20% of patients with localized prostate cancer can be accurately predicted to have a non-evolutive disease on the basis of their molecular subtype. Those patients should not undergo immediate surgery and rather be placed under active surveillance.Potentials of cocoa pod husk-based compost on Phytophthora pod rot disease suppression, soil fertility, and Theobroma cacao L. growth
Abstract
Cocoa black pod disease caused by Phytophthora megakarya and reduced soil fertility are major constraints to cocoa production resulting in high yield losses. In the absence of effective control measures and constraints related to the use of chemical fungicides and fertilizers, there is a need to develop additional and sustainable disease and fertilization management strategies. With the lack of studies related to the use of compost in cocoa cultivation, the present study aims to evaluate the potential of cocoa pod husk (CPH)-based compost as a soil amendment to reduce the severity of cocoa black pod disease and enhance plant growth. In vitro antagonism test showed that compost water extracts (CWE) reduced mycelial growth with inhibition rate reaching 100% associated with microorganisms. Disease score of cocoa plantlets grown on compost-amended soils significantly reduced compared to plantlets grown on non-amended soil (control). All compost rates tested significantly increased populations of actinomycetes and fungi and biological activity in the soil. Compost application increased soil pH and majority of the essential elements but decreased Al content, which is toxic to cocoa growth in acidic soils. Soil application of compost at the dose of 20% (v/v) significantly increased stem length and number of leaves compared to the control. This study shows that CPH-based compost can not only improve soil fertility and cocoa growth but also reduce cocoa black pod disease severity by direct effects on inoculums level in the soil and by inducing resistance in the plant.
Preparation and characterization of PSF/PEI/CaCO 3 nanocomposite membranes for oil/water separation
Abstract
Ultrafiltration (UF) is one of the significant advanced processes for oily wastewater treatment due to its clear advantages, for instance, ease in operation and efficient separation. The main drawback of these processes is the fouling problem and many researchers' effort on fabrication of high-performance membranes with higher hydrophilicity and antifouling properties. In this study, flat-sheet polysulfone (PSF)/polyethylenimine (PEI)/CaCO3 nanocomposite membranes were prepared by phase inversion method for oil/water emulsion separation. Structural properties of membranes were characterized by SEM, FT-IR, contact angle, tensile strength, and atomic force microscopy analysis. Increasing the CaCO3 nanoparticle loading exhibited the increased the water flux and BSA rejection. PSF/PEI/10 wt% CaCO3 nanocomposite membranes have 145 L/m2 h water flux at 2 bar with a contact angle of 84° and with 92% BSA rejection. All prepared CaCO3 nanocomposite membranes reached similar oil rejections at above 90%. Besides the higher water flux and oil removal efficiencies, 10 wt% of CaCO3 nanoparticle-blended PSF membranes has notable antifouling capacity with the highest flux recovery ratio (FRR) and lowest flux decay ratio (DR) values. The results showed that there is a great potential to use PSF/PEI/CaCO3 nanocomposite membranes for the treatment of oil water emulsions with higher permeability and antifouling capacity.
Effects of Experimental Anthropogenic Noise Exposure on the Reproductive Success of Secondary Cavity Nesting Birds
Abstract
Artificial nest boxes are critical nesting sites for secondary cavity-nesting birds; however, they are often placed near roadways and in urban areas that experience noise pollution and other human-caused stressors. Recent correlative studies document both negative and positive influences of noise pollution on reproductive success. Additionally, observational studies have not determined which stage of the breeding process is most vulnerable to noise pollution- settlement, incubation, and/or provisioning. Here, we controlled for possible effects from non-random settlement and eliminated potential effects of roadways, such as collisions and chemical and light pollution, by experimentally introducing traffic noise into nest boxes after clutch initiation in two secondary-cavity nesting bird species. We found no evidence for an influence of noise on clutch size, brood size, number of fledglings or overall nest success in western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana). In contrast, we found that ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) nests exposed to noise had lower reproductive success than quiet nests due to higher rates of abandonment at the incubation stage. Our results match recent research demonstrating that ash-throated flycatchers avoid energy-sector noise in their nest placement and, when they do nest in noise, experience stress hormone dysregulation and fitness costs. The lack of a response among western bluebirds differs from reported declines in reproductive success due to exposure to energy-sector noise; however, the absence of a response matches the response seen in other species using an in-box noise playback experiment. These results suggest that in-box noise exposure experiments may be appropriate for assessing noise impacts at the nest, and through some pathways (e.g., direct effects of noise on nestlings), but do not capture other ways in which noise can negatively affect birds during the breeding season that may ultimately cause declines in fitness. Additionally, although manipulative experiments that examine the influence of a single anthropogenic stressor on a single life stage can help reveal causal pathways, urban and other human-dominated environments are characterized by many stressors and future studies should seek to understand how noise interacts with other stressors to impact birds and other wildlife. Finally, in light of mounting evidence demonstrating declines in reproductive success due to noise, our results suggest that nest box placement near roads may be counterproductive to efforts to bolster population densities of some species.Effects of the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes on nonshivering thermogenesis in a wild derived rodent
Abstract
A key adaptation of mammals to their environment is their ability to maintain a constant high body temperature, even at rest, under a wide range of ambient temperatures. In cold climates, this is achieved by an adaptive production of endogenous heat, known as nonshivering thermogenesis (NST), in the brown adipose tissue (BAT). This organ, unique to mammals, contains a very high density of mitochondria, and BAT correct functioning relies on the correct functioning of its mitochondria. Mitochondria enclose proteins encoded both in the maternally inherited mitochondrial genome and in the biparentally inherited nuclear genome, and one overlooked hypothesis is that both genomes and their interaction may shape NST. By housing under standardised conditions wild-derived common voles (Microtus arvalis) from two distinct evolutionary lineages (Western and Central), we show that Western voles had greater NST than Central voles. By introgressing those two lineages over at least 9 generations, we then experimentally tested the influence of the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes on NST and related phenotypic traits. We found that between-lineage variation in NST and BAT size were significantly influenced by the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, respectively, with the Western mitochondrial genotype being associated with higher NST and the Western nuclear genotype with a larger BAT. There were significant mito-nuclear interactions on whole animal body weight and resting metabolic rate. Hybrid voles were lighter and had higher resting metabolic rate. Overall, our findings turn new light on the influence of the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes on thermogenesis and building adaptation to the environment in mammals.Mitochondrial dysfunction and infection generate immunity-fecundity tradeoffs in Drosophila
Abstract
Physiological responses to short-term environmental stressors, such as infection, can have long-term consequences for fitness, particularly if the responses are inappropriate or nutrient resources are limited. Genetic variation affecting energy acquisition, storage, and usage can limit cellular energy availability and may influence resource-allocation tradeoffs even when environmental nutrients are plentiful. Here, we utilized Drosophila mitochondrial-nuclear genotypes to test whether disrupted mitochondrial function interferes with nutrient-sensing pathways, and whether this disruption has consequences for tradeoffs between immunity and fecundity. We found that an energetically-compromised genotype was relatively resistant to rapamycin – a drug that targets nutrient-sensing pathways and mimics resource limitation. Dietary resource limitation decreased survival of energetically-compromised flies. Furthermore, survival of infection with a natural pathogen was decreased in this genotype, and females of this genotype experienced immunity-fecundity tradeoffs that were not evident in genotypic controls with normal energy metabolism. Together, these results suggest that this genotype may have little excess energetic capacity and fewer cellular nutrients, even when environmental nutrients are not limiting. Genetic variation in energy metabolism may therefore act to limit the resources available for allocation to life-history traits in ways that generate tradeoffs even when environmental resources are not limiting.Toward an Ethics of AI Assistants: an Initial Framework
Abstract
Personal AI assistants are now nearly ubiquitous. Every leading smartphone operating system comes with a personal AI assistant that promises to help you with basic cognitive tasks: searching, planning, messaging, scheduling and so on. Usage of such devices is effectively a form of algorithmic outsourcing: getting a smart algorithm to do something on your behalf. Many have expressed concerns about this algorithmic outsourcing. They claim that it is dehumanising, leads to cognitive degeneration, and robs us of our freedom and autonomy. Some people have a more subtle view, arguing that it is problematic in those cases where its use may degrade important interpersonal virtues. In this article, I assess these objections to the use of AI assistants. I will argue that the ethics of their use is complex. There are no quick fixes or knockdown objections to the practice, but there are some legitimate concerns. By carefully analysing and evaluating the objections that have been lodged to date, we can begin to articulate an ethics of personal AI use that navigates those concerns. In the process, we can locate some paradoxes in our thinking about outsourcing and technological dependence, and we can think more clearly about what it means to live a good life in the age of smart machines.
Factors associated with quality of life in facial melasma: a cross‐sectional study
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, EarlyView.
Achieving low concentrations of chromium in drinking water by nanofiltration: membrane performance and selection
Abstract
This study evaluates nanofiltration as a feasible process to reach low concentrations of chromium in drinking water and provides means for the selection of the most suitable membrane based on the specific treatment needs. Chromium removal is concerning since new stringent limits (10 μg/L) for hexavalent Cr concentration in potable water were recently adopted in various countries. Three commercial nanofiltration membranes were tested against this threshold value: two membranes made of semi-aromatic polyamide and the third having a sulfonated polyethersulfone asymmetric film as the selective layer. The rejection observed as a function of chemical composition in the feed solution suggests that electrostatic effect is an important mechanism of chromium(VI) removal for the membranes with higher surface charge and lower film density. The performance of such membranes is strongly affected by the presence of salts, especially divalent cations, which reduce both Cr(VI) rejection and the permeate flux. The removal of Cr(VI) by denser membranes is dominated by solution-diffusion and is not influenced by feed ionic strength. The exposure of membranes to high chromium concentrations and to hypochlorite, typically employed as an oxidizing agent in water treatment plants, was also investigated. An analysis of the operational membrane life is thus discussed, based on the loss in performance due to active film degradation. All three membranes showed adequate rejection of chromium from tap and well water of diverse chemical composition, suggesting that nanofiltration is an effective process to remove chromium for the production of safe drinking water. However, membranes with different properties should be adopted depending on specific feed water composition and on the productivity required from the system. A final analysis is presented to help with the choice of the most suitable nanofiltration membrane based on initial and target Cr(VI) concentration in feed and product water, respectively.
Coupling and decoupling effects of agricultural carbon emissions in China and their driving factors
Abstract
The relationship between agricultural carbon emissions and agricultural economic growth has attracted a significant research attention. A key issue to address in the development of agriculture is the reduction of agricultural carbon emissions while maintaining agricultural economic growth. This study investigated the interactions between agricultural carbon emissions and agricultural economic growth from multiple perspectives based on agricultural carbon emission data from 30 provinces in China measured from 1997 to 2015. Using this dataset, the coupling and decoupling effects of agricultural carbon emissions and the underlying driving factors were explored using a coupling development degree model, the Tapio decoupling assessment model, and a logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) decomposition model. The results were as follows: (1) at the regional scale, the degree of coupling development between agricultural carbon emissions and agricultural economic growth is high in the central region of China and low in the western region. At the provincial scale, the coupling effects of agricultural carbon emissions exhibited four levels: minimal, low, moderate, and high coupling. (2) With the exceptions of Beijing, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Inner Mongolia, and Shanghai, the relationships between agricultural carbon emissions and agricultural economic growth in the other 24 provinces were in a weak decoupling state. (3) The effects of agricultural development scale and agricultural technical progress were the major driving factors associated with increases and decreases in agricultural carbon emissions, respectively.
Combined effects of co-exposure to formaldehyde and acrolein mixtures on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in vitro
Abstract
FA (formaldehyde) and ACR (acrolein) are common pollutants in environment, which often occur together in air. So, adverse health effects may not only result from their individual toxicity but also from the combined toxicity. While often studied alone, combination effects of these pollutants are inconclusive. Here, we examined the combined cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of FA and ACR on A549 cells based on CCK-8 assay, comet assay, and cytokinesis-block micronuclei assay. FA and ACR mixtures showed significant cytotoxicity and genotoxicity even at NOECs (no observed effect concentrations). Moreover, FA and ACR administrated jointly at doses from NOECs to sub-cytotoxic concentrations demonstrated significant interactions in cytotoxicity, DNA strand breaks, and chromosome damage. Co-exposure to FA and ACR significantly showed a lower responses on DNA strand break and chromosome damage than those expected for additivity, while an opposite result was obtained on cytotoxicity. Taken together, these results indicated that there was significant interactions on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity for FA and ACR, and prolonged exposure to mixtures of FA and ACR below sub-cytotoxic concentrations can produce a serious threat in human's health.
Decoupling effect and forecasting of economic growth and energy structure under the peak constraint of carbon emissions in China
Abstract
The decoupling effect between economic growth and energy structure was quantitatively analyzed from 1999 to 2014 across China. The results showed it existed weak decoupling effects in most regions. Based on the analysis of the influence of energy structure on carbon intensity, using scenario simulation methods and Markov chain modeling, the carbon intensity was predicted for China in 2020. The impact of energy structure adjustment on the carbon intensity to meet China's carbon target by 18 possible scenarios are calculated. Furthermore, the peak value of carbon emissions was also calculated in 2030. The results showed that the carbon intensity predicted for China in 2020 can be achieved regardless of whether the energy structure was adjusted or not when energy saving and carbon reduction policies maintained with economic growth at 6–7%. Moreover, given fixed energy structure growth, for each 1% of economic growth, the carbon intensity will decrease by about 3.5%. Given fixed economic growth, the decrease of energy intensity will be greater if the control of energy consumption is stronger. The effect of energy structure adjustment on the decreasing of carbon intensity will be 4% higher under constraints than without constraints. On average, the contribution of energy structure adjustment to achieving the carbon intensity target was calculated as 4% higher than that with constraints. In addition, given relatively fixed economic growth at 6–7%, the peak value of carbon emission in 2030 was calculated as 13.209 billion tons with constraints and 14.38 billion tons without constraints.
Cyanobacterial removal by a red soil-based flocculant and its effect on zooplankton: an experiment with deep enclosures in a tropical reservoir in China
Abstract
As one kind of cheap, environmentally-friendly and efficient treatment materials for direct control of cyanobacterial blooms, modified clays have been widely concerned. The present study evaluated cyanobaterial removal by a red soil-based flocculant (RSBF) with a large enclosure experiment in a tropical mesotrophic reservoir, in which phytoplankton community was dominated by Microcystis spp. and Anabaena spp. The flocculant was composed of red soil, chitosan and FeCl3. Twelve enclosures were used in the experiment: three replicates for each of one control and three treatments RSBF15 (15 mg FeCl3 l−1), RSBF25 (25 mg FeCl3 l−1), and RSBF35 (35 mg FeCl3 l−1). The results showed that the red soil-based flocculant can significantly remove cyanobacterial biomass and reduce concentrations of nutrients including total nitrogen, nitrate, ammonia, total phosphorus, and orthophosphate. Biomass of Microcystis spp. and Anabaena spp. was reduced more efficiently (95%) than other filamentous cyanobacteria (50%). In the RSBF15 treatment, phytoplankton biomass recovered to the level of the control group after 12 days and cyanobacteria quickly dominated. Phytoplankton biomass in the RSBF25 treatment also recovered after 12 days, but green algae co-dominated with cyanobacteria. A much later recovery of phytoplankton until the day of 28 was observed under RSBF35 treatment, and cyanobacteria did no longer dominate the phytoplankton community. The application of red soil-based flocculant greatly reduces zooplankton, especially rotifers, however, Copepods and Cladocera recovered fast. Generally, the red soil-based flocculant can be effective for urgent treatments at local scales in cyanobacteria dominating systems.
Effect of pressure and temperature on anaerobic methanotrophic activities of a highly enriched ANME-2a community
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of temperature and methane partial pressure on the anaerobic methane-oxidizing and sulfate-reducing (AOM-SR) activities by a highly enriched ANME-2a community. The ANME-2a-enriched biomass was incubated at different pressures, i.e., 2, 10, 20, and 30 MPa at 15 °C for 80 days. The response of the microbial community with temperature was investigated in incubations at 4, 15, and 25 °C at 10 MPa. Among all tested conditions, the incubation at 10 MPa pressure and 15 °C showed the highest AOM-SR activity of the studied ANME-2a phylotype, whereas activity at 2 MPa pressure and 15 °C was almost comparative to the response at 10 MPa pressure. The finding of the most favorable conditions for AOM-SR activity by the studied AOM-SR community comparable to the in situ pressure and temperature (15 °C at 10 MPa) suggests that the studied ANME-2a phylotype was well adapted to the conditions similar to its origin. The microbial community analysis showed that the bacterial community composition shifted upon changing the incubation temperature and pressure.
The impact of kraft pulping effluent on egg survival and hatching success in two species of Clupeiformes (Teleostei)
Abstract
The anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) and sardine (Strangomera bentincki) are coastal pelagic species with important spawning areas off the coast of Chile. The discharge of secondary-treated effluents from a kraft pulp plant near one of these spawning areas has raised environmental concerns. Therefore, effluent effects on the development of anchoveta and sardine eggs were assessed by in vitro exposure. Eggs were sampled between 2007 and 2010 off Talcahuano, Chile. Subsequent toxicity tests (96 h duration, 12 °C) were performed using increasing effluent concentrations, a filtered seawater control, and two potassium dichromate concentrations (to verify consistent embryonic sensitivity). Egg mortality and hatching success were evaluated. For anchoveta, mortality (9.9 ± 7.1%) did not significantly differ among groups in five toxicity tests except the final toxicity test that showed significant differences in mortality (5.6% control vs 27.8% in 100% effluent). For sardines, no differences in mortality existed between the effluent dilutions (2.6 ± 3.6%) and control (6.3 ± 3.9%). Notably, anchoveta egg survival and hatching success rates were inconsistent, i.e., the highest rates of hatching failure occurred on the same sampling date with the highest rates of survival for the 100% effluent group (72%). In conclusion, the obtained results indicate that (i) anchoveta egg mortality and hatching failure increase only under 100% effluent exposure, coinciding with decreased egg quality near the end of spawning season and (ii) high effluent dilutions not significantly increase sardine and anchoveta egg mortalities. Nevertheless, the recorded adverse effects to the hatching process should be studied in greater detail, particularly considering interspecific variability and the complexity of reproductive processes, especially during early development.
Treatment of keloid scars with intralesional triamcinolone and 5-fluorouracil injections – a randomized controlled trial
Publication date: Available online 25 June 2018
Source:Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
Author(s): KE Hietanen, TA Järvinen, H Huhtala, TT Tolonen, HO Kuokkanen, IS Kaartinen
Keloids have high recurrence rates. Current first-line therapy is triamcinolone (TAC) injection, but it has been suggested that approximately 50% of keloids are steroid -resistant. We compared the efficacy of intralesional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and triamcinalone injections in a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Forty-three patients with 50 keloid scars were treated with either intralesional TAC or 5-FU-injections over 6 months.There was no statistically significant difference in the remission rate at 6 months between the 5-FU and TAC groups (46% vs 60%, respectively). Local adverse effects were higher in the TAC group compared to the 5-FU group. Occurrence of skin atrophy in TAC group was 44% and in the 5-FU group 8% (p<0.05). Also the occurrence of telangiectasia in the TAC group was 50% and in the 5-FU 21% (p<0.05). Vascularity of the keloids, assessed by spectral imaging and immunohistochemical staining for blood vessels before and after treatment decreased in the TAC group, but not in the 5-FU group (p<0.05). Fibroblast proliferation evaluated by Ki-67 staining decreased in the TAC group (p<0.05) but increased in the 5-FU group (p<0.05).TAC and 5-FU injections did not differ in their clinical effectivity in this randomized study, but 5-FU injections lead to increased proliferation rate and did not affect vascular density in histological assessment. Due to the greater number of adverse effects observed after TAC treatment, 5-FU injections may be preferable for cosmetically sensitive skin areas.
Abnormal soft palate movements in patients with microtia
Publication date: Available online 25 June 2018
Source:Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
Author(s): M.N. Kolodzynski, BTJA van Hoorn, M. Kon, C.C. Breugem
IntroductionMicrotia is a congenital malformation of the auricle, ranging in severity. It can be isolated or associated with (craniofacial) anomalies. Most of these anomalies together are described as being part of the oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS). Velar abnormalities have been described to occur in patients with OAVS, however the incidence in patients with microtia without OAVS is largely unknown. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of velar palsy in patients with isolated microtia, and in patients with microtia and signs of OAVS. The secondary purpose was to identify possible risk factors associated with the presence of velar palsy.MethodsAll patients with microtia presented to our department between January 2015 and March 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Medical images, information of the palate and demographics were subtracted from the patients' medical files.ResultsVelar palsy was present in 18 out of 42 patients with isolated microtia (43%; no signs of OAVS), and in 33 out of 41 patients with microtia and signs of OAVS (80%). Patients with signs of OAVS were found to be independently associated with a higher prevalence of velar palsy (OR: 4.8; 95% CI: 1.7 to 13).ConclusionThis study demonstrates a clear relationship of abnormal velar movement and microtia. We believe that isolated microtia should not be seen as a separate entity but as a part of OAVS. Abnormal velar movement can lead to velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), which can affect children's speech development. Physicians should exam the palate in all microtia patients, not only those with speech difficulties.
Volume change in the rectus abdominis muscle after deep inferior epigastric perforator flap harvest
Publication date: Available online 25 June 2018
Source:Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
Author(s): Hyun Ho Han, Min Kyu Kang, Sin Young Song, Hyung Chul Lee, Eun Key Kim, Jin Sup Eom
Deep inferior epigastric perforator flap has less donor site morbidity than that of transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. However, abdominal muscle atrophy and donor site complications caused by denervation during pedicle dissection cannot be avoided. This retrospective study investigated the change in rectus abdominis muscle volume after deep inferior epigastric perforator flap harvest. Of 395 patients who underwent unilateral deep inferior epigastric perforator flap breast reconstruction between August 2007 and July 2017, 25 patients with >2-year postoperative abdominal computed tomography data were evaluated. Preoperative and postoperative images of the abdominal muscle after pedicle dissection and of the nonoperated side were compared. The volume of the muscles from the lower margin to the umbilicus was determined by using OsiriX image analysis. The volume on the side of pedicle dissection decreased from 72.63 ± 23.29 cm3 preoperatively to 53.09 ± 16.93 cm3 postoperatively(p < 0.001). The corresponding volumes on the side without dissection were 73.29 ± 19.25 cm3 and 60.89 ± 18.79 cm3 (p < 0.001). The percentage of postoperatively retained volume relative to the preoperative volume was 75.65% ± 19.18% on the pedicle dissection side and 84.65% ± 19.00% on the contralateral side. The 9% difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.10). No major abdominal complications were observed. Despite nerve injury during deep inferior epigastric perforator flap surgery, the volume loss of the involved and contralateral muscle did not differ. More than 75% of the abdominal muscle volume was retained. Muscle integrity was well maintained without any postoperative complications.
Comparing Transversus Abdominus Release and Anterior Component Separation Techniques in Reconstructing Midline Hernias – A Cadaveric Study
Publication date: Available online 25 June 2018
Source:Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
Author(s): Charles Yuen Yung Loh, Metin Nizamoglu, R Raja Shanmugakrishnan, Alethea Tan, Cecilia Brassett, Bryony Lovett, Makarand Tare, Naguib El-Muttardi
Exploration of intrinsic brain activity in migraine with and without comorbid depression
Major depressive disorder is a common comorbidity in migraineurs. Depression may affect the progression and prognosis of migraine. Few studies have examined the brain function in migraineurs that may cause thi...
Upper cervical two-point discrimination thresholds in migraine patients and headache-free controls
Chronic pain including migraine is associated with structural and functional changes in the somatosensory cortex. Previous reports proposed two-point discrimination (TPD) as a measurement for cortical alterati...
Abnormal brain white matter in patients with right trigeminal neuralgia: a diffusion tensor imaging study
Idiopathic or classical trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic painful condition characterized by intermittent pain attacks. Enough evidence demonstrates classical TN is related to neurovascular compression (N...
OnabotulinumtoxinA in the treatment of refractory chronic cluster headache
Cluster headache (CH) is a clinically well-defined primary headache disorder, approximately 20% of cluster headache sufferers experience recurrent attacks without periods of significant remission. For the trea...
Effects of sildenafil and calcitonin gene-related peptide on brainstem glutamate levels: a pharmacological proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study at 3.0 T
Studies involving human pharmacological migraine models have predominantly focused on the vasoactive effects of headache-inducing drugs, including sildenafil and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). However...
Itching at night: A review on reducing nocturnal pruritus in children
Pediatric Dermatology, EarlyView.
Quantifying Direct DNA Damage in the Basal Layer of Skin Exposed to UV Radiation from Sunbeds
Photochemistry and Photobiology, EarlyView.
Composite cutaneous lymphoma of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma‐leg type and subcutaneous panniculitis‐like T‐cell lymphoma
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, EarlyView.
The assessment of changes to the nontuberculous mycobacterial metabolome in response to anti-TB drugs
Abstract
Mycobacterium species can cause a range of nontuberculous infections of healthy and immunocompromised people as well as infect people during and after surgical procedures. The similarity of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) to the tuberculosis bacilli (TB) could ultimately enable the use of anti-TB drugs for the genus. Hence, three NTM (M. smegmatis, M. phlei and M. avium) were cultured under different lab conditions, causing two mycobacterial phenotypes (active and dormant), and treated with isoniazid (INH) and ethambutol (EMB) independently or in combination. Metabolite profiling was applied to facilitate the investigation and characterisation of intracellular targets affected by the antibiotics. Aliquots of the cell culture were taken over the treatment period and the metabolite profile of the cells analysed by GC/MS. Comparative analysis of the metabolite levels to untreated mycobacteria confirmed the successful action of the antibiotics on the metabolism of all three species. Furthermore, single metabolites and metabolite pathways affected by the antibiotics could be identified and included, besides the known target sites for INH and EMB on mycobacterial cells, changes in e.g. nucleotide and saccharide levels. The combined treatment highlighted the property of EMB to enhance the effects of INH even under hypoxic culture conditions.Effect of gpd box copy numbers in the gpdA promoter of Aspergillus nidulans on its transcription efficiency in A. niger
Abstract
In this study, we characterised PgpdA, PgpdA2B, PgpdA3B, and PgpdA4B promoters, containing 1–4 copies of gpd box by modifying the gpdA promoter, and constructed pSZHGX-xynB expression vectors, which were introduced into Aspergillus niger CICC2462 through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Thus, An (PgpdA-xynB), An (PgpdA2B-xynB), An (PgpdA3B-xynB), and An (PgpdA4B-xynB) homozygous recombinant strains were obtained. The xylanase activity of homozygous recombinant strains was measured. The enzymatic activities of An (PgpdA-xynB), An (PgpdA2B-xynB), An (PgpdA3B-xynB), and An (PgpdA4B-xynB) peaked on the 7th day of fermentation, at 1578.67, 2333.88, 3588.38, and 3183.51 U·mL−1, respectively. SDS-PAGE and qRT-PCR analysis indicated that An (PgpdA3B-xynB), containing three copies of gpd box demonstrated the highest levels of protein expression and transcription. These results suggested that the PgpdA3B promoter promotes highly efficient transcription and may serve as a strong constitutive promoter for efficient recombinant protein expression. Additionally, a number of constitutive promoters with various transcription efficiencies were identified for the metabolic engineering of A. niger. Accordingly, this study provides a new approach for obtaining promoters with different transcription efficiencies.Environmentally friendly remediation of lead/cadmium co-contaminated loess soil in northwestern China using a humificated straw solution
Abstract
The remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils is a great challenge and an important issue for global environmental sciences and engineering. Soil washing technology is popularly used for soil remediation, but there are issues that must be solved. These include selecting an environmentally friendly washing solution and preventing damage to the soil during the washing process. The aim of the present work is to reveal the effects of operational conditions on soil remediation contaminated by lead/cadmium, and the effects on soil physicochemical properties caused by the washing reaction. A loess soil sample was collected from northwestern China, and a humificated straw solution was used as the washing solution. The remediation efficiency was investigated using a small-scale experimental device. The remediation efficiency could be improved by optimizing the operational conditions, and we found that the Elovich equation fits better the reaction process compared to the double-constant equation and the first-order kinetics equation. The washing rate of cadmium was slightly faster than that of lead. Compared to the topsoil in the column, the concentration of lead/cadmium was higher in the bottom soil, and the content of lead/cadmium in the inner layer soil was lower than that in the outer layer soil. The washing process had little influence on the surface characteristics and functional groups of soil. The humificated straw solution could be used effectively to remove lead/cadmium and preserve nutrients in loess soil.
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Publication date: Available online 25 July 2018 Source: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology Author(s): Marco Ballestr...
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Editorial AJR Reviewers: Heartfelt Thanks From the Editors and Staff Thomas H. Berquist 1 Share + Affiliation: Citation: American Journal...
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Publication date: Available online 28 September 2017 Source: Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas Author(s): F.J. Navarro-Triviño
