ALBERT

Description: Mild anxieties, nervousness, and restlessness are common in the general population and are commonly treated by complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies. A prospective, nonrandomized, noninterventional, observational study, using conventional or CAM practices, was conducted in 49 German practices. Each practice could include up to 15 subjects treated with either the homeopathic preparation Neurexan®or with combination formulations based on valerian extracts. There was no placebo group. Choice and doses of study therapies were at the respective physician's discretion. The planned treatment duration was 2 weeks. A total of 826 subjects were included in the study and 777 (553 Neurexan and 224 valerian) subjects were available for the final examination. Subjects receiving Neurexan tended to weigh less, to have fewer concomitant illnesses and slightly milder severity of nervousness/restlessness, and were likelier to be female than the subjects receiving valerian therapies. The summary score for nervousness/restlessness was reduced from 19.0 ± 6.1 at baseline to 7.4 ± 6.8 at the end of the observation period in the Neurexan group, a reduction of 11.5 ± 7.3 score units. In the valerian group, the summary score was reduced from 21.4 ± 6.0 to 12.6 ± 7.3, a reduction of 9.0 ± 6.6 score units. The changes from baseline and the differences between the groups were statistically significant. Similar significant differences in effects were seen on the subscores and on the subjects' assessments of effectiveness. Both study therapies were well tolerated. Neurexan appears to be an effective and well-tolerated alternative to valerian-based combination therapies for the treatment of nervousness/restlessness in subjects favorable towards a CAM-based therapy.

Description: Hair is composed of proteins, lipids, water, and small amounts of trace elements. All proteins in animal and human bodies are built from permutations of amino acid molecules in a polypeptide string. The polypeptide chains of protein keratin are organized into filaments in hair cells. Hair is one of the most difficult proteins to digest or solubilize. Among the most common dissolving procedures for hair are acidic, alkaline, and enzymatic hydrolysis. For the analysis of hair, the solid samples are transferred by solubilization via digestion into a liquid phase. Small molecular solvents and molecules with hydrophobic groups appear to have higher affinity for hair. A good solvent attacks the disulfide bonds between cystine molecules and hydrates the hair shaft. Consequently, the hair becomes a jelly-like mass.

Description: Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a 41-amino-acid neuropeptide involved in stress responses initiated from several brain areas, including the amygdala formation. Research shows a strong relationship between stress, brain CRF, and excessive alcohol consumption. Behavioral studies suggest that the central amygdala (CeA) is significantly involved in alcohol reward and dependence. We recently reported that the ethanol augmentation of GABAergic synaptic transmission in rat CeA involves CRF1 receptors, because both CRF and ethanol significantly enhanced the amplitude of evoked GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in CeA neurons from wild-type (WT) and CRF2 knockout (KO) mice, but not in neurons of CRF1KO mice. The present study extends these findings using selective CRF receptor ligands, gene KO models, and miniature IPSC (mIPSC) analysis to assess further a presynaptic role for the CRF receptors in mediating ethanol effects in the CeA. In whole-cell patch recordings of pharmacologically isolated GABAAergic IPSCs from slices of mouse CeA, both CRF and ethanol augmented evoked IPSCs in a concentration-dependent manner, with low EC50s. A CRF1(but not CRF2) KO construct and the CRF1-selective nonpeptide antagonist NIH-3 (LWH-63) blocked the augmenting effect of both CRF and ethanol on evoked IPSCs. Furthermore, the new selective CRF1agonist stressin1, but not the CRF2agonist urocortin 3, also increased evoked IPSC amplitudes. Both CRF and ethanol decreased paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) of evoked IPSCs and significantly enhanced the frequency, but not the amplitude, of spontaneous miniature GABAergic mIPSCs in CeA neurons of WT mice, suggesting a presynaptic site of action. The PPF effect of ethanol was abolished in CeA neurons of CRF1KO mice. The CRF1antagonist NIH-3 blocked the CRF- and ethanol-induced enhancement of mIPSC frequency in CeA neurons. These data indicate that presynaptic CRF1receptors play a critical role in permitting or mediating ethanol enhancement of GABAergic synaptic transmission in CeA, via increased vesicular GABA release, and thus may be a rational target for the treatment of alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Description: This study focuses on the analysis of the Landsat-5 TM + SPOT-Pan (1992), IRS-1C/D LISS + Pan (2000), and Landsat-5 TM (2006) satellite images that reflect the drastic land use/land cover changes in the Küçükçekmece Lake region, Istanbul. Landsat-5 TM satellite data dated 2006 was used for mapping water quality. A multiple regression analysis was carried out between the unitless planetary reflectance values derived from the satellite image andin situwater quality parameters chlorophyll a, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, turbidity, and biological and chemical oxygen demand measured at a number of stations homogenously distributed over the lake surface. The results of this study provided valuable information to local administrators on the water quality of Küçükçekmece Lake, which is a large water resource of the Istanbul Metropolitan Area. Results also show that such a methodology structured by use of reflectance values provided from satellite imagery,in situwater quality measurements, and basin land use/land cover characteristics obtained from images can serve as a powerful and rapid monitoring tool for the drinking water basins that suffer from rapid urbanization and pollution, all around the world.

Description: Approaching epidemic levels, diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is now the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Microalbuminuria is an early clinical marker of DKD that results from damage to the glomerular filtration barrier at the level of the highly differentiated glomerular podocyte cells. Injury to these epithelial cells, podocytopathies, includes cellular hypertrophy, foot process effacement, detachment from the glomerular basement membrane, and apoptosis. Here we review the role of a number of recently identified factors that contribute to podocytopathies in DKD. These factors include members of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), including angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) types 1 and 2, prorenin and its receptor, reactive oxygen species (ROS), prostanoids, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR), advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and their receptors (RAGE), adiponectin, and microRNAs. As the number of therapeutic options that slow, but do not halt, the progression of DKD to ESRD remains limited, a more comprehensive understanding of the signaling events that contribute to this increasingly prevalent disease may identify novel avenues for treatment and prevention.

Description: Rotavirus is a nonenveloped, double-stranded, RNA virus belonging to the Reoviridae family and is the major etiological agent of viral gastroenteritis in young children and young animals. Remarkable progress in the understanding of the rotavirus cycle has been made in the last 10 years. The knowledge of viral replication thus far acquired is based on structural studies, the expression and coexpression of individual viral proteins, silencing of individual genes by siRNAs, and the effects that these manipulations have on the physiology of the infected cell. The functions of the individual rotavirus proteins have been largely dissected; however, the interactions between them and with cell proteins, and the molecular mechanisms of virus replication, are just beginning to be understood. These advancements represent the basis for the development of effective vaccination and rational therapeutic strategies to combat rotavirus infection and diarrhea syndromes. In this paper, we review and try to integrate the new knowledge about rotavirus entry, replication, and assembly, and pose some of the questions that remain to be solved.

Description: Bilateral hydronephrosis secondary to urinary obstruction leads to a buildup of back pressure in the urinary tract and may lead to impairment of renal function. We present a case of a 57-year-old male with a history of alcoholic liver cirrhosis, who presented with tense ascites and acute renal failure. Bilateral hydronephrosis was seen on abdominal ultrasound. Multiple large-volume paracenteses resulted in resolution of hydronephrosis and prompt improvement in renal function.

Description: Postoperative and postdischarge nausea and vomiting (PONV and PDNV, respectively) add morbidity to perioperative outcomes. Combining some antiemetic agents of different mechanisms is more effective than using single agents, although this concept has not yet been tested extensively with aprepitant. Consecutive high-risk patients for PONV (n = 100) were given preoperative aprepitant 40 mg before surgery and were followed perioperatively. Female patients receiving general anesthesia (n = 81) were selected for data analysis. The primary endpoints were PONV/PDNV in the 48 h after surgery. For patients included in the data analysis, using Apfel PONV risk factors, the median risk count was four out of four. PONV and PDNV incidences were 21% (95% CI: 14-31%) and 37% (95% CI: 27-48%), respectively. Two patients experienced PACU (postanesthesia care unit) vomiting and two patients experienced emesis postdischarge. When using regression modeling and comparing patients who received one or two vs. three or four mechanistically unique antiemetics (added to preoperative aprepitant), while adjusting for surgical case duration, the three or four additional antiemetic group showed more PONV/PDNV (Odds Ratio 3.73, 95% CI 1.3-10.9,p= 0.016) than did the one or two additional drug group. There were no other predictors of PONV/PDNV (transabdominal surgery, four vs. three Apfel risk factors) in these patients. The low incidence of vomiting (2-5%) suggests the potential importance of aprepitant in a multimodal antiemetic regimen. However, there may be the potential that too many unique antiemetic mechanisms combined with preoperative aprepitant may actually increase the incidence of perioperative nausea.

Description: Over the last 3 decades since the first AIDS cases appeared, we have witnessed great progress in therapeutic methodologies that have transformed the evolution of the disease from debilitating and fatal, into chronic and controllable. HIV-infected children are arriving at adolescence and bringing specific challenges, not only to themselves, but also to their families and caregivers. This retrospective study sets forth epidemiological and treatment characteristics of 46 HIV-infected adolescents followed in a specialized university service relating said characteristics to therapy adherence assessed through a combination of three indirect methods. Therapy adherence did not reveal any association with either epidemiologic characteristics regarding age, sex, school level, household composition, age at diagnosis, mode of infection, knowledge of diagnosis, treatment time, or initial antiretroviral scheme. Patients with good therapy adherence presented lower viral load and used a smaller number of antiretroviral schemes.

Description: The clinical course of patients with sickle cell anemia, a Mendelian trait, is characteristically highly variable. HbF concentration and the presence of a thalassemia are established modulators of the disease, but cannot account for all of its clinical heterogeneity. To find additional genetic modulators of disease, genotype-phenotype association studies, where single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes are linked with a particular phenotype, have been informative. SNPs in several genes of the TGF-ß/MP superfamily, and some other genes linked to the endothelial function, and nitric oxide biology are associated with the subphenotypes of stroke, osteonecrosis, priapism, leg ulcers, pulmonary hypertension, and a more general measure of overall disease severity. Genome-wide association studies should help to confirm these observations and also to find hitherto unsuspected genetic modulators. Genetic association studies can have immediate prognostic value; they might also help to identify new pathophysiological pathways that could be susceptible to modulation.

Description: While it is well established that stroke and cerebral hypoperfusion are risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), the molecular link between ischemia/hypoxia and amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing has only been recently established. Here we review the role of the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the mitochondrial electron chain in response to hypoxia, providing evidence that hypoxia fosters the amyloidogenic APP processing through a biphasic mechanism that up-regulates β-secretase activity, which involves an early release of ROS and an activation of HIF-1α.

Description: The Minimum Information About a Microarray Experiment (known as MIAME) guidelines describe information that needs to be provided to enable the interpretation of the results of a microarray-based experiment unambiguously. The MIAME guidelines were developed by the Microarray Gene Expression Data (MGED) Society. Since the MIAME position paper was published in 2001, it has been cited in the scientific literature well over a thousand times. MIAME has been replicated for many other technologies, the major data repositories are supporting MIAME, and most scientific journals have adopted MIAME guidelines as a requirement for publishing. With the advent of new-generation sequencing technology, MIAME faces new challenges. To address this, the MGED Society has proposed new guidelines, i.e., Minimum Information about a high-throughput SeQuencing Experiment (MINSEQE). Here we present analysis of the reasons for the success of MIAME, as well as discuss where it has failed, and the challenges it faces.

Description: Arthritic pathologies are a major cause of morbidity within the western world, with rheumatoid arthritis affecting approximately 1% of adults. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of naturally occurring hormones and their peptides, in both arthritic models of disease and patients. The arthritides represent a group of closely related pathologies in which cytokines, joint destruction, and leukocytes play a causal role. Here we discuss the role of naturally occurring pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived melanocortin peptides (e.g., alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone [a-MSH]) and synthetic derivatives in these diseases. Melanocortins exhibit their biological efficacy by modulating proinflammatory cytokines and subsequent leukocyte extravasation. Their biological effects are mediated via seven transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptors, of which five have been cloned, identified, and termed MC1to MC5. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone represents the parent molecule of the melanocortins; the first 13 amino acids of which (termed a-MSH) have been shown to be the most pharmacologically active region of the parent hormone. The melanocortin peptides have been shown to display potent anti-inflammatory effects in both animal models of disease and patients. The potential anti-inflammatory role for endogenous peptides in arthritic pathologies is in its infancy. The ability to inhibit leukocyte migration, release of cytokines, and induction of anti-inflammatory proteins appears to play an important role in affording protection in arthritic injury, and thus may lead to potential therapeutic targets.

Description: Hypertriglyceridemia is the etiology of acute nonbiliary pancreatitis in up to 3% of patients. Along with the supportive treatment of acute pancreatitis, treating the precipitating cause is important as well. There have been reports where heparin and insulin have been used for acute reduction of triglycerides, although there are no established guidelines for efficacy of these modalities. Heparin and insulin decrease triglycerides by stimulating lipoprotein lipase activity, which degrades triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol. We present a case where a 54-year-old male presented with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis. The serum triglyceride level was 10,320 mg/dl (normal: 0–15 mg/dl) at the time of admission. We started the patient on intravenous insulin and heparin infusion, and within 24 h of induction of treatment, the levels decreased by 50% to 5407 mg/dl. Thus, heparin and insulin can be considered a safe treatment modality for rapidly reducing triglyceride levels.

Description: In this study, the authors develop an exploratory synthesis of two major health concepts: Antonovsky's sense of coherence and Bandura's beliefs in one's own efficacy. Reinterpretation of each study in the light of the other can lead to greater conceptual development and expand existing knowledge. The mutual themes are presented with an explanation of their contribution to broader conceptual discussions. The existence of some similarities between the two concepts is suggested. Researchers can obtain valuable and additional arguments through cross-fertilization of ideas across presented studies united by shared assumptions. Further research is recommended among various age groups and social backgrounds in order to verify the possible benefits of such theoretical development. Theoretical and practical implications of such a synthesis are presented.

Description: To present a 19-year experience of the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and prior coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS), 748 patients with AMI after prior CABS (postbypass group) and a control group of 1080 patients with AMI, but without prior CABS, were analyzed. All indexes of infarct size were lower in the postbypass group. There was more ventricular fibrillation in the postbypass group. In-hospital mortality was similar (p= 0.3675). In the follow-up period, postbypass patients had more heart failure, recurrent CABS, reinfarction, and unstable angina than did control patients. Cumulative survival was better in the control group than in the postbypass group (p= 0.0403). Multiple logistic regression model showed that previous angina (p= 0.0005), diabetes (p= 0.0058), and age (p= 0.0102) were independent predictor factors for survival. Use of digitalis and diuretics, together with previous angina, also influenced survival (p= 0.0092), as well as male gender, older patients, and diabetes together (p= 0.0420). Patients with AMI after prior CABS had smaller infarct, but more reinfarction, reoperation, heart failure, and angina. Previous angina, diabetes, and age, independently, as well as use of digitalis and diuretics together with angina, and male gender, older patients, and diabetes together, influenced a worse survival rate in these patients.

Description: There are few data regarding the prevalence of obesity and its socioeconomic determinants among elderly individuals, particularly in Iran. We wished to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in free-living elderly people and the relationship to nutritional and socioeconomic factors in the Razavi-Khorasan province of Iran. Free-living elderly persons (917 males/1045 females), aged ?60 years, were recruited using cluster sampling. Overweight and obesity were evaluated using body mass index (BMI) and subjects were categorized as thin (BMI

Description: The relationships among beliefs about volunteerism, volunteering intention, volunteering behavior, and purpose in life were examined in this study. A total of 5,946 participants completed a series of scales, including the Revised Personal Functions of Volunteerism Scale, Volunteering Intention Scale, and Purpose in Life Scale. The results showed that participants whose purpose in life had different levels also had varied prosocial beliefs about volunteerism, volunteering intention, and volunteering behavior. Purpose in life was associated more strongly with prosocial value function than with other types of beliefs (except understanding function). When different beliefs are grouped, the correlation between purpose in life and other-serving beliefs was higher than that between purpose in life and self-serving beliefs. Purpose in life was also associated with volunteering intention and behavior. Path analyses showed that purpose in life predicted volunteering behavior via beliefs and intention. While other-serving beliefs predicted volunteering behavior directly, self-serving beliefs did not have such direct effect.

Description: Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)–guided prostate biopsy is known to carry a significant false-negative rate, leading some patients to have multiple biopsies. We investigated cancer detection rates in patients with a PSA 〉20 ng/ml and a negative initial biopsy. We reviewed our database of 2396 TRUS-guided biopsies done between 1997 and 2002 in order to give a follow-up of at least 6 years. PSA, PSA density (PSAD), PSA velocity (PSAV), prostate volume, and DRE findings were analysed in relation to cancer status. Of the patients, 388 (16%) had a PSA 〉20 ng/ml, including 99 (26%) with benign biopsies. Of those, 67 were rebiopsied, including 19 (28%) with cancer on the first rebiopsy and four (6%) on further biopsies. PSAD, DRE, and volume significantly differed between rebiopsied patients with and without cancer (p20 ng/ml and have an initial negative biopsy have a high chance of malignancy being detected on a second biopsy. However, if a second biopsy is also negative, then the chances of subsequent biopsies showing signs of cancer are very low if the DRE is normal and particularly if the PSAD is 〉0.35 ng/ml/cm3.

Description: The most common cause of lower urinary tract obstruction in male infants is posterior urethral valves. Although the incidence has remained stable, the neonatal mortality for this disorder has improved due to early diagnosis and intensive neonatal care, thanks in part to the widespread use of prenatal ultrasound evaluations. In fact, the most common reason for the diagnosis of posterior urethral valves presently is the evaluation of infants for prenatal hydronephrosis. Since these children are often diagnosed early, the urethral obstruction can be alleviated rapidly through catheter insertion and eventual surgery, and their metabolic derangements can be normalized without delay, avoiding preventable infant mortality. Of the children that survive, however, early diagnosis has not had much effect on their long-term prognosis, as 30% still develop renal insufficiency before adolescence. A better understanding of the exact cause of the congenital obstruction of the male posterior urethra, prevention of postnatal bladder and renal injury, and the development of safe methods to treat urethral obstruction prenatally (and thereby avoiding the bladder and renal damage due to obstructive uropathy) are the goals for the care of children with posterior urethral valves[1].

Description: This study targets the lesser-known ingredients of smokeless tobacco products, i.e., the toxic metals, in Indian brands. The metals selected in the study included lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), and selenium (Se). The differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) technique was used for estimating the metals Pb, Cd, and Cu; square wave voltammetry for As; and the cold vapor atomic absorption technique for Hg. The resulting levels of the metals were compared to the daily consumption of the smokeless tobacco products. It was observed that almost 30% of gutkha brand samples exceeded the permissible levels of metals Pb and Cu, when compared to the provisional tolerable intake limits determined by the FAO/WHO. The reliability of data was assured by analyzing standard reference materials.

Description: Female stress urinary incontinence, while not life threatening, can present with various social and economic implications. Biomaterials, primarily synthetic, are often utilized to augment surgical correction. Repair with biomaterials involves midurethral support to function against weakened connective tissue caused by injury, abnormal collagen metabolism, or genetic predisposition. Even though efficacy rates are high, the potential for complications, such as erosion, are great without comprehension of inherent characteristics of each graft material. Low-weight, macroporous, monofilament synthetic grafts and noncross-linked biologic grafts are examples of biomaterials that implant reasonably well with host tissue. This paper reviews the justification for biomaterial use, host reaction, and the various parameters of natural and synthetic grafts.

Description: Stem cells have been isolated from many tissues and organs, including dental tissue. Five types of dental stem cells have been established: dental pulp stem cells, stem cells from exfoliated deciduous teeth, stem cells from apical papilla, periodontal ligament stem cells, and dental follicle progenitor cells. The main characteristics of dental stem cells are their potential for multilineage differentiation and self-renewal capacity. Dental stem cells can differentiate into odontoblasts, adipocytes, neuronal-like cells, glial cells, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, melanocytes, myotubes, and endothelial cells. Possible application of these cells in various fields of medicine makes them good candidates for future research as a new, powerful tool for therapy. Although the possible use of these cells in therapeutic purposes and tooth tissue engineering is still in the beginning stages, the results are promising. The efforts made in the research of dental stem cells have clarified many mechanisms underlying the biological processes in which these cells are involved. This review will focus on the new findings in the field of dental stem cell research and on their potential use in the therapy of various disorders.

Description: Exosomes are nanovesicles of endocytic origin that are secreted into the extracellular space or body fluids when a multivesicular body (MVB) fuses with the cell membrane. Interest in exosomes intensified after their description in antigen-presenting cells and the observation that they can significantly moderate immune responsesin vivo. In the past few years, several groups have reported on the secretion of exosomes by almost all cell types in an organism. In addition to a common set of membrane and cytosolic molecules, exosomes harbor unique subsets of proteins, reflecting their cellular source. Major research efforts were put into their surprisingly various biological functions and in translating knowledge into clinical practice. Urine provides an exciting noninvasive alternative to blood or tissue samples as a potential source of disease biomarkers. Urinary exosomes (UE) became the subject of serious studies just a few years ago. A recent large-scale proteomics-based study of normal UE revealed a myriad of proteins, including disease-related gene products. Thus, UE have valuable potential as a source of biomarkers for early detection of various types of diseases, monitoring the disease evolution and/or response to therapy. As a relatively new field of research, it still faces many challenges, but UE have already shown some straightforward potential.

Description: Testosterone replacement has undergone somewhat of a revolution in the past decade with the introduction of topical administration techniques, including patches and gels, as well as an increasing interest in the treatment of older men with low testosterone levels for what is now termed andropause. Increasingly, testosterone replacement therapy is being individually tailored. Side effects to skin patches have been reported with irritant contact dermatitis being the most common. However, ulceration has previously not been reported. Herein, we present a case that highlights testosterone transdermal therapies, their potential side effects and management strategies, and broadens our knowledge as we approach an era where these types of treatments are likely to be more common.

Description: A 60-year-old, otherwise healthy, male farmer presented to our Dermatology Department with a large ulcer on his lower right leg. The lesion had started as a small papule 6 months before, which became eroded and transformed into a rather rapidly progressive ulcer. On careful inspection, numerous larvae were found moving within the wound. The larvae were analyzed and found to be Lucilia sericata (the green bottle blowfly). The lesion was diagnosed histopathologically as squamous cell carcinoma. The myiasis was treated by submerging the wound in a dilute permanganate potassium solution.

Description: Microglia play a curious role in the nervous system. Their role is intrinsically protective and supportive, but during neurodegenerative disease, it is well established that microglia play a significant role in the initiation of neuronal death. Microglia, like neurons, show age-related changes that could potentially alter their behavior. While extreme changes to a large population of microglia cause dramatic neuronal loss in neurodegeneration, during normal aging, subtle changes not unlike those seen in the disease state could potentially contribute to a more gradual neuronal loss that could contribute to the cognitive decline seen in the aging population. This review provides illustrations of what is known about the role of microglia in neurodegeneration and makes suggestions about the role of microglia in age-related changes to the brain.

Description: Incomplete bladder emptying or dysfunctional voiding is a common lower urinary tract dysfunction encountered in children. Alpha blocker therapy is used to facilitate bladder emptying in the adult population and has likewise been applied to the pediatric population. Alpha blocker therapy seems well tolerated in children and appears efficacious towards improving bladder emptying in a variety of pediatric voiding disorders. Long-term follow-up and further investigation are warranted in order to validate the role of alpha blocker therapy in pediatric dysfunctional voiding.

Description: This study was conducted in order to understand the implementation quality of the Secondary 1 Program of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) in the first year of the Full Implementation Phase. Classroom observations of 137 units in 85 schools were conducted under the Co-Walker Scheme. Results showed that the overall level of program adherence was generally high, with an average of 86.57%. Thirteen aspects concerning program delivery were significantly correlated. Multiple regression analyses revealed that (1) overall implementation quality was significantly predicted by interactive delivery method, use of positive and supportive feedback, opportunity for reflection, degree of achievement of the objectives, and lesson preparation; whereas (2) success of implementation was significantly predicted by student interest, interactive delivery method, use of positive and supportive feedback, opportunity for reflection, and degree of achievement of the objectives. In general, the present study suggests that the implementation quality of the Project P.A.T.H.S. is good.

Description: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a global health problem. There are differences in mortality among patients with ESRD amid industrialized countries that may be related to their respective systems of delivery of care. A nationwide survey was completed in Italy, a country with low mortality rate for ESRD patients, in order to help understand key aspects of ESRD delivery of care that contribute to mortality. Survey responses were obtained and analyzed from 131 of 575 dialysis centers (23%), covering data from 13,170 dialysis patients in 2006. The mortality rate was 11.2% and the prevalence of diabetes-associated kidney disease was 21%. Of the patients, 88% were on hemodialysis and 12% were on peritoneal dialysis. Most patients were in the age range of 65–75 years (66.7%), were seen by a nephrologist at CKD stage 3, and began dialysis at mean estimated GFR of 9.6 ml/min/1.73 m2. AV fistulae were the prevailing form of vascular access (83%) and were most frequently placed by a nephrologist (61.2%). In 98% of the dialysis centers, a nephrologist was present during dialysis sessions. The following may explain the low mortality for ESRD patients in Italy: low prevalence of diabetes, high use of AV fistulae, delivery of care by nephrologists beginning in pre-ESRD stages, their involvement in placement of dialysis vascular access, and their physical presence requirement during dialysis sessions. These findings portray key aspects of the contemporary delivery of care for Italian dialysis patients and provide a platform for international comparison of healthcare systems for ESRD.

Description: The accessory gland proteins (Acps) of the male Drosophila cause changes in the behavior and physiology of female flies. Sex peptide (SP) is one of the Acps that initiates many changes, including an increase in egg production. The data presented here show that SP overexpression in transgenic (G-10) female flies increases egg production when females are kept on a standard and high-calorie diet, relative to controls that do not express SP. Particularly, a high increase in egg production observed in G-10 females on a high-calorie diet suggests that SP overexpression magnifies the female response to caloric uptake. However, on a calorie-restricted diet, the fecundity of G-10 females overexpressing SP is lower than control females. On a high-calorie diet, mating increases early egg production in G-10 and control females, but lifelong total egg production is only increased in control females, most likely due to the physiological changes set off by substantial initial egg production in G-10 females.

Description: A total of 196 secondary schools participated in the Secondary 2 Program of the Full Implementation Phase of the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes). After completion of the Tier 1 Program, 30,731 students responded to the Subjective Outcome Evaluation Form (Form A) to assess their perceptions of the program, instructors, and perceived effectiveness of the program. Based on the consolidated reports submitted by the schools to the funding body, the research team aggregated the consolidated data to form a “reconstructed” overall profile on the perceptions of the program participants. Findings demonstrated that high proportions of the respondents had positive perceptions of the program and the instructors, and roughly four-fifths of the respondents regarded the program as beneficial to them. Correlation analyses showed that perceived program and instructor characteristics were positively associated with perceived benefits of the program.

Description: Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) is an accepted and effective therapy for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). ProstivaTM(Medtronic, Shoreview, MN) is the newest-generation device, which includes a new needle design and radio frequency (RF) generator. This device creates temperatures of 120°C and necrotic lesions in less than 2.5 min. Using previously described techniques, we analyzed dynamic, gadolinium-enhanced MRIs to characterize the ablative properties of the new ProstivaTMRF device.Ten men with LUTS due to BPH were treated with the standard ProstivaTMmanufacturer–recommended protocol. The bladder neck and lateral lobes received treatment based on prostate volume and prostatic urethral length. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI sequences were obtained prior to and 1 week post-treatment. Analyze® software (Mayo Clinic Biomedical Imaging Resource, Rochester, MN) was used to evaluate MRIs. New gadolinium defects were seen in all patients following ProstivaTMtreatments. All lesions coalesced within the prostate. No defects were seen beyond the prostate, and the urethra was spared in all patients. The mean volume of necrosis was 7.56 cc, representing a mean of 11.28% of total prostate volume.Dynamic, gadolinium-enhanced MRIs demonstrate new vascular defects representing necrosis caused by ProstivaTMRF therapy of the prostate. The standard ProstivaTMRF protocol produces lesions that coalesce to create larger lesions in the bladder neck and lateral lobes. Compared to the TUNA® Precision PlusTMdevice, the ablative lesions appear comparable while produced with a shorter burn time.

Description: Nine focus groups comprising 23 program implementers recruited from nine schools were conducted to evaluate the Tier 1 Program (Secondary 2 Program) of the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes). Qualitative findings showed that a majority of the program implementers regarded the program as beneficial to the program participants in different psychosocial domains. The program implementers also described the program positively and positive metaphors were used to represent the program. In conjunction with the previous research findings, the present study provides further support for the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of Project P.A.T.H.S. in promoting holistic development among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong.

Description: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia and cognitive decline in the elderly. Brain tissue changes indicate that the two main proteins involved in AD are amyloid-β(A-β), which is associated with the formation of senile amyloid plaques, and tau, which is associated with the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Although a central role for A-β in the pathogenesis of AD is indisputable, considerable evidence indicates that A-β production is not the sole culprit in AD pathology. AD is also accompanied by an inflammatory response that contributes to irreversible changes in neuronal viability and brain function, and accumulating evidence supports the pivotal role of complement and contact systems in its pathogenesis and progression. The complexity of AD pathology provides numerous potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Compounds that interact directly with A-β protein or interfere with its production and/or aggregation can reduce the inflammatory and neurotoxic effects of A-β, and heparin, a glycosaminoglycan mixture currently used in the prophylaxis and treatment of thrombosis, might be a candidate, as recent research has been extended to consider its nonanticoagulant properties, including its modulation of various proteases and anti-inflammatory activity.

Description: Cyclosporin-A (CsA) and tacrolimus (FK-506) are immunomodulating agents used to prevent rejection in organ transplantation. They are both associated with several side effects, including nephrotoxicity and severe hypertension due to vascular injury, which often appears as a microvascular occlusive disorder (thrombotic microangiopathy, TMA). We report the first case of a microvascular occlusive disorder with the features of TMA in the small bowel of an orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) patient after immunosuppressive therapy with CsA and FK506. The patient presented with severe recurrent abdominal colics and distal subocclusion, requiring aggressive surgical treatment. Histological and ultrastructural analysis of the resected specimen disclosed intestinal TMA. Although rare, such a complication should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal colics in patients undergoing immunosuppressant therapy after OLT.

Description: This is the first report of a radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) in an achondroplastic dwarf. We highlight the pelvic anatomy, precluding laparoscopic or robotic prostatectomy, and making open surgery extremely difficult. We review relevant literature regarding general, urological, and orthopedic abnormalities of achondroplasia (ACH) and present a clinical case. No reports of RRP in achondroplastic dwarfs exist, with only one case of an abandoned RRP due to similar pelvic anatomy in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta. Significant lumbar lordosis found in ACH results in a short anteroposterior dimension, severely limiting access to the prostate. We present a case of a 62-year-old achondroplastic dwarf who had Gleason 3+4 disease on transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy in four from 12 cores. Surgery was difficult due to narrow anteroposterior pelvic dimension, but achievable. Histological analysis revealed multifocal prostate cancer, with negative surgical margins and no extraprostatic extension. RRP in ACH patients, although possible, should be approached with caution due to the abnormal pelvic dimensions, and discussions regarding potential abandonment of surgery should be included during informed consent. This case highlights the preoperative use of computed tomography to assist in the surgical planning for patients with difficult pelvic anatomy.

Description: Tunneled dialysis catheters (TDCs) are associated with the highest rate of complications, morbidity, and mortality when compared to arteriovenous fistulas or grafts, and this relates to higher costs in their management. Over time, catheters are prone to higher rates of infection, thrombosis, and central venous stenosis, and, thereby, catheter dysfunction. Lower blood flow rates are a consequence of the dysfuncion. Despite efforts to reduce incident and prevalent rates of catheter use for dialysis by the National Kidney Foundation and Fistula First Initiative, they remain a common modality of hemodialysis. The management of common TDC-related complications is discussed, in addition to ways to reduce and prevent morbidity associated with their use.

Description: With aging, the brain undergoes neuronal loss in many areas. Although the loss of cells in the cerebral cortex, in particular the frontal cortex, has been recognized with aging, the influence of synaptic losses has a larger impact on cognitive decline. Much of the recent research on animals, as well as humans, has been aimed at slowing the cognitive decline through enrichment, and it has been found that the key factors are antioxidants and exercise. Several reports support the concept that regular supplementation of vitamin E and physical activity from as early as middle age can slow the cognitive decline observed during the later years. A few studies have also suggested that exercise is analogous to acetylcholine esterase inhibitors that are also used extensively to treat cognitive impairment and dementia in Alzheimer's disease. In addition, reports also support that vitamin E and exercise may act synergistically to overcome free radical injury and oxidative stress in the aging brain.

Description: To induce hepatocytes from human embryonic stem (hES) cells easily and effectively, a simple suspension culture method that separates ES colonies with a scraper and transfers them into newly developed, nonadherent MPC (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) plates, and the staged-additional cocktail method, including growth factors, cytokines, and Lanford serum-free medium, were developed and evaluated mainly by morphological analysis. The formed embryoid bodies (EBs) showed compact cellular agglomeration until day 4 and later formed coeloms in their interior. RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) analysis showed that they are gene markers of the three germ layers. Mesenchymal cells with rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and extracellular matrix (ECM), and without junctions, were recognized in the interior of the EBs by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in addition to epithelial cells. When they were stimulated by the staged-additional cocktail, they expressed albumin-positive immunoreactivity, indocyanine green (ICG) uptake, and typical ultrastructures of the hepatocytes, including bile canaliculi. These results indicate that these combined methods promote EB formation and hepatocyte differentiation from hES cells.

Description: The role of aristolochic acid in the etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and associated upper urothelial carcinoma (UUC) was recently confirmed. The aim of this study was to determine the marker(s) specific for BEN-associated UUC. A total of 82 patients with UUC (38 from the BEN region and 44 control tumors) were included in the study. The Ki-67 index in BEN tumors correlated with the grade and multifocality (p〈 0.05), but in regression analysis, only the grade of BEN tumor. The p53 index was significantly higher in BEN than in control tumors (p〈 0.05), as well as the alteration of p53 (p〈 0.05). BEN low-stage tumors, tumors without limphovascular invasion (LVI), and tumors of the renal pelvis had a higher p53 index than the control tumors (p〈 0.05, 0.01, 0.05, respectively). The Ki-67 index was higher in control tumors with high-stage and solid growth than in BEN UUC (p 〈 0.050, 0.005). The Ki-67 correlated with the grade, growth, stage, LVI, and multifocality of UUC on the best way, but not with the group. In regression analysis, only multifocality of UUC had predictive influence on Ki-67 activity (p〈 0.001). P53 correlated with the grade, growth, and group (p〈 0.05). This investigation identifies the p53 pathway as the specific cell cycle marker involved in BEN-associated UUC.

Description: Basal ganglia processing results from a balanced activation of direct and indirect striatal efferent pathways, which are controlled by dopamine D1and D2receptors, respectively. Adenosine A2Areceptors are considered novel antiparkinsonian targets, based on their selective postsynaptic localization in the indirect pathway, where they modulate D2receptor function. The present study provides evidence for the existence of an additional, functionally significant, segregation of A2Areceptors at the presynaptic level. Using integrated anatomical, electrophysiological, and biochemical approaches, we demonstrate that presynaptic A2Areceptors are preferentially localized in cortical glutamatergic terminals that contact striatal neurons of the direct pathway, where they exert a selective modulation of corticostriatal neurotransmission. Presynaptic striatal A2Areceptors could provide a new target for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Description: The reliable and quantitative measurement of radionuclides is important in order to determine environmental quality and radiation safety, and to monitor regulatory compliance. We examined soil samples from Podunajske Biskupice, near the city of Bratislava in the Slovak Republic, for the presence of several natural (238U,232Th,40K) and anthropogenic (137Cs,90Sr,239Pu,240Pu,241Am) radionuclides. The area is adjacent to a refinery and hazardous waste processing center, as well as the municipal incinerator plant, and so might possess an unusually high level of ecotoxic metals. We found that the levels of both naturally occurring and anthropogenic radionuclides fell within the expected ranges, indicating that these facilities pose no radiological threat to the local environment. During the course of our analysis, we modified existing techniques in order to allow us to handle the unusually large and complex samples that were needed to determine the levels of239Pu,240Pu, and241Am activity. We also rated three commercial techniques for the separation of 90Sr from aqueous solutions and found that two of them, AnaLig Sr-01 and Empore Extraction Disks, were suitable for the quantitative and reliable separation of90Sr, while the third, Sr-Spec Resin, was less so. The main criterion in evaluating these methods was the chemical recovery of90Sr, which was less than we had expected. We also considered speed of separation and additional steps needed to prepare the sample for separation.

Description: Syndromes of accelerated aging could provide an entry point for identifying and dissecting the cellular pathways that are involved in the development of age-related pathologies in the general population. However, their usefulness for aging research has been controversial, as it has been argued that these diseases do not faithfully reflect the process of natural aging. Here we review recent findings on the molecular basis of two progeroid diseases, Werner syndrome (WS) and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), and highlight functional connections to cellular processes that may contribute to normal aging.

Description: Inadvertent access to website addresses and spam e-mails continue to make pornography rampant on the Internet in schools, homes, and libraries. Collectively, parents, teachers, and members of the community must become more aware of the risks and consequences of open access to the Internet, and the distinction between censorship and Internet access filtering. Parental involvement is crucial for raising children with healthy Internet habits to access social and educational materials. Although generations have coped with different times and trials, technology is ushering in new trials. Parents and communities cannot ignore the present and future technology ingrained into the lives of children. This paper contends that parents armed with legislation and technological security devices for access to the Internet ought to strengthen the character of online Internet safety. The discussion is focused on the roles that parents, communities, technology, and laws should play in order to protect children from obscene and pornographic threats from cyberspace. It is argued that the roles of education and technology should outweigh the legislative interventions of governments. A critique of significant litigations and laws on obscenity and pornography is presented. The paper offers a variety of security tools and techniques for protecting children from Internet access to obscene and pornographic materials. The impacts of pornographic materials on the welfare of children, adolescents, women, and families are discussed.

Description: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a very common syndrome in elderly people, with a high risk of conversion to dementia. Several investigations have shown the usefulness of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers (Aβ42, total tau [T-tau], and phosphorylated tau [P-tau]) in predicting the progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD). We report a 4-year follow-up of MCI patients who underwent CSF evaluation for biomarker assessment, in order to further evaluate the usefulness of CSF analysis in predicting the conversion to dementia in a routine clinical setting. We identified 55 patients with MCI among the consecutive patients, referred from 2001 to 2003 to our Memory Clinic for cognitive disorders, who underwent a complete diagnostic assessment, including lumbar puncture (n = 273). At the end of the follow-up, 31 MCI patients (56%) did not progress to dementia (stable MCI), while 24 (44%) developed a dementia condition. At baseline, the mean levels of CSF Aβ42, T-tau, and P-tau were significantly altered in MCI patients who were converting to dementia with respect to those with stable MCI. All MCI patients with the three altered CSF biomarkers developed dementia within 1 year. Among the stable MCI patients, none showed all three pathological values and only one subject had the pathological value of P-tau. Early diagnosis of dementia and, specifically, a correct prediction of MCI outcome represent a primary goal. To this respect, the role of CSF biomarkers seems to be crucial in a routine clinical setting.

Description: Castleman's disease (CD) is an uncommon, mainly benign, lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown etiology, mostly involving the mediastinum. Parenchymal lung involvement of the disease is exceedingly rare. We describe a case of CD in a 23-year-old woman with a 4-year history of recurring dyspnea and nonproductive cough, whose chest X-ray showed an abnormal shadow of the right hilum. Chest computed tomography confirmed the presence of a tissue-density mass of the right lower lobe, demonstrating poor contrast enhancement, associated with multiple laterotracheal and mediastinal lymphadenopathies. The patient underwent curative surgery, revealing a right hilar compressive mass, with an intrafissural development between the superior and middle lobes. Pneumonectomy was performed due to profuse bleeding. This case of CD is particular because of its unusual intrapulmonary location and its intrafissural development. Poor contrast enhancement is atypical in CD.

Description: The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge and use of contraceptive methods by female adolescent students. The study was cross-sectional and quantitative, using a semi-structured questionnaire that was administered to 12- to 19-year-old female students in Maceió, Brazil. A representative and randomized sample was calculated, taking into account the number of hospital admissions for curettage. This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee, and Epi InfoTMsoftware was used for data and result evaluation using the mean and chi-square statistical test. Our results show that the majority of students know of some contraceptive methods (95.5%), with the barrier/hormonal methods being the most mentioned (72.4%). Abortion and aborting drugs were inaccurately described as contraceptives, and 37.9% of the sexually active girls did not make use of any method. The barrier methods were the most used (35.85%). A significant association was found in the total sample (2,592) between pregnancy and the use of any contraceptive method. This association was not found, however, in the group having an active sexual life (559). The study points to a knowledge of contraceptive methods, especially by teenagers who have already been pregnant, but contraceptives were not adequately used. The low use of chemical methods of contraception brings the risk of pregnancy. Since abortion and aborting drugs were incorrectly cited as contraceptive methods, this implies a nonpreventive attitude towards pregnancy.

Description: Lewy bodies (LBs) appear in the brains of nondemented individuals and also occur in a range of neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease. A number of people with a definite diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) also exhibit these intraneuronal inclusions in allo- and/or neocortical areas. The latter, referred to as Lewy body variant of AD (LBV), bears a clinical resemblance to AD in terms of age at onset, duration of illness, cognitive impairment, and illness severity. Since the presence of LBs is accompanied by neuronal cytoskeleton changes, it is possible that the latter may influence neuronal connectivity via alterations to the synaptic network. To address this, we examined the expression of synaptic proteins (synaptophysin, syntaxin, SNAP-25, and α-synuclein) and two cytoskeletal proteins (tau and MAP2) in the brain tissue of subjects enrolled in a population-based autopsy study (n = 47). They were divided into groups with no memory problems (control group, n = 15), LBV (n = 5), AD devoid of LBs (n = 17), cerebrovascular dementia (n = 3), and mixed dementia (n = 7). The LBV and AD groups had a similar degree of cognitive impairment and neuropathological staging in terms of Braak staging and CERAD score. In comparison with the control group and the dementia groups without LBs, the LBV group had significantly lower levels of syntaxin and SNAP-25 (23%) in the neocortex, and depletion of MAP2 (64%), SNAP-25 (34%), and α-synuclein (44%) proteins in the medial temporal lobes. These findings suggest that the t-SNARE complex deficit present in LBV may be associated with the presence of LB-related pathology and may explain the more profound cholinergic loss seen in these patients.

Description: We report a case of 61-year-old male who presented with chyluria after partial nephrectomy. During workup for appendicitis, an incidental exophytic renal mass was revealed on CT scan. The patient ultimately underwent uncomplicated open partial nephrectomy. Postoperatively, his JP drain output turned milky white with urine remaining clear. JP fluid analysis was consistent with lymph. At 3 weeks postsurgery, his drain output decreased, but his urine turned milky white. Urinalysis confirmed fat in the urine. CT imaging revealed chyloma/urinoma with extravasation. The patient was initially treated conservatively, with a medium-chain fatty acid diet and then ureteral stenting. His stent was eventually removed and his chlyuria resolved 14 weeks later.In nonendemic countries, nonparasitic chyluria is exceedingly rare and postsurgical chyluria even more so. We review the sequelae of untreated disease and surgical options for intractable chyluria not responsive to conservative management.In non-endemic countries, non-parasitic chyluria is exceedingly rare, and post surgical chyluria even more so. We review the sequelae of untreated disease and surgical options for intractable chyluria not responsive to conservative management.

Description: Organotypic cultures from the ventral mesencephalon (VM) are widely used to model Parkinson's disease (PD). In this method, neurotoxic compounds have traditionally been applied to the media to induce a uniform dopaminergic (DAergic) cell death in the tissue slices, regardless of the variation existing among slices. This study demonstrates a refinement of the toxic induction technique. We show that unilateral application of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) at the tissue surface by means of a microelectrode causes a precisely localized cell death that closely resembles anin vivostereotactic model. This technique introduces an internal control that accounts for variation between slices and enables a precise quantification of the cell loss due to the toxin in use. We characterized organotypic VM cultures in terms of effects of 6-OHDA toxicity and number of DAergic neurons as judged by immunofluorescence and Western blots. Our findings illustrate that this new application technique greatly improves the representativeness of organotypic cultures as a model for PD.We characterized organotypic VM cultures in terms of effects of 6-OHDA toxicity and number of DAergic neurons as judged by immunofluorescence and Western blots. Our findings illustrate that this new application technique greatly improves the representativeness of organotypic cultures as a model for PD.

Description: Interactionin vitrobetween cells infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and surrounding, uninfected, target cells often leads to cell fusion and the formation of multinucleated cells, called syncytia. The presence in HIV-infected individuals of virus strains able to induce syncytia in cultures of T cells is associated with disease progression and AIDS. Even in the asymptomatic stage of infection, multinucleated cells have been observed in different organs, indicating that fused cells may be generated and remain viable in the tissues of patients. We used lymphocytic cells transfected for the expression of the HIV-envelope (Env) glycoproteins to develop a method for the direct quantification of fusion events by flow cytometry (Huerta et al., 2006,J. Virol. Methods138, 17–23; López-Balderas et al., 2007,Virus Res.123, 138–146). The method involves the staining of fusion partners with lipophilic probes and the use of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to distinguish between fused and aggregated cells. We have shown that such a flow-cytometry assay is appropriate for the screening of compounds that have the potential to modulate HIV-Env–mediated cell fusion. Even those syncytia that are small or few in numbers can be detected. Quantitative analysis of the fusion products was performed with this technique; the results indicated that the time of reaction and initial proportion of fusion partners determine the number, relative size, and average cellular composition of syncytia. Heterogeneity of syncytia generated by HIV-Env–mediated cell-cell fusion may result in a variety of possible outcomes that, in turn, may influence the biological properties of the syncytia and surrounding cells, as well as replication of virus. Given the myriad immune abnormalities leading to AIDS, the full understanding of the extent, diverse composition, and role of fused cells in the pathogenesis of, and immune response to, HIV infection is an important, pending issue.

Description: We recently observed an increased frequency of binucleated micronucleated lymphocytes in women who had a Down syndrome (DS) child before 35 years of age and the fluorescencein situhybridization analysis revealed that micronuclei were mainly originating from chromosomal malsegregation events, including chromosome 21 malsegregation. That study indicated that women who have a DS child at a young age might have a genetic predisposition to chromosome malsegregation in both somatic and germ line cells. Further studies from our group confirmed increased chromosome damage in blood cells of women who had a DS child at a young age and pointed to a possible role for polymorphisms in folate-metabolizing genes in affecting both chromosome damage and DS risk. In the present article, we review the most recent findings on mechanisms and risk factors for chromosome 21 nondisjunction that lead to DS. Multiple risk factors are likely involved in chromosome nondisjunction; they act at different times in the meiotic process and can be of genetic or environmental (epigenetic) origin. We also discuss the increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) later in life that was observed in women who had a DS child at a young age. Studies performed in the last years that have shown that the brain is, in fact, a complex genetic mosaic of aneuploid and euploid cells support the unified hypothesis trying to relate DS, trisomy 21, and AD.

Description: Major depression, a debilitating psychiatric disorder, is predicted to be the second most prevalent human illness by the year 2020. Various antidepressants, ranging from monoamine oxidase inhibitors to recently developed dual reuptake inhibitors, are prescribed for alleviating the symptoms of depression. Despite the availability of these blockbuster molecules, approximately 30% of depressed patients do not respond to the existing drug therapies and the remaining 70% fails to achieve complete remission. Moreover, antidepressants are associated with a plethora of side effects and drug-drug/drug-food interactions. In this context, novel approaches are being tried to find more efficacious and safer drugs for the treatment of major depression. Curcumin is one such molecule that has shown promising efficacy in various animal models of major depression. Although the mechanism of the antidepressant effect of curcumin is not fully understood, it is hypothesized to act through inhibiting the monoamine oxidase enzyme and modulating the release of serotonin and dopamine. Moreover, evidences have shown that curcumin enhances neurogenesis, notably in the frontal cortex and hippocampal regions of the brain. The use of curcumin in clinics for the treatment of major depression is limited due to its poor gastrointestinal absorption. The present review attempts to discuss the pharmacological profile along with molecular mechanisms of the antidepressant effect of curcumin in animal models of depression. A need for clinical trials in order to explore the antidepressant efficacy and safety profile of curcumin is emphasized.

Description: The creation of highly detailed, three-dimensional (3D) computer models is essential in order to understand the evolution and development of vertebrate embryos, and the pathogenesis of hereditary diseases. A still-increasing number of methods allow for generating digital volume data sets as the basis of virtual 3D computer models. This work aims to provide a brief overview about modern volume data–generation techniques, focusing on episcopic 3D imaging methods. The technical principles, advantages, and problems of episcopic 3D imaging are described. The strengths and weaknesses in its ability to visualize embryo anatomy and labeled gene product patterns, specifically, are discussed.

Description: The new GIFT (Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia) strain of Nile tilapia is a popular cultivated fish in Asia, but intensive aquaculture using nutritionally imbalanced feed has led to disorder of lipid metabolisms. An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted in order to assess the effects of different levels of L-carnitine (0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg) and dietary protein (22, 25, and 28%) on blood sugar and blood lipid contents of the new juvenile GIFT strain of Nile tilapia. Results showed that dietary protein and L-carnitine had significant influences on glucose (GLU), high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (LDL-C) in the blood serum. The contents of GLU and HDL-C increased with the increases in dietary protein and L-carnitine levels, while the contents of TC, LDL-C, and TG decreased with the increases in dietary protein and L-carnitine levels. The interactive effect of both dietary protein and L-carnitine was most significant on GLU (p= 0.0001), followed by TG (p= 0.001), TC (p= 0.005), HDL-C (p= 0.056), and LDL-C (p= 0.109). These results suggested that high levels of dietary protein and L-carnitine supplementation reduce blood lipids and the burden of the fish liver.

Description: We present an overview of the current literature and management techniques for vaginal extrusion or urinary tract erosion of graft materials used in pelvic floor reconstruction. A MEDLINE search was performed to identify literature pertaining to the incidence and management of vaginal or urinary tract exposure of graft materials commonly used in anti-incontinence and pelvic floor reconstructive procedures. Dependent on the type of mesh material used, a vaginal extrusion rate of up to 77% has been reported. The currently accepted, loosely woven, monofilament type I polypropylene meshes appear to have acceptable lower exposure rates in the range of 1–3% for slings, but with the larger area of mesh used in prolapse repairs, the rate increases to up to 10%. With the current widespread use of graft materials to reinforce pelvic floor reconstructive techniques, it is imperative for surgeons to be familiar with potential complications related to the materials and proper management of these complications. Although it is beginning to appear that the benefit of using some synthetic materials may outweigh the risks, proper management and understanding of the risks is important in order to counsel our patients appropriately and responsibly prior to their surgeries.

Description: The aim of this study was to characterize the influence of functionalization of synthetic poly-(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibers on mechanical properties such as maximum load, elongation, and Young's modulus. Furthermore, the impact of osteoblast growth on the various nanofiber scaffolds stability was determined. Nanofiber matrices composed of PLLA, PLLA-collagen, or BMP-2–incorporated PLLA were produced from different solvents by electrospinning. Standardized test samples of each nanofiber scaffold were subjected to failure protocol before or after incubation in the presence of osteoblasts over a period of 22 days under osteoinductive conditions. PLLA nanofibers electrospun from hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) showed a higher strain and tended to have increased maximum loads and Young's modulus compared to PLLA fibers spun from dichloromethane. In addition, they had a higher resistance during incubation in the presence of cells. Functionalization by incorporation of growth factors increased Young's modulus, independent of the solvent used. However, the incorporation of growth factors using the HFIP system resulted in a loss of strain. Similar results were observed when PLLA was blended with different ratios of collagen. Summarizing the results, this study indicates that different functionalization strategies influence the mechanical stability of PLLA nanofibers. Therefore, an optimization of nanofibers should not only account for the optimization of biological effects on cells, but also has to consider the stability of the scaffold.

Description: Naturally occurring antibodies against amyloid-β peptides have been found in human cerebrospinal fluid and in the plasma of healthy individuals, but were significantly lower in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, suggesting that AD may be an immunodeficient disorder. The performance of anti-amyloid-β antibodies in transgenic mice models of AD showed that they are delivered to the central nervous system, preventing and dissolving amyloid-β plaques. Moreover, these antibodies protected the mice from learning and age-related memory deficits. Active and/or passive immunization against the amyloid-β peptide has been proposed as a method for preventing and/or treating AD. Immunotherapy represents fascinating ways to test the amyloid hypothesis and offers genuine opportunities for AD treatment, but requires careful antigen and antibody selection to maximize efficacy and minimize adverse events.

Description: Oxidative stress significantly impacts multiple cellular pathways that can lead to the initiation and progression of varied disorders throughout the body. It therefore becomes imperative to elucidate the components and function of novel therapeutic strategies against oxidative stress to further clinical diagnosis and care. In particular, both the growth factor and cytokine erythropoietin (EPO), and members of the mammalian forkhead transcription factors of the O class (FoxOs), may offer the greatest promise for new treatment regimens, since these agents and the cellular pathways they oversee cover a range of critical functions that directly influence progenitor cell development, cell survival and degeneration, metabolism, immune function, and cancer cell invasion. Furthermore, both EPO and FoxOs function not only as therapeutic targets, but also as biomarkers of disease onset and progression, since their cellular pathways are closely linked and overlap with several unique signal transduction pathways. Yet, EPO and FoxOs may sometimes have unexpected and undesirable effects that can raise caution for these agents and warrant further investigations. Here we present the exciting as well as the complex role that EPO and FoxOs possess to uncover the benefits as well as the risks of these agents for cell biology and clinical care in processes that range from stem cell development to uncontrolled cellular proliferation.

Description: Urinary incontinence and neurogenic bladder are common in children, and can be difficult to treat. This themed issue includes contributions by experts in the management of these disorders. Dr. John Kryger discusses the nonsurgical management of neurogenic bladder in children with spina bifida. Drs. Lori Dyer and Israel Franco summarize the literature and their experience with the use of botulinum toxin in neurogenic and non-neurogenic incontinence in children. Dr. Paul Austin summarizes the use of alpha-adrenergic blockers. These drugs are primarily used to treat bladder outlet obstruction due to prostatic hyperplasia, but show great promise in the treatment of dysfunctional voiding in children.

Description: In this article, we review studies of astrocytic-neuronal interactions and their effects on the activity of oxytocin (OXT) neurons within the magnocellular hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. Previous work over several decades has shown that withdrawal of astrocyte processes increases OXT neuron excitability in the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) during lactation. However, chronically disabling astrocyte withdrawal does not significantly affect the functioning of OXT neurons during suckling. Nevertheless, acute changes in a cytoskeletal element of astrocytes, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), occur in concert with changes in OXT neuronal activity during suckling. Here, we compare these changes in GFAP and related proteins with chronic changes that persist throughout lactation. During lactation, a decrease in GFAP levels accompanies retraction of astrocyte processes surrounding OXT neurons in the SON, resulting from high extracellular levels of OXT. During the initial stage of suckling, acute increases in OXT levels further strengthen this GFAP reduction and facilitate the retraction of astrocyte processes. This change, in turn, facilitates burst discharges of OXT neurons and leads to a transient increase in excitatory neurochemicals. This transient neurochemical surge acts to reverse GFAP expression and results in postburst inhibition of OXT neurons. The acute changes in astrocyte GFAP levels seen during suckling likely recur periodically, accompanied by rhythmic changes in glutamate metabolism, water transport, gliotransmitter release, and spatial relationships between astrocytes and OXT neurons. In the neurohypophysis, astrocyte retraction and reversal with accompanying GFAP plasticity also likely occur during lactation and suckling, which facilitates OXT release coordinated with its action in the SON. These studies of the dynamic interactions that occur between astrocytes and OXT neurons mediated by GFAP extend our understanding of astrocyte functions within the central nervous system.

Description: Intranasal delivery provides a practical, noninvasive method of bypassing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in order to deliver therapeutic agents to the brain. This method allows drugs that do not cross the BBB to be delivered to the central nervous system in a few minutes. With this technology, it will be possible to eliminate systemic administration and its potential side effects. Using the intranasal delivery system, researchers have demonstrated neuroprotective effects in different animal models of stroke using erythropoietin (EPO) as a neuroprotector or other different types of EPO without erythropoiesis-stimulating activity. These new molecules retain their ability to protect neural tissue against injury and they include Asialoerythropoietin (asialoEPO) carbamylated EPO (CEPO), and rHu-EPO with low sialic acid content (Neuro-EPO). Contrary to the other EPO variants, Neuro-EPO is not chemically modified, making it biologically similar to endogenous EPO, with the advantage of less adverse reactions when this molecule is applied chronically. This constitutes a potential benefit of Neuro-EPO over other variants of EPO for the chronic treatment of neurodegenerative illnesses. Nasal administration of EPO is a potential, novel, neurotherapeutic approach. However, it will be necessary to initiate clinical trials in stroke patients using intranasal delivery in order to obtain the clinical evidence of its neuroprotectant capacity in the treatment of patients with acute stroke and other neurodegenerative disorders. This new therapeutic approach could revolutionize the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders in the 21stcentury.

Description: The incidence and prevalence of cancer increase with time after transplantation. Therefore, a risk-adapted screening process is very important in order to identify low-grade malignancies early in their development. This provides the opportunity to initiate appropriate immunosuppressive regimens depending on the tumor type and stage of development. The first case presented is one of a 65-year-old patient with a double genitourinary carcinoma (penis and bladder). The patient received kidney transplantation 7 years prior to this event. After adequate surgical treatment (partial amputation of the penis for squamous cell carcinoma and complete transurethral resection of bladder adenocarcinoma), the patient was noted to be free of tumor recurrence and had functioning renal graft with a 2-year follow-up.

Description: The hematopoietic growth factor erythropoietin (EPO) and its neuroprotective, but not hematopoietic, variants asialoEPO, carbamylated EPO (CEPO), and low sialic acid EPO (Neuro-EPO) are attractive candidates for stroke treatment. Due to their large molecular weight, these proteins enter the brain only to a minor extent when intravenously administered, which has raised the question for alternative delivery strategies, among which intranasal delivery may certainly be an attractive choice, as the review by Garcia Rodriguez and Sosa Teste in this journal points out. Before this strategy may be considered clinically applicable, however, more and, in particular, quantitative information is needed about (a) the temporospatial accumulation of EPO and its variants in the brain tissue both in animals and nonhuman primates, and (b) the accumulation of EPO and its variants in the human cerebrospinal fluid.

Description: The aim of this study was to assess urinary bladder histopathology induced by the sling materials tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), vypro mesh, and intravaginal slingplasty (IVS). Thirty rats were studied: sham-operated controls, TVT, vypro, and IVS groups. After laparotomy, a 0.5- x 1-cm piece of mesh was implanted on the anterior bladder wall. The bladder was examined histopathologically after 12 weeks. Inflammation, foreign-body reaction, subserosal fibrosis, necrosis, and collagen deposition were graded. The Kruskal-Wallis and posthoc Dunn tests were used. The sham-operated rats showed no tissue reactions. The TVT, vypro, and IVS groups showed increased inflammation (p= 0.006,p= 0.031,p= 0.001), subserosal fibrosis (p= 0.0001), foreign-body reaction (p = 0.0001), and collagen deposition (p= 0.0001) as compared to sham. Inflammation was more intense in the IVS group as compared to the TVT and vypro groups (p= 0.041,p= 0.028). The bladder presented more increased inflammatory response to IVS than the other meshs. This may play a role in the ultimate outcomes or complications from slings.

Description: Immunotactoid glomerulopathy (IGN) is a rare immunoglobulin deposition disease. It is often mistaken for cryoglobulinemia or amyloidosis due to the similarities on biopsy findings. The disease progresses to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) within 7 months to 10 years. This is the first case reported of a patient with a diagnosis of IGN who developed acute kidney injury (AKI) and ESRD within 1 week of initial presentation.

Description: Peyronie's disease (PD) is a fibrotic disorder of the tunica albuginea of the penis. It is characterized by different degrees of penile curvature and sexual dysfunction. Several medical treatments have been employed to manage the disorder, with variable success rates. Surgical therapy is reserved for patients with severe penile deformity that fails to improve with medical treatment and impedes coital function. The advantages and disadvantages of various surgical approaches have long been debated. Herein, we describe the evolving surgical techniques for PD using knowledge obtained from the contemporary literature. In addition, we discuss the emerging data regarding the role of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors in the management of PD.

Description: Statins are well-tolerated, mainstay drugs in cardiovascular risk management. In addition to their cholesterol-lowering properties, statins also have anti-inflammatory, vasculoprotective, and antioxidant effects. They have also been associated in some epidemiologic studies with reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and a link between cholesterol and late-onset AD has been documented. Experimental studies in cell culture systems and animal models show that statins have neuroprotective effects that may ameliorate the damage inflicted by stroke and AD. Human studies have garnered compelling evidence that treatment with statins reduces ischemic stroke incidence independent of their lipid-lowering effects. There is also the possibility that statins and extremely low cholesterol levels may increase the risk of intracranial hemorrhage. In this review, we discuss the potential reasons for the effect of statins on stroke and AD, and the multiple mechanisms of action of this class of lipid-lowering drugs.

Description: An increasing body of epidemiological evidence suggests that elevated saturated fatty acids (SFA) could have negative effects on age-related cognitive decline (ARCD). Furthermore, a reduction of risk for cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been found in population samples with elevated fish consumption, and high intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly n-3 PUFA. However, recent findings from clinical trials with n-3 PUFA supplementation showed efficacy on depressive symptoms in non–Vapolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carriers, and on cognitive symptoms only in very mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) subgroups, MCI patients, and cognitively unimpaired non-APOE ε4 carriers. These data, together with epidemiological evidence, support the idea that n-3 PUFA may play a role in maintaining adequate cognitive functioning in predementia syndromes, but not when the AD process has already taken over. Therefore, at present, no definitive dietary recommendations on fish and unsaturated fatty acids consumption, or lower intake of saturated fat, in relation to the risk for dementia and cognitive decline are possible.

Description: Utilization of nuclear bone scans for staging newly diagnosed prostate cancer has decreased dramatically due to PSA-driven stage migration. The current criteria for performing bone scans are based on limited historical data. This study evaluates serum PSA and Gleason grade in predicting positive scans in a contemporary large series of newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. Eight hundred consecutive cases of newly diagnosed prostate cancer over a 64-month period underwent a staging nuclear scan. All subjects had histologically confirmed cancer. The relationship between PSA, Gleason grade, and bone scan was examined by calculating series of crude, stratified, and adjusted odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Four percent (32/800) of all bone scans were positive. This proportion was significantly lower in patients with Gleason score ≤7 (1.9%) vs. Gleason score ≥8 (18.8%,p〈 0.001). Among patients with Gleason score ≤7, the rate of positive bones scans was 70-fold higher when the PSA was 〉30 ng/ml compared to ≤30 ng/ml (p〈 0.001). For Gleason score ≥8, the rate was significantly higher (27.9 vs. 0%) when PSA was 〉10 ng/ml compared to ≤10 ng/ml (p= 0.002). The combination of Gleason score and PSA enhances predictability of bone scans in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. The PSA threshold for ordering bone scans should be adjusted according to Gleason score. For patients with Gleason scores ≤7, we recommend a bone scan if the PSA is 〉30 ng/ml. However, for patients with a high Gleason score (8–10), we recommend a bone scan if the PSA is 〉10 ng/ml.

Description: Classroom observations based on the Co-Walker Scheme were conducted in 34 schools in order to examine the implementation quality of the Tier 1 Program (Secondary 3 Program) of the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) in the Experimental Implementation Phase. Results showed that the overall level of program adherence was generally high (with an average of 82.8%) and the mean ratings of the 13 items examining the implementation quality were all on the high side. Student participation and involvement, and the degree of achievement of the objectives, were the two significant predictors of both overall implementation quality and success of implementation, whereas lesson preparation was the third significant predictor of overall implementation quality. In conjunction with other process evaluation findings, the present study supports that the implementation quality of the Project P.A.T.H.S. is good.

Description: Angiokeratoma is a rare, benign skin lesion and a recognised complication of radiation therapy. Here we describe a case of extensive angiokeratoma of the groin and external genitalia resulting from external beam radiation to that area in a patient with penile carcinoma. Furthermore, we outline the management of this problem by surgical reconstruction.

Description: Normal, youthful arteries generally maintain constant radius/wall thickness ratios, with the relationship being described by the Laplace Law. Whether this relationship is maintained during aging is unclear. This study first examines the Laplace relationships in postmortem coronary arteries using a novel method to correct measurements for postmortem artifacts, uses data from the literature to provide preliminary validation, and then describes histology associated with low circumferential stress. Measurements of radius and wall thickness, taken at sites free from atheromas, were used with national population estimates of age-, gender-, and race-specific blood pressure data to calculate average circumferential stress within demographic groups. The estimated circumferential stress at ages 55-74 years was about half that at ages 18-24 years because of a disproportionate increase of wall thickness relative to artery radius at older ages, violating the expected relationships described by the Laplace Law. Arteries with low circumferential stress (estimated at sites distant from atherosclerosis) had more necrotic atheromas than arteries with high stress. At sites with low stress and intimal thickening, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were spread apart, thereby diminishing their density within both the intima and media. Thus, older arteries displayed both low circumferential stress and abundant matrix of low cellularity microscopically. Such changes might alter SMC-matrix interactions.

Description: The purpose of this study was to analyze risk factors for abortion among female teenagers from 12 to 19 years of age in the city of Maceió, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study, conducted in ten schools. The sample was calculated by considering the number of admissions for postabortion curettage, obtained from the Information System of Hospitalization. Data were obtained through a semi-structured questionnaire divided into three basic blocks of data: sociodemographic, sexual life, and pregnancy/abortion. To analyze the data, the logistic regression model was used. The Forward Method was chosen to set the final model that minimizes the number of variables and maximizes the accuracy of the model. The significant analysis between the dichotomous variables provided eight significant variables. Two of them are protective for abortion: the ages 12-14 years and talking with parents about sex. After the logistic regression, the receipt of support for abortion was the most significant variable of all. The adolescent with an active sexual life, a previous pregnancy, who is married, and has received support for an abortion has a 99.74% probability for an abortion. The results of this study, demonstrating the importance of the group in adolescence, and the statistical significance of having a partner to support and approve the pregnancy appears as a preventive factor for abortion. It shows the importance of support and companionship for adolescent women.

Description: Epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (ErbB-2/HER2) is a potent breast oncogene that has been shown to be amplified in 20% of breast cancers. Overexpression of ErbB-2 predicts for aggressive tumor behavior, resistance to some cytotoxic and antihormonal therapies, and poor overall survival. Trastuzumab, the humanized, monoclonal antibody directed against ErbB-2 has shown tremendous efficacy and improved overall survival for women when combined with a taxane-based chemotherapy. However, resistance to trastuzumab remains a major concern, most notably in women with metastatic breast cancer. Numerous mechanisms that include overexpression of alternate receptor tyrosine kinases and/or loss of critical tumor suppressors have been proposed in the last several years to elucidate trastuzumab resistance. Here we review the many possible mechanisms of action that could contribute to resistance, and novel therapies to prevent or reverse the resistant phenotype. Moreover, we provide a critical role for Notch signaling cross-talk with overlapping or new signaling networks in trastuzumab-resistant breast.

Description: Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is a chronic inflammatory process that results in replacement of renal and/or perirenal tissue with a diffuse infiltrate of inflammatory cells referred to as xanthoma cells. We present a case of a 49-year-old man with an incidentally discovered renal mass with inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus, who was found intraoperatively to have a significant inflammatory process involving the posterior wall of his IVC and right renal vein consistent with XGP surrounding a focus of clear cell renal cell carcinoma in the midportion of his right kidney.

Description: Although, the role of Botulinum Toxin-A in the treatment of the neurogenic and non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder is becoming more defined, this is the first review article to characterize the emerging role of Botulinum Toxin-A in the pediatric urologic population. Injection of Botulinum Toxin-A at the level of the bladder works by inhibiting uninhibited bladder contractions and, possibly, by blocking some of the sensory nerve fibers. In children with sphincter dyssynergy, injection at the level of the urethral sphincter works by inhibiting the involuntary guarding reflex and blocking dyssynergic voiding.

Description: Quantitative structure-activity relationship (qSAR) models are used to understand how the structure and activity of chemical compounds relate. In the present study, 37 carboquinone derivatives were evaluated and two different qSAR models were developed using members of the Molecular Descriptors Family (MDF) and the Molecular Descriptors Family on Vertices (MDFV). The usual parameters of regression models and the following estimators were defined and calculated in order to analyze the validity and to compare the models: Akaike?s information criteria (three parameters), Schwarz (or Bayesian) information criterion, Amemiya prediction criterion, Hannan-Quinn criterion, Kubinyi function, Steiger's Z test, and Akaike's weights. The MDF and MDFV models proved to have the same estimation ability of the goodness-of-fit according to Steiger's Z test. The MDFV model proved to be the best model for the considered carboquinone derivatives according to the defined information and prediction criteria, Kubinyi function, and Akaike's weights.

Description: Enveloped viruses commonly employ membrane fusion during cell penetration in order to deliver their genetic material across the cell boundary. Large conformational changes in the proteins embedded in the viral membrane play a fundamental role in the membrane fusion process. Despite the tremendously wide variety of viruses that contain membranes, it appears that they all contain membrane fusion protein machinery with a remarkably conserved mechanism of action. Much of our current biochemical understanding of viral membrane fusion has been derived from high-resolution structural studies and solution-basedin vitroassays in which viruses fuse with liposomes or cells. Recently, single-particle experiments have been used to provide measurements of details not available in the bulk assays. Here we focus our discussion on the key dynamical aspects of fusion protein structure, along with some of the experimental and computational techniques presently being used to investigate viral-mediated membrane fusion.

Description: Pseudodiaptomus dubiais a calanoid copepod that is distributed widely in the estuarine-coastal waters of Asia and is a dominant copepod in the shrimp grow-out ponds in southern China. A laboratory culture experiment was conducted to evaluate the influences of water temperature on larval development, survival, and reproduction. Results indicate that within a temperature range from 15 to 35°C, larval development increases as the temperature increases. The water temperature for optimal larval survival rate ranges from 20 to 35°C. Longevity and egg hatching time decrease as the temperature increases from 20 to 35°C. Total fecundity and reproduction frequency increase as the water temperature increases, with the maximum at 30°C. Fecundity and reproduction frequency decrease when the temperature exceeds 30°C. Intrinsic growth rate (rm) ranges from 0.168 to 0.195 at 25 to 30°C; net reproduction rate (R0) and finite growth rate (?) are 163 to 264 and 1.183 to 1.215, respectively, when the temperature is greater than 20 and 35°C; population doubling time (t) varies from 3.556 to 4.128 days at temperatures less than 20 and 35°C. Population generation time (T) is negatively correlated with temperature, with the optimal population growth rate at 25 to 30°C.

Description: In the past, many researchers considered viral vectors to be the most promising candidates to transfer genetic material into the corpora for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, at present, no viral vectors have progressed to human trials. In contrast, the use of naked gene therapy, a plasmid expressing the human Maxi-K potassium channel, is the only gene therapy treatment to be evaluated in clinical phase I trials to date. The success of these studies, proving the safety of this treatment, has paved the way for the development of future gene transfer techniques based on similar transfer methods, as well as novel treatment vectors, such as stem cell transfer.

Description: Hyperphagia is a frequent symptom in patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and results in marked obesity with the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular complications. Previously, we reported that our special diet for PWS patients is effective in the long run, if started early at about 2 years of age. Our objective in this study was to investigate if our special diet is also effective in PWS adolescents who are already overweight. We provided a strict, fat-reduced, and carbohydrate-modified diet, consisting of 10 kcal/cm height, to five adolescents (two female, three male) with PWS. Patients were prospectively followed at our center for 2-6 years. BMI, BMI-SDS, and Weight-for-Height Index were recorded over that period. The special diet was started at a mean age of 16 years (range: 14.1-18.9 years) and initial BMI was 41.3 kg/m2(range: 32.4-55.5 kg/m2), corresponding to BMI-SDS +3.6 (range: +2.8 to +4.5 SDS). Weight-for-Height Index was 243% (range: 190-339%). After 2 years of the diet, BMI decreased to 33 kg/m2(range: 26.7-38 kg/m2), as well as BMI-SDS +2.7 (range: 1.7-3.4 SDS) and Weight-for-Height Index to 191% (range: 157-232%); p 〈 0.01. The special diet was still effective in reducing weight after 4–6 years, with a mean BMI of 30.5 kg/m2(range: 24.6–34.5 kg/m2) and a mean BMI-SDS of +2.1 (range: 0.7–2.9). We conclude that in a period of 2–6 years, our strict, fat-reduced, and carbohydrate-modified diet, with 10 kcal/cm height, is effective even in adolescents with PWS who are already overweight.

Description: The neural processes underlying sensory-motor integration have always attracted strong interest. The classic view is that action and perception are two extremes of mental operations. In the past 2 decades, though, a large number of discoveries have indeed refuted such an interpretation in favor of a more integrated view. Specifically, the discovery of mirror neurons in monkey premotor cortex is a rather strong demonstration that sensory and motor processes share the same neural substrates. In fact, these cells show complex sensory-motor properties, such that observed, heard, or executed goal-directed actions could equally activate these neurons. On the other hand, the neuroscience of music has similarly emerged as an active and productive field of research. In fact, music-related behaviors are a useful model of action-perception mechanisms and how they develop through training. More recently, these two lines of research have begun to intersect into a novel branch of research. As a consequence, it has been proposed recently that mirror-like mechanisms might be at the basis of human music perception-production abilities. The scope of the present short review is to set the scientific background for mirror-like mechanisms in music by examining recent published data.

Description: Calciphylaxis is a rare, but life-threatening, disease, mostly seen in patients with renal failure, especially those undergoing dialysis. It is characterized by violaceous tender areas of cutaneous plaques, necrosis, and eschar formation, mostly involving toes and fingers, but rarely the penis. Peripheral pulses are mostly preserved. The parathyroid hormone (PTH) level is elevated, along with raised calcium phosphorus product. There is radiological evidence of blood vessel and soft tissue calcification. Predisposing factors are obesity and diabetes. It is rarely encountered by a urologist and closely resembles penile gangrene.

Description: The evolutionary perspective is relevant for the study of quality of life in that the brain, including its capacity for positive and negative states of mind, has been shaped by the forces of evolution. The present text uses this perspective to discuss three questions related to the observation that human interactions are a particular important factor for well-being: (1) What is known about the inherent nature of our social propensities? (2) Is the present situation responsible for a suboptimal quality of life? (3) Are there alternatives to the organization of mainstream Western society? Based on this discussion, the question is raised as to whether it is possible to suggest improvements. Briefly, it seems possible to create conditions that enhance social relations and to the extent that happiness is considered an important objective, this is a relevant endeavor.

Description: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an irreversible condition causing damage to myelinated fiber tracts that carry sensation and motor signals to and from the brain. SCI is also associated with gray matter damage and often life-threatening secondary complications. This mini-review aims to provide the nonspecialist reader with a comprehensive description of recent advances made in 2008 using murine models of SCI. A variety of approaches, including advanced genetics and molecular techniques, have allowed a number of key findings in the field of secondary degeneration, repair, regeneration (including insights from peripheral nerve lesion models), metabolic dysfunctions, and pharmacological neuromodulation.