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To analyze aging-related regional changes in the lower eyelid tissue structure of Han Chinese women as data reference and theoretical basis for rejuvenation treatment of lower eyelids. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of healthy Han Chinese women with a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5–23.9 kg/m2 were collected and stratified by age. MRI of the mid-sagittal plane of the eyeball was analyzed. The orbital margin was marked as the coordinate O point while the surface of the zygomatic bone was marked as the coordinate y-axis. The vertical line between the O point and y-axis was marked as the x-axis. The position of each point of the orbicularis oculi muscle contour and the subcutaneous fat tissue contour on the coordinate axis was measured. The thickness and contour morphology of the subcutaneous fat and orbicularis oculi muscle at different positions were calculated according to the coordinate position of each point. Age-related changes in the structure, contour, and position of the subcutaneous tissue in the lower eyelid area were analyzed. With aging, the thickness of the orbicularis oculi muscle decreased while its width increased. Notably, the radian of the orbicularis oculi muscle in the tarsal portion protruding to the skin increased. The subcutaneous fat of the orbital margin thinned while the subcutaneous fat below the orbital margin thickened with age. The subcutaneous tissue structure of the lower eyelid region in Han Chinese women showed regular changes during aging, chiefly characterized by the widening and thinning of the orbicularis oculi muscle, and the gradual shifting of the subcutaneous fat to the middle and lower regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Durability of reactive MgO cement (RMC) concrete under aggressive environments is unknown. • Properties of carbonated RMC concrete with 50 % fly ash (FA) under nitric acid were studied. • Use of FA led to lower hydration and carbonation due to the lower RMC content. • Most Mg-phases were still present after acid exposure despite some leaching. • Reduction in strength was accompanied with the formation of micro cracks. MgO cement (RMC)-based mixes are known to gain strength via carbonation. While the strength gain mechanism of RMC mixes has been studied, their durability under aggressive environments is relatively unknown. This study investigated the changes in the performance and microstructure of two concrete formulations, whose binder component was made up of RMC with and without 50 % FA substitution. These concrete specimens were initially carbonated for 28 days to gain strength, followed by immersion in 0.5 M nitric acid for 14 days. The degradation of both specimens was recorded in terms of changes in their strength, mass, composition and microstructure. The use of FA led to a lower hydration and subsequent carbonation due to the lower RMC content, thereby limiting initial strength development. While the leaching of Mg-based phases into the external solution was recorded, most hydrate and carbonate phases were still present after acid exposure. The ∼56 % reduction in strength experienced by both specimens was accompanied with the formation of micro cracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coxiella burnetii is a small Gram-negative intracellular bacterium and is the causative agent of Q fever, which is a zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. Domesticated ruminants are the main reservoir of the disease, but the bacterium is able to infect a wide range of hosts, including humans, arthropods and invertebrates. Virulence studies of Coxiella strains usually require a suitable animal model. However, mammalian models are costly and are associated with many ethical constraints. An alternative infection model using Galleria mellonella has been used to study the virulence of several bacterial as well as fungal pathogens. Moreover, the G. mellonella larvae model has been used to identify virulence genes using phase II C. burnetii strain Nine Mile mutants. In our study we describe its use for the characterization of C. burnetii strains isolated from ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We report numerical results for light reflection from the top of a Rayleigh scattering spherical atmosphere over a dark surface. • We account for polarization of light and height-dependent single scattering albedo. • We report single and multiple scattering data separately to support validation and development of RT codes for spherical atmospheres. We report numerical results for polarized light reflection from the top of a Rayleigh scattering spherical atmosphere with height-dependent single scattering albedo over a dark surface. Michael Mishchenko considered this scenario back in the 1990's, for a plane-parallel atmosphere of unit optical thickness (OT = 1), for which radiance errors arising from neglecting polarization reaches their highest values. To further extend Mishchenko's results, we consider a value of OT = 0.25, for which the effect of atmospheric curvature is pronounced. New results are generated using three state-of-the art radiative transfer (RT) codes. These are: the MYSTIC and MCSSA models, which simulate light scattering in a true-spherical atmosphere using Monte Carlo methods; and the discrete ordinate code VLIDORT, operating with a new multiple-scatter spherical correction designed to deliver reasonable approximations to spherical-medium scattering. In this work, we report results for both single and multiple scattering; this will help to support the validation of existing and future polarized spherical RT codes, especially those using approximative methods to deal with sphericity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to purify and identify an antifungal compound from Lactobacillus plantarum AF1, which was isolated from kimchi. The antifungal compound was purified by solid-phase extraction and recycling preparative high-performance liquid chromatography, and its structure was elucidated by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The active compound from L. plantarum AF1 was confirmed to be δ-dodecalactone (molecular weight, 198.3) by comparison of its gas chromatographic retention time with the mass spectrum of standard δ-dodecalactone. The MICs of δ-dodecalactone against various fungi and bacteria ranged from 350 to 6,250 µg/ml. δ-Dodecalactone showed strong antifungal activity against molds Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. petrakii, A. ochraceus, A. nidulans, and Penicillium roqueforti. The three tested yeast strains of Candida albicans were more resistant than the molds. Antibacterial activity was evident but less potent than the antifungal activity. δ-Dodecalactone produced pleasurable(fruity) organoleptic characteristics. The results indicate the potential of the δ-dodecalactone produced by L. plantarum AF1 as a biopreservative and flavoring compound, as well as a biosafe remedy for candidiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clin Microbiol Infect 2010; 16: 425–431 Efforts to control spread of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) are often based on eradication of colonization. However, the role of nasal and non-nasal colonization in the pathogenesis of these infections remains poorly understood. Patients with acute S. aureus skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) were prospectively enrolled. Each subject’s nasal, axillary, inguinal and rectal areas were swabbed for S. aureus and epidemiological risk factors were surveyed. Among the 117 patients enrolled, there were 99 patients who had an SSTI and for whom data could be analysed. Sixty-five patients had a CA-MRSA SSTI. Among these patients, MRSA colonization in the nares, axilla, inguinal area and rectum was 25, 6, 11 and 13%, respectively, and 37% overall were MRSA colonized. Most (96%) MRSA colonization was detected using nose and inguinal screening alone. Non-nasal colonization was 25% among CA-MRSA patients, but only 6% among patients with CA-methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) or healthcare-associated MRSA or MSSA. These findings suggest that colonization patterns in CA-MRSA infection are distinct from those in non-CA-MRSA S. aureus infections. The relatively high prevalence of non-nasal colonization may play a key role in CA-MRSA transmission and acquisition of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Biological systems can be modeled as networks of interacting components across multiple scales. A central problem in computational systems biology is to identify those critical components and the rules that define their interactions and give rise to the emergent behavior of a host response. In this paper we will discuss two fundamental problems related to the construction of transcription factor networks and the identification of networks of functional modules describing disease progression. We focus on inflammation as a key physiological response of clinical and translational importance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses studies on radiation therapy for breast cancer. Another study analyzed the long-term outcomes of adjuvant breast intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Another study discussed the impact of comprehensive locoregional therapy and systemic therapy on disease control and survival for postmastectomy patients with isolated locoregional recurrence. Another study noted the effects of less-than- optimal radiotherapy (RT) on women ages 66 and above, who were diagnosed with stage I breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ.

Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PMVT) can occur in patients with structurally normal hearts and in 8% of cases can lead to sudden cardiac death, typically exercise-induced. The role of the cardiac type 2 ryanodine receptor (RyR2) in pathogenesis of PMVT presenting at rest is unclear. We aimed here at modelling PMVT observed in a patient harboring the RyR2-H29D mutation by comparing the molecular and functional properties of RyR2-H29D hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) with their isogenic control counterparts with a particular focus on the RyR2 properties. We collected blood samples from the patient and generated several clones of RyR2-H29D hiPSC, in addition to generating an isogenic control by reverting the RyR2-H29D mutation using CRIPSR/Cas9 technology. We used fluorescent confocal microscopy, patch-clamp and video-image-based analysis to investigate the molecular and functional consequences of the RyR2-H29D mutation. We first hypothesized that PMVT hiPSC-CMs expressing the RyR2-H29D mutation would exhibit abnormal Ca2+ homeostasis. Thus, we measured and analyzed the intracellular Ca2+ variation. We found that the RyR2-H29D hiPSC-CMs exhibit clone-independent aberrant properties including intracellular sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ leak through RyR2 under physiological pacing. The contribution of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors to excitation-contraction coupling exacerbate the abnormal intracellular Ca2+ release in the RyR2-H29D hiPSC-CMs. Moreover, the RyR2-H29D hiPSC-CMs exhibit RyR2 post-translational remodeling, shorter action potentials, delayed afterdepolarizations, arrhythmias and aberrant contractile properties compared to isogenic controls. These abnormalities are fully reversed with isogenic control. Our results suggest that RyR2-mediated Ca2+ leak induces an impairment of Ca2+ homeostasis and provide support to decipher the molecular mechanisms of short-coupled PMVT at rest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A central problem in bioinformatics and systems biology is the selection of appropriate models in a rational and systematic way. This fundamentally combinatorial problem can be readily formulated and addressed within an integer optimization framework. In this paper we examine two such applications related to the identification of informative genes and the quantification of regulatory networks. We demonstrate how multiple alternatives can be systematically derived and assess the information content of the proposed solutions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the hypothesis that a systems biology approach can be developed such that a set of transcription factors, relevant to burn-induced inflammatory response can be identified and modulated to control the host response. We explore a novel method for identifying coherent and informative expression motifs and we subsequently determine conserved transcription factor binding sites for the sub-sets of co-expressed genes. The responses are rationalized in the context of burn-induced inflammation and the putative transcription factors are rationalized in the context of intervention targets for controlling gene expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We previously reported that a methanolic extract of Coptis japonica, which is a well-known traditional oriental medicine, inhibits morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice. Berberine is a major component of Coptis japonica extract, and it has been established that the adverse effects of morphine on the brain involve dopamine (DA) receptors. However, to our knowledge, no study has investigated the inhibitory effects of berberine on morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and analgesic tolerance in mice. Here, we investigated the effects of berberine on morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and on the development of analgesic tolerance. Furthermore, we examined the effects of berberine treatment on N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Berberine was found to completely block both morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and analgesic tolerance, and reduce D1 and NMDA receptor bindings in the cortex. Moreover, berberine markedly inhibited NMDA current in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing NMDA receptor subunits. Our results suggest that the inhibitory effects of berberine on morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and analgesic tolerance are closely related to the modulation of D1 and NMDA receptors, and that berberine should be viewed as a potential novel means of attenuating morphine-induced sensitization and analgesic tolerance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Previous studies have raised the possibility that a decrease in voltage-gated K+ currents may contribute to hyperexcitability of injured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and the emergence of neuropathic pain. We examined the effects of axotomy on mRNA levels for various Kv1 family subunits and voltage-gated K+ currents in L4–L5 DRG neurons from sham-operated and sciatic nerve-transected rats. RNase protection assay revealed that Kv1.1 and Kv 1.2 mRNAs are highly abundant while Kv1.3, Kv1.4, Kv1.5 and Kv1.6 mRNAs were detected at lower levels in L4–L5 DRGs from sham and intact rats. Axotomy significantly decreased Kv1.1, Kv1.2, Kv1.3 and Kv1.4 mRNA levels by approximately 35%, approximately 60%, approximately 40% and approximately 80%, respectively, but did not significantly change Kv1.5 or Kv1.6 mRNA levels. Patch clamp recordings revealed two types of K+ currents in small-sized L4–L5 DRG neurons: sustained delayed rectifier currents elicited from a −40 mV holding potential and slowly inactivating A-type currents that was additionally activated from a −120 mV holding potential. Axotomy decreased both types of K+ currents by 50–60% in injured DRG neurons. In addition, axotomy increased the α-dendrotoxin sensitivity of the delayed rectifier, but not slow A-type K+ currents in injured DRG neurons. These results suggest that Kv1.1 and Kv1.2 subunits are major components of voltage-gated K+ channels in L4–L5 DRG neurons and that the decreased expression of Kv1-family subunits significantly contributes to the reduction and altered kinetics of Kv current in axotomized neurons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Model simulation is an effective approach to optimize the operational performance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study presents a novel strategy to enhance the total nitrogen (TN) removal in WWTPs by GPS-X integrated with response surface methodology. The sensitivities of 61 parameters were screened and analyzed, and 6 critical parameters (i.e., μ max A , K A/a , μ max H , K H/ss , Y H and μ maxPAO) were selected for further adjustment. The accuracy of GPS-X for WWTPs modeling was validated by static and dynamic simulations with actual operational data. The results showed that the DO concentration diffused in different biological compartments exhibited significant effects on the denitrification rate. The TN removal is also associated with SRT. The significance and optimization orders of key parameters were analyzed. With the optimization of DO in biological units and SRT, the nitrification and denitrification rates were improved to 97.1 and 85.3% respectively, saving 17.9% energy consumption. Unlabelled Image • The TN removal in WWTPs is optimized via the GPS-X simulation integrated with RSM. • Six critical parameters were found with the sensitivity analysis and screening. • The significance and optimization orders of critical parameters were recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A porous metal organic framework [NiIIINiII 2(μ 3-OH)(bdc)1.5(int)3] n x(solvents) (1: bdc=1,4-benzenedicarboxylate; int=isonicotinate) based on the trinuclear Ni3(μ 3-OH) units was solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. It features a three-dimensional 9-connected ncb-type framework with two kinds of cage substructures and large one-dimensional channels. Both N2 and CO2 gas sorption studies of 1 were investigated to demonstrate the permanent porosity in 1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To map the limitations of the Oncology Care Model (OCM) to the proposed features of the 2021 Oncology Care First (OCF) model in order to evaluate whether the OCF is more likely to successfully reduce total cost of care. The OCF attempts to address the first two issues by including new tumor-specific calculation methods and providing prospective payments to any oncology patient managed by a participating practice. Given past OCM experiences, the OCF may ultimately follow a similar trajectory and have limited impact on the total cost of care unless solutions to these issues are included in the final program design. [Extracted from the article]

To perform a comparative assessment of the formal registry requirements in Germany and Brazil for orphan therapies with limited clinical evidence in order to pinpoint the future role of real-world evidence (RWE) in health technology assessments (HTAs). However, while the data collected will trigger a re-assessment after three years, no orphan drugs have been negatively impacted thus far. [Extracted from the article]