Notes

Continuing development of scanning method with regard to industrial accelerator.
Introduction Surgical care is an integral part of any healthcare system, yet there is a paucity of data on the burden of surgical disease, surgical capacity and access to surgical services in the Pacific region. This study aimed to evaluate access to surgical care through a pilot household survey in the Vanuatu island of Efate and five of its surrounding islands. Methods The 2009 Vanuatu census' GPS coordinates were used to randomly select 150 rural and 150 urban households from Efate and its surrounding islands. A total of 143 urban households and 142 rural households were available for inclusion in this study. A household questionnaire was developed to evaluate access to surgical care and included information regarding household demographics, socio-economic indicators and perceived and realised barriers to accessing care. The questionnaire was administered by local health workers, and data were collected electronically. Results Questionnaires were completed by 285 households. Two hundred and forty-one out of 254 (94.8%) households reported being able to access Port Vila Hospital, if required. The most commonly cited potential barriers to accessing surgical care were financial constraints (42.4%) and transport (26.4%). selleck kinase inhibitor Conclusion Our results provide important insights into the geographic, sociocultural and economic barriers to seeking, reaching and receiving surgical care in this region of Vanuatu. Identifying specific areas and communities with poor access to care, alongside the determinants of access, will help in designing both clinical and policy interventions to improve access to surgical care.Background The burden of surgical disease in refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) populations has not been well defined. Populations fleeing conflict are mobile, limiting the effectiveness of traditional sampling methods. We employed novel sampling and survey techniques to conduct a population-based surgical needs assessment amongst IDPs in Kerenik, West Darfur, Sudan, over 4 weeks in 2008. Methods Satellite imagery was used to identify man-made structures. Ground teams were guided by GPS to randomly selected households. A newly created surgical needs survey was administered by surgeons to household members. One randomly selected individual answered demographic and medical history questions pertaining to themselves and first-degree blood relatives. All household members were offered a physical examination looking for surgical disease. Findings There were 780 study participants; 82% were IDPs. A history since displacement of surgical and potentially surgical conditions was reported in 38% of respondents and by 73% of respondents in first-degree blood relatives. Surgical histories included trauma (gunshots, stabbings, assaults) (5% respondents; 27% relatives), burns (6% respondents; 14% relatives), and obstetrical problems (5% female respondents; 11% relatives). 1485 individuals agreed to physical examinations. Untreated surgical and potentially surgical disease was identified in 25% of participants. Interpretation We identified and characterized a high burden of surgical and potentially surgical disease in an IDP population in West Darfur. Our study is unique in its direct assessment of a traumatized, mobile, vulnerable population. Health officials and agencies charged with the care of IDP and refugee populations should be aware of the high prevalence of surgical and potentially surgical conditions in these communities. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that investment in surgical resources may address a significant portion of the overall burden of disease in marginalized populations.Background Several inflammation-based scoring systems and nutritional indicators have been shown to have relevance to survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).The present study examined preoperative and pathological factors in patients who underwent curative resection for non-small cell lung cancer, with the aim to elucidate risk factors for early recurrence within 1 year of surgery. Methods Patients with NSCLC who underwent surgery from January 2009 to December 2014 were retrospectively investigated. Routine laboratory measurements including carcinoembryonic antigen were performed before surgery, and pathological information was collected after surgery. Patients with recurrence within 1 year after surgery were considered as early recurrence group (ERG), those with recurrence after 1 year were as late recurrence group (LRG), and those without recurrence were as no recurrence group (NRG). Results Multivariate analysis between ERG and LRG revealed Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) and CRP-to-albumin ratio (CAR) as independent risk factors for early recurrence. Multivariate analysis between ERG and LRG + NRG confirmed CAR, vascular invasion, and pathological stage as risk factors for early recurrence. Conclusion These findings indicated that CAR and GPS were confirmed to be risk factors for early recurrence, in addition to pathological factors.Some probiotic strains, such as Lactobacillus spp., are options for the removal of heavy metals from food, water and soil. Although copper or zinc are essential for use in many biochemical processes, they are toxic at high concentrations. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate two Lactobacillus strains for their application in the bioremediation of copper and zinc from aqueous solution. The biomass of Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus plantarum were treated with different concentrations of copper or zinc (0-200 mM). Minimum inhibitory concentration, biosorption capacity and kinetic biosorption behavior were determined. The results showed rapid biosorption of both metals and both species, removed zinc ions more efficient than copper. The highest removal rate of zinc reached 84% for the L.fermentum. Moreover, Freundlich and Langmuir model indicated that L.fermentum showed a higher capability to biosorp heavy metal compared to L.plantarum. It was concluded that L.fermentum biomass, a widely available and highly efficient biosorbant, could be applied for zinc or copper bioremediation from the aquatic environment.In this study, in situ-expressed metabolic routes of Brochothrix (B.) thermosphacta and Carnobacterium (C.) divergens were evaluated based on a metatranscriptomic dataset from bacteria growing on MAP chicken meat (O2/CO2; N2/CO2). Both species exhibited no (C. divergens) or minor transcription regulation (B. thermosphacta) within their main metabolic routes in response to different atmospheres. Both employ pathways related to glucose and ribose. Gluconeogenesis from lipid-borne glycerol is active in the progressing lack of carbohydrates. Pyruvate fates in both species comprise lactate, ethanol, acetate, CO2, formate, C4-compounds and H2O2 (only B. thermosphacta). Both species express genes for a minimal aerobic respiratory chain, but do not possess the genetic setting for a functional citric acid cycle. While products of carbohydrate and glycerol metabolism display mild to medium sensorial off-characteristics, predicted end products of their amino acid metabolism comprise, e.g., isobutyrate and isovalerate (B. thermosphacta) or cadaverine and tyramine (C. divergens) as potent spoilage compounds.A central goal in biology is to determine the ways in which evolution repeats itself. One of the most remarkable examples in nature of convergent evolutionary novelty is animal venom. Across diverse animal phyla, various specialized organs and anatomical structures have evolved from disparate developmental tissues to perform the same function, i.e. produce and deliver a cocktail of potent molecules to subdue prey or predators. Venomous organisms therefore offer unique opportunities to investigate the evolutionary processes of convergence of key adaptive traits, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the emergence of novel genes, cells, and tissues. Indeed, some venomous species have already proven to be highly amenable as models for developmental studies, and recent work with venom gland organoids provides manipulatable systems for directly testing important evolutionary questions. Here, we provide a synthesis of the current knowledge that could serve as a starting point for the establishment of venom systems as new models for evolutionary and molecular biology. In particular, we highlight the potential of various venomous species for the study of cell differentiation and cell identity, and the regulatory dynamics of rapidly-evolving, highly expressed, tissue-specific, gene paralogs. We hope that this review will encourage researchers to look beyond traditional study organisms and consider venom systems as useful tools to explore evolutionary novelties.Post-transcriptional methylation of N6- and N1-adenine can effect transcriptome turnover and translation. Furthermore, the regulatory function of N6-methyladenine (m6A) during heat shock has been uncovered, including the enhancement of the phase separation potential of RNAs. In response to acute stress, e.g. heat shock, the orderly sequestration of mRNAs in stress granules (SGs) is considered important to protect transcripts from the irreversible aggregation. Until recently, the role of N1-methyladenine (m1A) on mRNAs during acute stress response remains largely unknown. Here we show that the methyltransferase complex TRMT6/61A, which generates the m1A tag, is involved in transcriptome protection during heat shock. Our bioinformatics analysis indicates that occurrence of the m1A motif is increased in mRNAs known to be enriched in SGs. Accordingly, the m1A-generating methyltransferase TRMT6/61A accumulated in SGs and mass spectrometry confirmed enrichment of m1A in the SG RNAs. The insertion of a single methylation motif in the untranslated region of a reporter RNA lead to more efficient recovery of protein synthesis from that transcript after the return to normal temperature. Our results demonstrate far-reaching functional consequences of a minimal RNA modification on N1-adenine during acute proteostasis stress.Background Skin aging of upper arm, induced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, often results in loss of contour, elasticity and firmness, and increase in laxity, crepiness, roughness and photodamage. A topical body firming moisturizer (TBFM) was developed to target all aspects of aged body skin. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the TBFM for upper arm firming and rejuvenation. Methods Forty female subjects, 40-60 years old, Fitzpatrick skin type II-V, with mild to moderate laxity, crepiness, and photodamage on the upper arms were recruited into the study, 10 of whom were selected for biopsy analysis. Subjects were randomized to apply the TBFM and placebo moisturizer on the assigned arms twice daily for 12 weeks. At each visit, efficacy and tolerability evaluation, self-assessment, and standardized clinical photography were taken. Ultrasound measurements were performed at baseline, week 8 and week 12. Results Results from the efficacy evaluation by the clinical grader and bio-instrumentation analysis showed the TBFM improved all skin parameters of the aged upper arm while outperforming the placebo moisturizer after 12 weeks. Clinical photography showed the test product was able to tone and firm the skin. The TBFM was well-tolerated and well-perceived by the subjects. Ultrasound images illustrated an improvement in skin density and skin structure at week 12. Conclusion This clinical trial positively supports the hypothesis that the TBFM was effective and tolerable in improving crepey, lax, and photodamaged skin of the upper arms after 12 weeks of treatment twice daily.
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