MA Group Research Articles

Is it possible to increase n-3 fatty acid content of meat without affecting its technological and/or sensory quality and the growing performance of chickens?

The aim of this study was to increase the content of n-3 fatty acids (FA) of meat without affecting its sensory and/or technological properties or the growth performance of chickens reared under standard conditions. Male chickens, Ross 308, were distributed into 5 groups corresponding to 5 different diets for the growing and finishing periods: control (T), containing extruded linseeds exhibiting high concentration of fibre (ELHF), extruded linseeds exhibiting low concentration of fibre (ELLF), microalgae, or an association of 75% ELLF and 25% MA (ELLF+MA).The diet containing microalgae induced a decrease in feed consumption without affecting growth rate. Chickens exhibited a lower feed conversion ratio than the other groups for the growing and finishing periods but also the whole rearing period. The use of linseeds in diets had no effect on the growth performance of chickens in comparison to the control group.The dietary enrichment with n-3 FA had few effects on carcass composition or the ultimate pH and colour of breast meat. The microalgae increased the meat susceptibility to oxidation. The lipid content of breast meat was not affected by the diets. The breast meat of chickens fed on diets containing linseeds and/or microalgae had greater n-3 FA content (2.4 to 3.9 times higher than group T). The linseeds and microalgae mainly increased the contents in linolenic acid and long chain n-3 FA, respectively.Dietary enrichment with n-3 FA had no effect on the sensory quality of fillets whereas the thighs of the MA group exhibited the lowest score for the flavour “chicken” and the greatest score for the flavour “abnormal” corresponding to a fish flavour.

Matrine enhances the anticancer effect of cisplatin against hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts in nude mice by influencing expression of survivin/caspase-3

To investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of cisplatin (DDP) combined with Matrine (Ma;plant alkaloid) against hepatocellular carcinoma using a nude mouse model with xenografted human tumors. Twenty-four 6-week old male BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously injected with HepG2 cells into the axilla, and randomly divided into four groups:control (NS) group,Ma treatment group,DDP treatment group and DDP+Ma combination treatment group. All treatments were delivered via intraperitoneal injection.Changes in whole body weights and tumor volume were assessed by before and after treatment measurements and plotting of growth curves. After 14 days of drug intervention, the mice were sacrificed for collection of tumor tissue and assessment of the tumor inhibition rates for each treatment. Affects on expression of survivin and caspase-3 were assessed by immunohistochemistry. ANOVA test and t-test were performed for the statistical analyses. The tumor inhibition rates for the various treatments were:37.5%,Ma alone;75.0% DDP alone;83.3%,DDP+Ma group DDP combined. The DDP+Ma-induced inhibition was significantly greater than that achieved wit Ma or DDP alone (both P less than 0.05). The average weight of the DDP+Ma group (21.5 g) was lower than that of the NS group (28.5 g) and the Ma group (26.67 g),but higher than that of the DDP group (17.33 g).In addition, the DDP+Ma group also showed more robust general health,as indicated by activity,participation in life routines and appetite,than the DDP group. The rate of positive staining for survivin expression in tumor tissues was significantly lower in the DDP+Ma group (19.58%+/-4.52%) than in the NS group (83.26%+/-15.56%), the Ma group (62.50%+/-8.09%), and the DDP group (38.67%+/-8.26%) (all P less than 0.05).In contrast, the rate of positive staining for Bax expression was significantly higher in the DDP+Ma group (78.26%+/-6.09%) than in the NS group (21.15%+/-3.68%), the Ma group (35.13%+/-10.57%), and the DDP group (65.88%+/-4.81%) (all P less than 0.05). Treatment with Ma alone or DDP alone is sufficient to inhibit the growth ofxenografted human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in nude mice. The DDP+Ma combination treatment,however,shows greater inhibitory effect,suggesting that Ma may enhance DDP's anticancer properties. The improved health status of mice treated with DDP+Ma suggests that Ma may reduce DDP toxicity. The mechanism underlying these beneficial treatment effects may involve modulation of survivin/caspase-3 expression and subsequent apoptosis.

The effects of buthionine sulfoximine treatment on diaphragm contractility and SERCA pump function in adult and middle aged rats.

This study examined the effects of 10 days of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) treatment on in vitro contractility and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump (SERCA) expression and function in adult (AD; 6–8 months old) and middle aged (MA; 14–17 months old) rat diaphragm in both the basal state and following fatiguing stimulation. BSO treatment reduced the cellular concentrations of free glutathione (GSH) by >95% and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) by >80% in both age cohorts. GSH content in AD Control diaphragm was 32% higher (P < 0.01) than in MA Control, with no differences in GSSG. The ratio of GSH:GSSG, an indicator of cellular oxidative state, was 34.6 ± 7.4 in MA Control, 52.5 ± 10.1 in AD Control, 10.6 ± 1.7 in MA BSO, and 9.5 ± 1.1 in AD BSO (BSO vs. Control, P < 0.05). Several findings suggest that the effects of BSO treatment are age dependent. AD BSO diaphragm had 26% higher twitch and 28% higher tetanic force (both P < 0.05) than AD Controls, whereas no significant difference existed between the two MA groups. In contrast to our previous work on BSO-treated AD rats, BSO treatment did not influence maximal SERCA ATPase activity in MA rat diaphragm, nor did SERCA2a expression increase in BSO-treated MA diaphragm. Biotinylated iodoacetamide binding to SERCA1a, a specific marker of free cysteine residues, was reduced by 35% (P < 0.05) in AD Control diaphragm following fatiguing stimulation, but was not reduced in any other group. Collectively, these results suggest an important role for redox regulation in both contractility and SERCA function which is influenced by aging.

Maleic Anhydride Treated Wood: Effects of Drying Time and Esterification Temperature on Properties

To improve technical performance of wood siding, treatment with maleic anhydride was applied. The effects on technical performance of drying time and esterification temperature parameters were analyzed. Wood samples of lodgepole pine and white pine were treated and tested. Results indicated that treatment improves technical performance of wood (dimensional stability, fungal degradation resistance, and accelerated aging). FTIR spectroscopy analysis showed spectra with peaks at 1750 to 1730 cm-1. These correspond to ester bonds formed between wood hydroxyl groups and MA carboxylic acid groups. SEM images indicate that the MA quantity in wood cavities was increased with decreasing esterification temperature. Weight percent gain (WPG) increased with decreasing time and temperature of esterification. Artificial aging and fungal degradation performances were monitored using FTIR analysis. Esterification temperature had no important effect on fungal degradation. Weight loss after fungal exposure of treated samples was not only due to fungal action but also due to evaporation of MA during the drying step. Regarding artificial aging, degradation of wood components and ester bonds were less for samples esterified at 180 °C than those esterified at 160 °C or 140 °C.

Strategies for genotype imputation in composite beef cattle.

BackgroundGenotype imputation has been used to increase genomic information, allow more animals in genome-wide analyses, and reduce genotyping costs. In Brazilian beef cattle production, many animals are resulting from crossbreeding and such an event may alter linkage disequilibrium patterns. Thus, the challenge is to obtain accurately imputed genotypes in crossbred animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the best fitting and most accurate imputation strategy on the MA genetic group (the progeny of a Charolais sire mated with crossbred Canchim X Zebu cows) and Canchim cattle. The data set contained 400 animals (born between 1999 and 2005) genotyped with the Illumina BovineHD panel. Imputation accuracy of genotypes from the Illumina-Bovine3K (3K), Illumina-BovineLD (6K), GeneSeek-Genomic-Profiler (GGP) BeefLD (GGP9K), GGP-IndicusLD (GGP20Ki), Illumina-BovineSNP50 (50K), GGP-IndicusHD (GGP75Ki), and GGP-BeefHD (GGP80K) to Illumina-BovineHD (HD) SNP panels were investigated. Seven scenarios for reference and target populations were tested; the animals were grouped according with birth year (S1), genetic groups (S2 and S3), genetic groups and birth year (S4 and S5), gender (S6), and gender and birth year (S7). Analyses were performed using FImpute and BEAGLE software and computation run-time was recorded. Genotype imputation accuracy was measured by concordance rate (CR) and allelic R square (R2).ResultsThe highest imputation accuracy scenario consisted of a reference population with males and females and a target population with young females. Among the SNP panels in the tested scenarios, from the 50K, GGP75Ki and GGP80K were the most adequate to impute to HD in Canchim cattle. FImpute reduced computation run-time to impute genotypes from 20 to 100 times when compared to BEAGLE.ConclusionThe genotyping panels possessing at least 50 thousands markers are suitable for genotype imputation to HD with acceptable accuracy. The FImpute algorithm demonstrated a higher efficiency of imputed markers, especially in lower density panels. These considerations may assist to increase genotypic information, reduce genotyping costs, and aid in genomic selection evaluations in crossbred animals.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12863-015-0251-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Significance of the changes occurring in the levels of interleukins, SOD and MDA in rat pulmonary tissue following exposure to different altitudes and exposure times.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes occurring in the levels of interleukin, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in rat lung tissue at different altitudes and times, and to determine the significance of such changes. A total of 88 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups as follows: the control group [low altitude (LA), 1,500 m; n=8], the moderate altitude group (MA group, 2,260 m; n=40) and the high altitude group (HA group, 5,000 m; n=40). The moderate and high altitude groups were subdivided into the 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 day groups (MA1, 3, 7, 15, 30 and HA1, 3, 7, 15, 30; n=8). The levels of interleukins (IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10) in the rat lung tissue were determined by ELISA. The WST-1 Cell Proliferation Assay kit and total bile acids assay were used to determine the activity levels of SOD and the content of MDA, respectively. Compared to the control group, the levels of IL-6/IL-8/IL-10 were higher in the MA1 group; however, no significant differences were observed between the other MA subgroups. In addition, no significant differences were detected in SOD activity and the MDA content in the MA subgroups. The levels of IL-6/IL-8 in all the HA subgroups were higher compared to those of the control group, and with the passing of time, the levels of IL-6/IL-8 decreased, but were still higher than those of the control group. However, the level of IL-10 decreased with the passing of time, and was lower in all the HA subgroups compared to the control group. With the passing of time, SOD activity decreased, and the MDA content gradually increased. On the whole, the findings of this study indicate that hypoxia due to high altitude induces lung inflammation and oxidative damage, which subsequently causes severe damage to lung tissue.

Meglumine antimoniate is more effective than sodium stibogluconate in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Sodium stibogluconate (SSG, Pentostam) and meglumine antimoniate (MA, Glucantime) are two antimonials that are widely used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), but the relative efficacies of these treatments are not clear. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of intralesional SSG with intralesional MA therapy in the treatment of CL. One month after completion of the therapy, 1431 of 1728 patients (82%) who received intralesional MA showed complete clinical cure compared to 1157 of 1728 patients (67%) in the SSG group. Patients who did not respond to the first round of therapy were re-administered the same treatment but with twice weekly injections. Following completion of the second course of therapy, 237 of 297 patients (80%) in the MA group and 407 of 561 patients (72%) in the SSG group healed their lesions by 1-month post-treatment. At both times, the differences in cure rates between MA and SSG groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Cure rates in the MA group were always significantly higher than SSG groups irrespective of other parameters including age, gender, lesion site and type of lesion. Intralesional MA is more effective than intralesional SSG in the treatment of CL.

Numerical and area comparison abilities in Down syndrome

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have great difficulty in learning mathematics. In recent years, research has focused on investigating whether precursors of later mathematical competence, such as estimating and comparing numerosities, are preserved in DS. Although studies have suggested a strong relationship between the ability to compare continuous quantities (e.g., area of an object) and that of comparing numerosities, it is still unknown whether this ability is preserved in DS. This study investigated the abilities of individuals with DS to compare area and number and contrasted them with those of two control groups of typically developing individuals. Participants were 16 individuals with DS, 16 typically developing individuals matched by mental age (MA group), and 16 typically developing individuals matched by chronological age (CA group). All participants performed two eye-tracking tasks: an Area Comparison Task (ACT) and a Number Comparison Task (NCT). Stimuli in the two tasks differed in the same ratio to enable comparison of individual performance across both tasks. The results showed that in general, the performance of the three groups was better in the ACT than in the NCT. Critically, performance of individuals with DS in both tasks was consistent with that of individuals with the same MA. The study shows that the abilities to compare area and numerosity are both preserved in DS, and that individuals with this syndrome, like typically developing individuals, show better performance in comparing area than number.

Cross-bridge Kinetics Impairment In Elite Octogenarian Masters Athletes

The association between adult normal aging and impairments of the neuromuscular system as well as the application of exercise training to attenuate these problems have already been reported by several studies. However, it is still not clear whether intrinsic cross-bridge kinetics, especially of the ‘slow’ resilient fibre type, are affected in aging muscle, and if this kinetics would be better preserved in high functioning elderly athletes. PURPOSE: to compare cross-bridge kinetics in healthy non-athlete octogenarians to age-matched world class masters athletes, and young controls. METHODS: Skinned muscle fibres obtained from vastus lateralis biopsies of young (∼23y), old non-athlete (NA) adults (∼80y), and age-matched world class masters athletes (MA; ∼80y) were first isometrically activated to assess force per cross-sectional (Po), then submitted to slack test, and shortening-re-stretch protocol, by which unloaded shortening velocity (Vo), and the rate constant of force redevelopment (ktr) were respectively obtained. A post-hoc analysis was performed, and only the mechanical properties of ‘slow type’ fibres based on unloaded shortening velocity measurements were used (the level of significance was set at P<0.05). RESULTS: MA and NA produced ∼55% and 45% lower Po than young. Vo for both MA and NA old groups were ∼62% and 42% slower, respectively, compared with young. Both MA and NA adults had ∼2 times slower values for ktr compared with young. CONCLUSION: The lower ktr in both old groups relative to young suggests that impaired cross-bridge kinetics was, at least in part, responsible for impaired single fibre contractile properties, i.e Vo, Po, with aging. Apparently, masters athletes’ higher performance cannot be attributed to their intrinsic cross-bridge kinetics.

Iterative model reconstruction and hybrid iterative reconstruction techniques iDose4 in low-dose abdominal CT: comparison of image quality in evaluation of hypovascular metastases of liver

Objective To assess the image quality of iterative model reconstruction algorithm(IMR) compared with hybrid iterative reconstruction algorithm (iDose4) for hypovascular hepatic metastases. Methods Medical history and pathological results of 33 cases with primary malignant tumor were retrospective analyzed. Follow-up with enhanced CT or enhanced MRI at more than 3 months confirmed hypovascular metastases in these patients. All patients underwent abdominal CT scanning and dynamic enhanced CT scanning. Portal vein phase of low dose scanning data were taken as the research object. According to the different tube currents and reconstruction algorithm, the images were divided into 4 groups. Group A included images with tube current of 175 mAs and IMR post-processing (17 cases). Group B included images with tube current of 175 mAs and iDose4 post-processing (17 cases). Group C included images with tube current of 125 mAs and IMR post-processing (16 cases). Group D included images with tube current of 125 mAs and iDose4 post-processing (16 cases). In the cases with multiple lesions, the largest lesion was selected to evaluate. For each image of the objective evaluation [including noise, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast to noise ratio (CNR)] and subjective evaluation (including lesion sharpness, necrosis interface and diagnostic confidence). The CT dose index of each scanning was recorded. The objective evaluation, subjective evaluation indexes were compared by paired samples t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results The tube current of Group A and Group B were (7.7±1.8) and (12.8±3.7)HU, while CNR were 10.3 ± 2.6 and 5.6 ± 1.4, SNR were 13.2 ± 3.2 and 8.1 ± 2.2, and the differences were statistically significant (t values were 9.966, 12.670, 9.203; P<0.01). The tube current of Group C and Group D were (7.2±1.3) and (9.9±1.8)HU, while CNR were 7.4±2.0 and 3.7±0.9, SNR were 13.9±2.9 and 9.8±1.9, and the differences were statistically significant (t values were 9.209, 12.320, 9.628; P<0.01).The lesion sharpness score of Group A and Group B were 4.95±0.24 and 4.29±0.59, while the necrosis interface score were 4.76 ± 0.36 and 3.68 ± 0.30, diagnostic confidence score were 4.94 ± 0.24 and 4.44 ± 0.56, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The lesion sharpness score of Group C and Group D were 3.94 ± 0.68 and 3.56 ± 0.63, while the necrosis interface score were 3.91 ± 0.64 and 3.03 ± 0.50, diagnostic confidence score were 4.19±0.40 and 3.94±0.44, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). CTDIvol of 175 mAs group and 125 m As group were(11.83 ± 0.28)and(8.44 ± 0.24)mGy respectively. Conclusion Compared with iDose4, iterative reconstruction technology IMR significantly reduces the image noise and enhances image quality of hypovascular hepatic metastases. Key words: Liver neoplasms; Tomography, X-ray computed; Comparative study

Hyperoxia-induced immature brain injury through the TLR4 signaling pathway in newborn mice

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a pathogen-associated molecular pattern receptor, is known to initiate an inflammatory cascade in response to certain stimuli within the central nervous system (CNS). Although TLR4 activation is known to be a first-line response of the innate immune system, whether and how hyperoxia influences TLR4 signaling in an immature brain remains unclear. In this study, TLR4 wild-type (W) and TLR4 knock-out(M) mice were exposed to 100% oxygen (the WO2 and MO2 groups, respectively), and control groups were exposed to ambient air (the WA and MA groups, respectively) for 48h after postnatal-day (PND) 3. Next, neuronal apoptosis was quantified, and Morris water maze assays were conducted. The WO2 mice showed increased TLR4 expression compared with the WA mice, additionally, the expression level of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) in the WO2 mice was significantly increased compared with the levels in the WA, MA and MO2 mice. Electron microscopy and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays showed a significant increase, compared to the WO2 mice, in neuronal apoptosis within the prefrontal cortex and hippocampal CA1 region in the WO2 mice. In contrast, there were no obvious differences in neuronal apoptosis between the MO2 and MA groups. The results of the Morris water maze tests demonstrated marked deficits in learning and memory in the WO2 mice but much milder deficits in the MO2 mice compared to the WA and MA groups, respectively. Moreover, cultured N9 (TLR4 wild-type, derived from ICR/CD1 mice) microglia exposed to hyperoxia showed an immediate increase in the expression of TLR4 mRNA, followed by an increase in the expression of both TNF-α and reactive oxygen species (ROS), but this increase was abrogated by the loss of TLR4 signaling in TLR4-knockout microglia (primary cells from a C3H/HeJ strain defective in TLR4). Taken together, these data suggest that 1) TLR4 signaling is involved in hyperoxia-induced immune responses in the immature brain and 2) the loss of TLR4 activation may abrogate the neuronal apoptosis and cognitive deficits following hyperoxia exposure in newborn mice.

Evaluation of bone formation after sagittal split ramus osteotomy using different fixation materials

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate bony change between the proximal and distal segments after sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) using different fixation materials. Subjects and methodsThe subjects consisted of 74 patients (21 male and 53 female; 148 sides) who underwent SSRO with and without Le Fort I osteotomy.They were divided into five groups: (1) an MT group, mono-cortical titanium plate fixation (26 sides); (2) an MA group, mono-cortical absorbable plate fixation (48 sides); (3) a BA group, bi-cortical absorbable plate fixation (22 sides); (4) an MAα group, mono-cortical plate absorbable fixation with α-tricalcium phosphate (36 sides); and (5) a BAα group, bi-cortical plate absorbable fixation with α-tricalcium phosphate (16 sides).Ramus square (RmS), ramus width (RmM-RmL) and ramus length (RmA-RmP) at the horizontal plane under the mandibular foramen were assessed pre-operatively, immediately after surgery, and at 1 year after surgery by computed tomography (CT). ResultsThere were significant differences among the groups regarding change over time in RmS (p = 0.0126) and RmM-RmL (p = 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference among the groups regarding change over time in RmA-RmP. ConclusionThese results suggest that the use of different fixation materials leads to significant differences in the bone healing process after SSRO.

Ferroelectricity of CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite.

Ferroelectricity has been believed to be an important but controversial origin of the excellent photovoltaic performance of organometal trihalide perovskites (OTPs). Here we investigate the ferroelectricity of a prototype OTP, CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3), both theoretically and experimentally. Our first-principles calculations based on 3-D periodic boundary conditions reveal that a ferroelectric structure with polarization of ∼8 μC/cm(2) is the globally stable one among all possible tetragonal structures; however, experimentally no room-temperature ferroelectricity is observed by using polarization-electric field hysteresis measurements and piezoresponse force microscopy. The discrepancy between our theoretical and experimental results is attributed to the dynamic orientational disorder of MA(+) groups and the semiconducting nature of MAPbI3 at room temperature. Therefore, we conclude that MAPbI3 is not ferroelectric at room temperature; however, it is possible to induce and experimentally observe apparent ferroelectric behavior through our proposed ways. Our results clarify the controversy of the ferroelectricity in MAPbI3 and also provide valuable guidance for future studies on this active topic.

Three-year clinical outcome after infrapopliteal angioplasty for critical limb ischemia in hemodialysis patients with minor or major tissue loss.

Among hemodialysis (HD)-dependent patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI), Endovascular therapy (EVT) of isolated infrapopliteal lesions improves limb salvage. Accordingly, we sought to determine the outcomes of this group of patients based on the extent of tissue loss at baseline. From 2004 to 2011, 449 consecutive HD patients with CLI had ischemic wounds and underwent EVT for isolated infrapopliteal lesions. The "minor tissue loss" (MI) group was confirmed by 340 HD patients with wounds located distal to the metatarsophalangeal joints, and the "major tissue loss" (MA) group included 109 HD patients with wounds that extended beyond this point. The two groups were compared for limb salvage and amputation free survival (AFS) rates by Kaplan-Meier analysis. There was no significant difference in the percentage of diabetic patients (MI: 76.5 vs. MA: 75.2%). The percentage with direct flow to the wound site was lower in the MA group than in the MI group (MI: 63.5 vs. MA: 45.9%, P < 0.01). After EVT the MI group had a significantly better limb salvage rate (MI: 83.7 vs. MA: 71.2% at 3 years, P < 0.01), and AFS rate (MI: 44.1 vs. MA: 29.1% at 3 years, P < 0.01) compared to the MA group. EVT is an efficient treatment for HD patients with minor tissue loss, achieving >80% limb salvage rates at 3 years. However, AFS rates in all HD patients with tissue loss are <50% at 3 years, making their prognosis poor.

A turning-point in the evolution of the Variscan orogen: the ca. 325 Ma regional partial-melting event of the coastal South Armorican domain (South Brittany and Vendée, France)

AbstractBy drastically reducing the bulk strength of crustal materials, partial-melting is one of the main parameter controlling the rheological behaviour of the continental crust. With more than ca. 50% of the outcropping surface characterised by migmatites and granites, the coastal South Armorican domain, offers an opportunity to study deep-orogenic processes and more particularly, to understand the role of partial-melting for the late-evolution of the Variscan belt. To date, time-constraints are scarce hindering the understanding of this crucial stage in the Variscan belt evolution. This paper provides 29 new U-Th/Pb chemical ages on monazite collected over five sampling areas consisting in migmatite domes and late regional classic plutons. Based on structural, textural and chemical criteria, three main U-Th/Pb age-groups are distinguished. The first group, settled at ca. 335–330 Ma concerns samples of restites and core-domains of the monazite crystals for most of the granite massifs. Its significance is ascribed to inherited crystallisation ages probably recording the crossing of prograde monazite forming reactions (i.e. metamorphic isograds) during increasing P-T conditions in an overall nappe-stacking context. The second group that clusters at ca. 325–320 Ma corresponds to newly formed monazite grains that crystallised from juvenile silicate melts. Ages of this group are interpreted as crystallisation ages of leucosomes after a major partial-melting event that affected the whole domain. The last ca. 320 Ma group corresponds to rim-domains of monazite crystals. It is interpreted as the emplacement age of most of the large-scale granite massifs and therefore fixes the end of the partial-melting event.The inception and drastic generalisation of partial-melting at peak-P conditions therefore coincides with a major change in the tectonic regime recorded at regional-scale. In the lights of these results, this implies that (1) either continuous stacking of continental crustal units, rich in radiogenic elements, led to an increase of temperature within the orogenic wedge provoking partial-melting, the resulting drop in the crustal strength inducing collapse and lateral expansion of the belt, or (2) a drastic change of the boundary conditions has induced hot asthenospheric upwelling which in turn led to coeval extension and partial-melting. At a more local scale, strain benefited of the low-strength of the magmatic bodies prior to complete crystallisation promoting intense strain localisation within the South Armorican domain large-scale laccoliths often referred to as synkinematic plutons.

A phase III study of xilonix in refractory colorectal cancer patients with weight loss.

685 Background: Xilonix, an anti-interleukin-1α true human monoclonal antibody is being assessed as cancer therapy to improve overall survival (OS) in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Methods: An open label multicenter randomized comparator controlled study to evaluate efficacy and safety of Xilonix in CRC complicated with cachexia. Eligible patients had metastatic CRC, failed oxaliplatin or irinotecan based chemotherapy, and lost ≥5% total body weight in the previous 6 months (m). Patients were 1:1 randomized to Xilonix (3.75 mg/kg intravenously every two weeks) or megestrol acetate (MA, oral 800 mg daily) until progression. Primary endpoint was OS. Secondary endpoints included assessment of patient well-being using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Platelets support tumor growth and metastasis and platelet counts increase during cancer progression. IL-1α on platelets may be a target of Xilonix and thus platelet count was a key pharmacodynamic measure. Results: 40 patients were enrolled between March 2013 and July 2014, at which time the study was halted to revise inclusion criteria to reduce screen failures. An eligibility violation excluded 1 Xilonix patient from analysis (Xilonix n=19, MA n=20). MA treatment arm had a 39% shorter median OS (2.0 versus 2.8 months) and a trend in increased risk of death (hazard ratio 2.17, p=0.17). Physical and role function worsened in patients receiving megesterol (median change of -13.3 (p=0.02), -16.7 (p=0.02) respectively), whereas in Xilonix treated patients these functions did not decline during therapy (median change 0, p=0.88 and 0, p=0.69, respectively). Xilonix patients had treatment-related reduction in platelets compared to the MA group (median -60,000/mm3, vs 10,000/mm3, p=0.03). No infusion reactions, no discontinuations due to adverse events (AEs) and no related SAEs were reported for Xilonix. Conclusions: The trend in OS for Xilonix patients was encouraging and consistent with improved function and intended pharmacodynamic activity. An amended Phase III protocol has been developed to simplify enrollment for an ongoing study of Xilonix in an advanced CRC population. (NCT01767857) Clinical trial information: NCT01767857.

Pap Smear Abnormalities In Adolescents And Young Women

Introduction: Adolescence is a period in the life of a woman characterized by significant physical and psychological changes. In various places in the world it is also the period in which sexual activity usually begins. Sexual activity has been occurring increasingly earlier in adolescents.Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of Pap smear abnormalities in adolescents and young women (MJA) compared to adult women (MA). Methods: Cross-sectional study of cervical uterine cytology obtained from women in Santo Andre (SP, Brazil) between January 2009 and December 2011, comparing the cytological results between MJA (age: 14-24 years) and MA (age: 25 years or over). Results: 92,118 exams evaluated; 76,752 in the MA group and 15,366 in the MJA group. Of the total, 89,723 were normal and 2,395 abnormal (1,278 [53.4%] corresponded to atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance [ASCUS], 900 [37.6%] to low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [LSIL] and 217 [9.1%] to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [HSIL]). There were 510 (3.3%) abnormal tests in the MJA group and 1,885 (2.5%) in the MA group, of which 217 (42.5%) and 1061 (56.3%), respectively, were classified as ASCUS, 280 (54.9%) and 620 (32.9%), respectively, as LSIL, and 13 (2.5%) and 204 (10.8%), respectively, as HSIL. Conclusion: The most frequent abnormality in the MJA group was LSIL and in the MA group was ASCUS. HSIL was 4 times more frequent in adult women in comparison to young women and adolescents.

MicroCT Analysis of Micro-Nano Titanium Implant Surface on the Osseointegration.

This study was to investigate the effects of micro-nano titanium implant surface on the osseointegration. A total of 36 screw-shaped implants were used. The implant surfaces were classified into 3 groups (n = 12): machined surface (M group), nanosurface which is nanotube formation on the machined surface (MA group) and nano-micro surface which is nanotube formation on the RBM surface (RA group). Anodic oxidation was performed at a 20 V for 10 min with 1 M H3PO4 and 1.5 wt% HF solutions. The implants were installed on the humerus on 6 beagles. After 4 and 12 weeks, the morphometric analysis with micro CT (skyscan 1172, SKYSCAN, Antwerpen, Belgium) was done. The data were statistically analyzed with two-way ANOVA. Bone mineral density and bone volume were significantly increased depending on time. RA group showed the highest bone mineral density and bone volume at 4 weeks and 12 weeks significantly. It indicated that nano-micro titanium implant surface showed faster and more mature osseointegration.

Dynamic Changes, Cut-Off Points, Sensitivity, and Specificity of Laboratory Data to Differentiate Macrophage Activation Syndrome from Active Disease.

Purpose. To compare the laboratory data and changes in these data between patients with MAS and patients with flare-up of the autoimmune diseases. Methods. In a prospective study, the static laboratory data and dynamic changes in the selected data in 17 consecutive patients with MAS and 53 patients with active disease of SJIA, PJIA, Kawasaki disease, and SLE were compared. The ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate cut-off points, sensitivity, and specificity of the static and dynamic laboratory data to differentiate between MAS and active disease. Results. In the MAS group, the mean CRP3, ALT, AST, total bilirubin, ferritin, LDH, PT, PTT, and INR were significantly higher and the mean WBC2, PMN2, Lymph2, Hgb1, 2, 3, ESR2, serum albumin, and sodium were significantly lower than in control group. Some of the important cut-off points were PLT2 < 209000/microliter, AST > 38.5, ALT > 38, WBC < 8200 × 103/UL, ferritin > 5277 ng/mL. Conclusion. The dynamic changes in some laboratory data, especially PLT, can differentiate between MAS and active disease. The changes in WBC, PMN, and ESR and the levels of the liver enzymes may also be helpful in the early differentiation. Very high levels of ferritin may also help the diagnosis along with other clinical and laboratory signs.

PH-responsive ion transport in polyelectrolyte multilayers of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSS-MA) bearing strong- and weak anionic groups.

The layer-by-layer construction of interfacial architectures displaying stimuli-responsive control of mass transport is attracting increasing interest in materials science. In this work, we describe the creation of interfacial architectures displaying pH-dependent ionic transport properties which until now have not been observed in polyelectrolyte multilayers. We describe a novel approach to create pH-controlled ion-rectifying systems employing polyelectrolyte multilayers assembled from a copolymer containing both weakly and strongly charged pendant groups, poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSS-MA), alternately deposited with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC). The conceptual framework is based on the very contrasting and differential interactions of PSS and MA units with PDADMAC. In our setting, sulfonate groups play a structural role by conferring stability to the multilayer due to the strong electrostatic interactions with the polycations, while the weakly interacting MA groups remain "silent" within the film and then act as on-demand pH-responsive units. When these multilayers are combined with a strong cationic capping layer that repels the passage of cationic probes, a pH-gateable rectified transport of anions is observed. Concomitantly, we also observed that these functional properties are significantly affected when multilayers are subjected to extensive pH cycling as a consequence of irreversible morphological changes taking place in the film. We envision that the synergy derived from combining weak and strong interactions within the same multilayer will play a key role in the construction of new interfacial architectures displaying tailorable ion transport properties.