CdS sheet-rGO nanocomposite as a heterogeneous photocatalyst enables visible-light-induced photocatalytic reduction of aromatic, heteroaromatic, aliphatic and sulfonyl azides to the corresponding amines using hydrazine hydrate as a reductant. The reaction shows excellent conversion and chemoselectivity towards the formation of the amine without self-photoactivated azo compounds. In the adopted strategy, CdS not only accelerates the formation of nitrene through photoactivation of azide but also enhances the decomposition of azide to a certain extent, which entirely suppressed formation of the azo compound. The developed CdS sheet-rGO nanocomposite catalyst is very active, providing excellent results under irradiation with a 40 W simple household CFL lamp.

In order to figure out whether red blood cell (RBC) aggregation is beneficial or deleterious for the blood flow through a stenosis, fluid mechanics of a microvascular stenosis was examined through simulating the dynamics of deformable red blood cells suspended in plasma using dissipative particle dynamics. The spatial variation in time-averaged cell-free layer (CFL) thickness and velocity profiles indicated that the blood flow exhibits asymmetry along the flow direction. The RBC accumulation occurs upstream the stenosis, leading to a thinner CFL and reduced flow velocity. Therefore, the emergence of stenosis produces an increased blood flow resistance. In addition, an enhanced Fahraeus-Lindqvist effect was observed in the presence of the stenosis. Finally, the effect of RBC aggregation combined with decreased stenosis on the blood flow was investigated. The findings showed that when the RBC clusters pass through the stenosis with a throat comparable to the RBC core in diameter, the blood flow resistance decreases with increasing intercellular interaction strength. But if the RBC core is larger and even several times than the throat, the blood flow resistance increases largely under strong RBC aggregation, which may contribute to the mechanism of the microthrombus formation.

This study examined the effect of red blood cell (RBC) aggregation on nitric oxide (NO) and oxygen (O2) distributions in the downstream vessels of arteriolar bifurcations. Particular attention was paid to the inherent formation of asymmetric cell-free layer (CFL) widths in the downstream vessels and its consequential impact on the NO/O2 bioavailability after the bifurcations. A microscopic image-based two-dimensional transient model was used to predict the NO/O2 distribution by utilizing the in vivo CFL width data obtained under non-, normal- and hyper-aggregating conditions at the pseudoshear rate of 15.6±2.0s(-1). In vivo experimental result showed that the asymmetry of CFL widths was enhanced by the elevation in RBC aggregation level. The model demonstrated that NO bioavailability was regulated by the dynamic fluctuation of the local CFL widths, which is corollary to its modulation of wall shear stress. Accordingly, the uneven distribution of NO/O2 was prominent at opposite sides of the arterioles up to six vessel-diameter (6D) away from the bifurcating point, and this was further enhanced by increasing the levels of RBC aggregation. Our findings suggested that RBC aggregation potentially augments both the formation of asymmetric CFL widths and its influence on the uneven distribution of NO/O2 in the downstream flow of an arteriolar bifurcation. The extended heterogeneity of NO/O2 downstream (2D-6D) also implied its potential propagation throughout the entire arteriolar microvasculature.

Effects of light sources and photoperiod on growth performance, carcass characteristics and health indices of broilers were investigated in 4 trials. In each trial, 720 1-day-old Ross × Ross 708 chicks were randomly distributed into 12 environmentally controlled rooms (30 males/30 females/room). The experimental design was a 4 × 3 factorial treatments consisted of 4 light sources [incandescent (ICD, standard), compact fluorescent (CFL), neutral light-emitting diode (Neutral-LED), and cool poultry-specific filtered LED (Cool-PSF-LED)] and 3 photoperiods [long/continuous (23L:1D), regular/intermittent (2L:2D), and short/non-intermittent (8L:16D)] from d8-d56. Birds were fed the same diet, while feed and water were provided ad libitum. Birds and feed were weighed on 1, 14, 28, 42, and 56 d of age for growth performance. Mortality was recorded daily and feed conversion was adjusted for mortality. Immune response was determined on d 28 to 35, whereas other welfare indices were performed on d 42, 43, and 49. At 56 d of age, 10 male and 10 female birds from each room were randomly selected and processed to determine weights and yields. The BW, BW gain, live weight, and carcass weights and yields of birds reared under Cool-PSF-LED were increased (P ≤ 0.05) in comparison to birds reared under ICD, but FI, FCR, and mortality were not affected. Moreover, broilers subjected to the short/non-intermittent photoperiod had the lowest (P ≤ 0.05) BW, BW gain, FI, live weight, carcass weight, and pectoralis major and minor weights compared to other 2 photoperiods. There was no effect of treatments on some carcass characteristics. There was no effect of treatments on welfare indices, suggesting that the light sources evaluated did not compromise welfare of heavy broilers. It was concluded that the 3 light sources evaluated in this study may be suitable for replacement of ICD light source along with regular/intermittent photoperiod instead of long/continuous photoperiod in poultry facilities to save energy utilization, thereby reducing the total cost of production.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify 'objective' differential factors for normal frequent loose stool (NFLS) and diarrheal illness with dehydration and nutritional deficiency (DIDN) among infants with chronic frequent loose stool (CFLS).

METHODS

Data were analyzed from infants under 2 years of age with CFLS who had been transferred from general pediatricians. These 46 patients were divided into 2 groups (NFLS versus DIDN). Nocturnal stool was defined as evacuation between 10 pm and 6 am. Maximal stool amount/day (measured using the mother's hand) was specified as the highest score during the period of CFLS obtained by adding up each evacuation's score (range, 0-2 points).

RESULTS

There were 36 cases of NFLS and 10 of DIDN. A failure to gain weight (P=0.0001), fever (P=0.0079), colic/abdominal pain (P=0.0014), gross blood in stool (except allergic proctocolitis) (P=0.0113), nocturnal stool (P=0.0001), and the score of stool amount (P=0.0001) were found to significantly differentiate the groups. A failure to gain weight was observed in 39% of even NFLS. The frequency, mucus content, and microbiological findings of stools, as well as diaper dermatitis were not found to significantly differentiate the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

NFLS was more common than DIDN in infants with CFLS. The most 'objective' differential factors were nocturnal stool and the score of stool amount (≥7 points/day).

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness between modified Brostrom method repair and anatomical reconstruction anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) with single fibular tunnel for chronic lateral ankle instability.

METHODS

Twenty ankle specimens of fresh cadaver were dissected to provide the anatomic data of ATFL and CFL and to observe the neurovascular distribution. Between January 2008 and December 2011, 48 patients (48 ankles) with chronic lateral ankle instability were randomly divided to groups A and B (n = 24). The direct repair of ATFL and CFL by modified Brostrom method was performed in group A, and anatomic double-bundle reconstruction of ATFL and CFL with free semitendinosus tendon autograft in group B. There was no significant difference in sex, age, body mass index, injury side, the causes of injury, interval of injury and operation, talar tilt angle, talus forward shift, ankle plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, valgus, varus, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and visual analogue score (VAS) between 2 groups (P>> 0.05). The image parameters and range of motion were compared between 2 groups after operation; AOFAS and VAS scores were used to evaluate the effectiveness.

RESULTS

All the incisions healed by first intention in 2 groups; no complication of nerve injury, infection, or skin necrosis was observed. All the patients were followed up 2-5 years (mean, 3.4 years); no subtalar stiffness or recurrent instability occurred during follow-up. The talar tilt angle, talus forward shift, AOFAS score, and VAS score were significantly improved at 2 years after operation when compared with preoperative ones in 2 groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in range of motion of ankle plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, and ankle valgus, and VAS score between 2 groups (P>> 0.05), but group B was significantly better than group A in the range of motion of ankle varus, talar tilt angle, talus forward shift, and AOFAS score (P < 0.05). In the each item of AOFAS score, there was no significant difference in pain, 2 groups (P>> 0.05), but group B was significantly better than group A in walking, maximum walking distance, and ankle stability (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The described technique, which involves anatomic double-bundle reconstruction of the ATFL and CFL with single fibular tunnel and modified incision, is a viable option for treating lateral ankle instability, especially for young patients who need high stability and revision.

This study was part of a Swedish interdisciplinary research project targeting accessibility problems in public transport for people with cognitive functional limitations (CFLs). The objective was to describe and compare different assessment perspectives of long-term CFLs among community citizens having had CFLs in the acute stroke phase but with moderate physical limitations. Eighty-four participants in ordinary housing 18-36 months post stroke, initially sampled from a national quality stroke register, received data collection home-visits. The Cognistat screening instrument was used for an objective assessment, and a study-specific questionnaire for self-evaluations of CFLs. A revised form of the latter questionnaire was used for reports from spouses of a subset of 30 participants. The agreement between self-evaluated CFLs and spouse reports was analysed by percentage agreement and Cohen's kappa, whereas differences in ratings were tested by McNemar's test, as were differences between objective and self-evaluated/spouse-reported occurrence of CFLs. Regardless of the different perspectives applied, CFLs were frequent. In absence of significant difference in ratings, the percentage agreement between self-evaluations and spouse reports was good or very good, whereas kappa values were less encouraging. Overall, participants and spouses expressed more CFLs, as compared with the screening. Most consistency was demonstrated for the area of calculation. When researchers and clinicians solely rely on cognitive screenings in their investigations, there is a considerable risk for underestimations of CFLs.

Drug carriers with tumor targeting and controlled release have strong prospects for application in safe and efficient chemotherapy. Among various carriers, liposomes have good biocompatibility and can enhance the uptake of drugs by cancer cells. However, traditional liposomes have no specific targeting to cancer cells and are prone to insufficient stability, causing early leakage of the drug. Accordingly, organic-inorganic hybrid phospholipid and thermosensitive phospholipid are deliberately introduced into a liposome system to enhance the morphological and structural stability of the liposomes while realizing thermally controlled drug release. Furthermore, modification with a targeting ligand (WSG-peptide) can endow liposomes with active targeting to ovarian carcinoma cells. First, WSG-peptide was grafted onto the hydrophilic terminal of phospholipid molecules, and the organic-inorganic hybrid cerasome-forming lipid (CFL) was synthesized via a two-step chemical reaction. Then, the WSG-grafted thermosensitive liposomal cerasome (c-LIP-WSG) was prepared by thin-film hydration method. The results showed that the c-LIP-WSG had excellent structural stability both in storage and in a simulated circulation environment. In vitro drug release confirmed that the liposomes exhibited thermally controlled release. Cell uptake experiments and living fluorescence imaging of SKOV-3 tumor-bearing nude mice confirmed that the WSG-peptide modified liposomes were provided with specific targeting properties for ovarian carcinoma.

The lateral ligament complex of the ankle is involved in a large proportion of ankle sprains. The calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) is often involved in severe injuries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anatomical variation and laterality of the CFL to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of CFL-related injuries. This study utilized 110 paired ankles from 55 formalin-fixed Japanese cadavers (33 male and 22 female). The length and width of the CFL and the angle created by the CFL and long axis of the fibula (CF angle) were measured after exposing the CFL by careful dissection from the surrounding tissues. The results revealed that each parameter exhibited a wide range of values and showed unique patterns of frequency distribution, among which only the length was normally distributed. Among the parameters, only the CF angle showed no significant correlation with the other parameters. Analysis of laterality revealed that the mean left CF angle was significantly greater than the value on the opposite side (p < 0.05) and that the values of the bilateral CF angle showed no significant correlation at the individual level. The present results revealed not only detailed information regarding the CFL morphology, but also inter- and intra-individual laterality regarding the CFL traveling angle. It is likely that the differences in the quality and quantity of mechanical stress against each leg may have caused this morphologic laterality of the CFL.

The poultry industry is currently undergoing a shift to alternative lighting sources as incandescent lights become less available. While LED and CFL bulbs both have associated increased energy savings, they may affect the bird's growth and well-being differently as they output different light spectrums. To determine how different LED bulbs and a CFL bulb affected broiler performance, behavior, stress, and overall well-being, we conducted an experiment using Cobb broiler chickens (N=360). A NextGen LED bulb (NextGen), a Once Innovations LED bulb (Once), and a dimmable CFL (CFL) were used, all of which had different spectral outputs. Growth and feed conversion, several stress measures, fear tests, organ characteristics, and animal welfare assessment parameters were collected to determine how each light type affected animal well-being. LED treatments had shorter (P<0.05) latency to right during tonic immobility testing when compared to the CFL treatment; however, no other differences (P>0.05) were seen in the other fear tests. The Once treatment resulted in lower composite physical asymmetry, heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, and basal plasma corticosterone concentrations compared to the other treatments (P<0.05). Differences were observed in some organ measures; notably in the eye dimensions of the Once treatment. The Once treatment also had lower (P<0.05) plumage, hock, and footpad scores when compared to CFL treatment, while the Nextgen treatment had lower (P<0.05) plumage and hock scores than the CFL treatment but no difference between the two was seen in foot pad scores. Weight at the end of the growout was not affected by bulb type, however, both LED treatments had increased feed conversion (P<0.05). These results indicate that LEDs can result in better well-being and feed conversion when compared to CFLs. It is also notable that the LEDs did not have the same effects and this is likely due to the spectrum of light each creates. LEDs were shown to improve production and well-being of broiler chickens compared to CFLs.

The effectiveness of cement based treatment technology, in immobilizing chromium laden electroplating sludge was assessed by conducting toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). The mechanical stability of the blocks was tested by measuring the compressive strength. Other leaching tests such as NEN 7341 test, ANS 16.1 and multiple TCLP (MTCLP) test conducted on select solidified blocks showed that chromium was immobilized by the binder studied. A linear relationship was obtained between the cumulative fraction of chromium leached (CFL) and square root of time in the solidified samples proving that diffusion is the controlling mechanism for leaching of chromium. The leachability indices (LI) obtained for the solidified materials using cement and cement-fly ash system (EPC6, EPFC6A and EPFC6B) satisfy the guidance value as per US NRC, which clearly indicates that chromium is well retained within the solid matrix. Chromium concentrations in the TCLP leachates of the above mix ratios were well within the regulatory level of United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Molecular characterization of the solidified material was carried out using Fourier transformation infra red (FTIR) technique.

A chlorosome is an antenna complex located on the cytoplasmic side of the inner membrane in green photosynthetic bacteria that contains tens of thousands of self-assembled bacteriochlorophylls (BChls). Green bacteria are known to incorporate various esterifying alcohols at the C-17 propionate position of BChls in the chlorosome. The effect of these functional substitutions on the biogenesis of the chlorosome has not yet been fully explored. In this report, we address this question by investigating various esterified bacteriochlorophyll c (BChl c) homologs in the thermophilic green non-sulfur bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus. Cultures were supplemented with exogenous long-chain alcohols at 52 °C (an optimal growth temperature) and 44 °C (a suboptimal growth temperature), and the morphology, optical properties and exciton transfer characteristics of chlorosomes were investigated. Our studies indicate that at 44 °C Cfl. aurantiacus synthesizes more carotenoids, incorporates more BChl c homologs with unsaturated and rigid polyisoprenoid esterifying alcohols and produces more heterogeneous BChl c homologs in chlorosomes. Substitution of phytol for stearyl alcohol of BChl c maintains similar morphology of the intact chlorosome and enhances energy transfer from the chlorosome to the membrane-bound photosynthetic apparatus. Different morphologies of the intact chlorosome versus in vitro BChl aggregates are suggested by small-angle neutron scattering. Additionally, phytol cultures and 44 °C cultures exhibit slow assembly of the chlorosome. These results suggest that the esterifying alcohol of BChl c contributes to long-range organization of BChls, and that interactions between BChls with other components are important to the assembly of the chlorosome. Possible mechanisms for how esterifying alcohols affect the biogenesis of the chlorosome are discussed.

The variously shaped gold patterns can be generated from the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mold using line patterns by the capillary force lithography (CFL) process, which is a kind of nanoimprint method following the two-cycle method. After fabrication of micro- or nanosized line patterns at the first cycle, the patterned substrate is used as a substrate for the second cycle of CFL. When the other stamp is placed on the first pattern, rotated by a certain angle with respect to the first stamp, only the overlapped parts remained dot-shaped after the etching process. The various shapes and sizes of patterns can be produced by controlling the CFL conditions such as polymer thickness, reactive ion etching (RIE) time, and degree of rotation angle. The key advantage of the double imprint lithography method is to get the nanosized isolated dot-shaped patterns from microsized line patterns. If we fabricate nanosized isolated dot-shaped patterns directly, we should need predesigned patterns in the form of a master, which is generally prepared by a high-cost and time-consuming process such as E-beam lithography. The successful applications of large-area periodic patterns are nanoelectronic devices, nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS), and biosensors, the template of which is the master of nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and stamp fabrication in soft lithography.

A candlelight-style organic light emitting diode (OLED) is a human-friendly type of lighting because it is blue-hazard-free and has a low correlated color temperature (CCT) illumination. The low CCT lighting is deprived of high-energy blue radiation, and it can be used for a longer duration before causing retinal damage. This work presents the comprehensive protocols for the fabrication of blue-hazard-free candlelight OLEDs. The emission spectrum of the OLED was characterized by the maximum exposure time limit of the retina and the melatonin suppression sensitivity. The devices can be fabricated using dry and wet processes. The dry-processed OLED resulted in a CCT of 1,940 K and exhibited a maximum retinal exposure limit of 1,287 s at a brightness of 500 lx. It showed 2.61% melatonin suppression sensitivity relative to 480 nm blue light. The wet-processed OLED, where the spin coating is used to deposit hole injection, hole transport, and emissive layers, making fabrication fast and economical, produced a CCT of 1,922 K and showed a maximum retinal exposure limit of 7,092 at a brightness of 500 lx. The achieved relative melatonin suppression sensitivity of 1.05% is 86% and 96% less than that of the light emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), respectively. Wet-processed blue-hazard-free candlelight OLED exhibited a power efficiency of 30 lm/W, which is 2 times that of the incandescent bulb and 300 times that of the candle.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate curative effect of the prevention and treatment in cerebrospinal fluid leakage (CFL) after cervical surgery.

METHODS

Medical records of 607 patients who underwent cervical surgery at our hospital from Feb. 2004 to Feb. 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Six patients complicated by CFL after surgery were enrolled, of which 4 males and 2 females, age for 47-75 years with an average of 60 years. Course of disease was from 6 months to 5 years. 4 cases occurred at 1-3 days after operation and 2 cases at 5 days. 2 cases were treated through latero-incision drainage, 2 cases continuous subarachnoid drainage, and 2 cases pressure dressing. Clinical outcomes of surgical management were recorded.

RESULTS

CFL of all the cases was stopped within 1-3 days after operation,and subarachnoid drainage lasted 10-14 days with an average volume of 320 ml. Three cases had headache, nausea and vomiting; 1 case suffered from somnolence and hyponatremia, and symptoms subsided after treatment. All patients were followed up with an average of 30 months. No cerebrospinal fluid cyst or wound infection were found. There was no significant effects on neuromuscular function recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Timely and correct surgical intervention and postoperative management have good results for CFL. If it is severe, latero-incision drainage and continuous subarachnoid drainage should be adopted.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the lifetime of Y-TZP/porcelain crowns under three different load conditions using step-stress accelerated lifetime testing.

METHODS

The Y-TZP frameworks were milled using CAD/CAM, veneered with a porcelain and cemented onto dentine analogue dies. Specimens were divided according to the occlusal load condition (n=20): central fossa load (CFL), cusp tip load (CTL) and sliding contact (SC). For CFL and CTL, the cyclic load was applied parallel to the long axis of the preparation using a ceramic piston. For SC, the axial load was associated to 1mm lateral displacement at the disto-lingual cusp. Different stress profiles were used. Failures were detected with an acoustic system. A Weibull distribution (95% confidence boundary) was used to analyse the data, and fractographic principles were used to evaluate fractured specimens.

RESULTS

The acoustic monitor was able to detect the initial crack. The probability of failure (at 300 N load and 200,000 cycles) was statistically greater for CTL (0.63; 0.44-0.81) compared to CFL (0.23; 0.12-0.43). The Weibull modulus of CFL (2.1; 1.5-3.6) was greater than for SC (0.7; 0.5-1.2), with no difference in the lifetime. All specimens failed by chipping, which originated predominantly at the contact (66.7%) on CTL, and in the bulk of the porcelain on CFL (100%) and SC (80%).

CONCLUSIONS

Contact at the cusp tip is more harmful than at the central fossa. Data from sliding contact are less consistent than from axial contacts, but more clinically relevant.

CONCLUSIONS

The loading condition of Y-TZP/porcelain crowns can influence on the probability of failure and failure mode. The contact at the cusp tip is more harmful than at the central fossa, where the stress is better distributed. Sliding contact is a better simulator of the chewing cycle compared to axial contacts.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe how an Academic Health Science Centre, providing pediatric rehabilitation services, research, and education, developed a Centres for Leadership (CfL) initiative to integrate its academic functions and embrace the goal of being a learning organization. Design/methodology/approach Historical documents, tracked output information, and staff members' insights were used to describe the ten-year evolution of the initiative, its benefits, and transformational learnings for the organization. Findings The evolutions concerned development of a series of CfLs, and changes over time in leadership and management structure, as well as in operations and targeted activities. Benefits included enhanced clinician engagement in research, practice-based research, and impacts on clinical practice. Transformational learnings concerned the importance of supporting stakeholder engagement, fostering a spirit of inquiry, and fostering leaderful practice. These learnings contributed to three related emergent outcomes reflecting "way stations" on the journey to enhanced evidence-informed decision making and clinical excellence: enhancements in authentic partnerships, greater innovation capacity, and greater understanding and actualization of leadership values. Practical implications Practical information is provided for other organizations interested in understanding how this initiative evolved, its tangible value, and its wider benefits for organizational collaboration, innovation, and leadership values. Challenges encountered and main messages for other organizations are also considered. Originality/value A strategy map is used to present the structures, processes, and outcomes arising from the initiative, with the goal of informing the operations of other organizations desiring to be learning organizations.

A monoclonal anti-FITC antibody (F4/1) was produced and demonstrated to be specific for both the free and protein-conjugated (either soluble or cell-bound) form of fluorescein, or carboxyfluorescein. When mouse thymocytes were labelled with a novel fluorescein derivative 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFl-NSE), the incorporation of fluorescein was predominantly membrane-bound as demonstrated immunohistochemically. The coupling of CFl-NSE to cells displays a random distribution pattern as shown by immunoblotting of cell extracts prepared by detergent solubilization of CFl-NSE-labelled thymocytes. In addition, the Thy-1.2 antigen immunoprecipitated from a CFl-NSE-labelled thymocyte lysate with a rat monoclonal antibody (Mab) could be detected using the anti-FITC Mab. The molecular weight of the immunoprecipitated material could be estimated immediately by reference to the FITC-labelled molecular weight markers electrophoresed simultaneously.

OBJECTIVE

To study the role of MR Imaging in evaluating both normal and injured lateral collateral ligaments of the ankle.

METHODS

Twenty-four patients with clinically diagnosed inversion injury to the ankle and 20 healthy volunteers underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the ankle with special emphasis on the lateral complex ligaments.

RESULTS

The anterior talofibular (ATFL) and posterior talofibular ligaments (PTFL) were identified in 100% of the ankles of normal volunteers in the axial plane. The PTFL was identified in 100% in the coronal plane. The calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) was identified in 76% of the ankles in the axial, 84% in the coronal and 88% in the sagittal plane. Of the 24 patients with inversion injury, MRI showed ligament abnormalities in 16 patients, ten of these were isolated ATFL tears, five had combined ATFL and CFL tears and one case showed in addition abnormal signal in the PTFL. MRI revealed associated injuries to other ligaments and other soft tissue and osseous structures of the ankle in twelve patients.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI is a non-invasive, accurate technique for evaluation of the normal and injured lateral collateral ligaments of the ankle.

We investigated if the use of two tumor markers, galectin-3 and CD44v6, could improve diagnostic accuracy of thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in cytologically indeterminate lesions (CIL). 351 patients with CIL [cellular follicular lesion/suspicious follicular neoplasm/suspicious Hürthle cell neoplasm (CFL/sFN/sHCN), Hürthle cell neoplasm (HCN), and follicular neoplasm (FN)] and surgical follow-up were investigated. 251 patients had FNAB diagnoses made without help of tumor markers and the rest of 100 patients had FNAB diagnoses made with a known expression of tumor markers determined by the reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. Risk of malignancy in all 351 patients with CIL was 6.8%. In the group with FNAB made without RT-PCR, there were 140 CFL/sFN/sHCN with the risk of malignancy of 4.2%, 92 FN with the risk of malignancy of 13.0%, and 19 HCN with the risk of malignancy of 5.2%. In the group with FNAB made with RT-PCR, there were 49 CFL/sFN/sHCN with the risk of malignancy of 2.0%, 40 FN with the risk of malignancy of 7.5%, and 11 HCN with the risk of malignancy of 9.0%. In the group with at least one positive tumor marker (N = 69), the risk of malignancy was 3.1% for CFL/sFN/sHCN, 11.1% for FN, and 10.0% for HCN. In the group with negative tumor markers (N = 31) there were no malignancies. The use of tumor markers, galectin-3 and CD44v6, determined by RT-PCR improves only sensitivity of thyroid FNAB in CIL. In most patients with CIL, and negative both tumor markers, conservative approach is advisable.

A first case of spontaneous opening of congenitally fused labia (CFL phenotype) in a captive common marmoset followed by pregnancy and birth is presented here. The occurrence of this phenotype has been previously published in captive marmosets, but so far the etiology is unknown.

A purified Shigella enterotoxin (pST) and a cell-free lysate with pST removed (CFL-pST) from the whole-cell lysate of Shigella dysenteriae 60 R were used to study their effect on the myoelectric activity and mucosal integrity of rabbit ileal segments. We have previously defined two myoelectric patterns: the migrating action potential complex and repetitive bursts of action potentials that occur in response to certain bacteria and their enterotoxins. The in vivo model consisted of isolated ileal segments in male New Zealand White rabbits. The segments were infused with sterile saline (1 ml/h), pST (2.4-micrograms injection), or CFL-pST (1 ml/h). Myoelectric activity in the segments exposed to pST was similar to that with the saline infusion, but CFL-pST induced significant alterations in myoelectric activity in the form of repetitive bursts of action potentials. The mucosa of the segments exposed to pST showed only mild inflammatory changes. In contrast, CFL-pST caused moderate to severe inflammatory changes with enterocyte necrosis. These studies show that pST, a known enterotoxin, did not alter myoelectric activity and had no significant effect on the integrity of ileal mucosa, as determined by light microscopy. CFL-pST caused both inflammation and tissue necrosis with significant alterations in motor activity. These studies suggest that S. dysenteriae 60 R produces a substance or substances other than pST that cause florid in vivo cytotoxicity and alter myoelectric activity.