Aggregation of plasma Z type α1-antitrypsin suggests basic defect for the deficiency

AbstractThe abnormal type of α1-antitrypsin, PI (protease inhibitor) type Z, is associated with inclusion bodies in the liver, which contain non-secreted α1-antitrypsin. Our studies show that Z protein has an inherent tendency to aggregate, even in plasma. Depending upon conditions, from 15 to 70% of the Z protein in plasma was in a high-Mr form, compared with 1.5% of M type α1-antitrypsin. The high-Mr complex in plasma cannot be disaggregated using Triton X detergent or reducing conditions. This increased tendency to aggregate can be explained by the mutation affecting, tertiary structure and salt bridge formation in Z protein. We have observed this same tendency to aggregate for Mmalton α1-antitrypsin, a rarer variant also associated with a plasma deficiency

Contemporary Occupational Carcinogen Exposure and Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance: Bladder cancer (BC) is a common disease. Despite manufacturing and legislative changes to workplace hygiene, many BCs still arise through occupational carcinogen exposure. Objective: To profile contemporary risks of occupational BC. Data Sources: A systematic review using PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science was performed in October 2012 (initial review) and May 2014 (final review) and was updated in June 2015. Study Selection: We identified 263 eligible articles. We excluded reports in which BC or occupation were not the main focus, and those with insufficient case, risk, or confidence interval data. We selected the most recent data from populations with multiple reports. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Reports were selected by 2 of us independently. We combined odds ratios and risk ratios (RRs) to provide pooled RRs, using maximally adjusted RRs in a random effects model. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using I2 and Begg and Egger tests. Risk estimates were annotated by occupational class using Nordisk Yrkesklassificering, or Nordic Occupational Classification, and International Standard Classifications of Occupations (NYK and ISCO-1958) Codes. Main Outcomes and Measures: Occupations were profiled by BC incidence and mortality risk over time. After data collection, we detected a sex difference in these profiles and recorded this as a secondary outcome. Results: Meta-analysis revealed increased BC incidence in 42 of 61 occupational classes and increased BC-specific mortality in 16 of 40 occupational classes. Reduced incidence and mortality were seen in 6 of 61 and 2 of 40 classes, respectively. Risk varied with sex and was greatest in men (standardized incidence ratio, 1.03 [95% CI, 1.02-1.03]; P < .001]). From the 1960s to the 1980s, there was a steady decline in standarized incidence ratio (SIR) for both sexes. This trend reversed from the 1980s, as in the decade 2000 to 2010 the SIR increased to 1.13 (95% CI, 1.07-1.19) for men and 1.27 (95% CI, 1.12-1.43) for women. In contrast, mortality risk declined for both sexes from the 1960s to the 1990s. The overall risk of BC mortality was also greater for men (standardized mortality ratio [SMR], 1.32 [95% CI, 1.18-1.48]) than for women (SMR, 1.14 [95% CI, 0.80-1.63]). Limitations include possible publication bias, that reports stratify workers mostly by job title not task, that not all studies adjusted for smoking, and that the population was mostly derived from Western nations. Conclusions and Relevance: The profile of contemporary occupations with increased BC risk is broad and differs for incidence and mortality. Currently the incidence seems to be increasing, and this increase is occurring faster in women than men. Improved detection mechanisms and screening are possible reasons for this. Workers with aromatic amine exposure have the highest incidence, while those exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals have the greatest mortality

WS9.3 Reduced physical activity participation is associated with increased need for hospitalisation in adults with cystic fibrosis

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Integrated water resource assessment for the Adelaide region, South Australia

South Australia is the driest state in the driest inhabited country in the world, Australia. Consequently, water is one of South Australia’s highest priorities. Focus on water research and sources of water in the state became more critical during the Millenium drought that occurred between 1997 and 2011. In response to increased concern about water sources the South Australian government established The Goyder Institute for Water Research – a partnership between the South Australian State Government, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Flinders University, University of Adelaide and University of South Australia. The Goyder Institute undertakes cutting-edge science to inform the development of innovative integrated water management strategies to ensure South Australia’s ongoing water security and enhance the South Australian Government’s capacity to develop and deliver science-based policy solutions in water management. This paper focuses on the integrated water resource assessment of the northern Adelaide region, including the key research investments in water and climate, and how this information is being utilised by decision makers in the region.James W. Cox, Michele Akeroyd, and Danielle P. Olive

Disseminated mucormycosis and necrotizing fasciitis in immune-compromised patients: Two case reports

We present two case reports of disseminated mucormycosis and necrotizing fasciitis in an immunecompromised patient. First, a 3-month-old with untreated HIV infection presented in septic shock with abdominal wall-necrotizing fasciitis. Laparotomy  revealed extensive abdominal wall necrosis, bowel, liver, kidney and subsequent retroperitoneal, posterior diaphragm and inferior vena cava involvement. Second, a  3-year-old on chemotherapy for Burkitt’s lymphoma presented with pancytopenia, sepsis, abdominal wall-necrotizing fasciitis and left lower limb ischaemia. At surgery, there was necrosis of the abdominal wall, the large bowel and the ureter and thrombosis of the iliac vessels. Histology in both cases showed necrosis with fungal invasion consistent with mucormycosis. Both patients suffered mortality. We discuss  mucormycosis and review the literature regarding mucormycosis in immune-compromised paediatric patients.Keywords: child, immune-compromised, mucormycosis, necrotizing fasciitis, paediatri

Molecular scale contact line hydrodynamics of immiscible flows

From extensive molecular dynamics simulations on immiscible two-phase flows, we find the relative slipping between the fluids and the solid wall everywhere to follow the generalized Navier boundary condition, in which the amount of slipping is proportional to the sum of tangential viscous stress and the uncompensated Young stress. The latter arises from the deviation of the fluid-fluid interface from its static configuration. We give a continuum formulation of the immiscible flow hydrodynamics, comprising the generalized Navier boundary condition, the Navier-Stokes equation, and the Cahn-Hilliard interfacial free energy. Our hydrodynamic model yields interfacial and velocity profiles matching those from the molecular dynamics simulations at the molecular-scale vicinity of the contact line. In particular, the behavior at high capillary numbers, leading to the breakup of the fluid-fluid interface, is accurately predicted.Comment: 33 pages for text in preprint format, 10 pages for 10 figures with captions, content changed in this resubmissio

Quantitative clinical neurological testing--II : Some statistical considerations of a battery of tests

A battery of clinical neurological tests was evaluated statistically. In one experiment eight medical students were studied to obtain information on the reproducibility of four observers, eight repeated examinations, and four time periods of day. To obtain learning and fatigue effects another experiment using ten medical students was carried out. The results from this study for these particular groups indicate: 1. 1. That different examiners, such as neurologists and physical therapists, may be trained to obtain comparable results using the quantitative tests of the battery of clinical neurological tests.2. 2. That the level of neurological function obtained using these neurological tests does not vary significantly during the four stated periods of the day.3. 3. That the level of neurological function does not differ significantly when the battery of neurological tests was administered on four consecutive days.4. 4. It is doubtful that a significant learning trend exists when these neurological tests are administered on four consecutive days.5. 5. That the weekly means of most of the neurological tests which involve many repetitions of the same action at each examination are significantly larger for the second week.6. 6. The neurological tests of five repeated trials, e.g., gap strength, and the tests of four reduced trials, e.g., speed of hand, may be used as useful measures of two types of fatigue.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/32043/1/0000086.pd

Securing Water, Sustaining Growth: Report of the GWP/OECD Task Force on Water Security and Sustainable Growth

Peer Revie

CLES, Code Liegeois d'Evolution Stellaire

Cles is an evolution code recently developed to produce stellar models meeting the specific requirements of studies in asteroseismology. It offers the users a lot of choices in the input physics they want in their models and its versatility allows them to tailor the code to their needs and implement easily new features. We describe the features implemented in the current version of the code and the techniques used to solve the equations of stellar structure and evolution. A brief account is given of the use of the program and of a solar calibration realized with it.Comment: Comments: 8 pages, Astrophys. Space Sci. CoRoT-ESTA Volume, in the pres

Phase diagram of the one-dimensional extended attractive Hubbard model for large nearest-neighbor repulsion

We consider the extended Hubbard model with attractive on-site interaction U and nearest-neighbor repulsions V. We construct an effective Hamiltonian H_{eff} for hopping t<<V and arbitrary U<0. Retaining the most important terms, H_{eff} can be mapped onto two XXZ models, solved by the Bethe ansatz. The quantum phase diagram shows two Luttinger liquid phases and a region of phase separation between them. For density n<0.422 and U<-4, singlet superconducting correlations dominate at large distances. For some parameters, the results are in qualitative agreement with experiments in BaKBiO.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.