Levi Pennington Writing to Brother Parker, May 19, 1946

Levi Pennington writing to his brother Parker, talking about an interesting speaker who came to the Rotary Club named Caldwell, who denounced the O.P.A. while being humorous. Pennington talks about other parts of life as well.https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/levi_pennington/1055/thumbnail.jp

The cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Sepiidae, Cephalopoda) constructs cuttlebone from a liquid-crystal precursor

Cuttlebone, the sophisticated buoyancy device of cuttlefish, is made of extensive superposed chambers that have a complex internal arrangement of calcified pillars and organic membranes. It has not been clear how this structure is assembled. We find that the membranes result from a myriad of minor membranes initially filling the whole chamber, made of nanofibres evenly oriented within each membrane and slightly rotated with respect to those of adjacent membranes, producing a helical arrangement. We propose that the organism secretes a chitin-protein complex, which self-organizes layer-by-layer as a cholesteric liquid crystal, whereas the pillars are made by viscous fingering. The liquid crystallization mechanism permits us to homologize the elements of the cuttlebone with those of other coleoids and with the nacreous septa and the shells of nautiloids. These results challenge our view of this ultra-light natural material possessing desirable mechanical, structural and biological properties, suggesting that two self-organizing physical principles suffice to understand its formation.Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion [CGL2010-20748-CO2-01, CGL2013-48247-P, FIS2013-48444-C2-2-P]; Andalusian Consejeria de Innovacion Ciencia y Tecnologia [RNM6433]; (Sepiatech, PROMAR program) of the Portuguese Ministerio da Agricultura e do Mar, Portugal [31.03.05.FEP.002]; Junta de Andalucia [RNM363]; FP7 COST Action of the European Community. [TD0903]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diagnostic and prognostic value of procalcitonin among febrile critically ill patients with prolonged ICU stay

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Procalcitonin (PCT) has been proposed as a diagnostic and prognostic sepsis marker, but has never been validated in febrile patients with prolonged ICU stay.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients were included in the study provided they were hospitalised in the ICU for > 10 days, were free of infection and presented a new episode of SIRS, with fever >38°C being obligatory. Fifty patients fulfilled the above criteria. PCT was measured daily during the ICU stay. The primary outcome was proven infection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty-seven out of 50 patients were diagnosed with infection. Median PCT on the day of fever was 1.18 and 0.17 ng/ml for patients with and without proven infections (p < 0.001). The area under the curve for PCT was 0.85 (95% CI; 0.71-0.93), for CRP 0.65 (0.46-0.78) and for WBC 0.68 (0.49-0.81). A PCT level of 1 ng/mL yielded a negative predictive value of 72% for the presence of infection, while a PCT of 1.16 had a specificity of 100%. A two-fold increase of PCT between fever onset and the previous day was associated with proven infection (p 0.001) (OR = 8.55; 2.4-31.1), whereas a four-fold increase of PCT of any of the 6 preceding days was associated with a positive predictive value exceeding 69.65%. A PCT value less than 0.5 ng/ml on the third day after the advent of fever was associated with favorable survival (p 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The reported data support that serial serum PCT may be a valuable diagnostic and prognostic marker in febrile chronic critically ill patients.</p

FSH treatment improves sperm DNA damage in men with idiopathic infertility carriers of the FSH receptor p.N680S homozygous N genotype: an interim analysis

Study question: To assess whether in men with idiopathic infertility, the sperm DNA fragmentation (sDF) improves depending on the FSH receptor (FSHR) genotype as assessed by the non-synonymous polymorphisms (SNP) rs6166 (wild type or p.N680S). Summary answer: FSH treatment improves sDF in a subgroup of idiopathic infertile men, although 40% of these men do not show any significant improve- ment. The response of sDF, a surrogate marker of sperm quality, together with the evaluation of FSHR SNP p.N680S might be useful to predict the response to FSH treatment. What is known already: FSH is fundamental for spermatogenesis and is em- pirically used to treat male idiopathic infertility. Several studies suggest that sDF could be a candidate predictor of response to FSH treatment, in terms of probability to conceive. Furthermore, it is widely accepted that the FSHR SNP p.N680S influences ovarian response in women and testicular volume in men. Study design, size, duration: Multicenter, longitudinal, prospective, open-la- bel, two-arms clinical trial. Subjects enrolled were idiopathic infertile men and received 150 IU of recombinant FSH (Gonal f®) every other day for 12 weeks and were then followed-up for further 12 weeks after FSH-withdrawal. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the two phases. Participants/materials, setting, methods: Eighty-eight men with idiopathic male infertility carrier of the homozygous FSHR p.N680S N or S genotype, FSH 15%, were enrolled. 66 patients completed the sDF analysis. sDF was centrally evaluated by TUNEL/PI assay coupled to flow cy- tometry, resolving two different sperm populations, namely: PIbrighter and PIdimmer. Main results and the role of chance: Thirty-seven men (56%) were carriers of the p.N680S homozygous-N and 29 (44%) of the homozygous-S genotype, respectively. Total sDF (PIbrighter + PIdimmer) was significantly lower at the end of the study in patients carriers of the p.N680S-N allele than patients carri- ers of p.N680S-S allele (p = 0.008). Only in patients carriers of the p.N680S-N allele, total sDF decreased significantly from baseline to the end of the study (p = 0.021) and this decrease was entirely sustained by the sperm population containing vital sperms (i.e., PIbrighter fraction) (p = 0.008). PIdimmer frac- tion, including only non-vital sperms, was significantly higher in patients car- riers of the p.N680S-S allele than in carriers of N allele (p = 0.018). Total sDF was inversely related to total sperm number (p = 0.020) and progressive sperm motility (p = 0.014). Limitations, reason for caution: The statistical power of the results obtained so far is 86.9%, with alpha-error 0.05. This is an interim-analysis. Wider implications of the findings: The study suggests that FSH treatment induces a significant improvement of total sDF in men carriers of the p.N680S homozygous N allele. This sDF decrease awaits confirmation, since the study will be completed by June 2015. Study funding/competing interest(s): Funding by commercial/corporate company(ies) – The study was supported by unrestricted grant by Merck Serono. Trial registration number: EudraCT number 2010-020240-35. Keywords: FSH treatment, male infertility, Sperm-DNA fragmentatio

A case repot of Merkel cell carcinoma on chronic lymphocytic leukemia: differential diagnosis of coexisting lymphadenopathy and indications for early aggressive treatment

BACKGROUND: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a monoclonal disorder, characterized by a progressive proliferation of functionally incompetent B lymphocytes. There is increased evidence of association between CLL and skin cancers, including the uncommon Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). CASE PRESENTATION: A case report of an 84-year old male, who presented with an aggressively recurrent form of MCC on the lower lip, on the background of an 8-year history of untreated CLL. During the recurrences of MCC, coexisting regional lymphadenopathy, posed a problem in the differential diagnosis and treatment of lymph node involvement. Histopathology and immunoistochemistry showed that submandibular lymphadenopathy coexisting with the second recurrence of MCC, was due to B-cell small lymphocytic lymphoma. The subsequent and more aggressive recurrence of the skin tumor had involved the superficial and deep cervical lymph nodes. Surgical excision followed by involved field radiation therapy has been proven effective for both malignancies. CONCLUSION: MCC has a high incidence of regional lymphadenopathy at presentation (12–45%) and even when it arises on the background of chronic leucemia, lymphadenopathy at presentation should be managed agressively with elective lymph node dissection. We overview the postulated correlation between Merkel tumor and CCL, the differential diagnosis of regional lymphadenopathy during the recurrences of the skin tumor and the strategies of treatmen

Detection of Plant DNA in the Bronchoalveolar Lavage of Patients with Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired infections such as nosocomial pneumonia are a serious cause of mortality for hospitalized patients, especially for those admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Despite the number of the studies reported to date, the causative agents of pneumonia are not completely known. Herein, we found by molecular technique that vegetable and tobacco DNA may be detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage from patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In the present study, we studied bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from patients admitted to ICUs with ventilator-associated pneumonia. BAL fluids were assessed with molecular tests, culture and blood culture. We successfully identified plant DNA in six patients out of 106 (6%) with ventilator-associated pneumonia. Inhalation was confirmed in four cases and suspected in the other two cases. Inhalation was significantly frequent in patients with plant DNA (four out of six patients) than those without plant DNA (three out of 100 patients) (P<0.001). Nicotiana tabacum chloroplast DNA was identified in three patients who were smokers (cases 2, 3 and 6). Cucurbita pepo, Morus bombycis and Triticum aestivum DNA were identified in cases 1, 4 and 5 respectively. Twenty-three different bacterial species, two viruses and five fungal species were identified from among these six patients by using molecular and culture techniques. Several of the pathogenic microorganisms identified are reported to be food-borne or tobacco plant-associated pathogens. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our study shows that plants DNA may be identified in the BAL fluid of pneumonia patients, especially when exploring aspiration pneumonia, but the significance of the presence of plant DNA and its role in the pathogenesis of pneumonia is unknown and remains to be investigated. However, the identification of these plants may be a potential marker of aspiration in patients with pneumonia

The effects of aromatase inhibitors on lipids and thrombosis

Oestrogen is known to influence blood lipid levels and though its cardioprotective effects are less clear than once thought, there remains concern that reduction of oestrogen levels during hormonal treatment for breast cancer may have an adverse effect on cardiovascular risk. While tamoxifen has been shown to improve lipid profiles, the aromatase inhibitors have a very different mode of action and do not possess the oestrogen-agonistic effects of tamoxifen. At present, there are few data on the effects of these agents on lipid profiles. Available data are mixed, but suggest that the different aromatase inhibitors have different effects on lipid profiles. Some studies show anastrozole as generally having little effect on lipids, while others have indicated adverse effects on lipid profiles/increased hypercholesterolaemia. Letrozole has been associated with adverse effects on lipid profiles in some studies, including BIG 1-98, but short-term data from randomised trials do not show increased cardiovascular morbidity. By contrast, exemestane, which has been studied in slightly more detail, may either have little effect or may be associated with slightly improved lipid profiles. In general, the changes have been small and are likely to be of little relevance in women with advanced breast cancer, but if these agents come to be used in early breast cancer, their impact on lipid profiles may become more important. Many studies are currently underway with the aromatase inhibitors, with safety assessments including monitoring lipid levels. The results of these studies are keenly awaited