An archaeobotanical perspective on Holocene plant-use practices in lowland northern New Guinea

Existing archaeobotanical and palynological records of plant use in the northern New Guinea lowlands are reviewed in light of recent work at Kuk and theoretical refocusing on plant use practice. A practice-based approach is supported as the most useful way of investigating the highly problematical area of tropical plant food production. The existing direct record of past plant use in lowland New Guinea is considered woefully inadequate to achieve this task, as is that in Near Oceania and Island Southeast Asia. Archaeobotanical methods exist to fill the void, but full implementation requires a change in general archaeological and palaeoecological practice.

Special issue on methods and learning in functional MRI: Introductory remarks

This special issue represents a further exploration of some issues raised at a symposium entitled “Functional magnetic resonance imaging: From methods to madness” presented during the 15th annual Theoretical and Experimental Neuropsychology (TENNET XV) meeting in Montreal, Canada in June, 2004. The special issue’s theme is methods and learning in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and it comprises 6 articles (3 reviews and 3 empirical studies). The first (Amaro and Barker) provides a beginners guide to fMRI and the BOLD effect (perhaps an alternative title might have been “fMRI for dummies”). While fMRI is now commonplace, there are still researchers who have yet to employ it as an experimental method and need some basic questions answered before they venture into new territory. This article should serve them well. A key issue of interest at the symposium was how fMRI could be used to elucidate cerebral mechanisms responsible for new learning. The next 4 articles address this directly, with the first (Little and Thulborn) an overview of data from fMRI studies of category-learning, and the second from the same laboratory (Little, Shin, Siscol, and Thulborn) an empirical investigation of changes in brain activity occurring across different stages of learning. While a role for medial temporal lobe (MTL) structures in episodic memory encoding has been acknowledged for some time, the different experimental tasks and stimuli employed across neuroimaging studies have not surprisingly produced conflicting data in terms of the precise subregion(s) involved. The next paper (Parsons, Haut, Lemieux, Moran, and Leach) addresses this by examining effects of stimulus modality during verbal memory encoding. Typically, BOLD fMRI studies of learning are conducted over short time scales, however, the fourth paper in this series (Olson, Rao, Moore, Wang, Detre, and Aguirre) describes an empirical investigation of learning occurring over a longer than usual period, achieving this by employing a relatively novel technique called perfusion fMRI. This technique shows considerable promise for future studies. The final article in this special issue (de Zubicaray) represents a departure from the more familiar cognitive neuroscience applications of fMRI, instead describing how neuroimaging studies might be conducted to both inform and constrain information processing models of cognition.

A new algorithm and refined bounds for extended gcd computation

Extended gcd computation is interesting itself. It also plays a fundamental role in other calculations. We present a new algorithm for solving the extended gcd problem. This algorithm has a particularly simple description and is practical. It also provides refined bounds on the size of the multipliers obtained.

PVALB, a New Hurthle Adenoma Diagnostic Marker Identified through Gene Expression

Context: A better means to accurately identify malignant thyroid nodules and to distinguish them from benign tumors is needed. We previously identified markers for detecting thyroid malignancy, with sensitivity estimated at or close to 100%. One lingering problem with these markers was that false positives occurred with Hurthle cell adenomas (HCA) which lowered test specificity. Methods: To locate accurate diagnostic markers, we profiled in depth the transcripts of a HCA and a Hurthle cell carcinoma (HCC). From 1146 differentially expressed genes, 18 transcripts specifically expressed in HCA were tested by quantitative PCR in a wide range of thyroid tumors (n = 76). Sensibility and specificity were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC). Selected markers were further validated in an independent set of thyroid tumors (n = 82) by immunohistochemistry. To define the panel that would yield best diagnostic accuracy, these markers were tested in combination with our previous identified markers. Results: Seventeen of the 18 genes showed statistical significance based on a mean relative level of expression (P < 0.05). KLK1 (sensitivity = 0.97) and PVALB (sensitivity = 0.94) were the best candidate markers. The combination of PVALB and C1orf24 increased specificity to > 97% and maintained sensitivity for detection of carcinoma. Conclusion: We identified tumor markers that can be used in combination for a more accurate preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules and for postoperative diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma in tumor sections. This improved test would help physicians rapidly focus treatment on true malignancies and avoid unnecessary treatment of benign tumors, simultaneously improving medical care and reducing costs. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 96: E151-E160, 2011)

The interaction between N-category and N-ratio as a new tool to improve lymph node metastasis staging in gastric cancer: Results of a single cancer center in Brazil

Background: Depth of tumor invasion (T-category) and the number of metastatic lymph nodes (N-category) are the most important prognostic factors in patients with gastric cancer. Recently, the ratio between metastatic and dissected lymph nodes (N-ratio) has been established as one. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of N-ratio and its interaction with N-category as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Methods: This was a retrospective study in which we reviewed clinical and pathological data of 165 patients who had undergone curative surgery at our institution through a 9-year period. The exclusion criteria included metastases, gastric stump tumors and gastrectomy with less than 15 lymph nodes dissected. Results: The median age of the patients was 63 years and most of them were male. Total gastrectomy was the most common procedure and 92.1% of the patients had a D2-lymphadenectomy. Their 5-year overall survival was 57.7%. T-category, N-category, extended gastrectomy, and N-ratio were prognostic factors in overall and disease-free survival in accordance with univariate analysis. In accordance with TNM staging, N1 patients who have had NR1 had 5-year survival in 75.5% whereas in the NR2 group only 33% of the cases had 5-year survival. In the multivariate analysis, the interaction between N-category and N-ratio was an independent prognostic factor. Conclusion: Our findings confirmed the role of N-ratio as prognostic factor of survival in patients with gastric cancer surgically treated with at least 15 lymph nodes dissected. The relationship between N-category and N-ratio is a better predictor than lymph node metastasis staging. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Viral Load Predicts New World Health Organization Stage 3 and 4 Events in HIV-Infected Children Receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, Independent of CD4 T Lymphocyte Value

Background. Many resource-limited countries rely on clinical and immunological monitoring without routine virological monitoring for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We assessed whether HIV load had independent predictive value in the presence of immunological and clinical data for the occurrence of new World Health Organization (WHO) stage 3 or 4 events (hereafter, WHO events) among HIV-infected children receiving HAART in Latin America. Methods. The NISDI (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development International Site Development Initiative) Pediatric Protocol is an observational cohort study designed to describe HIV-related outcomes among infected children. Eligibility criteria for this analysis included perinatal infection, age ! 15 years, and continuous HAART for >= 6 months. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to assess time to new WHO events as a function of immunological status, viral load, hemoglobin level, and potential confounding variables; laboratory tests repeated during the study were treated as time-varying predictors. Results. The mean duration of follow-up was 2.5 years; new WHO events occurred in 92 (15.8%) of 584 children. In proportional hazards modeling, most recent viral load 15000 copies/mL was associated with a nearly doubled risk of developing a WHO event (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-3.11; P = 033), even after adjustment for immunological status defined on the basis of CD4 T lymphocyte value, hemoglobin level, age, and body mass index. Conclusions. Routine virological monitoring using the WHO virological failure threshold of 5000 copies/mL adds independent predictive value to immunological and clinical assessments for identification of children receiving HAART who are at risk for significant HIV-related illness. To provide optimal care, periodic virological monitoring should be considered for all settings that provide HAART to children.

Uptake by breast carcinoma of a lipidic nanoemulsion after intralesional injection into the patients: A new strategy for neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Objective. Previously we showed that after intravenous injection a lipidic nanoemulsion concentrates in breast carcinoma tissue and other solid tumors and may carry drugs directed against neoplastic tissues. Use of the nanoemulsion decreases toxicity of the chemotherapeutic agents without decreasing the anticancer action. Currently, the hypothesis was tested whether the nanoemulsion concentrates in breast carcinoma tissue after locoregional injection. Methods. Three different techniques of injection of the nanoemulsion were tested in patients scheduled for surgical treatment: G1 (n=4) into the mammary tissue 5 cm away from the tumor; G2 (n=4) into the peritumoral mammary tissue; G3 (n=6) into the tumoral tissue. The nanoemulsion labeled with radioactive cholesteryl oleate was injected 12 h before surgery; plasma decay of the label was determined from blood samples collected over 24 h and the tissue fragments excised during the surgery were analyzed for radioactivity uptake. Results. Among the three nanoemulsion injection techniques, G3 showed the greatest uptake (data expressed in c.p.m/g of tissue) by the tumor (44,769 +/- 54,749) and by the lymph node (2356 +/- 2966), as well as the greatest concentration in tumor compared to normal tissue (844 +/- 1673). In G1 and G2, uptakes were, respectively, tumor: 60 +/- 71 and 843 +/- 1526; lymph node: 263 +/- 375 and 102 +/- 74; normal tissue: 139 +/- 102 and 217 +/- 413. Conclusions. Therefore, with intralesional injection of the nanoemulsion, a great concentration effect can be achieved. This injection technique may be thus a promising approach for drug-targeting in neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Generation and phenotypic characterization of new human ovarian cancer cell lines with the identification of antigens potentially recognizable by HLA-restricted cytotoxic T cells

This study describes a simple method for long-term establishment of human ovarian tumor lines and prediction of T-cell epitopes that could be potentially useful in the generation of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), Nine ovarian tumor lines (INT.Ov) were generated from solid primary or metastatic tumors as well as from ascitic fluid, Notably all lines expressed HLA class I, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), polymorphic epithelial mucin (PEM) and cytokeratin (CK), but not HLA class II, B7.1 (CD80) or BAGE, While of the 9 lines tested 4 (INT.Ov1, 2, 5 and 6) expressed the folate receptor (FR-alpha) and 6 (INT.Ov1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9) expressed the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR); MAGE-1 and p185(HER-2/neu) were only found in 2 lines (INT.Ov1 and 2) and GAGE-1 expression in 1 line (INT.Ov2). The identification of class I MHC ligands and T-cell epitopes within protein antigens was achieved by applying several theoretical methods including: 1) similarity or homology searches to MHCPEP; 2) BIMAS and 3) artificial neural network-based predictions of proteins MACE, GAGE, EGFR, p185(HER-2/neu) and FR-alpha expressed in INT.Ov lines, Because of the high frequency of expression of some of these proteins in ovarian cancer and the ability to determine HLA binding peptides efficiently, it is expected that after appropriate screening, a large cohort of ovarian cancer patients may become candidates to receive peptide based vaccines. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

New body fat prediction equations for severely obese patients

Background & aims: Severe obesity imposes physical limitations to body composition assessment. Our aim was to compare body fat (BF) estimations of severely obese patients obtained by bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and air displacement plethysmography (ADP) for development of new equations for BF prediction. Methods: Severely obese subjects (83 female/36 mate, mean age = 41.6 +/- 11.6 years) had BF estimated by BIA and ADP. The agreement of the data was evaluated using Bland-Altman`s graphic and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). A multivariate regression analysis was performed to develop and validate new predictive equations. Results: BF estimations from BIA (64.8 +/- 15 kg) and ADP (65.6 +/- 16.4 kg) did not differ (p > 0.05, with good accuracy, precision, and CCC), but the Bland- Altman graphic showed a wide Limit of agreement (- 10.4; 8.8). The standard BIA equation overestimated BF in women (-1.3 kg) and underestimated BF in men (5.6 kg; p < 0.05). Two BF new predictive equations were generated after BIA measurement, which predicted BF with higher accuracy, precision, CCC, and limits of agreement than the standard BIA equation. Conclusions: Standard BIA equations were inadequate for estimating BF in severely obese patients. Equations developed especially for this population provide more accurate BF assessment. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

A new large-caliber trocar for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy by the introducer technique in head and neck cancer patients

Background and study aims In many patients, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) can be limited by digestive tract stenosis. PEG placement using an introducer is the safest alternative for this group of patients, but the available devices are difficult to implement and require smaller-caliber tubes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the modification of an introducer technique device for PEG placement with regard to the following: procedure feasibility, possibility of using a 20-Fr balloon gastrostomy tube, tube-related function and problems, complications, procedure safety, and mortality. Patients and methods Between March 2007 and February 2008, 30 consecutive patients with head and neck malignancies underwent introducer PEG placement with the modified device and gastropexy. Each patient was evaluated for 60 days after the procedure for the success of the procedure, infection, pain, complications, mortality, and problems with the procedure. Results The procedure was successful in all cases with no perioperative complications. No signs of stomal infection were observed using the combined infection score. The majority of patients experienced mild-to-moderate pain both in the immediate postoperative period and at 72 hours. One major early complication (3.3%) and two minor complications (6.7%) were observed. No procedure-related deaths occurred during the first 60 days after the procedure. Conclusion The device modification for PEG using the introducer technique is feasible, safe, and efficient in outpatients with obstructive head and neck cancer. In this series, it allowed the use of a larger-caliber tube with low complication rates and no procedure-related mortality.

Inhibin A Production after Gonadotropin Stimulus: A New Method to Detect Ovarian Tissue in Ovotesticular Disorder of Sex Development

Background/Aims: While laboratory methods for the detection of testicular tissue are well standardized, currently there is no available test to demonstrate the presence of ovarian tissue. We evaluated the effectiveness of gonadal stimulation with luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) for the detection of ovarian tissue in patients with disorders of sex development (DSD). Methods: Ten patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) as ovarian-positive controls, 10 with cryptorchidism (ovarian-negative controls), 13 patients with DSD of no defined etiology and 7 patients with ovotesticular DSD (true hermaphroditism, TH) were included in the study. They underwent a daily injection of both LH and FSH on 3 consecutive days. LH, FSH, estradiol, testosterone and inhibin A were measured before treatment, 24 h after the 1st dose and 24 h after the 3rd dose. Results: Estradiol increased in all CAH and TH patients, with a median value of 155.1 and 92.6 pg/ml, respectively, after the 3rd injection. Inhibin A also increased in all CAH and TH patients, with a median value of 70.4 and 32.2 pg/ml, respectively, after the 3rd injection. There was no change in these hormones in the other groups. Conclusion: The LH/FSH stimulation test might be a useful method to detect the presence of ovarian tissue. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

Gasless fetoscopy: A new approach to endoscopic closure of a lumbar skin defect in fetal sheep

Objective: To develop a new endoscopic approach to the correction of a myelomeningocele-like defect in fetal sheep. Methods: The fetuses of 9 pregnant ewes, with an average gestational age of 115 days, were subjected to a 3.0 x 2.0 cm removal of the skin over the lumbar spine, performed through hysterotomy. The uterus was closed, and three 5-mm endoscopic cannulas, without valve mechanisms, were inserted. In the pilot phase (2 animals), we initially worked exclusively in the amniotic fluid space. In the study phase, we partially withdrew the fetus from the amniotic fluid to completely expose its back. By simply allowing air to enter the amniotic cavity (without gas injection), a working space was created using a uterine lift device. The skin around the defect was dissected, and a biosynthetic cellulose material was applied to cover the area. A continuous suture of the skin was performed to completely hide the material. Results: The combined air/fluid space allowed the skin to be successfully closed in 6 out of 7 cases in the study phase. All fetuses were alive at the end of the procedures. Time to complete the endoscopic part of the procedure fell from 3 to 1 h by the end of this series. Premature birth occurred in 2 of the 4 cases allowed to continue with the pregnancy. Conclusion: A new gasless fetoscopic surgery technique was developed as an alternative to current techniques used for fetal endoscopic surgery. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

NEW COUPLING SYSTEM FOR INTERFERENCE SCREWS: BIOMECHANICAL RESISTANCE TO TORSION

Objective: To introduce a new coupling system between screw driver and interference screw, and biomechanical tests that validate the safety of its application. Methods: The new system was submitted to biomechanical torsion assays. Two types of analysis were performed: maximum torque of manual insertion of the screws into bovine bone; destructive assays of torsion of the system using an INSTRON 55MT machine. The same tests were also performed on a control group, using a commercially available interference screw coupling system (Acufex (R)). Results: In the tests on manual insertion of screws in bovine femurs, the average values found with a digital torque meter were 1.958 N/m for Acufex (R) and 2.563 N/m for FMRP. Considering p>0.05, there were no statistical differences between the two groups (p=0.02) in the values for maximum torque of insertion, in the two systems studied. The average values for maximum torque of torsion resisted by the screw were 15N/m for the Acufex (R) screw and 13N/m for the FMRP screw, again with no statistical differences between the two groups (p>0.05). In the evaluation of angular deformation, there was also no significant difference between the two screw types (p=0.15). Conclusion: The new coupling system for interference screws developed at FMRP-USP revealed a torsion resistance that is comparable with the system already available on the market and regulated for international use.

Evaluation of rhBMP-2 and Natural Latex as Potential Osteogenic Proteins in Critical Size Defects by Histomorphometric Methods

This in vivo study evaluated the osteogenic potential of two proteins, recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and a protein extracted from natural latex (Hevea brasiliensis, P-1), and compared their effects on bone defects when combined with a carrier or a collagen gelatin. Eighty-four (84) Wistar rats were divided into two groups, with and without the use of collagen gelatin, and each of these were divided into six treatment groups of seven animals each. The treatment groups were: (1) 5 mu g of pure rhBMP-2; (2) 5 mu g of rhBMP-2/monoolein gel; (3) pure monoolein gel; (4) 5 mu g of pure P-1; (5) 5 mu g of P-1/monoolein gel; (6) critical bone defect control. The animals were anesthetized and a 6 mm diameter critical bone defect was made in the left posterior region of the parietal bone. Animals were submitted to intracardiac perfusion after 4 weeks and the calvaria tissue was removed for histomorphometric analysis. In this experimental study, it was concluded that rhBMP-2 allowed greater new bone formation than P-1 protein and this process was more effective when the bone defect was covered with collagen gelatin (P < 0.05). Anat Rec, 293:794-801, 2010. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A NEW ADJUSTABLE PINCH DESIGNED FOR PRODUCING CRUSH NERVE INJURIES IN THE SCIATIC NERVE OF RATS

Objective: A new adjustable pinch has been developed for producing a crush injury, with a previously known load of 5 kg, on a 5 mm-long segment of the nerve. Methods: Stainless steel was the material selected for building the pinch due its durability and possibility of sterilization with anti-septic substances, which are often corrosive. The crushing load of the pinch is adjustable by increasing or decreasing the tension of the spring by means of a screw used for calibration, which is performed by a load cell. Result: This pinch has been used in a few experimental investigations and was shown to be as efficient as both the universal testing machine and the dead weight machine, previously used. Conclusion: The developed pinch has the advantages of being portable and user-friendly. In addition, the pinch is cheap and allows for the standardization of the applied load.