Molecular dynamics simulation of thermal transport across a solid/liquid interface created by a meniscus

Understandings heat transfer across a solid/liquid interface is crucial for establishing novel thermal control pathways in a range of energy applications. One of the major problems raised in this context is the impact of the three-phase contact line between solid, liquid, and gas on heat flux perturbations at the nanoscale. The focus of this research is the thermal transport via nanosized meniscus restricted between two solid walls. The molecular dynamics approach was used to consider different wetting states of the meniscus by varying the interaction potential between atoms of the substrate and the liquid. The influence of the meniscus size on the energy exchange between two solid walls was also studied. It was discovered that possessing a three-phase contact line reduces the interfacial boundary resistance between solid and liquid. Furthermore, the finite element method was employed to connect atomistic simulations with continuum mechanics. We show that the wetting angle and interfacial boundary resistance are essential important parameters for multiscale analysis of thermal engineering issues with precise microscale parametrization.

Differential Effect of Targeted Temperature Management Between 32 °C and 36 °C Following Cardiac Arrest According to Initial Severity of Illness: Insights From Two International Data Sets

BACKGROUND

Recent guidelines have emphasized actively avoiding fever to improve outcomes in patients who are comatose following resuscitation from cardiac arrest (ie, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest). However, whether targeted temperature management between 32 °C and 36 °C (TTM32-36) can improve neurologic outcome in some patients remains debated.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Is there an association between the use of TTM32-36 and outcome according to severity assessed at ICU admission using a previously derived risk score?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Data prospectively collected in the Sudden Death Expertise Center (SDEC) registry (France) between May 2011 and December 2017 and in the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium Continuous Chest Compressions (ROC-CCC) trial (United States and Canada) between June 2011 and May 2015 were used for this study. Severity at ICU admission was assessed through a modified version of the Cardiac Arrest Hospital Prognosis (mCAHP) score, divided into tertiles of severity. The study explored associations between TTM32-36 and favorable neurologic status at hospital discharge by using multiple logistic regression as well as in tertiles of severity for each data set.

RESULTS

A total of 2,723 patients were analyzed in the SDEC data set and 4,202 patients in the ROC-CCC data set. A favorable neurologic status at hospital discharge occurred in 728 (27%) patients in the French data set and in 1,239 (29%) patients in the North American data set. Among the French data set, TTM32-36 was independently associated with better neurologic outcome in the tertile of patients with low (adjusted OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.15-2.30; P = .006) and high (adjusted OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.06-3.54; P = .030) severity according to mCAHP at ICU admission. Similar results were observed in the North American data set (adjusted ORs of 1.36 [95% CI, 1.05-1.75; P = .020] and 2.42 [95% CI, 1.38-4.24; P = .002], respectively). No association was observed between TTM32-36 and outcome in the moderate groups of the two data sets.

INTERPRETATION

TTM32-36 was significantly associated with a better outcome in patients with low and high severity at ICU admission assessed according to the mCAHP score. Further studies are needed to evaluate individualized temperature control following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Deep learning from phylogenies to uncover the epidemiological dynamics of outbreaks

Widely applicable, accurate and fast inference methods in phylodynamics are needed to fully profit from the richness of genetic data in uncovering the dynamics of epidemics. Standard methods, including maximum-likelihood and Bayesian approaches, generally rely on complex mathematical formulae and approximations, and do not scale with dataset size. We develop a likelihood-free, simulation-based approach, which combines deep learning with (1) a large set of summary statistics measured on phylogenies or (2) a complete and compact representation of trees, which avoids potential limitations of summary statistics and applies to any phylodynamics model. Our method enables both model selection and estimation of epidemiological parameters from very large phylogenies. We demonstrate its speed and accuracy on simulated data, where it performs better than the state-of-the-art methods. To illustrate its applicability, we assess the dynamics induced by superspreading individuals in an HIV dataset of men-having-sex-with-men in Zurich. Our tool PhyloDeep is available on github.com/evolbioinfo/phylodeep.

Widely applicable, accurate and fast inference methods in phylodynamics are needed to fully profit from the richness of genetic data in uncovering the dynamics of epidemics. Here, the authors develop a likelihood-free, simulation-based deep learning approach.

Modernizing and Expanding the NASA Space Geodesy Network to Meet Future Geodetic Requirements

NASA maintains and operates a global network of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) ground stations as part of the NASA Space Geodesy Program. The NASA Space Geodesy Network (NSGN) provides the geodetic products that support Earth observations and the related science requirements as outlined by the US National Research Council (NRC 2010, 2018). The Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) and the NRC have set an ambitious goal of improving the Terrestrial Reference Frame (TRF) to have an accuracy of 1 millimeter and stability of 0.1 millimeters per year, an order of magnitude beyond current capabilities. NASA and its partners within GGOS are addressing this challenge by planning and implementing modern geodetic stations co-located at existing and new sites around the world. In 2013, NASA demonstrated the performance of its next-generation systems at the prototype next-generation core site at NASA's Goddard Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory in Greenbelt, Maryland. Implementation of a new broadband VLBI station in Hawaii was completed in 2016. NASA is currently implementing new VLBI and SLR stations in Texas and is planning the replacement of its other aging domestic and international legacy stations. In this article, we describe critical gaps in the current global network and discuss how the new NSGN will expand the global geodetic coverage and ultimately improve the geodetic products. We also describe the characteristics of a modern NSGN site and the capabilities of the next-generation NASA SLR and VLBI systems. Finally, we outline the plans for efficiently operating the NSGN by centralizing and automating the operations of the new geodetic stations.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a registry study

Aims

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) without return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) despite conventional resuscitation is common and has poor outcomes. Adding extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (extracorporeal-CPR) is increasingly used in an attempt to improve outcomes.

Methods and results

We analysed a prospective registry of 13 191 OHCAs in the Paris region from May 2011 to January 2018. We compared survival at hospital discharge with and without extracorporeal-CPR and identified factors associated with survival in patients given extracorporeal-CPR. Survival was 8% in 525 patients given extracorporeal-CPR and 9% in 12 666 patients given conventional-CPR (P = 0.91). By adjusted multivariate analysis, extracorporeal-CPR was not associated with hospital survival [odds ratio (OR), 1.3; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.8–2.1; P = 0.24]. By conditional logistic regression with matching on a propensity score (including age, sex, occurrence at home, bystander CPR, initial rhythm, collapse-to-CPR time, duration of resuscitation, and ROSC), similar results were found (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.5–1.3; P = 0.41). In the extracorporeal-CPR group, factors associated with hospital survival were initial shockable rhythm (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.5–10.3; P = 0.005), transient ROSC before ECMO (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1–4.7; P = 0.03), and prehospital ECMO implantation (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.5–5.9; P = 0.002).

Conclusions

In a population-based registry, 4% of OHCAs were treated with extracorporeal-CPR, which was not associated with increased hospital survival. Early ECMO implantation may improve outcomes. The initial rhythm and ROSC may help select patients for extracorporeal-CPR.

Renewing Felsenstein's phylogenetic bootstrap in the era of big data

Felsenstein's application of the bootstrap method to evolutionary trees is one of the most cited scientific papers of all time. The bootstrap method, which is based on resampling and replications, is used extensively to assess the robustness of phylogenetic inferences. However, increasing numbers of sequences are now available for a wide variety of species, and phylogenies based on hundreds or thousands of taxa are becoming routine. With phylogenies of this size Felsenstein's bootstrap tends to yield very low supports, especially on deep branches. Here we propose a new version of the phylogenetic bootstrap in which the presence of inferred branches in replications is measured using a gradual 'transfer' distance rather than the binary presence or absence index used in Felsenstein's original version. The resulting supports are higher and do not induce falsely supported branches. The application of our method to large mammal, HIV and simulated datasets reveals their phylogenetic signals, whereas Felsenstein's bootstrap fails to do so.

Small-scale density variations in the lunar crust revealed by GRAIL

Data from the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission have revealed that ~98% of the power of the gravity signal of the Moon at high spherical harmonic degrees correlates with the topography. The remaining 2% of the signal, which cannot be explained by topography, contains information about density variations within the crust. These high-degree Bouguer gravity anomalies are likely caused by small-scale (10's of km) shallow density variations. Here we use gravity inversions to model the small-scale three-dimensional variations in the density of the lunar crust. Inversion results from three non-descript areas yield shallow density variations in the range of 100-200 kg/m3. Three end-member scenarios of variations in porosity, intrusions into the crust, and variations in bulk crustal composition were tested as possible sources of the density variations. We find that the density anomalies can be caused entirely by changes in porosity. Characteristics of density anomalies in the South Pole-Aitken basin also support porosity as a primary source of these variations. Mafic intrusions into the crust could explain many, but not all of the anomalies. Additionally, variations in crustal composition revealed by spectral data could only explain a small fraction of the density anomalies. Nevertheless, all three sources of density variations likely contribute. Collectively, results from this study of GRAIL gravity data, combined with other studies of remote sensing data and lunar samples, show that the lunar crust exhibits variations in density by ±10% over scales ranging from centimeters to 100's of kilometers.

Characterization of oral immune cells in birch pollen-allergic patients: impact of the oral allergy syndrome and sublingual allergen immunotherapy on antigen-presenting cells

BACKGROUND

A detailed characterization of human oral immune cells is needed to better understand local mechanisms associated with allergen capture following oral exposure.

METHODS

Oral immune cells were characterized by immunohistology and immunofluorescence in biopsies obtained from three healthy individuals and 23 birch pollen-allergic patients with/without oral allergy syndrome (OAS), at baseline and after 5 months of sublingual allergen immunotherapy (AIT).

RESULTS

Similar cell subsets (i.e., dendritic cells, mast cells, and T lymphocytes) were detected in oral tissues from healthy and birch pollen-allergic individuals. CD207+ Langerhans cells (LCs) and CD11c+ myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) were found in both the epithelium and the papillary layer of the Lamina propria (LP), whereas CD68+ macrophages, CD117+ mast cells, and CD4+ /CD8+ T cells were rather located in both the papillary and reticular layers of the LP. Patterns of oral immune cells were identical in patients with/without OAS, except lower numbers of CD207+ LCs found in oral tissues from patients with OAS, when compared to OAS- patients (P < 0.05). A 5-month sublingual AIT had a limited impact on oral immune cells, with only a significant increase in IgE+ cells in patients from the active group. Colocalization experiments confirmed that such IgE-expressing cells mostly encompass CD68+ macrophages located in the LP, and to a lesser extent CD207+ LCs in the epithelium.

CONCLUSION

Two cell subsets contribute to antigen/allergen uptake in human oral tissues, including (i) CD207+ LCs possibly involved in the physiopathology of OAS and (ii) CD68+ macrophages likely critical in allergen capture via IgE-facilitated mechanisms during sublingual AIT.

[Epidemiological characteristics of malaria in the village of Corail, Grand'Anse, Haiti]

Malaria is considered to be a major problem of public health in Haiti. However the impact of Plasmodium falciparum on health is poorly known in this country. The objective of this study is to verify the incidence of malaria as the cause of hospital consultation and to evaluate the rate of P. falciparum gametocytes carriage among the population living in a municipality within the Department of Grand'Anse where the prevalence of malaria is considered one of the strongest in Haiti. Analysis of hospital statistics of Corail (Grand'Anse) showed that only 17.4% of consultations of patients presenting with fever are due to microscopically confirmed malaria. The fraction of the population most affected is that of adults aged 15-39 years (55% of cases). Children under five represent only 11% of the cases. A community survey showed the rarity of the carriage of gametocytes in asymptomatic persons (0.9%). In Haiti, the epidemiological characteristics of malaria must have specified and documented field studies in order to adapt a strategy for fighting against this parasitic disease with greater efficiency.

Alternative fuel production by catalytic hydroliquefaction of solid municipal wastes, primary sludges and microalgae

An alternative fuel production was investigated through catalytic hydroliquefaction of three different carbonaceous sources: solid municipal wastes (MW), primary sludges (PS), and microalgae (MA). The reaction was carried out under hydrogen pressure, at different temperatures (330, 380 and 450°C), with a Raney nickel catalyst and two different hydrogen donor solvents: a "fossil solvent" (tetralin) and a "green solvent" (2-methyl-hydro-furan). The feeds analyses (TDA-TGA, ICP-AES, lipids quantification) showed that MW and PS had similar characteristics and physico-chemical properties, but different from those of MA. The hydroliquefaction of these feeds allowed to obtain high oil yields, with a significant energetic value, similar to that of a bio-petroleum. 2-methyl-hydro-furan was more efficient than tetralin for the treatment of the strongly bio-degraded biomasses MW and PS, while better results were obtained with tetralin in the case of MA.

Lugol chromo-endoscopy versus narrow band imaging for endoscopic screening of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma in patients with a history of cured esophageal cancer: a feasibility study

To date, Lugol chromo-endoscopy is the reference technique to detect an esophageal neoplasia in patients with prior esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC), but is not easy to perform without general anesthesia, which can limit its use in routine practice. The objective of this study were to compare the accuracy of white light, narrow band imaging (NBI), and Lugol to detect esophageal neoplasia in patients with a history of cured ESCC, in a prospective study. Thirty patients were prospectively included between June 2006 and June 2009. They all had a history of cured ESCC. Esophageal mucosa was examined first using white light, second NBI, and third after Lugol staining. Histology was obtained in all abnormalities detected by white light, NBI, and/or Lugol. Five neoplastic lesions in five different patients were identified at histology, four cancers, and one high-grade dysplasia. NBI and Lugol both detected all esophageal neoplastic lesions, whereas white light detected the four cancers but missed the high-grade dysplasia. In this feasibility study, NBI and Lugol both detected all identified esophageal neoplasia in very high-risk patients of ESCC. This result suggests that NBI could be used instead of Lugol to detect an esophageal neoplasia in patients with high risk of ESCC, but needs to be confirmed in a larger study.

[Recurrent and metastatic infantile fibrosarcoma: a case report]

Infantile fibrosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor that usually occurs during the 1st year of life. It accounts for approximately 5-10% of all sarcomas in infants younger than 1 year of age. It usually has indolent progression and metastatic spread is rare. We report the case of a patient who had infantile fibrosarcoma of the trunk. At birth, the baby presented a soft tissue mass of the scapulothoracic region. Histopathological examination after complete surgical resection at first suggested an angioma. Reanalysis of the histology after a metastatic relapse resulted in the diagnosis of infantile fibrosarcoma, which was confirmed by the presence of the specific translocation seen in infantile fibrosarcoma (ETV6/NTRK3). This patient's progression was uncommon because he developed 3 metastatic relapses. The treatment consisted of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The patient is alive with persistent complete remission. We discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic issues of infantile fibrosarcoma. There is a risk of erroneous diagnosis in newborn infants between benign angiomatous tumor and infantile fibrosarcoma. The fusion transcript ETV6-NTRK3 resulting from the specific chromosomal translocation t(12;15)(p13;q25) is now a useful diagnostic tool for infantile fibrosarcoma. Surgery with wide resection is the mainstay of treatment. However, infantile fibrosarcoma is a chemosensitive tumor. If initial surgery cannot be done without mutilation or is impossible, preoperative chemotherapy should be given. The role of radiation therapy is still debated.

The shape and internal structure of the moon from the clementine mission

Global topographic and gravitational field models derived from data collected by the Clementine spacecraft reveal a new picture of the shape and internal structure of the moon. The moon exhibits a 16-kilometer range of elevation, with the greatest topographic excursions occurring on the far side. Lunar highlands are in a state of near-isostatic compensation, whereas impact basins display a wide range of compensation states that do not correlate simply with basin size or age. A global crustal thickness map reveals crustal thinning under all resolvable lunar basins. The results indicate that the structure and thermal history of the moon are more complex than was previously believed.

Reproducibility of isokinetic peak torque assessments of the hip flexor and extensor muscles

OBJECTIVES

Isokinetic assessment is currently the reference method for measuring dynamic muscle strength. We have sought to evaluate the reproducibility over time of isokinetic testing of the hip flexor (FI) and extensor (Ext) muscles and to establish whether there is a significant difference in peak torque (PT) between the left and right hips.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ten adults were tested once a week for 3 weeks by the same investigator and according to the same protocol, with two velocities (60 degrees /s and 180 degrees /s) for the hip FI and Ext in concentric tests and one velocity (30 degrees /s) for the Ext only in eccentric tests. The reproducibility of the measured PT was analyzed by using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and a Bland and Altman plot. The difference in PT between the right and left hips was tested using Student's T test.

RESULTS

The ICC for the observed PT values revealed very good reproducibility (with a value of between 0.75 and 0.96) for the hip FI and Ext measurements (regardless of the body side, test velocity or contraction mode). We did not observe any significant PT differences between the right and left hips.

CONCLUSION

The isokinetic assessment of the concentric and eccentric PT values generated by the hip FI and Ext is highly reproducible. There is no difference between dominant and nondominant body sides, which enables the use of the contralateral limb as a reference.

Identification of CD8+CD25+Foxp3+ suppressive T cells in colorectal cancer tissue

BACKGROUND

The antitumoral immune response is one determinant of colorectal cancer (CRC) outcome. Recent work suggests that Foxp3(+)CD25(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cells (T4reg) might hamper effective immunosurveillance of emerging cancer cells and impede effective immune responses to established tumours. In this descriptive study, we analysed blood and tissue regulatory T cell populations in patients with CRC.

METHODS

Blood and tissue regulatory Foxp3(+) T cells from 40 patients with CRC were compared to regulatory Foxp3(+) T cells from normal colonic tissue and from blood of 26 healthy volunteers. Flow cytometry was used to quantify and phenotype all Foxp3(+) T cell populations. Correlations were sought with the tumour stage and with micro-invasive status. The suppressive capacity of regulatory Foxp3(+) T cells was assessed by their effect on CD4(+)CD25(-) T cell proliferation in vitro and by their capacity to inhibit cytokine production by conventional T cells.

RESULTS

We found a significant increase of CD8(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) cells (T8reg) in blood and CRC tissue; their phenotype was close to that of T4reg. T8reg cells infiltrating CRC were activated, as suggested by increased cytoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4, glucocorticoid-induced tumour necrosis factor-related protein, and transforming growth factor (TGF)beta1 expression compared to T8reg from normal autologous colonic tissue. Moreover, T8reg were able to suppress CD4(+)CD25(-) T cell proliferation and Th1 cytokine production ex vivo, demonstrating that tumour-infiltrating T8reg have strong suppressive capacities. T8reg numbers correlated with the tumour stage and with micro-invasive status. Finally, interleukin 6 and TGF beta 1 synergistically induced the generation of CD8(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells ex vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified a new regulatory T cell population (CD8(+)Foxp3(+)) in colorectal tumours. After isolation from cancer tissue these CD8(+)Foxp3(+) cells demonstrated strong immunosuppressive properties in vitro. These data suggest that these cells may contribute to tumoral immune escape and disease progression.

Recent Greenland Ice Mass Loss by Drainage System from Satellite Gravity Observations

Mass changes of the Greenland Ice Sheet resolved by drainage system regions were derived from a local mass concentration analysis of NASA-Deutsches Zentrum für Luftund Raumfahrt Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE mission) observations. From 2003 to 2005, the ice sheet lost 101 +/- 16 gigaton/year, with a gain of 54 gigaton/year above 2000 meters and a loss of 155 gigaton/year at lower elevations. The lower elevations show a large seasonal cycle, with mass losses during summer melting followed by gains from fall through spring. The overall rate of loss reflects a considerable change in trend (-113 +/- 17 gigaton/year) from a near balance during the 1990s but is smaller than some other recent estimates.

Endoscopic markers of villous atrophy are not useful for the detection of celiac disease in patients with dyspeptic symptoms

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Celiac disease can manifest with nonspecific symptoms, including functional gastrointestinal disorders such as dyspepsia. The aim of our study was to assess the usefulness of duodenal endoscopic markers of villous atrophy for the selection of dyspeptic patients for histological assessment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed in dyspeptic patients, in patients considered to be at risk of having celiac disease, and in healthy controls. At least three duodenal biopsies were performed for histological assessment of villous atrophy in all patients and controls. We looked for the following four duodenal endoscopic markers of celiac disease: reduction in the number of folds, scalloping of folds, mosaic-pattern mucosa, and nodular mucosa.

RESULTS

A total of 175 people were enrolled (75 patients with dyspepsia; 75 patients who were "at risk" of having celiac disease; and 25 healthy volunteers, or "controls"). Of the dyspeptic patients, four had endoscopic markers of celiac disease with no histologically confirmed villous atrophy, while one patient without endoscopic markers was found to have Marsh type I villous atrophy. Of the patients at risk of having celiac disease, 16 had at least one endoscopic marker and 10/16 were found to have histological villous atrophy. In this group, the sensitivity and specificity of the endoscopic markers were 100 % and 90.8 % respectively. "At-risk" patients with two or more endoscopic markers all had histologically confirmed villous atrophy. Neither endoscopic markers nor villous atrophy were found in any of the control patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Additional endoscopic markers are valuable for diagnosis in patients with clinical symptoms suggestive of celiac disease. In contrast, endoscopic markers of villous atrophy are not useful for selecting a subgroup of dyspeptic patients for screening for celiac disease by duodenal histological assessment. These patients should be screened using other protocols.

Cell proliferation in colorectal adenocarcinomas: comparison between Ki-67 immunostaining and bromodeoxyuridine uptake detected by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry

We compared three different means of assaying tumor proliferative activity in 30 human colorectal adenocarcinomas labeled in vivo with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd). The labeling indices (LI) of BrdUrd obtained both by flow cytometry (FCM) and immunohistochemistry (IH) were also compared with the labeling index of Ki-67. These methods were then related to tumor ploidy and pathological features. Flow cytometry was performed in accordance with Begg's method after intravenous infusion of BrdUrd four hours before surgery. Immunohistology was carried out on paraffin-embedded sections with monoclonal antibodies against BrdUrd and Ki-67. A positive correlation was found between BrdUrd LI obtained by both FMC and IH (p<0.0001), a finding that complies with the literature. However, we report on a correlation between Ki-67 LI and BrdUrd LIs in colorectal tumors (p=0.012). The results were valid for all tumors when they were subdivided into diploid and aneuploid groups. The labeling indices were significantly higher in the aneuploid tumor group than in the diploid group (p=0.047). No relationship between proliferation parameters and tumor stage or grade was found. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a positive correlation between tumor proliferation indices in BrdUrd LIs and Ki-67 in colorectal carcinomas. This finding validates the value of Ki-67 immunostaining, which, however, should be confirmed in a larger series under the same technical conditions.

[Influence of age and physical activity on isokinetic characteristics of hamstring and quadriceps muscles of young gymnasts and soccer players]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work is the assessment of age and sport influences on the isokinetic knee muscle characteristics.

SUBJECTS AND METHOD

Subjects performed a bilateral knee flexion/extension test on an isokinetic device at 60 and 180 degrees.s(-1) speed in concentric mode. The three parameters studied in this work were the Peak Torque, Average Power and hamstring/quadriceps ratio. Thirty-eight soccer players (16,6 +/- 1.4 years old) and 22 gymnasts (18 +/- 2.8 years old) were tested. The population was separated into three groups : 15 years old, 17 years old, 20 years old.

RESULTS

The isokinetic values of soccer players were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than those of the the gymnasts. The isokinetic values of the oldest soccer players were significantly higher (0.005 < p < 0.05) for hamstrings than those of the younger soccer players. The isokinetic values of the oldest gymnasts were significantly higher (0.005 < p < 0.05) for the quadriceps than those of the younger gymnasts. There were no significant differences between dominant and non dominant limbs in soccer players.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, the muscular maturation improves the absolute strength of the older sportsmen in comparison to the younger. Soccer favor most the absolute strength of the inferior member in comparison to the gymnastics.

Increase in cyclooxygenase-2 and nitric oxide-synthase-2 mRNAs in pouchitis without modification of inducible isoenzyme heme-oxygenase-1

OBJECTIVES

The pathophysiology of pouchitis occurring after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis remains controversial. Prostaglandins and nitric oxide synthesized in excess by cyclooxygenase-2 and nitric oxide synthase-2 are thought to be involved in the inflammatory process. Because heme oxygenase-1, by its antioxidant properties, could modulate inflammatory reaction, we analyzed mRNAs of the three enzymes (cyclooxygenase-2, nitric oxide synthase-2, and heme oxygenase-1) in patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

METHODS

Endoscopic biopsies were obtained in eight patients with normal ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, in eight patients with pouchitis, and in normal ileum of six healthy subjects. A relative quantitative RT-PCR was performed to determine the levels of cyclooxygenase-2, nitric oxide synthase-2, and heme oxygenase-1 mRNAs.

RESULTS

Cyclooxygenase-2 and nitric oxide synthase-2 mRNAs were increased both in normal ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and in pouchitis, compared with healthy subjects. Pouchitis disease activity index was correlated with mRNA levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (r = 0.71; p < 0.01) and nitric oxide synthase-2 (r = 0.51; p < 0.05). Heme oxygenase-1 mRNA levels were not significantly different in patients versus healthy subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase in cyclooxygenase-2 and nitric oxide synthase-2 mRNA levels both in pouchitis and normal ileal pouch-anal anastomosis demonstrates that a latent inflammatory process occurs in the ileal pouch mucosa. This inflammatory process was not found to be associated with an induction of heme oxygenase mRNA, a possible regulator of the inflammatory response.

The shape of 433 eros from the NEAR-shoemaker laser rangefinder

Measurements from the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR)-Shoemaker Laser Rangefinder (NLR) indicate that asteroid 433 Eros is a consolidated body with a complex shape dominated by collisions. The offset between the asteroid's center of mass and center of figure indicates a small deviation from a homogeneous internal structure that is most simply explained by variations in mechanical structure. Regional-scale relief and slope distributions show evidence for control of topography by a competent substrate. Impact crater morphology is influenced by both gravity and structural control. Small-scale topography reveals ridges and grooves that may be generated by impact-related fracturing.

Internal structure and early thermal evolution of Mars from Mars Global Surveyor topography and gravity

Topography and gravity measured by the Mars Global Surveyor have enabled determination of the global crust and upper mantle structure of Mars. The planet displays two distinct crustal zones that do not correlate globally with the geologic dichotomy: a region of crust that thins progressively from south to north and encompasses much of the southern highlands and Tharsis province and a region of approximately uniform crustal thickness that includes the northern lowlands and Arabia Terra. The strength of the lithosphere beneath the ancient southern highlands suggests that the northern hemisphere was a locus of high heat flow early in martian history. The thickness of the elastic lithosphere increases with time of loading in the northern plains and Tharsis. The northern lowlands contain structures interpreted as large buried channels that are consistent with northward transport of water and sediment to the lowlands before the end of northern hemisphere resurfacing.

The gravity field of Mars: results from Mars Global Surveyor

Observations of the gravity field of Mars reveal a planet that has responded differently in its northern and southern hemispheres to major impacts and volcanic processes. The rough, elevated southern hemisphere has a relatively featureless gravitational signature indicating a state of near-isostatic compensation, whereas the smooth, low northern plains display a wider range of gravitational anomalies that indicates a thinner but stronger surface layer than in the south. The northern hemisphere shows evidence for buried impact basins, although none large enough to explain the hemispheric elevation difference. The gravitational potential signature of Tharsis is approximately axisymmetric and contains the Tharsis Montes but not the Olympus Mons or Alba Patera volcanoes. The gravity signature of Valles Marineris extends into Chryse and provides an estimate of material removed by early fluvial activity.

The global topography of Mars and implications for surface evolution

Elevations measured by the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter have yielded a high-accuracy global map of the topography of Mars. Dominant features include the low northern hemisphere, the Tharsis province, and the Hellas impact basin. The northern hemisphere depression is primarily a long-wavelength effect that has been shaped by an internal mechanism. The topography of Tharsis consists of two broad rises. Material excavated from Hellas contributes to the high elevation of the southern hemisphere and to the scarp along the hemispheric boundary. The present topography has three major drainage centers, with the northern lowlands being the largest. The two polar cap volumes yield an upper limit of the present surface water inventory of 3.2 to 4.7 million cubic kilometers.

[Extrarenal nodular nephrogenic blastema in the inguinal canal: report of two cases]

Two observations of extrarenal nephrogenic nodule in inguinal canal are reported. We underline the difficulties in differential diagnostic with true Wilms' tumor, and in sparing these pediatric cases from more aggressive treatment. The main morphological arguments in favor of non-tumoral nephrogenic nodular remnants are: the size of the lesion, the association with a congenital inguinal hernia suggesting a congenital abnormality, and the organoid organization of blastemic tissue surrounding the cavities lined with "hobnail" epithelium evoking a mesonephrogenic origin.

[Pseudomyxoma extraperitonei. Report of 3 cases]

The authors report three additional cases of pseudomyxoma extraperitonei and describe the modalities of occurrence and evolution. Pseudomyxoma extraperitonei arises from spontaneous or accidental implantation of mucosal cells of the primary site. This inoculation is accompanied by the modification of glandular cells which survive by adapting themselves to the interstitial connective tissue environment, raising thus the ability of extensive involvement and tumor-like invasive behavior.

Autologous stem cell infusion for acute myeloblastic leukemia in an HIV-1 carrier

We present the case of an asymptomatic HIV carrier, who presented with acute myeloblastic leukemia in third relapse and successfully underwent autologous stem cell transplantation as a rescue treatment. This observation supports the conclusion that tolerance of autologous bone marrow or stem cell transplant in patients with HIV may correlate with a low viral burden and relatively good immune function.

Good correlation between RT-PCR analysis and relapse in Philadelphia (Ph1)-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

We sequentially performed cytogenetic analysis and RT-PCR analysis of BCR-ABL transcripts in 17 cases of Ph1-positive ALL who had achieved hematological complete remission (CR) with intensive chemotherapy (CT). Sixteen cases were studied prospectively. All but one of the patients had reached cytogenetic CR, but cytogenetic has low sensitivity in predicting relapse. Twelve patients relapsed, three died in first CR and two were alive in first CR. Two of five, two of four, and five of nine patients who were allografted (in first or second CR), autografted and received consolidation CT, respectively, achieved negative two-round PCR in the bone marrow (BM): three died in CR, three remained in CR with negative two-step PCR in the BM and three relapsed after 22 to 28 months. In all cases, relapse was preceded by switch to PCR positivity in the BM by 4 to 6 months. The remaining nine patients remained PCR-positive in the BM and relapsed after 2 to 16 months. In the four autografted cases, PCR was positive at the time of bone marrow harvest. The two patients who received a purged transplant achieved negative PCR and prolonged CR, whereas the two patients who received an unpurged transplant remained PCR positive and relapsed. In 34% of the samples where analysis was concomitant, sensitivity of PCR proved lower in the blood than in the BM. These findings show that RT-PCR is a useful tool in the monitoring of MRD in Ph1 positive ALL.

Preparation and successful engraftment of purified CD34+ bone marrow progenitor cells in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

From September 1992 to January 1994, we evaluated the use of the CEPRATE SC stem cell concentrator (CellPro, Inc, Bothell, WA) to select CD34+ cells from the bone marrow (BM) of 25 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in complete remission. This system uses the biotinylated 12.8 IgM MoAb to select CD34+ cells. Cells are retained on an avidin column and detached by agitation. Fifteen patients have been transplanted with the CD34+ purified fraction. The CD34+ purified fraction of the 25 processed BMs contained a median of 0.54% of the original nucleated cells in a volume of 5 to 10 mL. The median concentration of CD34+ cells was 49% (range, 12% to 80%), and the median enrichment of CD34+ cells was 33-fold (range, 9- to 85-fold). This selected CD34+ fraction retained 60% (range, 15% to 95%) of late granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM), 55% (range, 12% to 99%) of early CFU-GM, and 31% (range, 2% to 100%) erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) corresponding to median enrichments of 22-fold (range, 1- to 71-fold), 19-fold (range, 2- to 58-fold), and 14-fold (range, 2- to 200-fold), respectively. There was a correlation between immune phenotypes and progenitor cells. In the initial buffy-coat fractions, the percentage of CD34+ cells was correlated to the cloning efficiency of both late CFU-GM (P < .05) and early CFU-GM (P < .001). In the final selected fraction, there was a correlation between the percentage of CD34+/CD33- and the cloning efficiency of early CFU-GM (P < .05) and between the percentage of CD34+/CD33+ and the cloning efficiency of late CFU-GM (P < .05). Lymphoma cells positive for t(14; 18) were found by polymerase chain reaction in 9 of 14 buffy coats tested before CD34+ cell purification. In 8 cases, the CD34(+)-selected fraction was found to be negative, and the CD34- fraction was found to be positive. After cryopreservation, the recoveries of progenitor cells in the CD34(+)-purified fraction were 79% for late CFU-GM, 71% for early CFU-GM, and 73% for BFU-E. The 15 patients transplanted with the concentrated CD34+ fraction received a median dose of 1 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (range, 0.3 to 2.96) and 10.62 x 10(4) early CFU-GM/kg (range, 0.92 to 25.55). Median days to recovery to 0.5 x 10(9)/L neutrophils and 50 x 10(9)/L platelets were days 15 (range, 10 to 33) and 23 (range, 11 to 68), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Autologous bone marrow transplantation in ALL: relapse linked to infusion of tumor cells with the back-up marrow

A 41-year-old female patient with a pre-B ALL expressing 2 BCR/ABL transcripts e1/a2 and b2/a2 underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation (aBMT) with marrow grown in long-term culture (LTC) for consolidation of remission (CR). After failing to engraft on day 54 she received her back-up marrow. She engrafted by day 23 and developed a full-blown leukemic relapse 2 weeks later. She died from tumor progression 3 months after infusion of the backup marrow. Analysis of the BCR/ABL transcripts weakly positive at time of collection of the backup marrow, negative in the LTC marrow and in the patient after infusion of the LTC marrow, again positive from day 29 after infusion of the backup marrow until death, strongly suggests that infusion of residual tumor cells with the backup marrow contributed to the relapse.