Effect of 99 GHz continuous millimeter wave electro-magnetic radiation on E. coli viability and metabolic activity

Purpose:?To investigate time exposure dependence of continuous millimeter wave (CW) 99?GHz radiation on Escherichia coli bacterial cell viability and metabolic activity.

Materials and methods:?Suspensions of E. coli bacterial cells with an optical density of OD_660nm?=?0.1 were used for viability tests and OD_660nm?=?1.0 for metabolic activity tests. These suspensions were exposed to 99?GHz CW electromagnetic radiation, generated by a Backward Wave Oscillator (BWO) tube base instrument with a horn antenna at the BWO exit, to obtain an almost ideal Gaussian beam. Calculations of the Gaussian beam show that a power of 0.2?mW/cm² was obtained at the bacterial plane.

Results:?The experimental results show that 1 hour of exposure to 99?GHz CW electromagnetic radiation had no effect on E. coli viability and colony characterisation. In 19?h of radiation, the number of colonies forming units was half order of magnitude higher than the sham-exposed and the control. However, 19?h of exposure did not affect the E. coli metabolic activity.

Conclusions:?Exposure of E. coli to millimeter wave (MW) CW 99?GHz radiation for a short period did not affect the viability of E. coli bacterial cells. However, exposure for 19?h caused a slight proliferation but did not influence the metabolic activities of about 90 biochemical reactions that were examined. Hence, we assume that the slight proliferation (half order of magnitude) after 19?h of exposure dose not have a biological meaning.     

An update on medication management of women with schizophrenia in pregnancy

Introduction: Women with schizophrenia and their babies are at high risk of adverse outcomes in pregnancy and childbirth. A better understanding of the specific risks conferred by the illness itself and by the treatment provided will help guide more effective care of these women.

Areas covered: Herein, the authors review genetic, demographic, socioeconomic, nutritional and lifestyle risks associated with schizophrenia in pregnancy. They also cover specific risks associated with typical antipsychotic medications, specific risks associated with atypical antipsychotic medications, risks associated with polypharmacy and risks of developmental delay in children exposed to antipsychotic medications in utero.

Expert opinion: Our understanding of the risks that women with schizophrenia face in pregnancy from their illness and from the treatment they receive continues to evolve. As our ability to analyze data progresses, the risks conferred by antipsychotic medication treatment appear to lessen in clinical and statistical significance, whilst the true risks to these women and their babies from their experience of disadvantage continue to set them aside from the general population. Reducing polypharmacy and providing comprehensive and supportive care can minimize harm to women with schizophrenia and their babies.     

人新饱食分子蛋白1在妊娠期代谢异常中的研究进展

人新饱食分子蛋白1(Nesfatin-1)是一种分泌性肽,与抑食功能有关,但其作用机制尚未完全阐明。国内外学者研究发现,Nesfatin-1不仅影响抑食功能,还参与能量代谢。目前,Nesfatin-1在2型糖尿病、代谢综合征、妊娠期糖尿病及摄食行为中的研究较多,而在妊娠期代谢异常等方面涉及甚少。该文就Nesfatin-1在妊娠期代谢异常的研究进展作一综述。     

CREANUIS: A Non-linear Radiofrequency Ultrasound Image Simulator

Nonlinear ultrasound methods are widely used in clinical applications for tissue or contrast harmonic imaging. Accurate non-linear imaging simulation tools are required in research studies for the development of new methods. However, in existing simulators, the possible inhomogeneity of the coefficient of non-linearity, which is generally observed in tissue and in particular when contrast agents are involved, has not yet been implemented. This article describes a new ultrasound simulator, called CREANUIS, devoted to the computation of B-mode images where both linear and non-linear propagation in media is considered, with a possible inhomogeneous coefficient of non-linearity. The resulting fundamental images, based on a spatially variant and non-linear point spread function, are in accordance with those obtained through the reference linear FieldII simulator, with computation time reduced by a factor of at least 1.8. Non-linear images of media exhibiting inhomogeneous coefficients of non-linearity are also provided. The simulation software can be freely downloaded from our website.     

Characteristics of dysphagia in children with cerebral palsy

Videofluoroscopic modified barium swallow (VMBS) examinations may provide clinically relevant information regarding deglutition in children with cerebral palsy and dysphagia. A retrospective review of clinical evaluations and VMBS studies on 90 consecutive children with cerebral palsy and dysphagia was completed. Most children were referred because of concerns regarding airway protection during oral feedings. Most children had multiple disabilities and 93% were nonambulatory. The majority of children were totally dependent for oral feedings (80%). Oral and pharyngeal phase abnormalities were present in almost all patients. Abnormalities of deglutition were observed only while swallowing specific food textures in the majority of patients. Aspiration of specific food textures was significantly more common than aspiration of all food textures (p<0.0001). Finally, aspiration was silent in 97% of the patients. VMBS studies can provide clinicians with valuable information regarding the most appropriate food textures and rates of oral feeding for children with cerebral palsy and dysphagia.     

Regional distribution of action potential abnormalities induced by subacute right ventricular pressure overload

Right ventricular pressure overload of 3 days' duration was established in cats by banding of the pulmonary artery. To characterize the regional distribution of the resulting electrophysiologic changes, the right ventricular free wall, adjacent pulmonary outflow tract and septum were mounted in tissue bath and examined by conventional microelectrode techniques. Abnormal action potentials, identified by a negative shift of the voltage level of phase 2 with a corresponding accentuation of phase 1, were recorded from sites contiguous to the tricuspid valve and pulmonary outflow tract and in limited adjacent areas. No abnormal action potentials were recorded on the septal surface, apical end of the free wall, or at any right ventricular location in normal or sham-operated cats. Abnormal potentials could be recorded from sites sampled 5 cell layers deep in the endocardium. The number and extent of distribution of cells demonstrating altered action potentials correlated best with increased right ventricular wet weight at time of sacrifice. Abnormal cells responded to epinephrine or elevated extracellular calcium by a shift in plateau voltage towards zero and by an increase in action potential duration prior to usual plateau shortening. Responsiveness of these cells to agents which influence slow inward current suggests pressure overload-induced changes in the cell membrane that limit or otherwise affect availability of calcium. Regional distribution of plateau potential abnormalities may reflect differential physical stress within the myocardium provoked by sudden pressure overload.     

No Apparent Correlation of kp with Steric Hindrance for Branched Acrylates

The Arrhenius parameters of the propagation rate coefficient, k_p, are determined via the pulsed laser polymerization—size exclusion chromatography (PLP‐SEC) method for five branched acrylates (tert‐butyl (tBA), isobornyl (iBoA), benzyl (BnA), 2‐ethylhexyl (EHA), and 2‐propylheptyl acrylate (PHA)) in 1 m solution in butyl acetate (BuAc) to complete the series, published by Haehnel et al. in 2014, of branched acrylates (isononyl (INA‐A), tridecyl (TDA‐A and TDN‐A), heptadecyl (C17A), and henicosyl acrylate (C21A)) in solution that do not show a trend in k_p. Furthermore, the propagation rate coefficients of the branched acrylates in 1 m solution are critically compared with the branched acrylates in bulk as well as branched methacrylates. A summary of the trends and family‐type behavior for the linear and branched (meth)acrylates as well as methacrylates with cyclic ester side chains is provided. For the branched acrylates in 1 m solution, no clear trends of the propagation rate coefficients, k_p, or Arrhenius parameters A and E_A are detectable and—in contrast to the corresponding methacrylates—there is no family‐type behavior observed in solution as well as in bulk.

     

上海市某社区老年居民代谢异常情况分析

目的 分析上海市某社区老年居民的代谢异常情况。方法 2013年3月至2013年10月对上海市宜川社区60岁以上常住2588位老年人建立健康档案,测量身高、体重、体质指数(body mass index, BMI)、腰围、血压,检测空腹血糖、总胆固醇(total cholesterol, TC)、三酰甘油(triglyceride, TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(high density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(low density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C)、心电图等。结果超重和肥胖检出率为55.72%,中心性肥胖检出率为23.03%,高血压的检出率为53.40%,高血糖检出率为11.31%,高TC检出率为10.56%,高TG检出率为20.21%,低HDL-C检出率为23.87%,高LDL-C检出率为12.45%,心肌缺血及心律失常的检出率为49.55%。BMI与收缩压、舒张压、空腹血糖、TG、HDL-C的相关系数分别为0.119、0.111、0.109、0.191、-0.356(P＜0.01)。腰围与收缩压、舒张压、空腹血糖、TG、HDL-C的相关系数分别为0.203、0.108、0.140、0.159、-0.323(P＜0.01)。空腹血糖与收缩压、TC、TG、HDL-C的相关系数分别为0.094、0.040、0.126、-0.138(P＜0.05)。空腹血糖与心肌缺血、心律失常之间有一定的相关性(P＜0.01)。结论体质指数、腰围、空腹血糖以及血脂的各项指标密切相关,空腹血糖与心肌缺血及心率失常密切相关。     

我国出生缺陷影响因素的M eta分析

目的：探讨影响我国出生缺陷发生的主要危险因素,为制定最佳预防控制决策、实行有效的干预措施提供科学依据。方法利用M eta分析方法综合分析国内关于出生缺陷发病危险因素的研究文献21篇,累计病例6112例,对照15741例。据纳入与排除标准进行筛选,由异质性检验结果决定采用固定或随机效应模型,并对合并结果进行χ2检验。结果单因素分析的主要合并结果OR值为：先天畸形家族史36．22,孕早期患感染性疾病5．62,孕早期接触化学制剂4．19,父亲吸烟3．89,孕期接触镇静药3．19,妊娠并发症2．94,孕期多食高蛋白食物0．37;多因素分析的主要合并结果OR值为：孕早期感染病毒7．65,孕期精神状态差5．44,孕早期发热4．70,妊娠早期接触化学毒物3．90,流产史3．59,孕期补充复合维生素0．45。结论影响我国出生缺陷发生的主要危险因素为先天畸形家族史、孕早期患感染性疾病、孕早期接触化学制剂、父亲吸烟、妊娠并发症;出生缺陷的保护因素为孕期多食高蛋白食物、孕期补充复合维生素和服用叶酸。     

产前超声检查对胎儿眼部异常的检测价值

胎儿眼部先天性异常是一类罕见的疾病,产前较难诊断.产前超声检查被认为具有检查方便、无创伤、重复性好等优点.通过产前超声检查可发现胎儿眼部的先天异常,如先天性白内障、先天性无眼球或小眼球、永存原始玻璃体增生症等.超声检查可直观地显示不同孕周胎儿的眼部结构,具有提示和诊断先天性眼部异常的临床价值.