Experience in the application of Java Technologies in telemedicine

Java language has been demonstrated to be an effective tool in supporting medical image viewing in Russia. This evaluation was completed by obtaining a maximum of 20 images, depending on the client's computer workstation from one patient using a commercially available computer tomography (CT) scanner. The images were compared against standard CT images that were viewed at the site of capture. There was no appreciable difference. The client side is a lightweight component that provides an intuitive interface for end users. Each image is loaded in its own thread and the user can begin work after the first image has been loaded. This feature is especially useful on slow connection speed, 9.6 Kbps for example. The server side, which is implemented by the Java Servlet Engine works more effective than common gateway interface (CGI) programs do. Advantages of the Java Technology place this program on the next level of application development. This paper presents a unique application of Java in telemedicine.     

Partitioning of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which prevent cardiac arrhythmias, into phospholipid cell membranes

It has been demonstrated in animal studies that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) prevent ischemia-induced malignant ventricular arrhythmias, a major cause of sudden cardiac death in humans. To learn how these PUFA, at low micromolar concentrations, exert their antiarrhythmic activity, we studied their effects in vitro on the contractions of isolated cardiac myocytes and the conductances of their sarcolemmal ion channels. These fatty acids directly stabilize electrically every cardiac myocyte by modulating the conductances of specific ion channels in their sarcolemma. In this study, we determined the molar ratio of PUFA to the moles of phospholipid (PL) in cell membranes to learn if the ratio is so low as to preclude the possibility that the primary site of action of PUFA is on the packing of the membrane PL. [(3)H]-arachidonic acid (AA) was used to measure the incorporation of PUFA, and the inorganic phosphorous of the PL was determined as a measure of the moles of PL in the cell membrane. Our results indicate that the mole percent of AA to moles of phospolipid is very low (< or =1.0) at the concentrations that affect myocyte contraction and the conductance of voltage-dependent Na(+) and L-type Ca(2)+ channels in rat cardiomyocytes and in alpha-subunits of human myocardial Na(+) channels. In conclusion, it seems highly unlikely that these fatty acids are affecting the packing of PL within cell membranes as their way of modulating changes in cell membrane ion currents and in preventing arrhythmias in our contractility studies. -- Pound, E. M., J. X. Kang, and A. Leaf. Partitioning of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which prevent cardiac arrhythmias, into phospholipid cell membranes. J. Lipid Res. 2001. 42: 346--351.     

Microenvironmental influences of apoptosis in vivo and in vitro

The apoptosis program of physiological cell death elicits a range of non-phlogistic homeostatic mechanisms—“recognition, response and removal”—that regulate the microenvironments of normal and diseased tissues via multiple modalities operating over short and long distances. The molecular mechanisms mediate intercellular signaling through direct contact with neighboring cells, release of soluble factors and production of membrane-delimited fragments (apoptotic bodies, blebs and microparticles) that allow for interaction with host cells over long distances. These processes effect the selective recruitment of mononuclear phagocytes and the specific activation of both phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells. While much evidence is available concerning the mechanisms underlying the recognition and responses of phagocytes that culminate in the engulfment and removal of apoptotic cell bodies, relatively little is yet known about the non-phagocytic cellular responses to the apoptosis program. These responses regulate inflammatory and immune cell activation as well as cell fate decisions of proliferation, differentiation and death. Here, we review current knowledge of these processes, considering especially how apoptotic cells condition the microenvironments of normal and malignant tissues. We also discuss how apoptotic cells that persist in the absence of phagocytic clearance exert inhibitory effects over their viable neighbors, paying particular attention to the specific case of cell cultures and highlighting how new cell-corpse-clearance devices—Dead-Cert^® Nanoparticles—can significantly improve the efficacy of cell cultures through effective removal of non-viable cells in the absence of phagocytes in vitro.     

Site preparation impacts on soil biotic and abiotic properties,weed control,and native grass establishment

In severely degraded systems active restoration is required to overcome legacies of past land use and to create conditions that promote the establishment of target plant communities. While our understanding of the importance of soil microbial communities in ecological restoration is growing, few studies have looked at the impacts different site preparation techniques have on these communities. We trialed four methods of site preparation: fire, top‐soil removal (TSR; removal of top 50 mm of soil), slashing (vegetation cut to 30 mm, biomass removed), and carbon (C; as sugar and saw‐dust) addition, and quantified resulting soil bacterial communities using DNA metabarcoding. We compared the effectiveness of these techniques to reduce weed biomass, improve native grass establishment, and induce changes in soil nutrient availability. TSR was the most effective technique, leading to a reduction in both available nutrients and competition from weeds. In comparison, the remaining methods had little or no effect on weed biomass, native grass establishment, or soil nutrient availability. Both TSR and C addition resulted in changes in the soil bacterial community. These changes have the potential to alter plant community assembly in many ways, such as via nutrient acquisition, pathogenic effects, nutrient cycling, and decomposition. We recommend TSR for ecological restoration of old‐fields and suggest it is a much more effective technique than burning, slashing, or C addition. Restoration practitioners should consider how their management techniques may influence the soil biota and, in turn, affect restoration outcomes.     

ACUTE EFFECTS OF MOVEMENT VELOCITY ON BLOOD LACTATE AND GROWTH HORMONE RESPONSES AFTER ECCENTRIC BENCH PRESS EXERCISE IN RESISTANCE-TRAINED MEN

This study aimed to compare the effects of different velocities of eccentric muscle actions on acute blood lactate and serum growth hormone (GH) concentrations following free weight bench press exercises performed by resistance-trained men. Sixteen healthy men were divided into two groups: slow eccentric velocity (SEV; n = 8) and fast eccentric velocity (FEV; n = 8). Both groups performed four sets of eight eccentric repetitions at an intensity of 70% of their one repetition maximum eccentric (1RMecc) test, with 2-minute rest intervals between sets. The eccentric velocity was controlled to 3 seconds per range of motion for SEV and 0.5 seconds for the FEV group. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the kinetics of blood lactate removal (at 3, 6, 9, 15, and 20 min) and higher mean values for peak blood lactate (P = 0.001) for the SEV group (9.1 ± 0.5 mM) compared to the FEV group (6.1 ± 0.4 mM). Additionally, serum GH concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.001) at 15 minutes after bench press exercise in the SEV group (1.7 ± 0.6 ng · mL⁻¹) relative to the FEV group (0.1 ± 0.0 ng · mL⁻¹). In conclusion, the velocity of eccentric muscle action influences acute responses following bench press exercises performed by resistance-trained men using a slow velocity resulting in a greater metabolic stress and hormone response.     

The accumulation of deleterious mutations within the frozen niche variation hypothesis

The frozen niche variation hypothesis proposes that asexual clones exploit a fraction of a total resource niche available to the sexual population from which they arise. Differences in niche breadth may allow a period of coexistence between a sexual population and the faster reproducing asexual clones. Here, we model the longer term threat to the persistence of the sexual population from an accumulation of clonal diversity, balanced by the cost to the asexual population resulting from a faster rate of accumulation of deleterious mutations. We use Monte-Carlo simulations to quantify the interaction of niche breadth with accumulating deleterious mutations. These two mechanisms may act synergistically to prevent the extinction of the sexual population, given: (1) sufficient genetic variation, and consequently niche breadth, in the sexual population; (2) a relatively slow rate of accumulation of genetic diversity in the clonal population; (3) synergistic epistasis in the accumulation of deleterious mutations.     

Control of Boophilus annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle using injectable microspheres containing ivermectin

The efficacy of an injectable microsphere formulation of ivermectin for control of the cattle tick, Boophilus annulatus (Say), was tested on 2 groups of 6 Hereford heifers held on separate 7-ha, tick-infested, buffel grass pastures. Cattle in one pasture were injected subcutaneously in the neck with a controlled-release microsphere formulation of ivermectin at the rate of 2.4 mg AI/kg body weight; the other group was injected with carrier only. Beginning 4 wk after injection and continuing throughout the remainder of the test (16 wk), no engorged ticks (> or = 5.5 mm) were found on any of the treated cattle, whereas large numbers of engorged ticks were found on the untreated controls. During this period, a few ticks were recovered from untreated sentinel animals placed in the treatment pasture during 7-8 wk after treatment, but none were recovered from animals exposed from 11-12 wk or 14-15 wk. Large numbers of B. annulatus ticks were found on untreated sentinel cattle placed in the control pasture during these same periods. Although the cattle, pastures, and tick habitat were approximately equal, the treated cattle gained an average of 77 kg compared with an average of 42 kg for the control group. This technology offers a possible alternative to the current official program of dipping and vacating pastures for eradication of Boophilus sp. infestations from the quarantine zone in southern Texas. Larger scale testing is needed to determine the potential of the injectable microsphere formulation and to optimize its use in eradication or control strategies.     

Enhanced apoptotic cell clearance capacity and B cell survival factor production by IL-10-activated macrophages: implications for Burkitt's lymphoma

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is typified by frequent tumor cell apoptosis and significant macrophage infiltration. Since BL cells have an inherent tendency to undergo apoptosis at a high rate, we reasoned that macrophages in BL are functionally enhanced in at least two activities that have implications for tumor pathogenesis: 1) engulfment of apoptotic cells, an anti-inflammatory process known to suppress immune responses, and 2) production of BL cell survival factors that limit the extent of tumor cell apoptosis. In this study, we show that the microenvironment of BL is rich in the pleiotropic cytokine IL-10, which can be produced by both tumor cells and macrophages, and that IL-10-activated human macrophages have enhanced capacity to engulf apoptotic cells in vitro. This was found to be dependent on the macrophage tethering receptor of apoptotic cells, CD14. Furthermore, IL-10-activated macrophages were found to produce markedly higher levels of the B cell survival factor, B cell-activating factor of the TNF family/B lymphocyte stimulator (BAFF/BLyS) than macrophages matured in the absence of IL-10. Coculture of macrophages with BL cells further enhanced BAFF secretion. Significantly, we show that enhancement of BL cell survival by IL-10-activated macrophages is mediated by a BAFF-dependent component and that BAFF is produced at high levels by tumor-associated macrophages in situ. These results indicate that macrophages, regulated by IL-10, have the potential to promote BL pathogenesis, first, through suppression of antitumor immunity following enhanced engulfment of apoptotic tumor cells and, second, through increased production of tumor cell growth/survival factors.