PSFV (cm/s) on CSDUS was ≥20.0 in 32 perforators (84.2%) and was 15.0-19.9 in 6 perforators (15.8%) in the group with pulsation and visible spurting evident, and 15.0-19.9 in one perforator (7.1%) and ≤ 14.9 in 13 perforators (92.9%) in the group without pulsation and visible spurting evident. There was a statistically significant correlation between preoperative PSFV and intraoperative pulsation and visible spurting evident after dissection (P=0.021 × 10

). The flap survival rate was 92.1%.

PSFV is an important preoperative determinant of the suitability of a recipient perforator artery for FTPPA.

PSFV is an important preoperative determinant of the suitability of a recipient perforator artery for FTPPA.In this study, a collaborative system of Fe0 and mixed anaerobic microorganisms was established for remediating chromium (Cr)-contaminated soil and restraining the translocation of Cr from soil to swamp cabbage (Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.). Solid phase characterization demonstrated that more reactive secondary minerals such as green rust, magnetite, and lepidocrocite were generated in the composite system as compared with the Fe0 -only system. Hence, the Fe0 -microorganisms composite system achieved a remarkably higher aqueous Cr(VI) removal of 85.6%, 2.9 times higher than that in the Fe0 -only system. After 14 d remediation, easily available Cr(VI) and Crtotal species such as water-soluble, exchangeable, and bound-to-carbonates were converted to less available Cr(III) and Crtotal species (e.g., Fe-Mn oxides-bound and organic matter-bound species) because of the production of Cr-Fe hydroxides and oxides [Crx Fe1-x (OH)3 or Crx Fe1-x OOH] on the Fe0 surface. A pot experiment showed that Cr uptake by swamp cabbage after the composite system remediation was suppressed by 69.1%, two times higher than that after the Fe0 -only system remediation. Excessive Fe uptake by swamp cabbage also was efficiently inhibited by the composite system treatment due to enhanced Fe hydroxides and oxides production on the Fe0 surface because of biological corrosion and mineralization. These results indicated that Fe0 -microorganisms composite system remediation could efficiently enhance Cr(VI) immobilization and decrease its bioavailability and bioaccumulation by plants, which is a promising technology in Cr-contaminated soil remediation.The Alagille syndrome (AGLS) is a rare condition, with few studies reported in the literature, especially in the field of dentistry. It consists of a disease involving many systemic problems and specific facial features. The liver and heart are the most intensely affected organs, and depending on the severity, it may be necessary to perform transplants. It is an autosomal dominant disease with a variable expressivity, and its prevalence is 1/100,000 live births. Dental findings are conflicting. Some authors claim that dental anomalies occur only in deciduous dentitions; however, there is evidence that permanent teeth can also be affected, as will be described in this paper, through a case report of a patient diagnosed with AGLS, who sought out the Dentistry service at Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, complaining of a strong stain in her teeth, severe dental crowding, and a facial appearance of prognathism.Molecularly targeted agents and immunotherapies have prolonged administration and complicated toxicity and efficacy profiles requiring longer toxicity observation windows and the inclusion of efficacy information to identify the optimal dose. Methods have been proposed to either jointly model toxicity and efficacy, or for prolonged observation windows. However, it is inappropriate to address these issues individually in the setting of dose-finding because longer toxicity windows increase the risk of patients experiencing disease progression and discontinuing the trial, with progression defining a competing event to toxicity, and progression-free survival being a commonly used efficacy endpoint. MEK pathway No method has been proposed to address this issue in a competing risk framework. We propose a seamless phase I/II design, namely the competing risks continual reassessment method (CR-CRM). Given an observation window, the objective is to recommend doses that minimize the progression probability, among a set of tolerable doses in terms of toxicity risk. In toxicity-centered stage of the design, doses are assigned based on toxicity alone, and in optimization stage of the design, doses are assigned integrating both toxicity and progression information. Design operating characteristics were examined in a simulation study compared with benchmark performances, including sensitivity to time-varying hazards and correlated events. The method performs well in selecting doses with acceptable toxicity risk and minimum progression risk across a wide range of scenarios.

K

channels are negative regulators of lymphatic vessel excitability and contractility and are proposed to be targets for immune cell products that inhibit lymph transport. Previous studies in rat and guinea pig mesenteric lymphatics found that NO-mediated inhibition of lymphatic contraction was prevented or reversed by the K

channel inhibitor, glibenclamide. We revisited this hypothesis using mouse lymphatic vessels and K

channel knockout mice.

Mouse popliteal lymphatics were isolated, and contractility was assessed using pressure myography. K

channel expression was determined by PCR analysis of FACS-purified lymphatic smooth muscle cells.

The NO-producing agonist, ACh, and the NO donor, NONOate, both produced dose-dependent inhibition of spontaneous lymphatic contractions that were blocked by the soluble GC inhibitor, ODQ, or the PKG inhibitor, Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS. Surprisingly, the inhibitory effects of both were preserved in K

6.1

vessels, suggesting that K

channels did not mediate NO-induced responses. We hypothesized a role for BK channels, given their prominence in arterial smooth muscle. Indeed, BK channels were expressed in mouse lymphatic smooth muscle and NS11021 (a BK channel activator) caused dilation and reduced contraction frequency, whereas iberiotoxin and penitrem A (BK channel inhibitors) produced right-ward shifts in NONOate concentration-response curves.

Inhibition of mouse lymphatic contractions by NO primarily involves activation of BK channels, rather than K

channels. Thus, BK channels are a potential target for therapeutic reversal of lymph pump inhibition by NO generated by immune cell activation of iNOS in chronic lymphoedema.

Inhibition of mouse lymphatic contractions by NO primarily involves activation of BK channels, rather than KATP channels. Thus, BK channels are a potential target for therapeutic reversal of lymph pump inhibition by NO generated by immune cell activation of iNOS in chronic lymphoedema.