bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of ideal target exercise heart rate for cardiac patients suitable for rehabilitation
Authors: Tan Shih Jia Janice , Allen John Carson , Tan Swee Yaw
Published: July 2017

Background

Exercise prescription for patients with cardiovascular disease remains a challenge. The concept of exercising at an intensity equivalent to one's anaerobic threshold has been well studied and highly recommended in the fitness industry for other populations. For this concept to be applicable to patients with cardiovascular disease, the level and intensity of activity must not trigger myocardial ischemia.

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that the heart rate at ventilatory anaerobic threshold (HRVAT) will not exceed heart rate at ischemic threshold (HRIT) (ie, HRVAT ≤ HRIT in a majority [>50%] of patients).

Methods

In this retrospective pilot study, 19 patients, mean age at baseline of 45.0 ± 15.6 years, who had positive cardiopulmonary exercise stress testing were included. Heart rate at ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) was derived from a computer‐analyzed V‐slope method. The ischemic threshold (IT) was determined from electrocardiogram. The exercise test parameters at VAT in relation to IT were examined.

Results

Heart rate at VAT preceded heart rate at IT in 89.5% of patients. On average, achievement of VAT preceded IT relative to workload (119.5 ± 49.6 vs 132.6 ± 47.5; P < 0.01), heart rate (121.2 ± 15.9 vs 133.3 ± 17.5; P < 0.01), oxygen consumption (19.3 ± 4.9 vs 20.8 ± 3.7; P < 0.01), and respiratory exchange ratio (0.96 ± 0.10 vs 1.01 ± 0.07; P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Greater than 50% of patients met the criteria of HRVAT ≤ HRIT; therefore, we propose that anaerobic threshold is a suitable target aerobic exercise heart rate for all patients with cardiovascular diseases indicated for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
Tubulin acetylation: A novel functional avenue for CDYL in sperm
Authors: Parab Sweta , Dalvi Veena , Mylavaram Sushma , Kishore Abhipriya , Idicula‐Thomas Susan , Sonawane Shobha , Parte Priyanka
Published: July 2017

Motility in sperm is driven by the flagella, the principal component of which is the axoneme. The microtubules which make up the 9 + 2 axoneme are composed of heterodimers of alpha and beta tubulins and undergo several post‐translational modifications. We have earlier reported that HDAC6 functions as tubulin deacetylase in sperm and has a role in sperm movement. While exploring the specific tubulin acetyltransferase (TAT) in sperm, we observed the presence of Chromodomain Y‐Like (CDYL), on the principal piece of rat spermatozoa which compelled us to explore its function in sperm. CDYL was observed to be colocalized with acetylated alpha‐tubulin (Ac α Tubulin) in sperm flagella. Sperm axonemal fraction showed the presence of CDYL protein indicating its strong association with flagellar microtubules. Sequence alignment of CDYL chromo domain and Alpha tubulin acetyltransferase (αTAT1) revealed that of the 10 residues of αTAT1 known to be involved in α‐tubulin binding, 5 residues were identical and 1 was conserved between the two proteins. Docking of CDYL chromo domain and α‐tubulin showed that 6 of the 11 important binding residues of α‐tubulin showed an interaction with CDYL chromo domain. The putative CDYL chromodomain –α‐tubulin interaction was further confirmed by Microscale Thermophoresis. We further asserted the ability of recombinant CDYL and Sperm CDYL to acetylate soluble tubulin and microtubules in vitro. Acetylation of tubulin was increased over twofold in cells overexpressing CDYL. Thus, our studies convincingly demonstrate the ability of CDYL to moonlight as a tubulin acetyltransferase.
Carbon‐Dot/Natural‐Dye Sensitizer for TiO2 Solar Cells Prepared by a One‐Step Treatment of Celery Leaf Extract
Authors: Shen Zhangfeng , Guo Xiaochen , Liu Lihong , Sunarso Jaka , Wang Guiqiang , Wang Shaobin , Liu Shaomin
Published: July 2017

Attempts have been made to create artificial photovoltaic (PV) devices that can harness sunlight in a clean and efficient way by mimicking natural photosynthesis processes. Inspired by the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis, we introduced pheophytin‐ or pyropheophytin‐capped carbon dots (CDs) into the dye‐sensitized solar‐cell system. The CD hybrids were synthesized by means of a single‐step hydrothermal treatment of celery leaf extract. The effects of hydrothermal temperature on the physical properties of CDs and the survival rate of the natural dyes were studied. CDs heated at 120 °C (C‐120) display a relatively homogenous smaller particle size distribution and lower photoluminescence emission intensity relative to their counterparts obtained at higher temperatures. Heated at lower temperatures, the achieved CD hybrids contain a higher amount of surviving dye molecules which would be converted into pheophytins or pyropheophytins. The nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells based on C‐120 gave the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.48 % under AM 1.5G one full sun illumination, which can be compared favorably to the average value of 0.20 % normally reported for other biomass‐derived carbon‐dot‐sensitized devices. Besides functioning as a light sensitizer, C‐120 CDs with a lower amount of trap states can also work as an effective electron‐transfer intermediate to improve the interaction between the dye and TiO2 and suppress the photogenerated carrier recombination, thus improving solar‐cell performance.
Confirmation of recent heroin abuse: Accepting the challenge
Authors: Maas Alexandra , Madea Burkhard , Hess Cornelius
Published: July 2017

Confirmation or exclusion of recent heroin consumption is still one of the major challenges for forensic and clinical toxicologists. A great variety of biomarkers is available for heroin abuse confirmation, including various opium alkaloids (eg, morphine, codeine), street heroin impurities (eg, 6‐acetylcodeine [6‐AC], noscapine, papaverine) as well as associated metabolites (eg, 6‐monoacetylmorphine [6‐MAM], morphine glucuronides). However, the presence of most of these biomarkers cannot solely be attributed to a previous heroin administration but can, among other things, also be due to consumption of poppy seed products (‘poppy seed defense’), opium preparations or specific medications, respectively. A reliable allocation is of great importance in different contexts, for instance in the case of DUID (driving under the influence of drugs) investigations, in driving licence re‐granting processes, in workplace drug testing (WDT), as well as in post‐mortem identification of illicit opiate use. Additionally, differentiation between illicit street heroin abuse and pharmaceutical heroin administration is also important, especially within the frame of heroin‐assisted treatments. Therefore, analysis of multiple biomarkers is recommended when illicit opiate consumption is assumed to obtain the most reliable results possible. Beyond that, interpretation of positive opiate test results requires a profound insight into the great variety of biomarkers available and their validity regarding the alleged consumption. This paper aims to provide an overview of the wide variety of heroin abuse biomarkers described in the literature and to review them regarding their utility and reliability in daily routine analysis.
MRTFs‐ master regulators of EMT
Authors: Gasparics Ákos , Sebe Attila
Published: July 2017

Recent evidence implicates the myocardin‐related transcription factors (MRTFs) as key mediators of the phenotypic plasticity leading to the conversion of various cell types into myofibroblasts. This review highlights the function of MRTFs during development, fibrosis and cancer, and the role of MRTFs during epithelial–mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) underlying these processes. EMT is a sequentially orchestrated process where cells undergo a rearrangement of their cell contacts and activate a fibrogenic and myogenic expression program. MRTFs interact with and regulate the major signaling pathways and the expression of key markers and transcription factors involved in EMT. These functions indicate a central role for MRTFs in controlling the process of EMT. Developmental Dynamics 247:396–404, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Capillary electrophoresis coupled with chloroform‐acetonitrile extraction for rapid and highly selective determination of cysteine and homocysteine levels in human blood plasma and urine
Authors: Ivanov Alexander Vladimirovich , Bulgakova Polina Olegovna , Virus Edward Danielevich , Kruglova Maria Petrovna , Alexandrin Valery Vasil'evich , Gadieva Viktoriya Aleksandrovna , Luzyanin Boris Petrovich , Kushlinskii Nikolai Evgen'evich , Fedoseev Anatolij Nikolaevich , Kubatiev Aslan Amirkhanovich
Published: July 2017

A rapid and selective method has been developed for highly sensitive determination of total cysteine and homocysteine levels in human blood plasma and urine by capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled with liquid–liquid extraction. Analytes were first derivatized with 1,1′‐thiocarbonyldiimidazole and then samples were purified by chloroform–ACN extraction. Electrophoretic separation was performed using 0.1 M phosphate with 30 mM triethanolamine, pH 2, containing 25 μM CTAB, 2.5 μM SDS, and 2.5% polyethylene glycol 600. Samples were injected into the capillary (with total length 32 cm and 50 μm id) at 2250 mbar*s and subsequent injection was performed for 30 s with 0.5 M KОН. The total analysis time was less than 9 min, accuracy was 98%, and precision was <2.6%. The LOD was 0.2 μM for homocysteine and 0.5 μM for cysteine. The use of liquid–liquid extraction allowed the precision and sensitivity of the CE method to be significantly increased. The validated method was applied to determine total cysteine and homocysteine content in human blood plasma and urine samples obtained from healthy volunteers and patients with kidney disorders.
Recent applications of nanomaterials in capillary electrophoresis
Authors: González‐Curbelo Miguel Ángel , Varela‐Martínez Diana Angélica , Socas‐Rodríguez Bárbara , Hernández‐Borges Javier
Published: July 2017

Nanomaterials have found an important place in Analytical Chemistry and, in particular, in Separation Science. Among them, metal‐organic frameworks, magnetic and non‐magnetic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes and graphene, as well as their combinations, are the most important nanomaterials that have been used up to now. Concerning capillary electromigration techniques, these nanomaterials have also been used as both pseudostationary phases in electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) and as stationary phases in microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE) and capillary electrochromatography (CEC), as a result of their interesting and particular properties. This review article pretends to provide a general and critical revision of the most recent applications of nanomaterials in this field (period 2010–2017).
Kriging with trend functions nonlinear in their parameters: Theory and application in enzyme kinetics
Authors: Freier Lars , Wiechert Wolfgang , von Lieres Eric
Published: July 2017

Kriging is an interpolation method commonly applied in empirical modeling for approximating functional relationships between impact factors and system response. The interpolation is based on a statistical analysis of given data and can optionally include a priori defined trend functions. However, Kriging can so far only be used with trend functions that are linear with respect to the parameters. In this contribution, we present an extension of the Kriging approach for handling trend functions that are nonlinear in their parameters. Our approach is based on Taylor linearization combined with an iterative parameter estimation procedure whose solution is practically computed via a root finding problem. We demonstrate our novel approach with measurement data from the application field of biocatalysis.
Effect of propanil, linuron, and dicamba on the degradation kinetics of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid by Burkholderia sp. A study by differential analysis of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid degradation data
Authors: Dorado‐Martínez Adriana , Ruiz‐Ordaz Nora , Galíndez‐Mayer Juvencio , Santoyo‐Tepole Fortunata , Ramos‐Monroy Oswaldo
Published: July 2017

The successive application of distinct pesticides, or mixtures of them, is a frequent practice that could adversely affect the microbial species inhabiting soil and aquatic ecosystems. The ability of soil or aquatic microbiota to degrade a pesticide could be affected by the presence of another. If the degradation rate of the first compound is inhibited, its dissipation half‐life in the environment could be hazardously enlarged. Few studies have been made to quantify the impact on the biodegradation rate of pesticides in soils or water by the presence of other pesticides. In this work, a method for assessing the effect of a pesticide on the biodegradation rate of another, measuring its effect on the biodegradation kinetics of a single bacterial strain is presented. The mathematical analysis is a powerful tool to study the stoichiometry and kinetics of microbial processes, which was used to evaluate independently, in detail, the effect of three pesticides (propanil, linuron, and dicamba) on the biodegradation kinetics of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid by a strain of Burkholderia sp. It was evidenced that linuron and dicamba caused a decay of more than 40% in the top instantaneous degradation rate of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, while propanil showed a minimal effect.
The anatomical scaffold underlying the functional centrality of known cortical hubs
Authors: de Pasquale Francesco , Della Penna Stefania , Sabatini Umberto , Caravasso Falletta Chiara , Peran Patrice
Published: July 2017

Cortical hubs play a fundamental role in the functional architecture of brain connectivity at rest. However, the anatomical scaffold underlying their centrality is still under debate. Certainly, the brain function and anatomy are significantly entwined through synaptogenesis and pruning mechanisms that continuously reshape structural and functional connections. Thus, if hubs are expected to exhibit a large number of direct anatomical connections with the rest of the brain, such a dense wiring is extremely inefficient in energetic terms. In this work, we investigate these aspects on fMRI and DTI data from a set of know resting‐state networks, starting from the hypothesis that to promote integration, functional, and anatomical connections link different areas at different scales or hierarchies. Thus, we focused on the role of functional hubs in this hierarchical organization of functional and anatomical architectures. We found that these regions, from a structural point of view, are first linked to each other and successively to the rest of the brain. Thus, functionally central nodes seem to show few strong anatomical connections. These findings suggest an efficient strategy of the investigated cortical hubs in exploiting few direct anatomical connections to link functional hubs among each other that eventually reach the rest of the considered nodes through local indirect tracts. Hum Brain Mapp 38:5141–5160, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Human monocytes downregulate innate response receptors following exposure to the microbial metabolite n‐butyrate
Authors: Lasitschka Felix , Giese Thomas , Paparella Marco , Kurzhals Stefan R. , Wabnitz Guido , Jacob Katrin , Gras Judith , Bode Konrad A. , Heninger Anne‐Kristin , Sziskzai Timea , Samstag Yvonne , Leszinski Cornelia , Jocher Bettina , Al‐Saeedi Mohammed , Meuer Stefan C. , Schröder‐Braunstein Jutta
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Hyporesponsiveness of human lamina propria immune cells to microbial and nutritional antigens represents one important feature of intestinal homeostasis. It is at least partially mediated by low expression of the innate response receptors CD11b, CD14, CD16 as well as the cystine‐glutamate transporter xCT on these cells. Milieu‐specific mechanisms leading to the down‐regulation of these receptors on circulating monocytes, the precursor cells of resident macrophages, are mostly unknown.

Methods

Here, we addressed the question whether the short chain fatty acid n‐butyrate, a fermentation product of the mammalian gut microbiota exhibiting histone deacetylase inhibitory activity, is able to modulate expression of these receptors in human circulating monocytes.

Results

Exposure to n‐butyrate resulted in the downregulation of CD11b, CD14, as well as CD16 surface expression on circulating monocytes. XCT transcript levels in circulating monocytes were also reduced following exposure to n‐butyrate. Importantly, treatment resulted in the downregulation of protein and gene expression of the transcription factor PU.1, which was shown to be at least partially required for the expression of CD16 in circulating monocytes. PU.1 expression in resident macrophages in situ was observed to be substantially lower in healthy when compared to inflamed colonic mucosa.

Conclusions

In summary, the intestinal microbiota may support symbiosis with the human host organism by n‐butyrate mediated downregulation of protein and gene expression of innate response receptors as well as xCT on circulating monocytes following recruitment to the lamina propria. Downregulation of CD16 gene expression may at least partially be caused at the transcriptional level by the n‐butyrate mediated decrease in expression of the transcription factor PU.1 in circulating monocytes.
Work functioning trajectories in cancer patients: Results from the longitudinal Work Life after Cancer (WOLICA) study
Authors: Dorland Heleen F. , Abma Femke I. , Roelen Corné A. M. , Stewart Roy E. , Amick Benjamin C. , Ranchor Adelita V. , Bültmann Ute
Published: July 2017

More than 60% of cancer patients are able to work after cancer diagnosis. However, little is known about their functioning at work. Therefore, the aims of this study were to (1) identify work functioning trajectories in the year following return to work (RTW) in cancer patients and (2) examine baseline sociodemographic, health‐related and work‐related variables associated with work functioning trajectories. This longitudinal cohort study included 384 cancer patients who have returned to work after cancer diagnosis. Work functioning was measured at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months follow‐up. Latent class growth modeling (LCGM) was used to identify work functioning trajectories. Associations of baseline variables with work functioning trajectories were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses. LCGM analyses with cancer patients who completed on at least three time points the Work Role Functioning Questionnaire (n = 324) identified three work functioning trajectories: “persistently high” (16% of the sample), “moderate to high” (54%) and “persistently low” work functioning (32%). Cancer patients with persistently high work functioning had less time between diagnosis and RTW and had less often a changed meaning of work, while cancer patients with persistently low work functioning reported more baseline cognitive symptoms compared to cancer patients in the other trajectories. This knowledge has implications for cancer care and guidance of cancer patients at work.
Maternal nicotine exposure leads to decreased cardiac protein disulfide isomerase and impaired mitochondrial function in male rat offspring
Authors: Barra Nicole G. , Lisyansky Maria , Vanduzer Taylor A. , Raha Sandeep , Holloway Alison C. , Hardy Daniel B.
Published: July 2017

Smoking throughout pregnancy can lead to complications during gestation, parturition and neonatal development. Thus, nicotine replacement therapies are a popular alternative thought to be safer than cigarettes. However, recent studies in rodents suggest that fetal and neonatal nicotine exposure alone results in cardiac dysfunction and high blood pressure. While it is well known that perinatal nicotine exposure causes increased congenital abnormalities, the mechanisms underlying longer‐term deficits in cardiac function are not completely understood. Recently, our laboratory demonstrated that nicotine impairs placental protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) triggering an increase in endoplasmic reticulum stress, leading us to hypothesize that this may also occur in the heart. At 3 months of age, nicotine‐exposed offspring had 45% decreased PDI levels in the absence of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Given the association of PDI and superoxide dismutase enzymes, we further observed that antioxidant superoxide dismutase‐2 levels were reduced by 32% in these offspring concomitant with a 26–49% decrease in mitochondrial complex proteins (I, II, IV and V) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐4, a critical matrix metalloprotease for cardiac contractility and health. Collectively, this study suggests that perinatal nicotine exposure decreases PDI, which can promote oxidative damage and mitochondrial damage, associated with a premature decline in cardiac function.
Imaging blood flow inside highly scattering media using ultrasound modulated optical tomography
Authors: Hussain Altaf , Steenbergen Wiendelt , Vellekoop Ivo M.
Published: July 2017

We report the use of ultrasound modulated optical tomography (UOT) with heterodyne parallel detection to locally sense and image blood flow deep inside a highly scattering medium. We demonstrate that the UOT signal is sensitive to the speed of the blood flow in the ultrasound focus and present an analytical model that relates UOT signals to the optical properties (i. e. scattering coefficient, anisotropy, absorption, and flow speed) of the blood and the background medium. We found an excellent agreement between the experimental data and the analytical model. By varying the integration time of the camera in our setup, we were able to spatially resolve blood flow in a scattering medium with a lateral resolution of 1.5 mm.

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Gendering Political Settlements: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: O'Rourke Catherine
Published: July 2017

Whereas the political settlements research framework is garnering growing policy attention in development programming, including in fragile and conflict‐affected states, there are concerns that political settlements constitute yet another global policy development with which feminist and gender analysis must ‘catch up’. The article outlines four broad challenges to advancing gender analysis through the political settlements framework. The first isconceptual, that the focus on elites, and the reliance on public sphere dynamics to explain development outcomes, structurally excludes women. The second isepistemological, that the role of the scholar in designating certain groups to be ‘elites’ and others to be ‘non‐elites’ merits further interrogation. The third ismethodological, that because of other exclusions, gender is infrequently identified as a pertinent variable or category of analysis in seeking to explain development outcomes through the political settlements framework. The final ispolitical, that the avowedly non‐normative position of political settlements analysis risks overlooking norms implicit to the work, in particular implicit gender norms. Nevertheless, the article argues, in the prevailing context of technocratic approaches to global gender policy‐making, the political settlements framework may offer promise through its avowed focus on ‘doing politics’. Moreover, the political settlements framework may usefully counter the tendency of global gender policy to essentialise the state as a single domain of activity, and to instead utilise more fully the different constituencies within the state, and the relationships between them, in order to effect positive change. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhancement of automated blood flow estimates (ENABLE) from arterial spin‐labeled MRI
Authors: Shirzadi Zahra , Stefanovic Bojana , Chappell Michael A. , Ramirez Joel , Schwindt Graeme , Masellis Mario , Black Sandra E. , MacIntosh Bradley J.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

To validate a multiparametric automated algorithm—ENhancement of Automated Blood fLow Estimates (ENABLE)—that identifies useful and poor arterial spin‐labeled (ASL) difference images in multiple postlabeling delay (PLD) acquisitions and thereby improve clinical ASL.

Materials and Methods

ENABLE is a sort/check algorithm that uses a linear combination of ASL quality features. ENABLE uses simulations to determine quality weighting factors based on an unconstrained nonlinear optimization. We acquired a set of 6‐PLD ASL images with 1.5T or 3.0T systems among 98 healthy elderly and adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. We contrasted signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of cerebral blood flow (CBF) images obtained with ENABLE vs. conventional ASL analysis. In a subgroup, we validated our CBF estimates with single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) CBF images.

Results

ENABLE produced significantly increased SNR compared to a conventional ASL analysis (Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, P < 0.0001). We also found the similarity between ASL and SPECT was greater when using ENABLE vs. conventional ASL analysis (n = 51, Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, P < 0.0001) and this similarity was strongly related to ASL SNR (t = 24, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that ENABLE improves CBF image quality from multiple PLD ASL in dementia cohorts at either 1.5T or 3.0T, achieved by multiparametric quality features that guided postprocessing of dementia ASL.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:647–655.
The first 300‐year streamflow reconstruction of a high‐elevation river in Chile using tree rings
Authors: Barria Pilar , Peel Murray C. , Walsh Kevin J. E. , Muñoz Ariel
Published: July 2017

In central Chile, increasing demand for water and decreasing runoff volumes due to drier conditions have placed catchments in this zone under water stress. However, scarcity of observed data records increases the difficulty of planning future water supply. Instrumental records suggest a reduction in streamflow over the last 56 years. However, this change is not statistically significant and the lack of meteorological stations with long records in this mountainous region hampers a deeper analysis, motivating the use of tree rings to analyse whether these changes are part of a long‐term trend. This work represents the first high‐elevation runoff reconstruction in Chile using 300 years of tree ring chronologies of Araucaria araucana and Astroceudrus chilensis. The upper part of Biobío river melting season runoff (October–March) and pluvial season runoff (April–September) was reconstructed and analysed to investigate the influence of large‐scale climatic drivers on runoff generation, current drought trends and to improve the understanding of climate variability in this region. We obtained positive correlations between the 20‐year moving average of reconstructed pluvial season runoff and reconstructed Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), which is indicative of multi‐decadal variability. We also found a negative correlation between the 11‐year moving average of reconstructed melting season runoff and the PDO and positive correlations with the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). Important differences in the runoff variability of the upper and the lower part of the catchment were identified which are in part led by the influence of the large‐scale climatic features that drive runoff generation in both regions. We found that the changes observed in the instrumental records are part of multi‐decadal cycles led by the PDO and SAM for pluvial season runoff and melting season runoff, respectively.
Subharmonic and Endoscopic Contrast Imaging of Pancreatic Masses: A Pilot Study
Authors: Forsberg Flemming , Stanczak Maria , Lyshchik Andrej , Loren David , O'Kane Patrick , Siddiqui Ali , Kowalski Thomas E. , Miller Cynthia , Fox Traci , Liu Ji‐Bin , Eisenbrey John R.
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To use subharmonic imaging (SHI) to depict the vascularity of pancreatic masses compared to contrast‐enhanced endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and pathologic results.

Methods

Sixteen patients scheduled for biopsy of a pancreatic mass were enrolled in an Institutional Review Board–approved study. Pulse‐inversion SHI (transmitting/receiving at 2.5/1.25 MHz) was performed on a LOGIQ 9 system (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI) with a 4C transducer, whereas contrast harmonic EUS (transmitting/receiving at 4.7/9.4 MHz) was performed with a radial endoscope (GF‐UTC180; Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) connected to a ProSound SSD α‐10 scanner (Hitachi Aloka, Tokyo, Japan). Two injections of the contrast agent Definity (Lantheus Medical Imaging, North Billerica, MA) were administrated (0.3–0.4 and 0.6–0.8 mL for EUS and SHI, respectively). Contrast‐to‐tissue ratios (CTRs) in the mass and an adjacent vessel were calculated. Four physicians independently scored the images (benign to malignant) for diagnostic accuracy and inter‐reader agreement.

Results

One patient dropped out before imaging, leaving 11 adenocarcinomas, 1 gastrointestinal stromal tumor with pancreatic infiltration, and 3 benign masses. Marked subharmonic signals were obtained in all patients, with intratumoral blood flow clearly visualized with SHI. Significantly greater CTRs were obtained in the masses with SHI than with EUS (mean ± SD, 1.71 ± 1.63 versus 0.63 ± 0.89; P = .016). There were no differences in the CTR in the surrounding vessels or when grouped by pathologic results (P > .60). The accuracies for contrast EUS and SHI were low (<53%), albeit with a greater κ value for SHI (0.34) than for EUS (0.13).

Conclusions

Diagnostic accuracy of contrast EUS and transabdominal SHI for assessment of pancreatic masses was quite low in this pilot study. However, SHI had improved tumoral CTRs relative to contrast EUS.
Improved transoral dissection of the tongue base with a next‐generation robotic surgical system
Authors: Chen Michelle M. , Orosco Ryan K. , Lim Gil Chai , Holsinger F. Christopher
Published: July 2017

Objectives/Hypothesis

To describe the application of a novel, flexible, single‐port robotic surgical system for transoral tongue base resection, and compare it to the current multiport, rigid‐arm robotic surgical system.

Study Design

Preclinical anatomic study using four human cadavers.

Methods

Transoral resection of the tongue base using the da Vinci Sp and the Si robotic surgical systems. A standardized operative procedure is outlined, and operative parameters were compared between robotic systems.

Results

Successful completion of tongue base resection was achieved in all cadavers using both the Sp and the Si systems. The optimal entry guide and instrument position for the Sp system was with the cannula rotated 180° from the standard position so that the camera was in the most inferior (caudal) channel. In the optimal configuration, no instrument exchanges were needed with the Sp system, but use of the Si system required one instrument exchange.

Conclusions

This is the first preclinical anatomic study of robotic tongue base resection that compares a novel single‐port robotic system to the current multiarm system. Surgical workflow was more streamlined with the da Vinci Sp system, and the new capabilities of simultaneous dissection, traction, and counter traction allowed for improved dissection and vessel control.

Level of Evidence

NA. Laryngoscope, 128:78–83, 2018
PEGylated Dendritic Polyglycerol Conjugate Delivers Doxorubicin to the Parasitophorous Vacuole in Leishmania infantum Infections
Authors: Gutierrez‐Corbo Camino , Dominguez‐Asenjo Barbara , Vossen Laura I. , Pérez‐Pertejo Yolanda , Muñoz‐Fenández Maria A. , Balaña‐Fouce Rafael , Calderón Marcelo , Reguera Rosa M.
Published: July 2017

Most drugs against visceral leishmaniasis must be administered parenterally. A controlled drug release at the target site can improve the efficacy and toxicity of antileishmanial drugs in clinical use. Amastigotes live and grow inside the parasitophorous vacuole of host resident macrophages. Therefore, antileishmanial drugs should accumulate in this compartment to kill the parasite and do not produce toxicity to the cell host. PEGylated dendritic polyglycerol conjugates (PG‐PEG) can ensure a controlled drug release and the immune activation efficiency of the host. A dendritic PG conjugate with doxorubicin (DOX) attached through a pH‐cleavable hydrazone linker (PG‐DOX(pH)‐PEG), is tested on murine macrophage cell lines and on ex vivo infected BALB/c splenocytes. As a control, a dendritic PG conjugate attached via a non‐cleavable linker (PG‐DOX(non)‐PEG) is used. DOX fluorescence is useful to monitor the fate of the drug inside the infected cells by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The results show that PG‐DOX(pH)‐PEG slowly releases DOX inside the targeted macrophages, protecting the host of toxic drug concentrations. In addition, unlike free DOX, PG‐DOX(pH)‐PEG is actively internalized through the acidic endocytic pathway and colocalized surrounding the amastigotes. These results prove that PG‐DOX(pH)‐PEG is a promising candidate for releasing antileishmanial drugs in a controlled manner.
Why to consider environmental pollution in cholera modeling?
Authors: Sharma Sandeep , Kumari Nitu
Published: July 2017

We propose a deterministic model to study the impact of environmental pollution on the dynamics of cholera. We consider both human to human and human‐environment‐human transmission modes in our model. We obtain the expression for the basic reproduction number of the proposed model. The study of our model reveals that environmental pollution plays a significant role in the spread of cholera and should not be ignored. Although various dimensions of cholera has been studied using mathematical models but scanty efforts have been made to understand impact of environmental pollution on this disease. Through this study, we try to bridge this gap.
A deep feature fusion methodology for breast cancer diagnosis demonstrated on three imaging modality datasets
Authors: Antropova Natalia , Huynh Benjamin Q. , Giger Maryellen L.
Published: July 2017

Background

Deep learning methods for radiomics/computer‐aided diagnosis (CADx) are often prohibited by small datasets, long computation time, and the need for extensive image preprocessing.

Aims

We aim to develop a breast CADx methodology that addresses the aforementioned issues by exploiting the efficiency of pre‐trained convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and using pre‐existing handcrafted CADx features.

Materials & Methods

We present a methodology that extracts and pools low‐ to mid‐level features using a pretrained CNN and fuses them with handcrafted radiomic features computed using conventional CADx methods. Our methodology is tested on three different clinical imaging modalities (dynamic contrast enhanced‐MRI [690 cases], full‐field digital mammography [245 cases], and ultrasound [1125 cases]).

Results

From ROC analysis, our fusion‐based method demonstrates, on all three imaging modalities, statistically significant improvements in terms of AUC as compared to previous breast cancer CADx methods in the task of distinguishing between malignant and benign lesions. (DCE‐MRI [AUC = 0.89 (se = 0.01)], FFDM [AUC = 0.86 (se = 0.01)], and ultrasound [AUC = 0.90 (se = 0.01)]).

Discussion/Conclusion

We proposed a novel breast CADx methodology that can be used to more effectively characterize breast lesions in comparison to existing methods. Furthermore, our proposed methodology is computationally efficient and circumvents the need for image preprocessing.
Multistage stereotactic radiosurgery for large cerebral arteriovenous malformations using the Gamma Knife platform
Authors: Ding Chuxiong , Hrycushko Brian , Whitworth Louis , Li Xiang , Nedzi Lucien , Weprin Bradley , Abdulrahman Ramzi , Welch Babu , Jiang Steve B. , Wardak Zabi , Timmerman Robert D.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Radiosurgery is an established technique to treat cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Obliteration of larger AVMs (> 10–15 cm3 or diameter > 3 cm) in a single session is challenging with current radiosurgery platforms due to toxicity. We present a novel technique of multistage stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for large intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVM) using the Gamma Knife system.

Materials/Methods

Eighteen patients with large (> 10–15 cm3 or diameter > 3 cm) AVMs, which were previously treated using a staged SRS technique on the Cyberknife platform, were retrospectively selected for this study. The AVMs were contoured and divided into 3–8 subtargets to be treated sequentially in a staged approach at half to 4 week intervals. The prescription dose ranged from 15 Gy to 20 Gy, depending on the subtarget number, volume, and location. Gamma Knife plans using multiple collimator settings were generated and optimized. The coordinates of each shot from the initial plan covering the total AVM target were extracted based on their relative positions within the frame system. The shots were regrouped based on their location with respect to the subtarget contours to generate subplans for each stage. The delivery time of each shot for a subtarget was decay corrected with 60Co for staging the treatment course to generate the same dose distribution as that planned for the total AVM target. Conformality indices and dose–volume analysis were performed to evaluate treatment plans.

Results

With the shot redistribution technique, the composite dose for the multistaged treatment of multiple subtargets is equivalent to the initial plan for total AVM target. Gamma Knife plans resulted in an average PTV coverage of 96.3 ± 0.9% and a PITV of 1.23 ± 0.1. The resulting Conformality indices, V12Gy and R50 dose spillage values were 0.76 ± 0.05, 3.4 ± 1.8, and 3.1 ± 0.5 respectively.

Conclusion

The Gamma Knife system can deliver a multistaged conformal dose to treat large AVMs when correcting for translational setup errors of each shot at each staged treatment.
Preparation and properties of core‐shell structured calcium copper titanate@polyaniline/silicone dielectric elastomer actuators
Authors: Zhang Yi Yang , Wang Gen Lin , Zhang Jie , Ding Ke Hong , Wang Zhi Feng , Zhang Ming
Published: July 2017

In this article, core‐shell structured calcium copper titanate@polyaniline (CCTO@PANI) was synthesized using a simple procedure involving in situ polymerization of aniline in aqueous hydrochloric acid solution. Then, polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) filled with self‐prepared CCTO@PANI particles had high dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, and actuated strain which was greatly improved at low electric field. Meanwhile, the elastic modulus of CCTO@PANI/PDMS composites was increased slightly only with a good flexibility. Compared to pure silicone elastomer (8.94%), the CCTO/PDMS and CCTO@PANI/PDMS (The weight ratio of CCTO and aniline was 10) composites exhibited a greater actuated strain of 10.95% and 13.24% at a low electric field and filling content of 10 V/μm, respectively. This study provided a simple and effective method for the improvement of actuated strain at low electric field through addition of CCTO@PANI/PDMS composites due to the hyper‐electronic polarization and a strong polaron delocalization, facilitating the wide application of dielectric materials. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E62–E68, 2019. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
The structure of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7_0606800 reveals a bi‐lobed architecture that supports re‐annotation as a Venus Flytrap protein
Authors: Parker Michelle L. , Ramaswamy Raghavendran , van Gordon Kyle , Powell Cameron J. , Bosch Jürgen , Boulanger Martin J.
Published: July 2017

Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria, employs a diverse array of surface displayed proteins to promote dissemination and establish infection in the human host. Of these, Pf3D7_0606800 is highly immunogenic and has been designated a potential top 10 candidate for inclusion in a multicomponent malarial vaccine. The role of Pf3D7_0606800 in parasite biology, however, is unknown and its characterization has been complicated by a lack of sequence identity with proteins of known structure or function. Towards elucidating Pf3D7_0606800 function, we determined its structure to a resolution of 2.35 Å using selenium single wavelength anomalous dispersion. A bi‐lobed architecture displays the core structural hallmarks of Venus Flytrap (VFT) proteins prompting us to re‐annotate Pf3D7_0606800 as PfVFT1. Structural analysis further revealed an extended inter‐lobe groove that, when interrogated by molecular docking, appears well suited to bind peptide‐based ligands. Collectively, our structural characterization of the highly antigenic P. falciparum surface protein PfVFT1 provides intriguing functional insight and establishes a structural template that could prove valuable for malaria vaccine engineering studies.
Preparation, Crystal Structure and Vibrational Spectra of Ca2P2O6·2H2O and [Ca(H2O)3(H2P2O6)]·0.5(C12H24O6)·H2O
Authors: Haase Madeline , Gjikaj Mimoza
Published: July 2017

The calcium salts Ca2P2O6·2H2O (1) and [Ca(H2O)3(H2P2O6)]·0.5(C12H24O6)·H2O (2) were prepared and structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Compound 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca and compound 2 in the monoclinic space group P21/n. The crystal structure of compound 1 consists of chains of edge‐sharing [CaO7] polyhedra linked by hypodiphosphate(IV) anions to form a three‐dimensional network. The crystal structure of compound 2 consists of alternated layers of crown ether and water molecules and respective ionic units. Within the layers of ionic units the Ca2+ cations are octahedrally coordinated by three monodentate dihydrogenhypodiphosphate(IV) anions and three water molecules. The IR/Raman spectra of the title compounds were recorded and interpreted, especially with respect to the [P2O6]4– and [H2P2O6]2– groups. The phase purity of 2 was verified by powder diffraction measurements.
Potential signaling pathways of acute endurance exercise-induced cardiac autophagy and mitophagy and its possible role in cardioprotection
Authors: Lee Youngil , Kwon Insu , Jang Yongchul , Song Wankeun , Cosio-Lima Ludmila M. , Roltsch Mark H.
Published: July 2017

Cardiac myocytes are terminally differentiated cells and possess extremely limited regenerative capacity; therefore, preservation of mature cardiac myocytes throughout the individual’s entire life span contributes substantially to healthy living. Autophagy, a lysosome-dependent cellular catabolic process, is essential for normal cardiac function and mitochondria maintenance. Therefore, it may be reasonable to hypothesize that if endurance exercise promotes cardiac autophagy and mitochondrial autophagy or mitophagy, exercise-induced cardiac autophagy (EICA) or exercise-induced cardiac mitophagy (EICM) may confer propitious cellular environment and thus protect the heart against detrimental stresses, such as an ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, although the body of evidence supporting EICA and EICM is growing, the molecular mechanisms of EICA and EICM and their possible roles in cardioprotection against an I/R injury are poorly understood. Here, we introduce the general mechanisms of autophagy in an attempt to integrate potential molecular pathways of EICA and EICM and also highlight a potential insight into EICA and EICM in cardioprotection against an I/R insult.
Mother‐child discrepancy in perceived parental control and adolescent filial piety in poor single‐mother families
Authors: Leung Janet T.Y. , Shek Daniel T.L. , Lin Li
Published: July 2017

Based on a sample of 432 poor Chinese single‐mother families (mean age of adolescents = 13.7 years; 51.2% girls; mean age of mothers = 43.5 years) in Hong Kong, the interaction effect of mother‐reported and adolescent‐reported maternal control on filial piety of Chinese adolescents was examined. Results of polynomial multiple regression analyses showed that the interaction between mother‐reported and adolescent‐reported maternal control predicted perceived filial piety in adolescents. At high levels of mother‐reported maternal control, high adolescent‐perceived parental control was associated with higher filial piety. At low levels of mother‐reported maternal control, filial piety increased initially and then decreased when adolescents reported higher levels of maternal control. Using multiple group analyses, these associations were found to be stable across gender and age. The present findings provide insights on how congruencies and discrepancies between mother‐reported and adolescent‐reported maternal control predict filial piety of Chinese adolescents growing up in poor single‐mother families.
High frequency oscillations after median nerve stimulations in healthy children and adolescents
Authors: Zanini Sergio , Del Piero Ivana , Martucci Lucia , Restuccia Domenico
Published: July 2017

The aim of the present research was to address somatosensory high frequency oscillations (400–800 Hz) in healthy children and adolescents in comparison with healthy adults. We recorded somatosensory evoked potentials following median nerve stimulation in nineteen resting healthy children/adolescents and in nineteen resting healthy adults with eyes closed. We administered six consecutive stimulation blocks (500 sweeps each). The presynaptic component of high frequency oscillations amplitudes was smaller in healthy children/adolescents than in healthy adults (no difference between groups was found as far as the postsynaptic component was concerned). Healthy children/adolescents had smaller presynaptic component than the postsynaptic one (the postsynaptic component amplitude was 145% of the presynaptic one), while healthy adults showed the opposite (reduction of the postsynaptic component to 80% of the presynaptic one). No habituation phenomena concerning high frequency oscillation amplitudes were registered in neither healthy children/adolescents nor healthy adults. These findings suggest that healthy children/adolescents present with significantly different pattern of somatosensory high frequency oscillations compared with healthy adults’ ones. This different pattern is reasonably expression of higher cortical excitability of the developing brain cortex.
Computed tomography enterography and magnetic resonance enterography in small intestine of Crohn's disease
Authors: Azevedo Aida Cristina Correia Oliveira , Martins Sandra Fátima Fernandes
Published: July 2017

Crohn disease is defined as a chronic inflammatory and idiopathic process that can affect any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The small intestine is the most frequently affected place, so small bowel morphology investigation is often mandatory.

For decades small bowel was almost inaccessible to endoscopies, and, studies like enteroclysis and bowel transit time test, were considered gold standard tests. Recently, innovative imaging techniques, improved diagnosis and follow-up of Crohn disease patients by allowing the exploration of this gut segment.

Authors review literature, concerning the role of computed tomography enterography and magnetic resonance enterography in the evaluation of small bowel Crohn disease.

Authors conclude that the choice of examination to be made should be weighted considering several factors such as the age of the patient, their tolerability, the Crohn's disease phenotype and the availability of hospital resources.