bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Effect of Scutellaria baicalensis on L-Thyroxine-Induced Hyperthyroidism Rats
Authors: Kim Mia , Lee Byung-Cheol
Published: September 2019

Background. This study was performed to evaluate the anti-hyperthyroidal effects and action mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SB), a medicinal herb, on levothyroxine (LT4)-induced hyperthyroidal rats. Methods. Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups, namely, euthyroidal normal group (Normal), hyperthyroidism control group (Control), hyperthyroidism plus PTU-treated group (PTU) as a positive control, hyperthyroidism plus 400 mg/kg SB-treated group (SB400), and hyperthyroidism plus 800 mg/kg SB-treated group (SB800). The rats in groups other than Normal were injected with LT4 for 2 weeks to induce hyperthyroidism and then were administrated each treatment for 2 weeks. Clinical symptoms and biomarkers related to hyperthyroidism were examined, and the gene expressions related to the regulation of thyroid hormone were determined. Results. Compared with the Control group, pulse rate, serum T3, T4, triglyceride, thyroid follicle size, and the deiodinase 1 (Dio1) gene expression were significantly reduced in the SB and PTU groups. Serum TSH and the thyroxine-binding globulin (Tbg) gene expression were significantly increased in the SB and PTU groups. Conclusions. These results suggest that SB might suppress T3, T4, and adrenergic activity by modulating Dio1 and Tbg expression, and therefore, SB could be an alternative therapy for hyperthyroidism.
Association between Public Reporting of Outcomes and the Use of Mechanical Circulatory Support in Patients with Cardiogenic Shock
Authors: Singh Vikas , Mendirichaga Rodrigo , Bhatt Parth , Savani Ghanshyambhai , Jonnalagadda Anil K. , Palacios Igor , Cohen Mauricio G. , O’Neill William W.
Published: September 2019

Risk-averse behavior has been reported among physicians and facilities treating cardiogenic shock in states with public reporting. Our objective was to evaluate if public reporting leads to a lower use of mechanical circulatory support in cardiogenic shock. We conducted a retrospective study with the use of the National Inpatient Sample from 2005 to 2011. Hospitalizations of patients ≥18 years old with a diagnosis of cardiogenic shock were included. A regional comparison was performed to identify differences between reporting and nonreporting states. The main outcome of interest was the use of mechanical circulatory support. A total of 13043 hospitalizations for cardiogenic shock were identified of which 9664 occurred in reporting and 3379 in nonreporting states (age 69.9 ± 0.4 years, 56.8% men). Use of mechanical circulatory support was 32.8% in this high-risk population. Odds of receiving mechanical circulatory support were lower (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.43–0.57; p<0.01) and in-hospital mortality higher (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.06–1.34; p<0.01) in reporting states. Use of mechanical circulatory support was also lower in the subgroup of patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock in reporting states (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.51–0.72; p<0.01). In conclusion, patients with cardiogenic shock in reporting states are less likely to receive mechanical circulatory support than patients in nonreporting states.
A Knee Size-Independent Parameter for Malalignment of the Distal Patellofemoral Joint in Children
Authors: Wagner Ferdinand , Maderbacher Günther , Matussek Jan , Holzapfel Boris M. , Kammer Birgit , Hubertus Jochen , Anders Sven , Winkler Sebastian , Grifka Joachim , Keshmiri Armin
Published: September 2019

Introduction. Patellar instability (PI) is a common finding in children. Current parameters describing patellofemoral joint alignment do not account for knee size. Additionally, most parameters utilize joint-crossing tibiofemoral landmarks and are prone to errors. The aim of the present study was to develop a knee size-independent parameter that is suitable for pediatric or small knees and determines the malpositioning of the distal patellar tendon insertion solely utilizing tibial landmarks. Methods. Sixty-one pediatric knees were included in the study. The tibial tubercle posterior cruciate ligament distance (TTPCL) was measured via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The tibial head diameter (THD) was utilized as a parameter for knee size. An index was calculated for the TTPCL and THD (TTPCL/THD). One-hundred adult knees were analyzed to correlate the data with a normalized cohort. Results. The THD was significantly lower in healthy females than in males (69.3 mm ± 0.8 mm vs. 79.1 mm ± 0.7 mm; p<0.001) and therefore was chosen to serve as a knee size parameter. However, no gender differences were found for the TTPCL/THD index in the healthy adult study cohort. The TTPCL/THD was significantly higher in adult PI patients than in the control group (0.301 ± 0.007 vs. 0.270 ± 0.007; p=0.005). This finding was repeated in the PI group when the pediatric cohort was analyzed (0.316 ± 0.008 vs. 0.288 ± 0.010; p=0.033). Conclusion. The TTPCL/THD index represents a novel knee size-independent measure describing malpositioning of the distal patellar tendon insertion determined solely by tibial landmarks.
Additional Evidence forDDB2T338M as a Genetic Risk Factor for Ocular Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Horses
Authors: Singer-Berk Moriel H. , Knickelbein Kelly E. , Lounsberry Zachary T. , Crausaz Margo , Vig Savanna , Joshi Nikhil , Britton Monica , Settles Matthew L. , Reilly Christopher M. , Bentley Ellison , Nunnery Catherine , Dwyer Ann , Lassaline Mary E. , Bellone Rebecca R.
Published: September 2019

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common periocular cancer in horses and the second most common tumor of the horse overall. A missense mutation indamage-specific DNA-binding protein 2(DDB2, c.1012C>T, p.Thr338Met) was previously found to be strongly associated with ocular SCC in Haflinger and Belgian horses, explaining 76% of cases across both breeds. To determine if this same variant inDDB2contributes to risk for ocular SCC in the Arabian, Appaloosa, and Percheron breeds and to determine if the variant contributes to risk for oral or urogenital SCC, histologically confirmed SCC cases were genotyped for theDDB2variant and associations were investigated. Horses with urogenital SCC that were heterozygous for theDDB2risk allele were identified in the Appaloosa breed, but a significant association between theDDB2variant and SCC occurring at any location in this breed was not detected. The risk allele was not identified in Arabians, and no Percherons were homozygous for the risk allele. High-throughput sequencing data from six Haflingers were analyzed to ascertain if any other variant from the previously associated 483 kb locus on ECA12 was more concordant with the SCC phenotype than theDDB2variant. Sixty polymorphisms were prioritized for evaluation, and no other variant from this locus explained the genetic risk better than theDDB2allele (P=3.39×10−17,n=118). These data provide further support of theDDB2variant contributing to risk for ocular SCC, specifically in the Haflinger and Belgian breeds.
HIV-Associated Vacuolar Myelopathy and HIV-Associated Dementia as the Initial Manifestation of HIV/AIDS
Authors: Wuliji Natalia , Mandell Matthew J. , Lunt Jason M. , Merando Adam
Published: September 2019

HIV-associated vacuolar myelopathy (HIV-VM) is the most common cause of spinal disease in HIV/AIDS. HIV-VM causes progressive spastic paraparesis, sensory ataxia, and autonomic dysfunction. It is a progressive myelopathy that shares features with subacute combined degeneration seen in vitamin B12 deficiency as well as other neurological diseases and can occur synchronously with HIV-associated dementia (HAD). Here, we describe a rare case in which a patient’s initial presentation of HIV/AIDS was both HIV-VM and HAD. A fifty-three-year-old man presented with a six-month history of numerous falls due to progressive gait instability with associated memory loss, tremor, urinary retention, and impotence. His exam was significant for hyperreflexia and weakness in bilateral lower extremities, upgoing plantar reflex, dysmetria, and ataxic gait. MRI-brain was notable for nonspecific volume loss and diffusely increased T2 signal throughout the supratentorial white matter. Lumbar puncture showed isolated lymphocytic pleocytosis with all other CSF testing unremarkable. He ultimately tested positive for HIV-1, with a CD4 count of 157 cells/mm3 and a viral load of 874,000 copies/mL. He was diagnosed with HIV-VM and HAD which improved after several months of antiretroviral therapy. This case highlights the importance of considering HIV testing in a patient with a sensory neuropathy and/or progressive cognitive impairment.
Evaluation of CERS2 Gene as a Potential Biomarker for Bladder Cancer
Authors: Aldoghachi Ahmed Faris , Baharudin Aminuddin , Ahmad Umar , Chan Soon Choy , Ong Teng Aik , Yunus Rosna , Razack Azad Hassan , Yusoff Khatijah , Veerakumarasivam Abhi
Published: September 2019

The ceramide synthase 2 (CERS2) gene has been linked to tumour recurrence and invasion in many different types of cancers including bladder cancer. In this study, the expression levels of CERS2 in bladder cancer cell lines were analysed using qRT-PCR and the protein expression in clinical bladder cancer histopathological specimens were examined via immunohistochemistry. The potential utility of CERS2 as a predictive biomarker of response to oncolytic virotherapy was assessed by correlating the CERS2 mRNA expression to IC50 values of cells treated with the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), AF2240 strain. This study demonstrates that CERS2 is differentially expressed in different types of bladder cancer cell lines and that the siRNA-mediated downregulation of the expression of CERS2 reduces the migratory potential of UMUC1 bladder cancer cells. However, there were no significant correlations between the expression levels of the CERS2 protein with bladder cancer grade/stage or between the IC50 values of cells treated with NDV and CERS2 expression. Although the utility of CERS2 expression may be limited, its potential as an antimigration cancer therapeutic should be further examined.
Comparison of Performance of Equations for Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Chinese Patients with Biopsy-Proven Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Wang Yiting , Zhang Junlin , Teng Geer , Wu Yucheng , Han Qianqian , Li Hanyu , Wang Tingli , Liu Fang
Published: September 2019

Background. The performance of various equations for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with diabetes remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate the performance of equations for eGFR in Chinese patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN).Methods. This is a retrospective study included in 308 patients with type 2 diabetes and biopsy-proven DN who were followed up at least one year. eGFR was calculated using chronic kidney disease epidemiology (CKD-EPI) equations based on serum creatinine (eGFRCKD-EPI-Cr), cystatin C (eGFRCKD-EPI-CysC), and joint equations (eGFRCKD-EPI-Cr-CysC), respectively. End-stage kidney disease was defined by initiation of renal replacement therapy. The eGFR concordance between equations was assessed by Bland-Altman plots. Log-rank and multivariable logistic regression were employed to evaluate the performance of equations.Results. Overall, the proportion of patients witheGFR<60 mL/min/1.73m2was 53%, 70%, and 61% by the equations of eGFRCKD-EPI-Cr, eGFRCKD-EPI-CysC, and eGFRCKD-EPI-Cr-CysC, respectively. Higher disconcordance was observed between equations wheneGFR>60 mL/min/1.73m2. Compared with eGFRCKD-EPI-Cr, 39% of patients were reclassified (reclassified group) from CKD 1-2 stages to CKD 3-5 stages by eGFRCKD-EPI-CysCand they presented significantly longer diabetic duration, heavier proteinuria, advanced pathological lesions, and poorer kidney outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression indicated cystatin C was independently associated with advanced glomerular classifications.Conclusion. eGFR equations incorporating cystatin C are superior to eGFR based on creatinine alone for detecting kidney injury in the early stage. The independent association between cystatin C and glomerular classifications might contribute to it.
Yttrium-90-Labeled Anti-Glypican 3 Radioimmunotherapy Halts Tumor Growth in an Orthotopic Xenograft Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Ludwig Andrew D. , Labadie Kevin P. , Seo Y. David , Hamlin Donald K. , Nguyen Holly M. , Mahadev Vimukta M. , Yeung Raymond S. , Wilbur D. S. , Park James O.
Published: September 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most lethal malignancy globally and is increasing in incidence in the United States. Unfortunately, there are few effective systemic treatment options, particularly for disseminated disease. Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a proteoglycan cell surface receptor overexpressed in most HCCs and provides a unique target for molecular therapies. We have previously demonstrated that PET imaging using a 89Zr-conjugated monoclonal anti-GPC3 antibody (αGPC3) can bind to minute tumors and allow imaging with high sensitivity and specificity in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model of HCC and that serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels are highly correlated with tumor size in this model. In the present study, we conjugated 90Y, a high-energy beta-particle-emitting radionuclide, to our αGPC3 antibody to develop a novel antibody-directed radiotherapeutic approach for HCC. Luciferase-expressing HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells were orthotopically implanted in the livers of athymic nude mice, and tumor establishment was verified at 6 weeks after implantation by bioluminescent imaging and serum AFP concentration. Tumor burden by bioluminescence and serum AFP concentration was highly correlated in our model. Yttrium-90 was conjugated to αGPC3 using the chelating agent 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and injected via the tail vein into the experimental mice at a dose of 200 μCi/mouse or 300 μCi/mouse. Control mice received DOTA-αGPC3 without radionuclide. At 30 days after a single dose of the radioimmunotherapy agent, mean serum AFP levels in control animals increased dramatically, while animals treated with 200 μCi only experienced a minor increase, indicating cessation of tumor growth, and animals treated with 300 μCi experienced a reduction in serum AFP concentration, indicating tumor shrinkage. Mean tumor-bearing liver weight in control animals was also significantly greater than that in animals that received either dose of 90Y-αGPC3. These results were achieved without significant toxicity as measured by body condition scoring and body weight. The results of this preclinical pilot demonstrate that GPC3 can be used as a target for radioimmunotherapy in an orthotopic mouse model of HCC and may be a target of clinical significance, particularly for disseminated HCC.
Does Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Improves Uric Acid? A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Qingshi , Lin Guofu , Chen Lida , Huang Jiefeng , Huang Yaping , Li Ping , Chen Mengxue , Lin Qichang
Published: September 2019

Purpose. The efficacy of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) therapy with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on uric acid (UA) yielded conflicting results. This meta-analysis was performed to assess whether OSA treatment with CPAP could reduce UA levels. Methods. The Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed were searched before March 2019. Information of patients, study design, and pre- and post-CPAP treatment of UA was utilized for analysis. The overall effects were analyzed via the standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Five studies were obtained and the meta-analysis was performed using Stata 12.0 and Review Manager 5.2. Results. A total of 5 studies with 6 cohorts (2 RCT and 3 observational studies) involving 270 patients were pooled into meta-analysis. There was no change of UA levels before and after CPAP treatment in OSA patients (SMD=‐0.20, 95% CI: -0.78 to 0.37, Z=0.69, p=0.49). Subgroup analysis showed that the outcomes were not affected by age of patients, gender distribution, baseline body mass index, daily duration, duration of CPAP treatment, sample size, and study design. Conclusions. This meta-analysis revealed that CPAP treatment has no effect on UA in OSA patients. Further well-designed, large-scale randomized controlled trials are required to address this issue.
Stimulation of Na+/K+-ATPase with an Antibody against Its 4thExtracellular Region Attenuates Angiotensin II-Induced H9c2 Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy via an AMPK/SIRT3/PPARγSignaling Pathway
Authors: Xiong Siping , Sun Hai-Jian , Cao Lei , Zhu Mengyuan , Liu Tengteng , Wu Zhiyuan , Bian Jin-Song
Published: September 2019

Activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Sodium potassium ATPase (NKA) expression and activity are often regulated by angiotensin II (Ang II). This study is aimed at investigating whether DR-Ab, an antibody against 4thextracellular region of NKA, can protect Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Our results showed that Ang II treatment significantly reduced NKA activity and membrane expression. Pretreatment with DR-Ab preserved cell size in Ang II-induced cardiomyopathy by stabilizing the plasma membrane expression of NKA and restoring its activity. DR-Ab reduced intracellular ROS generation through inhibition of NADPH oxidase activity and protection of mitochondrial functions in Ang II-treated H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Pharmacological manipulation and Western blotting analysis demonstrated the cardioprotective effects were mediated by the activation of the AMPK/Sirt-3/PPARγsignaling pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that dysfunction of NKA is an important mechanism for Ang II-induced cardiomyopathy and DR-Ab may be a novel and promising therapeutic approach to treat cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.
Joint DL and UL Channel Estimation for Millimeter Wave MIMO Systems Using Tensor Modeling
Authors: Gomes Paulo R. B. , de Almeida André L. F. , da Costa João Paulo C. L. , de Sousa Rafael T.
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we address the problem of joint downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) channel estimation for millimeter wave (mmWave) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. Assuming a closed-loop and multifrequency-based channel training framework in which pilot signals received by multiple antenna mobile stations (MSs) are coded and spread in the frequency domain via multiple adjacent subcarriers, we propose two tensor-based semiblind receivers by capitalizing on the multilinear structure and sparse feature of the received signal at the BS equipped with a hybrid analog-digital beamforming (HB) architecture. As a first processing stage, the joint estimation of the compressed DL and UL channel matrices can be obtained in an iterative way by means of an alternating least squares (ALS) algorithm that capitalizes on a parallel factors model for the received signals. Alternatively, for more restricted scenarios, a closed-form solution is also proposed. From the estimated effective channel matrices, the users’ channel parameters such as angles of departure (AoD), angles of arrival (AoA), and path gains are then estimated in a second processing stage by solving independent compressed sensing (CS) problems (one for each MS). In contrast to the classical approach in the literature, in which the DL and UL channel estimation problems are usually considered as two separate problems, our idea is to jointly estimate both the DL and UL channels as a single problem by concentrating most of the processing burden for channel estimation at the BS side. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed receivers achieve a performance close to the classical approach that is applied on DL and UL communication links separately, with the advantage of avoiding complex computations for channel estimation at the MS side as well as dedicated feedback channels for each MS, which are attractive features for massive MIMO systems.
Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Productive Infection Led to Inactivation of Nrf2 Signaling through Diverse Approaches
Authors: Fu Xiaotian , Chen Dongmei , Ma Yan , Yuan Weifeng , Zhu Liqian
Published: September 2019

Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) is a significant cofactor for bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC), the most important inflammatory disease in cattle. BoHV-1 infection in cell cultures induces overproduction of pathogenic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the depletion of nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a master transcriptional factor regulating a panel of antioxidant and cellular defense genes in response to oxidative stress. In this study, we reported that the virus productive infection in MDBK cells at the later stage significantly decreased the expression levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) proteins, the canonical downstream targets regulated by Nrf2, inhibited Nrf2 acetylation, reduced the accumulation of Nrf2 proteins in the nucleus, and relocalized nuclear Nrf2 proteins to form dot-like staining patterns in confocal microscope assay. The differential expression of Kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 (KEAP1) and DJ-1 proteins as well as the decreased association between KEAP1 and DJ-1 promoted Nrf2 degradation through the ubiquitin proteasome pathway. These data indicated that the BoHV-1 infection may significantly suppress the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Moreover, we found that there was an association between Nrf2 and LaminA/C, H3K9ac, and H3K18ac, and the binding ratios were altered following the virus infection. Taken together, for the first time, we provided evidence showing that BoHV-1 infection inhibited the Nrf2 signaling pathway by complicated mechanisms including promoting Nrf2 degradation, relocalization of nuclear Nrf2, and inhibition of Nrf2 acetylation.
Urinary NGAL and RBP Are Biomarkers of Normoalbuminuric Renal Insufficiency in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Li Aimei , Yi Bin , Liu Yan , Wang Jianwen , Dai Qing , Huang Yuxi , Li Yan Chun , Zhang Hao
Published: September 2019

Objectives. As a screening index of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), urinary albumin/creatine ratio (UACR) is commonly used. However, approximately 23.3%-56.6% of DKD patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 are normoalbuminuric. Thus, urinary biomarkers of nonalbuminuric renal insufficiency in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients are urgently needed. Methods. This cross-sectional study enrolled 209 T2DM patients with normoalbuminuria whose diabetes duration was more than 5 years. The patients were classified into two groups, NO-CKD (eGFR≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m2, n=165) and NA-DKD (eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.73 m2, n=44). Levels of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), retinol-binding protein (RBP), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-cadherin were detected, and their correlations with eGFR, plasma TNF-α, IL-6, endothelin-1 (ET-1), and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were assessed. Results. Among patients with renal insufficiency, 26.0% was normoalbuminuric. Compared to the NO-CKD group, the NA-DKD group was older with lower hemoglobin (HB) levels and higher systolic blood pressure (SBP), plasma TNF-α, IL-6, and 8-OHdG levels. Logistic regression analysis suggested that age, TNF-α, and 8-OHdG were independent risk factors for nonalbuminuric renal insufficiency. Compared to the NO-CKD group, the NA-DKD group exhibited significant increases in urinary NGAL and RBP levels but not PAI-1, VCAM-1, and E-cadherin. Urinary NGAL and RBP both correlated negatively with eGFR and positively with plasma IL-6 and 8-OHdG. Multiple linear regression indicated NGAL (β=−0.287, p=0.008) and RBP (β=−44.545, p<0.001) were independently correlated with eGFR. Conclusion. Age, plasma TNF-α, and 8-OHdG are independent risk factors for renal insufficiency in T2DM patients with normoalbuminuria. Urinary NGAL and RBP can serve as noninvasive biomarkers of normoalbuminuric renal insufficiency in T2DM.
Successful Management of Peri-Implantitis around Short and Ultrashort Single-Crown Implants: A Case Series with a 3-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Lombardo Giorgio , Marincola Mauro , Cicconetti Andrea , Simancas-Pallares Miguel Angel , Pighi Jacopo , Lehrberg Jeffrey , Signoriello Annarita , Corrocher Giovanni , Serpa-Romero Xiomara , Vila Sierra Luis Armando , Arevalo-Tovar Luisa , Nocini Pier Francesco
Published: September 2019

Introduction and Aim. In case of peri-implantitis, resective surgery is contraindicated for short and ultrashort implants, limiting the treatment options to regenerative surgery or to implant removal. This retrospective case series presents the clinical and radiographic outcomes of a surgical regenerative procedure to treat peri-implantitis around short and ultrashort implants. Materials and Methods. The study is a retrospective evaluation of patients suffering from peri-implantitis and those who underwent access flap surgery, concomitant chemical and mechanical decontamination of implant surface, and bone grafting using a self-hardening mixture of bone substitutes and biphasic calcium sulfate. No membranes were applied to cover the grafting material, and primary tension-free closure was achieved. The retrospective protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee for Clinical Sperimentation (CESC) of Verona and Rovigo, Italy (based in the University of Verona) (Prog. 1863CESC. Date of approval: 2018-07-04). Results. 15 patients (17 implants) have been diagnosed with peri-implantitis after a mean follow-up of 24 months after loading. Implant length was between 5 and 8 mm. 8 patients (10 implants) had a history of periodontitis. At baseline, the mean PD (probing pocket dept) at the deepest site was 8.12 mm, with an average mBI (modified bleeding index) of 2.35 and a mean BD (bone defect depth) of 3.04 mm. At the 3-year follow-up, the CSR was 100%, the mean mBI was 0.88 (average reduction: −1.47), the mean PD was 3.35 mm (mean PD reduction: 4.77 mm), and the mean bone defect was reduced by 1.74 mm, with a mean bone fill of 55%. Conclusions. The results of the present case series suggest that if accurate surface decontamination is achieved, high survival rate and good clinical and radiographic results can be obtained after 3 years. However, only the histological examination could confirm the growth of new bone in direct contact with the implant surface or if the grafted material only fills the space left by the peri-implant defect.
Evaluating Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Ultrasound
Authors: Evrin Togay , Korkut Semih , Ozturk Sonmez Leyla , Szarpak Lukasz , Katipoglu Burak , Smereka Jacek , Guven Ramazan , Akpinar Evrim Eylem
Published: September 2019

Background and Aim. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between COPD severity and the diaphragmatic function measured by point-of-care US in patients with stable COPD. Method. A total of 61 patients with COPD and 40 healthy subjects who had been admitted to Ufuk University Hospital between December 2018 and May 2019 were enrolled. Point-of-care US was performed, and lung silhouette and anterior, right, and left hemidiaphragm method in M-mode were used to evaluate the diaphragm. Results. The point-of-care US measurements, lung silhouette method right (Lung Sil R), lung silhouette method left (Lung Sil L), right hemidiaphragm US method in B-mode (Ant B-Mode R), and right hemidiaphragm US method in M-mode (Ant M-Mode R), were significantly different among groups (P<0.001 for each). FEV1 was strongly correlated with Lung Sil R, Lung Sil L, Ant B-Mode R, and Ant M-Mode R (r = 0.963, P<0.001; r = 0.956, P<0.001; r = 0.953, P<0.001; and r = 0.917, and P<0.001, respectively). Negative correlations were detected between the number of exacerbations per year and Lung Sil R and the number of exacerbations per year and Ant M-Mode R (r = −0.599, P<0.001 and r = −0.587, and P<0.001, respectively). Conclusion. In this study, FEV1 and annual number of exacerbations turned out to be strongly correlated US findings. The use of US in COPD patients could help to support clinical decision, but further clinical studies are necessary to confirm those findings.
miR-199a-5p Represses Protective Autophagy and Overcomes Chemoresistance by Directly Targeting DRAM1 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Li Yang , Zhang Guojun , Wu Bin , Yang Wei , Liu Zhuogang
Published: September 2019

Chemotherapy resistance is still a primary clinical obstacle to the successful treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The underlying mechanisms of drug resistance are complicated and have not been fully understood. Here, we found that miR-199a-5p levels were significantly reduced in refractory/relapsed AML patients compared to those who achieved complete remission after chemotherapy. Consistently, miR-199a-5p was markedly decreased in Adriamycin-resistant AML K562/ADM cells in contrast with Adriamycin-sensitive K562 cells, and its decrement dramatically correlated with the chemoresistance of AML cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the basic and Adriamycin-induced autophagic activity in K562/ADM cells was higher than that in K562 cells. This inducible autophagy played a prosurvival role and contributed to the development of acquired drug resistance. Importantly, we investigated that miR-199a-5p could negatively regulate autophagy, at least in part, by inhibiting damage regulator autophagy modulator (DRAM1) expression at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional level. miR-199a-5p bound directly to the 3′-UTR of DRAM1 mRNA which was a functional target of miR-199a-5p. Indeed, downregulation of DRAM1 gene by siRNA in K562/ADM cells resulted in autophagy suppression and chemosensitivity restoration. These results revealed that the miR-199a-5p/DRAM1/autophagy signaling represented a novel pathway regulating chemoresistance, indicating a potential therapeutic strategy for the intervention in drug-resistant AML.
Design Exploration and Performance Strategies towards Power-Efficient FPGA-Based Architectures for Sound Source Localization
Authors: da Silva Bruno , Segers Laurent , Braeken An , Steenhaut Kris , Touhafi Abdellah
Published: September 2019

Many applications rely on MEMS microphone arrays for locating sound sources prior to their execution. Those applications not only are executed under real-time constraints but also are often embedded on low-power devices. These environments become challenging when increasing the number of microphones or requiring dynamic responses. Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are usually chosen due to their flexibility and computational power. This work intends to guide the design of reconfigurable acoustic beamforming architectures, which are not only able to accurately determine the sound Direction-Of-Arrival (DoA) but also capable to satisfy the most demanding applications in terms of power efficiency. Design considerations of the required operations performing the sound location are discussed and analysed in order to facilitate the elaboration of reconfigurable acoustic beamforming architectures. Performance strategies are proposed and evaluated based on the characteristics of the presented architecture. This power-efficient architecture is compared to a different architecture prioritizing performance in order to reveal the unavoidable design trade-offs.
Computational Prediction of Subjective Human Immunodeficiency Virus Status in Malawi Using a Random Forest Approach
Authors: Simmons Sally Sonia
Published: September 2019

An individual’s subjective judgment about his or her Human Immunodeficiency Virus status depends on certain factors, behavioral, health, and sociodemographic alike. This paper aims to develop a model with good accuracy for predicting subjective HIV infection status using the random forest approach. A total of 12,796 responses of Malawians over a 12-year period were assessed. Fourteen risk factors including behavioral, health, and sociodemographic information were analysed as potential predictors of subjective Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection status in the general population and thirteen behavioral, health, and sociodemographic information were analysed among males and females. The random forest approach was adopted to build a comprehensive model comprising 14 risk factors in Malawi. It was revealed that age, worries about infection, and health rate were the most significant predictors as compared to use of condoms, marital status, and education which were the least important predictors of subjective Human Immunodeficiency Virus status in Malawi. However, the importance of infidelity on the part of a spouse and marital status as predictors of subjective Human Immunodeficiency Virus status alternated among males and females. The importance of infidelity and marital status was relatively high among females than among males. The model achieved a prediction accuracy of about 97%–99% measured by c-statistic with jack-knife cross validation and verified by Mathews correlation coefficient. As a result, RF based model has great potential to be an effective approach for analysing subjective health status.
The Superiority of Removable Contact Splints in the Healing of Diabetic Foot during Postoperative Care
Authors: Fejfarová Vladimíra , Pavlů Jaroslav , Bém Robert , Wosková Veronika , Dubský Michal , Němcová Andrea , Jirkovská Alexandra , Sixta Bedřich , Sutoris Karol , Thieme Filip , Armstrong David G. , Vrátná Eliška , Hazdrová Jitka , Lánská Věra
Published: September 2019

Objective. Off-loading is one of the crucial components of diabetic foot (DF) therapy. However, there remains a paucity of studies on the most suitable off-loading for DF patients under postoperative care. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of different protective off-loading devices on healing and postoperative complications in DF patients following limb preservation surgery. Methods. This observational study comprised 127 DF patients. All enrolled patients had undergone foot surgery and were off-loaded empirically as follows: wheelchair+removable contact splint (RCS) (group R: 29.2%), wheelchair only (group W: 48%), and wheelchair+removable prefabricated device (group WP: 22.8%). We compared the primary (e.g., the number of healed patients, healing time, and duration of antibiotic (ATB) therapy) and secondary outcomes (e.g., number of reamputations and number and duration of rehospitalizations) with regard to the operation regions across all study groups. Results. The lowest number of postoperative complications (number of reamputations: p=0.028; rehospitalizations: p=0.0085; and major amputations: p=0.02) was in group R compared to groups W and WP. There was a strong trend toward a higher percentage of healed patients (78.4% vs. 55.7% and 65.5%; p=0.068) over a shorter duration (13.7 vs. 16.5 and 20.3 weeks; p=0.055) in the R group, as well. Furthermore, our subanalysis revealed better primary outcomes in patients operated in the midfoot and better secondary outcomes in patients after forefoot surgery—odds ratios favouring the R group included healing at 2.5 (95% CI, 1.04-6.15; p=0.037), reamputations at 0.32 (95% CI, 0.12-0.84; p=0.018), and rehospitalizations at 0.22 (95% CI, 0.08-0.58; p=0.0013). Conclusions. This observational study suggests that removable contact splint combined with a wheelchair is better than a wheelchair with or without removable off-loading device for accelerating wound healing after surgical procedures; it also minimises overall postoperative complications, reducing the number of reamputations by up to 77% and the number of rehospitalizations by up to 66%.
Therapeutic Effects of Ten Commonly Used Chinese Herbs and Their Bioactive Compounds on Cancers
Authors: Liu Wei , Yang Binbin , Yang Lu , Kaur Jasmine , Jessop Calvin , Fadhil Rushdi , Good David , Ni Guoying , Liu Xiaosong , Mosaiab Tamim , Yi Zhengjun , Wei Ming Q.
Published: September 2019

Effective cancer therapy is one of the biggest global challenges. Conventional cancer therapies have been at the forefront of combating cancers, but more evidence showed considerable side effects, limiting their use. There are various new therapies in development, but combined approaches for treating cancer are much expected. Natural herbs had been traditionally in use for cancer therapy in most parts of the world. In this review, we have examined ten commonly used Chinese herbs that have, for centuries, shown effectiveness in treating cancers. They demonstrated the abilities to promote the apoptosis of cancer cells, inhibit their metastasis, activate the patient’s anticancer immunity, and synergistically increase the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy when used in combination. Clinical experiences had proved that these herbs and their bioactive compounds were effective against a plethora of cancers through a variety of mechanisms, effectively improving patients’ quality of life without significant side effects. These advantages indicate that there are huge potentials in the development of Chinese herbs into cancer medicine as part of a promising, holistic cancer treatment modality.
Increased Trimethylamine N-Oxide Is Not Associated with Oxidative Stress Markers in Healthy Aged Women
Authors: Olek Robert Antoni , Samulak Joanna Jolanta , Sawicka Angelika Katarzyna , Hartmane Dace , Grinberga Solveiga , Pugovics Osvalds , Lysiak-Szydlowska Wieslawa
Published: September 2019

Increased plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels have been associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). L-carnitine induces TMAO elevation in human blood, and thus, it has been suggested as developing atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between selected markers of oxidative stress and plasma TMAO concentration induced by L-carnitine supplementation for 24 weeks in healthy aged women. Twenty aged women were supplemented during 24 weeks with either 1500 mg L-carnitine-L-tartrate (n=11) or isonitrogenous placebo (n=9) per day. Fasting blood samples were taken from antecubital vein. L-carnitine supplementation induced an increase in TMAO, but not in γ-butyrobetaine (GBB). Moreover, there were no significant changes in serum ox-LDL, myeloperoxidase, protein carbonyls, homocysteine, and uric acid concentrations due to supplementation. Significant reduction in white blood cell counts has been observed following 24-week supplementation, but not attributable to L-carnitine. Our results in healthy aged women indicated no relation between TMAO and any determined marker of oxidative stress over the period of 24 weeks. At the same time, plasma GBB levels were not affected by L-carnitine supplementation. Further clinical studies of plasma GBB level as a prognostic marker are needed.
Dynamic Characteristics and Experimental Research of a Two‐Span Rotor‐Bearing System with Rub‐Impact Fault
Authors: Zhu Rui , Wang Guang-chao , Han Qing-peng , Zhao An-lei , Ren Jian-xing , Xia Xin
Published: September 2019

Rotor rub‐impact has a great influence on the stability and safety of a rotating machine. This study develops a dynamic model of a two‐span rotor‐bearing system with rubbing faults, and numerical simulation is carried out. Moreover, frictional screws are used to simulate a rubbing state by establishing a set of experimental devices that can simulate rotor‐stator friction in the rotor system. Through the experimental platform and its analysis system, the rubbing experiment was conducted, and the vibration of the rotor‐bearing system before and after the critical speed is observed. Rotors running under normal condition, local slight rubbing, and severe rubbing throughout the entire cycle are simulated. Dynamic trajectories, frequency spectrum diagrams, chart of axis track, and Poincare maps are used to analyze the features of the rotor‐bearing system with rub‐impact faults under various parameters. The vibration characteristics of rub impact are obtained. Results show that the dynamic characteristics of the rotor‐bearing system are affected by the change in velocity and degree of impact friction. The findings are helpful in further understanding the dynamic characteristics of the rub‐impact fault of the two‐span rotor‐bearing system and provide reference for fault diagnosis.
An Application of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for Sustainable Procurement of Construction Equipment: Multicriteria‐Based Decision Framework for Malaysia
Authors: Waris Muhammad , Panigrahi Shrikant , Mengal Abdullah , Soomro Mujeeb Iqbal , Mirjat Nayyar Hussain , Ullah Mehfooz , Azlan Zarith Sufia , Khan Asadullah
Published: September 2019

Sustainable procurement is an emerging theme in the construction industry across the globe. However, organizations in the construction industry often encounter impediments in improving environmental performance in construction projects, especially in procurement. Besides its other facets, procurement of construction equipment is inherited to be capital‐intensive and vital for managing environmental concerns associated with built environment projects. In this regard, selection criteria in such procurement processes are generally supportive of considering cost and engineering specifications as key parameters. However, sustainability apprehensions in today’s Malaysian construction industry have mounted pressure on industry professionals to rethink their equipment acquisition strategies. The notion of green or sustainable procurement is still infancy for the Malaysian construction industry and facing challenges for embedding it in the current procurement practices. This research aims to address these apprehensions by considering six main criteria, namely, life cycle cost (LCC), performance (P), system capability (SC), operational convenience (OC), environmental impact (EI), and social benefits (SBs), and their 38 subcriteria towards procurement of sustainable construction equipment. A multicriteria‐based equipment selection framework on the triple bottom line of sustainability in the context of the Malaysian construction industry has been developed and tested. The application of analytical hierarchy process (AHP) established the sustainable procurement index with a consistent sensitivity analysis results. As such, the proposed procurement index shall help decision‐makers in the process of the acquisition of sustainable construction equipment in Malaysia.
The Development of a New Sensor for Tool Face Angle Based on Electrical Resistance
Authors: Wu Chuan , Pan Jian , Wen Guojun
Published: September 2019

Trenchless technology is a type of construction that requires pipelines to be laid in a subsurface horizontal hole drilled by a trenchless drilling rig. To prevent drilling accidents during construction, the drilling trajectory needs to be controlled in real time according to the value of the tool face angle. However, existing tool face angle sensors cannot precisely control a trenchless drilling course due to a number of limitations such as low resolution, large temperature drift, and high requirements for accurate installation. In this regard, this paper presented a new tool face angle sensor based on the change in electrical resistance value. The tests mainly include four aspects, namely, accuracy, repeatability, resolution, and temperature drift. Numbers of tests showed that the measurement error was ±6 degrees, the repeatability was 2.54%, the minimum resolution was 6 degrees, and the temperature drift had no effect during the temperature changes from 0 to 80 degrees, which proved that the sensor is applicable for practical trenchless working conditions.
Continuously Frequency-Tunable Horn Filtennas Based on Dual-Post Resonators
Authors: Alves Andreia A. C. , da Silva Luis G. , Vilas Boas Evandro C. , Spadoti Danilo H. , Arismar Cerqueira S.
Published: September 2019

This work reports the concept and development of two mechanically frequency-tunable horn filtennas for microwave and millimeter-waves. Our design approach relies on the integration of a horn antenna with a mechanically tunable filter based on dual-post resonators. The proposed filtennas have been manufactured and experimentally characterized, by means of reflection coefficient, radiation pattern, and gain. Measurements demonstrate that both filtennas have a tuning ratio of approximately 1.37 with continuous adjustment. The first prototype operates from 2.56 to 3.50 GHz, whereas in the second one the bandwidth is from 17.4 to 24.0 GHz. In addition, the higher-frequency filtenna has been implemented in a 5.0-meter-reach indoor environment, using a 16-QAM signal at 24 GHz. The best configuration in terms of performance resulted in a root mean square error vector magnitude (EVMRMS) and antenna radiation efficiency of 3.69% and 97.0%, respectively.
The Influence of Mixing Methods on the Compressive Strength and Fluoride Release of Conventional and Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer Cements
Authors: Oliveira Gilliard Lima , Carvalho Ceci Nunes , Carvalho Edilausson Moreno , Bauer José , Leal Adriana Mara Araújo
Published: September 2019

Objective. To evaluate the compressive strength and fluoride ion release of conventional and resin-modified glass ionomer cement mixing methods (hand mix and mechanical mix) compared to ready-to-use ones. Materials and Methods. Two conventional glass ionomer cements (GICs) (Fuji II and Fuji II Caps), two resin-modified GICs (Fuji II LC and Fuji II L Caps), and one ready-to-use GIC (Ionoseal, Voco) were used. For the compressive strength test, cylindrical specimens (6 mm × 4 mm) of each group were prepared. The test was performed in a universal testing machine (EMIC DL2000). For the fluoride release test, specimens were prepared in the form of discs and placed in deionized/distilled water, which were replaced daily for 15 days. The fluoride ion release readings were performed on an electrode (Orion 96-09) connected to a digital ion analyzer (Quimis 0400ISE). The compressive strength data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA, and the ion release data were submitted to repeated measures ANOVA (material vs. time) and Holm–Sidak post test (α = 5%). Results. The one-way ANOVA showed statistical difference between the tested materials (p<0.001). Ionoseal showed the highest values of compressive strength (p<0.001). Mechanical manipulation increased the compressive strength only for conventional GIC, and resin-modified GIC did not present any statistical difference. Conventional GIC (mechanical mix) showed higher fluoride release on first day than the other groups tested. Conclusion. There was influence of the mixing methods of the materials on the compressive strength and fluoride release pattern of the glass ionomer cements.