bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of forearm muscle metaboreceptor activation on sweating and cutaneous vascular responses during dynamic exercise
Authors: Amano Tatsuro , Ichinose Masashi , Inoue Yoshimitsu , Nishiyasu Takeshi , Koga Shunsaku , Kenny Glen P. , Kondo Narihiko
Published: April 2016

We examined whether the sustained activation of metaboreceptor in forearm during cycling exercise can modulate sweating and cutaneous vasodilation. On separate days, 12 young participants performed a 1.5-min isometric handgrip exercise at 40% maximal voluntary contraction followed by 1) 9-min forearm ischemia (Occlusion, to activate metaboreceptor) or 2) no ischemia (Control) in thermoneutral conditions (27°C, 50%) with mean skin temperature clamped at 34°C. Thirty seconds after the handgrip exercise, participants cycled for 13.5 min at 40% V̇o2 max. For Occlusion, forearm ischemia was maintained for 9 min followed by no ischemia thereafter. Local sweat rate (SR, ventilated capsule) and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC, laser-Doppler perfusion units/mean arterial pressure) on the contralateral nonischemic arm as well as esophageal and skin temperatures were measured continuously. The period of ischemia in the early stages of exercise increased SR (+0.03 mg·cm−2·min−1, P < 0.05) but not CVC ( P > 0.05) above Control levels. No differences were measured in the esophageal temperature at which onset of sweating (Control 37.19 ± 0.09 vs. Occlusion 37.07 ± 0.09°C) or CVC (Control 37.21 ± 0.08 vs. Occlusion 37.08 ± 0.10°C) as well as slopes for these responses (all P > 0.05). However, a greater elevation in SR occurred thereafter such that SR was significantly elevated at the end of the ischemic period relative to Control (0.37 ± 0.05 vs. 0.23 ± 0.05 mg·cm−2·min−1, respectively, P < 0.05) despite no differences in esophageal temperature. We conclude that the activation of forearm muscle metaboreceptor can modulate sweating, but not CVC, during cycling exercise without affecting the core temperature-SR relationship.
Oral 5-Aminosalicyclic Acid Versus 6-Methylprednisolone in Active Crohn's Disease
Authors: Schölmerich Jürgen , Jenss Harro , Hartmann Franz , Döpfer Hanne ,   The German 5-ASA Study Group
Published: April 2016

The response to 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in active Crohn's disease was studied in comparison to methylprednisolone in a 24 week randomized double-blind multicentre study. Sixty-two patients were included in the analysis. Thirty were treated with 500 mg 5-ASA qid and 32 with methylprednisolone (starting dose 48 mg for one week, then reduced weekly to 32, 24, 20, 16 and 12 mg with maintenance at 8 mg/day for the remaining 18 weeks). Mean age, earlier surgical intervention, localization of Crohn's disease and extraintestinal manifestations were not different in both groups. The Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) and the van Hees index were not significantly different in both treatment groups at the entrance examination (median CDAI 232 in the 5-ASA group and 220 in the methylprednisolone group). According to the protocol, treatment was stopped due to insufficient efficacy in 73% of the patients receiving 5-ASA and in 34% of the patients receiving methylprednisolone (x2test P=0.0019). The area under the curve for the CDAl was significantly greater in 5-ASA (median 170) than in methylprednisolone (P≤0.007) (68). Eleven per cent of patients taking 5-ASA and 26% of patients taking methylprednisolone presented relevant side effects to treatment (not significant). It is concluded from these data that 5-ASA at the dose used in this study is not efficient in the treatment of active Crohn's disease. Considering recent studies in ulcerative colitis, a trial using a higher dose is indicated.
Optimal Pattern Synthesis of Linear Antenna Array Using Grey Wolf Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Saxena Prerna , Kothari Ashwin
Published: April 2016

The aim of this paper is to introduce the grey wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm to the electromagnetics and antenna community. GWO is a new nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm inspired by the social hierarchy and hunting behavior of grey wolves. It has potential to exhibit high performance in solving not only unconstrained but also constrained optimization problems. In this work, GWO has been applied to linear antenna arrays for optimal pattern synthesis in the following ways: by optimizing the antenna positions while assuming uniform excitation and by optimizing the antenna current amplitudes while assuming spacing and phase as that of uniform array. GWO is used to achieve an array pattern with minimum side lobe level (SLL) along with null placement in the specified directions. GWO is also applied for the minimization of the first side lobe nearest to the main beam (near side lobe). Various examples are presented that illustrate the application of GWO for linear array optimization and, subsequently, the results are validated by benchmarking with results obtained using other state-of-the-art nature-inspired evolutionary algorithms. The results suggest that optimization of linear antenna arrays using GWO provides considerable enhancements compared to the uniform array and the synthesis obtained from other optimization techniques.
Testing an Inflation Model with Nonminimal Derivative Coupling in the Light of Planck 2015 Data
Authors: Nozari Kourosh , Rashidi Narges
Published: April 2016

We study the dynamics of a generalized inflationary model in which both the scalar field and its derivatives are coupled with the gravity. We consider a general form of the nonminimal derivative coupling in order to have a complete treatment of the model. By expanding the action up to the second order in perturbation, we study the spectrum of the primordial modes of the perturbations. Also, by expanding the action up to the third order and considering the three-point correlation functions, the amplitude of the non-Gaussianity of the primordial perturbations is studied in both equilateral and orthogonal configurations. Finally, by adopting some sort of potentials, we compare the model in hand with the Planck 2015 released observational data and obtain some constraints on the model’s parameters space. As an important result, we show that the nonminimal couplings help to make models of chaotic inflation that would otherwise be in tension with Planck data, in better agreement with the data. This model is consistent with observation at weak coupling limit.
The Use of Heparin during Endovascular Peripheral Arterial Interventions: A Synopsis
Authors: Wiersema Arno M. , Watts Christopher , Durran Alexandra C. , Reijnen Michel M. P. J. , van Delden Otto M. , Moll Frans L. , Vos Jan Albert
Published: April 2016

A large variety exists for many aspects of the use of heparin as periprocedural prophylactic antithrombotics (PPAT) during peripheral arterial interventions (PAI). This variation is present, not only within countries, but also between them. Due to a lack of (robust) data, no systematic review on the use of heparin during PAI could be justified. A synopsis of all available literature on heparin during PAI describes that heparin is used on technical equipment to reduce the thrombogenicity and in the flushing solution with saline. Heparin could have a cumulative anticoagulant effect when used in combination with ionic contrast medium. No level-1 evidence exists on the use of heparin. A measurement of actual anticoagulation status by means of an activated clotting time should be mandatory.
Reconstructing the Phylogeny ofCapsosiphon fulvescens(Ulotrichales, Chlorophyta) from Korea Based onrbcL and 18S rDNA Sequences
Authors: Sun Sang-Mi , Yang Seung Hwan , Golokhvast Kirill S. , Le Bao , Chung Gyuhwa
Published: April 2016

Capsosiphon fulvescensis a filamentous green algae in the class Ulvophyceae. It has been consumed as food with unique flavor and soft texture to treat stomach disorders and hangovers, and its economic value justifies studying its nutritional and potential therapeutic effects. In contrast to these applications, only a few taxonomic studies have been conducted onC. fulvescens. In particular, classification and phylogenetic relationships of theC. fulvescensbelow the order level are controversial. To determine its phylogenetic position in the class, we usedrbcL and 18S rDNA sequences as molecular markers to construct phylogenetic trees. The amplifiedrbcL and 18S rDNA sequences from 4C. fulvescensisolates (Jindo, Jangheung, Wando, and Koheung, Korea) were used for phylogenetic analysis by employing three different phylogenetic methods: neighbor joining (NJ), maximum parsimony (MP), and maximum likelihood (ML). TherbcL phylogenetic tree showed that all taxa in the order Ulvales were clustered as a monophyletic group and resolved the phylogenetic position ofC. fulvescensin the order Ulotrichales. The significance of our study is that the 18S rDNA phylogenetic tree shows the detailed taxonomic position ofC. fulvescens. In our result,C. fulvescensis inferred as a member of Ulotrichaceae, along withUrosporaandAcrosiphonia.
Optimal Replenishment Policy for Weibull-Distributed Deteriorating Items with Trapezoidal Demand Rate and Partial Backlogging
Authors: Zhao Lianxia
Published: April 2016

An inventory model for Weibull-distributed deteriorating items is considered so as to minimize the total cost per unit time in this paper. The model starts with shortage, allowed partial backlogging, and trapezoidal demand rate. By analyzing the model, an efficient solution procedure is proposed to determine the optimal replenishment and the optimal order quantity and the average total costs are also obtained. Finally, numerical examples are provided to illustrate the theoretical results and a sensitivity analysis of the major parameters with respect to the stability of optimal solution is also carried out.
Misuse of Prescription Opioid Medication among Women: A Scoping Review
Authors: Hemsing Natalie , Greaves Lorraine , Poole Nancy , Schmidt Rose
Published: April 2016

Background. National data from Canada and the United States identify women to be at greater risk than men for the misuse of prescription opioid medications. Various sex- and gender-based factors and patient and physician practices may affect women’s use and misuse of prescription opioid drugs.Objectives. To explore the particular risks, issues, and treatment considerations for prescription opioid misuse among women who experience chronic noncancer pain and trauma.Methods. A scoping review for articles published between January 1990 and May 2014 was conducted on sex- and gender-based risks and treatment considerations among women who experience chronic noncancer pain and trauma.Results. A total of 57 articles were identified. The present narrative review summarizes the specific risks for the misuse of prescription opioid medication among women who have experienced violence and trauma, Aboriginal women, adolescents and young women, older women, pregnant women, women of a sexual minority, and transwomen.Discussion. The majority of the literature is descriptive, with few studies that evaluate approaches and interventions to respond to the issue of chronic pain, trauma, and misuse of prescription opioids among women, particularly vulnerable subgroups of women.Conclusions. Trauma-informed and women-centred approaches that address women’s vulnerabilities and complex needs require further attention.
A Therapeutic Role for Survivin in Mitigating the Harmful Effects of Ionizing Radiation
Authors: Carruthers Katherine H. , Metzger Gregory , Choi Eugene , During Matthew J. , Kocak Ergun
Published: April 2016

Background. Radiation therapy is a form of adjuvant care used in many oncological treatment protocols. However, nonmalignant neighboring tissues are harmed as a result of this treatment. Therefore, the goal of this study was to induce the production of survivin, an antiapoptotic protein, to determine if this protein could provide protection to noncancerous cells during radiation exposure.Methods. Using a murine model, a recombinant adenoassociated virus (rAAV) was used to deliver survivin to the treatment group and yellow fluorescence protein (YFP) to the control group. Both groups received targeted radiation. Visual inspection, gait analysis, and tissue histology were used to determine the extent of damage caused by the radiation.Results. The YFP group demonstrated ulceration of the irradiated area while the survivin treated mice exhibited only hair loss. Histology showed that the YFP treated mice experienced dermal thickening, as well as an increase in collagen that was not present in the survivin treated mice. Gait analysis demonstrated a difference between the two groups, with the YFP mice averaging a lower speed.Conclusions. The use of gene-modification to induce survivin expression in normal tissues allows for the protection of nontarget areas from the negative side effects normally associated with ionizing radiation.
Directional Probability Perceived Nodes Deployment Based on Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Zhang Junguo , Lei Yutong , Chen Chen , Lin Fantao
Published: April 2016

Node deployment is the key problem of wireless sensor network technology. For a directional sensor network, the perceived probability model reflects the quality of the network. The problem of the probability node deployment is too little of the distribution of the nodes asymmetrical. In this paper, we study the probability model of directional perceived nodes and propose an improved deterministic deployment algorithm based on particle swarm optimization to increase perceived probability. By analyzing the coverage probability of the monitoring area with different deployment models to obtain more serviceable environmental data of the monitoring areas, experimental results demonstrate that, compared with random deployment, sixteen percent is improved by the proposed algorithm.
Prediction of Frost Occurrences Using Statistical Modeling Approaches
Authors: Lee Hyojin , Chun Jong A. , Han Hyun-Hee , Kim Sung
Published: April 2016

We developed the frost prediction models in spring in Korea using logistic regression and decision tree techniques. Hit Rate (HR), Probability of Detection (POD), and False Alarm Rate (FAR) from both models were calculated and compared. Threshold values for the logistic regression models were selected to maximize HR and POD and minimize FAR for each station, and the split for the decision tree models was stopped when change in entropy was relatively small. Average HR values were 0.92 and 0.91 for logistic regression and decision tree techniques, respectively, average POD values were 0.78 and 0.80 for logistic regression and decision tree techniques, respectively, and average FAR values were 0.22 and 0.28 for logistic regression and decision tree techniques, respectively. The average numbers of selected explanatory variables were 5.7 and 2.3 for logistic regression and decision tree techniques, respectively. Fewer explanatory variables can be more appropriate for operational activities to provide a timely warning for the prevention of the frost damages to agricultural crops. We concluded that the decision tree model can be more useful for the timely warning system. It is recommended that the models should be improved to reflect local topological features.
Severe Acute Pulmonary Toxicity Associated with Brentuximab in a Patient with Refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Authors: Sabet Yasmin , Ramirez Saul , Rosell Cespedes Elizabeth , Rensoli Velasquez Marimer , Porres-Muñoz Mateo , Gaur Sumit , Figueroa-Casas Juan B. , Porres-Aguilar Mateo
Published: April 2016

Acute pulmonary toxicity associated with brentuximab appears to be a rare but serious adverse effect that can be potentially fatal. We report the case of a twenty-nine-year-old female with Hodgkin’s lymphoma who was treated with brentuximab and later presented with severe acute pulmonary toxicity; she improved after the discontinuation of brentuximab and administration of antibiotics and glucocorticoid therapy. Currently there is very little data in the literature in regard to the clinical manifestations and characteristics of patients taking brentuximab and the potential development of acute severe pulmonary toxicity, as well as the appropriate therapeutic approach, making this particular case of successful treatment and resolution unique.
Distributed Attitude Consensus for Multiple Rigid Spacecraft under Jointly Connected Switching Topologies
Authors: Ma Long , Wang Shicheng , Min Haibo , Liao Shouyi , Liu Zhiguo
Published: April 2016

We study the distributed leader-following attitude consensus problem for multiple rigid spacecraft with a single leader under jointly connected switching topologies. Two cases are considered, where the first case is with a static leader and the second case is with a dynamic leader. By constructing an auxiliary vector and a distributed observer for each follower spacecraft, the controllers are designed to drive all the attitudes of the follower spacecraft to the leader’s, respectively, for both of the two cases, though there are some time intervals in which the communication topology is not connected. The whole system is proved to be stable by using common Lyapunov function method. Finally, the theoretical result is illustrated by numerical simulations.
The Serum Levels of the Soluble Factors sCD40L and CXCL1 Are Not Indicative of Endometriosis
Authors: Pateisky Petra , Pils Dietmar , Kuessel Lorenz , Szabo Ladislaus , Walch Katharina , Obwegeser Reinhard , Wenzl René , Yotova Iveta
Published: April 2016

Endometriosis is a benign but troublesome gynecological condition, characterized by endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Lately, the discovery and validation of noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for endometriosis is one of the main priorities in the field. As the disease elicits a chronic inflammatory reaction, we focused our interest on two factors well known to be involved in inflammation and neoplastic processes, namely, soluble CD40 Ligand and CXCL1, and asked whether differences in the serum levels of sCD40L and CXCL1 in endometriosis patients versus controls can serve as noninvasive disease markers. A total ofn=60women were included in the study, 31 endometriosis patients and 29 controls, and the serum levels of sCD40L and CXCL1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Overall, there were no statistically significant differences in the levels of expression of both sCD40L and CXCL1 between patients and controls. This study adds useful clinical data showing that the serum levels of the soluble factors sCD40L and CXCL1 are not associated with endometriosis and are not suitable as biomarkers for disease diagnosis. However, we found a trend toward lower levels of sCD40L in the deep infiltrating endometriosis subgroup making it a potentially interesting target worth further investigation.
Uplift Capacity of Shallow Anchors Based on the Generalized Nonlinear Failure Criterion
Authors: Jin-feng Zou , Ming-yao Xia
Published: April 2016

The shape of rapture surface for shallow anchors was presented and the effects of parameters on the shape of rapture surface were analyzed. Based on the generalized nonlinear failure criterion and the limit equilibrium principle, an approach, which takes into account the shape of rapture surface, dip angle of shallow anchors, and varieties of rock and soil mass, is proposed. The effects of different parameters on ultimate uplift force of shallow anchors are discussed. In order to validate the practicability of the proposed formula, a comparison between the theoretical solutions and local test results is conducted. The agreement shows that the proposed formula is effective. The results of the proposed approach show that the ultimate uplift capacity of shallow anchor increases nonlinearly with the shape coefficient linearly increasing. The values of ultimate uplift force local test are in the range of the results of the proposed method with shape coefficient from 0 to 1.
The Research on Improved Companding Transformation for Reducing PAPR in Underwater Acoustic OFDM Communication System
Authors: Wu Jinqiu , Qiao Gang , Qi Xiaofei
Published: April 2016

To solve the problem of the high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) for the underwater acoustic communication system, the paper offers a method of reducing PAPR which combines the amplitude limiting and the improved nonlinear transformation. Traditional amplitude limiting technique can reduce PAPR in OFDM system effectively, at the cost of reducing the bit error rate (BER). However the companding transformation has far less computation complexity than SLM or PTS technologies and can improve the BER performance compared to the amplitude limiting technique simultaneously. The paper combines these two kinds of techniques, takes full use of advantages of the two method, and puts forward a low-complexity scheme choosing parameters that are more appropriate to the underwater acoustic field, with the result of improved BER performance even in lower SNR. Both simulation and experiment results show that the new method which combines clipping and companding transformation can effectively reduce the PAPR in the underwater acoustic OFDM communication system and improve the BER performance simultaneously.
Large D-Dimer Fluctuation in Normal Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of 4,117 Samples from 714 Healthy Danish Women
Authors: Hedengran Katrine K. , Andersen Malene R. , Stender Steen , Szecsi Pal B.
Published: April 2016

Introduction. D-dimer levels increase throughout pregnancy, hampering the usefulness of the conventional threshold for dismissing thromboembolism. This study investigates the biological fluctuation of D-dimer in normal pregnancy.Methods. A total of 801 healthy women with expected normal pregnancies were recruited. D-dimer was repeatedly measured during pregnancy, at active labor, and on the first and second postpartum days. Percentiles for each gestational week were calculated. Each individual D-dimer was normalized by transformation into percentiles for the relevant gestational age or delivery group. The range in percentage points during the pregnancy and the delivery was calculated, and reference intervals were calculated for each pregnancy trimester, during vaginal delivery and scheduled and emergency cesarean section, and for the first and second day postpartum.Results. D-dimer increased during pregnancy; the maximal fluctuation was approximately 20 percentile points in approximately half of the women. In one out of ten women, the D-dimer values fluctuated by more than 50 percentile points.Conclusions. Due to the biological variation in D-dimer within each individual woman during normal pregnancy, repeated D-dimer measurements are of no clinical use in the evaluation of thromboembolic events during pregnancy.
Active Multiple Plasmon-Induced Transparency with Graphene Sheets Resonators in Mid-Infrared Frequencies
Authors: Wang Jicheng , Tang Baojie , Xia Xiushan , Liu Shutian
Published: April 2016

A multiple plasmon-induced transparency (PIT) device operated in the mid-infrared region has been proposed. The designed model is comprised of one graphene ribbon as main waveguide and two narrow graphene sheets resonators. The phase coupling between two graphene resonators has been investigated. The multimode PIT resonances have been found in both cases and can be dynamically tuned via varying the chemical potential of graphene resonators without optimizing its geometric parameters. In addition, this structure can get multiple PIT effect by equipping extra two sheets on the symmetric positions of graphene waveguide. The simulation results based on finite element method (FEM) are in good agreement with the resonance theory. This work may pave new way for graphene-based thermal plasmonic devices applications.
SOD1 Gene +35A/C (exon3/intron3) Polymorphism in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among South Indian Population
Authors: Nithya K. , Angeline T. , Isabel W. , Asirvatham A. J.
Published: April 2016

Superoxide dismutase is an antioxidant enzyme that is involved in defence mechanisms against oxidative stress. Cu/Zn SOD is a variant that is located in exon3/intron3 boundary. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the Cu/Zn SOD (+35A/C) gene polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus among south Indian population. The study included patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=100) and healthy controls (n=75). DNA was isolated from the blood and genotyping of Cu/Zn SOD gene polymorphism was done by polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Occurrence of different genotypes and normal (A) and mutant (C) allele frequencies were determined. The frequency of the three genotypes of the total subjects was as follows: homozygous wild-type A/A (95%), heterozygous genotype A/C (3%), and homozygous mutant C/C (2%). The mutant (C) allele and the mutant genotypes (AC/CC) were found to be completely absent among the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Absence of mutant genotype (CC) shows that the Cu/Zn SOD gene polymorphism may not be associated with the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus among south Indian population.
Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) Acid-Chitosan Dual Loaded Nanoparticles for Antiretroviral Nanoformulations
Authors: Makita-Chingombe Faithful , Kutscher Hilliard L. , DiTursi Sara L. , Morse Gene D. , Maponga Charles C.
Published: April 2016

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) chitosan (CS) coated nanoparticles (NPs) were loaded with two antiretrovirals (ARVs) either lamivudine (LMV) which is hydrophilic or nevirapine (NVP) which is hydrophobic or both LMV and NVP. These ARVs are of importance in resource-limited settings, where they are commonly used in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) treatment due to affordability and accessibility. NPs prepared by a water-oil-water emulsion and reduced pressure solvent evaporation technique were determined to have a positive zeta potential, a capsule-like morphology, and an average hydrodynamic diameter of 240 nm. Entrapment of NVP as a single ARV had a notable increase in NP size compared to LMV alone or in combination with LMV. NPs stored at room temperature in distilled water maintained size, polydispersity (PDI), and zeta potential for one year. No changes in size, PDI, and zeta potential were observed for NPs in 10% sucrose in lyophilized or nonlyophilized states stored at 4°C and −20°C, respectively. Freezing NPs in the absence of sucrose increased NP size. Drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and kinetic release profiles were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Our novel nanoformulations have the potential to improve patient outcomes and expand drug access in resource-limited countries for the treatment of HIV-1.
e-Cadherin in 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-Induced Parkinson Disease
Authors: Cataldi Samuela , Codini Michela , Hunot Stéphane , Légeron François-Pierre , Ferri Ivana , Siccu Paola , Sidoni Angelo , Ambesi-Impiombato Francesco Saverio , Beccari Tommaso , Curcio Francesco , Albi Elisabetta
Published: April 2016

Today a large number of studies are focused on clarifying the complexity and diversity of the pathogenetic mechanisms inducing Parkinson disease. We used 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), a neurotoxin that induces Parkinson disease, to evaluate the change of midbrain structure and the behavior of the anti-inflammatory factor e-cadherin, interleukin-6, tyrosine hydroxylase, phosphatase and tensin homolog, and caveolin-1. The results showed a strong expression of e-cadherin, variation of length and thickness of the heavy neurofilaments, increase of interleukin-6, and reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase known to be expression of dopamine cell loss, reduction of phosphatase and tensin homolog described to impair responses to dopamine, and reduction of caveolin-1 known to be expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and fibrosis. The possibility that the overexpression of the e-cadherin might be implicated in the anti-inflammatory reaction to MPTP treatment by influencing the behavior of the other analyzed molecules is discussed.
The Relief of Unilateral Painful Thoracic Radiculopathy without Headache from Remote Spontaneous Spinal Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak
Authors: Son Byung-chul , Ha Sang-woo , Lee Si-hoon , Choi Jin-gyu
Published: April 2016

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) caused by spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks produces orthostatic headaches. Although upper arm pain or paresthesia is reportedly associated with SIH from spontaneous spinal CSF leak in the presence of orthostatic headache, low thoracic radicular pain due to spontaneous spinal CSF leak unassociated with postural headache is extremely rare. We report a 67-year-old female who presented with chronic, positional radicular right T11 pain. Computed tomography myelography showed a spontaneous lumbar spinal CSF leak at L2-3 and repeated lumbar epidural blood patches significantly alleviated chronic, positional, and lower thoracic radiculopathic pain. The authors speculate that a chronic spontaneous spinal CSF leak not severe enough to cause typical orthostatic headache or epidural CSF collection may cause local symptoms such as irritation of a remote nerve root. There might be considerable variabilities in the clinical features of SIH which can present a diagnostic challenge.
Adding Water to the Mill: Olmesartan-Induced Collagenous Sprue—A Case Report and Brief Literature Review
Authors: Desruisseaux Claudine , Bensoussan Michaël , Désilets Etienne , Tran Hanh-Khiem , Arcand Robert , Poirier Germain , Wisniewski Andrew , Manière Thibaut
Published: April 2016

Collagenous sprue (CS) is a distinct clinicopathological disorder histologically defined by a thickened subepithelial band (Freeman, 2011). It is a rare condition which has been recently observed in a significant proportion of sprue-like enteropathy associated with olmesartan, a novel entity described by Rubio-Tapia et al. in 2012. CS is historically associated with a poor prognosis (Marthey et al., 2014). However, histological and clinical improvements have been described in most studies with concomitant usage of corticosteroids and/or gluten-free diet (Marthey et al., 2014). We report a unique case of olmesartan-induced collagenous sprue in a 79-year-old man that showed complete histological and clinical remission with the sole withdrawal of the incriminating drug. The literature on this topic is briefly reviewed.
HSP27 Inhibits Homocysteine-Induced Endothelial Apoptosis by Modulation of ROS Production and Mitochondrial Caspase-Dependent Apoptotic Pathway
Authors: Tian Xin , Zhao Lei , Song Xianjing , Yan Youyou , Liu Ning , Li Tianyi , Yan Bingdi , Liu Bin
Published: April 2016

Objectives. Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) could lead to endothelial dysfunction and is viewed as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), a small heat shock protein, is reported to exert protective effect against atherosclerosis. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of HSP27 against Hcy-induced endothelial cell apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and to determine the underlying mechanisms.Methods. Apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of normal or HSP27-overexpressing HUVECs in the presence of Hcy were analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression levels were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot.Results. We found that Hcy could induce cell apoptosis with corresponding decrease of nitric oxide (NO) level, increase of endothelin-1 (ET-1), intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels, elevation of ROS, and dissipation of MMP. In addition, HSP27 could protect the cell against Hcy-induced apoptosis and inhibit the effect of Hcy on HUVECs. Furthermore, HSP27 could increase the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and inhibit caspase-3 activity.Conclusions. Therefore, we concluded that HSP27 played a protective role against Hcy-induced endothelial apoptosis through modulation of ROS production and the mitochondrial caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway.
Effective Carbon Dioxide Photoreduction over Metals (Fe-, Co-, Ni-, and Cu-) Incorporated TiO2/Basalt Fiber Films
Authors: Do Jeong Yeon , Kwak Byeong Sub , Park Sun-Min , Kang Misook
Published: April 2016

Mineralogical basalt fibers as a complementary adsorbent were introduced to improve the adsorption of CO2over the surfaces of photocatalysts. TiO2photocatalysts (M-TiO2) incorporated with 5.0 mol.% 3d-transition metals (Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) were prepared using a solvothermal method and mixed with basalt fibers for applications to CO2photoreduction. The resulting 5.0 mol.% M-TiO2powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence, Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area, and CO2-temperature-programmed desorption. A paste composed of two materials was coated and fixed on a Pyrex plate by a thermal treatment. The 5.0 mol.% M-TiO2/basalt fiber films increased the adsorption of CO2significantly, indicating superior photocatalytic behavior compared to pure TiO2and basalt fiber films, and produced 158~360 μmol gcat-1 L−1CH4gases after an 8 h reaction. In particular, the best performance was observed over the 5.0 mol.% Co-TiO2/basalt fiber film. These results were attributed to the effective CO2gas adsorption and inhibition of photogenerated electron-hole pair recombination.
Detection of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-ProducingEscherichia coliin Market-Ready Chickens in Zambia
Authors: Chishimba K. , Hang’ombe B. M. , Muzandu K. , Mshana S. E. , Matee M. I. , Nakajima C. , Suzuki Y.
Published: April 2016

The frequent administering of antibiotics in the treatment of poultry diseases may contribute to emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains. The objective of this study was to detect the presence of extended-spectrumβ-lactamase- (ESBL-) producingEscherichia coliin poultry in Zambia. A total of 384 poultry samples were collected and analyzed for ESBL-producingEscherichia coli. The culturedE. coliisolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility tests and the polymerase chain reaction for detection ofblaCTX-M,blaSHV, andblaTEMgenes. Overall 20.1%, 77/384, (95% CI; 43.2–65.5%) of total samples analyzed contained ESBL-producingEscherichia coli. The antimicrobial sensitivity test revealed that 85.7% (66/77; CI: 75.7–92) of ESBL-producingE. coliisolates conferred resistance to beta-lactam and other antimicrobial agents. These results indicate that poultry is a potential reservoir for ESBL-producingEscherichia coli. The presence of ESBL-producingEscherichia coliin poultry destined for human consumption requires strengthening of the antibiotic administering policy. This is important as antibiotic administration in food animals is gaining momentum for improved animal productivity in developing countries such as Zambia.
11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 2 in Preeclampsia
Authors: Kosicka Katarzyna , Siemiątkowska Anna , Główka Franciszek K.
Published: April 2016

Preeclampsia is a serious medical problem affecting the mother and her child and influences their health not only during the pregnancy, but also many years after. Although preeclampsia is a subject of many research projects, the etiology of the condition remains unclear. One of the hypotheses related to the etiology of preeclampsia is the deficiency in placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11β-HSD2), the enzyme which in normal pregnancy protects the fetus from the excess of maternal cortisol. The reduced activity of the enzyme was observed in placentas from pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia. That suggests the overexposure of the developing child to maternal cortisol, which in high levels exerts proapoptotic effects and reduces fetal growth. The fetal growth restriction due to the diminished placental 11β-HSD2 function may be supported by the fact that preeclampsia is often accompanied with fetal hypotrophy. The causes of the reduced function of 11β-HSD2 in placental tissue are still discussed. This paper summarizes the phenomena that may affect the activity of the enzyme at various steps on the way from the gene to the protein.
Synthesis, Characterization, and NIR Reflectance of Highly Dispersed NiTiO3and NiTiO3/TiO2Composite Pigments
Authors: Tong Yuping , Fu Jing , Chen Zheng
Published: April 2016

The highly dispersed nanostructured NiTiO3pigments and NiTiO3/TiO2composite pigments can be synthesized at relative low temperature. The activation energy of crystal growth of NiTiO3during calcinations via salt-assistant combustion method is 9.35 kJ/mol. The UV-vis spectra results revealed that the absorbance decreased with the increasing of calcinations temperature due to small size effect of nanometer particles. The optical data of NiTiO3nanocrystals were analyzed at the near-absorption edge. SEM showed that the obtained NiTiO3nanocrystals and NiTiO3/TiO2nanocomposite were composed of highly dispersed spherical-like and spherical particles with uniform size distribution, respectively. The chromatic properties and diffuse reflectance of samples were investigated. The obtained NiTiO3/TiO2composite samples have higher NIR reflectance than NiTiO3pigments.
Magnitude of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Indonesia at Postmillennium Development Goals Era
Authors: Wibawa Tri , Satoto Tri Baskoro Tunggul
Published: April 2016

The world will enter the postmillennium development goals 2015 era. The achievements of the millennium development goals (MDGs) as a global development target need to be evaluated. A sustainable new reasonable target is important for neglected tropical diseases (NTD) elimination in Indonesia. This review describes the NTD situation in Indonesia and highlights problems beneath the NTD transmission. Multidisciplinary approach is a promising strategy to help the marginalized people.
Early Functional Treatment and Modern Cast Making for Indications in Hand Surgery
Authors: Bohr S. , Pallua N.
Published: April 2016

Cast treatment can serve both as a nonsurgical treatment option and as a means for providing postoperative protection. However, with the duration of immobilization intervals, the benefits of cast treatment, especially in hand surgery, are at risk of being outweighed by undesired drawbacks such as joint stiffening and contracture formation. In order to minimize potential complications commonly associated with cast treatment, efforts to further improve cast making must attempt to reconcile two conflicting objectives: (1) to achieve stability and rigidity at the site of injury (e.g., fracture retention) and (2) to allow free range of joint movement as early as possible. In addition, in order to assure patient compliance, modern cast treatments should aim to improve wearing-comfort of the cast. This paper describes modern cast designs for four common types hand injuries, with sample cases highlighting the clinical outcome of each treatment.
Comparison of Sexual Experience and Behavior between Bipolar Outpatients and Outpatients without Mood Disorders
Authors: Downey Jennifer , Friedman Richard C. , Haase Elizabeth , Goldenberg David , Bell Robinette , Edsall Sidney
Published: April 2016

Sexual behavior over the past year of 32 outpatients with Bipolar disorder is compared to that of 44 Comparison patients that had never had an episode of affective illness. Subjects were outpatients treated with drugs and psychotherapy in routine office practice. Differences in sexual behavior between the two groups as a whole were minimal, but meaningful differences emerged when subgroups were compared. Compared to control men, Bipolar men had had more partners in the last year and were more likely to have had sex without condoms. Compared to Bipolar females, Bipolar males had more sex partners, had more sex with strangers, and were more likely to have engaged in homosexual behavior. Even so, some patients in the Comparison group also had engaged in risky sexual behavior. They had failed to use condoms and had had sex with strangers and prostitutes during the previous year.
Research on the Heat Dissipation Characteristics of Lithium Battery Spatial Layout in an AUV
Authors: Mao Zhaoyong , Yan Shaokun
Published: April 2016

To meet the power demand requirements of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), the power supply is generally composed of a large number of high-energy lithium battery groups. The lithium battery heat dissipation properties not only affect the underwater vehicle performance but also bring some security risks. Based on the widespread application of lithium batteries, lithium batteries in an AUV are taken as an example to investigate the heat dissipation characteristics of the lithium battery spatial layout in an AUV. With the aim of increasing the safety of lithium batteries, a model is developed for the heat transfer process based on the energy conservation equation, and the battery heat dissipation characteristics of the spatial layout are analyzed. The results indicate that the most suitable distance between the cells and the cross arrangement is better than the sequence arrangement in terms of cooling characteristics. The temperature gradient and the temperature change inside the cabin with time are primarily affected by the navigation speed, but they have little relationship with the environmental temperature.
Health Human Resources Guidelines: Minimum Staffing Standards and Role Descriptions for Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Healthcare Teams
Authors: McIntosh Ian D.
Published: April 2016

In cystic fibrosis clinics across Canada, the most common barrier that healthcare workers face when providing care to their patients is having too little time. The Health Human Resources Guidelines were developed to define specifically what amounts of time should be allocated for each discipline of cystic fibrosis clinical care and to provide a description of all the roles involved, reinforcing how these work together to provide comprehensive multidisciplinary care. With involvement from all cystic fibrosis clinics in Canada, through the use of a tailored survey, the Health Human Resources Guidelines are an exclusively Canadian document that has been developed for implementation across the country. The guidelines have been incorporated into a national Accreditation Site Visit program for use in evaluating and improving care across the country and have been distributed to all Canadian cystic fibrosis clinics. The guidelines provide hospital administrators with clear benchmarks for allocating personnel resources to the cystic fibrosis clinics hosted within their institutions.
In VivoChemoprotective Activity of Bovine Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract in Mouse Bone Marrow Cells against Damage Induced by 5-Fluorouracil
Authors: Coronado-Cerda Erika Evangelina , Franco-Molina Moisés Armides , Mendoza-Gamboa Edgar , Prado-García Heriberto , Rivera-Morales Lydia Guadalupe , Zapata-Benavides Pablo , Rodríguez-Salazar María del Carmen , Caballero-Hernandez Diana , Tamez-Guerra Reyes Silvestre , Rodríguez-Padilla Cristina
Published: April 2016

Chemotherapy treatments induce a number of side effects, such as leukopenia neutropenia, peripheral erythropenia, and thrombocytopenia, affecting the quality of life for cancer patients. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is wieldy used as myeloablative model in mice. The bovine dialyzable leukocyte extract (bDLE) or IMMUNEPOTENT CRP® (ICRP) is an immunomodulatory compound that has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects. In order to investigate the chemoprotection effect of ICRP on bone marrow cells in 5-FU treated mice, total bone marrow (BM) cell count, bone marrow colony forming units-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM), cell cycle, immunophenotypification, ROS/superoxide and Nrf2 by flow cytometry, and histological and hematological analyses were performed. Our results demonstrated that ICRP increased BM cell count and CFU-GM number, arrested BM cells in G0/G1 phase, increased the percentage of leukocyte, granulocytic, and erythroid populations, reduced ROS/superoxide formation and Nrf2 activation, and also improved hematological levels and weight gain in 5-FU treated mice. These results suggest that ICRP has a chemoprotective effect against 5-FU in BM cells that can be used in cancer patients.
A Nanomesoporous Catalyst from Modified Red Mud and Its Application for Methane Decomposition to Hydrogen Production
Authors: Fang Xiaoke , Liu Quanrun , Li Peng , Li Haipeng , Li Fenghai , Huang Guangxu
Published: April 2016

A type of nanomesoporous modified red mud (MRM) catalyst was prepared and utilized for catalytic methane decomposition (CMD) to produce hydrogen. The modification process significantly simplified the mineral composition of the red mud (RM); in the meantime, the physical and chemical structure of RM was changed. TEM images suggested that MRM was a kind of nanomesoporous material assembled by a number of uniformly nanoscale particles, BET results showed that the pore size distributions of MRM were ranged from 3 to 12 nm, and the specific surface area and total pore volumes of red mud improved from 8.00 m2/g and 0.08 cm3/g to 190.61 m2/g and 0.39 cm3/g, respectively. The catalytic performance of the catalysts has been tested at 800°C; the results showed that MRM exhibited much higher activity and stability than RM for CMD.
Pancreaticopericardial Fistula: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Khan Muhammad S. , Shahbaz Najmi , Zia Hassaan A. , Hamza Muhammad , Iqbal Henna , Awab Ahmed
Published: April 2016

Purpose. Pancreaticopericardial fistula (PPF) is an extremely rare complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis. This paper presents a rare case of PPF and provides systematic review of existing cases from 1970 to 2014.Methods. A PubMed search using key words was performed for all the cases of PPF from January 1970 to December 2014. Fourteen cases were included in the study. The cases were reviewed for demographic characteristics, diagnostic modalities, and treatment. Descriptive analysis of these variables was performed.Results. Median age was 43 years. 78% were known alcoholics and 73.3% had chronic pancreatitis. Dyspnea was present in 78%. Cardiac tamponade was present in 53%; 75% of patients had known chronic pancreatitis (RR = 0.74). Surgery was associated with best treatment outcomes and 50% of patients who underwent endoscopic treatment survived.Conclusion. PPF is a rare disease. This paper indicates that acute cardiac tamponade in patients with history of alcoholism and chronic pancreatitis could be a sign of an existing pancreaticopericardial fistula and early surgical intervention could be life-saving.