bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testing a Combination of Markers of Systemic Redox Status as a Possible Tool for the Diagnosis of Late Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Zuliani Giovanni , Passaro Angelina , Bosi Cristina , Sanz Juana Maria , Trentini Alessandro , Bergamini Carlo M. , Seripa Davide , Greco Antonio , Squerzanti Monica , Rizzo Roberta , Valacchi Giuseppe , Cervellati Carlo
Published: September 2018

Background. Blood-based parameters reflecting systemic abnormalities associated with typical brain physiopathological hallmarks could be a satisfactory answer to the need of less costly/intrusive and widely available biomarkers for late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). Cumulating evidence from ourselves and others suggests that systemic oxidative stress (OxS) is precociously associated with LOAD. On this basis, we aimed to identify a combination of markers of redox status that could aid the diagnosis of LOAD.Methods. We reexamined and crossed previous data on 9 serum markers of OxS obtained in a cohort includingn=84controls andn=90LOAD patients by multivariate logistic regression analyses.Results. A multimarker panel was identified that included significantly increased (hydroperoxides and uric acid) and decreased (thiols, residual antioxidant power, and arylesterase activity) markers. The multivariate model yielded an area under receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.808 for the discrimination between controls and LOAD patients, with specificity and sensitivity of 64% and 79%, respectively.Conclusions. This study identified a panel of serum markers that distinguish individuals with LOAD from cognitively healthy control subjects. Replication studies on a larger independent cohort are required to confirm and extend our data.
Medial Subluxation or Dislocation of the Biceps on Magnetic Resonance Arthrography Is Reliably Correlated with Concurrent Subscapularis Full-Thickness Tears Confirmed Arthroscopically
Authors: Yoon Ji-Sang , Kim Sung-Jae , Choi Yun-Rak , Lee Wonyong , Kim Sang Ho , Chun Yong-Min
Published: September 2018

Background. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between biceps medial subluxation/dislocation on the magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) imaging and subscapularis full-thickness tear confirmed arthroscopically. We hypothesized that presence of a biceps medial subluxation or dislocation would strongly indicate a subscapularis full-thickness tear. Methods. A total of 432 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic repair for rotator cuff tears with/without subscapularis tears at our institute were retrospectively reviewed. The inclusion criterion of this study was preoperative MRA images taken within 6 months of arthroscopic repair. The presence of medial subluxation/dislocation was evaluated on the preoperative MRA images, and subscapularis tear was confirmed on arthroscopic examination. Results. Biceps subluxation/dislocation was identified in 46 of the 432 patients on MRA. Forty-five of these 46 patients also had a subscapularis full-thickness tear identified in arthroscopic examination. Among the 386 patients who did not have biceps subluxation or dislocation, 54 patients had a subscapularis full-thickness tear diagnosed arthroscopically. The presence of a biceps subluxation/dislocation could predict a subscapularis full-thickness tear with sensitivity of 45% (45/99), specificity of 99% (332/333), positive predictive value of 98% (45/46), negative predictive value of 86% (332/386), and accuracy of 87% (377(45 +332)/432). Conclusion. Medial subluxation/dislocation of the biceps on MRA images was highly associated with a concurrent subscapularis full-thickness tear which was confirmed arthroscopically. This association had 99% specificity and 98% positive predictive value. Therefore, if a biceps subluxation/dislocation is identified on MRA images, there is a high chance that a concurrent subscapularis full-thickness tear exists.
Advance Selling with Part Prepayment and Consumer Returns
Authors: Sun Yanhong , Siqin Tana , Mu Lifeng
Published: September 2018

Part prepayment scheme can induce more consumers to purchase the product in advance but may also lead to the increase in consumer returns. This study develops a two-period theoretical model to examine the interaction between the part prepayment scheme and the return policy and its effect on the retailer’s profit. Our analysis yields the following insights. First, part prepayment scheme can help the retailer to increase the demand without sacrificing the advance selling price. Second, the prepayment proportion and the consumers’ hassle cost of return have a negative cross effect on the retailer’s profit, which indicates that when the consumers are allowed to preorder the product with a relatively low proportion of prepayment, the retailer should impose more restrictions to increase the consumers’ hassle cost of return. Third, the prepayment proportion and the ex-ante product information perceived by consumers also have a negative cross effect on the retailer’s profit, which indicates that the retailer should consider the degree of product information disclosure when adopting the part prepayment scheme. We also extend the model to incorporate the retailer’s handling cost of consumer returns and find that it is beneficial for the retailer to require a full prepayment when the handling cost is relatively high.
Effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction Pretreatment on Myocardium in Sepsis Rats
Authors: Meng Fansu , Lai Haibiao , Luo Zekun , Liu Yong , Huang Xiaoxun , Chen Junqian , Liu Bayi , Guo Yingjun , Cai Yu , Huang Qingqing
Published: September 2018

Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD), the classical recipe for promoting blood circulation by removing blood stasis, has been used in China for a long history clinically. XFZYD has been found to improve cardiac function through reducing inflammation. However, the effect of XFZYD on myocardial apoptosis remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the mechanism of XFZYD preconditioning on myocardial injury in sepsis rats. The rats were treated with XFZYD one week, followed with intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS: 10 mg/kg) to induce sepsis. Pretreatment with XFZYD could reverse the effects of LPS‐induced decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) and increased heart rate (HR). XFZYD decreased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in serum or in heart. TUNEL staining revealed that the apoptotic index of XFZYD was significantly lower compared with the LPS group (P<0.05). Western blot results showed that the high doses of pretreatment XFZYD group can reduce the Bax expression of myocardial tissue in rats (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expression of Bcl‐2 in XFZYD group was significantly higher than that in the LPS group (P<0.01), while the expression of caspase‐3 in treatment group was significantly lower than that in the LPS group only after 12 h modeling (P<0.01). In addition, caspase‐3 activity in rat cardiomyocytes of XFZYD‐treated animals was significantly decreased. These findings suggest that pretreatment with XFZYD exerts a protective effect in the myocardium of septic rats by inhibiting myocardial cell apoptosis and antioxidation.
Couple-Group Consensus for Multiagent Systems via Time-Dependent Event-Triggered Control
Authors: Liu Huiyang , Wang Xiaoshuang
Published: September 2018

This paper investigates couple-group consensus problems for multiagent first-order and second-order systems. Several consensus protocols are proposed based on the time-dependent distributed event-triggered control. For the case of no communication delays, the time-dependent event-triggered strategies are applied to couple-group consensus problems. Based on the matrix theory, algebraic conditions for couple-group consensus are established. For the system with communication delays, based on event-triggered strategies, a Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional is constructed to prove the input-to-state stability of the systems. Moreover, Zeno behavior is excluded. Finally, numeral examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of these results.
Preparation and Preliminary Nonlinear Optical Properties of BiFeO3 Nanocrystal Suspensions from a Simple, Chelating Agent-Free Precipitation Route
Authors: Tytus Théo , Phelan Oisín , Urbain Mathias , Clarke Gareth , Riporto Jérémy , Le Dantec Ronan , Djanta Gnon , Beauquis Sandrine , Monnier Virginie , Chevolot Yann , Galez Christine , Mugnier Yannick
Published: September 2018

Preparation of stable BiFeO3 nanocrystal suspensions through a simple, low-cost precipitation technique is described. Amorphous precursors are first precipitated from metal nitrate salts in highly basic KOH solutions, and a short high-temperature annealing step is then performed to induce crystallization. Nanoparticles are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), TEM, DLS and ζ-potential measurements, and the synthesis conditions optimized after a systematic variation of the KOH concentration within the range of 1–12 M. The presence of residual impurities (mainly Bi25FeO39 and Bi2Fe4O9) quantified from XRD and mean nanocrystal size is found to be strongly influenced by the initial KOH solution content. A concentration at about 3–4 M is optimal in terms of BiFeO3 phase-purity and nanocrystal size. Stability of aqueous dispersions of the amorphous precursors and of the purest crystallized nanoparticles is also characterized between pH = 2 and pH = 13. After preparation of stable, almost phase-pure BiFeO3 nanocrystal suspensions, second and third harmonic scattering (SHS and THS) at excitation wavelengths of 1064 nm and 1250 nm are reported from nonlinear optical scattering measurements and compared with other recently published literature values.
Advanced Glycation End Products Increase MDM2 Expression via Transcription Factor KLF5
Authors: Wang Pu , Lu Yu Cheng , Li Yuan Fei , Wang Lan , Lee Shao Chin
Published: September 2018

Type 2 diabetes increases the risk for all-site cancers including colon cancer. Diabetic patients present typical pathophysiological features including an increased level of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which comes from a series of nonenzymatic reactions between sugars and biological macromolecules, positively associated with the occurrence of diabetic complications. MDM2 is an oncogene implicated in cancer development. The present study investigated whether diabetes promoted MDM2 expression in colon cells and the underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that AGE increased the protein level of MDM2 in a cell model and promoted binding between MDM2 and Rb as well as p53, which led to degradation of Rb and p53. KLF5 was able to bind to the regulatory sequence of the MDM2 gene, and knockdown of the KLF5 protein level inhibited the AGE-triggered MDM2 overexpression, which indicated that KLF5 was the transcription factor for MDM2. In a mouse model of diabetes, we found that AGE level was increased in serum. The protein levels of both KLF5 and MDM2 were increased. KLF5 was able to bind to the regulatory sequence of the MDM2 gene. In conclusion, our results suggest that diabetes increases the level of AGE which enhances the expression of MDM2 via transcription factor KLF5 in colon cells. MDM2 overexpression is a candidate biological link between type 2 diabetes and colon cancer development.
MicroRNA-132, Delivered by Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes, Promote Angiogenesis in Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Ma Teng , Chen Yueqiu , Chen Yihuan , Meng Qingyou , Sun Jiacheng , Shao Lianbo , Yu Yunsheng , Huang Haoyue , Hu Yanqiu , Yang Ziying , Yang Junjie , Shen Zhenya
Published: September 2018

Background. To cure ischemic diseases, angiogenesis needs to be improved by various strategies in ischemic area. Considering that microRNA-132 (miR-132) regulates endothelial cell behavior during angiogenesis and the safe and efficacious delivery of microRNAs in vivo is rarely achieved, an ideal vehicle for miR-132 delivery could bring the promise for ischemic diseases. As a natural carrier of biological molecules, exosomes are more and more developed as an ideal vehicle for miRNA transfer. Meanwhile, mesenchymal stem cells could release large amounts of exosomes. Thus, this study aimed to investigate whether MSC-derived exosomes can be used for miR-132 delivery in the treatment of myocardial ischemia. Methods. MSC-derived exosomes were electroporated with miR-132 mimics and inhibitors. After electroporation, miR-132 exosomes were labelled with DiI and added to HUVECs. Internalization of DiI-labelled exosomes was examined by fluorescent microscopy. Expression levels of miR-132 in exosomes and HUVECs were quantified by real-time PCR. The mRNA levels of miR-132 target gene RASA1 in HUVECs were quantified by real-time PCR. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to examine the targeting relationship between miR-132 and RASA1. The effects of miR-132 exosomes on the angiogenic ability of endothelial cells were evaluated by tube formation assay. Matrigel plug assay and myocardial infarction model were used to determine whether miR-132 exosomes can promote angiogenesis in vivo. Results. miR-132 mimics were effectively electroporated and highly detected in MSC-derived exosomes. The expression level of miR-132 was high in HUVECs preincubated with miR-132 mimic-electroporated exosomes and low in HUVECs preincubated with miR-132 inhibitor-electroporated exosomes. The expression level of RASA1, miR-132 target gene, was reversely correlated with miR-132 expression in HUVECs pretreated with exosomes. Luciferase reporter assay further confirmed that RASA1 was a direct target of miR-132. Exosomes loaded with miR-132, as a vehicle for miRNA transfer, significantly increased tube formation of endothelial cells. Moreover, subcutaneous injection of HUVECs pretreated with miR-132 exosomes in nude mice significantly increased their angiogenesis capacity in vivo. In addition, transplantation of miR-132 exosomes in the ischemic hearts of mice markedly enhanced the neovascularization in the peri-infarct zone and preserved heart functions. Conclusions. The findings suggest that the export of miR-132 via MSC-derived exosomes represents a novel strategy to enhance angiogenesis in ischemic diseases.
Antidiabetic Activities of Hydromethanolic Leaf Extract of Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. Subspecies aurea (Fabaceae) in Mice
Authors: Belayneh Yaschilal Muche , Birru Eshetie Melese
Published: September 2018

Diabetes mellitus is one of the largest global health problems demanding preventive and new therapeutic interventions. Currently, there is a need for safe, effective, and less costly antidiabetic medications, and investigating medicinal plants for new antidiabetic medication is an interesting research area. Thus, the present study was done to evaluate the antidiabetic activities of 80% methanolic leaf extract of Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. subspecies aurea (Fabaceae) in mice. Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activity of the three doses (100mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg) of crude hydromethanolic leaf extract was studied on normoglycemic, oral glucose loaded, and streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice models. The effect of the extract on body weight and diabetic dyslipidemia was also studied on streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice. Glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) was used as a standard drug in all cases. A glucose meter and an automated chemistry analyzer were used to measure blood glucose and serum lipid level respectively. Data were analyzed using one‐way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post hoc multiple comparison test. All the three doses of the plant extract (100mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg) showed a significant (p<0.05) antihyperglycemic activity in the diabetic mice at the 7th and 14th day of repeated daily dose administration as compared to the negative diabetic control. But, the extract did not show significant blood glucose lowering activity in normoglycemic, oral glucose loaded, and diabetic mice after single dose administration, and it did not significantly improve the body weight loss and diabetic dyslipidemia of diabetic mice after repeated daily dose administration for 14 days. This study revealed that the hydromethanolic extract of Calpurnia aurea leaves possesses significant antihyperglycemic activity justifying the traditional use of the plant for diabetes.
Assessment of the Magnetic Hysteretic Behaviour of MR Dampers through Sensorless Measurements
Authors: Gołdasz Janusz , Sapinski Bogdan , Jastrzębski Łukasz
Published: September 2018

Magnetorheological (MR) dampers are well‐known devices based on smart fluids. The dampers exhibit nonlinear hysteretic behaviour which affects their performance in control systems. Hence, an effective control scheme must include a hysteresis compensator. The source of hysteresis in MR dampers is twofold. First, it is due to the compressibility and inertia of the fluid. Second, magnetic hysteresis is the inherent property of ferromagnetic materials that form the control circuit of the valve including MR fluid. While the former was studied extensively over the past years using various phenomenological models, the latter has attracted less attention. In this paper, we analyze the magnetic hysteretic behaviour of three different MR dampers by investigating their current‐flux relationships. Two dampers operate in flow mode, whereas the third one is a shear‐mode device (brake). The approach is demonstrated using a sensorless magnetic flux estimation technique. We reveal the response of the dampers when subjected to sinusoidal inputs across a wide range of operating conditions and excitation inputs. Our observations of the flux data showed that the hysteresis is influenced by both amplitude and the frequency of the excitation input. The procedure allows to analyze the magnetic hysteresis independently of other sources of hysteresis in MR dampers; on this basis, more effective damper models and control algorithms can be developed in the future.
Successful Renal Transplantation after Presumed Cyanide Toxicity Treated with Hydroxocobalamin and Review of the Literature
Authors: Hendrix Ryan J. , Martins Paulo N. , Stoff Jeffrey S. , Ahearn Aaron , Bozorgzadeh Adel , Movahedi Babak
Published: September 2018

We report two cases of successful renal transplantation with allografts from donors who suffered anoxic brain injury as the primary cause of death from house fires. Each was treated prophylactically with hydroxocobalamin (Cyanokit) for suspected cyanide toxicity. During organ procurement, gross examination was notable for deep discoloration of the parenchymal tissues. Approximately 6 and 18 months after transplantation, both recipients have excellent renal graft function and remain independent from hemodialysis (HD). Hydroxocobalamin is the antidote for suspected acute cyanide toxicity. While largely tolerated by the recipient, there is concern over the potential functional implications of the associated side effects of dramatic tissue discoloration and development of oxalate crystals. Furthermore, difficulties performing hemodialysis in patients treated with hydroxocobalamin have been reported due to discoloration of the effluent fluid impacting the colorimetric sensor, causing false alarms and repetitive interruptions. As such, many transplant centers in the United States (US) continue to reject these organs. We seek to highlight two cases of successful transplantation following donor administration of hydroxocobalamin (Cyanokit) and present the first documented case of successful perioperative intermittent hemodialysis following transplantation of an allograft exposed to hydroxocobalamin. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of optimal organ utilization and caution against unnecessary refusal.
Study on Adsorption of Cu and Ba from Aqueous Solutions Using Nanoparticles of Origanum (OR) and Lavandula (LV)
Authors: Al-Senani Ghadah M. , Al-Fawzan Foziah F.
Published: September 2018

Wild herbs (Origanum (OR) and Lavandula (LV)) were used as environment-friendly adsorbents in this study. The adsorbents were used for adsorption of Cu and Ba from water. The adsorption of heavy metals onto OR and LV was dependent on particle size, dose, and solution pH. The diameter of adsorbent particles was less than 282.8 nm. The adsorption follows second-order kinetics. Langmuir and Freundlich models have been applied to describe the equilibrium data, and the thermodynamic parameters, the Gibbs free energy, ∆G°, enthalpy, ∆H°, and entropy, ∆S°, have been determined. The positive value of ∆H° suggests that the adsorption of heavy metals by the wild herbs is endothermic. The negative values of ∆G° at all the studied temperatures indicate that the adsorption is a spontaneous process. It can be concluded that OR and LV are promising adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions over a range of concentrations.
Performance Analysis of Hyperledger Fabric Platforms
Authors: Nasir Qassim , Qasse Ilham A. , Abu Talib Manar , Nassif Ali Bou
Published: September 2018

Blockchain is a key technology that has the potential to decentralize the way we store, share, and manage information and data. One of the more recent blockchain platforms that has emerged is Hyperledger Fabric, an open source, permissioned blockchain that was introduced by IBM, first as Hyperledger Fabric v0.6, and then more recently, in 2017, IBM released Hyperledger Fabric v1.0. Although there are many blockchain platforms, there is no clear methodology for evaluating and assessing the different blockchain platforms in terms of their various aspects, such as performance, security, and scalability. In addition, the new version of Hyperledger Fabric was never evaluated against any other blockchain platform. In this paper, we will first conduct a performance analysis of the two versions of Hyperledger Fabric, v0.6 and v1.0. The performance evaluation of the two platforms will be assessed in terms of execution time, latency, and throughput, by varying the workload in each platform up to 10,000 transactions. Second, we will analyze the scalability of the two platforms by varying the number of nodes up to 20 nodes in each platform. Overall, the performance analysis results across all evaluation metrics, scalability, throughput, execution time, and latency, demonstrate that Hyperledger Fabric v1.0 consistently outperforms Hyperledger Fabric v0.6. However, Hyperledger Fabric v1.0 platform performance did not reach the performance level in current traditional database systems under high workload scenarios.
Relationship between Extension or Texture Features of Late Gadolinium Enhancement and Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Amano Yasuo , Suzuki Yasuyuki , Yanagisawa Fumi , Omori Yuko , Matsumoto Naoya
Published: September 2018

Purpose. To evaluate the relationship between extension or texture features of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and ventricular tachyarrhythmias in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Materials and Methods. Twenty-three patients with HCM were enrolled in this IRB-approved study. The extension of LGE was determined based on the American Heart Association segments model. Texture analysis was performed for 43 myocardial LGE using an open-access software (MaZda, Technical University of Lodz, Institute of Electronics, Poland). The relationship between the extension or texture features of LGE and ventricular tachyarrhythmias was evaluated using unpaired test and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results. Six of 23 patients had a history of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and 16 patients had LGE. All of the 6 patients with the arrhythmias had more than 4 LGE segments and more LGE segments than those without (p < 0.01). Among 4 texture features, entropy LL was the only discriminator between the 2 patient groups (p < 0.01; threshold, 19624; area under the curve [AUC], 0.72). An ROC analysis gave the number of segments showing LGE a better result (AUC, 0.96) for identification of HCM patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias than the entropy LL of LGE. Conclusion. Patients with HCM and a history of ventricular tachyarrhythmias had a wider extension of LGE, and their entropy LL of LGE was significantly lower than those without. The extension of LGE and texture analysis may provide information about LGE related to ventricular tachyarrhythmias in HCM.
Distal Pullout Strengths of the Biceps Long Head Tendon for Different Adjacent Tissue and Tendon Pathologies during Rotator Cuff Repair
Authors: Kim Young Jun , Kwon Ohhyo , Lee Hwa-Ryeong , Kim Sae Hoon
Published: September 2018

Purpose.Pathologies of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) are frequently recognized in cases of rotator cuff tear. Recommendations for managing such pathologies remain debatable, and distal migration of tenotomized biceps is always a concern when only tenotomy is performed.Methods.Seventy patients of mean age 60.4 ± 6.9 years (range: 44 to 82 years) were included in this retrospective study. During subpectoral tenodesis in rotator cuff repair, pullout tensions were measured using a digital tensiometer. Measured tensions obtained were analyzed with respect to sex, tear involvement of the subscapularis, and the presence of a partial tear of LHBT, type II SLAP lesion, subluxation/dislocation of the biceps, or a pulley lesion.Results. Mean LHBT pullout tension for the 70 study subjects was 86.5 ± 42.1 N (26.7-240.5 N). Distal LHBT pullout tension was significantly greater for men than women (93.2 ± 42.7 N versus 73.7 ± 38.7 N, P = 0.041). However, LHBT pullout tensions were not significantly associated with different pathologies of surrounding tissues or of LHBTs (all Ps > 0.05).Conclusion.The study failed to show pullout tension differences associated with pathologies affect distal migration of a tenotomized LHBT. Gender was the only factor found to affect LHBT pullout strength. Risk of distal migration of tenotomized LHBT could not be predicted with intraoperative arthroscopic pathologic findings.
A Risk Stratification Model for Cardiovascular Complications during the 3-Month Period after Major Elective Vascular Surgery
Authors: Golubovic Mladjan , Stanojevic Dragana , Lazarevic Milan , Peric Velimir , Kostic Tomislav , Djordjevic Miodrag , Zivic Sasa , Milic Dragan J.
Published: September 2018

Introduction. The Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) is an extensively used simple risk stratification tool advocated by the European Society of Cardiology and European Society of Anesthesiology (ESC/ESA). Purpose. The aim of this study was to find the best model for predicting 3-month cardiovascular complications in elective major vascular surgical patients using preoperative clinical assessment, calculation of the RCRI and Vascular Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (V-POSSUM) scores, and the preoperative levels of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP), high-sensitivity troponin I (hs TnI), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs CRP). Materials and Methods. We included 122 participants in a prospective, single-center, observational study. The levels of NT pro-BNP, hs CRP, and hs TnI were measured 48 hours prior to surgery. During the perioperative period and 90 days after surgery the following adverse cardiac events were recorded: myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, pulmonary edema, acute decompensated heart failure, and cardiac arrest. Results. During the first 3 months after surgery 29 participants (23.8%) had 50 cardiac complications. There was a statistically significant difference in the RCRI score between participants with and without cardiac complications. ROC analysis showed that a combination of RCRI with hs TnI has good discriminatory power (AUC 0.909, p<0,001). By adding NT pro-BNP concentrations to the RCRI+hs TnI+V-POSSSUM combination we obtained the model with the best predictive power for 3-month cardiac complications (AUC 0.963, p<0,001). Conclusion. We need to improve preoperative risk assessment in participants scheduled for major vascular surgery by combining their clinical scores with biomarkers. Therefore, it is possible to identify patients at risk of cardiovascular complications who need adequate preoperative diagnosis and treatment.
An Update on Hydrogen Sulfide and Nitric Oxide Interactions in the Cardiovascular System
Authors: Wu Dan , Hu Qingxun , Zhu Deqiu
Published: September 2018

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and nitric oxide (NO) are now recognized as important regulators in the cardiovascular system, although they were historically considered as toxic gases. As gaseous transmitters, H2S and NO share a wide range of physical properties and physiological functions: they penetrate into the membrane freely; they are endogenously produced by special enzymes, they stimulate endothelial cell angiogenesis, they regulate vascular tone, they protect against heart injury, and they regulate target protein activity via posttranslational modification. Growing evidence has determined that these two gases are not independent regulators but have substantial overlapping pathophysiological functions and signaling transduction pathways. H2S and NO not only affect each other’s biosynthesis but also produce novel species through chemical interaction. They play a regulatory role in the cardiovascular system involving similar signaling mechanisms or molecular targets. However, the natural precise mechanism of the interactions between H2S and NO remains unclear. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of individual and interactive regulatory functions of H2S and NO in biosynthesis, angiogenesis, vascular one, cardioprotection, and posttranslational modification, indicating the importance of their cross‐talk in the cardiovascular system.
Fenofibrate: A Nonlithogenic Means of Recurrent Drug-Induced Pancreatitis
Authors: Kassim Thamer , Hermes Joy-Marie , Abdussalam Abdullah , Aly Ahmed , Chandra Subhash
Published: September 2018

Medications account for a small portion of the various etiologies of acute pancreatitis. Prompt identification of drugs as the inciting factor decreases disease recurrence and unnecessary invasive diagnostic intervention. This case is a report of fenofibrate-induced acute pancreatitis including a disease recurrence with continuation of fenofibrate which subsequently resolved after drug discontinuation. The patient underwent invasive diagnostic evaluation including endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Based on exclusion of other disease etiologies and a positive drug rechallenge, fenofibrate fits as a class 1A medication in the classification of drug-induced pancreatitis.
The Adaptive Neural Control for a Class of High-Order Uncertain Stochastic Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Qin Xiaoyan
Published: September 2018

This paper studies the problem of the adaptive neural control for a class of high-order uncertain stochastic nonlinear systems. By using some techniques such as the backstepping recursive technique, Young’s inequality, and approximation capability, a novel adaptive neural control scheme is constructed. The proposed control method can guarantee that the signals of the closed-loop system are bounded in probability, and only one parameter needs to be updated online. One example is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed control method.
Selective Feature Fusion Based Adaptive Image Segmentation Algorithm
Authors: Li Qianwen , Wei Zhihua , Shen Wen
Published: September 2018

Image segmentation is an essential task in computer vision and pattern recognition. There are two key challenges for image segmentation. One is to find the most discriminative image feature set to get high-quality segments. The other is to achieve good performance among various images. In this paper, we firstly propose a selective feature fusion algorithm to choose the best feature set by evaluating the results of presegmentation. Specifically, the proposed method fuses selected features and applies the fused features to region growing segmentation algorithm. To get better segments on different images, we further develop an algorithm to change threshold adaptively for each image by measuring the size of the region. The adaptive threshold can achieve better performance on each image than fixed threshold. Experimental results demonstrate that our method improves the performance of traditional region growing by selective feature fusion and adaptive threshold. Moreover, our proposed algorithm obtains promising results and outperforms some popular approaches.
Approximate Symmetry Analysis and Approximate Conservation Laws of Perturbed KdV Equation
Authors: Bai Yu-Shan , Zhang Qi
Published: September 2018

Approximate symmetries, which are admitted by the perturbed KdV equation, are obtained. The optimal system of one-dimensional subalgebra of symmetry algebra is obtained. The approximate invariants of the presented approximate symmetries and some new approximately invariant solutions to the equation are constructed. Moreover, the conservation laws have been constructed by using partial Lagrangian method.
Experimental Investigation on the Feasibility of Using Spring-Loaded Pogo Pin as a Holding and Release Mechanism for CubeSat’s Deployable Solar Panels
Authors: Park Tae-Yong , Kim Su-Hyeon , Kim Hongrae , Oh Hyun-Ung
Published: September 2018

A spring-loaded pogo pin as a holding and release mechanism of solar panels for cube satellite applications is proposed which functions as an electrical interface, a separation spring, and a status switch. The proposed mechanism has many advantages, including an increased loading capability, negligible induced shock level, synchronous release of multiple panels, and handling simplicity during integration. A demonstration model of the mechanism was fabricated and functionally tested under various test conditions such as different input voltages, different numbers of tightened nylon wires, and different temperatures (ranging from −40°C to 70°C).
Necrotizing Fasciitis by Two Anaerobic Bacteria in an Immunocompetent Patient after Minor Trauma: A Case Report
Authors: Sciarra Marco , Schimmenti Andrea , Manciulli Tommaso , Sarda Cristina , Mussa Marco , Sacco Laura , Mariani Bianca , Di Matteo Angela Maria , Orsolini Paolo
Published: September 2018

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a soft tissue infection affecting subcutaneous tissue and the muscular fascia without involvement of the muscle and can be either monomicrobial or polymicrobial. Monomicrobial infections are usually caused by group A streptococci, while infections caused by anaerobic germs usually affect immunodepressed patients. We report a rare case of NF caused by two anaerobic bacteria in an immunocompetent patient.
Comparison between Vapocoolant Spray and Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthetics Cream in Reducing Pain during Spinal Injections
Authors: Firdaus Riyadh , Sukmono Besthadi , Melati Annemarie Chrysantia , Marzaini Berial Dewin
Published: September 2018

Background. Eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) cream is often used for local anesthesia during spinal injections. However, this agent has delayed onset of action while vapocoolant spray serves more advantages. The vapocoolant spray containing ethyl chloride has fast onset and is safe, low cost, and widely available. This study aimed at comparing the effectiveness of vapocoolant spray and EMLA cream in reducing pain for spinal injections. Methods. This was an experimental study on 94 subjects with 47 subjects treated with EMLA cream and 47 subjects treated with vapocoolant spray. The effectiveness of anesthesia was assessed by using Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and patient movement during the surgery. Results. This study found that the pain scale was NPRS 0 (0–3) for the EMLA group and NPRS 0 (0–4) for the vapocoolant spray group. There was no significant difference between two groups for pain scale according to the Mann–Whitney U test. For patient movement, the movement was reported only in one (2.1%) patient in the EMLA group and one (2.1%) patient in the vapocoolant spray group. Based on Fisher’s test, there was no significant difference between the two groups for patient movement. Conclusions. Both EMLA cream and vapocoolant spray were equally effective in reducing pain during spinal injection. There was no difference in degree of pain reduction and patient movement between the EMLA cream group and the vapocoolant spray group during spinal injection.
Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Different Clinical Isolates against Third-Generation Cephalosporins
Authors: Gashe Fanta , Mulisa Eshetu , Mekonnen Mekidim , Zeleke Gemechu
Published: September 2018

Background. Drug resistant microorganisms lead to an increase in morbidity and mortality as they boost the risk of inappropriate therapy. Hence, data on antimicrobial resistance help define the best possible treatment for individual patients. Therefore, this study aimed to screen the antimicrobial resistant profile of 3rd generation cephalosporin drugs in Jimma University Specialized Teaching Hospital. Methods. A hospital based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH) from April to August 2016. The clinical samples such as wound swab, urine, sputum, and stool were collected from hospitalized patients. Then, bacterial species were isolated and identified as per the standard microbiological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were carried out using various antimicrobial discs by Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Results. Totally, 248 bacterial isolates were obtained from 154 (62.1%) male and 94 (37.9%) female patients. Escherichia coli (25.4%) and Staphylococcus aureus (19.0 %) were the predominant organisms isolated from specimens. About 140 (56.5%) and 149 (60.1%) of the total bacterial isolates were found to be resistant to ceftriaxone and ceftazidime, respectively. The majority of Escherichia coli isolates 46 (73%) were resistant to ceftriaxone and 41 (65%) of them were resistant to ceftazidime. Staphylococcus aureus, which accounted 19% of the total bacterial isolates, showed 23.4% and 34% resistance to ceftriaxone and ceftazidime, respectively. Among the bacterial strains revealing resistant to ceftriazone and ceftazidime, about 109 (44%) and 108 (43.5%) of them were resistant to two, three, or four other drugs, respectively. Conclusion. Bacterial resistance towards third-generation cephalosporin (ceftriaxone and ceftazidime) is escalating as more than half of the isolated strains demonstrated resistance to these drugs. Moreover, these strains also revealed multidrug resistance mainly against clinically used drugs which could render therapy unsuccessful. Therefore, in clinical use appropriate medications should be selected based on the data obtained from antimicrobial susceptibility tests.
The Relationship between Gender, Severity of Disease, Treatment Type, and Employment Outcome in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Israel
Authors: Naftali Timna , Eindor-Abarbanel Adi , Ruhimovich Nahum , Bar-Gil Shitrit Ariella , Sklerovsky-Benjaminov Fabiana , Konikoff Fred , Matalon Shay , Shirin Haim , Milgrom Yael , Ziv-Baran Tomer , Broide Efrat
Published: September 2018

Introduction. Since individuals with IBD typically experience symptoms during their prime years of employment, it raises the question about IBD impact on employment status. Most studies concentrated on absenteeism from work with varying results in different populations. However, absenteeism reflects only one dimension of the ability to work and does not expose the problem of inability to hold a full-time job. Aims. To evaluate the influence of IBD on unemployment and working hours in Israel. Secondary aims were to investigate the correlation between working hours and the type of medical treatment and the impact of severity of disease. Patients and Methods. Demographic data, employment status, number of weekly working hours, and disease parameters. The data was compared to that of the general Israeli population extracted from the website of the Central Bureau of Statistics. Results. 242 IBD patients were interviewed. Patients median age was 37.04(IQR 30.23-44.68) years and 88 (36.4%) were men and 154 (63.6%) women. Diagnosis of CD was established in 167 (69%) patients and UC in 65 (26.9%). There was no significant reduction in employment rates or working hours among the IBD patients comparing to the general population. Immunosuppressive or biologic treatment did not influence employment status. The unemployed patients had higher disease severity (median 7.33, IQR 5-10.66) compared to employed patients (median 6, IQR 3.66-7.66; p=0.003). Conclusions. Although IBD patients in Israel do not have higher unemployment, those with severe disease have lower proportion of employment.
Assessment of Patients’ Adherence to Antiepileptic Medications at Dessie Referral Hospital, Chronic Follow-Up, South Wollo, Amhara Region, North East Ethiopia
Authors: Kassahun Gizachew , Moges Getachew , Demessie Yitayew
Published: September 2018

An epileptic seizure is a clinical event presumed to result from an abnormal and excessive neuronal discharge. The clinical symptoms are paroxysmal and may include impaired consciousness and motor, sensory, autonomic, or psychic events perceived by the subject or an observer. Epilepsy occurs when 2 or more epileptic seizures occur unprovoked by any immediately identifiable cause. And in the majority of patients with epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs effectively control their illness. However, more than 30% of people with epilepsy do not attain full seizure control, even with the best available treatment regimen. The aim of this study is to assess self-reported adherence in adult patients with epilepsy and to identify potential barriers for nonadherence to antiepileptic drug treatment in Dessie Referral Hospital. A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted using structured questionnaires including Morisky medication adherence scale and analysis was conducted descriptively using SPSS version 20. The level of nonadherence to antiepileptic medication regimens was 34.1%. The major reason for missing medication was forgetfulness 53.5%. And the most common side effect was sedation 56.2%. Conclusion. Majority of epileptic patients in Dessie Referral Hospital was adherent to their AEDs treatment and among the determinants of adherence assessed the level of education and the side effect of drugs showed statistical significance.
Approximate Scattering State Solutions of DKPE and SSE with Hellmann Potential
Authors: Oluwadare O. J. , Oyewumi K. J.
Published: September 2018

We study the approximate scattering state solutions of the Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau equation (DKPE) and the spinless Salpeter equation (SSE) with the Hellmann potential. The eigensolutions, scattering phase shifts, partial-waves transitions, and the total cross section for all the partial waves are obtained and discussed. The dependence of partial-waves transitions on total angular momentum number, angular momentum number, mass combination, and potential parameters was presented in the figures.
A Case Report of Sarcoidosis Mimicking Vertebral Metastasis
Authors: Chandrakumaran Anchalia , Bateman Henry R. , Qayyum Rehan
Published: September 2018

A 35-year-old African American male, previously healthy, presented with lower back and bilateral lower extremity pain associated with intermitted night sweats and weight loss. Imaging was concerning diffuse vertebral metastatic lesions. He underwent extensive workup to evaluate for metastatic disease. However, right iliac crest, mediastinal, and left inguinal lymph node biopsies were consistent with sarcoidosis. He was started on methotrexate, folic acid, and prednisone.
Bilateral Stress Fractures of the Talus Associated with Adult-Acquired Flatfoot Deformities
Authors: Matsumoto Takumi , Chang Song Ho , Takeda Ryutaro , Tanaka Sakae , Juji Takuo
Published: September 2018

Adult-acquired flatfoot deformity is a progressive flattening of the arch of the foot that results from posterior tibial tendon insufficiency with a predilection for middle-aged women. A lateralized force vector associated with hindfoot valgus in adult-acquired flatfoot produces lateral ankle pain due to impingement at the lateral hindfoot, which can even lead to stress fractures of the distal fibula. Here, we present the rare case of a 73-year-old woman who presented with stress fractures of the bilateral taluses and unilateral distal fibula accompanied by severe adult-acquired flatfoot deformities.
Scoping Review: The Trajectory of Recovery of Participation Outcomes following Stroke
Authors: Engel-Yeger Batya , Tse Tamara , Josman Naomi , Baum Carolyn , Carey Leeanne M.
Published: September 2018

Participation is a central concept in health and well-being and healthcare, yet operationalizing this concept has been difficult. Its definition, uses in healthcare, and impacts on recovery require ongoing research. Our review question goes like this: from the longitudinal evidence investigating participation among stroke survivors, what are the patterns of participation recovery in stroke survivors over time, and what interventions are used to improve participation? To fully understand these questions, we also ask, how is participation defined in the stroke literature, and what are the measures of participation used in the stroke literature? A systematic scoping review was undertaken using the search terms “stroke,” “longitudinal,” “participation,” and “outcome” in seven databases. Articles included were published until April 2017, written in English, and had at least two longitudinal assessments of participation. Fifty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health was the most frequent definition of participation used (34%). There were 22 different measures of participation. Eight of ten studies demonstrated significant improvements in participation up to 12 months poststroke. Efficacy of interventions and their impact on participation varied. The various definitions, measures, and intervention efficacies of participation highlight the need for further research worldwide into achieving meaningful participation and quality of life among stroke survivors. Future practice should include participation as a main outcome measure.
Analysis of Morphologic and Functional Outcomes in Macular Edema due to Central Retinal Vein Occlusion Treated with Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant
Authors: Niro Alfredo , Sborgia Giancarlo , Sborgia Alessandra , Sborgia Luigi , Furino Claudio , Recchimurzo Nicola , Alessio Giovanni
Published: September 2018

Purpose. To analyze anatomic and functional retinal changes and their correlation after intravitreal dexamethasone implant (DEX implant) in patients with central retinal vein occlusion- (CRVO-) related macular edema (ME) using optical coherence tomography and microperimetry. Methods. Fifteen treatment-naïve patients with functional impairment due to CRVO-related ME were enrolled in this prospective interventional case series. Main outcomes were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), retinal sensitivity (RS), and central retinal thickness (CRT). Secondary outcomes were ellipsoid zone (EZ) status and fixation behaviour. All patients underwent DEX implant and were retreated according to predefined criteria. Data were prospectively recorded at baseline and at month 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Correlation between main outcomes was analyzed. Results. Fifteen eyes of 15 patients (9 men, 6 women; mean age 61.8 ± 10.9 years) were included. BCVA and CRT significantly improved at all follow-up visits, while RS significantly improved at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. EZ status and fixation behaviour did not change significantly. Baseline CRT had a significant negative correlation with BCVA and RS at different follow-up visits (r=−0.52  to −0.63, p≤0.04; r=−0.52, p=0.04; resp.). At all time points, there was not a significant correlation between CRT and BCVA and RS, while RS and BCVA showed a significant correlation, increasing over time (r=−0.72  to −0.89; p<0.001). Conclusion. DEX implant led to a significant morphofunctional improvement. Baseline CRT is predictive of changes of functional outcomes whose correlation increases over time after treatment.