bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Priming Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Endothelial Growth Medium Boosts Stem Cell Therapy for Systemic Arterial Hypertension
Authors: de Oliveira Lucas Felipe , Almeida Thalles Ramos , Ribeiro Machado Marcus Paulo , Cuba Marilia Beatriz , Alves Angélica Cristina , da Silva Marcos Vinícius , Rodrigues Júnior Virmondes , Dias da Silva Valdo José
Published: August 2015

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent elevation of arterial pressure, is often associated with abnormalities such as microvascular rarefaction, defective angiogenesis, and endothelial dysfunction. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which normally induce angiogenesis and improve endothelial function, are defective in SAH. The central aim of this study was to evaluate whether priming of MSCs with endothelial growth medium (EGM-2) increases their therapeutic effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Adult female SHRs were administered an intraperitoneal injection of vehicle solutionn=10, MSCs cultured in conventional medium (DMEM plus 10% FBS,n=11), or MSCs cultured in conventional medium followed by 72 hours in EGM-2 (pMSC,n=10). Priming of the MSCs reduced the basal cell death ratein vitro. The administration of pMSCs significantly induced a prolonged reduction (10 days) in arterial pressure, a decrease in cardiac hypertrophy, an improvement in endothelium-dependent vasodilation response to acetylcholine, and an increase in skeletal muscle microvascular density compared to the vehicle and MSC groups. The transplanted cells were rarely found in the hearts and kidneys. Taken together, our findings indicate that priming of MSCs boosts stem cell therapy for the treatment of SAH.
Interleukin-27 Protects Cardiomyocyte-Like H9c2 Cells against Metabolic Syndrome: Role of STAT3 Signaling
Authors: Phan Wei-Lian , Huang Yu-Tzu , Ma Ming-Chieh
Published: August 2015

The present results demonstrated that high glucose (G), salt (S), and cholesterol C (either alone or in combination), as mimicking extracellular changes in metabolic syndrome, damage cardiomyocyte-like H9c2 cells and reduce their viability in a time-dependent manner. However, the effects were greatest when cells were exposed to all three agents (GSC). The mRNA of glycoprotein (gp) 130 and WSX-1, both components of the interleukin (IL)-27 receptor, were present in H9c2 cells. Although mRNA expression was not affected by exogenous treatment with IL-27, the expression of gp130 mRNA (but not that of WSX-1 mRNA) was attenuated by GSC. Treatment of IL-27 to H9c2 cells increased activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and protected cells from GSC-induced cytochrome c release and cell damage. The protective effects of IL-27 were abrogated by the STAT3 inhibitor, stattic. The results of the present study clearly demonstrate that the STAT3 pathway triggered by anti-inflammatory IL-27 plays a role in protecting cardiomyocytes against GSC-mediated damage.
Anticorrosion Nanocrystalline Beta Zeolite Thin Film for Advanced Applications
Authors: Al-subaie Maha Saud M. , Al-Turkustani Aisha Mahmood A. , Selvin Rosilda , Al-Mhayawi Saedah Rwede
Published: August 2015

Steel alloys corrosion is ubiquitous and is conventionally protected by anticorrosion chromate coatings. However, the process suffers from the release of carcinogenic hexavalent chromium ions that needs to be replaced by an ecofriendly alternative. In this context, the need for the development of satisfactory ecofriendly chromium-free coating with superior corrosion performance is highly desirable. In the present study, we synthesized fully dispersible nanocrystalline Beta zeolite seeds and coated on steel alloys followed by steaming. The samples were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, and DLS analyses. The anticorrosion behavior of the synthesized nanoparticle coatings on steel alloys was investigated by electrochemical measurements (DC polarization) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in NaCl and acid and alkaline media under identical experimental conditions. The present study demonstrated that the nanozeolite coating can be a potential alternative for toxic and carcinogenic chromate coating.
Fault Detection for Discrete-Time Nonlinear Impulsive Switched Systems
Authors: Su Qingyu , Jia Xiaolong , Song Zhengfan
Published: August 2015

This paper investigates the fault detection problem for discrete-time nonlinear impulsive switched systems. Attention is focused on designing the fault detection filters to guarantee the robust performance and the detection performance. Based on these performances, sufficient conditions for the existence of filters are given in the framework of linear matrix inequality; furthermore, the filter gains are characterized by a convex optimization problem. The presented technique is validated by an example. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method can effectively detect the faults.
Bisphenol A Effects on Mammalian Oogenesis and Epigenetic Integrity of Oocytes: A Case Study Exploring Risks of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
Authors: Eichenlaub-Ritter Ursula , Pacchierotti Francesca
Published: August 2015

Bisphenol A (BPA), originally developed as a synthetic oestrogen, is nowadays extensively used in the production of polymeric plastics. Under harsh conditions, these plastics may release BPA, which then can leach into the environment. Detectable concentrations of BPA have been measured in most analysed samples of human serum, plasma, or urine, as well as in follicular fluid, foetal serum, and amniotic fluid. Here we summarize the evidence about adverse BPA effects on the genetic and epigenetic integrity of mammalian oocytes. We conclude that increasing evidence supports the notion that low BPA concentrations adversely affect the epigenome of mammalian female germ cells, with functional consequences on gene expression, chromosome dynamics in meiosis, and oocyte development. Specific time windows, during which profound chromatin remodelling occurs and maternal imprints are established or protected, appear particularly vulnerable to epigenetic deregulation by BPA. Transgenerational effects have been also observed in the offspring of BPA-treated rodents, although the epigenetic mechanisms of inheritance still need to be clarified. The relevance of these findings for human health protection still needs to be fully assessed, but they warrant further investigation in both experimental models and humans.
Comprehensive Evaluation of the Properties of Nanocrystalline Diamond Coatings Grown Using CVD with E/H Field Glow Discharge Stabilization
Authors: Nasieka Iu. , Strelchuk V. , Stubrov Yu. , Boyko M. , Dudnik S. , Koshevoy K. , Strel’nitskij V.
Published: August 2015

The nanocrystalline diamond films (coatings) were prepared using the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique. In this method, direct current (DC) glow discharge in the crossed E/H fields was used to activate the gas phase. The diamond coatings were deposited from the working gas mixture CH4/H2 with addition of nitrogen in various concentrations. It was ascertained that addition of N2 to the working gas mixture leads to reduction in the sizes of diamond grains as well as to the substantial decrease in the resistivity of the studied films. The electrophysical data are in good agreement with the changes induced by varying the N2 content in the Raman scattering spectra. The increase in the N2 concentration causes significant lowering of the crystalline diamond related peak and increase in the intensity of the peaks related to the sp2‐bonded carbon. These changes in the spectra indicate significant disordering of the structure of prepared films and its uniformity in the nanodiamond film volume. With the great possibility, it is associated with a decrease in the sizes of diamond crystalline grains and tendency of NCD film to amorphization.
Assessment of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Fresh versus Frozen Platelet Rich Plasma
Authors: Hosny Nada , Goubran Fikry , BadrEldin Hasan Basma , Kamel Noha
Published: August 2015

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is hemoconcentration with platelets concentration above baseline values and high concentration of many growth factors. The aim of this study was to assess freezing effect on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release from PRP using two different activation methods to simplify its use in different clinical applications. PRP was prepared using two-centrifugation steps method from 12 qualified blood donors. VEGF concentrations were measured in fresh PRP and after freezing/thawing for one and three weeks with two methods of activation using (i) calcium gluconate and (ii) calcium gluconate and thrombin. Platelets count was significantly increased compared to baseline whole blood values in all fresh and frozen PRP samples (p value was <0.05). No significant difference was found between VEGF concentrations after activating fresh and frozen-thawed PRP samples for one and three weeks by calcium alone or calcium with thrombin, and also no significant difference was found when freezing period was extended from one to three weeks. Our results showed that platelets count does not correlate with variable levels of VEGF. PRP could be prepared once and preserved frozen for at least three weeks for the next treatment sessions and activation with thrombin addition to calcium will not augment the growth factor release.
Optimized Group Channel Assignment Using Computational Geometry over Wireless Mesh Networks
Authors: Manikandan Anitha , Palanichamy Yogesh
Published: August 2015

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) are an evolving division in the field of wireless networks due to their ease of deployment and assured last mile connectivity. It sets out a favorable situation to guarantee the Internet connectivity to all the mobile and static nodes. A wireless environment is dynamic, heterogeneous, and unpredictable as the nodes communicate through the unguided links called channels. The number of nonoverlapping channels available is less than the number of mesh nodes; hence, the same channel will be shared among many nodes. This scarcity of the channels causes interference and degrades the performance of the network. In this paper, we have presented a group based channel assignment method to minimize the interference. We have formulated a mathematical model using Nonlinear Programming (NLP). The objective function defines the channel assignment strategy which eventually reduces the interference. We have adapted the cognitive model of Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization (DPSO), for solving the optimization function. The channel assignment problem is an NP hard problem; hence, we have taken the benefits of a stochastic approach to find a solution that is optimal or near optimal. Finally, we have performed simulations to investigate the efficiency of our proposed work.
Micro- to Nanoscale Morphologies and Chemical Components of Soils Investigated by SEM-EDS for Forensic Science
Authors: Liu Yingzi , Li Yumei , Li Qiang , Bao Jie , Hao Dakui , Zhao Zhiwen , Song Dongxue , Wang Jiajia , Hu Zhiheng
Published: August 2015

As a kind of microscale physical evidence, soil can provide significant assistance to forensic science. In this study, soil samples that were collected from eighteen different regions of Shandong Province, China, were examined by scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS). The homogeneities and diameters of the samples were evaluated by SEM which has been applied to observe objects at nanoscale. The soil from Jiaxiang, a city in Eastern Shandong Province, showed the maximal particle diameter and the sample from Liaocheng, another Eastern city in Shandong Province, showed the best homogeneity. The mass fraction and molar percentages of nine inorganic elements in all samples were analyzed by EDS. Oxygen and silicon showed the highest content in all of these samples. However, different samples exhibited their own characteristic elements, which can help to discriminate them from other samples. In this regard, SEM-EDS-based homogeneity and element analysis might be used as a fast and reliable technique for the soil criminological analysis in Shandong Province.
Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine: Myth or Reality of the 21th Century
Authors: Stoltz J.-F. , de Isla N. , Li Y. P. , Bensoussan D. , Zhang L. , Huselstein C. , Chen Y. , Decot V. , Magdalou J. , Li N. , Reppel L. , He Y.
Published: August 2015

Since the 1960s and the therapeutic use of hematopoietic stem cells of bone marrow origin, there has been an increasing interest in the study of undifferentiated progenitors that have the ability to proliferate and differentiate into various tissues. Stem cells (SC) with different potency can be isolated and characterised. Despite the promise of embryonic stem cells, in many cases, adult or even fetal stem cells provide a more interesting approach for clinical applications. It is undeniable that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from bone marrow, adipose tissue, or Wharton’s Jelly are of potential interest for clinical applications in regenerative medicine because they are easily available without ethical problems for their uses. During the last 10 years, these multipotent cells have generated considerable interest and have particularly been shown to escape to allogeneic immune response and be capable of immunomodulatory activity. These properties may be of a great interest for regenerative medicine. Different clinical applications are under study (cardiac insufficiency, atherosclerosis, stroke, bone and cartilage deterioration, diabetes, urology, liver, ophthalmology, and organ’s reconstruction). This review focuses mainly on tissue and organ regeneration using SC and in particular MSC.
Classical Ergodicity and Modern Portfolio Theory
Authors: Poitras Geoffrey , Heaney John
Published: August 2015

What role have theoretical methods initially developed in mathematics and physics played in the progress of financial economics? What is the relationship between financial economics and econophysics? What is the relevance of the “classical ergodicity hypothesis” to modern portfolio theory? This paper addresses these questions by reviewing the etymology and history of the classical ergodicity hypothesis in 19th century statistical mechanics. An explanation of classical ergodicity is provided that establishes a connection to the fundamental empirical problem of using nonexperimental data to verify theoretical propositions in modern portfolio theory. The role of the ergodicity assumption in the ex post/ex ante quandary confronting modern portfolio theory is also examined.
MicroRNAs: Novel Players in the Dialogue between Pancreatic Islets and Immune System in Autoimmune Diabetes
Authors: Ventriglia Giuliana , Nigi Laura , Sebastiani Guido , Dotta Francesco
Published: August 2015

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression in all cell types. Therefore, these tiny noncoding RNA molecules are involved in a wide range of biological processes, exerting functional effects at cellular, tissue, and organ level. In pancreatic islets of Langerhans, including beta-cells, microRNAs are involved in cell differentiation as well as in insulin secretion, while in immune cells they have been shown to play pivotal roles in development, activation, and response to antigens. Indeed, it is not surprising that microRNA alterations can lead to the development of several diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). Type 1 diabetes is the result of a selective autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta-cells, characterized by islet inflammation (insulitis), which leads to chronic hyperglycemia. Given the growing importance of microRNA in the pathophysiology of T1D, the aim of this review is to summarize the most recent data on the potential involvement of microRNAs in autoimmune diabetes. Specifically, we will focus on three different aspects: (i) microRNAs as regulators of immune homeostasis in autoimmune diabetes; (ii) microRNA expression in pancreatic islet inflammation; (iii) microRNAs as players in the dialogue between the immune system and pancreatic endocrine cells.
Effect of Environmental Chemical Stress on Nuclear Noncoding RNA Involved in Epigenetic Control
Authors: Arrigo Patrizio , Pulliero Alessandra
Published: August 2015

In the last decade the role of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) emerges not only as key elements of posttranscriptional gene silencing, but also as important players of epigenetic regulation. New kind and new functions of ncRNAs are continuously discovered and one of their most important roles is the mediation of environmental signals, both physical and chemical. The activity of cytoplasmic short ncRNA is extensively studied, in spite of the fact that their function and role in the nuclear compartment are not yet completely unraveled. Cellular nucleus contains a multiplicity of long and short ncRNAs controlling at different levels transcriptional and epigenetic processes. In addition, some ncRNAs are involved in RNA editing and quality control. In this paper we review the existing knowledge dealing with how chemical stressors can influence the functionality of short nuclear ncRNAs. Furthermore, we perform bioinformatics analyses indicating that chemical environmental stressors not only induce DNA damage but also influence the mechanism of ncRNAs production and control.
Rattlesnake Envenomation in Three Dairy Goats
Authors: Smith Joseph , Kovalik David , Varga Anita
Published: August 2015

Cases of rattlesnake envenomation in dairy goats are lacking. These cases present three dairy goats presented to a veterinary referral hospital for envenomation of Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus). Treatments and clinical characteristics reported are similar to those for llamas, alpacas, and horses. These cases suggest that quick treatment in the event of a bite may have a more favorable clinical response. Existing rattlesnake bite scoring systems applicable to other species may be applicable to goats, and existing respiratory pathology may predispose goats to a less favorable outcome.
Dietary Tocotrienol/γ-Cyclodextrin Complex Increases Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and ATP Concentrations in the Brains of Aged Mice
Authors: Schloesser Anke , Esatbeyoglu Tuba , Piegholdt Stefanie , Dose Janina , Ikuta Naoko , Okamoto Hinako , Ishida Yoshiyuki , Terao Keiji , Matsugo Seiichi , Rimbach Gerald
Published: August 2015

Brain aging is accompanied by a decrease in mitochondrial function. In vitro studies suggest that tocotrienols, includingγ- andδ-tocotrienol (T3), may exhibit neuroprotective properties. However, little is known about the effect of dietary T3 on mitochondrial function in vivo. In this study, we monitored the effect of a dietary T3/γ-cyclodextrin complex (T3CD) on mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels in the brain of 21-month-old mice. Mice were fed either a control diet or a diet enriched with T3CD providing 100 mg T3 per kg diet for 6 months. Dietary T3CD significantly increased mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels compared to those of controls. The increase in MMP and ATP due to dietary T3CD was accompanied by an increase in the protein levels of the mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). Furthermore, dietary T3CD slightly increased the mRNA levels of superoxide dismutase,γ-glutamyl cysteinyl synthetase, and heme oxygenase 1 in the brain. Overall, the present data suggest that T3CD increases TFAM, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP synthesis in the brains of aged mice.
Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Structural and Functional Effects on the Vascular Wall
Authors: Zanetti Michela , Grillo Andrea , Losurdo Pasquale , Panizon Emiliano , Mearelli Filippo , Cattin Luigi , Barazzoni Rocco , Carretta Renzo
Published: August 2015

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) consumption is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk. Increasing evidence demonstrating a beneficial effect of n-3 PUFA on arterial wall properties is progressively emerging. We reviewed the recent available evidence for the cardiovascular effects of n-3 PUFA focusing on structural and functional properties of the vascular wall. In experimental studies and clinical trials n-3 PUFA have shown the ability to improve arterial hemodynamics by reducing arterial stiffness, thus explaining some of its cardioprotective properties. Recent studies suggest beneficial effects of n-3 PUFA on endothelial activation, which are likely to improve vascular function. Several molecular, cellular, and physiological pathways influenced by n-3 PUFA can affect arterial wall properties and therefore interfere with the atherosclerotic process. Although the relative weight of different physiological and molecular mechanisms and the dose-response on arterial wall properties have yet to be determined, n-3 PUFA have the potential to beneficially impact arterial wall remodeling and cardiovascular outcomes by targeting arterial wall stiffening and endothelial dysfunction.
B-Cell Activating Factor as a Cancer Biomarker and Its Implications in Cancer-Related Cachexia
Authors: Rihacek Michal , Bienertova-Vasku Julie , Valik Dalibor , Sterba Jaroslav , Pilatova Katerina , Zdrazilova-Dubska Lenka
Published: August 2015

B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is a cytokine and adipokine of the TNF ligand superfamily. The main biological function of BAFF in maintaining the maturation of B-cells to plasma cells has recently made it a target of the first FDA-approved selective BAFF antibody, belimumab, for the therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus. Concomitantly, the role of BAFF in cancer has been a subject of research since its discovery. Here we review BAFF as a biomarker of malignant disease activity and prognostic factor in B-cell derived malignancies such as multiple myeloma. Moreover, anti-BAFF therapy seems to be a promising approach in treatment of B-cell derived leukemias/lymphomas. In nonhematologic solid tumors, BAFF may contribute to cancer progression by mechanisms both dependent on and independent of BAFF’s proinflammatory role. We also describe ongoing research into the pathophysiological link between BAFF and cancer-related cachexia. BAFF has been shown to contribute to inflammation and insulin resistance which are known to worsen cancer cachexia syndrome. Taking all the above together, BAFF is emerging as a biomarker of several malignancies and a possible hallmark of cancer cachexia.
The Prevalence of Cardiac Risk Factors in Men with Localized Prostate Cancer Undergoing Androgen Deprivation Therapy in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Davis Margot K. , Rajala Jennifer L. , Tyldesley Scott , Pickles Tom , Virani Sean A.
Published: August 2015

Background.While androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) reduces the risk of prostate cancer-specific mortality in high-risk localized prostate cancer, it adversely affects cardiovascular (CV) risk factor profiles in treated men.Methods.We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 100 consecutive men with intermediate- or high-risk localized prostate cancer referred to the British Columbia Cancer Agency for ADT. Data on CV risk factors and disease were collected and Framingham risk scores were calculated.Results. The median age of the study cohort was 73 years. Established cardiovascular disease was present in 25% of patients. Among patients without established CV disease, calculated Framingham risk was high in 65%, intermediate in 33%, and low in 1%. Baseline hypertension was present in 58% of patients, dyslipidemia in 51%, and diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance in 24%. Hypertension was more prevalent in the study cohort than in an age- and sex-matched population sample (OR 1.74,P=0.006); diabetes had a similar prevalence (OR 0.93,P=0.8).Conclusions.Patients receiving ADT have a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease and risk factors and are more likely to be hypertensive than population controls. Low rates of CV risk screening suggest opportunities for improved primary and secondary prevention of CV disease in this population.
Cytoglobin as a Biomarker in Cancer: Potential Perspective for Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Bholah Tatsha C. , Neergheen-Bhujun Vidushi S. , Hodges Nikolas J. , Dyall Sabrina D. , Bahorun Theeshan
Published: August 2015

The search for biomarkers to detect the earliest glimpse of cancer has been one of the primary objectives of cancer research initiatives. These endeavours, in spite of constant clinical challenges, are now more focused as early cancer detection provides increased opportunities for different interventions and therapies, with higher potential for improving patient survival and quality of life. With the progress of the omics technologies, proteomics and metabolomics are currently being used for identification of biomarkers. In this line, cytoglobin (Cygb), a ubiquitously found protein, has been actively reviewed for its functional role. Cytoglobin is dynamically responsive to a number of insults, namely, fibrosis, oxidative stress, and hypoxia. Recently, it has been reported that Cygb is downregulated in a number of malignancies and that an induced overexpression reduces the proliferative characteristics of cancer cells. Thus, the upregulation of cytoglobin can be indicative of a tumour suppressor ability. Nevertheless, without a comprehensive outlook of the molecular and functional role of the globin, it will be most unlikely to consider cytoglobin as a biomarker for early detection of cancer or as a therapeutic option. This review provides an overview of the proposed role of cytoglobin and explores its potential functional role as a biomarker for cancer and other diseases.
A Data Processing Middleware Based on SOA for the Internet of Things
Authors: Wang Feng , Hu Liang , Zhou Jin , Zhao Kuo
Published: August 2015

The Internet of Things (IoT) emphasizes on connecting every object around us by leveraging a variety of wireless communication technologies. Heterogeneous data fusion is widely considered to be a promising and urgent challenge in the data processing of the IoT. In this study, we first discuss the development of the concept of the IoT and give a detailed description of the architecture of the IoT. And then we design a middleware platform based on service-oriented architecture (SOA) for integration of multisource heterogeneous information. New research angle regarding flexible heterogeneous information fusion architecture for the IoT is the theme of this paper. Experiments using environmental monitoring sensor data derived from indoor environment are performed for system validation. Through the theoretical analysis and experimental verification, the data processing middleware architecture represents better adaptation to multisensor and multistream application scenarios in the IoT, which improves heterogeneous data utilization value. The data processing middleware based on SOA for the IoT establishes a solid foundation of integration and interaction for diverse networks data among heterogeneous systems in the future, which simplifies the complexity of integration process and improves reusability of components in the system.
Biologically Active Metabolites Synthesized by Microalgae
Authors: de Morais Michele Greque , Vaz Bruna da Silva , de Morais Etiele Greque , Costa Jorge Alberto Vieira
Published: August 2015

Microalgae are microorganisms that have different morphological, physiological, and genetic traits that confer the ability to produce different biologically active metabolites. Microalgal biotechnology has become a subject of study for various fields, due to the varied bioproducts that can be obtained from these microorganisms. When microalgal cultivation processes are better understood, microalgae can become an environmentally friendly and economically viable source of compounds of interest, because production can be optimized in a controlled culture. The bioactive compounds derived from microalgae have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities, among others. Furthermore, these microorganisms have the ability to promote health and reduce the risk of the development of degenerative diseases. In this context, the aim of this review is to discuss bioactive metabolites produced by microalgae for possible applications in the life sciences.
Pediatric Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma in a Horseshoe Kidney: A Case Report with Review of the Literature
Authors: Loya-Solis Abelardo , Alemán-Meza Lucía , Canales-Martínez Luis Carlos , Franco-Márquez Rodolfo , Rincón-Bahena Alim Adriana , Nuñez-Barragán Karla María , Garza-Guajardo Raquel , Ponce-Camacho Marco Antonio
Published: August 2015

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the kidney in adults. In children, however, it only accounts for an estimated 1.8 to 6.3% of all pediatric malignant renal tumors. Papillary renal cell carcinoma is the second most common type of renal cell carcinoma in children. We present the case of a 12-year-old boy with a 2-month history of abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, and gross hematuria. Computed tomography revealed a horseshoe kidney and a well-defined mass of 4 cm arising from the lower pole of the right kidney. Microscopically the tumor was composed of papillae covered with cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and high-grade nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Immunohistochemistry was performed; EMA, Vimentin, and AMACR were strongly positive while CK7, CD10, RCC antigen, TFE3, HMB-45, and WT-1 were negative. Currently, 10 months after the surgical procedure, the patient remains clinically and radiologically disease-free.
Spatially Enhanced Differential RNA Methylation Analysis from Affinity-Based Sequencing Data with Hidden Markov Model
Authors: Zhang Yu-Chen , Zhang Shao-Wu , Liu Lian , Liu Hui , Zhang Lin , Cui Xiaodong , Huang Yufei , Meng Jia
Published: August 2015

With the development of new sequencing technology, the entire N6-methyl-adenosine (m6A) RNA methylome can now be unbiased profiled with methylated RNA immune-precipitation sequencing technique (MeRIP-Seq), making it possible to detect differential methylation states of RNA between two conditions, for example, between normal and cancerous tissue. However, as an affinity-based method, MeRIP-Seq has yet provided base-pair resolution; that is, a single methylation site determined from MeRIP-Seq data can in practice contain multiple RNA methylation residuals, some of which can be regulated by different enzymes and thus differentially methylated between two conditions. Since existing peak-based methods could not effectively differentiate multiple methylation residuals located within a single methylation site, we propose a hidden Markov model (HMM) based approach to address this issue. Specifically, the detected RNA methylation site is further divided into multiple adjacent small bins and then scanned with higher resolution using a hidden Markov model to model the dependency between spatially adjacent bins for improved accuracy. We tested the proposed algorithm on both simulated data and real data. Result suggests that the proposed algorithm clearly outperforms existing peak-based approach on simulated systems and detects differential methylation regions with higher statistical significance on real dataset.
Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosomes Suppress Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth in a Rat Model: Apparent Diffusion Coefficient, Natural Killer T-Cell Responses, and Histopathological Features
Authors: Ko Sheung-Fat , Yip Hon-Kan , Zhen Yen-Yi , Lee Chen-Chang , Lee Chia-Chang , Huang Chung-Cheng , Ng Shu-Hang , Lin Jui-Wei
Published: August 2015

We sought to evaluate the effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) exosomes on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), natural killer T-cell (NKT-cell) responses, and histopathological features. ADMSC-derived exosomes appeared as nanoparticles (30–90 nm) on electron microscopy and were positive for CD63, tumor susceptibility gene-101, andβ-catenin on western blotting. The control (n=8) and exosome-treated (n=8) rats with N1S1-induced HCC underwent baseline and posttreatment day 10 and day 20 magnetic resonance imaging and measurement of ADC. Magnetic resonance imaging showed rapidly enlarged HCCs with low ADCs in the controls. The exosome-treated rats showed partial but nonsignificant tumor reduction, and significant ADC and ADC ratio increases on day 10. On day 20, the exosome-treated rats harbored significantly smaller tumors and volume ratios, higher ADC and ADC ratios, more circulating and intratumoral NKT-cells, and low-grade HCC (P<0.05for all comparisons) compared to the controls. The ADC and volume ratios exhibited significant inverse correlations (P<0.001,R2=0.679). ADMSC-derived exosomes promoted NKT-cell antitumor responses in rats, thereby facilitating HCC suppression, early ADC increase, and low-grade tumor differentiation. ADC may be an early biomarker of treatment response.
Distributed Software-Attestation Defense against Sensor Worm Propagation
Authors: Ho Jun-Won
Published: August 2015

Wireless sensor networks are vulnerable to sensor worm attacks in which the attacker compromises a few nodes and makes these compromised nodes initiate worm spread over the network, targeting the worm infection of the whole nodes in the network. Several defense mechanisms have been proposed to prevent worm propagation in wireless sensor networks. Although these proposed schemes use software diversity technique for worm propagation prevention under the belief that different software versions do not have common vulnerability, they have fundamental drawback in which it is difficult to realize the aforementioned belief in sensor motes. To resolve this problem, we propose on-demand software-attestation based scheme to defend against worm propagation in sensor network. The main idea of our proposed scheme is to perform software attestations against sensor nodes in on-demand manner and detect the infected nodes by worm, resulting in worm propagation block in the network. Through analysis, we show that our proposed scheme defends against worm propagation in efficient and robust manner. Through simulation, we demonstrate that our proposed scheme stops worm propagation at the reasonable overhead while preventing a majority of sensor nodes from being infected by worm.
The Role of Cardiolipin in Cardiovascular Health
Authors: Shen Zheni , Ye Cunqi , McCain Keanna , Greenberg Miriam L.
Published: August 2015

Cardiolipin (CL), the signature phospholipid of mitochondrial membranes, is crucial for both mitochondrial function and cellular processes outside of the mitochondria. The importance of CL in cardiovascular health is underscored by the life-threatening genetic disorder Barth syndrome (BTHS), which manifests clinically as cardiomyopathy, skeletal myopathy, neutropenia, and growth retardation. BTHS is caused by mutations in the gene encoding tafazzin, the transacylase that carries out the second CL remodeling step. In addition to BTHS, CL is linked to other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, and Tangier disease. The link between CL and CVD may possibly be explained by the physiological roles of CL in pathways that are cardioprotective, including mitochondrial bioenergetics, autophagy/mitophagy, and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. In this review, we focus on the role of CL in the pathogenesis of CVD as well as the molecular mechanisms that may link CL functions to cardiovascular health.
Comparison of Simultaneous Nitrification and Denitrification for Three Different Reactors
Authors: Khanitchaidecha W. , Nakaruk A. , Koshy P. , Futaba K.
Published: August 2015

Discharge of high NH4-N containing wastewater into water bodies has become a critical and serious issue due to its negative impact on water and environmental quality. In this research, the performance of three different reactors was assessed and compared with regard to the removal of NH4-N from wastewater. The highest nitrogen removal efficiency of 98.3% was found when the entrapped sludge reactor (ESR), in which the sludge was entrapped in polyethylene glycol polymer, was used. Under intermittent aeration, nitrification and denitrification occurred simultaneously in the aerobic and anaerobic periods. Moreover, internal carbon was consumed efficiently for denitrification. On the other hand, internal carbon consumption was not found to occur in the suspended sludge reactor (SSR) and the mixed sludge reactor (MSR) and this resulted in nitrogen removal efficiencies of SSR and MSR being 64.7 and 45.1%, respectively. Nitrification and denitrification were the main nitrogen removal processes in the aerobic and anaerobic periods, respectively. However, due to the absence of sufficient organic carbon, denitrification was uncompleted resulting in high NO3-N contents in the effluent.
Surgical Management of Endometrial Polyps in Infertile Women: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Pereira Nigel , Petrini Allison C. , Lekovich Jovana P. , Elias Rony T. , Spandorfer Steven D.
Published: August 2015

Endometrial polyps are benign localized lesions of the endometrium, which are commonly seen in women of reproductive age. Observational studies have suggested a detrimental effect of endometrial polyps on fertility. The natural course of endometrial polyps remains unclear. Expectant management of small and asymptomatic polyps is reasonable in many cases. However, surgical resection of endometrial polyps is recommended in infertile patients prior to treatment in order to increase natural conception or assisted reproductive pregnancy rates. There is mixed evidence regarding the resection of newly diagnosed endometrial polyps during ovarian stimulation to improve the outcomes of fresh in vitro fertilization cycles. Hysteroscopy polypectomy remains the gold standard for surgical treatment. Evidence regarding the cost and efficacy of different methods for hysteroscopic resection of endometrial polyps in the office and outpatient surgical settings has begun to emerge.
Correlation between Retinal Changes and Visual Function in Late-Stage Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease: An Optical Coherence Tomography Study
Authors: Zhou Min , Jiang Chunhui , Gu Ruiping , Sun Zhongcui , Huynh Nancy , Chang Qing
Published: August 2015

Purpose.To characterize the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in late-stage Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease and its correlation with visual function.Methods.The records of patients with late-stage VKH disease (defined as ≥12 months from disease onset) were retrospectively reviewed. The analysis focused on the OCT findings and microperimetry, in addition to the possible correlation between morphology and functional findings.Results.Twenty-nine patients (58 eyes) were included. Mean age at onset was 34.24 ± 10.67 years. The OCT revealed that the outer retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were mainly affected. These effects included RPE thickening and breakage or disappearance of the cone outer segment tip (COST) line and/or inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction. The COST line and IS/OS results were related to macular function and the interval between symptom onset and initiation of high-dose corticosteroid treatment (allP<0.01). Eyes with intact COST lines demonstrated intact IS/OS and normal RPE layers as well as better visual function and normal retinal sensitivity.Conclusions.The OCT findings are strongly correlated with macular function, as well as other clinical findings in late-stage VKH. With respect to the COST line and retinal sensitivity especially, the OCT and microperimetry findings may be useful for evaluating later-stage VKH.
A Novel Digital Certificate Based Remote Data Access Control Scheme in WSN
Authors: Liang Wei , Ruan Zhiqiang , Zhou Hongbo , Xie Yong
Published: August 2015

A digital certificate based remote data access control scheme is proposed for safe authentication of accessor in wireless sensor network (WSN). The scheme is founded on the access control scheme on the basis of characteristic expression (named CEB scheme). Data is divided by characteristics and the key for encryption is related to characteristic expression. Only the key matching with characteristic expression can decrypt the data. Meanwhile, three distributed certificate detection methods are designed to prevent the certificate from being misappropriated by hostile anonymous users. When a user starts query, the key access control method can judge whether the query is valid. In this case, the scheme can achieve public certificate of users and effectively protect query privacy as well. The security analysis and experiments show that the proposed scheme is superior in communication overhead, storage overhead, and detection probability.
Cell Therapy in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia
Authors: Compagna Rita , Amato Bruno , Massa Salvatore , Amato Maurizio , Grande Raffaele , Butrico Lucia , de Franciscis Stefano , Serra Raffaele
Published: August 2015

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) represents the most advanced stage of peripheral arterial obstructive disease (PAOD) with a severe obstruction of the arteries which markedly reduces blood flow to the extremities and has progressed to the point of severe rest pain and/or even tissue loss. Recent therapeutic strategies have focused on restoring this balance in favor of tissue survival using exogenous molecular and cellular agents to promote regeneration of the vasculature. These are based on stimulation of angiogenesis by extracellular and cellular components. This review article carries out a systematic analysis of the most recent scientific literature on the application of stem cells in patients with CLI. The results obtained from the detailed analysis of the recent literature data have confirmed the beneficial role of cell therapy in reducing the rate of major amputations in patients with CLI and improving their quality of life.
Sequence Alignment with Dynamic Divisor Generation for Keystroke Dynamics Based User Authentication
Authors: Ho Jiacang , Kang Dae-Ki
Published: August 2015

Keystroke dynamics based authentication is one of the prevention mechanisms used to protect one’s account from criminals’ illegal access. In this authentication mechanism, keystroke dynamics are used to capture patterns in a user typing behavior. Sequence alignment is shown to be one of effective algorithms for keystroke dynamics based authentication, by comparing the sequences of keystroke data to detect imposter’s anomalous sequences. In previous research, static divisor has been used for sequence generation from the keystroke data, which is a number used to divide a time difference of keystroke data into an equal-length subinterval. After the division, the subintervals are mapped to alphabet letters to form sequences. One major drawback of this static divisor is that the amount of data for this subinterval generation is often insufficient, which leads to premature termination of subinterval generation and consequently causes inaccurate sequence alignment. To alleviate this problem, we introduce sequence alignment of dynamic divisor (SADD) in this paper. In SADD, we use mean of Horner’s rule technique to generate dynamic divisors and apply them to produce the subintervals with different length. The comparative experimental results with SADD and other existing algorithms indicate that SADD is usually comparable to and often outperforms other existing algorithms.
Bleomycin‐Treated Chimeric Thy1‐Deficient Mice with Thy1‐Deficient Myofibroblasts and Thy‐Positive Lymphocytes Resolve Inflammation without Affecting the Fibrotic Response
Authors: Cohen Pazit Y. , Breuer Raphael , Zisman Philip , Wallach-Dayan Shulamit B.
Published: August 2015

Lung fibrosis is characterized by abnormal accumulation of fibroblasts in the interstitium of the alveolar space. Two populations of myofibroblasts, distinguished by Thy1 expression, are detected in human and murine lungs. Accumulation of Thy1‐negative (Thy1−) myofibroblasts was shown in the lungs of humans with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and of bleomycin‐treated mice. We aimed to identify genetic changes in lung myofibroblasts following Thy1 crosslinking and assess the impact of specific lung myofibroblast Thy1‐deficiency, in vivo, in bleomycin‐injured mouse lungs. Thy1 increased in mouse lung lymphocytes following bleomycin injury but decreased in myofibroblasts when fibrosis was at the highest point (14 days), as assessed by immunohistochemistry. Using gene chip analysis, we detected that myofibroblast Thy1 crosslinking mediates downregulation of genes promoting cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation, and reduces production of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, while concurrently mediating the upregulation of genes known to foster inflammation and immunological functions. Chimeric Thy1‐deficient mice with Thy1+ lymphocytes and Thy1− myofibroblasts showed fibrosis similar to wild‐type mice and an increased number of CD4/CD25 regulatory T cells, with a concomitant decrease in inflammation. Lung myofibroblasts downregulate Thy1 expression to increase their proliferation but to diminish the in vivo inflammatory milieu. Inflammation is not essential for evolution of fibrosis as was previously stated.
Sensor Networks Hierarchical Optimization Model for Security Monitoring in High-Speed Railway Transport Hub
Authors: Xie Zhengyu , Qin Yong
Published: August 2015

We consider the sensor networks hierarchical optimization problem in high-speed railway transport hub (HRTH). The sensor networks are optimized from three hierarchies which are key area sensors optimization, passenger line sensors optimization, and whole area sensors optimization. Case study on a specific HRTH in China showed that the hierarchical optimization method is effective to optimize the sensor networks for security monitoring in HRTH.
Chemokine Coreceptor-2 Gene Polymorphisms among HIV-1 Infected Individuals in Kenya
Authors: Wachira Dorcas , Lihana Raphael , Okoth Vincent , Maiyo Alex , Khamadi Samoel Ashimosi
Published: August 2015

Chemokine Coreceptor-2 (CCR2) is an entry coreceptor for HIV-1. A mutation in the coding gene for this coreceptor, CCR2-64I, has been shown to be an important factor for delaying disease progression. In Kenya no studies have been done to determine the status of CCR2 gene polymorphisms among HIV-1 infected individuals. To determine the existence and distribution of CCR2 gene mutations and identify polymorphic groups of the coreceptor gene in the population, a cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the differences in allelic frequencies of CCR2-64I among HIV-1 seropositive individuals. Blood samples were collected from HIV/AIDS screening centers and analyzed for the presence of CCR2-64I using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). One hundred and eighteen samples collected from different regions of the country were genotyped for the CCR2-64I mutation. Of these, 4 (3.4%) were homozygous mutants (I/I) and 21 (17.8%) were heterozygous (V/I). Ninety-three subjects (78.8%) were wild type (V/V). With the search for a preventive/therapeutic HIV vaccine elusive, the presence of CCR-2 gene polymorphisms that delay disease progression and prolong the lives of the infected in the Kenyan population may contribute to the growing evidence that host genetic factors are important in predicting susceptibility to HIV-1 infection.
SDF-1/CXCR4 Axis Promotes MSCs to Repair Liver Injury Partially through Trans-Differentiation and Fusion with Hepatocytes
Authors: Hao Ning-Bo , Li Chang-Zhu , Lü Mu-Han , Tang Bo , Wang Su-Min , Wu Yu-Yun , Liang Guang-Ping , Yang Shi-Ming
Published: August 2015

MSCs have become a popular target for developing end-stage liver therapies. In this study, two models of bone marrow chimeric mice were used to construct the liver failure models. Then it was found that MSCs can transdifferentiate into hepatocyte-like cells and these hepatocyte-like cells can significantly express albumin. Furthermore it was also found that MSCs can fuse with the hepatocytes and these cells had the proliferation activity. However, the percentage of transdifferentiation was significantly higher than fusion. So it was considered that MSCs which transdifferentiated into hepatocyte-likes cells played important roles for repairing the injuring liver function.