bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum Ferritin Is Inversely Correlated with Serum Adiponectin Level: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ku Bon-Jeong , Kim Seul-Young , Lee Tae-Yong , Park Kang-Seo
Published: June 2013

Background: The serum concentrations of ferritin and adiponectin are associated with several metabolic disorders and have been used as predictors of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. But there have been no reports demonstrating a direct correlation between serum ferritin and adiponectin levels. We performed this study to evaluate the association between serum ferritin and adiponectin concentrations.

Subjects and methods: We evaluated a total of 995 subjects from the Korea Rural Genomic Cohort Study in a population-based cross-sectional study. Extensive clinical and laboratory measurements, including adiponectin and ferritin concentrations, were recorded.

Results: Univariate analysis revealed that the serum adiponectin level was correlated with age, sex, BMI, diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, hs-CRP, and ferritin. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the adiponectin concentration was correlated with age, BMI, fasting glucose, hs-CRP, and ferritin. The ferritin concentration was the most powerfully associated with serum adiponectin. In non-diabetic subgroups, the adiponectin level was correlated with BMI, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, fasting glucose, and ferritin level in multivariate analysis. In diabetic subgroups, the adiponectin level was correlated with BMI, triglyceride, hs-CRP, and ferritin level in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions: The serum adiponectin concentration was correlated with conventional clinical variables, but the most powerfully associated factor was the serum ferritin level.
CD14CD16 Monocyte Subset Levels in Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Barisione Chiara , Garibaldi Silvano , Ghigliotti Giorgio , Fabbi Patrizia , Altieri Paola , Casale Maria Carla , Spallarossa Paolo , Bertero Giovanni , Balbi Manrico , Corsiglia Luca , Brunelli Claudio
Published: June 2013

Our aim was to define the distribution of monocyte subsets in a cohort of congestive heart failure (CHF) patients, to verify whether increased severity of CHF is linked to the expansion of specific monocyte subsets, and finally to investigate the relationship between monocyte subset relative frequencies, laboratory parameters of inflammation, and monocyte ACE expression.

Thirty consecutive CHF patients and 26 healthy control subjects were evaluated for peripheral blood monocyte expression of CD14, CD16 and CD143 (ACE) by flow-cytometry, and for endothelial-derived soluble CD146 levels by ELISA.

CD14++CD16+frequency was significantly higher in CHF patients than in Controls (%, median value and IQ) (12.3, 8.7–14.8 vs 5.9, 4.7–6.9, p++CD16+levels. Frequencies of CD14+CD16+monocytes were significantly lower in CHF patients as compared to Controls, and negatively correlated with levels of soluble CD146 (r= −0.529; p 0.048).

In conclusion, monocytic CD14++CD16+frequency and CD143 levels are increased and reflect disease status and progressive cardiac deterioration in CHF patients. The CD14+CD16+subset is depleted in CHF and is linked to endothelial damage in this group of patients.

Although the question of whether differences in monocyte CD14CD16 expansion are causal or whether they represent a marker of HF progression which is potentially relevant for risk prediction remains unanswered, we believe that our data represent an important tool for exploring the role of selective inflammatory pathways in CHF progression.
IκBαPromoter Polymorphisms in Patients with Behçet’s Disease
Authors: Hung Yu-Hung , Wu Cheng-Chin , Ou Tsan-Teng , Lin Chia-Hui , Li Ruei-Nian , Lin Yu-Chih , Tsai Wen-Chan , Liu Hong-Wen , Yen Jeng-Hsien
Published: June 2013

To investigate the role ofIκBαpromoter polymorphisms in the development of Behçet’s disease, eighty-six patients with Behçet's disease and 120 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. TheIκBα; -881A/G, -826C/T, -550A/T, -519C/T, and -297C/T polymorphisms were measured by the method of polymerase chain reaction/ restriction fragment length polymorphism. This study demonstrated that the genotype frequencies ofIκBα-826C/T and -826T/T were significantly higher in the patients with Behçet's disease than in the controls. Both in the dominant and in the recessive models, the patients with Behçet's disease have higher frequencies of the IκBα -826T containing genotype than the controls. The allele frequency ofIκBα-826T was significantly increased in the patients with Behçet’s disease. The frequencies of theIκBα-881A -826T -550A -519C -297C andIκBα-881A -826T -550A -519T -297C haplotypes were significantly higher in the patients with Behçet–s disease than in the controls. In contrast, the haplotype frequency ofIκBα-881A -826C -550A -519C -297C in the patients with Behçet’s disease was significantly decreased. This study also revealed that the Behçet’s disease patients with IκBα -826T/T have higher prevalence of skin lesions than those without IκBα -826T/T. In summary, the IκBα -826T allele,IκBα-881A -826T -550A -519C -297C andIκBα-881A -826T -550A -519T -297C haplotypes might be associated with susceptibility to Behçet’s disease. TheIκBα-826T/T genotype was related to the development of skin lesions in the patients with Behçet's disease.
Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis and Susceptibility to HPV
Authors: Patel Tejas , Morrison L. Katie , Rady Peter , Tyring Stephen
Published: June 2013

Purpose of review: Epidermodysplasia verruciformis has been addressed in depth in the recent literature despite its rarity. The disease is characterized by a persistence in human papillomavirus infections and development of cutaneous malignancies, usually happening more frequently and at a younger age than in the general population. Because of the role of immunodeficiency to viral antigens eventually leading to cancer, EV has become a model for understanding a viral role in cutaneous oncogenesis. Susceptibility loci for EV have been mapped and encoded protein functions are becoming better understood. Discoveries of novel mutations and further study of EV-associated HPV serotypes in lesional and nonlesional skin of affected patients and the general population may help generate a cohesive theory regarding the true role of a defective immune barrier in oncogenesis.
DOCK8 Immune Deficiency as a Model for Primary Cytoskeletal Dysfunction
Authors: McGhee Sean A. , Chatila Talal A.
Published: June 2013

DOCK8 deficiency is a newly described primary immune deficiency resulting in profound susceptibility to cutaneous viral infections, elevated IgE levels, and eosinophilia, but lacking in the skeletal manifestations commonly seen in hyper IgE syndrome, which it otherwise resembles. Although little is known about the DOCK8 protein, it resembles other atypical guanine exchange factors in the DOCK family, and is known to bind to CDC42. This suggests that a likely role for DOCK8 is in modulating signals that trigger cytoskeletal reorganization. As a result, DOCK8 may also be related to other immune deficiencies that involve the cytoskeleton and Rho GTPase signaling pathways, such as Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and Rac2 deficiency.
Homozygosity for the Ala Allele of the PPARγ2 Pro12Ala Polymorphism Is Associated with Reduced Risk of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Galgani Andrea , Valdes AnaMaria , Erlich Henry A. , Mano Calvin , Cheng Suzanne , Petrone Antonio , Sentinelli Federica , Berni Andrea , Baroni Marco G. , Buzzetti Raffaella
Published: June 2013

Several studies suggest that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is involved in atherogenesis. The Pro12Ala polymorphism in the gene encoding PPARγ (PPARγ2 gene) influences the risk for type 2 diabetes. Two population-based studies have shown that the Ala allele is associated with reduced carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT). However, studies focusing on acute clinical events have yielded conflicting results. Our aim was to evaluate the role of the Pro12AlaPPARγ2 polymorphism on the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in an Italian population with a case-controlled genetic association study in which 478 CAD patients and 218 controls were genotyped for the Pro12Ala polymorphism. CAD was diagnosed by angiography. We found that homozygotes for the Ala12 allele had a significantly reduced risk of CAD after adjusting for diabetes, sex, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, lipids and hypertension (OR = 0.007; 95% C.I. = 0.00–0.32p< 0.011). In this casecontrol study, homozygosity for the Ala allele at codon 12 of thePPAR2 gene resulted in reduced risk of CAD. This is consistent with reports from previous studies focusing on atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction.
Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 3 Gene Polymorphisms and the Risk of Target Vessel Revascularization after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Is There Still Room for Determining Genetic Variation of MMPs for Assessment of an Increased Risk of Restenosis?
Authors: Verschuren J.J.W. , Sampietro M.L. , Pons D. , Trompet S. , Ewing M.M. , Quax P.H.A. , de Knijff P. , Zwinderman A.H. , de Winter R.J. , Tio R.A. , de Maat M.P. , Doevendans P.A.F.M. , Jukema J.W.
Published: June 2013

Objective: Mixed results have been reported of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their association with restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The current study examines whether multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), covering the full genomic region of MMP2 and MMP3, were associated with restenosis in the GENDER study population.

Methods and results: The GENetic DEterminants of Restenosis (GENDER) study enrolled 3104 consecutive patients after successful PCI. The primary endpoint was clinical restenosis, defined as target vessel revascularization (TVR), occurring in 9.8% of the patients. From the Hapmap database, 19 polymorphisms of MMP2 and 11 of MMP3 were selected. Furthermore, in a subpopulation, a genome-wide association analysis (GWA) was performed. No significant association was found with any of the investigated SNPs, including the previously reported 5A/6A polymorphism (rs3025058), with regard to TVR using single SNP analysis or haplotype analysis.

Conclusion: We found no significant association of MMP2 or MMP3 with TVR with this SNP-broad gene approach. Although we did not test all the known polymorphisms of these genes, using tagging analyses we examined those SNPs covering all known haplotypes of MMP2 and MMP3 to conclude that these genes do not correlate with a genetic risk of coronary restenosis after successful PCI.
Expression Levels of Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule (ALCAM/CD166) in Primary Breast Carcinoma and Distant Breast Cancer Metastases
Authors: Ihnen M. , Köhler N. , Kersten J. F. , Milde-Langosch K. , Beck K. , Höller S. , Müller V. , Witzel I. , Jänicke F. , Kilic E.
Published: June 2013

Introduction:Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule (ALCAM/CD166) gained increasing attention regarding tumorprogression and metastatic spread in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to examine ALCAM expression levels in primary breast cancer and distant metastases of the same patient within 29 autopsy cases to better understand the underlying mechanisms of metastases and the role of adhesion molecules in this process.

Material and Methods:Paraffin-embedded tissue of the primary and distant metastases (N = 84) were collected and ALCAM immunohistochemistry was performed.

Results:The primary tumor and all metastases showed a statistically normally distributed ALCAM expression. ALCAM expression level average differs between immunoreactive score (IRS) (mean) 4.16 (lung)-5.00 (adrenal gland). Of the metastatic ALCAM expression levels we obtained an intra-class correlation (ICC) of 80.9%, indicating a strong cluster effect of measurements in the same patient. ALCAM expression scores in metastatic sites and in the primary analyzed by hierarchical regression analysis showed that ALCAM expression in the primary is prognostic for ALCAM expression in all different sites of metastases (slope = 0.773,p< 0.001,r2= 0.504).

Conclusion:ALCAM expression in the primary is positively correlated to ALCAM expression in metastases within one single patient. This could show a tumorbiological context of ALCAM for the development of metastases in breast cancer.
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: Environmental Risk Factors
Authors: Dronamraju Deepti , Odin Joseph , Bach Nancy
Published: June 2013

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease of unclear etiology. It is a chronic, progressive condition that causes intrahepatic ductal destruction ultimately leading to symptoms of cholestasis, cirrhosis and liver failure. The disease predominantly affects middle aged Caucasian women. It has a predilection to certain regions and is found in higher incidences in North America and Northern Europe. It also has a genetic predisposition with a concordance rate of 60% among monozygotic twins. Combinations of genetic and environmental factors are proposed in the pathogenesis of this disease with a compelling body of evidence that suggests a role for both these factors. This review will elucidate data on the proposed environmental agents involved the disease's pathogenesis including xenobiotic and microbial exposure and present some of the supporting epidemiologic data.
MicroRNAs, Innate Immunity and Ventricular Rupture in Human Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Zidar Nina , Boštjančič Emanuela , Glavač Damjan , Štajer Dušan
Published: June 2013

MicroRNAs are non-coding RNAs, functionioning as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Some microRNAs have been demonstrated to play a role in regulation of innate immunity. After myocardial infarction (MI), innate immunity is activated leading to an acute inflammatory reaction. There is evidence that an intense inflammatory reaction might contribute to the development of ventricular rupture (VR) after MI.

Using real-time PCR, we analysed the expression ofmiR-146a, miR-150, andmiR-155in autopsy samples of infarcted heart tissue from 50 patients with MI (23 with VR and 27 without VR).

An altered expression of all three microRNAs was found in MI compared to the normal hearts. Comparing MI patients with VR and those without VR, we foundmiR-146aup-regulation, andmiR-150andmiR-155down-regulation in patients with VR.

In conclusion, our study demonstrated an altered expression ofmiR-146a, miR-150, andmiR-155in MI compared to the normal hearts. These microRNAs are involved in regulation of the innate immunity. Differential expression of these microRNAs in MI patients with VR in comparison to those without VR provides further evidence that innate immunity resulting in an intense inflammatory reaction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of VR after MI in humans.
Putative Roles of Circulating Resistin in Patients with Asthma, COPD and Cigarette Smokers
Authors: Al Mutairi Sana S. , Mojiminiyi Olusegun A. , Shihab-Eldeen Aida , Al Rammah Tahani , Abdella Nabila
Published: June 2013

Aims:To investigate the hypothesis that circulating resistin reflects the degree of pulmonary inflammation, this study explores putative roles of resistin in patients with acute and stable inflammatory obstructive airway diseases and cigarette smokers.

Methods:We determined complements C3, C4, fasting resistin, insulin, glucose and lipid profile; calculated insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) in patients with acute asthma exacerbation (n= 34); stable asthma (n= 26) and stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD;n= 26), cigarette smokers (n= 81), and healthy control subjects (n= 42). We determined the associations between these variables and pulmonary function tests.

Results: Patients with COPD, acute and stable asthma had significantly higher resistin and insulin than control subjects. Resistin, insulin, HOMA-IR, FEV1% and FEV1/FVC were significantly (p< 0.05) different between patients with acute asthma compared with stable asthma and COPD; smokers had similar levels of resistin, C3 and C4 as patients with asthma and COPD. In smokers, patientswith asthma or COPD, resistin showed significant inverse correlations with FEV1%; FEV1/FVC% and positive significant correlations with BMI and HOMA-IR. Logistic regression showed that resistin is associated (p< 0.05) with inflammatory obstructive airways disease − odds ratio (OR) = 1.22 and smoking OR = 1.18.

Conclusion: Resistin may be a disease activity marker and may contribute to insulin resistance in smokers, asthma and COPD.
Diagnostic and Prognostic Molecular Markers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Mínguez Beatriz , Lachenmayer Anja
Published: June 2013

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide, representing also the main cause of death among cirrhotic patients. In contrast to most other solid tumors, the underlying cirrhotic liver disease in HCC patients greatly impairs tumor related prognosis, conferring this neoplasm a unique situation, in which accurate prognostic prediction is a relevant and unmet need.

Although clinical staging systems have improved significantly and now comprise tumor characteristics, liver function and patient performance status, the integration of molecular data into these algorithms is still hypothetical.

Molecular profiling of HCC has led to a better understanding of the physiopathology of this neoplasm and has allowed developing novel therapeutic approaches (e.g. molecular targeted therapies) for a tumor previously considered as therapy-refractory. Integrative analysis of different reported genomic datasets has revealed common subclasses between different studies, highlighting their biological relevance in HCC. Gene signatures derived from tumors and from the adjacent tissue have been able to differentiate subclasses with different outcomes and have been proposed as potential predictive markers in the clinical setting. Genomic characterization of surrounding non-tumor tissue might be of particular interest to identify patients at high risk of developing HCC and therefore to select those patients that would benefit of potential chemopreventive strategies.

Epigenetic analyses (methylation and miRNA profiling) are adding up to the knowlegde derived from gene expression data and should not be forgotten in the molecular diagnosis of HCC. Integrative analyses of genetic and epigenetic information of the tumor and the surrounding tissue should be used to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in HCC, to improve existing treatment algorithms and to eventually design a more personalized medicine in this devastating disease.
Opposite Effects ofGSTM1– andGSTT1– Gene Deletion Variants on Bone Mineral Density
Authors: Mlakar Simona Jurkovic , Osredkar Josko , Prezelj Janez , Marc Janja
Published: June 2013

Oxidative stress is associated with osteoporosis. The glutathione S-transferases form the major detoxifying group of enzymes responsible for eliminating products of oxidative stress. We have therefore proposedGSTM1andGSTT1genes as candidates for studying the genetics of osteoporosis.

The aim of the present study was to examine possible association ofGSTM1andGSTT1gene deletion polymorphisms, alone or in combination, with bone mineral density at femoral neck (BMD_fn), lumbar spine (BMD_ls) and total hip (BMD_th) in Slovenian elderly women and men.

GSTM1andGSTT1gene deletion polymorphisms in 712 elderly people were analyzed using the triplex PCR method for the presence ofGSTM1andGSTT1gene segments. BMD_fn, BMD_ls and BMD_th were measured by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) method. Results were analyzed using univariate statistic model adjusted for sex, body mass index (BMI) and age.

Our results showed the significant differences in BMD_th, BMD_ls and BMD_fn values (p= 0.031, 0.017 and 0.023, respectively) in subgroups ofGSTT1gene deletion polymorphism. ForGSTM1gene deletion polymorphism borderline significant association was found with BMD_ls (p= 0.100). Furthermore, subjects with homozygous deletion ofGSTT1gene showed higher BMD values on all measured skeletal sites and, in contrast, subjects with homozygous deletion ofGSTM1gene showed lower BMD values. Moreover, a gene-gene interaction study showed significant association ofGSTM1-null andGSTT1-null polymorphisms with BMD_ls values (p= 0.044). Carriers with a combination of the presence ofGSTT1gene and the homozygous absence ofGSTM1gene fragment were associated with the lower BMD values at all skeletal sites.

The significant association of combination ofGSTT1gene presence and homozygous absence ofGSTM1gene with BMD was demonstrated, suggesting that it could be used, if validated in other studies, as genetic marker for low BMD.
Classification of Cirrhosis: The Clinical Use of HVPG Measurements
Authors: Albilllos Agustín , Garcia-Tsao Guadalupe
Published: June 2013

The modern paradigm considers cirrhosis as a dynamic and potentially reversible disease. It consists of two different entities, compensated and decompensated cirrhosis, each with a distinct prognosis and different predictors of survival. The development of portal hypertension is a hallmark in the history of cirrhosis, and its progression parallels that of the disease. In consequence, portal pressure measurement by means of HVPG allows stratifying cirrhosis in stages with defined outcomes, prognosis, and management strategies.
Isolation and Identification of Concanavalin A Binding Glycoproteins from Human Seminal Plasma: A Step Towards Identification of Male Infertility Marker Proteins
Authors: Tomar Anil Kumar , Sooch Balwinder Singh , Raj Isha , Singh Sarman , Singh Tej P. , Yadav Savita
Published: June 2013

Human seminal plasma contains a large array of proteins of clinical importance which are essentially needed to maintain the reproductive physiology of spermatozoa and for successful fertilization. Thus, isolation and identification of seminal plasma proteins is of paramount significance for their biophysical characterization and functional analysis in reproductive physiological processes. In this study, we have isolated Concanavalin-A binding glycoproteins from human seminal plasma and subsequently identified them by MALDI-TOF/MS analysis. The major proteins, as identified in this study, are Aminopeptidase N, lactoferrin, prostatic acid phosphatase, zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein, prostate specific antigen, progestagen-associated endometrial protein, Izumo sperm-egg fusion protein and prolactin inducible protein. This paper also reports preliminary studies to identify altered expression of these proteins in oligospermia and azoospermia in comparison to normospermia. In oligospermia, five proteins were found to be downregulated while in azoospermia, four proteins were downregulated and two proteins were upregulated. Thus, this study is of immense biomedical interest towards identification of potential male infertility marker proteins in seminal plasma.
Increased Salivary Levels of 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine May Be a Marker for Disease Activity for Periodontitis
Authors: Sezer Ufuk , Çiçek Yasin , Çanakçi Cenk Fatih
Published: June 2013

Background: 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is commonly used as a marker to evaluate oxidative DNA damage in disorders including chronic inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory periodontal pathologies. In the current study we hypothesized that the level of 8-OHdG in saliva increases by the periodontal destruction severity determined by clinical parameters as clinical attachment level (CAL).

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sum of 60 age gender balanced; chronic periodontitis (CP) (n= 20), chronic gingivitis (CG) (n= 20) and healthy (H) (n= 20) individuals. Clinical periodontal parameters and salivary 8-OHdG levels were evaluated.

Results: The mean 8-OHdG level in the saliva of the CP group was significantly higher than H and CG groups (p< 0.001). Statistically significant correlation was only observed between the salivary levels of 8-OHdG and age (p< 0.05), probing depth (PD) and CAL (p< 0.001) in CP group. However, when CP patients were classified according to their CAL levels (CAL≥ 3 mm (n= 11) and CAL<3 mm (n= 9)) statistically significant correlation was only observed between the salivary levels of 8-OHdG and CAL≥ 3 mm patients (p< 0.001).

Conclusion: We suggest that elevated salivary levels of 8-OHdG may be a marker for disease activity and it may reflect indirectly disease severity parameters such as CAL.
Cancer Biomarker Discovery: Lectin-Based Strategies Targeting Glycoproteins
Authors: Clark David , Mao Li
Published: June 2013

Biomarker discovery can identify molecular markers in various cancers that can be used for detection, screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of disease progression. Lectin-affinity is a technique that can be used for the enrichment of glycoproteins from a complex sample, facilitating the discovery of novel cancer biomarkers associated with a disease state.
Eicosanoids in Exhaled Breath Condensate and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Patients with Primary Lung Cancer
Authors: Ciebiada Maciej , Górski Paweł , Antczak Adam
Published: June 2013

Although eicosanoids are involved in lung carcinogenesis they were poorly investigated in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALf) in patients with primary lung cancer. In this study 17 patients with diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer, 10 healthy smokers and 12 healthy nonsmokers were included. The levels of cys-LTs, 8-isoprostane, LTB4 and PGE2 were measured before any treatment in the EBC of all patients and in BALf of patients with lung cancer by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. 8-isoprostane, LTB4, cys-LTs and PGE2 were detectable in the EBC and BALf. There were no significant differences between healthy smokers and nonsmokers in concentrations of all measured mediators. Compared with both healthy controls, patients with diagnosed lung cancer displayed higher concentrations of cys-LTs (p< 0.05) and LTB4 (p< 0.05) in EBC. In patients with lung cancer, the mean concentrations of all measured mediators were significantly higher in BALf compared with EBC and there was a significant, positive correlation between concentration of cys-LTs, LTB4and 8-isoprostane in BALf and their concentrations in the EBC (r= 0.64,p< 0.05,r= 0.59,p< 0.05,r= 0.53,p< 0.05 respectively). Since cys-LT, LTB4 and 8-isoprostane concentrations in EBC from patients with lung cancer reflect their concentrations in BALf, they may serve as a possible non-invasive method to monitor the disease and to assess the effectiveness of therapy.
Deposition of Biogenic Iron Minerals in a Methane Oxidizing Microbial Mat
Authors: Wrede Christoph , Kokoschka Sebastian , Dreier Anne , Heller Christina , Reitner Joachim , Hoppert Michael
Published: June 2013

The syntrophic community between anaerobic methanotrophic archaea and sulfate reducing bacteria forms thick, black layers within multi-layered microbial mats in chimney-like carbonate concretions of methane seeps located in the Black Sea Crimean shelf. The microbial consortium conducts anaerobic oxidation of methane, which leads to the formation of mainly two biomineral by-products, calcium carbonates and iron sulfides, building up these chimneys. Iron sulfides are generated by the microbial reduction of oxidized sulfur compounds in the microbial mats. Here we show that sulfate reducing bacteria deposit biogenic iron sulfides extra- and intracellularly, the latter in magnetosome-like chains. These chains appear to be stable after cell lysis and tend to attach to cell debris within the microbial mat. The particles may be important nuclei for larger iron sulfide mineral aggregates.
Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Mimic of Brain Metastases in Colorectal Cancer Associated with a Better Prognosis
Authors: Iqbal Nida , Sharma Atul
Published: June 2013

Malignancy is known to be one of the predisposing factors of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) due to its hypercoagulable state. CVT is a rare disorder which can lead to frequent misdiagnoses of brain metastases in such cases. We report here the case of a 35-year-old female with metastatic colon adenocarcinoma presenting with sudden neurological symptoms. Brain MRI and magnetic resonance venography confirmed the presence of CVT. She was treated with low molecular weight heparin followed by warfarin. She recovered and is doing well on warfarin after 5 months of diagnosis of CVT. CVT should be strongly suspected as a cause of neurological dysfunction in any case of disseminated malignancy including colon adenocarcinoma. Rapid diagnosis and initiation of therapy should be considered because of its favourable outcome.
Fekete-Szegő Inequality for a Subclass ofp-Valent Analytic Functions
Authors: Raza Mohsan , Arif Muhammad , Darus Maslina
Published: June 2013

The main object of this paper is to study Fekete-Szegő problem for the class ofp-valent functions. Fekete-Szegő inequality of several classes is obtained as special cases from our results. Applications of the results are also obtained on the class defined by convolution.
Image Fusion Based on Nonsubsampled Contourlet Transform and Saliency-Motivated Pulse Coupled Neural Networks
Authors: Xu Liang , Du Junping , Li Qingping
Published: June 2013

In the nonsubsampled contourlet transform (NSCT) domain, a novel image fusion algorithm based on the visual attention model and pulse coupled neural networks (PCNNs) is proposed. For the fusion of high-pass subbands in NSCT domain, a saliency-motivated PCNN model is proposed. The main idea is that high-pass subband coefficients are combined with their visual saliency maps as input to motivate PCNN. Coefficients with large firing times are employed as the fused high-pass subband coefficients. Low-pass subband coefficients are merged to develop a weighted fusion rule based on firing times of PCNN. The fused image contains abundant detailed contents from source images and preserves effectively the saliency structure while enhancing the image contrast. The algorithm can preserve the completeness and the sharpness of object regions. The fused image is more natural and can satisfy the requirement of human visual system (HVS). Experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm yields better performance.
An Analysis of Stability of a Class of Neutral-Type Neural Networks with Discrete Time Delays
Authors: Orman Zeynep , Arik Sabri
Published: June 2013

The problem of existence, uniqueness, and global asymptotic stability is considered for the class of neutral-type neural network model with discrete time delays. By employing a suitable Lyapunov functional and using the homeomorphism mapping theorem, we derive some new delay-independent sufficient conditions for the existence, uniqueness, and global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium point for this class of neutral-type systems. The obtained conditions basically establish some norm and matrix inequalities involving the network parameters of the neural system. The main advantage of the proposed results is that they can be expressed in terms of network parameters only. Some comparative examples are also given to compare our results with the previous corresponding results and demonstrate the effectiveness of the results presented.
A Methodical Approach to Design and Valuation of Weather Derivatives in Agriculture
Authors: Spicka Jindrich , Hnilica Jiri
Published: June 2013

The paper deals with weather derivatives as the potentially effective risk management tool for agricultural enterprises seeking to mitigate their income exposure to variations in weather conditions. Design and valuation of the weather derivatives is an interdisciplinary approach covering agrometeorology, statistics, mathematical modeling, and financial and risk management. This paper first offers an overview of data sources and then methods of design and valuation of weather derivatives at the regional level. The accompanied case study focuses on cultivation of cereals (wheat and barley) in the Czech Republic. However, its generalizability is straightforward. The analysis of key growing phases of cereals is based on regression analysis using weather indices as the independent variables and crop yields as dependent variables. With the bootstrap tool, the burn analysis is considered as useful tool for estimating uncertainty about the payoff, option price, and statistics of probability distribution of revenues. The results show that the spatial and production basis risks reduce the efficiency of the weather derivatives. Finally, the potential for expansion of weather derivatives remains in the low income countries of Africa and Asia with systemic weather risk.
Fracture of Ceramic Bearing Surfaces following Total Hip Replacement: A Systematic Review
Authors: Traina Francesco , De Fine Marcello , Di Martino Alberto , Faldini Cesare
Published: June 2013

Ceramic bearing surfaces are increasingly used for total hip replacement, notwithstanding that concern is still related to ceramic brittleness and its possible mechanical failure. The aim of this systematic review is to answer three questions: (1) Are there risk factors for ceramic component fracture following total hip replacement? (2) Is it possible to perform an early diagnosis of ceramic component failure before catastrophic fracture occurs? (3) Is it possible to draw guidelines for revision surgery after ceramic components failure? A PubMed and Google Scholar search was performed and reference citations from publications identified in the literature search were reviewed. The use of 28 mm short-neck femoral head carries an increased risk of fracture. Acetabular component malposition might increase the risk of ceramic liner fractures. Synovial fluid microanalysis and CT scan are promising in early diagnosis of ceramic head and liner failure. Early revision is suggested in case of component failure; no consensus exists about the better coupling for revision surgery. Ceramic brittleness remains a major concern. Due to the increased number of ceramic on ceramic implants, more revision surgeries and reports on ceramic components failure are expected in the future. An algorithm of diagnosis and treatment for ceramic hip failure is proposed.
Best Available Evidence in Cochrane Reviews on Herbal Medicine?
Authors: Davidson Elyad , Vlachojannis Julia , Cameron Melainie , Chrubasik Sigrun
Published: June 2013

Cochrane reviews are considered by many to be the “gold standard” or the final word in medical conversation on a topic. We explored the eleven most relevant Cochrane reviews on herbal medicine and identified that frequently herbal medicines in the included studies had not been sufficiently well characterised. If data on the effects of the plant parts are unavailable, effects of co-active ingredients need to be considered and the plausibility of the study medications for the specific indications discussed. Effect sizes calculated from exploratory studies would be best used to determine the sample sizes required for future confirmatory studies, rather than as definitive reports of intervention effects. Reviews should be comprehensive, including discussion of putative adverse events and possible drug interactions. We suggest that the guidelines for preparing Cochrane reviews be revised and offer assistance in this task.
Ibuprofen Can Induce Syndrome of Inappropriate Diuresis in Healthy Young Patients
Authors: Roche Céline , Ragot Céline , Moalic Jean-Luc , Simon Fabrice , Oliver Manuela
Published: June 2013

A 30-year-old caucasian woman, without past medical history or known drug use, was admitted to the emergency department for persistent fever and arthralgias. The laboratory analysis showed moderate hypoosmolar hyponatremia (Na: 132 mmol/L, osmolality: 239 mOsm/L), normal sodium excretion (<20 mmol/L), and a high urinary osmolality (415 mOsm/L). Later, she deteriorated with seizures and deeper hyponatremia (Na: 113 mmol/L) and so was moved to the critical care unit. At first, no obvious aetiology was found, the patient was euvolemic, as she was well hydrated and lacked concerning findings of heart failure, renal disease, or liver cirrhosis. A syndrome of inappropriate diuresis (SIAD) was proposed, and corrective measures were started immediately to reduce her hyponatremia, including restriction of fluid intake. The administration of intravenous hypertonic saline solution permitted normal neurological status to be restored and corrected the sodium concentration but induced reversible acute renal failure. Further investigation revealed that the patient had ingested 8 g ibuprofen two days before admission. After other aetiologies were ruled out, drug-induced SIAD due to ibuprofen was the most likely diagnosis for this patient. SIAD-associated hyponatremia and acute renal failure are rare side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, particularly in young people. Therefore, this case may represent a unique case of NSAID-induced SIAD and highlight the need to obtain thorough medication histories and exclude all other potential causes in hyponatremic patients.
An FEM-Based State Estimation Approach to Nonlinear Hybrid Positioning Systems
Authors: Zhao Yu-Xin , Chen Li-Juan , Ma Yan
Published: June 2013

For hybrid positioning systems (HPSs), the estimator design is a crucial and important problem. In this paper, a finite-element-method- (FEM-) based state estimation approach is proposed to HPS. As the weak solution of hybrid stochastic differential model is denoted by the Kolmogorov's forward equation, this paper constructs its interpolating point through the classical fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. Then, it approaches the solution with biquadratic interpolation function to obtain a prior probability density function of the state. A posterior probability density function is gained through Bayesian formula finally. In theory, the proposed scheme has more advantages in the performance of complexity and convergence for low-dimensional systems. By taking an illustrative example, numerical experiment results show that the new state estimator is feasible and has good performance than PF and UKF.
Renal Cell Carcinoma of the Kidney with Synchronous Ipsilateral Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis
Authors: Atilgan Dogan , Uluocak Nihat , Parlaktas Bekir Suha
Published: June 2013

A 73-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with flank pain and gross macroscopic hematuria. Radiologic examination revealed a solid mass in the left kidney and additionally another mass in the ureteropelvic junction of the same kidney with severe hydronephrosis. Left nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff removel was performed, and histopathological evolution showed a Fuhrman grade 3 clear cell type RCC with low-grade TCC of the pelvis.
Characterization and Application of Enterocin RM6, a Bacteriocin fromEnterococcus faecalis
Authors: Huang En , Zhang Liwen , Chung Yoon-Kyung , Zheng Zuoxing , Yousef Ahmed E.
Published: June 2013

Use of bacteriocins in food preservation has received great attention in recent years. The goal of this study is to characterize enterocin RM6 fromEnterococcus faecalisOSY-RM6 and investigate its efficacy againstListeria monocytogenesin cottage cheese. Enterocin RM6 was purified fromE. faecalisculture supernatant using ion exchange column, multiple C18-silica cartridges, followed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The molecular weight of enterocin RM6 is 7145.0823 as determined by mass spectrometry (MS). Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis revealed that enterocin RM6 is a 70-residue cyclic peptide with a head-to-tail linkage between methionine and tryptophan residues. The peptide sequence of enterocin RM6 was further confirmed by sequencing the structural gene of the peptide. Enterocin RM6 is active against Gram-positive bacteria, includingL. monocytogenes,Bacillus cereus,and methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA). Enterocin RM6 (final concentration in cottage cheese, 80 AU/mL) caused a 4-log reduction in population ofL. monocytogenesinoculated in cottage cheese within 30 min of treatment. Therefore, enterocin RM6 has potential applications as a potent antimicrobial peptide against foodborne pathogens in food.
Customized First and Second Order Statistics Based Operators to Support Advanced Texture Analysis of MRI Images
Authors: Avola Danilo , Cinque Luigi , Placidi Giuseppe
Published: June 2013

Texture analysis is the process of highlighting key characteristics thus providing an exhaustive and unambiguous mathematical description of any object represented in a digital image. Each characteristic is connected to a specific property of the object. In some cases the mentioned properties represent aspects visually perceptible which can be detected by developing operators based on Computer Vision techniques. In other cases these properties are not visually perceptible and their computation is obtained by developing operators based on Image Understanding approaches. Pixels composing high quality medical images can be considered the result of a stochastic process since they represent morphological or physiological processes. Empirical observations have shown that these images have visually perceptible and hidden significant aspects. For these reasons, the operators can be developed by means of a statistical approach. In this paper we present a set of customized first and second order statistics based operators to perform advanced texture analysis of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) images. In particular, we specify the main rules defining the role of an operator and its relationship with other operators. Extensive experiments carried out on a wide dataset of MRI images of different body regions demonstrating usefulness and accuracy of the proposed approach are also reported.
Manufacture of Green-Composite Sandwich Structures with Basalt Fiber and Bioepoxy Resin
Authors: Torres J. P. , Hoto R. , Andrés J. , García-Manrique J. A.
Published: June 2013

Nowadays, there is a growing interest for the use and development of materials synthesized from renewable sources in the polymer composites manufacturing industry; this applies for both matrix and reinforcement components. In the present research, a novel basalt fibre reinforced (BFR) bioepoxy green composite is proposed as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-derived composites. In addition, this material system was combined with cork as core material for the fabrication of fibre composite sandwich structures. Mechanical properties of both skin and core materials were assessed through flexural and tensile tests. Finite element (FEM) simulations for the mechanical stress analysis of the sandwich material were carried out, and a maximum allowable shear stress for material failure under bending loads was established. Permeability measurements of the basalt fabrics were carried out in order to perform numerical simulations of liquid composite moulding (LCM) processes on the PAM-RTM software. The proposed green-composite sandwich material was used for the fabrication of a longboard as a case study for a sports equipment application. Numerical simulations of the mould filling stage allowed the determination of an optimal mould filling strategy. Finally, the load-bearing capacity of the board was studied by means of FEM simulations, and the presented design proved to be acceptable for service.
Hilbert-Curve Based Data Aggregation Scheme to Enforce Data Privacy and Data Integrity for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Kim Yong-Ki , Lee Hyunjo , Yoon Min , Chang Jae-Woo
Published: June 2013

Data aggregation techniques have been proposed for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to address the problems presented by the limited resources of sensor nodes. The provision of efficient data aggregation to preserve data privacy is a challenging issue in WSNs. Some existing data aggregation methods for preserving data privacy are CPDA, SMART, the Twin-Key based method, and GP2S. These methods, however, have two limitations. First, the communication cost for network construction is considerably high. Second, they do not support data integrity. There are two methods for supporting data integrity, iCPDA and iPDA. But they have high communication cost due to additional integrity checking messages. To resolve this problem, we propose a novel Hilbert-curve based data aggregation scheme that enforces data privacy and data integrity for WSNs. To minimize communication cost, we utilize a tree-based network structure for constructing networks and aggregating data. To preserve data privacy, we make use of both a seed exchange algorithm and Hilbert-curve based data encryption. To support data integrity, we use an integrity checking algorithm based on the PIR technique by directly communicating between parent and child nodes. Finally, through a performance analysis, we show that our scheme outperforms the existing methods in terms of both energy efficiency and privacy preservation.
Antimicrobial, Antiparasitic, Anti‐Inflammatory, and Cytotoxic Activities of Lopezia racemosa
Authors: Cruz Paredes Carla , Bolívar Balbás Paulina , Gómez-Velasco Anaximandro , Juárez Zaida Nelly , Sánchez Arreola Eugenio , Hernández Luis Ricardo , Bach Horacio
Published: June 2013

The present study investigates the potential benefits of the Mexican medicinal plant Lopezia racemosa (Onagraceae). Extracts and fractions from aerial parts of this plant were assessed to determine their antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, anti‐inflammatory and cytotoxic activities in vitro. Aerial parts of the plant were extracted with various solvents and fractionated accordingly. Extracts and fractions were tested against a panel of nine bacterial and four fungal species. The antiparasitic activity was tested against Leishmania donovani, whereas the anti‐inflammatory activity of the compounds was determined by measuring the secretion of interleukin‐6 from human‐derived macrophages. The same macrophage cell line was used to investigate the cytotoxicity of the compounds. Various extracts and fractions showed antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and anti‐inflammatory activities. The hexanic fraction HF 11‐14b was the most interesting fraction with antimicrobial, and anti‐inflammatory activities. The benefit of L. racemosa as a traditional medicinal plant was confirmed as shown by its antibacterial, antifungal and anti‐inflammatory activities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the biological activities of L. racemosa, including antiparasitic and anti‐inflammatory activities.
Some New Characterizations andg-Minimality and Stability ofg-Bases in the Hilbert Spaces
Authors: Guo Xunxiang
Published: June 2013

The concept ofg-basis in the Hilbert spaces is introduced by Guo (2012) who generalizes the Schauder basis in the Hilbert spaces.g-basis plays the similar role ing-frame theory to that the Schauder basis plays in frame theory. In this paper, we establish some important properties ofg-bases in the Hilbert spaces. In particular, we obtain a simple condition under which some important properties established in Guo (2012) are still true. With these conditions, we also establish some new interesting properties ofg-bases which are related tog-minimality. Finally, we obtain a perturbation result aboutg-bases.
Primary Pericardial Mesothelioma: A Rare Entity
Authors: Godar Mohit , Liu Jianhua , Zhang Pengguo , Xia Yang , Yuan Qinghai
Published: June 2013

Primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma is an extremely rare neoplasm that arises from the pericardial mesothelial cell layers. Clinical symptoms and signs are frequently nonspecific, and the diagnosis is usually made after surgery or at autopsy. There is no standard treatment for pericardial mesothelioma; nonetheless, radical surgery is the mainstay of therapy for localized disease. The neoplasm is highly aggressive and carries a dismal prognosis with an overall survival of less than six months. This paper presents a case study of a 68-year-old patient with a primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma. Radiologic evaluation revealed a small nodule in the posterior pericardium with pericardial and bilateral pleural effusions. The diagnosis was established after surgery by histological and immunohistochemical studies. The patient remained alive and free of disease for about 24 months; however, due to rapid local recurrence, the patient died 27 months after the surgical treatment.