bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Chronic NO Synthase Inhibition on the Vasoactive and Structural Properties of Thoracic Aorta, NO Synthase Activity, and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Young SHR
Authors: Berenyiova Andrea , Dovinova Ima , Kvandova Miroslava , Kristek Frantisek , Jansen Eugene , Majzunova Miroslava , Cacanyiova Sona
Published: June 2018

Although the role of nitric oxide (NO) in essential hypertension is still unclear, the effects of long‐term NO deficiency have not yet been investigated during the critical juvenile period in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). We aimed to analyze the effects of chronic NO synthase (NOS) inhibition on systolic blood pressure (sBP), vasoactivity, morphological changes and superoxide level in the thoracic aorta (TA), NOS activity in different tissues, and general biomarkers of oxidative stress in plasma of young SHR. Four‐week‐old SHR were treated with NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME, 50 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 4‐5 weeks. L‐NAME treatment induced a transient sBP increase only, and surprisingly, slightly inhibited endothelium‐dependent relaxation of TA. Hereby, the inhibition of NOS activity varied from tissue to tissue, ranging from the lowest in the TA and the kidney to the highest in the brain stem. In spite of an increased sensitivity of adrenergic receptors, the maximal adrenergic contraction of TA was unchanged, which was associated with changes in elastin arrangement and an increase in wall thickness. The production of reactive oxygen species in the TA was increased; however, the level of selected biomarkers of oxidative stress did not change. Our findings proved that the TA of young SHR responded to chronic NO deficiency by the development of adaptive mechanisms on the functional (preserved NO‐derived vasorelaxation, unincreased contraction) and molecular (preserved NOS activity) level.
Clinical Presentation of Preeclampsia and the Diagnostic Value of Proteins and Their Methylation Products as Biomarkers in Pregnant Women with Preeclampsia and Their Newborns
Authors: Portelli Maria , Baron Byron
Published: June 2018

Preeclampsia (PE) is a disorder which affects 1-10% of pregnant women worldwide. It is characterised by hypertension and proteinuria in the later stages of gestation and can lead to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Other than the delivery of the foetus and the removal of the placenta, to date there are no therapeutic approaches to treat or prevent PE. It is thus only possible to reduce PE-related mortality through early detection, careful monitoring, and treatment of the symptoms. For these reasons the search for noninvasive, blood-borne, or urinary biochemical markers that could be used for the screening, presymptomatic diagnosis, and prediction of the development of PE is of great urgency. So far, a number of biomarkers have been proposed for predicting PE, based on pathophysiological observations, but these have mostly proven to be unreliable and inconsistent between different studies. The clinical presentation of PE and data gathered for the biochemical markers placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble Feline McDonough Sarcoma- (fms-) like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and methyl-lysine is being reviewed with the aim of providing both a clinical and biochemical understanding of how these biomarkers might assist in the diagnosis of PE or indicate its severity.
Levels of Organochlorine Pesticides in Brackish Water Fish from Niger River, Nigeria
Authors: Unyimadu John P. , Osibanjo O. , Babayemi Joshua O.
Published: June 2018

Investigation of the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in fish samples was carried out to assess the contamination status of Niger River. Ten different brackish water species of fish (6 samples for each, making a total of 60) were purchased from landing sites at the Delta area of Niger River. These were Drapane africana, Mochokus niloticus, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Pristipoma jubelini, Vomer septapinis, Pseudotolithus senegalensis, Mugil cephalus, Pseudotolithus elongatus, Sphyraena piscatorum, and Lutjanus goreensis. OCPs were determined using standard methods. Certified reference standards from Accustandard USA were used for the instrument calibration and quantification of OCPs. Twenty OCPs, namely, α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH, endrin, endrin aldehyde, endrin ketone, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, dieldrin, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate, methoxychlor, α-chlordane, γ-chlordane, DDE, DDT, and DDT, were identified/quantified using Gas Chromatography (GC) (Hewlett Packard GC 5890 series 11 with electron capture detector). Confirmation was done using Shimadzu GCMS QP2010. The highest concentration of ∑OCPs in the brackish fish samples of the Niger River, 4302±2066 µg/kg fresh weight, with a range of 2237-6368 µg/kg, was detected in Drapane africana, while the lowest concentration, 2320±876.4, with a range of 1006-3288 µg/kg, was found in Mochokus niloticus. The concentration of total OCP compounds varied markedly amongst the different fish species. The guideline value of 2000 µg/kg fresh weight by WHO/FAO was exceeded and therefore implied potential harmful effects on humans. Since contamination of the fish samples was an indication of contamination of the river, the quality of the water for public water supply should be of concern; and therefore further monitoring is suggested.
Network Programming and Probabilistic Sketching for Securing the Data Plane
Authors: Shamseddine Maha , Itani Wassim , Chehab Ali , Kayssi Ayman
Published: June 2018

This paper presents VISKA, a cloud security service for dynamically detecting malicious switching elements in software defined networking (SDN) infrastructures. The main contributions of VISKA lie in (1) utilizing network programming and secure probabilistic sketching in SDN environments to dynamically detect and isolate parts of the data plane that experience malicious behavior, (2) applying a set of focused packet probing and sketching mechanisms on isolated network partitions/views rather than focusing the security mechanisms on the whole physical network, (3) efficiently analyzing the network behavior of the resulting views by recursively partitioning them in a divide-and-conquer fashion to logarithmically reduce the problem size in order to localize abnormal/malicious switching units, and (4) providing an attack categorization module that analyzes live ingress/egress traffic of the maliciously detected switch(es) solely to identify the specific type of attack, rather than inspecting the whole network traffic as is done in traditional intrusion detection systems. This significantly enhances the performance of attack detection and reduces the load on the controller. A testbed prototype implementation is realized on the Mininet network emulator. The experimental analysis corroborated the algorithms’ convergence property using the linear and FatTree topologies with network sizes of up to 250 switches. Moreover, an implementation of the attack categorization module is realized and achieved an accuracy rate of over 90% for the different attack types supported.
Development of Commercial Health Insurance in China: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Choi Weng I. , Shi Honghao , Bian Ying , Hu Hao
Published: June 2018

Facing difficulties like increasing health burden and health inequity, China government started to promote commercial health insurance (CHI) in recent decades. Several policies and announcement have been issued to build up a favorable environment for development of commercial health insurance. Meanwhile, scholar tried to investigate the related issues in purpose to further improve the situation in China. Therefore, we performed this systematic review in order depict a comprehensive picture on the current evidence-based researches of CHI in China. We searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, and CNKI, supplemented with hand search in reference lists, for eligible studies published from 1990 January to 2018 April. Also, hand search was conducted to select suitable articles from international organization and reference list of eligible articles. Two independent reviewers extracted the data from eligible articles and input into a standardized form. Based on the inclusion criteria, 35 articles were included in this systematic review. Most of the studies were quantitative researches with topics such as the development level of commercial health insurance in China, the demand and supply issues related, and the relationship and influence of social health insurance, as well as the moral issues evolved from commercial health insurance system. In summary, CHI in China is still at the early development stage. Among those few evidence-based articles, the findings suggested several policy implication and different market strategy. With the initiation of new health reforms and implementation of taxes policy, more empirical researches should be conducted on issues relating to the practical operation of CHI.
Cystathionineβ-Synthase in Physiology and Cancer
Authors: Zhu Haoran , Blake Shaun , Chan Keefe T. , Pearson Richard B. , Kang Jian
Published: June 2018

Cystathionineβ-synthase (CBS) regulates homocysteine metabolism and contributes to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) biosynthesis through which it plays multifunctional roles in the regulation of cellular energetics, redox status, DNA methylation, and protein modification. Inactivating mutations in CBS contribute to the pathogenesis of the autosomal recessive disease CBS-deficient homocystinuria. Recent studies demonstrating that CBS promotes colon and ovarian cancer growth in preclinical models highlight a newly identified oncogenic role for CBS. On the contrary, tumor-suppressive effects of CBS have been reported in other cancer types, suggesting context-dependent roles of CBS in tumor growth and progression. Here, we review the physiological functions of CBS, summarize the complexities regarding CBS research in oncology, and discuss the potential of CBS and its key metabolites, including homocysteine and H2S, as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis or therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
Association between Resting Heart Rate and Health-Related Physical Fitness in Brazilian Adolescents
Authors: Silva Diego Augusto Santos , Lima Tiago Rodrigues de , Tremblay Mark Stephen
Published: June 2018

The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between health-related physical fitness components (aerobic fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, and body fat) and resting heart rate (RHR) in Brazilian adolescents. The study included 695 schoolchildren (14–19 years) from public schools of the city of São José, Brazil. RHR was evaluated using an automated oscillometric sphygmomanometer. Aerobic fitness was assessed by the modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test; muscle strength was measured by handgrip dynamometer; flexibility was assessed by the sit-and-reach test; and body fat was assessed indirectly by sum of two skinfold thicknesses (triceps and subscapular). Sociodemographic variables, habitual physical activity, sexual maturation, and body mass index were the covariates. Cardiorespiratory fitness (β = -0.11; 95%CI: -0.14, -0.08) and handgrip strength (β = -0.10; 95%CI: -0.18, -0.01) were inversely associated with RHR in boys. For girls, cardiorespiratory fitness (β = -0.09; 95%CI: -0.12, -0.06) was inversely associated with RHR. In both sexes, body fat (β = 0.50; 95%CI: 0.25, 0.75 for boys; β = 0.17; 95%CI: 0.36, 2.72 for girls) was directly associated with RHR. The RHR is measured more easily than the physical fitness tests, so it is recommended to assess adolescent’s heath in large surveillance systems.
The Human Carbonic Anhydrase II in Platelets: An Underestimated Field of Its Activity
Authors: Jakubowski Maciej , Szahidewicz-Krupska Ewa , Doroszko Adrian
Published: June 2018

Carbonic anhydrases constitute a group of enzymes that catalyse reversible hydration of carbon dioxide leading to the formation of bicarbonate and proton. The platelet carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) was described for the first time in the '80s of the last century. Nevertheless, its direct role in platelet physiology and pathology still remains poorly understood. The modulation of platelet CAII action as a therapeutic approach holds promise as a novel strategy to reduce the impact of cardiovascular diseases. This short review paper summarises the current knowledge regarding the role of human CAII in regulating platelet function. The potential future directions considering this enzyme as a potential drug target and important pathophysiological chain in platelet-related disorders are described.
Alkaline Phosphatase Kinetics Predict Metastasis among Prostate Cancer Patients Who Experience Relapse following Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Salter Carolyn A. , Cullen Jennifer , Kuo Claire , Chen Yongmei , Hurwitz Lauren , Metwalli Adam R. , Dimitrakoff Jordan , Rosner Inger L.
Published: June 2018

Introduction. Metastasis prostate cancer (CaP) occurs in a small fraction of patients. Improved prognostication of disease progression is a critical challenge. This study examined alkaline phosphatase velocity (APV) in predicting distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Materials and Methods. This retrospective cohort study examined CaP patients enrolled in the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) multicenter national database who underwent RP and experienced BCR (n=1783). BCR was defined as a PSA ≥ 0.2 ng/mL at ≥ 8 weeks post-RP, followed by at least one confirmatory PSA ≥ 0.2 ng/mL or initiation of salvage therapy. APV was computed as the slope of the linear regression line of all alkaline phosphatase (AP) values after BCR and prior to distant metastasis. APV values in the uppermost quartile were defined as “rapid” and compared to the lower three quartiles combined (“slower”). Unadjusted Kaplan Meier (KM) estimation curves and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis were used to examine predictors of DMFS. Results. Of the 1783 eligible patients who experienced post-RP BCR, 701 (39.3%) had necessary AP data for APV calculation. PSA doubling time (PSADT) and APV were strongly associated (p=0.008). No differences in APV were observed across race. In KM analysis, significantly poorer DMFS was observed among the rapid versus slower APV group (Log-rank p=0.003). In multivariable analysis, a rapid APV was predictive of a twofold increased probability of DMFS (HR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.2, 3.9; p = 0.008), controlling for key study covariates. Conclusions. Building on previous work, this study found that rapid APV was a strong predictor of DMFS for a broader group of CaP patients, those who undergo post-RP BCR who were enrolled in a longitudinal cohort with long-term follow-up and equal health care access. APV is worth considering as a complementary clinical factor for predicting DMFS.
Application of the Polyhedral Conic Functions Method in the Text Classification and Comparative Analysis
Authors: Uylaş Satı Nur , Ordin Burak
Published: June 2018

In direct proportion to the heavy increase of online information data, the attention to text categorization (classification) has also increased. In text categorization problem, namely, text classification, the goal is to classify the documents into predefined classes (categories or labels). Recently various methods in data mining have been experienced for text classification in literature except polyhedral conic function (PCF) methods. In this paper, PCFs are used to classify the documents. The separation algorithms via PCFs which include linear programming subproblems with inequality constraints are presented. Numerical experiments are done on real-world text datasets. Comparisons are made between state-of-the-art methods by presenting obtained tenfold cross-validation results, accuracy values, and running times in tables. The results verify that in text classification PCF methods are as effective in terms of accuracy values as state-of-the-art methods.
Caffeine Sensitizes U87-MG Human Glioblastoma Cells to Temozolomide through Mitotic Catastrophe by Impeding G2 Arrest
Authors: Li Ning , Zhang Pingde , Kiang Karrie Mei Yee , Cheng Yin Stephen , Leung Gilberto Ka Kit
Published: June 2018

Temozolomide (TMZ) is the first-line chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Despite its cytotoxic effect, TMZ also induces cell cycle arrest that may lead to the development of chemoresistance and eventual tumor recurrence. Caffeine, a widely consumed neurostimulant, shows anticancer activities and is reported to work synergistically with cisplatin and camptothecin. The present study aimed to investigate the effects and the mechanisms of action of caffeine used in combination with TMZ in U87-MG GBM cells. As anticipated, TMZ caused DNA damage mediated by the ATM/p53/p21 signaling pathway and induced significant G2 delay. Concurrent treatment with caffeine repressed proliferation and lowered clonogenic capacity on MTT and colony formation assays, respectively. Mechanistic study showed that coadministration of caffeine and TMZ suppressed the phosphorylation of ATM and p53 and downregulated p21 expression, thus releasing DNA-damaged cells from G2 arrest into premature mitosis. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that the proportion of cells arrested in G2 phase decreased when caffeine was administered together with TMZ; at the same time, the amount of cells with micronucleation and multipolar spindle poles increased, indicative of enhanced mitotic cell death. Pretreatment of cells with caffeine further enhanced mitotic catastrophe development in combined treatment and sensitized cells to apoptosis when followed by TMZ alone. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that caffeine enhanced the efficacy of TMZ through mitotic cell death by impeding ATM/p53/p21-mediated G2 arrest.
Singularities of Indefinite Hypersurfaces and Indefinite Surfaces along Timelike Curves in Nullcone with Index Two
Authors: Song Xue , Wang Zhigang
Published: June 2018

In this paper, a class of indefinite hypersurfaces and a class of indefinite surfaces generated by timelike curves located in nullcone in 4-dimensional semi-Euclidean space with index 2 are discussed. Using the unfolding theory in singularity theory, the singularities of the indefinite hypersurfaces and the indefinite surfaces are classified and the different kinds of singularities are estimated by means of a geometric invariant σ. Meanwhile, the definition of osculating nullcone is presented; the study shows that the differential geometric invariant σ of timelike curves measured also the order of the contact between a timelike curve and a osculating nullcone ONCv0⁎. Finally, some relevant counterexamples are indicated.
Clinically Correlated MicroRNAs in the Diagnosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Jiang Min , Li Xuelian , Quan Xiaowei , Li Xiaoying , Zhou Baosen
Published: June 2018

(1) Background. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a high mortality rate. MiRNAs have been found to be diagnostic biomarkers for NSCLC. However, controversial results exist. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic value of miRNAs for NSCLC.(2) Methods. Databases and reference lists were searched. Pooled sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), and area under the curve (AUC) were applied to examine the general diagnostic efficacy, and subgroup analysis was also performed.(3) Results. Pooled SEN, SPE, and AUC were 85%, 88%, and 0.93, respectively, for 71 studies. Multiple miRNAs (AUC: 0.96) obtained higher diagnostic value than single miRNA (AUC: 0.86), and the same result was found for Caucasian population (AUC: 0.97) when compared with Asian (AUC: 0.91) and Caucasian/African population (AUC: 0.92). MiRNA had higher diagnostic efficacy when participants contained both smokers and nonsmokers (AUC is 0.95 for imbalanced group and 0.91 for balanced group) than when containing only smokers (AUC: 0.90). Meanwhile, AUC was 0.91 for both miR-21 and miR-210.(4) Conclusions. Multiple miRNAs such as miR-21 and miR-210 could be used as diagnostic tools for NSCLC, especially for the Caucasian and nonsmoking NSCLC.
Experimental Study on Seismic Dynamic Characteristics of Shallow‐Bias Tunnel with a Small Space
Authors: Wang Feifei , Jiang Xueliang , Niu Jiayong , Yang Hui
Published: June 2018

In order to obtain the seismic dynamic characteristics of a shallow‐bias tunnel with a small space, a series of large‐scale shaking table model tests were carried out. The key technology of the test is introduced in detail, for example, similar ratios of model, test equipment, testing model box, testing model, sensor arrangement, seismic waves, and testing system. The results show that the first predominant frequency is similar between measuring points. However, the second predominant frequency is highly different between measuring points. The first and second predominant frequencies gradually decrease with the increasing of input PGA. The rock stratum can shield seismic wave in the high frequency band. The research results provide reference for similar tunnels.
Metabolic Syndrome among Schizophrenic Patients: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study in the Middle Belt of Ghana
Authors: Owusu–Ansah Angela , Berko Panyin Anto , Obirikorang Christian , Agyare Christian , Acheampong Emmanuel , Kwofie Simon , Odame Anto Enoch , Nsenbah Batu Emmanuella
Published: June 2018

The study determined the prevalence of MetS in patients with schizophrenia at the Psychiatric Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana. This comparative cross-sectional study recruited 348 schizophrenic patients comprising 236 antipsychotic-treated and 112 newly diagnosed treatment-naïvepatients. The MetS prevalence was assessed based on World Health Organization (WHO), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and the National Cholesterol Education Programme, Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. The overall prevalence of MetS was 14.1%, 20.4%, and 23.6% using NCEP ATP III, WHO, and IDF criteria, respectively, compared to 7.8%, 3.9%, and 2.2% reported in the general Ghanaian population. The prevalence was significantly higher among treated psychiatric patients compared to treatment-naïvegroup based on NCEP ATP III (17.8% versus 6.2%; p = 0.0001), WHO (26.2% versus 8.0%; p < 0.0001), and IDF (30.3% versus 10.0%; p < 0.0001). MetS was prevalent among patients on atypical antipsychotics compared to typical antipsychotics irrespective of the criteria used (i.e., 17.1% versus 11.1% for NCEP ATP III; 29.5% versus 25.9% for WHO; and 44.3% versus 18.5% for IDF). Using logistic regression model, obesity, raised fasting blood sugar, raised total cholesterol, and decreased high density lipoprotein were observed to be significant predictors of MetS (p<0.05).The study found high prevalence of MetS in Ghanaians with schizophrenia and higher prevalence rate of MetS associated with monotherapy. Regular monitoring of cardiometabolic parameters should be an important therapeutic objective in the management of these patients.
Bearing Fault Diagnosis Based on Domain Adaptation Using Transferable Features under Different Working Conditions
Authors: Tong Zhe , Li Wei , Zhang Bo , Zhang Meng
Published: June 2018

Bearing failure is the most common failure mode in rotating machinery and can result in large financial losses or even casualties. However, complex structures around bearing and actual variable working conditions can lead to large distribution difference of vibration signal between a training set and a test set, which causes the accuracy‐dropping problem of fault diagnosis. Thus, how to improve efficiently the performance of bearing fault diagnosis under different working conditions is always a primary challenge. In this paper, a novel bearing fault diagnosis under different working conditions method is proposed based on domain adaptation using transferable features(DATF). The datasets of normal bearing and faulty bearings are obtained through the fast Fourier transformation (FFT) of raw vibration signals under different motor speeds and load conditions. Then we reduce marginal and conditional distributions simultaneously across domains based on maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) in feature space by refining pseudo test labels, which can be obtained by the nearest‐neighbor (NN) classifier built on training data, and then a robust transferable feature representation for training and test domains is achieved after several iterations. With the help of the NN classifier trained on transferable features, bearing fault categories are identified accurately in final. Extensive experiment results show that the proposed method under different working conditions can identify the bearing faults accurately and outperforms obviously competitive approaches.
Performance Evaluation of LoRaWAN Communication Scalability in Large‐Scale Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Lavric Alexandru , Popa Valentin
Published: June 2018

The LoRaWAN communication protocol can be used for the implementation of the IoT (Internet of Things) concept. Currently, most of the information regarding the scalability of the LoRa technology is commercial and deals with the best‐case scenario. Thus, we need realistic models, enabling the proper assessment of the performance level. Most of the time, the IoT concept entails a large number of nodes distributed over a wide geographical area, therefore forming a high density, large‐scale architecture. It is important to determine the number of collisions so that we can assess the network performance. The present paper aims at assessing the performance level of the LoRaWAN technology by analyzing the number of packet collisions that can occur. Thus, this paper determines the maximum number of LoRa nodes that can communicate with a Gateway considering the LoRaWAN protocol specifications. Furthermore, we have proposed a series of solutions for reducing the number of collisions and increasing the capacity of the communication channel.
Spinal Cord Infarction with Aortic Dissection
Authors: Kawabata Atsuyuki , Tomori Masaki , Arai Yoshiyasu
Published: June 2018

Spinal cord infarction is an uncommon but devastating disorder caused by various conditions. Aortic dissection is a possible etiological factor and is usually associated with severe chest or back pain. We encountered two cases of spinal cord infarction associated with aortic dissection that presented without typical severe pain, and each case resulted in a different clinical course. Aortic dissection should be considered a cause of spinal cord infarction even if there is little or no pain. The different outcomes in our two patients reflected a difference in their initial functional scores.
Session Fingerprinting in Android via Web-to-App Intercommunication
Authors: Alepis Efthimios , Patsakis Constantinos
Published: June 2018

The extensive adoption of mobile devices in our everyday lives, apart from facilitating us through their various enhanced capabilities, has also raised serious privacy concerns. While mobile devices are equipped with numerous sensors which offer context-awareness to their installed apps, they can also be exploited to reveal sensitive information when correlated with other data or sources. Companies have introduced a plethora of privacy invasive methods to harvest users’ personal data for profiling and monetizing purposes. Nonetheless, up till now, these methods were constrained by the environment they operate, e.g., browser versus mobile app, and since only a handful of businesses have actual access to both of these environments, the conceivable risks could be calculated and the involved enterprises could be somehow monitored and regulated. This work introduces some novel user deanonymization approaches for device and user fingerprinting in Android. Having Android AOSP as our baseline, we prove that web pages, by using several inherent mechanisms, can cooperate with installed mobile apps to identify which sessions operate in specific devices and consequently further expose users’ privacy.
Insoles Treated with Bacteria-Killing Nanotechnology Bio-Kil Reduce Bacterial Burden in Diabetic Patients and Healthy Controls
Authors: Lu Difei , Guo Xiaohui , Li Yun , Zheng Bo , Zhang Junqing
Published: June 2018

Our study investigated the effectiveness of bacteria-killing nanotechnology Bio-Kil socks on bacterial burden reduction in diabetic patients and healthy individuals. Four strains of S. aureus and four strains of E. coli were cultured and dropped on Bio-Kil socks and control socks for 0 h, 8 h, and 48 h of incubation. Diluted samples were inoculated and bacterial counts were recorded. Additionally, 31 patients with type 2 diabetes and 31 healthy controls were assigned to wear one Bio-Kil sock on one foot and a control sock on the other for four hours, and then they were told to exchange socks from one foot to the other for four hours. The socks were sampled and diluted and then inoculated to record bacterial counts. Bacterial counts were reduced in Bio-Kil socks compared with control socks in all S. aureus strains after 0 h, 8 h, and 48 h of incubation. In E. coli strains, bacterial counts declined in Bio-Kil socks comparing with control socks in most of the experiments with ESBL-negative E. coli and ATCC35218 at 0 h and 48 h of incubation. In all participants, the mean bacterial counts significantly decreased in Bio-Kil socks in comparison with control socks both at 0 h and at 40 h of incubation (p=0.003 at 0 h and p=0.006 at 40 h). Bio-Kil socks from diabetic patients showed significantly lessened bacterial count at 40 h of incubation (p=0.003). In healthy individuals, Bio-Kil socks reflected a significantly smaller mean bacterial count than control socks (p=0.016). Socks using Bio-Kil nanotechnology efficiently reduce bacterial counts in both diabetic patients and healthy individuals and might exert stronger efficacy in Gram-positive bacteria.
Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Profile, Oxidative Status, and Fertility Traits in Male Japanese Quail Fed on Ginger (Zingiber officinale, Roscoe) Essential Oil
Authors: Herve Tchoffo , Raphaël Kana Jean , Ferdinand Ngoula , Laurine Vitrice Folack Tiwa , Gaye Adoum , Outman Moussa Mahamat , Willy Marvel Ngouozeu Moyo
Published: June 2018

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale, Rosc.) essential oil on growth performance, serum biochemical profile, oxidative stress, and histological structure of testes and fertility traits in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). 96 three-week-old male Japanese quail weighing between 120 and 130 g were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatment groups in a completely randomized design. Each group was divided into 4 replicates of 6 quails. Quails in control group received orally 100 μl/kg bw of distilled water, while the three test groups received, respectively, by gastric intubation 50, 100, and 150 μl/kg bw of ginger essential oil. At 12 weeks old, twelve birds per treatment were randomly selected and fasted for 24 hours, weighed, and slaughtered to assess organ and biochemical parameters. At the same period, 4 mature male quails per treatment were chosen at random and individually housed in cages, each with four untreated females for fertility and hatchability traits. The main results revealed that growth characteristics were not markedly (P>0.05) affected by essential oil whatever the dose. The left testis weight increased significantly (P<0.05) with 100 and 150 μl/kg bw of essential oil compared to the control. The serum content in total cholesterol and triglycerides, the liver weight, the serum content in transaminases, and malondialdehyde decreased in treated quails. The serum content in total protein and globulin and the antioxidant enzymes activities increased in treated birds compared to the control. The histological changes in the testis were less visible in treated Japanese quails. At the doses of 100 and 150 μl/kg bw, this essential oil induced a significant increase (P<0.05) in fertility rate compared to the control. Under the conditions of this study, the ginger rhizomes essential oil can be used in poultry to reduce the lipid peroxidation in reproductive tissues and improve the fertility traits.
Potentiometric Response of Ag/AgCl Chloride Sensors in Model Alkaline Medium
Authors: Pargar Farhad , Kolev Hristo , Koleva Dessi A. , van Breugel Klaas
Published: June 2018

The stability and reproducibility of an Ag/AgCl sensors’ response in an alkaline medium are important for the application of these sensors in cementitious materials. The sensors’ response, or their open circuit potential (OCP), reflects a dynamic equilibrium at the sensor/environment interface. The OCP response in an alkaline medium is affected by the presence of hydroxide ions. The interference of hydroxide ions leads to inaccuracies or a delay in the sensors’ response to a certain chloride content. In this article, the potentiometric response (or OCP evolution) of the chloride sensors is measured in model solutions, resembling the concrete pore water. The scatter of the sensors’ OCP is discussed with respect to the interference of hydroxide ions at varying chloride concentration in the medium. The deviation of the sensor’s response from its ideal performance (determined by the Nernst law) is attributed to dechlorination of the AgCl layer and the formation of Ag2O on the sensor’s surface. Results from the surface XPS analysis of the AgCl layer before and after treatment in alkaline medium confirm these observations in view of chemical transformation of AgCl to Ag2O.
General Multimedia Trust Authentication Framework for 5G Networks
Authors: Xing Ling , Ma Qiang , Wu Honghai , Xie Ping
Published: June 2018

Due to the varieties of services and the openness of network architectures, great challenges for information security of the 5G systems are posed. Although there exist various and heterogeneous security communication mechanisms, it is imperative to develop a more general and more ubiquitous authentication method for data security. In this paper, we propose for the 5G networks a novel multimedia authentication framework, which is based upon the trusted content representation (TCR). The framework is general and suitable for various multimedia contents, e.g., text, audio, and video. The generality of the framework is achieved by the TCR technique, which authenticates the contents’ semantics in both high and low levels. Analysis shows that the authentication framework is able to authenticate multimedia contents effectively in terms of active and passive authenticating ways.
Role of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure
Authors: Frias Mario , López-López Pedro , Rivero Antonio , Rivero-Juarez Antonio
Published: June 2018

Chronic liver disease (CLD) with a variety of causes is currently reported to be one of the main causes of death worldwide. Patients with CLD experience deteriorating liver function and fibrosis, progressing to cirrhosis, chronic hepatic decompensation (CHD), end-stage liver disease (ESLD), and death. Patients may develop acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), typically related to a precipitating event and associated with increased mortality. The objective of this review was to analyze the role of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in patients with CLD, focusing on the impact of this infection on patient survival and prognosis in several world regions.
Fatal Postpartum Hemorrhage in a Patient with Niemann-Pick Disease Type B
Authors: Tanacan Atakan , Yalcin Abdullah , Unal Canan , Akinci Seda Banu , Beksac Mehmet Sinan
Published: June 2018

Background. Niemann-Pick Disease Type B (NPD B) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder resulting from an inherited deficiency of acid sphingomyelinase activity. Here, we report the case of a splenectomized patient with NPD B who died because of severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Case Presentation. A 23-year-old nulliparous woman was admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiopulmonary arrest during urgent hysterectomy because of severe postpartum bleeding. The patient concealed her disease from her family and obstetricians during her pregnancy, and her NPD B diagnosis was revealed during her stay in ICU while searching for the cause of the splenectomy and severe bleeding. Unfortunately, she had a detrimental course with hypoxic brain injury leading to brain death. Conclusions. In conclusion, physicians should keep in mind that patients with a history of splenectomy and/or uncontrollable hemorrhage must be carefully evaluated for rare diseases like lysosomal storage diseases and that NPD B can cause mortality because of postpartum bleeding. Adult intensivists should be familiar with adult presentations of rare metabolic or genetic diseases as more and more children with metabolic or genetic diseases will survive to adulthood and will be admitted to and unfortunately will even die in the adult ICU.
Effects of Diacetyl Flavoring Exposure in Mice Metabolism
Authors: Jedlicka Letícia Dias Lima , Silva Juciara da Costa , Balbino Aleksandro Martins , Neto Giuseppe Bruno , Furtado Danielle Zildeana Sousa , Silva Heron Dominguez Torres da , Cavalcanti Fernanda de Barros Correia , Heijden Karin Marie van der , Penatti Carlos Alberto Avellaneda , Bechara Etelvino José Henriques , Assunção Nilson Antonio
Published: June 2018

Diacetyl is a flavoring that imparts a buttery flavor to foods, but the use or exposure to diacetyl has been related to some diseases. We investigated the effect of oral intake of diacetyl in male and female C57/Bl mice. We performed a target metabolomics assay using ultraperformance liquid chromatography paired with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for the determination and quantification of plasmatic metabolites. We observed alterations in metabolites present in the urea and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycles. Peroxynitrite plasmatic levels were evaluated by a colorimetric method, final activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was evaluated by an enzymatic method, and mouse behavior was evaluated. Majority of the assay showed differences between control and treatment groups, as well as between genders. This may indicate the involvement of sex hormones in the regulation of a normal metabolic profile, and the implication of sex differences in metabolite disease response.
STAG2 Is a Biomarker for Prediction of Recurrence and Progression in Papillary Non–Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Lelo Alana , Prip Frederik , Harris Brent T. , Solomon David , Berry Deborah L. , Chaldekas Krysta , Kumar Anagha , Simko Jeffry , Jensen Jørgen Bjerggaard , Bhattacharyya Pritish , Mannion Ciaran , Kim Jung-Sik , Philips George , Dyrskjøt Lars , Waldman Todd
Published: June 2018

Purpose: Most bladder cancers are early-stage tumors known as papillary non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). After resection, up to 70% of NMIBCs recur locally, and up to 20% of these recurrences progress to muscle invasion. There is an unmet need for additional biomarkers for stratifying tumors based on their risk of recurrence and progression. We previously identified STAG2 as among the most commonly mutated genes in NMIBC and provided initial evidence in a pilot cohort that STAG2-mutant tumors recurred less frequently than STAG2 wild-type tumors. Here, we report a STAG2 biomarker validation study using two independent cohorts of clinically annotated papillary NMIBC tumors from the United States and Europe.

Experimental Design: The value of STAG2 immunostaining for prediction of recurrence was initially evaluated in a cohort of 82 patients with papillary NMIBC (“Georgetown cohort”). Next, the value of STAG2 immunostaining for prediction of progression to muscle invasion was evaluated in a progressor-enriched cohort of 253 patients with papillary NMIBC (“Aarhus cohort”).

Results: In the Georgetown cohort, 52% of NMIBC tumors with intact STAG2 expression recurred, whereas 25% of STAG2-deficient tumors recurred (P = 0.02). Multivariable analysis identified intact STAG2 expression as an independent predictor of recurrence (HR = 2.4; P = 0.05). In the progressor-enriched Aarhus cohort, 38% of tumors with intact STAG2 expression progressed within 5 years, versus 16% of STAG2-deficient tumors (P < 0.01). Multivariable analysis identified intact STAG2 expression as an independent predictor of progression (HR = 1.86; P = 0.05).

Conclusions: STAG2 IHC is a simple, binary, new assay for risk stratification in papillary NMIBC. Clin Cancer Res; 24(17); 4145–53. ©2018 AACR.
Resistant Paediatric Somatotropinomas due to AIP Mutations: Role of Pegvisomant
Authors: Joshi Kriti , Daly Adrian F. , Beckers Albert , Zacharin Margaret
Published: June 2018

Background: Somatotropinomas are rare in childhood and frequently associated with genetic mutations. AIP mutations are found in 20–25% cases and cause aggressive somatotropinomas, often resistant to somatostatin analogues. Aims: To assess responses to multimodal therapy including pegvisomant in 2 children with sporadic somatotropinomas due to AIP mutations. Case Description: We report 2 children, a boy aged 13 and a girl aged 10, with rapid growth, visual impairment, and growth hormone hypersecretion. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a pituitary macroadenoma with parasellar extension in both. Despite multiple surgical attempts to debulk tumour mass, residual tumour persisted. Genetic analysis showed two different AIP mutations (patient 1: c.562delC [p.Arg188Glyfs*8]; patient 2: c.140_ 163del24 [p.Gly47_Arg54del8]). They were initially treated with a long-acting somatostatin analogue (octreotide LAR 30 mg/month) and cabergoline as a dopamine agonist, with the later addition of pegvisomant titrated up to 20 mg/day and with radiotherapy for long-term control. Somatostatin analogue was ceased due to patient intolerance and lack of control. Patient 1 had normalization of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) after 5 months of combined therapy with pegvisomant and cabergoline. For patient 2, normalization of IGF-1 was achieved after 2 months of cabergoline and pegvisomant. Conclusion: AIP-associated tumours can be resistant to management with somatostatin analogues. Pegvisomant can safely be used, to normalize IGF-1 levels and help control disease.
High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Caviezel Daniel , Maissen Silvia , Niess Jan Hendrik , Kiss Caroline , Hruz Petr
Published: June 2018

Background: Vitamin D is a hormone with immunomodulatory properties. Vitamin D deficiency has been reported for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this cross-sectional study, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-D3) levels in patients with IBD were compared to those in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods: A total of 181 patients, 156 with IBD and 25 with IBS, were included. The influence of disease activity, inflammatory markers, physical activity, and season were assessed. Results: A total of 58.6% (n = 58) of the patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and 44.6% (n = 25) of the patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) had a 25-OH-D3 level < 50 nmol/L. CD patients showed significantly decreased 25-OH-D3 levels compared to the IBS patients (p = 0.018), but no significant difference was found for UC patients. In a linear regression model adjusted for age, gender, and BMI, a significant inverse association of C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.031) and faecal calprotectin (FC) (p = 0.025) with 25-OH-D3 levels was observed for CD patients. Seasonal variation in 25-OH-D3 levels was found in CD patients, with significantly lower values in spring than in summer (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was common in all IBD patients, but more pronounced in CD patients, in whom it also showed a significant inverse association with inflammatory markers such as CRP and FC.
The Pathophysiology of Colonic Diverticulosis: Inflammation versus Constipation?
Authors: Elisei Walter , Tursi Antonio
Published: June 2018

Background: Diverticulosis of the colon is the most common anatomic alteration of the human colon, but the pathophysiologic mechanisms of its occurrence are not completely understood. Summary: Constipation has been considered the key factor for diverticulosis occurrence. However, several fine papers questioned this pathogenetic hypothesis, showing on the contrary an inverse relationship between low number of bowel movements and diverticulosis occurrence. In the last years, several papers have showed the role of low-grade inflammation in the occurrence of symptoms in people having diverticulosis, as well as its role on symptom persistence following acute diverticulitis, even if the evidence available is not so strong. Although the trigger of this low-grade inflammation is currently under debate, some preliminary evidence found colonic dysbiosis linked to symptom occurrence in those patients. Key Messages: Constipation no longer seems the leading cause for diverticulosis occurrence, while low-grade inflammation could play a role in symptom occurrence.
Diagnostic Ability and Discriminant Values of OCT-Angiography Parameters in Early Glaucoma Diagnosis
Authors: Rolle Teresa , Dallorto Laura , Tavassoli Marco , Nuzzi Raffaele
Published: June 2018

Purpose: To evaluate papillary, peripapillary, and macular vasculature with optical coherence tomography angiography in preperimetric (PPG), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and normal eyes, and to assess diagnostic ability and associations among the vasculature and structural damage. Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell complex thickness, whole-image (wiVD), inside disc (idVD), peripapillary (ppVD), and macular vessel densities were obtained. Analysis of variance, post hoc test, and Pearson coefficient were used. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and cut-offs were calculated. Results: Thirteen healthy, 39 PPG, and 19 POAG eyes were included. Papillary and peripapillary VD were lower in POAG eyes in all parameters analyzed. wiVD in PPG eyes (52.37 ± 5.04%) was significantly decreased compared to healthy eyes (58.02 ± 2.02%, p < 0.05). AUC ranged from 0.62 to 0.90; the established cut-off values were 56% for wiVD, 55% for idVD, and 62% for ppVD. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed a direct correlation between the papillary or peripapillary VD and RNFL thickness. Conclusions: Vessel densities in POAG eyes are significantly lower than in healthy eyes, and they show good discriminatory abilities. A diminished microvascular network is associated with RNFL thinning more strongly in POAG than in PPG eyes.