bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison between Thermo-Alkaline and Electro-Fenton Disintegration Effect on Waste Activated Sludge Anaerobic Digestion
Authors: Feki Emna , Sayadi Sami , Loukil Slim , Dhouib Abdelhafidh , Khoufi Sonia
Published: November 2019

Disintegration of municipal waste activated sludge (WAS) using thermo-alkaline (TA) and electro-Fenton (EF) methods was investigated and compared in terms of the efficiency of sludge solubilisation and enhancement of anaerobic biodegradability. Performance of organic matter solubilisation (soluble COD, proteins, polysaccharides) of sludge pretreated with EF was proved to be better than that with TA pretreatment, which resulted in the enhancement of anaerobic biodegradability. Comparison of results indicated that percentages of PN and PS release obtained after EF pretreatment (68.95 and 65.22%) were higher than those obtained by TA method (45.25 and 35.22%) respectively. An improvement of biogas potential about 2 and 1.6 times was achieved respectively by EF and TA pretreatment in comparison to raw sludge. During semi-continuous fermentation study in continuous stirred tank reactor, EF pretreated sludge gave the best biogas yield (0.6 L biogas/g COD) at an OLR of 2.5 g COD/L. d in comparison to TA pretreated sludge (0.3 L biogas/g COD), where low biogas yield about 0.1 L biogas/g COD was registered by raw sludge in the same CSTR. Therefore, the integration of EF process to anaerobic digestion might be a promising process for sludge reduction and biogas recovery.
Long-Term Moderate Exercise Combined with Metformin Treatment Induces an Hormetic Response That Prevents Strength and Muscle Mass Loss in Old Female Wistar Rats
Authors: Hernández-Álvarez David , Mena-Montes Beatriz , Toledo-Pérez Rafael , Pedraza-Vázquez Gibrán , López-Cervantes Stefanie Paola , Morales-Salazar Alfredo , Hernández-Cruz Edith , Lazzarini-Lechuga Roberto , Vázquez-Cárdenas Roman Royer , Vilchis-DeLaRosa Silvia , Posadas-Rodríguez Pedro , Santín-Márquez Roberto , Rosas-Carrasco Oscar , Ibañez-Contreras Alejandra , Alarcón-Aguilar Adriana , López-Díazguerrero Norma Edith , Luna-López Armando , Königsberg Mina
Published: November 2019

Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle mass and strength loss, as well as a poor physical performance, which as strongly been associated with aging. Sedentary lifestyle in the elderly contributes to this condition; however, physical activity improves health, reducing morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have shown that metformin (MTF) can also prevent muscle damage promoting muscular performance. To date, there is great controversy if MTF treatment combined with exercise training improves or nullifies the benefits provided by physical activity. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of long-term moderate exercise combined with MTF treatment on body composition, strength, redox state, and survival rate during the life of female Wistar rats. In this study, rats performed moderate exercise during 20 of their 24 months of life and were treated with MTF for one year or for 6 months, i.e., from 12 to 24 months old and 18 to 24 months old. The body composition (percentage of fat, bone, and lean mass) was determined using a dual-energy X-ray absorption scanner (DXA), and grip strength was determined using a dynamometer. Likewise, medial and tibial nerve somatosensory evoked potentials were evaluated and the redox state was measured by HPLC, calculating the GSH/GSSG ratio in the gastrocnemius muscle. Our results suggest- that the MTF administration, both in the sedentary and the exercise groups, might activate a mechanism that is directly related to the induction of the hormetic response through the redox state modulation. MTF treatment does not eliminate the beneficial effects of exercise throughout life, and although MTF does not increase muscle mass, it increases longevity.
Increasing the Durability and Freeze-Thaw Strength of Concrete Paving Stones Produced from Ahlat Stone Powder and Marble Powder by Special Curing Method
Authors: Bakis Abdulrezzak
Published: November 2019

This study highlights an investigation of using construction waste materials, i.e., Ahlat stone powder and marble powder, in fabricating interlocked paving stones. In this study, the durability and freeze-thaw strength of concrete paving stones produced from Ahlat stone powder and marble powder were increased by the special curing method. Six different types of paving stones were fabricated for study and were subjected to two different curing regimes. Tests of water absorption, splitting tensile strength, surface abrasion, and freeze-thaw were carried out for the specimens. In 3 days and at 20 ± 5°C of water curing, the splitting tensile strength was 3.7 MPa, the surface abrasion value was 9.8 cm3/50 cm2, and the freeze-thaw value was 0.39 kg/m2 for those interlocked paving stones produced from Ahlat stone powder. After special combined curing, these improved to 3.9 MPa, 17.2 cm3/50 cm2, and 0.63 kg/m2, respectively. Accordingly, for interlocked paving stones produced from marble powder, in 3 days and at 20 ± 5°C water curing, the splitting tensile strength, surface abrasion, and freeze-thaw were 3.9 MPa, 7.9 cm3/50 cm2, and 0.34 kg/m2, respectively. After special combined curing, these values improved to 4.1 MPa, 14.8 cm3/50 cm2, and 0.57 kg/m2, respectively. The findings of this study validate increase in durability and freeze-thaw strength of concrete paving stones with special curing.
A Multibranch Object Detection Method for Traffic Scenes
Authors: Feng Jiangfan , Wang Fanjie , Feng Siqin , Peng Yongrong
Published: November 2019

The performance of convolutional neural network- (CNN-) based object detection has achieved incredible success. Howbeit, existing CNN-based algorithms suffer from a problem that small-scale objects are difficult to detect because it may have lost its response when the feature map has reached a certain depth, and it is common that the scale of objects (such as cars, buses, and pedestrians) contained in traffic images and videos varies greatly. In this paper, we present a 32-layer multibranch convolutional neural network named MBNet for fast detecting objects in traffic scenes. Our model utilizes three detection branches, in which feature maps with a size of 16 × 16, 32 × 32, and 64 × 64 are used, respectively, to optimize the detection for large-, medium-, and small-scale objects. By means of a multitask loss function, our model can be trained end-to-end. The experimental results show that our model achieves state-of-the-art performance in terms of precision and recall rate, and the detection speed (up to 33 fps) is fast, which can meet the real-time requirements of industry.
The Roles of GABA in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in the Central Nervous System and Peripheral Organs
Authors: Chen Chaoran , Zhou Xiang , He Jialiang , Xie Zhenxing , Xia Shufang , Lu Guangli
Published: November 2019

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common pathological process, which may lead to dysfunctions and failures of multiple organs. A flawless medical way of endogenous therapeutic target can illuminate accurate clinical applications. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been known as a marker in I/R injury of the central nervous system (mainly in the brain) for a long time, and it may play a vital role in the occurrence of I/R injury. It has been observed that throughout cerebral I/R, levels, syntheses, releases, metabolisms, receptors, and transmissions of GABA undergo complex pathological variations. Scientists have investigated the GABAergic enhancers for attenuating cerebral I/R injury; however, discussions on existing problems and mechanisms of available drugs were seldom carried out so far. Therefore, this review would summarize the process of pathological variations in the GABA system under cerebral I/R injury and will cover corresponding probable issues and mechanisms in using GABA-related drugs to illuminate the concern about clinical illness for accurately preventing cerebral I/R injury. In addition, the study will summarize the increasing GABA signals that can prevent I/R injuries occurring in peripheral organs, and the roles of GABA were also discussed correspondingly.
Sex-Specific Negative Association between Iron Intake and Cellular Aging Markers: Mediation Models Involving TNFα
Authors: Yu Jie , Liu Haibin , He Shuli , Li Pingping , Ma Chunxiao , Ma Minglei , Liu Yiwen , Lv Lu , Ping Fan , Zhang Huabing , Li Wei , Sun Qi , Xu Lingling , Li Yuxiu
Published: November 2019

Background. Given that the dysregulation of iron homeostasis leads to genomic instability, iron has been linked to cellular aging. However, epidemiological research on dietary iron intake and cellular aging markers is scarce. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between dietary iron intake and cellular aging markers and to investigate whether tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) mediated this relationship. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis with a total of 467 subjects. Detailed dietary data were obtained using 24 h food recalls. Peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) were assessed using real-time PCR assay. The association between dietary iron intake and cellular aging markers and TNFα and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis and regression models adjusted by covariates. Simple mediation models were generated to examine whether TNFα mediated the association between iron intake and cellular aging markers using PROCESS macro Version 3.3. Results. The study population contained more women than men, but their basic demographic and metabolic characteristics did not differ. After adjusting for age, LTL was the same for men and women, while mtDNAcn was lower in men. Multiple linear regression adjusted for confounding factors found that iron intake was negatively associated with LTL only in women and negatively associated with mtDNAcn only in men. Moreover, iron intake was positively associated with TNFα in both women and men but positively associated with SOD only in men. Path modeling showed that TNFα significantly mediated the indirect detrimental effect of iron intake on LTL only in women; in men, mediation of the indirect effect of iron intake on mtDNAcn by TNFα did not reach significance. Conclusions. The study found sex-specific negative associations between dietary iron intake and cellular aging markers in that iron intake had deleterious effects on LTL attrition in women and mtDNAcn in men; only the former was partly mediated by TNFα. Consequently, when dietary iron intake and iron supplementation is recommended, the effects of iron imbalance on genomic stability and cellular aging markers must be considered.
Antigenotoxic Effects of Biochaga and Dihydroquercetin (Taxifolin) on H2O2-Induced DNA Damage in Human Whole Blood Cells
Authors: Živković Lada , Bajić Vladan , Topalović Dijana , Bruić Marija , Spremo-Potparević Biljana
Published: November 2019

The health benefits of natural products have long been recognized. Consumption of dietary compounds such as supplements provides an alternative source of natural products to those obtained from the diet. There is a growing concern regarding the possible side effects of using different food supplements simultaneously, since their possible interactions are less known. For the first time, we have tested genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of Biochaga, in combination with dihydroquercetin. No genotoxic effect on whole blood cells was observed within individual treatment of Biochaga (250 μg/mL, 500 μg/mL and 1000 μg/mL) and dihydroquercetin (100 μg/mL, 250 μg/mL and 500 μg/mL), nor in combination. Afterwards, antigenotoxic potency of both supplements against hydrogen peroxide- (H2O2-) induced DNA damage to whole blood cells (WBC) was assessed, using the comet assay. Biochaga and dihydroquercetin displayed a strong potential to attenuate H2O2-induced damage on DNA in cells at all tested concentrations, with a statistical significance (p<0.05), whereas Biochaga at the dose of 500 μg/mL in combination with dihydroquercetin 500 μg/mL was most prominent. Biochaga in combination with dihydroquercetin is able to protect genomic material from oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide in vitro.
Breast Cancer Detection in the IOT Health Environment Using Modified Recursive Feature Selection
Authors: Memon Muhammad Hammad , Li Jian Ping , Haq Amin Ul , Memon Muhammad Hunain , Zhou Wang
Published: November 2019

The accurate and efficient diagnosis of breast cancer is extremely necessary for recovery and treatment in early stages in IoT healthcare environment. Internet of Things has witnessed the transition in life for the last few years which provides a way to analyze both the real-time data and past data by the emerging role of artificial intelligence and data mining techniques. The current state-of-the-art method does not effectively diagnose the breast cancer in the early stages, and most of the ladies suffered from this dangerous disease. Thus, the early detection of breast cancer significantly poses a great challenge for medical experts and researchers. To solve the problem of early-stage detection of breast cancer, we proposed machine learning-based diagnostic system which effectively classifies the malignant and benign people in the environment of IoT. In the development of our proposed system, a machine learning classifier support vector machine is used to classify the malignant and benign people. To improve the classification performance of the classification system, we used a recursive feature selection algorithm to select more suitable features from the breast cancer dataset. The training/testing splits method is applied for training and testing of the classifier for the best predictive model. Additionally, the classifier performance has been checked on by using performance evaluation metrics such as classification, specificity, sensitivity, Matthews’s correlation coefficient, F1-score, and execution time. To test the proposed method, the dataset “Wisconsin Diagnostic Breast Cancer” has been used in this research study. The experimental results demonstrate that the recursive feature selection algorithm selects the best subset of features, and the classifier SVM achieved optimal classification performance on this best subset of features. The SVM kernel linear achieved high classification accuracy (99%), specificity (99%), and sensitivity (98%), and the Matthews’s correlation coefficient is 99%. From these experimental results, we concluded that the proposed system performance is excellent due to the selection of more appropriate features that are selected by the recursive feature selection algorithm. Furthermore, we suggest this proposed system for effective and efficient early stages diagnosis of breast cancer. Thus, through this system, the recovery and treatment will be more effective for breast cancer. Lastly, the implementation of the proposed system is very reliable in all aspects of IoT healthcare for breast cancer.
Gender and Age Differences and the Trend in the Incidence and Prevalence of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease in Taiwan: A 7-Year National Population-Based Study
Authors: Liu Chih-Ching , Li Chung-Yi , Sun Yu , Hu Susan C.
Published: November 2019

Background. Very few nationwide studies have focused on the variations in the incidence and prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in Asian countries. This study aims to describe the gender and age differences in the incidence and prevalence of dementia and AD in Taiwan. Methods. The data on dementia and AD were acquired from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 2004 to 2010. The sex and age-specific rates were standardized, and the differences of gender and age on dementia or AD were assessed using Poisson regression analysis. Results. Over seven years, the prevalence of dementia and AD significantly increased from 4.7 to 7.6 per hundred people (β = 0.0784, p<0.0001) and 2.3 to 3.5 per hundred people (β = 0.0696, p<0.0001), respectively. However, the incidence of both dementia and AD decreased but not significantly from 10.9 to 10.7 and 4.9 to 4.6 per thousand person-years, respectively. Noticeably, both incidence and prevalence increased with age and were higher in women than in men. Conclusions. The standardized incidence rates of dementia and AD are much lower than the data reported in some studies from Europe, the US, and Japan. Further studies are warranted to explore which factors are associated with the differences in the incidence of dementia and AD in Taiwan.
A Rare Partner of TFE3 in the Xp11 Translocation Renal Cell Carcinoma: Clinicopathological Analyses and Detection of MED15-TFE3 Fusion
Authors: Ye Hong , Qin Shuming , Li Ning , Lin Min , Xu Yanmei , Li Xiaomei
Published: November 2019

Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a member of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MiTF) family, is a rare renal tumor characterized by different translocations involving the TFE3 gene. Here, we reported a case of Xp11 translocation RCC with a rare MED15-TFE3 gene fusion by RNA sequencing. Morphologically, the tumor cells were arranged in a solid and small nest pattern. The cytoplasm was voluminous, flocculent eosinophilic, and vacuolated. The nuclei were round or polygon with fine granular chromatin, and the nucleoli were unconspicuous. Psammoma bodies were observed in mesenchyma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were diffuse moderately or strongly positive for CD10, P504S, vimentin, PAX8, RCC, AE1/AE3, and SDHB and focally positive for CK7 and CA IX while negative for cathepsin K, HMB45, Melan-A, Ksp-cadherin, and CD117. The Ki67 proliferation index was approximately 3%. However, TFE3 labeling showed an uncertainly weak nuclear staining and been considered negative. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) demonstrated a positive result that splits signals with a distance of > 2 signal diameters. Subsequently, RNA sequencing confirmed a fusion of MED15 gene exon 11 on chromosome 22 with TFE3 gene exon 6 in the tumor. The patient was alive with no evidence of recurrence. Our report contributes to the understanding on MED15-TFE3 RCC.
Direct Extracellular Electron Transfer of the Geobacter sulfurreducens Pili Relevant to Interaromatic Distances
Authors: Shu Chuanjun , Zhu Qiang , Xiao Ke , Hou Yue , Ma Haibo , Ma Jing , Sun Xiao
Published: November 2019

Microorganisms can transfer electrons directly to extracellular acceptors, during which organic compounds are oxidized to carbon dioxide. One of these microbes, Geobacter sulfurreducens, is well known for the “metallic-like” conductivity of its type IV pili. However, there is no consensus on what the mechanism for electron transfer along these conductive pili is. Based on the aromatic distances and orientations of our predicted models, the mechanism of electron transfer in the Geobacter sulfurreducens (GS) pili was explored by quantum chemical calculations with Marcus theory of electron transfer reactions. Three aromatic residues from the N-terminal α-helix of the GS pilin subunit are packed together, resulting in a continuous pi-pi interaction chain. The theoretical conductance (4.69 μS/3.85 μS) of the predicted models is very similar to that in the experiments reported recently (3.40 μS). These findings offer a new concept that the GS pili belongs to a new class of proteins that can transport electrons through pi-pi interaction between aromatic residues and also provide a valuable tool for guiding further researches of these conductive pili, to investigate their roles in biogeochemical cycling, and potential applications in biomaterials, bioelectronics, and bioenergy.
Occurrence of Fungi and Mycotoxins in Fish Feeds and Their Impact on Fish Health
Authors: Marijani Esther , Kigadye Emmanuel , Okoth Sheila
Published: November 2019

The rapid population growth in developing countries has led to strong pressure on capture fisheries. However, capture fisheries have reached their maximal limits of fish production and are supplemented by farmed fish. The growth in aquaculture has led to high demand for fish feeds, which play a very important role in fish nutrition and health. Use of animal protein in fish feeds is expensive; hence, a majority of farmers from developing countries use local feed ingredients from plant origin as a source of dietary protein. However, these ingredients of plant origin provide the best natural substrates for fungi, which can be easily accompanied by mycotoxin development under suitable conditions. The locally made feed comprises ingredients such as soybeans, cottonseed cake, and wheat and maize bran which are mixed together and ground after which the compounded feed is pelleted and stored. Among the ingredients, maize and oilseeds are more susceptible for mycotoxigenic fungi compared to other ingredients. The outcomes of mycotoxin contamination in fish feeds are not different from other animal species intended for human consumption, and they are directly associated with production losses, particularly decreased weight gain and feed conversion, impaired immune system and reproductive performance, and increased fish mortality. Fish may also carry mycotoxin residues along the food chain, thus compromising human health. Hence, it is important to ensure the control of mycotoxin contamination in fish feeds, especially during the production and storage.
Test of the RUSLE and Key Influencing Factors Using GIS and Probability Methods: A Case Study in Nanling National Nature Reserve, South China
Authors: Wang Jun , He Qian , Zhou Ping , Gong Qinghua
Published: November 2019

The main purposes of the study were to test the performance of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and to understand the key factors responsible for generating soil erosion in the Nanling National Nature Reserve (NNNR), South China, where soil erosion has become a very serious ecological and environmental problem. By combining the RUSLE and geographic information system (GIS) data, we first produced a map of soil erosion risk at 30 m‐resolution pixel level with predicted factors. We then used consecutive Landsat 8 satellite images to obtain the spatial distribution of four types of soil erosion and carried out ground truth checking of the RUSLE. On this basis, we innovatively developed a probability model to explore the relationship between four types of soil erosion and the key influencing factors, identify high erosion area, and analyze the reason for the differences derived from the RUSLE. The results showed that the overall accuracy of image interpretation was acceptable, which could be used to represent the currently actual spatial distribution of soil erosion. Ground truth checking indicated some differences between the spatial distribution and class of soil erosion derived from the RUSLE and the actual situation. The performance of the RUSLE was unsatisfactory, producing differences and even some errors when used to estimate the ecological risks posed by soil erosion within the NNNR. We finally produced a probability table revealing the degree of influence of each factor on different types of soil erosion and quantitatively elucidated the reason for generating these differences. We suggested that soil erosion type and the key influencing factors should be identified prior to soil erosion risk assessment in a region.
Multiple Bluish Nodules in a 20-Year-Old Female with Similar Lesions in Her Father
Authors: Ongsri Punyawee , Varothai Supenya
Published: November 2019

Glomuvenous malformations are congenital, benign, vascular malformations classified as subtypes of glomus tumors with predominant blood vessels, usually present at birth or childhood with multiple, bluish, soft papules and nodules or plaque-like cutaneous lesions. Later present with pronounced segmental lesions, superimposed on the primary lesions, suggesting type 2 segmental mosaicism. We present a rare case of familial glomuvenous malformations, a healthy young female presented with multiple bluish papules since birth which later developed dissemination later in her adolescence. Moreover, her father also had similar skin lesions on his left lower back.
Outcome of Repeated Use of Donor Site for Noncultured Epidermal Cellular Grafting in Stable Vitiligo: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Vachiramon Vasanop , Triyangkulsri Korn , Saengwimol Duangporn , Chanprapaph Kumutnart
Published: November 2019

Background. Noncultured epidermal suspension (NCES) is a surgical technique which employs cellular grafting onto depigmented lesions. However, scarring and dyschromia at the donor site often occurs. Objective. To assess the outcome of reusing the same donor site in subsequent sessions of NCES procedures. Methods. Electronic records of vitiligo patients who had undergone two sessions of NCES procedures were retrospectively reviewed. Information on the first and second NCES was retrieved for analyses. Results. A total of 30 patients (female 19 and male 11) were included. The majority of patients had nonsegmental vitiligo (66.7%). The median donor-to-recipient ratios were 1 : 3 (1 : 1–1 : 20) for the first session and 1 : 3 (1 : 1–1 : 13.5) for the second session (p=0.661). The mean melanocyte count was 220.7 ± 65.5 cells/mm2 vs. 242.4 ± 55.3 cells/mm2 on the first and second sessions, respectively (p=0.440). The mean repigmentation rate was 84.2% (±21.1%) and 82.3 (±22.1%) for the first and second NCESs, respectively (p=0.645). The frequency of color mismatch and pigment loss were similar between both sessions (p=0.706 and p=1.000). Conclusions. Repeated use of donor sites in subsequent NCES sessions gave comparable repigmentation.
Vitiligo Associated with Melanoma in a Malagasy Woman
Authors: Ranaivo I. M. , Sendrasoa F. A. , Andrianarison M. , Razakanaivo M. , Ramarozatovo L. S. , Rafaramino F. , Rapelanoro Rabenja F.
Published: November 2019

Malignant melanoma is the first fatal skin cancer. Vitiligo is a leukoderma or a multifactorial depigmentation acquired but especially of autoimmune origin. We report the first Malagasy case affected by both melanoma and Vitiligo. The appearance of Vitiligo during a melanoma could testify to an immunological response against melanocytes. Despite the association of melanoma and Vitiligo, the prognosis of melanoma is still fatal.
A High Level of Circulating Valine Is a Biomarker for Type 2 Diabetes and Associated with the Hypoglycemic Effect of Sitagliptin
Authors: Liao Xiaoyu , Liu Bingyao , Qu Hua , Zhang LinLin , Lu Yongling , Xu Yong , Lyu Zhaohui , Zheng Hongting
Published: November 2019

Background. High levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and aromatic amino acids (AAAs) were associated with an increased risk of hyperglycemia and the onset of diabetes. This study is aimed at assessing circulating valine concentrations in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and in T2D patients and high-fat diet- (HFD-) fed mice treated with the hypoglycemic agent sitagliptin (Sit) and analyzing the association of valine concentrations with metabolic parameters. Methods. Metabolomics in HFD-fed mice were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) systems. Plasma valine concentrations were detected with a commercial kit in 53 subjects with normal glucose levels (n=19), newly diagnosed T2D (n=20), placebo-treated T2D (n=7), or Sit-treated T2D (n=7). Biochemical parameters were also assessed in all participants. Results. Sit treatment markedly changed the pattern of amino acid in HFD-fed mice, especially by reducing the level of the BCAA valine. Compared with the healthy controls, the plasma valine concentrations were significantly higher in the T2D patients (p<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the plasma valine concentration was positively correlated with the level of fasting plasma glucose (p<0.05). Moreover, the plasma valine concentrations were notably reduced after Sit treatment in T2D patients (p<0.05). Conclusions. Our findings demonstrate an important effect of Sit on the BCAA valine in T2D patients and HFD-fed mice, revealing a new hypoglycemic mechanism of it. Furthermore, the results suggest that the circulating valine level might be a novel biomarker for T2D and restoring the level of valine might be a potential strategy for diabetes therapy.
Paneth Cell Ablation Aggravates Pancreatic and Intestinal Injuries in a Rat Model of Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis after Normal and High-Fat Diet
Authors: Guo Yuecheng , Huang Chunlan , Liu Liyan , Fu Xinyuan , Lu Yingying , Zheng Junyuan , Mei Qixiang , Huang Zehua , Fan Junjie , Lu Lungen , Zeng Yue
Published: November 2019

We previously reported that acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) after normal or high-fat diet is associated with a decreased number of Paneth cells in ileal crypts. Here, we ablated Paneth cells in a rat model of ANP after normal and high-fat diet to investigate the effects on disease symptoms. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received standard rat chow or a high-fat diet for 2 weeks, after which they were treated with dithizone to deplete Paneth cells. Six hours later, ANP was established by retrograde injection of sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct. Rats were sacrificed at 6, 12, and 24 h for assessment. We found dithizone aggravated ANP-associated pathological injuries to the pancreas and ileum in rats on high-fat or standard diets. Lysozyme expression in ileal crypts was decreased, while serum inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-17A) and intestinal permeability (serum DAO activity and D-lactate) were increased. Expression of tight junction proteins (claudin-1, zo-1, and occludin) was decreased. Using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing, we found dithizone reduced microbiota diversity and altered microbiota composition in rats on high-fat or standard diets. Dithizone decreased fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in rats on high-fat or standard diets. Changes in intestinal microbiota correlated significantly with SCFAs, lysozyme, DAO activity, D-lactate, inflammatory cytokines, and pathological injury to the pancreas and ileum in rats on high-fat or standard diets. In conclusion, ablation of Paneth cells exacerbates pancreatic and intestinal injuries in ANP after normal and high-fat diet. These symptoms may be related to changes in the intestinal microbiota.
The Potential of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn in Inducing Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 via SGLT-1 and GLPR in DM Rats
Authors: Kartinah Neng Tine , Fadilah Fadilah , Ibrahim Ermita Ilyas , Suryati Yuliana
Published: November 2019

Background. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) hormone is an incretin hormone that is secreted in the ileum and plays a role in the pancreas to increase insulin secretion, stimulate proliferation, and prevent pancreatic β-cell apoptosis. Currently, diabetes mellitus (DM) treatment based on GLP-1 work is being developed, for instance, from herbal plants such as Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn (H. sabdariffa). Therefore, this study aims to determine the potential of H. sabdariffa in GLP-1 secretion in the ileum and its action in pancreatic β-cells. In addition, this study also aims to determine the active ingredients of H. sabdariffa (Hib) that interact with sodium-glucose cotransporter-1 (SGLT-1) so that it can increase GLP-1 secretion in the ileum and interact with GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1R) in the pancreas. Method. This experimental study used 24 experimental animals of Sprague–Dawley type (aged 8–10 weeks, weight 200–250 g) that were divided into 6 groups, namely, (i) normal (C), (ii) normal-Hib 200 (C-Hib200), (iii) normal-Hib 500 (C-Hib500), (iv) DM (C-DM), (v) DM-Hib200, and (vi) DM-Hib500. H. sabdariffa extract was given orally once a day for 5 weeks. Testing of GLP-1 levels in the ileum and pancreatic tissue was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The prediction of the interaction mechanism of the active substance H. sabdariffa against GLP-1 was done using molecular docking. Results. There was a decrease in GLP-1 levels in the ileum of DM rats (p<0.05). However, DM rats administered H. sabdariffa 500 mg/kg BW had GLP-1 levels that were the same as in normal rats (p>0.05). This is due to active ingredients such as leucosin, which binds to SGLT-1. Administration of 500 mg/kg BW H. sabdariffa in DM rats resulted in GLP-1 levels in the pancreas that were the same as in normal rats (p>0.05). In addition, the active ingredient of H. sabdariffa, delphinidin, binds to GLPR in the pancreas. Conclusion. The active ingredient of H. sabdariffa can increase GLP-1 secretion in the ileum and can interact with G protein-linked receptors in the pancreas.
Kalanchoe brasiliensisCambess., a Promising Natural Source of Antioxidant and Antibiotic Agents against Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens for the Treatment ofSalmonellaGastroenteritis
Authors: Mayorga Oscar Alejandro Santos , da Costa Ygor Ferreira Garcia , da Silva Jucélia Barbosa , Scio Elita , Ferreira Adriana Lúcia Pires , de Sousa Orlando Vieira , Alves Maria Silvana
Published: November 2019

Kalanchoe brasiliensisCambess. is a native Brazilian plant popularly known as “saião”, and the juice of its fresh leaves is traditionally used to treat several disorders, including inflammatory and infectious processes such as dysentery. The goals of this study were to characterize the phytochemical composition and investigate the antioxidant activity, the antibiotic effect, and the mode of action againstSalmonellaof the hydroethanolic extracts fromK. brasiliensisleaves collected in the summer and spring Brazilian seasons. These extracts had their chemical composition established by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were spectrophotometrically determined. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging, phosphomolybdenum reducing power andβ-carotene bleaching assays were carried out to evaluate the antioxidant capacity. Antibiotic potential was assessed by minimal inhibitory concentration against 8 bacterial ATCC® and 5 methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureusand 5Salmonellaclinical strains. The mode of action was investigated by time-kill, bacterial cell viability, and leakage of compounds absorbing at 280 nm assays againstSalmonella. Chromatographic profile and UV spectrum analyses suggested the significant presence of flavonoid type patuletin and eupafolin derivatives, and no difference between both periods of collection was noted. Significant amounts of total phenolic and flavonoid contents and a promising antioxidant capacity were observed. Hydroethanolic extracts (70%, summer and spring) were the most active against the tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, showing the bacteriostatic action of 5000μg/mL. Time-kill data demonstrated that these extracts were able to reduce theSalmonellagrowth rate. Cell number was reduced with release of the bacterial content. Together, these results suggest thatK. brasiliensisis a natural source of antioxidant and antibacterial agents that can be applied in the research and development of new antibiotics for the treatment ofSalmonellagastroenteritis because they are able to interfere in theSalmonellagrowth, probably due to cell membrane damage.
Role of Catalase in Oxidative Stress- and Age-Associated Degenerative Diseases
Authors: Nandi Ankita , Yan Liang-Jun , Jana Chandan Kumar , Das Nilanjana
Published: November 2019

Reactive species produced in the cell during normal cellular metabolism can chemically react with cellular biomolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, thereby causing their oxidative modifications leading to alterations in their compositions and potential damage to their cellular activities. Fortunately, cells have evolved several antioxidant defense mechanisms (as metabolites, vitamins, and enzymes) to neutralize or mitigate the harmful effect of reactive species and/or their byproducts. Any perturbation in the balance in the level of antioxidants and the reactive species results in a physiological condition called “oxidative stress.” A catalase is one of the crucial antioxidant enzymes that mitigates oxidative stress to a considerable extent by destroying cellular hydrogen peroxide to produce water and oxygen. Deficiency or malfunction of catalase is postulated to be related to the pathogenesis of many age-associated degenerative diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, anemia, vitiligo, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, bipolar disorder, cancer, and schizophrenia. Therefore, efforts are being undertaken in many laboratories to explore its use as a potential drug for the treatment of such diseases. This paper describes the direct and indirect involvement of deficiency and/or modification of catalase in the pathogenesis of some important diseases such as diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, vitiligo, and acatalasemia. Details on the efforts exploring the potential treatment of these diseases using a catalase as a protein therapeutic agent have also been described.
Cerebroprotective Effect against Cerebral Ischemia of the Combined Extract ofOryza sativaandAnethum graveolensin Metabolic Syndrome Rats
Authors: Wattanathorn Jintanaporn , Ohnon Warin , Thukhammee Wipawee , Muchmapura Supaporn , Wannanon Panakaporn , Tong-un Terdthai
Published: November 2019

The novel strategy against ischemic stroke in metabolic syndrome (MetS) targeting at oxidative stress and inflammation has gained attention due to the limitation of the current therapy. Due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammation of the combined extract ofOryza sativaandAnethum graveolens, the cerebroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia in MetS condition has been focused. Since no data were available, this study was set up to determine the effects of the combined extract ofOryza sativaL. andAnethum graveolensLinn. against ischemic stroke in the animal model of metabolic syndrome. The possible underlying mechanism was also further investigated. Male Wistar rats (180-220 g) were fed with high-carbohydrate high-fat diet (HCHF diet) to induce metabolic syndrome-like condition. Then, MetS rats were subjected to reperfusion injury at the right middle cerebral artery. The combined extract ofO. sativaandA. graveolens(OA extract) at doses of 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg BW was fed once daily for 21 days. Neurological assessment was performed every 7 days throughout the experimental period. At the end of study, brain infarction volume, neuron and glial fibrillary acidic protein- (GFAP-) positive cell density, the oxidative stress status, the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines (NF-κB, IL-6), and eNOS in the cortical area together with the expression of VCAM-1 and the histological changes of common carotid artery were determined. It was found that OA extract decreased brain infarction, neurological score, oxidative stress status, and inflammatory mediators but increased eNOS expression in the cortical area; the increased VCAM-1 and intima-media thickness together with the reduction of lumen diameter of common carotid artery of MetS eats with MCAO were also mitigated by OA extract. These data suggest the cerebroprotective effect of OA, and the underlying mechanism may occur partly via the improvement of oxidative stress status, inflammation, and brain blood supply.
Sex and Race Disparities in the Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the United States Examined through Age–Period–Cohort Analysis
Authors: Zhang Xiaotao , El-Serag Hashem B. , Thrift Aaron P.
Published: November 2019

Background:

Incidence rates for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) vary considerably by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. We assessed whether the underlying reasons for variations in HCC among subgroups of the population by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and birth cohort are uniform or whether they interact with one another or have changed over time.

Methods:

Data were from the U.S. Cancer Statistics registry. We assessed annual trends within population subgroups and examined for secular trends in the male-to-female ratio for HCC incidence. We used joinpoint regression to compute annual percent change and average annual percent change (AAPC) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). We also used age–period–cohort models to disentangle period and cohort effects.

Results:

Between 2001 and 2015, HCC rates increased in men and women ≥50 years, remained stable among women ages 40 to 49 years, but decreased among males ages 40 to 44 years (AAPC = −2.47%; 95% CI, −3.15% to −1.80%) and 45 to 49 years (AAPC = −3.49%; 95% CI, −4.78% to −2.17%). As a result, the male-to-female incidence rate ratio (IRR) among persons aged <50 years decreased from 4.63 in 2001 to 2.42 in 2015 but remained stable over time among persons aged ≥50 years. HCC rates were lower among successive cohorts of males born after circa 1956, whereas HCC rates among females born circa 1991 were higher than those among females born circa 1956 (IRR = 1.67; 95% CI, 1.05–2.65).

Conclusions:

As a result of decreasing incidence among males aged <50 years and strong cohort effect, the epidemiology of HCC is changing from a disease with striking male predominance to one with less male predominance.

Impact:

The sex and racial disparities and strong birth cohort effect on HCC risk identified in this study have important implications for population-based HCC prevention efforts.
Multimodale Bildgebung einer Torpedo-Makulopathie bei einer chinesischen Patientin: ein Fallbericht
Authors: Ding Yuhua , Yao Bangtao , Ye Hui , Yu Yan
Published: November 2019

Hintergrund: Als Torpedo-Makulopathie wird eine seltene, angeborene, gutartige und typischerweise torpedoförmige Läsion der temporalen Makula bezeichnet. Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung war die ausführliche Beschreibung der Torpedo-Makulopathie einer chinesischen Patientin mittels multimodaler Bildgebung. Fallbericht: Eine 30-jährige Chinesin, bei der sich im Rahmen einer Routineuntersuchung vereinzelte gelblich-weiße Makulaläsionen im rechten Auge gezeigt hatten, stellte sich in unserer Klinik vor. Andere Symptome lagen nicht vor und der bestkorrigierte Visus (best-corrected visual acuity, BCVA) in beiden Augen betrug 6/6. Die funduskopische Untersuchung ergab eine torpedoförmige und leicht hypopigmentierte Läsion in der temporalen Makularegion des rechten Auges. Infrarot-Aufnahmen des Fundus (Infrared fundal, IR) zeigten eine erkennbare Läsionskontur, die horizontal verlaufend und elliptisch konfiguriert war und deren Spitze auf die Fovea centralis der Makula wies. Das mikroperimetrisch untersuchte Gesichtsfeld erschien normal. In der Spectral-Domain optischen Kohärenztomographie (SD-OCT) zeigte sich eine normale innere Retina mit einer leichten Verdünnung von äußerer Retina und retinalem Pigmentepithel in der temporalen Makularegion sowie einer entsprechend erhöhten choroidalen Reflektivität. Weiterhin fanden sich in der OCT ein Verlust/eine Verdünnung der äußeren Retina mit ausgeprägter Atrophie der intakten ellipsoiden Zone. Die OCT-Angiographie (OCT-A) der choroidalen Kapillarschicht ergab eine erhöhte Dichte der choroidalen Gefäße im Bereich der Läsion, wohingegen die Gefäßversorgung der oberflächlichen und tiefen Schichten normal ausfiel. In der Fundusautofluoreszenz (FAF) zeigte sich ein normales Signal mit einer leichten Hyperautofluoreszenz am nasalen Läsionsrand. Die Fundus-Fluoreszenzangiographie (FFA) der Läsion ergab eine gemischte Fluoreszenz ohne Leckage und morphologische Veränderungen während des gesamten Bildgebungsprozesses. Schlussfolgerungen: Der vorliegende Bericht enthält erstmals eine umfassende und ausführliche Beschreibung der Torpedo-Makulopathie mittels Fundusphotographie, IR, mikroperimetrischer Untersuchung des Gesichtsfelds, OCT, OCT-A, FAF und FFA. Die multimodale Bildgebung liefert wertvolle und detaillierte Informationen zur weiteren Abklärung der Merkmale und Entwicklung dieser seltenen Erkrankung.
Offenwinkelglaukom: Laserbehandlung versus medikamentöse Therapie
Authors: Rohrschneider Klaus
Published: November 2019

Background: Primary open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension are habitually treated with eye drops that lower intraocular pressure. Selective laser trabeculoplasty is a safe alternative but is rarely used as first-line treatment. We compared the two.Methods: In this observer-masked, randomised controlled trial treatment-naive patients with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension and no ocular comorbidities were recruited between 2012 and 2014 at six UK hospitals. They were randomly allocated (web-based randomisation) to initial selective laser trabeculoplasty or to eye drops. An objective target intraocular pressure was set according to glaucoma severity. The primary outcome was health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 3 years (assessed by EQ-5D). Secondary outcomes were cost and cost-effectiveness, disease-specific HRQoL, clinical effectiveness, and safety. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered at controlled-trials.com (ISRCTN32038223). Findings: Of 718 patients enrolled, 356 were randomised to the selective laser trabeculoplasty and 362 to the eye drops group. 652 (91%) returned the primary outcome questionnaire at 36 months. Average EQ-5D score was 0·89 (SD 0·18) in the selective laser trabeculoplasty group versus 0·90 (SD 0·16) in the eye drops group, with no significant difference (difference 0·01, 95% CI −0·01 to 0·03; p=0·23). At 36 months, 74·2% (95% CI 69·3-78·6) of patients in the selective laser trabeculoplasty group required no drops to maintain intraocular pressure at target. Eyes of patients in the selective laser trabeculoplasty group were within target intracoluar pressure at more visits (93·0%) than in the eye drops group (91·3%), with glaucoma surgery to lower intraocular pressure required in none versus 11 patients. Over 36 months, from an ophthalmology cost perspective, there was a 97% probability of selective laser trabeculoplasty as first treatment being more cost-effective than eye drops first at a willingness to pay of £20 000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. Interpretation: Selective laser trabeculoplasty should be offered as a first-line treatment for open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, supporting a change in clinical practice. Funding: National Institute for Health Research, Health and Technology Assessment Programme.
ЗМІНИ КИСНЕВОГО ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ ПЕРИФЕРІЙНИХ ТКАНИН У ХВОРИХ НА ХРОНІЧНУ ЛІМФОБЛАСТНУ ЛЕЙКЕМІЮ В УМОВАХ КОМОРБІДНОСТІ
Authors: Khomitska A. I. , Pasyechko N. V. , Radetska L. V. , Bob A. O.
Published: November 2019

Кисневе забезпечення периферійних тканин та його порушення є надзвичайно важливим механізмом у виникненні багатьох захворювань та їх прогресуванні. Вивчення механізмів та діагностичних критеріїв порушень кисневого забезпечення тканин організму у хворих на онкогематологічні заворювання в умовах коморбідності може сприяти розробці методів корекції виявлених змін.

Мета – оцінити стан кисневого забезпечення периферійних тканин у хворих на хронічну лімфобластну лейкемію із супутньою стабільною ішемічною хворобою серця.

Матеріал і методи. Кисневе забезпечення периферійних тканин оцінювали за допомогою показників оксигенації артеріальної та венозної крові: сатурація артеріальної крові (Sa.O2), сатурація венозної крові (Sv.O2), вміст кисню в артеріальній крові (Ca.O2), вміст кисню у венозній крові (Cv.O2), а також об’єм кисню, спожитого периферійними тканинами (Da.O2–Dv.O2). Дані показники визначали методом пульсоксиметрії та оксиметрії.

Результати. У хворих на хронічну лімфобластну лейкемію із супутньою стабільною ішемічною хворобою серця виявлено виражені порушення кисневого забезпечення периферійних тканин із достовірним зниженням сатурації венозної крові, вмісту кисню в артеріальній крові та об’єму кисню, спожитого периферійними тканинами, у порівнянні із обстеженими хворими на хронічну лімфобластну лейкемію без супутньої стабільної ішемічної хвороби серця.

Висновки. У хворих на хронічну лімфобластну лейкемію із супутньою стабільною ішемічною хворобою серця виявлено виражені порушення оксигенації артеріальної та венозної крові, що підтверджується достовірним зниженням сатурації венозної крові Sv.O2 (р<0,01), вмісту кисню в артеріальній крові Са.О2 (р<0,01) та об’єму кисню, спожитого периферійними тканинами Da.O2–Dv.O2 (p<0,05), порівняно з хворими на хронічну лімфобластну лейкемію без супутньої ішемічної хвороби серця. Виявлені зміни можуть бути свідченням суттєвого зниження кисневого забезпечення периферійних тканин при прогресуванні основного захворювання в умовах коморбідності.