bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
De novo giant posterior cerebral artery aneurysm developing 25 years after basilar bifurcation aneurysm treatment using a Drake tourniquet: case report and implications for aneurysm follow-up
Authors: Martinez-Perez Rafael , Pelz David M. , Lownie Stephen P.
Published: May 2017

The objective of this paper was to report a rare complication of basilar artery (BA) tourniquet treatment of a giant basilar tip aneurysm, and to discuss possible causes for the formation of a de novo giant posterior cerebral artery (PCA) aneurysm. A 34-year-old woman underwent satisfactory treatment of a ruptured giant basilar bifurcation aneurysm by BA ligation (Drake tourniquet) in 1985. She presented 25 years later with a new aneurysm in the left PCA, successfully treated by coil embolization. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case of de novo aneurysm formation on a PCA, and the first de novo aneurysm reported as a complication of BA ligation therapy by Drake tourniquet. Long-term follow-up is necessary in patients with treated cerebral aneurysms, particularly those occurring in young patients, those with multiple aneurysms, those with complex posterior circulation aneurysms, and those undergoing flow diversion or flow-altering therapies.
Association of preoperative hypoalbuminemia with postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery: a retrospective study
Authors: Kim Kyungmi , Bang Ji-Yeon , Kim Seon-Ok , Kim Saegyeol , Kim Joung Uk , Song Jun-Gol
Published: May 2017

OBJECTIVE

Hypoalbuminemia is known to be independently associated with postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). However, little is known about the association between the preoperative serum albumin level and postoperative AKI in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery. The authors investigated the incidence of AKI, impact of preoperative serum albumin level on postoperative AKI, and death in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records and laboratory results of 2363 patients who underwent brain tumor surgery between January 2008 and December 2014. Postoperative AKI was defined according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes Definition and Staging (KDIGO). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify demographic, preoperative laboratory, and intraoperative factors associated with AKI development. Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the adjusted odds ratio and hazard ratio for the association between preoperative serum albumin level and outcome variables.

RESULTS

The incidence of AKI was 1.8% (n = 43) using KDIGO criteria. The incidence of AKI was higher in patients with a preoperative serum albumin level < 3.8 g/dl (3.5%) than in those with a preoperative serum albumin level ≥ 3.8 g/dl (1.2%, p < 0.001). The overall mortality was also higher in the former than in the latter group (5.0% vs 1.8%, p < 0.001). After inverse probability of treatment-weighting adjustment, a preoperative serum albumin level < 3.8 g/dl was also found to be associated with postoperative AKI (OR 1.981, 95% CI 1.022–3.841; p = 0.043) and death (HR 2.726, 95% CI 1.522–4.880; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The authors’ results demonstrated that a preoperative serum albumin level of < 3.8 g/dl was independently associated with AKI and mortality in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery.
High programmed cell death 1 ligand–1 expression: association with CD8+ T-cell infiltration and poor prognosis in human medulloblastoma
Authors: Murata Daiki , Mineharu Yohei , Arakawa Yoshiki , Liu Bin , Tanji Masahiro , Yamaguchi Makoto , Fujimoto Ko-ichi , Fukui Nobuyuki , Terada Yukinori , Yokogawa Ryuta , Yamaguchi Maki , Minamiguchi Sachiko , Miyamoto Susumu
Published: May 2017

OBJECTIVE

Medulloblastoma is a type of malignant tumor arising in the cerebellum. The clinical importance of programmed cell death 1 ligand–1 (PD-L1) expression in medulloblastoma remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to examine the expression of PD-L1 and tumor-infiltrating T cells, and to evaluate their relationships to the prognosis of patients with medulloblastoma.

METHODS

The authors immunohistochemically analyzed PD-L1 expression and CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocyte infiltrations in tumor specimens from 16 patients with medulloblastoma.

RESULTS

High expression of PD-L1 was observed in 9 (56.3%) of 16 samples studied. High expression of PD-L1 was associated with low infiltrations of CD3+ or CD8+ lymphocytes. Patients with high expression of PD-L1 had shorter progression-free survival and overall survival times than those with low expression (p = 0.076 and p = 0.099, respectively). In addition, patients with high expression of PD-L1 and with low infiltration of CD8+ lymphocytes had a significantly worse outcome, with a 5-year survival rate of 15%, as compared with the other patients, who had a 5-year survival rate of nearly 90% (p = 0.0048 for progression-free survival and p = 0.010 for overall survival).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that PD-L1 expression was associated with a reduced infiltration of CD8+ T cells and poor prognosis in human medulloblastoma.
Retrospective analysis underestimates neurological deficits in complex spinal deformity surgery: a Scoli-RISK-1 Study
Authors: Kelly Michael P. , Lenke Lawrence G. , Godzik Jakub , Pellise Ferran , Shaffrey Christopher I. , Smith Justin S. , Lewis Stephen J. , Ames Christopher P. , Carreon Leah Y. , Fehlings Michael G. , Schwab Frank , Shimer Adam L.
Published: May 2017

OBJECTIVE

The authors conducted a study to compare neurological deficit rates associated with complex adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery when recorded in retrospective and prospective studies. Retrospective studies may underreport neurological deficits due to selection, detection, and recall biases. Prospective studies are expensive and more difficult to perform, but they likely provide more accurate estimates of new neurological deficit rates.

METHODS

New neurological deficits were recorded in a prospective study of complex ASD surgeries (pSR1) with a defined outcomes measure (decrement in American Spinal Injury Association lower-extremity motor score) for neurological deficits. Using identical inclusion criteria and a subset of participating surgeons, a retrospective study was created (rSR1) and neurological deficit rates were collected. Continuous variables were compared with the Student t-test, with correction for multiple comparisons. Neurological deficit rates were compared using the Mantel-Haenszel method for standardized risks. Statistical significance for the primary outcome measure was p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Overall, 272 patients were enrolled in pSR1 and 207 patients were enrolled in rSR1. Inclusion criteria, defining complex spinal deformities, and exclusion criteria were identical. Sagittal Cobb measurements were higher in pSR1, although sagittal alignment was similar. Preoperative neurological deficit rates were similar in the groups. Three-column osteotomies were more common in pSR1, particularly vertebral column resection. New neurological deficits were more common in pSR1 (pSR1 17.3% [95% CI 12.6–22.2] and rSR1 9.0% [95% CI 5.0–13.0]; p = 0.01). The majority of deficits in both studies were at the nerve root level, and the distribution of level of injury was similar.

CONCLUSIONS

New neurological deficit rates were nearly twice as high in the prospective study than the retrospective study with identical inclusion criteria. These findings validate concerns regarding retrospective cohort studies and confirm the need for and value of carefully designed prospective, observational cohort studies in ASD.
Endoscopic surgery for patients with syndromic craniosynostosis and the requirement for additional open surgery
Authors: Hersh David S. , Hoover-Fong Julie E. , Beck Natalie , Dorafshar Amir H. , Ahn Edward S.
Published: May 2017

OBJECTIVE

Recent reports have described early endoscopic suturectomy as a treatment option for patients with syndromic craniosynostosis, but such patients often require subsequent calvarial remodeling. The authors describe their experience with this patient population and seek to identify predictors of sufficiency of endoscopic surgery alone.

METHODS

The medical records of patients with syndromic craniosynostosis who underwent endoscopic repair were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, operative details, and follow-up data were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 6 patients with syndromic craniosynostosis underwent endoscopic surgery followed by helmet therapy during the study period. Of these, 3 patients were male. The involved syndromes included Crouzon, Pfeiffer, Jackson-Weiss, Muenke, Saethre-Chotzen, and craniosynostosis-3 (n = 1 each). The patients underwent endoscopic surgery at a median age of 2.1 months (range 0.9–4.1 months). The median estimated blood loss was 30 ml (range 20–100 ml), with 2 patients requiring a transfusion. The median length of stay in the hospital was 1.5 days (range 1–4 days), and the median follow-up was 29.0 months (range 16.8–81.7 months), with 1 patient (16.7%) requiring an open revision. Three patients (50%) were classified as Whitaker Category I at the last follow-up. The patients for whom additional open surgery was performed or recommended (Whitaker Category IV) were the oldest patients in the cohort, ranging from 2.6 to 4.1 months at the time of surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

This series demonstrates that endoscopic surgery can be sufficient to treat syndromic craniosynostosis without subsequent open calvarial remodeling over a median follow-up period of at least 2 years. The findings suggest that younger age at the time of endoscopic surgery may be an important factor in determining the sufficiency of this procedure. Even among patients who require subsequent open calvarial remodeling, early endoscopic surgery may allow for growth and development of the brain and skull while delaying the need for open remodeling until the patient is older and can better tolerate the procedure.
Olfactory Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease Studied with Diffusion Tensor and Magnetization Transfer Imaging
Authors: Georgiopoulos Charalampos , Warntjes Marcel , Dizdar Nil , Zachrisson Helene , Engström Maria , Haller Sven , Larsson Elna-Marie
Published: May 2017

Background: Olfactory impairment is an early manifestation of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and Magnetization Transfer (MT) are two imaging techniques that allow noninvasive detection of microstructural changes in the cerebral white matter.

Objective: To assess white matter alterations associated with olfactory impairment in PD, using a binary imaging approach with DTI and MT.

Methods: 22 PD patients and 13 healthy controls were examined with DTI, MT and an odor discrimination test. DTI data were first analyzed with tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) in order to detect differences in fractional anisotropy, mean, radial and axial diffusivity between PD patients and controls. Voxelwise randomized permutation was employed for the MT analysis, after spatial and intensity normalization. Additionally, ROI analysis was performed on both the DTI and MT data, focused on the white matter adjacent to olfactory brain regions.

Results: Whole brain voxelwise analysis revealed decreased axial diffusivity in the left uncinate fasciculus and the white matter adjacent to the left olfactory sulcus of PD patients. ROI analysis demonstrated decreased axial diffusivity in the right orbitofrontal cortex, as well as decreased mean diffusivity and axial diffusivity in the white matter of the left entorhinal cortex of PD patients. There were no significant differences regarding fractional anisotropy, radial diffusivity or MT between patients and controls.

Conclusions: ROI analysis of DTI could detect microstructural changes in the white matter adjacent to olfactory areas in PD patients, whereas MT imaging could not.
Success through Trust, Control, and Learning? Contrasting the Drivers of SME Performance between Different Modes of Foreign Market Entry
Authors: Holtgrave Maximilian , Onay Mert
Published: May 2017

Globalization and international competition have driven a large number of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enter foreign markets. However, current knowledge on which factors determine SMEs’ foreign market performance and secure their success is limited. Using empirical data on 280 German SMEs’ activities in Arab markets, we contrast the performance effect of trust with those of control and learning (three of the most prominently studied success factors) across three different structural modes of market entry: non-equity entry, cooperative entry, and wholly-owned subsidiaries. Our results reveal marked differences between the three entry modes and we offer a detailed discussion of the underlying structural and cultural reasons. Consequently, this study allows for a comprehensive understanding of the determinants of SMEs’ foreign market performance and provides relevant advice as to which managerial approach to emphasize for which mode of foreign market entry.
A Label-Free, Quantitative Fecal Hemoglobin Detection Platform for Colorectal Cancer Screening
Authors: Soraya Gita , Nguyen Thanh , Abeyrathne Chathurika , Huynh Duc , Chan Jianxiong , Nguyen Phuong , Nasr Babak , Chana Gursharan , Kwan Patrick , Skafidas Efstratios
Published: May 2017

The early detection of colorectal cancer is vital for disease management and patient survival. Fecal hemoglobin detection is a widely-adopted method for screening and early diagnosis. Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is favored over the older generation chemical based Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) as it does not require dietary or drug restrictions, and is specific to human blood from the lower digestive tract. To date, no quantitative FIT platforms are available for use in the point-of-care setting. Here, we report proof of principle data of a novel low cost quantitative fecal immunochemical-based biosensor platform that may be further developed into a point-of-care test in low-resource settings. The label-free prototype has a lower limit of detection (LOD) of 10 µg hemoglobin per gram (Hb/g) of feces, comparable to that of conventional laboratory based quantitative FIT diagnostic systems.
Universal Connection through Art: Role of Mirror Neurons in Art Production and Reception
Authors: Piechowski-Jozwiak Bartlomiej , Boller François , Bogousslavsky Julien
Published: May 2017

Art is defined as expression or application of human creative skill and imagination producing works to be appreciated primarily for their aesthetic value or emotional power. This definition encompasses two very important elements—the creation and reception of art—and by doing so it establishes a link, a dialogue between the artist and spectator. From the evolutionary biological perspective, activities need to have an immediate or remote effect on the population through improving survival, gene selection, and environmental adjustment, and this includes art. It may serve as a universal means of communication bypassing time, cultural, ethnic, and social differences. The neurological mechanisms of both art production and appreciation are researched by neuroscientists and discussed both in terms of healthy brain biology and complex neuronal networking perspectives. In this paper, we describe folk art and the issue of symbolic archetypes in psychoanalytic thought as well as offer neuronal mechanisms for art by emphasizing mirror/neurons and the role they play in it.
Fatigue and Healing Properties of Low Environmental Impact Rubberized Bitumen for Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Subhy Ayad , Lo Presti Davide
Published: May 2017

The addition of recycled tyre rubber as a modifier to enhance the mechanical properties of bitumen has proven to provide asphalt mixtures with better mechanical performance. However the rubberised bitumen presents the limitation of requiring higher manufacturing and compaction temperatures. This could be solved by subjecting the tyre rubber to sort of pre-treatments such as: Adding warm-mix additives and/or using partial devulcanisation. These solutions have the potential of lowering the overall environmental impact of the asphalt pavement, however it is still not clear whether these can be detrimental for the rubberized asphalt binder mechanical properties. This paper investigates the effect on fatigue and healing properties of rubberized bitumen blended with pre-treated crumb rubber. An innovative combined fatigue and healing analysis will be presented and used to compare the several rubberised binders with a neat bitumen. The analysis consists in conducting time sweep tests by means of dynamic shear rheometer, by applying repeated cycles of stress or strain loading at selected temperatures and loading frequency. The healing potential of binders was evaluated by introducing short rest periods after a certain number of load pulses. At last, the unique energy parameter obtained using the Ratio of Dissipated Energy Change approach, was applied to obtain a unique index that could provide combined information for both fatigue binder damage and healing phenomenon. The results showed that the analysed rubberised bitumens show having better fatigue and healing performance when compared to the straight-run bitumen.
Implicit Large Eddy Simulation of Flow in a Micro-Orifice with the Cumulant Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Kian Far Ehsan , Geier Martin , Kutscher Konstantin , Krafczyk Manfred
Published: May 2017

A detailed numerical study of turbulent flow through a micro-orifice is presented in this work. The flow becomes turbulent due to the orifice at the considered Reynolds numbers (∼ 10 4 ). The obtained flow rates are in good agreement with the experimental measurements. The discharge coefficient and the pressure loss are presented for two input pressures. The laminar stress and the generated turbulent stresses are investigated in detail, and the location of the vena contracta is quantitatively reproduced.
Wide Area Information-Based Transmission System Centralized Out-of-Step Protection Scheme
Authors: Ivanković Igor , Kuzle Igor , Holjevac Ninoslav
Published: May 2017

A wide area monitoring system (WAMS) with reliable telecommunication infrastructure can be expanded and enhanced with additional protection and control functionalities using synchronized phasor data measurements. With that aim, we have developed a multifunctional line protection (MFLP) model with both system and back-up protection functions. Theoretical premises based on transmission and relay protection system knowledge, together with the experience gathered from the operation of existing wide area systems, were used to develop the proposed model. Four main groups of simulation scenarios were defined in order to test the newly implemented functions. The results of the simulation process confirm the assumptions underlying the design of our MFLP module. Simulation results are then used for definition of the protection criteria required for implementation of the wide area protection algorithm in a control center. Conclusions drawn from the protection responses of the proposed algorithm that strengthen the algorithm design process are elaborated in the paper. The main contribution of the paper is the design and development of a centralized MFLP algorithm based on synchronized phasor data that is able to issue a trip command to a circuit breaker before an out-of-step condition occurs.
Design Optimization of a High Power LED Matrix Luminaire
Authors: Barbosa Jose , Simon Dan , Calixto Wesley
Published: May 2017

This work presents a methodology for optimizing the layout and geometry of an m × n high power (HP) light emitting diode (LED) luminaire. Two simulators are used to analyze an LED luminaire model. The first simulator uses the finite element method (FEM) to analyze the thermal dissipation, and the second simulator uses the ray tracing method for lighting analysis. The thermal and lighting analysis of the luminaire model is validated with an error of less than 10%. The goal of the optimization process is to find a solution that satisfies both thermal dissipation and light efficiency. The optimization goal is to keep the LED temperature at an acceptable level while still obtaining uniform illumination on a target plane. Even though no optical accessories or active cooling systems are used in the model, the results demonstrate that it is possible to obtain satisfactory results even with a limited number of parameters. The optimization results show that it is possible to design luminaires with 4, 6 and up to 8 HP-LEDs, keeping the LED temperature at about 100 ∘ C. However, the best uniformity on a target plane was found by the heuristic algorithm.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Inpatients with Psychosis (the REACH Study): Protocol for Treatment Development and Pilot Testing
Authors: Gaudiano Brandon , Davis Carter , Epstein-Lubow Gary , Johnson Jennifer , Mueser Kim , Miller Ivan
Published: May 2017

Patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders frequently require treatment at inpatient hospitals during periods of acute illness for crisis management and stabilization. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a “third wave” cognitive-behavioral intervention that employs innovative mindfulness-based strategies, has shown initial efficacy in randomized controlled trials for improving acute and post-discharge outcomes in patients with psychosis when studied in acute-care psychiatric hospitals in the U.S. However, the intervention has not been widely adopted in its current form because of its use of an individual-only format and delivery by doctoral-level research therapists with extensive prior experience using ACT. The aim of the Researching the Effectiveness of Acceptance-based Coping during Hospitalization (REACH) Study is to adapt a promising acute-care psychosocial treatment for inpatients with psychosis, and to pilot test its effectiveness in a routine inpatient setting. More specifically, we describe our plans to: (a) further develop and refine the treatment and training protocols, (b) conduct an open trial and make further modifications based on the experience gained, and (c) conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial in preparation for a future fully-powered clinical trial testing the effectiveness of ACT.
Modeling Geospatial Patterns of Late-Stage Diagnosis of Breast Cancer in the US
Authors: Mobley Lee , Kuo Tzy-Mey , Scott Lia , Rutherford Yamisha , Bose Srimoyee
Published: May 2017

In the US, about one-third of new breast cancers (BCs) are diagnosed at a late stage, where morbidity and mortality burdens are higher. Health outcomes research has focused on the contribution of measures of social support, particularly the residential isolation or segregation index, on propensity to utilize mammography and rates of late-stage diagnoses. Although inconsistent, studies have used various approaches and shown that residential segregation may play an important role in cancer morbidities and mortality. Some have focused on any individuals living in residentially segregated places (place-centered), while others have focused on persons of specific races or ethnicities living in places with high segregation of their own race or ethnicity (person-centered). This paper compares and contrasts these two approaches in the study of predictors of late-stage BC diagnoses in a cross-national study. We use 100% of U.S. Cancer Statistics (USCS) Registry data pooled together from 40 states to identify late-stage diagnoses among ~1 million new BC cases diagnosed during 2004–2009. We estimate a multilevel model with person-, county-, and state-level predictors and a random intercept specification to help ensure robust effect estimates. Person-level variables in both models suggest that non-White races or ethnicities have higher odds of late-stage diagnosis, and the odds of late-stage diagnosis decline with age, being highest among the <age 50 group. After controlling statistically for all other factors, we examine place-centered isolation and find for anyone living in an isolated Asian community there is a large beneficial association (suggesting lower odds of late-stage diagnosis) while for anyone living in an isolated White community there is a large detrimental association (suggesting greater odds of late-stage diagnosis). By contrast, living in neighborhoods among others of one’s own race or ethnicity (person-centered isolation) is associated with greater odds of late-stage diagnosis, as this measure is dominated by Whites (the majority). At the state level, living in a state that allows unfettered access to a specialist is associated with a somewhat lower likelihood of being diagnosed at a late stage of BC. Geographic factors help explain the likelihood of late-stage BC diagnosis, which varies considerably across the U.S. as heterogeneous compositional and contextual factors portray very different places and potential for improving information and outcomes. The USCS database is expanding to cover more states and is expected to be a valuable resource for ongoing and future place-based cancer outcomes research.
Assessing the Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Breast Cancer Mortality in the United States
Authors: Yedjou Clement , Tchounwou Paul , Payton Marinelle , Miele Lucio , Fonseca Duber , Lowe Leroy , Alo Richard
Published: May 2017

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths among women aged 40–55 in the United States and currently affects more than one in ten women worldwide. It is also one of the most diagnosed cancers in women both in wealthy and poor countries. Fortunately, the mortality rate from breast cancer has decreased in recent years due to increased emphasis on early detection and more effective treatments in White population. Although the mortality rates have declined in some ethnic populations, the overall cancer incidence among African American and Hispanic populations has continued to grow. The goal of the present review article was to highlight similarities and differences in breast cancer morbidity and mortality rates primarily among African American women compared to White women in the United States. To reach our goal, we conducted a search of articles in journals with a primary focus on minority health, and authors who had published articles on racial/ethnic disparity related to breast cancer patients. A systematic search of original research was conducted using MEDLINE, PUBMED and Google Scholar databases. We found that racial/ethnic disparities in breast cancer may be attributed to a large number of clinical and non-clinical risk factors including lack of medical coverage, barriers to early detection and screening, more advanced stage of disease at diagnosis among minorities, and unequal access to improvements in cancer treatment. Many African American women have frequent unknown or unstaged breast cancers than White women. These risk factors may explain the differences in breast cancer treatment and survival rate between African American women and White women. New strategies and approaches are needed to promote breast cancer prevention, improve survival rate, reduce breast cancer mortality, and ultimately improve the health outcomes of racial/ethnic minorities.
Melatonin and Vitamin D Interfere with the Adipogenic Fate of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells
Authors: Basoli Valentina , Santaniello Sara , Cruciani Sara , Ginesu Giorgio , Cossu Maria , Delitala Alessandro , Serra Pier , Ventura Carlo , Maioli Margherita
Published: May 2017

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) represent one of the cellular populations resident in adipose tissue. They can be recruited under certain stimuli and committed to become preadipocytes, and then mature adipocytes. Controlling stem cell differentiation towards the adipogenic phenotype could have a great impact on future drug development aimed at counteracting fat depots. Stem cell commitment can be influenced by different molecules, such as melatonin, which we have previously shown to be an osteogenic inducer. Here, we aimed at evaluating the effects elicited by melatonin, even in the presence of vitamin D, on ADSC adipogenesis assessed in a specific medium. The transcription of specific adipogenesis orchestrating genes, such as aP2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), and that of adipocyte-specific genes, including lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and acyl-CoA thioesterase 2 (ACOT2), was significantly inhibited in cells that had been treated in the presence of melatonin and vitamin D, alone or in combination. Protein content and lipid accumulation confirmed a reduction in adipogenesis in ADSCs that had been grown in adipogenic conditions, but in the presence of melatonin and/or vitamin D. Our findings indicate the role of melatonin and vitamin D in deciding stem cell fate, and disclose novel therapeutic approaches against fat depots.
Oral Treatment with the Ghrelin Receptor Agonist HM01 Attenuates Cachexia in Mice Bearing Colon-26 (C26) Tumors
Authors: Villars Fabienne , Pietra Claudio , Giuliano Claudio , Lutz Thomas , Riediger Thomas
Published: May 2017

The gastrointestinal hormone ghrelin reduces energy expenditure and stimulates food intake. Ghrelin analogs are a possible treatment against cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS). This study aimed to investigate whether oral treatment with the non-peptidergic ghrelin receptor agonist HM01 counteracts CACS in colon-26 (C26) tumor-bearing mice. The C26 tumor model is characterized by pronounced body weight (BW) loss and muscle wasting in the absence of severe anorexia. We analyzed the time course of BW loss, body composition, muscle mass, bone mineral density, and the cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and macrophage-inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1). Moreover, we measured the expression of the muscle degradation markers muscle RING-finger-protein-1 (MuRF-1) and muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx). After tumor inoculation, MIC-1 levels increased earlier than IL-6 and both cytokines were elevated before MuRF-1/MAFbx expression increased. Oral HM01 treatment increased BW, fat mass, and neuronal hypothalamic activity in healthy mice. In tumor-bearing mice, HM01 increased food intake, BW, fat mass, muscle mass, and bone mineral density while it decreased energy expenditure. These effects appeared to be independent of IL-6, MIC-1, MuRF-1 or MAFbx, which were not affected by HM01. Therefore, HM01 counteracts cachectic body weight loss under inflammatory conditions and is a promising compound for the treatment of cancer cachexia in the absence of severe anorexia.
Melatonin Promotes the In Vitro Development of Microinjected Pronuclear Mouse Embryos via Its Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Apoptotic Effects
Authors: Tian Xiuzhi , Wang Feng , Zhang Lu , Ji Pengyun , Wang Jing , Lv Dongying , Li Guangdong , Chai Menglong , Lian Zhengxing , Liu Guoshi
Published: May 2017

CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) combined with pronuclear microinjection has become the most effective method for producing transgenic animals. However, the relatively low embryo developmental rate limits its application. In the current study, it was observed that 10−7 M melatonin is considered an optimum concentration and significantly promoted the in vitro development of murine microinjected pronuclear embryos, as indicated by the increased blastocyst rate, hatching blastocyst rate and blastocyst cell number. When these blastocysts were implanted into recipient mice, the pregnancy rate and birth rate were significantly higher than those of the microinjected control, respectively. Mechanistic studies revealed that melatonin treatment reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cellular apoptosis during in vitro embryo development and improved the quality of the blastocysts. The implantation of quality-improved blastocysts led to elevated pregnancy and birth rates. In conclusion, the results revealed that the anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic activities of melatonin improved the quality of microinjected pronuclear embryos and subsequently increased both the efficiency of embryo implantation and the birth rate of the pups. Therefore, the melatonin supplementation may provide a novel alternative method for generating large numbers of transgenic mice and this method can probably be used in human-assisted reproduction and genome editing.
Folic Acid Supplementation Delays Atherosclerotic Lesion Development by Modulating MCP1 and VEGF DNA Methylation Levels In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Cui Shanshan , Li Wen , Lv Xin , Wang Pengyan , Gao Yuxia , Huang Guowei
Published: May 2017

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has been partly acknowledged to result from aberrant epigenetic mechanisms. Accordingly, low folate levels are considered to be a contributing factor to promoting vascular disease because of deregulation of DNA methylation. We hypothesized that increasing the levels of folic acid may act via an epigenetic gene silencing mechanism to ameliorate atherosclerosis. Here, we investigated the atheroprotective effects of folic acid and the resultant methylation status in high-fat diet-fed ApoE knockout mice and in oxidized low-density lipoprotein-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We analyzed atherosclerotic lesion histology, folate concentration, homocysteine concentration, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), and DNA methyltransferase activity, as well as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and promoter methylation. Folic acid reduced atherosclerotic lesion size in ApoE knockout mice. The underlying folic acid protective mechanism appears to operate through regulating the normal homocysteine state, upregulating the SAM: SAH ratio, elevating DNA methyltransferase activity and expression, altering MCP1 and VEGF promoter methylation, and inhibiting MCP1 and VEGF expression. We conclude that folic acid supplementation effectively prevented atherosclerosis by modifying DNA methylation through the methionine cycle, improving DNA methyltransferase activity and expression, and thus changing the expression of atherosclerosis-related genes.
High Concentration of Melatonin Regulates Leaf Development by Suppressing Cell Proliferation and Endoreduplication in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Qiannan , An Bang , Shi Haitao , Luo Hongli , He Chaozu
Published: May 2017

N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine (Melatonin), as a crucial messenger in plants, functions in adjusting biological rhythms, stress tolerance, plant growth and development. Several studies have shown the retardation effect of exogenous melatonin treatment on plant growth and development. However, the in vivo role of melatonin in regulating plant leaf growth and the underlying mechanism are still unclear. In this study, we found that high concentration of melatonin suppressed leaf growth in Arabidopsis by reducing both cell size and cell number. Further kinetic analysis of the fifth leaves showed that melatonin remarkably inhibited cell division rate. Additionally, flow cytometic analysis indicated that melatonin negatively regulated endoreduplication during leaf development. Consistently, the expression analysis revealed that melatonin regulated the transcriptional levels of key genes of cell cycle and ribosome. Taken together, this study suggests that high concentration of melatonin negatively regulated the leaf growth and development in Arabidopsis, through modulation of endoreduplication and the transcripts of cell cycle and ribosomal key genes.
Reply to the Letter to the Editor by Li et al.: Bioinformatics Analysis in Mice with Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Treated with Astaxanthin and Vitamin E
Authors: Kobori Masuko , Takahashi Yumiko , Sakurai Mutsumi , Ni Yinhua , Chen Guanliang , Nagashimada Mayumi , Kaneko Shuichi , Ota Tsuguhito
Published: May 2017

Reply: Thank you for the valuable comments. The purpose of our study is not to prove the significant difference between the groups.[...]
An Assessment of In Vitro Antifungal Activities of Efinaconazole and Itraconazole against Common Non-Dermatophyte Fungi Causing Onychomycosis
Authors: Tupaki-Sreepurna Ananya , Jishnu Bhavna , Thanneru Vijayakishore , Sharma Savitri , Gopi Anjana , Sundaram Murugan , Jyoti Kindo Anupma
Published: May 2017

Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection which is relatively common and difficult to treat. Treatment modalities include nail avulsion, surgical debridement and combination therapy with oral and topical antifungal drugs. In spite of a host of available drugs, clinical cure rates remain discouraging. Drug toxicities, prolonged regimens, lack of patient compliance, and high keratin affinity of drugs are all contributive factors. Efinaconazole is a novel topical triazole antifungal agent that has shown excellent in vitro activity against both dermatophyte and non-dermatophyte fungi causing onychomycosis. This study presents the in vitro susceptibility profiles of 44 common non-dermatophyte fungi against efinaconazole and itraconazole, another azole drug used in the treatment of onychomycosis.
Hydrolysates of Fish Skin Collagen: An Opportunity for Valorizing Fish Industry Byproducts
Authors: Blanco María , Vázquez José , Pérez-Martín Ricardo , Sotelo Carmen
Published: May 2017

During fish processing operations, such as skinning and filleting, the removal of collagen-containing materials can account for up to 30% of the total fish byproducts. Collagen is the main structural protein in skin, representing up to 70% of dry weight depending on the species, age and season. It has a wide range of applications including cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food industry, and medical. In the present work, collagen was obtained by pepsin extraction from the skin of two species of teleost and two species of chondrychtyes with yields varying between 14.16% and 61.17%. The storage conditions of the skins appear to influence these collagen extractions yields. Pepsin soluble collagen (PSC) was enzymatically hydrolyzed and the resultant hydrolysates were ultrafiltrated and characterized. Electrophoretic patterns showed the typical composition of type I collagen, with denaturation temperatures ranged between 23 °C and 33 °C. In terms of antioxidant capacity, results revealed significant intraspecific differences between hydrolysates, retentate, and permeate fractions when using β-Carotene and DPPH methods and also showed interspecies differences between those fractions when using DPPH and ABTS methods. Under controlled conditions, PSC hydrolysates from Prionace glauca, Scyliorhinus canicula, Xiphias gladius, and Thunnus albacares provide a valuable source of peptides with antioxidant capacities constituting a feasible way to efficiently upgrade fish skin biomass.
Constrained Geometry Organotitanium Catalysts Supported on Nanosized Silica for Ethylene (co)Polymerization
Authors: Li Kuo-Tseng , Wu Ling-Huey
Published: May 2017

Supported olefin polymerization catalysts can prevent reactor-fouling problems and produce uniform polymer particles. Constrained geometry complexes (CGCs) have less sterically hindered active sites than bis-cyclopentadienyl metallocene catalysts. In the literature, micrometer-sized silica particles were used for supporting CGC catalysts, which might have strong mass transfer limitations. This study aims to improve the activity of supported CGC catalysts by using nanometer-sized silica. Ti[(C5Me4)SiMe2(NtBu)]Cl2, a “constrained-geometry” titanium catalyst, was supported on MAO-treated silicas (nano-sized and micro-sized) by an impregnation method. Ethylene homo-polymerization and co-polymerization with 1-octene were carried out in a temperature range of 80–120 °C using toluene as the solvent. Catalysts prepared and polymers produced were characterized. For both catalysts and for both reactions, the maximum activities occurred at 100 °C, which is significantly higher than that (60 °C) reported before for supported bis-cyclopentadienyl metallocene catalysts containing zirconium, and is lower than that (≥140 °C) used for unsupported Ti[(C5Me4)SiMe2(NtBu)]Me2 catalyst. Activities of nano-sized catalyst were 2.6 and 1.6 times those of micro-sized catalyst for homopolymerization and copolymerization, respectively. The former produced polymers with higher crystallinity and melting point than the latter. In addition, copolymer produced with nanosized catalyst contained more 1-octene than that produced with microsized catalyst.
An Innovative Method for Monitoring Food Quality and the Healthfulness of Consumers’ Grocery Purchases
Authors: Tran Le-Thuy , Brewster Philip , Chidambaram Valliammai , Hurdle John
Published: May 2017

This study presents a method laying the groundwork for systematically monitoring food quality and the healthfulness of consumers’ point-of-sale grocery purchases. The method automates the process of identifying United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Patterns Equivalent Database (FPED) components of grocery food items. The input to the process is the compact abbreviated descriptions of food items that are similar to those appearing on the point-of-sale sales receipts of most food retailers. The FPED components of grocery food items are identified using Natural Language Processing techniques combined with a collection of food concept maps and relationships that are manually built using the USDA Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies, the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, the What We Eat In America food categories, and the hierarchical organization of food items used by many grocery stores. We have established the construct validity of the method using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, but further evaluation of validity and reliability will require a large-scale reference standard with known grocery food quality measures. Here we evaluate the method’s utility in identifying the FPED components of grocery food items available in a large sample of retail grocery sales data (~190 million transaction records).
Acute Vitamin D3 Supplementation in Severe Obesity: Evaluation of Multimeric Adiponectin
Authors: Mai Stefania , Walker Gillian , Vietti Roberta , Cattaldo Stefania , Mele Chiara , Priano Lorenzo , Mauro Alessandro , Bona Gianni , Aimaretti Gianluca , Scacchi Massimo , Marzullo Paolo
Published: May 2017

Obesity predisposes to vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and glucose abnormalities. It is currently debated if vitamin D administration may improve glucose homeostasis by interacting with modulators of insulin sensitivity, such as adiponectin and its oligomers. In a 4-week inpatient study on a metabolic rehabilitation program, consisting of individualized caloric restriction and aerobic physical exercise in obese subjects with VDD, we assessed the acute effects of 600,000 IU cholecalciferol given per os VD group, 12 subjects; body mass index (BMI) 42.7 ± 1.3 kg/m2) or placebo per os (PL group, 12 subjects, BMI 39.8 ± 0.9 kg/m2) on high (HWM-A), medium (MMW-A), and low molecular weight adiponectin (LMW-A), as quantified by western immunoblot (WIB) and ELISA. During the 4-week study, dieting promoted a similar magnitude of weight loss in VD and PL groups. Compared to the PL group, cholecalciferol administration increased 25(OH)Vit D levels (p < 0.001) and promoted a significant increase of HMW-A expression analyzed by WIB (p = 0.02). In parallel, a significant decrease of leptin/HMW-A ratio (p < 0.05), a biomarker of metabolic homeostasis, was observed. During the study, changes of MMW-A and LMW-A occurred independently of cholecalciferol administration, and were likely explained by weight loss. At odds with these findings, the ELISA assessment of adiponectin oligomers showed no modifications in the VD group or PL group. Current findings suggest that acute cholecalciferol administration selectively modifies HMW-A and the leptin/HMW-A ratio.
Evapotranspiration Estimate over an Almond Orchard Using Landsat Satellite Observations
Authors: He Ruyan , Jin Yufang , Kandelous Maziar , Zaccaria Daniele , Sanden Blake , Snyder Richard , Jiang Jinbao , Hopmans Jan
Published: May 2017

California growers face challenges with water shortages and there is a strong need to use the least amount of water while optimizing yield. Timely information on evapotranspiration (ET), a dominant component of crop consumptive water use, is critical for growers to tailor irrigation management based on in-field spatial variability and in-season variations. We evaluated the performance of a remote sensing-based approach, Mapping Evapotranspiration at high Resolution with Internalized Calibration (METRIC), in mapping ET over an almond orchard in California, driven by Landsat satellite observations. Reference ET from a network of weather stations over well-watered grass (ETo) was used for the internal calibration and for deriving ET at daily and extended time period, instead of alfalfa based reference evapotranspiration (ETr). Our study showed that METRIC daily ET estimates during Landsat overpass dates agreed well with the field measurements. During 2009–2012, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.53 mm/day and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.87 were found between METRIC versus observed daily ET. Monthly ET estimates had a higher accuracy, with a RMSE of 12.08 mm/month, a R2 of 0.90, and a relatively small relative mean difference (RMD) of 9.68% during 2009–2012 growing seasons. Net radiation and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from remote sensing observations were highly correlated with spatial and temporal ET estimates. An empirical model was developed to estimate daily ET using NDVI, net radiation (Rn), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). The validation showed that the accuracy of this easy-to-use empirical method was slightly lower than that of METRIC but still reasonable, with a RMSE of 0.71 mm/day when compared to ground measurements. The remote sensing based ET estimate will support a variety of State and local interests in water use and irrigation management, for both planning and regulatory/compliance purposes, and it provides the farmers observation-based guidance for site-specific and time-sensitive irrigation management.
Radio Frequency Compatibility Evaluation of S Band Navigation Signals for Future BeiDou
Authors: Sun Yanbo , Xue Rui , Zhao Danfeng , Wang Dun
Published: May 2017

With L band frequency allocations for satellite navigation getting more crowded, S band (2483.5–2500 MHz) is already allocated for navigation services, where Globalstar broadcasts downlink communications to user terminals. The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) is transmitting navigation signals and Galileo exploits some potential signals in S band. Also, several candidate S band signals based on binary offset carrier (BOC), binary phase shift keying (BPSK), continuous phase modulation (CPM) and minimum shift keying-BOC (MSK-BOC) are suggested for BeiDou system (BDS). In quite narrow S band, mutual interference among these systems is inevitable, thus the compatibility issue is particularly significant for S band signal design. To explore desired S band signals for BDS, the paper firstly describes a comprehensive compatibility evaluation methods based on effective carrier-to-noise ratio degradation for acquisition and code tracking. Then a real simulation is established using space constellations, modulation schemes and received power. Finally, the worst mutual interference of BDS candidate signals with Galileo, IRNSS and Globalstar is calculated and compared. The results indicate that CPM signal is easier to allow peaceful coexistence of other systems with minimal mutual interference in S band compared to other BDS candidates.