bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transactional Sex among Noninjecting Illicit Drug Users: Implications for HIV Transmission
Authors: Guimarães Rafael Alves , Rodovalho Aurélio Goulart , Fernandes Inaina Lara , Silva Graciele Cristina , Felipe Rodrigo Lopes de , Vera Ivânia , Gregório Valéria Duarte , Lucchese Roselma
Published: August 2016

Noninjecting illicit drug users (NIDUs) present high risk for HIV infection, due especially to transactional sex. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors for transactional sex among NIDUs in the Southwest region of Goiás State, Central Brazil. The prevalence of self-reported transactional sex was 22.8%. Prevalence in women and men was 52.7% and 16.8%, respectively, a significant difference (p<0.001). Crack use and history of sexually transmitted infections (STI) were risk factors for transactional sex in men. Homelessness, crack use, sex under the influence of drugs, and history of sexual violence were risk factors for transactional sex in women. A high prevalence of transactional sex was observed among NIDUs. This risk behavior may contribute to the high rates of HIV among this population and their social networks and in the general population.
Self-Reported Prevalence of Gluten-Related Disorders and Adherence to Gluten-Free Diet in Colombian Adult Population
Authors: Cabrera-Chávez Francisco , Granda-Restrepo Diana María , Arámburo-Gálvez Jesús Gilberto , Franco-Aguilar Alejandro , Magaña-Ordorica Dalia , Vergara-Jiménez Marcela de Jesús , Ontiveros Noé
Published: August 2016

Background. Celiac disease seems to be rare in Colombians, but there are currently no data about the prevalence rates of symptomatic adverse reactions to gluten or adherence to gluten-free diet (GFD) in this population.Aim. to evaluate the self-reported prevalence rates of adverse reactions to gluten, adherence to GFD, and gluten-related disorders at population level in Colombia.Methods. A self-administered questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a population from Northwest Colombia.Results. The estimated prevalence rates were (95% CI) 7.9% (6.5–9.6) and 5.3% (4.1–6.7) for adverse and recurrent adverse reactions to wheat/gluten, respectively, adherence to GFD 5.9% (4.7–7.4), wheat allergy 0.74% (0.3–1.4), and nonceliac gluten sensitivity 4.5% (3.5–5.8). There were no self-reported cases of celiac disease. Prevalence of self-reported physician-diagnosis of gluten-related disorders was 0.41% (0.17–0.96). Most respondents reported adherence to GFD without a physician-diagnosis of gluten-related disorders (97.2%). The proportion of gluten avoiders was 17.2% (15.2–19.5). Most of them did not report recurrent adverse reactions to wheat/gluten (87.0%).Conclusions. Nonceliac gluten sensitivity is rarely formally diagnosed in Colombia, but this population has the highest prevalence rate of adherence to GFD reported to date. Consequently, most respondents were avoiding wheat- and/or gluten-based products for reasons other than health-related symptoms.
Thioredoxin Binding Protein‐2 Regulates Autophagy of Human Lens Epithelial Cells under Oxidative Stress via Inhibition of Akt Phosphorylation
Authors: Zhou Jiaojie , Yao Ke , Zhang Yidong , Chen Guangdi , Lai Kairan , Yin Houfa , Yu Yibo
Published: August 2016

Oxidative stress plays an essential role in the development of age‐related cataract. Thioredoxin binding protein‐2 (TBP‐2) is a negative regulator of thioredoxin (Trx), which deteriorates cellular antioxidant system. Our study focused on the autophagy‐regulating effect of TBP‐2 under oxidative stress in human lens epithelial cells (LECs). Human lens epithelial cells were used for cell culture and treatment. Lentiviral‐based transfection system was used for overexpression of TBP‐2. Cytotoxicity assay, western blot analysis, GFP/mCherry‐fused LC3 plasmid, immunofluorescence, and transmission electronic microscopy were performed. The results showed that autophagic response of LECs with increased LC3‐II, p62, and GFP/mCherry‐LC3 puncta (P < 0.01) was induced by oxidative stress. Overexpression of TBP‐2 further strengthens this response and worsens the cell viability (P < 0.01). Knockdown of TBP‐2 attenuates the autophagic response and cell viability loss induced by oxidative stress. TBP‐2 mainly regulates autophagy in the initiation stage, which is mTOR‐independent and probably caused by the dephosphorylation of Akt under oxidative stress. These findings suggest a novel role of TBP‐2 in human LECs under oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can cause cell injury and autophagy in LECs, and TBP‐2 regulates this response. Hence, this study provides evidence regarding the role of TBP‐2 in lens and the possible mechanism of cataract development.
Denosumab Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw with Spontaneous Necrosis of the Soft Palate: Report of a Life Threatening Case
Authors: Qaisi Mohammed , Hargett Jamie , Loeb Matthew , Brown Jeffrey , Caloss Ronald
Published: August 2016

Bisphosphonates have been used for years in the treatment of patients with distant bony metastasis and in the prevention of osteoporosis. One of main side effects of these medications is the development of bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) in a small subset of patients. A new class of medications with a shorter half-life, known as receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) inhibitors, was introduced with the hopes of avoiding this side effect. However, reports of osteonecrosis of the jaw after the use of RANKL inhibitors have also been documented. We report on a patient who developed a life threatening osteonecrosis of the jaw with sepsis shortly after switching from a bisphosphonate to a RANKL inhibitor for osteoporosis treatment. This patient developed several soft tissue defects including spontaneous necrosis of the soft palate. To our knowledge this is the first time this presentation has been described.
Molecular Modeling Studies of Some Uracil and New Deoxyuridine Derivatives
Authors: Abdel-Mottaleb Yousra , Abdel-Mottaleb M. S. A.
Published: August 2016

Molecular modeling results reported in this paper are crucial in highlighting the quantitative relationship between the optimized structure and computed molecular properties related to four newly synthesized uracil derivatives with promising biological potential as anticancer bioactive agents. Moreover, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and its tautomers and thiouracils molecular properties are studied and correlated with their biological activities. The great medical importance of these and similar molecular systems requires research on their quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) in order to further improve our knowledge about how receptor binding, selectivity, and pharmacological effects are achieved. Modeling is performed in the ground and the first singlet excited states using density functional theory (DFT) and its time-dependent extension (TD-DFT), respectively.
Chaotic Synchronization of Modified Discrete-Time Tinkerbell Systems
Authors: Ding Ke , Xu Xing
Published: August 2016

This paper studies chaotic synchronization of modified discrete-time Tinkerbell systems. By constructing the Lyapunov function and using the linear feedback control, some synchronization criteria for modified discrete-time Tinkerbell systems are derived. The conservativeness of those synchronization criteria is compared. The effectiveness of derived results is demonstrated by six examples.
A Decentralized Partially Observable Decision Model for Recognizing the Multiagent Goal in Simulation Systems
Authors: Yue Shiguang , Yordanova Kristina , Krüger Frank , Kirste Thomas , Zha Yabing
Published: August 2016

Multiagent goal recognition is important in many simulation systems. Many of the existing modeling methods need detailed domain knowledge of agents’ cooperative behaviors and a training dataset to estimate policies. To solve these problems, we propose a novel decentralized partially observable decision model (Dec-POMDM), which models cooperative behaviors by joint policies. In this compact way, we only focus on the distribution of joint policies. Additionally, a model-free algorithm, cooperative colearning based on Sarsa, is exploited to estimate agents’ policies under the assumption of rationality, which makes the training dataset unnecessary. In the inference, considering that the Dec-POMDM is discrete and its state space is large, we implement a marginal filter (MF) under the framework of the Dec-POMDM, where the initial world states and results of actions are uncertain. In the experiments, a new scenario is designed based on the standard predator-prey problem: we increase the number of preys, and our aim is to recognize the real target of predators. Experiment results show that (a) our method recognizes goals well even when they change dynamically; (b) the Dec-POMDM outperforms supervised trained HMMs in terms of precision, recall, and F-measure; and (c) the MF infers goals more efficiently than the particle filter under the framework of the Dec-POMDM.
Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment Induces Specific Alloantibodies in Horses
Authors: Owens Sean D. , Kol Amir , Walker Naomi J. , Borjesson Dori L.
Published: August 2016

Background. It is unknown whether horses that receive allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) injections develop specific humoral immune response. Our goal was to develop and validate a flow cytometric MSC crossmatch procedure and to determine if horses that received allogeneic MSCs in a clinical setting developed measurable antibodies following MSC administration. Methods. Serum was collected from a total of 19 horses enrolled in 3 different research projects. Horses in the 3 studies all received unmatched allogeneic MSCs. Bone marrow (BM) or adipose tissue derived MSCs (ad‐MSCs) were administered via intravenous, intra‐arterial, intratendon, or intraocular routes. Anti‐MSCs and anti‐bovine serum albumin antibodies were detected via flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Results. Overall, anti‐MSC antibodies were detected in 37% of the horses. The majority of horses (89%) were positive for anti‐bovine serum albumin (BSA) antibodies prior to and after MSC injection. Finally, there was no correlation between the amount of anti‐BSA antibody and the development of anti‐MSC antibodies. Conclusion. Anti allo‐MSC antibody development was common; however, the significance of these antibodies is unknown. There was no correlation between either the presence or absence of antibodies and the percent antibody binding to MSCs and any adverse reaction to a MSC injection.
A Rare Case of Progressive Palsy of the Lower Leg Caused by a Huge Lumbar Posterior Endplate Lesion after Recurrent Disc Herniation
Authors: Morimoto Masatoshi , Higashino Kosaku , Katoh Shinsuke , Fumitake Tezuka , Yamashita Kazuta , Hayashi Fumio , Takata Yoichiro , Sakai Toshinori , Nagamachi Akihiro , Sairyo Koichi
Published: August 2016

A lesion of the lumbar posterior endplate is sometimes identified in the spinal canal of children and adolescents; it causes symptoms similar to those of a herniated disc. However, the pathology of the endplate lesion and the pathology of the herniated disc are different. We present a rare case of a 23-year-old woman who developed progressive palsy of the lower leg caused by huge lumbar posterior endplate lesion after recurrent disc herniation.
Investigation ofAnaplasma marginaleSeroprevalence in a Traditionally Managed Large California Beef Herd
Authors: Tucker Thomas R. , Aly Sharif S. , Maas John , Davy Josh S. , Foley Janet E.
Published: August 2016

Recent observations by stakeholders suggested that ecosystem changes may be driving an increased incidence of bovine erythrocytic anaplasmosis, resulting in a reemerging cattle disease in California. The objective of this prospective cohort study was to estimate the incidence ofAnaplasma marginaleinfection using seroconversion in a northern California beef cattle herd. A total of 143 Black Angus cattle (106 prebreeding heifers and 37 cows) were enrolled in the study. Serum samples were collected to determineAnaplasma marginaleseroprevalence using a commercially available competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test kit. Repeat sampling was performed in seronegative animals to determine the incidence density rate from March through September (2013). Seroprevalence of heifers was significantly lower than that of cows at the beginning of the study (P<0.001) but not at study completion (P=0.075). Incidence density rate ofAnaplasma marginaleinfection was 8.17 (95% confidence interval: 6.04, 10.81) cases per 1000 cow-days during the study period. Study cattle becameAnaplasma marginaleseropositive and likely carriers protected from severe clinical disease that might have occurred had they been first infected as mature adults. No evidence was found within this herd to suggest increased risk for clinical bovine erythrocytic anaplasmosis.
Optimization of CNFET Parameters for High Performance Digital Circuits
Authors: Sayed Shimaa Ibrahim , Abutaleb Mostafa Mamdouh , Nossair Zaki Bassuoni
Published: August 2016

The Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistor (CNFET) is one of the most promising candidates to become successor of silicon CMOS in the near future because of its better electrostatics and higher mobility. The CNFET has many parameters such as operating voltage, number of tubes, pitch, nanotube diameter, dielectric constant, and contact materials which determine the digital circuit performance. This paper presents a study that investigates the effect of different CNFET parameters on performance and proposes a new CNFET design methodology to optimize performance characteristics such as current driving capability, delay, power consumption, and area for digital circuits. We investigate and conceptually explain the performance measures at 32 nm technologies for pure-CNFET, hybrid MOS-CNFET, and CMOS configurations. In our proposed design methodology, the power delay product (PDP) of the optimized CNFET is about 68%, 63%, and 79% less than that of the nonoptimized CNFET, hybrid MOS-CNFET, and CMOS circuits, respectively. Therefore, the proposed CNFET design is a strong candidate to implement high performance digital circuits.
The Bi-Integrable Couplings of Two-Component Casimir-Qiao-Liu Type Hierarchy and Their Hamiltonian Structures
Authors: Zhang Juhui , Yao Yuqin
Published: August 2016

A new type of two-component Casimir-Qiao-Liu type hierarchy (2-CQLTH) is produced from a new spectral problem and their bi-Hamiltonian structures are constructed. Particularly, a new completely integrable two-component Casimir-Qiao-Liu type equation (2-CQLTE) is presented. Furthermore, based on the semidirect sums of matrix Lie algebras consisting of3×3block matrix Lie algebra, the bi-integrable couplings of the 2-CQLTH are constructed and their bi-Hamiltonian structures are furnished.
Effervescent Granules Prepared Using Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. and Moso Bamboo Leaves: Hypoglycemic Activity in HepG2 Cells
Authors: Li Xiang-Zhou , Zhang Sheng
Published: August 2016

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (E. ulmoides Oliv.) and moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) leaves are used as folk medicines in central‐western China to treat diabetes. To investigate the hypoglycemic activity of the effervescent granules prepared using E. ulmoides Oliv. and moso bamboo leaves (EBEG) in HepG2 cells, EBEG were prepared with 5% of each of polysaccharides and chlorogenic acids from moso bamboo and E. ulmoides Oliv. leaves, respectively. HepG2 cells cultured in a high‐glucose medium were classified into different groups. The results displayed EBEG‐treated cells showed better glucose utilization than the negative controls; thus, the hypoglycemic effect of EBEG was much greater than that of granules prepared using either component alone, thereby indicating that this effect was due to a synergistic action of the components. Further, glucose consumption levels in the cells treated with EBEG (156.35% at 200 μg/mL) and the positive controls (metformin, 162.29%; insulin, 161.52%) were similar. Thus, EBEG exhibited good potential for use as a natural antidiabetic agent. The hypoglycemic effect of EBEG could be due to the synergistic action of polysaccharides from the moso bamboo leaves and chlorogenic acids from E. ulmoides Oliv. leaves via the inhibition of alpha‐glucosidase and glucose‐6‐phosphate displacement enzyme.
Brain Responses during the Anticipation of Dyspnea
Authors: Stoeckel M. Cornelia , Esser Roland W. , Gamer Matthias , Büchel Christian , von Leupoldt Andreas
Published: August 2016

Dyspnea is common in many cardiorespiratory diseases. Already the anticipation of this aversive symptom elicits fear in many patients resulting in unfavorable health behaviors such as activity avoidance and sedentary lifestyle. This study investigated brain mechanisms underlying these anticipatory processes. We induced dyspnea using resistive-load breathing in healthy subjects during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Blocks of severe and mild dyspnea alternated, each preceded by anticipation periods. Severe dyspnea activated a network of sensorimotor, cerebellar, and limbic areas. The left insular, parietal opercular, and cerebellar cortices showed increased activation already during dyspnea anticipation. Left insular and parietal opercular cortex showed increased connectivity with right insular and anterior cingulate cortex when severe dyspnea was anticipated, while the cerebellum showed increased connectivity with the amygdala. Notably, insular activation during dyspnea perception was positively correlated with midbrain activation during anticipation. Moreover, anticipatory fear was positively correlated with anticipatory activation in right insular and anterior cingulate cortex. The results demonstrate that dyspnea anticipation activates brain areas involved in dyspnea perception. The involvement of emotion-related areas such as insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and amygdala during dyspnea anticipation most likely reflects anticipatory fear and might underlie the development of unfavorable health behaviors in patients suffering from dyspnea.
Effect of O2/Ar Gas Flow Ratios on Properties of Cathodic Vacuum Arc Deposited ZnO Thin Films on Polyethylene Terephthalate Substrate
Authors: Huang Chien-Wei , Yang Ru-Yuan , Pan Cheng-Tang , Weng Min-Hang
Published: August 2016

Cathodic vacuum arc deposition (CVAD) can obtain a good quality thin film with a low growth temperature and a high deposition rate, thus matching the requirement of film deposition on flexible electronics. This paper reported the room-temperature deposition of zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films deposited by CVAD on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. Microstructure, optical, and electrical measurements of the deposited ZnO thin films were investigated with various O2/Ar gas flow ratios from 6 : 1 to 10 : 1. The films showed hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure. With increasing the O2/Ar gas flow ratios, thec-axis (002) oriented intensity decreased. The crystal sizes were around 16.03 nm to 23.42 nm. The average transmittance values in the visible range of all deposited ZnO films were higher than 83% and the calculated band gaps from the absorption data were found to be around 3.1 to 3.2 eV. The resistivity had a minimum value in the 3.65 × 10−3 Ω·cm under the O2/Ar gas flow ratio of 8 : 1. The luminescence mechanisms of the deposited film were also investigated to understand the defect types of room-temperature grown ZnO films.
Long Bubble Penetration through Viscoelastic Fluids in a Suddenly Contracting and Expanding Tube
Authors: Chang Ching-Chuan , Lin Huang-Chih , Lin Ming-Yuan , Tsai Te-Hui
Published: August 2016

This study investigated the properties of long bubbles penetrating viscoelastic fluids in a suddenly contracting and expanding tube. Injection gas flow is controlled by a mass flow controller (MFC). Some of dimensionless parameters, such as the capillary number (Ca), the Reynolds number (Re), the fractional ratio (m), and the Weissenberg number (Wi), are discussed herein. The experimental results showed that bubble velocity, Ca, and Wi increase as shear viscosity increases under a constant gas flow by MFC. However, as shear viscosity increases, bubble diameter decreases, andmincreases. When gas flow is 200 mL/min and shear viscosity increases, the bubble front is sharper in the contraction tube, and the bubble front shape is blunter in the sudden expansion tube. When gas flow is 600 mL/min and shear viscosity increases, the bubble front is blunter in the contraction tube and exhibits a torch shape in the sudden expansion tube.
ProFold: Protein Fold Classification with Additional Structural Features and a Novel Ensemble Classifier
Authors: Chen Daozheng , Tian Xiaoyu , Zhou Bo , Gao Jun
Published: August 2016

Protein fold classification plays an important role in both protein functional analysis and drug design. The number of proteins in PDB is very large, but only a very small part is categorized and stored in the SCOPe database. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an efficient method for protein fold classification. In recent years, a variety of classification methods have been used in many protein fold classification studies. In this study, we propose a novel classification method called proFold. We import protein tertiary structure in the period of feature extraction and employ a novel ensemble strategy in the period of classifier training. Compared with existing similar ensemble classifiers using the same widely used dataset (DD-dataset), proFold achieves 76.2% overall accuracy. Another two commonly used datasets, EDD-dataset and TG-dataset, are also tested, of which the accuracies are 93.2% and 94.3%, higher than the existing methods. ProFold is available to the public as a web-server.
A Case of Painless Legs and Moving Toes Syndrome in Parkinson’s Disease Responsive to Dopaminergic Therapy
Authors: Kawajiri Sumihiro , Hoshino Yasunobu , Nakamura Ryota , Noda Kazuyuki , Tomizawa Yuji , Hattori Nobutaka , Okuma Yasuyuki
Published: August 2016

Painless Legs and Moving Toes Syndrome (PoLMT) is a rare movement disorder characterized by flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and torsion of toes without pain. It is considered a variant of Painful Legs and Moving Toes Syndrome (PLMT), which is characterized by similar movements but with pain. Although neuropathy and several central nervous system (CNS) involvements have been reported to be associated with PoLMT, the actual cause and mechanism remain unclear. Here we describe the first case of PoLMT in Parkinson’s Disease (PD), parallel to parkinsonism in severity, who demonstrated a good response to dopaminergic therapy.
Blatchford Score Is Superior to AIMS65 Score in Predicting the Need for Clinical Interventions in Elderly Patients with Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed
Authors: Abusaada Khalid , Asad-ur-Rahman Fnu , Pech Vladimir , Majeed Umair , Dai Shengchuan , Zhu Xiang , Litherland Sally A.
Published: August 2016

Background. Blatchford and AIMS65 scores were developed to risk stratify patients with upper gastrointestinal bleed (UGIB). We sought to assess the performance of Blatchford and AIMS65 scores in predicting outcomes in elderly patients with nonvariceal UGIB.Methods. A retrospective cohort study of elderly patients (over 65 years of age) with nonvariceal UGIB admitted to a tertiary care center. Primary outcome was a combined outcome of in-hospital mortality, need for any therapeutic endoscopic, radiologic, or surgical intervention, rebleeding within 30 days, or blood transfusion. Secondary outcome was a combined outcome of in-hospital mortality or need for an intervention to control the bleed.Results. 164 patients were included. The primary outcome occurred in 119 (72.5%) patients. The secondary outcome occurred in 12 patients (7.2%). Blatchford score was superior to AIMS65 score in predicting the primary outcome (area under the receiver-operator curve (AUROC) 0.84 versus 0.68, resp.,p<0.001). Both scores performed poorly in predicting the secondary outcome (AUROC 0.56 versus 0.52, resp.,p=0.18).Conclusions. Blatchford score could be useful in predicting the need for hospital based interventions in elderly patients with nonvariceal UGIB. Blatchford and AIMS65 scores are poor predictors of the need for a therapeutic intervention to control bleeding.
High Flow Priapism in a Pediatric Patient after Circumcision with Dorsal Penile Nerve Block
Authors: Granieri Michael A. , Fantony Joseph J. , Routh Jonathan C.
Published: August 2016

We report the first documented case of high flow priapism after circumcision with dorsal penile nerve block. A 7-year-old male who had undergone circumcision three years before presented to our institution with a 3-year history of persistent nonpainful erections. Workup revealed a high flow priapism and, after discussion of the management options, the patient’s family elected continued observation.
Acute Oral Mammalian Toxicity and Effect of Solvents on Efficacy ofMaerua edulis(Gilg. & Ben.) De Wolf againstRhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratusKoch, 1844 (Acarina: Ixodidae), Tick Larvae
Authors: Nyahangare Emmanuel T. , Mvumi Brighton M. , Maramba Tatenda
Published: August 2016

Efficacy and toxicity of aqueous and organic solvents extracts ofMaerua edulisagainst ticks and mice, respectively, were determined. Ground leaves were extracted separately using cold water, cold water plus surfactant (1% v/v liquid soap), hot water plus surfactant, hexane, or methanol to make 25% w/v stock solutions from which serial dilutions of 5, 10, 20, and 25% were made. For each concentration, 20Rhipicephalus decoloratustick larvae were put in filter papers impregnated with extracts and incubated for 48 h at 27°C and 85–90% RH for mortality observation after 24 h and 48 h. In the toxicity experiment, hot water plus surfactant treatments of 5, 10, 20, and 25% (w/v)M. eduliswere administered in suspensionper osto sexually mature Balb/C mice and observed for clinical signs and mortality for 72 h. Larvae mortality was highest (>98%) in methanol-extractedM. edulistreatments (20 and 25%), which was not different from the amitraz-based control (Tickbuster®). Mortality was also higher in the hot water than in cold water plus surfactant treatments (P<0.05). No postadministration adverse health effects were observed in the mice. These results suggest thatM. edulisis an effective tick remedy best extracted using methanol or hot water plus surfactant.
Embryoid Body-Explant Outgrowth Cultivation from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in an Automated Closed Platform
Authors: Tone Hiroshi , Yoshioka Saeko , Akiyama Hirokazu , Nishimura Akira , Ichimura Masaki , Nakatani Masaru , Kiyono Tohru , Toyoda Masashi , Watanabe Masatoshi , Umezawa Akihiro
Published: August 2016

Automation of cell culture would facilitate stable cell expansion with consistent quality. In the present study, feasibility of an automated closed-cell culture system “P 4C S” for an embryoid body- (EB-) explant outgrowth culture was investigated as a model case for explant culture. After placing the induced pluripotent stem cell- (iPSC-) derived EBs into the system, the EBs successfully adhered to the culture surface and the cell outgrowth was clearly observed surrounding the adherent EBs. After confirming the outgrowth, we carried out subculture manipulation, in which the detached cells were simply dispersed by shaking the culture flask, leading to uniform cell distribution. This enabled continuous stable cell expansion, resulting in a cell yield of 3.1 × 107. There was no evidence of bacterial contamination throughout the cell culture experiments. We herewith developed the automated cultivation platform for EB-explant outgrowth cells.
Intramuscular Hemangioma of Thyrohyoid Muscle
Authors: Parajuli Ramesh , Thapa Suman , Maharjan Sushna
Published: August 2016

Intramuscular hemangiomas are rare benign vascular neoplasms. IMH accounts for less than 1% of all hemangiomas. These neoplasms commonly occur in trunk and extremities but are rare in head and neck region. The present case is a 17-year-old female patient, who presented with a painless, slowly enlarging mass in left sided upper neck for 4 years. Investigations were suggestive of vascular neoplasm. She underwent excision of the mass in toto under general anesthesia. Postoperative period was uneventful. Histopathological examination of the mass revealed it as mixed type of intramuscular hemangioma. She did not have any signs of recurrences on her last follow-up at 6 months postoperatively. This case report discusses the rare IMH arising from thyrohyoid strap muscle.
Innovative Dental Stem Cell‐Based Research Approaches: The Future of Dentistry
Authors: Miran Shayee , Mitsiadis Thimios A. , Pagella Pierfrancesco
Published: August 2016

Over the past decade, the dental field has benefited from recent findings in stem cell biology and tissue engineering that led to the elaboration of novel ideas and concepts for the regeneration of dental tissues or entire new teeth. In particular, stem cell‐based regenerative approaches are extremely promising since they aim at the full restoration of lost or damaged tissues, ensuring thus their functionality. These therapeutic approaches are already applied with success in clinics for the regeneration of other organs and consist of manipulation of stem cells and their administration to patients. Stem cells have the potential to self‐renew and to give rise to a variety of cell types that ensure tissue repair and regeneration throughout life. During the last decades, several adult stem cell populations have been isolated from dental and periodontal tissues, characterized, and tested for their potential applications in regenerative dentistry. Here we briefly present the various stem cell‐based treatment approaches and strategies that could be translated in dental practice and revolutionize dentistry.
Automated Fovea Detection in Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Scans of Exudative Macular Disease
Authors: Wu Jing , Waldstein Sebastian M. , Montuoro Alessio , Gerendas Bianca S. , Langs Georg , Schmidt-Erfurth Ursula
Published: August 2016

In macular spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) volumes, detection of the foveal center is required for accurate and reproducible follow-up studies, structure function correlation, and measurement grid positioning. However, disease can cause severe obscuring or deformation of the fovea, thus presenting a major challenge in automated detection. We propose a fully automated fovea detection algorithm to extract the fovea position in SD-OCT volumes of eyes with exudative maculopathy. The fovea is classified into 3 main appearances to both specify the detection algorithm used and reduce computational complexity. Based on foveal type classification, the fovea position is computed based on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Mean absolute distance between system and clinical expert annotated fovea positions from a dataset comprised of 240 SD-OCT volumes was 162.3 µm in cystoid macular edema and 262 µm in nAMD. The presented method has cross-vendor functionality, while demonstrating accurate and reliable performance close to typical expert interobserver agreement. The automatically detected fovea positions may be used as landmarks for intra- and cross-patient registration and to create a joint reference frame for extraction of spatiotemporal features in “big data.” Furthermore, reliable analyses of retinal thickness, as well as retinal structure function correlation, may be facilitated.
Galactose-Deficient IgA1 as a Candidate Urinary Polypeptide Marker of IgA Nephropathy?
Authors: Suzuki Hitoshi , Allegri Landino , Suzuki Yusuke , Hall Stacy , Moldoveanu Zina , Wyatt Robert J. , Novak Jan , Julian Bruce A.
Published: August 2016

In patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), circulatory IgA1 and IgA1 in mesangial deposits contain elevated amounts of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1). We hypothesized that a fraction of Gd-IgA1 from the glomerular deposits and/or circulation may be excreted into the urine and thus represent a disease-specific biomarker. Levels of urinary IgA and Gd-IgA1 were determined in 207 patients with IgAN, 205 patients with other renal diseases, and 57 healthy controls, recruited in USA, Japan, and Italy. Urinary IgA was similarly elevated in patients with IgAN and renal-disease controls compared with healthy controls. However, urinary Gd-IgA1 levels were higher in patients with IgAN (IgAN,28.0±17.9; disease controls,20.6±17.4units/mg urinary creatinine;P<0.0001). Lectin western blotting data confirmed these results. In IgAN patients, levels of urinary Gd-IgA1 correlated with proteinuria (P<0.001). When we purified IgA from serum and urine of an IgAN patient, the relative proportion of Gd-IgA1 to total IgA1 was higher in the urine compared with serum, suggesting selective excretion of Gd-IgA1 in IgAN. In summary, urinary excretion of Gd-IgA1 was elevated in patients with IgAN and the urinary Gd-IgA1 levels correlated with proteinuria. Urinary Gd-IgA1 may thus represent a disease-specific biomarker of IgAN.
Cathepsin B Regulates Collagen Expression by Fibroblasts via Prolonging TLR2/NF‐κB Activation
Authors: Li Xue , Wu Zhou , Ni Junjun , Liu Yicong , Meng Jie , Yu Weixian , Nakanishi Hiroshi , Zhou Yanmin
Published: August 2016

Fibroblasts are essential for tissue repair due to producing collagens, and lysosomal proteinase cathepsin B (CatB) is involved in promoting chronic inflammation. We herein report that CatB regulates the expression of collagens III and IV by fibroblasts in response to a TLR2 agonist, lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g. LPS). In cultured human BJ fibroblasts, mRNA expression of CatB was significantly increased, while that of collagens III and IV was significantly decreased at 24 h after challenge with P.g. LPS (1 μg/mL). The P.g. LPS‐decreased collagen expression was completely inhibited by CA‐074Me, the specific inhibitor of CatB. Surprisingly, expression of collagens III and IV was significantly increased in the primary fibroblasts from CatB‐deficient mice after challenge with P.g. LPS. The increase of CatB was accompanied with an increase of 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG) and a decrease of IκBα. Furthermore, the P.g. LPS‐increased 8‐OHdG and decreased IκBα were restored by CA‐074Me. Moreover, 87% of CatB and 86% of 8‐OHdG were colocalized with gingival fibroblasts of chronic periodontitis patients. The findings indicate the critical role of CatB in regulating the expression of collagens III and IV by fibroblasts via prolonging TLR2/NF‐κB activation and oxidative stress. CatB‐specific inhibitors may therefore improve chronic inflammation‐delayed tissue repair.
Physicochemical Characteristics of River Water Downstream of a Large Tropical Hydroelectric Dam
Authors: Ling Teck-Yee , Soo Chen-Lin , Heng Teresa Lee-Eng , Nyanti Lee , Sim Siong-Fong , Grinang Jongkar
Published: August 2016

Water quality in the downstream river of a hydroelectric dam may be affected by the structural design and operation. To date, little is known about the water quality downstream of the largest dam in Malaysia, the Bakun hydroelectric dam. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the water quality downstream of the dam when the spillway was closed and when it was opened. Results of the study indicate that the dam plays a significant role in regulating the water quality downstream of it. When the spillway was closed, pH and oxygen were lower in the river where DO was below 5 mg/L. When the spillway was opened, the water quality improved in terms of oxygen content (>8.0 mg/L), total sulphide (TS), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) but deteriorated in terms of five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), and total phosphorus (TP). Additionally, the intensity of the impacts, particularly BOD5, COD, and TAN, shows a declining trend as distance from the dam increases. This study shows that impacts on the water quality extend to a distance of 32 km from the dam particularly turbidity and DO and opening the spillway changes the water quality significantly.
PI3K‐GLUT4 Signal Pathway Associated with Effects of EX‐B3 Electroacupuncture on Hyperglycemia and Insulin Resistance of T2DM Rats
Authors: Cao Bing-Yan , Li Rui , Tian Huan-Huan , Ma Yan-Jia , Hu Xiao-Gang , Jia Ning , Wang Yue-Ying
Published: August 2016

Objectives. To explore electroacupuncture’s (EA’s) effects on fasting blood glucose (FBG) and insulin resistance of type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) model rats and give a possible explanation for the effects. Method. It takes high fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 30 mg/kg) for model preparation. Model rats were randomly divided into T2DM Model group, EA weiwanxiashu (EX‐B3) group, and sham EA group (n = 12/group). EA (2 Hz continuous wave, 2 mA, 20 min/day, 6 days/week, 4 weeks) was applied as intervention. FBG, area under curve (AUC) of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), insulin resistance index (HOMA‐IR), pancreatic B cell function index (HOMA‐B), skeletal muscle phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (PI3K), glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), and membrane GLUT4 protein expression were measured. Results. EA weiwanxiashu (EX‐B3) can greatly upregulate model rat’s significantly reduced skeletal muscle PI3K (Y607) and membrane GLUT4 protein expression (P < 0.01), effectively reducing model rats’ FBG and AUC of OGTT (P < 0.01). The effects are far superior to sham EA group. Conclusion. EA weiwanxiashu (EX‐B3) can upregulate skeletal muscle phosphorylated PI3K protein expression, to stimulate membrane translocation of GLUT4 and thereby increase skeletal muscle glucose intake to treat T2DM.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects ofArtemisiaLeaf Extract in Mice with Contact DermatitisIn VitroandIn Vivo
Authors: Yun Chanyong , Jung Youngchul , Chun Wonjoo , Yang Beodeul , Ryu Junghyun , Lim Chiyeon , Kim Jung-Hoon , Kim Hyungwoo , Cho Su-In
Published: August 2016

The leaves ofArtemisia argyiLev. et Vant. andA. princepsPamp. are well known medicinal herbs used to treat patients in China, Japan, and Korea with skin problems such as eczema and itching, as well as abdominal pain and dysmenorrhoea. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects ofArtemisialeaf extract (ALE) using CD mice and Raw 264.7 cells. The effects of ALE on histopathological changes and cytokine production in ear tissues were assessed in mice with CD induced by 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB). Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effects on production levels of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) and expression levels of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were investigated in Raw 264.7 cells. Topical application of ALE effectively prevented ear swelling induced by repeated DNFB application. ALE prevented epidermal hyperplasia and infiltration of immune cells and lowered the production of interferon- (IFN-) gamma (γ), tumour necrosis factor- (TNF-) alpha (α), and interleukin- (IL-) 6 in inflamed tissues. In addition, ALE inhibited expression of COX-2 and iNOS and production of NO and PGE2in Raw 264.7 cells. These results indicate thatArtemisialeaf can be used as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory skin diseases and that its anti-inflammatory effects are closely related to the inhibition of inflammatory mediator release from macrophages and inflammatory cytokine production in inflamed tissues.
Role of MSX1 in Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells
Authors: Goto Noriko , Fujimoto Katsumi , Fujii Sakiko , Ida-Yonemochi Hiroko , Ohshima Hayato , Kawamoto Takeshi , Noshiro Mitsuhide , Shukunami Chisa , Kozai Katsuyuki , Kato Yukio
Published: August 2016

Msh homeobox 1 (MSX1) encodes a transcription factor implicated in embryonic development of limbs and craniofacial tissues including bone and teeth. Although MSX1 regulates osteoblast differentiation in the cranial bone of young animal, little is known about the contribution of MSX1 to the osteogenic potential of human cells. In the present study, we investigate the role of MSX1 in osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells isolated from deciduous teeth. When these cells were exposed to osteogenesis‐induction medium, runt‐related transcription factor‐2 (RUNX2), bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP2), alkaline phosphatase (ALPL), and osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA levels, as well as alkaline phosphatase activity, increased on days 4–12, and thereafter the matrix was calcified on day 14. However, knockdown of MSX1 with small interfering RNA abolished the induction of the osteoblast‐related gene expression, alkaline phosphatase activity, and calcification. Interestingly, DNA microarray and PCR analyses revealed that MSX1 knockdown induced the sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 2 (SREBP2) transcriptional factor and its downstream target genes in the cholesterol synthesis pathway. Inhibition of cholesterol synthesis enhances osteoblast differentiation of various mesenchymal cells. Thus, MSX1 may downregulate the cholesterol synthesis‐related genes to ensure osteoblast differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells.
Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation on Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Meng Li-na , Chen Shanshan , Chen Jiande D. Z. , Jin Hai-feng , Lu Bin
Published: August 2016

Objective. To investigate effects and possible mechanisms of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) performed by a wearable watch‐size stimulator for refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (RGERD). Methods. Twenty patients diagnosed as RGERD were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into four groups: esomeprazole group (Group A), esomeprazole combined with TEA group (Group B), esomeprazole combined with sham‐TEA group (Group C), and esomeprazole combined with domperidone group (Group D). HRM and 24 h pH‐impedance monitoring and GerdQ score were used to measure related indexes before and after treatment. Results. (1) TEA significantly increased LESP, compared with PPI treatment only or PPI plus sham‐TEA. After pairwise comparison, LESP of Group B was increased more than Group A (P = 0.008) or Group C (P = 0.021). (2) PPI plus TEA decreased not only the number of acid reflux episodes but also the number of weak acid reflux episodes (P = 0.005). (3) Heartburn and reflux symptoms were improved more with PPI + TEA than with PPI treatment only or PPI plus sham‐TEA (GerdQ scores, P = 0.001). Conclusion. TEA can improve symptoms in RGERD patients by increasing LESP and decreasing events of weak acid reflux and acid reflux; addition of TEA to esomeprazole significantly enhances the effect of TEA.
Optimization of Corneal Epithelial Progenitor Cell Growth on Bombyx mori Silk Fibroin Membranes
Authors: Hogerheyde Thomas A. , Suzuki Shuko , Walshe Jennifer , Bray Laura J. , Stephenson Sally A. , Harkin Damien G. , Richardson Neil A.
Published: August 2016

Scaffolds prepared from silk fibroin derived from cocoons of the domesticated silkworm moth Bombyx mori have demonstrated potential to support the attachment and growth of human limbal epithelial (HLE) cells in vitro. In this study, we attempted to further optimize protocols to promote the expansion of HLE cells on B. mori silk fibroin‐ (BMSF‐) based scaffolds. BMSF films were initially coated with different extracellular matrix proteins and then analysed for their impact on corneal epithelial cell adhesion, cell morphology, and culture confluency. Results showed that collagen I, collagen III, and collagen IV consistently improved HCE‐T cell adherence, promoted an elongated cell morphology, and increased culture confluency. By contrast, ECM coating had no significant effect on the performance of primary HLE cells cultured on BMSF films. In the second part of this study, primary HLE cells were grown on BMSF films in the presence of medium (SHEM) supplemented with keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and the Rho kinase inhibitor, Y‐27632. The results demonstrated that SHEM medium supplemented with KGF and Y‐27632 dramatically increased expression of corneal differentiation markers, keratin 3 and keratin 12, whereas expression of the progenitor marker, p63, did not appear to be significantly influenced by the choice of culture medium.
Investigating Incursion of Transboundary Pollution into the Atmosphere of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Rana Md. Masud , Mahmud Mastura , Khan Munjurul Hannan , Sivertsen Bjarne , Sulaiman Norela
Published: August 2016

Concentrations of particulate matter (PM) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, during November 2013 to April 2014 were found 7-8 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value. Probability of contribution of transboundary sources to this PM pollution was investigated through different approaches. Ninety-six-hour backward trajectories with every 3-hour interval were computed and clustered into 06 groups based on angle distance matrix. Probabilities of individual cluster to be associated with different ranges of coarse and fine particles were studied. Gazipur station near Dhaka city was found to have 68% probability of receiving PM10concentration higher than 150 μg/m3when air masses followed the route of Middle East through the Himalayan valley to the station. This channel was identified as the main route of PM transport to Bangladesh during dry season. Transboundary source-regions were spotted by concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) method and also by the monthly average aerosol optical depths (AOD) over South Asia. North-western Indian regions, Nepal and its neighboring areas, and Indian state of West Bengal were identified as the most probable zones that might have contributed to PM pollution in Gazipur, Dhaka. November to January was the high time the station had experienced fine particles from those transboundary regions.
Curative Effects of Suhuang Zhike Capsule on Postinfectious Cough: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Trials
Authors: Ding Pinpin , Wang Qian , Yao Jing , Zhou Xian-Mei , Zhu Jia
Published: August 2016

Objective. In this paper, we intended to systematically evaluate the efficacy of Suhuang Zhike Capsule (SZC) on postinfectious cough (PIC) in adults (age > 18). Methods. MEDLINE (PubMed), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Cqvip Database (VIP), and Wanfang Database were researched for the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of SZC for PIC. The search was limited to human studies, using the search keywords or free‐text terms “cough,” “post‐infectious cough,” “postinfectious cough,” “post‐cold cough,” “postviral cough,” “postcold cough,” “Suhuang Zhike capsule,” “Chinese Medicine,” and “randomized clinical trials”. Two reviewers individually extracted data from the included RCTs and then the extracted data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3 software. Results. Seven RCTs involving 573 patients entered the inclusion criteria. Findings suggested that, compared with western conventional medicine (WCM) and other Chinese medicine, SZC could effectively improve the efficacy rate (OR 2.68, 95%  CI, 1.48–4.84, P = 0.001; OR 4.86, 95%  CI, 1.50–15.73, P = 0.008, separately). Moreover, SZC could also improve the efficacy rate of Chinese medicine symptom (MD −0.74, 95%  CI, −1.46~−0.02, P = 0.04). However, in terms of cough relief time, more evidence is needed to prove that SZC have an earlier antitussive effect (MD −1.31, 95%  CI, −3.06~0.45, P = 0.14). Conclusion. The current evidence shows that SZC is effective in the treatment of PIC in adults and can significantly improve the effective rate of Chinese medicine symptoms.