bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Noninvasive Score to Predict Liver Fibrosis in HBeAg-Positive Hepatitis B Patients with Normal or Minimally Elevated Alanine Aminotransferase Levels
Authors: Chen Yanping , Li Yanping , Li Na , Fan Xiude , Li Chunyan , Zhang Pingping , Han Qunying , Liu Zhengwen
Published: October 2018

Noninvasive fibrosis tests are highly needed but have not been well studied in chronic hepatitis B patients with normal or minimally elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. This study is aimed at developing a noninvasive score system to predict liver fibrosis in these patients. HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with ALT levels of <80 IU/l and liver histology (n=290) were assigned to training (n=203) or validation (n=87) groups. Training group patients were divided into nonsignificant (F0–1) and significant fibrosis (F2–4) according to METAVIR stages. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors for liver fibrosis and develop a score system. The capacity of the score to identify the severity of fibrosis was displayed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and area under ROC (AUROC) values. Multivariate logistic regression showed that HBeAg (ratios of the sample to the cutoff values (S/CO)) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM; kilopascals (kPa)) were independent factors of liver fibrosis. A score system composed of HBeAg and LSM by assigning a point of 1, 2, or 3 to different HBeAg and LSM levels, respectively, was developed. The scores 2-3, 4, and 5-6 of the sum of HBeAg and LSM points indicated nonsignificant, indeterminate, and significant fibrosis, respectively. The score system had an AUROC of 0.880 and showed similar performance in validation group patients. The accuracy for identifying significant and nonsignificant fibrosis was 77.14% in validation group patients and 71.26% in the entire group of patients. It is suggested that this noninvasive score system can accurately predict hepatic fibrosis and may reduce the need for liver biopsy in HBeAg-positive patients with normal or minimally elevated ALT levels.
Perceived Barriers to Antepartum HIV Medication Adherence in HIV Infected Pregnant Women
Authors: Zahedi-Spung Leilah , Young Marisa , Haddad Lisa B. , Badell Martina L.
Published: October 2018

Introduction. Although rare, perinatal HIV transmission still occurs in the United States and most transmissions are preventable. We aim to identify patient barriers to antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence during pregnancy and assess patient understanding of perinatal transmission. Methods. This cross-sectional survey recruited HIV positive postpartum women at a large safety net hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, between January 2016 and February 2018. Survey questions included demographic characteristics, HIV history, knowledge of perinatal transmission, and ART adherence. Perinatal and HIV outcomes were assessed using chart abstraction. Results. Of the 70 HIV infected postpartum women delivered at a large safety net hospital in Atlanta, GA, 45 women were eligible and consented to participate. Participating women were aged 18 to 40 years with an average age of 29 years old, 93% of participants were African-American, and 68% had ≥3 pregnancies. The majority of participants (75%) reported daily ART adherence. “Forgetting” was the most frequent reason for missing pills (57%). Thirteen women had a detectable viral load at the time of delivery and nine of those women had a viral load greater than 1000 copies/mL. Approximately 85% of women who correctly stated ART medications decrease perinatal transmission risk reported daily adherence compared with 50% of women without that knowledge (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.17, 26.7). Almost half of women (40%) either did not know or believed a vaginal delivery, regardless of viral load, would increase their risk of perinatal transmission. Conclusion. Overall, women who were diagnosed with HIV during the current pregnancy, those with planned pregnancies, and those who were on medications prior to pregnancy were more likely to report daily ART adherence. Detectable viral load at delivery is the greatest risk factor for perinatal transmission; therefore strategies to increase ART adherence are needed.
Predicting Thalasso Tourist Delight: A Hybrid SEM—Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Authors: Sánchez-Medina Agustín J. , Naranjo-Barrera Ylenia I. , Alonso Jesús B. , Rufo Torres Julio Francisco
Published: October 2018

This study focuses on the influence of the quality of services received by thalassotherapy customers on their global satisfaction and the relationship between this and the word of mouth. This study uses a hybrid SEM—classification tree analysis. The empirical findings reveal a significant relationship between the quality of each offered service and global satisfaction. This study contributes to identify tourist’s satisfaction or delight on received thalasso services through a proposed methodology. The main contribution of this work consists of the proposal of a methodology to identify objectively through the opinion of tourists if they were satisfied or had reached delight. This work demonstrates, confirming what has been found in previous literature, that global satisfaction is related to the different experiences provided by the service. Thus, all hypotheses are accepted, supporting the hypotheses that relate the pool, the staff, the treatments, and the environment to satisfaction. In addition, the hypotheses that link satisfaction with the word of mouth are also supported. This theoretical implication has important practical implications for managers of the type of facilities such as those studied in this paper, since it shows that it is not enough to do well in one of the services provided if the environment or the interaction with the staff is not right.
On Designing Feedback Controllers for Master‐Slave Synchronization of Memristor‐Based Chua’s Circuits
Authors: Ding Ke
Published: October 2018

This paper is concerned with designing feedback controllers for master‐slave synchronization of two chaotic memristor‐based Chua’s circuits. The memductance function of memristor‐based Chua’s circuits is a bounded function with a bounded derivative which is more generalized than those piecewise constant‐valued functions or quadratic functions in some existing papers. The main contributions are that one master‐slave synchronization criterion is established for two chaotic memristor‐based Chua’s circuits, and the feedback controller gain is easily obtained by solving a set of linear matrix inequalities. One numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the design method.
Nasal Chondromesenchymal Hamartoma: Rare Case Report in an Elderly Patient and Brief Review of Literature
Authors: Mirchia Kanish , Naous Rana
Published: October 2018

Hamartomas are considered a mixture of nonneoplastic tissue, which may be indigenous to a different location in the body. As such, they may be epithelial, mesenchymal, or mixed. In the sinonasal region, the following hamartomatous lesions are considered to lie on a spectrum and include respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH), chondro-osseous respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (COREAH), and nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma (NCMH). To our knowledge, less than 50 cases of sinonasal hamartomas have been reported in the English literature so far with NCMH being very rare and primarily a tumor in infancy, with only 2 cases reported in individuals older than 16 years of age. We report a highly unusual case of a NCMH in the right maxillary sinus of a 70-year-old female.
Transcriptomic Changes in Broiler Chicken Hypothalamus during Growth and Development
Authors: Piórkowska Katarzyna , Żukowski Kacper , Połtowicz Katarzyna , Nowak Joanna , Wojtysiak Dorota , Derebecka Natalia , Wesoły Joanna , Ropka-Molik Katarzyna
Published: October 2018

The hypothalamus plays an overarching role that is reflected in the physiological processes observed in the entire organism. The hypothalamus regulates selected metabolic processes and activities of the autonomic nervous system. The avian hypothalamus due to the structural complexity is not well described and has a slightly different function than the mammalian hypothalamus that is the subject of numerous studies. The present study evaluated activities of hypothalamic genes in fast-growing chickens during development (at the 1st day and 3rd and 6th weeks after hatching). The hypothalamic transcriptomes for 3- and 6-week-old cockerels were analysed using an RNA sequencing method in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. The differentially expressed gene analysis was conducted using DESeq2 software. In younger 22-day-old cockerels, 389 genes showed higher expression (fold change > 1.5) than that in 45-day-old birds. These genes played a role in several biological processes because they encoded proteins involved in integrin signalling, regulation of hormone levels, camera-type eye development, and blood vessel development. Moreover, surprisingly in the hypothalamus of 3-week-old cockerels, transcripts were identified for proteins involved in both anorexigenic (POMC, NMU) and orexigenic (PMCH, ALDH1A1, LPL, and GHRH) pathways. The RNA-seq results were confirmed by qPCR methods. In summary, the intensive growth of 3-week-old chickens was reflected in hypothalamic activities because the genes associated with the somatotropin axis and regulation of satiety centre showed increased expression.
De Novo Psoriasis Vulgaris Diagnosed after Nivolumab Treatment for Refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Completely Resolved after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Kaloyannidis Panayotis , Al Shaibani Eshrak , Mashhour Miral , Gamil Mohammed , Apostolidis Ioannis , Al Hashmi Hani , Al Anazi Khalid Ahmed
Published: October 2018

The programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor nivolumab has been recently approved as an effective and safe treatment for patients with refractory/relapsed Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Dermatological adverse events, mainly skin rash, have been reported in 1–5% of patients. We describe a case of de novo psoriasis vulgaris (PsV), diagnosed after nivolumab treatment for refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After administration of 6 cycles, skin lesions appeared in the right tibia, forearms, and dorsum of hands, and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of PsV. The lesions completely resolved after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) which was performed in the context of the treatment for the primary disease. PsV is an inflammatory skin disease, and it is considered to be mediated through cytotoxic T-cells. PD-1 blockage may lead to expansion of such T-cells, resulting thus in PsV appearance. The early published studies showed that nivolumab represents a safe treatment approach. PsV occurrence has not been reported so far in patients treated with nivolumab for hematological diseases, and it seems that long-term follow-up is necessary to fully clarify the entirety of PD-1 inhibitors’ skin adverse events. Additionally, this clinical observation provides an evidence for a potential exploitation of ASCT in refractory and severe forms of PsV.
Interface Data Modeling to Detect and Diagnose Intersystem Faults for Designing and Integrating System of Systems
Authors: Seo Kyung-Min , Park Kwang-Phil
Published: October 2018

In system of systems engineering, system integrators are in charge of compatible and reliable interfaces between subsystems. This study explains a systematic solution to identify and diagnose interface faults during designing and integrating systems of systems. Because the systems targeted in this study are real underwater vessels, we first have anatomized 188 interface data transferred between 22 subsystems of them. Based on this, two interface data models are proposed, which include data sets regarding messages and inner fields and transition and decision functions for them. Specifically, a structure model at the message level evaluates how inner fields belong to a message, and a logic model at the field level assesses how each field is interpreted and if the interpreted value is understandable. The software that supports the modeling is implemented using the following concepts: (1) a model‐view‐viewmodel pattern for overall software design and (2) a computer network for representing sequential properties of field interpretations. The proposed modeling and software facilitate diagnostic decisions by checking the consistency between interface protocols and obtained real data. As a practical use, the proposed work was applied to an underwater shipbuilding project. Within 10 interfaces, 14 fault cases were identified and diagnosed. They were gradually resolved during the system design and integration phases, which formed the basis of successful submarine construction.
Finite‐Time Nonfragile Dissipative Filter Design for Wireless Networked Systems with Sensor Failures
Authors: Sakthivel R. , Nithya V. , Ma Yong-Ki , Wang Chao
Published: October 2018

In this study, the problem of finite‐time nonfragile dissipative‐based filter design for wireless sensor networks that is described by discrete‐time systems with time‐varying delay is investigated. Specifically, to reduce the energy consumption of wireless sensor networks, it is assumed that the signal is not transmitted at each instant and the transmission process is stochastic. By constructing a suitable Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional and employing discrete‐time Jensen’s inequality, a new set of sufficient conditions is established in terms of linear matrix inequalities such that the augmented filtering system is stochastically finite‐time bounded with a prescribed dissipative performance level. Meanwhile, the desired dissipative‐based filter gain matrices can be determined by solving an optimization problem. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness and the less conservatism of the proposed filter design technique.
Efficacy and Safety of Ginkgo Biloba Pills for Coronary Heart Disease with Impaired Glucose Regulation: Study Protocol for a Series of N‐of‐1 Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Trials
Authors: Sun Mingyue , Chai Lulu , Lu Fang , Zhao Yang , Li Qingna , Cui Boya , Gao Rui , Liu Yue
Published: October 2018

Background. Coronary heart disease has become a serious challenge to China with its high prevalence and mortality. The impaired glucose regulation is prevalent in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, there are few drugs that interfere early with impaired glucose regulation. Ginkgo biloba extract not only is a commonly used drug for cardiovascular diseases, but also has a significant effect in reducing blood sugar. Therefore, this study used a single‐case randomized controlled trial to explore the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba pills in the treatment of coronary heart disease patients with impaired glucose regulation. Methods/Design. This is a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, three‐period crossover trial for a single subject. A total of 12 subjects will be recruited in this trial. The trial is divided into three cycles, and one cycle has two treatment periods. Ginkgo biloba pills and placebo will be randomized during the treatment period. The test period will last for 58 weeks and subjects will take 48 weeks. Subjects will be selected by the researcher strictly in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Discussion. Ginkgo biloba preparations are widely used in cardiovascular diseases both at home and abroad due to their definite curative effect, few side effects, various dosage forms, and convenient and safe use. Diabetes mellitus is a high‐risk factor for the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is of great significance to control the impaired glucose regulation and slow down the development of diabetes and reduce the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular diseases. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT03483779).
Characteristics of Gravelly Granite Residual Soil in Bored Pile Design: An In Situ Test in Shenzhen
Authors: Luan Shuai , Wang Fenglai , Wang Tiehong , Lu Zhao , Shui Weihou
Published: October 2018

Granite residual soil is widely distributed in south China and is treated as a special soil. Its design parameters in rotary drilling bored piles are a matter of debate due to lack of in‐situ pile load tests. Back‐analysis of test piles is a reliable means of studying the geotechnical capacity of granite residual soil for pile design. In this study, a series of in situ tests was conducted comprising six full‐scale instrumented test piles in gravelly granite residual soil in Shenzhen to consider the effects of different construction methods. The six piles were constructed with three different rotary drilling methods. Two commonly used design methods were investigated in the back‐analysis: the SPT and effective stress methods. The results of the loading tests and strain gauges were used to obtain the back‐analyzed parameters of the ultimate shaft resistance and ultimate base resistance for gravelly granite residual soil with these two design methods.
Additive Manufacturing of Silencers with Microperforates
Authors: Tanttari Jukka , Komi Erin , Hynninen Antti , Isomoisio Heikki , Uosukainen Seppo , Hankaniemi Virpi , Matalamäki Mikko
Published: October 2018

A microperforated panel (MPP) is generally defined as a perforated plate, in which the impedance of below one millimetre perforations is dominated by viscous losses. Using MPPs in duct and silencer applications, target is to maximize transmission loss (TL) by choosing proper surface impedance parameters. Additive manufacturing (AM) has recently reduced conventional design limitations and enabled fast prototyping of complex shaped structures. MPP-based model scale silencers can be printed within reasonable time, price, and accuracy. In this paper, design and validation of AM silencers with MPPs are studied. First, the theoretical background of MPP acoustics is summarized. Second, feasible parameters for a MPP absorber for a certain tuning frequency are sought numerically using acoustic finite element method (FEM). Third, several test MPPs are prototyped and their acoustic properties are measured. Finally, MPP silencers are simulated using different approaches and the results are compared against experiments.
Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance of Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Ready-to-Eat Foods in Turkey
Authors: Şanlıbaba Pınar , Tezel Başar Uymaz , Çakmak Gürcü Aybige
Published: October 2018

The aim of the present study was the determination of the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in Ankara, Turkey. In order to detect and isolate L. monocytogenes from 201 RTE food samples, the EN ISO 11290:1 method was used. All isolates were identified using the polymerase chain reaction. The strains were also confirmed by the detection of the hemolysin gene (hlyA). The overall prevalence of L. monocytogenes was 8.5% among the food samples. Seventeen L. monocytogenes strains were examined by the disk diffusion assay for their resistance to 23 antibiotics. All strains were susceptible to erythromycin, clarithromycin, streptomycin, gentamicin, vancomycin, imipenem, trimethoprim, and chloramphenicol, while all strains were resistant to nalidixic acid, ampicillin, penicillin G, linezolid, and clindamycin. The higher resistance was found against oxacillin (94.1%), kanamycin (76.5%), levofloxacin (70.6%), and teicoplanin (64.7%), followed by amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (53.0%), rifampicin (47.1%), and ciprofloxacin (35.3%). A lower incidence of resistance was observed against tetracycline (5.9%), meropenem (5.9%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (17.7%). All isolates were multidrug resistant showing resistance to at least three antibiotic classes. High L. monocytogenes prevalence among analyzed RTE foods represents a high risk for public health. Our findings show a high prevalence of L. monocytogenes in RTE foods in Turkey. More effective control strategies for L. monocytogenes are needed to reduce both prevalence and resistance of L. monocytogenes in Turkish RTE foods.
Potential of Flocculant‐Aided Soil Slurry Dewatering in Land Reclamation: Laboratory Investigations
Authors: Jiao Yang , He Jia , Zhou Peiyuan , Cao Ziqian
Published: October 2018

When soil slurry is used as a fill material in land reclamation projects, vacuum preloading or geotextile tube systems are often adopted for the dewatering treatment in a large scale. However, these two methods often suffer from clogging problems and impede further dewatering treatment. In this study, we test the potential of using flocculants to enhance the dewatering efficiency in a vacuum preloading model test and a geotextile tube model test. Experimental results show that, by adding a flocculant into soil slurry, the dewatering efficiency in terms of drainage volumes and rates is significantly improved as compared to that in pure soil slurry. The amounts of drainage water in the tests with flocculant addition are about 20% and 100% more than those in pure slurry tests in the vacuum preloading and geotextile tube model tests, respectively. The underlying reason could be the flocculation effect that prevents the movement of small soil grains and the formation of impermeable layers on the filters.
Efficacy and Safety of an Aflibercept Treat-and-Extend Regimen in Treatment-Naïve Patients with Macular Oedema Secondary to Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO): A Prospective 12-Month, Single-Arm, Multicentre Trial
Authors: Garcia-Arumi Jose , Gómez-Ulla Francisco , Amparo Navea , Cervera Enrique , Fonollosa Alex , Arias Luis , Araiz Javier , Donate Juan , Figueroa Marta Suárez de , Manzanas Lucia , Crespí Jaume , Gallego Roberto
Published: October 2018

Objectives. To evaluate efficacy and safety of an aflibercept treat-and-extend (TAE) regimen in patients with macular oedema (MO) secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Design, Setting, and Patients. Phase IV, prospective, open-label, single-arm trial in 11 Spanish hospitals. Treatment-naïve patients with <6 month diagnosis of MO secondary to CRVO and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 73-24 ETDRS letters were included between 23 January 2015 and 17 March 2016. Intervention. Intravitreal aflibercept 2 mg monthly (3 months) followed by proactive individualized dosing. Main Outcomes. Mean change in BCVA after 12 months. Results. 24 eyes (24 patients) were included; mean (SD) age: 62.8 (15.0) years; 54.2% male; median (IQR) time since diagnosis: 7.6 (3.0, 15.2) days. Mean BCVA scores significantly improved between baseline (56.0 (16.5)) and Month 12 (74.1 (17.6)); mean (95% CI) change: 14.8 (8.2, 21.4); P=0.0001. Twelve (50.0%) patients gained ≥15 ETDRS letters. Foveal thickness improved between baseline (mean: 569.4 (216.8) µm) and Month 12 (mean 257.4 (48.4) µm); P<0.0001. At Month 12, 8.3% patients had MO. The mean (SD) number of injections: 8.3 (3.0). No treatment-related AEs were reported. Five (20.8%) patients experienced ocular AEs. Two nonocular serious AEs were reported. Conclusions. An aflibercept TAE regimen improves visual acuity in patients with MO secondary to CRVO over 12 months with good tolerability.
Radiation-Induced Coronary Artery Disease and Its Treatment: A Quick Review of Current Evidence
Authors: DeZorzi Christopher
Published: October 2018

As advances in medical technology arise and the availability of cancer treatment increases, an increased number of patients are receiving cancer treatment. Radiation therapy has evolved to become one of the cornerstones of treatment for various types of cancers. One of the long-term consequences of radiation therapy is radiation-induced coronary artery disease (RICAD). Although the pathophysiology of RICAD may be slightly different and more acute onset than the commonly seen “generic” coronary artery disease, it is common practice to treat RICAD in the same method as nonradiation-induced CAD. This paper summarizes the current research available on the topic and shows there is not enough research to obtain significant data about outcomes and restenosis rates of PCI or outcomes of CABG in RICAD. The aim of this review is to create a concise and easy-to-follow review of the relevant data regarding RICAD and hopefully spark further interest in future studies in this field.
Spironolactone Protects against Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Liu Wenjuan , Gong Wei , He Min , Liu Yemei , Yang Yeping , Wang Meng , Wu Meng , Guo Shizhe , Yu Yifei , Wang Xuanchun , Sun Fei , Li Yiming , Zhou Linuo , Qin Shengmei , Zhang Zhaoyun
Published: October 2018

Spironolactone (SPR) has been shown to protect diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), but the specific mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we determined the cardioprotective role of SPR in diabetic mice and further explored the potential mechanisms in bothin vivoandin vitromodels. Streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats were used as the in vivo model. After the onset of diabetes, rats were treated with either SPR (STZ + SPR) or saline (STZ + NS) for 12 weeks; nondiabetic rats were used as controls (NDCs). In vitro, H9C2 cells were exposed to aldosterone, with or without SPR. Cardiac structure was investigated with transmission electron microscopy and pathological examination; immunohistochemistry was performed to detect nitrotyrosine, collagen-1, TGF-β1, TNF-α, and F4/80 expression; and gene expression of markers for oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, and energy metabolism was detected. Our results suggested that SPR attenuated mitochondrial morphological abnormalities and sarcoplasmic reticulum enlargement in diabetic rats. Compared to the STZ + NS group, cardiac oxidative stress, fibrosis, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction were improved by SPR treatment. Our study showed that SPR had cardioprotective effects in diabetic rats by ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction and reducing fibrosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation. This study, for the first time, indicates that SPR might be a potential treatment for DCM.
Network‐Assisted Optimal Datalink Selection Scheme for Heterogeneous Aeronautical Network
Authors: Wang Dongli , Huang Guoce , Dong Shufu , Wang Yequn , Liu Jian , Gao Weiting
Published: October 2018

Currently, the existing datalink selection algorithms in heterogeneous aeronautical network unilaterally focus on the user side or network side and lack the two sides’ cooperation, which seriously affects the utilization of available datalinks. Firstly, to reflect the user‐side requirements and network‐side load, we propose a user‐centric datalink selection scheme combing the user‐side multiattribute utility and the network‐side access rate for single‐user selection. It can be established as a multiobjective optimization problem and solved by the selected optimal datalink. Secondly, for multiuser datalink selection, in order to guarantee the access requests of multiple users, the central control mode of Software Define Networking (SDN) is used to assist the user to perform datalink selection on the network side. By constructing multiuser multiobjective optimization problem, a priority distinction selection (PDS) algorithm is proposed to maximize the number of users accessing their optimal datalinks and minimize the modification of the users’ access request. Finally, the proposed user‐side datalink selection scheme and network‐side assisted selection algorithm are simulated to verify the feasibility and effectiveness.
What Roles Do Probiotics Play in the Eradication of Helicobacter pylori? Current Knowledge and Ongoing Research
Authors: Song Han-Yi , Zhou Long , Liu Dong-yan , Yao Xin-Jie , Li Yan
Published: October 2018

With the rising global prevalence of antibiotic resistance, the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (HP) is continuing to decrease. Probiotics are beneficial to human health and may be an adjunct therapy to increase the eradication rate of HP, lower treatment-associated side effects, and reduce HP-associated gastric inflammation. However, inconsistent test results have prevented conclusions about the therapeutic prowess of probiotics for HP. The mechanisms of actions of probiotics include the production of substances that inhibit or kill HP or compete with HP for the adhesion site on gastric epithelial cells. Probiotics can also reduce the release of inflammatory factors by regulating the local immune response of the host. We searched the available literature for full-length articles focusing on the role of probiotics in HP management. This review presents the latest advances in this area.
Acoustic Emission and Failure Modes for Coal‐Rock Structure under Different Loading Rates
Authors: Wang Ning , Xu Yingqian , Zhu Dengyuan , Wang Nan , Yu Benfu
Published: October 2018

Coal bump refers to a sudden catastrophic failure of coal seam and usually causes serious damages to underground mining facilities and staff. Considering the combined coal‐rock structure for coal bumps, failure process and acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of combined coal‐sandstone samples under different loading rates were studied by uniaxial compression tests, and three basic failure modes and bump proneness for coal‐rock structure were obtained. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) when loading rate was relatively low, plastic deformation of coal mass fully developed, while surface cracks of coal mass was not apparent and slip along the transfixion crack occurred in the postpeak stage; (2) with the increase in loading rate, surface tensile cracks developed into splitting cracks at the end of the prepeak stage and throughout the postpeak stage, and brittle failure finally happened due to the release of nonlinear step‐shaped energy or one‐time strain energy release of upper rock mass, resulting in the damage of internal bearing structure and weakening of bearing capacity; (3) the deformation and failure process of combined samples showed obvious phases, and corresponding AE energy release rate could be divided into periodic linear growth and transient growth, while the cumulative energy of AE events has multiple peak points and transient growth with the increase of loading rate; (4) it was demonstrated that two distinct frequency bands existed in AE events, which were about 50 kHz and 150 kHz, and the distribution of AE events near 50 kHz was larger and stronger, representing the main frequency range of cracks in coal mass. According to the damage characteristics and AE parameters for combined samples, an brittle model for coal‐rock structure with mutation characteristics was proposed, and three basic failure modes for the combined structure with the increase of loading rate were progressive shear failure, splitting failure, and structural failure, respectively.
Fuzzy Adaptive Compensation Control for Uncertain Building Structural Systems by Sliding‐Mode Technology
Authors: Zhu Houyao , Chen Zicong , Wang Jianhui , Huang Yunchang , Chen Wenli , Huang Zheng , Zhao Huaqi
Published: October 2018

Earthquake is a kind of natural disaster, which will have a great impact on the building structure. In the vibration control field of building structures, the timeliness of system stability is extremely important. In traditional control methods, the timeliness is not paid enough attention for systems with uncertain seismic waves. For setting this problem, fuzzy adaptive compensation control for uncertain building structural systems by sliding‐mode technology is proposed. It is combined with fuzzy adaptive control and sliding‐mode control to ensure that the system can be stable with satisfied timeliness. Also, saturation function is used to ensure the feasible physical implementation of the control system. Compared with the traditional LQR (linear quadratic regulator) control, the simulation results showed that the proposed method can make the system reach a stable state with rapid convergence performance and has a feasible physical implementation.
Antibody-based Delivery of TNF to the Tumor Neovasculature Potentiates the Therapeutic Activity of a Peptide Anticancer Vaccine
Authors: Probst Philipp , Stringhini Marco , Ritz Danilo , Fugmann Tim , Neri Dario
Published: October 2018

Purpose:

There is a growing interest in the use of tumor antigens for therapeutic vaccination strategies. Unfortunately, in most cases, the use of peptide vaccines in patients does not mediate shrinkage of solid tumor masses.

Experimental Design: Here, we studied the opportunity to boost peptide vaccination with F8-TNF, an antibody fusion protein that selectively delivers TNF to the tumor extracellular matrix. AH1, a model antigen to investigate CD8+ T-cell immunity in BALB/c mice, was used as vaccine.

Results:

Peptide antigens alone exhibited only a modest tumor growth inhibition. However, anticancer activity could be substantially increased by combination with F8-TNF. Analysis of T cells in tumors and in draining lymph nodes revealed a dramatic expansion of AH1-specific CD8+ T cells, which were strongly positive for PD-1, LAG-3, and TIM-3. The synergistic anticancer activity, observed in the combined use of peptide vaccination and F8-TNF, was largely due to the ability of the fusion protein to induce a rapid hemorrhagic necrosis in the tumor mass, thus leaving few residual tumor cells. While the cell surface phenotype of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells did not substantially change upon treatment, the proportion of AH1-specific T cells was strongly increased in the combination therapy group, reaching more than 50% of the CD8+ T cells within the tumor mass.

Conclusions:

Because both peptide vaccination strategies and tumor-homing TNF fusion proteins are currently being studied in clinical trials, our study provides a rationale for the combination of these 2 regimens for the treatment of patients with cancer.
PTEN Expression, Not Mutation Status in TSC1, TSC2, or mTOR, Correlates with the Outcome on Everolimus in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated on the Randomized RECORD-3 Trial
Authors: Voss Martin H. , Chen David , Reising Albert , Marker Mahtab , Shi Jiayuan , Xu Jianning , Ostrovnaya Irina , Seshan Venkatraman E. , Redzematovic Almedina , Chen Ying-Bei , Patel Parul , Han Xia , Hsieh James J. , Hakimi A. Ari , Motzer Robert J.
Published: October 2018

Purpose:

Genomic alterations in key components of PI3K/mTOR pathway have been proposed as candidate predictive markers for rapalog therapy in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We tested this hypothesis in patients from a randomized phase II trial of everolimus versus sunitinib.

Patients and Methods:

Archival specimens collected at baseline were analyzed with targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS). Focus of interest were alterations in key PI3K pathway components. PTEN expression was assessed by IHC. Association between molecular findings and treatment outcomes was investigated; same associations were tested for 2 everolimus-treated trial cohorts in gastric and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Results:

Among 184 everolimus-treated patients with RCC with NGS data, mutation rates in genes of interest were 6% (TSC1), 4.4% (TSC2), and 8.2% (mTOR); 44% harbored alterations in ≥1 PI3K pathway component. For subjects with presence versus absence of mutations in TSC1, TSC2, or mTOR progression-free survival (PFS) neither differed on univariate analysis (HR, 1.0; P = 0.895) nor on multivariate testing stratified by MSKCC risk group and other established prognostic factors (HR, 1.1; P = 0.806). Everolimus-treated patients with retained (n = 50) versus lost (n = 50) PTEN IHC expression had median PFS of 5.3 months versus 10.5 months (HR, 2.5; P < 0.001). Such differences were not seen with sunitinib (10.9 months vs. 10.3 months; HR, 0.8; P = 0.475). Molecular findings did not correlate with outcomes in gastric and HCC cohorts.

Conclusions:

Association between mutation status for TSC1/TSC2/mTOR and therapeutic outcome on everolimus was not confirmed. Clinically meaningful differences in PFS were seen based on PTEN expression by IHC, lost in >50% of patients.
A Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of Veliparib Combined with Carboplatin and Etoposide in Patients with Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer and Other Solid Tumors
Authors: Atrafi Florence , Groen Harry J.M. , Byers Lauren A. , Garralda Elena , Lolkema Martijn P. , Sangha Randeep S. , Viteri Santiago , Chae Young Kwang , Camidge D. Ross , Gabrail Nashat Y. , Hu Beibei , Tian Tian , Nuthalapati Silpa , Hoening Elizabeth , He Lei , Komarnitsky Philip , Calles Antonio
Published: October 2018

Purpose:

This study examined safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of veliparib, a PARP inhibitor, combined with carboplatin and etoposide in patients with extensive-stage (ED) small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and other solid tumors.

Patients and Methods:

The 3 + 3 design was used for dose escalation of oral veliparib in combination with carboplatin (AUC 5 on day 1) and etoposide (100 mg/m2 on days 1–3) in 21-day cycles. Veliparib dose was explored from 80 to 240 mg b.i.d. on 7-day, 14-day, or continuous schedules. Patients without disease progression continued on maintenance monotherapy (veliparib 400 mg b.i.d.) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Results:

Thirty-nine patients were enrolled to determine the recommended phase II dose of 240 mg veliparib for 14 days combined with carboplatin and etoposide based on long-term tolerability. Dose-limiting toxicity occurred in 1 patient (grade 2 toxic motor polyneuropathy) at veliparib 240 mg b.i.d. for 7 days. Most common adverse events related to veliparib were nausea (39%), fatigue (39%), and hematologic toxicities. Continuous dosing of veliparib 240 mg b.i.d. with carboplatin and etoposide resulted in excessive chemotherapy dose delays due to hematologic toxicity (grade 3/4 neutropenia/thrombocytopenia). Etoposide pharmacokinetics was not affected by veliparib. Confirmed responses occurred in 17 of 39 (44%) and 16 of 25 (64%) of all enrolled and ED SCLC patients, respectively. At the RP2D, confirmed responses occurred in 6 of 13 (46%) and 5 of 6 (83%) of all enrolled and ED SCLC patients, respectively.

Conclusions:

Veliparib (240 mg b.i.d. 14 days) plus carboplatin/etoposide can be safely combined. Phase II of this study is ongoing in first-line patients with ED SCLC.
The Effectiveness of Checkpoint Inhibitor Combinations and Administration Timing Can Be Measured by Granzyme B PET Imaging
Authors: Larimer Benjamin M. , Bloch Emily , Nesti Sarah , Austin Emily E. , Wehrenberg-Klee Eric , Boland Genevieve , Mahmood Umar
Published: October 2018

Purpose:

The lack of a timely and reliable measure of response to cancer immunotherapy has confounded understanding of mechanisms of resistance and subsequent therapeutic advancement. We hypothesized that PET imaging of granzyme B using a targeted peptide, GZP, could be utilized for early response assessment across many checkpoint inhibitor combinations, and that GZP uptake could be compared between therapeutic regimens and dosing schedules as an early biomarker of relative efficacy.

Experimental Design:

Two models, MC38 and CT26, were treated with a series of checkpoint inhibitors. GZP PET imaging was performed to assess tumoral GZP uptake, and tumor volume changes were subsequently monitored to determine response. The average GZP PET uptake and response of each treatment group were correlated to evaluate the utility of GZP PET for comparing therapeutic efficacy.

Results:

In both tumor models, GZP PET imaging was highly accurate for predicting response, with 93% sensitivity and 94% negative predictive value. Mean tumoral GZP signal intensity of treatment groups linearly correlated with percent response across all therapies and schedules. Moreover, GZP PET correctly predicted that sequential dose scheduling of PD-1 and CTLA-4 targeted therapies demonstrates comparative efficacy to concurrent administration.

Conclusions:

Granzyme B quantification is a highly sensitive and specific early measure of therapeutic efficacy for checkpoint inhibitor regimens. This work provides evidence that GZP PET imaging may be useful for rapid assessment of therapeutic efficacy in the context of clinical trials for both novel drugs as well as dosing regimens.
Adaptation of the Scrambled-Sentences Task to Assess “Shattered Assumptions:” Construction of the Test and Investigation of Neural Substrates in an fMRI Study
Authors: Viviani Roberto , Mahler Jacqueline S. , Bosch Julia E. , Dommes Lisa , Eberhardt Julia , Beschoner Petra , Sosic-Vasic Zrinka
Published: October 2018

Background: Increasing recognition is being given to the importance of cognitions observed in posttraumatic conditions. These cognitions may reflect the activation of negative schemas. The aim of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of the scrambled-sentences task (SST) to assess individual differences in attributions commonly observed after traumas. Originally developed to assess the tendency to activate negative cognitions in individuals predisposed to depression, the SST is a laboratory task the outcome of which has been shown to predict depression relapse and is associated with depressiveness. Sampling and Methods: We used content from self-rating scales for assessment of the activation of trauma-related schemas to develop a trauma-related SST and evaluated its performance in a behavioral study (n = 43) and a functional neuroimaging study (n = 20). Results: In the healthy sample in which we tested it, the trauma-related SST was strongly associated with individual differences in negative affect (scores in depressiveness and neuroticism scales) as well as with the scores on trauma-related cognition scales. However, we failed to detect a clear specificity of trauma-related cognitions in correlations with scores on the trauma-related scales in the healthy participants. The neuroimaging data demonstrated activation of a ventral network of areas that included the perisylvian/temporal cortex and the peri­cingular cortex in handling trauma-related relative to neutral material, replicating previous neuroimaging studies of the SST. Conclusion: The shattered-assumptions SST demonstrated strong associations with individual differences in all of the rating scales used in the study, suggesting its usefulness in capturing aspects of affective psychopathology. The neuroimaging study confirmed the capacity of this task to elicit specific activations. In future studies, evaluation of the conditions in which these neural substrates are active may shed light on the mechanism of schema selection.
IL-18 Serum Levels and Variants of the Serotonin Transporter Gene Are Related to Awareness of Emotions in Healthy Subjects: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Sacchinelli Eleonora , Piras Fabrizio , Orfei Maria Donata , Banaj Nerisa , Salani Francesca , Ciaramella Antonio , Caltagirone Carlo , Spalletta Gianfranco , Bossù Paola
Published: October 2018

Objective: Interaction between the nervous and immune systems may influence emotions, ultimately affecting human health. Cytokines may play a role in developing emotional dysregulation as in alexithymia, a personality construct characterized by the subclinical inability to identify and describe emotions, often associated with several psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders. The proinflammatory cytokine IL-18, with a recognized role in brain functions, may influence serotonin metabolism and appears to be associated with alexithymia. Healthy individuals carrying the long allele (L) of the serotonin transporter gene polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR), and thus having lower concentrations of serotonin in the synaptic cleft, show a greater tendency toward alexithymia, with some gender differences. To explore a potential physiological interaction between IL-18, serotonin neurotransmission, and alexithymia, we investigated whether IL-18 serum levels and 5-HTTLPR are linked to alexithymic traits in healthy subjects. Methods: We measured IL-18 serum levels in 115 Italian-Caucasian healthy subjects genotyped for 5-HTTLPR allele variants, divided by gender and assessed for alexithymia scores using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Results: IL-18 levels are significantly more elevated in individuals with the LL genotype (n = 25) than in carriers of the short allele (n = 90, p = 0.0073). Specifically, in LL males (n = 11), i.e., the group with the most relevant increase in IL-18, cytokine values positively correlated with difficulty identifying feelings, which is a component of alexithymia (r = 0.634, p = 0.036). Conclusions: These results indicate a possible novel interaction between IL-18 and the serotoninergic system to mediate emotional unawareness, suggesting putative biological predictors of emotional dysregulation, which in turn can act as a risk factor for a variety of medical conditions in susceptible subjects.
Significance of Hyperbaric Oxygenation in the Treatment of Fournier’s Gangrene: A Comparative Study
Authors: Anheuser Petra , Mühlstädt Sandra , Kranz Jennifer , Schneidewind Laila , Steffens Joachim , Fornara Paolo
Published: October 2018

Introduction: Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO), in addition to anti-infective and surgical therapy, seems to be a key treatment point for Fournier’s gangrene. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of HBO therapy on the outcome and prognosis of Fournier’s gangrene. Patients and Methods: In the present multicenter, retrospective observational study, we evaluated the data of approximately 62 patients diagnosed with Fournier’s gangrene between 2007 and 2017. For comparison, 2 groups were distinguished: patients without HBO therapy (group A, n = 45) and patients with HBO therapy (group B, n = 17). The analysis included sex, age, comorbidities, clinical symptoms, laboratory and microbiological data, debridement frequency, wound dressing, antibiotic use, outcome and prognosis. The statistical analysis was performed with GraphPad Prism 7® (GraphPad Software, Inc., La Jolla, USA). Results: Demographic data showed no significant differences. The laboratory parameters C-reactive protein and urea were significantly higher in group B (group B: 301.7 vs. 140.6 mg/dL; group A: 124.8 vs. 54.7 mg/dL). Sepsis criteria were fulfilled in 77.8 and 100% of the patients in groups A and B respectively. Treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) was therefore indicated in 69% of the patients in group A and 100% of the patients in group B. The mean ICU stay was 9 and 32 days for patients in groups A and B respectively. The wound debridement frequency and hospitalization stay were significantly greater in group B (13 vs. 5 debridement and 40 vs. 22 days). Initial antibiosis was test validated in 80% of the patients in group A and 76.5% of the patients in group B. Mortality was 0% in group B and 4.4% in the group A. Conclusion: The positive influence of HBO on the treatment of Fournier’s gangrene can be estimated only from the available data. Despite poorer baseline findings with comparable risk factors, mortality was 0% in the HBO group. The analysis of a larger patient cohort is desirable to increase the significance of the results.
Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from an Amazonian fragmented landscape, Juara, Mato Grosso, Brazil, with new records of ant species
Authors: Vicente Ricardo Eduardo , Ferreira Alexandre Casadei , Santos Rogério Conceição Lima dos , Prado Lívia Pires do
Published: October 2018

The state of Mato Grosso is the 3rd largest Brazilian state, is covered with three major Brazilian biomes, including the Pantanal, Cerrado, and Amazonia. To date, 449 ant species are recorded in literature for the state. In the present work, we documented the ants sampled along a fragmented landscape, in the municipality of Juara, in the Cerrado-Amazon transition zone in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The ant species were captured with Pitfall traps installed in 20 trails with 10 traps in each (totaling 200). Our results show 151 species, belonging to 43 genera and eight subfamilies, of which 28 species were recorded for the first time in the state and five species recorded for the first time in Brazil. Most genera collected were Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (45 species) followed by Crematogaster Lund, 1831 (11 species). By highlighting species recorded for the first time in state of Mato Grosso and Brazil, we hope to encourage new discoveries and increase the general knowledge of the ant fauna of different biomes in the region.