bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the energy efficiency of parallel multi-core
vs
hardware accelerated HD video decoding
Authors: Benmoussa Yahia , Boukhobza Jalil , Senn Eric , Benazzouz Djamel
Published: January 2015

Hardware video accelerators are used on mobile devices to provide support for energy efficient real time High definition (HD) video decoding. Recently, the rise of multi-core architectures on those devices increased their performances and make real time HD video decoding possible using parallel processing on the GPP cores only. What is even more interesting to know is the level of energy efficiency these kind of multi-core General Purpuse Processor (GPP) can achieve as compared to hardware video accelerators. In this paper, we propose an experimental evaluation of the energy efficiency of the two video decoding approaches. An accurate energy measurement was achieved on a recent low-power 40 nm mobile SoC containing a quad-core ARM processors and a video hardware accelerator. The results show that parallel multi-core HD decoding enhances both the performance and the energy efficiency as compared to the use of a single core. However, the hardware accelerated decoding is about three times more energy efficient. Based on the experimental observations, some challenges for enhancing parallel multi-core video decoding energy efficiency are pointed out.
Microkernel dedicated for dynamic partial reconfiguration on ARM-FPGA platform
Authors: Xia Tian , Prévotet Jean-Christophe , Nouvel Fabienne
Published: January 2015

This paper describes the first implementation of a custom micro-kernel on a ARM-FPGA platform capable of managing reconfigurable hardware parts dynamically. After describing the structure of the proposed micro-kernel, we will focus on a custom specific system task dealing with the reconfiguration management, which is associated to a dedicated scheduling mechanism. We will describe the hardware platform on which the microkernel has been ported and provide a use case application in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach. At the end of this paper, we will provide quantitative results in terms of reconfiguration overhead and microkernel timing performances.
On risk measures, market making, and exponential families
Authors: Abernethy Jacob D. , Frongillo Rafael M. , Kutty Sindhu
Published: January 2015

In this note we elaborate on an emerging connection between three areas of research: (a) the concept of a
risk measure
developed within financial mathematics for reasoning about risk attitudes of agents under uncertainty, (b) the design of
automated market makers
for prediction markets, and (c) the family of probability distributions known as
exponential families
.
The cost of annoying ads
Authors: Goldstein Daniel G. , McAfee R. Preston , Suri Siddharth
Published: January 2015

Display advertisements vary in the extent to which they annoy users. While publishers know the payment they receive to run annoying ads, little is known about the cost such ads incur due to user abandonment. We conducted two experiments to analyze ad features that relate to annoyingness and to put a monetary value on the cost of annoying ads. The first experiment asked users to rate and comment on a large number of ads taken from the Web. This allowed us to establish sets of annoying and innocuous ads for use in the second experiment, in which users were given the opportunity to categorize emails for a per-message wage and quit at any time. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three different pay rates and also randomly assigned to categorize the emails in the presence of no ads, annoying ads, or innocuous ads. Since each email categorization constituted an impression, this design, inspired by Toomim et al. (2011), allowed us to determine how much more one must pay a person to generate the same number of impressions in the presence of annoying ads compared to no ads or innocuous ads.
Organizational Psychology Then and Now: Some Observations
Authors: Schein Edgar H.
Published: January 2015

A comparison is made between the field of organizational psychology as I saw it in 1965 and how I see it today. Many issues remain the same, but the field is more differentiated, fragmented, and individualized than ever, despite culture, especially national culture, having become a big topic. The field is much larger and has spawned a whole applied field of organization development and new methods of experiential learning. The biggest change has been the decline of work on group dynamics and group interventions reflecting Western cultures of individualism. At the same time, task complexity, interdependency, multiculturalism, social responsibility, and new forms of organization have become new challenges for consultants and researchers because they require relationship building, coordination, and group work.
Development of Enhanced Primer Sets for Detection of Norovirus
Authors: Kong Byoung-Hwa , Lee Sung-Geun , Han Sang-Ha , Jin Ji-Young , Jheong Weon-Hwa , Paik Soon-Young
Published: January 2015

Norovirus (NV) is a major viral pathogen that causes nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis and outbreaks of food-borne disease. The genotype of NV most frequently responsible for NV outbreaks is GII.4, which accounts for 60–80% of cases. Moreover, original and new NV variant types have been continuously emerging, and their emergence is related to the recent global increase in NV infection. In this study, we developed advanced primer sets (NKI-F/R/F2, NKII-F/R/R2) for the detection of NV, including the variant types. The new primer sets were compared with conventional primer sets (GI-F1/R1/F2, SRI-1/2/3, GII-F1/R1/F2, and SRII-1/2/3) to evaluate their efficiency when using clinical and environmental samples. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and seminested PCR, NV GI and GII were detected in 91.7% (NKI-F/R/F2), 89.3% (NKII-F/R/R2), 54.2% (GI-F1/R1/F2), 52.5% (GII-F1/R1/F2), 25.0% (SRI-1/2/3), and 32.2% (SRII-1/2/3) of clinical and environmental specimens. Therefore, our primer sets perform better than conventional primer sets in the detection of emerged types of NV and could be used in the future for epidemiological diagnosis of infection with the virus.
Targeting of Prosurvival Pathways as Therapeutic Approaches against Primary Effusion Lymphomas: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Granato Marisa , Santarelli Roberta , Gonnella Roberta , Farina Antonella , Trivedi Pankaj , Faggioni Alberto , Cirone Mara
Published: January 2015

Constitutively activated prosurvival pathways render cancer cells addicted to their effects. Consequently they turn out to be the Achilles’ heels whose inhibition can be exploited in anticancer therapy. Primary effusion lymphomas (PELs) are very aggressive non-Hodgkin’s B cell lymphomas, whose pathogenesis is strictly linked to Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) infection. Here we summarized previous studies from our and other laboratories exploring the cytotoxic effect of drugs inhibiting the main prosurvival pathways activated in PEL cells. Moreover, the immunogenicity of cell death, in terms of dendritic cell (DC) activation and their potential side effect on DCs, is discussed.
Nuclear Medicine in Diagnosis of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: An Update
Authors: Musso Maria , Petrosillo Nicola
Published: January 2015

Over the past decades cardiovascular disease management has been substantially improved by the increasing introduction of medical devices as prosthetic valves. The yearly rate of infective endocarditis (IE) in patient with a prosthetic valve is approximately 3 cases per 1,000 patients. The fatality rate of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) remains stable over the years, in part due to the aging of the population. The diagnostic value of echocardiography in diagnosis is operator-dependent and its sensitivity can decrease in presence of intracardiac devices and valvular prosthesis. The modified Duke criteria are considered the gold standard for diagnosing IE; their sensibility is 80%, but in clinical practice their diagnostic accuracy in PVE is lower, resulting inconclusively in nearly 30% of cases. In the last years, these new imaging modalities have gained an increasing attention because they make it possible to diagnose an IE earlier than the structural alterations occurring. Several studies have been conducted in order to assess the diagnostic accuracy of various nuclear medicine techniques in diagnosis of PVE. We performed a review of the literature to assess the available evidence on the role of nuclear medicine techniques in the diagnosis of PVE.
Health Safety of Soft Drinks: Contents, Containers, and Microorganisms
Authors: Kregiel Dorota
Published: January 2015

Soft drinks consumption is still a controversial issue for public health and public policy. Over the years, numerous studies have been conducted into the possible links between soft drink intake and medical problems, the results of which, however, remain highly contested. Nevertheless, as a result, increasing emphasis is being placed on the health properties of soft drinks, by both the industry and the consumers, for example, in the expanding area of functional drinks. Extensive legislation has been put in place to ensure that soft drinks manufacturers conform to established national and international standards. Consumers trust that the soft drinks they buy are safe and their quality is guaranteed. They also expect to be provided with information that can help them to make informed decisions about the purchase of products and that the information on product labels is not false or misleading. This paper provides a broad overview of available scientific knowledge and cites numerous studies on various aspects of soft drinks and their implications for health safety. Particular attention is given to ingredients, including artificial flavorings, colorings, and preservatives and to the lesser known risks of microbiological and chemical contamination during processing and storage.
A Protective Role of Arecoline Hydrobromide in Experimentally Induced Male Diabetic Rats
Authors: Saha Indraneel , Das Joydeep , Maiti Biswaranjan , Chatterji Urmi
Published: January 2015

Objectives.Arecoline, the most potent and abundant alkaloid of betel nut, causes elevation of serum testosterone and androgen receptor expression in rat prostate, in addition to increase in serum insulin levels in rats, leading to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes-like conditions. This study investigated the role of arecoline on the reproductive status of experimentally induced type 1 diabetic rats.Methods.Changes in the cellular architecture were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Blood glucose, serum insulin, testosterone, FSH, and LH were assayed. Fructose content of the coagulating gland and sialic acid content of the seminal vesicles were also analyzed.Results.Arecoline treatment for 10 days at a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight markedly facilitatedβ-cell regeneration and reversed testicular and sex accessory dysfunctions by increasing the levels of serum insulin and gonadotropins in type 1 diabetic rats. Critical genes related toβ-cell regeneration, such as pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (pdx-1) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT-2), were found to be activated by arecoline at the protein level.Conclusion.It can thus be suggested that arecoline is effective in ameliorating the detrimental effects caused by insulin deficiency on gonadal and male sex accessories in rats with type 1 diabetes.
Frequency of Migraine as a Chief Complaint in Otolaryngology Outpatient Practice
Authors: Sabra Omar , Muhammad Ali Maria , Al Zayer Maha , Altuwaijri Saleh
Published: January 2015

Objective.To identify the frequency of typical (headache and dizziness) and common atypical (ear fullness, pressure, pain, tinnitus, facial fullness, and nasal congestion) migraine symptoms as chief complaints among patients presenting to otolaryngology clinic.Methods.This is a descriptive study of prospectively collected data from a general otolaryngology practice. Typical migraine presentations were diagnosed by applying international headache society (IHS) criteria for migraine headache and Neuhauser’s criteria for migrainous vertigo. Atypical otologic and rhinologic migraine symptoms were diagnosed using individualized criteria. Charts were reviewed at 6-month interval from the first presentation.Results.Out of 1002 consecutive patients, 10.8% presented with “migrainous chief complaint.” All migrainous chief complaint patients had a history of headache but not all of them presented with headache. Corrected female to male ratio in the migraine group was 3 to 1; age distributions were significantly different between the migraine and nonmigraine groups by applyingt-test. Out of the atypical complaints, 86% of the patients had a history of concomitant typical presentation.Conclusion. Actual diagnostic criteria for migraine do not satisfy the diversity of its presentation. Investigating the history of migraine is enough to diagnose most atypical presentations. Sound knowledge about migraine seems essential for any ENT practitioner.
Automated Training for Algorithms That Learn from Genomic Data
Authors: Cilingir Gokcen , Broschat Shira L.
Published: January 2015

Supervised machine learning algorithms are used by life scientists for a variety of objectives. Expert-curated public gene and protein databases are major resources for gathering data to train these algorithms. While these data resources are continuously updated, generally, these updates are not incorporated into published machine learning algorithms which thereby can become outdated soon after their introduction. In this paper, we propose a new model of operation for supervised machine learning algorithms that learn from genomic data. By defining these algorithms in a pipeline in which the training data gathering procedure and the learning process are automated, one can create a system that generates a classifier or predictor using information available from public resources. The proposed model is explained using three case studies on SignalP, MemLoci, and ApicoAP in which existing machine learning models are utilized in pipelines. Given that the vast majority of the procedures described for gathering training data can easily be automated, it is possible to transform valuable machine learning algorithms into self-evolving learners that benefit from the ever-changing data available for gene products and to develop new machine learning algorithms that are similarly capable.
Epidemiological Study of Japanese Encephalitis Virus in Vientiane, Lao PDR, in 1990s
Authors: Saito Mika , Soukaloun Douangdao , Phongsavath Khampe , Phommasack Bounlay , Makino Yoshihiro
Published: January 2015

Phylogenetic analysis of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was conducted using core‐premembrane and envelope gene sequence data of two strains from Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, in 1993 and five from Okinawa, Japan, in 2002 and 2003, and previously published strains. The two Vientiane strains designated as LaVS56 and LaVS145 belonged to genotype 1 (G1) and the same subcluster of G1 as Australian strain in 2000, Thai strains in 1982–1985 and 2004‐2005, and Vietnamese strain in 2005, but were distinct from the subcluster of recently distributing G1 strains widely in Asia including Okinawan strains and recent Lao strain in 2009. These clusters with own distinct distributions indicated involvements of different mechanisms and routes of spreading viruses and clarified that Australian G1 strain is from Southeast Asia, not from East Asia. Both Vientiane strains were antigenically close to P19‐Br (G1, isolate, Thailand), but distinct from Nakayama (G3, prototype strain, Japan), Beijing‐1 (G3, laboratory strain, China), and JaGAr#01 (G3, laboratory strain, Japan), demonstrated by cross‐neutralization tests using polyclonal antisera. These results together with seroepidemiologic study conducted in Vientiane strongly suggest that diversified JEV cocirculated there in early 1990s.
The Role of Fundus Autofluorescence Imaging in the Study of the Course of Posterior Uveitis Disorders
Authors: Malamos Panagiotis , Masaoutis Panos , Georgalas Ilias , Maselos Stelios , Andrianopoulos Konstantinos , Koutsandrea Chryssanthi , Markomichelakis Nikos N.
Published: January 2015

Background.To evaluate the correlation of fundus autofluorescence (FAF) with indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) in patients with various posterior uveitis disorders.Methods. Interventional case series including 23 eyes of 15 patients with diagnosis of a specific type of retinochoroiditis, such as acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE), serpiginous-like choroiditis, multifocal choroiditis (MFC), Harada disease, and syphilitic retinochoroiditis. Also, some cases with undefined retinochoroiditis were included. FAF and ICGA were performed and correlated at baseline and during follow-up after treatment.Results. In ICGA, early hypofluorescence was found to be the hallmark of acute choroidal inflammation, resolving in later stages and remaining in the late phase in areas with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) damage. Poorly defined hyperautofluorescent areas correlated with acute choroidal lesions. Hypoautofluorescent delineation suggested the initiation of RPE healing processes, correlating well with the late phase of ICGA and delineating the RPE damage. Early hyperautofluorescence with late hypofluorescence in ICGA indicated the presence of primary RPE involvement.Conclusion. FAF contributes to the interpretation of RPE disease and may be a useful tool for the follow-up of progressive inflammatory disorders. Comparative evaluation of FAF and ICGA allows a characterization of the sequence of inflammatory events and the level of tissue affected.
Acupuncture May Exert Its Therapeutic Effect through MicroRNA-339/Sirt2/NFκB/FOXO1 Axis
Authors: Wang Jia-You , Li Hui , Ma Chun-Mei , Wang Jia-Lu , Lai Xin-Sheng , Zhou Shu-Feng
Published: January 2015

Recently, we have found that a number of microRNAs (miRNAs) and proteins are involved in the response to acupuncture therapy in hypertensive rats. Our bioinformatics study suggests an association between these miRNAs and proteins, which include miR-339 and sirtuin 2 (Sirt2). In this paper, we aimed to investigate whether Sirt2 was a direct target of miR-339 in neurons. In human SH-SY5Y cells, the luciferase assay implied that Sirt2 was likely a target of miRNA-339. Overexpression of miR-339 downregulated Sirt2 expression, while knockdown of miR-339 upregulated Sirt2 expression in human SH-SY5Y cells and rat PC12 cells. In addition, overexpression of miR-399 increased the acetylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) in SH-SY5Y cells, which are known targets of Sirt2. Our findings demonstrate that miR-339 regulates Sirt2 in human and rat neurons. Since Sirt2 plays a critical role in multiple important cellular functions, our data imply that acupuncture may act through epigenetic changes and subsequent action on their targets, such as miRNA-339/Sirt2/NF-κB/FOXO1 axis. Some physiological level changes of neurons after altering the miR-339 levels are needed to validate the suggested therapeutic role of miR-339/Sirt2/NF-κB/FOXO1 axis in response to acupuncture therapy in the future work.
Proposal for a New Noncontact Method for Measuring Tongue Moisture to Assist in Tongue Diagnosis and Development of the Tongue Image Analyzing System, Which Can Separately Record the Gloss Components of the Tongue
Authors: Nakaguchi Toshiya , Takeda Kanako , Ishikawa Yuya , Oji Takeshi , Yamamoto Satoshi , Tsumura Norimichi , Ueda Keigo , Nagamine Koichi , Namiki Takao , Miyake Yoichi
Published: January 2015

Tongue diagnosis is a noninvasive diagnosis and is traditionally one of the most important tools for physicians who practice Kampo (traditional Japanese) medicine. However, it is a subjective process, and its results can depend on the experience of the physician performing it. Previous studies have reported how to measure and evaluate the shape and color of the tongue objectively. Therefore, this study focused on the glossy component in order to quantify tongue moisture in tongue diagnosis. We hypothesized that moisture appears as a gloss in captured images and measured the amount of water on the tongue surface in 13 subjects. The results showed a high correlation between the degree of gloss and the amount of water on the tongue surface and suggested that the moisture on the tongue can be estimated by the degree of gloss in a captured image. Because the moisture level on the tongue changes during the course of taking photos, it became clear that we had to wait at least 3 minutes between photos. Based on these results, we established the tongue image analyzing system (TIAS), which can consistently record the gloss and color of the tongue surface simultaneously.
Viability, Apoptosis, Proliferation, Activation, and Cytokine Secretion of Human Keratoconus Keratocytes after Cross-Linking
Authors: Song Xuefei , Stachon Tanja , Wang Jiong , Langenbucher Achim , Seitz Berthold , Szentmáry Nóra
Published: January 2015

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of cross-linking (CXL) on viability, apoptosis, proliferation, activation, and cytokine secretion of human keratoconus (KC) keratocytes,in vitro.Methods. Primary KC keratocytes were cultured in DMEM/Ham’s F12 medium supplemented with 10% FCS and underwent UVA illumination (370 nm, 2 J/cm2) during exposure to 0.1% riboflavin and 20% Dextran in PBS. Twenty-four hours after CXL, viability was assessed using Alamar blue assay; apoptosis using APO-DIRECT Kit; proliferation using ELISA-BrdU kit; and CD34 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression using flow cytometry. Five and 24 hours after CXL, FGFb, HGF, TGFβ1, VEGF, KGF, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 secretion was measured using enzyme-linked-immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA).Results. Following CXL, cell viability and proliferation decreased (P<0.05;P=0.009), the percentage of apoptotic keratocytes increased (P<0.05) significantly, and CD34 andα-SMA expression remained unchanged (P>0.06). Five hours after CXL, FGFb secretion increased significantly (P=0.037); however no other cytokine secretion differed significantly from controls after 5 or 24 hours (P>0.12).Conclusions. Cross-linking decreases viability, triggers apoptosis, and inhibits proliferation, without an impact on multipotent hematopoietic stem cell transformation and myofibroblastic transformation of KC keratocytes. CXL triggers FGFb secretion of KC keratocytes transiently (5 hours), normalizing after 24 hours.
Investigation of Ser315 Substitutions withinkatGGene in Isoniazid-Resistant Clinical Isolates ofMycobacterium tuberculosisfrom South India
Authors: Unissa A. Nusrath , Selvakumar N. , Narayanan Sujatha , Suganthi C. , Hanna L. E.
Published: January 2015

Mutation at codon 315 ofkatGgene is the major cause for isoniazid (INH) resistance inMycobacterium tuberculosis(M. tuberculosis). Substitution at codon 315 ofkatGgene was analyzed in 85 phenotypically resistant isolates collected from various parts of southern India by direct sequencing method. The obtained results were interpreted in the context of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of INH. Of the 85 phenotypically resistant isolates, 56 (66%) were also correlated by the presence of resistance mutations in thekatGgene; 47 of these isolates had ACC, 6 had AAC, 2 had ATC, and one had CGC codon. The frequency of Ser315 substitution inkatGgene was found to be higher (70%) amongst multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains than among non-MDR (61%) INH-resistant isolates. Further, the frequency of mutations was found to be greater (74%) in isolates with higher MIC values in contrast to those isolates with low MIC values (58%). Therefore, the study identified high prevalence of Ser315Thr substitution inkatGgene of INH-resistant isolates from south India. Also, isolates harboring this substitution were found to be associated with multidrug and high level INH resistance.
Synthesis,68Ga-Radiolabeling, and PreliminaryIn VivoAssessment of a Depsipeptide-Derived Compound as a Potential PET/CT Infection Imaging Agent
Authors: Mokaleng Botshelo B. , Ebenhan Thomas , Ramesh Suhas , Govender Thavendran , Kruger Hendrik G. , Parboosing Raveen , Hazari Puja P. , Mishra Anil K. , Marjanovic-Painter Biljana , Zeevaart Jan R. , Sathekge Mike M.
Published: January 2015

Noninvasive imaging is a powerful tool for early diagnosis and monitoring of various disease processes, such as infections. An alarming shortage of infection-selective radiopharmaceuticals exists for overcoming the diagnostic limitations with unspecific tracers such as67/68Ga-citrate or18F-FDG. We report here TBIA101, an antimicrobial peptide derivative that was conjugated to DOTA and radiolabeled with68Ga for a subsequentin vitroassessment andin vivoinfection imaging usingEscherichia coli-bearing mice by targeting bacterial lipopolysaccharides with PET/CT. Following DOTA-conjugation, the compound was verified for its cytotoxic and bacterial binding behaviour and compound stability, followed by68Gallium-radiolabeling.µPET/CT using68Ga-DOTA-TBIA101 was employed to detect muscularE. coli-infection in BALB/c mice, as warranted by thein vitroresults.68Ga-DOTA-TBIA101-PET detectedE. coli-infected muscle tissue (SUV = 1.3–2.4) > noninfected thighs(P=0.322)> forearm muscles(P=0.092)> background(P=0.021)in the same animal. Normalization of the infected thigh muscle to reference tissue showed a ratio of 3.0 ± 0.8 and a ratio of 2.3 ± 0.6 compared to the identical healthy tissue. The majority of the activity was cleared by renal excretion. The latter findings warrant further preclinical imaging studies of greater depth, as the DOTA-conjugation did not compromise the TBIA101’s capacity as targeting vector.
Analysis of the Isomerase and Chaperone-Like Activities of an Amebic PDI (EhPDI)
Authors: Mares Rosa E. , Minchaca Alexis Z. , Villagrana Salvador , Meléndez-López Samuel G. , Ramos Marco A.
Published: January 2015

Protein disulfide isomerases (PDI) are eukaryotic oxidoreductases that catalyze the formation and rearrangement of disulfide bonds during folding of substrate proteins. Structurally, PDI enzymes share as a common feature the presence of at least one active thioredoxin-like domain. PDI enzymes are also involved in holding, refolding, and degradation of unfolded or misfolded proteins during stressful conditions. TheEhPDI enzyme (a 38 kDa polypeptide with two active thioredoxin-like domains) has been used as a model to gain insights into protein folding and disulfide bond formation inE. histolytica. Here, we performed a functional complementation assay, using a ΔdsbC mutant ofE. coli, to test whetherEhPDI exhibits isomerase activityin vivo. Our preliminary results showed thatEhPDI exhibits isomerase activity; however, further mutagenic analysis revealed significant differences in the functional role of each thioredoxin-like domain. Additional studies confirmed thatEhPDI protects heat-labile enzymes against thermal inactivation, extending our knowledge about its chaperone-like activity. The characterization ofEhPDI, as an oxidative folding catalyst with chaperone-like function, represents the initial step to dissect the molecular mechanisms involved in protein folding inE. histolytica.
Evaluation of Osseous Integration of PVD-Silver-Coated Hip Prostheses in a Canine Model
Authors: Hauschild Gregor , Hardes Jendrik , Gosheger Georg , Stoeppeler Sandra , Ahrens Helmut , Blaske Franziska , Wehe Christoph , Karst Uwe , Höll Steffen
Published: January 2015

Infection associated with biomaterials used for orthopedic prostheses remains a serious complication in orthopedics, especially tumor surgery. Silver-coating of orthopedic (mega)prostheses proved its efficiency in reducing infections but has been limited to surface areas exposed to soft tissues due to concerns of silver inhibiting osseous integration of cementless stems. To close this gap in the bactericidal capacity of silver-coated orthopedic prostheses extension of the silver-coating on surface areas intended for osseous integration seems to be inevitable. Our study reports about a PVD- (physical-vapor-deposition-) silver-coated cementless stem in a canine model for the first time and showed osseous integration of a silver-coated titanium surfacein vivo. Radiological, histological, and biomechanical analysis revealed a stable osseous integration of four of nine stems implanted. Silver trace elemental concentrations in serum did not exceed 1.82 parts per billion (ppb) and can be considered as nontoxic. Changes in liver and kidney functions associated with the silver-coating could be excluded by blood chemistry analysis. This was in accordance with very limited metal displacement from coated surfaces observed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) 12 months after implantation. In conclusion our results represent a step towards complete bactericidal silver-coating of orthopedic prostheses.
Clearance Rate and BP-ANN Model in Paraquat Poisoned Patients Treated with Hemoperfusion
Authors: Hu Lufeng , Hong Guangliang , Ma Jianshe , Wang Xianqin , Lin Guanyang , Zhang Xiuhua , Lu Zhongqiu
Published: January 2015

In order to investigate the effect of hemoperfusion (HP) on the clearance rate of paraquat (PQ) and develop a clearance model, 41 PQ-poisoned patients who acquired acute PQ intoxication received HP treatment. PQ concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). According to initial PQ concentration, study subjects were divided into two groups: Low-PQ group (0.05–1.0 μg/mL) and High-PQ group (1.0–10 μg/mL). After initial HP treatment, PQ concentrations decreased in both groups. However, in the High-PQ group, PQ levels remained in excess of 0.05 μg/mL and increased when the second HP treatment was initiated. Based on the PQ concentrations before and after HP treatment, the mean clearance rate of PQ calculated was 73 ± 15%. We also established a backpropagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) model, which set PQ concentrations before HP treatment as input data and after HP treatment as output data. When it is used to predict PQ concentration after HP treatment, high prediction accuracy (R=0.9977) can be obtained in this model. In conclusion, HP is an effective way to clear PQ from the blood, and the PQ concentration after HP treatment can be predicted by BP-ANN model.
Electroencephalographic Changes Associated with Antinociceptive Actions of Lidocaine, Ketamine, Meloxicam, and Morphine Administration in Minimally Anaesthetized Dogs
Authors: Kaka Ubedullah , Hui Cheng Chen , Meng Goh Yong , Fakurazi Sharida , Kaka Asmatullah , Behan Atique Ahmed , Ebrahimi Mahdi
Published: January 2015

Effects of ketamine and lidocaine on electroencephalographic (EEG) changes were evaluated in minimally anaesthetized dogs, subjected to electric stimulus. Six dogs were subjected to six treatments in a crossover design with a washout period of one week. Dogs were subjected to intravenous boluses of lidocaine 2 mg/kg, ketamine 3 mg/kg, meloxicam 0.2 mg/kg, morphine 0.2 mg/kg and loading doses of lidocaine 2 mg/kg followed by continuous rate infusion (CRI) of 50 and 100 mcg/kg/min, and ketamine 3 mg/kg followed by CRI of 10 and 50 mcg/kg/min. Electroencephalogram was recorded during electrical stimulation prior to any drug treatment (before treatment) and during electrical stimulation following treatment with the drugs (after treatment) under anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with halothane at a stable concentration between 0.85 and 0.95%. Pretreatment median frequency was evidently increased (P<0.05) for all treatment groups. Lidocaine, ketamine, and morphine depressed the median frequency resulting from the posttreatment stimulation. The depression of median frequency suggested evident antinociceptive effects of these treatments in dogs. It is therefore concluded that lidocaine and ketamine can be used in the analgesic protocol for the postoperative pain management in dogs.
Mycosis Fungoides in Iranian Population: An Epidemiological and Clinicopathological Study
Authors: Fatemi Naeini Farahnaz , Abtahi-Naeini Bahareh , Sadeghiyan Hamidreza , Nilforoushzadeh Mohammad Ali , Najafian Jamshid , Pourazizi Mohsen
Published: January 2015

Background. Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common subtype of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Extensive studies on Iranian MF patients are absent. The present study aimed to produce updated clinical information on Iranian MF patients.Methods. This was a retrospective, descriptive, single-center study, including all cases of MF seen in the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Isfahan, Iran, between 2003 and 2013. Data systematically recorded for each patient included clinical, biological, histological, and molecular findings.Results. Eighty-six patients with clinical and histologic diagnosis of MF were included in the study. Thirty-nine patients (45.3%) were male. Female predominance was observed in patients (male : female ratio is 1 : 1.2). Patients were between 7 and 84 years of age (median: 41). The interval from disease onset to diagnosis ranged from 0 to 55 years (median: 1 year). Eighteen cases (20.9%) had unusual variants of MF. The most common types included hypopigmented and poikilodermatous MF. Childhood cases of MF constituted 5.8% (5/86) of all patients. The early stages were seen in 82 cases (95.34%).Conclusion. The major differences in epidemiologic characteristics of MF in Iran are the lack of male predominance and the lower age of patients at the time of diagnosis.
Preformulation Studies for Generic Omeprazole Magnesium Enteric Coated Tablets
Authors: Migoha C. O. , Ratansi M. , Kaale E. , Kagashe G.
Published: January 2015

Preformulation is an important step in the rational formulation of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). Micromeritics properties: bulk density (BD) and tapped density (TD), compressibility index (Carr’s index), Hauser’s ratio (H), and sieve analysis were performed in order to determine the best excipients to be used in the formulation development of omeprazole magnesium enteric coated tablets. Results show that omeprazole magnesium has fair flow and compressibility properties (BD 0.4 g/mL, TD 0.485 g/mL, Carr’s index 17.5%, Hauser’s ratio 1.2, and sieve analysis time 5 minutes). There were no significant drug excipient interactions except change in colour in all three conditions in the mixture of omeprazole and aerosil 200. Moisture content loss on drying in all three conditions was not constant and the changes were attributed to surrounding environment during the test time. Changes in the absorption spectra were noted in the mixture of omeprazole and water aerosil only in the visible region of 350–2500 nm. Omeprazole magnesium alone and with all excipients showed no significant changes in omeprazole concentration for a 30-day period. Omeprazole magnesium formulation complies with USP standards with regards to the fineness, flowability, and compressibility of which other excipients can be used in the formulation.
Rhabdomyosarcomatous Transformation of a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor following Treatment with Imatinib
Authors: Jiang Xiaoyin , Anderson H. Bryan , Guy Cynthia D. , Mosca Paul J. , Riedel Richard F. , Cardona Diana M.
Published: January 2015

Rhabdomyosarcomatous dedifferentiation of GIST following tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy is rare, with only a handful of cases previously reported in the literature. Herein we present a case of metastatic GIST initially treated with imatinib that developed radiographic evidence of progression after 8 months of standard dose therapy with continued progression despite attempts at using dose-escalated imatinib 400 mg bid. Due to the patient’s worsening clinical symptoms and radiographic concerns for colonic thickening, abscess, and extraluminal air, the patient underwent a palliative resection of a large heterogeneous mass arising from the posterior stomach and several metastatic foci. Pathology revealed a dedifferentiated GIST with rhabdomyosarcomatous features. This report will highlight the unique features of this case and review the existing literature.
Is the Experience of Thermal Pain Genetics Dependent?
Authors: Horjales-Araujo Emilia , Dahl Joergen B.
Published: January 2015

It is suggested that genetic variations explain a significant portion of the variability in pain perception; therefore, increased understanding of pain-related genetic influences may identify new targets for therapies and treatments. The relative contribution of the different genes to the variance in clinical and experimental pain responses remains unknown. It is suggested that the genetic contributions to pain perception vary across pain modalities. For example, it has been suggested that more than 60% of the variance in cold pressor responses can be explained by genetic factors; in comparison, only 26% of the variance in heat pain responses is explained by these variations. Thus, the selection of pain model might markedly influence the magnitude of the association between the pain phenotype and genetic variability. Thermal pain sensation is complex with multiple molecular and cellular mechanisms operating alone and in combination within the peripheral and central nervous system. It is thus highly probable that the thermal pain experience is affected by genetic variants in one or more of the pathways involved in the thermal pain signaling. This review aims to present and discuss some of the genetic variations that have previously been associated with different experimental thermal pain models.
Is Infusion of Subhypnotic Propofol as Effective as Dexamethasone in Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Related to Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy? A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Celik Mine , Dostbil Aysenur , Aksoy Mehmet , Ince Ilker , Ahiskalioglu Ali , Comez Mehmet , Erdem Ali Fuat
Published: January 2015

Background. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of common complications in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of subhypnotic (1 mg/kg/h) infusion of propofol with dexamethasone on PONV in patients undergoing LC.Methods. A total of 120 patients were included in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups; patients of group dexamethasone (group D) were administrated 8 mg dexamethasone before induction of anesthesia, patients of group propofol (group P) were infused to subhypnotic (1 mg/kg/h) propofol during operation and patients of group control (group C) were applied infusion of 10% intralipid. The incidence of PONV and needs for rescue analgesic and antiemetic were recorded in the first 24 h postoperatively.Results. In the 0–24 h, the incidence of PONV was significantly lower in the group D and group P compared with the group C (37.5%, 40%, and 72.5%, resp.). There was no significant difference in the incidence of PONV and use of antiemetics and analgesic between group D and group P.Conclusion. We concluded that infusion of propofol 1 mg/kg/h is as effective as dexamethasone for the prevention of PONV during the first 24 hours after anesthesia in patients undergoing LC.
Label-Free Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Reveals a Panel of Differentially Expressed Proteins in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Fan Nai-Jun , Gao Jiang-Ling , Liu Yan , Song Wei , Zhang Zhan-Yang , Gao Chun-Fang
Published: January 2015

To identify potential biomarkers involved in CRC, a shotgun proteomic method was applied to identify soluble proteins in three CRCs and matched normal mucosal tissues using high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Label-free protein profiling of three CRCs and matched normal mucosal tissues were then conducted to quantify and compare proteins. Results showed that 67 of the 784 identified proteins were linked to CRC (28 upregulated and 39 downregulated). Gene Ontology and DAVID databases were searched to identify the location and function of differential proteins that were related to the biological processes of binding, cell structure, signal transduction, cell adhesion, and so on. Among the differentially expressed proteins, tropomyosin-3 (TPM3), endoplasmic reticulum resident protein 29 (ERp29), 18 kDa cationic antimicrobial protein (CAMP), and heat shock 70 kDa protein 8 (HSPA8) were verified to be upregulated in CRC tissue and seven cell lines through western blot analysis. Furthermore, the upregulation of TPM3, ERp29, CAMP, and HSPA8 was validated in 69 CRCs byimmunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis. Combination of TPM3, ERp29, CAMP, and HSPA8 can identify CRC from matched normal mucosal achieving an accuracy of 73.2% using IHC score. These results suggest that TPM3, ERp29, CAMP, and HSPA8 are great potential IHC diagnostic biomarkers for CRC.
TOP2A Amplification and Overexpression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tissues
Authors: Panvichian Ravat , Tantiwetrueangdet Anchalee , Angkathunyakul Napat , Leelaudomlipi Surasak
Published: January 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide owing to limited insights into pathogenesis and unsatisfactory efficacy of current therapies. HER2 and TOP2A genes are coamplified in breast and some other cancers. In this study, we investigated gene aberrations of HER2 and TOP2A and protein expressions of HER2, TOP2A, Ki-67, and p53 in tumor and matched nontumor tissues, as well as their associations with clinicopathological features. Gene aberrations were evaluated by FISH and protein expressions by IHC. Neither HER2 overexpression nor HER2 gene amplification was observed in both tumor tissues and matched nontumor tissues. By contrast, TOP2A overexpression was detected in 72.5% of tumor tissues but not detected in matched nontumor tissues. However, TOP2A gene amplification was not observed in both tumor and matched nontumor tissues. TOP2A overexpression was significantly associated with HCC tumor tissues (P< 0.001), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the serum (P= 0.004), and Ki-67 (P= 0.038) but not with age, tumor size, alpha-fetoprotein, TP53, and copy number of TOP2A gene and chromosome 17 centromere. In conclusion, TOP2A overexpression in HCC was not secondary to gene amplification. In addition, neither HER2 amplification nor overexpression could be used as prognostic and predictive marker in HCC.
In VitroMetacyclogenesis ofLeishmania (Viannia) braziliensisandLeishmania (Leishmania) amazonensisClinical Field Isolates, as Evaluated by Morphology, Complement Resistance, and Infectivity to Human Macrophages
Authors: da Silva Ildefonso Alves , Morato Camila Imai , Quixabeira Valéria Bernadete Leite , Pereira Ledice Inácia de Araújo , Dorta Miriam Leandro , de Oliveira Milton Adriano Pelli , Horta Maria Fátima , Ribeiro-Dias Fátima
Published: January 2015

This study was designed to assessin vitrometacyclogenesis ofLeishmania (Viannia) braziliensisandLeishmania (Leishmania) amazonensisclinical field isolates obtained from patient lesions (L. braziliensisIMG3 and PPS6m;L. amazonensisMAB6). Metacyclogenesis was evaluated by different criteria, namely, promastigote size (morphometric analysis and flow cytometry), surface modifications (loss of lectin or monoclonal antibody (mAb) binding, complement resistance), and infectivity to human macrophages. Growth curves were similar for all parasites evaluated. The various features analyzed were expressed in a high percentage of promastigotes at 6th and 10th days of culture and a low percentage at the 2nd day. However, in most isolates, these features, considered as markers of metacyclogenesis, seemed to develop with different time courses, since the percentages of metacyclic forms detected with each technique were usually different. Parasites from 6th or 10th day and those negatively selected with lectin or mAb similarly infected human macrophages. From all isolates analyzed,L. amazonensisPH8 and MAB6 showed the highest and the lowest levels of susceptibility, respectively, to leishmanicidal activity of IFN-γ/LPS-activated macrophages. Our results showed that by using different techniques to evaluate different aspects of metacyclogenesis (morphological and biochemical modifications) different percentages of metacyclic promastigotes can be detected in each isolate culture.
Discrimination between Newly Formed and Aged Thrombi Using Empirical Mode Decomposition of Ultrasound B-Scan Image
Authors: Fang Jui , Wan Yung-Liang , Chen Chin-Kuo , Tsui Po-Hsiang
Published: January 2015

Ultrasound imaging is a first-line diagnostic method for screening the thrombus. During thrombus aging, the proportion of red blood cells (RBCs) in the thrombus decreases and therefore the signal intensity of B-scan can be used to detect the thrombus age. To avoid the effect of system gain on the measurements, this study proposed using the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) of ultrasound image as a strategy to classify newly formed and aged thrombi. Porcine blood samples were used for thein vitroinduction of fresh and aged thrombi (at hematocrits of 40%). Each thrombus was imaged using an ultrasound scanner at different gains (15, 20, and 30 dB). Then, EMD of ultrasound signals was performed to obtain the first and second intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), which were further used to calculate the IMF-based echogenicity ratio (IER). The results showed that the performance of using signal amplitude of B-scan to reflect the thrombus age depends on gain. However, the IER is less affected by the gain in discriminating between fresh and aged thrombi. In the future, ultrasound B-scan combined with the EMD may be used to identify the thrombus age for the establishment of thrombolytic treatment planning.
R990G Polymorphism of Calcium Sensing Receptor Gene Is Associated with High Parathyroid Hormone Levels in Subjects with Vitamin D Deficiency: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Majid Hafsa , Khan Aysha Habib , Moatter Tariq
Published: January 2015

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), R990G and A986S of the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) gene, are shown to influence response of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in subjects with optimal vitamin D levels. This cross-sectional study was conducted in subjects with vitamin D deficiency (VDD) to observe associations between CaSR polymorphisms, plasma iPTH, and serum calcium levels. Adult females (n=140) with known VDD, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and calcium levels were recruited for genotype analysis. The frequencies of the 986 alleles GG, GT, and TT were 68%, 25%, and 7%, respectively, whereas the frequencies of the 990 alleles AA, AG, and GG were 80%, 8.9%, and 11.1%, respectively. The subjects with GG genotype of R990G polymorphism had higher iPTH levels (148.65 versus 91.47 and 86.1 pg/mL for GG versus AA, AG, resp.,P= 0.008 ) and lower calcium levels (8.4 versus 9.04 and 9.07 mg/dL for GG versus AA, AG, resp.,P= 0.002). No such association of A986S polymorphism with plasma iPTH or serum calcium levels was observed in the present study. Patients with VDD bearing the GG genotype of R990G SNPs are prone to have higher iPTH levels and lower calcium.