bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clarithromycin Suppresses Chloride Channel Accessory 1 and Inhibits Interleukin-13-Induced Goblet Cell Hyperplasia in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells
Authors: Nagashima Akimichi , Shinkai Masaharu , Shinoda Masahiro , Shimokawaji Tadasuke , Kimura Yasuhiro , Mishina Kei , Sato Takashi , Toda Mariko , Inayama Yoshiaki , Rubin Bruce K. , Kaneko Takeshi
Published: August 2016

Activation of the interleukin-13 (IL-13) receptor leads to signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) activation and subsequent induction of SAM pointed domain containing ETS transcription factor (SPDEF) and chloride channel accessory 1 (CLCA1), increasing secretion of the gel-forming mucin MUC5AC. Activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) also leads to MUC5AC production via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2). We examined the effect of clarithromycin IL-13 signaling leading to production. Normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells were grown for 14 days at an air-liquid interface (ALI) with IL-13 and/or clarithromycin. Histochemical analysis was performed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and MUC5AC immunostaining. MUC5AC, SPDEF, and CLCA1 mRNA expression were evaluated by real-time PCR. Western analysis was used to assess phosphorylation of STAT6 and ERK1/2. Clarithromycin decreased IL-13-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and MUC5AC mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. Clarithromycin decreased IL-13-stimulated SPDEF and CLCA1 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner, and at 32 μg/ml CLCA1 was profoundly decreased (
P
< 0.001). Although clarithromycin had no effect on STAT6 phosphorylation induced by IL-13, it decreased constitutive phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (
P
< 0.05).
Emergence of NDM-5- and MCR-1-Producing Escherichia coli Clones ST648 and ST156 from a Single Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)
Authors: Yang Run-Shi , Feng Youjun , Lv Xiao-Yue , Duan Jia-Hong , Chen Jing , Fang Liang-Xing , Xia Jing , Liao Xiao-Ping , Sun Jian , Liu Ya-Hong
Published: August 2016

Two
Escherichia coli
clones (sequence type 648 [ST648] and ST156) that coproduce NDM-5 and MCR-1 were detected from a single fowl in China. The
bla
NDM-5
gene was found on the two indistinguishable IncX3 plasmids from the two different
E. coli
isolates, whereas the
mcr-1
gene was located on IncHI2 and IncI2 plasmids, respectively, suggesting that
bla
NDM-5
and
mcr-1
have spread in avian intestinal flora. Also, the two strains harbor
bla
TEM-1
,
bla
CTX-M-55
,
fosA3
, and
aac(6
′
)-Ib
. The multiresistant
E. coli
strains (especially the epidemic clone ST648) might raise a potential threat to human health via food chain transmission.
Chalcone Isomerase from Eubacterium ramulus Catalyzes the Ring Contraction of Flavanonols
Authors: Braune Annett , Engst Wolfram , Elsinghorst Paul W. , Furtmann Norbert , Bajorath Jürgen , Gütschow Michael , Blaut Michael
Published: August 2016

The enzyme catalyzing the ring-contracting conversion of the flavanonol taxifolin to the auronol alphitonin in the course of flavonoid degradation by the human intestinal anaerobe
Eubacterium ramulus
was purified and characterized. It stereospecifically catalyzed the isomerization of (+)-taxifolin but not that of (−)-taxifolin. The

K
m

for (+)-taxifolin was 6.4 ± 0.8 μM, and the
V
max
was 108 ± 4 μmol min
−1
(mg protein)
−1
. The enzyme also isomerized (+)-dihydrokaempferol, another flavanonol, to maesopsin. Inspection of the encoding gene revealed its complete identity to that of the gene encoding chalcone isomerase (CHI) from
E. ramulus
. Based on the reported X-ray crystal structure of CHI (M. Gall et al., Angew Chem Int Ed 53:1439–1442, 2014,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201306952
), docking experiments suggest the substrate binding mode of flavanonols and their stereospecific conversion. Mutation of the active-site histidine (His33) to alanine led to a complete loss of flavanonol isomerization by CHI, which indicates that His33 is also essential for this activity. His33 is proposed to mediate the stereospecific abstraction of a proton from the hydroxymethylene carbon of the flavanonol C-ring followed by ring opening and recyclization. A flavanonol-isomerizing enzyme was also identified in the flavonoid-converting bacterium
Flavonifractor plautii
based on its 50% sequence identity to the CHI from
E. ramulus
.

IMPORTANCE
Chalcone isomerase was known to be involved in flavone/flavanone conversion by the human intestinal bacterium
E. ramulus
. Here we demonstrate that this enzyme moreover catalyzes a key step in the breakdown of flavonols/flavanonols. Thus, a single isomerase plays a dual role in the bacterial conversion of dietary bioactive flavonoids. The identification of a corresponding enzyme in the human intestinal bacterium
F. plautii
suggests a more widespread occurrence of this isomerase in flavonoid-degrading bacteria.
Measurement of patient safety: a systematic review of the reliability and validity of adverse event detection with record review
Authors: Hanskamp-Sebregts Mirelle , Zegers Marieke , Vincent Charles , van Gurp Petra J , de Vet Henrica C W , Wollersheim Hub
Published: August 2016

Objectives

Record review is the most used method to quantify patient safety. We systematically reviewed the reliability and validity of adverse event detection with record review.

Design

A systematic review of the literature.

Methods

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library and from their inception through February 2015. We included all studies that aimed to describe the reliability and/or validity of record review. Two reviewers conducted data extraction. We pooled κ values (κ) and analysed the differences in subgroups according to number of reviewers, reviewer experience and training level, adjusted for the prevalence of adverse events.

Results

In 25 studies, the psychometric data of the Global Trigger Tool (GTT) and the Harvard Medical Practice Study (HMPS) were reported and 24 studies were included for statistical pooling. The inter-rater reliability of the GTT and HMPS showed a pooled κ of 0.65 and 0.55, respectively. The inter-rater agreement was statistically significantly higher when the group of reviewers within a study consisted of a maximum five reviewers. We found no studies reporting on the validity of the GTT and HMPS.

Conclusions

The reliability of record review is moderate to substantial and improved when a small group of reviewers carried out record review. The validity of the record review method has never been evaluated, while clinical data registries, autopsy or direct observations of patient care are potential reference methods that can be used to test concurrent validity.
Impact of ASPECT scores and infarct distribution on outcomes among patients undergoing thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke with the ADAPT technique
Authors: Hungerford John P , Hyer Madison , Turk Aquilla S , Turner Raymond D , Chaudry M Imran , Fargen Kyle M , Spiotta Alejandro M
Published: August 2016

Objective

To investigate the associations between Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) or distribution and sidedness of acute infarction and clinical outcomes following intervention with a direct aspiration first pass technique (ADAPT).

Methods

A review was performed of patients who had undergone thrombectomy with ADAPT for emergent large vessel occlusions of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) between December 2012 and May 2015. Preintervention CT scans were reviewed by a blinded radiologist to calculate ASPECTS and determine the distribution of infarction. Clinical outcomes were compared for subsets of patients depending upon ASPECTS and regional infarction distribution (cortical, subcortical, or both).

Results

One hundred and fifty-four patients (50% female, mean age 67) underwent thrombectomy using ADAPT for MCA emergent large vessel occlusion. The median presenting National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score was 15. Fifty-five per cent of patients had left-side occlusions. Similar good outcomes were achieved for patients with perfect and non-perfect ASPECTS (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–2: 63% vs 51%, respectively; p=0.20). Similar outcomes were also achieved for patients with ‘poor’ ASPECTS (≤6) compared with those with ASPECTS >6 (mRS 0–2: 52% vs 53%, respectively; p=0.91). Regional distribution and sidedness of core infarction on preintervention CT also did not correlate with worse outcomes.

Conclusions

Patients with moderate-sized core infarcts involving various distributions in either hemisphere can potentially achieve similar good outcomes compared with those with no core infarction at presentation. A treatment algorithm for acute ischemic stroke, which employs hardline ASPECTS thresholds or excludes patients with basal ganglia infarcts, might preclude patients who would potentially benefit from mechanical thrombectomy with ADAPT.
Risk stratification with exercise N13-ammonia PET in adults with anomalous right coronary arteries
Authors: Cremer Paul C , Mentias Amgad , Koneru Srikanth , Schoenhagen Paul , Majdalany David , Lorber Richard , Flamm Scott D , Hobbs Robert E , Pettersson Gosta , Jaber Wael A
Published: August 2016

Objective

In adults with an interarterial and intramural course of an anomalous right coronary artery from the left sinus (AAORCA), surgical unroofing is recommended in the setting of myocardial ischaemia. However, data regarding functional testing are limited, and the management of adults without ischaemia is unclear. To evaluate these patients, we employed an exercise N13-ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) protocol. We hypothesised that patients with typical angina and exertional dyspnoea would be more likely to have ischaemia and that patients without ischaemia could be managed conservatively.

Methods

Between July 2008 and December 2014, we retrospectively identified 27 consecutive patients >18 years old with an interarterial and intramural course of an AAORCA who had exercise N13-ammonia PET.

Results

The majority of patients had anatomic delineation with cardiac CT (25, 93%), and most patients had chest pain (24, 89%). Myocardial ischaemia with PET was common (13, 48%), and ischaemia was more likely in patients with typical angina and exertional dyspnoea (p<0.05). Surgery was performed in 12 patients including 11 patients with ischaemia. At a median follow-up of 245 days, there were no deaths in patients with surgery or in patients managed conservatively.

Conclusions

In patients with an interarterial and intramural course of an AAORCA, typical angina and exertional dyspnoea are associated with ischaemia on exercise N13-ammonia PET. Referral for surgical unroofing in symptomatic patients with ischaemia on exercise N13-ammonia PET and initial conservative management in patients without ischaemia seems appropriate, though larger studies with long-term follow-up are needed.
De novo balanced complex chromosome rearrangements involving chromosomes 1B and 3B of wheat and 1R of rye
Authors: Ren Tianheng , Li Zhi , Yan Benju , Tan Feiquan , Tang Zongxiang , Fu Shulan , Yang Manyu , Ren Zhenglong
Published: August 2016

Complex chromosome rearrangements (CCRs) are defined as structural abnormalities involving more than two chromosome breaks, coupled with exchanges of chromosomal segments. Information on CCRs in plants is limited. In the present study, a plant (26-4) harboring translocation chromosomes 1RS.1BL and 4RS.4DL was selected from a double monosomic (1R and 4R) addition line, which was derived from the hybrid between wheat cultivar MY11 and a Chinese local rye variety. The genome of the plant with double alien translocation chromosomes in the monosomic form showed more instability than that harboring a single translocation. The CCRs involving chromosomes 1RS.1BL and 3B, which were generated de novo in this plant, showed double monosomic translocation chromosomes. A new CCR line with balanced reciprocal translocations 1RS.3BL and 3BS.1BL was developed, which presented normal morphological traits of wheat and underwent rapid growth in the field. A new 1RS.1BL translocation line was also selected from the progeny of plant 26-4. The CCRs and simple 1RS.1BL translocation lines showed significant improvement in grain yield, number of spikes per square meter, kernel number per spike, and resistance to stripe rust and powdery mildew. The CCR line exhibited better agronomic traits and adult plant resistance in the field than its sister line, which harbored a simple 1RS.1BL translocation. The CCRs are remarkable genetic resources for crop improvement.
Seizures Start without Common Signatures of Critical Transition
Authors: Milanowski Piotr , Suffczynski Piotr
Published: August 2016

Complex dynamical systems may exhibit sudden autonomous changes from one state to another. Such changes that occur rapidly in comparison to the regular dynamics have been termed critical transitions. Examples of such phenomena can be found in many complex systems: changes in climate and ocean circulation, changes in wildlife populations, financial crashes, as well as in medical conditions like asthma attacks and depression. It has been recognized that critical transitions, even if they arise in completely different contexts and situations, share several common attributes and also generic early-warning signals that indicate that a critical transition is approaching. In the present study, we review briefly the general characteristics that have been observed in systems prior to critical transitions and apply these general indicators to nearly 300 epileptic seizures collected from human subjects using invasive EEG. Only in about 8% of the patients was evidence of critical transitions found. In the remaining majority of cases no early warning signals that behaved consistently prior to seizures were observed. These results do not rule out the possibility of critical transitions to seizure but point to limited relevance of their early warning signals in the context of human epilepsy observed using intracranial EEG recordings.
Neural Activity Elicited by a Cognitive Task can be Detected in Single-Trials with Simultaneous Intracerebral EEG-fMRI Recordings
Authors: Saignavongs Mani , Ciumas Carolina , Petton Mathilde , Bouet Romain , Boulogne Sébastien , Rheims Sylvain , Carmichael David W. , Lachaux Jean-Philippe , Ryvlin Philippe
Published: August 2016

Recent studies have shown that it is feasible to record simultaneously intracerebral EEG (icEEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in patients with epilepsy. While it has mainly been used to explore the hemodynamic changes associated with epileptic spikes, this approach could also provide new insight into human cognition. However, the first step is to ensure that cognitive EEG components, that have lower amplitudes than epileptic spikes, can be appropriately detected under fMRI. We compared the high frequency activities (HFA, 50–150[Formula: see text]Hz) elicited by a reading task in icEEG-only and subsequent icEEG-fMRI in the same patients ([Formula: see text]), implanted with depth electrodes. Comparable responses were obtained, with 71% of the recording sites that responded during the icEEG-only session also responding during the icEEG-fMRI session. For all the remaining sites, nearby clusters (distant of 7[Formula: see text]mm or less) also demonstrated significant HFA increase during the icEEG-fMRI session. Significant HFA increases were also observable at the single-trial level in icEEG-fMRI recordings. Our results show that low-amplitude icEEG signal components such as cognitive-induced HFAs can be reliably recorded with simultaneous fMRI. This paves the way for the use of icEEG-fMRI to address various fundamental and clinical issues, notably the identification of the neural correlates of the BOLD signal.
Modulation of magnetotransport in asymmetrically coupled double quantum dot system
Authors: Liao Yan-Hua , Huang Jin , Wang Wei-Zhong
Published: August 2016

We study the transport properties in double quantum dots asymmetrically coupled to leads in magnetic field. We focus on the situation in which the second dot (QD2) couples with the leads with a weak hybridization function. The results shows that by tuning the energy level [Formula: see text] of QD2 one can control the conductance and its spin polarization of the system. In the absence of magnetic field [Formula: see text], with increasing [Formula: see text], the conductance shows a dip structure. This behavior of conductance results from a continuous triplet–doublet quantum phase transition. In the presence of magnetic field [Formula: see text], we obtain a perfect spin filtering with a fully-polarized conductance of up-spin or down-spin.
Classification of flat connected quandles
Authors: Singh Mahender
Published: August 2016

Let [Formula: see text] be an additive abelian group. Then the binary operation [Formula: see text] gives a quandle structure on [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], and called the Takasaki quandle of [Formula: see text]. Viewing quandles as generalization of Riemannian symmetric spaces, Ishihara and Tamaru [Flat connected finite quandles, to appear in Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. (2016)] introduced flat quandles, and classified quandles which are finite, flat and connected. In this note, we classify all flat connected quandles. More precisely, we prove that a quandle [Formula: see text] is flat and connected if and only if [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a 2-divisible group.
BOX DIMENSIONS OF α-FRACTAL FUNCTIONS
Authors: AKHTAR MD. NASIM , PRASAD M. GURU PREM , NAVASCUÉS M. A.
Published: August 2016

The box dimension of the graph of non-affine, continuous, nowhere differentiable function [Formula: see text] which is a fractal analogue of a continuous function [Formula: see text] corresponding to a certain iterated function system (IFS), is investigated in the present paper. The estimates for box dimension of the graph of [Formula: see text]-fractal function [Formula: see text] for equally spaced as well as arbitrary data sets are found.
Stochastic differential games with inside information
Authors: Draouil Olfa , Øksendal Bernt
Published: August 2016

We study stochastic differential games of jump diffusions, where the players have access to inside information. Our approach is based on anticipative stochastic calculus, white noise, Hida–Malliavin calculus, forward integrals and the Donsker delta functional. We obtain a characterization of Nash equilibria of such games in terms of the corresponding Hamiltonians. This is used to study applications to insider games in finance, specifically optimal insider consumption and optimal insider portfolio under model uncertainty.
Application of Extreme Learning Machine to Damage Detection of Plate-Like Structures
Authors: Kourehli S. S.
Published: August 2016

An effective method for damage detection of plate structures using the extreme learning machine (ELM) is proposed in this study. With the ELM, the mode shapes and natural frequencies of a damaged plate are treated as the input and the damage states in the plate elements as the output. The proposed method was applied to two numerical examples, namely, a cantilever and a plate with four-fixed supports containing one or several damages with and without noise in the modal data. The results obtained reveal that the methodology can be used as an effective technique for the damage identification of plate structures using the modal data and ELM.
Differential operators on the supercircle S1|2 and symbol map
Authors: Hamza Raouafi , Selmi Zeineb , Boujelben Jamel
Published: August 2016

We consider the supercircle [Formula: see text] equipped with the standard contact structure. The conformal Lie superalgebra [Formula: see text] acts on [Formula: see text] as the Lie superalgebra of contact vector fields; it contains the M[Formula: see text]bius superalgebra [Formula: see text]. We study the space of linear differential operators on weighted densities as a module over [Formula: see text]. We introduce the canonical isomorphism between this space and the corresponding space of symbols. This result allows us to give, in contrast to the classical setting, a classification of the [Formula: see text]-modules [Formula: see text] of linear differential operators of order [Formula: see text] acting on the superspaces of weighted densities. This work is the simplest superization of a result by Gargoubi and Ovsienko [Modules of differential operators on the real line, Funct. Anal. Appl. 35(1) (2001) 13–18.]
On a type of spacetime
Authors: De Uday Chand , Velimirović Ljubica , Mallick Sahanous
Published: August 2016

The object of the present paper is to study a spacetime admitting conharmonic curvature tensor and some geometric properties related to this spacetime. It is shown that in a conharmonically flat spacetime with cyclic parallel Ricci tensor, the energy–momentum tensor is cyclic parallel and conversely. Finally, we prove that for a radiative perfect fluid spacetime if the energy–momentum tensor satisfying the Einstein’s equations without cosmological constant is generalized recurrent, then the fluid has vanishing vorticity and the integral curves of the vector field [Formula: see text] are geodesics.
Lorentz force and ponderomotive force in the presence of a minimal length
Authors: Khosropour Behrooz
Published: August 2016

In this work, according to the electromagnetic field tensor in the framework of generalized uncertainty principle (GUP), we obtain the Lorentz force and Faraday’s law of induction in the presence of a minimal length. Also, the ponderomotive force and ponderomotive pressure in the presence of a measurable minimal length are found. It is shown that in the limit [Formula: see text], the generalized Lorentz force and ponderomotive force become the usual forms. The upper bound on the isotropic minimal length is estimated.
Ru(II) Polypyridyl Complexes-Sensitized TiO2Nanotubes for Photoreduction of CO2Aqueous Solution
Authors: Nie Yan , Wang Chen , Li Jun , Ma Xiao-Xun
Published: August 2016

Ruthenium (II) polypyridyl complexes modified titanium dioxide materials with anatase phase, the length of 10–100[Formula: see text]nm, were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. Photocatalytic CO2reduction experiments were performed in sensitized TiO2aqueous suspensions under UV–Vis light in closed systems. And only methanol was detected in the liquid phase under the experiment condition. The effect of different photosensitizers content on the photoactivity of TiO2was also studied, showing that Ru(BiDiPy)2(NCS)2sensitized TiO2was the optimal photocatalyst in transformation of CO2to methanol. A possible mechanism for the photocatalytic reduction was also proposed in this paper.
A new peridynamic formulation with shear deformation for elastic solid
Authors: Ren Huilong , Zhuang Xiaoying , Rabczuk Timon
Published: August 2016

We propose a new peridynamic formulation with shear deformation for linear elastic solid. The key idea lies in subtracting the rigid body rotation part from the total deformation. Based on the strain energy equivalence between classic local model and non-local model, the bond force vector is derived. A new damage rule of maximal deviatoric bond strain for elastic brittle fracture is proposed in order to account for both the tensile damage and shear damage. 2D and 3D numerical examples are tested to verify the accuracy of the current peridynamics. The new damage rule is applied to simulate the propagation of Mode I, II and III cracks.
Loss of CTRP1 disrupts glucose and lipid homeostasis
Authors: Rodriguez Susana , Lei Xia , Petersen Pia S. , Tan Stefanie Y. , Little Hannah C. , Wong G. William
Published: August 2016

C1q/TNF-related protein 1 (CTRP1) is a conserved plasma protein of the C1q family with notable metabolic and cardiovascular functions. We have previously shown that CTRP1 infusion lowers blood glucose and that transgenic mice with elevated circulating CTRP1 are protected from diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Here, we used a genetic loss-of-function mouse model to address the requirement of CTRP1 for metabolic homeostasis. Despite similar body weight, food intake, and energy expenditure, Ctrp1 knockout (KO) mice fed a low-fat diet developed insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. Impaired glucose metabolism in Ctrp1 KO mice was associated with increased hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression and decreased skeletal muscle glucose transporter glucose transporter 4 levels and AMP-activated protein kinase activation. Loss of CTRP1 enhanced the clearance of orally administered lipids but did not affect intestinal lipid absorption, hepatic VLDL-triglyceride export, or lipoprotein lipase activity. In contrast to triglycerides, hepatic cholesterol levels were reduced in Ctrp1 KO mice, paralleling the reduced expression of cholesterol synthesis genes. Contrary to expectations, when challenged with a high-fat diet to induce obesity, Ctrp1 KO mice had increased physical activity and reduced body weight, adiposity, and expression of lipid synthesis and fibrotic genes in adipose tissue; these phenotypes were linked to elevated FGF-21 levels. Due in part to increased hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase activation and reduced expression of lipid synthesis genes, Ctrp1 KO mice fed a high-fat diet also had reduced liver and serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Taken together, these results provide genetic evidence to establish the significance of CTRP1 to systemic energy metabolism in different metabolic and dietary contexts.
The Reliability of Highly Elevated CA 19‐9 Levels
Authors: Osswald B. R. , Klee F. E. , Wysocki S.
Published: August 2016

CA 19‐9 is used as a tumour marker of the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, extremely elevated CA 19‐9 levels are found also in patients with benign diseases. Cholestasis was present in 97.1 % of patients with high elevated CA 19‐9, independent of their primary disease. 50% of patients with non‐malignant diseases and increased CA 19‐9 levels showed liver cirrhosis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis and/or hepatitis. In 8.8% no explanation was found for the extremely high CA 19‐9 level. The results provide evidence of different factors influencing the CA 19‐9 level.
Serological Markers for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Ng J. S. Y. , Sturgeon C. M. , Seth J. , Paterson G. M. , Roulston J. E. , Leonard R. C. F.
Published: August 2016

Three serum markers, TPS, CA 15.3 and CEA, were used to monitor the response to treatment of 20 patients with metastatic breast cancer. At the time of the first evidence of metastases or at the time of progression of known metastatic disease, 84% of TPS values were above the reference limit, as compared to 74% for CA 15.3 and 84% forCEA. If the treatment instituted was effective, 60% of TPS values showed an early (within 2 or 3 weeks after commencement or change of therapy) reduction in level against only 27% of CA 15.3 and 27% of CEA levels. This suggests that TPS provides a more sensitive and earlier predictor of therapeutic response. In patients with clinical evidence of further progression of disease while on therapy , 86% ofTPS values showed persistent elevation or increase, as compared to 71 % of CA 15.3 levels and only 36% ofCEA levels. It was also noted in these patients that TPS values rose earlier than either CA 15.3 or CEA. This indicates that TPS is a more reliable predictor of response to treatment than the other two markers. In addition, we found that, at the time of presentation, in women who had visceral metastases (liver, lung, or brain alone or in combination), 87% ofTPS values were raised, as compared to 80% of CA 15.3 and 73% of CEA values. In women who had bone and soft tissue metastases at presentation, 75% ofTPS values were elevated, against 50% ofCA 15.3 and 75% of CEA values. We also noted that in patients without raised TPS levels, the sites of subsequent disease progression were limited to bones, regional lymph nodes, skin and soft tissues.
A Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (SOD2) Gene Polymorphism in Insulin‐Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Pociot Flemming , Lorenzen Tove , Nerup JøRn
Published: August 2016

Interleukin I (lL‐I) is selectively cytotoxic to the insulin producing beta cell of pancreatic islets. This effect may be due to IL‐I induced generation of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide. Since beta cells contain low amounts of the superoxide radical scavenger enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), this may leave beta cells more susceptible to IL‐I than other cell types. Genetic variation in the MnSOD locus could reflect differences in scavenger potential. We, therefore, studied possible restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of this locus in patients with insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (100M) (n= 154) and control individuals (n=178), Taql revealed a double diallelic RFLP in patients as well as in controls. No overall difference in allelic or genotype frequencies were observed between 100M patients and control individuals (p=0.11) and no significant association of any particular RFLP pattern with 100M was found. Structurally polymorphic MnSOD protein variants with altered activities have been reported. If genetic variation results in MnSOD variants with reduced activities, the MnSOD locus may still be a candidate gene for 100M susceptibility. Whether the RFLPs reported in this study reflects differences in gene expression level, protein level and/or specific activity of the protein is yet to be studied.
Maternal HLA‐DR Homozygosity is not Associated with an Increased Risk of Fetal Loss
Authors: Kilpatrick David C.
Published: August 2016

An attractive but controversial hypothesis holds that HLA similarit\ between mother and offspring predisposes to early fetal loss, Against this background, Hoff et al. ( 1992) have reported a significant association between maternal HLA‐DR homozygosity and fetal loss in a cohort of multigravid American women, To re‐examine this finding independently, a similar investigation was carried out on a comparable group of British subjects. The HLA‐DR data of 75 multigravid women were analysed: the proportion of women who had experienced fetal loss did not differ between HLA‐DR homozygous and heterozygous subjects.
Follow-Up of 53 Alzheimer Patients with the MODA (Milan Overall Dementia Assessment)
Authors: Capitani E. , Manzoni L. , Spinnler H.
Published: August 2016

Fifty-three patients affected by Alzheimer’s disease entered a longitudinal survey aimed at studying which factors influence the rate of progression, assessed by means of the Milan Overall Dementia Assessment (MODA). The second examination was carried out, on average, after 16 months from the first assessment. Only age proved to influence the decline rate, which was faster in elders.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in a Woman with Left Basal Ganglia Infarct: A Case Report
Authors: Lopez-Rodriguez Faustino , Gunay Ibrahim , Glaser Nancy
Published: August 2016

This report presents a syndrome resembling obsessive convulsive disorder (OCD) secondary to a stroke in the left basal ganglia. The patient's syndrome is virtually identical to those that have been described in bilateral damage of the basal ganglia. However, the stroke described in this case report is located unilaterally in the left basal ganglia. In addition, experience in treating a patient with OCD induced by structural damage of basal ganglia is presented.
Differential Effects of an Alpha-2 Agonist on Wakefulness and Paradoxical Sleep in The Rat: A Polygraphic and Biochemical Approach
Authors: de Saint Hilaire Z. , Karege F. , Gaillard J.-M. , Blois R.
Published: August 2016

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the sensitivity of wakefulness and paradoxical sleep to the α2-agonist, c1onidine. The drug inhibited both wakefulness and paradoxical sleep but the smallest dose necessary to inhibit wakefulness was 64 times larger than the smallest dose inhibiting paradoxical sleep. The effect on paradoxical sleep was inhibitory for all the clonidine doses but wakefulness was enhanced transiently after the four largest doses used. The time between injection and maximum wakefulness enhancement was highly correlated with the dose of c1onidine. The brain level measured after these four different doses at the moment of maximum wakefulness enhancement was the same, suggesting that this effect occurred only when a critical concentration of the drug was attained in the brain and not when the concentration was higher or lower. These data suggest that different α2-adrenoceptors are involved in these two states of vigilance or, alternatively, that their sensitivity is modulated physiologically. In addition, a sensitivity imbalance between different α2-adrenoceptors may exist in wakefulness but not in paradoxical sleep.
Alois Alzheimer and Gaetano Perusini: Should Man Divide What Fate United?
Authors: Macchi G. , Brahe C. , Pomponi M.
Published: August 2016

Three points of interest lie in considering how Alzheimer, and more significantly Perusini, struggled to throw light on the cause of this devastating disease. There is a stimulating possibility that Perusini believed presenile forms of Alzheimer’s disease described the same disease as senile forms. If so this would anticipate current opinion, and reveal Perusini to dissent from Kraepelin. In addition, Perusini may have understood the pathological relationship between neuritic plaques and vascular changes, once more foreseeing the modern view of Alzheimer’s disease. Finally, Perusini and Alzheimer disagreed with Jung's view concerning the relationship between neuropathology and clinical psychiatry. This point highlights the major change occurring at that time from classical neurology to the psychoanalytic era. In his last work (1911) Alzheimer quoted his Italian disciple many times, even speaking of ‘Perusini's cases’ (Perusinischen Fälle). This article is an attempt to change the eponym of Alzheimer’s disease into the Alzheimer-Perusini disease. This is a brief history of a master and his disciple, whose scientific lives were, by events, divided.
Electrochemical and Microstructural Analysis of FeS Films from Acidic Chemical Bath at Varying Temperatures, pH, and Immersion Time
Authors: Khaksar Ladan , Whelan Gary , Shirokoff John
Published: August 2016

The corrosion resistance and corrosion products of 4130 alloy steel have been investigated by depositing thin films of iron sulfide synthesized from an acidic chemical bath. Tests were conducted at varying temperatures (25°C–75°C), pH levels (2–4), and immersion time (24–72 hours). The corrosion behavior was monitored by linear polarization resistance (LPR) method. X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) have been applied to characterize the corrosion products. The results show that, along with the formation of an iron sulfide protective film on the alloy surface, increasing temperature, increasing immersion time, and decreasing pH all directly increase the corrosion rate of steel in the tested experimental conditions. It was also concluded that increasing temperature causes an initial increase of the corrosion rate followed by a large decrease due to transformation of the iron sulfide crystalline structure.
Polymorphisms of Vitamin D Signaling Pathway Genes and Calcium-Sensing Receptor Gene in respect to Survival of Hemodialysis Patients: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Grzegorzewska Alicja E. , Świderska Monika K. , Mostowska Adrianna , Warchoł Wojciech , Jagodziński Paweł P.
Published: August 2016

We evaluated in the 7-year prospective study whether variants in vitamin D pathway genes and calcium-sensing receptor gene (CASR) are determinants of mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients (n=532). HRM analysis was used for GC rs2298849, GC rs1155563, RXRA rs10776909, RXRA rs10881578, and CASR rs7652589 genotyping. GC rs7041, RXRA rs749759, VDR rs2228570, and VDR rs1544410 were genotyped using PCR-RFLP analysis. The minor allele in GC rs2298849 was associated with all-cause mortality in univariate analysis (HR 1.330, 95% CI 1.046–1.692, P=0.020). Bearers of the minor allele in GC rs2298849 demonstrated higher infection/neoplasm mortality than major allele homozygotes also in multivariate analysis (HR 2.116, 95% CI 1.096–4.087, P=0.026). Cardiovascular mortality was associated with major homozygosity (CC) in VDR rs2228570 (HR 1.896, 95% CI 1.163–3.091, P=0.010). CC genotype patients were more often dyslipidemic than TT genotype subjects (46.1% versus 31.9%, P=0.047). Dyslipidemics showed higher frequency of rs1544410_rs2228570 haplotype AC than nondyslipidemics (26 versus 18%, Pcorr=0.005), whereas TT genotype patients were at lower risk of dyslipidemia compared with CC/CT genotype patients (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.37–0.96, P=0.04). In conclusion, GC rs2298849 and VDR rs2228570 SNPs are associated with survival on HD. VDR-related cardiovascular mortality may occur due to connections of rs2228570 with dyslipidemia.
Improvement in Cerebral and Ocular Hemodynamics Early after Carotid Endarterectomy in Patients of Severe Carotid Artery Stenosis with or without Contralateral Carotid Occlusion
Authors: Wang Jian , Wang Weici , Jin Bi , Zhang Yanrong , Xu Ping , Xiang Feixiang , Zheng Yi , Chen Juan , Sheng Shi , Ouyang Chenxi , Li Yiqing
Published: August 2016

Purpose. To investigate the alternation in cerebral and ocular blood flow velocity (BFV) in patients of carotid stenosis (CS) with or without contralateral carotid occlusion (CO) early after carotid endarterectomy (CEA).Patients and Methods. Nineteen patients underwent CEA for ≥50% CS. Fourteen patients had the unilateral CS, and five patients had the ipsilateral CS and the contralateral CO. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and Color Doppler Imaging (CDI) were performed before and early after CEA.Results. In patients with unilateral CS, significant improvements in BFV were observed in anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) on the ipsilateral side after CEA. In patients of ipsilateral CS and contralateral CO, significant improvements in BFV were observed in the ACA and MCA not only on the ipsilateral side but also on the contralateral side postoperatively. The ipsilateral ophthalmic artery (OA) retrograde flows in two patients were recovered to anterograde direction following CEA. The BFV in short posterior ciliary artery (SPCA) of the ipsilateral side significantly increased postoperatively irrespective of the presence of contralateral CO.Conclusions. CEA improved cerebral anterior circulation hemodynamics especially in patients of unilateral CS and contralateral CO, normalized the OA reverse flow, and increased the blood perfusion of SPCA.
A Weighted Block Dictionary Learning Algorithm for Classification
Authors: Shi Zhongrong
Published: August 2016

Discriminative dictionary learning, playing a critical role in sparse representation based classification, has led to state-of-the-art classification results. Among the existing discriminative dictionary learning methods, two different approaches, shared dictionary and class-specific dictionary, which associate each dictionary atom to all classes or a single class, have been studied. The shared dictionary is a compact method but with lack of discriminative information; the class-specific dictionary contains discriminative information but consists of redundant atoms among different class dictionaries. To combine the advantages of both methods, we propose a new weighted block dictionary learning method. This method introduces proto dictionary and class dictionary. The proto dictionary is a base dictionary without label information. The class dictionary is a class-specific dictionary, which is a weighted proto dictionary. The weight value indicates the contribution of each proto dictionary block when constructing a class dictionary. These weight values can be computed conveniently as they are designed to adapt sparse coefficients. Different class dictionaries have different weight vectors but share the same proto dictionary, which results in higher discriminative power and lower redundancy. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has better classification results compared with several dictionary learning algorithms.
Studies of Two-Phase Flow at a Chute Aerator with Experiments and CFD Modelling
Authors: Teng Penghua , Yang James , Pfister Michael
Published: August 2016

The chute aerator of a spillway is a structure in such a sense that air is, in the intense emulsification, entrained into the high-velocity water flow. Correctly predicting the air entrainment and two-phase flow pattern at the aerator would contribute to reliable spillway operation. Based on experimental data, 2D numerical simulations are preformed to predict streamwise air concentrations in the aerated flow, in which a two-fluid model is used. Depending on the air bubble size, relatively good agreement is seen with the experiments in the air cavity zone. The simulations give rise to higher air concentration downstream of the cavity, which is presumably due to underestimation of the interfacial forces in the two-fluid model.
The Research on Ticket Fare Optimization for China’s High-Speed Train
Authors: Zheng Jinzi , Liu Jun
Published: August 2016

With the constant deepening of the railway reform in China, the competition between railway passenger transportation and other modes of passenger transportation has been getting fiercer. In this situation, the existing unitary and changeless fare structure gradually becomes the prevention of railway revenue increase and railway system development. This paper examines a new method for ticket fare optimization strategy based on the revenue management theory. On the premise that only one fare grade can be offered for each OD at the same time, this paper addresses the questions of how to determine the number of fare grades and the price of each fare grade. First, on the basis of piecewise pricing strategy, we build a ticket fare optimization model. After transforming this model to a convex program, we solve the original problem by finding the Kuhn-Tucker (K-T) point of the convex program. Finally, we verify the proposed method by real data of Beijing-Shanghai HSR line. The calculating result shows that our pricing strategy can not only increase the revenue, but also play a part in regulating the existing demand and stimulating potential demand.
Cardiac Relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Facenda-Lorenzo María , Sánchez-Quintana Ana , Quijada-Fumero Alejandro , Laynez-Carnicero Ana , Breña-Atienza Joaquín , Poncela-Mireles Francisco J. , Llanos-Gómez Juan M. , Cabello-Rodríguez Ana I. , Ramos-López María
Published: August 2016

Secondary or metastatic cardiac tumors are much more common than primary benign or malignant cardiac tumors. Any tumor can cause myocardial or pericardial metastasis, although isolated or combined tumor invasion of the pericardium is more common. Types of neoplasia with the highest rates of cardiac or pericardial involvement are melanoma, lung cancer, and breast and mediastinal carcinomas. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. Initial treatment involves chemotherapy followed by consolidation treatment to reduce the risk of relapse. In high-risk patients, the treatment of choice for consolidation is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Relapse of AML is the most common cause of HSCT failure. Extramedullary relapse is rare. The organs most frequently affected, called “sanctuaries,” are the testes, ovaries, and central nervous system. We present a case with extramedullary relapse in the form of a solid cardiac mass.
Model Predictive Control Algorithm Based on Off-Line Region Dependency
Authors: Kim Sung Hyun
Published: August 2016

This paper presents an efficient MPC algorithm for uncertain time-varying systems with input constraints. The main advantage of this algorithm with respect to other published algorithms is to significantly enlarge the size of the stabilization set without regard to computational burdens. Specially, we introduce an off-line region-dependent MPC scheme to avoid the size limitation of the control horizon caused by huge on-line computational burdens. A numerical example is included to illustrate the validity of the result.
An Unusual Cause of Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Acute Esophageal Necrosis
Authors: Kalva Nikhil R. , Tokala Madhusudhan R. , Dhillon Sonu , Pisoh Watcoun-Nchinda , Walayat Saqib , Vanar Vishwas , Puli Srinivas R.
Published: August 2016

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), also called “black esophagus,” is a condition characterized by circumferential necrosis of the esophagus with universal distal involvement and variable proximal extension with clear demarcation at the gastroesophageal junction. It is an unusual cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and is recognized with distinct and striking mucosal findings on endoscopy. The patients are usually older and are critically ill with shared comorbidities, which include atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic renal insufficiency, and malnutrition. Alcoholism and substance abuse could be seen in younger patients. Patients usually have systemic hypotension along with upper abdominal pain in the background of clinical presentation of hematemesis and melena. The endoscopic findings confirm the diagnosis and biopsy is not always necessary unless clinically indicated in atypical presentations. Herein we present two cases with distinct clinical presentation and discuss the endoscopic findings along with a review of the published literature on the management of AEN.
The Combination Therapy of Dissolution Using Carbonated Liquid and Endoscopic Procedure for Bezoars: Pragmatical and Clinical Review
Authors: Ogawa Kohei , Kamimura Kenya , Mizuno Ken-ichi , Shinagawa Yoko , Kobayashi Yuji , Abe Hiroyuki , Watanabe Yukari , Takahashi Shunsaku , Hayashi Kazunao , Yokoyama Junji , Takeuchi Manabu , Kobayashi Masaaki , Yamagiwa Satoshi , Sato Yuichi , Terai Shuji
Published: August 2016

Bezoars are relatively rare foreign bodies of gastrointestinal tract and often cause ileus and ulcerative lesions in the stomach and subsequent bleeding and perforation due to their size and stiffness. Therefore, the removal of bezoars is essential and recent development of devices, the endoscopic removal procedure, is often applied. However, due to their stiffness, simple endoscopic removal failed in not a few cases, and surgical removal has also been used. Recently, the efficacy of a combination therapy of endoscopic procedure and dissolution using carbonated liquid has been reported. To develop the safe and effective removal procedure, we carefully reviewed a total of 55 reported cases in this study including our 3 additional cases, successfully treated with dissolution with endoscopic fragmentation. In summary, the data showed the efficiency in the combination therapy, treating the larger size of bezoar and reducing the length of hospital stay. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest pragmatical and clinical review for the combination therapy of dissolution and endoscopic treatment for bezoars. This review should help physicians to manage bezoars more efficiently.