bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Olive Oil Total Phenolic Contents and Sensory Sensations Trends during Oven and Microwave Heating Processes and Their Discrimination Using an Electronic Tongue
Authors: Prata Rafaela , Pereira José A. , Rodrigues Nuno , Dias Luís G. , Veloso Ana C. A. , Casal Susana , Peres António M.
Published: February 2018

Olive oil has unique organoleptic attributes and its consumption is associated with nutritional and health benefits, which are mainly related to its rich composition in phenolic and volatile compounds. The use of olive oil in heat-induced cooking leads to deep reduction of phenolic and volatile concentrations and to changes of the sensory profiles. This work confirmed that oven and microwave heating significantly reduced total phenolic contents (P value < 0.0001, one-way ANOVA), more pronounced in the latter, together with a significant reduction of the intensity of fruity, sweet, bitter, pungent, and green attributes (P value < 0.0001, Kruskal-Wallis test), particularly for fruity and green sensations. Besides, bitter, fruity, green, and pungent intensities showed a linear dependency with the total phenolic contents (0.8075≤R-Pearson ≤ 0.9694). Finally, the potentiometric electronic tongue together with linear discriminant analysis-simulated annealing algorithm allowed satisfactory discrimination (sensitivities of 94±4%, for repeated K-fold cross-validation) of olive oils subjected to intense microwave heating (5–10 min, 160–205°C) from those processed under usual cooking conditions (oven heating during 15–60 min or microwave heating during 1.5–3 min, 72–165°C). This could be due to the different responses of the electronic tongue towards olive oils with diverse phenolic and sensory profiles.
High Pressure Processing Treatment of Fresh-Cut Carrots: Effect of Presoaking in Calcium Salts on Quality Parameters
Authors: Yu Yong , Jiang Xiuping , Ramaswamy Hosahalli S. , Zhu Songming , Li Huanhuan
Published: February 2018

Effect of high pressure (HP) treatment (200–600 MPa; 0–20 min) on quality of fresh-cut carrot slices was evaluated after presoaking in selected calcium salt solutions (1% calcium chloride, 1% calcium lactate, 1% calcium gluconate, and distilled water as control) for one hour. Results showed that calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution pretreatment was most effective for preserving the hardness of carrot slices at 400 and 600 MPa and this treatment also resulted in the least amount of color change in carrots, followed by calcium lactate, gluconate, and control pretreatments. The average sensory evaluation scores during 9 days of refrigerated storage at 4°C in control, CaCl2, calcium lactate, and calcium gluconate presoaking treatments followed by HP treatment were 6.4 ± 0.5, 8.0 ± 0.5, 7.8 ± 0.4, and 7.6 ± 0.3, respectively, on a zero to 9 scale for quality.
Analysis of Loss of Control Parameters for Aircraft Maneuvering in General Aviation
Authors: Ud-Din Sameer , Yoon Yoonjin
Published: February 2018

A rapid increase in the occurrence of loss of control in general aviation has raised concern in recent years. Loss of control (LOC) pertains to unique characteristics in which external and internal events act in conjunction. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved an Integrated Safety Assessment Model (ISAM) for evaluating safety in the National Airspace System (NAS). ISAM consists of an event sequence diagram (ESD) with fault trees containing numerous parameters, which is recognized as casual risk model. In this paper, we outline an integrated risk assessment framework to model maneuvering through cross-examining external and internal events. The maneuvering is in the critical flight phase with a high number of LOC occurrences in general aviation, where highly trained and qualified pilots failed to maintain aircraft control irrespective of the preventive nature of the events. Various metrics have been presented for evaluating the significance of these parameters to identify the most important ones. The proposed sensitivity analysis considers the accident, fatality, and risk reduction frequencies that assist in the decision-making process and foresees future risks from a general aviation perspective.
Liver X Receptor Inverse Agonist SR9243 Suppresses Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Intrahepatic Inflammation and Fibrosis
Authors: Huang Peng , Kaluba Benson , Jiang Xiao-lin , Chang Shi , Tang Xiao-feng , Mao Lin-feng , Zhang Zhi-peng , Huang Fei-zhou
Published: February 2018

Abnormal metabolism of cholesterol may be a contributing factor in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) pathogenesis. Accumulating evidence has shown that liver X receptor (LXR) is closely related to intrahepatic inflammation and fibrosis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a novel liver-specific LXR inverse agonist, SR9243, on antifibrosis in NASH mice. A high-cholesterol diet was employed to induce NASH in BALB/c mice by either carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) administration or bile-duct ligation (BDL). Once NASH was induced, mice were treated with SR9243 for one month by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. Liver tissues were collected to determine the degree of fibrosis and intrahepatic inflammation via pathological examination and QPCR; serum was collected to analyze the plasma lipid levels and liver function by clinical biochemistry. The mice developed hepatic steatosis, severe hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis by BDL or CCL4. Treatment with SR9243 significantly reduced the severity of hepatic inflammation and ameliorated hepatic fibrosis; simultaneously, body weight, serum glucose, and plasma lipid levels were controlled effectively. Our data demonstrate that SR9243 exerts an antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effect in NASH mice; hence these findings highly suggest that LXR inverse agonist could be therapeutically important in NASH treatment.
Comparing the Differential Diagnostic Values of 18F-Alfatide II PET/CT between Tuberculosis and Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Du Xiaoqing , Zhang Yu , Chen Liping , Mi Baoming , You Qingjun , Xu Yuping , Pan Donghui , Wan Weixing , Yang Min , Yu Chunjing
Published: February 2018

Purpose. To compare the differential diagnostic values of 18F-Alfatide II PET/CT between tuberculosis and lung cancer patients and in patients with sarcoidosis and common inflammation. Methods. Nine inflammation patients (4 tuberculosis, 3 sarcoidosis, and 2 common inflammation) and 11 lung cancer patients were included in this study. All patients underwent 18F-FDG and 18F-Alfatide II PET/CT within 2 weeks, followed by biopsy and surgery. The maximized standard uptake value (SUVmax) and the mean standard uptake value (SUVmean) were evaluated. Results. The active tuberculosis lesions showed a high accumulation of 18F-FDG, but varying degrees of accumulation of 18F-Alfatide II, including negative results. The SUVmax of 18F-Alfatide II in malignant lesions was significantly higher than that in tuberculosis (4.08 ± 1.51 versus 2.63 ± 1.34, P = 0.0078). Three patients with sarcoidosis showed negative results in 18F-Alfatide II PET/CT. Conclusions. The expression of αVβ3 is much lower in tuberculosis as compared to that in lung cancer, and accumulation of 18F-Alfatide II varied even in lesions of the same patient. The negative results of sarcoidosis patients led to the speculation that αVβ3 was not expressed in those lesions.
Mature Cystic Teratoma Hiding in the Retroperitoneum of an Adult
Authors: Singh Yardesh , Cawich Shamir O. , Kuruvilla Thivy , Mohammed Sidiyq , Arra Ammiel
Published: February 2018

We report a rare case of a mature cystic teratoma found in the retroperitoneum of a 28-year-old woman with vague symptomatology. We review the radiologic and pathologic features of this rare lesion.
Strength of Flanged and Plain Cruciform Members
Authors: Harris Nicholas , Urgessa Girum
Published: February 2018

There are two different types of cruciform members used in practice. Flanged cruciform sections are typically fabricated from two hot‐rolled WT sections welded to the web of a standard hot‐rolled I section, whereas plain cruciform sections are typically fabricated from two symmetric rectangular plates welded in the form of a cross. Cruciform members that are subjected to combined compression and bending are typically limited by torsional buckling unlike conventional compression members (such as W‐shapes) that are typically limited by flexural (Euler) buckling about their local weak axis of bending. Detailed guidance on the analysis of flanged and plain cruciform members is scarce in literature. Hence, this paper presents numerical studies on the strength capacities of both flanged and plain cruciform members that are subjected to combined compression and bending effects. Analysis results show the ability of flanged and plain cruciform to resist lateral‐torsional buckling over longer unbraced lengths, allowing development of efficient plastic resistance.
Toxicities Associated with Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in Long-Term Testicular Cancer Survivors
Authors: Fung Chunkit , Dinh Paul , Ardeshir-Rouhani-Fard Shirin , Schaffer Kerry , Fossa Sophie D. , Travis Lois B.
Published: February 2018

Testicular cancer has become the paradigm of adult-onset cancer survivorship, due to the young age at diagnosis and 10-year relative survival of 95%. This clinical review presents the current status of various treatment-related complications experienced by long-term testicular cancer survivors (TCS) free of disease for 5 or more years after primary treatment. Cardiovascular disease and second malignant neoplasms represent the most common potentially life-threatening late effects. Other long-term adverse outcomes include neuro- and ototoxicity, pulmonary complications, nephrotoxicity, hypogonadism, infertility, and avascular necrosis. Future research efforts should focus on delineation of the genetic underpinning of these long-term toxicities to understand their biologic basis and etiopathogenetic pathways, with the goal of developing targeted prevention and intervention strategies to optimize risk-based care and minimize chronic morbidities. In the interim, health care providers should advise TCS to adhere to national guidelines for the management of cardiovascular disease risk factors, as well as to adopt behaviors consistent with a healthy lifestyle, including smoking cessation, a balanced diet, and a moderate to vigorous intensity exercise program. TCS should also follow national guidelines for cancer screening as currently applied to the general population.
Fault Diagnosis for Hydraulic Servo System Using Compressed Random Subspace Based ReliefF
Authors: Ding Yu , Wang Fei , Wang Zhen-ya , Zhang Wen-jin
Published: February 2018

Playing an important role in electromechanical systems, hydraulic servo system is crucial to mechanical systems like engineering machinery, metallurgical machinery, ships, and other equipment. Fault diagnosis based on monitoring and sensory signals plays an important role in avoiding catastrophic accidents and enormous economic losses. This study presents a fault diagnosis scheme for hydraulic servo system using compressed random subspace based ReliefF (CRSR) method. From the point of view of feature selection, the scheme utilizes CRSR method to determine the most stable feature combination that contains the most adequate information simultaneously. Based on the feature selection structure of ReliefF, CRSR employs feature integration rules in the compressed domain. Meanwhile, CRSR substitutes information entropy and fuzzy membership for traditional distance measurement index. The proposed CRSR method is able to enhance the robustness of the feature information against interference while selecting the feature combination with balanced information expressing ability. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed CRSR method, a hydraulic servo system joint simulation model is constructed by HyPneu and Simulink, and three fault modes are injected to generate the validation data.
Synchronous Leydig Cell Tumor and Seminoma in the Ipsilateral Testis
Authors: Obiorah Ifeyinwa E. , Kyrillos Alexandra , Ozdemirli Metin
Published: February 2018

Leydig cell tumor is a rare sex cord tumor that accounts for 1–3% of all testicular neoplasms. Seminomas are more common and occur in 30–40% of testicular tumors. Leydig cell tumors are derived from undifferentiated gonadal mesenchyme and the concurrent development of the tumor and a seminoma which are derived from germinal epithelium in an ipsilateral testis is extremely rare. Here we report a case of ipsilateral Leydig cell tumor and seminoma occurring in a 38-year-old man with a left testicular mass. The key to diagnosis is dependent on histopathology and immunohistochemistry. To our knowledge, this is the first diagnosis of the two disease entities in a unilateral testis using immunohistochemistry. Increased awareness of the entity is important in order to distinguish Leydig cell tumor and seminomas from other malignancies due to difference in therapeutic management.
Adrenal Hemangioma: A Case of Retroperitoneal Tumor
Authors: Iwamoto Genta , Shimokihara Kota , Kawahara Takashi , Takamoto Daiji , Yao Masahiro , Teranishi Jun-ichi , Otani Masako , Uemura Hiroji
Published: February 2018

Introduction. Adrenal hemangioma is a rare disease, with only some 60 cases reported previously. Due to the difficulty of the preoperative diagnosis of adrenal hemangioma, almost all of the cases were diagnosed by a histopathological analysis of surgical specimens. Case Presentation. A 52-year-old man was referred to our department for further examination of his left retroperitoneal tumor. He had received hemodialysis due to chronic renal failure resulting from membranous nephropathy. Computed tomography revealed a mass around his left hilum. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron-emission tomography (PET)-CT were unable to confirm or deny malignancy, and tumor markers, including CEA and CA19-9, showed slight elevation. His tumor grew from 38 mm to 54 mm in diameter in 7 months of follow-up. We therefore planned retroperitoneal tumor resection with left nephrectomy. Histopathologically, hyperplastic small vessels with hemorrhaging and denaturation were seen. The endothelial cells showed no variants or division of the nucleus. Based on this diagnosis, no further therapy was performed. He has had no recurrence in the eight months since the surgery. Conclusion. We herein report a rare case of adrenal hemangioma.
A Novel Fuzzy Algorithm to Introduce New Variables in the Drug Supply Decision‐Making Process in Medicine
Authors: Gonzalez-Cava Jose M. , Reboso José Antonio , Casteleiro-Roca José Luis , Calvo-Rolle José Luis , Méndez Pérez Juan Albino
Published: February 2018

One of the main challenges in medicine is to guarantee an appropriate drug supply according to the real needs of patients. Closed‐loop strategies have been widely used to develop automatic solutions based on feedback variables. However, when the variable of interest cannot be directly measured or there is a lack of knowledge behind the process, it turns into a difficult issue to solve. In this research, a novel algorithm to approach this problem is presented. The main objective of this study is to provide a new general algorithm capable of determining the influence of a certain clinical variable in the decision making process for drug supply and then defining an automatic system able to guide the process considering this information. Thus, this new technique will provide a way to validate a given physiological signal as a feedback variable for drug titration. In addition, the result of the algorithm in terms of fuzzy rules and membership functions will define a fuzzy‐based decision system for the drug delivery process. The method proposed is based on a Fuzzy Inference System whose structure is obtained through a decision tree algorithm. A four‐step methodology is then developed: data collection, preprocessing, Fuzzy Inference System generation, and the validation of results. To test this methodology, the analgesia control scenario was analysed. Specifically, the viability of the Analgesia Nociception Index (ANI) as a guiding variable for the analgesic process during surgical interventions was studied. Real data was obtained from fifteen patients undergoing cholecystectomy surgery.
An Integrated Cumulative Transformation and Feature Fusion Approach for Bearing Degradation Prognostics
Authors: Duan Lixiang , Zhao Fei , Wang Jinjiang , Wang Ning , Zhang Jiwang
Published: February 2018

Aimed at degradation prognostics of a rolling bearing, this paper proposed a novel cumulative transformation algorithm for data processing and a feature fusion technique for bearing degradation assessment. First, a cumulative transformation is presented to map the original features extracted from a vibration signal to their respective cumulative forms. The technique not only makes the extracted features show a monotonic trend but also reduces the fluctuation; such properties are more propitious to reflect the bearing degradation trend. Then, a new degradation index system is constructed, which fuses multidimensional cumulative features by kernel principal component analysis (KPCA). Finally, an extreme learning machine model based on phase space reconstruction is proposed to predict the degradation trend. The model performance is experimentally validated with a whole‐life experiment of a rolling bearing. The results prove that the proposed method reflects the bearing degradation process clearly and achieves a good balance between model accuracy and complexity.
Pyogenic Spondylitis Caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Associated with Tracheostomy followed by Resection of Ossification of the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament
Authors: Hongo Michio , Miyakoshi Naohisa , Fujii Masashi , Kasukawa Yuji , Ishikawa Yoshinori , Kudo Daisuke , Shimada Yoichi
Published: February 2018

Symptomatic ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL) is rare. However, when the osteophyte enlarges and obstructive symptoms occur, the patient may require surgery. We present a case of pyogenic spondylitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus associated with tracheostomy followed by resection of OALL. A 69-year-old woman with OALL complained of dysphagia and suffocation, which was caused by prominent OALL at C4-5. Tracheostomy was performed, followed by osteophytectomy 6 weeks later. Two months after osteophytectomy, she complained of muscle weakness of the extremities, neck pain, and elevated temperature. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an intensity change at the C4-5 vertebrae and an epidural abscess that was causing cord compression requiring urgent decompression. Cultures identified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. As osteolytic change and muscle weakness gradually progressed, she underwent anterior and posterior reconstruction with an autograft and instrumentation. Bone union was confirmed at 1 year postoperatively with improvement in neurological status. OALL has potentially the risk of airway obstruction. Therefore, appropriate diagnosis and prompt osteophytectomy are needed in cases of a large prominent ossification that puts the patient at risk of suffocation. However, it is noted that osteophytectomy following urgent tracheostomy carries the possible risk of infection.
Analysis of Factors Affecting Energy Aware Routing in Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Jabbar Sohail , Asif Habib Muhammad , Minhas Abid Ali , Ahmad Mudassar , Ashraf Rehan , Khalid Shehzad , Han Kijun
Published: February 2018

Among constituents of communication architecture, routing is the most energy squeezing process. In this survey article, we are targeting an innovative aspect of analysis on routing in wireless sensor network (WSN) that has never been seen in the available literature before. This article can be a guiding light for new researchers to comprehend the WSN technology, energy aware routing, and the factors that affect the energy aware routing in WSN. This insight comprehension then makes the ways easy for them in designing such types of algorithms as well as evaluating the authenticity and extending the existing algorithms of this category, since algebraic and graphical modelling of these factors is also demonstrated. Various available techniques used by existing routing algorithms to handle these factors in making themselves energy aware are also given. Further, they are analyzed along with the suggested improvements for the researchers. At the end, we presented our previously published research work as an example and case study of discussed factors. A rich list of references is also cited for interested readers to explore the related given points.
Morbidity Parameters Associated with Gastrointestinal Tract Nematodes in Sheep in Dabat District, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Seyoum Zewdu , Getnet Kalkidan , Chanie Mersha , Derso Samuel , Fentahun Shumye
Published: February 2018

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections of sheep and their interaction with selected morbidity parameters were studied in smallholder farms. 120 faecal samples were collected and examined using faecal flotation to determine nematode infection in sheep. Thus, the study demonstrated overall prevalence of 57.5% GIN infections, while the mean faecal egg count (FEC) was 517.5 EPG. The severity of GIN infection was determined based on EPG as a mild infection (EPG <500), 55.1%, moderate infection (EPG = 500–1500), 30.4%, and heavy infection (EPG >1500), 14.6%. Five genera of nematodes were identified using coproculture:Haemonchus(33.3%),Trichostrongylus(26.7%),Bunostomum(20%),Oesophagostomum(13.3%), andCooperia(6.7%). A significant difference was observed in the mean FEC among the FC (P<0.001), FAMACHA© score (P<0.01), and the BCS of the animals (P<0.001). FEC was positively correlated with the FAMACHA© score (FS), while FC and BCS were negatively correlated. Thus, FAMACHA© chart can suggest well the severity of nematode infections and can serve as a suitable on-farm tool to identify nematode-infected sheep and gives a guide to identify sheep that need to be treated with an anthelmintic.
ANCA Vasculitis and Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis following a Fecal Microbiota Transplant
Authors: Amlani Adam , Bromley Amy , Fifi-Mah Aurore
Published: February 2018

A 69-year-old female with antisynthetase syndrome, a history of multiple recurrent infections, and documented previous negative titres for anti-neutrophil cystoplasmic antibody (ANCA) suddenly developed a de novo MPO-ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis three weeks after a fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for recurrent Clostridium difficile infections. Six months following her FMT and less than two weeks following treatment for urosepsis, she developed severe cholestasis, a markedly elevated ferritin and hypertriglyceridemia. An initial liver biopsy was suggestive of drug-induced liver injury and thus she was treated with supportive care. After she failed to improve, a second liver biopsy supported the diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). This case highlights difficulties surrounding the early diagnosis of HLH and also questions the role of FMT and/or recurrent infections as a trigger for ANCA-associated vasculitis.
Effect of Qingxin Kaiqiao Fang on Hippocampus mRNA Expression of the Inflammation‐Related Genes IL‐1β, GFAP, and Aβ in an Alzheimer’s Disease Rat Model
Authors: Mao Dan-Dan , Yang Wen-Yu , Li Yan , Lin Jian-Wei , Gao Shi-Yu , Wang Yi-Ru , Hu Hai-Yan
Published: February 2018

Objective. To investigate the effects of QKF on expression of amyloid‐beta (Aβ), interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) using a rat model of AD. Materials and Methods. Fifty‐six male Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups (eight rats each): control group, sham‐operated group, AD model group, groups of AD rats administered with low, medium, and high doses of QKF, and the donepezil group. AD was established by bilateral injection of β‐amyloid (Aβ) 1–40 into the hippocampus. Two days after AD was established, drugs were administered by gavage. After 14 days of treatment, we used RT‐PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry to measure the transcript expression and protein abundance of Aβ, IL‐1β, and GFAP, and methenamine silver staining was used to detect amyloid protein particle deposition. Results. Compared to the control group, the rats from the AD model group showed significantly greater expression levels of Aβ, IL‐1β, and GFAP. However, these differences in expression were abolished by treatment with QKF or donepezil. Conclusion. QKF possesses therapeutic potential against AD because it downregulated Aβ, IL‐1β, and GFAP in the hippocampus of AD rats. Future studies should further examine the mechanisms through which QKF produces its effects and the consequences of long‐term QKF administration.
How Does Suppliers’ Fairness Affect the Relationship Quality of Agricultural Product Supply Chains?
Authors: Sun Yuling , Liu Zehua , Yang Hui
Published: February 2018

Although many studies have suggested that the relationship between different supply chain members significantly affects agricultural product quality, suppliers’ perceptions of fairness, which greatly influence their decisions on building the relationship quality, are often overlooked. Particularly, the empirical evidence to investigate the impacts of suppliers’ fairness on the relationship quality and the factors that affect the suppliers’ fairness is missing, and therefore this knowledge gap needs to be filled by new research. Herein, we conducted a survey of 450 agricultural product suppliers and systemically analyzed the impact of antecedents on fairness perception and the impact of fairness perception on relationship quality. In addition, we developed a structural equation model and found that information sharing and price satisfaction had significantly positive effects on procedural fairness and distributive fairness, respectively. Furthermore, our studies demonstrated that procedural fairness is more important in improving the relationship quality than distributive fairness. However, supplier dependence is another important impact factor, and it greatly decreases the positive effects of suppliers’ fairness on relationship quality. In summary, the study results provide several managerial implications and extend our understanding of the importance of suppliers’ fairness in the relationship quality, which involves product development with respect to the supplier’s performance.
The Effect of Sanggua Drink Extract on Insulin Resistance through the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway
Authors: Cai Yu , Wang Ying , Zhi Fei , Xing Qi-Chang , Chen Yun-Zhong
Published: February 2018

Treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using thiazolidinediones and biguanides can present several challenges for patients. Sanggua Drink (SGD) is a commonly used agent in traditional Chinese medicine, and it consists of Folium Mori, Fructus Momordicae Charantiae, Radix Puerariae Lobatae, and Rhizoma Dioscorea. The hypoglycemic effects and mechanisms of SGD extracts on insulin resistance in diabetic rats were investigated. SGD (1.24 g/kg orally) was verified in T2DM rats induced by a high‐fat diet and streptozotocin. The results showed that SGD treatment was observed to reduce fasting blood glucose, water and food intake, total cholesterol triglycerides, and LDL, OGTT, FINS, HOMA‐IR, GHb, and MDA and increase hepatic glycogen, HDL, SOD, CAT, and GSH‐Px in diabetic rats. Simultaneously, SGD treatment by T2DM showed significantly ameliorated pathological changes and reduced inflammation in the pancreas. Treatment was also observed to increase gene and protein expressions of InsR, IRS‐2, PI3K, AKT, and Glut4 in the livers of diabetic treated rats. These results suggest that SGD extracts have hypoglycemic properties and may alleviate insulin resistance in T2DM rats through the PI3K/AKT pathway. Therefore, SGD appears to be a promising insulin sensitizer.
Mending a Broken Heart: Treatment of Stress-Induced Heart Failure after Solid Organ Transplantation
Authors: Galván N. Thao , Kumm Kayla , Kueht Michael , Ha Cindy P. , Yoeli Dor , Cotton Ronald T. , Rana Abbas , O’Mahony Christine A. , Halff Glenn , Goss John A.
Published: February 2018

Stress-induced heart failure, also known as Broken Heart Syndrome or Takotsubo Syndrome, is a phenomenon characterized as rare but well described in the literature, with increasing incidence. While more commonly associated with postmenopausal women with psychiatric disorders, this entity is found in the postoperative patient. The nonischemic cardiogenic shock manifests as biventricular failure with significant decreases in ejection fraction and cardiac function. In a review of over 3000 kidney and liver transplantations over the course of 17 years within two transplant centers, we describe a series of 7 patients with Takotsubo Syndrome after solid organ transplantation. Furthermore, we describe a novel approach of successfully treating the transient, though potentially fatal, cardiogenic shock with a percutaneous ventricular assistance device in two liver transplant patients, while treating one kidney transplant patient medically and the remaining four liver transplant patients with an intra-aortic balloon pump. We describe our experience with Takotsubo’s Syndrome and compare the three modalities of treatment and cardiac augmentation. Our series is novel in introducing the percutaneous ventricular assist device as a more minimally invasive intervention in treating nonischemic heart failure in the solid organ transplant patient, while serving as a comprehensive overview of treatment modalities for stress-induced heart failure.
UVA Irradiation Enhances Brusatol‐Mediated Inhibition of Melanoma Growth by Downregulation of the Nrf2‐Mediated Antioxidant Response
Authors: Wang Mei , Shi Guangwei , Bian Chunxiang , Nisar Muhammad Farrukh , Guo Yingying , Wu Yan , Li Wei , Huang Xiao , Jiang Xuemei , Bartsch Jörg W. , Ji Ping , Zhong Julia Li
Published: February 2018

Brusatol (BR) is a potent inhibitor of Nrf2, a transcription factor that is highly expressed in cancer tissues and confers chemoresistance. UVA‐generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) can damage both normal and cancer cells and may be of potential use in phototherapy. In order to provide an alternative method to treat the aggressive melanoma, we sought to investigate whether low‐dose UVA with BR is more effective in eliminating melanoma cells than the respective single treatments. We found that BR combined with UVA led to inhibition of A375 melanoma cell proliferation by cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and triggers cell apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibition of Nrf2 expression attenuated colony formation and tumor development from A375 cells in heterotopic mouse models. In addition, cotreatment of UVA and BR partially suppressed Nrf2 and its downstream target genes such as HO‐1 along with the PI3K/AKT pathway. We propose that cotreatment increased ROS‐induced cell cycle arrest and cellular apoptosis and inhibits melanoma growth by regulating the AKT‐Nrf2 pathway in A375 cells which offers a possible therapeutic intervention strategy for the treatment of human melanoma.
Mitochondrial Genome Mutations Associated with Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Sazonova Margarita A. , Ryzhkova Anastasia I. , Sinyov Vasily V. , Galitsyna Elena V. , Melnichenko Alexandra A. , Demakova Natalya A. , Sobenin Igor A. , Shkurat Tatiana P. , Orekhov Alexander N.
Published: February 2018

Myocardial infarction is one of the clinical manifestations of coronary heart disease. In some cases, the cause of myocardial infarction may be atherosclerotic plaques which occurred in the human aorta. The association of mtDNA mutations with atherosclerotic lesions in human arteries was previously detected by our research group. In this study, we used samples of white blood cells collected from 225 patients with myocardial infarction and 239 control persons with no health complaints. DNA was isolated from the blood leukocyte samples. Then, PCR fragments of DNA were obtained. They contained the investigated regions of 11 mitochondrial genome mutations (m.5178C>A, m.3336T>C, m.652delG, m.12315G>A, m.14459G>A, m.652insG, m.14846G>A, m.13513G>A, m.1555A>G, m.15059G>A, m.3256C>T). According to the obtained results, three mutations of the human mitochondrial genome correlated with myocardial infarction. A positive correlation was observed for mutation m.5178C>A. At the same time, a highly significant negative correlation with myocardial infarction was observed for mutation m.14846G>A. One single-nucleotide substitution of m.12315G>A had a trend towards negative correlation. These mutations can potentially be useful for creating molecular/cellular models for studying the mechanisms of myocardial infarction and designing novel therapies. Moreover, these mutations can possibly be used for diagnostic purposes.
Passive Cushiony Biomechanics of Head Protection in Falling Geckos
Authors: Wang Hao , Wang Wenbo , Song Yi , Cai Lei , Dai Zhendong
Published: February 2018

Gekko geckos are capable to crawl on the steep even on upside-down surfaces. Such movement, especially at great altitude, puts them at high risks of incidentally dropping down and inevitable body or head impactions, though they may trigger air-righting reaction (ARR) to attenuate the landing shocks. However, the air-righting ability (ARA) in Gekko geckos is not fully developed. The implementation of ARR in some geckos is quite slow; and for those without tails, the ARR is even unobservable. Since ARA is compromised in Gekko geckos, there must be some other mechanisms responsible for protecting them from head injuries during falls. In this study, we looked into a Gekko gecko’s brain to study its internal environment and structure, using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique. The results showed that the brain parenchyma was fully surrounded by the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the skull. A succulent characteristic was presented, which meant the intracalvarium was significantly occupied by the CSF, up to 45% in volume. Then a simplified three-dimensional finite element model was built, and a dynamic simulation was conducted to evaluate the mechanical property of this succulent characteristic during the head impactions. These implied the succulent characteristic may play certain roles on the self-protection in case of head impaction, which is adaptable to the Gekko gecko’s locomotion and behavior.
Female Sex Is a Risk Modifier Rather Than a Risk Factor for Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Nielsen Peter Brønnum , Skjøth Flemming , Overvad Thure Filskov , Larsen Torben Bjerregaard , Lip Gregory Y. H.
Published: February 2018

Background:

Stroke risk in atrial fibrillation is assessed by using the CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score. Sex category (Sc, ie, female sex) confers 1 point on CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc. We hypothesized that female sex is a stroke risk modifier, rather than an overall risk factor, when added to a CHA
2
DS
2
-VA (sex-independent thromboembolism risk) score scale.

Methods:

Using 3 nationwide registries, we identified patients with incident nonvalvular atrial fibrillation from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 2015. Patients receiving oral anticoagulant treatment at baseline were excluded, and person-time was censored at the time of treatment initiation (if any). CHA
2
DS
2
-VA scores were calculated for men and women, and were followed for up to 1 year in the Danish National Patient Registry. The primary outcome was a primary hospital code for ischemic stroke or systemic embolism (thromboembolism). We calculated crude event rates for risk strata as events per 100 person-years. For quantifying absolute risk of stroke, we calculated risks based on the pseudovalue method. Female sex as a prognostic factor was investigated by inclusion as an interaction term on the CHA
2
DS
2
-VA score to calculate the thromboembolic risk ratio for different score points.

Results:

A total of 239 671 patients with atrial fibrillation (48.7% women) contributed to the analyses. The mean ages for women and men were 76.6 years and 70.3 years, respectively; the mean CHA
2
DS
2
-VA scores were 2.7 for women and 2.3 for men. The overall 1-year thromboembolic rate per 100 person-years for women was 7.3 and 5.7 for men. The 1-year absolute risk of thromboembolism was 0.5% among men and women with a CHA
2
DS
2
-VA score of 0 and increased up to >7% among very comorbid patients (score >5). The risk ratio (male as reference) across points >1 indicated that women exhibit a higher stroke risk. The interaction was statistically significant (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions:

Female sex is a risk modifier for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Initial decisions on oral anticoagulant treatment could be guided by a CHA
2
DS
2
-VA score (ie, excluding the sex category criterion), but the Sc risk component modifies and accentuates stroke risk in women who would have been eligible for oral anticoagulant treatment on the basis of ≥2 additional stroke risk factors.
Heart Failure Stimulates Tumor Growth by Circulating Factors
Authors: Meijers Wouter C. , Maglione Manuel , Bakker Stephan J.L. , Oberhuber Rupert , Kieneker Lyanne M. , de Jong Steven , Haubner Bernhard J. , Nagengast Wouter B. , Lyon Alexander R. , van der Vegt Bert , van Veldhuisen Dirk J. , Westenbrink B. Daan , van der Meer Peter , Silljé Herman H.W. , de Boer Rudolf A.
Published: February 2018

Background:

Heart failure (HF) survival has improved, and nowadays, many patients with HF die of noncardiac causes, including cancer. Our aim was to investigate whether a causal relationship exists between HF and the development of cancer.

Methods:

HF was induced by inflicting large anterior myocardial infarction in APC
min
mice, which are prone to developing precancerous intestinal tumors, and tumor growth was measured. In addition, to rule out hemodynamic impairment, a heterotopic heart transplantation model was used in which an infarcted or sham-operated heart was transplanted into a recipient mouse while the native heart was left in situ. After 6 weeks, tumor number, volume, and proliferation were quantified. Candidate secreted proteins were selected because they were previously associated both with (colon) tumor growth and with myocardial production in post–myocardial infarction proteomic studies. Myocardial gene expression levels of these selected candidates were analyzed, as well as their proliferative effects on HT-29 (colon cancer) cells. We validated these candidates by measuring them in plasma of healthy subjects and patients with HF. Finally, we associated the relation between cardiac specific and inflammatory biomarkers and new-onset cancer in a large, prospective general population cohort.

Results:

The presence of failing hearts, both native and heterotopically transplanted, resulted in significantly increased intestinal tumor load of 2.4-fold in APC
min
mice (all
P
<0.0001). The severity of left ventricular dysfunction and fibrotic scar strongly correlated with tumor growth (
P
=0.002 and
P
=0.016, respectively). We identified several proteins (including serpinA3 and A1, fibronectin, ceruloplasmin, and paraoxonase 1) that were elevated in human patients with chronic HF (n=101) compared with healthy subjects (n=180;
P
<0.001). Functionally, serpinA3 resulted in marked proliferation effects in human colon cancer (HT-29) cells, associated with Akt-S6 phosphorylation. Finally, elevated cardiac and inflammation biomarkers in apparently healthy humans (n=8319) were predictive of new-onset cancer (n=1124) independently of risk factors for cancer (age, smoking status, and body mass index).

Conclusions:

We demonstrate that the presence of HF is associated with enhanced tumor growth and that this is independent of hemodynamic impairment and could be caused by cardiac excreted factors. A diagnosis of HF may therefore be considered a risk factor for incident cancer.
Mental Stress–Induced-Myocardial Ischemia in Young Patients With Recent Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Vaccarino Viola , Sullivan Samaah , Hammadah Muhammad , Wilmot Kobina , Al Mheid Ibhar , Ramadan Ronnie , Elon Lisa , Pimple Pratik M. , Garcia Ernest V. , Nye Jonathon , Shah Amit J. , Alkhoder Ayman , Levantsevych Oleksiy , Gay Hawkins , Obideen Malik , Huang Minxuan , Lewis Tené T. , Bremner J. Douglas , Quyyumi Arshed A. , Raggi Paolo
Published: February 2018

Background:

Mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI) is frequent in patients with coronary artery disease and is associated with worse prognosis. Young women with a previous myocardial infarction (MI), a group with unexplained higher mortality than men of comparable age, have shown elevated rates of MSIMI, but the mechanisms are unknown.

Methods:

We studied 306 patients (150 women and 156 men) ≤61 years of age who were hospitalized for MI in the previous 8 months and 112 community controls (58 women and 54 men) frequency matched for sex and age to the patients with MI. Endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation and microvascular reactivity (reactive hyperemia index) were measured at rest and 30 minutes after mental stress. The digital vasomotor response to mental stress was assessed using peripheral arterial tonometry. Patients received
99m
Tc-sestamibi myocardial perfusion imaging at rest, with mental (speech task) and conventional (exercise/pharmacological) stress.

Results:

The mean age of the sample was 50 years (range, 22–61). In the MI group but not among controls, women had a more adverse socioeconomic and psychosocial profile than men. There were no sex differences in cardiovascular risk factors, and among patients with MI, clinical severity tended to be lower in women. Women in both groups showed a higher peripheral arterial tonometry ratio during mental stress but a lower reactive hyperemia index after mental stress, indicating enhanced microvascular dysfunction after stress. There were no sex differences in flow-mediated dilation changes with mental stress. The rate of MSIMI was twice as high in women as in men (22% versus 11%,
P
=0.009), and ischemia with conventional stress was similarly elevated (31% versus 16%,
P
=0.002). Psychosocial and clinical risk factors did not explain sex differences in inducible ischemia. Although vascular responses to mental stress (peripheral arterial tonometry ratio and reactive hyperemia index) also did not explain sex differences in MSIMI, they were predictive of MSIMI in women only.

Conclusions:

Young women after MI have a 2-fold likelihood of developing MSIMI compared with men and a similar increase in conventional stress ischemia. Microvascular dysfunction and peripheral vasoconstriction with mental stress are implicated in MSIMI among women but not among men, perhaps reflecting women’s proclivity toward ischemia because of microcirculatory abnormalities.
Sex Differences in the Presentation and Perception of Symptoms Among Young Patients With Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Lichtman Judith H. , Leifheit Erica C. , Safdar Basmah , Bao Haikun , Krumholz Harlan M. , Lorenze Nancy P. , Daneshvar Mitra , Spertus John A. , D’Onofrio Gail
Published: February 2018

Background:

Some studies report that women are less likely to present with chest pain for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Information on symptom presentation, perception of symptoms, and care-seeking behaviors is limited for young patients with AMI.

Methods:

We interviewed 2009 women and 976 men aged 18 to 55 years hospitalized for AMI at 103 US hospitals participating in the VIRGO study (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients). Structured patient interviews during the index AMI hospitalization were used to collect information on symptom presentation, perception of symptoms, and care-seeking behaviors. We compared patient characteristics and presentation information by sex. Multivariable hierarchical logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between sex and symptom presentation.

Results:

The majority of women (87.0%) and men (89.5%) presented with chest pain (defined as pain, pressure, tightness, or discomfort). Women were more likely to present with ≥3 associated symptoms than men (eg, epigastric symptoms, palpitations, and pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, arms, or between the shoulder blades; 61.9% for women versus 54.8% for men,
P
<0.001). In adjusted analyses, women with an ST-segment–elevation AMI were more likely than men to present without chest pain (odds ratio, 1.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–2.22). In comparison with men, women were more likely to perceive symptoms as stress/anxiety (20.9% versus 11.8%,
P
<0.001) but less likely to attribute symptoms to muscle pain (15.4% versus 21.2%,
P
=0.029). Approximately 29.5% of women and 22.1% of men sought medical care for similar symptoms before their hospitalization (
P
<0.001); however, 53% of women reported that their provider did not think these symptoms were heart-related in comparison with 37% of men (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions:

The presentation of AMI symptoms was similar for young women and men, with chest pain as the predominant symptom for both sexes. Women presented with a greater number of additional non–chest pain symptoms regardless of the presence of chest pain, and both women and their healthcare providers were less likely to attribute their prodromal symptoms to heart disease in comparison with men.
American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 at Middle Age and Prognosis After Myocardial Infarction in Later Life
Authors: Mok Yejin , Sang Yingying , Ballew Shoshana H. , Rebholz Casey M. , Rosamond Wayne D. , Heiss Gerardo , Folsom Aaron R. , Coresh Josef , Matsushita Kunihiro
Published: February 2018

Background

The American Heart Association recommends focusing on 7 health factors (Life's Simple 7) for primordial prevention of cardiovascular health. However, whether greater adherence to Life's Simple 7 in midlife improves prognosis after myocardial infarction (
MI
) in later life is unknown.

Methods and Results

In 1277 participants who developed
MI
during the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) Study follow‐up, a 14‐point score of Life's Simple 7 was constructed according to the status (2 points for ideal, 1 point for intermediate, and 0 points for poor) of each of 7 factors (smoking, adiposity, physical activity, diet, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting glucose) at baseline (1987–1989). Hazard ratios for composite and individual adverse outcomes of all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, recurrent
MI
, heart failure, and stroke were calculated according to Life's Simple 7 score. During a median follow‐up of 3.3 years, 918 participants (72%) had subsequent adverse outcomes after
MI
. Life's Simple 7 score at middle age was inversely associated with adverse outcomes after
MI
(adjusted hazard ratios of composite outcome, 0.57 [95% confidence interval, 0.39–0.84] if score is ≥10, 0.78 [95% confidence interval, 0.57–1.07] if score is 7–9, and 0.82 [95% confidence interval, 0.60–1.11] if score is 4–6 versus ≤3). The association was largely independent of access to care and
MI
severity. Individual factors related to better prognosis after
MI
were ideal nonsmoking, body mass index, blood pressure, and fasting glucose.

Conclusions

Optimal Life's Simple 7 at middle age was associated with better prognosis after
MI
in later life. Our findings suggest a secondary prevention benefit of having better cardiovascular health status in midlife.