bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nerve regeneration in rat peripheral nerve allografts: Evaluation of cold‐inducible RNA‐binding protein in nerve storage and regeneration
Authors: Li Zijian , Zhang Song , Li Jinxiu , Zeng Huanhuan , Wang Yi , Huang Yingru
Published: May 2019

The prevalence of peripheral nerve injury has attracted increased attention. Allografting has been proposed as a potential treatment strategy for peripheral nerve injury. Moreover, cryopreservation may provide almost unlimited graft material. We investigated whether cold‐inducible RNA‐binding protein (CIRP) could protect peripheral nerves during cryopreservation to promote regeneration postoperation. First, CIRP was highly expressed after pretreatment at 32°C. After 4 weeks of cryopreservation, the increased live cells, low Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio and high nerve growth factor and glial cell‐derived neurotrophic factor levels in the 32°C group demonstrated high nerve graft viability. At 4 weeks postoperation, 32°C‐Allo group demonstrated low plasma levels of interleukin‐6 and interferon‐gamma and a diminished cellular immune response. At 20 weeks postoperation, nerve regeneration in the 32°C‐Allo group was similar to that in the fresh isograft group and superior to that in the 4°C‐Allo and 15°C‐Allo groups. Moreover, the compound muscle action potential and the motor nerve conduction velocity of the 32°C‐Allo group were equal to those of the fresh isograft group. In conclusion, CIRP induction increased Schwann cell biological activity, inhibited cell apoptosis, reduced immune rejection, and promoted recipient nerve regeneration. Thus, CIRP could exert protective effects during nerve storage and stimulate regeneration in peripheral nerve reconstruction.
A density‐dependent FEM‐FCT algorithm with application to modeling platelet aggregation
Authors: Danes Nicholas A. , Leiderman Karin
Published: May 2019

Upon injury to a blood vessel, flowing platelets will aggregate at the injury site, forming a plug to prevent blood loss. Through a complex system of biochemical reactions, a stabilizing mesh forms around the platelet aggregate forming a blood clot that further seals the injury. Computational models of clot formation have been developed to a study intravascular thrombosis, where a vessel injury does not cause blood leakage outside the blood vessel but blocks blood flow. To model scenarios in which blood leaks from a main vessel out into the extravascular space, new computational tools need to be developed to handle the complex geometries that represent the injury. We have previously modeled intravascular clot formation under flow using a continuum approach wherein the transport of platelet densities into some spatial location is limited by the platelet fraction that already reside in that location, i.e., the densities satisfy a maximum packing constraint through the use of a hindered transport coefficient. To extend this notion to extravascular injury geometries, we have modified a finite element method flux‐corrected transport (FEM‐FCT) scheme by prelimiting antidiffusive nodal fluxes. We show that our modified scheme, under a variety of test problems, including mesh refinement, structured vs unstructured meshes, and for a range of reaction rates, produces numerical results that satisfy a maximum platelet‐density packing constraint.
File retrieval and storage in the open source cloud tool using digital bipartite and digit compact prefix indexing method
Authors: Priya Ponnuswamy P. , Vidhya Priya R. , Shabari Ram C.P.
Published: May 2019

Cloud computing plays a major role in data centers, and its important services are used by the data centers. Data centers are large number of computers that are interrelated to make the cloud services available. Data centers are increasing nowadays to provide a platform to store files, data applications, etc. Data centers with large storage capacity are the foundation for cloud computing services such as web searching and network storage. Data traffic takes place within and outside the data centers and needs to forward data between servers in the network. In this paper, a new method called digital bipartite and digit compact prefix with hashing technique is used to store and retrieve data in the cloud. The idea is to create a volume of storage for a user within the data center to store their files. Digital bipartite and Digit compact prefix are implemented to store and retrieve the user files efficiently. The implementation is done in OpenStack with a multinode setup. The proposed method compares the insertion time, search time, and throughput with the number of nodes, the number of compute instances, and the number of files for the two algorithms.
Optimization policy for file replica placement in fog domains
Authors: Guerrero Carlos , Lera Isaac , Juiz Carlos
Published: May 2019

Fog computing architectures distribute computational and storage resources along the continuum from the cloud to things. Therefore, the execution of services or the storage of files can be closer to the users. The main objectives of fog computing domains are to reduce the user latency and the network usage. Availability is also an issue in fog architectures because the topology of the network does not guarantee redundant links between devices. Consequently, the definition of placement polices is a key challenge. We propose a placement policy for data replication to increase data availability that contrasts with other storage policies that only consider a single replica of the files. The system is modeled with complex weighted networks and topological features, such as centrality indices. Graph partition algorithms are evaluated to select the fog devices that store data replicas. Our approach is compared with two other placement policies: one that stores only one replica and FogStore, which also stores file replicas but uses a greedy approach (the shortest path). We analyze 22 experiments with simulations. The results show that our approach obtains the shortest latency times, mainly for writing operations, a smaller network usage increase, and a similar file availability to FogStore.
Ultrahigh Surface Area N‐Doped Hierarchically Porous Carbon for Enhanced CO2 Capture and Electrochemical Energy Storage
Authors: Wang Shuai , Qin Jieqiong , Zhao Yujuan , Duan Linlin , Wang Jinxiu , Gao Wenjun , Wang Ruicong , Wang Changyao , Pal Manas , Wu Zhong‐Shuai , Li Wei , Zhao Dongyuan
Published: May 2019

Facile synthesis of ultrahigh surface area porous carbons with well‐defined functionalities such as N‐doping remains a formidable challenge as extensive pore creation results in significant damage to the active sites. Herein, an ultrahigh surface area, N‐doped hierarchically porous carbon was prepared through a multicomponent co‐assembly approach. The resultant N‐doped hierarchically porous carbon (N‐HPC) possessed an ultrahigh surface area (≈1960 m2 g−1), a uniform interpenetrating micropore (≈1.3 nm) and large mesopore (≈7.6 nm) size, and high N‐doping in the carbon frameworks (≈5 wt %). The N‐HPC exhibited a high specific capacitance (358 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1) as a supercapacitor electrode in aqueous alkaline electrolyte with a stable cycling performance after10 000 charge/discharge cycles. Moreover, as a CO2 absorbent, N‐HPC displayed an adsorption capacity of 29.0 mmol g−1 at 0 °C under a high pressure of 30 bar.
Cytomorphology of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the biliary tract
Authors: Canepa Mariana , Yao Ruisheng , Nam Ga H. , Patel Nimesh R. , Pisharodi Latha
Published: May 2019

Intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct (IPNBs) are papillary epithelial proliferations with delicate fibrovascular cores within dilated bile ducts. They are thought to be premalignant lesions with potential to progress invasive tumors. To our knowledge, there are no prior descriptions of IPNB cytomorphology. A 58‐year‐old male presented with painless jaundice and elevated liver function tests was found to have an intraluminal mass within the left hepatic duct. A bile duct brushing diagnosed as “atypical cells present” showed a cellular specimen composed of papillary groups and linear strips of mostly cuboidal/columnar cells with mild atypia and vacuolated cytoplasm. A left hepatic lobectomy including extrahepatic bile ducts showed the mass consisted of papillary cores lined by pancreatobiliary‐type epithelium with mild‐to‐severe atypia, consistent with IPNB with a focus suspicious for invasion. The cytomorphologic features described in the current case suggest intraductal papillary neoplasm but may not be specific since similar features could be seen in other bile duct tumors and even in nonneoplastic conditions such as stent or cholelithiasis. However, it is worthwhile to report papillary hyperplasia with atypia in common bile duct brushings in order to avoid a false‐negative diagnosis, especially in the context of a filling defect by images which does not appear to be a stone.
Roadside verges and cemeteries: Comparative analysis of anthropogenic orchid habitats in the Eastern Mediterranean
Authors: Fekete Réka , Löki Viktor , Urgyán Renáta , Süveges Kristóf , Lovas‐Kiss Ádám , Vincze Orsolya , Molnár V. Attila
Published: May 2019

Several important habitats have become threatened in the last few centuries in the Mediterranean Basin due to major changes adopted in land‐use practices. The consequent loss of natural and seminatural orchid habitats leads to the appreciation of small anthropogenic habitats, such as cemeteries and roadside verges. Colonization of cemeteries and roadside verges by orchids has long been known, but no study to date compared the suitability of these two anthropogenic habitats for orchids. Therefore, in this paper our aim was to survey cemeteries and roadside verges and to compare these two habitats regarding their role in conserving Mediterranean terrestrial orchids. We conducted field surveys in three Mediterranean islands, Cyprus, Crete, and Lesbos, where both cemeteries and roadside verges were sampled on a geographically representative scale. We found a total of almost 7,000 orchid individuals, belonging to 77 species in the two anthropogenic habitat types. Roadside verges hosted significantly more individuals than cemeteries in Crete and Lesbos, and significantly more species across all three islands. Our results suggest that although cemeteries have a great potential conservation value in other parts of the world, intensive maintenance practices that characterized cemeteries in these three islands renders them unable to sustain valuable plant communities. On the other hand, roadside verges play a prominent role in the conservation of Mediterranean orchids in Cyprus and Greece. The pioneer status of roadside verges facilitates their fast colonization, while roads serve as ecological corridors in fragmented landscapes.
Biodiversity and thermal ecological function: The influence of freshwater algal diversity on local thermal environments
Authors: Missirian Anouch , Frank Eyal G. , Gersony Jess T. , Wong Jason C. Y. , Naeem Shahid
Published: May 2019

The influence of temperature on diversity and ecosystem functioning is well studied; the converse however, that is, how biodiversity influences temperature, much less so. We manipulated freshwater algal species diversity in microbial microcosms to uncover how diversity influenced primary production, which is well documented in biodiversity research. We then also explored how visible‐spectrum absorbance and the local thermal environment responded to biodiversity change. Variations in the local thermal environment, that is, in the temperature of the immediate surroundings of a community, are known to matter not only for the rate of ecosystem processes, but also for persistence of species assemblages and the very relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. In our microcosm experiment, we found a significant positive association between algal species richness and primary production, a negative association between primary production and visible‐spectrum absorbance, and a positive association between visible‐spectrum absorbance and the response of the local thermal environment (i.e., change in thermal infrared emittance over a unit time). These findings support an indirect effect of algal diversity on the local thermal environment pointing to a hitherto unrecognized biodiversity effect in which diversity has a predictable influence on local thermal environments.
Drought‐response strategies of savanna herbivores
Authors: Abraham Joel O. , Hempson Gareth P. , Staver A. Carla
Published: May 2019

Climate models predict increases in drought frequency and severity worldwide, with potential impacts on diverse systems, including African savannas. These droughts pose a concern for the conservation of savanna mammal communities, such that understanding how different species respond to drought is vital.

Because grass decreases so consistently during droughts, we predict that grass‐dependent species (grazers and mixed feeders) will respond strongly to drought, whether by changing diets, seeking drought refugia, or suffering mortality.

A recent severe but heterogeneous drought in Kruger National Park, South Africa, afforded a rare opportunity to test these hypotheses in situ—crucial, given the central role of landscape‐scale movement as a potential herbivore strategy. We used herbivore dung as a proxy, integrating spatial distributions (dung counts) with diet composition (carbon isotope analysis of dung).

As predicted, browsers showed little response to drought. However, mixed feeders switched their diets to incorporate more C3 trees/forbs, but did not move. Meanwhile, grazers and megaherbivores instead moved toward drought refugia.

Synthesis and applications: The responses we observed by savanna herbivores are largely amplifications of typical dry season strategies and reflect constraints imposed by body size and feeding ecology. Grazers may be at particular risk from increased drought frequency and spatial extent if drought refugia become decreasingly available. Conservation strategies should recognize these constraints and work to facilitate the diverse responses of herbivores to drought.
Silver Selective Electrode Based on Hybrid Mesoporous Silica (MCM‐41) Modified Material
Authors: Singh Sanjay , Rani Geeta , Zhu Maiyong
Published: May 2019

A silver selective electrode based on TEPQA‐MCM‐41 material was developed and used for the selective determination of Ag+ ion in various samples. The effect of various plasticizers i. e. dimethyl phthalate (DMP), Tris(ethylhexyl)phosphate (TEP), bis‐(2‐ethylhexyl)sebacate (BEHS), bis‐(2‐ethylhexyl)adipate (BEHA) was investigated. The electrode of the composition of 2 : 1 : 77 : 12 : 8 (w/w, %) of TEPQA‐MCM‐41 : NaTPB : Graphite powder : paraffin oil : DMP respectively, works satisfactorily in a wide concentration range of 1.3×10−9 M–1.0×10−1 M for Ag+ ion with a lower detection limit (LOD) of 1.0×10−9 M and has Nernstian slope of 63.4
1 mV/decay. The electrode can be used in a pH range of 2.3 to 6.7 for a period of 3 months without any divergence in potential response. The selectivity coefficient calculated by fixed interference method indicates the high selectivity of the electrode towards Ag+ ion over other tested cations.
Diazirine‐functionalized Nanostructured Platform for Enzymes Photografting and Electrochemical Biosensing
Authors: Stoytcheva Margarita , Zlatev Roumen , Velkova Zdravka , Gochev Velizar , Ayala Alan , Montero Gisela , Valdez Benjamín
Published: May 2019

A simple technique for the construction of a versatile diazirine‐functionalized nanostructured platform for enzymes photografting and electrochemical biosensing was proposed in this work. The feasibility of the approach was proved by photo crosslinking of an enzyme, tyrosinase, to diazirine‐activated aminated carbon nanotubes coated glassy carbon electrode. The analytical performances of the realized biosensor were evaluated employing catechol as analyte. Then the sensor based on the diazirine‐functionalized nanostructured platform with photografted tyrosinase was applied together with the high resolution technique Differential Alternative Pulses Voltammetry for dopamine determination in the linear concentration range of 5–25 μmol L−1 in the presence of interfering agents as uric acid up to its 100‐fold excess.
Dendrimer Templated Synthesis of Carbon Nanotube Supported PdAu Catalyst and its Application as Hydrogen Peroxide Sensor
Authors: Alal Orhan , Caglar Aykut , Kivrak Hilal , Sahin Ozlem
Published: May 2019

At present, CNT supported catalysts were prepared by two different methods as NaBH4 reduction and dendrimer templated NaBH4 reduction method to observe the effect of preparation method on the sensitivity and activity of H2O2 reduction. Then, CNT supported PdxAuy bimetallic nanocatalysts having various atomic ratio were synthesized via novel dendrimer templated NaBH4 reduction method. The resulting materials were characterized employing XRD and TEM. Crystallite size of 10 %Pd0.7Au0.3/CNTdendrimer was obtained from XRD 17.1 nm and mean particle size obtained from TEM is about 15 nm. Moreover, the electrochemical behavior of these catalysts was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) techniques. PdxAuy bimetallic nanocatalysts have excellent electrocatalytic properties and great potential for applications in electrochemical detection. The sensitivity and the limit of detection values for the prepared sensor with monometallic 10 % Pd/CNTdendrimer catalysts are 219.78 μA mM−1cm−2 and 2.6 μM, respectively. However, the sensor constructed with 10 %Pd0.7Au0.3/CNTdendrimer modified electrode has a very high sensitivity of 316.89 μA mM−1 cm−2 with a quick response time of 2 s and a wide linear range of 0.001–19.0 mM. In addition, the interference experiment indicated that the 10 % Pd0.7Au0.3/CNTdendrimer nanoparticles have good selectivity toward H2O2.
Emission control strategies for automotive engines with scope for deployment of solar based e‐vehicle charging infrastructure
Authors: Kurien Caneon , Srivastava Ajay Kumar , Molere Emeric
Published: May 2019

Owing to the higher thermal efficiency and durability, diesel engines have emerged as a major player in automotive sector but exhaust emissions from engines pose a serious threat to environment and human health. Toxicity levels of exhaust emissions can be reduced by application of pretreatment and posttreatment techniques. Introduction of electric vehicles is considered as the best possible alternative for reducing automotive pollution levels. Requirement for charging infrastructure is one of the major parameters affecting the social acceptance of electric vehicles. Deployment of electric vehicles in countries, which relies primarily on fossil fuels for electricity generation, will only shift the emission threat from vehicle operation phase to energy generation phase. In this article a detailed study has been conducted on the posttreatment emission control strategies for diesel engines and conversion efficiency of platinum based diesel oxidation catalysis system has been investigated with experimental inference. Fossil fuel based energy sources have more than 70% share in electricity generation of India. Additionally, a feasibility study on the deployment of solar based electric vehicle charging stations on the roof of existing fuel stations in Dehradun city, India has been conducted. The results of study showed that the proposed PV system at 26 fuel stations have total energy generation capacity of 1.9 GWh. This indicates that the deployment of solar based charging stations will be an effective method for improving the social acceptance of battery electric vehicles and will also enhance the share of renewable energy sources for power generation.
A novel forecasting model for the Baltic dry index utilizing optimal squeezing
Authors: Makridakis Spyros , Merikas Andreas , Merika Anna , Tsionas Mike G. , Izzeldin Marwan
Published: May 2019

Marine transport has grown rapidly as the result of globalization and sustainable world growth rates. Shipping market risks and uncertainty have also grown and need to be mitigated with the development of a more reliable procedure to predict changes in freight rates. In this paper, we propose a new forecasting model and apply it to the Baltic Dry Index (BDI). Such a model compresses, in an optimal way, information from the past in order to predict freight rates. To develop the forecasting model, we deploy a basic set of predictors, add lags of the BDI and introduce additional variables, in applying Bayesian compressed regression (BCR), with two important innovations. First, we include transition functions in the predictive set to capture both smooth and abrupt changes in the time path of BDI; second, we do not estimate the parameters of the transition functions, but rather embed them in the random search procedure inherent in BCR. This allows all coefficients to evolve in a time‐varying manner, while searching for the best predictors within the historical set of data. The new procedures predict the BDI with considerable success.
Construction of 4D infant cortical surface atlases with sharp folding patterns via spherical patch‐based group‐wise sparse representation
Authors: Wu Zhengwang , Wang Li , Lin Weili , Gilmore John H. , Li Gang , Shen Dinggang
Published: May 2019

4D (spatial + temporal) infant cortical surface atlases covering dense time points are highly needed for understanding dynamic early brain development. In this article, we construct a set of 4D infant cortical surface atlases with longitudinally consistent and sharp cortical attribute patterns at 11 time points in the first six postnatal years, that is, at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 months of age, which is targeted for better normalization of the dynamic changing early brain cortical surfaces. To ensure longitudinal consistency and unbiasedness, we adopt a two‐stage group‐wise surface registration. To preserve sharp cortical attribute patterns on the atlas, instead of simply averaging over the coregistered cortical surfaces, we leverage a spherical patch‐based sparse representation using the augmented dictionary to overcome the potential registration errors. Our atlases provide not only geometric attributes of the cortical folding, but also cortical thickness and myelin content. Therefore, to address the consistency across different cortical attributes on the atlas, instead of sparsely representing each attribute independently, we jointly represent all cortical attributes with a group‐wise sparsity constraint. In addition, to further facilitate region‐based analysis using our atlases, we have also provided two widely used parcellations, that is, FreeSurfer parcellation and multimodal parcellation, on our 4D infant cortical surface atlases. Compared to cortical surface atlases constructed with other methods, our cortical surface atlases preserve sharper cortical folding attribute patterns, thus leading to better accuracy in registration of individual infant cortical surfaces to the atlas.
Impact of smoking cessation on clinical outcomes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma receiving curative chemoradiotherapy: A prospective study
Authors: Chen Jenny Ling‐Yu , Shen Chia‐Wei , Wang Chia‐Chun , Huang Yu‐Sen , Chen Jo‐Pai , Chiang Chien‐Hsieh , Lin Yu‐Li , Kuo Sung‐Hsin , Wang Chun‐Wei
Published: May 2019

Background

We hypothesized that patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with smoking cessation during curative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) had fewer complications and lower tumor progression risks.

Methods

Sixty‐three patients with nonmetastatic HNSCC who were smokers at diagnosis (carbon monoxide [CO] breath concentrations ≥3 ppm) and underwent curative CRT were prospectively enrolled. Successful smoking cessation throughout CRT was confirmed by CO breath concentrations <3 ppm at CRT completion.

Results

Forty‐one patients (65%) successfully discontinued smoking throughout CRT. With a median 33‐month follow‐up, patients with successful smoking cessation during CRT had significantly fewer, greater, and lower probabilities of grade ≥3 acute toxicities (P = .01), progression‐free survival (P = .03), and permanent gastrostomy or tracheostomy (P = .04), respectively, than those continuing smoking throughout CRT. In multivariate analysis, successful smoking cessation during CRT significantly reduced tumor progression risks (hazard ratio: 0.4, P = .05).

Conclusion

Smoking cessation during curative CRT reduced treatment‐related toxicities and tumor progression risks in patients with HNSCC.
Using REACH for the EU Environmental Footprint: Building a Usable Ecotoxicity Database, Part I
Authors: Saouter Erwan , Biganzoli Fabrizio , Pant Rana , Sala Serenella , Versteeg Donald
Published: May 2019

The European Union Environmental Footprint (EU-EF) is a harmonized method to measure and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organizations. Among 16 different impact categories included in the EU-EF, 1 focuses on the impact of substances on freshwater ecosystems and requires the use of toxicity data. This paper evaluates the use of the aquatic toxicity data submitted to the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. It presents an automated computerized approach for selecting substance ecotoxicity values, building on a set of quality and reliability criteria to extract the most relevant data points for calculating the substance specific hazard values. A selected set of criteria led to the exclusion of approximately 82% of the original REACH ecotoxicological data available as of May 2015 due to incomplete initial encoding of the data by the REACH registrant, missing information such as duration of exposure, endpoint measured, species tested, and imprecise toxicity values (i.e., reported with greater than or less than signs). From an initial set of 305 068 ecotoxicity data records available in the REACH database, the final usable database contains 54 353 toxicity records (29 421 characterized as acute and 24 941 as chronic) covering 9 taxonomic groups, with algae, crustaceans, and fish representing 93% of the data. This data set is valuable for assessing the environmental toxicity of the substance contained whether through traditional substance risk assessment, product toxicity labeling, life cycle assessment (LCA) or environmental impact assessment approaches. However, the resulting loss of approximately 82% of the data suggests that changes in procedures used to generate, report, and document the data within REACH are needed to improve data utility for the various assessment approaches. The rules used to select the data to be used are the primary focus of this article. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;15:783–795. © 2019 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
Lung computed axial tomography image segmentation using possibilistic fuzzy C‐means approach for computer aided diagnosis system
Authors: Paulraj Tharcis , Chelliah Kezi Selva Vijila , Chinnasamy Sundar
Published: May 2019

Soft computing is an associate rising field that plays a crucial half in the area of engineering and science. One of the most significant applications of soft computing is image segmentation. It focuses on an exploiting tolerance of imprecision and uncertainty. Segmentation supported soft computing remains a difficult task within the medical field. Medical images are habitually used in the segmentation process to extract the meaningful portions and to know and clarify the condition of the particular patient. In this article, we implement an efficient possibilistic fuzzy C‐means (PFCM) approach to segment the lung portion in the computed tomography (CT) image and the result shows that it improves the segmentation accuracy upto 98.5012% and results are compared with existing segmenting approaches like fuzzy possibilistic C‐means method, fuzzy bitplane method and so forth. Also, the PFCM approach increases the diagnostic accuracy of the computer aided diagnosis system using CT images. The radiologist may utilize this computer aided diagnosis system results as a second opinion of their diagnosed results.
Development of bone regeneration strategies using human periosteum‐derived osteoblasts and oxygen‐releasing microparticles in mandibular osteomyelitis model of miniature pig
Authors: Hwang Sun‐Chul , Hwang Dae Seok , Kim Ho Yong , Kim Min Ji , Kang Young‐Hoon , Byun Sung‐Hoon , Rho Gyu‐Jin , Lee Hyeon‐Jeong , Lee Hee‐Chun , Kim Sang‐Hyun , Baik Seung Chul , Park Jin‐Sik , Oh Se Heang , Byun June‐Ho
Published: May 2019

Hypoxia and limited vascularization inhibit bone growth and recovery after surgical debridement to treat osteomyelitis. Similarly, despite significant efforts to create functional tissue‐engineered organs, clinical success is often hindered by insufficient oxygen diffusion and poor vascularization. To overcome these shortcomings, we previously used the oxygen carrier perfluorooctane (PFO) to develop PFO emulsion‐loaded hollow microparticles (PFO‐HPs). PFO‐HPs act as a local oxygen source that increase cell viability and maintains the osteogenic differentiation potency of human periosteum‐derived cells (hPDCs) under hypoxic conditions. In the present study, we used a miniature pig model of mandibular osteomyelitis to investigate bone regeneration using hPDCs seeded on PFO‐HPs (hPDCs/PFO‐HP) or hPDCs seeded on phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS)‐HPs (hPDCs/PBS‐HP). Osteomyelitis is characterized by a series of microbial invasion, vascular disruption, bony necrosis, and sequestrum formation due to impaired host defense response. Sequential plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), and 3D reconstructed CT images revealed new bone formation was more advanced in defects that had been implanted with the hPDCs/PFO‐HPs than in defects implanted with the hPDCs/PBS‐HP. Thus, PFO‐HPs are a promising tissue engineering approach to repair challenging bone defects and regenerate structurally organized bone tissue with 3D architecture.
Biodegradable, anti‐adhesive and tough polyurethane hydrogels crosslinked by triol crosslinkers
Authors: Xiao Kecen , Wang Zhuoya , Wu Yujie , Lin Weiwei , He Yuanyuan , Zhan Jianghao , Luo Feng , Li Zhen , Li Jiehua , Tan Hong , Fu Qiang
Published: May 2019

The mechanical and biodegradable properties of hydrogels are two essential properties for practical biomaterial applications. In this work, a series of biodegradable polyurethane (PU) hydrogels were successfully synthesized using two kinds of triol crosslinkers with different chain structures. One crosslinker is normal glycerol (GC) with short chain length, and the other is biodegradable poly (ε‐caprolactone)‐triol (CAPA) with long chain length. All PU hydrogels showed considerable water uptake around ~60%, excellent strength (above 3 MPa), advisable modulus (0.9~1.7 MPa), high elasticity (above 700%), as well as good biodegradability and biocompatibility. Hydrogen bonds served as reversible sacrificial bonds in the PU hydrogels endow them good toughness with partial hysteresis during deformation. The biodegradable long chain crosslinker CAPA can certainly accelerate the degradation of PU hydrogels compared with the GC crosslinked hydrogels. The degradation of these hydrogels was a process of continuous erosion from the surface to interior, which contributes to the high remain of mechanical properties after 30 days‐degradation. Besides, the hydrogels also show excellent antifouling ability of protein and anti‐adhesion of cells. Therefore, these hydrogels suggest great potential used as biological anti‐adhesive membranes or catheters.
Has vitamin E any shreds of evidence in cisplatin‐induced toxicity
Authors: Hakiminia Bahareh , Goudarzi Arash , Moghaddas Azadeh
Published: May 2019

Cisplatin is one of the highly consumed and effective antitumor agents whose clinical application is accompanied by nephrotoxicity adverse reaction. Also, other complications such as ototoxicity and hepatotoxicity are a matter of concern. Today, it is suggested that cisplatin‐associated toxicities are mainly induced by free radicals production, which will result in oxidative organ injury. The evidence is growing over the protective effects of antioxidants on cisplatin‐induced adverse reactions especially nephrotoxicity. The possible protective effects of vitamin E and its derivative in cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity are reviewed here at the light of pertinent results from basic and clinical research. Administration of vitamin E alone or in combination with other antioxidant agents could cause amelioration in oxidative stress biomarkers such as decreasing the level of malondialdehyde, reducing serum urea and creatinine, and also enhancing the activities of renal antioxidant enzymes including renal catalase, glutathione‐S‐transferase, and superoxide dismutase. Although the data from most of the studies are in favors of protective effects of vitamin E against cisplatin‐induced toxicity, more clinical trials are needed to clarify the clinical importance of vitamin E administration as an antioxidant during cisplatin therapy in cancer condition.
Elevated circulating lnc‐ANRIL/miR‐125a axis level predicts higher risk, more severe disease condition, and worse prognosis of sepsis
Authors: Gui Feng , Peng Huan , Liu Yijue
Published: May 2019

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the correlation of lnc‐ANRIL/miR‐125a axis with risk, severity, inflammation, and prognosis of sepsis.

Methods

A hundred and twenty‐six sepsis patients and 125 healthy controls were recruited, and then, blood samples were collected, and plasma was separated for lnc‐ANRIL, miR‐125a, lnc‐ANRIL/miR‐125a axis, and inflammatory cytokine level detections. In addition, basic characteristics, 28‐day mortality, and accumulating survival of sepsis patients were recorded.

Results

Plasma lnc‐ANRIL expression was increased, miR‐125a expression was decreased, and lnc‐ANRIL/miR‐125a axis level was elevated in sepsis patients compared with healthy controls, and all of them had good value for predicting sepsis risk with AUCs of 0.800, 0.817, and 0.843, respectively. Lnc‐ANRIL and lnc‐ANRIL/miR‐125a axis were positively correlated with biochemical index levels including CRP and PCT levels, disease severity scale scores, and pro‐inflammatory cytokine levels in sepsis patients, while miR‐125a displayed the opposite trend. Lnc‐ANRIL and lnc‐ANRIL/miR‐125a axis expressions were elevated, while miR‐125a expression was declined in deaths compared with survivors, and all of them predicted 28‐day mortality in sepsis patients with AUCs of 0.765, 0.745, and 0.785, respectively. Subsequently, the Kaplan‐Meier analysis revealed that patients with high lnc‐ANRIL, low miR‐125a, and high lnc‐ANRIL/miR‐125a axis levels presented with worse accumulating survival. In addition, multivariate regression model analyses revealed that high plasma lnc‐ANRIL/miR‐125a axis was an independent predictive factor for both increased 28‐day mortality and worse accumulating survival.

Conclusion

Circulating lnc‐ANRIL/miR‐125a axis was upregulated and could serve as a biomarker for severity, inflammation, and prognosis in sepsis patients.
Noninvasive indicators predict advanced liver fibrosis in autoimmune hepatitis patients
Authors: Liu Lingyan , Cao Junying , Zhong Zhengrong , Guo Zhuying , Jiang Yunfei , Bai Yupan , Xu Jie
Published: May 2019

Background

Liver biopsy is the criterion standard for diagnosing liver fibrosis, but it is not widely used to monitor liver fibrosis because of the invasiveness, risk of complications, and sample errors. Therefore, it is necessary to involve other techniques to monitor liver fibrosis or cirrhosis during clinical practice. The objective was to explore noninvasive indicators to predict advanced liver fibrosis in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients.

Methods

A total of 45 AIH patients and 47 healthy controls were recruited to this retrospective study. Complete blood count and liver function tests were performed for all subjects. AIH patients were divided into “no/minimal fibrosis” group and “advanced fibrosis” group based on liver biopsy.

Results

AIH patients demonstrated significantly higher monocytes, MCV, RDW‐CV, RDW‐SD, NLR, RDW‐CV/PLT, RDW‐SD/PLT, TBIL, DBIL, GLB, ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, and GPR and lower WBC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, RBC, HGB, HCT, LMR, TP, ALB, and AAR compared with healthy controls. Patients with advanced fibrosis showed remarkably higher RDW‐CV, RDW‐SD, RDW‐CV/PLT, RDW‐SD/PLT, AAR, and FIB‐4 and lower RBC, PLT, PCT, and ALB compared with the no/minimal fibrosis group. Logistic regression analysis showed that RDW‐SD/PLT was an independent risk factor for advanced fibrosis with an OR (95% CI) of 2.647 (1.383‐5.170). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that RDW‐SD, RDW‐CV/PLT, RDW‐SD/PLT, FIB‐4, and AAR had an area under the ROC curve (AUC) above 0.700 and RDW‐SD/PLT had the largest AUC of 0.785 with a cutoff value of 0.239.

Conclusion

RDW‐SD, RDW‐CV/PLT, RDW‐SD/PLT, FIB‐4, and AAR were excellent noninvasive biomarkers and RDW‐SD/PLT was an independent risk factor for predicting advanced fibrosis in AIH patients.
Targeting MAPKs, NF‐κB, and PI3K/AKT pathways by methyl palmitate ameliorates ethanol‐induced gastric mucosal injury in rats
Authors: Arab Hany H. , Salama Samir A. , Eid Ahmed H. , Kabel Ahmed M. , Shahin Nancy N.
Published: May 2019

Excessive drinking of alcohol has been frequently associated with gastric injury; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms have been inadequately investigated. Methyl palmitate (MP) has demonstrated marked hepato‐, cardio‐ and pulmonary protective features; however, its effects on ethanol‐induced gastric injury have not been studied. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential gastroprotective activity of MP against ethanol‐evoked gastric mucosal damage in rats and associated molecular mechanisms, for example, mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB), and phosphoinositide 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathways. The rat stomachs were examined in terms of the inflammatory, oxidative, and apoptotic perturbations. Current data demonstrated that pretreatment with MP attenuated the gross gastric damage, scores of ulcer index, area of mucosal lesions and histopathology outcomes; actions which were similar to the reference antiulcer omeprazole. MP inhibited NF‐κB expression, its nuclear translocation, and the expression of its downstream signals, for example, tumor necrosis factor‐α and myeloperoxidase besides restoration of interleukin‐10 levels. Western blot analysis revealed that MP counteracted the disruption of MAPKs signaling via lowering p‐c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase 1/2 (p‐JNK1/2) expression and restoring the phospho‐extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (p‐ERK1/2) levels without affecting p‐p38MAPK levels. Additionally, MP improved the antioxidant milieu via diminishing lipid peroxides and enhancing glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity and mucosal nitric oxide. In the context of apoptosis, MP inhibited the cleavage of caspase‐3 and poly(ADP‐ribose)polymerase (PARP) and Bax protein expression with upregulating B cell lymphoma‐2 expression (Bcl‐2), thus, promoting gastric cellular survival. This was confirmed by MP activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway manifested by enhanced expression of PI3K p110α and p‐AKT. Together, the present findings report the gastroprotective actions of MP mediated via its anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic actions. The underlying molecular mechanisms involve, at least partly, the modulation of MAPKs, NF‐κB and PI3K/AKT transduction.
Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide reduces melanogenesis by inhibiting the paracrine effects of keratinocytes and fibroblasts via IL‐6/STAT3/FGF2 pathway
Authors: Jiang Ling , Huang Jinhua , Lu Jianyun , Hu Shuanghai , Pei Shiyao , Ouyang Yujie , Ding Yufang , Hu Yibo , Kang Liyang , Huang Lihua , Xiang Hong , Zeng Qing , Liu Lei , Chen Jing , Zeng Qinghai
Published: May 2019

Our previous study found that Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP), bioactive ingredients from Ganoderma lucidum, protected fibroblasts from photoaging. However, whether GLP can affect melanogenesis in melanocytes through regulating paracrine mediators that secreted by keratinocytes and fibroblasts is unclear. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of action of GLP in melanogenesis by regulating paracrine effects of keratinocytes and fibroblasts. The effect of GLP on cell viability affected by GLP was measured by the 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. After an immortal keratinocyte line (HaCaT) and primary fibroblasts (FB) were treated with GLP, the supernatants of HaCaT and FB cells were collected and cocultured with an immortalized melanocyte line (PIG1). The expression levels of melanogenesis‐associated genes in PIG1 cells were measured by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and western blot analysis. Furthermore, FRS‐2, ERK, JNK, and p38 phosphorylation levels were measured. Then, major melanogenic paracrine mediators in HaCaT and FB cells treated with GLP were evaluated by qRT‐PCR and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, the expression of IL‐6 and STAT3 was examined in HaCaT and FB cells. GLP was not cytotoxic to HaCaT and FB cells. The supernatants of GLP‐treated HaCaT and FB cells downregulated the expression levels of MITF, TYR, TYRP1, TYRP2, RAB27A, and FSCN1 genes and inhibited the phosphorylation of FRS‐2, ERK, JNK, and p38 in PIG1 cells. GLP also decreased FGF2 secretion in HaCaT and FB cells. Moreover, GLP reduced IL‐6 expression and STAT3 phosphorylation in HaCaT and FB cells. GLP reduced melanogenesis in melanocytes by inhibiting the paracrine effects of keratinocytes and fibroblasts via IL‐6/STAT3/FGF2 pathway.
Loperamide: A Readily Available but Dangerous Opioid Substitute
Authors: White C. Michael
Published: May 2019

The antidiarrheal over‐the‐counter drug loperamide is increasingly being used to control opioid withdrawal or for opioid abuse. Taking many times above the normally recommended dose is dangerous with cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological adverse events. Cytochrome P‐450 (CYP)2C8, CYP3A, and P‐glycoprotein inhibitors can increase the plasma and central nervous system concentrations and radically alter the risk profile of loperamide. Online forums suggest using over‐the‐counter metabolic enzyme blockers to enhance the effects. Public health options include switching over‐the‐counter loperamide to blister packs (the FDA‐preferred method), making loperamide only available by prescription, or moving the product behind the pharmacy counter. Although naloxone may ameliorate the neurological and respiratory adverse events, it is ineffective at reversing loperamide‐induced arrhythmias. Even magnesium might provide less efficacy in loperamide‐induced Torsade de Pointes necessitating the use of cardiac pacing and electrical cardioversion.
Feasibility study of highly accelerated phase‐sensitive inversion recovery myocardial viability imaging using simultaneous multislice and parallel imaging techniques
Authors: Zhang Zhehao , Sun Wenbo , Lan Lan , Zheng Yuan , Xu Jian , Du Yiping , Xu Haibo , Chen Qun
Published: May 2019

Background

Phase‐sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR) is a powerful cardiac MRI method to assess myocardial viability, which can eliminate the background phase and preserve the sign of the desired magnetization during inversion recovery.

Purpose/Hypothesis

To shorten the acquisition time of myocardial viability imaging by introducing both simultaneous multislice (SMS) and parallel imaging (PI) into PSIR without additional acquisitions for calibration data.

Study Type

Prospective study.

Subjects

A high‐resolution phantom and three vials with doped solutions matching typical postcontrast T1 and T2 values of scar, healthy myocardium, and blood; 18 patients (six with known myocardial infarction) were included in this study.

Field Strength/Sequence

3T/segmented fast spoiled gradient echo pulse sequence.

Assessment

Phantom and in vivo experiments were performed to compare the performance of conventional PSIR, SMS accelerated PSIR (SMS‐PSIR, 2× acceleration), and SMS as well as PI accelerated PSIR (SMS + PI‐PSIR, 4× acceleration). In phantom experiments, the error maps, local signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. In in vivo experiments, the image quality and artifact level of each study were qualitatively graded (by three radiologists). G‐factor maps were calculated. The infarct size presented as a percentage of the left ventricle was measured (full‐width half‐maximum). Acquisition time of each study was recorded.

Statistical Test

One‐way analysis of variance, Kruskal–Wallis test.

Results

In phantom experiments, SNR and CNR were well preserved for SMS‐PSIR, while they dropped for SMS + PI‐PSIR, as expected. In 15 subjects, the overall image quality scores were not significantly different among conventional PSIR (3.70 ± 1.06), SMS‐PSIR (3.78 ± 0.99), and SMS + PI‐PSIR (3.47 ± 0.94; P = 0.20). The artifact level scores were also comparable among conventional PSIR (3.67 ± 1.04), SMS‐PSIR (3.77 ± 1.03), and SMS + PI‐PSIR (3.45 ± 1.00; P = 0.22). SMS‐PSIR achieved negligible g‐factor noise amplification (1.04 ± 0.03) and SMS + PI‐PSIR showed higher g‐factors (2.83 ± 0.48). The infarct size was consistent among conventional PSIR (22.51 ± 25.05%) and SMS‐PSIR (22.98 ± 26.19%), as well as SMS + PI‐PSIR (22.93 ± 25.68%; P = 0.98). The acquisition time of two short‐axis slices for SMS‐PSIR (17.6 ± 1.7 sec, 16 heartbeats) and SMS + PI‐PSIR (9.8 ± 1.9 sec, 8 heartbeats) was 30% and 17% of that for conventional PSIR (56.2 ± 8.5 sec, 32 heartbeats), respectively.

Data Conclusion

SMS can be implemented in PSIR without additional reference scan. The image quality is comparable with conventional PSIR, while the acquisition time is much shorter. The proposed method is also compatible with PI to further reduce the scan time.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy: Stage 3

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1964–1972.
Label‐free cervicovaginal fluid proteome profiling reflects the cervix neoplastic transformation
Authors: Starodubtseva Natalia L. , Brzhozovskiy Alexander G. , Bugrova Anna E. , Kononikhin Alexey S. , Indeykina Maria I. , Gusakov Kiril I. , Chagovets Vitaliy V. , Nazarova Niso M. , Frankevich Vladimir E. , Sukhikh Gennady T. , Nikolaev Eugene N.
Published: May 2019

Cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) is a valuable source of clinical information about the female reproductive tract in both nonpregnant and pregnant women. The aim of this study is to specify the CVF proteome at different stages of cervix neoplastic transformation by label‐free quantitation approach based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method. The proteome composition of CVF from 40 women of reproductive age with human papillomavirus (HPV)‐associated cervix neoplastic transformation (low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [LSIL], high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [HSIL], and CANCER) was investigated. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) of the proteomic data obtained by a label‐free quantitation approach show the distribution of the sample set between four major clusters (no intraepithelial lesion or malignancy [NILM], LSIL, HSIL and CANCER) depending on the form of cervical lesion. Multisample ANOVA with subsequent Welch's t test resulted in 117 that changed significantly across the four clinical stages, including 27 proteins significantly changed in cervical cancer. Some of them were indicated as promising biomarkers previously (ACTN4, VTN, ANXA1, CAP1, ANXA2, and MUC5B). CVF proteomic data from the discovery stage were analyzed by the partial least squares‐discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) method to build a statistical model, allowing to differentiate severe dysplasia (HSIL and CANCER) from the mild/normal stage (NILM and LSIL), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) were obtained on an independent set of 33 samples. The sensitivity of the model was 77%, and the specificity was 94%; AUC was equal to 0.87. CVF proteome proved to be reflect the stage of cervical epithelium neoplastic process.