bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age-dependent skeletal muscle transcriptome response to bed rest-induced atrophy
Authors: Mahmassani Ziad S. , Reidy Paul T. , McKenzie Alec I. , Stubben Chris , Howard Michael T. , Drummond Micah J.
Published: January 2019

Short-term muscle disuse induces significant muscle loss in older adults and in some reports may be more accelerated with aging. Identifying muscle transcriptional events in response to bed rest may help identify therapeutic targets to offset muscle loss. Therefore, we compared the muscle transcriptome between young and older adults after bed rest and identified candidate targets related to changes in muscle loss. RNA was sequenced (HiSeq, Illumina; DESeq, R) from muscle biopsies obtained from young [ n = 9; 23 yr (SD 3)] and older [ n = 18; 68 yr (SD 6)] adults before and after 5-day bed rest. Significantly altered pathways in both young and old subjects relating to mechanosensing and cell adhesion (Actin Cytoskeleton Signaling, ILK Signaling, RhoA Signaling, and Integrin Signaling) were altered (activation z score) to a greater extent in old subjects. Hepatic Fibrosis/Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation was the top regulated pathway significantly altered only in the old. Fifty-one differentially regulated genes were only altered in the young after bed rest and resembled a gene expression profile like that in the old at baseline. Inflammation and muscle wasting genes (CXCL2, GADD45A) were uniquely increased in the old after bed rest, and the macrophage gene MAFB decreased in the old and correlated with the change in leg lean mass. In summary, skeletal muscle dysregulation during bed rest in the old may be driven by alterations in molecules related to fibrosis, inflammation, and cell adhesion. This information may aid in the development of mechanistic-based therapies to combat muscle atrophy during short-term disuse.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using RNA sequencing and bioinformatics approaches, we identified that older adult skeletal muscle was characterized by dysregulated pathways associated with fibrosis, inflammation (upregulated), and cell adhesion and mechanosensing (downregulated) pathways, with a subset of genes differentially regulated in old and young muscle after bed rest that may describe predisposition to muscle loss. Unique upregulated genes only expressed in old muscle after bed rest indicated increased inflammation and muscle wasting (CXCL2, GADD45A) and decreased MAFB correlated with the change in leg lean mass.
Primary Rosai-Dorfman Disease of Bone: A Report of Two Cases
Authors: Ross Andrew B. , Davis Kirkland W. , Buehler Darya , Chan Brian Y.
Published: January 2019

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD), sometimes known as sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy, is a rare histiocytic disorder that most commonly presents as painless, massive cervical lymphadenopathy in young adults. Extranodal disease can occur in up to 40% of patients but primary involvement of bone is rare. We present two cases of primary RDD of bone: one case of multifocal osseous RDD presenting as a painful lesion in the elbow, and one case of a solitary osseous lesion presenting as a painful lesion in the wrist.
Systematically Characterizing Chemical Profile and Potential Mechanisms of Qingre Lidan Decoction Acting on Cholelithiasis by Integrating UHPLC-QTOF-MS and Network Target Analysis
Authors: Huang Peng , Ke Hongwen , Qiu Yang , Cai Mingchen , Qu Jialin , Leng Aijing
Published: January 2019

Qingre Lidan Decoction (QRLDD), a classic precompounded prescription, is widely used as an effective treatment for cholelithiasis clinically. However, its chemical profile and mechanism have not been characterized and elucidated. In the present study, a rapid, sensitive, and reliable ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was established for comprehensively identifying the major constituents in QRLDD. Furthermore, a network pharmacology strategy based on the chemical profile was applied to clarify the synergetic mechanism. A total of 72 compounds containing flavonoids, terpenes, phenolic acid, anthraquinones, phenethylalchohol glycosides, and other miscellaneous compounds were identified, respectively. 410 disease genes, 432 compound targets, and 71 related pathways based on cholelithiasis-related and compound-related targets databases as well as related pathways predicted by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database were achieved. Among these pathways and genes, pathway in cancer and MAPK signaling pathway may play an important role in the development of cholelithiasis. EGFR may be a crucial target in the conversion of gallstones to gallbladder carcinoma. Regulation of PRKCB/RAF1/MAP2K1/MAPK1 is associated with cell proliferation and differentiation. Thus, the fingerprint coupled with network pharmacology analysis could contribute to simplifying the complex system and providing directions for further research of QRLDD.
Amplatz versus Balloon for Tract Dilation in Ultrasonographically Guided Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Pakmanesh Hamid , Daneshpajooh Azar , Mirzaei Mahboubeh , Shahesmaeili Armita , Hashemian Morteza , Alinejad Mohsen , Ketabchi Ali Asghar , Tavoosian Ali , Ebadzadeh Mohammad Reza
Published: January 2019

Purpose. To compare balloon with Amplatz for tract dilation in totally ultrasonographically guided PCNL (UPCN). Methods. We randomized 66 patients candidate for sonographically guided PCNL in the flank position in two study groups. In the first group, we used single step Amplatz dilation (AG) technique in which the 28- or 30-French Amplatz dilator is used for tract dilation. In the other group, we dilated the tract using balloon dilator (BG). We compared procedure time, success rate of dilation, and postoperative clinical outcomes and cost between two groups. Results. The rate of short dilation was higher in the Amplatz group (57.6%) compared with Balloon group (36.4%) (P=0.08). When using Amplatz for lower pole access, short dilation occurred in 81% of cases compared with 44% in the BG (P=0.02). Overall operation was longer in the AG (80±21 versus 65±20 minutes P=0.02). Stone free rate was 87.9% in the AG compared with 72.7% in the BG (p=0.12). Mean cost of the surgery was 603±85 USD and 718±78 USD in the AG and BG, respectively (P=0.0001). Hemoglobin drop, transfusion rate, renal function alteration, duration of hospitalization, and complication rate based on Clavien classification were similar in both groups. Conclusions. AG showed a higher rate of short dilation compared with BG; consequently, overall operating time was significantly longer in the AG whereas BG was significantly more expensive than AG. Bleeding and other complications were similar in two groups. We observed an advantage for balloon dilation over Amplatz when approaching the lower pole calyxes.
The Crosstalk between Fat Homeostasis and Liver Regional Immunity in NAFLD
Authors: Ma Minjuan , Duan Rui , Zhong Hong , Liang Tingming , Guo Li
Published: January 2019

The liver is well known as the center of glucose and lipid metabolism in the human body. It also functions as an immune organ. Previous studies have suggested that liver nonparenchymal cells are crucial in the progression of NAFLD. In recent years, NAFLD’s threat to human health has been becoming a global issue. And by far, there is no effective treatment for NAFLD. Liver nonparenchymal cells are stimulated by lipid antigens, adipokines, or other factors, and secreted immune factors can alter the expression of key proteins such as SREBP-1c, ChREBP, and PPARγ to regulate lipid metabolism, thus affecting the pathological process of NAFLD. Interestingly, some ncRNAs (including miRNAs and lncRNAs) participate in the pathological process of NAFLD by changing body fat homeostasis. And even some ncRNAs could regulate the activity of HSCs, thereby affecting the progression of inflammation and fibrosis in the course of NAFLD. In conclusion, immunotherapy could be an effective way to treat NAFLD.
Recognition of Transportation State by Smartphone Sensors Using Deep Bi-LSTM Neural Network
Authors: Zhao Hong , Hou Chunning , Alrobassy Hala , Zeng Xiangyan
Published: January 2019

Smartphones have been used for recognizing different transportation states. However, current studies focus on the speed of the object, which only relies on the GPS sensor rather than considering other suitable sensors and actual application factors. In this study, we propose a novel method that considers these factors comprehensively to enhance transportation state recognition. The deep Bi-LSTM (bidirectional long short-term memory) neural network structure, the crowd-sourcing model, and the TensorFlow deep learning system are used to classify the transportation states. Meanwhile, the data captured by the accelerometer and gyroscope sensors of smartphone is used to test and adjust the deep Bi-LSTM neural network model, making it easy to transfer the model into smartphones and conduct real-time recognition. The experimental results show that this study achieves transportation activity classification with an accuracy of up to 92.8%. The model of the deep Bi-LSTM neural network can be used for other time-series fields such as signal recognition and action analysis.
Research on Failure Mechanism and Parameter Sensitivity of Zonal Disintegration in Deep Tunnel
Authors: Zhang Xutao , Gao Qiang , Cui Shicai , Duan Changrui
Published: January 2019

With the increase of excavation depth, the zonal disintegration phenomenon appears in the deep rock mass, which is quite different from the failure mode of shallow tunnel. In order to analyse the failure mechanism of this phenomenon, an elastoplastic softening damage model was put forward based on the softening damage characteristics of deep rock mass. The constitutive equations, the equilibrium equations, and the failure criterion were deduced. The theoretical solutions of radial displacement and radial stresses and tangential stresses of deep surrounding rock mass were calculated. The distribution law of zonal disintegration in deep tunnel was obtained. The theoretical solutions presented an oscillating mode. The theoretical calculated widths of fracture zones were in good agreement with the in situ test data. Besides, the sensitivity of different parameters to fracture morphology was calculated and analysed. The results show that the relative loading strength has a controlling role in the zonal disintegration morphology, followed by the cohesion force and deformation modulus, and the internal friction angle is the least. This study reveals the morphological characteristics and influencing factors of zonal disintegration, which provides a basis for the prediction and support control of fracture modes.
Effects of Xingpi Kaiyu Fang on ATP, Na/K-ATPase, and Respiratory Chain Complexes of Hippocampus and Gastrocnemius Muscle in Depressed Rats
Authors: Yuan Qingjie , Li Yang , Deng Xiaofei , Shi Huawei , Zhao Zhenwu , Wang Chunye , Feng Xuegong , Guo Jianyou , Guo Rongjuan
Published: January 2019

Objective. To clarify the effectiveness and mechanism of the Chinese herbal formula Xingpi Kaiyu Fang (XPKYF) which is composed of American ginseng (Xi-Yang-shen), Radix curcumae (Yu-Jin), Acori tatarinowii rhizoma (Shi-Chang-pu), and Hypericum perforatum (Guan-Ye-lian-qiao) in depressed rats. Methods. The rat model of depression was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) method for 6 weeks. Rats were randomly divided into six groups: control group, CUMS group, CUMS+XPKYF (3.6g/kg/d, 7.2g/kg/d, 14.4g/kg/d) groups, and CUMS+sertraline (4.5mg/kg/d) group. The sucrose preference test and the forced swimming test were performed to assess the rats’ depression behavior. Mitochondrial ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscope and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, sodium potassium ATPase (Na/K-ATPase) activity, and mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes activities in hippocampus and gastrocnemius muscle were measured at the 14th and 42nd day. Results. Rats subjected to six weeks of CUMS exhibited decreased sucrose preference ratio and prolonged immobility time. CUMS reduced ATP content in hippocampus, decreased Na/K-ATPase activity and respiratory chain complex I, III, and IV activities in hippocampus and gastrocnemius muscle, and damaged mitochondrial ultrastructure of hippocampus and gastrocnemius muscle. XPKYF at 14.4g/kg, the efficacy trend of which was better than the other drug groups, could prevent the stress-induced depressed behavior changes, inhibit the decrease of Na/K-ATPase activity in hippocampus, inhibit the decrease of respiratory chain complex III activities in hippocampus and gastrocnemius muscle, and protect mitochondria from ultrastructural damage. Conclusions. Energy deficiency and damaged mitochondrial ultrastructure were found in hippocampus and gastrocnemius muscle of depressed rats established by CUMS. XPKYF could partly reverse alterations in ATP, Na/K-ATPase, and respiratory chain complexes of hippocampus and gastrocnemius muscle and protect mitochondria from ultrastructural damage. This provides another experimental evidence for the clinical application of XPKYF in the treatment of depression.
Synthesis and Characterization of Nano-TiO2/SiO2-Acrylic Composite Resin
Authors: Du Bin , Chen Feng , Luo Rubai , Zhou Shisheng , Wu Zhengneng
Published: January 2019

Waterborne acrylic resin is widely used as a binder of waterborne printing ink because of its excellent comprehensive properties. However, its further developments and applications are hindered by its poor UV resistance and water resistance. Therefore, an approach to prepare acrylic resin with excellent UV resistance and water resistance is described in this present study. The nano-TiO2/SiO2 composite particles were first modified with a silane coupling agent (KH-570) and a titanate coupling agent (NDZ-101) and then embedded into acrylic resin via a blending method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) were applied to investigate the structure and morphology of the modified nano-TiO2/SiO2 composite particles. The effects of the modified nano-TiO2/SiO2 composite particles on the UV and water resistance of the acrylic resin were investigated by UV spectroscopy and water resistance analysis. The weight loss of modified nano-TiO2/SiO2 was about 20% when heated to 600°C, which indicated that the nano-TiO2/SiO2 composite particles were modified by the coupling agents successfully. The UV-Vis spectra of acrylic resin showed that the UV resistance was improved upon the addition of nano-TiO2/SiO2. The water absorption of the nano-TiO2/SiO2-acrylic resin was less than 5%, indicating that the water resistance of the material was improved.
Moxibustion of Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23) Alleviates Cartilage Degradation through RANKL/OPG Signaling in a Rabbit Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Chen Yang , Li Haijun , Luo Xiaochao , Liu Huahui , Zhong Yumei , Wu Xiao , Liu Xuguang
Published: January 2019

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic and chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by severe synovial hyperplasia associated with progressive cartilage degradation. Due to the severe pain and disability caused by RA, effective therapeutic strategies that could simultaneously alleviate the inflammatory response and delay the disease progression are urgently needed. As a major alternative therapy in traditional Chinese medicine, moxibustion has been demonstrated that it could reduce the chronic inflammatory responses of a series of musculoskeletal diseases; however, whether moxibustion has protective effects on RA is still unclear. To investigate the effects of moxibustion on RA, moxibustion was applied to Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23) acupoints in a RA rabbit model. HE staining of articular cartilage showed that moxibustion alleviated the cartilage degradation and bone destruction. In addition, moxibustion decreased the osteoclast number in RA rabbits. Real-time PCR revealed that moxibustion decreased the expression of RANKL mRNA while increased the expression of OPG mRNA, indicating a restoration of the balance between osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis. Taken together, our results indicated that moxibustion had promising antiarthritic effects and could be an useful alternative method in RA therapeutics.
Toward a Unified Framework for Analysis of Multi-RAT Heterogeneous Wireless Networks
Authors: Marvi Murk , Aijaz Adnan , Khurram Muhammad
Published: January 2019

The increased penetration of different radio access technologies (RATs) and the growing trend towards their convergence necessitates the investigation of wireless heterogeneous networks (HetNets) from coverage and capacity perspective. This paper develops a unified framework for signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio and rate coverage analysis of multi-RAT HetNets, with each RAT employing either a contention-free or a contention-based channel access strategy. The proposed framework adopts tools from stochastic geometry, with the location of APs and mobile users modeled through independent Poisson point processes (PPPs). We specifically focus on a two-RAT scenario (i.e., cellular and Wi-Fi), where for multi-tier Wi-Fi RAT, with contention-based channel access like CSMA/CA, the location dependent distribution of interfering APs has been approximated through a homogeneous PPP. Moreover, by using some simple yet realistic set of assumptions, the distance to nearest active AP has been defined which results in simplified expressions. The medium access probability for a random and a tagged AP under a multi-tier Wi-Fi RAT has also been derived and discussed. By keeping in view the tremendous effect of temporal domain on overall network performance, the stable queue probability has been derived by assuming a non-saturated traffic model. The results have been validated through extensive simulations and compared with existing approaches. Some useful insights have also been presented that shed light on design and analysis of multi-RAT HetNets and provide motivation for further research in this direction.
A Review of Antiplatelet Activity of Traditional Medicinal Herbs on Integrative Medicine Studies
Authors: Kim Kyungho , Park Kwang-Il
Published: January 2019

Thrombotic events mainly occurred by platelet activation and aggregation. The vascular occlusion causes serious disease states such as unstable angina, ischemic stroke, and heart attack. Due to the pervading of thrombotic diseases, new antiplatelet drugs are necessary for preventing and treating arterial thrombosis without adverse side effects. Traditional medicinal herbs have been used for the treatment of human ailments for a long time. The clinically useful and safe products from traditional medicinal herbs were identified and developed in numerous pharmacological approaches. A complementary system of traditional medicinal herbs is a good candidate for pharmacotherapy. However, it still has a limitation in its function and efficacy. Thus, it is necessary to study the mode of action of traditional medicinal herbs as alternative therapeutic agents. In this review, we focused on our current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of traditional medicinal herbs in antiplatelet activity and antithrombotic effect of traditional medicinal herbs on platelet function.
Estimation of the Defect Width on the Outer Race of a Rolling Element Bearing under Time‐Varying Speed Conditions
Authors: Hou Guang-Quan , Lee Chang-Myung
Published: January 2019

Fault diagnosis and failure prognostics for rolling element bearing are helpful for preventing equipment failure and predicting the remaining useful life (RUL) to avoid catastrophic failure. Spall size is an important fault feature for RUL prediction, and most research work has focused on estimating the fault size under constant speed conditions. However, estimation of the defect width under time‐varying speed conditions is still a challenge. In this paper, a method is proposed to solve this problem. To enhance the entry and exit events, the edited cepstrum is used to remove the determined components. The preprocessed signal is resampled from the time domain to the angular domain to eliminate the effect of speed variation and measure the defect size of a rolling element bearing on outer race. Next, the transient impulse components are extracted by local mean decomposition. The entry and exit points when the roller passes over the defect width on the outer race were identified by further processing the extracted signal with time‐frequency analysis based on the continuous wavelet transform. The defect size can be calculated with the angle duration, which is measured from the identified entry and exit points. The proposed method was validated experimentally.
Antiproliferative and Proapoptotic Effects of a Protein Component Purified from Aspongopus chinensis Dallas on Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Tan Jun , Tian Ying , Cai Renlian , Yi Tianci , Jin Daochao , Guo Jianjun
Published: January 2019

Aspongopus chinensis Dallas is used as a traditional Chinese medicine. In China, clinical evidence suggests that it has anticancer activity. However, the anticancer active components are not fully elucidated. In the present study, we purified an anticancer active component (named CHP) from A. chinensis. To gain a comprehensive insight into the protein components, shotgun proteomic analysis was conducted. The anticancer active protein band was cut from the sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel and digested with trypsin to generate peptide mixture. The peptide fragments were then analysed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry; 18 proteins were identified. In addition, we evaluated the effects of CHP on the proliferation and apoptosis of two human gastric cancer cell lines (SGC-7901 and BGC-823). The cultured cells were treated with CHP at concentrations of 20, 30, and 40 μg/mL. Inhibition of cell growth was determined by the MTT assay. Hoechst 33258 staining was adopted to detect apoptosis morphologically. Apoptotic cells were quantified by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. Tumour growth was assessed by subcutaneous inoculation of 4T1 cells into BALB/c mice. There was a concentration- and time-dependent decrease in the proliferation of both cell lines at CHP concentrations of 20–40 μg/mL. Apoptotic characteristics, such as karyopyknotic pyknic hyperfluorescence bolus and nuclear fragmentation, were observed in both the cell lines by Hoechst 33258 staining. Flow cytometry showed that CHP induced significant (P < 0.01) concentration-dependent apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells. In vivo assay showed that CHP can partially inhibit tumour growth derived from 4T1 cells in vivo. The present study is the first to report that CHP in A. chinensis inhibits the proliferation of cancer cell lines via the suppression of cancer cell proliferation and acceleration of apoptosis.
Diagnosis of Woolly Hair Using Trichoscopy
Authors: Mathur Mahesh , Acharya Prakash , Karki Alina , KC Nisha , Shah Jyoti
Published: January 2019

Hair shaft abnormalities including woolly hair are traditionally diagnosed by clinical examination and light microscopy which involves plucking of multiple hairs for examination. This is usually an inconvenient procedure especially in children. Trichoscopy may be a useful tool allowing close visualization of multiple hairs without causing discomfort to the patients. Trichoscopic findings of woolly hair have been described only in few reports. We report all of the trichoscopic findings of this rare disorder in one case which have only been reported separately in previous reports.
Three-Dimensional Human Gait Pattern: Reference Data for Young, Active Women Walking with Low, Preferred, and High Speeds
Authors: Winiarski Slawomir , Pietraszewska Jadwiga , Pietraszewski Bogdan
Published: January 2019

Normal gait pattern is the key component in the investigation of pathological gait patterns. In computer motion analysis there is a need to include data from participants with different somatic structures to develop a normative database or to limit the database results to a specific population. The aim of this study was to determine kinematic gait patterns for young, active women walking with low, preferred, and self-selected speeds with regard to their somatic characteristics. Laboratory-based gait analysis was performed on 1320 gait cycles taken from 20 young, active women walking with three different speeds. Comprehensive anthropometric measurements and descriptive statistics were used to describe spatiotemporal and angular variables at each walking condition. The results demonstrated some significant differences in young, active women walking between different speeds and compared to the literature. This suggests that there is a need to include data from participants with different somatic structures to develop a normative database or limit the database results to a specific population. Detailed linear and angular kinematic variables allow for proper adjustment of parameters depending on the gait speed of people with locomotion disorders.
A Sensitive and Efficient Method for Determination of Capecitabine and Its Five Metabolites in Human Plasma Based on One-Step Liquid-Liquid Extraction
Authors: Wang Zhipeng , Li Xinxing , Yang Yang , Zhang Feng , Li Mingming , Chen Wei , Gao Shouhong , Chen Wansheng
Published: January 2019

Colorectal cancer is the most common critical disease both in the developed and developing countries. Capecitabine, which has served in clinical practice at least for 10 years, is a first-line antidigestive tract cancer drug for its better efficacy, patient compliance, and lower side effects. An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method has been developed and completely validated for simultaneous determination of capecitabine and its five metabolites in human plasma from colorectal cancer patients after administration of capecitabine tablet. One-step liquid-liquid extraction was successfully applied using ethyl acetate and isopropanol (19 : 1, V : V) for sample pretreatment. Chromatographic separation was achieved within 5 min based on an Atlantis T3-C18 column (3.0 µm, 2.1 × 100 mm) with gradient elution using mobile phases consisting of 0.0075% formic acid in water (pH 4) and in acetonitrile, and the flow rate was 0.3 mL/min. Linear range was approximately 20.0–5000.0 ng/mL for all analytes. Linear correlation coefficients were >0.99 for all regression curves. The intraday and interday accuracy and precision of the method were within ±15.0% and less than 15.0%, respectively. The mean recovery and matrix effect as well as stability of all the analytes ranged from 59.27% to 90.15% and from 74.84% to 114.48% as well as within ±15.0%. This simple, rapid, and sensitive method was successfully applied in 42 sparse clinical samples to verify its practicability.
Construction and Layout of Coordinated Multirobots System Based on Parallel Thought
Authors: Xi Wanqiang , Wang Yaoyao , Ding Yadong , Chen Bai
Published: January 2019

Aiming at the problems that are the construction and the layout optimization of the coordinated multirobots system, the concept of an equivalent parallel robot (EPR) is proposed based on parallel thought in this paper. That is, each robot is regarded as a branched chain of the EPR in coordination. Thus, it can be converted into the problem for the type synthesis and the layout of the parallel robot. Firstly, the definition of robotic characteristic (C) set and the corresponding operational rule are given. Then, the minimum occupied area, cycle time, and condition number are used as the optimized objectives. The weight ratio is used to express the importance of the three objectives to meet the requirements of different scenes. Afterwards, based on the theory of C set, the three translational (3T) operational requirements that can be extended to other degree of freedom (DOF) are analyzed. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed methods is verified by the DOF analysis and simulation experiment. Moreover, the multiobjective layout problem is optimized based on the artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm. The results show that the constructed robot combinations and the layout optimization method are satisfactory.
Inorganic Photochemistry and Solar Energy Harvesting: Current Developments and Challenges to Solar Fuel Production
Authors: Sousa Sinval F. , Souza Breno L. , Barros Cristiane L. , Patrocinio Antonio Otavio T.
Published: January 2019

The large and continuous use of fossil fuels as a primary energy source has led to several environmental problems, such as the increase of the greenhouse effect. In order to minimize these problems, attention has been drawn to renewable energy production. Solar energy is an attractive candidate as renewable source due to its abundance and availability. For this, it is necessary to develop devices able to absorb sunlight and convert it into fuels or electricity in a economical, technical and sustainable way. The so-called artificial photosynthesis has called the attention of researchers due to the possibility of using solar photocatalysts in converting water and CO2 into fuels. This manuscript presents a review of the recent developments of hybrid systems based on molecular photocatalysts immobilized on semiconductor surfaces for solar fuel production through water oxidation and CO2 reduction and also discusses the current challenges for the potential application of these photocatalyst systems.
Durable Leukemic Remission and Autologous Marrow Recovery with Random Chromosomal Abnormalities after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Nishikii Hidekazu , Kurita Naoki , Shinagawa Atsushi , Sakamoto Tatsuhiro , Kusakabe Manabu , Yokoyama Yasuhisa , Kato Takayasu , Sakata-Yanagimoto Mamiko , Obara Naoshi , Hasegawa Yuichi , Nakamura Naoya , Chiba Shigeru
Published: January 2019

A 38-year-old woman with aggressive clinical course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was treated with 8 courses of R-CHOP. Clinical remission was achieved, while B-cell clonality remained. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was performed with reduced intensity conditioning (fludarabine and 2-Gy total body irradiation). However, autologous hematopoietic recovery occurred within a month after the transplant. Nevertheless, B-cell clonality became undetectable at 14 days after transplant, which has been kept so for over 10 years with clinical remission. Cytogenetic analyses were repeatedly performed and demonstrated nonclonal chromosomal aberrations, although the patient did not develop any secondary malignancies. One possible explanation for the clinical course is a very short-term allogeneic immune reaction helping eradication of residual CLL cells.
Características de la consulta de los adolescentes en un Servicio de Emergencia.
Authors: Grunbaum Susana , Casuriaga Ana Laura , Durán Ana Carolina , Minut Agustina , Giachetto Gustavo Alberto
Published: January 2019

Introducción: Durante la adolescencia la carga de enfermedad es menor a la de otras etapas, de todos modos la morbimortalidad por causas externas, potencialmente evitables es importante. Conocer el perfil de las consultas de los adolescentes en servicios de emergencia (SE) constituye un insumo para mejorar la calidad asistencial. El objetivo de trabajo es describir la frecuencia y características de las consultas en el SE y los motivos de hospitalización de los adolescentes de 10 a 19 años usuarios de un prestador de salud privado de Montevideo, Uruguay. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, de los adolescentes que consultaron entre el 1/12/14 y 30/11/15. Variables: edad, sexo, motivo de consulta, fecha y hora de la consulta, diagnóstico y destino al egreso, frecuencia y causas de hospitalización. Resultados: Se incluyeron 5242 adolescentes, media de edad 14 años, 54% sexo femenino, 57% adolescentes tempranos. Motivos de consulta más frecuentes: síntomas relacionados al aparato locomotor 23,8%, generales e inespecíficos 13%, respiratorios 12,7% y digestivos 12%. Los problemas de salud mental representaron 1,7% de las consultas. Fueron hospitalizados 5% (n=248); los principales motivos fueron patología digestiva (n=87) y problemas de salud mental (n=40). Conclusiones: Una proporción importante de las consultas se atribuyeron a causas prevenibles mediante estrategias de promoción de salud. A pesar de la baja frecuencia de hospitalizaciones, los problemas de salud mental constituyen una de las principales problemáticas. Futuros estudios son necesarios para profundizar el conocimiento de este grupo y generar insumos para mejorar la gestión hospitalaria.
Evaluación Objetiva de las Habilidades Técnicas en Cirugía
Authors: Navarro S. Francisco , Gabrielli N. Mauricio , Varas C. Julian
Published: January 2019

Introducción: La enseñanza tradicional de la cirugía se ha basado en la observación y retroalimentación directa por parte de un experto. Esto corresponde a una evaluación subjetiva y requiere de un tiempo mínimo de exposición no siempre fácil de obtener. Los resultados adversos y complicaciones se traducen en gastos innecesarios para los servicios de salud. Surge la necesidad de nuevos métodos de evaluación objetiva de las habilidades quirúrgicas. Se presenta una revisión de la literatura respecto a los métodos objetivos de evaluación de las habilidades técnicas en cirugía que actualmente existen y dar a conocer una nueva metodología de evaluación actualmente en desarrollo.Métodos: Se realizó una revisión de la literatura, utilizando PubMed, Google Scholar y Scielo. Se incluyeron estudios en inglés y español que utilizaron métodos objetivos estandarizados de evaluación de técnicas quirúrgicas, ya sea con técnica abierta o laparoscópica, además de revisiones de la literatura. Resultados: Se incluyeron las escalas OSATS, GOALS, GAGES, métodos basados en simulación y otros aún en desarrollo. Las escalas de evaluación han sido validadas en un gran número de procedimientos. La simulación en el área quirúrgica ha permitido generar una evaluación y retroalimentación previa al escenario operatorio real, reduciendo la tasa de errores e incrementando la eficiencia en éste. La Caja Negra es un método novedoso que incluye una gran cantidad de variables, permitiendo detectar pequeñas variaciones o errores en la ejecución de la técnica, lo que permite una evaluación más certera.Conclusiones: Múltiples métodos de evaluación objetiva de las habilidades técnicas han sido desarrollados y validados. Se espera que exista una incorporación sistemática de estas herramientas en los programas de formación de cirujanos de nuestro país.
Modelo de atención odontológica en niños hospitalizados con enfermedades respiratorias crónicas
Authors: Hola Jacob Sandra , Jara Galvez Roxana , Barañao Garcés Patricio , Hassi Thumala José , Astudillo Maggio Claudia , Ambrus Mella Constanza
Published: January 2019

En el Hospital Josefina Martínez donde se atiende un subgrupo de niños y adolescentes con necesidades especiales (NANEAS), denominados pacientes crónicos críticamente enfermos o médicamente frágiles, se ha implementado un nuevo modelo de atención odontológica. Éste consiste en realizar el tratamiento dental, bajo sedoanalgesia endovenosa con monitorización cardiorespiratoria, efectuado en la sala de procedimientos del hospital, con participación de un equipo multidisciplinario formado por odontólogos, pediatra, enfermera, kinesiólogo y asistente dental. Esto ha dado solución en forma eficiente y segura a un grupo de pacientes con necesidades especiales, sin acceso a la atención odontológica.En la literatura no existen publicaciones que describan un modelo de atención odontológica para pacientes con enfermedades respiratorias crónicas bajo sedación endovenosa como el que hemos implementado en el Hospital Josefina Martínez. Los reportes encontrados se refieren a la atención dental en forma ambulatoria o bajo anestesia general en pabellón. En este artículo comunicamos nuestra experiencia que ha permitido entregar tratamientos en forma oportuna, eficiente, de bajo costo, mejorando la salud bucal de los niños. Estas atenciones fueron entregadas en el mismo lugar donde están hospitalizados sin necesidad de ser trasladados a otra institución dando cobertura tanto a urgencias como a la atención odontológica integral.
Exploratory Study to Evaluate Respiratory Rate Using a Thermal Imaging Camera
Authors: Elphick Heather E. , Alkali Abdulkadir Hamidu , Kingshott Ruth K. , Burke Derek , Saatchi Reza
Published: January 2019

Background: Respiratory rate is a vital physiological measurement used in the immediate assessment of unwell children and adults. Convenient electronic devices exist for the measurement of pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and temperature. Although devices which measure respiratory rate exist, none have entered everyday clinical practice for acute assessment of children and adults. An accurate and practical device which has no physical contact with the patient is important to ensure readings are not affected by distress caused by the assessment method. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a thermal imaging method to monitor the respiratory rate in children and adults. Methods: Facial thermal images of adult volunteers and children undergoing elective polysomnography were included. Respiration was recorded for at least 2 min with the camera positioned 1 m from the subject’s face. Values obtained using the thermal imaging camera were compared with those obtained from contact methods such as the nasal thermistor, respiratory inductance plethysmography, nasal airflow, and end tidal CO2. Results: A total of 61 subjects, including 41 adults (age range 27–46 years) and 20 children (age range 0.5–18 years) were enrolled. The correlation between the respiratory rate measured using thermal imaging and the contact method was r = 0.94. Sequential refinements to the thermal imaging algorithms resulted in the ability to perform real-time measurements and an improvement of the correlation to r = 0.995. Conclusion: This exploratory study shows that thermal imaging-derived respiratory rates in children and adults correlate closely with the best performing standard method. With further refinements, this method could be implemented in both acute and chronic care in children and adults.
The Diagnosis of Ceftriaxone Hypersensitivity in a Paediatric Population
Authors: Mori Francesca , Liccioli Giulia , Piccorossi Alessandra , Sarti Lucrezia , Barni Simona , Giovannini Mattia , Azzari Chiara , Manfredi Mariangela , Novembre Elio
Published: January 2019

Introduction: Penicillins and cephalosporins are the most frequent causes of hypersensitivity reactions (HRs) to drugs in children. Among cephalosporins for intravenous use, ceftriaxone (CT) is the most frequently prescribed in Italy. The aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic methods for CT hypersensitivity in a population of children with suspected HRs to this drug and their tolerance toward amoxi­cillin/clavulanic acid (AMX/CLV). Materials and Methods: From 2012 to 2018, 90 children were investigated for suspected HRs to CT according to the European Academy of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) guidelines. Results: Ninety children had a history of reaction to CT. The majority (79/90; 77.8%) had a history of immediate reactions (IRs). CT hypersensitivity was confirmed in 26/90 patients (28.9%). In case of IRs, skin tests can be useful (24% of positive CT intradermal tests – IDTs) particularly in cases of anaphylaxis (81.8% of positive CT IDTs). Only 5 out of 28 drug provocation tests were positive. Serum-specific IgE (sIgE) determination for CT correlated with positivity upon skin/drug provocation tests (high specificity 95.6%) but had a low sensitivity; sIgE for AMX had a very low positive predictive value (14.3%), advocating against its use. In case of non-IRs, only 7/11 patients reached a confident diagnosis, but the low number of children does not enable proper conclusions. Only 2 children showed cross- and/or co-allergy (2.2%) between CT and AMX/CLV. Conclusion: IDTs seem to be useful for diagnosing CT IRs. Hypersensitivity to CT is confirmed in 28.9% of children, although a large fraction of parents refused an intravenous rechallenge (45.6%). It remains unknown whether this is due to the fact this was intravenous rather than a rechallenge with the culprit, but it reflects a clinical reality. Otherwise, cross- and/or co-allergy between CT and AMX/CLV is a rare event.
Immediate Abdominal Pain after Placement of Thoracic Paddle Leads for Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Case Series
Authors: Lee Jonathan J. , Sadrameli Saeed S. , Desai Virendra R. , Austerman Ryan J. , Leonard Dean M. , Dalm Brian D.
Published: January 2019

Background: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a well-established treatment modality for chronic pain. Thoracic radiculopathy has been reported as a complication of SCS paddle lead implantation by several authors and commonly presents as abdominal pain. Methods: We performed a search of all patients who underwent either placement of a new epidural paddle lead electrode or revision of an epidural paddle lead electrode for SCS in the thoracic region from January 2017 to January 2018. We then investigated all cases of immediate postoperative abdominal pain. Results: We identified 7 patients who had immediate postoperative abdominal pain among 86 cases of epidural SCS procedures. Most patients were discharged on postoperative days 1–3. No patients required revisions or removals of their SCS for any reason. Conclusions: We conclude that the etiology of immediate postoperative abdominal pain after thoracic paddle lead implantation for SCS is most likely thoracic radiculopathy. We hypothesize that small, transient epidural hematomas could be the cause of this thoracic radiculopathy. We argue that all patients with immediate postoperative abdominal pain and no other neurologic deficits after thoracic paddle lead implantation for SCS should first be treated conservatively with observation and pain management.
Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in an Excellent Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic Compared with an Outpatient Clinic in a Primary Care Setting: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Aiumtrakul Noppawit , Euswas Krischon , Phichedwanichskul Kitinan , Rangsin Ram , Kaewput Wisit , Satirapoj Bancha
Published: January 2019

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In standard care, the physician attempts to control all known risk factors, but treatment goals are achieved with difficulty. Assistance by a multidisciplinary care team may improve outcomes. Objective: To compare the cardiovascular and renal endpoints between patients with CKD receiving care from excellent CKD and outpatient clinics. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a primary care setting in Thailand. Patients with CKD stages 3 and 4 in excellent CKD (n = 96) and outpatient clinics (n = 192) were matched in a 1: 2 ratio with the propensity score. We collected data from electronic medical records concerning the incidences of primary composite outcomes including rapid renal progression, end-stage renal disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, and mortality. Multidisciplinary team care in the excellent CKD clinic consisted of physician, nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, physical therapist, and applied Thai traditional physician. The outpatient clinic consisted of physician care only. Results: Subjects’ mean age was 64.54 ± 10.96 years, and 52.1% were female. During an average 49.63 ± 8.36 months of follow-up, 74 events occurred including 35 (47.30%) patients who experienced renal events, 29 (39.19%) who experienced cardiovascular events, and 10 (13.51%) who experienced loss of life. The Kaplan-Meier curve indicated a higher percentage of subjects without primary composite outcomes in the excellent CKD clinic than those in the outpatient clinic (66.85%; 95% CI 0.48–0.80 vs. 44.71%; 95% CI 0.29–0.60; p = 0.005). From multivariate analysis, the excellent CKD clinic group had a 64% lower risk for primary composite outcomes compared with those in the outpatient clinic (adjusted HR 0.36; 95% CI 0.18–0.74; p = 0.005). Conclusion: A multidisciplinary care system can reduce composition outcomes including cardiovascular and renal outcomes for the growing CKD population. The optimal outcomes arise from the medical personnel’s teamwork, not from one physician alone.
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma of the Lacrimal Sac in a Japanese Patient
Authors: Kakutani Satoshi , Takahashi Yasuhiro , Valencia Ma. Regina Paula , Kakizaki Hirohiko
Published: January 2019

Purpose: To report a Japanese patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the lacrimal sac. Methods: This is a case report of a 52-year-old Japanese woman who presented with a 3-month history of epiphora on the right side and a 1-month history of swelling on the right medial canthal area. Lacrimal sac irrigation showed patency of the lacrimal drainage system. Imaging studies revealed a lacrimal sac mass with involvement of the nasolacrimal duct. Results: Histopathology and immunohistochemistry of the biopsy specimen revealed DLBCL. Systemic workup revealed no other lesion. The patient received 6 cycles of R-CHOP regimen. After completion of the 5th cycle of R-CHOP, all of the symptoms had resolved. Conclusion: We report a case of DLBCL in the lacrimal sac, which is the most common type of lacrimal sac lymphoma in Japan. Since DLBCL is one of the aggressive types of lymphoma, Japanese patients with lacrimal sac lymphoma tend to have a poor prognosis.
Disturbed Flow Increases UBE2C (Ubiquitin E2 Ligase C) via Loss of miR-483-3p, Inducing Aortic Valve Calcification by the pVHL (von Hippel-Lindau Protein) and HIF-1α (Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α) Pathway in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Fernandez Esmerats Joan , Villa-Roel Nicolas , Kumar Sandeep , Gu Lina , Salim Md Tausif , Ohh Michael , Taylor W. Robert , Nerem Robert M. , Yoganathan Ajit P. , Jo Hanjoong
Published: January 2019

Objective—

Calcific aortic valve (AV) disease, characterized by AV sclerosis and calcification, is a major cause of death in the aging population; however, there are no effective medical therapies other than valve replacement. AV calcification preferentially occurs on the fibrosa side, exposed to disturbed flow (d-flow), whereas the ventricularis side exposed to predominantly stable flow remains protected by unclear mechanisms. Here, we tested the role of novel flow-sensitive UBE2C (ubiquitin E2 ligase C) and microRNA-483-3p (miR-483) in flow-dependent AV endothelial function and AV calcification.

Approach and Results—

Human AV endothelial cells and fresh porcine AV leaflets were exposed to stable flow or d-flow. We found that UBE2C was upregulated by d-flow in human AV endothelial cells in the miR-483–dependent manner. UBE2C mediated OS-induced endothelial inflammation and endothelial-mesenchymal transition by increasing the HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor-1α) level. UBE2C increased HIF-1α by ubiquitinating and degrading its upstream regulator pVHL (von Hippel-Lindau protein). These in vitro findings were corroborated by immunostaining studies using diseased human AV leaflets. In addition, we found that reduction of miR-483 by d-flow led to increased UBE2C expression in human AV endothelial cells. The miR-483 mimic protected against endothelial inflammation and endothelial-mesenchymal transition in human AV endothelial cells and calcification of porcine AV leaflets by downregulating UBE2C. Moreover, treatment with the HIF-1α inhibitor (PX478) significantly reduced porcine AV calcification in static and d-flow conditions.

Conclusions—

These results suggest that miR-483 and UBE2C and pVHL are novel flow-sensitive anti- and pro-calcific AV disease molecules, respectively, that regulate the HIF-1α pathway in AV. The miR-483 mimic and HIF-1α pathway inhibitors may serve as potential therapeutics of calcific AV disease.