Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos 72100 Crete Greece,00306932607174: 07/30/17

Κυριακή 30 Ιουλίου 2017

Transoral robotic retropharyngeal node dissection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Patterns of metastasis and functional outcomes

Abstract

Background

Assessment of the retropharyngeal lymph nodes is essential in the treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Transoral robotic retropharyngeal lymph node dissection (RPLND) may provide valuable staging information and guide selection of adjuvant therapy in a transoral robotic surgery (TORS) treatment paradigm.

Methods

Outcomes were compared between 30 patients with oropharyngeal SCC with tonsillar primaries undergoing RPLND and 37 stage-matched cases without RPLND.

Results

Retropharyngeal metastasis was confirmed in 6 patients undergoing RPLND. Compared with 37 stage-matched controls, there were no differences in length of stay, length of feeding tube dependence, net change in perioperative weight, or rates of hemorrhage and postoperative complications. RPLND altered adjuvant treatment recommendations in 1 of 30 patients.

Conclusion

RPLND is technically feasible by a purely transoral robotic approach. Its performance is not associated with worse swallowing outcomes or rates of complication. In select patients, RPLND may provide valuable staging information and guide the selection of adjuvant therapy.

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Transoral robotic retropharyngeal node dissection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Patterns of metastasis and functional outcomes

Abstract

Background

Methods

Outcomes were compared between 30 patients with oropharyngeal SCC with tonsillar primaries undergoing RPLND and 37 stage-matched cases without RPLND.

Results

Conclusion

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Future Challenges in the Generation of Hepatocyte-Like Cells From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to provide an updated perspective on directing human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to hepatocyte-like-cells (HLCs) and the associated challenges.

Recent Findings

Recent advances in the hepatocyte differentiation field have largely been focused on increasing the reproducibility and definition of culture systems to further their translation to a clinical setting. There have been advances using new extracellular matrices such as human laminins, and recent work using small molecules to drive the differentiation process has dramatically reduced the cost of producing HLCs with equivalent phenotypes to growth factor-derived cells.

Summary

There are still several key aspects that remain unresolved, including the immature phenotype of hPSC-derived HLCs (a major hurdle for hPSC-derived progeny). Another key question is the zonal identity of the HLCs produced in vitro, which will have major implications in terms of disease modeling and drug metabolism. To date, there has been little investigation of this aspect of hepatic biology reported in the field.

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Electro-acupuncture at Governor Vessel improves neurological function in rats with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objective

To determine the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Governor Vessel (GV) on the locomotor function in spinal cord injury (SCI) rats and explore the underlying mechanism.

Methods

Thirtytwo male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups namely: the sham group (with sham operation); the untreated group (without treatment after spinal cord impact); the EA-1 group [EA applied at Baihui (GV 20) and Fengfu (GV 16) after spinal cord impact] and the EA-2 group [with EA applied at Dazhui (GV 14) and Mingmen (GV 4) after spinal cord impact]. Real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blotting were used to assess changes in the mRNA and protein expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) at 7 weeks following EA administration. In addition, the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) Locomotor Rating Scale was assessed at 1 day, 1 week, 3 weeks and 7 weeks post-injury.

Results

The results showed that EA stimulation induced neuroprotective effects after SCI correlated with the up-regulation of BDNF and NT-3 (P<0.05). Furthermore, EA stimulation at GV 14 and GV 4 could significantly promote the recovery of locomotor function and this may be linked to the up-regulation of BDNF and NT-3 (P<0.05).

Conclusions

EA treatment applied at GV acupoints either within the injury site or adjacent undamaged regions near the brain can improve functional recovery, which may be correlated with the upregulation of BDNF and NT-3. In addition, it would be more effective to administer EA at GV 14 and GV 4 near the injury site of the SCI rats.

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Schizandra chinensis exhibits phytoestrogenic effects by regulating the activation of estrogen receptor-α and -β

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the phytoestrogenic effects of Schizandra chinensis (SC) extract by regulating the activation of estrogen receptor.

Methods

Western blotting assay was performed to investigate the effect of SC extract (1, 10, 100 μg/mL) on the expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-α and -β in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Cell viability and the levels of c-fos and c-Jun were analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Western blot analysis, respectively, to further confirm the anti-cancer effect of SC extract.

Results

SC extract increased the expressions of ER-α and -β (P<0.001), whereas cell viability and the expressions of growth factors (c-fos and c-Jun) were inhibited (P< and <0.001, respectively) following treatment.

Conclusions

SC extract has phytoestrogenic effects, and its biological action includes ER binding ability with low cancer risk. Therefore, SC might be a potential source for the development of a new alternative to hormone therapy in menopause.

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Electro-acupuncture at Governor Vessel improves neurological function in rats with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objective

To determine the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Governor Vessel (GV) on the locomotor function in spinal cord injury (SCI) rats and explore the underlying mechanism.

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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Schizandra chinensis exhibits phytoestrogenic effects by regulating the activation of estrogen receptor-α and -β

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the phytoestrogenic effects of Schizandra chinensis (SC) extract by regulating the activation of estrogen receptor.

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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The oral microbiota in patients with pancreatic cancer, patients with IPMNs, and controls: a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose

Poor oral health appears to be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer, possibly implicating the oral microbiota. In this pilot study, we evaluated the characteristics of the oral microbiota in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), and healthy controls.

Methods

Forty newly diagnosed PDAC patients, 39 IPMN patients, and 58 controls, excluding current smokers and users of antibiotics, provided saliva samples. Common oral bacterial species were comprehensively surveyed by sequencing of the 16S rRNA microbial genes. We obtained measures of diversity and the mean relative proportions of individual taxa. We explored the degree to which these measures differed according to respondent characteristics based on individual interviews.

Results

PDAC cases did not differ in diversity measures from either controls or IPMN cases. PDAC cases had higher mean relative proportions of Firmicutes and related taxa, while controls had higher mean relative proportions of Proteobacteria and related taxa. Results were generally similar when comparing PDAC to IPMN cases. Among IPMNs and controls combined, younger individuals had higher levels of several taxa within the Proteobacteria. The only other variable consistently related to mean relative proportions was mouthwash use, with taxa within Firmicutes more common among users.

Conclusions

While there were no differences in diversity of the oral microbiota among these groups, there were differences in the mean relative proportions of some taxa. Characteristics of the oral microbiota are not associated with most measures of oral health.

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Transient receptor potential melastatin 4 channel is required for rat dental pulp stem cell proliferation and survival

Abstract

Objectives

Investigate the role of the transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) channel in rat dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) proliferation and survival.

Materials and methods

Immunofluorescence and FACS analysis were used to detect the stem cell marker CD90. Alizarin Red S and Oil Red O staining were used to identify osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation, respectively. To characterize TRPM4, patch-clamp recordings were obtained from single cells in the whole-cell configuration mode. The significance of TRPM4 for proliferation and survival was examined with 9-phenanthrol, a TRPM4 inhibitor during a 96-hour period of culture. Real-time Ca²⁺ imaging analysis with Fura-2AM was used to investigate the impact of TRPM4 on intracellular Ca²⁺ signals.

Results

DPSCs were CD90-positive and differentiated into osteoblasts. Patch-clamp recordings revealed currents typical of TRPM4 that were Ca²⁺-activated, voltage-dependent and Na⁺-conducting. Inhibition of TRPM4 resulted in a significant reduction in the cell population after a 96-hr period of culture and transformed the biphasic pattern of intracellular Ca²⁺ signalling into sustained oscillations.

Conclusions

Rat DPSCs have stem cell characteristics and functional TRPM4 channels that are required for proliferation and survival. These data suggest that the shape and frequency of intracellular Ca²⁺ signals may mediate stem cell proliferation and survival.

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Differences between patients’ and clinicians’ research priorities from the Anaesthesia and Peri-operative Care Priority Setting Partnership

Summary

The James Lind Alliance Anaesthesia and Peri-operative Care Priority Setting Partnership was a recent collaborative venture bringing approximately 2000 patients, carers and clinicians together to agree priorities for future research into anaesthesia and critical care. This secondary analysis compares the research priorities of 303 service users, 1068 clinicians and 325 clinicians with experience as service users. All three groups prioritised research to improve patient safety. Service users prioritised research about improving patient experience, whereas clinicians prioritised research about clinical effectiveness. Clinicians who had experience as service users consistently prioritised research more like clinicians than like service users. Individual research questions about patient experience were more popular with patients and carers than with clinicians in all but one case. We conclude that patients, carers and clinicians prioritise research questions differently. All groups prioritise research into patient safety, but service users also favour research into patient experience, whereas clinicians favour research into clinical effectiveness.

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The authors respond to: "Optimal levels of DHEA for pregnancy may be reduced by antibiotics" [Letters]

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Validation of quality indicators for end-of-life communication: results of a multicentre survey [Research]

BACKGROUND:

The lack of validated quality indicators is a major barrier to improving end-of-life communication and decision-making. We sought to show the feasibility of and provide initial validation for a set of quality indicators related to end-of-life communication and decision-making.

METHODS:

We administered a questionnaire to patients and their family members in 12 hospitals and asked them about advance care planning and goals-of-care discussions. Responses were used to calculate a quality indicator score. To validate this score, we determined its correlation with the concordance between the patients' expressed wishes and the medical order for life-sustaining treatments recorded in the hospital chart. We compared the correlation with concordance for the advance care planning component score with that for the goal-of-care discussion scores.

RESULTS:

We enrolled 297 patients and 209 family members. At all sites, both overall quality indicators and individual domain scores were low and there was wide variability around the point estimates. The highest-ranking institution had an overall quality indicator score (95% confidence interval) of 40% (36%–44%) and the lowest had a score of 18% (11%–25%). There was a strong correlation between the overall quality indicator score and the concordance measure (r = 0.72, p = 0.008); the estimated correlation between the advance care planning score and the concordance measure (r = 0.35) was weaker than that between the goal-of-care discussion scores and the concordance measure (r = 0.53).

INTERPRETATION:

Quality of end-of-life communication and decision-making appears low overall, with considerable variability across hospitals. The proposed quality indicator measure shows feasibility and partial validity. Study registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT01362855

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Measuring quality of end-of-life communication and decision-making: Do we have this right? [Commentary]

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Public drug policy for children in Canada [Analysis]

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CIHRs face-to-face about-face [News]

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Medical cannabinoids [Practice]

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Optimal levels of DHEA for pregnancy may be reduced by antibiotics [Letters]

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Cardiac paraganglioma [Practice]

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UK seeks to make DNA testing standard in cancer care [News]

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Lessons from a child [Humanities]

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Support grows for paying surrogates [News]

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Movement, fetal

Movement, fetal: Movement of the fetus in the womb. The first fetal movements felt by the mother usually occur between 18 and 22 weeks of 'pregnancy but may occur earlier. Also known as 'quickening.

MedTerms (TM) is the Medical Dictionary of MedicineNet.com.
We Bring Doctors' Knowledge To You

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Occlusal, chewing, and tasting characteristics associated with orofacial dysfunctions in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate: a case-control study

Abstract

Objective

The objective of this study is to assess the associations between orofacial dysfunctions with malocclusion, masticatory performance, and taste in children with and without unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).

Material and methods

A patient-based, matched, case-control study was conducted involving 108 8- to 10-year-old children divided in UCLP and control groups. Orofacial dysfunctions were evaluated using the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S). Orthodontic treatment need was evaluated using the Goslon Yardstick Index (GYI) and the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) of patients and controls, respectively. Masticatory performance was assessed using a chewable test material to determine median particle size (X ₅₀) and distribution of particles in different sieves (b value). Taste perception was evaluated using four solutions (sweet, salty, bitter, or acid) in three different concentrations.

Results

More than half of the patients needed orthodontic surgery. UCLP group presented higher median particle size and needed more chewing cycles to comminute the artificial test into particles smaller than the median than those of controls. UCLP group had less perception of salty flavor than controls. There was a positive correlation between b value and NOT-S examination score for patients. In regression analysis, a significant interrelationship was observed between NOT-S examination score and b value.

Conclusions

In the UCLP patients, masticatory performance was compromised probably as a result of facial asymmetry and speech disturbance; whereas, taste was less perceived only for salty flavor.

Clinical relevance

These findings provide preliminary evidence that mastication and taste are altered in children with UCLP, so these factors must be followed up to ensure oral and general health in growing individuals.

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Next generation sequencing of progressive colorectal liver metastases after portal vein embolization

Abstract

Portal vein embolization (PVE) can be required to stimulate liver regeneration before hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastasis (CRCLM), however PVE may also trigger CRCLM progression in patients initially exhibiting chemotherapy response. Using RNA-seq, we aimed to determine the molecular networks involved in metastatic progression in this context. A prospective study including all CRCLM patients undergoing PVE prior to hepatectomy was conducted. Paired biopsies of metastatic lesions were obtained prior to and after PVE and total RNA was isolated and used to prepare Illumina rRNA-depleted TruSeq stranded cDNA libraries for HiSeq 100 bp paired-end sequencing. Patients were classified with progression of disease (PD_PVE) or stable disease (SD_PVE) post-PVE using 3D-CT tumor volumetric analysis. Results: Twenty patients were included, 13 (65.0%) in the PD_PVE group (median 58.0% (18.6–234.3) increase in tumor volume) and 7 (35.0%) in the SD_PVE group exhibiting continuous chemotherapy response (median −14.3% (−40.8 to −2.8) decrease in tumor volume) (p < 0.0001). Our results showed that progressive CRCLM after PVE undergo gene expression changes that indicate activation of core cancer pathways (IL-17 (p = 5.94 × 10⁻⁰³), PI3K (p = 8.71 × 10⁻⁰³), IL6 and IGF-1 signaling pathways), consistent with changes driven by cytokines and growth factors. Differential expression analysis in a paired model of progression (EdgeR, DeSeq) identified significantly dysregulated genes in the PD_PVE group (FOS, FOSB, RAB20, IRS2). Conclusion: Differentially expressed genes and pathways with known links to cancer and metastasis were identified post-PVE in patients with disease progression. Highlighting these molecular changes is a crucial first step towards development of targeted therapeutic strategies that may mitigate the effects of PVE on tumor growth.

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Next generation sequencing of progressive colorectal liver metastases after portal vein embolization

Abstract

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An empirical investigation of campus portal usage

Abstract

This study has determined the determinants of the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness and their influence on campus portal usage. A quantitative approach was employed, using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire, adapted from previous studies. Data were gathered through a survey conducted with 341 staff working in the University of Malaya and were analysed using the partial least squares technique. The results indicate that the ease of finding and ease of understanding have a positive impact on the perceived ease of use of the campus portal. Furthermore, this study also reported a significant positive effect of service quality, information, and process on perceived usefulness of the campus portal. Our study suggests that the perceived ease of use and usefulness are vital towards enhancing the usage frequency and volume of the campus portal. This study broadens the knowledge concerning factors that increase campus portal usage which will enable academic institutions to refine the campus portal thus enhancing the portal usage.

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Traditional and flipped classroom approaches delivered by two different teachers: the student perspective

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was for students to express their views on teaching approaches delivered by two teachers under the perspectives of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) development, their preferences on learning material and learning activities. First year psychology students followed both the traditional and a flipped classroom approach delivered by two different teachers. One teacher introduced them to social and the other to clinical psychology. 81 students evaluated their experience on social psychology and 119 students on clinical psychology. Although all students had similar preferences on following either the traditional or the flipped classroom approach in both subject domains, a significant difference in students' views related to the teachers' contribution to teaching approach, students' HOTS development and the choice of learning material was observed. This investigation concluded the importance of the intricate relationship between the choice of learning material and activities, and the teacher's contribution to the flipped classroom approach and their expectation/behaviour toward technology.

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Endoscopic screening for synchronous esophageal neoplasia among patients with incident head and neck cancer: Prevalence, risk factors and outcomes

Abstract

Esophageal squamous-cell neoplasia (ESCN) is a common second primary neoplasia found in patients with head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study sought to identify the risk factors for synchronous ESCN and how they influence survival in HNSCC patient. 815 incident HNSCC patients were prospectively recruited for endoscopy screening for ESCN using white-light imaging, narrow-band imaging, Lugol chromoendoscopy, and pathological confirmation. Associated lifestyle and clinicopathological data were collected. The interquartile follow-up period cutoffs were 11.3, 20.5 and 34.9 months. 124 patients (15.2%) were diagnosed as having synchronous ESCN (66 low-grade dysplasia, 29 high-grade dysplasia and 29 esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma). Consumption of alcohol, but not betel nut or cigarette, was significantly associated with the presence of synchronous ESCN (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]= 7.1 and 10.9 for former and current drinkers respectively). There was an interaction between cumulative dose of alcohol consumption and alcohol flushing response on the development of ESCN. High-dose drinkers with flush response were 16.9 times more likely to have esophageal high-grade dysplasia/SCC than non-drinkers. Compared with oral cavity cancer patients, those with hypopharyngeal, laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancer were 6.8, 4.6 and 2.8 times more likely to have esophageal high-grade dysplasia/SCC. HNSCC patients with synchronous ESCN had lower overall survival than those without (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, surveillance of ESCN is strongly recommended for the high-risk subpopulation of HNSCC patients, especially drinkers who have a flush response to alcohol, and those with distant metastasis of index cancer and cancers in hypopharynx, oropharynx and larynx. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Keratoacanthoma management: results of a survey of UK dermatologists and surgeons

Abstract

Distinction of keratoacanthoma (KA) from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is challenging. Management is controversial, with some advocating prompt surgical excision and others monitoring to allow for spontaneous resolution¹. The controversy is compounded by rare reports of metastasis². And yet the benign natural history of KA is supported by various studies, including a systematic review of 455 cases with no cases of metastasis or death¹, and observational studies confirming spontaneous resolution¹.

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Taking antibiotics for full 7 to 14 days can actually harm you - The San Diego Union-Tribune

The San Diego Union-Tribune

Taking antibiotics for full 7 to 14 days can actually harm you
The San Diego Union-Tribune
The vaccine against human papillomavirus makes it possible to prevent infections that cause virtually all cases of cervical cancer — as well as cancers affecting areas such as the throat, genitals and tonsils. The vaccine against human papillomavirus ...
The antibiotic course has had its day | The BMJThe BMJ
Doctors are Giving Out Antibiotics Like CandyNewsweek
Doctors - London Evening StandardEvening Standard
The Guardian -Live Science
all 116 news articles »

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HIV testing at some GP surgeries would save lives and NHS money

Routinely testing for HIV in some areas of England would cost the NHS more at first, but save money in the longer term by finding and treating unknown cases

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Is There Any Effective Treatment For Stage Four Cancer? - Forbes

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Forbes

Is There Any Effective Treatment For Stage Four Cancer?
Forbes
Is there any proper treatment for fourth stage cancer? originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Gary Larson, Medical Director - Procure Proton ...

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Knowledge of Human Cytomegalovirus Infection and Prevention in Pregnant Women: A Baseline, Operational Survey

Currently, the only efficient way to prevent human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in pregnancy is primary prophylaxis through hygienic measures. So, we evaluated knowledge of HCMV and its prevention in a group of pregnant women. An anonymous questionnaire with multiple-choice answers was administered to all pregnant women who were followed up at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit of "Pugliese-Ciaccio Hospital," a third-level hospital in Catanzaro (Southern Italy), from November 2015 to March 2016. Previously prescribed serology results for HCMV were also evaluated. Three hundred and fifty women participated in the study and the results clearly demonstrated that knowledge of pregnant women about HCMV is poor. Moreover, prescribed screening procedures need to be optimized, since one out of three pregnant women has not been tested for HCMV or the screening was not performed adequately. For this reason, it is important to implement informative campaign in both pregnant women and providing physicians.

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Location-Aware POI Recommendation for Indoor Space by Exploiting WiFi Logs

Indoor shopping trajectories provide us with a new approach to understanding user's behaviour pattern in urban shopping mall, which can be derived from user-generated WiFi logs using indoor localization technology. In this paper, we propose a location-aware Point-of-Interest (POI) recommendation service in urban shopping mall that offers a user a set of indoor POIs by considering both personal interest and location preference. The POI recommendation service cannot only improve user's shopping experience but also help the store owner better understand user's shopping preference and intent. Specifically, the proposed method consists of two phases: offline modelling and online recommendation. The offline modelling phase is designed to learn user preference by mining his/her historical shopping trajectories. The online recommendation phase automatically produces top- recommended POIs based on the learnt preference. To demonstrate the utility of our proposed approach, we have performed a comprehensive experiment evaluation on a real-world dataset collected by 468 users over 33 days. The experimental results show that the proposed recommendation service achieves much better recommendation performance than several existing benchmark methods.

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Dynamic Changes in the Nigrostriatal Pathway in the MPTP Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease

The characteristic brain pathology and motor and nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) are well established. However, the details regarding the causes of the disease and its course are much less clear. Animal models have significantly enriched our current understanding of the progression of this disease. Among various neurotoxin-based models of PD, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model is the most commonly studied model. Here, we provide an overview of the dynamic changes in the nigrostriatal pathway in the MPTP mouse model of PD. Pathophysiological events, such as reductions in the striatal dopamine (DA) concentrations and levels of the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein, depletion of TH-positive nerve fibers, a decrease in the number of TH-positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), and glial activation, are addressed. This article will assist with the development of interventions or therapeutic strategies for PD.

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Durability of Mortar Made with Fine Glass Powdered Particles

Different studies investigate the use of waste glass in Portland cement compounds, either as aggregates or as supplementary cementitious materials. Nevertheless, it seems that there is no consensus about the influence of particle color and size on the behavior of the compounds. This study addresses the influence of cement replacement by 10 and 20% of the colorless and amber soda-lime glass particles sized around 9.5 μm on the performance of Portland cement mortars. Results revealed that the partial replacement of cement could contribute to the production of durable mortars in relation to the inhibition of the alkali-aggregate reaction. This effect was more marked with 20% replacement using amber glass. Samples containing glass microparticles were more resistant to corrosion, in particular those made of colorless glass. The use of colorless and amber glass microparticles promoted a reduction in wear resistance.

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Extracts of Salvia-Nelumbinis Naturalis Ameliorate Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis via Inhibiting Gut-Derived Endotoxin Mediated TLR4/NF-κB Activation

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is featured by the presence of hepatic steatosis combined with inflammation and hepatocellular injury. Gut-derived endotoxin plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of NASH. Salvia-Nelumbinis naturalis (SNN), a formula of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been identified to be effective for NASH, but the mechanisms were not thoroughly explored. In the present study, a NASH model was generated using C57BL/6 mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) supplemented periodically with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for 12 weeks. Mice fed HFD alone (without DSS) or chow diet were used as controls. The NASH mice were given the SNN extracts in the following 4 weeks, while control mice were provided with saline. Mice fed HFD developed steatosis, and DSS supplementation resulted in NASH. The SNN extracts significantly improved metabolic disorders including obesity, dyslipidemia, and liver steatosis and reduced hepatic inflammation, circulating tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. The beneficial effect of the SNN extracts was associated with restoration of intestinal conditions (microbiota, integrity of intestinal barrier) and inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB activation. These results suggest that the SNN extracts ameliorate NASH progression, possibly through blocking endotoxin related TLR4/NF-κB activation.

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The Circular Economy of E-Waste in the Netherlands: Optimizing Material Recycling and Energy Recovery

In the Netherlands, waste electric and electronic equipment (e-waste) is an important point for discussion on the circular economy agenda. This paper shows the Dutch example of how "waste" can be turned into a resource, and the climate change benefits from appropriate collection and recycling. It describes the avoided emissions of CO2-equivalents due to e-waste recycling and appropriate removal and destruction of (H)CFCs contained in cooling and freezing appliances. Six different e-waste categories were included, and the results of 2016 were compared to previous years (2009–2015). In 2016, 110,000 tonnes of e-waste were collected. 80% of this was recycled to useful materials. Additionally, it resulted in 17% energy recovery. That year, the recycling of e-waste and the removal of (H)CFKs resulted in approximately 416,000 tonnes of avoided emissions of CO2-equivalents. Although the phasing out of cooling and freezing appliances with (H)CFKs led to a general decrease in the quantity of avoided CO2 emissions over time, removal of (H)CFKs still explained most of the avoided CO2 emissions. Material recycling appeared particularly beneficial for cooling and freezing appliances and small and large household appliances. The paper ends with reasons to further close the loop and ways forward to do so.

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HIV testing at some GP surgeries would save lives and NHS money

Transoral robotic surgery cuts patient recovery time

Source: exclusive.multibriefs.com Author: Carolina Pickens Oral cancer is diagnosed in almost 50,000 Americans each year and has a 57 percent survivability […]

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HISTALIM svilupperà HISTOPROFILE, un proprio strumento ... - ANSA.it

CT?id=bwnews&sty=20170719006097r1&sid=14

HISTALIM svilupperà HISTOPROFILE, un proprio strumento ...
ANSA.it
La definizione dell'immunoprofiling tumorale ad alta fedeltà rappresenterà ben presto un fattore importante per il trattamento appropriato dei pazienti affetti da ...

and more »

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These People Are Making Money Off A Bogus Cancer Cure That Doctors Say Could Poison You - BuzzFeed News

BuzzFeed News

These People Are Making Money Off A Bogus Cancer Cure That Doctors Say Could Poison You
BuzzFeed News
The seeds turned out to be chewy and tongue-curlingly bitter, with a long and unpleasant aftertaste. Amazon's algorithm recommended that I also buy the book that's the bible of this movement: World Without Cancer: The Story of Vitamin B17. First ...

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Dosimetric impact of intrafraction changes in MR-guided high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for prostate cancer

Publication date: Available online 29 July 2017
Source:Brachytherapy
Author(s): Alexandra Rink, Jette Borg, Anna Simeonov, Gerald O'Leary, Joelle Helou, Cynthia Ménard, Peter Chung, David A. Jaffray, Alejandro Berlin
PurposeTo assess changes in implant and treatment volumes through the course of a prostate high-dose-rate brachytherapy procedure and their impact on plan quality metrics.Methods and MaterialsSixteen MRI-guided high-dose-rate procedures included a post-treatment MR (ptMR) immediately after treatment delivery (135 min between MR scans). Target and organs at risk (OARs) were contoured, and catheters were reconstructed. The delivered treatment plan was applied to the ptMR image set. Volumes and dosimetric parameters in the ptMR were evaluated and compared with the delivered plan using a paired two-tailed t-test with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsAn average increase of 8.9% in prostate volume was observed for whole-gland treatments, resulting in reduction in coverage for both prostate and planning target volume, reflected in decreased V100 (mean 3.3% and 4.6%, respectively, p < 0.05), and D90 (mean 7.1% and 7.6%, respectively, of prescription dose, p < 0.05). There was no significant change in doses to OARs. For partial-gland treatments, there was an increase in planning target volume (9.1%), resulting in reduced coverage and D90 (mean 3.6% and 12.4%, respectively, p < 0.05). A decrease in D0.5cc for bladder (3%, p < 0.05) was observed, with no significant changes in dose to other OARs.ConclusionsVolumetric changes were observed during the time between planning MR and ptMR. Nonetheless, treatment plans for both whole- and partial-gland therapies remained clinically acceptable. These results apply to clinical settings in which patients remain in the same position and under anesthesia during the entire treatment process.

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Are the thiol/disulfide redox status and HDL cholesterol levels associated with pulmonary embolism?

Publication date: Available online 29 July 2017
Source:Clinical Biochemistry
Author(s): Ebru Sengul Parlak, Murat Alisik, Aysegul Karalezli, Ayse Gokcen Sayilir, Serdal Bastug, Mukremin Er, Hatice Canan Hasanoglu, Ozcan Erel

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Former RHONY Enemies Jill and Ramona Reunite Over Bobby's Cancer Battle: 'We'll Always Have Each Other's Backs' - PEOPLE.com

jill-zarin1.jpg?w=1472&h=2208

PEOPLE.com

Former RHONY Enemies Jill and Ramona Reunite Over Bobby's Cancer Battle: 'We'll Always Have Each Other's Backs'
PEOPLE.com
Their once-tumultuous friendship made an 180-degree turn when Singer reached out to Jill as soon as she heard Bobby was hospitalized for complications in his fight against thyroid cancer — and told her that nothing from the past mattered now that he ...
Jill Zarin Reconciles With Ramona Singer Amid Husband Bobby Zarin's Cancer BattleE! Online
Ramona Singer, Jill Zarin Squash Feud Amid Bobby Zarin's Cancer Battle: 'It's a New Beginning to Our Friendship'Us Weekly
Jill Zarin Reunites With 'Real Housewives of New York' Stars Amid Husband's Cancer BattlePopCulture.com

all 4 news articles »

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Development of a Virtual Cell Model to Predict Cell Response to Substrate Topography

TOC Graphic

ACS Nano

DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b03732

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Enterogenous cyst of pediatric testis: a case report

An enterogenous cyst is a rare entity categorized as an intestinal cyst. In most cases, enterogenous cysts are seen in the mediastinum, peritoneal cavity, spinal canal, subarachnoid space, and cerebral ventricle.

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Role of ubiquitination and proteolysis in the regulation of pro- and anti-apoptotic TNF-R1 signaling

Publication date: Available online 29 July 2017
Source:Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research
Author(s): Jürgen Fritsch, Philipp Zingler, Vinzenz Särchen, Anna Laura Heck, Stefan Schütze
Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 (TNF-R1) transmits various intracellular signaling cascades leading to diverse biological outcomes, ranging from proliferation, differentiation, survival to the induction of various forms of cell death (i.e. apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis). These signaling pathways have to be tightly regulated. Proteolysis is an important regulatory mechanism in TNF-R1 pro-apoptotic as well as anti-apoptotic/pro-inflammatory signaling. Some key players in these signaling cascades are known (mainly the caspase-family of proteases and a previously unrecognized "lysosomal death pathway" involving cathepsins), however the interaction of proteases in the regulation of TNF signaling is still enigmatic. Ubiquitination of proteins, both non-degradative degradative, which either results in proteolytic degradation of target substrates or regulates their biological function, represents another layer of regulation in this signaling cascade.We and others found out that the differences in signal quality depend on the localization of the receptors. Plasma membrane resident receptors activate survival signals, while endocytosed receptors can induce cell death. In this article we will review the role of ubiquitination and proteolysis in these diverse events focusing on our own contributions to the lysosomal apoptotic pathway linked to the subcellular compartmentalization of TNF-R1. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Proteolysis as a Regulatory Event in Pathophysiology edited by Stefan Rose-John.

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Caspase-2 is required for skeletal muscle differentiation and myogenesis

Publication date: Available online 29 July 2017
Source:Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research
Author(s): K. Boonstra, D. Bloemberg, J. Quadrilatero
Caspase activation plays a crucial role in skeletal muscle differentiation. We previously found that caspase-2 activity increases during skeletal muscle cell differentiation; however, its direct effect on differentiation has not been fully investigated. Here, we found that caspase-2 activity transiently increased more than two-fold within 24h following induction of differentiation. Both pharmacological inhibition and shRNA-mediated knockdown of caspase-2 suppressed myogenic differentiation and dramatically impaired myotube formation. Furthermore, shRNA-mediated knockdown prevented induction of p21 and altered cell cycle profiles. Interestingly, caspase-3 activity was also dramatically reduced following caspase-2 inhibition or ablation. Moreover, caspase-2 and p21 were localized to the nucleus during early differentiation. Given the nuclear localization of caspase-2 and p21, as well as the impairment in p21 induction in caspase-2 knockdown cells, we propose that the role of caspase-2 is to regulate p21 induction at the onset of differentiation, which may regulate the myogenic program. Collectively, these results highlight a novel function for caspase-2 in myocyte differentiation and myogenesis.

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Vaccini: Gallera, a settembre tavolo per campagna informativa - SassariNotizie.com

Vaccini: Gallera, a settembre tavolo per campagna informativa
SassariNotizie.com
Per questo "il vaccino anti-Hpv assume un ruolo fondamentale nella prevenzione di questo e di tutta una serie di tumori (della vulva e della vagina, anale, del pene, testa-collo), anche nei maschi, che registrano nella maggior parte dei casi tassi di ...

and more »

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Diagnostic Accuracy of Clinical Decision Rules to Exclude Fractures in Acute Ankle Injuries: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Publication date: Available online 29 July 2017
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Ingrid Barelds, Wim P. Krijnen, Johannes P. van de Leur, Cees P. van der Schans, Robert J. Goddard
BackgroundAnkle decision rules are developed to expedite patient care and reduce the number of radiographs of the ankle and foot. Currently, only three systematic reviews have been conducted on the accuracy of the Ottawa Ankle and Foot Rules (OAFR) in adults and children. However, no systematic review has been performed to determine the most accurate ankle decision rule.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to examine which clinical decision rules are the most accurate for excluding ankle fracture after acute ankle trauma.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in the databases PubMed, CINAHL, PEDro, ScienceDirect, and EMBASE. The sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratio of the included studies were calculated. A meta-analysis was conducted if the accuracy of a decision rule was available from at least three different experimental studies.ResultsEighteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. These included six ankle decision rules, specifically, the Ottawa Ankle Rules, Tuning Fork Test, Low Risk Ankle Rule, Malleolar and Midfoot Zone Algorithms, and the Bernese Ankle Rules. Meta-analysis of the Ottawa Ankle Rules (OAR), OAFR, Bernese Ankle Rules, and the Malleolar Zone Algorithm resulted in a negative likelihood ratio of 0.12, 0.14, 0.39, and 0.23, respectively.ConclusionThe OAR and OAFR are the most accurate decision rules for excluding fractures in the event of an acute ankle injury.

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Origin and Distribution of Carbonate Cement in Tight Sandstones: The Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation Chang 8 Oil Layer in West Ordos Basin, China

Two generations of carbonate cement as Type I (microcrystalline calcite and dolomite) and Type II (mainly Fe-calcite and Fe-dolomite) are recognized in Chang 8 sandstones, Ordos basin. Carbonate cement in Chang 8 sandstones is closely related to the dissolved carbon from thermal maturation of organic matters. Carbonate cement in the loosely packed framework grains precipitated shortly after deposition, and late-stage ferroan calcite and ferroan dolomite formed with progressive burial. The early diagenetic carbonate cement is partially to completely replaced by late-stage ferroan calcite and ferroan dolomite. Carbonate cement is much more commonly observed in sand bodies adjacent to Chang 7 source rocks. With increasing distance from the Chang 7 oil layers, the carbonate cement content gradually decreases. However, some tight carbonate cemented zones also occur at the sandstone-mudstone interfaces. Dissolution of Ca-feldspars by organic acids-rich fluids, together with clay mineral transformations such as illitization of smectite, would provide Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions for carbonate cementation. Organic acids and CO2 rich fluids would charge into the reservoirs with the hydrocarbons, and when the CO2 and acids were buffered by the framework grain dissolution, carbonate cement would precipitate with a decrease in CO2 concentration.

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Diagnostic Accuracy of Clinical Decision Rules to Exclude Fractures in Acute Ankle Injuries: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IJMS, Vol. 18, Pages 1659: Chemical Constituents from Hericium erinaceus Promote Neuronal Survival and Potentiate Neurite Outgrowth via the TrkA/Erk1/2 Pathway

IJMS, Vol. 18, Pages 1659: Chemical Constituents from Hericium erinaceus Promote Neuronal Survival and Potentiate Neurite Outgrowth via the TrkA/Erk1/2 Pathway

International Journal of Molecular Sciences doi: 10.3390/ijms18081659

Authors: Cheng-Chen Zhang Chen-Yu Cao Miwa Kubo Kenichi Harada Xi-Tao Yan Yoshiyasu Fukuyama Jin-Ming Gao

Hericium erinaceus is a culinary-medicinal mushroom used traditionally in Eastern Asia to improve memory. In this work, we investigated the neuroprotective and neuritogenic effects of the secondary metabolites isolated from the MeOH extract of cultured mycelium of H. erinaceus and the primary mechanisms involved. One new dihydropyridine compound (6) and one new natural product (2) together with five known compounds (1,3–5,7) were obtained and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR and HRMS. The cell-based screening for bioactivity showed that 4-chloro-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic methyl ester (1) and a cyathane diterpenoid, erincine A (3), not only potentiated NGF-induced neurite outgrowth but also protected neuronally-differentiated cells against deprivation of NGF in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Additionally, compound 3 induced neuritogenesis in primary rat cortex neurons. Furthermore, our results revealed that TrkA-mediated and Erk1/2-dependant pathways could be involved in 1 and 3-promoted NGF-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.

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CFT and Logarithmic Corrections to the Black Hole Entropy Product Formula

We examine the logarithmic corrections to the black hole (BH) entropy product formula of outer horizon and inner horizon by taking into account the effects of statistical quantum fluctuations around the thermal equilibrium and via conformal field theory (CFT). We argue that, in logarithmic corrections to the BH entropy product formula when calculated using CFT and taking into account the effects of quantum fluctuations around the thermal equilibrium, the formula should not be universal and it also should not be quantized. These results have been explicitly checked by giving several examples.

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Comparison of Sodium Acid Sulfate and UV-C Treatment on Browning and Storage Quality of Fresh-Cut Potatoes

Fresh-cut vegetables, such as potato chips, get brown quickly and can easily be infected by bacterium during storage. Sodium acid sulfate (SAS) and UV-C treatments are regarded as effective methods for food preservation. In this study, the effects of SAS, UV-C treatment, and their combination on fresh-cut potatoes during storage were evaluated. Compared with the control, all of the treatments were effective in inhibiting the bacterial growth during the whole storage period. Also, both SAS and SAS + UV-C treatments significantly decreased browning and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and increased the firmness and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, while the UV-C treatment has no good effects on protecting such storage qualities in fresh-cut potatoes. However, when compared with SAS treatment, the combination of SAS and UV-C treatment did not promote the effect in protecting the storage abilities. Thus, it was concluded that SAS is a better treatment in extending shelf life and controlling the quality of fresh-cut potatoes during storage compared to UV-C treatment.

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#Coloncancer patients found risks and benefits whilst taking preventative aspirin: https://t.co/k9VyehN0uB https://t.co/1NZhZjZeOg

#Coloncancer patients found risks and benefits whilst taking preventative aspirin: https://t.co/k9VyehN0uB https://t.co/1NZhZjZeOg

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Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Production in Patients with Colorectal Cancer In Vitro

Purpose. Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) are extracellular neutrophil derived DNA webs which have been implicated in cancer progression and in the development of metastases. NETs production in patients with colorectal cancer was investigated to elucidate their role and prognostic significance. Methods. Systemic neutrophils were isolated from consecutive patients with colorectal cancer and from age-matched healthy volunteers. Neutrophils were stimulated to produce NETs which were quantified by a measure of the fluorescence of the extracellular DNA. The impact of cancer location, tumour stage, and patient outcomes (complications, length of stay, and mortality) on NET production was investigated. Results. Quantification of NET formation was performed in patients with colorectal cancer () and in well-matched healthy individuals (). Significant increases in NETs production in response to no stimulant (9,735 AFU versus 11347 AFU, ), IL-8 (8,644 AFU versus 11,915 AFU, ), and LPS (10,576 AFU versus 12,473 AFU, ) were identified in patients with colorectal cancer. A significant increase in NETs production in response to fMLP was detected in patients who developed significant postoperative complications (11,760 AFU versus 18,340 AFU, ) and who had a prolonged hospital recovery (9,008 AFU versus 12,530 AFU, ). An increase in NETs production was also observed in patients who died, but this did not reach statistical significance. Cancer location and tumour stage did not appear to affect preoperative NETs production. Conclusions. Patients with colorectal cancer have significantly increased NETs production in vitro when compared to healthy volunteers, possibly implicating them in cancer development. Adverse patient outcomes were associated with increased preoperative NETs production, which highlights them as potential therapeutic targets.

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Incomplete Resolution of Deep Vein Thromboses during Rivaroxaban Therapy

We present the case of a patient with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who failed rivaroxaban therapy. Our patient initially presented with left lower extremity edema, erythema, and pain. He was subsequently started on rivaroxaban therapy for a combined treatment period of 12 months, during and after which he persisted to have evidence of a DVT. The patient's prescribed drug regimen was changed from rivaroxaban to warfarin, which demonstrated a rapid resolution of the DVTs as determined by ultrasound assessment of our patient's lower extremity veins. Rivaroxaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, is a well-known oral anticoagulant that is used for a variety of indications and has become a mainstay in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis. With the introduction and emergence of this medication in the clinic, postmarketing reports of efficacy or lack thereof are important to review. In conclusion, we anticipate that it is likely that there are other patients with DVTs who may not respond to rivaroxaban and for whom alternative anticoagulation therapies should be explored.

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GPU-Based Parallel Particle Swarm Optimization Methods for Graph Drawing

Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is a population-based stochastic search technique for solving optimization problems, which has been proven to be effective in a wide range of applications. However, the computational efficiency on large-scale problems is still unsatisfactory. A graph drawing is a pictorial representation of the vertices and edges of a graph. Two PSO heuristic procedures, one serial and the other parallel, are developed for undirected graph drawing. Each particle corresponds to a different layout of the graph. The particle fitness is defined based on the concept of the energy in the force-directed method. The serial PSO procedure is executed on a CPU and the parallel PSO procedure is executed on a GPU. Two PSO procedures have different data structures and strategies. The performance of the proposed methods is evaluated through several different graphs. The experimental results show that the two PSO procedures are both as effective as the force-directed method, and the parallel procedure is more advantageous than the serial procedure for larger graphs.

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JFB, Vol. 8, Pages 32: Potential New Non-Invasive Therapy Using Artificial Oxygen Carriers for Pre-Eclampsia

JFB, Vol. 8, Pages 32: Potential New Non-Invasive Therapy Using Artificial Oxygen Carriers for Pre-Eclampsia

Journal of Functional Biomaterials doi: 10.3390/jfb8030032

Authors: Hidenobu Ohta Maiko Kaga Heng Li Hiromi Sakai Kunihiro Okamura Nobuo Yaegashi

The molecular mechanisms of pre-eclampsia are being increasingly clarified in animals and humans. With the uncovering of these mechanisms, preventive therapy strategies using chronic infusion of adrenomedullin, vascular endothelial growth factor-121 (VEGF-121), losartan, and sildenafil have been proposed to block narrow spiral artery formation in the placenta by suppressing related possible factors for pre-eclampsia. However, although such preventive treatments have been partly successful, they have failed in ameliorating fetal growth restriction and carry the risk of possible side-effects of drugs on pregnant mothers. In this study, we attempted to develop a new symptomatic treatment for pre-eclampsia by directly rescuing placental ischemia with artificial oxygen carriers (hemoglobin vesicles: HbV) since previous data indicate that placental ischemia/hypoxia may alone be sufficient to lead to pre-eclampsia through up-regulation of sFlt-1, one of the main candidate molecules for the cause of pre-eclampsia. Using a rat model, the present study demonstrated that a simple treatment using hemoglobin vesicles for placental ischemia rescues placental and fetal hypoxia, leading to appropriate fetal growth. The present study is the first to demonstrate hemoglobin vesicles successfully decreasing maternal plasma levels of sFlt-1 and ameliorating fetal growth restriction in the pre-eclampsia rat model (p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA). In future, chronic infusion of hemoglobin vesicles could be a potential effective and noninvasive therapy for delaying or even alleviating the need for Caesarean sections in pre-eclampsia.

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MicroRNA-146a-5p attenuates liver fibrosis by suppressing profibrogenic effects of TGFβ1 and lipopolysaccharide

Publication date: November 2017
Source:Cellular Signalling, Volume 39
Author(s): Yanting Zou, Yu Cai, Di Lu, Yi Zhou, Qunyan Yao, Shuncai Zhang
Liver fibrosis is characterized by proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) is crucial for liver fibrogenesis, and gut-derived endotoxin (LPS) also plays an important role in liver fibrogenesis. In the present study, we found that microRNA-146a-5p (miR-146a-5p) could regulate TGFβ1/Smad and LPS/NF-κB/Bambi pathways to attenuate liver fibrosis. Downregulated miR-146a-5p and upregulated level of LPS were found in liver of CCl4-treated rats. On cellular level, expression of miR-146a-5p is reduced during primary rat HSCs naturally activation and changed in response to TGFβ1 and/or LPS stimulation in primary rat HSCs and human HSC line LX-2. Further overexpression of miR-146a-5p suppresses proliferation and activation of HSCs. The underlying mechanism involved that miR-146a-5p directly suppresses profibrogenic effects of TGFβ1 by down-regulating the expression of Smad4 and phosphorylation of Smad2. Moreover, miR-146a-5p indirectly suppresses TGFβ1/Smad pathway by targeting IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) and TNF receptor associated factor-6 (TRAF6), two major components of LPS/NF-κB/Bambi pathway, to reduce inhibition of TGFβ pseudoreceptor Bambi. These results indicate that miR-146a-5p abrogate hepatic fibrosis by suppressing both TGFβ/Smad and LPS/NF-κB/Bambi signaling pathway in HSCs and suggest that miR-146a-5p is a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.

Graphical abstract

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A Challenging Diagnosis of IgG4-Related Disease When Understanding Limitations of Laboratory Testing Was Pivotal

A 76-year-old man was incidentally found on a CT scan to have lymphadenopathy and bilateral kidney enlargement suggestive of infiltrative renal disease. He was largely asymptomatic but had bilateral salivary and lacrimal gland enlargement. A grossly elevated serum IgG (>70 g/L) with concomitant suppression of other immunoglobulins, a small IgG restriction, and a parotid biopsy revealing lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with slight kappa light chain excess all suggested a lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD). The diagnostic workup was further confounded by a normal serum IgG4 concentration. Moreover, bone marrow and renal biopsies did not reveal evidence of LPD. Discussion with the laboratory not only clarified that the markedly increased total IgG could not be accounted for by the small IgG restriction, but also identified a discrepancy in the IgG4 measurement. Repeat analysis of a follow-up sample revealed an elevated IgG4 of 5.94 (reference interval: 0.039–0.864) g/L, which prompted a repeat parotid biopsy that showed predominant IgG4+ lymphocytic infiltrates. Despite the deluding presentations, a final diagnosis of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) was made based on elevated serum IgG4 concentrations and histopathological findings. This case highlights the importance of recognizing limitations of laboratory testing and the benefit of close communications among clinical subspecialties and the laboratory.

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On Weighted Montgomery Identity for Points and Its Associates on Time Scales

The purpose of this paper is to establish a weighted Montgomery identity for points and then use this identity to prove a new weighted Ostrowski type inequality. Our results boil down to the results of Liu and Ngô if we take the weight function to be the identity map. In addition, we also generalize an inequality of Ostrowski-Grüss type on time scales for points. For we recapture a result of Tuna and Daghan. Finally, we apply our results to the continuous, discrete, and quantum calculus to obtain more results in this direction.

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Analysis of MCLP, Q-MALP, and MQ-MALP with Travel Time Uncertainty Using Monte Carlo Simulation

This paper compares the application of the Monte Carlo simulation in incorporating travel time uncertainties in ambulance location problem using three models: Maximum Covering Location Problem (MCLP), Queuing Maximum Availability Location Problem (Q-MALP), and Multiserver Queuing Maximum Availability Location Problem (MQ-MALP). A heuristic method is developed to site the ambulances. The models are applied to the 33-node problem representing Austin, Texas, and the 55-node problem. For the 33-node problem, the results show that the servers are less spatially distributed in Q-MALP and MQ-MALP when the uncertainty of server availability is considered using either the independent or dependent travel time. On the other hand, for the 55-node problem, the spatial distribution of the servers obtained by locating a server to the highest hit node location is more dispersed in MCLP and Q-MALP. The implications of the new model for the ambulance services system design are discussed as well as the limitations of the modeling approach.

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Missing Teeth and Prosthetic Treatment in Patients Treated at College of Dentistry, University of Dammam

The percentage of completely and partially edentulous patients and their prosthetic treatment at the Department of Substitutive Dental Sciences (SDS), College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, were investigated. Panoramic radiographs and medical records of adult patients (, mean age 45.9 years, and range 25–96 years) treated in 2011–2014 were examined. 6% of the patients were completely edentulous, 8% had single jaw edentulousness, and 74% were partially edentulous. Edentulousness was significantly correlated with age and the number of missing teeth was significantly higher among males (). Diabetes was significantly associated with complete edentulousness, single edentulous jaw ( value 0.015), and partial edentulousness ( value 0.023). Kennedy class III was the most frequent class of partial edentulousness in single and/or both jaws (). Patients having class I and/or class II were treated most often with removable partial dentures (RPD) (), while patients having class III were treated with fixed partial dentures (FPD). It was found that complete edentulousness increases in older age and the number of missing teeth was significantly higher among males. Kennedy class III was most common in both upper and lower jaw and was treated more often with FPD than with RPD.

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Management of Penetrating Skull Base Injury: A Single Institutional Experience and Review of the Literature

Background. Penetrating skull base injury (PSBI) is uncommon among head injuries, presenting unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Although many cases of PSBIs have been reported, comprehensive understanding of its initial diagnosis, management, and outcome is still unavailable. Materials and Methods. A retrospective review was performed for patients treated in neurosurgical department of Changzheng Hospital for PSBIs. Presurgical three-dimensional (3D) Slicer-assisted reconstructions were conducted for each patient. Then we reviewed previous literature about all the published cases of PSBIs worldwide and discussed their common features. Results. A total of 5 patients suffering PSBIs were identified. Penetrating points as well as the surrounding neurovascular structures were clearly visualized, assisting in the presurgical planning of optimal surgical approach and avoiding unexpected vascular injury. Four patients underwent craniotomy with foreign bodies removed successfully and 1 patient received conservative treatment. All of them presented good outcomes after proper management. Conclusion. Careful physical examination and radiological evaluation are essential before operation, and angiography is recommended for those with suspected vascular injuries. 3D modeling with 3D Slicer is practicable and reliable, facilitating the diagnosis and presurgical planning. Treatment decision should be made upon the comprehensive evaluation of patient's clinicoradiological features and characteristics of foreign bodies.

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Switch of Intravitreal Therapy for Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion from Anti-VEGF to Dexamethasone Implant and Vice Versa

Purpose. To evaluate the anatomical and functional outcome of intravitreal dexamethasone implant for macular edema secondary to central (C) or branch (B) retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in patients with persistent macular edema (ME) refractory to intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment compared to treatment naïve patients and to dexamethasone-refractory eyes switched to anti-VEGF. Methods. Retrospective, observational study including 30 eyes previously treated with anti-VEGF (8 CRVO, 22 BRVO, mean age 69 ± 10 yrs), compared to 11 treatment naïve eyes (6 CRVO, 5 BRVO, 73 ± 11 yrs) and compared to dexamethasone nonresponders (2 CRVO, 4 BRVO, 69 ± 12). Outcome parameters were change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness (CFT) measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Results. Mean BCVA improvement after switch to dexamethasone implant was 4 letters (), and treatment naïve eyes gained 10 letters (), while we noted no change in eyes after switch to anti-VEGF (). Median CFT decrease was most pronounced in treatment naïve patients (−437 μm, ) compared to anti-VEGF refractory eyes (−170 μm, ) and dexamethasone-refractory eyes (−157, ). Conclusions. Dexamethasone significantly reduced ME secondary to RVO refractory to anti-VEGF. Functional gain was limited compared to treatment naïve eyes, probably due to worse BCVA and CFT at baseline in treatment naïve eyes.

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IJMS, Vol. 18, Pages 1658: TGFβ Controls Ovarian Cancer Cell Proliferation

IJMS, Vol. 18, Pages 1658: TGFβ Controls Ovarian Cancer Cell Proliferation

International Journal of Molecular Sciences doi: 10.3390/ijms18081658

Authors: Elisenda Alsina-Sanchís Agnès Figueras Alvaro Lahiguera Marta Gil-Martín Beatriz Pardo Josep Piulats Lola Martí Jordi Ponce Xavier Matias-Guiu August Vidal Alberto Villanueva Francesc Viñals

There have been no major improvements in the overall survival of ovarian cancer patients in recent decades. Even though more accurate surgery and more effective treatments are available, the mortality rate remains high. Given the differences in origin and the heterogeneity of these tumors, research to elucidate the signaling pathways involved is required. The Transforming Growth Factor (TGFβ) family controls different cellular responses in development and cell homeostasis. Disruption of TGFβ signaling has been implicated in many cancers, including ovarian cancer. This article considers the involvement of TGFβ in ovarian cancer progression, and reviews the various mechanisms that enable the TGFβ signaling pathway to control ovarian cancer cell proliferation. These mechanistic explanations support the therapeutic use of TGFβ inhibitors in ovarian cancer, which are currently in the early phases of development.

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Objective assessment of hearing during second stage of tympanoplasty – surgical technique and measurement methodology presented in ten patients

Abstract

In this paper, a complete integrated method of intraoperative monitoring of hearing (IOMH) during ossiculoplasty performed via posterior tympanotomy is presented.

The method integrates auditory steady state responses (ASSR) with Laser-Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) and allows intraoperative optimization of ossicular prosthesis positioning and coupling.

Both ASSR and LDV are acquired simultaneously.

The results of the integrated measurements are analyzed and evaluated automatically on-line which makes this strategy unaffected by individual differences in interpretations of collected recordings.

The technique of intraoperative monitoring of hearing, presented in this paper, allows optimal placement of the prosthesis and replacement if needed as well as confirmation of the ossiculoplasty efficiency by intraoperatively defined hearing threshold and air-bone gap closure before the end of surgery.

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Knockdown of microRNA-203 alleviates LPS-induced injury by targeting MCL-1 in C28/I2 chondrocytes

Publication date: Available online 29 July 2017
Source:Experimental Cell Research
Author(s): Changfu Zhao, Yang Wang, Hui Jin, Tao Yu
Several microRNAs (miRs) are associated with osteoarthritis (OA) and are also functionally implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. This study was aimed to investigate the potential roles of miR-203 in the development and progression of OA, as well as to illustrate the possible molecular mechanism. OA was simulated in human cartilage C28/I2 cells with treatments of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS-induced cell injury was evaluated according to cell viability, apoptosis and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Expression of miR-203 after LPS treatment was assessed. Then, miR-203 was aberrantly expressed, followed by evaluation of LPS-induced cell injury. The target gene of miR-203 was virtually screened by bioinformatics method and verified by luciferase assay. Moreover, the potential associated signaling pathways were also investigated. Results showed that LPS induced decrease of cell viability and increases of cell apoptosis, release of inflammatory cytokines and expression of miR-203. LPS-induced alterations were aggravated by miR-203 overexpression but were alleviated by miR-203 inhibition. Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1) was hypothesized and subsequently verified to be a target of miR-203, and miR-203 inhibition affected C28/I2 cells through up-regulating MCL-1. In addition, LPS-induced down-regulations of key kinases as well as phosphorylated kinases were further down-regulated by miR-203 overexpression but were abrogated by miR-203 inhibition. In conclusion, this study suggests that miR-203 suppression may inhibit the progression of OA by targeting MCL-1 and activating the Wnt/β-Catenin and JAK/STAT signal pathways.

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The role of anaplastic lymphoma kinase in pediatric cancers

Abstract

The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) was initially identified as a fusion partner of the nucleophosmin gene in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) with t(2;5)(p23;q35) translocation, and then described with different genetic abnormalities in a number of tumors. Although ALK is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma through activating mutations or gene amplification, its role in the pathogenesis of other pediatric cancers is still elusive. In addition to neuroblastoma, the high-grade amplification of ALK has been described in a subset of rhabdomyosarcoma cases. Normal ALK protein expression is restricted to the nervous systems of adult mammals, but the aberrant expression of ALK has been observed in a variety of pediatric cancers, including glioma and Ewing sarcoma. The discovery of oncogenic activation of ALK in neuroblastoma suggests that this cancer could be potentially treated with an ALK inhibitor, as could other cancers, such as non-small cell lung cancer and ALCL. However, cellular responses to mutant ALK are complex when compared to rearranged ALK, and treatment remains a challenge. This review focuses on the biology of ALK in pediatric cancers and possible therapeutic strategies for ALK-associated tumors.

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Double-edged sword of mesenchymal stem cells: cancer-promoting VS therapeutic potentials

Summary

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from adipose tissue, bone marrow, cord blood, and other tissues, have recently attracted much attention as potential therapeutic agents in various diseases due to their trans-differentiation capacity. However, recent studies suggested that MSCs also appear to contribute tumor pathogenesis by supporting tumor microenvironments, increasing tumor growth, and eliciting anti-tumor immune responses. While some studies suggest that MSCs have the inhibitory effects on tumor development, they are overwhelmed by a member of researches that MSCs exert stimulatory effects on tumor pathogenesis. In this review article, we summarized a number of findings to provide current information about their therapeutic potential in various diseases; we then discussed the potential roles of MSCs in tumor progression.

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Lymphangiogenesis: From passive disseminator to dynamic metastatic enabler

Abstract

The lymphatic vasculature drains fluid and cells from tissues and channels them to the lymph nodes, where they encounter immune cells, constituting a critical component of immune function and tissue fluid homeostasis. It has been hypothesized that the formation of new lymphatics (lymphangiogenesis) in tumors can facilitate cancer cell transport to the lymph node, whose permissive microenvironment would favor their survival before disseminating to other organs. However, lymphatic vessels found inside tumors are generally not functional and surgical resection of sentinel lymph nodes does not improve melanoma patient's outcome (Morton et al., 2014), questioning the direct involvement of lymphangiogenesis in metastasis.

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Coal Bottom Ash for Portland Cement Production

Because of industrialization growth, the amount of coal power plant wastes has increased very rapidly. Particularly, the disposal of coal bottom ash (CBA) is becoming an increasing concern for many countries because of the increasing volume generated, the costs of operating landfill sites, and its potential hazardous effects. Therefore, new applications of coal bottom ash (CBA) have become an interesting alternative to disposal. For instance, it could be used as a Portland cement constituent leading to more sustainable cement production by lowering energy consumption and raw material extracted from quarries. Coal fly and bottom ashes are formed together in the same boiler; however, the size and shape of these ashes are very different, and hence their effect on the chemical composition as well as on the mineralogical phases must be studied. Coal bottom ash was ground. Later, both ashes were compared from a physical, mechanical, and chemical point of view to evaluate the potential use of coal bottom ash as a new Portland cement constituent. Both ashes, produced by the same electrical power plant, generally present similar chemical composition and compressive strength and contribute to the refill of mortar capillary pores with the reaction products leading to a redistribution of the pore size.

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Time Evolution of Sublingual Microcirculatory Changes in Recreational Marathon Runners

We aimed to evaluate changes in sublingual microcirculation induced by a marathon race. Thirteen healthy male controls and 13 male marathon runners volunteered for the study. We performed sublingual microcirculation, using a Cytocam-IDF device (Braedius Medical, Huizen, Netherlands), and systemic hemodynamic measurements four times: 24 hours prior to their participation in the Kaunas Marathon (distance: 41.2 km), directly after finishing the marathon, 24 hours after the marathon, and one week after the marathon. The marathon runners exhibited a higher functional capillary density (FCD) and total vascular density of small vessels at the first visit compared with the controls. Overall, we did not find any changes in sublingual microcirculation of the marathon runners at any of the other visits. However, in a subgroup of marathon runners with a decreased FCD compared to the subgroup with increased FCD, the subgroup with decreased FCD had shorter running time ( versus min, ), ingested less fluids ( versus mL, ) during the race, and lost much more weight ( versus kg, ). Recreational marathon running is not associated with an alteration of sublingual microcirculation. However, faster running and dehydration may be crucial for further impairing microcirculation.

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Oral Administration of Red Ginseng Extract Promotes Neurorestoration after Compressive Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Red ginseng and its active ingredients have been shown to decrease neuron death after brain ischemia in experimental animals. However, little is known about the effects of orally administered ginseng extract on spinal cord injury. We orally gave red ginseng extract (RGE) to rats with compressed spinal cord injury (SCI). Open-field locomotor scores were measured as indices of motor function. Histopathological changes and cytokine expressions in situ after SCI were evaluated. Compared to vehicle treatment, RGE treatment (350 mg/kg/day) significantly improved locomotor score up to levels close to those pre-SCI, prevented neuron loss, and facilitated the restoration of white matter in the spinal cord at 14 days after SCI. Treatment with RGE caused less aggregation of Iba-1-positive microglia in grey and white matter at 7 days after SCI, upregulated the expression levels of VEGF and Bcl-xL, and reduced IL-1β and TNFα expressions in the spinal cord at 7 and 14 days after SCI. We concluded that oral administration of RGE facilitates almost complete functional recovery from motor and behavioral abnormalities in rats with SCI and prevents neuron death in situ, possibly through inhibition of inflammation and upregulation of neuroprotective factors in the injured spinal cord.

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How Intraday Index Changes Influence Periodontal Assessment: A Preliminary Study

It is reputed that periodontal indices remain unchanged over a 24-hour period, with great clinical significance. This preliminary study analyzes daily index changes. In 56 selected patients, full-mouth plaque score (FMPS), full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS), periodontal screening and recording (PSR) indices, and periodontal risk assessment (PRA) were recorded at baseline and three times per day (check-I: 08.30, check-II: 11.30, and check-III: 14.30), after appropriate cause-related therapy. Correlation between variables was statistically analyzed by Stata. All periodontal indices improved at the examination phase. Statistical differences were detected for FMPS comparing all thrice daily checks. Statistical differences were detected for FMBS and PRA comparing check-III with check-I and check-II. PSR showed no significant changes. The worst baseline indices produced the widest daily fluctuation at the examination phase. Significant variation of indices is directly related to clinical severity of periodontal conditions at baseline. Patients affected by severe periodontal disease may show significantly greater index changes. As indices are routinely recorded only once per day, the index daily variation has clinical significance. This greatly affects therapeutic strategy as correct periodontal assessment requires multiple evaluations at standardized times, particularly when baseline conditions are severe.

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Apigenin Alleviates Endotoxin-Induced Myocardial Toxicity by Modulating Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Autophagy

Apigenin, a component in daily diets, demonstrates antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we intended to explore the mechanism of apigenin-mediated endotoxin-induced myocardial injury and its role in the interplay among inflammation, oxidative stress, and autophagy. In our lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced myocardial injury model, apigenin ameliorated cardiac injury (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK)), cell death (TUNEL staining, DNA fragmentation, and PARP activity), and tissue damage (cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and cardiac myosin light chain-1 (cMLC1)) and improved cardiac function (ejection fraction (EF) and end diastolic left ventricular inner dimension (LVID)). Apigenin also alleviated endotoxin-induced myocardial injury by modulating oxidative stress (nitrotyrosine and protein carbonyl) and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, MIP-1α, and MIP-2) along with their master regulator NFκB. Apigenin modulated redox homeostasis, and its anti-inflammatory role might be associated with its ability to control autophagy. Autophagy (determined by LAMP1, ATG5, and p62), its transcriptional regulator transcription factor EB (TFEB), and downstream target genes including vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 11 (Vps11) and microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (Map1lc3) were modulated by apigenin. Thus, our study demonstrated that apigenin may lead to potential development of new target in sepsis treatment or other myocardial oxidative and/or inflammation-induced injuries.

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Double Internal Limiting Membrane Insertion for Macular Hole-Associated Retinal Detachment

Purpose. To describe a modified technique of internal limiting membrane (ILM) insertion for macular hole- (MH-) associated retinal detachment (RD) in highly myopic eyes. Methods. Nine eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy, cortical vitreous removal, and fovea-sparing ILM peeling. Double ILM insertion into the hole was performed with inverted perifoveal ILM and a free ILM flap followed by air-fluid exchange. Results. Two of the 9 eyes had perifoveal ILM partially torn after cortical vitreous or epiretinal removal. All eyes had the ILM plug stabilized within the MH after double ILM insertion. Postoperatively, MH was sealed with the retina reattached in all the eyes. Conclusion. Double ILM insertion may further secure the ILM flap in place in the eyes with MH-associated RD, especially in cases in which insufficient perifoveal ILM was left. This trial is registered with the clinical registration number Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03174639.

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RT @arztdiego : Understanding the impact of childhood cancer rates across sub-Saharan Af... https://t.co/QsMJfCh68A via @ecancer @EurekAlert

RT @arztdiego : Understanding the impact of childhood cancer rates across sub-Saharan Af... https://t.co/QsMJfCh68A via @ecancer @EurekAlert

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IJMS, Vol. 18, Pages 1657: Polycomb Repressor Complex 2 in Genomic Instability and Cancer

IJMS, Vol. 18, Pages 1657: Polycomb Repressor Complex 2 in Genomic Instability and Cancer

International Journal of Molecular Sciences doi: 10.3390/ijms18081657

Authors: Zoe Veneti Kalliopi Gkouskou Aristides Eliopoulos

Polycomb repressor complexes PRC1 and PRC2 regulate chromatin compaction and gene expression, and are widely recognized for their fundamental contributions to developmental processes. Herein, we summarize the existing evidence and molecular mechanisms linking PRC-mediated epigenetic aberrations to genomic instability and malignancy, with a particular focus on the role of deregulated PRC2 in tumor suppressor gene expression, the DNA damage response, and the fidelity of DNA replication. We also discuss some of the recent advances in the development of pharmacological and dietary interventions affecting PRC2, which point to promising applications for the prevention and management of human malignancies.

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Κυριακή 30 Ιουλίου 2017

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