Risk Transmission of the Regions in the Yangtze River Economic Belt

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Risk Transmission of the Regions in the Yangtze River Economic Belt Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation This study mainly uses the method of effective transfer entropy (ETE) to study the risk transmission in each year among the 11 provinces and municipalities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt during the last five years. From the results of the risk transmission network, centralities of the regions, and maximum spanning trees, it can be seen that, in the years of 2015 and 2016, the risk transmission in the Yangtze River Economic Belt is relatively large, and in 2015, Shanghai is the main risk exporter. This may be mainly due to the violent turbulence in the Chinese stock market, and in 2016, although Chinese stock market is in a stable position, the whole risk transmission is still high, but the difference from 2015 is that the input and output risk of each province and municipality are more uniform and are no longer like Shanghai as the main exporter of risk in 2015. From the perspective of risk spillover, the overall trend is from the western region of China to the central region, and finally to the eastern region. Specifically, from the results of the maximum spanning tree, except the stock market crash period in 2015, Chongqing, Guizhou, and Yunnan (the western region) are the main exporters of risk, while Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai (the eastern region) are often at the edge at this time, and from the results of the centrality of the region indexes, Hubei, Jiangxi, and Anhui (the central region) are in the hub position of risk transmission. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Managing Nonagenarians with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Invasive versus Conservative Treatment

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Managing Nonagenarians with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Invasive versus Conservative Treatment Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation Background. Limited data are available to support an invasive treatment strategy in nonagenarians with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to investigate whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is beneficial in this frail population. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed 41 nonagenarians with AMI (both ST-segment-elevation and non-ST-segment-elevation MI) between 2006 and 2015 in a single center. We assessed 30-day and one-year mortality rates according to the treatment strategy. Results. Among study subjects, 24 (59%) were treated with PCI (PCI group) and 17 (41%) were treated with conservative management (medical treatment group) per the clinician's discretion. The median follow-up duration was 30 months (0–74 months). Thirty-day mortality was lower in the PCI group than in the medical t reatment group (17% vs. 65%; ). One-year mortality was also lower in the PCI group than in the medical treatment group (21% vs. 76%; ). The PCI group presented a 73% decreased risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.269; 95% confidence interval: 0.126–0.571; ). In the Killip class 1 through 3 subgroups (n = 36), 30-day and one-year mortality were still higher among those in the medical treatment group (13% vs. 54% at 30 days; and 17% vs. 69% at one year; ). Landmark analysis after 30 days revealed no significant difference in the cumulative mortality rate between the two groups, indicating that the mortality difference was mainly determined within the first 30 days after AMI. Conclusion. Mortality after AMI was decreased in correlation with the invasive strategy relative to the conservative strategy, even in nonagenarians. Regardless of age, PCI should be considered in AMI patients. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to support our conclusion. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Autophagy and Redox Homeostasis in Parkinson’s: A Crucial Balancing Act

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Autophagy and Redox Homeostasis in Parkinson's: A Crucial Balancing Act Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are generated primarily from endogenous biochemical reactions in mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and peroxisomes. Typically, ROS/RNS correlate with oxidative damage and cell death; however, free radicals are also crucial for normal cellular functions, including supporting neuronal homeostasis. ROS/RNS levels influence and are influenced by antioxidant systems, including the catabolic autophagy pathways. Autophagy is an intracellular lysosomal degradation process by which invasive, damaged, or redundant cytoplasmic components, including microorganisms and defunct organelles, are removed to maintain cellular homeostasis. This process is particularly important in neurons that are required to cope with prolonged and sustained operation al stress. Consequently, autophagy is a primary line of protection against neurodegenerative diseases. Parkinson's is caused by the loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons (mDANs), resulting in progressive disruption of the nigrostriatal pathway, leading to motor, behavioural, and cognitive impairments. Mitochondrial dysfunction, with associated increases in oxidative stress, and declining proteostasis control, are key contributors during mDAN demise in Parkinson's. In this review, we analyse the crosstalk between autophagy and redoxtasis, including the molecular mechanisms involved and the detrimental effect of an imbalance in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Predicting Venous Thromboembolic Events in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Requiring Hospitalization: an Observational Retrospective Study by the COVIDIC Initiative in a Swiss University Hospital

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Predicting Venous Thromboembolic Events in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Requiring Hospitalization: an Observational Retrospective Study by the COVIDIC Initiative in a Swiss University Hospital Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation Background. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can result in profound changes in blood coagulation. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and predictors of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) among patients with COVID-19 requiring hospital admission. Subjects and Methods. We performed a retrospective study at the Lausanne University Hospital with patients admitted because of COVID-19 from February 28 to April 30, 2020. Results. Among 443 patients with COVID-19, VTE was diagnosed in 41 patients (9.3%; 27 pulmonary embolisms, 12 deep vein thrombosis, one pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, one portal vein thrombosis). VTE was diagnosed already upon admission in 14 (34.1%) patients and 27 (65.9%) during hospital stay (18 in ICU and nine in wards outside the ICU). Multivariate analysis r evealed D-dimer (; OR 15.8, 95% CI 4.7-52.9) and duration of 8 days or more from COVID-19 symptoms onset to presentation ( 0.020; OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.3-18.3) to be independently associated with VTE upon admission. D-dimer combined with a Wells score for was highly specific (sensitivity 57.1%, specificity 91.6%) in detecting VTE upon admission. Development of VTE during hospitalization was independently associated with D-dimer (; OR 6.3, 95% CI 2.4-16.2) and mechanical ventilation (; OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.3-15.1). Conclusions. VTE seems to be a common COVID-19 complication upon admission and during hospitalization, especially in ICU. The combination of score and is a good predictor of VTE at admission. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Plasma Proteome Profiling of Coronary Artery Disease Patients: Downregulation of Transthyretin—An Important Event

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Plasma Proteome Profiling of Coronary Artery Disease Patients: Downregulation of Transthyretin—An Important Event Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory cardiac disorder. An early diagnosis is likely to help in the prevention and proper management of this disease. As the study of proteomics provides the potential markers for detection of a disease, in the present investigation, attempt has been made to identify disease-associated differential proteins involved in CAD pathogenesis. For this study, a total of 200 selected CAD patients were considered, who were recruited for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment. The proteomic analysis was performed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and MALDI-TOF MS/MS. Samples were also subjected to Western blot analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolation immunofluorescence (IF) analys is, analytical screening by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and in silico analysis. The representative data were shown as of at least three experiments. A total of 19 proteins were identified. Among them, the most abundant five proteins (serotransferrin, talin-1, alpha-2HS glycoprotein, transthyretin (TTR), fibrinogen-α chain) were found to have altered level in CAD. Serotransferrin, talin-1, alpha-2HS glycoprotein, and transthyretin (TTR) were found to have lower level, whereas fibrinogen-α chain was found to have higher level in CAD plasma compared to healthy, confirmed by Western blot analysis. TTR, an important acute phase transport protein, was validated low level in 200 CAD patients who confirmed to undergo PCI treatment. Further, in silico and in vitro studies of TTR indicated a downexpression of CAD in plasma as compared to the plasma of healthy individuals. Lower level of plasma TTR was determined to be an important risk marker in the atherosclerotic-approved CAD patients. We suggest that the TTR lower level predicts disease severity and hence may serve as an important marker tool for CAD screening. However, further large-scale studies are required to determine the clinical significance of TTR. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Evaluation of the Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Mimosa rubicaulis and Reinwardtia indica

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Evaluation of the Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Mimosa rubicaulis and Reinwardtia indica Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation Many plants have the property of wound healing, but most of the people are using costly allopathic medicine for the wound. This might be due to lack of awareness about the traditional uses and lack of scientific study of ethnomedicinal plants. So, this study aimed to carry out the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of two medicinal plants which are used traditionally for wound healing activity, i.e.,Mimosa rubicaulis and Reinwardtia indica. Different parts of Mimosa rubicaulis (root, stem, and leaves) and Reinwardtia indica (flower and leaves) were used for the study. Extractions were done by maceration using ethanol as solvent. Antibacterial activity was carried out by the well diffusion method, and antioxidant activities were screened by DPPH radical scavenging and NO scavenging assays. Extract of M. rubicaulis has shown a weak zone of inhibition towards S. aureus and P. vulgaris whereas R. indica has shown no zone of inhibition towards selected bacterial strains. Leaf, root, and stem extracts of M. rubicaulis have shown potent antioxidant activity, i.e., IC50 value of 9.8 µg/ml, 10.19 µg/ml, and, 13.64 µg/ml, respectively. Similarly, leaf extract of R. indica exhibited antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 19.73 μg/ml. The percentage inhibition of NO radicals of root and stem of M. rubicaulis and leaves of R. indica was 31%, 21%, and 22%, respectively. Out of these two plant species, M. rubicaulis had shown antibacterial activity towards selected microorganism, but antioxidant activity was shown by both plant species. These properties on above mentioned two plant species might help for the development of a marketed formulation for antibacterial and wound-healing agent since wound healing is promoted by antibacterial and antioxidant activities. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Hypoglycemic Effect of a Combined Andrographis paniculata and Caesalpinia sappan Extract in Streptozocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Hypoglycemic Effect of a Combined Andrographis paniculata and Caesalpinia sappan Extract in Streptozocin-Induced Diabetic Rats Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation Introduction. Researchers usually use herbal combinations to explore and develop traditional medicine to obtain additional benefits in the treatment of diseases, including diabetes. This study aims to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of the combination of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall ex Nees and Caesalpinia sappan Linn extract (APCSE) on diabetes-induced rats. There has not been sufficient research on this combination; however, single extract studies of these plants have been widely conducted. Materials and Methods. Male Sprague Dawley rats (160–200 g) were induced by injecting a low dose of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg BW) twice and fed with a high-fat diet containing 25% fat, whereas control animals received only standard feed. Rats were treated with APCSE at doses of 100 mg and 200 mg/kg B W for seven days and compared to the APE and CSE groups treated with the extract at 100 mg, respectively. For the control group, rats were treated with metformin with a dose of 250 mg/kg. The antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects were determined by measuring blood glucose levels and lipid profiles (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL). To assess the impact of the extract on pancreatic and adipose tissue, the number of pancreatic beta cells and adipocytes was evaluated through histopathological and immunohistochemical study. Results and Discussion. In a nonfasting state, the blood glucose change in APCSE 200 mg was 18.65% and was significantly lower from the DM group. However, a single extract of APE and CSE showed lower fasting blood glucose levels compared to the combined extract. Lipid profiles show no significant differences in cholesterol levels between groups; however, all treatment groups, including metformin, showed higher triglyceride levels. The APE-tr eated group showed significantly lower HDL and LDL, whereas CSE only showed lower LDL. The β-cell number was significantly higher after treatment with single extract CSE. The CSE and the combined extract groups showed hyperplasia adipocytes. Conclusion. The combined extract of APCSE has a moderate antihyperglycemic effect; however, a single extract may have better potential than the combined extract. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Effects of the Glutamine Administration on T Helper Cell Regulation and Inflammatory Response in Obese Mice Complicated with Polymicrobial Sepsis

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Effects of the Glutamine Administration on T Helper Cell Regulation and Inflammatory Response in Obese Mice Complicated with Polymicrobial Sepsis Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation This study investigated the impacts of GLN on inflammation and T cell dysregulation in obese mice complicated with sepsis. Mice were divided into normal control (NC) and high-fat diet groups. The high-fat diet provided 60% of energy from fat and was administered for 10 weeks to induce obesity. Mice fed with a high-fat diet were then assigned to sham (SH) and sepsis with saline (SS) or GLN (SG) groups. The SH group was subjected to laparotomy, while the sepsis group underwent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The SS group was intravenously injected with saline. The SG group was intravenously administered GLN after CLP. Mice were sacrificed at 12, 24, or 48 h post-CLP, respectively. Results demonstrated that in the presence of obesity, sepsis drove CD4+ T cells toward the helper T (Th)2 and Th17 lineages. Also, expressions of inflammatory cytokines and macrophage infiltration markers in adipose tissues and lungs were elevated. Treatment of obese mice with GLN after sepsis reversed Th polarization and downregulated macrophage infiltration and inflammatory cytokine, whereas the tight junction-associated protein expression increased in the lungs. These findings suggest that the intravenous administration of GLN to obese mice after sepsis modulated a more balanced Th cell lineage, alleviated inflammation, and attenuated lung injury. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Expression and Functional Characterization of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide: Human Beta-Defensin 118

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Expression and Functional Characterization of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide: Human Beta-Defensin 118 Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation Purpose. β-Defensin 118 (DEFB118) is a novel host defense peptide (HDP) identified in humans. To evaluate its potentials for future utilization, the DEFB118 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the recombinant protein was fully characterized. Methods. The DEFB118 protein was obtained by heterologous expression using E. coli Rosetta (DE3). Antibacterial activity of DEFB118 was determined by using various bacterial strains. IPEC-J cells challenged by E. coli K88 were used to determine its influences on inflammatory responses. Results. The E. coli transformants yielded more than 250 μg/mL DEFB118 protein after 4 h induction by 1.0 mM IPTG. The DEFB118 was estimated by SDS-PAGE to be 30 kDa, and MALDI-TOF analysis verified that it is a human β-defensin 118. Importantly, the DEFB118 s howed antimicrobial activities against both Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli K88 and E. coli DH5α) and Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and B. subtilis), with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4 μg/mL. Hemolytic assays showed that DEFB118 had no detrimental impact on cell viability. Additionally, DEFB118 was found to elevate the viability of IPEC-J2 cells upon E. coli K88 challenge. Moreover, DEFB118 significantly decreased cell apoptosis in the late apoptosis phase and downregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α in IPEC-J2 cell exposure to E. coli K88. Conclusions. These results suggested a novel function of the mammalian defensins, and the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of DEFB118 may allow it as a potential substitute for conventionally used antibiotics or drugs. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

A Rare Malignant Disease, Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans of the Breast: A Retrospective Analysis and Review of Literature

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader A Rare Malignant Disease, Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans of the Breast: A Retrospective Analysis and Review of Literature Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare low-grade fibroblastic mesenchymal tumor derived from the dermis. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to summarize the clinicopathological data from our cases and published cases to offer more evidence for the recognition of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). A total of 6 breast DFSP patients who had received treatment in our hospital were retrospectively enrolled, and detailed clinicopathological data were gathered for analysis. The median age was 29.5 years (ranging from 17 to 42 years). Most cases presented a red or brown-red, mobile, well-circumscribed, protruding, breast mass (ranging from 1 to 3 cm). For histopathology, all cases (6/6) showed a storiform pattern of spindle cells that were positive for CD34 (6/6) and Vimentin (5/6) and neg ative for smooth muscle actin (0/6) and S-100 protein (0/6). The majority of patients (5/6) underwent wide local excision, with 2 cases treated with radiotherapy. With a median follow-up of 36 months, all 6 patients survived without recurrence or metastasis. The PubMed database was used to search for similar cases. Eventually, 36 cases were included in this review, while cases without detailed clinical information or not reported in English were excluded from the analysis. To summarize, DFSP of the breast is an extremely rare malignancy characterized by spindle tumor cells arranged in a storiform pattern and positivity for CD34. The core needle biopsy is one of the crucial methods for its preoperative diagnosis. Management of DFSP is mainly based on surgical excision. It is prone to local recurrence, so long-term follow-up is required. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Evaluation of Heavy Metal and Microbial Contamination in Green Tea and Herbal Tea Used for Weight Loss in the Palestinian Market

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Evaluation of Heavy Metal and Microbial Contamination in Green Tea and Herbal Tea Used for Weight Loss in the Palestinian Market Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation The use of green tea and herbal tea for weight loss is increasing worldwide owing to the rising rates of obesity. There are concerns about the safety and quality of these herbal products owing to their increased consumption worldwide. In this study, we evaluated randomly collected samples of green tea and herbal tea and tested them for heavy metal and microbial contamination. Eighteen samples of green tea or herbal tea of widely used brands in Palestine were tested for heavy metal and microbial contamination. The results showed that 7 of the samples had toxic heavy metals such as chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb), and their concentrations were above the allowable limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Moreover, 6 of the samples that were tested had microbial contamination with high total aerobic micr obial count (TAMC) and total yeast and mold count (TYMC). This could be due to improper handling and storage conditions of these herbal products. This study is the first of its kind in Palestine, and its results are forewarning to all the responsible authorities, including the Ministry of Health (MoH), to take immediate corrective actions such as quality control testing, auditing, and registration of marketed tea products. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Effect of Coptis chinensis on Biofilm Formation and Antibiotic Susceptibility in Mycobacterium abscessus

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Effect of Coptis chinensis on Biofilm Formation and Antibiotic Susceptibility in Mycobacterium abscessus Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation Mycobacterium abscessus infections are notoriously difficult to be treated and newer treatment options are required. Coptis chinensis (C. chinensis) and its main compound berberine are frequently used to treat bacterial and viral infections. In this study, the susceptibility of M. abscessus to C. chinensis extract and berberine was assessed by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) evaluation. The effects of C. chinensis and berberine on biofilm formation and antibiotic susceptibility in M. abscessus were observed. C. chinensis at concentrations of MIC (1.5 mg/mL) and 2 × MIC (3.0 mg/mL) and berberine at ½ × MIC (0.125 mg/mL) demonstrated a strong inhibition of biofilm formation. Concentration of C. chinensis at ½ × MIC resulted in a signi ficant reduction in MICs of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SXT), clarithromycin (CLA), and linezolid (LZD). Similarly, ½ × MIC berberine had a significant effect on the MIC reductions of nine antibiotics including TMP/SXT, CLA, and LZD. Notably, the resistance level MIC of LZD against M. abscessus was reversed to a susceptible level by treatment with either C. chinensis or berberine. Therefore, C. chinensis and berberine have the potential to produce a synergistic antimycobacterial effect, reduce biofilm formation, and decrease antibacterial resistance to LZD in M. abscessus. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.