Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): Yunchuan Li, Ji-Yan Liu, Yuan-Di Zhao, Yuan-Cheng Cao
Although the organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) encompassing TVs, smartphones, and wearable devices, etc. already have been commercialized, there is still room to pursue material improvements in efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Organic light-emitting materials have experienced the development of the three generation system, it is timely to summary the recent advances and the remaining challenges of the materials as well as their corresponding devices. Special attention is mainly concentrated on describing the blue material structures and related electroluminescence (EL) device performances (the maximum EQE data, Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates, and efficiency roll-off). This short review will show the current governing hotspots concerning OLEDs in academic fields, which may pave the way for next step of industrial application.
http://ift.tt/2i67imk
Σάββατο 7 Ιανουαρίου 2017
Recent advancements of high efficient donor–acceptor type blue small molecule applied for OLEDs
On Maxwell's displacement current for energy and sensors: the origin of nanogenerators
Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): Zhong Lin Wang
Self-powered system is a system that can sustainably operate without an external power supply for sensing, detection, data processing and data transmission. Nanogenerators were first developed for self-powered systems based on piezoelectric effect and triboelectrification effect for converting tiny mechanical energy into electricity, which have applications in internet of things, environmental/infrastructural monitoring, medical science and security. In this paper, we present the fundamental theory of the nanogenerators starting from the Maxwell equations. In the Maxwell's displacement current, the first term ε0∂E∂t gives the birth of electromagnetic wave, which is the foundation of wireless communication, radar and later the information technology. Our study indicates that the second term ∂P∂t in the Maxwell's displacement current is directly related to the output electric current of the nanogenerator, meaning that our nanogenerators are the applications of Maxwell's displacement current in energy and sensors. By contrast, electromagnetic generators are built based on Lorentz force driven flow of free electrons in a conductor. This study presents the similarity and differences between pieozoelectric nanogenerator and triboelectric nanogenerator, as well as the classical electromagnetic generator, so that the impact and uniqueness of the nanogenerators can be clearly understood. We also present the three major applications of nanogenerators as micro/nano-power source, self-powered sensors and blue energy.
http://ift.tt/2jgQuq6
Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Residual Chemorefractory Primary Mediastinal Non-Seminomatous Germ Cell Tumour after Surgical Thoracotomy
Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Practical Radiation Oncology
Author(s): Philippe Laflamme, Cédric Doucet, Christian Sirois, Neil Kopek, Marie Vanhuyse
http://ift.tt/2iVCnu5
Effect of reduction mammoplasty on acute radiation side effects and use of lumpectomy cavity boosts
Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Practical Radiation Oncology
Author(s): Jolinta Y. Lin, Rachel Bluebond-Langner, Enid Choi, Sally Cheston, Elizabeth M. Nichols, Randi J. Cohen, Soren M. Bentzen, Cynthia Drogula, Susan Kesmodel, Emily Bellavance, Paula Rosenblatt, Katherine Tkaczuk, Sheri Slezak, Steven J. Feigenberg
PurposeReduction mammoplasty (RM) during breast-conserving surgery is popular among women with large-volume breasts, because it reduces redundant breast folds and may decrease skin-related morbidity from radiation therapy. However, RM may obscure the lumpectomy cavity (LC) and pose challenges to administering a LC boost, potentially affecting local control. We investigated the impact of RM on acute side effects and use of LC boosts.MethodsThe records of 645 consecutive women treated with whole-breast irradiation at an urban university and 2 community practices from January 2012–December 2014 were reviewed on an Institutional Review Board–approved study. The primary endpoint was ≥grade 3 radiation dermatitis; the secondary endpoint was use of LC boost. Student two-sample t tests, Pearson χ2 tests, Fisher's exact tests, and univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.ResultsForty-three (7%) RMs were performed in 650 treated breasts. No significant differences in grade 3 toxicities were identified among RM and non-RM patients. LC boost was delivered to 474 breasts. Fewer (16/43) RM patients received LC boosts compared to non-RM patients (458/607), P=0.0001. RM patients were more likely to have neoadjuvant chemotherapy, stage III or multifocal disease, higher body mass index, larger planning treatment volumes, and conventional fractionation (P<0.05).ConclusionsRM was associated with decreased use of LC boost without significant differences in acute toxicities. Further investigation to delineate LCs in patients undergoing RM or identify alternative strategies for delivering LC dose is needed.
http://ift.tt/2iq2BkH
Early Outcomes of Uveal Melanomas Treated Using Modern Biopsy Techniques and Intraoperative Ultrasound Guidance: Local Tumor Control and Systemic Outcomes
Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Practical Radiation Oncology
Author(s): Anne W. Tann, Bin S. Teh, Sarah B. Scarboro, Gary D. Lewis, Maria E. Bretana, Porshea C. Croft, Yuval Raizen, E. Brian Butler, Ryan S. Kim, Patricia Chevez-Barrios, Amy C. Schefler
PurposeTo report early outcomes of patients with uveal melanoma treated with Eye Physics iodine-125 episcleral plaque therapy using modern biopsy techniques and intraoperative ultrasound guidance at our institution.Methods and MaterialsA retrospective chart review was conducted for 48 consecutive uveal melanoma patients who were treated with Eye Physics plaque brachytherapy performed by one ocular oncologist. All patients underwent intraoperative ultrasound for image guidance of plaque placement. A dose of 85Gy was prescribed to the apical height of the tumor or 5mm from the inner sclera, whichever was greater. Forty-five patients underwent biopsy. Visual acuity, complication data, and recurrence rates were recorded.ResultsMedian age at presentation was 63.0years (range 19–86years). Median follow-up was 21.6months. Median tumor apical height was 3.3mm (range 1.8–11.5mm). Median dose at apex for tumor height>5mm was 85.0Gy and 142.5Gy for tumor height≤5mm. Mean percent decrease in tumor height from baseline at 12, 24, and 36months was 39.6%, 51.8%, and 53.8%, respectively. At 24months, 19/23 (82.6%) patients maintained vision within 3 lines of baseline visual acuity. Twelve patients developed radiation retinopathy; 6 of whom were treated with anti-VEGF therapy in the context of a clinical trial. No patients to date have local failure. Three patients are alive with confirmed hepatic metastases.ConclusionWe reported 0% early local failure rate and steady reduction in tumor height in 48 patients with uveal melanoma, ranging from small to large size, who were treated with Eye Physics iodine-125 episcleral plaque therapy using intraoperative ultrasound guidance. This promising result emphasizes the importance of image guided brachytherapy (IGB) with intraoperative ultrasound at the time of plaque placement.
http://ift.tt/2iVwixS
Association of an individual's ability to overcome desire to fall asleep with a higher anterior-posterior gradient in electroencephalographic indexes of sleep pressure
Source:International Journal of Psychophysiology
Author(s): Arcady A. Putilov, Olga G. Donskaya
Individual differences in ability to overcome desire to fall asleep cannot be accurately predicted from subjective and objective measurements of sleepiness level. Previously, we showed that an exponential buildup of sleep pressure during prolonged wakefulness can be accurately traced with electroencephalographic (EEG) indexes, such as Spectral Sleep Pressure Component (SSPC) score and score on the 2nd principal component (2PC) of the EEG spectrum. The anterior-posterior gradients in SSPC and 2PC scores were calculated as the differences between frontal and occipital scores and examined as possible correlates of individual's ability to overcome desire of falling asleep. Fifteen young and 15 older adults participated in two identically designed sleep deprivation experiments. After, at least, 12hours of wakefulness, resting EEG recordings were obtained from frontal and occipital derivations with 2-h intervals during 26–50hours. Due to irresistible desire to sleep, 11 young and 5 older adults completed <25 required EEG recordings. SSPC and 2PC scores were computed and, by subtracting occipital scores from frontal scores, the anterior-posterior gradients in SSPC and 2PC scores were calculated on one-min intervals of 5-min eyes closed EEG records. The analysis of these anterior-posterior gradients revealed their age-related difference and association with the number of completed EEG recording sessions (13–25). This association remained significant after accounting for age, alertness-sleepiness level, minute of eyes closed recording, and day of experiment. It seems that the anterior-posterior gradients in the EEG indexes of sleep pressure are the objective correlates of individual's ability to overcome desire to fall asleep.
http://ift.tt/2iq3CJA
Instructions to Suppress Semantic Memory Enhances or has no effect on P300 in a Concealed Information Test (CIT)
Source:International Journal of Psychophysiology
Author(s): J. Peter Rosenfeld, Anne Ward, Jesse Drapekin, Elena Labkovsky, Samuel Tullman
The present study investigated the extent to which people can suppress semantic memory as indexed with the P300 ERP and the autobiographical implicit association test (aIAT). In EXP 1, participants (22) were run in a counterbalanced repeated measures study in both simply knowledgeable (SK) and knowledgeable with suppression (SP) conditions. A P300-based, concealed information test ("Complex Trial Protocol"; CTP) with a 50/50 Target/Nontarget (T/NT) ratio was given both with and without instructions to suppress semantic memories.The results showed increased P300s to probe name stimuli, reduced (but still high positive) aIAT d-scores, and increased simple reaction times to all stimuli used in ERP tests in the SP condition. EXP 2 was similar, but with SP and SK in two separate groups, and a 20/80T/NT ratio. Again, ERP and aIAT results failed to show a suppression effect for semantic memory. The behavioral data suggest some task demand effects under suppression instructions, and that EXP 1 was more demanding than EXP 2.
http://ift.tt/2iq62bo
Integrative Cardiopulmonary Ultrasound for Interstitial Lung Disease Assessment: Correlation between Lung Ultrasound Performance and Cardiac Involvement
Source:Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology
Author(s): Wei-Wei Zhu, Yi-Dan Li, Hong Li, Xiu-Zhang Lu, Ling-Yun Kong, Xiao-Guang Ye, Qi-Zhe Cai, Lan-Lan Sun, Wei Jiang, Li Wang
The aims of this study were to apply integrative cardiopulmonary ultrasound (thoracic ultrasound) to the evaluation of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and to determine the relationship between lung ultrasound signs and echocardiographic parameters such as systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) and various right ventricular parameters. ILD patients and healthy controls underwent lung ultrasound (LUS) and echocardiographic tests. In addition to traditional echocardiographic parameters, right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVLS_FW) was measured using 2-D speckle-tracking echocardiography. The degree of pulmonary fibrosis or the disease severity of each ILD patient was scored with a semiquantitative scoring method, taking into account multiple LUS signs. Statistical analyses were performed to compare various parameters between ILD patients with and those without pulmonary hypertension. Correlations between the different parameters were then evaluated, and the LUS scores were used to predict pulmonary hypertension using a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Among the 90 patients who qualified for entry into this study, 30% (n = 27) had pulmonary hypertension. The patients with pulmonary hypertension had larger right ventricular dimensions, lower RVLS_FW and higher LUS scores. An effective correlation was found between ILD LUS scores and echocardiographic parameters, especially SPAP (r = 0.735, p < 0.001). The groups were comparable with respect to most echocardiographic parameters, with mild, moderate and severe pulmonary fibrosis, whereas SPAP was significantly higher in the moderate and severe groups. RVLS_FW was obviously reduced in the group with severe pulmonary fibrosis. Although RVLS_FW in the mild pulmonary fibrosis group was in the normal range, it was slightly reduced compared with that of the controls. A cutoff of more than 16 LUS points had 85.2% sensitivity and 80.3% specificity in predicting elevated SPAP (>36 mm Hg). Thoracic ultrasound is useful in the assessment of ILD. As ILD progresses, the structure or function of the right ventricle gradually deteriorates. LUS not only detects lung conditions in ILD, but also indirectly reflects SPAP and right ventricular function. Integrated use of LUS and echocardiography will provide an invaluable point-of-care imaging modality to facilitate the diagnosis, management and treatment of patients with ILD.
http://ift.tt/2j4pZ84
Cerebrovascular reactivity and intellectual outcome in childhood stroke with transient cerebral arteriopathy
Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Pediatric Neurology
Author(s): Nomazulu Dlamini, Ivanna Yau, Robyn Westmacott, Manohar Shroff, Derek Armstrong, William Logan, David Mikulis, Gabrielle deVeber, Andrea Kassner
BackgroundHypercapnic-challenge blood oxygen level-dependent MRI cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), measures the regional perfusion response to altered carbon dioxide. CVR correlates with the tissue-level microvascular dysfunction and ischemic risk. Among children with arterial ischemic stroke (AIS), transient cerebral arteriopathy (TCA) is a frequent, non-progressive unilateral intracranial arteriopathy which typically results in basal ganglia infarction and chronic cerebral artery stenosis. Therefore TCA provides a model for studying the consequences of chronic non-progressive stenosis using CVR and intellectual outcome.ObjectiveWe hypothesized that children with TCA and chronic non-progressive intracranial artery stenosis have impaired CVR distal to the stenosis and associated cognitive impairment.MethodsWe studied children with a prior diagnosis of TCA as defined by infarction limited to the basal ganglia and/or internal capsule and significant (>50% diameter) residual stenosis of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery and/or its proximal branches. All children had CVR, intellectual function and infarct volumes quantified.ResultsWe performed CVR studies in five children at mean 8.96 years (3.33 – 14.58 years) post-stroke. Impaired CVR was limited to the infarct zone and adjacent white matter in the majority of children. Intellectual function was broadly average in all but one subject.ConclusionIn children with typical TCA, ipsilateral cortical CVR and intellectual function seem to be preserved despite persistent arterial stenosis in the majority. These findings suggest that chronic revascularization strategies in these children may not be indicated, and require further exploration in a larger cohort of children.
http://ift.tt/2j4rseK
Visible light-induced crosslinking and physiological stabilization of diselenide-rich nanoparticles for redox-responsive drug release and combination chemotherapy
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 121
Author(s): Shaodong Zhai, Xianglong Hu, Yongjun Hu, Baoyan Wu, Da Xing
Undesired physiological instability of nanocarriers and premature drug leakage during blood circulation result in compromised therapeutic efficacy and severe side effects, which have significantly impeded the development of nanomedicine. Facile crosslinking of drug-loaded nanocarriers while keeping the potency of site-specific degradation and drug release has emerged as a viable strategy to overcome these drawbacks. Additionally, combination therapy has already shown advantages in inhibiting advanced tumors and life extension than single drug therapy. Herein, three kinds of diselenide-rich polymers were fabricated with distinct hydrophobic side chains. The component effect was interrogated to screen out PEG-b-PBSe diblock copolymer due to its favorable self-assembly controllability and high drug loading of camptothecin (CPT) and doxorubicin (DOX) that had synergistic antitumor property. Facile visible light-induced diselenide metathesis and regeneration was employed to crosslink nanocarriers for the first time. The dual drug-loaded crosslinked micelles (CPT/DOX-CCM) were stable in physiological conditions with minimal drug leakage, possessing extended blood circulation, whereas hand-in-hand dual drug release was significantly accelerated in tumor's redox microenvironments. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation and in vivo tumor suppression with low dosage drugs further demonstrated the favorable potency of the redox-responsive nanoplatform in tumor combination chemotherapy.
http://ift.tt/2i07ipl
Pembrolizumab’s Non-cross Resistance Mechanism of Action Successfully Overthrown Ipilimumab
Source:Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
Author(s): Mohd Wahid, Naseem Akhter, Arshad Jawed, Sajad A. Dar, Raju K. Mandal, Mohtashim Lohani, Mohammed Y. Areeshi, Saif Khan, Shafiul Haque
The incidences of melanomas are increasing by leaps and bounds across the globe despite early detection and intervention. The numbers of patients dying from metastatic melanoma have been continually increased over the past thirty years. It has been considered as one of the most therapy-resistant malignancies due to the cross-resistant mechanism developed by the metastatic cells. With time, many new therapies came and they failed miserably. Ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody that works to activate the immune system by targeting CTLA-4 proved to be a boon for advance melanoma very recently. But it could not stand firmly against the resistant metastatic skin cancer cells. Now, the new skin cancer drug named pembrolizumab proved as a new miraculous molecule. It's a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks a biological pathway called programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), which melanoma cells activate to suppress the immune system. This antibody has surpassed ipilimumab at all the stages of clinical trials because of its non-cross resistant mechanism to malignant cells. The present review critically analyzes the reasons of efficacy success of pembrolizumab over ipilizumab shown at various stages of clinical trials.
http://ift.tt/2ipHteq
Poly(alkyl methacrylate)-grafted silica nanoparticles in polyethylene nanocomposites
Publication date: 27 January 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 109
Author(s): Mohammad M. Khani, Dongjin Woo, Edward L. Mumpower, Brian C. Benicewicz
Surface-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (SI-RAFT) polymerization has been widely used to synthesize various polymers grafted from nanoparticles (NPs) for incorporation into polymer nanocomposites. It is believed that these grafted polymer brushes, with a similar chemistry as the matrix polymer, can be employed to improve NP dispersion by reducing unfavorable interactions between the inorganic NPs and organic matrices. While controlled radical polymerization methods do not allow the polymerization of polyolefins, a substitute strategy is controllably attaching polyolefin-like polymers onto the NP surface. In the present work, the SI-RAFT polymerization was used to anchor poly(hexyl, lauryl, and stearyl methacrylate) on silica NPs, showing good control of the polymerizations. The long alkyl side chains can create an "olefin-like" interface and improve the compatibility of modified particles with polyolefins. Subsequently, we investigated the dispersion of these poly(alkyl methacrylate)-modified silica NPs in linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Poly(stearyl methacrylate)-grafted silica NPs (PSMA-g-SiO2) demonstrated improved dispersion of particles when compared to shorter alkyl side chain methacrylates. TEM images showed that the dispersion of these particles was highly dependent upon the molecular weight and density of the grafted PSMA chains. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used to characterize these nanocomposites. SAXS showed that the inter-particle distance (distribution of particle spacings) in the semicrystalline state was broader than in the melt, suggesting that particles spacing was affected by the polyethylene crystallization particularly at lower loadings. Nanocomposites at low loadings, 0.5 wt% core content, showed significant improvement in storage modulus due to the compatible particle-matrix interface. Further increases in particle loadings, however reversed this trend likely due to the increase in soft PSMA content.
Graphical abstract
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A chronic increase of corticosterone age-dependently reduces systemic DNA damage from oxidation in rats
Source:Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Author(s): Anders Jorgensen, Otto Kalliokoski, Kristin Forsberg, Katrine Breitenstein, Allan Weimann, Trine Henriksen, Jann Hau, Gitta Wörtwein, Henrik Enghusen Poulsen, Martin Balslev Jorgensen
Stress and depression are associated with an acceleration of brain and bodily aging; effects which have been attributed to chronic elevations of glucocorticoids. We tested the hypothesis that a three week administration of stress-associated levels of corticosterone (CORT, the principal rodent glucocorticoid) would increase systemic and CNS DNA and RNA damage from oxidation; a phenomenon known to be centrally involved in the aging process. We also hypothesized that older individuals would be more sensitive to this effect and that the chronic CORT administration would exacerbate age-related memory decline. Young and old male Sprague-Dawley rats were non-invasively administered CORT by voluntary ingestion of nut paste containing either CORT (25mg/kg) or vehicle for a total of 22 days. CORT increased the 24h urinary excretion of the hormone to the levels previously observed after experimental psychological stress and caused a downregulation of the glucocorticoid receptor in the CA1 area of the hippocampus. Contrary to our hypothesis, 24h excretion of 8-oxodG/8-oxoGuo (markers of DNA/RNA damage from oxidation) was reduced in CORT-treated young animals, whereas old animals showed no significant differences. In old animals, CORT caused a borderline significant reduction of RNA oxidation in CNS, which was paralleled by a normalization of performance in an object location memory test. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that chronic stress-associated levels of CORT can reduce nucleic acid damage from oxidation. These findings contradict the notion of elevated CORT as a mediator of the accelerated aging observed in stress and depression.
http://ift.tt/2iV4RnP
Design and microstructure analysis of globules in Al-Co-La-Pb immiscible alloys with an amorphous phase
Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): Takeshi Nagase, Mamoru Takemura, Mitsuaki Matsumuro, Megumi Matsumoto, Yoshikazu Fujii
An immiscible alloy with an amorphous phase, Al-Co-La-Pb, was designed by the combination of empirical rules, prediction of phase diagrams based on ab initio calculations, and thermodynamic calculations. The solidification microstructure of rapidly solidified Al-Co-La-Pb melt-spun ribbons was investigated. Liquid-phase separation and the formation of an amorphous phase occurred simultaneously in the Al-Co-La-Pb alloy, resulting in the formation of Pb globules embedded in the Al-Co-La–based amorphous matrix. The particle size distribution of the globules and the formation of Pb nanoglobules were explained by the multistep liquid-phase separation. STEM observation clarified the microstructure of oxygen-enriched globules with double shell layers in the Al-Co-La-Pb alloy.
Graphical abstract
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A nanocomposite structure in directly cast NdFeB based alloy with low Nd content for potential anisotropic permanent magnets
Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): L.Z. Zhao, Q. Zhou, J.S. Zhang, D.L. Jiao, Z.W. Liu, J.M. Greneche
The magnetic properties of NdFeB magnets can be tailored with different kinds of microstructures. In this work, a nanocomposite structure with amorphous phase remaining inside the micro-sized Nd2Fe14B type grains was observed by Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy on the suction cast Nd11Fe60Co10Ti2.5Nb0.5C0.5B15.5 alloy, and then confirmed by various characterization techniques. The worm-like soft magnetic amorphous phases show strong exchange coupling with Nd2Fe14B phase. As a result, the open recoil loops, which are typical characteristics for nanocomposite alloys consisting of hard and soft magnetic phases, have been clearly evidenced. Thus, the formation of this structure may provide an alternative approach to design and fabricate anisotropic nanocomposite NdFeB-based permanent magnets with enhanced magnetic properties.
Graphical abstract
http://ift.tt/2jgaQjj
Hydrothermal topological synthesis and photocatalyst performance of orthorhombic Nb2O5 rectangle nanosheet crystals with dominantly exposed (010) facet
Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): Puhong Wen, Lili Ai, Taotao Liu, Dengwei Hu, Fangyi Yao
The regular orthorhombic Nb2O5 (O-Nb2O5) rectangle nanosheets dominantly exposed (010) facet are synthesized by a hydrothermal topological reaction with a precursor of K4Nb6O17·4.5H2O (KNbO). The structure and morphology of the samples obtained at different temperatures and pH values of reacting solution are investigated. The results suggest that there are two topological reactions in this process. One is the acid-exchanging reaction transforming into H4Nb6O17·3H2O (HNbO) nanosheets from KNbO rectangle nanosheets, and the other is dehydration reaction transforming into O-Nb2O5 rectangle nanosheets from HNbO nanosheets. And the {010} facets of O-Nb2O5 crystal are transformed from the {010} facets of HNbO crystal in the ingenious topological reaction. The photoelectric performance of the obtained O-Nb2O5 nanosheets is evaluated by decomposing water to H2 under 370nm UV light illumination and measuring the accompanying photocurrent. The photocurrent density is 680nA·cm−2 generated by splitting water with O-Nb2O5 nanosheets as photocatalyst, and it is 4.3 times of the contrast sample. The result indicates that the (010) facet of O-Nb2O5 is one of the highest photocatalytic active surfaces and shows high photoelectric conversion efficiency. Thus, the O-Nb2O5 nanosheets dominantly exposed (010) facet have potential applications in photocatalyst and photoelectric nanodevices.
Graphical abstract
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Criterion validity of measures of perceived relative harm of e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco compared to cigarettes
Source:Addictive Behaviors, Volume 67
Author(s): Alexander Persoskie, Anh B. Nguyen, Annette R. Kaufman, Cindy Tworek
Beliefs about the relative harmfulness of one product compared to another (perceived relative harm) are central to research and regulation concerning tobacco and nicotine-containing products, but techniques for measuring such beliefs vary widely. We compared the validity of direct and indirect measures of perceived harm of e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco (SLT) compared to cigarettes. On direct measures, participants explicitly compare the harmfulness of each product. On indirect measures, participants rate the harmfulness of each product separately, and ratings are compared. The U.S. Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-FDA-2015; N=3738) included direct measures of perceived harm of e-cigarettes and SLT compared to cigarettes. Indirect measures were created by comparing ratings of harm from e-cigarettes, SLT, and cigarettes on 3-point scales. Logistic regressions tested validity by assessing whether direct and indirect measures were associated with criterion variables including: ever-trying e-cigarettes, ever-trying snus, and SLT use status. Compared to the indirect measures, the direct measures of harm were more consistently associated with criterion variables. On direct measures, 26% of adults rated e-cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes, and 11% rated SLT as less harmful than cigarettes. Direct measures appear to provide valid information about individuals' harm beliefs, which may be used to inform research and tobacco control policy. Further validation research is encouraged.
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Intravoxel incoherent motion and diffusion tensor imaging of early renal fibrosis induced in a murine model of streptozotocin induced diabetes
Source:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Volume 38
Author(s): YY Yan, S Hartono, T Hennedige, TS Koh, CM Chan, L Zhou, H Rumpel, L Martarello, JB Khoo, DM Koh, KH Chuang, KH Tony Lim, YY Dan, CH Thng
IntroductionTo assess if parameters in intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be used to evaluate early renal fibrosis in a mouse model of diabetic nephropathy.Materials & methodsIn a population of 38 male CD1 mice (8weeks old, 20–30g), streptozotocin induced diabetes was created in 20 mice via a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at 150mg/kg, while 18 mice served as control group. IVIM parameters were acquired at 0, 12 and 24weeks after injection of streptozotocin using a range of b values from 0 to 1200s/mm2. DTI parameters were obtained using 12 diffusion directions and lower b values of 0, 100 and 400s/mm2. DTI and IVIM parameters were obtained using region of interests drawn over the renal parenchyma. Histopathological analysis of the right kidney was performed in all mice. Results were analyzed using an unpaired t-test with P<0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsRenal cortex fractional anisotropy (FA) was significantly lower in the diabetes group at week 12 as compared with the control group. Renal cortex apparent diffusion coefficient and tissue diffusivity were significantly higher in the diabetes group at week 12 compared with the control group at 12weeks. Blood flow was significantly decreased at the renal medulla at 24weeks. Histopathological analysis confirmed fibrosis in the diabetes group at 24weeks.ConclusionFA is significantly reduced in diabetic nephropathy. FA might serve a potential role in the detection and therapy monitoring of early diabetic nephropathy.
http://ift.tt/2i3eMmE
Quantification of intervertebral displacement with a novel MRI-based modeling technique: Assessing measurement bias and reliability with a porcine spine model
Publication date: May 2017
Source:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Volume 38
Author(s): Niladri K. Mahato, Stephane Montuelle, Craig Goubeaux, John Cotton, Susan Williams, James Thomas, Brian C. Clark
The purpose of this study was to develop a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based modeling technique for measuring intervertebral displacements. Here, we present the measurement bias and reliability of the developmental work using a porcine spine model. Porcine lumbar vertebral segments were fitted in a custom-built apparatus placed within an externally calibrated imaging volume of an open-MRI scanner. The apparatus allowed movement of the vertebrae through pre-assigned magnitudes of sagittal and coronal translation and rotation. The induced displacements were imaged with static (T1) and fast dynamic (2D HYCE S) pulse sequences. These images were imported into animation software, in which these images formed a background 'scene'. Three-dimensional models of vertebrae were created using static axial scans from the specimen and then transferred into the animation environment. In the animation environment, the user manually moved the models (rotoscoping) to perform model-to-'scene' matching to fit the models to their image silhouettes and assigned anatomical joint axes to the motion-segments. The animation protocol quantified the experimental translation and rotation displacements between the vertebral models. Accuracy of the technique was calculated as 'bias' using a linear mixed effects model, average percentage error and root mean square errors. Between-session reliability was examined by computing intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and the coefficient of variations (CV). For translation trials, a constant bias (β0) of 0.35 (±0.11) mm was detected for the 2D HYCE S sequence (p=0.01). The model did not demonstrate significant additional bias with each mm increase in experimental translation (β1Displacement=0.01mm; p=0.69). Using the T1 sequence for the same assessments did not significantly change the bias (p>0.05). ICC values for the T1 and 2D HYCE S pulse sequences were 0.98 and 0.97, respectively. For rotation trials, a constant bias (β0) of 0.62 (±0.12)° was detected for the 2D HYCE S sequence (p<0.01). The model also demonstrated an additional bias (β1Displacement) of 0.05° with each degree increase in the experimental rotation (p<0.01). Using T1 sequence for the same assessments did not significantly change the bias (p>0.05). ICC values for the T1 and 2D HYCE S pulse sequences were recorded 0.97 and 0.91, respectively. This novel quasi-static approach to quantifying intervertebral relationship demonstrates a reasonable degree of accuracy and reliability using the model-to-image matching technique with both static and dynamic sequences in a porcine model. Future work is required to explore multi-planar assessment of real-time spine motion and to examine the reliability of our approach in humans.
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Inversion recovery ultrashort echo time magnetic resonance imaging: A method for simultaneous direct detection of myelin and high signal demonstration of iron deposition in the brain – A feasibility study
Publication date: May 2017
Source:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Volume 38
Author(s): Vipul R. Sheth, Shujuan Fan, Qun He, Yajun Ma, Jacopo Annese, Robert Switzer, Jody Corey-Bloom, Graeme M Bydder, Jiang Du
Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes demyelinating lesions in the white matter and increased iron deposition in the subcortical gray matter. Myelin protons have an extremely short T2* (<1ms) and are not directly detected with conventional clinical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences. Iron deposition also reduces T2*, leading to reduced signal on clinical sequences. In this study we tested the hypothesis that the inversion recovery ultrashort echo time (IR-UTE) pulse sequence can directly and simultaneously image myelin and iron deposition using a clinical 3T scanner. The technique was first validated on a synthetic myelin phantom (myelin powder in D2O) and a Feridex iron phantom. This was followed by studies of cadaveric MS specimens, healthy volunteers and MS patients. UTE imaging of the synthetic myelin phantom showed an excellent bi-component signal decay with two populations of protons, one with a T2* of 1.2ms (residual water protons) and the other with a T2* of 290μs (myelin protons). IR-UTE imaging shows sensitivity to a wide range of iron concentrations from 0.5 to ~30mM. The IR-UTE signal from white matter of the brain of healthy volunteers shows a rapid signal decay with a short T2* of ~300μs, consistent with the T2* values of myelin protons in the synthetic myelin phantom. IR-UTE imaging in MS brain specimens and patients showed multiple white matter lesions as well as areas of high signal in subcortical gray matter. This in specimens corresponded in position to Perl's diaminobenzide staining results, consistent with increased iron deposition. IR-UTE imaging simultaneously detects lesions with myelin loss in the white matter and iron deposition in the gray matter.
http://ift.tt/2i3hvN5
Fatty degeneration of mammary glands in female-to-male transsexuals
Abstract
Background
Subcutaneous mastectomy is an accepted procedure for surgical reassignment in female-to-male (FtM) transsexuals. However, fatty degeneration of the mammary gland (FDMG) is sometimes observed in FtM transsexuals, with implications for mastectomy outcomes. In this study, we describe the characteristics and risk factors of FDMG.
Methods
A total of 48 FtM transsexual patients underwent bilateral subcutaneous mastectomies (96 subcutaneous mastectomies) at our clinics from January 2015 to February 2016. The patients were divided into FDMG and non-FDMG groups after evaluation of the cut surface of the resected mammary gland. The groups were compared in terms of age, smoking, hormonal therapy (testosterone), body mass index (BMI), breast size (top–under perimeter), distance between sternal notch and nipple–areolar complex (NAC), breast ptosis grade, weight of resected breast tissue, and complication rate. FDMG tissue specimens were examined histologically.
Results
Comparing the FDMG and non-FDMG groups, hormonal therapy was more common (91.3 vs. 72.0%, p = 0.049), BMI was higher (24.3 vs. 21.1%, p < 0.001), and distance between the sternal notch and NAC was longer (20.5 vs. 18.8%, p = 0.03).
Conclusions
Hormonal therapy, high BMI, and long distance from the sternal notch to the NAC are risk factors for FDMG and should be considered prior to mastectomy in FtM transsexuals.
Level of Evidence: Level III, risk/prognostic study
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Context for Practice: Trends in Pressure Injury Prevention, Use of Convexity in Ostomy Care, and Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections in Children.
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Embracing the Concept, Defining the Practice, and Changing the Outcome: Setting the Standard for Medical Adhesive-Related Skin Injury Interventions in WOC Nursing Practice.
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View From Here: Challenges in Clinical Research.
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The International Pressure Ulcer Prevalence(TM) Survey: 2006-2015: A 10-Year Pressure Injury Prevalence and Demographic Trend Analysis by Care Setting.
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Incidence of Skin Tears and Risk Factors: A Systematic Literature Review.
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Incidence of Skin Tears and Risk Factors: A Systematic Literature Review.
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Measuring Weight-Bearing Activities in Patients With Previous Diabetic Foot Ulcers.
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Clinical Characteristics of Mixed Arteriovenous Leg Ulcers: A Descriptive Study.
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Emerging Technology for Enhanced Assessment of Skin Status.
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Use of Convexity in Ostomy Care: Results of an International Consensus Meeting.
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Perceived Barriers and Home Care Needs When Adapting to a Fecal Ostomy: A Phenomenological Study.
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Exploration of Health Status, Illness Perceptions, Coping Strategies, Psychological Morbidity, and Quality of Life in Individuals With Fecal Ostomies.
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Executive Summary: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: Best Practice Guideline for Care of Patients With a Fecal Diversion.
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Method for Bacterial Growth and Ammonia Production and Effect of Inhibitory Substances in Disposable Absorbent Hygiene Products.
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Povidone-Iodine, 0.05% Chlorhexidine Gluconate, or Water for Periurethral Cleaning Before Indwelling Urinary Catheterization in a Pediatric Intensive Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
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Resolving Epibole With Polymeric Membrane Dressings in Home Care.
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Aesthetic Surgery Training in a Changing Healthcare Environment
Aesthetic surgery is a rapidly evolving sub-specialty, both technologically and conceptually. It is therefore critical that plastic surgery training coincides with this rapid evolution. Recent fiscal limitations in public health provision and trainee working-time legislation may impact the delivery of high quality aesthetic surgery training. There is an urgent need to address the delivery of aesthetic training in current training paradigms in Ireland and we propose a number of strategies to obliterate the learning curve.
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External Ear Melanoma: A 10 year Assessment of Management and Outcomes
External ear melanoma is an uncommon tumour, with conflicting opinion regarding prognosis.1,2 Thin skin and an unpredictable lymphatic drainage make it a unique site, and a recent systematic review determined optimal surgical management is unclear.3
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A simplified surgical algorithm for flap reconstruction of eyebrow defects
Eyebrows which are not strictly an extension of facial tissue, are specialized appendages of hair-bearing scalp, which are located in the upper part of the face, with the function of blocking the flow of the forehead sweat into the eyelids[1]. Furthermore, eyebrows play an important role in face expression and facial mimics by virtue of muscle contraction, including the orbicularis oculi muscle, the frontal muscle, the corrugator supercilii and the superciliary depressor muscle below the eyebrow.
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It Is the Time to Say Good Bye to the Reconstructive Ladder/Lift and Its Variants
The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
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Comparison of 3D Scanner Systems for Craniomaxillofacial Imaging
Two-dimensional photographs are the standard for assessing craniofacial surgery clinical outcomes despite lacking three-dimensional (3D) depth and shape. Therefore, 3D-scanners have been gaining popularity in various fields of plastic and reconstructive surgery, including craniomaxillofacial surgery.Head shapes of eight adult volunteers were acquired with four 3D scanners: 1.5T Avanto MRI, Siemens; 3dMDface System, 3dMD Inc.; M4D Scan, Rodin4D; and Structure Sensor, Occipital Inc. Accuracy was evaluated as percentage of data within a range of 2 mm from the 3DMDface System reconstruction, by surface-to-surface root mean square distances (RMS), and with facial distance maps.
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‘Not a Plastic Surgeon’s best friend: Dog bites an increasing burden on UK Plastic Surgery services’
Injuries from dog bites are increasing in the United Kingdom (UK). Our study aims to highlight the public health burden of dog bites within the United Kingdom, in particular to the plastic and reconstructive surgeon. National data relating to hospital attendances and admissions was obtained from the Health and Social Care Information Database. Data relating to demographics of the patients admitted, the site and nature of the injury and the epidemiology was analysed. A total of 14,010 patients with dog bites were admitted between March 2013 and February 2015 of which 52% were admitted to Plastic and Reconstructive surgery departments.
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Physiological behavioral changes induced by a fraction with antitumor cleronade diterpenes from an Atlantic forest Brazilian plant and computational intermolecular interactions with neuron receptors
Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Author(s): Éverton José Ferreira de Araújo, Antônia Amanda Cardoso de Almeida, Oskar Almeida Silva, Iwyson Henrique Fernandes da Costa, Luis Mário Rezende Júnior, Francisco das Chagas Alves Lima, Luciano da Silva Lopes, Alberto José Cavalheiro, Paulo Michel Pinheiro Ferreira
Ethnopharmacological relevanceCasearia sylvestris is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat snakebites, wounds, inflammation and gastric ulcers and scientific supports for have demonstrated its antitumor, antihyperlipidemic and antiparasitic properties.Aim of the studyTo assess the effects of a fraction with casearins (FC) on adult mice using classical experimental models of animal behavior and theoretical calculations to verify the interaction of Casearin X (Cas X) with neuron receptors.Materials and methodsAnimals divided in 6 groups (n=9/group) were intraperitoneally treated with vehicle (DMSO 4%), FC (2.5, 5, 10 and 25mg/kg/day) and diazepam (2mg/kg) for 7 days. Thirty minutes after the last dose of treatment, acute toxicity and behavioral experiments were performed.ResultsThe highest dose of FC (25mg/kg/day) caused diarrhea, weight loss and death of one animal. Elevated plus maze test showed that lower doses [2.5mg/kg/day (36.4 ± 5.1s) and 5mg/kg/day (43.9 ± 6.2s)] increased the time spent in open arms (TSOA). Open field test revealed reduction in the number of crossings (54.9, 51.1, 48 and 67.7% for 2.5, 5, 10 and 25mg/kg/day, respectively) in all doses of FC studied and decrease of rearings at 25mg/kg/day (p < 0.05). Computational calculations showed that the inhibition constant (Ki) for the Cas X-D1 complex is up to 1000-fold more favourable than the Cas X-GABAA complex. All ∆G° values obtained for Cas X-D1 complexes were more negative than those seen with Cas X-GABAA complexes.ConclusionsFindings indicate a probable anxiolytic action of the FC since it reduces the number of crossings and rearings and prolonged the time spent in open arms, without sedative and myorelaxant effects, probably due to the interaction of Cas X with dopaminergic system.
Graphical abstract
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The impact of aging on the three-dimensional aspect of the hand: a pilot study
With rejuvenation treatments of the skin gaining more and more popularity, the inquiry for rejuvenation of the hand grows. Until now, no imaging tool exists to analyze the aging process of the hand. Three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry is a reliable technique which is used among other purposes in soft tissue analysis of the upper extremity. The goal of this pilot study was to investigate the possibility of visualizing the hand aging process using 3D stereophotogrammetry.
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Proteomic analysis of the protective effects of aqueous bark extract of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) on isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats
Publication date: 23 February 2017
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 198
Author(s): Santosh Kumar, Md. Jahangir Alam, Pankaj Prabhakar, Sayeed Ahmad, Subir K. Maulik, Manish Sharma, Shyamal K. Goswami
Ethnopharmacological relevanceAqueous bark extract of Terminalia arjuna (TA) has been in use as an ethnomedicine for cardiovascular ailments in the Indian subcontinent for centuries. Studies using hemodynamic, ROS scavenging and anti-inflammatory parameters in animal models have shown its anti-atherogenic, hypotensive, inotropic, anti-inflammatory effects. However, details analysis on its effects on established molecular and cell biological markers are a prerequisite for its wider acceptance to the medical community.Aims of the studyTo test the efficacy of TA extract in ameliorating cardiac hypertrophy induced by ISO in rats.MethodsCardiac hypertrophy was induced by ISO (5mg/kg/day s.c. for 14 days) in rats and a standardized aqueous extract of TA stem bark was orally administered by gavage. Total RNA and protein were isolated from control, ISO, ISO plus TA and TA treated rat hearts and analyzed for the transcripts for the markers of hypertrophy, signaling kinases, transcription factors and total protein profile.ResultsTA extract reversed the induction of fetal genes like β-myosin heavy chain, skeletal α-actin and brain natriuretic peptide in hypertrophic rat hearts. While ISO slightly increased the level of phospho-ERK, TA repressed it to about one third of the base line level. Survival kinase Akt, ER stress marker Grp78 and epigenetic regulator HDAC5 were augmented by ISO and TA restored them by various extents. ISO administration moderately increased the transcription factor NFκB binding activity, while coadministration of TA further increased it. AP-1 binding activity was largely unchanged by ISO treatment but it was upregulated when administered along with TA. MEF2D binding activity was increased by ISO and TA restored it to the baseline level. Global proteomic analysis revealed that TA treatment restored a subset of proteins up- and down-regulated in the hypertrophied hearts. Amongst those restored by TA were purinergic receptor X, myosin light chain 3, tropomyosin, and kininogen; suggesting a nodal role of TA in modulating cardiac function.ConclusionsThis study for the first time reveals that TA partially or completely restores the marker mRNAs, signaling kinases, transcription factors and total protein profile in rat heart, thereby demonstrating its efficacy in preventing ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy.
Graphical abstract
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Reply to letter regarding submission entitled: Cracking the perfusion code? - Laser-assisted Indocyanine Green angiography and combined laser Doppler spectrophotometry for intraoperative evaluation of tissue perfusion in autologous breast reconstruction with DIEP or ms-TRAM flaps
We thank the authors for their inspiring comment. As we stated in our study fundamental microsurgical training as well as broad experience in judging flap perfusion and skin perfusion, respectively, is one of the most important surgeon´s tools. Furthermore we need to advance new technologies to lower even minor complications such as perfusion-related partial flap/fat necrosis.
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Honeysuckle aqueous extract and induced let-7a suppress dengue virus type 2 replication and pathogenesis
Publication date: 23 February 2017
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 198
Author(s): Ying-Ray Lee, Siao-Fen Yeh, Xiao-Ming Ruan, Hao Zhang, Sheng-Da Hsu, Hsien-Da Huang, Chang-Chi Hsieh, Yee-Shin Lin, Trai-Ming Yeh, Hsiao-Sheng Liu, Dai-Di Gan
Ethnopharmacological relevanceHoneysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.), a traditional Chinese herb, has widely been used to treat pathogen infection. However, the underlying-mechanism remains elusive.Aims of the studyTo reveal the host microRNA (miRNA) profile with the anti-viral activity after honeysuckle treatment.Materials and methodsHere we reveal the differentially expressed miRNAs by Solexa® deep sequencing from the blood of human and mice after the aqueous extract treatment. Among these overexpressed innate miRNAs both in human and mice, let-7a is able to target the NS1 region (nt 3313-3330) of dengue virus (DENV) serotypes 1, 2 and 4 predicated by the target predication software.ResultsWe confirmed that let-7a could target DENV2 at the predicated NS1 sequence and suppress DENV2 replication demonstrated by luciferase-reporter activity, RT-PCR, real-time PCR, Western blotting and plaque assay. ICR-suckling mice consumed honeysuckle aqueous extract either before or after intracranial injection with DENV2 showed decreased levels of NS1 RNA and protein expression accompanied with alleviated disease symptoms, decreased virus load, and prolonged survival time. Similar results were observed when DENV2-infected mice were intracranially injected with let-7a.ConclusionWe reveal that honeysuckle attenuates DENV replication and related pathogenesis in vivo through induction of let-7a expression. This study opens a new direction for prevention and treatment of DENV infection through induction of the innate miRNA let-7a by honeysuckle.
Graphical abstract
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Dehydropachymic acid decreases bafilomycin A1 induced β-Amyloid accumulation in PC12 cells
Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Author(s): Mengyao Yu, Xiaoyan Xu, Nan Jiang, Wei Wei, Fang Li, Liming He, Xia Luo
Ethnopharmacological relevanceFuling, the sclerotium of Poria cocos, was frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulae for Alzheimer's disease (AD) intervention over the past 10 centuries. And its extracts exhibited significant effects in both cellular and animal models of AD in previous studies. However, its mechanisms on prevention and treatment of AD have not been well elucidated yet.Aim of the studyTo investigate the effect and corresponding mechanisms of dehydropachymic acid, which is one of the major triterpenes in Poria cocos, on the clearance of β-Amyloid accumulation in bafilomycin A1 induced PC12 cells.Materials and methodsMTT assay was used to examine the DPA effect on the viability of PC12 cells stable transfected with pCB6-APP (PC12-APP). PC12-APP cells were treated with DPA at the concentration of 6.25, 12.5, 25μg/mL for 4h, and then co-treated with 50 nmol/L bafilomycin A1 for 48h except the controls. The Aβ1-42 content in culture medium was determined by ELISA. The intracellular amount of APP, Aβ1-42, LC-3, cathepsin D was measured by Western blotting and normalized to GAPDH loading control. The PC12 cells stable transfected with pSelect-LC3-GFP (PC12-LC3-GFP) was used in the fluorescence microscopy estimation of autophagosomes accumulation. The internal pH in lysosome was detected by LysoTracker Red staining.ResultsDPA had no significant effect on the cell viability but could significantly decrease Aβ1–42 content in culture medium and eliminate the intracellular accumulation of APP and Aβ1–42 in bafilomycin A1 induced PC12-APP cells. Furthermore, DPA lowered the LC3II/ LC3I ratio and reduced the GFP-labeled LC3 puncta which were elevated by bafilomycin A1. And the increase in internal pH of lysosome and decrease in mCatD amount in Bafilomycin A1 induced PC12-APP cells were restored by DPA treatment. These results indicated that DPA could restore the lysosomal acidification and recover the autophgic flux which is impaired by bafilomycin A1.ConclusionsDPA could effectively clear the accumulation of Aβ1–42 in bafilomycin A1 impaired PC12 cells through restoring the lysosomal acidification and recovering the autophgic flux. And these results highlight its therapeutic potential for AD treatment.
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Corrigendum to “Toxic polyacetylenes in the genus Bupleurum (Apiaceae) – Distribution, toxicity, molecular mechanism and analysis” [J. Ethnopharmacol. 193 (2016) 566–573]
Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Author(s): Meiyu Lin, Weidong Zhang, Juan Su
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Improved adsorption performance of nanostructured composite by ultrasonic wave: Optimization through response surface methodology, isotherm and kinetic studies
Publication date: July 2017
Source:Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, Volume 37
Author(s): Mehdi Dastkhoon, Mehrorang Ghaedi, Arash Asfaram, Alireza Goudarzi, Seyyedeh Maryam Mohammadi, Shaobin Wang
In this work, ultrasound-assisted adsorption of an anionic dye, sunset yellow (SY) and cationic dyes, malachite green (MG), methylene blue (MB) and their ternary dye solutions onto Cu@ Mn-ZnS-NPs-AC from water aqueous was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) using the central composite design (CCD). The adsorbent was characterized using Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and EDX mapping images. The effects of various parameters such as pH, sonication time, adsorbent mass and initial concentrations of SY, MG and MB were examined. A total 33 experiments were conducted to establish a quadratic model. Cu@ Mn-ZnS-NPs-AC has the maximum adsorption efficiency (>99.5%) when the pH, sonication time, adsorbent mass and initial concentrations of SY, MG and MB were optimally set as 6.0, 5min, 0.02g, 9, 12 and 12mgL−1, respectively. Sonication time has a statistically significant effect on the selected responses. Langmuir isotherm model was found to be best fitted to adsorption and adsorption capacities were 67.5mgg−1 for SY, 74.6mgg−1 for MG and 72.9mgg−1 for MB. Four kinetic models (pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Weber–Morris intraparticle diffusion rate and Elovich) were tested to correlate the experimental data and the sorption was fitted well with the pseudo-second order kinetic model.
Graphical abstract
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Titanium, aluminum and zinc complexes containing diamine-bis(benzotriazole phenolate) ligands: Synthesis, structural characterization and catalytic studies for ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone
Publication date: 15 April 2017
Source:Journal of Molecular Structure, Volume 1134
Author(s): Zheng-Tang Liu, Chen-Yu Li, Jhy-Der Chen, Wan-Ling Liu, Chen-Yen Tsai, Bao-Tsan Ko
Structurally diverse metal complexes bearing diamine-bis(benzotriazole phenolate) (DiBTP) ligands have been synthesized and fully characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The reaction of Ti(OiPr)4 with C8MEADiBTP-H2 or C8BEADiBTP-H2 (1.0 mol equiv.) generated the monomeric titanium alkoxy complexes [(C8MEADiBTP)Ti(OiPr)2] (1) and [(C8BEADiBTP)Ti(OiPr)2] (2), respectively. Moreover, C8BEADiBTP-H2 reacted with 2.0 molar equiv. of AlMe3 to give the tetra-coordinated di-aluminum complex [(C8BEADiBTP)Al2Me4] (3). Zinc complex [(C8BEADiBTP)Zn2Et2] (4) could be obtained by the alkane elimination of ZnEt2 (2.0 equiv.) with C8BEADiBTP-H2 as the pro-ligand under similar synthetic methods in good yield. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicates that 3 is a bimetallic aluminum dimethyl complex with a tetradentate C8BEADiBTP moiety chelating two metal atoms, whereas complex 4 displays the dinuclear feature containing both tetra- and penta-coordinated zinc atoms bonded by one ONNON-pentadentate C8BEADiBTP ligand. Catalytic studies for ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone of complex 1–4 were systematic explored; the comparative studies of such polymerization were also discussed.
Graphical abstract
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Recovery of zinc(II) from chloride solutions using pseudo-emulsion based hollow fiber strip dispersion with pyridineketoxime extractants
Publication date: 28 April 2017
Source:Separation and Purification Technology, Volume 177
Author(s): Katarzyna Staszak, Aleksandra Wojciechowska, M. Teresa A. Reis, Irmina Wojciechowska, Karolina Wieszczycka, M. Rosinda C. Ismael, Jorge M.R. Carvalho
The recovery of Zn(II) from chloride solutions using pseudo-emulsion based hollow fiber strip dispersion (PEHFSD) technique with pyridine reagents was investigated. The pyridineketoxime extractants were used as the carriers: 1-(3-pyridyl)undecan-1-one oxime and its quaternary salts 3-[1-(hydroxyimine)undecyl]-1-propylpyridinium bromide and 3-[1-(hydroxyimine)undecyl]-1-propylpyridinium chloride. The influence of several parameters, among them the hydrodynamic conditions, extractant, metal and strippant concentrations, as well as, the extractant structure on the zinc(II) extraction was studied. The surface properties of the various aqueous/organic systems and mass transfer resistances were also determined. The extractants proposed showed to be appropriate carriers in the PEHFSD process and the values of overall mass transfer coefficient of permeation were found in the range of 2.5×10−7–1.1×10−6m/s.
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Cardiac actions of thyroid hormone metabolites
Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Author(s): Grazia Rutigliano, Riccardo Zucchi
Thyroid hormones (THs) have a major role in regulating cardiac function. Their classical mechanism of action is genomic. Recent findings have broadened our knowledge about the (patho)physiology of cardiac regulation by THs, to include non-genomic actions of THs and their metabolites (THM). This review provides an overview of classical and non-classical cardiac effects controlled by: i) iodothyronines (thyroxine, T4; 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine,T3; 3, 5-diiodothyronine, T2); ii) thyronamines (thyronamine, T0AM; 3-iodothyronamine, T1AM); and iii) iodothyroacetic acids (3, 5, 3′, 5'-tetraiodothyroacetic acid, tetrac; 3, 5, 3'-triiodothyroacetic acid, triac; 3-iodothyroacetic acid, TA1). Whereas iodothyronines enhance both diastolic and systolic function and heart rate, thyronamines were observed to have negative inotropic and chronotropic effects and might function as a brake with respect to THs, although their physiological role is unclear. Moreover, thyronamines showed a cardioprotective effect at physiological concentrations. The cardiac effects of iodothyroacetic acids seem to be limited and need to be elucidated.
Graphical abstract
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Sinonasal respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma: An overlooked entity
Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Egyptian Journal of Ear, Nose, Throat and Allied Sciences
Author(s): Jeyasakthy Saniasiaya, Norasnieda Md Shukri, Ramiza Ramza Ramli, Wan Nor Najmiyah Wan Abdul Wahab, Norzaliana Zawawi
Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma is an unusual benign glandular proliferation arising from the respiratory epithelium mostly involving the posterior nasal septum. Herein, we report a classic presentation of chronic rhinosinusitis with bilateral nasal polyposis which turns out to be respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma. Albeit benign, awareness of this entity is judicious as it may masquerade a more aggressive lesion causing patients to succumb to unnecessary procedure.
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Modified lateral crural spanning suture of the nasal tip: Suspension element
Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Egyptian Journal of Ear, Nose, Throat and Allied Sciences
Author(s): Wael K.A. Hussein, Ahmed S. Ismail, Ahmed A. Ibrahim, Ahmed A. Omran
IntroductionSeveral techniques have been described to improve nasal tip definition, such as cartilage resection, tip grafts, and suture placement. Lateral alar convexities are a common deformity that requires attention during rhinoplasty. The lateral crural spanning suture provides a predictable, accurate method of correcting excess lateral crural convexity without the need for procedures that would compromise the integrity of the cartilage.ObjectivesAiming to achieve the maximum support of the nasal tip and to maintain the position of the tip in a fashion that prevents postoperative droopiness, we have modified the classic lateral crural spanning suture.MethodsA prospective study of 113 patients was conducted over patients presented to our hospital aiming at improving nasal tip definition through modified lateral crural spanning suture.ResultsIn this study, added improved of the nasal tip width and rotation was achieved in all the patients admitted for rhinoplasty.
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Novel amphiphilic chitosan nanocarriers for sustained oral delivery of hydrophobic drugs
Publication date: 1 March 2017
Source:European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 99
Author(s): Marjan Motiei, Soheila Kashanian
Chitosan (CS) has been investigated for its ability to be modified hydrophobically and self-assembled into nanocarriers. They can encapsulate drugs and protect them in a promising approach. However, loss of carrier stability against biological environments induces low bioavailability of encapsulated drugs after oral administration. The objective of this work was to develop and characterize a novel self-assembled nanocarrier using cross-linker under acidic condition to enhance oral absorption of a hydrophobic model drug such as Letrozole (LTZ). Therefore, amphiphilic chitosan nanocarriers (ACNs) were prepared by oil-in-water emulsion/ionic gelation technique; self-assembled via electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged Palmitic acid (PL) and the positively charged CS and stabilized by cross linking with sodium tripolyphosphate solution (TPP) under ultrasonication. The results confirmed that the ACNs had sustained release at different pH values of the release medium depending on drug concentration. Increasing drug concentration led to prolonged release and increased pH values which were accompanied by higher release rate. Spherical nanocarriers with positive surface charge (+24mV) were formed with an average size of 186.6±32.95nm by Zetasizer and 84.7nm by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at physiological pH. The structure of the carriers was determined by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. Eventually, the toxicity was measured by MTT assay and clearly proved that ACNs had no toxicity against the tumor MCF-7 and PC-12 cell lines.
Graphical abstract
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Single jugular vein cannulated rats may not be suitable for intravenous pharmacokinetic screening of high logP compounds
Publication date: 1 March 2017
Source:European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 99
Author(s): Nilesh Gaud, Anoop Kumar, Muralikrishna Matta, Prashant Kole, Srikanth Sridhar, Sandhya Mandlekar, Vinay K. Holenarsipur
Rat is commonly used for pharmacokinetic screening during pharmaceutical lead optimization. To handle the large number of compounds, rats with a single jugular vein cannulation are commonly utilized for intravenous pharmacokinetic studies, where the same cannula is used both for dose administration and blood sampling. We demonstrate that the single cannula method is not suitable for all compounds, especially for high logP compounds. We propose an alternative dual cannulation technique in which two cannulas are placed in the same jugular vein, thus avoiding an additional surgery. Compounds were administered orally or via intravenous infusion to compare PK parameters, including bioavailability, using both procedures. For itraconazole and amiodarone, known to bind to the cannula, the measured plasma exposures were substantially higher in the single cannulated rats than those from dual cannulated rats. Area under the plasma concentration time curve differed by 79% and 74% for itraconazole and amiodarone, respectively. When compared to the single cannulation approach, clearance, volume of distribution and bioavailability determined by dual cannulation were 39%, 60% and 38% higher for itraconazole, and 46%, 34% and 42% higher for amiodarone, respectively. In contrast, all pharmacokinetic parameters were similar between single and dual-cannulated rats for the hydrophilic compound atenolol. Based on these results, we recommend the use of dual cannulated rats for intravenous pharmacokinetic studies when testing a series of hydrophobic compounds that may be prone to non-specific binding to the cannula. If single cannulated model is selected for pharmacokinetic screening, we recommend a bridging study with dual cannulated rats with representative compounds of a given chemical series.
Graphical abstract
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Critical view on drug dissolution in artificial saliva: A possible use of in-line e-tongue measurements
Publication date: 1 March 2017
Source:European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 99
Author(s): Maria Khaydukova, Dmitry Kirsanov, Miriam Pein-Hackelbusch, L. Isabell Immohr, Venera Gilemkhanova, Andrey Legin
Proper monitoring of drug's dissolution is a prerequisite for assessing of taste masking efficacy of pharmaceuticals. Corresponding dissolution procedure is likely to be performed with water. Since the objective of these tests is to examine fate of a pharmaceutical formulation in oral cavity, this choice of solvent seems unsuitable because physical and chemical properties of human saliva are quite far from those of water. Obviously, dissolution profiles registered in water may differ significantly from what really happens with a drug in a mouth cavity. In order to address this discrepancy we examined three different compositions of artificial saliva in dissolution test context in present study. It was found that certain compositions preclude the employment of traditional UV–vis spectroscopy as a detection tool due to strong light scattering in the media caused by viscosity and protein composition modifiers. This issue was circumvented by the use of in-line applied potentiometric multisensor system (e-tongue) and the potential of this new approach for more biorelevant dissolution tests was demonstrated with two model formulations of quinine and ibuprofen.
Graphical abstract
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The influence of cetomacrogol ointment processing on structure: A definitive screening design
Publication date: 1 March 2017
Source:European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 99
Author(s): A.J.P. van Heugten, C.L. Braal, M. Versluijs-Helder, H. Vromans
Batch-to-batch variability is a challenge for the industrial scale production of ointments. Therefore the current investigation focussed on identifying and understanding critical process parameters (CPPs) for cetomacrogol ointment. This was evaluated using a definitive screening design (DSD) approach in which fourteen batches were produced under predefined and controlled conditions using the following variables: addition of SiO2 nanoparticles, mixing speed, cooling rate, heating temperature, container filling temperature and isothermal mixing at the filling temperature.Ointment structure was evaluated using a number of rheological parameters. One of these parameters, yield stress was found to be strongly influenced by filling temperature and mixing speed (p=0.0065 and p=0.0013 respectively). Both significantly affect ointment structure and they also have a significant interaction (p<0.05). Understanding the ointment production process can help in defining a processing window to produce ointment of constant quality.
Graphical abstract
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Habitat-specific AMF symbioses enhance drought tolerance of a native Kenyan grass
Publication date: January 2017
Source:Acta Oecologica, Volume 78
Author(s): Renee H. Petipas, Jonathan B. González, Todd M. Palmer, Alison K. Brody
The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in enhancing plant tolerance to drought is well known. However, the degree to which AMF-plant symbioses are locally adapted has been suggested but is less well understood, especially at small spatial scales. Here, we examined the effects of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities on drought tolerance of Themeda triandra, a native African perennial bunchgrass. In our study area, mound building activities of Odontotermes sp. termites produce heterogeneous habitat, particularly with respect to water availability, and do so over small spatial scales (<50 m). Thus, plants and their AMF symbionts may experience identical climatic conditions but very different edaphic conditions. We hypothesized that AMF from off-mound areas, where plants experience drought more intensely than on termite mounds, would confer greater protection from drought conditions than AMF from termite mound soils. To test this, we conducted a greenhouse experiment in which we grew plants in soils that we inoculated with fungi from on or off termite mounds, or with a sterilized control inoculum. Our results reveal habitat-specific AMF effects on host stomatal functioning and growth. Contrary to our expectations, drought stressed grasses inoculated with AMF from termite mounds closed stomata less, and produced 60% more leaves than those inoculated with off-mound AMF, thus exhibiting higher levels of tolerance. Mound-inoculated plants that were drought stressed also produced more than twice as many leaves as non-inoculated plants. Longer-term productivity measurements indicate both on- and off-mound inoculated plants were able to recover to a greater extent than non-inoculated plants, indicating that AMF associations in general help plants recover from drought. These findings highlight the important role that AMF play in mitigating drought stress and indicate that AMF affect how plants experience drought in a small scale, habitat-specific manner.
http://ift.tt/2i4PmrT
Infrared and Raman Microscopy and Imaging of Biomaterials at the Micro and Nano Scale
Publication date: 2017
Source:Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering
Author(s): C. Marcott, M. Padalkar, N. Pleshko
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy have been widely utilized to evaluate the molecular structure of polymers, biomaterials, and tissues, with the choice of technique dependent on the problem under investigation. Major advances in spectroscopic analyses occurred with the coupling of microscopes to infrared and Raman spectrometers, developments that allowed investigators to assess the location of different chemical species at high spatial resolution, on the order of 1µm for Raman, and 2–6µm for FTIR. Further advances were the development of imaging technology, where an array detector is utilized to efficiently collect high-resolution spectral data from relatively large sections (millimeters) of tissue and material samples, and most recently, the development of nanoscale infrared spectroscopy, known as atomic force microscopy-infrared (AFM-IR). Several applications to biomaterials are discussed here, including assessment of polymer composition and degradation, evaluation of composition of tissue-engineered constructs and cells, of dental materials, and characterization of drug delivery systems.
http://ift.tt/2jnXjdY
TRIM52: A nuclear TRIM protein that positively regulates the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway
Source:Molecular Immunology, Volume 82
Author(s): Wenchun Fan, Tingting Liu, Xiangmin Li, Yun Zhou, Mengge Wu, Xiaofang Cui, Huanchun Chen, Ping Qian
Emerging evidence suggests that TRIM family proteins play a crucial role in regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway. TRIM52 is a novel noncanonical antiviral TRIM gene with a unique expanded RING domain. Information on the biological function of TRIM52 is limited. Herein, we demonstrated TRIM52 involvement in NF-κB activation. We found that TRIM52 overexpression specifically activated the NF-κB signal. TRIM52 overexpression can significantly induce TNFα and IL-6 expression. We also found that the RING domain of TRIM52 was essential for its activation of the NF-κB signal. Further study showed that TRIM52 overexpression did not affect the protein level of IκBα and phosphorylated p65 protein. We found that the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-6 could induce TRIM52 expression. Overall, these data suggested that TRIM52 was a positive regulator of the NF-κB pathway.
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TRAIL facilitates cytokine expression and macrophage migration during hypoxia/reoxygenation via ER stress-dependent NF-κB pathway
Source:Molecular Immunology, Volume 82
Author(s): Yinan Jiang, Xiaoyan Chen, Mengya Fan, Hui Li, Weina Zhu, Xi Chen, Chenghua Cao, Rui Xu, Yaohui Wang, Yuanfang Ma
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), which is known as a key molecule to induce cancer cell apoptosis, has also been found to participate in the process of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Infiltrated macrophages play dual roles in inflammatory injury and healing following I/R. Whether TRAIL has any effect on macrophages during this process remains elusive. Here we showed that I/R triggered the expressions of TRAIL, DR5 and cytokines (IL-1β, TNFα, CCL-2 and ICAM-1), in addition to macrophage infiltration, which could be abolished by TRAIL neutralizing antibody. In vitro, TRAIL enhanced DR5 expression and facilitated the macrophages migration following hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) treatment in a dose-dependent manner via ER stress and NF-κB signaling pathways, which is accompanied by inflammatory factors expression. The increased cytokines production (such as TNFα and IL-1β) stimulated by TRAIL can be blocked by the NF-κB and ER stress inhibitor. The results also suggested that NF-κB activation of macrophages during H/R was regulated by ER stress. Thus, our research present that TRAIL affects functional activities of macrophages during I/R injury, which may be a potential therapeutic target for ischemic heart disease.
http://ift.tt/2j2RPBV
Predicting the Need for Intra-operative Large Volume Blood Transfusions During Thoraco-abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Publication date: Available online 6 January 2017
Source:European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Author(s): M. Pieri, P. Nardelli, M. De Luca, G. Landoni, S. Frassoni, G. Melissano, A. Zangrillo, R. Chiesa, F. Monaco
ObjectiveThoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair is a complex procedure performed in patients at high cardiovascular risk. High volume intra-operative bleeding is often recorded, and the amount of intra-operative blood product transfusion is associated with relevant morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to identify pre-operative predictors of intra-operative large volume blood transfusions (LVBT) to stratify patients pre-operatively.MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of all patients who underwent open TAAA surgery at San Raffaele Scientific Institute from January 2009 to December 2015. Intra-operative red blood cell (RBC) transfusions were administered to maintain a hematocrit of at least 30%. A LVBT was defined as a transfusion of at least four RBC units, corresponding to 1000 mL.ResultsThe study population included 428 patients: 260 (61%) received fewer than 4 RBC units, and 168 (39%) were transfused with at least 4 RBC units. In patients who underwent LVBT, higher mortality was observed after surgery (p=.003), longer intensive care unit admission (p=.004), and longer mechanical ventilation compared with less transfused patients (p=.0002). The patients who received fewer units were administered a higher dose of heparin during the surgical operation compared with patients of the LVBT group: 3400±1100 vs. 2900±1300 IU (international units) (p=.0004). Pre-operative chronic renal failure (OR 1.8), the pre-operative haemoglobin value (OR 0.8), and the need for urgent or emergent surgery (OR 3.15) were independent predictors of LVBT on multivariate analysis.ConclusionsThe identification of patients at risk of intra-operative LVBT during TAAA surgery is critical as these patients experience a worse outcome. Nevertheless, only few independent predictors are available for clinical practice.
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Human and remote sensing data to investigate the frontiers of urbanization in the south of Mexico City
Publication date: April 2017
Source:Data in Brief, Volume 11
Author(s): Juan Miguel Rodriguez Lopez, Katharina Heider, Jürgen Scheffran
The data presented here were originally collected for the article "Frontiers of Urbanization: Identifying and Explaining Urbanization Hot Spots in the South of Mexico City Using Human and Remote Sensing" (Rodriguez et al. 2017) [4]. They were divided into three databases (remote sensing, human sensing, and census information), using a multi-method approach with the goal of analyzing the impact of urbanization on protected areas in southern Mexico City. The remote sensing database was prepared as a result of a semi-automatic classification, dividing the land cover data into urban and non-urban classes. The second data set details an alternative view of the phenomena of urbanization by concentrating on illegal settlements in the conservation zone. It was based on voluntary complaints about environmental and land use offences filed at the Procuraduria Ambiental y del Ordenamiento Territorial del Distrito Federal (PAOT), which is a governmental entity responsible for reviewing and processing grievances on five basic topics: illegal land use, deterioration of green areas, waste, noise/vibrations, and animals. Anyone can file a PAOT complaint by phone, electronically, or in person. The complaint ends with a resolution, act of conciliation, or recommendation for action by other actors, such as the police or health office. The third data about unemployment was extracted from Mexico׳s National Census 2010 database available via public access.
http://ift.tt/2jfknqV
Detecting N-RAS Q61R Mutated Thyroid Neoplasias by Immunohistochemistry
Abstract
Recently, the immunohistochemistry (IHC) for N-RAS Q61R has been developed and commercialized for clinical practice. Here, we investigated the reliability of IHC to identify N-RAS Q61R mutated thyroid neoplasia. A series of 24 consecutive thyroid lesions undergone surgery following indeterminate cytology were enrolled. Paraffin sections were stained for IHC using the rabbit monoclonal anti-human N-RAS Q61R, clone SP174. N-RAS mutations in codon 61 were also investigated by automated sequencing. At histology, 12 cases of follicular carcinoma, cytologically defined as follicular lesions, 1 papillary cancer, 7 follicular adenomas, and 4 hyperplastic nodules were found. Of these, 4 showed a positive IHC for anti N-RAS antibody where N-RAS expression was detected mainly at cytoplasmic level with similar intensity of reaction. The remaining cases had negative IHC. A 100% concordance between IHC and molecular analysis for N-RAS Q61R was observed. In conclusion, this study shows high reliability of IHC to identify N-RAS Q61R mutated thyroid lesions with high cost-effectiveness. These data indicate the reliability of IHC to identify N-RAS Q61R mutated thyroid neoplasia and suggest to adopt this approach for a more accurate management of patients, when indicated.
http://ift.tt/2i2s9DM
HIV Latency: Should We Shock or Lock?
Source:Trends in Immunology
Author(s): Gilles Darcis, Benoit Van Driessche, Carine Van Lint
Combinatory antiretroviral therapy (cART) increases the survival and quality of life of HIV-1-infected patients. However, interruption of therapy almost invariably leads to the re-emergence of detectable viral replication because HIV-1 persists in viral latent reservoirs. Improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in HIV-1 latency has paved the way for innovative strategies that attempt to purge latent virus. In this article we discuss the results of the broadly explored 'shock and kill' strategy, and also highlight the major hurdles facing this approach. Finally, we present recent innovative works suggesting that locking out latent proviruses could be a potential alternative therapeutic strategy.
http://ift.tt/2jnL0y8
Risque accru de cardiopathie ischémique et de mortalité cardiovasculaire chez les personnes atteintes de maladie de Verneuil (hidradénite suppurée)
Source:Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie
Author(s): A. Maruani, B. Giraudeau, I. Abdo, P. Raphaël
http://ift.tt/2i4pcFN
Management of an inguinal hernia in patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei
Publication date: Available online 6 January 2017
Source:European Journal of Surgical Oncology (EJSO)
Author(s): Paul H. Sugarbaker
BackgroundPseudomyxoma peritonei is a disease that results from a perforated mucinous neoplasm of the appendix so that mucinous ascites and mucin-producing tumor cells are widely disseminated in a characteristic pattern throughout the abdomen and pelvis. The intraabdominal mucus can accumulate in the inguinal canal and by physical examination be indistinguishable from the usual inguinal hernia.MethodsA database of patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei was used to identify patients who had an inguinal hernia prior to or at the time of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and perioperative hyperthermic chemotherapy (HIPEC). At the time of CRS, care was taken in all patients to remove the peritoneal lining of the inguinal canal. Patients who had the inguinal hernia repaired prior to definitive treatment with CRS and HIPEC had all tissue and mesh associated with prior herniorrhaphy resected.ResultsIn 178 pseudomyxoma peritonei patients, 17 had a new onset or previously repaired inguinal hernia that required extraction of mucus and mucinous tumor from the hernia site. No repair of the open inguinal canal was attempted at the time of CRS. No recurrent inguinal hernias were recorded and no patients required an inguinal incision at a later time to resect progressive disease within the inguinal canal.ConclusionsInguinal hernias caused by mucinous ascites and tumor were definitively treated by cytoreductive surgery plus HIPEC. Extraction of tumor and peritoneum from the inguinal canal facilitates fibrous closure of the hernia defect so that hernia recurrence was not observed.
http://ift.tt/2i4fZ08
Very Early Onset Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease with a De Nove Mutation in the PSEN1 gene
Publication date: Available online 6 January 2017
Source:Neurobiology of Aging
Author(s): Fan Lou, Xiaoguang Luo, Ming Li, Yan Ren, Zhiyi He
We report a 22 year-onset age man diagnosed with rapidly progressing early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) with predominant extrapyramidal symptoms as the initial presenting symptoms and V391G mutation in presenilin 1 gene (PSEN1) was founded. The unaffected parents of the proband are not carriers of the mutation but have histories of extrapyramidal diseases, suggesting de novo origin of V391G mutation. The novel Val391Gly variation widens the number of PSEN1 mutations responsible for EOAD with extrapyramidal phenotype and would help to establish a functional map of presenilin 1 protein architecture.
Graphical abstract
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Distinct patterns of increased translocator protein in posterior cortical atrophy and amnestic Alzheimer's disease
Publication date: March 2017
Source:Neurobiology of Aging, Volume 51
Author(s): William C. Kreisl, Chul Hyoung Lyoo, Jeih-San Liow, Joseph Snow, Emily Page, Kimberly J. Jenko, Cheryl L. Morse, Sami S. Zoghbi, Victor W. Pike, R. Scott Turner, Robert B. Innis
We sought to determine whether patients with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) demonstrate a pattern of binding to translocator protein 18 kDa, a marker of microglial activation, that is distinct from that in patients with amnestic presentation of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Eleven PCA patients, 11 amnestic AD patients, and 15 age-matched controls underwent positron emission tomography with 11C-PBR28 to measure translocator protein 18 kDa. PCA patients showed greater 11C-PBR28 binding than controls in occipital, posterior parietal, and temporal regions. In contrast, amnestic AD patients showed greater 11C-PBR28 binding in inferior and medial temporal cortex. Increased 11C-PBR28 binding overlapped with reduced cortical volume for both PCA and amnestic AD patients, and with areas of reduced glucose metabolism in PCA patients. While both patient groups showed diffuse amyloid binding, PCA patients showed greater binding than amnestic AD patients in bilateral occipital cortex. These results suggest that microglial activation is closely associated with neurodegeneration across different subtypes of AD.
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Retinal thinning is uniquely associated with medial temporal lobe atrophy in neurologically normal older adults
Publication date: March 2017
Source:Neurobiology of Aging, Volume 51
Author(s): Kaitlin B. Casaletto, Michael E. Ward, Nicholas S. Baker, Brianne M. Bettcher, Jeffrey M. Gelfand, Yaqiao Li, Robert Chen, Shubir Dutt, Bruce Miller, Joel H. Kramer, Ari J. Green
Given the converging pathologic and epidemiologic data indicating a relationship between retinal integrity and neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), we aimed to determine if retinal structure correlates with medial temporal lobe (MTL) structure and function in neurologically normal older adults. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, verbal and visual memory testing, and 3T-magnetic resonance imaging of the brain were performed in 79 neurologically normal adults enrolled in a healthy aging cohort study. Retinal nerve fiber thinning and reduced total macular and macular ganglion cell volumes were each associated with smaller MTL volumes (ps < 0.04). Notably, these markers of retinal structure were not associated with primary motor cortex or basal ganglia volumes (regions relatively unaffected in AD) (ps > 0.70), or frontal, precuneus, or temporoparietal volumes (regions affected in later AD Braak staging ps > 0.20). Retinal structure was not significantly associated with verbal or visual memory consolidation performances (ps > 0.14). Retinal structure was associated with MTL volumes, but not memory performances, in otherwise neurologically normal older adults. Given that MTL atrophy is a neuropathological hallmark of AD, retinal integrity may be an early marker of ongoing AD-related brain health.
http://ift.tt/2iTP48L
Mitochondrial genes are altered in blood early in Alzheimer's disease
Publication date: Available online 7 January 2017
Source:Neurobiology of Aging
Author(s): Katie Lunnon, Aoife Keohane, Ruth Pidsley, Stephen Newhouse, Joanna Riddoch-Contreras, Elisabeth B. Thubron, Matthew Devall, Hikka Soininen, Iwona Kłoszewska, Patrizia Mecocci, Magda Tsolaki, Bruno Vellas, Leonard Schalkwyk, Richard Dobson, Afshan N. Malik, John Powell, Simon Lovestone, Angela Hodges
Although mitochondrial dysfunction is a consistent feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the brain and blood, the molecular mechanisms behind these phenomena are unknown. Here we have replicated our previous findings demonstrating reduced expression of nuclear-encoded oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) subunits and subunits required for the translation of mitochondrial-encoded OXPHOS genes in blood from people with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Interestingly this was accompanied by increased expression of some mitochondrial-encoded OXPHOS genes, namely those residing closest to the transcription start site of the polycistronic heavy chain mitochondrial transcript (MT-ND1, MT-ND2, MT-ATP6, MT-CO1, MT-CO2, MT-C03) and MT-ND6 transcribed from the light chain. Further we show that mitochondrial DNA copy number was unchanged suggesting no change in steady-state numbers of mitochondria. We suggest an imbalance in nuclear and mitochondrial genome-encoded OXPHOS transcripts may drive a negative feedback loop reducing mitochondrial translation and compromising OXPHOS efficiency, which is likely to generate damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS).
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Retraction notice to “Management of liver hydatid cysts – Current perspectives” [Medical Journal Armed forces India 68 (2012) 304–309]
Publication date: January 2017
Source:Medical Journal Armed Forces India, Volume 73, Issue 1
Author(s): S. Anand, S. Rajagopalan, Raj Mohan
This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://ift.tt/1poHqya).This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief.The authors have plagiarized part of a paper that had already appeared in Am J Trop Med Hyg, 79 (2008) 301–311. http://ift.tt/2jnvAKn. One of the conditions of submission of a paper for publication is that authors declare explicitly that their work is original and has not appeared in a publication elsewhere. Re-use of any data should be appropriately cited. As such this article represents a severe abuse of the scientific publishing system. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and apologies are offered to readers of the journal that this was not detected during the submission process.
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Letter to the Editor
Publication date: January 2017
Source:Medical Journal Armed Forces India, Volume 73, Issue 1
Author(s): Amit Dua, Mathangi Krishnakumar
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Governing Council Page
Publication date: January 2017
Source:Medical Journal Armed Forces India, Volume 73, Issue 1
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Ending AIDS: The 90–90–90 strategy
Publication date: January 2017
Source:Medical Journal Armed Forces India, Volume 73, Issue 1
Author(s): R.R. Gangakhedkar
http://ift.tt/2jnxMkV
Antitubercular therapy induced liver function tests abnormalities in human immunodeficiency virus infected individuals
Publication date: January 2017
Source:Medical Journal Armed Forces India, Volume 73, Issue 1
Author(s): Pankaj Puri, Navjyot Kaur, Sunny Pathania, Sandeep Kumar, P.K. Sharma, V.K. Sashindran
BackgroundBoth antitubercular therapy (ATT) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) can cause drug induced liver injury (DILI) in tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection. The aim of this research was to study ATT-induced liver function test (LFT) abnormalities in HIV-infected patients.MethodsHIV-infected patients diagnosed with TB were evaluated with baseline LFT and CD4 counts. ATT regimen was modified if baseline LFT was significantly abnormal. Patients on protease inhibitors were given rifabutin instead of rifampicin. In patients on nevirapine-based ART, efavirenz was substituted for nevirapine. In ART-naive patients, the timing of introduction of ART was according to CD4 cell counts. LFT were repeated fortnightly or as clinically indicated for 10 weeks.ResultsWe studied 100 patients with HIV ([M – 67, F – 23], mean age: 40.05±10.75 years, mean CD4 cell count: 239.157±228.49cells/dL). Sixty-one patients were on ART prior to diagnosis of TB. Baseline LFT abnormalities (n=40) were similar in ART and non-ART group (28/61 vs 12/39, p=0.13). After starting ATT, derangement of LFT was observed in majority of patients (99/100). However, liver sparing ATT was required only in 15 patients. Bilirubin >2.5mg/dL was seen only in 9 patients. Significant rise in transaminases was commoner in patients on concurrent ART and ATT (p=0.044) and with baseline LFT abnormalities (p=0.00016). There was no case of acute liver failure or mortality.ConclusionMild LFT abnormalities are common in HIV-infected individuals on ATT. Concomitant use of ATT and ART and baseline LFT abnormalities increase the risk of significant DILI. However, with closer follow-up, serious liver injury can be prevented.
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Emotional and behavioral disturbances in school going HIV positive children attending HIV clinic
Publication date: January 2017
Source:Medical Journal Armed Forces India, Volume 73, Issue 1
Author(s): Deepak Joshi, Mithilesh K. Tiwari, Venkatnarayan Kannan, S.S. Dalal, S.S. Mathai
BackgroundTo study the emotional and behavioral disturbances (EBD) in school going HIV positive children attending HIV center in a tertiary care hospital.MethodThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 258 HIV infected children between 6 and 16 years of age, 200 were on Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and 58 were not on ART. They were evaluated for EBD by using Pictorial Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PPSC) screening tool. A cut-off score of 28 was taken as significant for detecting early EBD.ResultsThe prevalence of EBD in our study is 11.2%. Demographic and disease related profile were assessed for correlation with EBD. Type of family (p=0.023), school attendance (p=0.034), school performance (p=0.045), and CD4 count (p=0.015) were detected to have significant association with early manifestation of EBD in the study group.ConclusionsHIV positive children who have low CD4 count, poor school attendance, and performance are at a higher risk of being detected with EBD. Screening with PPSC to identify EBD in HIV positive children attending HIV clinic in a hospital setting could help in early diagnosis and management.
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A cross-sectional study of liver function tests in HIV-infected persons in Western India
Publication date: January 2017
Source:Medical Journal Armed Forces India, Volume 73, Issue 1
Author(s): Sunny Pathania, Navjyot Kaur, Sandeep Kumar, V.K. Sashindran, Pankaj Puri
BackgroundDerangement of liver function tests (LFTs) is common in people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (PLHA). The cause is multifactorial. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the commonest cause and others being alcohol abuse and concomitant viral hepatitis. The aim of the research was to study the prevalence of LFT abnormalities in PLHA.MethodsThe study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital. Evaluation included a detailed history, thorough clinical examination and investigations including a haemogram, serum biochemistry, serology for hepatitis, and CD4 cell count.ResultsA total of 247 patients were evaluated. Of these, 212 (85.82%) were on antiretroviral therapy (ART), 111 (44.93%) were on anti-tubercular therapy (ATT), and 94 (38.05%) were on concurrent ATT–ART.Abnormal LFTs were seen in 128/247 (51.82%) PLHA. In the majority (88.28%), the LFT abnormalities were mild. LFT abnormalities were seen in 109/212 (51.4%) patients on ART, in 56/111 (50.5%) patients on ATT, 46/94 (48.93%) patients on concurrent ART–ATT. There was no difference in LFT abnormalities among the three groups nor was there any significant association with alcohol consumption. There was a statistically significant co-relation between albumin/globulin ratio and CD4 count (p=0.0002). Counter-intuitively, LFT abnormalities were commoner in patients not receiving nevirapine (p=0.043), but severe abnormalities (grade III/grade IV) were commoner in those receiving nevirapine (p=0.005) and in those on concurrent ART–ATT (p=0.008).ConclusionLFT abnormalities in PLHA are common; but usually mild. There is a strong association between severe abnormalities and nevirapine-based therapy (p=0.02) and concurrent ATT–ART (p=0.008).
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Overweight and obesity management guidelines 2016
Publication date: January 2017
Source:Medical Journal Armed Forces India, Volume 73, Issue 1
Author(s): Tukaram Gadekar, M.P. Cariappa
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Metabolic syndrome and BPH: What do we know?
Publication date: January 2017
Source:Medical Journal Armed Forces India, Volume 73, Issue 1
Author(s): Amit Agrawal
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Anxiety and risk assessment-related traits in a rat model of Spinocerebellar ataxia type 17
Source:Behavioural Brain Research, Volume 321
Author(s): Elisavet I. Kyriakou, Giuseppe Manfré, Jesús A. Spadaro, Huu Phuc Nguyen, Johanneke E.Van der Harst, Judith R. Homberg
Anxiety as a common feature of several neurodegenerative/polyglutamine diseases is an important aspect for the face validity of an animal model for Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 17 (SCA17). Risk assessment and anxiety-like traits were characterised in 3–6–9 months old rats of a transgenic model for SCA17 using the standard behavioural test elevated plus maze. In addition, c-Fos immunostainings in the basolateral amygdala evaluated neuronal activation in correlation to the behavioural responses. The most prominent behavioural effect was a higher level of risk assessment in the transgenic rats. In addition, an increase in anxiety-related behaviour in these rats was found. Although the EPM caused no overall effect on c-Fos expression, a negative correlation with the anxiety-like behavioural response was observed. Our results suggest that the SCA17 rat model displays an anxious phenotype already at 3 months of age resembling the generalized anxiety in early symptomatic SCA17 patients, thus confirming the validity of this rat model.
http://ift.tt/2j2smIP
Testing the correlation between experimentally-induced hypothyroidism during pregnancy and autistic-like symptoms in the rat offspring
Source:Behavioural Brain Research, Volume 321
Author(s): Francesca Melancia, Michela Servadio, Sara Schiavi, Patrizia Campolongo, Alexandre Giusti-Paiva, Viviana Trezza
Thyroid hormones are important for the development of the central nervous system. Since the fetal thyroid gland is not functioning until mid-gestation, transport of maternal thyroid hormones across the placenta is essential during the early phases of gestation. Maternal thyroid deficiency has been associated with a higher incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders in the newborns. The relationship between maternal hypothyroidism and the onset of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the offspring, however, is still debated. To address this issue, we used a validated animal model of prenatal hypothyroidism based on the administration of the thyroid peroxidase inhibitor methimazole (MMI, 0.02g/100ml in tap water) to rat dams from gestational day 9 up to delivery. The offspring was tested in behavioral tasks during infancy (PNDs 5, 9, 13) and adolescence (PND 35-40) to capture some of the core and associated symptoms of ASD. MMI-exposed pups were able to vocalize as controls when separated from the nest, and showed intact social discrimination abilities in the homing behavior test. At adolescence, the offspring from both sexes did not show an anxious-phenotype in the elevated plus maze and showed intact object recognition. However, MMI-exposed male rats showed increased novelty-directed exploratory behaviors: they solicited their partner to play more and showed more interest for novel rather than familiar objects compared to control rats. Our results show that prenatal MMI-induced hypothyroidism does not cause in the rat offspring behaviors that resemble core and associated ASD symptoms, like deficits in communication and social interaction and anxiety.
http://ift.tt/2i4iUpX
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Summary Insulinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours that classically present with fasting hypoglycaemia. This case report discusses an un...
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