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Automated Detection and Tortuosity Characterization of Retinal Vascular Networks. JOURNAL OF BIOMIMETICS BIOMATERIALS AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2021. [DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/jbbbe.50.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Automated retinal vascular network detection and analysis using digital retinal images continue to play a major role in the field of biomedicine for the diagnosis and management of various forms of human ailments like hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, glaucoma and cardiovascular diseases. Although several literature have implemented different automatic approaches of detecting blood vessels in the retinal and also determining their tortuous states, the results obtained show that there are needs for further investigation on more efficient ways to detect and characterize the blood vessel network tortuosity states. This paper implements the use of an adaptive thresholding method based on local spatial relational variance (LSRV) for the detection of the retinal vascular networks. The suitability of a multi-layer perceptron artificial neural network (MLP-ANN) technique for the tortuosity characterization of retinal blood vascular networks is also presented in this paper. Some vessel geometric features of detected vessels are fed into ANN classifier for the automatic classification of the retinal vascular networks as being tortuous vessels or normal vessels. Experimental studies conducted on DRIVE and STARE databases show that the vascular network detection results obtained from the method implemented in this paper detects large and thin vascular networks in the retina. In comparison to preious methods in the literature, the proposed method for vascular network segmentation achieved better performance than several methods in the literature with a mean accuracy value of 95.04% and mean sensitivity value of 75.16% on DRIVE and mean accuracy value of 94.02% and average sensitivity value of 76.55% on STARE with computational processing time of 4.5 seconds and 9.4 seconds on DRIVE and STARE respectively. The MLP-ANN method proposed for the vascular network tortuosity characterization achieves promising accuracy rates of 77.5%, 80%, 83.33%, 85%, 86.67% and 100% for varying training sample sizes.
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52
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Seif M, Abd El-Aziz T, Sayed M, Wang Z. Zingiber officinale ethanolic extract attenuates oxidative stress, steroidogenic gene expression alterations, and testicular histopathology induced by sodium arsenite in male rats. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:19783-19798. [PMID: 33405108 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11509-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) indelibly exists in the environment and may reach to a food chain. Flavors and herbs are recognized sources of natural antioxidants that play imperative against harmful chemical pollutants. Ginger is utilized around the world as a zesty condiment. This study assessed the ability of ginger extract (GE) as a protector to improve regenerative disabilities initiated by sodium arsenate in reproductive functions in male rats. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley male rats weighted 240 ± 10 g were arbitrarily relegated into four experimental groups (n = 8): the control group; the GE-treated group received at 100 mg/kg BW; the As-treated group received sodium arsenite at 10 mg/kg BW; the fourth group received sodium arsenite additionally GE at mentioned doses for 4 weeks. Phytochemical results of GE revealed that GE had good antioxidative characteristics and high content of total flavonoid, tannins, alkaloids, and total phenolic components. Simultaneously, treatment of GE showed protection against oxidative stress induced by As and restoration of the serum cholesterol, testosterone, LH, and sperm parameter to normal levels. GE significantly improved the antioxidant activities (GSH, SOD, and CAT) as well as H2O2 and MDA in rats received concurrently the GE and As compared with control group. Moreover, the expression of genes controlling the cholesterol transportation and testosterone synthesis (SR-B1, StAR, CYP11A1, 3b-HSD, 17b-HSD, and CYP17a) as well as LHR showed a meaningful improvement in rats treated by GE plus As compared with their expression in the As-treated group. Besides, GE treatment exhibited significant recovered testis histopathological alterations, reduced the arsenic content in testes, and improved the sperm parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Seif
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, 22 Xinong Road, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
- Toxicology and Food Contaminants Department, Food Industries and Nutrition Research Division, National Research Centre, P.O. Box 12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
| | - Tamer Abd El-Aziz
- Parasitology and Animal Diseases Department, Veterinary Research Division, National Research Center, P.O. Box 12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Sayed
- Animal Reproductions and Artificial Insemination Department, Veterinary Research Division, National Research Center, P.O. Box 12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Zaizhao Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, 22 Xinong Road, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
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53
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Cena L, Biban P, Janos J, Lavelli M, Langfus J, Tsai A, Youngstrom EA, Stefana A. The Collateral Impact of COVID-19 Emergency on Neonatal Intensive Care Units and Family-Centered Care: Challenges and Opportunities. Front Psychol 2021; 12:630594. [PMID: 33716895 PMCID: PMC7943863 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.630594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is disrupting most specialized healthcare services worldwide, including those for high-risk newborns and their families. Due to the risk of contagion, critically ill infants, relatives and professionals attending neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are undergoing a profound remodeling of the organization and quality of care. In particular, mitigation strategies adopted to combat the COVID-19 pandemic may hinder the implementation of family-centered care within the NICU. This may put newborns at risk for several adverse effects, e.g., less weight gain, more nosocomial infections, increased length of NICU stay as well as long-term worse cognitive, emotional, and social development. This article aims to contribute to deepening the knowledge on the psychological impact of COVID-19 on parents and NICU staff members based on empirical data from the literature. We also provided evidence-based indications on how to safely empower families and support NICU staff facing such a threatening emergency, while preserving the crucial role of family-centered developmental care practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Cena
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Biban
- Department of Neonatal and Pediatric Critical Care, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Jessica Janos
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Manuela Lavelli
- Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Joshua Langfus
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Angelina Tsai
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Eric A. Youngstrom
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Alberto Stefana
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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54
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Schaanning MT, Beylich B, Gunnarsson JS, Eek E. Long-term effects of thin layer capping in the Grenland fjords, Norway: Reduced uptake of dioxins in passive samplers and sediment-dwelling organisms. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 264:128544. [PMID: 33065324 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Grenlandfjords in South East Norway are severely contaminated with dioxins from a magnesium smelter operated between 1950 and 2001. In 2009, the proposal of thin-layer capping as a potential mitigation method to reduce spreading of dioxins from the fjord sediments, resulted in the set-up of a large-scale field experiment in two fjord areas at 30 and 100 m depth. After capping, several investigations have been carried out to determine effects on benthic communities and bioavailability of dioxins. In this paper we present the results on uptake of dioxins and furans (PCDD/F) in passive samplers and two sediment-dwelling species exposed in boxcores collected from the test plots during four surveys between 2009 (after cap placement) and 2018. Sediment profile images (SPI) and analyses of dioxins revealed that the thin (1-5 cm) cap layers became buried beneath several centimeters of sediments resuspended from adjacent bottoms and deposited on the test plots after capping. Uptake reduction ratios (R) were calculated as dioxins accumulated in cores collected from capped sediments divided by dioxins accumulated in cores collected from uncapped reference sediments. Cap layers with dredged clay or crushed limestone had only short-term positive effect with R-values increasing to about 1.0 (no effect) 1-4 years after capping. In spite of the recontamination, cap layers with clay and activated carbon had significant long-term effects with R-values slowly increasing from 0.12-0.33 during the first three years to 0.39-0.46 in 2018, showing 54-61% reduced uptake of dioxins (PCDD/F-TE) nine years after capping with AC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Espen Eek
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, 0806, Oslo, Norway
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55
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Lust CAC, Bi X, Henry CJ, Ma DWL. Development of Fatty Acid Reference Ranges and Relationship with Lipid Biomarkers in Middle-Aged Healthy Singaporean Men and Women. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13020435. [PMID: 33572735 PMCID: PMC7911367 DOI: 10.3390/nu13020435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary fatty acids (FA) are essential for overall human health, yet individual FA reference ranges have yet to be established. Developing individual FA reference ranges can provide context to reported concentrations and whether an individual displays deficient, or excess amounts of FA. Reference ranges of sixty-seven individual FA (μmol/L) were profiled and analyzed using gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector from serum samples collected from 476 middle-aged Singaporean males (BMI:23.3 ± 2.9) and females (BMI:21.8 ± 3.6). Measures of triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol (TC) (mmol/L) were also collected. The mean FA concentration seen in this cohort (11,458 ± 2478 was similar to that of overweight North American cohorts assessed in past studies. Ten biologically relevant FA were compared between sexes, with females exhibiting significantly higher concentrations in four FA (p < 0.05). A multiple regression model revealed the ten FA contributed significantly to nearly all lipid biomarkers (p < 0.05). A majority of participants who had FA concentrations in the ≥95th percentile also exhibited TG, HDL, LDL, and TC levels in the “high” risk classification of developing cardiovascular disease. Future studies profiling individual FA reference ranges in many unique, global cohorts are necessary to develop cut-off values of individual FA concentrations highly related to disease-risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody A. C. Lust
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Xinyan Bi
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 14 Medical Drive #07-02, MD 6 Building, Singapore 117599, Singapore; (X.B.); (C.J.H.)
| | - Christiani Jeyakumar Henry
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 14 Medical Drive #07-02, MD 6 Building, Singapore 117599, Singapore; (X.B.); (C.J.H.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
| | - David W. L. Ma
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
- Correspondence:
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56
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Weaver SR, Skinner BD, Furlong R, Lucas RAI, Cable NT, Rendeiro C, McGettrick HM, Lucas SJE. Cerebral Hemodynamic and Neurotrophic Factor Responses Are Dependent on the Type of Exercise. Front Physiol 2021; 11:609935. [PMID: 33551835 PMCID: PMC7859714 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.609935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined acute cerebral hemodynamic and circulating neurotrophic factor responses to moderate intensity continuous exercise (MICT), guideline-based high intensity interval exercise (HIIT), and sprint interval exercise (SIT). We hypothesized that the pattern of middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) response would differ between interval and continuous exercise, with SIT inducing the smallest increase from rest, while increases in neurotrophic factors would be intensity-dependent. In a randomized crossover design, 24 healthy adults (nine females) performed three exercise protocols: (i) MICT (30 min), (ii) HIIT (4 × 4 min at 85% HRmax), and (iii) SIT (4 × 30 s supramaximal). MCAv significantly increased from rest across MICT (Δ13.1 ± 8.5 cm⋅s–1, p < 0.001) and all bouts of HIIT (Δ15.2 ± 9.8 cm⋅s–1, p < 0.001), but only for the initial bout of SIT (Δ17.3 ± 11.6 cm⋅s–1, p < 0.001). Immediately following each interval bout, MCAv increased (i.e., rebounded) for the SIT (9–14% above rest, p ≤ 0.04), but not HIIT protocol. SIT alone induced significant elevations from rest to end-exercise in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; Δ28 ± 36%, p = 0.017) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF, Δ149% ± 162%, p < 0.001) and there were greater increases in lactate than in either other protocol (>5-fold greater in SIT, p < 0.001), alongside a small significant reduction at the end of active recovery in insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, Δ22 ± 21%, p = 0.002). In conclusion, while the nature of the response may differ, both guideline-based and sprint-based interval exercise have the potential to induce significant changes in factors linked to improved cerebrovascular and brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel R Weaver
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Bethany D Skinner
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rhodri Furlong
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rebekah A I Lucas
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - N Timothy Cable
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Catarina Rendeiro
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Helen M McGettrick
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel J E Lucas
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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57
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Sperling JD, Dalkner N, Berndt C, Fleischmann E, Ratzenhofer M, Martini J, Pfennig A, Bauer M, Reininghaus E, Vinberg M. Physical Health Profile and Associated Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Patients With Bipolar Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:759694. [PMID: 34938211 PMCID: PMC8685329 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.759694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased psychological strain on public mental health and may impact behavioral, mental, and physical health, presumably with effects on patients with severe mental disorders. This study examines pandemic-related physical and mental health and (compensatory) behavioral changes, in patients with BD as compared to healthy control individuals. Method: Physical and mental health and self-reported changes in daily structure and behavior due to the pandemic were assessed using a self-constructed questionnaire and the brief symptom inventory (BSI) in Germany, Austria, and Denmark in individuals with BD and a healthy control group. Results: The present study included 118 individuals with BD and 215 healthy controls. Individuals with BD reported statistically significant higher physical risk burden, increased weight gain, more physical comorbidities, and a decrease in physical activity and they further reported higher rates of COVID-19 testing, had more worries concerning health, and experienced more anxiety but less social distancing. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have a greater impact on physical health in individuals with BD than in healthy controls. Individuals with BD appear to be having more difficulties compensating their behavior due to the pandemic which could amplify the effect of risk factors associated with poorer physical health. This highlights the necessity for optimizing and targeting the overall treatment of both mental and physical health in patients with BD during periods with far-reaching changes such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Limitations: Sampling issues and self-report forms, selectivity (missing elderly, and those lacking access or knowledge of technology).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Dyg Sperling
- Mental Health Center, Northern Zealand, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nina Dalkner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Christina Berndt
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Eva Fleischmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Michaela Ratzenhofer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Julia Martini
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andrea Pfennig
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bauer
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Eva Reininghaus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Maj Vinberg
- Mental Health Center, Northern Zealand, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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58
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Kovalenko AN, Karev VE, Solovyev AI, Vasilyeva MV, Isakov AN, Kapatsyna VA. [Tropical malaria with a fatal outcome]. Arkh Patol 2020; 82:50-54. [PMID: 33274627 DOI: 10.17116/patol20208206150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Tropical malaria is an acute infectious disease from a group of parasitic diseases transmitted by the vector-borne route. Russia registers deaths due to imported malaria. The paper gives brief information on the epidemiology, etiology, and clinical manifestations of the disease and describes the fatal outcome of cerebral tropical malaria, as well as morphological changes in organs and tissues. The K76T mutation associated with drug resistance in parasites was identified in the structure of the plasmodium gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- A N Kovalenko
- S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - V E Karev
- Pediatric Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases of the Federal Biomedical Agency, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - A I Solovyev
- S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - M V Vasilyeva
- Botkin Hospital (S.P. Botkin Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital), St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - A N Isakov
- Botkin Hospital (S.P. Botkin Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital), St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - V A Kapatsyna
- Botkin Hospital (S.P. Botkin Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital), St. Petersburg, Russia
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59
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Tanskanen JM, Ahtiainen A, Hyttinen JA. Toward Closed-Loop Electrical Stimulation of Neuronal Systems: A Review. Bioelectricity 2020; 2:328-347. [PMID: 34471853 PMCID: PMC8370352 DOI: 10.1089/bioe.2020.0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological neuronal cells communicate using neurochemistry and electrical signals. The same phenomena also allow us to probe and manipulate neuronal systems and communicate with them. Neuronal system malfunctions cause a multitude of symptoms and functional deficiencies that can be assessed and sometimes alleviated by electrical stimulation. Our working hypothesis is that real-time closed-loop full-duplex measurement and stimulation paradigms can provide more in-depth insight into neuronal networks and enhance our capability to control diseases of the nervous system. In this study, we review extracellular electrical stimulation methods used in in vivo, in vitro, and in silico neuroscience research and in the clinic (excluding methods mainly aimed at neuronal growth and other similar effects) and highlight the potential of closed-loop measurement and stimulation systems. A multitude of electrical stimulation and measurement-based methods are widely used in research and the clinic. Closed-loop methods have been proposed, and some are used in the clinic. However, closed-loop systems utilizing more complex measurement analysis and adaptive stimulation systems, such as artificial intelligence systems connected to biological neuronal systems, do not yet exist. Our review promotes the research and development of intelligent paradigms aimed at meaningful communications between neuronal and information and communications technology systems, "dialogical paradigms," which have the potential to take neuroscience and clinical methods to a new level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarno M.A. Tanskanen
- BioMediTech Institute and Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Annika Ahtiainen
- BioMediTech Institute and Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jari A.K. Hyttinen
- BioMediTech Institute and Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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60
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Abstract
Wikipedia is one of the main sources of free knowledge on the Web. During the first few months of the pandemic, over 5,200 new Wikipedia pages on COVID-19 were created, accumulating over 400 million page views by mid-June 2020. 1 At the same time, an unprecedented amount of scientific articles on COVID-19 and the ongoing pandemic have been published online. Wikipedia’s content is based on reliable sources, such as scientific literature. Given its public function, it is crucial for Wikipedia to rely on representative and reliable scientific results, especially in a time of crisis. We assess the coverage of COVID-19-related research in Wikipedia via citations to a corpus of over 160,000 articles. We find that Wikipedia editors are integrating new research at a fast pace, and have cited close to 2% of the COVID-19 literature under consideration. While doing so, they are able to provide a representative coverage of COVID-19-related research. We show that all the main topics discussed in this literature are proportionally represented from Wikipedia, after accounting for article-level effects. We further use regression analyses to model citations from Wikipedia and show that Wikipedia editors on average rely on literature that is highly cited, widely shared on social media, and peer-reviewed.
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Abstract
Reference ranges, which are data-based intervals aiming to contain a pre-specified large proportion of the population values, are powerful tools to analyse observations in clinical laboratories. Their main point is to classify any future observations from the population which fall outside them as atypical and thus may warrant further investigation. As a reference range is constructed from a random sample from the population, the event ‘a reference range contains (100 P)% of the population’ is also random. Hence, all we can hope for is that such event has a large occurrence probability. In this paper we argue that some intervals, including the P prediction interval, are not suitable as reference ranges since there is a substantial probability that these intervals contain less than (100 P)% of the population, especially when the sample size is large. In contrast, a (P,γ) tolerance interval is designed to contain (100 P)% of the population with a pre-specified large confidence γ so it is eminently adequate as a reference range. An example based on real data illustrates the paper’s key points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Mathematical Sciences & Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Mario Cortina-Borja
- Department of Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
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62
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A Comparative Study of Two Fractional-Order Equivalent Electrical Circuits for Modeling the Electrical Impedance of Dental Tissues. ENTROPY 2020; 22:e22101117. [PMID: 33286886 PMCID: PMC7597244 DOI: 10.3390/e22101117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background: Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a fast, non-invasive, and safe approach for electrical impedance measurement of biomedical tissues. Applied to dental research, EIS has been used to detect tooth cracks and caries with higher accuracy than visual or radiographic methods. Recent studies have reported age-related differences in human dental tissue impedance and utilized fractional-order equivalent circuit model parameters to represent these measurements. Objective: We aimed to highlight that fractional-order equivalent circuit models with different topologies (but same number of components) can equally well model the electrical impedance of dental tissues. Additionally, this work presents an equivalent circuit network that can be realized using Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) standard compliant RC component values to emulate the electrical impedance characteristics of dental tissues. Results: To validate the results, the goodness of fits of electrical impedance models were evaluated visually and statistically in terms of relative error, mean absolute error (MAE), root mean squared error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R2), Nash–Sutcliffe’s efficiency (NSE), Willmott’s index of agreement (WIA), or Legates’s coefficient of efficiency (LCE). The fit accuracy of proposed recurrent electrical impedance models for data representative of different age groups teeth dentin supports that both models can represent the same impedance data near perfectly. Significance: With the continued exploration of fractional-order equivalent circuit models to represent biological tissue data, it is important to investigate which models and model parameters are most closely associated with clinically relevant markers and physiological structures of the tissues/materials being measured and not just “fit” with experimental data. This exploration highlights that two different fractional-order models can fit experimental dental tissue data equally well, which should be considered during studies aimed at investigating different topologies to represent biological tissue impedance and their interpretation.
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63
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Kirkok SK, Kibet JK, Kinyanjui TK, Okanga FI. A review of persistent organic pollutants: dioxins, furans, and their associated nitrogenated analogues. SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-03551-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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64
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Edwards DA, Emerick B, Kondic AG, Kiradjiev K, Raymond C, Zyskin M. Mathematical models for the effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor on visual acuity. J Math Biol 2020; 81:1397-1428. [PMID: 32968840 DOI: 10.1007/s00285-020-01544-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The standard of care treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, delivered as ocular injection, is based on anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). The course of treatment may need to be modified quickly for certain patients based on their response. Models that track both the concentration and the response to an anti-VEGF treatment are presented. The specific focus is to assess the existence of analytical solutions for the different types of models. Both an ODE-based model and a map-based model illustrate the dependence of the solution on various biological parameters and allow the measurement of patient-specific parameters from experimental data. A PDE-based model incorporates diffusive effects. The results are consistent with observed values, and could provide a framework for practitioners to understand the effect of the therapy on the progression of the disease in both responsive and non-responsive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Edwards
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
| | - Brooks Emerick
- Department of Mathematics, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA, 19530, USA
| | | | | | - Christopher Raymond
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Maxim Zyskin
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PJ, UK
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Hashimoto Y, Michihata N, Yamana H, Shigemi D, Morita K, Matsui H, Yasunaga H, Aihara M. Intraocular pressure-lowering medications during pregnancy and risk of neonatal adverse outcomes: a propensity score analysis using a large database. Br J Ophthalmol 2020; 105:1390-1394. [PMID: 32907812 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-316198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS To investigate the association between exposure to intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medications during pregnancy and neonatal adverse outcomes. METHODS This retrospective, cohort study used the JMDC Claims Database (JMDC, Tokyo, Japan), 2005-2018. We extracted data on pregnant women with glaucoma, including dispensation of (1) any IOP-lowering medications, (2) only prostaglandin analogues (PGs) and 3) only beta-blockers, during the first trimester. We compared frequency of congenital anomalies (CA), preterm birth (PB), low birth weight (LBW) and the composite outcome of these three measures, between the women with and without IOP-lowering medications. We calculated propensity scores (PSs) using logistic regression in which use of IOP-lowering medications was regressed against known confounders (disorders during pregnancy and other chronic comorbidities). We then conducted logistic regression in which neonatal adverse outcomes were regressed against use of IOP-lowering medications with adjustment for the PS. RESULTS We identified 826 eligible women, 91 (11%) of whom had received any IOP-lowering medications. CA occurred in 9.9% and 6.4%, PB in 2.2% and 4.5%, LBW in 9.9% and 6.0% and composite outcome in 17.6% and 13.3% of mothers with and without IOP-lowering medications, respectively. After adjustment for PS, IOP-lowering medications were not significantly associated with more frequent CA (adjusted OR (aOR), 1.43; 95% CI, 0.66 to 3.12), PB (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.10 to 1.97), LBW (aOR, 2.11; 95% CI, 0.98 to 4.57) or composite outcome (aOR, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.78 to 2.53). Results were similar regarding PGs only and beta-blockers only. CONCLUSIONS IOP-lowering medications during the first trimester were not significantly associated with increase in CA, PB or LBW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohei Hashimoto
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku,Japan .,Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Economics, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku,Japan
| | - Nobuaki Michihata
- Department of Health Services Research, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku,Japan
| | - Hayato Yamana
- Department of Health Services Research, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku,Japan
| | - Daisuke Shigemi
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Economics, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku,Japan
| | - Kojiro Morita
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Economics, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku,Japan.,Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hiroki Matsui
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Economics, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku,Japan
| | - Hideo Yasunaga
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Economics, School of Public Health, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku,Japan
| | - Makoto Aihara
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku,Japan
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66
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Voegel CD, Baumgartner MR, Kraemer T, Wüst S, Binz TM. Simultaneous quantification of steroid hormones and endocannabinoids (ECs) in human hair using an automated supported liquid extraction (SLE) and LC-MS/MS - Insights into EC baseline values and correlation to steroid concentrations. Talanta 2020; 222:121499. [PMID: 33167212 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Endogenous steroid hormones and endocannabinoids (ECs) are important regulators in the stress response of the human body. For the measurement of chronic stress, hair analysis has been established as method of choice for long-term and retrospective determination of endogenous stress markers. A sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the quantification of five steroid hormones (cortisone, cortisol, androstenedione, testosterone, progesterone) and four endocannabinoids (anandamide, palmitoylethanolamide, 2-arachidonylglycerol, oleoylethanolamide) in hair was developed and validated. The hair samples were extracted with methanol and cleaned up with a fully automated supported liquid extraction (SLE) before analysis. Special attention was paid to the difficulties accompanying the quantification of endogenous analytes in hair. Five different strategies for endogenous compound quantification in hair (surrogate analyte, standard addition, background correction, stripped matrix and solvent calibration) were tested and compared. As a result, the approach of the surrogate analyte was used for the quantification of steroid hormones whereas background correction was used for endocannabinoids. The measurement of 58 samples from healthy young adults allowed insights into endocannabinoid ranges in hair and the correlation to steroid hormones. No significant differences in steroid and EC concentration levels of male and female in hair were found, except for testosterone (p < 0.001) and androstenedione (p < 0.0001). Cortisol to cortisone and testosterone to androstenedione concentrations were significantly and positively correlated. There were significant intercorrelations between endocannabinoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Daniela Voegel
- Center for Forensic Hair Analytics, Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus R Baumgartner
- Center for Forensic Hair Analytics, Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Kraemer
- Department of Forensic Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Wüst
- Institute of Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tina Maria Binz
- Center for Forensic Hair Analytics, Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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67
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Furlong RJ, Weaver SR, Sutherland R, Burley CV, Imi GM, Lucas RAI, Lucas SJE. Exercise-induced elevations in cerebral blood velocity are greater in running compared to cycling at higher intensities. Physiol Rep 2020; 8:e14539. [PMID: 32786068 PMCID: PMC7422808 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The optimal exercise intensity and modality for maximizing cerebral blood flow (CBF) and hence potential exposure to positive, hemodynamically derived cerebral adaptations is yet to be fully determined. This study compared CBF velocity responses between running and cycling across a range of exercise intensities. Twenty-six participants (12 females; age: 26 ± 8 years) completed four exercise sessions; two mode-specific maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max ) tests, followed by (order randomized) two incremental exercise protocols (3-min stages at 35%, 50%, 65%, 80%, 95% VO2max ). Continuous measures of middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv), oxygen consumption, end-tidal CO2 (PET CO2 ), and heart rate were obtained. Modality-specific MCAv changes were observed for the whole group (interaction effect: p = .01). Exercise-induced increases in MCAvmean during cycling followed an inverted-U pattern, peaking at 65% VO2max (Δ12 ± 7 cm/s from rest), whereas MCAvmean during running increased linearly up to 95% VO2max (change from rest: Δ12 ± 13 vs. Δ7 ± 8 cm/s for running vs. cycling at 95% VO2max ; p = .01). In contrast, both modalities had an inverted-U pattern for PET CO2 changes, although peaked at different intensities (running: 50% VO2max , Δ6 ± 2 mmHg; cycling: 65% VO2max , Δ7 ± 2 mmHg; interaction effect: p = .01). Further subgroup analysis revealed that the running-specific linear MCAvmean response was fitness dependent (Fitness*modality*intensity interaction effect: p = .04). Above 65% VO2max , fitter participants (n = 16; male > 45 mL/min/kg and female > 40 mL/min/kg) increased MCAvmean up to 95% VO2max , whereas in unfit participants (n = 7, male < mL/min/kg and female < 35 mL/min/kg) MCAvmean returned toward resting values. Findings demonstrate that modality- and fitness-specific profiles for MCAvmean are seen at exercise intensities exceeding 65% VO2max .
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhodri J. Furlong
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation SciencesCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Samuel R. Weaver
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation SciencesCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
- Centre for Human Brain HealthUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Rory Sutherland
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation SciencesCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Claire V. Burley
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation SciencesCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
- Centre for Human Brain HealthUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
- Dementia Centre for Research CollaborationSchool of PsychiatryUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
| | - Gabriella M. Imi
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation SciencesCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Rebekah A. I. Lucas
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation SciencesCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Samuel J. E. Lucas
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation SciencesCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
- Centre for Human Brain HealthUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
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68
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Andersen CY, Kelsey T, Mamsen LS, Vuong LN. Shortcomings of an unphysiological triggering of oocyte maturation using human chorionic gonadotropin. Fertil Steril 2020; 114:200-208. [PMID: 32654823 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Final maturation of follicles has, in connection with ovarian stimulation and infertility treatment, traditionally been achieved by the administration of a human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) bolus trigger of 5,000 to 10,000 IU. This trigger serves two purposes: induce oocyte maturation; and serve as luteal phase support owing to its long half-life. It now appears that the hCG bolus trigger is unable to support both these two purposes optimally. In particular, after an hCG trigger, the early luteal phase is hormonally abnormal and different from conditions observed in the natural menstrual cycle: the timing of the initiation of hCG and progesterone rise is much faster after an hCG trigger than in a natural menstrual cycle; the maximal concentrations of hCG and progesterone considerably exceed those naturally observed; and the timing of the peak progesterone concentration after an hCG trigger is advanced several days compared with the natural cycle. Furthermore, the hCG trigger without any follicle-stimulating hormone activity may induce oocyte maturation less efficiently than the combined luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone surge normally seen. Collectively, the endometrium is likely to be advanced after an hCG trigger, and the implantation potential is probably not optimal. The precise effect on pregnancy rates after the different progressions of hCG and progesterone concentrations during the early luteal phase has not yet been determined, but more individualized methods using more physiological approaches are likely to improve reproductive outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claus Yding Andersen
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, The Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Science, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Thomas Kelsey
- School of Computer Science, University of St Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland
| | - Linn Salto Mamsen
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, The Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lan Ngoc Vuong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; IVFMD, My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; HOPE Research Center, My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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69
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Mukherjee S, Arisi GM, Mims K, Hollingsworth G, O'Neil K, Shapiro LA. Neuroinflammatory mechanisms of post-traumatic epilepsy. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:193. [PMID: 32552898 PMCID: PMC7301453 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-01854-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs in as many as 64-74 million people worldwide each year and often results in one or more post-traumatic syndromes, including depression, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral deficits. TBI can also increase seizure susceptibility, as well as increase the incidence of epilepsy, a phenomenon known as post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). Injury type and severity appear to partially predict PTE susceptibility. However, a complete mechanistic understanding of risk factors for PTE is incomplete. MAIN BODY From the earliest days of modern neuroscience, to the present day, accumulating evidence supports a significant role for neuroinflammation in the post-traumatic epileptogenic progression. Notably, substantial evidence indicates a role for astrocytes, microglia, chemokines, and cytokines in PTE progression. Although each of these mechanistic components is discussed in separate sections, it is highly likely that it is the totality of cellular and neuroinflammatory interactions that ultimately contribute to the epileptogenic progression following TBI. CONCLUSION This comprehensive review focuses on the neuroinflammatory milieu and explores putative mechanisms involved in the epileptogenic progression from TBI to increased seizure-susceptibility and the development of PTE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjib Mukherjee
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Gabriel M Arisi
- Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sao Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Kaley Mims
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Lee A Shapiro
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA.
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70
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Dai Q, Xu X, Eskenazi B, Asante KA, Chen A, Fobil J, Bergman Å, Brennan L, Sly PD, Nnorom IC, Pascale A, Wang Q, Zeng EY, Zeng Z, Landrigan PJ, Bruné Drisse MN, Huo X. Severe dioxin-like compound (DLC) contamination in e-waste recycling areas: An under-recognized threat to local health. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 139:105731. [PMID: 32315892 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) burning and recycling activities have become one of the main emission sources of dioxin-like compounds (DLCs). Workers involved in e-waste recycling operations and residents living near e-waste recycling sites (EWRS) are exposed to high levels of DLCs. Epidemiological and experimental in vivo studies have reported a range of interconnected responses in multiple systems with DLC exposure. However, due to the compositional complexity of DLCs and difficulties in assessing mixture effects of the complex mixture of e-waste-related contaminants, there are few studies concerning human health outcomes related to DLC exposure at informal EWRS. In this paper, we have reviewed the environmental levels and body burdens of DLCs at EWRS and compared them with the levels reported to be associated with observable adverse effects to assess the health risks of DLC exposure at EWRS. In general, DLC concentrations at EWRS of many countries have been decreasing in recent years due to stricter regulations on e-waste recycling activities, but the contamination status is still severe. Comparison with available data from industrial sites and well-known highly DLC contaminated areas shows that high levels of DLCs derived from crude e-waste recycling processes lead to elevated body burdens. The DLC levels in human blood and breast milk at EWRS are higher than those reported in some epidemiological studies that are related to various health impacts. The estimated total daily intakes of DLCs for people in EWRS far exceed the WHO recommended total daily intake limit. It can be inferred that people living in EWRS with high DLC contamination have higher health risks. Therefore, more well-designed epidemiological studies are urgently needed to focus on the health effects of DLC pollution in EWRS. Continuous monitoring of the temporal trends of DLC levels in EWRS after actions is of highest importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyuan Dai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, China
| | - Xijin Xu
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, China
| | - Brenda Eskenazi
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | | | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Julius Fobil
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Ghana
| | - Åke Bergman
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Sweden; Department of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Sweden; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, China
| | - Lesley Brennan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter D Sly
- Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Antonio Pascale
- Department of Toxicology, University of the Republic, Uruguay
| | - Qihua Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, China
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, China
| | - Zhijun Zeng
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, China
| | | | - Marie-Noel Bruné Drisse
- Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Xia Huo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, China.
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71
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Blanco-Formoso M, Alvarez-Puebla RA. Cancer Diagnosis through SERS and Other Related Techniques. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062253. [PMID: 32214017 PMCID: PMC7139671 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer heterogeneity increasingly requires ultrasensitive techniques that allow early diagnosis for personalized treatment. In addition, they should preferably be non-invasive tools that do not damage surrounding tissues or contribute to body toxicity. In this context, liquid biopsy of biological samples such as urine, blood, or saliva represents an ideal approximation of what is happening in real time in the affected tissues. Plasmonic nanoparticles are emerging as an alternative or complement to current diagnostic techniques, being able to detect and quantify novel biomarkers such as specific peptides and proteins, microRNA, circulating tumor DNA and cells, and exosomes. Here, we review the latest ideas focusing on the use of plasmonic nanoparticles in coded and label-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. Moreover, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, colorimetric assays, dynamic light scattering (DLS) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry or total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy among others are briefly examined in order to highlight the potential and versatility of plasmonics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Blanco-Formoso
- Department of Physical Chemistry and EMaS, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.B.-F.); (R.A.A.-P.)
| | - Ramon A. Alvarez-Puebla
- Department of Physical Chemistry and EMaS, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.B.-F.); (R.A.A.-P.)
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72
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Tuomisto JT, Asikainen A, Meriläinen P, Haapasaari P. Health effects of nutrients and environmental pollutants in Baltic herring and salmon: a quantitative benefit-risk assessment. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:64. [PMID: 31941472 PMCID: PMC6964011 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-8094-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health risks linked with dioxin in fish remain a complex policy issue. Fatty Baltic fish contain persistent pollutants, but they are otherwise healthy food. We studied the health benefits and risks associated with Baltic herring and salmon in four countries to identify critical uncertainties and to facilitate an evidence-based discussion. METHODS We performed an online survey investigating consumers' fish consumption and its motivation in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden. Dioxin and methylmercury concentrations were estimated based on Finnish studies. Exposure-response functions for several health endpoints were evaluated and quantified based on the scientific literature. We also quantified the infertility risk of men based on a recent European risk assessment estimating childhood dioxin exposure and its effect on sperm concentration later in life. RESULTS Baltic herring and salmon contain omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, and the beneficial impact of these fishes on cardiovascular diseases, mortality, and the risk of depression and cancer clearly outweighs risks of dioxins and methylmercury in people older than 45 years of age and in young men. Young women may expose their children to pollutants during pregnancy and breast feeding. This study suggests that even in this critical subgroup, the risks are small and the health benefits are greater than or at least similar to the health risks. Value of information analysis demonstrated that the remaining scientific uncertainties are not large. In contrast, there are several critical uncertainties that are inherently value judgements, such as whether exceeding the tolerable weekly intake is an adverse outcome as such; and whether or not subgroup-specific restrictions are problematic. CONCLUSIONS The potential health risks attributable to dioxins in Baltic fish have more than halved in the past 10 years. The new risk assessment issued by the European Food Safety Authority clearly increases the fraction of the population exceeding the tolerable dioxin intake, but nonetheless, quantitative estimates of net health impacts change only marginally. Increased use of small herring (which have less pollutants) is a no-regret option. A more relevant value-based policy discussion rather than research is needed to clarify official recommendations related to dioxins in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arja Asikainen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
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73
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Kojic M, Milosevic M, Simic V, Milicevic B, Geroski V, Nizzero S, Ziemys A, Filipovic N, Ferrari M. Smeared Multiscale Finite Element Models for Mass Transport and Electrophysiology Coupled to Muscle Mechanics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 7:381. [PMID: 31921800 PMCID: PMC6914730 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mass transport represents the most fundamental process in living organisms. It includes delivery of nutrients, oxygen, drugs, and other substances from the vascular system to tissue and transport of waste and other products from cells back to vascular and lymphatic network and organs. Furthermore, movement is achieved by mechanical forces generated by muscles in coordination with the nervous system. The signals coming from the brain, which have the character of electrical waves, produce activation within muscle cells. Therefore, from a physics perspective, there exist a number of physical fields within the body, such as velocities of transport, pressures, concentrations of substances, and electrical potential, which is directly coupled to biochemical processes of transforming the chemical into mechanical energy and further internal forces for motion. The overall problems of mass transport and electrophysiology coupled to mechanics can be investigated theoretically by developing appropriate computational models. Due to the enormous complexity of the biological system, it would be almost impossible to establish a detailed computational model for the physical fields related to mass transport, electrophysiology, and coupled fields. To make computational models feasible for applications, we here summarize a concept of smeared physical fields, with coupling among them, and muscle mechanics, which includes dependence on the electrical potential. Accuracy of the smeared computational models, also with coupling to muscle mechanics, is illustrated with simple example, while their applicability is demonstrated on a liver model with tumors present. The last example shows that the introduced methodology is applicable to large biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milos Kojic
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States.,Bioengineering Research and Development Center BioIRC Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia.,Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miljan Milosevic
- Bioengineering Research and Development Center BioIRC Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia.,Faculty of Information Technologies, Belgrade Metropolitan University, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Simic
- Bioengineering Research and Development Center BioIRC Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Bogdan Milicevic
- Bioengineering Research and Development Center BioIRC Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Geroski
- Bioengineering Research and Development Center BioIRC Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Sara Nizzero
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States.,Applied Physics Graduate Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Arturas Ziemys
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Nenad Filipovic
- Faculty for Engineering Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Mauro Ferrari
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
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Haldar S, Ghosh S, Kumar V, Roy P, Lahiri D. The Evolving Neural Tissue Engineering Landscape of India. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2019; 2:5446-5459. [PMID: 35021543 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.9b00567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The healthcare sector in India is witnessing unprecedented advancement. Tissue engineering has become an integral part of healthcare and medicine, particularly where treatments involve functional restoration of any injured or deceased part of the body. Not falling behind much with the progressing medical and healthcare sector of India, tissue engineering is also gaining momentum in the country. Out of several arenas of tissue engineering, India has made its mark in orthopedic and bone regeneration, cosmetic and skin regeneration, and very importantly neural regeneration. There are several articles reviewing the progress and prospects of orthopedic and skin regeneration research in India. However, there is no systematic review on progress, prospects, and pitfalls associated with neural tissue engineering in Indian context. The existing ones mainly focus on the technical advancements in the field from a global perspective. Therefore, it is worthwhile to have an organized look at the evolving neural tissue engineering landscape of India. This review will walk the readers systematically through different aspects of the topic. The review starts with an introduction to the nervous system to help readers appreciate the complexity that must be dealt with while engineering neural tissue. This is followed with a global picture of the neural tissue engineering, prominent research groups working on neural tissue engineering in India, factors that have and are currently molding the prospects of this field, and concluding with an overall perspective on present and future of neural tissue engineering in India.
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75
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Melkikh AV, Sutormina M. Intra- and intercellular transport of substances: Models and mechanisms. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 150:184-202. [PMID: 31678255 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2019.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Non-equilibrium-statistical models of intracellular transport are built. The most significant features of these models are microscopic reversibility and the explicit considerations of the driving forces of the process - the ATP-ADP chemical potential difference. In this paper, water transport using contractile vacuoles, the transport and assembly of microtubules and microfilaments, the protein distribution within a cell, the transport of neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft and the transport of substances between cells using plasmodesmata are discussed. Endocytosis and phagocytosis models are considered, and transport tasks and information transfer mechanisms inside the cell are explored. Based on an analysis of chloroplast movement, it was concluded that they have a complicated method of influencing each other in the course of their movements. The role of quantum effects in sorting and control transport mechanisms is also discussed. It is likely that quantum effects play a large role in these processes, otherwise reliable molecular recognition would be impossible, which would lead to very low intracellular transport efficiency.
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76
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Huber G, Berthault P, Nguyen AL, Pruvost A, Barruet E, Rivollier J, Heck MP, Prieur B. Cucurbit[5]uril derivatives as oxygen carriers. Supramol Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/10610278.2019.1655565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gaspard Huber
- NIMBE, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Patrick Berthault
- NIMBE, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Anvi Laetitia Nguyen
- SPI, Plateforme SMArt-MS, CEA, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Alain Pruvost
- SPI, Plateforme SMArt-MS, CEA, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Elodie Barruet
- NIMBE, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Julie Rivollier
- SCBM, Joliot, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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A Probable Fatal Case of Oleander (Nerium oleander) Poisoning on a Cattle Farm: A New Method of Detection and Quantification of the Oleandrin Toxin in Rumen. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11080442. [PMID: 31349685 PMCID: PMC6723884 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11080442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Oleander (Nerium oleander) is an ornamental plant common in tropical and sub-tropical regions that is becoming increasingly widespread, even in temperate regions. Oleander poisoning may occur in animals and humans. The main active components contained in the plant are cardiac glycosides belonging to the class of cardenolides that are toxic to many species, from human to insects. This work describes a case of oleander poisoning that occurred on a small cattle farm and resulted in the fatality of all six resident animals. Furthermore, the investigation of the poisonous agent is described, with particular focus on the characterization of the oleandrin toxin that was recovered from the forage and rumen contents. The innovation of this study is the first description of the detection and quantification of the oleandrin toxin by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) in rumen.
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78
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Barreiro G, de Lima VS, Cavazzola LT. Abdominal skin tensile strength in aesthetic and massive weight loss patients and its role in ventral hernia repair. BMC Surg 2019; 19:68. [PMID: 31242888 PMCID: PMC6595693 DOI: 10.1186/s12893-019-0523-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clarifying the biomechanics of abdominal skin could lead to different uses for this tissue such as the ventral repair of hernias in patients with excess skin and incisional hernias. The objective of this study was to compare the maximum tensile strength of abdominal skin to commercial meshes and to verify whether or not it varies between aesthetic patients and massive weight-loss patients. Methods Experimental cross-sectional study. Skin samples sized 32 × 20 mm were taken from 15 abdominoplasties and 10 panniculectomies. The skin specimens were analyzed in vertical and horizontal tensile strength tests. Results were compared between the two groups including their traction directions. Commercial meshes were also tested. The results were analyzed using the Generalized Estimating Equation. Results The maximum tensile strength supported vertically by abdominal dermis was 403.5 ± 27.4 N in the abdominoplasty group and 425.9 ± 33.9 N in the panniculectomy group. Horizontally, the values were 596.5 ± 32.2 N and 612.5 ± 43.9 N respectively. The strengths between traction directions were significantly different (p < 0.001). There were no differences between the groups with regard to the maximum tensile strength (p = 0.472). Tested commercial meshes had the following values: polypropylene 104.6 N, low-weight polypropylene 54.4 N, polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) 82.2 N, and hydrated porcine small-intestinal submucosa 60.0 N. Conclusion In our study, the tensile strength of the tested human abdominal dermis samples, both aesthetic and post-bariatric, was superior to the commercial meshes. Therefore, in selected cases, abdominal dermis could be an alternative tool in abdominal reconstruction during panniculectomies with concomitant hernia repair. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12893-019-0523-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Barreiro
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. .,Hospital Conceição, Porto Alegre, Brazil. .,, Sinop/MT, Brazil.
| | | | - Leandro T Cavazzola
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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79
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Progesterone relates to enhanced incisional acute pain and pinprick hyperalgesia in the luteal phase of female volunteers. Pain 2019; 160:1781-1793. [DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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80
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Induced lumbosacral radicular symptom referral patterns: a descriptive study. Spine J 2019; 19:163-170. [PMID: 29800710 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT Lumbosacral radicular symptoms are commonly evaluated in clinical practice. Level-specific diagnosis is crucial for management. Clinical decisions are often made by correlating a patient's symptom distribution and imaging with sensory dermatomal maps. It is common for patients to describe non-dermatomal symptom patterns and for imaging to demonstrate pathology at levels not predicted by a dermatomal map. These observations suggest that the referred symptom distribution from lumbosacral nerve root provocation is different from dermatomal maps. This phenomenon has been demonstrated in the cervical spine but not in the lumbosacral spine. PURPOSE The objective of this study was to characterize potential lumbosacral radicular symptom referral patterns induced during transforaminal epidural injections. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING This is an observational descriptive study. PATIENT SAMPLE The patient sample included 71 consecutive patients with lumbosacral radicular pain undergoing lumbosacral transforaminal epidural injections at an outpatient interventional spine practice. OUTCOME MEASURES Each subject drew the location of provoked lumbosacral radicular symptoms on a pain diagram. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-one consecutive patients undergoing 125 fluoroscopically guided lumbosacral transforaminal epidural injections at an outpatient interventional spine practice were included in the study. The described location of provoked symptoms was recorded (1) after final needle positioning, (2) after injection of up to 0.5 mL of contrast solution, and (3) after injection of up to a 1 mL test dose of 1% lidocaine. Each subject drew the location of provoked symptoms on a diagram. The provoked symptom diagrams for each lumbosacral segmental level were combined to create composite nerve root, level-specific, symptom referral pattern maps. RESULTS Of the 125 injections, 87 provoked referred symptoms and were included in the analysis. Thirty-eight injections did not provoke referred pain symptoms and were excluded from further analysis. Four nerve roots were tested at L1 and eight were tested at L2. Because of the small number of subjects, composite diagrams and statistical analysis were not completed for these levels. Eleven nerve roots were analyzed at L3, 28 at L4, 34 at L5, and 11 at S1. Composite symptom referral pattern maps were created for levels L3, L4, L5, and S1. Although the symptom distribution occasionally followed the expected dermatomal maps, most often the referral was outside of the patterns expected for each level. The most common symptom referral pattern for levels L3-S1 was the buttock, the posterior thigh, and the posterior calf. CONCLUSIONS The level-specific provoked symptom distribution during lumbosacral transforaminal epidural injections is frequently different from that predicted by classic lumbosacral dermatomal maps. Referred pain to the buttock, the posterior thigh, or the posterior calf may come from L3, L4, L5, or S1 nerve root segmental irritation.
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81
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Wu L, Butler NJM, Swanson RA. Technical and Comparative Aspects of Brain Glycogen Metabolism. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2019; 23:169-185. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-27480-1_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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82
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Farber PL, Freitas T, Saldanha C, Silva-Herdade AS. Beta-estradiol and ethinylestradiol enhance RBC deformability dependent on their blood concentration. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc 2018; 70:339-345. [DOI: 10.3233/ch-180392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Teresa Freitas
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carlota Saldanha
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Santos Silva-Herdade
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal
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83
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Uskov AN, Soloviev AI, Kravtsov VY, Gudkov RV, Kolomoets EV, Levkovskiy AE. MOLECULAR-GENETIC MECHANISMS OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM VIRULENCE AND TROPICAL MALARIA PATHOGENESIS. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.22625/2072-6732-2018-10-3-23-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
There is introduced the analysis of molecular-genetic mechanisms of tropical malaria pathogenesis and P. falciparum virulence. It is shown, that pathogenesis of tropical malaria is associated with the properties of red blood cells membrane surface (RBCs or erythrocytes) that are infected by P. falciparum. There are «knobs structures» on membrane surface infected RBCs. Knobs structures contains a complex of P. falciparum proteins – PfEMP1 (Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1). PfEMP1 is associated with virulence of P. falciparum. Complex PfEMP1 has difficult polymorphous structure. Domains of PfEMP1 are able to associate with different cell receptors. Virulence`s individual components of the main factor are selectively sensitive to different tissues and organs. The severity of the clinical malaria infection course depends on the complex structure PfEMP1 of malaria parasites. Composition of polypeptide PfEMP1 is determined by var-complex. Nowadays there are 60 variants of var-complex. Regulation of gene expression, forming part of the var-complex, is carried out on a molecular-genetic level, cellular level, tissue level. Modern research in this area are aimed to explore genes polymorphism of the virulence`s main factor, to identify mechanism of its differential expression. Search of molecular – genetic markers is relevant to develop methods of gene diagnostic and malaria vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. N. Uskov
- Pediatric Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases
| | | | | | | | - E. V. Kolomoets
- Medical serves of Compagnie des Bauxites de Kindia (СВК of UC Rusal)
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84
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Schier P, Handler M, Johnson Chacko L, Schrott-Fischer A, Fritscher K, Saba R, Baumgartner C, Baumgarten D. Model-Based Vestibular Afferent Stimulation: Evaluating Selective Electrode Locations and Stimulation Waveform Shapes. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:588. [PMID: 30214391 PMCID: PMC6125370 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
A dysfunctional vestibular system can be a severe detriment to the quality of life of a patient. Recent studies have shown the feasibility for a vestibular implant to restore rotational sensation via electrical stimulation of vestibular ampullary nerves. However, the optimal stimulation site for selective elicitation of the desired nerve is still unknown. We realized a finite element model on the basis of μCT scans of a human inner ear and incorporated naturally distributed, artificial neural trajectories. A well-validated neuron model of myelinated fibers was incorporated to predict nerve responses to electrical stimulation. Several virtual electrodes were placed in locations of interest inside the bony labyrinth (intra-labyrinthine) and inside the temporal bone, near the target nerves (extra-labyrinthine), to determine preferred stimulation sites and electrode insertion depths. We investigated various monopolar and bipolar electrode configurations as well as different pulse waveform shapes for their ability to selectively stimulate the target nerve and for their energy consumption. The selectivity was evaluated with an objective measure of the fiber recruitment. Considerable differences of required energy and achievable selectivity between the configurations were observed. Bipolar, intra-labyrinthine electrodes provided the best selectivities but also consumed the highest amount of energy. Bipolar, extra-labyrinthine configurations did not offer any advantages compared to the monopolar approach. No selective stimulation could be performed with the monopolar, intra-labyrinthine approach. The monopolar, extra-labyrinthine electrodes required the least energy for satisfactory selectivities, making it the most promising approach for functional vestibular implants. Different pulse waveform shapes did not affect the achieved selectivity considerably but shorter pulse durations showed consistently a more selective activation of the target nerves. A cathodic, centered triangular waveform shape was identified as the most energy-efficient of the tested shapes. Based on these simulations we are able to recommend the monopolar, extra-labyrinthine stimulation approach with cathodic, centered triangular pulses as good trade-off between selectivity and energy consumption. Future implant designs could benefit from the findings presented here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Schier
- Department for Biomedical Computer Science and Mechatronics, Institute of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, UMIT-Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Michael Handler
- Department for Biomedical Computer Science and Mechatronics, Institute of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, UMIT-Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Lejo Johnson Chacko
- Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Karl Fritscher
- Department for Biomedical Computer Science and Mechatronics, Institute of Biomedical Image Analysis, UMIT-Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | | | - Christian Baumgartner
- Department for Biomedical Computer Science and Mechatronics, Institute of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, UMIT-Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria.,Faculty of Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Health Care Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Daniel Baumgarten
- Department for Biomedical Computer Science and Mechatronics, Institute of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, UMIT-Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria.,Department of Computer Science and Automation, Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Ilmenau, Germany
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85
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Multiple nutritional factors and thyroid disease, with particular reference to autoimmune thyroid disease. Proc Nutr Soc 2018; 78:34-44. [DOI: 10.1017/s0029665118001192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves’ disease (GD) are examples of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), the commonest autoimmune condition. Antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPO), the enzyme that catalyses thyroid-hormone production and antibodies to the receptor for the thyroid-stimulating hormone, are characteristic of HT and GD, respectively. It is presently accepted that genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, including nutritional factors and immune disorders contribute to the development of AITD. Aiming to investigate the effect of iodine, iron and selenium in the risk, pathogenesis and treatment of thyroid disease, PubMed and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant publications to provide a narrative review.Iodine: chronic exposure to excess iodine intake induces autoimmune thyroiditis, partly because highly-iodinated thyroglobulin (Tg) is more immunogenic. The recent introduction of universal salt iodisation can have a similar, although transient, effect.Iron: iron deficiency impairs thyroid metabolism. TPO is a haem enzyme that becomes active only after binding haem. AITD patients are frequently iron-deficient since autoimmune gastritis, which reduces iron absorption and coeliac disease which causes iron loss, are frequent co-morbidities. In two-thirds of women with persistent symptoms of hypothyroidism despite appropriate levothyroxine therapy, restoration of serum ferritin above 100 µg/l ameliorated symptoms.Selenium: selenoproteins are essential to thyroid action. In particular, the glutathione peroxidases remove excessive hydrogen peroxide produced there for the iodination of Tg to form thyroid hormones. There is evidence from observational studies and randomised controlled trials that selenium, probably as selenoproteins, can reduce TPO-antibody concentration, hypothyroidism and postpartum thyroiditis. Appropriate status of iodine, iron and selenium is crucial to thyroid health.
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86
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Nelissen JL, Traa WA, de Boer HH, de Graaf L, Mazzoli V, Savci-Heijink CD, Nicolay K, Froeling M, Bader DL, Nederveen AJ, Oomens CWJ, Strijkers GJ. An advanced magnetic resonance imaging perspective on the etiology of deep tissue injury. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2018; 124:1580-1596. [DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00891.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Early diagnosis of deep tissue injury remains problematic due to the complicated and multifactorial nature of damage induction and the many processes involved in damage development and recovery. In this paper, we present a comprehensive assessment of deep tissue injury development and remodeling in a rat model by multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathology. The tibialis anterior muscle of rats was subjected to mechanical deformation for 2 h. Multiparametric in vivo MRI, consisting of T2, T2*, mean diffusivity (MD), and angiography measurements, was applied before, during, and directly after indentation as well as at several time points during a 14-day follow-up. MRI readouts were linked to histological analyses of the damaged tissue. The results showed dynamic change in various MRI parameters, reflecting the histopathological status of the tissue during damage induction and repair. Increased T2 corresponded with edema, muscle cell damage, and inflammation. T2* was related to tissue perfusion, hemorrhage, and inflammation. MD increase and decrease was reported on the tissue’s microstructural integrity and reflected muscle degeneration and edema as well as fibrosis. Angiography provided information on blockage of blood flow during deformation. Our results indicate that the effects of a single damage-causing event of only 2 h of deformation were present up to 14 days. The initial tissue response to deformation, as observed by MRI, starts at the edge of the indentation. The quantitative MRI readouts provided distinct and complementary information on the extent, temporal evolution, and microstructural basis of deep tissue injury-related muscle damage. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We have applied a multiparametric MRI approach linked to histopathology to characterize damage development and remodeling in a rat model of deep tissue injury. Our approach provided several relevant insights in deep tissue injury. Response to damage, as observed by MRI, started at some distance from the deformation. Damage after a single indentation period persisted up to 14 days. The MRI parameters provided distinct and complementary information on the microstructural basis of the damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jules L. Nelissen
- Biomedical NMR, Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke A. Traa
- Soft Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology, Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Hans H. de Boer
- Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Larry de Graaf
- Biomedical NMR, Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Valentina Mazzoli
- Biomedical NMR, Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Klaas Nicolay
- Biomedical NMR, Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn Froeling
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dan L. Bader
- Soft Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology, Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Aart J. Nederveen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cees W. J. Oomens
- Soft Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology, Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Gustav J. Strijkers
- Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Rahman H, Currier E, Johnson M, Goding R, Johnson AW, Kersh ME. Primary and Secondary Consequences of Rotator Cuff Injury on Joint Stabilizing Tissues in the Shoulder. J Biomech Eng 2018; 139:2654666. [PMID: 28916837 DOI: 10.1115/1.4037917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are one of the primary causes of shoulder pain and dysfunction in the upper extremity accounting over 4.5 million physician visits per year with 250,000 rotator cuff repairs being performed annually in the U.S. While the tear is often considered an injury to a specific tendon/tendons and consequently treated as such, there are secondary effects of RCTs that may have significant consequences for shoulder function. Specifically, RCTs have been shown to affect the joint cartilage, bone, the ligaments, as well as the remaining intact tendons of the shoulder joint. Injuries associated with the upper extremities account for the largest percent of workplace injuries. Unfortunately, the variable success rate related to RCTs motivates the need for a better understanding of the biomechanical consequences associated with the shoulder injuries. Understanding the timing of the injury and the secondary anatomic consequences that are likely to have occurred are also of great importance in treatment planning because the approach to the treatment algorithm is influenced by the functional and anatomic state of the rotator cuff and the shoulder complex in general. In this review, we summarized the contribution of RCTs to joint stability in terms of both primary (injured tendon) and secondary (remaining tissues) consequences including anatomic changes in the tissues surrounding the affected tendon/tendons. The mechanical basis of normal shoulder joint function depends on the balance between active muscle forces and passive stabilization from the joint surfaces, capsular ligaments, and labrum. Evaluating the role of all tissues working together as a system for maintaining joint stability during function is important to understand the effects of RCT, specifically in the working population, and may provide insight into root causes of shoulder injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafizur Rahman
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 e-mail:
| | - Eric Currier
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 e-mail:
| | - Marshall Johnson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332 e-mail:
| | - Rick Goding
- Department of Orthopaedic, Joint Preservation Institute of Iowa, West Des Moines, IA 50266 e-mail:
| | - Amy Wagoner Johnson
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 e-mail:
| | - Mariana E Kersh
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 e-mail:
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Soodmand E, Kluess D, Varady PA, Cichon R, Schwarze M, Gehweiler D, Niemeyer F, Pahr D, Woiczinski M. Interlaboratory comparison of femur surface reconstruction from CT data compared to reference optical 3D scan. Biomed Eng Online 2018; 17:29. [PMID: 29495963 PMCID: PMC5833145 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-018-0461-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study contrasts the accuracy of different reconstructed models with distinctive segmentation methods performed by various experts. Seven research groups reconstructed nine 3D models of one human femur based on an acquired CT image using their own computational methods. As a reference model for accuracy assessment, a 3D surface scan of the human femur was created using an optical measuring system. Prior to comparison, the femur was divided into four areas; "neck and greater trochanter", "proximal metaphysis", "diaphysis", and "distal metaphysis". The deviation analysis was carried out in GEOMAGIC studio v.2013 software. RESULTS The results revealed that the highest deviation errors occurred in "neck and greater trochanter" area and "proximal metaphysis" area with RMSE of 0.84 and 0.83 mm respectively. CONCLUSION In conclusion, this study shows that the average deviation of reconstructed models prepared by experts with various methods, skills and software from the surface 3D scan is lower than 0.79 mm, which is not a significant discrepancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Soodmand
- Biomechanics and Implant Technology Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics, University Medicine Rostock, Doberaner Strasse 142, 18057, Rostock, Germany.
| | - Daniel Kluess
- Biomechanics and Implant Technology Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics, University Medicine Rostock, Doberaner Strasse 142, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Patrick A Varady
- Trauma Center Murnau Institute of Biomechanics, Professor-Küntscher-Str. 882418, Murnau am Staffelsee, Germany
| | - Robert Cichon
- Chair of Mechanics and Robotics, University Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstrasse 1, 47057, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Michael Schwarze
- Laboratory for Biomechanics and Biomaterials of the Orthopaedic Clinic, Hannover Medical School, Anna-von-Borries-Strasse 1-7, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dominic Gehweiler
- Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Frank Niemeyer
- Fraunhofer Research Institution for Large Structures in Production Engineering (IGP), Albert-Einstein-Str. 30, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Dieter Pahr
- Institute of Lightweight Design and Structural Biomechanics, TU Vienna, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Woiczinski
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital of Munich (LMU), Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
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89
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A Review of Smart Materials in Tactile Actuators for Information Delivery. C — JOURNAL OF CARBON RESEARCH 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/c3040038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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90
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Hernández Ruiz de Eguilaz M, Martínez de Morentin Aldabe B, Almiron-Roig E, Pérez-Diez S, San Cristóbal Blanco R, Navas-Carretero S, Martínez JA. Multisensory influence on eating behavior: Hedonic consumption. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 65:114-125. [PMID: 29226823 DOI: 10.1016/j.endinu.2017.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Research in obesity has traditionally focused on prevention strategies and treatments aimed at changing lifestyle habits. However, recent research suggests that eating behavior is a habit regulated not only by homeostatic mechanisms, but also by the hedonic pathway that controls appetite and satiety processes. Cognitive, emotional, social, economic, and cultural factors, as well as organoleptic properties of food, are basic aspects to consider in order to understand eating behavior and its impact on health. This review presents a multisensory integrative view of food at both the homeostatic and non-homeostatic levels. This information will be of scientific interest to determine behavior drivers leading to overeating and, thus, to propose effective measures, at both the individual and population levels, for the prevention of obesity and associated metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Hernández Ruiz de Eguilaz
- Unidad Metabólica, Centro de Investigación en Nutrición, Departamento de Ciencias de la Alimentación y Fisiología, Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, España
| | - Blanca Martínez de Morentin Aldabe
- Unidad Metabólica, Centro de Investigación en Nutrición, Departamento de Ciencias de la Alimentación y Fisiología, Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, España
| | - Eva Almiron-Roig
- Unidad Metabólica, Centro de Investigación en Nutrición, Departamento de Ciencias de la Alimentación y Fisiología, Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, España
| | - Salomé Pérez-Diez
- Unidad Metabólica, Centro de Investigación en Nutrición, Departamento de Ciencias de la Alimentación y Fisiología, Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, España
| | - Rodrigo San Cristóbal Blanco
- Unidad Metabólica, Centro de Investigación en Nutrición, Departamento de Ciencias de la Alimentación y Fisiología, Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, España
| | - Santiago Navas-Carretero
- Unidad Metabólica, Centro de Investigación en Nutrición, Departamento de Ciencias de la Alimentación y Fisiología, Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, España
| | - J Alfredo Martínez
- Unidad Metabólica, Centro de Investigación en Nutrición, Departamento de Ciencias de la Alimentación y Fisiología, Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, España.
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91
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Khashana A, Ahmed E. Hyperdehydroepiandrosterone in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and circulatory collapse. Pediatr Neonatol 2017; 58:504-508. [PMID: 28462900 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2016.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Revised: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circulatory collapse is a very common complication of the critical illnesses in neonates including neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy; it can be the end result and cause of death of several conditions. Often, despite treatment with fluid resuscitation and vasopressor agents, circulatory collapse persist, and blood pressure can remain critically low, compromising adequate blood flow to vital organs and brain. Low blood pressure has been associated with increased mortality. METHOD To investigate adrenal function in newborn infants who suffer from circulatory collapse during hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. A total of 30 infants were analyzed in the study: 15 neonates in group A (neonates had hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy with vasopressor resistant hypotension) and 15 neonates in group B (neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy without vasopressor resistant hypotension). All the studied patients were subjected to history, examinations and laboratory investigation including serum cortisol concentrations and cortisol precursor's levels. RESULTS The cortisol concentrations did not differ significantly between the two groups: (12.9 ± 4.3) μg/dL and (12.1 ± 2.4) μg/dL in group A and group B, respectively. There are highly significant differences between groups A and B regarding Dehydroepiandrosterone (342.1 ± 101.3) μg/dL, (33.4 ± 16.5) μg/dL, respectively. CONCLUSION In this study, we noticed that cortisol concentrations did not differ between both groups in contrast to the expectation that neonates with critical illnesses should have higher cortisol concentrations than normal neonates. However, the marked increase in dehydroepiandrosterone DHEA may cause decrease cortisol function, so those neonates having accumulation of dehydroepiandrosterone may suffer from manifestation of adrenal insufficiency and vasopressor resistant hypotension in spite of normal cortisol level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelmoneim Khashana
- PEDEGO Research Center, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Suez Canal University Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt.
| | - Engy Ahmed
- Epidemiology and Statistics, Health authority, Ismailia, Egypt
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92
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Torkamani A, Andersen KG, Steinhubl SR, Topol EJ. High-Definition Medicine. Cell 2017; 170:828-843. [PMID: 28841416 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The foundation for a new era of data-driven medicine has been set by recent technological advances that enable the assessment and management of human health at an unprecedented level of resolution-what we refer to as high-definition medicine. Our ability to assess human health in high definition is enabled, in part, by advances in DNA sequencing, physiological and environmental monitoring, advanced imaging, and behavioral tracking. Our ability to understand and act upon these observations at equally high precision is driven by advances in genome editing, cellular reprogramming, tissue engineering, and information technologies, especially artificial intelligence. In this review, we will examine the core disciplines that enable high-definition medicine and project how these technologies will alter the future of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Torkamani
- The Scripps Translational Science Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Kristian G Andersen
- The Scripps Translational Science Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Steven R Steinhubl
- The Scripps Translational Science Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Eric J Topol
- The Scripps Translational Science Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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93
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Shafee T, Masukume G, Kipersztok L, Das D, Häggström M, Heilman J. Evolution of Wikipedia's medical content: past, present and future. J Epidemiol Community Health 2017; 71:1122-1129. [PMID: 28847845 PMCID: PMC5847101 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2016-208601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
As one of the most commonly read online sources of medical information, Wikipedia is an influential public health platform. Its medical content, community, collaborations and challenges have been evolving since its creation in 2001, and engagement by the medical community is vital for ensuring its accuracy and completeness. Both the encyclopaedia’s internal metrics as well as external assessments of its quality indicate that its articles are highly variable, but improving. Although content can be edited by anyone, medical articles are primarily written by a core group of medical professionals. Diverse collaborative ventures have enhanced medical article quality and reach, and opportunities for partnerships are more available than ever. Nevertheless, Wikipedia’s medical content and community still face significant challenges, and a socioecological model is used to structure specific recommendations. We propose that the medical community should prioritise the accuracy of biomedical information in the world’s most consulted encyclopaedia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Shafee
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gwinyai Masukume
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research, Cork, Ireland.,Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of the Witwatersrand, School of Public Health, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lisa Kipersztok
- Department of Family Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Diptanshu Das
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Universita degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.,Department of Paediatrics, Kothari Medical Centre and Research Institute, Kolkata, India.,Department of Pediatrics, ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Haldia, India.,Working Group, Open Access India, India
| | | | - James Heilman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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94
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Persaud-Sharma D, Burns J, Trangle J, Moulik S. Disparities in Brain Cancer in the United States: A Literature Review of Gliomas. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 5:medsci5030016. [PMID: 29099032 PMCID: PMC5635804 DOI: 10.3390/medsci5030016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In the human body, the central regulatory system of homeostasis is maintained by the brain. Its complexity is mesmerizing and many of its functions are largely uncharted. Unfortunately, its functionality is often impaired through neoplastic growths, like gliomas, which are devastating to patients and their families. Annually, gliomas are the most common primary brain tumours affecting over 20,000 people in the United States. However, despite their status as the third most common cause of cancer related death for individuals between ages 20 and 39, the aetiology of gliomas remains unknown. This paper aims to review the latest information regarding the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) 4th edition classifications of gliomas, their malignant effects, and disparities within these classifications, as well as identify areas for further research. These suggestions for future inquiry may contribute to a better understanding of the pathology of these cancers enabling improvement in prevention, screening, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dharam Persaud-Sharma
- Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
| | - Joseph Burns
- Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
| | - Jeran Trangle
- Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
| | - Sabyasachi Moulik
- Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
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95
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Quinti I, Mitrevski M. Modulatory Effects of Antibody Replacement Therapy to Innate and Adaptive Immune Cells. Front Immunol 2017; 8:697. [PMID: 28670314 PMCID: PMC5472665 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intravenous immunoglobulin administered at replacement dosages modulates innate and adaptive immune cells in primary antibody deficiencies (PAD) in a different manner to what observed when high dosages are used or when their effect is analyzed by in vitro experimental conditions. The effects seem to be beneficial on innate cells in that dendritic cells maturate, pro-inflammatory monocytes decrease, and neutrophil function is preserved. The effects are less clear on adaptive immune cells. IVIg induced a transient increase of Treg and a long-term increase of CD4 cells. More complex and less understood is the interplay of IVIg with defective B cells of PAD patients. The paucity of data underlies the need of more studies on patients with PAD before drawing conclusions on the in vivo mechanisms of action of IVIg based on in vitro investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Quinti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Milica Mitrevski
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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96
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Zaman GS. Introduction and Physiology of Lupus. Lupus 2017. [DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.68635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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97
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Estrogenic and progestogenic effects of hormonal contraceptives in relation to sexual behavior: insights into extended sexuality. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2016.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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98
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Wang HH, Cui Q, Zhang T, Guo L, Dong MZ, Hou Y, Wang ZB, Shen W, Ma JY, Sun QY. Removal of mouse ovary fat pad affects sex hormones, folliculogenesis and fertility. J Endocrinol 2017; 232:155-164. [PMID: 27821469 DOI: 10.1530/joe-16-0174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
As a fat storage organ, adipose tissue is distributed widely all over the body and is important for energy supply, body temperature maintenance, organ protection, immune regulation and so on. In humans, both underweight and overweight women find it hard to become pregnant, which suggests that appropriate fat storage can guarantee the female reproductive capacity. In fact, a large mass of adipose tissue distributes around the reproductive system both in the male and female. However, the functions of ovary fat pad (the nearest adipose tissue to ovary) are not known. In our study, we found that the ovary fat pad-removed female mice showed decreased fertility and less ovulated mature eggs. We further identified that only a small proportion of follicles developed to antral follicle, and many follicles were blocked at the secondary follicle stage. The overall secretion levels of estrogen and FSH were lower in the whole estrus cycle (especially at proestrus); however, the LH level was higher in ovary fat pad-removed mice than that in control groups. Moreover, the estrus cycle of ovary fat pad-removed mice showed significant disorder. Besides, the expression of FSH receptor decreased, but the LH receptor increased in ovary fat pad-removed mice. These results suggest that ovary fat pad is important for mouse reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Hui Wang
- College of Life SciencesQingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Reproductive SciencesKey Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qian Cui
- Institute of Reproductive SciencesKey Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Teng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Reproductive SciencesKey Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ming-Zhe Dong
- College of Life SciencesQingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Reproductive SciencesKey Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yi Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen-Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Shen
- Institute of Reproductive SciencesKey Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jun-Yu Ma
- Laboratory for Germ Cell MetabolismCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qing-Yuan Sun
- College of Life SciencesQingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Reproductive SciencesKey Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
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99
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Shafee T, Das D, Masukume G, Häggström M. WikiJournal of Medicine, the first Wikipedia-integrated academic journal. WIKIJOURNAL OF MEDICINE 2017. [DOI: 10.15347/wjm/2017.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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100
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Wallace TE, Patterson AJ, Abeyakoon O, Bedair R, Manavaki R, McLean MA, O'Connor JPB, Graves MJ, Gilbert FJ. Detecting gas-induced vasomotor changes via blood oxygenation level-dependent contrast in healthy breast parenchyma and breast carcinoma. J Magn Reson Imaging 2016; 44:335-45. [PMID: 26898173 PMCID: PMC4949641 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.25177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) contrast changes in healthy breast parenchyma and breast carcinoma during administration of vasoactive gas stimuli. MATERIALS AND METHODS Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at 3T in 19 healthy premenopausal female volunteers using a single-shot fast spin echo sequence to acquire dynamic T2 -weighted images. 2% (n = 9) and 5% (n = 10) carbogen gas mixtures were interleaved with either medical air or oxygen in 2-minute blocks, for four complete cycles. A 12-minute medical air breathing period was used to determine background physiological modulation. Pixel-wise correlation analysis was applied to evaluate response to the stimuli in breast parenchyma and these results were compared to the all-air control. The relative BOLD effect size was compared between two groups of volunteers scanned in different phases of the menstrual cycle. The optimal stimulus design was evaluated in five breast cancer patients. RESULTS Of the four stimulus combinations tested, oxygen vs. 5% carbogen produced a response that was significantly stronger (P < 0.05) than air-only breathing in volunteers. Subjects imaged during the follicular phase of their cycle when estrogen levels typically peak exhibited a significantly smaller BOLD response (P = 0.01). Results in malignant tissue were variable, with three out of five lesions exhibiting a diminished response to the gas stimulus. CONCLUSION Oxygen vs. 5% carbogen is the most robust stimulus for inducing BOLD contrast, consistent with the opposing vasomotor effects of these two gases. Measurements may be confounded by background physiological fluctuations and menstrual cycle changes. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:335-345.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess E Wallace
- Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andrew J Patterson
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Radiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Oshaani Abeyakoon
- Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Reem Bedair
- Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Roido Manavaki
- Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mary A McLean
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Martin J Graves
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Radiology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fiona J Gilbert
- Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
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