Comparative study of Acacia nilotica exudate gum and acacia gum

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Pravin R. Bhushette, Uday S. Annapure
Over 900 species of Acacia trees are found on earth, most of them produce gums. Acacia nilotica (Babul tree) is one of the major gum-yielding acacia species found in he Indian subcontinent. A. nilotica gum was collected from Maharashtra, India and characterised for its proximate analysis, physicochemical, functional, rheological and thermal properties. These properties further were compared with commercially available Acacia gum (AG). The sugar composition of the gums indicated the presence of arabinose, galactose, and rhamnose in ANG and AG. FTIR spectrums revealed the typical trend of polysaccharides for both the gums, however, the difference was observed in fingerprint region. The rheological outcomes were derived from flow curve measurements of gums at different concentrations and temperatures. Investigations of the flow curves of both gums revealed the diminutive difference in viscosity profile. The concentration difference in the monosaccharides of polysaccharides and proximate analysis of gums could be the responsible for the difference in rheological and thermal properties of gums. However, ANG shows good resemblance with AG and can be substituted for numerous applications in food and pharmaceutical industry.



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Adsorption of Pb(II) from fish sauce using carboxylated cellulose nanocrystal: Isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamic studies

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Nan Wang, Ru-Na Jin, A.M. Omer, Xiao-kun Ouyang
In the present study, a new adsorbent based on carboxylated cellulose nanocrystal (CCN) was developed for the adsorption of Pb(II) from fish sauce. The prepared adsorbent material was characterized by zeta potential, FT-IR, XRD, and XPS tools. The changes in the morphological structure of the developed CCN surface were evidenced by SEM and TEM. The favorable adsorption conditions were selected by studying the contact time, initial concentration, temperature, and concentration of the used glutamic acid and NaCl. The results indicated that the Langmuir isotherm model agrees very well with experimental adsorption data (R²=0.9962) with a maximum adsorption capacity 232.56mg/g of Pb(II) at 293.2K. Additionally, data of the adsorption kinetics follow the pseudo-second-order kinetics (R²>0.9990). On the other hand, the thermodynamics studies show that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. Furthermore, the developed CCN could be regenerated using acid treatment with a good reusability for Pb(II) adsorption. The results clearly indicated that the synthesized CCN could be effectively applied as a new material for Pb(II) adsorption from fish sauce solutions.



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The light subunit of mushroom Agaricus bisporus tyrosinase: Its biological characteristics and implications

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Wangsa T. Ismaya, Olivia M. Tandrasasmita, Syaripah Sundari, Diana, Xuelei Lai, Debbie S. Retnoningrum, Bauke W. Dijkstra, Raymond R. Tjandrawinata, Heni Rachmawati
The light subunit of mushroom Agaricus bisporus tyrosinase (LSMT) is a protein of unknown function that was discovered serendipitously during the elucidation of the crystal structure of the enzyme. The protein is non-immunogenic and can penetrate the intestinal epithelial cell barrier, and thus, similar to its structural homologue HA-33 from Clostridium botulinum, may be potentially absorbable by the intestine. LSMT also shares high structural homology with the ricin-B-like lectin from the mushroom Clitocybe nebularis (CNL), which has been shown to display biological activity against leukemic cancer cells and dendritic cells. Therefore, we evaluated the biological activity of LSMT. An in vitro assay suggested that LSMT presentation to most of the cancer cell lines studied has a negligible effect on their proliferation. However, inhibition of cell growth and a slight stimulation of cell proliferation were observed with breast cancer and macrophage cells, respectively. LSMT appeared to be relatively resistant against proteolysis by trypsin and papain, but not bromelain. Challenges with gastric and intestinal juice suggested that the protein is resistant to gastrointestinal tract conditions. This is the first report on the biological characteristics and implication of LSMT.



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Pretreatment assisted synthesis and characterization of cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibers from absorbent cotton

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Emmanuel Abu-Danso, Varsha Srivastava, Mika Sillanpää, Amit Bhatnagar
In this work, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were synthesized from absorbent cotton. Two pretreatments viz. dewaxing and bleaching with mild alkali were applied to the precursor (cotton). Acid hydrolysis was conducted with H2SO4 and dissolution of cotton was achieved with a mixture of NaOH-thiourea-urea-H2O at −3°C. Synthesized cellulose samples were characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, BET, and zeta potential. It seems that synthesis conditions contributed to negative surface charge on cellulose samples and CNCs had the higher negative surface charge compared to CNFs. Furthermore, BET surface area, pore volume and pore diameter of CNCs were found to be higher as compared to CNFs. The dewaxed cellulose nanofibers (CNF D) had a slightly higher BET surface area (0.47m²/g) and bigger pore diameter (59.87Å) from attenuated contraction compared to waxed cellulose nanofibers (CNFW) (0.38m²/g and 44.89Å). The XRD of CNCs revealed a semi-crystalline structure and the dissolution agents influenced the crystallinity of CNFs. SEM images showed the porous nature of CNFs, the flaky nature and the nano-sized width of CNCs. Synthesized CNF D showed a better potential as an adsorbent with an average lead removal efficiency of 91.49% from aqueous solution.



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Lipid membranes and acyl-CoA esters promote opposing effects on acyl-CoA binding protein structure and stability

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Mariana C. Micheletto, Luís F.S. Mendes, Luis G.M. Basso, Raquel G. Fonseca-Maldonado, Antonio J. Costa-Filho
Acyl-CoA Binding Proteins (ACBP) form a housekeeping family of proteins that is responsible for the buffering of long chain acyl-coenzyme A esters (LCFA-CoA) inside the cell. Even though numerous studies have focused on the characterization of different members of the ACBP family, the knowledge about the impact of both LCFA-CoA and phospholipids on ACBP structure and stability remains scarce. Besides, there are still controversies regarding the possible interaction of ACBP with biological membranes, even though this might be essential for the cargo capture and delivery. In this study, we observed that LCFA-CoA and phospholipids play opposite roles on protein stability and that the interaction with the membrane is dictated by electrostatic interaction. Furthermore, the results support the hypothesis that the LCFA-CoA delivery is driven by the increase of the negative charge on the membrane surface. The combined influence played by the different molecules on ACBP structure is discussed on the light of cargo capture/delivery giving new insights about this important process.



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Partial characterization and immobilization in CNBr-activated Sepharose of a native lectin from Platypodium elegans seeds (PELa) and comparative study of edematogenic effect with the recombinant form

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): David Alencar Araripe, Vanir Reis Pinto-Junior, Antonio Hadson Bastos Neco, Mayara Queiroz Santiago, Vinicius Jose Silva Osterne, Alana Freitas Pires, Claudia Figueiredo Lossio, Maria Gleiciane Queiroz Martins, Jorge Luiz Almeida Correia, Raquel Guimaraes Benevides, Rodrigo Bainy Leal, Ana Maria Sampaio Assreuy, Kyria Santiago Nascimento, Benildo Sousa Cavada
The lectin from Platypodium elegans seeds (PELa) was purified by affinity chromatography in a mannose-agarose column. The lectin agglutinated rabbit erythrocytes and the agglutinating effect was inhibited by previous incubation with the glycoprotein fetuin, along with N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, D-mannose and its derivatives. The lectin maintained complete activity in temperatures ranging from 40 to 60°C and pH values ranging from 9 to 10. As a glycoprotein, PELa has a carbohydrate content of 2.2%, and its activity requires divalent cations such as Ca²⁺ and Mn²⁺. Based on SDS-PAGE, PELa displays a profile similar to that of other Dalbergieae lectins with the main chain of molecular mass around 30kDa and two subunits of 19kDa and 10 kDa each. Two-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis revealed the presence of isoforms with different isoelectric points, and high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) was performed to confirm the purity of the sample. The lectin was immobilized in CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B and successfully captured fetuin in solution, demonstrating that this lectin remains active and capable of binding carbohydrates. PELa showed effects different from those of its recombinant form in both pro- and anti-inflammatory tests.



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Chemical Stability and in vitro release properties of β-carotene in emulsions stabilized by Ulva fasciata polysaccharide

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Ping Shao, Qiang Qiu, Jie Xiao, Yueqiong Zhu, Peilong Sun
The aim of the present study was to examine how factors (pH, temperature, iron chelators, and free radical scavengers) influence on the chemical stabilities of β-carotene encapsulated by Ulva fasciata polysaccharide (UFP)-stabilized emulsions and the bioaccessibility under in vitro oral-gastro-intestinal digestion conditions. The concentration of β-carotene in emulsions under different environments was determined. Changes in droplet properties, particle size and microstructure, throughout the oral-gastric-intestinal model were measured and the rate and extent of lipid digestion were recorded in the simulated small intestine fluid. Our results suggested that the pH had a significant effect on the stability of β-carotene, a rapid degradation at acidic environment and a relatively higher stability at high pH (6.0 and 7.0) were observed. β-carotene in emulsions was highly sensitive to extreme temperature (80°C, 90°C, and 100°C). Addition of EDTA or α-tocopherol significantly increased the stability of β-carotene. Meanwhile, digested UFP-stabilized emulsions showed higher lipid digestion rate than GA-stabilized emulsions and BP-stabilized emulsions. UFP was capable of increasing the bioaccessibility of β-carotene in emulsions compared to GA and BP. Therefore, UFP-stabilized emulsion is a promising delivery system to promote applications of β-carotene in functional food and beverage system.



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Microstructure, thermal properties and crystallinity of amadumbe starch nanocrystals

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Agnes Mukurumbira, Marcos Mariano, Alain Dufresne, John J. Mellem, Eric O. Amonsou
Amadumbe (Colocasia esculenta), commonly known as taro is a tropical tuber that produces starch-rich underground corms. In this study, the physicochemical properties of starch nanocrystals (SNC) prepared by acid hydrolysis of amadumbe starches were investigated. Two varieties of amadumbe corms were used for starch extraction. Amadumbe starches produced substantially high yield (25%) of SNC’s. These nanocrystals appeared as aggregated and individual particles and possessed square-like platelet morphology with size: 50–100nm. FTIR revealed high peak intensities corresponding to OH stretch, CH stretch and H2O bending vibrations for SNCs compared to their native starch counterparts. Both the native starch and SNC exhibited the A–type crystalline pattern. However, amadumbe SNCs showed higher degree of crystallinity and slightly reduced melting temperatures than their native starches. Amadumbe SNCs presented similar thermal decomposition property as their native starches. Amadumbe starch nanocrystals may have potential application in biocomposite films due to their square-like platelet morphology.



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Effect of gellan gum on the thermogelation property and drug release profile of Poloxamer 407 based ophthalmic formulation

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Mitali Dewan, Gunjan Sarkar, Manas Bhowmik, Beauty Das, Atis Kumar Chattoapadhyay, Dipak Rana, Dipankar Chattopadhyay
The effect of gellan gum on the gelation behavior and in-vitro release of a specific drug named pilocarpine hydrochloride from different ophthalmic formulations based on poloxamer 407 is examined. The mixture of 0.3wt% gellan gum and 18wt% poloxamer (PM) solutions show a considerable increase in gel strength in physiological condition. Gel dissolution rate from PM based formulation is significantly decreased due to the addition of gellan gum. FTIR spectra analysis witnesses an interaction in between OH groups of two polymers which accounts for lowering in gelation temperature of PM-gellan gum based formulations. It is also observed from the cryo-SEM study that the pore size of PM gel decreases with an addition of gellan gum and in-vitro release studies indicate that PM-gellan gum based formulation retain drug better than the PM solution alone. Therefore, the developed formulation has the potential to be utilized as an in-situ ophthalmic drug carrier.

Graphical abstract

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Alginate-based nanocomposites for efficient removal of heavy metal ions

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Mohamed Esmat, Ahmed A. Farghali, Mohamed H. Khedr, Ibrahim M. El-Sherbiny
Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CF), titanate nanotubes (T), alginate (G) and their nanocomposite microparticles (CF/G and T/G) were prepared and used for efficient removal of Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺ and As³⁺ ions from water. The nanocomposites were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), FTIR and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). In addition, the effects of pH, contact time, adsorbent weight and heavy metal ion concentration on the removal efficiency were investigated. Our results revealed a successful preparation of the nanocomposite particles. The optimized batch experiment conditions were found to be pH of 6.5, contact time of 2h and adsorbent weight of 0.15g. The removal efficiencies for Cu²⁺ using G, CF, T, CF/G and T/G were found to be 91%, 100%, 99.9%, 95% and 98%, respectively. While that of Fe³⁺ removal was 60%, 100%, 100%, 60% and 82%, respectively. Efficient removal of As³⁺ ions was also attained (98% upon using T nanoadsorbents). The current study demonstrated that the developed nanomaterials (CF and T) and their corresponding alginate-based nanocomposite microparticles could be further tailored and used as efficient adsorbents for the uptake of different heavy metal ions from wastewater.



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Fabrication and characterisation of soy protein isolate-grafted dextran biopolymer: A novel ingredient in spray-dried soy beverage formulation

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Sareh Boostani, Mahmoud Aminlari, Marzieh Moosavi-nasab, Mehrdad Niakosari, Gholamreza Mesbahi
Hybridization of macromolecules via the Maillard grafting reaction can punctuate specific forms of biopolymers, resulting in novel functionalities. The current study aimed at investigating and optimizing the conjugation of dextran-soy protein isolate (SPI), and to assess how Maillard modification can affect the properties of a spray-dried soy beverage. Analyses of SDS-PAGE, Glycation degree, SEM micrographs and FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed that the best condition for glycosylation operated on a pH value of 8.5 at 60°C for 8days. Results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) clearly show an increased denaturation temperature of proteins. Solubility, emulsifying properties, water holding capacity and DPPH radical scavenging activity of soy proteins were enhanced by conjugation. Spray-dried conjugated powders exhibited significantly higher values of reconstitution properties (solubility index, wettability and dispersibility), compared to un-conjugated ones, because of increased thermal stability and solubility of proteins via glycation. Altogether, the results suggest that dextran conjugation provides further functional attributes to the SPI and thus could improve the applicability of soy proteins in the food industries.

Graphical abstract

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Angiogenenic effects of BpLec, a C-type lectin isolated from Bothrops pauloensis snake venom

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Letícia Eulalio Castanheira, Daiana Silva Lopes, Sarah Natalie Cirilo Gimenes, Simone Ramos Deconte, Bruno Antônio Ferreira, Patricia Terra Alves, Luiz Ricardo Goulart Filho, Tatiana Carla Tomiosso, Renata Santos Rodrigues, Kelly Aparecida Geraldo Yoneyama, Fernanda de Assis Araújo, Veridiana de Melo Rodrigues
The present work reports the effects of a C-type lectin (BpLec) isolated from Bothrops pauloensis snake venom upon in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis models. Initially, we noted that BpLec was not cytotoxic to endothelial cells (tEnd) in doses up to 40μg/mL, but lower doses (2.5μg/mL, 5μg/mL, 10μg/mL and 20μg/mL) reduced tEnd cells adhesion to some extracellular matrix proteins and inhibited the in vitro vessel formation in Matrigel assay stimulated by bFGF. β-galactosides (d-lactose, N-acetyl-d-galactosamine and d-galactose) at 400mM reversed the effect of BpLec on tEnd cells adhesion, whereas d-galactose (400mM) partially reversed BpLec property of inhibiting vessel formation by tEnd cells in Matrigel. In vivo assays showed that BpLec increased hemoglobin content and capillary vessels number in polyether-polyurethane sponge discs subcutaneously implanted into dorsal skin mice. Additionally, BpLec also reduced collagen deposition and did not induce a pro-inflammatory response, as demonstrated by the decreased the secretion of some inflammatory cytokines, whereas myeloperoxidase (MPO) and N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) activities were not altered by BpLec. Taken together, our results indicate that BpLec might represent an interesting angiogenesis and inflammatory modulator that could also be used for searching possible therapeutic targets involved in these processes.



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Structural, thermal and rheological properties of starches isolated from Indian quinoa varieties

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Khan Nadiya Jan, P.S. Panesar, J.C. Rana, Sukhcharn Singh
In this study starches isolated from Indian quinoa varieties were examined for physicochemical, morphological, thermal and rheological properties. Among isolated starches V1 showed higher starch yield and lower purity (48.45% and 98.32%) than V2 (41.28 and 98.53%). The amylose content was higher for V1 (12.10%) than V2 (9.46%). Swelling powers and solubility of the starches increased with increasing temperature. Peak viscosity (386.4 RVU) was higher for V1. In contrast V2 showed higher pasting temperature (72.85°C). Low setback viscosity of the starches suggests that they can be profitably used in frozen and refrigerated foods. Starch granules from both varieties were irregular, angular and polygonal in shape. The starch granule size obtained by SEM was 1.23μm for V1 and 1.19μm for V2. Both starches showed a typical A-type diffractrometric pattern with varying crystallinity. Further V1 showed lower transition temperatures (To, Tp and Tc) than V2. FTIR spectroscopy showed higher intensity and broader shape of V2 at OH stretch which can be due to its higher crystallinity. Increased interest is shown in quinoa starch because of its unique microcrystalline granules. Higher yield and purity values suggest that both varieties can be exploited for commercial starch utilization.



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Multi-scale structure, pasting and digestibility of heat moisture treated red adzuki bean starch

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Hongwei Wang, Zhaoyuan Wang, Xiaoxi Li, Ling Chen, Binjia Zhang
The pasting and digestibility of a red adzuki bean starch were simultaneously modulated by heat-moisture treatment (HMT) through altering the multi-scale structure. HMT, especially at high moisture content, could disrupt the granule integrity, semicrystalline lamellae, molecular order (crystallites) and molecular chains. Also, certain rearrangement of starch molecules occurred to form ordered structures with increased thermal stability as shown by DSC. This concomitant disordering and reassembly in the multi-scale structure converted the fractions of resistant starch (RS) and rapidly digestible starch (RDS) into that of slowly digestible starch (SDS). Furthermore, the emergence of thermally-stable orders increased the pasting temperature but suppressed the swelling of granules during heating. Hence, HMT-modified red adzuki starch may serve as a potential thickener/gelling agent with slow digestion rate for various foods.



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Design, characterization and evaluation of hydroxyethylcellulose based novel regenerable supersorbent for heavy metal ions uptake and competitive adsorption

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Azhar Abbas, Muhammad Ajaz Hussain, Muhammad Sher, Muhammad Imran Irfan, Muhammad Nawaz Tahir, Wolfgang Tremel, Syed Zajif Hussain, Irshad Hussain
Hydroxyethylcellulose succinate-Na (HEC-Suc-Na) was designed and evaluated for removal of some heavy metal ions from aqueous solution. Pristine sorbent HEC-Suc-Na was thoroughly characterized by FTIR and solid-state CP/MAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, SEM-EDS and zero point charge analyses. Langmuir isotherm, pseudo second order kinetic and ion exchange models provided best fit to the experimental data of sorption of metal ions. Maximum sorption capacities of supersorbent HEC-Suc-Na for sorption of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution as calculated by Langmuir isotherm model were found to be 1000, 909.09, 666.6, 588 and 500mgg⁻¹ for Pb(II), Cr(VI), Co(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II), respectively. Competitive sorption of these heavy metal ions was carried out from galvanic and nuclear waste water simulated environment. The negative values of ΔG° and ΔH° indicated spontaneity and exothermic nature of sorption. The sorbent was efficiently regenerated with no significant decrease in sorption capacity after five cycles.



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Chitosan extraction from lobster shells and its grafted with functionalized MWCNT for simultaneous removal of Pb2+ ions and eriochrome cyanine R dye after their complexation

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Shadi Kheirandish, Mehrorang Ghaedi, Kheibar Dashtian, Fatemeh Heidari, Faezeh Pourebrahim, Shaobin Wang
Chitosan (CS) extracted from lobster shells (Persian Gulf, Iran), was grafted with amino functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). This novel material was characterized by FE-SEM and FT-IR and used for the ultrasound-assisted removal of Pb²⁺ ions and eriochrome cyanine R (ECR) dye. A central composite design (SCCD) under response surface methodology was used for studying the influences of important variables in removal process such as initial ECR and Pb²⁺ ions concentrations, adsorbent mass and sonication time on the removal efficiency. Linear, 2FI, quadratic and cubic models were performed and a quadratic model was selected for analysis of each response. ANOVA for the quadratic model shows the F-value parameter (820.44 and 537.12 for ECR and Pb²⁺ ions removal, respectively) and very low p-value (<0.0001), implying that the model was highly significant for understudy analytes adsorption. To achieve maximum removal, the optimum condition was determined and were set as:19.34 and 18.20mgL⁻¹,0.018g and 9.35min for initial ECR and Pb²⁺ ion concentrations, adsorbent mass and sonication time, respectively. At these optimum conditions, 97.06% of ECR and 99.29% of Pb²⁺ ions were removed in a short time.

Graphical abstract

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How the presence of a small molecule affects the complex coacervation between lactoferrin and β-lactoglobulin

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Guilherme M. Tavares, Thomas Croguennec, Pascaline Hamon, Antônio F. Carvalho, Saïd Bouhallab
Heteroprotein complex coacervation corresponds to the formation of two liquid phases in equilibrium induced by the interaction of two oppositely charged proteins. The more concentrated phase known as coacervate phase, has attracted interest from several fields of science due to its potential applications for example for encapsulation and delivery of bioactives. Prior such application, it is necessary to understand how the presence of small ligands affects the complex coacervation. In this work, we report on the interaction of small ligand with individual proteins β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) and lactoferrin (LF) and consequences on their complex coacervation. ANS (8-Anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid), a fluorescent probe, was used as model ligand. While ANS did not interact with β-LG, it presented two sets of binding sites with LF inducing its self-aggregation. Depending on its concentration, ANS modulated the shape of β-LG-LF macromolecular assembly. Coacervates were observed for ANS/LF molar ratio <25 against amorphous aggregates for higher ANS/LF molar ratios. A maximum loading capacity of around 40mg of ANS per gram of LF in the formed heteroprotein coacervates was reached.



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Physicochemical characterization of water-soluble chitosan derivatives with singlet oxygen quenching and antibacterial capabilities

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Noelia L. Vanden Braber, Ladislao I. Díaz Vergara, Faustino E. Morán Vieyra, Claudio D. Borsarelli, Mariana M. Yossen, Jorge R. Vega, Silvia G. Correa, Mariana A. Montenegro
New water-soluble chitosan derivatives (WSCh) were obtained by Maillard reaction (MR) between glucosamine (GA) with both low and medium molecular weight chitosans (Ch). The WSCh showed larger solubility than the respective Ch, while their deacetylation degree (DD) decreased by approximately 12%. Infrared spectroscopy experiments of WSCh confirmed the formation of imine bonds after MR with intensified pyranose structure, and sugar molecules as polymer branches. However, a 6-times reduction of the molecular weight of WSCh was measured, indicating the breakdown of the polysaccharide chain during the MR. The polysaccharides quenched singlet molecular oxygen (¹O2), with rate quenching constants correlating with the DD value of the samples, suggesting the important role of amino groups (−NH2) in the deactivation of ¹O2. Additionally, all polysaccharides presented antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, e.g. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria ivanovii, as tested by their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). This way we obtained new water-soluble polysaccharides, with similar functional properties to those presented by native Ch, enhancing its potential application as carrier material for bioactive compounds.

Graphical abstract

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Molecular cloning and functional characterization of multiple NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductases from Andrographis paniculata

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Huixin Lin, Jian Wang, Mengdie Qi, Juan Guo, Qixian Rong, Jinfu Tang, Yisheng Wu, Xiaojing Ma, Luqi Huang
Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees is widely used as medicinal herb in Southern and Southeastern Asia and andrographolide is its main medicinal constituent. Based on the structure of andrographolide, it has been proposed that cytochrome P450 enzymes play vital roles on its biosynthesis. NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) is the most important redox partner of multiple P450s. In this study, three CPRs were identified in the genomic data of A. paniculata (namely ApCPR1, ApCPR2, and ApCPR3), and their coding regions were cloned. They varied from 62% to 70% identities to each other at the amino acid sequence level. ApCPR1 belongs to Class I of dicotyledonous CPR while both ApCPR2 and ApCPR3 are grouped to Class II. The recombinant enzymes ApCPR1 and ApCPR2 reduced cytochrome c and ferricyanide in an NADPH-dependent manner. In yeast, they supported the activity of CYP76AH1, a ferruginol-forming enzyme. However, ApCPR3 did not show any enzymatic activities either in vitro or in vivo. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that both ApCPR1 and ApCPR2 expressed in all tissues examined, but ApCPR2 showed higher expression in leaves. Expression of ApCPR2 was inducible by MeJA and its pattern matched with andrographolide accumulation. Present investigation suggested ApCPR2 involves in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites including andrographolide.



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Phosphoprotein/chitosan electrospun nanofibrous scaffold for biomineralization

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 102
Author(s): Hongshan Liang, Feng Sheng, Bin Zhou, Yaqiong Pei, Bin Li, Jing Li
In this study, negatively charged phosvitin (PV) and positively charged chitosan (CS) were alternately deposited on negatively charged cellulose mats via layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technique. Morphologies of the LBL films coating mats were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Afterwards, in vitro biomimetic mineralization was carried out through incubation of the fibrous mats in a simulated body fluid (SBF) solution for different time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the morphology and structure of the deposited mineral phase on the scaffolds. In addition, the cell culture experiment demonstrated that the scaffolds with the LBL structured films were of good cell compatibility for MC3T3-E1 cells. Moreover, the cell proliferation was affected by the number of deposition layers and the composition of outer-most layer. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and SEM imaging revealed a good performance of cell adhesion and spreading of MC3T3-E1 cells on the surface of biocomposite scaffold. So CS/PV nanofibrous mats were satisfactory for the composite to be used in bioapplications.



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Atelectasis

Atelectasis: Failure of full expansion of the lung at birth, or lung collapse thereafter. Also known as collapsed lung.

MedTerms (TM) is the Medical Dictionary of MedicineNet.com.
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Sex differences in autonomic response and situational appraisal of a competitive situation in young adults

Publication date: Available online 16 April 2017
Source:Biological Psychology
Author(s): Diana Abad-Tortosa, Adrián Alacreu-Crespo, Raquel Costa, Alicia Salvador, Miguel Ángel Serrano
Competition is a social stressor capable of eliciting physiological responses modulated by the outcome. The main objective of this study was to analyze the psychophysiological changes associated with competition and its outcome in men and women, taking into account the role of situational appraisal. To this end, 112 young people (46 men and 66 women) participated in a laboratory task in a competitive or non-competitive condition, while Blood Pressure (BP), Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and Skin Conductance (SC) responses were measured. Our results indicate that competition elicits higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) than a non-competitive task; in addition, winners presented a greater R-R decrease from baseline to task, greater R-R Recovery, and lower frustration and external attribution than losers. Regarding sex, men perceived their opponent’s capacity to be lower and their own capacity to be greater than women did, and they also showed higher R-R decreases and lower SC increases. In conclusion, we found a complex pattern of different psychophysiological responses to competition associated with outcome and sex in a laboratory competition. This result could be related to the use of more passive or active coping strategies.



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Jefferson Hospital Offers Free Screenings To Raise Awareness About Oral Cancers - CBS Philly

CBS Philly

Jefferson Hospital Offers Free Screenings To Raise Awareness About Oral Cancers CBS Philly “That is becoming a very significant proportion of patients who have cancers of the tonsil and tongue base.” Recent studies have shown a big surge in HPV-related cancers among unlikely patients. “People in middle-age without significant risk factors ... and more »

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Color Image Segmentation Using Fuzzy C-Regression Model

Image segmentation is one important process in image analysis and computer vision and is a valuable tool that can be applied in fields of image processing, health care, remote sensing, and traffic image detection. Given the lack of prior knowledge of the ground truth, unsupervised learning techniques like clustering have been largely adopted. Fuzzy clustering has been widely studied and successfully applied in image segmentation. In situations such as limited spatial resolution, poor contrast, overlapping intensities, and noise and intensity inhomogeneities, fuzzy clustering can retain much more information than the hard clustering technique. Most fuzzy clustering algorithms have originated from fuzzy c-means (FCM) and have been successfully applied in image segmentation. However, the cluster prototype of the FCM method is hyperspherical or hyperellipsoidal. FCM may not provide the accurate partition in situations where data consists of arbitrary shapes. Therefore, a Fuzzy C-Regression Model (FCRM) using spatial information has been proposed whose prototype is hyperplaned and can be either linear or nonlinear allowing for better cluster partitioning. Thus, this paper implements FCRM and applies the algorithm to color segmentation using Berkeley’s segmentation database. The results show that FCRM obtains more accurate results compared to other fuzzy clustering algorithms.

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One-Step Preparation of Graphene Oxide/Cellulose Nanofibril Hybrid Aerogel for Adsorptive Removal of Four Kinds of Antibiotics

Via a one-step ultrasonication method, cellulose nanofibril/graphene oxide hybrid (GO-CNF) aerogel was successfully prepared. The as-prepared GO-CNF possessed interconnected 3D network microstructure based on GO nanosheets grown along CNF through hydrogen bonds. The aerogel exhibited superior adsorption capacity toward four kinds of antibiotics. The removal percentages () of these antibiotics were 81.5%, 79.5%, 79.1%, and 73.9% for Doxycycline (DXC), Chlortetracycline (CTC), Oxytetracycline (OTC), and tetracycline (TC), respectively. Simultaneously, the adsorption isotherms were well fitted to Langmuir model and kinetics study implied that the adsorption process was attributed to pseudo-second-order model. The maximum theoretical adsorption capacities of GO-CNF were 469.7, 396.5, 386.5, and 343.8 mg·g−1 for DXC, CTC, OTC, and TC, respectively, calculated by the Langmuir isotherm models. After five cycles, importantly, the regenerated aerogels still could be used with little degradation of adsorption property. Consequently, the as-synthesized GO-CNF was a successful application of effective removal of antibiotics.

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Analysis of Sugarcane Juice Quality Indexes

The analysis of the quality indexes of sugarcane juice plays a vital role in the process of refining sugarcane, breeding, cultivation, and production management. The paper analyzes the dynamic laws of five quality indexes (i.e., brix, purity, polarization, sucrose content, and reducing sugar) combined with graphs over time along the course of crushing season (December–March) in Guangxi province of China. During this time, the sugarcane is in the mature stage and hypermature stage. At the beginning of December to early January, during which sugarcane is in the later stage of maturity, the nutrients are accumulating, causing brix, purity, polarization, and sucrose content increase. At the beginning of January to mid-February, due to low temperature and insufficient light, it is not conducive to accumulation of nutrients. However, there is the so-called “sugar back” phenomenon and reducing sugar rises gradually in March, leading to deterioration of the quality of sugarcane juice. The results show that timely harvest of sugarcane is beneficial for sugar making. The regression analysis results show that some of quality indexes have strong correlation between them and the regression models are extremely significant, indicating that the prediction results are ideal.

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Analytical Methods for the Determination of the Distribution of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons in the Water and Sediment of Aquatic Systems: A Review

Several methods of extraction and analytical determination for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHCs) in aqueous and solid samples are reviewed. Infrared spectroscopy is one of the efficient methods that are being replaced today pursuant to getting rid of some halogenated solvents classified as ozone-depleting substances. The gravimetric method which uses n-hexane as an extraction solvent for the determination of oil and grease, as well as the nonpolar materials, has become a preferred choice, despite being not suitable for volatiles because of the mandatory evaporation step. Other frequently used methods include gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (FID) or mass spectrometric detector (MSD) which has the capacity to reveal the type of hydrocarbons present and is applicable to both volatile and semivolatile samples. Ultraviolet fluorescence is another method that is available both as a portable field device and as off-site laboratory equipment. Each of the methods has its own advantages and disadvantages; hence, the choice of method is guided by the type of data needed as discussed in detail in this review. The distribution of TPHC in water and sediments across the globe and the factors influencing the distribution were also reviewed.

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Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, and Low Platelets, Severe Fetal Growth Restriction, Postpartum Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, and Craniotomy: A Rare Case Report and Systematic Review

Introduction. Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome is a relatively uncommon but traumatic condition occurring in the later stage of pregnancy as a complication of severe preeclampsia or eclampsia. Prompt brain computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a multidisciplinary management approach are required to improve perinatal outcome. Case. A 37-year-old, Gravida 6, Para 1-0-4-1, Hispanic female with a history of chronic hypertension presented at 26 weeks and 6 days of gestational age. She was noted to have hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome accompanied by fetal growth restriction (FGR), during ultrasound evaluation, warranting premature delivery. The infant was delivered in stable condition suffering no permanent neurological deficit. Conclusion. HELLP syndrome is an uncommon and traumatic obstetric event which can lead to neurological deficits if not managed in a responsive and rapid manner. The central aggravating factor seems to be hypertension induced preeclamptic or eclamptic episode and complications thereof. The syndrome itself is manifested by hemolytic anemia, increased liver enzymes, and decreasing platelet counts with a majority of neurological defects resulting from hemorrhagic stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). To minimize adverse perinatal outcomes, obstetric management of this medical complication must include rapid clinical assessment, diagnostic examination, and neurosurgery consultation.

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An Analysis of Discrete Stage-Structured Prey and Prey-Predator Population Models

Discrete stage-structured prey and prey-predator models are considered. Regarding the former, we prove that the models at hand are permanent (i.e., the population will neither go extinct nor exhibit explosive oscillations) and, moreover, that the transfer from stability to nonstationary behaviour always goes through a supercritical Neimark−Sacker bifurcation. The prey model covers species that possess a wide range of different life histories. Predation pressure may both stabilize and destabilize the prey dynamics but the strength of impact is closely related to life history. Indeed, if the prey possesses a precocious semelparous life history and exhibits chaotic oscillations, it is shown that increased predation may stabilize the dynamics and also, in case of large predation pressure, transfer the population to another chaotic regime.

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Open-Label Fosmetpantotenate, a Phosphopantothenate Replacement Therapy in a Single Patient with Atypical PKAN

Objective. Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) is an autosomal recessive disorder with variable onset, rate of progression, and phenotypic expression. Later-onset, more slowly progressive PKAN often presents with neuropsychiatric as well as motor manifestations that include speech difficulties, progressive dystonia, rigidity, and parkinsonism. PKAN is caused by biallelic PANK2 mutations, a gene that encodes pantothenate kinase 2, a regulatory enzyme in coenzyme A biosynthesis. Current therapeutic strategies rely on symptomatic relief. We describe the treatment of the first, later-onset PKAN patient with oral fosmetpantotenate (previously known as RE-024), a novel replacement therapy developed to bypass the enzymatic defect. Methods. This was an open-label, uncontrolled, 12-month treatment with fosmetpantotenate of a single patient with a later-onset, moderately severe, and slowly progressive form of PKAN. Results. The patient showed improvement in all clinical parameters including the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Barry-Albright Dystonia Scale, the EuroQol five-dimensional three-level (EQ-5D-3L) scale, timed 25-foot walk test, and electroglottographic speech analysis. Fosmetpantotenate was well-tolerated with only transient liver enzyme elevation which normalized after dose reduction and did not recur after subsequent dose increases. Conclusions. Fosmetpantotenate showed promising results in a single PKAN patient and should be further studied in controlled trials.

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Sustainable Building Materials and Technologies

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Bootstrap Order Determination for ARMA Models: A Comparison between Different Model Selection Criteria

The present paper deals with the order selection of models of the class for autoregressive moving average. A novel method—previously designed to enhance the selection capabilities of the Akaike Information Criterion and successfully tested—is now extended to the other three popular selectors commonly used by both theoretical statisticians and practitioners. They are the final prediction error, the Bayesian information criterion, and the Hannan-Quinn information criterion which are employed in conjunction with a semiparametric bootstrap scheme of the type sieve.

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Pneumoperitoneum without Intestinal Perforation in a Neonate: Case Report and Literature Review

Pneumoperitoneum in a preterm neonate usually indicates perforation of the intestine and is considered a surgical emergency. However, there are cases of pneumoperitoneum with no evidence of rupture of the intestine reported in the literature. We report a case of pneumoperitoneum with no intestinal perforation in a preterm neonate with respiratory distress syndrome who was on high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). He developed bilateral pulmonary interstitial emphysema with localized cystic lesion, likely localized pulmonary interstitial emphysema, and recurrent pneumothoraces. He was treated with dexamethasone to wean from the ventilator. Pneumoperitoneum developed in association with left sided pneumothorax following mechanical ventilation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Pneumoperitoneum resolved after the pneumothorax was resolved with chest tube drainage. He died from acute cardiorespiratory failure. At autopsy, there was no evidence of intestinal perforation. This case highlights the fact that pneumoperitoneum can develop secondary to pneumothorax and does not always indicate intestinal perforation or require exploratory laparotomy.

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Comparison of Fecal Calprotectin Methods for Predicting Relapse of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background. Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is on the rise worldwide. Endoscopies are necessary for IBD assessment but are invasive, expensive, and inconvenient. Recently, fecal calprotectin (FCal) was proposed as a noninvasive and specific marker of gut inflammation. We evaluated the analytical performance of three FCal assays and their clinical performance in predicting relapse in pediatric IBD. Methods. This study used 40 pediatric IBD and 40 random non-IBD patients’ fecal samples. Two automated ELISAs (Bühlmann and PhiCal® Calprotectin-EIA) and an EliA (Phadia 250 EliA-Calprotectin) were used to evaluate the analytical performance. The clinical performance was assessed by PhiCal Calprotectin-EIA, EliA-Calprotectin, and Bühlmann immunochromatographic point-of-care test (POCT). Results. All assays displayed acceptable analytical performance below and above the medical decision cut-off [imprecision (CV

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Characteristics of Carbon Nanotubes/Graphene Coatings on Stainless Steel Meshes Used as Electrodes for Air-Cathode Microbial Fuel Cells

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) generate low-pollution power by feeding organic matter to bacteria; MFC applications have become crucial for energy recovery and environmental protection. The electrode materials of any MFC affect its power generation capacity. In this research, nine single-chamber MFCs with various electrode configurations were investigated and compared with each other. A fabrication process for carbon-based electrode coatings was proposed, and Escherichia coli HB101 was used in the studied MFC system. The results show that applying a coat of either graphene or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to a stainless steel mesh electrode can improve the power density and reduce the internal resistance of an MFC system. Using the proposed surface modification method, CNTs and graphene used for anodic and cathodic modification can increase power generation by approximately 3–7 and 1.5–4.5 times, respectively. Remarkably, compared to a standard MFC with an untreated anode, the internal resistances of MFCs with CNTs- and graphene-modified anodes were reduced to 18 and 30% of standard internal resistance. Measurements of the nine systems we studied clearly presented the performance levels of CNTs and graphene applied as surface modification of stainless steel mesh electrodes.

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MR Micro-Neurography and a Segmentation Protocol Applied to Diabetic Neuropathy

The aim of this study was to assess with MRI morphometric ultrastructural changes in nerves affected by diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). We used an MR micro-neurography imaging protocol and a semiautomated technique of tissue segmentation to visualize and measure the volume of internal nerve components, such as the epineurium and nerve fascicles. The tibial nerves of 16 patients affected by DPN and of 15 healthy volunteers were imaged. Nerves volume (NV), fascicles volume (FV), fascicles to nerve ratio (FNR), and nerves cross-sectional areas (CSA) were obtained. In patients with DPN the NV was increased and the FNR was decreased, as a result of an increase of the epineurium (FNR in diabetic neuropathy 0,665; in controls 0,699, ). CSA was increased in subjects with DPN (12,84 mm2 versus 10,22 mm2, ). The FV was increased in patients with moderate to severe DPN. We have demonstrated structural changes occurring in nerves affected by DPN, which otherwise are assessable only with an invasive biopsy. MR micro-neurography appears to be suitable for the study of microscopic changes in tibial nerves of diabetic patients.

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Period-Doubling Bifurcation of Stochastic Fractional-Order Duffing System via Chebyshev Polynomial Approximation

Fractional-order calculus is more competent than integer-order one when modeling systems with properties of nonlocality and memory effect. And many real world problems related to uncertainties can be modeled with stochastic fractional-order systems with random parameters. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the dynamical behaviors in those systems concerning both memory and uncertainties. The period-doubling bifurcation of stochastic fractional-order Duffing (SFOD for short) system with a bounded random parameter subject to harmonic excitation is studied in this paper. Firstly, Chebyshev polynomial approximation in conjunction with the predictor-corrector approach is used to numerically solve the SFOD system that can be reduced to the equivalent deterministic system. Then, the global and local analysis of period-doubling bifurcation are presented, respectively. It is shown that both the fractional-order and the intensity of the random parameter can be taken as bifurcation parameters, which are peculiar to the stochastic fractional-order system, comparing with the stochastic integer-order system or the deterministic fractional-order system. Moreover, the Chebyshev polynomial approximation is proved to be an effective approach for studying the period-doubling bifurcation of the SFOD system.

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Comparative Neuroprotective Effects of Dietary Curcumin and Solid Lipid Curcumin Particles in Cultured Mouse Neuroblastoma Cells after Exposure to Aβ42

Aggregation of amyloid beta protein (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau (p-Tau) plays critical roles in pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As an antiamyloid natural polyphenol, curcumin (Cur) has a potential role in prevention of neurodegeneration in AD. However, due to limited absorption of the dietary Cur, the solid lipid Cur particles (SLCP) have been suggested as being more effective for AD therapy. In the present study, we compared the role of dietary Cur and SLCP on oxidative stress, neuronal death, p-Tau level, and certain cell survival markers in vitro, after exposure to Aβ42. Mouse neuroblastoma cells were exposed to Aβ42 for 24 h and incubated with or without dietary Cur and/or SLCP. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptotic cell death, p-Tau, and tau kinase (including GSK-3β and cell survival markers, such as total Akt, phosphorylated Akt, and PSD95 levels) were investigated. SLCP showed greater permeability than dietary Cur in vitro, decreased ROS production, and prevented apoptotic death. In addition, SLCP also inhibited p-Tau formation and significantly decreased GSK-3β levels. Further, the cell survival markers, such as total Akt, p-Akt, and PSD95 levels, were more effectively maintained by SLCP than dietary Cur in Aβ42 exposed cells. Therefore, SLCP may provide greater neuroprotection than dietary Cur in Alzheimer’s disease.

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OpenCL-Based FPGA Accelerator for 3D FDTD with Periodic and Absorbing Boundary Conditions

Finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is a very poplar way of numerically solving partial differential equations. FDTD has a low operational intensity so that the performances in CPUs and GPUs are often restricted by the memory bandwidth. Recently, deeply pipelined FPGA accelerators have shown a lot of success by exploiting streaming data flows in FDTD computation. In spite of this success, many FPGA accelerators are not suitable for real-world applications that contain complex boundary conditions. Boundary conditions break the regularity of the data flow, so that the performances are significantly reduced. This paper proposes an FPGA accelerator that computes commonly used absorbing and periodic boundary conditions in many 3D FDTD applications. Accelerator is designed using a “C-like” programming language called OpenCL (open computing language). As a result, the proposed accelerator can be customized easily by changing the software code. According to the experimental results, we achieved over 3.3 times and 1.5 times higher processing speed compared to the CPUs and GPUs, respectively. Moreover, the proposed accelerator is more than 14 times faster compared to the recently proposed FPGA accelerators that are capable of handling complex boundary conditions.

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5G Communications: Energy Efficiency

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Rolling Bearing Reliability Assessment via Kernel Principal Component Analysis and Weibull Proportional Hazard Model

Reliability assessment is a critical consideration in equipment engineering project. Successful reliability assessment, which is dependent on selecting features that accurately reflect performance degradation as the inputs of the assessment model, allows for the proactive maintenance of equipment. In this paper, a novel method based on kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) and Weibull proportional hazards model (WPHM) is proposed to assess the reliability of rolling bearings. A high relative feature set is constructed by selecting the effective features through extracting the time domain, frequency domain, and time-frequency domain features over the bearing’s life cycle data. The kernel principal components which can accurately reflect the performance degradation process are obtained by KPCA and then input as the covariates of WPHM to assess the reliability. An example was conducted to validate the proposed method. The differences in manufacturing, installation, and working conditions of the same type of bearings during reliability assessment are reduced after extracting relative features, which enhances the practicability and stability of the proposed method.

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Jefferson Hospital Offers Free Screenings To Raise Awareness About Oral Cancers - CBS Philly

CBS Philly

Jefferson Hospital Offers Free Screenings To Raise Awareness About Oral Cancers CBS Philly “That is becoming a very significant proportion of patients who have cancers of the tonsil and tongue base.” Recent studies have shown a big surge in HPV-related cancers among unlikely patients. “People in middle-age without significant risk factors ...

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E1a is an exogenous in vivo tumour suppressor

The E1a gene from adenovirus has become a major tool in cancer research. Since the discovery of E1a, it has been proposed to be an oncogene, becoming a key element in the model of cooperation between oncogenes. However, E1a’s in vivo behaviour is consistent with a tumour suppressor gene, due to the block/delay observed in different xenograft models. To clarify this interesting controversy, we have evaluated the effect of the E1a 13s isoform from adenovirus 5 in vivo. Initially, a conventional xenograft approach was performed using previously unreported HCT116 and B16-F10 cells, showing a clear anti-tumour effect regardless of the mouse’s immunological background (immunosuppressed/immunocompetent).

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THC and CBD in Blood Samples and Seizures in Norway; Does CBD Affect THC-Induced Impairment in Apprehended Subjects?

Cannabis is the most frequently used illicit drug worldwide. Different types of products can be derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, with the main types being herbal cannabis (marijuana) and resin (hashish). The plant contains almost 500 compounds, including 104 cannabinoids [1], and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is considered to be the main psychoactive constituent [2].

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Sexual dimorphism of the calcaneus in contemporary Cretans

In the past several decades, forensic anthropology as well as bioarchaeological research have expressed a growing interest towards identifying the sex of an individual from its skeletal elements. Long bones, flat bones and the skull have been the subject of numerous studies based on different reference populations employing a vast variety of different measurements [1–5]. Amongst the sexually dimorphic bones of the human skeleton, the calcaneus, which is considered the most robust bone of the foot, is the focus of this study.

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Brephedrone: a new psychoactive substance seized in Brazil

Abusive use of controlled and proscribed substances has been, for many decades now, both a public health and security problem all over the world. In Brazil, the listing of those substances is done by ‘Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária’ (ANVISA), a federal agency responsible for regulating the pharmaceutical market, among other attributions. The roll of controlled and proscribed substances is published in ‘Portaria 344/98′, a document issued and updated regularly by ANVISA [1,2].

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E1a is an exogenous tumour suppressor

The E1a gene from adenovirus has become a major tool in cancer research. Since the discovery of E1a, it has been proposed to be an oncogene, becoming a key element in the model of cooperation between oncogenes. However, E1a’s in vivo behaviour is consistent with a tumour suppressor gene, due to the block/delay observed in different xenograft models. To clarify this interesting controversy, we have evaluated the effect of the E1a 13s isoform from adenovirus 5 in vivo. Initially, a conventional xenograft approach was performed using previously unreported HCT116 and B16-F10 cells, showing a clear anti-tumour effect regardless of the mouse’s immunological background (immunosuppressed/immunocompetent).

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Where does your blood actually come from? - Science Daily

Science Daily

Where does your blood actually come from? Science Daily The blood running through our veins is composed of billions of specialized cells, responsible for many important functions required for life, including providing oxygen to all tissues in our body and providing immune responses against viruses, bacteria ...

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THC and CBD in Blood Samples and Seizures in Norway; Does CBD Affect THC-Induced Impairment in Apprehended Subjects?

Cannabis is the most frequently used illicit drug worldwide. Different types of products can be derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, with the main types being herbal cannabis (marijuana) and resin (hashish). The plant contains almost 500 compounds, including 104 cannabinoids [1], and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is considered to be the main psychoactive constituent [2].

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Sexual dimorphism of the calcaneus in contemporary Cretans

In the past several decades, forensic anthropology as well as bioarchaeological research have expressed a growing interest towards identifying the sex of an individual from its skeletal elements. Long bones, flat bones and the skull have been the subject of numerous studies based on different reference populations employing a vast variety of different measurements [1–5]. Amongst the sexually dimorphic bones of the human skeleton, the calcaneus, which is considered the most robust bone of the foot, is the focus of this study.

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Brephedrone: a new psychoactive substance seized in Brazil

Abusive use of controlled and proscribed substances has been, for many decades now, both a public health and security problem all over the world. In Brazil, the listing of those substances is done by ‘Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária’ (ANVISA), a federal agency responsible for regulating the pharmaceutical market, among other attributions. The roll of controlled and proscribed substances is published in ‘Portaria 344/98′, a document issued and updated regularly by ANVISA [1,2].

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.48 No.9

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The new issue is now available.Journal of the Mass Spectrometry Society of Japan

Vol.65 No.2

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.59 No.3

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.54 No.1

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.51 No.2

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.56 No.6

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The new issue is now available.The Journal of The Japan Society for New Zealand Studies

Vol.4

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.52 No.6

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.55 No.2

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.58 No.1

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The new issue is now available.The Journal of The Japan Society for New Zealand Studies

Vol.1

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.50 No.6

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.52 No.1

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.53 No.2

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.54 No.6

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.56 No.1

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.57 No.2

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.58 No.7

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The new issue is now available.SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND INFORMATION

Vol.60 No.2

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The new issue is now available.The Journal of The Japan Society for New Zealand Studies

Vol.17

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Hydroceles—Not Just For Men

Publication date: Available online 14 April 2017
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Danielle Biggs, Amy Patwa, Steve Gohsler
BackgroundHydroceles develop in females through the canal of Nuck. This canal is formed when the processes vaginalis fails to obliterate during development. The canal of Nuck can lead to the formation of not only hydroceles, but hernias as well. Although physicians typically think of hydroceles occurring in males, on rare occasions, they do occur in females because of this defect. They are often mistaken for incarcerated hernias, making ultrasound an excellent tool to distinguish between them and guide further treatment.Case ReportWe report a rare case of a 46-year-old female with the chief complaint of a painful groin mass. A diagnosis of a hydrocele was made by point of care ultrasonography in the emergency department after being misdiagnosed by computed tomography scan on two previous occasions.Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a valuable tool for emergency physicians and can lead to quick diagnoses and appropriate management of the patient. Using ultrasound in conjunction with other imaging modalities can improve diagnostic accuracy. POCUS is portable and a powerful tool for immediate answers, and continues to prove its utility for clinical decision making.



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Initial Asthma Severity Assessment Tools as Predictors of Hospitalization

Publication date: Available online 14 April 2017
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Natalia Paniagua, Amaia Elosegi, Isabel Duo, Ana Fernandez, Elisa Mojica, Lorea Martinez-Indart, Santiago Mintegi, Javier Benito
BackgroundAssessment tools to classify and prioritize patients, such as systems of triage, and indicators of severity, such as clinical respiratory scores, are helpful in guiding the flow of asthmatic patients in the emergency department.ObjectiveOur aim was to assess the performance of the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT), triage level (TL), Pulmonary Score (PS), and initial O2 saturation (O2 sat), in predicting hospitalization in pediatric acute asthma exacerbations.Study DesignRetrospective study evaluating PAT, TL, and PS at presentation, and initial O2 sat of asthmatic children in the pediatric emergency department (PED). The primary outcome measure was the rate of hospitalization. Secondary outcomes were length of stay (LOS) in the PED and admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).ResultsPAT, TL, PS, and initial O2 sat were recorded in 14,953 asthmatic children. Multivariate analysis yielded the following results: Abnormal PAT and more severe TLs (I–II) were independent risk factors for hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–1.8; OR 3.4, 95% CI 2.6–4.3, respectively) and longer LOS (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3–1.7; OR 2.6, 95% CI 2–3.3, respectively). PS > 3 showed a strong association with hospitalization (OR 8.1, 95% CI 7–9.4), PICU admission (OR 9.6, 95% CI 3–30.9) and longer LOS (OR 6.2, 95% CI 5.6–6.9). O2 sat < 94% was an independent predictor of admission (OR 5.2, 95% CI 4.6–5.9), PICU admission (OR 4.6, 95% CI 4.5–4.6), and longer LOS (OR 4.6, 95% CI 4.1–5.2).ConclusionsPAT, TL, PS, and initial O2 sat are good predictors of hospitalization in pediatric acute asthma exacerbations.



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Biodegradable poly(lactic acid)-based scaffolds: synthesis and biomedical applications

Abstract

Biodegradable polymers are identified as substantial materials for biomedical applications. These polymers have the ability to deteriorate through an unpretentious hydrolysis and eliminated through kidneys' functions or metabolic processes. Among widely used biodegradable polymers in biomedical applications, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is becoming one of the most paramount polymers. Synthesizing PLA through melt/solution polycondensation polymerizations makes it relatively easy to tailor properties of final product. However, their synthesis reactions are affected by several parameters such as polymerization time, temperature, pressure, catalysts, and the polarity of the solvent. Moreover, equilibrium reactions are controlled through utilizing a hydrophilic monomer such as ethylene glycol (EG). These factors can strongly impact final properties of PLA. Thus, it is indispensable to comprehend the effect of operating parameters during the polymerization process. Optimizing synthesis conditions can be accomplished through reducing side reactions. Furthermore, this can be achieved through racemization by utilizing chain extenders to build high molecular weight and enhance thermal stability. In this review, the design and fabrication of porous PLA scaffolds and their physicomechanical behavior are reviewed. Different PLA scaffold parameters were investigated thoroughly, which include biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mechanical properties for different porosity and pore sizes to mimic the complex architecture of the natural tissue regeneration.

Graphical Abstract

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http://ift.tt/2oe0xzf

Hydroceles—Not Just For Men

Publication date: Available online 14 April 2017
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Danielle Biggs, Amy Patwa, Steve Gohsler
BackgroundHydroceles develop in females through the canal of Nuck. This canal is formed when the processes vaginalis fails to obliterate during development. The canal of Nuck can lead to the formation of not only hydroceles, but hernias as well. Although physicians typically think of hydroceles occurring in males, on rare occasions, they do occur in females because of this defect. They are often mistaken for incarcerated hernias, making ultrasound an excellent tool to distinguish between them and guide further treatment.Case ReportWe report a rare case of a 46-year-old female with the chief complaint of a painful groin mass. A diagnosis of a hydrocele was made by point of care ultrasonography in the emergency department after being misdiagnosed by computed tomography scan on two previous occasions.Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a valuable tool for emergency physicians and can lead to quick diagnoses and appropriate management of the patient. Using ultrasound in conjunction with other imaging modalities can improve diagnostic accuracy. POCUS is portable and a powerful tool for immediate answers, and continues to prove its utility for clinical decision making.



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Initial Asthma Severity Assessment Tools as Predictors of Hospitalization

Publication date: Available online 14 April 2017
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Natalia Paniagua, Amaia Elosegi, Isabel Duo, Ana Fernandez, Elisa Mojica, Lorea Martinez-Indart, Santiago Mintegi, Javier Benito
BackgroundAssessment tools to classify and prioritize patients, such as systems of triage, and indicators of severity, such as clinical respiratory scores, are helpful in guiding the flow of asthmatic patients in the emergency department.ObjectiveOur aim was to assess the performance of the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT), triage level (TL), Pulmonary Score (PS), and initial O2 saturation (O2 sat), in predicting hospitalization in pediatric acute asthma exacerbations.Study DesignRetrospective study evaluating PAT, TL, and PS at presentation, and initial O2 sat of asthmatic children in the pediatric emergency department (PED). The primary outcome measure was the rate of hospitalization. Secondary outcomes were length of stay (LOS) in the PED and admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).ResultsPAT, TL, PS, and initial O2 sat were recorded in 14,953 asthmatic children. Multivariate analysis yielded the following results: Abnormal PAT and more severe TLs (I–II) were independent risk factors for hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–1.8; OR 3.4, 95% CI 2.6–4.3, respectively) and longer LOS (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3–1.7; OR 2.6, 95% CI 2–3.3, respectively). PS > 3 showed a strong association with hospitalization (OR 8.1, 95% CI 7–9.4), PICU admission (OR 9.6, 95% CI 3–30.9) and longer LOS (OR 6.2, 95% CI 5.6–6.9). O2 sat < 94% was an independent predictor of admission (OR 5.2, 95% CI 4.6–5.9), PICU admission (OR 4.6, 95% CI 4.5–4.6), and longer LOS (OR 4.6, 95% CI 4.1–5.2).ConclusionsPAT, TL, PS, and initial O2 sat are good predictors of hospitalization in pediatric acute asthma exacerbations.



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Masthead

Publication date: May 2017
Source:Translational Research, Volume 183





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Editorial Advisory Board

Publication date: May 2017
Source:Translational Research, Volume 183





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Author Guidelines

Publication date: May 2017
Source:Translational Research, Volume 183





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Contents

Publication date: May 2017
Source:Translational Research, Volume 183





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Information for Readers

Publication date: May 2017
Source:Translational Research, Volume 183





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Contents

Publication date: May 2017
Source:Translational Research, Volume 183





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Beating HPV-positive throat cancer

Source: http://ift.tt/hFWySe Author: Pamela Tom, Contributor National Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week is April 12-18, 2017 For at least […]

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A review of drug delivery systems based on nanotechnology and green chemistry: green nanomedicine

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Tat-functionalized liposomes for the treatment of meningitis: an in vitro study

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Antibacterial activity and cytocompatibility of an implant coating consisting of TiO2 nanotubes combined with a GL13K antimicrobial peptide

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Synthesis of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers with excellent biocompatibility for the selective separation and inhibition of testosterone in prostate cancer cells

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Targeted delivery of thymosin beta 4 to the injured myocardium using CREKA-conjugated nanoparticles

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Anti-FGFR1 aptamer-tagged superparamagnetic conjugates for anticancer hyperthermia therapy

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Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Plastic Surgery and Dermatology Patients: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder in plastic surgery and dermatology patients, by performing a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. The most relevant studies published originally in any language were analyzed. The literature search was performed using the PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Scielo databases. The final sample comprised 33 publications that were submitted to meta-analysis. The study verified that 15.04% of plastic surgery patients had body dysmorphic disorder (range 2.21–56.67%); patient mean age was 34.54 ± 12.41 years, and most were women (74.38%). Among dermatology patients, 12.65% (range 4.52–35.16%) had body dysmorphic disorder; patient mean age was 27.79 ± 9.03 years, and most were women (76.09%). Both plastic surgeons and dermatologists must adequately assess their patients to identify those with a higher likelihood of body dysmorphic disorder and should arrange multidisciplinary care for such individuals.

Level of Evidence V

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors http://ift.tt/18t7xNj.

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Preventing the Complications Associated with the Use of Dermal Fillers in Facial Aesthetic Procedures: An Expert Group Consensus Report

Abstract

Background

The use of dermal fillers in minimally invasive facial aesthetic procedures has become increasingly popular of late, yet as the indications and the number of procedures performed increase, the number of complications is also likely to increase. Paying special attention to specific patient characteristics and to the technique used can do much to avoid these complications. Indeed, a well-trained physician can also minimize the impact of such problems when they do occur.

Methods

A multidisciplinary group of experts in aesthetic treatments reviewed the main factors associated with the complications that arise when using dermal fillers. A search of English, French and Spanish language articles in PubMed was performed using the terms "complications" OR "soft filler complications" OR "injectable complications" AND "dermal fillers". An initial document was drafted that reflected the complications identified and recommendations as to how they should be handled. This document was then reviewed and modified by the expert panel, until a final text was agreed upon and validated.

Results

The panel addressed consensus recommendations about the preparation, the procedure and the post-procedural care. The panel considered it crucial to obtain an accurate medical history to prevent potential complications. An additional clinical assessment, including standardized photography, is also crucial to evaluate the outcomes and prevent potential complications. Furthermore, the state of the operating theatre, the patient's health status and the preparation of the skin are critical to prevent superficial soft tissue infections. Finally, selecting the appropriate technique, based on the physician's experience, as well as the characteristics of the patient and filler, helps to ensure successful outcomes and limits the complications.

Conclusions

This consensus document provides key elements to help clinicians who are starting to use dermal fillers to employ standard procedures and to understand how best to prevent potential complications of the treatment.

Level of Evidence V

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors http://ift.tt/18t7xNj.

http://ift.tt/2pje7SK

​Swadlincote GP's warning as it's revealed only eight per cent of children eat enough fruit and veg - Burton Mail

Burton Mail

​Swadlincote GP's warning as it's revealed only eight per cent of children eat enough fruit and veg Burton Mail ... compared with nine per cent of girls. The charity, which has launched a new recipe website, said the figures were "seriously worrying" as a diet low in fruit and vegetables could increase a person's risk of lung, mouth, pharynx and larynx cancer in ...

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Man speaks out about his HPV-associated throat cancer - The Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Huffington Post

Man speaks out about his HPV-associated throat cancer The Bozeman Daily Chronicle His throat cancer was caused by a strain of human papillomavirus, or HPV, a sexually transmitted disease. The disease is so common that most sexually active men or women contract HPV at some point in their lives, according to the U.S. Centers for ... Beating HPV-Positive Throat Cancer | The Huffington PostHuffington Post all 2 news articles »

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Lightning round-up: The world’s weirdest electricity

From flashes of light resembling sea monsters to vast rings of glowing red light, lightning comes in an astonishing array of mysterious flavours

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Lightning round-up: The world’s weirdest electricity

From flashes of light resembling sea monsters to vast rings of glowing red light, lightning comes in an astonishing array of mysterious flavours

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Man speaks out about his HPV-associated throat cancer - The Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Man speaks out about his HPV-associated throat cancer The Bozeman Daily Chronicle His throat cancer was caused by a strain of human papillomavirus, or HPV, a sexually transmitted disease. The disease is so common that most sexually active men or women contract HPV at some point in their lives, according to the U.S. Centers for ... and more »

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Risk factors for free flap failure: a retrospective analysis of 881 free flaps for head and neck defect reconstruction

Publication date: Available online 14 April 2017
Source:International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Author(s): W. Zhou, W.-B. Zhang, Y. Yu, Y. Wang, C. Mao, C.-B. Guo, G.-Y. Yu, X. Peng
The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for free flap failure after head and neck reconstructive surgery. The data of 881 consecutive patients who underwent free flap surgery at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, between January 2013 and November 2016, were reviewed retrospectively. All surgeries were performed by a single head and neck surgical team. Patient demographic and surgical data that may have an influence on free flap outcomes were recorded. The χ² test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify relevant risk factors. In total, 881 free tissue transfer surgeries were included in this study. Free flap failure occurred in 26 of 881 flaps (2.9%). A history of irradiation (odds ratio 0.205, 95% confidence interval 0.07–0.56; P=0.002) was a statistically significant risk factor for free flap failure. Age, diabetes mellitus, history of previous neck surgery to the anastomosis side, donor site, choice of recipient vein, use of a coupler device, and postoperative anticoagulation were not associated with free flap outcomes. Thus, it is concluded that when performing head and neck reconstructive surgery, special attention should be paid to patients who have previously undergone irradiation.



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Difetto di autofagia causato da papillomavirus e insorgenza di tumore - XagenaSalute

XagenaSalute

Difetto di autofagia causato da papillomavirus e insorgenza di tumore XagenaSalute Il papillomavirus è responsabile di oltre 600.000 nuovi casi di tumore ogni anno nel mondo. Alcuni si sviluppano solo sulla pelle, mentre altri crescono nelle membrane mucose, quali la bocca, la gola ( distretto testa-collo ) o il tratto genito ...

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Validation of the custo screen pediatric blood pressure monitor according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to validate the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) device custo screen pediatric in children aged 3 to 12 years according to the International Protocol of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH-IP revision 2010). Thirty-three children were included and systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements were performed according to the ESH-IP. The protocol was modified for children considering data from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KIGGS). The custo screen pediatric met all the requirements of the ESH-IP. The mean difference between the test device and the reference was −1.4 ± 3.0 mmHg for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and −0.7 ± 3.2 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure (DBP). For SBP and DBP, all 99 measurements were within the absolute difference of 10 mmHg between the test device and the reference. As to part 2 of the protocol, for DBP in all subjects, two out of three measurements were within 5 mmHg between the device and the standard, whereas for SBP in 32 of 33 subjects, two out of three measurements were within this range.

Conclusion: The custo screen pediatric met all criteria of the ESH-IP review 2010, modified for children from 3 to about 12 years, and can be recommended for ABPM in children.

What is Known: • Validation of blood pressure measuring devices is essential to provide patients with an accurate blood pressure measuring device. • The majority of devices has not been validated in children.

What is New: • Prior to the present validation, study protocol adjustments of ESH-IP review 2010 for children were defined according to German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents 2013 (KIGGS). • The custo screen pediatric test device met all criteria of ESH-IP revision 2010, modified for children, and can be recommended for ABPM in children aged 3 to about 12 years.

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health technology; +155 new citations

155 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

health technology

These pubmed results were generated on 2017/04/15

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

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The keys to conservative treatment of early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar region

Publication date: Available online 14 April 2017
Source:European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Diseases
Author(s): O. Laccourreye, P. Castelnau-Marchand, F. Rubin, C. Badoual, P. Halimi, P. Giraud
To analyze the medical literature devoted to work-up, epidemiology, local control, survival, complications and sequelae after conservative treatment for early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar region. An analysis of the PubMed (1975–2016) database was performed using the following keywords and associations: “tonsil/tonsillar region/oropharynx” AND “squamous cell carcinoma” AND “early-stage (I–II; T1–2N0M0)” AND “radiation therapy/radiotherapy” OR “conservative surgery/oropharyngectomy/transoral surgery/radical tonsillectomy”. The search retrieved 10 retrospective series documenting local control and/or survival in series with more than 50 cases and a minimum 2 years’ follow-up after conservative treatment; no prospective studies, meta-analyses and/or Cochrane analyses were found. Magnetic resonance imaging is the key radiological exam for local extension assessment. Human papilloma virus infection (HPV) is a risk factor that must be screened for systematically, since it induces tumoral radio-sensitivity and increases the risk of specific synchronous and metachronous second primaries. Whatever conservative treatment used, local control and survival rates higher than 85% were achieved. Implementing intensity-modulated radiation therapy reduced the incidence and severity of radiation-related complications and sequelae. Transoral surgery yielded very low morbidity/mortality rates, enabled association to ipsilateral neck dissection, and allowed radiation therapy to be reserved for the management of metachronous second primaries. Transoral surgery appeared to be the first-line option in the majority of cases. Lifetime follow-up adapted to HPV status is mandatory. The development of HPV vaccination does not mean that campaigns against smoking and alcohol abuse are of diminished importance.



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quality of care; +1203 new citations

1203 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

quality of care

These pubmed results were generated on 2017/04/15

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

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Role of Induction Chemotherapy Prior to Chemoradiation in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer-Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Role of Induction Chemotherapy Prior to Chemoradiation in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer-Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Cancer J. 2017 Mar/Apr;23(2):79-83

Authors: Vidal L, Ben Aharon I, Limon D, Cohen E, Popovtzer A

Abstract
The objective of this study was to review and assess the impact of additional induction chemotherapy to concomitant chemoradiation in head and neck squamous cell cancer. We performed a comparative systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials of induction chemotherapy + chemoradiation and chemoradiation alone in this setting. We identified trials randomizing 1314 patients (published 2004-2015). A non-statistically significant trend was observed in favor of induction chemotherapy + chemoradiation on overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-1.04). Disease control was superior in the induction chemotherapy + chemoradiation group (hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.83). The rate of complete response improved with induction chemotherapy compared with concomitant chemoradiation (relative risk, 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-1.92). This study showed no benefit of induction chemotherapy + chemoradiation on overall survival. However, improved complete response rate and death certificate-only registrations may imply that selected patients may benefit from induction chemotherapy.

PMID: 28410291 [PubMed - in process]

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