Octreotide Infusion for the Treatment of Congenital Chylothorax

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Octreotide Infusion for the Treatment of Congenital Chylothorax Μέσω Hindawi Publishing Corporation Congenital chylothorax is an uncommon cause of pleural effusion in the pediatric age group, and it should be kept in consideration when evaluating a neonate with pleural effusion, as it is the commonest cause of pleural effusion in this age group (Tutor, 2014). No commonly accepted guidelines have been published so far regarding the management of congenital chylothorax in the neonate, but trials of octreotide have appeared to be promising (Bellini et al., 2018). We present a neonate with congenital chylothorax successfully treated with octreotide infusion. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Three-Decade Evaluation of Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure in Open-Angle Glaucoma at a Tertiary Care Center

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Three-Decade Evaluation of Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure in Open-Angle Glaucoma at a Tertiary Care Center Μέσω Hindawi Publishing Corporation Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the most prevalent risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma. However, IOP alone does not fully describe a mechanical basis for disease in patients with normal tension glaucoma or primary open-angle glaucoma. The translaminar pressure difference (TLPD) theory proposes that the pressure gradient generated by the difference of IOP and cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFp) acting at the level of the optic nerve can lead to cupping and glaucoma when IOP is higher than normal and/or CSFp is lower than normal. The study results to date have generally supported the TLPD theory; however, varying methods, populations, and sample sizes make it difficult to compare results. To further assess whether there is an association between low CSFp and open-angle glaucoma, 30 years of cl inical data that assess 96,543 lumbar punctures were analyzed. Patients with open-angle glaucoma showed a significantly lower CSFp than randomly selected normal control patients (9.9 ± 3 mm·Hg (n = 86) versus 12.1 ± 3.6 mm·Hg (n = 114), ) following adjustment for age and sex. This retrospective study provides strong evidence for an association between open-angle glaucoma and low CSFp. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Erosion Infiltration in the Management of Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) Defects

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Erosion Infiltration in the Management of Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) Defects Μέσω Hindawi Publishing Corporation White spot lesions caused by enamel demineralization are frequently encountered in dental practice. Their management has always been an important issue in modern dentistry. However, the real dilemma was treating aesthetic demands with noninvasive or minimally invasive techniques preserving the natural tissues. The introduction of resin infiltration technique seems to provide an intermediary treatment modality between prevention and restorative therapy. This case report is aimed at reporting the management of MIH opacities in anterior teeth with resin infiltration technique. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

sEMG-Based Neural Network Prediction Model Selection of Gesture Fatigue and Dataset Optimization

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader sEMG-Based Neural Network Prediction Model Selection of Gesture Fatigue and Dataset Optimization Μέσω Hindawi Publishing Corporation The fatigue energy consumption of independent gestures can be obtained by calculating the power spectrum of surface electromyography (sEMG) signals. The existing research studies focus on the fatigue of independent gestures, while the research studies on integrated gestures are few. However, the actual gesture operation mode is usually integrated by multiple independent gestures, so the fatigue degree of integrated gestures can be predicted by training neural network of independent gestures. Three natural gestures including browsing information, playing games, and typing are divided into nine independent gestures in this paper, and the predicted model is established and trained by calculating the energy consumption of independent gestures. The artificial neural networks (ANNs) including backpropagation (BP) n eural network, recurrent neural network (RNN), and long short-term memory (LSTM) are used to predict the fatigue of gesture. The support vector machine (SVM) is used to assist verification. Mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) are utilized to evaluate the optimal prediction model. Furthermore, the different datasets of the processed sEMG signal and its decomposed wavelet coefficients are trained, respectively, and the changes of error functions of them are compared. The experimental results show that LSTM model is more suitable for gesture fatigue prediction. The processed sEMG signals are appropriate for using as the training set the fatigue degree of one-handed gesture. It is better to use wavelet decomposition coefficients as datasets to predict the high-dimensional sEMG signals of two-handed gestures. The experimental results can be applied to predict the fatigue degree of complex human-machine interactive gestures, help to avoid unreasonable gestures, and improve the user's interactive experience. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Establishment and Validation of a Prognostic Risk Model for Autophagy-Related Genes in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Establishment and Validation of a Prognostic Risk Model for Autophagy-Related Genes in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Μέσω Hindawi Publishing Corporation Background. Autophagy plays an essential role in tumorigenesis. At present, due to the unclear role of autophagy in renal clear cell carcinoma, we studied the potential value of autophagy-related genes (ARGs) in renal clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Methods. We obtained all ccRCC data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We extracted the expression data of ARGs for difference analysis and carried out biological function analysis on the different results. The autophagy risk model was constructed. The 5-year survival rate was assessed using the model, and the predictive power of the model was evaluated from multiple perspectives. Cox regression analysis was use to assess whether the model could be an independent prognostic factor. Finally, the correlation between the model and clinical indicators is analyzed. Result s. The patients were divided into the high-risk group and low-risk group according to the median of autophagy risk score, and the results showed that the prognosis of the low-risk group was better than that of a high-risk group. The validation results of external data sets show that our model has good predictive value for ccRCC patients. The model can be an independent prognostic factor. Finally, the results show that our model has a stable predictive ability. Conclusion. The autophagy gene model we constructed can be used as an excellent prognostic indicator for ccRCC. Our study provides the possibility of individualized and precise treatment for ccRCC patients. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The Composition of Gut Microbiota in Patients Bearing Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis with Euthyroidism and Hypothyroidism

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader The Composition of Gut Microbiota in Patients Bearing Hashimoto's Thyroiditis with Euthyroidism and Hypothyroidism Μέσω Hindawi Publishing Corporation Aims. Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), a type of autoimmune disease, occurs due to genetic predisposition and environmental factors. It is well known that thyroid function may affect the gut microbiota. However, the composition of gut microbiota in HT patients with different thyroid function status has been less highlighted. Therefore, we focused on the alterations in the composition of gut microbiota in HT patients with euthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Methods. We performed a cross-sectional study, including 45 HT patients with euthyroidism, 18 HT patients with hypothyroidism, and 34 healthy controls. Fecal samples were collected, and microbiota was examined by using 16S RNA ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Then, we analyzed the possible pathways in relation to the enriched bacteria by linear discriminant analy sis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe). Results. Compared with the controls, bacterial richness and diversity were significantly lower in patients with HT, especially in hypothyroidism. Moreover, Lachnospiraceae_incertae_sedis, Lactonifactor, Alistipes, and Subdoligranulum were more enriched in HT patients with euthyroidism, while Phascolarctobacterium was more abundant in those with hypothyroidism. Further analysis suggested that Phascolarctobacterium was negatively related to several pathways, including environmental information processing and metabolism. Conclusion. In summary, our study demonstrated the altered composition of gut microbiota in HT patients with different thyroid function status. Moreover, Phascolarctobacterium may be involved in the development of HT. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Use of Argon Plasma Coagulation and Endoscopic Hemoclips for Postsurgical Gastrointestinal Fistula

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Use of Argon Plasma Coagulation and Endoscopic Hemoclips for Postsurgical Gastrointestinal Fistula Μέσω Hindawi Publishing Corporation A 72-year-old male was diagnosed with a duodenal mass and underwent extensive surgical resection. The patient's post-op course was complicated by an anastomotic leak that was first treated conservatively; however, his condition continued to deteriorate. An upper endoscopy was performed, which showed misplacement of drain forming a fistulous track through the lumen of the bowel. We removed the drain and used argon plasma coagulation to de-epithelize the lumen and closed the fistula with hemostasis clips. The patient's clinical status improved significantly. Our case emphasizes the success of endoscopic techniques as an alternative option in the management of postsurgical anastomotic leaks and fistulas in the right clinical setting and patient population. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The Regenerative Potential of Donkey and Human Milk on the Redox-Sensitive and Proliferative Signaling Pathways of Skin Fibroblasts

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader The Regenerative Potential of Donkey and Human Milk on the Redox-Sensitive and Proliferative Signaling Pathways of Skin Fibroblasts Μέσω Hindawi Publishing Corporation The influence of milk bioactive peptides on skin regenerative potential and rejuvenation is very often limited because of allergic reactions. The current study is aimed at exploring the influence of donkey colostrum and mature milk, human colostrum and mature milk, and β-casein and β-casomorphine-7, on the growth and inflammatory response of the culture of cultured skin fibroblasts exposed to these conditions for twenty-four hours. Their effects on the growth-regulatory kinases and redox-sensitive, proinflammatory transcriptional factor NF-κB were detected by using specific primary antibodies against NF-κB p65, Akt-1, phospho-Akt-1, Erk-1, phospho-Erk-1, JNK, phospho-JNK, phospho-STAT-1, and CD26, while logarithmic integrated fluorescence intensity patterns were recorded by flow cytometry. The downregu lation of NF-κB p65 was observed after the exposure of skin fibroblasts to donkey milk and human colostrum, while β-casein and β-casomorphine-7 exerted the opposite effect, which suggests that noncasein bioactive peptides of donkey and human milk may be responsible for anti-inflammatory properties. The exposure to all milk species examined and β-casein leads to the activation of growth-regulatory kinases (Akt1/2/3 kinase, Erk kinase, JNK kinase, and Stat-1 kinase), especially for the p-Erk pathway, which suggests that essential amino acids of casein may be responsible for Erk-induced cell cycle activation and proliferation. The opposite effect was observed when cells were exposed to β-casomorphine-7, which may affect the skin fibroblast survival and their proliferative and regenerative potential. Donkey milk did not significantly change the CD26 antigen expression. In conclusion, our results suggest that among cell signaling molecules, the most sensitive but nonspecific downstr eam effector is p-Erk kinase, which may point to donkey milk usefulness in wound healing, regenerative, and aesthetic dermatology. The noncasein bioactive peptides of donkey milk may be responsible for the anti-inflammatory property of donkey milk and colostrum, which may indicate the usefulness in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Biochanin A Mitigates Atherosclerosis by Inhibiting Lipid Accumulation and Inflammatory Response

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Biochanin A Mitigates Atherosclerosis by Inhibiting Lipid Accumulation and Inflammatory Response Μέσω Hindawi Publishing Corporation Biochanin A (BCA), a dietary isoflavone extracted from red clover and cabbage, has been shown to antagonize hypertension and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, very little is known about its role in atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of BCA on atherosclerosis and explore the underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that administration of BCA promoted reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), improved plasma lipid profile, and decreased serum proinflammatory cytokine levels and atherosclerotic lesion area in apoE-/- mice fed a Western diet. In THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells, treatment with BCA upregulated ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ABCG1 expression and facilitated subsequent cholesterol efflux and diminished intracellular cholesterol con tents by activating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)/liver X receptor α (LXRα) and PPARγ/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) pathways. BCA also activated these two signaling pathways to inhibit the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Taken together, these findings suggest that BCA is protective against atherosclerosis by inhibiting lipid accumulation and inflammatory response through the PPARγ/LXRα and PPARγ/HO-1 pathways. BCA may be an attractive drug for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Some Common SNPs of the T-Cell Homeostasis-Related Genes Are Associated with Multiple Sclerosis, but Not with the Clinical Manifestations of the Disease, in the Polish Population

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Some Common SNPs of the T-Cell Homeostasis-Related Genes Are Associated with Multiple Sclerosis, but Not with the Clinical Manifestations of the Disease, in the Polish Population Μέσω Hindawi Publishing Corporation Purpose. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease, and genetic factors play an important role in its pathogenesis and progression. The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequencies of alleles and genetic variants of the T-cell homeostasis-related genes, in subjects with MS, as well as to investigate the association with MS clinical manifestations and disability. Methods. 94 subjects with MS and 160 healthy individuals have been genotyped for seven common single-nucleotide variants in IL-2RA, CTLA4, CD40, and PADI4 genes. The ages of onset, duration of the disease, and clinical condition of the MS subjects were analysed. We used the Chi2 test confirmed with Fisher's exact test for statistical analysis. Results. The frequency of allele T and CT/TT genotypes (rs7093069) in the IL2RA gene, as well as the T allele and CT/TT genotypes in rs12722598, were significantly higher in the control group. The significant differences between studied groups we also found for the G allele and GG/GA genotypes of rs3087243 in CTLA4 gene, which were more common among the control group. The heterozygous genotype TC (rs1883832) of CD40 gene was more common in the control subjects, and the frequency of the alleles and genotypes in the rs1748033 of the PADI4 gene did not differ between the studied groups. Between the studied genotypes, we did not observe any significant differences in the age of onset and duration of disease, including sex stratification. Conclusion. Our results highlight the protective role of some of the T-cell homeostasis-related genetic variants in MS development, but not in its clinical manifestation. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Early Electroacupuncture Extends the rtPA Time Window to 6 h in a Male Rat Model of Embolic Stroke via the ERK1/2-MMP9 Pathway

Alexandros G.Sfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Early Electroacupuncture Extends the rtPA Time Window to 6 h in a Male Rat Model of Embolic Stroke via the ERK1/2-MMP9 Pathway Μέσω Hindawi Publishing Corporation Background. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is the only recommended pharmacological treatment for acute ischemic stroke, but it has a restricted therapeutic time window. When administered at time points greater than 4.5 h after stroke onset, rtPA disrupts the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which leads to serious brain edema and hemorrhagic transformation. Electroacupuncture (EA) exerts a neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia; however, researchers have not clearly determined whether EA increases the safety of thrombolysis and extends the therapeutic time window of rtPA administration following ischemic stroke. Objective. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that EA extends the therapeutic time window of rtPA for ischemic stroke in a male rat model of embolic stroke. Methods. SD rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group, model group, rtPA group, EA+rtPA group, and rtPA+MEK1/2 inhibitor group. An injection of rtPA was administered 6 h after ischemia. Rats were treated with EA at the Shuigou (GV26) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints at 2 h after ischemia. Neurological function, infarct volume, BBB permeability, brain edema, and hemorrhagic transformation were assessed at 24 h after ischemia. Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect the levels of proteins involved in the ERK1/2 signaling pathway (MEK1/2 and ERK1/2), tight junction proteins (Claudin5 and ZO-1), and MMP9 in the ischemic penumbra at 24 h after stroke. Results. Delayed rtPA treatment aggravated hemorrhagic transformation and brain edema. However, treatment with EA plus rtPA significantly improved neurological function and reduced the infarct volume, hemorrhagic transformation, brain edema, and EB leakage in rats compared with rtPA alone. EA incre ased the levels of tight junction proteins, inhibited the activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, and reduced MMP9 overexpression induced by delayed rtPA thrombolysis. Conclusions. EA potentially represents an effective adjunct method to increase the safety of thrombolytic therapy and extend the therapeutic time window of rtPA administration following ischemic stroke. This neuroprotective effect may be mediated by the inhibition of the ERK1/2-MMP9 pathway and alleviation of the destruction of the BBB. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.