Abnormal Amounts Research Articles

Ultrasonic Elastography of the Rectus Femoris, a Potential Tool to Predict Sarcopenia in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Purpose: Skeletal muscle dysfunction is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with a poor prognosis. Abnormal muscle quantity of the lower limbs is a manifestation of skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with COPD. Shear wave ultrasound elastography (SWE) is a novel and possible tool to evaluate qualitative muscle parameters. This study explores the feasibility of SWE to measure the stiffness of the rectus femoris and evaluates its value in predicting sarcopenia in patients with COPD.Methods: Ultrasound examination of the rectus femoris was performed to determine the mean elasticity index (SWEmean), cross-sectional area (RFcsa), and thickness (RFthick) using grayscale ultrasonography (US) and SWE in 53 patients with COPD and 23 age-matched non-COPD healthy controls. The serum levels of circulating biomarkers (GDF15, resistin, and TNF-α) were measured using ELISA. The definition of sarcopenia followed the guidelines from the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of the SWEmean, RFthick, and RFcsa was used to evaluate their predictive ability for sarcopenia.Results: The intraobserver and interobserver repeatability of SWE performance was excellent (all correlation coefficients > 0.95; p < 0.05). The SWEmean of the rectus femoris in patients with COPD (8.98 ± 3.12 kPa) was decreased compared with that in healthy controls (17.00 ± 5.14 kPa) and decreased with advanced global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) stage. Furthermore, SWEmean was found to be independent of sex, height, and body mass, and a lower SWEmean in patients with COPD was positively associated with reduced pulmonary function, worse physical function, poor exercise tolerance, decreased muscle strength, and worse dyspnea index score. The correlation between physical function [five-repetition sit-to-stand test (5STST)], muscle function, and SWEmean was higher than those of RFthick and RFcsa. In addition, SWEmean was negatively correlated with serum GDF15 levels (r = −0.472, p < 0.001), serum resistin levels (r = −0.291, p = 0.035), and serum TNF-α levels (r = −0.433, p = 0.001). Finally, the predictive power of SWEmean [area under the curve (AUC): 0.863] in the diagnosis of sarcopenia was higher than that of RFthick (AUC: 0.802) and RFcsa (AUC: 0.816).Conclusion: Compared with grayscale US, SWE was not affected by the patient’s height, weight, or BMI and better represented skeletal muscle function and physical function. Furthermore, SWE is a promising potential tool to predict sarcopenia in patients with COPD.

Azolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines and Their Condensed Analogs with Anticoagulant Activity.

Hypercytokinemia, or cytokine storm, is one of the severe complications of viral and bacterial infections, involving the release of abnormal amounts of cytokines, resulting in a massive inflammatory response. Cytokine storm is associated with COVID-19 and sepsis high mortality rate by developing epithelial dysfunction and coagulopathy, leading to thromboembolism and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Anticoagulant therapy is an important tactic to prevent thrombosis in sepsis and COVID-19, but recent data show the incompatibility of modern direct oral anticoagulants and antiviral agents. It seems relevant to develop dual-action drugs with antiviral and anticoagulant properties. At the same time, it was shown that azolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines are heterocycles with a broad spectrum of antiviral activity. We have synthesized a new family of azolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines and their condensed polycyclic analogs by cyclocondensation reactions and direct CH-functionalization and studied their anticoagulant properties. Five compounds among 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones and 5-alkyl-1,3,4-thiadiazolo[3,2-a]purin-8-ones demonstrated higher anticoagulant activity than the reference drug, dabigatran etexilate. Antithrombin activity of most active compounds was confirmed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated blood to mimic the conditions of cytokine release syndrome. The studied compounds affected only the thrombin time value, reliably increasing it 6.5–15.2 times as compared to LPS-treated blood.

On-Chain Analysis-Based Detection of Abnormal Transaction Amount on Cryptocurrency Exchanges

On-Chain Analysis-Based Detection of Abnormal Transaction Amount on Cryptocurrency Exchanges

LDSVM: Leukemia Cancer Classification Using Machine Learning

Leukemia is blood cancer, including bone marrow and lymphatic tissues, typically involving white blood cells. Leukemia produces an abnormal amount of white blood cells compared to normal blood. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) microarrays provide reliable medical diagnostic services to help more patients find the proposed treatment for infections. DNA microarrays are also known as biochips that consist of microscopic DNA spots attached to a solid glass surface. Currently, it is difficult to classify cancers using microarray data. Nearly many data mining techniques have failed because of the small sample size, which has become more critical for organizations. However, they are not highly effective in improving results and are frequently employed by doctors for cancer diagnosis. This study proposes a novel method using machine learning algorithms based on microarrays of leukemia GSE9476 cells. The main aim was to predict the initial leukemia disease. Machine learning algorithms such as decision tree (DT), naive bayes (NB), random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), linear regression (LinR), support vector machine (SVM), and novel approach based on the combination of Logistic Regression (LR), DT and SVM named as ensemble LDSVM model. The k-fold cross-validation and grid search optimization methods were used with the LDSVM model to classify leukemia in patients and comparatively analyze their impacts. The proposed approach evaluated better accuracy, precision, recall, and f1 scores than the other algorithms. Furthermore, the results were relatively assessed, which showed LDSVM performance. This study aims to successfully predict leukemia in patients and enhance prediction accuracy in minimum time. Moreover, a Synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) and Principal compenent analysis (PCA) approaches were implemented. This makes the records generalized and evaluates the outcomes well. PCA reduces the feature count without losing any information and deals with class imbalanced datasets, as well as faster model execution along with less computation cost. In this study, a novel process was used to reduce the column results to develop a faster and more rapid experiment execution.

Determination of In Vivo efficacy and safety of zeolite as a new pleurodesis agent

Pleural effusion, the pathological condition in which an abnormal amount of pleural fluid is accumulated in the small space between the visceral and parietal pleurae of the lungs, can be treated by pleurodesis, whereby the pleural space is obliterated. This effect can be achieved by chemical pleurodesis utilizing various reagents such as talc, an agent commonly employed in pleurodesis. Zeolites, microporous tectosilicates found in nature as minerals, can be used in a wide range of medical applications. Different zeolite compounds may exhibit variable efficacy and safety profiles, mainly depending on their particle size. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of zeolite pleurodesis. New Zealand rabbits were administered 400 mg/kg of either agent dissolved in 2 mL of isotonic saline solution by injection into their pleural cavity, and computed tomography images were obtained on postoperative day 26. Euthanization was conducted at the end of 28 days for histopathological evaluation. Furthermore, subacute toxicity and mutagenicity profiles of zeolite were analyzed. Our findings revealed that zeolite was able to induce an adequate inflammatory response to achieve successful pleurodesis. The adhesion profiles were in favor of zeolite when compared to talc pleurodesis. Moreover, none of the tested doses of zeolite induced subacute toxicity or mutagenesis. Collectively, our results suggested zeolite as an effective and safe pleurodesis agent.

Epicardial fat volume is associated with preexisting atrioventricular conduction abnormalities and increased pacemaker implantation rate in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is a highly metabolically active fat depot surrounding the heart and coronary arteries that is related to early atherosclerosis and adverse cardiac events. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the amount of EFT and preexisting cardiac conduction abnormalities (CCAs) and the need for new postinterventional pacemaker in patients with severe aortic stenosis planned for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). A total of 560 consecutive patients (54% female) scheduled for TAVI were included in this retrospective study. EFT volume was measured via a fully automated artificial intelligence software (QFAT) using computed tomography (CT) performed before TAVI. Baseline CCAs [first-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, right bundle branch block (RBBB), and left bundle branch block (LBBB)] were diagnosed according to 12-lead ECG before TAVI. Aortic valve calcification was determined by the Agatston score assessed in the pre-TAVI CT. The median EFT volume was 129.5 ml [IQR 94–170]. Baseline first-degree AV block was present in 17%, RBBB in 10.4%, and LBBB in 10.2% of the overall cohort. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, higher EFT volume was associated with first-degree AV block (OR 1.006 [95% CI 1.002–1.010]; p = 0.006) and the need for new pacemaker implantation after TAVI (OR 1.005 [95% CI 1.0–1.01]; p = 0.035) but not with the presence of RBBB or LBBB. EFT volume did not correlate with the Agatston score of the aortic valve. Greater EFT volume is associated independently with preexisting first-degree AV block and new pacemaker implantation in patients undergoing TAVI. It may play a causative role in degenerative processes and the susceptibility of the AV conduction system.

Does Longer Duration of Executive Compensation Foster Investment Efficiency?

In this paper, I examine whether longer duration of executive compensation influences investment decisions. I exploit a regulation designed to foster long-term orientation in executive compensation as an exogenous trigger to lengthen executives' incentive duration. I find that treated firms reduce their abnormal investment relative to control firms, implying an increase in investment efficiency. These results are robust to different measures of investment, several models of expected investment, and different plausible control groups. The treatment effect is economically significant, as the reduction in abnormal investment amounts to about 10% of mean investment. It appears that a mandated longer duration has the greatest effect on investment efficiency in firms that had a low degree of compensation committee independence before the shock. Further, it seems that the lower abnormal investment stems to a greater extent from reductions in over-investment.

INTRAUTERINE FETAL INFECTION - THE REALITIES OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Іntroduction. Intrauterine infection of the fetus is oneof the most important problems in obstetrics. The absenceof adequate treatment leads to a number of complicationsthat develop during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartumperiod. There are often situations when the consequences ofthe invasion of microorganisms are more important than thepresence of an infectious agent itself.The aim is to analyze the indicators of microcytosis ofthe vagina, cervical canal, the peculiarities of pregnancywith infection of the fetus, and the effectiveness of varioustreatment regimens.Material and methods. 20 healthy women withphysiological course of pregnancy (the control group) and62 pregnant women with signs of fetal infection (the maingroup) were examined using clinical, microbiological,bacteriological, serological methods, statistical analysis,and fetal ultrasound.Results. Depending on the trimester, pregnant womenof the main group were divided into two subgroups: thefirst subgroup - at 18-24 weeks (50 pregnant women), thesecond - at 28-34 weeks (12 pregnant women).The statistical analysis of changes in vaginalmicrocynosis was conducted depending on the term. Thesignificant difference regarding the effect of gram negativediplococci, morphologically similar to gonococcus,Streptococcus agalactiae in the third trimester was found outalong with Ureaplasma urealyticum, Chlamidia trahomatisin the second trimester and Trichomonas vaginalis andMycoplasma hominis regardless of trimester.Ultrasound in the first subgroup revealed a syndromeof fetal growth retardation in 20 % of women, an abnormalamount of amniotic fluid in 24 %, changes in the structureof the placenta in 14 %, enlargement of the pelvic system ofthe kidneys in 52 %, intestinal hyperechogenicity in 60 %,and hepatomegaly in 4 % of cases. In the second subgroup,the abnormal amount of amniotic fluid was found in 16.7 %of pregnant women, changes in the structure of the placentain 83,3 %, and progressive shortening of the cervix in 33.3% of cases.Pregnant women of the main group were offered acourse of specific antibacterial therapy.In case of positive dynamics within three days (reductionof pathological secretions, polyhydramnios and otherultrasound signs of fetal infection), treatment is continued.In case of negative dynamics or no effect within three daysantibacterial agent must be changed. If symptoms reoccur,a repeat course with a new antibacterial agent is prescribed.Conclusions. Disorders of vaginal microcynosis andcervical canal were found in 80.6% of pregnant women,the rest of them were diagnosed with the ultrasound signsof infection of the fetus without changes in vagina andcervical canal.The proposed regimens of antibacterial therapy areeffective in the second trimester of pregnancy, indicatingthe necessity of examination and treatment during thisperiod, and in case of structural changes in the cervix causedby gram-negative diplococci, morphologically similarto gonococcus and Trichomonas vaginalis. Antibacterialtherapy is not effective enough in case of the developmentof placental dysfunction, and the threat of premature birthin the third trimester.

How an increase in the copy number of HSV-1 during latency can cause Alzheimer's disease: the viral and cellular dynamics according to the microcompetition model.

Numerous studies observed a link between the herpes smplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and Alzheimer's disease. However, the exact viral and cellular dynamics that lead from an HSV-1 infection to Alzheimer's disease are unknown. In this paper, we use the microcompetition model to formulate these dynamics by connecting seemingly unconnected observations reported in the literature. We concentrate on four pathologies characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. First, we explain how an increase in the copy number of HSV-1 during latency can decrease the expression of BECN1/Beclin1, the degradative trafficking protein, which, in turn, can cause a dysregulation of autophagy and Alzheimer's disease. Second, we show how an increase in the copy number of the latent HSV-1 can decrease the expression of many genes important for mitochondrial genome metabolism, respiratory chain, and homeostasis, which can lead to oxidative stress and neuronal damage, resulting in Alzheimer's disease. Third, we describe how an increase in this copy number can reduce the concentration of the NMDA receptor subunits NR1 and NR2b (Grin1 and Grin2b genes), and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which can cause an impaired synaptic plasticity, Aβ accumulation and eventually Alzheimer's disease. Finally, we show how an increase in the copy number of HSV-1 in neural stem/progenitor cells in the hippocampus during the latent phase can lead to an abnormal quantity and quality of neurogenesis, and the clinical presentation of Alzheimer's disease. Since the current understanding of the dynamics and homeostasis of the HSV-1 reservoir during latency is limited, the proposed model represents only a first step towards a complete understanding of the relationship between the copy number of HSV-1 during latency and Alzheimer's disease.

The antiinflammatory and antifibrotic effect of olive phenols and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC513 in dextran sodium sulfate–induced chronic colitis

Objectives: After a chronic intestinal injury, several intestinal cells switch their phenotype to activated myofibroblasts, which in turn release an abnormal amount of extracellular matrix proteins, leading to the onset of the fibrotic process. To date, no resolutive pharmacological treatments are available, and the identification of new therapeutic approaches represents a crucial goal to achieve. The onset, maintenance, and progression of inflammatory bowel disease are related to abnormal intestinal immune responses to environmental factors, including diet and intestinal microflora components. This study aimed to evaluate the potential antiinflammatory and antifibrotic effect of a biologically debittered olive cream and its probiotic oral administration in an experimental model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)–induced chronic colitis.Methods: Chronic colitis was induced in mice by three cycles of oral administration of 2.5% DSS (5 d of DSS followed by 7 d of tap water). Mice were randomly divided into five groups: 10 control mice fed with standard diet (SD), 20 mice receiving SD and DSS (SD+DSS), 20 mice receiving an enriched diet (ED) with olive cream and DSS (ED+DSS), 20 mice receiving SD plus probiotics (PB; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC513) and DSS (SD+PB+DSS), and 20 mice receiving ED plus PB and DSS (ED+ PB+DSS). Clinical features and large bowel macroscopic, histologic, and immunohistochemical findings were evaluated.Results: The simultaneous administration of ED and PB induced a significant reduction in macroscopic and microscopic colitis scores compared with the other DSS-treated groups. In addition, ED and PB led to a significant decrease in the expression of inflammatory cytokines and profibrotic molecules.Conclusions: The concomitant oral administration of a diet enriched with biologically debittered olive cream and a specific probiotic strain (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC513) can exert synergistic antiinflammatory and antifibrotic action in DSS-induced chronic colitis. Further studies are needed to define the cellular and molecular mechanisms modulated by olive cream compounds and by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum IMC513.

Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 2 Thermosensitive Neurons in the Preoptic Area Involved in Menopausal Hot Flashes in Ovariectomized Mice

Introduction: Menopausal hot flashes are related to hypothalamic preoptic area (POA) dysfunction. Thermosensitive transient receptor potential channels (ThermoTRPs) are involved in temperature sensing and regulation of thermosensitive neurons (TSNs) in the POA. Whether ThermoTRP-TSNs in the POA, particularly the non-noxious thermoreceptor, transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2), are involved in the occurrence of hot flashes is still unclear. Methods: Twenty wild-type and 50 Trpm2-Cre adult female mice were randomly divided into sham (SHAM) and ovariectomy (OVX) groups. In the POA, ERα, ERβ, GPR30, TRPA1, TRPM8, TRPM2, and TRPV1 expression was detected by Western blot or/and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and the number of TSNs expressing TRPM2 (TRPM2-TSNs) by immunofluorescence. Before and after TRPM2-TSN activation/inhibition, back (BST) and tail skin temperature (TST) and the proportion of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons among TRPM2-TSNs were recorded. Results: Compared with SHAM, the expression of ERα, ERβ, TRPM2, and TRPM8 in the POA of the OVX group decreased, with a significantly larger change range for TRPM2 than TRPM8. In addition, the number of TRPM2-TSNs showing TRPA1, TRPM8, and TRPV1 expression in the OVX group decreased, and the proportion of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in TRPM2-TSNs decreased and increased, respectively. Meanwhile, BST and TST increased. After activating or inhibiting TRPM2-TSNs, the proportions of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in TRPM2-TSNs changed, along with the BST and TST. Conclusion: In menopause, the abnormal quantity and function of TRPM2-TSNs in the POA is key for the development of hot flashes, characterized by an imbalance in heat dissipation and production due to the corresponding imbalance in glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons.

Collagen deposition correlates with loss of E-cadherin and increased p63 expression in dysplastic conditions of oral submucous fibrosis

This paper focuses on the status of epithelial markers, E-cadherin, and p63 in the backdrop of an abnormal amount of collagen in the sub-mucosa of dysplastic and non-dysplastic grades of OSF. Histologically confirmed OSF and normal oral mucosa samples were procured. Samples were stained by Van Gieson's stain (VG) and immunohistochemistry. The captured images were analyzed by ImageJ software to quantify their grayscale intensities. There was a gradual increase in the intensity of VG stain from normal to non-dysplastic and dysplastic OSF and the differences in their mean grayscale values were found to be significant (p < 0.00001). The intensity of E-cadherin was found to be the highest in non-dysplastic conditions and lowest in dysplastic conditions. The intensity difference of E-cadherin between normal and non-dysplastic OSF was found to be significant (p < 0.00001). The grayscale scale intensity values for p63 in whole epithelium depicted significant differences between normal and diseased conditions but for its intensity, in basal cells, significant differences were found between non-dysplastic and other classes of tissues. There was a positive correlation observed between VG and p63 staining intensity. The diseased oral epithelium demonstrated greater deposition of sub-epithelial collagen fibers along with subsequent loss of E-cadherin and an increased p63 expression.

Carbon Dot/Gold Nanocluster-Based Fluorescent Colorimetric Paper Strips for Quantitative Detection of Iodide Ions in Urine

Abnormal amounts of small molecules in biological systems such as iodide ions (I–) might be the critical presage of some diseases and hazardous to human somatic function and played an important role in many physiological activities of humans. Herein, we developed a carbon dot/gold nanocluster-based fluorescent colorimetric paper strip, enabling visual quantitative detection of iodide ions in urine for health evaluation. The nanoprobe was designed by mixing cyan carbon dots and red functionalized gold nanoclusters with the aid of mercury ions (Hg2+). The quenched fluorescence can be quickly recovered after the interaction with iodide ions (I–), showing a significant color change from green to yellow to orange. Consequently, the fluorescent nanoprobe solution and corresponding paper strip can realize the visual detection of iodide ions in urine, with detection limits of 0.70 and 2.0 μM, respectively. The proposed strategy could extend to trace a variety of biomolecules under real-time/on-site conditions based on family medical monitoring to perform timely health screening.

Метеорологические условия формирования экстремального понижения уровня в северо-восточной части Каспийского моря в апреле 2019 года

Atmospheric circulation processes that caused an extreme sea level drop in the area of the Kashagan offshore oil field in the northeastern part of the Caspian Sea in April 2019 are reviewed and analyzed. It is found that an increase in pressure and wind gradients over the Northern Caspian region led to the occurrence of the set of severe weather events related to each other. An extreme sea level drop caused by the downsurge driven by strong wind was recorded in the area of the Kashagan oil field. Behind the cold front, the cold advection occurred, causing a dramatic air temperature drop by 13 °С. A high temperature contrast and high relative humidity led to the abnormal amount of precipitation of 33 mm per two days. Keywords: water level, severe weather events, downsurge, northeastern part of the Caspian Sea

Irreversible coumarin based fluorescent probe for selective detection of Cu2+ in living cells

Copper ion (Cu2+) is an essential part of the living organisms. Cu2+ ions play a vital role in many biotic processes. An abnormal amount of Cu2+ ions may result in serious diseases. Herein, a novel “fluorescent ON” probe NC-Cu to trace minute levels of Cu2+ ions in presence of various biological active species has been developed. Lysosomal cells targeting group (Morpholine) was added to the probe. The spectral properties of probe NC-Cu were recorded in HEPES buffer (0.01 M, pH = 7.4, comprising 50% CH3CN, λex = 430 nm, slit: 5 nm). The synthesized probe NC-Cu work based on copper promoted catalytic hydrolysis of hydrazone and shows remarkable fluorescence enhancement. The reaction of the probe with Cu2+ ions was completed within 20 min. An excellent linear relationship (R2 = 0.9952) was found and the limit of detection (LOD, according to the 3σ/slope) for Cu2+ ions was calculated to be 5.8 µM. Furthermore, NC-Cu was effectively functional in the living cells (KYSE30 cells) to trace Cu2+ ions.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and non-fasting total cholesterol serum levels among New Jersey volunteer firefighters

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Increased serum levels of some PFAS have been reported among firefighters compared to the general population; we previously found increased levels of perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) among a group of volunteer firefighters. PFAS exposure has been associated with adverse health outcomes in humans including dyslipidemia (i.e., abnormal amount of lipids in the blood). Previous studies of career firefighters have found an inverse or null relationship between serum PFAS levels and serum cholesterol. This association is less studied among volunteer firefighters. We examined whether serum PFAS levels among members of a volunteer department are associated with non-fasting total serum cholesterol levels. METHODS: The Firefighters Cancer Prevention Study (CAPS) enrolled consenting participants from a large suburban New Jersey fire department who completed a survey and provided blood samples. Serum was tested for 11 PFAS and non-fasting total cholesterol serum levels; PFAS detected in 50% of respondents were included (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoicacid (PFOA), PFNA, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), PFDA, and PFDoA)). Serum PFAS and cholesterol levels were log transformed and their associations assessed using linear regression. Each PFAS was modeled separately adjusting for age, sex, education, and firefighter service years. RESULTS:The 135 study participants were majority male (94.8%) and non-Hispanic white (91.1%). Their average cholesterol level was 187.9 mg/dL. There was no association observed between the six PFAS serum concentrations and the non-fasting total cholesterol serum levels. The effect estimates for the association between PFAS and cholesterol ranged from -0.01 (95% CI (-0.07, 0.06) for PFHxS to 0.08 (-0.02, 0.17) for PFDoA. CONCLUSIONS:Consistent with findings in career firefighters, we did not observe significant positive associations between PFAS serum levels and total serum cholesterol. Further research is needed to explore associations between PFAS serum levels, cholesterol, and other health outcomes among volunteer firefighters. KEYWORDS: PFAS, Occupational Exposures, Occupational Epidemiology

A Promising Approach: Artificial Intelligence Applied to Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) Diagnosis Using Cluster Analysis.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is characterized by abnormal and excessive amounts of bacteria in the small intestine. Since symptoms and lab tests are non-specific, the diagnosis of SIBO is highly dependent on breath testing. There is a lack of a universally accepted cut-off point for breath testing to diagnose SIBO, and the dilemma of defining “SIBO patients” has made it more difficult to explore the gold standard for SIBO diagnosis. How to validate the gold standard for breath testing without defining “SIBO patients” has become an imperious demand in clinic. Breath-testing datasets from 1071 patients were collected from Xiangya Hospital in the past 3 years and analyzed with an artificial intelligence method using cluster analysis. K-means and DBSCAN algorithms were applied to the dataset after the clustering tendency was confirmed with Hopkins Statistic. Satisfying the clustering effect was evaluated with a Silhouette score, and patterns of each group were described. Advantages of artificial intelligence application in adaptive breath-testing diagnosis criteria with SIBO were discussed from the aspects of high dimensional analysis, and data-driven and regional specific dietary influence. This research work implied a promising application of artificial intelligence for SIBO diagnosis, which would benefit clinical practice and scientific research.

Thermal evolution of water and hydrogen from Apollo lunar regolith grains

The evolution of water and molecular hydrogen from Apollo lunar sample 15221, a mature mare soil, was examined by temperature program desorption (TPD) experiments conducted under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Desorption at the grain/vacuum interface with re-adsorption as water transports though the void space of the grains and activated sub-surface diffusion were found to reproduce the experimental TPD signal. Signal from the grain/vacuum interface yielded the second order desorption activation energies and site probability distributions. Water from sample 15221 exhibited a broad distribution of activation energies peaking at 130 kJmol−1 extending up to 350 kJmol−1 at zero coverage limit with an onset of 110 kJmol−1 at full coverage. Our results suggest that water and hydrogen originating from lunar regolith contributes a minor amount to the observed mass in the LCROSS impact event. The abnormal amount of molecular hydrogen observed in the ejecta plume of the LCROSS impact may indicate that the radiolytic production of H2 from electron and galatic cosmic rays of physisorbed water is a contributor to the vast quantity of molecular hydrogen detected.

Late-maturity α-amylase (LMA) testing and its methodological challenges

Wheats affected by late-maturity α-amylase (LMA) contain abnormal amounts of α-amylase with a high isoelectric point (pI), causing their flours to have low falling number (FN), a standard industry test. LMA-affected wheats are often rejected at grain receival points, as low FN is perceived as sign of poor quality. To improve LMA detection and increase screening throughput, an LMA-ELISA has been developed. The present study evaluated the analytical performance of LMA-ELISA and confirmed the correlation between LMA content and enzymatic activity. The LMA-ELISA test demonstrated good discrimination and high precision for intra- and inter-assay measurements. However, results were not reproducible when using three different LMA-ELISA batches acquired in two consecutive years, indicating that LMA-ELISA suffered from batch-to-batch variation. Consistent with previous studies, LMA-ELISA was highly correlated to total α-amylase activity (R = 0.95). LMA-affected flours also had enzymatic activity similar to enzyme-supplemented flours that have been shown to produce some end-products such as bread and noodles that are of satisfactory quality. These results highlight the need to address LMA-ELISA batch-to-batch variation.

Filaggrin-gene mutation has minimal effect on the disease severity in the lesions of atopic dermatitis.

Loss-of-function mutations of filaggrin (FLG) gene (FLG) are the strongest known genetic risk factor for atopic dermatitis (AD). It is still debatable how FLG gene mutations and the resulting abnormal amount of FLG protein contribute to skin barrier function and symptoms of AD. In this study, we examined the effects of loss-of-function mutations of FLG gene on the severity of skin lesions and skin barrier function in 55 patients with AD by evaluating eight patients with AD with FLG gene mutations and 47 patients with AD without mutations. The results showed that the FLG gene mutation did not affect the duration of AD, severity of AD, degree of local inflammatory symptoms, skin water content and trans-epidermal water loss of the lesions. Next, in these eight mutation carriers and the 47 non-carriers, stratum corneum was collected from the three site of skin lesions using tape-stripping method, and the amounts of FLG protein and total amino acid contained in the stratum corneum was measured to investigate the effect of the FLG gene mutation on the amount of FLG gene product in the local lesion. FLG abnormalities had little effect on FLG protein and total amino acid content in the stratum corneum in the lesional skin. The amount of the FLG products, especially amino acids derived from FLG, in the stratum corneum of AD lesional skin is influenced by development of dermatitis. The results obtained from this study supports that the activation of Th2-dominant inflammatory cells, together with FLG abnormality, plays a role in suppressing the production of FLG in skin lesions.