Alveolar echinococcosis of the liver: sequelae of chronic inferior vena cava obstructions in the hepatic segment

BACKGROUND: The clinical pattern and long-term course of chronic inferior vena cava (IVC) obstructions are variable and depend on the underlying cause, the segment involved, and the extension of secondary thrombosis. Pertinent data on IVC obstructions in well-defined series of patients are lacking. We report the sequelae of chronic IVC obstructions in the hepatic segment in 11 consecutive patients derived from a cohort of 104 patients with alveolar echinococcosis of the liver. METHODS: Based on the results of computed tomography scans, 11 patients (7 men, 4 women; mean age, 53.4 years) with IVC obstructions were selected from an ongoing prospective long-term chemotherapy trial comprising 104 patients with alveolar echinococcosis studied at yearly intervals according to a protocol. Obstruction of the IVC in the 11 patients existed for a mean duration of 8.6 years. In these patients, magnetic resonance imaging was performed to assess the morphologic features and extension of the IVC obstruction, as well as the collateral venous pathways. Patency and valvular function of the femoropopliteal veins were analyzed by color-coded duplex ultrasonography. RESULTS: Total occlusions of the IVC were evident in 8 patients (73%) and subtotal stenoses in 3 patients (27%). Only 4 patients (36%) exhibited signs and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremities; 2 (18%) of the 4 had a history of swelling in the lower extremity. Seven patients (64%) had no lower extremity symptoms. One patient had a history of pulmonary embolism. Abdominal collateral veins were documented in 5 patients (45%) by using magnetic resonance imaging; however, they were clinically evident in only 3 patients (27%). In the 8 patients with IVC occlusion, thrombosis ended at the confluence of the hepatic veins. Obstruction of the IVC was limited to the hepatic segment in 2 patients (18%) and extended to the distal IVC or the iliofemoral veins in 6 patients (54%). Chronic venous insufficiency was present only if the femoropopliteal veins had been involved in the thrombotic process, showing residual venous obstruction, valvular incompetence, or both. Bilateral renal vein thrombosis with moderate proteinuria was observed in 2 patients (18%). The main collateral drainage was achieved through the ascending lumbar, azygos, and hemiazygos veins. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with alveolar echinococcosis, obstruction of the IVC in the hepatic segment often develops asymptomatically and rarely leads to the impairment of renal function. The collateral circulation fully compensates for obstruction of the IVC. Thrombotic involvement and valvular incompetence of the femoropopliteal veins seems to determine the development of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremities.     

Design and Implementation of an Internet of Healthcare Things System for Respiratory Diseases

Wireless Personal Communications - Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm broadens to several research fields. Thus, Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) has been adopted as a standard to create an IoT...     

Fabrication of ordered nanoporous anodic alumina prepatterned by mold-assisted chemical etching

In this article, a simple and cost-effective method to create patterned nanoindentations on Al surface via mold-assisted chemical etching process is demonstrated. This report shows the reaction-diffusion method which formed nanoscale shallow etch pits by the absorption/liberation behaviors of chemical etchant in poly(dimethylsiloxane) stamp. During subsequent anodization, it was possible to obtain the ordered nanopore arrays with 277 nm pitch that were guided by the prepatterned etch pits. The prepatterned etch pits obtained can guide the growth of AAO nanopores during anodization and facilitate the preparation of ordered nanopore arrays.     

Discovery of Akt Kinase Inhibitors through Structure-Based Virtual Screening and Their Evaluation as Potential Anticancer Agents

Akt acts as a pivotal regulator in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and represents a potential drug target for cancer therapy. To search for new inhibitors of Akt kinase, we performed a structure-based virtual screening using the DOCK 4.0 program and the X-ray crystal structure of human Akt kinase. From the virtual screening, 48 compounds were selected and subjected to the Akt kinase inhibition assay. Twenty-six of the test compounds showed more potent inhibitory effects on Akt kinase than the reference compound, H-89. These 26 compounds were further evaluated for their cytotoxicity against HCT-116 human colon cancer cells and HEK-293 normal human embryonic kidney cells. Twelve compounds were found to display more potent or comparable cytotoxic activity compared to compound H-89 against HCT-116 colon cancer cells. The best results were obtained with Compounds a46 and a48 having IC₅₀ values (for HCT-116) of 11.1 and 9.5 µM, respectively, and selectivity indices (IC₅₀ for HEK-293/IC₅₀ for HCT-116) of 12.5 and 16.1, respectively. Through structure-based virtual screening and biological evaluations, we have successfully identified several new Akt inhibitors that displayed cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 human colon cancer cells. Especially, Compounds a46 and a48 may serve as useful lead compounds for further development of new anticancer agents.     

Constituents from Vigna vexillata and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity

The seeds of Vigna genus are important food resources and there have already been many reports regarding their bioactivities. In our preliminary bioassay, the chloroform layer of methanol extracts of V. vexillata demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory bioactivity. Therefore, the present research is aimed to purify and identify the anti-inflammatory principles of V. vexillata. One new sterol (1) and two new isoflavones (2,3) were reported from the natural sources for the first time and their chemical structures were determined by the spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analyses. In addition, 37 known compounds were identified by comparison of their physical and spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. Among the isolates, daidzein (23), abscisic acid (25), and quercetin (40) displayed the most significant inhibition of superoxide anion generation and elastase release.     

CAD model based virtual assembly simulation,planning and training

This paper reviews the state-of-the-art methodologies for developing computer-aided design (CAD) model based systems for assembly simulation, planning and training. Methods for CAD model generation from digital data acquisition, motion capture, assembly modeling, human–computer interface, and data exchange between a CAD system and a VR/AR system are described. Also presented is an integrated methodology for designing, planning, evaluating and testing assembly systems. The paper further describes the implementation of these methods and provides application examples of CAD model based simulation for virtual assembly prototyping, planning and training. Finally, the technology gaps and future research and development needs are discussed.     

Development of New Collagen/Clay Composite Biomaterials

The fabrication of collagen-based biomaterials for skin regeneration offers various challenges for tissue engineers. The purpose of this study was to obtain a novel series of composite biomaterials based on collagen and several types of clays. In order to investigate the influence of clay type on drug release behavior, the obtained collagen-based composite materials were further loaded with gentamicin. Physiochemical and biological analyses were performed to analyze the obtained nanocomposite materials after nanoclay embedding. Infrared spectra confirmed the inclusion of clay in the collagen polymeric matrix without any denaturation of triple helical conformation. All the composite samples revealed a slight change in the 2-theta values pointing toward a homogenous distribution of clay layers inside the collagen matrix with the obtaining of mainly intercalated collagen-clay structures, according X-ray diffraction analyses. The porosity of collagen/clay composite biomaterials varied depending on clay nanoparticles sort. Thermo-mechanical analyses indicated enhanced thermal and mechanical features for collagen composites as compared with neat type II collagen matrix. Biodegradation findings were supported by swelling studies, which indicated a more crosslinked structure due additional H bonding brought on by nanoclays. The biology tests demonstrated the influence of clay type on cellular viability but also on the antimicrobial behavior of composite scaffolds. All nanocomposite samples presented a delayed gentamicin release when compared with the collagen-gentamicin sample. The obtained results highlighted the importance of clay type selection as this affects the performances of the collagen-based composites as promising biomaterials for future applications in the biomedical field.     

Aggregation pheromone ofDrosophila mauritiana,Drosophila yakuba,andDrosophila rajasekari

(Z)-11-Octadecenyl acetate (Z11–18Ac) was identified as the aggregation pheromone ofDrosophila mauritiana, D. yakuba, andD. rajasekari. The amount of pheromone in the ejaculatory bulb of male flies increased with age, reaching plateau levels of ca. 240, 800, and 1100 ng/fly forD. mauritiana, D. yakuba, andD. rajasekari, respectively. Thirty to 50% of the pheromone in the ejaculatory bulb was transferred to the female during mating, with the majority transferred to the female's reproductive tract. In the subsequent 6-hr period, over half the pheromone in the female's reproductive tract was transferred to the surroundings. In a wind-tunnel olfactometer,Z11–18Ac was attractive toD. yakuba andD. mauritiana; however,D. rajasekari required food or food odors in combination withZ11–18Ac to demonstrate aggregation activity.Z11–16Ac andZ11–20Ac were not attractive forD. mauritiana, D. yakuba, andD. rajasekari. For all three species, food was synergistic withZ11–18Ac and both sexes were attracted.     

A possible approach exploring the melting state of catalysts during the low-temperature growth of carbon nanotubes

A method to qualitatively examine the physical state of catalysts has been demonstrated by simultaneously supplying Ti species for carbon nanotube (CNT) growth. Under a TiCl₄/CH₄/H₂/N₂ plasma ambience, a continuous TiCN film was deposited on the Si substrate in the absence of catalysts; however, for the Ni-coated Si substrate, one-dimensional CNTs rather than TiC or TiCN nanofibers were grown through the catalytic vapor growth process, with the amorphous Ti-containing layers coated on their surfaces. The obtained coaxial CNT structure and the electron diffraction pattern analysis of catalysts support the factor that Ti atoms hardly dissolve into the catalyst and pass through it (or diffuse along the surface). Selective dissolution and diffusion between the Ti and C atoms in Ni nanoparticles suggest that catalysts during low-temperature growth of CNTs (580 °C) are not melted, instead they should be in solid state.