Current Status of Angiogenic Cell Therapy and Related Strategies Applied in Critical Limb Ischemia

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) constitutes the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), it is characterized by progressive blockade of arterial vessels, commonly correlated to atherosclerosis. Currently, revascularization strategies (bypass grafting, angioplasty) remain the first option for CLI patients, although less than 45% of them are eligible for surgical intervention mainly due to associated comorbidities. Moreover, patients usually require amputation in the short-term. Angiogenic cell therapy has arisen as a promising alternative for these “no-option” patients, with many studies demonstrating the potential of stem cells to enhance revascularization by promoting vessel formation and blood flow recovery in ischemic tissues. Herein, we provide an overview of studies focused on the use of angiogenic cell therapies in CLI in the last years, from approaches testing different cell types in animal/pre-clinical models of CLI, to the clinical trials currently under evaluation. Furthermore, recent alternatives related to stem cell therapies such as the use of secretomes, exosomes, or even microRNA, will be also described.     

Indoor heterogeneous photochemistry of furfural drives emissions of nitrous acid

People spend approximately 80% of their time indoor, making the understanding of the indoor chemistry an important task for safety. The high surface-area-to-volume ratio characteristic of indoor environments leads the semi-volatile organic compounds (sVOCs) to deposit on the surfaces. Using a long path absorption photometer (LOPAP), this work investigates the formation of nitrous acid (HONO) through the photochemistry of adsorbed nitrate anions and its enhancement by the presence of furfural. Using a high-resolution proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS), this work also investigates the surface emissions of VOCs from irradiated films of furfural and a mix of furfural and nitrate anions. Among the emitted VOCs, 2(5H)-furanone/2-Butenedial was observed at high concentrations, leading to maleic anhydride formation after UV irradiation. Moreover, the addition of potassium nitrate to the film formed NO_x and HONO concentrations up to 10 ppb, which scales to ca. 4 ppb for realistic indoor conditions. This work helps to understand the high levels of HONO and NO_x measured indoors.     

A closed loop exponential feeding law: Invariance and global stability analysis

This article addresses the computation of invariant control laws [A. Fradkov, I. Miroshnik, V. Nikiforov, Nonlinear and Adaptive Control of Complex Systems, Kluwer, 1999] for fed-batch fermenters represented by two standard models. It will be shown how to derive partial state feedbacks that, assuming ideal conditions and perfect model, keep the specific growth rate μ constant provided the initial conditions are adequate. The invariant control law is the closed loop version of the exponential feeding already suggested in several references as shown later. The paper presents an analysis of invariance and a study of global stability within the framework of partial stability. That is, stability with respect to some of the state variables. This enables us to treat the case with Haldane-like or non-monotonous kinetics.     

The usefulness of the timeliness of endoscopic sphincterotomy in severe acute pancreatitis of biliary origin

There are evidence indicating that endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with sphincterotomy (ERCP+S) reduces the rate of complications in patients with severe acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP). The aim of this study was to analyze our experience in the treatment of severe ABP with ERCP+S and compare the evolution of the patients treated early (3 days or less following admission) with those treated late (after the 3rd day). A retrospective review of the clinical histories of the 16 patients with severe ABP treated with ERCP+S over the last two years is presented, analyzing their clinical features on admission and evolution. Biliary stones or biliary sludge was observed in 11 cases (69%). Nine patients had undergone early, and 7 late, ERCP+S. The patients of the latter group presented a greater number of complications during evolution than the former group (43% vs 0%; p = 0.025). The mortality of the patients of the late ERCP+S was also greater although without statistical significance (28.6% vs 0%; p = 0.15). No complication secondary to ERCP+S was detected. These findings confirm the fact that ERCP+S performed early in severe ABP significantly reduces the number of complications and is associated with a lower mortality.     

Preparation and characterization of chitosan‐based dispersions

Complexation of chitosan in aqueous solutions by low molecular weight electrolytes is one of the simplest methods for the preparation of aqueous chitosan dispersions. In this work, the influence of storage time, sulfate concentration, method of preparation and surfactant content on some properties of the resultant chitosan dispersions (turbidity, viscosity and zeta potential) was analyzed. Turbidimetry was adequate to monitor the formation of particles, while viscometry was suitable to monitor changes in the dispersing phase. An analysis of the properties of these systems, mainly in terms of particle–particle and macromolecule–macromolecule interactions was carried out. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Assessing continuous bivariate effects among different groups through nonparametric regression models: An application to breast cancer detection

In many applications, the joint effect of two continuous covariates on the target binary response may vary across groups defined by levels of a given factor. A testing procedure that would enable this type of surface-by-factor interactions to be detected has been designed. To accomplish this goal, a logistic generalized additive model (GAM) with bivariate continuous interactions varying across groups defined by levels of a factor is considered. A local scoring algorithm based on local linear kernel smoothers was implemented to estimate the proposed logistic GAM. Bootstrap resampling techniques were used for the purpose of testing for factor-by-surface interactions. Given the high computational cost involved, binning techniques were used to speed up computation in the estimation and testing processes. The adequacy of the bootstrap-based test was assessed by means of a simulation study. If a factor-by-surface interaction is detected in the model, it is then established that the use of the odds-ratio curves is very useful in obtaining a direct interpretation of the fitted model. The benefits of using this methodology when analyzing real data are illustrated by applying the technique to the outputs produced by a computerized system dedicated to the early detection of breast cancer.     

A fuzzy clustering algorithm enhancing local model interpretability

In this work, simple modifications on the cost index of particular local-model fuzzy clustering algorithms are proposed in order to improve the readability of the resulting models. The final goal is simultaneously providing local linear models (reasonably close to the plant’s Jacobian) and clustering in the input space so that desirable characteristics (regarding final model accuracy, and convexity and smoothness of the cluster membership functions) are improved with respect to other proposals in literature. Some examples illustrate the proposed approach.     

A CONSTITUTIVE MODEL FOR ELASTIC-PLASTIC DEFORMATION UNDER CYCLIC MULTIAXIAL STRAINING

Abstract— The yield criterion is interpreted as defining the metric of the stress space. Hydrostatic stresses correspond to null geodesies. The plastic strain increment represents a normal projection of the increment undergone by a certain scalar function (hardening function) which depends only on the distance between stress points. This establishes a flow rule formally equivalent to the Prandtl-Reuss equations. Consideration of un-loading processes leads to the analysis of equivalent paths and to the definition of a generalized length or separation which provides a new representation of kinematic hardening.     

Chronic hypertrophic gastropathy in a child resembling adult Menetrier''s disease

N-(phosphonacetyl)-disodium L-aspartic acid (PALA) demonstrates a synergistic antitumor effect when combined with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in in vitro studies. In a Phase II trial, 23 eligible patients with unresectable or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach were treated with weekly i.v. bolus PALA (250 mg/M2) followed 24 hours later by a 24-hour infusion of 5-FU (2600 mg/M2) for an initial period of 8 weeks. No objective responses were noted. PALA and 5-FU is inactive against gastric adenocarcinoma at the doses and schedule used in this trial.