This study, using C57BL/6J mice with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes, aimed to determine whether Bifidobacterium species (spp.) both induces the expressions of proteins in the insulin signaling ...pathway and enhances the expressions of certain adipocytokines. The protein expressions of IκB kinase alpha (IKKα), IκB kinase beta (IKKβ), nuclear factor-kappaB inhibitor alpha (IκBα), and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway were also investigated. Oral administration of Bifidobacterium spp. reduced blood glucose levels significantly and increased the protein expressions of insulin receptor beta, insulin receptor substrate 1, protein kinase B (Akt/PKB), IKKα, and IκBα. Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) showed increased expression. Bifidobacterium spp. also induced the adiponectin expression and decreased both macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression. In addition, IKKβ, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAP kinase expressions showed no significant changes in both groups. In conclusion, Bifidobacterium spp. may be the promising bacteria for treating diabetes.
In this paper, a model predictive control scheme for the T-type inverter with an output LC filter is presented. A simplified dynamics model is proposed to reduce the number of the measurement and ...control variables, resulting in a decrease in the cost and complexity of the system. Furthermore, the main contribution of the paper is the approach to evaluate the cost function. By employing the selection of sector information distribution in the reference inverter voltage and capacitor voltage balancing, the execution time of the proposed algorithm is significantly reduced by 36% compared with conventional model predictive control without too much impact on control performance. Simulation and experimental results are studied and compared with conventional finite control set model predictive control to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Parasite clearance data from 18,699 patients with falciparum malaria treated with an artemisinin derivative in areas of low (n = 14,539), moderate (n = 2077), and high (n = 2083) levels of malaria ...transmission across the world were analyzed to determine the factors that affect clearance rates and identify a simple in vivo screening measure for artemisinin resistance. The main factor affecting parasite clearance time was parasite density on admission. Clearance rates were faster in high-transmission settings and with more effective partner drugs in artemisinin-based combination treatments (ACTs). The result of the malaria blood smear on day 3 (72 h) was a good predictor of subsequent treatment failure and provides a simple screening measure for artemisinin resistance. Artemisinin resistance is highly unlikely if the proportion of patients with parasite densities of <100,000 parasites/µL given the currently recommended 3-day ACT who have a positive smear result on day 3 is <3%; that is, for n patients the observed number with a positive smear result on day 3 does not exceed (n + 60)/24.
This study aimed to investigate antimicrobial resistance profile, multidrug resistance (MDR), and molecular characteristics of pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus isolates from hospitalized Vietnamese ...adults. Two hundred and twenty-three pathogenic S. aureus isolates were obtained from the hospitals located in 3 regions of Vietnam. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined to detect the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates. The molecular characteristics of S. aureus isolates were investigated through antibiotic-resistant genes analysis, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and multilocus sequence typing. Substantial differences among the 3 regions were found in the prevalence rates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (north: 48.6%, central: 58.7%, south: 78.9%) and MDR (north: 65.8%, central: 79.7%, and south: 84.2%). The prevalence rates of the genes tetK/M, aacA/aphD, ermA/B/C, and mecA increased substantially from north to south. ST188-SCCmecIV and ST239-SCCmecII isolates were most commonly found in the 2 largest clusters. ST188 predominance was observed in the largest cluster in methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus isolates, including SCCmecIII and SCCmecIVa, in fatal cases. Our results revealed a high occurrence of MDR and possible north−south trend in antibiotic resistance profile, MDR patterns, and frequency of antibiotic-conferring genes among S. aureus isolates. ST188 predominance raises concerns about the global importance of host-adapted ST188 in East Asian populations.
Pyronaridine-artesunate is an artemisinin-based combination therapy under evaluation for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria.
We conducted a phase 3, open-label, multicenter, ...noninferiority trial that included 1271 patients between 3 and 60 years of age from Asia (81.3%) or Africa (18.7%) with microscopically confirmed, uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. Patients underwent randomization for treatment with a fixed-dose combination of 180 mg of pyronaridine and 60 mg of artesunate or with 250 mg of mefloquine plus 100 mg of artesunate. Doses were calculated according to body weight and administered once daily for 3 days.
Pyronaridine-artesunate was noninferior to mefloquine plus artesunate for the primary outcome: adequate clinical and parasitologic response in the per-protocol population on day 28, corrected for reinfection with the use of polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) genotyping. For this outcome, efficacy in the group receiving pyronaridine-artesunate was 99.2% (743 of 749 patients; 95% confidence interval CI, 98.3 to 99.7) and that in the group receiving mefloquine plus artesunate was 97.8% (360 of 368 patients; 95% CI, 95.8 to 99.1), with a treatment difference of 1.4 percentage points (95% CI, 0.0 to 3.5; P=0.05). In the intention-to-treat population, efficacy on day 42 in the group receiving pyronaridine-artesunate was 83.1% (705 of 848 patients; 95% CI, 80.4 to 85.6) and that in the group receiving mefloquine plus artesunate was 83.9% (355 of 423 patients; 95% CI, 80.1 to 87.3). In Cambodia, where there were 211 study patients, the median parasite clearance time was prolonged for both treatments: 64 hours versus 16.0 to 38.9 hours in other countries (P<0.001, on the basis of Kaplan-Meier estimates). Kaplan-Meier estimates of the recrudescence rate in the intention-to-treat population in Cambodia until day 42 were higher with pyronaridine-artesunate than with mefloquine plus artesunate (10.2% 95% CI, 5.4 to 18.6 vs. 0%; P=0.04 as calculated with the log-rank test), but similar for the other countries combined (4.7% 95% CI, 3.3 to 6.7 and 2.8% 95% CI, 1.5 to 5.3, respectively; P=0.24). Elevated levels of aminotransferases were observed in those receiving pyronaridine-artesunate. Two patients receiving mefloquine plus artesunate had seizures.
Fixed-dose pyronaridine-artesunate was efficacious in the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. In Cambodia, extended parasite clearance times were suggestive of in vivo resistance to artemisinin. (Funded by Shin Poong Pharmaceutical Company and the Medicines for Malaria Venture; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00403260.).
Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to the gradual destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth including gums, periodontal ligaments, alveolar bone, and root ...cementum. Recently, interests in alleviating symptoms of periodontitis (PD) using natural compounds is increasing. Avenanthramide-C (Avn-C) is a polyphenol found only in oats. It is known to exhibit various biological properties. To date, the effect of Avn-C on PD pathogenesis has not been confirmed. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the protective effects of Avn-C on periodontal inflammation and subsequent alveolar bone erosion
and
. Upregulated expression of catabolic factors, such as matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), MMP3, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and COX2 induced by lipopolysaccharide and proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), was dramatically decreased by Avn-C treatment in human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells. Moreover, alveolar bone erosion in the ligature-induced PD mouse model was ameliorated by intra-gingival injection of Avn-C. Molecular mechanism studies revealed that the inhibitory effects of Avn-C on the upregulation of catabolic factors were mediated via ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) and NF-κB pathway that was activated by IL-1β or p38 MAPK and JNK signaling that was activated by TNF-α, respectively. Based on this study, we recommend that Avn-C may be a new natural compound that can be applied to PD treatment.
•Criticality and rod worth analysis of the DNRR was performed using SRAC and MCNP5.•Calculations were conducted based on 49 criticality conditions.•Criticality prediction with different data ...libraries was within 770 pcm compared to the measurement.•The largest discrepancy of the AR rod reactivity worth is about 17% compared to the measurement.
This paper presents the analysis of criticality and control rod worth of the Dalat Nuclear Research Reactor (DNRR) using the SRAC and MCNP5 codes. Criticality calculations were conducted for 49 core configurations of the DNRR established experimentally during the startup period. Reactivity worth of the automatic regulating rod was analyzed in comparison with the measurement data. The impact of various nuclear data libraries (ENDF/B and JENDL) on the criticality and control rod worth analysis of the DNRR were also investigated in comparison between the results obtained using the two codes and the measurement data. The results show that the criticality was predicted within 770 pcm for the calculated cases using the two codes with the ENDF/B-VII.0, JENDL-3.3 and JENDL-4.0 libraries. For the working core with 88 fuel bundles, the criticality was predicted with the discrepancy less than 330 pcm compared to the experiments. This implies that the ENDF/B and JENDL libraries are suitable to analyse the criticality of the DNRR core loaded with the Russian VVR-M2 fuel type. Reactivity worth analysis of the AR rod shows the results were in agreement among the three nuclear data libraries with the discrepancy less than 5%. In most cases, the relative discrepancy is less than about 12% compared to the measurements. The largest discrepancy of the integral reactivity worth is about 17%.
The pathogenesis and prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Findings on the relationship of polymorphisms in various ...genes encoding the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system with coronary artery lesions and mortality in AMI patients are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to determine whether the AGTR1 A1166C genetic polymorphism affects coronary artery lesions and 1-year mortality in post-AMI patients. Patients with their first AMI admitted to Cho Ray Hospital, Vietnam, from January 2020 to August 2021 were enrolled in this prospective clinical study. All participants underwent invasive coronary angiography and were identified as having the genotypes of AGTR1 A1166C by way of a polymerase chain reaction method. All patients were followed up for all-cause mortality 12 months after AMI. The association of the AGTR1 A1166C polymorphism with coronary artery lesions and 1-year mortality was evaluated using logistic regression and Cox regression analysis, respectively. Five hundred and thirty-one AMI patients were recruited. The mean age was 63.9 ± 11.6 years, and 71.6% of the patients were male. There were no significant differences in the location and number of diseased coronary artery branches between the AA and AC+CC genotypes. The AC and CC genotypes were independently associated with ≥ 90% diameter stenosis of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery (odds ratio = 1.940; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.059-3.552, p = 0.032). The 1-year all-cause mortality rate difference between patients with the AC and CC genotypes versus those with the AA genotype was not statistically significant (hazard ratio = 1.000, 95% CI: 0.429-2.328, p = 1.000). The AGTR1 A1166C genetic polymorphism is associated with very severe luminal stenosis of the LAD but not with mortality in AMI patients.
The extensive distribution of multidrug-resistant (MDR) methicillin-resistant
(MRSA) poses a threat to healthcare worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the MDR and molecular patterns of MRSA ...isolates in children admitted to the two biggest tertiary care pediatric hospitals in northern and southern Vietnam. A total of 168 MRSA strains were collected to determine antibiotic susceptibility by minimum inhibitory concentration tests. Antibiotic-resistant genes, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, staphylococcal cassette chromosome
(SCC
) typing, and multilocus sequence typing were used for the molecular characterization of MRSA. Among the total strains, the MDR rate (51.8%) was significantly higher in the northern hospital than in the southern hospital (73% vs. 39%,
< 0.0001). The MDR-MRSA with the highest rates were "ciprofloxacin-erythromycin-gentamicintetracyclines" (35.6%), followed by "erythromycin-tetracycline-chloramphenicol" (24.1%), and "ciprofloxacin-erythromycin-gentamicin" (19.5%), showing an accumulative total of 79.3%. The most susceptible antibiotics were rifampicin (100%) and vancomycin (100%), followed by doxycycline (94.0%), meropenem (78.0%), and cefotaxime (75.0%). The SCCmecII strains showed greater resistance to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, meropenem and cephalosporins compared with the other strains. The SCC
II strains exhibited the highest rate in the tested genes (
A/
D: 55.2%,
A/B/C: 89.7%, and
K/M: 82.8%). ST5- SCC
II was the predominant clone in the northern hospital, whereas SCC
IVa was more pronounced in the southern hospital. In conclusion, our results raised concerns about the predominant MDR-MRSA strains in the pediatric hospitals in Vietnam. The north-south difference in the antibiotic resistance patterns and genetic structure of MRSA suggests different MRSA origins and various uses of antimicrobial agents between the two regions.
•A discrete differential evolution algorithm has been developed for the problem of ICFM.•Calculations were performed based on the DNRR research reactor core with 100 fuel bundles.•The DE search was ...performed with ten independent runs through 500 generations.•The results show a good performance of the DE algorithm.
A discrete differential evolution (DE) algorithm has been developed and applied to the problem of fuel loading optimization of the Dalat Nuclear Research Reactor (DNRR). The DNRR is a 500 kW pool-type research reactor loaded with Russian VVR-M2 fuel type. The discrete DE algorithm is applied to the fuel loading pattern optimization of the DNRR core consisting of 100 highly enriched uranium fuel bundles with different burnup levels. A fitness function was chosen for maximizing the effective multiplication factor, keff, and minimizing the power peaking factor (PPF). The DE search was performed with ten independent runs through 500 generations with the population size of 30. The results show that the fitness function approaches a maximum value after about 450 generations, while the maximum keff reaches a stable value after 250 generations, and the PPF achieves minimum value after 150 generations. Three best loading patterns (LPs) have been selected from the DE search. Compared to a reference LP, i.e. a working core configuration of the DNRR, (keff=1.06040 and PPF=1.374) the best LPs correspond to the keff values greater by about 470–495 pcm, while the PPF values are smaller by about 3.7–4.0%. Comparing with the genetic algorithm in a previous work, the DE is more advantageous in exploring search space and approaching a global optimization.
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