Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011; 33: 194–202
Summary
Background Andrographis paniculata is an herbal mixture used to treat inflammatory diseases. An extract of the herb, HMPL‐004, inhibits TNF‐α and ...IL‐1β, and prevents colitis in animal models.
Aim To determine the efficacy and safety of HMPL‐004 in patients with mild‐to‐moderate ulcerative colitis.
Methods A randomised, double‐blind, multicentre, 8‐week parallel group study was conducted using HMPL‐004 1200 mg/day compared with 4500 mg/day of slow release mesalazine (mesalamine) granules in patients with mild‐to‐moderately active ulcerative colitis. Disease activity was assessed at baseline and every 2 weeks for clinical response, and at baseline and 8 weeks by colonoscopy.
Results One hundred and twenty patients at five centres in China were randomised and dosed. Clinical remission and response were seen in 21% and 76% of HMPL‐004‐treated patients, and 16% and 82% of mesalazine‐treated patients. By colonoscopy, remission and response were seen in 28% and 74% of HMPL‐004‐treated patients and 24% and 71% of mesalazine‐treated patients, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups.
Conclusion HMPL‐004 may be an efficacious alternative to mesalazine in ulcerative colitis.
In this study the morphometric characteristics based on the truss network system were constructed from the body shapes and used to investigate the population structure of the small yellow croaker ...(Larimichthys polyactis Bleeker, 1877). From April to June 2013, a total of 431 fish samples were collected from commercial catches acquired with bottom trawlers (20 × 20 mm) in seven main spawning grounds along the coast of China. The results of principal component and discriminant function analyses indicated a clear distinction among the regional stocks and within the Haizhou Bay (HZB) stock. Observed differences primarily involved head measurements, body length and tail size, which were associated with environmental factors. Latitudinal gradient of the stock distribution and the relationship among the stocks provided further evidence for the existence of subpopulations and the re‐division of the East China Sea group. Moreover, the temporal inter‐structure of the HZB stock is a potential reason for the contrast in results from previous studies. Additional thorough studies of migration trajectories are required for a conclusive and improved understanding of the population structure.
In this work, we proposed a novel approach for the prediction of residual useful life (RUL) of structures through appropriately combining the phase field method and deep-learning. In this new ...approach, the phase field method is firstly utilized to obtain the structural responses of crack growth, which are further preserved as images. Then, the convolutional neural network (CNN) is constructed to establish a predictive model. The proposed approach is a hybrid model of both physical and data-driven techniques, which can build a bridge between traditional computational fracture mechanics and deep learning algorithms. Several numerical cases are studied to evaluate the prediction performance of the proposed approach. The analysis results demonstrate that the present approach is able to predict the RUL of the structures with high level of accuracy.
•Phase field method is used to generate images containing structural information.•CNN is trained and validated for the RUL prediction of structures.•This hybrid approach can achieve high level of prediction accuracy.
Extraction of essential oil from
Cuminum cyminum seeds using a combination of organic solvent with low boiling point and steam distillation was explored. The effect of different parameters, such as ...particle size (40, 60, 80
mesh), temperature (°C) 10, 15, 20 and extraction time (3, 5, 8
h), on the extraction yield was investigated using three-level orthogonal array design. The experimental results showed that the temperature had the largest effect on the yield of the extract (oleoresin), followed by extraction time and particle size. The optimum parameters, such as temperature, particle size, and extraction time were in turn 20
°C, 80
mesh, and 8
h. Essential oil of
C. cyminum seeds obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), hydrodistillation (HD), combination technology of organic solvent with low boiling point and steam distillation (OS-SD) were further analysed by gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric detection to compare the extraction methods. Forty-five compounds in the
C. cyminum essential oil were identified, showing that the composition of the extraction by different methods was mostly similar, whereas relative concentration of the identified compounds was apparently different. General characteristics of the
C. cyminum essential oil obtained by different methods were further compared, and OS-SD was considered as the optimum process among the three processes to obtain
C. cyminum essential oil for high quality, simple technology and low cost.
The bones of chicken play an important role in supporting and protecting the body. The growth and development of bones have a substantial influence on the health and production performance in ...chickens. However, genetic architecture underlying chicken bone traits is not well understood. The objectives of this study are to dissect the genetic basis of bone traits in chickens and to identify valuable genes and genetic markers for chicken breeding. We performed a combination of genome-wide association study (GWAS) and selection signature analysis (fixation index values and nucleotide diversity ratios) in an F2 crossbred experimental population with different genetic backgrounds (broiler × layer) to identify candidate genes and significant variants related to femur, shank, keel length, chest width, metatarsal claw weight, metatarsal length, and metatarsal circumference. A total of 545 individuals were genotyped based on the whole genome re-sequencing method (26 F0 individuals were re-sequenced at 10 × coverage; 519 F2 individuals were re-sequenced at 3 × coverage). A total of 2 028 112 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) remained to carry out analysis after quality control and imputation. The integration of GWAS and selection signature analysis indicated that all significant SNPs responsible for bone traits were mainly localized on chicken chromosomes 1, 4, and 27. Finally, we identified 21 positional candidate genes that might regulate chicken bone growth and development, including LRCH1, RB1, FNDC3A, MLNR, CAB39L, FOXO1, LHFP, TRPC4, POSTN, SMAD9, RBPJ, PPARGC1A, SLIT2, NCAPG, NKX3-2, CPZ, SPOP, NGFR, SOST, ZNF652, and HOXB3. Additionally, an array of uncharacterized genes was identified. The findings provide an in-depth understanding of the genetic architecture of chicken bone traits and offer a molecular basis for applying genomics in practical chicken breeding.
Cellular plasticity has an important role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, the involvement of a TGF-β1-CD147 self-sustaining network in the regulation of the ...dedifferentiation progress was fully explored in HCC cell lines, hepatocyte-specific basigin/CD147-knockout mice and human HCC tissues. We demonstrated that TGF-β1 stimulation upregulated CD147 expression and mediated the dedifferentiation of HCC cells, whereas all-trans-retinoic acid induced the downregulation of CD147 and promoted differentiation in HCC cells. Overexpression of CD147 induced the dedifferentiation and enhanced the malignancy of HCC cells, and increased the transcriptional expression of TGF-β1 by activating β-catenin. CD147-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production activated pro-TGF-β1. The activated TGF-β1 signaling subsequently repressed the HNF4α expression via Smad-Snail1 signaling and enhanced the dedifferentiation progress. Hepatocyte-specific basigin/CD147-knockout mice decreased the susceptibility to N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced tumorigenesis by suppressing TGF-β1-CD147 signaling and inhibiting dedifferentiation in hepatocytes during tumor progression. CD147 was positively correlated with TGF-β1 and negatively correlated with HNF4α in human HCC tissues. Positive CD147 staining and lower HNF4α levels in tumor tissues were significantly associated with poor survival of patients with HCC. The overexpression of HNF4α and Smad7 and the deletion of CD147 by lentiviral vectors jointly reprogrammed the expression profile of hepatocyte markers and attenuated malignant properties including proliferation, cell survival and tumor growth of HCC cells. Our results highlight the important role of the TGF-β1-CD147 self-sustaining network in driving HCC development by regulating differentiation plasticity, which provides a strong basis for further investigations of the differentiation therapy of HCC targeting TGF-β1 and CD147.
Photocatalytic membrane coupled to biodegradation offers potential for degrading volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in photocatalytic membrane biofilm reactor. An intimately coupled photocatalysis and ...biodegradation reactor was operated in continuous operation for 500 days to treat simulated waste gas containing toluene. Toluene removal efficiency obtained 99%, with the elimination capacity of 550 g m−3·h−1. Membrane photocatalysis coupled to biodegradation was created to improve toluene removal from 11 to 20%. The dominant genera were Lysinibacillus, Hydrogenophaga, Pseudomonas at 30 d, Rudaea, Dongia, Litorilinea at 230 d xyl, Tod, Tcb, Bed, Tmo, Tbu, Tou, Dmp, Cat were functional genes of toluene metabolism, as shown by16S rDNA and metagenomic sequencing. Photocatalysis destroyed part of the toluene into biodegradable intermediates that were immediately mineralized by microorganisms in biofilm, some toluene was directly degraded by toluene degrading bacterial community into carbon dioxide and water. The novel hybrid photocatalytic membrane biofilm reactor is a cost-effective and robust alternative to VOCs treatment.
•Photocatalytic membrane coupled to biodegradation achieve effective oxidation of toluene.•The dominant genera were Rudaea, Dongia, Litorilinea.•Photocatalytic membrane coupled to membrane bioreactor enhance toluene removal.•Mechanism of coupling membrane photocatalysis and toluene biodegradation was proposed.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive factors for relapse of IgG4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD) and observe the long‐term clinical outcomes in patients with IgG4‐RD.
Methods
...We included in the present analysis 122 patients who were newly diagnosed with IgG4‐RD, treated with glucocorticoid (GC) monotherapy or GC and immunosuppressant combination therapy, and followed for at least 3 years. Clinical relapse, response and side effects were recorded.
Results
The cumulative relapse rates of patients in this study were 10.66%, 22.95% and 27.87% at 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively. Complete drug withdrawal was an independent risk factor for disease relapse. Higher serum IgG4 concentrations, involvement of more organs, higher IgG4 RI scores and elevation of eosinophils at baseline were closely associated with disease relapse. Re‐elevation of serum IgG4 concentrations and low GC maintenance dosage during the follow‐up period were significantly associated with clinical relapse. The GC dosage should be more than 6.25 mg day−1 as monotherapy during the maintenance stage; moreover, combining with immunosuppressants can reduce the GC dosage. Adding GC or immunosuppressants for patients with re‐elevation of serum IgG4 levels could prevent later disease relapse. No serious complications were noted during long‐term follow‐up.
Conclusions
The combination of GC with immunosuppressants was more effective than GC monotherapy during the steroid tapering and maintenance stages. Higher serum IgG4 levels, involvement of more organs, higher IgG4 RI scores, history of allergy, eosinophil elevation at baseline, re‐elevation of serum IgG4 levels and lower GC maintenance dosage at follow‐up might be predictive of relapse.
The present study investigates the preference index of natural fibers such as sisal, coir, and rice straw fibers in stone matrix asphalt mixtures (SMA), using waste marble as filler. Waste marble was ...used as the filler in asphalt mixtures and was crushed by abrasion machine and sieved according to SMA filler requirements. The SEM topography and EDS analysis of sisal, coir, and rice straw fibers were also carried out. The Marshall test was conducted, which is the most acceptable, cost-effective, and widely adopted method to estimate the optimum bitumen and to examine several Marshall Measures, such as flow value, voids filled with bitumen (VFB), stability, voids in mineral aggregate (VMA), and air voids (VA). Furthermore, tests were performed on the specimen with the optimum amount of bitumen, different percentages of fibers, and waste marble as filler to calculate drain down, moister sensitivity, and Marshall Stability. Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques were implemented to obtain subjective and objective weights, which were further used to compute the values of the preference index of natural fiber contents. The outcomes revealed favorable results for the usage of marble dust as filler in Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA). In addition, the preference index upshots are inclined toward the usage of rice straw over coir followed by sisal fiber. It was observed that the value of the preference index in rice straw at 0.3 varied from 0.918, 0.925, and 0.931 in rice straw using equal, objective, and subjective weights, respectively. The maximum drain down value observed is 0.335 based on ASTM-D 6390 and IRC-SP-79 are against 0.3 percent natural fiber. Moreover, as per the prescribed limit of MoRTH, because of the thin film around aggregates, moisture susceptibility characteristics, i.e., better resistance to moisture, were enhanced by more than 80%.
A challenge in the management of severely brain-damaged patients with altered states of consciousness is the differential diagnosis between the vegetative state (VS) and the minimally conscious state ...(MCS), especially for the gray zone separating these clinical entities.
To evaluate the differences in brain activation in response to presentation of the patient's own name spoken by a familiar voice (SON-FV) in patients with VS and MCS.
By using fMRI, we prospectively studied residual cerebral activation to SON-FV in seven patients with VS and four with MCS. Behavioral evaluation was performed by means of standardized testing up to 3 months post-fMRI.
Two patients with VS failed to show any significant cerebral activation. Three patients with VS showed SON-FV induced activation within the primary auditory cortex. Finally, two patients with VS and all four patients with MCS not only showed activation in primary auditory cortex but also in hierarchically higher order associative temporal areas. These two patients with VS showing the most widespread activation subsequently showed clinical improvement to MCS observed 3 months after their fMRI scan.
The cerebral responses to patient's own name spoken by a familiar voice as measured by fMRI might be a useful tool to preclinically distinguish minimally conscious state-like cognitive processing in some patients behaviorally classified as vegetative.
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