Comparing Digital Therapeutic Intervention with an Intensive Obesity Management Program: Randomized Controlled Trial

In this study, we evaluated whether the digital program Vitadio achieves comparable results to those of an intensive in-person lifestyle intervention in obesity management. This is a 12-month prospective, randomized controlled trial. Obese patients with insulin resistance, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes were included. The intervention group (IG) used Vitadio. The control group (CG) received a series of in-person consultations. Body weight and various metabolic parameters were observed and analyzed with ANOVA. The trial is ongoing and the presented findings are preliminary. Among 100 participants (29% men; mean age, 43 years; mean BMI, 40.1 kg/m²), 78 completed 3-month follow-up, and 51 have completed the 6-month follow-up so far. Participants significantly (p < 0.01) reduced body weight at 3 months (IG: −5.9 ± 5.0%; CG: −4.2 ± 5.0%) and 6 months (IG: −6.6±6.1%; CG: −7.1 ± 7.1%), and the difference between groups was not significant. The IG achieved favorable change in body composition; significant improvement in TAG (−0.6 ± 0.9 mmol/l, p < 0.01), HDL (0.1 ± 0.1%, p < 0.05), HbA1c (−0.2 ± 0.5%, p < 0.05) and FG (−0.5 ± 1.5 mmol/l, p < 0.05); and a superior (p = 0.02) HOMA-IR reduction (−2.5 ± 5.2, p < 0.01). The digital intervention achieved comparable results to those of the intensive obesity management program. The results suggest that Vitadio is an effective tool for supporting patients in obesity management and diabetes prevention.     

The composition, geographical variation and antimicrobial activity of Lippia javanica (Verbenaceae) leaf essential oils

Lippia javanica is widely distributed throughout South Africa where it is used extensively in traditional herbal preparations. An infusion of the leaves is commonly used as a decongestant for colds and coughs. A preliminary study indicated that the essential oil chemistry varies dramatically both within and between natural plant populations. As the antimicrobial activity may be directly related to the specific composition of the oil, the activity may also fluctuate. The aerial parts of Lippia javanica were collected from various localities in southern Africa to study the essential oil composition and the antimicrobial activity thereof. The hydrodistilled essential oils were analysed by GC/MS and a cluster analysis was performed on the essential oil dataset. From 16 samples (representing five natural populations), 5 chemotypes were identified; a myrcenone rich-type (36-62%), a carvone rich-type (61-73%), a piperitenone rich-type (32-48%), an ipsenone rich-type (42-61%) and a linalool rich-type (>65%). The myrcenone and linalool chemotypes have been mentioned in the literature but the carvone, ipsenone and piperitenone chemotypes have not previously been reported for Lippia javanica. Time kill studies were performed on three microbial respiratory isolates to document the scientific rationale of using Lippia to treat respiratory complaints in traditional herbal medicine. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Cryptococcus neoformans and Bacillus cereus showed reduction in microbial populations with the strongest bacteriostatic effect observed for Klebsiella pneumoniae.     

Association of AGTR1 gene methylation and its genetic variant in Chinese farmer with hypertension: A case-control study

The objective was to determine the potential associations of the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1) gene polymorphism, methylation, and lipid metabolism in Chinese farmers with hypertension.A case-control study was conducted in Wuzhi county of Henan province in China in 2013 to 2014. A total of 1034 local residents (35–74 years, 386 hypertensive cases, and 648 normotensive subjects) were enrolled in this study. Triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein were measured using automatic chemistry analyzer. The AGTR1 gene promoter methylation level was measured using quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction method. The single nucleotide polymorphism rs275653 was genotyped with TaqMan probe assay at an applied biosystems platform.The gender, body mass index (BMI), TG, TC, and family history of hypertension in the hypertension group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < .05). No significant difference was observed in the distribution of AGTR1 rs275653 polymorphism in the hypertension and controls (P > .05). The AGTR1 gene methylation in subjects carrying different genotypes was not significantly observed (P > .05). The logistic regression analysis found the AGTR1 gene methylation level was negative correlation with hypertension in the present study (odds ratio, 0.946, 95% confidence interval, 0.896–0.999) through adjusting for age, gender, BMI, education, smoking, alcohol drinking, fruit and vegetable intake, pickles intake, and family history of hypertension.The association of AGTR1 gene hypomethylation and essential hypertension was observed in Chinese farmers; no significant difference was observed in the distribution of AGTR1 rs275653 polymorphism.     

Safety and efficacy of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody (SCT200) as second-line therapy in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: The mainstay treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) involves chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, alternative therapies are required for patients who are refractory or intolerant to existing therapies.Methods: In this single-arm, multicenter, open-label phase Ib study, 30 patients received an intravenous infusion of SCT200, an antiepidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) monoclonal antibody, 6.0 mg/kg once a week for 6 weeks, followed by 8.0 mg/kg once every 2 weeks u...     

Novel Amdoparvovirus Infecting Farmed Raccoon Dogs and Arctic Foxes

A new amdoparvovirus, named raccoon dog and fox amdoparvovirus (RFAV), was identified in farmed sick raccoon dogs and arctic foxes. Phylogenetic analyses showed that RFAV belongs to a new species within the genus Amdoparvovirus of the family Parvoviridae. An RFAV strain was isolated in Crandell feline kidney cell culture.     

Fatigue Analysis and Defect Size Evaluation of Filled NBR including Temperature Influence

The fatigue behavior of a filled non-crystallizing elastomer was investigated on axisymmetric dumbbell specimens. By plotting relevant Wöhler curves, a power law behavior was found. In addition, temperature increases due to heat build-up were monitored. In order to distinguish between initiation and crack growth regimes, hysteresis curves, secant and dynamic moduli, dissipated and stored energies, and normalized minimum and maximum forces were analyzed. Even though indications related to material damaging were observed, a clear trend to recognize the initiation was not evident. Further details were revealed by considering a fracture mechanics. The analysis of the fracture surfaces evidenced the presence of three regions, associated to initiation, fatigue striation, and catastrophic failure. Additional fatigue tests were performed with samples in which a radial notch was introduced. This resulted in a reduction in lifetime by four orders of magnitude; nevertheless, the fracture surfaces revealed similar failure mechanisms. A fracture mechanics approach, which considered the effect of temperature, was adopted to calculate the critical defect size for fatigue, which was found to be approximately 9 μm. This value was then compared with the particle size distribution obtained through X-ray microcomputed tomography (μ-CT) of undamaged samples and it was found that the majority of the initial defects were indeed smaller than the calculated one. Finally, the evaluation of J-integral for both unnotched and notched dumbbells enabled the assessment of a geometry-independent correlation with fatigue life.     

Acute Mediastinitis – Outcomes and Prognostic Factors of Surgical Therapy (A Single-Center Experience)

Purpose: The aims of this work were the retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients with acute mediastinitis treated at the authors’ worksite over a 15-year period and the identification of factors that significantly affect the outcomes of the therapy.Methods: During the period 2006–2020, 80 patients with acute mediastinitis were treated. Within the cohort, the following were observed: the causes and the type of acute mediastinitis, length of anamnesis, comorbidities, diagnostic methods, time from the diagnosis to surgery, types and number of surgical procedures, results of microbiological tests, complications, and outcomes of the treatment.Results: The most common type of acute mediastinitis was descending mediastinitis (48.75%). A total of 116 surgical procedures were performed. Ten patients in the cohort died (12.5%). Patients older than 60 years were at a 6.8 times higher risk of death. Patients with more than two comorbidities were at a 14.3 times higher risk of death. The presence of yeasts in the culture material increased the risk of death by 4.4 times.Conclusion: Early diagnosis, removal of the cause of mediastinitis, sufficient mediastinal debridement, and multiple drainage thereof with the possibility of continual postoperative lavage are essential for the successful treatment of acute mediastinitis.     

17β-Estradiol-Induced Synaptic Rearrangements Are Accompanied by Altered Ectonucleotidase Activities in Male Rat Hippocampal Synaptosomes

17β-Estradiol (E2) rapidly, by binding to membrane estrogen receptors, activates cell signaling cascades which induce formation of new dendritic spines in the hippocampus of males as in females, but the interaction with other metabolic processes, such as extracellular adenine nucleotides metabolism, are currently unknown. Extracellular adenine nucleotides play significant roles, controlling excitatory glutamatergic synapses and development of neural circuits and synaptic plasticity. Their precise regulation in the synaptic cleft is tightly controlled by ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase)/ecto-5′-nucleotidase (eN) enzyme chain. Therefore, we sought to clarify whether a single systemic injection of E2 in male rats is accompanied by changes in the expression of the pre- and postsynaptic proteins and downstream kinases linked to E2-induced synaptic rearrangement as well as alterations in NTPDase/eN pathway in the hippocampal synaptosomes. Obtained data showed activation of mammalian target of rapamycin and upregulation of key synaptic proteins necessary for spine formation, 24 h after systemic E2 administration. In E2-mediated conditions, we found downregulation of NTPDase1 and NTPDase2 and attenuation of adenine nucleotide hydrolysis by NTPDase/eN enzyme chain, without changes in NTPDase3 properties and augmentation of synaptic tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) activity. Despite reduced NTPDase activities, increased TNAP activity probably prevents toxic accumulation of ATP in the extracellular milieu and also hydrolyzes accumulated ADP due to unchanged NTPDase3 activity. Thus, our initial evaluation supports idea of specific roles of different ectonucleotidases and their coordinated actions in E2-mediated spine remodeling and maintenance.