Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery, 2008
The present study aimed at assessing the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety pharmacodynamics (PD) o... more The present study aimed at assessing the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety pharmacodynamics (PD) of 24 microg formoterol delivered via a Novolizer and via an Aerolizer in healthy subjects. This was a randomized, open-label, crossover study. Beside PK, serum potassium, and glucose profiles, vital signs, and ECG were recorded. Twenty-nine subjects (15 males) were enrolled. The inhalation maneuver had to be repeated by 19 subjects using the Aerolizer and 1 subject using a Novolizer. While eight (28%) subjects completely failed to inhale correctly via the Aerolizer (four were identified by the investigators immediately after inhalation, another four by bioanalytics later), all did it correctly via the Novolizer. The bioanalytical evaluation indicated two distinct serum peaks. The shapes of serum concentration-time profiles were more homogeneous after inhaling via the Novolizer than via the Aerolizer. After adjusting for the delivered dose the Cmax of formoterol predicting pulmonary absorption was higher after the Novolizer than after the Aerolizer, while the average AUC0-infinity levels indicating total systemic exposure were equivalent. There was no evidence for different pharmacodynamic behavior with respect to serum potassium and glucose profiles, vital signs, and ECG. The Novolizer yields higher pulmonary absorption of formoterol than the Aerolizer and equivalent safety profiles. Considering the lower variability of PK profiles and the higher proportion of correct inhalations, formoterol is more reliably inhaled via Novolizer.
Although a number of melanogenesis inhibitors have recently been reported and used as cosmetic ad... more Although a number of melanogenesis inhibitors have recently been reported and used as cosmetic additives, none is completely satisfactory, leaving a need for novel skin-depigmenting agents. Thus, to develop a novel skin-depigmenting agent from natural sources, the inhibition of melanogenesis by Chinese plants was evaluated. A methanolic extract of Nigella glandulifera Freyn was found to inhibit the melanin synthesis of murine B16F10 melanoma cells by 43.7% and exhibited a low cytotoxicity (8.1 %) at a concentration of 100 microg/ml. Thus, to identify the melanogenesis-inhibiting mechanism, the inhibitory activity towards tyrosinase, the key enzyme of melanogenesis, was further evaluated, and the results showed inhibitory effects on the activity of intracellular tyrosinase yet not on mushroom tyrosinase. Finally, to isolate the compounds with a hypopigmenting capability, activity-guided isolation was performed, and Dioctyl phthalate identified as inhibiting melanogenesis.
Objectives/Hypothesis: The aim of this study is to identify predictors for olfactory outcomes in ... more Objectives/Hypothesis: The aim of this study is to identify predictors for olfactory outcomes in patients with nasal polyposis (NP) after surgery on the ethmoidal labyrinths, either with or without resection of the polyps of the olfactory cleft (OC).
In response to stress, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) signaling machinery triggers the inhibition... more In response to stress, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) signaling machinery triggers the inhibition of protein synthesis and up-regulation of genes whose products are involved in protein folding, cell cycle exit, and/or apoptosis. We demonstrate that the misfolding agents azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (Azc) and tunicamycin initiate signaling from the ER, resulting in the activation of Jun-N-terminal kinase, p44 MAPK /extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 (ERK-1), and p38 MAPK through
IFNγ signaling drives dendritic cells (DCs) to promote type I T cell (Th1) immunity. Here, we sho... more IFNγ signaling drives dendritic cells (DCs) to promote type I T cell (Th1) immunity. Here, we show that activation of DCs by IFNγ is equally crucial for the differentiation of a population of T-bet+ regulatory T (Treg) cells specialized to inhibit Th1 immune responses. Conditional deletion of IFNγ receptor in DCs but not in Treg cells resulted in a severe defect in this specific Treg cell subset, leading to exacerbated immune pathology during parasitic infections. Mechanistically, IFNγ-unresponsive DCs failed to produce sufficient amount of IL-27, a cytokine required for optimal T-bet induction in Treg cells. Thus, IFNγ signalling endows DCs with the ability to efficiently control a specific type of T cell immunity through promoting a corresponding Treg cell population.
International Conference on Multimedia Computing and Systems/International Conference on Multimedia and Expo, 2009
This paper proposes a new two-stage human detection method involving matching and verification. A... more This paper proposes a new two-stage human detection method involving matching and verification. A Bayesian framework is developed to verify the matching score obtained from a weighted distance measure. Performance evaluation indicates that the proposed method is able to utilize the flexible matching scheme and produce superior true positive, true negative and low misclassification rates.
International Conference on Control, Automation, Robotics and Vision, 2010
Motivated by the advantages of using shape matching technique in detecting objects in various pos... more Motivated by the advantages of using shape matching technique in detecting objects in various postures and viewpoints and the discriminative power of local patterns in object recognition, this paper proposes a human detection method combining both shape and appearance cues. In particular, local shapes of the body parts are detected using template matching. Based on body parts' shapes, local appearance features are extracted. We introduce a novel local binary pattern (LBP) descriptor, called Non-Redundant LBP (NRLBP), to encode local appearance of human. The proposed method was evaluated and compared with other state-of-the-art human detection methods on two commonly used datasets: MIT and INRIA pedestrian test sets. We also performed extensive experiments on selecting appropriate parameters as well as verifying the improvement of the proposed method through all stages of the framework.
A treatment of leaves of Spinacia oleracea L. with light or with the thiol reagent dithiothreitol... more A treatment of leaves of Spinacia oleracea L. with light or with the thiol reagent dithiothreitol in the dark led to partly uncoupled thylakoids. After induction in intact leaves, the partial uncoupling was irreversible at the level of isolated thylakoids. We distinguish between uncoupling by proton slip, which means a decrease of the H+/e−-ratio due to less efficient proton pumping, and proton leak as defined by enhanced kinetics of proton efflux. Proton slip and proton leak made about equal contributions to the total uncoupling. The enhanced proton efflux kinetics corresponded to reduction of subunit CF1-γ of the ATP synthase as shown by fluorescence labeling of thylakoid proteins with the sulfhydryl probe 5-iodoacetamido fluorescein. The maximum value of the fraction of reduced CF1-γ was only 36%, which indicates that in vivo the reduction of CF1-γ could be limited by fast reoxidation and/or restricted accessibility of CF1-γ to thioredoxin. Measurements of the ratio ATP/2e indicated that only the uncoupling related to less efficient proton pumping led to a decrease in the ATP yield.
Abstract The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of the scatter in mechanical prop... more Abstract The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of the scatter in mechanical properties and stamping process parameters on an industrial sheet metal forming process. Based on a previously optimized forming process, a robustness analysis has been ...
Both economic growth and exchange rate theories suggest that the exchange rate regime could have ... more Both economic growth and exchange rate theories suggest that the exchange rate regime could have consequences for the medium-term growth of a country, directly, through its effects on the adjustment to shocks, and indirectly, through its impact on the important determinants of growth. It is, however, surprising that there was little empirical work investigating the indirect relationship between the exchange rate policy and economics growth in the case of a specific country. In a co-integration framework, our research attempts to fill the gap by econometrically investigating the possible impacts of exchange rate regime on economic growth through two main channels -Foreign direct investment (FDI) and Exports -in the case of Vietnam -a successful example of a transitional economy.
European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery, 2010
Objective: In the surgical treatment of acute aortic valve infective endocarditis (IE), the long-... more Objective: In the surgical treatment of acute aortic valve infective endocarditis (IE), the long-term outcome depending on the choice of valve replacement remains uncertain. We aimed to compare the impact on 5-year mortality of use of three types of implanted valves: bioprosthesis (heterograft), mechanical prosthesis and homograft. Methods: A total of 167 patients with a definite aortic valve IE who underwent aortic replacement were selected from a prospective observational population-based study. Association between the type of implanted valve and 5year mortality was examined by the use of an adjusted Cox model. Results: Bioprostheses were implanted in 31 patients (18.6%), homograft in 27 (16.2%) and mechanical valves in 109 (65.2%). Patients with bioprothesis had a higher 5-year mortality risk than patients with mechanical prosthesis (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.39, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.09-5.21; p = 0.029), particularly in patients 65 years old (adjusted HR 4.14 (1.27-13.45), p = 0.018) but not in patients >65 years old (adjusted HR: 1.45 (0.35-5.97), p = 0.60). Five-year mortality risk did not differ between patients with homografts and those with mechanical prostheses (HR 0.46, 95% CI (0.15-1.42), p = 0.18). Conclusions: A bioprosthetic valve used for aortic valve IE replacement may be associated with lower overall 5-year survival than the use of a mechanical valve in patients up to 65 years old. Further studies are needed to explain these results. #
Background. Tuberculosis (TB) disease diagnosis in Vietnam relies on symptom screening, chest rad... more Background. Tuberculosis (TB) disease diagnosis in Vietnam relies on symptom screening, chest radiography (CXR), and acid fast bacilli (AFB) sputum smear which have a poor sensitivity in HIV patients. We evaluated the performance of clinical algorithms in screening and diagnosing AFB smear-negative TB in HIV patients. Methods. We enrolled 399 HIV-positive patients seeking care at a HIV clinic in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. Participants' demographics, medical history, common TB symptoms, CXR, and laboratory tests were collected. Results. Of 399 HIV patients, 390 had initial AFB-negative smears and 22/390 patients had positive cultures. Symptom screening missed 54% (12/22) of smear-negative pulmonary TB (PTB) cases. Multivariate analysis found CD4+ cell level and CXR were significant PTB predictors. An algorithm combining four TB symptoms and TST presented a high sensitivity (100%), but poorly specific (24%) diagnostic performance for smear-negative PTB. Conclusion. Up to 54% of PTB cases in the HIV-infected population may be missed in the routine screening and diagnostic procedures used in Vietnam. Symptom screening was a poor overall diagnostic measure in detecting smear-negative TB in HIV patients. Our study results suggest that routine sputum cultures should be implemented to achieve a more accurate diagnosis of TB in HIV patients.
The generalist predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) was reared... more The generalist predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) was reared on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller eggs (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), decapsulated dry cysts of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana Kellogg (Anostraca: Artemiidae), and on meridic artificial diets (composed of honey, sucrose, tryptone, yeast extract, and egg yolk) supplemented with pupal hemolymph of the Chinese oak silkworm Antheraea pernyi (Guérin-Méneville) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) (AD1), with E. kuehniella eggs (AD2) or with A. franciscana cysts (AD3). Development, reproduction and predation capacity of the predatory mites were assessed in the first (G1) and sixth generation (G6) of rearing on the different diets. Immature survival rates in G1 were similar on all diets (96.8-100 %). After six generations, however, survival of A. swirskii was significantly reduced on all diets except on A. franciscana cysts. Oviposition rates did not differ between generations when females were fed on E. kuehniella, AD2 or AD3. The total number of deposited eggs was similar among diets except in G6 where the females fed on A. franciscana cysts produced more eggs than those maintained on E. kuehniella eggs. On most diets the intrinsic rates of increase in G1 were superior to those in G6, except for predators supplied with A. franciscana cysts where no differences were observed among generations. Female mites did not lose their capacity to kill first instar Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) after six generations on the different diets, but predation rates in G6 on E. kuehniella were lower than in G1. In conclusion, the different factitious and artificial diets tested in the present study supported the development and reproduction of A. swirskii for a single generation but fitness losses occurred to a Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (varying degree after several generations on E. kuehniella eggs or the artificial diets. Artificial diet enriched with A. franciscana cysts yielded better results than the other artificial diets. Amblyseius swirskii performed best on decapsulated Artemia cysts indicating their potential for use in the mass production of the predator or to sustain its populations in the crop after release.
Objectives/Hypothesis: To look for predictors of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas (R... more Objectives/Hypothesis: To look for predictors of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas (REAH) development in patients operated for nasal polyposis (NP) by adjusting on confounding factors.
Social network services (e.g., Twitter and Facebook) can be regarded as social sensors which can ... more Social network services (e.g., Twitter and Facebook) can be regarded as social sensors which can capture a number of events in the society. Particularly, in terms of time and space, various smart devices have improved the accessibility to the social network services. In this paper, we present a social software platform to detect a number of meaningful events from information diffusion patterns on such social network services. The most important feature is to process the social sensor signal for understanding social events and to support users to share relevant information along the social links. The platform has been applied to fetch and cluster tweets from Twitter into relevant categories to reveal hot topics.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 19-24 nucleotide long non-coding RNA species that regulate the expression ... more MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 19-24 nucleotide long non-coding RNA species that regulate the expression of multiple target genes at the post-transcriptional level. They are required for normal immune system development and function, and their expression is dynamically regulated in different immune cell subsets during lineage differentiation and immune response. Aberrant expression of miRNAs results in dysregulated innate and adaptive immunity. This in turn can lead to failure to fight against invading pathogens and the development of autoimmune diseases and hematopoietic malignancies. In this article, we review current progress in miRNA research in immunity in both physiological and pathological settings. We also discuss research limitations and challenges that researchers are just beginning to solve.
This study was designed to update clinical and imaging features as well as treatment outcomes of ... more This study was designed to update clinical and imaging features as well as treatment outcomes of the nasal respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH). Data sources included case reports, original articles, and reviews published in English or French in PubMed from 1995 to date. Only published articles that met Wenig's histological criteria for the diagnosis of REAH were included. REAH is not rare and is probably underdiagnosed. It is usually observed in the fifth decade of life with a 3:2 male/female predilection. REAH can be represented in two forms: as an isolated lesion (less frequent) or in association with an inflammatory process (especially nasal polyposis). It was observed in 35-48% of patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal surgery for nasal polyposis. Its origin is found, in most cases, in the olfactory cleft, which is exhibited on computed tomography (CT) scans by widened opacified olfactory clefts without bone erosion. Resection of REAH from the olfactory clefts does not worsen, but instead, can improve the sense of smell after surgery. Looking for REAH on CT scans and during endoscopic examination can lead to its diagnosis and help avoid aggressive surgical procedures and their complications. Endoscopic resection is the treatment of choice. The removal of REAH constitutes a specific surgery on the olfactory clefts, which can improve nasal obstruction as well as sense of smell. Whether REAH can be defined as a hamartoma, an inflammatory reactive process, or a neoplastic lesion remains to be determined.
Int. J. Electronic Finance, Vol. 1, No. 4, 2007 ... Australian banks' approaches to privacy ... more Int. J. Electronic Finance, Vol. 1, No. 4, 2007 ... Australian banks' approaches to privacy in an online world ... School of Information and Communication Technology Griffith University PMB 50, Gold Coast MC QLD 9726, Australia E-mail: [email protected] ...
Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery, 2008
The present study aimed at assessing the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety pharmacodynamics (PD) o... more The present study aimed at assessing the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety pharmacodynamics (PD) of 24 microg formoterol delivered via a Novolizer and via an Aerolizer in healthy subjects. This was a randomized, open-label, crossover study. Beside PK, serum potassium, and glucose profiles, vital signs, and ECG were recorded. Twenty-nine subjects (15 males) were enrolled. The inhalation maneuver had to be repeated by 19 subjects using the Aerolizer and 1 subject using a Novolizer. While eight (28%) subjects completely failed to inhale correctly via the Aerolizer (four were identified by the investigators immediately after inhalation, another four by bioanalytics later), all did it correctly via the Novolizer. The bioanalytical evaluation indicated two distinct serum peaks. The shapes of serum concentration-time profiles were more homogeneous after inhaling via the Novolizer than via the Aerolizer. After adjusting for the delivered dose the Cmax of formoterol predicting pulmonary absorption was higher after the Novolizer than after the Aerolizer, while the average AUC0-infinity levels indicating total systemic exposure were equivalent. There was no evidence for different pharmacodynamic behavior with respect to serum potassium and glucose profiles, vital signs, and ECG. The Novolizer yields higher pulmonary absorption of formoterol than the Aerolizer and equivalent safety profiles. Considering the lower variability of PK profiles and the higher proportion of correct inhalations, formoterol is more reliably inhaled via Novolizer.
Although a number of melanogenesis inhibitors have recently been reported and used as cosmetic ad... more Although a number of melanogenesis inhibitors have recently been reported and used as cosmetic additives, none is completely satisfactory, leaving a need for novel skin-depigmenting agents. Thus, to develop a novel skin-depigmenting agent from natural sources, the inhibition of melanogenesis by Chinese plants was evaluated. A methanolic extract of Nigella glandulifera Freyn was found to inhibit the melanin synthesis of murine B16F10 melanoma cells by 43.7% and exhibited a low cytotoxicity (8.1 %) at a concentration of 100 microg/ml. Thus, to identify the melanogenesis-inhibiting mechanism, the inhibitory activity towards tyrosinase, the key enzyme of melanogenesis, was further evaluated, and the results showed inhibitory effects on the activity of intracellular tyrosinase yet not on mushroom tyrosinase. Finally, to isolate the compounds with a hypopigmenting capability, activity-guided isolation was performed, and Dioctyl phthalate identified as inhibiting melanogenesis.
Objectives/Hypothesis: The aim of this study is to identify predictors for olfactory outcomes in ... more Objectives/Hypothesis: The aim of this study is to identify predictors for olfactory outcomes in patients with nasal polyposis (NP) after surgery on the ethmoidal labyrinths, either with or without resection of the polyps of the olfactory cleft (OC).
In response to stress, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) signaling machinery triggers the inhibition... more In response to stress, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) signaling machinery triggers the inhibition of protein synthesis and up-regulation of genes whose products are involved in protein folding, cell cycle exit, and/or apoptosis. We demonstrate that the misfolding agents azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (Azc) and tunicamycin initiate signaling from the ER, resulting in the activation of Jun-N-terminal kinase, p44 MAPK /extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 (ERK-1), and p38 MAPK through
IFNγ signaling drives dendritic cells (DCs) to promote type I T cell (Th1) immunity. Here, we sho... more IFNγ signaling drives dendritic cells (DCs) to promote type I T cell (Th1) immunity. Here, we show that activation of DCs by IFNγ is equally crucial for the differentiation of a population of T-bet+ regulatory T (Treg) cells specialized to inhibit Th1 immune responses. Conditional deletion of IFNγ receptor in DCs but not in Treg cells resulted in a severe defect in this specific Treg cell subset, leading to exacerbated immune pathology during parasitic infections. Mechanistically, IFNγ-unresponsive DCs failed to produce sufficient amount of IL-27, a cytokine required for optimal T-bet induction in Treg cells. Thus, IFNγ signalling endows DCs with the ability to efficiently control a specific type of T cell immunity through promoting a corresponding Treg cell population.
International Conference on Multimedia Computing and Systems/International Conference on Multimedia and Expo, 2009
This paper proposes a new two-stage human detection method involving matching and verification. A... more This paper proposes a new two-stage human detection method involving matching and verification. A Bayesian framework is developed to verify the matching score obtained from a weighted distance measure. Performance evaluation indicates that the proposed method is able to utilize the flexible matching scheme and produce superior true positive, true negative and low misclassification rates.
International Conference on Control, Automation, Robotics and Vision, 2010
Motivated by the advantages of using shape matching technique in detecting objects in various pos... more Motivated by the advantages of using shape matching technique in detecting objects in various postures and viewpoints and the discriminative power of local patterns in object recognition, this paper proposes a human detection method combining both shape and appearance cues. In particular, local shapes of the body parts are detected using template matching. Based on body parts' shapes, local appearance features are extracted. We introduce a novel local binary pattern (LBP) descriptor, called Non-Redundant LBP (NRLBP), to encode local appearance of human. The proposed method was evaluated and compared with other state-of-the-art human detection methods on two commonly used datasets: MIT and INRIA pedestrian test sets. We also performed extensive experiments on selecting appropriate parameters as well as verifying the improvement of the proposed method through all stages of the framework.
A treatment of leaves of Spinacia oleracea L. with light or with the thiol reagent dithiothreitol... more A treatment of leaves of Spinacia oleracea L. with light or with the thiol reagent dithiothreitol in the dark led to partly uncoupled thylakoids. After induction in intact leaves, the partial uncoupling was irreversible at the level of isolated thylakoids. We distinguish between uncoupling by proton slip, which means a decrease of the H+/e−-ratio due to less efficient proton pumping, and proton leak as defined by enhanced kinetics of proton efflux. Proton slip and proton leak made about equal contributions to the total uncoupling. The enhanced proton efflux kinetics corresponded to reduction of subunit CF1-γ of the ATP synthase as shown by fluorescence labeling of thylakoid proteins with the sulfhydryl probe 5-iodoacetamido fluorescein. The maximum value of the fraction of reduced CF1-γ was only 36%, which indicates that in vivo the reduction of CF1-γ could be limited by fast reoxidation and/or restricted accessibility of CF1-γ to thioredoxin. Measurements of the ratio ATP/2e indicated that only the uncoupling related to less efficient proton pumping led to a decrease in the ATP yield.
Abstract The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of the scatter in mechanical prop... more Abstract The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of the scatter in mechanical properties and stamping process parameters on an industrial sheet metal forming process. Based on a previously optimized forming process, a robustness analysis has been ...
Both economic growth and exchange rate theories suggest that the exchange rate regime could have ... more Both economic growth and exchange rate theories suggest that the exchange rate regime could have consequences for the medium-term growth of a country, directly, through its effects on the adjustment to shocks, and indirectly, through its impact on the important determinants of growth. It is, however, surprising that there was little empirical work investigating the indirect relationship between the exchange rate policy and economics growth in the case of a specific country. In a co-integration framework, our research attempts to fill the gap by econometrically investigating the possible impacts of exchange rate regime on economic growth through two main channels -Foreign direct investment (FDI) and Exports -in the case of Vietnam -a successful example of a transitional economy.
European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery, 2010
Objective: In the surgical treatment of acute aortic valve infective endocarditis (IE), the long-... more Objective: In the surgical treatment of acute aortic valve infective endocarditis (IE), the long-term outcome depending on the choice of valve replacement remains uncertain. We aimed to compare the impact on 5-year mortality of use of three types of implanted valves: bioprosthesis (heterograft), mechanical prosthesis and homograft. Methods: A total of 167 patients with a definite aortic valve IE who underwent aortic replacement were selected from a prospective observational population-based study. Association between the type of implanted valve and 5year mortality was examined by the use of an adjusted Cox model. Results: Bioprostheses were implanted in 31 patients (18.6%), homograft in 27 (16.2%) and mechanical valves in 109 (65.2%). Patients with bioprothesis had a higher 5-year mortality risk than patients with mechanical prosthesis (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.39, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.09-5.21; p = 0.029), particularly in patients 65 years old (adjusted HR 4.14 (1.27-13.45), p = 0.018) but not in patients >65 years old (adjusted HR: 1.45 (0.35-5.97), p = 0.60). Five-year mortality risk did not differ between patients with homografts and those with mechanical prostheses (HR 0.46, 95% CI (0.15-1.42), p = 0.18). Conclusions: A bioprosthetic valve used for aortic valve IE replacement may be associated with lower overall 5-year survival than the use of a mechanical valve in patients up to 65 years old. Further studies are needed to explain these results. #
Background. Tuberculosis (TB) disease diagnosis in Vietnam relies on symptom screening, chest rad... more Background. Tuberculosis (TB) disease diagnosis in Vietnam relies on symptom screening, chest radiography (CXR), and acid fast bacilli (AFB) sputum smear which have a poor sensitivity in HIV patients. We evaluated the performance of clinical algorithms in screening and diagnosing AFB smear-negative TB in HIV patients. Methods. We enrolled 399 HIV-positive patients seeking care at a HIV clinic in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. Participants' demographics, medical history, common TB symptoms, CXR, and laboratory tests were collected. Results. Of 399 HIV patients, 390 had initial AFB-negative smears and 22/390 patients had positive cultures. Symptom screening missed 54% (12/22) of smear-negative pulmonary TB (PTB) cases. Multivariate analysis found CD4+ cell level and CXR were significant PTB predictors. An algorithm combining four TB symptoms and TST presented a high sensitivity (100%), but poorly specific (24%) diagnostic performance for smear-negative PTB. Conclusion. Up to 54% of PTB cases in the HIV-infected population may be missed in the routine screening and diagnostic procedures used in Vietnam. Symptom screening was a poor overall diagnostic measure in detecting smear-negative TB in HIV patients. Our study results suggest that routine sputum cultures should be implemented to achieve a more accurate diagnosis of TB in HIV patients.
The generalist predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) was reared... more The generalist predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) was reared on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller eggs (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), decapsulated dry cysts of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana Kellogg (Anostraca: Artemiidae), and on meridic artificial diets (composed of honey, sucrose, tryptone, yeast extract, and egg yolk) supplemented with pupal hemolymph of the Chinese oak silkworm Antheraea pernyi (Guérin-Méneville) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) (AD1), with E. kuehniella eggs (AD2) or with A. franciscana cysts (AD3). Development, reproduction and predation capacity of the predatory mites were assessed in the first (G1) and sixth generation (G6) of rearing on the different diets. Immature survival rates in G1 were similar on all diets (96.8-100 %). After six generations, however, survival of A. swirskii was significantly reduced on all diets except on A. franciscana cysts. Oviposition rates did not differ between generations when females were fed on E. kuehniella, AD2 or AD3. The total number of deposited eggs was similar among diets except in G6 where the females fed on A. franciscana cysts produced more eggs than those maintained on E. kuehniella eggs. On most diets the intrinsic rates of increase in G1 were superior to those in G6, except for predators supplied with A. franciscana cysts where no differences were observed among generations. Female mites did not lose their capacity to kill first instar Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) after six generations on the different diets, but predation rates in G6 on E. kuehniella were lower than in G1. In conclusion, the different factitious and artificial diets tested in the present study supported the development and reproduction of A. swirskii for a single generation but fitness losses occurred to a Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (varying degree after several generations on E. kuehniella eggs or the artificial diets. Artificial diet enriched with A. franciscana cysts yielded better results than the other artificial diets. Amblyseius swirskii performed best on decapsulated Artemia cysts indicating their potential for use in the mass production of the predator or to sustain its populations in the crop after release.
Objectives/Hypothesis: To look for predictors of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas (R... more Objectives/Hypothesis: To look for predictors of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas (REAH) development in patients operated for nasal polyposis (NP) by adjusting on confounding factors.
Social network services (e.g., Twitter and Facebook) can be regarded as social sensors which can ... more Social network services (e.g., Twitter and Facebook) can be regarded as social sensors which can capture a number of events in the society. Particularly, in terms of time and space, various smart devices have improved the accessibility to the social network services. In this paper, we present a social software platform to detect a number of meaningful events from information diffusion patterns on such social network services. The most important feature is to process the social sensor signal for understanding social events and to support users to share relevant information along the social links. The platform has been applied to fetch and cluster tweets from Twitter into relevant categories to reveal hot topics.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 19-24 nucleotide long non-coding RNA species that regulate the expression ... more MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 19-24 nucleotide long non-coding RNA species that regulate the expression of multiple target genes at the post-transcriptional level. They are required for normal immune system development and function, and their expression is dynamically regulated in different immune cell subsets during lineage differentiation and immune response. Aberrant expression of miRNAs results in dysregulated innate and adaptive immunity. This in turn can lead to failure to fight against invading pathogens and the development of autoimmune diseases and hematopoietic malignancies. In this article, we review current progress in miRNA research in immunity in both physiological and pathological settings. We also discuss research limitations and challenges that researchers are just beginning to solve.
This study was designed to update clinical and imaging features as well as treatment outcomes of ... more This study was designed to update clinical and imaging features as well as treatment outcomes of the nasal respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH). Data sources included case reports, original articles, and reviews published in English or French in PubMed from 1995 to date. Only published articles that met Wenig's histological criteria for the diagnosis of REAH were included. REAH is not rare and is probably underdiagnosed. It is usually observed in the fifth decade of life with a 3:2 male/female predilection. REAH can be represented in two forms: as an isolated lesion (less frequent) or in association with an inflammatory process (especially nasal polyposis). It was observed in 35-48% of patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal surgery for nasal polyposis. Its origin is found, in most cases, in the olfactory cleft, which is exhibited on computed tomography (CT) scans by widened opacified olfactory clefts without bone erosion. Resection of REAH from the olfactory clefts does not worsen, but instead, can improve the sense of smell after surgery. Looking for REAH on CT scans and during endoscopic examination can lead to its diagnosis and help avoid aggressive surgical procedures and their complications. Endoscopic resection is the treatment of choice. The removal of REAH constitutes a specific surgery on the olfactory clefts, which can improve nasal obstruction as well as sense of smell. Whether REAH can be defined as a hamartoma, an inflammatory reactive process, or a neoplastic lesion remains to be determined.
Int. J. Electronic Finance, Vol. 1, No. 4, 2007 ... Australian banks' approaches to privacy ... more Int. J. Electronic Finance, Vol. 1, No. 4, 2007 ... Australian banks' approaches to privacy in an online world ... School of Information and Communication Technology Griffith University PMB 50, Gold Coast MC QLD 9726, Australia E-mail: [email protected] ...
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