Cardiovascular and Respiratory Effects of Increased Intra-Abdominal Pressure with and without Dexmedetomidine in Anesthetized Dogs.

Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) elevation during capnoperitoneum can cause adverse cardiovascular and respiratory effects. This study aimed to determine if a sequentially increased IAP affects cardiovascular and respiratory variables in anesthetized dogs and evaluate the effects of the constant-rate infusion of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on cardiovascular and respiratory variables with increased IAP. Five dogs were anesthetized and instrumented, and a Veress needle was equipped to adjust the IAP using a carbon dioxide insufflator. Stabilization was conducted for 1 h, and physiological variables were measured at IAPs of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mmHg and after desufflation. After the washout period, the dogs underwent similar procedures along with a constant-rate infusion of dexmedetomidine. The cardiovascular effects of increased IAP up to 20 mmHg were not significant in healthy beagle dogs and those administered with dexmedetomidine. When comparing the control and dexmedetomidine groups, the overall significant effects of dexmedetomidine were noted on heart rate, cardiac output, and systemic vascular resistance during the experiment. Respiratory effects were not observed during abdominal insufflation when compared between different IAPs and between the two groups. Overall, an increased IAP of up to 20 mmHg did not significantly affect cardiovascular and respiratory variables in both the control and dexmedetomidine groups. This study suggests that the administration of a dexmedetomidine infusion is applicable in laparoscopic procedures in healthy dogs.

Ultra-Stable and Highly Efficient White Light Emitting Diodes through CsPbBr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals-Silica Composite Phosphor Functionalized with Surface Phenyl Molecules.

Poor stability of CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) to moisture/heat/light has significantly limited their application as a green phosphor, despite their outstanding luminescent properties. Here, a remarkably stable CsPbBr3 NCs-silica composite phosphor functionalized with surface phenyl molecules (CsPbBr3 -SiO2 Ph ) is synthesized by controlling low-temperature hydrolysis and condensation reaction of perhydropolysilazane in the presence of CsPbBr3 NCs followed by phenyl-functionalization. Through the process, CsPbBr3 NCs are confined in a compact silica matrix, which is impermeable to H2 O. The synthesis strategy is extended to a classical red quantum dot, CdZnSeS@ZnS NCs, to fabricate a white light emitting diode (WLED) consisting of CsPbBr3 -SiO2 Ph and CdZnSeS@ZnS-SiO2 Ph phosphor and silicone resin packaged on a commercial blue InGaN chip with luminous efficacy (LE) of 9.36 lm W-1 . The WLED undergoes enhancements in both green and red photoluminescence over time to achieve a highly efficient performance of 38.80 lm W-1 . More importantly, the WLED exhibits unprecedented operational stability of LE/LE0  = 94% after 101 h-operation at 20 mA (2.56 V). The ultra-high operational stability and efficient performance are mainly attributed to thermal curing and aging through which grain growth occurs as well as deactivation of defect states by permeated atmospheric O2 .

Breast cancer detection by analyzing the volatile organic compound (VOC) signature in human urine.

A rising number of authors are drawing evidence on the diagnostic capacity of specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) resulting from some body fluids. While cancer incidence in society is on the rise, it becomes clear that the analysis of these VOCs can yield new strategies to mitigate advanced cancer incidence rates. This paper presents the methodology implemented to test whether a device consisting of an electronic nose inspired by a dog's olfactory system and olfactory neurons is significantly informative to detect breast cancer (BC). To test this device, 90 human urine samples were collected from control subjects and BC patients at a hospital. To test this system, an artificial intelligence-based classification algorithm was developed. The algorithm was firstly trained and tested with data resulting from gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) urine readings, leading to a classification rate of 92.31%, sensitivity of 100.00%, and specificity of 85.71% (N = 90). Secondly, the same algorithm was trained and tested with data obtained with our eNose prototype hardware, and class prediction was achieved with a classification rate of 75%, sensitivity of 100%, and specificity of 50%.

Development of Wheel Pressure Control Algorithm for Electronic Stability Control (ESC) System of Commercial Trucks.

This paper presents a wheel cylinder pressure control algorithm for application to the vehicle electronic stability control (ESC) systems for commercial trucks. An ESC system is an active system that improves the driving stability by distributing the appropriate braking pressure to each wheel, which is an essential system for safe driving. It is important that the ESC system, through proper braking pressure supply, delivers the correct pressure under control. However, to reduce the cost involved, commercial trucks use a solenoid valve of the on/off-type, rather than a proportional valve that has good pressure control capability. The performance of a proposed wheel pressure control system based on an on/off solenoid valve control was verified by means of experiments conducted using the wheel pressure control algorithm presented in this paper.

Opuntia humifusa ameliorated cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Opuntia humifusa (OH) on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: Acute pancreatitis was induced via intraperitoneal injection of cholecystokinin analog cerulein (50 µg/kg). In the OH pretreatment group, OH was administered intraperitoneally (100, 250, or 500 mg/kg) 1 hour before first cerulein injection. In the posttreatment group, OH was administered intraperitoneally (500 mg/kg) 1 hour after the first cerulein injection. Furthermore, we isolated the pancreatic acinar cells using collagenase method, then investigated the acinar cell viability, cytokine productions, and the regulating mechanisms. RESULTS: The both pretreatment and posttreatment of OH treatment attenuated the severity of AP, as shown by the histology of the pancreas and lung, and inhibited neutrophil infiltration; serum amylase and lipase activities; proinflammatory cytokine expression such as interleukin 1, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor α; and cell death including apoptosis and necrosis. Furthermore, OH inhibited the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that OH reduces the severity of AP by inhibiting acinar cell death through c-Jun N-terminal kinases.

The regulatory mechanism of ß-eudesmol is through the suppression of caspase-1 activation in mast cell-mediated inflammatory response.

ß-Eudesmol is sesquiterpenoid alcohol which contains the rhizome of Atractylodes lancea. Although it has multiple pharmacological effects, the anti-inflammatory effect of ß-eudesmol and its molecular mechanisms are poorly elucidated. In this study, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of ß-eudesmol on mast cell-mediated inflammatory response. The results indicated that ß-eudesmol inhibited the production and expression of interleukin (IL)-6 on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated human mast cell (HMC). In activated HMC-1 cells, ß-eudesmol suppressed activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-κB. In addition, ß-eudesmol suppressed the activation of caspase-1 and expression of receptor-interacting protein-2. These results provide new insights into the pharmacological actions of ß-eudesmol as a potential molecule for use in therapy in mast cell-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Induction of nitric oxide & tumour necrosis factor-alpha by Psoralea corylifolia.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Psoralea corylifolia (PC) is an herb widely used in medicine for the treatment of a variety of ailment. PC is also known to have immunomodulatory activity. However, its mechanism of action is not known. In the present study we investigated effect of PC on nitric oxide (NO) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production in mouse peritoneal macrophages and also examined the mechanism by which PC regulates NO production. METHODS: MTT assay performed for cell viability test and nitrite concentration was measured by using Griess reagent. The amount of TNF-alpha secreted by the cells was measured by a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of iNOS was investigated by western blot analysis. RESULTS: PC in combination with recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) showed a marked co-operative induction of NO production, with no effect on NO production by itself. The increased production of NO from rIFN-gamma plus PC-stimulated cells was almost completely inhibited by pre-treatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). Furthermore, treatment of peritoneal macrophages with rIFN-gamma plus PC caused a significant increase in tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production. PDTC also decreased the effect of PC on TNF-alpha production significantly. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: As NO and TNF-alpha play an important role in immune function and host defense, PC treatment could modulate several aspects of host defense mechanisms due to stimulation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase.