OPE of the stress tensors and surface operators

We demonstrate that the divergent terms in the OPE of a stress tensor and a surface operator of general shape cannot be constructed only from local geometric data depending only on the shape of the surface. We verify this holographically at d=3 for Wilson line operators or equivalently the twist operator corresponding to computing the entanglement entropy using the Ryu-Takayanagi formula. We discuss possible implications of this result.Comment: 20 pages, no figur

Application of geographic weighted regression to establish flood-damage functions reflecting spatial variation

Flood damage functions are necessary to ensure comprehensive flood-risk management. This study attempts to establish a residential flood-damage function through interviewing the residents living in the region where flood disasters occur frequently. Keelung River basin, near Taipei Metropolitan in Taiwan was selected as study area. Flood damages are related to the flood depths, which are the most commonly considered factor in previously published work. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to construct the flood-damage function at the beginning. Analytical results indicate that flood depth is the significant variable, but the spatial pattern of the residuals shows that residuals exhibit spatial autocorrelation. The Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) Model was then applied to modify the traditional regression model, which cannot capture spatial variations, and to reduce the problem of spatial autocorrelation. The R-square value was found to increase from 0.15 to 0.24, and the spatial autocorrelation in the residuals was no longer evident. A modified OLS model with a dummy variable to capture the spatial autocorrelation pattern was also proposed for future applications. In conclusion, the residential flood damage is determined by flood depth and zone, and the GWR model not only captures the spatial variations of the affecting factors, but also helps to discover the independent variable to modify the traditional regression model.Keywords: flood damage, flood depth, OLS, GWR, spatial autocorrelatio

Bacteria in the apical root canals of teeth with apical periodontitis

Background/PurposeBacteria in the tooth root canal may cause apical periodontitis. This study examined the bacterial species present in the apical root canal of teeth with apical periodontitis. Antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed to evaluate whether these identified bacterial species were susceptible to specific kinds of antibiotics.MethodsSelective media plating and biochemical tests were used first to detect the bacterial species in samples taken from the apical portion of root canals of 62 teeth with apical periodontitis. The isolated bacterial species were further confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.ResultsWe found concomitant presence of two (32 teeth) or three species (18 teeth) of bacteria in 50 (80.6%) out of 62 tested teeth. However, only 34 bacterial species were identified. Of a total of 118 bacterial isolates (83 anaerobes and 35 aerobes), Prophyromonas endodontalis was detected in 10; Bacteroides, Dialister invisus or Fusobacterium nucleatum in 9; Treponema denticola or Enterococcus faecalis in 8; Peptostreptococcus or Olsenella uli in 6; and Veillonella in 5 teeth. The other 25 bacterial species were detected in fewer than five teeth. Approximately 80–95% of bacterial isolates of anaerobes were sensitive to ampicillin/sulbactam (Unasyn), amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin), cefoxitin, and clindamycin. For E. faecalis, 85–90% of bacterial isolates were sensitive to gentamicin and linezolid.ConclusionRoot canal infections are usually caused by a mixture of two or three species of bacteria. Specific kinds of antibiotic can be selected to control these bacterial infections after antibiotic sensitivity testing

Biochanin A, a Phytoestrogenic Isoflavone with Selective Inhibition of Phosphodiesterase 4, Suppresses Ovalbumin-Induced Airway Hyperresponsiveness

The present study investigated the potential of biochanin A, a phytoestrogenic isoflavone of red clover (Triflolium pratense), for use in treating asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Biochanin A (100 μmol/kg, orally (p.o.)) significantly attenuated airway resistance (RL), enhanced pause (Penh), and increased lung dynamic compliance (Cdyn) values induced by methacholine (MCh) in sensitized and challenged mice. It also significantly suppressed an increase in the number of total inflammatory cells, neutrophils, and eosinophils, and levels of cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of the mice. However, it did not influence interferon (IFN)-γ levels. Biochanin A (100 μmol/kg, p.o.) also significantly suppressed the total and ovalbumin (OVA)-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in the serum and BALF, and enhanced the total IgG2a level in the serum of these mice. The PDE4H/PDE4L value of biochanin A was calculated as >35. Biochanin A did not influence xylazine/ketamine-induced anesthesia. Biochanin A (10~30 μM) significantly reduced cumulative OVA (10~100 μg/mL)-induced contractions in the isolated guinea pig trachealis, suggesting that it inhibits degranulation of mast cells. In conclusion, red clover containing biochanin A has the potential for treating allergic asthma and COPD

Rdzeniowy zespół twarzowo-palcowy: częsty zespół w nietypowej lokalizacji

Background and purpose Cheiro-oral syndrome (COS) is an established neurological entity characterized by a sensory impairment confined to the mouth angle and ipsilateral finger(s)/ hand. The current understanding of localization is a concomitant involvement of the spinothalamic and trigeminothalamic tract between the cortex and pons. The cervical spinal cord has not been mentioned in this situation yet, and this unusual location may heretofore increase the risk of misdiagnosis. Material and methods Six patients who presented with unilateral COS due to cervical cord disorder are reported. Results All patients were women and their age ranged between 42 and 70 years. Their neurological deficits included unilateral paraesthesiae restricted to cheiro-oral distribution, positive radicular sign, and mild change of tendon reflex. Cervical spinal stenosis at middle/lower cervical spine with variable magnitude of cord compression and intrinsic cord damage was found. A diagnostic dilemma obviously arises from the lack of tangible neurological signs or typical pattern of myelopathy, in addition to the previous concept of cerebral involvement. A benign course ensued in all reported patients. Conclusions Cheiro-oral syndrome can be an early neurological sign for cervical cord disorder; it further suggests that it is a strong neurological but weak localizing sign. A reciprocal influence of multiple factors is considered to generate COS at the cervical cord. Therefore, an absence of brain pathology should lead to a thorough examination of the cervical cord in case of COS.Wstęp i cel pracy Zespół twarzowo-palcowy (ZTP) jest znanym zespołem neurologicznym, który cechuje się niedoczulicą ograniczoną do kącika ust i palców ręki lub ręki po tej samej stronie. Bieżący stan wiedzy dotyczący lokalizacji uszkodzenia w tym zespole wskazuje na jednoczesne zajęcie dróg rdzeniowo-wzgórzowej i trójdzielno-wzgórzowej pomiędzy mostem i korą mózgową. W tym kontekście nie wymieniano dotąd uszkodzenia rdzenia kręgowego w odcinku szyjnym, a taka nietypowa lokalizacja uszkodzenia może zwiększyć ryzyko błędnego rozpoznania miejsca uszkodzenia. Materiał i metody W pracy przedstawiono dane dotyczące 6 pacjentek z jednostronnym ZTP spowodowanym występowaniem nieprawidłowości w obrębie rdzenia kręgowego. Wyniki Zakres wieku pacjentek wynosił od 42 do 70 lat. Objawy neurologiczne obejmowały jednostronne parestezje ograniczone do obszaru twarzy i ręki, objaw korzeniowy i niewielkie nieprawidłowości w zakresie odruchów głębokich. Stwierdzono występowanie zwężenia kanału kręgowego w środkowej lub dolnej części odcinka szyjnego z uciskiem rdzenia kręgowego i uszkodzeniem wewnątrz rdzenia kręgowego. Wątpliwości diagnostyczne wynikały z braku typowych objawów neurologicznych mielopatii i stwierdzenia lokalizacji zmian nieodpowiadającej wcześniejszym opiniom na temat mózgowego pochodzenia zespołu. U wszystkich opisywanych pacjentek przebieg schorzenia był łagodny. Wnioski Zespół twarzowo-palcowy może być wczesnym objawem neurologicznym nieprawidłowości w obrębie rdzenia kręgowego. Stanowi istotny objaw neurologiczny, ale jego wartość lokalizacyjna jest niewielka. Powstawanie ZTP wskutek uszkodzenia rdzenia kręgowego wynika z wzajemnych oddziaływań wielu czynników. W razie braku uchwytnej patologii mózgu należy w przypadkach ZTP przeprowadzić szczegółowe badania rdzenia kręgowego w odcinku szyjnym

Lysophosphatidic Acid and Hematopoiesis: From Microenvironmental Effects to Intracellular Signaling.

Vertebrate hematopoiesis is a complex physiological process that is tightly regulated by intracellular signaling and extracellular microenvironment. In recent decades, breakthroughs in lineage-tracing technologies and lipidomics have revealed the existence of numerous lipid molecules in hematopoietic microenvironment. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a bioactive phospholipid molecule, is one of the identified lipids that participates in hematopoiesis. LPA exhibits various physiological functions through activation of G-protein-coupled receptors. The functions of these LPARs have been widely studied in stem cells, while the roles of LPARs in hematopoietic stem cells have rarely been examined. Nonetheless, mounting evidence supports the importance of the LPA-LPAR axis in hematopoiesis. In this article, we have reviewed regulation of hematopoiesis in general and focused on the microenvironmental and intracellular effects of the LPA in hematopoiesis. Discoveries in these areas may be beneficial to our understanding of blood-related disorders, especially in the context of prevention and therapy for anemia

Sialylation of vasorin by ST3Gal1 facilitates TGF-β1-mediated tumor angiogenesis and progression.

ST3Gal1 is a key sialyltransferase which adds α2,3-linked sialic acid to substrates and generates core 1 O-glycan structure. Upregulation of ST3Gal1 has been associated with worse prognosis of breast cancer patients. However, the protein substrates of ST3Gal1 implicated in tumor progression remain elusive. In our study, we demonstrated that ST3GAL1-silencing significantly reduced tumor growth along with a notable decrease in vascularity of MCF7 xenograft tumors. We identified vasorin (VASN) which was shown to bind TGF-β1, as a potential candidate that links ST3Gal1 to angiogenesis. LC-MS/MS analysis of VASN secreted from MCF7, revealed that more than 80% of its O-glycans are sialyl-3T and disialyl-T. ST3GAL1-silencing or desialylation of VASN by neuraminidase enhanced its binding to TGF-β1 by 2- to 3-fold and thereby dampening TGF-β1 signaling and angiogenesis, as indicated by impaired tube formation of HUVECs, suppressed angiogenesis gene expression and reduced activation of Smad2 and Smad3 in HUVEC cells. Examination of 114 fresh primary breast cancer and their adjacent normal tissues showed that the expression levels of ST3Gal1 and TGFB1 were high in tumor part and the expression of two genes was positively correlated. Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed a significantly shorter relapse-free survival for those with lower expression VASN, notably, the combination of low VASN with high ST3GAL1 yielded even higher risk of recurrence (p = 0.025, HR = 2.967, 95% CI = 1.14-7.67). Since TGF-β1 is known to transcriptionally activate ST3Gal1, our findings illustrated a feedback regulatory loop in which TGF-β1 upregulates ST3Gal1 to circumvent the negative impact of VASN

Hesperetin, a Selective Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitor, Effectively Suppresses Ovalbumin-Induced Airway Hyperresponsiveness without Influencing Xylazine/Ketamine-Induced Anesthesia

Hesperetin, a selective phosphodiesterase (PDE)4 inhibitor, is present in the traditional Chinese medicine, “Chen Pi.” Therefore, we were interested in investigating its effects on ovalbumin- (OVA-) induced airway hyperresponsiveness, and clarifying its rationale for ameliorating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Hesperetin was revealed to have a therapeutic (PDE4H/PDE4L) ratio of >11. Hesperetin (10 ~ 30 μmol/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)) dose-dependently and significantly attenuated the airway hyperresponsiveness induced by methacholine. It also significantly suppressed the increases in total inflammatory cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils, and levels of cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). It dose-dependently and significantly suppressed total and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E levels in the BALF and serum. However, hesperetin did not influence xylazine/ketamine-induced anesthesia, suggesting that hesperetin has few or no emetic effects. In conclusion, the rationales for ameliorating allergic asthma and COPD by hesperetin are anti-inflammation, immunoregulation, and bronchodilation