Generic transport coefficients of a confined electrolyte solution

Physical parameters characterising electrokinetic transport in a confined electrolyte solution are reconstructed from the generic transport coefficients obtained within the classical non-equilibrium statistical thermodynamic framework. The electro-osmotic flow, the diffusio-osmotic flow, the osmotic current, as well as the pressure-driven Poiseuille-type flow, the electric conduction, and the ion diffusion, are described by this set of transport coefficients. The reconstruction is demonstrated for an aqueous NaCl solution between two parallel charged surfaces with a nanoscale gap, by using the molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. A Green-Kubo approach is employed to evaluate the transport coefficients in the linear-response regime, and the fluxes induced by the pressure, electric, and chemical potential fields are compared with the results of non-equilibrium MD simulations. Using this numerical scheme, the influence of the salt concentration on the transport coefficients is investigated. Anomalous reversal of diffusio-osmotic current, as well as that of electro-osmotic flow, is observed at high surface charge densities and high added-salt concentrations.Comment: 6 pages with 6 figure

Prognostic value of OCT4A and SPP1C transcript variant co-expression in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma

Background Octamer-binding transcription factor 4A (OCT4A) is essential for cell pluripotency and reprogramming both in humans and mice. To date, however, the function of human OCT4 in somatic and/or tumour tissues is largely unknown. Methods RT-PCR was used to identify full-length splice forms of OCT4 transcripts in normal and cancer cells. A FLAG-tagged OCT4 genomic transgene was used to identify OCT4-positive cancer cells. A potential role for OCT4 in somatic cancer cells was examined by cell ablation of OCT4-positive cells using promoter-driven diphtheria toxin A. OCT4 and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) transcripts in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma tumours were analysed and compared with pathohistological features. Results The results show that, unlike in murine cells, OCT4A and OCT4B variants are transcribed in both human cancer cells and in adult tissues such as lung, kidney, uterus, breast, and eye. We found that OCT4A and SPP1C are co-expressed in highly aggressive human breast, endometrial, and lung adenocarcinoma cell lines, but not in mesothelial tumour cell lines. Ablation of OCT4-positive cells in lung adenocarcinoma cells significantly decreased cell migration and SPP1C mRNA levels. The OCT4A/SPP1C axis was found in primary, early-stage, lung adenocarcinoma tumours. Conclusions Co-expression of OCT4 and SPP1 may correlate with cancer aggressiveness, and the OCT4A/SPP1C axis may help identify early-stage high-risk patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Contrary to the case in mice, our data strongly suggest a critical role for OCT4A and SPP1C in the development and progression of human epithelial cancers

Pneumocephalus Associated with Cerebrospinal Fluid Fistula as a Complication of Spinal Surgery: A Case Report

Pneumocephalus is a well-known condition following head trauma, but is rare as an injury or as a result of surgery of the spine. We present a 76-year-old patient with a rare case of pneumocephalus associated with a cerebrospinal fluid fistula as a complication of surgical treatment for cervical myelopathy. Although cerebrospinal fluid leakage was noted and the injured dura was carefully sutured at operation, tension pneumocephalus occurred. The resultant pneumocephalus was diagnosed based on neurogenic symptoms including sudden convulsion, head radiograph, and computed tomography scan. The benign course of the pneumocephalus postdiagnosis did not require secondary operation

Tutorial on model selection and validation of model input into precision dosing software for model-informed precision dosing

There has been rising interest in using model-informed precision dosing to provide personalized medicine to patients at the bedside. This methodology utilizes population pharmacokinetic models, measured drug concentrations from individual patients, pharmacodynamic biomarkers, and Bayesian estimation to estimate pharmacokinetic parameters and predict concentration-time profiles in individual patients. Using these individualized parameter estimates and simulated drug exposure, dosing recommendations can be generated to maximize target attainment to improve beneficial effect and minimize toxicity. However, the accuracy of the output from this evaluation is highly dependent on the population pharmacokinetic model selected. This tutorial provides a comprehensive approach to evaluating, selecting, and validating a model for input and implementation into a model-informed precision dosing program. A step-by-step outline to validate successful implementation into a precision dosing tool is described using the clinical software platforms Edsim++ and MwPharm++ as examples.</p

D-dimer trends predict recurrent stroke in patients with cancer-related hypercoagulability

Abstract Introduction: In patients with cancer-associated hypercoagulability (CAH)-related stroke, D-dimer trends after anticoagulant therapy may offer a biomarker of treatment efficacy. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between D-dimer trends and recurrent stroke after anticoagulant therapy in patients with CAH-related stroke. Methods: We performed retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with CAH-related stroke at two stroke centers from 2011 through 2020. The ratio of post-treatment to pre-treatment D-dimer levels (post/pre ratio) was used as an indicator of D-dimer trends after anticoagulant therapy. Fine–Gray models were used to evaluate the association between post/pre ratio and recurrent stroke. Results: Among 360 acute ischemic stroke patients with active cancer, 73 patients with CAH-related stroke were included in this study. Recurrent stroke occurred in 13 patients (18%) during a median follow-up time of 28 days (interquartile range, 11–65 days). Multivariate analysis revealed that high post/pre ratio was independently associated with recurrent stroke (per 0.1 increase: hazard ratio 2.20, 95% confidence interval 1.61–3.01, p=0.012). Discussion and Conclusion: D-dimer levels after anticoagulant therapy were associated with recurrent stroke in CAH-related stroke patients. Patients with neutral trends in high D-dimer levels after anticoagulant therapy were at high risk of recurrent stroke

Efficacy of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment for surgically managed fresh diaphyseal fractures of the lower extremity: multi-center retrospective cohort study

There are no evidence on the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on surgically managed fresh fractures. We therefore performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study to investigate the effects of LIPUS on surgically managed fresh fractures. This study included patients surgically treated for diaphyseal fractures of the femur or tibia between August 2009 and July 2010 at 14 institutions. Outcome was the union period. We performed an overall comparison of the LIPUS group (78 cases) with the control group (63 cases), as well as subgroup analyses comparing outcomes for fracture sites, fracture types, soft tissue conditions, and fixation methods between the groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of distribution of cases by fracture site, fracture type, soft tissue condition, fixation method. Analyses comparing subgroups, however, showed significant differences between the two groups, particularly in relation to type C fractures, regardless of whether all cases or only closed-fracture cases were analyzed: there was an approximately 30 % reduction in the union period for type C fractures in the LIPUS group. There were also cases requiring reoperation due to lack of stability, even among the type C fractures. LIPUS is effective for surgically managed, fresh, type C comminuted diaphyseal fractures of the lower limbs when there is appropriate stability at the fracture site