Characterisation of the Sensory Phenotype of the Oesophageal Mucosa in Adults with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

As the first line of defence against noxious luminal contents, the oesophageal mucosa plays an important role in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD). We hypothesised that the heterogeneity of symptom perception between heartburn patients may be dependent on the interactions between neuronal and inflammatory cells in the oesophageal mucosa. Studies were conducted with endoscopic oesophageal biopsies from GORD patients (N=83) to characterise the phenotype of afferent mucosal nerve endings by assessing expression of ion channels TRPV1, ASIC3, and TRPM8 involved in pain transduction. Neuro-immune interactions in the oesophageal mucosa of heartburn patients and healthy individuals (N=14) was studied by assessing the expression of inflammatory cytokine receptors CXCR2, TNFR1, IL1R, IL6R, and RAMP1. Infiltration of immune cell populations was characterised among GORD groups. Mast cell co-expression of NGF was also studied. Cytokine release profiles were measured in supernatant from mucosal biopsies from ERD patients and healthy controls exposed to acid using a multiplex assay. RNA extracted from mucosal GORD biopsies and healthy controls were bulk-sequenced to assess the differences in the molecular gene signature between patients with heartburn and asymptomatic subjects, and among GORD phenotypes. TRPV1 was expressed only on mucosal superficial sensory afferent nerve endings of NERD patients, while ASIC3 was most frequently expressed on oesophageal epithelial cells in NERD and ERD patients. CXCR2 was localised on epithelial cells surrounding the papillae in all GORD phenotypes and healthy controls, but was also detected on deep sensory afferent nerves innervating papillae in FH patients. NGF expression was significantly higher in mast cells in patients with GORD compared to healthy controls, and these mast cells were detected in close proximity to sensory deep afferent nerves in patients with ERD. IL8 secretion was increased with acid exposure in both healthy control oesophageal mucosa and ERD, while NGF was released at higher levels with acid exposure from ERD oesophageal mucosa. RNA sequencing detected important differences in expression of genes with structural and regenerative roles between NERD, ERD and BO oesophageal mucosa and asymptomatic subjects. We demonstrated distinct sensory phenotypes in the oesophageal mucosa of patients with ERD, NERD, BO, FH, and healthy controls. These phenotypes include differences in mucosal afferent innervation, immune cell profiles, cytokine release when challenged with acid, and gene expression signatures. Collectively, these findings may contribute to heartburn pathogenesis in the oesophageal epithelium of GORD patients. Improved understanding of mucosal targets identified in this study, including TRPV1, ASIC3, and NGF, in functional studies will enable development of targeted topical treatments to alleviate heartburn symptoms

Adrenocortical oncocytic neoplasm presenting with Cushing's syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Oncocytic neoplasms occur in several organs and are most commonly found in the thyroid, kidneys and salivary glands. Oncocytic neoplasms of the adrenal cortex are extremely rare and are usually non-functioning.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of an adrenocortical oncocytic neoplasm with uncertain malignant potential in a 31-year-old man with Cushing's syndrome. The patient had been operated on following diagnosis of a 7 cm adrenal mass. Following surgery, the Cushing's syndrome resolved. The patient is still alive with no metastases one year after the surgery.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Adrenocortical oncocytic neoplasms must be considered in the differential diagnosis of both functioning and non-functioning adrenal masses.</p

Parametric study of absorption refrigeration with vapor compression refrigeration cycle using wet, isentropic and azeotropic working fluids: Conventional and advanced exergy approach

Advanced exergy analysis was carried out for absorption-compression refrigeration-cycles with a working fluid selection and parametric analysis. The exergy-destruction was split into endogenous-exogenous and avoidable-unavoidable-parts to reveal the interdependency within the components and determine the improvement potential. The results show that the largest exergy-destruction occurs in the generator, accounting for 53.8% of the total destruction. The largest irreversibility occurs for R507a/NH3–H2O while the lowest destruction occurs for R152a/NH3–H2O with an approximate reduction of 0.62 kW. The largest irreversibility occurs in the azeotropic-fluids while the lowest occurs in wet fluids. More than one-half of overall exergy-destruction rates of the systems falls into the part of the avoidable-destruction with 52.5% of overall irreversibility. The major part of the avoidable-destruction occurs in the generator with 11.47 kW and it accounts for 57.8% of the total avoidable part, meaning that it has the highest improvement potential. The parametric analysis of the advanced exergy shows that the avoidable-part of the exergy-destruction can be minimized to a considerable extent employing a temperature of the condenser below 40 °C and generator temperature larger from 100 °C. © 2020 Elsevier Lt

On forward secrecy in one-round key exchange

Most one-round key exchange protocols provide only weak forward secrecy at best. Furthermore, one-round protocols with strong forward secrecy often break badly when faced with an adversary who can obtain ephemeral keys. We provide a characterisation of how strong forward secrecy can be achieved in one-round key exchange. Moreover, we show that protocols exist which provide strong forward secrecy and remain secure with weak forward secrecy even when the adversary is allowed to obtain ephemeral keys. We provide a compiler to achieve this for any existing secure protocol with weak forward secrecy

On the approximation methods for the solution of a coefficient inverse problem for a transport-like equation

We present the solvability of a two space dimensional coefficient inverse problem for a transport-like equation and investigate the approximate solution of this problem with the use of centered difference formulas and a symbolic approximation method. Since this inverse problem is overdetermined, which is the main difficulty in studying of its solvability, it is replaced by a related determined one by using some extension of the class of unknown functions. Copyright © 2009 Tech Science Press

Effects of Canola and Safflower Oil Supplementation in Diets, on Growth Performance and Fatty Acid Composition of Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt, 1833)

The aim of this study was to determine the impact on growth performance and muscle fatty acid composition, of replacement of 50% fish oil (FO) with canola oil (CO) and safflower oil (SFO) in the diets of Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii). Two isoproteic (48%) and isolipidic (12%) diets were formulated combining two oil sources (50% fish oil + 50% canola oil or 50% fish oil + 50% safflower oil). The diets were fed to apparent satiation to triplicate groups for 15 weeks, twice a day. No significant differences were observed between the experimental groups fed CO and SFO diets in terms of weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio. The experimental groups fed CO and SFO diets did not show significant differences in terms of protein, lipid, ash, and moisture content in their muscle. There were no significant differences in muscle between total n-3 fatty acids but total n-6 fatty acids were significantly higher in SFO group (24.90%) than in CO group (21.30%). Total n-6 fatty acids were also higher than (20.43%) at the start. In conclusion, 50% replacement of FO by CO or SFO in Russian sturgeon diets had no negative effect on growth performance, feed efficiency and fatty acid composition in the muscle of this species

Solvability of a two dimensional coefficient inverse problem for transport equation and a numerical method

In this article we present the solvability of an overdetermined coefficient inverse problem for planar transport equation with no scattering. To compute the approximate solution of the problem we propose a numerical method by using centered difference formulas where the data is given on a part of the boundary of the domain rather than the whole boundary. To demonstrate the computational feasibility of the proposed approximation method, some computational experiments are performed and the results are presented. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Solvability of a problem of integral geometry via an inverse problem for a transport-like equation and a numerical method

In this work we deal with solvability and approximation to the solution of a two-dimensional integral geometry problem for a family of curves of given curvature. Solvability of the problem is proved via solvability of a two-space-dimensional inverse problem for a transport-like equation by using the Galerkin method, and an algorithm is developed to compute the approximate solution of the problem. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd