The ant colony algorithm has been successfully used to solve discrete problems. However, its discrete nature restricts applications to the continuous domains. In this paper, we introduce two methods of ACO for solving continuous domains. The first method references the thought of ACO in discrete space and need to divide continuous space into several regions and the pheromone is assigned on each region discrete, the ants depend on the pheromone to construct the path and find the solution finally. Compared with the first method, the second one which the distribution of pheromone in definition domain is simulated with normal distribution has essential difference to the first one. In order to improve the solving ability of those two algorithms, the pattern search method will be used. Experimental results on a set of test functions show that those two algorithms can obtain the solution in continuous domains well.
The serine-threonine kinase Akt plays an important role in survival pathways by inactivating downstream apoptogenic factors in many cell systems. In the following study, we investigated whether or not the activation of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway could reduce neuronal apoptosis following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, SAH group, SAH+ saline group, SAH+ vehicle group, SAH+ Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) group, and SAH+Ly294002 (PI3K pathway inhibitor) group. All SAH animals were subjected to injection of autologous blood into the cisterna magna twice (on day 0 and on day 1). The administration was executed via cerebral ventricle 30 minutes before the induced SAH on day 0 and was continued every 24 hours for 72 hours. Whole brains were obtained on day 2. Phospho-Akt (pAkt) expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The neuronal apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated uridine 5'-triphosphate-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL). We found that the PI3K-Akt pathway was activated in the brain after experimental SAH. Moreover, administration of IGF-1 significantly elevated pAkt expression and decreased the percentage of apoptotic neurons following SAH, while administration of Ly294002 suppressed pAkt expression and induced increased neuronal apoptosis following SAH. Taken as a whole, our results suggested that the activation of PI3K-Akt pathway could mediate the protective effect against neuronal apoptosis after SAH.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent debilitating psychiatric disease and a serious public health problem worldwide. Brain structural MRI and postmortem studies on patients with depression have revealed changes in the anatomy and functionality in various brain regions, including the amygdala, thalamus, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex (PFC). The alterations in these brain regions could be a result, in part, of the dysregulation of the neurotrophic factors. Neuregulin1 (NRG1) is one of the neurotrophic factors, and our previous study showed that the NRG1-ErbB4 signaling pathway plays a critical role in epilepsy. In this study, we established a chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) model to investigate the role of the NRG1-ErbB4 signaling pathway in depression-like behaviors. In CSDS mice, we found that the NRG1 protein expression levels were significantly decreased both in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus, while phosphorylated ErbB4 only decreased in the mPFC. In addition, lateral ventricle NRG1 administration significantly rescued depression-like behaviors in the susceptible group. The current study suggests that the NRG1-ErbB4 signaling pathway may exert a protective role in MDD.
Objective: To analyze the therapeutic efficacy of Yinzhihuang granules in treating neonatal jaundice. Methods: A total of 62 neonates with jaundice, admitted from September 2021 to September 2023, were randomly divided into two groups. The observation group received Yinzhihuang granules, while the control group received conventional blue light therapy. The overall efficacy rate and other indicators were compared. Results: The observation group showed a higher overall efficacy rate and superior clinical indicators compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Before treatment, there was no significant difference between the two groups in bilirubin, liver function, or immune function indicators (P > 0.05). After one week of treatment, the observation group had lower bilirubin and liver function indicators and higher immune function indicators than the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Yinzhihuang granules can improve the efficacy of neonatal jaundice treatment, accelerate recovery, reduce bilirubin levels, protect liver function, and enhance immune function in neonates.
Abstract Background: Although Asian Americans only make up about 6% of the total U.S. population, they comprise almost 60% of individuals living with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Asian Americans are disproportionately affected by CHB; and are more likely to develop Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mental health may impact patient adherence to long-term management and treatment of chronic conditions such as CHB. Increased likelihood to report depressive symptoms and lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been established among patients with CHB compared to the general population. Physical inactivity and smoking have also been associated with lower HRQOL among U.S. adults with depression. This study aims to examine the association between modifiable lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, smoking, alcohol use) and depression among Asian Americans with CHB by medication status. Methods: Chinese- and Vietnamese-Americans with CHB were recruited through outpatient clinics and community-based organizations to participate in an in-person assessment at baseline, as part of an ongoing intervention trial aimed at improving long-term adherence to monitoring/treatment. Participants were asked to report on their socio-demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, depression symptoms, and modifiable lifestyle behaviors, among others. Bivariate analyses (two sample t- test, chi square test of independence) and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to examine association between exposures to modifiable lifestyle behaviors and outcomes of depression. Results: The study analysis sample consists of 289 participants (219 Chinese- and 70 Vietnamese-Americans). Bivariate analyses showed that there is no statistically significant difference in mean depression scores among those on CHB medication vs. those not (4.73 vs. 4.78, p 0.94), with 38.71% and 39.39% reporting mild to severe depression, respectively. In terms of lifestyle behaviors, when controlling for socio-demographic factors, multivariable logistic regression showed that while none of the three lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, smoking, alcohol use) were significantly associated with depression (p > 0.05) among participants not on medication, being physically inactive was significantly associated with a higher risk of depression (OR = 5.10, 95% CI = 1.72-15.10, p < 0.01) among participants currently on CHB medications, with other covariates held constant. Conclusion: Our study found a significant association between physical inactivity and depression among Asian Americans currently on CHB medication. Our findings suggest a need to incorporate physical activity, as part of a mental health intervention for patients with CHB, particularly for those on medication. Larger studies are needed to determine the association between depression and smoking and/or alcohol use among Asian Americans with CHB. Citation Format: Winterlyn Gamoso, Lin Zhu, Timmy R. Lin, Yin Tan, Grace X. Ma. The association between modifiable lifestyle behaviors and depression among Asian Americans with chronic hepatitis B by medication status [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-137.
Brain metastasis is a devastating clinical condition globally as one of the most common central nervous system malignancies. The current study aimed to assess the effect of defibrotide, an Food and Drug Administration-approved drug, against brain metastasis and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Two tumor cell lines with high brain metastasis potential, PC-9 and 231-BR, were subjected to defibrotide treatment of increasing dosage. The metastasis capacity of the tumor cells was evaluated by cell invasion and migration assays. Western blotting was employed to determine the levels of tight junction proteins in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) including Occludin, Zo-1, and Claudin-5, as well as metastasis-related proteins including CXCR4, MMP-2, and MMP-9. The in-vitro observations were further verified in nude mice, by monitoring the growth of xenograft tumors, mouse survival and brain metastasis foci following defibrotide treatment. Defibrotide inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, and promotes lactate dehydrogenase release of brain metastatic tumor cells, elevated the levels of BBB tight junction proteins and metastasis-related proteins. Such beneficial role of defibrotide was mediated by its inhibitory action on the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling axis both in vitro and in vivo , as CXCR4 agonist SDF1α negated the anti-tumoral effect of defibrotide on mouse xenograft tumor growth, mouse survival and brain metastasis. Defibrotide inhibits brain metastasis through activating the adenosine A2A receptors, which in turn inhibits the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling axis. Our study hereby proposes defibrotide as a new and promising candidate drug against brain metastasis of multiple organ origins.
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