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1.
BMC Bioinformatics ; 14 Suppl 18: S5, 2013.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24564268

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Gene regulatory networks (GRN) inference is an important bioinformatics problem in which the gene interactions need to be deduced from gene expression data, such as microarray data. Feature selection methods can be applied to this problem. A feature selection technique is composed by two parts: a search algorithm and a criterion function. Among the search algorithms already proposed, there is the exhaustive search where the best feature subset is returned, although its computational complexity is unfeasible in almost all situations. The objective of this work is the development of a low cost parallel solution based on GPU architectures for exhaustive search with a viable cost-benefit. We use CUDA™, a general purpose parallel programming platform that allows the usage of NVIDIAĀ® GPUs to solve complex problems in an efficient way. RESULTS: We developed a parallel algorithm for GRN inference based on multiple GPU cards and obtained encouraging speedups (order of hundreds), when assuming that each target gene has two multivariate predictors. Also, experiments using single and multiple GPUs were performed, indicating that the speedup grows almost linearly with the number of GPUs. CONCLUSION: In this work, we present a proof of principle, showing that it is possible to parallelize the exhaustive search algorithm in GPUs with encouraging results. Although our focus in this paper is on the GRN inference problem, the exhaustive search technique based on GPU developed here can be applied (with minor adaptations) to other combinatorial problems.


Subject(s)
Algorithms , Gene Regulatory Networks , Computational Biology/methods
2.
World J Emerg Surg ; 15(1): 18, 2020 03 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32156286

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Motorcyclists are often victims of road traffic incidents. Though elderly patients seem to have worse survival outcomes and sustain more severe injuries than younger patients, concordance in the literature for this does not exist. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of age and injury severity on the mortality of patients undergoing motorcycle trauma. METHODS: Data of 1725 patients consecutively admitted to our Trauma Center were selected from 2002 to 2016 and retrospectively analyzed. The sample was divided into three age groups: ≤ 17 years, 18-54 years, and ≥ 55 years. Mortality rates were analyzed for the overall population and patients with Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 25. Differences in survival among age groups were evaluated with log-rank test, and multivariate logistic regression models were created to identify independent predictors of mortality. RESULTS: A lower survival rate was detected in patients older than 55 years (83.6% vs 94.7%, p = 0.049) and in those sustaining critical injuries (ISS ≥ 25, 61% vs 83%, p = 0.021). Age (p = 0.027, OR 1.03), ISS (p < 0.001, OR 1.09), and Revised Trauma Score (RTS) (p < 0.001, OR 0.47) resulted as independent predictors of death. Multivariate analysis identified head (p < 0.001, OR 2.04), chest (p < 0.001, OR 1.54), abdominal (p < 0.001, OR 1.37), and pelvic (p = 0.014, OR 1.26) injuries as independent risk factors related to mortality as well. Compared to the theoretical probability of survival, patients of all age groups showed a survival advantage when managed at a level I trauma center. CONCLUSIONS: We detected anatomical injury distributions and mortality rates among three age groups. Patients aging more than 55 years had an increased risk of death, with a prevalence of severe chest injuries, while younger patients sustained more severe head trauma. Age represented an independent predictor of death. Management of these patients at a level I trauma center may lead to improved outcomes.


Subject(s)
Accidents, Traffic/mortality , Motorcycles , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Female , Hospital Mortality , Humans , Injury Severity Score , Italy , Male , Middle Aged , Registries , Retrospective Studies , Survival Analysis , Trauma Centers
3.
Oxid Med Cell Longev ; 2018: 2492063, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29643973

ABSTRACT

Oxidative and electrophilic changes in cells are mainly coordinated by the KEAP1/NRF2 (Kelch-like erythroid-derived cap-n-collar homology- (ECH-) associated protein-1/nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) axis. The physical interaction between these two proteins promotes the expression of several antioxidant defense genes in response to exogenous and endogenous insults. Recent studies demonstrated that KEAP1/NRF2 axis dysfunction is also strongly related to tumor progression and chemo- and radiotherapy resistance of cancer cells. In solid tumors, the KEAP1/NRF2 system is constitutively activated by the loss of KEAP1 or gain of NFE2L2 functions that leads to its nuclear accumulation and enhances the transcription of many cytoprotective genes. In addition to point mutations, epigenetic abnormalities, as aberrant promoter methylation, and microRNA (miRNA) and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) deregulation were reported as emerging mechanisms of KEAP1/NRF2 axis modulation. This review will summarize the current knowledge about the epigenetic mechanisms that deregulate the KEAP1/NRF2 cascade in solid tumors and their potential usefulness as prognostic and predictive molecular markers.


Subject(s)
DNA Methylation , Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1/metabolism , NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism , RNA, Untranslated/genetics , Animals , Epigenesis, Genetic , Humans , Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1/genetics , NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics , Signal Transduction
4.
J Vet Intern Med ; 20(1): 78-82, 2006.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16496926

ABSTRACT

Nineteen of 28 (67%) Greyhounds enrolled in the Blood Donor Program at The Veterinary Teaching Hospital, The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH), had a left basilar systolic murmur. Ten Greyhounds with murmurs and 9 without murmurs were evaluated to gain knowledge about the pathogenesis of this murmur. Echocardiograms were performed without sedation by means of a GE Vivid 7 Echocardiographic System with a continuous ECG; systolic arterial blood pressure (SABP) was measured with an Ultrasonic Doppler Flow detector model 811-B. The mean peak aortic velocity in the Greyhounds with murmurs (2.15 m/s; range, 1.8-2.2 m/s) was significantly higher than in the Greyhounds without murmurs (1.89 m/s; range, 1.6-2.0 m/s) (P < .001); there were no significant differences between groups for aortic valve or annulus diameter, fractional shortening, pulmonic velocity, SABP, hematocrit, serum protein concentration, or red blood cell counts. In this study, Greyhounds with soft, left basilar systolic murmurs had mildly (but significantly) higher mean peak aortic velocities than similar dogs without murmurs. In the dogs with murmurs (and higher velocities), we could not identify structural abnormalities, such as valvular lesions or other congenital defects. There was no inverse correlation between the systolic murmur and the higher hematocrit and red blood cell counts observed in this breed. This 1-2/6 basilar systolic murmur is common in Greyhounds, and it does not appear to be of any clinical consequence.


Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/physiopathology , Heart Murmurs/veterinary , Animals , Blood Flow Velocity/physiology , Dog Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Dogs , Echocardiography/veterinary , Female , Heart/physiopathology , Heart Murmurs/diagnostic imaging , Heart Murmurs/physiopathology , Heart Sounds , Male
5.
Endocrine ; 54(1): 55-59, 2016 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26876532

ABSTRACT

Several studies reported somatic mutations of many genes (MEN1, CTNNB1, CDKIs and others) in parathyroid adenoma, although with different prevalence. Recently, activating mutations of the EZH2 and ZFX oncogenes were identified in benign parathyroid adenoma by whole exome sequencing. The same mutations had been found in blood and ovary malignant tumours. On one hand, this result raised the hypothesis that these oncogenes may play a role in the onset of parathyroid tumour, but it would also suggest they may be involved in malignant, rather benign, parathyroid neoplasm. Our aim was to verify the occurrence of selected mutations of the EZH2 and ZFX genes in an Italian cohort of 23 sporadic parathyroid carcinomas, 12 atypical and 45 typical adenomas. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissues, PCR amplified and directly sequenced. No mutations were detected in the coding sequence and boundaries of both genes in any of the samples. Two polymorphisms of the EZH2 gene were identified with different prevalence: the rs2072407 variant was present in the 30Ā % of the samples, in keeping with the overall frequency in larger populations, while the rs78589034 variant, located close to the 5' end of the exon 16, was detected in only one proband with familial isolated hyperparathyroidism; we investigated the possible outcome on the splicing process. EZH2 and ZFX genes do not seem to have an impact on the onset of most parathyroid tumours, both benign and malignant, though further studies on larger cohorts of different ethnicity are needed.


Subject(s)
Adenoma/genetics , Carcinoma/genetics , Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein/genetics , Hyperparathyroidism/genetics , Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/genetics , Parathyroid Neoplasms/genetics , Adenoma/pathology , Alleles , Carcinoma/pathology , Female , Gene Frequency , Genetic Association Studies , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Humans , Hyperparathyroidism/pathology , Middle Aged , Mutation , Oncogenes/genetics , Parathyroid Glands/pathology , Parathyroid Neoplasms/pathology
7.
J Pharm Sci ; 67(4): 572-3, 1978 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-641777

ABSTRACT

A simple chromatographic procedure was developed for the separation and determination of theophylline and hydroxyethyltheophylline. An aliquot of diluted syrup was pipetted into a chromatographic column containing a strong anion-exchange resin, which retains theophylline and allows the hydroxyethyl derivative to pass through it. Theophylline was subsequently eluted with 1 N HCl and determined by difference spectrophotometry at 284 nm; its derivative was determined at 272 nm.


Subject(s)
Theophylline/analogs & derivatives , Theophylline/analysis , Solutions/analysis , Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet , Theophylline/isolation & purification
8.
J Pharm Sci ; 69(7): 854-5, 1980 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7391955

ABSTRACT

A GLC method is described for the quantitative determination of salicylamide, phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride, caffeine, chlorpheniramine maleate, phenylephrine hydrochloride, and pyrilamine maleate. The sample was dissolved in ethanol, and an aliquot of the solution was brought to dryness and treated with 0.1 ml of 4-(dimethyl-amino)pyridine in pyridine-acetic anhydride (1:1). The components were isolated and measured by applying 1 microliter of the reaction mixture to a chromatograph equipped with a flame-ionization detector and fitted with 8% OV-101 glass columns. The accuracy was good. Dicyclohexylphthalate was used as the internal standard.


Subject(s)
Aminopyridines/analysis , Caffeine/analysis , Chlorpheniramine/analysis , Phenylephrine/analysis , Phenylpropanolamine/analysis , Pyrilamine/analysis , Salicylamides/analysis , Capsules/analysis , Chromatography, Gas/methods
9.
J Pharm Sci ; 70(10): 1151-2, 1981 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-7299650

ABSTRACT

A GLC method is presented for the quantitative determination of menthol, phenol, benzocaine, and pyrilamine maleate. The propellent was exhausted from a pressurized can, and an aliquot of the alcoholic base was weighed. After the addition of the internal standard diluted with chloroform, 1 microliter of the mixture was injected in the chromatograph with a flame-ionization detector and a glass column packed with 2.5% OV-225. Average recoveries were 100.3 +/- 1.4, 100.0 +/- 1.4, 101.3 +/- 1.5, and 101.5 +/- 1.5% for menthol, phenol, benzocaine, and pyrilamine maleate, respectively.


Subject(s)
Aminopyridines/analysis , Benzocaine/analysis , Menthol/analysis , Phenols/analysis , Pyrilamine/analysis , Aerosols/analysis , Chromatography, Gas/methods , Phenol
10.
J Pharm Sci ; 68(4): 521-2, 1979 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35600

ABSTRACT

A GLC method for determining theophylline, hydroxyethyltheophylline, and diphenylpyraline hydrochloride is presented. The method permits the separation and quantitative determination of the therapeutically active ingredients with a single injection in an overall time of approximately 2.5 hr.


Subject(s)
Histamine H1 Antagonists/analysis , Piperidines/analysis , Theophylline/analogs & derivatives , Theophylline/analysis , Benzhydryl Compounds/analysis , Chromatography, Gas , Drug Combinations , Methods , Solutions
11.
J Pharm Sci ; 66(6): 811, 1977 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17719

ABSTRACT

A simple and rapid procedure for the determination of aminophylline, amobarbital, and ephedrine hydrochloride in a capsule preparation is described. Aminophylline and amobarbital are determined simultaneously using differential UV spectrophotometry; ephedrine hydrochloride is determined separately after elution from an alginic acid column with 0.1 N hydrochloric acid.


Subject(s)
Aminophylline/analysis , Amobarbital/analysis , Ephedrine/analysis , Capsules/analysis , Drug Combinations , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Methods , Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
12.
Minerva Urol Nefrol ; 48(2): 117-20, 1996 Jun.
Article in Italian | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8815556

ABSTRACT

The authors assessed the validity of a treatment with mepartricin in BPH at the dose of 150,000 U in a once-a-day evening administration for 6 months. The results from the controlled study were compared with those obtained in a homogeneous group of patients treated with placebo. The analysis of the data obtained would suggest a preferential opinion in favour of the group treated with mepartricin which was effective in improving the symptomatology. Some hypothesis are put forward to interpret the results.


Subject(s)
Mepartricin/therapeutic use , Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy , Aged , Humans , Male , Middle Aged
13.
Minerva Urol Nefrol ; 48(4): 207-11, 1996 Dec.
Article in Italian | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9005590

ABSTRACT

The therapeutic efficacy and tolerance of a new 150,000 U (40 mg) formulation of mepartricin (to be administered once-a-day in the evening) were evaluated during a double-blind study against placebo in 2 groups of uncomplicated BPH patients treated for 60 days. The data obtained disclosed a positive pharmaco-therapeutic effect of this new formulation coupled with excellent local and systemic tolerance. At the end of trial the various objective and subjective parameters considered showed marked improvement in the group treated with mepartricin, with statistically significant differences from the placebo-treated group. The treatment efficacy was judged positive in 74-78% of cases by patients and physicians in the mepartricin group and in 36.4% of cases in the placebo group.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Mepartricin/therapeutic use , Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy , Administration, Oral , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Analysis of Variance , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Double-Blind Method , Drug Administration Schedule , Humans , Male , Mepartricin/administration & dosage , Middle Aged , Prostatic Hyperplasia/physiopathology , Treatment Outcome
14.
Minerva Urol Nefrol ; 47(4): 171-5, 1995 Dec.
Article in Italian | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8711587

ABSTRACT

For many years diagnosis and management of prostatic adenocarcinoma were straightforward. However, with the advent of medical and less invasive therapies for the treatment of prostatic cancer, it has become necessary to know more about the etiology and pathophysiology of the disease. For example, hormonal factors, growth factors, stromal-epithelial interactions and aging have all been implicated in the etiology of the disease. The pathology of the disease demonstrates heterogeneity in the ratio of the stroma to the epithelium in any given patient, and the pathophysiology varies. Recognizing this heterogeneity in the disease, it is clear that no one form of medical or interventional therapy should be expected to result in a complete response.


Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma , Prostatic Neoplasms , Adenocarcinoma/physiopathology , Disease Progression , Humans , Male , Prognosis , Prostatic Neoplasms/physiopathology , Risk Factors
15.
Minerva Urol Nefrol ; 49(2): 91-4, 1997 Jun.
Article in Italian | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9281083

ABSTRACT

Lymphadenectomy in germinal tumors of the testis, in spite of the immediate morbility (postoperative complications) and of the permanent morbility (unejaculation), is still, as regards the group of non-seminoma neoplasms, the most suitable for survival. However, groups of oncologists are seeking the possibility of avoiding this technique at stage I and II of the lesions, with the help, of course, of careful observation by CT, NMR, markers. The use of combined therapies (chemotherapy and radius therapy) has increased survival and the patients' life, allowing a highly satisfying percentage of recovery also in the non-initial stages.


Subject(s)
Neoplasm Metastasis/pathology , Seminoma/pathology , Testicular Neoplasms/pathology , Humans , Male , Neoplasm Staging , Seminoma/surgery , Seminoma/therapy , Testicular Neoplasms/surgery , Testicular Neoplasms/therapy
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