OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of adipose tissue extract on inducing angiogenesis and adipogenesis in adipose tissue engineering chamber in vivo.

METHODS6 months' healthy New Zealand rabbits (n = 64) were picked. The inguinal fat pads were cultured, centrifuged, filtered, and the liquid was called adipose tissue extract (ATE). Two adipose tissue engineering chamber were built in the rabbit's back. A week later, 0.2 ml normal saline (control group, left) and 0. 2 ml ATE (experimental group, right) was respectively injected into the chamber. The contents were evaluated morphometrically, histologically and immunohistochemically 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks and 7 weeks after injection. 8 rabbits were observed each time. The data regarding the number of the volume of fat flap and blood capillary at each time point were analyzed by paired t test.

RESULTSAfter injection, new tissue volume was significantly increased in the experimental group [(5.12 ± 0.22) ml], compared with that in control group [(4.90 ± 0.15) ml]. Early angiogenesis was also increased after ATE injection and the total number of capillaries reached peak 1 week after injection, which was (72.80 ± 9.67) in experimental group and (51.40 ± 6.09) in control group. In the mid-term of experimental period, earlier adipogenesis appeared in experimental group. In the later period, the outer capsule of the new construction was thinner in experimental group which reduced the suppression of the adipogenesis.

CONCLUSIONSATE can promote the angiogenesis and adipogenesis in the chamber, and reduce the capsule contracturing, so as to induce the large volume of adipose tissue regeneration

Adipogenesis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Adipose Tissue ; chemistry ; physiology ; Animals ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Tissue Engineering ; instrumentation ; Tissue Extracts ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDThe change of anaerobic exercise abilities during and after a high-altitude expedition or hypoxic exposure is not well studied. To evaluate the effects of an extreme-altitude expedition on anaerobic performance, the 10-second supramaximal test and endocrine hormones were evaluated before and after an expedition to Peak Lenin.

METHODSFour subjects (3 male and 1 female, age (30.5 +/- 16.5) years) were recruited into the study. Three sets of tests were performed, including a basic test at sea level and 20 days before first arrival at the base camp (3600 m), a middle test done at day after returning from the summit to the base camp and the post test at the 10th day after return to the sea level. Both the supramaximal test, performed by a cycle ergometer, and body composition, performed by bioelectrical impedance analysis, were completed before the basic test and post test. The endocrine hormones including cortisol, growth hormone, testosterone, noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine, glucagon and beta-endorphin were measured at all tests.

RESULTSComparing the conditions before and after the expedition, the body measurement parameters were decreased after the expedition, i.e., body weight (-4.22%, P < 0.05), fat-free mass (-2.09%, P < 0.01) and body fat (-8.95%, P = 0.172). The peak power relative/body weight ratio (PP/BW) was similar ((9.70 +/- 1.97) vs (9.11 +/- 1.80) W/kg, P = 0.093), while mean power/body weight ratio (MP/BW) was reduced significantly after the expedition ((9.14 +/- 1.77) vs (8.33 +/- 1.74) W/kg, P < 0.05). Peak power/fat-free mass (PP/FFM), mean power/fat-free mass (MP/FFM) and fatigue index (FI) were significantly lower after the expedition (PP/FFM: (11.95 +/- 1.71) vs (10.99 +/- 1.59) W/kg, P < 0.05; MP/FFM: (11.26 +/- 1.50) vs (10.04 +/- 1.55) W/kg, P < 0.005; FI (85.55 +/- 4.17)% vs (77.25 +/- 4.40)%, P < 0.05). Hormone assays showed a significant increase of noradrenaline (basic vs middle, P < 0.05) as well as decrease of adrenaline (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, a trend towards an increase in dopamine (basic vs middle) and a decrease of beta-endorphin (basic vs post) were also noted.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggested that an expedition to an extreme altitude may have negative effects on anaerobic performance. It showed that a significant increase of noradrenaline (basic vs middle) as well as decrease of adrenaline after the expedition to Peak Lenin had occurred. The real physiological significance needs to be further investigated.

Adaptation, Physiological ; physiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Altitude ; Anaerobic Threshold ; physiology ; Dopamine ; blood ; Epinephrine ; blood ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Glucagon ; blood ; Growth Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Norepinephrine ; blood ; Testosterone ; blood ; Young Adult ; beta-Endorphin ; blood

Background/Aims:  Rituximab is known to be associated with high hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation rate in patients with resolved HBV infection and hematologic malignancy. However, data regarding HBV reactivation (HBVr) in rheumatic patients receiving rituximab is limited. To assess the HBVr rate in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative patients receiving rituximab for autoimmune diseases in a large real-world cohort. Methods:  From March 2006 to December 2019, 900 patients with negative HBsAg receiving at least one cycle of rituximab for autoimmune diseases in a tertiary medical center in Taiwan were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical outcome and factors associated with HBVr were analyzed. Results: After a median follow-up period of 3.3 years, 21 patients developed HBVr, among whom 17 patients were positive for hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and four were negative. Thirteen patients had clinical hepatitis flare, while eight patients had HBsAg seroreversion without hepatitis. Old age, anti-HBc positivity, undetectable serum hepatitis B surface antibody level at rituximab initiation and a higher average rituximab dose were associated with a higher HBVr rate. There was no significant difference in the HBVr risk between rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Among anti-HBc-negative patients, subjects without HBV vaccination at birth had an increased risk of HBVr (4/368, 1.1%) compared with those who received vaccination (0/126, 0%). Conclusions In HBV endemic areas where occult HBV is prevalent, anti-HBc-negative patients, may still be at risk for HBVr after rituximab exposure. HBVr may still be considered in HBsAgnegative patients developing abnormal liver function after rituximab exposure, even in patients with negative anti-HBc.

Objective: Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) have impaired attention, inhibition control, and memory function. The aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2 ) gene has been associated with OUD and ALDH2 gene polymorphisms may affect aldehyde metabolism and cognitive function in other substance use disorder. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether ALDH2 genotypes have significant effects on neuropsychological functions in OUD patients undergoing methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). Methods: OUD patients undergoing MMT were investigated and followed-up for 12 weeks. ALDH2 gene polymorphisms were genotyped. Connors’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) were administered at baseline and after 12 weeks of MMT. Multivariate linear regressions and generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to examine the correlation between the ALDH2 genotypes and performance on the CPTs and WMS-R. Results: We enrolled 86 patients at baseline; 61 patients completed the end-of-study assessments. The GEE analysis showed that, after the 12 weeks of MMT, OUD patients with the ALDH2 *1/*2＋*2/*2 (ALDH2 inactive) genotypes had significantly higher commission error T-scores (p = 0.03), significantly lower hit reaction time T-scores (p = 0.04), and significantly lower WMS-R visual memory index scores (p = 0.03) than did patients with the ALDH2 1 */*1 (ALDH2 active) genotype. Conclusion OUD patients with the ALDH2 inactive genotypes performed worse in cognitive domains of attention, impulse control, and memory than did those with the ALDH2 active genotype. We conclude that the ALDH2 gene is important in OUD and is associated with neuropsychological performance after MMT.

Background/Aims: Despite the high efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), approximately 1–3% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients fail to achieve a sustained virological response. We conducted a nationwide study to investigate risk factors associated with DAA treatment failure. Machine-learning algorithms have been applied to discriminate subjects who may fail to respond to DAA therapy. Methods: We analyzed the Taiwan HCV Registry Program database to explore predictors of DAA failure in HCV patients. Fifty-five host and virological features were assessed using multivariate logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and artificial neural network. The primary outcome was undetectable HCV RNA at 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Results: The training (n=23,955) and validation (n=10,346) datasets had similar baseline demographics, with an overall DAA failure rate of 1.6% (n=538). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, poor DAA adherence, and higher hemoglobin A1c were significantly associated with virological failure. XGBoost outperformed the other algorithms and logistic regression models, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 1.000 in the training dataset and 0.803 in the validation dataset. The top five predictors of treatment failure were HCV RNA, body mass index, α-fetoprotein, platelets, and FIB-4 index. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the XGBoost model (cutoff value=0.5) were 99.5%, 69.7%, 99.9%, 97.4%, and 99.5%, respectively, for the entire dataset. Conclusions Machine learning algorithms effectively provide risk stratification for DAA failure and additional information on the factors associated with DAA failure.