Bioengineering method to identify and cure psychiatric disorders

Many neurological and psychiatric disorders are currently difficult or even impossible to treat; nearly 100 million people are suffering worldwide. Recently research proposed the bioengineered cranial bones with multiple intelligent functions that include neurotoxin drainage with EEG feedback, site specific trans meningeal drug delivery and it can also provide effective treatment for brain disorders by drug combinations that act on both synapses and genes. Finally after demonstrating the safety and anticonvulsant efficacy of this complex procedure on nonhuman primates, they confirmed that bioengineered cranial bones with multiple intelligent functions have realistic medical/therapeutic potential.

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Enhancing Visual Evoked Potentials Detection with Use of Computational Intelligence Tools

The analysis of evoked potentials (EPs) in the electroencephalogram (EEG) is usually inspected visually and demands subjective interpretation of the results. This paper aims at combiningan statistical criterion based on the magnitude square multiple coherence(MSMC) estimate with computational intelligence methods in order to estimate the EPs detection rate (DR) using only portions of the frequency spectrum. 

Thus, networks were used to predict the DR in EEG signals of 15 normal subjects during stroboscopic stimulation. The algorithms were designed to receive thespectral information of two, four or six EEG derivations as the input and DR asthe output. Our best result shows that the artificial neural networks can estimate DR with correlation coefficient of 0.97 compared with MSMC, even when a reduced amount of spectral information from the data is available.

Therapeutic role for Emodin against Alzheimer’s and Cancer

Rhubarb is a herb, used widely in conventional treatments; also this plant is the first source of Emodin. This Emodin is a potential anti-inflammatory and anti-canceragent; it successfully induces- down regulation of cancer inducing genes and apoptosis. Modification of Emodin and its derivatives successfully increase various cellular pathways like NF κβ, ROS, MAPK signalling pathway. These derivatives are also used in Alzheimer’s disease by inhibiting proteases and microtubule – associated proteins. The properties of Emodin proved to be a promising solution for many health complications in human.

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Editorial for International Journal of biomedical Data Mining

This issue of the International Journal of Biomedical Data Mining presents two contributed articles. The first article, entitled Data Inventory for CancerPatients Receiving Radiotherapy for Outcome Analysis and Modeling, authored by Jason Vickress, Rob Barnett and Slav Yartsev, describes a database created for storing and analyzing patient specific data related to pre-treatment condition, treatment planning, and treatment outcomes, for patients receiving radiotherapy based cancer treatment. 

The proposed database can perform automated analysis regarding quality assurance, dose accumulation for multiple treatments on different machines and can assist physicians in choosing the optimal radiation therapy for new patients. The second article, entitled Likelihood Ratio Test ofHardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Using Uncertain Genotypes for Sibship Data, authoredby Qiong Li, Helene Massam and Xin Gao, is concerned with the problem of testing for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium of genotype frequencies in the area of population genetics. 

Sequence Features and Subset Selection Technique for the Prediction of Protein Trafficking Phenomenon in Eukaryotic Non Membrane Proteins

Eukaryotic cells are organized into several membrane bound compartments. In order toperform the function; newly formed proteins get sorted and are delivered to various compartments in the non-membrane and trans-membrane pathways. 

This protein sorting process in the pathway is very complex and still not clearly understood. But the most important principle of protein trafficking is that each protein has the information on its final localization site as a part of its amino acid sequence. In 1983, Nishikawa, Kubota and 0oi had conductedinvestigations into predicting subcellular locations based on amino acidcompositions. They had reported that the amino acid compositions have the discriminating ability to classify subcellular locations.

Bioinformatics tools in Viral and Cancer biology

Molecular biology and genomic tools are advanced techniques widely used in research fields. These tools can generate huge amount of data atthe same time they can compile and analyse. Bioinformatics tools such as Fast QC and htSeq tools are used for analysing quality of short reads, correlation between mutant, genes and pathway can be done by tool MuSiC etc.. Next generation sequencing tool helps to get information in low cost, time and labour. Application of such type of tools in virology and cancer biology provides advanced information and sequencing data for further research.

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Data Inventory for Cancer Patients Receiving Radiotherapy for Outcome Analysis and Modeling

Data collection for cancer patients is recognized as an important task in the USA, where the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collects data on the occurrence, type, extent, and location of the cancer, and the type of initial treatment. 

The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurements (ICHOM) aims at providing a global resource of in-use outcome measures and risk adjustment factors by medical condition and creating a global standard for measuring results. These initiatives will enable public healthprofessionals to understand and address the cancer burden more effectively. We have recently proposed to use the pre-treatment, planning, and treatment outcomes data for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy to provide guidelines for optimal choice of both radiation modality and planning for new patients. 

It is important to determine the most influential patient features (or their combinations) that has the strongest correlation with the outcomes. We propose an Overlap Volume Histogram as a valuable representation of size andshape for tumor and organs at risk important for planning.

Understanding Dive Computers

Modern digital dive computers date to the early 80s, though analog devices simulating tissue gas uptake and elimination through porous membranes date back to the 70s. Analog devices were limited to nonstop divingand had a short shelf life. 

Digital dive computers proved highly successful and very useful right from the start, progressing from just table emulators to full up algorithmic staging devices across mixed gas, open circuit (OC), rebreather (RB), nonstop, decompression, deep, and shallow diving. Dive computers aremoderately expensive items these days, and high end units range beyond $1500.Basically, a decompression computer is a microprocessor consisting of a powersource, pressure transducer, analog to digital signal converter, internal clock, chip with RAM (random access memory) and ROM (read only memory), and pixel display screen. Pressure readings from the transducer are converted to digital format by the converter, and sent to memory with the elapsed clock time for model calculations, somewhere in 3-10 second intervals.

A Revolutionary Method of Treatment

A tumor without a supporting network of blood vessel formation is like a car without wheels-it’s not going anywhere!

But the multiple hemangioperycitoma type of brain tumors I’ve been shackled with over the last fourteen years were multiplying rapidly in the cancer lane and were driving me one hundred and ten miles an hour to my grave!

That was until suddenly, in early March, 2003, when Providence unexpectedly whisked me away from my home in Burbank, CA and guided me directly to the one person, who was to change my life forever so that Iwould be free of any new or recurring tumors of any variety, have a quality life and even have it extended several years! He is Mr. Nick Kostovic, a pioneer and visionary in energetic medicine, and his health clinic, the Bio Technological Health Center, Inc., in San Pedro, California is where he not only killed my malignant brain tumors, but where this brilliant, caring therapist is helping heal my malignant brain tumors, but where this brilliant, caring therapist is helping heal many other patients by eradicating other treacherous life threatening diseases such as diabetes, cancer, Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS), Parkinson’s, MS, strokes and more.

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Solid-phase Immuno Radio Metric Assay (IRMA) of 25-hydroxy Vitamin

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone involved in the active intestinal absorption of calcium and regulation of calcium homeostasis. It is essential for the formation and maintenance of strong, healthy bones. Vitamin Dhas other roles in the body, including modulation of cell growth, neuromuscularand immune function, and reduction of inflammation. Vitamin D has two isomers: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D2 is obtained from dairy product whereas Vitamin D3 is produced in the skin after exposure to ultraviolet light. In the liver Vitamin D is hydroxylated at its carbon 25 to form 25(OH) D. This metabolite is the predominant circulating form of vitamin D and is considered to be an accurate indicator of the general Vitamin D status on an individual.

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Sequence Features and Subset Selection Technique for the Prediction of Protein Trafficking Phenomenon

Protein trafficking or protein sorting is the mechanism by which a cell transports proteins to the appropriate position in the cell or outside of it. This targeting is based on the information contained in theprotein. Many methods predict the subcellular location of proteins in eukaryotes from the sequence information. However, most of these methods use a flat structure to perform prediction.

In this work, we introduce ensemble methods to predict locations in the eukaryotic protein-sorting non membrane pathway hierarchically. We used features that were extracted exclusively fromfull length protein sequences with feature subset selection for classification. Sequence driven features, sequence mapped features and sequence autocorrelation features were tested with ensemble learners and classifier performances were compared with and without feature subset selection technique. 

Old Wine in a New Bottle: Harnessing the Therapeutic Properties of Emodin Derivatives

Studies involving mechanism of emodin, an herbal extract, has revealed its potential as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer agent. Emodin has been shown to successfully induce apoptosis, down-regulate cancerinducing genes, proving it to be a therapeutically significant pharmacophore. Modification of emodin and synthesis of various derivatives have successfully increased efficacy of the molecule in regulating various cellular pathway like MAPK signaling pathway, NF-κβ signaling pathway, ROS mediated pathways and apoptotic pathways. 

With the advent of various, anti-bacterial properties of emodin may come in rescue to combat emerging drug resistant microbial and parasitic strains. Different emodin derivatives, including the recentlyreported haloemodin, which inhibits bacterial topoisomerases, can be designed to generate future drugs against resistant pathogens. Emodin derivatives can also inhibit proteases and microtubule-associated proteins, which play an important role in Alzheimer’s disease. Properly designed drug delivery systems like liposomes and nanoparticles have been reported as efficient emodin carriers and to enhance emodin activity in cancer cell inhibition. 

Cytotoxic Effects of Aflatoxin B1 Standard in Relation to Aflatoxin Extracts

Aflatoxins [AFs] are a group of mycotoxins produced as secondary metabolites notably by Aspergilliusflavus and A. parasiticus. Otherspecies such as A.nomius, A. bombycis, A. ochraceoroseus, A. pseudotamarii, A.tamarii, and A. australis are also recognized producers. 

There are four main types of aflatoxins; aflatoxin B1(AFB1), AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2, owing to their colour [blue and green, denoted by the letters] and retardation factor (RF) when viewed under UV light. The most important of these four toxins in terms ofprevalence and abundance is AFB1. Aflatoxin B1 is also the most potent of all AFs and has been classified as a Class 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC. This natural toxin is commonly reported to induce various health effects in humans and animal species; which could be hepatotoxic, mutagenic, genotoxic or carcinogenic. Chronic exposure to low levels of AF may well be a risk factor involved in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma and immune system suppression/dysfunction.

Preliminary Development of a Magnetically Assisted Test Strip (MATS) Cartridge

Preliminary development of a simple mesofluidic multi-channel plastic cartridge with underlying external magnet to drag DNA aptamer-coated paramagnetic beads through fluids in the channels while developing a sandwich assay with quantum dot-conjugated reporter aptamers is described. 

This approach is superior to traditional lateral flow test strips in several ways including:

1. The ability to control the speed of lateral flow in the channel versus conventional nitrocellulose analytical membranes with fixed wicking times. 
2. The use of aptamers for potentially greater affinity and consistency from batch-to-batch versus comparable antibodies. 
3. Superior fluorescence efficiency and intensity provided by quantum dots versus conventional fluorescent dyes and 
4. The ability to multiplex based on the various colored emissions of different sized quantum dots when excited with a single ultraviolet source. 

Development of the system from concept to prototype isdescribed along with illustration of sensitive system performance for severalfood safety-related targets. The system is also clearly adaptable to rapid multiplex detection and sensitive quantitation of clinical biomarkers, drugs, environmental, veterinary or other target analytes.

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Intraductal Carcinoma of the Prostate Diagnosed by Multi-Parametric Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) is an aggressive form of prostate cancer (CaP) with clinical and pathological features distinguishing it from high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PIN). IDC-P is characterized by a high volume and high-grade disease, with an aggressive behavior. We present the case of a 63-year-old male withdiagnostic MRI imaging indicative of IDC-P. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of IDC-P identified with multi-parametric MRI.

Although, the term “intraductal carcinoma of the prostate” (IDC-P) was first used by Rhamy, McNeak and Yemoto, were the first to delineate IDC-P as a distinct biological entity with definable histological and clinical features. IDC-P is defined as aproliferation of malignant prostate adenocarcinoma cells distending orcompletely spanning the lumen of pre-existing prostatic ducts and acini, with at least focal preservation of basal cells. Watts et al. estimated the incidence of IDC-P to 2.8% in prostate biopsies.

Are Kinematic and Kinetic Analyses Useful to Evaluate Patellofemoral Disorders in the Clinical Practice?

Current methods for the assessment of the outcome after anterior knee pain (AKP) or lateral patellar instability treatment have several limitations, for example their subjectivity. Therefore, new technologies are needed to objectivelyevaluate the outcomes of treatments for patellofemoral disorders and also to compare different methods of treatment.

The ideal situation would be to evaluate these patients during dynamic activities that trigger or aggravate the symptoms (i.e., pain and/or instability), under realistic loading conditions. We believe that this objective could be reached by means of kinematic andkinetic analysis. The aim of this paper is to analyze the two main reasons for consultation in patellofemoral disorders (i.e., pain and instability) in our daily clinical practice from a kinematic and kinetic point of view emphasizing on the clinical relevance of our biomechanical findings.

Shikimate Kinase of Yersinia pestis: A Sequence, Structural and Functional Analysis

Yersinia pestis, the causative organism of Plague, is widely recognized as a potential bioterrorism threat. Due to the absence of homologs in human, Shikimate Kinase (SK) is considered as an excellent drug target in several bacterial and protozoan parasites. 

Ample literature evidences confirm the suitability of this protein as a good target. Therefore, Shikimate Kinase of Shikimate pathway inYersinia pestis represents an attractive drug target. In the present study, a clustering approach was undertaken to select the proper representative for Shikimate Kinase sequences belonging to Yersinia pestis for structure determination. 

Three-dimensional models of the enzyme for KFB61218.1 (SK1), EFA47400.1 (SK2) and WP_016255950.1 (SK3) were generated using a comparative molecular modeling approach where structures were developed using the single specific template as well as multiple closely associated templates. Thestructures of Shikimate Kinase developed using comparative modeling were evaluatedfor stereochemical quality using various structural validation tools. Results from structural assessment tools indicated the reasonably good quality of models.

Bioengineered Cranial Bones with Multiple Intelligent Functions

Many neurological and psychiatric disorders with predominantly cerebral cortical pathology, including most severe strokes,  traumatic  brain  injuries,  malignant  brain  tumours,  intractable  focal  epilepsies  and  dementias  such  as Alzheimer’s disease are currently difficult, if not impossible, to treat. This causes suffering in almost 100million people worldwide. We propose that bioengineered cranial bones with multiple intelligent functions, including site- specific trans meningeal drug delivery and neurotoxin drainage with EEG feedback, can provide effective treatment of these brain disorders by drug combinations that act on both synapses and genes with concomitant selective drainage of harmful extracellular molecules.

Preliminary Evaluation of the Effects of Cold Atmospheric Plasma Application Rate

Tissue middle of the road plasma has been utilized as a part of preclinical and all the more as of late in clinical settings for the debridement of dead tissue and the evacuation of bacterial biofilms. Cool plasma treatment is a developingfield in medicinal sciences; it is for the most part because of the useful impacts that low temperature plasma has illustrated: calming, antitumor genic and hostile to microbial impacts. The upside of chilly plasma treatment over ordinary warm plasma medications, bend coagulators and desiccators, is that it takes into account more exact application and hence more controllable impacts on the tissue. Moreover, frosty plasma treatment demonstrated stimulatory impacts on wound recuperating and tissue recovery.

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Solid-phase Immuno Radio Metric Assay (IRMA) of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone included in the dynamic intestinal retention of calcium and regulation of calcium homeostasis. It is vital for the development and upkeep of solid, sound bones. Vitamin D has different parts in the body,including tweak of cell development, neuromuscular and insusceptible capacity, and diminishment of aggravation. Vitamin D has two isomers: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D2 is acquired from dairy item while Vitamin D3 is delivered in the skin after introduction to bright light. In the liver Vitamin D is hydroxylated at its carbon 25 to shape 25(OH) D. This metabolite is the overwhelming circling type of vitamin D and is thought to be an exact pointer of the general Vitamin D status on a person.

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