Design of Cooperative Output Regulators for Heterogeneous Uncertain Nonlinear Multiagent Systems.

Cooperative output regulation (COR) of multiagent systems having heterogeneous uncertain nonlinear dynamics is often challenging because of the complex system dynamics and the coupling among agents. This article develops an adaptive internal model-based distributed regulator such that the outputs of a network of nonlinear agents are all regulated to a reference despite external disturbances. Specifically, we consider heterogeneous agents having nonlinear strict-feedback forms, with nonidentical unknown control directions, and subject to an unknown linear exosystem.

Utility of Liquid Biopsy Analysis in Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Determination of Prognosis, and Disease Monitoring: A Systematic Review.

Background & Aims: Liquid biopsies, or blood samples, can be analyzed to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), and extracellular vesicles, which might identify patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or help determine their prognoses. We performed a systematic review of studies of analyses of liquid biopsies from patients with HCC and their comparisons with other biomarkers.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of original studies published before December 1, 2019.

Efficacy of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal condition with a heterogeneous pathophysiology. An altered gut microbiome has been identified in some IBS patients, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been suggested to treat IBS. We performed meta-analyses and systematic review of available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy of FMT in IBS.

The feasibility of 1-stop examination of coronary CT angiography and abdominal enhanced CT.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of performing coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) with 1-time injection of the agent.CCTA images (right coronary artery, left anterior descending coronary artery, and left circumflex coronary artery) were collected from 20 patients who completed a 1-stop combined examination of CCTA and abdominal enhanced CT (group A), 20 patients who only underwent abdominal enhanced CT (group B1), and 20 patients who only underwent CCTA (group B2). These images were interpreted using the 5-point Likert scale system by 2 experienced radiologists, and abdominal images were observed for breathing artifact.

Event-Based Practical Output Regulation for a Class of Multiagent Nonlinear Systems.

This paper explores a cooperative practical output regulation problem for a class of heterogeneous multiagent nonlinear systems by event-based output feedback. Specifically, we shall restrict our attention to the situation of sampled-data-based local measurements. As usual, due to agents heterogeneity, we first convert the problem into a stabilization one for the so-called augmented system, composed of the agent systems and suitably designed continuous-time internal models.

TRIM14 regulates cell proliferation and invasion in osteosarcoma via promotion of the AKT signaling pathway.

Recent studies have shown that some members of the tripartite motif-containing protein (TRIM) family serve as important regulators of tumorigenesis. However, the biological role of TRIM14 in osteosarcoma remains to be established. In this study, we showed that TRIM14 is upregulated in human osteosarcoma specimens and cell lines, and correlated with osteosarcoma progression and shorter patient survival times.

The Clinical Results of Percutaneous Endoscopic Interlaminar Discectomy (PEID) in the Treatment of Calcified Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID), which poses advantages for certain types of herniated disc, is gaining wider acceptance in clinical practice. We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of the PEID technique in treatment of calcified lumbar disc herniation.

Study Design: A retrospective case-control study.

Rifaximin alters intestinal bacteria and prevents stress-induced gut inflammation and visceral hyperalgesia in rats.

Background & Aims: Rifaximin is used to treat patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, but little is known about its therapeutic mechanism. We propose that rifaximin modulates the ileal bacterial community, reduces subclinical inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, and improves gut barrier function to reduce visceral hypersensitivity.

Methods: We induced visceral hyperalgesia in rats, via chronic water avoidance or repeat restraint stressors, and investigated whether rifaximin altered the gut microbiota, prevented intestinal inflammation, and improved gut barrier function.

Butyrate-induced colonic hypersensitivity is mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in rat dorsal root ganglia.

Objective: Increased faecal butyrate levels have been reported in irritable bowel syndrome. Rectal instillation of sodium butyrate (NaB) increases visceral sensitivity in rats by an unknown mechanism. We seek to examine the signal transduction pathways responsible for the enhanced neuronal excitability in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) following NaB enemas and demonstrate that this is responsible for the colonic hypersensitivity reported in this animal model.

Identification of ankylosing spondylitis-associated genes by expression profiling.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammation attacking the sacroiliac joints and the spine. Certain genes have been associated with the occurrence of AS. Gene chip data were utilized to recognize genes associated with AS for the association of the clinical diagnosis and the biomedical study.

Diabetic visceral hypersensitivity is associated with activation of mitogen-activated kinase in rat dorsal root ganglia.

Objective: Diabetic patients often experience visceral hypersensitivity and anorectal dysfunction. We hypothesize that the enhanced excitability of colon projecting dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons observed in diabetes is caused by a decrease in the amplitude of the transient A-type K(+) (I(A)) currents resulting from increased phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and reduced opening of K(v)4.2 channels.

Retrograde gastric pacing reduces food intake and delays gastric emptying in humans: a potential therapy for obesity?

Obesity is one of the most prevalent health problems in the world with a lack of satisfactory therapies and gastric electrical stimulation has recently been proposed for the treatment of obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of retrograde gastric pacing (RGP) on food and water intake, and gastric emptying in humans. RGP with a tachygastrial frequency of 9 cycles/min was performed via a pair of submucosal gastric electrodes implanted 5 cm above the pylorus in 12 subjects.

Visceral response to acute retrograde gastric electrical stimulation in healthy human.

Aim: To investigate the visceral response to acute retrograde gastric electrical stimulation (RGES) in healthy humans and to derive optimal parameters for treatment of patients with obesity.

Methods: RGES with a series of effective parameters were performed via a bipolar mucosal electrode implanted along the great curvature 5 cm above pylorus of stomach in 12 healthy human subjects. Symptoms associated with dyspepsia and other discomfort were observed and graded during RGES at different settings, including long pulse and pulse train.

Visceral sensitivity to gastric stimulation and its correlation with alterations in gastric emptying and accommodation in humans.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the visceral sensation to gastric stimulation and its correlation with the stimulation-induced alterations in gastric accommodation and gastric emptying.

Methods: The study was performed in 12 healthy human controls. Gastric stimulation was performed using bipolar electrodes attached to the mucosa of the distal stomach under endoscopy.