Finite-Time Passivity-Based Stability Criteria for Delayed Discrete-Time Neural Networks via New Weighted Summation Inequalities

Saravanakumar, Ramasamy,Stojanovic, Sreten B.,Radosavljevic, Damnjan D.,Ahn, Choon Ki,Karimi, Hamid Reza IEEE 2019 IEEE transactions on neural networks and learning Vol.30 No.1

<P>In this paper, we study the problem of finite-time stability and passivity criteria for discrete-time neural networks (DNNs) with variable delays. The main objective is how to effectively evaluate the finite-time passivity conditions for NNs. To achieve this, some new weighted summation inequalities are proposed for application to a finite-sum term appearing in the forward difference of a novel Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, which helps to ensure that the considered delayed DNN is passive. The derived passivity criteria are presented in terms of linear matrix inequalities. A numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed results.</P>

Efficacy of Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir plus Rivabirin among Patients with Decompensated Cirrhosis Who Underwent Liver Transplant during Participation in the SOLAR-1/-2 Studies

( Beat Müllhaupt ),( Paul Kwo ),( Kosh Agarwal ),( Christophe Duvoux ),( Francois Durand ),( Marcus Peck-Radosavljevic ),( Eric M. Yoshida ),( Leslie Lilly ),( Bernard Willems ),( Hugo Vargas ),( Prin 대한간학회 2016 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2016 No.1

Aims: The aim of this analysis is to evaluate outcomes in patients who underwent liver transplant after initiating treatment with ledipasvir (LDV)/sofosbuvir (SOF)+ribavirin (RBV) in the SOLAR-1 and SOLAR-2 trials. Methods: We combined data from the SOLAR-1 and SOLAR-2 studies, in which 7 groups of patients with HCV genotype (GT) 1 or 4 were randomized to receive 12 or 24 weeks of LDV/SOF+ RBV: patients without a transplant with 1) Child-Pugh-Turcotte (CPT) B or 2) CPT C cirrhosis; or transplanted patients with 3) no cirrhosis (F0 to F3), 4) CPT A, 5) CPT B or, 6) CPT C cirrhosis, or 7) fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis. Results: Seventeen patients underwent liver transplantation during the study. For all but one patient, this was the first liver transplant. Six were CPT B at screening (5 Group 1, 1 Group 5) and 11 were CPT C (Group 2). Median baseline MELD score was 17 (range 7-23), with the majority (11/17) having scores ≥15. Seven patients underwent transplant prior to completing their full course of treatment. All patients were HCV RNA <LLOQ at the time of liver transplant. All but one patient (94%, 16/17) maintained virologic response 12 weeks after transplant (pTVR12). All patients who achieved pTVR12 received at least 11 weeks of LDV/SOF+RBV. The one patient who did not achieve pTVR12 discontinued study drug on day 21 and underwent liver transplant the following day. Conclusions: Few patients with decompensated cirrhosis treated in the SOLAR studies underwent liver transplantation after initiating LDV/SOF+RBV therapy. For the 17 who did undergo transplant, 94% achieved pTVR12. The data suggest that 11 weeks of treatment prior to transplantation can prevent reinfection of the graft. Future studies are needed to assess the optimal timing and length of treatment in the peri-transplant setting.

Factors Affecting the Learning Curve in the Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Sampling of Solid Pancreatic Lesions: A Prospective Study

Razpotnik Marcel,Bota Simona,Kutilek Mathilde,Essler Gerolf,Urak Christian,Prosenz Julian,Weber-Eibel Jutta,Maieron Andreas,Peck-Radosavljevic Markus 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회 2023 Gut and Liver Vol.17 No.2

Background/Aims: Endosonography is associated with a long learning curve. We aimed to assess variables that may influence the diagnostic outcomes in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration/biopsy (EUS-FNA/B) of solid pancreatic tumors regarding the level of endoscopists' experience. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing EUS-guided puncture of solid pancreatic tumors (eight endosonographers, including six trainees) were prospectively enrolled. An experienced endosonographer was defined as having performed at least 250 EUS examinations, including 75 FNA/Bs. The final diagnosis was determined by cytopathology, histopathology, or clinical followup. Results: In total, 283 EUS-FNA/Bs of solid pancreatic tumors (75.6% malignant) in 239 patients (median age 69 years, 57.6% males) were enrolled. Trainees performed 149/283 (52.7%) of the interventions. Accuracy and sensitivity for detecting malignancy were significantly higher in the expert group than in the trainee group (85.8% vs 73.2%, p=0.01 and 82.5% vs 68.4%, p=0.02). Solid lesions evaluated by an expert using FNB needles showed the best odds for a correct diagnosis (odds ratio, 3.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.15 to 8.23; p=0.02). More experienced endoscopists achieved better accuracy in sampling via the transduodenal approach (86.7% vs 68.5%, p<0.001), in the sampling of malignant lesions (82.5 vs 68.4, p=0.02), and in the sampling of lesions located in the pancreatic head (86.1 vs 69.1, p=0.02). In cases involving these factors, we observed a moderate improvement in the diagnostic accuracy after 40 attempts. Conclusions: Transduodenal approach, pancreatic head lesions, and malignancy were recognized as the most important clinical factors affecting the learning curve in EUS-FNA/B of solid pancreatic lesions.

Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir for 12 or 24 Weeks Is Safe and Effective in Kidney-transplant Recipients with Genotype 1 or 4 HCV Infection

( Massimo Colombo ),( Alessio Aghemo ),( Lin Liu ),( Robert H. Hyland ),( Chohee Yun ),( Diana M. Brainard ),( John G. Mchutchison ),( Sunjin Hwang ),( Marc Bourliere ),( Markus Peck-radosavljevic ),( 대한간학회 2016 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2016 No.1

Methods: Kidney transplant recipients with chronic GT1 or GT4 HCV infection, treatment-naive and treatment-experienced, with or without compensated cirrhosis were randomized 1:1 at 5 sites in Europe to receive LDV/SOF (90 mg/400 mg) for 12 or 24 weeks. Randomization was stratified by HCV genotype, treatment history and presence or absence of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis was determined by liver biopsy (Metavir score = 4 or Ishak score ≥5), Fibroscan® >12.5 kPa, or Fibrotest® >0.75 and APRI >2. A pretreatment creatinine clearance <40 mL/min was an exclusionary criterion. The primary endpoint was SVR12. Results: 114 patients were randomized and treated; median age was 53, 58% were male, 94% were white, 72% carried the non-CC IL28B allele, 91% had GT 1 infection, 69% were treatment-naive, and 15% had compensated cirrhosis. The median eGFR was 56ml/min (range 35-135ml/min). All 92 patients with SVR4 data available achieved SVR4 including a patient discontinuing treatment at Week 4 due to an AE. SAEs were reported in 12 (11%) patients; 3 were assessed as treatment related: syncope, pulmonary embolism, and blood creatinine increased. The most frequent AEs were headache (19%), asthenia (13%), and fatigue (10%). Conclusions: Administration of LDV/SOF for 12 or 24 weeks in patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 or 4 patients who have undergone kidney transplant was safe and highly effective with an SVR4 rate of 100%. Treatment was well-tolerated. SVR12 data for all patients will be presented.

The Effects of a-Lipoic Acid on Liver Oxidative Stress and Free Fatty Acid Composition in Methionine–Choline Deficient Diet-Induced NAFLD

Milena N. Stankovic´,Dusˇan Mladenovic,Milica Ninkovic,Ivana Đuričić,Slađana Sobajić,Bojan Jorgačević,Silvio de Luka,Rada Jesic Vukicevic,Tatjana S. Radosavljevic 한국식품영양과학회 2014 Journal of medicinal food Vol.17 No.2

Development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs through initial steatosis and subsequent oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a-lipoic acid (LA) on methionine–choline deficient (MCD) diet-induced NAFLD in mice. Male C57BL/6 mice (n = 21) were divided into three groups (n = 7 per group): (1) control fed with standard chow, (2) MCD2 group—fed with MCD diet for 2 weeks, and (3) MCD2+ LA group—2 weeks on MCD receiving LA i.p. 100 mg/kg/day. After the treatment, liver samples were taken for pathohistology, oxidative stress parameters, antioxidative enzymes, and liver free fatty acid (FFA) composition. Mild microvesicular hepatic steatosis was found in MCD2 group, while it was reduced to single fat droplets evident in MCD2+LA group. Lipid peroxidation and nitrosative stress were increased by MCD diet, while LA administration induced a decrease in liver malondialdehyde and nitrates + nitrites level. Similary, LA improved liver antioxidative capacity by increasing total superoxide dismutase (tSOD), manganese SOD (MnSOD), and copper/zinc-SOD (Cu/ZnSOD) activity as well as glutathione (GSH) content. Liver FFA profile has shown a significant decrease in saturated acids, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), while LA treatment increased their proportions. It can be concluded that LA ameliorates lipid peroxidation and nitrosative stress in MCD dietinduced hepatic steatosis through an increase in SOD activity and GSH level. In addition, LA increases the proportion of palmitic, stearic, arachidonic, and DHA in the fatty liver. An increase in DHA may be a potential mechanism of antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects of LA in MCD diet-induced NAFLD.