José A. Moreno

Overlapping expression of microRNAs in human embryonic colon and colorectal cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential for regulating cell differentiation and maintaining the pluripotent state of stem cells. Although dysregulation of specific miRNAs has been associated with certain types of cancer, to date no evidence has linked miRNA expression in embryonic and tumor tissues. We assessed the expression of mature miRNAs in human embryonic colon tissue, and in colorectal cancer and paired normal colon tissue. Overlapping miRNA expression was detected between embryonic colonic mucosa and colorectal cancer. We have found that the miR-17-92 cluster and its target, E2F1, exhibit a similar pattern of expression in human colon development and colonic carcinogenesis, regulating cell proliferation in both cases. In situ hybridization confirmed the high level of expression of miR-17-5p in the crypt progenitor compartment. We conclude that miRNA pathways play a major role in both embryonic development and neoplastic transformation of the colonic epithelium.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Nucleotide Excision Repair Genes XPA, XPD, XPG and ERCC1 in Advanced Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated with First-Line Oxaliplatin/Fluoropyrimidine

Background/Aims: Oxaliplatin damages the DNA, leading to apoptosis. XPA, XPD, ERCC1 and XPG genes are involved in DNA repair, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes can influence the efficacy of oxaliplatin. We examined SNPs in these genes and correlated the results with time to progression (TTP), overall survival and response to oxaliplatin in 42 advanced colorectal cancer patients (CRC) treated with first-line oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine. Methods: DNA was obtained from peripheral blood cells, and the allelic discrimination assay was used to analyze the XPA 5′UTR T/C, XPD Lys751Gln, ERCC1 Lys259Thr and XPG, C/T. Results: Patients with XPG C/C genotype had a longer survival (p = 0.001) and TTP (p = 0.009) than patients with XPG C/T or T/T genotypes, and patients with both XPG C/C and XPA T/C or C/C genotypes had a longer survival (p = 0.0001) and TTP (p = 0.0001) than patients with other genotypes. XPG (CC) combined with XPA (TC/CC) genotypes showed an independent role for TTP (relative risk, RR = 6.38; p = 0.0001) and survival (RR = 34; p = 0.0005). Conclusion: Polymorphism in XPG combined with XPA may be an important prognosticator of clinical outcome following oxaliplatin/ fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy. Further studies in larger patient cohorts are warranted to confirm their role in CRC.

Fuzzy optimization for distribution of frozen food with imprecise times

Problems concerning the distribution routes for frozen products need to incorporate constraints that avoid breaks in the cold chain. The decision making process under uncertain environments is a common one in real logistics problems. The purpose of this study is to apply a fuzzy approach which will provide an optimal solution to the distribution of frozen food with uncertainty in its time values. A soft computing approach is used where fuzzy constraints are included in the modeling and the solution of the problem.

Fuzzy approach for Vehicle Routing Problems with fuzzy travel time

The activities of route planning in logistics can be modeled according to the standard forms seen in vehicle route problems. This paper is devoted to the development of comprehensive fuzzy approach on variants of Vehicle Routing Problems when travel time is imprecise or incomplete. The problem of vehicle routing with fuzzy costs in the objective function and vehicle routing with time windows and fuzzy constraints are formulated. Hybrid heuristic algorithms for solving this problem are presented and analysed.

A GRASP---VNS Hybrid for the Fuzzy Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows

We consider the Vehicle Routing Problem with time windows where travel times are triangular fuzzy numbers. The weighted possibility and necessity measure of fuzzy relations is used to specify a confidence level at which it is desired that the travel times to reach each customer fall into their time windows. In this paper we propose and analyze a solution procedure consisting in hybridizing a Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS) and a Greedy Randomize Adaptive Search Procedure (GRASP) for the corresponding optimization problem.

Solving the Team Orienteering Problem with fuzzy scores and constraints

In many routing planning problems of the real world the available information about the problem is imprecise, vague or uncertain. In addition, decision makers work with decisions with some subjectivity. This work formulates the Team Orienteering Problem (TOP) where the scores and travel time constraints are fuzzy. The soft computing methodology proposed to solve the problem integrates fuzzy optimization methods with a constructive metaheuristic. Computational results on instances from the team orienteering problem benchmarks are analyzed.

Increased PR Interval in Fetuses of Patients with Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

Objective: To evaluate the fetal mechanical PR interval in fetuses from pregnancies with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). Methods: A case-control study was conducted in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit at Hospital Carlos Van Buren between 2011 and 2013. Fetal echocardiography was performed in patients with ICP and normal pregnancies. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: 51 patients with ICP were compared with 51 unaffected pregnancies. There were no significant differences in neither demographic nor clinical characteristics between the two groups. The fetal PR interval was significantly longer in the ICP group when compared to the control group (134.6 ± 12 vs. 121.4 ± 10 ms, p < 0.001). Moreover, four fetuses from the ICP group had a mechanical PR interval >150 ms, which is compatible with a first-degree atrioventricular block. Two fetuses were identified in the neonatal period and were transferred to pediatric cardiology for follow-up, with a normal mechanical PR after the first month of life. Conclusions: We demonstrated that the fetal cardiac conduction system is altered in fetuses of patients with ICP. Further research is necessary to determine whether this alteration is related to stillbirths seen in ICP.

Soft Computing Methods in Transport and Logistics

The current economic context generates in supply chain management greater demands for flexibility and dynamism. In addition, there is an increase in uncertainty that adds more complexity to the problems associated with planning and management. Soft Computing offers a set of methodologies capable of responding to these challenges. This work provides an overview of transport and logistics problems, as well as the most representative combinatorial optimization models. Specifically, it focuses on the treatment of uncertainty through fuzzy optimization and metaheuristics methodologies. Promising results from the use of this approach suggest emerging areas of application, which are presented and described.

A fuzzy GRASP algorithm for solving a Tourist Trip Design Problem

This paper considers a route-planning problem in the tourism sector, the Tourist Trip Design Problem which aims to design the routes that maximize the satisfaction of the visited points of interest. A model for the multi-day planning problem for sightseeing is proposed. In order to solve this optimization problem, a new fuzzy Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure (GRASP) is developed in order to obtain high-quality solutions. A fuzzy approach is used to evaluate the points of interest to be included in the solution considering the ambiguity and imprecision of promising points of interest to visit. The computational experiments confirm that fuzzy GRASP is able to report competitive solutions in reasonable computational times.

Contents Vol. 40, 2016

R. Achiron, Tel Hashomer N.S. Adzick, Philadelphia, Pa. L. Allan, London A.A. Baschat, Baltimore, Md. K.J. Blakemore, Baltimore, Md. T.-H. Bui, Stockholm F.A. Chervenak, New York, N.Y. T. Chiba, Tokyo R. Chmait, Los Angeles, Calif. F. Crispi, Barcelona J.E. De Lia, Milwaukee, Wisc. J.A. Deprest, Leuven G.C. Di Renzo, Perugia J.W. Dudenhausen, Berlin N.M. Fisk, Brisbane, Qld. A.W. Flake, Philadelphia, Pa. U. Gembruch, Bonn M.R. Harrison, San Francisco, Calif. J.C. Hobbins, Denver, Colo. L.K. Hornberger, Edmonton, Alta. E.R.M. Jauniaux, London M.P. Johnson, Philadelphia, Pa. J.-M. Jouannic, Paris P.M. Kyle, London O. Lapaire, Basel S. Lipitz, Tel Hashomer E. Llurba, Barcelona G. Malinger, Tel Aviv G. Mari, Detroit, Mich. M. Martinez-Ferro, Buenos Aires A. McLennan, Sydney, N.S.W. K.J. Moise, Houston, Tex. F. Molina, Granada K.H. Nicolaides, London L. Otaño, Buenos Aires Z. Papp, Budapest R.A. Quintero, Miami, Fla. G. Ryan, Toronto, Ont. J. Rychik, Philadelphia, Pa. H. Sago, Tokyo W. Sepulveda, Santiago P. Stone, Auckland D.V. Surbek, Bern B.J. Trudinger, Westmead, N.S.W. Y. Ville, Paris J.M.G. van Vugt, Nijmegen Clinical Advances and Basic Research