bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Performance Quasi-2D Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes Via Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) Treatment
Authors: Wang Zijun , Xu Xiaoqiang , Gao Lin , Yan Xingwu , Li Lu , Yu Junsheng
Published: March 2020

In this work, we fabricate poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP)-treated Ruddlesden-Popper two-dimensional (quasi-2D) PPA2(CsPbBr3)2PbBr4 perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) and achieved a peak brightness of 10,700 cd m−2 and peak current efficiency of 11.68 cd A−1, threefold and tenfold higher than that of the pristine device (without PVP), respectively. It can be attributed that the additive of PVP can suppress the pinholes of perovskite films owing to the excellent film-forming property, inhibiting the leakage current. Besides, PVP treatment facilitates the formation of compact perovskite films with defect reduction. Our work paves a novel way for the morphology modulation of quasi-2D perovskite films.
Enhancing xanthine dehydrogenase activity is an effective way to delay leaf senescence and increase rice yield
Authors: Han Ruicai , He Xunfeng , Pan Xiaohua , Shi Qinghua , Wu Ziming
Published: March 2020

Xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) is an important enzyme in purine metabolism. It is involved in regulation of the normal growth and non-biological stress-induced ageing processes in plants. The present study investigated XDH’s role in regulating rice leaf senescence. We measured physical characteristics, chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters, active oxygen metabolism, and purine metabolism in wild-type Kitaake rice (Oryza sativa L.), an OsXDH over-expression transgenic line (OE9), and an OsXDH RNA interference line (Ri3) during different growth stages. The expression patterns of the OsXDH gene confirmed that XDH was involved in the regulation of normal and abiotic stress-induced ageing processes in rice. There was no significant difference between the phenotypes of transgenic lines and wild type at the seedling stage, but differences were observed at the full heading and maturation stages. The OE9 plants were taller, with higher chlorophyll content, and their photosystems had stronger light energy absorption, transmission, dissipation, and distribution capacity, which ultimately improved the seed setting rate and 1000-seed weight. The opposite effect was found in the Ri3 plants. The OE9 line had a strong ability to remove reactive oxygen species, with increased accumulation of allantoin and alantoate. Experimental spraying of allantoin on leaves showed that it could alleviate chlorophyll degradation and decrease the content of H2O2 and malonaldehyde (MDA) in rice leaves after the full heading stage. The urate oxidase gene (UO) expression levels in the interference line were significantly lower than those in the over-expression line and wild-type lines. The allantoinase (ALN) and allantoate amidinohydrolase (AAH) genes had significantly higher expression in the Ri3 plants than the in OE9 or wild-type plants, with OE9 plants showing the lowest levels. The senescence-related genes ACD1, WRKY23, WRKY53, SGR, XERO1, and GH27 in Ri3 plants had the highest expression levels, followed by those in the wild-type plants, with OE9 plants showing the lowest levels. These results suggest that enhanced activity of XDH can regulate the synthesis of urea-related substances, improve plant antioxidant capacity, effectively delay the ageing process in rice leaves, and increase rice yield.
Mixture toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticle and chemicals with different mode of action upon Vibrio fischeri
Authors: Chen Fen , Wu Ligui , Xiao Xiaoyu , Rong Lingling , Li Mi , Zou Xiaoming
Published: March 2020

Background

Zinc oxide nanoparticle (nZnO) and chemicals with different mode of action (MOA, i.e., narcotic and reactive) were frequently detected in the Yangtze River. Organisms are typically exposed to mixtures of nZnO and other chemicals rather than individual nZnO. Toxicity of nZnO is caused by the dissolution of Zn2+, which has been proved in the field of single toxicity. However, it is still unclear whether the released Zn2+ plays a critical role in the nZnO toxicity of nZnO–chemicals mixtures. In the present study, the binary mixture toxicity of nZnO/Zn2+ and chemicals with different MOA was investigated in acute (15 min) and chronic (12 h) toxicity test upon Vibrio fischeri (V. fischeri). The joint effects of nZnO and tested chemicals were explored. Moreover, two classic models, concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA) were applied to predict the toxicity of mixtures.

Results

The difference of toxicity unit (TU) values between the mixtures of Zn2+–chemicals with those of nZnO–chemicals was not significant (P > 0.05), not only in acute toxicity test but also in chronic toxicity test. The antagonistic or additive effects for nZnO-chemicals can be observed in most mixtures, with the TU values ranging from 0.75 to 1.77 and 0.47 to 2.45 in acute toxicity test and chronic test, respectively. We also observed that the prediction accuracy of CA and IA models was not very well in the mixtures where the difference between the toxicity ratios of the components was small (less than about 10), with the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values ranging from 0.14 to 0.67 for CA model and 0.17–0.51 for IA model, respectively.

Conclusion

We found that the dissolved Zn2+ mainly accounted for the nZnO toxicity in the mixtures of nZnO–chemicals, and the joint effects of these mixtures were mostly antagonism and additivity. CA and IA models were unsuitable for predicting the mixture toxicity of nZnO–chemicals at their equitoxic ratios.
BACE2 degradation is mediated by both the proteasome and lysosome pathways
Authors: Qiu Kaixin , Liang Wenping , Wang Shuai , Kong Tingting , Wang Xin , Li Chunyan , Wang Zhe , Wu Yili
Published: March 2020

Background

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly. Amyloid-β protein (Aβ) is the major component of neuritic plaques which are the hallmark of AD pathology. β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is the major β-secretase contributing to Aβ generation. β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 2 (BACE2), the homolog of BACE1, might play a complex role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease as it is not only a θ-secretase but also a conditional β-secretase. Dysregulation of BACE2 is observed in Alzheimer’s disease. However, the regulation of BACE2 is less studied compared with BACE1, including its degradation pathways. In this study, we investigated the turnover rates and degradation pathways of BACE2 in both neuronal cells and non-neuronal cells.

Results

Both lysosomal inhibition and proteasomal inhibition cause a time- and dose-dependent increase of transiently overexpressed BACE2 in HEK293 cells. The half-life of transiently overexpressed BACE2 protein is approximately 6 h. Moreover, the half-life of endogenous BACE2 protein is approximately 4 h in both HEK293 cells and mouse primary cortical neurons. Furthermore, both lysosomal inhibition and proteasomal inhibition markedly increases endogenous BACE2 in HEK293 cells and mouse primary cortical neurons.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that BACE2 is degraded by both the proteasome and lysosome pathways in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells at endogenous level and in transient overexpression system. It indicates that BACE2 dysregulation might be mediated by the proteasomal and lysosomal impairment in Alzheimer’s disease. This study advances our understanding of the regulation of BACE2 and provides a potential mechanism of its dysregulation in Alzheimer’s disease.
Rationale and design of a prospective, observational study for the QUantitative EStimation of Thrombus burden in patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction using micro-computed tomography: the QUEST-STEMI trial
Authors: Karagiannidis Efstratios , Konstantinidis Nikolaos V. , Sofidis Georgios , Chatzinikolaou Evangelia , Sianos Georgios
Published: March 2020

Background

Although the presence of thrombus in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been linked to adverse outcomes, routine thrombus aspiration has not been proven effective. A potential explanation is that these patients should be risk-stratified. Traditional clinical, laboratory and angiographic parameters used in clinical trials have been proven inadequate to classify patients. Aspirated thrombotic material characteristics might be an additional important parameter that has not yet been addressed. In this report, we aim to describe a methodological analysis of thrombus aspirated from coronary arteries during primary PCI using micro-Computed Τomography (micro-CT). These data will be combined with traditional factors to develop a risk-stratification system with high discriminative power for these patients.

Methods

Eighty-seven patients with STEMI undergoing thrombus aspiration in AHEPA University Hospital, Greece, will be enrolled in the study. The first patient was enrolled in June 2018. After being aspirated, thrombi are preserved in formalin and their volume and density are calculated with micro-CT. Micro-CT allows us to create 3D models of thrombi from a series of x-ray projection images. These models are further analyzed to find the volume and density of extracted thrombi and to assess potential differences in their structure. Association of these variables with clinical parameters and angiographic outcomes will be explored.

Discussion

QUEST-STEMI is-to our knowledge-the first study of volumetric coronary thrombus assessment by micro-CT. This method could be used in larger, clinically-oriented trials to help stratify patients with thrombus burden according to their risk for adverse outcomes.

Trial registration

QUEST-STEMI trial ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03429608 Date of registration: February 12, 2018. The study was prospectively registered (registered prior to enrollment of the first participant).
Protocol registration improves reporting quality of systematic reviews in dentistry
Authors: dos Santos Mateus Bertolini Fernandes , Agostini Bernardo Antônio , Bassani Rafaela , Pereira Gabriel Kalil Rocha , Sarkis-Onofre Rafael
Published: March 2020

Background

The aims of this study were to assess whether the previous registration of a systematic review (SR) is associated with the improvement of the quality of the report of SRs and whether SR registration reduced outcome reporting bias.

Methods

We performed a search in PubMed for SRs in dentistry indexed in 2017. Data related to SR registration and reporting characteristics were extracted. We analyzed if the reporting of 21 characteristics of included SRs was associated with the prospective registration of protocols or reporting of a previously established protocol. The association between prospective registering of protocols, reporting of funding and number of included studies versus outcome reporting bias was tested via multivariable logistic regression.

Results

We included 495 SRs. One hundred and 62 (32.7%) SRs reported registering the SR protocol or working from a previously established protocol. Thirteen reporting characteristics were described statistically significant in SRs registered versus SRs that were not. Publication bias assessment and Report the number of participants showed the highest effects favoring the register (RR 1.59, CI 95% 1.19–2.12; RR 1.58, CI 95% 1.31–1.92 respectively). Moreover, Registration was not significantly linked with the articles’ reporting statistical significance (OR 0.96, CI 95% 0.49–1.90).

Conclusion

There is a positive influence of previously registering a protocol in the final report quality of SRs in dentistry. However, we did not observe an association between protocol registration and reduction in outcome reporting bias.
Are Malaysian Type 2 Diabetes patients willing to be trained to speak to their offspring about risk of diabetes and preventive measures?
Authors: Badlishah-Sham Siti Fatimah , Ramli Anis Safura , Isa Mohamad Rodi , Mohd-Zaki Nurzakiah , Whitford David Leonard
Published: March 2020

Background

Offspring of type 2 diabetes patients have an absolute risk of 20–40% of developing the condition. Type 2 diabetes patients should be encouraged to speak to their offspring regarding diabetes risk and prevention strategies. The Health Belief Model conceptualises that the higher the perceived risk, the more likely an individual will modify their behaviour. The objectives of this study were to i) determine the distribution of type 2 diabetes patients regarding their willingness to accept training to speak to their offspring, ii) determine the distribution of type 2 diabetes patients regarding their willingness to accept training based on the HBM and iii) to determine the factors associated with their willingness to accept training.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study amongst type 2 diabetes patients attending two primary care clinics in Malaysia. Sociodemographic data and knowledge of diabetes risk factors were collected. The adapted, translated and validated Diabetes Mellitus in the Offspring Questionnaire-Malay version (DMOQ-Malay) was self-administered. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, univariate and multiple logistic regression (MLogR).

Results

A total of 425 participants were recruited. Of these, 61.6% were willing to accept training. In MLogR, six variables were found to be significantly associated with willingness to accept training. These were i) positive family history [Adj. OR 2.06 (95% CI: 1.27, 3.35)], ii) having the correct knowledge that being overweight is a risk factor [Adj. OR 1.49 (95%CI: 1.01, 2.29)], iii) correctly identifying age ≥ 40 years old as a risk factor [Adj. OR 1.88 (95%CI: 1.22, 2.90)], iv) agreeing that speaking to their offspring would help them to prevent type 2 diabetes [Adj. OR 4.34 (95%: 1.07, 17.73)], v) being neutral with the statement ‘I do not have much contact with my offspring’ [Adj. OR: 0.31 (95% CI: 0.12, 0.810] and vi) being neutral with the statement ‘my offspring are not open to advice from me’ [Adj. OR: 0.63 (95% CI: 0.31, 0.84].

Conclusion

The majority of type 2 diabetes patients were willing to accept training to speak to their offspring to prevent diabetes. A training module should be designed to enhance their knowledge, attitude and skills to become family health educators.
MRI characteristics in acute ischemic stroke patients with preceding direct oral anticoagulant therapy as compared to vitamin K antagonists
Authors: Meinel Thomas Raphael , Kaesmacher Johannes , Gralla Jan , Seiffge David J. , Auer Elias , Frey Sebastién , El-Koussy Marwan , Arnold Marcel , Fischer Urs , Göldlin Martina , Jung Simon , Hakim Arsany
Published: March 2020

Background

Despite the utility of neuroimaging in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), imaging characteristics in patients with preceding direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) compared to vitamin K antagonists (VKA) have hardly been described. We aimed to determine presence of large vessel occlusion (LVO), thrombus length, infarction diameter, and occurrence of hemorrhagic transformation in AIS patients with preceding DOAC as compared to VKA therapy.

Methods

Using a prospectively collected cohort of AIS patients, we performed univariate and multivariable regression analyses regarding imaging outcomes. Additionally, we provide a sensitivity analysis for the subgroup of patients with confirmed therapeutic anticoagulation.

Results

We included AIS in patients with preceding DOAC (N = 75) and VKA (N = 61) therapy, median age 79 (IQR 70–83), 39% female. Presence of any LVO between DOAC and VKA patients (29.3% versus 37.7%, P = 0.361), and target LVO for endovascular therapy (26.7% versus 27.9%, P = 1.0) was equal with a similar occlusion pattern. DOAC as compared to VKA were associated with a similar rate of target LVO for EVT (aOR 0.835, 95% CI 0.368–1.898). The presence of multiple lesions and characteristics of the thrombus were similar in DOAC and VKA patients. Acute ischemic lesion diameter in real world patients was equal in patients taking DOAC as compared to VKA. Lesion diameter in VKA patients (median 13 mm, IQR 6–26 versus median 20 mm, IQR 7–36, P = 0.001), but not DOAC patients was smaller in the setting of confirmed therapeutic VKA. The frequency of radiological hemorrhagic transformation and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in OAC patients was low. Sensitivity analysis considering only patients with confirmed therapeutic anticoagulation did not change any of the results.

Conclusion

Preceding DOAC treatment showed equal rates of LVO and infarct size as compared to VKA in AIS patients. This study adds to the knowledge of imaging findings in AIS patients with preceding anticoagulation.
Risks of ophthalmic disorders in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus – a secondary cohort analysis of population-based claims data
Authors: Hsu Chun-Shuo , Hsu Chia-Wen , Lu Ming-Chi , Koo Malcolm
Published: March 2020

Background

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can directly affect various part of the ocular system, but there was no comprehensive analysis of ophthalmic disorders of patients with SLE using population-based data. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and prevalence of ophthalmic disorders for ophthalmologist visits in adult patients with SLE and to evaluate the risk of dry eye syndrome, cataracts, glaucoma, episcleritis and scleritis, and retinal vascular occlusion in these patients.

Methods

The Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database was used to assemble a SLE cohort consisting of newly diagnosed SLE between 2000 and 2012. A comparison cohort was also sampled from the same database and it consisted of 10 patients without SLE for each patient with SLE, based on frequency matching for sex, five-year age interval, and index year. Both cohorts were followed until either the study outcomes have occurred or the end of the follow-up period.

Results

Patients with SLE (n = 521) exhibited a significantly higher prevalence (68.1% vs. 60.5%, P = 0.001) and frequency (median 5.51 vs. 1.71 per 10 years, P <  0.001) for outpatient ophthalmologist visits compared with patients without SLE. The risk of dry eye syndrome (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR] 4.45, P <  0.001), cataracts (adjusted IRR 3.18, P <  0.001), and glaucoma (adjusted IRR 2.23, P = 0.002) were significantly higher in patients with SLE. In addition, the risk of several SLE related ophthalmic disorders, including episcleritis and scleritis (adjusted IRR 6.11, P <  0.001) and retinal vascular occlusion (adjusted IRR 3.81, P = 0.023) were significantly higher in patients with SLE.

Conclusions

The increased risk of dry eye syndrome, cataracts, glaucoma, episcleritis and scleritis, and retinal vascular occlusion in patients with SLE deserves vigilance.
Solitary fibrofolliculoma of the upper eyelid in a 68-year old female: a case report
Authors: Wang Wenqiu , Cheng Jinwei
Published: March 2020

Background

Fibrofolliculoma is a benign, perifollicular, connective tissue tumor, and it usually arises in the form of multiple lesions, but rarely as a solitary lesion. We report a case of solitary fibrofolliculoma on the eyelid.

Case presentation

A 68-year-old female presented with an asymptomatic mass on the right upper eyelid. The lesion appeared as a flesh-colored, dome-shaped, smooth nodule being the size of 5 × 5 × 4 mm, with eyelashes protruding from the surface, and located on the upper lid margin. Shave excision was performed, and the diagnosis of fibrofolliculoma was confirmed finally through histological exam.

Conclusions

Solitary fibrofolliculomas rarely arises on the eyelid. However, it should be suspected when a flesh-colored and doom-shaped lesion of the eyelid is encountered. The benign tumor on the lid margin can be removed by shave biopsy.
FHIR PIT: an open software application for spatiotemporal integration of clinical data and environmental exposures data
Authors: Xu Hao , Cox Steven , Stillwell Lisa , Pfaff Emily , Champion James , Ahalt Stanley C. , Fecho Karamarie
Published: March 2020

Background

Informatics tools to support the integration and subsequent interrogation of spatiotemporal data such as clinical data and environmental exposures data are lacking. Such tools are needed to support research in environmental health and any biomedical field that is challenged by the need for integrated spatiotemporal data to examine individual-level determinants of health and disease.

Results

We have developed an open-source software application—FHIR PIT (Health Level 7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources Patient data Integration Tool)—to enable studies on the impact of individual-level environmental exposures on health and disease. FHIR PIT was motivated by the need to integrate patient data derived from our institution’s clinical warehouse with a variety of public data sources on environmental exposures and then openly expose the data via ICEES (Integrated Clinical and Environmental Exposures Service). FHIR PIT consists of transformation steps or building blocks that can be chained together to form a transformation and integration workflow. Several transformation steps are generic and thus can be reused. As such, new types of data can be incorporated into the modular FHIR PIT pipeline by simply reusing generic steps or adding new ones. We validated FHIR PIT in the context of a driving use case designed to investigate the impact of airborne pollutant exposures on asthma. Specifically, we replicated published findings demonstrating racial disparities in the impact of airborne pollutants on asthma exacerbations.

Conclusions

While FHIR PIT was developed to support our driving use case on asthma, the software can be used to integrate any type and number of spatiotemporal data sources at a level of granularity that enables individual-level study. We expect FHIR PIT to facilitate research in environmental health and numerous other biomedical disciplines.
Sexual and reproductive health rights knowledge and reproductive health services utilization among rural reproductive age women in Aleta Wondo District, Sidama zone, Ethiopia: community based cross-sectional study
Authors: Tadesse Tariku , Dangisso Mesay Hailu , Abebo Teshome Abuka
Published: March 2020

Background

Various countries in the world have achieved promising progress in promoting, protecting and guaranteeing sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHRs) since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo. However, SRHRs have not been recognized to their maximum potential in Ethiopia, despite the domestication of the international instruments related to their successful implementation. This study was intended to determine the magnitude of SRHRs knowledge, reproductive health services utilization and their independent predictors among rural reproductive-age women in the Aleta Wondo District, Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 833 rural reproductive-age women from April to May 2019. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select households, and a structured questionnaire was used to gather the data. EPI INFO version 7 was used to enter the data, and SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association between outcomes and explanatory variables. Odds ratios at 95% CI were also computed and reported.

Results

Of 833 respondents, 43.9% had good knowledge of SRHR, and 37% had used at least one sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service. Variables that had a statistically significant association with SRHR knowledge in multivariable analysis were: had formal education, household with the highest income, having information sources for SRH services, and knowing about SRH services and providing institutions. SRH services utilization was associated with: having information sources for SRH services, had formal education, household with the highest income, and knowing about SRH services and providing institutions.

Conclusion

In this study demographic and economic factors, such as education and household monthly income were positively identified as independent predictors for knowledge of SRHR and SRH services utilization. Therefore, responsible government sectors and NGOs should design and implement programs to promote women’s educational status and household economic status to enhance women’s SRHR knowledge and SRH services utilization.
Geographical tracking and mapping of coronavirus disease COVID-19/severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic and associated events around the world: how 21st century GIS technologies are supporting the global fight against outbreaks and epidemics
Authors: Kamel Boulos Maged N. , Geraghty Estella M.
Published: March 2020

In December 2019, a new virus (initially called ‘Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV’ and later renamed to SARS-CoV-2) causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (coronavirus disease COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and rapidly spread to other parts of China and other countries around the world, despite China’s massive efforts to contain the disease within Hubei. As with the original SARS-CoV epidemic of 2002/2003 and with seasonal influenza, geographic information systems and methods, including, among other application possibilities, online real-or near-real-time mapping of disease cases and of social media reactions to disease spread, predictive risk mapping using population travel data, and tracing and mapping super-spreader trajectories and contacts across space and time, are proving indispensable for timely and effective epidemic monitoring and response. This paper offers pointers to, and describes, a range of practical online/mobile GIS and mapping dashboards and applications for tracking the 2019/2020 coronavirus epidemic and associated events as they unfold around the world. Some of these dashboards and applications are receiving data updates in near-real-time (at the time of writing), and one of them is meant for individual users (in China) to check if the app user has had any close contact with a person confirmed or suspected to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the recent past. We also discuss additional ways GIS can support the fight against infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics.
Left colon as a novel high-risk factor for postoperative recurrence of stage II colon cancer
Authors: Wang Liming , Hirano Yasumitsu , Ishii Toshimasa , Kondo Hiroka , Hara Kiyoka , Obara Nao , Yamaguchi Shigeki
Published: March 2020

Background

It is not clear whether stage II colon and rectal cancer have the same risk factors for recurrence. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for postoperative recurrence in stage II colorectal cancer.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 990 patients who had undergone radical surgery for stage II colorectal cancer. Patients’ pathological features and characteristics including age, sex, family history, body mass index, tumor diameter, gross type of tumor, infiltration degree (T3/T4), tumor grade, perineural invasion, vascular invasion, lymphatic invasion, pathologic examination of lymph node number, and preoperative carcinoembryonic assay (CEA) level was compared between patients with and without recurrence. Finally, the prediction of the left and right colons was analyzed.

Results

The mean ages of the colon cancer and rectal cancer patients were 69.5 years and 66.4 years, respectively. In total, 508 (82.1%) and 285 (76.8%) patients were treated laparoscopically for colon cancer and rectal cancer, respectively, with median follow-up periods of 42.2 months and 41.8 months, respectively. Forty-four recurrences occurred in both the colon cancer (7.1%) and rectal cancer (11.9%) groups. The preoperative serum CEA level and T4 infiltration were significantly higher in recurrent colorectal cancer patients. The postoperative recurrence rate of left colon cancer (descending colon, sigmoid colon) was higher than that of right colon cancer (cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon) (OR 2.191, 95% CI 1.091–4.400, P = 0.027). In COX survival factor analysis of colon cancer, the left colon is one of the independent risk factors (risk ratio 5.377, 95% CI 0.216–0.88, P = 0.02). In disease-free survival (DFS), the left colon has a relatively poor prognosis (P = 0.05). However, in the COX analysis and prognosis analysis of OS, no difference was found between the left colon and the right colon.

Conclusion

Preoperative CEA and depth of infiltration (T4) are high-risk factors associated with recurrence and are prognostic factors in stage II colorectal cancer. Left colon is also a risk factor for postoperative recurrence of stage II colon cancer.
Effects of dietary methionine and cysteine restriction on plasma biomarkers, serum fibroblast growth factor 21, and adipose tissue gene expression in women with overweight or obesity: a double-blind randomized controlled pilot study
Authors: Olsen Thomas , Øvrebø Bente , Haj-Yasein Nadia , Lee Sindre , Svendsen Karianne , Hjorth Marit , Bastani Nasser E. , Norheim Frode , Drevon Christian A. , Refsum Helga , Vinknes Kathrine J.
Published: March 2020

Background

Dietary restriction of methionine and cysteine is a well-described model that improves metabolic health in rodents. To investigate the translational potential in humans, we evaluated the effects of dietary methionine and cysteine restriction on cardiometabolic risk factors, plasma and urinary amino acid profile, serum fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), and subcutaneous adipose tissue gene expression in women with overweight and obesity in a double-blind randomized controlled pilot study.

Methods

Twenty women with overweight or obesity were allocated to a diet low (Met/Cys-low, n = 7), medium (Met/Cys-medium, n = 7) or high (Met/Cys-high, n = 6) in methionine and cysteine for 7 days. The diets differed only by methionine and cysteine content. Blood and urine were collected at day 0, 1, 3 and 7 and subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies were taken at day 0 and 7.

Results

Plasma methionine and cystathionine and urinary total cysteine decreased, whereas FGF21 increased in the Met/Cys-low vs. Met/Cys-high group. The Met/Cys-low group had increased mRNA expression of lipogenic genes in adipose tissue including DGAT1. When we excluded one participant with high fasting insulin at baseline, the Met/Cys-low group showed increased expression of ACAC, DGAT1, and tendencies for increased expression of FASN and SCD1 compared to the Met/Cys-high group. The participants reported satisfactory compliance and that the diets were moderately easy to follow.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that dietary methionine and cysteine restriction may have beneficial effects on circulating biomarkers, including FGF21, and influence subcutaneous adipose tissue gene expression. These results will aid in the design and implementation of future large-scale dietary interventions with methionine and cysteine restriction.

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03629392, registration date: 14/08/2018 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03629392.
Life satisfaction and musculoskeletal complaints in a population seeking osteopathy care: consecutive sample of 611 patients
Authors: Vaughan Brett , Mulcahy Jane , Allen Thomas , Coupe Emi , Gobbo David , Nasser Leila , Pain Karen , Fitzgerald Kylie
Published: March 2020

Background

Life satisfaction is a component of the subjective well-being construct. Research consistently suggests that life satisfaction is associated with enhanced social benefits and improved health outcomes. However, its relationship to musculoskeletal health outcomes is underexplored. This study evaluates the life satisfaction of a patient population presenting with musculoskeletal complaints, and the relationship of life satisfaction with other health demographics and behaviours.

Method

The study used a consecutive sampling design. Patients attending the Victoria University Osteopathy Clinic (Melbourne, Australia) were invited to complete the PROMIS® General Life Satisfaction scale (GLSS) along with questions related to health demographics and behaviours.

Results

The GLSS T-score was not significantly different for gender, being born outside of Australia, speaking English at home, or complaint chronicity.

Conclusions

Life satisfaction did not appear to be related to a range of health and demographic variables in the current musculoskeletal pain cohort. The PROMIS® General Life Satisfaction scale could prove useful to explore the relationship between life satisfaction and treatment outcomes for musculoskeletal complaints.
CHOP: haplotype-aware path indexing in population graphs
Authors: Mokveld Tom , Linthorst Jasper , Al-Ars Zaid , Holstege Henne , Reinders Marcel
Published: March 2020

The practical use of graph-based reference genomes depends on the ability to align reads to them. Performing substring queries to paths through these graphs lies at the core of this task. The combination of increasing pattern length and encoded variations inevitably leads to a combinatorial explosion of the search space. Instead of heuristic filtering or pruning steps to reduce the complexity, we propose CHOP, a method that constrains the search space by exploiting haplotype information, bounding the search space to the number of haplotypes so that a combinatorial explosion is prevented. We show that CHOP can be applied to large and complex datasets, by applying it on a graph-based representation of the human genome encoding all 80 million variants reported by the 1000 Genomes Project.
Epigenetic predictors of all-cause mortality are associated with objective measures of neighborhood disadvantage in an urban population
Authors: Ward-Caviness Cavin K. , Pu Shirley , Martin Chantel L. , Galea Sandro , Uddin Monica , Wildman Derek E. , Koenen Karestan , Aiello Allison E.
Published: March 2020

Background

Neighborhood characteristics are robust predictors of overall health and mortality risk for residents. Though there has been some investigation of the role that molecular indicators may play in mediating neighborhood exposures, there has been little effort to incorporate newly developed epigenetic biomarkers into our understanding of neighborhood characteristics and health outcomes.

Methods

Using 157 participants of the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study with detailed assessments of neighborhood characteristics and genome-wide DNA methylation profiling via the Illumina 450K methylation array, we assessed the relationship between objective neighborhood characteristics and a validated DNA methylation-based epigenetic mortality risk score (eMRS). Associations were adjusted for age, race, sex, ever smoking, ever alcohol usage, education, years spent in neighborhood, and employment. A secondary model additionally adjusted for personal neighborhood perception. We summarized 19 neighborhood quality indicators assessed for participants into 9 principal components which explained over 90% of the variance in the data and served as metrics of objective neighborhood quality exposures.

Results

Of the nine principal components utilized for this study, one was strongly associated with the eMRS (β = 0.15; 95% confidence interval = 0.06–0.24; P = 0.002). This principal component (PC7) was most strongly driven by the presence of abandoned cars, poor streets, and non-art graffiti. Models including both PC7 and individual indicators of neighborhood perception indicated that only PC7 and not neighborhood perception impacted the eMRS. When stratified on neighborhood indicators of greenspace, we observed a potentially protective effect of large mature trees as this feature substantially attenuated the observed association.

Conclusion

Objective measures of neighborhood disadvantage are significantly associated with an epigenetic predictor of mortality risk, presenting a potential novel avenue by which neighborhood-level exposures may impact health. Associations were independent of an individual’s perception of their neighborhood and attenuated by neighborhood greenspace features. More work should be done to determine molecular risk factors associated with neighborhoods, and potentially protective neighborhood features against adverse molecular effects.
Comparative expression profiles of host circulating miRNAs in response to Trichinella spiralis infection
Authors: Ma Xiao Han , Ren Hui Jun , Peng Ruo Yu , Li Yi , Ming Liang
Published: March 2020

Trichinellosis is an important food-borne parasitic zoonosis throughout the world. At present, the mechanisms of Trichinella spiralis infection remain unclear. Acquiring detailed information on the host-Trichinella interaction would be beneficial for the development of new strategies for trichinellosis control. Circulating miRNAs are stably detectable in the blood of humans and animals infected with parasites. Circulating miRNAs might regulate the expression of target genes in pathological responses during infection and might be novel potential biomarkers of parasitic diseases. In the present study, a total of ten differentially expressed circulating mouse miRNAs with |log2(fold change)| ≥ 1.0 and FDR < 0.01 were found during T. spiralis infection, of which five were upregulated and five were downregulated. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the target genes of the ten miRNAs were enriched in many signalling pathways, especially focal adhesion, MAPK pathway, and so on. The results of qRT-PCR showed that among the five upregulated miRNAs, mmu-miR-467a-3p and mmu-miR-467d-3p expression in mouse serum reached a peak at 30 days post-infection (dpi). The expression of mmu-miR-376b-3p and mmu-miR-664-3p increased significantly at 18 dpi and then decreased at 30 dpi. The expression of mmu-miR-292a-5p gradually decreased from 12 to 30 dpi. Among the 5 downregulated miRNAs, mmu-miR-199a-5p expression was significantly downregulated at 30 dpi, while the expression levels of the other four miRNAs (mmu-miR-455-5p, mmu-miR-125b-5p, mmu-miR-125a-5p, and mmu-miR-615-3p) were significantly lower compared with the control, showing a steady downregulation at different phases of infection. These findings will help to further understand the host-Trichinella interaction and provide promising serum biomarkers for trichinellosis.
Fixed point theorems for sum operator with parameter
Authors: Zhang Nan , Zhang Lingling , Zhou Bibo , Tian Huimin
Published: March 2020

This paper develops some new existence and uniqueness theorems of a fixed point for a class of sum operator equations with parameter$\lambda _{1}A(x,x)+\lambda _{2}B(x,x)+\lambda _{3}Cx+\lambda _{4}Dx=x$λ1A(x,x)+λ2B(x,x)+λ3Cx+λ4Dx=x, whereA,Bare two mixed monotone operators,Cis an increasing operator,Dis a decreasing operator. In the case of positive parameters, the results obtained in this paper extend many existing conclusions in the field of study. Furthermore, by using the properties of Green’s function and the above fixed point theorems of sum operator, the unique positive solution a class of fractional differential equations with integro-differential boundary value conditions is given. Application of the results to the study of fractional differential equations is also given in the article.
Monotonicity properties and bounds involving the two-parameter generalized Grötzsch ring function
Authors: Hai Guo-Jing , Zhao Tie-Hong
Published: March 2020

In the article, we present several new monotonicity properties and bounds involving the generalized Grötzsch ring functions $\mu _{a,b}$μa,b in the theory of Ramanujan’s generalized modular equation for $0< a, b<1$0<a,b<1. Our results are the variants and extensions of some previously known results.
Factors associated with cutaneous ulcers among children in two yaws-endemic districts in Ghana
Authors: Okine Rafiq Nii Attoh , Sarfo Bismark , Adanu Richard M. , Kwakye-Maclean Cynthia , Osei Francis Adjei
Published: March 2020

Background

Yaws is a chronic relapsing disease caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pertunue, which can result in severe disability and deformities. Children below the age of 15 years in resource-poor communities are the most affected. Several non-specific factors facilitate the continuous transmission and resurgence of the disease. Endemic communities in rural Ghana continue to report cases despite the roll out of several intervention strategies in the past years. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with cutaneous ulcers among children in two yaws-endemic districts in Ghana.

Methods

A community-based unmatched 1:2 case-control study was conducted among children between 1 and 15 years. Data on socio-demographic, environmental and behavioral factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Active case search and confirmation was done using the Dual Path Platform (DPP) Syphilis Screen and Confirm test kit. Data were analyzed using STATA 15. Logistic regression was done to determine the exposures that were associated with yaws infection at 0.05 significant level.

Results

Sixty-two cases and 124 controls were recruited for the study. The adjusted multivariable logistic regression model showed that yaws infection was more likely among individuals who reside in overcrowded compound houses (aOR = 25.42, 95% CI: 6.15–105.09) and with poor handwashing habits (aOR = 6.46, 95% CI: 1.89–22.04). Male (aOR = 4.15, 95% CI: 1.29–13.36) and increasing age (aOR = 5.90, 95% CI: 1.97–17.67) were also associated with yaws infection.

Conclusions

Poor personal hygiene, overcrowding and lack of access to improved sanitary facilities are the factors that facilitate the transmission of yaws in the Awutu Senya West and Upper West Akyem districts. Yaws was also more common among males and school-aged children. Improving living conditions, access to good sanitary facilities and encouraging good personal hygiene practices should be core features of eradication programs in endemic communities.
Refinement of a gravimetric geoid model for Japan using GOCE and an updated regional gravity field model
Authors: Matsuo Koji , Kuroishi Yuki
Published: March 2020

We developed a refined gravimetric geoid model for Japan on a 1 × 1.5 arc-minute (2 km) grid from a GOCE-based satellite-only global geopotential model and a regional gravity field model updated in this study. First, we have constructed a regional gravity field model for Japan using updated gravity datasets together with a residual terrain model: 323,431 land gravity data, 77,389 shipborne marine gravity data, and Sandwell’s v28.1 altimetry-derived global marine gravity model. Then, the geoid was determined with the gravity field model. The methodology for gravimetric geoid determination was based on the remove–compute–restore technique with Helmert’s second method of condensation of topography (Stokes–Helmert scheme). Here, the hybrid Meissl–Molodensky modified spheroidal Stokes kernel was employed to minimize the truncation error under an appropriate combination of different kinds of gravity data. In addition, a high-resolution GSI-DEM on a 0.4 × 0.4 arc-second (10 m) grid, together with the SRTM-DEM on a 7.5 × 11.25 arc-second (250 m) grid, was utilized for precisely applying terrain correction to the regional gravity field model. Consequently, we created a gravimetric geoid model for Japan, consistent with 971 GNSS/leveling geoid heights distributed over the four main islands of Japan with a standard deviation of 5.7 cm, showing a considerable improvement by 2.3 cm over the previous model (JGEOID2008). However, there remain some areas with large discrepancies between the computed and GNSS/leveling geoid heights in northern Japan (Hokkaido), mountainous areas in central Japan, and some coastal regions. Since terrestrial gravity data are especially sparse in these areas, we speculated that the largeness of the geoid discrepancies there could be partly attributed to the insufficient coverage and accuracy of gravity data. The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan has started airborne gravity surveys to be covered over the Japanese Islands, and in future, we plan to develop a geoid model for Japan further accurately by incorporating airborne gravity data to come.
Genotyping of a gene cluster for production of colibactin and in vitro genotoxicity analysis of Escherichia coli strains obtained from the Japan Collection of Microorganisms
Authors: Kawanishi Masanobu , Shimohara Chiaki , Oda Yoshimitsu , Hisatomi Yuuta , Tsunematsu Yuta , Sato Michio , Hirayama Yuichiro , Miyoshi Noriyuki , Iwashita Yuji , Yoshikawa Yuko , Sugimura Haruhiko , Mutoh Michihiro , Ishikawa Hideki , Wakabayashi Keiji , Yagi Takashi , Watanabe Kenji
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Colibactin is a small genotoxic molecule produced by enteric bacteria, including certain Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains harbored in the human large intestine. This polyketide-peptide genotoxin is considered to contribute to the development of colorectal cancer. The colibactin-producing (clb+) microorganisms possess a 54-kilobase genomic island (clb gene cluster). In the present study, to assess the distribution of the clb gene cluster, genotyping analysis was carried out among E. coli strains randomly chosen from the Japan Collection of Microorganisms, RIKEN BRC, Japan.

Findings

The analysis revealed that two of six strains possessed a clb gene cluster. These clb+ strains JCM5263 and JCM5491 induced genotoxicity in in vitro micronucleus (MN) tests using rodent CHO AA8 cells. Since the induction level of MN by JCM5263 was high, a bacterial umu test was carried out with a cell extract of the strain, revealing that the extract had SOS-inducing potency in the umu tester bacterium.

Conclusion

These results support the observations that the clb gene cluster is widely distributed in nature and clb+E. coli having genotoxic potencies is not rare among microorganisms.
Nonstandard theta Milstein method for solving stochastic multi-strain tuberculosis model
Authors: Sweilam Nasser H. , AL-Mekhlafi Seham M.
Published: March 2020

In this article, a novel stochastic multi-strain tuberculosis model is presented. Numerical simulations for this model are the main aim of this work. A non-standard theta Milstein method is constructed to study the proposed model, where the proposed method is based on choosing the weight factor theta. The main advantage of this method is it can be explicit or implicit with large stability regions using the idea of the weighed step introduced by R.E. Mickens. Mean-square stability of nonstandard theta Milstein method is studied. The new scheme shows a greater behavior compared to the theta Milstein method. It is concluded that the proposed scheme preserves the positivity of the solution and numerical stability in larger region than the standard method.
A complex point-source solution of the acoustic eikonal equation for Gaussian beams in transversely isotropic media
Authors: Huang Xingguo , Sun Hui , Sun Zhangqing , Vieira da Silva Nuno
Published: March 2020

The complex traveltime solutions of the complex eikonal equation are the basis of inhomogeneous plane-wave seismic imaging methods, such as Gaussian beam migration and tomography. We have developed analytic approximations for the complex traveltime in transversely isotropic media with a titled symmetry axis, which is defined by a Taylor series expansion over the anisotropy parameters. The formulation for the complex traveltime is developed using perturbation theory and the complex point-source method. The real part of the complex traveltime describes the wavefront, and the imaginary part of the complex traveltime describes the decay of the amplitude of waves away from the central ray. We derive the linearized ordinary differential equations for the coefficients of the Taylor-series expansion using perturbation theory. The analytical solutions for the complex traveltimes are determined by applying the complex point-source method to the background traveltime formula and subsequently obtaining the coefficients from the linearized ordinary differential equations. We investigate the influence of the anisotropy parameters and of the initial width of the ray tube on the accuracy of the computed traveltimes. The analytical formulas, as outlined, are efficient methods for the computation of complex traveltimes from the complex eikonal equation. In addition, those formulas are also effective methods for benchmarking approximated solutions.