bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relation between opioid consumption and inclusion of opioids in 137 national essential medicines lists
Authors: Richards Georgia C , Aronson Jeffrey K , Heneghan Carl , Mahtani Kamal R , Koshiaris Constantinos , Persaud Nav
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Opioids are deemed essential medicines by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, many countries have inadequate access to them. Whether including opioids in national essential medicines lists (EMLs) influences national opioid consumption has not been evaluated.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine whether the listing of opioids in national EMLs was associated with consumption. We quantified the numbers and types of all opioids included in 137 national EMLs, for comparison with opioids in the WHO’s Model List of Essential Medicines. Using the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) consumption statistics for 2015–2017, we assessed the relation between annual mean opioid consumption (mg/person) and the numbers of opioids included in EMLs, controlling for region, population, healthcare expenditure, life expectancy, gross domestic product, human development and corruption.

Results

Five opioids were included in the 20th edition of the WHO’s Model List of Essential Medicines: codeine, fentanyl, loperamide, methadone and morphine. On average, countries’ lists included significantly (p<0.05) more opioids than the WHO’s Model List. However, there were wide variations in the numbers (median 6 opioids; IQR: 5–9) and types (n=33) of opioids included in national EMLs. Morphine (95%), fentanyl (83%) and codeine (69%) were the most commonly included opioids. Most national EMLs were out of date (median publication date: 2011, IQR: 2009–2013). After adjusting for country characteristics, there was no relation between mean opioid consumption and the number of opioids in EMLs.

Conclusions

Including opioids in national EMLs was not associated with consumption. National EMLs should be regularly updated to reflect the availability of opioids and the populations’ needs for managing pain.
Economic costs of infertility care for patients in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Njagi Purity , Groot Wim , Arsenijevic Jelena , Dyer Silke , Mburu Gitau , Kiarie James
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Infertility, a condition of the reproductive system, affects millions of individuals and couples worldwide. Despite infertility treatment’s existence, it is largely unavailable and inaccessible in low/middle-income countries (LMICs) due to the prohibitive costs compounded by an absence of financing. Previous systematic reviews have shown that there is scanty information in LMICs on out-of-pocket (OOP) payments for infertility treatment. This protocol outlines the methodological approach and analytical process to appraise the extent of economic burden due to payments for infertility care services in LMICs.

Method and analysis

Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses approach, we will primarily search for articles indexed in PubMed, Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, EconLit and PsycINFO databases. Grey literature from relevant organisations’ virtual libraries shall also be searched. Backward and forward searches on the articles selected will also be done. Quantitative studies on infertility treatment costs from LMICs across the world regions within the last 20 years will be considered. The primary outcome of interest shall include OOP payments, catastrophic health expenditure and direct costs for infertility services. Conversely, informal payments and indirect costs related to infertility treatments shall be considered as secondary outcomes. Integrated quality Criteria for Review Of Multiple Study designs will be used to assess the quality of the studies included in the review. Meta-analysis shall be considered if sufficient studies identified are homogenous in characteristics. Also, the review shall analyse the average cost of infertility treatment against the respective countries’ economic indicators like gross domestic product per capita if data permit.

Ethics and dissemination

Research and ethics approval will not be required given this will be a review of published articles on the subject. The findings shall be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentation to the WHO and its partners.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020199312.
Identification of lncRNAs in response to infection byPlasmodiophora brassicaeinBrassica napusand development of lncRNA-based SSR markers
Authors: Summanwar Aarohi , Basu Urmila , Kav Nat N.V. , Rahman Habibur
Published: November 2020

Clubroot resistance in spring canola has been introgressed from different Brassica sources; however, molecular mechanism underlying this resistance, especially the involvement of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), is yet to be understood. We identified 464 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs from the roots of clubroot-resistant canola, carrying resistance on chromosome BnaA03, and susceptible canola lines challenged with Plasmodiophora brassicae pathotype 3. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that most of the target genes regulated by these DE lncRNAs belonged to plant–pathogen interaction and hormone signaling, as well as primary and secondary metabolic pathways. Comparative analysis of these lncRNAs with 530 previously reported DE lncRNAs, identified using resistance located on BnaA08, detected 12 lncRNAs that showed a similar trend of upregulation in both types of resistant lines; these lncRNAs probably play a fundamental role in clubroot resistance. We identified SSR markers within 196 DE lncRNAs. Genotyping of two DH populations carrying resistance on BnaA03 identified a marker capable of detecting the resistance in 98% of the DH lines. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the identification of SSRs within lncRNAs responsive to P. brassicae infection, demonstrating the potential use of lncRNAs in the breeding of Brassica crops.
On Architectural Support for Instruction Set Randomization
Authors: Christou George , Vasiliadis Giorgos , Papaefstathiou Vassilis , Papadogiannakis Antonis , Ioannidis Sotiris
Published: November 2020

Instruction Set Randomization (ISR) is able to protect against remote code injection attacks by randomizing the instruction set of each process. Thereby, even if an attacker succeeds to inject code, it will fail to execute on the randomized processor. The majority of existing ISR implementations is based on emulators and binary instrumentation tools that unfortunately: (i) incur significant runtime performance overheads, (ii) limit the ease of deployment, (iii) cannot protect the underlying operating system kernel, and (iv) are vulnerable to evasion attempts that bypass the ISR protection itself.

To address these issues, we present the design and implementation of ASIST, an architecture with both hardware and operating system support for ISR. ASIST uses our extended SPARC processor that is mapped onto a FPGA board and runs our modified Linux kernel to support the new features. In particular, before executing a new user-level process, the operating system loads its randomization key into a newly defined register, and the modified processor decodes the process’s instructions with this key. Besides that, ASIST uses a separate randomization key for the operating system to protect the base system against attacks that exploit kernel vulnerabilities to run arbitrary code with elevated privileges. Our evaluation shows that ASIST can transparently protect both user-land applications and the operating system kernel from code injection and code reuse attacks, with about 1.5% runtime overhead when using simple encryption schemes, such as XOR and Transposition; more secure ciphers, such as AES, even though they are much more complicated for mapping them to hardware, they are still within acceptable margins,with approximately 10% runtime overhead, when efficiently leveraging the spatial locality of code through modern instruction cache configurations.
Minoru Ozima: Autobiographical Notes
Authors: Ozima Minoru
Published: November 2020

Minoru Ozima describes important influences in his scientific life, from the trauma of World War II during adolescence to studying with such giants of Earth science as J. Tuzo Wilson. He benefited from international collaborations in helping to establish noble gas geochemistry as an important discipline that reveals much about the origin and evolution of our planet Earth.
The Remarkable Cardiovascular System of Giraffes
Authors: Aalkjær Christian , Wang Tobias
Published: November 2020

Gravity affects the physiology of many animals, and the effect is, for good reason, most pronounced in tall species. The physiology—in particular, cardiovascular function—of giraffes has therefore captivated the interest of physiologists for centuries. Several studies document high mean arterial blood pressure of giraffes of about 200 mm Hg. This appears necessary to establish a cerebral perfusion pressure on the order of 100 mm Hg at the cranial end of the carotid arteries. Here, we discuss the unique characteristics of blood vessels, the heart, and the kidney of giraffes and how these functional and structural adaptations are related to very high blood pressure. We also discuss how the cerebral circulation of giraffes is established and what we know about how the blood flow and arterial and venous pressures in giraffes change when they stop to drink and subsequently lift their heads 5–6 m in one sweeping movement.
[Retracted] Effective Remediation Strategy for Xenobiotic Zoxamide by Pure Bacterial Strains, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Ahmad Khuram Shahzad , Sajid Ayesha , Gul Mahwash Mahar , Ali Daoud
Published: November 2020

Zoxamide, a class IV hazardous fungicide, is perilous for the environment due to its highly persistent nature. Up till the current date, there are no reports on the biodegradation of zoxamide. The scarcity of knowledge in this domain led to the present research to evaluate the biodegradation of this benzamide fungicide by three bacterial strains, Escherichia coli (EC), Streptococcus pyogenes (SPy), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP). Biotransformation of zoxamide was scrutinized in nutrient broth assemblies for a period of 28 days followed by UV‐visible spectrophotometer and GC‐MS analysis of the metabolites. The results exhibited a low to medium biodegradation potential of the bacterial cells to metabolize zoxamide. The highest biotransformation percentage was observed by E. coli to be 29.8%. The order of half‐life calculated for the degradation results was EC (42.5) < SPy (58.7) < SP (67.9) days. GC‐MS analysis indicated the formation of several metabolites including, 2‐(3,5‐dichloro‐4‐methylphenyl)‐4‐ethyl‐4‐methyl‐4H‐1,3‐oxazin‐5(6H)‐one, 3,5‐dichloro‐N‐(3‐hydroxy‐1‐ethyl‐1‐methyl‐‐2‐oxopropyl)‐4‐methylbenzamide and 3,5‐dichloro‐4‐methylbenzamide. The research could influence the biotreatment strategies for the environmentally friendly eradication of xenobiotics.
Dercum’s Disease: A Case Report of a Patient Having Both Type 1 and Type 2 Dercum’s Disease
Authors: Moattari Cameron , Giovane Richard A. , DiGiovanni Kinsely Stephanie
Published: November 2020

Dercum’s disease, or adiposis dolorosa, is a rare disorder which consists of multiple, painful lipomas within the subcutaneous tissue and has a distribution mainly in the abdomen and extremities. Dercum’s disease can be defined as in combination with chronic painful adipose tissue. Although the etiology of Dercum’s disease is not clear, it is thought to be a combination of a neurological and endocrine disorder. Treatment for this disease is centered at managing pain. Although there is no standard of care for managing pain, there are different pain management regimes that are promising.
Circulating Irisin Levels in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hu Jie , Ke Yani , Wu Fangping , Liu Shan , Ji Conghua , Zhu Xiaohong , Zhang Ying
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims. Previous studies have revealed the close relation of irisin with the occurrence and development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the association of circulating irisin levels and NAFLD. Methods. A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials.gov, WANFANG, CNKI, and CBM databases was performed for relevant articles till August 2020. The weighted mean difference (WMD) values and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to compare the case-control studies and pooled results using meta-analysis. Results. The meta-analysis included 5 case-control studies with a total of 1087 people. The results revealed that the circulating irisin levels showed no significant difference between NAFLD and healthy groups (

WMD
=
7.51

(-12.53, 27.56) ng/ml,

P
>
0.05

). Subgroup analysis based on races showed that the average irisin levels were higher in the NAFLD group than in the healthy group (

WMD
=
13.53

(0.71, 26.34) ng/ml,

P
<
0.05

) in 4 Asian studies. Subgroup analysis based on disease severity from 3 Asian studies revealed that the average irisin levels were higher in the NAFLD group than in the healthy group (

WMD
=
25.1

(22.85, 27.51) ng/ml,

P
<
0.05

and

WMD
=
13.52

(22.85, 27.51) ng/ml,

P
<
0.05

, respectively). Subgroup analysis including 3 studies from Asia suggested that the irisin levels were higher in mild NAFLD than in moderate-severe NAFLD (

WMD
=
11.68

(9.03, 14.32) ng/ml,

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. The average irisin levels might be higher in the NAFLD group than in the healthy group in Asians. The irisin levels in the mild NAFLD group might be higher than those in the moderate-severe group in Asians. It is important to monitor the changing trend of irisin levels in predicting the course of NAFLD disease and its changes.
Effects of Rhein on Bile Acid Homeostasis in Rats
Authors: Xian Zhong , Tian Jingzhuo , Wang Lianmei , Zhang Yushi , Han Jiayin , Deng Nuo , Liu Suyan , Zhao Yong , Li Chunyin , Yi Yan , Wang Dunfang , Meng Jing , Pan Chen , Liang Aihua
Published: November 2020

Rhein, the active ingredient of rhubarb, a medicinal and edible plant, is widely used in clinical practice. However, the effects of repeated intake of rhein on liver function and bile acid metabolism are rarely reported. In this work, we investigated the alterations of 14 bile acids and hepatic transporters after rats were administered with rhein for 5 weeks. There was no obvious injury to the liver and kidney, and there were no significant changes in biochemical indicators. However, 1,000 mg/kg rhein increased the liver total bile acid (TBA) levels, especially taurine‐conjugated bile acids (t‐CBAs), inhibited the expression of farnesoid X receptor (FXR), small heterodimer partner (SHP), and bile salt export pump (BSEP) mRNA, and upregulated the expression of (cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase) CYP7A1 mRNA. Rhein close to the clinical dose (10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) reduced the amounts of TBAs, especially unconjugated bile acids (UCBAs), and elevated the expression of FXR and multidrug resistance‐associated protein 3 (Mrp3) mRNA. These results denote that rhein is relatively safe to use at a reasonable dose and timing. 30 mg/kg rhein may promote bile acid transport and reduce bile acid accumulation by upregulating the expression of FXR mRNA and Mrp3 mRNA, potentially resulting in the decrease in serum UBCAs.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Differentiated Chondrocytes Repair Cartilage Defect in a Rabbit Osteoarthritis Model
Authors: Chang Yu-Hsun , Wu Kun-Chi , Ding Dah-Ching
Published: November 2020

The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic effect of iPSC-mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived chondrocytes in a rabbit osteoarthritis (OA) model. The iPSCs were characterized by gene expressions, immunostaining of pluripotent markers, and in vivo teratoma formation. iPSC-differentiated MSCs were characterized by flow cytometry and trilineage differentiation. A rabbit OA model was established by the transection of the anterior cruciate ligament. The therapeutic effect of transplanted iPSC-MSC-chondrocytes on the OA was evaluated by the histology, immunostaining, and qPCR of defective cartilage. The results showed iPSC could express pluripotency markers such as OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG and form an embryoid body and a teratoma. After differentiation of iPSCs for 30 days, MSCs were established. The iPSC-MSC could express typical MSC markers such as CD29, CD44, CD90, CD105, and HLA-ABC. They could differentiate into adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. In this model, iPSC-MSC-chondrocytes significantly improved the histology and ICRS (International Cartilage Repair Society) scores. The transplanted cartilage expressed less IL-1β, TNF-α, and MMP13 than control cartilage. In conclusion, the iPSCs we derived might represent an emerging source for differentiated MSC-chondrocyte and might rescue cartilage defects through its anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic effects.
Two Cases of Severe Hypertension in JAK2 Mutation-Positive Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Authors: Rao Raunak , Kulkarni Spoorthy , Wilkinson Ian B.
Published: November 2020

Background. Myeloproliferative neoplasms are a heterogeneous group of disorders resulting from the abnormal proliferation of one or more terminal myeloid cells—established complications include thrombosis and haemorrhagic events; however, there is limited evidence to suggest an association with arterial hypertension. Herein, we report two independent cases of severe hypertension in JAK2 mutation-positive myeloproliferative neoplasms. Case Presentations. Case 1: a 39-year-old male was referred to our specialist hypertension unit with high blood pressure (BP) (200/120 mmHg), erythromelalgia, and headaches. We recorded elevated serum creatinine levels (146 μM) and panmyelosis. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed JAK2-mutation-positive polycythaemia vera. Renal imaging revealed renal artery stenosis. Aspirin, long-acting nifedipine, interferon-alpha 2A, and renal artery angioplasty were employed in management. BP reached below target levels to an average of 119/88 mmHg. Renal parameters normalised gradually alongside BP. Case 2: a 45-year-old male presented with high BP (208/131 mmHg), acrocyanosis, (vasculitic) skin rashes, and nonhealing ulcers. Fundoscopy showed optic disc blurring in the left eye and full blood count revealed thrombocytosis. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed JAK2-mutation-positive essential thrombocytosis. No renal artery stenosis was found. Cardiac output was measured at 5 L/min using an inert gas rebreathing method, providing an estimated peripheral vascular resistance of 1840 dynes/s/cm5. BP was well-controlled (reaching 130/70 mmHg) with CCBs. Conclusions. These presentations highlight the utility of full blood count analysis in patients with severe hypertension. Hyperviscosity and constitutive JAK-STAT activation are amongst the proposed pathophysiology linking myeloproliferative neoplasms and hypertension. Further experimental and clinical research is necessary to identify and understand possible interactions between BP and myeloproliferative neoplasms.
Numerical Analysis on the Performance of the Underwater Excavation
Authors: Li Bo , Jia Cangqin , Wang Guihe , Ren Jun , Lu Gaofeng , Liu Nannan
Published: November 2020

Based on the Yongdingmen Station of Beijing Metro, the underwater excavation method for deep foundation pit was introduced. This study constructed a numerical analysis model to analyze the performance of surface settlement and lateral wall deflection in the process of underwater excavation. Results showed that this method was better to control the surface settlement and lateral wall deflection compared with other dewatering excavations. In detail, most of the surface settlement was caused during the dry excavation stage and dewatering excavation stage while the deflection caused by underwater excavation only accounted for about 10% of the total settlement. Besides, the maximum settlement occurred 0.25∼0.5 He behind the retaining wall and the value was 0.04% He. Similar to the result of the surface settlement, most of the lateral wall deflection had been completed before the underwater excavation, which only caused about 7% of the total deflection. The maximum wall deflection and its location were approximately 0.06% He and 0.5 He, respectively. Moreover, a series of 3D numerical analyses were studied on the design parameters of the underwater excavation method. This study can be used as a reference for general performance and structural design of foundation pits with underwater excavation.
Research on Supporting Measure at Intersection of Inclined Shaft and Major Tunnel in Highway
Authors: Sun Xiaoming , Zhang Bo , Tao Zhigang , Zhao Chengwei , Wang Jian
Published: November 2020

The deformation characteristics of the rock mass in the intersection between the Muzhailing highway tunnel and the inclined shaft is a complicated three‐dimensional problem. Under the influence of high geostress, large deformation hazards may occur in the surrounding rock. Taking this as the research background, this paper analyzes the deformation mechanism of surrounding rock before and after prestressed anchor cable support through numerical simulation. Then, through theoretical analysis, a new tunnel support method using high prestressed constant resistance and large deformation anchor cable was proposed. The field monitoring results show that the constant resistance and large deformation anchor cable support can well control the deformation of surrounding rock, and the maximum deformation is within 300 mm. At the same time, the constant resistance anchor cable can always maintain a high prestress, which makes the stress of the surrounding rock uniform, and reduces the risk of damage to the steel arch due to local pressure. Moreover, the support method limits the expansion of the plastic zone and improves the overall stability of the surrounding rock.
Ahorro Previsional Voluntario Colectivo (APVC) en Chile
Authors: Fuentes Contreras Olga , López Fernando , Salvo Cifuentes Eugenio
Published: November 2020

El Ahorro Previsional Voluntario Colectivo (APVC) es una alternativa de ahorro para la vejez que permite a las organizaciones promover el ahorro previsional de sus trabajadores. Junto con el Ahorro Previsional Voluntario (APV) y los Depósitos Convenidos (DC), el APVC es uno de los tres instrumentos que conforman el pilar de ahorro voluntario del sistema de pensiones chileno. Pese a que fue instaurado con la reforma previsional de 2008, el APVC ha sido poco utilizado. El objetivo de este artículo es describir su funcionamiento, presentar cifras sobre su evolución y analizar los méritos de su diseño en el contexto de las alternativas de ahorro voluntario que ofrece el sistema de pensiones chileno. El artículo concluye con una reflexión sobre las eventuales causas de su bajo nivel de adopción y explora alternativas para promoverlo.
Acute Bilateral Uveitis, Hypotony, and Cataracts Associated with Ipilimumab and Nivolumab Therapy: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings
Authors: Lee Jessica C. , Al-Humimat Ghadeer , Kooner Karanjit S.
Published: November 2020

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are increasingly being used for the treatment of several malignancies. In rare cases, patients develop disabling ophthalmic side effects such as dry eyes, episcleritis, keratitis, uveitis, inflammatory orbitopathy, myasthenia gravis, macular edema, and serous retinal detachment. We present a case of acute bilateral anterior uveitis, prolonged hypotony, and cataracts following the use of dual therapy ipilimumab and nivolumab. Physicians should be aware of these immune-mediated ocular adverse events and should have a management plan to deal with these side effects that range from mild to vision threatening.
Comprehensive Identification of the Human Secretome as Potential Indicators in Treatment Outcome of HPV-Positive and -Negative Cervical Cancer Patients
Authors: Kong Liang , Wang Jinjuan , Cheng Jiumei , Zang Chunyi , Chen Fang , Wang Wenli , Zhao Hui , Wang Yuwei , Wang Di
Published: November 2020

Background: The aim of this work was to explore the novel and promising biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cervical cancer patients. Methods: The secretome of primary cervical tissues was extracted and then determined by the LC-MS/MS assay. The level of screened targets was confirmed using the RT-PCR and ELISA in cervical cancer tissue samples. The median expression level of certain targets was used as a cutoff value to divide the patients into 2 groups, and then the patients were followed up. The predictive abilities of the targets on the prognosis were further studied. Results: LC-MS/MS, together with bioinformatic analysis, demonstrated that totally 95 targets were dysregulated in cervical cancer. Among them, ECM2, KLK6, and MASP1 were increased in cervical cancer in a stage-dependent manner, whereas FGA was negatively associated with the stage of cervical cancers. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were significantly decreased in the KLK6 high group, whereas little difference was found between the high and low groups of other 3 cases. Univariate analysis of the 5-year OS and DFS revealed a significantly worse outcome for patients with KLK6 high tumors. In multivariate analysis, KLK6 remained a highly significant prognostic marker for OS and DFS. Combined survival analysis of KLK6 expression and the HPV infection revealed that KLK6highHPV(−) predicted the most poor OS rate and the KLK6lowHPV(+) group showed the best prognosis. Conclusion: Through the secretome analysis, we identified a series of secreted proteins differentially expressed in the clinical cancer, among which KLK6 has the potential to become a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of cervical cancer patients.
Blood Pressure Variability and Prognosis in Hemodialysis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhao Yuliang , Yang Letian , Yu Shaobin , Salerno Stephen , Li Yi , Cui Tianlei , Zhang Ling , Fu Ping
Published: November 2020

Background: The prognostic value of blood pressure variability (BPV) in patients receiving hemodialysis is inconclusive. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between BPV and clinical outcomes in the hemodialysis population. Methods: Pubmed/Medline, EMBASE, Ovid, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science databases were searched for relevant articles published until April 1, 2020. Studies on the association between BPV and prognosis in patients receiving hemodialysis were included. Results: A total of 14 studies (37,976 patients) were included in the analysis. In patients receiving hemodialysis, systolic BPV was associated with higher all-cause (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.19; p < 0.001) and cardiovascular (HR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.10–1.22; p < 0.001) mortality. In the stratified analysis of systolic BPV, interdialytic systolic BPV, rather than 44-h ambulatory systolic BPV or intradialytic systolic BPV, was identified to be related to both all-cause (HR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.05–1.17; p = 0.001) and cardiovascular (HR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.06–1.22; p < 0.001) mortality. Among the different BPV metrics, the coefficient of variation of systolic blood pressure was a predictor of both all-cause (p = 0.01) and cardiovascular (p = 0.002) mortality. Although diastolic BPV was associated with all-cause mortality (HR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.01–1.17; p = 0.02) in patients receiving hemodialysis, it failed to predict cardiovascular mortality (HR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.52–1.42; p = 0.56). Conclusions: This meta-analysis revealed that, in patients receiving hemodialysis, interdialytic systolic BPV was associated with both increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Furthermore, the coefficient of variation of systolic blood pressure was identified as a potentially promising metric of BPV in predicting all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The use of 44-h ambulatory systolic BPV, intradialytic systolic BPV, and metrics of diastolic BPV in the prognosis of the hemodialysis population require further investigation (PROSPERO registry number: CRD42019139215).
Increasing Wait-Time Mortality for Severe Aortic Stenosis
Authors: Albassam Omar , Henning Kayley A. , Qiu Feng , Cram Peter , Sheth Tej N. , Ko Dennis T. , Woodward Graham , Austin Peter C. , Wijeysundera Harindra C.
Published: November 2020

Background:

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a reasonable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). There is limited data on temporal trends in wait-times and access to care for patients with AS, irrespective of treatment modality. We sought to investigate the trends in wait-times for the treatment (either SAVR or TAVR) of AS in Ontario, Canada, and to understand the drivers of wait-list mortality and hospitalization due to heart failure.

Methods:

In this population-level retrospective cohort study, we identified patients from April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2018, who were referred for treatment of symptomatic severe AS awaiting either SAVR or TAVR. The primary outcome was the median total wait-time from referral date to either SAVR or TAVR procedure. Primary clinical outcomes were all-cause mortality and heart failure-related hospitalizations while on the wait-list.

Results:

The referral cohort consisted of a total of 22 876 referrals for aortic valve replacement, with (N=8098) TAVR and (N=14 778) SAVR referrals. The mean and median wait times for the overall AVR cohort were 87 and 59 days, respectively. The TAVR subcohort had longer wait-times (median 84 days) compared with the SAVR subcohort (median 50 days). Year over year, there was a statistically significant an increase in wait-times (
P
<0.001) for the overall AS cohort as well as each of the TAVR (
P
<0.0001) and SAVR (
P
<0.0001) subgroups. Wait-time mortality was 2.5% (TAVR 5.2% and SAVR 1.05%), while the cumulative probability of heart failure hospitalization was 3.6% (TAVR 7.7% and SAVR 1.3%).

Conclusions:

In patients with severe symptomatic AS awaiting aortic valve replacement, there has been a trend of increasing wait times for both SAVR and TAVR. This was associated with increasing mortality and hospitalizations related to heart failure while on the wait-list.
Association Among Noncalcified Coronary Burden, Fractional Flow Reserve, and Myocardial Injury in Psoriasis
Authors: Zhou Wunan , Abdelrahman Khaled M. , Dey Amit K. , Reddy Aarthi , Uceda Domingo E. , Lateef Sundus S. , Elnabawi Youssef A. , Anzenberg Paula , Al Najafi Mina , Rodante Justin A. , Keel Andrew , Ortiz Jenis , Teague Heather L. , Erb‐ Alvarez Julie , Singh Dolly , Joshi Aditya A. , Playford Martin P. , Chen Marcus Y. , Gelfand Joel M. , Remaley Alan T. , Bluemke David A. , Mehta Nehal N.
Published: November 2020

Background

Myocardial infarction and premature death have been observed in patients with psoriasis. Although inflammation‐driven accelerated atherosclerosis has been proposed as a mechanism, the relationship between subclinical noncalcified coronary burden (NCB), functional coronary flow impairment, and myocardial injury is unclear.

Methods and Results

In an ongoing longitudinal cohort study, 202 consecutive patients with psoriasis (168 at 1 year) underwent coronary computed tomography angiography to identify coronary plaque, quantify NCB, and calculate coronary fractional flow reserve by computed tomography. Serum high‐sensitivity troponin‐T (hs‐cTn‐T) was measured using a fifth‐generation assay. Overall, patients were middle‐aged, predominantly male, and low cardiovascular risk. A higher than median NCB associated with a positive hs‐cTn‐T (fully adjusted model [odds ratio (OR), 1.72; 95% CI, 1.10–2.69,
P
=0.018]) at baseline. Additionally, patients with a higher than median baseline NCB had higher odds of positive hs‐cTn‐T at 1 year in fully adjusted analyses (adjusted OR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.47–3.79,
P
<0.001). Higher NCB was associated with a higher frequency of fractional flow reserve by computed tomography ≤0.80 (36.11% versus 25.11%, Pearson χ
2
=6.84,
P
=0.009, unadjusted OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.36–3.22,
P
<0.001) and higher frequency of a positive hs‐cTn‐T (54.36% versus 27.54%, Pearson χ
2
=32.23,
P
<0.001) in adjusted models (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.56–4.42,
P
<0.001).

Conclusions

NCB was associated with hs‐cTn‐T at baseline as well as at 1 year. Furthermore, patients with high NCB had higher prevalence of fractional flow reserve by computed tomography ≤0.80 and a >2‐ fold higher odds of positive hs‐cTn‐T. These findings underscore the importance of early vascular disease in driving myocardial injury, and support conduct of myocardial perfusion studies to better understand these findings.
Association of Hypertension According to New American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Blood Pressure Guidelines With Incident Dementia in the ARIC Study Cohort
Authors: Hodis Jeffrey D. , Gottesman Rebecca F. , Windham B. Gwen , Knopman David S. , Lutsey Pamela L. , Walker Keenan A. , Alonso Alvaro
Published: November 2020

Background

The impact of the new 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) hypertension guideline on dementia risk at the population level has not been evaluated.

Methods and Results

We studied dementia‐free participants in the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) Study cohort in 1987 to 1989. Hypertension was defined by 2003 Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure and 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines using blood pressure measured at baseline. Dementia was defined using adjudicated consensus diagnoses, informant telephone interviews, and discharge codes from hospitalizations and death certificates. Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for dementia and 95% CIs by hypertension categories, adjusting for confounders. Population attributable fraction of dementia was calculated by hypertension categories. Among 13 971 participants followed up for a median of 23 years, 1381 dementia cases were identified. Prevalence of hypertension was 34% and 48%, according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure and ACC/AHA criteria, respectively. HRs (95% CIs) compared with normal blood pressure, according to ACC/AHA categories, were 1.35 (1.12–1.61) for elevated blood pressure, 1.28 (1.07–1.52) for hypertension stage 1, and 1.36 (1.18–1.57) for hypertension stage 2. Population attributable fractions (95% CIs) of dementia from blood pressure categories were 3% (1%–5%), 3% (1%–5%), and 9% (4%–14%), respectively. Population attributable fractions (95% CIs) using the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure categories were 6% (3%–9%) for prehypertension, 0% (−2% to 2%) for hypertension stage 1, and 9% (5%–13%) for hypertension stage 2.

Conclusions

Risk of dementia increased across hypertension categories defined by ACC/AHA guidelines. The population impact on dementia incidence using ACC/AHA categories was similar to the impact of the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.
Systematic Approach to Malalignment Type Ventricular Septal Defects
Authors: Yoo Shi‐Joon , Saito Mika , Hussein Nabil , Golding Fraser , Goo Hyun Woo , Lee Whal , Lam Christopher Z. , Seed Mike , Dragulescu Andreea
Published: November 2020

Various congenital heart diseases are associated with malalignment of a part of the ventricular septum. Most commonly, the outlet septum is malaligned toward the right or left ventricle. Less commonly, the whole or a major part of the ventricular septum is malaligned in relation to the atrial septal plane. Although the pathological conditions associated with ventricular septal malalignment have been well recognized, the descriptions are often confusing and sometimes incorrect. In this pictorial essay, we introduce our systematic approach to the assessment of malalignment type ventricular septal defects with typical case examples. The systematic approach comprises description of the essential features of malalignment, including the following: (1) the malaligned part of the ventricular septum, (2) the reference structure, (3) the mechanism of malalignment, (4) the direction of malalignment, and (5) the severity of malalignment.
Melancholic Hopes, Trans Temporalities, and Haunted Biblical Receptions: A Response
Authors: Marchal Joseph A.
Published: November 2020

Queer approaches to temporality and hauntology have the significant potential to alter, reframe, and expand our understandings and uses of biblical texts and traditions, as the articles in this special issue demonstrate. Still other striking juxtapositions or analogies should complicate our approaches to these texts and traditions, and plenty more besides. In several places, then, this essay shows how these complications can be challenged and specified by select insights from trans conversations about temporality and haunting. These trans conversations currently range over a large set of dynamics: visibility and violence, fungibility and fugitivity, necropolitics and “negative” affects, from the monstrous to the melancholic. These resonate with the movements of Sarah and Hagar, Joseph and his kin, Judith and her nearly-ghosted slave, the Gerasenes and their demon/iac, among many other biblical figures, in unexpected and illuminating ways. The cyclical, even loopy qualities of queer and, or as, trans temporality and haunting are hardly progressive, but ambivalent, suggesting the especial importance of melancholic hopes for negotiating these haunted biblical receptions. The juxtapositions, allegories, analogies, and applications of these four articles are precisely the sort of receptions and movements that should be ventured more often within biblical interpretation. A receptivity to what still haunts these texts and traditions requires responding to and rejecting the gendered, sexualized, racialized, and colonized terms of visibility they offer, their doors of entry that exceptionalize a select few and estrange those from the rest who are exploited, expelled, or exterminated.
Double Object Constructions in DSS Hebrew
Authors: Siebesma-Mannens Femke
Published: November 2020

In this article an overview is given of the verbal valence patterns of the verb ‮נתן‬‎ in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Four patterns are distinguished for this verb: 1. ‮נתן‬‎ + OBJECT to produce; 2. + ‮נתן‬‎ OBJECT + RECIPIENT to give to; 3. ‮נתן‬‎ + OBJECT + LOCATION to place; 4. ‮נתן‬‎ + OBJECT + 2ND OBJECT to make into. All occurrences of the verb in the DSS corpus used, consisting of 1QHa, 1QS, 1QM, and 1QpHab, are discussed and divided into one of these patterns. This study shows that pattern 3 occurs most, followed by pattern 2, and that it can be argued that pattern 1 and 4 also occur in our DSS corpus, though the evidence is scarce. In some cases, translations, differing from the translations in the editions of the texts, are proposed that better reflect the verbal valence patterns used in the clause.
Henry of Langenstein’s Principium on the Sentences, His Fellow Parisian Bachelors, and the Academic Year 1371-1372
Authors: Brînzei Monica , Schabel Chris
Published: November 2020

This research note identifies for the first time the principium on book I of the Sentences by the prolific polymath Henry of Langenstein (†1397). This discovery, when combined with the four principia of the Augustinian Denis of Modena, provides the evidence necessary to demonstrate that Langenstein lectured on the Sentences at Paris in 1371-1372. The note also establishes the identity of the other eight bachelors of theology who participated in the principial debates that year.
The behaviours of a female blonde capuchin (Sapajus flavius) towards her dead infant
Authors: Andrade Bruna M.T. , Freire-Filho Robério , Bezerra Bruna
Published: November 2020

Here we describe the behaviour of a female blonde capuchin (Sapajus flavius) towards her dead infant and discuss possible explanations linked to the anecdotal event. We conducted our study in a fragment of Atlantic forest in Northeastern Brazil where we have been monitoring a blonde capuchin population, with over 163 individuals, since 2010. Our observations show that the behaviours of female blonde capuchins towards dead infant include corpse carrying, which may be related to maternal-bond strength and grief management. Two adult males cooperated with the vulnerable female by protecting her during group travelling even though offspring survival was no longer a possibility. The present study complements the current knowledge of thanatology in Neotropical primates.
Spatial structure of the pink shrimp Penaeus (Farfantepenaeus) notialis (Pérez Farfante, 1967) (Decapoda, Penaeidae) in the Colombian Caribbean: implications for fisheries management
Authors: Ramírez Argiro , Paramo Jorge , Selvaraj John
Published: November 2020

The objective of this study was to assess the patterns in the spatial distribution, size structure, morphometric relationships, and relationships of biomass and size to sampling depth and distance to the coast of Penaeus notialis in the Colombian Caribbean. The biological data were collected on board a shrimp trawler. The females were larger and heavier than the males, which indicated distinct sexual dimorphism in body size. The cephalothorax length at 50% maturity in females was 26.49 mm, and in males, it was 15.13 mm. Relatively high biomass values were found in the southern zone of the study area at depths between 25.6 and 49.3 m and between 3.94 and 7.80 nmi (= 7.29-14.45 km) from the coast. We found a clear spatial structure of biomass and size in relation to depth, so that the fishing effort can be directed to the locations of the adult population.
Population structure, growth and reproduction characteristics of the portunid crab, Carcinus aestuarii Nardo, 1847 (Decapoda, Carcinidae) in Çardak Lagoon, Turkish Straits System
Authors: Acar Seçil , Ateş A. Suat
Published: November 2020

The aim of the present study was to determine the population structure and bioecological characteristics of the portunid crab, Carcinus aestuarii in Çardak Lagoon. In this study, the crabs were sampled by means of fyke-nets at 6 different stations between April 2015 and March 2016. A total of 2458 individuals (686 females, 1755 males, and 17 juveniles) were captured. The average carapace length was measured as 38.85 ± 0.17 mm in females, and 47.65 ± 0.16 mm in males. The highest number of specimens was observed in November with 239 individuals, while the lowest number (125 specimens) was observed in February. The reproductive period in both sexes was between November and February and females with eggs were found in November, February and March. An average number of eggs in a female was 61 390 ± 8.48 and the egg diameter was 345 μm. The female : male ratio was 0.39 : 1. This paper includes the first published data on population structure, growth, and reproduction characteristics of C. aestuarii in a protected lagoon in the Turkish Straits System.
Passports for Sale: How (Un)Meritocratic Are Citizenship by Investment Programmes?
Authors: Ammann Odile
Published: November 2020

In recent years, citizenship by investment (CBI) and residency by investment (RBI) programmes have been burgeoning throughout the world, including in a range of European States. At first sight, such programmes are blatantly anti-meritocratic: they hinge on a person’s wealth, and not on her skills, potential, and intrinsic qualities. Yet upon a closer look, the public discourse that surrounds CBI and RBI is influenced by the same meritocratic conceptions as those that have been driving domestic citizenship and immigration law in the past decades. In this article, I take a step back from existing debates about CBI to argue that the concept of meritocracy is key to understanding, supporting, but also challenging contemporary immigration and citizenship law, including CBI. First, I analyse the merits—if I may say so—of the concept of meritocracy. I then show the limitations of using meritocratic arguments to justify the existence of CBI schemes.
Rodrigo Duterte as Ideology: Academic vs. Social Media Myths and Representations and their Implications to Political Order
Authors: Contreras Antonio P.
Published: November 2020

Rodrigo Duterte is imaged as an ideology through narratives, texts, discourses and representations which emerge in a highly contentious discursive terrain. This paper places this in two domains, namely in academic theorizing and popular culture, particularly in social media, both of which are implicated in representational politics. Academic theorizing about Duterte attempts to be objective and scholarly, but is dominated by anti-Duterte sentiments that are mainly born from liberal and critical orientations. The pro-Duterte social media is not only anti-elite but also has an anti-intellectual orientation. Social media is an effective contrapuntal in painting academic theorizing as a weapon of the anti-Duterte elites. Written using narratives drawn from an auto-ethnographic account of this author, this paper first analyzes the academic and social media domains around which myths and representations about Rodrigo Duterte are produced. It concludes by drawing from the analysis the implications to ideological and discursive bases for the maintenance of political order in Philippine society, particularly on the role of leaders in the context of the country’s communitarian political culture.
Colloquium 4 Mythological Sources of Oblivion and Memory
Authors: Garrocho Diego S.
Published: November 2020

In this work, I present a selection of mythological and cultural insights from Ancient Greece that make our ambiguous relationship with memory and oblivion explicit. From Plato to Dante, or from Orphism to Nietzsche, and even today, the experiences of memory and forgetting appear as two sides of one essential nucleus in our cultural tradition in general and in the history of philosophy in particular. I intend to present a panoramic view of the main mythological sources that mention these two experiences as well as their unequal consideration. I will thus stress the personifications of both figures, taking up their features and the moral, gnoseological, and even political implications that historically have been associated with them. This is especially apparent in the strong Platonic legacy latent in the history of philosophy, where every time it insists on defining knowledge as a form of memory, the peculiar attributes of forgetting unexpectedly surface, not as a mistake or cognitive error, but as an experience which is truly saving and therapeutic.
Colloquium 5 Final Causality Without Teleology in Aristotle’s Ontology of Life
Authors: Gonzalez Francisco J.
Published: November 2020

The present paper has a negative aim and a positive aim, both limited in the present context to a sketch or outline. The negative aim, today less controversial, is to show that Aristotle’s theory of final causality has little or nothing to do with the teleology rejected by modern science and that, therefore, far from having been rendered obsolete, it has yet to be fully understood. This aim will be met through the identification and brief discussion of some key points on which Aristotle’s theory differs from teleology as still commonly understood. The positive aim is more controversial as it proposes that we take an ontology of life as the proper context for understanding the significance and nature of final causation in Aristotle. The argument for final causation, in other words, is that, without it, we would lose the phenomenon of life and, indeed, of nature altogether, reducing nature to the inanimate and mechanical.