bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing the Effects of Ketorolac and Paracetamol on Postoperative Pain relief after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery. A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Zadeh Fatemeh Javaherforoosh , Abdalbeygi Hasan , Janatmakan Farahzad , Gholizadeh Behnam
Published: April 2020

Introduction : Pain management after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery remains challenging. Objective This study aimed to compare the effects of Ketorolac and Paracetamol on postoperative CABG pain relief. Method: This double-blind randomized clinical trial study was conducted in Ahvaz, Iran, from September 2018- December 2019. Two consecutive groups of 60 patients undergoing elective on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Intervention The patients were divided into 0.5 mg/kg of ketorolac mg/dl and 10 mg/kg of Paracetamol after surgery for pain management . Primary outcomes were: visual analog pain scale (VAS) at the time point immediately after extubation (baseline) and at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours and the total dose of morphine consumption. Secondary outcomes included the hemodynamic variables, weaning time, chest tube derange, in-hospital mortality and myocardial infarction. Statistical analysis: The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22(SPSS, Chicago, IL). The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare demographic data, VAS scores, vital signs, and side effects. Repeated measurements were tested within groups using Friedman's ANOVA and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Values were expressed as means ± standard deviations. Statistical significance was defined as a p-value < 0.05. Results : Compared with baseline scores, there were significant declines in VAS scores in both groups throughout the time sequence (P＜ 0.05). The statistical VAS score was slightly higher in the Paracetamol group at most time points, except for the time of 6 h. However, at 24 and 48 hours, the VAS score in group Paracetamol was significantly higher than in group Ketorolac. There were no significant differences between groups about hemodynamic variables. Conclusion: The efficacy of ketorolac is comparable to that of Paracetamol in postoperative CABG pain relief. Trial registry: IRCT20150216021098N5. Registered at 2019-09-12
Trauma care and capture rate of variables of World Health Organisation data set for injury at regional hospitals in Tanzania: first steps to a national trauma registry
Authors: Sawe Hendry Robert , Reynolds Teri A. , Weber Ellen J. , Mfinanga Juma A. , Coats Timothy J. , Wallis Lee A.
Published: April 2020

Background: In Tanzania, there is no national trauma registry. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a data set for injury that specifies the variables necessary for documenting the burden of injury and patient-related clinical processes. As a first step in developing and implementing a national Trauma Registry, we determined how well hospitals currently capture the variables that are specified in the WHO injury set. Methods: This was a prospective, observational cross-sectional study of all trauma patients conducted in the Emergency Units of five regional referral hospitals in Tanzania from February 2018 to July 2018. Research assistants observed the provision of clinical care in the EU for all patients, and documented performed assessment, clinical interventions and final disposition. Research assistants used a purposefully designed case report form to audit the injury variable capture rate, and to review Ministry of Health (MoH) issued facility Register book recording the documentation of variables. We present descriptive statistics for hospital characteristics, patient volume, facility infrastructure, and capture rate of trauma variables.Results: During the study period, 2,891 (9.3%) patients presented with trauma-related complaints, 70.7% were male. Overall, the capture rate of all variables was 33.6%. Documentation was most complete for demographics 71.6%, while initial clinical condition, and details of injury were documented in 20.5% and 20.8% respectively. There was no documentation for the care prior to Emergency Unit arrival in all hospitals. 1430 (49.5%) of all trauma-related visits seen were documented in the facility Health Management Information System register submitted to the MoH. Among the cases reported in the register book, the date of EU care was correctly documented in 77% cases, age 43.6%, diagnosis 66.7%, and outcome in 38.9% cases. Among the observed procedures, initial clinical condition (28.7%), interventions at Emergency Unit (52.1%), investigations (49.0%), and disposition (62.9%) were documented in the clinical charts.Conclusions: In the regional hospitals of Tanzania, there is inadequate documentation of the minimum trauma variables specified in the WHO injury data set. Reasons for this are unclear, but will need to be addressed in order to improve documentation to inform a national injury registry.
Data Driven Decision Making to Characterize Clinical Personas of Parents of Children with Cystic Fibrosis: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Szczesniak Rhonda , Pestian Teresa , Duan Leo L , Li Dan , Stamper Sophia , Ferrara Brycen , Kramer Elizabeth , Clancy John P , Grossoehme Daniel
Published: April 2020

Background: Beginning at a young age, children with cystic fibrosis (CF) embark on demanding care regimens that pose challenges to parents. We examined the extent to which clinical, demographic and psychosocial features inform patterns of adherence to pulmonary therapies and how these patterns can be used to develop clinical personas, defined as aspects of adherence barriers that are presented by parents and/or perceived by clinicians, in order to enhance personalized CF care delivery. Methods: We undertook an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study consisting of i) multivariate clustering to create clusters corresponding to parental adherence patterns (quantitative phase); ii) parental participant interviews to create clinical personas interpreted from clustering (qualitative phase). Clinical, demographic and psychosocial features were used in supervised clustering against clinical endpoints, which included adherence to airway clearance and aerosolized medications and self-efficacy score, which was used as a feature for modeling adherence. Clinical implications were developed for each persona by combing quantitative and qualitative data (integration phase). Results: The quantitative phase showed that the 87 parent participants were segmented into three distinct patterns of adherence based on use of aerosolized medication and practice of airway clearance. Patterns were primarily influenced by self-efficacy, distance to CF care center and child BMI percentile. The two key patterns that emerged for the self-efficacy model were most heavily influenced by distance to CF care center and child BMI percentile. Eight clinical personas were developed in the qualitative phase from parent and clinician participant feedback of latent components from these models. Findings from the integration phase include recommendations to overcome specific challenges with maintaining treatment regimens and increasing support from social networks. Conclusions: Adherence patterns from multivariate models and resulting parent personas with their corresponding clinical implications have utility as clinical decision support tools and capabilities for tailoring intervention study designs that promote adherence. Trial registration: Not applicable.
Association of Root Surface Caries with Periodontal Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Patients
Authors: Zhong Sulan , Li Duo , Liang Minlu , Tong Fangli , Li Xiaomin , Chen Lei
Published: April 2020

The authors have withdrawn this preprint due to author disagreement.
Establishing a diagnostic scale of subacute thyroiditis without radioisotope scanning
Authors: Xiong Zhouyi , Luo Chunying , Wang Li , Xiong Bin , Wu Jianneng
Published: April 2020

Background: Radioisotope scanning is important to diagnose subacute thyroiditis(SAT), but it’s not always available. So we aim to establish a diagnostic scale for SAT without radioisotope scanning.Methods: The suspected SAT patients hospitalized in Yuebei people's Hospital from January 2012 to December 2016 were selected and divided into study group and control group according to whether they were diagnosed as SAT. The clinical indexes of two groups were collected and the diagnostic scale of SAT was established by using binary logistic regression analysis. The effectiveness of the scale was evaluated by ROC curve. Results: Of 309 patients, 58.25% of patients were confirmed with SAT and the remaining 41.75% of patients were not diagnosed with SAT. After univariate analysis, variables which were considered statistically different(P<0. 05) between the two groups were selected as independent variables and the diagnosis of SAT was taken as dependent variable in the binary logistic regression model. The logistic regression model consisted of 4 variables, each was thyroid tenderness, firm on palpation, increased ESR and elevated thyroid hormone level. The P value of Omnibus tests was≤0. 001 and the Nagelkerke R Square was 0. 915. The diagnostic scoring scale was established with these four variables according to their regression coeffient. The area under the ROC curve for this diagnostic scale was 0. 991(95% confidence interval, 0. 982-0.999). The highest Youden index was 0. 912, the corresponding cut-off point was 7. Internally validation shows a sensitivity of 92. 78% and a specificity of 98.45% of our scale. Conclusions: We established and validated a diagnostic scale for SAT without the need for radioisotope scanning for the first time. It has good application in institutions that do not have radioisotope machines or among pregnant and lactating women.
Legislation, pollution parameters and biologically active substance concentrations: evaluating origin of sapropel for pharmaceautical production
Authors: Pavlovska Ilona , Klavina Aneka , Auce Agris , Vanadzins Ivars , Silova Alise , Komarovska Laura , Silamikele Baiba , Dobkevica Linda , Paegle Linda
Published: April 2020

Background

Development trends need the necessity for wider use of the local resources and available natural materials are one of the priorities around the world. Freshwater sapropel is a common material in the water basement of the lakes in Latvia, but still not sufficiently explored. The main goal of the project to start detailed and systematic research on the medical properties of sapropel to be obtained in Latvia, promote its scientifically based use in balneology, develop new medical procedures and services, and promote development of new exportable products.
Results

The results include the survey, sampling depths and processing, evaluation of external signs, physical, chemical and biochemical parameters and evaluation of microbiological indicators. Active components from the sapropel samples extracted using the alkaline method. Sapropel extracts were characterized by organic carbon content, humic and fulvic acid concentrations, total phenolic content, trace metal and pesticide concentrations, total antioxidant status and microbiological flora.
Conclusions

Summarizing the article's main findings it was concluded that Latvian freshwater sapropel can be used as raw material for obtaining sapropel extract and use it in the preparation of pharmaceuticals and promote the development of new exportable products and services.
Predicting the COVID-19 Prevalence Rate Using Data Mining
Authors: Ahouz Fatemeh , golabpour amin
Published: April 2020

Background The high prevalence COVID-19 has made it a new pandemic. Predicting the prevalence and incidence of this disease throughout the world is crucial to helping health professionals make key decisions about the disease.Methods The coronavirus dataset contains information on COVID-19 cases in 252 geographic regions since January 22 and is updated daily. Data are included in the analysis as of March 29, 2020, with 17,136 records and 4 variables: latitude, longitude, date, and records. In order to design the prevalence pattern for each geographic area, the information of the region and its neighborhoods in the past two weeks, has been used. Then, using a Boosting Classification algorithm, a method was developed to predict the prevalence rate for the next two weeks.Results The model was presented for three groups with a prevalence of less than 200, ranging from 200 to 1000, and more than 1000 cases, and the model error rates were 9.42, 17.08, and 12.26, respectively. In addition, more than 1 million new cases are expected to become infected in the next two weeks (March 30 - April 12). The number of new cases are expected to be more than 19,000 new cases in Africa, over 100,000 in Asia, over 14,000 in Australia, over 600,000 in Europe and over 300,000 in the Americas.Conclusion The increase in the prevalence growth rate of the disease will also be in the Southern Hemisphere, and the United States will have the highest prevalence worldwide.
Inhibition of mTOR-Akt-ULK1 signaling pathway and activation of autophagy by TNFAIP8 in metastasis of gastric cancer
Authors: Chen Zheng , Zhang Jianguo , Dong Chenyang , Li Dongsheng , Yin Yuehan , Yu Wenhai , Chen Yuezhi
Published: April 2020

Background

The purpose of this article is to study the mechanism of TNFAIP8 in gastric cancer.
Methods

RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of TNFAIP8 mRNA in normal gastric mucosa cells and four gastric cancer cell lines. TNFAIP8 was silenced or overexpressed in two cell lines, CCK-8 cell viability was used, transwell experiment was used to detect cell invasion capability, and flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. TNFAIP was silenced or overexpressed in a cell line, and nude mice were inoculated to form transplanted tumors. HE staining and immunohistochemistry staining were used to detect the histopathological changes of tumors.
Results

The expression of TNFAIP8 was significantly up-regulated in GC patients and cells. After silencing and overexpressing TNFAIP8, gastric cancer cells with high expression increased, apoptosis decreased, and cell invasion increased. Expression of mTOR-Akt-ULK1 signal pathway was inhibited and autophagy signal was activated.
Conclusions

Our findings indicate that TNFAIP8 inhibits the metastasis of gastric cancer cells by inhibiting mTOR-Akt-ULK1 signal pathway and activating autophagy signal.
Renegotiation and Stabilization Clauses in Nigeria’s Upstream Petroleum Industry’s Contracts: The Issues and the Options
Authors: OLUJOBI OLUSOLA JOSHUA
Published: April 2020

The authors have withdrawn this preprint due to author disagreement.
Non-Intubated Anesthesia Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery for Subxiphoid Anterior Mediastinal Tumor Resection
Authors: Liang Hengrui , Qiu Yuan , Deng Shiqi , Li Shuben , Wang Wei , Weixiang Lu. , Zhou Yanran , Zhang Yaoliang , Wu Xi , Liang Wenhua , Jiang Long , Chen Hanzhang , He Jianxing
Published: April 2020

Objective

Subxiphoid approach for mediastinal tumor resection was reported to provide a better view and less postoperative pain. Non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (NI-VATS) without muscle relaxant would decrease the possibility of postoperative airway collapse for anterior mediastinal mass operation. Herein, we sought to describe the use of NI-VATS through subxiphoid approach for anterior mediastinal tumor resection.
Methods

Patients that underwent subxiphoid VATS resection for anterior mediastinal tumor between December 2015 and September 2019 were retrospectively included for analysis. Patients were divided into two groups according to airway management: NI-VATS and intubated VATS (I-VATS). Intraoperative and postoperative variables were compared.
Results

A total of 40 patients were included. Among them, 21 patients received NI-VATS (52.5%) and 19 were treated with I-VATS (47.5%). In total, intraoperative (4/21 vs. 2/19; p = 0.446) and postoperative complications (5/21 vs. 7/19; p = 0.369) were similar between NI-VATS and I-VATS group. The anesthesia time (231.76 vs 244.71 min; p = 0.218), the operation time (152.35 vs 143.64 min; p = 0.980) and the length of stay (9.47 vs 10.57 day; p = 0.970) were similar between the two groups. Chest tube duration was shorter in NI-VATS groups (1.81 vs 1.84 day; p = 0.008), however, the total volume (351.95 vs 348.00 ml; p = 0.223) was similar. The post-operative pain scores (2.79 vs 2.93, P = 0.413) were comparable between two groups.
Conclusions

NI-VATS for mediastinal tumor resection via subxiphoid approach is a safe and technically feasible option. This technique leads to comparable perioperative clinical outcomes when compared with I-VATS via subxiphoid approach.
Genotype-Phenotype Correlation of HbH Disease in Northern Iraq
Authors: Shamoon Rawand P , Yassin Ahmed K , Polus Ranan K , DaherAli Mohamed D
Published: April 2020

Background: HbH disease results from dysfunction of three, less commonly two, α-globin genes through various combinations of deletion and non-deletion mutations. Characterization of the mutations and the underlying genotypes is fundamental for proper screening and prevention of thalassaemia in any region. The aim of this study was to explore the genetic arrangements of HbH disease and to correlate the genotypes with the clinical phenotypes.Method: A total of 44 HbH disease patients were enrolled in this study. They were clinically and haematologically assessed. The patients were tested for 21 common α-globin gene mutations using multiplex PCR and reverse hybridization. According to the genotype, the patients were categorized into two separate sub-groups, deletion and non-deletion types HbH disease. Results: Within the studied HbH disease patients, eight different α-globin gene mutations were detected in nine different genetic arrangements. The --MED and -α3.7 deletions were the two most frequently encountered mutations (37.5% and 35.2% respectively). Patients with deletion genotypes constituted 70.4%. The most common detected genotype was --MED/-α3.7 (59.1%), followed by αpoly-A1α/αpoly-A1α (13.6%). For the first time, coinheritance of two relatively mutations (-α3.7/ααAdana) was unpredictably detected in a 1.5 year-old child with Hb of 7.1 g/dL. Conclusion: The HbH disease patients’ clinical characteristics were variable with no ample difference between the deletion and non-deletion types. These results can be of benefit for the screening and management of thalassaemia in this region.
Epidemiological and Clinical Features of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Diseases (COVID-19) in the South of Iran
Authors: Shahriarirad Reza , Khodamoradi Zohre , Erfani Amirhossein , pour Hamid reza Hossein , Ranjbar Keivan , Emami Yasaman , Mirahmadizadeh Alireza , Lotfi Mehrzad , Yeganeh Babak Shirazi , Nejad Abolfazl Dorrani , Hemmati Abdolrasool , Ebrahimi Mostafa , Moghadami Mohsen
Published: April 2020

Background
In March 2020, WHO has declared pandemic on COVID-19. Although the number of infected cases is increasing, information about its clinical characteristics in the Middle East especially in Iran, a country which is considered as one of the most important foci of the disease in the world is lacking. Till date, there is no available literature on the clinical data on COVID-19 patients in Iran.
Method and Material:
In this multicenter retrospectively registered study, 113 hospitalized confirmed cases of COVID-19 admitted in university affiliated hospitals in Shiraz, Iran in from February 20 to March 20 were enrolled.
Results
The median age was 53 years and 71 (62.8%) were males. The most common symptoms at onset were fatigue (75: 66.4%), cough (73: 64.6%), and fever (67: 59.3%). Laboratory data revealed significant correlation between lymphocyte count, partial thromboplastin time, international normalized ratio with the severity of the disease (P value = 0.003, 0.000, 0.000, respectively). The most common abnormality in chest CT scan was ground-glass opacity (77: 93.9%), followed by consolidation (48: 58.5%). Our results revealed an overall 8% (9 out of 113 cases) mortality rate among the patients, in which the majority was among the ICU admitted patients (5: 55.6%). Also, 68 (60.2%) of our patients achieved total recovery and 7 (6.2%) were discharged with follow-up and home isolation.
Conclusion
In this multi-center study which included 113 hospitalized patients with diagnosis of COVID-19, 9.7% of cases were transferred to ICU and mortality rate was 8%. Furthermore, finding the source of infection and studying the behavior of COVID-19 is crucial for understanding the pandemic.
The MicroRNA-130a-5p/RUNX2/STK32A Network Modulates Tumor Invasive and Metastatic Potential in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Ma Fang , Xie Yangchun , Lei Yiyu , Kuang Zengshuyu , Liu Xianling
Published: April 2020

Background Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a huge health burden for human health and life worldwide. Our study here was to illuminate the relevance of microRNA-130a-5p (miR-130a-5p) on growth and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in NSCLC cells as along with metastasis in vivo, and to explore the underlying mechanism.Methods RT-qPCR was carried out for miR-130a-5p expression determination in NSCLC cells and tissue samples. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay, RT-qPCR and western blot were carried out to study the potential targets of miR-130a-3p. Effects of miR-130a-5p, runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and encoding serine/threonine kinase 32A (STK32A) on NSCLC proliferation, migration, invasion as well as EMT processes were assessed by cell counting kits-8, colony formation, Transwell and western blot assays.Results miR-130a-5p was diminished in NSCLC tissues and cells versus their counterparts. miR-130a-5p exerted its repressive role in NSCLC by curtailing cell viability, migration, invasion as well as EMT, while facilitating apoptosis. miR-130a-5p directly targeted RUNX2, a transcription factor, and conversely regulated its expression. RUNX2 was found to interacted with STK32A to promote its expression. Following the validation of the tumor-supporting role of STK32A in NSCLC cells, RUNX2 overexpression was monitored to reverse miR-130a-5p-inhibited NSCLC tumor volume and weight through enhancing STK32A expression in vivo.Conclusions miR-130a-5p diminished the growth and EMT of NSCLC cells by regulating the RUNX2/STK32A axis, offering possible targets for the treatment for NSCLC.
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is a prognostic factor for colon cancer: a propensity score analysis
Authors: Mazaki Junichi , katsumata Kenji , Kasahara Kenta , Tago Tomoya , Wada Takahiro , Kuwabara Hiroshi , Enomoto Masanobu , Ishizaki Tetsuo , Nagakawa Yuichi , Tsuchida Akihiko
Published: April 2020

Background: A large number of patients suffer recurrence after curative resection, and mortality from colon cancer remains high. The role of cancer-associated malnutrition such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in cancer recurrence and death has been increasingly recognized. This study aimed to analyze long-term oncologic outcomes of Stage II-III colon cancer to examine the prognostic value of NLR using a propensity score analysis.Methods: A total of 442 patients with colon cancer underwent radical surgery between 2000 and 2014 at Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Long-term oncologic outcomes of these patients were evaluated according to NLR values. A cut-off NLR of 3.0 was used based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. A propensity score analysis according to tumor sidedness was also performed. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). Results: Patients with lower NLR values (“lower NLR group”) were more likely to have lymph node metastasis compared to those with higher NLR values (“higher NLR group”) before case matching. After case matching, clinical outcomes were similar between the two groups. There were no significant difference in 5-year OS and 5-year RFS rates between the two groups before case matching based on propensity scores. After case matching, 5-year OS rates were 94.5% in the lower NLR group (n = 135) and 87.0% in the higher NLR group (n = 135), showing a significant difference (p = 0.042). Five-year RFS rates were 87.8% in the lower NLR group and 77.9% in the higher NLR group, also showing a significant difference (p = 0.032). Among patients with left-sided colon cancer, 5-year OS and 5-year RFS rates were 95.2% and 87.3% in the lower NLR group (n = 88), respectively, and 86.4% and 79.2% in the higher NLR group (n = 71), respectively, showing significant differences (p = 0.014 and p = 0.047, respectively).Conclusions: The NLR is an important prognostic factor for advanced colon cancer, especially for left-sided colon cancer.
The effectiveness of an online multimodal intervention for mental health promotion: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Przybylko Geraldine , Morton Darren , Kent Lillian , Morton Jason , Hinze Jason , Beamish Peter , Renfrew Melanie
Published: April 2020

Introduction: There is an urgent need for efficacious interventions to combat the global mental health crisis, and mental health promotion and primary preventive approaches are paramount. Objective: This study examined whether an online multimodal intervention that incorporates evidence-based strategies from the disciplines of Lifestyle Medicine and Positive Psychology improved measures of mental health and emotional wellness. Methods: 425 adults (68.8% females, aged 46.5 ± 15.6) from Australia and New Zealand were randomised to an intervention or control group. The intervention group participated in a ten-week online multimodal intervention. Measures of mental health and emotional wellness were taken at baseline (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 12), and 12 weeks post-intervention (Week 24). The control group completed the same assessments. Results: The intervention group experienced significant improvements from Week 1 to 12 in: mental health (10%, p < 0.001, d = 0.50) and vitality (22%, p < 0.001, d = 0.54) subscales of the Short Form Survey (SF-36); depression (-42%, p < 0.001, d = 0.48), anxiety (-38%, p < 0.001, d = 0.39) and stress (-31%, p < 0.001, d = 0.52) subscales of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21); and life satisfaction (8%, p < 0.001, d = 0.48) as measured by the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS).The control group experienced significant improvements only in the mental health (3%, p = 0.028, d = 0.16) subscale of the SF-36, and the stress subscale (-9%, p = 0.038, d = 0.15) of the DASS-21. The changes in the intervention group were significantly greater (p < 0.001) than the control group for all measures. Improvements in the outcome measures were generally sustained for the intervention group at 12 weeks post-intervention. Conclusion: The online multimodal intervention improved measures of mental health and emotional wellness suggesting that such interventions may be useful for mental health promotion and prevention. Trial registration: The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619000993190. Registered on 12 July 2019 (Retrospectively registered). The ANZCTRN is part of the WHO Primary Registries.
Polyurethane green composites for the treatment of boron present in the oil produced water
Authors: Syed Murtuza Ali , Sawafi Mohammed Al , Shaik Feroz
Published: April 2020

Polyurethane (PU) based algae biocomposite is synthesized and tested for boron removal from oil produced water. The percentage of algae is varied in the biocomposite and its physical and chemical properties are evaluated. The surface morphology, crystalline structure, thermal stability is characterized using scanning electron microscope, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. The density of synthesized PU/algae composites is in the range of 1.12 and 1.20 g/ml based on content of filler in the PU matrix. Weight losses of the tested specimens in various chemical solutions are less than 10%. The boron removal efficiency is in the range of 84–85%, depending upon the algae filler at pH 7.19.
Long-term outcomes of gastric cancer in a single small center: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Jeong Ji Yoon , Kim Kwang Hee , Seo Sang Hyuk , An Min Sung , Baik HyungJoo , Park Yo-Han , Kang Sang Hyun , Kim Jin Soo , Kim Ki Hoon , Oh Sang Hoon
Published: April 2020

Background

The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term outcomes and short-term outcomes of gastric cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment in a small-sized single center by one surgeon.
Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 950 patients who underwent surgical treatment for gastric cancer between January 2000 and January 2010 at Dong-rae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. A total of 820 patients were included and analyzed. We divided the time period into 2 groups: 2000–2005 (period 1) and 2006–2010 (period 2). Since all the surgeries were performed by one surgeon, we were able to analyze the changes in long-term outcomes as the individual surgeon volume accumulated.
Results

The mean follow-up period was 78.26 months. The overall survival and relapse-free survival rates of all patients were 84.6%, and 86.5%, respectively; the postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were 12% and 0.36%, respectively. The relapse-free survival rate was higher in period 2 than in period 1 (82.9% versus 90.2%, p = 0.002)
Conclusions

Our study showed that the short-term outcomes and long-term outcomes of gastric cancer treatment in a small-sized hospital were comparable to those in large-sized hospitals. Accumulated individual surgeon volume was related to a high relapse-free survival rate.
Immunoregulation of Microglia M2 polarization is an unrecognized physiological function of α -Synuclein
Authors: Li Na , Stewart Tessandra , Sheng Lifu , Shi Min , Cilento Eugene M , Wu Yufeng , Hong Jau-Syong , Zhang Jing
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUNDMicroglial function is vital for maintaining the health of the brain, and their activation is an essential component of neurodegeneration. It is increasingly recognized that microglia also undergo changes, dependent on the cellular environment, that promote mainly reconstructive and anti-inflammatory functions, i.e. mostly desirable functions of microglia in a physiological state. What maintains microglia at this physiological state is essentially unknown, despite significant research on factors that provoke “reactive” or “inflammatory” phenotypes in conditions of injury or disease. One such factor, exposure to the aggregated or oligomeric forms of α-synuclein, an abundant brain protein, plays an essential role in driving microglial activation; including chemotactic migration and production of inflammatory mediators in Lewy body (LB) diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.METHODSIn this study, using in vitro and in vivo models, we challenged primary microglia or BV2 microglia with LPS + IFN-γ,IL-4 + IL-13, α-synuclein monomer and α-synuclein oligomer, examined microglia phenotype and the underlying mechanism by RT-PCR, Western blot, ELISA, IF, IHC, Co-IP. RESULTS: We described a novel physiological function of α-synuclein, in which it modulates microglia towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype by interaction with extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and recruitment of the ERK, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) pathways. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a previously unrecognized function of α-synuclein that likely gives new insights into the pathogenesis and potential therapies for Lewy body-related diseases and beyond, given the abundance and multiple functions of α-synuclein in brain tissue.
Kaempferol inhibits pseudorabies virus replication in vitro through regulation of MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathways
Authors: Chen Xu , Chen Yaqin , Yin Zhongqiong , Wang Rui , Hu Huaiyue , Liang Xiaoxia , He Changliang , Yin Lizi , Zhang Wei , Ye Gang , Zou Yuanfeng , Lv Cheng , Li Lixia , Tang Huaqiao , Zhao Ling , Yue Guizhou , Jia Renyong , song xu
Published: April 2020

Pseudorabies virus (PRV), belonging to the family Herpesviridae, is a pathogen of Aujeszky’s disease leading great economic losses to pig industry. Re-outburst of pseudorabies implies that new control measures are urgent needed. The present study provides a candidate drug for PRV infection that kaempferol possesses the ability to inhibit PRV replication in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Kaempferol at a concentration of 52.40 μM could decrease PRV-induced cell death by 90%. Kaempferol with a IC50 of 25.57μM is more effective than acyclovir (Positive control) with a IC 50 of 54.97 μM. Mode of action study indicated that kaempferol inhibited viral penetration and replication stages and virus load was decreased by 4-fold and 30-fold, respectively. Addition of kaempferol within 16 hours post infection (hpi) could significantly inhibit virus replication, and the DNA copies were decreased by almost 15-fold when kaempferol was added at 2 hpi. Kaempferol could regulate NF-κB and MAPKs signal pathways involved in PRV infection and change the levels of the target genes of MAPKs (ATF-2 and c-Jun) and NF-κB (IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-2) signaling pathways. All the results indicated that kaempferol has the ability to be an alternative control measure for PRV infection.¶ These authors contribute equally to this work and should be considered as the first author.
Surgery combined with antibiotics for the treatment of endogenous endophthalmitis caused by live abscess
Authors: Wang Yue , Wang Xue , Di Yu
Published: April 2020

BackgroundEndogenous endophthalmitis is a serious disease caused by intraocular infection, that can rapidly progress to cause blindness. This study evaluated the clinical features, surgical and antibiotics treatment strategies, and treatment outcomes in patients with endophthalmitis caused by liver abscess.MethodsBetween April 2014 and April 2019, the clinical data of patients (19 eyes) with endophthalmitis associated with liver abscess who underwent surgery at Shengjing Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Furthermore, we also evaluated the degree of visual acuity correction in patients after surgery to determine the efficacy of vitrectomy.ResultsFifteen patients (18 eyes) underwent intravitreal injection followed by vitrectomy after admission. One patient (1 eye) was only underwent intravitreal injection. Three patients (3 eyes) had recurrent intraocular inflammation and eventually underwent evisceration. Systemic antibiotics were administered for all patients based on the results of vitreous humor culture, blood culture, and antibiotic susceptibility tests. Outpatient follow-ups were performed until the patients were stable (6 months). Of the 19 eyes, 1 eye (5.26%) had visual acuity restored to 20/200, 6 eyes (31.58%) had visual acuity restored to counting fingers (CF), 2 eyes (10.53%) had visual acuity restored to hand motion (HM), 4 eyes (21.58%) showed only light perception (LP), and the remaining 6 eyes showed no light perception (NLP),3 patients showed carbapenems resistance.ConclusionEndogenous endophthalmitis caused by liver abscess is occult, and prognosis is poor. Timely surgical intervention combined with antibiotic treatment is essential, and the primary disease must be treated to control disease progression at the earliest.
Dissecting drug and prognostic lncRNA signature mediated by DNA methylation and transcription factor in colon cancer
Authors: Zhang Jiayu , Shen Zhen , Song Zheyu , Luan Jian , Li Yezhou , Zhao Tiancheng
Published: April 2020

Background: Colon cancer is still the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and leading cause of death worldwide. Apart from living habits, genetic and epigenetic changes are key factors to influence the risk of colon cancer. However, the impact of epigenetic alterations in non-coding RNAs and the consequences for colon cancer has not been fully characterized.Methods: We detected differential methylation sites (DMSs) in lncRNA promoters, and identified lncQTMs by association test. To investigate TF binding affected by DNA methylation, we characterized known TF motif occurrence among DMSs collected from MEME suit. We further combined methylome and transcriptome data to construct TF-methylation-lncRNA relationships. To study the role of lncRNAs in drug response, we used pharmacological and lncRNA profiles derived from CCLE and predict drug response by lncRNA expression level. We also used the combination of TF-methylation-lncRNA relationship to stratified patient survival information by a risk model.Results: DNA methylation display global hyper-methylation character in lncRNA promoters, and they tend to have negative relationship with the corresponding lncRNAs. Negative lncQTMs located near TSS have more significant and stronger correlation with the corresponding lncRNAs. Some lncRNAs mediated by the interplay between DNA methylation and TFs are proved markers for colon cancer. Typically, lncRNA CAHM, RP11-834C11.4 and LINC00460 are good predictors for 5 drug components (17-AAG, Sorafenib, TKI258, RAF265, Topotecan) in colon cancer. And we found HES1_cg24685006_RP4-728D4.2 and SREBF1_cg05372727_LINC00460 relationships are prognostic signatures for colon cancer.Conclusions: These findings suggested lncRNAs mediated by the interplay between DNA methylation and TFs are promising predictors for drug response, besides, combined TF-methylation-lncRNA can serve as prognostic signature for colon cancer.
Non-Inferiority of Survival in Early Breast Cancer Patients with False-Negative Sentinel Nodes After Completing Axillary Lymph Node Dissection
Authors: Loh Zhu-Jun , Lee Kuo-Ting , Chen Ya-Ping , Kuo Yao-Lung , Chung Wei-Pang , Hsu Ya-Ting , Huang Chien-Chang , Hsu Hui-Ping
Published: April 2020

Background Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard approach of axillary region for early breast cancer patients with clinically negative node. The present study investigated patients with false-negative sentinel nodes (FNSN) of intraoperative frozen section.Methods A case-control study with 1:3 ratio was conducted. FNSN was diagnosed as negative sentinel nodes (SNs) in frozen sections, but positive for metastasis in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks. Control was defined no metastasis of SNs in both frozen and FFPE sections.Results Total 20 FNSN cases and 60 matched-controls were enrolled from 333 SLNB patients between April 1, 2005 and November 31, 2009. The demographics and intrinsic subtypes of breast cancer were similar between FNSN and controls. The FNSN patients had a larger tumor size in preoperative mammography and more lymphatic tumor emboli in core biopsy (P-value 0.033 and < 0.001, respectively). Four FNSN patients had metastasis in the non-relevant SNs. Other 16 FNSN patients had results of benign lymphoid hyperplasia of SNs in frozen sections and metastasis in FFPE blocks. Micrometastasis (less than 2 mm) was detected in seven of 16 patients and metastases in non-sentinel nodes was recognized in two of 16 patients. All FNSN patients received second operation with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). After a median follow-up of 143 months, no FNSN patients developed recurrence of breast cancer. The disease-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival in FNSN were non-inferior than controls.Conclusion Outcomes of FNSN patients after completing ALND was non-inferior to those without metastasis in SNs. ALND improved survival of patients with metastasis non-sentinel ALNs. However, omitting ALND had no effect for those have only micrometastasis in SNs.
Anti-inflammatory and NF-κB inhibitory activity of aerial parts of Cestrum diurnum
Authors: Khatun Amina , Rahman Mahmudur , Nesa Lutfun , Looi Chung Yeng , Wong Won Fen , Hazni Hazrina , Mahdzir Mohamad Azrul bin , Uddin Shaikh Jamal , Awang Khalijah , Shilpi Jamil Ahmad
Published: April 2020

Background

Cestrum diurnum L. (Solanaceae) is used in various traditional medicine for pain and related disorders. The Malayali tribe of Tamil Nadu in India use the leaf in joint pain. In the Chinese traditional medicine it is used for the treatment of burns and swellings. Present study was designed to evaluate its traditional use in pain and inflammation.
Methods

Methanol extract of the aerial parts of C. diurnum was tested by carrageenan induced paw oedema and formalin induced paw licking test in mice at the oral doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight. NF-κB inhibitory activity was evaluated by TNF-α induced NF-κB activation assay in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells at the concentration of 100 µg/ml.
Results

The extract, at the doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg, showed significant inhibition (p < 0.05) of carrageenan induced paw oedema and the effect persisted throughout the entire experimental period of 3 h with the highest activity (50% inhibition) at 3rd h. In formalin induced paw licking test, the extract exhibited significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of paw licking, both in the early and late phase of the experiment at the aforementioned dose levels. At the concentration of 100 µg/ml, the extract did not inhibit the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Rather, the extract was found to downregulate NF-κB p65 protein expression.
Conclusions

The present work supports the folkloric use of the plant for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory action which might involve downregulation of NF-κB p65 protein expression and/or inhibition of autacoid (histamine, serotonin, prostaglandin) synthesis.
Detailed severity assessment of Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale to detect large vessel occlusion in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Tárkányi Gábor , Csécsei Péter , Szegedi István , Fehér Evelin , Annus Ádám , Molnár Tihamér , Szapáry László
Published: April 2020

Background
Selecting stroke patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) based on prehospital stroke scales could provide a faster triage and transportation to a comprehensive stroke centre resulting a favourable outcome. We aimed here to explore the detailed severity assessment of Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) to improve its ability to detect LVO in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.
Methods
A cross-sectional analysis was performed in a prospectively collected registry of consecutive patients with first ever AIS admitted within 6 hours after symptom onset. On admission stroke severity was assessed National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the presence of LVO was confirmed by computed tomography angiography (CTA) as an endpoint. A detailed version of CPSS (d-CPSS) was designed based on the severity assessment of CPSS items derived from NIHSS. The ability of this scale to confirm an LVO was compared to CPSS and NIHSS respectively.
Results
Using a ROC analysis, the AUC value of d-CPSS was significantly higher compared to the AUC value of CPSS itself (0.788 vs. 0.633, p < 0.001) and very similar to the AUC of NIHSS (0.795, p = 0.510). An optimal cut-off score was found as d-CPSS ≥ 5 to discriminate the presence of LVO (sensitivity: 69.9%, specificity: 75.2%).
Conclusion
A detailed severity assessment of CPSS items (upper extremity weakness, facial palsy and speech disturbance) could significantly increase the ability of CPSS to discriminate the presence of LVO in AIS patients.
Reframing the magnetotelluric phase tensor for monitoring applications: improved accuracy and precision in strike determinations
Authors: Bravo-Osuna Ana Gabriela , Gómez-Treviño Enrique , Cortés-Arroyo Olaf Josafat , Delgadillo-Jáuregui Néstor Fernando , Arellano-Castro Rocío Fabiola
Published: April 2020

The magnetotelluric method is increasingly being used to monitor electrical resistivity changes in the subsurface. One of the preferred parameters derived from the surface impedance is the strike direction, which is very sensitive to changes in the direction of the subsurface electrical current flow. The preferred method for estimating the strike changes is that provided by the phase tensor because it is immune to galvanic distortions. However, it is also a fact that the associated analytic formula is unstable for noisy data, something that limits its applicability for monitoring purposes, because in general this involves comparison of two or more very similar data sets. On the other hand, the classical Swift’s approach for strike is very stable for noisy data but it is severely affected by galvanic distortions. In this paper we impose the criterion of Swift’s approach to the phase tensor. Rather than developing an analytical formula we optimize numerically the same criterion. This stabilizes the estimation of strike by relaxing an exact condition to an optimal condition in the presence of noise. This has the added benefit that it can be applied to windows of several periods, thus providing tradeoffs between variance and resolution. The performance of the proposed approach is illustrated by its application to synthetic data and to real data from a monitoring array in the Cerro Prieto geothermal field, México.
The right atrial diameter as a risk factor predicting recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation at mid-term follow-up
Authors: Xiaofei Wang , Wenli Wang , Cao Zou
Published: April 2020

Background

Left atrial diameter (LAD) has been confirmed to predict recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after catheter ablation (CA). The influence of right atrium (RA) size on the prognosis after CA was relatively unclear and lack of research. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between right atrial diameter (RAD) and the mid-term outcome of AF after CA.
Methods

This study retrospectively examined 121 patients who underwent initial CA for symptomatic AF. Cox regression model was used to find risk factors of recurrence. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate predictive power and determine clinic cutoff value. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to analyze success rate.
Results

There were 94 (77.7%) patients of freedom from AF after 24.2 ± 4.5 months’ follow-up. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed both hypertension and RAD were independent risk factors of arrhythmia recurrence after ablation regardless of AF type (HR: 4.915; 95% CI: 1.370-17.635; P = 0.015 and HR: 1.059; 95% CI: 1.001–1.120; P = 0.045, respectively). However, in patients with paroxysmal AF (par-AF), Multivariate analysis showed RAD become the only independent risk factor (HR: 1.031; 95% CI: 1.016–1.340; P = 0.029). ROC curve demonstrated the cutoff value of RAD was 35.5 mm with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.715 (95% CI: 0.586–0.843, P = 0.009), sensitivity of 81.3% and specificity of 54.2%. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed significant difference of freedom from par-AF (67.5 vs. 91.4%, log-rank, P = 0.015) between patients with RAD ≥ 35.5 mm and < 35.5 mm in this subgroup. Nevertheless, in patients with persistent AF (per-AF), no risk factor of arrhythmia recurrence was found. In addition, Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed no significant difference of freedom from per-AF (69.7 vs. 87.5%, log-rank, P = 0.31) between patients with RAD ≥ 35.5 mm and < 35.5 mm.
Conclusions

RAD was the independent risk factor predicting recurrence of AF after CA only in patients with par-AF. In patients with RAD < 35.5 mm, there was a significantly higher freedom from par-AF recurrence compared with RAD ≥ 35.5 mm after a mid-term follow-up.