bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autophagy-Related Signature for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Li Cheng , Wu Zeng-hong , Yuan Kun
Published: October 2020

Background. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world, with low survival and poor quality of life. Autophagy-associated genes (ATGs) have been reported to be involved in the initiation and progression of malignancies. Here, we aimed to investigate the association between autophagy-associated genes and the outcomes in HNSCC patients. Methods. We obtained ATGs with prognostic values by analyzing the datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Human Autophagy Database (HADb). The enrichment functions of autophagy differential genes were analyzed by Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The Kaplan-Meier method was applied to the survival curve analysis. A prognostic autophagy-related gene signature was established, and its independence was verified. Results. We acquired a total of 529 samples and 232 ATGs; further, we identified 45 genes associated with prognosis and built a prognosis autophagy signature based on risk score of 15 genes. Patients were divided into two groups based on risk scores. The Kaplan-Meier curve illustrated that the survival rate of the high-risk group was significantly lower than that of the low-risk group in both the training group and validation group. The ROC curve revealed that the risk score had the highest AUC value in the 3rd and 5th years, reaching 0.703 and 0.724, which are higher than other risk factors such as gender, age, and TNM stage. The nomogram further confirmed its weight in the prognosis of HNSCC patients. Through KEGG and GO enrichment analyses, we observed that ATGs were involved in the tumorigenesis and invasion of tumor by various mediating pathways. We gained 3 hub genes (MAP1LC3B, FADD, and LAMP1) and further analyzed the survival curves, mutations, differential expressions, and their roles in tumors on the online websites. Conclusion. We identified a novel autophagy-related signature that may provide promising biomarker genes for the treatment and prognosis of HNSCC. We need to validate its prognostic value by applying it to the clinic.
Guiqi Baizhu Decoction Alleviates Radiation Inflammation in Rats by Modulating the Composition of the Gut Microbiota
Authors: Zhang Li-Ying , Zhou Ting , Zhang Yi-Ming , Xu Xiao-Min , Li Yang-Yang , Wei Kong-Xi , He Jin-Peng , Ding Nan , Zhou Heng , Liu Yong-Qi
Published: October 2020

The gut microbiota is important in metabolism and immune modulation, and compositional disruption of the gut microbiota population is closely associated with inflammation caused by ionizing radiation (IR). Guiqi Baizhu decoction (GQBZD) is a medicinal compound used in traditional Chinese medicine with anti‐inflammatory and antioxidation effects, especially in the process of radiotherapy. However, the effect of GQBZD on reducing the damage to the normal immune system in radiotherapy remains unclear. Here, we show that GQBZD reduces body weights, water intake, food intake, diarrhea level and quality of life score, and inflammation and enhances immunity function in rats treated with X‐ray radiation. Meanwhile, our data indicate that GQBZD not only reverses IR‐induced gut dysbiosis as indicated change of α‐diversity and β‐diversity of microbiota, the composition of Desulfovibrio, Bacteroides, and Parabacteroides, except for Roseburia and Lachnoclostridium, but also maintains intestinal barrier integrity and promoting the formation of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs). GQBZD can also reduce the level of phosphorylation P65 (p‐P65). Our results demonstrate that GQBZD can significantly alleviate the inflammatory responses and improve the immune damage against IR, and may be used as prebiotic agents to prevent gut dysbiosis and radiation‐related metabolic disorders in radiotherapy.
The Protective Effects of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Allergic Asthma
Authors: Zuo Zhi Tong , Ma Ya , Sun Yan , Bai Cui Qing , Ling Chun Hua , Yuan Feng Lai
Published: October 2020

As an ancient Gram-negative bacterium, Helicobacter pylori has settled in human stomach. Eradicating H. pylori increases the morbidities of asthma and other allergic diseases. Therefore, H. pylori might play a protective role against asthma. The “disappearing microbiota” hypothesis suggests that the absence of certain types of the ancestral microbiota could change the development of immunology, metabolism, and cognitive ability in our early life, contributing to the development of some diseases. And the Hygiene Hypothesis links early environmental and microbial exposure to the prevalence of atopic allergies and asthma. Exposure to the environment and microbes can influence the growing immune system and protect subsequent immune-mediated diseases. H. pylori can inhibit allergic asthma by regulating the ratio of helper T cells 1/2 (Th1/Th2), Th17/regulatory T cells (Tregs), etc. H. pylori can also target dendritic cells to promote immune tolerance and enhance the protective effect on allergic asthma, and this effect relies on highly suppressed Tregs. The remote regulation of lung immune function by H. pylori is consistent with the gut-lung axis theory. Perhaps, H. pylori also protects against asthma by altering levels of stomach hormones, affecting the autonomic nervous system and lowering the expression of heat shock protein 70. Therapeutic products from H. pylori may be used to prevent and treat asthma. This paper reviews the possible protective influence of H. pylori on allergic asthma and the possible application of H. pylori in treating asthma.
TMEM63C, a Potential Novel Target for Albuminuria Development, Is Regulated by MicroRNA-564 and Transforming Growth Factor beta in Human Renal Cells
Authors: Orphal Miriam , Gillespie Allan , Böhme Karen , Subrova Jana , Eisenreich Andreas , Kreutz Reinhold
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Transmembrane protein (TMEM) 63C is a member of the TMEM gene family and was recently linked to glomerular filtration barrier function and albuminuria. Its molecular function and expression regulation are largely unknown. Objective: In this study, we set out to characterize the regulating impact of microRNAs (miRNAs) such as miRNA-564 (miR-564) on TMEM63C expression in renal cells. Also, we examined the influence of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) on TMEM63C expression and the potential impact of TMEM63C inhibition on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in renal cells and on cell viability in human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK 293). Methods: Expression analyses were done using real-time PCR and Western blot. Dual luciferase assay was performed to determine the miRNA-mediated expression control. Cell viability was assessed via trypan blue exclusion staining. Results and Conclusions: MiR-564 reduced TMEM63C expression in HEK 293 and human podocytes (hPC). The treatment of renal cells with TGF-ß led to an increased expression of TMEM63C. Moreover, a reduced TMEM63C expression was associated with a changed ratio of EMT marker proteins such as α-smooth muscle actin versus E-cadherin in HEK 293 and decreased nephrin expression in hPC. In addition, cell viability was reduced upon inhibition of TMEM63C expression in HEK 293. This study demonstrates first mechanisms involved in TMEM63C expression regulation and a link to EMT in renal cells.
Do Alzheimer’s Disease Patients Appear Younger than Their Real Age?
Authors: Tufekcioglu Zeynep , Bilgic Başar , Zeylan Abdullah Emir , Salah Albert Ali , Dibeklioglu Hamdi , Emre Murat
Published: October 2020

Introduction: The most prominent risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is aging. Aging also influences the physical appearance. Our clinical experience suggests that patients with AD may appear younger than their actual age. Based on this empirical observation, we set forth to test the hypothesis with human and computer-based estimation systems. Method: We compared 50 early-stage AD patients with 50 age and sex-matched controls. Facial images of all subjects were recorded using a video camera with high resolution, frontal view, and clear lighting. Subjects were recorded during natural conversations while performing Mini-Mental State Examination, including spontaneous smiles in addition to static images. The images were used for age estimation by 2 methods: (1) computer-based age estimation; (2) human-based age estimation. Computer-based system used a state-of-the-art deep convolutional neural network classifier to process the facial images contained in a single-video session and performed frame-based age estimation. Individuals who estimated the age by visual inspection of video sequences were chosen following a pilot selection phase. The mean error (ME) of estimations was the main end point of this study. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the ME scores for AD patients and healthy controls (p = 0.33); however, the difference was in favor of younger estimation of the AD group. The average ME score for AD patients was lower than that for healthy controls in computer-based estimation system, indicating that AD patients were on average estimated to be younger than their actual age as compared to controls. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.007). Conclusion: There was a tendency for humans to estimate AD patients younger, and computer-based estimations showed that AD patients were estimated to be younger than their real age as compared to controls. The underlying mechanisms for this observation are unclear.
Lipoprotein and Metabolic Profiles Indicate Similar Cardiovascular Risk of Liver Steatosis and NASH
Authors: Gottlieb Aline , Leven Anna-Sophia , Sowa Jan-Peter , Borucki Katrin , Link Alexander , Yilmaz Elvan , Aygen Sitke , Canbay Ali , Porsch-Özcürümez Mustafa
Published: October 2020

Background and Aim: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects about 25% of the global population, with no reliable noninvasive tests to diagnose nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and to differentiate between NASH and nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) (steatosis alone). It is unclear if NAFL and NASH differ in cardiovascular risk for patients. Here, we compared obese NAFLD patients with a healthy cohort to test whether cholesterol compounds could represent potential noninvasive markers and to estimate associated risks. Method: Serum samples of 46 patients with histologically confirmed NAFLD (17 NAFL, 29 NASH) who underwent bariatric surgery were compared to 32 (9 males, 21 females) healthy controls (HCs). We analyzed epidemiological data, liver enzymes, cholesterol and lipid profile, and amino acids. The latter were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results: Total serum and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were significantly lower in the NAFLD group than in HCs, with a stronger reduction in NASH. Similar observations were made for sub-specification of HDL-p, HDL-s, SHDL-p, and LHDL-p cholesterols. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-s and LLDL-p cholesterol were significantly reduced in NAFLD groups. Interestingly, SLDL-p cholesterol was significantly higher in the NAFL group with a stronger elevation in NASH than in HCs. The amino acids alanine, leucin, and isoleucine were significantly higher in the NAFL and NASH groups than in HCs. Conclusion: We show in this study that cholesterol profiles, apolipoproteins, and amino acids could function as a potential noninvasive test to screen for NAFLD or even NASH in larger populations. However, few differences in cholesterol profiles were identified between the NAFL and NASH groups, indicating similar cardiovascular risk profiles.
Characteristics of Patients in Treatment for Alcohol and Drug Addiction Who Succeed in Changing Smoking, Weight, and Physical Activity: A Secondary Analysis of an RCT on Combined Lifestyle Interventions
Authors: Rasmussen Mette , Hovhannisyan Karen , Adami Johanna , Tønnesen Hanne
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Patients addicted to alcohol or drug often have additional unhealthy lifestyles, adding to the high mortality and morbidity in this patient group. Therefore, it is important to consider lifestyle interventions as part of the usual addiction treatment. Objective: The aim was to identify predictors of successful changes in lifestyle risk factors among patients in treatment for alcohol or drug addiction. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a trial using a 6-week intensive integrated lifestyle intervention: The very integrated program (VIP). Patients were recruited in Addiction Centres Malmö and Psychiatry Skåne, Sweden. The primary outcome was successful changes in lifestyle, measured as quitting tobacco, exercising 30 min per day, and not being over- or underweight after 6 weeks and 12 months. Results: A total of 212 patients were included in the RCT, and 128 were included in this secondary analysis: 108 at 6 weeks and 89 at 12 months of follow-up. A total of 69 patients were respondents at both follow-ups. The follow-up rates were 51 and 42%, respectively. More education, having at least 2 lifestyle risk factors and having a high quality of life were predictors of a successful change in lifestyle after 6 weeks. After 12 months, the predictors for a successful outcome were having 3 or more risk factors, while an education level up to 3 years was a negative predictor. Conclusions: Having several unhealthy lifestyles in addition to alcohol and drug addiction was a significant predictor of successful lifestyle changes in the short- and long term after the VIP for lifestyle interventions. Likewise, education was significant. The results should be considered in future development and research among this vulnerable group of patients.
Sequential Minimally Invasive Fetal Interventions for Two Life-Threatening Conditions: A Novel Approach
Authors: Ruano Rodrigo , Ibirogba Eniola R. , Wyatt Michelle A. , Balakrishnan Karthik , Qureshi M. Yasir , Kolbe Amy B. , Dearani Joseph A. , Boesch R. Paul , Segura Leal , Arendt Katherine W. , Bendel-Stenzel Ellen , Salik Shana S. , Klinkner Denise B.
Published: October 2020

Introduction: In utero interventions are performed in fetuses with “isolated” major congenital anomalies to improve neonatal outcomes and quality of life. Sequential in utero interventions to treat 2 anomalies in 1 fetus have not yet been described. Case Presentation: Here, we report a fetus with a large left-sided intralobar bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS) causing mediastinal shift, a small extralobar BPS, and concomitant severe left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). At 26-week gestation, the BPS was noted to be increasing in size with a significant reduction in right lung volume and progression to fetal hydrops. The fetus underwent ultrasound-guided ablation of the BPS feeding vessel leading to complete tumor regression. However, lung development remained poor (O/E-LHR: 0.22) due to the left-sided CDH, prompting fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion therapy at 28-week gestation to allow increased lung growth. After vaginal delivery, the newborn underwent diaphragmatic repair with resection of the extralobar sequestration. He was discharged home with tracheostomy on room air at 9 months. Discussion/Conclusion: Sequential in utero interventions to treat 2 severe major anomalies in the same fetus have not been previously described. This approach may be a useful alternative in select cases with otherwise high morbidity/mortality. Further studies are required to confirm our hypothesis.
Results from an Epidemiological Follow-Up Survey on Home Artificial Nutrition in Switzerland from 2010 to 2015
Authors: Storck Lena J. , Ruehlin Maya , Wagener Nicole , Moeltgen Christina , Genton Laurence , Ballmer Peter E.
Published: October 2020

Background: Home artificial nutrition (HAN) is an established treatment for malnourished patients. Since July 2012, the costs for oral nutrition supplements (ONS) are covered by the compulsory health insurance providers in Switzerland if the patient has a medical indication based on the Swiss Society for Clinical Nutrition guidelines. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to analyse the development of HAN, including ONS, before and after July 2012. Methods: We obtained the retrospective and anonymized data from the Swiss association for joint tasks of health insurers (SVK), who registered patients on HAN. Since not all health insurers are working with SVK, this retrospective study recorded nearly 65% of all new patients on HAN in Switzerland from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2015. Results: A total of 33,410 patients (49.1% men and 50.9% women) with a mean BMI of 21.3 ± 4.5 kg/m2 and mean age of 68.9 ± 17.8 years were recorded. The number of patient cases on ONS increased from 808 cases in 2010 to 18,538 cases in 2015, while patient cases on home enteral nutrition (HEN) and home parenteral nutrition (HPN) remained approximately the same. The relative distribution of type of HAN changed from 26.2% cases on ONS, 68.7% cases on HEN and 5.1% cases on HPN in 2010 to 86.1% cases on ONS, 12.8% cases on HEN, and 1.1% cases on HPN in 2015. Treatment duration decreased for ONS from 698 ± 637 days to 171 ± 274 days, for HEN from 416 ± 553 days to 262 ± 459 days, and for HPN from 96 ± 206 days to 72 ± 123 days. Mean costs per patient decreased for ONS from 1,330 CHF in 2010 to 606 CHF in 2015. Total costs for HAN increased from 16,895,373 CHF in 2010 to 32,868,361 CHF in 2015. Conclusion: Our epidemiological follow-up study showed an immense increase in number of patients on HAN in Switzerland after July 2012. Due to shorter therapy duration and reduced mean costs per patient, total costs were only doubled while the number of patients increased 7-fold.
Validation of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III in Mild Cognitive Impairment in Arabic Speakers in Egypt
Authors: Qassem Tarik , Khater Mohamed S. , Emara Tamer , Rasheedy Doha , Tawfik Heba M. , Mohammedin Ahmed S. , Tolba Mohammad F. , Saber Heba G. , Aly El-Gabry Dina , Abdel Aziz Karim
Published: October 2020

Background and Aims: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents an important point on the pathway to developing dementia and a target for early detection and intervention. There is a shortage of validated cognitive screening tools in Arabic to diagnose MCI. The aim of this study was to validate Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III) (Egyptian-Arabic version) in a sample of patients with MCI, to provide cut-off scores in Egyptian-Arabic speakers. Methods: A total of 24 patients with MCI and 54 controls were included in the study and were administered the Egyptian-Arabic version of the ACE-III. Results: There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) in the total ACE-III score between MCI patients (mean 75.83, standard deviation (SD) 8.1) and controls (mean 86.26, SD 6.74). There was also a statistically significant difference between MCI patients and controls in the memory, fluency, and visuospatial sub-scores of the ACE-III (p < 0.05) but not in attention and language sub-scores. Using a receiver operator characteristic curve, the optimal cut-off score for diagnosing MCI on the ACE-III total score was 81, with 75% sensitivity, 82% specificity, and 80% accuracy. Conclusions: The results of this study provide objective validation of the Egyptian-Arabic version of the ACE-III as a screening tool for MCI, with good sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy that are comparable to other translated versions of the ACE-III in MCI.
Kleinzelliges Lungenkarzinom: Interdisziplinär für oder wider eine Operation entscheiden
Authors: Hekmat Khosro
Published: October 2020

Background: The role of surgery for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is not clear. We aimed to evaluate this issue using a population-based database. Methods: Patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2014 with SCLC staged T1–4 N0–2 M0 disease were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce bias between the surgical and nonsurgical patient groups. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to compare overall survival (OS) for the matched patients. Results: A total of 8,811 patients were retrieved, including 863 patients who underwent surgical resection. After 1: 1 PSM, a matched cohort with 1,562 patients was generated. In the matched cohort, surgery was associated with 5-year OS improvement (from 16.8 to 36.7%, p < 0.001) and lung cancer-specific survival improvement (from 21.6 to 43.2%, p < 0.001). Survival benefits of surgery were significant in all subgroups, including N1–2 disease, except for patients with a tumor size >5.0 cm or T3 disease. Conclusions: Patients with SCLC of limited stage can benefit from surgery, including N1–2 disease. However, patients with a tumor size >5.0 cm or advanced T stage may be unable to benefit from surgery.
Nicht kleinzelliges Lungenkarzinom: Angiogenese-Hemmer als weiteres entscheidendes Element in der Behandlung
Authors: Lang Susanne M. , Rachow Tobias
Published: October 2020

Objectives: Currently, combination therapy of ramucirumab (RAM) + docetaxel (DOC) must play a more important role as a second-line treatment. Epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation accounts for around 50% of oncogenic driver mutations in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Asian subsets. The number of brain metastases (BM) is relatively higher in EGFR mutation-positive patients compared to EGFR wild-type patients. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of RAM + DOC focusing on EGFR mutation and BM. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive advanced NSCLC patients who received combination therapy of RAM + DOC at three institutions. A total of 112 patients with NSCLC were enrolled for efficacy analyses. We evaluated the efficacy of RAM + DOC for EGFR-mutated NSCLC with endpoints including progression-free survival (PFS), time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival. Results: Median PFS was 5.7 months for the EGFR mutant group compared with 3.6 months for the EGFR wild-type group (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32–0.87; p = 0.01). Median TTF was 5.1 months for the EGFR mutant group compared with 2.8 months for the EGFR wild-type group (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33–0.85; p = 0.007). Median PFS and TTF of the EGFR mutant group was significantly longer than median PFS and TTF of the EGFR wild-type group. The multivariate analysis identified EGFR mutation status as an independent favorable factor of PFS. In subset analyses of BM, median PFS of the EGFR mutant group (2.8 months) was significantly shorter than that of the EGFR wild-type group (5.1 months) (HR 7.27, 95% CI 1.78–29.68; p = 0.002). Conclusion: This study revealed that EGFR mutation status and BM might be predictive or prognostic factors for PFS.
Dimensionless Index in Patients With Low-Gradient Severe Aortic Stenosis and Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Altes Alexandre , Thellier Nicolas , Rusinaru Dan , Marsou Wassima , Bohbot Yohann , Chadha Gagandeep , Leman Blandine , Paquet Pierre , Ennezat Pierre Vladimir , Tribouilloy Christophe , Maréchaux Sylvestre
Published: October 2020

Background

Risk stratification of patients with low-gradient (LG) severe aortic stenosis (AS) despite preserved left ventricular ejection fraction remains challenging. We sought to evaluate the relationship between the dimensionless index (DI)—the ratio of the left ventricular outflow tract time-velocity integral to that of the aortic valve jet—and mortality in these patients.

Methods

Seven hundred fifty-five patients with LG severe AS (defined by aortic valve area ≤1 cm
2
or aortic valve area indexed to body surface area ≤0.6 cm
2
/m
2
and mean aortic pressure gradient <40 mm Hg) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50% were studied. Flow status was defined according to stroke volume index <35 mL/m
2
(low flow, LF) or ≥35 mL/m
2
(normal flow, NF).

Results

After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, history of hypertension, history of atrial fibrillation, AS-related symptoms, left ventricular ejection fraction, indexed left ventricular ventricular mass, aortic valve area, and aortic valve replacement as a time-dependent covariate, patients with LG-LF and DI<0.25 exhibited a considerable increased risk of death compared with patients with LG-NF and DI≥0.25 (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.41 [95% CI, 1.61–3.62];
P
<0.001), LG-NF and DI<0.25 (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.84 [95% CI, 1.24–2.73];
P
=0.003), and LG-LF and D≥0.25 (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.27 [95% CI, 1.42–3.63];
P
<0.001). In contrast, patients with LG-LF and DI≥0.25, LG-NF and DI<0.25, and LG-NF and DI≥0.25 had similar outcome. DI<0.25 showed incremental prognostic value in patients with LG-LF severe AS but not in patients with LG-NF severe AS.

Conclusions

Among patients with LG severe AS and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, decreased DI<0.25 is a reliable parameter in patients with LF to identify a subgroup of patients at higher risk of death who may derive benefit from aortic valve replacement.
Altered Acylcarnitine Metabolism Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Smith Einar , Fernandez Celine , Melander Olle , Ottosson Filip
Published: October 2020

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, but the pathogenesis is not completely understood. The application of metabolomics could help in discovering new metabolic pathways involved in the development of the disease.

Methods and Results

We measured 112 baseline fasting metabolites of 3770 participants in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study; these participants were free of prevalent AF. Incident cases of AF were ascertained through previously validated registers. The associations between baseline levels of metabolites and incident AF were investigated using Cox proportional hazard models. During 23.1 years of follow‐up, 650 cases of AF were identified (incidence rate: 8.6 per 1000 person‐years). In Cox regression models adjusted for AF risk factors, 7 medium‐ and long‐chain acylcarnitines were associated with higher risk of incident AF (hazard ratio [HR] ranging from 1.09; 95% CI, 1.00–1.18 to 1.14, 95% CI, 1.05–1.24 per 1 SD increment of acylcarnitines). Furthermore, caffeine and acisoga were also associated with an increased risk (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06–1.28 and 1.08; 95% CI, 1.00–1.18, respectively), while beta carotene was associated with a lower risk (HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82–0.99).

Conclusions

For the first time, we show associations between altered acylcarnitine metabolism and incident AF independent of traditional AF risk factors in a general population. These findings highlight metabolic alterations that precede AF diagnosis by many years and could provide insight into the pathogenesis of AF. Future studies are needed to replicate our finding in an external cohort as well as to test whether the relationship between acylcarnitines and AF is causal.
Redundancy-Aware Pruning of Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Xie Guotian
Published: October 2020

Pruning is an effective way to slim and speed up convolutional neural networks. Generally previous work directly pruned neural networks in the original feature space without considering the correlation of neurons. We argue that such a way of pruning still keeps some redundancy in the pruned networks. In this letter, we proposed to prune in the intermediate space in which the correlation of neurons is eliminated. To achieve this goal, the input and output of a convolutional layer are first mapped to an intermediate space by orthogonal transformation. Then neurons are evaluated and pruned in the intermediate space. Extensive experiments have shown that our redundancy-aware pruning method surpasses state-of-the-art pruning methods on both efficiency and accuracy. Notably, using our redundancy-aware pruning method, ResNet models with three times the speed-up could achieve competitive performance with fewer floating point operations per second even compared to DenseNet.
Passive Nonlinear Dendritic Interactions as a Computational Resource in Spiking Neural Networks
Authors: Stöckel Andreas , Eliasmith Chris
Published: October 2020

Nonlinear interactions in the dendritic tree play a key role in neural computation. Nevertheless, modeling frameworks aimed at the construction of large-scale, functional spiking neural networks, such as the Neural Engineering Framework, tend to assume a linear superposition of postsynaptic currents. In this letter, we present a series of extensions to the Neural Engineering Framework that facilitate the construction of networks incorporating Dale's principle and nonlinear conductance-based synapses. We apply these extensions to a two-compartment LIF neuron that can be seen as a simple model of passive dendritic computation. We show that it is possible to incorporate neuron models with input-dependent nonlinearities into the Neural Engineering Framework without compromising high-level function and that nonlinear postsynaptic currents can be systematically exploited to compute a wide variety of multivariate, band-limited functions, including the Euclidean norm, controlled shunting, and nonnegative multiplication. By avoiding an additional source of spike noise, the function approximation accuracy of a single layer of two-compartment LIF neurons is on a par with or even surpasses that of two-layer spiking neural networks up to a certain target function bandwidth.
Theory and Didactic in Olympiodorus and the Alexandrian School
Authors: Joosse Albert
Published: October 2020

This review article considers two recent Italian and English translations of works by Olympiodorus of Alexandria and his immediate successors (sixth century CE). These translations make accessible to a wider audience a number of works that help us understand a transitional period in the history of thought. This review takes a closer look at some of the substantive views expressed by the translators and evaluates editorial and translation choices. We should beware of exaggerating the differences between these sixth-century philosophers, this review argues, while recognizing that there may be considerable distance between what they thought and what the surviving texts show.
Encounters with the Past
Authors: Giolai Andrea
Published: October 2020

Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri is an important local festival celebrated every winter in Nara. While the festival has been analyzed from the point of view of its relations with religious institutions such as Kasuga Taisha and Kōfukuji, to date less attention has been paid to its historical transformations. Countering linear narratives that tend to portray it as largely unchanged since its inception, this article combines ethnography, historiography, and religious studies to provide a more multivocal analysis of the Onmatsuri. After an overview of its main celebrations, the article revisits the origins of the festival, describes the ontological multiplicity of its deities, and analyzes material elements that concur to its “fractal” features. Showing how these heterogeneous elements generate a diffuse “atmosphere of the past,” this study discusses practitioners’ accounts of ritual participation, as well as the relationship between ideological reconstructions of the past and material embodiments of religious symbols.
Eloquent Plasticity
Authors: Foster Michael Dylan
Published: October 2020

This paper explores Namahage of Akita Prefecture as it assumes three different instantiations: 1) enactment as a private ritual within individual households on New Year’s Eve; 2) performance as a public festival at a shrine in mid-February; and 3) celebration as an “element” inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. I argue that in the first instance, Namahage is part of a vernacular religious “structure of feeling” in which religious elements are inseparable from community life; in the second instantiation, religion is more explicit and codified; and in the third iteration, religion is only vaguely articulated. Tracing the “same” tradition through different forms provides insight into the changing needs of communities and into the dynamics of change itself. With this in mind, I propose a model called hrönirism through which to broadly conceptualize notions of change and difference within traditions such as matsuri.
Sannō Matsuri
Authors: Breen John
Published: October 2020

This study of the Sannō Festival at Hiyoshi Taisha in Shiga Prefecture starts from the premise that all festivals reproduce and reinvent themselves over time, obfuscating their origins, typically claiming specious roots in the ancient or mythical past. Firstly, I analyze the Sannō Festival as performed today, drawing on my own festival fieldwork. I then adopt a historical approach, deploying historical sources to recreate the festival in its premodern guise. Finally, I use an array of primary sources to analyze the contested process of making the modern festival. Throughout, I keep within my purview multiple moving parts: the seven kami and the seven shrines that make up the Hiyoshi Taisha complex; the priests and monks who have venerated them, shaping and reshaping the Sannō Festival; and the common people, too, whose participation is key to the modern festival’s vibrancy and success.
Secret Eroticism and Lived Religion
Authors: Foster Michael Dylan , Ogano Minoru
Published: October 2020

Through interviews and personal observation, this essay introduces the photographer Ogano Minoru, exploring his particular take on the practice of matsuri photography. In his photos, Ogano tries to visually capture the affective aspects of matsuri as experienced by participants. He suggests that even when matsuri are not organized through religious institutions, they emerge from deeply held beliefs and everyday life concerns in the local community. The concluding part of the article is a brief photo essay about mushi-okuri and related matsuri in the Tsugaru region (Aomori Prefecture).
Demographic Change in Contemporary Rural Japan and Its Impact on Ritual Practices
Authors: Klien Susanne
Published: October 2020

Contemporary rural Japan is characterized by depopulation, reflected by the large number of aging residents, abandoned houses and shops (akiya 空家) and an increased number of “hamlets at the margin” (Ono 2005), i.e. hamlets with more than 50 % of residents over 65 years old. As a result, many ritual festivities including matsuri 祭 (festivals) of various kinds face challenges in securing practitioners. This study explores the impact of demographic change on selected ritual practices in Niigata Prefecture, drawing on extensive ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2007–2009 and 2018. With a focus on the changes that traditional Buddhist dances and Shintō shamanic performing arts known as kagura have undergone as a result of demographic decline and lifestyle shifts, this paper examines the measures residents are taking to ensure the continuity of ritual practices.
Key to South American genera of Acanthocinini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae) without erect setae on elytra; synonymies, transferences, revalidation, and notes on genera with erect setae on elytra
Authors: MONNÉ MIGUEL A. , SANTOS-SILVA ANTONIO , MONNÉ MARCELA L.
Published: October 2020

A key for identification for the 54 South American genera of Acanthocinini (Cerambycidae, Lamiinae) without erect setae on the elytra is provided. Diagnosis for each genus is provided, as well as type-locality and geographical distribution of the type species, and of the transferred species. Cristurges Gilmour, 1961 is considered a junior synonymy of Lophopoeum Bates, 1863. Ozineus Bates, 1863 is considered a genus that includes only the type species, Ozineus elongatus Bates, 1863 because it is the only species with erect setae on the elytral surface. Sternacutus Gilmour, 1961 is revalidated to include the species transferred from Ozineus. Nyssocuneus Gilmour, 1960 and Nyssodrysina Casey, 1913 are synonymized with Atrypanius Bates, 1864. Nyssodrysina Casey, 1913 is also considered a junior synonymy of Atrypanius. Nyssodectes Dillon, 1955 is considered junior synonymy of Stenolis Bates, 1864. Lepturguncus (Lepturguncus) Gilmour, 1961 is synonymized with Pattalinus Bates, 1881. Lepturdrys Gilmour, 1960 is considered a junior synonymy of Eucharitolus Bates, 1885. Lepturguncus (Chaeturguncus) is removed from the synonym of Pattalinus and considered a junior synonym of Paroecus Bates, 1863. The country of the type-locality of Oxathridia roraimae Gilmour, 1963 is corrected. The genus of Neseuterpia couturieri Tavakilian, 2001 is questioned. Additionally, the following genera omitted in the key by Monné et al. (2020) are listed and included in their previous key: Ozineus Bates, 1863; Paroecus Bates, 1863; Pseudosparna Mermudes & Monné, 2009; Probatiomimus Melzer, 1926; and Calolamia Tippmann, 1953. Paroectropsis Cerda, 1953 is transferred to Desmiphorini.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Medical Conditions Among Trauma Patients at a Level 1 Trauma Center
Authors: Amirhekmat Arya , Dinicu Andreea , Grimaud Logan , Anderson Amanda , Figueroa Cesar , Smith Megan , Barrios Cristobal
Published: October 2020

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) are increasing in prevalence in the population. Level 1 trauma facilities are often faced with managing these chronic conditions. Recent studies indicated that 12-44% of patients presenting traumas are found to have incidental findings by imaging representing undiagnosed medical conditions, with 10% reported requiring further management [Surendran A, Mori A, Varma DK, Gruen RL. Systematic review of the benefits and harms of whole-body computed tomography in the early management of multitrauma patients: Are we getting the whole picture? J Trauma and Acute Care Surg. 2014;76(4):1122-1130]. Between 2015 and 2016, 852 patients seen at a level 1 trauma center were analyzed. Patients were evaluated who received a new diagnosis of HTN or DM, or had preexisting diagnosis of HTN or DM whose management was changed. Uncontrolled HTN or DM was defined as a need for either a change in medication or primary care optimization prior to discharge. Among the patients evaluated, 6.3% and 3.0% received new diagnoses of HTN and DM, respectively. Additionally, 34.4% and 35.3% of patients were found to have uncontrolled HTN and DM and required medical optimization, respectively. The high prevalence of undiagnosed or suboptimal management for chronic conditions indicates that more research is warranted for defining, screening for, and treating surgical patients with poorly controlled medical conditions with these comorbidities.
Outcomes of Definitive Draining Seton Placement for Complex Anal Fistula in Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Mujukian Angela , Zaghiyan Karen , Banayan Elliot , Fleshner Phillip
Published: October 2020

Definitive draining seton (DDS) alone is an accepted treatment for complex refractory anal fistulas in Crohn’s disease (CD). We evaluated the long-term success of DDS in CD patients. DDS was defined as draining seton placed definitively for at least 12 months. Primary end point was clinical response (CR) defined as a lack of induration, pain, swelling, abscess recurrence, or unintended dislodgement. The study cohort of 23 patients had a median age of 29 (range; 9-61) years and included 14 males (61%). Reasons for DDS included anal stenosis (n = 9; 39%), active proctitis (n = 9; 39%), and/or anal canal ulceration (n = 9; 39%). Median number of setons was 2 (range; 1-6) and 65% had multiple fistula tracts. Almost all patients (n = 22; 96%) were on a biologic postoperatively. At 12-month follow-up, only 39% (n = 9) had a CR. The remaining 14 patients failed due to new abscess formation (n = 6; 26%), new fistula formation (n = 6; 26%), and seton dislodgement (n = 2; 9%). Six (26%) patients required fecal diversion. No patients required proctectomy. DDS for complex CD fistula results in a mediocre CR with many patients developing recurrent abscess/fistula or requiring diversion despite biologic therapy.
Coronavirus, Capitalism in Crisis and the Perversity of Public Health in Bolsonaro’s Brazil
Authors: Carnut Leonardo , Mendes Áquilas , Guerra Lucia
Published: October 2020

This article aims to discuss the meaning of the coronavirus crisis as an integral part of the totality of the capitalist crisis and its implication in the health area of Brazilian capitalism, in which the rise of ultraliberal and neofascist policies is witnessed by the Bolsonaro government. To this end, we opted for a historical-dialectical materialist analysis of the situation experienced between the global beginning of the pandemic until the month of May 2020 in Brazil. The article is structured in 2 parts: The first discusses the problem of agrifood systems in the context of capitalism in crisis and its effects on the spread of diseases such as the coronavirus, and the second discusses the neglect of the Bolsonaro government in facing the COVID-19 pandemic and the Brazilian universal health system. Evidence shows that the Bolsonaro government has led to more deaths and more of the barbarism of capitalism. The scenario after the pandemic will be one of a country with a more or less intense capitalist crisis depending on the resistance of workers in the defense of public health and lives.
Molecular Basis for Craniofacial Phenotypes Caused by Sclerostin Deletion
Authors: Chen J. , Yuan X. , Pilawski I. , Liu X. , Delgado-Calle J. , Bellido T. , Turkkahraman H. , Helms J.A.
Published: October 2020

Some genetic disorders are associated with distinctive facial features, which can aid in diagnosis. While considerable advances have been made in identifying causal genes, relatively little progress has been made toward understanding how a particular genotype results in a characteristic craniofacial phenotype. An example is sclerosteosis/van Buchem disease, which is caused by mutations in the Wnt inhibitor sclerostin (SOST). Affected patients have a high bone mass coupled with a distinctive appearance where the mandible is enlarged and the maxilla is foreshortened. Here, mice carrying a null mutation in Sost were analyzed using quantitative micro–computed tomographic (µCT) imaging and histomorphometric analyses to determine the extent to which the size and shape of craniofacial skeleton were altered. Sost−/− mice exhibited a significant increase in appositional bone growth, which increased the height and width of the mandible and reduced the diameters of foramina. In vivo fluorochrome labeling, histology, and immunohistochemical analyses indicated that excessive bone deposition in the premaxillary suture mesenchyme curtailed overall growth, leading to midfacial hypoplasia. The amount of bone extracellular matrix produced by Sost−/− cells was significantly increased; as a consequence, osteoid seams were evident throughout the facial skeleton. Collectively, these analyses revealed a remarkable fidelity between human characteristics of sclerosteosis/van Buchem disease and the Sost−/− phenotype and provide clues into the conserved role for sclerostin signaling in modulating craniofacial morphology.
Periodontal Inflammation Primes the Systemic Innate Immune Response
Authors: Fine N. , Chadwick J.W. , Sun C. , Parbhakar K.K. , Khoury N. , Barbour A. , Goldberg M. , Tenenbaum H.C. , Glogauer M.
Published: October 2020

The presence of periodontal diseases (PDs) often strongly correlates with other severe chronic inflammatory conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and arthritis. However, the mechanisms through which these diseases interact are unclear. In PD, tissue and bone destruction in the mouth is driven by elevated recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), which are primed and recruited from the circulation to sites of inflammation. We predicted that systemic effects on PMN mobilization or priming could account for the interaction between PD and other inflammatory conditions. We tested this using a mouse model of ligature-induced PD and found elevated PMN counts specifically in bone marrow, supporting a systemic effect of periodontal tissue inflammation on PMN production. In contrast, mice with induced peritonitis had elevated PMN counts in the blood, peritoneum, and colon. These elevated counts were further significantly increased when acute peritonitis was induced after ligature-induced PD in mice, revealing a synergistic effect of multiple inflammatory events on PMN levels. Flow cytometric analysis of CD marker expression revealed enhanced priming of PMNs from mice with both PD and peritonitis compared to mice with peritonitis alone. Thus, systemic factors associated with PD produce hyperinflammatory PMN responses during a secondary infection. To analyze this systemic effect in humans, we induced gingival inflammation in volunteers and also found significantly increased activation of blood PMNs in response to ex vivo stimulation, which reverted to normal following resolution of gingivitis. Together, these results demonstrate that periodontal tissue inflammation has systemic effects that predispose toward an exacerbated innate immune response. This indicates that peripheral PMNs can respond synergistically to simultaneous and remote inflammatory triggers and therefore contribute to the interaction between PD and other inflammatory conditions. This suggests larger implications of PD beyond oral health and reveals potential new approaches for treating systemic inflammatory diseases that interact with PD.
Curriculum Conceptualization, Development, and Implementation in the Ethiopian Education System: Manifestations of Progressive Curriculum Orientations
Authors: Melesse Solomon , Belay Sintayehu
Published: October 2020

This article examines curriculum conceptualization, development, and implementation in the Ethiopian education system against the perspectives of notable progressive curriculum theories. To this end, the Ethiopian education policy and curriculum documents were reviewed against progressive curriculum orientations stemmed from Beauchamp, Pinar, and McNeil’s curriculum theories. The conceptualization of curriculum has suffered much from dizziness and blurred classifications of theories by different scholars. Despite the naming differences, value-oriented, child-centered, constructivists, re-conceptualists, social reconstructionist, and humanist theories were regarded as progressive curriculum orientations. Based on thorough reading of the literature, we came to believe that all these theories emphasize on considering learners’ interests, needs, and backgrounds either as an individual or as a group as a centerpiece in the curriculum development and implementation processes. Thus, the article analyzes the manifestations of value-oriented, child-centered, constructivists, re-conceptualists, social reconstructionists, and humanists’ theories in the whole education system of Ethiopia. On the basis of the discussions made on progressive curriculum theorists’ curriculum conceptualization, development, and implementation in the educational context of Ethiopia, relevant recommendations were forwarded.