bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opportunities for teaching ABCDE-based patient examination in health education
Authors: Pandur Attila , Molnar Ferenc Jozsef , Ferkai Luca Anna , Furedi Gabor , Betlehem Jozsef , Rendeki Szilard , Radnai Balazs , Deutsch Krisztina
Published: February 2021

Abstract:
Background: The ABCDE-based Patient Examination is a systematic patient examination aimed at early detection of a critical condition and prevention of life-threatening condition. Its education in the field of emergency patient care is most frequently provided in theoretical and / or practical education, in the form of frontal work, with indirect and direct illustration, as well as simulation and situational practice. The aim of our research is to assess which educational environment and method best support the acquisition of practical knowledge, to examine students' physiological reactions to different situations, to assess how the personal presence of the instructor influences the student’s performance, and compare frontal education to the situation-simulation exercises.
Methods: The research was carried out by non - random sampling by an expert using a cross - sectional study. The study included 3rd and 4th year paramedics (N = 47 persons) who at the time of the research were studying at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Pécs and participated in the previous semester online ABCDE patient examination education. Students who did not show up at the time of the study or those who work in ambulance or hospital emergency patient care were excluded. Three sub-samples were formed: in the first the instructor was present during the education (n = 11 persons), in the second the instructor was not present during the education (n = 8 persons), and in the third a realistic simulator was used without the presence of their instructors. (n = 28 persons). A descriptive analysis of the sample statistics and Kruskall-Wallis test was used for data analysis and SPSS 24.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.4 were used for evaluation.
Results: The results of the theoretical and practical tests did not correlate with each other (p = 0,14). During the practical test, the group using the realistic simulator achieved the worst result and the personal presence of the instructor did not improve the achieved result (p <0,001). When monitoring students’ heart rate, there was no significant difference between each group (p = 0,79; p = 0,48; p = 0,48).
Conclusions: The presence of the instructor during the practical simulation did not affect the result, so in the current epidemiological situation, the practical simulation can be safely and efficiently taught from the camera room. Based on our results, the efficiency of realistic simulators in this situation is questionable. We did not find a clear relationship between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation, but it would be worthwhile to repeat the study with more and various equipments and a larger number of participants.
Keywords: Education, Evaluation intervention, Evidence-Based Medicine, Complex intervention.
Human survival after age 100: Good luck or good health?
Authors: Alvarez Jesús-Adrián , Medford Anthony , Strozza Cosmo , Thinggaard Mikael , Christensen Kaare
Published: February 2021

BackgroundThe existence of a super-select group of centenarians that demonstrates increased survivorship has been hypothesized. However, it is unknown if this super-select group possesses similar characteristics apart from extreme longevity. MethodsIn this study, we analyse high-quality health and survival data of Danish centenarians born in 1895, 1905 and 1910. We use Latent Class Analysis to identify unobserved health classes and to test whether these super-select lives share similar health characteristics. ResultsWe find that, even after age 100, a clear and distinct gradient in health exists and that this gradient is remarkably similar across different birth cohorts of centenarians. Based on the level of health, we identify three clusters of centenarians - robust, frail and intermediate - and show that these groups have different survival prospects. The most distinctive characteristic of the robust centenarians is the outperformance in different health dimensions (physical, functional and cognitive). Finally, we show that our health class categorizations are good predictors of the survival prospects of centenarians. ConclusionsThere is a clear stratification in health and functioning among those over 100 years of age and these differences are associated with survival beyond age 100.
Outcomes reported in clinical studies of stable angina pectoris on traditional Chinese medicine: a systematic review towards a core outcome set
Authors: Zhang Mingyan , Chua Hui Zi , Niu Bohan , Zheng Wenke , Yang Fengwen , Jin Xinyao , Zhang Lishuang , Zhao Hongjie , Feng Rui , Ji Zhaochen , Hu Haiyin , Li Kai , Zhang Junhua , Zhang Boli
Published: February 2021

Background
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an important role in contributing to the public health in China. However, non-standardized outcomes in TCM related studies posed great difficulty in data synthesis for healthcare decisions. An agreed set of standardized outcomes, or termed as a core outcome set (COS), can solve this existing problem of outcome heterogeneity. This review aimed to analyze outcome heterogeneity, assess the quality of outcome reporting and providing a list of potential outcomes for COS development of SAP using TCM.
Methods
8 literature databases were searched to identify clinical studies about TCM for SAP (SAP-TCM) of yearly samples of 2005, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. 2 clinical registry databases were searched from inception to October 2020. Outcomes definition, measurement methods and time-point were extracted and categorized into 7 themes which include clinical symptoms and signs, physical and chemical examination, TCM-related outcomes, adverse events, quality of life, long-term prognosis and economic evaluation. Timing and quality assessment of the outcomes reported were analyzed and evaluated.
Results
A total of 1166 studies were included from 12962 potential studies, involving 111426 patients. 231 outcomes were identified and a total of 89 outcomes reported at least twice in the studies. The most commonly reported theme was clinical symptoms and signs. The most frequently reported outcomes were total rate of ECG efficiency and angina attack in clinical studies of published literature and clinical registries databases respectively. Outcomes reported in a single study ranged from 1 to 15, and 5 outcomes on average per study. 80% of the studies lack reporting of primary outcomes. A wide variation of measurement instruments or methods was used. A range of 1–17 measurement time-points were recorded. Quality assessment of outcome reporting was generally low, with 65.6% of the studies scoring 3 to 4 points.
Conclusion
Outcomes reported in studies on SAP-TCM are heterogeneous. A lack of standardization complicates comparisons of outcomes across studies. Developing a COS for SAP-TCM could contribute to the standardization of outcome reporting and offer a stronger evidence for health decision-making.
Finite Element Investigation of Cutting Performance of Cr/W-DLC/DLC Composite Coated Cutting Tool
Authors: Hao Tianmei , Du Jin , Zhang Xue , Su Guosheng , Zhang Peirong , Sun Yujing , Zhang Jingjie , Xu Chonghai
Published: February 2021

Coupled with a thermo-mechanical metal cutting process, rapid tool wear, higher surface roughness and mass heat are caused by the rapid plastic deformation of the workpiece and by the friction along the tool-chip interface. This phenomenon is more predominant in the machining of difficult-to-cut materials. DLC film has been applied as coating material in the machining of difficult-to-cut materials, and shows a good cutting performance. In this study, Cr/W-DLC/DLC coated tools were compared with other three coated tools (i.e., TiC-, TiAlN-, Al 2 O 3 -) to investigate the cutting performance in the machining of Al-Si alloy (AC9B). In addition, the influence of Cr/W-DLC/DLC coated tools on the cutting performance under different cutting speeds was studied. Cutting force, cutting temperature, heat transfer coefficient of the rake face of the tool, cutting deformation rate, plastic deformation of machined surface, the interface temperature and stress were investigated numerically based on Finite Element Method (FEM). Actual cutting experiments were carried out to the verification of the FEM models by means of the cutting force and cutting temperature measurement. The investigation results showed that Cr/W-DLC/DLC coated tools has the lowest cutting force and cutting temperature, good cutting deformation characteristics and lower coating-substrate interface temperature and stress, however appears the maximum value of heat partition coefficient into the cutting tool. With the increasing of cutting speeds, cutting force and cutting temperature showed an increase trend, while the plastic deformation depth of machined surface and heat partition into cutting tool all showed a decrease trend. This investigation can provide the theory basis or technical guidance for the cutting practice of Cr/W-DLC/DLC coated tools.
Acute Arthritis of the Temporomandibular Joint due to Lyme Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Weise Christina , Schulz Matthias C. , Frank Karin , Cetindis Marcel , Koos Bernd , Weise Hannes
Published: February 2021

Lyme disease is the most frequent tick-borne infectious disease in Europe. It often presents with a wide variety of symptoms. For this reason, affection of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) caused by Lyme disease (LD) can be misdiagnosed as a common temporomandibular disorder (TMD). The purpose of this case report of a 25-year old woman presenting to the Departments of Orthodontics and Maxillofacial Surgery with extensive symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorder is to illustrate the delayed diagnosis of Lyme disease, which was only made after extensive therapy of the temporomandibular joint. The specialist literature only reports a few cases of patients suffering from Lyme disease with TMJ manifestations. This case report and the relevant literature review aim to emphasize the importance of accurate request of medical history and differential diagnosis of acute TMJ arthritis and arthralgia. Early interdisciplinary diagnosis of Lyme disease and early antibiotic therapy are essential to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary, sometimes invasive, therapies.
Oncogenic BRAF V600E induces glial proliferation through ERK and neuronal death through JNK
Authors: Ye Qing , Al-Kuwari Nasser , Srivast Pranay , Chen Xiqun
Published: February 2021

Background

Activating V600E in BRAF is a common driver mutation in cancers of multiple tissue origins, including melanoma and glioma. BRAFV600E has also been implicated in neurodegeneration. The present study aims to characterize BRAFV600E on cell death and survival in three major cell types of the CNS: neurons, astrocytes, and microglia.
Methods

Multiple primary cultures and cell lines of glial cells and neurons were employed. BRAFV600E as well as BRAFWT expression was mediated by lentivirus or retrovirus. Blockage of downstream effectors were achieved by siRNA. Gene expression data from patients with Parkinson’s disease was analyzed.
Results

In astrocytes and microglia, BRAFV600E induces cell proliferation, and the proliferative effect in microglia is mediated by activated ERK but not JNK. Conditioned medium from BRAFV600E-expressing microglia induced neuronal cell death. In neuronal cells, BRAFV600E directly induces cell death, through JNK but not ERK. We further show that BRAF-related genes are enriched in pathways in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Conclusions

Our study identifies distinct consequences mediated by distinct downstream effectors in dividing glial cells and in neurons following the same BRAF mutational activation and a causal link between BRAF-activated microglia and neuronal cell death that does not require physical proximity. It provides insight into a possibly important role of BRAF in neurodegeneration as a result of either dysregulated BRAF in neurons or its impact on glial cells.
Coronavirus and Its Impacts on Health Workers Retention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis
Authors: Jamebozorgi Azam Heidari , Agoush Leila , NooriHekmat Somayeh , Shokri Azad , Sadatmoosavi Ali , Shirvani Mohammadmahdi , Hasanikaboutarkhani Mohammad , zare zahra
Published: February 2021

Background: The present study aimed to determine the prerequisites and requirements for retention of human resources during the Covid-19 disaster. It was tried in this study to systematically review the challenges and prerequisites, strategies, and measures related to the retention of health workers during the disaster.Methods: This is a systematic review and meta-synthesis of all the articles related to the factors affecting the retention of human resources during the Covid-19 disaster. The articles were searched using the keywords Retention, Human resource, and COVID-19 in the following databases without a time limit: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of science. To select the studies, the titles, abstracts, and full texts that complied with the inclusion criteria of the present systematic review were examined, and the 226 preliminary results and abstract were screened. Finally, 23 full texts were obtained, and regarding the type and nature of the materials extracted from the studies, a meta-synthesis was used to analyze and aggregate the results of the systematic review.Results: The 23 articles included in the systematic review and meta-synthesis were reviewed, and the effects of the Covid-19 disaster on the healthcare staff and the retention strategies were considered as the main themes of the study. In this regard, stigma and violence against the staff, burnout and stress, increased staff workload, acquisition of communication skills, employees' mental and physical health, employee safety during disaster, staff mobilization to assist the current forces, expansion of cyberspace infrastructures, and motivational-health incentives were selected as codes.Conclusion: Retention or non-retention of the personnel during or after a disaster can be caused by the multifaceted effects of the crisis on people. Thus, a combination of several appropriate strategies should be used to respond to it in order to reduce the adverse effects of the disaster. Also, aligning the personnel can help using their synergistic power to face and respond to the challenges ahead.
Assessing the Calibration in Toxicological in Vitro Models with Conformal Prediction
Authors: Morger Andrea , Svensson Fredrik , McShane Staffan Arvidsson , Gauraha Niharika , Norinder Ulf , Spjuth Ola , Volkamer Andrea
Published: February 2021

Machine learning methods are widely used in drug discovery and toxicity prediction. While showing overall good performance in cross-validation studies, their predictive power (often) drops in cases where the query samples have drifted from the training data’s descriptor space. Thus, the assumption for applying machine learning algorithms, that training and test data stem from the same distribution, might not always be fulfilled. In this work, conformal prediction is used to assess the calibration of the models. Deviations from the expected error may indicate that training and test data originate from different distributions. Exemplified on the Tox21 datasets, composed of chronologically released Tox21Train, Tox21Test and Tox21Score subsets, we observed that while internally valid models could be trained using cross-validation on Tox21Train, predictions on the external Tox21Score data resulted in higher error rates than expected. To improve the prediction on the external sets, a strategy exchanging the calibration set with more recent data, such as Tox21Test, has successfully been introduced. We conclude that conformal prediction can be used to diagnose data drifts and other issues relating to model calibration. The proposed improvement strategy — exchanging the calibration data only — is convenient as it does not require retraining of the underlying model.
Perceptions of facilitators and barriers to mental health treatment engagement among decision-making competent adolescents in Greece
Authors: Tsamadou E. , Voultsos Polychronis , Emmanouilidis A. , Ampatzoglou G.
Published: February 2021

Background

A subset of adolescents with mental disorders are likely to be (share) decision making competent and hence can make their treatment engagement more effective. Treatment engagement is decisive in achieving successful outcomes. However, there are high rates of drop-out in mental health settings.
Aim

This study aims at identifying barriers to or facilitators of mental health care engagement among adolescents with decision-making competence in Greece.
Methods

Participants were adolescents in therapy for mental disorders recruited from an outpatient tertiary hospital setting. First, potential participants with decision making competence were identified. Second, 50 participants were interviewed about their perceptions of treatment. The interviews were auto-recorded. A transcription verbatim and data analysis were conducted. All the requirements of a qualitative research and ethical considerations were observed.
Results

All the participants highlighted their experience with facilitators rather than barriers to their treatment engagement. Facilitators included: a) positive treatment outcomes and adolescent's perceived usefulness of treatment, b) a meaningful adolescent-therapist relationship, c) family’s supportive role, d) symptoms and negative self-image, and e) developing social relationships and acceptance by peers. The participants equally highlighted the importance of getting rid of their symptoms and improve their socialization skills. Other facilitators included: achieving professional and personal goals in life, enhancing their independence and self-esteem / self-image, or even just confessing to another trustworthy person. Friends were reported as having a neutral or mild supportive role. The barriers included ineffective and unhelpful treatment, negative experiences with their therapist, relief from symptoms and mental health therapy-related stigma.
Conclusion

For the most part, the findings enhance prior studies. Participants highlighted facilitators rather than barriers to treatment engagement. For the most part, the findings enhance prior studies. However, we identified some nuances which might be used by therapists to enhance the adolescents’ treatment engagement. For instance, bearing in their mind that by the subsiding of symptoms adolescents are most likely to terminate the treatment prematurely and highlighting the achievement of adolescents’ future goals as well as the potential family’s enhanced well-being because of the improvement of adolescents’ mental health may contribute to reducing the attrition rate.
Factors impacting test-based management of suspected malaria among caregivers of febrile children and private medicine retailers within rural communities of Fanteakwa North District, Ghana.
Authors: Soniran Olajoju Temidayo , Abuaku Benjamin , Anang Abraham Kwabena , Opoku-Afriyie Patricia , Ahorlu Collins Stephen
Published: February 2021

Background

Prompt diagnosis and treatment prevents a mild case of malaria from developing into severe disease and death. Unfortunately, parasitological testing of febrile children is greater in the public and formal private sector than in the informal private sector in sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods

A mixed method study was carried out to determine factors limiting test-based management of suspected malaria cases among caregivers of febrile children and Over-the-Counter medicine sellers (OTCMS) in eight rural communities in Ghana. Structured questionnaires were used to interview 254 adult caregivers. Fourteen in-depth interviews were conducted with OTCMS. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically.
Results

The most frequently sought health providers by caregivers of febrile children in descending order were Community Health-Based Planning Services (CHPS) compounds; drug vendors; and OTCMS. Malaria parasitological testing rate of febrile children was highest (94.9%) at the CHPS compound and lowest (10.5%) at the OTCMS shops. Proportion of febrile children not subjected to malaria blood test is below average (28.3%). Among caregivers who did not ask for malaria blood test, 15.2% reported that healthcare provider did not offer a malaria blood test; 21.7% were financially handicapped to visit the Health Centre; and 63% lacked knowledge of malaria blood test and where to get it. From OTCMS point of view, clients’ inability to pay for malaria blood test, community perception that OTCMS are unqualified to perform malaria blood test, clients’ adherence to presumptive treatment, financial loss when unused RDT kits expires, clients’ demand for half dose of ACT, and activities of drug peddlers are factors limiting adherence to WHO recommended policy on testing before treating uncomplicated malaria cases.
Conclusion

The study results suggest the need to implement community friendly interventions aimed at improving test-based management of suspected malaria in febrile children. These may include educating caregivers and community members on the need to test and confirm malaria in febrile children before treating them, and supply of subsidized RDT kits to OTCMS and re-training them to provide testing services to their clients. Further studies pertaining to influence of gender roles on healthcare seeking attitude for febrile children is also suggested.
Changes of Lymphocyte Subsets in Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Feng Hao , Yang Xue
Published: February 2021

Background and AimsThe host immune system plays an important role in the pathogenesis and defense mechanism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). This study aimed to explore the changes of immune system in Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) patients.MethodsA total of 85 active PTB patients and 50 healthy adults were enrolled, fifty patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) were enrolled as the positive control. Chest CT and lymphocyte subgroup counts in peripheral blood were measured in all participants.ResultsIn the PTB group, the level of CD4 + and B cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8 + cells were significantly increased, the frequency of NK cells was significantly decreased at the same time.Conclusions﻿The manifestation of immune system was changed in PTB patients, the inflammation in the infected lesion was limited which decreased innate immune activation, and the increased of T and B cells responses as the main pathogen elimination method.
Impact of Work function Engineering in Charge Plasma Based Bipolar Devices
Authors: Bramhane Lokesh Kumar , Salankar Suresh , Gaikwad Mahendra , Panchore Meena
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we have explored and justified the reason behind the degradation in the cutoff frequency of the
bipolar transistors evolved from the charge plasma concept. It has been observed that if the work function difference present between the emitter metal contact and silicon is greater than or equal to 0.68 eV ( ϕ m - ϕ SI = 4.05 eV - 4.73 eV), it results in increment in the base width which is the inverse of the cutoff frequency. On top of this, two dimensional TCAD simulation of the different bipolar devices also demonstrate the same base
width widening effect into the intrinsic region which is present between the base region and collector region. Apart from this, if this difference is exactly equal to 0.5 eV ( ϕ m - ϕ SI = 4.23 eV - 4.73 eV) then the base width widening effect can be completely eliminated from the bipolar devices base on the charge plasma.
New insights into the delayed initiation of a debris flow in southwest China
Authors: Peng Taixin , Chen N. Sh. , Hu Guisheng , Tian Shufeng , Han Zheng , Liu Enlong
Published: February 2021

On 6 July 2020, 3 h 40 min after rainfall stopped, a delayed debris-flow disaster occurred due to colluvium deposits in a hollow region (CDH) in the Chenghuangmiao gully, Sichuan Province, China, which resulted in 4 deaths and 27 injuries. This study explores the initiation process of the delayed debris flow and the cause for the delay. Field investigations, catchment geometry interpretation, laboratory tests, theoretical calculations, and fluid-solid coupling numerical simulation were performed to obtain landslide parameters and understand the mechanisms of the event. Results show: (1) The event was a giant low-frequency viscous debris flow. (2) Its initiation was caused by the delayed landslide process under the influence of back-end confluence. (3) The debris-flow discharge in the main gully increased over 19.5 min. (4) The seepage process inside the CDH continued for 3 h 20 min after the rainfall stopped before its pore pressure and reduction in strength was sufficient to initiate the debris flow. This research provides new insights on delayed debris-flow disasters; it is a reference for improving disaster management systems, especially monitoring and early warning systems, thereby avoiding future casualties.
Sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 inhibition with empagliflozin improves cardiac function in rats after cardiac arrest
Authors: Tan Yunke , Yu Kai , Liang Lian , Liu Yuanshan , Song Fengqing , Ge Qiulin , Fang Xiangshao , Yu Tao , Huang Zitong , Jiang Longyuan , Wang Peng
Published: February 2021

Background: Sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition reduces hyperglycaemia and has beneficial effects in heart failure. However, the effect of SGLT2 inhibition with empagliflozin on acute myocardial dysfunction after cardiac arrest (CA) remains unknown.Methods: Non-diabetic male Sprague–Dawley rats underwent ventricular fibrillation to induce CA, or sham surgery. Rats received 10 mg/kg of empagliflozin or vehicle at 10 minutes after return of spontaneous circulation by intraperitoneal injection. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography, histological analysis, molecular markers of myocardial injury, oxidative stress, mitochondrial ultrastructural integrity and metabolism. Results: Empagliflozin did not influence heart rate and blood pressure, but left ventricular function and survival time were significantly higher in the empagliflozin treated group compared to the group treated with vehicle. Empagliflozin also reduced myocardial contraction band necrosis, myocardial fibrosis, serum cardiac troponin I levels and myocardial oxidative stress after CA. Moreover, empagliflozin maintained the structural integrity of myocardial mitochondria and increased mitochondrial activity after CA. In addition, empagliflozin increased circulating and myocardial ketone levels as well as myocardial expression of the 𝛽-hydroxy butyrate dehydrogenase 1. Together these metabolic changes were associated with an increase in cardiac ATP production.Conclusions: Empagliflozin favorably affects cardiac function in non-diabetic rats with acute myocardial dysfunction after CA, associated with reducing glucose levels and increasing ketone body oxidized metabolism. Our data suggest that empagliflozin might be of benefit in patients with acute myocardial dysfunction after CA.
Aortotracheal Fistula after Slide Tracheoplasty in a Patient with Dextrocardia, Left Pulmonary Artery Sling and Tracheal Stenosis: A Case Report
Authors: Chien Yu-san , Chao Yen-Chun , Lee Kuo-Sheng , Hsu Kung-hong
Published: February 2021

Background: Aortotracheal fistula (ATF) is an uncommon and fatal complication of tracheal or aortic surgery, especially among pediatric patients. Case presentation: We reported a case in a 1-year-old boy with dextrocardia, left pulmonary artery sling and long segment tracheal stenosis. He received slide tracheoplasty at 9 months of age and had post-operative refractory granulation at distal trachea status post repeated balloon dilatation and laser vaporization. Episodes of hemoptysis occurred on post-operative day 81. Bronchoscopy revealed a pulsating pseudoaneurysm at lower trachea which ruptured during the procedure. Urgent surgical repair under cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was done. No recurrent bleeding or significant neurologic deficits noticed at a 4-month follow-up. Conclusion: Congenital anomaly that changes the spatial relationship between trachea and aorta could have contributed to formation of ATF. This warrant future attention when managing tracheal granulation with this not uncommon anatomy.
Astragalus Polysaccharide Regulates EGFR and ANXA1 Expression to Inhibit Tumor Growth
Authors: Li Wenfang , Hu Xueyan , Li Yanjie , song kedong
Published: February 2021

Background: Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) has been frequently used as an adjuvant agent responsible for its immunoregulatory activity to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity of chemotherapy used in the management of breast cancer. However, the other synergism mechanism of APS remains unclear. Methods: The expression profiles of breast cancer biological data (E-GEOD-10780), (E-GEOD-65194), (E-GEOD-10810), (E-GEOD-42568), (E-GEOD-61304), (E-GEOD-7904) and (E-GEOD-15852) were retrieved from European bioinformatics institute (EBI) database to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were carried out. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks of the DEGs were constructed by STRING online database. Finally, STRING was applied to construct the PPI networks of the DEGs associated with cell proliferation, cell cycle and cell apoptosis from GO enrichment analysis. Subsequently, hub and common genes that might be the potential targets and possible mechanism behind APS in vivo direct anti-tumor activity on breast cancer were identified. Meanwhile, we evaluated the mRNA and protein expression levels of these key targets using multiple biological analyses.Results: In total, 116 down-regulated and 73 up-regulated differential expressed genes (DEGs) were examined from seven gene expression datasets. Top ten hub genes were obtained in four typical protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs involved in each specific biological process (BP, cell cycle, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis and death) that was related to inhibitory activity of APS in vitro against breast cancer cell lines. Four common DEGs (EGFR, ANXA1, KIF14 and IGF1) were further identified in the above four BP-PPI networks, among which EGFR and ANXA1 were the hub genes that were potentially linked to the progression of breast cancer. The results of biological detections indicated that APS could down-regulated EGFR and up-regulated ANXA1 expression.Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study may provide potential molecular therapeutic targets and a new insight into the mechanism of APS against breast cancer.
Melatonin Attenuates Pyroptosis Upon Spinal Nerve Ligation in Rats via the NF-κB/NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling Pathway
Authors: Wang Yi-Hao , Gao Xiao , Tang Yu-Ru , Zhang Nan-Nan , Liang Zhao-Jun , Liu Juan , Li Yan
Published: February 2021

Accumulated evidences have demonstrated causative links between neuropathic pain (NP) and immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. However, the role of inflammasome-induced pyroptosis in NP remains elusive. Melatonin possesses a well-documented analgesic action in various pain models. A rat model of spinal nerve ligation was established to explore the potential mechanism of melatonin in pyroptosis. The current study aimed to test our hypothesis that melatonin regulated pyroptosis to alleviate NP by inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3-dependent signaling. Behavioral experiments revealed that SNL provoked severe allodynia which were suppressed by the administration of melatonin, caspase-1 inhibitor (VX-765) or NF-κB inhibitor (BAY 11-7085). SNL significantly up-regulated the inflammatory cytokines associated with the excessive activation of NLRP3 components and NF-κB signaling, as well as the marked pyroptosis activation which were partially inhibited by melatonin, VX-765 or BAY 11-7085. Collectively, Melatonin has potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in SNL models through preventing pyroptosis via the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.
Acetaminophen Concentrations Found in Recycled Wastewater alter Soil Microbial Community Structure and Functional Diversity
Authors: McLain Nathan K. , Gomez Melissa Y. , Gachomo Emma W.
Published: February 2021

The practice of using recycled wastewater (RWW) (aka reclaimed water) has been adopted to address the growing demand for clean water and has been largely successful. However, chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) including pharmaceutical products such as acetaminophen (APAP) remain in the water even after additional cleaning. When recycled waste water is used to irrigate crops or landscapes these chemicals can then enter these and adjacent environments. APAP is one such contaminant and has the potential to disrupt the soil microbiome associated with agricultural crops. We evaluated this possibility using a greenhouse study to mimic agricultural field conditions, and applied treatments of APAP concentrations found within the ranges observed for RWW effluents. Using Illumina sequencing based approaches we observed that APAP was able to cause shifts in the microbial community and positively select for bacteria that are capable of metabolizing the breakdown products of APAP such as glycosides and carboxylic acids. Community-level physiological profiles of carbon metabolism were evaluated using Biolog EcoPlate as a proxy for community functions. The biolog plates indicated that the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, phenolics, and polymers was significantly higher in the presence of APAP. Together our observations indicate that the soil microbial community and functions were altered by APAP and demonstrates the need to change current RWW policies to address the presence of these chemicals.
On the Drivers of Temperature Extremes on the Antarctic Peninsula During Austral Summer
Authors: Wang Sai , Ding Minghu , Liu Ge , Wei Ting , Zhang Wenqian , Chen Wen , Dou Tingfeng , Xiao Cunde
Published: February 2021

On the basis of surface air temperature (SAT) observations from the Great Wall Station located on the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) and ERA-Interim reanalysis data, the present manuscript investigates the role of atmospheric flow at intraseasonal and synoptic time scales in driving the temperature extremes over the AP during austral summer. Both warm and cold events can persist for multiple days and were maintained mainly by the advection of seasonal air temperature by intraseasonal winds. Synoptic winds can influence the temperature change around the peak time through their advection of seasonal temperature, thus determining the time of peak temperature anomalies. The generation of intraseasonal winds was closely associated with Rossby wave trains propagating along the polar front jet over the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean before the warm and cold events. The synoptic height anomalies before the warm events were also manifested as Rossby wave trains propagating along the polar front jet. However, synoptic Rossby wave trains were almost absent when the cold events occurred. Further analysis indicates that the weakened background flow during the cold events may have hindered the eastward travel of synoptic eddies. This study provides an important guidance for subseasonal to seasonal prediction on the AP.
A paradigm shift of PD-L1 immunotherapy based on a tracking-to-triggering immunoediting effect of 2-[18F]FDG
Authors: Wen Xuejun , Shi Changrong , Zeng Xinying , Zhao Liang , Yao Lanlin , Feng Lixia , Huang Jinxiong , Li Yesen , Lin Qin , Chen Haojun , Zhuang Rongqiang , Chen Xiaoyuan , Zhang Xianzhong , Guo Zhide
Published: February 2021

Efforts have been devoted to select eligible candidates for PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blocker (ICB) immunotherapy based on radiopharmaceuticals. Here, we have observed a tracking-to-triggering (referred to as “T2T”) immunoediting effect of the employed radionuclides. In particular, we found the usefulness of 2-[18F]FDG in cancer ICB therapy. Given that the PD-L1 expression is upregulated after the administration of various radiotracers, the predictive result from PET/SPECT imaging should be treated with caution. Viewed positively, radiotracers are potential immunomodulators to create an immune-favorable microenvironment for tumor immunotherapy. Improving αPD-L1 mAb utilization and significant tumor growth delay are observed when the personalized therapeutic alliance of radiotracer stimulation and ICB are employed. This new paradigm has the potential to expand the traditional tumor theranostic model and implement precision cancer immunotherapy.
Intraoperative palpation increases the efficiency of sentinel lymph node biopsy but is not necessary for every operation
Authors: Qin Xingsong , Li Zhiwei , Zheng Xinyu , Liu Wei , Qin Xinglei
Published: February 2021

Background

Although intraoperative palpation (IOP) is recommended during the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), its actual effect on SLNB remains unclear. Meanwhile, controversy exists regarding whether IOP is necessary for all SLNB. The study examined the impacts of IOP on SLNB and determined whether IOP is necessary for every operation.
Methods

126 patients with early stage breast cancer underwent SLNB using Indocyanine green (n = 64) and Methylene blue (n = 62). Traced lymph nodes (TLNs) were resected, followed by the palpated lymph nodes (PLNs) surrounding the original TLNs. and we analyzed the results (with and without IOP) in terms of detection rate, number of removed SLNs and detection rate of metastatic SLNs.
Results

Without IOP, the detection rates of the two group were 90.6%(58/64), 88.7%(55/62), but with IOP, all the rates increased to 100% (p < 0.05).The mean number also increased (With palpitation: Without palpitation = 3.5 : 2.9; 3.1 : 1.8, p < 0.05).73 (57.9%) patients were detected with PLNs and 13 (10.3%) were detected with only PLNs. In the 26 patients detected with metastatic nodes, 4 (15.4%) were detected with only palpated metastatic nodes.
Conclusions

Intraoperative palpation increases detection rate and number of SLNs and reduced the potential false-negative rate. But intraoperative palpation is not necessary for all SLNB when the number of TLNs reaches three or more.
Applying GRACE satellite data and hydro-meteorological parameters for predicting the combined terrestrial evapotranspiration index (CTEI) based on an improved SVM and a greedy regression approach
Authors: Elbeltagi Ahmed , Jamei Mehdi , Srivast Ankur , Ahmadianfar Iman , Rahman Mahfuzur , Gitari Harun I. , Dharpure Jaydeo K.
Published: February 2021

Drought has become relatively one of the widespread extreme events that affect socio-economic sphere, ecological balance, environmental conditions, crop-yields, climate feedback mechanism, and water resources management. Monitoring of the drought is one of the challenging tasks, hence required to develop new techniques in prediction of this natural calamity accurately and timely. In this work, Combined Terrestrial Evapotranspiration Index (CTEI) that is forced through precipitation (P) and potential evapotranspiration (PET) is used for estimating drought. Also, this is a novel index developed for Indus-Ganga river basin, which also uses a Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA) data. Thirteen input-variables comprised of GRACE-TWSA, Global Land Data Assimilation System GLDAS-TWSA, Groundwater Storage Anomaly (GWSA), P, Land Surface Temperature ( LST), Wind Speed (WS), Evapotranspiration (ET), Runoff, air temperature ( ), PET, net-shortwave (SWN) and long-wave (LWN) along with net radiation (NR) radiations were implemented for predicting CTEI. Further, thirteen different combinations were analyzed using an improved Sequential Minimal Optimization (SMO) algorithm for support vector machine (SVM) and a greedy linear regression method. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to develop several combinations based on machine learning models used for modeling CTEI, compare the accuracy and stability of these models in CTEI prediction, and select the best outcomes have been provided from these models. The performed error measures and statistical indicators prove that Combo 2 and 3 owing to SVM model are superior to the best combinations of Greedy model. Overall based on the results, the improved SVM is superior to Greedy model in estimating CTEI. SVM (Combo2: R=0.81) in spite of having a higher range of relative error, is superior to Greedy model (Combo3, R=0.77) for estimating CTEI. This method can be one of promising alternatives for estimating CTEI over major river basins across the world.
Public risk perception and coping response to COVID-19 is moderated by positive emotions: Evidence from Chinese college students
Authors: Gan Yongtao , Fu Qionglin
Published: February 2021

Background: People tend to develop serious psychological problems if they perceive the threat of a special disease. Seeking and contributing risk perception has laid the groundwork for studies that explore public response in the face of a health emergency, and are helpful for the understanding of students by determining how positive emotions(PE) moderates COVID-19-related risk perception(CRP) and can further lead to an improvement in coping response to COVID-19(CRC). We still have little knowledgeResults: There were a moderating relationship between CRP and positive-coping behavior(PCB) and moderating relationship between CRP and risk-taking behavior(RTB) through PE. Two interactive effects were identified. First, CRP was positively predicting PCB interacting with observed PE). Second, COVID-19-related risk perception interacted with observed PE predicting risk-taking behavior(RTB)Conclusions: The current study established a moderated model to explore the influence mechanism of CRP on two categories of coping response. For public health managers, they should have different coping response behavior and addressed the moderating role of PE in the process of coping with a public health emergency.
BMSC-Derived Exosomes Intervened the Pathogenic Changes of Scleroderma in Mouse Through Its microRNAs
Authors: Jin Jiahui , OU Qingjian , Wang Zhe , Tian Haibin , Xu Jingying , Gao Furong , Hu Shuqin , Chen Jie , Wang Juan , Zhang Jieping , Lu Lixia , Jin Caixia , Xu Guo-Tong , Zhao Jingjun
Published: February 2021

BackgroundSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disease with severe fibrosis of the skin without effective therapy. While bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) derived exosome was a potential stem cell-based candidate in treatment of SSc.MethodsBMSCs were isolated from the bone marrow of mouse and identified with the surface markers and multi-lineage differentiation. The exosomes were isolated from the BMSCs culture medium with ultracentrifugation and identified with NTA, TEM and western blot. The miRNAs of the BMSC-derived exosomes (BMSC-EXOs) were studied via miRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. The SSc model was established in mice by bleomycin (BLM) subcutaneous injection and the mice were treated with BMSCs or BMSC-derived exosomes. The skin tissues were dissociated and analyzed with H&E staining, RNA sequencing and immunohistochemical staining.ResultsEvident pathological changes like fibrosis and inflammation induced in the skin of BLM-treated mice. Both BMSCs and BMSC-EXOs effectively intervened such pathological manifestations and disease process, in a very similar way. The effects of the BMSC-EXOs were tracked to their microRNAs, which were proved to be involved in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of multiple cell types and in multiple biological processes when the EXOs functioned. Furthermore, the TGF-β1 positive cells and α-SMA positive myofibroblasts were significantly increased in the scleroderma skin of BLM-treated mice, but evidently reduced in the EXO-treated SSc group. Meanwhile, the number of mast cells as well as the infiltrated macrophages and lymphocytes were evidently increased in the skins of the BLM-treated mice, but significantly reduced by the EXO treatment. Such observations were confirmed by the data of the detected inflammatory cytokines that significantly higher mRNA levels of Il6, Il10 and Tnf-α were found in SSc mice, but reduced following the EXO treatment. Through bioinformatics analysis, TGFβ and WNT signaling pathways were revealed to be closely involved in the pathogenic changes in mouse SSc and could be the main targets for treating the disease.Conclusions﻿BMSC-derived exosomes could be developed as a potential therapy for treating the dysfunction of the skin in SSc, especially for its similar efficacy with BMSCs but less regulated as compared to cell therapy. Its mechanisms are involved in its microRNAs which alleviate the SSc pathogenic changes through regulating WNT and TGFβ signaling pathways.
The Prevalence Of Binge Eating Disorder And Associated Psychiatric And Substance Use Disorders In A Student Population In Kenya – Towards A Public Health Approach
Authors: Mutiso Victoria N. , Ndetei Prof. David M. , Muia Esther N. , Alietsi Rita K. , Onsinyo Lydia , Kameti Frida , Masake Monicah , Musyimi Christine , Mamah Prof. Daniel
Published: February 2021

Background: Changing lifestyles in Kenya can lead to eating related behaviors and problems. The more severe problems are likely to manifest in clinical settings, but the majority and less severe forms will remain unrecognized. There is therefore the need to take a public health awareness approach to identify cases at community level and initiate appropriate intervention. This requires characterization of Eating Disorders (ED) and its associations in the local context. Our focus will be on the more common Binge Eating Disorder (BED). The overarching objective of this study is to generate Kenyan data on BED and fill a gap that exists not only in Kenya but Africa in general. The specific aims are: (1) To document the patterns and prevalence of different symptoms of BED in a student population whose age range represents a significant proportion of the population. (2) To determine associated psychiatric and substance use disorders (3) To determine independent predictors of BED. Method: We administered to a total of 9742 participants following tools: A researcher designed socio-demographic and economic indicators questionnaire; an instrument on DSM-IV diagnosis of BED and its various symptoms; instruments to determine DSM-IV psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, affectivity, psychosis and stress indicators. The participants were high school, college and university students in four out of the 47 counties in Kenya. We used descriptive and inferential analysis to determine prevalence and association of the different variables. The independent predictors of BED were generated from the generalized linear model (p<0.05). Results: We found a prevalence of 3.2% of BED and a wide range of BED symptoms varying from 8.1% to 19.0%. There were significant (p<0.05) associations between BED with various socio-demographic variables and psychiatric and substance use disorders. However, only some of these disorders were independent predictors of BED. Conclusion: Our findings on prevalence of BED and significant associations with various psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders are similar to those obtained in HICs using similar large scale samples in non-clinical populations. Economic status is not a predictor of BED. Our findings suggest a public health approach to awareness and management.