bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hiding in plain sight: the absence of consideration of the gendered dimensions in ‘source’ country perspectives on health worker migration
Authors: Bourgeault Ivy Lynn , Runnels Vivien , Atanackovic Jelena , Spitzer Denise , Walton-Roberts Margaret
Published: March 2021

Background

Gender roles and relations affect both the drivers and experiences of health worker migration, yet policy responses rarely consider these gender dimensions. This lack of explicit attention from source country perspectives can lead to inadequate policy responses.

Methods

A Canadian-led research team partnered with co-investigators in the Philippines, South Africa, and India to examine the causes, consequences and policy responses to the international migration of health workers from these ‘source’ countries. Multiple-methods combined an initial documentary analysis, interviews and surveys with health workers and country-based stakeholders. We undertook an explicit gender-based analysis highlighting the gender-related influences and implications that emerged from the published literature and policy documents from the decade 2005 to 2015; in-depth interviews with 117 stakeholders; and surveys conducted with 3580 health workers.

Results

The documentary analysis of health worker emigration from South Africa, India and the Philippines reveal that gender can mediate access to and participation in health worker training, employment, and ultimately migration. Our analysis of survey data from nurses, physicians and other health workers in South Africa, India and the Philippines and interviews with policy stakeholders, however, reveals a curious absence of how gender might mediate health worker migration. Stereotypical views were evident amongst stakeholders; for example, in South Africa female health workers were described as “preferred” for “innate” personal characteristics and cultural reasons, and in India men are directed away from nursing roles particularly because they are considered only for women. The finding that inadequate remuneration was as a key migration driver amongst survey respondents in India and the Philippines, where nurses predominated in our sample, was not necessarily linked to underlying gender-based pay inequity. The documentary data suggest that migration may improve social status of female nurses, but it may also expose them to deskilling, as a result of the intersecting racism and sexism experienced in destination countries. Regardless of these underlying influences in migration decision-making, gender is rarely considered either as an important contextual influence or analytic category in the policy responses.

Conclusion

An explicit gender-based analysis of health worker emigration, which may help to emphasize important equity considerations, could offer useful insights for the health and social policy responses adopted by source countries.
Discovery of LAMP-2A as potential biomarkers for glioblastoma development by modulating apoptosis through N-CoR degradation
Authors: Wang Yongjie , Zhang Buyi , Wang Jianli , Wu Haijian , Xu Shenbin , Zhang Jianmin , Wang Lin
Published: March 2021

Background

Lysosome-associated membrane protein type 2A (LAMP-2A) is the key component of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), a cargo-selective lysosomal degradation pathway. Aberrant LAMP-2A expression and CMA activation have been demonstrated in various human malignancies. The study focusing on the intrinsic role of LAMP-2A and CMA in glioblastoma (GBM), and downstream mechanism could provide valuable insight into the pathogenesis and novel therapeutic modality of GBM.

Methods

The levels of LAMP-2A, nuclear receptor co-repressor (N-CoR), unfolded protein response (UPR) and apoptosis were examined in clinical samples. LAMP-2A siRNA and shRNA were constructed to manipulate CMA activation. The role of CMA and downstream mechanism through degradation of N-CoR and arresting UPR mediated apoptosis were explored in GBM cells and nude mouse xenograft model.

Results

Elevated LAMP-2A and associated decreased N-CoR expression were observed in GBM as compared with peritumoral region and low-grade glioma. Inhibited UPR and apoptosis were observed in GBM with high LAMP-2A expression. In vitro study demonstrated co-localization and interaction between LAMP-2A and N-CoR. LAMP-2A silencing up-regulated N-CoR and aroused UPR pathway, leading to apoptosis, while N-CoR silencing led to an opposite result. In vivo study further confirmed that LAMP-2A inhibition arrested tumor growth by promoting apoptosis.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated the central role of CMA in mediating N-CoR degradation and protecting GBM cells against UPR and apoptosis, and provided evidence of LAMP-2A as potential biomarker. Further research focusing on CMA with other tumorigenic process is needed and selective modulators of LAMP-2A remain to be investigated to provide a novel therapeutic strategy for GBM.
A four-year observational study to examine the dietary impact of the North Carolina Healthy Food Small Retailer Program, 2017–2020
Authors: Jilcott Pitts Stephanie B. , Wu Qiang , Truesdale Kimberly P. , Rafferty Ann P. , Haynes-Maslow Lindsey , Boys Kathryn A. , McGuirt Jared T. , Fleischhacker Sheila , Johnson Nevin , Kaur Archana P. , Bell Ronny A. , Ammerman Alice S. , Laska Melissa N.
Published: March 2021

Background

The North Carolina (NC) Healthy Food Small Retailer Program (HFSRP) was passed into law with a $250,000 appropriation (2016–2018) providing up to $25,000 in funding to small food stores for equipment to stock healthier foods and beverages. This paper describes an observational natural experiment documenting the impact of the HFSRP on store food environments, customers’ purchases and diets.

Methods

Using store observations and intercept surveys from cross-sectional, convenience customer samples (1261 customers in 22 stores, 2017–2020; 499 customers in 7 HFSRP stores, and 762 customers in 15 Comparison stores), we examined differences between HFSRP and comparison stores regarding: (1) change in store-level availability, quality, and price of healthy foods/beverages; (2) change in healthfulness of observed food and beverage purchases (“bag checks”); and, (3) change in self-reported and objectively-measured (Veggie Meter®-assessed skin carotenoids) customer dietary behaviors. Differences (HFSRP vs. comparison stores) in store-level Healthy Food Supply (HFS) and Healthy Eating Index-2010 scores were assessed using repeated measure ANOVA. Intervention effects on diet were assessed using difference-in-difference models including propensity scores.

Results

There were improvements in store-level supply of healthier foods/beverages within 1 year of program implementation (0 vs. 1–12 month HFS scores; p = 0.055) among HFSRP stores only. Comparing 2019 to 2017 (baseline), HFSRP stores’ HFS increased, but decreased in comparison stores (p = 0.031). Findings indicated a borderline significant effect of the intervention on self-reported fruit and vegetable intake (servings/day), though in the opposite direction expected, such that fruit and vegetable intake increased more among comparison store than HFSRP store customers (p = 0.05). There was no significant change in Veggie Meter®-assessed fruit and vegetable intake by customers shopping at the intervention versus comparison stores.

Conclusions

Despite improvement in healthy food availability, there was a lack of apparent impact on dietary behaviors related to the HFSRP, which could be due to intervention dose or inadequate statistical power due to the serial cross-sectional study design. It may also be that individuals buy most of their food at larger stores; thus, small store interventions may have limited impact on overall eating patterns. Future healthy retail policies should consider how to increase intervention dose to include more product marketing, consumer messaging, and technical assistance for store owners.
The role of procalcitonin in reducing antibiotics across the surgical pathway
Authors: Sartelli Massimo , Ansaloni Luca , Bartoletti Michele , Catena Fausto , Cardi Maurizio , Cortese Francesco , Di Marzo Francesco , Pea Federico , Plebani Mario , Rossolini Gian Maria , Sganga Gabriele , Viaggi Bruno , Viale Pierluigi
Published: March 2021

Procalcitonin (PCT) is widely considered as a highly sensitive biomarker of bacterial infection, offering general and emergency surgeons a key tool in the management of surgical infections. A multidisciplinary task force of experts met in Bologna, Italy, on April 4, 2019, to clarify the key issues in the use of PCT across the surgical pathway. The panelists presented the statements developed for each of the main questions regarding the use of PCT across the surgical pathway. An agreement on the statements was reached by the Delphi method, and this document reports the executive summary of the final recommendations approved by the expert panel.
Holo-omics for deciphering plant-microbiome interactions
Authors: Xu Ling , Pierroz Grady , Wipf Heidi M.-L. , Gao Cheng , Taylor John W. , Lemaux Peggy G. , Coleman-Derr Devin
Published: March 2021

Host-microbiome interactions are recognized for their importance to host health. An improved understanding of the molecular underpinnings of host-microbiome relationships will advance our capacity to accurately predict host fitness and manipulate interaction outcomes. Within the plant microbiome research field, unlocking the functional relationships between plants and their microbial partners is the next step to effectively using the microbiome to improve plant fitness. We propose that strategies that pair host and microbial datasets—referred to here as holo-omics—provide a powerful approach for hypothesis development and advancement in this area. We discuss several experimental design considerations and present a case study to highlight the potential for holo-omics to generate a more holistic perspective of molecular networks within the plant microbiome system. In addition, we discuss the biggest challenges for conducting holo-omics studies; specifically, the lack of vetted analytical frameworks, publicly available tools, and required technical expertise to process and integrate heterogeneous data. Finally, we conclude with a perspective on appropriate use-cases for holo-omics studies, the need for downstream validation, and new experimental techniques that hold promise for the plant microbiome research field. We argue that utilizing a holo-omics approach to characterize host-microbiome interactions can provide important opportunities for broadening system-level understandings and significantly inform microbial approaches to improving host health and fitness.
Cross-kingdom inhibition of bacterial virulence and communication by probiotic yeast metabolites
Authors: Malka Orit , Kalson Dorin , Yaniv Karin , Shafir Reut , Rajendran Manikandan , Ben-David Oshrit , Kushmaro Ariel , Meijler Michael M. , Jelinek Raz
Published: March 2021

Background

Probiotic milk-fermented microorganism mixtures (e.g., yogurt, kefir) are perceived as contributing to human health, and possibly capable of protecting against bacterial infections. Co-existence of probiotic microorganisms are likely maintained via complex biomolecular mechanisms, secreted metabolites mediating cell-cell communication, and other yet-unknown biochemical pathways. In particular, deciphering molecular mechanisms by which probiotic microorganisms inhibit proliferation of pathogenic bacteria would be highly important for understanding both the potential benefits of probiotic foods as well as maintenance of healthy gut microbiome.

Results

The microbiome of a unique milk-fermented microorganism mixture was determined, revealing a predominance of the fungus Kluyveromyces marxianus. We further identified a new fungus-secreted metabolite—tryptophol acetate—which inhibits bacterial communication and virulence. We discovered that tryptophol acetate blocks quorum sensing (QS) of several Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Vibrio cholerae, a prominent gut pathogen. Notably, this is the first report of tryptophol acetate production by a yeast and role of the molecule as a signaling agent. Furthermore, mechanisms underscoring the anti-QS and anti-virulence activities of tryptophol acetate were elucidated, specifically down- or upregulation of distinct genes associated with V. cholerae QS and virulence pathways.

Conclusions

This study illuminates a yet-unrecognized mechanism for cross-kingdom inhibition of pathogenic bacteria cell-cell communication in a probiotic microorganism mixture. A newly identified fungus-secreted molecule—tryptophol acetate—was shown to disrupt quorum sensing pathways of the human gut pathogen V. cholerae. Cross-kingdom interference in quorum sensing may play important roles in enabling microorganism co-existence in multi-population environments, such as probiotic foods and the gut microbiome. This discovery may account for anti-virulence properties of the human microbiome and could aid elucidating health benefits of probiotic products against bacterially associated diseases.
Mental health and preventive behaviour of pregnant women in China during the early phase of the COVID-19 period
Authors: Wang Qian , Mo Phoenix K. H. , Song Bo , Di Jiang-Li , Zhou Feng-Rong , Zhao Juan , Wu Ying-Lan , Tian Hong , Qiu Li-Qian , Xia Jianhong , Wang Lan , Li Fen , Wang Lin-Hong
Published: March 2021

Background

The COVID-19 has caused significant toll over the globe. Pregnant women are at risk of infection. The present study examined the frequency of washing hands with soap and wearing face mask when going out, prevalence of depression and anxiety, and identified their associated factors among pregnant women during the early phase of COVID-19 outbreak in China.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between 24 February and 3 March 2020. A total of 15 428 pregnant women who were using maternal health care services in China completed a questionnaire which assessed their socio-demographic and pregnancy-related characteristics, contextual, cognitive and social factors related to COVID-19, frequency of washing hands and wearing face masks, and depression and anxiety. Logistics regression analyses were performed to identify the associated factors of preventive behaviours and mental health.

Results

The prevalence of probable anxiety and depression was 28.2% and 43.6% respectively. 19.8% reported always wearing face mask when going out, and 19.1% reported washing hands with soap for more than 10 times per day. Results from logistic regression analyses showed that older age was associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety (OR = 0.42–0.67) and higher frequency of washing hands (OR = 1.57–3.40). Higher level of education level was associated with probable depression (OR = 1.31–1.45) and higher frequency of wearing face mask (OR = 1.50–1.57). After adjusting for significant socio-demographic and pregnancy-related factors, place of residence being locked down (aOR = 1.10–1.11), being quarantined (aOR = 1.42–1.57), personally knowing someone being infected with COVID-19 (aOR = 1.80–1.92), perception that COVID-19 would pose long term physical harm to human (aOR = 1.25–1.28) were associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety, while the perception that the disease will be under control in the coming month was associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety (aOR = 0.59–0.63) and lower tendency of always wearing face mask (aOR = 0.85). Social support was associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety (aOR = 0.86–0,87) and higher frequency of washing hands (aOR = 1.06).

Conclusions

The mental health and preventive behaviours of pregnant women during COVID-19 outbreak was associated with a range of socio-demographic, pregnancy-related, contextual, cognitive and social factors. Interventions to mitigate their mental health problems and to promote preventive behaviours are highly warranted.
TDP-43 proteinopathy alters the ribosome association of multiple mRNAs including the glypican Dally-like protein (Dlp)/GPC6
Authors: Lehmkuhl Erik M. , Loganathan Suvithanandhini , Alsop Eric , Blythe Alexander D. , Kovalik Tina , Mortimore Nicholas P. , Barrameda Dianne , Kueth Chuol , Eck Randall J. , Siddegowda Bhavani B. , Joardar Archi , Ball Hannah , Macias Maria E. , Bowser Robert , Van Keuren-Jensen Kendall , Zarnescu Daniela C.
Published: March 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease in which 97% of patients exhibit cytoplasmic aggregates containing the RNA binding protein TDP-43. Using tagged ribosome affinity purifications in Drosophila models of TDP-43 proteinopathy, we identified TDP-43 dependent translational alterations in motor neurons impacting the spliceosome, pentose phosphate and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. A subset of the mRNAs with altered ribosome association are also enriched in TDP-43 complexes suggesting that they may be direct targets. Among these, dlp mRNA, which encodes the glypican Dally like protein (Dlp)/GPC6, a wingless (Wg/Wnt) signaling regulator is insolubilized both in flies and patient tissues with TDP-43 pathology. While Dlp/GPC6 forms puncta in the Drosophila neuropil and ALS spinal cords, it is reduced at the neuromuscular synapse in flies suggesting compartment specific effects of TDP-43 proteinopathy. These findings together with genetic interaction data show that Dlp/GPC6 is a novel, physiologically relevant target of TDP-43 proteinopathy.
Early alterations of neurovascular unit in the retina in mouse models of tauopathy
Authors: Xia Fan , Ha Yonju , Shi Shuizhen , Li Yi , Li Shengguo , Luisi Jonathan , Kayed Rakez , Motamedi Massoud , Liu Hua , Zhang Wenbo
Published: March 2021

The retina, as the only visually accessible tissue in the central nervous system, has attracted significant attention for evaluating it as a biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases. Yet, most of studies focus on characterizing the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and degeneration of their axons. There is no integrated analysis addressing temporal alterations of different retinal cells in the neurovascular unit (NVU) in particular retinal vessels. Here we assessed NVU changes in two mouse models of tauopathy, P301S and P301L transgenic mice overexpressing the human tau mutated gene, and evaluated the therapeutic effects of a tau oligomer monoclonal antibody (TOMA). We found that retinal edema and breakdown of blood–retina barrier were observed at the very early stage of tauopathy. Leukocyte adhesion/infiltration, and microglial recruitment/activation were constantly increased in the retinal ganglion cell layer of tau transgenic mice at different ages, while Müller cell gliosis was only detected in relatively older tau mice. Concomitantly, the number and function of RGCs progressively decreased during aging although they were not considerably altered in the very early stage of tauopathy. Moreover, intrinsically photosensitive RGCs appeared more sensitive to tauopathy. Remarkably, TOMA treatment in young tau transgenic mice significantly attenuated vascular leakage, inflammation and RGC loss. Our data provide compelling evidence that abnormal tau accumulation can lead to pathology in the retinal NVU, and vascular alterations occur more manifest and earlier than neurodegeneration in the retina. Oligomeric tau-targeted immunotherapy has the potential to treat tau-induced retinopathies. These data suggest that retinal NVU may serve as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and staging of tauopathy as well as a platform to study the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration.
Perspective of mesenchymal transformation in glioblastoma
Authors: Kim Yona , Varn Frederick S. , Park Sung-Hye , Yoon Byung Woo , Park Hye Ran , Lee Charles , Verhaak Roel G. W. , Paek Sun Ha
Published: March 2021

Despite aggressive multimodal treatment, glioblastoma (GBM), a grade IV primary brain tumor, still portends a poor prognosis with a median overall survival of 12–16 months. The complexity of GBM treatment mainly lies in the inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity, which largely contributes to the treatment-refractory and recurrent nature of GBM. By paving the road towards the development of personalized medicine for GBM patients, the cancer genome atlas classification scheme of GBM into distinct transcriptional subtypes has been considered an invaluable approach to overcoming this heterogeneity. Among the identified transcriptional subtypes, the mesenchymal subtype has been found associated with more aggressive, invasive, angiogenic, hypoxic, necrotic, inflammatory, and multitherapy-resistant features than other transcriptional subtypes. Accordingly, mesenchymal GBM patients were found to exhibit worse prognosis than other subtypes when patients with high transcriptional heterogeneity were excluded. Furthermore, identification of the master mesenchymal regulators and their downstream signaling pathways has not only increased our understanding of the complex regulatory transcriptional networks of mesenchymal GBM, but also has generated a list of potent inhibitors for clinical trials. Importantly, the mesenchymal transition of GBM has been found to be tightly associated with treatment-induced phenotypic changes in recurrence. Together, these findings indicate that elucidating the governing and plastic transcriptomic natures of mesenchymal GBM is critical in order to develop novel and selective therapeutic strategies that can improve both patient care and clinical outcomes. Thus, the focus of our review will be on the recent advances in the understanding of the transcriptome of mesenchymal GBM and discuss microenvironmental, metabolic, and treatment-related factors as critical components through which the mesenchymal signature may be acquired. We also take into consideration the transcriptomic plasticity of GBM to discuss the future perspectives in employing selective therapeutic strategies against mesenchymal GBM.
Sensing and making sense of tourism flows and urban data to foster sustainability awareness: a real-world experience
Authors: Prandi Catia , Nisi Valentina , Ribeiro Miguel , Nunes Nuno
Published: March 2021

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries fundamentally arising from mobility as a form of capital. In destination islands that have a delicate ecosystem to maintain, this source of income can become problematic in terms of sustainability. A difficulty in making people aware of this issue is also represented by the fact that such sustainability-related issues (and their causes) are often not “visible” to citizens. To foster awareness about the relationship between sustainability and tourism in well-known destinations, we design a platform that engages users at two levels of participation: i. at the IoT and sensors level, in order to let them becoming providers of big data, deploying and enlarging the pervasive infrastructure; ii. at the (big) data visualization level, with the aim of engaging them in making sense of large volumes of data related to sustainability. This paper presents the design and implementation of a real-world experience where a low-cost collaborative platform made it possible to sense and visualize tourist flows and urban data into a rich interactive map-based visualization, open to the local communities. We deployed our case study in the Madeira archipelago, engaging locals and visitors of the island in two exploratory studies focused on measuring the impact of providing users with meaningful representations of tourism flows and related unperceivable aspects that affect the environmental sustainability. Analysing the findings of the two studies, we discuss the potentiality of using such a system to make sense of big data, fostering awareness about sustainability issues, and we point to future open challenges about citizens’ participation in sensing and making sense of big data.
Fatty acid composition, total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of white and black sesame seed varieties from different localities of Ethiopia
Authors: Agidew Misganaw Gedlu , Dubale Amare Aregahegn , Atlabachew Minaleshewa , Abebe Wasihun
Published: March 2021

Background

Authentication of food and agricultural products is important to trace out the right product and ensure the customer’s preference and their health. Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the most important crops used for food and medicine in Ethiopia and different varieties and cultivars are produced in different regions of the country. This study was undertaken to determine the total flavonoid content, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and fatty acids profile of black and white sesame seed varieties. Samples were obtained from three major sesame seed-producing districts of Ethiopia.

Results

The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) were ranged from 2.95 to 6.95 mgGAE/g, 2.13–4.99 mgCE/g and 8.3–16.8 AAE/g of the sample, respectively. In general, white sesame seed samples showed the highest TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity than the black variety. Location wise, samples collected from the Metema district were found to contain a relatively higher concentration of the phytochemicals. The white seed variety was characterized by significantly higher content of oil (53.2–58.2% by mass of the sample) than the back variety (47.6–51.4%).The oil content of the seeds was found to contain nine identifiable fatty acids (FAs). The total unsaturated fatty acids constituted more than 82% of the total FAs, while the saturated FAs were lower than 18% of the total FAs. Among the unsaturated FAs, linoleic acid (C18:2, omega-6 FAs) was the dominant FA (42.5–44.3%) followed by oleic acids (37.2–38.9%). On the other hand, palmitic acids (9.35–11.2%) and stearic acid (5.78–6.52%) were the dominant FAs among the saturated FAs.

Conclusions

The studied samples had higher concentration of linoleic acid (omega-6 FA) than oleic acid, as opposed to other reported accessions of sesame seeds. Furthermore, white sesame seeds were richer in oil content than the black variety. The high concentration of unsaturated FAs, omega-6 FA, and phenolic compounds make sesame seeds nutritionally and medicinally important for the human diet. Unlike the fatty acids profiles, the level of phenolic compounds in sesame seeds was highly dependent on the geographical region and varietal type of the seeds.
Evaluation of the PETsys TOFPET2 ASIC in multi-channel coincidence experiments
Authors: Nadig Vanessa , Schug David , Weissler Bjoern , Schulz Volkmar
Published: March 2021

Background

Aiming to measure the difference in arrival times of two coincident γ-photons with an accuracy in the order of 200ps, time-of-flight positron emission tomography systems commonly employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) and high-resolution digitization electronics, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). This work evaluates the performance of the TOFPET2 ASIC, released by PETsys Electronics S.A. in 2017, dependent on its configuration parameters in multi-channel coincidence measurements.

Methods

SiPM arrays fabricated by different vendors (KETEK, SensL, Hamamatsu, Broadcom) were tested in combination with the ASIC. Scintillator arrays featuring different reflector designs and different configurations of the TOFPET2 ASIC software parameters were evaluated. The benchtop setup used is provided with the TOFPET2 ASIC evaluation kit by PETsys Electronics S.A.

Results

Compared to existing studies featuring the TOFPET2 ASIC, multi-channel performance results dependent on a larger set of ASIC configuration parameters were obtained that have not been reported to this extend so far. The ASIC shows promising CRTs down to 219.9 ps in combination with two Hamamatsu S14161-3050-HS-08 SiPM arrays (128 channels read out, energy resolution 13.08%) and 216.1 ps in combination with two Broadcom AFBR-S4N44P643S SiPM arrays (32 channels read out, energy resolution 9.46%). The length of the trigger delay of the dark count suppression scheme has an impact on the ASIC performance and can be configured to further improve the coincidence resolution time. The integrator gain configuration has been investigated and allows an absolute improvement of the energy resolution by up to 1% at the cost of the linearity of the energy spectrum.

Conclusion

Measuring up to the time-of-flight performance of state-of-the-art positron emission tomography (ToF-PET) systems while providing a uniform and stable readout for multiple channels at the same time, the TOFPET2 ASIC is treated as promising candidate for the integration in future ToF-PET systems.
Plant active products and emerging interventions in water potabilisation: disinfection and multi-drug resistant pathogen treatment
Authors: Adeeyo Adeyemi O. , Edokpayi Joshua N. , Alabi Mercy A. , Msagati Titus A. M. , Odiyo John O.
Published: March 2021

Background

This review aims at establishing the emerging applications of phytobiotics in water treatment and disinfection.

Results

Statistical analysis of data obtained revealed that the use of plant product in water treatment needs more research attention. A major observation is that plants possess multifaceted components and can be sustainably developed into products for water treatment. The seed (24.53%), flower (20.75), leaf (16.98%) and fruit (11.32%) biomasses are preferred against bulb (3.77%), resin (1.89%), bark (1.89%) and tuber (1.89%). The observation suggests that novel applications of plant in water treatment need further exploration since vast and broader antimicrobial activities (63.63%) is reported than water treatment application (36.37%).

Conclusions

This review has revealed the existing knowledge gaps in exploration of plant resources for water treatment and product development. Chemical complexity of some plant extracts, lack of standardisation, slow working rate, poor water solubility, extraction and purification complexities are limitations that need to be overcome for industrial adoption of phytochemicals in water treatment. The field of phytobiotics should engage modern methodologies such as proteomics, genomics, and metabolomics to minimise challenges confronting phytobiotic standardisation. The knowledge disseminated awaits novel application for plant product development in water treatment.
Analysis of intraoperative modifiable factors to prevent acute kidney injury after elective noncardiac surgery: intraoperative hypotension and crystalloid administration related to acute kidney injury
Authors: Kobayashi Yasuma , Yamaoka Kazue
Published: March 2021

Background

The optimal intraoperative blood pressure range and crystalloid administration protocol for the prevention of acute kidney injury (AKI) after elective noncardiac surgery remain unknown.

Methods

This single-center retrospective cohort study included 6296 patients aged ≥ 50 years who had undergone elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia. We evaluated the relationship between duration of intraoperative hypotension and AKI. To assess whether the effects of crystalloid administration differed according to baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), we examined the interaction between intraoperative crystalloid administration and eGFR. We calculated univariable and multivariable adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the prevalence of AKI.

Results

AKI occurred in 431 (6.8%) patients and was associated with intraoperative hypotension. Effects of intraoperative crystalloid administration differed significantly according to baseline eGFR. Increased risk of AKI was noted in patients with eGFR ≤45 ml min−1 1.73m−2 who were managed with restrictive or liberal crystalloid administration [OR 4.79 (95% CI 3.10 to 7.32) and 6.43 (95% CI 2.23 to 16.03), respectively] as opposed to those with eGFR >45 ml min−1 1.73m−2 who were managed with moderately restrictive crystalloid administration.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that anesthesiologists should avoid intraoperative hypotension as well as either restrictive or liberal (as opposed to moderately restrictive) crystalloid administration in patients with decreased eGFR. Intraoperative blood pressure and crystalloid administration protocol are major modifiable factors that must be optimized to prevent postoperative AKI.
How and who manage hemodialysis inpatients at national university hospitals in Japan? Based on questionnaire survey
Authors: Nakata Takeshi , Shibata Hirotaka , Kamijo Yuji , Konta Tsuneo
Published: March 2021

Background

More than three hundred thousand hemodialysis (HD) patients exist in Japan. The average of vintage of Japanese hemodialysis patients was longer than Western country. Longer and older hemodialysis patients tend to have various complications to be hospitalized and treated by various departments. However, the clinical management practices for HD inpatients are not well-known. In this study, we investigated the clinical management practices for HD inpatients in national university hospitals in Japan.

Methods

The questionnaire-based survey was conducted among HD management specialists of 42 national university hospitals in Japan via online correspondence or letters. This survey investigated their clinical management practices for HD inpatients of other departments. The responses were obtained from 173 (69%) of 249 HD management specialists among 37 (90%) of the 42 facilities.

Results

The majority (87%) of HD management specialists were aware of the importance of medical intervention by HD specialists for the management of HD inpatients. However, only approximately 20% of HD management specialists regularly ordered blood examination and chest X-ray for the management of HD inpatients of other departments. Dialysis physicians with less experience faced more difficulty in managing HD inpatients of other departments, than experienced HD management specialists. The main reason for this difficulty was poor communication with the attending physicians, lack of management rules, and short duration of hospital stay of HD inpatients.

Conclusions

This study indicated that the clinical management practices for HD inpatients in other department were different for each HD management specialists and were affected by their clinical experience. Good communication and established inter-departmental HD management rules would be necessary.
An HPLC and UHPLC-HRMS approach to study PSMA-11 instability in aqueous solution
Authors: Iudicello Antonella , Genovese Filippo , Di Iorio Valentina , Cicoria Gianfranco , Boschi Stefano
Published: March 2021

Background

The stability of precursors and reagents is of utmost importance for developing a robust radiolabelling method that provides high and constant radiochemical yield and radiochemical purity.

While performing the QC of the [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 injectable solutions according to Ph. Eur. Monograph that has recently been published, a trend to the instability of the standard PSMA-11, the same used as a precursor for [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 radiosynthesis, has been observed. This instability led to the formation of a side product in a time-dependent manner. The formation of this compound, besides making the implementation of the Ph. Eur. analytical method more difficult, negatively influenced the radiochemical yield and the radiochemical purity by increasing gallium-68 in colloidal and ionic forms.

Results

The nature of the side product was investigated by adding chelators, such as EDTA, to PSMA-11 solutions and using the combination of UHPLC-HRMS. The results led to the definition of the side product structure, as natFe-PSMA-11, from the combination of the high-affinity chelator HBED-CC, present in the molecule of PSMA-11, and environmental Fe (III).

Conclusions

Strategies to reduce the risk of low radiolabeling yields and to increase the stability of the PSMA-11 in an aqueous solution were also discussed.
Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) survey of experiences with ambulatory healthcare for Asians and non-Hispanic Whites in the United States
Authors: Ahmedov Mohir , Pourat Nadereh , Liu Honghu , Hays Ron D.
Published: March 2021

Background

Differences in experiences of care reported by Asian Americans (Asians) compared to non-Hispanic Whites (Whites) may be due to lack of measurement invariance.

Methods

We evaluated the three-factor structure and the equivalence of responses to the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Clinical and Group (CG-CAHPS) Adult Visit Survey 1.0 and compared care experiences of Asians and Whites. Thirteen questions were used to elicit reports about specific aspects of care and two questions assessed overall care perceptions.

This analysis of the CAHPS database included 769 providers and 266,327 respondents. Most surveys (98%) were administered by mail and the rest (2%) by phone. Only 0.5% of the surveys were administered in Spanish. The sample was 64% female, 89% White and 2% Asian, 39% 65 years or older, and 32% were high school graduates or less.

Results

A three-factor model was supported by categorical confirmatory factor analysis using weighted least squares with mean and variance adjustment: confirmatory fit index (CFI) = 0.99 and root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.03). A multi-group configural invariance model also fit the data well: (CFI = 0.993, RMSEA = 0.031). Regression models indicated that Asians reported worse access, lower scores on office staff courtesy and helpfulness and rating their doctors and were less likely to recommend their doctors to family/friends than did Whites.

Conclusions

Use of the CG-CAHPS Adult Visit Survey 1.0 to assess perceptions of care by Asians and Whites is supported. Quality improvement efforts are needed to address worse experiences of care among Asians in the United States.
Biological activities of limonoids in the Genus Khaya (Meliaceae): a review
Authors: Olatunji Tomi Lois , Odebunmi Christiana Adeyinka , Adetunji Ademola Emmanuel
Published: March 2021

Background

Limonoids are a class of highly oxygenated modified triterpenoids with a diverse range of biological activities. Although with restricted occurrence in the plant kingdom, these compounds are found extensively in the Meliaceae and Rutaceae families. Limonoids are of great interest in science given that the small number of plant families where they occur exhibit a broad range of medicinal properties that promote health and prevent disease.

Main text

The Meliaceae family includes the genus Khaya and comprises tree species that have been used in traditional medicine to treat several ailments. In recent years, the genus Khaya has attracted much research interest owing to the presence of limonoids in different plant parts of a few species that can serve as therapeutic molecules in the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, a literature search over the past two decades (2000–2020) was conducted on the biological activities of limonoids in the genus Khaya using different databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and ISI Web of Science. The taxonomy, geographical distribution and the various traditional uses of the genus are presented in detail. This study reveals that the currently documented biological activities of limonoids both in vivo and in vitro are limited to four species (K. anthotheca, K. grandifoliola, K. ivorensis and K. senegalensis) in the genus Khaya, and include anticancer, antimalarial, hepatoprotection, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotection, antimicrobial, antifungal and antifeedant. The most well-researched species, K. senegalensis, has the most notable biological activities and traditional uses in the genus Khaya.

Conclusion

The present detailed and up-to-date review of recent literature on the biological activities in the genus Khaya reveals the potentials of limonoids for drug development in managing several ailments.
The eradication of Asian longhorned beetle at Paddock Wood, UK
Authors: Eyre Dominic , Barbrook Jane
Published: March 2021

In March 2012, an outbreak of Anoplophora glabripennis was detected at Paddock Wood, Kent, UK. The epicentre of the outbreak was adjacent to a site that a company had used for storing imported stone in wood packaging. An eradication campaign was initiated involving the agencies responsible for plant health and forestry in England and Wales. The area was initially surveyed by visual inspection of standing trees from the ground and 24 infested trees were detected. This method was more effective for detecting trees with A. glabripennis exit holes than trees at an early stage of infestation. A further 42 infested trees were detected when the infested trees and host trees within 100 m of them were felled and the felled material was inspected. The most important host tree species was Acer pseudoplatanus (43 of the 66 infested trees). Tree climbers inspected the trees between 100 and 300 m of infested trees three times. They found damage caused by native pests that it had not been possible to detect from the ground but no A. glabripennis. Other surveillance techniques used were the regular inspection of favoured host trees over a wide area and the planting and regular inspection of favoured host trees in the core of the outbreak area. Pheromone trapping and the use of detection dog teams were trialled during the outbreak. Public meetings, leaflet drops, press releases, television features and school visits were all used to communicate with local residents and other stakeholders. No A. glabripennis were detected after the initial removal of trees in 2012 and eradication was declared after seven years of surveillance in 2019. The outbreak was likely to have been present for 10 or 11 years, but population development is likely to have been limited by the sub-optimal climatic conditions, especially the UK’s relatively cool summers.
Distal Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Successfully Assesses Sciatic Nerve Integrity Following Parasacral Sciatic Motor Block: A Case Report
Authors: Chooi Cheryl S. L. , Sullivan Cornelius , Boretsky Karen
Published: March 2021

Following the placement of lumbar plexus and parasacral sciatic catheters for complex lower extremity surgery, a 19-kg child had dense sensory and motor blockades in the postanesthesia care unit. The surgical team felt obligated to exclude anatomically modifiable compression of the sciatic nerve and planned for surgical reexploration. Using an insulated short, beveled needle, direct electrical nerve stimulation distal to the parasacral sciatic block and proximal to the surgical site elicited tibial nerve motor function and confirmed nerve integrity. Peripheral nerve stimulation can be used to differentiate between the etiologies of motor blockade in time-critical situations.
Presidential Address: Memories of Better Times before the Christians Came to Mexico and Guatemala
Authors: Terraciano Kevin
Published: March 2021

The author presented a draft of this essay as a presidential address at the 2012 meeting of the society in Springfield, Missouri. The theme of the meeting was “the apocalypse,” referring to a popular belief that the Mayan calendar predicted a cataclysmic event to occur in that year. The address proposed that the apocalypse had already occurred in the sixteenth century, when the Maya and many other Indigenous groups of the Americas were devastated by diseases brought by European immigrants. The author examined how the destruction was documented in Spanish surveys called the Relaciones geográficas, which were completed after a major epidemic devastated the Indigenous population of Mesoamerica. The author did not submit the paper for publication at the time. The current pandemic has lent some modest perspective to the many epidemic diseases that have swept through the Americas since the late fifteenth century. The author submitted this revised version of the original essay after editing the content, adding notes, and citing relevant works published since 2012.
Treaty Stories: Reclaiming the Unbroken History of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Sovereignty
Authors: Huettl Margaret
Published: March 2021

Ojibwe leaders negotiated treaties with the United States amid nineteenth-century encroachments on their territory. These treaties, which were more than tools of dispossession, enfolded and extended aadizookanag (sacred stories) in agreements that embodied Ojibwe relationships with land, language, sacred history, ceremony, and kin. Federal and state policy makers, fueled by the desire for Indian land and resources, attempted to unravel these relationships in the decades that followed. By continuing to live out through labor and stories their relationships with the woods, waters, and manoomin (wild rice) beds of Anishinaabewaki, the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibweg kept their treaties and their sovereignty alive.
Η ηγεμονία του νεοφιλελευθερισμού στον περί μνημονίων λόγο
Authors: Ταστσόγλου Μιχαήλ
Published: March 2021

Η ελληνική κρίση αποδείχθηκε το σημαντικότερο πρόβλημα στην ιστορία της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, τουλάχιστον έως το 2010. Τρία Μνημόνια Κατανόησης υπεγράφησαν από ελληνικές κυβερνήσεις. Τα Μνημόνια περιέχουν πολιτικές λιτότητας, οι οποίες, αν και διαρκώς παρουσιάζονταν από τις πολιτικές και οικονομικές ελίτ ως θεραπεία, μονόδρομος και αντικειμενική εξέλιξη, αποτύγχαναν να επιλύσουν την κρίση στην Ελλάδα. Με την ανάλυση των ομιλιών που εκφωνήθηκαν από τους πρωθυπουργούς και τους υπουργούς Οικονομικών των ελληνικών κυβερνήσεων σε κρίσιμες ημερομηνίες ψήφισης των μνημονιακών πολιτικών επιχειρείται η αποκάλυψη και ανάδειξη του ρόλου της νεοφιλελεύθερης ηγεμονίας στην εμφάνιση και παράταση της κρίσης, όπως και της νεοφιλελεύθερης ιδεολογίας ως κοινής συνισταμένης όλων των μνημονιακών κυβερνήσεων. Η υπό εκπόνηση διατριβή παρουσιάζει τη- γκραμσιανών καταβολών- έννοια της ηγεμονίας ως το μηχανισμό που επιτρέπει στις νεοφιλελεύθερες πολιτικές να επανέρχονται ως άνευ αντιπάλου στρατηγικές επιλογές για την επίλυση των προβλημάτων που οι ίδιες δημιούργησαν. H διατριβή ενδιαφέρεται για την ιδεολογική απόχρωση των επικοινωνιακών στρατηγικών που επέλεξαν οι πρωθυπουργοί και υπουργοί Οικονομικών των κυβερνήσεων της περιόδου 2010-2018, όπως προκύπτει από τις πολιτικές ομιλίες που εξέφεραν σε συγκεκριμένες ημερομηνίες που σχετίζονται με την προσφυγή της Ελλάδος στους ευρωπαϊκούς μηχανισμούς στήριξης, την ψήφιση των τριών Μνημονίων και των ισάριθμων Μεσοπρόθεσμων Πλαισίων Δημοσιονομικής Στρατηγικής. Διά της ανάλυσης Λόγου υπογραμμίζονται τα στοιχεία που καταδεικνύουν την ηγεμονία του νεοφιλελευθερισμού στον περί Μνημονίων Λόγο και διερευνάται η πιθανή ιδεολογική σύγκλιση των κειμένων, παρά την εκφορά τους από διαφορετικών ιδεολογικών καταβολών και κομμάτων πολιτικούς. Σκοπός της διατριβής είναι να αποδώσει την κατίσχυση του νεοφιλελεύθερου δόγματος μέσα από τους λόγους των ιθυνόντων πολιτικών προσώπων κατά την προσπάθειά τους να πείσουν τη Βουλή και την κοινή γνώμη να εγκρίνουν προγράμματα λιτότητας ως ασφαλείς επιλογές απόκρισης στην κρίση.