bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in the Treatment of Breast Cancer
Authors: Feril Loreto B. , Fernan Rodney L. , Tachibana Katsuro
Published: November 2020

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive method of ablating
malignant tumors. This paper will review the current clinical application of HIFU specially
in the treatment of breast cancer. In addition to clinical studies, this review will also
look into some basic studies that could address the technical issues related to this modality.
In general, HIFU is considered to be safe being non-invasive and non-ionizing.
The complication occurrence rate is low and repeated treatment is possible, making it an
attractive option for some patients. However, for more than two decades since it was first
used to treat breast cancer, clinical studies on HIFU still remain at the investigative stage
and are only available in several centers. Reasons contributing to such few studies on HIFU
include lack of specialized medical team and bioengineering technical staff, and
breast cancer-dedicated imaging-HIFU platform to attain positive outcomes. Despite these
circumstances, we believe that HIFU will eventually become the treatment of choice
for most breast cancer patients in the near future.
Anti-tumor Effects of Curcuminoids in Glioblastoma Multiforme: An Updated Literature Review
Authors: Afshari Amir R. , Jalili-Nik Mohammad , Abbasinezhad-moud Farzaneh , Javid Hossein , Karimi Mohammad , Mollazadeh Hamid , Jamialahmadi Tannaz , Sathyapalan Thozhukat , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: November 2020

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a poorly curable brain tumor because of
its extremely invasive nature. Curcuminoids, as potential phytochemicals extracted from
Curcuma Longa L., have been documented for their chemopreventive and antitumor activities
against several types of malignancies. These compounds exert these effects via
modulation of multiple signaling pathways and molecular targets at different stages of tumor
progression, proliferation, and metastasis. In experimental studies, curcuminoids
have demonstrated promising therapeutic benefits to overcome GBM. Curcuminoids
have been shown to exert their anti-GBM effects through regulation of angiogenesis,
apoptosis, autophagy, metastasis, invasion, as well as potential molecular targets, including
receptor tyrosine kinases, Sonic Hedgehog, and NF-κB. This study reviews the observations
regarding the impact of curcumin and its derivatives on GBM and the potential of
translating the research findings into the clinic.
E6 and E7 Oncoproteins: Potential Targets of Cervical Cancer
Authors: Malla Ramarao , Kamal Mohammad Amjad
Published: November 2020

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth leading cancer in women in the age group
of 15-44 years globally. Experimental as well as epidemiological studies identified that
type16 and 18 HPV cause 70% of precancerous cervical lesions as well as cervical cancer
worldwide by bringing about genetic as well as epigenetic changes in the host
genome. The insertion of the HPV genome triggers various defense mechanisms including
the silencing of tumor suppressor genes as well as activation of oncogenes associated
with cancer metastatic pathway. E6 and E7 are small oncoproteins consisting of 150 and
100 amino acids, respectively. These oncoproteins affect the regulation of the host cell
cycle by interfering with p53 and pRb. Further, these oncoproteins adversely affect the
normal functions of the host cell by binding to their signaling proteins. Recent studies demonstrated
that E6 and E7 oncoproteins are potential targets for CC. Therefore, this review
discusses the role of E6 and E7 oncoproteins in metastasis and drug resistance as
well as their regulation, early oncogene mediated signaling pathways. This review also
uncovers recent updates on molecular mechanisms of E6 and E7 mediated phytotherapy,
gene therapy, immune therapy, and vaccine strategies as well as diagnosis through precision
testing. Therefore, understanding the potential role of E6/E7 in metastasis and drug
resistance along with targeted treatment, vaccine, and precision diagnostic strategies,
could be useful for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer.
Computational Evidences of Phytochemical Mediated Disruption of PLpro Driven Replication of SARS-CoV-2: A Therapeutic Approach against COVID-19
Authors: Balkrishna Acharya , Mittal Rashmi , Arya Vedpriya
Published: November 2020

Background:

COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been declared as a global pandemic
by WHO. Comprehensive analysis of this unprecedented outbreak may help to fight against the disease
and may play a pivotal role in decreasing the mortality rate linked with it. Papain-like protease
(PLpro), a multifunctional polyprotein, facilitates the replication of SARS-CoV-2 and evades it from
the host immunological response by antagonizing cytokines, interferons and may be considered as a
potential drug target to combat the current pandemic.

Methods:

Natural moieties obtained from medicinal plants were analysed for their potency to target
PLpro of SARS-CoV-2 by molecular docking study and were compared with synthetic analogs named
as remdesivir, chloroquine and favipiravir. The stability of complexes of top hits was analysed by MD
Simulation, and interaction energy was calculated. Furthermore, average RMSD values were computed
and deepsite ligand-binding pockets were predicted using Play Molecule. Drug-like-abilities of these
moieties were determined using ADMET and bond distance between the ligand and active site was assessed
to predict the strength of the interaction.

Results:

Nimbocinol (-7.6 Kcal/mol) and sage (-7.3 Kcal/mol) exhibited maximum BA against PLpro
SARS-CoV-2 as evident from molecular docking study, which was found to be even better than
remdesivir (-6.1 Kcal/mol), chloroquine (-5.3 Kcal/mol) and favipiravir (-5.7 Kcal/mol). Both nimbocinol-
PLpro and sage-PLpro SARS-CoV-2 complex exhibited stable conformation during MD Simulation
of 101ns at 310 K, and potential, kinetic and electrostatic interaction energies were computed,
which was observed to be concordant with results of molecular docking study. RMSD average values
were found to be 0.496 ± 0.015 Å and 0.598 ± 0.023 Å for nimbocinol and sage, respectively, thus revealing
that both the deviation and fluctuations during MD Simulation were observed to be least.
Deepsite prediction disclosed that both compounds occupied cryptic pockets in receptor and non-bond
distance analysis revealed the formation of hydrogen bonds during ligand-receptor interaction. ADMET
exploration further validated the drug-like properties of these compounds.

Conclusion:

Present study revealed that active constituents of Azadirachta indica and Salvia officinalis
can be potentially used to target SARS-CoV-2 by hindering its replication process.
Standardizing the Effective Correlated Dosage of Olanzapine and Empagliflozin in Female Wistar Rats
Authors: Ashraf Ghulam Md. , Alghamdi Badrah S. , Alshehri Fahad S. , Alam Mohammad Z. , Tayeb Haythum O. , Tarazi Frank I.
Published: November 2020

Aim:

The primary aim of this study was to standardize the correlated effective dosage of
the antidiabetic drug empagliflozin (EMPA) and the antipsychotic drug olanzapine (Ola).

Background:

Atypical antipsychotics are associated with BWG and metabolic disturbances for which
many approaches have been used to minimize these issues, including antidiabetic drugs. The antidiabetic
drugs have been quite effective in reversing BWG induced by the administration of antipsychotic
drugs in patients who have psychosis, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to standardize the correlated effective dosage of EMPA and
Ola.

Methods:

The study was carried out for 28 days to represent the chronic effect of Ola on female
Wistar rats. Rats were divided into three groups based on the dose they received: control (vehicle),
Ola-4 and Ola-8 (4 and 8 mg/kg/OD, respectively), and EMPA-10 and EMPA-20 (10 and 20
mg/kg/OD, respectively).

Results:

Both doses of Ola produced a significant increase in the percentage of BWG, however, Ola-4
produced a higher BWG. Also, both the doses of EMPA were able to reverse the effect of Ola-induced
BWG; however, EMPA-20 produced a higher reversal in BWG and normalized the rat's body weight.

Conclusion:

We conclude that Ola-4 and EMPA-20 were the most effective dosage for experimental
purposes in female Wistar rats. The findings of this study standardized the effective correlated dosage
of olanzapine and empagliflozin in female Wistar rats that will help understand the underlying molecular
and behavioral mechanisms.
Research Progress on circRNA in Nervous System Diseases
Authors: Ma Nana , Zhang Wei , Wan Jun
Published: November 2020

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a kind of non-coding RNA molecule with highly stable circular
structures. CircRNAs are primarily composed of exons and/or introns. Recently, a lot of exciting
studies showed that circRNA played an essential role in the development of nervous system diseases.
Here, classification, characteristics, biogenesis, and the association of circRNA dysregulation with nervous
system diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are summarized. The review not only contributes to a
better understanding of circRNAs, but also provides new research directions toward the diagnosis, treatment,
and prevention of nervous system diseases.
Putative Involvement of Endocrine Disruptors in the Alzheimer's Disease Via the Insulin-Regulated Aminopeptidase/GLUT4 Pathway
Authors: Ramírez-Expósito María Jesús , Martínez-Martos Jose Manuel , Cantón-Habas Vanesa , del Pilar Carrera-González María
Published: November 2020

It has been well established that there is a connection between type II diabetes (DMTII)
and Alzheimer's disease (AD). In fact, the increase in AD incidence may be an emerging complication
of DMTII. Both pathologies are related to estradiol (E2) exposure; on the one hand, estrogen receptors
(ER) are emerging as important modulators of glucose homeostasis through ß-pancreatic cell
function; on the other hand, brain bioenergetic and cognitive deficits have been related to the down
regulation of brain ERs, contributing to women ageing and AD susceptibility, both related to the
reduction in estradiol levels and the deficits in brain metabolism. Here we discuss that environmental
contaminants with estrogenic capacity such as bisphenol A (BPA) could develop pharmacological
effects similar to those of E2, which could affect ß-pancreatic cell function by increasing
the biosynthesis of glucose-induced insulin after extranuclear ER binding. BPA-induced hyperinsulinemia
would promote the translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), which is located next to
insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) in intracellular vesicles. In insulin-responsive tissues,
IRAP and GLUT 4 are routed together to the cell surface after insulin stimulation. IRAP is also the
angiotensin IV (AngIV) receptor, and AngIV associates the brain renin-angiotensin system (bRAS)
with AD, since AngIV is related to learning, memory, emotional responses, and processing of sensory
information not only through its inhibitory effect on IRAP but also through the stimulation of
glucose uptake by increasing the presence of IRAP/GLUT4 at the cell surface. Thus, the
IRAP/GLUT4 pathway is an emerging target for pharmacological intervention against AD.
Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitors for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - Systematic Review and Metanalysis
Authors: dos Santos Lucas Ribeiro , Duarte Marcio Luis , Peccin Maria Stella , Gagliardi Antônio Ricardo de Toledo , Melnik Tamara
Published: November 2020

Introduction:

Hepatic steatosis is a frequent condition, that afflicts, especially, obese and insulin resistant
patients; diagnosis is made, usually, through imaging tests. Despite the high prevalence and risk of complications, there is
no specific treatment approved, though a vast number of medications have been tested.

Objective:

To determine the efficacy of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors (i DPP-IV) in the treatment of NAFLD.

Methods:

We searched the electronic databases of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE and LILACS, as well as
reference lists of the included studies and grey literature; 9 studies were selected for inclusion.

Results:

7 studies were used for metanalysis, for 3 outcomes. i DPP-IV showed an ALT-reducing power of MD -10.83
[95% CI 35.23 to 13.57] at 3 months and MD -9.27 [95% CI 10.92 to -7.62] at 6 months of intervention, as well as
reduction of hepatic steatosis via MRI of SMD 0.10 [95% CI 0.31 to 0.50]; the overall incidence of adverse events was
very low. The studies were considered of low and very low quality by the GRADE evaluation.

Conclusion:

Because of the poor overall quality of the studies and heterogeneity of the population analyzed, i DPP-IV did
not show efficacy on inflammatory markers or fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.
Common Issues Among Asthma, Epilepsy, and Schizophrenia: From Inflammation to Ca2+/cAMP Signalling
Authors: Bergantin Leandro Bueno
Published: November 2020

Background:

A large amount of evidence has described that asthma may be associated
with a high epilepsy risk, and epilepsy may be linked with high asthma risk, especially among children
and individuals in their 30s. Curiously, asthma has also been associated with an increased risk
for schizophrenia. Most interestingly, a bidirectional link between schizophrenia and epilepsy has
also been established and has been of interest for many years.

Objective:

Bearing in mind the experience of our group in the field of Ca2+/cAMP signalling pathways,
this article discussed, beyond inflammation, the role of these signalling pathways in this link
among epilepsy, asthma, and schizophrenia.

Methods:

Publications involving these signalling pathways, asthma, epilepsy, and schizophrenia
(alone or combined) were collected by searching PubMed and EMBASE.

Results and Conclusion:

There is a clear relationship between Ca2+ signalling, e.g. increased Ca2+
signals and inflammatory responses. In addition to Ca2+, cAMP regulates pro- and anti-inflammatory
responses. Then, beyond inflammation, the comprehension of the link among epilepsy, asthma,
and schizophrenia could improve the drug therapy.
Proposal and Assessment of a De-Identification Strategy to Enhance Anonymity of the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP-CDM) in a Public Cloud-Computing Environment: Anonymization of Medical Data Using Privacy Models
Authors: Jeon Seungho , Seo Jeongeun , Kim Sukyoung , Lee Jeongmoon , Kim Jong-Ho , Sohn Jang Wook , Moon Jongsub , Joo Hyung Joon
Published: November 2020

Background

De-identifying personal information is critical when using personal health data for secondary research. The Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (CDM), defined by the nonprofit organization Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics, has been gaining attention for its use in the analysis of patient-level clinical data obtained from various medical institutions. When analyzing such data in a public environment such as a cloud-computing system, an appropriate de-identification strategy is required to protect patient privacy.

Objective

This study proposes and evaluates a de-identification strategy that is comprised of several rules along with privacy models such as k-anonymity, l-diversity, and t-closeness. The proposed strategy was evaluated using the actual CDM database.

Methods

The CDM database used in this study was constructed by the Anam Hospital of Korea University. Analysis and evaluation were performed using the ARX anonymizing framework in combination with the k-anonymity, l-diversity, and t-closeness privacy models.

Results

The CDM database, which was constructed according to the rules established by Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics, exhibited a low risk of re-identification: The highest re-identifiable record rate (11.3%) in the dataset was exhibited by the DRUG_EXPOSURE table, with a re-identification success rate of 0.03%. However, because all tables include at least one “highest risk” value of 100%, suitable anonymizing techniques are required; moreover, the CDM database preserves the “source values” (raw data), a combination of which could increase the risk of re-identification. Therefore, this study proposes an enhanced strategy to de-identify the source values to significantly reduce not only the highest risk in the k-anonymity, l-diversity, and t-closeness privacy models but also the overall possibility of re-identification.

Conclusions

Our proposed de-identification strategy effectively enhanced the privacy of the CDM database, thereby encouraging clinical research involving multiple centers.
Simulation Game Versus Multiple Choice Questionnaire to Assess the Clinical Competence of Medical Students: Prospective Sequential Trial
Authors: Fonteneau Tristan , Billion Elodie , Abdoul Cindy , Le Sebastien , Hadchouel Alice , Drummond David
Published: November 2020

Background

The use of simulation games (SG) to assess the clinical competence of medical students has been poorly studied.

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess whether an SG better reflects the clinical competence of medical students than a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ).

Methods

Fifth-year medical students in Paris (France) were included and individually evaluated on a case of pediatric asthma exacerbation using three successive modalities: high-fidelity simulation (HFS), considered the gold standard for the evaluation of clinical competence, the SG Effic’Asthme, and an MCQ designed for the study. The primary endpoint was the median kappa coefficient evaluating the correlation of the actions performed by the students between the SG and HFS modalities and the MCQ and HFS modalities. Student satisfaction was also evaluated.

Results

Forty-two students were included. The actions performed by the students were more reproducible between the SG and HFS modalities than between the MCQ and HFS modalities (P=.04). Students reported significantly higher satisfaction with the SG (P<.01) than with the MCQ modality.

Conclusions

The SG Effic’Asthme better reflected the actions performed by medical students during an HFS session than an MCQ on the same asthma exacerbation case. Because SGs allow the assessment of more dimensions of clinical competence than MCQs, they are particularly appropriate for the assessment of medical students on situations involving symptom recognition, prioritization of decisions, and technical skills.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03884114; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03884114
Web-Based Medical Examinations During the COVID-19 Era: Reconsidering Learning as the Main Goal of Examination (Preprint)
Authors: Manteghinejad Amirreza
Published: November 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

Like other aspects of the health care system, medical education has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To follow the requirements of lockdown and virtual education, the performance of students has been evaluated via web-based examinations. Although this shift to web-based examinations was inevitable, other mental, educational, and technical aspects should be considered to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of this type of evaluation in this era. The easiest way to address the new challenges is to administer traditional questions via a web-based platform. However, more factors should be accounted for when designing web-based examinations during the COVID-19 era. This article presents an approach in which the opportunity created by the pandemic is used as a basis to reconsider learning as the main goal of web-based examinations. The approach suggests using open-book examinations, using questions that require high cognitive domains, using real clinical scenarios, developing more comprehensive examination blueprints, using advanced platforms for web-based questions, and providing feedback in web-based examinations to ensure that the examinees have acquired the minimum competency levels defined in the course objectives.
Development and Validation of Risk Scores for All-Cause Mortality for a Smartphone-Based “General Health Score” App: Prospective Cohort Study Using the UK Biobank (Preprint)
Authors: Clift Ashley K , Le Lannou Erwann , Tighe Christian P , Shah Sachin S , Beatty Matthew , Hyvärinen Arsi , Lane Stephen J , Strauss Tamir , Dunn Devin D , Lu Jiahe , Aral Mert , Vahdat Dan , Ponzo Sonia , Plans David
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Given the established links between an individual’s behaviors and lifestyle factors and potentially adverse health outcomes, univariate or simple multivariate health metrics and scores have been developed to quantify general health at a given point in time and estimate risk of negative future outcomes. However, these health metrics may be challenging for widespread use and are unlikely to be successful at capturing the broader determinants of health in the general population. Hence, there is a need for a multidimensional yet widely employable and accessible way to obtain a comprehensive health metric.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to develop and validate a novel, easily interpretable, points-based health score (“C-Score”) derived from metrics measurable using smartphone components and iterations thereof that utilize statistical modeling and machine learning (ML) approaches.

METHODS

A literature review was conducted to identify relevant predictor variables for inclusion in the first iteration of a points-based model. This was followed by a prospective cohort study in a UK Biobank population for the purposes of validating the C-Score and developing and comparatively validating variations of the score using statistical and ML models to assess the balance between expediency and ease of interpretability and model complexity. Primary and secondary outcome measures were discrimination of a points-based score for all-cause mortality within 10 years (Harrell c-statistic) and discrimination and calibration of Cox proportional hazards models and ML models that incorporate C-Score values (or raw data inputs) and other predictors to predict the risk of all-cause mortality within 10 years.

RESULTS

The study cohort comprised 420,560 individuals. During a cohort follow-up of 4,526,452 person-years, there were 16,188 deaths from any cause (3.85%). The points-based model had good discrimination (c-statistic=0.66). There was a 31% relative reduction in risk of all-cause mortality per decile of increasing C-Score (hazard ratio of 0.69, 95% CI 0.663-0.675). A Cox model integrating age and C-Score had improved discrimination (8 percentage points; c-statistic=0.74) and good calibration. ML approaches did not offer improved discrimination over statistical modeling.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel health metric (“C-Score”) has good predictive capabilities for all-cause mortality within 10 years. Embedding the C-Score within a smartphone app may represent a useful tool for democratized, individualized health risk prediction. A simple Cox model using C-Score and age balances parsimony and accuracy of risk predictions and could be used to produce absolute risk estimations for app users.
Bugs in the Virtual Clinic: Confronting Telemedicine’s Challenges Through Empathy and Support (Preprint)
Authors: Crotty Bradley H , Somai Melek
Published: November 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

Although telemedicine has been an important conduit for clinical care during the COVID-19 pandemic, not all patients have been able to meaningfully participate in this mode of health care provision. Challenges with accessing telemedicine using consumer technology can interfere with the ability of patients and clinicians to meaningfully connect and lead to significant investments in time by clinicians and their staff. In this narrative case, we identify issues related to patients’ use of technology, make comparisons between telehealth adoption and the deployment of electronic health records, and propose that building intuitive and supported digital care experiences for patients is required to make virtual care sustainable.
Surveillance of the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Europe: Longitudinal Trend Analyses (Preprint)
Authors: Post Lori , Culler Kasen , Moss Charles B , Murphy Robert L , Achenbach Chad J , Ison Michael G , Resnick Danielle , Singh Lauren Nadya , White Janine , Boctor Michael J , Welch Sarah B , Oehmke James Francis
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted Europe, resulting in a high caseload and deaths that varied by country. The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has breached the borders of Europe. Public health surveillance is necessary to inform policy and guide leaders.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to provide advanced surveillance metrics for COVID-19 transmission that account for weekly shifts in the pandemic, speed, acceleration, jerk, and persistence, to better understand countries at risk for explosive growth and those that are managing the pandemic effectively.

METHODS

We performed a longitudinal trend analysis and extracted 62 days of COVID-19 data from public health registries. We used an empirical difference equation to measure the daily number of cases in Europe as a function of the prior number of cases, the level of testing, and weekly shift variables based on a dynamic panel model that was estimated using the generalized method of moments approach by implementing the Arellano-Bond estimator in R.

RESULTS

New COVID-19 cases slightly decreased from 158,741 (week 1, January 4-10, 2021) to 152,064 (week 2, January 11-17, 2021), and cumulative cases increased from 22,507,271 (week 1) to 23,890,761 (week 2), with a weekly increase of 1,383,490 between January 10 and January 17. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom had the largest 7-day moving averages for new cases during week 1. During week 2, the 7-day moving average for France and Spain increased. From week 1 to week 2, the speed decreased (37.72 to 33.02 per 100,000), acceleration decreased (0.39 to –0.16 per 100,000), and jerk increased (–1.30 to 1.37 per 100,000).

CONCLUSIONS

The United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal, in particular, are at risk for a rapid expansion in COVID-19 transmission. An examination of the European region suggests that there was a decrease in the COVID-19 caseload between January 4 and January 17, 2021. Unfortunately, the rates of jerk, which were negative for Europe at the beginning of the month, reversed course and became positive, despite decreases in speed and acceleration. Finally, the 7-day persistence rate was higher during week 2 than during week 1. These measures indicate that the second wave of the pandemic may be subsiding, but some countries remain at risk for new outbreaks and increased transmission in the absence of rapid policy responses.
Some characterizations on totally geodesic transversal hypersurfaces of a nearly B-Kenmotsu manifold
Authors:   State Institute of Education U.P., Prayagraj (India), SINGH JANARDAN
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we study some results of transversal hypersurfaces with (f, g˜, u, v, \lambda)-structure of a nearly \beta-Kenmotsu manifold. Some more results on totally geodesic or totally umbilical transversal hypersurface with (f, g˜, u, v, \lambda)-structure of a nearly \beta-Kenmotsu manifold have also been studied.
Lysophospholipid (LPA) receptors (version 2020.5) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database
Authors: Blaho Victoria , Chun Jerold , Jones Danielle , Jonnalagadda Deepa , Kihara Yasuyuki , Moolenaar Wouter , Ngo Tony , Ray Manisha , Tan Valerie
Published: November 2020

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Lysophospholipid Receptors [54, 18, 80, 125]) are activated by the endogenous phospholipid LPA. The first receptor, LPA1, was identified as ventricular zone gene-1 (vzg-1) [39], leading to deorphanisation of members of the endothelial differentiation gene (edg) family as other LPA receptors along with sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptors. Additional LPA receptor GPCRs were later identified. Gene names have been codified as LPAR1, etc. to reflect the receptor function of proteins. The crystal structure of LPA1 was solved and demonstrates extracellular LPA access to the binding pocket, consistent with proposed delivery via autotaxin [12]. These studies have also implicated cross-talk with endocannabinoids via phosphorylated intermediates that can also activate these receptors. The identified receptors can account for most, although not all, LPA-induced phenomena in the literature, indicating that a majority of LPA-dependent phenomena are receptor-mediated. Binding affinities of unlabeled, natural LPA and AEAp to LPA1 were measured using backscattering interferometry (pKd = 9) [81, 102]. Binding affinities were 77-fold lower than than values obtained using radioactivity [124]. Targeted deletion of LPA receptors has clarified signalling pathways and identified physiological and pathophysiological roles. Independent validation by multiple groups has been reported in the peer-reviewed literature for all six LPA receptors described in the tables, including further validation using a distinct read-out via a novel TGFα "shedding" assay [47]. LPA LPA has been proposed to be a ligand for GPCR35 [92], supported by a recent study revealing that LPA modulates macrophage function through GPR35 [53]. However CXCL17 is reported to be a ligand for GPR35/CXCR8 [74]. Moreover, LPA has also been described as an agonist for the transient receptor potential (Trp) ion channel TRPV1 [85] and TRPA1 [57]. All of these proposed non-GPCR receptor identities require confirmation and are not currently recognized as bona fide LPA receptors.
Teorías subjetivas de profesores de la Región de Coquimbo (Chile) sobre educación espiritual como parte de una educación integral
Authors: Díaz Ledezma Sebastián , Gómez Loyola Santiago
Published: November 2020

Teachers of primary and secondary education that instruct different subjects were studied, by means of the ressources that the qualitative methodology offers, based on grounded theory elements. The results report the elaboration of theories by teachers, regarding the value and impact of the spiritual and integral education related to the educational policies and how all this elements have an impact on their pedagogical practices for the spiritual development of the students. Lastly, the findings and possibility of widening this study are discussed.
Encuentros y desencuentros de quienes median y sus públicos. Reflexión sobre el rol de la mediación desde un museo de ciencias en Colombia: el Museo Interactivo Maloka
Authors: Daza-Caicedo Sandra , Ariza Angie Paola , Falla Sigrid , Múnera Angélica , Quiroga Jesús
Published: November 2020

El artículo presenta una discusión sobre la mediación y en particular sobre el rol de las personas que median en un museo de ciencia y tecnología, utilizando el caso de Maloka. Para ello se hace una revisión sobre el concepto de mediación; se muestran retos que al respecto surgieron en la realización y evaluación de las estrategias pedagógicas que fueron implementadas por Maloka, en alianza con la Secretaría de Educación de Bogotá, en el 2019. Finalmente, se presentan una serie de consideraciones sobre los principales retos para una mediación que promueva ejercicios dialógicos encaminados a la apropiación social de la ciencia y la tecnología.
El voluntariado científico y cultural: la experiencia de Cortes de Navarra (España)
Authors: Castellanos Patricia , Munilla Glòria , Sprünker Janine
Published: November 2020

Se presenta la experiencia de formación de voluntarios en el yacimiento del Alto de la Cruz de Cortes de Navarra (España), una comunidad que se ha implicado para dar a conocer su patrimonio cultural, olvidado durante años y recuperado en la actualidad, gracias a la acción de los arqueólogos investigadores, el sector político y la comunidad, orgullosa de su legado cultural.
α-amylase activity in freeze-dried and spray-dried honey
Authors:   Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Keke Anete , Cinkmanis Ingmars ,   Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
Published: November 2020

Honey is a naturally supersaturated sugar solution, which tends to crystallize. The crystallization of honey can lead to unwanted fermentation that can have a negative impact to honey quality. The production of honey powder could be an alternative method to prevent honey from fermentation. Honey powder could be used as alternative substitute to liquid honey that would allow to use this product more widely in the food industry. α-amylase activity is one of the most important parameters to evaluate the quality of honey. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of freeze-drying and spray-drying on honey α-amylase activity. Detection of α-amylase activity was carried out by spectrophotometric method. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the content of hydroxymethylfurfural in the powders. The obtained results showed that both drying methods had a negative impact to the enzyme activity in the samples. The lowest activity of α-amylase (8.3 DN) was measured in the spray-dried honey powder. Concentration of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in the powders did not exceed required concentration 40 mg kg-1.
Psychometric properties of the Bangla version of multidimensional scale of perceived social support
Authors: Islam Md.
Published: November 2020

The Bangla version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS?B) is a popular psychological assessment tool in Bangladesh. It has largely been used to measure perceived social support of Bangladeshi people. In spite of its popularity, it had not gone through an extensive validation procedure yet. Even its psychometric properties were not tested before, except for the test-retest reliability. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of MSPSS?B through a questionnaire survey among 812 adult Bangladeshi people. The MSPSS?B revealed a three-factor structure through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on the first split sample (n = 403), explaining 71.64% of the total variance. Acceptable goodness of fit indices (?2/df = 4.293, p = .000, GFI = .920, CFI = .926, TLI = .904, SRMR = .063, and RMSEA = .078) in the MSPSS?B were obtained through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the second split sample (n = 409). The three-factor structure of the MSPSS-B was the same as the original English MSPSS. Acceptable internal item consistencies, significant test-retest reliabilities, reliabilities between two scale versions, convergent and discriminant validities, and measurement invariance between two gender groups were also established in the MSPSS-B through different statistical analyses. Thus, the MSPSS?B with its three factors can be used as a valid and reliable measure to assess the perceived social support of Bangladeshi people.
Corticotomy depth and regional acceleratory phenomenon intensity:
Authors: Kernitsky Jeremy R. , Ohira Taisuke , Shosho Dhurata , Lim June , Bamashmous Abdullah , Dibart Serge
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To determine if the depth of corticotomy done with the piezoelectric knife could play a role in the intensity of the regional acceleratory phenomenon (RAP).

Materials and Methods

Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: untreated (3 rats) and treatment (15 rats). In the treatment group, a split-model design was used. The right tibia received transcortical (deep) penetrations with the piezoelectric knife, while intracortical (shallow) penetrations were performed on the left tibia of the same animal. The rats were euthanized at day 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28. Cone-beam computed tomography scans were taken for each sample and then assessed by histological analysis.

Results

Higher amounts of osteoclastic activity and new collagen formation were observed in the deep penetration group when compared with the shallow penetration group. The former peaked at day 14 for both groups (1.53% ± 0.01% vs 0.03% ± 0.0004%, respectively), and the latter peaked at day 28 (0.65 × 106 ± 0.01 vs 0.08 × 106 ± 0.0008, respectively).

Conclusions

Within the limitations of this study, it appears that the intensity of the RAP in the rat is corticotomy depth dependent. This is to be kept in mind when decorticating the bone during surgically facilitated orthodontic procedures.
Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy and Predictors of Its Development and Progression During Pregnancy in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes: A Report of 499 Pregnancies
Authors: Bourry Julien , Courteville Hugues , Ramdane Nassima , Drumez Elodie , Duhamel Alain , Subtil Damien , Deruelle Philippe , Vambergue Anne
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVE

Pregnancy has been associated with development and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR), but incidence of DR remains unclear. We assessed DR progression rate and its predictors during pregnancies in patients with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We report the retrospective data from pregnancies in patients with type 1 diabetes followed in Lille, France (1997–2015). Eye examination was performed every 3 months or every month in case of severe nonproliferative retinopathy or progression. Progression was defined by DR degradation (≥1 stage of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS] classification); it included DR development and worsening in patients without and with prepregnancy DR, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 499 pregnancies in 375 patients were included; prepregnancy retinopathy was present in 30.3%. Progression, development, and worsening rates were 21.8%, 24.4% of those without retinopathy, and 15.9% of those with retinopathy, respectively. Development of sight-threatening retinopathy was rare. Progression mainly occurred in early or midpregnancy. Elevated prepregnancy HbA1c and duration of diabetes ≥10 years were predictors of DR progression. Among pregnancies with prepregnancy DR, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) tended to decrease the risk of DR progression. Among CSII-treated patients, those with prepregnancy DR had a significantly decreased risk of DR progression. Among the 270 pregnancies of women with any DR during pregnancy who returned for a postpartum ophthalmologic examination, the rate of progression was only 4.1% and the rate of regression was 9.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides epidemiologic data on progression of retinopathy during pregnancy and will be useful for future guidelines for retinopathy screening.
Association of Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity and Depression With Cardiovascular Events in Early-Onset Adult Type 2 Diabetes: A Multiethnic Study in the U.S.
Authors: Dibato John Epoh , Montvida Olga , Zaccardi Francesco , Sargeant Jack Alistair , Davies Melanie J. , Khunti Kamlesh , Paul Sanjoy K.
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the temporal patterns of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CM) and depression in White Caucasians (WCs) and African Americans (AAs) with early-onset type 2 diabetes and their impact on long-term atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

From U.S. electronic medical records, 101,104 AA and 505,336 WC subjects with type 2 diabetes diagnosed between 2000 and 2017 were identified (mean follow-up 5.3 years). Among those without ASCVD at diagnosis, risk of ASCVD and three-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE-3) (heart failure, myocardial infarction, or stroke) was evaluated between ethnicities by age-groups.

RESULTS

The proportion of patients diagnosed at <50 years of age increased during 2012–2017 (AA 34–38%, WC 26–29%). Depression prevalence increased during 2000–2017 (AA 15–23%, WC 20–34%), with an increasing trend for CM at diagnosis in both groups. Compared with WC, the adjusted MACE-3 risk was significantly higher in AA across all age-groups, more pronounced in the 18–39-year age-group (hazard ratio 95% CI 1.42, 1.88), and in patients with and without depression. AAs had a 17% (1.05, 1.31) significantly higher adjusted ASCVD risk in the 18–39-year age-group only. Depression was independently associated with ASCVD and MACE-3 risk in both ethnic groups across all age-groups. Other comorbidities were independently associated with ASCVD and MACE-3 risk only among WCs.

CONCLUSIONS

AAs have higher cardiovascular risk compared with WCs, particularly in early-onset type 2 diabetes. CM and depression at diabetes diagnosis have been increasing over the past two decades in both ethnic groups. Strategies for screening and optimal management of CM and depression, particularly in early-onset type 2 diabetes, may result in a lower cardiovascular risk.
Association of maternal folate and vitamin B12 in early pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Chen Xiaotian , Zhang Yi , Chen Hongyan , Jiang Yuan , Wang Yin , Wang Dingmei , Li Mengru , Dou Yalan , Sun Xupeng , Huang Guoying , Yan Weili
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the
association of folate and vitamin B12 in early pregnancy with gestational
diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The data of this study were from a sub-cohort within the Shanghai
Preconception Cohort Study. We included pregnancies with red blood cell (RBC)
folate and vitamin B12 measurements at recruitment (between 9-13
gestational weeks)
and those with three samples available for glucose measurements under
oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). GDM was diagnosed between
24-28 weeks gestation. Odds ratio (OR) of having a GDM and 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to
quantify the association.

RESULTS

A total of 1,058 pregnancies were included and 180 GDM
occurred (17.01%). RBC folate and vitamin B12 were
significantly higher in pregnancies with GDM than those without GDM (P
values were 0.045 and 0.002 respectively), and
positively correlated with 1-hour and 2-hour serum glucose. Daily folic acid
supplementation in early pregnancy increases the risk of GDM, OR (95% CI) was 1.73 (1.19-2.53), P=0.004. Compared with RBC folate <400 ng/mL, pregnancies with RBC folate ³600 ng/mL was associated with approximately 1.60-fold higher odds
of GDM, the adjusted OR (95% CI) was 1.58 (1.03-2.41), P=0.033. A
significant trend of risk effect on GDM risk across categories of RBC folate
was observed (Ptrend =0.021). Vitamin B12
was significantly associated with GDM risk (OR =1.14 per 100 pg/ml, P=0.002). No significant
association of serum folate and percentile ratio of RBC folate/vitamin B12 with GDM was
observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher
maternal
RBC folate and vitamin B12 levels
in early pregnancy are significantly associated with GDM risk, while the balance of folate/vitamin B12 is
not significantly associated with GDM.
Et forsvar i digital krise?
Authors: Heier Tormod , Mobech-Hanssen Bjørn E.
Published: November 2020

Selv om norske myndigheter ligger på verdenstoppen i digitalisering av offentlige tjenester, står landets forsvar fremdeles «på stedet hvil». I kjernen av problemet finner vi en styringsmodell der 14 ulike forsvarsgrener og selvstendige driftsenheter kjemper om makt og innflytelse. Dette gjelder særlig i spørsmålet om hvem som skal ha ansvar og myndighet når Forsvarets IKT-systemer skal knyttes sammen for å øke cyberberedskapen. Hvordan kan vi beskrive, forklare og forstå de digitale problemene som Forsvaret står oppe i? Nyere forskning gir ikke klare svar, blant annet fordi de fleste studiene er opptatt av å studere utfordringene som kommer utenfra og inn mot Norge. Spørsmålet om hvorfor Forsvaret ikke klarer å forsvare seg mot cyberangrep, eller hvorfor etaten ikke holder tritt med resten av samfunnet, forblir derfor ubesvart. Ved å bruke instrumentelle og kulturelle perspektiver fra organisasjonsteorien finner vi store huller i forsvarsevnen på grunn av intern fragmentering og rivalisering.
Abstract in English:National Defence in a Digital Crisis?Even though the Norwegian authorities are world leaders in digitalization of public services, its armed forces are falling behind. In its essence, the problem lies in a management model with 14 different services striving for power and influence. This is particularly so when it comes to whom should have supreme authority as information and communication technology (ICT) systems are standardised across the force. How can we describe, explain and comprehend this digital complexity? Contemporary research does not provide clear answers, much due to over-emphasis on external cyberthreats. The question of why Norway’s armed forces are incapable of providing a proper defence against cyberthreats therefore remains unanswered. By means of instrumental and cultural theories, we find grave deficiencies due to internal rivalry and organisational fragmentation.
CORRELATION BETENGAN TRADITIONAL GAMES ON LOCOMOTOR MOVEMENTS AND CHARACTERS
Authors: Pratiwi Ika Ari , Kuryanto Mohammad Syaffruddin
Published: November 2020

The purpose of this study is to determine the positive correlation between traditional games with student movements and friendly characters.The study was conducted at SD Muhammadiyah 1 Kudus. Research methods using a quantitative correlational approach. The research sample consisted of 29 students. This research technique is collecting observation data, analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlation test with prerequisite linearity and normality tests.The results showed that the data met the prerequisite test with a significance of linearity of 0.898 and the significance of normality of 0.20. Obtained results of the coefficient significance of traditional game betengan with the locomotor motion of 0.708 bigger than 0.5 and with a very strong correlation category level. On the other hand, there is a significant coefficient of correlation betengan traditional games with friendly characters of 0.702 bigger than 0.05 with a very strong level. So the results of traditional game betengan research have a strong correlation with locomotor motion and student-friendly character.