bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of renin–angiotensin system inhibitors on outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Sun Yinghao , Li Jie , Li Guang , Fan Ruixin , Luo Jianfang
Published: April 2020

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the impact of renin–angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors on outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Background

The impact of RAS inhibitors on outcomes after TAVR was unclear.

Methods

A systematic review of articles comparing outcomes of patients using and not using RAS inhibitors after TAVR was performed through PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane. Primary outcome was midterm all‐cause mortality. Risk ratios (RRs) were calculated with the corresponding 95% confidence interval using random effect models.

Results

Five studies with 23,319 patients were included. Patients treated with RAS inhibitors had lower midterm all‐cause mortality after TAVR than those without RAS inhibitors in both the unmatched (13.3 vs. 17.2%, RR 0.77, p = .005) and propensity score matched cohorts (13.5 vs 16.2%, RR 0.83, p < .001). Cardiovascular mortality (10.4 vs. 15.6%, RR 0.68, p < .001), rate of heart failure readmission (12.2 vs. 14.5%, RR 0.80, p = .006), and new‐onset atrial fibrillation (14.0 vs. 23.7%, RR 0.73, p = .003) were also lower with RAS inhibitors. No difference was found between two groups regarding cerebrovascular events, myocardial infarction, major bleeding, major vascular complications, acute kidney injury, permanent pacemaker implantation, and moderate/severe paravalvular aortic regurgitation.

Conclusions

RAS inhibitors were associated with lower midterm all‐cause mortality after TAVR.
Management of acute myocardial infarction during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Mahmud Ehtisham , Dauerman Harold L. , Welt Frederick G.P. , Messenger John C. , Rao Sunil V. , Grines Cindy , Mattu Amal , Kirtane Ajay J. , Jauhar Rajiv , Meraj Perwaiz , Rokos Ivan C. , Rumsfeld John S. , Henry Timothy D.
Published: April 2020

The worldwide pandemic caused by the novel acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has resulted in a new and lethal disease termed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Although there is an association between cardiovascular disease and COVID‐19, the majority of patients who need cardiovascular care for the management of ischemic heart disease may not be infected with this novel coronavirus. The objective of this document is to provide recommendations for a systematic approach for the care of patients with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during the COVID‐19 pandemic. There is a recognition of two major challenges in providing recommendations for AMI care in the COVID‐19 era. Cardiovascular manifestations of COVID‐19 are complex with patients presenting with AMI, myocarditis simulating an ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presentation, stress cardiomyopathy, non‐ischemic cardiomyopathy, coronary spasm, or nonspecific myocardial injury, and the prevalence of COVID‐19 disease in the US population remains unknown with risk of asymptomatic spread. This document addresses the care of these patients focusing on (a) varied clinical presentations; (b) appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) for health care workers; (c) the roles of the emergency department, emergency medical system, and the cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL); and (4) regional STEMI systems of care. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains the standard of care for STEMI patients at PCI‐capable hospitals when it can be provided in a timely manner, with an expert team outfitted with PPE in a dedicated CCL room. A fibrinolysis‐based strategy may be entertained at non‐PCI‐capable referral hospitals or in specific situations where primary PCI cannot be executed or is not deemed the best option.
Chemometrics‐assisted color histogram‐based analytical systems
Authors: Gonçalves Dias Diniz Paulo Henrique
Published: April 2020

This review systematizes for the first time the here called “Chemometrics‐assisted color histogram‐based analytical systems” under the acronym CACHAS. A comprehensive discussion of the fundamentals, general characteristics, and applications are presented in order to direct practical aspects for developing methods that use color histograms as input data for the construction of chemometric models. For this, analytical information is rapidly acquired using a simple image acquisition device (such as digital camera, webcam, scanner, or smartphone), without need for any image processing, other than extraction of the histograms, which are constructed by counting the frequency distribution of the different color tones (conveniently specified through a color space) of all pixels delimited by a region of interest in a digital image. As a consequence, CACHAS have been increasingly used for qualitative and quantitative purposes in food, agricultural, forensic, biomedical, and microbiological analysis, reinforcing the principles of green analytical chemistry.
Editorial: CITplus 4/2020
Authors: Sieß Wolfgang
Published: April 2020

An Zuspruch mangelte es nicht am ersten Tag des Messe‐Trios Pumps & Valves, Maintenance und Logistics in Dortmund.
Großbaustelle Gas‐Kavernenspeicher
Authors: Landgraf Evelyn
Published: April 2020

Von Genehmigung über Planung und Bau bis zur Erstbefüllung eines Kavernenspeichers zur Lagerung von Erdgas vergehen in der Regel viele Jahre. Für dieses komplexe Projekt, bei dem immer auch die Sicherheit der Anlagenbetreiber, der umliegend lebenden Menschen, der Umwelt und der Anlage selbst im Mittelpunkt steht, sind externe Experten gefragt, die Automatisierungslösungen für die jeweiligen Teilabschnitte zuverlässig planen und realisieren können.
Motor wird zum Sensor
Authors: Schütte Michael , Reiff Ellen‐Christine
Published: April 2020

Mit einem Rotationsviskosimeter von Brabender lassen sich Viskositätsmessungen schnell und einfach realisieren. Herz des Messgeräts.ist ein bürstenloser DC‐Servomotor.
Fernwartung? Aber sicher
Authors: Terentiev Alexandre
Published: April 2020

Das Abwägen von Chancen und Risiken von Fernwartung für Anlagen im digitalen Zeitalter ist eine zentrale Herausforderung für Unternehmen der Prozessindustrie. Die von HIMA und der genua GmbH nun vorgestellte sichere Remote Access‐Lösung entspricht den höchsten Anforderungen an Safety und Security ohne Einschränkungen bei der Skalierbarkeit.
Das „Unmessbare“ messbar machen
Authors: Brunner Vincent , Geier Dominik , Becker Thomas
Published: April 2020

Um biotechnologische Produktionsprozesse zuverlässig zu überwachen, bedarf es schneller und robuster Methoden. Stand heute ist, dass eine Vielzahl an relevanten Parametern immer noch offline über Laboranalytik bestimmt wird. Darauf basierend wird eine Abschätzung des zukünftig zu erwartenden Prozessverlaufs approximiert. Oft reicht dieses Vorgehen jedoch nicht aus, um eine effektive Reaktion auf Prozessveränderungen zu gewährleisten bzw. die Prozesse hinsichtlich Ausbeute und Produktivität zu optimieren. Mit der Entwicklung von Softsensoren wird diesem Umstand Abhilfe geschaffen
Eingedampft
Authors: Richter Michael
Published: April 2020

Viele Industrieschlämme werden mechanisch vorentwässert und anschließend zur Deponie gebracht. Tatsächlich aber wird ein großer Anteil der Entsorgungskosten für den immer noch hohen Wassergehalt im Schlamm bezahlt – hierin steckt ein großes Einsparpotential.
Flüssig, überkritisch, gasförmig
Authors: Kochenburger Nicole
Published: April 2020

Die Membranpumpen der LEWA GmbH haben sich in der Halbleiterindustrie für die Wafer‐Reinigung mit CO? bestens bewährt. Dabei wird das CO2 in der Prozesskammer der Reinigungsanlage mittels Membranpumpe auf mindestens 75 bar verdichtet und anschließend auf über 35 °C erwärmt. Dadurch geht das CO? vom flüssigen in den überkritischen (eng.: supercritical) Zustand über. LEWA verfügt über das notwendige Know‐how im Handling von Flüssiggasen und hat mit den Membranpumpen der Serien Ecoflow sowie Triplex optimal geeignete Pumpentechnik in ihrem Produktprogramm.
Abwasserbehandlung im großen Stil
Authors: Krutz Hannah
Published: April 2020

Für den den Neubau der Kläranlage Prag erhielt sera ProDos den Auftrag zur Lieferung von elf Polymerpräparationseinheiten.
Potential impact of family history–based screening guidelines on the detection of early‐onset colorectal cancer
Authors: Gupta Samir , Bharti Balambal , Ahnen Dennis J. , Buchanan Daniel D. , Cheng Iona C. , Cotterchio Michelle , Figueiredo Jane C. , Gallinger Steven J. , Haile Robert W. , Jenkins Mark A. , Lindor Noralane M. , Macrae Finlay A. , Le Marchand Loïc , Newcomb Polly A. , Thibodeau Stephen N. , Win Aung Ko , Martinez Maria Elena
Published: April 2020

Background

Initiating screening at an earlier age based on cancer family history is one of the primary recommended strategies for the prevention and detection of early‐onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC), but data supporting the effectiveness of this approach are limited. The authors assessed the performance of family history–based guidelines for identifying individuals with EOCRC.

Methods

The authors conducted a population‐based, case‐control study of individuals aged 40 to 49 years with (2473 individuals) and without (772 individuals) incident CRC in the Colon Cancer Family Registry from 1998 through 2007. They estimated the sensitivity and specificity of family history–based criteria jointly recommended by the American Cancer Society, the US Multi‐Society Task Force on CRC, and the American College of Radiology in 2008 for early screening, and the age at which each participant could have been recommended screening initiation if these criteria had been applied.

Results

Family history–based early screening criteria were met by approximately 25% of cases (614 of 2473 cases) and 10% of controls (74 of 772 controls), with a sensitivity of 25% and a specificity of 90% for identifying EOCRC cases aged 40 to 49 years. Among 614 individuals meeting early screening criteria, 98.4% could have been recommended screening initiation at an age younger than the observed age of diagnosis.

Conclusions

Of CRC cases aged 40 to 49 years, 1 in 4 met family history–based early screening criteria, and nearly all cases who met these criteria could have had CRC diagnosed earlier (or possibly even prevented) if earlier screening had been implemented as per family history–based guidelines. Additional strategies are needed to improve the detection and prevention of EOCRC for individuals not meeting family history criteria for early screening.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia Minimal Residual Disease Detection: The Difference from Normal Approach
Authors: Wood Brent L.
Published: April 2020

The identification of residual leukemia following therapy, termed minimal or measurable residual disease (MRD), has emerged as one of the most important prognostic factors for patients with acute leukemia, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Flow cytometry is a preferred method for MRD detection due to its general applicability and the rapid results that it makes available. In this article, the basic protocol outlines a simple and efficient method for the labeling of hematopoietic cells from bone marrow or peripheral blood with a panel of monoclonal antibodies designed both to highlight patterns of normal maturation and allow identification of neoplastic hematopoietic progenitor populations with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. The method was developed in a clinical laboratory setting for the diagnosis of myeloid stem cell disorders and neoplasms, and has been extensively validated both technically and clinically for the detection of MRD in AML. © 2020 The Authors.

Basic Protocol: Staining and flow cytometry for AML minimal residual disease detection

Support Protocol: Analysis and interpretation of data for AML minimal residual disease detection
Self‐Assembly, Adaptive Response, and in,out‐Stereoisomerism of Large Orthoformate Cryptands
Authors: Löw Henrik , Mena‐Osteritz Elena , Mullen Kathleen M. , Jäger Christof M. , von Delius Max
Published: April 2020

We report on triethylene glycol‐based orthoformate cryptands, which adapt their bridgehead configurations in response to metal templates and intramolecular hydrogen bonding in a complex manner. In contrast to smaller 1.1.1‐orthoformate cryptands, the inversion from out,out‐2.2.2 to in,in‐2.2.2 occurs spontaneously by thermal homeomorphic isomerization, i. e., without bond breakage. The global thermodynamic minimum of the entire network, which includes an unprecedented third isomer (in,out‐2.2.2), could only be reached under conditions that facilitate dynamic covalent exchange. Both inversion processes were studied in detail, including DFT calculations and MD simulations, which were particularly helpful for explaining differences between equilibrium compositions in solvents chloroform and acetonitrile. Unexpectedly, the system could be driven to the in,out‐2.2.2 state by using a metal template with a size mismatch with respect to the out,out‐2.2.2 cage.
Questionnaire for the Assessment of Self‐Disgust: The psychometric testing among mental disorders in China
Authors: Jin Yanfei , Li Yufeng , Gutiérrez‐Colón Mar , Jiménez‐Herrera Maria
Published: April 2020

Research on self‐disgust is relevant to psychopathologic tendencies because it has been shown to play a critical role in several mental disorders. Examining self‐disgust and exploring its role in mental health are significant goals. The purpose of this study was to translate the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Self‐Disgust (QASD) into Chinese and evaluate its validity and reliability. The translation and validation of the QASD were guided by the World Health Organization's Process of Translation and Adaptation of Instruments. Three phases were undertaken: (a) professional translation and expert panel review, (b) pretesting, and (c) psychometric evaluation. The psychometric evaluation was tested among 1,068 patients who were recruited from two psychiatric hospitals and three psychological clinics of tertiary hospitals. In this study, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the two‐factor structure of the original QASD construct. Measurement invariance showed that the QASD is invariant across the patients with heterogeneous mental health diagnoses. The correlation of QASD with the Self‐Esteem Scale (SES) and the Trait Anger Scale (TAS) showed that it has good convergent validity and discriminative validity. Internal consistency and test–retest yielded acceptable results. Thus, the findings suggest that the Chinese version of the QASD is a reliable and valid instrument with adequate psychometric properties for assessment of self‐disgust among patients with mental disorders in China.
Measuring the Hydraulic Conductivity of Grass Root Systems
Authors: Gal Atara , Hendel Elisha , Peleg Zvi , Schwartz Nimrod , Sade Nir
Published: April 2020

Root‐system hydraulic conductivity (RSHC) is an important physiological characteristic that describes the inherent ability of roots to conduct water across a water‐potential gradient between the root and the stem xylem. RSHC is commonly used as an indicator of plant functioning and adaptability to a given environment. A simple, fast, and easy‐to‐use protocol is described for the quantification of RSHC at the seedling stage in two important monocot species grown in hydroponic solution: Setaria viridis, a C4 model plant, and wheat, a C3 crop plant. This protocol can also be easily modified for use with almost any grass species and environmental treatments, such as salinity or hormone treatments. © 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Basic Protocol: Setaria hydrostatic root‐system hydraulic conductivity

Alternate Protocol: Measuring the root conductivity of young plants with soft stems
Intra‐aortic balloon pump: is the technique really outdated?
Authors: Akodad Mariama , Delmas Clément , Bonello Laurent , Duflos Claire , Roubille François
Published: April 2020

Aims

Intra‐aortic balloon pump (IABP) utilization was expected to be quickly abandoned following the IABP‐shock trial and its class III, level B recommendation in the 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of IABP compared with other mechanical support devices in a nationwide approach.

Methods and results

We conducted a retrospective study based on the French national hospital discharge database. All patients undergoing assist device implantation by IABP, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), or IMPELLA® from 2014 to 2018 (2 years before/2 years after the 2016 guidelines) were included. The primary endpoint was the incidence of IABP implantation over the years. Secondary endpoints were incidence of total assist device, ECMO, and IMPELLA® implantations. From 2014 to 2018, a total of 18 940 patients benefited from mechanical support by IABP (n = 6657, 35.2%), ECMO (n = 11 881, 62.7%), or IMPELLA® (n = 402, 2.1%) in France. The incidence of total mechanical support implantations (ECMO and IABP) was constant over the years. IABP implantations decreased progressively from 1725 implantations in 2014 to 996 in 2018 (−42%). By contrast, ECMO implantations increased progressively from 1919 implantations in 2014 to 2763 implantations in 2018 (+44%). IMPELLA® implantations remained stable over the years from 63 (1.7%) implantations in 2014 to 83 (2.1%) in 2018.

Conclusions

In this nationwide real‐life study, despite a significant decline in IABP implantations over the years since the ESC guidelines, this device remained used in clinical practice with around 1000 implantations in 2018. The size of centres was not strictly correlated with this use, suggesting differential uses depending on the local background.
Suppressive mechanisms by Heligmosomoides polygyrus‐induced Tregs in C57BL/6 mice change over time and differ to that of naïve mice
Authors: Bowron Joel , Ariyaratne Anupama , Luzzi Mayara de Cassia , Szabo Edina , Finney Constance A. M.
Published: April 2020

Disrupting or harnessing immune suppression is leading to new therapeutic avenues in a number of immune‐related diseases. Understanding the suppressive functions of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in different environments is therefore key. Parasitic worms are strong inducers of Tregs and previous research has suggested that parasite‐induced Tregs are stronger suppressors than naïve Tregs. In strains susceptible to the intestinal worm Heligmosomoides polygyrus, like C57BL/6 mice, it has been hypothesized that increased Treg suppression downregulates both Th1 and Th2 responses, leading to chronic infections and high worm burden. Here, we show that the suppressive capacity of Tregs is no different between cells from infected and/or naive animals. In vitro suppression induced by CD4+CD25+Tregs (Peyers’ Patches or the mesenteric lymph nodes), isolated early (day 7, tissue dwelling phase) or late (day 21, luminal phase) during infection was similar to that induced by cells from naïve animals. Suppression was CTLA‐4 dependent in Tregs from acute but not chronic infection or in Tregs from naïve animals. This highlights the versatility of Tregs and the importance of extensive Treg characterization prior to potential in vivo manipulation of this cell type.
Involvement of Proton Transfer for Carbon Dioxide Reduction Coupled with Extracellular Electron Uptake in Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1
Authors: La Cava Eugenio , Guionet Alexis , Saito Junki , Okamoto Akihiro
Published: April 2020

Microbial biosynthesis of hydrocarbon from CO2 reduction driven by electron uptake process from the cathodic electrode has gained intensive attention in terms of potential industrial application. However, a lack of a model system for detailed studies on the mechanism of the CO2 reduction hinders the improvement in efficiency for microbial electrosynthesis. Here, we examined the mechanism of microbial CO2 reduction at the cathode by a well‐described microbe for extracellular electron uptake, Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1, capable of reducing gaseous CO2 to produce formic acid. Using whole‐cell electrochemical assay, we observed stable cathodic current production at −0.65 V vs Ag/AgCl KCl sat. associated with the introduction of CO2. The observed cathodic current was enhanced by the addition of 4 μM riboflavin, which specifically accelerates the electron uptake process of MR‐1 by the interaction to its outer‐membrane c‐type cytochromes. The significant impact of an uncoupler agent and a mutant strain of MR‐1 lacking sole F‐type ATPase suggested the importance of proton import to the cytoplasm for the cathodic CO2 reduction. The present data suggest that MR‐1 potentially serves as a model system for microbial electrosynthesis from CO2.
Geochronology and geochemistry of granodiorite at Jinwozi Au deposit: Tectonomagmatic evolution for Palaeozoic Beishan Orogen (Central Asian Orogenic Belt) in NW China
Authors: Yu Lidong , Zhang Jing , Wang Qisong , Wang Chuanyi , Lai Chunkit
Published: April 2020

The Beishan Orogen (southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt) contains many Palaeozoic gold ore‐hosting intrusions, whose age, petrogenesis and tectonic setting are yet to be well understood. In the Mazongshan arc of the Beishan Orogen, the Jinwozi granodiorite contains high K2O (2.71–5.69 wt%), A/CNK (1.10–1.49) and 10000Ga/Al (mostly >2.6), and has high Nb (15–21 ppm), Zr (337–451 ppm) and light rare earth element contents (∑LREE = 207–257 ppm), but low Sr (92–208 ppm) and negative Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.55–0.70), with calculated Zr saturation temperature of 910–860°C. They exhibit typical features of peraluminous A‐type granites formed in subduction‐related settings. The rocks have high large‐ion lithophile element and Hf contents, but low contents in certain high‐field‐strength elements. In addition, the zircon εHf(t) values (−3.6 to −0.1) indicate partial melting of the crust, while the two‐stage model ages (TDM2 = 1385 to 1611 Ma) and several Palaeozoic magmatic rocks with Mesoproterozoic‐inherited zircon suggest the occurrence of Mesoproterozoic crustal accretion. The ore‐hosting granodiorite pluton at the Jinwozi Au deposit was LA‐ICP‐MS zircon U–Pb dated to be Silurian (ca. 428–422 Ma), older than the previously suggested Late Palaeozoic ages and before the interpreted amalgamation timing of the Beishan Orogen. We propose that the Jinwozi granodiorite is derived from pre‐existing crustal material recycling.
Chinese Bioethicists Speak Out on Covid‐19, and Others Follow
Authors: Gilbert Susan
Published: April 2020

Shortly after Wuhan, the city where the novel coronavirus was first identified, was placed on lockdown in January, I received an email from two Hastings Center fellows in China: Renzong Qiu, of Renmin University of China in Beijing, and Ruipeng Lei, of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. Attached was a post for our blog, Hastings Bioethics Forum, that raised ethical and legal questions about China's response. “Hegel says, ‘We learn from history that we do not learn from history,’” their piece began. “The recurrence of the coronavirus epidemic in China proves his insight to be right.” This bold report from bioethicists in China was courageous and eye‐opening. It was among the first discussions in bioethics of what has since become a global crisis, and it turned out to be the first in a string of commentaries in Hastings Bioethics Forum with insights about the crisis, the issues it raises, and how the world should respond to it.
All People
Authors: Kaebnick Greg
Published: April 2020

In early March 2020, the March‐April Hastings Center Report was very nearly assembled and contained nothing about Covid‐19, which was still just beginning to make itself publicly known in the United States. Two weeks later, the editorial line‐up was undergoing a remix, and essays that lay out sweeping agendas for the response to the worldwide crisis were in preparation. The central theme in the agenda that Lawrence O. Gostin and colleagues develop is that the pandemic requires a sharp break from usual ethical norms yet simultaneously demands a return to core ethical commitments. A similar theme is sounded by Mildred Z. Solomon and colleagues in a commentary calling for federal actions to keep the health care system functioning. Other essays in the issue take up an assortment of topical issues—including international patient dumping—that were simmering along prior to the pandemic, and the two articles take up foundational questions about the nature of moral reasoning.
The Legal Challenge of Abortion Stigma—and Government Restrictions on the Practice of Medicine
Authors: Fox Dov
Published: April 2020

During the 2016 election, Donald Trump won conservative support by promising that he would, if elected, nominate “pro‐life” justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. Whether President Trump makes good on his campaign promise to restrict abortion rights may come down to competing impulses of the chief justice, John Roberts. These dueling dispositions—from the man whom many see as the new “swing justice”—hold the key to a blockbuster new case that legal historians call “the most unpredictable the Supreme Court has been on abortion in decades.” The case, June Medical Services v. Russo, turns on arduous new requirements that Louisiana has imposed on facilities and clinicians that provide abortion. But the case is not just about abortion access. The Court will have to decide whether a clinic has a right to challenge the law in the first place.
Health Care Surrogacy Laws Do Not Adequately Address the Needs of Minors
Authors: Gandhi Rupali , Paquette Erin Talati , Ross Lainie Friedman , Flanagan Erin
Published: April 2020

A couple and their five‐year‐old daughter are in a car accident. The parents are not expected to survive. The child is transported to a children's hospital, and urgent treatment decisions must be made. Whom should the attending physician approach to make decisions for the child? When such cases arise in, for example, the hospitals where we work, the social worker or chaplain is instructed to use the Illinois Health Care Surrogacy Act as a guidepost to identify a decision‐maker. But in our state and the country overall, the limitations of such statutes leave hospital workers to make a judgment call among friends, family, and clergy who may come forward. While surrogate decision‐making statutes comprehensively address surrogate decision‐makers for adults, a patchwork of laws—permanency statutes, kinship provider statutes, standby guardianship statutes, and, in some cases, surrogate decision‐making statutes—provide variable decision‐making pathways for children.
The large‐scale structural connectome of task‐specific focal dystonia
Authors: Hanekamp Sandra , Simonyan Kristina
Published: April 2020

The emerging view of dystonia is that of a large‐scale functional network disorder, in which the communication is disrupted between sensorimotor cortical areas, basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum. The structural underpinnings of functional alterations in dystonia are, however, poorly understood. Notably, it is unclear whether structural changes form a larger‐scale dystonic network or rather remain focal to isolated brain regions, merely underlying their functional abnormalities. Using diffusion‐weighted imaging and graph theoretical analysis, we examined inter‐regional white matter connectivity of the whole‐brain structural network in two different forms of task‐specific focal dystonia, writer's cramp and laryngeal dystonia, compared to healthy individuals. We show that, in addition to profoundly altered functional network in focal dystonia, its structural connectome is characterized by large‐scale aberrations due to abnormal transfer of prefrontal and parietal nodes between neural communities and the reorganization of normal hub architecture, commonly involving the insula and superior frontal gyrus in patients compared to controls. Other prominent common changes involved the basal ganglia, parietal and cingulate cortical regions, whereas premotor and occipital abnormalities distinctly characterized the two forms of dystonia. We propose a revised pathophysiological model of focal dystonia as a disorder of both functional and structural connectomes, where dystonia form‐specific abnormalities underlie the divergent mechanisms in the development of distinct clinical symptomatology. These findings may guide the development of novel therapeutic strategies directed at targeted neuromodulation of pathophysiological brain regions for the restoration of their structural and functional connectivity.
The ENIGMA Stroke Recovery Working Group: Big data neuroimaging to study brain–behavior relationships after stroke
Authors: Liew Sook‐Lei , Zavaliangos‐Petropulu Artemis , Jahanshad Neda , Lang Catherine E. , Hayward Kathryn S. , Lohse Keith R. , Juliano Julia M. , Assogna Francesca , Baugh Lee A. , Bhattacharya Anup K. , Bigjahan Bavrina , Borich Michael R. , Boyd Lara A. , Brodtmann Amy , Buetefisch Cathrin M. , Byblow Winston D. , Cassidy Jessica M. , Conforto Adriana B. , Craddock R. Cameron , Dimyan Michael A. , Dula Adrienne N. , Ermer Elsa , Etherton Mark R. , Fercho Kelene A. , Gregory Chris M. , Hadidchi Shahram , Holguin Jess A. , Hwang Darryl H. , Jung Simon , Kautz Steven A. , Khlif Mohamed Salah , Khoshab Nima , Kim Bokkyu , Kim Hosung , Kuceyeski Amy , Lotze Martin , MacIntosh Bradley J. , Margetis John L. , Mohamed Feroze B. , Piras Fabrizio , Ramos‐Murguialday Ander , Richard Geneviève , Roberts Pamela , Robertson Andrew D. , Rondina Jane M. , Rost Natalia S. , Sanossian Nerses , Schweighofer Nicolas , Seo Na Jin , Shiroishi Mark S. , Soekadar Surjo R. , Spalletta Gianfranco , Stinear Cathy M. , Suri Anisha , Tang Wai Kwong W. , Thielman Gregory T. , Vecchio Daniela , Villringer Arno , Ward Nick S. , Werden Emilio , Westlye Lars T. , Winstein Carolee , Wittenberg George F. , Wong Kristin A. , Yu Chunshui , Cramer Steven C. , Thompson Paul M.
Published: April 2020

The goal of the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta‐Analysis (ENIGMA) Stroke Recovery working group is to understand brain and behavior relationships using well‐powered meta‐ and mega‐analytic approaches. ENIGMA Stroke Recovery has data from over 2,100 stroke patients collected across 39 research studies and 10 countries around the world, comprising the largest multisite retrospective stroke data collaboration to date. This article outlines the efforts taken by the ENIGMA Stroke Recovery working group to develop neuroinformatics protocols and methods to manage multisite stroke brain magnetic resonance imaging, behavioral and demographics data. Specifically, the processes for scalable data intake and preprocessing, multisite data harmonization, and large‐scale stroke lesion analysis are described, and challenges unique to this type of big data collaboration in stroke research are discussed. Finally, future directions and limitations, as well as recommendations for improved data harmonization through prospective data collection and data management, are provided.
Regional health disparities in Burkina Faso during the period of health care decentralization. Results of a macro‐level analysis
Authors: Zon Hilaire , Pavlova Milena , Groot Wim
Published: April 2020

Background

Burkina Faso has undertaken decentralization reforms in the health care sector to improve the performance of the health system. This study aimed to analyze the differences in health outcomes by health district's demographic and economic status, and the distribution of health resources during the period of health care decentralization.

Methods

A bivariate correlation analysis was conducted using data at the health districts and regions level. Data from the health management information system (HMIS) and national households' surveys were used.

Results

The results indicate a strong correlation between district's population size and the availability of health resources (P ≤ .05). The health visits per capita and skilled birth attendance are correlated with the economic status of the health district (P ≤ .05). Malnutrition among under‐five and maternal mortality was associated with the availability of health personnel and health infrastructures (P ≤ .05). No correlation was found between financial resources and health outcomes.

Conclusion

The results indicated disparities in health among the health districts in Burkina Faso. The ways to address this inequality include more transparent resource allocation, as well as policies to address the socio‐economic disparities and financial barriers to health services. Further research is needed to collect relevant data and investigate the effects of decentralization, which was not possible in our study.
Conflicts of interest, intra‐group financing and procedural coordination of group insolvencies
Authors: Kokorin Ilya
Published: April 2020

Modern insolvency law instruments recognise the specificity of enterprise group insolvencies, premised on the existence of close operational and financial links between group members. It is widely accepted that maximisation of insolvency estate value and procedural efficiency depend on coordination of insolvency proceedings opened with respect to group entities. Such coordination is prescribed in the European Insolvency Regulation (recast), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Enterprise Group Insolvency and the recently reformed German insolvency law. Yet in insolvency, group members retain their own insolvency estates and pools of creditors. This is based on the traditional company law principle of entity shielding. Active communication and cooperation between insolvency practitioners and courts do not sit well with the separate (atomistic) nature of insolvency proceedings, as well as different and oftentimes conflicting interests of creditors in such proceedings. As a result, communication and cooperation may be restricted in a situation of conflicts of interest. This article explores how in the context of group distress the risks arising from conflicts of interest can be controlled and mitigated, while ensuring efficient cross‐border cooperation and communication to the maximum extent possible. It analyses three cutting‐edge coordination mechanisms, namely (a) cross‐border insolvency agreements or protocols, (b) special (group coordination and planning) proceedings and (c) the appointment of a single insolvency practitioner. It concludes that both the likelihood and significance of conflicts of interest correlate with the degree of procedural coordination. Therefore, conflict mitigation tools and strategies need to be tailor‐made and targeted at a specific level and coordination mechanism.
Diagnostic performance of circulating exosomes in human cancer: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Guo Dongming , Yuan Jinpeng , Xie Aosi , Lin Zeyin , Li Xinxin , Chen Juntian
Published: April 2020

Background

Cancer has become a public health problem with high morbidity and mortality. Recent publications have shown that exosomes can be used as potential diagnostic biomarkers of cancer. However, the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of circulating exosomes remain unclear. The present meta‐analysis was conducted to comprehensively summarize the overall diagnostic performance of circulating exosomes for cancer.

Methods

Eligible studies published up to June 27, 2019, on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were selected for the meta‐analysis. All statistical analyses were performed by STATA 15.1 statistical software and Meta‐DiSc 1.4. Quality Assessment for Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy 2 tool was used to access the quality of included studies. A bivariate mixed‐effects model was applied to calculate the diagnostic indexes from included studies.

Results

A total of 5924 participants comprising 3161 cases and 2763 controls from 42 eligible studies were analyzed. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and the area under the curve with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were as follows: 0.79 (0.75‐0.82), 0.81 (0.78‐0.84), 4.1 (3.5‐4.8), 0.26 (0.22‐0.31), 16 (12‐21), and 0.87 (0.84‐0.89), respectively. Sensitivity analysis suggested no study exclusively contributed to the heterogeneity, and Deeks' funnel plot asymmetry test indicated no potential publication bias (P = .09).

Conclusions

The meta‐analysis indicated that circulating exosomes could serve as effective and minimally invasive biomarkers for diagnosis of cancer, especially in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or ovarian cancer, serum‐based samples and exosomal proteins.
Association between C‐reactive protein gene variant and treatment efficacy of etanercept in ankylosing spondylitis patients receiving hip arthroplasty
Authors: Xu Yuansheng , Jiang Wei , Zhang Hui
Published: April 2020

Background

C‐reactive protein (CRP) level is one of the most widely used parameters to assess ankylosing spondylitis (AS), since CRP is associated with poor radiographic progression of AS patients. Recent studies have investigated the association between CRP gene variants and AS risk, but with conflicting findings.

Material and Methods

We enrolled 232 AS cases and 314 controls in this case‐control study. Next, we assessed the association of CRP gene rs3091244 polymorphism with the efficacy of etanercept for AS. Genotyping was done using a custom‐by‐design 48‐Plex SNP scanTM Kit.

Results

CRP gene rs3091244 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of AS in this Chinese population. Clinical indicators of AS patients including morning stiffness time, Bath AS function index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and CRP were significantly decreased after 12 weeks of etanercept treatment. Furthermore, AA genotype carriers showed higher values of VAS, BASDAI, BASFI, and CRP before etanercept treatment. AA genotype or A allele of rs3091244 polymorphism was associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis Assessment Study group response criteria 20 scores (ASAS20) and Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society 40 response (ASAS40) improvement. In addition, AA genotype carriers showed significantly higher CRP levels compared with genotype GG carriers (16.3 vs 8.8 mg/L).

Conclusion

CRP gene rs3091244 polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of AS. Additionally, rs3091244 polymorphism could serve as a biomarker for good response to etanercept treatment in AS.
LncRNA NEAT1 promotes proliferation of chondrocytes via down‐regulation of miR‐16‐5p in osteoarthritis
Authors: Li Dan , Sun Yongjin , Wan Yunpeng , Wu Xing , Yang Wanrong
Published: April 2020

Background

Non‐coding RNAs are endogenous regulators of gene expression that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including osteoarthritis (OA). Long non‐coding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) and miR‐16‐5p are up‐regulated in OA tissues; however, their functions have not been clarified.

Methods

Chondrocyte ATDC5 was used as a cell model. NEAT1 overexpression and knockdown cells were established by transfection with lipofectamine. miR‐16‐5p was also transfected into the cells using lipofectamine. Moreover, cell proliferation was examined using cell counting kit‐8 assays. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. The interaction between NEAT1 and miR‐16‐5p was validated by a Quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR) and dual‐luciferase reporter assays.

Results

NEAT1 could increase cell viability and decrease apoptosis of ATDC5 cells, whereas miR‐16‐5p had the opposite effects. NEAT1 could specifically bind to miR‐16‐5p and reduce its expression.

Conclusions

The suppression of miR‐16‐5p, as mediated by NEAT1 overexpression, could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of chondrocytes. It was also revealed that NEAT1 is a “double‐edged sword” during the development of OA.
Evaluation of the capability of global climate models in reproducing the temporal clustering in heavy precipitation over Europe
Authors: Yang Zhiqi , Villarini Gabriele
Published: April 2020

Evaluating the capability of global climate models (GCMs) in reproducing the historical records represents a way of building confidence in their capability for future projections. Among the different ways of evaluating them, here we focus on their capability in reproducing the temporal clustering of heavy precipitation events across Europe in light of four climate modes [the Arctic Oscillation (AO), the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the East Atlantic (EA) pattern, and the Scandinavia pattern (SCAND)], and GCMs from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) and the large ensemble runs using the Community Earth System Model (CESM). We use a peak over threshold (POT) approach to identify heavy precipitation events, and Cox regression to relate the occurrence of these events to the climate modes. We find that the GCMs can capture the temporal clustering in heavy precipitation across Europe as a function of these four climate modes; moreover, our findings indicate the GCMs can better reproduce the relationship between heavy precipitation and AO/SCAND, than NAO/EA. Comparing the results based on CMIP5 models and CESM, we find that the inter‐model uncertainties are larger than the intra‐model ones in most of the cases, even though CESM tends to have a poorer performance for EA; this shortcoming for CESM is likely due to the pattern of the Z500 anomalies which is different from the reference data when EA is in the positive phase, affecting the transport of moisture across Europe.
Investigation on the chiral recognition mechanism between verteporfin and cholate salts by capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Xu Zhongqi , Xue Tianfeng , He Tao
Published: April 2020

In this article, capillary electrophoresis was applied to investigate the chiral recognition mechanism for the enantioseparation on a well‐known second‐generation photodynamic therapy drug of benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A, that is, verteporfin. In our previous study, cholate salts have been studied as the chiral selectors, which can realize baseline separation of the four verteporfin isomers. Aiming to reveal the chiral recognition mechanism, the separation effect of several kinds of chiral selectors was discussed. According to the results and references, the chiral separation mechanism of this system was concluded: the analytes selectively combine with the chiral micelles, that is, dynamic H‐bonds interactions occur between the hydroxyl groups on the outer side of the cholate micelles and the ester/carboxy groups of the four isomers. In addition, the role of dimethyl formamide as an organic modifier was also researched, including reducing the effective mobility of the analytes and mobility of electroosmotic flow, and preventing them from adsorbing to the capillary wall and self‐aggregating of verteporfin, which are pretty beneficial for separation. The method used in this article provides a direct and reliable solution to study the mechanism of chiral separation.
Open Science Practices at the Journal of Traumatic Stress
Authors: Kerig Patricia K.
Published: April 2020

This editorial describes new initiatives designed to promote and maintain open science practices (OSP) at the Journal of Traumatic Stress, to be enacted beginning January 2020. Following a brief description of the rationale underlying the argument for conducting and reporting research in ways that maximize transparency and replicability, this article summarizes changes in Journal submission and publication procedures that are designed to foster and highlight such practices. These include requesting an Open Science Practices Statement from authors of all accepted manuscripts, which will be published as supplementary material for each article, and providing authors with the opportunity to earn OSP badges for preregistering studies, making data available to other researchers by posting on a third party archive, and making available research materials and codes used in the study.
Invasion Patterns of External Auditory Canal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Histopathology Study
Authors: Ungar Omer J. , Santos Felipe , Nadol Joseph B. , Horowitz Gilad , Fliss Dan M. , Faquin William C. , Handzel Ophir
Published: April 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

To describe the histopathology of the invasion patterns of advanced‐stage external auditory canal (EAC) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of medical records of patients diagnosed with EAC SCC available at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear temporal bone (TB) collection. TBs underwent processing for histologic examination. Hematoxylin and eosin–stained slides were examined. Histologic findings were compared to premortem clinical data.

Results

Nine TBs were identified. Male:female ratio was 6:3. The average age of diagnosis and duration of survival was 64 (46–80 years) and 2.3 years (1–50 months), respectively. All presented with T4 disease, most commonly due to petrous apex (PA) invasion and facial nerve (FN) weakness. The mastoid air cells system served as a tumor conduit to the tegmen mastoideum and overlying dura in four patients, posterior fossa dura in one patient, vertical segment of FN in four patients, and middle ear (ME) and lateral semicircular canal in five patients. The tumor did not penetrate the tympanic membrane, oval window membrane (fenestra vestibule), or round window (RW) membrane. Supra‐ and infralabyrinthine pneumatization patterns allowed direct routes to the PA. Translabyrinthine PA invasion was seen in two patients. The most common locus of otic capsule invasion was the cochlea. One patient had FN paralysis due to compression rather than invasion.

Conclusions

SCC does not tend to extend from the ME to the inner ear through the RW and vestibule‐stapedial ligament. Tumors tend to spread along the preexisting TB air‐tract routes. Well‐aerated TB, may facilitate extension to the PA.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E590–E597, 2021
Facile Photo and Thermal Two‐Stage Curing for High‐Performance 3D Printing of Poly(Dimethylsiloxane)
Authors: Ji Zhongying , Jiang Dong , Zhang Xiaoqin , Guo Yuxiong , Wang Xiaolong
Published: April 2020

Three‐dimensional (3D) printing of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is realized with a two‐state curing strategy, i.e., photocuring for additively manufacturing high‐precision architectures followed by thermal cross‐linking for high‐performance objects, taking Sylgard‐184 as an example. In the mixture of base and curing agent of Sylgard‐184, the photocuring ingredient methacrylated PDMS is incorporated to form hybrid inks with not only high‐efficiency UV curing ability but also moderate rheological properties for 3D printing. The inks are then used to additively manufacture high‐precision architectures by UV‐assisted direct ink writing. Various architectures such as lattices and honeycombs, channels that can be used as microfluidics, and pressure‐proof pipes with a feature size of ≈100 µm, can be readily printed. Thereafter, thermal cross‐linking at elevated temperature is conducted to obtain the 3D PDMS objects with comparable properties to Sylgard‐184. The facile, universal two‐stage approach to 3D printing of PDMS can facilitate the development of microfluidics, flexible electronics, soft robots, and so on.
Phenomenology of Muscle Spasms in Satoyoshi Syndrome and Treatment With Botulinum Toxin Injections
Authors: Bledsoe Ian O.
Published: April 2020

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