bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co-delivery of nanoparticle and molecular drug by hollow mesoporous organosilica for tumor-activated and photothermal-augmented chemotherapy of breast cancer
Authors: Zhang Haixian , Song Feifei , Dong Caihong , Yu Luodan , Chang Cai , Chen Yu
Published: September 2021

Background

In comparison with traditional therapeutics, it is highly preferable to develop a combinatorial therapeutic modality for nanomedicine and photothermal hyperthermia to achieve safe, efficient, and localized delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs into tumor tissues and exert tumor-activated nanotherapy. Biocompatible organic–inorganic hybrid hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (HMONs) have shown high performance in molecular imaging and drug delivery as compared to other inorganic nanosystems. Disulfiram (DSF), an alcohol-abuse drug, can act as a chemotherapeutic agent according to its recently reported effectiveness for cancer chemotherapy, whose activity strongly depends on copper ions.

Results

In this work, a therapeutic construction with high biosafety and efficiency was proposed and developed for synergistic tumor-activated and photothermal-augmented chemotherapy in breast tumor eradication both in vitro and in vivo. The proposed strategy is based on the employment of HMONs to integrate ultrasmall photothermal CuS particles onto the surface of the organosilica and the molecular drug DSF inside the mesopores and hollow interior. The ultrasmall CuS acted as both photothermal agent under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation for photonic tumor hyperthermia and Cu2+ self-supplier in an acidic tumor microenvironment to activate the nontoxic DSF drug into a highly toxic diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC)-copper complex for enhanced DSF chemotherapy, which effectively achieved a remarkable synergistic in-situ anticancer outcome with minimal side effects.

Conclusion

This work provides a representative paradigm on the engineering of combinatorial therapeutic nanomedicine with both exogenous response for photonic tumor ablation and endogenous tumor microenvironment-responsive in-situ toxicity activation of a molecular drug (DSF) for augmented tumor chemotherapy.

Graphical abstract
Studying dietary intake in daily life through multilevel two-part modelling: a novel analytical approach and its practical application
Authors: Ruf Alea , Neubauer Andreas B. , Ebner-Priemer Ulrich , Reif Andreas , Matura Silke
Published: September 2021

Background

Understanding which factors influence dietary intake, particularly in daily life, is crucial given the impact diet has on physical as well as mental health. However, a factor might influence whether but not how much an individual eats and vice versa or a factor’s importance may differ across these two facets. Distinguishing between these two facets, hence, studying dietary intake as a dual process is conceptually promising and not only allows further insights, but also solves a statistical issue. When assessing the association between a predictor (e.g. momentary affect) and subsequent dietary intake in daily life through ecological momentary assessment (EMA), the outcome variable (e.g. energy intake within a predefined time-interval) is semicontinuous. That is, one part is equal to zero (i.e. no dietary intake occurred) and the other contains right-skewed positive values (i.e. dietary intake occurred, but often only small amounts are consumed). However, linear multilevel modelling which is commonly used for EMA data to account for repeated measures within individuals cannot be applied to semicontinuous outcomes. A highly informative statistical approach for semicontinuous outcomes is multilevel two-part modelling which treats the outcome as generated by a dual process, combining a multilevel logistic/probit regression for zeros and a multilevel (generalized) linear regression for nonzero values.

Methods

A multilevel two-part model combining a multilevel logistic regression to predict whether an individual eats and a multilevel gamma regression to predict how much is eaten, if an individual eats, is proposed. Its general implementation in R, a widely used and freely available statistical software, using the R-package brms is described. To illustrate its practical application, the analytical approach is applied exemplary to data from the Eat2beNICE-APPetite-study.

Results

Results highlight that the proposed multilevel two-part model reveals process-specific associations which cannot be detected through traditional multilevel modelling.

Conclusions

This paper is the first to introduce multilevel two-part modelling as a novel analytical approach to study dietary intake in daily life. Studying dietary intake through multilevel two-part modelling is conceptually as well as methodologically promising. Findings can be translated to tailored nutritional interventions targeting either the occurrence or the amount of dietary intake.
Molecular and epidemiological characterization of human adenoviruses infection among children with acute diarrhea in Shandong Province, China
Authors: Huang Deyu , Wang Zheng , Zhang Guanyou , Sai Lintao
Published: September 2021

Background

Human adenovirus (HAdV) had been recognized as one of the most common enteric viruses associated with acute diarrhea in children. The present study was carried out to demonstrate the molecular and epidemiological characterization of HAdV Infections among children in Shandong province in China between July 2017 and June 2018.

Methods

Fecal specimens were collected from children under 5 years old with acute diarrhea. DNA was extracted from the stool specimens and adenovirus DNA was detected by PCR amplification with specific primers. The amplification products were subjected to electrophoresis and visualized on a UV transilluminator. All positive RT-PCR amplification products were sequenced and the obtained sequences analyzed by MEGA (version 7.0). Demographic information and clinical manifestation data were also analyzed.

Results

In total, 656 fecal specimens were collected and the overall positive rate of HAdV was 7.47%. HAdV infections were detected in all age groups, in which children aged 13–24 months presented the highest positive rate. Seasonal pattern could be observed with a peak in December, January and February. Diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration and fever were the main clinical manifestations, in which vomiting was the most common accompanied symptom. By phylogenetic analysis, four species (A, B, C, and F) were detected and seven different serotypes were identified. HAdV-41 (48.98%, 24/49) was the most common serotype followed by HAdV-3 (18.37%, 9/49), HAdV-31 (14.29%, 7/49), HAdV-7 (8.16%, 4/49), HAdV-40 (4.08%, 2/49), HAdV-1 (4.08%, 2/49) and HAdV-2 (2.04%, 1/49).

Conclusion

This study indicated that HAdV infection was an important cause of acute diarrhea among children under 5 years old in Shandong province. The results will contribute to (a) increase understanding of the role of HAdV in diarrheal children and enhance identification of the predominant diarrhea pathogen for diagnosis; (b) avoid abuse of antibiotics; (c) monitor the change of prevalent HAdV serotypes and promote vaccine development and vaccination.
Risk factors of prolonged ventilation after thymectomy in thymoma myasthenia gravis patients
Authors: Du Anqi , Li Xiao , An Youzhong , Gao Zhancheng
Published: September 2021

Background

To explore the risk factors for prolonged ventilation after thymectomy in patients with thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis (TAMG).

Methods

We reviewed the records of 112 patients with TAMG after thymectomy between January 2010 and December 2019 in Peking University People’s Hospital. Demographic, pathological, preoperative data and the Anesthesia, surgery details were assessed with multivariable logistic regression analysis to predict the risk of prolonged ventilation after thymectomy. A nomogram to predict the probability of post-thymectomy ventilation was constructed with R software. Discrimination and calibration were employed to evaluate the performance of the nomogram.

Results

By multivariate analysis, male, low vital capacity (VC), Osserman classification (IIb, III, IV), total intravenous anesthesia, and long operation time were identified as the risk factors and entered into the nomogram. The nomogram showed a robust discrimination, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0. 835 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.757–0.913). The calibration plot indicated that the nomogram-predicted probabilities compared very well with the actual probabilities (Hosmer–Lemeshow test: P = 0.921).

Conclusion

The nomogram is a valuable predictive tool for prolonged ventilation after thymectomy in patients with TAMG.
Robust inflammatory breast cancer gene signature using nonparametric random forest analysis
Authors: Zare Alaa , Postovit Lynne-Marie , Githaka John Maringa
Published: September 2021

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare, aggressive cancer found in all the molecular breast cancer subtypes. Despite extensive previous efforts to screen for transcriptional differences between IBC and non-IBC patients, a robust IBC-specific molecular signature has been elusive. We report a novel IBC-specific gene signature (59 genes; G59) that achieves 100% accuracy in discovery and validation samples (45/45 correct classification) and remarkably only misclassified one sample (60/61 correct classification) in an independent dataset. G59 is independent of ER/HER2 status, molecular subtypes and is specific to untreated IBC samples, with most of the genes being enriched for plasma membrane cellular component proteins, interleukin (IL), and chemokine signaling pathways. Our finding suggests the existence of an IBC-specific molecular signature, paving the way for the identification and validation of targetable genomic drivers of IBC.
High frequency of intron retention and clustered H3K4me3-marked nucleosomes in short first introns of human long non-coding RNAs
Authors: Dey Pinki , Mattick John S.
Published: September 2021

Background

It is established that protein-coding exons are preferentially localized in nucleosomes. To examine whether the same is true for non-coding exons, we analysed nucleosome occupancy in and adjacent to internal exons in genes encoding long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in human CD4+ T cells and K562 cells.

Results

We confirmed that internal exons in lncRNAs are preferentially associated with nucleosomes, but also observed an elevated signal from H3K4me3-marked nucleosomes in the sequences upstream of these exons. Examination of 200 genomic lncRNA loci chosen at random across all chromosomes showed that high-density regions of H3K4me3-marked nucleosomes, which we term ‘slabs’, are associated with genomic regions exhibiting intron retention. These retained introns occur in over 50% of lncRNAs examined and are mostly first introns with an average length of just 354 bp, compared to the average length of all human introns of 6355 and 7987 bp in mRNAs and lncRNAs, respectively. Removal of short introns from the dataset abrogated the high upstream H3K4me3 signal, confirming that the association of slabs and short lncRNA introns with intron retention holds genome-wide. The high upstream H3K4me3 signal is also associated with alternatively spliced exons, known to be prominent in lncRNAs. This phenomenon was not observed with mRNAs.

Conclusions

There is widespread intron retention and clustered H3K4me3-marked nucleosomes in short first introns of human long non-coding RNAs, which raises intriguing questions about the relationship of IR to lncRNA function and chromatin organization.
Exogenously applied nitrogenous fertilizers and effective microorganisms improve plant growth of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) and soil fertility
Authors: Youssef Mohamed Ahmed , Yousef Ahmed Fathy , Ali Muhammad Moaaz , Ahmed Alshaymaa I. , Lamlom Sobhi F. , Strobel Wacław Roman , Kalaji Hazem M.
Published: September 2021

The effects of different fertilizers and biofertilizers on crop production to increase plant growth, improve quality and yield components (dry leaves yield, leaf protein, and stevioside) of crops has been extensively studied. However, the combination of both types of fertilizers have rarely been investigated. To explore the effect of different fertilizers and biofertilizers on stevia plant, a two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the growth response of stevia plants under the influence of nitrogenous fertilizers (NFs) and effective microorganisms (EM). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design, with EM as the main plot factor (−EM and +EM) and NFs as the subplot factor [control, chemical NFs (Ch-N) and organic NFs (Org-N)]. The results showed that, plants treated with EM and Org-N showed 2-, 2.2-, 2.4-, 2.5-, 3.3- and 3-fold increases in plant height, number of branches, total leaf area, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight and leaf dry yield, respectively, compared to untreated plants. Similarly, plants receiving EM along with Ch-N showed 1.86-, 1.7-, 2.2-, 2.12-, 3-, and 2.72-fold increases in the same traits. Total chlorophyll, protein, N, P, K and sativoside contents were increased by 88.8, 152, 138, 151.5, 43 and 137.5% when EM and Org-N were applied to stevia plants. Application of EM together with Ch-N increased these properties by 0.5, 127.7, 115, 216, 42.6 and 83.8%, respectively in the same traits. Overall, the combined application of NFs and EM improved growth, yield and nutrient accumulation in stevia plants.
Book review of The Wandering Herd: The Medieval Cattle Economy of South East England c. 450-1450 by Andrew Margetts
Authors: Kerr Brian
Published: September 2021

Book details

Margetts, A. The Wandering Herd: The Medieval Cattle Economy of South East England c. 450-1450. Windgather Press, 2021. 272 pages, ISBN 978-1-91118-879-7
Tulasnella calospora (UAMH 9824) retains its effectiveness at facilitating orchid symbiotic germination in vitro after two decades of subculturing
Authors: Zettler Lawrence W. , Dvorak Caleb J.
Published: September 2021

Background

The technique of symbiotic germination—using mycorrhizal fungi to propagate orchids from seed in vitro—has been used as one method to cultivate orchids in North America and abroad for > 30 years. A long-held assumption is that mycorrhizal fungi used for this purpose lose their effectiveness at germinating seeds over time with repeated subculturing.

Results

We provide evidence for the lingering efficacy of one particular strain of Tulasnella calospora (266; UAMH 9824) to stimulate seed germination exemplified by the North American terrestrial orchid, Spiranthes cernua, as a case study. This fungus was originally acquired from roots from Spiranthes brevilabris in 1999 and sub-cultured during the two decades since. Seeds inoculated with the fungus in vitro developed to an advanced protocorm stage after 16 days, and leaf elongation was pronounced after 42 days. In a pilot study, seedlings co-cultured with Tulasnella calospora 266 were deflasked after 331 days and later transferred to soil under greenhouse conditions where they eventually initiated anthesis. During the course of two decades, seeds of 39 orchid species, cultivars and hybrids spanning 21 genera, germinated in vitro co-cultured with Tulasnella calospora 266. These orchids included temperate terrestrials and tropical epiphytes alike.

Conclusions

The sustained effectiveness of this fungus is noteworthy because it argues against the concept of mycorrhizal fungi losing their symbiotic capability through prolonged subculturing. This study serves as an example of why in situ habitat preservation is essential for the conservation of orchids as a source of potentially useful mycorrhizal fungi.
Improvement of clinical and radiological outcomes of root repair patients with advanced articular cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis
Authors: Hopkins Nathan D. M. , Lawrie Steven
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of this study was to investigate clinical and radiological outcomes of medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) repair in knees with advanced articular cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis compared to those with minimal degenerative change.

Methods

Thirty-three knees underwent MMPRT repair using an arthroscopic pullout repair tibial tunnel technique. Clinical scores including Lysholm Score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Score and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome (KOOS) Score were collected preoperatively and sequentially at 6 months, 12 months and mean final follow-up of 39.4 months. Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) osteoarthritis grade, Outerbridge classification of cartilage degeneration and the presence of bone marrow oedema on MRI were also evaluated.

Results

All clinical scores improved at final follow-up for knees with K-L grade ≥ 2 osteoarthritis (p < 0.001), with no significant difference compared to K-L 0/1. Patients with Outerbridge class 3/4 cartilage degeneration also reported improvements in clinical scores, albeit lower than those with class 2 degeneration (p < 0.05). During recovery, the majority of patients reported clinical improvements by 6 months, and six patients further improved by at least 15 points in IKDC score between 6 and 12 months. Osteoarthritis progressed in 10 of 31 knees (32%), with an overall mean pre-operative K-L grade of 1.6 ± 0.9 compared to 2.0 ± 0.9 at final follow-up (n.s.). No knees progressed to K-L 4 or underwent re-operation. Pre-operative bone marrow oedema was present in 17 knees (52%), all of which had signal localised to the medial tibia or femur. Oedema had resolved in all but 5 knees post-operatively (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Arthroscopic repair of medial meniscus posterior root tears is associated with improved outcomes in knees with advanced cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis. Meaningful improvements in clinical outcomes can be achieved beyond 6 months, thus success of the operation is best determined at the 12-month mark. Oedema signal significantly improved post-operatively, however a relatively high proportion of knees had K-L progression.

Level of evidence

IV – Case Series.
Peri-implant bone-level changes in the second decade of loading with regard to the implant–abutment connection: a retrospective study on implants under systematic aftercare
Authors: Kruse Anne Brigitte , Wild Vanessa , Ratka-Krüger Petra , Vach Kirstin , Frisch Eberhard
Published: September 2021

Background

This retrospective study investigates the change in the peri-implant bone level (PBL) during the 2nd decade of intraoral function in patients complying with a ‘supportive implant therapy’ (SIT) program. The results were statistically analyzed with respect to the implant abutment connection used.

Methods

In a private practice, only patients with 20-year SIT compliance were identified. Of these, all patients with 10- and 20-year radiographs available were selected. Therefore, no control group was possible and implant losses had to be excluded. Two experienced researchers assessed the peri-implant bone levels. As three different abutment connection concepts (bone-level butt-joint, bone-level conical and tissue-level conical) and two different implant surfaces (machined vs. roughened) were involved, statistical analyses were performed to detect potential differences.

Results

Ninety-three implants from 36 patients with 20-year SIT compliance and available radiographs were included in the study. At study baseline (10 years intraoral), a mean bone loss of − 1.7 mm (median − 1.2; standard deviation [sd] 1.4, range: 0 to − 7.2) was recorded. After 20 years, we found a mean bone loss of − 2.5 mm (median − 2.3, sd 1.79, range: − 0.5 to + 7.4). Furthermore, we found a mean bone loss of 0.8 mm in intraoral function from year 10 to year 20 (mean: 0.08 mm per year); this change was independent of the abutment connection type.

Conclusions

During the 2nd decade of function, peri-implant bone loss in patients with SIT compliance might be small in value and should not be expected in all implants.
Salvage endovascular embolization of the left pulmonary artery for recurrent pseudoaneurysm
Authors: Yutaka Yojiro , Tasaki Junichi , Yuasa Itsuki , Murakami Kotaro , Date Hiroshi
Published: September 2021

Background

Pulmonary pseudoaneurysm (PPA) is a potentially lethal complication of lung resection with a high risk of recurrence after endovascular coiling.

Case presentation

We report a case in which recurrent hemoptysis due to PPA after left lower lobe sleeve resection was treated by endovascular embolization of the left main pulmonary artery as a salvage treatment. The first hemoptysis was managed by endovascular coil embolization with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, but refractory hemorrhage occurred 3 months later due to penetration of the endovascular coil into the bronchial anastomosis site. Because left completion pneumonectomy was considered too high risk, the left main pulmonary artery was palliatively embolized using an Amplatzer vascular plug (St. Jude Medical, MN, USA) to totally disrupt the left pulmonary arterial flow.

Conclusions

Total embolization of the left main pulmonary artery for repeated PPA rupture may be useful as a palliative treatment in patients unable to tolerate pneumonectomy.
Rationale and design of the PRevention of cArdiac Dysfunction during Adjuvant breast cancer therapy (PRADA II) trial: a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial
Authors: Mecinaj A , Gulati G , Heck SL , Holte E , Fagerland MW , Larsen AI , Blix E.S , Geisler J , Wethal T , Omland T
Published: September 2021

Background

Recent advances in the treatment algorithms of early breast cancer have markedly improved overall survival. However, anthracycline- and trastuzumab-associated cardiotoxicity may lead to dose-reduction or halt in potentially life-saving adjuvant cancer therapy. Early initiated neurohormonal blockade may prevent or attenuate the cardiotoxicity-induced reduction in cardiac function, but prior studies have been inconclusive. The angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril/valsartan has been shown to be superior to traditional treatment in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, but its cardioprotective effects in the cardio-oncology setting remains to be tested.

Objective

To assess if sacubitril/valsartan given concomitantly with early breast cancer treatment regimens including anthracyclines, with or without trastuzumab, may prevent cardiac dysfunction.

Methods

PRADA II is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, multi-center, investigator-initiated clinical trial. Breast cancer patients from four university hospitals in Norway, scheduled to receive (neo-)adjuvant chemotherapy with epirubicin independently of additional trastuzumab/pertuzumab treatment, will be randomized 1:1 to sacubitril/valsartan or placebo. The target dose is 97/103 mg b.i.d. The patients will be examined with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), echocardiography, circulating cardiovascular biomarkers and functional testing at baseline, at end of anthracycline treatment and following 18 months after enrolment. The primary outcome measure of the PRADA II trial is the change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by CMR from baseline to 18 months. Secondary outcomes include change in LV function by global longitudinal strain by CMR and echocardiography and change in circulating cardiac troponin concentrations.

Results

The study is ongoing. Results will be published when the study is completed.

Conclusion

PRADA II is the first randomized, placebo-controlled study of sacubitril/valsartan in a cardioprotective setting during (neo-)adjuvant breast cancer therapy. It may provide new insight in prevention of cardiotoxicity in patients receiving adjuvant or neo-adjuvant therapy containing anthracyclines. Furthermore, it may enable identification of patients at higher risk of developing cardiotoxicity and identification of those most likely to respond to cardioprotective therapy.

Trial registration

The trial is registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov registry (identifier NCT03760588). Registered 30 November 2018.
Synthesized HMGB1 peptide attenuates liver inflammation and suppresses fibrosis in mice
Authors: Nojiri Shunsuke , Tsuchiya Atsunori , Natsui Kazuki , Takeuchi Suguru , Watanabe Takayuki , Kojima Yuichi , Watanabe Yusuke , Kamimura Hiroteru , Ogawa Masahiro , Motegi Satoko , Iwasawa Takahiro , Sato Takeki , Kumagai Masaru , Ishii Yui , Kitayama Tomomi , Li Yu-Tung , Ouchi Yuya , Shimbo Takashi , Takamura Masaaki , Tamai Katsuto , Terai Shuji
Published: September 2021

The liver has a high regenerative ability and can induce spontaneous regression of fibrosis when early liver damage occurs; however, these abilities are lost when chronic liver damage results in decompensated cirrhosis. Cell therapies, such as mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and macrophage therapies, have attracted attention as potential strategies for mitigating liver fibrosis. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of HMGB1 peptide synthesized from box A of high mobility group box 1 protein. Liver damage and fibrosis were evaluated using a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cirrhosis mouse model. The effects of HMGB1 peptide against immune cells were evaluated by single-cell RNA-seq using liver tissues, and those against monocytes/macrophages were further evaluated by in vitro analyses. Administration of HMGB1 peptide did not elicit a rapid response within 36 h, but attenuated liver damage after 1 week and suppressed fibrosis after 2 weeks. Fibrosis regression developed over time, despite continuous liver damage, suggesting that administration of this peptide could induce fibrolysis. In vitro analyses could not confirm a direct effect of HMGB1 peptide against monocyte/macrophages. However, macrophages were the most affected immune cells in the liver, and the number of scar-associated macrophages (Trem2+Cd9+ cells) with anti-inflammatory markers increased in the liver following HMGB1 treatment, suggesting that indirect effects of monocytes/macrophages were important for therapeutic efficacy. Overall, we established a new concept for cell-free therapy using HMGB1 peptide for cirrhosis through the induction of anti-inflammatory macrophages.
Prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility and genotypic characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus in Tanzania: a systematic review
Authors: Mzee Tutu , Kazimoto Theckla , Madata Joseph , Masalu Rose , Bischoff Markus , Matee Mecky , Becker Sören L.
Published: September 2021

Background

Data on the prevalence, genotypes and antibiotic resistance patterns of colonizing and infection-associatedStaphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) strains both in humans and animals in Tanzania are scarce. Given the wide range of infections caused byS. aureusand the rise of methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) globally, this review aims at collecting published data onS. aureusbacterium to improve our understanding of its epidemiology in Tanzania.

Main body

We carried out a systematic review of scientific studies reporting on prevalence, antibiotic resistance and genotyping data pertaining toS. aureusin human and animal infection and colonization. The literature extracted from electronic databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar was screened for eligibility and relevant articles were included. The review is limited to manuscripts published in English language between the years 2010 and 2020. A total of 45 studies conducted in 7 of the 9 administrative zones in Tanzania were reviewed to gather data onS. aureusprevalence in humans and animals. Prevalence in humans ranged from 1 to 60%. Antibiotic resistance patterns ofS. aureusisolated from colonized humans showed high resistance rates against co-trimoxazole (46%) and erythromycin (41%) as compared to reports from studies conducted outside Africa. The review suggests an increased MRSA prevalence of up to 26% as compared to 6–16% reported in previous years. Genotypic data reviewed suggested that MRSA predominantly belonged to ST88. The prevalence ofS. aureusin animal studies ranged from 33 to 49%, with 4 to 35% of MRSA isolates. Most studies reported low antibiotic resistance levels, with the exception of penicillin (85%) and ampicillin (73%).

Conclusion

The prevalence ofS. aureusand MRSA in Tanzania is rising, although clear variations between different geographic areas could be observed. Non-susceptibility to commonly prescribed antibiotics in community-associatedS. aureusis of concern. Research strategies to ameliorate our knowledge onS. aureusepidemiology should employ regular antibiotic resistance surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship as well as genotypic characterization.
Currarino syndrome or Hirschsprung disease: how to prevent diagnostic dilemma in chronic constipation
Authors: Ali Md Mokarram , Singh Ram Jeewan , Rashi Rashi , Kumar Amit , Sinha Amit Kumar , Kumar Bindey
Published: September 2021

Background

Currarino syndrome is a rare congenital malformation having autosomal dominant inheritance. It comprises of anorectal malformation, presacral mass, and sacral vertebral defect occurring in variable proportion. The most common presentation is chronic constipation which is usually due to compression of rectum by anterior sacral mass. If clinical examination is not properly done and digital rectal examination is excluded from the examination, it can be misdiagnosed as other common cause of constipation like Hirschsprung disease.

Case presentation

We are reporting one such case of one-and-half-year-old female child with chronic constipation which was initially managed as Hirschsprung disease, but later on, after a repeat clinical examination with digital rectal examination, it was evaluated on the line of Currarino syndrome. The diagnosis was confirmed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography of abdomen with 3 dimensional reconstruction. It was then managed by posterior sagittal approach with excision of mass and anorectoplasty.

Conclusion

A proper protocol for clinical evaluation of patient with constipation prevents diagnostic dilemma between surgical causes of constipation in pediatric age group. Digital rectal examination must be included in the protocol for evaluation of chronic constipation. In pediatric age group, clinical workup should be done with keeping in mind the rare diagnosis of Currarino syndrome along with common cause of constipation like Hirschsprung disease.
Hearing Loss After Radiation and Chemotherapy for CNS and Head-and-Neck Tumors in Children
Authors: Keilty Dana , Khandwala Mohammad , Liu Zhihui Amy , Papaioannou Vicky , Bouffet Eric , Hodgson David , Yee Ryan , Cushing Sharon , Laperriere Normand , Ahmed Sameera , Mabbott Donald , Ramaswamy Vijay , Tabori Uri , Huang Annie , Bartels Ute , Tsang Derek S.
Published: September 2021

PURPOSE

Hearing loss (HL) is a serious secondary effect of treatment for CNS and head-and-neck tumors in children. The goal of this study was to evaluate incidence and risk factors for HL in patients with multiple ototoxic exposures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated 340 ears from 171 patients with CNS or head-and-neck tumors treated with radiation, with or without chemotherapy, who had longitudinal audiologic evaluation. International Society of Pediatric Oncology-Boston grades were assigned to 2,420 hearing assessments. Multivariable weighted ordinal logistic regression was fitted to evaluate the effect of clinicopathologic features on HL.

RESULTS

Mean cochlea dose (odds ratio [OR] 1.04 per Gy, P < .001), time since radiotherapy (RT; OR 1.21 per year, P < .001), cisplatin dose (OR 1.48 per 100 mg/m2, P < .001), and carboplatin dose (OR 1.41 per 1,000 mg/m2, P = .002) were associated with increasing International Society of Pediatric Oncology-Boston grade of HL. There was no synergistic effect of RT and cisplatin (interaction term, P = .53) or RT and carboplatin (interaction term, P = .85). Cumulative incidence of high-frequency HL (> 4 kHz) was 50% or greater at 5 years after RT if mean cochlea dose was > 30 Gy, while incidence of HL across all frequencies continued to increase beyond 5 years after RT.

CONCLUSION

Children treated with radiation and chemotherapy experience a high incidence of HL over time, with associations found between more severe HL and cisplatin or carboplatin dose as well as mean cochlea dose. Mean cochlea dose of ≤ 30 Gy is proposed as a goal to reduce the risk of HL; a lower threshold (20-25 Gy) may be considered in patients receiving platinum chemotherapy to reduce cumulative HL burden.
College as a Great Equalizer? Marriage and Assortative Mating Among First- and Continuing-Generation College Students
Authors: King Michael D.
Published: September 2021

College has been hailed as a “great equalizer” that can substantially reduce the influence of parents' socioeconomic status on their children's subsequent life chances. Do the equalizing effects of college extend beyond the well-studied economic outcomes to other dimensions, in particular, marriage? When and whom one marries have important implications for economic and family stability, with marriage acting as a social safety net, encouraging joint long-term investments, and potentially producing dual-earner families. I focus on the marriage timing and assortative mating patterns of first- and continuing-generation college graduates to test whether college acts as an equalizer for marriage against alternative hypotheses. Using discrete-time event-history methods and data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, I find small differences between first- and continuing-generation graduates in marriage timing, but larger differences in assortative mating, particularly for women. First-generation women have a substantially lower likelihood of marrying another college graduate than do continuing-generation women, and a higher likelihood of marrying a noncollege graduate. These findings highlight the importance of examining noneconomic outcomes when studying social mobility and offer insight into how inequality may persist across generations, especially for women, despite apparent upward mobility.
Uncertainty About the Size of the Unauthorized Foreign-Born Population in the United States
Authors: Van Hook Jennifer , Morse Anne , Capps Randy , Gelatt Julia
Published: September 2021

One of the most common methods for estimating the U.S. unauthorized foreign-born population is the residual method. Over the last decade, residual estimates have typically fallen within a narrow range of 10.5 to 12 million. Yet it remains unclear how sensitive residual estimates are to their underlying assumptions. We examine the extent to which estimates may plausibly vary owing to uncertainties in their underlying assumptions about coverage error, emigration, and mortality. Findings show that most of the range in residual estimates derives from uncertainty about emigration rates among legal permanent residents, naturalized citizens, and humanitarian entrants (LNH); estimates are less sensitive to assumptions about mortality among the LNH foreign-born and coverage error for the unauthorized and LNH populations in U.S. Census Bureau surveys. Nevertheless, uncertainty in all three assumptions contributes to a range of estimates, whereby there is a 50% chance that the unauthorized foreign-born population falls between 9.1 and 12.2 million and a 95% chance that it falls between 7.0 and 15.7 million.
Loss and Wonder at the World’s End
Authors: Ogden Laura A.
Published: September 2021

In Loss and Wonder at the World's End, Laura A. Ogden brings together animals, people, and things—from beavers, stolen photographs, lichen, American explorers, and birdsong—to catalog the ways environmental change and colonial history are entangled in the Fuegian Archipelago of southernmost Chile and Argentina. Repeated algal blooms have closed fisheries in the archipelago. Glaciers are in retreat. Extractive industries such as commercial forestry, natural gas production, and salmon farming along with the introduction of nonnative species are rapidly transforming assemblages of life. Ogden archives forms of loss—including territory, language, sovereignty, and life itself—as well as forms of wonder, or moments when life continues to flourish even in the ruins of these devastations. Her account draws on long-term ethnographic research with settler and Indigenous communities; archival photographs; explorer journals; and experiments in natural history and performance studies. Loss and Wonder at the World's End frames environmental change as imperialism's shadow, a darkness cast over the earth in the wake of other losses.
At the Limits of Cure
Authors: Venkat Bharat Jayram
Published: September 2021

Can a history of cure be more than a history of how disease comes to an end? In 1950s Madras, an international team of researchers demonstrated that antibiotics were effective in treating tuberculosis. But just half a century later, reports out of Mumbai stoked fears about the spread of totally drug-resistant strains of the disease. Had the curable become incurable? Through an anthropological history of tuberculosis treatment in India, Bharat Jayram Venkat examines what it means to be cured, and what it means for a cure to come undone. At the Limits of Cure tells a story that stretches from the colonial period—a time of sanatoria, travel cures, and gold therapy—into a postcolonial present marked by antibiotic miracles and their failures. Venkat juxtaposes the unraveling of cure across a variety of sites: in idyllic hill stations and crowded prisons, aboard ships and on the battlefield, and through research trials and clinical encounters. If cure is frequently taken as an ending (of illness, treatment, and suffering more generally), Venkat provides a foundation for imagining cure otherwise in a world of fading antibiotic efficacy.
Different Strokes for Different Folks? Experimental Evidence on the Effectiveness of Input and Output Incentive Contracts for Health Care Providers with Varying Skills
Authors: Mohanan Manoj , Donato Katherine , Miller Grant , Truskinovsky Yulya , Vera-Hernández Marcos
Published: September 2021

A central issue in designing incentive contracts is the decision to reward agents’ input use versus outputs. The trade-off between risk and return to innovation in production can also lead agents with varying skill levels to perform differentially under different contracts. We study this issue experimentally, observing and verifying inputs and outputs in Indian maternity care. We find that both contract types achieve comparable reductions in postpartum hemorrhage rates, but payments for outputs were four times that of inputs. Providers with varying qualifications performed equivalently under input incentives, while providers with advanced qualifications may have performed better under output contracts. (JEL D82, D86, I12, J13, J16, J41, O15)
Επίπεδα συναισθηματικής νοημοσύνης στα χαρισματικά παιδιά
Authors: Πλούμπη Αικατερίνη , Αντωνίου Αλέξανδρος-Σταμάτιος
Published: September 2021

Σύμφωνα με τονGoleman, ησυναισθηματική νοημοσύνηπεριλαμβάνειχαρακτηριστικά,όπωςικανότητα κινητοποίησης του ατόμου, αντοχή απέναντιστα εμπόδια, ικανότητα ελέγχου των αντιδράσεων, ρύθμιση τηςδιάθεσηςπου εμποδίζειτην ικανότητασκέψης, αποφυγή τουστρες, ενσυναίσθηση, αισιοδοξία. Έρευνες έχουν δείξει πως η ευφυΐα και η συναισθηματική νοημοσύνη δεν είναι αντίθετες έννοιες αλλά συχνά συνυπάρχουν. Τα χαρισματικά παιδιά εμφανίζουν υψηλότερη απόδοση από ό,τι οι συμμαθητές τους ως προς το γνωστικό τους επίπεδο, τη δημιουργικότητα, τις τέχνες και την ηγετική συμπεριφορά. Όσον αφορά τα επίπεδα συναισθηματικής νοημοσύνης των χαρισματικών παιδιών, ευρήματα ερευνών έχουν δείξει σημαντικές διαφορές ως προς τους μέσους νοήμονες μαθητές, καθώς τα χαρισματικά παιδιά φαίνεται να έχουν μεγαλύτερη κοινωνική και συναισθηματική ωρίμαση, καλύτερη προσαρμογή και υψηλότερα επίπεδα συναισθηματικής νοημοσύνης. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, έρευνες έχουν βρει ότι υπάρχουν σημαντικές διαφορές μεταξύ των δύο προαναφερθέντων πληθυσμών στις υποκλίμακες της συναισθηματικής νοημοσύνης που αφορούν στην αυτό-συνείδηση, στη διαχείριση και κινητοποίηση των συναισθημάτων αλλά δεν βρέθηκαν διαφορές στις υποκλίμακες της ενσυναίσθησης και των κοινωνικών δεξιοτήτων. Από την άλλη πλευρά, όμως, υπάρχουν και ευρήματα που δεικνύουν πως δεν υπάρχουν σημαντικές διαφορές ως προς τη συναισθηματική νοημοσύνη μεταξύ των χαρισματικών παιδιών και των συνομηλίκων τους. Είναι ανάγκη, λοιπόν, να υπάρξει περαιτέρω έρευνα στην πληθυσμιακή ομάδα των χαρισματικών παιδιών.
Χαρισματικότητα και Πολιτισμική Ετερότητα
Authors: Θεοδωρίτση Ιώ , Αντωνίου Αλέξανδρος-Σταμάτιος
Published: September 2021

Η συνεχώς αυξανόμενη ποικιλομορφία των ταλαντούχων μαθητών στις αίθουσες διδασκαλίας και τις υπηρεσίες της χαρισματικής εκπαίδευσης αποτελεί σήμερα μια διαρκή πρόκληση. Οι υφιστάμενες συνθήκες προστάζουν την αναμόρφωση των εκπαιδευτικών πολιτικών και διαδικασιών αλλά και την ανάπτυξη δεξιοτήτων και εξειδικευμένων γνώσεων εκ μέρους των εκπαιδευτικών. Τα εμπόδια και οι δυσκολίες, που αναδύονται στη χαρισματική εκπαίδευση, αναφορικά με τη χαρισματικότητα και την πολιτισμική ετερότητα, συνδέονται αφενός με τη δυσκολία εντοπισμού των χαρισματικών παιδιών, τα οποία προέρχονται από διαφορετικά πολιτιστικά περιβάλλοντα, και αφετέρου με την ένταξή τους σε ανάλογα προγράμματα. Παράλληλα, εντοπίζονται και ιδιαίτερες δυσκολίες κατανόησης της ίδιας της έννοιας της χαρισματικότητας. Βασικός αντικειμενικός σκοπός είναι να οριστούν και να προσδιοριστούν επακριβώς οι έννοιες του πολιτισμού και της χαρισματικότητας. Στη συνέχεια, επιχειρείται να γίνει η σύνδεση των δύο αυτών εννοιών και να παρουσιαστεί το αποτέλεσμα της αλληλεπίδρασής τους. Ακολούθως, να τονισθεί η αδήριτη ανάγκη για την πολιτισμική ευαισθητοποίηση και την ενημερότητα των εκπαιδευτικών, με σκοπό την επιτυχή και δίκαιη ενσωμάτωση των χαρισματικών μαθητών σε ανάλογα προγράμματα εκπαίδευσης. Επίσης, γίνεται λόγος για τον κρίσιμο και καθοριστικό ρόλο των γονέων ως συνηγόρων των χαρισματικών παιδιών από διαφορετικά πολιτισμικά πλαίσια, με σκοπό την αντιστροφή της υποεκπροσώπησης των παιδιών αυτών στα χαρισματικά εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα.
Σοφία και δημιουργικότητα σε χαρισματικούς μαθητές
Authors: Καρανάνα Ευαγγελία , Κόφα Όλγα , Αντωνίου Αλέξανδρος-Σταμάτιος
Published: September 2021

Η σοφία αποτελεί βασικό παράγοντα προσδιορισμού των αξιακών επιλογών του ατόμου. Η σοφία και η δημιουργικότητα σχετίζονται θετικά ως έννοιες, αφού η ορθή κρίση για τα απαιτητικά προβλήματα της ζωής συνεπάγεται έναν προαπαιτούμενο βαθμό δημιουργικής σκέψης. Οι χαρισματικοί μαθητές, δεδομένης της προηγμένης ηθικής τους ανάπτυξης και ηθικής συλλογιστικής, διακρίνονται για τα υψηλά επίπεδα σοφίας και δημιουργικότητάς τους. Κατά καιρούς, οι ερευνητές έχουν αναπτύξει διάφορα μοντέλα εκπαίδευσης των χαρισματικών μαθητών, τα οποία εστιάζουν στην ανάπτυξη της σοφίας και την καλλιέργεια των ηθικών αξιών, με απώτερο σκοπό την ανάληψη ηγετικών ρόλων. Παράλληλα, έχουν σχεδιαστεί κατάλληλες διδακτικές στρατηγικές για την ενίσχυση της δημιουργικής και κριτικής σκέψης των χαρισματικών μαθητών. Πρωταρχικός στόχος των προγραμμάτων χαρισματικής εκπαίδευσης οφείλει να είναι η διαμόρφωση σοφών και ηθικών προσωπικοτήτων, οι οποίες θα μπορούν να αντιμετωπίσουν τις προκλήσεις και τα ηθικά διλήμματα που προκύπτουν τον 21ου αιώνα.
Στρατηγικές Διαχείρισης Κοινωνικής Αλληλεπίδρασης Χαρισματικών και Ταλαντούχων Μαθητών
Authors: Αντωνίου Αλέξανδρος-Σταμάτιος , Μητσοπούλου Ευτυχία
Published: September 2021

Μία πληθυσμιακή ομάδα η οποία γίνεται αποδέκτης πολλών στερεοτυπικών αντιλήψεων από συνομηλίκους, εκπαιδευτικούς και γονείς είναι οι χαρισματικοί και ταλαντούχοι μαθητές, των οποίων η διαφορετικότητα φαίνεται να τους δημιουργεί αρκετά προσκόμματα στην ανάπτυξη υγιών κοινωνικών σχέσεων. Πολλές ερμηνείες έχουν δοθεί με βάση τα ερευνητικά δεδομένα για ποιο λόγο προκύπτει αυτό ως πρόβλημα και πολλές συνηγορούν στην άποψη ότι οφείλεται στο στίγμα της χαρισματικότητας και τα απορρέοντα στερεότυπα, τα οποία, με τη σειρά τους, συνδέονται με την αυτο-αντίληψη των χαρισματικών παιδιών, αφού τα χαρισματικά παιδιά αναπτύσσουν την αίσθηση του εαυτού μέσα από την κοινωνική αλληλεπίδραση με τους συνομηλίκους τους. Πολλοί από τους χαρισματικούς μαθητές επιλέγουν να κάνουν χρήση ποικίλων στρατηγικών διαχείρισης των κοινωνικών αλληλεπιδράσεων με τους συνομηλίκους τους ρυθμίζοντας τις πληροφορίες που τους αφορούν. Με βάση το «φάσμα ορατότητας» κάποια χαρισματικά και ταλαντούχα παιδιά επιδιώκουν η χαρισματικότητά τους να είναι πλήρως ορατή και άλλα επιλέγουν να την αποκρύψουν. Η ρύθμιση του εύρους της επιθυμητής ορατότητάς θέτει και τα όρια των κοινωνικών τους συναναστροφών adlibitum. Ωστόσο, ο πόθος των χαρισματικών παιδιών παραμένει διακαής, κι αυτός είναι η συναναστροφή με τους συνομηλίκους, μέσα από την οποία δύνανται να καλυφθούν πολλές κοινωνικές και συναισθηματικές τους ανάγκες, οι οποίες, εξαιτίας της ασύγχρονής τους ανάπτυξης, παραμένουν ανικανοποίητες.
Stakeholder perceptions of strategies to reduce fast food consumption in Cambodian adults
Authors: Sim Samphors , Chamroen Pall , S. Dewey Rebecca , Pisey Vong
Published: September 2021

Background: Fast food consumption is one of the major contributing factors effecting overweightness and obesity, leading to many non-communicable diseases. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine strategies for reducing the fast-food consumption of Cambodian adults. 

Methods: This qualitative study was conducted among adults in Phnom Penh city, Cambodia, in 2018. 10 stakeholders were included from different institutions in Cambodia, mostly health institutions. The tools used in this study were a multidisciplinary meeting with stakeholders and the completion of observation forms. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, data were collected, and a thematic analysis was used.

Results: Stakeholders’ viewpoints followed three identifiable themes with regard to approaches to reduce fast-food consumption among Cambodian adults. These comprised: (1) health education and health promotion (focusing on educational institutions), (2) reducing the availability and marketing impact of fast-food, and (3) implementing government policy.

Conclusions: Knowing the important contributors to reduce the consumption of the fast food among Cambodia adults was the first priorities for all policy makers and other stakeholders to take action. This study provided essential findings for improving the decision-making abilities of those preparing strategy and policy for reducing fast-food consumption.