bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular dysautonomia and cognitive impairment in Lewy body disease
Authors: Oka Hisayoshi , Umehara Tadashi , Nakahara Atsuo , Matsuno Hiromasa
Published: December 2019

Background Cognitive impairment may be correlated with cardiovascular dysautonomia, including blood pressure (BP) dysregulation, in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the association between these factors in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is uncertain. This study aimed to clarify whether cardiovascular dysautonomia had an influence on cognitive function in Lewy body disease or not. Methods 99 patients with de novo PD (n=75) and DLB (n=24) were evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). Cardiac 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy, orthostatic hypotension (OH), supine hypertension (SH), postprandial hypotension (PPH), nocturnal BP fall in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and constipation were estimated. Associations of these factors with cognitive and executive dysfunction were examined. Results In DLB, MIBG uptake was reduced and OH, PPH and SH were severely disturbed, compared to PD. The nocturnal BP fall in ABPM was lower in DLB, and the failure of nocturnal BP fall in PD was associated with MMSE, after adjustment for other clinical features. FAB was significantly associated nocturnal BP fall, age and SH in PD, but no significant correlations among factors were found for DLB. Conclusion The significant association between nocturnal BP dysregulation and cognitive or executive decline in PD might be due to impaired microvascular circulation or invasion of α-synuclein in the CNS. The lack of a correlation of BP insufficiency with cognitive impairment in DLB suggests initial involvement of Lewy body pathology in the neocortex, regardless of Lewy body invasion of the autonomic nervous system.
Caries experience and oral health related quality of life in a cohort of Ugandan HIV-1 exposed uninfected children compared with a matched cohort of HIV unexposed uninfected children
Authors: BIRUNGI NANCY , Fadnes Lars Thore , Engebretsen Ingunn Marie Stadskleiv , Lie Stein Atle , Tumwine James Kashugyera , Åstrøm Anne Nordrehaug
Published: December 2019

Background: Very few studies consider the oral health status and quality of life in HIV-1 exposed uninfected (HEU) children. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of caries in primary teeth and its oral health related quality of life impacts in HEU children compared to HIV-unexposed-uninfected (HUU) children, whilst adjusting for confounding covariates. Methods: This study uses data from the Ugandan site of the ANRS 121741 PROMISE- PEP trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00640263) conducted in 2009-2013 that recruited mothers with HIV-1 and their uninfected children. Of 244 HEU-children-caregiver pairs available at the end of the one-year trial, 166 were re-enrolled in the ANRS 12341 PROMISE-PEP M&S study at 5-7 years and 164 were included in this study. These were age and sex-matched with 181 HUU children-caretaker comparators. Caries experience was recorded using World Health Organization’s Decayed, Missed and Filled teeth (dmft/DMFT) indices. The Early Childhood Oral health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) was used for assessment of oral health related quality of life. Mixed effects logistic regression was conducted with dmft and ECOHIS scores as outcomes and HIV-1 exposure status as the main exposure. Results: Forty-eight percent of HEU children and 60% of HUU had dmft>0. Corresponding figures for ECOHIS>0 were 12% of HEU and 22% of HUU. The crude analysis showed differences related to HIV-1 exposure in caries experience and oral health related quality of life. Mixed effect logistic regression analyses were not significant when adjusted for use of dental care and toothache. If caregivers’ DMFT>0, the adjusted odds ratio for caries experience (dmft>0) was 1.6 (95% CI: 1.0-2.8) while if dmft>0 the adjusted odds ratio for quality of life impacts (ECOHIS>0) was 4.6 (95% CI: 2.0-10.6). Conclusion: The prevalence of untreated caries in primary teeth and quality of life impacts was high in this study population. HIV-1 exposed-uninfected children were not more likely than HUU children to experience dental caries or have impaired oral health related quality of life. Given the global expansion of the HEU child population, the present findings indicating no adverse effect of pre- and post-natal HIV-1 exposure on caries in deciduous teeth are reassuring.
The Prevalence of severe depression in Iranian older adult: A meta-analysis and meta-regression
Authors: Salari Nader , Mohammadi Masoud , Vaisi-Raygani Aliakbar , Abdi Alireza , Shohaimi Shamarina , Paveh Behnam Khaledi , Daneshkhah Alireza , Jalali Rostam
Published: December 2019

Background: Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in the older adult and one of the most common risk factors for suicide in the older adult. Studies show different and inconsistent prevalence rates in Iran. This study aims to determine the prevalence of severe depression in Iranian older adult through a meta-analysis approach. Methods: The present meta-analysis was conducted between January 2000-August 2019. Articles related to the subject matter were obtained by searching Scopus, Sciencedirect, SID, magiran, Barakat Knowledge Network System, Medline (PubMed), and Google Scholar databases. The heterogeneity of the studies was evaluated using I2 index and the data were analyzed in Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Results: In a study of 3948 individuals aged 50-90 years, the overall prevalence of severe depression in Iranian older adult was 8.2% (95% CI: 4.14-6.3%) based on meta-analysis. Also, in order to investigate the effects of potential factors (sample size and year of study) on the heterogeneity of severe depression in Iranian older adult, meta-regression was used. It was reported that the prevalence of severe depression in Iranian older adult decreased with increasing sample size and increasing years of the study, which is significantly different (P<0.05). Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of severe depression in Iranian older adult, it is necessary for health policy makers to take effective control measures and periodic care for the older adult.
Developments and emerging trends in PD-L1 research in gastrointestinal cancers (2000-2018): a bibliometric perspective
Authors: Jiang Guangyi , Zhang Xinjie , Liu Hui , Lv Xingyu , Wei Fangqiang , Yu Tunan , Cai Xiujun
Published: December 2019

Background: The programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway inhibits T-cell receptor-mediated production of IL-2 and T-cell proliferation and plays an important role in the immunosuppression of various types of cancers. An increasing number of studies have focused on the potential utilization of anti-PD-L1 therapy in gastrointestinal cancers. In this study, we aimed to analyze developments and emerging trends in studies of PD-L1 in gastrointestinal cancers from a bibliometric perspective. Methods: Manuscripts were retrieved from th Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) Database. CiteSpace, a bibliometric software, was used to identify landmark studies, key concepts, and various subtopics in this research area. Results: A total of 1325 manuscripts examining PD-L1 in gastrointestinal cancers were included. Manuscripts published in 2017 and 2018 accounted for almost half of the publications (44.2%, 586/1325). Combined with 31,960 references, the manuscripts on this topic constituted a complex co-citation network, and landmark papers were identified by indexes including citation in the network, betweenness centrality, and burstiness . Key concepts such as “Regulatory T cell,” “TIL,” and “Her2” were identified in the co-citation network for author keywords. Furthermore, several subtopics were identified during the process of “clustering” in colorectal, gastroesophageal, and hepatopancreatobiliary cancers, such as “predictive biomarkers”, “advanced cancers”, and “clinical efficacy”. Conclusions: Research on PD-L1 i n gastrointestinal cancers is a rapidly progressing area. More scientific findings are expected in the near future. Analysis and summarization from a bibliometric perspective not onlyidentify landmark manuscripts and hot-spot concepts but also indicate possible directions for future studies.
Detection Of Selected Pathogens In Ixodid Ticks Collected From Animals And Vegetation In Five Regions Of Ukraine
Authors: Levytska Viktoriya A. , Mushinsky Andriy B. , Cernanska Dana , Blanarova Lucia , Długosz Ewa , Vichova Bronislava , Slivinska Kateryna A. , Yakovlev Yegor , Gajewski Zdzislaw , Gizinski Slawomir , Liu Shuling , Zhou Lan , Rogovskyy Artem S.
Published: December 2019

Background Over the last few decades tick-borne diseases have emerged as an increasingly significant public health problem. The distribution and prevalence of zoonotic pathogens infecting ixodid ticks from Western Europe have been extensively examined. However, data on ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine are scarce. The objective of the current study was, therefore, to investigate the prevalence rates of Anaplasma phagocytophilum , the Anaplasmataceae family, Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in engorged and questing ixodid ticks collected from five administrative oblasts (regions) of Ukraine, namely Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, Ternopil, and Vinnytsia.Methods The ticks were collected from both wild and domestic animals and from vegetation. Of 524 ixodid ticks collected, 3, 99, and 422 ticks were identified as Ixodes hexagonus , Ixodes ricinus, and Dermacentor reticulatus , respectively. DNA samples individually extracted from 168 questing and 354 engorged adult ticks were subjected to pathogen-specific PCR analyses.Results The mean prevalence rates in all I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks were, respectively: 10.3% (10/97) and 2.8% (12/422) for A. phagocytophilum ; 69.1% (67/97) and 52.1% (220/422) for the Anaplasmataceae family; 24.7% (24/97) and 27.7% (117/422) for Rickettsia spp.; 3.1% (3/97) and 1.4% (6/422) for Babesia spp.; and 9.3% (9/97) and 4.7% (20/422) for Bartonella spp. Overall, between the five cities, there was no significant difference in the prevalence rates of any of the pathogens for the respective ticks ( p >0.05). The prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in the engorged and questing I. ricinus ticks varied from 26.7% and 0% to 44.4% and 14.3%, respectively, with no statistical significance identified between the five cities ( p >0.05).Conclusions In addition to reporting the updated data for Kyiv and Ternopil, this study is the first to provide the prevalence rates of the tick-borne pathogens for Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, and Vinnytsia. This investigation is also the first to detect Ca. N. mikurensis in ixodid ticks from Ukraine. These new data will be useful for medical and veterinary practitioners as well as public health officials when diagnosing infections and when implementing measures to combat tick-borne diseases in Ukraine.
Distal locked versus unlocked intramedullary nailing for stable intertrochanteric fractures, a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Yan-Hui , Yu Tiecheng , Shao Wenjing , Liu Yanwei , Zhu Dong , Tan Lei
Published: December 2019

Background: Intramedullary nails have become the main treatment for intertrochanteric fractures. However, distal locking procedure during nailing gradually raised controversy. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials was performed to summarize the existing evidence with the aim at determining the safety and efficacy of distal locking or unlocking in the nailing of stable intertrochanteric fractures. Methods: Appropriate articles were identified using the most common public databases such as PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar from the inception of each database to April 2019, without restriction of language, publication date, and also considering ongoing trials. Eligible studies were represented by randomized controlled trials or retrospective cohort studies comparing distal locking with unlocking for the treatment of acute stable intertrochanteric fractures in adult patients. Information regarding the methodological quality, patient demographics and all clinical outcomes were extracted independently by two reviewers. Patients were then divided into locking and unlocking group. Results: This study included 9 articles, a total of 1978 patients with a similar baseline. The results showed that the unlocking group had shorter operation time, less intraoperative bleeding, lower transfusion rate, and less thigh pain after the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fracture compared with the distal locking group. No significant difference was found in safety-related outcomes including mortality, infection rate, cutting out, loss of reduction, backing out of lag screws, cephalic screw breakage, nail breakage, and peri-implant fractures between the two groups. Efficacy-related outcomes including nonunion, delayed healing rates, and Harris functional score were also not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: Our pooled analysis demonstrated that the distal unlocking of the stable intertrochanteric fractures can shorten the operation time, reduce intraoperative bleeding, and reduce the blood transfusion rate. The use of locked or unlocked intramedullary nailing does not affect long-term outcomes in terms of complications and function.
Core Conflictual Relationship Theme: The reliability of a simplified scoring procedure.
Authors: Tallberg Peter , Ulberg Randi , Dahl Hanne-Sofie Johnsen , Høglend Per Andreas
Published: December 2019

Background: Creating a case formulation is an important and basic skill in psychotherapy meant to guide treatment. A patient’s interpersonal pattern is an essential part of a case formulation. Core Conflictual Relationship Theme (CCRT) is a well-known structured method to describe interpersonal patterns. The CCRT method is based on the assumption that humans display a central relationship theme, which is shown in most relationships as well as in the patient-therapist relation. The CCRT scoring is based on how the patient describes interactions with others, in therapy sessions or in a specific interview. These descriptions are transcribed. Raters then score the identified relational episodes by choosing elements from the clustered categories of Wishes, Response from Others and Response from Self. The method has shown high validity and reliability. Inter rater reliability is generally good: Cohen’s kappa ranging from 0.55 to 0.70. To decide CCRT pattern from transcribed material is time consuming and labour intensive This study investigates a labour- and timesaving version of the method.Methods: This study aimed to investigate rater agreement in a simplified method of scoring the CCRT, based directly on live semi-structured dynamic interviews without transcribing the material. 52 patients referred for psychotherapy in a clinical trial, were scored for CCRT pattern. Based on information that came forth during the two-hour interview, raters scored the patients choosing elements from the clustered categories of Wishes, Response from Others and Response from Self. More than one category in each component could be chosen without ranking. 5 raters compared two by two were investigated. Inter rater reliability was measured by Cohen’s kappa.Results: Mean kappa for Wishes, Response from Others and Response from Self was .33, .44 and .45 respectively. Mean kappa for CCRT in total was .44 among 5 raters.Conclusion: In this simplified method to score the CCRT based on oral dynamic interviews, fair to moderate IRR was obtained.
Intentional Carbofuran Poisoning in 7 dogs
Authors: Pivariu Dalma , Oros Adrian Nechita , Tabaran Flaviu , Gal Adrian , Nagy Andras Laszlo
Published: December 2019

BackgroundCarbofuran was a widely used board-spectrum pesticide, which despite his strict regulation and bans for more than one decade is still encountered in cases of intentional poisoning in dogs and wildlife. The objective of the study was to provide a complete and detailed description of the pathological, histological and toxicological findings of the 7 cases of intentional carbofuran poisoning in dogs. ResultsIn this retrospective study 7 case of carbofuran intoxication recorded from July 2015 to June 2017 were analyzed. Following complete history recording, all cases were examined by complete necropsy and histopathology. The carbofuran intoxication was confirmed in all cases by gas-chromatography. The postmortem examination revealed extensive haemorrhages and congestion located mainly within the respiratory, nervous and cardiovascular systems, accompanied by degeneration and necrosis within the lung, heart and kidneys.ConclusionsNowadays in the European Union, carbamate poisoning is a rarely reported entity. Although banned in the EU, carbofuran is still used in Romania for crop protection and poisoning cases are encountered in animals, and it can be purchased. This paper will contribute to a better understanding of occurrence and pathogenesis in cases of acute carbofuran exposure in dogs and add some necropsy and histopathology data to current literature.
Genetic polymorphisms in one-carbon metabolism increased the risk of persistence of pre-neoplastic cervical lesions
Authors: Silva Nayara Nascimento Toledo , Santos Ana Carolina Silva , Nogueira Verlândia Mendes , Carneiro Cláudia Martins , Lima Angelica Alves
Published: December 2019

Background: Cervical cancer is caused by high-risk Human Papillomavirus (hr-HPV) infection associated with cofactors that has been analyzed as predictors of cytological abnormalities remission or persistence. These cofactors may be classified as environmental, epigenetic or genetic. Polymorphism in genes of enzymes that act on one-carbon metabolism alter their activity and may be associated with cervical carcinogenesis because they affect DNA synthesis and repair, and gene expression. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the risk of persistence of pre-neoplastic cervical lesions according to genetic polymorphisms involved in one-carbon metabolism. Sample group was divided in Remission (n=60) - presence of pre-neoplastic lesion at first meeting (T1), and normal cytology after six months of follow-up (T2), and Persistence (n=46) - presence of pre-neoplastic lesion at T1 and T2. Cervical samples were obtained for cytological analysis (T1 and T2), HPV detection (T1), and evaluation of polymorphism C667T of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR C677T), A2756G of Methionine Synthase (MS A2756G), A66G of Methionine Synthase Reductase (MTRR A66G), double or triple 28 bp tandem repeat in 5'-untranslated enhanced region of Thymidylate Synthase (TSER), and 6 bp deletion at nucleotide1494 in TS 3'-untranslated region (TS3'UTR). Genetic Risk Score (GRS) was calculated for analyze all genetic polymorphism simultaneously. Results: No differences were observed between Remission and Persistence groups of GRS, or genotypic and allelic distribution of MTHFR C677T and MS A2756G polymorphisms. However, higher risk of persistence was observed among women presenting heterozygote genotype - ins/del [OR (IC95%): 3.22 (1.19 – 8.69), p=0.021], or polymorphic genotype – del/del [OR (IC95%): 6.50 (1.71 – 24.70), p=0.006] of TS3’UTR. Conclusions: Presence of TS3’UTR polymorphism increased risk of persistence of cervical abnormalities. This genetic variant could be considered as potential marker of cervical carcinogenesis, assisting follow-up of women with persistent pre-neoplastic cervical lesions.
Contraceptive Use and Maternal Mortality in Indonesia: A Community-Level Ecological Analysis
Authors: Aryanty Riznawaty Imma , Romadlona Nohan Arum , Besral Besral , Panggabean Elvi Debora P. , Utomo Budi , Makalew Richard , Magnani Robert J.
Published: December 2019

Background: Prior studies have shown that contraceptive use reduces maternal mortality independently of other maternal health services. The present study took advantage of geographically detailed Indonesian data to study the interplay between contraceptive use and other risk and protective factors for maternal mortality at the community level, a level of analysis where the protective effects of family planning can be best understood.Methods: Data from the 2015 Intercensal Population Survey (SUPAS) and the 2014 Village Potential Survey (PODES) were used to construct a series of census block-level variables measuring key risk and protective factors for maternal mortality. The relationships between these factors and maternal mortality, measured via natural log-transformation of past five-year maternal mortality ratios in each of the 40,748 census blocks were assessed via log-linear regressions.Results: Higher community maternal mortality ratios were associated with lower community contraceptive prevalence, higher percentage of parity four-plus births, higher proportion of poor households, lower population density of hospitals, higher density of traditional birth attendants (TBA), and residence outside of Java-Bali. For every percentage point increase in CPR, community maternal mortality ratios were lower by 7.8 points. Community-level household wealth was the strongest predictor of maternal mortality.Conclusions: Community contraceptive prevalence made a significant contribution to reducing maternal mortality net of other risk and protective factors during 2010-2015. Increased health system responsiveness to the needs of pregnant women and reductions in socioeconomic and geographic disparities in maternal health services will be needed for Indonesia to reach the 2030 SDG maternal mortality goal.
The Impact of Point of Care Testing for Influenza A and B on Patient Flow and Management in a Medical Assessment Unit of a General Hospital.
Authors: Connell Shane O , Conlan Chris , Reidy Mary , Stack Ciara , Mulgrew Alan , Baruah Joy
Published: December 2019

Objectives: The impact of Influenza infection on Hospital resources and patient management is significant. Timely implementation of infection control and treatment can significantly reduce the impact during a time when demand for acute Hospital resources is at peak. Turnaround times of Laboratory based screening tests for the diagnosis of influenza may have an impact on the implementation of infection control measures and treatment. In this study the objectives included determining the correlation between the Abbott ID NOW point of care testing (POCT) instrument using the Influenza A&B2 test and the laboratory based GeneXpert Flu+RSV kit. In addition the impact of the POCT instrument on the prescription of antivirals and antibiotics was evaluated by comparing with practice when the instrument was not in place. Results: The results of the correlation study revealed the Abbott ID NOW POCT has 92% sensitivity for the detection of Influenza A, while specificity was 100% for both Influenza A and B. The impact of the POCT instrument on the frequency of prescription of antivirals and amount of antibiotics consumed (33% reduction in antibiotic consumption) was significant. In addition the average patient length of Hospital stay was significantly reduced from 5.26 days to 3.73 days.
De novo assembly and transcriptome characterization of an endemic species of Vietnam, Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv., including the development of EST-SSR markers for population genetics
Authors: Vu Duy Dinh , Shah Syed Noor Muhammad , Pham Mai Phuong , Bui Van Thang , Nguyen Minh Tam , Nguyen Thi Phuong Trang
Published: December 2019

Background: Understanding the genetic diversity in threatened species that occur in forest remnants is necessary to establish efficient strategies for the species conservation, restoration and management. Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv. is medicinally important, endemic and endangered species of Vietnam. However, genetic diversity and structure of population is unknown due to lack of efficient molecular markers. Results: In this study, we employed Illumina HiSeq TM 4000 sequencing to analyze the transcriptomes of P. vietnamensis (roots, leaves and stems). A total of 23,741,783 raw reads were obtained and assembled, from which, 89,271 unigenes with an average length of 598.3191 nt were generated. During functional annotation, 31,686 unigenes were annotated in Gene Ontology categories, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, Swiss-Prot database, and Nucleotide Collection (NR/NT) database. In addition, 11,343 expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSRs) were detected. From 7,774 primer pairs, 101 were selected for polymorphism validation, in which, 20 primer pairs were successfully amplified to DNA fragments and significant amounts of polymorphism was observed within population. The nine polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to analyze genetic diversity and structure of the natural populations. The obtained results revealed that the shows high levels of genetic diversity in populations, the average observed and expected heterozygosity were H O = 0.422 and H E = 0.479. During the Bottleneck analysis using TPM and SMM models (p < 0.01) shows that targeted population is significantly heterozygote deficient. This suggests sign of bottleneck in all populations. Genetic differentiation among populations was moderate (F ST = 0.133) and indicating limited gene flow (Nm = 1.63). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed 63.17% of variation within individuals and 12.45% among populations. These results showed a moderate genetic structure of P. vietnamensis. STRUCTURE analysis and the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) tree revealed strong genetic structure and two genetic clusters related to geographical distances, as well. Conclusion: Our study will assist conservators in future conservation management, breeding, production and habitats restoration of the species. Keywords: Conservation, EST-SSRs; Transcriptome; Panax vietnamensis ; Population genetics
Transcriptomic and physiological analyses of rice seedlings under different nitrogen supplies provide insight into the regulation involved in axillary bud outgrowth
Authors: Wang Rongna , Qian Junjie , Fang Zhongming , Tang Jihua
Published: December 2019

Background: N is an important macronutrient required for plant development and significantly influences axillary bud outgrowth, which affects tillering and grain yields of rice. However, how different N concentrations affect axillary bud growth at the molecular and transcriptional levels remains unclear. Results: In this study, morphological changes in the axillary bud growth of rice seedlings under different N concentrations ranging from low to high levels were systematically observed. To investigate the expression of N-induced genes involved in axillary bud growth, we used RNA-seq technology to generate mRNA transcriptomic data from two tissue types, basal parts and axillary buds, of plants grown under six different N concentrations. In total, 10,221 and 12,180 DEGs induced by LN or HN supplies were identified in the basal parts and axillary buds, respectively, via comparisons to expression levels under NN level. Analysis of the coexpression modules from the DEGs of the basal parts and axillary buds revealed an abundance of related biological processes underlying the axillary bud growth of plants under N treatments. Among these processes, the activity of cell division and expansion was positively correlated with the growth rate of axillary buds of plants grown under different N supplies. Additionally, TFs and phytohormones were shown to play crucial roles in determining the axillary bud growth of plants grown under different N concentrations. Further validation of OsGS1;2 and OsGS2 , the rice mutants of which presented altered tiller numbers, validated our transcriptomic data. Conclusion: These results indicate that different N concentrations affect the axillary bud growth rate, and our study revealed comprehensive expression profiles of genes that respond to different N concentrations, providing an important resource for future studies attempting to determine how axillary bud growth is controlled by different N supplies.
Impact of low skeletal muscle mass index and perioperative blood transfusion on the prognosis for HCC following curative resection
Authors: Bekki Tomoaki , Abe Tomoyuki , Amano Hironobu , Hattori Minoru , Kobayashi Tsuyoshi , Nakahara Masahiro , Ohdan Hideki , Noriyuki Toshio
Published: December 2019

Background This study aimed to assess the prognostic factors including low skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and perioperative blood transfusion for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following curative surgery.Methods This study included 139 patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy between 2005 and 2016. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify variables associated with overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS).Results Low SMI was significantly related with poor OS, while blood transfusion had a strong impact on RFS. The male ratio and body mass index in the low SMI group were significantly higher than those in the high SMI group. There were no significant differences in age, virus aetiology, laboratory data, liver function, tumour makers, and operative variables between the groups. Tumour factors such as tumour diameter, tumour number, poor differentiation, and intrahepatic metastasis (IM) did not significantly differ between the two groups. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss volume, and recurrence ratio were significantly higher in the blood transfusion group than in the non-transfusion group. IM was associated with poor OS and RFS.Conclusions Multidisciplinary support for recovering low SMI and reducing the use of blood transfusion would improve the long-term outcomes in patients with HCC following curative surgery. Low SMI and blood transfusion were independently related with long-term prognosis in patients with HCC following curative surgery.
Changes in functional, anatomical and optical parameters of the eye in children with habitually excessive accommodation stress and pseudomyopia after regular badminton playing
Authors: Tarutta E. P. , Tarasova N. A. , Markosian G. A. , Milash S. V. , Harutyunyan S. G. , Ramazanova K. A. , Cherednichenko N. L.
Published: December 2019

Purpose. To study the state of refraction, accommodation, and blood flow in eye vessels of children with habitually excessive accommodation stress (HEAS) and pseudomyopia practicing badminton.

Material and methods. The study involved 11 patients (20 eyes) aged 7 to 11 years (average M±SD: 9.24 ± 1.06 years) with pseudomyopia and HEAS: 4 patients with myopia (7 eyes), 3 children with hyperopia (6 eyes), 4 children with emmetropia (7 eyes) before they started practicing badminton and after playing it for a certain time. All patients were tested for visual acuity, subjective and objective accommodation, optical biometry, aberrometry, velocity of blood flow in eye vessels, and choroidal thickness.

Results. After 1 year of regular badminton workout, the subjects revealed a 0.92 ± 0.82 D weakening of manifest refraction, a decrease in accommodation tone by 0.85 ± 0.77 D, an increase in blood flow rate in ophthalmic artery and the central retinal artery, an increase in positive spherical aberration, a decrease in aberrations associated with mismatch and irregularity ofoptical system elements (tilt, trefoil, coma), which indirectly indicates a strengthening of the ligamentous apparatus of the lens.

Conclusion. Practicing sports (badminton) contributes to the elimination of pseudomyopia, improvement of uncorrected visual acuity, accommodative ability, and ophthalmic hemodynamics indicators.
Decolorization of methylene blue using Fe(III)-citrate complex in a solar photo-Fenton process: impact of solar variability on process optimization
Authors: Sharma Chetan Prakash , Karim Ansaf V. , Shriwastav Amritanshu
Published: December 2019

This study investigates the solar photo-Fenton based decolorization of a cationic dye methylene blue (MB) at circumneutral pH conditions. Water-soluble Fe(III)-citrate complex was used as a source of Fe(II) during the reaction by ligand-to-metal charge transfer under solar irradiation, and consequently, for the production of hydroxyl radicals. Solar decolorization of methylene blue was studied in sunny as well as cloudy weather, and further optimized using response surface methodology and Box-Behnken statistical experimental design. In this model, Fe(III) dose, citrate ion dose, and initial pH of the solution were used as independent parameters, and percentage decolorization of MB was used as a response. Better decolorization of MB was observed in sunny weather as compared to cloudy weather. A particular combination of parameters, i.e. pH of 7, Fe(III) of 0.5 mM, and citrate ion concentration of 10 mM, was found to achieve 89.19% and 51.22% decolorization in sunny and in cloudy weather respectively, which were the optimum/near-optimum performances for these weather conditions. Hence the process initiated with these parameters may potentially achieve better performance than any other parameter combination in all weathers, although the absolute removal would still depend on incident solar irradiation.
The Methodological Guidebook of the Possible Landscape Painting Tasks from One View 1 = (60 + 60) ∙ 4 ∙ 2 = [960; + ∞]
Authors: Sargsyan Sevada Mushegh
Published: December 2019

This methodological guidebook is based on the observations and pedagogical experience of the author. This experience is summed up and as a consequence, the theory of possible landscape painting tasks from one view is presented in axiomatic way. The possibilities of 960 and more tasks’ acting from one view during plein air is proved and at the same time not obligated which will be greatly helpful for lecturers of plein air practice for organizing their work more effectively.
The Prevention and Inhibition Effect of Anthocyanins on Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Zhao Xin , Feng Panfeng , He Wenqian , Du Xing , Chen Chao , Suo Lianhuan , Liang Min , Zhang Na , Na An , Zhang Yan
Published: December 2019

Background:

Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoids that are natural water soluble glycosidic pigments
with efficacious anti-cancer effects, which have good biological activity against many cancers including colorectal
cancer (CRC). However, the exact molecular mechanism used by anthocyanins against cancer is unclear; it is
also unclear what a reasonable dosage might be for their use against colorectal cancer.

Methods:

Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, MTT assay, xenograft model, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE)
staining were used to perform the experiments.

Results:

Compared with the control group, anthocyanins could significantly inhibit the cell viability and proliferation
and promote the apoptosis of human colon cancer HT29 cells. Furthermore, anthocyanins reduced tumor
weight and volume in a colon tumor mouse model and downregulated the expression of PI3K protein, inhibited
AKT expression and phosphorylation, decreased the Bcl-2 and Bax ratio and reduced survivin protein expression
in the tumor tissue.

Conclusion:

Anthocyanins promoted apoptosis of CRC cells and inhibited colon cancer growth of xenografted
tumors. Mechanistically, anthocyanins enhanced the Bcl-2/Bax and caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways
through targeting the PI3K/AKT/survivin pathway, resulting in impairment of growth of CRC.
Water an Eco-Friendly Crossroad in Green Extraction: An Overview
Authors: Mihaylova Dasha , Lante Anna
Published: December 2019

In this review, the function of water and the increasing role of water as a green solvent and co-extractant based on its application in ancient times and the need of environmental thinking have been discussed. A brief summary of various extraction methods for natural products, the application of conventional and innovative processes, based on water and future insights and perspectives considering water as an eco-friendly crossroad in green extraction have been reported. Taking into account also the issue of wastewater, this paper calls for-more effective use of water as a finite resource.
Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Buriti (Mauritia Flexuosa) Pulp Extracts
Authors: Monteiro Carla Roana Moraes , dos Santos Adriele Rodrigues , Vieira da Silva Marcos , Rudke Adenilson Renato , de Melo Rodrigues Iara , Rigobello Eliane Sloboda , Perdoncini Márcia Regina Ferreira Geraldo
Published: December 2019

Background:

Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) is a palm tree typical of the Amazon region. This plant belongs to the Arecaceae family and is economically important because it contains substances important for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. It has, in its fruits, compounds with antimicrobial potential.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the minimal inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of the Buriti extracts against the four bacteria: Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium ATCC 14028, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853.

Methods:

15 extracts from buriti pulp were obtained varying in temperature, mass of buriti and ethanol content. The antimicrobial activity of these extracts was evaluated. To determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), the methodology recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute was followed.

Results:

The results showed which buriti pulp extracts had strong inhibitory activity. Gram-positive results ranged from 21 to 78 μg.mL-1. For Gram-negative, they ranged from 30 to 111 μg.mL-1.

Conclusion:

The buriti extracts significantly slowed the growth of the tested bacteria.
Effect of Oral Nutritional Supplementation on Growth in Vietnamese Children with Stunting
Authors: Pham Dung T. , Hoang Trong N. , Ngo Nhu T. , Nguyen Long H. , Tran Trung Q. , Pham Hanh M. , Huynh Dieu T. T. , Ninh Nhung T.
Published: December 2019

Background:

The impact of oral nutritional supplementations (ONS) is not well-elucidated in children with stunting.

Objective:

The aim is to evaluate the effect of ONS on growth in Vietnamese children with stunting.

Methods:

This 6-month, prospective, single-arm trial evaluated 121 children aged 24–48 months with stunting (height-for-age z-score [HAZ] < -2) and low weight-for-height z-score (WHZ < -1) in Vietnam. Children consumed ONS twice daily. The outcomes included the change in HAZ, WHZ, and weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) from baseline to 3- and 6 months; change in height and weight from baseline to 3- and 6 months; and the prevalence of stunting, wasting (WHZ < -2 SD), and underweight (WAZ < -2 SD) at 6 months. We also examined factors associated with a change in HAZ over the intervention period.

Results:

The mean age was 34.7 months and 49% were male. Height and weight increased from baseline to 3- and 6-months (p<0.0001). There was a significant increase in median HAZ (0.25 units), WHZ (0.72 units), and WAZ (0.65 units) from baseline to 6 months (p<0.0001). Notably, approximately 40% of children recovered from stunting at 6 months (p<0.0001). The prevalence of wasting and underweight status were also significantly lower at 6 months (p=0.0310 and p<0.0001, respectively) relative to the baseline. Lower HAZ and younger age at baseline were significantly associated with higher linear growth at 6 months.

Conclusion:

ONS helped improve linear and ponderal growth and reduce the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight status in stunted children at risk of wasting.
A cartografia e a artografia como métodos vivos de investigação em arte e em educação artística
Authors: Charréu Leonardo Verde
Published: December 2019

Pretende-se abordar dois métodos que têm vindo a ser utilizados por investigadores recentes na escrita das suas dissertações e teses, com particular destaque para as que têm sido implementadas (não sem resistências) em algumas instituições universitárias que têm ousado romper com os métodos tradicionais de investigação, não só em áreas como as artísticas, como também naquelas que pertencem ao que se convencionou chamar de humanidades. A dimensão performativa e assumidamente ‘artística’ destes trabalhos, afasta-se dos critérios avaliativos e respetivos parâmetros de análise correntemente utilizados na investigação qualitativa. Esta tem claras limitações para avaliar o artístico, e o que implicam de inefável e fenomenológico, sobretudo se nos posicionarmos a partir do lugar do investigador-artista consciente da própria natureza única e irrepetível do seu trabalho e da sua prática.
O Bobo, o Sábio, O Bardo (na máquina): Processos autorreferenciais na investigação artística em ciberliteratura
Authors: Marques Diogo
Published: December 2019

Recuperando parte da teoria da criatividade koestleriana que entende o acto criativo enquanto ‘bissociação’ de duas ou mais estruturas de pensamento, com o presente artigo propõe-se uma reflexão sobre o conceito de investigação artística à luz dos processos autorreferenciais gerados nas práticas de investigação-criação em ciberliteratura. Cinco décadas após a publicação de The Act of Creation (1964), a confluência entre os aspectos lúdico, científico e artístico que Arthur Koestler identifica no acto criativo humano poderá hoje ser entendida como ultrapassada. Sobretudo à sombra da era do digital e da sua influência em praticamente todas as esferas do conhecimento. Porém, succisa virescit, é na re-leitura da sua intenção inaugural —a crítica a uma dada tendência académica para a redução do ser humano ao status de autómato condicionado—que, de modo paradoxal, se torna possível a introdução de uma nova varíável na famosa fórmula tripartida, i.e., a máquina. Na tensão que existe entre programabilidade e criação, e que a (re)nova(da) fórmula pressupõe, pretende-se assim ilustrar a forma como as barreiras entre criação e investigação se esbatem de forma pluri-inter-transdisciplinar, abrindo-se caminho para a potencial concretização de um renovado paradigma científico.
The researcher-as-dramaturg: lingering in-between theory and practicer or how artistic strategies enrich academic research. A manifesto to switch gear.
Authors: Persyn Leonie
Published: December 2019

What does the notion of the dramaturg add to the position of the researcher? In this manifest I explore the position of the researcher-as-dramaturg as an opening up of methodology with strategies from different fields. I propose the researcher-as-dramaturga s a necessary re-evaluation of the process within the realm of academic research.
Designing a Virtual Reality Game for Promoting Empathy Toward Patients With Chronic Pain: Feasibility and Usability Study (Preprint)
Authors: Tong Xin , Gromala Diane , Kiaei Ziabari Seyedeh Pegah , Shaw Christopher D
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND

Many researchers have been evaluating how digital media may impact the emotional and perspective taking aspects of empathy in both clinical and nonclinical settings. Despite the growing interest in using virtual reality (VR) and VR games to motivate empathy, few studies have focused on empathy for people who live with chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE

Chronic pain affects, by conservative estimates, 1 in 5 people in industrialized countries. Despite this prevalence, public awareness of chronic pain was remarkably low until the recent opioid crisis; as a result, stigma remains a problem frequently faced by people who live with this condition. To address this, the VR game AS IF was developed to increase nonpatients’ empathy toward the growing number of people who live with long-term chronic pain. On the basis of our prior work, we overhauled our approach, designed and built a VR prototype and evaluated it, and offered design suggestions for future research.

METHODS

We introduced the design features of the VR game AS IF and described the study we devised to evaluate its effectiveness. We adopted a mixed methods approach and compared the empathy-related outcomes in both pre- and posttesting. A total of 19 participants were recruited.

RESULTS

The findings of this study suggest that the VR game was effective in improving implicit and explicit empathy as well as its emotional and perspective taking aspects. More specifically, for the Empathy Scale, the total pretest scores (mean 47.33, SD 4.24) and posttest scores (mean 59.22, SD 4.33) did not reach statistical significance (P=.08). However, we did find differences in the subscales. The kindness subscale showed a statistically significant increase in the posttest score (mean 15.61, SD 2.85) compared with the pretest score (mean 17.06, SD 2.65;P=.001). For the Willingness to Help Scale, a significant increase was observed from a t test analysis (P<.001) of scores before (mean 7.17, SD 2.28) and after (mean 8.33, SD 2.03) the gameplay. The effect size for this analysis was large (d=−1.063).

CONCLUSIONS

The contributions of this research are as follows: AS IF provides a promising approach for designing VR games to motivate people’s empathy toward patients with chronic pain, the study evaluates the potential effectiveness of such a VR approach, and the general design suggestions devised from this study could shed light on future VR game systems.
Coping, Identity, and Programmatic Politics in a Javanese Village Head Election: The Case of Temon Kulon, Yogyakarta
Authors: Harjanto Irwan
Published: December 2019

This article explores the programmatic policies used by the incumbent in Temon Kulon Village, Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta, during the village chief election. It finds that, even as identity politics (particularly religion) have become an increasingly important part of Indonesian politics, some village chiefs attempted to apply programmatic politics. Although most commonly associated with higher levels of government (including municipal elections) and political parties, in this case programmatic politics was applied within a village where local traditions and culture remained strong. This article also shows that identity politics is used not only to mobilise support against non-Muslim incumbents; it is also used to contest elections through a cultural primordialism. Through analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, as well as a series of interviews and observations, this article shows that religious fundamentalism can be moderated through a combination of programmatic politics and local political identities.