bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic Review of the Surgical Outcomes of Elbow Plicae
Authors: Jeon In-Ho , Liu Hua , Nanda Akriti , Kim Hyojune , Kim Dong Min , Park Dongjun , Shin Myung Jin , Koh Kyoung Hwan , Kholinne Erica
Published: October 2020

Background:

Surgical resection is usually required for symptomatic elbow plicae that have failed nonoperative therapy. However, evidence of surgical outcomes has not been presented.

Purpose:

To review the surgical outcomes for the treatment of synovial plicae in the radiocapitellar joint.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

We searched the PubMed, Ovid/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Embase databases using keywords as well as Medical Subject Headings terms and Emtree ([(elbow OR humeroradial joint OR radiohumeral joint) AND (meniscus OR plica)] OR snapping elbow OR snapping triceps OR synovial fold syndrome OR synovial fringe) for English-language studies. We conducted a systematic review using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines.

Results:

A total of 14 articles comprising four level 5 and ten level 4 studies were identified, including 279 patients (284 elbows). The triggering factors reported for 58 patients were heavy labor (29 patients; 50.0%), sporting activities (17 patients; 29.3%), and nonspecific trauma (12 patients; 20.7%). Overall, 92 patients (33.0%) were administered a steroid injection before surgery. Arthroscopic plica resection was performed in 266 patients (95.3%). Intraoperatively, plicae were mostly found in the posterior (44.0%) and posterolateral (28.6%) sites, and chondromalacia of the radial head was observed in 25 patients (9.2%). Of the reported surgical outcomes, 67.7% showed a resolution of symptoms. However, 9.3% of patients had residual symptoms, which were likely associated with pre-existing radial head chondromalacia. The complication rate was reported as 1.8%.

Conclusion:

Symptomatic elbow plicae were mostly treated arthroscopically, with most of the results being favorable. Pre-existing chondromalacia and the underestimation of concomitant intra-articular abnormalities may yield an inferior outcome.
Enriching the Lives of Marginalised Sections: Case of MGNREGS in Composite Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Murty C. Samba , Reddy M. Srinivasa
Published: October 2020

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) initiated in 2006 is essentially a reaction to the jobless growth witnessed in the post-1991 reforms period. The Scheme seeks to improve the livelihoods of the marginalised sections in rural areas by generating wage employment. The article is an attempt to examine if the Scheme is really benefitting these sections as envisaged. Our village survey data of composite Andhra Pradesh (AP) brings to the fore the fact that the socially lowly placed scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs) and other backward castes (OBCs) were well represented among the beneficiaries of the Scheme, female participation in the Scheme was way beyond expectations, the Scheme was indeed the mainstay of the illiterate and the little educated that look for manual labour, and the otherwise rarely preferred elderly of the labour market found place in the Scheme and they could make significant contribution to earnings of poor households. It further throws up the finding that the Scheme was an important employment avenue to reckon with in the rural labour market and therefore, it increased the bargaining strength and the reservation wage rate of the labour force. Briefly, the Scheme contributed to inclusive growth.
Pulmonary function tests in type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis
Authors: Díez-Manglano Jesús , Asìn Samper Uxua
Published: October 2020

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the association between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and pulmonary function tests.

Methods

After conducting an exhaustive literature search, we performed a meta-analysis. We employed the inverse variance method with a random-effects model to calculate the effect estimate as the mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). We calculated the heterogeneity with the I2statistic and performed a meta-regression analysis by sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking and geographical region. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis according to the studies’ publication date, size of the T2D group and the study quality, excluding the study with the greatest weight in the effect.

Results

The meta-analysis included 66 studies (one longitudinal, two case–control and 63 cross-sectional), with 11 134 patients with T2D and 48 377 control participants. The pooled MD (95% CI) for the predicted percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow at 25–75% of FVC, peak expiratory flow, and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide were −7.15 (95% CI −8.27, −6.03; p<0.001), −9.21 (95% CI −11.15, −7.26; p<0.001), −9.89 (95% CI −14.42, −5.36; p<0.001), −9.79 (95% CI −13.42, −6.15; p<0.001) and −7.13 (95% CI −10.62, −3.64; p<0.001), respectively. There was no difference in the ratio of FEV1/FVC (95% CI −0.27; −1.63, 1.08; p=0.69). In all cases, there was considerable heterogeneity. The meta-regression analysis showed that between studies heterogeneity was not explained by patient sex, BMI, smoking or geographical region. The findings were consistent in the sensitivity analysis.

Conclusions

T2D is associated with impaired pulmonary function, independently of sex, smoking, BMI and geographical region. Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate outcomes for patients with T2D and impaired pulmonary function.
The DIAMORFOSIS (DIAgnosis and Management Of lung canceR and FibrOSIS) survey: international survey and call for consensus
Authors: Tzouvelekis Argyris , Antoniou Katerina , Kreuter Michael , Evison Matthew , Blum Torsten G. , Poletti Venerino , Grigoriu Bogdan , Vancheri Carlo , Spagnolo Paolo , Karampitsakos Theodoros , Bonella Francesco , Wells Athol , Raghu Ganesh , Molina-Molina Maria , Culver Daniel A. , Bendstrup Elisabeth , Mogulkoc Nesrin , Elia Stefano , Cadranel Jacques , Bouros Demosthenes
Published: October 2020

Background

Currently there is major lack of agreement on the diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer. Our aim was to identify variations in diagnostic and management strategies across different institutions and provide rationale for a consensus statement on this issue.

Methods

This was a joint-survey by European Respiratory Society (ERS) Assemblies 8, 11 and 12. The survey consisted of 25 questions.

Results

Four hundred and ninety-four (n=494) physicians from 68 different countries and five continents responded to the survey. Ninety-four per cent of participants were pulmonologists, 1.8% thoracic surgeons and 1.9% oncologists; 97.7% were involved in multidisciplinary team approaches on diagnosis and management. Regular low-dose high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan was used by 49.5% of the respondents to screen for lung cancer in IPF. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is performed by 60% and 88% to diagnose nodular lesions with mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with advanced and mild IPF, respectively. Eighty-three per cent of respondents continue anti-fibrotics following lung cancer diagnosis; safety precautions during surgical interventions including low tidal volume are applied by 67%. Stereotactic radiotherapy is used to treat patients with advanced IPF (diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) <35%) and otherwise operable nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by 54% of respondents and doublet platinum regimens and immunotherapy for metastatic disease by 25% and 31.9%, respectively. Almost all participants (93%) replied that a consensus statement for the management of these patients is highly warranted.

Conclusion

The diagnosis and management of IPF-lung cancer (LC) is heterogeneous with most respondents calling for a consensus statement.
Aspiration and severe exacerbations in COPD: a prospective study
Authors: Cvejic Lydia , Guiney Nadine , Nicholson Tiffany , Lau Kenneth K. , Finlay Paul , Hamza Kais , Osadnik Christian , Leong Paul , MacDonald Martin , King Paul T. , Bardin Philip G.
Published: October 2020

Rationale

Swallow may be compromised in COPD leading to aspiration and adverse respiratory consequences. However, prevalence and consequences of detectable aspiration in stable COPD are not known.

Objectives

We tested the hypothesis that a significant number of patients with stable COPD will have detectable aspiration during swallow (prandial aspiration) and that they would experience more frequent severe acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) over the subsequent 12 months.

Methods

Patients (n=151) with verified and stable COPD of all severities were recruited at a tertiary care hospital. Videofluoroscopy was conducted to evaluate aspiration using Rosenbek's scale for penetration–aspiration during 100-mL cup drinking. AECOPD was documented as moderate (antibiotics and/or corticosteroid treatment) or severe (emergency department admission or hospitalisation) over the ensuing 12 months.

Measurements and main results

Aspiration was observed in 30 out of 151 patients (19.9%, 18 males, 12 females; mean age 72.4 years). Patients with aspiration had more overall AECOPD events (3.03versus2 per patient; p=0.022) and severe AECOPD episodes (0.87versus0.39; p=0.032). Severe AECOPD occurred in more patients with aspiration (50% of patientsversus18.2%; OR 4.5, CI 1.9–10.5; p=0.001) and with silent aspiration (36.7%versus18.2%; OR 2.6, CI 1.1–6.2; p=0.045). Aspiration was related to a shorter exacerbation-free period during the 12-month follow-up period (p=0.038).

Conclusions

Prandial aspiration is detectable in a subset of patients with COPD and was predictive of subsequent severe AECOPD. Studies to examine if the association is causal are essential to direct strategies aimed at prevention of aspiration and AECOPD.
NBZIMM: negative binomial and zero-inflated mixed models, with application to microbiome/metagenomics data analysis
Authors: Zhang Xinyan , Yi Nengjun
Published: October 2020

Background

Microbiome/metagenomic data have specific characteristics, including varying total sequence reads, over-dispersion, and zero-inflation, which require tailored analytic tools. Many microbiome/metagenomic studies follow a longitudinal design to collect samples, which further complicates the analysis methods needed. A flexible and efficient R package is needed for analyzing processed multilevel or longitudinal microbiome/metagenomic data.

Results

NBZIMM is a freely available R package that provides functions for setting up and fitting negative binomial mixed models, zero-inflated negative binomial mixed models, and zero-inflated Gaussian mixed models. It also provides functions to summarize the results from fitted models, both numerically and graphically. The main functions are built on top of the commonly used R packages nlme and MASS, allowing us to incorporate the well-developed analytic procedures into the framework for analyzing over-dispersed and zero-inflated count or proportion data with multilevel structures (e.g., longitudinal studies). The statistical methods and their implementations in NBZIMM particularly address the data characteristics and the complex designs in microbiome/metagenomic studies. The package is freely available from the public GitHub repositoryhttps://github.com/nyiuab/NBZIMM.

Conclusion

The NBZIMM package provides useful tools for complex microbiome/metagenomics data analysis.
Illuminating the dark side of the human transcriptome with long read transcript sequencing
Authors: Kuo Richard I. , Cheng Yuanyuan , Zhang Runxuan , Brown John W. S. , Smith Jacqueline , Archibald Alan L. , Burt David W.
Published: October 2020

Background

The human transcriptome annotation is regarded as one of the most complete of any eukaryotic species. However, limitations in sequencing technologies have biased the annotation toward multi-exonic protein coding genes. Accurate high-throughput long read transcript sequencing can now provide additional evidence for rare transcripts and genes such as mono-exonic and non-coding genes that were previously either undetectable or impossible to differentiate from sequencing noise.

Results

We developed the Transcriptome Annotation by Modular Algorithms (TAMA) software to leverage the power of long read transcript sequencing and address the issues with current data processing pipelines. TAMA achieved high sensitivity and precision for gene and transcript model predictions in both reference guided and unguided approaches in our benchmark tests using simulated Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) and Nanopore sequencing data and real PacBio datasets. By analyzing PacBio Sequel II Iso-Seq sequencing data of the Universal Human Reference RNA (UHRR) using TAMA and other commonly used tools, we found that the convention of using alignment identity to measure error correction performance does not reflect actual gain in accuracy of predicted transcript models. In addition, inter-read error correction can cause major changes to read mapping, resulting in potentially over 6 K erroneous gene model predictions in the Iso-Seq based human genome annotation. Using TAMA’s genome assembly based error correction and gene feature evidence, we predicted 2566 putative novel non-coding genes and 1557 putative novel protein coding gene models.

Conclusions

Long read transcript sequencing data has the power to identify novel genes within the highly annotated human genome. The use of parameter tuning and extensive output information of the TAMA software package allows for in depth exploration of eukaryotic transcriptomes. We have found long read data based evidence for thousands of unannotated genes within the human genome. More development in sequencing library preparation and data processing are required for differentiating sequencing noise from real genes in long read RNA sequencing data.
Bupivacaine suppresses the progression of gastric cancer through regulating circ_0000376/miR-145-5p axis
Authors: Ju Changqiao , Zhou Jia , Miao Hui , Chen Xin , Zhang Qingyu
Published: October 2020

Background

Local anesthetic Bupivacaine commonly used in gastric cancer resection operation has been reported to suppress the progression of gastric cancer. However, the specific mechanism by which Bupivacaine functions is largely unexplored.

Methods

The viability and metastasis of gastric cancer cells were assessed by Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay and transwell migration and invasion assays. The apoptosis was evaluated by caspase-3 activity detection assay and flow cytometry. The glycolysis was analyzed through detecting the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) via Seahorse XF 96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer and the expression of glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) and lactic dehydrogenase A (LDHA) via Western blot assay. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to detect the expression of circular RNA 0000376 (circ_0000376) and microRNA-145-5p (miR-145-5p). The interaction between circ_0000376 and miR-145-5p was predicted using Circular RNA Interactome database and validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results

Bupivacaine restrained the viability, metastasis and glycolytic process while promoted the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. Bupivacaine decreased the level of circ_0000376 while enhanced the abundance of miR-145-5p in gastric cancer cells. Circ_0000376 accelerated the malignant behaviors of gastric cancer cells. MiR-145-5p directly interacted with circ_0000376 in gastric cancer cells, and miR-145-5p was negatively regulated by circ_0000376. The addition of circ_0000376 or the interference of miR-145-5p partly reversed Bupivacaine-mediated influences in gastric cancer cells.

Conclusion

Bupivacaine exerted an anti-tumor role to suppress the progression of gastric cancer through reducing the abundance of circ_0000376 and up-regulating miR-145-5p.
Beyond the scope and the glue: update on evaluation and management of gastric varices
Authors: Philips Cyriac Abby , Ahamed Rizwan , Rajesh Sasidharan , George Tom , Mohanan Meera , Augustine Philip
Published: October 2020

Gastric varices are encountered less frequently than esophageal varices. Nonetheless, gastric variceal bleeding is more severe and associated with worse outcomes. Conventionally, gastric varices have been described based on the location and extent and endoscopic treatments offered based on these descriptions. With improved understanding of portal hypertension and the dynamic physiology of collateral circulation, gastric variceal classification has been refined to include inflow and outflow based hemodynamic pathways. These have led to an improvement in the management of gastric variceal disease through newer modalities of treatment such as endoscopic ultrasound-guided glue-coiling combination therapy and the emergence of highly effective endovascular treatments such as shunt and variceal complex embolization with or without transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement in patients who are deemed ‘difficult’ to manage the traditional way. Furthermore, the decisions regarding TIPS and additional endovascular procedures in patients with gastric variceal bleeding have changed after the emergence of ‘portal hypertension theories’ of proximity, throughput, and recruitment. The hemodynamic classification, grounded on novel theories and its cognizance, can help in identifying patients at baseline, in whom conventional treatment could fail. In this exhaustive review, we discuss the conventional and hemodynamic diagnosis of gastric varices concerning new classifications; explore and illustrate new ‘portal hypertension theories’ of gastric variceal disease and corresponding management and shed light on current evidence-based treatments through a ‘new’ algorithmic approach, established on hemodynamic physiology of gastric varices.
Fitness effects for Ace insecticide resistance mutations are determined by ambient temperature
Authors: Langmüller Anna Maria , Nolte Viola , Galagedara Ruwansha , Poupardin Rodolphe , Dolezal Marlies , Schlötterer Christian
Published: October 2020

Background

Insect pest control programs often use periods of insecticide treatment with intermittent breaks, to prevent fixing of mutations conferring insecticide resistance. Such mutations are typically costly in an insecticide-free environment, and their frequency is determined by the balance between insecticide treatment and cost of resistance.Ace, a key gene in neuronal signaling, is a prominent target of many insecticides and across several species, three amino acid replacements (I161V, G265A, and F330Y) provide resistance against several insecticides. Because temperature disturbs neuronal signaling homeostasis, we reasoned that the cost of insecticide resistance could be modulated by ambient temperature.

Results

Experimental evolution of a naturalDrosophila simulanspopulation at hot and cold temperature regimes uncovered a surprisingly strong effect of ambient temperature. In the cold temperature regime, the resistance mutations were strongly counter selected (s = − 0.055), but in a hot environment, the fitness costs of resistance mutations were reduced by almost 50% (s = − 0.031). We attribute this unexpected observation to the advantage of the reduced enzymatic activity of resistance mutations in hot environments.

Conclusion

We show that fitness costs of insecticide resistance genes are temperature-dependent and suggest that the duration of insecticide-free periods need to be adjusted for different climatic regions to reflect these costs. We suggest that such environment-dependent fitness effects may be more common than previously assumed and pose a major challenge for modeling climate change.
Engineering T cells with hypoxia-inducible chimeric antigen receptor (HiCAR) for selective tumor killing
Authors: Liao Qibin , He Huan , Mao Yunyu , Ding Xiangqing , Zhang Xiaoyan , Xu Jianqing
Published: October 2020

Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells (CAR-T cells) have shown good effects in the treatment of hematologic cancers; however, they may cause on-target off-tumor toxicity because of minimal expression of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) on normal tissues, particularly in the context of treating solid tumors. Hypoxia is a common hallmark of solid tumors because of the Warburg effect. To minimize side effects, we designed a hypoxia-inducible CAR (HiCAR), which is driven by a hypoxia response element (HRE), and consists of a conventional CAR and an oxygen-dependent degradation domain (ODD) that is actively degraded under normoxia but stabilized under hypoxia. HiCAR-T cells showed enhanced cytotoxicity against tumor cells under hypoxia compared to normoxia in vitro and antitumor efficacy comparable to that of conventional CAR-T cells in vivo. Overall, our study demonstrates the potential of the HiCAR for improving the safety of CAR-T cells to promote the clinical application of CAR-T immunotherapy.
Data-driven multichannel poststack seismic impedance inversion via patch-ordering regularization
Authors: Wang Lingqian , Zhou Hui , Liu Wenling , Yu Bo , He Huili , Chen Hanming , Wang Ning
Published: October 2020

Seismic acoustic impedance inversion plays an important role in reservoir prediction. However, single-trace inversion methods often suffer from spatial discontinuities and instability due to poor-quality seismic records with spatially variable signal-to-noise ratios or missing traces. The specified hyperparameters for seismic inversion cannot be suitable to all seismic traces and subsurface structures. In addition, conventional multichannel inversion imposes lateral continuity with a prespecified mathematical model. However, the inversion results constrained with specified lateral regularization are inferior when the subsurface situations violate the hypothesis. A data-driven multichannel acoustic impedance inversion method with patch-ordering regularization is introduced, in which the spatial correlation of seismic reflection is used. The method decomposes the seismic profile into patches and constructs the patch-ordering matrix based on the similarity among seismic patches to record the impedance structural extension. So the patch-ordering matrix can record the spatial extension of the acoustic impedance. Then, a simple regularization with difference operators of varying weights can reduce the random noise presented in the inverted impedance profile, stabilize the inversion result, and enhance the spatial continuity of the layer extension. The objective function for multichannel poststack seismic impedance inversion can be constructed by integrating the observed seismic record and the spatial continuity in the form of patch-ordering regularization, and it can be solved effectively with the limited-memory BFGS algorithm. The synthetic and field data tests illustrate the improvement of accuracy and lateral continuity of inverted results with our method, compared to conventional model-based inversion results.
Neuroscience: the way forward
Authors: Cuttle Gareth , Burn Wendy
Published: October 2020

This editorial introduces a special issue ofBJPsych Advanceson neuroscience in 21st-century psychiatry. It focuses on two articles in particular, which reveal the contributions of neuroscience to fully integrated biopsychosocial models of human experience.
The influence of primary care physicians’ mental health knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy on referrals to specialised services: findings from a longitudinal pilot trial
Authors: Spagnolo Jessica , Vasiliadis Helen-Maria , Berbiche Djamal , Champagne François , Leduc Nicole , Melki Wahid , Saeed Khalid , Charfi Fatma
Published: October 2020

Background

Training based on the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) is being increasingly adopted by countries to enhance non-specialists’ mental health capacities. However, the influence of these enhanced capacities on referral rates to specialised mental health services remains unknown.

Aims

We rely on findings from a longitudinal pilot trial to assess the influence of mental health knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy on self-reported referrals from primary to specialised mental health services before, immediately after and 18 months after primary care physicians (PCPs) participated in an mhGAP-based training in the Greater Tunis area of Tunisia.

Method

Participants included PCPs who completed questionnaires before (n = 112), immediately after (n = 88) and 18 months after (n = 59) training. Multivariable analyses with linear mixed models accounting for the correlation among participants were performed with the SAS version 9.4 PROC MIXED procedure. The significance level was α < 0.05.

Results

Data show a significant interaction between time and mental health attitudes on referrals to specialised mental health services per week. Higher scores on the attitude scale were associated with more referrals to specialised services before and 18 months after training, compared with immediately after training.

Conclusion

Findings indicate that, in parallel to mental health training, considering structural/organisational supports to bring about a sustainable change in the influence of PCPs’ mental health attitudes on referrals is important. Our results will inform the scale-up of an initiative to further integrate mental health into primary care settings across Tunisia, and potentially other countries with similar profiles interested in further developing task-sharing initiatives.
Fatal accident inquiries into 83 deaths in Scottish prison custody: 2010–2013
Authors: Bird Sheila M.
Published: October 2020

Background

The only non-legal reference in Lord Cullen's Review of fatal accident inquiry (FAI) Legislation in Scotland (2009) was my audit of FAIs into 97 deaths in prison custody in Scotland, 1999–2003: recommending that waiting time from prisoner death to end of FAI should be less than 1 year for 90% of FAIs, and epidemiological rules for FAIs to have a written determination versus formal findings.

Aims

Audit of FAIs into 83 deaths in Scottish prison custody in the period 2010–2013.

Method

Assessement of waiting times from prisoner death to end of FAI; dissemination of written determinations; self-inflicted death rate per 1000 prisoner-years; cause of natural deaths; and yellow card submissions. Detailed cross-checking was nec37essary between Scottish Prison Service and courts’ websites and the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit.

Results

Of 83 FAIs into deaths in Scottish prison custody, 2010–2013, 37 (45%) were long-awaited (ongoing >2 years after the prisoner's death); 16 (19%, 95% CI 11–28%) beyond 3 years. Of 37 long-awaited FAIs, 27 made written determinations but only 12 of these (44%) were published. Self-inflicted deaths numbered 36: 1.1 per 1000 prisoner-years (95% CI 0.75–1.48). Of 47 deaths from natural causes, cardiovascular disease accounted for 23 (49%, 95% CI 34–63%); liver disease was implicated in 10 of 47. To support pharmacovigilance, submissions were made to Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency for eight deaths (10%, 95% CI 4–19%).

Conclusions

FAIs into prisoner deaths in Scotland are too long-awaited given that four (5%) identified precautions that could have prevented death.
A Pilot Study of Gut-Brain Signaling After Octreotide Therapy for Unintentional Weight Loss After Esophagectomy
Authors: Murphy Conor F , Stratford Nicholas , Docherty Neil G , Moran Brendan , Elliott Jessie A , Healy Marie-Louise , McMorrow Jason P , Ravi Narayanasamy , Goldstone Anthony P , Reynolds John V , le Roux Carel W
Published: October 2020

Background

Recurrence-free patients after esophageal cancer surgery face long-term nutritional consequences, occurring in the context of an exaggerated postprandial gut hormone response. Acute gut hormone suppression influences brain reward signaling and eating behavior. This study aimed to suppress gut hormone secretion and characterize reward responses and eating behavior among postesophagectomy patients with unintentional weight loss.

Methods

This pilot study prospectively studied postoperative patients with 10% or greater body weight loss (BWL) beyond 1 year who were candidates for clinical treatment with long-acting octreotide (LAR). Before and after 4 weeks of treatment, gut hormone secretion, food cue reactivity (functional magnetic resonance imaging), eating motivation (progressive ratio task), ad libitum food intake, body composition, and symptom burden were assessed.

Results

Eight patients (7 male, age: mean ± SD 62.8 ± 9.4 years, postoperative BWL: 15.5 ± 5.8%) participated. Octreotide LAR did not significantly suppress total postprandial plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 response at 4 weeks (P = .08). Postprandial symptom burden improved after treatment (Sigstad score median [range]: 12 [2-28] vs 8 [3-18], P = .04) but weight remained stable (pre: 68.6 ± 12.8 kg vs post: 69.2 ± 13.4 kg, P = .13). There was no significant change in brain reward system responses, during evaluation of high-energy or low-energy food pictures, nor their appeal rating. Moreover, treatment did not alter motivation to eat (P = .41) nor ad libitum food intake(P = .46).

Conclusion

The protocol used made it feasible to characterize the gut-brain axis and eating behavior in this cohort. Inadequate suppression of gut hormone responses 4 weeks after octreotide LAR administration may explain the lack of gut-brain pathway alterations. A higher dose or shorter interdose interval may be required to optimize the intervention.
Body Composition is Associated With Islet Function After Pancreatectomy and Islet Autotransplantation for Pancreatitis
Authors: Harindhanavudhi Tasma , Yang Yi , Hodges James S , Pruett Timothy L , Kirchner Varvara , Beilman Gregory J , Bellin Melena D
Published: October 2020

Context

Body composition in total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) has never been studied.

Objective

Determine whether presurgical body composition is associated with islet function and insulin sensitivity after TPIAT.

Methods

In 88 adults undergoing TPIAT (median age 41.0 years, IQR 32.8-48.0), beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity were assessed using mixed meal tolerance test and frequent sample intravenous glucose tolerance test before surgery and 12 and 18 months afterward. Body composition was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry. Analyses used linear and logistic regression.

Results

Before surgery, 8 individuals (9.1%) were underweight, 40 (45.5%) normal weight, 20 (22.7%) overweight, and 20 (22.7%) obese. Overweight/obese patients had higher area under the curve C-peptide and lower insulin sensitivity index. Baseline body weight was positively associated with first-phase insulin secretion (AIRg) at 12 months (average 38.5 [SE 17.1] mU/L/min higher per extra kg; P = 0.03) and 18 months (38.3 [18.5]; P = 0.04), while baseline lean mass was inversely associated with AIRg at 12 months (−0.05 [0.02] per extra kg; P = 0.01) and 18 months (−0.05 [0.02]; P = 0.03). Percent gynoid fat was inversely associated with disposition index at 18 months (−206.0 [97.2] per extra percent; P = 0.04). Percent body fat and percent gynoid fat were associated with glucose effectiveness index at 18 months (1.9 × 10-3 [0.9 × 10-3] per extra percent; P = 0.04 and −1.96 × 10-3 [0.8 × 10-3]; P = 0.02, respectively). Insulin independence was not significantly associated with body weight or composition.

Conclusions

Half of these chronic pancreatitis patients were overweight/obese; underweight was uncommon. Preoperative body weight and composition were associated with islet function but not insulin independence after TPIAT.
Testosterone Use in Adolescent Males: Current Practice and Unmet Needs
Authors: Vogiatzi Maria , Tursi James P , Jaffe Jonathan S , Hobson Sue , Rogol Alan D
Published: October 2020

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is routinely prescribed in adolescent males with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) or hypogonadism. With many new testosterone (T) formulations entering the market targeted for adults, we review current evidence and TRT options for adolescents and identify areas of unmet needs. We searched PubMed for articles (in English) on testosterone therapy, androgens, adolescence, and puberty in humans. The results indicate that short-term use of  T enanthate (TE) or oral  T undecanoate is safe and effective in inducing puberty and increasing growth in males with CDGP. Reassuring evidence is emerging on the use of transdermal  T to induce and maintain puberty. The long-term safety and efficacy of TRT for puberty completion and maintenance have not been established. Current  TRT regimens are based on consensus and expert opinion, but evidence-based guidelines are lacking. Limited guidance exists on when and how  T should be administered and optimal strategies for monitoring therapy once it is initiated. Only  TE and  T pellets are US Food and Drug Administration approved for use in adolescent males in the United States. Despite the introduction of a wide variety of new  T formulations, they are designed for adults, and their metered doses are difficult to titrate in adolescents. In conclusion, TRT in adolescent males is hindered by lack of long-term safety and efficacy data and limited options approved for use in this population. Additional research is needed to identify the route, dose, duration, and optimal timing for TRT in adolescents requiring androgen therapy.
Synthesis and Reduction of a Cyclic (Alkyl)(amino)bromoborane to Generate a Thermally Labile Cyclic (Alkyl)(amino)boryl Anion
Authors: Kisu Haruki , Kosai Tomoyuki , Iwamoto Takeaki , Yamashita Makoto
Published: October 2020

A cyclic (alkyl)(amino)bromoborane (CAABBr) was synthesized by a reaction of the corresponding hydroborane with bromine in the presence of triethylamine. Reduction of the resulting CAABBr with Li powder and 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DBB) generated a thermally labile cyclic (alkyl)(amino)boryllithium (CAABLi) which was characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Quenching of the mixture reduced by Li/DBB with methanol-d1 or MeOTf at low temperature gave a deuterioborane or methylborane, supporting the generation of CAABLi.
How Antitrust Enforcement Can Spur Innovation: Bell Labs and the 1956 Consent Decree
Authors: Watzinger Martin , Fackler Thomas A. , Nagler Markus , Schnitzer Monika
Published: October 2020

Is compulsory licensing an effective antitrust remedy to increase innovation? To answer this question, we analyze the 1956 consent decree that settled an antitrust lawsuit against Bell, a vertically integrated monopolist charged with foreclosing the telecommunications equipment market. Bell was forced to license all its existing patents royalty-free, including those not related to telecommunications. We identify the effect of the consent decree on follow-on innovations building on Bell patents by using exactly matched non-Bell patents as control group. We show that the consent decree led to a lasting increase in innovation but only in markets outside the telecommunications sector. (JEL D45, K21, L12, L24, L63, O31, O34)
The Moscow School Is a Large Territory of Great Opportunities: the Aspect of Profiling in Teaching Schoolchildren
Authors: Chernobay Elena
Published: October 2020

The article presents a modern view on the organization of specialized education in schools using the example of Moscow education, provides an overview of projects aimed at the formation of pre-professional interests and skills of schoolchildren and their preparation for choosing a profession.
Regulatory Legal Support for the Events of the All-Russian Olympiad for Schoolchildren: a Draft of a New Procedure
Authors: Abaturova Valentina
Published: October 2020

The All-Russian Olympiad for schoolchildren, as the largest all-Russian intellectual competition among students in 24 subjects, requires certain regulations that provide a transparent, objective and high-quality conduct of all Olympiad events within the legal framework. Such a regulation is the procedure for holding the All-Russian Olympiad for schoolchildren, a new version of which was developed by the Ministry of Education of Russia and presented for discussion.
The Role of Online Services in the Implementation of the Educational Network Project on Biology «Gallery of Hormones»
Authors: Gerasimova E. , Zenkina S.
Published: October 2020

The article shows the experience of using online services in the organization of a training network project in biology on a specific example. Online services act as an accessible tool for creating e-learning materials, which are embedded in an interactive project guide for the purpose of organizing project research activities of students.
Lifestyle and Educational Environment of Modern Confessional Educational Organizations
Authors: Horin Dmitrii
Published: October 2020

The article deals with the phenomena of lifestyle and educational environment of confessional educational organizations. The methodological basis of the research is based on general scientific methodological approaches (system, comparative, historical, ontological) and special scientific methodological approaches: a system-activity approach, which assumes a motivated solution of problems in the educational process determined by problem situations; a cultural approach that allows us to correlate general, individual and special cultural phenomena, in particular religion and education; an anthropological approach that allowed the interpretation of knowledge from various spheres of life from the point of view of pedagogy. The article contains definitions of the following concepts: «Lifestyle of a confessional educational organization» and «Educational environment of a confessional educational organization». The role of religious worship in the development and functioning of the confessional educational environment is noted. The main factors of the external environment that have a determining influence on the confessional educational environment are highlighted. The author emphasizes the open nature of the modern confessional educational process, which unfolds in the context of a dialogue between all its parties: the religious denomination, the state and the individual.
Impact of Platform Owner’s Entry on Third-Party Stores
Authors: He Shu , Peng Jing , Li Jianbin , Xu Liping
Published: October 2020

One important decision faced by the owners of online marketplaces is whether they should enter the market and sell products directly to customers. In this study, we provide data-driven insights to managers by empirically investigating the impact of a platform owner’s entry on the demand of third-party stores and their potential reactions using transaction level data from a large e-commerce platform. Contrary to previous studies in mobile app platforms, our study shows that the demand of competing third-party stores decreases with the entry of the platform, especially for large third-party stores. We further show that the demand reduction is significant only in the offline channel and the reduction results from third-party stores’ defensive strategy to divert their offline customers away from the platform (i.e., disintermediation). Our findings indicate that platforms should carefully evaluate the nature of their markets before entering the market to compete with complementors, because they may lead third-party sellers to disintermediate from the platform. On the other hand, from the perspective of third-party sellers, disintermediation might be an overreaction to the entry of the platform, because their online demand is not significantly affected by platform entry based on our analyses.
Demand Modeling in the Presence of Unobserved Lost Sales
Authors: Subramanian Shivaram , Harsha Pavithra
Published: October 2020

We present an integrated optimization approach to parameter estimation for discrete choice demand models where data for one or more choice alternatives are censored. We employ a mixed-integer program (MIP) to jointly determine the prediction parameters associated with the customer arrival rate and their substitutive choices. This integrated approach enables us to recover proven, (near-) optimal parameter values with respect to the chosen loss-minimization (LM) objective function, thereby overcoming a limitation of prior multistart heuristic approaches that terminate without providing precise information on the solution quality. The imputations are done endogenously in the MIP by estimating optimal values for the probabilities of the unobserved choices being selected. Under mild assumptions, we prove that the approach is asymptotically consistent. For large LM instances, we derive a nonconvex-contvex alternating heuristic that can be used to obtain quick, near-optimal solutions. Partial information, user acceptance criteria, model selection, and regularization techniques can be incorporated to enhance practical efficacy. We test the LM model on simulated and real data and present results for a variety of demand-prediction scenarios: single-item, multi-item, time-varying arrival rate, large-scale instances, and a dual-layer estimation model extension that learns the unobserved market shares of competitors.

This paper was accepted by Yinyu Ye, optimization.
Educação popular e Extensão Universitária em Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional e Direito Humano à Alimentação Adequada e Saudável: um caminho metodológico possível
Authors: Oliveira Blackman Machado Beatriz , Rizzolo de Oliveira Anelise
Published: October 2020

Introdução: A temática da segurança alimentar e nutricional e do direito humano à alimentação adequada e saudável tornou-se uma questão política no Brasil, no período de 2003 a 2016. No entanto, a tarefa de manutenção de direitos sociais não estava concluída e hoje encontra-se politicamente ameaçada, demandando a conscientização e mobilização de segmentos da sociedade civil para a compreensão crítica da realidade e a retomada da construção de caminhos possíveis para a exigibilidade do direito e garantia da segurança alimentar e nutricional. Objetivo: Este trabalho buscou relatar a experiência e evidenciar as expressões pedagógicas dos princípios da educação popular ao longo do processo de ensino-aprendizagem da edição de 2018 do curso, realizado no município de Colinas do Sul, Goiás. Métodos: Na Universidade de Brasília, em 2018, instituiu-se um Programa de Extensão e Ação Continuada, o MultiplicaSAN. Dentre suas atividades, estava a realização de um curso de formação e promoção da cultura de direitos visando à formação da sociedade civil nas temáticas de segurança alimentar e nutricional e direito humano à alimentação adequada e saudável, utilizando como referência a pedagogia freireana e os princípios da Política de Educação Popular. Resultados: A experiência do projeto de extensão proporcionou aprofundamento sobre a educação popular, mostrando a riqueza da construção do conhecimento junto com uma comunidade de trabalhadoras. Conclusão: Revelou, ainda, o potencial transformador de um processo educativo pautado nos princípios da educação popular: amorosidade, dialogicidade, conscientização, construção do conhecimento, a partir da realidade concreta, transformação do mundo e sistematização do conhecimento na formação de educadoras e educandas.
Condições clínicas, nutricionais e sociais de crianças com doença falciforme acompanhadas em um centro de referência: estudo descritivo
Authors: Santos Isabel Nascimento , Damião Jorginete De Jesus , Freitas Ana Cecília Travassos , Voll Vanessa Monteiro , Cople Rodrigues Cláudia Dos Santos , De Aguiar Odaleia Barbosa
Published: October 2020

Objetivo: Descrever as características clínicas, sociais e nutricionais de crianças com doença falciforme de 5-9 anos. Método: Trata-se de estudo seccional em amostra aleatória de 190 crianças avaliada entre 2015 e 2016, cadastradas em um hospital de referência em hematologia do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Resultados: A maioria das crianças estudadas possuía o genótipo Hb SS (65,3%), teve seu diagnóstico na triagem neonatal (91%) e iniciou o acompanhamento médico antes dos seis meses de idade (91,5%). Excesso de peso e baixa estatura foram encontrados em 14,2% e 6,2% das crianças, respectivamente. Em relação às condições sociais da família, a maioria dos pais possuíam companheiros (60,5%), viviam com até meio salário mínimo (55,8%) e as mulheres deixaram seus empregos para acompanhar o tratamento da criança (52,4%). Conclusão: As crianças com doença falciforme foram diagnosticadas precocemente, aproximadamente um sexto delas estavam em excesso de peso e 20% declararam renda de até um quarto de salário mínimo. O fortalecimento da rede de atenção no SUS às pessoas com DF é uma importante medida para mitigar os problemas identificados neste estudo.
¿El trabajo es salud?
Authors: Vega Ruíz María-Luz
Published: October 2020

Trabajo y salud aparecen prima facie como conceptos diferentes, aunque se trata de “hechos” intrínsecamente interrelacionados, por cuanto hoy es impensable que el trabajo pueda hacerse en condiciones adecuadas en un estado de ausencia de salud. De hecho, para la OMS  la salud “es un estado de completo bienestar físico, mental y social, y no solamente la ausencia de afecciones o enfermedades”. Esta definición confirma, la clara interrelación entre dos hechos en principio diferentes, pero en la práctica interdependientes: la salud es imprescindible para trabajar y las condiciones en las que se realiza el trabajo pueden perjudicar la salud…
Intervenciones para mejorar el grado de cumplimiento de la higiene de manos en los servicios de urgencias
Authors: Chico Sánchez Pablo , Seguí Crespo María del Mar
Published: October 2020

Este trabajo es un comentario del artículo: Seo HJ, Sohng KY, Chang SO, Chaung SK, Wone JS, Choi MJ. Interventions to improve hand hygiene compliance in emergency departments: a systematic review. Journal of Hospital Infection. 2019;102(4):394-406. doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2019.03.013
Prevención y gestión del dolor musculoesquelético en el personal de enfermería
Authors: Soler-Font Mercè , García González Guillermo
Published: October 2020

Entrevista a Mercè Soler-Font.
Impact of yoga and group exercise on quality of life for people living with heart failure
Authors: Bingley Francesca
Published: October 2020

Background/Aims

There is a direct correlation between depression and anxiety, quality of life, and heart failure, therefore methods of empowering people with their rehabilitation are needed in the community for long-term health. This study aimed to discover the effects of yoga on quality of life for people with heart failure when used in conjunction with rehabilitation group exercise in the community.

Methods

Four databases were reviewed using key search terms to discover 67 potential articles. Once the inclusion/exclusion criteria were met, four appropriate articles were reviewed.

Results

Two systematic reviews, one randomised controlled study and one nonrandomised controlled study suggested that practicing yoga led to improvements in exercise capacity, depression, anxiety and fatigue, blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability, B-type natriuretic peptide, tei Index, autonomic nervous system function, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Quality of life was slightly improved.

Conclusions

There is promising evidence to support the use of yoga for physiological functions, and slight improvements to quality of life. Further research is needed to understand the best application of and effectiveness of yoga practices.
30 years on warfarin: a patient's perspective
Authors: Smith Lowri
Published: October 2020

In this month's patient story, Lowri Smith shares her experience of 30 years on warfarin, including reflections on self-testing and the importance of self-advocating as a patient with a long-term heart condition.
The impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular nursing
Authors: Damianopoulos Adam
Published: October 2020

An interactive webinar hosted by the BANCC has provided cardiovascular nurses with a platform to share experiences and nurse-led innovations made during the COVID-19 pandemic. BANCC treasurer Adam Damianopoulos reflects on these innovations and the future of cardiovascular services.