bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A real-time system for selectively sensing and pacing the His-bundle during sinus rhythm and ventricular fibrillation
Authors: Shah Ankur R. , Khan Muhammad S. , Hirahara Annie M. , Lange Matthias , Ranjan Ravi , Dosdall Derek J.
Published: April 2020

Background

The His–Purkinje (HP) system provides a pathway for the time-synchronous contraction of the heart. His bundle (HB) of the HP system is gaining relevance as a pacing site for treating non-reversible bradyarrhythmia despite limited availability of tools to identify the HB. In this paper, we describe a real-time stimulation and recording system (rt-SRS) to investigate using multi-electrode techniques to identify and selectively pace the HB. The rt-SRS can not only be used in sinus rhythm, but also during ventricular fibrillation (VF). The rt-SRS will also help investigate the so far unknown causal effects of selectively pacing the HB during VF.

Methods

The rt-SRS consists of preamplifiers, data acquisition cards interfaced with a real-time controller, a current source, and current routing switches on a remote computer, which may be interrupted to stimulate using a host machine. The remote computer hosts a series of algorithms designed to aid in identifying electrodes directly over the HB, to accurately detect activation rates without over-picking, and to deliver stimulation pulses. The performance of the rt-SRS was demonstrated in seven isolated, perfused rabbit hearts.

Results

The rt-SRS can visualize up to 96 channels of raw data, and spatial derivative data at 6.25-kHz sampling rate with an input-referred noise of 100 µV. The rt-SRS can send up to ± 150 V of stimuli pulses to any of the 96 channels. In the rabbit experiments, HB activations were detected in 18 ± 6.8% of the 64 electrodes used during VF.

Conclusions

The rt-SRS is capable of measuring and responding to cardiac electrophysiological phenomena in real-time with precisely timed and placed electrical stimuli. This rt-SRS was shown to be an effective research tool by successfully detecting and quantifying HB activations and delivering stimulation pulses to selected electrodes in real-time.
Switch from intravenous or intramuscular to subcutaneous hepatitis B immunoglobulin: effect on quality of life after liver transplantation
Authors: Volpes Riccardo , Burra Patrizia , Germani Giacomo , Manini Matteo Angelo , Caccamo Lucio , Strignano Paolo , Rizza Giorgia , Tamè Mariarosa , Pinna Antonio Daniele , Calise Fulvio , Migliaccio Carla , Carrai Paola , De Simone Paolo , Valentini Maria Filippa , Lupo Luigi Giovanni , Cordone Gabriella , Picciotto Francesco Paolo , Nicolucci Antonio
Published: April 2020

Background

Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) therapy is available in intravenous (IV) or intra-muscular (IM) formulations. Recently, a subcutaneous (SC) formulation was introduced. This study evaluated changes in quality of life when liver transplant (LT) recipients were switched from IV or IM HBIG to the SC formulation.

Methods

This multicentre, observational study involved adults who had undergone LT at least 1 year prior to study entry. Quality of life was evaluated using the ITaLi-Q questionnaire, assessing the impact of HBIG therapy on daily activities and patient satisfaction, and the SF-36 Health Survey. Patients completed the questionnaires prior to switching from IV or IM HBIG to SC HBIG and 6 months later.

Results

Eighty-six patients were enrolled; before the switch, 68.6% were receiving IM HBIG and 31.4% IV HBIG. After 6 months, significant improvements in 7 of the 8 ITaLi-Q domains were found, particularly side effects, need for support to adhere to the therapy and satisfaction with the HBIG therapy. Significant improvements in several SF-36 domains were documented, including physical functioning, physical and emotional role limitations, pain, social functioning, physical and mental summary scores.

Conclusions

The SC route of administration reduces side effects and their interference with daily life, ameliorates negative feelings, and increases patient autonomy.
The estimated incidence of lactational breast abscess and description of its management by percutaneous aspiration at the Douala General Hospital, Cameroon
Authors: Egbe Thomas Obinchemti , Njamen Theophile Nana , Essome Henri , Tendongfor Nicholas
Published: April 2020

Background

Lactational breast abscesses are uncommon in the puerperium but when they do develop, delays in specialist referral may occur especially in resource low settings. There is a dearth of studies regarding lactational breast abscesses in Cameroon. We aimed to estimate the incidence of lactational breast abscess and describe its management by percutaneous aspiration at the Douala General Hospital, Cameroon.

Methods

We conducted an observational prospective study of 25 breastfeeding women at the Douala General Hospital from January 1, 2015, to October 31, 2015. Participants were consenting breastfeeding women who completed a baseline questionnaire after diagnosis of lactational breast abscesses and underwent percutaneous needle aspiration under local anaesthesia. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics.

Results

The estimated incidence of lactational breast abscesses was 0.74% (28/3792). The age range of babies at the onset of breast abscess was 4 to 35 weeks; mean 28.3 ± 10.85 weeks. Forty-four per cent of participants underwent three lactational abscess aspirations and in 24 to 28% of them, it took 8 to 9 days for the abscess to resolve. In 72% of participants, treatment was with needle aspiration plus flucloxacillin. Seventy-six per cent of participants continued breastfeeding after abscess treatment.

Conclusion

The estimated incidence of lactational breast abscess at the Douala General Hospital is 0.74%. Percutaneous needle aspiration under local anaesthesia is an effective treatment for superficial lactational breast abscesses in most cases with or without ultrasound guidance and should be recommended worldwide as first line treatment. Further research is needed to understand the outcome of local infiltration of antibiotics on the abscess cavity.
Sweet cherry fruit cracking: follow-up testing methods and cultivar-metabolic screening
Authors: Michailidis Michail , Karagiannis Evangelos , Tanou Georgia , Sarrou Eirini , Karamanoli Katerina , Lazaridou Athina , Martens Stefan , Molassiotis Athanassios
Published: April 2020

Background

Rain-induced fruit cracking is a major physiological problem in most sweet cherry cultivars. For an in vivo cracking assay, the ‘Christensen method’ (cracking evaluation following fruit immersion in water) is commonly used; however, this test does not adequately simulate environmental conditions. Herein, we have designed and evaluated a cracking protocol, named ‘Waterfall method’, in which fruits are continuously wetted under controlled conditions.

Results

The application of this method alone, or in combination with ‘Christensen method, was shown to be a reliable approach to characterize sweet cherry cracking behavior. Seventeen cherry cultivars were tested for their cracking behavior using both protocols, and primary as well as secondary metabolites identification was performed in skin tissue using a combined GC–MS and UPLC-MS/MS platform. Significant variations of some of the detected metabolites were discovered and important cracking index–metabolite correlations were identified.

Conclusions

We have established an alternative/complementary method of cherry cracking characterization alongside to Christiansen assay.
Prenatal diagnosis of a maternal 7.22-Mb deletion at chromosome 4q32.2q32.3 by SNP array
Authors: Zhang Pingping , Sun Yanmei , Huo Ping , Tian Haishen , Gao Jian , Li Yali
Published: April 2020

Background

Although Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) is a powerful diagnostic technology for detecting chromosomal copy number variants (CNVs), it detects numerous variants of unknown significance (VUSs), which poses a great challenge for genetic counselling. Terminal deletion of the long arm of chromosome 4 is a rare genetic aberration. Few cases of interstitial deletion sharing the common deleted segment have been reported.

Case presentation

A male foetus with a 7.22-Mb deletion at chromosome 4q32.2q32.3 was found in the proband. The paternal genotype was normal. His asymptomatic mother with a normal phenotype and intelligence was found to carry the same deletion at the long arm of chromosome 4. The clinical significance of arr[GRCh37] 4q32.2q32.3(162858958_170081268)×1 remains uncertain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report on a VUS of 4q32 deletion and the second report of a heterochromatic CNV involving part of the long arm of chromosome 4 in a phenotypically normal mother and child. The identification of this case contributes to additional understanding of deletion at 4q32.2q32.3. This report may provide a reference for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling in patients who have genotypes of similar cytogenetic abnormalities.

Conclusions

The novel 7.22-Mb deletion at chromosome 4q32.2q32.3 (162858958-170081268) is a VUS. The foetus inherited this VUS from a phenotypically normal mother.
CRISPR/CAS9-mediated knockout of Abi1 inhibits p185Bcr-Abl-induced leukemogenesis and signal transduction to ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways
Authors: Faulkner James , Jiang Peixin , Farris Delaney , Walker Ryan , Dai Zonghan
Published: April 2020

Background

Abl interactor 1 (Abi1) is a downstream target of Abl tyrosine kinases and a component of the WAVE regulatory complex (WRC) that plays an important role in regulating actin cytoskeleton remodeling and membrane receptor signaling. While studies using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) have suggested that Abi1 plays a critical role in Bcr-Abl-induced leukemogenesis, the mechanism involved is not clear.

Methods

In this study, we knocked out Abi1 expression in p185Bcr-Abl-transformed hematopoietic cells using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology. The effects of Abi1 deficiency on actin cytoskeleton remodeling, the Bcr-Abl signaling, IL-3 independent growth, and SDF-induced chemotaxis in these cells were examined by various in vitro assays. The leukemogenic activity of these cells was evaluated by a syngeneic mouse transplantation model.

Results

We show here that Abi1 deficiency reduced the IL3-independent growth and SDF-1α-mediated chemotaxis in p185Bcr-Abl-transformed hematopoietic cells and inhibited Bcr-Abl-induced abnormal actin remodeling. Depletion of Abi1 also impaired the Bcr-Abl signaling to the ERK and PI3 kinase/Akt pathways. Remarkably, the p185Bcr-Abl-transformed cells with Abi1 deficiency lost their ability to develop leukemia in syngeneic mice. Even though these cells developed drug tolerance in vitro after prolonged selection with imatinib as their parental cells, the imatinib-tolerant cells remain incapable of leukemogenesis in vivo.

Conclusions

Together, this study highlights an essential role of Abi1 in Bcr-Abl-induced leukemogenesis and provides a model system for dissecting the Abi1 signaling in Bcr-Abl-positive leukemia.
m6A-binding proteins: the emerging crucial performers in epigenetics
Authors: Zhao Yanchun , Shi Yuanfei , Shen Huafei , Xie Wanzhuo
Published: April 2020

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a well-known post-transcriptional modification that is the most common type of methylation in eukaryotic mRNAs. The regulation of m6A is dynamic and reversible, which is erected by m6A methyltransferases (“writers”) and removed by m6A demethylases (“erasers”). Notably, the effects on targeted mRNAs resulted by m6A predominantly depend on the functions of different m6A-binding proteins (“readers”) including YT521-B homology (YTH) domain family, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (HNRNPs), and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BPs). Indeed, m6A readers not only participate in multiple procedures of RNA metabolism, but also are involved in a variety of biological processes. In this review, we summarized the specific functions and underlying mechanisms of m6A-binding proteins in tumorigenesis, hematopoiesis, virus replication, immune response, and adipogenesis.
Green coffee extract modifies body weight, serum lipids and TNF-α in high-fat diet-induced obese rats
Authors: Ilmiawati Cimi , Fitri Fajar , Rofinda Zelly Dia , Reza Mohamad
Published: April 2020

Objective

Currently, there are many efforts to find functional nutrients for obesity management, and the green coffee extract is a potential candidate. This study aimed to examine the effect of low dose administration of  green coffee extract on body weight, serum lipids, and TNF-α level in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

Results

Administration of green coffee extract to high-fat diet-induced obese male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) reduced body weight, total serum cholesterol, and triglyceride at the dose of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg BW/day; lowered serum LDL-cholesterol at the treatment dose of 20 mg/kg BW/day (p < 0.05). The effective dose to decrease serum TNF-α level was 40 mg/kg BW/day, while the effective dose to improve the lipid profile was 10 mg/kg BW/day. These results support the potential use of green coffee extract as a functional nutrient in the management of obesity.
The cholesterol 24-hydroxylase activates autophagy and decreases mutant huntingtin build-up in a neuroblastoma culture model of Huntington’s disease
Authors: Nóbrega Clévio , Conceição André , Costa Rafael G. , Koppenol Rebekah , Sequeira Raquel L. , Nunes Ricardo , Carmo-Silva Sara , Marcelo Adriana , Matos Carlos A. , Betuing Sandrine , Caboche Jocelyne , Cartier Nathalie , Alves Sandro
Published: April 2020

Objective

Compromised brain cholesterol turnover and altered regulation of brain cholesterol metabolism have been allied with some neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington’s disease (HD). Following our previous studies in HD, in this study we aim to investigate in vitro in a neuroblastoma cellular model of HD, the effect of CYP46A1 overexpression, an essential enzyme in cholesterol metabolism, on huntingtin aggregation and levels.

Results

We found that CYP46A1 reduces the quantity and size of mutant huntingtin aggregates in cells, as well as the levels of mutant huntingtin protein. Additionally, our results suggest that the observed beneficial effects of CYP46A1 in HD cells are linked to the activation of autophagy. Taken together, our results further demonstrate that CYP46A1 is a pertinent target to counteract HD progression.
Phenotype instability of hepatocyte-like cells produced by direct reprogramming of mesenchymal stromal cells
Authors: Orge Iasmim Diniz , Gadd Victoria L. , Barouh Judah Leão , Rossi Erik Aranha , Carvalho Rejane Hughes , Smith Ian , Allahdadi Kyan James , Paredes Bruno Diaz , Silva Daniela Nascimento , Damasceno Patrícia Kauanna F. , Sampaio Gabriela Louise , Forbes Stuart J. , Soares Milena Botelho Pereira , Souza Bruno Solano de Freitas
Published: April 2020

Background

Hepatocyte-like cells (iHEPs) generated by transcription factor-mediated direct reprogramming of somatic cells have been studied as potential cell sources for the development of novel therapies targeting liver diseases. The mechanisms involved in direct reprogramming, stability after long-term in vitro expansion, and safety profile of reprogrammed cells in different experimental models, however, still require further investigation.

Methods

iHEPs were generated by forced expression of Foxa2/Hnf4a in mouse mesenchymal stromal cells and characterized their phenotype stability by in vitro and in vivo analyses.

Results

The iHEPs expressed mixed hepatocyte and liver progenitor cell markers, were highly proliferative, and presented metabolic activities in functional assays. A progressive loss of hepatic phenotype, however, was observed after several passages, leading to an increase in alpha-SMA+ fibroblast-like cells, which could be distinguished and sorted from iHEPs by differential mitochondrial content. The resulting purified iHEPs proliferated, maintained liver progenitor cell markers, and, upon stimulation with lineage maturation media, increased expression of either biliary or hepatocyte markers. In vivo functionality was assessed in independent pre-clinical mouse models. Minimal engraftment was observed following transplantation in mice with acute acetaminophen-induced liver injury. In contrast, upon transplantation in a transgenic mouse model presenting host hepatocyte senescence, widespread engraftment and uncontrolled proliferation of iHEPs was observed, forming islands of epithelial-like cells, adipocyte-like cells, or cells presenting both morphologies.

Conclusion

The results have significant implications for cell reprogramming, suggesting that iHEPs generated by Foxa2/Hnf4a expression have an unstable phenotype and depend on transgene expression for maintenance of hepatocyte-like characteristics, showing a tendency to return to the mesenchymal phenotype of origin and a compromised safety profile.
A comprehensive analysis of antigen-specific autoimmune liver disease related autoantibodies in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Tsouris Zisis , Liaskos Christos , Dardiotis Efthymios , Scheper Thomas , Tsimourtou Vana , Meyer Wolfgang , Hadjigeorgiou George , Bogdanos Dimitrios P.
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Abnormal liver function tests are frequently seen in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their origin at times is attributed to the possible co-occurrence or the de novo induction of autoimmune liver diseases (AILD), namely autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), but comprehensive analysis of AILD-related autoantibody has not been carried out.

Aim

To assess the presence of AILD-related autoantibodies in a well-defined cohort of MS patients, and to assess their clinical significance.

Materials and methods

133 MS (93 female) patients (102 RRMS, 27 SPMS, and 5 PPMS), mean age 42.7 ± 11.9 SD years, mean duration of disease 11.2 ± 7.2 years were studied. 150 age and sex-matched healthy individuals were tested as normal controls (NCs).Autoantibody testing was performed by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) using triple tissue and HEp-2, a multiparametric line immunoassay detecting anti-LKM1(anti-CYP2D6), anti-LC1(anti-FTCD), soluble liver antigen/liver-pancreas(anti-SLA/LP), AMA-M2, and AMA-MIT3 (BPO), PBC-specific ANA (anti-gp210, anti-sp100 and anti-PML), and ELISA for anti-F-actin SMA and anti-dsDNA antibodies.

Results

Reactivity to at least one autoantibody was more frequent in MS patients compared to NCs (30/133, 22.6% vs 12/150, 8%) NCs (p = 0.00058). SMAs by IIF were more frequent in MS patients (18/133, 13.53%) compared to NCs (6/150, 4%, p = 0.002%). The AIH-1 related anti-F-actin SMA by ELISA were present in 21 (15.8%), at relatively low titres (all but three of the SMA-VG pattern by IF); anti-dsDNA in 3 (2.3%), and anti-SLA/LP in none; AIH-2 anti-LKM1 autoantibodies in 1 (0.8%, negative by IF), and anti-LC1 in none; PBC-specific AMA-M2 in 2 (1.5%, both negative for AMA-MIT3 and AMA by IF) and PBC-specific ANA anti-PML in 6 (4.5%), anti-sp100 in 1 (0.8%) and anti-gp210 in 1 (0.8%). Amongst the 30 MS patients with at least one autoantibody positivity, only 4 (3%) had overt AILD (2 AIH-1 and 2 PBC). Autoantibody positivity did not differ between naïve MS patients and patients under treatment.

Conclusions

Despite the relatively frequent presence of liver autoantibodies, tested either by IF or molecular assays, overt AILD is rather infrequent discouraging autoantibody screening strategies of MS patients in the absence of clinical suspicion.
GEN: highly efficient SMILES explorer using autodidactic generative examination networks
Authors: van Deursen Ruud , Ertl Peter , Tetko Igor V. , Godin Guillaume
Published: April 2020

Recurrent neural networks have been widely used to generate millions of de novo molecules in defined chemical spaces. Reported deep generative models are exclusively based on LSTM and/or GRU units and frequently trained using canonical SMILES. In this study, we introduce Generative Examination Networks (GEN) as a new approach to train deep generative networks for SMILES generation. In our GENs, we have used an architecture based on multiple concatenated bidirectional RNN units to enhance the validity of generated SMILES. GENs autonomously learn the target space in a few epochs and are stopped early using an independent online examination mechanism, measuring the quality of the generated set. Herein we have used online statistical quality control (SQC) on the percentage of valid molecular SMILES as examination measure to select the earliest available stable model weights. Very high levels of valid SMILES (95–98%) can be generated using multiple parallel encoding layers in combination with SMILES augmentation using unrestricted SMILES randomization. Our trained models combine an excellent novelty rate (85–90%) while generating SMILES with strong conservation of the property space (95–99%). In GENs, both the generative network and the examination mechanism are open to other architectures and quality criteria.
SIME: synthetic insight-based macrolide enumerator to generate the V1B library of 1 billion macrolides
Authors: Zin Phyo Phyo Kyaw , Williams Gavin , Fourches Denis
Published: April 2020

We report on a new cheminformatics enumeration technology—SIME, synthetic insight-based macrolide enumerator—a new and improved software technology. SIME can enumerate fully assembled macrolides with synthetic feasibility by utilizing the constitutional and structural knowledge extracted from biosynthetic aspects of macrolides. Taken into account by the software are key information such as positions in macrolide structures at which chemical components can be inserted, and the types of structural motifs and sugars of interest that can be synthesized and incorporated at those positions. Additionally, we report on the chemical distribution analysis of the newly SIME-generated V1B (virtual 1 billion) library of macrolides. Those compounds were built based on the core of the Erythromycin structure, 13 structural motifs and a library of sugars derived from eighteen bioactive macrolides. This new enumeration technology can be coupled with cheminformatics approaches such as QSAR modeling and molecular docking to aid in drug discovery for rational designing of next generation macrolide therapeutics with desirable pharmacokinetic properties.
Directed evolution of a transcription factor PbrR to improve lead selectivity and reduce zinc interference through dual selection
Authors: Jia Xiaoqiang , Ma Yubing , Bu Rongrong , Zhao Tingting , Wu Kang
Published: April 2020

Directed evolution has been proven as a powerful tool for developing proteins and strains with novel or enhanced features. In this study, a dual selection system was designed to tune the binding specificity of a transcription factor to a particular ligand with the ampicillin resistance gene amp (ON selection) as the positive selection marker and the levansucrase gene sacB (OFF selection) as the negative selection marker. It was applied to the lead responsive transcription factor PbrR in a whole-cell lead biosensor previously constructed in our lab (Jia et al. in Fems Microbiol Lett 365:fny157, 2018). After multiple rounds of ON–OFF selection, two mutants with higher specificity for lead were selected. Structural analysis revealed that the mutation C134 located on the metal-binding loop at the C-terminal of PbrR is likely associated with the enhanced binding to both lead and cadmium. The double mutations D64A and L68S close to the metal-binding residue C79 may lead to the reduced binding specificity toward zinc ions. This dual selection system can be applied to engineer the specificity of other transcription factors and provide fine-tuned tools to synthetic biology.
Sustained effects of a multimodal campaign aiming at hand hygiene improvement on compliance and healthcare-associated infections in a large gynaecology/obstetrics tertiary-care centre in Vietnam
Authors: Phan Hang Thi , Zingg Walter , Tran Hang Thi Thuy , Dinh Anh Pham Phuong , Pittet Didier
Published: April 2020

Background

Hung Vuong Hospital (HVH) is a 900-bed maternity hospital in Ho-Chi-Minh-City, Vietnam. Due to low compliance, a quasi-experimental, observational study was conducted with the aim to improve hand hygiene.

Methods

A multimodal promotion strategy was established in 2010 and further developed towards ongoing, repetitive and inventive campaigns including patient participation. Hand hygiene compliance was monitored by direct observation and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) by applying standard definitions.

Results

Between 2010 and 2018, a total of 43,711 hand hygiene opportunities were observed. Compliance improved from 21.5% (95%CI: 20.2–22.8%) in 2010 to 75.1% (73.9–76.2%) in 2018 (incidence rate ratio, IRR , 1.10; 95%CI, 1.10–1.11). This was achieved through increasing recourse to alcohol-based hand rubbing. A total of 554,720 women were admitted to HVH during the study period for 353,919 deliveries (198,679 vaginal; 155,240 by C-section) and 257,127 surgical procedures. The HAI-incidence decreased significantly from 1.10 episodes per 1000 patient-days in 2010 to 0.45 per 1000 patient-days in 2018 (IRR 0.85; 95%CI, 0.79–0.90). Significant improvement was observed also for surgical site infections after gynaecological surgery (IRR 0.95; 95%CI, 0.92–0.99) and endometritis after abortion (IRR 0.80; 95%CI, 0.68–0.93).

Conclusions

A multimodal strategy aiming at behaviour change significantly improved and sustained hand hygiene, which contributed to the reduction of healthcare-associated infections.
Determinants of credit constraints and its impact on the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies among rice farmers in South-West Nigeria
Authors: Ojo T. O. , Baiyegunhi L. J. S.
Published: April 2020

Interventions on climate change adaptation strategies, involve capital outlays, mostly constrained in supply in developing nations. This study analysed the impact of credit constraints on climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder rice farmers in South-West Nigeria. The nexus between systems of credit constraints and choice of climate change adaptation strategies was estimated using Generalized Method of Moments with Instrumental Variable (IV-GMM) and the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the multidimensionality of the adaptation strategies and the loading with the highest eigenvalue was chosen and renamed as an improved technology. The results of the study show that risk credit-constrained smallholder rice farmers are less likely to adopt climate change adaptation strategies. The quantitative analysis from this study also points to the fact that age of the household, source of credit, and distance to the source of credit, interest rate, access to extension and climate information were the determinants of credit constraint amongst the smallholder rice farmers in South-West Nigeria. Considering the nexus between climatic factors and credit constraints as noted in this study, increasing awareness about how the credit market works and information on the provision of climate change can help farmers to better adapt to climate change. Therefore, it is recommended that the government frame an agriculture credit policy addressing the issues of smallholder farmers, particularly in areas that are vulnerable to climate change. The income from non-farm activities can be reinvested into farm operations to improve farmers’ adaptive capacity and subsequently increase productivity. It could also be recommended that policies enhancing and strengthening institutional support may also be valuable in augmenting the adaptation strategies of smallholder farmers. A necessary addition should be developed to the assistance already being provided under Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) in the form of loan guarantees and other risk-sharing incentives, such as a regulatory environment that supports the modern contractual obligations that are characteristic of well-functioning agricultural financing.
Serial change of neutrophil extracellular traps in tracheal aspirate of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: report of three cases
Authors: Ojima Masahiro , Yamamoto Norihisa , Hirose Tomoya , Hamaguchi Shigeto , Tasaki Osamu , Kojima Takashi , Tomono Kazunori , Ogura Hiroshi , Shimazu Takeshi
Published: April 2020

Background

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are fibrous structures released from activated neutrophils. NET formation has been reported to be associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, there are no reports dealing with serial changes of NET formation in tracheal aspirate of ARDS patients.

Case presentation

We report three cases of ARDS. Case 1 is a 69-year-old man with necrotizing fasciitis of the buttocks, case 2 is a 49-year-old woman with extensive burns (80% of total body surface), and case 3 is a 73-year-old woman with severe bacterial pneumonia. We found abundant expression of citrullinated histone H3 (Cit-H3) and the formation of NETs at the onset of ARDS in all cases. The amounts of Cit-H3 and NETs decreased with the amelioration of respiratory failure in cases 1 and 2. In case 2, the amounts of Cit-H3 and NETs increased with aggravation of infection and respiratory status. In case 3, the abundant expression of Cit-H3 and NETs persisted; the patient did not recover from ARDS and eventually died. Cit-H3 and NETs were found in tracheal aspirates even if the patients had no direct injury to the lung as in cases 1 and 2.

Conclusions

In these three cases, the formation of NETs was observed in tracheal aspirate of patients with ARDS by either direct or indirect insults to the lung. The amount of NET formation changed dynamically over the clinical course of each patient.
Validation of a cost-effective alternative for a radiochromatography method to be used in a developing country
Authors: Ekoume F. P. , Boersma H. H. , Dong à Zok F. , Rubow S. M.
Published: April 2020

Introduction

The radiochemical purity (RCP) of technetium-99m labelled radiopharmaceuticals (RP) is important to ensure optimal scintigraphic image quality. In low-income settings, it may not be possible to use compendial analytical methods or expensive equipment for radiochemical purity analysis. All radiochemical analysis methods should however be validated against compendial or otherwise proven methods. To ensure the efficacy of RP prepared at Yaoundé General Hospital (YGH) Cameroon, this study cross-validated a cost-effective routine chromatographic method using a simple survey meter technique. A GMP-compliant method used at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), the Netherlands was used as the comparator.

Methods

Sestamibi, HMDP and DMSA kits currently used at YGH were reconstituted at UMCG with about 2000 MBq of freshly eluted sodium pertechnetate as described by the manufacturer, and spiked with eluate of the same generator to obtain a range of impurity concentrations. Samples of technetium-99m RP were spotted on 1 × 10 cm iTLC-SG strips and developed in appropriate mobile phases. Each strip was first scanned on the chromatogram-scanner used at the UMCG (standard method), and immediately thereafter the strip was cut in two pieces and radioactivity from each portion was counted with a small survey meter from YGH. The percentage RCP for each TLC strip was calculated using both counting methods. Internationally recommended validation parameters and acceptance criteria were used. Student’s paired t-test or ANOVA were used with ‘no significant difference’ designated at a 95% confidence-interval (P ≥ 0.05). Linearity of the survey meter was determined for Tc-99m. Readings obtained with the survey meter were also plotted against the scanner results.

Results and discussion

The proposed method proved to be accurate (CV of mean RCP < 2), precise (RSD < 2%), linear (slope close to 1, r2 ≥ 0.99) within the RCP range of approximately 80% to 100%, and robust (P > 0.05). LOD and LOQ were determined for the survey meter. Specificity depends on chemical separation. As we were validating the suitability of a method to quantify radioactivity, specificity was not included in the validation parameters.

Conclusion

The proposed method compared well with the standard method and is suitable as a reliable low cost method for limited resource settings.
Adjuvant Capecitabine With Docetaxel and Cyclophosphamide Plus Epirubicin for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (CBCSG010): An Open-Label, Randomized, Multicenter, Phase III Trial
Authors: Li Junjie , Yu Keda , Pang Da , Wang Changqin , Jiang Jun , Yang Suisheng , Liu Yunjiang , Fu Peifen , Sheng Yuan , Zhang Guojun , Cao Yali , He Qi , Cui Shude , Wang Xijing , Ren Guosheng , Li Xinzheng , Yu Shiyou , Liu Pengxi , Qu Xiang , Tang Jinhai , Wang Ouchen , Fan Zhimin , Jiang Guoqin , Zhang Jin , Wang Jiandong , Zhang Hongwei , Wang Shui , Zhang Jianguo , Jin Feng , Rao Nanyan , Ma Binlin , He Pingqing , Xu Binghe , Zhuang Zhigang , Wang Jianfeng , Sun Qiang , Guo Xiaofeng , Mo Miao , Shao Zhimin ,   on behalf of the CBCSG010 Study Group
Published: April 2020

PURPOSE

Standard adjuvant chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) includes a taxane and an anthracycline. Concomitant capecitabine may be beneficial, but robust data to support this are lacking. The efficacy and safety of the addition of capecitabine into the TNBC adjuvant treatment regimen was evaluated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This randomized, open-label, phase III trial was conducted in China. Eligible female patients with early TNBC after definitive surgery were randomly assigned (1:1) to either capecitabine (3 cycles of capecitabine and docetaxel followed by 3 cycles of capecitabine, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide) or control treatment (3 cycles of docetaxel followed by 3 cycles of fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide). Randomization was centralized without stratification. The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

Between June 2012 and December 2013, 636 patients with TNBC were screened, and 585 were randomly assigned to treatment (control, 288; capecitabine, 297). Median follow-up was 67 months. The 5-year DFS rate was higher for capecitabine than for control treatment (86.3% v 80.4%; hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.99; P = .044). Five-year overall survival rates were numerically higher but not significantly improved (capecitabine, 93.3%; control, 90.7%). Overall, 39.1% of patients had capecitabine dose reductions, and 8.4% reported grade ≥ 3 hand-foot syndrome. The most common grade ≥ 3 hematologic toxicities were neutropenia (capecitabine, 136 [45.8%]; control, 118 [41.0%]) and febrile neutropenia (capecitabine, 50 [16.8%]; control, 46 [16.0%]). Safety data were similar to the known capecitabine safety profile and generally comparable between arms.

CONCLUSION

Capecitabine when added to 3 cycles of docetaxel followed by 3 cycles of a 3-drug anthracycline combination containing capecitabine instead of fluorouracil significantly improved DFS in TNBC without new safety concerns.
Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure, Risk, and Protection in Military and Outdoor Athletes
Authors: Wolf S. Tony , Kenney Lauren E. , Kenney W. Larry
Published: April 2020

Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun is associated with deleterious health effects including, but not limited to, increased risk of skin cancers. Military personnel and those who participate in outdoor exercise or sports represent two potential populations at elevated risk of negative health consequences of UVR exposure due to large amounts of time spent outdoors, often in harsh UVR environments. Despite exposure to high and/or frequent doses of UVR in recreational and tactical athletes, adequate sun-protection practices are often disregarded or not well understood by many within these at-risk populations, resulting in heightened risk of negative UVR effects. The focus of this review is to examine the available literature regarding UVR exposure, risk of adverse health effects of UVR exposure, and sun protection practices in outdoor exercisers, athletes, and military personnel.
Potentials of Digitalization in Sports Medicine: A Narrative Review
Authors: Rigamonti Lia , Albrecht Urs-Vito , Lutter Christoph , Tempel Mathias , Wolfarth Bernd , Back David Alexander
Published: April 2020

Digital transformation is becoming increasingly common in modern life and sports medicine, like many other medical disciplines, it is strongly influenced and impacted by this rapidly changing field. This review aims to give a brief overview of the potential that digital technologies can have for health care providers and patients in the clinical practice of sports medicine. We will focus on mobile applications, wearables, smart devices, intelligent machines, telemedicine, artificial intelligence, big data, system interoperability, virtual reality, augmented reality, exergaming, or social networks. While some technologies are already used in current medical practice, others still have undiscovered potential. Due to the diversity and ever changing nature of this field, we will briefly review multiple areas in an attempt to give readers some general exposure to the landscape instead of a thorough, deep review of one topic. Further research will be necessary to show how digitalization applications could best be used for patient treatments.
The Effects of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems on Athletes
Authors: Young Scott E. , Henderson Colin A. , Couperus Kyle S.
Published: April 2020

The rapid rise in popularity of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), or vaping, has not eluded the athletic population. Increasing use of youth sports participants, as well as collegiate and professionals, means sports medicine providers and coaches alike should be familiar with the effects of these devices. Current evidence demonstrates an impact on both the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. These effects appear less significant than smoking tobacco cigarettes, but the extent and longevity of the consequences of ENDS use is unclear. Mechanisms for recovery, such as sleep and injury healing, also are affected. Lastly, the emergence of life-threatening pulmonary disease associated with ENDS use may have devastating effects on an athlete. This article will highlight the recent literature on the impact of ENDS on athletes and athletic performance, as well as the potentially life-threatening consequences of use.
Name Similarity Encourages Generosity: A Field Experiment in Email Personalization
Authors: Munz Kurt P. , Jung Minah H. , Alter Adam L.
Published: April 2020

Email field experiment varying whether potential donor has matching surname to in-need teacher and quantifying effectiveness of less-exact matches.
Lower limb coordination during gait in people with moderate Parkinson's disease
Authors: Filippin Nadiesca T , Martins Karina C , Narimoto Lidiane R , Da Costa Paula HL , Mattioli Rosana
Published: April 2020

Background/Aims

Parkinson's disease interferes with the control of movement, which can cause changes in coordination. The aim of this study was to compare intralimb and interlimb coordination during gait in people with Parkinson's disease and in typically healthy people.

Methods

Participants were split into two groups. A total of 10 participants with Parkinson's disease were in the study group and 10 typically healthy participants were in the control group. All participants underwent a clinical evaluation, a gait kinematic evaluation for spatiotemporal variables and joint angle range of motion and an intralimb and interlimb coordination analysis.

Results

The duration of the stride, stance and swing phases of the gait cycle were longer in individuals with Parkinson's disease, who also displayed shorter stride length, slower speed and reduced cadence and joint range of motion than participants in the control group. Intralimb and interlimb coordination did not differ significantly between the groups.

Conclusions

Participants with Parkinson's disease presented with alterations in spatiotemporal variables and joint range of motion but were able to adapt to the limitations imposed by the disease and accomplish a functional gait without undermining their intralimb and interlimb coordination pattern.
Effect of augmented biofeedback for improvement of range of motion and upper extremity functionality in obstetric brachial plexus injury: a randomised control trial
Authors: Alsakhawi Reham Saeed , Atya Azza Mohamed
Published: April 2020

Background/Aims

The loss of mobility and functional activities of the upper limb are the main longstanding complications of obstetric brachial plexus injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the augmented biofeedback system in conjunction with traditional physical therapy on the range of motion and functional activities in children with obstetric brachial plexus injury.

Methods

A total of 45 children aged from 6 to 10 years with obstetric brachial plexus injury were assigned into two groups. The control group received a traditional physical therapy programme, and the study group received the same programme with augmented biofeedback for 6 weeks. The main outcome parameters were the upper limb active range of motion, Mallet scale and Active Movement scale.

Results

The children in the study group showed greater significant improvement in all measured parameters compared with those in the control group.

Conclusions

Adding augmented biofeedback to the physical therapy programme provided greater improvement in upper limb mobility and functional activities for children with obstetric brachial plexus injury children.
An imaging refractometer
Authors: Abd El-Maksoud Rania H. , Ayari Monia
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we present theoretical foundations of first-order design
of an imaging refractometer. This refractometer may be used to measure
the refractive index of liquids over a wide range. Refractive index
reconstruction techniques are presented, and analytical reconstruction
expressions are derived. The validity of the derived formulas is
tested and is in good agreement with Gaussian reduction results.
Design examples are provided and discussed. Limitations of the
proposed measuring techniques are discussed, and theoretical models as
well as numerical examples for the accuracy are presented.
Design considerations for advanced MWIR target acquisition systems
Authors: Holst Gerald C. , Driggers Ronald , Furxhi Orges
Published: April 2020

In this paper, mid-wave infrared (MWIR) sensor optimization is provided as a function of the parameter Fλ/d, where F is the f-number, λ is the effective wavelength, and d is the detector pitch. For diffraction limited systems, acquisition range is related to the instantaneous field of view (detector limited operation) when Fλ/d<1, and to the optical properties (optics limited operation) when Fλ/d>2.0. Range performance is a combination of detector and optics resolution limits when Fλ/d is in between. When the system is not strictly diffraction or sampling limited, the optimal Fλ/d depends on other system component characteristics and conditions. Optical system aberrations affect system resolution and decrease range performance. As background shot noise, dark current shot noise, and read noise increase, range decreases. In the infrared spectral region, atmospheric absorption leads to reemission of thermal energy. The detected reemission creates additional shot noise. Atmospheric attenuation greatly affects MWIR sensor range performance. Next-generation MWIR sensors will have smaller detectors, larger arrays, and better sensitivity to enable Fλ/d-based optimization. Previous studies (ΔT=4K for tracked vehicles) suggest that an initial design point is Fλ/d≈2.0. When detecting low contrast targets (ΔT∼0.1K), sensor gain is used to increase the signal for a desired displayed contrast. This gain increases displayed noise and reduces acquisition range. This is typically not an issue for long-wave infrared sensors due to the excess number of photons in the 8–12 µm band but poses a problem for MWIR sensors, which are photon starved. Under such scenarios, the optimum Fλ/d appears to be about 1.5 for MWIR sensors. The results here provide reasonable strategies for MWIR system optimization and a direction associated with future MWIR focal plane development.
Octave-wide phase-matched four-wave mixing in dispersion engineered crystalline microresonators: erratum
Authors: Fujii Shun , Tanaka Shuya , Fuchida Mika , Amano Hikaru , Hayama Yuka , Suzuki Ryo , Kakinuma Yasuhiro , Tanabe Takasumi
Published: April 2020

This erratum presents the corrections to the Letter published in
Opt. Lett.
44, 3146 (2019)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.44.003146.
Language and Law
Authors: Sorokin Vitaly
Published: April 2020

The article describes the forms of exteriorization of language in law. Language is not considered by the author just as a way of transmitting legal information, but as a guide to the meaning of law. The role of legal definitions in legal services is outlined. Language is correlated with the spirit of the law and the legal process.
PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY IN REGIONS OF THE RUSSIAN-ASIAN BORDERLAND (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE ALTAI REGION)
Authors: Omelchenko Daria A. , Maximova Svetlana G. , Noyanzina Oksana E.
Published: April 2020

Social security is an important priority of the State policy, embracing other kinds of security as essential prerequisites for its provision. Sociological surveys based on psychosemantic methodology, fulfilled in one of the regions of Russian-Asian borderland (the Altai region, 2019, n = 75) have found that social security in the region is primarily defined by its population through probability of realization of economic risks — loss of income, livelihoods and creditworthiness, and depends on expression of nutritional and transport risks, risks of fatal diseases, negligence or incompetence of specialists in different fields of social practice. Social-economic instability and distrust towards basic social institutions, responsible for the security and safeguarding the life and health, form negative attitudes of population about social security.
Cytokines Level (Il8 and Il17) in Pregnant Women with Toxoplasmosis in Khartoum State
Authors: M. M Wahaj , A. B Satti, , H.S Abdalla , Kabbashi Ahmed S.
Published: April 2020

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases worldwide caused by Toxoplasma gondii that leads to abortion or hydrocephalus during pregnancy. It’s a comparative cross-sectional one designed to assess immunoglobulins and cytokines in pregnant women. A total of 300 venous blood samples were collected from each pregnant woman and centrifuged to obtain serum. Patient’s information was recorded in a questionnaire previously designed for the purpose of analysis. In addition, 40 uninfected women were enrolled in the study as control group to assess the level of IL8 and IL17 cytokines. The overall seropositive rate of Toxoplasma gondii infection was 22.6%. Within the positive cases of study population, only 16 and 13 showed positive results of IL8, IL17 respectively. The results showed highly significant increase in the mean serum level of IL8 (210.25pg/ml) and IL17 (203.15 pg/ml) when compared to the control group who showed 68.9 pg/ml and 54.8 pg/ml respectively. The serum level of proinflammatory cytokines investigated in this study seems to be increased in patients with serological evidence of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Our study concludes that IL-17 and IL-8 involved in the induction of inflammation and toxoplasmosis disease.