bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LncRNA LINC00240 suppresses invasion and migration in non-small cell lung cancer by sponging miR-7-5p
Authors: Ku Gwan Woo , Kang Yujin , Yu Seong-Lan , Park Joonghoon , Park Sejin , Jeong In Beom , Kang Min Woong , Son Ji Woong , Kang Jaeku
Published: January 2021

Background lncRNAs have important roles in regulating cancer biology. Accumulating evidence has established a link between the dysregulation of lncRNAs and microRNA in cancer progression. In previous studies, miR-7-5p has been found to be significantly down-regulated in mesenchymal-like lung cancer cell lines and directly regulated EGFR. In this work, we investigated the lncRNA partner of miR-7-5p in the progression of lung cancer.Methods We investigated the expression of miR-7-5p and the lncRNA after transfection with an miR-7-5p mimics using a microarray. The microarray results were validated using quantitative real time-polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The regulatory effects of lncRNA on miR-7-5p and its target were evaluated by changes in the expression of miR-7-5p after transfection with siRNAs for lncRNA and the synthesis of full-length lncRNA. The effect of miR-7-5p on lncRNA and the miRNA target was evaluated after transfection with miRNA mimic and inhibitor. The role of lncRNA in cancer progression was determined using invasion and migration assays. The level of lncRNA and EGFR in lung cancer and normal lung tissue was analyzed using TCGA data.Results We found that LINC00240 was downregulated in lung cancer cell line after miR-7-5p transfection with an miR-7-5p mimic. Further investigations revealed that the knockdown of LINC00240 induced the overexpression of miR-7-5p. The overexpression of miR-7-5p diminished cancer invasion and migration. The EGFR expression was down regulated after siRNA treatment for LINC00240. Silencing LINC00240 suppressed the invasion and migration of lung cancer cells, whereas LINC00240 overexpression exerted the opposite effect. The lower expression of LINC00240 in squamous lung cancer was analyzed using TCGA data.Conclusions Taken together, LINC00240 acted as a sponge for miR-7-5p and induced the overexpression of EGFR. LINC00240 may represent a potential target for the treatment of lung cancer.
Auto-diagnosis of COVID-19 using Lung CT Images with Semi-supervised Shallow Learning Network
Authors: Konar Debanjan , Panigrahi Bijaya Ketan , Bhattacharyya Siddhartha , Dey Nilanjan , Jiang Richard
Published: January 2021

Infection of Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) on lung cells and human respiratory systems have raised real concern to the human lives during the current pandemic spread across the world. Recent observations on CT images of human lungs infected by COVID-19 is a challenging task for the researchers in finding suitable image patterns for automatic diagnosis. In this paper, a novel semi-supervised shallow learning network model comprising Parallel Quantum-Inspired Self-supervised Network (PQIS-Net) with Fully Connected (FC) layers is proposed for automatic segmentation followed by patch-based classifications on segmented lung CT images for the diagnosis of COVID-19 disease. The PQIS-Net model is incorporated for fully automated segmentation of lung CT scan images obviating pre-trained convolutional neural network models for feature learning. The PQIS-Net model comprises a trinity of layered structures of quantum bits inter-connected through rotation gates using an 8-connected second-order neighborhood topology for the segmentation of wide variation of local intensities of the CT images. Intensive experiments have been carried out on two publicly available lung CT image data sets thereby achieving promising segmentation outcome and diagnosis efficiency (F1-score and AUC) while compared with the state of the art pre-trained convolutional based models.
Improved Effect of a Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant on Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells
Authors: KIM MYUNG HEE , Kim Do Hun , Yang Su Geun , Kim Dae Yu
Published: January 2021

Background: Oxidative damage to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells contributes to the development of age-related macular degeneration, which is among the leading causes of visual loss in elderly people. In the present study, we evaluated the protective role of triphenylphosphonium (TPP)-Niacin against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in RPE cells.Methods: The cellular viability, lactate dehydrogenase release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and mitochondrial function of retinal ARPE-19 cells were determined under treatment with H2O2 or pre-treatment with TPP-Niacin. The expression level of mitochondrial related genes and some transcription factors were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: TPP-Niacin significantly improved cell viability, reduced ROS generation, and increased the antioxidant enzymes in H2O2-treated ARPE-19 cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction from the H2O2-induced oxidative stress was also considerably diminished by TPP-Niacin treatment, along with reduction of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and upregulation of the mitochondrial-associated gene. In addition, TPP-Niacin markedly enhanced the expression of transcription factors (PGC-1α and NRF2) and antioxidant-associated genes (especially HO-1 and NQO-1).Conclusion: We verified the protective effect of TPP-Niacin against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in RPE cells. TPP-Niacin is believed to protect against mitochondrial dysfunction by upregulating antioxidant-related genes, such as PGC-1α, NRF2, HO-1, and NQO-1, in RPE cells.
De novo transcriptome analysis and comparative expression profiling of genes associated with the taste-modifying protein neoculin in Curculigo latifolia and Curculigo capitulata fruits
Authors: Okubo Satoshi , Terauchi Kaede , Okada Shinji , Yamaura Takao , Misaka Takumi , Nakajima Ken-ichiro , Abe Keiko , Asakura Tomiko
Published: January 2021

Background Curculigo latifolia is a perennial plant endogenous to Southeast Asia whose fruits contain the taste-modifying protein neoculin, which binds to sweet receptors and makes sour fruits taste sweet. Although similar to snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) agglutinin (GNA), which contains mannose-binding sites in its sequence and 3D structure, neoculin lacks such sites and has no lectin activity. Whether the fruits of C. latifolia and other Curculigo plants contain neoculin and/or GNA family members was unclear. Results Through de novo RNA-seq assembly of the fruits of C. latifolia and the related C. capitulata and detailed analysis of the expression patterns of neoculin and neoculin-like genes in both species, we assembled 85,697 transcripts from C. latifolia and 76,775 from C. capitulata using Trinity and annotated them using public databases. We identified 70,371 unigenes in C. latifolia and 63,704 in C. capitulata. In total, 38.6% of unigenes from C. latifolia and 42.6% from C. capitulata shared high similarity between the two species. We identified ten neoculin-related transcripts in C. latifolia and 15 in C. capitulata, encoding both the basic and acidic subunits of neoculin in both plants. We aligned these 25 transcripts and generated a phylogenetic tree. Many orthologs in the two species shared high similarity, despite the low number of common genes, suggesting that these genes likely existed before the two species diverged. The relative expression levels of these genes differed considerably between the two species: the transcripts per million (TPM) values of neoculin genes were 60 times higher in C. latifolia than in C. capitulata, whereas those of GNA family members were 15,000 times lower in C. latifolia than in C. capitulata. Conclusions The genetic diversity of neoculin-related genes strongly suggests that neoculin genes underwent duplication during evolution. The marked differences in their expression profiles between C. latifolia and C. capitulata may be due to mutations in regions involved in transcriptional regulation. Comprehensive analysis of the genes expressed in the fruits of these two Curculigo species helped elucidate the origin of neoculin at the molecular level.
Control of Graves’ hyperthyroidism with very long-term methimazole treatment: A clinical trial
Authors: Azizi Fereidoun , Abdi Hengameh , Amouzegar Atieh
Published: January 2021

Background: Long-term antithyroid drugs therapy has become one of the options for treatment of Graves’ hyperthyroidism. The aim of this study was to compare thyroid status in those who discontinued methimazole (MMI) treatment after 12.8 years with those who continued MMI as long as 24 years.Methods: Fifty nine patients with Graves’ disease on long-term MMI for 14.2±2.9 years were recruited; 32 patients (54%) decided to discontinue MMI and 27 (46%) preferred additional years of MMI treatment. All patients were followed for a mean of 6 additional years.Results: Of 27 patients who continued MMI up to 24 years, suppressed serum thyrotropin (TSH) was not observed in any patient after the seventh year of treatment. Serum free thyroxine, triiodothyronine, TSH and TSH receptor antibody concentrations remained normal up to the length of the study. Mean daily dose of MMI to maintain TSH in the reference range decreased gradually and reached to 2.8±1.7 mg by 24 years of MMI treatment. No adverse reaction related to MMI occured during additional years of therapy. In 32 patients who discontinued MMI, hyperthyroidism relapsed in 6 patients (19%), one left follow-up and 25 (78%) remained euthyroid during the study.Conclusions: Long-term low dose MMI treatment may be a lifelong effective and safe therapeutic modality in patients with Graves’ hyperthyroidism for prevention of relapse, if studies from other centers confirm findings of this research.Trial registration: IRCT201009224794N1, 2010-10-25. Retrospectively registered.www. IRCT.IR/Trial/5143.
Identification of a novel six autophagy-related genes signature for the prognostic and a miRNA-related autophagy predictor for anti-PD-1 therapy responses in prostate cancer
Authors: Wu Lei , Quan Wen , Yue Guojun , Luo Qiong , Peng Dongxu , Pan Ying , Zhang Guihai
Published: January 2021

Background: Autophagy is a highly conserved homeostatic process in the human body that is responsible for the elimination of aggregated proteins and damaged organelles. Several autophagy-related genes (ARGs) contribute to the process of tumorigenesis and metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa). Also, miRNAs have been proven to modulate autophagy by targeting some ARGs. However, their potential role in PCa still remains unclear.Methods: An univariate Cox proportional regression model was used to identify 17 ARGs associated with the overall survival (OS) of PCa. Then, a multivariate Cox proportional regression model was used to construct a 6 autophagy-related prognostic genes signature. Patients were divided into low-risk group and high-risk group using the median risk score as a cutoff value. High-risk patients had shorter OS than low-risk patients. Furthermore, the signature was validated by ROC curves. Regarding mRNA and miRNA, 12 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and 1073 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected via the GEO database. We found that miR-205, one of the DEMs, was negatively regulated the expression of ARG (NKX2-3). Based on STRING analysis results, we found that the NKX2-3 was moderately related to the part of genes among the 6 autophagy-related genes prognostic signature. Further, NKX 2-3 was significantly correlated with OS and some clinical parameters of PCa by cBioProtal. By gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Lastly, we demonstrated that the association between NKX2-3 and tumor mutation burden (TMB) and PDCD1 (programmed cell death 1) of PCa.Results: We identified that the six ARGs expression patterns are independent predictors of OS in PCa patients. Furthermore, our results suggest that ARGs and miRNAs are inter-related. MiR-205 was negatively regulated the expression of ARG (NKX2-3). Further analysis demonstrated that NKX2-3 may be a potential biomarker for predicting the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy in PCa.Conclusions: The current study may offer a novel autophagy-related prognostic signature and may identify a promising miRNA-ARG pathway for predicting the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy in PCa.
Long non-coding RNA FAM83H-AS1 acts as a potential oncogenic driver in human ovarian cancer
Authors: Yuan Xiaolei , Huang Ying , Guo Man , Hu Xiaowei , Li Peiling
Published: January 2021

Objective

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most aggressive women cancers with increasing incidence and mortality rates worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) could as major players in OC process. Although FAM83H antisense RNA1 (FAM83H-AS1) is demonstrated play an important roles in a many cancers, the detailed function and mechanism has not been reported in OC.

Results

We integrated multiple kinds of bioinformatics approaches and experiments validated method to evaluate functions of FAM83H-AS1 in OC. Some differential expressed lncRNAs were identified between OC and normal control tissues. FAM83H-AS1 was one of most differentially expressed lncRNAs and up-regulated in multiple cancer types. Specially, expression of FAM83H-AS1 was higher in OC and showed difference in diverse stages. High FAM83H-AS1 expression is associated with worse pan-cancer and OC outcomes. FAM83H-AS1-centric network including lncRNA-miRNA, lncRNA-protein and lncRNA-mRNA ceRNA network were constructed to infer the function and mechanism of FAM83H-AS1. There were two methylation sites including cg01399317 and cg20519035 located at FAM83H-AS1. The methylation level of cg01399317 was correlated with gene expression of FAM83H-AS1. The expression level of FAM83H-AS1 was correlated with infiltration level of immune cell including macrophage, neutrphil and dendritic cell in OC patients. Lastly, qRT-PCR showed that the expression of FAM83H-AS1 was higher in OC tissues than normal control tissues.

Conclusion

Collectively, these results indicated that FAM83H-AS1 may act as an oncogenic driver and it may be a potential therapy target in OC.
An efficient computational Method for Predicting Drug-Target Interactions using Weighted Extreme Learning Machine and Speed Up Robot Features
Authors: Yong An Ji , Fan-Rong Meng , Zi-Ji Yan
Published: January 2021

Background: Prediction of novel Drug–Target interactions (DTIs) plays an important role in discovering new drug candidates and finding new proteins to target. In consideration of the time-consuming and expensive of experimental methods. Therefore, it is a challenging task that how to develop efficient computational approaches for the accurate predicting potential associations between drug and target. Results: In the paper, we proposed a novel computational method called WELM-SURF based on drug fingerprints and protein evolutionary information for identifying DTIs. More specifically, for exploiting protein sequence feature, Position Specific Scoring Matrix (PSSM) is applied to capturing protein evolutionary information and Speed up robot features (SURF) is employed to extract sequence key feature from PSSM. For drug fingerprints, the chemical structure of molecular substructure fingerprints was used to represent drug as feature vector. Take account of the advantage that the Weighted Extreme Learning Machine (WELM) has short training time, good generalization ability, and most importantly ability to efficiently execute classification by optimizing the loss function of weight matrix. Therefore, the WELM classifier is used to carry out classification based on extracted features for predicting DTIs. The performance of the WELM-SURF model was evaluated by experimental validations on enzyme, ion channel, GPCRs and nuclear receptor datasets by using fivefold cross-validation test. The WELM-SURF obtained average accuracies of 93.54%, 90.58%, 85.43% and 77.45% on enzyme, ion channels, GPCRs and nuclear receptor dataset respectively. We also compared our performance with the Extreme Learning Machine (ELM), the state-of-the-art Support Vector Machine (SVM) on enzyme and ion channels dataset and other exiting methods on four datasets. By comparing with experimental results, the performance of WELM-SURF is significantly better than that of ELM, SVM and other previous methods in the domain.Conclusion: The results demonstrated that the proposed WELM-SURF model is competent for predicting DTIs with high accuracy and robustness. It is anticipated that the WELM-SURF method is a useful computational tool to facilitate widely bioinformatics studies related to DTIs prediction.
Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis Reveals a Transcriptional Regulation Network for the Biosynthesis of Carotenoids and Flavonoids in ‘Cara cara’ Navel Orange
Authors: Zhang Haipeng , Chen Jiajing , Peng Zhaoxin , Shi Meiyan , Liu Xiao , Wen Huan , Jiang Youwu , Cheng Yunjiang , Xu Juan , Zhang Hongyan
Published: January 2021

Background: Carotenoids and flavonoids are important secondary metabolites in plants, which exert multiple bioactivities and benefits to human health. Although the genes that encode carotenogenesis and flavonoid biosynthetic enzymes are well characterized, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that are related to the pathway genes remain to be investigated. In this study, ‘Cara cara’ navel orange (CNO) fruit at four development stages were used to identify the key genes and TFs for carotenoids and flavonoids accumulation.Results: In this study, CNO was used to investigate the profiles of carotenoids and flavonoids by a combination of metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses. The important stage for the accumulation of the major carotenoid, lycopene was found to be at 120 days after florescence (DAF). The transcripts of five carotenogenesis genes were highly correlated with lycopene contents, and 16, 40, 48, 24 and 18 transcription factors (TFs) were predicted to potentially bind 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS1), deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR), geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS2), phytoene synthase (PSY1) and lycopene β-cyclase (LCYB) promoters, respectively. Narirutin was the most abundant flavonoid in the flesh at the early stages, 60 DAF was the most important stage for the accumulation of flavonoids, and 17, 22, 14, 25, 24 and 16 TFs could potentially bind phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL-1 and PAL-4), 4-Coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL-2 and 4CL-5), chalcone synthase (CHS-1) and chalcone isomerase (CHI) promoters, respectively. Furthermore, both sets of fifteen candidate TFs might regulate at least three key genes and contribute to carotenoids/flavonoids accumulation in CNO fruit. Finally, a hierarchical model for the regulatory network among the pathway genes and TFs was proposed.Conclusions: Collectively, our results suggest that DXS1, DXR, GGPPS2, PSY1 and LCYB genes were the most important genes for carotenoids accumulation, while PAL-1, PAL-4, 4CL-2, 4CL-5, CHS-1 and CHI for flavonoids biosynthesis. A total of 24 TFs were postulated as co-regulators in both pathways directly, which might play important roles in carotenoids and flavonoids accumulation in CNO fruit.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated with Methotrexate-induced Nausea in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Kyvsgaard Nini , Mikkelsen Torben Stamm , Als Thomas D. , Christensen Anne Estmann , Corydon Thomas J. , Herlin Troels
Published: January 2021

BackgroundContext: Methotrexate (MTX) is a cornerstone in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). MTX treatment is commonly associated with nausea. Large inter-individual variation exists in the level of MTX-induced nausea, possibly due to genetic factors. Purpose: To investigate whether MTX-induced nausea was associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding MTX-transporter proteins, a MTX metabolizing enzyme and a nausea receptor.FindingsMethods: Children aged ≥9 years treated with MTX for JIA were eligible. MTX-induced nausea was registered by the children’s completion of a nausea diary (min. 7 days) and the parents’ completion of the MTX intolerance severity score (MISS). The selected SNPs were: SLCO1B1 (rs4149056; rs4149081), SLCO1B3 (rs2117032), SLC19A1 (rs1051266), ABCC2 (rs2273697; rs3740066; rs717620), ABCB1 (rs2032582; rs1045642), MTHFR (rs1801131, rs1801133), HTR3A (rs1062613; rs1985242; rs1176713) and HTR3B (rs1176744). Results: Enrolled were 121 JIA patients (82 girls: 39 boys) with a median age of 13.3 years (IQR: 11.3-15.1). The median MTX dose was 9.7 mg/m2/week (IQR: 9.0-10.9). The median MTX treatment duration prior to enrolment was 340 days (IQR: 142-766). The SNP analysis was available for 119 patients. MTX intolerance was associated with the genotype distribution of rs1801133 (MTHFR) (p= 0.02). There was no additive effect of the minor alleles for any of the selected SNPs, nor any significant haplotype associations. Conclusion Summary: MTX-induced nausea may be influenced by genetic polymorphisms in a MTX metabolizing enzyme (rs1801133; MTHFR). Implications: Further analyses involving inclusion of larger cohorts are needed to understand the impact of SNPs on MTX-induced nausea in JIA.
Evaluation Of Cardiovascular Risk Factors In Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia From The North-Eastern Area Of Romania
Authors: Vlad Cristiana-Elena , Foia Liliana , Florea Laura , Costache Irina-Iuliana , Covic Andreea , Popescu Roxana , Reurean-Pintilei Delia , Covic Adrian
Published: January 2021

Background. Familial hypercholesterolemia(FH) is one of the most frequent and important monogenic cholesterol pathologies. Traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors increase the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD) in this population. The aims of the study were:(a) to identify FH patients in the North-Eastern part of Romania and to analyze demographic, clinical and paraclinical data (b) to evaluate the risk of new cardiovascular events at follow-up in FH patients stratified by lipid-lowering agents. Methods. This first prospective study in the North-Eastern part of Romania was carried out between October 2017 and October 2019; out of 980 patients with dyslipidemia evaluated with the Dutch Lipid Network(DLCN) and Simon Broome(SM) scores, 61 patients with DLCN score above 3 and possible/probable FH(SM score) were included.Results. 980 patients were examined and 61 (6.2%) were received the clinical diagnosis of FH. The mean age was 48.5±12.5 years, with more female patients than male patients (63.9% versus 36%). Hypertension was the main cardiovascular risk factor for both genders, followed by physical inactivity and obesity for the female group and active smoking for the male group. The measured DLCN score recorded: “possible” FH identified in 39.4%, “probable” FH in 45.9% and “definite” FH in 14.7%. The effective lipid-lowering drugs used were statin alone and statin in association with fenofibrate, which improved both the lipid profile values and the subclinical atherosclerosis markers (ankle-brachial index, carotid intima-media thickness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein). New ASCVDs that emerged during the study were most commonly represented by coronary heart disease and stroke. At the same time, the new cardiovascular events were delayed in patients receiving the lipid-lowering drugs, without significant differences between them. Conclusions. In patients with suspected FH, the lipid-lowering agents during the follow-up period delayed the new cardiovascular events, yet failed to reach the goals proposed by the guidelines.
Probiotics Mixture Reinforces Barrier Function to Ameliorate Necrotizing Enterocolitis by Regulating PXR-JNK Pathway
Authors: Zhao Xiuhao , Zhou Jin , Liang Wenhua , Sheng Qingfeng , Lu Li , Chen Tong , Chen Jianglong , Tan Kezhe , lv Zhibao
Published: January 2021

Background: Intestinal dysbiosis is believed to be one of the factors inducing neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Probiotics have been employed to treat NEC in a number of animal experiments and clinical trials, and some significant benefits of utilizing probiotics for the prevention or alleviation of NEC have been confirmed. However, the mechanism underlying the efficacy of probiotics in treating NEC has not been elucidated.Results: Impairment of the intestinal barrier, which was characterized by the decreased expression of tight junction components, was observed in the pathogenesis of NEC. The probiotic mixture alleviated this intestinal damage by enhancing the function of the barrier. Meanwhile, the probiotics remodeled the composition of the intestinal microbiota in NEC mice. Furthermore, increased expression of the pregnane X receptor (PXR) was observed after treatment with the probiotic mixture, and PXR overexpression in Caco-2 cells protected the barrier from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) damage. Further research showed that PXR could inhibit the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and could increase the expression of tight junction components.Conclusions: Our study confirmed that probiotics could ameliorate intestinal lesions by enhancing the function of the mucosal barrier. Specifically, probiotics may target PXR, which may subsequently enhance the expression of tight junction components by inhibiting the phosphorylation of JNK and enhancing the function of the barrier.
Post-treatment work patterns amongst survivors of lymphoma treated with high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation
Authors: Hernaes Kjersti Helene , Smeland Knut Halvor Bjøro , Fagerli Unn Merete , Kiserud Cecilie Essholt
Published: January 2021

Background This study describes post-treatment work patterns in lymphoma survivors treated with high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation (HDT-ASCT). It aims to identify determinants for labour force participation and exclusion after HDT-ASCT.Methods All survivors treated with HDT-ASCT for lymphoma in Norway between 1995 and 2008, aged ≥ 18 years at HDT-ASCT and alive at survey in 2012-2013 were eligible. We divide survivors by current employment status (full-time, part-time and unemployed). Main outcomes are current employment status, work hours and work ability. Withdrawals are patients employed when diagnosed but not before HDT-ASCT. Results Of the 274 who completed the survey, 82% (N=225) were included in the final analyses. Mean age at survey was 52 years, 39% were female, 85% were employed when diagnosed, 77% before HDT-ASCT and 69% at survey. Employment before HDT-ASCT corresponds with a higher probability of employment at survey for a given symptom burden. In the most extensive statistical model, it increases with 37.3 percentage points. Work hours amongst withdrawals plummet after HDT-ASCT while work ability shows a rebound effect. The potential economic gain from their re-enter into the work force equals 70% of the average annual wage in Norway in 2012.Conclusions For a given symptom burden, staying employed throughout diagnosis and treatment is associated with a higher probability of future employment. These results favour policies for labour force inclusion past diagnosis and treatment increasing cancer survivors’ probability of future employment. However, we need more research on withdrawal mechanisms, and on policy measures that promote inclusion.
The Association of Quality of Life and Personality Characteristics with Adolescent Metabolic Syndrome: a Cohort Study
Authors: liang xiaohua , Zhang Peng , Luo Shunqing , Zhang Guifang , Tang Xian , Liu Lingjuan
Published: January 2021

Background: An increased prevalence of adolescent metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with adulthood cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to explore the potential relationship of quality of life (QoL) and personality traits with adolescent MS. Methods：A total of 1961 participants from Chongqing with an average age of 11.68 years from a cohort study established in 2014 and followed through 2019 were included. QoL information, Eysenck’s personality questionnaire and MS components were collected.Results: The prevalence of adolescent MS was 4.69% (95% confidence interval, 3.84%-5.72%). A higher QoL domain score of physical activity ability (PAA) was a protective factor for both MS and MS score (all P<0.01), which was mainly negatively correlated with central obesity, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and triglycerides levels, as well as positively correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level. The total QoL score was negatively correlated with triglycerides level and positively correlated with DBP (all P<0.01). High extraversion personality score was a protective factor against adolescent MS (P=0.04) and MS score (P<0.05), which was mainly negatively correlated with waist circumference, systolic blood pressure and TGs, and positively correlated with HDL-C (all P≤0.01).Conclusions: QoL score and extraversion personality score were independent protective factors against both MS prevalence and MS score, suggesting that community intervention to improve the QoL and psychological health of children is essential.
Developing and validating a computerized oral proficiency test of English as a foreign language (Coptefl)
Authors: ISLER Cemre , AYDIN Belgin
Published: January 2021

This study is about the development and validation process of the Computerized Oral Proficiency Test of English as a Foreign Language (COPTEFL). The test aims at assessing the speaking proficiency levels of students in Anadolu University School of Foreign Languages (AUSFL). For this purpose, three monologic tasks were developed based on the Global Scale of English (GSE, 2015) level descriptors. After the development of the tasks, it was aimed to develop the COPTEFL system and then compare the test scores and test-takers’ perspectives on monologic tasks between the COPTEFL and the face-to-face speaking test. The findings from these quantitative and qualitative analyses provided substantial support for the validity and reliability of the COPTEFL and inform the further refinement of the test tasks.
Shipwreck in the Caribbean Sea: Analysis in the Loss of the U.S.S. Kearsarge-Roncador Cay, Colombia (1894)
Authors: Gomez Pretel William , Jeong Moon-Soo
Published: January 2021

The United State Ship (U.S.S.) Kearsarge, a Sloop of War, is considering the most famous and glorious ship of the American Civil War after sinking the Confederate State Ship (C.S.S.) Alabama, in 1864 in France. It also represented technological innovations in the second half of the 19th century, combining steam power and sails. After shipwreck on Roncador Cay, Colombia, in 1894, it was abandoned with the armament onboard (seven guns). This paper aims to analyze the causes of the U.S.S. Kearsarge marine accident from the sociocultural factors and environmental conditions, examining the court-martial records, logbook, testimonies, nautical material, and geography in this part of the Caribbean Sea. The article will explore an episode in the United States naval history from a shipwreck that left a mark in the United States (U.S.) Navy and American society from geopolitical and technological context. A court-martial declared guilty of negligence the two officers with the highest rank on board the same year of the accident. The court determined human error from the Commander and lack of support from the navigation officer during the loss of the U.S.S. Kearsarge.
Effects of bioturbation of fiddler crabs in relation to the growth of mangrove saplings (Rhizophora apiculata) in a mangrove reforested area
Authors: Macusi Edison D. , Tipudan Christian Dave
Published: January 2021

Bioturbation is an important process in the soft-bottom ecosystem to return nutrients in the environment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of bioturbation activities on the growth of mangrove saplings (Rhizophora apiculata). A caging experiment using a total of 16 plots each measuring 1 × 1 m containing two mangrove saplings in each plot (N=32 saplings) with eight caged and eight uncaged plots were placed randomly in Guang-guang, Davao Oriental, Philippines. The set-up was monitored for five months. The length of internode, number of nodes, leaves and length of branches of the saplings were measured and counted. In addition, the number of mounds, holes and fiddler crabs were also counted in the uncaged, marked plots to determine their activities. Result of the comparison of the number of holes, mounds, and fiddler crabs showed high significant differences with the number of holes in the sediment being greater in the uncaged set-ups (holes > mounds = fiddler crab; P<0.001). Further, the result based on t-test showed high significant differences in terms of internode length (uncaged=35.68 cm vs caged=33.19 cm; t-value=-5.15; P<0.001), number of nodes (uncaged=8.70 vs caged=6.75; t-value=-8.55; P<0.001), and branch length (uncaged=6.0 cm vs caged=5.24 cm; t-value= -2.73, P=0.008) as well as for the number of leaves (uncaged=7.12 vs caged=6.0 leaves; t-value=-4.83, P<0.001). The study concludes that bioturbation by fiddler crabs can affect the growth of saplings.
Addition of preservatives to minimally processed ‘BRS Kampai’ peaches (Prunus persica L.)
Authors: Barreto Caroline Farias , Navroski Renan , Farias Roseli de Mello , Kirinus Marines Batalha Moreno , Martins Carlos Roberto , Malgarim Marcelo Barbosa
Published: January 2021

Fruits that go through processes of sanitation, peeling, cutting and packaging, to be consumed soon afterwards, are called minimally processed fruits. Since fruit consumption is important in the human diet, consumers have looked for practicality in both preparation and consumption, a situation that includes minimally processed food. However, minimal processing can damage plant tissues, mainly by pulp browning and by accelerating changes in natural characteristics of the product. This study aimed at minimizing changes in minimally processed sliced peaches by immersing them in solutions which contained preservatives. The experiment was a completely randomized design in a 5x3 factorial scheme (5 anti-browning agents x 3 storage periods), with 4 trays per replicate and six slices of peaches in every replicate. Sliced fruits were treated with T1 = control (distilled water); T2 = ascorbic acid at 1% (m/v); T3 = sodium isoascorbate at 1% (m/v); T4 = ascorbic acid at 0.5% (m/v) + sodium isoascorbate at 0.5% (m/v); and T5 = citric acid at 0.5% (m/v) + sodium isoascorbate at 0.5% (m/v). Afterwards, they were placed on trays, covered with 9µ PVC film and stored at 4±1ºC for 0 (S1), 6 (S2) and 12 (S3) days. The following variables were evaluated: mass loss, pulp color, pulp firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, rot spots, total phenols and antioxidant activity. The treatment that consisted of citric acid at 0.5% (m/v) + sodium isoascorbate at 0.5% (m/v) was the most efficient one to control oxidation; its values of browning indexes were the lowest ones, i. e., 15.62 (S1), 17.74 (S2) and 17.58 (S3). Besides, it kept the creamy-white color of the pulp throughout storage time.
Effect of seaweed (Ecklonia maxima) extract and legume-derived protein hydrolysate biostimulants on baby leaf lettuce grown on optimal doses of nitrogen under greenhouse conditions
Authors: Mola Ida Di , Cozzolino Eugenio , Ottaiano Lucia , Giordano Maria , Rouphael Youssef , Nakhel Christophe El , Leone Vincenzo , Mori Mauro
Published: January 2021

In recent years, the demand for green leafy vegetables is increasing. In order to satisfy this trend, the leafy crops are cultivated under high energetic inputs, especially high doses of nitrogen (N) fertilization that leads to a nitrate accumulation in leaves, sometimes overcoming the legal threshold set by the European Community for their commercialization. The nitrate in leaves can be dangerous for human health because in the human body it can be converted into nitrite, which can cause methemoglobinemia or create cancer-causing compounds. In order to overcome this problem, a correct N management is needed, especially using technical means which can improve the nitrogen use efficiency. In this study, we evaluated the possible effect of two important plant biostimulants on yield and quality traits (nitrate, antioxidants activity, carotenoids) of baby leafy lettuce, grown in a greenhouse with three levels of nitrogen input. Nitrogen doses were 0, 10 (sub-optimal) and 20 (optimal) kg ha-1, N0, N10 and N20 respectively. The biostimulants were Ecklonia maxima seaweed extract (3 ml per liter) (named Bio 1), legume-derived protein hydrolysate (Bio 2) and non-treated control (Control). The treatments were distributed in a randomized complete-block design with three replications (3 N levels x 3 Biostimulant applications x 3 replications). Biostimulant applications of seaweed extracts and legume-derived protein hydrolysate improved yield and LAI: 13.4% and 12.0% increase over non treated plants, respectively. The highest yield was reached at 20 kg N ha-1. Application of foliar biostimulants stimulated the antioxidant systems of plants, improved leaves color and increased chlorophyll and carotenoids content. The nitrate concentration in leaves was increased under higher levels of N fertilization, meeting the EC legal limit at N20 treatment in plants sprayed by E. maxima seaweed extract. Therefore, in our growth conditions, it seems possible to reduce nitrogen input at 10 kg N ha-1, by applying additional applications of biostimulants to reduce the yield gap upon application of N20 treatment.
Nutritional composition of a selected white food-grade waxy sorghum variety grown in Mediterranean environment
Authors: Pontieri Paola , Troisi Jacopo , Romano Roberta , Pizzolante Graziano , Bean Scott R. , Tilley Michael , Motto Mario , Aletta Mariarosaria , Giudice Fabio Del , Sicardi Mario , Alifano Pietro , Giudice Luigi Del
Published: January 2021

A white food-grade waxy sorghum Tw variety, grown in two Mediterranean sites (named Tw1M and Tw1S) was evaluated for nutrient composition and fatty acid- and mineral concentrations in order to determine the suitability of producing waxy sorghum for human uses in southern Italy. The nutritional values of the grains of the Tw inbred line grown in the two trial fields were substantially the same, except for slight differences in ash level and accordingly slight variation in mineral composition. In samples from both locations, a higher percentage of K was observed among the nutritionally essential macro-elements, and higher percentages of Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, Al among the nutritionally essential micro-element along with a strong difference in Cd content was among trace elements. Across both sites linoleic, oleic and palmitic were the most abundant fatty acids, while very slight variations in the content of minerals were found among the two samples examined. These results demonstrate the importance of developing agronomically productive waxy sorghum varieties suitable for growth in non-traditional sorghum producing regions both as a food and feed crop (i.e. with good nutritional quality) and for utilization in new products at the industrial level.
Prevalence of behavioral risk factors that cause contagion with COVID-19 among population in belarus: results obtained via cross-sectional study
Authors:   Scientific Practical Centre of Hygiene, 8 Akademicheskaya Str., Minsk, 220012, Belarus, Sychik S.I.
Published: January 2021

Our research objects were behavioral risk factors that could cause contagion with coronavirus infection (hereinafter called COVID-19). Our research goal was to assess prevalence of behavioral risk factors that could cause contagion with COVID-19 among population in Belarus. The present work contains results obtained via online questioning that included 7,590 respondents and employed a specifically designed questionnaire covering most common behavioral risk factors of contagion with COVID-19. The factors were related to adherence to recommendations on physical and social distancing, use of personal protective equipment, and sticking to personal hygiene rules; the questionnaire also asked respondents to give a subjective estimate of their health and whether they had specific symptoms typical for COVID-19. Data analysis involved assessing prevalence of behavioral risk factors, and occurrence of a relation between specific factors and values of prevalence ratio. We determined prevalence of the most common behavioral risk factors and assessed to what extent risk factors influenced prevalence of subjective complaints by patients that they had symptoms typical for COVID-19. It was shown that certain behavioral risk factors authentically influenced prevalence of subjective symptoms of the disease. Subjective symptoms were more widely spread among respondents who regularly went to work as well as those whose family members regularly went to work or an educational establishment; among respondents who used public transport, went to shopping centers and catering facilities every day; among respondents who didn’t keep social distance, didn’t pay proper attention to personal hygiene, didn’t use antiseptics, and had a habit to touch their face with their hands; among smoking respondents; among respondents who attended mass events, family and corporate parties; and also respondents whose relatives, close friends, or colleagues had returned from abroad. Our research results can be used for carrying out information campaigns aimed at COVID-19 prevention; they can also give grounds for performing more profound studies on assessing contributions made by various behavioral factors into risks of contagion with COVID-19
Trends detected in children’s health and their relation with basic aerogenic risk factors under exposure to specific ambient air contamination caused by metallurgic and wood-processing enterprises
Authors:   Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies, 82 Monastyrskaya Str., Perm, 614045, Russian Federation, Zemlyanova M.A. , Perezhogin A.N. ,   Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute of Siberia and Far East awarded by the Labour Red Banner, 78 Trilissera Str., Irkutsk, 664047, Russian Federation, Koldibekova Yu.V. ,   Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies, 82 Monastyrskaya Str., Perm, 614045, Russian Federation
Published: January 2021

Industrial objects including metallurgic and wood-processing enterprises that emit hazardous chemicals into ambient air are often located within or close to residential areas; it results in poorer ambient air quality and health disorders caused by it, first of all, among children. Our research objects were chemicals contents in ambient air in a residential area exposed to emissions from metallurgic and wood-processing enterprises (the test territory) and in an area where there were no such productions (the reference territory), and primary morbidity among children in both of them. We determined priority chemical risk factors basing on hygienic assessment of ambient air quality and calculation of risks that non-carcinogenic effects would occur in organs and systems of children who lived in a zone exposed to the given industrial objects. These factors included aluminum oxide, particulate matter, phenol, and gaseous fluorides and their contents were up to 5.0 times higher than permissible levels. We detected negative trends in primary morbidity among children and established authentic models showing dependence between a probable growth in morbidity as per respiratory diseases, diseases of the nervous system, gastric diseases, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, and diseases of the urogenital system and total doses of chemicals under aerogenic exposure. All the above mentioned indicates that poor ambient air quality in a residential area can make for a growth in related morbidity as per the given nosologies. Established and parameterized cause-and-effect relations allow predicting negative responses in critical organs and systems (as per the given nosologies) of exposed children. It provides scientific substantiation for developing relevant prevention activities aimed at reducing and preventing negative consequences for health of children living in regions where large metallurgic and wood-processing enterprises are located
Long use of digital devices as a risk factor that causes myopia occurrence in schoolchildren
Authors:   V.N. Gorodkov's Ivanovo Scientific Research Institute for motherhood and childhood, 20 Pobedy Str., Ivanovo, 153045, Russian Federation, Filkina O.M. , Vorobyova E.A. ,   V.N. Gorodkov's Ivanovo Scientific Research Institute for motherhood and childhood, 20 Pobedy Str., Ivanovo, 153045, Russian Federation, Dolotova N.V. ,   V.N. Gorodkov's Ivanovo Scientific Research Institute for motherhood and childhood, 20 Pobedy Str., Ivanovo, 153045, Russian Federation, Kocherova O.Yu. ,   V.N. Gorodkov's Ivanovo Scientific Research Institute for motherhood and childhood, 20 Pobedy Str., Ivanovo, 153045, Russian Federation, Malyshkina A.I. ,   V.N. Gorodkov's Ivanovo Scientific Research Institute for motherhood and childhood, 20 Pobedy Str., Ivanovo, 153045, Russian Federation
Published: January 2021

Use of digital devices results in much higher health risks for children caused by greater visual and static loads, low physical activity, intensified intellectual activity, and psychological discomfort. The article focuses on results obtained in examining reasons why schoolchildren from the 1st, 5th, 9th, and 11th grade use various digital devices, how frequently they do it and for how long they use mobiles, PC, pads, or laptops. All schoolchildren use digital devices, most frequently, mobile phones and PC. Almost ¾ children in the 1st grade use a mobile phone; half of them, a PC, 1/3 use a pad; and each fifth schoolchild uses a laptop. Practically all 5th grade children use a mobile phone; two thirds, a PC; half of them, a laptop or a pad. Also practically all senior schoolchildren use a mobile phone; three quarters, a PC; one third, a laptop; pads are used much less frequently. A number of used digital devices per 1 person grows with age, from 1.8 for 1st grade children to 2.6 for 5th grade children and 2.3 for senior schoolchildren. Average duration of digital devices use per day also grows from 3 hours for 1st grade children to 8.1 hours for senior schoolchildren. Most schoolchildren tended to have diseases of the eye, namely refraction and accommodation disorders; accommodation disorders prevailed among 1st grade children, and myopia was more frequent among 5th grade children and senior schoolchildren. A number of children with myopia grows by 2.1 times during school years. Relative risk calculation revealed that if digital devices are in use for 6 hours or longer, it results in 1.8 times higher risks of myopia.