bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
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1-Methylpseudouridine substitution enhances the performance of synthetic mRNA switches in cells
Authors: Parr Callum J C , Wada Shunsuke , Kotake Kenjiro , Kameda Shigetoshi , Matsuura Satoshi , Sakashita Souhei , Park Soyoung , Sugiyama Hiroshi , Kuang Yi , Saito Hirohide
Published: February 2020

Synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) tools often use pseudouridine and 5-methyl cytidine as substitutions for uridine and cytidine to avoid the immune response and cytotoxicity induced by introducing mRNA into cells. However, the influence of base modifications on the functionality of the RNA tools is poorly understood. Here we show that synthetic mRNA switches containing N1-methylpseudouridine (m1Ψ) as a substitution of uridine substantially out-performed all other modified bases studied, exhibiting enhanced microRNA and protein sensitivity, better cell-type separation ability, and comparably low immune stimulation. We found that the observed phenomena stem from the high protein expression from m1Ψ containing mRNA and efficient translational repression in the presence of target microRNAs or proteins. In addition, synthetic gene circuits with m1Ψ significantly improve performance in cells. These findings indicate that synthetic mRNAs with m1Ψ modification have enormous potentials in the research and application of biofunctional RNA tools.
Depletion of erythropoietic miR-486-5p and miR-451a improves detectability of rare microRNAs in peripheral blood-derived small RNA sequencing libraries
Authors: Juzenas Simonas , Lindqvist Carl M , Ito Go , Dolshanskaya Yewgenia , Halfvarson Jonas , Franke Andre , Hemmrich-Stanisak Georg
Published: February 2020

Erythroid-specific miR-451a and miR-486-5p are two of the most dominant microRNAs (miRNAs) in human peripheral blood. In small RNA sequencing libraries, their overabundance reduces diversity as well as complexity and consequently causes negative effects such as missing detectability and inaccurate quantification of low abundant miRNAs. Here we present a simple, cost-effective and easy to implement hybridization-based method to deplete these two erythropoietic miRNAs from blood-derived RNA samples. By utilization of blocking oligonucleotides, this method provides a highly efficient and specific depletion of miR-486-5p and miR-451a, which leads to a considerable increase of measured expression as well as detectability of low abundant miRNA species. The blocking oligos are compatible with common 5′ ligation-dependent small RNA library preparation protocols, including commercially available kits, such as Illumina TruSeq and Perkin Elmer NEXTflex. Furthermore, the here described method and oligo design principle can be easily adapted to target many other miRNA molecules, depending on context and research question.
Resolution of post-adalimumab vitiligo with secukinumab in a patient with psoriasis vulgaris
Authors: Palazzo Giovanni
Published: February 2020

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic debilitating condition, and biologic agents that inhibit tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are widely employed in management of the condition. Notwithstanding, several paradoxical adverse reactions have been reported with TNF-α inhibitors, including vasculitis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, sarcoidosis and other granulomatous diseases. Herein, we report the case of a 63-year-old man who developed vitiligo while on therapy with adalimumab following failure of conventional agents for plaque psoriasis. After discontinuation of adalimumab and initiation of secukinumab, vitiligo and other psoriatic symptoms gradually resolved. After 1 year of treatment, only small plaque areas were present in the flexor site with complete remission in the extensor area along with near complete resolution of depigmented areas. In this case of possible adalimumab-induced vitiligo in a patient with plaque psoriasis, secukinumab resolved both the symptoms of psoriasis and the likely adalimumab-related vitiligo.
Transclival Approach for Resection of a Pontine Cavernous Malformation: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: London Dennis , Lieberman Seth , Tanweer Omar , Pacione Donato
Published: February 2020

Cerebral cavernous malformations are common vascular anomalies consisting of a cluster of capillaries without intervening brain tissue.
1
A variety of approaches for resection have been undertaken,
2
and a handful of case reports have described the endoscopic, endonasal, transclival approach.
3
We present a case of a 51-yr-old woman with lupus and hepatitis B-associated cirrhosis who presented with diplopia, dysphagia, and ataxia. She had a left abducens nerve palsy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a left pontine cavernous malformation. After a repeat hemorrhage, she consented to surgical resection. The lesion appeared to come to the medial pontine pial surface. Tractography indicated a rightward displacement of the left corticospinal tract. Therefore, an endoscopic, transnasal, transclival approach was chosen. A lumbar drain was placed preoperatively. The clivus and ventral petrous bone were drilled using the vidian canal to help identify the anterior genu of the petrous carotid artery. The clival dura was opened, revealing the abducens nerve exiting the ventral pons. The cavernoma was visible on the surface lateral to the nerve. It was removed using blunt dissection and the remaining cavity inspected. The skull base was reconstructed using an abdominal dermal-fat graft and Alloderm covered by a nasoseptal flap. Postoperatively she had transient swallowing difficulty. The lumbar drain was kept open for 5 d. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak was ruled out using an intrathecal fluorescein injection. She was discharged home, but presented 2 wk postoperatively with aseptic meningitis, which was treated supportively. Postoperative imaging did not show residual cavernoma.
Exotic branes and mixed-symmetry potentials II: Duality rules and exceptional p-form gauge fields
Authors: Fernández-Melgarejo José J , Sakatani Yuho , Uehara Shozo
Published: February 2020

In $U$-duality-manifest formulations, supergravity fields are packaged into covariant objects such as the generalized metric and $p$-form fields $\mathcal A_p^{I_p}$. While a parameterization of the generalized metric in terms of supergravity fields is known for $U$-duality groups $E_n$ with $n\leq 8$, a parameterization of $\mathcal A_p^{I_p}$ has not been fully determined. In this paper, we propose a systematic method to determine the parameterization of $\mathcal A_p^{I_p}$, which necessarily involves mixed-symmetry potentials. We also show how to systematically obtain the $T$- and $S$-duality transformation rules of the mixed-symmetry potentials entering the multiplet. As the simplest non-trivial application, we find the parameterization and the duality rules associated with the dual graviton. Additionally, we show that the 1-form field $\mathcal A_1^{I_1}$ can be regarded as the generalized graviphoton in the exceptional spacetime.
Momentum and Reversals When Overconfident Investors Underestimate Their Competition
Authors: Luo Jiang , Subrahmanyam Avanidhar , Titman Sheridan
Published: February 2020

We develop a model in which overconfident investors overestimate their own signal quality but are skeptical of others’ Investors who are initially uninformed believe that early-informed investors have learned little, leading the former investors to provide excess liquidity, which, in turn, causes underreaction and short-run momentum. Skeptical investors can also react to stale information, causing momentum, followed by reversals. Hence, skepticism generates both momentum and reversals; the latter are amplified if investors overassess their own signal precision. We explain how long-run reversals can disappear while shorter-term momentum prevails, provide empirical implications, and link momentum to liquidity and price efficiency.
Acute Small Bowel Pathology: Spectrum of Nonneoplastic Diseases on CT
Authors: Lim Kheng L. , Cousar Michael
Published: February 2020

Acute abdomen with clinical suspicion of small bowel pathology is a common indication for CT imaging. Acute processes may result from a variety of entities, including infectious, noninfectious inflammatory, neoplastic, mechanical, iatrogenic, and vascular causes. However, CT imaging features of acute small bowel diseases often can overlap. Therefore, combining clinical history, laboratory data, and current and previous imaging features is key to accurate diagnosis. Familiarity with the various causes of acute small bowel pathology will allow the radiologist to help guide clinical management of patients.
Does Circadian Rhythm Affect the Pharmacokinetics of Once-Daily Tobramycin in Adults With Cystic Fibrosis?
Authors: van Maarseveen Erik M. , van der Meer Renske , Neef Cees , Heijerman Harry G. M. , Touw Daniel J.
Published: February 2020

Background:

In the era of multiple daily dosing of systemic aminoglycosides, a circadian rhythm in the clearance of these vital antibiotics has been demonstrated in animals and healthy volunteers. Over the past decade, once-daily dosing regimens have been proved to be less nephrotoxic and were therefore adopted worldwide for most indications requiring treatment with an aminoglycoside. In this study, the effect of the time of administration on the pharmacokinetics of once-daily tobramycin in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) experiencing a pulmonary exacerbation was investigated.

Methods:

In this open randomized study, patients with CF received intravenous tobramycin at 8:00 or 22:00 hours. Pharmacokinetic and kidney function parameters were compared between the 2 groups.

Results:

Twenty-five patients were included. The mean weight-corrected clearances of tobramycin were 1.46 versus 1.43 mL/h*kg (P = 0.50) and mean volumes of distribution were 0.25 versus 0.27 L/kg (P = 0.54) for the 8:00 and 22:00 groups, respectively. In addition, no significant differences were detected in changes in estimated clearances of creatinine or tobramycin on day 1 and day 8 in the 8:00 or 22:00 group, indicating that there was no decline in clearance over time. At day 8 of therapy, the increase in serum blood urea nitrogen in the 22:00 group was significantly higher than that in the 8:00 group (1.8 versus 0.2 mmol/L, P = 0.015).

Conclusions:

The time of administration (8:00 versus 22:00) did not affect tobramycin pharmacokinetics in the adult CF population studied. The increase in serum blood urea nitrogen in the 22:00 group requires further investigation.
A Metastatic Neuroendocrine Eyelid Carcinoma Originating From the Ampulla of Vater
Authors: Jung Su Kyung , Yang Suk-Woo , Kyung Hong Eun , Seo Park Weon
Published: February 2020

Tumor metastasis to the eyelids is very rare. The authors report the first case of a neuroendocrine tumor that originated from the ampulla of Vater in the gastrointestinal tract and metastasized to the eyelid. The patient with a hospice care was referred to the authors’ eye clinic after presenting with a palpable mass on the left eyelid and blinking discomfort. He was previously diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor arising from the ampulla of Vater. The eyelid tumor was simply removed to relieve discomfort, and histological and immunophenotypic evaluation of the resected eyelid mass showed a poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumor with large cell types, similar to specimens from the duodenum.
Positive affect and chronic pain: a preregistered systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ong Anthony D. , Thoemmes Felix , Ratner Kaylin , Ghezzi-Kopel Kate , Reid M. Carrington
Published: February 2020

Chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) is a significant health burden among adults. Standard behavioral therapies typically focus on targeting negative affect (NA) and yield only modest treatment effects. The aims of this study were to systematically review and investigate the association between positive affect (PA) and pain severity among adults with CNCP. Databases that were searched included MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, CINAHL, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, OLASTER, Open Grey, and PsyArXiv (inception to July 23, 2019). We analyzed studies that: (1) used observational, experimental, or intervention study designs; (2) enrolled individuals with CNCP (pain ≥ 12 weeks); and (3) reported full quantitative results on outcomes. Two researchers independently screened articles, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. The main meta-analysis was followed by subgroup analyses. All analyses were performed using random-effects models. Formal tests for heterogeneity (Q-statistic; I2) and publication bias (p-curve andp-uniform*) were performed. We meta-analyzed 29 studies with 3521 participants. Results demonstrated that PA inversely impacts pain severity in people with CNCP (r= −0.23). Subgroup analyses showed a significant effect for gender and marginally significant effects for age in studies that adjusted for NA. On average, effect sizes for observational studies were larger in studies with a higher proportion of female respondents and in studies that did not adjust for NA. Finally, larger effect sizes were found in intervention studies with older compared with younger samples.
Opioid Use Disorder and Employee Work Presenteeism, Absences, and Health Care Costs
Authors: Henke Rachel Mosher , Ellsworth David , Wier Lauren , Snowdon Jane
Published: February 2020

Objective:

To measure the prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) and employee health care and productivity costs with and without OUD and to assess whether utilization of pharmacotherapy for OUD reduces those costs.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 2016 to 2017 commercial enrollment, health care, and pharmacy claims and health risk assessment data using the IBM® MarketScan® Databases (Ann Arbor, MI). We estimated regression models to assess the association between OUD and annual employee health care and productivity costs.

Results:

Health care and productivity costs for employees with OUD who did and did not receive pharmacotherapy were approximately $6294 and $21,570 more than for other employees, respectively.

Conclusions:

Employers can make a business case for expanding access to pharmacotherapy treatment for OUD based on our finding that receipt of pharmacotherapy significantly reduces overall health care costs.
Different conbercept injection strategies for the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Gao Lei , Tao Yuan , Liu Min , Li Linlin , Zhang Peng , Wang Hong , Zhang Linna
Published: February 2020

Conbercept is a novel anti-vascular endothelial growth factor for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The most optimal injection strategy is unknown. To assess the effectiveness of intravitreal injection of conbercept using the 3 + pro re nata (PRN) and 3 + Q3 M strategies for the treatment of exudative AMD.

From January 2015 to January 2018, patients confirmed with exudative AMD at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University were included in this retrospective study. Intravitreal injection of 0.5 mg of conbercept was conducted either with the 3 + PRN or 3 + Q3 M strategy. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, and optical coherence tomography were conducted at 1 and 2 weeks, then every month. fundus fluorescein angiography examination was conducted every 3 months.

There were 106 eyes from 106 patients. The number of follow-ups (3 + Q3 M: 12.4 ± 1.3 vs 3 + PRN: 12.9 ± 1.6, P = .079) and the follow-up time (3 + Q3 M: 12.7 ± 0.6 vs 3 + PRN: 12.5 ± 0.7 months, P = .121) were similar in the 2 groups. The number of injections was less in 3 + PRN than 3 + Q3 M (5.3 ± 1.0 vs 6.0 ± 0.0, P < .001) The BCVA at months 7 and 9 to 12 in the 3 + Q3 M (n = 51) group were lower than for 3 + PRN (n = 55) (all P < .05). The CRT at months 9 to 12 in the 3 + Q3 M group was lower than in the 3 + PRN group (all P < .05). There were no differences between the 2 groups regarding the exudation area during follow-up. No serious treatment-related ocular complications or serious systemic adverse events were found.

The 3 + PRN and 3 + Q3 M strategies of intravitreal injection of conbercept are effective in treating exudative AMD. The 3 + Q3 M strategy needs more injection but is more effective in increasing visual acuity and reducing macular CRT than the 3 + PRN strategy.
Hemodynamic stability during adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma
Authors: Ban Eun Jeong , Yap Zeng , Kandil Emad , Lee Cho Rok , Kang Sang-Wook , Lee Jandee , Jeong Jong Ju , Nam Kee-Hyun , Chung Woong Youn
Published: February 2020

Hemodynamic stability is one of the most critical aspects of adrenal surgery for pheochromocytoma. Few articles have evaluated the hemodynamic status of patients undergoing posterior retroperitoneal adrenalectomy (PRA) for pheochromocytoma. The aim of this study is to compare the intraoperative hemodynamic parameters between lateral transperitoneal adrenalectomy (TPA) and PRA in this groups of patients.

This report describes a retrospective study of 53 pheochromocytoma patients who underwent endoscopic adrenalectomy via transperitoneal (22 patients) or posterior retroperitoneal (31 patients) approaches from January 2008 to March 2015. Data from these patients were compared to investigate the differences in hemodynamic parameters between the 2 approaches.

Clinical parameters at presentation were similar between the 2 groups, except for tumor size, which was larger in the TPA group. The PRA group is associated with reduced operative time, blood loss, and length of hospital stay compared to TPA even after adjusting for the tumor size. There was greater BP fluctuations and higher maximum systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) within the TPA group compared to PRA during univariate analysis. This was however not significant after adjusting for tumor size. There was no difference in the intraoperative inotropic support requirement between the 2 groups.

PRA is associated with stable intraoperative hemodynamic status, as well as favorable perioperative outcomes compared to TPA in patients with small pheochromocytomas.
Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction for treating cervical radiculopathy
Authors: Liang Long , Wei Xu , Feng Minshan , Zhu Liguo , Yu Jie , Yang Gongbo , Yin Xunlu , Zhou Shuaiqi , Li Kaiming , Yang Mao , Wang Xingyu
Published: February 2020

Background:

Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction (HGWD) is a common prescription for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy (CR). And the effectiveness and safety of HGWD for CR were assessed in this study.

Methods:

Seven databases were searched. Randomized controlled trials involving HGWD alone or HGWD combined with conventional treatment were enrolled. The authors in pairs independently assessed the risk of bias and extracted the data.

Results:

Eight studies involving 783 participants with CR were included. Meta-analysis revealed that the efficacy of HGWD for CR was significantly superior compared with control treatment (risk ratio = 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.06–1.19, Z = 3.71; P = .0002). Compare with control group, there is an increase in visual analog scale (mean difference [MD] = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.83–1.14; Z = 12.57; P < .00001). There was also an improvement of neck disability index (MD = 9.2; 95% CI: 8.28–10.11; Z = 19.75; P < .00001). Adverse events were not mentioned in the 8 trials.

Conclusion:

HGWD alone or HGWD plus other treatment may be helpful to patients with CR. However, the methodological quality of the randomized controlled trials was generally low. Larger and better-designed randomized controlled trials are recommended.
Rapid identification of clinical common invasive fungi via a multi-channel real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction melting curve analysis
Authors: Wen Xiaozi , Chen Qiong , Yin Huali , Wu Shenghai , Wang Xianjun
Published: February 2020

The incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has recently increased, and early and accurate diagnosis of IFIs is important for the rational selection of antifungal drugs with high efficacy. We developed a method for rapid and accurate clinical diagnosis of IFIs and provide a reference for personalized drug treatment.

We designed and screened fungal internal transcribed spacer regions with universal primers and designed 8 TaqMan detection probes to establish a multi-channel real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) melting curve analysis (MCA) method. The sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of this method were investigated using standard fungal strains and clinical isolates. Candidemia was detected using the MCA method.

The limit of detection and assay cut-off (melting temperature [Tm]) for Candida albicans were 0.05 pg/μL and 66.50 °C; Candida glabrata were 0.1 pg/μL and 66.25 °C; Candida tropicalis were 0.1 pg/μL and 60.15 °C; Candida krusei were 0.1 pg/μL and 72.15 °C; Candida parapsilosis were 0.2 pg/μL and 63.10 °C; Candida guilliermondii were 0.1 pg/μL and 61.84 °C; Cryptococcus neoformans were 0.1 pg/μL and 65.50 °C; Aspergillus flavus were 0.05 pg/μL and 71.50 °C; Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Aspergillus niger were 0.05 pg/μL and 76.80 °C. Analytical specificity was evaluated using 13 clinical pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus influenzae, etc. No false-positive results were obtained for any of these samples. The MCA method can detect and identify different candidemia simulations. The limit detection concentration of C albicans was 44 cfu/mL, C glabrata was 73 cfu/mL, C tropicalis was 29 cfu/mL, C parapsilosis was 21 cfu/mL, C krusei was 71 cfu/mL, and C guilliermondii was 53 cfu/mL.

The multi-channel real-time fluorescence PCR melting curve analysis displayed high sensitivity and specificity in detecting various clinically invasive fungi. Furthermore, it simultaneously detected the genera Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus and identified Candida at the species level. Our method can facilitate early and accurate clinical diagnosis and personalized medication regimens.
The outcome of primary tumor resection in the unresectable stage IV colorectal cancer patients who received the bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy
Authors: Yeom Seung-Seop , Lee Soo Young , Kwak Han Deok , Kim Chang Hyun , Kim Young Jin , Kim Hyeong Rok
Published: February 2020

Primary tumor resection (PTR) for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients has been documented to be associated with postoperative hyper-neovascularization and enhanced growth of metastases, which may be prevented by bevacizumab. This study aimed to investigate the survival outcome of PTR in patients who received palliative bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy (BCT).

From January 2006 to December 2018, medical records of 240 mCRC patients who received palliative BCT at a single tertiary colorectal cancer center were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified into three groups: PTR-a (PTR before BCT, n = 60), PTR-b (PTR during BCT, n = 17), and BCT-only group (n = 163). Resectable mCRCs or recurrent diseases were excluded, and the end-point was overall survival (OS) rate.

Three groups had similar age, cell differentiation, location of the primary tumor, and the number of metastatic organs. More than two-thirds of patients who received PTR experienced disease-progressions (PD) during their postoperative chemotherapy-free time (PTR-a vs PTR-b; 66.7% vs 76.5%, P = .170), but OS was not inferior to the BCT-only group (PTR-a vs BCT-only; HR 0.477 [95% CI 0.302–0.754], P = .002/PTR-b vs BCT-only; HR 0.77 [95% CI 0.406–1.462], P = .425). The postoperative chemotherapy-free time was similar between PTR-a and PTR-b (median 32.0 [14–98] days vs 41.0 [18–71] days, P = .142), but non-obstructive indications (perforation, bleeding, pain) were the more frequent in the PTR-b than PTR-a. Young age, the number of BCT, and PTR-a were the independent factors for OS.

The efficacy of the PTR for unresectable mCRC has been controversial, but this study demonstrated that PTR should be considered for the unresectable mCRC patients regardless before and during BCT.
All-payer Spending on Common Hospital-based Services in California
Authors: Childers Christopher P. , Maggard-Gibbons Melinda , Weber Sharon M. , Ronnekleiv-Kelly Sean M. , Abbott Daniel E.
Published: February 2020

Background:

Hospital-based care accounts for one third of US health spending or over $1 trillion annually, yet a detailed all-payer assessment of what services contribute to this spending is not available.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional and longitudinal evaluation of hospital financial statements from acute-care general hospitals in California between fiscal years 2007 and 2016. The amounts spent on 41 different revenue centers were included. The primary outcome was state-level and hospital-level spending for each revenue center including decomposing growth trends into changes in volume and prices.

Results:

The analysis included 2941 annual financial statements from 331 hospitals. Between 2007 and 2016, total spending across all centers increased 66.6% from $43.7B to $72.9B. Five centers—surgery and recovery, drugs sold to patients, acute medical/surgical floor, the clinical laboratory, and emergency services—accounted for over 50% of total spending in 2016. Overall spending growths ranged from 1.1%/y (acute pediatrics) to 17.9%/y (observation). Other revenue centers with large increases in spending included emergency services (164.7%), clinics (on-site 114.5%, satellite 129.7%), anesthesia (119.6%), echocardiography (114.4%), and computed tomography (100.8%). Most services had volume growths within ±2%/y, although there were exceptions (eg, observation hours increased 10.0%/y). Prices grew fastest for echocardiograms (10.5%/y), cardiac catheterization (9.7%/y), therapeutic radiology (8.0%/y), and emergency visits (7.5%/y). In general, median prices for services in 2016 were larger than Medicare allowed amounts.

Conclusions:

Overall hospital-based spending increased 66.6% between 2007 and 2016 in California, but there was wide variation in spending growth across revenue centers. Understanding this variation—including the relative contributions of volumes and prices—can guide efforts to curb excessive health care spending and optimize resource dedication to current and future patient care needs.
Estimating the Net Benefit of Improvements in Hospital Performance
Authors: Austin Peter C. , Lee Douglas S.
Published: February 2020

Background:

It is important to be able to estimate the anticipated net population benefit if the performance of hospitals is improved to specific standards.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to show how G-computation can be used with random effects logistic regression models to estimate the absolute reduction in the number of adverse events if the performance of some hospitals within a region was improved to meet specific standards.

Research Design:

A retrospective cohort study using health care administrative data.

Subjects:

Patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction in the province of Ontario in 2015.

Results:

Of 18,067 patients hospitalized at 97 hospitals, 1441 (8.0%) died within 30 days of hospital admission. If the performance of the 25% of hospitals with the worst performance had their performance changed to equal that of the 75th percentile of hospital performance, 3.5 deaths within 30 days would be avoided [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4–26.5]. If the performance of those hospitals whose performance was worse than that of an average hospital had their performance changed to that of an average hospital, 6.0 deaths would be avoided (95% CI: 0.7–47.0). If the performance of the 75% of hospitals with the worst performance had their performance changed to equal that of the 25th percentile of hospital performance, 11.0 deaths would be avoided (95% CI: 1.2–79.0).

Conclusion:

G-computation can be used to estimate the net population reduction in the number of adverse events if the performance of hospitals was improved to specific standards.
Cardiac Metastases in Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Polk Stuart Lane , Montilla-Soler Jaime , Gage Kenneth L. , Parsee Arthur , Jeong Daniel
Published: February 2020

Neuroendocrine tumor (NET) cardiac metastases can be associated with complications including ventricular outflow obstruction, arrhythmias, heart failure, and cardiac arrest, warranting intervention. Anatomical characterization of these lesions via cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is helpful to assess and predict the risk of complications and guide therapy. Images of 2 patients with small bowel NET related cardiac metastases are described on 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT and CMR. The lesions were significantly smaller and more obscure on CMR compared with PET/CT. On CMR, T2-weighted dark blood images and late gadolinium enhancement images offered the most conspicuous detection of the NET myocardial metastases in these cases.
18F-FDG PET/CT and 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT in Diffuse Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor
Authors: Ji Xia , Dong Aisheng , He Qi , Dong Hui , Zuo Changjing
Published: February 2020

We present 2 cases of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor with diffuse involvement of the entire pancreas. One case with G2 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor showed nearly normal pancreatic shape and signal intensity on MRI, normal pancreatic 18FDG uptake, and diffuse pancreatic 68Ga-DOTATOC uptake. The other case with G3 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor showed diffusely enlarged pancreas with abnormal MR signal intensity and increased 18FDG uptake. These 2 cases indicate that neuroendocrine tumor should be included in the differential diagnosis of diffuse pancreatic diseases. Somatostatin receptor imaging may be helpful for the diagnosis of diffuse pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in equivocal cases.
Three-Dimensional Stereophotogrammetry Assessment of Facial Asymmetry in Facial Palsy
Authors: van Veen Martinus M. , ten Berge Joris H.A. , Werker Paul M.N. , Dijkstra Pieter U.
Published: February 2020

Three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry is not much used in assessing facial palsy and a comprehensive understanding of sources of variation in these measurements is lacking. The present study assessed intra- and interobserver reliability of a novel three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry measurement of facial asymmetry and examined sources of variation in these outcomes. Three photographs (rest, closed mouth smile, and maximum smile) were made of 60 participants, 30 facial palsy patients and 30 control subjects. All images were analyzed twice by 2 observers independently, to determine intra- and interobserver reliability. Variance component analysis was performed to investigate sources of variation in the outcomes. Intraobserver reliability was good with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.715 to 0.999. Interobserver reliability ranged from 0.442 to 0.929. Reliability of the smile image measurements was not clearly different from the rest images. Variation in measurement results was largely due to the status of a participant, facial palsy versus control. When splitting the sample, the facial expression was a major source of variation. Acceptable reliability of the proposed 3D facial asymmetry measurement was found, in facial palsy patients and control subjects. Interobserver reliability was marked less compared to intraobserver reliability. For follow-up data only one observer should assess 3D stereophotogrammetry measurements.
Psammoma Bodies in a Large Myoepithelioma
Authors: Melo Marcela Pessoa de , Silva Diego Filipe Bezerra , Ribeiro Rodrigo Alves , Peixoto Tony Santos , Gomes Daliana Queiroga de Castro , Alves Pollianna Muniz , Nonaka Cassiano Francisco Weege , Monteiro Bárbara Vanessa de Brito
Published: February 2020

Myoepithelioma is a rare benign tumor of the salivary glands, in which the vast majority of neoplastic cells are myoepithelial. A rare microscopic finding in salivary gland tumors, including myoepitheliomas, is the presence of psammoma bodies (PBs), whose etiology and role in the tumors are uncertain. The objective of this study is to describe the unusual histopathologic findings, such as psammomas, of a large myopephelioma on the palate and the prosthetic restorative treatment performed after resection of the tumor. A 52-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of a tumor-like lesion, of smooth surface and normal mucosal color, measuring approximately 5 cm, on the left side hard palate, which had been identified 4 years earlier. The diagnostic hypothesis was a pleomorphic adenoma (PA), and an incisional biopsy was performed. After histopathologic analysis, a PA was suggested, and surgical resection of the tumor was performed. The histopathologic findings were compatible with myoepithelioma showing numerous calcified basophilic structures compatible with PB. Sixteen months after resection of the tumor, a removable maxillary obturator prosthesis was made because of the communication into oral and nasal cavity due from the surgical procedure. The treatment of choice for myoepithelioma is surgical excision with a nonlesional area margin. In the present report, the authors achieve good postoperative results without recurrences. After installation of the prosthesis, the patient had an excellent adaptation and acceptance, thus restoring her function and psychologic condition.
The Effect of Fronto-Orbital Advancement on Frontal Sinus Development and Function in Non-Syndromic and Syndromic Craniosynostosis
Authors: Deraje Vybhav , Jirapinyo Chutima , Taranath Ajay , Anderson Peter J. , Moore Mark H.
Published: February 2020

The impact of fronto-orbital advancement (FOA) on frontal sinus development and function is anecdotally variable. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of FOA on development of frontal sinuses, and additionally to identify the complications that might arise out of such procedures. This was a retrospective case-control study. Non-syndromic and syndromic craniosynostosis patients (n = 58) who underwent FOA at an early age and also had a skull radiograph or CT scan after the age of 12 were selected. Age matched trauma patients with CT scans done beyond 12 years of age were used as controls. Age at first FOA surgery, total number of procedures and age at imaging was noted. Presence or absence of frontal sinuses was assessed using imaging studies initially. Patients with a formed frontal sinus and a CT scan were further chosen for volumetric studies. Complications related to frontal sinus and secondary surgeries were recorded. One of 27 non-syndromic patients had absent frontal sinuses. Seven of 31 syndromic patients had absent sinuses. Among 20 controls, only 1 patient did not develop frontal sinuses. The mean age at first FOA was 11.81 months and 18.25 months for non-syndromic and syndromic groups, respectively. The average number of procedures before 12 years of age was 1.25 and 1.51 for non-syndromic and syndromic patients, respectively. The mean age at imaging was 17.74, 20.96, and 20.25 years for non-syndromic, syndromic and control groups, respectively. The mean frontal sinus volumes were 13050.36, 15039.02, and 8459.48 mm3 for non-syndromic, syndromic and control groups, respectively. In conclusion, FOA does not seem to have an impact on rate of pneumatization in the background of similar rates in the non-syndromic and control groups. The low pneumatization rate in syndromic group might be a virtue of the disease itself. There were significant frontal sinus complications that occurred after fronto orbital advancement and this should be borne in mind during the surgical consenting process.
How do conservative backbone curves perturb into forced responses? A Melnikov function analysis
Authors: Cenedese Mattia , Haller George
Published: February 2020

Weakly damped mechanical systems under small periodic forcing tend to exhibit periodic response in a close vicinity of certain periodic orbits of their conservative limit. Specifically, amplitude-frequency plots for the conservative limit have often been noted, both numerically and experimentally, to serve as backbone curves for the near resonance peaks of the forced response. In other cases, such a relationship between the unforced and forced response was not observed. Here, we provide a systematic mathematical analysis that predicts which members of conservative periodic orbit families will serve as backbone curves for the forced–damped response. We also obtain mathematical conditions under which approximate numerical and experimental approaches, such as energy balance and force appropriation, are justifiable. Finally, we derive analytic criteria for the birth of isolated response branches (isolas) whose identification is otherwise challenging from numerical continuation.
Applications of variable-order fractional operators: a review
Authors: Patnaik Sansit , Hollkamp John P. , Semperlotti Fabio
Published: February 2020

Variable-order fractional operators were conceived and mathematically formalized only in recent years. The possibility of formulating evolutionary governing equations has led to the successful application of these operators to the modelling of complex real-world problems ranging from mechanics, to transport processes, to control theory, to biology. Variable-order fractional calculus (VO-FC) is a relatively less known branch of calculus that offers remarkable opportunities to simulate interdisciplinary processes. Recognizing this untapped potential, the scientific community has been intensively exploring applications of VO-FC to the modelling of engineering and physical systems. This review is intended to serve as a starting point for the reader interested in approaching this fascinating field. We provide a concise and comprehensive summary of the progress made in the development of VO-FC analytical and computational methods with application to the simulation of complex physical systems. More specifically, following a short introduction of the fundamental mathematical concepts, we present the topic of VO-FC from the point of view of practical applications in the context of scientific modelling.
Effect of surfactant redistribution on the flow and stability of foam films
Authors: Vitasari Denny , Cox Simon , Grassia Paul , Rosario Ruben
Published: February 2020

The viscous froth model for two-dimensional (2D) dissipative foam rheology is combined with Marangoni-driven surfactant redistribution on a foam film. The model is used to study the flow of a 2D foam system consisting of one bubble partially filling a constricted channel and a single spanning film connecting it to the opposite channel wall. Gradients of surface tension arising from film deformation induce tangential flow that redistributes surfactant along the film. This redistribution, and the consequent changes in film tension, inhibit the structure from undergoing a foam-destroying topological change in which the spanning film leaves the bubble behind; foam stability is thereby increased. The system’s behaviour is categorized by a Gibbs–Marangoni parameter, representing the ratio between the rate of motion in tangential and normal directions. Larger values of the Gibbs–Marangoni parameter induce greater variation in surface tension, increase the rate of surfactant redistribution and reduce the likelihood of topological changes. An intermediate regime is, however, identified in which the Gibbs–Marangoni parameter is large enough to create a significant gradient of surface tension but is not great enough to smooth out the flow-induced redistribution of surfactant entirely, resulting in non-monotonic variation in the bubble height, and hence in foam stability.
The bulk, surface and corner free energies of the anisotropic triangular Ising model
Authors: Baxter Rodney J.
Published: February 2020

We consider the anisotropic Ising model on the triangular lattice with finite boundaries, and use Kaufman’s spinor method to calculate low-temperature series expansions for the partition function to high order. From these, we can obtain 108-term series expansions for the bulk, surface and corner free energies. We extrapolate these to all terms and thereby conjecture the exact results for each. Our results agree with the exactly known bulk-free energy and with Cardy and Peschel’s conformal invariance predictions for the dominant behaviour at criticality. For the isotropic case, they also agree with Vernier and Jacobsen’s conjecture for the 60
°
corners.
Contagious yawning is not a signal of empathy: no evidence of familiarity, gender or prosociality biases in dogs
Authors: Neilands Patrick , Claessens Scott , Ren Ivy , Hassall Rebecca , Bastos Amalia P. M. , Taylor Alex H.
Published: February 2020

Contagious yawning has been suggested to be a potential signal of empathy in non-human animals. However, few studies have been able to robustly test this claim. Here, we ran a Bayesian multilevel reanalysis of six studies of contagious yawning in dogs. This provided robust support for claims that contagious yawning is present in dogs, but found no evidence that dogs display either a familiarity or gender bias in contagious yawning, two predictions made by the contagious yawning–empathy hypothesis. Furthermore, in an experiment testing the prosociality bias, a novel prediction of the contagious yawning–empathy hypothesis, dogs did not yawn more in response to a prosocial demonstrator than to an antisocial demonstrator. As such, these strands of evidence suggest that contagious yawning, although present in dogs, is not mediated by empathetic mechanisms. This calls into question claims that contagious yawning is a signal of empathy in mammals.
Three-dimensional digital mapping of ecosystems: a new era in spatial ecology
Authors: D'Urban Jackson Tim , Williams Gareth J. , Walker-Springett Guy , Davies Andrew J.
Published: February 2020

Ecological processes occur over multiple spatial, temporal and thematic scales in three-dimensional (3D) ecosystems. Characterizing and monitoring change in 3D structure at multiple scales is challenging within the practical constraints of conventional ecological tools. Remote sensing from satellites and crewed aircraft has revolutionized broad-scale spatial ecology, but fine-scale patterns and processes operating at sub-metre resolution have remained understudied over continuous extents. We introduce two high-resolution remote sensing tools for rapid and accurate 3D mapping in ecology—terrestrial laser scanning and structure-from-motion photogrammetry. These technologies are likely to become standard sampling tools for mapping and monitoring 3D ecosystem structure across currently under-sampled scales. We present practical guidance in the use of the tools and address barriers to widespread adoption, including testing the accuracy of structure-from-motion models for ecologists. We aim to highlight a new era in spatial ecology that uses high-resolution remote sensing to interrogate 3D digital ecosystems.
WorldFlora: An R package for exact and fuzzy matching of plant names against the World Flora Online Taxonomic Backbone data
Authors: Kindt Roeland
Published: February 2020

Premise of the study

Standardization of plant names is a critical step in various fields of biology including biodiversity, biogeography and vegetation research.WorldFloramatches lists of plant names with a static copy from World Flora Online (WFO), an ongoing global effort of completing an online flora of all known vascular plants and bryophytes by 2020.

Methods and results

Based on direct and fuzzy matching,WorldFlorainserts matching cases from the WFO to a submitted data set of with taxa. Results of selecting the expected best single matches are presented for four data sets, including a working list of commercial timber tree species, a subset fromGlobalTreeSearchand 2 data sets used in previous comparisons of software tools for correcting taxon names. The success rate of credible matches varied from 94.7 (568 taxa) to 99.9 (1740 taxa) percent.

Conclusions

WorldFloraoffers a straightforward pipeline for semi-automatic plant name checking.
Protein structure and sequence re-analysis of 2019-nCoV genome does not indicate snakes as its intermediate host or the unique similarity between its spike protein insertions and HIV-1
Authors: Zhang Chengxin , Zheng Wei , Huang Xiaoqiang , Bell Eric W. , Zhou Xiaogen , Zhang Yang
Published: February 2020

As the infection of 2019-nCoV coronavirus is quickly developing into a global pneumonia epidemic, careful analysis of its transmission and cellular mechanisms is sorely needed. In this report, we re-analyzed the computational approaches and findings presented in two recent manuscripts by Jiet al. (https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25682) and by Pradhanet al. (https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.01.30.927871), which concluded that snakes are the intermediate hosts of 2019-nCoV and that the 2019-nCoV spike protein insertions shared a unique similarity to HIV-1. Results from our re-implementation of the analyses, built on larger-scale datasets using state-of-the-art bioinformatics methods and databases, do not support the conclusions proposed by these manuscripts. Based on our analyses and existing data of coronaviruses, we concluded that the intermediate hosts of 2019-nCoV are more likely to be mammals and birds than snakes, and that the “novel insertions” observed in the spike protein are naturally evolved from bat coronaviruses.
Design of multi epitope-based peptide vaccine against E protein of human COVID-19: An immunoinformatics approach
Authors: Abdelmageed Miyssa I. , Abdelmoneim Abdelrahman H. , Mustafa Mujahed I. , Elfadol Nafisa M. , Murshed Naseem S. , Shantier Shaza W. , Makhawi Abdelrafie M.
Published: February 2020

Background

New endemic disease has been spread across Wuhan City, China on December 2019. Within few weeks, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a novel coronavirus designated as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In late January 2020, WHO declared the outbreak of a “public-health emergency of international concern” due to the rapid and increasing spread of the disease worldwide. Currently, there is no vaccine or approved treatment for this emerging infection; thus the objective of this study is to design a multi epitope peptide vaccine against COVID-19 using immunoinformatics approach.

Method

Several techniques facilitating the combination of immunoinformatics approach and comparative genomic approach were used in order to determine the potential peptides for designing the T cell epitopes-based peptide vaccine using the envelope protein of 2019-nCoV as a target.

Results

Extensive mutations, insertion and deletion were discovered with comparative sequencing in COVID-19 strain. Additionally, ten peptides binding to MHC class I and MHC class II were found to be promising candidates for vaccine design with adequate world population coverage of 88.5% and 99.99%, respectively.

Conclusion

T cell epitopes-based peptide vaccine was designed for COVID-19 using envelope protein as an immunogenic target. Nevertheless, the proposed vaccine is rapidly needed to be validated clinically in order to ensure its safety, immunogenic profile and to help on stopping this epidemic before it leads to devastating global outbreaks.