bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SIRT3 acts as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of lung cancer
Authors: Tao Feng , Gu Chao , Li Na , Ying Ying , Feng Yongzhi , Ni Dan , Zhang Qi , Xiao Qinfeng
Published: July 2021

Lung cancer (LC) is a prevalent malignancy worldwide with increased morbidity and mortality. Mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) has been reported to be involved in tumorigenesis. In this retrospective study, we measured the expression and diagnostic value of SIRT3 in LC patients.

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to measure serum SIRT3 mRNA level in 150 LC patients and 52 healthy volunteers. SIRT3 protein level was detected using western blot for 84 pairs of LC and adjacent normal tissues. The association of SIRT3 mRNA level with clinical parameters of LC patients was estimated via chi-square test. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of serum SIRT3 in LC patients.

SIRT3 mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in LC tissues and serum samples, compared with corresponding controls (P < .05). Moreover, the expression of SIRT3 mRNA was negatively associated with tumor size (P = .002), tumor node metastasis stage (P < .001), and metastasis (P < .001). ROC curve demonstrated that serum SIRT3 could distinguish LC patients from healthy individuals, with an area under the curve of 0.918. The optimal cutoff value was 3.12, reaching a sensitivity of 86.4%, and a specificity of 94%.

SIRT3 expression is significantly down-regulated in LC serum and tissues. SIRT3 may be employed as a promising biomarker in the early diagnosis of LC.
Personality as a predictor of HbA1c level in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Lee Shu-Fen , Li Chih-Ping
Published: July 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common type of diabetes, accounting for around 90% of all cases worldwide. One means to strengthen the prevention and treatment of diabetes is via changes in self-management and lifestyle behaviors. However, lifestyle and personal health behaviors are strongly influenced by personality traits, and thus personality may play a significant role in such aspects as medication compliance, exercise habits, blood glucose monitoring, diet control, and maintenance of an ideal body weight.

In this study, we examined whether certain personality traits of patients with T2DM are correlated with higher glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.

A total of 214 participants with T2DM were recruited from an outpatient setting. χ2 test and logistic regression analyses with 5 models were employed.

The OR for the “neuroticism” trait was 3.199 (95% CI = 1.228–8.331, P = .017), and those with this trait were 3.199 times more likely to have higher HbA1c levels than those with the “openness-extraversion” personality trait. This strong relationship between neuroticism and a higher HbA1c level was also evident in models 2, 3, 4, and 5. One-way ANOVA also indicated that the group with the neuroticism personality trait had significantly different mean fasting glucose, HbA1c, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

We found that a personality characterized by neuroticism is an independent predictor of higher HbA1c level in this study. We also found that people in the pre-contemplation and contemplation stages of exercise have higher HbA1c levels.
Impact of transplantation on neutrophil extracellular trap formation in patients with end-stage renal disease
Authors: Vega-Roman Citlalin , Leal-Cortes Caridad , Portilla-de Buen Eliseo , Gomez-Navarro Benjamín , Melo Zesergio , Franco-Acevedo Adriana , Medina-Perez Miguel , Jalomo-Martinez Basilio , Martinez-Martinez Petra , Evangelista-Carrillo Luis Alberto , Cerrillos-Gutierrez Jose Ignacio , Andrade-Sierra Jorge , Nieves Juan J. , Gone-Vazquez Isis , Escobedo-Ruiz Araceli , Jave-Suarez Luis Felipe , Luquin Sonia , Echavarria Raquel
Published: July 2021

Increased neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation associates with high cardiovascular risk and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, the effect of transplantation on NETs and its associated markers remains unclear. This study aimed to characterize circulating citrullinated Histone H3 (H3cit) and Peptidyl Arginase Deiminase 4 (PAD4) in ESRD patients undergoing transplantation and evaluate the ability of their neutrophils to release NETs.

This prospective cohort study included 80 healthy donors and 105 ESRD patients, out of which 95 received a transplant. H3cit and PAD4 circulating concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in healthy donors and ESRD patients at the time of enrollment. An additional measurement was carried out within the first 6 months after transplant surgery. In vitro NET formation assays were performed in neutrophils isolated from healthy donors, ESRD patients, and transplant recipients.

H3cit and PAD4 levels were significantly higher in ESRD patients (H3cit, 14.38 ng/mL [5.78–27.13]; PAD4, 3.22 ng/mL [1.21–6.82]) than healthy donors (H3cit, 6.45 ng/mL [3.30–11.65], P < .0001; PAD4, 2.0 ng/mL [0.90–3.18], P = .0076). H3cit, but not PAD4, increased after transplantation, with 44.2% of post-transplant patients exhibiting high levels (≥ 27.1 ng/mL). In contrast, NET release triggered by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was higher in neutrophils from ESRD patients (70.0% [52.7–94.6]) than healthy donors (32.2% [24.9–54.9], P < .001) and transplant recipients (19.5% [3.5–65.7], P < .05).

The restoration of renal function due to transplantation could not reduce circulating levels of H3cit and PAD4 in ESRD patients. Furthermore, circulating H3cit levels were significantly increased after transplantation. Neutrophils from transplant recipients exhibit a reduced ability to form NETs.
Effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt treatment of patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension
Authors: Zheng Dan , Yu Jiao , Li Hui , Gan Hongying , Wang Jun , Jiang Ting , Ren Huanping , Wu Fan
Published: July 2021

Rationale:

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is well established as an effective treatment tool for portal hypertension. However, the effects of TIPS in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension have not been adequately verified in clinical trials.

Patient Concerns:

To evaluate the effects of TIPS in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension with or without portal vein thrombosis (PVT).

Interventions:

A total of 55 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension received TIPS treatment from December 2014 to April 2018 were enrolled. Clinical data, including portal pressure, Child-Pugh score, and relevant complications were recorded.

Outcomes:

TIPS was successfully performed in 54 patients. The overall technical success rate was 98.19% without serious technical complications. After TIPS treatment, portal pressure was significantly reduced from 38.13 ± 4.00 cmH2O to 24.14 ± 3.84 cmH2O (P < 0.05). In addition, symptoms including gastrointestinal bleeding and ascites were improved after TIPS treatment. During the 6 to 21-month follow up, hepatic encephalopathy in 15 patients (27.8%), shunt dysfunction in 5 patients (9.3%), rebleeding in 12 patients (22.2%) and deterioration of liver function in 2 patients (3.7%) were recorded. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the rates of rebleeding and hepatic encephalopathy between patients with PVT and the non-PVT group, whereas the occurrence rate of TIPS dysfunction was higher in the PVT group, but not statistically significant.

Lessons:

TIPS treatment could alleviate the symptoms of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension in individuals with or without PVT. However, complications during follow-up should be appropriately noted and addressed with corresponding treatments.
p16 Immunoreactivity Correlates With Morphologic Diagnosis of HPV-associated Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Authors: Liu Yuxin , McCluggage W. Glenn , Darragh Teresa M. , Farhat Nada , Blakely Morgan , Sigel Keith , Zheng Wenxin , Westra William H. , Gaisa Michael M.
Published: July 2021

p16 is the most useful diagnostic marker for human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated anogenital lesions. In the cervix, the pattern of p16 immunoreactivity generally correlates with lesion severity. p16 expression in anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) is far less studied. Whether such correlation holds true has to be determined. We correlated the degree and pattern of p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) results with morphologic diagnoses of 1000 anal squamous and transitional zone biopsy specimens. Using the Lower Anogenital Squamous Terminology criteria, p16 IHC results were classified as block staining, partial staining, or negative. Among 150 samples without morphologic evidence of AIN, p16 was negative in 85% and partial staining in 15%. AIN 1 (n=400) revealed diverse results: 28% negative, 35% partial, and 37% block staining. Among AIN 2 (n=298), 89% were block, 9% partial staining, and 2% negative. AIN 3 (n=152) revealed block (95%) or partial staining (5%). For the detection of AIN 2/3, p16 block staining yielded 91% sensitivity, 73% specificity, 80% positive predictive value, 91% negative predictive value, and a Youden Index of 0.64. Combining block staining and partial staining slightly increased sensitivity (99%) and negative predictive value (98%), but significantly decreased specificity (43%), positive predictive value (59%) and Youden Index (0.42, P<0.001). As with the cervix, p16 immunoreactivity correlates with morphologic diagnoses of AIN. Block staining offers the optimal diagnostic value for AIN 2/3. Caution is required since AIN 1 frequently exhibits block staining; the prognostic value of p16 warrants further investigation.
Recent advances in Clostridioides difficile infection epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment in children
Authors: Kociolek Larry K. , Crews Jonathan D. , Schwenk Hayden T.
Published: July 2021

Purpose of review

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classified Clostridioides difficile as an ‘urgent’ public health threat that requires ‘urgent and aggressive action’. This call to action has led to new discoveries that have advanced C. difficile infection (CDI) epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment, albeit predominantly in adults. In 2017, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America published clinical practice guidelines for both adults and children. At that time, recommendations in children were generally limited to relatively low-quality evidence.

Recent findings

Since publication of this guidance, there have been many advancements in the understanding of CDI in children. These include better understanding of healthcare settings as uncommon sources of C. difficile acquisition in children; risk factors for recurrent and community-associated CDI; performance of diagnostic tests in children and strategies for optimizing their use; and a more rigorous evidence base for CDI treatment in children, including the first-ever randomized controlled trial of CDI treatment in children and the largest study of fecal microbiota transplantation in children.

This review highlights the most recent salient advancements in paediatric CDI knowledge and practice that supplement published clinical guidance provided prior to these advancements.
Characterization of Phenotypes and Treatment Modalities in Patients With Treacher-Collins Syndrome
Authors: Lee Hyeok Joon , Yang Il-Hyung , Baek Seung-Hak
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the phenotypes and treatment modalities (Tx-Mod) in patients with Treacher-Collins syndrome (TCS) using a TCS severity index (TSI). The sample consisted of 14 Korean TCS patients treated at the Department of Orthodontics, Seoul National University Dental Hospital during 1998 to 2019. The TSI was calculated by adding the scores from the number of deformity-involved midface structures (eye, ear, zygoma) and the degree of mandibular hypoplasia (Pruzansky-Kaban type, gonial angle, Sella-Nasion-B point angle). The deformity-involved midface structure, degree of mandibular hypoplasia, oral manifestations, dental phenotypes, and Tx-Mod types were investigated using descriptive statistics. The TSI classified the subjects into 2 mild, 6 moderate, and 6 severe cases. The severity of ear and zygoma deformities, degree of condylar hypoplasia (Pruzansky-Kaban type), clockwise-rotated morphology (gonial angle) and retrusive position (Sella-Nasion-B point angle) of the mandible, and frequency of oral/craniofacial cleft, openbite, congenitally missing tooth and impacted tooth showed a tendency of increase from mild to severe TCS cases. After growth observation (78.6%), diverse combinations of Tx-Mods were applied except for functional appliance therapy. Surgical procedures for eye, ear, and zygoma reconstruction were performed on all patients (100%), whereas fixed orthodontic treatment, mandibular distraction osteogenesis, and orthognathic surgery were performed on 50% of patients. Surgical procedure for hearing improvement was the most frequent Tx-Mod (78.6%). The main desires of TCS patients were to obtain the facial esthetics in the midface and to improve hearing function. The TSI might provide a primary data for individualized diagnosis and treatment planning.
A Challenging Period After Repair: Etiology and Follow-Up Rates of the Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate in Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Kara Murat , Calis Mert , Kesici Selman , Canbay Ozgur , Bayrakci Benan , Ozgur Figen
Published: July 2021

The perioperative period is quite challenging because of the featured anatomical and clinical properties of the babies with cleft lip and palate (CLP). Therefore follow-up in the intensive care unit (ICU) is a crucial parameter for managing these patients. Although various studies in cleft literature, limited studies have analyzed the ICU admission rate and its etiology in the cleft population. At this point, the present study aims to reveal the etiology and rate of ICU admission of babies with an orofacial cleft to contribute to taking preventive precautions.

The rate of primary CLP patients was 69.5% (937 of 1348 patients). Intensive care unit admission rate of primary CLP patients was 6.2% (n = 58). The expected and unexpected ICU admission rate was 4.8% and 1.4%, respectively. Of the patients admitted to the ICU, 53.4% (n = 31) were boys and 46.6% (n = 27) were girls. There was no statistically significant association between gender and ICU admission (P = 0.896). However, the association between cleft type and ICU follow-up was statistically significant (P < 0.001).

The findings of the present study reveal the high ICU admission rate of cleft patients within all patients admitted to ICU. Due to many unique statuses of cleft babies, attentive assessment in the preoperative period and determining the postoperative need for ICU follow-up would contribute to preventing postoperative complications.
Demographics of Positional Plagiocephaly and Brachycephaly; Risk Factors and Treatment
Authors: van Cruchten Cas , Feijen Michelle Marlena Wilhelmina , van der Hulst Rene Remmelt Willie Johan
Published: July 2021

In the last 3 decades, the incidence of positional cranial deformations in infants, such as positional plagiocephaly and positional brachycephaly, has increased. The deviating shape often causes parental concern for the later psychosocial wellbeing of the child. Treatment options are nonoperative, varying from positional change to helmet therapy, of which the effect has often been debated. Multiple risk factors have been associated with an increased risk on the development of these deformations. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of known risk factors on the type and severity of resulting positional cranial deformation.

Parents were asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding the presence of risk factors, such as gender, age, pregnancy duration, method of delivery and reasons for atypical deliveries, breech position, birth weight, developmental status, positional preference, family history, number of siblings, and torticollis presence. Treatment methods were documented and plagiocephalometry was used to measure the cranial proportions. All children were invited to participate in short-term follow-up. The significance of the risk factors and the effect of different kinds of therapy are discussed. Although no significant correlation was found between severity and risk factors, some risk factors could be correlated with the kind of positional cranial deformation. Of the different therapies, helmet therapy had a significant impact on the reduction of positional plagiocephaly.
Role of dietary fiber in safeguarding intestinal health after pelvic radiotherapy
Authors: Bull Cecilia , Devarakonda Sravani , Ahlin Rebecca
Published: July 2021

Purpose of review

Damage to healthy bowel tissue during pelvic radiotherapy can produce devastating and life-long changes in bowel function. The surging interest in microbiota and its importance for our wellbeing has generated a bulk of research highlighting how the food we consume impacts bowel health and disease. Dietary fiber is known to promote bowel health, yet there is a limited number of studies on dietary fiber in connection to pelvic radiotherapy. Here, we review some of the literature on the subject and present the most recent publications in the field.

Recent findings

Advice given concerning dietary fiber intake during and after pelvic radiotherapy are inconsistent, with some clinics suggesting a decrease in intake and others an increase. Recent animal studies provide a solid support for a protective role of dietary fiber with regards to intestinal health after pelvic radiotherapy, mainly through its impact on the microbiota. No clinical study has yet provided unambiguous evidence for a similar function of dietary fiber in humans undergoing pelvic radiotherapy.

There is a lack of evidence behind the dietary advice given to cancer survivors suffering from radiation-induced bowel dysfunction, and high-quality and well powered studies with long follow-up times are needed.
Effects of stochasticity on the length and behaviour of ecological transients
Authors: Hastings Alan , Abbott Karen C. , Cuddington Kim , Francis Tessa B. , Lai Ying-Cheng , Morozov Andrew , Petrovskii Sergei , Zeeman Mary Lou
Published: July 2021

There is a growing recognition that ecological systems can spend extended periods of time far away from an asymptotic state, and that ecological understanding will therefore require a deeper appreciation for how long ecological transients arise. Recent work has defined classes of deterministic mechanisms that can lead to long transients. Given the ubiquity of stochasticity in ecological systems, a similar systematic treatment of transients that includes the influence of stochasticity is important. Stochasticity can of course promote the appearance of transient dynamics by preventing systems from settling permanently near their asymptotic state, but stochasticity also interacts with deterministic features to create qualitatively new dynamics. As such, stochasticity may shorten, extend or fundamentally change a system’s transient dynamics. Here, we describe a general framework that is developing for understanding the range of possible outcomes when random processes impact the dynamics of ecological systems over realistic time scales. We emphasize that we can understand the ways in which stochasticity can either extend or reduce the lifetime of transients by studying the interactions between the stochastic and deterministic processes present, and we summarize both the current state of knowledge and avenues for future advances.
Pulsed focused ultrasound can improve the anti-cancer effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors in murine pancreatic cancer
Authors: Mouratidis Petros X. E. , Costa Marcia , Rivens Ian , Repasky Elizabeth E. , ter Haar Gail
Published: July 2021

Pulsed high-intensity focused ultrasound (pHIFU) uses acoustic pressure to physically disrupt tumours. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pHIFU can be used in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to enhance survival of tumour-bearing animals. Murine orthotopic pancreatic KPC tumours were exposed both to a grid of pHIFU lesions (peak negative pressure = 17 MPa, frequency = 1.5 MHz, duty cycle = 1%, 1 pulse s−1, duration = 25 s) and to anti-CTLA-4/anti-PD-1 antibodies. Acoustic cavitation was detected using a weakly focused passive sensor. Tumour dimensions were measured with B-mode ultrasound before treatment and with callipers post-mortem. Immune cell subtypes were quantified with immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. pHIFU treatment of pancreatic tumours resulted in detectable acoustic cavitation and increased infiltration of CD8+T cells in the tumours of pHIFU and pHIFU + ICI-treated subjects compared with sham-exposed subjects. Survival of subjects treated with pHIFU + ICI was extended relative to both control untreated subjects and those treated with either pHIFU or ICI alone. Subjects treated with pHIFU + ICI had increased levels of CD8+IFNγ+T cells, increased ratios of CD8+IFNγ+to CD3+CD4+FoxP3+and CD11b+Ly6G+cells, and decreased CD11chighcells in their tumours compared with controls. These results provide evidence that pHIFU combined with ICI may have potential for use in pancreatic cancer therapy.
Comparison of dendroclimatic relationships using multiple tree-ring indicators (tree-ring width andδ13C) from Masson pine
Authors: Gu Hongliang , Wang Jian , Lei Chao , Ma Lijuan
Published: July 2021

This study addressed the effects of climate drivers on the tree-ring width (TRW) parameters (total ring width (TR), earlywood width (EW) and latewood width (LW)) and the total ringδ13C series of different wood components (whole wood, α-cellulose and holocelluose) from Masson pine in subtropical China. Pairwise correlation coefficients between three ring width parameters were statistically significant. EW and LW did not reveal much stronger climate sensitivity rather than TR. This indicated that the use of intra-annual ring width has little benefit in extracting more climate information. The meanδ13C series of the three components of the total ring had the strongest climate response to the July–September relative humidity (r= −0.792 (whole wood), −0.758 (holocellulose) and −0.769 (α-cellulose)). There are no significant differences in the dendroclimatic relationships of theδ13C series of different wood components. Through both stationary temporal and spatial-statistical perspectives, the moisture drivers (summer/autumn) had a significant impact on three ring width parameters and three components of Masson pine. Overall, the radial growth and theδ13C series showed different responses to the same climate drivers during the same period. Moreover, the R-squared values of the strongest climate-proxy correlation coefficients were smaller than 50% for TRW. Consequently, theδ13C series of Masson pine may be a more representative climate proxy than TRW parameters for dendroclimatology in subtropical China.
Wake characteristics of a freely rotating bioinspired swept rotor blade
Authors: Nafi Asif Shahriar , Krishnan Krishnamoorthy , Debnath Anup K. , Hackett Erin E. , Gurka Roi
Published: July 2021

Rotor blades can be found in many engineering applications, mainly associated with converting energy from fluids to work (or electricity). Rotor blade geometry is a key factor in the mechanical efficiency of the energy conversion process. For example, wind turbines' performance directly depends on the blade geometry and the wake flow formed behind them. We suggest to use a bioinspired blade based on the common swift wing. Common swift (
Apus apus
) is known to be a long-distance flyer, able to stay aloft for long periods of time by maintaining high lift and low drag. We study the near-wake flow characteristics of a freely rotating rotor with swept blades and its aerodynamic loads. These are compared with a straight-bladed rotor. The experiments were conducted in a water flume using particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique. Both blades were studied for four different flow speeds with freestream Reynolds numbers ranging from 23 000 to 41 000. Our results show that the near wake developed behind the swept-back blade was significantly different from the straight blade configuration. The near wake developed behind the swept-back blade exhibited relatively lower momentum loss and suppressed turbulent activity (mixing and production) compared with the straight blade. Comparing the aerodynamic characteristics, though the swept-back blade generated relatively less lift than the straight blade, the drag was relatively low. Thus, the swept-back blade produced two to three times higher lift-to-drag ratio than the straight blade. Based on these observations, we suggest that, with improved design optimizations, using the swept-back configuration in rotor blades (specifically used in wind turbines) can improve mechanical efficiency and reduce the energy loss during the conversion process.
An extensive review of computational dance automation techniques and applications
Authors: Joshi Manish , Chakrabarty Sangeeta
Published: July 2021

Dance is an art and when technology meets this kind of art, it is a novel attempt in itself. Many researchers have attempted to automate several aspects of dance, right from dance notation to choreography; from dance capturing to dance generation. We define and illustrate the concept of ‘Dance Automation’ in this paper. Furthermore, we have encountered several applications of dance automation like e-learning, heritage preservation, medical therapy, etc. Despite decades of continuous attempts by many researchers in various styles of dance all round the world, we found a review paper that portrays the research status in this area of ‘dance and computers’ dating to 1990 (Leonardo 1990
Computers and dance: A bibliography
, pp. 87–90). Hence, we decided to compose a comprehensive review article that showcases several aspects of dance automation and document contributions of researchers in marrying creativity with logic. This paper is an attempt to review research work reported in the literature, categorize and group significant research work completed in a span of 1967–2020 in the field of automating dance. We have explicitly identified six major categories corresponding to the use of computers in dance automation, namely, dance representation, dance capturing, dance semantics, dance generation, dance processing approaches and applications of dance automation systems. We classified several research papers under these categories according to their research approach and functionality. With the help of proposed categories and subcategories, one can easily determine the state of research and the new avenues left for exploration in the field of dance automation.
Quantifying variation in female internal genitalia: no evidence for plasticity in response to sexual conflict risk in a seed beetle
Authors: Wyber Blake W. , Dougherty Liam R. , McNamara Kathryn , Mehnert Andrew , Shaw Jeremy , Tomkins Joseph L. , Simmons Leigh W.
Published: July 2021

Sexually antagonistic coevolution can drive the evolution of male traits that harm females, and female resistance to those traits. While males have been found to vary their harmfulness to females in response to social cues, plasticity in female resistance traits remains to be examined. Here, we ask whether female seed beetlesCallosobruchus maculatusare capable of adjusting their resistance to male harm in response to the social environment. Among seed beetles, male genital spines harm females during copulation and females might resist male harm via thickening of the reproductive tract walls. We develop a novel micro computed tomography imaging technique to quantify female reproductive tract thickness in three-dimensional space, and compared the reproductive tracts of females from populations that had evolved under high and low levels of sexual conflict, and for females reared under a social environment that predicted either high or low levels of sexual conflict. We find little evidence to suggest that females can adjust the thickness of their reproductive tracts in response to the social environment. Neither did evolutionary history affect reproductive tract thickness. Nevertheless, our novel methodology was capable of quantifying fine-scale differences in the internal reproductive tracts of individual females, and will allow future investigations into the internal organs of insects and other animals.
Mechanical properties of a female reproductive tract of a beetle and implications for penile penetration
Authors: Matsumura Yoko , Kovalev Alexander , Gorb Stanislav N.
Published: July 2021

Coevolution of male and female genitalia is widespread in animals. Nevertheless, few studies have examined the mechanics of genital interactions during mating. We characterized the mechanical properties of the elongated female genitalia, the spermathecal duct, of the small cassidine beetle,Cassida rubiginosa. The data were compared with the mechanical properties of the elongated male genitalia, the flagellum. We analysed the material distributions of the spermathecal duct using a microscopy technique, established a tensile test setup under a light microscope and conducted tensile tests. Diameter and tensile stiffness gradients were present along the spermathecal duct, but its Young's modulus and material distribution were more or less homogeneous. The results confirmed the hypothesis based on numerical simulations that the spermathecal duct is more rigid than the flagellum. In the study species, the penile penetration force is simply applied to the base of the hyper-elongated flagellum and conveyed along the flagellum to its tip. Considering this simple penetration mechanism, the relatively low flexibility of the spermathecal duct, compared to the flagellum, is likely to be essential for effective penetration of the flagellum.
mCIM test as a reliable assay for the detection of CRE in the Gulf region
Authors: Al Musawi Safiya , Ur Rahman Jawad , Aljaroodi Salma Ali , AlShammari Lateefah , Itbaileh Ahmed , Mohammed Hessa , Saeed Nermin , Abdalhamid Baha , Alkharsah Khaled R. , Aljindan Reem Y.
Published: July 2021

Introduction. Carbapenem resistant

Enterobacterales

(CRE) are one of the leading causes of systemic and nosocomial infections and are multidrug-resistant organisms producing different carbapenemases. There are many genotypic and phenotypic methods for detecting the carbapenemases; however, there is a limitation for each. Modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM) assay is a recent phenotypic method which has been published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.

Hypothesis / Gap Statement. mCIM assay could provide a reliable method for the detection of carbapenemases in CRE.

Aim. Evaluation of the mCIM assay performance for the detection of carbapenemases in

Enterobacterales

and the identification of the common carbapenemase genes at Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and Kingdom of Bahrain.

Methodology. A collection of 197 non-duplicate carbapenem resistant

Enterobacterales

clinical isolates, were evaluated with the mCIM test comparing its performance to multiplex PCR. The minimum inhibitory concentration susceptibility testing was done by the Etest method for imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem.

Results. The sensitivity of the mCIM assay was 94 % (95 % CI, (89.3–97.1)). In Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, OXA-48 was the most prevalent carbapenemase gene followed by NDM. Coexistence of multiple carbapenemase genes is reported in eleven cases.

Conclusion. These findings indicate that the mCIM test is a reliable and simple assay for detecting the activity of carbapenemase in

Enterobacterales

, especially in resource-limited laboratories.
Longitudinal variation in SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels and emergence of viral variants: implications for the ability of serological assays to predict immunity
Authors: Muecksch Frauke , Wise Helen , Templeton Kate , Batchelor Becky , Squires Maria , McCance Kirsty , Jarvis Lisa , Malloy Kristen , Furrie Elizabeth , Richardson Claire , MacGuire Jacqueline , Godber Ian , Burns Alana , Mavin Sally , Zhang Fengwen , Schmidt Fabian , Bieniasz Paul , Jenks Sara , Hatziioannou Theodora
Published: July 2021

Background

Serological assays are being deployed to monitor antibody responses in SARS-CoV-2 convalescents and vaccine recipients. There is a need to determine whether such assays can predict immunity, as antibody levels wane and viral variants emerge.

Methods

We measured antibodies in a cohort of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients using several high-throughput serological tests and functional neutralization assays. The effects of time and spike protein sequence variation on the performance and predictive value of the various assays was assessed.

Findings

Neutralizing antibody titers decreased over the first few months post-infection but stabilized thereafter, at about 30% of the level observed shortly after infection. Serological assays commonly used to measure antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 displayed a range of sensitivities that declined to varying extents over time. Quantitative measurements generated by serological assays based on the spike protein were better at predicting neutralizing antibody titers than assays based on nucleocapsid, but performance was variable and manufacturer positivity thresholds were not able to predict the presence or absence of detectable neutralizing activity. Even though there was some deterioration in correlation between serological measurements and functional neutralization activity, some assays maintained an ability to predict neutralizing titers, even against variants of concern.

Interpretation

The ability of high throughput serological assays to predict neutralizing antibody titers is likely crucial for evaluation of immunity at the population scale. These data will facilitate the selection of the most suitable assays as surrogates of functional neutralizing activity and suggest that such measurements may have utility in clinical practice.
Anticoagulants and Antiplatelets in COVID-19: Impact on Survival and Thromboembolism Development
Authors: Salmon Thomas , Titley Mitchell , Noori Zaid , Crosby Mark , Sankaranarayanan Rajiv
Published: July 2021

Background

Higher rates of venous and arterial thromboembolism have been noted in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). There has been limited research on the impact of anticoagulant and antiplatelet choice in COVID-19.

Methods

This was a single-centre retrospective cohort study of 933 patients with COVID-19 infection presenting between 01/02/2020 and 31/05/2020. Survival time at 90 days post-diagnosis and thromboembolism development were the measured outcomes.

Results

Of 933 total patients, mean age was 68 years and 54.4% were male. 297 (31.8%) did not survive at 90 days. A Cox proportional hazards model analysis found no statistically significant relationship between anticoagulant or antiplatelet choice and survival (p<0.05).

57 (6.3%) developed thromboembolism. Antiplatelet choice was not shown to have a statistically significant relationship with thromboembolism development. Warfarin and direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use did not have a statistically significant impact on thromboembolism development (p<0.05). Therapeutic low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) use was associated with increased thromboembolism risk (Odds ratio = 14.327, 95% CI 1.904 – 107.811, p = 0.010).

Conclusions

Antiplatelet choice was shown to have no impact on survival or thromboembolism development in COVID-19. Anticoagulant choice did not impact survival or thromboembolism development, aside from LMWH. Therapeutic LMWH use was associated with increased risk of thromboembolism. However, it should be noted that the sample size for patients using therapeutic LMWH was small (n=4), and there may be confounding variables affecting both LMWH use and thromboembolism development. These findings should be repeated with a larger sample of patients using therapeutic LMWH with additional adjustment for cofounding variables.
Investigating the clinical utility of biomarkers and other novel tests in younger onset neurocognitive disorders: the BeYOND study, protocol for a longitudinal clinical study in a real-world setting
Authors: Loi Samantha M , Eratne Dhamidhu , Cadwallader Claire , Ravanfar Parsa , Chadunow Carolyn , Vidaurre Lesley , Farrand Sarah , Kelso Wendy , Goh Anita MY , Watson Rosie , Evans Andrew , Walterfang Mark , Velakoulis Dennis
Published: July 2021

Background

Younger-onset dementia (YOD) can be challenging to diagnose due to its younger age of onset, heterogeneous aetiologies and broad range of presentations. Misdiagnosis is common with psychiatric conditions often diagnosed initially and diagnostic delay of five years is common. More information is needed to better understand and diagnose YOD, including the nature of symptom onset, progression of the disease, the relationship between cognition and functional outcomes for patients and carers, imaging changes and novel biomarkers. This paper reports on the background behind the “Investigating the clinical utility of biomarkers and other novel tests in younger-onset neurocognitive disorders”, the BeYOND study, and its methodology.

Methods

BeYOND is a clinically-oriented “real-world” longitudinal study that follows younger people presenting with an onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms ≤ 65 years of age. We aim to collect information on participants’ cognition, neuroimaging, mental health, and blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers at 18-month time-points over 3 years. We also aim to collect information regarding the experience of carers and/or family of participants.

Conclusion

Serial assessment of symptomatology, cognition, imaging, and blood and CSF biomarkers will be correlated with eventual diagnosis to determine the usefulness of these measures in determining a confident diagnosis. In addition, repeat measurements of the mental health and well-being of the participant and that of their carers/family while they traverse their diagnostic journey will provide important information about service provision and how they can be better supported.
The rise and fall of an emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant with the spike protein mutation L452R
Authors: Mor Orna , Mandelboim Michal , Fleishon Shay , Bucris Efrat , Bar-Ilan Dana , Linial Michal , Lustig Yaniv ,   Israel National Consortium for SARS-CoV-2 sequencing, Mendelson Ella , Zuckerman Neta S.
Published: July 2021

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants may threaten global vaccination efforts and awaited reduction in outbreak burden. In this study, we report a novel variant carrying the L452R mutation that emerged from a local B.1.362 lineage, B.1.362+L452R. The L452R mutation is associated with the Delta and Epsilon variants and was shown to cause increased infection and reduction in neutralization in pseudoviruses. Indeed, the B.1.362+L452R variant demonstrated a X4-fold reduction in neutralization capacity of sera from BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals compared to a wild-type strain. The variant infected 270 individuals in Israel between December 2020 and March 2021, until diminishing due to the gain in dominance of the Alpha variant in February 2021. This study demonstrates an independent, local emergence of a variant carrying a critical mutation, L452R, which may have the potential of becoming a variant of concern and emphasizes the importance of routine surveillance and detection of novel variants among efforts undertaken to prevent further disease spread.
Predictors of black fungus fear during the COVID-19 pandemic among the Bangladeshi health workers: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Hasan Md. Kamrul , Kabir Humayun , Rahman Mamunur , Roy Anjan Kumar , Akter Shimpi , Mitra Dipak Kumar
Published: July 2021

Background

The emergence of mucormycosis cases amid the COVID-19 pandemic; fear associated with mucormycosis may turn out to be a terrifying public health issue. This study aimed to assess the association between fear and insomnia status and other predictors of mucormycosis among Bangladeshi healthcare workers.

Methods

From 25 May 2021 to 05 June 2021, a cross-sectional study was carried out among healthcare workers. A total of 422 healthcare workers participated in this study. A semi-structured online questionnaire was used for data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by convenient and snowball sampling methods. A multivariable linear regression model was fitted to assess the association between fear and insomnia status and other predictors of mucormycosis.

Results

The results indicated that the respondents with insomnia status had a higher score of mucormycosis fear than not having insomnia (β = 3.91, 95% CI: 2.49, 5.33, p <0.001), significantly. Alongside the increased knowledge score of mucormycosis, the average score of fear increased significantly(β = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.50, p <0.001). The gender, profession, and death of friends and family members due to COVID-19 significantly affected mucormycosis fear score increment.

Conclusions

This is the first study that focused on assessing the association between mucormycosis fear and insomnia status among the health care workers so far. These study findings recommend emphasizing the mental health aspects and ensuring support to the healthcare workers to better tackle the ongoing public health crisis.
Incidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 infection among previously infected or vaccinated employees
Authors: Kojima N , Roshani A , Brobeck M , Baca A , Klausner JD
Published: July 2021

Introduction

The protective effect of previous infection versus vaccination is poorly studied. Among a clinical laboratory that has been conducting routine workforce screening since the beginning of the pandemic, we aimed to assess the relative risk of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among individuals who were SARS-CoV-2 naïve, previously infected, or vaccinated.

Methods

Using an electronic laboratory information system, employees were divided into three groups: (1) SARS-CoV-2 naïve and unvaccinated, (2) previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, and (3) vaccinated. Person-days were measured from the date of the employee first test and truncated at the end of the observation period. SARS-CoV-2 infection was defined as two positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests in a 30-day period. Individuals with fewer than 14 days of follow up were excluded. Incidence estimates and the 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the Poisson Exact equation. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) was used as a measure of association between groups. Analyses were performed on StataSE (StataCorp, College Station, TX).

Results

We identified 4313, 254 and 739 employee records for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The median age of employees was 29.0 years (interquartile range: 23.6, 39.9). During the observation period, 254, 0, and 4 infections were identified among groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Group 1 had an incidence of 25.9 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 22.8-29.3). Group 2 had an incidence of 0 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 0-5.0). Group 3 had an incidence of 1.6 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 0.04-4.2). The IRR of reinfection among those with previous infection compared to SARS-CoV-2 naïve was 0 (95% CI: 0-0.19). The IRR of those vaccinated compared to SARS-CoV-2 naïve was 0.06 (95% CI: 0.02-0.16). The IRR of those vaccinated compared to prior SARS-CoV-2 was 0 (95% CI: 0-4.98).

Conclusion

Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 were associated with decreased risk for infection or re-infection with SARS-CoV-2 in a routinely screened workforce. The was no difference in the infection incidence between vaccinated individuals and individuals with previous infection. Further research is needed to determine whether our results are consistent with the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Migraine Disability, Pain Catastrophizing, And Headache Severity Are Associated With Evoked Pain And Targeted By Mind-Body Therapy
Authors: Krimmel Samuel R. , Keaser Michael L. , Speis Darrah , Haythornthwaite Jennifer A. , Seminowicz David A.
Published: July 2021

Meta-analysis suggests migraine patients are no more sensitive to experimentally evoked pain than healthy controls. At the same time, studies have linked some migraine symptoms to Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) profiles. Unfortunately, previous studies associating migraine symptoms and QST have important methodological shortcomings, stemming from inappropriate statistics, small sample sizes, and frequent use of univariate statistics for multivariate research questions. In the current study we seek to address these limitations by using a large sample of episodic migraine patients (n=103) and a multivariate analysis that associates pain ratings from many thermal intensities simultaneously with 12 clinical measures ranging from headache frequency to sleep abnormalities. We identified a single dimension of association between QST and migraine symptoms that relates to pain ratings for all stimulus intensities and a subset of migraine symptoms relating to disability (Headache Impact Trauma 6 and Brief Pain Inventory interference), catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), and pain severity (average headache pain, Brief Pain Inventory severity, and Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire 2). Headache frequency, allodynia, affect, and sleep disturbances were unrelated to this dimension. Consistent with previous research, we did not observe any difference in QST ratings between migraine patients and healthy controls. Additionally, we found that the linear combination of symptoms that related to QST were modified by mind-body therapy. These results suggest that QST has a selective relationship with pain symptoms even in the absence of between-subjects differences between chronic pain patients and healthy controls.

Highlights

Experimentally evoked pain ratings have been linked to migraine symptoms, though there are methodological shortcomings

We find evoked pain ratings are related to disability, pain catastrophizing, and pain severity, but not to headache frequency, affect, nor sleep disturbances

Evoked pain and symptoms relate even in the absence of pain sensitivity differences between patients and healthy controls

Mind-body therapy altered symptoms that related to evoked pain

Experimentally evoked pain should be used to study specific ensembles of symptoms, even when pain ratings do not differ between patients and healthy controls
Prospective cohort study of workers diagnosed with COVID-19 and subsequent unemployment
Authors: Nagata Tomohisa , Nagata Masako , Hino Ayako , Tateishi Seiichiro , Ogami Akira , Tsuji Mayumi , Matsuda Shinya , Fujino Yoshihisa , Mori Koji ,   for the CORoNaWork project
Published: July 2021

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of workers being diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and being identified as close contacts of infected persons with unemployment in Japan.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study using questionnaires about COVID-19 administered to Japanese workers. A baseline survey conducted on December 22–25, 2020, was used to determine history of being diagnosed with COVID-19 or being identified as a close contact of an infected person. Unemployment since the baseline survey was ascertained with a follow-up survey on February 18 and 19, 2021. The odds ratios of unemployment were estimated using a multilevel logistic model with adjusted covariates nested in prefecture of residence.

Results

Women (n = 8,771) accounted for 44% of the total sample (n = 19,941), and the mean age was 48.0 years. In terms of unemployment because of negative reasons, the multivariate analysis showed that the odds ratio of unemployment associated with being diagnosed with COVID-19 was 2.18 (95% CI: 1.05–4.55) and that the odds ratio associated with being identified as a close contact was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.29–2.95).

Conclusions

There is an association between workers being diagnosed with COVID-19 and unemployment. Occupational health professionals should follow up closely with workers diagnosed with COVID-19 after they return to work to prevent them from becoming unemployed against their will.