bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal analysis of cerebral aqueduct flow measures: multiple sclerosis flow changes driven by brain atrophy
Authors: Jakimovski Dejan , Zivadinov Robert , Weinstock-Guttman Bianca , Bergsland Niels , Dwyer Michael G. , Lagana Marcella Maria
Published: January 2020

Background

Several small cross-sectional studies have investigated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow dynamics in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and have reported mixed results. Currently, there are no longitudinal studies that investigate CSF dynamics in MS patients.

Objective

To determine longitudinal changes in CSF dynamics measured at the level of aqueduct of Sylvius (AoS) in MS patients and matched healthy controls (HCs).

Materials and methods

Forty (40) MS patients and 20 HCs underwent 3T MRI cine phase contrast imaging with velocity-encoded pulse-gated sequence at baseline and 5-year follow-up. For atrophy determination, MS patients underwent additional high-resolution 3D T1-weighted imaging. Measures of AoS cross-sectional area (CSA), average systolic and diastolic velocity peaks, maximal systolic and diastolic velocity peaks and average CSF flow rates were determined. Brain atrophy and ventricular CSF (vCSF) expansion rates were determined. Cross-sectional and longitudinal changes were derived by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and paired repeated tests. Confirmatory general linear models were also performed. False discovery rate (FDR)-corrected p-values lower than 0.05 were considered significant.

Results

The MS population demonstrated significant increase in maximal diastolic peak (from 7.23 to 7.86 cm/s, non-adjusted p = 0.037), diastolic peak flow rate (7.76 ml/min to 9.33 ml/min, non-adjusted p = 0.023) and AoS CSA (from 3.12 to 3.69 mm2, adjusted p = 0.001). The only differentiator between MS patients and HCs was the greater AoS CSA (3.58 mm2vs. 2.57 mm2, age- and sex-adjusted ANCOVA, p = 0.045). The AoS CSA change was associated with vCSF expansion rate (age- and sex-adjusted Spearman’s correlation r = 0.496, p = 0.019) and not with baseline nor change in maximal velocity. The expansion rate of the vCSF space explained an additional 23.8% of variance in change of AoS CSA variance when compared to age and sex alone (R2 = 0.273, t = 2.557, standardized β = 0.51, and p = 0.019).

Conclusion

MS patients present with significant longitudinal AoS enlargement, potentially due to regional atrophy changes and ex-vacuo expansion of the aqueduct.
Comparison of the SuperARMS and ARMS for detecting EGFR mutations in liquid-based cytology specimens from NSCLC patients
Authors: Wu Wei , Cao Ziyang , Zhang Wei , Zhang Liping , Hou Likun , Wu Chunyan
Published: January 2020

Background

Non-surgical cytological specimens are adequate not only for accurate histological subtyping but also for molecular profiling. A modified amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (ARMS PCR), known as SuperARMS PCR, was improved by optimizing the primers designation, which provides a higher sensitivity and specificity approach for free plasma DNA detection. It is unclear whether SuperARMS PCR detects epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in cytology samples. The aim of this study was to compare the EGFR mutations detected by ARMS PCR and SuperARMS PCR in cytology samples derived from advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Methods

From March 2016 to March 2018, a total of 234 cytological samples were obtained from primary or metastatic lesions of NSCLC, including 144 fine-needle aspirations (FNAs), 36 endobroncheal ultrasonography (EBUS) FNAs, 36 transbronchial needle aspirations (TBNAs) and 18 pleural effusion (PLEs). EGFR mutations were simultaneously detected using an ADx-ARMS EGFR kit (Amoy Diagnostics CO., ltd., Xiamen, China) and an ADx-SuperARMS EGFR kit (Amoy Diagnostics CO., ltd., Xiamen, China). Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were further used to verify the EGFR mutant inconsistent samples.

Results

All of the 234 patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC were diagnosed and assessed by two cytopathologists, and their EGFR mutation statuses were successfully detected by ARMS and SuperARMS. Importantly, the SuperARMS and ARMS methods showed a highly concordant result of 94.0% (220/234) (95%CI: 85.0, 95.0%). The positive rate of the SuperARMS was higher than the ARMS in the cytology samples for EGFR detection (46.2% vs. 40.2%). The specific EGFR mutation sites in 16 samples (6.8%) were not completely consistent between the SuperARMS and ARMS. A total of 14 patients showed EGFR mutations when detected by SuperARMS, but by ARMS there were EGFR wild-type. Two patients were detected as having one more EGFR mutation site by SuperARMS than by ARMS. ddPCR and NGS were used to further confirm the EGFR mutations in these inconsistent samples. Eight samples had the same mutation results as the SuperARMS, and 6 samples were not verified because the remaining DNA was insufficient. A total of 78 EGFR mutation patients received Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) treatment. The overall objective response rate (ORR) was 88.5% (69/78) for EGFR TKI treatment.

Conclusion

SuperARMS showed a high sensitivity and specificity for EGFR detection and thus, is expected to become a routine test in the clinic to be used as a widely available, easy-to-operate and sensitive method for EGFR mutation detection in liquid-based cytology samples.
Genotype-phenotype correlation and description of two novel mutations in Iranian patients with glycogen storage disease 1b (GSD1b)
Authors: Eghbali Maryam , Abiri Maryam , Talebi Saeed , Noroozi Zahra , Shakiba Marjan , Rostami Parastoo , Alimadadi Hosein , Najafi Mehri , Yazarlou Fatemeh , Rabbani Ali , Modarressi Mohammad Hossein
Published: January 2020

Background

Glycogen storage disease (GSD) is a rare inborn error of the synthesis or degradation of glycogen metabolism. GSD1, the most common type of GSD, is categorized into GSD1a and GSD1b which caused by the deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) and glucose-6-phosphate transporter (SLC37A4), respectively. The high rates of consanguineous marriages in Iran provide a desirable context to facilitate finding the homozygous pathogenic mutations. This study designates to evaluate the clinical and genetic characteristics of patients with GSD1b to assess the possible genotype-phenotype correlation.

Results

Autozygosity mapping was performed on nineteen GSD suspected families to suggest the causative loci. The mapping was done using two panels of short tandem repeat (STR) markers linked to the corresponding genes. The patients with autozygous haplotype block for the markers flanking the genes were selected for direct sequencing. Six patients showed autozygosity in the candidate markers for SLC37A4. Three causative variants were detected. The recurrent mutation of c.1042_1043delCT (p.Leu348Valfs*53) and a novel missense mutation of c.365G > A (p.G122E) in the homozygous state were identified in the SLC37A4. In silico analysis was performed to predict the pathogenicity of the variants. A novel whole SLC37A4 gene deletion using long-range PCR and sequencing was confirmed as well. Severe and moderate neutropenia was observed in patients with frameshift and missense variants, respectively. The sibling with the whole gene deletion has shown both severe neutropenia and leukopenia.

Conclusions

The results showed that the hematological findings may have an appropriate correlation with the genotype findings. However, for a definite genotype-phenotype correlation, specifically for the clinical and biochemical phenotype, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed.
Emergency department non-invasive cardiac output study (EDNICO): an accuracy study
Authors: McGregor David , Sharma Shrey , Gupta Saksham , Ahmed Shanaz , Harris Tim
Published: January 2020

Background

There is little published data investigating non-invasive cardiac output monitoring in the emergency department (ED). We assess here the accuracy of five non-invasive methods in detecting fluid responsiveness in the ED: (1) common carotid artery blood flow, (2) suprasternal aortic Doppler, (3) bioreactance, (4) plethysmography with digital vascular unloading method, and (5) inferior vena cava collapsibility index. Left ventricular outflow tract echocardiography derived velocity time integral is the reference standard. This follows an assessment of feasibility and repeatability of these methods in the same cohort of ED patients.

Methods

This is a prospective observational study of non-invasive methods for assessing fluid responsiveness in the ED. Participants were non-ventilated ED adult patients requiring intravenous fluid resuscitation. Sensitivity and specificity of each method in determining the fluid responsiveness status of participants is determined in comparison to the reference standard.

Results

Thirty-three patient data sets were included for analysis. The specificity and sensitivity to detect fluid responders was 46.2 and 45% for common carotid artery blood flow (CCABF), 61.5 and 63.2% for suprasternal artery Doppler (SSAD), 46.2 and 50% for bioreactance, 50 and 41.2% for plethysmography vascular unloading technique (PVUT), and 63.6 and 47.4% for inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVCCI), respectively. Analysis of agreement with Cohen’s Kappa − 0.08 for CCABF, 0.24 for SSAD, − 0.04 for bioreactance, − 0.08 for PVUT, and 0.1 for IVCCI.

Conclusion

In this study, non-invasive methods were not found to reliably identify fluid responders. Non-invasive methods of identifying fluid responders are likely to play a key role in improving patient outcome in the ED in fluid depleted states such as sepsis. These results have implications for future studies assessing the accuracy of such methods.
Outer membrane protein A (OmpA) of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Nielsen Daniel W. , Ricker Nicole , Barbieri Nicolle L. , Allen Heather K. , Nolan Lisa K. , Logue Catherine M.
Published: January 2020

Objective

Extraintestinal Pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), are responsible for host diseases such as Neonatal Meningitis Escherichia coli (NMEC), the second-leading cause of neonatal bacterial meningitis, Avian Pathogenic E. coli (APEC), a cause of extraintestinal disease in poultry, and Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), the most common cause of urinary tract infections. Virulence factors associated with NMEC include outer membrane protein A (OmpA) and type I fimbriae (FimH), which also occur in APEC and UPEC. OmpA contributes to NMEC’s ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, persist in the bloodstream and has been identified as a potential vaccine target for ExPEC, however the protein has amino acid variants, which may influence virulence of strains or alter vaccine efficacy. Although OmpA is present in virtually all E. coli, differences in its amino acid residues have yet to be surveyed in ExPEC.

Results

Here the ompA gene (n = 399) from ExPEC collections were sequenced and translated in silico. Twenty-five different OmpA polymorphism patterns were identified. Seven polymorphism patterns were significantly associated with an ExPEC subpathotype, but chromosomal history most likely accounts for most differences found. The differences in OmpA protein sequences suggest that OmpA may influence variation in virulence and host specificity within ExPEC subpathotypes.
Does vancomycin resistance increase mortality in Enterococcus faecium bacteraemia after orthotopic liver transplantation? A retrospective study
Authors: Dubler S. , Lenz M. , Zimmermann S. , Richter D. C. , Weiss K. H. , Mehrabi A. , Mieth M. , Bruckner T. , Weigand M. A. , Brenner T. , Heininger A.
Published: January 2020

Background

The relevance of vancomycin resistance in enterococcal blood stream infections (BSI) is still controversial. Aim of this study was to outline the effect of vancomycin resistance ofEnterococcus faeciumon the outcome of patients with BSI after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods

The outcome of OLT recipients developing BSI with vancomycin-resistant (VRE) versus vancomycin-susceptibleEnterococcus faecium(VSE) was compared based on data extraction from medical records. Multivariate regression analyses identified risk factors for mortality and unfavourable outcomes (defined as death or prolonged intensive care stay) after 30 and 90 days.

Results

Mortality was similar between VRE- (n = 39) and VSE- (n = 138) group after 30 (p = 0.44) or 90 days (p = 0.39). Comparable results occurred regarding unfavourable outcomes. Mean SOFANon-GCSscore during the 7-day-period before BSI onset was the independent predictor for mortality at both timepoints (HR 1.32; CI 1.14–1.53; and HR 1.18; CI 1.08–1.28). Timely appropriate antibiotic therapy, recent ICU stay and vancomycin resistance did not affect outcome after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusion

Vancomycin resistance did not influence outcome among patients withEnterococcus faeciumbacteraemia after OLT. Only underlying severity of disease predicted poor outcome among this homogenous patient population.

Trial registration

This study was registered at the German clinical trials register (DRKS-ID:DRKS00013285).
Risk factors for carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection relative to two types of control patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhu Wei-min , Yuan Zhe , Zhou Hong-yu
Published: January 2020

Background

Studies on risk factors for carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infection have provided inconsistent results, partly due to the choice of the control group. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the risk factors for CRKP infection by comparing CRKP-infected patients with two types of controls: patients infected with carbapenem-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae (comparison 1) or patients not infected with CRKP (comparison 2).

Methods

Data on potentially relevant risk factors for CRKP infection were extracted from studies indexed in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science or EBSCO databases from January 1996 to April 2019, and meta-analyzed based on the outcomes for each type of comparison.

Results

The meta-analysis included 18 studies for comparison 1 and 14 studies for comparison 2. The following eight risk factors were common to both comparisons: admission to intensive care unit (ICU; odds ratio, ORcomparison 1 = 3.20, ORcomparison 2 = 4.44), central venous catheter use (2.62, 3.85), mechanical ventilation (2.70, 4.78), tracheostomy (2.11, 8.48), urinary catheter use (1.99, 0.27), prior use of antibiotic (6.07, 1.61), exposure to carbapenems (4.16, 3.84) and exposure to aminoglycosides (1.85, 1.80). Another 10 risk factors were unique to comparison 1: longer length of hospital stay (OR = 15.28); prior hospitalization (within the previous 6 months) (OR = 1.91); renal dysfunction (OR = 2.17); neurological disorders (OR = 1.52); nasogastric tube use (OR = 2.62); dialysis (OR = 3.56); and exposure to quinolones (OR = 2.11), fluoroquinolones (OR = 2.03), glycopeptides (OR = 3.70) and vancomycin (OR = 2.82).

Conclusions

Eighteen factors may increase the risk of carbapenem resistance in K. pneumoniae infection; eight factors may be associated with both K. pneumoniae infections in general and CRKP in particular. The eight shared factors are likely to be ‘true’ risk factors for CRKP infection. Evaluation of risk factors in different situations may be helpful for empirical treatment and prevention of CRKP infections.
Psychosocial impact of prognostic genetic testing in uveal melanoma patients: a controlled prospective clinical observational study
Authors: Lieb Marietta , Tagay Sefik , Breidenstein Anja , Hepp Tobias , Le Guin Claudia H. D. , Scheel Jennifer , Lohmann Dietmar R. , Bornfeld Norbert , Teufel Martin , Erim Yesim
Published: January 2020

Background

The risk of metastases in uveal melanoma can accurately be estimated through genetic analysis of the tumor. A growing number of patients decide to receive information on their prognosis, although this can be extremely burdensome. Studies on the psychosocial impact of testing are sparse. The objective of this study was to examine traits of patients opting for prognostication, to investigate its psychosocial impact and the use of psycho-oncological services over time. We further examined characteristics of patients utilizing these services and risk factors of prolonged psychological distress.

Design and methods

This study is a non-randomized controlled prospective clinical observational trial. Patients availing for prognostication formed the test group, while those who opted out constituted the observational group. The psychosocial impact of genetic testing was assessed with the following variables: resilience, social support, fear of tumor progression, depression, general distress, health-related quality of life, estimation of the perceived risk, and the utilization of psycho-oncological interventions. Data were assessed at five different time points over a period of 12 months. We applied binary logistic regression analysis, multiple linear regressions and a mixed model.

Results

Of 175 patients, 63 decided to obtain prognostic information. Treatment method (enucleation > brachytherapy), lower social support and higher general distress could significantly predict patient’s choice for prognostic testing. After result announcement, perceived risk of metastases was significantly increased in patients with poor prognosis, while it decreased in those with good prognosis. Overall, a significant decrease over time appeared concerning fear of progression, general distress, depression and anxiety. Mental quality of life increased over time. The utilization of psycho-oncological interventions increased significantly after prognostication; however, this was equivalent in the test and observational groups. Female sex, higher general distress and higher anxiety predicted greater use of psycho-oncological interventions.

Discussion

Availing of prognostic testing is not associated with poorer subsequent psychological well-being. It rather may help to alleviate distress and promote a more realistic risk perception. However, psychological support should be available to all patients, independent of prognosis and treatment, especially considering that patients with low social support and high distress increasingly opt for prognostication.
The clinical effects of school sandplay group therapy on general children with a focus on Korea Child & Youth Personality Test
Authors: Kwak Hyeon Jeong , Ahn Un Kyoung , Lim Myung Ho
Published: January 2020

Background

This study intended to examine the comprehensive clinical effects of school sandplay group counseling on the emotions and behaviors of children for the first time in Korea.

Methods

To this objective, 10 sessions of in-school sandplay group counseling were administered to 113 fourth- to sixth-graders in an elementary school located in Cheonan city for 12 weeks from March to July 2015. Each small group consisted of 10 to 16 children and the entire 12 sessions were composed of a baseline test, 10 therapy sessions, and a post-test and evaluation session. The study subjects consisted of 56 boys (49.6%) and 57 girls (50.4%). As the evaluation instruments, an epidemiologic questionnaire and the Korea Child & Youth Personality Test were used during the baseline phase and after the termination of the counseling.

Results

The comparison of the scores according to the KCYP clinical scales and detailed evaluation scales before and after the 12-week counseling showed an increase in the self-esteem and a significant decline in depression in the elementary students after the counseling.

Conclusion

It is deemed that school sandplay group counseling can help elementary school students to solve emotional problems and improve their self-esteem.
Reviving WHAAM! a comparative evaluation of cleaning systems for the conservation treatment of Roy Lichtenstein’s iconic painting
Authors: Bartoletti Angelica , Barker Rachel , Chelazzi David , Bonelli Nicole , Baglioni Piero , Lee Judith , Angelova Lora V. , Ormsby Bronwyn
Published: January 2020

Roy Lichtenstein’s Whaam! (1963) is an iconic artwork in Tate’s collection (T00897). Over the past 50 years, the painting has been on almost continuous display and had accrued a layer of deposited soiling, which resulted in the dampening of Lichtenstein’s vibrant colours and the masking of numerous subtleties across the painting surface. This paper outlines the design and execution of an optimal soiling removal strategy for this challenging work; utilising collaborative, practice-based research. The conservation treatment employed was derived through an iterative process that reflected and supported the conservation decision-making process. The research strands included: technical and art historical investigations to determine the materials and construction of Whaam! and to define the aims of the conservation treatment; preparation of accelerated aged and artificially soiled test (mock-up) paint samples based on contemporary equivalent materials and a comparative evaluation of a range of established and novel soil-removal systems, followed by further tailoring for use on the work of art. The range of cleaning systems evaluated included free-solvents, gels and emulsifiers; which were documented using star diagrams, digital microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. After a rigorous process of assessment and refinement, the strategy taken forward to Whaam! included the use of a polyvinyl alcohol-based polymeric hydrogel (Nanorestore Gel® Peggy 6), uploaded with tailored aqueous solutions. This process facilitated a low risk, controlled and even-removal of the soiling layer, enabling the successful treatment of this sensitive painting for the first time in the painting’s history.
In vitro comparison between inspiration synchronized and continuous vibrating mesh nebulizer during trans-nasal aerosol delivery
Authors: Li Jie , Wu Wei , Fink James B.
Published: January 2020

Background

Compared to continuous vibrating mesh nebulizer (VMN), inspiration synchronized VMN has shown increased inhaled dose during noninvasive ventilation; however, its use during aerosol delivery via high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is still unknown.

Methods

An adult manikin was connected to a dual-chamber model lung, which was driven by a critical care ventilator to simulate spontaneous breathing. A HFNC system was utilized with temperature at 37 ° C while gas flow at 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 L/min. Inspiration synchronized and continuous aerosol generation were compared at different positions (at the inlet of humidifier vs close to patient). One milliliter of albuterol (2.5 mg/mL) was used in each run (n= 3). Collection filter was placed at the trachea and was removed after each run. Drug was eluted from the filter and assayed with UV spectrophotometry (276 nm).

Results

When nebulizer was placed close to patient, inhaled dose was higher with inspiration synchronized than continuous aerosol generation at all gas flows (p= 0.05) except at 5 L/min. When placed at the inlet of humidifier, compared to continuous, inspiration synchronized aerosol generated higher inhaled dose with gas flow set below 50% of patient inspiratory flow [23.9 (20.6, 28.3)% vs 18.1 (16.7, 19.6)%,p< 0.001], but lower inhaled dose with gas flow set above 50% of patient inspiratory flow [3.5 (2.2, 9.3)% vs 9.9 (8.2, 16.4)%,p= 0.001]. Regardless of breathing pattern, continuous aerosol delivered greater inhaled dose with nebulizer placed at humidifier than close to patient at all gas flows except at 5 L/min.

Conclusion

When the HFNC gas flow was set higher than 50% of patient inspiratory flow, no significant advantage was found in inspiration synchronized over continuous aerosol. However, inspiration synchronized aerosol generated 30% more inhaled dose than continuous with gas flow set below 50% of patient inspiratory flow, regardless of nebulizer placement. Continuous nebulizer needs to be placed at the inlet of humidifier.
Axisymmetric deformation in transversely isotropic magneto-thermoelastic solid with Green–Naghdi III due to inclined load
Authors: Kaur Iqbal , Lata Parveen
Published: January 2020

The axisymmetric problem in two-dimensional transversely isotropic magneto-thermoelastic (TIMT) solid due to inclined load with Green–Naghdi (GN)-III theory and two temperature (2T) has been studied. The Laplace and Hankel transform has been used to get the expressions of temperature distribution, displacement, and stress components with the horizontal distance in the physical domain. The effect of Green–Naghdi theories of type I, II, and III theories of thermoelasticity has been studied graphically on the resulting quantities. A special case for the magneto-thermoelastic isotropic medium has also been studied.
Cost-effectiveness and value of information analysis of a low-friction environment following skin graft in patients with burn injury
Authors: Kandiyali Rebecca , Thom Howard , Young Amber E. , Greenwood Rosemary , Welton Nicky J.
Published: January 2020

Background

Patients with burn injuries may receive a skin graft to achieve healing in a timely manner. However, in around 7% of cases, the skin graft is lost (fails to attach to the wound site) and a re-grafting procedure is necessary. It has been hypothesised that low-friction (smooth, more slippery) bedding may reduce the risk of skin-graft loss. A before and after feasibility study comparing low-friction with standard bedding in skin-grafted patients was conducted in order to collect proof of concept data. The resulting relative risk on the primary outcome (number of patients with skin graft failure) for the non-randomised study provided no evidence of effect but had a large standard error. The aim of this study is to see if an appropriately powered randomised control trial would be worthwhile.

Methods

A probabilistic decision-analytic model was constructed to compare low-friction bedding to standard care in a population of burn patients who have undergone skin grafting. Results from the before and after study were used as model inputs. The sensitivity of results to bias in the relative risk of graft loss was conducted. Low-friction bedding is considered optimal if expected incremental net benefit (INB) is positive. Uncertainty is assessed using cost-effectiveness acceptability curves. Expected Value of Perfect Partial Information (EVPPI) provides an upper bound for the potential net health benefits of new research for given model input.

Results

At a willingness to pay threshold of £20,000 per QALY, INB = £151 (95% Credible Interval (CrI) −142 to 814), marginally favouring low-friction bedding but with high uncertainty (probability of being cost-effective 70.5%). Expected value of perfect information (EVPI) per patient was £20.29, which results in a population EVPI of £174,765 over a 10-year lifetime for the technology (based on 1000 patients per year who would benefit from the intervention). The parameter contributing most to the uncertainty was the inpatient care cost, i.e. information that could be obtained from the audit of practice and without an expensive trial. These findings were robust to a wide-range of assumptions about the potential bias due to the observational nature of the comparative evidence.

Conclusions

Our study results suggest that an RCT (randomised controlled trial) is unlikely to be worthwhile, but there may be value in a study to estimate the re-graft rates and associated costs in this population.
Medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Ammodaucus leucotrichus
Authors: Idm’hand Elhassan , Msanda Fouad , Cherifi Khalil
Published: January 2020

This review summarizes selected scientific evidence on phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of Ammodaucus leucotrichus. Information was gathered via the Internet (using Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Springer, Science Direct, Researchgate and Web of Science) as well as from libraries and local books. Ammodaucus leucotrichus (A. leucotrichus), belongs to the family Apiaceae, has been reported to possess a wide range of traditional medicinal uses including in diarrhea, cough, pulmonary diseases, anorexia, allergy, tachycardia, helminthiasis, stomach pain, gastralgias, otitis, indigestion, cold, fever, anorexia and cardiac diseases. Phytochemical investigations revealed that this plant possesses many bioactive chemical constituents including monoterpenes and their derivatives, sesquiterpenes and their derivatives, tannins, anthracenes compounds, sterols, triterpenes, reducing compounds, alkaloids, phenol acids, saponins, flavonoids and coumarins. The most important pharmacological activities are antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterase and cytotoxicity activities. Ammodaucus leucotrichus has potential for the treatment of a wide range of diseases and has been well studied for its phytochemical properties. However, further scientific studies are needed to explore mechanisms of actions, adverse effects of the extracts, toxicity and the therapeutic effect of major secondary metabolites.
Current status of surgery-first approach (part III): the use of 3D technology and the implication in obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Jung Junho , Moon Seung-Hwan , Kwon Yong-Dae
Published: January 2020

Considering psychosocial needs of patients, it is not surprising that surgery-first approach (SFA) is becoming more popular than ever. Although the concept of SFA was introduced a few decades ago, the limitation of analysis method based on two-dimensional images makes surgeons reluctant to choose SFA. Recently, the advancement of three-dimensional technology allows us to perform SFA even without minimal pre-surgical orthodontic treatment, and the prediction of surgical outcome became more accurate, especially in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients to whom the advantages of SFA should be more significant. Here, we describe the current trend of SFA and its implication in OSA patients.
Exploration of miRNAs in Neolamarckia cadamba and their potential cross-kingdom functions
Authors: He Jia-Jian , Ye Rui , Chen Ting , Xi Qian-Yun , Luo Jun-Yi , Zhang Hao-Jie , Wu Jia-Han , Sun Jia-Jie , Zhang Yong-Liang
Published: January 2020

Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser (Rubiaceae) is a widespread plant with medicine value and has been used for treating various diseases, such as coughs, fevers, anemia, blood disorders and stomach pains. It had been reported that plant miRNAs might enter mammalian intestines and exert a special ingredient across the different species. However, the knowledge about miRNAs in N.cadamba is scarce. In this study, we first applied high-throughput sequencing to identify miRNAs in N.cadamba. Sequencing revealed a total of 11,285,965 raw reads in the small RNA library of N.cadamba leaves. By bioinformatics analysis, we identified a total of 192 miRNAs, including 167 conserved miRNAs and 25 novel miRNAs, which were distributed among 30 families. Next, we used miRanda to predict the targets of those miRNAs in human, 4030 target genes were predicted. Furthermore, Gene ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses indicated that the identified miRNAs majored in binding, vibrio cholerae infection and insulin signaling, which were likely to provide valuable references for further understanding of medical functions of N. cadamba.
Building a bioelectronic medicine movement 2019: insights from leaders in industry, academia, and research
Authors:   Alliance for Advancing Bioelectronic Medicine
Published: January 2020

In April 2019, a select group of medical, academic, and private-sector leaders in bioelectronic medicine convened in Geneva to discuss the potential for building a cross-disciplinary movement that would advance the field with key stakeholders – both those who are already active in research and commercialization as well as those who will influence the pace of development and uptake of innovative technologies and treatments. Hosted by BioSig Technologies and physicians from the Mayo Clinic, the roundtable was unique in its focus on what it will take to advance awareness of bioelectronic medicine, including a shared definition, unified narrative, and set of tailored messages to win over key audiences. The attendees developed a consensus on these issues and agreed to form a working group beyond the roundtable, which has since evolved into the Alliance for Advancing Bioelectronic Medicine. This meeting report summarizes the key insights from the roundtable, including a call to action aimed at accelerating growth and collaboration across the field.
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV): a commentary on potential therapeutic benefit for the management of obesity and diabetes
Authors: Abioye Amos , Ayodele Oladapo , Marinkovic Aleksandra , Patidar Risha , Akinwekomi Adeola , Sanyaolu Adekunle
Published: January 2020

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) is a cannabis-derived compound with unique properties that set it apart from the more common cannabinoids, such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The main advantage of THCV over THC is the lack of psychoactive effects. In rodent studies, THCV decreases appetite, increases satiety, and up-regulates energy metabolism, making it a clinically useful remedy for weight loss and management of obesity and type 2 diabetic patients. The distinctions between THCV and THC in terms of glycemic control, glucose metabolism, and energy regulation have been demonstrated in previous studies. Also, the effect of THCV on dyslipidemia and glycemic control in type 2 diabetics showed reduced fasting plasma glucose concentration when compared to a placebo group. In contrast, THC is indicated in individuals with cachexia. However, the uniquely diverse properties of THCV provide neuroprotection, appetite suppression, glycemic control, and reduced side effects, etc.; therefore, making it a potential priority candidate for the development of clinically useful therapies in the future. Hopefully, THCV could provide an optional platform for the treatment of life-threatening diseases.
How EU-funded Smart City experiments influence modes of planning for mobility: observations from Hamburg
Authors: Späth Philipp , Knieling Jörg
Published: January 2020

Hamburg participates in the EU-funded research and development project mySMARTlife (mSL) with experiments involving smart city technologies, among others in the field of transportation infrastructure. These experiments are shaped by a public-private consortium in accordance with a call of the EU research and innovation program “Horizon 2020”. They focus on close to the market technologies. The experiments aim at citizen participation. Yet, what technologies are experimented with has been decided and contractually fixed by the consortium beforehand. We explore tensions in this kind of setup, and how entrenched approaches to planning of transportation infrastructure are challenged by new subjectivities, expectations, standards and procedures. From our perspective, it is highly questionable whether a purely expert driven process can produce outcomes that sufficiently reflects local residents’ ideas of sustainable and appropriate changes to urban infrastructures. For this reason, candidate ‘solutions’ for future mobility demands should be exposed to societal deliberation at an earlier stage in their development.

Our exploration of (possible) interplays between such an experimental approach to the shaping of infrastructures and the pre-existing integrated approach to planning has been a modest first step, and more empirical research would be needed to draw solid conclusions. It seems worthwhile to analyse more deeply the in- and exclusiveness of the actor constellations in such processes, the role of coincidences or strategies behind the selection of partners, and a possible gate-keeper function of the process initiator.
Recent Research in Science Teaching and Learning
Authors: Eddy Sarah L.
Published: January 2020

The Current Insights feature is designed to introduce life science educators and researchers to current articles of interest in other social science and education journals. In this installment, I highlight three diverse research studies: one exploring classroom talk and how it impacts conceptual learning; one identifying a unique influence on evolution acceptance: statistical understanding; and the last a genetics lesson that reduces racial bias.
Risky Business: Accidental Encounters in Heather McHugh’s Poems
Authors: Ingram Claudia
Published: January 2020

Facing a world of mutually impinging processes, of which climate and economic systems are only the most worrisome, critics in several disciplines suggest that human actors reimagine our inevitable implication in plural, shifting, evolving networks. Steve Mentz suggests a model of buoyancy, a self-imagination in which we maneuver as swimmers might in seas immeasurably larger than ourselves. William Connolly develops a notion of “vitality,” understood as responsiveness to moments of transformation that exceed our conscious designs. Both suggest that dreams of mastery blind us to crosscurrents in enduring and evolving systems. Heather McHugh’s poems invite us to read not for the solace of masterable meaning but for the chance and risk of aleatory encounter and its unpredictable elaboration. Even in elegy, traditionally poetry’s moment of discursive mastery, her poems give full play to discontinuity and difference as the conditions of reading—not least the discontinuities in a historical and evolving language. Beyond elegy, McHugh’s poems invite the reading of generative accidents, a practice that has analogues in reading a plural and uncertain world.
The Long-Run Impacts of Specialized Programming for High-Achieving Students
Authors: Cohodes Sarah R.
Published: January 2020

I evaluate long-run academic impacts of specialized programming for high-achieving students by analyzing Advanced Work Class (AWC), an accelerated curriculum delivered in dedicated classrooms for fourth through sixth graders in Boston Public Schools. Fuzzy regression discontinuity estimates show that AWC has positive yet imprecise impacts on test scores and improves longer-term outcomes, increasing high school graduation and college enrollment. These gains are driven by black and Latino students. An analysis of mechanisms highlights the importance of staying “on track” throughout high school, with little evidence that AWC gains result from peer effects. (JEL H75, I21, I28, J15)
Do Human Capital Decisions Respond to the Returns to Education? Evidence from DACA
Authors: Kuka Elira , Shenhav Na’ama , Shih Kevin
Published: January 2020

This paper studies human capital responses to the availability of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides temporary work authorization and deferral from deportation for undocumented, high-school-educated youth. We use a sample of young adults that migrated to the United States as children to implement a difference-in-difference design that compares noncitizen immigrants (“eligible”) to citizen immigrants (“ineligible”) over time. We find that DACA significantly increased high school attendance and high school graduation rates, reducing the citizen-noncitizen gap in graduation by 40 percent. We also find positive, though imprecise, impacts on college attendance. (JEL H52, I21, I26, J13, J15, J24)
O Estado que mata e comemora: estigma e violência como atuação política
Authors: Mostaro Milene Gomes , Mostaro Filipe Fernandes Ribeiro
Published: January 2020

O presente artigo analisou as narrativas da edição do jornal O Globo sobre a performance adotada pelo Estado no caso do, então intitulado “sequestro na ponte”, ocorrido no dia 20 de Agosto de 2019. Buscando elencar e destrinchar os discursos de uma violência legitimada por parte do governo Witzel desde o início do seu mandato, tecemos uma trajetória do discurso do medo e da violência contra determinados grupos sociais, que na elaboração das situações sociais são estigmatizados e, consequentemente, criminalizados desde o período pós-abolição até os dias atuais. Concluímos que o periódico carioca naturalizou as ações do atirador como necessárias para estabelecer a “ordem”.
Mulheres e espaço público: invisibilidade social feminina e o direito ao voto no Brasil
Authors: Falcão Paula
Published: January 2020

Durante séculos, os interesses sociais relegaram a atuação da mulher ao espaço doméstico e a do homem, ao espaço público. Trata-se de uma ordem política que se ampara na construção de papéis sociais masculino e feminino fundamentalmente distintos e que delimita, inclusive espacialmente, a atuação do homem e da mulher. Este trabalho apresenta uma reflexão sobre a invisibilidade feminina, bem como sobre a atuação da mulher no espaço público, em um contexto de desigualdade de gêneros e consequente opressão e silenciamento das mulheres. Para discutir o lugar historicamente determinado à mulher na sociedade, serão analisadas as relações de poder estabelecidas na dicotomia entre os sexos masculino e feminino. A invisibilização social feminina, bem como suas lutas pela participação ativa na vida política são o cerne deste trabalho, com foco especial no cenário feminista brasileiro na primeira metade do século XX e na conquista do sufrágio feminino no Brasil.
De folheto litúrgico a ocupação cultural – práticas de resistência contra autoritarismos
Authors: Sampaio Mateus , Iliescu Diana
Published: January 2020

Este artigo pretende aproximar dois contextos históricos distintos nos quais os princípios republicanos, direitos humanos e as formas de organizações sociais foram reprimidas politicamente no Brasil. Conceitos de Pierre Bourdieu reforçam a análise de diferentes práticas dos agentes subjugados pela tradição autoritária após o golpe de 1964 e o neogolpe de 2016.
All disease begins in the (leaky) gut: role of zonulin-mediated gut permeability in the pathogenesis of some chronic inflammatory diseases
Authors: Fasano Alessio
Published: January 2020

Improved hygiene leading to reduced exposure to microorganisms has been implicated as one possible cause for the recent “epidemic” of chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs) in industrialized countries. That is the essence of the hygiene hypothesis that argues that rising incidence of CIDs may be, at least in part, the result of lifestyle and environmental changes that have made us too “clean” for our own good, so causing changes in our microbiota. Apart from genetic makeup and exposure to environmental triggers, inappropriate increase in intestinal permeability (which may be influenced by the composition of the gut microbiota), a “hyper-belligerent” immune system responsible for the tolerance–immune response balance, and the composition of gut microbiome and its epigenetic influence on the host genomic expression have been identified as three additional elements in causing CIDs. During the past decade, a growing number of publications have focused on human genetics, the gut microbiome, and proteomics, suggesting that loss of mucosal barrier function, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract, may substantially affect antigen trafficking, ultimately influencing the close bidirectional interaction between gut microbiome and our immune system. This cross-talk is highly influential in shaping the host gut immune system function and ultimately shifting genetic predisposition to clinical outcome. This observation led to a re-visitation of the possible causes of CIDs epidemics, suggesting a key pathogenic role of gut permeability. Pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown that the zonulin family, a group of proteins modulating gut permeability, is implicated in a variety of CIDs, including autoimmune, infective, metabolic, and tumoral diseases. These data offer novel therapeutic targets for a variety of CIDs in which the zonulin pathway is implicated in their pathogenesis.
Aproximación a una tipología de los territorios en conflicto: el caso del Oriente de Caldas, Colombia
Authors: Castaño Urdinola Jessica Tatiana , Narváez  Medina Diego Antonio
Published: January 2020

Este artículo se construye a partir del proceso de investigación titulado “El conflicto como factor de transformación territorial en el Oriente de Caldas: un aporte al fortalecimiento de los vínculos de cooperación y de confianza institucional”, ejecutado en ocho municipios del departamento de Caldas, Colombia. En estos territorios han aflorado distintas expresiones del conflicto que han evidenciado las contradicciones que se dieron por el territorio y en el territorio. El objetivo de esta investigación es mostrar, de una parte, la importancia metodológica de las tipologías como instrumento para ordenar la realidad y, por otra parte, avanzar en la construcción teórica sobre la multiterritorialidad, derivada del proceso de transformación territorial que se ha dado en la región. Haciendo uso de las categorías tipo como recurso metodológico, se concluye que el conflicto social, entendido como una categoría relacional, potencia cambios socioespaciales a partir de las contradicciones que se producen entre distintos actores individuales o colectivos.
Iniciativas de desarrollo en la zona río abajo del municipio de Ameca, Jalisco (México) en el periodo 1990-2017
Authors: Rodríguez Cobián Pedro Emmanuel , Bernal Zepeda Manuel
Published: January 2020

Las iniciativas de desarrollo local son respuestas colectivas que buscan el desarrollo de una localidad o región. Tienen la finalidad de mejorar las condiciones de vida del entorno social mediante la generación de empleo, infraestructura y servicios públicos. Existe una participación latente por parte de la comunidad para colaborar en la solución de los problemas que se viven dentro de esta, los cuales utilizan los recursos que están dentro o fuera del territorio. El trabajo está enmarcado en una zona rural del municipio de Ameca, Jalisco, conocida como la zona río abajo, la cual está compuesta por 17 localidades de menos de mil habitantes, durante el periodo de 1990-2017. El estudio es de tipo explicativo y la información proviene de la entrevista a informantes clave de las localidades de la zona de estudio. Los resultados del estudio permitieron identificar 34 iniciativas de desarrollo local, de las cuales cuatro son de desarrollo económico local y treinta iniciativas de desarrollo local.
Disparidad espacial y gentrificación en la densificación de los primeros suburbios latinoamericanos. La experiencia del Decreto 562 en Bogotá
Authors: Yunda Juan G.
Published: January 2020

Los ‘primeros suburbios’ son barrios inicialmente periféricos en las ciudades latinoamericanas, pero ahora centrales. La literatura sugiere que necesitan renovación debido al excesivo uso de sus viviendas e infraestructura. Esta renovación es importante en marco de los debates alrededor de subsidiar unidades baratas y periféricas. En Bogotá, se introdujo el Decreto 562, que permitió la construcción de edificaciones de vivienda en altura en áreas centrales para incentivar su renova­ción. Este estudio analizó sus resultados en el marco de las disparidades espaciales de la ciudad, utilizando datos de licencias de construcción y conversaciones con promotores. Los resultados muestran que fue exitosa en incentivar la densificación de los primeros suburbios. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los proyectos siguieron los patrones tradicionales de inversión, mayoritariamente para población de alto ingreso en la cuña norte de la ciudad, pero se encontraron también nuevas dinámicas de edificaciones de vivienda en altura fuera de estas áreas.