bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic profile of leukemia cells influences treatment efficacy of L-asparaginase
Authors: Hlozkova Katerina , Pecinova Alena , Alquezar-Artieda Natividad , Pajuelo-Reguera David , Simcikova Marketa , Hovorkova Lenka , Rejlova Katerina , Zaliova Marketa , Mracek Tomas , Kolenova Alexandra , Stary Jan , Trka Jan , Starkova Julia
Published: June 2020

Background

Effectiveness of L-asparaginase administration in acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment is mirrored in the overall outcome of patients. Generally, leukemia patients differ in their sensitivity to L-asparaginase; however, the mechanism underlying their inter-individual differences is still not fully understood. We have previously shown that L-asparaginase rewires the biosynthetic and bioenergetic pathways of leukemia cells to activate both anti-leukemic and pro-survival processes. Herein, we investigated the relationship between the metabolic profile of leukemia cells and their sensitivity to currently used cytostatic drugs.

Methods

Altogether, 19 leukemia cell lines, primary leukemia cells from 26 patients and 2 healthy controls were used. Glycolytic function and mitochondrial respiration were measured using Seahorse Bioanalyzer. Sensitivity to cytostatics was measured using MTS assay and/or absolute count and flow cytometry. Mitochondrial membrane potential was determined as TMRE fluorescence.

Results

Using cell lines and primary patient samples we characterized the basal metabolic state of cells derived from different leukemia subtypes and assessed their sensitivity to cytostatic drugs. We found that leukemia cells cluster into distinct groups according to their metabolic profile. Lymphoid leukemia cell lines and patients sensitive to L-asparaginase clustered into the low glycolytic cluster. While lymphoid leukemia cells with lower sensitivity to L-asparaginase together with resistant normal mononuclear blood cells gathered into the high glycolytic cluster. Furthermore, we observed a correlation of specific metabolic parameters with the sensitivity to L-asparaginase. Greater ATP-linked respiration and lower basal mitochondrial membrane potential in cells significantly correlated with higher sensitivity to L-asparaginase. No such correlation was found in the other cytostatic drugs tested by us.

Conclusions

These data support that cell metabolism plays a prominent role in the treatment effect of L-asparaginase. Based on these findings, leukemia patients with lower sensitivity to L-asparaginase with no specific genetic characterization could be identified by their metabolic profile.
Endogenous Endophthalmitis successfully treated with Intravitreal Povidone-iodine injection: a case report
Authors: Tanaka Hiroki , Nakashizuka Hiroyuki , Mizuno Yoshinobu , Hattori Takayuki
Published: June 2020

Background

The usefulness of povidone-iodine as an alternative to antimicrobial agents, for endophthalmitis, has recently been documented. We report a case of endogenous endophthalmitis successfully treated with intravitreal injection of povidone-iodine.

Case presentation

An 88-year-old woman underwent small bowel bypass surgery for postoperative ileus following rectal cancer resection. She developed a fever during total parenteral nutrition and was diagnosed with gram-positive cocci bacteremia of central venous catheter origin. The patient was referred to our department with chief complaints of ocular pain, hyperemia and decreased vision in the right eye, which had manifested during the febrile period. The initial examination revealed the visual acuity in her right eye to be finger counting and that in her left eye 0.2. The right eye showed a severe inflammatory reaction in the anterior chamber, fibrin deposition, and hypopyon. The fundus was difficult to visualize. Endogenous endophthalmitis due to bacteria was diagnosed.

Surgical treatment was judged to be difficult based on the patient’s poor general condition and mental status, and intravitreal injection of 0.1 ml of 1.25% povidone-iodine was performed on the same day. The inflammation rapidly diminished, and the hypopyon had disappeared 4 days after treatment. The fundus became visible 7 days after treatment and there was no recurrence of endophthalmitis findings. The visual acuity in her right eye recovered to that in the left eye (0.2).

Conclusion

Intravitreal injection of povidone-iodine is potentially useful and effective as an alternative treatment of antibiotics for endogenous endophthalmitis patients, especially in whom surgical therapy is difficult.
Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in a patient with traumatic cataract and corneal opacity after LASIK: a case report
Authors: Huang Pei-Wei , Huang Wei-Hsuan , Tai Yuan-Che , Sun Chi-Chin
Published: June 2020

Background

Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) has been reported to reduce phacoemulsification time and energy compared to the manual phacoemulsification technique. This technique has been used in several complex cases such as zonular weakness, subluxated lens and traumatic cataracts because it causes less damage to weakened zonules. However, corneal opacity is considered a relative contraindication to FLACS, as it may interfere with laser beam delivery, thus causing unpredictable capsulorhexis and lens fragmentation/liquefaction.

Case presentation

We present here a case with traumatic cataract and corneal opacity after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). The patient was successfully treated using FLACS, capsular tension ring and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Posterior capsule rupture and vitreous loss were noted during the operation. However, the intraocular lens was successfully captured because of a complete capsulorhexis performed by FLACS.

Conclusion

This case report demonstrates that FLACS is a useful tool in selected patients with concurrent corneal opacity and traumatic cataract.
Correlates of screen time and mediators of differences by parental education among adolescents
Authors: Gebremariam Mekdes K. , Henjum Sigrun , Terragni Laura , Torheim Liv Elin
Published: June 2020

Background

Existing literature shows that there is an inverse association between socioeconomic position and screen time among adolescents. What is less known is the mechanism behind these differences. The study aimed to explore individual, interpersonal and neighborhood environmental correlates of total screen time (TST) among adolescents and to assess their mediating role in the association between parental education and TST.

Methods

A cross-sectional study including 706 adolescents (mean age of 13.6 (SD = 0.3)) was used to collect data at schools through an online questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses were used to explore factors associated with TST. Mediation analyses were conducted to assess whether these factors mediated the association between parental education and TST.

Results

Multiple linear regression analyses, adjusted for gender and age, showed that parental modelling of TV and movie streaming, TV/movie streaming during dinner and access to screens were positively related to TST. Self-efficacy towards limiting TV and movie streaming, self-efficacy towards limiting computer/electronic game use, and the perceived opportunities for physical activity in the neighborhood were inversely related to total screen time. All of these factors except self-efficacy towards limiting TV and movie streaming mediated the association between parental education and TST.

Conclusions

The study identified several modifiable factors at the individual, interpersonal and neighborhood environmental levels that can be targeted in interventions aimed at decreasing screen time among youth in general and among those with a low socioeconomic position in particular.
Association between Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) and depression and anxiety in the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder (MASHAD) Study population
Authors: Ghazizadeh Hamideh , Yaghooti-Khorasani Mahdiyeh , Asadi Zahra , Zare-Feyzabadi Reza , Saeidi Fatemeh , Shabani Niloofar , Safari-Ghalezou Mahshid , Yadegari Mehran , Nosrati-Tirkani Abolfazl , Shivappa Nitin , Hébert James R. , Moohebati Mohsen , Ferns Gordon A. , Esmaily Habibollah , Ghayour-Mobarhan Majid
Published: June 2020

Background

Systemic inflammation is emerging as an important factor in the etiology of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, the inflammatory potential of the diet may also be an etiological factor for these conditions, and this may be estimated by calculating the dietary inflammatory index (DII®) score. We aimed to investigate the association between DII score and incidence of depression and anxiety among a representative sample in northeastern Iran.

Methods

This cross-sectional study undertook in a sub-sample of 7083 adults aged 35 to 65 years recruited as part of Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) cohort study population, and after excluding subjects with incomplete data. All participants completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and a validated 65-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between DII score and depression/anxiety score.

Results

Of the study participants, 37.1% (n = 2631) were found to have mild to severe depression, and 50.5% (n = 3580) were affected by mild to severe anxiety. After adjusting for confounding factors, in women, the third (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.06–1.88, p-values< 0.05) and fourth quartiles (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.03–1.83, p-values< 0.05) of DII score were associated with increased risk of a high depression score compared to the first quartile of DII score.

Conclusion

There was a significant association between DII score and severe depression among women but not men in this Iranian population. In order to confirm the association between DII food score, depression, and anxiety, further research is required in different populations, and perhaps an intervention study.
Relationships between abnormal neural activities and cognitive impairments in patients with drug-naive first-episode schizophrenia
Authors: Yan Wei , Zhang Rongrong , Zhou Min , Lu Shuiping , Li Wenmei , Xie Shiping , Zhang Ning
Published: June 2020

Background

Prior resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging studies (rs-fMRI) via the regional homogeneity (ReHo) method have demonstrated inconsistent and conflicting results because of several confounding factors, such as small sample size, medicinal influence, and illness duration. Relationships between ReHo measures and cognitive impairments in patients with drug-naive First-Episode Schizophrenia (dn-FES) are rarely reported. This study was conducted to explore the correlations between ReHo measures and cognitive deficits and clinical symptoms in patients with dn-FES.

Methods

A total of 69 patients with dn-FES and 74 healthy controls were recruited. MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), and Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were used to assess cognitive function, Intelligence Quotient (IQ), and clinical symptoms, respectively. The correlations between ReHo maps and cognitive deficits and the severity of symptoms were examined using strict correlation analysis.

Results

ReHo values in right Middle Frontal Gyrus (MFG) and Superior Frontal Gyrus (SFG) increased in dn-FES group, whereas ReHo values in right cuneus decreased. Correlation analysis showed that the ReHo values in right MFG positively correlated with attention/vigilance impairments, social cognition deficits, and the severity of clinical manifestations.

Conclusions

These findings suggested that abnormal spontaneous activities in right MFG reflect illness severity and cognitive deficits, which also serve as a basis for establishing objective diagnostic markers and might be a clinical intervention target for treating patients with schizophrenia.
Global health systems partnerships: a mixed methods analysis of Mozambique’s HPV vaccine delivery network actors
Authors: Soi Caroline , Shearer Jessica , Chilundo Baltazar , Muchanga Vasco , Matsinhe Luisa , Gimbel Sarah , Sherr Kenneth
Published: June 2020

Background

Global health partnerships have expanded exponentially in the last two decades with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance considered the model’s pioneer and leader because of its vaccination programs’ implementation mechanism. Gavi, relies on diverse domestic and international partners to carry out the programs in low- and middle-income countries under a partnership engagement framework (PEF). In this study, we utilized mixed methods to examine Mozambique’s Gavi driven partnership network which delivered human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine during the demonstration phase.

Methods

Qualitative tools gauged contextual factors, prerequisites, partner performance and practices while a social network analysis (SNA) survey measured the partnership structure and perceived added value in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and country ownership. Forty key informants who were interviewed included frontline Ministry of Health workers, Ministry of Education staff and supporting partner organization members, of whom 34 participated in the social network analysis survey.

Results

Partnership structure SNA connectivity measurement scores of reachability (100%) and average distance (2.5), were high, revealing a network of very well-connected HPV vaccination implementation collaborators. Such high scores reflect a network structure favorable for rapid and widespread diffusion of information, features necessary for engaging and handling multiple implementation scales. High SNA effectiveness and efficiency measures for structural holes (85%) and low redundancy (30%) coupled with high mean perceived effectiveness (97.6%) and efficiency (79.5%) network outcome scores were observed. Additionally, the tie strength average score of 4.1 on a scale of 5 denoted high professional trust. These are all markers of a collaborative partnership environment in which disparate institutions and organizations leveraged each entity’s comparative advantage. Lower perceived outcome scores for country ownership (24%) were found, with participants citing the prominent role of several out-of-country partner organizations as a major obstacle.

Conclusions

While there is room for improvement on the country ownership aspects of the partnership, the expanded, diverse and inclusive collaboration of institutions and organizations that implemented the Mozambique HPV vaccine demonstration project was effective and efficient. We recommend that the country adapt a similar model during national scale up of HPV vaccination.
Private well stewardship within a rural, agricultural Latino community: a qualitative study
Authors: VanDerGeest Kori , Ko Linda K. , Karr Catherine , Torres Elizabeth , Drury Dennise , Austin Elena
Published: June 2020

Background

Nitrate contamination in groundwater disproportionately impacts agricultural Latino communities, creating a significant hazard for Latinos that rely on private wells. Private well users must conduct water testing and other well stewardship behaviors to ensure that their well water is safe to drink. This study sought to identify the key factors impacting private well water testing behavior in rural, agricultural Latino communities.

Methods

We conducted 4 focus groups with private well users, 2 in Spanish and 2 in English. We recruited 37 participants from the Lower Yakima Valley, Washington State, a rural, agricultural community with a large Latino population and elevated nitrate concentrations in groundwater. A semi-structured interview guide was developed to capture factors impacting testing as guided by the Risk, Attitudes, Norms, Ability, and Self-Regulation (RANAS) model. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted by two coders to identify common themes.

Results

Themes emerged around the factors impacting well stewardship, including well water testing, treatment, and maintenance, and were not specific to nitrate contamination. Private well users reported many of the same factors reported in other communities, with the exception of home repair experience and challenges around landlords and neighbors on shared wells, which have not been reported previously. In addition to landlords and neighbors, lack of actionable information, economic limitations, and lack of technical support emerged as factors that made well stewardship burdensome for individuals. The majority of participants reported using bottled water, including many who used point-of-use or point-of-entry water treatment systems.

Conclusions

The burden of well stewardship in rural, agricultural Latino communities may suggest the need for interventions at the community, county, or state levels and not at the individual level alone. Additionally, the role of landlords, neighbors on shared wells, and home repair experience in well stewardship represent important areas of exploration for researchers and public health practitioners.
Prevalence and predictors of overweight and obesity among women in the Gaza strip-Palestine: a cross-sectional study
Authors: El Kishawi Rima Rafiq , Soo Kah Leng , Abed Yehia Awad , Muda Wan Abdul Manan Wan
Published: June 2020

Background

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of childbearing age is considered a public health concern. Few studies have been conducted in the Gaza Strip to determine the magnitude of overweight and obesity. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity along with their associated factors among women in the Gaza Strip.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit a total of 357 mothers aged 18–50 years. Interviews were carried out among mothers to collect sociodemographic information, nutritional information, and physical activity. Anthropometric measurements [height, weight and waist circumference (WC)] were conducted with the mothers. Body Mass Index (BMI) was computed to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the associated factors of overweight and obesity.

Results

The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity among mothers was (64.1%). The results of multinomial logistic regression showed the risk of overweight and obesity increased with age, the highest risk being in mothers aged > 33.0 years (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: (1.06,6.86)), and (OR = 5.72, 95% CI: (2.07,15.78)), respectively, compared to mothers aged < 33.0 years. Moreover, mothers with medium and high educational levels had a slightly higher risk of obesity (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: (0.15,0.64)), and (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: (0.12,0.82)) respectively than mothers with low educational level. Household income was positively associated with overweight and obesity. Mothers exposed to higher monthly income were more likely to be overweight or obese (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: (1.20, 5.83)), and (OR = 3.06, 95% CI: (1.28,7.29)), respectively. Nutrition knowledge was significantly associated with a high prevalence of obesity (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: (1.03,1.38)).

Conclusions

This study showed a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity among Palestinian women than previous studies. Age, educational level, monthly income, and nutrition knowledge were associated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity, compared to other variables that were not associated with overweight and obesity such as location, work status, physical activity, and sitting hours. Urgent action is needed to tackle overweight and obesity among women. Effective intervention is required to increase nutrition knowledge among women to improve their eating behaviors.
A modified surgical technique of shortening renal ischemia time in left renal cancer patients with Mayo level II-IV tumor thrombus
Authors: Zhuo Liu , Guodong Zhu , Xun Zhao , Shiying Tang , Peng Hong , Li Zhang , Liwei Li , Shudong Zhang , Guoliang Wang , Xiaojun Tian , Cheng Liu , Hongxian Zhang , Lulin Ma
Published: June 2020

Background

To explore the safety and effectiveness of a modified surgical technique which could shorten the time of renal ischemia in left renal cancer and Mayo level II to IV inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus.

Method

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 14 cases with left renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and Mayo level II to IV IVC tumor thrombus from February 2015 to July 2019. Preoperative imaging showed that there was no obvious sign of tumor thrombus invading the blood vessel wall. During the surgery, after the right renal artery, the right renal vein and the distal end of IVC were blocked, the balloon catheter was used and the tumor thrombus was removed completely from the IVC. The incision of IVC was closed by Satinsky clamp to make IVC partially blocked. Then the right renal artery and right renal vein were released. The incision of IVC was sutured continuously. At last, the Satinsky clamp and the blocking band at the distal end of the IVC were released.

Result

There were 8 cases (57.1%) of Mayo level II, 3 cases (21.4%) of Mayo level III and 3 cases (21.4%) of Mayo level IV. The operation was successfully completed in all 14 patients. There were 2 cases (14.3%) operated by complete laparoscopic approach, 8 cases (57.1%) by open approach, and 4 patients (28.6%) by laparoscopic conversion to open approach. The occlusion time of right renal artery and vein (renal ischemia time) was 3 to 15 min, with an average of (6.8 ± 3.2) minutes. The mean time of IVC occlusion was (19.4 ± 4.9) min. Preoperative creatinine was 66 to 130 μmol/L, with an average of (96.6 ± 21.2) μmol/L. One week after operation, serum creatinine was 64 to 632 μmol/L, with an average of (132.4 ± 144.9) μmol/L. Among the 14 cases, 5 (42.9%) had early postoperative complications. Besides one of the 14 patients died in perioperative period, the median follow-up of other 13 cases was 10 months (range: 4–29 months). The 5 (35.7%) of the 14 cases were died of disease.

Conclusion

This modified procedure was relatively safe and effective in shortening the time of renal ischemia in left RCC patients with Mayo II to IV IVC tumor thrombus.
Readability of web-based sources about induced abortion: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Georgsson Susanne , Carlsson Tommy
Published: June 2020

Background

High-quality information is essential if clients who request an abortion are to reach informed decisions and feel prepared for the procedure, but little is known concerning the readability of web-based sources containing such material. The aim was to investigate the readability of web-based information about induced abortion.

Methods

The search engine Google was used to identify web pages about induced abortion, written in the English language. A total of 240 hits were screened and 236 web pages fulfilled the inclusion criteria. After correcting for duplicate hits, 185 web pages were included. The readability of the text-based content of each web page was determined with Flesch Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, Coleman-Liau Index, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook, and Flesch Reading Ease. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Kruskal-Wallis with Dunn’s test as post hoc analysis.

Results

Across all grade level measures, a small minority of the web pages had a readability corresponding to elementary school (n < 3, 1%), while the majority had readability corresponding to senior high school or above (n > 153, 65%). The means of the grade level measures ranged between 10.5 and 13.1, and the mean Flesch Reading Ease score was 45.3 (SD 13.6). Only weak correlations (rho < 0.2) were found between the readability measures and search rank in the hit lists. Consistently, web pages affiliated with health care had the least difficult readability and those affiliated with scientific sources had the most difficult readability.

Conclusions

Overall, web-based information about induced abortions has difficult readability. Incentives are needed to improve the readability of these texts and ensure that clients encounter understandable information so that they may reach informed decisions and feel adequately prepared when requesting an abortion.
Post-hospital medical respite care for homeless people in Denmark: a randomized controlled trial and cost-utility analysis
Authors: Bring Camilla , Kruse Marie , Ankarfeldt Mikkel Z. , Brünés Nina , Pedersen Maja , Petersen Janne , Andersen Ove
Published: June 2020

Background

Being homeless entails higher mortality, morbidity, and prevalence of psychiatric diseases. This leads to more frequent and expensive use of health care services. Medical respite care enables an opportunity to recuperate after a hospitalization and has shown a positive effect on readmissions, but little is known about the cost-effectiveness of medical respite care for homeless people discharged from acute hospitalization. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of a 2-week stay in post-hospital medical respite care.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial and cost-utility analysis, from a societal perspective, was conducted between April 2014 and March 2016. Homeless people aged > 18 years with an acute admission were included from 10 different hospitals in the Capital Region of Denmark. The intervention group (n = 53) was offered a 2-week medical respite care stay at a Red Cross facility and the control group (n = 43) was discharged without any extra help (usual care), but with the opportunity to seek help in shelters and from street nurses and doctors in the municipalities. The primary outcome was the difference in health care costs 3 months following inclusion in the study. Secondary outcomes were change in health-related quality of life and health care costs 6 months following inclusion in the study. Data were collected through Danish registries, financial management systems in the municipalities and at the Red Cross, and by using the EQ-5D questionnaire.

Results

After 3 and 6 months, the intervention group had €4761 (p = 0.10) and €8515 (p = 0.04) lower costs than the control group, respectively. Crude costs at 3 months were €8448 and €13,553 for the intervention and control group respectively. The higher costs in the control group were mainly related to acute admissions. Both groups had minor quality-adjusted life year gains.

Conclusions

This is the first randomized controlled trial to investigate the cost-effectiveness of a 2-week medical respite care stay for homeless people after hospitalization. The study showed that the intervention is cost-effective. Furthermore, this study illustrates that it is possible to perform research with satisfying follow-up with a target group that is hard to reach.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT02649595.
How well does Malaysia achieve value for money in public sector purchasing of medicines? Evidence from medicines procurement prices from 2010 to 2014
Authors: Hamzah NM , Perera P. N. , Rannan-Eliya R. P.
Published: June 2020

Background

Malaysia’s public healthcare sector provides a greater volume of medicines at lower overall cost compared to the private sector, indicating its importance in providing access to medicines for Malaysians. However, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has concerns about the continuous increase in the public sector medicines budget, and achieving efficiencies in medicines procurement is an important goal. The objectives of this study were to assess the overall trend in public sector pharmaceutical procurement efficiency from 2010 to 2014, and determine if the three different ways in which MOH procures medicines influence efficiency.

Methods

We matched medicines from the public sector procurement report by medicine formulation to medicines with a Management Sciences for Health (MSH) International Reference Price (IRP) for each year. Price ratios were calculated, and utilizing the information on quantity and expenditure for each product, summary measures of procurement efficiency were reported as quantity- and expenditure-weighted average price ratios (WAPRs) for each year. Utilizing MOH procurement data to obtain information on procurement type, a multiple regression analysis, controlling for factors that can influence prices, assessed whether procured efficiency (relative to IRPs) differed by MOH procurement type.

Results

Malaysia’s public sector purchased medicines at two to three times the IRP throughout the study period. However, procurement prices were relatively stable in terms of WAPRs each year (2.2 and 3.2 in 2010 to 1.9 and 2.9 in 2014 for quantity and expenditure WAPRs, respectively). Procurement efficiency did not vary between the three different methods of MOH procurement. Procurement efficiency of both imported originators and imported generics were significantly lower (P < 0.001 andP < 0.01) than local generic products, and medicine source and category influenced the procurement efficiency of each MOH procurement mechanism.

Conclusion

The design of different medicines procurement mechanisms, along with the balance between ensuring competitive procurement prices and adhering to national industry and procurement policies, have not been able to achieve lower public sector medicines procurement prices (relative to IRP). Introducing pooled procurement options along with continuous monitoring of procurement efficiency and exploring ways to improve price competition among local and foreign suppliers is recommended.
Predictive factors over time of health-related quality of life in COPD patients
Authors: Esteban Cristóbal , Arostegui Inmaculada , Aramburu Amaia , Moraza Javier , Najera-Zuloaga Josu , Aburto Myriam , Aizpiri Susana , Chasco Leyre , Quintana José M.
Published: June 2020

Background

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) should be seen as a tool that provides an overall view of the general clinical condition of a COPD patient. The aims of this study were to identify variables associated with HRQoL and whether they continue to have an influence in the medium term, during follow-up.

Methods

Overall, 543 patients with COPD were included in this prospective observational longitudinal study. At all four visits during a 5-year follow-up, the patients completed the Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), pulmonary function tests, the 6-min walk test (6MWT), and a physical activity (PA) questionnaire, among others measurements. Data on hospitalization for COPD exacerbations and comorbidities were retrieved from the personal electronic clinical record of each patient at every visit.

Results

The best fit to the data of the cohort was obtained with a beta-binomial distribution. The following variables were related over time to SGRQ components: age, inhaled medication, smoking habit, forced expiratory volume in one second, handgrip strength, 6MWT distance, body mass index, residual volume, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, PA (depending on level, 13 to 35% better HRQoL, in activity and impacts components), and hospitalizations (5 to 45% poorer HRQoL, depending on the component).

Conclusions

Among COPD patients, HRQoL was associated with the same variables throughout the study period (5-year follow-up), and the variables with the strongest influence were PA and hospitalizations.
Suboptimal response to GnRH-agonist trigger during oocyte cryopreservation: a case series
Authors: Russo Miguel , Liu Kimberly , Chan Crystal
Published: June 2020

Background

Random-start, controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) has advanced the field of fertility preservation, allowing patients to expedite fertility treatment and avoid further delays to their cancer therapy. This novel approach allows patients to initiate ovarian stimulation at any point, regardless of where they are in their menstrual cycle. Luteal-phase start (LPS) protocols describe treatment cycles where COS is initiated during the luteal-phase of the menstrual cycle. LPS protocols have not been studied or optimized to the same degree as conventional, early-follicular COS. Particularly, there is a paucity of evidence evaluating treatment outcomes using different trigger medications in LPS protocols. The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of using a GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) trigger in patients undergoing oocyte cryopreservation in LPS protocols.

Methods

This descriptive case series describes two patients, recently diagnosed with cancer, who underwent oocyte cryopreservation using an LPS protocol and a GnRH-a trigger at a university-affiliated, academic center.

Results

The patients described in our case series both failed to adequately respond to a GnRH-a trigger, based on their serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone 12 h after their GnRH-a trigger. They both required a single rescue dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Conclusions

These findings highlight the potential risk of a suboptimal response to a GnRH-a trigger in patients undergoing LPS, controlled ovarian stimulation for oocyte cryopreservation. This risk might be attributed to the downregulation of GnRH receptors by elevated serum progesterone levels during the luteal phase. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of a GnRH-a trigger during LPS controlled ovarian stimulation. This case series offers a number of management strategies to mitigate this risk and emphasizes the need for further research in this area.
Estrogen-ERα signaling and DNA hypomethylation co-regulate expression of stem cell protein PIWIL1 in ERα-positive endometrial cancer cells
Authors: Chen Zheng , Yang Hua-Jing , Lin Qin , Zhu Min-Jiao , Yu Ying-Ying , He Xiao-Ying , Wan Xiao-Ping
Published: June 2020

Background

We previously identified PIWIL1 as an oncogene involved in endometrial carcinogenesis. However, the mechanism of Piwil1 mediated regulation of tumorigenesis remains poorly understood.

Methods

The expression levels of target genes in endometrial cancer cells were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. Up- or down-regulation of ERα or PIWIL1 was achieved by transient transfection with expressing plasmids or short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Dual-luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) were used to demonstrate the ERα bound to the half estrogen response element (half-ERE) located in PIWIL1 promoter. The expression of PIWIL1 and ERα in endometrial carcinoma tissues were investigated using immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR. The proliferation ability of cancer cells were evaluated by MTT. Methylation status of the PIWIL1 promoter was detected by bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP).

Results

In the present study, we found that PIWIL1 mediated E2-stimulated cancer cell proliferation. In ERα-positive endometrial cancer cells, we demonstrated that estrogen-ERα signaling significantly up-regulated the expression of PIWIL1, which was mediated by binding of the ERα onto the PIWIL1 promoter. Furthermore, we found that a half-ERE in the PIWIL1 promoter was essential for ERα binding. The PIWIL1 promoter was hypomethylated in ERα-positive endometrial cancer cells. Treatment with 5-aza-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) could up-regulate PIWIL1 expression.

Conclusions

These findings uncover a novel molecular mechanism by which estrogen-ERα signaling and DNA hypomethylation co-regulate PIWIL1 expression. These findings provide novel insights into the hormonal regulation of PIWIL1 in endometrial cancer and the PIWIL1’s role in estrogen-stimulated endometrial carcinogenesis.
Does a ketogenic diet as an adjuvant therapy for drug treatment enhance chemotherapy sensitivity and reduce target lesions in patients with locally recurrent or metastatic Her-2-negative breast cancer? Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wang Yan , Jing Ming-Xi , Jiang Lei , Jia Yu-Feng , Ying E. , Cao Hui , Guo Xiang-Yu , Sun Tao
Published: June 2020

Background

Recent studies have indicated that a ketogenic diet can be used as an adjuvant therapy to enhance sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer patients. However, there are no sufficient data and no consistent international treatment guidelines supporting a ketogenic diet as an adjuvant therapy for metastatic breast cancer. Therefore, this trial was designed to observe whether irinotecan with a ketogenic diet can promote sensitivity to chemotherapy and remit target lesions in locally recurrent or metastatic Her-2-negative breast cancer patients.

Methods/design

This trial aims to recruit 518 women with locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer admitted to the Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute (Shenyang, China) in northeast China. All patients will be randomly assigned into the combined intervention group (n = 259) or the control group (n = 259), followed by treatment with irinotecan + ketogenic diet or irinotecan + normal diet, respectively. The primary endpoints are sensitivity to irinotecan and the objective response rate of target lesions; the secondary endpoints include quality of life scores (EORTC QLQ-C30), progression-free survival, overall survival time, incidence of adverse events, and cost-effectiveness. The endpoints will be evaluated at baseline (before drug administration), during treatment, 4 weeks after treatment completion, and every 3months (beginning 2 months after treatment completion).

Discussion

This trial attempts to investigate whether irinotecan treatment with a ketogenic diet for locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer among women in northeast China can enhance the disease’s sensitivity to chemotherapy and reduce target lesions.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ID: ChiCTR1900024597. Registered on 18 July 2019. Protocol Version: 1.1, 24 February 2017.
A study on parameter estimation and suppression for smeared spectrum jamming based on short-time Fourier transform
Authors: Wu Chuanzhang , Chen Baixiao , Yang Minglei , Dong Mei
Published: June 2020

We address the suppressing problem of smeared spectrum (SMSP) jamming from the mixed signal received by the radar. To this end, we resort to the time-frequency analysis algorithm and give the concrete expression formula of the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) of SMSP jamming. The proposed method is to estimate the parameters of the jamming signal based on the STFT result, and then the jamming signal is reconstructed and suppressed form the mixed signal. In order to perform effective interference even after the pulse compression process, the jamming-to-target ratio (JSR) is always positive. Based on this assumption, the estimation steps for different parameters of SMSP jamming are given, including the number of sub-waveforms, the amplitude, and the time delay. The influence of choosing different window is also considered in this paper. The estimated performance of this method is verified by Monte Carlo simulation, and the results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Research on correction algorithm of propagation error in wireless sensor network coding
Authors: Zhang Dongqiu , Pang Mingyong , Zhang Guangzhi , Huang Dandan
Published: June 2020

It is very difficult to deal with the problem of error correction in random network coding, especially when the number of errors is more than the min-cut of the network. We combine a small field with rank-metric codes to solve this problem in this paper. With a small finite field, original errors are compressed to propagated errors, and their number is smaller than the min-cut. Rank-metric codes are introduced to correct the propagated errors, while the minimum rank distance of the rank-metric code is hardly influenced by the small field. It is the first time to correct errors more than the min-cut in network coding with our method using a small field. This new error-correcting algorithm is very useful for the environment such as a wireless sensor network where network coding can be applied.
Lasota–Opial type conditions for periodic problem for systems of higher-order functional differential equations
Authors: Mukhigulashvili Sulkhan , Půža Bedřich
Published: June 2020

In the paper we study the question of solvability and unique solvability of systems of the higher-order functional differential equations $$ u_{i}^{(m_{i})}(t)=\ell _{i}(u_{i+1}) (t)+ q_{i}(t) \quad (i= \overline{1, n}) \text{ for } t\in I:=[a, b] $$ui(mi)(t)=ℓi(ui+1)(t)+qi(t)(i=1,n‾) for t∈I:=[a,b] and $$ u_{i}^{(m_{i})} (t)=F_{i}(u) (t)+q_{0i}(t) \quad (i = \overline{1, n}) \text{ for } t\in I $$ui(mi)(t)=Fi(u)(t)+q0i(t)(i=1,n‾) for t∈I under the periodic boundary conditions $$ u_{i}^{(j)}(b)-u_{i}^{(j)}(a)=c_{ij} \quad (i=\overline{1, n},j= \overline{0, m_{i}-1}), $$ui(j)(b)−ui(j)(a)=cij(i=1,n‾,j=0,mi−1‾), where $u_{n+1}=u_{1} $un+1=u1, $m_{i}\geq 1$mi≥1, $n\geq 2 $n≥2, $c_{ij}\in R$cij∈R, $q_{i},q_{0i}\in L(I; R)$qi,q0i∈L(I;R), $\ell _{i}:C^{0}_{1}(I; R)\to L(I; R)$ℓi:C10(I;R)→L(I;R) are monotone operators and $F_{i}$Fi are the local Caratheodory’s class operators. In the paper in some sense optimal conditions that guarantee the unique solvability of the linear problem are obtained, and on the basis of these results the optimal conditions of the solvability and unique solvability for the nonlinear problem are proved.
Medicinal plants species used by herbalists in the treatment of snakebite envenomation in Uganda
Authors: Okot David Fred , Anywar Godwin , Namukobe Jane , Byamukama Robert
Published: June 2020

Background

There are high mortality and morbidity rates due to poisonous snakebites globally with sub-Saharan Africa having some of the highest cases. However, traditional medicine practitioners (TMP) have been treating snakebites in Uganda for long despite the fact that few studies have been conducted to document such vital and rich indigenous traditional knowledge before it is lost. This study aimed to document the medicinal plant species used by experienced TMP in treating snakebite envenomation in selected post-conflict parts of Uganda. An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted in Kitgum, Serere, Kaberamaido and Kaabong districts in Uganda. Twenty-seven TMP with expertise in treating snakebites were purposively identified using the snowball technique and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics.

Results

Sixty plant species from 28 families were documented with high consensus among the isolated indigenous Ik tribe of Kaabong district. Most of the plant species used were from the Asteraceae and Fabaceae families with eight species each. The genus Echinops was the most well-represented with three species. The most commonly used plant species were of citation were Steganotaenia araliaceae (16), Microglossa pyrifolia (Lam.), Gladiolus dalenii Van Geel (13), Aframomum mildbraedii Loes. (11), Jasminum schimperi Vatke and Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad) Schinz (10) and Crinum macowanii Baker and Cyphostemma cyphopetalum (Fresen.) Desc. ex Wild & R.B. Drumm (10). S. araliaceae which was mentioned by all the TMP in the Ik community was used for first aid. Most of the plant species were harvested from the wild (68.75%) and were herbs (65.0%) followed by trees (23.3%). The most commonly used plant parts were roots (42.6%) and leaves (25.0%). Thirteen different methods of preparation and administration were used. Most of the medicines were administered orally (61.2%) and topically (37.6%). The commonest methods of oral application were cold water infusions (32.5%) and decoctions (21.7%).

Conclusions

TMP widely use several medicinal plant species for treating snakebite envenomation in the selected post-conflict regions of Uganda
Periodic plane-wave least-squares reverse time migration for diffractions
Authors: Li Chuang , Gao Jinghuai , Gao Zhaoqi , Wang Rongrong , Yang Tao
Published: June 2020

Diffraction imaging is important for high-resolution characterization of small subsurface heterogeneities. However, due to geometry limitations and noise distortion, conventional diffraction imaging methods may produce low-quality images. We have adopted a periodic plane-wave least-squares reverse time migration method for diffractions to improve the image quality of heterogeneities. The method reformulates diffraction imaging as an inverse problem using the Born modeling operator and its adjoint operator derived in the periodic plane-wave domain. The inverse problem is implemented for diffractions separated by a plane-wave destruction filter from the periodic plane-wave sections. Because the plane-wave destruction filter may fail to eliminate hyperbolic reflections and noise, we adopt a hyperbolic misfit function to minimize a weighted residual using an iteratively reweighted least-squares algorithm and thereby reduce residual reflections and noise. Synthetic and field data tests show that the adopted method can significantly improve the image quality of subsalt and deep heterogeneities. Compared with reverse time migration, it produces better images with fewer artifacts, higher resolution, and more balanced amplitude. Therefore, the adopted method can accurately characterize small heterogeneities and provide a reliable input for seismic interpretation in the prediction of hydrocarbon reservoirs.
Deep learning reservoir porosity prediction based on multilayer long short-term memory network
Authors: Chen Wei , Yang Liuqing , Zha Bei , Zhang Mi , Chen Yangkang
Published: June 2020

The cost of obtaining a complete porosity value using traditional coring methods is relatively high, and as the drilling depth increases, the difficulty of obtaining the porosity value also increases. Nowadays, the prediction of fine reservoir parameters for oil and gas exploration is becoming more and more important. Therefore, high-efficiency and low-cost prediction of porosity based on logging data is necessary. We have developed a machine-learning method based on the traditional long short-term memory (LSTM) model, called multilayer LSTM (MLSTM), to perform the porosity prediction task. We used three different wells in a block in southern China for the prediction task, including a training well and two test wells. One test well has the same logging data type as the training well, whereas the other test well differs from the training well in the logging depth and parameter types. Two different types of test data sets are used to detect the generalization ability of the network. A set of data was used to train the MLSTM network, and the hyperparameters of the network were adjusted through experimental accuracy feedback. We also tested the performance of the network using two sets of log data from different regions, including generalization and sensitivity of the network. During the training phase of the porosity prediction model, the developed MLSTM establishes a minimized objective function, uses the Adam optimization algorithm to update the weight of the network, and adjusts the network hyperparameters to select the best target according to the feedback of the network accuracy. Compared with conventional sequence neural networks, such as the gated recurrent unit and recurrent neural network, the logging data experiments show that MLSTM has better robustness and accuracy in depth sequence prediction. Especially, the porosity value at the depth inflection point can be better predicted when the trend of the depth sequence was predicted. This framework is expected to reduce the porosity prediction errors when data are insufficient and log depths are different.