bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender intersections identified whilst transitioning mass vitamin A supplementation into an integrated reproductive and child health programme in Sierra Leone
Authors: Bauck Aubrey , Jalloh Umu H , Kargbo Anita , Hodges Mary H , Doledec David
Published: March 2021

Since 2006, Sierra Leone has achieved high rates of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) coverage (>88%) during mass campaigns. In 2017, campaigns started transitioning to routine VAS within a six-monthly contact point for integrated reproductive and child health (RCH) services. This contact point included improved counselling and provision of modern contraceptives; throughout this transition high VAS coverage (>85%) has been maintained. VAS programmes have traditionally operated on the assumption that they are gender-neutral, but recent research suggests these programmes should re-examine how they interact with gender. This qualitative study examined intersections between gender and Sierra Leone’s integrated VAS programming by conducting 32 individual interviews with parents, district health management and national staff, and six focus group discussions with health workers and community health workers (CHWs) in three pilot program districts. The study found that most senior health positions are held by males, and the lower cadres of majority female health workers often felt unsupported/disrespected by their male superiors and male CHW supervisees, or that their years of experience were overlooked in favour of the academic qualifications of less experienced male colleagues. Gender was not included in program training, and most staff did not have a good understanding of gender intersections; however, health workers actively engaged in awareness raising with male stakeholders to increase male involvement in RCH. Routine delivery requires mothers to invest time and money to access health facilities, where most mothers felt that better qualified staff were able to offer better advice and more services. Health workers felt that outreach services utilizing CHWs could decrease this time/money burden; however, CHWs are unqualified to provide counselling and provision of modern contraception, and there are fewer female CHWs. Records kept in health facilities record VAS by sex, but monthly reports submitted to the district and onwards to the national Health Management Information System are not disaggregated by sex. Programme and policymakers should consider improving the representation by females in senior, decision-making positions, integrating gender information into all trainings, supporting female health workers, training and recruiting more female CHWs, and reporting VAS coverage by sex.
Athletes’ Freedom of Expression: The Relative Political Neutrality of Sport
Authors: Di Marco Antonio
Published: March 2021

Athletes are not just sports people; they are certainly among the most prominent figures of their present time, playing an important role in shaping opinions with their power to inspire. For this very reason, athletes’ freedom of expression is strongly limited by the sport authorities in light of the fundamental principle of sport neutrality. This study analyses and questions the traditional constraints to athletes’ free speech by taking into consideration the role of human rights in sports legal order and in sporting affairs. By assuming an emerging relativization of sport political neutrality, the essay investigates the case-law concerning athletes’ freedom of expression identifying limits and perspectives of the current evolutions on athletes’ public statements, establishing to what extent a reform of the present sporting regulation on freedom of expression is needed.
Numerical investigations into thermal performance of phase change emulsion in a fin-and-tube heat exchanger
Authors: Shao Jingjing , Darkwa Jo , Zhang Xinlu
Published: March 2021

Past investigations have identified phase change emulsions (PCMEs) as potential working fluids that could be used to reduce energy consumption in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. But how PCME behaves in a fin-and-tube heat exchanger, which is commonly found in HVAC system, is still unclear. The paper focused on theoretical studies of thermal performance of a novel PCME PCE-10 in a fin-and-tube heat exchanger. The research analyzed heat transfer and flow behavior in fin-and-tube heat exchangers and the results showed that PCE-10 has several performance advantages as a cold storage medium, which provides a basic basis for the design of a new type of practical cold storage device.
Mathematical modelling of ageing acceleration of the human follicle due to oxidative stress and other factors
Authors: Portillo A M , Peláez C
Published: March 2021

There is a gradual telomere shortening due to the inability of the replication machinery to copy the very ends of chromosomes. Additionally, other factors such as high levels of oxidation (free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS)), e.g. due to cumulated stress, inflammation or tobacco smoke, accelerate telomere shortening. In humans, the average telomere length is about 10–15 kb at birth and telomeres shorten at a pace of 70 bp per year. However, when cells are exposed to ROS, telomere attrition happens at a faster pace, generating a wide variety of telomere size distribution in different length percentiles, which are different to what is expected just by age. In this work, the generational age of a cell is associated with its telomere length (TL), from certain maximum to the minimal TL that allows replication. In order to study the accumulation of aged granulosa cells in human follicles, from preantral to preovulatory size, a mathematical model is proposed, regarding different degrees of accelerated telomere shortening, which reflect the action of ROS in addition to the telomere shortening that happens after cell division. In cases of cells with TL shorter than cells with average TL, with low telomerase activity and accelerated telomere shortening, the mathematical model predicts an aged outcome in preovulatory follicles. The model provides a plausible explanation for what has been observed in oocytes from older women, which have been exposed to ROS for a longer period of time and have bad outcomes after in vitro fertilization.
Optimally convergent mixed finite element methods for the stochastic Stokes equations
Authors: Feng Xiaobing , Prohl Andreas , Vo Liet
Published: March 2021

We propose some new mixed finite element methods for the time-dependent stochastic Stokes equations with multiplicative noise, which use the Helmholtz decomposition of the driving multiplicative noise. It is known (Langa, J. A., Real, J. & Simon, J. (2003) Existence and regularity of the pressure for the stochastic Navier--Stokes equations. Appl. Math. Optim., 48, 195--210) that the pressure solution has low regularity, which manifests in suboptimal convergence rates for well-known inf-sup stable mixed finite element methods in numerical simulations; see Feng X., & Qiu, H. (Analysis of fully discrete mixed finite element methods for time-dependent stochastic Stokes equations with multiplicative noise. arXiv:1905.03289v2 [math.NA]). We show that eliminating this gradient part from the noise in the numerical scheme leads to optimally convergent mixed finite element methods and that this conceptual idea may be used to retool numerical methods that are well known in the deterministic setting, including pressure stabilization methods, so that their optimal convergence properties can still be maintained in the stochastic setting. Computational experiments are also provided to validate the theoretical results and to illustrate the conceptual usefulness of the proposed numerical approach.
Role of glyphosate in the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria?
Authors: Raoult Didier , Hadjadj Linda , Baron Sophie Alexandra , Rolain Jean-Marc
Published: March 2021

There is a discrepancy between antibiotic use in medicine and agriculture in the intertropical zone and frequency of antibiotic resistance in clinical bacteria in these countries. We provide evidence that glyphosate (a herbicide but also an antibiotic drug) could be a possible driver of antibiotic resistance in countries where this herbicide is widely used because of modification of the microbial environment. Emergence of resistance in bacteria and fungi is correlated with glyphosate use in the world over the last 40 years.
Validation of the Applied Food Diagnostics, Inc. Simultaneous Multiplex Real Time PCR (SIMUL-qPCR) Listeria Species and Monocytogenes Assay in Selected Foods and Environmental Surfaces: AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM 062001
Authors: Lonczynski Thomas , Cowin Laura
Published: March 2021

Background

The Simultaneous Multiplex Real Time PCR (SIMUL-qPCR) Listeria species and monocytogenes Assay is a quick, reliable method for detecting Listeria species and monocytogenes in environmental and food samples. The assay multiplexes several targets in one run to properly identify Listeria species and monocytogenes. The assay uses proprietary medium, Listeria Recovery and Enrichment Broth (LREB), for enrichment purposes. LREB was specifically formulated to improve the recovery and growth of Listeria while inhibiting competing background flora.

Objective

This report details the method validation study to validate frankfurters, ready-to-eat (RTE) sliced turkey, soft fresh raw cheese, chicken salad, ice cream, cooked eggs, pasteurized milk, and frozen/cooked shrimp, as well as environmental surface sponges and swabs for stainless steel, plastic, rubber, ceramic tile, and sealed concrete.

Method

Matrix studies, inclusivity/exclusivity, product consistency/stability, and robustness testing were conducted to assess the method’s performance.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences found between the candidate and reference methods in the matrix studies. Inclusivity/exclusivity testing showed that the assay was able to detect both Listeria species and monocytogenes strains while excluding the non-Listeria isolates. Small variations in critical test parameters (enrichment time, extraction reagent volume, and extracted sample volume) did not adversely affect the assay’s performance, and stability testing indicated consistent results for at least 1 year.

Conclusions

The data presented in this report show that this a reliable method for detecting Listeria species and monocytogenes.

Highlights

This assay allows for one sample to be tested for both Listeria species and monocytogenes with one PCR test.
Submerged fermentation of Streptomyces uncialis providing a biotechnology platform for uncialamycin biosynthesis, engineering, and production
Authors: Hindra  , Yang Dong , Luo Jun , Huang Tingting , Yan Xiaohui , Adhikari Ajeeth , Teijaro Christiana N , Ge Huiming , Shen Ben
Published: March 2021

Uncialamycin (UCM) belongs to the anthraquinone-fused subfamily of 10-membered enediyne natural products that exhibits an extraordinary cytotoxicity against a wide spectrum of human cancer cell lines. Antibody-drug conjugates, utilizing synthetic analogues of UCM as payloads, are in preclinical development. UCM is exclusively produced by Streptomyces uncialis DCA2648 on solid agar medium with low titers (∼0.019 mg/l), limiting its supply by microbial fermentation and hampering its biosynthetic and engineering studies by in vivo pathway manipulation. Here, we report cultivation conditions that enable genetic manipulation of UCM biosynthesis in vivo and allow UCM production, with improved titers, by submerged fermentation of the engineered S. uncialis strains. Specifically, the titer of UCM was improved nearly 58-fold to ∼1.1 mg/l through the combination of deletion of biosynthetic gene clusters encoding unrelated metabolites from the S. uncialis wild-type, chemical mutagenesis and manipulation of pathway-specific regulators to generate the engineered S. uncialis strains, and finally medium optimization of the latter for UCM production. Genetic manipulation of UCM biosynthesis was demonstrated by inactivating selected genes in the engineered S. uncialis strains, one of which afforded a mutant strain accumulating tiancimycin B, a common biosynthetic intermediate known for the anthraquinone-fused subfamily of enediyne natural products. These findings highlight a biotechnology platform for UCM biosynthesis, engineering, and production that should facilitate both its fundamental studies and translational applications.
Post-operative small pelvic intensity-modulated radiation therapy for early-stage cervical cancer with intermediate-risk factors: efficacy and toxicity
Authors: Zhang Guangyu , He Fangfang , Miao Li , Wu Haijian , Zhang Youzhong , Fu Chunli
Published: March 2021

Objective

The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of post-operative small pelvic intensity-modulated radiotherapy in early-stage cervical cancer patients with intermediate-risk factors.

Methods

Between 2012 and 2016, 151 patients who had cervical cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I–IIA) with intermediate-risk factors were treated with post-operative small pelvic intensity-modulated radiotherapy. The median dose of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions with small pelvic intensity-modulated radiotherapy was prescribed to the planning target volume. The intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique used was conventional fixed-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy or helical tomotherapy.

Results

The median follow-up was 37 months. The 3-year disease-free survival and overall survival rates were 89 and 96%, respectively. A total of 144 patients (95.3%) were alive at the last follow-up. In total, 6 patients (3.9%) had recurrence: locoregional recurrence in 3 patients (2%), distant metastasis in 2 (1.3%), and both in 1 (0.6%). Diarrhoea was the most common acute toxicity. There were no patients suffering from acute or late grade ≥ 3 toxicity. Only 4 patients (2.6%) had late grade 2 toxicities.

Conclusions

For early-stage cervical cancer patients with intermediate-risk factors, post-operative small pelvic intensity-modulated radiotherapy was safe and well tolerated. The rates of acute and late toxicities were quite satisfactory.
Between Ancestry and Belief: “Judaism” and “Hinduism” in the Nineteenth Century
Authors: Batnitzky Leora
Published: March 2021

This article argues that thinking about disputed conceptions of religious conversion helps us understand the emergence of both Jewish and Indian nationalism in the nineteenth century. In today’s world, Hindu nationalism and Zionism are most often understood to be in conflict with various forms of Islamism, yet the ideological formations of both developed in the context of Christian colonialism and, from the perspectives of Jewish and Indian reformers and nationalists, the remaking of Hinduism and Judaism in the image of Christianity. Even as they internalized some aspects of Protestant criticisms of “Judaism” and “Hinduism,” nineteenth century Jewish and Hindu reformers opposed definitions of “Judaism” and “Hinduism” based upon what they regarded as a one-sided emphasis on individual belief at the expense of ancestry and national identity. In making arguments about what constituted “Judaism” and “Hinduism” respectively, Jewish and Hindu reformers also rejected what they claimed was the false universalism of Christianity, as epitomized by Christian missionizing. For Jewish and Hindu reformers of the nineteenth century, “Jewish” and “Hindu” ties to ancestry marked not a parochial intolerance of others, as many Christians had long maintained, but a true universalism that, unlike Christian missionizing, allowed, promoted and embraced human difference. In these ways, contested characterizations of “Judaism” and “Hinduism” in the nineteenth century set in motion a series of arguments about conversion that became central to Jewish and Indian nationalism, some of which remain relevant for understanding conversion controversies in Israel and India today.
Effective N-body models of composite collisionless stellar systems
Authors: Nipoti Carlo , Cherchi Giacomo , Iorio Giuliano , Calura Francesco
Published: March 2021

Gas-poor galaxies can be modelled as composite collisionless stellar systems, with a dark matter halo and one or more stellar components, representing different stellar populations. The dynamical evolution of such composite systems is often studied with numerical N-body simulations, whose initial conditions typically require realizations with particles of stationary galaxy models. We present a novel method to conceive these N-body realizations, which allows one to exploit at best a collisionless N-body simulation that follows their evolution. The method is based on the use of an effective N-body model of a composite system, which is in fact realized as a one-component system of particles that is interpreted a posteriori as a multicomponent system, by assigning in post-processing fractions of each particle’s mass to different components. Examples of astrophysical applications are N-body simulations that aim to reproduce the observed properties of interacting galaxies, satellite galaxies, and stellar streams. As a case study we apply our method to an N-body simulation of tidal stripping of a two-component (dark matter and stars) satellite dwarf galaxy orbiting in the gravitational potential of the Milky Way.
Remnant cholesterol is prospectively associated with cardiovascular disease events and all-cause mortality in kidney transplant recipients: the FAVORIT study
Authors: Horace Reuben William , Roberts Mary , Shireman Theresa I , Merhi Basma , Jacques Paul , Bostom Andrew G , Liu Simin , Eaton Charles B
Published: March 2021

Background

The cholesterol content of circulating triglyceride-rich lipoproteins is characterized as remnant cholesterol, although little is known about its role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, all-cause mortality or transplant failure in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Our primary aim was to investigate the prospective association of remnant cholesterol and the risk of CVD events in renal transplant recipients with secondary aims evaluating remnant cholesterol and renal graft failure and all-cause mortality among participants in the Folic Acid for Vascular Outcome Reduction in Transplantation (FAVORIT) trial.

Methods

Among 4110 enrolled participants, 98 were excluded for missing baseline remnant cholesterol levels and covariates. Nonfasting remnant cholesterol levels were calculated based on the lipid profiles in 3812 FAVORIT trial participants at randomization. A Wilcoxon-type test for trend was used to compare baseline characteristics across remnant cholesterol quartiles. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the association of baseline remnant cholesterol levels with time to primary and secondary study outcomes.

Results

During a median follow-up of 4.0 years we documented 548 CVD incident events, 343 transplant failures and 452 all-cause deaths. When comparing the highest quartile (quartile 4) to quartile 1, proportional hazard modeling revealed a significant increase in CVD risk {hazard ratio [HR] 1.32 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.67]} and all-cause mortality risk [HR 1.34 (95% CI 1.01–1.69)]. A nonsignificant increase in transplant failure was seen as well [HR 1.20 (95% CI 0.87–1.64)].

Conclusions

Remnant cholesterol is associated with CVD and all-cause mortality in long-term KTRs. A randomized controlled clinical trial in KTRs that assesses the potential impact of remnant cholesterol-lowering therapy on these outcomes may be warranted.
Electromagnetic Navigation Systems and Intraoperative Neuromonitoring: Reliability and Feasibility Study
Authors: Keeble Hannah , Lavrador José Pedro , Pereira Noémia , Lente Kornelius , Brogna Christian , Gullan Richard , Bhangoo Ranjeev , Vergani Francesco , Ashkan Keyoumars
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

A recent influx of intraoperative technology is being used in neurosurgery, but few reports investigate the accuracy and safety of these technologies when used simultaneously.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the ability to use an electromagnetic navigation system alongside multimodal intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM).

METHODS

Single-institution prospective cohort study of patients requiring craniotomy for brain tumor resection operated using an electromagnetic navigation system (AxiEM, Medtronic®). motor evoked potentials, somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), electroencephalography, and electromyography were recorded and analyzed with AxiEM on (with/without filters) and off. The neurological outcomes of the patients were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 15 patients were included (8 males/7 females, mean age 52.13 yr). Even though the raw acquisition is affected by the electromagnetic field (particularly SSEPs), no significant difference was detected in the morphology, amplitude, and latency of the different monitoring modalities (AxiEM off vs on) after the appropriate software filter application. Adjustments to the frequency of SSEP stimulation and number of averages, and reductions to the low-pass filters were applied. Notch filters were used appropriately and changes to the physical setup of the IONM and electromagnetic navigation system equipment reduced noise. Postoperatively, none of the patients developed new focal deficits; 7 patients showed improvement in their motor deficit (4 recovered fully).

CONCLUSION

The information provided by the IONM in intracranial neurosurgery patients whilst also using electromagnetic navigation systems is reliable for monitoring, mapping, and detecting intraoperative complications, provided that the appropriate software filters and tools are applied.
Missing Novelty in Drug Development
Authors: Krieger Joshua , Li Danielle , Papanikolaou Dimitris
Published: March 2021

We provide evidence that risk aversion leads pharmaceutical firms to underinvest in radical innovation. We introduce a new measure of drug novelty based on chemical similarity and show that firms face a risk-reward trade-off: novel drug candidates are less likely to obtain FDA approval but are based on more valuable patents. Consistent with a simple model of costly external finance, we show that a positive shock to firms’ net worth leads firms to develop more novel drugs. This suggests that even large firms may behave as though they are risk averse, reducing their willingness to investment in potentially valuable radical innovation.
Ralstonia solanacearum Effectors Localize to Diverse Organelles in Solanum Hosts
Authors: Denne Nina L. , Hiles Rachel R. , Kyrysyuk Oleksandr , Iyer-Pascuzzi Anjali S. , Mitra Raka M.
Published: March 2021

Phytopathogenic bacteria secrete type III effector (T3E) proteins directly into host plant cells. T3Es can interact with plant proteins and frequently manipulate plant host physiological or developmental processes. The proper subcellular localization of T3Es is critical for their ability to interact with plant targets, and knowledge of T3E localization can be informative for studies of effector function. Here we investigated the subcellular localization of 19 T3Es from the phytopathogenic bacteria Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum and Ralstonia solanacearum. Approximately 45% of effectors in our library localize to both the plant cell periphery and the nucleus, 15% exclusively to the cell periphery, 15% exclusively to the nucleus, and 25% to other organelles, including tonoplasts and peroxisomes. Using tomato hairy roots, we show that T3E localization is similar in both leaves and roots and is not impacted by Solanum species. We find that in silico prediction programs are frequently inaccurate, highlighting the value of in planta localization experiments. Our data suggest that Ralstonia targets a wide diversity of cellular organelles and provides a foundation for developing testable hypotheses about Ralstonia effector function.
HYPOGLYCEMIC ACTIVITY OF THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF IMMATURE FRUITS OF Capsicum pubescens Ruiz et Pavón (PERON CHILI PEPPER) IN DIABETIC RATS
Authors: Carrillo‐Corona Antonio , Saavedra‐Molina Alfredo , Torres‐Martínez Rafael , Hernández‐García Alejandra , Ríos‐Chávez Patricia , Manzo‐Avalos Salvador , Martínez‐Flores Héctor Eduardo , Aguilera‐Méndez Asdrúbal , Salgado‐Garciglia Rafael
Published: March 2021

Capsicum pubescens is the least studied domesticated chili pepper, specifically in its antioxidant activity and hypoglycemic properties. It is cultivated on a small scale in family gardens and greenhouses in the central Mexico to the mid elevation Andes of Peru and Bolivia, where it probably originated. The fruits are called “peron” (pear‐shaped and yellow) or “manzano” (apple‐shaped and red) in Mexico and “rocoto” in Peru. In this research, the hypoglycemic effect of the methanolic extract of immature yellow chili fruit of C. pubescens (peron chili pepper), administered orally (100 μL) to diabetic rats treated with 40 mg of streptozotocin (STZ)/kg of body weight, was evaluated over 60 days in three doses (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg). During this time, the body weight and glucose levels were obtained every ten days and at 60 days, the rats were sacrificed (NOM‐062‐ZOO‐1999), determining the levels of blood glucose, urea, creatinine, uric acid, triacylglycerides, total lipids, total cholesterol and HDL‐cholesterol. In normoglycemic (non‐diabetic) rats, the extract did not show a negative effect on the parameters determined, maintaining blood glucose levels (90 mg/dL) and body weight (436.6 g) without significant differences in the three doses probed. However, in the diabetic rats treated with the extract, there was a significant decrease in the levels of blood glucose (<110 mg/dL), uric acid, creatinine, triacylglycerides and total lipids, and a tendency to lower cholesterol levels total and cholesterol‐HDL doses‐dependent. These results demonstrate the hypoglycemic effect of the methanolic extract of immature fruits of the yellow genotype of C. pubescens, as well as a protective effect of kidney and liver damage, mainly at a dose of 10 mg/kg.

Support or Funding Information

Grants: Financial support grant from CONACYT (ACC) and CIC/UMSNH (Project 2.10 RSG).

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Time and Temperature Dependent Ficoll Separation of Aged Whole Blood Neutrophils
Authors: Thompson William C , Gu Dongsheng , Johnstone Brian , Sherry Aubrey , LaFontaine Michael , Woods Erik
Published: March 2021

Emerging clinical applications of bone marrow often require separation and purification of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC). Ficoll density gradient centrifugation is a well‐known and effective method for separating mononuclear cells in fresh blood and bone marrow to facilitate cell selection. Often these cell selection processes are performed in centralized locations, requiring transport and some amount of subsequent ischemia. As blood and bone marrow ages, neutrophil characteristics change causing interference in standard cell separations. Over time granulocytes degranulate and become less dense. Thus, degranulated granulocytes are no longer able to sediment through the Ficoll layer and they become trapped in the buffy coat with lymphocytes and HSPCs. Using blood as a surrogate, this study aims to define the critical time points of the degranulation process and its temperature dependence to optimize parameters of Ficoll separation for aged samples.

Blood was collected from three healthy donors and stored at 4 and 20 °C. This experiment was repeated for an n of 2. At zero, three, and twenty‐four hours after collection, blood was centrifuged at 400g for 40 minutes with no acceleration or brake over a 1.077 g/ml Ficoll density gradient. The buffy coat and pellet were collected from each sample and characterized using flow cytometry. Cell marker CD45 was used to identify white blood cells of hematopoietic lineage. Cell marker CD66b was used to identify granulocytes. Results indicated that blood stored at 4 °C exhibited more degranulation of neutrophils compared to blood stored at 20 °C [Table 1]. After three hours, blood stored at 4 °C had more granulocytes trapped in the buffy coat following Ficoll density gradient centrifugation as compared to 20 °C. After twenty‐four hours, blood stored at 20 °C also failed to separate adequately.

In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that neutrophil stability decreases rapidly following low temperature exposure, which impacts subsequent cell separation techniques and must be taken into account with hypothermic transport of samples intended for cell selection.

Support or Funding Information

Marian University and Ossium Health

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
The in vitro antibacterial activity of Morinda lucida and Acalypha wilkesiana leaf extracts against Campylobacter and Escherichia coli relevant in poultry infections
Authors: Olawuwo Olasunkanmi Stephen , Aro Abimbola , Kobus Eloff , McGaw Lyndy
Published: March 2021

The most common cause of bacterial diarrhea in humans worldwide is infection with Campylobacter species, particularly Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli. The disease is zoonotic and domestic animals such as poultry, pigs and cattle may act as reservoirs. Colibacillosis is caused by Escherichia coli which is both a food and water borne zoonotic disease from poultry, calves and pigs. The development of resistant strains against the conventional antibiotics has reduced the efficacy of the antibiotics. Therefore, there is urgency to develop drug leads or templates with good activity against these pathogens. The antibacterial activity and safety of acetone, methanol, hot and cold aqueous leaf extracts of Morinda lucida and Acalypha wilkesiana on Campylobacter coli and selected clinical isolates of Escherichia coli was investigated in vitro using serial microdilution and cytotoxicity assays. The MIC values of selected plant extracts against the test organisms generally ranged from 0.03 to 2.50 mg/ml. MIC values of the acetone extracts ranged from 0.03 to 0.46 mg/ml, methanolic extract MICs ranged from 0.15 to 0.78 mg/ml, cold aqueous extract MICs ranged from 0.03 to 2.50 mg/ml while MICs of the hot aqueous extracts ranged from 0.03 to 1.25 mg/ml. The MIC of the positive control, gentamicin, against Campylobacter species ranged from 0.001 to 0.62 mg/ml while those of Escherichia isolates were extremely promising, ranging from 0.0002 to 0.001 mg/ml. The LC50 values of the acetone and cold aqueous extracts of Morinda lucida against the intestinal CaCo‐2 cell line were 0.46 and 0.58 mg/ml respectively while those of acetone, methanolic and hot aqueous extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana were 1.56, 0.11 and 0.19 mg/ml respectively. The selectivity index (SI) values of the acetone extract of Morinda lucida ranged from 2.55 to 9.20 while those of the cold aqueous extracts ranged from 0.23 to 19.33 with the acetone extract having better SI than the cold aqueous extract. The SI values of the acetone extract of Acalypha wilkesiana ranged from 2.22 to 52, methanolic extract ranged from 0.14 to 0.73 and hot aqueous extract ranged from 0.15 to 6.33 with the acetone extract having the best SI relative to cold aqueous, methanolic and hot aqueous extracts of both plant extracts, indicating that the observed antimicrobial activity was not due to toxicity to mammalian cells. These results highlight the potential of Morinda lucida and Acalypha wilkesiana as an alternative for treatment of campylobacteriosis and colibacillosis in poultry. However, in vivo data is necessary to determine the potential usefulness of these plant species

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
The Acute Effects of Nicotine on Cognitive Abilities and Athletic Performance in Archery Athletes
Authors: FANG SHIH‐HUA , OU JHIH‐BANG
Published: March 2021

It is known that the effects of nicotine on mood, arousal, and cognition in humans. In this study, we investigated whether the cognitive abilities and the performance of college archers in archery could been improved by nicotine chewing supplement and its effect on the heart rate. We recruited 10 college archers and they had 2 mg nicotine chewing (NIC group) or placebo (PLA group). After intake nicotine gum for 30 min, the mean time “correct rejection” of NIC group was significantly less than PLA group. In addition, both right and left hands of NIC group complete Grooved Pegboard Test in lesser time than PLA group. The reaction time and reaction motor had no difference in both groups. In NIC group, the archery score was significantly higher than PLA group. We found that nicotine might enhance the exercise performance of archery of the athletes through enhancing cognitive function.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Limited trunk motion and posterior pelvic tilting in ambulatory children treated with bilateral rib to pelvis implants for spinal deformity control
Authors: Tsaknakis Konstantinos , Schmalz Thomas , Freslier Marie , Tsaknakis Birgit , Lorenz Heiko M. , Braunschweig Lena , Hell Anna K.
Published: March 2021

In young children, growth-friendly spinal implants with bilateral rib to pelvis fixation are used to control progressive spinal deformity. Whereas curve progression, complications and side-effects have been extensively studied in this patient population, no data are available on gait pattern changes and postural body adjustments. Our study evaluates whether gait pattern changed for ambulatory children treated with bilateral rib to pelvis implants compared to age-matched healthy children. In this small cohort study, gait analysis was performed using spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters of four ambulatory children with severe scoliosis and growth-friendly spinal implants using the bilateral rib to pelvis fixation. Data were statistically analyzed and compared to seven healthy age-matched children. Between both groups, no differences were seen in walking speed, cadence and stride length. The treated patients showed a lower range of motion of the pelvic obliquity and of the trunk obliquity and rotation, but a higher knee flexion. Growth-friendly spinal implants with bilateral rib to pelvis fixation are commonly used in wheelchair children and rarely indicated in ambulatory patients. The presented data show reduced trunk and pelvis motion using this implant construct. These findings help to understand body postural adjustments and add valuable information for families and care providers when considering this surgery. Level of evidence: Therapeutic level IV.
Role of microRNAs in the anticancer effects of the flavonoid luteolin: a systematic review
Authors: Mishan Mohammad Amir , Khazeei Tabari Mohammad Amin , Mahrooz Abdolkarim , Bagheri Abouzar
Published: March 2021

Flavonoids, a broad class of polyphenolic compounds, can potentially have several therapeutic properties in human diseases, including protective effects against oxidative stress, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancers. Luteolin as a member of flavonoids has been found to exhibit several anticancer properties mainly through cell apoptosis induction, inhibition of invasion, cell proliferation, network formation, and migration. Recent studies have revealed that phytochemicals such as luteolin may exert therapeutic properties through microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs), which have been emerged as important molecules in cancer biology in recent years. miRNAs, as a class of noncoding RNAs, have several important roles in cancer progression or regression. In this review, we aimed to summarize and discuss the role of miRNAs in the luteolin effects on different cancers. This review can be in line with the studies, which have shown that miRNAs may be potential therapeutic targets in cancer treatment.
Pre-operative N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide for prediction of acute kidney injury after noncardiac surgery
Authors: Zhao Bing-Cheng , Zhuang Pei-Pei , Lei Shao-Hui , Qiu Shi-Da , Yang Xiao , Li Cai , Liu Wei-Feng , Liu Ke-Xuan
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with poor outcomes after noncardiac surgery. Whether pre-operative N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) predicts AKI after noncardiac surgery is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the predictive role of pre-operative NT-proBNP on postoperative AKI.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, China.

PATIENTS

Adult patients who had a serum creatinine and NT-proBNP measurement within 30 pre-operative days and at least one serum creatinine measurement within 7 days after noncardiac surgery between February 2008 and May 2018 were identified.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was postoperative AKI, defined by the kidney disease: improving global outcomes creatinine criteria.

RESULTS

In all, 6.1% (444 of 7248) of patients developed AKI within 1 week after surgery. Pre-operative NT-proBNP was an independent predictor of AKI after adjustment for clinical variables (OR comparing top to bottom quintiles 2.29, 95% CI, 1.47 to 3.65, P < 0.001 for trend; OR per 1-unit increment in natural log transformed NT-proBNP 1.27, 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.39). Compared with clinical variables alone, the addition of NT-proBNP improved model fit, modestly improved the discrimination (change in area under the curve from 0.764 to 0.773, P = 0.005) and reclassification (continuous net reclassification improvement 0.210, 95% CI, 0.111 to 0.308, improved integrated discrimination 0.0044, 95% CI, 0.0016 to 0.0072) of AKI and non-AKI cases, and achieved higher net benefit in decision curve analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-operative NT-proBNP concentrations provided predictive information for AKI in a cohort of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, independent of and incremental to conventional risk factors. Prospective studies are required to confirm this finding and examine its clinical impact.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900024056. www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=40385.
Adult Liver Disease Prognostic Modelling for Long‐term Outcomes in Biliary Atresia
Authors: Jain Vandana , Burford Charlotte , Alexander Emma C. , Dhawan Anil , Joshi Deepak , Davenport Mark , Heaton Nigel , Hadzic Nedim , Samyn Marianne
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

To assess the utility of prognostic scoring systems for adolescents with biliary atresia (BA) surviving with native liver, for predicting the subsequent requirement for liver transplantation (LT).

Methods:

Single‐centre retrospective analysis of 397 BA patients who received Kasai Portoenterostomy (KP) 1980–1996 and survived with the native liver at 16 years. Laboratory and clinical variables at 16 years (timepoint 16 years) were used to calculate (i) LT allocation scores; Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease [MELD/MELD‐sodium (Na)], and UK End‐Stage Liver Disease (UKELD); (ii) Mayo Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis risk score (MayoPSC) and (iii) a modified Paediatric End‐Stage Liver Disease (PELD) score. Scores were compared between patients requiring LT after 16 years of age (LT > 16 years), and those who survived with native liver, at the latest follow‐up. Additional subgroup analysis for patients with data available at 12 years (timepoint 12 years).

Results:

MELD (area under the receiver operating characteristic [AUROC] 0.847) and UKELD (AUROC: 0.815) at 16 years of age predict the need for LT > 16 years. No advantage for MELD‐Na over MELD was demonstrated. MELD >8.5 and UKELD >47 predicted LT > 16 years with 84% and 79% sensitivity and 73% and 73% specificity. PELD had a similar performance to MELD, but superiority to UKELD. MayoPSC revealed predictive accuracy for LT >16 years (AUROC 0.859), with a score of >0.87 predicting LT > 16 years with 85% sensitivity and 82% specificity. At timepoint 12 years, MELD and MayoPSC predicted LT >16 years. Change in MELD, PELD and MayoPSC between 12 and 16 years of age, was associated with LT >16 years.

Conclusions:

Adult LT allocation scores may help monitor progress in adolescent BA, but the omission of relevant risk factors limits their utility for listing in this cohort. A BA‐specific prognostic score would improve the management of adolescent BA.
The 21st Century CURES Act in Pediatric Gastroenterology: Problems, Solutions, and Preliminary Guidance
Authors: Lee Jennifer A. , Miller Steven D. , Mezoff Ethan A. , Screws Jeremy , Sauer Cary , Huang Jeannie S.
Published: March 2021

The information blocking (IB) prohibition component of the 21st Century CURES Act (21CCA) comes into effect April 5, 2021, which gives patients and their families near-instant access to almost all clinical notes, lab results, and health data. Exceptions to IB prohibition include risk of harm and patient privacy, but violations can be punished by a fine of up to $1,000,000.00. A committee of pediatric gastroenterologists reviewed the 21CCA regulation and compared local practice policies. Pediatric practitioners need to understand how age will affect local information release policies and to know which note types are released, paying special consideration to trainee notes and confidential information. Extraneous detail should be removed from notes, emotional labeling be avoided, and objective statements be made when referring to the care of other providers. Awareness of the 21CCA provides pediatric gastroenterologists with the opportunity to adapt their medical documentation practices to accommodate the new law.
Adherence, Mental Health and Illness Perceptions in Autoimmune Liver Disease: Looking Beyond Liver Function Tests
Authors: Hames Anna , Matcham Faith , Makin Isobel , Day Jemma , Joshi Deepak , Samyn Marianne
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

Autoimmune liver disease is commonly diagnosed during adolescence; a period associated with a higher prevalence of non-adherence, mental health concerns and worse health outcomes. The aim of the study was to explore adherence patterns, mental health and illness perceptions in young people with autoimmune liver disease.

Methods:

Young people with autoimmune liver disease attending a multidisciplinary young adult clinic (16–25 years) completed an electronically administered questionnaire battery. Demographics and disease-related data were collected.

Results:

Sixty-eight (37 female), median age 17.9 (range 15–22) years completed the screening. Only 51.5% of patients were in remission (aspartate and alanine aminotransferase <36 IU//l) whereas 73% self-reported their adherence >80%. Compared to patients in remission, those not in remission required more immunosuppression, were more depressed and worried but reported a better understanding of their illness. A small but significant correlation was found between aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase and adherence percentage (r= −0.27,P < 0.05 andr = −0.29,P < 0.05 respectively). Age was inversely associated with adherence (r = −0.31,P < 0.05), and older patients were more worried (r = 0.44,P < 0.001) and emotionally affected by the condition (r = 0.32,P < 0.01). Adherence behaviours such as forgetting to take medications (63%), taking medications more frequently before attending appointments (44%) and not having a routine for medications (31%) were prevalent, 7% reported intentional non-adherence.

Conclusion:

Sup-optimal adherence to treatment is common in young people with autoimmune liver disease and associated with mental health problems and certain illness perceptions. Routine exploration of adherence beliefs and barriers to adherence in a non-judgmental, collaborative way is essential to improve outcome in this vulnerable population.
Agreement on Symptoms Between Children With Ulcerative Colitis and Their Caregivers
Authors: Marcovitch Liron , Focht Gili , Horesh Anat , Shosberger Adi , Hyams Jeffrey , Bousvaros Athos , Hale Amy E. , Baldassano Robert , Otley Anthony , Mack David R. , Kappelman Michael D. , Griffiths Anne M. , Turner Dan
Published: March 2021

As part of the development of the TUMMY‐UC, a patient‐reported outcome (PRO) measure for pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC), we aimed to explore agreement on UC symptoms between children and their caregivers. We conducted 44 interviews with children ages 8–12 years, who completed the PRO version of the TUMMY‐UC, and their caregivers, who completed the observer‐reported outcome (obsRO) version. There was excellent agreement between the total TUMMY‐UC PRO and obsRO scores (intra‐class correlation coefficient = 0.92 [95% confidence interval 0.74–0.98]). The obsRO scores were always within the same disease‐activity category as the corresponding PRO score (ie, remission, mild and moderate‐severe disease). There was a strong correlation of the TUMMY‐UC PRO and obsRO scores with physician global assessment of disease activity (r = 0.94 and r = 0.90, respectively, P < 0.001) and the pediatric UC activity index (r = 0.95 and r = 0.96; P < 0.001). These data support conceptual equivalence between the PRO and obsRO TUMMY‐UC versions, and provide support for their incorporation into one score.
A Particular SORL1 Micro-haplotype May Prevent Severe Liver Disease in a French Cohort of Alpha 1-Antitrypsin-deficient Children
Authors: Joly Philippe , Ruiz Mathias , Garin Roman , Karatas Esra , Lachaux Alain , Restier Lioara , Belmalih Abdelouahed , Renoux Céline , Lombard Christine , Dechomet Magali , Bouchecareilh Marion
Published: March 2021

The presence of modifier genes is now well recognized in severe liver disease outcome associated with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) but their identification remains to be fully elucidated. To address this goal, we performed a candidate gene study with the SORL1 gene, already identified as risk gene in early-onset Alzheimer Disease families. A particular SORL1 micro-haplotype constituted with 3 SNPs (wild-type form TTG) was genotyped on 86 ZZ A1ATD children issued from 66 families. Interestingly, the mutated forms of this micro-haplotype (CAT most of the time) were associated with lower occurrence of severe liver disease and in cellulo studies showed that SORL1 influences Z-A1ATD cellular toxicity and biogenesis. These data suggest that the mutated CAT form of SORL1 micro-haplotype may partly prevent from severe liver disease in A1ATD children. Overall, these findings support a replication study on an independent cohort and additional in cellulo studies to confirm these promising results.
Impaction fractures of the anterior tibial plafond
Authors: Chohan Moaz B.Y. , Del Balso Christopher , Ching Michael , Schemitsch Emil , Lawendy Abdel Rahman , Sanders David W.
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

To determine whether patients with AO/OTA 43-B anterior impaction tibial plafond fractures have worse clinical outcomes, and an increased risk of progression to ankle arthrodesis.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Level 1 academic trauma center.

Patients:

One hundred sixty-eight patients were included in the study, all of whom had tibial plafond fractures.

Intervention:

Study patients underwent external fixation and/or open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) as indicated by fracture/injury pattern.

Main outcome measurements:

Arthrodesis rate.

Results:

AO 43-B Anterior impaction tibial plafond fractures have an increased risk of progression to arthrodesis when compared to AO 43-B nonanterior impaction type fractures (19.4% vs 8%).

Conclusions:

AO 43-B anterior impaction tibial plafond fractures have a worse clinical outcome compared to AO 43-B nonanterior impaction fractures. These fractures also confer increased risk of progression to arthrodesis.

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflict of interests to declare.