bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Looking at Law School Rankings in India Through the Lens of Democratic Ideals
Authors: Hardikar Swarna
Published: July 2021

Legal education in India has undergone phenomenal changes in the past few years. Gone are the days when certain established universities had a monopoly over legal education, and when interest in professional legal education was surpassed by the likes of science, technology and medicine, which are essential for the industrial and social development of any country. Lawyers, characterized as social engineers, are equipped with the vision for social change, which is essential in a developing country like India. Lawyers understand the present and have a vision for the future. Social change can be brought about by change in law, which reflects the direction in which the country is progressing.

Ranking systems portraying democratic and constitutional ethos will encourage law schools and related authorities to change; accordingly, that is when they will become equipped to bring about relevant social change. Hence, it only seems pertinent to analyse the ranking systems in accordance with the democratic ideals and ethos enshrined in the Constitution, including the Preamble, which is where we find the mention of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity, the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy, where we find the mention of the rule of law, social welfare and the values propounded by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the international convention on human rights. This will provide a better perspective for judging the quality of law schools and the law students, which will be essential in understanding the changes which need to be made to the current teaching and learning pedagogy. Students will be more equipped to deal with the challenges posed by the legal profession after graduation and will become harbingers of justice.
A Path to Restorative Justice: Applicability of Mental Health Courts in the Philippines
Authors: Guinigundo Daniel Alberto G.
Published: July 2021

Described as ‘situated at the intersection of the criminal justice, mental health, substance abuse treatment, and other social systems’ 2 , Mental Health Courts (MHCs) are courts that deal with specialized interventions for defendants with mental illness. Aside from presenting options other than incarceration, they provide a distinct avenue for collaboration between the public and private sectors in developing mechanisms to address law and policy concerns regarding prisoner mental health. Originating from the United States, MHCs offer an innovative and targeted response to the current Philippine situation. While the recent passage of the Mental Health Act by Congress in 2018 has brought the fatality of mental illnesses and disorders to the fore, several gaps remain unaddressed. This article seeks to rectify the existing lacunae in the legal and policy framework by proposing the establishment of MHCs in the country. This shall be undertaken in five phases: First, to justify the needed reform, data must be gathered to determine the number of inmates suffering from a mental illness; second, the enactment or revision of mental health legislation and court rules; third, craft strategic plans to address budgetary concerns, which shall be done through the Philippine Council for Mental Health, as the mandated regulatory agency; fourth, forge linkages with the public and private sectors to increase awareness through advocacy while equipping judges and concerned personnel through a series of trainings; and fifth, conduct pilot testing in certain courts and periodic evaluations to ensure sustainability.
Indian Corporations, Climate Change, and The Law
Authors: Dubey Trishla
Published: July 2021

Climate change is one of the biggest problems that humans have created for the whole of mankind. Discussions on combating climate change have been continuing since last 30 years when the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted at the Rio Conference in 1992. Despite this, nothing significant has been achieved so far. Due to public sector’s finite capabilities and increasing footprint of globalization and privatization, the world is rolling its eyes now on the private corporations to take the lead in this fight against climate change. This article will discuss the historic role that these corporations have played since climate change negotiation days, their contribution at present, and the progressive or regressive role they are set to play in future. The special focus of this article will be on analysing the role of Indian corporations and the existing legal framework governing them and its challenges. At the culmination of this article, the author will try to suggest mechanisms to magnify and intensify private sector contribution in combating climate change with minimum friction and maximum accountability and cohesion.
Law and Regulations on Legal Education in India Before, During and After COVID-19 with a Post-COVID-19 Manifesto
Authors: Sreejith S.G.
Published: July 2021

This article is in pursuit of a way forward from the pandemic-stricken condition of legal education in India to a future of excellence. It realizes that as much as the pandemic paralyses us and threatens with losses, it educates us, emboldens us and helps us realize our true imaginative and constructive possibilities. What is being threatened is a system ordered through a regulatory governance, which owes its legitimacy to the constitution and rule of law. What is being discovered is the many possibilities—of imagination, experimentation and innovation—of regulations. Hence, this article builds a juxtaposition of regulations as they were before the pandemic and as they are during the pandemic, revealing the contrast between them in their scope and application. Inputs for reimagination found between the contrasts are used for making a manifesto for resilience and change, the relevance of which becomes obvious through a prevailing sentiment that perhaps the world will never be the same again.
A Nearly Fatal Case of Pseudomonas fluorescens Bacteremia Secondary to a Naturopathic Intravenous Vitamin Infusion
Authors: D’Souza Gretel , Pandian Elizabeth , Hosea Stephen
Published: July 2021

In this article, we report a case of a 52-year-old female with no past medical history who presented with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea following a naturopathic intravenous vitamin infusion that was administered in her home. She was found to have Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteremia, which is not commonly found in humans. We discuss when to suspect contamination, choosing the proper antibacterial regimen, and the potential risks of naturopathic medicine.
Effect of Low Lactose Formula on the Short-Term Outcomes of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Authors: Alsaleem Mahdi , Dusin Jarrod , Akangire Gangaram
Published: July 2021

The use of low lactose formula (LLF) in term and near-term infants in infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has been increasing recently. However, the clinical evidence of such use is limited. Our aim in this paper was to systematically review the current literature about the use of LLF in infants with NAS. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for articles published between 2015 and 2020. Only randomized controlled trials, prospective, and retrospective studies. The risk of bias was assessed by using published tools appropriate for the study type. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Forty-one titles and/or abstracts were screened independently by 2 reviewers (MA and GA). After an indepth review, 4 studies answered the study question (1 randomized controlled trial (RCT), 2 retrospective studies, and 1 quality improvement study). A meta-analysis could not be completed due to the study type difference and how the outcomes were reported. The studies found no benefit to feeding LLF to infants with NAS regarding short-term outcomes (length of stay, duration, and need for pharmacological therapy and growth). Certainty in the evidence is low. In conclusion we found no beneficial effects regarding the need for pharmacological therapy, duration of pharmacological treatment, length of hospital stay, and growth of using LLF compared to the standard formula in infants with NAS.
Belarus as a liminal space for Russia’s ontological security before and after the 2020 protests
Authors: Kazharski Aliaksei , Kubová Monika
Published: July 2021

The article uses the ontological security framework and the concept of liminality to analyze Belarus liminal status vis-a-vis Russia and the role it has played in Russia’s ontological security seeking before and after the 2020 Belarus Awakening. It argues that while the entire near-abroad, and, in particular, Ukraine have been important in terms of Russia’s post-imperial ontological security seeking strategies, Belarus occupies a unique position with respect to Russia’s securitized identity because of its perfectly marginal or liminal status. This has to do with the fact that, in the Russian geopolitical gaze, Belarus has remained almost unseparated from the Russian Self. Furthermore, the 2020 protests challenged this status but did not entirely eliminate it, leading to a restructuration of Belarus’ liminality.
Older and Wiser? The Need to Reexamine the Impact of Health Professionals Age and Experience on Competency-Based Practices
Authors: Xu Jing , Hicks-Roof Kristen , Bailey Chloe E. , Hamadi Hanadi Y.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Delivery of healthcare services makes up a complex system and it requires providers to be competent and to be able to integrate each of the institute of medicine’s (IOM) 5 core competencies into practice. However, healthcare providers are challenged with the task to be able to understand and apply the IOM core competencies into practice.

Objective

The purpose of the study was to examine the factors that influence health professional’s likelihood of accomplishing the IOM core competencies.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was used to administer a validated online survey to health providers. This survey was distributed to physicians, nursing professionals, specialists, and allied healthcare professionals. The final sample included 3,940 participants who completed the survey.

Results

The study findings show that younger health professionals more consistently practice daily competencies than their older counterparts, especially in the use of evidence-based practice, informatics, and working in interdisciplinary teams. Less experienced health professionals more consistently applied quality improvement methods but less consistently used evidence-based practice compared to their more experienced counterparts.

Conclusion

There is a need to understand how health professionals’ age and experience impact their engagement with IOM’s core competencies. This study highlights the need for educational resources on the competencies to be tailored to health providers’ age and experience.
Black Lives Matter Panel: A Generous Invitation to The Archive
Authors: Croom Marcus , Wynter-Hoyte Kamania , Watson Vaughn W. M. , Gadsden Vivian L. , Hucks Darrell C. , Lee Carol D. , Bauer Eurydice Bouchereau
Published: July 2021

This article is a generous invitation to literacy researchers globally to follow the Black literacy tradition that has saved the minds, bodies, and souls of Black folks as well as fellow human beings throughout the world. Where will this lead? We see the post-White turn and post-White futures for all. This is a celebrated departure from our racial past and present with a definitive commitment to interrogating and dismantling the legacies of racism which (re)constructively entails racial literacies for all.
Risk of acute kidney injury in cancer patients after iodinated contrast medium administration and prophylactic strategies: Summary from the most recent guidelines
Authors: Marta Pirovano , Silvia Minei , Giulia Vanessa Re Sartò , Laura Cosmai
Published: July 2021

Post-contrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI) is a serious complication that primarily affects people with multiple comorbidities who undergo imaging examination with iodinated contrast medium (CM), worsening their outcome and prognosis. This is particularly true for cancer patients, for whom contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is of considerable value in diagnosis and management of the tumor and who are frequently subjected to dehydration and administration of nephrotoxic drugs. The debate on the real prevalence and severity of acute kidney injury (AKI) due to CM administration is still ongoing and the lack of controlled studies and reliable evidence has generated wide heterogeneity in patient management and prophylaxis. The whole idea of this protocol is to analyze most up-to-date guidelines on preventing AKI due to CM administration trying to provide a practical guide.
Intravitreal Injection Therapy: Current Techniques and Supplemental Services
Authors: Lam Linda A. , Mehta Sonia , Lad Eleonora M. , Emerson Geoffrey G. , Jumper J. Michael , Awh Carl C. ,   for the Task Force on Intravitreal Injection Supplemental Services
Published: July 2021

Purpose:

Intravitreal injection is the most frequently performed eye procedure in the world and is an essential component in the management of sight-threating retinal diseases and conditions. Given the seriousness and range of diseases treated and the risks of the procedure, retina specialists must weigh the pros and cons of each individual treatment. Complexities guiding injection treatment are multifaceted and involve patient-history review, careful examination, diagnostic testing selection and interpretation, customized medical decision-making, and follow-up considerations.

Methods:

This article by the Intravitreal Injection Task Force Committee of the American Society of Retina Specialists documents the intricacies and necessary components of the intravitreal injection procedure.

Results:

By expert consensus, the task force further recommends ancillary services and decision-making that may accompany intravitreal injection visits, when appropriate, to monitor response to treatment, adjust treatment, and manage additional considerations in the same or fellow eye.

Conclusions:

Retina specialists can optimize safety and therapeutic outcomes with individualized consideration and customization of intravitreal injection treatment for each patient.
The persistent conditions of plantation economy and the fraught spaces of encounter in St Bernard Parish, Louisiana
Authors: Bost Travis K
Published: July 2021

This article examines how social and economic structures of historic plantation development manage to persist over time and to rearticulate over space. In the early 1900s, the historic plantation sugar economy in St Bernard Parish, Louisiana, suddenly collapsed. Despite efforts by local elites to seize this moment to finally launch a diversified industrial development path, the parish nevertheless sank again into a new cycle of plantation domination and dependency. The dominating sugar sector was broken up only to be rapidly replaced by a vast new monopoly—in, of all things, systematized fur production—whose land tenure and labor regime nearly replicated that of the earlier plantation estates. I examine this folding-over-anew of the plantation, from sugar to fur, in two ways that contribute to recent growing literature on persistent plantation geographies. First, I draw upon theories of Caribbean underdevelopment to identify three persistent conditions of plantation economy. Upon the collapse of sugar in St Bernard, the conditions of estate-based land monopoly, racialized extra-economic labor coercion, and external market/primary commodity dependency constrained the possibility of structural transformation and rearticulated in a new commodity regime based in fur. Second, I turn to consider the experience of workers bound up in the new fur economy who were not, in the main, the debt-bound black workers from the old sugar plantations but a racially and spatially marginal group known as isleños. I draw on a unique set wry folk ballads that isleños maintained as part of local oral tradition to examine the voices of trappers themselves as they negotiated the rearticulating structures of the neo-plantation regime. Thinking with McKittrick's concept of plantation “spaces of encounter,” I find these neo-estate workers forged fraught spaces of discursive and material autonomy that at times resisted, and at times reproduced, the ongoing plantation regime.
Effect of ibrutinib treatment on hemolytic anemia and acrocyanosis in cold agglutinin disease/cold agglutinin syndrome
Authors: Jalink Marit , Berentsen Sigbjørn , Castillo Jorge J. , Treon Steven P. , Cruijsen Marjan , Fattizzo Bruno , Cassin Ramona , Fotiou Despina , Kastritis Efstathios , De Haas Masja , Oosten Liesbeth E. M. , Frederiksen Henrik , Patriarca Andrea , D'Sa Shirley , Vos Josephine M.I.
Published: July 2021

Cold antibody-mediated autoimmune hemolytic anemia (cAIHA) is a rare disease, usually related to an underlying indolent clonal B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Jalink and colleagues describe an international retrospective analysis of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibition in patients with cAIHA. The data indicate a rapid and notable improvement in both the hemolytic anemia as well as acrocyanosis, suggesting that this may be an effective approach, regardless of underlying pathology or MYD88 mutational status.
Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and incidence of obstructive sleep apnoea in three prospective US cohorts
Authors: Liu Yue , Yang Lin , Stampfer Meir J. , Redline Susan , Tworoger Shelley S. , Huang Tianyi
Published: July 2021

Background

Reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behaviour may independently contribute to the development of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) through increased adiposity, inflammation, insulin resistance and body fluid retention. However, epidemiological evidence remains sparse and is primarily limited to cross-sectional studies.

Methods

We prospectively followed 50 332 women from the Nurses’ Health Study (2002–2012), 68 265 women from the Nurses’ Health Study II (1995–2013) and 19 320 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1996–2012). Recreational physical activity (quantified by metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-h per week) and sitting time spent watching TV and at work/away from home were assessed by questionnaires every 2–4 years. Physician-diagnosed OSA was identified by validated self-report. Cox models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals for OSA incidence associated with physical activity and sedentary behaviour.

Results

During 2 004 663 person-years of follow-up, we documented 8733 incident OSA cases. After adjusting for potential confounders, the pooled HR for OSA comparing participants with ≥36.0versus<6.0 MET-h per week of physical activity was 0.46 (95% CI 0.43–0.50; ptrend<0.001). Compared with participants spending <4.0 h per week sitting watching TV, the multivariable-adjusted HR was 1.78 (95% CI 1.60–1.98) for participants spending ≥28.0 h per week (ptrend<0.001). The comparable HR was 1.49 (95% CI 1.38–1.62) for sitting hours at work/away from home (ptrend<0.001). With additional adjustment for several metabolic factors, including body mass index and waist circumference, the associations with physical activity and sitting hours at work/away from home were attenuated but remained significant (ptrend<0.001), whereas the association with sitting hours watching TV was no longer statistically significant (ptrend=0.18).

Conclusions

Higher levels of physical activity and fewer sedentary hours were associated with lower OSA incidence. The potential mediating role of metabolic factors in the association between sedentary behaviour and OSA incidence may depend on the type of sedentary behaviour. Our results suggest that promoting an active lifestyle may reduce OSA incidence.
Serum levels of small HDL particles are negatively correlated with death or lung transplantation in an observational study of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Barochia Amisha V. , Kaler Maryann , Weir Nargues , Gordon Elizabeth M. , Figueroa Debbie M. , Yao Xianglan , Lemma WoldeHanna Merte , Sampson Maureen , Remaley Alan T. , Grant Geraldine , Barnett Scott D. , Nathan Steven D. , Levine Stewart J.
Published: July 2021

Background

Serum lipoproteins, such as high-density lipoproteins (HDL), may influence disease severity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Here, we investigated associations between serum lipids and lipoproteins and clinical end-points in IPF.

Methods

Clinical data and serum lipids were analysed from a discovery cohort (59 IPF subjects, 56 healthy volunteers) and validated using an independent, multicentre cohort (207 IPF subjects) from the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation registry. Associations between lipids and clinical end-points (forced vital capacity, 6-min walk distance, gender age physiology (GAP) index, death or lung transplantation) were examined using Pearson's correlation and multivariable analyses.

Results

Serum concentrations of small HDL particles measured using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (S-HDLPNMR) correlated negatively with the GAP index in the discovery cohort of IPF subjects. The negative correlation of S-HDLPNMRwith GAP index was confirmed in the validation cohort of IPF subjects. Higher levels of S-HDLPNMRwere associated with lower odds of death or its competing outcome, lung transplantation (OR 0.9 for each 1-μmol·L−1increase in S-HDLPNMR, p<0.05), at 1, 2 and 3 years from study entry in a combined cohort of all IPF subjects.

Conclusions

Higher serum levels of S-HDLPNMRare negatively correlated with the GAP index, as well as with lower observed mortality or lung transplantation in IPF subjects. These findings support the hypothesis that S-HDLPNMRmay modify mortality risk in patients with IPF.
Pulmonary disease as a risk factor for transfusion-related acute lung injury
Authors: Yokoyama Akira , Sakamoto Yukiyo , Jo Taisuke , Urushiyama Hirokazu , Tamiya Hiroyuki , Tanaka Goh , Matsui Hiroki , Fushimi Kiyohide , Yasunaga Hideo , Nagase Takahide
Published: July 2021

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a severe condition characterised by noncardiogenic pulmonary oedema that develops within 6 h of blood transfusion. Patient factors and blood products have both been implicated in the development of TRALI; however, the role of pulmonary disease has not been investigated. We aimed to determine whether pulmonary disease is a risk factor for TRALI.

We conducted a nested case-control study using data from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, a nationwide inpatient database in Japan, between July 2010 and March 2015. Case patients who developed TRALI were 1:4-matched with control patients for sex, age and same hospital for receipt of blood transfusion. We conducted a multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis to evaluate the associations of TRALI with various factors including comorbidities, body mass index (BMI) and plasma-containing blood products.

We identified 2 019 501 hospitalised patients who received a blood transfusion. Among these patients, 72 developed TRALI. The 72 case patients had higher proportions of haematological malignancy, trauma and interstitial lung disease (ILD) than the 288 matched control patients. The multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis showed that occurrence of TRALI was associated with ILD (odds ratio, 3.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.11–13.6), BMI ≥25.0 kg·m−2(2.10; 1.05–4.24) and plasma-containing blood products (1.94; 1.10–3.42), but not with infectious lung disease or obstructive airway disease.

In conclusion, ILD was an independent risk factor for the development of TRALI. Physicians should be aware of the increased risk of TRALI in patients with ILD.
Changes in pulmonary function and patient-reported outcomes during COVID-19 recovery: a longitudinal, prospective cohort study
Authors: Shah Aditi S. , Ryu Min Hyung , Hague Cameron J. , Murphy Darra T. , Johnston James C. , Ryerson Christopher J. , Carlsten Christopher , Wong Alyson W.
Published: July 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare respiratory and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) between 3 and 6 months after symptom onset and to identify features that predict these changes.

Methods

This was a consecutive prospective cohort of 73 patients who were hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We evaluated the changes in pulmonary function tests and PROMs between 3 and 6 months and then investigated the associations between outcomes (change in diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), dyspnoea and quality of life (QoL)) and clinical and radiological features.

Results

There was improvement in forced vital capacity, total lung capacity andDLCObetween 3 and 6 months by 3.25%, 3.82% and 5.69%, respectively; however, there was no difference in PROMs. Reticulation and total computed tomography (CT) scores were associated with lowerDLCO% predicted at 6 months (coefficients; −8.7 and −5.3, respectively). The association between radiological scores andDLCOwere modified by time, with the degree of association between ground glass andDLCOhaving decreased markedly over time. There was no association between other predictors and change in dyspnoea or QoL over time.

Conclusions

There is improvement in pulmonary function measurements between 3 and 6 months after COVID-19 symptom onset; however, PROMs did not improve. A higher reticulation and total CT score are negatively associated withDLCO, but this association is attenuated over time. Lastly, there is a considerable proportion of patients with unexplained dyspnoea at 6 months, motivating further research to identify the underlying mechanisms.
Bronchial thermoplasty guided by hyperpolarised gas magnetic resonance imaging in adults with severe asthma: a 1-year pilot randomised trial
Authors: Svenningsen Sarah , Nair Parameswaran , Eddy Rachel L. , McIntosh Marrissa J. , Kjarsgaard Melanie , Lim Hui Fang , McCormack David G. , Cox Gerard , Parraga Grace
Published: July 2021

Patient-specific localisation of ventilation defects using hyperpolarised gas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) introduces the possibility of regionally targeted bronchial thermoplasty (BT) for the treatment of severe asthma. We aimed to demonstrate that BT guided by MRI to ventilation defects reduces the number of radiofrequency activations while resulting in improved asthma quality-of-life and control scores that are non-inferior to standard BT.

In a 1-year pilot randomised controlled trial, 14 patients with severe asthma who were clinically eligible to receive BT underwent hyperpolarised gas MRI to characterise ventilation defects and were randomised to MRI-guided or standard BT. End-points were improved Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) scores, the proportion of AQLQ and ACQ responders and the number of radiofrequency activations and bronchoscopy sessions.

Participants who underwent MRI-guided BT received 53% fewer radiofrequency activations than those who had standard BT (p=0.003). At 12 months, the mean improvement from baseline was similar between the MRI-guided group (n=5) and the standard group (n=7) for AQLQ score (MRI-guided: 1.8, 95% CI 0.1–3.5, p=0.04; standard: 0.7, 95% CI −0.9–2.3, p=0.30) (p=0.25) and ACQ-5 score (MRI-guided: −1.4, 95% CI −2.6– −0.2, p=0.03; standard: −0.7, 95% CI −1.3–0.0, p=0.04) (p=0.17). A similar proportion of participants in both groups achieved a clinically relevant improvement in AQLQ score (MRI-guided: 80%; standard: 71%) and ACQ-5 score (MRI-guided: 80%; standard: 57%).

Hyperpolarised gas MRI-guided BT reduced the number of radiofrequency activations, and resulted in asthma quality of life and control improvements at 12 months that were non-inferior to standard BT.
Current strategies for managing chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: results of the worldwide prospective CTEPH Registry
Authors: Guth Stefan , D'Armini Andrea M. , Delcroix Marion , Nakayama Kazuhiko , Fadel Elie , Hoole Stephen P. , Jenkins David P. , Kiely David G. , Kim Nick H. , Lang Irene M. , Madani Michael M. , Matsubara Hiromi , Ogawa Aiko , Ota-Arakaki Jaquelina S. , Quarck Rozenn , Sadushi-Kolici Roela , Simonneau Gérald , Wiedenroth Christoph B. , Yildizeli Bedrettin , Mayer Eckhard , Pepke-Zaba Joanna
Published: July 2021

Background

Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) therapy and balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) are currently accepted therapies for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). This international CTEPH Registry identifies clinical characteristics of patients, diagnostic algorithms and treatment decisions in a global context.

Methods

1010 newly diagnosed consecutive patients were included in the registry between February 2015 and September 2016. Diagnosis was confirmed by right heart catheterisation, ventilation–perfusion lung scan, computerised pulmonary angiography and/or invasive pulmonary angiography after at least 3 months on anticoagulation.

Results

Overall, 649 patients (64.3%) were considered for PEA, 193 (19.1%) for BPA, 20 (2.0%) for both PEA and BPA, and 148 (14.7%) for PAH therapy only. Reasons for PEA inoperability were technical inaccessibility (n=235), comorbidities (n=63) and patient refusal (n=44). In Europe and America and other countries (AAO), 72% of patients were deemed suitable for PEA, whereas in Japan, 70% of patients were offered BPA as first choice. Sex was evenly balanced, except in Japan where 75% of patients were female. A history of acute pulmonary embolism was reported for 65.6% of patients. At least one PAH therapy was initiated in 35.8% of patients (26.2% of PEA candidates, 54.5% of BPA candidates and 54.1% of those not eligible for either PEA or BPA). At the time of analysis, 39 patients (3.9%) had died of pulmonary hypertension-related causes (3.5% after PEA and 1.8% after BPA).

Conclusions

The registry revealed noticeable differences in patient characteristics (rates of pulmonary embolism and sex) and therapeutic approaches in Japan compared with Europe and AAO.
Breast cancer cell-derived extracellular vesicles transfer miR-182-5p and promote breast carcinogenesis via the CMTM7/EGFR/AKT axis
Authors: Lu Chong , Zhao Yu , Wang Jing , Shi Wei , Dong Fang , Xin Yue , Zhao Xiangwang , Liu Chunping
Published: July 2021

Background

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from tumor cells are implicated in the progression of malignancies through the transfer of molecular cargo microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs). We aimed to explore the role of EVs derived from breast cancer cells carrying miR-182-5p in the occurrence and development of breast cancer.

Methods

Differentially expressed miRNAs and their downstream target genes related to breast cancer were screened through GEO and TCGA databases. miR-182-5p expression was examined in cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues from patients with breast cancer. EVs were isolated from breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 cells and identified. The gain- and loss-of function approaches of miR-182-5p and CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing 7 (CMTM7) were performed in MDA-MB-231 cells and the isolated EVs. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were subjected to co-culture with MDA-MB-231 cell-derived EVs and biological behaviors were detected by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, immunohistochemical staining, Transwell assay and vessel-like tube formation in vitro. A xenograft mouse model in nude mice was established to observe the tumorigenesis and metastasis of breast cancer cells in vivo.

Results

miR-182-5p was highly expressed in breast cancer tissues and cells, and this high expression was associated with poor prognosis of breast cancer patients. miR-182-5p overexpression was shown to promote tumor angiogenesis in breast cancer. Moreover, our data indicated that miR-182-5p was highly enriched in EVs from MDA-MD-231 cells and then ultimately enhanced the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of HUVECs in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we found that CMTM7 is a target of miR-182-5p. EVs-miR-182-5p promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis of breast cancer cells by regulating the CMTM7/EGFR/AKT signaling axis.

Conclusions

Taken altogether, our findings demonstrates that EVs secreted by breast cancer cells could carry miR-182-5p to aggravate breast cancer through downregulating CMTM7 expression and activating the EGFR/AKT signaling pathway.
Early alterations of cortical thickness and gyrification in migraine without aura: a retrospective MRI study in pediatric patients
Authors: Guarnera Alessia , Bottino Francesca , Napolitano Antonio , Sforza Giorgia , Cappa Marco , Chioma Laura , Pasquini Luca , Rossi-Espagnet Maria Camilla , Lucignani Giulia , Figà-Talamanca Lorenzo , Carducci Chiara , Ruscitto Claudia , Valeriani Massimiliano , Longo Daniela , Papetti Laura
Published: July 2021

Background

Migraine is the most common neurological disease, with high social-economical burden. Although there is growing evidence of brain structural and functional abnormalities in patients with migraine, few studies have been conducted on children and no studies investigating cortical gyrification have been conducted on pediatric patients affected by migraine without aura.

Methods

Seventy-two pediatric patients affected by migraine without aura and eighty-two controls aged between 6 and 18 were retrospectively recruited with the following inclusion criteria: MRI exam showing no morphological or signal abnormalities, no systemic comorbidities, no abnormal neurological examination. Cortical thickness (CT) and local gyrification index (LGI) were obtained through a dedicated algorithm, consisting of a combination of voxel-based and surface-based morphometric techniques. The statistical analysis was performed separately on CT and LGI between: patients and controls; subgroups of controls and subgroups of patients.

Results

Patients showed a decreased LGI in the left superior parietal lobule and in the supramarginal gyrus, compared to controls. Female patients presented a decreased LGI in the right superior, middle and transverse temporal gyri, right postcentral gyrus and supramarginal gyrus compared to male patients. Compared to migraine patients younger than 12 years, the ≥ 12-year-old subjects showed a decreased CT in the superior and middle frontal gyri, pre- and post-central cortex, paracentral lobule, superior and transverse temporal gyri, supramarginal gyrus and posterior insula. Migraine patients experiencing nausea and/or vomiting during headache attacks presented an increased CT in the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus.

Conclusions

Differences in CT and LGI in patients affected by migraine without aura may suggest the presence of congenital and acquired abnormalities in migraine and that migraine might represent a vast spectrum of different entities. In particular, ≥ 12-year-old pediatric patients showed a decreased CT in areas related to the executive function and nociceptive networks compared to younger patients, while female patients compared to males showed a decreased CT of the auditory cortex compared to males. Therefore, early and tailored therapies are paramount to obtain migraine control, prevent cerebral reduction of cortical thickness and preserve executive function and nociception networks to ensure a high quality of life.
Au@Ag Core@Shell Nanoparticles Synthesized with Rumex hymenosepalus as Antimicrobial Agent
Authors: Villalobos-Noriega Jesús Mauro Adolfo , Rodríguez-León Ericka , Rodríguez-Beas César , Larios-Rodríguez Eduardo , Plascencia-Jatomea Maribel , Martínez-Higuera Aarón , Acuña-Campa Heriberto , García-Galaz Alfonso , Mora-Monroy Roberto , Alvarez-Cirerol Francisco Javier , Rodríguez-Vázquez Blanca Esthela , Carillo-Torres Roberto Carlos , Iñiguez-Palomares Ramón A.
Published: July 2021

In this work, we used a sequential method of synthesis for gold–silver bimetallic nanoparticles with core@shell structure (Au@AgNPs).Rumex hymenosepalusroot extract (Rh), which presents high content in catechins and stilbenes, was used as reductor agent in nanoparticles synthesis. Size distribution obtained by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) gives a mean diameter of 36 ± 11 nm for Au@AgNPs, 24 ± 4 nm for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and 13 ± 3 nm for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The geometrical shapes of NPs were principally quasi-spherical. The thickness of the silver shell over AuNPs is around 6 nm and covered by active biomolecules onto the surface. Nanoparticles characterization included high angle annular dark field images (HAADF) recorded with a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis Spectroscopy, Zeta Potential, and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) show that nanoparticles are stabilized by extract molecules. A growth kinetics study was performed using the Gompertz model for microorganisms exposed to nanomaterials. The results indicate that AgNPs and Au@AgNPs affect the lag phase and growth rate ofEscherichia coliandCandida albicansin a dose-dependent manner, with a better response for Au@AgNPs
Glans–urethral meatus–shaft score and penile parameters as preoperative assessment tools for hypospadias surgery outcome
Authors: Shoukry Ahmed , Abbas Ahmed , Abdelwahab Mohamed , Ghoneima Waleed , Shouman Ahmed , El Ghoneimy Mohamed , Morsi Hani , Badawy Hesham , Eissa Mohamed , Aboulela Waseem
Published: July 2021

Background

Our prospective study aims to assess if penile parameters and GMS score can predict the postoperative outcome of patients with hypospadias repaired with the TIP technique.

Methods

This prospective study included patients (6 months–11 years old) with coronal, distal or mid penile hypospadias who underwent Tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty technique from 2015 to 2017. All patients were assessed preoperatively using GMS score. GMS score included a scale for each component, with the more unfavorable characteristics assigned higher scores. Penile length, urethral plate length, and penoscrotal length were measured using a ruler. Glans width was measured by using a caliper ruler. Demographics and complications were assessed within 3 months of the procedure.

Results

There was a statistically significant difference between complicated and non-complicated patients regarding GMS score, glans width, penoscrotal length, penile length, and urethral plate length/penile length ratio. According to the ROC curve, the cutoff values for GMS score, glans width and penoscrotal length were 6, 14 mm and 5 cm, respectively. The area under the ROC curve for penile length and for urethral plate/penile length ratio was poor and so we could not get a specific cutoff value for either parameters. According to Stepwise logistic regression, the GMS score was the only significant independent parameter while controlling all the other factors. Any increase in the GMS score by one unit would increase the risk of complications 3 times.

Conclusion

GMS score and penile parameters are good predictors and complete each other in preoperative assessment for hypospadias patients. Patients with a high GMS score (above 6) have a higher risk of complication and patients with a Glans width of 14 mm or more and a penoscrotal length of 5 cm or more are associated with less risk of complication.
Early outcome findings of treatment for transperitoneal laparoscopy-assisted pyeloplasty
Authors: Güler Ahmet Gökhan , Karakaya Ali Erdal , Doğan Ahmet Burak , Kandur Yaşar
Published: July 2021

Background

We retrospectively analyzed the initial results of laparoscopic pyeloplasty, among pediatric patients undergoing the procedure by transperitoneal access.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who were operated with transperitoneal laparoscopy-assisted pyeloplasty at our institution between 2015 and 2020.

Results

The mean age of the 51 patients (M/F = 36/15) was 59 ± 49.8 months. The mean preoperative renal pelvis anterior–posterior diameter was 32.9 ± 13.4 mm, and the relative renal function was 42 ± 12.1% on the operation side. Forty-three (84.3%) patients had no excretion on MAG3 examination preop. The number of patients with no excretion decreased to 10 (19.7%) after surgery. One of them underwent a successful endopyelotomy; eight of them underwent a successful laparoscopic re-pyeloplasty. There was nothing to do in only one patient whose DRF decreased to 11%. The mean anterior posterior diameter decreased significantly to 16.7 ± 11.2 mm after surgery (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Preoperative increased renal pelvis anterior–posterior diameter detected in our study was found to be a risk factor in the failure of transperitoneal laparoscopy-assisted pyeloplasty procedure.
The effect of short-term use of finasteride versus cyproterone acetate on perioperative blood loss with monopolar transurethral resection of prostate
Authors: Abdelbaki Shabieb A. , Al-Falah Adel , Alhefnawy Mohamed , Abozeid Ahmed , Fathi Abdallah
Published: July 2021

Background

Perioperative bleeding is the most common complication related to transurethral resection of prostate; the aim of the study was to compare the effect of pre-operative use of finasteride versus cyproterone acetate (CPA) on blood loss with monopolar TURP.

Methods

This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted on (60) patients with BPH underwent monopolar TURP between July 2019 and July 2020. Patients were distributed into three equal groups; CPA group: 20 patients received cyproterone acetate 50 mg tab BID for two weeks before TURP, finasteride group: 20 patients received single daily dose of finasteride 5 mg for two weeks before TURP, control group: 20 patients received no treatment before TURP, all patients underwent monopolar TURP, and then histopathological examination of the resected tissues was done with assessment of the microvascular density of the prostate.

Results

Our study showed that there was significant decrease in intraoperative blood loss and operative time in CPA and finasteride groups in comparison with control group (p = 0.0012) (p < 0.0001), respectively, significant decrease in post-operative Hb and HCT value in finasteride and control groups in comparison with CPA group (p < 0.01), significant increase in specimen weight in CPA group compared to other groups (p < 0.01), and there was also significant decrease in microvascular density in CPA group in comparison with other groups (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Cyproterone acetate is more effective than finasteride in decreasing perioperative bleeding with TURP by decreasing microvascular density of the prostate.
METAMVGL: a multi-view graph-based metagenomic contig binning algorithm by integrating assembly and paired-end graphs
Authors: Zhang Zhenmiao , Zhang Lu
Published: July 2021

Background

Due to the complexity of microbial communities, de novo assembly on next generation sequencing data is commonly unable to produce complete microbial genomes. Metagenome assembly binning becomes an essential step that could group the fragmented contigs into clusters to represent microbial genomes based on contigs’ nucleotide compositions and read depths. These features work well on the long contigs, but are not stable for the short ones. Contigs can be linked by sequence overlap (assembly graph) or by the paired-end reads aligned to them (PE graph), where the linked contigs have high chance to be derived from the same clusters.

Results

We developed METAMVGL, a multi-view graph-based metagenomic contig binning algorithm by integrating both assembly and PE graphs. It could strikingly rescue the short contigs and correct the binning errors from dead ends. METAMVGL learns the two graphs’ weights automatically and predicts the contig labels in a uniform multi-view label propagation framework. In experiments, we observed METAMVGL made use of significantly more high-confidence edges from the combined graph and linked dead ends to the main graph. It also outperformed many state-of-the-art contig binning algorithms, including MaxBin2, MetaBAT2, MyCC, CONCOCT, SolidBin and GraphBin on the metagenomic sequencing data from simulation, two mock communities andSharoninfant fecal samples.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate METAMVGL outstandingly improves the short contig binning and outperforms the other existing contig binning tools on the metagenomic sequencing data from simulation, mock communities and infant fecal samples.
Feature selection for RNA cleavage efficiency at specific sites using the LASSO regression model in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Ueno Daishin , Kawabe Harunori , Yamasaki Shotaro , Demura Taku , Kato Ko
Published: July 2021

Background

RNA degradation is important for the regulation of gene expression. Despite the identification of proteins and sequences related to deadenylation-dependent RNA degradation in plants, endonucleolytic cleavage-dependent RNA degradation has not been studied in detail. Here, we developed truncated RNA end sequencing in Arabidopsis thaliana to identify cleavage sites and evaluate the efficiency of cleavage at each site. Although several features are related to RNA cleavage efficiency, the effect of each feature on cleavage efficiency has not been evaluated by considering multiple putative determinants in A. thaliana.

Results

Cleavage site information was acquired from a previous study, and cleavage efficiency at the site level (CSsite value), which indicates the number of reads at each cleavage site normalized to RNA abundance, was calculated. To identify features related to cleavage efficiency at the site level, multiple putative determinants (features) were used to perform feature selection using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression model. The results indicated that whole RNA features were important for the CSsite value, in addition to features around cleavage sites. Whole RNA features related to the translation process and nucleotide frequency around cleavage sites were major determinants of cleavage efficiency. The results were verified in a model constructed using only sequence features, which showed that the prediction accuracy was similar to that determined using all features including the translation process, suggesting that cleavage efficiency can be predicted using only sequence information. The LASSO regression model was validated in exogenous genes, which showed that the model constructed using only sequence information can predict cleavage efficiency in both endogenous and exogenous genes.

Conclusions

Feature selection using the LASSO regression model in A. thaliana identified 155 features. Correlation coefficients revealed that whole RNA features are important for determining cleavage efficiency in addition to features around the cleavage sites. The LASSO regression model can predict cleavage efficiency in endogenous and exogenous genes using only sequence information. The model revealed the significance of the effect of multiple determinants on cleavage efficiency, suggesting that sequence features are important for RNA degradation mechanisms in A. thaliana.