bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Queer counterpoints: Making ‘mistakes’ in loveLife’s ‘Make Your Move’
Authors: Milani Tommaso M , Burnett Scott
Published: March 2020

Drawing upon queer theory and Said’s notion of the counterpoint, the article analyses the launch episode of a reality television series produced by the South African NGO loveLife, which focused on a young, self-identified lesbian woman in Soweto. We offer a counter example to discourses of the powerless victimhood of Black, gender and sexually non-normative individuals in South African townships. We unveil contrapuntally the pushes and pulls between the voice of the authoritative facilitator, aligned with loveLife’s HIV-prevention and youth leadership development methodology, and that of the young woman herself, who volunteered for the intervention, focusing on their disagreement on how best to ‘accommodate’ the prevailing social norms of contemporary South Africa. We also discuss the counterpoint between us – a discourse analyst observing the effects of particular articulations on South African society related to loveLife’s social aims, and the producer of the episode, charged with the protection of the NGO’s brand identity. We conclude that norms governing gender and sexuality in a rapidly evolving society such as South Africa’s are best understood as presenting analysis with dilemmas and contradictions, and that contrapuntal reading is a valuable tool for bringing these tensions under scrutiny without succumbing to the urge to resolve them.
Hydrosocial hinterlands: An urban political ecology of Southern California’s hydrosocial territory
Authors: Cantor Alida
Published: March 2020

Urban political ecology has conceptualized the city as a process of urbanization rather than a bounded site. Yet, in practice, the majority of urban political ecology literature has focused on sites within city limits. This tension in urban political ecology evokes broader conversations in urban geography around city-as-place versus urbanization-as-process. In this paper, I bring an urban political ecology analysis to examine co-constitutive urbanization and ruralization processes, focusing on sites beyond city boundaries in three empirical case studies located within the broader hydrosocial territory of urban Southern California. By focusing on the rural components of hydrosocial territories, I show that each of the three case studies has been shaped in very different ways based on its enrollment within urban Southern California’s hydrosocial territory; in turn, the rural has also shaped the cities through flows of politics and resources. The paper demonstrates how urban political ecology can be usefully applied to understand rural places, illustrating how processes of urbanization can be involved in the production of distinctly rural—and distinctly different—landscapes. The cases demonstrate the utility of urban political ecology as an analytical framework that can examine co-constitutive urbanization/ruralization processes and impacts while maintaining enough groundedness to highlight place-based differences.
Coding and noncoding drivers of mantle cell lymphoma identified through exome and genome sequencing
Authors: Pararajalingam Prasath , Coyle Krysta M. , Arthur Sarah E. , Thomas Nicole , Alcaide Miguel , Meissner Barbara , Boyle Merrill , Qureshi Quratulain , Grande Bruno M. , Rushton Christopher , Slack Graham W. , Mungall Andrew J. , Tam Constantine S. , Agarwal Rishu , Dawson Sarah-Jane , Lenz Georg , Balasubramanian Sriram , Gascoyne Randy D. , Steidl Christian , Connors Joseph , Villa Diego , Audas Timothy E. , Marra Marco A. , Johnson Nathalie A. , Scott David W. , Morin Ryan D.
Published: March 2020

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an uncommon B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that is incurable with standard therapies. The genetic drivers of this cancer have not been firmly established, and the features that contribute to differences in clinical course remain limited. To extend our understanding of the biological pathways involved in this malignancy, we performed a large-scale genomic analysis of MCL using data from 51 exomes and 34 genomes alongside previously published exome cohorts. To confirm our findings, we resequenced the genes identified in the exome cohort in 191 MCL tumors, each having clinical follow-up data. We confirmed the prognostic association of TP53 and NOTCH1 mutations. Our sequencing revealed novel recurrent noncoding mutations surrounding a single exon of the HNRNPH1gene. In RNA-seq data from 103 of these cases, MCL tumors with these mutations had a distinct imbalance of HNRNPH1 isoforms. This altered splicing of HNRNPH1 was associated with inferior outcomes in MCL and showed a significant increase in protein expression by immunohistochemistry. We describe a functional role for these recurrent noncoding mutations in disrupting an autoregulatory feedback mechanism, thereby deregulating HNRNPH1 protein expression. Taken together, these data strongly imply a role for aberrant regulation of messenger RNA processing in MCL pathobiology.
Epigenetic reprogramming sensitizes immunologically silent EBV+ lymphomas to virus-directed immunotherapy
Authors: Dalton Tanner , Doubrovina Ekaterina , Pankov Dmitry , Reynolds Raymond , Scholze Hanna , Selvakumar Annamalai , Vizconde Teresa , Savalia Bhumesh , Dyomin Vadim , Weigel Christoph , Oakes Christopher C. , Alonso Alicia , Elemento Olivier , Pan Heng , Phillip Jude M. , O’Reilly Richard J. , Gewurz Benjamin E. , Cesarman Ethel , Giulino-Roth Lisa
Published: March 2020

Despite advances in T-cell immunotherapy against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected lymphomas that express the full EBV latency III program, a critical barrier has been that most EBV+ lymphomas express the latency I program, in which the single Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA1) is produced. EBNA1 is poorly immunogenic, enabling tumors to evade immune responses. Using a high-throughput screen, we identified decitabine as a potent inducer of immunogenic EBV antigens, including LMP1, EBNA2, and EBNA3C. Induction occurs at low doses and persists after removal of decitabine. Decitabine treatment of latency I EBV+ Burkitt lymphoma (BL) sensitized cells to lysis by EBV-specific cytotoxic T cells (EBV-CTLs). In latency I BL xenografts, decitabine followed by EBV-CTLs results in T-cell homing to tumors and inhibition of tumor growth. Collectively, these results identify key epigenetic factors required for latency restriction and highlight a novel therapeutic approach to sensitize EBV+ lymphomas to immunotherapy.
Time trends of major headache diagnoses and predictive factors. Data from three Nord-Trøndelag health surveys
Authors: Hagen Knut , Stovner Lars Jacob , Zwart John-Anker
Published: March 2020

Aims

The primary aim of this study was to investigate time trends of major headache diagnoses using cross-sectional data from two population-based health surveys. In addition, we aimed to perform a longitudinal assessment of baseline characteristics and subsequent risk for having headache at 22-years’ follow-up among those participating in three health surveys.

Methods

Data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) performed in 1995–1997 (HUNT2), 2006–2008 (HUNT3) and 2017–2019 (HUNT4) were used. The 1-year prevalence time trends of major headache diagnoses were estimated among 41,460 participants in HUNT4 and among 39,697 participants in HUNT3, two surveys with identical headache questions. 16,118 persons participated in all three surveys, and among these, a Poisson regression was used to evaluate health-related baseline information in HUNT2 and the risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence interval (CIs) of consistently reporting headache during follow-up.

Results

Compared with the 1-year prevalence in HUNT3, a higher proportion of participants in HUNT4 had tension-type headache (20.7% vs. 15.9%, p < 0.001), whereas a lower 1-year prevalence was found for migraine (11.1% vs. 12.0%, p < 0.001) and medication overuse headache (MOH) (0.3% vs. 1.0%, p < 0.001). Participants in the age group 20–39 years at baseline nearly three times increased risk (RR = 2.8, 95% CI 2.5–3.1) of reporting headache in HUNT2, HUNT3 and HUNT4 than persons aged 50 years or more. Female sex, occurrence of chronic musculoskeletal complaints and high score of depression or anxiety at baseline doubled the risk of having headache in all three surveys.

Conclusions

The 1-year prevalence of migraine and MOH was lower in HUNT4 than in HUNT3. Young age, female sex, and occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints and high score of anxiety and/or depression were all associated with substantially increased risk of reporting headache in all three surveys.
Ecological and health risk assessment of organochlorine pesticides in an urbanized river network of Shanghai, China
Authors: Chen Chong , Zou Wenbing , Chen Songsong , Zhang Kai , Ma Limin
Published: March 2020

Background

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are currently still threatening the ecological environment and people’s health. However, studies that investigate OCP pollution levels in an urbanized river network of an entire city with a high density of rivers, such as Shanghai, have rarely been reported. In addition, due to the pressure of high population densities, ecological risk and health hazard assessments of OCPs in river networks are a knowledge gap that needs to be urgently filled. Thus, in this study, the concentrations, distribution, and partitioning of OCPs are evaluated in an ecological and health risk assessment for the urbanized river network of Shanghai. The goal is to establish connections among OCP residues and establish their impacts on ecological and human health.

Results

The concentrations of 26 OCPs in the urbanized river network of Shanghai ranged from 43.90 to 342.74 ng/L, with a mean value of 181.34 ng/L. Some OCPs formed triangle-shaped areas with higher local ecological risks than other areas, and there were nine OCPs of high risk in some areas. The health risk assessment results showed that the ranking of the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for dermal contact according to age and gender was adults > children > seniors > adolescents, and females > males, while the ranking of the ILCR caused by mistaken oral intake was adults > children > adolescents > seniors, and females > males. The non-carcinogenic risk hazard index (HI) values of both exposure routes were less than one.

Conclusion

OCP concentrations in the northern and southern regions of Shanghai were significantly higher than in other regions, and the partition coefficient (Kp) values of the ∑26 OCPs were negatively correlated with the total suspended solids’ (TSS) contents (p < 0.01). The ecological risks were relatively higher in agricultural areas. The ILCR for dermal contact and mistaken oral intake were generally low, except for adults, whose ILCR caused by dermal contact were at moderate risk. In addition, OCPs in river waters did not pose significant non-carcinogenic health hazards for a majority of the people.
Timing of complementary feeding is associated with gut microbiota diversity and composition and short chain fatty acid concentrations over the first year of life
Authors: Differding Moira K. , Benjamin-Neelon Sara E. , Hoyo Cathrine , Østbye Truls , Mueller Noel T.
Published: March 2020

Background

Early introduction of complementary foods has been associated with various immune disorders, oxidative stress, and obesity in childhood. The gut microbiota and the short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) they produce are postulated to be on the causal pathway. The objective of this study was to determine if early complementary feeding (i.e. consumption of solids or non-water/formula liquids at or before 3 months) is prospectively associated with infant gut microbiota composition, diversity and SCFAs at 3 and 12 months of age in the Nurture birth cohort.

Results

Mother-infant dyads in the early complementary feeding group (n = 18) had similar baseline characteristics to those in the later feeding group (n = 49). We assessed differential abundance of microbial taxa (measured by 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V4 region) by timing of complementary feeding using beta-binomial regression models (considering a two-sided FDR corrected p-value of < 0.05 as significant), and we fittted linear regression models to assess the association between early complementary feeding and SCFA concentrations (quantified using gas chromatography). After multivariable adjustment for breastfeeding, delivery method, birth weight, and gestational age, there were 13 differentially abundant microbial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) by timing of introduction to complementary foods at 3 months and 20 ASVs at 12 months. Infants introduced to complementary foods early (vs. later) had higher concentrations of the SCFA butyric acid (mean difference = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.27, 1.04, p < 0.01) and total SCFAs (mean difference = 38.8, 95% CI: 7.83, 69.7) at 12 months. Bilophila wadsworthia and Lachnospiraceae Roseburia were associated with early (vs. later) complementary feeding and with higher butyric acid concentrations at 3 and 12 months, respectively.

Conclusions

Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that early (vs. later) introduction to complementary foods is associated with altered gut microbiota composition and butyric acid concentrations measured in stool until at least 1 year of age. Further research is needed to determine if these changes mediate future development of metabolic and immune conditions.
Evaluation of real-time PCR targeting the lipL32 gene for diagnosis of Leptospira infection
Authors: Podgoršek Daša , Ružić-Sabljić Eva , Logar Mateja , Pavlović Andrea , Remec Tatjana , Baklan Zvonko , Pal Emil , Cerar Tjaša
Published: March 2020

Background

Different diagnostic methods have been used for the laboratory confirmation of leptospirosis. Molecular diagnostic techniques are not only faster and more sensitive than culture analysis, but can also detect a Leptospira infection before the appearance of antibodies. The aim of the present study was to analyze and compare two different PCR approaches applied to blood and urine specimens obtained from patients with clinical manifestations that were suggestive of leptospirosis. Furthermore, the results of these different PCR approaches were compared with the results of culture and serology analyses.

Results

A total of 400 samples (234 blood or 58.5% and 166 urine of 41.5%) from 310 Slovenian patients with clinical manifestations suggestive of leptospirosis were tested using conventional PCR assays targeting the rrs gene and RT-PCR targeting the lipL32 gene. Additionally, culture, serology and sequence analysis were performed for the majority of these samples. The PCR and RT-PCR results were concordant in 376 out of 400 of these samples (94.0%). Conventional PCR was positive for 27 out of 400 samples (6.8%) and RT-PCR was positive for 47 out of 400 samples (11.8%). Culture and microscopic agglutination tests supported these diagnoses.

Conclusions

A comparison of the two PCR methods indicated that the RT-PCR targeting of the lipL32 gene was faster, more sensitive and more specific for the determination of Leptospira DNA in these clinical samples.
Determinants of prehospital lactate in trauma patients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: ter Avest E. , Griggs J. , Wijesuriya J. , Russell M. Q. , Lyon R. M.
Published: March 2020

Background

Point of care serum lactate measurement is emerging as an adjunct to prehospital clinical assessment and has the potential to guide triage and advanced treatment decision-making. In this study we aimed to assess which factors potentially affect prehospital lactate levels.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of all trauma patients attended by the Air Ambulance, Kent, Surrey & Sussex (AAKSS) between July 2017 and April 2018 in whom a pre-hospital lactate was measured. Lactate was measured before AAKSS treatments were commenced, but generally after prehospital treatment by ground ambulance crews was initiated. Primary endpoint of interest was the association of various patient- and treatment characteristics with prehospital lactate levels.

Results

During the study period, lactate was measured in 156 trauma patients. Median lactate was 3.0 [2.0–4.1] mmol/l. Patients with an elevated lactate more often had deranged indices of end organ perfusion- and oxygenation (shock index 0.80 [0.58–1.03] vs 0.61 [0.40–0.82], p < 0.001, SpO2 96 [89–100%] vs 98 [96–100%], p = 0.025). They more often suffered from head injuries (62% vs 41%, p = 0.008), and received less analgesia prior to arrival of the AAKSS team (51.6% vs 67.2%, p = 0.03). In multivariate analysis, indices of end organ perfusion- and oxygenation only explained 15% of the variation in lactate levels.

Conclusions

Prehospital lactate levels are not solely associated with indices of end organ perfusion- and oxygenation. Injury type, treatments given on scene and many other (unmeasured) factors likely play an important role as well. This should be taken into account when lactate is used in clinical algorithms to guide prehospital triage or treatment.
Individualizing the dosage of Methylphenidate in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Shirafkan Hoda , Mahmoudi-Gharaei Javad , Fotouhi Akbar , Mozaffarpur Seyyed Ali , Yaseri Mehdi , Hoseini Mostafa
Published: March 2020

Background

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood mental health disorders. Stimulant drugs as the most commonly used treatment and first-line therapy for ADHD have side effects. One of the newest approaches to select the best choices and optimize dosages of medications is personalized medicine.

Methods

This historical cohort study was carried out on the data taken from the period of 2008 to 2015. Eligible subjects were included in the study randomly. We used mixed-effects logistic regression models to personalize the dosage of Methylphenidate (MPH) in ADHD. The patients’ heterogeneity was considered using subject-specific random effects, which are treated as the realizations of a stochastic process. To recommend a personalized dosage for a new patient, a two-step procedure was proposed. In the first step, we obtained estimates for population parameters. In the second step, the dosage of the drug for a new patient was updated at each follow-up.

Results

Of the 221 children enrolled in the study, 169 (76.5%) were male and 52 (23.5%) were females. The overall mean age at the beginning of the study is 82.5 (± 26.5) months. In multivariable mixed logit model, three variables (severity of ADHD, time duration receiving MPH, and dosage of MPH) had a significant relationship with improvement. Based on this model the personalized dosage of MPH was obtained.

Conclusions

To determine the dosage of MPH for a new patient, the more the severity of baseline is, the more of an initial dose is required. To recommend the dose in the next times, first, the estimation of random coefficient should be updated. The optimum dose increased when the severity of ADHD increased. Also, the results show that the optimum dose of MPH as one proceeds through the period of treatment will decreased.
Validation of the Finnish Health Improvement Profile (HIP) with patients with severe mental illness
Authors: Werkkala Camilla , Välimäki Maritta , Anttila Minna , Pekurinen Virve , Bressington Daniel
Published: March 2020

Background

Physical health among people with severe mental illness (SMI) is a global concern. However, many people with SMI do not receive regular comprehensive health checks. There is currently no validated physical health check instrument systematically used in Finnish mental health services. Therefore, this study aims to validate and establish the potential clinical utility of the translated Health Improvement Profile (HIP) tool for Finnish patients with SMI and compare differences in physical health risk items across genders.

Methods

The content validity of the two-way translated Finnish HIP (HIP-F) was evaluated by five nurses and four patients with SMI using cognitive debriefing (to assess the clarity and relevance of each item and the recommended actions of the HIP tool). The potential clinical utility was assessed using a pilot test involving 47 patients. The prevalence of red-flagged (risk) items in the whole sample, across female and male participants, and the frequencies of any type of missing item response were calculated and analysed using descriptive statistics. A chi-square test was used to determine differences in frequencies of red-flagged items across genders.

Results

Based on the cognitive debriefing, the HIP-F was found to have moderate content validity regarding the clarity and relevance of the items and recommended actions (the average scale level content validity index, S-CVI/Ave, 0.74). In the pilot test, some missing item responses were identified, but in the sample, nurses identified 399 areas of health and health behaviour risks (mean 8.6 per patient) using the HIP-F. The most frequently red-flagged items were body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (83.0%), smoking status (48.9%) and lipid levels (46.8%). Female patients had a higher frequency of red-flagged items than males in BMI (92.6% vs. 70.0%, p = 0.04) and waist circumference (96.3% vs. 65.0%, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that the Finnish HIP has moderate content validity and preliminary clinical utility for evaluating the physical health and health behaviours of people with SMI. The HIP-F findings help to sign-post evidence-based interventions for identified areas of concern. Additional nurse training may be necessary to realise the potential clinical utility of the tool in Finland.
Critical causes in severe bleeding requiring angioembolization after percutaneous nephrolithotomy
Authors: Kim Hee Youn , Lee Kyu Won , Lee Dong Sup
Published: March 2020

Background

To identify the risk factors for severe bleeding requiring angioembolization among patients who received transfusions after PCNL, particularly those who underwent anatomically incorrect renal puncture.

Methods

A total of 53 patients, who received transfusions after PCNL and simultaneously had a postoperative CT scan performed between November 2009 and May 2019 at two teaching hospitals, were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent angioembolization and those who did not. Patient, stone and procedural factors were compared between the two groups. Puncture correctness was evaluated using postoperative CT scans. Puncture was defined as being a correct puncture if the fornix or papilla of the posterior calyx was punctured and the trajectory of the tract was within 20 degrees posterior to the frontal plane of the kidney (i.e., within Brödel’s line).

Results

21 patients underwent angioembolization after PCNL. Incorrect puncture was seen in 14/21 (66.7%) patients who underwent angioembolization after PCNL, whereas it was seen in 11/32 (34.4%) patients who did not undergo angioembolization (p = 0.021). On multivariable regression analysis, puncture correctness was found to be the only significant factor, with an OR of 3.818, 95% CI of 1.192–12.231 and p value of 0.024.

Conclusions

Incorrect renal puncture was related to severe bleeding requiring angioembolization after PCNL. Our results emphasize the importance of the basic principle of renal puncture for PCNL.
Presepsin and procalcitonin as predictors of sepsis based on the new Sepsis-3 definitions in obstructive acute pyelonephritis
Authors: Tambo Mitsuhiro , Taguchi Satoru , Nakamura Yu , Okegawa Takatsugu , Fukuhara Hiroshi
Published: March 2020

Background

Acute pyelonephritis (APN) with obstructive uropathy often causes sepsis. Recently, sepsis was redefined using the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, based on the new Sepsis-3 criteria. We investigated predictors for sepsis using this new definition in patients with obstructive APN associated with upper urinary tract calculi.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated patients who were admitted to our hospital for treatment of obstructive APN associated with upper urinary tract calculi. Blood and urine samples were collected before treatment of obstructive APN. Treatment included adequate antimicrobial therapy and emergency drainage to decompress the renal collecting system. We diagnosed sepsis using the new Sepsis-3 definition. We assessed predictors for sepsis by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

Sixty-one patients were included in this study. Overall, all patients underwent emergency drainage, and 11 (18.0%) patients showed sepsis. There were no significant differences in performance status or comorbidities between sepsis and non-sepsis groups. Platelet count and serum albumin level were significantly lower in the sepsis group than in the non-sepsis group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.016, respectively). Procalcitonin (PCT) and presepsin (PSEP) levels were significantly higher in the sepsis group than in the non-sepsis group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that PCT elevation (OR = 13.12, p = 0.024) and PSEP elevation (OR = 13.13, p = 0.044) were independent predictors for sepsis.

Conclusions

Elevation of PCT and PSEP levels before treatment might predict the development of sepsis in patients with obstructive APN.
The effects of BAFF on T lymphocytes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Gao Shupei , Chen Jinqing , Xie Jungang , Wang Jianmiao
Published: March 2020

Background

It has been reported that B cell activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) expression is increased in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However its role in this chronic inflammatory disease is not fully understood. Previous studies have suggested that BAFF also affects T cell function. We therefore investigated the effects of BAFF on T lymphocytes in COPD.

Methods

BAFF was detected in the cells of sputum and the plasma. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from COPD patients and treated with BAFF or BAFF plus BR3-Fc (BAFF antagonist). The apoptosis of CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells were isolated from peripheral blood of COPD patients respectively and treated with BAFF or BAFF plus BR3-Fc. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were detected in the CD4+ cells, and perforin and granzyme B were detected in the CD8+ cells.

Results

BAFF expression was increased in the cells of sputum and the plasma from COPD patients compared with control subjects. The plasma BAFF levels were inversely correlated with FEV1 percentage of predicted in patients with COPD. BAFF did not significantly alter the apoptosis of CD4+ cells, however it significantly inhibited the apoptosis of CD8+ cells from COPD patients. BAFF increased IFN-γ expression in the CD4+ cells from COPD patients, while it did not significantly alter the expresson of IL-4 in these cells. BAFF increased the expression of perforin and granzyme B in the CD8+ cells from COPD patients.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that BAFF may be involved in the inflammatory response in COPD via affecting T lymphocytes, suggesting a possible role of BAFF in the pathogenesis of COPD.
Learning from Sisyphus: time to rethink our current, ineffective strategy on neurodevelopmental environmental toxicants
Authors: Takser Larissa , Hunting Darel John
Published: March 2020

Background

The overwhelming number of potentially toxic chemicals in consumer products and in our daily environment makes it unrealistic to carry out in-depth analyses of each product with the objective of banning and eliminating toxic chemicals from our environment.

Objectives

To present the challenges that environmental toxicology and epidemiology are currently facing in the context of ubiquitous chemical pollution.

Discussion

We propose a realistic and pragmatic approach to this Herculean problem.
Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the World Health Organization quality of life-old module (WHOQOL-OLD) for Persian-speaking populations
Authors: Rezaeipandari Hassan , Morowatisharifabad Mohammad Ali , Mohammadpoorasl Asghar , Shaghaghi Abdolreza
Published: March 2020

Background

Reliable quality of life assessment is important for identification of health problems, evaluation of health interventions and planning of optimal health policies and care packages. Due to lack of a psychometrically robust measurement tool for quality of life appraisal among the Iranian older population, this study was aimed to investigate psychometric properties of the Persian version of the World Health Organization quality of life-old module (WHOQOL-OLD-P) for use on the Iranian and other Persian-speaking aged populations.

Methods

The standard translate/back-translate procedure was applied to convert the English version of the WHOQOL-OLD into Persian. The face and content validities were assessed by a panel of experts including 15 specialists in geriatrics and allied fields. The Cronbach’s alpha and intra-class correlation (ICC) coefficients were estimated to assess internal validity and reliability of the translated version. Factorial structure of the WHOQOL-OLD-P was also tested using confirmatory factor analyses in a sample of 400 Persian-speaking older adults (aged 60 years of old and above) residing in the city of Yazd, the capital city of Yazd province, center of Iran.

Results

The internal consistency and reliability indices of the WHOQOL-OLD-P were in the vicinity of acceptable range (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.65–0.82 and ICC: 0.90–0.98). The confirmatory factor analysis outputs confirmed the six-factor solution of the WHOQOL-OLD-P (RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.93, SRMR = 0.06).

Conclusion

The study findings support validity and reliability of the WHOQOL-OLD-P for use on Iranian and possibly other Persian-speaking older populations. Further cross-cultural and comparative multinational studies are recommended to provide more vigorous evidence about feasibility and acceptability of the translated tool in diverse and multicultural Persian-speaking communities.
Frequency of circulating CD8+CD73+T cells is associated with survival in nivolumab-treated melanoma patients
Authors: Capone Mariaelena , Fratangelo Federica , Giannarelli Diana , Sorrentino Claudia , Turiello Roberta , Zanotta Serena , Galati Domenico , Madonna Gabriele , Tuffanelli Marilena , Scarpato Luigi , Grimaldi Antonio M. , Esposito Assunta , Azzaro Rosa , Pinto Antonio , Cavalcanti Ernesta , Pinto Aldo , Morello Silvana , Ascierto Paolo A.
Published: March 2020

Background

PD-1 blocking agents, such as nivolumab, have demonstrated clear anti-tumor effects and clinical benefits in a subset of patients with advanced malignancies. Nonetheless, more efforts are needed to identify reliable biomarkers for outcome, to correctly select patients who will benefit from anti-PD-1 treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of peripheral CD8+T cells expressing CD73, involved in the generation of the immune suppressive molecule adenosine, in predicting outcome after nivolumab treatment in advanced melanoma patients.

Methods

PBMCs from 100 melanoma patients treated with nivolumab were collected at National Cancer Institute “G. Pascale” of Naples. Frequencies of CD8+ lymphocytes phenotypes were assessed by flow cytometry at baseline before nivolumab treatment, along with clinical characteristics and blood count parameters. Healthy controls (n = 20) were also analysed. Percentages of baseline T cells expressing PD-1 and CD73 were correlated with outcome after nivolumab treatment.

Results

Melanoma patients presented a lower frequency of total circulating CD8+ lymphocytes than control subjects (p = 0.008). Patients with low baseline percentage of circulating CD8+PD-1+CD73+ lymphocytes (< 2.3%) had better survival (22.4 months vs 6.9 months, p = 0.001). Patients (39%) with clinical benefit from nivolumab therapy presented a significantly lower frequency of circulating CD8+PD-1+CD73+ lymphocytes than patients who progressed to nivolumab treatment (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Our observations suggest that baseline CD73 expression on circulating CD8+PD-1+ lymphocytes appear a promising biomarker of response to anti-PD-1 treatment in melanoma patients. Further investigations are needed for validation and for clarifying its role as prognostic or predictive marker.
Association between serum HER2/ErbB2 levels and coronary artery disease: a case–control study
Authors: Jian Wen , Wei Chun-Mei , Guan Jia-Hui , Mo Chang-Hua , Xu Yu-Tao , Zheng Wen-Bo , Li Lang , Gui Chun
Published: March 2020

Background

Research has associated human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) with glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the association between circulating HER2 levels and coronary artery disease (CAD) remains to be elucidated.

Methods

We performed a case–control study with 435 participants (237 CAD patients and 198 controls) who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography from September 2018 to October 2019. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CAD were calculated with multiple logistic regression models after adjustment for confounders.

Results

Overall, increased serum HER2 levels were independently associated with the presence of CAD (OR per 1-standard deviation (SD) increase: 1.438, 95% CI 1.13–1.83; P = 0.003) and the number of stenotic vessels (OR per 1-SD increase: 1.399, 95% CI 1.15–1.71; P = 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, a significant interaction of HER2 with body mass index (BMI) on the presence of CAD was observed (adjusted interaction P = 0.046). Increased serum HER2 levels were strongly associated with the presence of CAD in participants with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (OR per 1-SD increase: 2.143, 95% CI 1.37–3.35; P = 0.001), whereas no significant association was found in participants with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (OR per 1-SD increase: 1.225, 95% CI 0.90–1.67; P = 0.201).

Conclusion

Elevated HER2 level is associated with an increased risk of CAD, particularly in people with obesity. This finding yields new insight into the pathological mechanisms underlying CAD, and warrants further research regarding HER2 as a preventive and therapeutic target of CAD.
Diagnostic performance of conventional ultrasound and quantitative and qualitative real-time shear wave elastography in musculoskeletal soft tissue tumors
Authors: Li Ao , Peng Xiao-Jing , Ma Qian , Dong Ye , Mao Cui-Lian , Hu Yu
Published: March 2020

Background

To explore the feasibility to identify malignant musculoskeletal soft tissue tumors using real-time shear wave elastography (rtSWE).

Methods

One hundred fifteen musculoskeletal soft tissue tumors in 92 consecutive patients were examined using both conventional ultrasonography (US) and rtSWE. For each patient, the rtSWE parameters including maximum elasticity (Emax), mean elasticity (Emean), minimum elasticity (Emin), standard deviation of the elasticity (Esd), and rtSWE image pattern were obtained. Eighty-one histopathologically confirmed tumors from 73 patients were subjected to analysis.

Results

The 81 lesions included in the study were histopathologically classified as malignant (n = 21) or benign (n = 60). The statistically significant differences between benign and malignant lesions were found in conventional US characters including size, depth, margin, echogenicity, mass texture, and power Doppler signal. Meanwhile, the significant differences were also found in quantitative rtSWE findings including Emax, Emean, Emin, and Esd values and in qualitative rtSWE parameter named rtSWE image pattern. Multivariate analysis showed that infiltrative margin (OR, 4.470), and size (OR, 1.046) were independent predictors for malignancy in US findings, while Esd value (OR, 9.047) was independent predictors for malignancy in quantitative rtSWE parameters. Areas under the ROC curve (Azs) for US features, Esd value, and rtSWE image pattern were 0.851, 0.795, and 0.792, respectively.

Conclusions

Conventional US and quantitative and qualitative rtSWE parameters are useful for malignancy prediction of musculoskeletal soft tissue tumors. rtSWE can be used to supplement conventional US to diagnose musculoskeletal soft tissue tumors.
Correction to: Italian translation, cultural adaptation, and pilot testing of a questionnaire to assess family burden in inherited ichthyoses
Authors: El Hachem May , Abeni Damiano , Diociaiuti Andrea , Rotunno Roberta , Gesualdo Francesco , Zambruno Giovanna , Bodemer Christine
Published: March 2020

The original article contains a misspelling of co-author, Christine Bodemer’s name which is presented correctly in this Correction article.
Synergy at work: linking the metabolism of two lactic acid bacteria to achieve superior production of 2-butanol
Authors: Mar Mette J. , Andersen Joakim M. , Kandasamy Vijayalakshmi , Liu Jianming , Solem Christian , Jensen Peter R.
Published: March 2020

Background

The secondary alcohol 2-butanol has many important applications, e.g., as a solvent. Industrially, it is usually made by sulfuric acid-catalyzed hydration of butenes. Microbial production of 2-butanol has also been attempted, however, with little success as witnessed by the low titers and yields reported. Two important reasons for this, are the growth-hampering effect of 2-butanol on microorganisms, and challenges associated with one of the key enzymes involved in its production, namely diol dehydratase.

Results

We attempt to link the metabolism of an engineered Lactococcus lactis strain, which possesses all enzyme activities required for fermentative production of 2-butanol from glucose, except for diol dehydratase, which acts on meso-2,3-butanediol (mBDO), with that of a Lactobacillus brevis strain which expresses a functional dehydratase natively. We demonstrate growth-coupled production of 2-butanol by the engineered L. lactis strain, when co-cultured with L. brevis. After fine-tuning the co-culture setup, a titer of 80 mM (5.9 g/L) 2-butanol, with a high yield of 0.58 mol/mol is achieved.

Conclusions

Here, we demonstrate that it is possible to link the metabolism of two bacteria to achieve redox-balanced production of 2-butanol. Using a simple co-cultivation setup, we achieved the highest titer and yield from glucose in a single fermentation step ever reported. The data highlight the potential that lies in harnessing microbial synergies for producing valuable compounds.
Prevalence of and risk factors for periodontal disease among pregnant women in an antenatal care clinic in Khartoum, Sudan
Authors: Salih Yasir , Nasr Abubakr M. , Ahmed Abdel B. A. , Sharif Manal E. , Adam Ishag
Published: March 2020

Objectives

The aim was to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with periodontal disease among pregnant Sudanese women. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Antenatal Care Clinic of Saad Abualila Hospital (Khartoum, Sudan) from August to October 2018. Socioeconomic-demographic information and reproductive history were gathered using a questionnaire. Body mass index was computed from the weight and height. The diagnosis of periodontal disease was performed using criterion that also evaluated bleeding upon probing.

Results

Four hundred and four women were enrolled in the study, with a mean (SD) gestational age of 30.0 (8.7) weeks. Their mean (SD) age and parity were 27.0 (5.7) years and 1.6 (1.7), respectively. Ninety-seven (24.0%) of these 404 women had periodontal disease, which was mild, moderate and severe in 49 (12.1%), 36 (8.9%) and 12 (3.0%) women respectively, while 307 (76.0%) women had no periodontal disease. In logistic regression, age, parity, education, and brushing were not associated with periodontitis, but lower gestational age was associated with periodontal disease (OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.99, P = 0.011).
Genetic modification of the protozoan Eimeria tenella using the CRISPR/Cas9 system
Authors: Tang Xinming , Suo Jingxia , Liang Lin , Duan Chunhui , Hu Dandan , Gu Xiaolong , Yu Yonglan , Liu Xianyong , Cui Shangjin , Suo Xun
Published: March 2020

Eimeria tenellahas emerged as valuable model organism for studying the biology and immunology of protozoan parasites with the establishment of the reverse genetic manipulation platform. In this report, we described the application of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)/Cas9 (endonuclease) system for efficient genetic editing inE. tenella, and showed that the CRISPR/Cas9 system mediates site-specific double-strand DNA breaks with a single guide RNA. Using this system, we successfully tagged the endogenous microneme protein 2 (EtMic2) by inserting the red fluorescent protein into the C-terminal of EtMic2. Our results extended the utility of the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic modification system toE. tenella, and opened a new avenue for targeted investigation of gene functions in apicomplexan parasites.
Nonexistence of solutions for the quasilinear parabolic differential inequalities with singular potential term and nonlocal source
Authors: Xiao Suping , Fang Zhong Bo
Published: March 2020

This paper is devoted to proving some new nonexistence theorems for a class of quasilinear parabolic differential inequalities with a singular potential term and nonlocal source term in the case of homogeneous and non-homogeneous by the test function method.
Existence and uniqueness of positive solutions for a new class of coupled system via fractional derivatives
Authors: Afshari Hojjat , Sajjadmanesh Mojtaba , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: March 2020

In this paper we study the existence of unique positive solutions for the following coupled system:
$$\begin{aligned} \textstyle\begin{cases} D_{0^{+}}^{\alpha }x(\tau )+f_{1}(\tau ,x(\tau ),D_{0^{+}}^{\eta }x( \tau ))+g_{1}(\tau ,y(\tau ))=0, \\ D_{0^{+}}^{\beta }y(\tau )+f_{2}(\tau ,y(\tau ),D_{0^{+}}^{\gamma }y( \tau ))+g_{2}(\tau ,x(\tau ))=0, \\ \tau \in (0,1),\qquad n-1< \alpha ,\beta < n; \\ x^{(i)}(0)=y^{(i)}(0)=0,\quad i=0,1,2,\ldots ,n-2; \\ [D_{0^{+}}^{\xi }y(\tau ) ]_{\tau =1}=k_{1}(y(1)),\qquad [D_{0^{+}}^{\zeta }x(\tau ) ]_{\tau =1}=k_{2}(x(1)), \end{cases}\displaystyle \end{aligned}$$ {D0+αx(τ)+f1(τ,x(τ),D0+ηx(τ))+g1(τ,y(τ))=0,D0+βy(τ)+f2(τ,y(τ),D0+γy(τ))+g2(τ,x(τ))=0,τ∈(0,1),n−1<α,β3$n>3 and $1\leq \gamma \leq \xi \leq n-2$1≤γ≤ξ≤n−2, $1\leq \eta \leq \zeta \leq n-2$1≤η≤ζ≤n−2, $f_{1},f_{2}:[0,1]\times \mathbb{R^{+}}\times \mathbb{R^{+}} \rightarrow \mathbb{R^{+}}$f1,f2:[0,1]×R+×R+→R+, $g_{1},g_{2}:[0,1]\times \mathbb{R^{+}}\rightarrow \mathbb{R^{+}}$g1,g2:[0,1]×R+→R+ and $k_{1},k_{2}:\mathbb{R^{+}}\rightarrow \mathbb{R^{+}}$k1,k2:R+→R+ are continuous functions, $D_{0^{+}}^{\alpha }$D0+α and $D_{0^{+}}^{\beta }$D0+β stand for the Riemann–Liouville derivatives. An illustrative example is given to show the effectiveness of theoretical results.
Childhood intellectual disability and parents' mental health: integrating social, psychological and genetic influences
Authors: Baker Kate , Devine Rory T. , Ng-Cordell Elise , Raymond F. Lucy ,   IMAGINE-ID consortium, Hughes Claire
Published: March 2020

Background

Intellectual disability has a complex effect on the well-being of affected individuals and their families. Previous research has identified multiple risk and protective factors for parental mental health, including socioeconomic circumstances and child behaviour.

Aims

This study explored whether genetic cause of childhood intellectual disability contributes to parental well-being.

Method

Children from across the UK with intellectual disability due to diverse genetic causes were recruited to the IMAGINE-ID study. Primary carers completed the Development and Well-being Assessment, including a measure of parental distress (Everyday Feeling Questionnaire). Genetic diagnoses were broadly categorised into aneuploidy, chromosomal rearrangements, copy number variants (CNVs) and single nucleotide variants.

Results

Compared with the UK general population, IMAGINE-ID parents (n = 888) reported significantly elevated emotional distress (Cohen's d = 0.546). Within-sample variation was related to recent life events and the perceived impact of children's difficulties. Impact was predicted by child age, physical disability, autistic characteristics and other behavioural difficulties. Genetic diagnosis also predicted impact, indirectly influencing parental well-being. Specifically, CNVs were associated with higher impact, not explained by CNV inheritance, neighbourhood deprivation or family structure.

Conclusions

The mental health of parents caring for a child with intellectual disability is influenced by child and family factors, converging on parental appraisal of impact. We found that genetic aetiologies, broadly categorised, also influence impact and thereby family risks. Recognition of these risk factors could improve access to support for parents, reduce their long-term mental health needs and improve well-being of individuals with intellectual disability.
How well do we communicate risk? An evaluation of AJCC version 6 and 7 staging systems for soft tissue sarcomas.
Authors: Maki Robert G. , Antonescu Cristina R. , Hameed Meera , Moraco Nicole H. , Singer Samuel , Brennan Murray F.
Published: March 2020

10001

Background: Cancer staging systems allow physicians to communicate risks of a particular clinical situation with one another and with patients. Few data have been presented to support the update of a commonly employed staging system for soft tissue sarcoma (STS). We examined American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) versions 6 (2002) and 7 (2010) staging systems for patients with primary STS using a single institution clinically annotated prospective database. Methods: Subsets of the prospectively collected Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center STS database of 8647 patients from 1982 to 2010 were examined with respect to criteria of the AJCC versions 6 and 7 staging systems. Results: Tumor size does not appear to be adequately addressed in version 6 or 7. Relapse-free survival was statistically worse for increasing size of primary STS <5, 5-10, 10-15, and >15 cm; in comparison, overall survival decreased over three size categories (<5, 5-10, >10 cm). Tumor depth, a statistically significant factor in patient outcomes that is included in version 6, is functionally omitted in version 7. Patients with node involvement without other metastases fare statistically worse than patients with large, high grade tumors without nodal metastasis, as shown previously. Version 6 and 7 criteria do not address effects of primary anatomic site and histology, even for tumors with same FNCLCC grade. Sarcoma subtypes defined after publication of FNCLCC criteria are difficult to incorporate into existing guidelines. Conclusions: Improved prognostication of STS outcomes is better achieved by staging according to anatomic primary site, depth, and a larger number of size categories. Histology-specific nomograms improve prognostic accuracy, such as those for liposarcoma, GIST, or rhabdomyosarcoma. Staging accuracy increases at the cost of portability and simplicity. The increasing difficulties with use of a single STS staging system highlight the potential benefit of newer techniques, such as patient-specific nomograms or Bayesian networks. Staging systems will require significant modifications to incorporate increasingly sophisticated molecular diagnostics.