bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the Evaluation of Various Types of Sham Acupuncture Treatments in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients: The Protocol of a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Kwon Seungwon , Cho Seung-Yeon , Park Seong-Uk , Jung Woo-Sang , Moon Sang-Kwan , Park Jung-Mi , Ko Chang-Nam , Cho Ki-Ho
Published: October 2019

Background. Various sham acupuncture devices have been developed and used in studies on acupuncture. However, there is controversy on whether these devices act as an appropriate placebo or control. In particular, validation of sham acupuncture has only been performed in studies involving healthy individuals. In this regard, questions on the suitability of various sham acupuncture treatments in studies involving disease treatment remain unanswered. Therefore, in this study, we would like to investigate the most appropriate sham acupuncture in the research on treatment of hemiplegic stroke. Methods. The proposed study is a single-center, prospective, randomized sequence, participant- and assessor-blinded trial with four parallel arms. A total of 90 participants will be randomly assigned to Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, or Group 4 in a 1 : 1 : 1 : 1 ratio. All groups will be treated with Quchi (LI11) for 20 minutes. Group 1 will be treated with verum acupuncture; Group 2, with Park Sham Device; Group 3, with Streitberger’s needle; and Group 4, with insertion- and removal-type devices. Participants will undergo one treatment session. The primary outcome is Bang’s blinding index. Secondary outcomes are the “Discomfort caused by acupuncture therapy” questionnaire and the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale index. Immediately after the procedure, all participants will also be monitored for adverse events. Discussion. This study will help identify the optimal sham acupuncture device that can be used for clinical studies on acupuncture treatment in hemiplegic stroke patients. This trial is registered with KCT0002622.
The Novel Glutamine Antagonist Prodrug JHU395 Has Antitumor Activity in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor
Authors: Lemberg Kathryn M. , Zhao Liang , Wu Ying , Veeravalli Vijayabhaskar , Alt Jesse , Aguilar Joanna Marie H. , Dash Ranjeet P. , Lam Jenny , Tenora Lukáš , Rodriguez Chabely , Nedelcovych Michael T. , Brayton Cory , Majer Pavel , Blakeley Jaishri O. , Rais Rana , Slusher Barbara S.
Published: October 2019

The carbon and nitrogen components of glutamine are used for multiple biosynthetic processes by tumors. Glutamine metabolism and the therapeutic potential of glutamine antagonists (GA), however, are incompletely understood in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), an aggressive soft tissue sarcoma observed in patients with neurofibromatosis type I. We investigated glutamine dependence of MPNST using JHU395, a novel orally bioavailable GA prodrug designed to circulate inert in plasma, but permeate and release active GA within target tissues. Human MPNST cells, compared with Schwann cells derived from healthy peripheral nerve, were selectively susceptible to both glutamine deprivation and GA dose-dependent growth inhibition. In vivo, orally administered JHU395 delivered active GA to tumors with over 2-fold higher tumor-to-plasma exposure, and significantly inhibited tumor growth in a murine flank MPNST model without observed toxicity. Global metabolomics studies and stable isotope–labeled flux analyses in tumors identified multiple glutamine-dependent metabolites affected, including prominent effects on purine synthesis. These data demonstrate that glutamine antagonism is a potential antitumor strategy for MPNST.
Functional Analysis of Aberrantly Spliced Caspase8 Variants in Adult T-Cell Leukemia Cells
Authors: Nakano Kazumi , Iwanaga Masako , Utsunomiya Atae , Uchimaru Kaoru , Watanabe Toshiki
Published: October 2019

The genetic and molecular alterations responsible for leukemogenesis and progression of HTLV-infected adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) have not been fully clarified. Previously, we reported that various genes are not only overexpressed but also abnormally spliced in ATL cells. Here, we identified various CASP8 transcript variants in PBMCs from a smoldering-type ATL patient, which encode aberrant truncated caspase 8 (Casp8) isoforms. Among those, we focus on the three transcript variants, CASP8L (including the first 136 bp of the intron 8 between exon 8 and exon 9), CASP8-ΔE4 (without the exon 4), and CASP8-ΔE7 (without the exon 7), because they encode isoforms, Casp8L, Casp8-ΔE4, and Casp8-ΔE7, respectively, without the C-terminal catalytic domains. In this study, we conducted in vitro characterization and functional analysis of those mutant Casp8 isoforms to clarify their changed functions compared with the wild-type (WT)-Casp8. We demonstrated that these abnormal Casp8 isoforms showed lower ability to induce apoptosis than WT-Casp8 due to their dominant-negative interactions with WT-Casp8, which impair WT-Casp8 homodimerization that is essential for induction of apoptosis. Moreover, Casp8L and Casp8-ΔE7, which have only two death-effector domains, significantly activated NFκB by forming filament-like structures, which probably function as scaffolds for the IKK complex formation. In view of increasing levels of these abnormal CASP8 transcripts in primary PBMCs from HTLV-1 carriers and patients with ATL, we propose a possibility that overexpression of those Casp8 mutants, with lower proapoptotic activities and higher NFκB-activating functions than WT-Casp8, may be one of the molecular abnormalities causing malignant transformation and growth of ATL cells.

Implications:

We describe naturally occurring CASP8 transcription variants in PBMCs from patients with ATL, which encode truncated Casp8-mutant isoforms with lower proapoptotic activities and higher NFκB-activating functions compared with WT-Casp8.
Human Papillomavirus Epitope Mimicry and Autoimmunity: The Molecular Truth of Peptide Sharing
Authors: Kanduc Darja , Shoenfeld Yehuda
Published: October 2019

Objective: To define the cross-reactivity potential and the consequent autoimmunity intrinsic to viral versus human peptide sharing. Methods: Using human papillomavirus (HPV) infection/active immunization as a research model, the experimentally validated HPV L1 epitopes catalogued at the Immune Epitope DataBase were analyzed for peptide sharing with the human proteome. Results: The final data show that the totality of the immunoreactive HPV L1 epi­topes is mostly composed by peptides present in human proteins. Conclusions: Immunologically, the high extent of peptide sharing between the HPV L1 epitopes and human proteins invites to revise the concept of the negative selection of self-reactive lymphocytes. Pathologically, the data highlight a cross-reactive potential for a spectrum of autoimmune diseases that includes ovarian failure, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), breast cancer and sudden death, among others. Therapeutically, analyzing already validated immunoreactive epitopes filters out the peptide sharing possibly exempt of self-reactivity, defines the effective potential for pathologic autoimmunity, and allows singling out peptide epitopes for safe immunotherapeutic protocols.
Lipocalin-1 Expression as a Prognosticator Marker of Survival in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Zhang Xueyan , Cui Yingnan , He Miao , Jiao Yan , Yang Zhaoying
Published: October 2019

Purpose: LCN1 (lipocalin-1), a gene that encodes tear lipocalin (or von Ebner’s gland protein), is mainly expressed in secretory glands and tissues, such as the lachrymal and lingual gland, and nasal, mammary, and tracheobronchial mucosae. Analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Breast Carcinoma (BRCA) level 3 data revealed a relationship between LCN1 expression and survival in breast cancer patients. Methods: The χ2 test and Fisher exact test were applied to analyze the clinical data and RNA sequencing expression data, and the association between LCN1 expression and clinicopathologic features was determined. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve of LCN1 was drawn to assess its ability as a diagnostic marker, and the optimal cutoff value was obtained from the ROC curve to distinguish groups with high and low LCN1 expression. Cox regression was used to compare both groups, and a log-rank test was applied to calculate p values and compare the ­Kaplan-Meier curves. Furthermore, GEO datasets were employed for external data validation. Results: Analysis of 1,104 breast cancer patients with a primary tumor revealed that LCN1 was overexpressed in breast cancer. High LCN1 expression was associated with clinicopathologic features and poor survival. Analyzing the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of LCN1, it was found that its diagnostic ability was limited. Multivariate analysis indicated that LCN1 expression is an independent predictor of survival in breast cancer patients. Through validation in GEO datasets, LCN1 expression was higher in tumor than normal tissue of the breast. High LCN1 expression was associated with poor survival in breast cancer patients. Conclusions: High LCN1 expression is an independent prognosticator of a poor prognosis in breast cancer.
Dog Ownership and Survival
Authors: Kramer Caroline K. , Mehmood Sadia , Suen Renée S.
Published: October 2019

Background:

Dog ownership has been associated with decreased cardiovascular risk. Recent reports have suggested an association of dog companionship with lower blood pressure levels, improved lipid profile, and diminished sympathetic responses to stress. However, it is unclear if dog ownership is associated with improved survival as previous studies have yielded inconsistent results. Thus, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association of dog ownership with all-cause mortality, with and without prior cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular mortality.

Methods and Results:

Studies published between 1950 and May 24, 2019 were identified by searching Embase and PubMed. Observational studies that evaluated baseline dog ownership and subsequent all-cause mortality or cardiovascular mortality. Two independent reviewers extracted the data. We assessed pooled data using random-effects model. A possible limitation was that the analyses were not adjusted for confounders. Ten studies were included yielding data from 3 837 005 participants (530 515 events; mean follow-up 10.1 years). Dog ownership was associated with a 24% risk reduction for all-cause mortality as compared to nonownership (relative risk, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.67–0.86) with 6 studies demonstrating significant reduction in the risk of death. Notably, in individuals with prior coronary events, living in a home with a dog was associated with an even more pronounced risk reduction for all-cause mortality (relative risk, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.17–0.69;
I
2
, 0%). Moreover, when we restricted the analyses to studies evaluating cardiovascular mortality, dog ownership conferred a 31% risk reduction for cardiovascular death (relative risk, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.67–0.71;
I
2
, 5.1%).

Conclusions:

Dog ownership is associated with lower risk of death over the long term, which is possibly driven by a reduction in cardiovascular mortality.

Systematic Review Registration

URL:
http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/
. Unique identifier: CRD42018111048.
The Sovereign Right to Kill: A Critical Appraisal of Israel’s Shoot-to-Kill Policy in Gaza
Authors: Erakat Noura
Published: October 2019

In the Gaza Strip, Israel’s military used lethal force against civilian protestors engaged in the ‘Great Return March’ of 2018. In its late May 2018 ruling, the Israeli Supreme Court held this use of force as legitimate self-defense. This article challenges Israel’s security response to these protests in an attempt to both unsettle a warfare discourse and to urge for a distinct ontological approach. The article argues that an ongoing settler-colonial project has racialised the Palestinian body as a security threat, and historicises Israel’s shoot-to-kill policy as merely one contemporary mode of dispossessing the native body. This includes a novel framework of armed conflict that has diminished the category of the civilian and expanded the scope of legitimate targets permitting the killing of greater numbers of Palestinians in the language of law; the article calls this legal technology the ‘shrinking civilian’.
A study on preparation and mechanism of Ni based ternary alloy
Authors: Shi Hong , Liu Minghui , Cong Lin , Wang Lizhong
Published: October 2019

In this paper, the preparation of Ni–Ti–Nb amorphous alloy materials made by mechanical alloying method has been studied. The Ni–Ti–Nb mixed powders obtained by different mechanical alloying times have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron
microscopy (SEM). The results show that the Ni–Ti–Nb mixed powders can be mechanically alloyed after milling for 10 hours, and retained with ball milling. Continuously, Ni, Ti and Nb alloy powders diffuse with each other. When the diffusion rate increases to a certain extent, it
is too late to form an ordered structure and form a Ni–Ti–Nb amorphous alloy. The stress and displacement curves are obtained by testing the tensile strength at room temperature. The stress changes of the restrained curves are relatively stable when the displacement is 6–18
mm, and the stress changes of the unconstrained curves show a distinct upward trend when the displacement is 6–18 mm, indicating that the strength of the specimens treated with restraint is higher than that of the specimens treated with restraint. This is due to the high internal stress
of the material caused by the restraint and the decrease in the tensile strength of the alloy material.
Influences of graphene oxide addition on mechanical properties of aramid fiber reinforced composites
Authors: Ding Xiaoma , Zhang Ziling , Kong Haijuan , Qiao Mengmeng , Hu Zhifeng , Zhang Luwei , Yu Muhuo
Published: October 2019

In this paper, the graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by the modified Hummers' method in advance, and the obtained GO was used as a kind of filler added into the epoxy resin (EP) system (including the EP and corresponding curing agent) with different contents (relative to the total weight
of the GO-EP system hybrid) ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 wt% to improve the mechanical properties of the aramid fiber reinforced composites (AFRC) through the autoclave forming technology. Then, a series of mechanical properties of the AFRC were measured according to the relevant test standards.
Results showed that partial mechanical properties of the AFRC, especially the interlayer property, changed with the different contents of GO. Nevertheless, the tensile strength and tensile modulus of the AFRC presented no obvious changes for different contents of GO. Overall, the matrix phase
EP system modified by the GO played an important role in the interlayer toughness of AFRC without reducing its tensile property. This was because the addition of the small amount of GO could prevent the generation of stress concentrations caused by the gaps between the reinforcing phase aramid
fibers (AFs) and matrix phase EP system owing to their poor bondings.
Tropical Cyclone as a Possible Remote Controller of Air Quality over South Korea through Poleward-Propagating Rossby Waves
Authors: Park Doo-Sun R. , Ho Chang-Hoi , Kim Dasol , Kang Nam-Young , Han Yeojin , Oh Hye-Ryun
Published: October 2019

Air quality depends as much on large-scale tropospheric circulation as on the amount of pollutant emissions. Many studies have found a relationship between air quality and midlatitude synoptic weather systems. A stable low-level troposphere and airflow from polluted areas are conditions that favor air pollution in a region. However, few studies have focused on the possible remote effect of tropical cyclone (TC) activity in the tropics on air quality in the midlatitude East Asian countries. Here, we found that TCs in the South China Sea (SCS) can increase the concentration of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 10 μm (PM10) over South Korea through poleward-propagating Rossby waves. According to our analyses, intense divergence due to a TC causes a barotropic Rossby wave train from the SCS to the North Pacific Ocean. Anomalous highs over the Korean Peninsula (part of the Rossby wave train) result in stable air conditions and cause polluted air inflow to increase the PM10 concentration up to 65 μg m−3. Our finding suggests that TC activity in the tropics should be considered for more accurate forecasts of air quality in South Korea.
Transvaginal excision of rectal stromal tumors: case reports and a literature review
Authors: Shizhuo Wang , Liuyuan  , Sha Ni , Xueting Chen , He Wang , Nannan Luan , Xiaoxin Ma
Published: October 2019

Background

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Rectal locations are very rare, and minimally invasive surgery is a good choice for the treatment of rectal GISTs.

Case presentation

Two women each had a mass located on the lower vaginal-rectal space as determined by transvaginal ultrasound (TV-US), pelvis MR imaging, and colonoscopy. The patients successfully underwent transvaginal excision. The spindle-shaped cells were found in pathological test. The immunohistochemical analysis showed that CD117 and Dog-1 were stained positively. These results confirmed the masses as GISTs. The postoperative period was uneventful without anal dysfunction. Two patients were received adjuvant treatment with imatinib after surgery.

Conclusion

Transvaginal excision could be a minimally invasive and safe alternative treatment in the management of rectal GISTs in lower locations.
Local excision followed by early radical surgery in rectal cancer: long-term outcome
Authors: Junginger Theodor , Goenner Ursula , Hitzler Mirjam , Trinh Tong T. , Heintz Achim , Wollschläger Daniel
Published: October 2019

Background

In rectal cancers, radical surgery should follow local excisions, in cases of unexpected, unfavorable tumor characteristics. The oncological results of this completion surgery are inconsistent.

This retrospective cohort study assessed the clinical and long-term oncological outcomes of patients that underwent completion surgery to clarify whether a local excision compromised the results of radical surgery.

Methods

Forty-six patients were included, and the reasons for completion surgery, intraoperative complications, residual tumors, local recurrences (LRs), distant metastases, and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were assessed. The results were compared to 583 patients that underwent primary surgery without adjuvant therapy, treated with a curative intention during the same time period.

Results

The median follow-up was 14.6 years. The reasons for undergoing completion surgery were positive resection margins (24%), high-risk cancer (30%), or both (46%). Intraoperative perforations occurred in 10/46 (22%) cases. Residual tumor in the rectal wall or lymph node involvement occurred in 12/46 (26%) cases. The risk of intraoperative perforation and residual tumor increased with the pT category. Intraoperative perforations did not increase postoperative complications, but they increased the risk of LRs in cases of intramural residual tumors (p = 0.003). LRs occurred in 2.6% of pT1/2 and 29% of pT3 tumors. Both the 5- and 10-year CSS rates were 88.8% (95% CI 80.0–98.6). Moreover, the LRs of patients with pT1/2 cancers were lower in patients with completion surgery than in patients with primary surgery.

Conclusions

Rectal wall perforations at the local excision site and residual cancer were the main risks for poor oncological outcomes associated with completion surgery. Local excisions followed by early radical surgery did not appear to compromise outcomes compared to patients with primary surgery for pT1/2 rectal cancer. Improvements in clinical staging should allow more appropriate selection of patients that are eligible for a local excision of rectal cancer.
Predictors of loss to follow-up in art experienced patients in Nigeria: a 13 year review (2004–2017)
Authors: Aliyu Ahmad , Adelekan Babatunde , Andrew Nifarta , Ekong Eunice , Dapiap Stephen , Murtala-Ibrahim Fati , Nta Iboro , Ndembi Nicaise , Mensah Charles , Dakum Patrick
Published: October 2019

Background

Expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) leads to improved HIV/AIDS treatment outcomes in Nigeria, however, increasing rates of loss to follow-up among those on ART is threatening optimal standard achievement. Therefore, this retrospective cross-sectional study is aimed at identifying correlates and predictors of loss to follow-up in patients commencing ART in a large HIV program in Nigeria.

Methods

Records of all patients from 432 US CDC Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supported facilities across 10 States and FCT who started ART from 2004 to 2017 were used for this study. Bivariate and multivariate analysis of the demographic and clinical parameters of all patients was conducted using STATA version 14 to determine correlates and predictors of loss to follow-up.

Results

Within the review period, 245,257 patients were ever enrolled on anti-retroviral therapy. 150,191 (61.2%) remained on treatment, 10,960 (4.5%) were transferred out to other facilities, 6926 (2.8%) died, 2139 (0.9%) self-terminated treatment and 75,041 (30.6%) had a loss to follow-up event captured. Males (OR: 1.16), Non-pregnant female (OR: 4.55), Patients on ≥ 3-monthly ARV refills (OR: 1.32), Patients with un-suppressed viral loads on ART (OR: 4.52), patients on adult 2nd line regimen (OR: 1.23) or pediatric on 1st line regimen (OR: 1.70) were significantly more likely to be lost to follow-up.

Conclusion

Despite increasing access to anti-retroviral therapy, loss to follow-up is still a challenge in the HIV program in Nigeria. Differentiated care approaches that will focus on males, non-pregnant females and paediatrics is encouraged. Reducing months of Anti-retroviral drug refill to less than 3 months is advocated for increased patient adherence.
Benchmark of computational methods for predicting microRNA-disease associations
Authors: Huang Zhou , Liu Leibo , Gao Yuanxu , Shi Jiangcheng , Cui Qinghua , Li Jianwei , Zhou Yuan
Published: October 2019

Background

A series of miRNA-disease association prediction methods have been proposed to prioritize potential disease-associated miRNAs. Independent benchmarking of these methods is warranted to assess their effectiveness and robustness.

Results

Based on more than 8000 novel miRNA-disease associations from the latest HMDD v3.1 database, we perform systematic comparison among 36 readily available prediction methods. Their overall performances are evaluated with rigorous precision-recall curve analysis, where 13 methods show acceptable accuracy (AUPRC > 0.200) while the top two methods achieve a promising AUPRC over 0.300, and most of these methods are also highly ranked when considering only the causal miRNA-disease associations as the positive samples. The potential of performance improvement is demonstrated by combining different predictors or adopting a more updated miRNA similarity matrix, which would result in up to 16% and 46% of AUPRC augmentations compared to the best single predictor and the predictors using the previous similarity matrix, respectively. Our analysis suggests a common issue of the available methods, which is that the prediction results are severely biased toward well-annotated diseases with many associated miRNAs known and cannot further stratify the positive samples by discriminating the causal miRNA-disease associations from the general miRNA-disease associations.

Conclusion

Our benchmarking results not only provide a reference for biomedical researchers to choose appropriate miRNA-disease association predictors for their purpose, but also suggest the future directions for the development of more robust miRNA-disease association predictors.
Clinically relevant effect of rupatadine 20 mg and 10 mg in seasonal allergic rhinitis: a pooled responder analysis
Authors: Mullol Joaquim , Izquierdo Iñaki , Okubo Kimihiro , Canonica Giorgio Walter , Bousquet Jean , Valero Antonio
Published: October 2019

Background

Different clinical trials showed the superior efficacy of rupatadine compared to placebo at improving seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) symptoms, but no study has assessed if the response promoted is clinically meaningful.

Methods

This study is a pooled analysis of data of seven randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled SAR studies comparing responder proportions upon treatment with rupatadine (10 or 20 mg) or placebo. We evaluated the following symptom scores at baseline (Visit 1) and over 14 days of treatment: Total 4 Nasal Symptom Score (T4NSS), Total 2 Ocular Symptom Score (T2OSS) and Total 6 Symptom Score (T6SS). The proportion of responders (50% and 75% response) and the time to response were compared between groups on days 7 (Visit 2) and 14 (Visit 3). Responder rates were compared between groups on days 7 and 14 for the complete/near-to-complete response for T4NSS (TN4SS score ≤ 2 and each symptom score ≤ 1) and T6SS (T6SS score ≤ 3 and each symptom score ≤ 1).

Results

Data from 1470 patients were analyzed: 332 treated with placebo, 662 with rupatadine 10 mg and 476 with rupatadine 20 mg. The reduction in T4NSS, T2OSS and T6SS over 14 days of treatment relative to baseline was statistically higher in rupatadine groups vs the placebo group, with greater improvements in the 20 mg group. A statistically higher proportion of patients reached the 50% and 75% response for T4NSS, T2OSS and T6SS in rupatadine groups compared to the placebo group across the visits. Among rupatadine-treated patients, those receiving 20 mg compared favourably for both cut-off responses. The time to achieve a proportion of responders was shorter in the rupatadine 20 mg group than in the rupatadine 10 mg and placebo groups for all the symptom scores. The number of patients who achieved a complete/near-to-complete response for both symptom scores was higher in rupatadine groups than in the placebo group, with higher proportions in the 20 mg group.

Conclusions

This responder analysis confirms the superior efficacy of rupatadine vs placebo to treat SAR. Rupatadine promoted higher proportions of responders according to stringent response criteria and in a dose-dependent manner, with faster and higher response rates in the 20 mg group.
Community perceptions of mass drug administration for soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis in selected schools in the Philippines
Authors: Lorenzo Pauline Joy , Manzanilla Duane Raphael , Cortel Dazzle Kane , Tangog Ekaterina
Published: October 2019

Background

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and schistosomiasis are parasitic infections prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries, such as the Philippines. The prevalence of these infections remain high in certain Philippine provinces, despite established mass drug administration (MDA) programs in endemic communities. This study aimed to understand community knowledge and perceptions of these infections to determine their implications on the current control and elimination strategies, including possible barriers to MDA compliance.

Methods

The study was conducted in Northern Samar and Sorsogon, two provinces with the highest STH and schistosomiasis prevalence in the country. Focus group discussions with separate parent and children groups were utilized to gather knowledge and perceptions on STH and schistosomiasis causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention; and on the deworming drugs and overall program implementation. Data collection in Northern Samar were done in August 2017, while the sessions in Sorsogon took place in May 2018. A cultural construction of disease framework will show how several factors affect MDA participation.

Results

Results showed that participants held mostly correct biomedical notions of the infections and expressed willingness to participate in MDA program. However, reservations remained due to a reported lack of information dissemination, lack of confidence in the drugs used, and widespread fear of adverse side effects.

Conclusion

Addressing these concerns - improving the conduct of the deworming program, incorporating suggestions from the community, and managing potential adverse events - may help raise MDA participation and encourage better personal preventive practices, reducing STH and schistosomiasis prevalence.

Trial Registration

N/A
Emerging role of a novel small non-coding regulatory RNA: tRNA-derived small RNA
Authors: Jin Fangfang , Guo Zhigang
Published: October 2019

The discovery of small non-coding RNAs, such as miRNA and piRNA, has dramatically changed our understanding of the role RNA plays in organisms. Recent studies show that a novel small non-coding RNA generated from cleavage of tRNA or pre-tRNA, called tRNA-derived small RNA (tsRNA), serves as a new regulator of gene expression. tsRNA has been determined participate in regulating some specific physiological and pathological processes. Although knowledge regarding the biological roles of miRNA and piRNA is expanding, whether tsRNAs play similar roles remains poorly understood. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding the mechanisms of action and biological functions of tsRNAs in intracellular, extracellular and intergenerational inheritance, and highlight the potential application of tsRNAs in human diseases, and present the current problems and future research directions.
The wh-questions of network meta-analyses
Authors: De Giorgi Riccardo
Published: October 2019

Currently, network meta-analyses (NMAs) are the only technique that allow us to compare and rank numerous treatments across trials. Evidence produced by NMAs relies on pooled data from both direct and indirect comparisons within studies. Consequently, NMAs are invaluable tools for informing clinical guidelines.
Ultrasound-Guided Intermediate Cervical Plexus Block With Depot Steroids in the Management of Refractory Neck Pain Secondary to Cervicothoracic Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Case Series
Authors: Thawale Roshan , Alva Sachin , Niraj Gopinath
Published: October 2019

Persistent cervicothoracic myofascial pain is a common condition that causes loss of function and can result in significant health care costs. The underlying cause is tender trigger points that result in impaired muscle function. Standard treatment includes physiotherapy, medications, acupuncture, and trigger point injections. Patients who fail to respond have very limited treatment options. The authors present a novel treatment in 2 patients presenting with severe unilateral cervicothoracic myofascial neck pain that failed to respond to standard treatment. The novel treatment, ultrasound-guided intermediate cervical plexus block with depot steroids, produced significant and durable pain relief in the 2 patients.
Methylarene-Based PAH Synthesis via Domino Cyclization of 1,1-Difluoro-1-alkenes
Authors: Fuchibe Kohei , Takao Go , Takahashi Hiroki , Ijima Shiori , Ichikawa Junji
Published: October 2019

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) containing 4–7 benzene rings were synthesized via a methylarene-based protocol. Trimethyl[2-(trifluoromethyl)allyl]silane was electrophilically benzylated with Ar1CH2Br (prepared from Ar1CH3) to afford 2-trifluoromethyl-1-alkenes that were in turn nucleophilically benzylated with Ar2CH2Li (prepared from Ar2CH3) through an SN2′-type reaction to produce 1,1-difluoroethylenes, which are cyclization precursors bearing two 2-arylethyl groups. Magic acid efficiently promoted the domino Friedel–Crafts-type cyclization of these precursors, followed by dehydrogenation that enabled the connection among two aryl groups (Ar1 and Ar2) by forming two benzene rings between them, facilitating the synthesis of the desired higher-order PAHs. With the proposed protocol, the combination of even a limited number of methylarenes can yield a variety of PAHs in diverse configurations.
Κλίμακα εκτίμησης λεξιλογίου: σχεδιασμός, δημιουργία, πιλοτική χορήγηση
Authors: Καραπατσούδη Δήμητρα
Published: October 2019

Στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας ήταν ο σχεδιασμός, η δημιουργία και η πιλοτική χορήγηση ενός ψηφιακού εργαλείου εκτίμησης του προσληπτικού λεξιλογίου παιδιών προσχολικής ηλικίας. Κατά την εκπόνηση της παρούσας μελέτης, εφαρμόστηκε συγχρονικό σχέδιο έρευνας με ανεξάρτητη μεταβλητή την ηλικία των παιδιών (ηλικιακές ομάδες: 4;00 – 4;05, 4;06 – 4;11, 5;00 – 5;05, 5;06 – 5;11 και 6;00-6;06 ετών) και εξαρτημένη μεταβλητή τον αριθμό των σωστών απαντήσεων στα 54 αντικείμενα (items) της δοκιμασίας, που αποτέλεσαν τις κεντρικές μεταβλητές της μελέτης. Το δείγμα αποτελούνταν από 352 υγιή ελληνόφωνα παιδιά (46% αγόρια και 54% κορίτσια) στα οποία παρουσιάστηκαν στην οθόνη του υπολογιστή 54 ομάδες τεσσάρων εικόνων και σε κάθε ομάδα έπρεπε να επιλέξουν την εικόνα που αντιστοιχούσε στη λέξη ενός ηχητικού μηνύματος. Στατιστικές αναλύσεις ανέδειξαν την στατιστικά σημαντική αναπτυξιακή ευαισθησία των 29 εκ των 54 αρχικών items της δοκιμασίας. Με βάση τα αποτελέσματα αυτά, προέκυψε η αναθεωρημένη εκδοχή της δοκιμασίας η οποία διαπιστώθηκε να έχει αξιοπιστία εσωτερικής συνοχής (Cronbach a= 0,85) και να είναι «ευαίσθητη» στις αναπτυξιακές μεταβολές που είναι αναμενόμενες με βάση την ηλικία, ευρήματα που στο σύνολό τους προσφέρουν σημαντικές ενδείξεις για τη λειτουργικότητα του νέου αυτού ψυχομετρικού εργαλείου ως μέσου για την εκτίμηση του προσληπτικού λεξιλογίου παιδιών προσχολικής ηλικίας.
A CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing pipeline in the EndoC-βH1 cell line to study genes implicated in beta cell function
Authors: Grotz Antje K. , Abaitua Fernando , Navarro-Guerrero Elena , Hastoy Benoit , Ebner Daniel , Gloyn Anna L.
Published: October 2019

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global pandemic with a strong genetic component, but most causal genes influencing the disease risk remain unknown. It is clear, however, that the pancreatic beta cell is central to T2D pathogenesis. In vitro gene-knockout (KO) models to study T2D risk genes have so far focused on rodent beta cells. However, there are important structural and functional differences between rodent and human beta cell lines. With that in mind, we have developed a robust pipeline to create a stable CRISPR/Cas9 KO in an authentic human beta cell line (EndoC-βH1). The KO pipeline consists of a dual lentiviral sgRNA strategy and we targeted three genes (INS, IDE, PAM) as a proof of concept. We achieved a significant reduction in mRNA levels and complete protein depletion of all target genes. Using this dual sgRNA strategy, up to 94 kb DNA were cut out of the target genes and the editing efficiency of each sgRNA exceeded >87.5%. Sequencing of off-targets showed no unspecific editing. Most importantly, the pipeline did not affect the glucose-responsive insulin secretion of the cells. Interestingly, comparison of KO cell lines for NEUROD1 and SLC30A8 with siRNA-mediated knockdown (KD) approaches demonstrate phenotypic differences. NEUROD1-KO cells were not viable and displayed elevated markers for ER stress and apoptosis. NEUROD1-KD, however, only had a modest elevation, by 34%, in the pro-apoptotic transcription factor CHOP and a gene expression profile indicative of chronic ER stress without evidence of elevated cell death. On the other hand, SLC30A8-KO cells demonstrated no reduction in KATP channel gene expression in contrast to siRNA silencing. Overall, this strategy to efficiently create stable KO in the human beta cell line EndoC-βH1 will allow for a better understanding of genes involved in beta cell dysfunction, their underlying functional mechanisms and T2D pathogenesis.
Refinement of the critical genomic region for hypoglycaemia in the Chromosome 9p deletion syndrome
Authors: Banerjee Indraneel , Senniappan Senthil , Laver Thomas W. , Caswell Richard , Zenker Martin , Mohnike Klaus , Cheetham Tim , Wakeling Matthew N. , Ismail Dunia , Lennerz Belinda , Splitt Miranda , Berberoğlu Merih , Empting Susann , Wabitsch Martin , Pötzsch Simone , Shah Pratik , Siklar Zeynep , Verge Charles F. , Weedon Michael N. , Ellard Sian , Hussain Khalid , Flanagan Sarah E.
Published: October 2019

Background: Large contiguous gene deletions at the distal end of the short arm of chromosome 9 result in the complex multi-organ condition chromosome 9p deletion syndrome.  A range of clinical features can result from these deletions with the most common being facial dysmorphisms and neurological impairment. Congenital hyperinsulinism is a rarely reported feature of the syndrome with the genetic mechanism for the dysregulated insulin secretion being unknown. 

Methods: We studied the clinical and genetic characteristics of 12 individuals with chromosome 9p deletions who had a history of neonatal hypoglycaemia. Using off-target reads generated from targeted next-generation sequencing of the genes known to cause hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (n=9), or microarray analysis (n=3), we mapped the minimal shared deleted region on chromosome 9 in this cohort. Targeted sequencing was performed in three patients to search for a recessive mutation unmasked by the deletion.

Results: In 10/12 patients with hypoglycaemia, hyperinsulinism was confirmed biochemically. A range of extra-pancreatic features were also reported in these patients consistent with the diagnosis of the Chromosome 9p deletion syndrome. The minimal deleted region was mapped to 7.2 Mb, encompassing 38 protein-coding genes. In silico analysis of these genes highlighted SMARCA2 and RFX3 as potential candidates for the hypoglycaemia. Targeted sequencing performed on three of the patients did not identify a second disease-causing variant within the minimal deleted region.

Conclusions: This study identifies 9p deletions as an important cause of hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia and increases the number of cases reported with 9p deletions and hypoglycaemia to 15 making this a more common feature of the syndrome than previously appreciated.  Whilst the precise genetic mechanism of the dysregulated insulin secretion could not be determined in these patients, mapping the deletion breakpoints highlighted potential candidate genes for hypoglycaemia within the deleted region.
Traumatic brain injury in dogs and cats
Authors: Elias Neus , Rotariu Ana-Maria , Grave Tobias
Published: October 2019

Traumatic brain injury is common in companion animals and can occur from many different types of trauma such as road traffic accidents or bites. Following the primary injury, which is beyond control of the clinician, secondary injury occurs minutes to days following the trauma. The secondary injury will lead to neuronal death, and is the focus of treatment strategies for the emergency veterinary surgeon. Treatment of traumatic brain injury includes nursing strategies, intravenous fluid therapy, hyperosmolar therapy and diuretics, pain management, maintenance of oxygenation and ventilation, temperature regulation, anticonvulsant therapy and glycaemic control. All of these are discussed in this clinical review.
Taming trilostane: past and future
Authors: White Constance N
Published: October 2019

A number of methods have been proposed for monitoring trilostane therapy for canine hyperadrenocorticism. Lack of consensus on timing and targets for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation testing, coupled with the fact that post-ACTH cortisol levels may not correlate well with clinical control, suggest that stimulation testing may not be as reliable a monitoring tool as initially thought. This article reviews developments in our understanding of the action, dosage, and monitoring of trilostane therapy of canine hyperadrenocorticism. Trilostane pharmacodynamics should be considered both in monitoring therapy and in tailoring dosage and frequency of administration.
Tricking memory, remaking the city: Trompe l’oeil and the visual transformation of a historic city in China: Chengdu
Authors: Zhang Yanshuo
Published: October 2019

This article discusses how Chinese cities are transforming in visually radical ways to reconfigure their historic memories. In the midst of ‘creative city campaigns’ sweeping over China, which emphasize the discovery and exploitation of the creative-historic-cultural elements of urban pasts, Chengdu, one of China’s ‘New First-tier Cities’, epitomizes the pivotal role that visual culture plays in facilitating urban change. Grounded in critical analysis of both indigenous urban-making strategies within China and Chinese cities’ borrowing of western visual practices, this article investigates how Chengdu, as an emerging metropolis in globalizing China, introduces trompe l’oeil-style photographic installations on the site of its famous Kuanzhai Alleys (Kuanzhai xiangzi) transformation project. Urban planners in Chengdu take advantage of trompe l’oeil (‘trick-the-eye’), a post-Renaissance Western artistic innovation, to blur the boundaries between memory and reality. By transforming a vernacular architectural heritage site in Chengdu into a modern interactive cultural Disneyland, urban planners create embodied interactivity on the current tourist site of the Kuanzhai Alleys. While tourists indulge in the enchanting pleasure of a bygone urban past revived through visual tricks on the site, the people of Chengdu criticize the transformed district for failing to represent the authentic memories of the city. By revealing how the Kuanzhai Alleys becomes a site of contested urban experiences, the article probes the role of artistic creations in mediating memory and reality, the past and the present in fast-changing Chinese cities.
Cartographies of Paris: Everyday mobilities in Michèle Rakotoson’s Elle, au printemps and Alain Mabanckou’s Tais-toi et meurs
Authors: Toivanen Anna-Leena
Published: October 2019

Literary representations of postcolonial subjects’ concrete mobility practices beyond migrancy have not received much critical attention. To fill this void, this article analyses the representations and poetics of urban everyday mobilities in two francophone African diasporic novels, Michèle Rakotoson’s Elle, au printemps (1996) and Alain Mabanckou’s Tais-toi et meurs (2012), through a mobility studies perspective. I focus on the protagonists’ use of urban mobility systems and the narratives’ ways of producing urban cartographies as means for inscribing the newly arrived irregular African migrants in the metropolis, and argue that the texts give articulation to a practical cosmopolitanism. The texts’ poetics of mobility – manifest in their uncanny and thrilleresque qualities – and the protagonists’ journeys to peripheral dead-ends convey the anxious aspects of their attempts to claim Paris as their city through mobility.
Cultural gentrification: Gourmet and Latinx immigrant food trucks vendors in Los Angeles
Authors: Munoz Lorena
Published: October 2019

By focusing on Latinx immigrant food truck vendors in Los Angeles, this article calls to rethink and expand how we understand gentrification as a mechanism of neo-liberal redevelopment ideologies in space by extending these spatial understandings of gentrifying processes not only as physical spatial displacement but also as a way to exclude meanings and histories of marginalized populations. These exclusions contribute to a racialized mobile food vending hierarchy, dialectically produced through urban policies that actively further urban inequalities, resulting in what I call cultural gentrification. I argue that cultural gentrification can occur through commodification of cultural economic forms like mobile food vending by the urban truck revolution phenomena. Although these gentrification processes do not entail physical displacement of a group of people by another group, since Latinx taco trucks and street vendors do not sell in the same areas as gourmet food trucks, they do create barriers, exclusions and invisibilities that maintain racialized mobile food vending hierarchies through urban policies that actively further urban inequalities. The study draws on qualitative research undertaken in Los Angeles intermittently from 2004 to 2013 of Latinx food truck vendors, gourmet food truck vendors, local-state actors and business owners key informants.
KAJIAN PERSEBARAN dan POTENSI JATI PASIR (Guettarda speciosa L.) di INDONESIA
Authors: Astuti Inggit Puji , Susandarini Ratna
Published: October 2019

Rubiaceae is a cosmopolitan family of flowering plants distributed at almost all over the world. This family consists of 611 genera and 13,500 species. One of the 611 genera is Guettarda that has 50 to 160 species. Guettarda speciosa L. is one of species within Guettarda which is distributed from East Africa to the Pacific Islands including Indonesia. The objective of this study, therefore, was to determine the species’ distribution in Indonesia and its potential use. The data was collected from herbarium specimens deposited in Herbarium Bogoriense, field collection data from exploration by Center for Plant Conservation, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, and NKRI Expedition in West Papua. Based on the collected data, an analysis was conducted to create distribution map of the species. Information related to the potential use of this species in Indonesia showed thatit iscommonly used as ornamental plant, although Rumphius reported that in Ambon the wood or bark of this species was usually boiled together with root ofArtocarpus as a traditional medicine for diarrhea.
PENGARUH PERBEDAAN PADAT TEBAR LARVA TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN DAN SINTASAN PADA IKAN UCENG (Nemacheilus fasciatus)
Authors: Subagja Jojo , Prakoso Vitas Atmadi , Arifin Otong Zenal , Kristanto Anang Hari
Published: October 2019

Proper stocking density on larval rearing of barred loach (Nemacheilus fasciatus Valenciennes, 1846) is very important in terms of obtaining the best growth and survival rate. This study was aimed to observe the growth and survival rate of barred loach subjected to different larval stocking density. Fish larvae were obtained by artificial spawning from in aquarium. Larvae were stocked on aquariums (50 × 40 × 30 cm) with three stocking density treatments (5, 10, and 15 individuals/L) and three replications. The experimental fish larvae were fed by Artemia and commercial feed (crude protein content: 30%) and feeding frequency twice per day (ad libitum). The length and weight were reassured every 10 days during 70 days of rearing period. Temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen were measured at each treatment. Data obtained from measurements were analysed to assess the length gain, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), biomass gain, and survival rate. The results showed length gain of 3.35 ± 0.01, 2.94 ± 0.10, and 2.82 ± 0.15 cm and weight gain of 0.573 ± 0.023, 0.436 ± 0.018, and 0.417 ± 0.043 g in larval stocking density of 5, 10 and 15 individuals/L, respectively. Specific growth rates and biomass growth were of 6.22 ± 0.41, 5.93 ± 0.21, and 5.68 ± 0.41 %/day and 94.04 ± 5.39, 146.80 ± 3.81, and 167.24 ± 17.48 g in larval stocking density of 5, 10 and 15 individuals/L, respectively. Meanwhile, the survival rates obtained in this study were 89.13 ± 7.25, 93.13 ± 5.13, and 76.50 ± 3.54 % in larval stocking density of 5, 10 and 15 individuals/L, respectively. Increased stocking density has a negative impact on the growth and survival rate of barred loach.
TIPE STOMATA TIGA PULUH DUA JENIS BEGONIA ALAM INDONESIA KOLEKSI KEBUN RAYA CIBODAS
Authors: Efendi Muhammad
Published: October 2019

Anatomical study on native Begonia in Cibodas Botanical Garden was conducted to determine their stomata types. Stomata 32 native Begonia were prepared by semi-permanent methods. Parameters observed in this study were stomata type, number, and size of stomata. The result showed that all Begonia species have anisocytic stomata and those stomata only found in abaxial leaves. Based on number of stomata, these Begonia can be classified into two groups: single stomata and single-grouped stomata. Generally, Begonia has a single stomata, however, single-grouped stomata is a determinate character of Begonia sect. Reichenheimia and sect. Diploclinium in CBG. The differences of stomata distribution in B. ozotothrix with other members of section Petermannia are needed to be clarified further.