bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Intracellular Intensity of CD3 on Aberrant Intraepithelial Lymphocytes Is a Prognostic Factor of the Progression to Overt Lymphoma in Refractory Celiac Disease Type II (Pre-Enteropathy-Associated T Cell Lymphoma)
Authors: García-Hoz Carlota , Crespo Laura , Lopez Natalia , De Andrés Ana , Ríos León Raquel , Santón Almudena , Garriga Maria , Butz Eric , León Francisco , Roy Ariño Garbiñe
Published: February 2020

Background: Refractory celiac disease type II (RCD-II) is a very rare yet severe complication of celiac disease (CD) with a 50% rate of progression to Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL). Timely diagnosis and treatment of RCD-II is of the essence and requires the identification of a population of frequently clonal, phenotypically aberrant intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs). Flow Cytometry of intestinal IELs is the recommended method to identify the aberrant surface CD3-negative (sCD3–) intracytoplasmic CD3-positive (icCD3ε+) IELs, and a proportion of >20% is diagnostic of RCD-II. There is substantial heterogeneity in the clinical course of RCD-II, and insufficient information on prognostic factors. Aim: To establish flow cytometric predictors of the clinical evolution of RCD-II, to help guide treatment approaches. Patients and Methods: Retrospective single-center study of clinical and immunological features of 6 RCD-II patients and a control group, both identified from a 2,000-patient cohort over 16 years. IEL subset frequencies and the intensity of staining for surface (s) and intracytoplasmic (ic) CD3ε+ on IEL subsets were quantified and correlated with the clinical outcome. Results: Unexpectedly, the frequency of aberrant sCD3– icCD3ε+ cells at diagnosis did not correlate with histological or clinical affection. However, a higher intensity of icCD3ε+ staining in the aberrant IELs relative to expression on normal IELs correlated with monoclonality and with worse clinical outcomes. Conclusion: The ratio of icCD3ε+ on aberrant IELs vs. normal IELs appears to be a useful indicator of prognosis at the time of diagnosis, and may represent a novel tool in the follow-up of RCD-II patients after therapy.
Optimization of Diabetic Macular Edema Management in the Real World: A Model of Excellence in Retina Units: The EMUREX Initiative
Authors: Figueras-Roca Marc , Figueroa Marta S. , Calvo Pilar , Garay-Aramburu Gonzaga , García-Martínez Jesús R. , Fernández Ana María , Pou Aránzazu , Adán Alfredo ,   the EMUREX Study Group
Published: February 2020

Purpose: To define and develop a model of excellence for the clinical management of diabetic macular edema (DME) patients in a real-world setting. Methods: A multidisciplinary joint commission (5 ophthalmologists, 1 nurse, and 1 pharmaceutic) established a series of preliminary recommendations based on clinical guidelines and DME activity results from 8 Pilot Hospitals (PH). These were validated by members of each PH and a group of DME patients in discussion workshops. Thus, the validated guideline (VG) took into consideration different aspects, namely, main core points (ranging 0–100), criteria, and indicators. Finally, each PH own setting was compared to the VG in order to settle down a starting point to clinical excellence. Results: Mean PH score was 51.5 (range 30–65). As compared to their maximum, main points that showed best scores were Clinical Guidelines and Protocols (78%) and Portfolio of Services (73%). Topics reaching close to 50% scoring included Resources (55%), Innovation (54%), Care Process (53%), Organization (52%), and Leadership (50%). Lowest scores were observed in the Strategic Alliances (46%) and Staff (37%) points. Conclusions: Analysis of each PH by the VG delivered a global vision of the starting situation, especially focused in the identification of the different improvement areas. In order to further extend this model into the Public Health System, the effect of implementing it in different hospitals should be assessed to analyze its impact on daily clinical practice and health economics.
Persistent Asthma Is Associated With Increased Risk for Incident Atrial Fibrillation in the MESA
Authors: Tattersall Matthew C. , Dasiewicz Alison S. , McClelland Robyn L. , Gepner Adam D. , Kalscheur Matthew M. , Field Michael E. , Heckbert Susan R. , Hamdan Mohamed H. , Stein James H.
Published: February 2020

Background:

Asthma and atrial fibrillation (AF) share an underlying inflammatory pathophysiology. We hypothesized that persistent asthmatics are at higher risk for developing AF and that this association would be attenuated by adjustment for baseline markers of systemic inflammation.

Methods:

The MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) is a prospective longitudinal study of adults free of cardiovascular disease at baseline. Presence of asthma was determined at exam 1. Persistent asthma was defined as asthma requiring use of controller medications. Intermittent asthma was defined as asthma without use of controller medications. Participants were followed for a median of 12.9 (interquartile range, 10–13.6) years for incident AF. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to assess associations of asthma subtype and AF.

Results:

The 6615 participants were a mean (SD) 62.0 (10.2) years old (47% male, 27% black, 12% Chinese, and 22% Hispanic). AF incidence rates were 0.11 (95% CI, 0.01–0.12) events/10 person-years for nonasthmatics, 0.11 (95% CI, 0.08–0.14) events/10 person-years for intermittent asthmatics, and 0.19 (95% CI, 0.120.49) events/10 person-years for persistent asthmatics (log-rank
P
=0.008). In risk-factor adjusted models, persistent asthmatics had a greater risk of incident AF (hazard ratio, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.03–2.14],
P
=0.03). IL (Interleukin)-6 (hazard ratio, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.13–1.42]), TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-α receptor 1 (hazard ratio, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.08–1.11]) and D-dimer (hazard ratio, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.02–1.20]) predicted incident AF, but the relationship between asthma and incident AF was not attenuated by adjustment for any inflammation marker (IL-6, CRP [C-reactive protein], TNF-α R1, D-dimer, and fibrinogen).

Conclusions:

In a large multiethnic cohort with nearly 13 years follow-up, persistent asthma was associated with increased risk for incident AF. This association was not attenuated by adjustment for baseline inflammatory biomarkers.
Measuring Cognitive Flexibility with the Flexible Item Selection Task: From fMRI Adaptation to Individual Connectome Mapping
Authors: Dajani Dina R. , Odriozola Paola , Winters Melanie , Voorhies Willa , Marcano Selene , Baez Adriana , Gates Kathleen M. , Dick Anthony Steven , Uddin Lucina Q.
Published: February 2020

Cognitive flexibility, the ability to appropriately adjust behavior in a changing environment, has been challenging to operationalize and validate in cognitive neuroscience studies. Here, we investigate neural activation and directed functional connectivity underlying cognitive flexibility using an fMRI-adapted version of the Flexible Item Selection Task (FIST) in adults (n = 32, ages 19–46 years). The fMRI-adapted FIST was reliable, showed comparable performance to the computer-based version of the task, and produced robust activation in frontoparietal, anterior cingulate, insular, and subcortical regions. During flexibility trials, participants directly engaged the left inferior frontal junction, which influenced activity in other cortical and subcortical regions. The strength of intrinsic functional connectivity between select brain regions was related to individual differences in performance on the FIST, but there was also significant individual variability in functional network topography supporting cognitive flexibility. Taken together, these results suggest that the FIST is a valid measure of cognitive flexibility, which relies on computations within a broad corticosubcortical network driven by inferior frontal junction engagement.
Brain Regions Involved in Conceptual Retrieval in Sighted and Blind People
Authors: Bottini Roberto , Ferraro Stefania , Nigri Anna , Cuccarini Valeria , Bruzzone Maria Grazia , Collignon Olivier
Published: February 2020

If conceptual retrieval is partially based on the simulation of sensorimotor experience, people with a different sensorimotor experience, such as congenitally blind people, should retrieve concepts in a different way. However, studies investigating the neural basis of several conceptual domains (e.g., actions, objects, places) have shown a very limited impact of early visual deprivation. We approached this problem by investigating brain regions that encode the perceptual similarity of action and color concepts evoked by spoken words in sighted and congenitally blind people. At first, and in line with previous findings, a contrast between action and color concepts (independently of their perceptual similarity) revealed similar activations in sighted and blind people for action concepts and partially different activations for color concepts, but outside visual areas. On the other hand, adaptation analyses based on subjective ratings of perceptual similarity showed compelling differences across groups. Perceptually similar colors and actions induced adaptation in the posterior occipital cortex of sighted people only, overlapping with regions known to represent low-level visual features of those perceptual domains. Early-blind people instead showed a stronger adaptation for perceptually similar concepts in temporal regions, arguably indexing higher reliance on a lexical-semantic code to represent perceptual knowledge. Overall, our results show that visual deprivation does changes the neural bases of conceptual retrieval, but mostly at specific levels of representation supporting perceptual similarity discrimination, reconciling apparently contrasting findings in the field.
Theta Phase-dependent Modulation of Perception by Concurrent Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation and Periodic Visual Stimulation
Authors: Somer Elif , Allen John , Brooks Joseph L. , Buttrill Vaughan , Javadi Amir-Homayoun
Published: February 2020

Sensory perception can be modulated by the phase of neural oscillations, especially in the theta and alpha ranges. Oscillatory activity in the visual cortex can be entrained by transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) as well as periodic visual stimulation (i.e., flicker). Combined tACS and visual flicker stimulation modulates BOLD response, and concurrent 4-Hz auditory click train, and tACS modulate auditory perception in a phase-dependent way. In this study, we investigated whether phase synchrony between concurrent tACS and periodic visual stimulation (i.e., flicker) can modulate performance on a visual matching task. Participants completed a visual matching task on a flickering visual stimulus while receiving either in-phase (0°) or asynchronous (180°, 90°, or 270°) tACS at alpha or theta frequency. Stimulation was applied over either occipital cortex or dorsolateral pFC. Visual performance was significantly better during theta frequency tACS over the visual cortex when it was in-phase (0°) with visual stimulus flicker, compared with antiphase (180°). This effect did not appear with alpha frequency flicker or with dorsolateral pFC stimulation. Furthermore, a control sham group showed no effect. There were no significant performance differences among the asynchronous (180°, 90°, and 270°) phase conditions. Extending previous studies on visual and auditory perception, our results support a crucial role of oscillatory phase in sensory perception and demonstrate a behaviorally relevant combination of visual flicker and tACS. The spatial and frequency specificity of our results have implications for research on the functional organization of perception.
Racial Hybridity
Authors: Lu Kevin
Published: February 2020

This paper explores some possible contributions analytical psychology may make to theorising racial hybridity. Already a ‘hybrid psychology’, Lu suggests that analytical psychology is particularly well-positioned to speak to the specific experiences and challenges posed by multiraciality. In particular, Lu critically reflects on his hopes, fears, and fantasies that have arisen with the birth of his multiracial children, which may in turn act as a springboard to greater depth psychological reflections on the unique and equally ‘typical’ experience of raising mixed-raced children. Such concerns have been articulated by others such as Bruce Lee, who faced the challenge of raising multiracial children amidst a backdrop of racism in the Unites States. This paper critically assesses possible ways in which racial hybridity may be theorised from a Jungian perspective and argues that a Post-Jungian approach must reflect the flexibility and fluidity of hybridity itself.
Description of two new species of Regalana and a new genus of Gyponini
(Hemiptera: Cicadellidade: Iassinae)
Authors: DOMAHOVSKI ALEXANDRE CRUZ , GONÇALVES CLAYTON CORRÊA , TAKIYA DANIELA MAEDA , CAVICHIOLI RODNEY RAMIRO
Published: February 2020

Two new species of Regalana DeLong & Freytag, 1975 are described and illustrated: Regalana jamari sp. nov. and Regalana madeira sp. nov., both from State of Rondônia, Northern Brazil. Delongiana gen. nov. is described within Gyponini, based on two new species from Brazil: Delongiana ramosa sp. nov., designated as type-species, from Minas Gerais and Paraná states and Delongiana baiana sp. nov. from Bahia and Rio de Janeiro states. The new genus can be distinguished from other Gyponini genera based on the combination of the following features: crown slightly produced, parallel striated; crown-face transition distinct, thick and striated; male pygofer with an oblique integument thickening near dorsal margin; subgenital plate very narrow and elongated; connective Y-shaped; style elongated with apex foot-shaped; aedeagus with dorsal apodemes strongly developed, shaft cylindrical and curved dorsally, with processes near mid-length and without apical processes. Additionally, new country records are given for Regalana bobbyi and R. dianae and state records to R. sheilae.
Cultural competency and the reproduction of White supremacy in occupational therapy education
Authors: Grenier Marie-Lyne
Published: February 2020

Background:

In this two-part paper, critical race theory is used as an analytic tool to examine how anti-Blackness, anti-Indigenous colonial relations and Orientalism have and continue to influence the ways in which occupational therapy is taught and practised in Canada.

Purpose:

The purpose of this paper is to incite reflection on the ongoing oppressive narratives that pervade occupational therapy education and support culturally unsafe practices.

Methods:

Through the lenses of liberal multiculturalism, liberal recognition politics and neoliberal capitalism, the author demonstrates how notions of ‘cultural competency’ are the logical product of an institutionalised racism that functions as a tool for the reproduction of White supremacy and racism in healthcare and healthcare education.

Conclusions:

Findings challenge the ongoing use of cultural competency frameworks in healthcare systems and education and propose a radical shift towards critical and structural frameworks.
Paternal Involvement and Maternal Perinatal Behaviors: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 2012-2015
Authors: Kortsmit Katherine , Garfield Craig , Smith Ruben A. , Boulet Sheree , Simon Clarissa , Pazol Karen , Kapaya Martha , Harrison Leslie , Barfield Wanda , Warner Lee
Published: February 2020

Objectives:

Paternal involvement is associated with improved infant and maternal outcomes. We compared maternal behaviors associated with infant morbidity and mortality among married women, unmarried women with an acknowledgment of paternity (AOP; a proxy for paternal involvement) signed in the hospital, and unmarried women without an AOP in a representative sample of mothers in the United States from 32 sites.

Methods:

We analyzed 2012-2015 data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, which collects site-specific, population-based data on preconception, prenatal and postpartum behaviors, and experiences from women with a recent live birth. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to examine associations between level of paternal involvement and maternal perinatal behaviors.

Results:

Of 113 020 respondents (weighted N = 6 159 027), 61.5% were married, 27.4% were unmarried with an AOP, and 11.1% were unmarried without an AOP. Compared with married women and unmarried women with an AOP, unmarried women without an AOP were less likely to initiate prenatal care during the first trimester (married, aPR [95% CI], 0.94 [0.92-0.95]; unmarried with AOP, 0.97 [0.95-0.98]), ever breastfeed (married, 0.89 [0.87-0.90]; unmarried with AOP, 0.95 [0.94-0.97]), and breastfeed at least 8 weeks (married, 0.76 [0.74-0.79]; unmarried with AOP, 0.93 [0.90-0.96]) and were more likely to use alcohol during pregnancy (married, 1.20 [1.05-1.37]; unmarried with AOP, 1.21 [1.06-1.39]) and smoke during pregnancy (married, 3.18 [2.90-3.49]; unmarried with AOP, 1.23 [1.15-1.32]) and after pregnancy (married, 2.93 [2.72-3.15]; unmarried with AOP, 1.17 [1.10-1.23]).

Conclusions:

Use of information on the AOP in addition to marital status provides a better understanding of factors that affect maternal behaviors.
Photostabilizers performance on the surface analysis of green composites
Authors: Sönmez Hasret Ece , Bodur Mehmet Safa , Baysan Alper Adrian , Bakkal Mustafa , Serhatli Ersin
Published: February 2020

In this work, various stabilizers have been introduced to prevent or delay degradation due to ultraviolet (UV) light exposure to prolong the service life of cotton fiber-reinforced composites. The effect of various additives like hindered amine light stabilizer, UV absorber (UVA), and antioxidant as photostabilizers of CF/low-density polyethylene (CF/LDPE) composites was compared. We showed how they influence to delay or eliminate the photodegradation of CF/LDPE subjected accelerated weathering. Surface analysis was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and color measurements. The results showed us the insight of the photodegradation mechanism of weathered CF/LDPE composites undergoing photooxidative reactions which causes a loss surface quality such as micro-cracking and color change. Among the stabilizers, UVA was found to be the most effective to delay some color changes in long term.
Parental Judgement of Hearing Loss in Infants With Cleft Palate
Authors: McAndrew Lucy
Published: February 2020

Objective:

To investigate whether reported parental concern is supported by hearing assessment findings in children with cleft palate. To describe this population by examining the relationship between cleft type, middle ear status, and hearing loss.

Design:

Retrospective consecutive case note review.

Setting:

Tertiary institutional regional cleft center.

Patients:

Consecutive cases of 194 babies born with cleft palate and referred to the specialist center from January 2009 and December 2013. Following exclusions, data from 155 infants were included for analysis.

Interventions:

Documented parental concern in ear, nose and throat (ENT) and speech and language therapy case notes were compared to hearing assessment findings. Findings from otoscopic examination, tympanometry, and hearing assessment were analyzed with respect to cleft type.

Results:

Parental concern is not always accurately reflected by objective assessment particularly when no concern is reported. Analysis of the cohort examined suggests that cleft type is not related to middle ear findings or hearing.

Conclusions:

It is helpful to be aware of parental concern and clinicians should consider that parental reports may not be accurately reflected by test results. As cleft type was not found to substantially influence middle ear status or hearing it is not recommended to adapt speech and language advice offered to families according to cleft type. Follow-up studies to increase participant numbers would support a statistical analysis.
Numerical investigation of an unsteady nanofluid flow with magnetic and suction effects to the moving upper plate
Authors: Shuaib Muhammad , Ali Abbas , Khan Muhammad Altaf , Ali Aatif
Published: February 2020

The recent work provides the numerical investigation of an unsteady viscous nanofluid flow between two porous plates under the effect of variable magnetic field and suction/injection. Navier Stokes equations are modeled to study the hydrothermal properties of four different nanoparticles copper [Formula: see text], silver [Formula: see text], aluminum oxide [Formula: see text], and titanium oxide [Formula: see text]. The resultant nonlinear partial differential equations, governing the viscous fluid flow, are solved numerically using Crank–Nicolson scheme. The effect of important physical parameters such as volume fraction, magnetic strength, and porosity parameter are shown both graphically and in tabular form. It is found that due to the greatest thermal diffusivity for nanofluid [Formula: see text], comparatively the velocity increases more rapidly with the increasing value of volume fraction. Due to this effect, it is preferred to use nanofluid [Formula: see text] for transportation purposes.
The Moral Psychology of Raceless, Genderless Strangers
Authors: Hester Neil , Gray Kurt
Published: February 2020

Moral psychology uses tightly controlled scenarios in which the identities of the characters are either unspecified or vague. Studies with raceless, genderless strangers help to highlight the important structural elements of moral acts (e.g., intention, causation, harm) but may not generalize to real-world judgments. As researchers have long shown, social judgments hinge on the identities (e.g., race, gender, age, religion, group affiliation) of both target and perceiver. Asking whether people generally condemn “shooting someone” is very different from asking whether liberals as opposed to conservatives condemn “a White police officer shooting a Black suspect.” We argue for the importance of incorporating identity into moral psychology. We briefly outline the central role of identity in social judgments before reviewing current theories in moral psychology. We then advocate an expanded person-centered morality—synthesizing moral psychology with social cognition—to better capture everyday moral judgments.
Isolation and characterization of cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory constituents from Scoparia dulcis L
Authors: Nur-e-Alam Mohammad , Ahmed Sarfaraz , Yousaf Muhammad , Khan Shabana I , Mothana Ramzi A , Al-Rehaily Adnan J
Published: February 2020

Scoparia dulcis L. is one of the edible widely distributed Scropholariaceae species in Asia, Africa and America. It is used in the treatment of respiratory and inflammatory diseases, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, hepatitis and tuberculosis. A phytochemical investigation on S. dulcis led to the isolation of two new acyclic diterpenes Acetic acid 6-hydroxy-2-(6-hydroxy-4-methyl-hex-4-enylidene)-4,8-dimethyl-undeca-4,8-dienyl ester (1) and Acetic acid 8-hydroxy-2-(6-hydroxy-4-methyl-hex-4-enylidene)-6,10-dimethyl-undeca-5,9-dienyl ester (2) in addition to eight known compounds (3–10), namely scopadulciol (3), 4- epi-scopadulcic acid B (4), dulcidiol (5), scopadulcic acid B (6), hymenoxin (7), glutinol (8), eupatilin (9) and 5-demethylnobiletin (10). The structures elucidation was performed using spectroscopic means, including 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrum spectrometric analysis. Furthermore, the isolated compounds were investigated for their anti-inflammatory activity through the determination of inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B activity in human chondrosarcoma (SW1353) cells, the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase mouse macrophages (RAW264.7) and the decrease in cellular oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Moreover, the cytotoxic activity was investigated against four cancer and two kidney cell lines. Among the isolates, 3, 5 and 10 showed anti-inflammatory activity in terms of inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Compounds 3–5 were the most cytotoxic towards cancer cell lines (IC50: 3.8 µM to 42.3 µM) followed by 10 (IC50: 30.9- > 64.4 µM). Cytotoxicity of compounds 3–5 was comparable to the activity of doxorubicin.
Nutrition in multimorbidity
Authors: Kenneally Dr Sue
Published: February 2020

Poor nutrition can be both a cause, and a consequence, of multimorbidity. Assessing nutrition status is therefore a vital component in the management of people with multimorbidity. Suboptimal diet is a direct contributor to risk of ischaemic heart disease, cerebral ischaemic events, many cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic diseases. Eating a diet based on processed foods throughout life increases the risk of these diseases and multiple nutrient deficiencies, including, for example, iron, vitamin B12, folate and calcium.
Association of four lipid components with mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke in statin-naïve young adults: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Lee Heesun , Park Jun-Bean , Hwang In-Chang , Yoon Yeonyee E , Park Hyo Eun , Choi Su-Yeon , Kim Yong-Jin , Cho Goo-Yeong , Han Kyungdo , Kim Hyung-Kwan
Published: February 2020

Aims

Dyslipidaemia is a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor with prognostic implications. Current strategies for lipid management in young adults are largely based on expert recommendations. We investigated the risks of death and cardiovascular disease in relation to each lipid component to establish evidence for primary prevention in young adults.

Methods

In this nationwide population-based cohort study, we analysed 5,688,055 statin-naïve subjects, aged 20–39 years, undergoing general health check-ups between 2009 and 2014. The endpoint was a composite of clinical events including death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. We compared the incidence and risk of clinical events according to each lipid variable.

Results

During follow-up (median 7.1 years), clinical events occurred in 30,330 subjects (0.53%): 16,262 deaths (0.29%), 8578 MIs (0.15%), and 5967 strokes (0.10%). The risk of clinical events gradually increased with increasing total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides and decreasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), largely driven by MI. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) had a J-shaped association with clinical events, showing the lowest risk for LDL-C of 84–101 mg/dL. Among lipid variables, triglycerides remained the sole independent predictor (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.20; p < 0.001) after adjusting for conventional risk factors.

Conclusions

For statin-naïve young adults, the risk of clinical events was proportional to lipid levels, positively with TC and triglycerides, negatively with HDL-C, and J-shaped with LDL-C. Triglycerides had an independent and the strongest association with the clinical events. Screening and intervention for abnormal lipid levels, particularly triglycerides, from an early age might be of clinical value.
Trends in peripheral arterial disease incidence and mortality in EU15+ countries 1990–2017
Authors: Goodall Richard , Salciccioli Justin D , Davies Alun Huw , Marshall Dominic , Shalhoub Joseph
Published: February 2020

Aims

The aim was to assess trends in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) incidence and mortality rates in European Union(15+) countries between 1990 and 2017.

Methods and Results

This observational study used data obtained from the 2017 Global Burden of Disease study. Age-standardised mortality and incidence rates from PAD were extracted from the Global Health Data Exchange for EU15+ countries for the years 1990–2017. Trends were analysed using Joinpoint regression analysis.

Between 1990 and 2017, the incidence of PAD decreased in all 19 EU15+ countries for females, and in 18 of 19 countries for males. Increasing PAD incidence was observed only for males in the United States (+1.4%). In 2017, the highest incidence rates were observed in Denmark and the United States for males (213.6 and 202.3 per 100,000, respectively) and in the United States and Canada for females (194.8 and 171.1 per 100,000, respectively). There was a concomitant overall trend for increasing age-standardised mortality rates in all EU15+ countries for females, and in 16 of 19 EU15+ countries for males between 1990 and 2017. Italy (–25.1%), Portugal (–1.9%) and Sweden (–0.6%) were the only countries with reducing PAD mortality rates in males. The largest increases in mortality rates were observed in the United Kingdom (males +140.4%, females +158.0%) and the United States (males +125.7%, females +131.2%).

Conclusions

We identify shifting burden of PAD in EU15+ countries, with increasing mortality rates despite reducing incidence. Strong evidence supports goal-directed medical therapy in reducing PAD mortality – population-wide strategies to improve compliance to optimal goal-directed medical therapy are warranted.
Hydrotalcites with heterogeneous anion distributions: a first approach to producing new materials to be used as vehicles for the successive delivery of compounds
Authors: Velázquez-Herrera Franchescoli D. , Fetter Geolar
Published: February 2020

Hydrotalcites with heterogeneous distributions of anions between their layers were synthesized. Some synthesis parameters were studied to verify their influence on the anionic segregation properties of the hydrotalcites. The nature of the divalent cation and the crystallization method were most relevant. Zinc, in contrast to magnesium, assisted in discriminating carbonates and attracting nitrates to form hydrotalcites with heterogeneous distributions using microwave irradiation. Furthermore, the identification of this kind of hydrotalcite could be easily verified by determining the presence of a double reflection in the 003 X-ray diffraction (XRD) maximum, which definitively characterized a heterogeneous anion distribution. Finally, the reason as to why in some cases the hydrotalcite presented two reflections in the 003 XRD peak was elucidated.
Correction to: Effective machine-learning assembly for next-generation amplicon sequencing with very low coverage
Authors: Ranjard Louis , Wong Thomas K. F. , Rodrigo Allen G.
Published: February 2020

Following publication of the original article [1], the author reported that there are several errors in the original article;
A new macrofossil ephedroid plant with unusual bract morphology from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of northeastern China
Authors: Yang Yong , Wang Yingwei , Ferguson David Kay
Published: February 2020

Background

The evolution of the Jehol Biota of western Liaoning in China includes three phases, initiation in the Dabeigou phase, radiation in the Yixian phase, and decline in the Jiufotang phase. Numerous ephedroid macrofossils were reported from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation. However, so far none has been found in the younger Jiufotang Formation (ca. 120.3 Ma) of western Liaoning.

Results

Here we report a new species Jianchangia verticillata gen. et sp. nov. with unusual morphology from the Lower Cretaceous of the Jiufotang Formation, Lamadong Village, Jianchang County, Liaoning. This species is the first record of gnetophytes from the Jiufotang Formation. It is similar to other ephedroid species from the Yixian Formation in possessing linear leaves with parallel veins, jointed shoots with swollen nodes and longitudinally furrowed internodes, and ovulate cones possessing two whorls of bracts enclosing two chlamydosperms, but differs from all known species by the ovulate cone having multiple fine linear verticillate bracts.

Conclusions

This study expands our knowledge about the diversity of early gnetophytes in the Lower Cretaceous, and demonstrates the lineage continuity of gnetophytes from the Yixian Formation to the younger Jiufotang Formation.
Genome-wide identification and analyses of the AHL gene family in cotton (Gossypium)
Authors: Zhao Lanjie , Lü Youjun , Chen Wei , Yao Jinbo , Li Yan , Li Qiulin , Pan Jingwen , Fang Shengtao , Sun Jie , Zhang Yongshan
Published: February 2020

Background

Members of the AT-HOOK MOTIF CONTAINING NUCLEAR LOCALIZED (AHL) family are involved in various plant biological processes via protein-DNA and protein-protein interaction. However, no the systematic identification and analysis of AHL gene family have been reported in cotton.

Results

To investigate the potential functions of AHLs in cotton, genome-wide identification, expressions and structure analysis of the AHL gene family were performed in this study. 48, 51 and 99 AHL genes were identified from the G.raimondii, G.arboreum and G.hirsutum genome, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the AHLs in cotton evolved into 2 clades, Clade-A with 4–5 introns and Clade-B with intronless (excluding AHL20–2). Based on the composition of the AT-hook motif(s) and PPC/DUF 296 domain, AHL proteins were classified into three types (Type-I/−II/−III), with Type-I AHLs forming Clade-B, and the other two types together diversifying in Clade-A. The detection of synteny and collinearity showed that the AHLs expanded with the specific WGD in cotton, and the sequence structure of AHL20–2 showed the tendency of increasing intron in three different Gossypium spp. The ratios of non-synonymous (Ka) and synonymous (Ks) substitution rates of orthologous gene pairs revealed that the AHL genes of G.hirsutum had undergone through various selection pressures, purifying selection mainly in A-subgenome and positive selection mainly in D-subgenome. Examination of their expression patterns showed most of AHLs of Clade-B expressed predominantly in stem, while those of Clade-A in ovules, suggesting that the AHLs within each clade shared similar expression patterns with each other. qRT-PCR analysis further confirmed that some GhAHLs higher expression in stems and ovules.

Conclusion

In this study, 48, 51 and 99 AHL genes were identified from three cotton genomes respectively. AHLs in cotton were classified into two clades by phylogenetic relationship and three types based on the composition of motif and domain. The AHLs expanded with segmental duplication, not tandem duplication. The expression profiles of GhAHLs revealed abundant differences in expression levels in various tissues and at different stages of ovules development. Our study provided significant insights into the potential functions of AHLs in regulating the growth and development in cotton.
Identification of E2 with improved secretion and immunogenicity against CSFV in piglets
Authors: Xu Huiling , Wang Yanli , Han Guangwei , Fang Weihuan , He Fang
Published: February 2020

Background

Outbreaks of Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) cause significant economic losses in the swine industry. Vaccination is the major method to prevent and control the disease. As live attenuated vaccines fail to elicit differentiable immunity between infected and vaccinated animals, subunit vaccine was considered as an alternative candidate to prevent and eradicate CSFV. Subunit vaccines present advantages in DIVA immunogenicity and safety. The technology was limited due to the low yield and the high cost with multiple and large doses. The native E2 signal peptide has not been well defined before. Here, the aim of this study is to develop a cost-effective and efficacious E2 vaccine candidate against CSFV with signal peptide and E2 sequence selection.

Results

A novel CSFV E2 sequence (E2ZJ) was identified from an epidemic strain of Zhejiang for outstanding secretion in baculovirus and enhanced immunogenicity. E2 secretion induced with the selected signal peptide, SPZJ (SP23), increase at least 50% as compared to any other signal peptides tested. Besides, unique antigenic features were identified in E2ZJ. As indicated with immunized sera in IFA against CSFV infection, E2ZJ elicited CSFV antibodies at the earlier stage than other E2 types tested in mice. Moreover, higher level of neutralizing and CSFV antibodies against CSFV with E2ZJ was detected than other E2s with the same dosage at 28 dpi. Further, E2ZJ successfully elicited neutralizing immunity in piglets. A single dose of 5 μg of E2ZJ was sufficient to induce protective antibodies against CSFV in piglets and provided 100% protection against lethal virus challenge.

Conclusions

Our studies provide evidence that E2ZJ guided by a novel E2 signal peptide (SPZJ) was efficiently secreted and presented significantly improved immunogenicity than conventional E2 vaccines. Moreover, a single dose of 5 μg E2ZJ is efficacious against CSFV in piglets.
Clinical characteristics, CT signs, and pathological findings of Pyrrolizidine alkaloids-induced sinusoidal obstructive syndrome: a retrospective study
Authors: Liu Fang , Rong Xinxin , Guo Hui , Xu Dong , Liu Chang , Meng Lingling , Yang Xiaoqian , Guo Tingting , Kan Xuefeng , Song Yuhu
Published: February 2020

Background

One major etiology of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) in China is the intake of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). Since PAs-induced HSOS is a rare disease that has not been clearly characterized until now, the aim of this study was to investigate clinical characteristics, CT features, and pathological findings of PA-induced HSOS.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 116 patients with PAs-induced HSOS and 68 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome from Jan 2006 to Sep 2016. We collected medical records of the patients, and reviewed image features of CT, and analyzed pathological findings.

Results

Common clinical manifestations of PAs-induced HSOS were abdominal distention (98.26%), ascites (100%), jaundice (52.94%), abdominal pain (36.36%). Abnormal liver function was observed in most of PAs-induced HSOS. On CT scan, common findings included: ascites, hepatomegaly, the thickening of gallbladder wall, pleural effusion, patchy liver enhancement, and heterogeneous hypoattenuation. Most of the patients had a low ascitic total protein (< 25 g/L) and a high SAAG (≥ 11.0 g/L). In acute stage, pathologic features were massive sinusoidal dilatation, sinusoidal congestion, the extravasation of erythrocytes, hepatocellular necrosis, the accumulation of macrophages, the deposition of hemosiderin. In subacute stage, complete loss of pericentral hepatocytes, sinusoidal dilatation, the deposition of pigment granules were observed.

Conclusions

The PAs-induced HSOS patients displayed distinct clinical characteristics, imaging features, and pathological findings, which provided some evidences for the diagnosis of PAs-induced HSOS.

Trial registration

ChiCTR-DRD-17010709.
Multimodal imaging in a case of a congenital retinal macrovessel associated with a retinal cavernous hemangioma: a case report
Authors: Zbiba Walid , Elleuch Issam Eddine , Sayadi Sana , Laadheri Meriem
Published: February 2020

Background

To report the results of multimodal imaging in a case of a congenital retinal macrovessel associated with a retinal cavernous hemangioma.

Case presentation

A 52-year-old female patient presented with progressive vision loss in the right eye. BCVA was 8/20 in the right eye and 18/20 in the left eye. Fundus examination of the right eye showed an aberrant retinal macrovessel arising from the inferior temporal major vein. It crossed the foveal area and overstepped to the superior retina. A “brunch of grapes” shaped retinal lesions arised from the macrovessel. Fluorescein angiography showed saccular lesions that filled slowly during the venous phase and became brightly hyperfluorescent saccular caps. SS-OCT of the right eye revealed a highly back-scattering hyper-reflective vessel across the fovea with shadow effect and adhesions between the vitreous and the aberrant macrovessel. It also revealed hypo reflective saccules with hyperreflective borders located in the inner retina corresponding to the cavernous retinal hemangioma. Retinal pigment epithelium undulations and vascular dilations at the level of Haller’s layer were observed in both eyes. Indocyanine green angiography revealed chroidal vascular dilatations in both eyes in the late phase. OCT-A showed the aberrant vessel emerging from the inferior temporal vein and splitting the foveal avascular zone horizontally. RCH appeared as small heterogeneous saccular flow areas associated with focal capillary hypo perfusion areas. Asymmetry and distorsion of the foveal avascular zone were also noticed.

A diagnosis of retinal macrovessel associated with a retinal cavernous hemangioma was made.

Conclusions

Congenital retinal macrovessels and retinal cavernous hemangioma are benign lesions. Their association is rare. Abnormal vascular development is likely to be responsible for their association. Swept source OCT and OCT angiography may be of a great contribution to better evaluate these retinal vascular disorders.
A severe influenza season in Austria and its impact on the paediatric population: mortality and hospital admission rates, november 2017 - march 2018
Authors:   for the Austrian Paediatric Influenza Network, Kohlmaier Benno , Svendova Vendula , Walcher Thomas , Pilch Heidemarie , Krenn Larissa , Kurz Herbert , Zwiauer Karl , Zenz Werner
Published: February 2020

Background

In Austria paediatric influenza-associated hospitalisations and deaths have never been systematically monitored. We examined the influenza season 2017/18 in terms of hospitalisation and mortality in the Austrian paediatric population and put the results into perspective of the available data from the last 15 years.

Methods

Cases of influenza-associated hospitalisations and deaths for season 2017/18 in children below 18 years were retrospectively collected from 12 and 33 Austrian hospitals, respectively. Hospitalisation and mortality rates for the whole Austrian paediatric population were estimated, adjusting for the population in each catchment area. Two Austrian databases were queried for hospitalisations and deaths associated with influenza during 2002–2016. Rough estimate of the vaccination coverage was calculated from a survey on 100 inpatients.

Results

Influenza-related paediatric hospitalisation rate in season 2017/18 was estimated as 128 (CI: 122–135) per 100,000 children, much higher than the national average of 40 per 100,000 over the years 2002–2016. There were nine reported influenza-associated deaths among children, resulting in mortality rate of 0.67 (CI: 0.32–1.21) per 100,000 children.

Conclusions

Reported influenza-associated hospitalisations and fatalities demonstrate a high burden of influenza in the Austrian paediatric population corresponding with very low vaccination coverage.
Correction to: m6A mRNA methylation regulates CTNNB1 to promote the proliferation of hepatoblastoma
Authors: Liu Li , Wang Jing , Sun Guifeng , Wu Qiong , Ma Ji , Zhang Xin , Huang Nan , Bian Zhixuan , Gu Song , Xu Min , Yin Minzhi , Sun Fenyong , Pan Qiuhui
Published: February 2020

After the publication of this work [1], the authors noticed that the affiliations were incorrectly provided. Updated affiliation section is provided in this paper.
Neutrophil-selective deletion of Cxcr2 protects against CNS neurodegeneration in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Khaw Yee Ming , Cunningham Claire , Tierney Abigail , Sivaguru Mayandi , Inoue Makoto
Published: February 2020

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic debilitating immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system (CNS) driven by demyelination and gray matter neurodegeneration. We previously reported an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) MS mouse model with elevated serum CXCL1 that developed severe and prolonged neuron damage. Our findings suggested that CXCR2 signaling may be important in neuronal damage, thus implicating neutrophils, which express CXCR2 in abundance, as a potential cell type involved. The goals of this study were to determine if CXCR2 signaling in neutrophils mediate neuronal damage and to identify potential mechanisms of damage.

Methods

EAE was induced in wild-type control and neutrophil-specificCxcr2knockout (Cxcr2cKO) mice by repeated high-dose injections of heat-killedMycobacterium tuberculosisand MOG35–55peptide. Mice were examined daily for motor deficit. Serum CXCL1 level was determined at different time points throughout disease development. Neuronal morphology in Golgi-Cox stained lumbar spinal cord ventral horn was assessed using recently developed confocal reflection super-resolution technique. Immune cells from CNS and lymphoid organs were quantified by flow cytometry. CNS-derived neutrophils were co-cultured with neuronal crest cells and neuronal cell death was measured. Neutrophils isolated from lymphoid organs were examined for expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS-related genes. Thioglycolate-activated neutrophils were isolated, treated with recombinant CXCL1, and measured for ROS production.

Results

Cxcr2cKO mice had less severe disease symptoms at peak and late phase when compared to control mice with similar levels of CNS-infiltrating neutrophils and other immune cells despite high levels of circulating CXCL1. Additionally,Cxcr2cKO mice had significantly reduced CNS neuronal damage in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. Neutrophils isolated from control EAE mice induced vast neuronal cell death in vitro when compared with neutrophils isolated fromCxcr2cKO EAE mice. Neutrophils isolated from control EAE mice, but notCxcr2cKO mice, exhibited elevated ROS generation, in addition to heightenedNcf1andIl1btranscription. Furthermore, recombinant CXCL1 was sufficient to significantly increase neutrophils ROS production.

Conclusions

CXCR2 signal in neutrophils is critical in triggering CNS neuronal damage via ROS generation, which leads to prolonged EAE disease. These findings emphasize that CXCR2 signaling in neutrophils may be a viable target for therapeutic intervention against CNS neuronal damage.
Correction to: The Operative management in Bariatric Acute abdomen (OBA) Survey: long-term complications of bariatric surgery and the emergency surgeon’s point of view
Authors:   the OBA trial supporters, De Simone Belinda , Ansaloni Luca , Sartelli Massimo , Kluger Yoram , Abu-Zidan Fikri M. , Biffl Walter L. , Heyer Arianna , Coccolini Federico , Baiocchi Gian Luca , Catena Fausto
Published: February 2020

The original article [1] contained an error in authorship whereby author, Fausto Catena was mistakenly listed as part of the institutional authorship of the OBA trial supporters instead of in the correct position of final author.
Scopoletin ameliorates anxiety-like behaviors in complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced mouse model
Authors: Luo Li , Sun Ting , Yang Le , Liu An , Liu Qing-qing , Tian Qin-qin , Wang Yan , Zhao Ming-gao , Yang Qi
Published: February 2020

Anxiety disorder is highly prevalent worldwide and represents a chronic and functionally disabling condition, with high levels of psychological stress characterized by cognitive and physiological symptoms. Scopoletin (SP), a main active compound in Angelica dahurica, is traditionally used for the treatment of headache, rhinitis, pain, and other conditions. Here, we evaluated the effects of SP in a mouse model of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced chronic inflammation anxiety. SP (2.0, 10.0, 50.0 mg/kg) administration for 2 weeks dose-dependently ameliorated CFA-induced anxiety-like behaviors in the open field test and elevated plus maze test. Moreover, we found that SP treatment inhibited microglia activation and decreased both peripheral and central IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, the imbalance in excitatory/inhibitory receptors and neurotransmitters in the basolateral nucleus after CFA injection was also modulated by SP administration. Our findings indicate that the inhibition of the nuclear factor-kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways involving anti-inflammatory activities and regulation of the excitatory/inhibitory balance can be attributed to the anxiolytic effects of SP. Moreover, our molecular docking analyses show that SP also has good affinity for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase and GABAA receptors. Therefore, these results suggest that SP could be a candidate compound for anxiolytic therapy and for use as a structural base for developing new drugs.