bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishment of reference intervals for pediatric complete capillary blood counts: A multicenter study in Beijing
Authors: Sun Qiujin , Yue Yuhong , Tian Yu , Wang Qingtao
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Clinical reference intervals represent the normal range of clinical parameters for distinguishing healthy and sick individuals, and they show some variation among different populations. Many reference intervals are still lacking for the pediatric population in China. Thus, the aim of this study was to establish and validate pediatric reference intervals for capillary blood cell counts.

Methods

A total of 9942 children were enrolled from 10 medical institutions in Beijing, China, for capillary complete blood count (CCBC) values according to the EP28‐A3c guideline issued by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.

Results

Pediatric reference intervals for 17 CCBC parameters were established for children aged 6 months to 7 years. The red blood cell count and red blood cell distribution width were generally higher in males than in females, and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume were higher in females than in males. The red blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and neutrophil percentages increased while the percentage of lymphocytes decreased with age. The overall trends for each reference interval were relatively similar in different ethnic groups and regions in the world, but with variation in the upper and lower limits, which confirms the existence of racial and geographical differences. Further validation with 508 healthy subjects showed that the verified proportions were within 90.9%‐100% of the reference intervals.

Conclusions

This study offers local reference intervals for CCBC values for the pediatric population in Beijing, China, and thus provides basic criteria for the diagnosis, treatment, and health assessment of childhood diseases in China.
Learning from Aesthetic Disagreement and Flawed Artworks
Authors: EILEEN JOHN
Published: August 2020

Disagreements about art are considered here for their potential to pose questions about reality beyond the artwork. The project of assessing artistic value is useful for bringing complex questions to light. The ambitiousness of the cognitive stock, in Richard Wollheim's term, that can be relevant to understanding an artwork may mean that confident evaluation will elude us. Thinking about artistic value judgment in this way shifts its centrality as the point of artistic interpretation and evaluation; the goal of judging a work's meaning and value is a useful tool for prompting us to understand a work. But if we fail to reach that goal, that does not mean we have failed to engage with the work appropriately. The artistic value judgment, and achieving consensus on that value, can be secondary in importance to grasping the problems a work poses that are not immediately resolvable. Examples drawn from literary and philosophical imagining, in the work of Grace Paley and Mary Mothersill, and from Toni Morrison's literary criticism are used to illustrate and support the fruitfulness of this approach.
VHSV IVb infection and autophagy modulation in the rainbow trout gill epithelial cell line RTgill‐W1
Authors: Liu Juan‐Ting , Pham Phuc H. , Wootton Sarah K. , Bols Niels C. , Lumsden John S.
Published: August 2020

Autophagy modulation influences the success of intracellular pathogens, and an understanding of the mechanisms involved might offer practical options to reduce the impact of infectious disease. Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) can cause high mortality and economic loss in some commercial fish species. VHSV IVb was used to infect a rainbow trout gill cell line, RTgill‐W1, followed by the treatment of the cells with different autophagy‐modulating reagents. LC3II protein using Western blot was significantly (p < .05) decreased for two days following VHSV infection, and immunofluorescence confirmed that LC3II‐positive intracytoplasmic puncta were also decreased. Infection with VHSV resulted in significantly decreased expression of the autophagy‐related (Atg) genes atg4, at12, atg13 and becn1 after one day using quantitative PCR. Both viral gene copy number and VHSV N protein were significantly decreased by treating the cells with autophagy‐blocking (chloroquine) and autophagy‐inhibiting reagents (deoxynivalenol and 3‐methyladenine) after three days, while autophagy induction (restricted nutrition and rapamycin) had limited effect. Only treatment of RTgill‐W1 with deoxynivalenol resulted in a significant increase in expression of type I interferon. Therefore, the suppression of autophagy initially occurs after VHSV IVb infection, but the modulation of autophagy can also inhibit VHSV IVb infection in RTgill‐W1 after three days.
Stereoscopic three‐dimensional visualisation technology in anatomy learning: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Bogomolova Katerina , Hierck Beerend P. , Looijen Agnes E. M. , Pilon Johanne N. M. , Putter Hein , Wainman Bruce , Hovius Steven E. R. , van der Hage Jos A.
Published: August 2020

Objectives

The features that contribute to the apparent effectiveness of three‐dimensional visualisation technology [3DVT] in teaching anatomy are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the role of stereopsis in learning anatomy with 3DVT.

Methods

The review was conducted and reported according to PRISMA Standards. Literature search of English articles was performed using EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL EBSCOhost, ERIC EBSCOhost, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases until November 2019. Study selection, data extraction and study appraisal were performed independently by two authors. Articles were assessed for methodological quality using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument and the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias. For quantitative analysis, studies were grouped based on relative between‐intervention differences in instructional methods and type of control conditions.

Results

A total of 3934 citations were obtained of which 67 underwent a full‐text review. Ultimately, 13 randomised controlled trials were included in the meta‐analysis. When interactive, stereoscopic 3D models were compared to interactive, monoscopic 3D models within a single level of instructional design, for example isolating stereopsis as the only true manipulated element in the experimental design, an effect size [ES] of 0.53 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.26‐0.80; P < .00001) was found. In comparison with 2D images within multiple levels of instructional design, an effect size of 0.45 (95% CI 0.10‐0.81; P < .002) was found. Stereopsis had no effect on learning when utilised with non‐interactive 3D images (ES = −0.87, 95% CI −2.09‐0.35; P = .16).

Conclusion

Stereopsis is an important distinguishing element of 3DVT that has a significant positive effect on acquisition of anatomical knowledge when utilised within an interactive 3D environment. A distinction between stereoscopic and monoscopic 3DVT is essential to make in anatomical education and research.
Social and behavioural associated factors of actinic cheilitis in rural workers
Authors: Moreira Philippe , Assaf Andrea Videira , Cortellazzi Karine Laura , Takahama Junior Ademar , Azevedo Rebeca Souza
Published: August 2020

Objective

This cross‐sectional study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and factors potentially associated with the development of actinic cheilitis (AC) in Brazilian rural workers.

Subjects and methods

A professional performed all physical examinations and evaluations using semi‐structured questionnaires in 240 rural workers.

Results

Eighty‐three participants were diagnosed with AC (34.6%). It was more prevalent among workers older than 45 years (3.29–10.96 95% IC; OR = 3.30; p = .0018), Caucasians (phototypes I and II) (4.78–16.12 95% IC; OR = 10.81; p < .0001), illiterate individuals (2.16–21.59 95% IC; OR = 10.43; p = .0037), those with 6 or fewer years of formal schooling (2.03–7.89 95% IC; OR = 4.63; p = .0013), those regularly using pesticides (1.58–6.64 95% IC; OR = 2.79; p = .0260) and those who used the private health service in their last appointment (1.17–3.54 95% IC; OR = 2.72; p = .0083).

Conclusion

There was a substantial prevalence of AC among rural workers with advanced age, white skin, and illiteracy, those with lower levels of education, those who regularly use pesticides, and those who utilised private health services in their last appointment. Thus, healthcare strategies that include rural workers are required for the control and prevention of AC in both public and private health services.
Phytohormone responses in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) leaves under a high density of aphid infestation
Authors: Florencio‐Ortiz Victoria , Novák Ondřej , Casas José L.
Published: August 2020

The time course response of selected phytohormones has been evaluated in sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) submitted to a high density (200 aphids/plant) of aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer) infestation. Abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA), and jasmonates (JAs), including jasmonic acid (JA), jasmonoyl‐l‐isoleucine (JA‐Ile), and cis‐OPDA have been simultaneously identified and quantitated by UHPLC–MS/MS in pepper leaf tissue harvested at 3, 8 hours post‐infestation (hpi), 1, 2, 4 and 7 days post‐infestation (dpi). Infested plants showed a reduction in stem length at 7 dpi and in the number of leaves and leaf width from 4 dpi onwards. JA and JA‐Ile significantly increased very early (from 3 hpi) while SA only accumulated at 7 dpi. Despite the high density of infestation, the aphid‐induced accumulation of JAs was much lower than the burst typically induced by chewing herbivores. On the other side, ABA peaked in aphid‐infested plants at 2 and 4 dpi, while IAA content did not change significantly at any time point. Growth inhibition may be partially explained by the high levels of JAs found in aphid‐infested plants. The possibility that the obtained results support the hypothesis of the aphid manipulation of plant metabolism is discussed.
Restoration of mine degraded land for sustainable environmental development
Authors: Ahirwal Jitendra , Pandey Vimal Chandra
Published: August 2020

The extraction of natural resources through mining activities has tremendously increased to maintain the trade‐off between demand and supply of energy resources. Surface mining activities lead to deforestation, displacement of topsoil and overburden rocks, and disposal of huge amounts of waste that depletes ecosystem services. We attempt to summarize the recent advance in the restoration of mine degraded lands and their role in the sustainable management of the post‐mining ecosystem. Selective plantation and application of various soil amendments along with the topsoil potentially enhance the recovery of mine degraded lands. Afforestation of mine degraded lands can generate economic, social, and environmental benefits to mining companies and the regional population. Outcomes of numerous studies have highlighted the need for the selective plantation that demonstrates characters like stress tolerance, climate resilience, and native to the local ecosystem. Besides, it is important to restore the ecosystem in such a way that it can deliver ecosystem services and match the objectives of international policies like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Exercise training‐induced visceral fat loss in obese women: The role of training intensity and modality
Authors: Zhang Haifeng , Tong Tomas K. , Kong Zhaowei , Shi Qingde , Liu Yang , Nie Jinlei
Published: August 2020

Visceral fat loss in response to four‐cycle ergometer training regimens with explicit differences in exercise intensity and modality was compared. Fifty‐nine obese young women (body fat percentage ≥ 30%) were randomized to a 12‐week intervention consisting of either all‐out sprint interval training (SITall‐out, n = 11); supramaximal SIT (SIT120, 120% O2peak, n = 12); high‐intensity interval training (HIIT90, 90% O2peak, n = 12), moderate‐intensity continuous training (MICT, 60% O2peak, n = 11), or no training (CON, n = 13). The total work done per training session in SIT120, HIIT90, and MICT was confined to 200 kJ, while it was deliberately lower in SITall‐out. The abdominal visceral fat area (AVFA) was measured through computed tomography scans. The whole‐body and regional fat mass were assessed through dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Pre‐, post‐, and 3‐hour post‐exercise serum growth hormone (GH), and epinephrine (EPI) were measured during selected training sessions. Following the intervention, similar reductions in whole‐body and regional fat mass were found in all intervention groups, while the reductions in AVFA resulting from SITall‐out, SIT120, and HIIT90 (>15 cm2) were greater in comparison with MICT (<3.5 cm2, P < .05). The AVFA reductions among the SITs and HIIT groups were similar, and it was concomitant with the similar exercise‐induced releases of serum GH and EPI. CON variables were unchanged. These findings suggest that visceral fat loss induced by interval training at or above 90% O2peak appeared unresponsive to the change in training intensity. Nonetheless, SITall‐out is still the most time‐efficient strategy among the four exercise‐training regimes for controlling visceral obesity.
Identification of a lipase gene with a role in tomato fruit short‐chain fatty acid‐derived flavor volatiles by genome‐wide association
Authors: Li Xiang , Tieman Denise , Liu Zimeng , Chen Kunsong , Klee Harry J.
Published: August 2020

Fatty acid‐derived volatile organic compounds (FA‐VOCs) make significant contributions to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit flavor and human preferences. Short‐chain FA‐VOCs (C5 and C6) are among the most abundant and important volatile compounds in tomato fruits. The precursors of these volatiles, linoleic acid (18:2) and linolenic acid (18:3), are derived from cleavage of glycerolipids. However, the initial step in synthesis of these FA‐VOCs has not been established. A metabolite‐based genome‐wide association study combined with genetic mapping and functional analysis identified a gene encoding a novel class III lipase family member, Sl‐LIP8, that is associated with accumulation of short‐chain FA‐VOCs in tomato fruit. In vitro assays indicated that Sl‐LIP8 can cleave 18:2 and 18:3 acyl groups from glycerolipids. A CRISPR/Cas9 gene edited Sl‐LIP8 mutant had much lower content of multiple fruit short‐chain FA‐VOCs, validating an important role for this enzyme in the pathway. Sl‐LIP8 RNA abundance was correlated with FA‐VOC content, consistent with transcriptional regulation of the first step in the pathway. Taken together, our work indicates that glycerolipid turnover by Sl‐LIP8 is an important early step in the synthesis of multiple short‐chain FA‐VOCs.
Feline bilateral inflammatory aural polyps: a descriptive retrospective study
Authors: Hoppers Sarrah E. , May Elizabeth R. , Frank Linda A.
Published: August 2020

Background

Feline inflammatory aural polyps (IP) have been reported as solitary growths, yet bilateral polyps may occur more commonly than described previously.

Objectives

To identify the prevalence and risk factors associated with bilateral feline IP within a population of cats evaluated at a veterinary teaching hospital over a 10 year period.

Animals

Twenty‐five cats with histologically confirmed IP.

Methods and materials

A retrospective study was performed by searching computerized medical records of cats seen at The University of Tennessee Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 2005 to 2015. Keywords used for the search included “feline polyp”, “ventral bulla osteotomy”, “inflammatory polyp ear canal” and “nasopharyngeal polyp”.

Results

Cats were separated into groups with unilateral or bilateral disease. Six of 25 (24%) cats had bilateral IP. Twelve cats had computed tomography performed (four of six with bilateral IP; eight of 19 with unilateral IP). Clinical signs, history of upper respiratory infection, post‐treatment complications, and IP recurrence with and without local and systemic steroid administration were studied between groups and no differences were identified. In four of six cats with bilateral disease, the second polyp was identified with advanced imaging performed at the time of referral.

Conclusions and clinical importance

These findings demonstrate that bilateral IP occur more frequently than reported previously and establish a prevalence for bilateral IP. These findings also highlight the value of advanced imaging techniques in diagnosing bilateral IP.
Early partial portal venous contrast enhancement in canine CT‐Angiography
Authors: Earley Naomi F. , Hall Jon L. , Brown Helen , Schwarz Tobias
Published: August 2020

Early partial portal vein contrast enhancement (EPoVE) during the late arterial phase is seen in CT angiography of dogs. Previously, it has been a finding attributed to arterioportal vascular anomalies. However, EPoVE may be a normal feature of venous return from abdominal organs. This prospective, descriptive study investigated the origin of EPoVE using four‐dimensional CT (4D‐CT). Sixteen dogs undergoing 4D‐CT for disease of the cranial abdomen were prospectively collected. Regions of interest were placed in the hepatic artery (HA), gastroduodenal vein (GV), extrahepatic portal vein (EHPV) cranial and caudal to the GV, and splenic vein (SV) caudal to its EHPV entry. Times to earliest, partial, full, and maximal vascular enhancement were recorded. A mixed model analysis of variance was used to compare time‐to‐contrast enhancement between vessels. The number, origin, and time of EPoVE were recorded if visible. A total of 24 EPoVE areas were observed in all dogs. Most dogs had either one (10/16) or two (5/16) areas of EPoVE. The origin of EPoVE was identified in 14 of 24 areas: the GV in five areas, cranial mesenteric vein in four areas, pancreatic branch of SV in three areas, and SV in two areas. The time‐to‐contrast‐enhancement was significantly different for the individual veins compared to the HA. EPoVE during the late arterial phase is a common phenomenon of early portal venous drainage of abdominal organs; it should not be interpreted as pathognomonic for arterioportal vascular anomalies, which should be diagnosed based on additional criteria.
La praxis sacramentaria de las iglesias sirias de tradición siro-occidental
Authors: Fernández-Rodríguez José Manuel
Published: August 2020

Las iglesias sirias conservan y custodian una rica vida litúrgica y sacramental que está basada en los siete sacramentos que comparten con las iglesias Católica y Ortodoxa. Sin embargo, no presentan ni desarrollan todos los sacramentos a la manera como se practican en la Iglesia Latina u Ortodoxa. Muchos de sus ritos sacramentales son esplendorosos y están precedidos de una antigua y larga tradición apoyada en escritores y doctores antiguos. Pese a que la teología sacramentaria siria se ha quedado en un estado bastante arcaico, no por ello deja de tener una tradición teológica y espiritual muy rica elaborada desde la mentalidad y el ambiente oriental.
Fitness-for-Service Strategies for Impulsively Loaded Vessels
Authors: Duffey Thomas A. , Fehlmann Kevin R.
Published: August 2020

High-explosive containment vessels are often designed for repeated use, implying predominately elastic material behavior. Each explosive test imparts an impulse to the vessel wall. The vessel subsequently vibrates as a result of the internal blast loading, with amplitude diminishing exponentially in time after a few cycles due to structural damping. Flaws present in the vessel, as well as new flaws induced by fragment impact during testing, could potentially grow by fatigue during these vibrations. Subsequent explosive tests result in new sequences of vibrations, providing further opportunity for flaws to grow by fatigue. The obvious question is, How many explosive experiments can be performed before flaws potentially grow to unsafe limits? Because ASME Code Case 2564-5 (Impulsively Loaded Pressure Vessels) has just been incorporated in Section VIII, Division 3 of the 2019 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, evaluation of remaining life and fitness-for-service of explosive containment vessels now draws upon two interrelated codes and standards: ASME Section VIII-3 and API-579/ASME FFS-1. This paper discusses their implementation in determining the remaining life of dynamically loaded vessels that have seen service and are potentially damaged. Results of a representative explosive containment vessel are presented using actual flaw data for both embedded weld flaws and fragment damage. Because of the potentially large number of flaws that can be detected by modern nondestructive inspection methods, three simplifying assumptions and a procedure are presented for conservatively eliminating from further consideration the vast majority of the flaws that possess considerable remaining life.
Pelvic Protection Limiting Lower Limb Flail Reduces Mortality
Authors: Rankin Iain A. , Nguyen Thuy-Tien , Carpanen Diagarajen , Darwood Alastair , Clasper Jonathan C. , Masouros Spyros D.
Published: August 2020

Pelvic blast injury is one of the most severe patterns of injury to be sustained by casualties of explosions. We have previously identified the mechanism of injury in a shock tube-mediated murine model, linking outward flail of the lower limbs to unstable pelvic fractures and vascular injury. As current military pelvic protection does not protect against lower limb flail, in this study we have utilized the same murine model to investigate the potential of novel pelvic protection to reduce injury severity. Fifty cadaveric mice underwent shock-tube blast testing and subsequent injury analysis. Pelvic protection limiting lower limb flail resulted in a reduction of pelvic fracture incidence from both front-on (relative risk (RR) 0.5, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 0.3–0.9, p < 0.01) and under-body (RR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.8 p < 0.01) blast, with elimination of vascular injury in both groups (p < 0.001). In contrast, pelvic protection, which did not limit flail, had no effect on fracture incidence compared to the control group and was only associated with a minimal reduction in vascular injury (RR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4–1.0, p < 0.05). This study has utilized a novel strategy to provide proof of concept for the use of pelvic protection, which limits limb flail to mitigate the effects of pelvic blast injury.
Laminar Forced Convection in Viscous Shear-Thinning Liquid Flows Inside Circular Pipes: Case for a Modified Power-Law Rheology
Authors: Subedi J. , Rajendran S. , Manglik R. M.
Published: August 2020

Laminar forced convection in viscous, non-Newtonian polymeric liquids that exhibit pseudoplastic or shear-thinning behavior is characterized. The fluid rheology is characterized by a new asymptotic power-law (APL) model, which appropriately represents extensive data for apparent viscosity variation with shear rate—from the low-shear constant-viscosity plateau to shear thinning at high shear rates. This is contrasted with the traditional Ostwald-de-Waele or power-law (PL) model that invariably over-extends the pseudoplasticity in the very low shear-rate region. The latter's limitations are demonstrated by computationally obtaining frictional loss and convective heat transfer results for fully developed laminar flows in a circular pipe maintained at uniform heat flux. The Fanning friction factor and Nusselt number, as would be anticipated from the rheology map of pseudoplastic fluids, are functions of flow rate with the APL model unlike the Newtonian-like constant value obtained with the PL model. Comparisons of the two sets of results highlight the extent of errors inherent in the PL rheology model, which range from 23% to 68% for frictional loss and 3.8% to 13.7% for heat transfer. The new APL rheology model is thus shown to be the more precise characterization of viscous shear-thinning fluids for their thermal processing applications with convective heat transfer.
Center of Pressure, Vertical Ground Reaction Forces, and Neuromuscular Responses of Special-Forces Soldiers to 43-km Load Carriage in the Field
Authors: Scales James , O’Driscoll Jamie M. , Coleman Damian , Giannoglou Dimitrios , Gkougkoulis Ioannis , Ntontis Ilias , Zisopoulou Chrisoula , Brown Mathew
Published: August 2020

The primary purpose of this study was to examine lateral deviations in center of pressure as a result of an extreme-duration load carriage task, with particular focus on heel contact. A total of 20 (n = 17 males and n = 3 females) soldiers from a special operation forces unit (body mass 80.72 [21.49] kg, stature 178.25 [8.75] cm, age 26 [9] y) underwent gait plantar pressure assessment and vertical jump testing before and after a 43-km load carriage event (duration 817.02 [32.66] min) carrying a total external load of 29.80 (1.05) kg. Vertical jump height decreased by 18.62% (16.85%) from 0.30 (0.08) to 0.24 (0.07) m, P < .001. Loading peak and midstance force minimum were significantly increased after load carriage (2.59 [0.51] vs 2.81 [0.61] body weight, P = .035, Glass delta = 0.44 and 1.28 [0.40] vs 1.46 [0.41] body weight, P = .015, Glass delta = 0.45, respectively) and increases in lateral center of pressure displacement were observed as a result of the load carriage task 14.64 (3.62) to 16.97 (3.94) mm, P < .029. In conclusion, load carriage instigated a decrease in neuromuscular function alongside increases in ground reaction forces associated with injury risk and center of pressure changes associated with ankle sprain risk. Practitioners should consider that possible reductions in ankle stability remain once load carriage has been completed, suggesting soldiers are still at increased risk of injury even once the load has been removed.
COVID-19 and Social Isolation: A Case for Why Home-Based Resistance Training Is Needed to Maintain Musculoskeletal and Psychosocial Health for Older Adults
Authors: Marcos-Pardo Pablo Jorge , Espeso-García Alejandro , López-Vivancos Abraham , Abelleira Lamela Tomás , Keogh Justin W.L.
Published: August 2020

The coronavirus disease outbreak in China has become the world’s leading health headline and is causing major panic and public concerns. Public health guidelines in many countries are suggesting that people stay at home to avoid human-to-human transmission of the virus, which may lead to reduced physical activity and greater feelings of isolation. Such effects may be particularly problematic in older adults due to their reduced physical capacities and their potential for increased mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. A potential way to minimize many of these side effects of stay-at-home guidelines may be progressive home-based resistance training. A simple way to provide progressive overload in home-based resistance training may involve elastic resistance, which has been demonstrated to provide similar benefits to traditional resistance training equipment typically found in gymnasiums. Recommendations on how older adults can safely and effectively perform elastic resistance training at home are provided.
Atomically dispersed Ni in cadmium-zinc sulfide quantum dots for high-performance visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen production
Authors: Su D. W. , Ran J. , Zhuang Z. W. , Chen C. , Qiao S. Z. , Li Y. D. , Wang G. X.
Published: August 2020

Visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen is optimized using the synergistic effect of single atoms with their coordinating element.
Bacteria-triggered tumor-specific thrombosis to enable potent photothermal immunotherapy of cancer
Authors: Yi Xuan , Zhou Hailin , Chao Yu , Xiong Saisai , Zhong Jing , Chai Zhifang , Yang Kai , Liu Zhuang
Published: August 2020

Intravenous injection of bacteria into mice is able to trigger tumor-specific thrombosis and photothermal immunotherapy of cancer.
Epithelial cell–specific loss of function of
Miz1
causes a spontaneous COPD-like phenotype and up-regulates
Ace2
expression in mice
Authors: Do-Umehara Hanh Chi , Chen Cong , Zhang Qiao , Misharin Alexander V. , Abdala-Valencia Hiam , Casalino-Matsuda S. Marina , Reyfman Paul A. , Anekalla Kishore R. , Gonzalez-Gonzalez Francisco J. , Sala Marc A. , Peng Chao , Wu Ping , Wong Catherine C. L. , Kalhan Ravi , Bharat Ankit , Perlman Harris , Ridge Karen M. , Sznajder Jacob I. , Sporn Peter H. S. , Chandel Navdeep S. , Yu Jindan , Fu Xiangdong , Petrache Irina , Tuder Rubin , Budinger G. R. Scott , Liu Jing
Published: August 2020

Lung epithelial cell–specific loss of function of Miz1 causes spontaneous COPD-like phenotype and up-regulates Ace2 in mice.
An IL-2 mutein engineered to promote expansion of regulatory T cells arrests ongoing autoimmunity in mice
Authors: Khoryati Liliane , Pham Minh Nguyet , Sherve McKenna , Kumari Swarnima , Cook Kevin , Pearson Josh , Bogdani Marika , Campbell Daniel J. , Gavin Marc A.
Published: August 2020

A CD25-dependent IL-2 mutein expanded regulatory T cells and controlled spontaneous diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice.
Whole-Genome Sequencing of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus from Field Clinical Samples Improves the Genomic Surveillance of the Virus
Authors: Lalonde Christian , Provost Chantale , Gagnon Carl A.
Published: August 2020

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a major economic concern worldwide. There are currently large data sets available about the ORF5 gene of the virus, with thousands of sequences available, but little data are currently available on the full-length genome of PRRSV. We hypothesized that whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of the PRRSV genome would allow better epidemiological monitoring than ORF5 gene sequencing. PRRSV PCR-positive serum, oral fluid, and tissue clinical samples submitted to the diagnostic laboratory for routine surveillance or diagnosis of PRRSV infection in Québec, Canada, swine herds were used.
Self-Collected Anterior Nasal and Saliva Specimens versus Health Care Worker-Collected Nasopharyngeal Swabs for the Molecular Detection of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Hanson K. E. , Barker A. P. , Hillyard D. R. , Gilmore N. , Barrett J. W. , Orlandi R. R. , Shakir S. M.
Published: August 2020

We prospectively compared health care worker-collected nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) to self-collected anterior nasal swabs (ANS) and straight saliva for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 354 patients. The percent positive agreement between NPS and ANS or saliva was 86.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 76.7 to 92.9%) and 93.8% (95% CI, 86.0 to 97.9%), respectively. The percent negative agreement was 99.6% (95% CI, 98.0 to 100.0%) for NPS versus ANS and 97.8% (95% CI, 95.3 to 99.
Supplemental Material: Formation of the First Bend in the late Eocene gave birth to the modern Yangtze River, China
Authors: Zheng Hongbo , al. et
Published: August 2020

Detailed descriptions of Cenozoic lithostratigraphy of the Jianchuan Basin, the 40Ar/39Ar dating method and results, and the zircon U-Pb dating method and statistical analysis.
Systemic AAV10.COMP-Ang1 rescues renal glomeruli and pancreatic islets in type 2 diabetic mice
Authors: Tian Mi , Carroll Lara S , Tang Li , Uehara Hironori , Westenfelder Christof , Ambati Balamurali K , Huang Yufeng
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Diabetic hyperglycemia causes progressive and generalized damage to the microvasculature. In renal glomeruli, this results in the loss of podocytes with consequent loss of constitutive angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) signaling, which is required for stability of the glomerular endothelium. Repeated tail vein injection of adenovirus expressing COMP-Ang1 (a stable bioengineered form of Ang1) was previously reported to improve diabetic glomerular damage despite the liver and lungs being primary targets of adenoviral infection. We thus hypothesized that localizing delivery of sustained COMP-Ang1 to the kidney could increase its therapeutic efficacy and safety for the treatment of diabetes.

Research design and methods

Using AAVrh10 adeno-associated viral capsid with enhanced kidney tropism, we treated 10-week-old uninephrectomized db/db mice (a model of type 2 diabetes) with a single dose of AAVrh10.COMP-Ang1 delivered via the intracarotid artery, compared with untreated diabetic db/db control and non-diabetic db/m mice.

Results

Surprisingly, both glomerular and pancreatic capillaries expressed COMP-Ang1, compensating for diabetes-induced loss of tissue Ang1. Importantly, treatment with AAVrh10.COMP-Ang1 yielded a significant reduction of glycemia (blood glucose, 241±193 mg/dL vs 576±31 mg/dL; glycosylated hemoglobin, 7.2±1.5% vs 11.3±1.3%) and slowed the progression of albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis in db/db mice by 70% and 61%, respectively, compared with untreated diabetic db/db mice. Furthermore, COMP-Ang1 ameliorated diabetes-induced increases of NF-kBp65, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAPDH) oxidase-2 (Nox2), p47phox and productions of myeloperoxidase, the inflammatory markers in both renal and pancreatic tissues, and improved beta-cell density in pancreatic islets.

Conclusions

These results highlight the potential of localized Ang1 therapy for treatment of diabetic visceropathies and provide a mechanistic explanation for reported improvements in glucose control via Ang1/Tie2 signaling in the pancreas.
The impact of country reimbursement programmes on living kidney donations
Authors: Siddique Abu Bakkar , Apte Vandana , Fry-Revere Sigrid , Jin Yanhong , Koizumi Naoru
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Living-donor kidney transplantation is the gold standard treatment for patients with end-stage kidney disease. However, potential donors ubiquitously face financial as well as logistical barriers. To remove these disincentives from living kidney donations, the governments of 23 countries have implemented reimbursement programmes that shift the burdens of non-medical costs from donors to the governments or private entities. However, scientific evidence for the effectiveness of these programmes is scarce. The present study investigates whether these reimbursement programmes designed to ease the financial and logistical barriers succeeded in increasing the number of living kidney donations at the country level. The study examined within-country variations in the timing of such reimbursement programmes.

Method

The study applied the difference-in-difference (two-way panel fixed-effect) technique on the Poisson distribution to estimate the effects of these reimbursement programmes on a 17 year long (2000–2016) dataset covering 109 countries where living donor kidney transplants were performed.

Results

The results indicated that reimbursement programmes have a statistically significant positive effect. Overall, the model predicted that reimbursement programmes increased country-level donation numbers by a factor of 1.12–1.16.

Conclusion

Reimbursement programmes may be an effective approach to alleviate the kidney shortage worldwide. Further analysis is warranted on the type of reimbursement programmes and the ethical dimension of each type of such programmes.
Modification of vitamin B6 on the associations of blood lead levels and cardiovascular diseases in the US adults
Authors: Wei Jia , Ji John S
Published: August 2020

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in the US population. Lead exposure is an important risk factor of CVDs, as is associated with elevated homocysteine level and oxidative stress. We aim to examine whether vitamin B6, which has been shown to reduce homocysteine level, can modify the relationship between blood lead and the risk of CVDs.

Methods

Cross-sectional data on ever-report CVDs (congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, heart attack and stroke), blood lead level (BLL) and vitamin B6 in the form of plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate were obtained from US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2006 for adults≥20 years old. The association between CVDs and quartiles of BLL was estimated using multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for demographics factors, lifestyle variables, stress variables, comorbidities and CVD biomarkers (C reactive protein, homocysteine, cholesterol) and was stratified by vitamin B6 deficiency level (<20 nmol/L) and median value of vitamin B6 (42.5 nmol/L).

Results

Positive associations between BLL and CVDs only appeared in the vitamin B6 deficiency group, with quartile 2 to quartile 4 of BLL showing higher risk of CVDs (OR=3.1, 95% CI 0.9 to 10.6; OR=6.5, 95% CI 1.4 to 30.8; OR=5.5, 95% CI 1.4 to 21.7) compared with quartile 1. When stratified by median value of vitamin B6, a significant association between higher CVD risk with higher BLL was only observed in subjects with low vitamin B6 (p trend=0.004).

Conclusions

Vitamin B6 could modify the association between BLL and CVDs, which suggests a potential value of vitamin B6 in influencing the effects of lead exposure on the cardiovascular system.
Cross-sectional survey describing general practitioners’ absolute cardiovascular disease risk assessment practices and their relationship to knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about cardiovascular disease risk in Queensland, Australia
Authors: Greaves Kim , Smith Anita , Agostino Jason , Kunarajah Kuhan , Stanton Tony , Korda Rosemary
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To describe general practitioners’ (GPs’) absolute cardiovascular disease risk (ACVDR) self-reported assessment practices and their relationship to knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about ACVDR.

Design

Cross-sectional survey with opportunistic sampling (October–December 2017).

Setting

Sunshine Coast region, Queensland, Australia.

Participants

111 GPs responded to the survey.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Proportion of GPs reporting a high (≥80%) versus moderate (60%–79%)/low (<60%) percentage of eligible patients receiving ACVDR assessment; proportion agreeing with statements pertaining to knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about ACVDR and associations between these factors.

Results

Of the 111 respondents, 78% reported using the Australian ACVDR calculator; 45% reported high, 25% moderate and 30% low ACVDR assessment rates; >85% reported knowing how to use ACVDR assessment tools, believed assessment valuable and were comfortable with providing guideline-recommended treatment. Around half believed patients understood the concept of high risk and were willing to adopt recommendations. High assessment rates (vs moderate/low) were less likely among older GPs (≥45 vs ≤34 years, age-adjusted and sex-adjusted OR (aOR) 0.36, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.97). Those who answered knowledge-based questions about the guidelines incorrectly had lower assessment rates, including those who answered questions on patient eligibility (aOR 0.13, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.11). A high assessment rate was more likely among GPs who believed there was sufficient time to do the assessment (aOR 3.79, 95% CI 1.23 to 11.61) and that their patients were willing to undertake lifestyle modification (aOR 2.29, 95% CI 1.02 to 5.15). Over 75% of GPs agreed better patient education, nurse-led assessment and computer-reminder prompts would enable higher assessment rates.

Conclusions

Although the majority of GPs report using the ACVDR calculator when undertaking a CVD risk assessment, there is a need to increase the actual proportion of eligible patients undergoing ACVDR assessment. This may be achieved by improving GP assessment practices such as GP and patient knowledge of CVD risk, providing sufficient time and nurse-led assessment.
Cohort profile: the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre Discovery Cohort MRI substudy (OPDC-MRI)
Authors: Griffanti Ludovica , Klein Johannes C , Szewczyk-Krolikowski Konrad , Menke Ricarda A L , Rolinski Michal , Barber Thomas R , Lawton Michael , Evetts Samuel G , Begeti Faye , Crabbe Marie , Rumbold Jane , Wade-Martins Richard , Hu Michele T , Mackay Clare
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre (OPDC) Discovery Cohort MRI substudy (OPDC-MRI) collects high-quality multimodal brain MRI together with deep longitudinal clinical phenotyping in patients with Parkinson’s, at-risk individuals and healthy elderly participants. The primary aim is to detect pathological changes in brain structure and function, and develop, together with the clinical data, biomarkers to stratify, predict and chart progression in early-stage Parkinson’s and at-risk individuals.

Participants

Participants are recruited from the OPDC Discovery Cohort, a prospective, longitudinal study. Baseline MRI data are currently available for 290 participants: 119 patients with early idiopathic Parkinson’s, 15 Parkinson’s patients with pathogenic mutations of the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 or glucocerebrosidase (GBA) genes, 68 healthy controls and 87 individuals at risk of Parkinson’s (asymptomatic carriers of GBA mutation and patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder-RBD).

Findings to date

Differences in brain structure in early Parkinson’s were found to be subtle, with small changes in the shape of the globus pallidus and evidence of alterations in microstructural integrity in the prefrontal cortex that correlated with performance on executive function tests. Brain function, as assayed with resting fMRI yielded more substantial differences, with basal ganglia connectivity reduced in early Parkinson’sand RBD. Imaging of the substantia nigra with the more recent adoption of sequences sensitive to iron and neuromelanin content shows promising results in identifying early signs of Parkinsonian disease.

Future plans

Ongoing studies include the integration of multimodal MRI measures to improve discrimination power. Follow-up clinical data are now accumulating and will allow us to correlate baseline imaging measures to clinical disease progression. Follow-up MRI scanning started in 2015 and is currently ongoing, providing the opportunity for future longitudinal imaging analyses with parallel clinical phenotyping.
Emergency department visits and hospitalisations for emergent asthmatic symptoms from 2014 to 2016: cross-sectional study in Korea
Authors: Choi Kyungseon , Han Sola , Suh Hae Sun
Published: August 2020

Objective

To evaluate the characteristics of emergent patients with asthma who visited emergency departments (EDs) in Korea, and the consequences of these visits.

Design

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Setting

We used data from the National Emergency Department Information System database from 2014 to 2016. The data included reports collected from 408 EDs in Korea.

Participants

We analysed the ED cases for asthma-related emergent symptoms that met the following inclusion criteria: (1) had a main diagnosis code of asthma (International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision code: J45/J46), and (2) recorded as an emergent symptom in the EDs.

Results

During 2014–2016, there were 58 713 ED visits related to an asthma diagnosis with emergent symptoms. Following an ED visit, 31.69% were hospitalised, of which 89.88% were admitted to the general wards, and 10.12% to the intensive care units (ICUs). More than 50% of the hospitalised cases included in the group ≥70 years of age. The incidence of death during hospitalisation generally increased with age and the proportion of death in ICU exceeded 10% among the group ≥70 years. The ratio of ICU/general ward admission at the arrival time of 0–03:00, in the ≥60 years age group was the highest compared with other times of the day and age groups.

Conclusions

We found that among all age groups, ED visits by older patients resulted in more ICU admissions. Our results can help in providing a better understanding of medical resource utilisation by emergent patients with asthma.
Association between health indicators of maternal adversity and the rate of infant entry to local authority care in England: a longitudinal ecological study
Authors: Pearson Rachel Jane , Jay Matthew Alexander , Wijlaars Linda Petronella Martina Maria , De Stavola Bianca , Syed Shabeer , Bedston Stuart John , Gilbert Ruth
Published: August 2020

Objective

Infants enter care at varying rates across local authorities (LAs) in England, but evidence is lacking on what is driving these differences. With this ecological study, we aimed to explore the extent to which adversity indicated within women’s hospitalisation histories, predelivery, explained the rate of infant entry into care.

Methods

We used two longitudinal person-level data sets on hospitalisations and entries to care to create annual measures for 131 English LAs, between 2006/2007 and 2013/2014 (April–March). We combined these measures by LA and financial year, along with other publicly available data on LA characteristics. We used linear mixed-effects models to analyse the relationship between the outcome—LA-specific rate of infant entry into care (per 10 000 infants in the LA population) — and LA-specific percentage of live births with maternal history of adversity-related hospital admissions (ie, substance misuse, mental health problems or violence-related admissions in the 3 years before delivery), adjusted for other predictors of entry into care.

Results

Rate of infant entry into care (mean: 85.16 per 10 000, SD: 41.07) and percentage of live births with maternal history of adversity-related hospital admissions (4.62%, 2.44%) varied greatly by LA. The prevalence of maternal adversity accounted for 24% of the variation in rate of entry (95% CI 14% to 35%). After adjustment, a percentage point increase in prevalence of maternal adversity—both within and between LAs—was associated with an estimated 2.56 (per 10 000) more infants entering care (1.31–3.82).

Conclusions

The prevalence of maternal adversity before birth helped to explain the variation in LA rates of infant entry into care. Preventive interventions are needed to improve maternal well-being before and during pregnancy, and potentially reduce risk of child maltreatment and therefore entries to care. Evidence on who to target and data to evaluate change require linkage between parent–child healthcare data and administrative data from children’s social care.