bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ram pressure stripping candidates in the coma cluster: evidence for enhanced star formation
Authors: Roberts Ian D , Parker Laura C
Published: April 2020

The Coma cluster is the nearest massive ($M \gtrsim 10^{15}\, \mathrm{M_\odot }$) galaxy cluster, making it an excellent laboratory to probe the influence of the cluster environment on galaxy star formation. Here, we present a sample of 41 galaxies with disturbed morphologies consistent with ram pressure stripping. These galaxies are identified visually using high-quality, multiband imaging from the Canada–France–Hawaii telescope covering ${\sim}9\, \mathrm{deg^2}$ of the Coma cluster. These ‘stripping candidates’ are clear outliers in common quantitative morphological measures, such as concentration-asymmetry and Gini-M20, confirming their disturbed nature. Based on the orientations of observed asymmetries, as well as the galaxy positions in projected phase space, these candidates are consistent with galaxies being stripped shortly after infall on to the Coma cluster. Finally, the stripping candidates show enhanced star formation rates, both relative to ‘normal’ star-forming Coma galaxies and isolated galaxies in the field. Ram pressure is likely driving an enhancement in star formation during the stripping phase, prior to quenching. On the whole, ram pressure stripping appears to be ubiquitous across all regions of the Coma cluster.
Dun1, a Chk2-related kinase, is the central regulator of securin-separase dynamics during DNA damage signaling
Authors: Yam Candice Qiu Xia , Chia David Boy , Shi Idina , Lim Hong Hwa , Surana Uttam
Published: April 2020

The DNA damage checkpoint halts cell cycle progression in G2 in response to genotoxic insults. Central to the execution of cell cycle arrest is the checkpoint-induced stabilization of securin-separase complex (yeast Pds1-Esp1). The checkpoint kinases Chk1 and Chk2 (yeast Chk1 and Rad53) are thought to critically contribute to the stability of securin-separase complex by phosphorylation of securin, rendering it resistant to proteolytic destruction by the anaphase promoting complex (APC). Dun1, a Rad53 paralog related to Chk2, is also essential for checkpoint-imposed arrest. Dun1 is required for the DNA damage-induced transcription of DNA repair genes; however, its role in the execution of cell cycle arrest remains unknown. Here, we show that Dun1′s role in checkpoint arrest is independent of its involvement in the transcription of repair genes. Instead, Dun1 is necessary to prevent Pds1 destruction during DNA damage in that the Dun1-deficient cells degrade Pds1, escape G2 arrest and undergo mitosis despite the presence of checkpoint-active Chk1 and Rad53. Interestingly, proteolytic degradation of Pds1 in the absence of Dun1 is mediated not by APC but by the HECT domain-containing E3 ligase Rsp5. Our results suggest a regulatory scheme in which Dun1 prevents chromosome segregation during DNA damage by inhibiting Rsp5-mediated proteolytic degradation of securin Pds1.
Longitudinal Monitoring of Flow-Diverting Stent Tissue Coverage After Implant in a Bifurcation Model Using Neurovascular High-Frequency Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Caroff Jildaz , King Robert M , Ughi Giovanni J , Marosfoi Miklos , Langan Erin T , Raskett Christopher , Puri Ajit S , Gounis Matthew J
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

Tissue growth over covered branches is a leading cause of delayed thrombotic complications after flow-diverter stenting (FDS). Due to insufficient resolution, no imaging modality is clinically available to monitor this phenomenon.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate high-frequency optical coherence tomography (HF-OCT), a novel intravascular imaging modality designed for the cerebrovascular anatomy with a resolution approaching 10 microns, to monitor tissue growth over FDS in an arterial bifurcation model.

METHODS

FDS were deployed in a rabbit model (n = 6), covering the aortic bifurcation. The animals were divided in different groups, receiving dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (n = 4), aspirin only (n = 1), and no treatment (n = 1). HF-OCT data were obtained in vivo at 3 different time points in each animal. For each cross-sectional image, metal and tissue coverage of the jailed ostium was quantified. Scanning electron microscopy images of harvested arteries were subsequently obtained.

RESULTS

Good quality HF-OCT data sets were successfully acquired at implant and follow-up. A median value of 41 (range 21-55) cross-sectional images were analyzed per ostium for each time point. Between 0 and 30 d after implant, HF-OCT analysis showed a significantly higher ostium coverage when DAPT was not given. After 30 d, similar growth rates were found in the DAPT and in the aspirin group. At 60 d, a coverage of 90% was reached in all groups.

CONCLUSION

HF-OCT enables an accurate visualization of tissue growth over time on FDS struts. The use of FDS in bifurcation locations may induce a drastic reduction of the jailed-branch ostium area.
Seminal and Nodal Roots of Barley Differ in Anatomy, Proteome and Nitrate Uptake Capacity
Authors: Liu Zhaojun , Giehl Ricardo Fabiano Hettwer , Hartmann Anja , Hajirezaei Mohammad Reza , Carpentier Sebastien , von Wirén Nicolaus
Published: April 2020

The root system of barley plants is composed of embryogenic, seminal roots as well as lateral and nodal roots that are formed postembryonically from seminal roots and from the basal part of shoots, respectively. Due to their distinct developmental origin, seminal and nodal roots may differ in function during plant development; however, a clear comparison between these two root types has not yet been undertaken. In this study, anatomical, proteomic and physiological traits were compared between seminal and nodal roots of similar developmental stages. Nodal roots have larger diameter, larger metaxylem area and a larger number of metaxylem vessels than seminal roots. Proteome profiling uncovered a set of root-type-specific proteins, including proteins related to the cell wall and cytoskeleton organization, which could potentially be implicated with differential metaxylem development. We also found that nodal roots have higher levels of auxin, which is known to trigger metaxylem development. At millimolar nitrate supply, nodal roots had approximately 2-fold higher nitrate uptake and root-to-shoot translocation capacities than seminal roots, whereas no differences were found at micromolar nitrate supply. Since these marked differences were not reflected by the transcript levels of low-affinity nitrate transporter genes, we hypothesize that the larger metaxylem volume of nodal roots enhances predominantly the low-affinity uptake and translocation capacities of nutrients that are transported with the bulk flow of water, like nitrate.
Homology Modeling Identifies Crucial Amino-Acid Residues That Confer Higher Na+ Transport Capacity of OcHKT1;5 from Oryza coarctata Roxb
Authors: Somasundaram Suji , Véry Anne-Aliénor , Vinekar Rithvik S , Ishikawa Tetsuya , Kumari Kumkum , Pulipati Shalini , Kumaresan Kavitha , Corratgé-Faillie Claire , Sowdhamini R , Parida Ajay , Shabala Lana , Shabala Sergey , Venkataraman Gayatri
Published: April 2020

HKT1;5 loci/alleles are important determinants of crop salinity tolerance. HKT1;5s encode plasmalemma-localized Na+ transporters, which move xylem Na+ into xylem parenchyma cells, reducing shoot Na+ accumulation. Allelic variation in rice OsHKT1;5 sequence in specific landraces (Nona Bokra OsHKT1;5-NB/Nipponbare OsHKT1;5-Ni) correlates with variation in salt tolerance. Oryza coarctata, a halophytic wild rice, grows in fluctuating salinity at the seawater–estuarine interface in Indian and Bangladeshi coastal regions. The distinct transport characteristics of the shoots and roots expressing the O. coarctata OcHKT1;5 transporter are reported vis-à-vis OsHKT1;5-Ni. Yeast sodium extrusion-deficient cells expressing OcHKT1;5 are sensitive to increasing Na+ (10–100 mM). Electrophysiological measurements in Xenopus oocytes expressing O. coarctata or rice HKT1;5 transporters indicate that OcHKT1;5, like OsHKT1;5-Ni, is a Na+-selective transporter, but displays 16-fold lower affinity for Na+ and 3.5-fold higher maximal conductance than OsHKT1;5-Ni. For Na+ concentrations >10 mM, OcHKT1;5 conductance is higher than that of OsHKT1;5-Ni, indicating the potential of OcHKT1;5 for increasing domesticated rice salt tolerance. Homology modeling/simulation suggests that four key amino-acid changes in OcHKT1;5 (in loops on the extracellular side; E239K, G207R, G214R, L363V) account for its lower affinity and higher Na+ conductance vis-à-vis OsHKT1;5-Ni. Of these, E239K in OcHKT1;5 confers lower affinity for Na+ transport, as evidenced by Na+ transport assays of reciprocal site-directed mutants for both transporters (OcHKT1;5-K239E, OsHKT1;5-Ni-E270K) in Xenopus oocytes. Both transporters have likely analogous roles in xylem sap desalinization, and differences in xylem sap Na+ concentrations in both species are attributed to differences in Na+ transport affinity/conductance between the transporters.
Perceptions of Barriers to Conducting Effective AML Investigations
Authors: Vineer Annalise
Published: April 2020

For many years, banks have been spending billions of pounds to combat money laundering and terrorist-financing activity but are falling short of both local and global expectations, despite extensive regulatory guidance. The aim of this research was to examine what barriers there might be in conducting effective anti-money laundering (AML) investigations. There is little guidance to help banks consider the difficulties that might be faced when raising awkward questions with customers. The few studies that were identified accentuated poor internal practices and inadequate skills; however, there is little examination of the specific problems encountered. A mixed methods form of research was adopted using surveys and interviews, targeted at bank staff involved in AML investigations. The results indicated numerous difficulties when conducting enquiries, many of which centred around a fear of offending the customer. If bank staff are fearful of asking questions, it is clearly impossible to conduct satisfactory investigations.
Non-IgE-mediated food allergy during infancy
Authors: Devonshire Ashley L. , Durrani Sandy , Assa’ad Amal
Published: April 2020

Purpose of review

Is to highlight the recent advances in the diagnosis and management of non-IgE-mediated food allergy which is a common consideration in primary care and in allergy and gastroenterology subspecialty practices evaluating infants.

Recent findings

The review focuses on food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) and includes other non-IgE-mediated food allergy in nursing infants, food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis, and food protein-induced enteropathy. For FPIES, we review the 2017 International Consensus Guidelines that provided the first comprehensive framework for its diagnosis and management and that were supplemented by a 2019 position paper by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. We review recent reports that support FPIES as a diagnosis of primarily infants, highlight the problem of delayed diagnosis, reveal the need for improved biomarkers, emphasize new and common food protein triggers, and identify new approaches for evaluation of tolerance.

As formal diagnostic criteria for non-IgE-mediated food allergies are defined and prevalence data is increasingly reported, there will likely be improved recognition and evaluation of these conditions. Currently, large-scale prospective studies evaluating their incidence and prevalence, associated risk factors, and natural history are needed. Although avoidance of the suspected trigger food protein remains the cornerstone of management, additional studies of underlying pathophysiology and biomarkers of disease will likely reveal new avenues for therapeutics.
Curricular Approaches to Transgender Health in Physician Assistant Education
Authors: Rolls Joanne , Davis John , Backman Richard , Wood Tim , Honda Trenton
Published: April 2020

Purpose

According to the Williams Institute, 1.4 million U.S. adults identify as transgender. Many experience health care disparities. Professional organizations call for medical education to improve transgender care, but what curricula are being delivered is unknown. The goal of this study was to conduct the first comprehensive, national survey of transgender health care curricula in physician assistant (PA) education.

Method

The authors sent a questionnaire to program directors (PDs) at all 236 U.S. PA programs in June 2018. They categorized programs as those that currently deliver at least 1 hour of transgender health content and those who do not (Teaching/Not Teaching). They examined differences between Teaching and Not Teaching programs using chi-square tests, and they evaluated comments for themes.

Results

The response rate was 100%. Of the 236 programs, 202 (85.6%) teach transgender content and 34 (14.4%) do not. According to PDs, most transgender content was delivered in medical interviewing (44.1%) or women’s health (31.4%) and the most common transgender health topics included differentiating between sex and gender and between behavior and identity (78.8%), followed by health disparities (77.5%) and barriers to care (75.0%). PDs most commonly cited a lack of time (51.3%) and faculty knowledge (35.6%) as barriers for teaching transgender health topics. Half of the PDs (50.4%) ranked transgender health as very or extremely important. The authors detected statistically significant differences between Teaching and Not Teaching programs based on geographic region (P = .01), perceived importance (P ≤ .001), and presence of knowledgeable faculty (P = .01). Presence of knowledgeable faculty was significantly associated with perceived importance (P = .01).

Conclusions

This is the first comprehensive, nationwide survey of transgender health education in U.S. PA programs. A key finding is that the presence of expert faculty is significantly associated with delivery and perceived importance of transgender health curricula.
Mechanical Ventilation Guided by Uncalibrated Esophageal Pressure May Be Potentially Harmful
Authors: Cammarota Gianmaria , Lauro Gianluigi , Santangelo Erminio , Sguazzotti Ilaria , Perucca Raffaella , Verdina Federico , Boniolo Ester , Tarquini Riccardo , Bignami Elena , Mongodi Silvia , Arisi Eric , Orlando Anita , Della Corte Francesco , Vaschetto Rosanna , Mojoli Francesco
Published: April 2020

Background

Esophageal balloon calibration was proposed in acute respiratory failure patients to improve esophageal pressure assessment. In a clinical setting characterized by a high variability of abdominal load and intrathoracic pressure (i.e., pelvic robotic surgery), the authors hypothesized that esophageal balloon calibration could improve esophageal pressure measurements. Accordingly, the authors assessed the impact of esophageal balloon calibration compared to conventional uncalibrated approach during pelvic robotic surgery.

Methods

In 30 adult patients, scheduled for elective pelvic robotic surgery, calibrated end-expiratory and end-inspiratory esophageal pressure, and the associated respiratory variations were obtained at baseline, after pneumoperitoneum–Trendelenburg application, and with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) administration and compared to uncalibrated values measured at 4-ml filling volume, as per manufacturer recommendation. Data are expressed as median and [25th, 75th percentile].

Results

Ninety calibrations were successfully performed. Chest wall elastance worsened with pneumoperitoneum–Trendelenburg and PEEP (19.0 [15.5, 24.6] and 16.7 [11.4, 21.7] cm H2O/l) compared to baseline (8.8 [6.3, 9.8] cm H2O/l; P < 0.0001 for both comparisons). End-expiratory and end-inspiratory calibrated esophageal pressure progressively increased from baseline (3.7 [2.2, 6.0] and 7.7 [5.9, 10.2] cm H2O) to pneumoperitoneum–Trendelenburg (6.2 [3.8, 10.2] and 16.1 [13.1, 20.6] cm H2O; P = 0.014 and P < 0.001) and PEEP (8.8 [7.7, 15.6] and 18.9 [16.3, 22.0] cm H2O; P < 0.0001 vs. baseline for both comparison; P < 0.001 and P = 0.002 vs. pneumoperitoneum–Trendelenburg) and, at each study step, they were persistently lower than uncalibrated esophageal pressure (P < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Overall, difference among uncalibrated and calibrated esophageal pressure was 5.1 [3.8, 8.4] cm H2O at end-expiration and 3.8 [3.0, 6.3] cm H2O at end-inspiration. Uncalibrated esophageal pressure swing was always lower than calibrated one (P < 0.0001 for all comparisons) with a difference of −1.0 [−1.8, −0.4] cm H2O.

Conclusions

In a clinical setting with variable chest wall mechanics, uncalibrated measurements substantially overestimated absolute values and underestimated respiratory variations of esophageal pressure. Calibration could substantially improve mechanical ventilation guided by esophageal pressure.

Editor’s Perspective

What We Already Know about This Topic

What This Article Tells Us That Is New
Predictors of Outcomes After Single-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy
Authors: Goh Graham S. , Liow Ming Han Lincoln , Yeo William , Ling Zhixing Marcus , Guo Chang-Ming , Yue Wai-Mun , Tan Seang-Beng , Chen John Li-Tat
Published: April 2020

Study Design:

This was a retrospective study that was carried out using prospectively collected registry data.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to identify preoperative predictors of outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Summary of Background Data:

Proper patient selection is paramount to achieving good surgical results. Identifying predictors of outcomes may aid surgical decision-making and facilitate counseling of patients to manage expectations.

Methods:

Prospectively collected registry data of 104 patients who underwent single-level ACDF for cervical spondylotic myelopathy were reviewed. Outcomes assessed at 2 years were the presence of residual neck pain/arm pain (AP), and attainment of a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for Neck Disability Index (NDI), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and Physical Component Score (PCS) of SF-36, as well as patient satisfaction, fulfilment of expectations, willingness to undergo same surgery again, return to work (RTW), and return to function (RTF). Receiver operating characteristic curves and multivariate stepwise logistical regression were performed to identify independent predictors of each outcome using 22 covariates including demographics, comorbidities, and preoperative disease state.

Results:

Lower preoperative NDI was predictive of the absence of residual neck pain/AP at 2 years. Higher preoperative JOA score was predictive of MCID attainment for PCS, satisfaction, expectation fulfilment, willingness to undergo the same surgery for same condition, and RTF. Poorer preoperative scores of NDI, JOA, and PCS were predictors of attaining MCID of the respective scores. Older patients were less likely to attain MCID for JOA. Higher preoperative AP was a risk factor for unsuccessful RTW.

Conclusions:

In general, the preoperative JOA score was the best predictor of outcomes after ACDF. A preoperative JOA cutoff value of 9.25–10.25 predicted satisfaction, expectation fulfilment, willingness to undergo same surgery, and RTF with at least 70% sensitivity and 50% specificity. These findings may aid surgeons in identifying patients at risk of a poor outcome and guide preoperative counseling to establish realistic expectations of the surgical outcome.

Level of Evidence:

Level III—Non-randomized controlled cohort/follow-up study.
Survival Benefit of Combination Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xie Hao , Liu Junjia , Ogden John R. , Yin Jun , Jatoi Aminah , Hubbard Joleen M. , McWilliams Robert R. , Mahipal Amit , Petersen Gloria M. , Bekaii-Saab Tanios S. , Ma Wen Wee
Published: April 2020

Objectives:

Survival benefit of combination over single-agent chemotherapy for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) was demonstrated in younger patients in clinical trials. The authors aimed to evaluate whether this survival benefit of combination chemotherapy is present in elderly patients with metastatic PDAC.

Materials and Methods:

The authors identified elderly patients (age 65 y or older) with stage IV PDAC and extracted available clinical information from a prospectively maintained institutional pancreatic cancer registry from 2007 to 2016. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Cox proportional hazards regression was used for multivariable survival analyses. Survival outcomes for the entire cohort and by age group I (elderly, 65 to 75 y) and age group II (very elderly, older than 75 y) were assessed.

Results:

A total of 606 patients were included with a median age of 73.8 years. Among them, 239 patients (39%) received combination chemotherapy and 152 patients (25.1%) received single-agent chemotherapy as first-line treatment. Combination chemotherapy was associated with significantly longer median overall survival compared with single-agent chemotherapy (10.9 vs. 7.5 mo, P<0.001) with hazard ratio 0.62 (95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.81; P=0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level. Analyses by age groups indicated that very elderly patients (age group II) benefited from combination chemotherapy compared with single-agent chemotherapy with hazard ratio 0.56 (95% confidence interval, 0.31-1; P=0.049), comparable with the age group I (P
age-treatment interaction=0.81).

Conclusion:

Elderly patients, even those older than 75 years, with metastatic PDAC benefited from combination chemotherapy.
Mucinous Cell Clusters in Infantile Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformations Mimic Adult Mucinous Adenocarcinoma But Are Not Associated With Poor Outcomes When Appropriately Resected
Authors: Nelson Nya D. , Litzky Leslie A. , Peranteau William H. , Pogoriler Jennifer
Published: April 2020

Congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAMs) are abnormalities of the lung arising during development. At our institution the majority of type I infantile CPAMs contain mucinous cell clusters (MCCs). The overlapping histology of MCCs and adult in situ mucinous adenocarcinomas, as well as reports of metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma arising in CPAMs resected later in childhood raise concerns about the malignant potential of these cells. However, after adequate surgical resection, malignant recurrence has not been reported in infants with CPAMs. Despite benign behavior, MCCs often have histologic features that, in an adult, would be consistent with a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Therefore, to assess the spectrum of features that may be seen in these presumed precursor lesions, we characterized the histology of 671 MCCs spread across 44 infantile CPAMs and compared them to 10 adult mucinous adenocarcinomas. MCCs in CPAMS were often numerous, widespread, and located outside of the large cysts. Mucinous and nonmucinous epithelium within CPAMs showed complex architecture, making application of adult adenocarcinoma architectural patterns difficult. The MCCs within CPAMs displayed nuclear features similar to adult mucinous adenocarcinomas. The proliferative index in infantile MCCs was higher than in adult mucinous adenocarcinomas but was also higher in uninvolved infantile lung tissue. This work illustrates that histologic features typically associated with adenocarcinoma frequently occur within CPAMs; however, this does not alter their benign behavior. Therefore, extreme caution should be used if adult lung cancer terminology is applied to avoid significant potential psychological and physical harms associated with the label of adenocarcinoma.
FDG PET/CT Imaging of Pancreatic Plasmacytoma
Authors: Huang Wen-Shan , Zheng Yongjiang , Chen Jia-Wen , Zhang Gui-Xiong , Xu Jie-Hua
Published: April 2020

A 56-year-old man underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT to evaluate possible pancreatic cancer, which was revealed by CT. The images showed a solid lesion with peripherally increased FDG activity in the tail of the pancreas, as well as hypermetabolic lesions in the lumbar spine and rib. Pathological examination following lumbar biopsy demonstrated multiple myeloma. Five months after chemotherapy, follow-up FDG PET/CT showed cystic change in the pancreatic lesion without elevated metabolism.
Survey Based Assessment of Burnout Rates Among US Plastic Surgery Residents
Authors: Hart Alexandra M. , Crowley Connor , Janis Jeffrey E. , Losken Albert
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to analyze the rates of burnout and contributory factors among US plastic surgery residents.

Methods

The Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey was emailed to program coordinators of American College of Graduate Medical Education–accredited plastic surgery residencies. Scores are provided for 3 subscales: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment. Normative scoring tables (low, average, high) were used for comparison. Residents were asked questions relating to their personal life (age, postgraduate year, marital status, and program characteristics).

Results

One hundred thirteen residents responded. The average age was 31.6 years (range, 25–43 years) and postgraduate year of 4.6 (range, 1–10). There were equal male and female respondents. Most were from integrated-only residencies (n = 59, 52.2%). On average, the majority reported working 50 to 80 hours per week (n = 93, 82.3%), spending the majority of time in tertiary referral centers (n = 107, 94.7%). Most received and took 3 weeks of vacation per year (n = 68, 60.7%). Furthermore, 65.5% met the definition of burnout by their scores from at least 1 subscale.

The number of hours worked per week significantly correlated with increased scores in the EE and DP subscales. Residents who worked more than 80 hours per week had significantly higher scores in the EE and DP categories. Residents who had less than 2 weeks of vacation per year trended toward experiencing more EE (EE; 46.0, P = 0.077). The type of program (independent vs integrated), sex, having a significant other outside of the home, kids, and local family support did not significantly affect burnout scores for any subscales.

Conclusions

Burnout exists among plastic surgery residents especially in the DP subscale. Working longer hours and less vacation correlates with increased rates of burnout among residents.
Patient- and Physician-Reported Outcome of Combined Fractional CO2 and Pulse Dye Laser Treatment for Hypertrophic Scars in Children
Authors: Elrod Julia , Schiestl Clemens , Neuhaus Diego , Mohr Christoph , Neuhaus Kathrin
Published: April 2020

Background

Hypertrophic scars are commonly seen in children and associated with pruritus, pain, functional impairment, and aesthetic disfigurement. Ablative fractional CO2 and pulse dye laser are emerging techniques to improve scar quality. Only limited data are available on children, nonburn scars, and patient-reported outcome. We aimed to investigate safety and outcome of repeated laser therapy for hypertrophic scars originating from burns and other conditions by means of patient- and physician-reported outcome measures.

Methods

This was a retrospective before-after analysis of laser treatments in children with hypertrophic scars. Outcome was measured using Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale, Vancouver Scar Scale and Itch Man Scale. With respect to safety, laser- and anesthesia-related complications were analyzed.

Results

Seventeen patients, aged 11.37 ± 4.82 years with 27 scars, underwent 102 distinct laser treatments, mainly combined CO2 and pulse dye laser (94%), with few CO2 only (6%). Vancouver Scar Scale total score before the first and after the first session decreased significantly from 7.65 ± 2.12 to 4.88 ± 1.73; Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale observer overall opinion also dropped from 5.88 ± 1.57 to 4.25 ± 1.70. Pruritus improved significantly. Patient age and timing of laser intervention did not have an impact on treatment response. Complications related to laser treatment were seen in 2% (wound infection, n = 2) and to anesthesia in 4% (insignificant n = 2, minor n = 1).

Conclusions

Combined laser therapy significantly improves quality, pain, and pruritus of hypertrophic scars in children. When provided by experienced laser and anesthesia teams, it is safe with a low rate of complications.
Estimation of the infection fatality rate and the total number of SARS-CoV-2 infections
Authors: Hernandez-Suarez Carlos , Verme Paolo , Murillo-Zamora Efren
Published: April 2020

We introduce a simple methodology to estimate the infection fatality rate (IFR) and from here the total number of infected with SARS-CoV-2. The virus has shown to be highly infectious and thus we based our method under the assumption that all members of a household with at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 should be infected, therefore we estimate the IFR using the number of secondary fatalities in households. The simplicity of the methodology allows for large sample sizes, since it requires minimal laboratory testing capabilities. We applied this methodology to a database of 3,232 confirmed cases in Mexico and arrived to an IFR estimate within the range reported in other studies.
No Detectable Surge in SARS-CoV-2 Transmission due to the April 7, 2020 Wisconsin Election
Authors: Leung Kathy , Wu Joseph T. , Xu Kuang , Wein Lawrence M.
Published: April 2020

We analyze confirmed cases and new hospitalizations in Wisconsin in the weeks surrounding the April 7, 2020 election, and find no evidence of a surge in SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Clinical Laboratory Parameters Associated with Severe or Critical Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Moutchia Jude , Pokharel Pratik , Kerri Aldiona , McGaw Kaodi , Uchai Shreeshti , Nji Miriam , Goodman Michael
Published: April 2020

Background

To date, several clinical laboratory parameters associated with COVID-19 severity have been reported. However, these parameters have not been observed consistently across studies. The aim of this review was to assess clinical laboratory parameters which may serve as markers or predictors of severe or critical COVID-19 disease

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and Google Scholar databases from 2019 through April 18, 2020, and reviewed bibliographies of eligible studies, relevant systematic reviews, and the medRxiv pre-print server. We included hospital-based observational studies reporting clinical laboratory parameters of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and excluded studies having large proportions (>10%) of children and pregnant women. Two authors independently carried out screening of articles, data extraction and quality assessment. Meta-analyses were done using random effects model. Meta-median difference (MMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated for each laboratory parameter.

Results

Forty-five studies in 6 countries were included. Compared to non-severe COVID-19 cases, severe or critical COVID-19 disease was characterised by higher neutrophil count (MMD: 1.23 [95% CI: 0.58 to 1.88] ×109 cells/L), and lower lymphocyte and CD4 counts with MMD (95% CI) of -0.39 (-0.47, -0.31) ×109 cells/L and -204.9 (-302.6, -107.1) cells/μl, respectively. Other notable results were observed for C-reactive protein (MMD: 36.97 [95% CI: 27.58, 46.35] mg/L), interleukin-6 (MMD: 17.37 [95% CI: 4.74, 30.00] pg/ml,), Troponin I (MMD: 0.01 [0.00, 0.02] ng/ml), and D-dimer (MMD: 0.65 [0.45, 0.85] mg/ml).

Conclusions and Relevance

Relative to non-severe COVID-19, severe or critical COVID-19 is characterised by increased markers of innate immune response, decreased markers of adaptive immune response, and increased markers of tissue damage and major organ failure. These markers could be used to recognise severe or critical disease and to monitor clinical course of COVID-19.
Estimating COVID-19 Antibody Seroprevalence in Santa Clara County, California. A re-analysis of Bendavid et al.
Authors: Bennett Stephen T. , Steyvers Mark
Published: April 2020

Abstract

A recent study by Bendavid et al. claimed that the rate of infection of COVID-19 in Santa Clara county was between 2.49% and 4.16%, 50-85 times higher than the number of officially confirmed cases. The statistical methodology used in that study overestimates of rate of infection given the available data. We jointly estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the test kit along with rate of infection with a simple Bayesian model, arriving at lower estimates of the rate of COVID-19 in Santa Clara county. Re-analyzing their data, we find that the rate of infection was likely between 0.27% and 3.21%.
Real-time time-series modelling for prediction of COVID-19 spread and intervention assessment
Authors: Rashidi Taha Hossein , Shahriari Siroos , Azad AKM , Vafaee Fatemeh
Published: April 2020

Substantial amount of data about the COVID-19 pandemic is generated every day. Yet, data streaming, while considerably visualized, is not accompanied with advanced modelling techniques to provide real-time insights. This study introduces a unified platform which integrates visualization capabilities with advanced statistical methods for predicting the virus spread in the short run, using real-time data. The platform is backed up by advanced time series models to capture any possible non-linearity in the data which is enhanced by the capability of measuring the expected impact of preventive interventions such as social distancing and lockdowns. The platform enables lay users, and experts, to examine the data and develop several customized models with different restriction such as models developed for specific time window of the data. Our policy assessment of the case of Australia, shows that social distancing and travel ban restriction significantly affect the reduction of number of cases, as an effective policy.
Automated Diagnosis of COVID-19 Using Deep Learning and Data Augmentation on Chest CT
Authors: Hu Runwen , Ruan Guanqi , Xiang Shijun , Huang Minghui , Liang Qiaoyi , Li Jingxuan
Published: April 2020

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has surprised the world since the beginning of 2020, and the rapid growth of COVID-19 is beyond the capability of doctors and hospitals that could deal in many areas. The chest computed tomography (CT) could be served as an effective tool in detection of COVID-19. It is valuable to develop automatic detection of COVID-19.

Materials and Methods

The collected dataset consisted of 1042 chest CT images (including 521 COVID-19, 397 healthy, 76 bacterial pneumonia and 48 SARS) obtained by exhaustively searching available data on the Internet. Then, these data are divided into three sets, referred to training set, validation set and testing set. Sixteen data augmentation operations are designed to enrich the training set in deep learning training phase. Multiple experiments were conducted to analyze the performance of the model in the detection of COVID-19 both in case of no noisy labels and noisy labels. The performance was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC), sensitivity, specificity and accuracy.

Results

The data augmentation operations on the training set are effective for improvement of the model performance. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve is 0.9689 with (95% CI: 0.9308, 1) in case of no noisy labels for the classification of COVID-19 from heathy subject, while the per-exam sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for detecting COVID-19 in the independent testing set are 90.52%, 91.58% and 91.21%, respectively. In the classification of COVID-19 from other hybrid cases, the average AUC of the proposed model is 0.9222 with (95%CI: 0.8418, 1) if there are no noisy labels. The model is also robust when part of the training samples is marked incorrectly. The average AUC is 92.23% in the case of noisy labels of 10% in the training set.

Conclusion

A deep learning model with insufficient samples can be developed by using data augmentation in assisting medical workers in making quick and correct diagnosis of COVID-19.
Genomics of Indian SARS-CoV-2: Implications in genetic diversity, possible origin and spread of virus
Authors: Mondal Mainak , Lawarde Ankita , Somasundaram Kumaravel
Published: April 2020

World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic disease on March 11, 2020. Comparison of genome sequences from diverse locations allows us to identify the genetic diversity among viruses which would help in ascertaining viral virulence, disease pathogenicity, origin and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 between countries. The aim of this study is to ascertain the genetic diversity among Indian SARS-CoV-2 isolates. Initial examination of the phylogenetic data of SARS-CoV-2 genomes (n=3123) from different continents deposited at GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data) revealed multiple origin for Indian isolates. An in-depth analysis of 449 viral genomes derived from samples representing countries from USA, Europe, China, East Asia, South Asia, Oceania, Middle East regions and India revealed that most Indian samples are divided into two clusters (A and B) with cluster A showing more similarity to samples from Oceania and Kuwait and the cluster B grouping with countries from Europe, Middle East and South Asia. Diversity analysis of viral clades, which are characterized by specific non-synonymous mutations in viral proteins, discovered that the cluster A Indian samples belong to I clade (V378I in ORF1ab), which is an Oceania clade with samples having Iran connections and the cluster B Indian samples belong to G clade (D614G in Spike protein), which is an European clade. Thus our study identifies that the Indian SARS-CoV-2 viruses belong to I and G clades with potential origin to be countries mainly from Oceania, Europe, Middle East and South Asia regions, which strongly implying the spread of virus through most travelled countries. The study also emphasizes the importance of pathogen genomics through phylogenetic analysis to discover viral genetic diversity and understand the viral transmission dynamics with eventual grasp on viral virulence and disease pathogenesis.
Males that silence their father’s genes: genomic imprinting of a complete haploid genome
Authors: de la Filia Andrés G. , Mongue Andrew J. , Dorrens Jennifer , Lemon Hannah , Laetsch Dominik R. , Ross Laura
Published: April 2020

Genetic conflict is considered a key driver in the evolution of new reproductive and sex determining systems. In particular, reproductive strategies with non-Mendelian inheritance, where parents do not contribute equally to the genetic makeup of their offspring. One of the most extraordinary examples of non-Mendelian inheritance is paternal genome elimination (PGE), a form of haplodiploidy which has evolved repeatedly across arthropods. Under PGE, males are diploid but only transmit maternally-inherited chromosomes to their offspring, while the paternal homologues are excluded from sperm. This asymmetric inheritance is thought to have evolved through an evolutionary arms race between paternal and maternal genomes over transmission to future generations. In several clades with PGE, such as the mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), paternal chromosomes are not just eliminated from sperm, but also heterochromatinised early in development and thought to remain inactive. Such paternal genome silencing could alleviate genetic conflict between paternal alleles over transmission. However, it is unclear if paternal chromosomes are indeed genetically inert in both soma and germline. Here, we present a parent-of-origin allele-specific transcriptome analysis in male mealybugs. We show that expression is globally biased towards the maternal genome, but detect activity of paternal chromosomes in both somatic and reproductive tissues. Up to 70% of somatically-expressed genes are to some degree paternally-expressed. However, paternal genome expression is much more restricted in the testis, with only 20% of genes showing paternal contribution. Finally, we show that the patterns of parent-of-origin-specific gene expression are remarkably similar across genotypes and that those genes with biparental expression show elevated rates of molecular evolution. Our results provide the clearest example yet of genome-wide genomic imprinting (parent-of-origin specific gene expression) in insects. Furthermore, it enhances our understanding of PGE, which will aid future empirical tests of evolutionary theory regarding the origin of this unusual reproductive strategy.
A modular framework for multiscale, multicellular, spatiotemporal modeling of acute primary viral infection and immune response in epithelial tissues and its application to drug therapy timing and effectiveness
Authors: Sego T.J. , Aponte-Serrano Josua O. , Gianlupi Juliano Ferrari , Heaps Samuel R. , Breithaupt Kira , Brusch Lutz , Crawshaw Jessica , Osborne James M. , Quardokus Ellen M. , Plemper Richard K. , Glazier James A.
Published: April 2020

Simulations of tissue-specific effects of primary acute viral infections like COVID-19 are essential for understanding disease outcomes and optimizing therapies. Such simulations need to support continuous updating in response to rapid advances in understanding of infection mechanisms, and parallel development of components by multiple groups. We present an open-source platform for multiscale spatiotemporal simulation of an epithelial tissue, viral infection, cellular immune response and tissue damage, specifically designed to be modular and extensible to support continuous updating and parallel development. The base simulation of a simplified patch of epithelial tissue and immune response exhibits distinct patterns of infection dynamics from widespread infection, to recurrence, to clearance. Slower viral internalization and faster immune-cell recruitment slow infection and promote containment. Because antiviral drugs can have side effects and show reduced clinical effectiveness when given later during infection, we studied the effects on progression of treatment potency and time-of-first treatment after infection. In simulations, even a low potency therapy with a drug which reduces the replication rate of viral RNA greatly decreases the total tissue damage and virus burden when given near the beginning of infection. Many combinations of dosage and treatment time lead to stochastic outcomes, with some simulation replicas showing clearance or control (treatment success), while others show rapid infection of all epithelial cells (treatment failure). Thus, while a high potency therapy usually is less effective when given later, treatments at late times are occasionally effective. We illustrate how to extend the platform to model specific virus types (e.g., hepatitis C) and add additional cellular mechanisms (tissue recovery and variable cell susceptibility to infection), using our software modules and publicly-available software repository.

Author summary

This study presents an open-source, extensible, multiscale platform for simulating viral immune interactions in epithelial tissues, which enables the rapid development and deployment of sophisticated models of viruses, infection mechanisms and tissue types. The model is used to investigate how potential treatments influence disease progression. Simulation results suggest that drugs which interfere with virus replication (e.g., remdesivir) yield substantially better infection outcomes when administered prophylactically even at very low doses than when used at high doses as treatment for an infection that has already begun.
Deep feature extraction of single-cell transcriptomes by generative adversarial network
Authors: Bahrami Mojtaba , Maitra Malosree , Nagy Corina , Turecki Gustavo , Rabiee Hamid R. , Li Yue
Published: April 2020

Motivation

Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) has opened the opportunities to dissect the heterogeneous cellular composition and interrogate the cell-type-specific gene expression patterns across diverse conditions. However, batch effects such as laboratory conditions and individual-variability hinder their usage in cross-condition design.

Results

We present single-cell Generative Adversarial Network (scGAN). Our main contribution is to introduce an adversarial network to predict batch effects using the embeddings from the variational autoencoder network, which does not only need to maximize the Negative Binomial data likelihood of the raw scRNA-seq counts but also minimize the correlation between the latent embeddings and the batch effects. We demonstrate scGAN on three public scRNA-seq datasets and show that our method confers superior performance over the state-of-the-art methods in forming clusters of known cell types and identifying known psychiatric genes that are associated with major depressive disorder.

Availability

The code is available athttps://github.com/li-lab-mcgill/singlecell-deepfeature

Contact

yueli@cs.mcgill.ca
House price and household consumption in China: evidence from micro-level data
Authors: Yuan Xiaojun , Shen Yinjie , Zhou Haigang
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to identify how house price affects household consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a micro-level data set that tracks the house price and consumption of a vast number of households over a period of four years. OLS regression is the main econometric method.

Findings

The authors document robust evidence that an increase in house prices stimulates household consumption, regardless of whether a household owns or rents. Moreover, the authors find that both acquiring and losing homeownership negatively affects household consumption. Further investigation suggests significant regional heterogeneity in the relationship between house prices and household consumption.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies examining the relationship between house price and household consumption in China using micro-level data. Given the uniqueness of the Chinese housing market and China’s fast-growing consumption rate, the study contributes new evidence to the long-lasting debate.
Conventional REITs, Islamic REITs and macroeconomic variables in Malaysia: a review
Authors: Sukor Mohd Edil Abd , Sujak Zahida Abu , Noordin Kamaruzaman
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the return and dividend characteristics of two different types of Malaysian real estate investment trust (REIT) series, namely, conventional and Islamic, against macroeconomic variables over the period 2011-2017.

Design/methodology/approach

The required data are derived from Datastream database. Multiple regression analysis is used to determine the impact of macroeconomic variables on financial performance of 13 Malaysian REIT series.

Findings

Results show that the macroeconomic variables are able to predict future returns and dividends of Malaysian REITs. The analysis also suggests that Islamic REITs are seen to be less sensitive to macroeconomic variables and display better portfolio diversification benefits as compared to their conventional counterpart. The ongoing implications for large-cap and small-cap REITs are also highlighted.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the study is the small percentage of Islamic REITs sample due to limited period of observation available. However, the two Islamic REITs included are representative of Islamic REITs in Malaysia as both of them are listed in the Bursa Malaysia with asset size and market capitalization values more than RM1bn.

Practical implications

The results of this study may serve as a useful input for financial market players on making strategic business decisions especially with regards to differences between conventional and Islamic REITs characteristics.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper is to explore the relationship between REITs and macroeconomic factors on a unique capital market (Malaysia) that allows comparison between conventional and its Islamic counterpart.