bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
miR-29a-5p Alleviates Traumatic Brain Injury- (TBI-) Induced Permeability Disruption via Regulating NLRP3 Pathway
Authors: Zhang Aijun , Lu Youming , Yuan Lei , Zhang Pengqi , Zou Dongdong , Wei Fance , Chen Xin
Published: November 2021

Objective. Inactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome plays a role in reducing the permeability of endothelial cells and improving blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction following traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the mechanism controlling NLRP3 inflammasome activation remains unclear. This study is aimed at defining the role of miR-29a-5p in NLRP3 inflammasome activation and permeability of endothelial cells under TBI. Methods. The scratch injury model on brain bEnd.3 microvascular endothelial cells was used as in vitro TBI model cells. Effects of miR-29a mimics and inhibitors on TBI model cells were observed by examining their action on FITC, TEER, and protein contents of ZO-1 and occludin, and cell permeability-associated protein. Luciferase reporter assay evaluated miR-29a-5p targeting to NLRP3. ELISA examined of IL-1β and IL-18 levels. miR-29a-5p mimic was injected into TBI mouse and its effect on BBB, indicated by Evans blue (EB) staining assay and cerebral water content, and NLRP3 activation was examined. Results. miR-29a-3p and miR-29a-5p mimics decrease the concentration of FITC, and increase TEER and the protein contents of ZO-1 and occludin in TBI model cells. miR-29a-5p silencing disrupted the permeability of mouse bEnd.3 cells. miR-29a-5p targets to NLRP3 through the binding on its 3

′

UTR and negatively regulates its expression in TBI model cells. NLRP3 inhibition and miR-29a-5p silencing together caused significantly decreased FITC concentration and increased TEER value and release of IL-1β and IL-18. miR-29a-5p mimic alleviated the BBB and cerebral water content and inactivates NLRP3 in the mouse TBI model. Conclusions. miR-29a-5p mimics protect TBI-induced increased endothelial cell permeability and BBB dysfunction via suppressing NLRP3 expression and activation.
The Prognostic Importance of Serum Sodium for Mortality among Critically Ill Patients Requiring Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Authors: Petnak Tananchai , Thongprayoon Charat , Cheungpasitporn Wisit , Shawwa Khaled , Mao Michael A. , Kashani Kianoush B.
Published: November 2021

Background: Serum sodium derangement is common in critically ill patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). We aimed to assess the association between serum sodium before and during CRRT with mortality. Methods: This is a historical cohort study of 1,520 critically ill patients receiving CRRT from December 2006 through November 2015 in a tertiary hospital in the United States. Using logistic regression analysis, we used serum sodium before CRRT, mean serum sodium, and serum sodium changes during CRRT to predict 90-day mortality after CRRT initiation. Results: Compared with the normal serum sodium levels, the odds ratio (OR) of 90-day mortality in patients with serum sodium before CRRT of 143–147 and ≥148 mmol/L were 1.45 (95% CI 1.03–2.05) and 2.24 (95% CI 1.33–3.87), respectively. There was no significant increase in 90-day mortality in serum sodium of ≤137 mmol/L. During CRRT, the mean serum sodium levels of ≤137 (OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.01–1.98) and ≥143 mmol/L (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.14–2.03) were associated with higher 90-day mortality. The greater serum sodium changes during CRRT were associated with higher 90-mortality (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.21–1.51 per 5-mmol/L increase). Conclusion: Before CRRT initiation, hypernatremia and during CRRT, hypo- and hypernatremia were associated with increased mortality.
MAIN INDICATORS OF THE OXIDANT-ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FORCE OF THE RESPIRATORY MUSCLES IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA
Authors: Bereznyakov V. I.
Published: November 2021

Background. Currently, pneumonia ranks 4-5 rate in the world in the structure of death causes after cardiovascular and cancer diseases, cerebrovascular pathology, injuries and poisonings.

Objective. The aim of the study was to evaluate the indicators of the oxidative-antioxidant system and their relationship with the strength of the respiratory muscles in adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Methods. The study was carried out in the period 2017-2020 on the basis of the therapeutic department of the Municipal non-profit enterprise "City Clinical Multidisciplinary Hospital № 25" of Kharkiv City Council. The study involved 52 adult patients with CAP aged 18 to 80 years. The control group consisted of 20 apparently healthy humans. It was determinated the activity of malondialdehyde, catalase and superoxide dismutase, level of reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase. The assessment of the RM strength was investigated by recording the maximum static pressures at the level of the mouth and nose with “closed” airways using a MicroRPM apparatus on the 1st and 10th days of illness.

Results. Dysfunction of expiratory respiratory muscles prevailed in patients with non-severe CAP, and inspiratory respiratory muscles in patients with severe CAP. Were established significant negative correlations of malondialdehyde with indicators of respiratory muscles strength and positive correlations with glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase.

Conclusions. The presence of relationships between pro- and antioxidant indicators and respiratory muscles strength complements the concept of the body's systemic response on pulmonary inflammation – one of the markers of respiratory muscles dysfunction.

KEYWORDS: community-acquired pneumonia, respiratory muscles, oxidative-antioxidant system.
RADIATION EXPOSURE IN ACCESSORY PATHWAY ABLATION PROCEDURES IN CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS
Authors: Ali M. , Banavalikar B. , Ghadei M. K. , Kottayan A. , Padmanabhan D. , Shenthar J.
Published: November 2021

Background. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (CA) has been the treatment of choice in patients with accessory pathway (AP)-mediated tachycardias. Most of these procedures are done under fluoroscopic guidance, leading to significant radiation exposure to the patient and the laboratory personnel. In this analysis, we have looked at the amount of radiation exposure in AP CA procedures performed without the support of a three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping system. We have analyzed changes in exposure indices over the study period and the impact of change in fluoroscopy frame rate (FFR).
Objectives. The objectives of this study are to quantify radiation exposure in accessory pathway ablation procedures; to analyze the radiation exposure trend over time; and to evaluate the effect of fluoroscopy frame rate reduction on the radiation exposure indices in these procedures.
Methods. All the AP ablation procedures performed at our institute from January 2016 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The collected data were age, sex, location of APs based on successful site of ablation on fluoroscopy, procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and dose-area product (DAP). Effective dose (ED) was estimated from DAP. The data of procedures performed before January 2018 (“pre” group) were compared with those of the procedures performed after that date (“post” group). Pre-group procedures were performed at an FFR of 7.5 frames per second (fps), and post-group procedures – at an FFR of 3.75 fps.
Results. The total number of procedures included in the analysis was 635. The mean age of the patients was 39±14 years, and 401 of them (63%) were males. The most common location of the APs was left lateral (38%). Procedure time and radiation indices showed a significant decrease over the study period (p < 0.001). Post group procedures had significantly shorter procedure time and lower radiation exposure than pre group procedures.
Conclusions. A decrease in the FFR was associated with a significant reduction in radiation exposure in AP ablation procedures
DYNAMICS OF FREQUENCY AND PECULIARITIES OF THE STRUCTURE OF CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS IN SOUTH UKRAINE (MONITORING STUDY)
Authors: Lanovenko O.
Published: November 2021

Background. In Ukraine, the unfavorable demographic situation makes monitoring of the birth rate of children with congenital malformations urgent issue to identify regional features of epidemiology and develop methods for prenatal diagnosis and prognosis.

Objective. Objective of this study is to characterize the frequency dynamics, to identify structural features of congenital malformations of newborns in Kherson region over a 20-year period (2000-2019) and to compare the prevalence of various nosological forms of malformations in the region, in Ukraine and in European countries.

Methods. Research methods: epidemiological, medical-statistical.

Results. In Kherson region, the average frequency of congenital malformations over the past 20 years is: for newborns – 31.57±1.25‰; for live births – 31.38±1.11‰; for stillborns – 197.7±0.65 per 10,000. In the structure of defects, cardiovascular malformations are leading (31.77%), musculoskeletal malformations (25.14%), genital malformations (17.5%). Increased prevalence of developmental anomalies in the region is mainly associated with an increase in the frequency of model malformations recorded by EUROCAT (r=0.69, p<0.05). The increase in the total frequency of congenital malformations is caused by increased number of births of children with cardiovascular defects (by 4.67‰), genital defects (by 1.21‰), other congenital malformations (by 1.55‰), multiple malformations (by 0.37‰).

Conclusion. Monitoring results showed an increase in congenital malformations incidence in Kherson region over a 20-year period by 7.94‰ possibly caused by population decline due to negative natural and mechanical growth. The prevalence of hereditary defects is at the same level. The frequency of some nosological forms significantly exceeds in the region compare to that in Ukraine and Europe: cardiovascular defects – in 1.5 times, genital malformations – in nearly 3 times, musculoskeletal defects – almost twice.
Selfie: o autorretrato do sujeito contemporâneo
Authors: Braga Paula
Published: November 2021

As redes sociais são lugares de exibição de fotografias amadoras e campo de experimentação artística. São também dispositivos que impactam a subjetividade e a democracia, beneficiando interesses do neoliberalismo, e que geraram um novo capítulo na história da fotografia, a selfie, cujo estudo exige uma metodologia interdisciplinar. Este artigo propõe que a selfie remete à auto-objetificação. Esta hipótese é investigada referindo-se à teoria da fotografia de Philippe Dubois, a conceitos da psicanálise e a diagnósticos de Achille Mbembe e Giorgio Agamben sobre os efeitos do capitalismo avançado na subjetividade. Por fim, analisa a selfie nas obras de Amalia Ulman, Aleta Valente e Cindy Sherman, discutindo os limites das redes sociais como lugar de circulação da obra de arte.
Los actos performativos y la construcción de los acontecimientos en la performance
Authors: Suárez Andrés Felipe Restrepo
Published: November 2021

El objetivo de este artículo es vincular teorías filosóficas sobre “los enunciados performativos” a las obras de arte Leap into the Void de Yves Klein y Action Pants: Genital Panic de VALIE EXPORT, para analizar formas divergentes en que son accionados los acontecimientos en la performance. De acuerdo con las teorías sobre los enunciados performativos propuestas por John Austin y Jacques Derrida, es posible establecer el poder que tiene el artista para definir lo real por medio de sus discursos visuales y dialécticos, cuando la acción se estructura a partir de una documentación previamente construida, que consigue ser real y legítima ante la institución del arte. Tal y como se evidencia en las obras de Klein y EXPORT a través del difuso tránsito de una performance simulada y una performance realizada en un “agora”.
Tribeca/Nova York: o território artístico nas performances de Joan Jonas
Authors: Ramos Paula Nogueira
Published: November 2021

A partir de discussões sobre a situação das mulheres nas artes, promovidas por Linda Nochlin, Audre Lorde, entre outros autores, o presente texto busca investigar o espaço de criação da artista estadunidense Joan Jonas com base nas camadas urbanas e histórico-sociais que atravessam suas obras no início dos anos 1970. Os contextos de suas performances são aqui acentuados, pois são vistos como geradores da integração entre o lugar da experiência artística e os espaços públicos. Através de análises comparadas, espera-se traçar aproximações e diferenciações entre as questões relacionadas e a especificidade do lugar da obra, na medida em que o trabalho de Jonas mobiliza distanciamentos, embaralhamentos do olhar e outras atmosferas de percepção.
O lugar da história da arte e a crise da conferência
Authors: Berbara Maria
Published: November 2021

Este ensaio propõe uma reflexão sobre o modo como a Covid-19 acelerou a crise da conferência – aqui entendida, genericamente, como uma reunião científico-acadêmica. A pandemia acrescentou uma nova dimensão – a epidemiológica – a críticas de ordem econômica, social e ecológica que já vinham sendo formuladas em relação a esse tipo de evento. Por outro lado, conferências tiveram, desde o século XIX, papel fulcral na criação de uma rede global de desenvolvimento e cooperação acadêmica. Com o recente recrudescimento de posturas negacionistas e xenófobas em distintas partes do mundo, cumpre preservar e mesmo expandir esses espaços supranacionais de intercâmbio. Neste ensaio busca-se rascunhar algumas possíveis alternativas ao formato tradicional da conferência, prestando especial atenção ao campo das artes e história da arte.
Arte como projeto, projeto como arte
Authors: Martins Sérgio
Published: November 2021

A partir do intenso questionamento sofrido por Giulio Carlo Argan no início da década de 1960, o artigo discute a crise da noção de projeto em seu pensamento e a relaciona historicamente com a emergência do projeto como subgênero da arte conceitual. Por um lado, a relação é articulada através do exame de duas tendências defendidas por Argan, a arte programada e a pintura analítica. Por outro, é pensada contra o pano de fundo da consolidação do mercado de arte no período em questão. Por fim, o exame da parte da obra de Antonio Dias nesse contexto histórico visa descrever com mais clareza o laço dialético entre as duas categorias em questão, arte como projeto e projeto como arte.
Cânone(s), globalização e historiografia da arte
Authors: Reinaldim Ivair
Published: November 2021

O texto volta-se para a noção de cânone, de modo a problematizar a narrativa historiográfica da arte e os impasses teórico-metodológicos frente à existência e à consolidação de outras histórias à margem ou incorporadas a essa narrativa. Ao aproximar-se da discussão em âmbito internacional, tendo o Ocidente como articulador de tal questionamento, seu objetivo é confrontar esses pontos com o estudo da historiografia da arte no Brasil. Em um primeiro momento, o termo “cânone” é submetido a uma revisão, para, em seguida, relacioná-lo à “história da arte global” e, por fim, levantar-se alguns pontos a serem considerados numa perspectiva Brasil.
África, Brasil e arte – persistentes desafios
Authors: Conduru Roberto
Published: November 2021

Analisando obras de Abdias do Nascimento, Clarival do Prado Valladares, Marianno Carneiro da Cunha e Emanoel Araujo, entre outros autores, o artigo discute limites e impasses da concepção inclusiva de “arte negra”, delineada a partir da década de 1950, e de “arte afro-brasileira”, consolidada a partir dos anos 1980, bem como problemas postos à historiografia pela persistência desse modelo generalizante e pelo caráter excludente do circuito de arte no Brasil, que as trajetórias e obras de Mestre Didi (Deoscóredes Maximiliano dos Santos) e de Hélio Oiticica continuam desafiando.
On Periodization: What Does "Post-Duchamp" Mean?
Authors: Duve Thierry de
Published: November 2021

When we speak of a post-Duchamp art world, we raise a particularly vexing periodization problem. Marcel Duchamp’s readymades, and the famous/infamous urinal titled Fountain in particular, have signaled that a sea change has occurred in the art world, which was not a change in styles but rather in aesthetic regimes, not a change in art movements but rather in art institutions, a change which, mutatis mutandis, is as radical as the passage from monarchy to republic, yet a change which art history books have not recorded yet, as such. Without addressing it in full, my paper recalls the steps that made me aware of this periodization problem.
Em busca de um lugar: duas fontes pouco exploradas da história das artistas mulheres
Authors: Fabris Annateresa
Published: November 2021

Uma leitura atenta de Women Artists in all Ages and Countries (1859) e English Female Artists (1876) demonstra que Elizabeth Ellet e Ellen Clayton não se limitam a endossar categorias patriarcais sobre a produção artística feminina. Ao contrário, suas compilações biográficas problematizam algumas temáticas gerais, tais como condições de vida e de educação, existência de um estilo “feminino”, dentre outras. O panorama que tais obras oferecem é bem variado e contribui para trazer à luz muitos nomes pouco conhecidos e para celebrar o papel das mulheres na história da arte.
Field variations in mass at metamorphosis in a stream frog, Odorrana splendida, and their relationship with the stream environment
Authors: Iwai Noriko , Yasumiba Kiyomi
Published: November 2021

Animals with complex life cycles, such as amphibians, shift their habitats when they metamorphose. Metamorphosing traits (e.g., size at, and timing of, metamorphosis) at an early stage can affect the growth, reproduction, and survival in the adult stage. Thus, metamorphosing traits are important factors that affect the fitness of the individuals. Although size at metamorphosis in the field has been investigated in amphibians, its relationship with environmental factors has been scarce. We aimed to quantify variations in the mass at metamorphosis of a stream frog, Odorrana splendida, among multiple streams, and show the relationship of these variations with environmental conditions. We searched for metamorphs in 11 field streams and measured their body size. We then examined the relationship between environmental conditions of each stream and the mass at metamorphosis to reveal the factors determining the mass. We found 229 metamorphs over three years. The estimated mass at metamorphosis ranged from 0.17 g to 1.44 g, with a coefficient of variation among streams of 0.38. The size at metamorphosis significantly differed among streams, and was found to be positively affected by water temperature and chlorophyll a concentration, and negatively affected by altitude, slope gradient, and the number of adult calls. We showed that O. splendida has a large variation in mass at metamorphosis within and among natural streams. A lower mass at metamorphosis may correlate with scarce food resources in the stream and higher competition during the larval stages, resulting from a higher number of mating adults.
Response to Comments and Criticisms
Authors: Ayers Michael
Published: November 2021

These responses are replies to the contributions to a book symposium devoted to my book Knowing and Seeing. Groundwork for a New Empiricism (2019), held at the University of Vienna in February 2020.
Considering Divine Providence in Mullā Ṣadrā Šīrāzī (d. 1045/1636): The Problem of Evil, Theodicy, and the Divine Eros
Authors: Rizvi Sajjad
Published: November 2021

Despite the extensive work on the Safavid thinker Mullā Ṣadrā Šīrāzī (d. 1045/1636) nowadays in metropolitan academia, certain areas of philosophical and theological concern remain understudied, if studied at all – and even then, there is little attempt to consider his work in the light of philosophical analysis. We know of a venerable philosophical tradition of analysing the question of providence as a means for examining questions of creation (ex nihilo or otherwise), the problem of evil, determinism and free will, and the larger question of theodicy (and whether this world that we inhabit is indeed the ‘best of all possible worlds’). I propose to examine these questions through an analysis of a section of the theology in al-Asfār al-arbaʿa (The Four Journeys) of Mullā Ṣadrā (mawqif
VIII of safar
III) and juxtapose it with passages from his other works, all the while contextualising it within the longer Neoplatonic tradition of providence and evil. The section of the Asfār plays a pivotal role in outlining a wider theory of divine providence: following the analysis of the Avicennian proof for the existence of God as the Necessary Being and her attributes, and before the culmination on the emanative scheme of creation (or the incipience of the cosmos – ḥudūṯ al-ʿālam), Mullā Ṣadrā discusses the question of divine providence where one can clearly discern the influence of previous thinkers on him, namely Avicenna (d. 428/1037, al-Šifāʾ and Risālat al-ʿišq) al-Ġazālī (d. 505/ 1111, Iḥyāʾ ʿulūm al-dīn), and Ibn ʿArabī (d. 638/1240, al-Futūḥāt al-makkīya). The section can be divided into four discussions: defining providence as well as the nature of good and evil, accounting for the ‘presence’ of evil in the cosmos, the ‘best of all possible worlds’, and erotic motion of the cosmos as well as the erotic attraction of humans for one another and back to their Origin. What emerges, however, is an account of providence that is subservient to Mullā Ṣadrā’s wider ontological commitment to the primary reality of being, its modulation and essential motion – the tripartite doctrines of aṣālat al-wuǧūd, taškīk al-wuǧūd and al-ḥaraka al-ǧawharīya – and fits within his overall approach to the procession of the cosmos from the One as a divine theophany and its reversion back to the One through theosis. Thus, an analysis of providence and evil demonstrates that underlying significance of Mullā Ṣadrā’s metaphysical commitments to a modulated monism.
Solving the cryptic diversity of the genus Manerebia Staudinger in northern Peru: description of new species and considerations on the biogeographical role of the Huancabamba Deflection (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Pronophilina)
Authors: MAHECHA-J. OSCAR , FLORCZYK KLAUDIA , WILLMOTT KEITH , CERDEÑA JOSÉ , ZUBEK ANNA , BOYER PIERRE , FARFÁN JACKIE , LACHOWSKA-CIERLIK DOROTA , PYRCZ TOMASZ W.
Published: November 2021

The Huancabamba Deflection in the Andes of northern Peru and southern Ecuador is a pivotal area for Neotropical biogeography, where exceptional biodiversity coincides with high rates of endemism. These characteristics are well illustrated within the montane butterfly genus Manerebia Staudinger (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae). Here, six new, apparently endemic species, and two new subspecies, are described from this region: M. inducta Pyrcz & Willmott n. sp., M. ronda Pyrcz & Boyer, n. sp., M. ronda amplia Pyrcz & Boyer, n. ssp., M. punku Pyrcz & Farfán n. sp., M. huamanii Cerdeña & Pyrcz n. sp., M. placida Pyrcz & Willmott n. sp., M. granatus Willmott, Radford & Pyrcz n. sp. and M. prattorum udima Pyrcz & Boyer, n. ssp. A total of 22 species of Manerebia is reported from the study region, as much as half the total number of species in this genus distributed throughout the tropical Andes. The alpha-taxonomy of Manerebia is particularly demanding, as colour patterns have apparently converged among different species making identification virtually impossible in some cases without comparison of their genitalia, which prove taxonomically and phylogenetically highly valuable. On the other hand, several species differ markedly in wing colour patterns and occur at different elevations but have identical genitalia. Furthermore, our data show that DNA barcoding is only partly viable as an alpha-taxonomic tool, as some markedly different species of Manerebia, in terms of external morphology and ecological preferences, are genetically not separable using only COI markers. On the other hand, several species barely differing morphologically are identified based on barcode. Barcodes of 26 species, including 18 from the northern Andes, are studied here, showing strong differences within some taxa previously considered conspecific based on morphological characters, suggesting that their taxonomic status needs to be re-evaluated. In particular, M. trimaculata and the widely distributed polytypic M. inderena may be highly variable species or complexes of several species. A total of 16 species are found north of the Chamaya valley in southern Ecuador and extreme northern Peru, compared to 14 species south of it in northern Peru. The faunal (Jaccard) similarity coefficient of the two adjacent regions is low (0.3), reflecting the role of the Huancabamba Deflection as a biogeographical barrier.
Stipulosina new genus (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae: Limosininae) from bamboo (Chusquea scandens) stipules in Ecuador
Authors: YAU TIFFANY , MARSHALL STEPHEN A.
Published: November 2021

The new genus Stipulosina (Sphaeroceridae: Limosininae) is described for four new species, S. amphibarba n. sp. (type species), S. barbistylus n. sp., S. ceroptistylus n. sp. and S. curvistylus n. sp., collected from bamboo stipules in the Ecuadorian Andes in 2002 and 2019. All four species are associated with stipules of the Andean bamboo Chusquea scandens Kunth but not with those of sympatric bamboo species.
Validation of the names of four species of laelapid mites (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) parasitic on sigmodontine rodents (Rodentia: Cricetidae)
Authors: LARESCHI MARCELA , SAVCHENKO EKATERINA
Published: November 2021

Savchenko & Lareschi (2019) and Lareschi (2020) described four new species of mites in the family Laelapidae. However, the papers were published in electronic form only and were not registered in ZooBank. They do not satisfy Article 8.5.3 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 2012), so the new names are not available from those papers. Therefore, the aim of the present note is to validate the names Laelaps schatzi, Androlaelaps azarae, Androlaelaps montensis and Androlaelaps cursor. Type specimens of the four new species are deposited in the Colección de Entomología, Museo de la Plata, Argentina.
MJO propagation over the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific in CMIP5 Models: Roles of Background States
Authors: Chen Guiwan , Ling Jian , Zhang Yuanwen , Wang Xin , Li Chongyin
Published: November 2021

This study explored the impacts of background states on the propagation of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) in 24 CMIP5 models using a precipitation-based MJO tracking method. The ability of the model to reproduce the MJO propagation is reflected in the occurrence frequency of individual MJO events. Moisture budget analysis suggests that the occurrence frequencies of MJO events that propagate across the Indian Ocean (IO-MJO) and western Pacific (WP-MJO) in the models are mainly related to the low-level meridional moisture advection ahead of the MJO convection center. This advection is tightly associated with the background distribution of low-level moisture. Drier biases in background low-level moisture over the entire tropical regions account for underestimated MJO occurrence frequency in the bottom-tier simulations. This study highlights the importance of reproducing the year-to-year background states for the simulations of MJO propagation in the models by further decomposing the background states into the climatology and anomaly components. The background meridional moisture gradient account for the IO-MJO occurrence frequency is closely related to its climatology component, however, the anomaly component regulated by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is also important for the WP-MJO occurrence frequency. The year-to-year variations of background zonal and meridional gradients associated with ENSO account for the IO-MJO occurrence frequency tend to be offset with each other. As a result, the ENSO shows no significant impact on the IO-MJO occurrence frequency. However, the MJO events tend to more likely propagate across the western Pacific during El Niño years.
Retrieval and Evaluation of Ice Water Content from the Airborne Wyoming Cloud Radar in Orographic Wintertime Clouds during SNOWIE
Authors: Deng Min , French Jeffrey , Geerts Bart , Haimov Samuel , Oolman Larry , Plummer Dave , Wang Zhien
Published: November 2021

As part of the analysis following the Seeded and Natural Orographic Wintertime Storms (SNOWIE) project, the ice water content (IWC) in ice and mixed-phase clouds is retrieved from airborne Wyoming Cloud Radar (WCR) measurements aboard the University of Wyoming King Air (UWKA), which has a suite of integrated in situ IWC, optical array probes, and remote sensing measurements, and it provides a unique dataset for this algorithm development and evaluation. A sensitivity study with different idealized ice particle habits shows that the retrieved IWC with aggregate ice particle habit agrees the best with the in situ measurement, especially in ice or ice-dominated mixed-phase clouds with a correlation coefficient (rr) of 0.91 and a bias of close to 0. For mixed-phase clouds with ice fraction ratio less than 0.8, the variances of IWC estimates increase (rr = 0.76) and the retrieved mean IWC is larger than in situ IWC by a factor of 2. This is found to be related to the uncertainty of in situ measurements, the large cloud inhomogeneity, and the retrieval assumption uncertainty. The simulated reflectivity Ze and IWC relationships assuming three idealized ice particle habits and measured particle size distributions show that hexagonal columns with the same Ze have a lower IWC than aggregates, whose Ze–IWC relation is more consistent with the observed WCR Ze and in situ IWC relation in those clouds. The 2D stereo probe (2DS) images also indicate that ice particle habit transition occurs in orographic mixed-phase clouds; hence, the retrieved IWC assuming modified gamma particle size distribution (PSD) of aggregate particles tends to have a greater bias in this kind of clouds.
Cellular and humoral immunogenicity of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with hematologic malignancies
Authors: Jiménez Moraima , Roldán Elisa , Fernández-Naval Candela , Villacampa Guillermo , Martinez-Gallo Mónica , Medina-Gil Daniel , Peralta-Garzón Soraya , Pujadas Gemma , Hernández Cristina , Pagès Carlota , Gironella Mercedes , Fox Laura , Orti Guillermo , Barba Pere , Pumarola Tomás , Cabirta Alba , Catalá Eva , Valentín Mercedes , Marín-Niebla Ana , Orfao Alberto , González Marcos , Campins Magda , Ruiz-Camps Isabel , Valcárcel David , Bosch Francesc , Hernández Manuel , Crespo Marta , Esperalba Juliana , Abrisqueta Pau
Published: November 2021

Recent studies have shown a suboptimal humoral response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies; however, data about cellular immunogenicity are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate both the humoral and cellular immunogenicity 1 month after the second dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine. Antibody titers were measured by using the Elecsys and LIAISON anti–SARS-CoV-2 S assays, and T-cell response was assessed by using interferon-γ release immunoassay technology. Overall, 76.3% (184 of 241) of patients developed humoral immunity, and the cellular response rate was 79% (184 of 233). Hypogammaglobulinemia, lymphopenia, active hematologic treatment, and anti-CD20 therapy during the previous 6 months were associated with an inferior humoral response. Conversely, age >65 years, active disease, lymphopenia, and immunosuppressive treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were associated with an impaired cellular response. A significant dissociation between the humoral and cellular responses was observed in patients treated with anti-CD20 therapy (the humoral response was 17.5%, whereas the cellular response was 71.1%). In these patients, B-cell aplasia was confirmed while T-cell counts were preserved. In contrast, humoral response was observed in 77.3% of patients undergoing immunosuppressive treatment of GVHD, whereas only 52.4% had a cellular response. The cellular and humoral responses to the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 vaccine in patients with hematologic malignancies are highly influenced by the presence of treatments such as anti-CD20 therapy and immunosuppressive agents. This observation has implications for the further management of these patients.
Transcriptome analysis of lncRNA expression patterns in human congenital lung malformations
Authors: Yang Weili , Zhao Pu , Liu Yun , Cao Ping , Ji Xiang , Gao Ya , Li Peng , Cheng Jiwen
Published: November 2021

Objectives

To explore the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression pattern of congenital lung malformations on a genome-wide scale and investigate their potential biological function in four subtypes of congenital lung malformations.

Methods

We obtained both lesions and normal lung control tissues from the patients diagnosed with CPAM-I, CPAM-II, ILS, and ILS-CPAM, and underwent lobectomy (i.e., surgical removal of the whole lobe which contains the localized lesion as well as normal lung tissue). Then, we performed lncRNA transcriptome profiling in these tissues by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). A comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was conducted to characterize the expression profiles and relevant biological functions and for multiple comparisons of lncRNA expression in the different subtypes of congenital lung malformation tissues. Furthermore, the lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network was constructed, and dysregulated mRNAs were functionally analyzed. Finally, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to predict the potential molecular mechanism of the identified lncRNAs.

Results

A total of 5921 lncRNA transcripts were identified between congenital lung malformations tissues and normal lung control tissues. Compared with normal lung control, 481of these expressed lncRNAs were upregulated and 142 were downregulated in CPAM-I, 91 were upregulated and 14 were downregulated in CPAM-II, 39 were upregulated and 38 were downregulated in ILS, and 201 were upregulated and 38 were downregulated in ILS-CPAM. Unsupervised clustering and principal component analysis of the expressed lncRNAs visualized the differences between normal lung control and different subtypes of congenital lung malformations samples. We also confirmed significant differences in the composition of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE lncRNAs) between CPAM-I and other subtypes of congenital lung malformations, as well as in normal lung control tissues, and observed enrichment of DEGs in the regulation of the immune system, cell projection organization, and inflammatory pathways. Finally, we identified the lncRNA FLJ26850 might be related to congenital lung malformations via ZNF473.

Conclusions

Significant differences in lncRNAs expression patterns were observed between different subtypes of congenital lung malformations and normal control. The lncRNA FLJ26850 might be related to congenital lung malformations via ZNF473.
Psychosocial characteristics of alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease recipient candidates in liver transplantation: a prospective observational study
Authors: Shizuku Masato , Kimura Hiroyuki , Kamei Hideya , Kishi Shinichi , Tokura Tatsuya , Kurata Nobuhiko , Jobara Kanta , Yoshizawa Atsushi , Tsuboi Chisato , Yamaguchi Naoko , Kato Midori , Kawai Keita , Yamashiki Makoto , Kanai Emi , Ishizuka Kanako , Ozaki Norio , Ogura Yasuhiro
Published: November 2021

Background

There are long-standing controversies about the transplant indications for alcoholic liver disease (ALD), because of the recognition that ALD is fundamentally self-inflicted. However, it is unclear whether psychosocial characteristics of ALD are different from that of non-alcoholic liver disease (NALD) in the selection of liver transplantation (LT) recipients. We aimed to clarify the psychosocial characteristics of ALD recipients (ALD-R)/ALD recipient candidates (ALD-RC) and NALD recipients (NALD-R)/ NALD recipient candidates (NALD-RC).

Methods

From 2011 to 2019, 75 patients were enrolled in this prospective observational study (ALD-RC, n = 19; NALD-RC, n = 56), LT were carried out as follow; ALD-R, n = 6; NALD-R, n = 52. We evaluated psychosocial characteristics in the preoperative period and 3, 12 months after LT (ALD-R, n = 3/3; NALD-R, n = 28/25). The following scales were used to evaluate psychosocial characteristics: Visual Analogue Scale, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Brief Evaluation of Medication Influences and Beliefs, Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ), Temperament and Character Inventory, Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).

Results

When evaluating on the basis of abstinence rule, a comparison of ALD-RC and NALD-RC in the preoperative period identified similar patterns of psychosocial characteristics, except that the NALD-RC scored higher on the PBI item “overprotection from mother” (P < 0.05). The only significant difference between ALD-R and NALD-R after liver transplantation was in SSQ scores at 3 months.

Conclusion

The psychosocial characteristics of ALD-RC and NALD-RC may be similar when evaluated on the basis of Japan’s abstinence rule. This result also imply that the psychosocial characteristics of ALD-RC may differ from the previously reported psychosocial characteristics of alcohol dependent patients. These findings have the potential to provide helpful information for the evaluation of ALD-RC.
Outcome measures for assessing change over time in studies of symptomatic children with hypermobility: a systematic review
Authors: Maarj Muhammad , Coda Andrea , Tofts Louise , Williams Cylie , Santos Derek , Pacey Verity
Published: November 2021

Background

Generalised joint hypermobility (GJH) is highly prevalent among children and associated with symptoms in a fifth with the condition. This study aimed to synthesise outcome measures in interventional or prospective longitudinal studies of children with GJH and associated lower limb symptoms.

Methods

Electronic searches of Medline, CINAHL and Embase databases from inception to 16th March 2020 were performed for studies of children with GJH and symptoms between 5 and 18 years reporting repeated outcome measures collected at least 4 weeks apart. Methodological quality of eligible studies were described using the Downs and Black checklist.

Results

Six studies comprising of five interventional, and one prospective observational study (total of 388 children) met the inclusion criteria. Interventional study durations were between 2 and 3 months, with up to 10 months post-intervention follow-up, while the observational study spanned 3 years. Three main constructs of pain, function and quality of life were reported as primary outcome measures using 20 different instruments. All but one measure was validated in paediatric populations, but not specifically for children with GJH and symptoms. One study assessed fatigue, reporting disabling fatigue to be associated with higher pain intensity.

Conclusions

There were no agreed sets of outcome measures used for children with GJH and symptoms. The standardisation of assessment tools across paediatric clinical trials is needed. Four constructs of pain, function, quality of life and fatigue are recommended to be included with agreed upon, validated, objective tools.
Alimentary tract obstruction attributed to use of barbed suture for double tract reconstruction after robot-assisted proximal gastrectomy: a case report
Authors: Fujimoto Daisuke , Taniguchi Keizo , Miura Fumihiko , Kobayashi Hirotoshi
Published: November 2021

Background

Anastomotic stenosis following esophagojejunostomy reconstruction by the overlap method with absorbable barbed sutures occurs only rarely in patients who have undergone laparoscopic surgery. We report anastomotic stenosis by the overlap method that we attributed to the lack of tactile sensation during robot-assisted surgery.

Case presentation

An 83-year-old man underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and lymph node dissection at our hospital for treatment of gastric cancer. Double tract reconstruction followed with side-to-side esophagojejunostomy (overlap method) performed with an endoscopic linear stapler. On completion of the anastomosis, the enterotomy was closed under robotic assistance with absorbable barbed suture. Once solid foods were introduced, the patient had difficulty swallowing and felt as though his digestive tract was stopped up. When upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed, we found the anastomotic lumen to be coated with food residue. After rinsing off the residue with water, we could see barbed suture protruding into the anastomotic lumen that had become entangled upon itself, which explained how the food residue had accumulated. We cut the entangled suture under endoscopic visualization using a loop cutter.

Conclusion

This case highlights a stricture caused by insufficiently tensioning barbed suture, which subsequently protruded into the anastomotic lumen and became entangled upon itself. We believe this occurrence was associated with the lack of tactile sensation in robot-assisted surgery.
Symptomatic renal papillary varicosities and medullary nephrocalcinosis
Authors: Cleveland Brent , Borofsky Michael
Published: November 2021

Background

Nephrocalcinosis is often asymptomatic but can manifest with renal colic or hematuria. There is no reported association between nephrocalcinosis and renal vascular malformations, which may also be a source of hematuria. We herein present a case of a patient with hematuria related to nephrocalcinosis and renal papillary varicosities. These varicosities were diagnosed and successfully treated with flexible ureteroscopy and laser fulguration.

Case presentation

A 24-year-old female with a history of epilepsy (on zonisamide), recent uncomplicated pregnancy, and new diagnosis of nephrocalcinosis presented with right flank pain and intermittent gross hematuria. Imaging revealed intermittent right sided hydronephrosis. A cystoscopy identified hematuria from the right ureteral orifice. Diagnostic flexible ureteroscopy revealed numerous intrapapillary renal stones and varicose veins of several renal papillae. A 200 μm holmium laser fiber was used to unroof these stones and fulgurate the varicosities with resolution of her symptoms for several months. She later presented with left-sided symptoms and underwent left ureteroscopy with similar findings and identical successful treatment.

Conclusion

Unilateral hematuria from discrete vascular lesions of the renal collecting system may be obscured by other benign co-existing conditions, such as nephrocalcinosis and nephrolithiasis. Although a simultaneous presentation is rare, flexible ureteroscopy with laser fulguration offers an ideal diagnostic and therapeutic modality for these concurrent conditions if symptoms arise.
Path-based knowledge reasoning with textual semantic information for medical knowledge graph completion
Authors: Lan Yinyu , He Shizhu , Liu Kang , Zeng Xiangrong , Liu Shengping , Zhao Jun
Published: November 2021

Background

Knowledge graphs (KGs), especially medical knowledge graphs, are often significantly incomplete, so it necessitating a demand for medical knowledge graph completion (MedKGC). MedKGC can find new facts based on the existed knowledge in the KGs. The path-based knowledge reasoning algorithm is one of the most important approaches to this task. This type of method has received great attention in recent years because of its high performance and interpretability. In fact, traditional methods such as path ranking algorithm take the paths between an entity pair as atomic features. However, the medical KGs are very sparse, which makes it difficult to model effective semantic representation for extremely sparse path features. The sparsity in the medical KGs is mainly reflected in the long-tailed distribution of entities and paths. Previous methods merely consider the context structure in the paths of knowledge graph and ignore the textual semantics of the symbols in the path. Therefore, their performance cannot be further improved due to the two aspects of entity sparseness and path sparseness.

Methods

To address the above issues, this paper proposes two novel path-based reasoning methods to solve the sparsity issues of entity and path respectively, which adopts the textual semantic information of entities and paths for MedKGC. By using the pre-trained model BERT, combining the textual semantic representations of the entities and the relationships, we model the task of symbolic reasoning in the medical KG as a numerical computing issue in textual semantic representation.

Results

Experiments results on the publicly authoritative Chinese symptom knowledge graph demonstrated that the proposed method is significantly better than the state-of-the-art path-based knowledge graph reasoning methods, and the average performance is improved by 5.83% for all relations.

Conclusions

In this paper, we propose two new knowledge graph reasoning algorithms, which adopt textual semantic information of entities and paths and can effectively alleviate the sparsity problem of entities and paths in the MedKGC. As far as we know, it is the first method to use pre-trained language models and text path representations for medical knowledge reasoning. Our method can complete the impaired symptom knowledge graph in an interpretable way, and it outperforms the state-of-the-art path-based reasoning methods.