bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with low birthweight: a case-control study in a city of Minas Gerais
Authors: Defilipo Érica Cesário , Chagas Paula Silva De Carvalho , Peraro-Nascimento Andreia , Ribeiro Luiz Cláudio
Published: August 2020

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the many factors regarding socioeconomic and healthcare-related variables linked to maternal diseases and the possible impact of the environmental disaster of Mariana, given the prenatal exposure to different water sources for human consumption that were associated with low birthweight in full-term live births in the Municipal Hospital of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais. METHODS: Case-control study, carried out with live births at the Municipal Hospital of Governador Valadares, from May 2017 to July 2018. The case group consisted of full-term live births and low birthweight, and the control group consisted of full-term live births with adequate weight, matched by gender and date of birth. For each case, two controls were selected. Data collection was performed through interviews with the puerperal women, and complementary information was obtained by analyzing the prenatal card and medical records. For data analysis, logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: The study included 65 live births from the case group and 130 from the control group. After the analysis was adjusted for other factors under study, we found that the higher risks of low birthweight are associated with the first childbirth (OR = 2.033; 95%CI = 1.047–3.948; p = 0.036), smoking during pregnancy (OR = 2.850; 95%CI = 1.013–8.021; p = 0.047) and consumption of water supplied by the municipalities affected by the tailings from the Fundão dam failure (RC = 2.444; 95%CI = 1.203–4.965; p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The variables “water consumed during pregnancy,” “previous pregnancies” and “maternal smoking” were associated with low birthweight in the population studied. The importance of epidemiological studies that assess water quality and its adverse health effects is reinforced, as well as greater prenatal control of first-time pregnant women and greater support of policies against smoking, especially during pregnancy.
Knowledge translation in the reality of Brazilian public health
Authors: Andrade Keitty Regina Cordeiro de , Pereira Maurício Gomes
Published: August 2020

The term knowledge translation has been used to describe the process of applying research results to the real world, in order to enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care and services. The aim of this article is to discuss the incorporation of knowledge translation in the Brazilian public health. The article addresses the basic activities of knowledge translation and lists challenges and perspectives in Brazilian scenario. Brazil began to move towards understanding the process of translating scientific knowledge into practice. Investing in pilot studies to adapt the so-called effective interventions to the Brazilian scenario may be an alternative. Increasing the qualification of Brazilian researchers in the design and evaluation of implementation studies is relevant to improve this field in the country.
Prevalence and factors associated with active transportation to school for adolescents
Authors: Camargo Edina Maria De , Silva Michael Pereira da , Mota Jorge , Campos Wagner De
Published: August 2020

OBJECTIVE: To verify the prevalence and factors associated with active transportation to school (ATS) among Brazilian adolescents attending public schools. METHODS: Crossectional study with a representative sample of 1,984 adolescents (55.9% girls). Sociodemographic variables included were: gender, age, parental schooling, and socioeconomic status. Psychosocial factors included were: social support from parents and friends for physical activity. Walking, cycling, or skateboarding to school were considered models of active transportation. Binary logistic regression models verified sociodemographic and psychosocial factors association with ATS, adopting p < 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of active transportation to school was 37.7% (16.2% boys and 21.5% girls). For boys, ATS was associated with: social support from parents in practicing physical activity together as a family (OR = 1.57; 95%CI 1.09–2.25), giving them rides (OR = 1.56; 95%CI 1.04–2.32), and remarking their good performance on it (OR = 1.73; CI95 1.08–2.76); as well as the social support from friends in practicing physical activity together (OR = 2.23; 95%CI 1.35–3.69). For girls, the likelihood of using ATS increased with age (OR = 1.43; 95%CI 1.06–1.92) and having friends who practice physical activity together with them (OR = 1.48, 95%CI 1.04–2.10). CONCLUSION: Age and social support for physical activity were associated with ATS. Parents who practice together, give rides, and remark on physical activities increase the likelihood of adolescent boys using ATS. Social support from friends to physical activity increased the likelihood of both genders using ATS.
Effectiveness of adherence to a renal health program in a health network in Peru
Authors: Bravo-Zúñiga Jessica , Saldarriaga Enrique M. , Chávez-Gómez Ricardo , Gálvez-Inga Jungmei , Valdivia-Vega Renzo , Villavicencio-Carranza Mirko , Espejo-Sotelo José , Medina-Sal y Rosas Carola , Suarez-Moreno Víctor , Hurtado-Roca Yamilee
Published: August 2020

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of adherence to a multidisciplinary renal health program in reducing mortality and progression to hemodialysis. METHODS: We used a database that included patient monitoring (2013-2017), dialysis admissions and all cause of mortality in Peru. Adherence to the program was established by meeting minimum visits during the first year of monitoring. The outcome of interest was hemodialysis admissions or all cause-mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves, Log-Rank test and competing survival analysis methods were used to estimate the differential risk between adherent and non-adherent patients. RESULTS: A total of 20,354 participants was evaluated; 54.1% were male, 72.1 years old in average, 2.2 years average follow-up, and 15,279 (75.1%) belonged to the early stages (1 to 3a) of Chronic Kidney Disease. Adherence decreased the risk of renal replacement therapy in 41.0% (HR = 0.59, 95%CI 0.41–0.85) in the low-risk group and mortality in the high-risk group was 31.0% (HR = 0.69, 95%CI 0.57–0.83). CONCLUSIONS: The multidisciplinary care strategy with standardized assessments by stage is effective in reducing admission to .0when the patient is identified in early stages and in reducing mortality in advanced stages.
Choosing a hospital assistance ship to fight the covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Costa Igor Pinheiro de Araújo , Maêda Sérgio Mitihiro do Nascimento , Teixeira Luiz Frederico Horácio de Souza de Barros , Gomes Carlos Francisco Simões , Santos Marcos Dos
Published: August 2020

OBJECTIVE: To apply the THOR 2 multi-criteria support system to select the Brazilian navy’s most suitable hospital care vessel (NAsH) to support the fight against the covid-19 pandemic. METHODS: We used the first three stages of the Soft Systems Methodology for structuring and modeling of the problem. For the evaluation and ordering of alternatives, we used the Thor 2 multi-criteria support system, comparing four classes of NAsH in the light of their operational and hospital criteria: “Dr. Montenegro,” “Soares Meirelles,” “Oswaldo Cruz” and “Tenente Maximiano.” The chosen ship would support the amazon hospital system, which has an increasing number of cases of covid-19. RESULTS: After the application of the methods, we analyzed three distinct scenarios of ordering the alternatives, which allowed a robust sensitivity analysis, conferring greater transparency and reliability to the decision-making process. The NAsH “Oswaldo Cruz” was selected to be used in the fight against the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: This study brings valuable contribution to academia and society, since it represents the application of a multi-criteria decision-aid method in the state of the art to contribute to the solution of a real problem that affects millions of people in Brazil and worldwide.
Anti‐Inflammatory HDL Function, Incident Cardiovascular Events, and Mortality: A Secondary Analysis of the JUPITER Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Ajala Oluremi N. , Demler Olga V. , Liu Yanyan , Farukhi Zareen , Adelman Steven J. , Collins Heidi L. , Ridker Paul M , Rader Daniel J. , Glynn Robert J. , Mora Samia
Published: August 2020

Background

High‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol has inverse association with cardiovascular disease. HDL possesses anti‐inflammatory properties in vitro, but it is unknown whether this may be protective in individuals with inflammation.

Methods and Results

The functional capacity of HDL to inhibit oxidation of oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (ie, the HDL inflammatory index; HII) was measured at baseline and 12 months after random allocation to rosuvastatin or placebo in a nested case‐control study of the JUPITER (Justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention: An Intervention Evaluating Rosuvastatin) trial. There were 517 incident cases of cardiovascular disease and all‐cause mortality compared to 517 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to examine associations of HII with events. Median baseline HII was 0.54 (interquartile range, 0.50–0.59). Twelve months of rosuvastatin decreased HII by a mean of 5.3% (95% CI, −8.9% to −1.7%;
P
=0.005) versus 1.3% (95% CI, −6.5% to 4.0%;
P
=0.63) with placebo (
P
=0.22 for between‐group difference). HII had a nonlinear relationship with incident events. Compared with the reference group (HII 0.5–1.0) with the lowest event rates, participants with baseline HII ≤0.5 had significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease/mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.06–2.21;
P
=0.02). Furthermore, there was significant (
P
=0.002) interaction for HDL particle number with HII, such that having more HDL particles was associated with decreased risk only when HDL was anti‐inflammatory.

Conclusions

In JUPITER participants recruited on the basis of chronic inflammation, HII was associated with incident cardiovascular disease/mortality, with an optimal anti‐inflammatory HII range between 0.5 and 1.0. This nonlinear relationship of anti‐inflammatory HDL function with risk may account in part for the HDL paradox.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clini​caltr​ials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT00239681.
Legumain in Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Substudy of the PLATO (Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes) Trial
Authors: Gregersen Ida , Michelsen Annika E. , Lunde Ngoc Nguyen , Åkerblom Axel , Lakic Tatevik G. , Skjelland Mona , Ryeng Skagen Karolina , Becker Richard C. , Lindbäck Johan , Himmelmann Anders , Solberg Rigmor , Johansen Harald T. , James Stefan K. , Siegbahn Agneta , Storey Robert F. , Kontny Frederic , Aukrust Pål , Ueland Thor , Wallentin Lars , Halvorsen Bente
Published: August 2020

Background

The cysteine protease legumain is increased in patients with atherosclerosis, but its causal role in atherogenesis and cardiovascular disease is still unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate the association of legumain with clinical outcome in a large cohort of patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Methods and Results

Serum levels of legumain were analyzed in 4883 patients with acute coronary syndrome from a substudy of the PLATO (Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes) trial. Levels were analyzed at admission and after 1 month follow‐up. Associations between legumain and a composite of cardiovascular death, spontaneous myocardial infarction or stroke, and its individual components were assessed by multivariable Cox regression analyses. At baseline, a 50% increase in legumain level was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.13 (95% CI, 1.04–1.21),
P
=0.0018, for the primary composite end point, adjusted for randomized treatment. The association remained significant after adjustment for important clinical and demographic variables (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02–1.19;
P
=0.013) but not in the fully adjusted model. Legumain levels at 1 month were not associated with the composite end point but were negatively associated with stroke (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44–0.88;
P
=0.0069), including in the fully adjusted model (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.37–0.88;
P
=0.0114).

Conclusions

Baseline legumain was associated with the primary outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome, but not in the fully adjusted model. The association between high levels of legumain at 1 month and decreased occurrence of stroke could be of interest from a mechanistic point of view, illustrating the potential dual role of legumain during atherogenesis and acute coronary syndrome.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clini​caltr​ials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT00391872.
Impact of Interatrial Shunts on Invasive Hemodynamics and Exercise Tolerance in Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Griffin Jan M. , Borlaug Barry A. , Komtebedde Jan , Litwin Sheldon E. , Shah Sanjiv J. , Kaye David M. , Hoendermis Elke , Hasenfuß Gerd , Gustafsson Finn , Wolsk Emil , Uriel Nir , Burkhoff Daniel
Published: August 2020

Approximately 50% of patients with heart failure have preserved ejection fraction. Although a wide variety of conditions cause or contribute to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, elevated left ventricular filling pressures, particularly during exercise, are common to all causes. Acute elevation in left‐sided filling pressures promotes lung congestion and symptoms of dyspnea, while chronic elevations often lead to pulmonary vascular remodeling, right heart failure, and increased risk of mortality. Pharmacologic therapies, including neurohormonal modulation and drugs that modify the nitric oxide/cyclic GMP‐protein kinase G pathway have thus far been limited in reducing symptoms or improving outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Hence, alternative means of reducing the detrimental rise in left‐sided heart pressures are being explored. One proposed method of achieving this is to create an interatrial shunt, thus unloading the left heart at rest and during exercise. Currently available studies have shown 3‐ to 5‐mm Hg decreases of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure during exercise despite increased workload. The mechanisms underlying the hemodynamic changes are just starting to be understood. In this review we summarize results of recent studies aimed at elucidating the potential mechanisms of improved hemodynamics during exercise tolerance following interatrial shunt implantation and the current interatrial shunt devices under investigation.
“Cartographic Aggression”: Media Politics, Propaganda, and the Sino-Indian Border Dispute
Authors: Chervin Reed
Published: August 2020

The middle of the twentieth century witnessed a serious border dispute between China and India. This article explores how these countries used multiple media (e.g., historical documents and film) to support their respective territorial claims. The two countries pursued similar authoritarian approaches by expanding their archival holdings, banning books, and selectively redrawing maps. They regarded dissenting views not only as incorrect but as national security threats. China and India policed domestic media to legitimize government policies and to present their cases to the international community. The British government, for its part, demonstrated its support for India. Because British leaders sympathized with their former colony and because the borders of India were a product of the British Empire, leaders in the United Kingdom endorsed Indian propaganda. Nevertheless, democracy in India and the United Kingdom rendered complete control of the media difficult. The Sino-Indian conflict therefore represented a war over information as well as territory.
The War Scare That Wasn't: Able Archer 83 and the Myths of the Second Cold War
Authors: Miles Simon
Published: August 2020

Did the Cold War of the 1980s nearly turn hot? Much has been made of the November 1983 Able Archer 83 command-post exercise, which is often described as having nearly precipitated a nuclear war when paranoid Warsaw Pact policymakers suspected that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was using the exercise to launch a preemptive nuclear strike. This article challenges that narrative, using new evidence from the archives of the former Warsaw Pact countries. It shows that the much-touted intelligence effort to assess Western intentions and capabilities, Project RYaN, which supposedly triggered fears of a surprise attack, was nowhere near operational at the time of Able Archer 83. It also presents an account of the Pact's sanguine observations of Able Archer 83. In doing so, it advances key debates in the historiography of the late Cold War pertaining to the stability and durability of the nuclear peace.
Active Learning for Enumerating Local Minima Based on Gaussian Process Derivatives
Authors: Inatsu Yu , Sugita Daisuke , Toyoura Kazuaki , Takeuchi Ichiro
Published: August 2020

We study active learning (AL) based on gaussian processes (GPs) for efficiently enumerating all of the local minimum solutions of a black-box function. This problem is challenging because local solutions are characterized by their zero gradient and positive-definite Hessian properties, but those derivatives cannot be directly observed. We propose a new AL method in which the input points are sequentially selected such that the confidence intervals of the GP derivatives are effectively updated for enumerating local minimum solutions. We theoretically analyze the proposed method and demonstrate its usefulness through numerical experiments.
Modal Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Sando Keishi , Hino Hideitsu
Published: August 2020

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a widely used method for data processing, such as for dimension reduction and visualization. Standard PCA is known to be sensitive to outliers, and various robust PCA methods have been proposed. It has been shown that the robustness of many statistical methods can be improved using mode estimation instead of mean estimation, because mode estimation is not significantly affected by the presence of outliers. Thus, this study proposes a modal principal component analysis (MPCA), which is a robust PCA method based on mode estimation. The proposed method finds the minor component by estimating the mode of the projected data points. As a theoretical contribution, probabilistic convergence property, influence function, finite-sample breakdown point, and its lower bound for the proposed MPCA are derived. The experimental results show that the proposed method has advantages over conventional methods.
Multiview Alignment and Generation in CCA via Consistent Latent Encoding
Authors: Shi Yaxin , Pan Yuangang , Xu Donna , Tsang Ivor W.
Published: August 2020

Multiview alignment, achieving one-to-one correspondence of multiview inputs, is critical in many real-world multiview applications, especially for cross-view data analysis problems. An increasing amount of work has studied this alignment problem with canonical correlation analysis (CCA). However, existing CCA models are prone to misalign the multiple views due to either the neglect of uncertainty or the inconsistent encoding of the multiple views. To tackle these two issues, this letter studies multiview alignment from a Bayesian perspective. Delving into the impairments of inconsistent encodings, we propose to recover correspondence of the multiview inputs by matching the marginalization of the joint distribution of multiview random variables under different forms of factorization. To realize our design, we present adversarial CCA (ACCA), which achieves consistent latent encodings by matching the marginalized latent encodings through the adversarial training paradigm. Our analysis, based on conditional mutual information, reveals that ACCA is flexible for handling implicit distributions. Extensive experiments on correlation analysis and cross-view generation under noisy input settings demonstrate the superiority of our model.
A Predictive-Coding Network That Is Both Discriminative and Generative
Authors: Sun Wei , Orchard Jeff
Published: August 2020

Predictive coding (PC) networks are a biologically interesting class of neural networks. Their layered hierarchy mimics the reciprocal connectivity pattern observed in the mammalian cortex, and they can be trained using local learning rules that approximate backpropagation (Bogacz, 2017 ). However, despite having feedback connections that enable information to flow down the network hierarchy, discriminative PC networks are not typically generative. Clamping the output class and running the network to equilibrium yields an input sample that usually does not resemble the training input. This letter studies this phenomenon and proposes a simple solution that promotes the generation of input samples that resemble the training inputs. Simple decay, a technique already in wide use in neural networks, pushes the PC network toward a unique minimum two-norm solution, and that unique solution provably (for linear networks) matches the training inputs. The method also vastly improves the samples generated for nonlinear networks, as we demonstrate on MNIST.
Fast and Accurate Langevin Simulations of Stochastic Hodgkin-Huxley Dynamics
Authors: Pu Shusen , Thomas Peter J.
Published: August 2020

Fox and Lu introduced a Langevin framework for discrete-time stochastic models of randomly gated ion channels such as the Hodgkin-Huxley (HH) system. They derived a Fokker-Planck equation with state-dependent diffusion tensor [Formula: see text] and suggested a Langevin formulation with noise coefficient matrix [Formula: see text] such that SS[Formula: see text]. Subsequently, several authors introduced a variety of Langevin equations for the HH system. In this article, we present a natural 14-dimensional dynamics for the HH system in which each directed edge in the ion channel state transition graph acts as an independent noise source, leading to a 14 [Formula: see text] 28 noise coefficient matrix [Formula: see text]. We show that (1) the corresponding 14D system of ordinary differential equations is consistent with the classical 4D representation of the HH system; (2) the 14D representation leads to a noise coefficient matrix [Formula: see text] that can be obtained cheaply on each time step, without requiring a matrix decomposition; (3) sample trajectories of the 14D representation are pathwise equivalent to trajectories of Fox and Lu's system, as well as trajectories of several existing Langevin models; (4) our 14D representation (and those equivalent to it) gives the most accurate interspike interval distribution, not only with respect to moments but under both the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] metric-space norms; and (5) the 14D representation gives an approximation to exact Markov chain simulations that are as fast and as efficient as all equivalent models. Our approach goes beyond existing models, in that it supports a stochastic shielding decomposition that dramatically simplifies [Formula: see text] with minimal loss of accuracy under both voltage- and current-clamp conditions.
Analysis of Regression Algorithms with Unbounded Sampling
Authors: Tong Hongzhi , Gao Jiajing
Published: August 2020

In this letter, we study a class of the regularized regression algorithms when the sampling process is unbounded. By choosing different loss functions, the learning algorithms can include a wide range of commonly used algorithms for regression. Unlike the prior work on theoretical analysis of unbounded sampling, no constraint on the output variables is specified in our setting. By an elegant error analysis, we prove consistency and finite sample bounds on the excess risk of the proposed algorithms under regular conditions.
Two Cosmetic Properties of an Ethanol Extract of a Cultured and Edible Red Macroalga, Bangia fuscopurpurea: Moisturizing and Whitening Effects
Authors: Huang Shi-Ying , Wang Hui-Min David , Ke Jianhua , Li Jian , Chen Lili , Xu Zixuan , Li Kunjie , Chen Hong-Bin , Huang Xiaodong , Yang Huiyong , Guo Yanni , Wang Guey-Horng
Published: August 2020

Previous studies have focused on the role of a cultured red macroalga Bangia fuscopurpurea as a functional food; however, except for antioxidant activity, there are no reports directly regarding the potential cosmetic properties of this alga. Our present study explored the moisturizing effect of its ethanol extract (BFH1) and used the tyrosinase activity inhibition assay to evaluate its in vitro whitening effect. The in vitro moisture-retention ability of BFH1 was similar to that of glycerol (positive control), but its moisture-absorption ability was significantly higher. The overall in vivo moisturizing effect of topical application of BFH1 in mice was similar to that of glycerol, but BFH1 did not cause significant changes in the oil content of the skin, and there were no obvious side effects regarding skin appearance and external behavior during treatment. BFH1 exerted in vitro tyrosinase inhibitory activity with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 48.3 μg/mL (IC50 of positive control, vitamin C: 19.6 μg/mL). The total phenolic content of BFH1 was determined as 10.8 % ± 0.07 %. Thus, BFH1 has high potential to be turned into a cosmetic ingredient with moisturizing and whitening effects.
Validation of a HPLC Method for Flavonoid Contents in Spina Gleditsiae and Its Use to Illustrate the Various Quality of Cultivated Varieties
Authors: Hu Jiangxia , Gao Jiayu
Published: August 2020

Two cultivated varieties of Gleditsia sinensis Lam, Shuo Spina Gleditsiae (SSG) and Mi Spina Gleditsiae (MSG), are currently used in China as a mixture of the herb Spina Gleditsia. This work evaluates, for the first time, the difference in cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, and flavonoid contents between SSG and MSG. Quantification of bioactive flavonoids in the samples was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Total antioxidant activity and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid free radical scavenging assays were used, and the growth inhibitory effects on cancer cells were determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Epicatechin, isovitexin, fisetin, fustin, quercetin, and aromadendrin were qualified and quantified; much higher amounts were found in the extract of SSG than that of MSG. In antioxidant assays, SSG extracts presented stronger effects than those of MSG. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of SSG were 46.2 and 47.8 μg/mL, compared with 70.5 and 73.0 μg/mL for MSG against EC109 and HepG2 cancer cells, respectively. It thus brings concern about potential quality issues regarding efficacy, safety for healthy food production, and potential medicinal uses.
Amid COVID-19 crisis, pain therapeutics telehealth services by pharmacist clinicians fill unique void and mitigate risk
Authors: Bettinger Jeffrey , Cleary Jacqueline , Fudin Jeffrey
Published: August 2020

Patients with chronic pain syndromes are facing additional challenges from syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus compared with the general population. New reasons for compounded social isolation and commensurate opioid dose creeping and suicidality/anxiety, difficulty in obtaining legitimate medications, proper comprehensive evaluations, ongoing opioid risk stratification for opioid abuse/misuse, safe opioid tapers if necessary, and other opportunities for pharmacist intervention are clear. We discuss opportunities for pharmacist-run telehealth visits, reimbursement for services, and various aspects of interventions during this time of international emergency where all healthcare professionals have been asked to step up to help combat the mutual threat of COVID19. Clinical pharmacists in every specialty area are part of the essential healthcare workforce, but those practicing pain management in particular are in unique positions to assist all providers in adhering to chronic pain guidelines and various government mandates, and to foster optimal outcomes to complex patients with chronic pain. Furthermore, those that are available by telemedicine allow for improved access to quality and appropriate pain medication management, and additionally support opioid risk mitigation strategies, helping fill an unmet access to those at higher risk. This practice has the potential to help offset primary care provider workload, allowing for a decreased overall burden, especially in a complex, time-consuming, and high-risk patient population.
Trigeminal activation patterns evoked by chemical stimulation of the dura mater in rats
Authors: Laborc Klaudia Flóra , Spekker Eleonóra , Bohár Zsuzsanna , Szűcs Mónika , Nagy-Grócz Gábor , Fejes-Szabó Annamária , Vécsei László , Párdutz Árpád
Published: August 2020

Background

Although migraine is one of the most common primary headaches, its therapy is still limited in many cases. The use of animal models is crucial in the development of novel therapeutic strategies, but unfortunately, none of them show all aspects of the disease, therefore, there is a constant need for further improvement in this field. The application of inflammatory agents on the dura mater is a widely accepted method to mimic neurogenic inflammation in rodents, which plays a key role in the pathomechanism of migraine. Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA), and a mixture of inflammatory mediators, called inflammatory soup (IS) are often used for this purpose.

Methods

To examine the activation pattern that is caused by chemical stimulation of dura mater, we applied CFA or IS over the right parietal lobe. After 2 h and 4 h (CFA groups), or 2.5 h and 4 h (IS groups), animals were perfused, and c-Fos immunoreactive cells were counted in the caudal trigeminal nucleus. To explore every pitfall, we examined whether our surgical procedure (anesthetic drug, stereotaxic apparatus, local lidocaine) can alter the results under the same experimental settings. c-Fos labeled cells were counted in the second-order neuron area based on the somatotopic organization of the trigeminal nerve branches.

Results

We could not find any difference between the CFA and physiological saline group neither 2 h, nor 4 h after dural stimulation. IS caused significant difference after both time points between IS treated and control group, and between treated (right) and control (left) side. Stereotaxic frame usage had a substantial effect on the obtained results.

Conclusions

Counting c-Fos immunoreactive cells based on somatotopic organization of the trigeminal nerve helped to examine the effect of chemical stimulation of dura in a more specific way. As a result, the use of IS over the parietal lobe caused activation in the area of the ophthalmic nerve. To see this effect, the use of lidocaine anesthesia is indispensable.

In conclusion, application of IS on the dura mater induces short-term, more robust c-Fos activation than CFA, therefore it might offer a better approach to model acute migraine headache in rodents.
Genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase genes in cotton (Gossypium spp.) in plant development and abiotic stresses
Authors: Ali Faiza , Qanmber Ghulam , Wei Zhenzhen , Yu Daoqian , Li Yong hui , Gan Lei , Li Fuguang , Wang Zhi
Published: August 2020

Background

GGPP (geranylgeranyl diphosphate) is produced in the isoprenoid pathway and mediates the function of various plant metabolites, which is synthesized by GGPPS (GGPP synthases) in plants.GGPPScharacterization has not been performed in any plant species exceptArabidopsis thaliana. Here, we performed a complete computational and bioinformatics analysis ofGGPPSand detected their transcription expression pattern inGossypium hirsutumfor the first time so that to explore their evolutionary relationship and potential functions. Finally, we unravelled evolutionary relationship, conserved sequence logos, gene duplication and potential involvement in plant development and abiotic stresses tolerance ofGGPPSgenes inG. hirsutumand other plant species.

Results

A total of 159GGPPSgenes from 18 plant species were identified and evolutionary analysis divided theseGGPPSgenes into five groups to indicate their divergence from a common ancestor. Further,GGPPSfamily genes were conserved during evolution and underwent segmental duplication. The identified 25GhGGPPSgenes showed diverse expression pattern particularly in ovule and fiber development indicating their vital and divers roles in the fiber development. Additionally,GhGGPPSgenes exhibited wide range of responses when subjected to abiotic (heat, cold, NaCl and PEG) stresses and hormonal (BL, GA, IAA, SA and MeJA) treatments, indicating their potential roles in various biotic and abiotic stresses tolerance.

Conclusions

TheGGPPSgenes are evolutionary conserved and might be involve in different developmental stages and stress response. Some potential key genes (e.g.GhGGPP4, GhGGPP9,andGhGGPP15) were suggested for further study and provided valuable source for cotton breeding to improve fiber quality and resistant to various stresses.
Functional analysis of the SlERF01 gene in disease resistance to S. lycopersici
Authors: Yang Huanhuan , Shen Fengyi , Wang Hexuan , Zhao Tingting , Zhang He , Jiang Jingbin , Xu Xiangyang , Li Jingfu
Published: August 2020

Background

Tomato gray leaf spot caused by Stemphylium lycopersici (S. lycopersici) is a serious disease that can severely hinder tomato production. To date, only Sm has been reported to provide resistance against this disease, and the molecular mechanism underlying resistance to this disease in tomato remains unclear. To better understand the mechanism of tomato resistance to S. lycopersici, real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR)-based analysis, physiological indexes, microscopy observations and transgenic technology were used in this study.

Results

Our results showed that the expression of SlERF01 was strongly induced by S. lycopersici and by exogenous applications of the hormones salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA). Furthermore, overexpression of SlERF01 enhanced the hypersensitive response (HR) to S. lycopersici and elevated the expression of defense genes in tomato. Furthermore, the accumulation of lignin, callose and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) increased in the transgenic lines after inoculation with S. lycopersici. Taken together, our results showed that SlERF01 played an indispensable role in multiple SA, JA and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathways to provide resistance to S. lycopersici invasion. Our findings also indicated that SlERF01 could activate the expression of the PR1 gene and enhance resistance to S. lycopersici.

Conclusions

We identified the SlERF01 gene, which encodes a novel tomato AP2/ERF transcription factor (TF). Functional analysis revealed that SlERF01 positively regulates tomato resistance to S. lycopersici. Our findings indicate that SlERF01 plays a key role in multiple SA, JA and ROS signaling pathways to provide resistance to invasion by S. lycopersici. The findings of this study not only help to better understand the mechanisms of response to pathogens but also enable targeted breeding strategies for tomato resistance to S. lycopersici.
Randomized crossover trial comparing cervical spine motion during tracheal intubation with a Macintosh laryngoscope versus a C-MAC D-blade videolaryngoscope in a simulated immobilized cervical spine
Authors: Paik Hyesun , Park Hee-Pyoung
Published: August 2020

Background

Maintaining cervical immobilization is essential during tracheal intubation in patients with unstable cervical spines. When using the Macintosh laryngoscope for intubation in patients with cervical immobilization, substantial neck extension is required for visualization of the glottis. However, the C-MAC D-Blade videolaryngoscope may require less neck extension due to its acute angulation. We hypothesized that C-MAC D-Blade videolaryngoscopic intubation would result in less cervical spine movement than Macintosh laryngoscopic intubation. We compared the effects of C-MAC D-Blade videolaryngoscopic intubation and Macintosh laryngoscopic intubation in terms of cervical spine motion during intubation in patients with simulated cervical immobilization.

Methods

In this randomized crossover study, the cervical spine angle was measured at the occiput–C1, C1–C2, and C2–C5 segments before and during tracheal intubation with either a C-MAC D-Blade videolaryngoscope or Macintosh laryngoscope in 20 patients, with application of a neck collar for simulated cervical immobilization. Cervical spine motion was defined as the change in angle measured before and during tracheal intubation.

Results

The cervical spine motion at the occiput–C1 segment was measured at 12.1 ± 4.2° and 6.8 ± 5.0° during Macintosh laryngoscopic and C-MAC D-blade videolaryngoscopic intubation, respectively, corresponding to a 44% reduction in cervical spine motion when using the latter device (mean difference, − 5.3; 98.33% CI: − 8.8 to − 1.8; p = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the two intubation devices at the C1–C2 segment (− 0.6; 98.33% CI: − 3.4 to 2.2; p = 0.639) or C2–C5 segment (0.2; 98.33% CI: − 6.0 to 6.4; p = 0.929).

Conclusions

The C-MAC D-Blade videolaryngoscope causes less upper cervical spine motion than the Macintosh laryngoscope during tracheal intubation of patients with simulated cervical immobilization.

Trial registration

This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on June 26, 2018 (NCT03567902).
A study of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary care physicians toward anticoagulant therapy in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in Shanghai, China
Authors: Ye Shasha , Wang Tianhao , Liu Arthur , Yu Ying , Pan Zhigang , Gu Jie
Published: August 2020

Background

As a large number of Community Health Service (CHS) centers in China face the majority of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), primary care physicians (PCPs) play a primary role in the prevention of embolization. Therefore, an awareness of anticoagulant management in patients with NVAF must be brought into focus among PCPs in China. This study investigated PCPs’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward anticoagulant therapy in patients with NVAF, to help them understand their shortcomings regarding oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy in preventing embolization.

Method

This was a cross-sectional observational study of 462 PCPs in CHS centers across Shanghai. We used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data from September to December 2017. A stratified random cluster sampling was adopted in the 90 CHS centers with the family medicine residency program.

Result

Among 462 participants, 69.3% (320/462) of females received a medical bachelor’s degree and over 50% of participants had more than 10 years of work experience. Each section for knowledge, attitude, and practice were categorized as poor (≤39.0%), fair (40.0–69.0%), and good (≥70.0%). The level of knowledge of OAC therapy for patients with NVAF among PCPs was insufficient in over half (75.8%) of the participants. The majority (89.8%) of PCPs had a positive attitude and 68.0% had modest performance in the anticoagulant management of patients with NVAF.

Conclusions

The knowledge and behaviors of PCPs were insufficient for OAC therapy to prevent embolization in patients with NVAF. The study also revealed that there is good potential for PCPs’ educational interventions to positively impact the care of patients with NVAF.
Comparison of BSGI, MRI, mammography, and ultrasound for the diagnosis of breast lesions and their correlations with specific molecular subtypes in Chinese women
Authors: Liu Hongbiao , Zhan Hongwei , Sun Da , Zhang Ying
Published: August 2020

Background

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer in females, and is the second leading cancer-related cause of death in this group. Early diagnosis is essential to breast cancer to be effectively treated, and ultrasound, mammography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represent three key technologies that are utilized for the diagnosis of breast lesions. Breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) is an approach to molecular breast imaging that allows for high-resolution radio-imaging that is not adversely impacted by breast tissue density. This study was therefore designed to assess the relative diagnostic efficacy of BSGI, MRI, mammography, and ultrasound in different molecular subtypes of breast cancer among Chinese women.

Methods

Diagnostic findings from 390 patients that had undergone diagnosis and treatment in our breast surgery department were retrospectively reviewed. Patients had been diagnosed via BSGI, mammography, ultrasound, and MRI. The diagnostic efficacy of these different imaging modalities and their associated biological characteristics were compared in the present study.

Results

A total of 229 of these 390 patients (58.7%) were diagnosed with malignant breast cancer, with the remaining 161 (41.3%) cases having been found to be benign. BSGI, MRI, mammography, and ultrasound yielded respective sensitivity values of 91.7, 92.5, 77.3, and 82.1%, while the respective specificity values for these imaging modalities were 80.7, 69.7, 74.5, and 70.8%. For lesions > 1 cm, BSGI offered a sensitivity of 92.5%. For mammographic breast density A, B, C, and D, BSGI offered a sensitivity of 93.3, 94.0, 91.5, and 89.3%, respectively. BSGI also yielded a significantly higher lesion-to-normal lesion ratio (LNR) for malignant lesions relative to benign lesions (2.76 ± 1.32 vs 1.46 ± 0.49).

Conclusions

These findings confirm that BSGI is highly sensitive and is superior to mammography in the detection and diagnosis of ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS). Such diagnostic efficacy can be further improved by using BSGI as an auxiliary modality to mammography and ultrasound, potentially improving the reliability of breast lesion diagnosis, thereby ensuring that patients receive rapid and effective treatment without the risk of misdiagnosis or unnecessary surgical treatment.
Association between white matter impairment and cognitive dysfunction in patients with ischemic Moyamoya disease
Authors: Liu Ziqi , He Shihao , Xu Zongsheng , Duan Ran , Yuan Li , Xiao Chu , Yi Zhe , Wang Rong
Published: August 2020

Background

Ischemic Moyamoya disease is one of the important causes of stroke, which leads to severe impairment in cognitive functions. This cognitive impairment occurs prior to stroke. However, the cognitive functions that are impaired and the mechanisms of these impairments have not been determined.

Methods

We analyzed 12 patients with Moyamoya disease and 12 controls. All participants underwent cognitive tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data was processed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS). Significantly different white matter areas were correlated with different cognitive functions.

Results

There were significant differences in intelligence and subtraction between the patients and controls (p < 0.05). The parameters of DTI such as fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) have different changes in anterior thalamic radiation, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFO), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), uncinate fasciculus (UF), inferior longitudinal fasciculus, forceps minor, and other regions between the two groups.

Conclusion

Left UF and IFO may be the key brain regions affecting arithmetic function, while bilateral IFO has an effect on intelligence. RD and AD may be better indicators for early prediction of chronic white matter damage than FA, while MD tends to have a comprehensive indirect change. There is cognitive impairment in ischemic MMD, which is closely related to white matter impairment.

Trial registration

Clinical Trial Registration, Unique identifier:ChiCTR1900023610. Registered 4 June 2019 – Prospective study registered.
Comparison of the labor curves with and without combined spinal-epidural analgesia in nulliparous women- a retrospective study
Authors: Ando Hitomi , Makino Shintaro , Takeda Jun , Maruyama Yojiro , Nojiri Shuko , Sumikura Hiroyuki , Itakura Atsuo
Published: August 2020

Background

Neuraxial labor analgesia is known to increase the rate of instrumental delivery and prolong the second stage of labor; however, there is no standard method to evaluate the progress of labor under analgesia. Friedman curve is considered the gold standard for evaluating the progress of labor. However, it included not only neuraxial labor analgesia but also labor without analgesia. Thus we compared the labor curves of primiparous women undergoing labor with and without neuraxial labor analgesia, to understand the progress of labor in both groups and to arrive at a standard curve to monitor the progress of labor under neuraxial analgesia.

Methods

Primiparous women with cephalic singleton pregnancies who delivered at term from 2016 to 2017 were included. Two hundred patients who opted for combined spinal-epidural (CSE) labor analgesia were included in the CSE group and 200 patients who did not undergo CSE were included in the non-CSE group. In all, 400 cases were examined retrospectively. The evaluation parameters were cervical dilation and fetal station, and we calculated the average value per hour to plot the labor curves.

Results

The labor curve of the non-CSE group was significantly different from the Friedman curve. In the CSE group, the time from 4 cm dilation of the cervix to full dilation was 15 h; in addition, the speed of cervical dilation was different from that in the non-CSE group. The progress of labor in the CSE group was faster than that in the non-CSE group during the latent phase; however, the progress in the CSE group was slower than that in the non-CSE group during the active phase.

Conclusions

Neuraxial labor analgesia results in early cervical dilation and descent of the fetal head; thus, appropriate advance planning to manage the delivery may be essential.
Prognostic value of S1PR1 and its correlation with immune infiltrates in breast and lung cancers
Authors: Zhong Limei , Xie Linling , Yang Zhiyong , Li Lijuan , Song Shaohua , Cao Donglin , Liu Yufeng
Published: August 2020

Background

Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR1) is involved in vascular development, a key process in tumorigenesis. This study aimed to evaluate its roles in tumor development and prognosis.

Methods

S1PR1 expression levels were analyzed using TIMER and Oncomine database, and the prognostic significance of S1PR1 was assessed using PrognoScan and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases. The relationship between S1PR1 and tumor-infiltrated immune cells was analyzed using TIMER.

Results

S1PR1 expression was remarkably lower in breast and lung cancer tissues than in the corresponding normal tissues. Lower expression was related to poor overall survival and disease-free survival in breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). A functional network analysis confirmed the function of S1PR1 in regulating vasculogenesis. In addition, S1PR1 levels were significantly negative with regard to the tumor purity of BRCA (r = − 0.508, P = 1.76e-66), LUAD (r = − 0.353, P = 6.05e-16), and LUSC (r = − 0.402, P = − 5.20e-20). Furthermore, S1PR1 levels were significantly positive with regard to infiltrating CD8+ (r = 0.38, P = 5.91e-35) and CD4+ T cells (r = 0.335, P = 1.03e-26), macrophages (r = 0.219, P = 3.67e-12), neutrophils (r = 0.168, P = 2.03e-7), and dendritic cells (DCs) (r = 0.208, P = 9.14e-11) in BRCA; S1PR1 levels were significantly positive with regard to CD8+ T cells (r = 0.308, P = 3.61e-12), macrophages (r = 0.376, P = 1.01e-17), neutrophils (r = 0.246, P = 4.15e-8), and DCs (r = 0.207, P = 4.16e-6) in LUAD; and positive with regard to B cells (r = 0.356, P = 1.57e-15), CD8+ (r = 0.459, P = 3.83e-26) and CD4+ T cells (r = 0.338, P = 3.98e-14), macrophages (r = 0.566, P = 2.61e-45), neutrophils (r = 0.453, P = 1.79e-25), and DCs (r = 0.56, P = 2.12e-40) in LUSC.

Conclusions

S1PR1 levels are positively correlated with multiple immune markers in breast and lung cancer. These observed correlations between S1PR1 and the prognosis and immune cell infiltration provide a foundation for further research on its immunomodulatory role in cancer.