bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease are strongly associated with non-allergic nasal disorders
Authors: Finocchio Eliana , Locatelli Francesca , Sanna Francesca , Vesentini Roberta , Marchetti Pierpaolo , Spiteri Gianluca , Antonicelli Leonardo , Battaglia Salvatore , Bono Roberto , Corsico Angelo Guido , Ferrari Marcello , Murgia Nicola , Pirina Pietro , Olivieri Mario , Verlato Giuseppe
Published: February 2021

Background

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been reported to be significantly associated with chronic rhinosinusitis, but the strength of the association is still debated.

Aims

To evaluate the strength of the association between gastritis/GERD and non-allergic rhinitis (NAR)/allergic rhinitis (AR)/sinusitis.

Methods

We investigated 2887 subjects aged 20–84 years, who underwent a clinical visit in seven Italian centres (Ancona, Palermo, Pavia, Terni, Sassari, Torino, Verona) within the study on Gene Environment Interactions in Respiratory Diseases, a population-based multicase-control study between 2008 and 2014. Subjects were asked if they had doctor-diagnosed “gastritis or stomach ulcer (confirmed by gastroscopy)” or “gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal hernia or esophagitis”. The association between NAR/AR/sinusitis and either gastritis or GERD was evaluated through relative risk ratios (RRR) by multinomial logistic regression.

Results

The prevalence of gastritis/GERD increased from subjects without nasal disturbances (22.8% = 323/1414) to subjects with AR (25.8% = 152/590) and further to subjects with NAR (36.7% = 69/188) or sinusitis (39.9% = 276/691). When adjusting for centre, sex, age, education level, BMI, smoking habits and alcohol intake, the combination of gastritis and GERD was associated with a four-fold increase in the risk of NAR (RRR = 3.80, 95% CI 2.56–5.62) and sinusitis (RRR = 3.70, 2.62–5.23) with respect to controls, and with a much smaller increase in the risk of AR (RRR = 1.79, 1.37–2.35)..

Conclusion

The study confirmed the association between gastritis/GERD and nasal disturbances, which is stronger for NAR and sinusitis than for AR.
Comparison of functional and oncological outcomes of innovative “three-port” and traditional “four-port” laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in patients with prostate cancer
Authors: Xu Ben , Cheng Si-da , Peng Yi-ji , Zhang Qian
Published: February 2021

Background

To compare the functional and oncological outcomes between innovative “three-port” and traditional “four-port” laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods

We retrospectively collected the data of PCa patients treated at our institutions from June 2012 to May 2016. According to the inclusion criteria, a total of 234 patients were included in the study, including 112 in group A (four-port) and 122 in group B (three-port). The perioperatively surgical characteristics, functional and oncological outcomes were compared between groups.

Results

There were no statistical differences in the baseline parameters between these two groups. Compared with group A, the operative time (OT) and estimated blood loss (EBL) were significantly less in group B. On follow-up, the rate of positive surgical margin (PSM), prostate specific antigen (PSA) biochemical recurrence and continence after LRP did not show any statistically significant difference between the groups. An identical conclusion was also received in comparison of overall survival (OS) and biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) between both groups.

Conclusions

Innovative “three-port” LRP can significantly shorten the OT and reduce the EBL compared with the traditional “four-port” LRP. Meanwhile, it does not increase the rate of PSM and PSA biochemical recurrence. “Three-port” LRP could be popularized in the future in view of its superior surgical technique, considerably better functional outcomes and remarkable oncological control.
Associations between depression and gingivitis among adolescents resident in semi-urban South-West Nigeria
Authors: Folayan Morenike Oluwatoyin , Tantawi Maha El , Chukwumah Nneka Maureen , Alade Michael , Mapayi Boladale , Oginni Olakunle , Arowolo Olaniyi , Sam-Agudu Nadia A.
Published: February 2021

Objective

None of the past studies that had showed a linked between oral and mental health among adolescents was conducted in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to determine the association between gingivitis and depression among adolescents in Ile-Ife, South-West Nigeria.

Methods

This cross-sectional study collected data through a household survey conducted between December 2018 and January 2019. Adolescents aged 10 to 19 years old were identified using multistage sampling. The study outcome measure was gingivitis, measured by the Löe and Silness gingival index. The explanatory variable was depression, measured by the Patient Health Questionnair. Confounders considered were age, sex, socioeconomic status, frequency of daily tooth brushing, oral hygiene status (measured by the plaque index), consumption of refined carbohydrates in-between meals, use of dental floss, and history of dental service utilization in the past 12 months. A logistic regression model was constructed to determine risk indicators for moderate/severe gingivitis. Additionally, modification of associations between dependent variables and the significant risk indicators of depression was assessed.

Results

Mean plaque index for the 1,087 adolescent participants enrolled in the study was 0.80. We found a prevalence of 8.5% for moderate/severe gingivitis and 7.9% for depression. In adjusted regression, there were significant associations between the presence of moderate/severe gingivitis and consumption of refined carbohydrates in-between meals (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.14, 3.28) and plaque index (OR 16.56, 95% CI 10.03, 27.33). Depression also significantly modified the association between plaque index and the presence of moderate/severe gingivitis (P < 0.0001), with a stronger association observed with mild depression (OR 24.75, 95% CI 3.33, 184.00) compared with no depression (OR 15.47, 95% CI 9.31, 25.69), with no significant modification for the association with frequent consumption of refined carbohydrates (P = 0.06).

Conclusion

Although there was no significant association between gingivitis and depression among our adolescent Nigerian cohort, depression significantly modified the association between plaque index score and moderate/severe gingivitis.
Risk and protective factors associated with mental health among female military veterans: results from the veterans’ health study
Authors: Adams Richard E. , Hu Yirui , Figley Charles R. , Urosevich Thomas G. , Hoffman Stuart N. , Kirchner H. Lester , Dugan Ryan J. , Boscarino Joseph J. , Withey Carrie A. , Boscarino Joseph A.
Published: February 2021

Background

This study focuses on factors that may disproportionately affect female veterans’ mental health, compared to men, and is part of a larger study assessing the prevalence of mental health disorders and treatment seeking among formerly deployed US military service members.

Methods

We surveyed a random sample of 1,730 veterans who were patients in a large non-VA hospital system in the US. Based on previous research, women were hypothesized to be at higher risk for psychological problems. We adjusted our results for confounding factors, including history of trauma, childhood abuse, combat exposure, deployments, stressful life events, alcohol misuse, psychological resources, and social support.

Results

Among the veterans studied, 5% were female (n = 85), 96% were White (n = 1,161), 22.9% were Iraq/Afghanistan veterans (n = 398), and the mean age was 59 years old (SD = 12). Compared to males, female veterans were younger, unmarried, college graduates, had less combat exposure, but were more likely to have lifetime PTSD (29% vs. 12%.), depression (46% vs. 21%), suicidal ideation (27% vs. 11%), and lifetime mental health service use (67% vs. 47%). Females were also more likely to have low psychological resilience and to have used psychotropic medications in the past year. Using multivariate logistic regression analyses that controlled for risk and protective factors, female veterans had greater risk for lifetime PTSD, depression, suicidal thoughts, and for lifetime use of psychological services, compared to males. Since 95% of the population in this study were male and these results may have been statistically biased, we reran our analyses using propensity score matching. Results were consistent across these analyses.

Conclusion

Using a sample of post-deployment veterans receiving healthcare services from a large non-VA health system, we find that female veterans are at greater risk for lifetime psychological problems, compared to male veterans. We discuss these findings and their implications for service providers.
Panax notoginseng saponins promote endothelial progenitor cell angiogenesis via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway
Authors: Zhu Peiqi , Jiang Weidong , He Shixi , Zhang Tao , Liao Fengchun , Liu Di , An Xiaoning , Huang Xuanping , Zhou Nuo
Published: February 2021

Background

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is an effective treatment in craniomaxillofacial surgery. However, the issue of sufficient blood supply at the regeneration tissue has limited its wide application. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine that is commonly used to treat a range of angiogenic diseases. However, the mechanisms whereby PNS alters angiogenesis in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have yet to be clarified.

Methods

EPCs were identified by immunofluorescence, confirmed by their uptake of fluorescently labeled Dil-ac-LDL and FITC-UEA-1. EPCs were treated with different concentrations of PNS, and the effects of PNS on cell proliferation were measured on the optimal concentration of PNS determined. The effects of PNS on angiogenesis and migration, angiogenic cytokines mRNA expression and the proteins of the Wnt pathway were investigated. Then knocked down β-catenin in EPCs and treated with the optimum concentrational PNS, their angiogenic potential was evaluated in tube formation and migration assays. In addition, the expression of cytokines associated with angiogenesis and Wnt/β-catenin was then assessed via WB and RT-qPCR.

Results

We were able to determine the optimal concentration of PNS in the promotion of cell proliferation, tube formation, and migration to be 6.25 mg/L. PNS treatment increased the mRNA levels of VEGF, bFGF, VE-Cadherin, WNT3a, LRP5, β-catenin, and TCF4. After knocked down β-catenin expression, we found that PNS could sufficient to partially reverse the suppression of EPC angiogenesis.

Conclusions

Overall, 6.25 mg/L PNS can promote EPC angiogenesis via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation.
Ursolic acid induces apoptosis and anoikis in colorectal carcinoma RKO cells
Authors: Zheng Jia-Lu , Wang Shuang-Shuang , Shen Ke-Ping , Chen Lei , Peng Xiao , Chen Jin-Fang , An Hong-Mei , Hu Bing
Published: February 2021

Background

Ursolic acid (UA) is an anti-cancer herbal compound. In the present study, we observed the effects of UA on anchorage-dependent and -independent growth of human colorectal cancer (CRC) RKO cells.

Methods

RKO cells were cultured in conventional and detached condition and treated with UA. Cell viability was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. Apoptosis was identified by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry analysis. Activities of caspases were measured by commercial kits. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was recognized by DCFH-DA fluorescent staining. Anoikis was identified by EthD-1 fluorescent staining and flow cytometry analysis. Expression and phosphorylation of proteins were analyzed by western blot.

Results

UA inhibited RKO cell viability in both a dose- and time-dependent manner. UA arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase, and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. UA inhibited Bcl-2 expression and increased Bax expression. In addition, UA up-regulated the level of ROS that contributed to UA activated caspase-3, − 8 and − 9, and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, UA inhibited cell growth in a detached condition and induced anoikis in RKO cells that was accompanied by dampened phosphorylation of FAK, PI3K and AKT. UA also inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as indicated by the down-regulation of N-Cad expression and up-regulation of E-Cad expression.

Conclusions

UA induced caspase-dependent apoptosis, and FAK/PI3K/AKT singling and EMT related anoikis in RKO cells. UA was an effective anti-cancer compound against both anchorage-dependent and -independent growth of RKO cells.
Changing professional behaviours: mixed methods study utilising psychological theories to evaluate an educational programme for UK medical doctors
Authors: Medisauskaite Asta , Griffin Ann , Viney Rowena , Rashid Ahmed , Rich Antonia
Published: February 2021

Background

The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) has been proposed as a useful framework to investigate professional behaviour, however, was not yet applied to the evaluation of an educational intervention. This study will address this gap by utilising the TPB to evaluate the effectiveness of an education programme delivered by the professional regulator for UK doctors in enhancing three professional behaviours: raising concerns, engaging in reflective practice, and use of regulator confidentiality guidance.

Methods

This is a comprehensive mixed methods study combining qualitative (interviews) and quantitative (quasi-experiment) data. Intervention participants were asked to complete a survey measuring the variables in the TPB (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and intention) for the three professional behaviours before, immediately post, and 3-months later following the education programme. Ninety-four doctors completed the survey pre/post intervention and 38 at all three times. One hundred and eleven doctors from the same hospital trust who did not take part in the intervention completed the survey at two time points and formed the control group. Forty-two interviews were conducted with intervention participants.

Results

The quantitative study revealed that the educational intervention significantly improved attitudes (raising concerns, using confidentiality guidance), subjective norms (raising concerns, reflective practice, using confidentiality guidance), perceived control (raising concerns, using confidentiality guidance), and intentions (using confidentiality guidance) (Group and Time interaction; Fs ≥ 3.996, ps ≤ .047, ηp2 ≥ .020). Non-UK graduate doctors’ subjective norms towards raising concerns and confidentiality guidance increased significantly after the intervention (Fs ≤ 6.602, ps ≥ .011, ηp2 = .032 F = 6.602, p = .011, ηp2 = .032), but not UK graduates (p > .05). Interviews revealed that doctors had positive views about professional behaviours but also mentioned numerous barriers to actually engage in more complex, context dependent behaviours.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that an educational intervention was successful in improving the TPB variables of three professional behaviours. It also revealed that teaching professionalism does not happen in isolation and, therefore, personal and contextual factors are crucial to consider. To change complex professional behaviours, barriers at all levels i.e., personal, organisational and system, should be addressed.
Do people have differing motivations for participating in a stated-preference study? Results from a latent-class analysis
Authors: Hollin Ilene L. , Janssen Ellen , Kelley Marcella A. , Bridges John F. P.
Published: February 2021

Background

Researchers and policy makers have long suspected that people have differing, and potentially nefarious, motivations for participating in stated-preference studies such as discrete-choice experiments (DCE). While anecdotes and theories exist on why people participate in surveys, there is a paucity of evidence exploring variation in preferences for participating in stated-preference studies.

Methods

We used a DCE to estimate preferences for participating in preference research among an online survey panel sample. Preferences for the characteristics of a study to be conducted at a local hospital were assessed across five attributes (validity, relevance, bias, burden, time and payment) and described across three levels using a starring system. A D-efficient experimental design was used to construct three blocks of 12 choice tasks with two profiles each. Respondents were also asked about factors that motivated their choices. Mixed logistic regression was used to analyze the aggregate sample and latent class analysis identified segments of respondents.

Results

629 respondents completed the experiment. In aggregate “study validity” was most important. Latent class results identified two segments based on underlying motivations: a quality-focused segment (76%) who focused most on validity, relevance, and bias and a convenience-focused segment (24%) who focused most on reimbursement and time. Quality-focused respondents spent more time completing the survey (p < 0.001) and were more likely to identify data quality (p < 0.01) and societal well-being (p < 0.01) as motivations to participate.

Conclusions

This information can be used to better understand variability in motivations to participate in stated-preference surveys and the impact of motivations on response quality.
Post-trial perceptions of a symptom-based TB screening intervention in South Africa: implementation insights and future directions for TB preventive healthcare services
Authors: Salazar-Austin Nicole , Milovanovic Minja , West Nora S. , Tladi Molefi , Barnes Grace Link , Variava Ebrahim , Martinson Neil , Chaisson Richard E. , Kerrigan Deanna
Published: February 2021

Background

Tuberculosis is a top-10 cause of under-5 mortality, despite policies promoting tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT). We previously conducted a cluster randomized trial to evaluate the effectiveness of symptom-based versus tuberculin skin-based screening on child TPT uptake. Symptom-based screening did not improve TPT uptake and nearly two-thirds of child contacts were not identified or not linked to care. Here we qualitatively explored healthcare provider perceptions of factors that impacted TPT uptake among child contacts.

Methods

Sixteen in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants including healthcare providers and administrators who participated in the trial in Matlosana, South Africa. The participants’ experience with symptom-based screening, study implementation strategies, and ongoing challenges with child contact identification and linkage to care were explored. Interviews were systematically coded and thematic content analysis was conducted.

Results

Participants’ had mixed opinions about symptom-based screening and high acceptability of the study implementation strategies. A key barrier to optimizing child contact screening and evaluation was the supervision and training of community health workers.

Conclusions

Symptom screening is a simple and effective strategy to evaluate child contacts, but additional pediatric training is needed to provide comfort with decision making. New clinic-based child contact files were highly valued by providers who continued to use them after trial completion. Future interventions to improve child contact management will need to address how to best utilize community health workers in identifying and linking child contacts to care.

Trial registration

The results presented here were from research related to NCT03074799, retrospectively registered on 9 March 2017.
Promoting the propensity for blood donation through the understanding of its determinants
Authors: Guglielmetti Mugion Roberta , Pasca Maria Giovina , Di Di Pietro Laura , Renzi Maria Francesca
Published: February 2021

Background

The paper aims to understand the main antecedents related to the blood donation propensity related to both donors and non-donors. With our research, we will analyse the two perspectives to identify similarities and differences concentrating on the Italian context. Blood is a vital resource that strongly affects every national healthcare system’s efficacy and sustainability and the system’s ability to achieve the goal of universal coverage.

Methods

The purpose of this paper is to understand the main antecedents of citizens’ blood donation intention and the propensity to encourage communication about blood donation among both donors and non-donors. The Theory of Planned Behaviour is adopted as a theoretical lens. An empirical investigation was performed in Italy, adopting a mixed methods research design. First, a qualitative analysis was carried out through 30 in-depth interviews. Then, a survey was used to quantitatively investigate the intention to donate among both donors (N = 173) and non-donors (N = 87). A conceptual model was developed and tested through Structural Equation Modelling, developing a multi-group approach.

Results

The present study confirms the relations proposed by the Theory of Planned Behaviour, even though some differences between the two groups are shown. The construct Information and Communication is crucial for donors, non-donors, whereas for non-donor inhibitors is vital. Service quality has an impact on the propensity to recommend and communicate the value of blood donation.

Conclusion

This paper reveals the main differences between donor and non-donor perspectives. Fruitful insights for enhancing blood donation awareness are provided.
Functional analysis of sense organ specification in the Tribolium castaneum larva reveals divergent mechanisms in insects
Authors: Klann Marleen , Schacht Magdalena Ines , Benton Matthew Alan , Stollewerk Angelika
Published: February 2021

Insects and other arthropods utilise external sensory structures for mechanosensory, olfactory, and gustatory reception. These sense organs have characteristic shapes related to their function, and in many cases are distributed in a fixed pattern so that they are identifiable individually. InDrosophila melanogaster, the identity of sense organs is regulated by specific combinations of transcription factors. In other arthropods, however, sense organ subtypes cannot be linked to the same code of gene expression. This raises the questions of how sense organ diversity has evolved and whether the principles underlying subtype identity inD. melanogasterare representative of other insects. Here, we provide evidence that such principles cannot be generalised, and suggest that sensory organ diversification followed the recruitment of sensory genes to distinct sensory organ specification mechanism.

Results

We analysed sense organ development in a nondipteran insect, the flour beetleTribolium castaneum, by gene expression and RNA interference studies.We show that in contrast toD. melanogaster,T. castaneumsense organs cannot be categorised based on the expression or their requirement for individual or combinations of conserved sense organ transcription factors such ascutandpox neuro, or members of the Achaete-Scute (Tc ASH,Tc asense), Atonal (Tc atonal,Tc cato,Tc amos), and neurogenin families (Tc tap). Rather, our observations support an evolutionary scenario whereby these sensory genes are required for the specification of sense organ precursors and the development and differentiation of sensory cell types in diverse external sensilla which do not fall into specific morphological and functional classes.

Conclusions

Based on our findings and past research, we present an evolutionary scenario suggesting that sense organ subtype identity has evolved by recruitment of a flexible sensory gene network to the different sense organ specification processes. A dominant role of these genes in subtype identity has evolved as a secondary effect of the function of these genes in individual or subsets of sense organs, probably modulated by positional cues.
Lack of redundancy between electrophysiological measures of long-range neuronal communication
Authors: Strahnen Daniel , Kapanaiah Sampath K. T. , Bygrave Alexei M. , Kätzel Dennis
Published: February 2021

Background

Communication between brain areas has been implicated in a wide range of cognitive and emotive functions and is impaired in numerous mental disorders. In rodent models, various metrics have been used to quantify inter-regional neuronal communication. However, in individual studies, typically, only very few measures of coupling are reported and, hence, redundancy across such indicators is implicitly assumed.

Results

In order to test this assumption, we here comparatively assessed a broad range of directional and non-directional metrics like coherence, Weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI), phase-locking value (PLV), pairwise phase consistency (PPC), parametric and non-parametric Granger causality (GC), partial directed coherence (PDC), directed transfer function (DTF), spike-phase coupling (SPC), cross-regional phase-amplitude coupling, amplitude cross-correlations and others. We applied these analyses to simultaneous field recordings from the prefrontal cortex and the ventral and dorsal hippocampus in the schizophrenia-related Gria1-knockout mouse model which displays a robust novelty-induced hyperconnectivity phenotype. Using the detectability of coupling deficits in Gria1−/− mice and bivariate correlations within animals as criteria, we found that across such measures, there is a considerable lack of functional redundancy. Except for three pairwise correlations—PLV with PPC, PDC with DTF and parametric with non-parametric Granger causality—almost none of the analysed metrics consistently co-varied with any of the other measures across the three connections and two genotypes analysed. Notable exceptions to this were the correlation of coherence with PPC and PLV that was found in most cases, and partial correspondence between these three measures and Granger causality. Perhaps most surprisingly, partial directed coherence and Granger causality—sometimes regarded as equivalent measures of directed influence—diverged profoundly. Also, amplitude cross-correlation, spike-phase coupling and theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling each yielded distinct results compared to all other metrics.

Conclusions

Our analysis highlights the difficulty of quantifying real correlates of inter-regional information transfer, underscores the need to assess multiple coupling measures and provides some guidelines which metrics to choose for a comprehensive, yet non-redundant characterization of functional connectivity.
Breastfeeding duration modified the effects of neonatal and familial risk factors on childhood asthma and allergy: a population-based study
Authors: Hu Yabin , Chen Yiting , Liu Shijian , Jiang Fan , Wu Meiqin , Yan Chonghuai , Tan Jianguo , Yu Guangjun , Hu Yi , Yin Yong , Qu Jiajie , Li Shenghui , Tong Shilu
Published: February 2021

Background

Childhood asthma and allergic diseases are a significant global problem. There are inconsistent findings on the associations of delivery mode, the number of children in the household and breastfeeding with childhood asthma and allergic diseases. We assessed these associations and examined whether breastfeeding modified the effects of neonatal and familial risk factors on childhood asthma and allergic diseases.

Methods

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai, China. A total of 17 primary schools were randomly selected from 13 districts of Shanghai in this study. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was adopted to assess the childhood asthma and allergic diseases. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between neonatal and familial factors and childhood asthma and allergic diseases, and to examine the modification effects of breastfeeding on the associations assessed.

Results

Of 10,464 primary school children aged 6–11 years, the overall prevalence of childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, food allergy and drug allergy was 13.9, 22.7, 15.3, 8.1 and 4.6%, respectively. Male sex, high socioeconomic status, cesarean section delivery, only one child in the household and having family history of allergy were associated with increased odds ratio (OR) of childhood asthma and allergic diseases while longer breastfeeding duration (> 6 months) was inversely associated with these diseases. Longer breastfeeding duration also attenuated the OR of neonatal and familial risk factors on childhood asthma and allergic diseases. For instance, the adjusted OR of childhood asthma in the group of vaginal delivery and breastfeeding duration > 6 months was lowest (0.78, 95% confidence interval: 0.66, 0.92).

Conclusions

Longer breastfeeding duration was inversely associated with childhood asthma and allergic diseases, and also reduced the OR of neonatal and familial risk factors on these diseases. Giving the prevalence of childhood asthma and allergic diseases is rapidly rising across the globe, these findings may have important clinical and public health implications.
Role of CXCL16 in BLM-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition in human A549 cells
Authors: Ma Zhenzhen , Ma Chunyan , Zhang Qingfeng , Bai Yang , Mu Kun , Liu Xiangyuan , Yang Qingrui
Published: February 2021

Alveolar epithelial cells play an essential role in the initiation and progression of pulmonary fibrosis, and the occurrence of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) may be the early events of pulmonary fibrosis. Recent studies have shown chemokines are involved in the complex process of EMT, and CXC chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16) is also associated with many fibrosis-related diseases. However, whether CXCL16 is dysregulated in alveolar epithelial cells and the role of CXCL16 in modulating EMT in pulmonary fibrosis has not been reported. In this study, we found that CXCL16 and its receptor C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 6 (CXCR6) were upregulated in bleomycin induced EMT in human alveolar type II-like epithelial A549 cells. Synergistic effect of CXCL16 and bleomycin in promoting EMT occurrence, extracellular matrix (ECM) excretion, as well as the pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines productions in A549 cells were observed, and those biological functions were impaired by CXCL16 siRNA. We further confirmed that CXCL16 regulated EMT in A549 cells via the TGF-β1/Smad3 pathways. These results indicated that CXCL16 could promote pulmonary fibrosis by promoting the process of EMT via the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.
A novel all-in-one strategy for purification and immobilization of β-1,3-xylanase directly from cell lysate as active and recyclable nanobiocatalyst
Authors: Cai Lixi , Chu Yunmen , Liu Xin , Qiu Yue , Ge Zhongqi , Zhang Guangya
Published: February 2021

Background

Exploring a simple and versatile technique for direct immobilization of target enzymes from cell lysate without prior purification is urgently needed. Thus, a novel all-in-one strategy for purification and immobilization of β-1,3-xylanase was proposed, the target enzymes were covalently immobilized on silica nanoparticles via elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs)-based biomimetic silicification and SpyTag/SpyCatcher spontaneous reaction. Thus, the functional carriers that did not require the time-consuming surface modification step were quickly and efficiently prepared. These carriers could specifically immobilize the SpyTag-fused target enzymes from the cell lysate without pre-purification.

Results

The ELPs-SpyCatcher hardly leaked from the carriers (0.5%), and the immobilization yield of enzyme was up to 96%. Immobilized enzyme retained 85.6% of the initial activity and showed 88.6% of the activity recovery. Compared with free ones, the immobilized β-1,3-xylanase showed improved thermal stability, elevated storage stability and good pH tolerance. It also retained more than 70.6% of initial activity after 12 reaction cycles, demonstrating its excellent reusability.

Conclusions

The results clearly highlighted the effectiveness of the novel enzyme immobilization method proposed here due to the improvement of overall performance of immobilized enzyme in respect to free form for the hydrolysis of macromolecular substrates. Thus, it may have great potential in the conversion of algae biomass as well as other related fields.
Biosurfactant from endophytic Bacillus pumilus 2A: physicochemical characterization, production and optimization and potential for plant growth promotion
Authors: Marchut-Mikołajczyk Olga , Drożdżyński Piotr , Polewczyk Arkadiusz , Smułek Wojciech , Antczak Tadeusz
Published: February 2021

Background

Microbial surfactants called biosurfactants, thanks to their high biodegradability, low toxicity and stability can be used not only in bioremediation and oil processing, but also in the food and cosmetic industries, and even in medicine. However, the high production costs of microbial surfactants and low efficiency limit their large-scale production. This requires optimization of management conditions, including the possibility of using waste as a carbon source, such as food processing by-products. This papers describes the production and characterization of the biosurfactant obtained from the endophytic bacterial strain Bacillus pumilus 2A grown on various by-products of food processing and its potential applications in supporting plant growth. Four different carbon and nitrogen sources, pH, inoculum concentration and temperature were optimized within Taguchi method.

Results

Optimization of bioprocess within Taguchi method and experimental analysis revealed that the optimal conditions for biosurfactant production were brewer’s spent grain (5% w/v), ammonium nitrate (1% w/v), pH of 6, 5% of inoculum, and temperature at 30 °C, leading to 6.8 g/L of biosurfactant. Based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis produced biosurfactant was determined as glycolipid. Obtained biosurfactant has shown high and long term thermostability, surface tension of 47.7 mN/m, oil displacement of 8 cm and the emulsion index of 69.11%. The examined glycolipid, used in a concentration of 0.2% significantly enhanced growth of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (bean), Raphanus L. (radish), Beta vulgaris L. (beetroot).

Conclusions

The endophytic Bacillus pumilus 2A produce glycolipid biosurfactant with high and long tem thermostability, what makes it useful for many purposes including food processing. The use of brewer’s spent grain as the sole carbon source makes the production of biosurfactants profitable, and from an environmental point of view, it is an environmentally friendly way to remove food processing by products. Glycolipid produced by endophytic Bacillus pumilus 2A significantly improve growth of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (bean), Raphanus L. (radish), Beta vulgaris L. (beetroot). Obtained results provide new insight to the possible use of glycolipids as plant growth promoting agents.
Protein–protein interaction analysis reveals a novel cancer stem cell related target TMEM17 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Yu Zhao-liang , Chen Yu-feng , Zheng Bin , Cai Ze-rong , Zou Yi-feng , Ke Jia , Lan Ping , Gao Feng , Wu Xiao-jian
Published: February 2021

Background

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subpopulation of cells within tumors with stem cell property. Increased evidence suggest that CSCs could be responsible for chemoresistance and recurrence in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, a reliable therapeutic target on CSCs is still lacking.

Methods

Here we describe a two-step strategy to generate CSC targets with high selectivity for colon stem cell markers, specific proteins that are interacted with CSC markers were selected and subsequently validated in a survival analysis. TMEM17 protein was found and its biological functions in CRC cells were further examined. Finally, we utilized the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to investigate the potential mechanisms of TMEM17 in CRC.

Results

By combining protein–protein interaction (PPI) database and high-throughput gene profiles, network analysis revealed a cluster of colon CSCs related genes. In the cluster, TMEM17 was identified as a novel CSCs related gene. The results of in-vitro functional study demonstrated that TMEM17 depletion can suppress the proliferation of CRC cells and sensitize CRC cells to chemotherapy drugs. Enrichment analysis revealed that the expression of TMEM17 is associated with the magnitude of activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Further validation in clinical samples demonstrated that the TMEM17 expression was much higher in tumor than normal tissue and was associated with poor survival in CRC patients.

Conclusion

Collectively, our finding unveils the critical role of TMEM17 in CRC and TMEM17 could be a potential effective therapeutic target for tumor recurrence and chemoresistance in the colorectal cancer (CRC).
Western Kenyan Anopheles gambiae showing intense permethrin resistance harbour distinct microbiota
Authors: Omoke Diana , Kipsum Mathew , Otieno Samson , Esalimba Edward , Sheth Mili , Lenhart Audrey , Njeru Ezekiel Mugendi , Ochomo Eric , Dada Nsa
Published: February 2021

Background

Insecticide resistance poses a growing challenge to malaria vector control in Kenya and around the world. Following evidence of associations between the mosquito microbiota and insecticide resistance, the microbiota of Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) from Tulukuyi village, Bungoma, Kenya, with differing permethrin resistance profiles were comparatively characterized.

Methods

Using the CDC bottle bioassay, 133 2–3 day-old, virgin, non-blood fed female F1 progeny of field-caught An. gambiae s.s. were exposed to five times (107.5 µg/ml) the discriminating dose of permethrin. Post bioassay, 50 resistant and 50 susceptible mosquitoes were subsequently screened for kdr East and West mutations, and individually processed for microbial analysis using high throughput sequencing targeting the universal bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene.

Results

47 % of the samples tested (n = 133) were resistant, and of the 100 selected for further processing, 99 % were positive for kdr East and 1 % for kdr West. Overall, 84 bacterial taxa were detected across all mosquito samples, with 36 of these shared between resistant and susceptible mosquitoes. A total of 20 bacterial taxa were unique to the resistant mosquitoes and 28 were unique to the susceptible mosquitoes. There were significant differences in bacterial composition between resistant and susceptible individuals (PERMANOVA, pseudo-F = 2.33, P = 0.001), with presence of Sphingobacterium, Lysinibacillus and Streptococcus (all known pyrethroid-degrading taxa), and the radiotolerant Rubrobacter, being significantly associated with resistant mosquitoes. On the other hand, the presence of Myxococcus, was significantly associated with susceptible mosquitoes.

Conclusions

This is the first report of distinct microbiota in An. gambiae s.s. associated with intense pyrethroid resistance. The findings highlight differentially abundant bacterial taxa between resistant and susceptible mosquitoes, and further suggest a microbe-mediated mechanism of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. These results also indicate fixation of the kdr East mutation in this mosquito population, precluding further analysis of its associations with the mosquito microbiota, but presenting the hypothesis that any microbe-mediated mechanism of insecticide resistance would be likely of a metabolic nature. Overall, this study lays initial groundwork for understanding microbe-mediated mechanisms of insecticide resistance in African mosquito vectors of malaria, and potentially identifying novel microbial markers of insecticide resistance that could supplement existing vector surveillance tools.
Assessment of ASHA for knowledge, diagnosis and treatment on malaria in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh as part of the malaria elimination demonstration project
Authors: Rajvanshi Harsh , Saha Kalyan B. , Shukla Man Mohan , Nisar Sekh , Jayswar Himanshu , Mishra Ashok K. , Sharma Ravendra K. , Bharti Praveen K. , Saxena Nishant , Verma Arvind , Das Aparup , Kaur Harpreet , Wattal Suman L. , Lal Altaf A.
Published: February 2021

Background

The role of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) in the health care delivery services at the periphery level is crucial for achieving disease prevention, control and elimination goals. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, practices, priorities and capability of ASHA related to malaria diagnosis and treatment as part of the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project in 1233 villages of district Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted using a fully structured, pre-tested interview schedule during June and July 2017 (before the field operations of MEDP were started). Two hundred twenty (17%) of the total ASHAs were selected for the interview from the 9 developmental blocks of Mandla district.

Results

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) study revealed that most ASHAs knew that mosquitoes are the main agent for spread of malaria (97.7%). They mostly used Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for diagnosis (91.8%). The majority (87.3%) correctly identified negative RDT result while only 15% and 10.5%, respectively, identified Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum positive cases correctly. Further analysis showed that 85% ASHAs used chloroquine, 44.5% used artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), and 55.5% used primaquine for treatment of malaria. It was also found that only 38.2% ASHA gave PQ for 14 days in cases of P. vivax. At the time of the interview, 19.1% ASHAs did not have any RDTs for diagnosis and 47.7% reported not having ACT for treatment of P. falciparum malaria.

Conclusions

This study has revealed that ASHAs in the test district were not adequately trained or stocked for malaria parasite species identification and treatment, which are the major components of malaria elimination programme. This study has, therefore, revealed a need for training ASHAs on testing by RDT and proper treatment regimen for P. vivax and P. falciparum.
Optimizing Myanmar’s community-delivered malaria volunteer model: a qualitative study of stakeholders’ perspectives
Authors: Win Han Oo  , Hoban Elizabeth , Gold Lisa , Kyu Kyu Than  , Thazin La  , Aung Thi  , Fowkes Freya J. I.
Published: February 2021

Background

In parallel with the change of malaria policy from control to elimination and declines in the malaria burden in Greater Mekong Sub-region, the motivation and social role of malaria volunteers has declined. To address this public health problem, in Myanmar, the role and responsibilities of malaria volunteers have been transformed into integrated community malaria volunteers (ICMV), that includes the integration of activities for five additional diseases (dengue, lymphatic filariasis, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and leprosy) into their current activities. However, this transformation was not evidence-based and did not consider inputs of different stakeholders. Therefore, qualitative stakeholder consultations were performed to optimize future malaria volunteer models in Myanmar.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key health stakeholders from the Myanmar Ministry of Health and Sports (MoHS) and malaria implementing partners to obtain their perspectives on community-delivered malaria models. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to explore the experiences of the stakeholders in policymaking and programme implementation. Interview topic guides were used during the interviews and inductive thematic data analysis was performed.

Results

While ICMVs successfully provided malaria services in the community, the stakeholders considered the ICMV model as not optimal and suggested that many aspects needed to be improved including better training, supervision, support, and basic health staff’s recognition for ICMVs. Stakeholders believe that the upgraded ICMV model could contribute significantly to achieving malaria elimination and universal health care in Myanmar.

Discussion and conclusion

In the context of high community demand for non-malaria treatment services from volunteers, the integrated volunteer service package must be developed carefully in order to make it effective in malaria elimination programme and to contribute in Myanmar’s pathway to universal health coverage (UHC), but without harming the community. An evidenced-based, community-delivered and preferred model, that is also accepted by the MoHS, is yet to be developed to effectively contribute to achieving malaria elimination and UHC goals in Myanmar by 2030.
Molecular surveillance of pfcrt, pfmdr1 and pfk13-propeller mutations in Plasmodium falciparum isolates imported from Africa to China
Authors: Huang Fang , Yan He , Xue Jing-Bo , Cui Yan-Wen , Zhou Shui-Sen , Xia Zhi-Gui , Abeyasinghe Rabindra , Ringwald Pascal , Zhou Xiao-Nong
Published: February 2021

Background

The emergence and spread of multidrug resistance poses a significant risk to malaria control and eradication goals in the world. There has been no indigenous malaria cases reported in China since 2017, and China is approaching national malaria elimination. Therefore, anti-malarial drug resistance surveillance and tracking the emergence and spread of imported drug-resistant malaria cases will be necessary in a post-elimination phase in China.

Methods

Dried blood spots were obtained from Plasmodium falciparum-infected cases returned from Africa to China between 2012 and 2015, prior to anti-malarial drug treatment. Whole DNA were extracted and known polymorphisms relating to drug resistance of pfcrt, pfmdr1 gene, and the propeller domain of pfk13 were evaluated by nested PCR and sequencing. The haplotypes and prevalence of these three genes were evaluated separately. Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were used to evaluate differences among the different sub-regions of Africa. A P value < 0.05 was used to evaluate differences with statistical significance. The maps were created using ArcGIS.

Results

A total of 731 P. falciparum isolates were sequenced at the pfcrt locus. The wild type CVMNK was the most prevalent haplotype with prevalence of 62.8% and 29.8% of the isolates showed the triple mutant haplotype CVIET. A total of 434 P. falciparum isolates were successfully sequenced and pfmdr1 allelic variants were observed in only codons 86, 184 and 1246. Twelve haplotypes were identified and the prevalence of the wild type pfmdr1 NYD was 44.1%. The single mutant pfmdr1 in codons 86 and 184 was predominant but the haplotype NYY with single mutation in codon 1246 was not observed. The double mutant haplotype YFD was common in Africa. About 1,357 isolates were successfully sequenced of pfk13-propeller domain, the wild type was found in 1,308 samples (96.4%) whereby 49 samples (3.6%) had mutation in pfk13. Of 49 samples with pfk13 mutations, 22 non-synonymous and 4 synonymous polymorphic sites were confirmed. The A578S was the most common mutation in pfk13-propeller domain and three mutations associated with artemisinin resistance (M476I, R539T, P553L) were identified in three isolates.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence that could give insight into potential issues with anti-malarial drug resistance to inform national drug policy in China in order to treat imported cases.