bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors contributing to physician overwork in 80 Saiseikai hospitals of Japan
Authors: Yamaguchi Naohito , Mochida Yuji , Matsubara Satoru , Sumitani Shigeru
Published: March 2020

Background Physician overwork and burnout is a prevalent problem worldwide that is hazardous to both the physician’s health and healthcare quality and safety in hospitals. The aim of this study was to estimate how much time physicians spend on various work activities and to what extent these activities contribute to the total number of working hours, so as to find an effective way to reduce the number of overtime hours. Methods Surveys were conducted on fulltime physicians of 80 Saiseikai hospitals. For those activities showing a significant positive association with the number of total working hours, the hospital-based time for one patient-day, which is the daily number of hours spent by all physicians in the hospital for one patient, was analyzed in association with the number of patient-days per physician in the hospital. The time spent by a physician for each work activity was also analyzed in association with the number of patient-days per physician, after controlling for sex, age, department and position as covariates. Results Analysis of 1,837 physicians showed that most work activities had a significant positive association with the total number of working hours. In general, the time spent on direct and indirect inpatient services were greater than other work activities. The hospital-based time for one patient-day showed a significant inverse association with the number of patient-days per physician in all work activities, except that of working in surgical operation room. On the other hand, individual physicians tended to spend a similar amount of time regardless of the number of patient-days per physician in the hospital. In hospitals with a relative shortage of physicians, physicians tended to spend less time on each patient, whereas in hospitals with a relative surplus of physicians, physicians tended to spend more time, presumably more than necessary, on patient services. Conclusion Improvement in efficiency, such as by reducing the time interval between patient services, seems promising in hospitals with a relative surplus of physicians. Time could also be saved by implementing newer methods of information technology or by shifting a part of tasks to other health professionals and clericals.
Pre-hospital delay in patients with myocardial infarction: an observational study in a tertiary care hospital of northern Bangladesh
Authors: Rafi Md. Abdur , Sayeed Md. Zahidus , Sultana Papia , Aik Saw , Hossain Golam
Published: March 2020

Background: Delayed hospital presentation is a hindrance to the optimum clinical outcome of modern therapies of Myocardial infarction (MI). This study thus aims at finding the factors associated with prolonged pre-hospital delay and the impact of this delay on in hospital treatment outcome of MI patients of Northern Bangladesh. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in December 2019 in cardiology ward of a 1000 bed tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh. Socio demographic data, clinical features and patients’ health seeking behavior was collected in a structured questionnaire from the patients diagnosed as STEMI or non-STEMI. Median with interquartile range (IQR) of pre hospital delay were calculated and compared between different groups. Patients were classified into two groups, those who admitted within 6 hours and those who admitted after 6 hours. Chi-square (χ²) test and multivariate logistic regression were used to estimate the determinants associated with delayed hospital admission. Effect of pre-hospital delay was determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: 337 patients was enrolled in the study and their median (IQR) pre-hospital delay was 9.0 (13.0) hours. 39.5% patients admitted in the specialized hospital within 6 hours. In logistic regression, determinants of pre-hospital delay were patients age (for <40 years aOR 2.43, 95% CI 0.73-8.12; for 40 to 60 years aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.21-0.93), family income (for lower income aOR 5.74, 95% CI 0.89-37.06; for middle income aOR 14.22, 95% CI 2.15-94.17), distance from primary care center £5 km (aOR 0.42, 95% CI 0.12-0.90), predominant chest pain (aOR 0.15, 95% CI 0.05-0.48), considering symptoms as non-significant (aOR 17.81, 95% CI 5.92-53.48), referral from primary care center (for government hospital aOR 4.45, 95% CI 2.03-9.74; for private hospital OR 98.67, 95% CI 11.87-820.34) and not having family history of MI (aOR 2.65, 95% CI 1.24-5.71). Risk of in hospital death was almost 4 times higher who admitted after 6 hours in multivariate logistic regression (OR 4.64, 95% CI 1.87-11.50). Conclusion: Delayed hospital admission after onset of MI is more common in Bangladesh compared to developed countries. Appropriate measures should be taken by policy makers to improve this situation.
Overcoming Glucosinolate-Myrosinase-Isothiocyanate Defense System by Plant Pathogenic Fungi
Authors: RAHİMİ Fatemeh , RAHMANPOUR Siamak
Published: March 2020

Natural compounds play an important role in shaping living plant responses. The resistance of plants is dependent on the formation and production of antimicrobial compounds of secondary metabolites. Glucosinolates (GSLs) are the main source of phytoanticipin in Brassicaceae and other plant families. The biological activity of glucosinolates are dependent on the release of various toxic compounds due to hydrolysis by myrosinase, isothiocyanate (ITC) is glucosinolate-breakdown products that inhibit the growth of microorganisms. In this review, we aim to understand how fungal pathogens overcome the glucosinolate-myrosinase-isothiocyanate system. The pathogens overwhelm the plant's defense system in various ways and disable each component of the system. Many plant pathogens may not cause tissue damage or activation of the glucosinolate-myrosinase-isothiocyanate system, others degrade or transforms the intact GSLs to less or non-toxic products, or inhibit the hydrolysis of GSLs catalyzed by myrosinase, or formed special mechanisms to detoxify toxic GSLs degradation products.
Algebraic structure of classical integrability for complex sine-Gordon
Authors: Avan Jean , Frappat Luc , Ragoucy Eric
Published: March 2020

The algebraic structure underlying the classical
rr-matrix
formulation of the complex sine-Gordon model is fully elucidated. It is
characterized by two matrices aa
and ss,
components of the rr
matrix as r=a-sr=a−s.
They obey a modified classical reflection/Yang–Baxter set of equations,
further deformed by non-abelian dynamical shift terms along the dual Lie
algebra su(2)^*su(2)*.
The sign shift pattern of this deformation has the signature of the
twisted boundary dynamical algebra. Issues related to the quantization
of this algebraic structure and the formulation of quantum complex
sine-Gordon on those lines are introduced and discussed.
A mineração e suas consequências no município de Pedra Lavrada-PB: uma perspectiva da legislação ambiental
Authors: Gomes de Souza Yuri , Pereira Cobel João Lucas , Barbosa da Silva Janaína
Published: March 2020

A mineração é um dos principais motores da economia do Seridó paraibano pois o mesmo detém de um complexo mineralógico propício à exploração. Em Pedra Lavrada-PB, essa atividade proporciona renda e emprego à população. Em virtude de tal prática, contudo, algumas consequências vêm sujeitando os agentes do meio social, bem como os recursos naturais. Logo, a presente pesquisa se propôs a analisar a prática exploratória da mineração por parte dos garimpeiros e suas consequências no município de Pedra Lavrada-PB sob a perspectiva da legislação ambiental. Quanto a metodologia, apoiou-se no levantamento bibliográfico, análise empírica e entendimento da estrutura altimétrica do município de Pedra Lavrada-PB com recorte da área estudada. Constatou-se que embora a mineração seja fundamental para a conjuntura socioeconômica do município, o processo de exploração mineral na lavra do “Alto Feio” representa um trabalho exaustivo e rudimentar, onde ferramentas de trabalho não são adequadas e a proteção do garimpeiro inexiste. Percebeu-se que o meio ambiente vem somando prejuízos em virtude da atividade exploratória na área. Portanto, tem-se a Constituição Federal de 1988 que assegura o meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado e regulamenta à sadia manutenção da vida humana.
Vulnerabilidade da Palma Forrageira e pecuária bovina no Estado da Paraíba frente ao ataque da cochonilha do carmim
Authors: Camêlo Aguiar Sara , Andrade Lima Querino Luana , Ferreira da Silva Patrícia , Antunes de Lima Vera Lúcia
Published: March 2020

A palma tornou-se uma importante alternativa de forragem à pecuária bovina em meio às condições do semiárido, mas o ataque da cochonilha do carmim tem dificultado o cultivo da planta e a alimentação dos rebanhos. O presente estudo trata-se de uma revisão bibliográfica e tem como objetivo sistematizar e analisar os estudos referentes à situação de vulnerabilidade devido ao ataque da cochonilha do carmim no estado da Paraíba. Segundo as referências encontradas o ataque do inseto é caracterizado por prejuízos, a principal medida de controle tem sido o plantio de variedades de palma resistentes e o impacto sobre a pecuária bovina ainda é pouco abordado, demandando atenção dada à forte relação entre a atividade e os efeitos da praga. Por parte dos órgãos competentes as ações se dão de forma isolada e pontual, são insuficientes ao problema que deve ser encarado como demanda de política pública haja vista os severos impactos que a cochonilha do carmim causa à palma forrageira que repercutem nos rebanhos e nas famílias criadoras.
Transformações da paisagem e o avanço do agronegócio em Gilbués-Piauí
Authors: Sousa Silva Ivamauro Ailton de
Published: March 2020

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a dinâmica da cobertura e do uso das terras, enfatizando as características da paisagem, o processo de apropriação, as transformações da paisagem, os arranjos socioeconômicos e sua articulação com as terras erodidas no município de Gilbués, sudoeste do estado do Piauí. A pesquisa foi elaborada por meio de revisão bibliográfica, trabalhos de campo e compilação de mapas temáticos. Como resultados, o artigo, destaca a ocorrência de erosões, conhecidas como malhadas e grotas, na região centro-sul de Gilbués e na região norte apresenta expansão da agricultura em áreas de Cerrado, caracterizadas por extensões chapadões de topografia plana, que facilita o desenvolvimento e a expansão agrícola. A análise temporal realizada em 1987 e 2009, indicou mudanças conjunturais, como por exemplo, a expansão da área agrícola em áreas de cerrado denso e consequentemente a subtração da cobertura vegetal na região norte, aumento da produtividade. Desta forma, o cerrado situado em Gilbués apresenta distintas formas de cobertura e uso da terra e dilemas socioambientais, que influenciam na configuração e modificações da paisagem.
Análise multitemporal dos focos de queimadas em Teresina, estado do Piauí
Authors: Carneiro Kamila Ferreira da Silva , Albuquerque Emanuel Lindemberg Silva
Published: March 2020

O estudo objetiva avaliar os focos de queimadas ocorridos no município de Teresina, estado do Piauí, entre os anos de 2015 e 2017, comparando sua distribuição espacial nos quatro últimos meses do ano, tendo em vista que nesse período são registradas as maiores temperaturas no município. Os procedimentos metodológicos contemplam revisão bibliográfica e aquisição da base cartográfica do recorte espacial e temporal da pesquisa. Utilizou-se os registros dos focos de calor obtidos no Banco de Dados de Queimadas (BDQueimadas – INPE). A observação da disposição dos dados intercorreu com o emprego da estatística espacial, evidenciando os fenômenos concentrados com o estimador de densidade de Kernel, aplicados em ambiente de Sistema de Informações Geográficas. Para os meses considerados B-R-O-B-R-Ó, foram identificados 1.521 focos de queimadas entre 2015 e 2017, sendo que os maiores registros foram mapeados nos meses de setembro e outubro. Ao considerar os dados obtidos, pode-se assim propor medidas de monitoramento preventivo, a partir dos cenários tendenciais da concentração dos focos de calor.
Choroid plexus carcinoma: review of literature
Authors: Valiakhmetova A. F. , Papusha L. I. , Yasko L. A. , Druy A. E. , Gorelyshev S. K. , Karachunskiy A. I.
Published: March 2020

Choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC) is a rare malignant tumor arising from the epithelium of the choroid plexus of the brain. More than 80 % of CPCs occur in children. Mutations in the TP53 gene is played the main role in the pathogenesis of these tumors. Choroid plexus carcinomas in 40 % of cases are associated with Li–Fraumeni syndrome. Survival rates in patients with CPC and Li–Fraumeni syndrome are extremely low. The standards of the therapy for patients with CPC are not defined. The extent of surgical resection and treatment modality correlate with prognosis. The role of adjuvant therapy in CPC remains unclear: doses and volumes of radiation therapy (RT), combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs, timing, and a combination of RT and chemotherapy (CT) have not been identified. Also, there is neither a standard CT regimen nor a prospective international study assessing the efficacy and toxicity of various combinations of cytostatics in patients with CPC. The article presents an overview of the existing molecular genetic changes, existing methods for the diagnosis and treatment of choroid plexus carcinoma.
Hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the preoperative assessment of the future remnant liver function (literature review and own examples)
Authors: Likar Yu. N. , Akhaladze D. G. , Rumyantsev A. G.
Published: March 2020

Liver resection remains one of the most important option in combined treatment for liver tumors; however, it harbors the risk of developing posthepatectomy liver failure. The principal risk is associated with the quality and quantity of the future remnant liver. Therefore, preoperative assessment of the future remnant liver is essential in patients scheduled for major hepatectomy. Technetium-99m-mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy is increasingly applied for the quantitative assessment of liver function before major liver resection.
Immature neck teratoma in the newborn
Authors: Ivanova N. N. , Mitrofanova A. M. , Shevtsov D. V. , Vorozhtsov I. N. , Grachev N. S.
Published: March 2020

One of rare location of teratoma in children is head and neck region. Treatment options, including surgery, are determined by tumour location, its grade of differentiation, and patients age. This article presents case report of immature paratracheal neck teratoma in a 3-month old child, subjected for second-look surgery for residual tumour removal due to the risk of life-threatening complications.
Results of GPOH-HD-2003 study in treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in children and adolescents in the Morozovskaya Children’s Clinical Hospital
Authors: Naumova A. S. , Tiganova O. A. , Ilyenko L. I. , Lavrukhin D. B. , Kondratchik K. L. , Baybak O. I. , Bronin G. O. , Maltseva M. A. , Makhmudova G. N. , Makhortykh T. Zh. , Mutorova O. Yu. , Nepokulchitskaya N. V. , Sapelkina T. S. , Tomilin I. Ya. , Fuks O. Yu. , Shershakova E. A.
Published: March 2020

Relevance. Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) is a rare clonal neoplasm of lymphatic tissue. In the structure of malignant neoplasms in children HL accounts for 4–6 % and for 16 % in adolescents. Now children and adolescents with confirmed histology of HL in the Department of Oncology and Hematology, Morozovskaya Children’s Clinical Hospital, treated with the GPOH-HD-2003 protocol. The authors of the article presented the experience of treatment children and adolescents with HL according to recommendations of GPOH-HD-2003 in the Department of Oncology and Hematology, Morozovskaya Children’s Clinical Hospital.

Patients and methods. From January 1, 2003 until December 31, 2018, 62 patients (35 boys, 27 girls) received therapy according to recommendations of GPOH-HD-2003 study. Age of patients ranges from 4.7 to 17.6 years, mean age was 13.3 years. All patients are allocated to three treatment groups (TGs) based on staging, in TG-1 were 2 patients, in TG-2 – 30 patients, in TG-3 – 30 patients. TG-1 patients received two courses of for induction: OEPA for boys and OPPA for girls. TG-2 and TG-3 patients received further two or four cycles COPP (girls) or COPDAC (boys), respectively. After chemotherapy all patients received initially involved-field irradiation with 19.8 Gy.

Results. CTCEA grade 1 or 2 hematotoxicity was the most common recorded adverse reaction in the OEPA regimen for boys, grade 3 or 4 hematotoxicity – in the OPPA regimen for girls. Also hematotoxicity was more pronounced with COPP than COPDAC. Overall (OS), event-free (EFS) and relapse-free (RFS) survival rates at 5 years were 100 % for the period of the observation time (the median observation time was 48.12 months). No treatment-related deaths, relapses or second malignancies were recorded during this period.

Conclusion. OS, EFS and DFS rates indicates high efficiency and low toxicity of GPOH-HD-2003 study regardless of the initial stage.
Cold Atmospheric Plasma as a Novel Therapeutic Tool for the Treatment of Brain Cancer
Authors: Adhikari Manish , Adhikari Bhawana , Adhikari Anupriya , Yan Dayun , Soni Vikas , Sherman Jonathan , Keidar Michael
Published: March 2020

Background:

Studies from the past few years revealed the importance of Cold Atmospheric Plasma
(CAP) on various kinds of diseases, including brain cancers or glioblastoma (GBM), and hence coined a new
term ‘Plasma Medicine’ in the modern world for promising therapeutic approaches. Here, we focus on the efficacy
of CAP and its liquid derivatives on direct interactions or with specific nanoparticles to show pivotal roles in
brain cancer treatment.

Method:

In the present review study, the authors studied several articles over the past decades published on the
types of CAP and its effects on different brain cancers and therapy.

Results:

A growing body of evidence indicates that CAP and its derivatives like Plasma Activated Media/ Water
(PAM/PAW) are introduced in different kinds of GBM. Recent studies proposed that CAP plays a remarkable
role in GBM treatment. To increase the efficacy of CAP, various nanoparticles of different origins got specific
attention in recent times. In this review, different strategies to treat brain cancers, including nanoparticles, are
discussed as enhancers of CAP induced targeted nanotherapeutic approach.

Conclusion:

CAP treatment and its synergistic effects with different nanoparticles hold great promise for clinical
applications in early diagnosis and treatment of GBM treatment. However, results obtained from previous studies
were still in the preliminary phase, and there must be a concern over the use of optimal methods for a dosage of
CAP and nanoparticles for complete cure of GBM.
Dietary Baicalin Zinc Supplementation Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Enhances Nutrition Absorption in Deoxynivalenol Challenged Pigs
Authors: Zha Andong , Cui Zhijuan , Qi Ming , Liao Simeng , Chen Lixin , Liao Peng , Tan Bie
Published: March 2020

Background:

Deoxynivalenol contamination is increasing worldwide, presenting great challenges to food
security and causing great economic losses in the livestock industry.

Objective:

This study was conducted to determine the protective effect of baicalin zinc as a dietary supplement on
pigs fed with a deoxynivalenol contaminated diet.

Methods:

A total of 40 weaned pigs (21 d of age; 6.13 ± 0.42 kg average BW) were randomly assigned (10
pigs/group) to 4 dietary treatments: basal diet (Con group), basal diet + 4 mg/kg DON (DON group), basal diet +
5 g/kg BZN (BZN group), and basal diet + 5 g/kg BZN + 4 mg/kg DON (DBZN group) for a 14-d period. Seven
randomly-selected pigs from each treatment were killed for blood and tissue sampling.

Results:

The results showed that piglets challenged with DON exhibited significantly reduced levels of ADG, ADFI,
and F/G (p < 0.05). BZN supplemented diets significantly suppressed the protein expression of p-Nrf2, p-NF-kB, and
HO-1 in the jejunum of DON challenged piglets (p < 0.05). In liver, DON markedly increased the mRNA expression
of P70S6K and HSP70 in piglets fed the basal diet, but significantly reduced that of HO-1, NQO-1, NF-kB,
AMPKα2 and HSP70 in piglets fed the BZN supplemented diet (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with BZN
markedly increased the T-AOC level of serum in weaned piglets (p < 0.05). In jejunum, dietary supplementation with
BZN activated the mRNA expression of ZIP4 in piglets (p < 0.05), BZN supplementation significantly suppressed
the activity of sucrose and increased the protein concentration in chyme (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

BZN can play a protective role by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing nutrient absorption in pigs
fed DON-contaminated diets.
Neuro-Clinical Signatures of Language Impairments: A Theoretical Framework for Function-to-structure Mapping in Clinics
Authors: Kherif Ferath , Muller Sandrine
Published: March 2020

In the past decades, neuroscientists and clinicians have collected a considerable amount of
data and drastically increased our knowledge about the mapping of language in the brain. The emerging
picture from the accumulated knowledge is that there are complex and combinatorial relationships between
language functions and anatomical brain regions. Understanding the underlying principles of this
complex mapping is of paramount importance for the identification of the brain signature of language
and Neuro-Clinical signatures that explain language impairments and predict language recovery after
stroke. We review recent attempts to addresses this question of language-brain mapping. We introduce
the different concepts of mapping (from diffeomorphic one-to-one mapping to many-to-many mapping).
We build those different forms of mapping to derive a theoretical framework where the current
principles of brain architectures including redundancy, degeneracy, pluri-potentiality and bow-tie network
are described.
The Effects of General Anesthetics on Synaptic Transmission
Authors: Hao Xuechao , Ou Mengchan , Zhang Donghang , Zhao Wenling , Yang Yaoxin , Liu Jin , Yang Hui , Zhu Tao , Li Yu , Zhou Cheng
Published: March 2020

General anesthetics are a class of drugs that target the central nervous system and are widely used for various medical procedures. General anesthetics produce many behavioral changes required for clinical intervention, including amnesia, hypnosis, analgesia, and immobility; while they may also induce side effects like respiration and cardiovascular depressions. Understanding the mechanism of general anesthesia is essential for the development of selective general anesthetics which can preserve wanted pharmacological actions and exclude the side effects and underlying neural toxicities. However, the exact mechanism of how general anesthetics work is still elusive. Various molecular targets have been identified as specific targets for general anesthetics. Among these molecular targets, ion channels are the most principal category, including ligand-gated ionotropic receptors like γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate and acetylcholine receptors, voltage-gated ion channels like voltage-gated sodium channel, calcium channel and potassium channels, and some second massager coupled channels. For neural functions of the central nervous system, synaptic transmission is the main procedure for which information is transmitted between neurons through brain regions, and intact synaptic function is fundamentally important for almost all the nervous functions, including consciousness, memory, and cognition. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of general anesthetics on synaptic transmission via modulations of specific ion channels and relevant molecular targets, which can lead to the development of safer general anesthetics with selective actions. The present review will summarize the effects of various general anesthetics on synaptic transmissions and plasticity.
Proteomic Analysis of the Vitreous Body in Proliferative and Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Duong Van-An , Ahn Jeeyun , Han Na-Young , Park Jong-Moon , Mok Jeong-Hun , Kim Tae Wan , Lee Hookeun
Published: March 2020

Background:

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), one of the major microvascular complications commonly occurring in diabetic patients, can be classified into Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) and Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR). Currently available therapies are only targeted for later stages of the disease in which some pathologic changes may be irreversible. Thus, there is a need to develop new treatment options for earlier stages of DR through revealing pathological mechanisms of PDR and NPDR.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to characterize proteomes of diabetic through quantitative analysis of PDR and NPDR.

Methods:

Vitreous body was collected from three groups: control (non-diabetes mellitus), NPDR, and PDR. Vitreous proteins were digested to peptide mixtures and analyzed using LC-MS/MS. MaxQuant was used to search against the database and statistical analyses were performed using Perseus. Gene ontology analysis, related-disease identification, and protein-protein interaction were performed using the differential expressed proteins.

Results:

Twenty proteins were identified as critical in PDR and NPDR. The NPDR group showed different expressions of kininogen-1, serotransferrin, ribonuclease pancreatic, osteopontin, keratin type II cytoskeletal 2 epidermal, and transthyretin. Also, prothrombin, signal transducer and activator of transcription 4, hemoglobin subunit alpha, beta, and delta were particularly up-regulated proteins for PDR group. The up-regulated proteins related to complement and coagulation cascades. Statherin was down-regulated in PDR and NPDR compared with the control group. Transthyretin was the unique protein that increased its abundance in NPDR compared with the PDR and control group.

Conclusion:

This study confirmed the different expressions of some proteins in PDR and NPDR. Additionally, we revealed uniquely expressed proteins of PDR and NPDR, which would be differential biomarkers: prothrombin, alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein, hemoglobin subunit alpha, beta, and transthyretin.
Immunoliposomes: Synthesis, Structure, and their Potential as Drug Delivery Carriers
Authors: Sandeep Divya , AlSawaftah Nour M. , Husseini Ghaleb A.
Published: March 2020

Immunoliposomes have emerged as attractive drug targeting vehicles for cancer treatment.
This review presents the recent advances in the design of immunoliposomes encapsulating a
variety of chemotherapeutic agents. We provided an overview of different routes that can be used
to conjugate antibodies to the surfaces of liposomes, as well as several examples of stimuliresponsive
immunoliposome systems and their therapeutic potential for cancer treatment.
The Antitumor Effects of Britanin on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells and its Real-Time Evaluation by In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging
Authors: Li Hanrui , Du GeTao , Yang Lu , Pang Liaojun , Zhan Yonghua
Published: March 2020

Background:

Hepatocellular carcinoma is cancer with many new cases and the highest mortality rate.
Chemotherapy is the most commonly used method for the clinical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Natural
products have become clinically important chemotherapeutic drugs due to their great potential for pharmacological
development. Many sesquiterpene lactone compounds have been proven to have antitumor effects on hepatocellular
carcinoma.

Objective:

Britanin is a sesquiterpene lactone compound that can be considered for the treatment of hepatocellular
carcinoma. The present study aimed to investigate the antitumor effect of britanin.

Methods:

BEL 7402 and HepG2 cells were used to study the cytotoxicity and antitumor effects of britanin. Preliminary
studies on the nuclear factor kappa B pathway were conducted by western blot analysis. A BEL 7402-luc subcutaneous
tumor model was established for the in vivo antitumor studies of britanin. In vivo bioluminescence imaging
was conducted to monitor changes in tumor size.

Results:

The results of the cytotoxicity analysis showed that the IC50 values for britanin in BEL 7402 and HepG2
cells were 2.702μM and 6.006μM, respectively. The results of the colony formation demonstrated that the number of
cells in a colony was reduced significantly after britanin treatment. And the results of transwell migration assays
showed that the migration ability of tumor cells was significantly weakened after treatment with britanin. Tumor
size measurements and staining results showed that tumor size was inhibited after britanin treatment. The western
blot analysis results showed the inhibition of p65 protein expression and reduced the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax after
treatment.

Conclusion:

A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that britanin had good antitumor effects and
provided an option for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.
Modulating Pluripotency Network Genes with Omega-3 DHA is followed by Caspase- 3 Activation and Apoptosis in DNA Mismatch Repair-Deficient/KRAS-Mutant Colorectal Cancer Stem-Like Cells
Authors: Mahmoudi Nazila , Delirezh Nowruz , Sam Mohammad Reza
Published: March 2020

Background:

Targeting DNA mismatch repair-deficient/KRAS-mutant Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells (CRCSCs) with chemical compounds remains challenging. Modulating stemness factors Bmi-1, Sox-2, Oct-4 and Nanog in CRCSCs which are direct downstream targets of carcinogenesis pathways may lead to the reactivation of caspase-3 and apoptosis in these cells. Omega-3 DHA modulates different signaling pathways involved in carcinogenesis. However, little is known, whether in vitro concentrations of DHA equal to human plasma levels are able to modulate pluripotency genes expression, caspase-3 reactivation and apoptosis in DNA mismatch repair-deficient/KRAS-mutant CRC stem-like cells.

Methods:

DNA mismatch repair-deficient/KRAS-mutant CRC stem-like cells (LS174T cells) were treated with DHA, after which, cell number and proliferation-rate, Bmi-1, Sox-2, Nanog and Oct-4 expression, caspase-3 activation and apoptosis were evaluated with different cellular and molecular techniques.

Results:

DHA changed the morphology of cells to apoptotic forms and disrupted cell connections. After 48h treatment with 50- to 200μM DHA, cell numbers and proliferation-rates were measured to be 86%-35% and 93.6%-45.7% respectively. Treatment with 200 μM DHA dramatically decreased the expression of Bmi-1, Sox- 2, Oct-4 and Nanog by 69%, 70%, 97.5% and 53% respectively. Concurrently, DHA induced caspase-3 activation by 1.8-4.7-fold increases compared to untreated cells. An increase in the number of apoptotic cells ranging from 9.3%-38.4% was also observed with increasing DHA concentrations.

Conclusion:

DHA decreases the high expression level of pluripotency network genes suggesting Bmi-1, Sox-2, Oct-4 and Nanog as promising molecular targets of DHA. DHA reactivates caspase-3 and apoptosis in DNA mismatch repair-deficient/KRAS-mutant CRC stem-like cells, representing the high potential of this safe compound for therapeutic application in CRC.
Effect of Ultrasound Intensity and Mode on Piroxicam Transport Across Three-Dimensional Skin Equivalent Epiderm™
Authors: Alarjah Mohammed A.
Published: March 2020

Background:

Transdermal drug delivery has many advantages compared to other routes. However, the barrier function of the stratum corneum limits the use of the skin as an administrative route for medications. Different methods were investigated to alter the barrier function of the stratum corneum and it was found that applying different ultrasound waves could enhance the skin's permeability.

Objective:

The aim of this work is to study the effect of ultrasonic waves on the alteration of skin natural barrier function, to improve the permeability of the skin to Piroxicam using three-dimension skin (EpiDermTM) as a skin model for the investigation.

Method:

The effect of ultrasound at 1 MHz and 20 kHz on the permeation of Piroxicam across the three-dimensional skin equivalent using a Franz diffusion cell, was evaluated and the concentration of Piroxicam in the receiving compartment was determined using liquid chromatography method.

Results:

The permeation of Piroxicam enhanced by 199% when therapeutic ultrasound at 1 MHz frequency was used. Significant permeation enhancement was also found upon utilizing low frequency sonophoresis at 20 kHz (427%) with no apparent damage to the membrane.

Conclusion:

Sonophoresis has a positive effect on enhancing skin permeability. The enhancement level was largely dependent on the sonication factors; frequency, intensity and length of treatment. Multiple mechanisms of action might be involved in permeation improvement of the piroxicam molecule. Those mechanisms are largely dependent on the ultrasonic conditions.
Suradljivost adolescenata u psihijatrijskom liječenju
Authors: Franjić Kristina , Oštarijaš Eduard , Kaštelan Ana
Published: March 2020

Suradljivost (engl. compliance) je pojam koji označava u kojoj mjeri pacijent provodi upute o liječenju koje mu je dao liječnik. Loša suradnja ugrožava pacijentovo zdravlje i život, a smanjuje i učinkovitost cjelokupnog zdravstvenog sustava. Rezultati istraživanja jako variraju, kako za psihijatrijske, tako i za ostale pacijente. Svrha rada jest dati pregled znanstvene i stručne literature na temu suradljivosti adolescenata u psihijatrijskom liječenju. Nema naznaka za postojanje razlike u suradnji između adolescenata i odraslih; izuzetak su adolescenti liječeni od prve psihotične epizode koji bolje surađuju od odraslih s istom dijagnozom. Do sada nije potvrđeno da sociodemografski čimbenici utječu na suradljivost adolescenata.
Učestalost varijantne translokacije kod pacijenata s novodijagnosticiranom kroničnom mijeloičnom leukemijom (KML) u hrvatskoj populaciji
Authors: Tkalčić Švabek Željka , Josipović Marina , Franić Šimić Ivana
Published: March 2020

Cilj: Obilježje kronične mijeloične leukemije (KML) je hibridni BCR-ABL gen nastao kao posljedica recipročne translokacije između kromosoma 9 i 22, čime se stvara Philadelphia (Ph) kromosom. Klasičnu translokaciju t(9;22) ima 90 % pacijenata, dok ostalih 5 – 10 % ima varijantnu translokaciju koja uključuje više kromosoma, izuzev kromosoma 9 i 22. Cilj ovog istraživanja je odrediti postotak pacijenata s novodijagnosticiranim KML-om koji imaju varijantnu translokaciju te postotak kompletnog citogenetičkog odgovora (KCgO) pacijenata s varijantnom translokacijom u usporedbi s pacijentima koji imaju klasičnu t(9;22). Materijali i metode: U istraživanje je uključena koštana srž (KS) 177 pacijenata s novodijagnosticiranim KML-om. Za analizu Ph kromosoma koristio se kariogram kao klasična citogenetska analiza i fluorescentna in situ hibridizacija (FISH) kao molekularna citogenetska analiza. Rezultati: Varijantna translokacija dokazana je kod 14 pacijenata u razdoblju od 5 godina i 3 mjeseca, dok 163 pacijenta ima klasičnu translokaciju t(9;22). Zaključak: Postotak pacijenata s varijantnom translokacijom u istraživanju slaže se s rezultatima istraživanja u svijetu. Ne postoji statistički značajna razlika u postizanju KCgO-a kod pacijenata s varijantnom translokacijom t(9;22) u usporedbi s KCgO-om pacijenata s klasičnom translokacijom.
Влияние протонного облучения (15 МэВ) на низкочастотный шум мощных SiC MOSFETs
Authors: Лебедев А.А. , Левинштейн М.Е. , Иванов П.А. , Козловский В.В. , Стрельчук А.М. , Шабунина Е.И. , Fursin L.
Published: March 2020

Low frequency noise has been studied in power4H-SiC MOSFETs after proton(15 MeV) irradiation. The noise was studied at room temperature in the frequency range 1 Hz−50 kHz after irradiation with doses of 1012 ≤Ф≤ 6•1013 cm−2. Frequency dependence of the spectral noise density SI follows with good accuracy to the law SI∝1/f. The correlation between the saturation current of the output characteristics of Id(Vd) and the level of low-frequency noise is established. In the dose range Ф studied the value of the saturation current varies within about 20%, while the noise level changes by 2orders of magnitude. From the data of noise spectroscopy, the density of traps in the gate oxide, Ntv was estimated. In non-irradiated structures Ntv ≈5.4•1018cm−3•eV−1, at  = 6•1013 cm−2, Ntv increases to a value of Ntv ≈7.2•1019cm−3•eV−1.
Особенности температурных зависимостей фотопроводимости пленок металлоорганического перовскита CH-=SUB=-3-=/SUB=-NH-=SUB=-3-=/SUB=-PbI-=SUB=-3-=/SUB=-
Authors: Амасев Д.В. , Тамеев А.Р. , Казанский А.Г.
Published: March 2020

In this work, the effect of temperature on photoconductivity and its spectral dependence for thin films of metal-organic perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 was studied. Measurements carried out in the temperature region below room temperature revealed specific features of photoconductivity variation with temperature in the phase transition region from the tetragonal to orthorhombic structure (140–170 K). Based on the analysis of the effect of temperature on the spectral dependences of photoconductivity in the region of the phase transition mechanisms are proposed that determine the observed change in photoconductivity
Электрон-фононное взаимодействие в квантовых ямах на основе одноосных материалов
Authors: Маслов А.Ю. , Прошина О.В.
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe interaction of charged particles with interface optical phonons in quantum wells composed of uniaxially symmetric materials is studied theoretically. It is shown that the character of this interaction depends considerably on the degree of anisotropy of the phonon spectrum in the materials forming the quantum well and the barriers. In the case of strong anisotropy, the interaction turns out to be significantly weaker than it is in similar structures made of materials with cubic symmetry. In the case of weak phonon anisotropy, the interaction of charged particles with optical phonons can under certain conditions be described by a Fröhlich-type coupling constant, and both weak and strong electron–phonon interaction can take place in different structures. The results obtained extend the possibilities of the optical diagnostics of quantum nanostructures.
Влияние примеси самария на локальную структуру халькогенидного стеклообразного полупроводника Se-=SUB=-95-=/SUB=-Te-=SUB=-5-=/SUB=- и механизм прохождения тока через структуры Al-Se-=SUB=-95-=/SUB=-Te-=SUB=-5-=/SUB=--Te
Authors: Атаева С.У. , Мехтиева С.И. , Исаев А.И. , Гарибова С.Н. , Гусейнова А.С.
Published: March 2020

Effect of samarium doping on the local structure and morphological features of films surface of the Se95Te5 chalcogenide glassy semiconductor system have been investigated by X-ray analysis and atomic force microscopy methods, and the influence of doping on the current passing mechanism through the Al-Se95Te5  -Te structures have been also considered by measuring the current-voltage characteristics in a stationary mode. The results obtained are interpreted on the basis of the theory of Lampert injection currents, the Elliott void-cluster model and the Mott and Street charged defect model proposed for chalcogenide glasses.
Латеральные наноструктуры Ga(In)AsP как часть оптической системы фотопреобразователей на основе GaAs
Authors: Карлина Л.Б. , Власов А.С. , Шварц М.З. , Сошников И.П. , Смирнова И.П. , Комисаренко Ф.Э. , Анкудинов А.В.
Published: March 2020

The possibility of lateral Ga (In) AsP nanostructures grown by a catalytic method in a quasi-closed volume from phosphorus and indium vapors on the GaAs (100) surface as an antireflection coating for photovoltaic devices is considered for the first time. It is shown that at fixed growth temperature, it is possible to control the surface morphology by changing the growth time.
The surface morphology was investigated by scanning electron and atomic force microscopy. The dependence of surface reflection coefficient in the range of 400-800 nm on the surface structure is shown. The use of such coating in GaAs-based photocells demonstrated a significant increase in the external quantum yield of photoconverters.
Assessment of Training Outcomes of Nurse Readers for Diabetic Retinopathy Telescreening: Validation Study
Authors: Boucher Marie Carole , Nguyen Michael Trong Duc , Qian Jenny
Published: March 2020

Background

With the high prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and its significant visual consequences if untreated, timely identification and management of diabetic retinopathy is essential. Teleophthalmology programs have assisted in screening a large number of individuals at risk for vision loss from diabetic retinopathy. Training nonophthalmological readers to assess remote fundus images for diabetic retinopathy may further improve the efficiency of such programs.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the performance, safety implications, and progress of 2 ophthalmology nurses trained to read and assess diabetic retinopathy fundus images within a hospital diabetic retinopathy telescreening program.

Methods

In this retrospective interobserver study, 2 ophthalmology nurses followed a specific training program within a hospital diabetic retinopathy telescreening program and were trained to assess diabetic retinopathy images at 2 levels of intervention: detection of diabetic retinopathy (level 1) and identification of referable disease (level 2). The reliability of the assessment by level 1−trained readers in 266 patients and of the identification of patients at risk of vision loss from diabetic retinopathy by level 2−trained readers in 559 more patients were measured. The learning curve, sensitivity, and specificity of the readings were evaluated using a group consensus gold standard.

Results

An almost perfect agreement was measured in identifying the presence of diabetic retinopathy in both level 1 readers (κ=0.86 and 0.80) and in identifying referable diabetic retinopathy by level 2 readers (κ=0.80 and 0.83). At least substantial agreement was measured in the level 2 readers for macular edema (κ=0.79 and 0.88) for all eyes. Good screening threshold sensitivities and specificities were obtained for all level readers, with sensitivities of 90.6% and 96.9% and specificities of 95.1% and 85.1% for level 1 readers (readers A and B) and with sensitivities of 86.8% and 91.2% and specificities of 91.7% and 97.0% for level 2 readers (readers A and B). This performance was achieved immediately after training and remained stable throughout the study.

Conclusions

Notwithstanding the small number of trained readers, this study validates the screening performance of level 1 and level 2 diabetic retinopathy readers within this training program, emphasizing practical experience, and allows the establishment of an ongoing assessment clinic. This highlights the importance of supervised, hands-on experience and may help set parameters to further calibrate the training of diabetic retinopathy readers for safe screening programs.
Effectiveness of wearable activity tracker to reinforce leisure time physical activity among breast cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial (Preprint)
Authors: Kong Sunga , Lee Jae Kyung , Kang Danbee , Kim Imryung , Shim Young Mog , Park Won , Choi Dooho , Cho Juhee
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

Physical activity during and after treatment has been identified as a potential strategy to assist women throughout their treatment, positively influence the recovery and fatigue.

OBJECTIVE

This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate whether wearable activity tracker (WAT) in addition to counseling would reinforce leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among patients with breast cancer in comparison with counseling only.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial was conducted from May 2015 to December 2017 at the Samsung Comprehensive Cancer Center in Seoul, South Korea. A total of 152 breast cancer patients who were age of 19-65 years, stage I-III breast cancer, and plan to undergo radiation therapy (RT) after surgery. The counseling with WAT application group (n=76) underwent physical activity (PA) self-monitoring using a Fitbit Charge with weekly counseling, and the counseling only group (n=76) received telephone counseling once a week during RT. The primary outcome was LTPA after RT; LTPA was evaluated using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire before, immediately after, and 3 and 6 months after RT. For the analysis of the primary outcome, we calculated differences between the baseline and follow-up LTPAs and divided them by the absolute value at baseline to determine the relative change. In the subgroup analysis, changes of LTPA and average daily step counts were also compared using t-test and mixed model.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 47.04 years, and all baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. The counseling with WAT application group had increased relative change in LTPAs (102.8) compared with the counseling only group (57.8 minute/week) immediately after RT compared with those at baseline and was more likely to maintain long-term LTPAs (6 months after counseling). In the subgroup analysis patients who did not perform regular PAs before cancer diagnosis had significantly increased step counts (steps/day) compared with those who did.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows the feasibility of WAT application with counseling to reinforce PA among patients with breast cancer. This intervention was more effective among the patients who did not perform regular PAs before cancer diagnosis

CLINICALTRIAL

KCT0001474: https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01.jsp?seq=5858
A review of Tracheobronchial Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma: treatment methods and outcomes. (Preprint)
Authors: Singh Ravjit , Karantanis William , Fadhil Matthew , Fuzi Jordan , Crawford Julia
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the trachea is one of the most common primary tracheal tumours, second in prevalence only to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). course of progression is indolent, the oncological characteristics of an ACC predispose these tumours to extensive submucosal and perineural spread.

OBJECTIVE

We have conducted a systematic review of the literature to assess the current state of surgical resection and reconstructive options in comparison to survival outcomes.

METHODS

A review of publication on PubMed, Cochrane Library, JBI Library of Systematic Reviews and Ovid databases was undertaken. Searches using the terms “adenoid cystic carcinoma”, “cylindroma”, “trachea” and “tracheobronchial tree” identified all relevant articles in the literature. All articles were reviewed and only those in the English language were included. Journal articles published between 1966 to 2019 were included.

RESULTS

Using the terms “adenoid cystic carcinoma”, “cylindroma”, “trachea” and “tracheobronchial tree”, 112 and 202 articles were found from Ovid Medline and PubMed respectively. No meta-analyses were found in the Cochrane Library. JBI Library of systematic reviews revealed no systematic reviews. Following removal of duplicated studies, identification of English only studies and an assessment of relevance, a total of 247 were included in the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Tracheal ACC is a difficult disease to manage and treatment, due to its late presentation and significant associated morbidity. It is a rare primary tracheal malignancy that often presents with no specific symptoms last for weeks to years. It is commonly misdiagnosed as other primary respiratory issues. Complete surgical resection will give the patient the best chance of survival or even cure.