bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treating non-responders: pitfalls and implications for cancer immunotherapy trial design
Authors: Xu Zhenzhen , Park Yongsoek , Liu Ke , Zhu Bin
Published: March 2020

Background

Conventional trial design and analysis strategies fail to address the typical challenge of immune-oncology (IO) studies: only a limited percentage of treated patients respond to the experimental treatment. Treating non-responders, we hypothesize, would in part drive non-proportional hazards (NPH) patterns in Kaplan-Meier curves that violates the proportional hazards (PH) assumption required by conventional strategies. Ignoring such violation incurred from treating non-responders in the design and analysis strategy may result in underpowered or even falsely negative studies. Hence, designing innovative IO trials to address such pitfall becomes essential.

Methods

We empirically tested the hypothesis that treating non-responders in studies of inadequate size is sufficient to cause NPH patterns and thereby proposed a novel strategy,p-embedded, to incorporate the dichotomized response incurred from treating non-responders, as measured by the baseline proportion of responders among treated patientsp%, into the design and analysis procedures, aiming to ensure an adequate study power when the PH assumption is violated.

Results

Empirical studies confirmed the hypothetical cause contributes to the manifestation of NPH patterns. Further evaluations revealed a significant quantitative impact ofp% on study efficiency. The p-embedded strategy incorporating the properly pre-specifiedp% ensures an adequate study power whereas the conventional design ignoring it leads to a severe power loss.

Conclusion

The p-embedded strategy allows us to quantify the impact of treating non-responders on study efficiency. Implicit in such strategy is the solution to mitigate the occurrence of NPH patterns and enhance the study efficiency for IO trials via enrolling more prospective responders.
The Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database reports enable evidence-based personal precision health care
Authors: Møller Pål
Published: March 2020

The aims of the Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database (PLSD) are to provide empirical prospectively observed data on the incidences of cancer in different organs, survival following cancer and the effects of interventions in carriers of pathogenic variants of the mismatch repair genes (path_MMR) categorized by age, gene and gender. Although PLSD is assumption-free, as with any study the ascertainment procedures used to identify the study cohort will introduce selection biases which have to be declared and considered in detail in order to provide robust and valid results. This paper provides a commentary on the methods used and considers how results from the PLSD reports should be interpreted. A number of the results from PLSD were novel and some in conflict with previous assumptions. Notably, colonoscopic surveillance did not prevent colo-rectal cancer, survival after colo-rectal, endometrial and ovarian cancer was good, no survival gain was observed with more frequent colonoscopy, new causes of cancer-related death were observed in survivors of first cancers due to later cancers in other organs, variants in the different MMR genes caused distinct multi-cancer syndromes characterized by different penetrance and phenotypes. The www.PLSD.eu website together with the InSiGHT database website (https://www.insight-group.org/variants/databases/) now facilitate evidence-based personalized precision health care for individual carriers at increased risk of cancer. The arguments are summarized in a final discussion on how to conceptualize current knowledge for the different practical purposes of treating cancers, genetic counselling and prevention, and for understanding /research on carcinogenetic mechanisms.
Ultraplexing: increasing the efficiency of long-read sequencing for hybrid assembly with k-mer-based multiplexing
Authors: Dilthey Alexander T. , Meyer Sebastian A. , Kaasch Achim J.
Published: March 2020

Hybrid genome assembly has emerged as an important technique in bacterial genomics, but cost and labor requirements limit large-scale application. We present Ultraplexing, a method to improve per-sample sequencing cost and hands-on time of Nanopore sequencing for hybrid assembly by at least 50% compared to molecular barcoding while maintaining high assembly quality. Ultraplexing requires the availability of Illumina data and uses inter-sample genetic variability to assign reads to isolates, which obviates the need for molecular barcoding. Thus, Ultraplexing can enable significant sequencing and labor cost reductions in large-scale bacterial genome projects.
Resistance against macrocyclic lactones in Psoroptes ovis in cattle
Authors: van Mol Wouter , De Wilde Nathalie , Casaert Stijn , Chen Zhenzhen , Vanhecke Marieke , Duchateau Luc , Claerebout Edwin
Published: March 2020

Background

Psoroptic mange is an important disease in Belgian Blue cattle. Treatment failure of macrocyclic lactones against Psoroptes ovis has been reported, but clear evidence of in vivo resistance is lacking. This study assessed the efficacy of macrocyclic lactone products on 16 beef farms in Belgium and the Netherlands in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

On each farm a group of animals (n = 7–14) with psoroptic mange was treated with two subcutaneous injections of a macrocyclic lactone product with 7–10 days interval (15 farms) or a single injection with a long-acting macrocyclic lactone (1 farm). In vivo efficacy was assessed by the reduction in mite counts, clinical index (proportion of the body surface affected by lesions), the proportion of the animals with negative mite counts after the first treatment round and the number of treatment rounds needed to obtain zero mites counts in all animals. A mite population was categorized as sensitive when the mite count reduction after the first treatment round > 95% and the lower limit of the uncertainty interval > 90%. Resistance was detected when both parameters were below their threshold and suspected when one parameter was too low. In vitro knockdown and mortality were evaluated in a contact test.

Results

The proportion of the animals with negative mite counts after the first treatment round varied from 0 to 80%. All farms needed two or more treatments rounds to obtain zero mite counts on all animals. Clinical index only started to reduce after the second treatment round. Mite populations from three farms were categorized as sensitive, one as suspected resistant and 12 as resistant. No correlation was found between in vitro lethal dose 50 and knockdown dose 50 values and in vivo efficacy parameters.

Conclusions

Unambiguous treatment failure was detected on 12 out of 16 farms, confirming the presence of macrocyclic lactone resistance on Belgian Blue beef farms. In vitro parameters could not discriminate the farms based on their in vivo sensitivity. The mean reduction in mite counts and the lower limit of the confidence interval are proposed as parameters to identify acaricide resistance.
Multiplex cytokine and antibody profile in cystic echinococcosis patients during a three-year follow-up in reference to the cyst stages
Authors: Li Zhi-Dan , Mo Xiao-Jin , Yan Shuai , Wang Dong , Xu Bin , Guo Jian , Zhang Ting , Hu Wei , Feng Yu , Zhou Xiao-Nong , Feng Zheng
Published: March 2020

Background

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a worldwide parasitic zoonosis caused by infection of the larval stage of tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. In human CE, the parasites develop and form cysts in internal organs. The differentiated cysts can be classified into five types based on WHO-IWGE standard CE1-5 representing different developmental stages. Infection with E. granulosus triggers hosts’ humoral and cellular response, displaying elevated serum antibodies and Th1 and Th2 cytokines, which are presumed to be in association with the disease outcome. Identification of immunological markers for evaluation of disease progression has been a growing concern. However, the distinctive profile of cytokines and antibodies associated with the cyst progression has not been ascertained.

Methods

To better understand the interaction between host immune response and disease outcome, the present study followed-up four CE patients over three years by yearly measuring serum level of 27 cytokines, total IgG and isotypes, and ultrasound scanning, beginning in year 1 for all patients with CE1 and CE2 cysts before treatment and continued in year 2 with CE4 and in year 3 with CE3-CE5 post-treatment.

Results

Nine cytokines including Th1-type IL-2, Th17-type IL-17A, and inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-1Rα and TNF-α, chemokines IL-8, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and growth factor G-CSF were significantly elevated in patients with cyst type CE1, compared to the normal controls, and then declined to a normal level at CE4 and CE5. Examining the antibody production, we found that serum specific IgG was significantly increased in patients with active and transitional cysts, specifically the total IgG at CE1/CE3/CE4-CE5, IgG4 at CE1 and IgG1 at CE1/CE3 cyst status, in comparison with the normal controls, but showed no significant changes between the cyst stages.

Conclusions

Our findings provide new information on the profile of multiplex cytokines and serum antibodies associated with cyst stages in cystic echinococcosis patients through a three-year follow-up, implying that further studies using an approach combining cyst-associated immune parameters may aid in identifying immunological markers for differentiation of disease progression.
Genetic variation in Austrostrongylus thylogale Johnston & Mawson, 1940 (Nematoda: Trichostrongylida) from the tammar wallaby, Notamacropus eugenii (Gray), and the quokka, Setonix brachyurus (Quoy & Gaimard) (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) in Australia
Authors: Sukee Tanapan , Huynh Tony , Beveridge Ian , Jabbar Abdul
Published: March 2020

Background

Australian marsupials harbour a diverse array of helminth parasites. Despite current attempts to assess the extent of this diversity in macropodid hosts, it has been suggested that unique parasite fauna of Australian wildlife is difficult to document comprehensively due to the common occurrence of cryptic species. This paper assessed genetic variation within Austrostrongylus thylogale Johnston & Mawson, 1940 from the tammar wallaby, Notamacropus eugenii (Gray), and the quokka, Setonix brachyurus (Quoy & Gaimard), from different localities using the molecular characterisation of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) within the nuclear ribosomal DNA.

Methods

Thirty-seven specimens of A. thylogale collected from N. eugenii (from Parndana, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, and Perup, Western Australia) and S. brachyurus (from Wellington Dam, Western Australia) were characterised using a molecular-phylogenetic approach utilising the first (ITS1) and second (ITS2) internal transcribed spacers.

Results

Genetic variation was detected in both ITS1 and ITS2 between specimens of A. thylogale from N. eugenii and S. brachyurus; however, no variation was detected between specimens collected from N. eugenii from Parndana, South Australia, and Perup, Western Australia. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analyses of ITS sequences showed two clades of A. thylogale originating from two hosts, N. eugenii and S. brachyurus, suggesting the presence of cryptic species.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence of genetic variation within A. thylogale based on collections from two different host species. Morphological studies are required to fully confirm the presence of a new species or cryptic species. Further molecular studies using a larger number of specimens are warranted to explore the genetic variation between A. thylogale from different geographical localities.
Adapted physical activity and cardiac coherence in hematologic patients (APACCHE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Fournié Claire , Bouscaren Nicolas , Dalleau Georges , Lenclume Victorine , Mohr Catherine , Zunic Patricia , Cabrera Quentin , Verkindt Chantal
Published: March 2020

Background

Hematologic malignancies and their treatments are recognized for their significant long-term adverse effects on health-related quality of life. As a part of cancer treatment, physical exercise is known to improve physical functioning, but there are still questions regarding its impact on psychological and emotional functioning. Nonetheless, heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) is recognized for its positive effects on autonomic nervous system balance and emotional self-regulation. The Adapted Physical Activity and Cardiac Coherence in Hematologic Patients (APACCHE) protocol is a randomized, controlled superiority trial designed to evaluate the effects of HRBV training combined with an adaptive physical activity (APA) program compared to APA alone on the post-treatment quality of life of adult hematologic patients.

Methods

Seventy patients aged 18–70 years, with various forms of hematological malignancies, in post-treatment remission within six months prior to beginning the study and who have been prescribed APA by a hematologist, will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to two 12-week treatment groups: HRVB + APA versus APA alone. APA sessions will consist of aerobic and resistance training for 1-h twice weekly. The HRVB training will consist of controlled breathing exercises with biofeedback of heart rate variability for 10 sessions and will include a daily home-based practice. The primary outcome will be to evaluate health-related quality of life (QLQ-C30, SF-36). The secondary outcomes will be to evaluate fatigue (MFI-20); anxiety and depression (HADS); clinical status with blood pressure, progression-free survival, overall survival, and body mass index; heart rate variability level and cardiac coherence score. All of these assessments will be evaluated initially (T1), 6 weeks after (T2), at the end of the 12 weeks (T3), and then at a 12-week post-intervention follow-up (T4).

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the first protocol to investigate the additional value of HRVB on physical exercise. In addition, there has been no study previously published about HRVB in hematologic patients. We hypothesize that overall quality of life and psychological and physical functioning will be improved, potentially offering a better understanding of supportive cancer care in hematology and inferring new perspectives in psychophysiological research in cancer.

Trial registration

Current randomized controlled trial was registered 29 November 2017 on Clinical Trials.gov (NCT number: NCT03356171).
An improved approach for studying oscillation of generalized Emden–Fowler neutral differential equation
Authors: Moaaz Osama , Elabbasy Elmetwally M. , Qaraad Belgees
Published: March 2020

The purpose of this work is to study the oscillation criteria for generalized Emden–Fowler neutral differential equation. We establish new oscillation criteria using both the technique of comparison with first order delay equations and the technique of Riccati transformation. Our new criteria are interesting as they improve, simplify, and complement some results that have been published recently in the literature. Moreover, we present an illustrating example.
Generalized fractional integral inequalities for exponentially $(s,m)$-convex functions
Authors: Qiang Xiaoli , Farid Ghulam , Pečarić Josip , Akbar Saira Bano
Published: March 2020

In this paper we have derived the fractional integral inequalities by defining exponentially $(s,m)$(s,m)-convex functions. These inequalities provide upper bounds, boundedness, continuity, and Hadamard type inequality for fractional integrals containing an extended Mittag-Leffler function. The results about fractional integral operators for s-convex, m-convex, $(s,m)$(s,m)-convex, exponentially convex, exponentially s-convex, and convex functions are direct consequences of presented results.
Formal and analytic normal forms for non-autonomous difference systems with uniform dichotomy spectrum
Authors: Zhihua Ren , Peirong Wang , Yanqin Xu , Hao Wu
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we extend formal and analytic normal forms from autonomous difference systems to non-autonomous ones based on the uniform dichotomy spectrum of their linear part.
The prevalence and molecular mechanisms of mupirocin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from a Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Abdulgader Shima M. , Lentswe Tshepiso , Whitelaw Andrew , Newton-Foot Mae
Published: March 2020

Background

Antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious problem in public health globally. Monitoring resistance levels within healthcare and community settings is critical to combat its ongoing increase. This study aimed to describe the rates and molecular mechanisms of mupirocin resistance in clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Tygerberg Hospital, and to describe its association with strain types.

Methods

We retrospectively selected 212 S. aureus isolates which were identified from blood samples and pus swabs during the years 2009–2011 and 2015–2017. The isolates were identified using conventional microbiological methods and genotyping was done using spa typing. Cefoxitin (30 μg) disc diffusion and the two disc strategy (5 μg and 200 μg) were used to determine susceptibility to methicillin and mupirocin, respectively. Isolates with high-level resistance were screened for the plasmid mediated genes mupA and mupB by PCR, and sequencing of the ileS gene was done for all isolates exhibiting low-level resistance to describe the mutations associated with this phenotype. Chi-square test was used to assess the associations between mupirocin resistance and S. aureus genotypes.

Results

Of 212 S. aureus isolates, 12% (n = 25) were resistant to mupirocin, and 44% (n = 93) were methicillin resistant. Strain typing identified 73 spa types with spa t045 being the most predominant constituting 11% of the isolates. High-level mupirocin resistance was observed in 2% (n = 5), and low-level resistance in 9% (n = 20) of the isolates. The prevalence of high-level mupirocin resistance amongst MRSA and MSSA was 4 and 1% respectively, while the prevalence of low-level mupirocin resistance was significantly higher in MRSA (18%) compared to MSSA (3%), (p = 0.032). mupA was the only resistance determinant for high-level resistance, and the IleS mutation V588F was identified in 95% of the isolates which showed low-level resistance. A significant association was observed between spa type t032 and high-level mupirocin resistance, and types t037 and t012 and low-level resistance (p <  0.0001).

Conclusion

The study reported higher rates of low-level mupirocin resistance compared to high-level resistance, and in our setting, mupirocin resistance was driven by certain genotypes. Our study advocates for the continuous screening for mupirocin resistance in S. aureus in clinical settings to better guide treatment and prescribing practices.
Seagrass canopies and the performance of acoustic telemetry: implications for the interpretation of fish movements
Authors: Swadling Daniel S. , Knott Nathan A. , Rees Matthew J. , Pederson Hugh , Adams Kye R. , Taylor Matthew D. , Davis Andrew R.
Published: March 2020

Background

Acoustic telemetry has been used with great success to quantify the movements of marine fishes in open habitats, however research has begun to focus on patterns of movement and habitat usage within more structurally complex habitats. To date, there has been no detailed assessment of the performance of acoustic telemetry within seagrass, which forms a crucial nursery and foraging habitat for many fish species globally. Information on the detection range of acoustic receivers within seagrass is essential to guide receiver array design, particularly positioning systems. Here, we compare detection ranges for transmitters (Vemco V7) within and above the seagrass to determine impacts on the performance of a Vemco Positioning System (VPS). We also investigate the influence of environmental conditions (i.e. wind, time of day, background noise, atmospheric pressure and depth) on detection probability.

Results

The performance of the VPS declined dramatically when the transmitters were positioned within the seagrass (positional accuracy = 2.69 m, precision = 0.9 m, system efficiency (i.e. the proportion of successful positions) = 5.9%) compared to above the canopy (positional accuracy = 2.21 m, precision = 0.45 m, system efficiency = 30.9%). The reduction in VPS efficiency when transmitters were within seagrass was caused by a decline in the detection range of receivers (range of 50% detections) from 85 to 40 m, as this limited the ability of the three receivers to simultaneously detect transmissions. Additionally, no detections were recorded for the transmitters within seagrass at a distance greater than 150 m from the receiver. Increasing wind speed from 0 to 50 km h−1 correlated with a 15% reduction in detections while detection probability decreased from 0.8 during the day to 0.55 at night, due to higher in-band noise (69 kHz).

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that tagged fish ensconced within seagrass are unlikely to be detected by receivers or positioned by a VPS. Further, we demonstrate that wind conditions and the time of day create temporal variation in detection probability. These findings highlight the need for telemetry studies to perform in situ range testing and consider how fish use vegetated habitats such as seagrasses when positioning receivers and interpreting data.
MicroRNA-107 is a novel tumor suppressor targeting POU3F2 in melanoma
Authors: Zhao Guizhi , Wei Zhili , Guo Yang
Published: March 2020

Background

Melanoma is one of the major types of skin cancer. The metastatic melanoma is among the most lethal forms of malignant skin tumors. We hereby aimed to characterize a novel microRNA (miR) in the metastatic melanoma model.

Methods

First, we evaluated the expression of miR-107 in melanoma cells and tumor tissues. The comparison between primary and metastatic cancer tissues was also accessed. Next, we examined the impact of miR-107 on melanoma cell proliferation, cell cycle, colony formation, apoptotic activity, migration and matrix invasion. A downstream target of miR-107 was also predicted and validated functionally in melanoma cells.

Results

Our findings showed miR-107 was significantly downregulated in melanoma. Its expression was lowest in metastatic form. Over-expression of miR-107 reduced melanoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion. POU3F2 was identified as the downstream target of miR-107. Over-expression of POU3F2 antagonized miR-107-mediated inhibitory effect on melanoma cells.

Conclusion

Our study has reported miR-107 as a novel tumor suppressive factor in the metastatic melanoma model. It has provided new avenue to manage melanoma and improve the survival rate in the advanced stage.
Contraception need and available services among incarcerated women in the United States: a systematic review
Authors: Peart Mishka S. , Knittel Andrea K.
Published: March 2020

Context

Seventy-five percent of incarcerated women are of reproductive age, most of whom are at-risk for unintended pregnancy. Women who are incarcerated come disproportionately from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and often lack access to desired reproductive health care. While the carceral system provides a unique opportunity to fill this gap, a better understanding of the contraceptive needs, desires, and plans of incarcerated women is needed to optimize health care provision within the carceral system. A review of current contraceptive services available to women inmates may both identify model care programs and shed light on areas for improvement.

Evidence acquisition

PubMed electronic database used to identify relevant articles published between January 1975 and September 2019 using a systematic review method.

Results

Twenty-five articles met the inclusion criteria and answered four key questions surrounding contraception in the carceral system. Most articles (48%) represented scientific research. Other publications identified by this review were expert commentaries, policy briefings, guidance and recommendations reports, and law and bioethics reviews.

Conclusions

Incarcerated women desire access to standard and emergency contraception from carceral health care systems. Knowledgeable family planning practitioners providing patient-centered and trauma-informed care and public health interventions linking newly released inmates to community clinics can help alleviate inmates’ concerns regarding initiating desired contraception while incarcerated.
Childhood wayfinding experience explains sex and individual differences in adult wayfinding strategy and anxiety
Authors: Vieites Vanessa , Pruden Shannon M. , Reeb-Sutherland Bethany C.
Published: March 2020

Background

Anyone who has ever found themselves lost while driving in an unfamiliar neighborhood or forgotten where they parked their car can appreciate the importance of being able to navigate their environment. Navigation, or wayfinding, is a large-scale spatial ability that involves keeping track of the relative positions of objects and features in space, which allows for determining the path to a goal location. Early experiences shape spatial skill development, and research finds sex differences in spatial behaviors from preschool through adulthood, with males consistently outperforming females. The basis for sex differences in spatial aptitude is still debated, but explanations include differences in childhood spatial experience, the use of strategies for solving large-scale spatial problems, and spatial anxiety. The current study seeks to understand childhood wayfinding factors that may influence sex and individual differences in wayfinding strategies and wayfinding anxiety in adulthood.

Method

One hundred fifty-nine undergraduate psychology students reported their childhood wayfinding experience (i.e., time spent outside, distance traveled), current use of wayfinding strategies (i.e., route strategy, orientation strategy), and current wayfinding anxiety and general anxiety levels.

Results

Independent samplesttests revealed that, compared with females, males reported spending more time outside and traveling farther distances as children, having less current wayfinding anxiety and route strategy use, and having more current orientation strategy use. Mediation analyses found that distance traveled, but not time spent outdoors, during childhood mediated sex differences in route strategy use and wayfinding anxiety in adults, even when controlling for general anxiety. Furthermore, when controlling for participant sex and general anxiety, current wayfinding anxiety mediated the relationship between distance traveled during childhood and route strategy use in adults.

Conclusion

The current findings provide potential environmental explanations for sex and individual differences in large-scale spatial behaviors, including wayfinding. Specifically, sex differences in early wayfinding experience may explain why males and females develop different strategies for navigating and different levels of wayfinding anxiety. Furthermore, regardless of sex, allowing children to explore and navigate their outdoor environments away from home may help lessen their fears about navigating and, in turn, improve the strategies they choose to traverse unfamiliar territories.
Asymmetric effect of exchange rate changes on cross-border trade in Nigeria
Authors: Apanisile Olumuyiwa Tolulope , Oloba Olusola Mathew
Published: March 2020

This paper investigates the asymmetric effect of exchange rate changes on cross-border trade in Nigeria. The investigation becomes necessary because several studies have reported insignificant results in attempting to establish a link between these two variables using symmetric specification. Whereas, there are strong evidence of nonlinear mean-reverting association because some exchange rate changes of the same magnitude exhibit different effects on other variables of interest. Having separated the real effective exchange rate into both depreciation and appreciation regimes using the partial sum processes based on logistic smooth-transition and exponential smooth-transition, results from the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lags show that exchange rate appreciation had a statistically significant negative relationship with cross-border trade in Nigeria. The study concludes that the relationship between real effective exchange rate and cross-border trade is asymmetric. (Depreciation and appreciation of equal magnitude do not have the same effect on cross-border trade in Nigeria.) The study recommends that policy makers should consider models that allow a nonlinear adjustment of exchange rates which may produce outcomes supporting an effective devaluation or appreciation policy, at least against some trading partners.
Anti-Müllerian Hormone and Ovarian Morphology in Women With Hypothalamic Hypogonadism
Authors: Alemyar Amoon , van der Kooi Anne-Lotte L F , Laven Joop S E
Published: March 2020

Context

Different phenotypical features of women with hypothalamic hypogonadism (HH), also known as World Health Organization-1 anovulation, including ovarian morphology, have been scarcely described in large cohorts. Some studies have reported increased levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in women with HH.

Objective

To assess whether women with HH, compared with healthy controls, have increased serum levels of AMH and what proportion of these women erroneously meet the Rotterdam Criteria for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

Design, Setting and Participants

Retrospective cohort study in a Dutch academic medical center including 83 women with neither anovulation nor menstrual cycle disorders (healthy controls), 159 women with HH and 3640 women with PCOS. Age matching was used between the HH and PCOS group (1:2 ratio) to create a second group consisting of 318 age-matched women with PCOS.

Intervention

None.

Main outcome measures

AMH levels and ovarian morphology.

Results

Median AMH serum levels for the HH group were 3.8 (<0.1–19.8), compared with 7.5 (<0.1–81.0) in the PCOS group and 1.9 (<0.1–21.5) in the control group (P < 0.001). In the HH group, 58 (36%) erroneously met the Rotterdam Criteria for PCOS (meeting 2 of 3 criteria).

Conclusions

AMH levels are increased in women with HH. We hypothesize that this increase, although there was no increase in follicle count, may be explained by the presence of a relatively large pool of antral follicles smaller than 2 mm in diameter, that are undetectable by transvaginal ultrasound. This study highlights the importance of measuring gonadotropins and estradiol before diagnosing a patient with PCOS.
Prevention of Adrenal Crisis: Cortisol Responses to Major Stress Compared to Stress Dose Hydrocortisone Delivery
Authors: Prete Alessandro , Taylor Angela E , Bancos Irina , Smith David J , Foster Mark A , Kohler Sibylle , Fazal-Sanderson Violet , Komninos John , O’Neil Donna M , Vassiliadi Dimitra A , Mowatt Christopher J , Mihai Radu , Fallowfield Joanne L , Annane Djillali , Lord Janet M , Keevil Brian G , Wass John A H , Karavitaki Niki , Arlt Wiebke
Published: March 2020

Context

Patients with adrenal insufficiency require increased hydrocortisone cover during major stress to avoid a life-threatening adrenal crisis. However, current treatment recommendations are not evidence-based.

Objective

To identify the most appropriate mode of hydrocortisone delivery in patients with adrenal insufficiency who are exposed to major stress.

Design and Participants

Cross-sectional study: 122 unstressed healthy subjects and 288 subjects exposed to different stressors (major trauma [N = 83], sepsis [N = 100], and combat stress [N = 105]). Longitudinal study: 22 patients with preserved adrenal function undergoing elective surgery. Pharmacokinetic study: 10 patients with primary adrenal insufficiency undergoing administration of 200 mg hydrocortisone over 24 hours in 4 different delivery modes (continuous intravenous infusion; 6-hourly oral, intramuscular or intravenous bolus administration).

Main Outcome Measure

We measured total serum cortisol and cortisone, free serum cortisol, and urinary glucocorticoid metabolite excretion by mass spectrometry. Linear pharmacokinetic modeling was used to determine the most appropriate mode and dose of hydrocortisone administration in patients with adrenal insufficiency exposed to major stress.

Results

Serum cortisol was increased in all stress conditions, with the highest values observed in surgery and sepsis. Continuous intravenous hydrocortisone was the only administration mode persistently achieving median cortisol concentrations in the range observed during major stress. Linear pharmacokinetic modeling identified continuous intravenous infusion of 200 mg hydrocortisone over 24 hours, preceded by an initial bolus of 50–100 mg hydrocortisone, as best suited for maintaining cortisol concentrations in the required range.

Conclusions

Continuous intravenous hydrocortisone infusion should be favored over intermittent bolus administration in the prevention and treatment of adrenal crisis during major stress.
Depot-Specific Analysis of Human Adipose Cells and Their Responses to Bisphenol S
Authors: Peshdary Vian , Styles George , Gagné Rémi , Yauk Carole L , Sorisky Alexander , Atlas Ella
Published: March 2020

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is associated with adverse health outcomes including obesity and diabetes. Obesity, and more specifically visceral obesity, is correlated with metabolic disease. The adipose tissue is an endocrine organ and a potential target for many environmental pollutants including bisphenols. The subcutaneous (Sc) and the omental (Om, visceral) depots are composed of mature adipocytes and residing progenitors, which may be different between the depots and may be EDCs targets. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a suspected metabolic disruptor, and is being replaced with structurally similar compounds such as bisphenol S (BPS). Like BPA, BPS induces adipogenesis in murine and primary human Sc preadipocytes. However, the effect of BPS on Om preadipocytes is not known. In this study, we show that human primary progenitors from Om depots have a distinct transcriptomic signature as compared to progenitors derived from donor-matched Sc depots. Furthermore, we show that BPS increases adipogenesis both of Om and Sc preadipocytes and can mimic the action of glucocorticoids or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists. We also show that BPS treatment, at 0.1 µM and 25 µM, modifies the adipokine profiles both of Om- and Sc-derived adipocytes in a depot-specific manner. Taken together our data show distinct gene expression profiles in the Om vs Sc progenitors and similar responses to the BPA analogue, BPS.
Editorial
Authors: Dudek Dominika , Sobański Jerzy , Klasa Katarzyna
Published: March 2020

bez streszczenia
Mental disorders in patients with epilepsy
Authors: Jeżowska-Jurczyk Klaudia , Kotas Roman , Jurczyk Piotr , Nowakowska-Kotas Marta , Budrewicz Sławomir , Pokryszko-Dragan Anna
Published: March 2020

Zaburzenia psychiczne występują u chorych na padaczkę znamiennie częściej niż w populacji ogólnej, a także niż w przebiegu innych przewlekłych schorzeń. Współistnieniu tych zaburzeń sprzyja specyfika padaczki jako schorzenia ośrodkowego układu nerwowego ze złożonymi następstwami somatycznymi, psychicznymi i społecznymi. Ponadto sugerowane są wspólne patomechanizmy padaczki i zaburzeń psychicznych, związane z zaburzeniami czynności bioelektrycznej oraz neuroprzekaźnictwa w poszczególnych obszarach mózgu. Autorzy przedstawiają przegląd głównych typów zaburzeń psychicznych obserwowanych u chorych na padaczkę: zaburzenia psychotyczne, afektywne, lękowe, zaburzenia osobowości i zachowania. Omawiają ich epidemiologię i obraz kliniczny, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem ich związku czasowego z napadami padaczkowymi oraz czynników ryzyka. Podkreślają problemy związane z diagnostyką różnicową oraz opracowaniem optymalnej strategii terapeutycznej. Zaburzenia psychiczne wywierają istotny wpływ na jakość życia i funkcjonowania chorych na padaczkę. Pogłębienie wiedzy na temat wzajemnych relacji między tymi schorzeniami oraz interdyscyplinarna współpraca neurologa i psychiatry sprzyjają wczesnemu, właściwemu rozpoznaniu zaburzeń psychicznych w tej grupie chorych oraz skutecznemu ich leczeniu.
Psychometric properties of the General Functioning Questionnaire (GFQ-58) used for screening for symptoms of psychopathology and overall level of functioning
Authors: Styła Rafał , Kowalski Joachim
Published: March 2020

Cel pracy

Pomiary nasilenia objawów psychopatologicznych za pomocą kwestionariuszy samoopisowych są istotnym elementem badań klinicznych i naukowych. Brakuje jednakże polskojęzycznego narzędzia do badania jednocześnie ogólnej oceny funkcjonowania oraz nasilenia szerokiego spektrum objawów psychopatologicznych, które byłoby dostępne szerokiemu gronu badaczy oraz praktyków. W poniższym artykule został opisany proces tworzenia takiego narzędzia - Kwestionariusza Oceny Ogólnego Funkcjonowania 58 (KOOF-58).

Metoda

W celu oceny trafności i rzetelności KOOF-58 przeprowadzono 3 badania: (1) badanie porównujące wyniki 30 osób z diagnozą schizofrenii z wynikami 30 osób bez diagnozy psychiatrycznej, (2) badanie korelacyjne przeprowadzone na 602 osobach eksplorujące związki KOOF-58 z tendencją do ruminacji i jakością życia oraz (3) badanie w grupie 37 pacjentów z oddziału leczenia nerwic i zaburzeń osobowości eksplorujące związki KOOF-58 z wieloma narzędziami mierzącymi nasilenie objawów psychopatologicznych, ogólnego funkcjonowania i osobowości nerwicowej.

Wyniki

W pierwszym badaniu ujawniono duże różnice między osobami chorującymi na schizofrenię i osobami zdrowymi w zakresie ogólnego wyniku kwestionariusza (p<0.001, d=1.30) i kilku jego podskal. W drugim badaniu wykazano silne związki KOOF-58 z nasileniem rozpamiętywania (p<0.001, ρ=0.64) i poziomem jakości życia (p<0.001, ρ=-0.81). W trzecim badaniu wykazano związki KOOF-58 o średniej bądź dużej sile (wszystkie p≤0,001, r=0.43-0.86) z narzędziami służącymi do pomiaru różnych objawów psychopatologicznych, ogólnego funkcjonowania i osobowości nerwicowej. Rzetelność wyniku ogólnego mierzona współczynnikiem α Cronbacha była satysfakcjonująca we wszystkich trzech badaniach (α=0.89-0.92).

Wnioski

Kwestionariusz KOOF-58 charakteryzuje się satysfakcjonującą trafnością oraz rzetelnością. Kwestionariusz może być stosowany zarówno w badaniach naukowych oraz badaniach klinicznych jako narzędzie dotyczące ogólnego funkcjonowania oraz nasilenia objawów psychopatologicznych.
A Multiclass Tour Flow Model and Its Role in Multiclass Freight Tour Synthesis
Authors: Holguín-Veras José , Encarnación Trilce , Ramírez-Ríos Diana , He Xiaozheng (Sean) , Kalahasthi Lokesh , Pérez-Guzmán Sofía , Sanchez-Díaz Iván , González-Calderón Carlos A.
Published: March 2020

This paper summarizes the research conducted by the authors concerning the development of an analytical freight demand model that explicitly considers freight pickup and delivery flows by industry sector, the multiclass tour flow model (MC-TFM). The mathematical properties of the resultant model are investigated, including the convexity of the optimization model, the interconnection between the MC-TFM and the family of gravity models, and the MC-TFM's elasticities. The MC-TFM is then integrated into a multiclass freight tour synthesis model (MC-FTS) that is capable of inferring freight tour demand on the basis of secondary data such as traffic counts and estimates of freight trip generation by industry sector. The ability of the resulting MC-FTS is tested by means of numerical experiments involving test cases.
Non-traumatic chest pain: pericarditis
Authors: Mootham Andrew
Published: March 2020

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the two layers of pericardium, the thin, sac-like membrane that surrounds the heart. Its causes are thought to be viral, fungal or bacterial. Pericarditis may also present as a result of a myocardial infarction. Its signs and symptoms include chest pain, which may radiate to the arm and jaw and pericardial friction rub (a scratching or creaking sound produced by the layers of the pericardium rubbing over each other) on auscultation of heart sounds. The diagnosis of straightforward pericarditis may be within the scope of practice of the emergency care practitioner. It should be possible for an emergency care practitioner to reach a working diagnosis and to initiate a treatment regimen, which would predominantly consist of providing analgesia to make the patient more comfortable.
Short Communication: Effects of black soy phytoestrogens (Glycine soja) on elevated levels of estradiol in rat blood (Rattus novergicus) ovariectomy
Authors: Dwi Yuliawati  , WURI WIDI ASTUTI  , FITRI YUNIARTI
Published: March 2020

Abstract. Yuliawati D, Astuti WW, Yuniarti F. 2020. Effects of Black Soy phytoestrogens (Glycine soja) on elevated levels of estradiol in Rat Blood (Rattus norvegicus) ovariectomy. Nusantara Bioscience 12: 55-58. Menopause is the transition from productive to non-productive times due to reduced estrogen and progesterone and has an impact on improving cardiovascular problems. The fulfillment of estrogen needs in menopause can use a type of phytoestrogens from black soybeans. The purpose of research is to prove the administration of black soy extract (Glycine soja) can increase the levels of estradiol in the rat blood (Rattus norvegicus) ovariectomy. Design research uses post-test only control group design. Twenty-five female rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 5 tails per group), negative controls, positive and 3 treatments. Ovariectomy was performed in a group of positive controls and treatment. Thirty-day post ovariectomy rats were given appropriate group treatment (negative control, positive, and treatment with the administration of black soy extract dose of 50, 100, 150 mg/200  g/day for 30 days). The estradiol test used the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anova's test results with a significant degree of α = 0.05 established that the p-value of 0.000 was less than α = 0.05, meaning there was a significant effect of giving black soy extract on increased levels of estradiol in the rat blood ovariectomy. Post - Hoc Tukey testing shows increased the highest estradiol levels in the dose treatment group 100 mg/200  g/day. This research proves that the administration of black soy extract (Glycine soja) can increase the levels of estradiol in the rat blood (Rattus norvegicus) ovariectomy.
Weld quality inspection of small-diameter thin-walled pipes by a laser ultrasonic method
Authors: Liu Jiujian , Feng Xuehan , Yin Anmin , Cheng Liping , Fan Li , Xu Xiaodong , Zhang Shuyi
Published: March 2020

Defect inspection of small-diameter thin-walled pipes is a difficult problem in the field of nondestructive testing. In this paper, a new detection method based on laser ultrasonics and guided circumferential wave technology is proposed and used to inspect the defects in pipes. First, a theoretical model based on the theory of acoustic propagation in solids is proposed for the small-diameter thin-walled pipes. The dispersion characteristics of the guided circumferential waves of thin-walled pipes are obtained by numerical simulation. Second, a laser ultrasonic system is constructed and used to detect the flaws in the small-diameter thin-walled pipes. Finally, the laser ultrasonic system is used to analyze the welding quality of stainless steel pipes with a diameter of 4.20 mm and a wall thickness of 0.30 mm. The experimental results are in agreement with the theoretical analysis, which demonstrates the reliability and practicability of the laser ultrasonic method in the weld quality inspection of small-diameter thin-walled pipes.
Study on organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite nanocrystals with regular morphologies and their effect on photoluminescence properties
Authors: Liu Bin , Li Jinkai , Duan Guangbin , Ji Min , Lu Yizhong , Yan Tao , Cao Bingqiang , Liu Zongming
Published: March 2020

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite nanocrystals have been widely studied for their excellent photoelectric properties. However, the irregular morphologies of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite nanocrystals have limited application in the field of lighting and display. From this, the regular morphologies of nanospheres, nanorods, nanoplatelets and MAPbBr3 (MA = CH3NH3+) nanocrystals have been synthesized by regulating the type and proportion of auxiliary ligands. The phase evolution, morphology and fluorescent properties were systematically studied by the various instruments of XRD, TEM, PL/UV-vis spectroscopy and fluorescence decay analysis. With the morphologies changing from nanospheres to nanoplatelets, the emission peaks of MAPbBr3 nanocrystals red-shifted, and the lifetimes have increased gradually. The underlying mechanisms were thoroughly investigated and elucidated. On this basis, the role of acid and amine in the synthesis of MAPbBr3 nanocrystals was systematically studied by regulating the ratio of oleic acid and N-octylamine. The fluorescence kinetics of MAPbBr3 nanocrystals were studied by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, and the charge carrier relaxation mechanism was clarified. Furthermore, the effect of temperature on the fluorescence properties of the nanocrystal was investigated in detail. Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite nanocrystals with morphologies-controlled and excellent fluorescence properties are expected to be widely used in lighting and display fields.
High-precision laser differential confocal measurement method for multi-geometric parameters of inner and outer spherical surfaces of laser fusion capsules
Authors: Ma Xianxian , Qiu Lirong , Wang Yun , Lu Mengshuang , Zhao Weiqian
Published: March 2020

We propose a well-integrated, high-efficiency, high-precision, and non-destructive differential confocal measurement method for the multi-geometric parameters of the inner and outer spherical surfaces of laser fusion capsules. Based on the laser differential confocal measurement system with high tomography fixed-focus ability and high spatial resolution, the proposed method is used to perform the fixed-focus trigger measurement of the outer vertex, the inner vertex, and the spherical center of the capsule. From the rotation measurement around the Y-axis and the transposition measurement around the Z-axis, the inner and outer diameters, the three-dimensional inner and outer profiles, the shell thickness uniformity, and the shell non-concentricity of the capsule are measured with high precision and no damage. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first method to achieve the high-precision measurement for the multi-geometric parameters of the capsule inner and outer spherical surfaces with the same instrument.
Depth image simplification
Authors: Hernández Arreola V. , Renero Carrillo F. J. , Díaz Hernández R.
Published: March 2020

The stereoscopic vision is widely used to acquire depth information, distances between objects, as well as obstacle detection. In this work, a method that reduces the amount of data to obtain depth information for a specific scenery is proposed. The method reduces a 640x480 size image to a 3x3 matrix, simplifying the instructions and decision making for an actuating device. Excellent results were obtained with a 3 seconds processing time by using Python 3.7.2, Opencv 4.0.1, and two Logitech C170 web cameras.