bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of high-flow nasal therapy during early pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with severe AECOPD: a randomized controlled study
Authors: Tung Lan-Fang , Shen Sheng-Yeh , Shih Hui-Hsuan , Chen Yen-Ting , Yen Chia-te , Ho Shu-Chuan
Published: April 2020

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is airway inflammation characterized and low daily physical activity. Most pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs are often provided to stable patients, but fewer training programs are specific for hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation (AE). Patients with AECOPD experience increased dyspnea sensations and systemic inflammation during exercise training. High-flow nasal therapy (HFNT) reduces the minute volume, lowers the respiratory rate, and decreases the work of breathing. However, it is not clear whether HFNT is efficient during exercise training. In this study, we investigated the effects of HFNT during exercise training in an early PR program among hospitalized patients with severe AECOPD.

Methods

We enrolled COPD patients hospitalized due to AE. They were randomized into two groups according to their status into HFNT PR and non-HFNT PR groups. This study collected basic data, and also assessed a pulmonary function test, 6-min walking test, blood inflammatory biomarkers, and arterial gas analysis at the baseline, and at 4 and 12 weeks of the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software.

Result

We recruited 44 AECOPD patients who completed the 12-week PR program. The HFNT PR program produced significant improvements in exercise tolerance as assessed by the 6-min walking distance (6MWD), reduced dyspnea sensations in the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), and decreased systemic inflammation as evidenced by the a lower C-reactive protein (CRP) level. A reduction in the length of hospitalization was achieved with PR in the 1-year follow-up in the two groups. The HFNT PR group showed better trends of reduced air trapping in the delta inspiration capacity (IC) and an increased quality of life according to the COPD assessment test (CAT) than did the non-HFNT PR group.

Conclusions

HFNT during exercise training in early PR increases exercise tolerance and reduces systemic inflammation in hospitalized patients with severe AECOPD.
Effects of resistant starch interventions on circulating inflammatory biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Vahdat Mahsa , Hosseini Seyed Ahmad , Khalatbari Mohseni Golsa , Heshmati Javad , Rahimlou Mehran
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study aimed to summarize earlier studies on the effects of RS consumption on the serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers.

Methods

A comprehensive search was done in the electronic databases that published from 1988 up to May 2019. Two reviewers independently performed screening, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment. We used from the effect size, as estimated by the mean difference to perform the fixed method meta-analysis.

Results

Overall, 13 studies with 14 effect sizes met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Sample size of these studies ranged from 15 to 75 and intervention duration ranged from 4 to 14 weeks. Meta-analysis revealed that higher consumption of resistant starch caused a significant reduction in the interleukin 6 (weighted mean difference = − 1.11 pg/mL; 95% CI: − 1.72, − 0.5 pg/mL; P = < 0.001) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (weighted mean difference = − 2.19 pg/mL; 95% CI: − 3.49, − 0.9 pg/mL;P = 0.001) levels. However, no significant changes were found in C-reactive protein concentration (weighted mean difference = − 0.21 mg/L; 95% CI: − 1.06, 0.63 mg/L;P = 0.61). Moreover, the changes in interleukin 6 concentration was dependent on study quality and intervention duration.

Conclusion

The current meta-analysis indicated that RS intake can improve some inflammatory biomarkers. More research, with a large sample sizes and accurate design is recommended.
Consensus treatment plans for periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis syndrome (PFAPA): a framework to evaluate treatment responses from the childhood arthritis and rheumatology research alliance (CARRA) PFAPA work group
Authors:   for the CARRA PFAPA Consensus Treatment Plan Workgroup, Amarilyo Gil , Rothman Deborah , Manthiram Kalpana , Edwards Kathryn M. , Li Suzanne C. , Marshall Gary S. , Yildirim-Toruner Cagri , Haines Kathleen , Ferguson Polly J. , Lionetti Geraldina , Cherian Julie , Zhao Yongdong , DeLaMora Patricia , Syverson Grant , Nativ Simona , Twilt Marinka , Michelow Ian C. , Stepanovskiy Yuriy , Thatayatikom Akaluck , Harel Liora , Akoghlanian Shoghik , Tucker Lori , Marques Mariana Correia , Srinivasalu Hemalatha , Propst Evan J. , Licameli Greg R. , Dedeoglu Fatma , Lapidus Sivia
Published: April 2020

Background

Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is the most common periodic fever syndrome in children. There is considerable heterogeneity in management strategies and a lack of evidence-based treatment guidelines. Consensus treatment plans (CTPs) are standardized treatment regimens that are derived based upon best available evidence and current treatment practices that are a way to enable comparative effectiveness studies to identify optimal therapy and are less costly to execute than randomized, double blind placebo controlled trials. The purpose of this project was to develop CTPs and response criteria for PFAPA.

Methods

The CARRA PFAPA Working Group is composed of pediatric rheumatologists, infectious disease specialists, allergists/immunologists and otolaryngologists. An extensive literature review was conducted followed by a survey to assess physician practice patterns. This was followed by virtual and in-person meetings between 2014 and 2018. Nominal group technique (NGT) was employed to develop CTPs, as well as inclusion criteria for entry into future treatment studies, and response criteria. Consensus required 80% agreement.

Results

The PFAPA working group developed CTPs resulting in 4 different treatment arms: 1. Antipyretic, 2. Abortive (corticosteroids), 3. Prophylaxis (colchicine or cimetidine) and 4. Surgical (tonsillectomy). Consensus was obtained among CARRA members for those defining patient characteristics who qualify for participation in the CTP PFAPA study.

Conclusion

The goal is for the CTPs developed by our group to lead to future comparative effectiveness studies that will generate evidence-driven therapeutic guidelines for this periodic inflammatory disease.
Comparison of transbronchial needle aspiration with and without ultrasound guidance for diagnosing benign lymph node adenopathy
Authors: Shen Hui , Lou Lingyun , Chen Ting , Zou Yi , Wang Bin , Xu Zhihao , Ye Qin , Shen Huahao , Li Wen , Xia Yang
Published: April 2020

Background

Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is a minimally invasive procedure performed to diagnose lymph node (LN) adenopathy. TBNA with and without endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) guidance has a high diagnostic yield for malignant LN enlargement, but the value for diagnosing benign LN enlargement has been less thoroughly investigated.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 3540 patients with mediastinal LN enlargement who received TBNA. One hundred sixty-six patients with benign mediastinal lymphadenopathy were included and 293 LNs were biopsied. A positive result was defined as a specific histological abnormality. Conventional TBNA (cTBNA) and EBUS-TBNA, as well as cTBNA and transbronchial forceps biopsy (TBFB), were compared. The subgroup analysis was stratified by disease type and LN size.

Results

A diagnosis was made in 76.84% of the EBUS-TBNA and 61.31% of the cTBNA (P < 0.05). EBUS-TBNA was superior to cTBNA for both granulomatous (65.18% vs. 45.45%, P < 0.05) and non-granulomatous disease (96.92% vs. 84.06%, P < 0.05). In contrast, the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA was higher than that of cTBNA for LNs < 20 mm (79.44% vs. 64.29%, P < 0.05), but for LNs > 20 mm the difference was marginal. These findings were confirmed in a group of independent patients who received cTBNA plus EBUS-TBNA. The diagnostic yield did not differ between cTBNA and TBFB, but significantly increased to 76.67% when both modalities were employed.

Conclusions

EBUS-TBNA is the preferred minimally invasive diagnostic method for benign mediastinal LN disease. Combined cTBNA and TBFB is a safe and feasible alternative when EBUS is unavailable.
Ventriculoatrial malalignment in atrioventricular septal defect resulting in uniatrial biventricular connection: surgical options
Authors: Hofbeck Michael , Wiegand Gesa , Michel Jörg , Schlensak Christian
Published: April 2020

Background

Uniatrial biventricular connection (UBC) is a rare cardiovascular anomaly characterized by absence of one atrioventricular connection and drainage of the other atrium via a solitary atrioventricular valve into both ventricles. The absent atrioventricular connection may affect either the left or right atrium. Because of the absence of one atrioventricular connection hearts with UBC have been classified among functionally univentricular hearts requiring palliative treatment according to the Fontan principle.

Aims/objective

We report two further patients with UBC. In one of these patients careful echocardiographic examination of the atrioventricular junction in early infancy revealed the possibility of biventricular repair based on the favorable anatomy of the atrioventricular valve and balanced ventricles in the presence of an inlet ventricular septal defect (VSD).

Case presentations

Both patients presented in the neonatal period for evaluation of complex congenital heart disease. The anatomy of the atrioventricular valves in our patients was indistinguishable from atrioventricular septal defects exhibiting the morphology of a common valve with superior and inferior bridging leaflets. The common atrioventricular valve was connected exclusively to the right atrium draining into both ventricles while the left atrium drained into the right atrium via a secundum atrial septal defect. In one of our patients biventricular repair with good longterm-result was performed by reseptation of the atria, patch repair of the VSD and septation of the atrioventricular valve. The second patient underwent univentricular palliation according to the Fontan principle.

Discussion/conclusion

The echocardiographic findings in our patients suggest that at least some patients with UBC represent a variant of atrioventricular septal defects associated with extreme ventriculoatrial malalignment resulting in fusion of the deviated primary atrial septum with the lateral aspect of the atrioventricular junction. This offers the option of septation of the common atrioventricular valve and biventricular repair in patients with adequate size of both ventricles. Exact echocardiographic analysis of the morphology of the atrioventricular valve is essential to distinguish these patients with a morphologically common atrioventricular valve in early infancy from other variants of absent atrioventricular connection and to select those who are suitable for biventricular repair.
Treatment efficacy analysis of traditional Chinese medicine for novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19): an empirical study from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
Authors: Luo Erdan , Zhang Daiyan , Luo Hua , Liu Bowen , Zhao Keming , Zhao Yonghua , Bian Ying , Wang Yitao
Published: April 2020

Background

A novel coronavirus was identified in December, 2019 in Wuhan, China, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) played an active role in combating the novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) caused by this fast-spreading virus COVID-19. Thus, we aimed to explore TCM characteristics of clinical efficacy to NCP, as well as to optimize Qingfei Paidu decoction (QFPDD) and the recommended formulas to NCP by National Health Commission (NHC).

Methods

Chinese medical sciences theory and clinical application of TCM were analyzed. A total of 54 NCP patients were observed in a hospital from Wuhan, whose clinical characteristics and utilization of Chinese Medicines (CMs) were described. Paired t test was used to measure the change of patients’ hemogram during hospitalization period, indicating the effect of CMs. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to explore the factors affecting the length of hospital stay. Network pharmacology analysis was applied to figure out the performance of NHC-recommended formulas of five disease stages at levels of compounds, targets and pathways.

Result

The average length of hospital stay was 8.96 days. Patients over 45 stayed 9.79 days in hospital in average, longer than 7.64 days of patients under 45. Comparing the hemograms between admission and discharge of hospital, the number of leukocytes, neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet increased, while the numbers of erythrocytes, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit decreased. According to the standard coefficients of regression, the factor affecting the length of stay for the most was CMs in category of invigorating spleen and removing dampness (ISRD), followed by administrating CMs, male, and cough. Thirty-two CMs were screened after deleting duplication from QFPDD and NHC-recommended formulas. Compound quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, acacetin etc., were all involved in the treatment of various disease stages on the compound level both in generality and individuality.

Conclusion

TCM has a systemic theoretical understanding on the pathological evolution and a positive clinical efficacy on NCP. The CMs of ISRD improved patients’ recovery, suggesting the importance of regulating intestinal function and keeping microenvironmental balance in TCM treatment of NCP. The active compounds from QFPDD and NHC-recommended formulas contribute to recovery of varied disease progresses during TCM treating NCP.
Cervical, anal and oral HPV detection and HPV type concordance among women referred for colposcopy
Authors: Nasioutziki Maria , Chatzistamatiou Kimon , Loufopoulos Panagiotis-Dimitrios , Vavoulidis Eleftherios , Tsampazis Nikolaos , Pratilas George-Chrysostomos , Liberis Anastasios , Karpa Vasiliki , Parcharidis Evanggelos , Daniilidis Angelos , Spanos Konstantinos , Dinas Konstantinos
Published: April 2020

Background

Infection with human papillomaviruses (HPVs) can cause benign and malignant tumours in the anogenital tract and the oropharynx both in men and women. The aim of the presented study was to investigate cervical, anal, and oral HPV-detection rates among women referred to colposcopy for abnormal Cervical Cancer (CaCx) screening results and assess the concordance of HPV-types among these anatomical sites.

Methods

Women referred to colposcopy at a single centre due to abnormal cytology, conducted for CaCx screening, were subjected to cervical Liquid-based Cytology (LBC) smear testing, anal and oral sampling. Routine colposcopy consisted in multiple biopsies and/or Endocervical Curettage (ECC). HPV-detection was performed by PCR genotyping in all three anatomical sites. In high-risk (hr) HPV-DNA positive samples either from anal canal or oral cavity, anal LBC cytology and anoscopy were performed, or oral cavity examination respectively. Descriptive statistics was used for the analysis of HPV-detection rates and phi-coefficient for the determination of HPV-positivity concordance between the anatomical sites.

Results

Out of 118 referred women, hr. HPV-DNA was detected in 65 (55.1%), 64 (54.2%) and 3 (2.5%) at cervix, anal canal and oral cavity respectively while low-risk HPV-DNA was detected in 14 (11.9%) and 11 (9.3%) at cervix and anal canal respectively. The phi-coefficient for cervix/anal canal was 0.392 for HPV16, 0.658 for HPV31, 0.758 for HPV33, − 0.12 for HPV45, 0.415 for HPV52 and 0.473 for HPV58. All values were statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The results suggest that most HPV-types, high-risk and low-risk, detected in the cervix of women with prevalent cervical dysplasia, correlate with the ones detected in their anal canal. This particularly applies for the HPV-types included in the nonavalent HPV-vaccine (HPVs 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58).
Success and complications by team composition for prehospital paediatric intubation: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Garner Alan A. , Bennett Nicholas , Weatherall Andrew , Lee Anna
Published: April 2020

Background

Clinical team composition for prehospital paediatric intubation may affect success and complication rates. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the success and complication rates by type of clinical team.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL for interventional and observational studies describing prehospital intubation attempts in children with overall success, first-pass success, and complication rates. Eligible studies, data extraction, and assessment of risk of bias were assessed independently by two reviewers. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis of proportions.

Results

Forty studies (1989 to 2019) described three types of clinical teams: non-physician teams with no relaxants (22 studies, n = 7602), non-physician teams with relaxants (12 studies, n = 2185), and physician teams with relaxants (12 studies, n = 1780). Twenty-two (n = 3747) and 18 (n = 7820) studies were at low and moderate risk of bias, respectively. Non-physician teams without relaxants had lower overall intubation success rate (72%, 95% CI 67–76%) than non-physician teams with relaxants (95%, 95% CI 93–98%) and physician teams (99%, 95% CI 97–100%). Physician teams had higher first-pass success rate (91%, 95% CI 86–95%) than non-physicians with (75%, 95% CI 69–81%) and without (55%, 95% CI 48–63%) relaxants. Overall airway complication rate was lower in physician teams (10%, 95% CI 3–22%) than non-physicians with (30%, 95% CI 23–38%) and without (39%, 95% CI 28–51%) relaxants.

Conclusion

Physician teams had higher rates of intubation success and lower rates of overall airway complications than other team types. Physician prehospital teams should be utilised wherever practicable for critically ill children requiring prehospital intubation.
Comparison of muscle activation imbalance following core stability or general exercises in nonspecific low back pain: a quasi-randomized controlled trial
Authors: Shamsi MohammadBagher , Mirzaei Maryam , HamediRad Mohammad
Published: April 2020

Background

Low back pain causes changes in muscle activation patterns. Knowing how different exercises may improve altered muscle activation is useful in the treatment of patients. The aim of the study was to investigate whether there was a difference in the pattern of muscle activation in chronic nonspecific low back pain sufferers following core stability exercise (CSE) and general exercise (GE).

Methods

Fifty-six non-specific chronic LBP subjects were randomly assigned to either groups (28 participants in CSE and 28 in GE group). Both groups performed 16 sessions of an exercise program for about 5 weeks. Pain, disability and trunk muscle activation patterns (using surface electromyography) were measured at baseline and post-training.

Results

After the intervention period, antagonist coactivation ratio did not change in either groups. Though all compensated imbalance ratios (residual unequal muscular activity after cancellation of directionality) decreased towards negative (imbalance to left side) only this change for total muscles ratio in GE was significant (mean difference in GE group, 0.15; 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.28; p-value of paired t-test: 0.022); (mean difference in CSE, 0.02; 95% CI: − 0.07 to 0.11; p-value of paired t-test: 0.614).. No overall significantly decrease in uncompensated imbalance ratio (absolute imbalance values without cancellation directionality) was observed. Pain and disability decreased significantly in both groups. However, there was no difference between two groups in either of the variables after the intervention.

Conclusions

Both exercise programs reduced pain and disability and made or kept trunk muscle activation imbalance to the left side. The effects of two exercises on pain, disability and antagonist coactivation or imbalance ratios were not different.

Trial registration

This study was registered in the Iranian Clinical Trial Center with the code IRCT201111098035N1, Registered Jan 21, 2013.
Dataset for file fragment classification of video file formats
Authors: Sadeghi Narges , Fahiminia Mohadeseh , Teimouri Mehdi
Published: April 2020

Objectives

File fragment classification of video file formats is a topic of interest in network forensics. There are some publicly available datasets for file fragments of various file types such as textual, audio, and image file formats. However, there is no public dataset for file fragments of video file formats. So, in order to evaluate and compare the performance of the classification methods, a challenge is the need to have such datasets.

Data description

In this study, we present a dataset that contains file fragments of 10 video file formats: 3GP, AVI, ASF, FLV, MKV, MOV, MP4, WebM, OGV, and RMVB. Corresponding to each format, the dataset contains the file fragments of video files with different video codec types: H.263, MPEG-4, WMV, H.264, FLV1, H.265, VP8, VP9, Theora, and RealVideo. Totally, 20 different pairs of video format and codec are employed. For each pair of video format and codec, 30,000 file fragments are provided. Totally, the dataset contains 600,000 file fragments.
Systematic approach for assessing whether undeletable chromosomal regions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are required for cell viability
Authors: Hassan Naim , Easmin Farhana , Sasano Yu , Ekino Keisuke , Taguchi Hisataka , Harashima Satoshi
Published: April 2020

Previously, we identified 49 undeletable chromosomal regions harboring only non-essential genes in the genome ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae. We proposed that there might be unknown synthetic lethal combinations of genes present in such undeletable regions of the genome. In this study, we chose four of the smallest undeletable chromosomal regions among the 49 and performed extensive further analyses to narrow down the gene-pairs responsible for lethality by replacing sub-regions in various combinations with a DNA module comprising theCgLEU2marker. Although the methodology was different from previous study, interestingly the results revealed that not only the sub-regions but also the entire region was replaceable. To solve the apparent discrepancy between previous and present results, we further conducted additional analysis including investigation of suppressor mutation and mini-chromosome loss assay through the construction of mini-chromosome harboring two particular chromosomal regions with marked withURA3marker by employing 5-FOA system. Based upon careful observation on the phenotype of colony formation on 5-FOA medium by spot test, we came to an important conclusion that particular chromosomal regions harboring only non-essential genes can be categorized into three classes, i.e., essential, non-essential and intrinsically essential. Intrinsically essential region is defined as appearance of papillae after mini-chromosome loss which implicates that the region is essential but compensatable against cell lethality. Our present study indicates that prudent and multiple approaches as performed in this study are needed to judge whether a particular chromosomal region of theS. cerevisiaegenome is essential, non-essential or intrinsically essential but compensatable.
Ameliorating process parameters for zeaxanthin yield in Arthrobacter gandavensis MTCC 25325
Authors: Ram Shristi , Tirkey Sushma Rani , Kumar Madhava Anil , Mishra Sandhya
Published: April 2020

The present study aims to escalate the production of prophylactic agent zeaxanthin using a screened potential bacterial isolate. For this purpose, a freshwater bacterium capable of producing zeaxanthin was isolated from Bor Talav, Bhavnagar. The 16S rRNA sequence confirmed the isolate as Arthrobacter gandavensis. The bacterium was also submitted to Microbial Type Culture Collection, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India, with the accession number MTCC 25325. The chemo-metric tools were employed to optimise the influencing factors such as pH, temperature, inoculum size, agitation speed, carbon source and harvest time on zeaxanthin yield. Thereafter, six parameters were narrowed down to three factors and were optimised using the central composite design (CCD) matrix. Maximum zeaxanthin (1.51 mg/g) was derived when A. gandavensis MTCC 25325 was grown under pH 6.0, 1.5% (w/v) glucose and 10% (v/v) inoculum size. A high regression coefficient (R2= 0.92) of the developed model indicated the accurateness of the tested parameters. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on tailoring the process parameters using chemo-metric optimisation for escalating the zeaxanthin production by A. gandavensis MTCC 25325.
Quadratic approach for single-channel noise reduction
Authors: Itzhak Gal , Benesty Jacob , Cohen Israel
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we introduce a quadratic approach for single-channel noise reduction. The desired signal magnitude is estimated by applying a linear filter to a modified version of the observations’ vector. The modified version is constructed from a Kronecker product of the observations’ vector with its complex conjugate. The estimated signal magnitude is multiplied by a complex exponential whose phase is obtained using a conventional linear filtering approach. We focus on the linear and quadratic maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) filters and demonstrate that the quadratic filter is superior in terms of subband SNR gains. In addition, in the context of speech enhancement, we show that the quadratic filter is ideally preferable in terms of perceptual evaluation of speech quality (PESQ) and short-time objective intelligibility (STOI) scores. The advantages, compared to the conventional linear filtering approach, are particularly significant for low input SNRs, at the expanse of a higher computational complexity. The results are verified in practical scenarios with nonstationary noise and in comparison to well-known speech enhancement methods. We demonstrate that the quadratic maximum SNR filter may be superior, depending on the nonstationary noise type.
Time-delayed local feedback control for a chaotic finance system
Authors: Xu Erfeng , Zhang Yingrui , Chen Yonggang
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we consider the local control problem for a chaotic finance system via the time-delayed feedback. Using the Lyapunov–Krasovskii stability theorem, the quadratic system theory, some integral inequalities, and rigorous mathematical analysis, we obtain a local stabilization condition by means of linear matrix inequalities. Then we discuss the estimate of the region of asymptotic stability and give the corresponding optimization problem. Also, we address the local control problem under the nondelayed feedback. Finally, we present numerical simulations to show the effectiveness of the proposed results.
Pullback attractor of a non-autonomous order-2γ parabolic equation for an epitaxial thin film growth model
Authors: Yang Xiaojie , Liu Hui , Sun Chengfeng
Published: April 2020

The non-autonomous order-2γ parabolic partial differential equation for an epitaxial thin film growth model with dimension $d=3$d=3 is investigated by the method of uniform estimates. The existence of a pullback attractor for the 3D model is proved for $\gamma >3$γ>3.
Ground radar precipitation estimation with deep learning approaches in meteorological private cloud
Authors: Tian Wei , Yi Lei , Liu Wei , Huang Wei , Ma Guangyi , Zhang Yonghong
Published: April 2020

Accurate precipitation estimation is significant since it matters to everyone on social and economic activities and is of great importance to monitor and forecast disasters. The traditional method utilizes an exponential relation between radar reflectivity factors and precipitation called Z-R relationship which has a low accuracy in precipitation estimation. With the rapid development of computing power in cloud computing, recent researches show that artificial intelligence is a promising approach, especially deep learning approaches in learning accurate patterns and appear well suited for the task of precipitation estimation, given an ample account of radar data. In this study, we introduce these approaches to the precipitation estimation, proposing two models based on the back propagation neural networks (BPNN) and convolutional neural networks (CNN) respectively, to compare with the traditional method in meteorological service systems. The results of the three approaches show that deep learning algorithms outperform the traditional method with 75.84% and 82.30% lower mean square errors respectively. Meanwhile, the proposed method with CNN achieves a better performance than that with BPNN for its ability to preserve the spatial information by maintaining the interconnection between pixels, which improves 26.75% compared to that with BPNN.
Secular trend analysis of antibiotic utilisation in China’s hospitals 2011–2018, a retrospective analysis of procurement data
Authors: Wushouer Haishaerjiang , Zhou Yue , Zhang Xi , Fu Mengyuan , Fan Daiming , Shi Luwen , Guan Xiaodong
Published: April 2020

Background

This study was aimed to explore the secular trends of antibiotic utilisation in China’s hospitals over an 8-year period.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed aggregated monthly antibiotic procurement data of 586 hospitals from 28 provinces in China from January 2011 to December 2018. Information including generic name, procurement amount, dosage form, strength, the route of administration, and geographical data were collected. Population weighted antibiotic utilisation were expressed in DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID). WHO’s ‘Access, Watch, Reserve’ categorization was also adopted to analyse antibiotic utilisation.

Results

Between 2011 and 2018, total antibiotic utlisation in China’s hospitals increased by 39.6% (from 4.8 DID in 2010 to 6.7 DID in 2018). Antibiotic utilisation was stable or had moderately decreased in 13 provinces, while in the other 15 provinces they had substantially increased. Cephalosporins were the most consumed antibiotics, accounting for 26.9% of the total antibiotic utilisation (1.8 DID/6.7 DID). In 2018, antibiotics in the Access category comprised 19.4% of the total utilisation (1.3 DID/6.7 DID), where antibiotics in the Watch category comprised the largest proportion of 71.6% (4.8 DID/6.7 DID). Population-weighted antibiotic utlisation was greater in secondary hospitals than in tertiary hospitals (7.3 DID vs 6.6 DID). The utilisation of oral forms was almost two times the amount of parenteral forms in secondary hospitals, whereas in tertiary hospitals the amounts were about the same.

Conclusions

Despite efforts have been made towards restricting antibiotic use by the Chinese government, antibiotic utilisation demonstrated an upward trend after the medical reform. The increase of last-resort antibiotics raises serious concern for public health. Current patterns of antibiotic utilisation demonstrated that gaps are existed towards the global target set up by the WHO. To better facilitate proper antibiotic use, more efforts are needed to explore the appropriateness of antibiotic use at the individual level.
Total arthroplasty with Ivory® prosthesis versus resection–suspension arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study on 82 carpometacarpal-I osteoarthritis patients over 4 years
Authors: Froschauer Stefan M. , Holzbauer Matthias , Schnelzer Richard F. , Behawy Manfred , Kwasny Oskar , Aitzetmüller Matthias M. , Machens Hans-Günther , Duscher Dominik
Published: April 2020

Background

To elucidate the performance of carpometacarpal-I joint prostheses in comparison with the current gold standard treatment, resection–suspension arthroplasty (RA), we conducted a study comparing outcomes of the Ivory prosthesis to those of a cohort of patients receiving RA.

Methods

Initially, we had enrolled 34 prosthesis patients and 48 RA patients, of which 5 and 11 were lost to follow-up. We defined Eaton/Littler stage 3 osteoarthritis, no previous surgery, no concomitant arthrosis, no rheumatic arthritis, no history of trauma and a minimum follow-up period of 2 years as inclusion criteria. We assessed patient demographics, disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand score, pain via visual analogue scale, subjective strength of the thumb, range of motion (radial and palmar abduction and opposition), and patient satisfaction. All occurring complications were recorded.

Results

Follow-up included a mean period of 4.5 years (2–7.4) in the prosthesis cohort and 4.1 years (2–6.8) in the RA group. Disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand scores, pain scores, palmar abduction and opposition, and subjective satisfaction showed no significant differences between the two cohorts. Postoperative loss of strength was significantly less in the prosthesis group (p = 0.01). Moreover, we were able to demonstrate better range of motion in terms of radial abduction in the prosthesis group (p = 0.001). The overall complication rate was significantly higher in the prosthesis cohort (41.4% vs. 10.8%) (p = 0.008). Nevertheless, the Ivory prosthesis group showed a survival rate of 93.1%.

Conclusion

As the high complication rate is compensated by a better functional outcome (enhanced range of motion and strength), we believe that prosthesis implantation can be a reasonable treatment option for carpometacarpal-I osteoarthritis in a particular patient group.

Level of Evidence IIIl: Retrospective cohort study.
Optimization of injected 68Ga-PSMA activity based on list-mode phantom data and clinical validation
Authors: Wielaard J. , Habraken J. B. A. , Brinks P. , Lavalaye J. , Boellaard R.
Published: April 2020

Optimization of injected gallium-68 (68Ga) activity for 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (68Ga-PSMA PET/CT) studies is relevant for image quality, radiation protection, and from an economic point of view. However, no clear guidelines are available for 68Ga-PSMA studies. Therefore, a phantom study is performed to determine the highest coefficient of variation (COV) acceptable for reliable image interpretation and quantification.

To evaluate image interpretation, the relationship of COV and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was studied. The CNR should remain larger than five, according to the Rose criterion. To evaluate image quantification, the effect of COV on the percentage difference (PD) between quantification results of two studies was analyzed. Comparison was done by calculating the PD of the SUVmax. The maximum allowable PDSUVmax was set at 20%. The highest COV at which both criteria are still met is defined as COVmax. Of the NEMA Image Quality phantom, a 20 min/bed (2 bed positions) scan was acquired in list-mode PET (Philips Gemini TF PET/CT). The spheres to background activity ratio was approximately 9:1. To obtain images with different COV, lower activity was mimicked by reconstructions with acquisition times of 10 min/bed to 5 s/bed. Pairs of images were obtained by reconstruction of two non-overlapping parts of list-mode data.

For the 10-mm diameter sphere, a COV of 25% still meets the criteria of CNRSUVmean ≥ 5 and PDSUVmax ≤ 20%. This phantom scan was acquired with an acquisition time of 116 s and a background activity concentration of 0.71 MBq/kg. Translation to a clinical protocol results in a clinical activity regimen of 3.5 MBq/kg min at injection. To verify this activity regimen, 15 patients (6 MBq/kg min) with a total of 22 lesions are included. Additional reconstructions were made to mimic the proposed activity regimen. Based on the CNRSUVmax, no lesions were missed with this proposed activity regimen.

For our institution, a clinical activity regimen of 3.5 MBq/kg min at injection is acceptable, which indicates that activity can be reduced by almost 50% compared with the current code of practice. Our proposed method could be used to obtain an objective activity regimen for other PET/CT systems and tracers.
LncRNA LINC00483 promotes gastric cancer development through regulating MAPK1 expression by sponging miR-490-3p
Authors: Luo Min , Liang Chengbai
Published: April 2020

Background

Previous studies have shown that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00483 was aberrantly expressed in human cancers, including gastric cancer. However, the regulatory mechanism of this lncRNA in gastric cancer remains largely unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of LINC00483 on gastric cancer development and explore the potential regulatory network of LINC00483/microRNA (miR)-490-3p/mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1).

Methods

Thirty patients with gastric cancer were recruited for tissues collection. The expression levels of LINC00483, miR-490-3p and MAPK1 were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blot. Cell viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion were determined by MTT, flow cytometry, transwell assays and western blot, respectively. The target association between miR-490-3p and LINC00483 or MAPK1 was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. Xenograft model was established to assess the function of LINC00483 in vivo.

Results

LINC00483 and MAPK1 levels were increased in gastric cancer tissues and cells. Knockdown of LINC00483 or MAPK1 inhibited cells viability, migration and invasion but promoted apoptosis in gastric cancer cells. Moreover, MAPK1 overexpression attenuated the effect of LINC00483 knockdown on gastric cancer development. LINC00483 could increase MAPK1 expression by competitively sponging miR-490-3p. miR-490-3p overexpression suppressed gastric cancer development, which was abated by introduction of LINC00483. Besides, inhibition of LINC00483 decreased xenograft tumor growth by regulating miR-490-3p/MAPK1 axis.

Conclusion

Knockdown of LINC00483 inhibited gastric cancer development in vitro and in vivo by increasing miR-490-3p and decreasing MAPK1, elucidating a novel mechanism for understanding the development of gastric cancer.
Evaluation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potency of Lepidium pinnatifidum Ledeb
Authors: Bibi Saira , Anwar Munazza , Hashmi Huma Farooque , Khan Muhammad Rashid
Published: April 2020

Backgroound

Lepidium pinnatifidum is a multipurpose, beneficial plant and known well for its indigenous therapeutic standards. Current study is aimed to investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potency of Lepidium pinnatifidum.

L. pinnatifidum dried powder was extracted with crude methanol (LPM) and then fractionated with various solvents to get respective fractions, termed as, n-hexane (LPH), chloroform (LPC), ethyl acetate (LPE), butanol (LPB) and the aqueous fraction (LPA). Fractions were evaluated for total flavonoid and phenolic content. Antioxidant profile was quantified via an array of antioxidant assays. Anti inflammatory activity was evaluated in vitro, and further assessed by in vivo study in Sprague Dawley rat.

Result

Total phenolics (TPC) range from 48.15 ± 1.03–241.23 ± 1.07 mg GAE/g while total flavonoids (TFC) quantified were 16.32 ± 1.14–136.32 ± 1.14 mg RE/g. The in vitro antioxidant assays exhibited remarkable radicals scavenging action in different assays. Substantial positive correlation was instituted between TPC, TFC and various antioxidant assays. Inhibition of the heat induced protein denaturation reflected anti inflammatory potency, further supported by in vivo carrageenan induced paw edema.

Conclusion

The obtained results lead to suggesting the therapeutic perspective of L. pinnatifidum in oxidative stress and inflammation associated ailments. The bio active ingredients behind its potential protectivity needs to be further confirmed.
Decision-making at the sharp end: a survey of literature related to decision-making in humanitarian contexts
Authors: Knox Clarke Paul , Campbell Leah
Published: April 2020

In a humanitarian response, leaders are often tasked with making large numbers of decisions, many of which have significant consequences, in situations of urgency and uncertainty. These conditions have an impact on the decision-maker (causing stress, for example) and subsequently on how decisions get made.

Evaluations of humanitarian action suggest that decision-making is an area of weakness in many operations. There are examples of important decisions being missed and of decision-making processes that are slow and ad hoc. As part of a research process to address these challenges, this article considers literature from the humanitarian and emergency management sectors that relates to decision-making. It outlines what the literature tells us about the nature of the decisions that leaders at the country level are taking during humanitarian operations, and the circumstances under which these decisions are taken. It then considers the potential application of two different types of decision-making process in these contexts: rational/analytical decision-making and naturalistic decision-making. The article concludes with broad hypotheses that can be drawn from the literature and with the recommendation that these be further tested by academics with an interest in the topic.
In vitro pathogenicity of the fungi Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium lecanii at different temperatures against the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
Authors: Keerio Azhar Uddin , Nazir Talha , Abdulle Yusuf Ali , Jatoi Ghulam Hussain , Gadhi Muswar Ali , Anwar Tauqir , Sokea Tum , Qiu Dewen
Published: April 2020

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is one of the most damaging pests in field crops as well as in greenhouses. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro pathogenicity of 2 fungus strains of Beauveria bassiana (BB-72 and BB-252) and one strain of Lecanicillium lecanii (V-2) against the whitefly (B. tabaci) at 4 different temperature degrees 20, 24, 28, and 32 °C, using a spray method. Three different bioassays were carried out comprised of conidial concentrations and filtrate of fungal strains, BB-72, BB-252 and V-2, and their binary combinations. The 1.5 ml of fungal filtrate was used in filtrate bioassay for each strain of fungus. Three different concentrations (1 × 106, 1 × 107, and 1 × 108 conidia ml−1) were used in conidial bioassay for each strain of fungus, whereas in bioassay for binary combination (1 ml conidia + 1 ml filtrate) of BB-72 × BB-72, BB-252 × BB-252, and V2 × V2 were used for these strains of fungus. According to the outcomes, the maximum mortality against whiteflies was observed on 12th day post-treatment. In conidial bioassay, the maximum mortality of B. tabaci was observed in BB-72 isolate (84%), BB-252 isolate (77%), and V-2 isolate (67%) at the highest concentration (1 × 108 conidia ml−1) at 24 °C, and minimum mortality was recorded in BB-72 isolate (33%), BB-252 isolate (29%), and V-2 isolate (19%) at the lowest concentration 1 × 106 conidia ml−1 at 32 °C on 12th day post-treatment. Infiltrate bioassay, BB-72 isolate exhibited maximum mortality (92%) at 24 °C, and V-2 isolate showed minimum mortality (34%) at 32 °C on 12th day post-treatment. Furthermore, in binary combination bioassay, the highest whitefly mortality was recorded in BB-72 × BB-72 isolate (87%), BB-252 × BB-252 isolate (73%), and V2 × V2 isolate (65%) at 24 °C and the lowest mortality in BB-72 × BB-72 isolate (57%), BB-252 × BB-252 isolate (50%), and V2 × V2 isolate (39%) at 32 °C on 12th day post-treatment. In all bioassays, the BB-72 isolate was the utmost virulent, and application of its filtrate was found to be the most impressive against B. tabaci.
A simple approach with scale-up potential towards intrinsically flame-retardant bio-based co-plasticizer for PVC artificial materials
Authors: Xu Yong , Wang Songhang , Chang Jinming , Xu Zhou , Zeng Qi , Wang Zhonghui , Yan Jun , Chen Yi
Published: April 2020

As an imitation of genuine leather, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) artificial materials are versatile, but suffers from being flammable due to the presence of large amounts of combustible plasticizers. Under such circumstance, intrinsically flame-retardant plasticizers displaying dual functions have been a subject of intensive research interest. However, previous strategies attempting to covalently attach flame-retardant moiety to plasticizers invariably required either expensive starting materials or laborious and tedious procedures, ultimately limiting their scale-up application in industry. In addition, driven by escalating demand of halogen-free flame retardants worldwide from an environmental health perspective, previously reported intrinsically flame-retardant plasticizers were mainly halogen-free, less attractive in PVC artificial material industry simply because PVC itself is a halogen-containing polymer. Here, we report an approach to introduce chlorine moieties into unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester by a simple addition reaction occurring on carbon-carbon double bonds, yielding a chlorine-containing, intrinsically flame-retardant bio-plasticizer. When combined with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DOP) in PVC formulations, the chlorinated fatty acid methyl ester is qualified as a co-plasticizer while conferring flame retardancy upon the PVC coatings. This approach involves only a one-step procedure that employs renewable fatty acid methyl esters and cheap chlorine gas as raw materials, thus being of great potential to enable intrinsically flame-retardant bio-plasticizers on a large scale to manufacture functional PVC artificial materials for application in fire-prone scenarios.

Graphical abstract
Rodent models for psychiatric disorders: problems and promises
Authors: Baker Matthew , Hong Sa-Ik , Kang Seungwoo , Choi Doo-Sup
Published: April 2020

Psychiatric disorders are a prevalent global health problem, over 900 million individuals affected by a continuum of mental and substance use disorders. Due to this high prevalence, and the substantial direct and indirect societal costs, it is essential to understand the underlying mechanisms of these disorders to facilitate development of new and more effective treatments. Since the advent of recombinant DNA technologies in the early 1980s, genetically modified rodent models have significantly contributed to the genetic and molecular basis of psychiatric disorders. Despite significant advancements, many challenges remain after unsuccessful drug development based on rodent models. Recent human genetics show the polygenetic nature of mental disorders, identifying hundreds of allelic variants that confer increased risk. However, given the complexity of the brain, with many unique cell types, gene expression profiles, and developmental trajectories, proper animal models are needed more than ever to dissect genes and circuits in a cell type-specific manner to advance our understanding and treatment of psychiatric disorders. In this mini-review, we highlight current challenges and promises of using rodent models in advancing science and drug development, focusing on advanced techniques, and their applications to rodent models of psychiatric disorders.
Therapeutic potential of stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles in osteoarthritis: preclinical study findings
Authors: Kim Ki Hoon , Jo Jeong Hyun , Cho Hye Jin , Park Tae Sub , Kim Tae Min
Published: April 2020

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized particles secreted by almost all cell types, and they mediate various biological processes via cell-to-cell communication. Compared with parental cells for therapeutic purposes, stem cell-derived EVs have several advantages such as reduced risk of rejection, less oncogenic potential, ease of long-term storage, lower chance of thromboembolism, and readiness for immediate use. Recent studies have demonstrated that EVs from stem cells, mostly from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from various tissues, have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and proliferative role in injured organs including osteoarthritic lesions. Herein, we provide a review about the up-to-date studies in preclinical application of stem cell-derived EVs in osteoarthritis animal arthritis models.