bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short-term recurrence and distant metastasis following robotic-assisted radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and chemoradiotherapy for a stage IB1 cervical adenocarcinoma
Authors: Tong Jinfei , Yu Hailan , Li Jianqiong , Zhou Jiena , Ma Xudong , Yang Jianhua
Published: April 2019

Rationale:

Postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is considered the standard treatment for patients with early stage cervical cancer with positive pelvic nodes, yet many patients with high-risk factors treated with CCRT still suffered from distant metastasis.

Patient concerns:

A 48-year-old woman presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding for 5 months. Thin prep liquid-based cytology test revealed low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and the human papillomavirus test (type 58) was positive. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass measuring 17 × 15 mm, located predominantly in the posterior lip of uterine cervix. Colposcopy biopsy reported adenocarcinoma of the cervix.

Diagnosis:

Cervical adenocarcinoma stage IB1.

Interventions:

A robotic-assisted radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed followed by postoperative CCRT.

Outcomes:

Distant metastasis was occurred shortly after postoperative CCRT and the patient died 9 months from initial diagnosis.

Lessons:

In cases of new nodule in bones, lower abdominal distension and bloating occurring shortly after CCRT in early stage cervical adenocarcinoma, clinicians should bear in mind that recurrence should be considered. Development of more effective treatment to improve the survival outcomes of patients with postoperative metastasis is needed.
Ovarian metastasis from breast cancer in three Chinese females
Authors: Wang Jiang , Tian Wei , Zhou Yunxiang , Zhang Xiaowei , Deng Yongchuan
Published: April 2019

Rationale:

The biological behavior and clinical features of ovarian metastasis from breast cancer remain unclear; diagnosis and treatment of this condition are challenging.

Patient concerns:

We reported three cases of ovarian metastasis from breast cancer in Chinese women aged 44, 46, and 30 years. The prognosis was different in all three patients; however, no symptoms of ovarian metastasis were observed.

Diagnosis:

All three premenopausal patients were diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and two of them had axillary lymph node metastasis. All three women had multiple extra-ovarian metastases when ovarian metastasis was detected.

Interventions:

All patients received systemic antitumor therapy and underwent bilateral ovariectomy.

Outcomes:

Patient 1 had stable bone metastasis; patient 2 had stable lung metastasis and died of heart disease, and patient 3 had multiple brain metastases, which suggested poor outcomes.

Lessons:

It is important to screen for ovarian metastasis from breast cancer when evaluating suspicious ovarian masses detected via transvaginal ultrasound in patients with a breast cancer history. Therefore, we recommend simple laparoscopic bilateral oophorectomy not only for pathological diagnosis but also for metastatic tumor removal and therapeutic castration. In such cases, systemic therapy is essential because ovarian metastasis is often a component of systemic metastatic disease.
Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma
Authors: Cipriani Nicole A. , Lusardi Jonathan J. , McElherne James , Pearson Alexander T. , Olivas Andrea D. , Fitzpatrick Carrie , Lingen Mark W. , Blair Elizabeth A.
Published: April 2019

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common salivary gland malignancy, but categorization is complicated by variability in grading systems and uncertain prognostic significance of MAML2 rearrangement. The aims of this study were to determine the prognostic significance of MEC grading systems and MAML2 rearrangement status. Fifty-three carcinomas originally diagnosed as MEC (45 primary; 8 recurrent) of major and minor salivary glands were graded according to modified Healey, Brandwein, AFIP, and Katabi systems. Fluorescence in situ hybridization for MAML2 rearrangement was performed. Clinical features and outcomes were recorded. Twenty-five (47%) carcinomas scored the same in all grading systems. The most common histologic feature leading to a diagnosis of intermediate grade was isolated solid growth. Brandwein assigned the highest percentage of high grade (29%) and AFIP the highest percentage of low grade (80%). MAML2 was rearranged in 37/46 (80%) cases. Forty-three (81%) were morphologically compatible with MEC, and these were more likely to be low-intermediate grade and MAML2-rearranged. Of primary carcinomas, 6 (13%) recurred. Statistically significant univariate risk factors for recurrence included non-MEC morphology, stage T4, and high Brandwein grade. Margin status, MAML2 rearrangement, and isolated solid growth were not predictive of recurrence. A binary grading system (Brandwein high vs. low-plus-intermediate) could be considered to better reflect biological behavior in MEC. Our study confirms that MAML2 wildtype tumors more likely represent high grade non-MECs, and prior studies demonstrating worse prognosis in MAML2-nonrearranged MECs may be diluted by high-grade non-MECs.
Sharing of Injection Drug Preparation Equipment Is Associated With HIV Infection: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Ball Laura J. , Puka Klajdi , Speechley Mark , Wong Ryan , Hallam Brian , Wiener Joshua C. , Koivu Sharon , Silverman Michael S.
Published: April 2019

Background:

Sharing needles/syringes and sexual transmission are widely appreciated as means of HIV transmission among persons who inject drugs (PWIDs). London, Canada, is experiencing an outbreak of HIV among PWIDs, despite a large needle/syringe distribution program and low rates of needle/syringe sharing.

Objective:

To determine whether sharing of injection drug preparation equipment (IDPE) is associated with HIV infection.

Methods:

Between August 2016 and June 2017, individuals with a history of injection drug use and residence in London were recruited to complete a comprehensive questionnaire and HIV testing.

Results:

A total of 127 participants were recruited; 8 were excluded because of failure to complete HIV testing. The remaining 35 HIV-infected (cases) and 84 HIV-uninfected (controls) participants were assessed. Regression analysis found that sharing IDPE, without sharing needles/syringes, was strongly associated with HIV infection (adjusted odds ratio: 22.1, 95% confidence interval: 4.51 to 108.6, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Sharing of IDPE is a risk factor for HIV infection among PWIDs, even in the absence of needle/syringe sharing. Harm reduction interventions to reduce HIV transmission associated with this practice are urgently needed.
Van der Woude Syndrome With a Novel Mutation in the IRF6 Gene
Authors: Ural Alper , Bilgen Fatma , Çakmakli Seda , Bekerecioğlu Mehmet
Published: April 2019

Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) is a rare autosomal dominant disease, first reported in the literature in 1845 by Demarquay and subsequently thoroughly described in 1954 by Van der Woude.
1,2
Van der Woude Syndrome is the most common form of syndromic orofacial clefting and individuals with this syndrome account for 2% of all cleft cases.
3
Van der Woude syndrome clinically presents with congenital lip pits. These lip pits occur on paramedian portion of the vermillion border of the lip. In VWS, congenital lip pits occur in concurrence with cleft lip and/or cleft palate and represent the most common clinical problem occurring in 80% of the patients. Lip pits result due to notching of the lips at an early stage of development with fixation of tissues at the base of the notch or they may result from a failure of complete union of embryonic lateral sulci of lip.
4
Single lip sinuses without any cleft syndrome are rare; lower lip fistulas in VWS are generally asymptomatic, and surgical management is usually accomplished because of aesthetic concerns. However, in some cases, patients may complain of watery drainage or hypotonia of the lower lip.
5
Herein, the authors report a novel frameshift mutation in IRF6 gene which may contribute to better understanding the genetic aspect of VWS.
Treatment of Venous Hemorrhage Between Vestibulocochlear Nerve and Hypertrophic Flocculus During Microvascular Decompression Procedure for Hemifacial Spasm
Authors: Wei Xiangyu , Zheng Xuesheng , Chen Zheng , Yuan Yan , Li Shiting
Published: April 2019

Hemifacial spasm is a kind of painless, intermittent, involuntary, and irregular unilateral facial muscles convulsion. Microvascular decompression has become the standard surgical procedure for hemifacial spasm after years of popularization and development. In the article, the authors described in detail a therapeutic strategy for rapid intracranial venous bleeding between vestibulocochlear nerve and hypertrophic flocculus. When simple compression hemostasis failed, the authors applied fibrin glue and gelatin sponges for hemostasis and finally successfully controlled venous bleeding. The patient's symptoms were completely relieved after operation. Routine postoperative examination of head computed tomography revealed no intracranial hemorrhage. The combination of fibrin glue and gelatin sponges may be a possible solution for complicated and intractable venous hemorrhage during microvascular decompression procedure in some patients with hemifacial spasm.
Three Cases Describing Outcomes of Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy With Instillation for Complex Wound Healing
Authors: Hall Kimberly Dawn , Patterson Jessica S.
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND:

We describe 3 cases where negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell time (NPWTi-d) was used as an adjunctive therapy for 3 chronic wounds.

CASES:

Three patients (2 males and 1 female), ranging in age from 28 to 53 years, presented with complex, infected wounds: (1) a diabetic foot ulcer with underlying infection, (2) a dehisced abdominal wound with enterocutaneous fistula, and (3) a large wound of the upper torso and axillary region resulting from soft tissue necrosis. Negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell time was initiated by instilling normal saline or an antiseptic solution; the solution was left in place for 3 to 10 minutes. Continuous negative pressure was then applied at −125 or −150 mm Hg; cycles were repeated every 1 or 3 hours. Treatment was applied for 5 to 44 days, and dressings were changed every 2 to 3 days. Granulation tissue developed in all 3 wounds; all closed after subsequent skin grafting.

CONCLUSIONS:

Outcomes of these cases suggest that NPWTi-d may be used as an adjunctive treatment modality for a variety of chronic wounds.
Availability of Public Toilets in Parks and Recreational Sites in Selected US Cities
Authors: Park Young Shin , Bliss Donna Z.
Published: April 2019

PURPOSE:

The principal aim of this study was to map and describe the availability of parkland public toilets in major US cities per population and area.

DESIGN:

Observational and descriptive.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

Data were collected from the following cities: Austin, Texas; Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP), Minnesota; Nashville, Tennessee; New York City (NYC), New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; San Francisco, California (SFC); Seattle, Washington; and Tampa, Florida. These cities are located throughout the United States.

METHODS:

Data from the US Census and cities' parks/recreation departments about publicly owned and operated permanent toilet facilities were analyzed and then mapped using geographic information systems. Toilet density by population and residential area (mi2) was calculated, and toilet distribution was visualized.

RESULTS:

When calculated per 100,000 residents, MSP had the most parkland public toilets with 24; Tampa, Seattle, and Philadelphia had 17 to 22; and Nashville, NYC, and SFC had the fewest, around 7 toilets. Parkland public toilet density per residential area was highest in NYC and Philadelphia (>2/mi2), followed by MSP, Seattle, and SFC (1/mi2), then Tampa, Austin, and Nashville (<1/mi2). The proportion of Census tracts containing parkland public toilets was more than 0.4 in MSP, Seattle, Tampa, and Philadelphia, more than 0.20 in Nashville and Austin, and less than 0.20 in the other cities. Toilet mapping showed fairly even distribution across Census tracts in MSP, Seattle, Tampa, and Philadelphia.

CONCLUSIONS:

Availability of parkland public toilets was highest in MSP and lowest in SFC. Findings inform WOC nurses for counseling incontinent patients about self-management strategies. Urban planning that provides an adequate number and distribution of parkland public toilets may improve quality of life.
NeuRiPP: Neural network identification of RiPP precursor peptides
Authors: de los Santos Emmanuel L.C.
Published: April 2019

Significant progress has been made in the past few years on the computational identification biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that encode ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). This is done by identifying both RiPP tailoring enzymes (RTEs) and RiPP precursor peptides (PPs). However, identification of PPs, particularly for novel RiPP classes remains challenging. To address this, machine learning has been used to accurately identify PP sequences. However, current machine learning tools have limitations, since they are specific to the RiPP-class they are trained for, and are context-dependent, requiring information about the surrounding genetic environment of the putative PP sequences. NeuRiPP overcomes these limitations. It does this by leveraging the rich data set of high-confidence putative PP sequences from existing programs, along with experimentally verified PPs from RiPP databases. NeuRiPP uses neural network models that are suitable for peptide classification with weights trained on PP datasets. It is able to identify known PP sequences, and sequences that are likely PPs. When tested on existing RiPP BGC datasets, NeuRiPP is able to identify PP sequences in significantly more putative RiPP clusters than current tools, while maintaining the same HMM hit accuracy. Finally, NeuRiPP was able to successfully identify PP sequences from novel RiPP classes that are recently characterized experimentally, highlighting its utility in complementing existing bioinformatics tools.
Single-molecule turnover dynamics of actin and membrane coat proteins in clathrin-mediated endocytosis
Authors: Lacy Michael M. , Baddeley David , Berro Julien
Published: April 2019

Actin is required for clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) in yeast. Experimental observations indicate that this actin assembly generates force to deform the membrane and overcome the cell’s high turgor pressure, but the precise molecular details remain unresolved. Based on previous models, we predicted that actin at endocytic sites continually polymerize and disassemble, turning over multiple times during an endocytic event. Here we applied single-molecule speckle tracking in live fission yeast to directly measure this predicted turnover within the CME assembly for the first time. In contrast with the overall ~20-sec lifetimes of actin and actin-associated proteins in endocytic patches, we detected single-molecule residence times around 1 to 2 sec, and high turnover rates of membrane-associated proteins in CME. Furthermore, we find heterogeneous behaviors in many proteins’ motions. These results indicate that rapid and continuous turnover is a key feature of the endocytic machinery and suggest revising quantitative models of force production.
A developmental framework linking neurogenesis and circuit formation in the Drosophila CNS
Authors: Mark Brandon , Lai Sen-Lin , Zarin Aref Arzan , Manning Laurina , Litwin-Kumar Ashok , Cardona Albert , Truman James W. , Doe Chris Q.
Published: April 2019

The mechanisms specifying neuronal diversity are well-characterized, yet it remains unclear how or if these mechanisms regulate neural circuit assembly. To address this, we mapped the developmental origin of 160 interneurons from seven bilateral neural progenitors (neuroblasts), and identify them in a synapse-scale TEM reconstruction of theDrosophilalarval CNS. We find that lineages concurrently build the sensory and motor neuropils by generating sensory and motor hemilineages in a Notch-dependent manner. Neurons in a hemilineage share common synaptic targeting within the neuropil, which is further refined based on neuronal temporal identity. Connectome analysis shows that hemilineage-temporal cohorts share common connectivity. Finally, we show that proximity alone cannot explain the observed connectivity structure, suggesting hemilineage/temporal identity confers an added layer of specificity. Thus, we demonstrate that the mechanisms specifying neuronal diversity also govern circuit formation and function, and that these principles are broadly applicable throughout the nervous system.
recount-brain: a curated repository of human brain RNA-seq datasets metadata
Authors: Razmara Ashkaun , Ellis Shannon E. , Sokolowski Dustin J. , Davis Sean , Wilson Michael D. , Leek Jeffrey T. , Jaffe Andrew E. , Collado-Torres Leonardo
Published: April 2019

The usability of publicly-available gene expression data is often limited by the availability of high-quality, standardized biological phenotype and experimental condition information (“metadata”). We released the recount2 project, which involved re-processing ∼70,000 samples in the Sequencing Read Archive (SRA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) projects. While samples from the latter two projects are well-characterized with extensive metadata, the ∼50,000 RNA-seq samples from SRA in recount2 are inconsistently annotated with metadata. Tissue type, sex, and library type can be estimated from the RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data itself. However, more detailed and harder to predict metadata, like age and diagnosis, must ideally be provided by labs that deposit the data.

To facilitate more analyses within human brain tissue data, we have complemented phenotype predictions by manually constructing a uniformly-curated database of public RNA-seq samples present in SRA and recount2. We describe the reproducible curation process for constructing recount-brain that involves systematic review of the primary manuscript, which can serve as a guide to annotate other studies and tissues. We further expanded recount-brain by merging it with GTEx and TCGA brain samples as well as linking to controlled vocabulary terms for tissue, Brodmann area and disease. Furthermore, we illustrate how to integrate the sample metadata in recount-brain with the gene expression data in recount2 to perform differential expression analysis. We then provide three analysis examples involving modeling postmortem interval, glioblastoma, and meta-analyses across GTEx and TCGA. Overall, recount-brain facilitates expression analyses and improves their reproducibility as individual researchers do not have to manually curate the sample metadata. recount-brain is available via the add_metadata() function from the recount Bioconductor package at bioconductor.org/packages/recount.
Cell fate determination by Lamarckian molecule-inheritance and chance
Authors: Bruggeman Frank J. , Schouten Jaap , de Groot Daan H. , Planqué Robert
Published: April 2019

Single, isogenic cells can differ in their survival and adaptation capacity. This phenotypic diversity is generally due to stochastic molecular events. Since mother cells on average pass half of their molecular content on to their daughters, the states of progeny cells strongly correlate with that of mother cells (Lamarckian inheritance). Why a particular cell deviates qualitatively from others therefore requires consideration of chance events along its ancestral lineage. Here we develop theory to understand cellular heterogeneity in terms of stochastic ancestral events of molecule synthesis, molecule degradation and cell divisions. We find that cell growth stochasticity has profound consequences for molecular heterogeneity in isogenic populations of cells, especially for long-lived molecules such as proteins. For instance, the lower bound on noise in molecule copy numbers that has often been observed experimentally is shown to be solely determined by the probability distribution for the generation times of cells. Thus, copy-number noise is unavoidable, even in high-copy number circuits. Stochastic cell-fate and cell-differentiation decisions are therefore not necessarily due to noise in genetic circuits. We conclude that consideration of past chance events along cell lineages improves our understanding of how adaptive and mal-adaptive phenotypic heterogeneity arises in populations of isogenic cells.
Plasmodium secretion induces hepatocyte lysosome exocytosis and promotes parasite entry
Authors: Vijayan Kamalakannan , Cestari Igor , Mast Fred D. , Glennon Elizabeth K.K. , McDermott Suzanne M , Kain Heather S. , Brokaw Alyssa M. , Aitchison John D. , Stuart Kenneth , Kaushansky Alexis
Published: April 2019

The invasion of a suitable host hepatocyte by Plasmodium sporozoites is an essential step in malaria infection. We demonstrate that in infected hepatocytes, lysosomes are redistributed away from the nucleus, and surface exposure of lysosomal-associated membrane protein (LAMP1) is increased. Lysosome exocytosis in infected cells occurs independently of sporozoite traversal. Instead, a sporozoite-secreted factor is sufficient for the process. Knockdown of the SNARE proteins involved in lysosome-plasma membrane fusion reduces lysosome exocytosis and Plasmodium infection. In contrast, promoting fusion between the lysosome and plasma membrane dramatically increases infection. Our work demonstrates new parallels between Plasmodium sporozoite entry of hepatocytes and infection by the excavate pathogen, Trypanosoma cruzi and raises the question of whether convergent evolution has shaped host cell invasion by divergent pathogens.
Molecular dynamics simulation of proton-transfer coupled rotations in ATP synthase FOmotor
Authors: Kubo Shintaroh , Niina Toru , Takada Shoji
Published: April 2019

The FOmotor in FOF1ATP synthase rotates its rotor driven by the proton motive force. While earlier studies elucidated basic mechanisms therein, recent advances in high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy enabled to investigate proton-transfer coupled FOrotary dynamics at structural details. Here, developing a hybrid Monte Carlo/molecular dynamics simulation method, we studied reversible dynamics of a yeast mitochondrial FO. We obtained the 36°-stepwise rotations of FOper one proton transfer in the ATP synthesis mode and the proton pumping in the ATP hydrolysis mode. In both modes, the most prominent path alternatively sampled states with two and three deprotonated glutamates in c-ring, by which the c-ring rotates one step. The free energy transduction efficiency in the model FOmotor reaches ~ 90% in optimal conditions. Moreover, mutations in key glutamate and a highly conserved arginine increased proton leakage and markedly decreased the coupling, in harmony with previous experiments.
Human 28s rRNA 5’ terminal derived small RNA inhibits ribosomal protein mRNA levels
Authors: Li Shuai
Published: April 2019

Recent small RNA (sRNA) high-throughput sequencing studies reveal ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) as major resources of sRNA. By reanalyzing sRNA sequencing datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), we identify 28s rRNA 5’ terminal derived sRNA (named 28s5-rtsRNA) as the most abundant rRNA-derived sRNAs. These 28s5-rtsRNAs show a length dynamics with identical 5’ end and different 3’ end. Through exploring sRNA sequencing datasets of different human tissues, 28s5-rtsRNA is found to be highly expressed in bladder, macrophage and skin. We also show 28s5-rtsRNA is independent of microRNA biogenesis pathway and not associated with Argonaut proteins. Overexpression of 28s5-rtsRNA could alter the 28s/18s rRNA ratio and decrease multiple ribosomal protein mRNA levels. Our results reveal that 28s5-rtsRNA serves as a key regulator in ribosomal protein expression.
Axonal Na+ channels detect and transmit levels of input synchrony in local brain circuits
Authors: Zbili Mickaёl , Rama Sylvain , Yger Pierre , Inglebert Yanis , Boumedine-Guignon Norah , Fronzaroli-Moliniere Laure , Brette Romain , Russier Michaёl , Debanne Dominique
Published: April 2019

Sensory processing requires mechanisms of fast coincidence-detection to discriminate synchronous from asynchronous inputs. Spike-threshold adaptation enables such a discrimination but is ineffective in transmitting this information to the network. We show here that presynaptic axonal sodium channels read and transmit precise levels of input synchrony to the postsynaptic cell by modulating the presynaptic action potential (AP) amplitude. As a consequence, synaptic transmission is facilitated at cortical synapses when the presynaptic spike is produced by synchronous inputs. Using dual soma-axon recordings, imaging, and modeling, we show that this facilitation results from enhanced AP amplitude in the axon due to minimized inactivation of axonal sodium-channels. Quantifying local circuit activity and using network modeling, we found that spikes induced by synchronous inputs produced a larger effect on network activity than spikes induced by asynchronous inputs. Therefore, this input-synchrony dependent facilitation (ISF) may constitute a powerful mechanism regulating spike transmission.
Water storage and irrigation practices associated with cannabis production drive seasonal patterns of water extraction and use in Northern California watersheds
Authors: Dillis Christopher , McIntee Connor , Grantham Ted , Butsic Van , Le Lance , Grady Kason
Published: April 2019

Concerns have been raised over the impacts of cannabis farms on the environment and water resources in particular, yet data on cultivation practices and water use patterns and have been limited. Estimates of water use for cannabis cultivation have previously relied on extrapolated values of plant water demand, which are unable to account for differences in cultivation practices, variation across the growing season, or the role of water storage in altering seasonal extraction patterns. The current study uses data reported by enrollees in California’s North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) Cannabis Program to model how variation in cultivation practices and the use of stored water affect the timing and amount of water extracted from the environment. We found that the supplemental use of stored water resulted in a seasonal pattern of water extraction (i.e. water withdrawals from the environment) that was distinct from water demand (i.e. water applied to plants). Although water input to storage in the off-season months (November through March) reduced water extraction in the growing season (April through October), farms generally did not have sufficient storage to completely forbear from surface water extraction during the growing season. Beginning in 2019, forbearance will be required during this period for those in the regulated cannabis industry. The two most important predictors of storage sufficiency (type of storage infrastructure and seasonality of water source) also had reliable effects on seasonal extraction patterns, further emphasizing the link between water storage and extraction profiles. These findings suggest that resource managers and policy makers should consider the ways in which cultivation practices drive water extraction patterns and how these practices may be influenced by participation in the regulated cannabis industry.
Long-Term Outcomes of Pediatric Graves Disease Patients Treated with Anti-Thyroid Drugs: Experience from a Taiwan Medical Center
Authors: Chiang Ya-Ting , Ting Wei-Hsin , Huang Chi-Yu , Huang Shih-Kang , Chan Chon-In , Cheng Bi-Wen , Lin Chao-Hsu , Wu Yi-Lei , Hung Chen-Mei , Li Hsin-Jung , Chan Chia-Jung , Lee Yann-Jinn
Published: April 2019

Graves disease (GD) is the most common cause of thyrotoxicosis in children and adolescents, accounting for 15% of all thyroid diseases during childhood. Anti-thyroid drugs (ATD) are recommended as the first-line treatment in children and adolescents. However, the remission rate is lower in children than in adults, and the optimal treatment duration and favorite factors associated with remission remain unknown. We aimed to investigate long-term outcomes of pediatric GD patients receiving ATD. We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of 300 pediatric GD subjects, who were initially treated with ATD and followed up for more than one year, from 1985 to 2017 at MacKay Children’s Hospital. The 300 patients comprised 257 (85.7%) females and 43 (14.3%) males, median age at diagnosis was 11.6 (range 2.7-17.8) years, and median follow-up period was 4.7 (range 1.1-23.9) years. Overall, 122 patients achieved the criteria for discontinuing ATD treatment, seventy-nine (39.9%) patients achieved remission, with a median follow-up period of 5.3 (range 1.5-20.1) years. Patients in the remission group were more likely to be aged < 5 years (remission vs. relapse vs. ongoing ATD; 11.4 vs. 0 vs. 2.6%, P=0.02), less likely to have a family history of thyroid disease (24.1 vs. 42.1 vs. 52.6 %, P=0.001), and had lower TRAb levels (42.8 vs. 53.6 vs. 65.1 %, P=0.02).

Conclusion

Long-term ATD remains an effective treatment option for GD in children and adolescents. Pediatric GD patients aged < 5 years, having no family history of thyroid disease and having lower TRAb levels were more likely to achieve remission.
Exogenous Melatonin accelerates seed germination in cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Authors: Xiao Shuang , Liu Liantao , Wang Hao , Li Dongxiao , Bai Zhiying , Zhang Yongjiang , Sun Hongchun , Zhang Ke , Li Cundong
Published: April 2019

Seed germination is considered as the beginning of the spermatophyte lifecycle, as it is a crucial stage in determining subsequent plant growth and development. Although many previous studies have found that melatonin can promote seed germination, the role of melatonin in cotton germination remains unexamined. The main objective of this study is the characterization of potential promotional effects of melatonin (at doses of 0, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 μM) on cotton seed germination. This experiment demonstrated that low concentrations of melatonin can promote germination, while high concentrations failed to promote germination and even inhibited germination. Together, these results indicate that a 20 μM melatonin treatment optimally promotes cotton seed germination. Compared with the control, germination potential (GP), germination rate (GR) and final fresh weight (FW) increased by 16.67%, 12.30% and 4.81% respectively. Although low concentrations of melatonin showed some improvement in vigor index (VI), germination index (GI) and mean germination time (MGT), these effects did not reach significant levels. Antioxidant enzyme activity during seed germination was most prominent under the 20 μM melatonin treatment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities were significantly increased by 10.37–59.73% and 17.79–47.68% compared to the melatonin-free control. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was reduced by 16.73–40.33%. Two important plant hormones in seed germination were also studied. As melatonin concentration increased, ABA content in seeds decreased first and then increased, and GA3 content showed a diametrically opposite trend, in which the 20 μM melatonin treatment was optimal. The 20 μM melatonin treatment reduced ABA content in seeds by 42.13–51.68%, while the 20 μM melatonin treatment increased GA3 content in seeds to about 1.7–2.5 times that of seeds germinated without melatonin. This study provides new evidence suggesting that low concentrations of melatonin can promote cotton seed germination by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, thereby reducing the accumulation of MDA and regulating plant hormones. This has clear applications for improving the germination rate of cotton seeds using melatonin.
Bromination of bis(pyridin-2-yl) diselenide in methylene chloride: the reaction mechanism and crystal structures of 1H-pyridine-2-selenenyl dibromide and its cycloadduct with cyclopentene (3aSR,9aRS)-2,3,3a,9a-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[4,5][1,3]selenazolo[3,2-a]pyridinium bromide
Authors: Matsulevich Zhanna V. , Lukiyanova Julia M. , Naumov Vladimir I. , Borisova Galina N. , Osmanov Vladimir K. , Borisov Alexander V. , Grishina Maria M. , Khrustalev Victor N.
Published: April 2019

1H-Pyridine-2-selenenyl dibromide, C5H5NSeBr2, 1, is a product of the bromination of bis(pyridin-2-yl) diselenide in methylene chloride recrystallization from methanol. Compound 1 is essentially zwitterionic: the negative charge resides on the SeBr2 moiety and the positive charge is delocalized over the pyridinium fragment. The C—Se distance of 1.927 (3) Å is typical of a single bond. The virtually linear Br—Se—Br moiety of 178.428 (15)° has symmetrical geometry, with Se—Br bonds of 2.5761 (4) and 2.5920 (4) Å, and is twisted by 63.79 (8)° relative to the pyridinium plane. The Se atom forms an intermolecular Se...Br contact of 3.4326 (4) Å, adopting a distorted square-planar coordination. In the crystal, molecules of 1 are linked by intermolecular N—H...Br and C—H...Br hydrogen bonds, as well as by non-covalent Se...Br interactions, into a three-dimensional framework. (3aSR,(9aRS)-2,3,3a,9a-Tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[4,5][1,3]selenazolo[3,2-a]pyridinium-9 bromide, C10H12NSe+·Br−, 2, is a product of the cycloaddition reaction of 1 with cyclopentene. Compound 2 is a salt containing a selenazolopyridinium cation and a bromide anion. Both five-membered rings of the cation adopt envelope conformations. The dihedral angle between the basal planes of these rings is 62.45 (11)°. The Se atom of the cation forms two additional non-covalent interactions with the bromide anions at distances of 3.2715 (4) and 3.5683 (3) Å, attaining a distorted square-planar coordination. In the crystal, the cations and anions of 2 form centrosymmetric dimers by non-covalent Se...Br interactions. The dimers are linked by weak C—H...Br hydrogen bonds into double layers parallel to (001).
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of rac-2-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-4-ylidene]hydrazine-1-carbothioamide
Authors: Zatsu Ruokuosenuo , Maddela Prabhakar , Indira Devi M. , Singh Ranjit , Pradeep Chullikkattil P.
Published: April 2019

In the title compound, C16H14N3OSCl, a Schiff base derivative of a thiosemicarbazide with a flavanone, the 4-chlorophenyl ring is inclined to the benzene ring of the chromane ring system by 30.72 (12)°. The pyran ring has an envelope conformation with the methine C atom as the flap. The mean plane of the thiourea unit is twisted with respect to the benzene ring of the chromanone ring system, subtending a dihedral angle of 19.78 (19)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by two pairs of N—H...S hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers enclosing R
2
2(8) ring motifs, which are linked to form ribbons propagating along the b-axis direction. The intermolecular contacts in the crystal have been analysed using Hirshfeld surface analysis.
S,S-Diphenyl-N-tosyl sulfone diimine
Authors: Sheikh Md. Chanmiya , Yoshimura Toshiaki , Miyatake Ryuta
Published: April 2019

In the title compound [systematic name: N-(iminodiphenyl-λ6-sulfanylidene)-4-methylbenzene-1-sulfonamide], C19H18N2O2S2, the configuration around the sulfur atom of the sulfonediimine group is a slightly distorted tetrahedron structure with two S=N bonds and two S—C bonds. The bond lengths of S=N (p-toluenesulfonyl) and S=N (NH) are 1.5785 (15) and 1.5158 (18) Å, respectively. The S—N=S plane makes a dihedral angle of 74.24 (14)° with the p-toluene ring, while it makes dihedral angles of 73.43 (13) and 41.98 (14)° with the phenyl rings. The two torsion angles of S—N=S—C (phenyl) and the S—N=S=N angle are 105.86 (12), −144.54 (11) and −25.67 (17)°, respectively. In the crystal, molecules are connected by pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers with an R
2
2(12) ring motif. The dimers are linked by C—H...O interactions, forming a tape structure along the a-axis direction.
How can neuroscience inform our coaching practice -- six strategies to facilitate an optimal brain state in coachees
Authors: Bamber Rachel
Published: April 2019

Purpose

How do you ensure that your coachees are getting the most value, support, and challenge from your coaching sessions? Before you even start asking questions and engaging in a coaching conversation, neuroscience can help you! The purpose of this paper is to outline six easy strategies that you can deploy to enable the best brain state to aid cognition, decisions, and creative thinking for your coachee and yourself.

Design/methodology/approach

A viewpoint based on the latest research from neuroscience and the author’s expertise as a coach for over 15 years.

Findings

Using the latest research from neuroscience to assist coachees to find their own solutions to the issues they face ensures they take ownership and are more motivated to take action.

Originality/value

The paper takes key elements from the latest evidence in neuroscience and applies them to the practice of coaching.
Care living labs’ effect on care organization and quality of working life
Authors: Vereycken Anselm Yennef , De Kort Leen , Vanhootegem Geert , Dessers Ezra
Published: April 2019

Purpose

There is a growing interest in living labs (a research concept in which innovations are co-created with end-users and tested in practice) as a method to test and develop health and social care innovations. However, little is known about their effect on the care organization and care providers’ quality of working life. By using the Flanders Care Living Labs program (Belgium) as a case study, the purpose of this paper is to explore how innovations in a living lab context may affect those issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study combined data from document analysis, in-depth interviews and focus groups involving 23 care innovation projects. Deductive category application was used for analyzing data.

Findings

Outcomes indicate that 22/23 care innovation projects resulted in organizational changes, and that 22 affected at least one care provider’s quality of working life. Surprisingly, no project deliberately intended to affect the care organization and quality of working life. Future care innovation projects should focus on actual innovation and its implications for specific end-users, and on the broader organizational consequences and the possible effect on the care providers’ work.

Originality/value

This is the first study that specifically focused on care innovation’s effect on the care organization and on the quality of working life within a living labs context.
Relationships between maternal characteristics and infant birth weight
Authors: Javadi Maryam , Rafiei Sima , Zahedifar Fariba , Barikani Ameneh
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Nowadays, the importance of infant birth weight (IBW) as a key factor in determining the future of physical and mental development of children is a growing concern. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between maternal characteristics and IBW among pregnant women who were referred to health centers in Qazvin city in the year 2016.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive-analytical study was conducted among pregnant women in 28–36 weeks of gestation who referred to healthcare centers and facilities affiliated by the Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in April–June 2016. The associations between maternal physical activity, mothers’ socioeconomic status and birth weight were examined by SPSS Software Package version 16 through linear and logistic regression tests.

Findings

Linear regression modeling suggested that maternal weight (p=0.001), income (p=0.04), gestational age of delivery (p=0.00) and pre-pregnancy BMI (p=0.02) were positively associated with birth weight, while occupational and heavy physical activity (p=0.003 and 0.008, respectively) were negatively associated with IBW. In this study, low birth weight infants are compared to those with normal weight belonged to mothers who have spent more time in doing heavy physical activities (OR=1.11, 95% CI 1.01–1.23). Also infants with low birth weight compared to others in the normal weight category were born from mothers with lower pre-pregnancy BMI (OR=0.65, 95% CI 0.62–0.78), gestational age of delivery (OR=0.82, 95% CI 0.79–0.86), maternal weight (OR=0.86, 95% CI 0.84–0.88) and income (OR=0.79, 95% CI 0.69–0.83).

Practical implications

The study findings revealed that certain maternal characteristics could play a significant role in IBW. Despite the importance, in most of developing countries (particularly Iran), future mothers are not advised about an appropriate weight gain during pregnancy or the optimal level of physical activity in such a period of time. Therefore, counseling pregnant women and giving them proper information on appropriate perinatal care would be helpful in order to have pregnancies with optimal outcomes.

Originality/value

The authors applied several statistical methods to analyze IBW among mothers with different maternal characteristics and predict birth weight based on contributing factors.
Understanding causes of volatility in onion prices in India
Authors: Birthal Pratap , Negi Akanksha , Joshi P.K.
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Post-2008 global food crisis the prices of perishable high-value food commodities, such as vegetables and fruits, in India have risen faster and become more volatile compared to that of cereals. The welfare consequences of price shocks though are well understood yet the policy responses to manage these remain blurred because of a lack of clarity on their causes. Focusing on onions that comprise an important constituent of the Indian diet, the purpose of this paper is to explore causes of high price volatility.

Design/methodology/approach

Using high-frequency time series data on wholesale prices and arrivals of onions in major markets and other relevant variables, this paper analyzes causes of price volatility from several angles, that is production shocks, seasonality in production and market arrivals, internal trade, export policies and market power of intermediaries on the supply chain.

Findings

Despite markets being integrated and no significant climatic shocks to production there exists a strong element of uncertainty in market arrivals of onions, pointing toward the market power immediate downstream the production or alternatively anti-competition trade practices in major markets as a cause of high price volatility. The measures to manage price volatility, such as an increase in minimum export prices and bans on exports, are also not found to have an immediate cooling effect on prices.

Research limitations/implications

The agricultural policy should provide for a system of market intelligence to monitor anti-competitive trade practices along the supply chain, and to take proactive trade control measures to prevent frequent ups and downs in domestic prices. In addition, it should provide for incentives for developing efficient supply chains and for the cultivation of onions in the regions that have agronomic potential but it has remained underexploited due to one or the other constraint.

Social implications

Excessive volatility in food prices impacts farmers, consumers, processors, and traders and even political system. It may distort production and investment decisions of farmers and intermediaries on the value chains, leading to inefficient allocation of resources. The poor consumers may be forced to reduce food and non-food productive expenditures. If persists for a longer period, it may lead to political instability too.

Originality/value

Several studies have analyzed volatility in food prices and causes thereof. However, rarely any of these has examined volatility in prices of perishable high-value food commodities. This paper is an attempt toward filling this gap.
The effects of income and food safety perception on vegetable expenditure in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana
Authors: Amfo Bismark , Ansah Isaac Gershon Kodwo , Donkoh Samuel A.
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how consumers’ concern for food safety and income levels influence vegetable consumption patterns and expenditure in Tamale, Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from a survey of 300 urban consumers, quantile regression analyses are used to examine how food safety consciousness, income and other factors influence vegetable expenditure across different quantiles.

Findings

Whereas protein-rich foods take smaller proportion, vegetables and cereals take more than half of the household food budget. Poor households spend greater proportion of income on food relative to wealthier households, although absolute amounts spent on food takes the opposite direction. Engel’s law applies to composite food expenditure and individual food classes. Bennett’s law applies to various food groups, with high-income households showing high dietary diversity than middle- and low-income households. Food safety consciousness and income groupings significantly influence vegetable expenditure at various quantiles. Expenditure of food safety conscious and high-income consumers are positioned on higher quantiles.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest a potential for agribusiness investors to develop safer vegetable niche markets in the study area.

Originality/value

The study is the first to analyze vegetable consumption in Ghana with a focus on food safety consciousness, income levels and consumers’ location.
Investigating the effects of psychological empowerment and interpersonal conflicts on employees’ knowledge sharing intentions
Authors: Wang Wei-Tsong , Wang Yi-Shun , Chang Wan-Ting
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how different forms of interpersonal conflicts and employees’ psychological empowerment may affect knowledge sharing intentions directly or indirectly via interpersonal trust in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data collected from 249 employees of 37 of the top 500 corporations in the manufacturing industry in Taiwan were used for the data analysis. The research model was analyzed using the component-based structural equation modeling technique, namely, the partial least squares (PLS) approach.

Findings

The results indicate that both relationship and task conflicts have significant indirect effects on employees’ knowledge sharing intentions via psychological empowerment and trust. Additionally, psychological empowerment significantly influences employees’ knowledge sharing intentions both directly and indirectly via trust.

Research limitations/implications

The primary theoretical implication is an advancement in the understanding of the critical antecedents of and their different effects on employees’ knowledge sharing intentions from the perspectives of conflict management and individual psychological empowerment. Future research may concentrate on investigating the bidirectional interactions among trust, relationship conflicts and task conflicts in different knowledge-sharing contexts.

Practical implications

This study provides practical insights into conflict resolution intended to facilitate psychological empowerment and interpersonal trust that encourage knowledge sharing in the workplace.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first knowledge sharing study that empirically examines how task and relationship conflicts affect employees’ knowledge sharing intentions differently via the mediation of their perceived psychological empowerment and interpersonal trust in one another in the workplace.