bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence, predictors, and outcomes of new‐onset atrial fibrillation in patients with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Khalfallah Mohamed , Elsheikh Ayman
Published: January 2020

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia and one of the complications in the setting of ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Our objective of the present study was to investigate the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of NOAF in patients with acute STEMI managed with pharmacoinvasive strategy (PIS) versus those managed with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Methods

The study included 530 patients with STEMI divided into two groups according to the method of treatment. Group I: 269 patients subjected to pharmacoinvasive strategy (PIS), group II: 261 patients managed with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Incidence, predictors, and outcomes of NOAF were assessed in each group separately.

Results

The incidence of NOAF was 25 patients (9.3%) in group I and 24 patients (9.2%) in group II. Multivariate regression analysis identified the independent predictors of NOAF that were (advanced age ˃65 years, history of hypertension, left atrial volume index (LAVI) ˃34 ml/m2, E/e’ ratio ˃ 12, right coronary artery (RCA) as a culprit vessel and presence of heart failure). There was no statistically significant difference between both groups regarding the occurrence of MACE.

Conclusion

New‐onset AF represents one of the common complications in the setting of STEMI. Advanced age, hypertension, LAVI ˃34 ml/m2, E/e’ ratio ˃12, RCA culprit vessel, and heart failure were the independent predictors of NOAF.
Patient‐related risk factors for unplanned 30‐day readmission following total knee arthroplasty: a narrative literature review
Authors: Gould Daniel , Dowsey Michelle , Jo Imkyeong , Choong Peter
Published: January 2020

Osteoarthritis is a debilitating condition as well as a growing global health problem, and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective treatment for advanced disease. Unplanned 30‐day hospital readmission is an indicator of complications, which is a significant financial burden on healthcare systems. We reviewed the literature to better understand the patient‐related factors associated with unplanned 30‐day readmission following TKA. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for studies reporting on patient‐related risk factors for unplanned 30‐day readmission following primary or revision TKA for any indication. The impact of specific medical comorbidities on increasing the risk of 30‐day readmission following TKA is quite well established. The following comorbidities are strongly associated with readmission: bleeding disorder, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and dialysis, chronic immunosuppressant use and history of cancer. Other significant comorbidities include: dementia; depression; haematological (coagulopathy and anaemia), cardiovascular (atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure), respiratory (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and liver diseases; and cerebrovascular accident/transient ischaemic attack (but only in revision TKA patients). The influence of variation in sex, age and body mass index each demonstrate a more complex pattern. A systematic review and meta‐analysis is required to quantify the impact of the various patient‐related factors on 30‐day readmission following TKA. Clinicians can use this information in preoperative decision‐making.
Anterior chamber granuloma: conservative treatment versus surgical intervention
Authors: Sadek Sherin Hassan , Ahmed Mahmoud Naguib , Kamal Mahmoud Ahmed , Youssef Maha Mohamed
Published: January 2020

Purpose

A distinct pattern of granulomatous anterior uveitis, with white anterior chamber (AC) granuloma, has been reported in certain endemic areas. The aim of this work was to compare the outcome of conservative treatment to surgical intervention for the treatment of large AC granulomas presenting with moderate–severe anterior uveitis. The secondary outcome is ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) characterization of AC granulomas.

Methods

This is a prospective randomized interventional study including 41 eyes of 39 patients with active AC granuloma ≥3 mm (flare & cells ≥ +2). Patients were randomly assigned to either conservative treatment in the form of topical prednisolone and cycloplegic drops with orbital floor (transseptal) injection of Triamcinolone acetonide (20 eyes) or surgery in the form of granuloma excision and AC wash (21 eyes). As a perioperative care, topical steroids and cycloplegic drops were given few days before surgery and tapered gradually over 6 weeks. Patients were followed up at first day, 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months.

Results

Thirty‐seven patients were males, and 2 were females (13.0 ± 3.5 years). After 2 weeks, disappearance/healing of granuloma was achieved in 20 eyes in the surgical group versus 2 eyes in the conservative group (p < 0.0001). This effect was maintained throughout the follow‐up period, for the surgical group and reached up to 70%, for the medical group. At every follow‐up, BCVA was better in the surgical group, but this was only statistically significant at 1 and 3 months. The granuloma appeared as a homogenous hyperreflective lesion in examined eyes (16 eyes of 15 patients).

Conclusion

Surgical treatment of large granulomas leads to a more complete and rapid resolution of inflammation.
Management of a feline gastric stromal cell tumour with toceranib phosphate: a case study
Authors: McGregor O , Moore AS , Yeomans S
Published: January 2020

Background

A fifteen‐year old, female spayed domestic longhaired cat was presented for a routine vaccination during which an incidental abdominal mass was palpated. After further inquiry, occasional vomiting was reported to occur once every few weeks to months, associated with no other gastrointestinal signs.

Case report

Ultrasonography revealed a gastric mass. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed a CD117 positive, smooth muscle actin and desmin negative neoplasm, consistent with a gastrointestinal stromal cell tumour (GIST). Treatment was initiated with toceranib phosphate resulting in stable disease for over eighteen months, and the patient was still alive at the time of writing.

Conclusion

GISTs are rare in cats and this is the first report of medical management of feline GIST using toceranib.
Split renal function in patients with renal masses: utility of parenchymal volume analysis vs nuclear renal scans
Authors: Ye Yunlin , Tanaka Hajime , Wang Yanbo , Campbell Rebecca A. , Aguilar Palacios Diego , DeWitt‐Foy Molly E. , Mahmood Furman A. , Eltemamy Mohamed , Remer Erick M. , Li Jianbo , Campbell Steven C.
Published: January 2020

Objectives

To evaluate the utility of parenchymal volume analysis (PVA) for estimation of split renal function (SRF) in patients with renal masses. SRF is important for deciding about partial vs radical nephrectomy (PN/RN) and assessing risk for developing severe chronic kidney disease after surgery. For renal donors PVA is routinely used to estimate SRF, but the utility of PVA for the more complex renal mass population remains undefined.

Patients and Methods

All patients (n = 374) with renal tumours and a normal contralateral kidney managed with PN (2010–2018), with preoperative/postoperative nuclear renal scans (NRS) and cross‐sectional imaging were analysed. Parenchymal volumes were measured by free‐hand scripting or software analysis. Concordance between ipsilateral estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values based on SRF from NRS vs PVA were evaluated by Pearson correlation and Bland–Altman plots. Parallel analysis of all 155 patients managed with RN at our centre (2006–2016) with preoperative NRS and imaging was also performed.

Results

For PN, the median age and tumour size were 62 years and 3.4 cm, respectively. The median preoperative ipsilateral parenchymal volume and eGFR were 181 cm3 and 36.9 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Parenchymal volumes estimated by free‐hand scripting vs software analyses correlated strongly (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). Preoperative ipsilateral eGFR based on SRF from PVA vs NRS also correlated strongly (r = 0.94, P < 0.001). Ipsilateral eGFR saved after PN correlated strongly with parenchymal volume preserved (all r >0.60); however, the correlation was much stronger when ipsilateral eGFRs were based on SRF from PVA rather than NRS (z‐statistic = 3.15, P = 0.002). For RN patients, preoperative eGFR in the contralateral kidney based on SRF from PVA vs NRS also correlated strongly (r = 0.87, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

PVA has utility for estimation of SRF in patients with renal masses, even though this population is older and more comorbid than renal donors and the tumour can complicate the analysis. PVA can be obtained by software analysis from preoperative cross‐sectional imaging and thus readily incorporated into routine clinical practice.
Prediction of overall survival in resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: ISICC‐applied prediction model
Authors: Tian Mengxin , Liu Weiren , Tao Chenyang , Tang Zheng , Zhou Yufu , Song Shushu , Jin Lei , Wang Han , Jiang Xifei , Zhou Peiyun , Fang Yuan , Qu Weifeng , Ding Zhenbin , Peng Yuanfei , Fu Xiutao , Qiu Shuangjian , Zhou Jian , Fan Jia , Shi Yinghong
Published: January 2020

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains a highly heterogeneous disease with poor prognosis. Tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes were predictive in various cancers, but their prognostic value in ICC is less clear. A total of 168 ICC patients who had received liver resection were enrolled and assigned to the derivation cohort. Sixteen immune markers in tumor and peritumor regions were examined by immunohistochemistry. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator model was used to identify prognostic markers and to establish an immune signature for ICC (ISICC). An ISICC‐applied prediction model was built and validated in another independent dataset. Five immune features, including CD3peritumor (P), CD57P, CD45RAP, CD66bintratumoral (T) and PD‐L1P, were identified and integrated into an individualized ISICC for each patient. Seven prognostic predictors, including total bilirubin, tumor numbers, CEA, CA19‐9, GGT, HBsAg and ISICC, were integrated into the final model. The C‐index of the ISICC‐applied prediction model was 0.719 (95% CI, 0.660‐0.777) in the derivation cohort and 0.667 (95% CI, 0.581‐0.732) in the validation cohort. Compared with the conventional staging systems, the new model presented better homogeneity and a lower Akaike information criteria value in ICC. The ISICC‐applied prediction model may provide a better prediction performance for the overall survival of patients with resectable ICC in clinical practice.
Phase 1b/2 study of blinatumomab in Japanese adults with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Kiyoi Hitoshi , Morris Joan D. , Oh Iekuni , Maeda Yoshinobu , Minami Hironobu , Miyamoto Toshihiro , Sakura Toru , Iida Hiroatsu , Tuglus Catherine A. , Chen Yuqi , Dos Santos Cedric , Kalabus James , Anderson Abraham , Hata Tomoko , Nakashima Yasuhiro , Kobayashi Yukio
Published: January 2020

Adult patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B‐precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have a poor prognosis. Blinatumomab is a bispecific T‐cell engager (BiTE) immuno‐oncology therapy with dual specificity for CD19 and CD3 that redirects patients’ CD3‐positive cytotoxic T cells to lyse malignant and normal B cells. We conducted an open‐label, phase 1b/2 study to determine the safety, pharmacokinetics, efficacy and recommended dose of blinatumomab in Japanese adults with R/R B‐precursor ALL. Patients received 9 μg/day blinatumomab during week 1 and 28 μg/day during weeks 2‐4, with a 2‐week treatment‐free interval (6‐week cycle); patients received 28 μg/day blinatumomab in subsequent cycles. Primary endpoints were the incidence of dose‐limiting toxicities (DLT) in phase 1b and complete remission (CR)/CR with partial hematologic recovery (CRh) within the first two cycles in phase 2. A total of 26 patients enrolled and 25 (96%) reported grade ≥3 adverse events (mostly cytopenias). There were no DLT. CR/CRh within two cycles was achieved by 4 of 5 patients (80%) in phase 1b and 8 of 21 patients (38%) in phase 2. Among patients with evaluable minimal residual disease, 4 (100%) in phase 1b and 3 (38%) in phase 2 had a complete MRD response. Median RFS for 8 patients who achieved CR/CRh in phase 2 was 5 (95% CI: 3.5‐6.4) months; median OS was not estimable. There were no significant associations between maximum cytokine levels or percentage of specific cell types during cycle 1 and response. Consistent with global studies, blinatumomab appeared to be safe and efficacious in Japanese adults with R/R ALL.
First steps toward an understanding of procedural fairness
Authors: Surian Luca , Margoni Francesco
Published: January 2020

In four experiments, we tested whether 20‐month‐old infants are sensitive to violations of procedural impartiality. Participants were shown videos in which help was provided in two different ways. A main character provided help to two other agents either impartially, by helping them at the same time, or in a biased way, by helping one agent almost immediately while the other after a longer delay. Infants looked reliably longer at the biased than at the unbiased help scenarios despite the fact that in both scenarios help was provided to each beneficiary. This suggests that human infants can attend to departures from impartiality and, in their second year, they already show an initial understanding of procedural fairness.
Quality of life in children: the use of parent reports
Authors: Koot Hans M
Published: January 2020

This commentary is on the original article by Boldyreva et al. on pages 609–614 of this issue.
The historical context of contemporary climatic adaptation: a case study in the climatically dynamic and environmentally complex southwestern United States
Authors: Massatti Rob , Knowles L. Lacey
Published: January 2020

The process of adaptation can be highly dependent upon historical and contemporary factors, especially in environmentally and topographically complex regions affected by Pleistocene glaciations. Here, we investigate Hilaria jamesii (Poaceae), a dryland C4 graminoid, to test how patterns of adaptive genetic variation are linked to its glacial and post‐glacial history. We show that the species persisted in a single, southern refugium during the last glacial period and subsequently migrated throughout its current distribution concurrent with post‐glacial warming. The species’ putative adaptive genetic variation correlates with climatic gradients (e.g. monsoon precipitation and mean diurnal temperature range) that covary with the species’ probable route of demographic expansion. The short timescale and multiple climatic dimensions of adaptation imply that natural selection acted primarily upon standing genetic variation. These findings suggest that restoration and conservation practices should prioritize the maintenance of standing genetic variation to ensure that species have the capacity to respond to future environmental changes.
The effects of host plant species on adult oviposition and larval performance of the aphid predator Aphidoletes aphidimyza
Authors: Mohl Emily K. , Stenoien Carl M. , Heimpel George E.
Published: January 2020

1. Although preference–performance relationships in insects are typically studied in a bi‐trophic context, it is well known that host plants can affect both the preference and performance of natural enemies of herbivorous insects.

2. This study presents evidence from field and laboratory studies that two species of milkweeds, the putatively less defended Asclepias incarnata and the putatively more defended Asclepias syriaca, differentially affect adult oviposition and larval performance in Aphidoletes aphidimyza, an aphid‐feeding predatory midge, independent of aphid density.

3. Host plant species affected predatory fly larvae abundance by a factor of 50 in the field and a factor of 8 in the laboratory. Larval and adult emergence rates in our laboratory studies provided strong evidence for reduced performance on A. syriaca. Oviposition in choice and no‐choice settings provided some evidence for preference for A. incarnata, and a potentially suppressive effect of A. syriaca.

4. The results provide limited support for the hypothesis that natural selection can lead to positive correlations between adult oviposition preferences and larval performance upon various food sources, even when predatory insects oviposit onto host plants of their herbivorous prey.

5. Preference and performance are not perfectly aligned in this system, however, because ovipositing females do not reject A. syriaca entirely. Potential explanations for mismatches between preference and performance in this system include the neural constraints associated with being a generalist, adaptive time‐limited foraging strategies, and unique evolutionary histories of laboratory colonies compared with wild insects.
Recent advances on notch effects in metal fatigue: A review
Authors: Liao Ding , Zhu Shun‐Peng , Correia José A.F.O. , De Jesus Abílio M.P. , Berto Filippo
Published: January 2020

Notch features including holes, fillets, shoulders, and grooves commonly exist in engineering components. When subjected to external loads, these geometrical discontinuities generally act as stress raisers and thus present significant influences on the component strength and life, which are more remarkable under complex loading paths. Accordingly, numerous theories and approaches have been developed to address notch effects in metal fatigue as well as damage modelling and life predictions, which aim to provide theoretical support for structural optimal design and integrity evaluation. However, most of them are self‐styled or focus on specific objects, which limits their engineering applicability. This review recalls recent developments and achievements in notch fatigue modelling and analysis of metals. In particular, four commonly used methods for fatigue evaluation of metallic notched components/structures are summarized and elaborated, namely, nominal stress approaches, local stress‐strain approaches, and critical distance theories and weighting control parameters‐based approaches, which intend to provide a reference for further research on notch fatigue analysis and promote the integration and/or development among different approaches for practice.
Influence of the constraint effect on the fatigue crack growth rate in S355 J2 steel using digital image correlation
Authors: Miarka Petr , Cruces Alejandro S. , Seitl Stanislav , Malíková Lucie , Lopez‐Crespo Pablo
Published: January 2020

Displacement fields around the fatigue crack tip for a constant value of stress intensity factor (SIF) range were measured using digital image correlation (DIC) technique on the S355 J2 steel grade. The data obtained were resolved into the T‐stress evaluation and quantification of its influence on the fatigue crack growth rate. The higher order terms of the Williams expansion (WE) were calculated as well. The displacements of a set of points outside of the plastic zone were selected for application of the over‐deterministic method (ODM) to obtain several initial WE terms. The computed values of T‐stress show good agreement with finite element analysis and literature. It was shown by collected experimental displacement, that the level of constraint influences the fatigue crack propagation rate.
Engineering of Klebsiella oxytoca for production of 2,3‐butanediol using mixed sugars derived from lignocellulosic hydrolysates
Authors: Cha Ji Won , Jang Seung Hoon , Kim Yong Jae , Chang Yong Keun , Jeong Ki Jun
Published: January 2020

2,3‐Butanediol (2,3‐BDO) is a promising bulk chemical owing to its high potential in industrial applications. Here, we engineered Klebsiella oxytoca for the economic production of 2,3‐BDO using mixed sugars from renewable biomass. First, to improve xylose consumption, the xylose transporter gene (xylE) was integrated into the methylglyoxal synthase A (mgsA)‐coding gene loci, and the engineered CHA004 strain showed much faster consumption of xylose than wild‐type (WT) strain with 1.4‐fold increase of overall sugar consumption rate. To further improve sugar utilization, we performed adaptive laboratory evolution for 90 days. The evolved strain (CHA006) was evaluated by cultivating it in the media containing single‐ or mixed‐sugars, and it was clearly observed that CHA006 has improved sugar consumption and 2,3‐BDO production than those of the parental strain. Finally, we demonstrated the superiority of CHA006 by culturing in two lignocellulosic hydrolysates derived from sunflower or pine tree. Particularly, in the pine tree hydrolysate containing xylose, glucose, galactose, and mannose, the CHA006 strain showed much improved consumption rates for all sugars, and 2,3‐BDO productivity (0.73 g L−1 hr−1) increased by 3.2‐fold compared to WT strain. We believe that the engineered CHA006 strain can be a potential host in the development of economic bioprocess for 2,3‐BDO through efficient utilization of mixed sugars derived from lignocellulosic biomass.
A Type‐Curve Method for the Analysis of Pumping Tests with Piecewise‐Linear Pumping Rates
Authors: Zhuang Chao , Li Yabing , Zhou Zhifang , Illman Walter A. , Dou Zhi , Wang Jinguo , Yan Long
Published: January 2020

Aquifer hydraulic parameters are commonly inferred from constant‐rate pumping tests, while variable pumping rates are frequently encountered in actual field conditions. In this study, we propose a generally applicable dimensionless form of the analytical solution for variable‐rate pumping tests in confined aquifers. In particular, we adopt a piecewise‐linear fitting of variable pumping rates and propose a new type‐curve method for estimating the hydraulic conductivity (K) and specific storage (Ss) of the investigated confined aquifer. For each test, a series of type curves, which depend on the variable pumping rates, the location of observation wells and the introduced first dimensionless inflection time, need to be provided for matching the observed drawdown data on a log‐log graph. We first demonstrate the applicability and robustness of this method through a synthetic pumping test. Subsequently, we apply this method to analyze drawdown data from four pumping tests conducted within a multilayered aquifer/aquitard system in Wuxi city, Jiangsu Province, China. The parameter estimates are then compared with those reported by PEST. The K and Ss values estimated by the new type‐curve method are found to be quite close to PEST‐based estimates. Parameter estimation results demonstrate the difference in K and Ss values between observation wells. The difference could be attributed to the spatial heterogeneity in K and Ss. A future research topic may focus on the characterization of K and Ss heterogeneity with the currently available drawdown data from variable‐rate pumping tests.
NTRK fusion cervical sarcoma: a report of three cases, emphasising morphological and immunohistochemical distinction from other uterine sarcomas, including adenosarcoma
Authors: Rabban Joseph T , Devine W Patrick , Sangoi Ankur R , Poder Liina , Alvarez Edwin , Davis Jessica L , Rudzinski Erin , Garg Karuna , Bean Gregory R
Published: January 2020

Aims

A unique fibrosarcoma‐like tumour of the uterine cervix harbouring a rearrangement of a neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor (NTRK) gene (NTRK1 or NTRK3) has recently been described in 11 young women, some with recurrence and/or metastasis. The aims of this study were to expand the morphological spectrum of this tumour by reporting three additional cases that showed adenosarcoma‐like features not previously described, one of which is the first reported to respond to targeted therapy, and to evaluate 19 conventional uterine adenosarcomas for evidence of NTRK rearrangement.

Methods and results

Three patients presented with a polyp or mass confined to the cervix. The constellation of polypoid growth, spindle cell morphology, entrapped endocervical glands and intraglandular stromal projections raised diagnostic consideration for adenosarcoma with stromal overgrowth. Deep cervical wall invasion was present in two cases at hysterectomy, and the third was removed by polypectomy. All three stained for S100 and pan‐Trk, but were negative for a spectrum of other diagnostic markers. All three harboured NTRK rearrangements (TPM3–NTRK1, TPR–NTRK1, and SPECC1L–NTRK3). One patient developed pleural metastases at 16 months, received the NTRK inhibitor larotrectinib, and is free of disease 15 months later. Two others are alive without disease. None of the uterine adenosarcomas showed any S100 or pan‐Trk staining, or rearrangement of NTRK1, NTRK2 or NTRK3 on next‐generation sequencing.

Conclusions

Unusual adenosarcoma‐like spindle cell neoplasms of the cervix may represent an NTRK fusion sarcoma, which can be detected by S100 and pan‐Trk staining and confirmed by NTRK molecular testing. Conventional uterine adenosarcomas do not harbour NTRK rearrangements.
Joining of SiC, alumina, and mullite by the Refractory Metal—Wrap pressure‐less process
Authors: Gianchandani Pardeep Kumar , Casalegno Valentina , De la Pierre des Ambrois Stefano , Salvo Milena , De Aloysio Giulia , Laghi Luca , Ferraris Monica
Published: January 2020

The aim of this work was to discuss the suitability of the joining process called “RM‐Wrap” (RM = Refractory Metals, ie, Mo, Nb, Ta, Zr) as a pressure‐less and tailorable technique to join several different ceramics such as SiC, alumina, and mullite (3Al2O3.2SiO2). In the RM‐Wrap joining technique the refractory metal foil is used as a wrap containing one or more silicon foils. It is performed at 1450°C, under flowing argon, and the resulting joining materials are in situ formed composites made of refractory metal disilicides (MoSi2, NbSi2, TaSi2, or ZrSi2) embedded in a silicon‐rich matrix; their coefficient of thermal expansion has been calculated and the Laser Flash Method was used to measure the thermal diffusivity of one of them (MoSi2/Si) in 25°C‐1000°C range, then to calculate its thermal conductivity. All the obtained joints are uniform, continuous, and crack free. Some preliminary oxidation tests were carried out on all joints at 1100°C, 6 hours in air, giving unchanged morphology of the interface and the joining materials itself; the joint strength of RM‐Wrap joined SiC was measured at room temperature using three different mechanical tests: (a) single lap (SL), (b) single lap off‐set (SLO) and (c) torsion on hourglass‐shaped samples (THG) (on Mo‐wrap joined SiC).
LyP‐1‐fMWNTs enhanced targeted delivery of MBD1siRNA to pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Lin Quan‐Jun , Xie Zhi‐Bo , Gao Ya , Zhang Yi‐Fan , Yao Lie , Fu De‐Liang
Published: January 2020

Functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes have been extensively gained popularity in pancreatic cancer gene therapy. LyP‐1, a peptide, has been proved to specifically bind pancreatic cancer cells. The potential therapeutic effect of LyP‐1–conjugated functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes in treating pancreatic cancer is still unknown. In this study, LyP‐1–conjugated functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes were successfully synthesized, characterized and showed satisfactory size distribution and zeta potential. Compared with functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes, cellular uptake of LyP‐1–functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes was shown to be increased. Compound of LyP‐1–functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes and MBD1siRNA showed superior gene transfection efficiency. Moreover, LyP‐1‐fMWNTs/MBD1siRNA complex could significantly decrease the viability and proliferation and promoted apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. Further xenograft assays revealed that the tumour burden in the nude mice injected with LyP‐1–functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes/MBD1siRNA was significantly relieved. The study demonstrated that LyP‐1–functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes/MBD1siRNA could be a promising candidate for tumour active targeting therapy in pancreatic cancer.
Airway epithelial ITGB4 deficiency in early life mediates pulmonary spontaneous inflammation and enhanced allergic immune response
Authors: Tang Sha , Du Xizi , Yuan Lin , Xiao Gelei , Wu Mengping , Wang Leyuan , Wu ShuangYan , Duan Zhen , Xiang Yang , Qu Xiangping , Liu Huijun , Zou Yizhou , Qin Xiaoqun , Qin Ling , Liu Chi
Published: January 2020

Lung immune responses to respiratory pathogens and allergens are initiated in early life which will further influence the later onset of asthma. The airway epithelia form the first mechanical physical barrier to allergic stimuli and environmental pollutants, which is also the key regulator in the initiation and development of lung immune response. However, the epithelial regulation mechanisms of early‐life lung immune responses are far from clear. Our previous study found that integrin β4 (ITGB4) is decreased in the airway epithelium of asthma patients with specific variant site. ITGB4 deficiency in adult mice aggravated the lung Th2 immune responses and enhanced airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR) with a house dust mite (HDM)‐induced asthma model. However, the contribution of ITGB4 to the postnatal lung immune response is still obscure. Here, we further demonstrated that ITGB4 deficiency following birth mediates spontaneous lung inflammation with ILC2 activation and increased infiltration of eosinophils and lymphocytes. Moreover, ITGB4 deficiency regulated thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) production in airway epithelial cells through EGFR pathways. Neutralization of TSLP inhibited the spontaneous inflammation significantly in ITGB4‐deficient mice. Furthermore, we also found that ITGB4 deficiency led to exaggerated lung allergic inflammation response to HDM stress. In all, these findings indicate that ITGB4 deficiency in early life causes spontaneous lung inflammation and induces exaggerated lung inflammation response to HDM aeroallergen.
Inhibition of USP14 suppresses the formation of foam cell by promoting CD36 degradation
Authors: Zhang Fangcheng , Xia Xiaohong , Chai Renjie , Xu Ruqin , Xu Qiong , Liu Mingke , Chen Xuke , Liu Bin , Liu Shiming , Liu Ningning
Published: January 2020

Atherosclerosis is regarded as a chronic progressive inflammatory disease and is a basic pathophysiological process in coronary artery disease which is life threatening in clinic. The formation of foam cell plays a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. OxLDL is a significant factor in progression of coronary artery disease. Our studies have demonstrated that USP14 promotes cancer development and mediates progression of cardiac hypertrophy and LPS‐induced inflammation. However, the underlying mechanism of USP14 is unknown. In this study, we found that the inhibition of USP14 significantly suppressed the oxLDL uptake, subsequently decreased the foam cell formation. Surprisingly, USP14 has an effect on the expression of CD36 but not SR‐A, ABCA1, Lox‐1, ABCG1 and SR‐Bl. Furthermore, USP14 stabilizes CD36 protein via cleaving the ubiquitin chain on CD36. Blocking CD36 activation using antibody‐dependent blocking assay remarkably attenuated the function of USP14 on the formation of foam cell. In summary, our results suggested that the inhibition of USP14 decreases foam cell formation by down‐regulating CD36‐mediated lipid uptake and provides a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.
De novo Sequencing, Assembly, and Annotation of the Transcriptome for the Free‐Living Testate Amoeba Arcella intermedia
Authors: Ribeiro Giulia M. , Porfírio‐Sousa Alfredo L. , Maurer‐Alcalá Xyrus X. , Katz Laura A. , Lahr Daniel J.G.
Published: January 2020

Arcella, a diverse understudied genus of testate amoebae is a member of Tubulinea in Amoebozoa group. Transcriptomes are a powerful tool for characterization of these organisms as they are an efficient way of characterizing the protein‐coding potential of the genome. In this work, we employed both single‐cell and clonal populations transcriptomics to create a reference transcriptome for Arcella. We compared our results with annotations of Dictyostelium discoideum, a model Amoebozoan. We assembled a pool of 38 Arcella intermedia transcriptomes, which after filtering are composed of a total of 14,712 translated proteins. There are GO categories enriched in Arcella including mainly intracellular signal transduction pathways; we also used KEGG to annotate 11,546 contigs, which also have similar distribution to Dictyostelium. A large portion of data is still impossible to assign to a gene family, probably due to a combination of lineage‐specific genes, incomplete sequences in the transcriptome and rapidly evolved genes. Some absences in pathways could also be related to low expression of these genes. We provide a reference database for Arcella, and we highlight the emergence of the need for further gene discovery in Arcella.
Comparative risk of Clostridium difficile infection between proton pump inhibitors and histamine‐2 receptor antagonists: A 15‐year hospital cohort study using a common data model
Authors: Seo Seung In , You Seng Chan , Park Chan Hyuk , Kim Tae Joon , Ko You Sang , Kim Yerim , Yoo Jong Jin , Kim Jinseob , Shin Woon Geon
Published: January 2020

Backgrounds and Aim

There are potential concerns regarding infectious complications including Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) among patients taking gastric acid suppressants. Furthermore, it is speculated that the stronger acid suppression by proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) potentially enhance infectious complications. This study aimed to compare the risk of CDI between PPIs and histamine‐2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs).

Methods

Using the long‐term database of the Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, converted to the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model, we identified outpatients treated with PPIs and H2RAs for ≥ 7 days from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2018. We conducted Cox regression analysis to examine the hazard ratio (HR) of CDI after propensity score matching.

Results

During a median follow‐up period of 1.2 years (interquartile range, 0.2–3.2 years), the initial CDI occurrence differed significantly between matched cohorts of patients taking PPIs and H2RAs [PPIs vs H2RAs, 88/31 095 person years vs 47/32 836 person years; HR, 2.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29–3.96; P = 0.005]. Almost 50% of all events occurred within 1 year of drug exposure. The risk of CDIs was significantly greater among groups receiving PPIs or H2RAs than in matched controls (PPIs vs control: HR, 2.65; 95% CI 1.28–5.79; P = 0.011; and H2RAs vs control: HR 2.43; 95% CI 1.09–5.68; P = 0.034].

Conclusion

In long‐term hospital cohort, outpatient‐based PPIs were associated with greater risk of CDI than H2RAs. It is necessary to be cautioned about complication of CDI in patients taking long‐term PPI therapy.
Physiological arousal and observed behaviour in parent–child interactions involving young children with Down syndrome
Authors: Lorang E. , Hartley S. , Sterling A.
Published: January 2020

Background

Parents of children with Down syndrome (DS) play an important role in their child's development. Physiological measures, such as electrodermal activity (EDA), can shed light on parent–child relations beyond the behavioural level. The goals of the current study were to assess the feasibility of collecting EDA data in preschool age children with DS, examine the association between parent and child EDA during play‐based interactions, and investigate the relation between parent and child EDA and observed parent behaviours.

Method

Two parents in 15 families participated in dyadic free play interactions with their child with DS (i.e., 15 mother–child and 15 father–child interactions). The children with DS (aged 24–61 months) and both of their parents wore multisensory wristbands measuring EDA. Parent behaviours were coded as requests for behavioural complies, requests for verbal complies, or comments.

Results

Usable EDA data were collected for 13/15 children and 11/15 mothers during the mother–child interactions and 14/15 children and 12/15 fathers during the father–child interactions. Parent and child EDA variability was significantly positively related for father–child but not mother–child dyads. Maternal use of requests for behavioural complies was positively related to child EDA variability.

Conclusions

The collection of EDA data through wristbands worn by young children with DS during early parent–child interactions was feasible. Preliminary findings indicated that some aspects of parent and child physiology in DS may be related in different ways for mother–child and father–child dyads.
Morphological alterations of the reticular thalamic nucleus in Engrailed‐2 knockout mice
Authors: Pirone Andrea , Viaggi Cristina , Cantile Carlo , Giannessi Elisabetta , Pardini Carla , Vaglini Francesca , Miragliotta Vincenzo
Published: January 2020

The reticular thalamic nucleus (Rt) is a sheet of neurons that surrounds the dorsal thalamus laterally, along its dorso‐ventral and rostro‐caudal axes. It consists of inhibitory neurons releasing gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA). This nucleus participates in the circuitry between the thalamus and the cerebral cortex, and its impairment is associated with neuro‐psychiatric disorders. In this study, we investigated the Rt anatomy of Engrailed‐2 knockout mice (En2−/−), a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), using parvalbumin as an immunohistochemical marker. We compared 4‐ and 6‐week‐old wild type (WT) and En2−/− mice using various morphometric parameters: cell area, shape factor, circularity and cell density. Significant differences were present in 6‐week‐old male mice with different genetic background (WT vs. En2−/−): the Rt neurons of En2−/− mice showed a bigger cell area, shape factor and circularity when compared with WT. Age (4 weeks vs. 6 weeks) influenced the shape factor of WT females, the circularity and cell density of En2−/− males, and the shape factor and circularity of En2−/− females. Gender affected cell density in 4‐week‐old WT mice, shape factor and cellularity of 6‐week‐old WT mice, and cell area, shape factor and cell density of En2−/− at 6 weeks. Intrasubject (left–right) asymmetry of Rt was never observed. These results show for the first time that sex‐ and age‐related changes occur in the Rt GABAergic neurons of the En2−/− ASD mouse model.
Healthy life styles, sleep and fatigue in endometrial cancer survivors: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Yu Chia‐Hui , Wang Tsae‐Jyy , Chang Chih‐Long , Liang Shu‐Yuan , Wu Shu‐Fang , Liu Chieh‐Yu , Lu Yu Ying
Published: January 2020

Aims and objectives

The primary aim of this study is to explore the influence of obesity, healthy lifestyle and sleep quality of endometrial cancer survivors on their fatigue level.

Background

As many as 30% of endometrial cancer survivors still suffer from fatigue 5 years after completing therapy. Fatigue may hinder cancer survivors from participating in daily activities or returning to their original roles and functions, thus affecting their health‐related quality of life.

Design

This study adopted a cross‐sectional correlational research design. The STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies was used as a reference for reporting the study.

Methods

A consecutive sample of 134 endometrial cancer survivors was recruited from the outpatient clinics of a medical centre in Taipei, Taiwan. Data were collected using structured questionnaires.

Results

Study subjects scored 44 points (SD = 7.09) on average for the fatigue levels. Results of linear regression showed that sleep quality (ß = −0.38), comorbidity index (ß = −0.024) and age (ß = 0.20) were important predictors of fatigue. However, differences in obesity, vegetable and fruit intake, physical activity did not lead to significant differences in fatigue level.

Conclusions

Survivors who had poorer sleep quality, higher comorbidity index and younger age reported higher fatigue.

Relevance to clinical practice

The study findings are relevant for assessing and preventing fatigue in endometrial cancer survivors. Those with poorer sleep quality, higher comorbidity index and younger age are at a greater risk for fatigue and deserve further attention. Although the study results failed to support the link between obesity, vegetable and fruit intake, physical activity and fatigue, the ratio of survivors who comply with recommended healthy lifestyles was low. Hence, it is of urgent necessity that this population receives the help to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Accuracy and clinical utility of comprehensive dysphagia screening assessments in acute stroke: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Benfield Jacqueline K. , Everton Lisa F. , Bath Philip M. , England Timothy J.
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Nurses and other nonspecialists in dysphagia are often trained to screen swallowing poststroke. There are many basic tools that test water only, they are usually conservative, and patients that fail the test remain nil by mouth until a speech and language therapy assessment. More comprehensive tests also allow nonspecialists to recommend modified oral intake. Little is known about the accuracy, clinical utility and cost‐effectiveness of these tests.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted to describe comprehensive swallowing tests that are available for use in acute stroke by nurses or other nonspecialists in dysphagia. A meta‐analysis was performed to evaluate accuracy and the clinical utility of the tests was considered. Searches and analyses, conducted by two reviewers, included MEDLINE, Embase, trial registries and grey literature up to December 2018. Validated studies were assessed for quality and risk of bias using QUADAS‐2.

Results

Twenty studies were included, describing five different tests, three of which had undergone validation. The tests varied in content, recommendations and use. There was no test superior in accuracy and clinical utility. Three studies validating the Gugging Swallow Screen provided sufficient data for meta‐analysis, demonstrating high sensitivity; 96% (95% CI 0.90–0.99), but low specificity, 65% (95% CI 0.47–0.79), in line with many water swallow tests. Results should be interpreted with caution as study quality and applicability to the acute stroke population was poor.

Conclusions

There is no comprehensive nurse dysphagia assessment tool that has robustly demonstrated good accuracy, clinical utility and cost‐effectiveness in acute stroke.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Nurses and other clinicians can develop competencies in screening swallowing and assessing for safe oral intake in those with poststroke dysphagia. It is important to use a validated assessment tool that demonstrates good accuracy, clinical utility and cost‐effectiveness.
Can Unemployment Insurance Spur Entrepreneurial Activity? Evidence from France
Authors: HOMBERT JOHAN , SCHOAR ANTOINETTE , SRAER DAVID , THESMAR DAVID
Published: January 2020

We evaluate the effect of downside insurance on self‐employment. We exploit a large‐scale reform of French unemployment benefits that insured unemployed workers starting businesses. The reform significantly increased firm creation without decreasing the quality of new entrants. Firms started postreform were initially smaller, but their employment growth, productivity, and survival rates are similar to those prereform. New entrepreneurs' characteristics and expectations are also similar. Finally, jobs created by new entrants crowd out employment in incumbent firms almost one‐for‐one, but have a higher productivity than incumbents. These results highlight the benefits of encouraging experimentation by lowering barriers to entry.
High‐Frequency Trading and Market Performance
Authors: BALDAUF MARKUS , MOLLNER JOSHUA
Published: January 2020

We study the consequences of, and potential policy responses to, high‐frequency trading (HFT) via the tradeoff between liquidity and information production. Faster speeds facilitate HFT, with consequences for this tradeoff: Information production decreases because informed traders have less time to trade before HFTs react, but liquidity (measured by the bid‐ask spread) improves because informational asymmetries decline. HFT also pushes outcomes inside the frontier of this tradeoff. However, outcomes can be restored to the frontier by replacing the limit order book with one of two alternative mechanisms: delaying all orders except cancellations or implementing frequent batch auctions.
Early Second Language Learning through SparkLing™: Scaling up a Language Intervention in Infant Education Centers
Authors: Ramírez Naja Ferjan , Kuhl Patricia K.
Published: January 2020

Infancy (0–3 years) represents a unique time for language learning. Previous research shows that infants' second language (L2) learning advances rapidly in early education centers, through a research‐based method and curriculum delivered by native‐speaking language tutors. Here we test the potential of this method for broad application, through an interactive online tool, SparkLing™, which trains and certifies language tutors to implement the program in infant education centers. Intervention infants (n = 168) from families of predominantly low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds in Madrid, Spain, experienced 18 or 36 weeks of L2 (English) exposure, through daily, 45‐min, group sessions led by SparkLing™‐trained tutors and were compared to a matched Current Practice Comparison (CPC) group of peers (n = 72). Intervention children outperformed the CPC group and showed rapid gains in English comprehension and production. SES was not a significant factor in learning. Infants' L2 skills advance quickly using this research‐to‐practice, scalable program for play‐based infant L2 instruction.
Transcriptome analysis reveals nutrition‐ and age‐related patterns of gene expression in the fat body of pre‐overwintering bumble bee queens
Authors: Costa Claudinéia P. , Duennes Michelle A. , Fisher Kaleigh , Der Joshua P. , Watrous Kristal M. , Okamoto Naoki , Yamanaka Naoki , Woodard S. Hollis
Published: January 2020

Many diapausing insects undergo a nutrient storage period prior to their entry into diapause. Bumble bee queens diapause as adults in the winter preceding their spring nest initiation period. Before diapause, they sequester glycogen and lipids, which they metabolize during the overwintering period. We used RNA sequencing to examine how age and nectar diet (specifically, the concentration of sucrose in nectar) impact gene expression in the pre‐overwintering bumble bee queen fat body, the “liver‐like” organ in insects with broad functions related to nutrient storage and metabolism. We found that diet on its own, and in combination with age, impacts the expression of genes involved in detoxification. Age was also a strong driver of gene expression, especially at earlier ages (up to 3 days). In addition to these molecular correlates of diet and age, we also found a putative molecular signature of diapause entry or preparation in adult queens in the oldest age group (12 days) fed the most sucrose‐rich diet, based on comparisons between our data set and another transcriptome data set from bumble bee queens. This transcriptomic pattern suggests that preparation for (or entry into) diapause might be in part mediated by nutritional state in bumble bee queens. Collectively, these findings show that there are molecular processes in the fat body that are responsive to sucrose levels in the diet and/or associated with age‐related maturational changes. A better understanding of these processes may shed light on important aspects of bumble bee biology, such as queen responses to nutritional and other forms of stress, and the factors that regulate their entrance into diapause.