bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opioid Analgesics Adverse Effects: The Other Side of the Coin
Authors: Mercadante Sebastiano
Published: July 2019

Background:

Opioids are the cornerstone of the management of cancer pain. However, the development
of adverse effects may compromise the opioid response. They include nausea and vomiting, constipation,
drowsiness, sleep disorders, cognitive dysfunction, myoclonus, pruritus, dysuria, dependence and the development
of aberrant behaviors, respiratory depression, and some endocrine responses.

Methods:

The goal of this paper is to identify the most common opioid-related adverse effects, their pathophysiology,
and proposing the possible treatments. This narrative review will describe how these adverse effects may
develop and how to prevent or to treat.

Conclusion:

Intensity of adverse effects tend to decrease with continuous use. However, they may be persistent
and may require symptomatic treatment or more complex treatment including alternative strategies for pain management.
Association between Vitamins and Minerals with Antioxidant Effects and Coronary Artery Calcification in Adults and Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Machado Alisson Diego , Andrade Gustavo Rosa Gentil , Levy Jéssica , Ferreira Sara Silva , Marchioni Dirce Maria
Published: July 2019

Background:

Coronary Artery Calcification (CAC) is considered an important cardiovascular risk
factor. There is evidence that CAC is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, coronary events and
cardiovascular mortality. Inflammation is one of the factors associated with CAC and despite the interest in antioxidant
compounds that can prevent CAC, its association with antioxidants remains unclear.

Objective:

This study aimed to systematically review the association between vitamins and minerals with antioxidant
effects and CAC in adults and older adults.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic review using PubMed for articles published until October 2018. We included
studies conducted in subjects aged 18 years and older with no previous cardiovascular disease. Studies
involving animal or in vitro experiments and the ones that did not use reference methods to assess the CAC, dietary
intake or serum levels of vitamin or mineral were excluded.

Results:

The search yielded 390 articles. After removal of duplicates, articles not related to the review, review
articles, editorials, hypothesis articles and application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 9 articles remained.
The results of the studies included in this systematic review suggest that magnesium is inversely associated with
CAC and results on the association between CAC and vitamin E have been conflicting.

Conclusion:

Additional prospective studies are needed to elucidate the role of these micronutrients on CAC.
Dietary Patterns and Cognitive Decline: key features for prevention
Authors: Dominguez Ligia J. , Barbagallo Mario , Muñoz-Garcia Mariana , Godos Justyna , Martinez-Gonzalez Miguel Angel
Published: July 2019

The decline in cognitive function is generally the result of the complex interaction of several factors. First of all, age, but also demographic, educational, genetic, socio-economic, and environmental determinants, including nutrition. Cognitive decline and dementia prevalence are increasing, and they are projected to continue increasing in the next decades due to the aging of the world population. Currently, there are no effective pharmacological treatments for these devastating and disabling conditions, which emphasize the key role of preventive strategies. There is compelling evidence of the role of diet and lifestyle on cognitive function. Therefore, dietary/ nutritional approaches that contribute to prevent, or slow cognitive decline may have a remarkable public health impact. Numerous studies have explored the role of dietary components and patterns on age-associated cognitive decline, with accruing evidence that combinations of foods and nutrients can have synergistic effects beyond those attributable to individual foods or nutrients. Dietary patterns show the strongest evidence for slowing the development of cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias including the Mediterranean diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, and their combination (the MedDiet-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay - MIND), among others with few positive results. There are also dietary patterns with no evidence of such effects. This review examines the evidence for the effects of some dietary patterns as neuroprotective with a potential to delay cognitive decline and the onset of dementia.
Review of Progress in Predicting Protein Methylation Sites
Authors: Ao Chunyan , Jin Shunshan , Lin Yuan , Zou Quan
Published: July 2019

Protein methylation is an important and reversible post-translational modification that regulates many biological processes in cells. It occurs mainly on lysine and arginine residues and involves many important biological processes, including transcriptional activity, signal transduction, and the regulation of gene expression. Protein methylation and its regulatory enzymes are related to a variety of human diseases, so improved identification of methylation sites is useful for designing drugs for a variety of related diseases. In this review, we systematically summarize and analyze the tools used for the prediction of protein methylation sites on arginine and lysine residues over the last decade.
Tinospora cordifolia Aqueous Extract Alleviates Cyclophosphamide- Induced Immune Suppression, Toxicity and Systemic Candidiasis in Immunosuppressed Mice: In vivo Study in Comparison to Antifungal Drug Fluconazole
Authors: Alrumaihi Faris , Allemailem Khaled S. , Almatroudi Ahmad , Alsahli Mohammed A. , Khan Arif , Khan Masood A.
Published: July 2019

Objective:

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of the aqueous extract of
Tinospora cordifolia (AETC) against cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression and systemic
Candida albicans infection in a murine model.

Methods:

The protective effect of AETC against cyclophosphamide-induced leukopenia was evaluated
by quantitative and qualitative analysis of the leukocytes. The immune-stimulating potential of AETC
on macrophages was assessed by determining the levels of secreted cytokines. To determine the direct
antifungal activity, AETC or fluconazole was administered to C. albicans infected mice. The efficacy
of treatment was assessed by determining the survival rate, kidney fungal burden, the organ index and
liver inflammation parameters.

Results:

Cyclophosphamide administration resulted in substantial depletion of leukocytes, whereas
AETC treatment induced the recovery of leukocytes in cyclophosphamide-injected mice. Moreover,
AETC treatment of macrophages resulted in enhanced secretion of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-1β. C. albicans
infected mice treated with AETC at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg exhibited 40% and 60% survival
rate, whereas the mice treated with fluconazole at a dose of 50 mg/kg showed 20% survival rate.
Like survival data, the fungal load was found to be the lowest in the kidney tissues of mice treated with
AETC at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Interestingly, mice infected with C. albicans demonstrated improvement
in the organ indices and liver functioning after AETC treatment.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that AETC may potentially be used to rejuvenate the weakened
immune system and eliminate systemic candidiasis in mice.
The Application of Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/Rifampicin, Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction and High Resolution Melting Curve in the Diagnosis of Superficial Lymph Node TB.
Authors: Han Yi , Xiao Ning , Huang Shaojung , Qin Ming , Che Nanying , Liu Zhidong
Published: July 2019

Objective:

The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of conventional methods for superficial
lymph node tuberculosis (LNTB) are not ideal. We evaluated several novel methods including Xpert
Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin (Xpert MTB/RIF) technology, quantitative fluorescence Polymerase
Chain Reaction (qPCR) and High-Resolution Melting Curve (HRMC) in the diagnosis of superficial
lymph node TB.

Methods:

Specimens from eighty-one consecutive patients with suspected LNTB and thirteen cases
with other lymph node disease were analyzed by Xpert MTB/RIF, qPCR, and HRMC.

Results:

Among 81 patients with clinical suspicion of LNTB, there were 74 (91.4%) cases positive
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) of Xpert MTB/RIF, 60 (74%) positive of qPCR, 24
(29.6%) of positive of BACTEC MGIT960 culture, and 13 (16%) cases positive of Roche culture. 38 cases
(46.9%) were diagnosed with LNTB. All test methods showed a diagnostic specificity of 100% for
LNTB. The sensitivity of molecular biology techniques was significantly higher than that of the traditional
diagnostic methods, and Xpert MTB/RIF was the most sensitive diagnostic assay. On Rifampinresistant
detection, Xpert MTB/RIF detected three cases (3.7%) with rpoB gene mutation, and Mycobacterium
tuberculosis susceptibility testing detected 2 rifampicin-resistant cases (2.4%) which were consistent
with Xpert MTB/RIF results. In the Isoniazid-resistant, 7 cases (8.1) of isoniazid resistance mutations
(8.1%) were detected by HNC and 1 case was confirmed by Isoniazid susceptibility test.

Conclusion:

Molecular detection increased the diagnostic sensitivity of LNTB and improved the detection
sensitivity for rifampin and isoniazid resistance strain.
Evaluation of the Synergistic Antioxidant Effect of Resveratrol and Zataria multiflora Boiss Essential Oil in Sodium Alginate Bioactive Films
Authors: Hashemi Mahsa , Hashemi Mohammad , Amiri Elham , Hassanzadazar Hassan , Daneshamooz Shahrzad , Aminzare Majid
Published: July 2019

Background:

Biodegradable films are appropriate alternatives to synthetic polymers due to
their potential to enhance food safety and their function as a carrier for wide a range of food additives
especially natural antioxidants.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to compare the potential antioxidant activities of sodium alginate
films containing resveratrol (RES) alone and in combination with Zataria multiflora essential oil
(ZEO) using an in vitro model.

Methods:

At first, the major chemical compositions of ZEO were evaluated by GC/MS. Then, the
amount of phenolic compounds of sodium alginate films were evaluated by total phenolic contents assay
and antioxidant activities of films were evaluated by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and
2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Finally, the concentrations of
ZEO and RES which showed better antioxidant activities in sodium alginate films were incorporated to
films in combination forms to evaluate their synergistic effects.

Results:

According to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis, 35 compounds of
ZEO were identified and Thymol (37.94%), p-Cymene (9.50%) and 3-Carene (4.98%) were the most
important compounds of essential oil, respectively. The results of the radical scavenging evaluations,
showed better antioxidant activities of the films containing RES than the films containing ZEO and
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Also, the combined uses of ZEO and RES into alginate films had the
synergistic effects (P<0.05).

Conclusion:

Therefore, it can be concluded that alginate films incorporated with the combination of
ZEO and RES is the appropriate option to postpone the oxidative reactions and can be used as natural
antioxidant in the food packaging industry.
Current Advances on the Extraction and Identification of Bioactive Components of Sage (Salvia spp.)
Authors: Poulios Efthymios , Giaginis Constantinos , Vasios Georgios K.
Published: July 2019

Common sage (Salvia spp., with the most common species Salvia officinalis L., Lamiaceae) is an important medicinal and aromatic plant, with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. The polyphenolic compounds are mainly responsible for its diverse biological activity. Many different methods for extraction and identification of sage bioactive compounds, using various solvents, have been developed in recent years. The total phenolic content is usually measured and identified by various technical methodologies with different sensitivity and specificity. In this aspect, the present review is aimed to critically summarize and discuss various technical approaches for the extraction and identification of sage bioactive components in order to point out the more appropriate approaches of them.
Fabrication and in-vitro Investigation of Polycaprolactone - (Polyvinyl Alcohol/Collagen) Hybrid Nanofiber as Anti-Inflammatory Guided Tissue Regeneration Membrane
Authors: Limoee Mazdak , Moradipour Pouran , Godarzi Mahnaz , Arkan Elham , Behbood Leila
Published: July 2019

Background:

Periodontal disease is the most common oral condition that affects the tissue
surrounding the teeth. The oral cavity is colonized by an impressive array of micro-organisms, many of
which can colonize the implants such as Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) often utilized in recovering
procedures that result in inflammation interfering with the bone regeneration.

Methods:

In the current study, a nano-hybrid GTR membrane is developed as a heliacal structure scaffold
with localized drug delivery function (Ibuprofen) as an anti-inflammatory agent. Polycaprolactone
(PCL) and a blend of Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/collagen (Col) (50/50) were electrospun by electrospinning.
Ibuprofen (Ibu) was loaded once in the PCL context and once in the hydrophilic portion
(PVA/Col).

Results:

The in vitro release behavior was investigated in each case. Chemical and physical properties
were studied for each item. Morphology investigation indicated a heliacal structure with the total average
diameter of 1266 nm consististing of porous pores with the average diameter of 256nm.

Conclusion:

The membranes indicated proper mechanical properties and appropriate biodegradation
rate as a potential GTR membrane. The controlled and sustained release of Ibu was obtained from both
PCL and PVA/COL loaded membranes. Kinetic model study indicated the following zero-order and
Higuchi models for the optimum case of PCL loaded and PVA/Col Ibu loaded scaffolds respectively.
Multicomponent Reactions for the Synthesis of Bioactive Compounds: A Review
Authors: Graebin Cedric S. , Ribeiro Felipe V. , Rogério Kamilla R. , Kümmerle Arthur E.
Published: July 2019

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) are composed of three or more reagents in which the final
product has all or most of the carbon atoms from its starting materials. These reactions represent, in the
medicinal chemistry context, great potential in the research for new bioactive compounds, since their products
can present great structural complexity. The aim of this review is to present the main multicomponent reactions
since the original report by Strecker in 1850 from nowadays, covering their evolution, highlighting their
significance in the discovery of new bioactive compounds. The use of MCRs is, indeed, a growing field of
interest in the synthesis of bioactive compounds and approved drugs, with several examples of commerciallyavailable
drugs that are (or can be) obtained through these protocols.
Prader-Willi Syndrome - Clinical Genetics, Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches: An Update
Authors: Butler Merlin G. , Miller Jennifer L. , Forster Janice L.
Published: July 2019

Background:

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental genomic imprinting disorder with lack of expression of genes inherited from the paternal chromosome 15q11-q13 region usually from paternal 15q11-q13 deletions (about 60%) or maternal uniparental disomy 15 or both 15s from the mother (about 35%). An imprinting center controls the expression of imprinted genes in the chromosome 15q11-q13 region. Key findings include infantile hypotonia, a poor suck, failure to thrive and hypogonadism/hypogenitalism. Short stature and small hands/feet due to growth and other hormone deficiencies, hyperphagia and marked obesity occur in early childhood, if uncontrolled. Cognitive and behavioral problems (tantrums, compulsions, compulsive skin picking) are common.

Objective:

Hyperphagia and obesity with related complications are major causes of morbidity and mortality in PWS. This report will describe an accurate diagnosis with determination of specific genetic subtypes, appropriate medical management and best practice treatment approaches.

Methods and Results:

An extensive literature review was undertaken related to genetics, clinical findings and laboratory testing, clinical and behavioral assessments and summary of updated health-related information addressing the importance of early PWS diagnosis and treatment. A searchable, bulleted and formatted list of topics is provided utilizing a Table of Contents approach for the clinical practitioner.

Conclusions:

Physicians and other health care providers can use this review with clinical, genetic and treatment summaries divided into sections pertinent in the context of clinical practice. Frequently asked questions by clinicians, families and other interested participants or providers will be addressed.
Pulmonary Pathology Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Saini Minaxi , Kulandaivelan Sivachidambaram , Bansal Virender Kumar , Saini Vikram , Sharma Suresh , Kaur Jaspreet , Sondh Aparajita
Published: July 2019

Background:

Restrictive lung pathology was reported in the previous meta-analysis among patients with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which is date back to 2010.

Objective:

To see the effect of T2DM on pulmonary functions through updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data source:

PubMed.

Study eligibility criteria:

English language case-control or cross-sectional studies, published between 1 January 2010 to 31 August 2018.

Participants and intervention:

We selected 22 articles that met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results reveal that among patients with T2DM all variables were reduced except %FEV1/FVC which shows statistically nonsignificant results with P=0.46. This confirms that T2DM patients have a restrictive type of lung pathology. Limitation: Only articles from the PubMed database were included.

Study appraisal and synthesis methods:

Methodological quality of the study was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Meta-analysis was done using Review Manager 5.3 (RevMan 5.3) and meta-regression was conducted using R statistical software.

Results:

We selected 22 articles that met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results reveal that among patients with T2DM all variables were reduced except %FEV1/FVC which shows statistically nonsignificant results with P=0.46. This confirms that T2DM patients have a restrictive type of lung pathology. Limitation: Only articles from the PubMed database were included.

Limitation:

Only articles from PubMed database were included.

Conclusion and implications of key findings:

This review affirms the existing evidence of restrictive pathology among patients with T2DM. The future study could be conducted to see the effect of various rehabilitation protocols on pulmonary function among patients with T2DM.
Electrochemical Deposition of Polypyrrole Nanostructures for Energy Applications: A Review
Authors: Bocchetta Patrizia , Frattini Domenico , Tagliente Miriana , Selleri Filippo
Published: July 2019

By collecting and analyzing relevant literature results, we demonstrate that the nanostructuring
of polypyrrole (PPy) electrodes is a crucial strategy to achieve high performance and stability
in energy devices such as fuel cells, lithium batteries and supercapacitors. In this critic and comprehensive
review, we focus the attention on the electrochemical methods for deposition of PPy, nanostructures
and potential applications, by analyzing the effect of different physico-chemical parameters,
electro-oxidative conditions including template-based or template-free depositions and cathodic polymerization.
Diverse interfaces and morphologies of polymer nanodeposits are also discussed.
Analysis of Germin-like Protein Genes (OsGLPs) Family in Rice Using Various In silico Approaches
Authors: Ilyas Muhammad , Irfan Muhammad , Mahmood Tariq , Hussain Hazrat , Latif-ur-Rehman  , Naeem Ijaz , Khaliq-ur-Rahman
Published: July 2019

Background:

Germin-like Proteins (GLPs) play an important role in various stresses.
Rice contains 43 GLPs, among which many remain functionally unexplored. The computational
analysis will provide significant insight into their function.

Objective:

To find various structural properties, functional importance, phylogeny and expression
pattern of all OsGLPs using various bioinformatics tools.

Methods:

Physiochemical properties, sub-cellular localization, domain composition, Nglycosylation
and Phosphorylation sites, and 3D structural models of the OsGLPs were predicted
using various bioinformatics tools. Functional analysis was carried out with the Search Tool for
the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) and Blast2GO servers. The expression
profile of the OsGLPs was predicted by retrieving the data for expression values from tissuespecific
and hormonal stressed array libraries of RiceXPro. Their phylogenetic relationship was
computed using Molecular and Evolutionary Genetic Analysis (MEGA6) tool.

Results:

Most of the OsGLPs are stable in the cellular environment with a prominent expression in
the extracellular region (57%) and plasma membrane (33%). Besides, 3 basic cupin domains, 7
more were reported, among which NTTNKVGSNVTLINV, FLLAALLALASWQAI, and
MASSSF were common to 99% of the sequences, related to bacterial pathogenicity, peroxidase
activity, and peptide signal activity, respectively. Structurally, OsGLPs are similar but functionally
they are diverse with novel enzymatic activities of oxalate decarboxylase, lyase, peroxidase, and
oxidoreductase. Expression analysis revealed prominent activities in the root, endosperm, and
leaves. OsGLPs were strongly expressed by abscisic acid, auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, and
brassinosteroid. Phylogenetically they showed polyphyletic origin with a narrow genetic
background of 0.05%. OsGLPs of chromosome 3, 8, and 12 are functionally more important due to
their defensive role against various stresses through co-expression strategy.

Conclusion:

The analysis will help to utilize OsGLPs in future food programs.
Random Mutagenesis of Thermophilic Xylanase for Enhanced Stability and Efficiency Validated through Molecular Docking
Authors: Chauhan Shweta , Jaiswal Varun , Attri Chandrika , Seth Amit
Published: July 2019

Background:

Xylanases of thermophilic origin are more robust and stable and hence
more suitable for industrial applications. The aim of the research was to develop a patent using a
robust mutant exhibiting enhanced xylanase activity. The strain (Bacillus aestuarii SC-2014) subjected
to mutagenesis is thermophilic in origin and hence it is envisioned that the enhancement of
its catalytic potential will enhance its industrial applicability.

Objective:

The main aim was to develop a stable and vigorous mutant having higher xylanase
activity and improved thermostability.

Method:

The bacterial strain isolated from the Tattapani hot springs of Himachal Pradesh (India)
was mutagenized by single separate exposure of Ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) and N-methyl
N-nitro N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG).

Results:

A mutant library was generated and extensive screening led to the identification of the
most potent mutant strain selected and designated as Bacillus sp. SC-2014 EMS200 (MTCC number
25046) which displayed not only enhanced xylanase activity and thermo stability but also appreciable
genetic stability. This strain displayed a 3-fold increase in enzyme activity and simultaneously,
a significant reduction in fermentation time from 72 h to 48 h was also observed. The xylanase
gene from wild and mutant strain was cloned, sequenced and subjected to molecular docking.
Two mutations H121D and S123T were present inside the binding pocket.

Conclusion:

Mutation H121D made the binding pocket more acidic and charged, thus enhancing
the xylanase activity for mutant protein. Mutations also resulted in charged amino acids (Y99K
and H121D) which were identified as a probable cause for enhancing the thermostability of mutant
protein.
Prominence of Oxidative Stress in the Management of Anti-tuberculosis Drugs Related Hepatotoxicity
Authors: John Preena , Kale Pravin P.
Published: July 2019

:

Advanced medical services and treatments are available for treating Tuberculosis. Related
prevalence has increased in recent times. Unfortunately, the continuous consumption of related drugs is
also known for inducing hepatotoxicity which is a critical condition and cannot be overlooked. The
present review article has focused on the pathways causing these toxicities and also the role of enzyme
CYP2E1, hepatic glutathione, Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, and Membrane Permeability Transition as
possible targets which may help in preventing the hepatotoxicity induced by the drugs used in the
treatment of tuberculosis.
Designing of an Epitope- Based Universal Peptide Vaccine against Highly Conserved Regions in RNA Dependent RNA Polymerase Protein of Human Marburg Virus: A Computational Assay
Authors: Mahmud S.M. Neaz , Rahman Mahbubur , Kar Antora , Jahan Nasreen , Khan Arif
Published: July 2019

Introduction:

Marburg viruses are a group of negative-stranded RNA virus. It was first identified
in 1967 during a small outbreak. During that outbreak, the fatality rate increased highly and so many
people died by the Marburg virus. Later seven strains of Marburg virus were identified from those infected
humans. This virus causes Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in human referred to as Marburg hemorrhagic
fever. Marburg virus is endemic only to Africa; however, there have been outbreaks in Europe and the
U.S.A. in recent times.

Objective:

However, the Marburg virus has a high fatality rate, so a preventive measure should be taken to
prevent infection. As there is no effective therapeutic agent available against these viruses, effective vaccine
design touching all strains would be a great step for human health.

Methods:

In our recent study, we used in silico analysis for designing a novel epitope-based vaccine against
all strains of Marburg virus. As it consists of several structural proteins and multiple sequence alignment
(MSA) of Glycoproteins, RNA-directed RNA polymerases, Nucleoproteins, Vp24 proteins, Vp30, Vp35, and
Vp40 proteins showed all strains of Marburg virus were conserved in RNA-directed RNA polymerase proteins.
Using that protein’s conserved region, T-cell and B-cell epitopes were determined.

Results:

Among the predicted epitope, only TIGNRAPYI was found to be highly immunogenic with 100%
conservancy among all strain of human Marburg virus. The analysis also showed both types I and II major
histocompatibility complex molecules interact with this epitope and found to be nonallergenic too.

Conclusion:

In vivo study of the proposed peptide is suggested for novel universal vaccine production that
might be an effective way to prevent human Marburg virus disease.
Expression of microRNAs (133b and 138) and Correlation with Echocardiographic Parameters in Patients with Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: de Araújo Melo Leiliandry , da Silveira Maria Mariana Barros Melo , de Vasconcellos Piscoya Isabelle Cecília , Brasileiro Victor Arthur Eulálio , Farias Isabela Cristina Cordeiro , do Ó Kleyton Palmeira , Roncal Carlos Guilhermo Piscoya , Lima Raul Emídio , Filho Dário Celestino Sobral , Vasconcelos Luydson Richardson Silva
Published: July 2019

Introduction:

Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a disease with a difficult diagnosis.
The real mechanisms related to its pathophysiology are not fully understood.

Objective:

The aims of this study were to investigate whether miR-133b and miR-138 could be associated
with ACM.

Method:

Forty-four patients were included comprising 24 with ACM and 20 with cardiomyopathies
of different etiologies (control group). Real-time PCR was performed to verify the relative expression
among the studied groups. In the statistical analysis, the quantitative variables t-student Mann-
Whitney and correlation of Pearson tests were carried out, while the qualitative variable comprised
the chi-square test, with p<0.05 being considered statistically significant.

Results:

There was no association between clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of the
groups. The patients with ACM presented downregulation of miR-133b in comparison with control
patients (p=0.004). On the other hand, for the miR-138, there was no association when the ACM
group was compared with the control group. The presence of miR-133b among cases and controls
was not correlated with any of the echocardiographic parameters. However, the increase in the expression
of miR-138 was correlated with an increase in the ejection fraction (r=0.28, p=0.01) and the
diameter of the left atrium (r=0.23, p=0.04) in patients with ACM.

Conclusion:

The downregulation of miR-133b might be a marker for ACM and, in addition, miR-
138 could be used to correlate the increase in ejection fraction with and normalization of the diameter
of the left atrium diameter in patients with this disease.
Transient Left Ventricular Acute Failure after Cocaine Use
Authors: Cardinale Michaël , Esnault Pierre , Schmitt Johan , Meaudre Eric
Published: July 2019

Background:

Cocaine is one of the most widely used illicit drugs, and it is the most
common cause of drug-related death. The association of cocaine use with acute heart failure is a rare
occurrence.

Case Report:

We report the case of a 31 years-old woman who presented Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
with severe cardiogenic shock after cocaine abuse. That required the use of high doses of positive
inotropic amines and mechanical ventilation. The evolution was quickly favorable after the cessation
of cocaine.

Discussion:

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is often related to a stressful trigger, and several cases have
been described with the use of several psychostimulants. As such, it is not surprising that cocaine
use can be associated with the development of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy when it results in excess
release of catecholamines and excitation of adrenergic receptors.

Conclusion:

In critical care unit, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a rare complication of cocaine
abuse. This etiological diagnosis can be difficult especially in the absence of the concept of toxic intake
as it was initially the case for our patient, but the treatment does not differ from other causes of
cardiomyopathy and Cessation of cocaine use has been associated with improvement in cardiac
function.
Diferencia esperada de progenie para peso al destete en selección de vaquillas mestizas en Manabí
Authors: Larrea Izurieta Carlos Octavio , Vera Loor Leila Estefanía , Cedeño Pozo Juan Luis , Maingón Navia Roberto Carlos , Zambrano Pinargote Limberg , Condo Plaza Luis Alfonso
Published: July 2019

Objetivo. Se determinó la diferencia esperada de la progenie (DEP) para el peso al destete ajustado a 205 días (PD) en hembras Brahman mestizas nacidas en el año 2016 como criterio de selección de futuras reproductoras. Materiales y métodos. Se analizaron 3467 registros generados entre 1983 y 2016 en la hacienda Napo (San Vicente, Manabí, Ecuador). El modelo estadístico y animal incluyó el efecto aleatorio del padre y como efectos fijos: composición racial, sexo y año de nacimiento. El análisis de la varianza fue realizado mediante el procedimiento GLM del paquete estadístico SAS. Los componentes de la varianza entre y dentro de padre para calcular la heredabilidad (h2) del PD y los valores de cría, se utilizó el software MTDFRELM, a través del sistema de evaluación del Mejor Predictor Lineal Insesgado (BLUP). Resultados. Para las 349 hembras nacidas en 2016 se encontró un promedio para PD de 173.67±34.23 kg. Se halló diferencia altamente significativa (p≤0.01) para los efectos aleatorios y fijos, h2 para PD de 0.13±0.04 y las DEP variaron entre -6.13 y +5.58 kg con rango entre los valores de cría de 11.71 kg y una exactitud entre 0.50 y 0.72. Conclusiones. La baja h2 encontrada para PD manifiesta la alta influencia de los factores no genéticos, sin embargo las hembras con mayor valor DEP pueden mejorar el desempeño en este parámetro; se hace necesario identificar el mejor cruce racial que se adapte a la explotación con el fin de obtener crías con alto rendimiento en el PD.
Efectividad de hongos micorrizo-arbusculares nativos en suelos con diferentes usos agropecuarios
Authors: Martínez A Judith , Osorio V Nelson , Garrido P Jeyson
Published: July 2019

Objetivo. Determinar la efectividad de hongos micorrizo-arbusculares (HMA) de suelos con diferentes usos agropecuarios, en el valle medio del río Sinú, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Bajo condiciones de invernadero se realizó el experimento, donde se utilizó como planta indicadora Leucaena leucocephala, la cual se sembró en materos con suelo de un Andisol (horizonte B) usado como sustrato. Este sustrato, se inoculó separadamente con muestras de siete suelos (horizonte Ap), como fuente de HMA, provenientes del Centro de Investigación Turipaná de Agrosavia. Como controles se incluyeron inoculación con HMA Glomus fasciculatum y uno no-inoculado  El efecto de la inoculación micorrizal se evaluó mediante el monitoreo del contenido de P foliar en las plantas de L. leucocephala, en función del tiempo hasta 64 días cuando se determinó la masa seca de su parte aérea y la colonización micorrizal. Resultados. El crecimiento de L. leucocephala y el contenido de P foliar fue significativamente superior cuando el suelo se inoculó con G. fasciculatum, en comparación a aquel observado con los demás tratamientos. De igual forma, la colonización micorrizal fue muy alta en las raíces de L. leucocephala que crecieron en el suelo inoculado con G. fasciculatum e inferior en los otros tratamientos. Conclusiones. Los resultados indican que los HMA nativos de suelos con diferentes usos, provenientes del C.I Turipaná de Agrosavia, exhibieron bajo potencial para desarrollar simbiosis micorrizal, lo que limitó el crecimiento y la concentración de P foliar en la planta hospedera.
Feasibility and Health Benefits of an Individualized Physical Activity Intervention in Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer: Intervention Study
Authors: Delrieu Lidia , Pialoux Vincent , Pérol Olivia , Morelle Magali , Martin Agnès , Friedenreich Christine , Febvey-Combes Olivia , Pérol David , Belladame Elodie , Clémençon Michel , Roitmann Eva , Dufresne Armelle , Bachelot Thomas , Heudel Pierre Etienne , Touillaud Marina , Trédan Olivier , Fervers Béatrice
Published: July 2019

Background

There is limited knowledge regarding the potential benefits of physical activity in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Objective

The Advanced stage Breast cancer and Lifestyle Exercise (ABLE) Trial aimed to assess the feasibility of a physical activity intervention in women with metastatic breast cancer and to explore the effects of physical activity on functional, psychological, and clinical parameters.

Methods

The ABLE Trial was a single-arm, 6-month intervention study with a home-based, unsupervised, and personalized walking program using an activity tracker. At baseline and 6 months, we assessed anthropometrics, functional fitness, physical activity level, sedentary behavior, quality of life, fatigue, and tumor progression. Paired proportions were compared using the McNemar test and changes of parameters during the intervention were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the Mann-Whitney test, and Spearman rank correlations.

Results

Overall, 49 participants (mean age 55 years; recruitment rate 94%) were enrolled and 96% adhered to the exercise prescription (attrition rate 2%). Statistically significant improvements in the 6-minute walking distance test (+7%, P<.001) and isometric quadriceps strength (+22%, P<.001), as well as decreases in body mass index (-2.5%, P=.03) and hip circumference (-4.0%, P<.001) were observed at 6 months. Quality of life remained stable and a nonstatistically significant decrease (-16%, P=.07) in fatigue was observed.

Conclusions

The high recruitment and adherence rates suggest the willingness of patients with metastatic breast cancer to participate in a physical activity program. The beneficial outcomes regarding physical fitness and anthropometry of this unsupervised physical activity program may encourage these patients to maintain a physically active lifestyle. Future randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are warranted.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03148886; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03148886
A Web-Based Photo-Alteration Intervention to Promote Sleep: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Perucho Isabel , Vijayakumar Kamalakannan M , Talamas Sean N , Chee Michael Wei-Liang , Perrett David I , Liu Jean C J
Published: July 2019

Background

Receiving insufficient sleep has wide-ranging consequences for health and well-being. Although educational programs have been developed to promote sleep, these have had limited success in extending sleep duration. To address this gap, we developed a Web-based program emphasizing how physical appearances change with varying amounts of sleep.

Objective

The aims of this study were to evaluate (1) whether participants can detect changes in appearances as a function of sleep and (2) whether this intervention can alter habitual sleep patterns.

Methods

We conducted a 5-week, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial among 70 habitual short sleepers (healthy adults who reported having <7 hours of sleep routinely). Upon study enrollment, participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either standard information or an appearance-based intervention. Both groups received educational materials about sleep, but those in the appearance group also viewed a website containing digitally edited photographs that showed how they would look with varying amounts of sleep. As the outcome variables, sleep duration was monitored objectively via actigraphy (at baseline and at postintervention weeks 1 and 4), and participants completed a measure of sleep hygiene (at baseline and at postintervention weeks 2, 4, and 5). For each outcome, we ran intention-to-treat analyses using linear mixed-effects models.

Results

In total, 35 participants were assigned to each group. Validating the intervention, participants in the appearance group (1) were able to identify what they looked like at baseline and (2) judged that they would look more attractive with a longer sleep duration (t26=10.35, P<.001). In turn, this translated to changes in sleep hygiene. Whereas participants in the appearance group showed improvements following the intervention (F1,107.99=9.05, P=.003), those in the information group did not (F1,84.7=0.19, P=.66). Finally, there was no significant effect of group nor interaction of group and time on actigraphy-measured sleep duration (smallest P=.26).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that an appearance-based intervention, while not sufficient as a stand-alone, could have an adjunctive role in sleep promotion.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02491138; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT02491138.
Wearable Health Technology and Electronic Health Record Integration: Scoping Review and Future Directions
Authors: Dinh-Le Catherine , Chuang Rachel , Chokshi Sara , Mann Devin
Published: July 2019

Background

Due to the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) and legislation on meaningful use in recent decades, health systems are increasingly interdependent on EHR capabilities, offerings, and innovations to better capture patient data. A novel capability offered by health systems encompasses the integration between EHRs and wearable health technology. Although wearables have the potential to transform patient care, issues such as concerns with patient privacy, system interoperability, and patient data overload pose a challenge to the adoption of wearables by providers.

Objective

This study aimed to review the landscape of wearable health technology and data integration to provider EHRs, specifically Epic, because of its prevalence among health systems. The objectives of the study were to (1) identify the current innovations and new directions in the field across start-ups, health systems, and insurance companies and (2) understand the associated challenges to inform future wearable health technology projects at other health organizations.

Methods

We used a scoping process to survey existing efforts through Epic’s Web-based hub and discussion forum, UserWeb, and on the general Web, PubMed, and Google Scholar. We contacted Epic, because of their position as the largest commercial EHR system, for information on published client work in the integration of patient-collected data. Results from our searches had to meet criteria such as publication date and matching relevant search terms.

Results

Numerous health institutions have started to integrate device data into patient portals. We identified the following 10 start-up organizations that have developed, or are in the process of developing, technology to enhance wearable health technology and enable EHR integration for health systems: Overlap, Royal Philips, Vivify Health, Validic, Doximity Dialer, Xealth, Redox, Conversa, Human API, and Glooko. We reported sample start-up partnerships with a total of 16 health systems in addressing challenges of the meaningful use of device data and streamlining provider workflows. We also found 4 insurance companies that encourage the growth and uptake of wearables through health tracking and incentive programs: Oscar Health, United Healthcare, Humana, and John Hancock.

Conclusions

The future design and development of digital technology in this space will rely on continued analysis of best practices, pain points, and potential solutions to mitigate existing challenges. Although this study does not provide a full comprehensive catalog of all wearable health technology initiatives, it is representative of trends and implications for the integration of patient data into the EHR. Our work serves as an initial foundation to provide resources on implementation and workflows around wearable health technology for organizations across the health care industry.
Health-Related Quality of Life Before and After Use of a Smartphone App for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: Pre-Post Interventional Study
Authors: Pappot Helle , Assam Taarnhøj Gry , Elsbernd Abbey , Hjerming Maiken , Hanghøj Signe , Jensen Marc , Boisen Kirsten Arntz
Published: July 2019

Background

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer are a group with underexplored needs throughout treatment and in survivorship. This missing knowledge can influence their quality of life (QoL). Given this fact, we have developed a smartphone app based on a cocreation process and have an investigation of QoL among users planned as part of pilot testing this app. Future research is warranted to determine the effect of mobile health (mHealth) tools such as smartphone apps among the AYA cancer population.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a smartphone app among AYA patients with cancer in active treatment and posttreatment, in a pilot test by measuring health-related QoL before and after the use of the app.

Methods

Participants were recruited via the youth support initiative and social organization for AYAs with cancer, Kræftværket, based at Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark. Participants were evenly distributed in active treatment and posttreatment groups. After written informed consent, all participants were asked to use the app Kræftværket as they deemed appropriate over a 6-week period. The participants were asked to complete the 30-item European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire before and after the 6-week period. The collected QoL data were analyzed with t tests to determine differences between groups and from baseline.

Results

In total, we enrolled 20 participants, 10 in active treatment and 10 posttreatment (median time after treatment was 4 months) group. Median age of the participants was 25 years. No differences in QoL were seen at baseline (P=.65). The posttreatment group experienced a significant increase in overall QoL after the 6-week period (global QoL: baseline 62.5, SD 22.3; after 6 weeks 80.8, SD 9.7; P=.04). For the group in active treatment, the QoL remained stable throughout the 6 weeks.

Conclusions

This study shows the feasibility and possible effect on QoL associated with the use of an mHealth tool in AYA patients. mHealth support tools are warranted for this population.
Trends in Scientific Reports on Cartilage Bioprinting: Scoping Review
Authors: Salvador Vergés Àngels , Yildirim Meltem , Salvador Bertran , Garcia Cuyas Francesc
Published: July 2019

Background

Satisfactory therapeutic strategies for cartilaginous lesion repair do not yet exist. This creates a challenge for surgeons and biomedical engineers and leads them to investigate the role of bioprinting and tissue engineering as viable treatments through orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, and otorhinolaryngology. Recent increases in related scientific literature suggest that bioprinted cartilage may develop into a viable solution.

Objective

The objectives of this review were to (1) synthesize the scientific advances published to date, (2) identify unresolved technical problems regarding human application, and (3) identify more effective ways for the scientific community to transfer their findings to clinicians.

Methods

This scoping review considered articles published between 2009 and 2019 that were identified through searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Arksey and O'Malley’s five-step framework was used to delimit and direct the initial search results, from which we established the following research questions: (1) What do authors of current research say about human application? (2) What necessary technical improvements are identified in the research? (3) On which issues do the authors agree? and (4) What future research priorities emerge in the studies? We used the Cohen kappa statistic to validate the interrater reliability.

Results

The 13 articles included in the review demonstrated the feasibility of cartilage bioprinting in live animal studies. Some investigators are already considering short-term human experimentation, although technical limitations still need to be resolved. Both the use and manufacturing process of stem cells need to be standardized, and a consensus is needed regarding the composition of hydrogels. Using on-site printing strategies and predesigned implants may allow techniques to adapt to multiple situations. In addition, the predictive capacity of implant behavior may lead to optimal results.

Conclusions

Cartilage bioprinting for surgical applications is nearing its initial use in humans. Current research suggests that surgeons will soon be able to replace damaged tissue with bioprinted material.