bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personality Traits, Coping, Health-related Behaviors, and Cumulative Physiological Health in a National Sample: 10 Year Prospective Effects of Conscientiousness via Perceptions of Activity on Allostatic Load
Authors: Milad Elizabeth , Bogg Tim
Published: May 2020

Background

Personality traits, coping styles, and health-related behaviors show associations with various aspects of health. However, integrative life-course investigations of pathways by which these factors might affect later cumulative physiological health risk remain sparse.

Purpose

To investigate prospective associations of personality traits via coping styles and health-related behaviors on allostatic load in a national sample.

Methods

Using data from the Midlife in the United States study (MIDUS; N = 1,054), path analyses were used to test direct and indirect associations (via coping styles, smoking, frequency of alcohol consumption, leisure-time physical activity, and perceptions of activity) of personality traits on a latent measurement model of allostatic load informed by 10 biomarkers associated with cardiovascular, inflammation, glucose, and lipid subsystems.

Results

Direct 10 year associations of greater conscientiousness on healthier allostatic load and greater extraversion on less healthy allostatic load were observed. Consistent with hypothesized behavioral pathways, relationships between conscientiousness and extraversion on allostatic load were prospectively mediated by greater perceptions of activity. Physical activity and more frequent alcohol use were associated with healthier allostatic load but did not act as prospective mediators.

Conclusions

The results provide further evidence of conscientiousness’ standing as a marker of health via cumulative physiological health. Moreover, a greater perception of activity was identified as a pathway through which conscientious individuals experienced healthier physiological profiles over time. Examining a more detailed picture of the psychosocial mechanisms leading to development of health risk, as was found with perceptions of activity, remains an important area for future research.
Expanding Clinical Indications of Mechanically Isolated Stromal Vascular Fraction: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ghiasloo Mohammad , Lobato Rodolfo C , Díaz Juan M , Singh Kashika , Verpaele Alexis , Tonnard Patrick
Published: May 2020

Background

Mechanically isolated stromal vascular fraction (tSVF, tissue SVF) is a potent regenerative solution, increasingly used as a therapeutic modality for a variety of pathologies. With recent evidence conclusively favoring mechanical isolation over enzymatic alternatives, the therapeutic share and indications of tSVF are expected to grow even further.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to provide a systematic review of all studies reporting on the use of tSVF.

Methods

A systematic search was undertaken of the Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. Outcome measures included clinical indications, such as recipient area, adverse events, clinical results recipient area, method of application, follow-up duration and evaluation methods.

Results

Of the total of 4505 articles identified, 186 full-texts were screened. Thirty-four studies, reporting on 1443 patients were included. tSVF-based therapy was observed for 10 different pathologies, including aged skin (8 studies), scars (5), wounds (6), osteoarthritis (6), tendinopathy (2), temporomandibular joint disorders (1), androgenic alopecia (1), perianal fistula (3), migraine (1), and vocal fold scarring (1). Across all studies, tSVF-based therapy resulted in favorable clinical results. Overall, 50 (3.43%) minor and one (0.07%) major adverse events were observed, mainly related to the liposuction procedure.

Conclusions

tSVF offers a safe, easy and legal treatment modality for a range of indications. Future research is indicated to identify the optimal isolation protocol, dose and timing. In addition, basic research remains crucial to identify the mechanism of action of SVF within different pathologies.

Level of Evidence: 4
Cancer mutational signatures representation by large-scale context embedding
Authors: Zhang Yang , Xiao Yunxuan , Yang Muyu , Ma Jian
Published: May 2020

Motivation

The accumulation of somatic mutations plays critical roles in cancer development and progression. However, the global patterns of somatic mutations, especially non-coding mutations, and their roles in defining molecular subtypes of cancer have not been well characterized due to the computational challenges in analysing the complex mutational patterns.

Results

Here, we develop a new algorithm, called MutSpace, to effectively extract patient-specific mutational features using an embedding framework for larger sequence context. Our method is motivated by the observation that the mutation rate at megabase scale and the local mutational patterns jointly contribute to distinguishing cancer subtypes, both of which can be simultaneously captured by MutSpace. Simulation evaluations show that MutSpace can effectively characterize mutational features from known patient subgroups and achieve superior performance compared with previous methods. As a proof-of-principle, we apply MutSpace to 560 breast cancer patient samples and demonstrate that our method achieves high accuracy in subtype identification. In addition, the learned embeddings from MutSpace reflect intrinsic patterns of breast cancer subtypes and other features of genome structure and function. MutSpace is a promising new framework to better understand cancer heterogeneity based on somatic mutations.

Availability and implementation

Source code of MutSpace can be accessed at: https://github.com/ma-compbio/MutSpace.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Reusable Fuzzy Extractor Based on the LPN Assumption
Authors: Li Yiming , Liu Shengli , Gu Dawu , Chen Kefei
Published: May 2020

A fuzzy extractor derives uniformly random strings from noisy sources that are neither reliably reproducible nor uniformly random. The basic definition of fuzzy extractor was first formally introduced by Dodis et al. and has achieved various applications in cryptographic systems. However, it has been proved that a fuzzy extractor could become totally insecure when the same noisy random source is extracted multiple times. To solve this problem, the reusable fuzzy extractor is proposed. In this paper, we propose the first reusable fuzzy extractor based on the LPN assumption, which is efficient and resilient to linear fraction of errors. Furthermore, our construction serves as an alternative post-quantum reusable fuzzy extractor.
Cardio-metabolic consequences of dietary carbohydrates: reconciling contradictions using nutritional geometry
Authors: Wali Jibran A , Raubenheimer David , Senior Alistair M , Le Couteur David G , Simpson Stephen J
Published: May 2020

Carbohydrates are the major source of dietary energy, but their role in health and disease remains controversial. Recent epidemiological evidence suggests that the increased consumption of carbohydrates is associated with obesity and increased risk of mortality and dietary trials show that carbohydrate restriction leads to weight loss and improved glycaemic status in obese and diabetic subjects. In contrast, the diets of populations with long and healthy lifespans (e.g. traditional Okinawans from Japan) are high in carbohydrate and low in protein, and several clinical and preclinical studies have linked low-carbohydrate–high-protein diets with increased mortality risk. In this paper we attempt to reconcile these contradictory findings by moving beyond traditional single-nutrient analyses to consider the interactions between nutrients on health outcomes. We do so using the Geometric Framework (GF), a nutritional modelling platform that explicitly considers the main and interactive effects of multiple nutrients on phenotypic characteristics. Analysis of human data by GF shows that weight loss and improved cardio-metabolic outcomes under carbohydrate restriction derive at least in part from reduced caloric intake due to the concomitantly increased proportion of protein in the diet. This is because, as in many animals, a specific appetite for protein is a major driver of food intake in humans. Conversely, dilution of protein in the diet leverages excess food intake through compensatory feeding for protein (‘protein leverage’). When protein is diluted in the diet by readily digestible carbohydrates and fats, as is the case in modern ultra-processed foods, protein leverage results in excess calorie intake, leading to rising levels of obesity and metabolic disease. However, when protein is diluted in the diet by increased quantities of less readily digestible forms of carbohydrate and fibre, energy balance is maintained and health benefits accrue, especially during middle age and early late-life. We argue that other controversies in carbohydrate research can be resolved using the GF methodology in dietary studies.
The First Draft Genome of the Plasterer Bee Colletes gigas (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Colletes)
Authors: Zhou Qing-Song , Luo Arong , Zhang Feng , Niu Ze-Qing , Wu Qing-Tao , Xiong Mei , Orr Michael C , Zhu Chao-Dong
Published: May 2020

Despite intense interest in bees, no genomes are available for the bee family Colletidae. Colletes gigas, one of the largest species of the genus Colletes in the world, is an ideal candidate to fill this gap. Endemic to China, C. gigas has been the focus of studies on its nesting biology and pollination of the economically important oil tree Camellia oleifera, which is chemically defended. To enable deeper study of its biology, we sequenced the whole genome of C. gigas using single-molecule real-time sequencing on the Pacific Bioscience Sequel platform. In total, 40.58 G (150×) of long reads were generated and the final assembly of 326 scaffolds was 273.06 Mb with a N50 length of 8.11 Mb, which captured 94.4% complete Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs. We predicted 11,016 protein-coding genes, of which 98.50% and 84.75% were supported by protein- and transcriptome-based evidence, respectively. In addition, we identified 26.27% of repeats and 870 noncoding RNAs. The bee phylogeny with this newly sequenced colletid genome is consistent with available results, supporting Colletidae as sister to Halictidae when Stenotritidae is not included. Gene family evolution analyses identified 9,069 gene families, of which 70 experienced significant expansions (33 families) or contractions (37 families), and it appears that olfactory receptors and carboxylesterase may be involved in specializing on and detoxifying Ca. oleifera pollen. Our high-quality draft genome for C. gigas lays the foundation for insights on the biology and behavior of this species, including its evolutionary history, nesting biology, and interactions with the plant Ca. oleifera.
The Centrality of Ancestral Grandmothering in Human Evolution
Authors: Hawkes Kristen
Published: May 2020

When Fisher, Williams, and Hamilton laid the foundations of evolutionary life history theory, they recognized elements of what became a grandmother hypothesis to explain the evolution of human postmenopausal longevity. Subsequent study of modern hunter-gatherers, great apes, and the wider mammalian radiation has revealed strong regularities in development and behavior that show additional unexpected consequences that ancestral grandmothering likely had on human evolution, challenging the hypothesis that ancestral males propelled the evolution of our radiation by hunting to provision mates and offspring. Ancestral grandmothering has become a serious contender to explain not only the large fraction of post-fertile years women live and children’s prolonged maturation yet early weaning; it also promises to help account for the pair bonding that distinguishes humans from our closest living evolutionary cousins, the great apes (and most other mammals), the evolution of our big human brains, and our distinctive preoccupation with reputations, shared intentionality and persistent cultural learning that begins in infancy.
Hitting The Right Spot: NMDA Receptors in the Auditory Thalamus May Hold the Key to Understanding Schizophrenia
Authors: Xiao Gang , Llano Daniel A
Published: May 2020

In this issue, Wang and colleagues solve an important puzzle in the understanding of schizophrenia. Previous work has linked N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor hypofunction to schizophrenia and shown that individuals with schizophrenia have a suppressed steady-state cortical response to 40-Hz repetitive auditory stimulation. However, systemic application of NMDA antagonists paradoxically increases this cortical response in rodents. Here, by specifically applying NMDA receptor blockade in the auditory thalamus while simultaneously measuring the acoustically driven response in 2 cortical regions, Wang and colleagues found the drop in the steady-state response that is seen in schizophrenia. These findings solve an important paradox in the field and suggest that specific thalamic neurochemical alterations may occur in the brain of individuals with schizophrenia. In addition, this work suggests that suppression of NMDA receptors in the thalamus may serve as a potential animal model for the disease.
Overview of Risk Factors and Strategies for Management of Insect-Derived Ear Injury and Aflatoxin Accumulation for Maize Grown in Subtropical Areas of North America
Authors: Pruter Luke S , Weaver Mark , Brewer Michael J
Published: May 2020

Pest and disease risk factors causing maize yield and kernel quality issues in subtropical areas of North America (between 35°N and 23.5°N latitude) are reviewed: preharvest Aspergillus flavus (Link) (Deuteromycetes: Moniliales) infection and propagation in maize ears and ear injury principally caused by Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Risk is affected by potentially interacting factors of maize genetics, ear feeding with insects, fungal inoculum and growth, and weather (rainfall, temperature, and humidity). This review gives special attention to integration of the most efficient pest and disease management strategy combinations and the potential interaction of insect ear feeding and A. flavus occurrence. Management strategies reviewed include maximizing partial genetic resistance to A. flavus and selection of appropriate hybrids for the area, biological control of A. flavus using non-aflatoxigenic strains, avoiding pests and diseases using cultural practices like early planting, and reducing H. zea and S. frugiperda ear injury using Bt transgenes. Understanding the combined influences and identifying combined management approaches may lead to reduced aflatoxin risk and maintaining yield. This review focuses on subtropical areas of North America because the amount of maize produced in warm environments within or similar to subtropical maize production areas is likely to increase due to projected increases in demand for maize and predicted increases in temperature may increase pest and disease risk.
The Authority of the Common Morality
Authors: Trotter Griffin
Published: May 2020

In the third and subsequent editions of Principles of Biomedical Ethics, Tom Beauchamp and James Childress articulate a series of ethical norms that they regard as “derived” from, and hence carrying, the “authority” of the common morality. Although Beauchamp and Childress do not claim that biomedical norms they derive from the common morality automatically become constituents of the common morality, or that every detail of their account carries the authority of the common morality, they regard these derived norms as provisionally binding in a way that does not apply to the norms of mere “particular” moralities. Whereas particular moralities “do not bind other persons or communities,” Beauchamp and Childress have designed the norms of Principles of Biomedical Ethics to be “extensions” of the common morality that universally binds other persons and communities. Beauchamp and Childress seem to hold that (1) the norms they articulate in Principles of Biomedical Ethics are derived in an objective way from the common morality, and also that by virtue of being so derived (2) they carry a moral authority that objectively exceeds the authority of norms constituting particular moralities. My thesis in this essay is that both of these claims are false.
Why ‘the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau’ is a myth
Authors: Spicer Robert A , Su Tao , Valdes Paul J , Farnsworth Alexander , Wu Fei-Xiang , Shi Gongle , Spicer Teresa E V , Zhou Zhekun
Published: May 2020

The often-used phrase ‘the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau’ implies a flat-surfaced Tibet rose as a coherent entity, and that uplift was driven entirely by the collision and northward movement of India. Here, we argue that these are misconceptions derived in large part from simplistic geodynamic and climate modeling, as well as proxy misinterpretation. The growth of Tibet was a complex process involving mostly Mesozoic collisions of several Gondwanan terranes with Asia, thickening the crust and generating complex relief before the arrival of India. In this review, Earth system modeling, paleoaltimetry proxies and fossil finds contribute to a new synthetic view of the topographic evolution of Tibet. A notable feature overlooked in previous models of plateau formation was the persistence through much of the Cenozoic of a wide east–west orientated deep central valley, and the formation of a plateau occurred only in the late Neogene through compression and internal sedimentation.
Model State Legislation and Intergovernmental Tensions over the Affordable Care Act, Common Core, and the Second Amendment
Authors: Callaghan Timothy , Karch Andrew , Kroeger Mary
Published: May 2020

The safeguards of federalism provide state officials with several tools as they try to influence national policy and protect their interests. State legislative challenges to the national government have been widespread recently, yet little is known about their origins. Are they derived from model legislation provided by interest groups, the result of state-to-state emulation, or developed independently by individual states? This article uses plagiarism detection software to offer a preliminary answer to this question. Our analysis suggests that state officials only occasionally rely on model legislation in drafting resistance measures. It also identifies variation across issues. External sources seem to have the greatest impact on legislation resisting gun control, a more modest influence on challenges to the Affordable Care Act, and a minimal effect on state-level responses to Common Core. The article further analyzes these dynamics by examining specific examples of textual overlap among resistance bills in each issue area.
The Deregulation of the Private Equity Markets and the Decline in IPOs
Authors: Ewens Michael , Farre-Mensa Joan
Published: May 2020

The deregulation of securities laws—in particular the National Securities Markets Improvement Act (NSMIA) of 1996—has increased the supply of private capital to late-stage private startups, which are now able to grow to a size that few private firms used to reach. NSMIA is one of a number of factors that have changed the going-public versus staying-private trade-off, helping bring about a new equilibrium where fewer startups go public, and those that do are older. This new equilibrium does not reflect an initial public offering (IPO) market failure. Rather, founders are using their increased bargaining power vis-à-vis investors to stay private longer.
The characterization of two novel neotropical primate papillomaviruses supports the ancient within-species diversity model
Authors: D’arc Mirela , Moreira Filipe R R , Dias Cecilia A , Souza Antonizete R , Seuánez Héctor N , Soares Marcelo A , Tavares Maria C H , Santos André F A
Published: May 2020

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are non-enveloped icosahedral viruses with a circular double-stranded DNA genome of ∼8,000 base pairs (bp). More than 200 different PV types have been identified to date in humans, which are distributed in five genera, with several strains associated with cancer development. Although widely distributed in vertebrates, Neotropical Primates (NP) PV infection was described for the first time only in 2016. Currently, four complete genomes of NP PVs have been characterized, three from Saimiri sciureus (SscPV1 to SscPV3) and one from Alouatta guariba (AgPV1). In this work, we describe two novel PV strains infecting Callithrix penicillata (provisionally named CpenPV1 and CpenPV2), using anal swab samples from animals residing at the Brasilia Primatology Center and next generation sequencing. The genomes of CpenPV1 (7,288 bp; 41.5% guanine-cytosine content - GC) and CpenPV2 (7,250 bp; 40.7% GC) contain the characteristic open reading frames (ORFs) for the early (E6, E7, E1, E2, and E4) and late (L2 and L1) PV genes. The L1 ORFs, commonly used for phylogenetic identification, share 76 per cent similarity with each other and differ 32 per cent from any other known PV, indicating that these new strains meet the criteria for defining novel species. PV genes phylogenetic variance was analyzed and different degrees of saturation revealed similar levels of topological heterogeneity, ruling out saturation as primary etiological factor for this phenomenon. Interestingly, the two CpenPV strains form a monophyletic clade within the Gammapapillomavirus genus (provisionally named gammapapillomavirus 32). Unlike for other NP PV strains, which grouped into a new sister genus of Alphapapillomavirus, this is the first report of NP PV strains grouping into a genus previously considered to exclusively comprise Old World Primates (OWP) PVs, including human PVs. These findings confirm the existence of a common ancestor for Gammapapillomavirus already infecting primates before the split of OWP and NP at ∼40 million years ago. Finally, our findings are consistent with an ancient within-species diversity model and emphasize the importance of increasing sampling to help understanding the PV-primate codivergence dynamics and pathogenic potential.
Freirean Conscientization With Critical Care Nurses to Reduce Moral Distress and Increase Perceived Empowerment
Authors: Bevan Nancy A. , Emerson Amanda M.
Published: May 2020

Moral distress in nursing has been linked to a relative lack of power in the workplace. We designed and piloted a Freirean-based conscientization intervention to raise awareness and address disempowerment with 13 critical care nurses in the US Midwest who recently experienced moral distress. A transformative, mixed-methods, pre/post design was used with convergence of qualitative and quantitative data. Results showed improved moral distress and mixed results in perceived personal and group empowerment. Further study is warranted to test conscientization-based interventions that give nurses opportunity collectively to develop empowered responses to situations that lead to moral distress.
Constructing Doctoral Leadership Scholarly Role Boundaries Through Intraprofessional Nursing Education
Authors: Jenkins Peggy , Jones Jacqueline , Koutlas Alexis , Courtwright Suzanne , Davis Jessica , Liggett Lisa
Published: May 2020

We conducted an intraprofessional education pilot in which students created DNP/PhD leadership parameters through naturalistic classroom experience. Agile, participatory, action research methodology framed a project spanning 3 semesters. Students' multiple ways of knowing influenced a dynamic cycle of noticing, interpreting, acting, and reflecting. Faculty revised course content “in the moment” to meet unique student needs. Researchers analyzed data using qualitative, interpretive descriptive approach. Four key themes interpreted from intraprofessional education included (1) persistent evolutionary progression toward doctoral collaboration, (2) accelerating uptake of research- into-practice continuum, (3) intentional convergent/divergent curriculum, and (4) mutuality of leadership parameters.
Complications of Methamphetamine Use in Orthopaedic Trauma
Authors: Carney John , Trasolini Nicholas , Kang Hyunwoo P. , Nguyen Charles , Lee Ryan , Marecek Geoffrey S.
Published: May 2020

Objectives:

To determine whether methamphetamine (MA) users are at an increased risk for complications compared to matched controls in the setting of orthopaedic trauma.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Academic Level-1 Trauma Center.

Patients:

MA users and matched controls.

Intervention:

MA use.

Main Outcome Measurements:

Infection, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), and nonunion.

Results:

Five hundred sixty-seven patients were included in our study (189 MA users, 378 matched controls). On univariate analysis, MA users had a higher incidence of DVT (3.2% vs. 0.5%), but no statistically significant difference in infection or nonunion rates. MA users also had a higher incidence of intensive care unit admission (36.0% vs. 27.8%), leaving the hospital against medical advice (9.0% vs. 2.1%), nonadherence to weightbearing precautions (18.8% vs. 7.3%), and a higher incidence of loss of follow-up (47.1% vs. 30.4%). However, MA users had a lower incidence of surgical treatment for orthopaedic injuries (51.9% vs. 65.9%). When surgical treatment was pursued, more trips to the operating room were required for orthopaedic injuries in the MA group (2.6 vs. 1.5 trips). On multivariate analysis, MA users continued to demonstrate a higher incidence of DVT and a lower incidence of operative management, but more trips to the operating room when surgical management was pursued, a higher admission rate to the intensive care unit, and a greater incidence of loss of follow-up.

Conclusions:

MA use is associated with increased inpatient and outpatient complications.

Level of Evidence:

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Impact of the Fascia Iliaca Block on Pain, Opioid Consumption, and Ambulation for Patients With Hip Fractures: A Prospective, Randomized Study
Authors: Schulte Spencer S. , Fernandez Isaac , Van Tienderen Richard , Reich Michael S. , Adler Adam , Nguyen Mai P.
Published: May 2020

Objectives:

To determine the effect of the fascia iliaca block (FIB) on patients undergoing surgery for hip fractures.

Design:

Prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

Level I trauma center.

Patients/Participants:

Patients (N = 97) undergoing surgery for hip fractures were prospectively randomized to receive either a perioperative FIB (FIB group) or no block (control group) from February 2018 to April 2019.

Main Outcome Measures:

Visual analog scale (VAS) score, morphine milligram equivalents, and postoperative ambulatory distance.

Results:

Fifty-seven patients were randomized to the FIB group, and 40 patients were randomized to the control group. Eighteen patients crossed over from the FIB to the control group, and 12 patients crossed over from the control to the FIB group. In the intent-to-treat analysis, demographic data, mechanism of injury, radiographic fracture classification, and surgical procedure were similar between the 2 groups. The FIB group consumed fewer morphine milligram equivalents before surgery (13 vs. 17, P = 0.04), had a trend toward an improved visual analog scale score on postoperative day 2 (0 vs. 2 P = 0.06), and walked a farther distance on postoperative day 2 (25′ vs. 2′, P = 0.09). A greater proportion of the FIB group were discharged home (50.9% vs. 32.5%, P = 0.05). There were no differences in opioid-related, block-related, or medical complications between groups. In the as-treated and per-protocol analyses, there were no significant differences.

Conclusions:

A single perioperative FIB for patients with hip fractures undergoing surgery may decrease opioid consumption and increase the likelihood that a patient is discharged home.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Motor recovery and antidepressant effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on Parkinson disease
Authors: Li Shuqian , Jiao Rui , Zhou Xiaomei , Chen Shangjie
Published: May 2020

Background:

Clinical symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD) included both motor and nonmotor symptoms. Previous studies indicated inconsistent results for the therapeutic effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on motor and depression in PD. The study aimed to assess the therapeutic effect of rTMS with different mode on motor and depression in PD using a meta-analysis.

Methods:

Articles published before July 2019 were searched based on the following databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Embase, and Google Scholar). The therapeutic effects were assessed by computing the standard mean difference (SMD) and a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results:

The present study indicated that rTMS showed significant therapeutic effects on motor in PD (SMD 2.05, 95% CI 1.57–2.53, I
2 = 93.0%, P < .001). Both high-frequency (HF)-rTMS and low-frequency rTMS showed therapeutic effects on motor; stimulation over primary motor cortex (M1), supplementary motor area, dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or M1+DLPFC showed therapeutic effects; stimulation during “on” and “off” states showed therapeutic effects; the study showed long-term effect of rTMS on motor in PD. In addition, the study indicated that rTMS showed significant therapeutic effects on depression in PD (SMD 0.80, 95% CI 0.31–1.29, I
2 = 89.1%, P < .001). Stimulation over left DLPFC showed significant therapeutic effects on depression in PD; only HF-rTMS showed therapeutic effects; ages, disease durations, numbers of pulses, and session durations displayed influence on the therapeutic effects of rTMS on depression in PD; the therapeutic effects on depression was long term. However, no significant difference in therapeutic effects on depression were showed between rTMS and oral Fluoxetine (SMD 0.74, 95% CI −0.83 to 2.31, I
2 = 92.5%, P < .001).

Conclusion:

The rTMS showed significant therapeutic effects on motor in PD. HF-rTMS showed a significant positive antidepressive effect in PD only over DLPFC.
Hydrocele in recurrent acute pancreatitis caused by testicular venous obstruction
Authors: Chang Yin-Hsi , Weng Shih-Yen , Shiue Sheng-Jie , Cheng Chao-Ling , Wu Ming-Shun
Published: May 2020

Rationale:

Scrotal swelling is a rare complication of acute pancreatitis. It had been explained by fluid accumulation in scrotum originated from abdomen. Here we demonstrated a case of recurrent pancreatitis with hydrocele caused by impaired testicular venous drainage.

Patient concerns:

A 53-year-old man presented with sudden onset epigastric pain after an alcohol binge. Recurrent acute pancreatitis was confirmed by medical history, physical examination, elevated lipase level and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan. Right scrotal swelling was noticed on the next day.

Diagnosis:

The scrotal ultrasonography demonstrated fluid accumulation around the testis and varicocele consistent with scrotal hydrocele. CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis showed encasement of the right testicular vein by pancreatic phlegmon.

Interventions:

The patient was subject to Nulla per os, hydration, and opioid analgesics for pancreatitis. No intervention was performed for scrotal swelling.

Outcomes:

Hydrocele gradually resolved along with acute pancreatitis.

Lessons:

Pancreatic phlegmon compromised testicular venous return which led to scrotal hydrocele and posed a threat to fertility. The study has provided a novel pathologic linkage. This complication should be taken into account.
Multilevel analysis of hemodialysis-associated infection among end-stage renal disease patients: results of a retrospective cohort study utilizing the insurance claim data of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Authors: Jamal Aziz , Babazono Akira , Li Yunfei , Yoshida Shinichiro , Fujita Takako
Published: May 2020

The presence of comorbid conditions along with heterogeneity in terms of healthcare practices and service delivery could have a significant impact on the patient's outcomes. With a strong interest in social epidemiology to examine the impact of health services and variations on health outcomes, the current study was conducted to analyse the incidence of hemodialysis-associated infection (HAI) as well as its associated factors, and to quantify the extent to which the contextual effects of the care facility and regional variations influence the risk of HAI.

A total of 6111 patients with end-stage renal disease who received hemodialysis treatment between 1 October 2015 and 31 March 2016 were identified from the insurance claim database as a population-based, close-cohort retrospective study. Patients were followed for one year from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. A total of 200 HAI cases were observed during the follow-up and 12 patients died within 90 days of the onset of HAI. Increased risks for HAI were associated with moderate (HR 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–2.98) and severe (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.11–3.14) comorbid conditions as well as malignancy (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.00–1.85). Increased risk was also seen among patients who received hemodialysis treatment from clinics (HR 2.49, 95% CI 1.1–5.33). However, these statistics were no longer significant when variations at the level of care facilities were statistically controlled. In univariate analyses, no statistically significant association was observed between 90-day mortality and baseline patients, and the characteristics of the care facility.

The results of the multivariate, multilevel analyses indicated that HAI variations were only significant at the care facility level (σ2 2.07, 95% CI 1.3–3.2) and were largely explained by the heterogeneity between care facilities. The results of this study highlight the need to look beyond the influence of patient-level characteristics when developing policies that aim at improving the quality of hemodialysis healthcare and service delivery in Japan.
To assess hemodynamic disturbances to the ostia of the renal arteries generated by the implantation of EVAR with a suprarenal fixation
Authors: Salomon du Mont Lucie , Parmentier Anne-Laure , Puyraveau Marc , Mauny Frédéric , Guillon Benoit , Rinckenbach Simon , Costa Patricia
Published: May 2020

Introduction:

The treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is increasingly performed via endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Different types of fixation are possible with EVAR, i.e., below (infrarenal fixation) or above (suprarenal fixation) the renal arteries. Hemodynamic alterations in renal arterial flow with suprarenal (SR) fixation remain to be demonstrated. The IFIXEAR (Impact of Supra-renal Fixation of EVAR on Hemodynamics of Renal Arteries) study is designed to assess the hemodynamic effects at the ostia of at least 1 renal artery, generated immediately post-surgery by the implantation of an aortic stent with SR fixation.

Methods:

IFIXEAR is a prospective, 2 center study. Every patient undergoing elective EVAR with SR fixation is eligible for inclusion. Patients with previous hemodynamic disturbances to the ostia of 1 of the renal arteries are not eligible. All patients undergo echocardiography and renal arteries duplex ultrasound within a month before surgery, and at 1 and 12 months after surgery. The primary endpoint is hemodynamic disturbance, defined as a peak systolic velocity greater than 120 cm/second, at the ostia of 1 of the renal arteries in the immediate postoperative period.

Ethics and dissemination:

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee “Comité de Protection des Personnes Ouest V” under the number 18/019-2 on April 20, 2018. All patients provide written informed consent before inclusion. The University Hospital of Besancon is the trial sponsor. Results of the study will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed international medical journal.

Registration:

The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03594786, principal investigator: Dr Patricia Costa, Registered on April 24, 2018).
Prediction of microdissection testicular sperm extraction outcome in men with idiopathic nonobstruction azoospermia
Authors: Zhang Han , Xi Qi , Zhang Xinyue , Zhang Hongguo , Jiang Yuting , Liu Ruizhi , Yu Yang
Published: May 2020

The aim of the present study is to assess whether the preoperative clinical indicators have an impact on sperm retrieval rate (SRR) in men with idiopathic nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA).

We retrospectively studied 241 consecutive men with NOA who underwent microdissection testicular sperm extraction from 2016 to 2019 in the Reproductive Medicine Center, including 154 patients diagnosed with idiopathic NOA. They were grouped according to preoperative indicators, including average testicular volume, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone, Testosterone (T), and pathology, respectively.

The overall SRR was 20.0% (31/155). Men with testicular volume of ≤5 mL had significant higher SRR than men with testes 5 to 10 and ≥10 mL (35.6% vs 12.3%, P = .002; 35.6% vs 16.2, P = .049, respectively). The SRR in men with FSH ≥ 24.8 mIU/mL was significant higher, compared with FSH level of 12.4 to 24.8 mIU/mL (32.6% vs 15.8%, P = .033). Men with Sertoli cell-only had significantly lower SRR than other pathological type (8.1%). Men with an FSH ≥ 24.8 mIU/mL in testicular volume ≤5 mL group had a significantly higher SRR than FSH level of 12.4 to 24.8 mIU/mL in testicular volume of ≤5 to 10 mL group (44.0% vs 11.4%, P = .002). Men with a luteinizing hormone level of 8.6 to 17.2 mIU/mL in testicular volume of 5 to 10 mL group had a poor prognosis, with an SRR of only 6.5%.

Severely reduced testicular volume (≤5 mL) and severely increased FSH level (≥24.8 mIU/mL) had the better sperm retrieval outcome, which can be used as independent predictors in men with idiopathic NOA. And a combination of testicular volume and the hormone seemed to be useful in further increase predictive value.
Bee venom acupuncture for adhesive capsulitis
Authors: Chen Xiaohua , Fan Huaying , Chen Jiao , Fan Huayu , Wu Ping
Published: May 2020

Background:

Bee venom acupuncture has been used in treating patients with shoulder adhesive capsulitis, yet the effectiveness and safety remains unclear. Therefore, this systematic review will aim to assess the effectiveness and safety of bee venom acupuncture for shoulder adhesive capsulitis.

Methods:

Electronic databases including EMBASE, PUBMED, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, Wanfang Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database will be searched for relevant randomized controlled trials from their inception to the search data without language and publication status. Randomized controlled trials involving bee venom acupuncture for treating shoulder adhesive capsulitis will be included. The primary outcome will be pain visual analogue scale, and secondary outcomes include active and passive range of motions, shoulder pain and disability index. Meta-analysis will be conducted using Review Manager software (V.5.3). The results will be presented as risk ratio for dichotomous data, and standardized or weighted mean difference for continuous data.

Results:

The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal publication.

Conclusion:

These systematic review findings will provide an evidence of bee venom acupuncture for shoulder adhesive capsulitis, and help to inform clinical practitioners and policy-makers in the decision-making.

Ethics and dissemination:

Ethics approval and patient consent are not required as this study is a systematic review based on published articles.
Constructing gene network for type 1 narcolepsy based on genome-wide association study and differential gene expression analysis (STROBE)
Authors: Ouyang Hui , Wang Shiying , Zheng Qiwen , Zhang Jun
Published: May 2020

Although many genes that affect narcolepsy risk have been identified, the interactions among these genes are still unclear. Moreover, there is a lack of research on the construction of the genetic network of narcolepsy. To screen candidate genes related to the onset of narcolepsy type 1, the function and distribution of important genes related to narcolepsy type 1 were studied and a gene network was constructed to study the pathogenesis of narcolepsy type 1.

A case-control study (observational study) of 1075 Chinese narcoleptic patients and 1997 controls was conducted. The gene-sequencing data was analyzed using genome-wide association analysis. The candidate genes related to narcolepsy were identified by differential gene expression analysis and literature research. Then, the 28 candidate genes were input into the KEGG database and 32 pathway data related to candidate genes were obtained. A gene network, with the pathways as links and the genes as nodes, was constructed. According to our results,TNF,MHC II,NFATC2,andCXCL8were the top genes in the gene network.

TNF,MHC II, NFATC2,andCXCL8are closely related to narcolepsy type I and require further study. By analyzing the pathways of disease-related genes and the network of gene interaction, we can provide an outlinefor the study of specific mechanisms of and treatments for narcolepsy.
KEGG-expressed genes and pathways in triple negative breast cancer
Authors: Chen Jiarui , Liu Chong , Cen Jiemei , Liang Tuo , Xue Jiang , Zeng Haopeng , Zhang Zide , Xu Guoyong , Yu Chaojie , Lu Zhaojun , Wang Zequn , Jiang Jie , Zhan Xinli , Zeng Jian
Published: May 2020

Background:

The incidence of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is at a relatively high level, and our study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in TNBC and explore the key pathways and genes of TNBC.

Methods:

The gene expression profiling (GSE86945, GSE86946 and GSE102088) data were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus Datasets, DEGs were identified by using R software, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of DEGs were performed by the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) tools, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the DEGs was constructed by the STRING database and visualized by Cytoscape software. Finally, the survival value of hub DEGs in breast cancer patients were performed by the Kaplan–Meier plotter online tool.

Results:

A total of 2998 DEGs were identified between TNBC and health breast tissue, including 411 up-regulated DEGs and 2587 down-regulated DEGs. GO analysis results showed that down-regulated DEGs were enriched in gene expression (BP), extracellular exosome (CC), and nucleic acid binding, and up-regulated were enriched in chromatin assembly (BP), nucleosome (CC), and DNA binding (MF). KEGG pathway results showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in Pathways in cancer and Systemic lupus erythematosus and so on. Top 10 hub genes were picked out from PPI network by connective degree, and 7 of top 10 hub genes were significantly related with adverse overall survival in breast cancer patients (P < .05). Further analysis found that only EGFR had a significant association with the prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (P < .05).

Conclusions:

Our study showed that DEGs were enriched in pathways in cancer, top 10 DEGs belong to up-regulated DEGs, and 7 gene connected with poor prognosis in breast cancer, including HSP90AA1, SRC, HSPA8, ESR1, ACTB, PPP2CA, and RPL4. These can provide some guidance for our research on the diagnosis and prognosis of TNBC, and further research is needed to evaluate their value in the targeted therapy of TNBC.
Computed tomography (CT) imaging evaluation of integrated traditional Chinese medicine cooperative therapy in treating acute cerebral infarction
Authors: Liu Ruijia , Yu Xudong , Zhang Liping , Zhang Hong , Gong Yuanyuan , Wu Kang , Yan Shuting , Song Lianying
Published: May 2020

Introduction:

Acute cerebral infarction is a clinically common cerebrovascular disease. Acute cerebral infarction is characterized by sudden onset, dangerous illness, high risk of death, and disability. Computed tomography perfusion imaging can detect abnormal brain tissue perfusion 30 minutes after the onset of cerebral ischemia, providing the earliest and most valuable information for clinical diagnosis and treatment. In recent years, the effect of traditional Chinese medicine on acute cerebral infarction has been remarkable.

Methods/design:

This study plan randomly divided eligible acute cerebral infarction patients into two groups. Patients in the control group will be treated with conventional Western medicine; patients in the intervention group will be treated with traditional Chinese medicine cooperative therapy on the basis of conventional Western medicine. The curative effects will be selected before treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, and 3 months follow-up. The changes in CT imaging evaluation, NIHSS score, and BI index of the two groups of patients will be observed.

Discussion:

We aim to provide higher evidence-based medical evidence for traditional Chinese medicine treatment of acute cerebral infarction. And clarify the application value of computed tomography perfusion imaging in the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of acute cerebral infarction.

Trial registration:

ClinicalTrials.gov, ChiCTR2000030230, Registered on 03 March 2020.
Disruption within brain default mode network in postpartum women without depression
Authors: Zheng Jin-Xia , Ge Lili , Chen Huiyou , Yin Xindao , Chen Yu-Chen , Tang Wen-Wei
Published: May 2020

Previous studies have demonstrated that cognitive dysfunction is associated with neurophysiological changes in postpartum period. This study aimed to investigate the intrinsic functional connectivity (FC) pattern within the default mode network (DMN) and its associations with cognitive dysfunction in postpartum women without depression revealed by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Resting-state fMRI scans were acquired from 21 postpartum women and 21 age- and education-matched nulliparous women. The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) was selected as the seed region to detect the FC patterns and then determine whether these changes were related to specific cognitive performance.

Compared with the nulliparous women, postpartum women had a significantly decreased FC between the PCC and the left medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). After correcting for age and education, the reduced FC between the PCC and the left mPFC was positively correlated with the poorer Clock-Drawing Test (CDT) scores in postpartum women (r = 0.742, P 
< .001).

The present study mainly demonstrated decreased resting-state FC pattern within the DMN regions that was linked with impaired cognitive function in postpartum women. These findings illustrated the potential role of the DMN in postpartum women that will provide novel insight into the underlying neuropathological mechanisms in postpartum period.