bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Hypertension and Adiposity Indicators Among Children and Adolescents of Meghwal Community: A Cross-sectional Study from Udaipur, Rajasthan (India)
Authors: Prasad Sweta , Longkumer Imnameren , Saraswathy Kallur Nava
Published: December 2020

Background:

Early-age cardiometabolic disorders have a profound impact on adult health status. Studies indicated elevated blood pressure and increased adiposity among children and adolescents to be significantly correlated with adult cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Aim:

The study aims to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and adiposity indicators and their association among children and adolescents of Meghwal community, Rajasthan.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study recruited 150 boys and girls of 10–18 years. Anthropometric and physiologic variables were collected and categorized into adiposity indicators and blood pressure traits.

Results:

Prevalence of adiposity indicators in terms of both body mass index (BMI) and waist to height ratio (WHtR) was 2.67%, while almost half of the study participants had underweight BMI (46%). The study observed 16% and 8.67% prevalence of systolic hypertension stages I and II, respectively. Prevalence of diastolic hypertension stages I and II were 26.67% and 6.67%, respectively. The study indicated a range from 22% to 27% of high blood pressure traits attributable to increase in BMI. Further, overweight/obese BMI posed increased risk for systolic hypertension and diastolic pre-hypertension, albeit with no statistical significance.

Conclusion:

Findings from the present study throw light on the need for routine blood pressure measurements among children and adolescents for early detection and to prevent the risk of CVDs in adults.
Design of porous and graded NiTi smart energy absorbers considering synthetic uncertainty in parameters
Authors: Gur Sourav , Frantziskonis George N
Published: December 2020

The synthetic uncertainty (SU) method is introduced and applied to the optimal design of energy absorbing NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) bars. A sensitivity analysis for a large number of stochastic parameters identifies geometrical grading, porosity, and imposed maximum nominal stress as critical design parameters for the energy dissipation capacity of the bars. Parametric uncertainty on the optimal design of the energy absorber is incorporated and estimated through the SU formalism. The SU method provides a unified approach to discover the critical design parameters, quantify uncertainty, and optimally design a system around its extreme response (maximum or minimum). Therefore, the SU method is placed next to the robust design optimization (RDO) process, yet with a discovery component. It is found that variations in porosity and shape factor can significantly alter the stress-strain response and energy dissipation capacity. For a given value of maximum nominal stress, it is found that there exists an optimal combination of shape factor and porosity which maximizes the energy dissipation capacity of a tapered and porous NiTi bar.
The Evolution of University Business Incubators: Transnational Hubs for Entrepreneurship
Authors: Pellegrini Mason , Johnson-Sheehan Richard
Published: December 2020

University business incubators (UBIs) are uniquely positioned to foster transnational entrepreneurship and the evolution of business and technical communication practices on a worldwide basis. UBIs facilitate the launch of start-ups by professors, students, researchers, and local entrepreneurs. This study uses assemblage theory to profile four UBIs. Its findings concern their process of exporting incubation models and training transnational entrepreneurs, the roles of alumni and students, and the genres and conventions of entrepreneurship.
Oral Flora and Perioperative Antimicrobial Interventions in Cleft Palate Surgery: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Pfaff Miles J. , Musavi Leila , Wang Maxwell M. , Haveles Christos S. , Liu Claire , Rezzadeh Kameron S. , Lee Justine C.
Published: December 2020

Background:

The role of perioperative antibiotics in cleft palate remains a topic of debate. Advocates stress their importance in preventing local and systemic infections and decreasing the incidence of oronasal fistula formation. However, few studies to date have directly evaluated the role of antibiotics and other antimicrobial measures in cleft palate surgery.

Objective:

The aim of this review is to evaluate the evidence surrounding the use of perioperative antibiotics and other antimicrobial interventions in cleft palate surgery. Additionally, we review the literature on the oral flora unique to the cleft palate patient population.

Methods:

This was accomplished utilizing PubMed, Medline, and the Cochrane Library with MeSH and generic terms. Articles were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results:

This review highlights the lack of higher level evidence on perioperative antibiotic use and other antimicrobial interventions in cleft palatoplasty and calls for further research on the matter.

Conclusions:

The literature appears to support the use of preoperative antibiotics for cleft palatoplasty, but the benefits of prolonged postoperative antibiotic use remain questionable.
A Meta-Analysis of Police Response Models for Handling People With Mental Illnesses: Cross-Country Evidence on the Effectiveness
Authors: Seo Chunghyeon , Kim Bitna , Kruis Nathan E.
Published: December 2020

Recent global statistics on mental health showed that the number of people with mental illnesses has dramatically increased in many countries. A gatekeeper to the criminal justice system, police have begun to develop their own police response programs or have adopted renowned models from other countries for handling people with mental illnesses. Although there is a growing body of empirical research that has investigated the effectiveness of police response models for handling the mentally ill (PRMHMI) in various countries, existing systematic reviews or meta-analytic studies have disproportionately focused on findings from studies testing the effects of the crisis intervention team in the United States. Thus, it is still not clear whether PRMHMI can be considered as “evidence-based” models on the international level. To help fill this gap in the literature, the current systematic review and meta-analysis compared the effectiveness of PRMHMI operating in the United States to those operating in other countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Liberia. Results revealed that the effect sizes of PRMHMI were substantially different across countries. This study’s results demonstrate the importance of a national context for designing, implementing, and evaluating PRMHMI.
Time Perception Deficits in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Zheng Que , Wang Xinyue , Chiu Ka Yu , Shum Kathy Kar-man
Published: December 2020

Objective:

Prior studies have reported time perception impairment in children and adolescents with ADHD but the results were inconsistent.

Method:

The current meta-analysis reviews 27 empirical studies published in English after year 2000 that compared time perception competence among children and adolescents with and without ADHD.

Results:

Results from 1620 participants with ADHD and 1249 healthy controls showed significant timing deficits in ADHD. Children/adolescents with ADHD perceived time less accurately (Hedges’ g > 0.40), less precisely (Hedges’ g = 0.66) and had higher tendency to overestimate time than their healthy counterparts. Moderator analyses indicated that the discrepancy of time perception between groups was not affected by the type of timing tasks nor the modality of stimuli used in the tasks. Nonetheless, results were moderated by age and gender.

Conclusion:

These findings may update current understanding of the underlying neuropsychological deficits in ADHD and provide insight for future research in clinical assessments and treatments for ADHD.
Incidence, risk factors and medical cost of peripheral intravenous catheter-related complications in hospitalised adult patients
Authors: Liu Congcong , Chen Lin , Kong Dong , Lyu Fangfang , Luan Linlin , Yang Lijuan
Published: December 2020

Background:

Peripheral intravenous catheters (PVCs) are widely used vascular access devices for infusion therapy; however, they are associated with relatively high failure rates. This study aimed to identify the incidence, risk factors and medical costs of PVC-induced complications in adult hospitalised adult patients in China.

Methods:

An observational, prospective study on 1069 patients lasting 5 months was conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital.

Results:

Infiltration ranked first among PVC complications with an incidence of 17.8%, followed by occlusion (10.8%) and phlebitis (10.5%). Most complications in phlebitis (88.4%) and infiltration (93.7%) were Grade 1. Catheters left in for over 96 h did not show a higher incidence of complications. Patients from the surgical department were more susceptible to infiltration, phlebitis and occlusion. The 26 gauge (Ga) catheters decreased the risk of phlebitis and occlusion, whereas 24Ga catheters increased infiltration rates. Infusing irritant drugs increased phlebitis and infiltration rates. The presence of comorbidities and non-use of needleless connectors were associated with occlusion. Compared with forearm insertion, the risk of occlusion nearly doubled with the dorsum of the hand insertion and the risk of infiltration tripled with antecubital fossa insertion. Medical treatment costs for PVC complications ranged from 0.3 to 140.0 CNY.

Conclusions:

Infiltration is the most common PVC-related adverse event. Clinically-indicated instead of routine replacement of catheters is safe. More efforts are warranted to improve nurses’ adherence to recent guidelines in terms of insertion site selection and needleless connector utilisation to reduce medical costs associated with catheter replacement.
Tourism falls apart: How insecurity affects African tourism
Authors: Santana-Gallego María , Fourie Johan
Published: December 2020

Although it seems obvious that tourism flows would be adversely affected by terrorism, crime and corruption, not all the empirical evidence supports this view. This article investigates the extent to which insecurity hurts tourism in Africa. We use a new data set consisting of 187 countries, 38 of which are in Africa, for the period 1995–2017. It combines information on the number of tourist arrivals in African countries with information on three types of security risk – terrorism, crime and corruption. While we find no statistically significant evidence that connects terrorism to tourism globally, we do find an effect for tourists travelling to Africa. Crime, too, hurts tourism, but we find no robust relationship between corruption and tourism. Our results emphasize the importance of government expenditure on safety and security to protect this labour-intensive and pro-poor sector.
Friedrich Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals and Criminology
Authors: Ranasinghe Prashan
Published: December 2020

The writings of Friedrich Nietzsche have much to offer criminology. To date, however, his work has been largely neglected in this scholarship. Taking this lacuna seriously, this article reads Nietzsche’s second essay of On the Genealogy of Morals and explicates its importance to criminology. Specifically, focus is cast upon Nietzsche’s exposition of crime and particularly punishment, pertaining to the production of a calculating and calculable being upon whom pain and suffering can be inflicted and the ways that concerns over excesses of punishment come to be framed as problematic. Via this reading, it is claimed that On the Genealogy of Morals can serve, among others, as an important critique to many of the presuppositions that ground the classical school of criminology, epitomized in the work of Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham. The article concludes by locating the importance of Nietzsche to penology specifically and criminology more broadly.
Dynamics of (dis)trust between the news media and their audience: The case of the April 2019 Israeli exit polls
Authors: Aharoni Tali , Tenenboim-Weinblatt Keren , Baden Christian , Overbeck Maximilian
Published: December 2020

This paper explores the dynamics of (dis)trust among experts, journalists, and audiences through the case study of an inaccurate exit poll aired on a leading Israeli television channel. It combines empirical data from the Israeli April 2019 elections with a conceptual view of exit polls as both sources of information and national rituals to address public discourse on the polls and its underlying suspicions. A multi-method approach yielded a corpus consisting of focus groups with citizens, in-depth semi-structured interviews with journalists, pollsters and experts, and qualitative textual analysis of news reports. Using inductive-qualitative analysis, we identified three types of public narratives, each casting blame for the erroneous exit poll projection on a different type of actor. The statistical and biased-media narratives tally with declining trust in the news media and assume misbehavior by pollsters and news creators respectively. The deception narrative, on the other hand, suggests that right-wing voters systematically sabotaged the exit poll projections. By extending trust beyond journalistic information, this narrative foregrounds the cultural meaning of election night rituals. Taken together, the narratives found in this study delineate (dis)trust as an interplay of active participants in the creation, reception, and interpretation of news. Our findings thus touch upon key attitudes towards both media and democracy and have implications for further studies on collective rituals and information evaluations in an era of eroding trust.
A male ethnographer’s perspective on sexual harassment in fieldwork: a research note
Authors: Sharabi Asaf
Published: December 2020

This research note focuses on the sexual harassment experienced by the author during ethnographic fieldwork in India. Analysis of the event indicates that the fact that he is a man influenced his response to the sexual overtures made by his male informant and heightened his sense of fear. Thus while being of the masculine gender can be an advantage for the male ethnographer, it can also be a source of anxiety and carries some tangible risks. This study concludes that power relations in fieldwork are complex, and we must take into consideration our identity and position when assessing the risks inherent in fieldwork.
Screening and Discovery of New Potential Biomarkers and Small Molecule Drugs for Cervical Cancer: A Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Qiu Hui-Zhu , Huang Ji , Xiang Cheng-Cheng , Li Rong , Zuo Er-Dong , Zhang Yuan , Shan Li , Cheng Xu
Published: December 2020

Background:

Cervical cancer (CC) is the second most common type of malignant tumor survival rate is low in advanced stage, metastatic, and recurrent CC patients. This study aimed at identifying potential genes and drugs for CC diagnosis and targeting therapies.

Methods:

Three GEO mRNA microarray datasets of CC tissues and non-cancerous tissues were analyzed for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by limma package. GO (Gene Ontologies) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) were used to explore the relationships between the DEGs. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) of these genes was established by the STRING database. MCODE was used for screening significant modules in the PPI networks to select hub genes. Biochemical mechanisms of the hub genes were investigated with Metascape. GEPIA database was used for validating the core genes. According to these DEGs, molecular candidates for CC were recognized from the CMAP database.

Results:

We identified 309 overlapping DEGs in the 2 tissue-types. Pathway analysis revealed that the DEGs were involved in cell cycle, DNA replication, and p53 signaling. PPI networks between overlapping DEGs showed 68 high-connectivity DEGs that were chosen as hub genes. The GEPIA database showed that the expression levels of RRM2, CDC45, GINS2, HELLS, KNTC1, MCM2, MYBL2, PCNA, RAD54 L, RFC4, RFC5, TK1, TOP2A, and TYMS in CC tissues were significantly different from those in the healthy tissues and were significantly relevant to the OS of CC. We found 10 small molecules from the CMAP database that could change the trend of gene expression in CC tissues, including piperlongumine and chrysin.

Conclusions:

The 14 DEGs identified in this study could serve as novel prognosis biomarkers for the detection and forecasting of CC. Small molecule drugs like piperlongumine and chrysin could be potential therapeutic drugs for CC treatment.
A Review of the Economic Data Emanating from the Development of Central Park and Its Influence on the Construction of Early Urban Parks in the United States
Authors: Crompton John L.
Published: December 2020

Financing Central Park by general taxation was controversial and precedent setting. It was justified by rationalizing that increases in property values around the Park would generate sufficient annual revenues to cover all the Park’s capital costs. Accordingly, the Central Park Commissioners provided data as “evidence” to support the success of this vehicle in their annual reports. This article shows these data were flawed. Notwithstanding their egregious inaccuracy, these Central Park data were ubiquitously reiterated in arguments to support urban parks in cities throughout the United States for eighty years from the 1860s until World War II.
Activated carbons from coffee husk: Preparation, characterization, and reactive red 195 adsorption
Authors: Thuy Luong Thi Thu , Ta Huu Son , Le Van Khu
Published: December 2020

Activated carbons are prepared from coffee husks by chemical activation with ZnCl2 and are characterized by employing Brunauer, Emmett and Teller, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Boehm titrations. The effects of ZnCl2/coffee husks, activation temperature, and activation time are studied, and the results show that the sample ACZ3-600-2 has a high surface area of 1383 m2 g−1, a high pore volume of 1.6482 cm3 g−1, and numerous surface functional groups. The adsorption of reactive red 195 onto the prepared coffee husk activated carbon can be well-described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and is found to be controlled by film diffusion followed by intra-particle diffusion. The adsorption isotherm data obtained at 10–40 °C are analyzed and found to follow the Sips model at lower temperatures (10 and 20 °C) and the Redlich–Peterson model at higher temperatures (30 and 40 °C). The obtained thermodynamic parameters (Δ G° < 0, Δ H° = 33.487 kJ mol−1, and Δ S° = 202.30 J K−1 mol−1) suggest that the adsorption of reactive red 195 onto the prepared activated carbon is spontaneous, endothermic, and demonstrates an increasing of randomness at the adsorbate–adsorbent interface. The investigated results show that coffee husk activated carbon is an efficient adsorbent for the removal of reactive red 195 from aqueous solutions.
Discussing conflict in social media: The use of Twitter in the Jammu and Kashmir conflict
Authors: Gabel Sabrina , Reichert Lilian , Reuter Christian
Published: December 2020

Social media have come to play a vital role not only in our everyday lives, but also in times of conflict and crisis such as natural disasters or civil wars. Recent research has highlighted, on the one hand, the use of social media as a means of recruitment by terrorists and, on the other hand, the use of Facebook, Twitter, etc. to gain the support of the population during insurgencies. This article conducts a qualitative content analysis of content on Twitter concerning the conflict in the Jammu and Kashmir region. The tweets following the death of a popular militant, Burhan Wani, cover three different themes: (1) criticism of intellectuals; (2) Burhan Wani’s impact on the conflict; and (3) tweets referring to the conflict itself. Generally, people use Twitter to make their own point of view clear to others and discredit the opposing party; at the same time, tweets reflect the antagonism between the two parties to the conflict, India and Pakistan. The sample of tweets reflects the lack of awareness among people in the region regarding the motivations of the new generation of militancy emerging in Kashmir after 1990.
Perception of journalists reporting in conflict zones: Labour situation, working conditions and main challenges in information coverage in contexts of violence
Authors: Tejedor Santiago , Cervi Laura , Tusa Fernanda
Published: December 2020

A total of 324 journalists have been killed in the world in the last decade. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the situation is alarming. Based on these statistics, this work presents an investigation with journalists from 10 countries. Based on in-depth interviews and the Delphi method, the study explores professionals’ perspectives about violence against journalists, pointing out the challenges for women, the role of independent media together with journalists’ networks and an increasing concern about governmental control over information.
Aesthetic outcomes following adipose flap versus fillet flap technique for radial polydactyly: a comparison study
Authors: Tsunekawa Kazuhiro , Kondoh Shoji , Noguchi Masahiko , Yuzuriha Shunsuke , Iwasawa Motonao
Published: December 2020

We performed a comparative study looking at the aesthetic outcomes of using a digital artery vascularized adipose flap (DAAF) for treatment of Wassel type IV radial polydactyly versus a fillet flap technique. Clinical charts and pictures of patients between 2002 and 2017 were reviewed to evaluate the appearance of 16 reconstructed thumbs using a visual analogue scale. Our results showed that the DAAF technique resulted in better outcomes with regard to contour of the thumb than the fillet flap group, with significantly less conspicuous scarring in the DAAF group. We conclude that the DAAF can produce better aesthetic outcomes in the reconstruction of radial polydactyly than conventional fillet flaps.

Level of evidence: III
The influence of 5-iron clubhead mass distribution on clubhead presentation and initial ball launch conditions – Part II: Player tests
Authors: Wallace ES , Corke TW , Jones KM , Betzler NF , Otto SR
Published: December 2020

Iron clubheads can be classified as blades or perimeter-weighted, depending on the distribution of their mass. Despite the widely held views that perimeter-weighting can offer performance benefits for lesser skilled players, a direct comparison with players using these two clubhead types has not been thoroughly investigated. The aims of the study were to determine differences in clubhead presentation and ball launch between a blade 5-iron and a cavity-back 5-iron in a mixed cohort of golfers and examine trends in central tendency and variability in relation to skill for males using the blade club. Nine clubhead presentation variables and six ball launch variables were measured for 96 participants hitting shots from natural turf with each of the clubs. Group means for club effect were analysed statistically using an independent samples approach, whilst a rank-based nonparametric test was used to determine significant trends between handicap categories and ball launch conditions for the male cohort. The cavity-back displayed higher effective loft, lower effective lie and a tendency to have ball strikes closer to the centre. Higher values were also noted for the cavity-back for vertical launch angle and total spin. As expected, higher handicap male golfers showed lesser consistency and displayed slower ball speeds and lower efficiency than the more skilled players. Together these results concur with the findings in Part I in support of the theory of ‘forgiveness’ associated with cavity-back clubs, whilst also highlighting the over-riding importance of skill level on performance.
Trend of changes in antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori from 2013 to 2019: a multicentre report from Taiwan
Authors: Liang Chih-Ming , Tai Wei-Chen , Hsu Pin-I , Wu Deng-Chyang , Kuo Chao-Hung , Tsay Feng-Woey , Lee Chia-Long , Chen Kuan-Yang , Chuah Seng-Kee
Published: December 2020

Background:

Antibiotic resistance plays a crucial role in the treatment failure of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. This study aimed to determine the trend of changes in the primary, secondary and tertiary antibiotic resistance of H. pylori in Taiwan over the last 7 years.

Methods:

We retrospectively analysed H. pylori-infected isolates from patients with primary resistance ( n = 1369), secondary resistance ( n = 196) and tertiary resistance ( n = 184) from January 2013 to December 2019. The H. pylori strains were tested for susceptibility to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, metronidazole and tetracycline using the Epsilometer test method.

Results:

A progressively higher primary resistance rate was observed for clarithromycin (11.8–20.4%, p = 0.039 in χ2 test for linear trend), levofloxacin (17.3–38.8%, p < 0.001) and metronidazole (25.6–42.3%, p < 0.001) among naïve patients who received first-line eradication therapy. The dual primary resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole also progressively increased in a linear trend (2.4–10.4%, p = 0.009). For secondary resistance, an increase was observed for levofloxacin (30.5–64.7%, p = 0.006) and metronidazole (40.5–77.4%, p < 0.001). For tertiary resistance, the observed increase was even more significant for levofloxacin (65.9–100.0%, p = 0.106) and metronidazole (44.4–88.2%, p < 0.001). The resistance to amoxicillin and tetracycline remained very low in Taiwan regardless of primary, secondary and tertiary resistance.

Conclusion:

Primary, secondary and tertiary antibiotic resistance to clarithromycin, levofloxacin and metronidazole for H. pylori has been increasing in Taiwan since 2013. Treatment should be targeted for eradication success rates of more than 90%. Third-line treatment should be based on antibiotic susceptibility.
Mobilizing Users: Does Exposure to Misinformation and Its Correction Affect Users’ Responses to a Health Misinformation Post?
Authors: Tully Melissa , Bode Leticia , Vraga Emily K.
Published: December 2020

Misinformation spreads on social media when users engage with it, but users can also respond to correct it. Using an experimental design, we examine how exposure to misinformation and correction on Twitter about unpasteurized milk affects participants’ likelihood of responding to the misinformation, and we code open-ended responses to see what participants would say if they did respond. Results suggest that participants are overall unlikely to reply to the misinformation tweet. However, content analysis of hypothetical replies suggests they largely do provide correct information, especially after seeing other corrections. These results suggest that user corrections offer untapped potential in responding to misinformation on social media but effort must be made to consider how users can be mobilized to provide corrections given their general unwillingness to reply.
Clinical Observation of COVID-19 in a Patient With an Acquired Humoral Deficiency Secondary to Chemotherapeutic Agents
Authors: Schend Jason , Daniels Phuong , Sanan Neha , Tcheurekdjian Haig , Hostoffer Robert
Published: December 2020

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes worldwide devastation. We describe the course of a patient with COVID-19 in the setting of an acquired humoral deficiency as a result of chemotherapeutic treatment for rheumatologic conditions.

Case Report

A 49-year-old Caucasian male presented with non-relieving fever, hypoxemia, and persistent diarrhea after seven days following a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The patient’s past medical history was significant for mixed connective tissue disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus treated with methotrexate and rituximab since 2008. He was diagnosed with acquired humoral deficiency in 2017 managed by intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusion every three weeks. The patient’s course of hospitalization was complicated by acute respiratory distress which necessitated intensive unit care and required up to 20 L/min oxygen supplementation via a humidified high flow generator. He was treated with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin and received an IVIG transfusion. The patient was discharged to home after forty-two days of hospitalization with oxygen supplementation only during ambulation and a complete resolution of diarrhea.

Discussion

According to current limited data, patients with immunodeficiency have longer length of hospitalization compared to immunocompetent individuals. Our patient demonstrated a form of immunodeficiency as the result of a chemotherapeutic agent, and his clinical course appeared to be more severe.

Conclusion

More studies are necessary to shed light on the immunological response to SARS-CoV-2 and its impact on immunocompromised and immunocompetent and individuals. We describe the course of a patient with COVID-19 in the setting of an acquired humoral deficiency.
Effects of Neurotrophin-3 on Intrinsic Neuronal Properties at a Central Auditory Structure
Authors: Takahashi Momoko , Sanchez Jason Tait
Published: December 2020

Neurotrophins, a class of growth factor proteins that control neuronal proliferation, morphology, and apoptosis, are found ubiquitously throughout the nervous system. One particular neurotrophin (NT-3) and its cognate tyrosine receptor kinase (TrkC) have recently received attention as a possible therapeutic target for synaptopathic sensorineural hearing loss. Additionally, research shows that NT-3-TrkC signaling plays a role in establishing the sensory organization of frequency topology (ie, tonotopic order) in the cochlea of the peripheral inner ear. However, the neurotrophic effects of NT-3 on central auditory properties are unclear. In this study we examined whether NT-3-TrkC signaling affects the intrinsic electrophysiological properties at a first-order central auditory structure in chicken, known as nucleus magnocellularis (NM). Here, the expression pattern of specific neurotrophins is well known and tightly regulated. By using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, we show that NT-3 application to brainstem slices does not affect intrinsic properties of high-frequency neuronal regions but had robust effects for low-frequency neurons, altering voltage-dependent potassium functions, action potential repolarization kinetics, and passive membrane properties. We suggest that NT-3 may contribute to the precise establishment and organization of tonotopy in the central auditory pathway by playing a specialized role in regulating the development of intrinsic neuronal properties of low-frequency NM neurons.
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the CLC gene family in pomegranate (Punica granatum) reveals its roles in salt resistance
Authors: Liu Cuiyu , Zhao Yujie , Zhao Xueqing , Dong Jianmei , Yuan Zhaohe
Published: December 2020

Backgrounds

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important commercial fruit tree, with moderate tolerance to salinity. The balance of Cl− and other anions in pomegranate tissues are affected by salinity, however, the accumulation patterns of anions are poorly understood. The chloride channel (CLC) gene family is involved in conducting Cl−, NO3−, HCO3− and I−, but its characteristics have not been reported on pomegranate.

Results

In this study, we identified seven PgCLC genes, consisting of four antiporters and three channels, based on the presence of the gating glutamate (E) and the proton glutamate (E). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that seven PgCLCs were divided into two clades, with clade I containing the typical conserved regions GxGIPE (I), GKxGPxxH (II) and PxxGxLF (III), whereas clade II not. Multiple sequence alignment revealed that PgCLC-B had a P [proline, Pro] residue in region I, which was suspected to be a NO3−/H+ exchanger, while PgCLC-C1, PgCLC-C2, PgCLC-D and PgCLC-G contained a S [serine, Ser] residue, with a high affinity to Cl−. We determined the content of Cl−, NO3−, H2PO4−, and SO42− in pomegranate tissues after 18 days of salt treatments (0, 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl). Compared with control, the Cl− content increased sharply in pomegranate tissues. Salinity inhibited the uptake of NO3− and SO42−, but accelerated H2PO4− uptake. The results of real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that PgCLC genes had tissue-specific expression patterns. The high expression levels of three antiporters PgCLC-C1, PgCLC-C2 and PgCLC-D in leaves might be contributed to sequestrating Cl− into the vacuoles. However, the low expression levels of PgCLCs in roots might be associated with the exclusion of Cl− from root cells. Also, the up-regulated PgCLC-B in leaves indicated that more NO3− was transported into leaves to mitigate the nitrogen deficiency.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that the PgCLC genes played important roles in balancing of Cl− and NO3− in pomegranate tissues under salt stress. This study established a theoretical foundation for the further functional characterization of the CLC genes in pomegranate.
Label-free optical biomarkers detect early calcific aortic valve disease in a wild-type mouse model
Authors: Tandon Ishita , Johns Shelby , Woessner Alan , Perez Jessica , Cross Delaney , Ozkizilcik Asya , Muldoon Timothy J. , Vallurupalli Srikanth , Padala Muralidhar , Quinn Kyle P. , Balachandran Kartik
Published: December 2020

Background

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) pathophysiology is a complex, multistage process, usually diagnosed at advanced stages after significant anatomical and hemodynamic changes in the valve. Early detection of disease progression is thus pivotal in the development of prevention and mitigation strategies. In this study, we developed a diet-based, non-genetically modified mouse model for early CAVD progression, and explored the utility of two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy for early detection of CAVD progression. TPEF imaging provides label-free, non-invasive, quantitative metrics with the potential to correlate with multiple stages of CAVD pathophysiology including calcium deposition, collagen remodeling and osteogenic differentiation.

Methods

Twenty-week old C57BL/6J mice were fed either a control or pro-calcific diet for 16 weeks and monitored via echocardiography, histology, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative polarized light imaging. Additionally, TPEF imaging was used to quantify tissue autofluorescence (A) at 755 nm, 810 nm and 860 nm excitation, to calculate TPEF 755–860 ratio (A860/525/(A755/460 + A860/525)) and TPEF Collagen-Calcium ratio (A810/525/(A810/460 + A810/525)) in the murine valves. In a separate experiment, animals were fed the above diets till 28 weeks to assess for later-stage calcification.

Results

Pro-calcific mice showed evidence of lipid deposition at 4 weeks and calcification at 16 weeks at the valve commissures. The valves of pro-calcific mice also showed positive expression for markers of osteogenic differentiation, myofibroblast activation, proliferation, inflammatory cytokines and collagen remodeling. Pro-calcific mice exhibited lower TPEF autofluorescence ratios, at locations coincident with calcification, that correlated with increased collagen disorganization and positive expression of osteogenic markers. Additionally, locations with lower TPEF autofluorescence ratios at 4 and 16 weeks exhibited increased calcification at later 28-week timepoints.

Conclusions

This study suggests the potential of TPEF autofluorescence metrics to serve as a label-free tool for early detection and monitoring of CAVD pathophysiology.
Delayed hypersensitivity reaction to orodispersible budesonide in a case with eosinophilic esophagitis
Authors: Andrist Caroline Michèle , Jörg Lukas , Greuter Thomas , Gschwend Anna , Straumann Alex , Helbling Arthur
Published: December 2020

Background

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disease that has been known since the early 1990s. Swallowed topical corticosteroids (STC) belong to the therapeutic cornerstones. We describe a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to Jorveza®, a newly developed orodispersible budesonide tablet licensed for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis.

Case presentation

A 32-year-old Caucasian woman with EoE was newly treated with Jorveza®. Hours after the first intake, she felt a “strange pruritus” in the throat. This sensation worsened with each subsequent intake. On day 4 she developed oral mucosal symptoms (paresthesia of the tongue, sore and an itchy throat). Intraoral, throat and facial swellings, but no systemic reaction were observed. Patch testing using two commercial test series as well as the orodispersible budesonide tablet revealed a strong sensitization, proving a T cell mediated allergy to budesonide.

Conclusions

Orodispersible budesonide is increasingly prescribed for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis. The development of oropharyngeal symptoms after initiating should alert the treating physician to the possibility of a hypersensitivity reaction.
Efficacy of early intervention on the bowel damage and intestinal surgery of Crohn’s disease, based on the Lémann index
Authors: Zhu Mingming , Feng Qi , Xu Xitao , Qiao Yuqi , Cui Zhe , Yan Yunqi , Ran Zhihua
Published: December 2020

Background

Clinicians aim to prevent progression of Crohn’s disease (CD); however, many patients require surgical resection because of cumulative bowel damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of early intervention on bowel damage in patients with CD using the Lémann Index and to identify bowel resection predictors.

Methods

We analyzed consecutive patients with CD retrospectively. The Lémann Index was determined at the point of inclusion and at follow-up termination. The Paris definition was used to subdivide patients into early and late CD groups.

Results

We included 154 patients, comprising 70 with early CD and 84 with late CD. After follow-up for 17.0 months, more patients experienced a decrease in the Lémann Index (61.4% vs. 42.9%), and fewer patients showed an increase in the Lémann Index (20% vs. 35.7%) in the early compared with the late CD group. Infliximab and other therapies reversed bowel damage to a greater extent in early CD patients than in late CD patients. Twenty-two patients underwent intestinal surgery, involving 5 patients in the early CD group and 17 patients in the late CD group. Three independent predictors of bowel resection were identified: baseline Lémann index ≥ 8.99, disease behavior B1, and history of intestinal surgery.

Conclusions

Early intervention within 18 months after CD diagnosis could reverse bowel damage and decrease short-term intestinal resection. Patients with CD with a history of intestinal surgery, and/or a Lémann index > 8.99 should be treated aggressively and monitored carefully to prevent progressive bowel damage.
The diagnostic accuracy of direct agglutination test for serodiagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Mohebali Mehdi , Keshavarz Hossein , Shirmohammad Sedigheh , Akhoundi Behnaz , Borjian Alireza , Hassanpour Gholamreza , Mamishi Setareh , Mahmoudi Shima
Published: December 2020

Background

Direct agglutination test (DAT) as a simple, accurate and reliable method, has been widely used for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) during the last three decades. The present study is a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of DAT for serodiagnosis of human VL.

Methods

Electronic databases, including MEDLINE (via PubMed), SCOPUS, Web of Science, SID and Mag Iran (two Persian scientific search engines) were searched from December 2004 to April 2019. We determined the pooled sensitivity and specificity rates of DAT for the diagnosis of human VL, calculated positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-), and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves parameters across the eligible studies.

Results

Of the 2928 records identified in the mentioned electronic databases and after examining reference lists of articles, 24 articles met inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the systematic review and out of them 20 records qualified for meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity rates of DAT was 96% [95% CI, 92–98] and 95% [CI95% 86–99], respectively. The likelihood ratio of a positive test (LR+) was found to be 21 [CI95%, 6.6–66.5] and the likelihood ratio of a negative test (LR−) was found to be 0.04 [(CI95%, 0.02–0.08]. The combined estimate of the diagnostic odds ratio for DAT was high [467 (CI95%, 114–1912]). We found that the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) is positioned near the upper left corner of the curve and the area under curve (AUC) was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.97 to 0.99).

Conclusion

Referring to our analysis, we determined that DAT can be considered as a valuable tool for the serodiagnosis of human VL with high sensitivity and specificity. As DAT is a simple, accurate and efficient serological test, it can be recommended for serodiagnosis of human VL particularly in endemic areas.
Hormographiella aspergillata: an emerging basidiomycete in the clinical setting? A case report and literature review
Authors: Moniot Maxime , Lavergne Rose-Anne , Morel Thomas , Guieze Romain , Morio Florent , Poirier Philippe , Nourrisson Céline
Published: December 2020

Background

Filamentous basidiomycetes are mainly considered to be respiratory tract colonizers but the clinical significance of their isolation in a specimen is debatable. Hormographiella aspergillata was first reported as a human pathogen in 1971. We discuss the role of this mold as a pathogen or colonizer and give an update on diagnostic tools and in vitro antifungal susceptibility.

Case presentation

We identified three cases of H. aspergillata with respiratory symptoms in a short period of time. One invasive infection and two colonizations were diagnosed. Culture supernatants showed that H. aspergillata can produce galactomannan and β-D-glucan but not glucuronoxylomannan. For the first time, isavuconazole susceptibility was determined and high minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were found. Liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole have the lowest MICs.

Conclusion

To date, 22 invasive infections involving H. aspergillata have been reported. On isolation of H. aspergillata, its pathogenic potential in clinical settings can be tricky. Molecular identification and antifungal susceptibility testing are essential considering high resistance against several antifungal therapies.
Is it possible to define reference values for radiographic parameters evaluating juvenile flatfoot deformity? A case-control study
Authors: Hamel Johannes , Hörterer Hubert , Harrasser Norbert
Published: December 2020

Background

Numerous radiographic parameters are described to evaluate juvenile flexible flatfeet. Reference values for these measurements are based on few studies. The purpose of this study was to determine boundary values among the most widely used radiographic measurements to evaluate juvenile flatfeet.

Methods

Twenty-two patients with normal hind-, midfoot configuration (group A: control group; 22 ft, mean age: 12,1 years) and 19 patients with flatfoot deformity (group B: study group; 22 ft, mean age: 12,4 years) were retrospectively analyzed. Nine radiographic parameters were measured (Talocalcaneal-angles, Calcaneal-pitch-angle, Costa-Bartani-angle, Talo-metatarsal-I-angles, Talo-first-metatarsal-base-angle, Talo-navicular-coverage, Calcaneus-fifth-metatarsal-angle). ROC curve analysis was used to calculate optimal differentiating thresholds of each parameter.

Results

Four out of nine parameters (TC-dp, TC-lat, Calc-MTV, Calc-P) were not statistically different between the groups and their ability to distinct between normal foot and flatfoot was low (AUC values = 0,660 - 0,819). Calculation of reference values for these parameters was not performed due to threshold ranges between the groups of > 10°. Reference values could be defined only for three parameters: TMTInd >(−)31°, TMTIB >(−)7,5°, TMT-lat > (−)13,5°. The TMTInd was shown to be a very reliable and valid combination of two measurements (TMTIB and TMT-lat) in the differentiation of normal feet and flatfeet (AUC = 0,998).

Conclusion

The calculation of reference values for established radiographic parameters used to evaluate juvenile flatfeet is difficult for most parameters. The TMTInd as a combination of TMTIB and TMT-lat has been shown to be reliable and valuable to distinct normal feet from flatfeet.
Implementation of the college student mental health education course (CSMHEC) in undergraduate medical curriculum: effects and insights
Authors: Wang Qinghua , Du Tianjiao
Published: December 2020

Background

Extant literature reveals that medical students suffer from various mental health problems in the process of learning medicine. However, there are few studies evaluating the implementation of a mental health education course in medical curriculum. The current study aimed to test the effectiveness of an 8-week intensive mental health education course, the College Student Mental Health Education Course (CSMHEC), and to gain further insights on how the course could be improved from students’ feedback.

Methods

This is a quasi-experimental study with both quantitative and qualitative analyses. We recruited 374 first year medical students as our subjects with 188 (age = 17.97 ± 0.65 years, 37.2% male) for the experiment group and 186 (age = 18.02 ± 0.63 years, 40.3% male) for the control group. For quantitative analysis, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), Chinese College Student Academic Burnout Inventory (CCSABI) and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) were used and a 5-point Likert scale was used to indicate students’ overall satisfaction with CSMHEC. For qualitative analysis, a thematic analysis method was adopted to gain insights from the feedback of medical students.

Results

Medical students in the experiment group saw a significant decline in psychological distress (p < 0.001,d = 0.31) and academic burnout (p < 0.001,d = 1.46), while they experienced a significant increase in life satisfaction levels after the intervention (p < 0.001,d = 0.48). Compared with students in the control group, students in the experiment group had statistically significant lower levels of psychological distress (p < 0.05,d = 0.23) and academic burnout (p < 0.001,d = 0.70), but statistically significant higher levels of life satisfaction in the post-test (p < 0.01,d = 0.31). Most students in the experiment group were satisfied with CSMHEC and themes extracted in the thematic analysis shed light on how the course could be improved.

Conclusions

Implementing a mental health education course like CSMHEC in medical curriculum can be effective in helping medical students improve psychological health. More research needs to be conducted on further refinement and better design of such a course to implement in medical education.