bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Archimedean point: Consciousness, praxis, and the present in Lukács and Bloch
Authors: Moir Cat
Published: April 2020

This article consists of an original translation of Ernst Bloch’s 1923 review of Lukács History and Class Consciousness, preceded by a translator’s introduction contextualising Bloch’s review and interpreting what it tells us about the intellectual and personal relationship between Bloch and Lukács. I argue that Bloch’s review highlights some of the key differences and points of intersection between their thinking. Written when their personal relationship had already soured for both political and intellectual reasons, Bloch’s review makes clear his ongoing commitment to a form of utopianism Lukács had long abandoned. Unlike Lukács, who in History and Class Consciousness argued that the dialectical method could only be applied to the social realm, Bloch followed Engels in developing a dialectics of nature. However, even if Bloch was less willing to become involved in party politics than his erstwhile friend, as the review reveals, both men ultimately emphasised the present moment as the privileged locus of urgent political action.
Formal and Informal Supports for Managing Work and Family
Authors: French Kimberly A. , Shockley Kristen M.
Published: April 2020

Many working adults manage joint work and family responsibilities and turn to supports offered at work and in the home to help manage these roles successfully. We review the current evidence on supports for improving work–life outcomes, including informal support from people at work and at home as well as formal organizational and national policies. Informal support is consistently moderately associated with better work–family experiences. Despite popular emphasis on formal policies, evidence for their effectiveness is relatively weak. We propose an agentic perspective to drive future understanding of how and when supports may be used to improve work–family management.
Phylotastic: Improving Access to Tree-of-Life Knowledge With Flexible, on-the-Fly Delivery of Trees
Authors: Nguyen Van D , Nguyen Thanh H , Tayeen Abu Saleh Md , Laughinghouse H Dail , Sánchez-Reyes Luna L , Wiggins Jodie , Pontelli Enrico , Mozzherin Dmitry , O’Meara Brian , Stoltzfus Arlin
Published: April 2020

A comprehensive phylogeny of species, i.e., a tree of life, has potential uses in a variety of contexts, including research, education, and public policy. Yet, accessing the tree of life typically requires special knowledge, complex software, or long periods of training. The Phylotastic project aims make it as easy to get a phylogeny of species as it is to get driving directions from mapping software. In prior work, we presented a design for an open system to validate and manage taxon names, find phylogeny resources, extract subtrees matching a user’s taxon list, scale trees to time, and integrate related resources such as species images. Here, we report the implementation of a set of tools that together represent a robust, accessible system for on-the-fly delivery of phylogenetic knowledge. This set of tools includes a web portal to execute several customizable workflows to obtain species phylogenies (scaled by geologic time and decorated with thumbnail images); more than 30 underlying web services (accessible via a common registry); and code toolkits in R and Python (allowing others to develop custom applications using Phylotastic services). The Phylotastic system, accessible via http://www.phylotastic.org , provides a unique resource to access the current state of phylogenetic knowledge, useful for a variety of cases in which a tree extracted quickly from online resources (as distinct from a tree custom-made from character data) is sufficient, as it is for many casual uses of trees identified here.
Patriarchal beliefs and perceptions towards women among Indian police officers: A study of Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Tripathi Saumya
Published: April 2020

The objective of this study was to explore the association between patriarchal beliefs and perceptions regarding gender equity among Indian police officers. Using convenience and systematic random sampling, a cross-sectional survey was conducted with 190 police officers from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. The survey collected information about patriarchal beliefs, perception regarding gender equity, as well as social demographic characteristics including age, education, gender, work experience, working shifts/hours, place of residence and family system. Multiple linear regressions were used to predict patriarchal beliefs, utilizing the independent variable of perceptions regarding gender equity. Police officials held a high degree of patriarchal belief and inequitable perceptions regarding the gender roles of women. Multiple linear regression analysis, controlling for key sociodemographic variables, demonstrated a statistically significant association between the police officers’ patriarchal beliefs and their perceptions of gender equity. These findings emphasize the need for greater representation of female police officers and gender-inclusive training for all police officers in providing services to women. Gender-sensitive interventions may help facilitate positive change for police officers that hold strong patriarchal perceptions towards women and who may make it more difficult for women to successfully submit gender-based complaints.
Discourses of defense: Self and other positioning in public responses to accusations of corruption in Jordan
Authors: Badarneh Muhammad A
Published: April 2020

Public accusations of corruption leveled against public figures and institutions in Jordan have recently become a prominent feature of public discourse in the country. Informed by positioning theory as an analytical framework, this study focuses on public responses to such accusations through a discourse analysis of two major apologetic statements, or apologiae, issued in Jordan in 2018 and 2019: one by a controversial former royal court chief and minister of planning in response to public accusations of corruption and appropriation of public funds, and the other by the Office of Queen Rania of Jordan in response to accusations of wardrobe extravagance and overspending. The analysis shows that these two apologiae employed discourses that not only positioned the accused as blameless, but also as victims of defamation. Reference to one’s history, such as public service to the nation and one’s accomplishments, was exploited. In contrast, the accusers were explicitly or implicitly positioned as unjust, biased, vindictive, or motivated by hidden agenda. A variety of discursive strategies were deployed, particularly invoking cultural moral orders, resorting to banal nationalism, expressing pride in one’s public service and allegiance to the monarchy, and invoking a constellation of religious, professional and national identities. In the case of the royal apologia, it was implicitly positioned in western discourses, such as invoking feminine ‘corporeal modernity’, to respond to the wardrobe overspending accusations.
Combinatorial Effect of DCA and Let-7a on Triple-Negative MDA-MB-231 Cells: A Metabolic Approach of Treatment
Authors: Sharma Praveen , Singh Sandeep
Published: April 2020

Dichloroacetate (DCA) is a metabolic modulator that inhibits pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and promotes the influx of pyruvate into the tricarboxylic acid cycle for complete oxidation of glucose. DCA stimulates oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) more than glycolysis by altering the morphology of the mitochondria and supports mitochondrial apoptosis. As a consequence, DCA induces apoptosis in cancer cells and inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells. Recently, the role of miRNAs has been reported in regulating gene expression at the transcriptional level and also in reprogramming energy metabolism. In this article, we indicate that DCA treatment leads to the upregulation of let-7a expression, but DCA-induced cancer cell death is independent of let-7a. We observed that the combined effect of DCA and let-7a induces apoptosis, reduces reactive oxygen species generation and autophagy, and stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis. This was later accompanied by stimulation of OXPHOS in combined treatment and was thus involved in metabolic reprogramming of MDA-MB-231 cells.
EEG to Identify Attempted Movement in Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome
Authors: Formaggio Emanuela , Del Felice Alessandra , Cavinato Marianna , Storti Silvia F. , Arcaro Chiara , Turco Cristina , Salvi Luca , Avesani Renato , Piccione Francesco , Manganotti Paolo
Published: April 2020

Assessment of consciousness following severe brain-injury is challenging. Our hypothesis is that electroencephalography (EEG) can provide information on awareness, in terms of oscillatory activity and network task–related modifications, in people with disorders of consciousness. Similar results were obtained with neuroimaging techniques; we aim at demonstrating the use of EEG, which is low cost and routinely implemented, to the same goal. Nineteen-channel EEG was recorded in 7 persons with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and in 10 healthy subjects during the execution of active (attempted movement) and passive motor tasks as well as 2 mental imagery tasks. Event-related synchronization/desynchronization (ERS/ERD), coherence and network parameters were calculated in delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha1 (8-10 Hz), alpha2 (10-12 Hz), and beta (13-30 Hz) ranges. In UWS subjects, passive movement induced a weak alpha2 ERD over contralateral sensorimotor area. During motor imagery, ERD was detected over the frontal and motor contralateral brain areas; during spatial imagery, ERS in lower alpha band over the right temporo-parietal regions was missing. In UWS, functional connectivity provided evidence of network disruption and isolation of the motor areas, which cannot dialog with adjacent network nodes, likely suggesting a diffuse structural alteration. Our findings suggest that people with a clinical diagnosis of UWS were able to modulate their brain activity when prompted to perform movement tasks and thus suggest EEG as a potential tool to support diagnosis of disorders of consciousness.
A two-channel slotted sense multiple access protocol for timely and reliable data transmission in industrial wireless sensor networks
Authors: Azad Md Abul Kalam , Ngo Chi Trung , Oh Hoon
Published: April 2020

In designing a real-time MAC protocol for wireless sensor networks, it is desirable to shorten the data acquisition cycle time to satisfy more applications with a tighter time constraint in data collection. To achieve this, one often tries to improve throughput by employing a slot reuse technique. Meanwhile, the slotted sense multiple access protocol that uses a sharable slot was proven to be advantageous for timely and reliable data delivery. However, since the nodes at lower tree levels process more packets or bigger packets with data aggregation, they need a bigger sharable slot. Thus, it is not easy to employ a slot reuse technique due to the size variation of sharable slots. To tackle this problem, we try to reduce the size of an aggregated packet by limiting the number of packets for aggregation using two channels. If every node is allowed to send a single packet during data acquisition cycle time, an equal-sized sharable slot can be allocated to every tree level. It is shown that the proposed approach can reduce data acquisition cycle time significantly while maintaining good reliability in data transmission compared with slotted sense multiple access and also reduce energy consumption greatly compared with another multi-channel MAC protocol.
Positionality and Research: “Two-Eyed Seeing” With a Rural Ktaqmkuk Mi’kmaw Community
Authors: Reid Brady
Published: April 2020

As evident from the original proposals for self-negotiation from the Federation of Newfoundland Indians, the formation of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation represented a small victory for Ktaqmkuk Mi’kmaq: recognition. Validation of the existence of Ktaqmkuk Mi’kmaq outside of Miawpukek was a small step toward decolonization yet cannot be a panacea for reconciliation. This study was a collaborative project in the Mi’kmaw community of Ewipkek through the No’kmaq Village Band and Elder Calvin White, a known champion of Mi’kmaw rights in the province. This project emerged from a collaborative research effort between the community of Ewipkek and Grenfell Campus, Memorial University. This article presents current approaches, principles, and considerations for researchers working with Indigenous communities, drawing from both academic literature and the collaborative experience working with the community of Ewipkek. This collaborative project describes the different characteristics of a Western research paradigm versus an Indigenous research paradigm that can support the application of the Two-Eyed Seeing framework.
Multichannel optimization for electromyogram signals with complex features in a decomposition-based multi-objective evolution framework with adaptive angle selection
Authors: Wang Zheng , Chen Guoqi , Li Weikun , Liu Honghai , Wang Wanliang
Published: April 2020

Intelligent manufacturing is a focus of current manufacturing research, and, in combination with the Internet, it enables accurate real-time control of intelligent equipment. Highly accurate real-time prosthesis control has very important applications in therapeutics, intelligent prosthesis, and other fields. However, the applicability of the current electromyogram signal recognition method is not strong because of multiple factors. These include considering one objective (correctness) only and the inability to consider differences of recognition accuracy between actions, to recognize the number of channels, or to recognize computational complexity. In this article, we propose a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on a decomposition-based multi-objective differential evolution framework to construct a multi-objective model for electromyogram signals with multiple features and channels. Such channels and features are balanced and selected by using a support vector machine as an electromyogram signal classifier. Results of substantial experiment analyses indicate that the multi-objective electromyogram signal recognition method is superior to the single-objective ant colony algorithm and that the decomposition-based multiobjective evolutionary algorithms with Angle-based updating and global margin ranking is better than the decomposition-based multi-objective evolutionary algorithm and decomposition-based multiobjective evolutionary algorithms with angle-based updating strategy in handling multi-objective models for electromyogram signals.
Prunetin Protects Against Dexamethasone-Induced Pancreatic Β-Cell Apoptosis via Modulation of p53 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Kooptiwut Suwattanee , Samon Kanokwan , Semprasert Namoiy , Suksri Kanchana , Yenchitsomanus Pa-Thai
Published: April 2020

Long-term administration of dexamethasone results in insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell apoptosis. Prunetin (an O-methylated isoflavone, a type of flavonoid) is demonstrated to protect diabetes, but the molecular mechanism of this protection is still unclear. This study thus aims to investigate how prunetin protects against dexamethasone-induced pancreatic β-cell apoptosis. Rat insulinoma (INS-1) cells were cultured in medium with or without dexamethasone in the presence or absence of prunetin or pifithrin-α, a p53 inhibitor. Cell apoptosis was measured by Annexin V/propidium iodide staining. Dexamethasone significantly induced INS-1 apoptosis but dexamethasone plus prunetin significantly reduced INS-1 apoptosis. Dexamethasone-treated INS-1 upregulated p53 protein expression; the induction of p53 was also reduced in the presence of RU486, a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) inhibitor. This suggested that dexamethasone induced P53 via GR. Dexamethasone-treated INS-1 significantly increased p53, Bax, and Rb protein expressions, whereas treatments of dexamethasone plus prunetin or pifithrin-α significantly decreased these protein expressions. In addition, dexamethasone significantly decreased B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), while dexamethasone plus prunetin or pifithrin-α significantly increased Bcl2. Dexamethasone significantly increased caspase-3 activity while co-treatment of dexamethasone plus prunetin or pifithrin-α significantly decreased caspase-3 activity to the control level. Taken together, our results revealed that prunetin protected against dexamethasone-induced pancreatic β-cells apoptosis via modulation of the p53 signaling pathway.
It’s the Situation and Your Disposition: A Test of Two Honesty Hypotheses
Authors: Markowitz David M. , Levine Timothy R.
Published: April 2020

Research has documented substantial individual differences in the proclivity for honesty or dishonesty and that personality traits meaningfully account for variations in honesty–dishonesty. Research also shows important situational variation related to deception, as situations can motivate or discourage dishonest behaviors. The current experiment examines personality and situational influences on honesty–dishonesty in tandem, arguing that their effects may not be additive. Participants ( N = 114) engaged in an experimental task providing the opportunity to cheat for tangible gain. The situation varied to encourage or discourage cheating. Participants completed the HEXACO-100 and the Dark Triad of Personality scales. Both situational variation and personality dimensions predicted honesty–dishonesty, but the effects of personality were not uniform across situations. These results were also supported using public data from an independent, multilab sample ( N = 5,757). We outline how these results inform our understanding of deception, situational influences, and the role of disposition in honesty.
Time to diagnosis of symptomatic gastric and oesophageal cancer in the Netherlands: Where is the room for improvement?
Authors: van Erp NF , Helsper CW , Slottje P , Brandenbarg D , Büchner FL , van Asselt KM , Muris JWM , Kortekaas MF , Peeters PHM , de Wit NJ
Published: April 2020

Background

An efficient diagnostic pathway and early stage diagnosis for cancer patients is widely pursued. This study aims to chart the duration of the diagnostic pathway for patients with symptomatic oesophageal and gastric cancer, to identify factors associated with long duration and to assess the association of duration with tumour stage at diagnosis.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study, using electronic health records of six routine primary care databases covering about 640,000 patients, partly linked to the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Symptomatic patients with oesophageal and gastric cancer (2010–2015) that presented in primary care were included. Duration of four diagnostic intervals was determined: patient interval; first symptoms to primary care consultation, primary care interval; consultation to referral, secondary care interval; referral to diagnosis, and the diagnostic interval; consultation to diagnosis. Characteristics associated with ‘long duration’ (≥P75 duration) were assessed using log‐binomial regression. Median durations were stratified for tumour stages.

Results

Among 312 symptomatic patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer, median durations were: patient interval: 29 days (interquartile interval 15–73), primary care interval: 12 days (interquartile interval 1–43), secondary care interval: 13 days (interquartile interval 6–29) and diagnostic interval: 31 days (11–74). Patient interval duration was comparable for patients with and without alarm symptoms. Absence of cancer‐specific alarm symptoms was associated with ‘long duration’ of primary care interval and secondary care interval: relative risk 5.0 (95% confidence interval 2.7–9.1) and 2.1 (95% confidence interval 1.3–3.7), respectively. Median diagnostic interval duration for local stage disease was 51 days (interquartile interval 13–135) versus 27 days (interquartile interval 11–71) for advanced stage (p  = 0.07).

Conclusion

In the diagnostic pathway of upper gastrointestinal cancers, the longest interval is the patient interval. Reducing time to diagnosis may be achieved by improving patients’ awareness of alarm symptoms and by diagnostic strategies which better identify cancer patients despite low suspicion.
Activity Modification and Knee Strengthening for Osgood-Schlatter Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Rathleff Michael S. , Winiarski Lukasz , Krommes Kasper , Graven-Nielsen Thomas , Hölmich Per , Olesen Jens Lykkegard , Holden Sinéad , Thorborg Kristian
Published: April 2020

Background:

Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) affects 1 in 10 adolescents. There is a lack of evidence-based interventions, and passive approaches (eg, rest and avoidance of painful activities) are often prescribed.

Purpose:

To investigate an intervention consisting of education on activity modification and knee-strengthening exercises designed for adolescents with OSD.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

This study included 51 adolescents (51% female; age range, 10-14 years) with OSD. The 12-week intervention consisted of an activity ladder designed to manage patellar tendon loading and pain, knee-strengthening exercises, and a gradual return to sport. The primary outcome was the global reporting of change at 12 weeks, evaluated with a 7-point Likert scale (successful outcome was considered “much improved” or “improved”). Additional endpoints were at 4, 8, 26, and 52 weeks. Secondary outcomes included the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), objective strength, and jump performance.

Results:

Adolescents reported a mean pain duration of 21 months at enrollment. After 12 weeks, 80% reported a successful outcome, which increased to 90% at 12 months. At 12 weeks, 16% returned to playing sport, which increased to 69% at 12 months. The KOOS subscores of Pain, Activities of Daily Living, Sport and Recreation, and Quality of Life improved significantly (7-20 points), and there were improvements in knee extension strength (32%; P < .001), hip abduction strength (24%; P < .001), and jumping for distance (14%; P < .001) and height (19%; P < .001) at 12 weeks.

Conclusion:

An intervention consisting of activity modification, pain monitoring, progressive strengthening, and a return-to-sport paradigm was associated with improved self-reported outcomes, hip and knee muscle strength, and jumping performance. This approach may offer an alternative to passive approaches such as rest or wait-and-see, often prescribed for adolescents with OSD.

Registration:

NCT02799394 ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier)
Exogenous application of NaBiF4 nanoparticle affects wheat root development
Authors: Wu Yunfei , Peng Wangmenghan , Dong Zhaodi , Jiang Qiuqing , Yu Xurun , Chen Gang , Xiong Fei
Published: April 2020

Background

Nanoparticle causes soil pollution, which affected plant development and then resulted in biomass decreased, especially in crops. However, little is known how sodium nanoparticles affect wheat root development at plant physiological level.

Results

We used NaBiF4(size of 50–100 nm) to analyze the effect in wheat development at plant physiological level. Under exogenous application of 50 μM NaBiF4for treatment, wheat root elongation was inhibited, but fresh weight and dry weight were increased. We also found that NaBiF4induced that the plant had lower content of sodium than negative control. Used no-sodium nanoparticle of BiF3for another negative control, it was also supported that NaBiF4entered into cell to replace of sodium and exported sodium out of plant. These results implied NaBiF4might induce sodium export to maintain the balance between sodium and potassium elements. Additionally, metabolism analysis demonstrated that SOD activity was increased, but CAT and POD activity reduced under exogenous treatment of NaBiF4 nanoparticles.

Conclusions

Sodium nanoparticles (NaBiF4) inhibited plant development by nanoparticle accumulation and sodium homeostasis broken, and then involved reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling system response. These results provided more sights of sodium nanoparticle effect in plant development.
The onset of acute type A aortic dissection following recovery of type B intramural haematoma: a case report
Authors: Zhang Kai , Dong Song-Bo , Pan Xu-Dong , Sun Li-Zhong
Published: April 2020

Background

Aortic intramural hematoma is a life-threatening condition reported with increasing frequency. It can be classified into Stanford type A or B depending on whether the ascending or descending aorta are involved, respectively. However, the onset of acute type A aortic dissection following recovery of type B intramural haematoma is rarely reported.

Case presentation

We present an uncommon case of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection developing 3 months after recovery of type B IMH in a 47-year-old female.

She complained acute chest pain. The operation was successfully done. She was in good condition and asymptomatic at a 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions

Type B intramural haematoma can lead to type A aortic dissection even after totally absorbed and the primary entry has the potential to be located in the ascending aorta. Unsatisfied blood pressure control may be the underlying cause.
Trends and predictors of early ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in a Nationwide population under age 65: a retrospective observational study
Authors: D’Angelo Robert N. , Khanna Rahul , Yeh Robert W. , Goldstein Laura , Kalsekar Iftekhar , Marcello Stephen , Tung Patricia , Zimetbaum Peter J.
Published: April 2020

Background

Catheter ablation (CA) has emerged as an effective treatment for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). However practice patterns and patient factors associated with referral for CA within the first 12 months after diagnosis are poorly characterized. This study examined overall procedural trends and factors predictive of catheter ablation for newly-diagnosed atrial fibrillation in a young, commercially-insured population.

Methods

A large nationally-representative sample of patients age 20 to 64 from years 2010 to 2016 was studied using the IBM MarketScan® Commercial Database. Patients were included with a new diagnosis of AF in the inpatient or outpatient setting with continuous enrollment for at least 1 year pre and post index visit. Patients were excluded if they had prior history of AF or had filled an anti-arrhythmic drug (AAD) in the pre-index period.

Results

Early CA increased from 5.0% in 2010 to 10.5% in 2016. Patients were less likely to undergo CA if they were located in the Northeast (OR: 0.80, CI: 0.73–0.88) or North Central (OR: 0.91, CI: 0.83–0.99) regions (compared with the West), had higher CHA2DS2-VASc scores, or had Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score of 3 or greater (OR: 0.61; CI: 0.51–0.72).

Conclusions

CA within 12 months for new-diagnosed AF increased significantly from 2010 to 2016, with most patients still trialed on an AAD prior to CA. Patients are less likely to be referred for early CA if they are located in the Northeast and North Central regions, have more comorbidities, or higher CHA2DS2-VASc scores.
Percutaneous coronary intervention in diabetic versus non-diabetic patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting: a propensity score matching study
Authors: Ma Xiaolong , Dong Ran , Chen Pengfei , Zhao Yichen , Zeng Caiwu , Xin Meng , Ye Qing , Wang Jiangang
Published: April 2020

Background

The target of this study was to explore the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in diabetic versus non-diabetic patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.

Methods

Seven hundred and twenty four patients who had previously received CABG and had been treated using PCI combined with drug-eluting stents (DES) between 2009 and 2017 were selected for a retrospective study and allocated into either a diabetes mellitus (DM) or non-diabetes mellitus (No DM) group. A 1:1 propensity score-matched evaluation was conducted and risk adjusted for analysis. The primary outcomes were cardiac death, myocardial infarction, heart failure and revascularization, with a median follow-up duration of 5.13 years.

Results

After matching, two-, 5- and 8-year event rate of overall major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were found to be higher in the DM group (No DM vs DM:15.3, 30.9, 38.5% vs 19.8, 37.8, 52.2%, respectively), although no significant difference was found in the event rate of overall MACEs (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00 to 1.83 for DM vs No DM;P = 0.052), cardiac death (HR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.45 to 1.95;P = 0.871), MI (HR: 1.49; 95% CI: 0.95 to 2.32;P = 0.080), HF (HR: 1.54; 95% CI: 0.90 to 2.63 for;P = 0.120) or revascularization (HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.72 to 1.59;P = 0.747). Subgroup analysis of PCI in only the NCA showed MACEs (adjusted HR: 1.13; 95% CI: 0.85 to 1.49 for DM vs No DM;P = 0.325), cardiac death (adjusted HR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.41 to 1.78 for DM vs No DM;P = 0.781), MI (adjusted HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 0.84 to 2.01 for DM vs No DM;P = 0.069), HF (adjusted HR: 1.41; 95% CI: 0.87 to 2.27 for DM vs No DM;P = 0.211) or repeated revascularization (adjusted HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.64 to 1.37 for DM vs No DM;P = 0.836).

Conclusions

Compared with non-diabetic patients with prior CABG, subsequent implantation of DES in the native coronary artery of diabetic patients resulted in apparently similar outcomes.

Trial registration

This study was not registered in an open access database.
Geriatric or cardiac rehabilitation? Predictors of treatment pathways in advanced age patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Eichler Sarah , Völler Heinz , Reibis Rona , Wegscheider Karl , Butter Christian , Harnath Axel , Salzwedel Annett
Published: April 2020

Background

Aim of the study was to find predictors of allocating patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) to geriatric (GR) or cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and describe this new patient group based on a differentiated characterization.

Methods

From 10/2013 to 07/2015, 344 patients with an elective TAVI were consecutively enrolled in this prospective multicentric cohort study. Before intervention, sociodemographic parameters, echocardiographic data, comorbidities, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), quality of life and frailty (score indexing activities of daily living [ADL], cognition, nutrition and mobility) were documented. Out of these, predictors for assignment to CR or GR after TAVI were identified using a multivariable regression model.

Results

After TAVI, 249 patients (80.7 ± 5.1 years, 59.0% female) underwent CR (n = 198) or GR (n = 51). GR patients were older, less physically active and more often had a level of care, peripheral artery disease as well as a lower left ventricular ejection fraction. The groups also varied in 6MWD. Furthermore, individual components of frailty revealed prognostic impact: higher values in instrumental ADL reduced the probability for referral to GR (OR:0.49, p <  0.001), while an impaired mobility was positively associated with referral to GR (OR:3.97, p = 0.046). Clinical parameters like stroke (OR:0.19 of GR, p = 0.038) and the EuroSCORE (OR:1.04 of GR, p = 0.026) were also predictive.

Conclusion

Advanced age patients after TAVI referred to CR or GR differ in several parameters and seem to be different patient groups with specific needs, e.g. regarding activities of daily living and mobility. Thus, our data prove the eligibility of both CR and GR settings.
Magnetic resonance elastography in staging liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a pooled analysis of the diagnostic accuracy
Authors: Liang Yuanzi , Li Daowei
Published: April 2020

Background

This study was performed to systematically evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in staging of liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods

PUBMED, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, Cochrane Library database were searched from January 2008 to December 2018 for studies related to MRE in the diagnosis of NAFLD liver fibrosis. The quality of the included literature was assessed by Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. The pooled sensitivity, the pooled specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) value was performed by STATA 14.0 software.

Results

A total of 12 studies were included, involving 910 patients. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of each group were 0.77 (95%CI 0.69–0.83) and 0.90 (95%CI 0.83–0.94) for F ≥ 1 (mild liver fibrosis), 0.87 (95%CI 0.74–0.94) and 0.86 (95%CI 0.71–0.94) for F ≥ 2 (significant liver fibrosis), 0.89 (95%CI 0.81–0.94) and 0.84 (95%CI 0.63–0.94) for F ≥ 3(severe liver fibrosis), 0.94 (95%CI 0.85–0.98) and 0.75 (95%CI 0.35–0.94) for F ≥ 4 (early cirrhosis), respectively. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was 0.89, 0.93, 0.93, and 0.95, respectively.

Conclusions

MRE has high accuracy in the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis staging in patients with NAFLD.
Case reports: three novel variants in PCCA and PCCB genes in Chinese patients with propionic acidemia
Authors: Yang Qi , Xu Hong , Luo Jingsi , Li Mengting , Yi Sheng , Zhang Qinle , Geng Guoxing , Feng Shihan , Fan Xin
Published: April 2020

Background

Propionic acidemia (PA) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by the deficiency of the mitochondrial protein propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC) and is associated with pathogenic variants in either of the two genes PCCA or PCCB. The present study aimed to identify the genetic cause of three Chinese patients with PA.

Case presentation

Three Chinese PA patients were diagnosed by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS), tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and molecular diagnostic methods. All patients had onset in the neonatal period. One patient died of infection and metabolic decompensation, and the other two had mild to moderate developmental delay/mental retardation. Mutation analysis of the PCCA gene identified that patient 1 carried the compound heterozygous c.1288C > T(p.R430X) and c.2002G > A(p.G668R), and patient 2 was homozygous for the c.1426C > T(p.R476X) mutation. Mutation analysis of the PCCB gene identified that patient 3 harbored the compound heterozygous mutations c.359_360del AT(p.Y120Cfs*40) and c.1398 + 1G > A. Among these mutations, three (c.1288C > T, c.359_360del AT and c.1398 + 1G > A) are novel.

Conclusions

We reported three Chinese PA patients who had PCCA or PCCB mutants. Among them, in the PCCA gene, c.1288C > T(p.R430X) was a nonsense mutation, resulting in a truncated protein. c.359_360del AT was a frameshift mutation, leading to a p.Y120Cfs*40 change in the amino acid sequence in the PCCB protein. c.1398 + 1G > A was a splicing mutation, causing skipping of the exons 13–14. In conclusion, the novel mutations uncovered in this study will expands the mutation spectrum of PA.
Uncrossed corticospinal tracts in a patient with ichthyosis and hemiparesis: a case report
Authors: Yang Huijia , Zhou Hongwei , Miao Jing
Published: April 2020

Background

Anomalies of pyramidal tract decussation are rare phenomena that can be caused by ectodermal dysplasia. Herein, we describe a patient with ichthyosis who exhibited ipsilateral hemiparesis after stroke and whose neuroimaging results showed evidence of motor control being provided by the ipsilateral motor cortex.

Case presentation

A 24-year-old right-handed man presented with skin abnormalities, sudden-onset left hemiparesis, and dysarthria. He exhibited a mild-to-moderate left-sided weakness (grade 4 on the Medical Research Council scale). Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an acute infarct in the left corona radiata. Diffusion tensor imaging revealed uncrossed corticospinal tracts. Next-generation sequencing identified heterozygous FLG mutations. The patient was diagnosed with cerebral infarction and ichthyosis vulgaris and was treated with aspirin (100 mg/d). His symptoms gradually dissipated.

Conclusions

This case suggests that pyramidal decussation anomalies can be associated with ichthyosis. Patients with ichthyosis should therefore be evaluated for nerve involvement.
Antenatal depression: an examination of prevalence and its associated factors among pregnant women attending Harare polyclinics
Authors: Kaiyo-Utete M. , Dambi J. M. , Chingono A. , Mazhandu F. S. M. , Madziro-Ruwizhu T. B. , Henderson C. , Magwali T. , Langhaug L. , Chirenje Z. M.
Published: April 2020

Background

Antenatal depression is the most prevalent common mental health disorder affecting pregnant women. Here, we report the prevalence of and associated factors for antenatal depression among pregnant women attending antenatal care services in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Methods

From January–April 2018, 375 pregnant women, aged 16–46 years, residing mostly in Harare’s high-density suburbs were recruited from two randomly-selected polyclinics. Antenatal depression was measured using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Sociodemographic data including; maternal age, education, marital status, economic status, obstetric history and experiences with violence were also collected. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the association between antenatal depression and participants’ characteristics.

Results

The prevalence of antenatal depression was 23.47% (95% CI: 19.27–28.09). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed intimate partner violence (IPV) [OR 2.45 (95% CI: 1.47–4.19)] and experiencing negative life events [OR 2.02 (95% CI: 1.19–3.42)] as risk factors for antenatal depression, with being married/cohabiting [OR 0.45 (95% CI: 0.25–0.80)] being a protective factor.

Conclusion

The prevalence of antenatal depression is high with associated factors being interpersonal. Context-specific interventions are therefore needed to address the complexity of the factors associated with antenatal depression.
Ripasudil alleviated the inflammation of RPE cells by targeting the miR-136-5p/ROCK/NLRP3 pathway
Authors: Gao Zhao , Li Qiang , Zhang Yunda , Gao Xiaohong , Li Haiyan , Yuan Zhigang
Published: April 2020

Background

Inflammation of RPE cells led to different kinds of eye diseases and affected the normal function of the retina. Furthermore, higher levels of ROCK1 and ROCK2 induced injury of endothelial cells and many inflammatory diseases of the eyes. Ripasudil, which was used for the treatment of glaucoma, was one kind of the inhibitor of ROCK1 and ROCK2, but whether ripasudil could relieve the LPS-induced inflammation and damage of RPE cells was not clear.

Methods

We used LPS to stimulate ARPE-19 cells, the RPE cell line. After that, we detected the levels of ROCK1 and ROCK2 by western-blotting after the stimulation of LPS and treatment of ripasudil. Then luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm the targeting effect of miR-136-5p on ROCK1 and ROCK2. At last, the levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase1, IL-1β and IL-18 were detected with the western-blotting after the knockdown of miR-136-5p.

Results

The levels of ROCK1, ROCK2 and miR-136-5p in ARPE-19 cells were promoted after the stimulation of LPS. After the treatment of ripasudil, the expression levels of ROCK1, ROCK2 and miR-136-5p were suppressed. The expression of ROCK1 and ROCK2 was targeted and inhibited by the miR-136-5p. The levels of inflammation related proteins NLRP3, ASC, caspase1, IL-1β and IL-18 was also inhibited after the treatment of ripasudil. However, the expression of these proteins was rescued after the knockdown of miR-136-5p.

Conclusion

Ripasudil relieved the inflammatory injury of RPE cells by upregulating miR-136-5p, therefore inhibiting the expression of ROCK1, ROCK2, NLRP3, ASC, caspase1, IL-1β and IL-18.
Proportion of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders attributable to personal and occupational factors: results from the French Pays de la Loire study
Authors: Nambiema Aboubakari , Bertrais Sandrine , Bodin Julie , Fouquet Natacha , Aublet-Cuvelier Agnès , Evanoff Bradley , Descatha Alexis , Roquelaure Yves
Published: April 2020

Background

Upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSD) are one of the most common and costly occupational health problems. We aimed to assess the population-attributable fraction (PAF) of personal and occupational risk factors associated with incident UEMSD in a working population.

Methods

From 2002 to 2005, a random sample of 3710 workers from the Pays de la Loire region in France, aged 20–59 were included by occupational physicians (OPs). Between 2007 and 2010, 1611 workers were re-examined by their OPs. Subjects free from UEMSD at baseline were included in this study (1275 workers, mean age: 38.2 years). Cox regression models with equal follow-up time and robust variance estimates were used to estimate age-adjusted and multivariable-adjusted relative risks (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Based on multivariable models, PAF associated with each factor included in the models was estimated.

Results

During the follow-up period, 143 (11%) cases of UEMSD were diagnosed. PAFs for factors associated with the incident UEMSD risk were 30% (7 to 51) for high physical exertion (RPE Borg scale ≥12), 12% (− 0.2 to 24) for low social support, 7% (− 3 to 17) for working with arms above shoulder level (≥2 h/day), 20% (12 to 28) for age group ≥45, 13% (3 to 22) for the age group 35–44, and 12% (0.3 to 24) for female gender.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that an important fraction of UEMSD can be attributed to occupational exposures after the contributions of personal and other work-related factors are considered. In terms of public health, our findings are in agreement with the ergonomic literature postulating that a high proportion of UEMSD are preventable through modifying workplace risk factors. Such information is useful to help public health practitioners and policy makers implement programs of prevention of UEMSD in the working population.
Mechanisms of adhesive small bowel obstruction and outcome of surgery; a population-based study
Authors: Sakari Thorbjörn , Christersson Malin , Karlbom Urban
Published: April 2020

Background

This study aims to describe the mechanisms of adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) and its morbidity, mortality and recurrence after surgery for SBO in a defined population.

Method

Retrospective study of 402 patients (240 women, median age 70 years, range 18–97) who underwent surgery for SBO in the Uppsala and Gävleborg regions in 2007–2012. Patients were followed to last note in medical records or death.

Result

The cause of obstruction was a fibrous band in 56% and diffuse adhesions in 44%. Early overall postoperative morbidity was 48 and 10% required a re-operation. Complications, intensive care and early mortality (n = 21, 5.2%) were related to age (p < 0.05) and American Society of Anesthesiologist’s class (p < 0.01). At a median follow-up of 66 months (0–122), 72 patients (18%) had been re-admitted because of SBO; 26 of them underwent a re-operation. Previous laparotomies (p = 0.013), diffuse adhesions (p = 0.050), and difficult surgery (bowel injury, operation time and bleeding, p = 0.034–0.003) related to recurrent SBO. The cohort spent 6735 days in hospital due to SBO; 772 of these days were due to recurrent SBO. In all, 61% of the cohort was alive at last follow-up. Late mortality was related to malignancies, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases.

Conclusions

About half of patients with SBO are elderly with co-morbidities which predispose to postoperative complications and mortality. Diffuse adhesions, which make surgery difficult, were common and related to future SBO. Overall, nearly one-fifth of patients needed re-admission for recurrent SBO. Continued research for preventing SBO is desirable.

Trial registration

The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03534596, retrospectively registered, 2018-05-24).
Adjacent-level biomechanics after single-level anterior cervical interbody fusion with anchored zero-profile spacer versus cage-plate construct: a finite element study
Authors: Li Xin-Feng , Jin Lin-Yu , Liang Chao-Ge , Yin Hong-Ling , Song Xiao-Xing
Published: April 2020

Background

The development of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) following ACDF is well established. There is no analytical study related to effects of plate profile on the biomechanics of the adjacent-level after ACDF. This study aimed to test the effects of plate profile on the adjacent-level biomechanics after single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Methods

A three-dimensional finite element model (FEM) of an intact C2–T1 segment was built and validated. From this intact model, two instrumentation models were constructed with the anchored zero-profile spacer or the standard plate-interbody spacer after a C5-C6 corpectomy and fusion. Motion patterns, the stresses in the disc, the endplate, and the facet joint at the levels cephalad and caudal to the fusion were assessed.

Results

Compared with the normal condition, the biomechanical responses in the adjacent levels were increased after fusion. Relative to the intact model, the average increase of range of motion (ROM) and stresses in the endplate, the disc, and the facet of the zero-profile spacer fusion model were slightly lower than that of the standard plate-interbody spacer fusion model. The kinematics ROM and stress variations above fusion segment were larger than that below. The biomechanical features of the adjacent segment after fusion were most affected during extension.

Conclusions

The FE analysis indicated that plate profile may have an impact on the biomechanics of the adjacent-level after a single-level ACDF. The impact may be long-term and cumulative. The current findings may help explain the decreasing incidence of ASD complications in the patients using zero-profile spacer compared with the patients using cage and plate construct.
Potential suitable habitat of Eleusine coracana (L) gaertn (Finger millet) under the climate change scenarios in Nepal
Authors: Luitel Dol Raj , Siwakoti Mohan , Joshi Mohan D. , Rangaswami Muniappan , Jha Pramod K.
Published: April 2020

Background

Finger millet is the fourth major crop in Nepal and is cultivated in a traditional integrated subsistence system. Timely rain and appropriate temperature predominately affects crop distribution and yield. Climate change is evident in Nepal and it is imperative to understand how it affects habitat suitability of finger millet. Main objective of this study was to map the current suitable habitat and predicting the potential changes in the future under different climate scenarios in Nepal. Habitat mapping is important for maximizing production and minimizing the loss of local landraces.

Results

Maxent model was used in this study to quantify the current suitable habitat and changes in the future habitat suitability of finger millet, based on representative concentration pathways (RCP) (RCP 2.6, 4.5, 6.0 and 8.5) in two different time periods (2050 and 2070AD) using climatic predictive variables and species localities. The model shows that 39.7% (58512.71 km2) area of Nepal is highly suitable for finger millet, with cultivation mostly between 96 and 2300 m above sea level. Eastern and central parts of Nepal have more suitable areas than western parts. Our research clearly shows that the future climatic suitable area of finger millet would shrink by 4.3 to 8.9% in 2050 and 8.9–10.5% under different RCPs by 2070.

Conclusion

Finger millet is mostly cultivated in mid-hill terraces. The substantial increase in temperature due to climate change may be one reason for decrease in habitat suitability of finger millet. This situation would further threat loss of local landraces of finger millet in the future. The findings can help in planning and policy framing for climate resilient smart agriculture practice.