bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex differences in health services and medication use among older adults with asthma
Authors: To Teresa , Gray Natasha , Ryckman Kandace , Zhu Jingqin , Fong Ivy , Gershon Andrea
Published: December 2019

Sex differences are well documented in chronic disease populations with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Although recent research has suggested that asthma is more severe in older women compared to men, the extent of this difference remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to compare rates of asthma-specific health services use (HSU) and medication use, between older women and men with asthma.

This population-based cohort study included 209 054 individuals aged ≥66 years with asthma from health administrative data in Ontario, Canada. The primary exposure was sex. Outcomes included asthma-specific HSU (spirometry, emergency department (ED), hospitalisation, physician office and specialist visits) and medication use (asthma controller and reliever prescriptions). Negative binomial regression models adjusted for age, socioeconomic status and comorbidities were used to ascertain outcomes by sex from 2010 to 2016.

Compared to men, women had lower rates of spirometry (adjusted relative rate (ARR) 0.87, 95% CI 0.85–0.89) and specialist visits for asthma (ARR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90–0.96), but higher rates of asthma-specific ED (ARR 1.43, 95% CI 1.33–1.53) and physician office visits (ARR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.05). Women also had lower asthma controller (ARR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–0.99) but higher asthma reliever (ARR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02–1.05) prescription fill rates, compared to men.

These findings may indicate poorer disease control, greater asthma severity and poorer access to specialist asthma care in women.
Snus in pregnancy and infant birth size: a mother–child birth cohort study
Authors: Kreyberg Ina , Hilde Katarina , Bains Karen Eline S. , Carlsen Kai-Håkon , Granum Berit , Haugen Guttorm , Hedlin Gunilla , Jonassen Christine M. , Nordhagen Live S. , Nordlund Björn , Rueegg Corina S. , Sjøborg Katrine D. , Skjerven Håvard O. , Staff Anne C. , Vettukattil Riyas , Lødrup Carlsen Karin C. ,   the PreventADALL Study Group
Published: December 2019

Rationale

While recent studies show that maternal use of snus during pregnancy is increasing, the potential effects on infant birth size is less investigated, with conflicting results.

Objectives

We aimed to determine if maternal use of snus during pregnancy influences the infant anthropometric and proportional size measures at birth.

Methods

In 2313 mother–child pairs from the population-based, mother–child birth cohort PreventADALL (Preventing Atopic Dermatitis and ALLergies) in Norway and Sweden, we assessed nicotine exposure by electronic questionnaire(s) at 18 and 34 weeks of pregnancy, and anthropometric measurements at birth. Associations between snus exposure and birth size outcomes were analysed by general linear regression.

Results

Birthweight was not significantly different in infants exposed to snus in general, and up to 18 weeks of pregnancy in particular, when adjusting for relevant confounders including maternal age, gestational age at birth, pre-pregnancy body mass index, parity, fetal sex and maternal gestational weight gain up to 18 weeks. We found no significant effect of snus use on the other anthropometric or proportional size measures in multivariable linear regression models. Most women stopped snus use in early pregnancy.

Conclusion

Exposure to snus use in early pregnancy, with most women stopping when knowing about their pregnancy, was not associated with birth size. We were unable to conclude on effects of continued snus use during pregnancy because of lack of exposure in our cohort.
Physical and mechanical properties of rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) dyed with Lasiodiplodia theobromae
Authors: Zhao Boshi , Yu Zhiming , Zhang Yang , Qi Chusheng
Published: December 2019

Blue staining on rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) is a common kind of defect. There currently exists much research focused on the prevention and control of blue staining. However, little research has been concentrated on the utilization of blue staining for green dyeing. The research conveyed in this paper primarily usedLasiodiplodia theobromaeto dye rubberwood, and used scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) to analyze the commission internationale eclairage (CIE)L*a*b*value of color, the contact angle, the pH value, 24-h water absorption, mass loss ratio, and compressive strength in increments between 5 and 40 days. The results found that the color of rubberwood became darker and more uniform, and that the surface dyed with fungi can reach a super-hydrophobic state. With the increase of time, the pH value of rubberwood changed from acidic to alkaline. Furthermore, hyphae entered the wood mainly through vessels for their large pore diameter, and reduced water absorption. Mass loss ratio increased gradually between 5 and 40 days. The research in this paper concludes that the microorganism was an effective method of wood dyeing, and lays a foundation for further research.
Transparent Polyurethane Nanofiber Air Filter for High-Efficiency PM2.5 Capture
Authors: Liang Wen , Xu Yuan , Li Xiao , Wang Xiao-Xiong , Zhang Hong-Di , Yu Miao , Ramakrishna Seeram , Long Yun-Ze
Published: December 2019

Fine particulate matter (PM) has seriously affected human life, such as affecting human health, climate, and ecological environment. Recently, many researchers use electrospinning to prepare nanofiber air filters for effective removal of fine particle matter. However, electrospinning of the polymer fibers onto the window screen uniformly is only achieved in the laboratory, and the realization of industrialization is still very challenging. Here, we report an electrospinning method using a rotating bead spinneret for large-scale electrospinning of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) onto conductive mesh with high productivity of 1000 m2/day. By changing the concentration of TPU in the polymer solution, PM2.5 removal efficiency of nanofiber-based air filter can be up to 99.654% with good optical transparency of 60%, and the contact angle and the ventilation rate of the nanofiber-based air filter is 128.5° and 3480 mm/s, respectively. After 10 times of filtration, the removal efficiency is only reduced by 1.6%. This transparent air filter based on TPU nanofibers has excellent filtration efficiency and ventilation rate, which can effectively ensure indoor air quality of the residential buildings.
Public health risks related to food safety issues in the food market: a systematic literature review
Authors: Gizaw Zemichael
Published: December 2019

Background

Food safety in the food market is one of the key areas of focus in public health, because it affects people of every age, race, gender, and income level around the world. The local and international food marketing continues to have significant impacts on food safety and health of the public. Food supply chains now cross multiple national borders which increase the internationalization of health risks. This systematic review of literature was, therefore, conducted to identify common public health risks related to food safety issues in the food market.

Methods

All published and unpublished quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method studies were searched from electronic databases using a three step searching. Analytical framework was developed using the PICo (population, phenomena of interest, and context) method. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) version 2018. The included full-text articles were qualitatively analyzed using emergent thematic analysis approach to identify key concepts and coded them into related non-mutually exclusive themes. We then synthesized each theme by comparing the discussion and conclusion of the included articles. Emergent themes were identified based on meticulous and systematic reading. Coding and interpreting the data were refined during analysis.

Results

The analysis of 81 full-text articles resulted in seven common public health risks related with food safety in the food market. Microbial contamination of foods, chemical contamination of foods, food adulteration, misuse of food additives, mislabeling, genetically modified foods (GM foods), and outdated foods or foods past their use-by dates were the identified food safety–related public health risks in the food market.

Conclusion

This systematic literature review identified common food safety–related public health risks in the food market. The results imply that the local and international food marketing continues to have significant impacts on health of the public. The food market increases internationalization of health risks as the food supply chains cross multiple national borders. Therefore, effective national risk-based food control systems are essential to protect the health and safety of the public. Countries need also assure the safety and quality of their foods entering international trade and ensure that imported foods conform to national requirements.
Liver tumor segmentation in CT volumes using an adversarial densely connected network
Authors: Chen Lei , Song Hong , Wang Chi , Cui Yutao , Yang Jian , Hu Xiaohua , Zhang Le
Published: December 2019

Background

Malignant liver tumor is one of the main causes of human death. In order to help physician better diagnose and make personalized treatment schemes, in clinical practice, it is often necessary to segment and visualize the liver tumor from abdominal computed tomography images. Due to the large number of slices in computed tomography sequence, developing an automatic and reliable segmentation method is very favored by physicians. However, because of the noise existed in the scan sequence and the similar pixel intensity of liver tumors with their surrounding tissues, besides, the size, position and shape of tumors also vary from one patient to another, automatic liver tumor segmentation is still a difficult task.

Results

We perform the proposed algorithm to the Liver Tumor Segmentation Challenge dataset and evaluate the segmentation results. Experimental results reveal that the proposed method achieved an average Dice score of 68.4% for tumor segmentation by using the designed network, and ASD, MSD, VOE and RVD improved from 27.8 to 21, 147 to 124, 0.52 to 0.46 and 0.69 to 0.73, respectively after performing adversarial training strategy, which proved the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Conclusions

The testing results show that the proposed method achieves improved performance, which corroborated the adversarial training based strategy can achieve more accurate and robustness results on liver tumor segmentation task.
LncDisAP: a computation model for LncRNA-disease association prediction based on multiple biological datasets
Authors: Wang Yongtian , Juan Liran , Peng Jiajie , Zang Tianyi , Wang Yadong
Published: December 2019

Background

Over the past decades, a large number of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified. Growing evidence has indicated that the mutation and dysregulation of lncRNAs play a critical role in the development of many complex human diseases. Consequently, identifying potential disease-related lncRNAs is an effective means to improve the quality of disease diagnostics and treatment, which is the motivation of this work. Here, we propose a computational model (LncDisAP) for potential disease-related lncRNA identification based on multiple biological datasets. First, the associations between lncRNA and different data sources are collected from different databases. With these data sources as dimensions, we calculate the functional associations between lncRNAs by the recommendation strategy of collaborative filtering. Subsequently, a disease-associated lncRNA functional network is built with functional similarities between lncRNAs as the weight. Ultimately, potential disease-related lncRNAs can be identified based on ranked scores derived by random walking with restart (RWR). Then, training sets and testing sets are extracted from two different versions of a disease-lncRNA dataset to assess the performance of LncDisAP on 54 diseases.

Results

A lncRNA functional network is built based on the proposed computational model, and it contains 66,060 associations among 364 lncRNAs associated with 182 diseases in total. We extract 218 known disease-lncRNA pairs associated with 54 diseases to assess the network. As a result, the average AUC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) of LncDisAP is 78.08%.

Conclusion

In this article, a computational model integrating multiple lncRNA-related biological datasets is proposed for identifying potential disease-related lncRNAs. The result shows that LncDisAP is successful in predicting novel disease-related lncRNA signatures. In addition, with several common cancers taken as case studies, we found some unknown lncRNAs that could be associated with these diseases through our network. These results suggest that this method can be helpful in improving the quality for disease diagnostics and treatment.
PhySpeTree: an automated pipeline for reconstructing phylogenetic species trees
Authors: Fang Yang , Liu Chengcheng , Lin Jiangyi , Li Xufeng , Alavian Kambiz N. , Yang Yi , Niu Yulong
Published: December 2019

Background

Phylogenetic species trees are widely used in inferring evolutionary relationships. Existing software and algorithms mainly focus on phylogenetic inference. However, less attention has been paid to intermediate steps, such as processing extremely large sequences and preparing configure files to connect multiple software. When the species number is large, the intermediate steps become a bottleneck that may seriously affect the efficiency of tree building.

Results

Here, we present an easy-to-use pipeline named PhySpeTree to facilitate the reconstruction of species trees across bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic organisms. Users need only to input the abbreviations of species names; PhySpeTree prepares complex configure files for different software, then automatically downloads genomic data, cleans sequences, and builds trees. PhySpeTree allows users to perform critical steps such as sequence alignment and tree construction by adjusting advanced options. PhySpeTree provides two parallel pipelines based on concatenated highly conserved proteins and small subunit ribosomal RNA sequences, respectively. Accessory modules, such as those for inserting new species, generating visualization configurations, and combining trees, are distributed along with PhySpeTree.

Conclusions

Together with accessory modules, PhySpeTree significantly simplifies tree reconstruction. PhySpeTree is implemented in Python running on modern operating systems (Linux, macOS, and Windows). The source code is freely available with detailed documentation (https://github.com/yangfangs/physpetools).
Analysis of substitution rates showed that TLR5 is evolving at different rates among mammalian groups
Authors: Pinheiro Ana , Águeda-Pinto Ana , Melo-Ferreira José , Neves Fabiana , Abrantes Joana , Esteves Pedro J.
Published: December 2019

Background

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the most widely studied innate immunity receptors responsible for recognition of invading pathogens. Among the TLR family, TLR5 is the only that senses and recognizes flagellin, the major protein of bacterial flagella. TLR5 has been reported to be under overall purifying selection in mammals, with a small proportion of codons under positive selection. However, the variation of substitution rates among major mammalian groups has been neglected. Here, we studied the evolution of TLR5 in mammals, comparing the substitution rates among groups.

Results

In this study we analysed the TLR5 substitution rates in Euungulata, Carnivora, Chiroptera, Primata, Rodentia and Lagomorpha, groups. For that, Tajima’s relative rate test, Bayesian inference of evolutionary rates and genetic distances were estimated with CODEML’s branch model and RELAX. The combined results showed that in the Lagomorpha, Rodentia, Carnivora and Chiroptera lineages TLR5 is evolving at a higher substitution rate. The RELAX analysis further suggested a significant relaxation of selective pressures for the Lagomorpha (K = 0.22,p < 0.01), Rodentia (K = 0.58,p < 0.01) and Chiroptera (K = 0.65,p < 0.01) lineages and for the Carnivora ancestral branches (K = 0.13,p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Our results show that the TLR5 substitution rate is not uniform among mammals. In fact, among the different mammal groups studied, the Lagomorpha, Rodentia, Carnivora and Chiroptera are evolving faster. This evolutionary pattern could be explained by 1) the acquisition of new functions of TLR5 in the groups with higher substitution rate, i.e. TLR5 neofunctionalization, 2) by the beginning of a TLR5 pseudogenization in these groups due to some redundancy between the TLRs genes, or 3) an arms race between TLR5 and species-specific parasites.
Population history and genetic adaptation of the Fulani nomads: inferences from genome-wide data and the lactase persistence trait
Authors: Vicente Mário , Priehodová Edita , Diallo Issa , Podgorná Eliška , Poloni Estella S. , Černý Viktor , Schlebusch Carina M.
Published: December 2019

Background

Human population history in the Holocene was profoundly impacted by changes in lifestyle following the invention and adoption of food-production practices. These changes triggered significant increases in population sizes and expansions over large distances. Here we investigate the population history of the Fulani, a pastoral population extending throughout the African Sahel/Savannah belt.

Results

Based on genome-wide analyses we propose that ancestors of the Fulani population experienced admixture between a West African group and a group carrying both European and North African ancestries. This admixture was likely coupled with newly adopted herding practices, as it resulted in signatures of genetic adaptation in contemporary Fulani genomes, including the control element of the LCT gene enabling carriers to digest lactose throughout their lives. The lactase persistence (LP) trait in the Fulani is conferred by the presence of the allele T-13910, which is also present at high frequencies in Europe. We establish that the T-13910 LP allele in Fulani individuals analysed in this study lies on a European haplotype background thus excluding parallel convergent evolution. We furthermore directly link the T-13910 haplotype with the Lactase Persistence phenotype through a Genome Wide Association study (GWAS) and identify another genomic region in the vicinity of the SPRY2 gene associated with glycaemic measurements after lactose intake.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that Eurasian admixture and the European LP allele was introduced into the Fulani through contact with a North African population/s. We furthermore confirm the link between the lactose digestion phenotype in the Fulani to the MCM6/LCT locus by reporting the first GWAS of the lactase persistence trait. We also explored other signals of recent adaptation in the Fulani and identified additional candidates for selection to adapt to herding life-styles.
Efficacy of premedication with intranasal dexmedetomidine for removal of inhaled foreign bodies in children by flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Bi Yanmei , Ma Yushan , Ni Juan , Wu Lan
Published: December 2019

Background

Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration in children is a life-threatening, emergent situation. Currently, the use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy for removing foreign bodies is attracting increasing attention. Oxygen desaturation, body movement, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, and breath-holding are common adverse events during foreign body removal. Dexmedetomidine, as a highly selective α2-adrenergic agonist, produces sedative and analgesic effects, and does not induce respiratory depression. We hypothesized that intranasal dexmedetomidine at 1 μg kg − 1 administered 25 min before anesthesia induction can reduce the incidence of adverse events during fiberoptic bronchoscopy under inhalation general anesthesia with sevoflurane.

Methods

In all, 40 preschool-aged children (6–48 months) with an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status of I or II were randomly allocated to receive either intranasal dexmedetomidine at 1 μg·kg − 1 or normal saline at 0.01 ml kg− 125 min before anesthesia induction. The primary outcome was the incidence of perioperative adverse events. Heart rate, respiratory rate, parent-child separation score, tolerance of the anesthetic mask, agitation score, consumption of sevoflurane, and recovery time were also recorded.

Results

Following pre-anesthesia treatment with either intranasal dexmedetomidine or saline, the incidences of laryngospasm (15% vs. 50%), breath-holding (10% vs. 40%), and coughing (5% vs. 30%) were significantly lower in patients given dexmedetomidine than those given saline. Patients who received intranasal dexmedetomidine had a lower parent–child separation score (P = 0.017), more satisfactory tolerance of the anesthetic mask (P = 0.027), and less consumption of sevoflurane (38.18 ± 14.95 vs. 48.03 ± 14.45 ml,P = 0.041). The frequency of postoperative agitation was significantly lower in patients given intranasal dexmedetomidine (P = 0.004), and the recovery time was similar in the two groups.

Conclusions

Intranasal dexmedetomidine 1 μg·kg− 1, with its sedative and analgesic effects, reduced the incidences of laryngospasm, breath-holding, and coughing during fiberoptic bronchoscopy for FB removal. Moreover, it reduced postoperative agitation without a prolonged recovery time.

Trail registration

The study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR1800017273) on July 20, 2018.
Apolipoprotein M and sphingosine-1-phosphate complex alleviates TNF-α-induced endothelial cell injury and inflammation through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Liu Yang , Tie Li
Published: December 2019

Background

In spite of the important role of Apolipoprotein-M (ApoM) and Sphingosine-1-Phosphate (S1P) played in atherosclerosis (AS), there was few related research reporting ApoM and S1P complex (ApoM-S1P) on biological activities of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In this study, we explored the effect and mechanism of ApoM-S1P on TNF-α-induced inflammation in HUVECs.

Methods

TNF-α was utilized to induce HUVEC injury and inflammation. After HUVECs were treated with antagonists of ApoM, S1P, ApoM + S1P, and ApoM + S1P + S1PR, calcein-acetoxymethyl ester was employed for the assessment of the adhesion of HUVECs to THP-1, immunofluorescence for the observation of caspase-1expression in HUVECs, reactive oxygen species (ROS) kit for the detection of ROS level in HUVECs. The impact of TNF-α, ApoM, S1P and S1PR antagonists on inflammatory response, pyroptosis and adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to HUVECs were determined by detecting expressions of pyroptosis related proteins (IL-1β, IL-18, ASC, NLRP3 and caspase-1), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-10), adhesion molecules (E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1) and p-PI3K/p-AKT by qRT-PCR and Western blot, as well as by ELISA.

Results

TNF-α could increase adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to HUVECs and induce inflammatory response and pyroptosis in HUVECs, indicated by up-regulated expressions of E-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, IL-1β, IL-18, caspase-1, ASC, NLRP3, and IL-6, and down-regulated expression of IL-10. Co-treatment of ApoM-S1P on TNF-α treated HUVECs could protect HUVECs from injury and inflammation, evidenced by the attenuation of expressions of pyroptosis related proteins, inflammatory cytokines, and adhesion molecules, as well as the augment of PI3K and AKT phosphorylation. JTE-013, an antagonist of S1PR2, could reverse the amelioration of ApoM-S1P on pyroptosis and inflammation of HUVECs, indicating that ApoM-S1P could bind to S1PR2 to protect HUVECs from injury and inflammation through activating PI3K/AKT pathway.

Conclusion

ApoM-S1P could attenuate TNF-α induced injury and inflammatory response in HUVECs by binding to S1PR2 to activate PI3K/AKT pathway.
Indications for adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with AJCC stage IIa T3N0M0 and T1N2M0 gastric cancer—an east and west multicenter study
Authors: Huang Ze-Ning , Desiderio Jacopo , Chen Qi-Yue , Zheng Chao-Hui , Li Ping , Xie Jian-Wei , Wang Jia-Bin , Lin Jian-Xian , Lu Jun , Cao Long-Long , Lin Mi , Tu Ru-Hong , Lin Ju-Li , Zheng Hua-Long , Huang Chang-Ming
Published: December 2019

Purpose

To determine the indications for adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in patients with stage IIa gastric cancer (T3N0M0 and T1N2M0) according to the 7th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC).

Methods

A total of 1593 patients with T3N0M0 or T1N2M0 stage gastric cancer were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for the period 1988.1–2012.12. Cox multiple regression, nomogram and decision curve analyses were performed. External validation was performed using databases of the Fujian Medical University Union Hospital (FJUUH) (n = 241) and Italy IMIGASTRIC center (n = 45).

Results

Cox multiple regression analysis showed that the risk factors that affected OS in patients receiving AC were age > 65 years old, T1N2M0, LN dissection number ≤ 15, tumor size > 20 mm, and nonadenocarcinoma. A nomogram was constructed to predict 5-year OS, and the patients were divided into those predicted to receive a high benefit (points ≤ 188) or a low benefit from AC (points > 188) according to a recursive partitioning analysis. OS was significantly higher for the high-benefit patients in the SEER database and the FJUUH dataset than in the non-AC patients (Log-rank < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in OS between the low-benefit patients and non-AC patients in any of the three centers (Log-rank = 0.154, 0.470, and 0.434, respectively). The decision curve indicated that the best clinical effect can be obtained when the threshold probability is 0–92%.

Conclusion

Regarding the controversy over whether T3N0M0 and T1N2M0 gastric cancer patients should be treated with AC, this study presents a predictive model that provides concise and accurate indications. These data show that high-benefit patients should receive AC.
Longitudinal and reciprocal associations between financial strain, home characteristics and mobility in the National Health and Aging Trends Study
Authors: Samuel L. J. , Szanton S. L. , Seplaki C. L. , Cudjoe T. K. M. , Thorpe R. J. , Agree E. M.
Published: December 2019

Background

Older adults need homes that suit their physical capacity. Financial strain may limit home repairs and modifications and prompt relocations; repairing, relocating or modifying may increase financial strain. Likewise, reciprocal relationships may exist between financial strain and home characteristics and mobility; financial strain and home characteristics may influence mobility and mobility declines may increase financial strain, limit home repairs and modifications and prompt relocations. We test cross-lagged associations between financial strain, home disorder, relocation, home modifications and mobility.

Methods

In the National Health and Aging Trends Study, ability to complete a walking test, speed among those able to complete, financial strain, home disorder, relocating and modifying the home were recorded annually for 3 years (2012–2014). Structural equation models separately examined ability to walk and walking speed among those able, accounting for sociodemographic characteristics, social support, health prior health characteristics and autoregressive effects. Sampling weights accounted for the complex survey design and non-response over time.

Results

In both models (n = 3234 and n = 2467), financial strain predicted greater home disorder and vice versa, but cross-lagged associations were not found with relocating and modifications. Greater home disorder predicted lower odds of ability to walk and slower speed among those able. Financial strain and home modifications predicted lower odds of ability to walk. Also, faster walking speed predicted lower odds of subsequent financial strain and lower subsequent home disorder scores and ability to walk predicted less subsequent home disorder and lower odds of relocating.

Conclusions

Home disorder links financial strain with reduced mobility in a national sample of U.S. older adults. Cross-lagged associations between financial strain and home disorder and between home disorder and mobility suggest reciprocal effects that may accumulate over time. Also, financial strain, reduced mobility, relocations and modifications predicted greater home disorder. Together, these results highlight home disorder as a social determinant of mobility for older adults. Greater attention should be given to repairing and modifying home environments and supporting stable housing for older adults with financial strain.
Cardiovascular risk factors and memory decline in middle-aged and older adults: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Authors: Olaya Beatriz , Moneta Maria Victoria , Bobak Martin , Haro Josep Maria , Demakakos Panayotes
Published: December 2019

Background

We investigated the association between trajectories of verbal episodic memory and burden of cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged and older community-dwellers.

Methods

We analysed data from 4372 participants aged 50–64 and 3005 persons aged 65–79 years old from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing who were repeatedly evaluated every 2 years and had six interviews of a 10-year follow-up. We measured the following baseline risk factors: diabetes, hypertension, smoking, physical inactivity and obesity to derive a cardiovascular risk factor score (CVRFs). Adjusted linear mixed effect regression models were estimated to determine the association between number of CVFRs and six repeated measurements of verbal memory scores, separately for middle-aged and older adults.

Results

CVRFs was not significantly associated with memory at baseline. CVFRs was significantly associated with memory decline in middle-aged (50-64y), but not in older (65-79y) participants. This association followed a dose-response pattern with increasing number of CVFRs being associated with greater cognitive decline. Comparisons between none versus some CVRFs yielded significant differences (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our findings confirm that the effect of cumulative CVRFs on subsequent cognitive deterioration is age-dependent. CVRFs are associated with cognitive decline in people aged 50–64 years, but not in those aged ≥65 years. Although modest, the memory decline associated with accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors in midlife may increase the risk of late-life dementia.
Etiology of childhood diarrhoea among under five children and molecular analysis of antibiotic resistance in isolated enteric bacterial pathogens from a tertiary care hospital, Eastern Odisha, India
Authors: Moharana Sonam S. , Panda Rakesh K. , Dash Muktikesh , Chayani Nirupama , Bokade Priyanka , Pati Sanghamitra , Bhattacharya Debdutta
Published: December 2019

Background

Although, India has made steady progress in reducing deaths in children younger than 5 years, the proportional mortality accounted by diarrhoeal diseases still remains high. The present hospital based cross sectional study was carried out to understand the prevalence of various bacterial pathogens associated with the diarrhoea cases in under 5 years age group.

Methods

During, 1st September, 2015 to 30th November 2017, all the childhood diarrhoea cases (≤5 yrs) of SCB Medical College in Odisha, India were included in the study. Stool samples were collected and processed for the isolation of causative bacterial pathogen and the isolated bacterial pathogens were subjected to antibiotic sensitivity testing, molecular analysis of drug resistance. Clinical and demographic data were collected and analyzed.

Results

Three hundred twenty patients were enrolled in the study during the study period from whom 82 bacterial isolates were obtained indicating a proportional causality of 25.6% for bacterial diarrhoea among children in this region. Entero toxigenic E.coli (ETEC) accounted for majority of the cases and and more than 50% of the strains were found to be multi-drug resistant (resistant to more than 3 class of antibiotics). More than 50% of the strains were resistant to current choice of treatment like ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and ceftriaxone and 2.4% being resistant to Imipenem. ESBL production was also observed in some of the strains and one isolate harboured the NDM-1 gene. Fluoroquinolone resistance was found to be linked with multiple mutations in the QRDR region followed by PMQR determinants.

Conclusion

The current study, to the best of our knowledge is first of its kind which demonstrated the etiology of bacterial diarrhoea in children less than 5 years old and identified diarrheogenic E. coli as the predominant enteropathogen in Odisha. Majority of the isolates being multi-drug resistance calls for a continuous surveillance system in the region which will be helpfulin identifying emerging resistance pattern and for developing suitable intervention stategies.
Identification of key pathways and genes in PTEN mutation prostate cancer by bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Sun Jian , Li Shugen , Wang Fei , Fan Caibin , Wang Jianqing
Published: December 2019

Background

Prostate cancer (Pca) remains one of the leading adult malignancies. PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog) mutant is the top common mutated genes in prostate cancer, which makes it a promising biomarker in future individualized treatment.

Methods

We obtained gene expression data of prostate cancer from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database for analysis. We analyzed the DEGs (differentially expressed genes), and used online tools or software to analyze Gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins, and Molecular Complex Detection.

Results

Latest TCGA data showed PTEN mutation in about 22% patients. 1736 DEGs in total were identified. Results of gene functional enrichment analyses showed that muscle contraction, negative regulation of growth and multiple metabolic progression were significantly enriched. GNG13, ACTN2, POTEE, ACTA1, MYH6, MYH3, MYH7, MYL1, TNNC1 and TNNC2 were the top ten hub genes. Patients with PTEN mutation showed relatively decreased mRNA expression level of PTEN. Survival analysis indicated the risk of disease recurrence in patients with PTEN mutation.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that PTEN mutation in prostate cancer may induce changes in a variety of genes and pathways and affect disease progression, suggesting the significance of PTEN mutation in individualized treatment of prostate cancer.
Abdominal aortic calcification is superior to other arteries calcification in predicting the mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients – a 8 years cohort study
Authors: Niu Qingyu , Zhao Huiping , Wu Bei , Tsai Shihming , Wu Jian , Zhang Meng , Lu Lixia , Qiao Jie , Men Chuncui , Zuo Li , Wang Mei
Published: December 2019

Background

In recent years, there has been a growing concern that abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) has a predictive effect on the prognosis of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, whether other vascular calcification (VC) can predict the occurrence of adverse events in patients, and whether it is necessary to assess the calcification of other blood vessels remains controversial. This study aimed to assess VC in different sites using X-ray films, and to investigate the predictive effects of VC at different sites on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods

The data of Radiographs (lateral abdominal plain film, frontal pelvic radiograph and both hands radiograph) were collected to evaluate the calcification of abdominal aorta, iliac artery, femoral artery, radial artery, and finger arteries. Patients’ demographic data, clinical characteristics, laboratory data were recorded. The total follow-up period was 8 years, and the time and cause of death were recorded. Survival curves were estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. COX regression analysis was used to examine independent predictors of all-cause mortality and CV mortality.

Results

One hundred fifty PD patients were included, a total of 79 patients (52.7%) died at the end of follow-up. After adjusting variables in the multivariate COX regression analysis, AAC was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in PD patients (HR = 2.089, 95% CI: 1.089–4.042, P = 0.029), and was also an independent predictor of CV mortality (HR = 4.660, 95% CI: 1.852–11.725, P = 0.001). We also found that femoral artery calcification had a predictive effect on all-cause and CV mortality. But the calcification in iliac artery, radial artery, and finger arteries were not independent predictors of patients’ all-cause and CV mortality in PD patients.

Conclusion

AAC was more common in PD patients and was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and CV mortality. The femoral artery calcification also can predict the mortality, but the calcification of iliac artery, radial artery, and finger arteries cannot predict the mortality of PD patients.
Rhodococcus induced false-positive galactomannan (GM), a biomarker of fungal presentation, in patients with peritoneal dialysis: case reports
Authors: Chamroensakchai Tamonwan , Manuprasert Wasin , Leelahavanichkul Asada , Takkavatakarn Kullaya , Thongbor Nisa , Jaroenpattrawut Bunpring , Kanjanabuch Talerngsak
Published: December 2019

Background

Galactomannan index (GMI) at a level higher than 0.5 provides high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of fungal peritonitis. Here, we report the false-positive of GMI in peritoneal dialysis (PD) effluent (PDE) due to Rhodococcus peritonitis in PD patients.

Case presentation

GMI in PDE of case #1 and case #2 were 1.53 and 0.76, respectively, while serum GMI of both cases was less than 0.5. In addition, GMI from the specimens obtained directly from the stationary phase of Rhodococcus colonies were 1.27 and 1.56, which were isolated from case #1 and #2, accordingly.

Conclusion

High GMI in PDE of PD patients is not specific just for fungal infections but may also be secondary to other infections, such as Rhodococcus spp., especially in endemic areas.
Elevated levels of serum urokinase plasminogen activator predict poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma after resection
Authors: Tsai Ming-Chao , Yen Yi-Hao , Chang Kuo-Chin , Hung Chao-Hung , Chen Chien-Hung , Lin Ming-Tsung , Hu Tsung-Hui
Published: December 2019

Background

Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is an extracellular matrix-degrading protease that is involved in the invasiveness and progression of cancer. There is good evidence that uPA expression is a clinically relevant biomarker in some solid tumors, but its role in hepatocellulcar carcinoma (HCC) is uncertain. We evaluated the prognostic value of serum uPA before surgery in HCC patients receiving curative resection.

Methods

Serum uPA levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 282 HCC patients who received complete liver resections at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Overall survival (OS) curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. A Cox proportional -hazards regression model was used to identify independent prognostic factors. The median follow-up time was 52 months.

Results

Patients with higher pretreatment serum uPA (≥1 ng/ml) had significantly shorter OS (p = 0.002). Patients with liver cirrhosis, hypoalbuminemia, and thrombocytopenia were significantly more likely to present with elevated uPA levels. Multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that high pretreatment serum uPA [hazard ratio (HR), 1.848, p = 0.006], vascular invasion (HR, 2.940, p < 0.001), and pathology stage III/IV (HR, 3.517, p < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for OS. In further stratified analyses, the combination of serum uPA and AFP had more capacity to predict OS.

Conclusions

We conclude that uPA is a clinically relevant biomarker in HCC patients receiving curative resection, with higher expression of uPA being associated with higher mortality. This also highlights the potential utility of uPA as a therapeutic target for improved treatment strategies.
Impact of chemotherapy cycles and intervals on outcomes of nonspinal Ewing sarcoma in adults: a real-world experience
Authors: Zhang Jianjun , Huang Yujing , Sun Yuanjue , He Aina , Zhou Yan , Hu Haiyan , Yao Yang , Shen Zan
Published: December 2019

Background

Adult Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a rare disease, the optimal treatment model is unknown. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze treatment-related prognostic factors of nonspinal ES in Chinese adults.

Methods

Eighty-one patients treated between January 2005 and December 2017 were included in the present study. Thirty-three (40.7%) presented with metastatic disease at diagnosis. Eight patients were submitted to primary surgery followed by chemotherapy, while 73 patients received chemotherapy before and after surgery and/or local radiotherapy. The chemotherapy regimen included 8–17 cycles of vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (VDC) alternating with ifosfamide and etoposide (IE) every 3 weeks. Clinical outcomes and safety were analyzed.

Results

VDC/IE chemotherapy was well tolerated in adult patients with ES. Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that chemotherapy of at least 12 cycles was a favorable independent prognostic factor of event-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.558; 95% confidence interval, 0.323–0.965; P = 0.037) and overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.424; 95% confidence interval, 0.240–0.748; P = 0.003). Similarly, a low frequency of chemotherapy delays was an independent prognostic factor of improved OS (hazard ratio, 0.438; 95% confidence interval, 0.217–0.887; P = 0.022).

Conclusion

Our study suggests that adults with ES should be treated with an aggressive multidisciplinary approach, intensive chemotherapy with adequate cycles and appropriate intervals can be recommended in this group.
Differential executive functioning in the topology of Spirit possession or dissociative disorders: an explorative cultural study
Authors: Al-Adawi Samir , Al-Kalbani Yahya , Panchatcharam Sathiya Murthi , Al-Zadjali Matlooba Ayoub , Al-Adawi Sara S. , Essa Musthafa M. , Qoronfleh M. Walid
Published: December 2019

Background

In Oman, anecdotal and impressionistic observation have helped parse and categorize various manifestations of spirit possession into two broad and distinct categories: intermittent dissociative phenomenon and transitory dissociative phenomenon. The primary aim of the present study was to compare the performance of participants on neuropsychological tests among different grades of possession. Other correlates were also sought.

Methods

Assessment criteria for the two groups included measures examining executive functioning: controlled oral word association test Verbal Fluency, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (Perseverative error and the number of categories achieved), Trail Making Test and the Tower of London Test (number of correctly solved problems). Sociodemographic variables and the history of trauma were also sought.

Result

Among 84 participants, one third of them presented the intermittent possession type and two thirds, the transitory possession type. Their mean age was 34.17 ± 11.82 and 56% of them were female. Nearly 35% of them endorsed a history of a traumatic experience. Both the multivariate models showed statistical significance (F (5, 78) = 5.57, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.22), F (5, 78) = 11.38, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.39) with an independent predictor of intermittent dissociative phenomenon (β = − 3.408, p < 0.001), (β = 63.88, p < 0.001) for Verbal Fluency and Trail Making Test, respectively. The history of the traumatic event was also statistically significant with the results of the Trail Making Test (β = − 26.01, p < 0.041. Furthermore, the subtype of Pathogenic Possession turned out to be an independent predictor across all models: Wisconsin Card Sorting Test perseverative error, Wisconsin card sorting test categories achieved and the number of problems solved in the Tower of London Test (OR = 3.70, 95% C.I. 2.97–4.61; p < 0.001), (OR = 0.57, 95% C.I.0.39–0.84; p = 0.004) and (OR = 0.80, 95% C.I. 0.65–0.99; p < 0.037) respectively.

Conclusions

This study suggests that typology of spirit possession found in Oman tends to differ on indices of executive function. Those with ‘diagnosis’ of intermittent possession showed impairment in many indices of executive functioning. Despite its wide prevalence, spirit possession has not been examined in terms of its neuropsychological functioning. We believe that this study will be instrumental in laying the groundwork for a more robust methodology.
Understanding traditional and modern eating: the TEP10 framework
Authors: Sproesser Gudrun , Ruby Matthew B. , Arbit Naomi , Akotia Charity S. , Alvarenga Marle dos Santos , Bhangaokar Rachana , Furumitsu Isato , Hu Xiaomeng , Imada Sumio , Kaptan Gülbanu , Kaufer-Horwitz Martha , Menon Usha , Fischler Claude , Rozin Paul , Schupp Harald T. , Renner Britta
Published: December 2019

Across the world, there has been a movement from traditional to modern eating, including a movement of traditional eating patterns from their origin culture to new cultures, and the emergence of new foods and eating behaviors. This trend toward modern eating is of particular significance because traditional eating has been related to positive health outcomes and sustainability. Yet, there is no consensus on what constitutes traditional and modern eating. The present study provides a comprehensive compilation of the various facets that seem to make up traditional and modern eating. Specifically, 106 facets were mentioned in the previous literature and expert discussions, combining international and interdisciplinary perspectives. The present study provides a framework (the TEP10 framework) systematizing these 106 facets into two major dimensions, what and how people eat, and 12 subdimensions. Hence, focusing only on single facets of traditional and modern eating is an oversimplification of this complex phenomenon. Instead, the multidimensionality and interplay between different facets should be considered to gain a comprehensive understanding of the trends, consequences, and underlying factors of traditional and modern eating.