bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“It is good, but I can’t afford it…” potential barriers to adequate prenatal care among Afghan women in Iran: a qualitative study in south Tehran
Authors: Dadras Omid , Taghizade Ziba , Dadras Fateme , Alizade Leyla , Seyedalinaghi Seyedahmad , Ono-Kihara Masako , Kihara Masahiro , Nakayama Takeo
Published: February 2020

Background: An estimated 96% of registered refugees in Iran are Afghan. Almost half of them are young women at the reproductive age. The adequate maternity care is crucial for healthy pregnancy. There is limited knowledge regarding the access and adequacy of maternity care among Afghan women in Iran. The reports from ministry of health (MOH) implicates higher prevalence of perinatal complication in Afghan population. This mainly attributed to the inadequate prenatal care in during pregnancy. Therefore, this paper explores the access and potential barriers to prenatal care among Afghan women in Iran.Methods: Using purposive convenient sampling, thirty pregnant Afghan women were recruited at three community health centers with the highest number of Afghan visitors in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews in Persian language using an interview guide. The interviewers were two bilingual Afghan graduate midwifery students. Each interview lasted for an hour. The interviews were transcribed into original language (Persian) and analyzed using content analysis. The MAXQD v.10 software was used in data analysis. The main themes were extracted grouping the similar codes and categories after careful consideration and consensus between the researchers.Results: The financial constraints and lack of affordable health insurance with adequate coverage of prenatal care services, particularly the diagnostic and screening tests, were the most frequent reported obstacles by Afghan women. In addition, personnel behavior, transportation issues, stigma and discrimination, cultural concerns, legal and immigration issues were also mentioned as the source of disappointment and inadequate utilization of such services.Conclusions: The findings of present study emphasize the necessity of available and most importantly, affordable prenatal care for Afghan women in Iran. Providing an affordable health insurance with adequate coverage of prenatal and delivery services, could reduce the financial burden, facilitate the access, and ensure the maternal and child health in this vulnerable population. The issues of fear and concern of deportation must be removed for at least illegal Afghan mothers to ensure their access to maternity care and improve the health of both mother and offspring.
Bile cholesterol and viscosity, the keys to discriminating adenomatous polyps from cholesterol polyps by a novel predictive scoring model.
Authors: Kim Eun Young , Hong Tae Ho
Published: February 2020

Background: Adenomatous gallbladder polyps, premalignant lesions of the gallbladder, have fatal outcomes, whereas cholesterol polyps have benign features. Herein, we proposed a novel, predictive scoring model of adenomatous polyps to distinguish them from cholesterol polyps, by analyzing bile components and bile viscosity. Methods: Patients with gallbladder polyp pathologically confirmed after cholecystectomies were analyzed. After dividing patients into two groups (adenomatous or cholesterol polyps), the clinicopathologic profiles and bile nature, including components and viscosity were compared and a predictive scoring model for adenomatous polyps was assessed. Results: 11 adenomatous polyps and 96 cholesterol polyps were analyzed. The variables significantly associated with adenomatous polyps were age>55years (OR=23.550, p=0.020 ), bile viscosity<7.5sec -1 (OR=22.539, p=0.012 ), and bile cholesterol<414.5mg/dl (OR=10.004, p=0.023 ) and the points for each variable in the predictive scoring model were allocated as 3, 3, and 2, respectively. Final scores ranged from 0 to 8 points and the best performance of model at a cutoff of ≥6 points had 90.9% of sensitivity and 80.2% of specificity. Conclusions: Bile viscosity and bile cholesterol accompanied by age were revealed as significant predictors of adenomatous polyps, distinguishing them from cholesterol polyps of gallbladder. It can be the cornerstone for creating accurate guidelines for preoperatively determining treatment strategies of gallbladder polyps.
Proteome Analysis of Testicular Tissue in Varicocele Rats Using iTRAQ Labeling Technology
Authors: feng lu xian , wei zhao , rong liu jian , feng wang dan , xia yuan cai , min wang yi , fang zhang , Qin Qin
Published: February 2020

Purpose Varicocele (VC) is considered as the main cause of male infertility, clear and definite molecular markers of varicocele disease are helpful for early prevention and timely treatment. This study was in order to examine the effect of varicocele on protein expression in testicular tissue.Methods The testicular tissue samples of normal rats and varicocele rats were used for proteomic analysis and functional bioinformatics analysis. The proteins with a fold change of > 1.2 or < 1.2, and with a P-value < 0.05 were used to identify up- and downregulation proteins between the varicocele and control rats, and two target proteins were selected and verified with western blot.Results It was found that seminiferous epithelium was disordered and spermatogenic cells were injured seriously in varicocele group. A total of 65 differentially expressed proteins were identified compared with normal group by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) analysis, including 31 up-regulated proteins and 34 down-regulated proteins, respectively. Functions of those proteins were mainly related to the following processes: signal transduction, protein cycle, transmembrane transport, protein transport, vesicular mediated transport, cell division, and membrane tissue. Two down regulated proteins of ATPase and Cu2+-transporting alpha (ATP7A) and Calcium and integrin-binding protein 1 (CIB1) in varicocele rats were selected and confirmed.Conclusion Protein spectrum of testicular tissue in varicocele rats was different from that in normal rats. Low expressions of ATP7A and CIB1 may be affect testicular spermatogenic function and can be used as a potential biomarker for testicular tissue to maintain normal spermatogenic function.
Reduced serum BDNF levels are associated with the increased risk for developing MDD: A case-control study with or without antidepressants therapy
Authors: Emon Md. Prova Zaman , Das Rajesh , Nishuty Nuruna Lovely , Qusar M.M.A. Shalahuddin , Bhuiyan Mohiuddin Ahmed , Islam Md. Rabiul
Published: February 2020

ObjectiveWe do not have any consistent markers for major depressive disorder (MDD) though various biological factors are involved in the pathophysiology. We aimed to evaluate the serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in MDD patients with or without antidepressant therapy compared to healthy controls (HCs).ResultsWe assessed serum BDNF levels among three groups: drug-naïve MDD patients (n = 41), drug-treated MDD patients (n = 44), and age-and sex-matched HCs (n = 82). Serum BDNF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Serum levels of BDNF were detected significantly lower in drug-naïve MDD patients compared to HCs. No significant alterations of serum BDNF levels between drug-treated patients and HCs were identified. Significant negative correlations between serum BDNF levels and Hamilton depression rating (Ham-D) scores were observed in both drug-naïve and drug-treated MDD patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed good diagnostic value for serum BDNF levels in drug-naïve MDD patients with the area under the curve at 0.821. The present study suggests that low serum BDNF levels may be involved in the pathophysiology of MDD. The reduced serum BDNF levels might be used as an early risk assessment marker for major depression.
Evaluating Dosimetric Constraints for Carbon Ion Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Lin Lien-Chun , Jiang Guo-Liang , Ohri Nitin , Wang Zheng , Lu Jiade , Garg Madhur , Guha Chandan , Wu XIAODONG
Published: February 2020

ObjectiveTo identify a safe carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) regimen for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).MethodsWe generated treatment plans for 13 consecutive, unselected patients who were treated for LAPC with CIRT at our center using three dose and fractionation schedules: 4.6 GyRBE x 12, 4.0 GyRBE x 14, and 3.0 GyRBE x 17. We tested the ability to meet published dose constraints for the duodenum, stomach, and small bowel as a function of dose schedule and distance between the tumor and organs at risk.ResultsUsing 4.6 GyRBE x 12 and 4.0 GyRBE x 14, critical (high-dose) constraints could only reliably be achieved when target volumes were not immediately adjacent to organs at risk. Critical constraints could be met in all cases using 3.0 GyRBE x 17. Low-dose constraints could not uniformly be achieved using any dose schedule.ConclusionWhile selected patients with LAPC may be treated safely with a CIRT regimen of 4.6 GyRBE x 12, our dosimetric analyses indicate that a more conservative schedule of 3.0 GyRBE x 17 may be required to safely treat a broader population of LAPC patients, including those with large tumors and tumors that approach gastrointestinal organs at risk. The result of this work was used to guide an ongoing clinical trial.
Engineering Pichia pastoris with surface-display minicellulosome for carboxymethyl cellulose hydrolysis and ethanol production
Authors: Dong Ce , Qiao Jie , Wang Xinping , Sun Wenli , Chen Lixia , Li Shuntang , Ma Lixin , liu yi
Published: February 2020

Backgrounds: Engineering yeast with cell surface immobilized cellulosome is a promising strategy for consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) to produce bioethanol from the conversion of cellulose. However, previous studies mostly focused on utilization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae , which was able to directly convert phosphoric acid-swollen cellulose (PASC) or microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) but not carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to ethanol, with an average titer below 2 g/L. Results: Harnessing an ultra-high-affinity IM7/CL7 protein pair, here we describe a method to engineer Pichia pastoris with minicellulosome through in vitro assembly of various recombinant cellulases on the cell surface. For the first time, the yeast can efficiently convert CMC to bioethanol, achieving an impressive ethanol titer of 5.1 g/L. Further, the engineered yeasts were lyophilized to powders that can be utilized as compound cellulases. Conclusions: This research promotes the application of P. pastoris as CBP cell factory in cellulosic ethanol production and provides a promising platform for screening optimal cellulase species and ratios to construct celluosome on the yeast cell surface.
LAIR-1 overexpression inhibits osteosarcoma epithelial-mesenchymal transition via GLUT1-related energy metabolism
Authors: Zhang Jinxue , Zhang Yuan , Liu Yongming , Yi Xin , Cheng Shiyang , Jiang Dongxu , Ding Yong , Zhuang Ran
Published: February 2020

Background: Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 (LAIR-1) is a collagen receptor belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Although prior studies have evaluated the biological role of LAIR in solid tumors, the precise mechanisms underlying LAIR-1 functions as a regulator of tumor biological functions remains unclear.
Methods: LAIR-1 expression was evaluated using an osteosarcoma (OS) tissue microarray by immunohistochemical analysis. Wound healing and Transwell assays were performed to evaluate tumor cell migration. Quantitative PCR and western blotting were conducted to detect the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related molecules. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was conducted to evaluate the mRNA expression profiles after overexpressing LAIR-1 in OS cells. Glucose uptake and glucose transporter (Glut) 1 expression in OS cells in vitro were evaluated by flow cytometry and western blotting.
Results: LAIR-1 expression significantly differed between the T1 and T2 stages of OS tumors, and LAIR-1 overexpression inhibited OS cell migration. LAIR-1 expression was inversely correlated with the expression of EMT-associated transcription factors via the Forkhead box O1/Twist1 signal transduction pathway. Furthermore, RNA-seq and quantitative PCR demonstrated that EMT energy metabolism-related molecules were significantly reduced after LAIR-1 overexpression.
Conclusions: Notably, overexpression of LAIR-1 in OS cells decreased Glut1 expression. These findings provide insight into the molecular mechanism underlying OS progression.
Impact of 3-dimensional genome organization, guided by cohesin and CTCF looping, on sex-biased chromatin interactions and gene expression in mouse liver
Authors: Matthews Bryan J , Waxman David J
Published: February 2020

Background: Sex differences in the transcriptome and epigenome are widespread in mouse liver and are associated with sex-bias in liver disease. Several thousand sex-differential distal enhancers have been identified; however, their links to sex-biased genes and the impact of any sex-differences in nuclear organization, DNA looping, and chromatin interactions are unknown.Results: To address these issues, we first characterized 1,847 mouse liver genomic regions showing significant sex differential occupancy by cohesin and CTCF, two key 3D nuclear organizing factors. These sex-differential binding sites were largely distal to sex-biased genes, but rarely generated sex-differential TAD (topologically associating domain) or intra-TAD loop anchors. A substantial subset of the sex-biased cohesin-non-CTCF binding sites, but not the sex-biased cohesin-and-CTCF binding sites, overlapped sex-biased enhancers. Cohesin depletion reduced the expression of male-biased genes with distal, but not proximal, sex-biased enhancers by >10-fold, implicating cohesin in long-range enhancer interactions regulating sex-biased genes. Using circularized chromosome conformation capture-based sequencing (4C-seq), we showed that sex differences in distal sex-biased enhancer-promoter interactions are common. Sex-differential chromatin interactions involving sex-biased gene promoters, enhancers, and lncRNAs were associated with sex-biased binding of cohesin and/or CTCF. Furthermore, intra-TAD loops with sex-independent cohesin-and-CTCF anchors conferred sex specificity to chromatin interactions indirectly, by insulating sex-biased enhancer-promoter contacts and by bringing sex-biased genes into closer proximity to sex-biased enhancers.Conclusions: These findings elucidate how 3-dimensional genome organization contributes to sex differences in gene expression in a non-reproductive tissue through both direct and indirect effects of cohesin and CTCF looping on distal enhancer interactions with sex-differentially expressed genes.
A risk score based on pediatric sequential organ failure assessment predicts 90-day mortality in children with Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection
Authors: Li Shuang , Liu Jingxian , Chen Feng , Cai Kang , Tan Jintong , Xie Wei , Qian Rong , Liu Xiaoqin , Zhang Wenhong , Liu Ying , Huang Lisu
Published: February 2020

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection (Kp-BSI) is a serious threat to pediatric patients. The objective of this study was to explore the risk factors for mortality, validate the prediction efficiency of pediatric sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and establish better specific early predictors. Methods: All children diagnosed with Kp-BSI were included in this retrospective cohort study from January 2009 to June 2019. Basic characteristics, symptoms and physical examinations, laboratory statistics, and SOFA at the onset of Kp-BSI were recorded. The Cox proportional hazard model and the receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the association of the variables with the 90-day mortality and their predictive values. The DeLong's test of receiver operating characteristic curves and integrated discrimination improvement index were calculated to investigate predictive improvement of the modified SOFA models. A predictive score was developed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Of the 146 children enrolled, 33 (22.6%) died within 90 days. Hospitalization within the previous six months, intra-abdominal source of bloodstream infection, presence of organ failures, and blood biomarkers including the C-reactive protein, albumin, and lactate were identified as significant risk factors for the 90-day mortality. The area under the curve (AUC) of SOFA for predicting 90-day mortality was 0.80 (95% CI 0.71–0.89). We further found a better combined model when adding hospitalization within the previous six months and intra-abdominal source of bloodstream infection into the SOFA score (AUC = 0.89, 95% CI 0.82–0.96, sensitivity = 0.86, specificity = 0.84). According to this novel risk model, we defined three statistically different groups: low-risk, medium-risk and high-risk groups, with an observed 90-day mortality of 5.4%, 35.7%, and 72.0%, respectively. With the reference of the low-risk group, the medium-risk and high-risk groups had a higher mortality, with hazard ratios of 8.36 (95% CI 3.60–27.83) and 20.27 (95% CI 7.47–54.95), respectively. Conclusions: The modified SOFA model may better predict the 90-day mortality of Kp-BSI. Future perspective studies will be required to validate this novel scoring system in external cohorts.
Bone Metastases in Newly Diagnosed Colorectal Cancer by Tumor Location: a Population-based Study
Authors: Yang Lin , Liu Shousheng , Xie Qiankun , He Wenzhuo , Jiang Chang , Zhang Bei , Xia Liangping
Published: February 2020

Purpose Bone metastasis (BM) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is rare and data on population-based incidence is lacking. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of BM and the risk factors for BM in CRC. Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was interrogated as part of the analysis. We used multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses to determine predictors for the presence of BM at diagnosis, and the elements associated with poor survival. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to estimate the survival difference among subgroups. Results A total of 166,388 adult patients were identified between 2010 and 2013 as being diagnosed with CRC. Of these, 1,659 patients developed BM representing 1% of the entire CRC cohort and 5.5% of patients had metastatic disease. The median survival period of patients with BM was merely 11.3 months. We found that extracranial metastases number and tumor site were associated with BM at CRC diagnosis and these parameters were also associated with poorer survival in the BM cohort. Unlike other solid tumors, patients with bone metastasis had poorer survival and the median survival time (MST) was significantly shortened for single metastasis disease or when lung and liver metastasis were present.Conclusions The findings of this study clearly reveal the incidence and prognosis for patients with BM at time of CRC diagnosis. Our findings lend support for positive treatment of BM without other organ metastasis.
Identification of therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers among STAT family in glioblastoma
Authors: Li Chenglin , Zhou Yanfei , Deng Hanshun , Ye Yuanshen , Zhao Shuizhen , Liang Shangnan , Cai Shirong , Lin Jincai , Tang Yaolong , Wu Yanyu
Published: February 2020

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain malignancies with high incidence and mortality. The aberrant activation of STAT signaling was confirmed to result in tumor pathogenesis and progress by regulating cell cycle, cell survival, and immune response.
Methods: The clinical significance of and regulation network of STAT family in GBM were explored with several web applications or database.
Results: The level of STAT1/3/5A/5B/6 were increased in GBM while STAT4 level was decreased. GBM patients with high expression of STAT1/2/3/5A/6 and low expression of STAT4/5B had a worse overall survival. Among the STAT family, STAT 4 and STAT6 were the top two frequently mutated genes. Correlation suggested a low to moderate correlation among STAT family. STAT family were also involved in the activation or inhibition of the famous cancer related pathways. Immune infiltrates analysis suggested that STAT5A level showed significantly correlated with the abundance of immune cells and the level of immune gene biomarkers. GO functions and KEGG pathways analysis revealed that STAT5A was involved in immune response-regulating signaling pathway, neutrophil and lymphocyte mediated immunity, single-stranded DNA binding, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway. Moreover, we also identified several Kinase and transcription factor targets of STAT5A in GBM.
Conclusions: Our results revealed the therapeutic targets, prognostic biomarkers and regulation network of STAT family in GBM, laying the foundation for further studies about STAT family in therapy and prognosis of GBM.
Differentiation and localization of interneurons in the developing spinal cord depends on DOT1L expression
Authors: de Cristoforis Angelica Gray , Ferrari Francesco , Clotman Frédéric , Vogel Tanja
Published: February 2020

Genetic and epigenetic factors contribute to the development of the spinal cord. Failure in correct exertion of the developmental programs, including neurulation, neural tube closure and neurogenesis of the diverse spinal cord neuronal subtypes results in clinical phenotypes with variable severity. The histone methyltransferase Disruptor of Telomeric 1 Like (DOT1L), which mediates histone H3 lysine 79 (H3K79) methylation, is fundamental for proper development of the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, and here we report on its essential role for development of the spinal cord. Conditional inactivation of DOT1L using Wnt1-cre as driver in the developing murine spinal cord did not result in neural tube closure defect (NTCD). Transcriptome analysis revealed that DOT1L deficiency favored differentiation over progenitor proliferation. Dot1l -cKO mainly decreased the numbers of dI1 interneurons expressing Lhx2 . Loss of DOT1L affected localization but not generation of dI2, dI3, and dI5 interneurons. The resulting derailed interneuron patterns might be responsible for increased cell death that occurred at the late developmental stage E18.5. Together our data indicate that DOT1L is essential for subtype- specific neurogenesis, migration and localization of interneurons in the developing spinal cord, in part by regulating transcriptional activation of Lhx2 .
Evaluation of a Ketogenic Diet for Improvement of Neurological Recovery in Individuals with Acute Spinal Cord Injury: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: DEMIREL Aynur , LI Jia , MORROW Casey , BARNES Stephen , JANSEN Jan , GOWER Barbara , KIRKSEY Keneshia , REDDEN David , Yarar-Fisher Ceren
Published: February 2020

Background: Therapies that significantly improve the neurological and functional recovery of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are still urgently needed. The ketogenic diet (KD) has been shown to improve forelimb motor function in a rat model of SCI, likely by reducing inflammation and cell death in the spinal cord. Furthermore, our recent pilot study in patients with SCI showed that, compared with a standard hospital diet (SD), 5 weeks of KD, started during acute care, improved upper extremity motor function and reduced serum levels of a neuroinflammatory blood protein. The primary goals of our proposed study are to 1) show the safety and feasibility of administering a KD during acute care for SCI; 2) determine if consuming 5 weeks of a KD significantly improves motor and sensory function, functional independence, and glycemic control; and 3) quantify serum biomarkers that are linked to improvements in neurological recovery and functional independence via targeted proteomics.Methods/Design: In a single-masked, longitudinal, randomized parallel controlled study design, 60 participants with acute SCI will be randomly assigned to KD or SD in a 1:1 ratio. We intend to recruit 24 participants for each group with traumatic SCI (C5–T12, American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale A–C, and aged 18–60 years). Patients will be taken to acute care after their injury. Neurological and functional examinations, resting energy expenditure, blood, urine, stool collection and protein analyses related to neuro recovery will be done within 72 h of injury, as baseline measures. Patients received five weeks of KD or SD according to their allocation. The KD is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet (3:1 ratio of fat: carbohydrate + protein) that includes ~75% total energy as fat, ~20% as protein, and ~5% as carbohydrate and fiber. The SD includes ~45-50% total energy as carbohydrate and fiber, ~30% total energy as fat, and ~20% total energy as protein. All baseline examinations will be repeated at discharge from the hospital at week 5 (discharge measure). Discussion: The proposed diet intervention is practical and safe and is expected to translate into efficacious early nutritional interventions. Intervention with a more neuroprotective diet during acute care of SCI can be implemented anywhere in the world at low cost and without major regulatory hurdles. Better functional recovery will lead to a better quality of life and long-term health outcomes in individuals with SCI. While this study targets SCI, if successful it has the potential to improve neurological outcomes for individuals with various traumatic injuries such as traumatic brain injury and stroke.
Using electroacupuncture to recover muscle strength in knee osteoarthritic patients after total knee arthroplasty: a study protocol for a double-blinded, randomized and placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Xu Hui , Kang Bingxin , Li Yulin , Xie Jun , Sun Songtao , Zhong Sheng , Gao Chenxin , Xu Xirui , Zhao Chi , Qiu Guowei , Xiao Lianbo
Published: February 2020

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has recently become an almost irreplaceable and effective means to relieve pain, reconstruct knee motor function and improve the quality of life of patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, the muscle strength after TKA is usually difficult to recover. Although electroacupuncture (EA) can enhance the muscle strength of lower extremity, there is hardly any literature on the effect of EA on the muscle strength of lower extremity in patients after TKA. To address this problem, this trial is intended to evaluate the efficacy of EA after TKA for recovering the muscle strength of lower extremity, esp. in the early post-TKA period.Methods/design: This is a double-blinded, randomized and controlled trial. It will be conducted between January, 2020 and June, 2020. A total of 94 participants with KOA will have undergone unilateral TKA and they will then be randomized into a treatment group and a control group, viz. the EA group and the sham EA group. The former will receive EA at acupuncture points of ST37, ST36, SP10 and SP9. The latter, the control group will receive sham EA at sham locations for the acupuncture points of ST37, ST36, SP10 and SP9. The participants will be given 5 sessions of treatment per day for 2 weeks. The primary outcomes include a change in the amount of muscle strength and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score at the second week from a baseline (POD 3). The secondary outcomes include a 6-minute walking test, Numerical rating scale (NRS), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and additional use of analgesia. The additional outcomes include incidence of analgesia-related side effects and rate of participant satisfaction. Blinding of the participants will also be assessed. The participants will be asked to guess whether they have received EA after the latest intervention. Adverse events of EA will be documented and assessed throughout the trial.Discussion: EA is helpful for the recovery and enhancement of muscle strength of the lower limb after TKA.
The effect of using awake craniotomy combined with multimodal techniques intraoperative on survival of patients with glioblastoma: a single-center experience
Authors: Yang Li , Lu Ming , Deng Xinqing , Yang Mingming , zhou hui
Published: February 2020

Background:We analysed outcomes of cerebral glioblastoma patients undergoing awake craniotomies combined with multimodal techniques for tumour resection, with regards to the extent of resection, functional preservation, and prognosis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on adult glioblastoma patients who underwent an awake craniotomy from September 2010 to August 2018 under anaesthesia combined with multimodal techniques. Results:In total, 81 glioblastoma patient charts were analysed. The most common lesion sites were the frontal lobe (n=36), temporal lobe (n=17), and parietal lobe (n=6). The main symptoms were headache (n=51), dyskinesia (n=11), speech disorder (n=9), and epilepsy (n=10). The extent of resection was gross total for 91.36% patients, subtotal for 7.41%, and partial for 1.23%. No deaths occurred 30 days post-operation. Intracranial haemorrhage occurred in 2 patients, seizures in 5 patients, and intracranial infections in 3 patients. There was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative Karnofsky Performance Status scores (P>0.05). There were no significant changes in postoperative neurological function in 50 patients. Symptoms improved in 24 patients. Three patients exhibited motor dysfunction, 2 exhibited speech deficits, and 2 exhibited sensory deficits. The average duration of hospitalization was 6.89±2.66 days. The shortest survival time was 4 months, the longest survival time was 26 months, and the median survival time was 12 months.Conclusions: Awake craniotomy using multimodal techniques such as neuronavigation, intraoperative ultrasound, electrophysiology, and tumour fluorescence during an operation can maximize safety during the cerebral glioblastoma resection, thus protecting brain function and improving surgical efficacy and patients’ postoperative quality of life.
Skeletal muscle loss in the postoperative acute phase after esophageal cancer surgery as a new prognostic factor
Authors: Maeda Naoaki , Shirakawa Yasuhiro , Tanabe Shunsuke , Sakurama Kazufumi , Noma Kazuhiro , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi
Published: February 2020

Background: The postoperative survival rate of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains poor compared with other gastrointestinal cancers. We hypothesized that skeletal muscle loss (SML) in the postoperative acute phase might be a new predictor for long-term prognosis after highly invasive surgery such as ESCC surgery.Methods: The following items were retrospectively investigated. First, whether SML occurred in the postoperative acute phase of ESCC was verified. Second, the preoperative and intraoperative factors involved in SML in the postoperative acute phase of ESCC were investigated. Then, whether SML in the postoperative acute phase affected long-term prognosis was examined. The medical records of consecutive patients who underwent radical esophagectomy for ESCC were retrospectively reviewed; 72 cases were eligible for this study.Results: There was already a significant difference between the total psoas major muscle mass index (TPI) of the acute phase up to 3 days after surgery and the preoperative baseline TPI. The psoas muscle loss index (PMLI) was significantly milder in cases with less blood loss during surgery and in cases that underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy than in cases that underwent open esophagectomy. The three-year overall survival rate was significantly different between the PMLI severe group and the PMLI mild group.Conclusion: SML occurred even in the postoperative acute phase. Furthermore, it is very significant that SML in the postoperative acute phase of ESCC surgery is involved in the long-term prognosis.
Resveratrol reverses myogenic induction supression caused by high glucose through activating SIRT1/AKT/FOXO1 pathway
Authors: Author) Meiling Liu(Former Corresponding , Cheng Luyang , Li Xianglu , Ding Haifeng , Wang Hongzhi , Wang Manfeng , Author) Lu Gan(New Corresponding
Published: February 2020

Background: Long-term high glucose environment can cause muscle tissue atrophy, and then lead to musculoskeletal depression or even disability. Regenerative medicine is an extremely attractive select to solve this problem. Resveratrol is a compound which has various clinical therapeutic effects including regulating the myogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). So, the objective of this study is to observe if resveratrol affect myogenic induction of rat BMSCs under high glucose environment and explore the possible mechanism. Methods: Rat BMSCs were isolated and cultured. The phenotypes were identified when cultured to the third passage cells (P3 cells). Then the P3 cells were used to induce to differentiate into myogenic cells by using the conditioned medium. After grouping, glucose, resveratrol and EX527 (inhibitor of SIRT1) were added. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The myogenesis related protein was detected by immunofluorescence. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were detected by use of assay kits. The cell cycle was assayed with flow cytometry. The expression of FOXO1, AKT, p-AKT, MyoD1 and Myogenin were measured by WB. All above indicators in different groups were quantified and compared. Results: During myogenic induction, after 72h treatment, high glucose (35 mmol/L) reduced cell viability and proliferation of rat BMSCs significantly, increased intracellular ROS levels clearly, decreased SOD activity obviously, and restrained AKT/FOXO1 pathway apparently. Resveratrol (15μmol/L) could regulate the process positively and reverse the suppression caused by high glucose partly through restoring cell proliferation and viability, reducing peroxidative damage and activating AKT/FOXO1 pathway. After pretreated the cells with EX527 (20 μmol/L), this reverse effect of resveratrol was eliminated. Conclusion: Resveratrol not only promoted myogenic induction of rat BMSCs, but also partially reversed myogenic induction supression of rat BMSCs caused by high glucose through activating SIRT1/AKT/FOXO1 pathway.
[Key words] resveratrol, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, myogenic induction, glucose, SIRT1, AKT, FOXO1
The research of Secretogranin III in periperal blood and vitreous of diabetic retinopathy
Authors: jiao mingfei , Sun Shuo , Wang Manqiao , Dong Lijie , Hu Bojie , Liu Juping , Li Wei , Li Xiaorong
Published: February 2020

Background: Secretory granulin III (SCG3) is a member of the secretory granule protein family that regulates the production of secretory granules. SCG3 has a role in reducing retinal vascular leakage and neovascularization in an animal model of diabetic retinopathy. This study aimed to study SCG3 in periperal blood and vitreous of human. Methods ： (1) Collecting diabetic retinopathy(DR) patients required vitrectomy, and patients requiring vitrectomy for other non-diabetic factors, retaining some of the vitreous, ELISA was used to detect SCG3 in vitreous. The grouping was divided according to the patients’ blood lipids, BMI (Body Mass Index, BMI) and analyzed. (2) Collecting peripheral blood of DR and non-diabetic patients, ELISAwas performed. Results: (1) A total of 43 cases with DR were collected, and 34 cases non-diabetic patients were collected. SCG3 in DR patients was higher than that of non-diabetic. After refinement grouping, it was found that SCG3 with DR and hyperlipidemia was higher than that of non-diabetic patients without hyperlipidemia. SCG3 with DR and hyperlipidemia was higher than that of DR patients without hyperlipidemia. SCG3 of patients with DR and high BMI was higher than that of non-diabetic with normal BMI. SCG3 with DR and high BMI was higher than that of non-diabetic patients with normal BMI. (2) SCG3 in plasma was minimal or could not be detected. Conclusion： In DR patients, up-regulation of vitreous SCG3 may be closely related to the pathogenesis of DR. However, SCG3 is almost difficult to detect in normal vessel vasculature, which may highlight its advantages in using anti-SCG3 drugs in babies and children in future.
THE FAILURE TO SIGN THE UKRAINE-EU ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2013)
Authors: Denysenko V. I.
Published: February 2020

The failure to sign the Association Agreement with the EU in autumn 2013 has been
investigated. The role of the Russian factor, which became decisive in the foreign policy reversal of the Yanukovych regime, has been revealed. The importance of Viktor Yanukovych’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 27, 2013, in the dramatic change of Ukraine’s international vector has been emphasized. On the basis of diplomats’ memoirs, the assumption about intimidation of the Ukrainian President by the Russian side has been substantiated. The timeline of the preparation of the 2013 Vilnius Summit, the position of EU structures and the attempts of the fourth President of Ukraine to win time to trade with the Russians have been reproduced. The thesis about the Donetsk clan’s attempts to prepare public opinion for a 180 degree turn in late October - early November 2013 has been presented. For this purpose, demonstration meetings were organized with representatives of Ukrainian business and trade
unions, who called for revision of plans for European integration on their own initiative. The main role in manipulating public opinion rested on the government of Mykola Azarov and the Verkhovna Rada, which had a majority coalition led by the Party of Regions. Instead, Viktor Yanukovych continued his European integration rhetoric and reiterated to Western partners his own willingness to sign the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. On November 21, the real position of the ruling elite was made available to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. According to it, the process of preparation for the signing of the Association Agreement was suspended, the proposal was made for the trilateral Ukraine-EU-Russia negotiations, and the ministries were tasked with developing measures to maintain economic ties with the CIS countries. The decision was rejected by European partners and led to Yanukovych’s attempts to find other ways to thwart the signing of the Agreement. It has been proved that this role was played by Yanukovych’s requirements for financial assistance from the EU amounting to about 160 billion euros, which aimed to prevent the signing of the Association Agreement.
Key words: Viktor Yanukovych, association of Ukraine with the EU, эYulia Tymoshenko,
European integration, Pat Cox, Alexander Kwasniewski, Vladimir Putin.
THE “PROSVITA” FELLOWSHIP CENTRES OF THE LYPOVODOLYNA DISTRICT IN 1917-1922
Authors: Artiukh V. O.
Published: February 2020

The article covers the peculiarity of activities and the emergence of the “Prosvita” fellowship centres on the territory of the modern Lypovodolyna district of the Sumy region during the period of the Ukrainian revolution (1917-1921) and the first years of the
Soviet state. Such forms of activities of the fellowship as organizing the primary education, conducting theatre performances, maintaining educational libraries, forming the historical consciousness and creating the image of the poet Taras Shevchenko as a “father” of the Ukrainian nation are examined within the article. The national character of the fellowship is emphasized in the current publication.
The fact that the “Prosvita” fellowship centres in the North of Gadiach county were established right after the Ukrainian Central Rada emergence in Kyiv is stated. During the period of UNR the “Prosvita” fellowship centres of the Lypovodolyna district eagerly supported the revolutionary parliament of Ukraine and its policy. Actually they were the representative centres of the Ukrainian Central Rada in the region.
Concerning the relationship of the “Prosvita” fellowship with the Bolshevik authorities
the article defines that the latest, though considering the fellowship centres anti-revolutionary, did not counteract their activities in the first half of 1919.
The occupation of the region by the Russian Denikin Voluntary army caused the escalation of the repressions against the members of the fellowship. Since the middle 1920 the Bolshevik authorities began the practice of state controlling. Due to the activity of the Bolshevik political education 22 organizations had been established on the territory of the modern Lypovodolyna district by the beginning of 1922.
The article comes to the conclusion that during its short six year history (1917-1922)
the “Prosvita” fellowship of the Lypovodolyna district provided the cultural ascension which accompanied national-liberation struggles of the Ukrainian people. Moreover, the “Prosvita” movement turned into the main organizational form of engaging the vast strata of the society into the active participation in that process.
Key words: “Prosvita”, Lypovodolyna district, Ukrainian revolution, theatre, historical
consciousness, education, libraries, Taras Shevchenko.
Biopharmaceutical Protein Production under Controlled Environments: Growth, Development, and Vaccine Productivity of Transgenic Tomato Plants Grown Hydroponically in a Greenhouse
Authors: Matsuda Ryo , Kubota Chieri , Alvarez M. Lucrecia , Cardineau Guy A.
Published: February 2020

Biopharmaceutical protein production is a new application of plant biotechnology. Nevertheless, there is limited information for potential protein productivity in commercial production operation. The objective of this study was to characterize the growth and development as well as fruit and protein productivities of transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants in comparison with two nontransgenic reference cultivars under greenhouse conditions with commercially adopted cultural practice. Transgenic tomatoes expressing a predominant antigen fusion protein, F1-V, against plague were used as a model system. Three types of tomatoes were grown for this study: 1) a transgenic T2 line, ‘F1-V’; 2) the background wild-type cultivar, TA234; and 3) a commercial greenhouse cultivar well adopted in North America, Durinta. All plants were grown hydroponically in a greenhouse equipped with heating and evaporative cooling systems for 24 to 30 weeks. When comparing ‘F1-V’ with ‘TA234’, there were no significant differences in growth, cumulative fruit yield, fruit total soluble protein (TSP) concentration, nor cumulative TSP production between the two genotypes. Although there was a difference in plant leaf morphology, this suggests that the transformation event did not affect the key traits of biopharmaceutical protein production. When comparing ‘F1-V’ with ‘Durinta’, ‘Durinta’ yielded more fruit than did ‘F1-V’, although final vegetative biomass of the two genotypes was not significantly different. Cumulative fruit yield per plant of ‘Durinta’ for 13 weeks of harvest was almost twice that of ‘F1-V’. However, TSP concentration of fruits of ‘Durinta’ was only 12% to 34% of that of ‘F1-V’, making the estimated cumulative TSP production by fruits approximately half that of ‘Durinta’. Our results suggest that biomass productivity is not necessarily the high-priority trait in selecting cultivars for high-value protein production and that protein concentration of fruits may be an important factor.
Silicon-based Fertilizer Applications Have No Effect on the Reproduction and Development of the Citrus Mealybug, Planococcus citri Risso (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), Feeding on Fiddleleaf Fig, Ficus lyrata (Warb.)
Authors: Hogendorp Brian K. , Cloyd Raymond A. , Swiader John M.
Published: February 2020

Mealybugs are major insect pests of greenhouses, interiorscapes, and conservatories feeding on a wide range of horticultural crops. However, mealybugs are difficult to regulate with insecticides as a result of the presence of a nearly impervious protective waxy covering, which means that alternative management strategies are required. As such, this study was designed to determine the value of applying silicon-based fertilizers such as potassium silicate to fiddleleaf fig, Ficus lyrata, plants as a means of alleviating outbreaks of the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri. The study evaluated the effects of applying a commercially available silicon-based fertilizer product, ProTek® 0-0-3 The Silicon Solution, as a drench to the growing medium at different rates (0, 100, 400, 800, and 1600 ppm silicon). We determined the effect of the silicon-based fertilizer rate treatments on citrus mealybug life history parameters, including number of eggs laid by the female, body size (mm), and development time (days) from first instar to ovipositing adult female. In addition, we used a plant alkaline fusion technique to assess the concentration (mg·kg−1 or ppm) of silicon in the aboveground tissues (leaves and stems) of fiddleleaf fig plants at variable time intervals (days). This technique involves dry-ashing plant tissue in a muffle furnace followed by alkaline fusion and then colorimetric analysis. We found that the silicon-based fertilizer rate treatments did not negatively affect any of the citrus mealybug life history parameters measured. Citrus mealybug female egg load ranged from 132.3 to 159.2 and the development time (days) ranged from 66.9 to 68.7 d. The silicon concentrations present in the fiddleleaf fig plants on the final harvest date were between 4419.2 and 7241.7 mg·kg−1 silicon with fiddleleaf fig plants that received the 1600 ppm silicon-based fertilizer rate treatment having the highest silicon concentration. Moisture content was not significantly different among plants receiving the different silicon concentrations. Our results seem to suggest that fiddleleaf fig may actually be a silicon “rejector” and, as such, applications of silicon-based fertilizers are not beneficial to fiddleleaf fig plants because they do not accumulate sufficient quantities of silicon to impact citrus mealybugs.
Derivation of Constants (KE, CW) for the Viability Equation for Pepper Seeds and the Subsequent Test of Its Applicability
Authors: Demir Ibrahim , Kenanoglu B. Begüm , Mavi Kazim , Celikkol Tuba , Hay Fiona , Sariyildiz Zeliha
Published: February 2020

The effect of moisture on seed longevity during experimental storage was investigated in pepper (Capsicum annuum) cultivar Demre. Seeds were stored hermetically at 7.0%, 8.6%, 9.5%, 10.5%, and 12.1% moisture content (MC; percent fresh weight basis) and 35 °C for up to 306 d. Viability (normal germination) was assessed periodically and the seed viability equation moisture constants, KE and CW, estimated by regression of log σ (the sd of distribution of seed death in time) with log MC. KE and CW values were found to be 7.767 and 4.670, respectively. The newly found moisture constants were combined with the temperature constants that had already been proposed as universal for all orthodox seeds (CH = 0.0329, CQ = 0.000478) and their validity was tested by predicting the viability loss in another pepper cultivar, Carliston. The Ki of the Carliston cultivar was determined by controlled deterioration at 40 °C and 14% MC. The observed viability loss between 30 and 270 d at 25 °C and 10% seed MC was closely related to that predicted by the equation R2 = 0.982 (P < 0.001).