bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing health care use by health insurance subscribers and medical aid beneficiaries: a study based on data from the Korea welfare panel study database
Authors: Kong Na Young , Kim Dong Hee
Published: July 2020

Background

The use of health care services is influenced by various factors, including demographic, social, economic, and health status factors. This study aimed to identify the factors that influence health care use in health insurance subscribers and medical aid beneficiaries in Korea.

Methods

A total of 11,793 subjects were identified, including 10,838 health insurance subscribers and 955 medical aid beneficiaries, using the Korea Welfare Panel Study database. The data were analysed by percentage, t-test, and multiple regression using SPSS 20.0.

Results

Medical aid beneficiaries had 13.51 more days of outpatient visits and 8.38 more days of hospitalization compared with health insurance subscribers. Factors affecting the frequency of outpatient visits for health insurance subscribers were gender, age, household type, education level, income level, administrative district, perceived health status, chronic disease, and disability. These factors accounted for 19.8% of explanation (p < .001). Whereas, gender, household type, administrative district, perceived health status, and chronic disease were identified as factors influencing outpatient frequency for medical aid beneficiaries. These factors accounted for 11.2% of explanation (p < .001). For health insurance subscribers, factors affecting the length of hospitalization were gender, public pension status, place of residence, administrative district, economic activity, income level, perceived health status, and disability status. These factors accounted for 7.2% of explanation (p < .001). While, factors affecting the length of hospitalization for medical aid beneficiaries were accounted for by 3.4% (p < .001). Gender and perceived health status were identified as factors influencing the length of hospitalization of medical aid beneficiaries.

Conclusions

There were differences between medical aid beneficiaries and health insurance subscribers in health care use and influencing factors. Future management programs should take into consideration the specific factors that influence the use of health care services in health insurance subscribers and medical aid beneficiaries.
Relationship between loneliness and blood glucose control in diabetes
Authors: Kobos Ewa , Szewczyk Alicja , Świątkowska Teresa , Kryczka Tomasz , Sienkiewicz Zofia
Published: July 2020

Background

The data of the International Diabetes Federation show that about 463 million people have diabetes. Better understanding of psychosocial aspects of life with this disease has become one of healthcare priorities in this group of patients. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between loneliness and blood glucose control in diabetic patients.

Methods

The study included 250 hospitalized patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes. The patients included in the study were those who had had diabetes for at least 1 year and received pharmacotherapy. Standardized Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA) and an analysis of patient test results including 10 indicators of blood glucose control were used for data collection. Correlation analysis, i.e. Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient (r, parametric method), was used for hypothesis verification.

Results

Less than one-fifth (16%) of the patients included in the study had higher loneliness index (based on the R-UCLA scale), and this loneliness index (total result) was significantly correlated with higher blood pressure. No significant correlations were demonstrated between loneliness and the other 9 indicators of blood glucose control.

Conclusions

Systolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with loneliness in patients with diabetes. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Factors associated with different numbers of health behaviors by living arrangements
Authors: Kim Namhee , Kim Heejung , Kwon Sooyoung
Published: July 2020

Background

As the number of individuals living alone increases, it becomes clear that health disparities vary according to a person’s living arrangement. However, very few studies have investigated the characteristics of individuals who improve or maintain multiple healthy behaviors based on their living arrangements. This study aimed to explore the differing individual characteristics and multiple health behaviors in Korean adults living alone compared to those living with others and to identify the factors significantly associated with these behaviors.

Methods

This study utilized a secondary analysis, using 2013–2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, with a cross-sectional and descriptive correlational design (N = 15,934). Multiple health behaviors, based on the comparison of past and present behaviors, included smoking, alcohol consumption, and weight control. The total number of health behaviors was calculated as the sum of each single health behavior. The different numbers of health behaviors were categorized into four levels: from 0, none of the three health behaviors to 3, all three health behaviors. Descriptive statistics and generalized ordinal logistic regression analysis were used.

Results

People living alone engaged in fewer healthy behaviors (p <  0.05) and reported lower rates of maintenance of abstinence from smoking and weight control compared to those living with others, but they maintained a status of abstaining from alcohol consumption more than those living with others (p ≤ 0.001). In particular, higher self-rated health statuses (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 2.03, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.04–3.97), being overweight (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.11–1.92), and having shorter sleep durations per day (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.55–0.99) were significantly associated with 0, 1 versus 2, 3 levels of healthy behaviors in those living alone.

Conclusions

Korean adults who lived alone had different factors associated with different combinations of multiple healthy behaviors compared to those living with others. Therefore, we need to manage healthy behaviors by considering associated factors for those living alone. Specifically, clinicians should consider the vulnerability of health behaviors in people living alone and provide customized approaches and multidimensional interventions based on their living arrangements.
Prevalence and determinants of anaemia in women of reproductive age in Sudan: analysis of a cross-sectional household survey
Authors: Elmardi Khalid Abdelmutalab , Adam Ishag , Malik Elfatih Mohammed , Abdelrahim Tarig Abdalla , Elhag Mousab Siddig , Ibrahim Abdalla Ahmed , Babiker Mariam Adam , Elhassan Asma Hashim , Kafy Hmooda Toto , Elshafie Azza Tageldin , Nawai Lubna Mohammed , Abdin Mujahid Sheikhedin , Kremers Stef
Published: July 2020

Background

Anaemia is a global health problem and women in reproductive age (WRA) are amongst the most affected population. Its consequences include low birth weight and maternal mortality. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anaemia and to identify its determinants in Sudanese women in reproductive age.

Methods

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Sudan in 2016. A multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design was executed with consideration of rural population, urban population, and internally displaced persons/refugees camps residents. All women in reproductive age (15–49 years), classified by pregnancy status, in the targeted households were surveyed and personal characteristic data were collected. Their haemoglobin level and malaria infection (using rapid diagnostic test, RDT) were assessed. The World Health Organization (WHO) haemoglobin level cut-off for defining anaemia and severe anaemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women was used. Logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

A total of 4271 women (WRA) of which 421 (9.9%) pregnant women (PW) were included in the study. The overall anaemia prevalence in WRA was 35.6%. It was 36.0 and 35.5% in PW and non-pregnant women (NPW), respectively. The average haemoglobin level was found to be 113.9 g/L (SD 16.3) and 123.2 g/L (SD 15.7) for PW and NPW respectively. Severe anaemia prevalence was 1.2% in each group. In the logistic regression model, anaemia was associated with malaria infection in PW (aOR 4.100, 95%CI 1.523–11.039, p = 0.003), NPW (aOR 2.776, 95%CI 1.889–4.080, p < 0.001), and WRA (aOR 2.885, 95%CI 2.021–4.119, p < 0.001). Other identified determinants of anaemia in NPW was living in camps (aOR 1.499, 95%CI 1.115–2.017, p = 0.007) and in WRA was being in the poorest economic class (aOR 1.436, 95%CI 1.065–1.936, p = 0.018).

Conclusions

Anaemia is a public health problem in Sudan. The study supported the association between malaria infection and anaemia, but not with low and moderate malaria transmission areas. Resources need to be allocated for all anaemic populations with special attention for the populations in most need and interventions need to be implemented based on local variations. Malaria control interventions, specifically case management, may have a major impact in reducing anaemia prevalence in low to moderate malaria transmission areas.
Circulating sex hormone levels in relation to male sperm quality
Authors: Zhao Wei , Jing Jun , Shao Yong , Zeng Rong , Wang Cencen , Yao Bing , Hang Dong
Published: July 2020

Background

Although sex hormones play critical roles in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, it remains inconclusive whether circulating sex hormones can serve as non-invasive biomarkers to improve the assessment of sperm quality.

Methods

We systematically evaluated the association of various sex hormones in serum with sperm quality among 338 men in subfertile couples. Concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone (TT), total estradiol (E2), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were detected by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Free testosterone and estradiol were calculated using a validated algorithm. A generalized liner regression model controlling for lifestyle factors was used to evaluate the associations with sperm count, concentration, motility, and morphology.

Results

After adjusting for age, body mass index, current smoking and alcohol drinking, LH, FSH, and TT levels were all inversely associated with sperm motility (allPfor trend < 0.05); however, in mutual adjustment analysis, only LH remained an inverse association with sperm motility after adjusting for FSH and TT levels (Pfor trend = 0.04). Higher concentrations of LH were also associated with lower sperm progressive motility (Pfor trend = 0.04). Moreover, LH and FSH levels were both inversely associated with normal sperm morphology (Pfor trend = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively).

Conclusions

Increased levels of LH are associated with poor sperm motility and morphology, suggesting that LH may play a central role in sperm maturation. Future studies are warranted to assess potential clinical utility of LH for risk stratification and tailed prevention of male infertility.
Risk assessment in the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae): intensity of behavioral response differs with predator species
Authors: Wei Wanrong , Zhen Qiaoyan , Tang Zhongmin , Oosthuizen Maria K.
Published: July 2020

Background

The ability of a prey species to assess the risk that a predator poses can have important fitness advantages for the prey species. To better understand predator–prey interactions, more species need to be observed to determine how prey behavioral responses differ in intensity when approached by different types of predators. The plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is preyed upon by all predators occurring in its distribution area. Therefore, it is an ideal species to study anti-predator behavior. In this study, we investigated the intensity of anti-predator behavior of pikas in response to visual cues by using four predator species models in Maqu County on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Results

The behavioral response metrics, such as Flight Initiation Distance (FID), the hiding time and the percentage of vigilance were significantly different when exposed to a Tibetan fox, a wolf, a Saker falcon and a large-billed crow, respectively. Pikas showed a stronger response to Saker falcons compared to any of the other predators.

Conclusions

Our results showed that pikas alter their behavioral (such as FID, the hiding time and the vigilance) response intensity to optimally balance the benefits when exposed to different taxidermy predator species models. We conclude that pikas are able to assess their actual risk of predation and show a threat-sensitive behavioral response.
Living and dying with incurable cancer: a qualitative study on older patients’ life values and healthcare professionals’ responsivity
Authors: van Gurp Jelle L. P. , Ebenau Anne , van der Burg Simone , Hasselaar Jeroen
Published: July 2020

Background

In ageing Western societies, many older persons live with and die from cancer. Despite that present-day healthcare aims to be patient-centered, scientific literature has little knowledge to offer about how cancer and its treatment impact older persons’ various outlooks on life and underlying life values. Therefore, the aims of this paper are to: 1) describe outlooks on life and life values of older people (≥ 70) living with incurable cancer; 2) elicit how healthcare professionals react and respond to these.

Methods

Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 12 older persons with advanced cancer and two group interviews with healthcare professionals were held and followed by an analysis with a grounded theory approach.

Results

Several themes and subthemes emerged from the patient interview study: a) handling incurable cancer (the anticipatory outlook on “a reduced life”, hope and, coping with an unpredictable disease) b) being supported by others (“being there”, leaving a legacy, and having reliable healthcare professionals) and; c) making end-of-life choices (anticipatory fears, and place of death). The group interviews explained how healthcare professionals respond to the abovementioned themes in palliative care practice. Some barriers for (open) communication were expressed too by the latter, e.g., lack of continuity of care and advance care planning, and patients’ humble attitudes.

Conclusions

Older adults living with incurable cancer showed particular outlooks on life and life values regarding advanced cancer and the accompanying last phase of life. This paper could support healthcare professionals and patients in jointly exploring and formulating these outlooks and values in the light of treatment plans.
Human placenta induces hair regrowth in chemotherapy-induced alopecia via inhibition of apoptotic factors and proliferation of hair follicles
Authors: Kim Mi Hye , Kim Kyuseok , Lee Haesu , Yang Woong Mo
Published: July 2020

Background

The human placenta (HP) is a complex organ used to alleviate tiredness and promote wound healing. Previous research showed the hair growth-promoting effect of HP. However, no reports have addressed the effects of HP on hair regrowth in chemotherapy-induced alopecia. In this study, we investigated the effects of HP on the apoptosis and proliferation of hair follicles in chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

Methods

Male C57BL/6 mice in telogen were depilated to enter anagen. After 9 days, dystrophic catagen was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg cyclophosphamide. During 9 to 16 days, 0.1 and 1 mg/mL HP were topically applied to depilated dorsal skin.

Results

Dystrophic hair follicles by cyclophosphamide were recovered by HP treatment. New hair shafts containing hair fibers appeared to be straight after HP treatment. Immunohistological staining revealed a significant increase of Ki67-positive cells in hair follicles treated with 1 mg/mL HP. Topical HP treatment increased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, while it attenuated the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax, p53, and cytochrome c with caspase-9 and -3. In addition, the expression of KGF and the phosphorylation of AKT were upregulated by HP treatment.

Conclusion

These results suggest that HP treatment induced hair growth by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting the proliferation of hair follicles. HP may be useful for treating chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
PACE-IT study protocol: a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating the implementation of telehealth visual assessment in emergency care for people living in residential aged-care facilities
Authors: Sunner Carla , Giles Michelle Therese , Parker Vicki , Dilworth Sophie , Bantawa Kamana , Kable Ashley , Oldmeadow Chris , Foureur Maralyn
Published: July 2020

Background

Transfer of residential aged-care facility (RACF) residents to Emergency Departments (ED) is common, risky and expensive. RACF residents who present to ED are more likely to have hospital readmissions, longer stays and face major risks related to hospital acquired complications. Aged Care Emergency services (ACE) is a nurse led, protocol- guided, telephone RACF/ED outreach model that has been shown to be effective in reducing hospitalisation and length of hospital stay for RACF residents in the Hunter New England Local Health District, New South Wales (NSW). The Partnerships in Aged-Care Emergency services using Interactive Telehealth (PACE-IT) project enhances ACE by incorporating interactive video assessment and consultation. The PACE-IT project’s primary aim is to assess whether augmentation of ACE services through the addition of protocol-guided interactive Visual Telehealth Consultation (VTC) for clinical decision-making, plus telephone follow-up, reduces RACF resident transfers to ED.

Methods

A stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted. The intervention will be delivered sequentially to 8 clusters; each cluster comprises one ED and two RACFs in NSW, Australia.

The 16 RACFs in the study will be selected for order of implementation using a computer-generated randomisation sequence. A 2-step randomisation process will be undertaken, randomising the hospital EDs first and then randomising the RACFs aligned with each hospital.

The PACE-IT intervention comprises: an initial phone call by RACFs to the ACE service in the ED; the ACE service in ED responds with a protocol-guided VTC, a management plan agreed between all participants; an automated consultation summary letter to the General Practitioner and the RACF; a post VTC 24 h follow-up phone call to the RACF.

Discussion

If shown to be effective, the intervention has the potential to improve the clinical care and quality of life for residents. Findings will provide high level evidence that will inform sustainable change and broad translation into practice across NSW. It will show how the change has been achieved and highlight success factors for scalability and sustainability. It will inform review of processes, the development of policy and guidelines that will integrate PACE-IT into existing service models in NSW.

Trial registration

The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Trial ID ACTR N12619001692123) 02/12/2020.)
Correction to: RETRACTED ARTICLE: miR-484 suppresses proliferation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition by targeting ZEB1 and SMAD2 in cervical cancer cells
Authors: Hu Yang , Xie Hong , Liu Yankun , Liu Weiying , Liu Min , Tang Hua
Published: July 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Long noncoding RNA HOTAIR promotes breast cancer development by targeting ZEB1 via sponging miR-601
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan , Gong Guoliang , Xu Jingyun , Zhang Yuanxin , Wu Shenggui , Wang Shaohong
Published: July 2020

Background

Breast cancer (BC) is a common malignancy worldwide. It has been reported that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is abnormally expressed in BC. However, the role of HOTAIR in the malignancy of BC is worth further discussion. This study aims to clarify the function and molecular mechanism of HOTAIR in BC.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to determine the expression of HOTAIR, microRNA (miR)-601 and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay were used to detect the proliferation, migration and invasion of cells. Further, the protein levels of AKT, phosphorylated-AKT (p-AKT), ZEB1 and Ki-67 were confirmed by western blot (WB) assay. Moreover, dual-luciferase reporter assay was applied to examine the targeting relationship between HOTAIR and miR-601 or miR-601 and ZEB1. In addition, animal experiments were conducted to verify the effect of HOTAIR on BC tumor growth in vivo.

Results

HOTAIR was upregulated in BC tissues and cells, and its knockdown suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion and the activity of AKT signaling pathway of BC cells. HOTAIR could serve as a sponge of miR-601. Further experiments revealed that miR-601 inhibitor could reverse the inhibition effect of HOTAIR silencing on the progression of BC. Meanwhile, ZEB1 was a target of miR-601, and its overexpression could invert the suppression effect of miR-601 overexpression on the progression of BC. Additionally, ZEB1 expression was regulated by HOTAIR and miR-601. Furthermore, interference of HOTAIR could attenuate BC tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusion

In short, this study demonstrated that HOTAIR promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion of BC through regulating the miR-601/ZEB1 axis, which provided a theoretical basis for the research on lncRNA-directed therapeutics in BC.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Long non-coding RNA SATB2-AS1 inhibits microRNA-155-3p to suppress breast cancer cell growth by promoting breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1-like
Authors: Cheng Shaoqiang , Xia Bingshu , Li Hongbin , Li Yuying , Lv Xinxin , Zhang Yue , Huang Yuanxi
Published: July 2020

Background

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in human cancers. Nevertheless, the effects of lncRNAs and miRNAs on breast cancer (BC) remain to be further investigated. This study was designed to testify the roles of lncRNA antisense transcript of SATB2 protein (SATB2-AS1) and microRNA-155-3p (miR-155-3p) in BC progression.

Methods

Levels of SATB2-AS1, miR-155-3p and breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1-like (BRMS1L) in BC were determined. The prognostic role of SATB2-AS1 in BC patients was assessed. The screened cells were respectively introduced with altered SATB2-AS1 or miR-155-3p to figure out their roles in malignant phenotypes of BC cells. The effect of varied SATB2-AS1 and miR-155-3p on BC cells in vivo was observed. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA-pull down assay were implemented to detect the targeting relationship of SATB2-AS1, miR-155-3p, and BRMS1L.

Results

SATB2-AS1 and BRMS1L were decreased while miR-155-3p was increased in BC cells and tissues. Patients with lower SATB2-AS1 expression had poor prognosis. Elevated SATB2-AS1 and inhibited miR-155-3p were able to restrain malignant behaviors of BC cells in vitro, as well as decelerate tumor growth in vivo. Oppositely, inhibited SATB2-AS1 and amplified miR-155-3p had converse effects on BC cell growth. MiR-155-3p mimic abrogated the impact of overexpressed SATB2-AS1. SATB2-AS1 could sponge miR-155-3p, and BRMS1L was the target gene of miR-155-3p.

Conclusion

Elevated SATB2-AS1 and inhibited miR-155-3p could suppress the malignant phenotypes of BC cells, thereby restricting the development of BC.
Evolution of insecticide resistance and its mechanisms in Anopheles stephensi in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region
Authors: Enayati Ahmadali , Hanafi-Bojd Ahmad Ali , Sedaghat Mohammad Mehdi , Zaim Morteza , Hemingway Janet
Published: July 2020

Background

While Iran is on the path to eliminating malaria, the disease with 4.9 million estimated cases and 9300 estimated deaths in 2018 remains a serious health problem in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region. Anopheles stephensi is the main malaria vector in Iran and its range extends from Iraq to western China. Recently, the vector invaded new territories in Sri Lanka and countries in the Horn of Africa. Insecticide resistance in An. stephensi is a potential issue in controlling the spread of this vector.

Methods

Data were collated from national and international databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SID, and IranMedex using appropriate search terms.

Results

Indoor residual spaying (IRS) with DDT was piloted in Iran in 1945 and subsequently used in the malaria eradication programme. Resistance to DDT in An. stephensi was detected in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia in the late 1960s. Malathion was used for malaria control in Iran in 1967, then propoxur in 1978, followed by pirimiphos-methyl from 1992 to 1994. The pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin was used from 1994 to 2003 followed by deltamethrin IRS and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). Some of these insecticides with the same sequence were used in other malaria-endemic countries of the region. Pyrethroid resistance was detected in An. stephensi in Afghanistan in 2010, in 2011 in India and in 2012 in Iran. The newly invaded population of An. stephensi in Ethiopia was resistant to insecticides of all four major insecticide classes. Different mechanisms of insecticide resistance, including metabolic and insecticide target site insensitivity, have been developed in An. stephensi. Resistance to DDT was initially glutathione S-transferase based. Target site knockdown resistance was later selected by pyrethroids. Esterases and altered acetylcholinesterase are the underlying cause of organophosphate resistance and cytochrome p450s were involved in pyrethroid metabolic resistance.

Conclusions

Anopheles stephensi is a major malaria vector in Iran and many countries in the region and beyond. The species is leading in terms of development of insecticide resistance as well as developing a variety of resistance mechanisms. Knowledge of the evolution of insecticide resistance and their underlying mechanisms, in particular, are important to Iran, considering the final steps the country is taking towards malaria elimination, but also to other countries in the region for their battle against malaria. This systematic review may also be of value to countries and territories newly invaded by this species, especially in the Horn of Africa, where the malaria situation is already dire.
Slc6a3-dependent expression of a CAPS-associated Nlrp3 allele results in progressive behavioral abnormalities and neuroinflammation in aging mice
Authors: von Herrmann Katharine M. , Anderson Faith L. , Martinez Eileen M. , Young Alison L. , Havrda Matthew C.
Published: July 2020

Background

An association between neuroinflammation and age-related neurologic disorders has been established but the molecular mechanisms and cell types involved have not been thoroughly characterized. Activity of the proinflammatory NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and our recent studies in patients suggest that dopaminergic neurons within the degenerating mesencephalon express NLRP3 throughout the progression of PD. Here, we directly test the impact of enhanced inflammasome activity in mesencephalic neurons by characterizing motor function, tissue integrity, and neuroinflammation in aging mice harboring hyperactivating mutations within the endogenous murine Nlrp3 locus, enabled only in cells expressing the dopaminergic neuron-specific Slc6a3 promoter.

Methods

We compared mice harboring inducible alleles encoding the cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome activating mutations Nlrp3A350V and Nlrp3L351P inserted into the endogenous mouse Nlrp3 locus. Tissue specific expression was driven by breeding these animals with mice expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the dopaminergic neuron-specific Slc6a3 promoter. The experimental mice, designed to express hyperactive NLRP3 only when the endogenous mouse Nlrp3 promotor is active in dopaminergic neurons, were analyzed throughout 18 months of aging using longitudinal motor function assessments. Biochemical and histologic analyses of mesencephalic tissues were conducted in 1- and 18-month-old animals.

Results

We observed progressive and significant deficits in motor function in animals expressing Nlrp3L351P, compared with animals expressing Nlrp3WT and Nlrp3A350V. Age-dependent neuroinflammatory changes in the mesencephalon were noted in all animals. Analysis of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes in the substantia nigra revealed a significant increase in astrocyte number in animals expressing Nlrp3L351P compared with Nlrp3WT and Nlrp3A350V. Further analysis of Nlrp3L351P striatal tissues indicated genotype specific gliosis, elevated Il1b expression, and both morphologic and gene expression indicators of proinflammatory A1 astrocytes.

Conclusions

Dopaminergic neurons have the potential to accumulate NLRP3 inflammasome activators with age, including reactive oxygen species, dopamine metabolites, and misfolded proteins. Results indicate the Nlrp3 locus is active in dopaminergic neurons in aging mice, and that the hyperactive Nlrp3L351P allele can drive neuroinflammatory changes in association with progressive behavioral deficits. Findings suggest neuronal NLRP3 inflammasome activity may contribute to neuroinflammation observed during normal aging and the progression of neurologic disorders.
Cytokine profile and nitric oxide levels in peritoneal macrophages of BALB/c mice exposed to the fucose-mannose ligand of Leishmania infantum combined with glycyrrhizin
Authors: Namdar Ahmadabad Hasan , Shafiei Reza , Hatam Gholam Reza , Zolfaghari Emameh Reza , Aspatwar Ashok
Published: July 2020

Background

The fucose-mannose ligand (FML) ofLeishmania infantumis a complex glycoprotein which does not elicit adequate immunogenicity in humans. In recent years, adjuvant compounds derived from plants have been used for improving the immunogenicity of vaccines. Glycyrrhizin (GL) is a natural triterpenoid saponin that has known immunomodulatory activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of co-treatment with FML and GL on the production of cytokines and nitric oxide(NO) by macrophages,in vitro.

Methods

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated murine peritoneal macrophages were treated with FML (5 μg/ml) ofL. infantumand various concentrations of GL (1 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml and 20 μg/ml). After 48 h of treatment, cell culture supernatants were recovered and the levels of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-12p70 and IP-10 were measured by sandwich ELISA and NO concentration by Griess reaction.

Results

Our results indicate that the treatment of activated macrophages with FML plus GL leads to enhanced production of NO, TNF-α and IL-12p70, and reduction of IL-10 levels in comparison with FML treatment alone.

Conclusions

Therefore, we concluded that GL can improve the immunostimulatory effect of FML on macrophages and leads to their polarization towards an M1-like phenotype.
Diabetes prediction model based on an enhanced deep neural network
Authors: Zhou Huaping , Myrzashova Raushan , Zheng Rui
Published: July 2020

Today, diabetes is one of the most common, chronic, and, due to some complications, deadliest diseases in the world. The early detection of diabetes is very important for its timely treatment since it can stop the progression of the disease. The proposed method can help not only to predict the occurrence of diabetes in the future but also to determine the type of the disease that a person experiences. Considering that type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes have many differences in their treatment methods, this method will help to provide the right treatment for the patient. By transforming the task into a classification problem, our model is mainly built using the hidden layers of a deep neural network and uses dropout regularization to prevent overfitting. We tuned a number of parameters and used the binary cross-entropy loss function, which obtained a deep neural network prediction model with high accuracy. The experimental results show the effectiveness and adequacy of the proposed DLPD (Deep Learning for Predicting Diabetes) model. The best training accuracy of the diabetes type data set is 94.02174%, and the training accuracy of the Pima Indians diabetes data set is 99.4112%. Extensive experiments have been conducted on the Pima Indians diabetes and diabetic type datasets. The experimental results show the improvements of our proposed model over the state-of-the-art methods.
Hybrid method for equilibrium problems and variational inclusions
Authors: Rezapour Shahram , Zakeri Seyyed Hasan
Published: July 2020

By providing a new iterative method our aim is finding a common element of the set of fixed points of two nonexpansive mappings, the set of solutions to a variational inclusion and the set of solutions of a generalized equilibrium problem in a real Hilbert space. We review the strong convergence of the new iterative method in the framework of Hilbert spaces. Finally, we show that our main result is a generalization for some known theorems in this field.
Novel Genetic and Biochemical Findings of DLK1 in Children with Central Precocious Puberty: A Brazilian–Spanish Study
Authors: Montenegro Luciana , Labarta José I , Piovesan Maira , Canton Ana P M , Corripio Raquel , Soriano-Guillén Leandro , Travieso-Suárez Lourdes , Martín-Rivada Álvaro , Barrios Vicente , Seraphim Carlos E , Brito Vinicius N , Latronico Ana Claudia , Argente Jesús
Published: July 2020

Background

Central precocious puberty (CPP) has been associated with loss-of-function mutations in 2 paternally expressed genes (MKRN3 and DLK1). Rare defects in the DLk1 were also associated with poor metabolic phenotype at adulthood.

Objective

Our aim was to investigate genetic and biochemical aspects of DLK1 in a Spanish cohort of children with CPP without MKRN3 mutations.

Patients

A large cohort of children with idiopathic CPP (Spanish PUBERE Registry) was studied. Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid was obtained from 444 individuals (168 index cases) with CPP and their close relatives. Automatic sequencing of MKRN3 and DLK1 genes were performed.

Results

Five rare heterozygous mutations of MKRN3 were initially excluded in girls with familial CPP. A rare allelic deletion (c.401_404 + 8del) in the splice site junction of DLK1 was identified in a Spanish girl with sporadic CPP. Pubertal signs started at 5.7 years. Her metabolic profile was normal. Familial segregation analysis showed that the DLK1 deletion was de novo in the affected child. Serum DLK1 levels were undetectable (<0.4 ng/mL), indicating that the deletion led to complete lack of DLK1 production. Three others rare allelic variants of DLK1 were also identified (p.Asn134=; g.-222 C>A and g.-223 G>A) in 2 girls with CPP. However, both had normal DLK1 serum levels.

Conclusion

Loss-of-function mutations of DLK1 represent a rare cause of CPP, reinforcing a significant role of this factor in human pubertal timing.
The Neighborhood Deprivation Index and Provider Geocoding Identify Critical Catchment Areas for Diabetes Outreach
Authors: Walker Ashby F , Hu Hui , Cuttriss Nicolas , Anez-Zabala Claudia , Yabut Katarina , Haller Michael J , Maahs David M
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In designing a Project ECHO™ type 1 diabetes (T1D) program in Florida and California, the Neighborhood Deprivation Index (NDI) was used in conjunction with geocoding of primary care providers (PCPs) and endocrinologists in each state to concurrently identify areas with low endocrinology provider density and high health risk/poverty areas. The NDI measures many aspects of poverty proven to be critical indicators of health outcomes.

Methods

The data from the 2013-2017 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates were used to create NDI maps for California and Florida. In addition, geocoding and 30-minute drive-time buffers were performed using publicly available provider directories for PCPs and endocrinologists in both states by Google Geocoding API and the TravelTime Search Application Programming Interface (API).

Results

Based on these findings, we defined high-need catchment areas as areas with (1) more than a 30-minute drive to the nearest endocrinologist but within a 30-minute drive to the nearest PCP; (2) an NDI in the highest quartile; and (3) a population above the median (5199 for census tracts, and 1394 for census block groups). Out of the 12 181 census tracts and 34 490 census block groups in California and Florida, we identified 57 tracts and 215 block groups meeting these criteria as high-need catchment areas.

Conclusion

Geospatial analysis provides an important initial methodologic step to effectively focus outreach efforts in diabetes program development. The integration of the NDI with geocoded provider directories enables more cost-effective and targeted interventions to reach the most vulnerable populations living with T1D.
From Seoul to Paris
Authors: Kauhanen Katri
Published: July 2020

The Korean National Council of Women, a women’s organization established in 1959, has received criticism in Korean literature for its collaboration with the authoritarian regimes that ruled South Korea for decades. This article, however, argues for a different kind of interpretation. The Korean National Council of Women came together to join the International Council of Women, a major international women’s organization that was looking for new affiliations in the recently decolonized parts of Asia and Africa in the midst of Cold War competition. Thus, we should view the existence of the Korean National Council of Women in the framework of transnational women’s activism and how the Cold War shaped it. After outlining the connections made between South Korean women and the International Council of Women, the article analyzes the projects proposed by the Korean National Council of Women under the anti-communist authoritarian regime. Based on archival research in South Korea and Belgium, this article argues that instead of following rules from above, the Korean National Council of Women negotiated a way to combine the advancement of women’s issues with the development of the nation. The International Council of Women, while criticizing communist women for their close relationship with the state, celebrated the achievements its South Korean affiliate made as a state-registered organization.
WRKY55 transcription factor positively regulates leaf senescence and defense response through modulating the transcription of genes implicated in ROS and SA biosynthesis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Yiqiao , Cui Xing , Yang Bo , Xu Shutao , Wei Xiangyan , Zhao Peiyu , Niu Fangfang , Sun Mengting , Wang Chen , Cheng Hao , Jiang Yuan-Qing
Published: July 2020

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and salicylic acid (SA) are two factors regulating leaf senescence and pathogen defense. However, how a single gene integrates both ROS and SA pathways remains poorly understood. Here, we show that Arabidopsis WRKY55 transcription factor positively regulates ROS and SA accumulation and thus leaf senescence and resistance against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. WRKY55 is predominantly expressed in senescent leaves and encodes a transcriptional activator localized to nuclei. Both inducible and constitutive overexpression of WRKY55 accelerates leaf senescence, while mutants delay it. A transcriptomic sequencing identified 1,448 differentially expressed gens (DEGs), of which 1,157 genes are up-regulated by WRKY55 expression. Accordingly, the ROS and SA contents in WRKY55-overexpression plants are higher than that in the control, while mutants showed a contrast change. Moreover, WRKY55 positively regulates defense against Pseudomonas syringae. Finally we show that WRKY55 activates the expression of RbohD, ICS1, PBS3 and SAG13 through directly binding to the W-box-containing fragments. Taken together, our work has identified a novel WRKY transcription factor that integrates both ROS and SA pathways to regulate leaf senescence and pathogen resistance.
Mechanisms of human embryo development: from cell fate to tissue shape and back
Authors: Shahbazi Marta N.
Published: July 2020

Gene regulatory networks and tissue morphogenetic events drive the emergence of shape and function: the pillars of embryo development. Although model systems offer a window into the molecular biology of cell fate and tissue shape, mechanistic studies of our own development have so far been technically and ethically challenging. However, recent technical developments provide the tools to describe, manipulate and mimic human embryos in a dish, thus opening a new avenue to exploring human development. Here, I discuss the evidence that supports a role for the crosstalk between cell fate and tissue shape during early human embryogenesis. This is a critical developmental period, when the body plan is laid out and many pregnancies fail. Dissecting the basic mechanisms that coordinate cell fate and tissue shape will generate an integrated understanding of early embryogenesis and new strategies for therapeutic intervention in early pregnancy loss.
Modulating offspring responses: concerted effects of stress and immunogenic challenge in the parental generation
Authors: Giayetto Octavio , Videla Emiliano A. , Chacana Pablo , Jaime Cristian , Marín Raúl H. , Nazar F. Nicolás
Published: July 2020

The perception, processing and response to environmental challenges involves the activation of the immuno-neuroendocrine (INE) interplay. Concerted environmental challenges might induce trade-off when resource allocation to one trait occurs at the expense of another, also producing potential transgenerational effects in the offspring. We evaluated whether concerted challenges, in the form of an immune inoculum against inactivated Salmonella Enteritidis (immune challenge, ICH) and a chronic heat stress (CHS) exposure on adult Japanese quail, modulates the INE responses of the parental generation and their offspring. Adults were inoculated and later exposed to a CHS along 9 consecutive days. The last 5 days of CHS, eggs were collected for incubation. Chicks were identified according to their parental treatments and remained undisturbed. Induced inflammatory response, Heterophil/Lymphocyte (H/L) ratio and specific humoral response against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were evaluated in both generations. Regardless of the ICH, stressed adults showed a reduced inflammatory response (p<0.001) and an elevated H/L ratio (p=0.02) compared to controls. In offspring, the inflammatory response was elevated (p=0.03) and the specific SRBC antibody titers were diminished (p=0.02) in those chicks prenatally exposed to CHS, regardless of the ICH. No differences were found in the H/L ratio of the offspring. Together, our results suggest that CHS exposure influences the INE interplay of adult quail, establishing trade-offs within their immune system. Moreover, CHS not only affected parental INE responses but also modulated their offspring, probably affecting their potential to respond to future challenges. The adaptability of offspring's programming would depend on the environment encountered.
Thermal adaptation in the honeybee (Apis mellifera) via changes to the structure of malate dehydrogenase
Authors: Meemongkolkiat Thitipan , Allison Jane , Seebacher Frank , Lim Julianne , Chanchao Chanpen , Oldroyd Benjamin P.
Published: July 2020

In honeybees there are three alleles of cytosolic malate dehydrogenase: F, M and S. Allele frequencies are correlated with environmental temperature, suggesting that the alleles have temperature-dependent fitness benefits. We determined the enzymic activity of each allele across a range of temperatures in vitro. The F and S alleles have higher activity and are less sensitive to high temperatures than the M allele, which loses activity after incubation at temperatures found in the thorax of foraging bees in hot climates. Next, we predicted the protein structure of each allele and used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate their molecular flexibility. The M allele is more flexible than the S and F alleles at 50°C, suggesting a plausible explanation for M's loss of activity at high temperatures, and has the greatest structural flexibility at 15°C, suggesting that it can retain some enzyme activity at cooler temperatures. MM bees recovered from two hours of cold narcosis significantly better than all other genotypes. Combined, these results explain clinal variation in MDH allele frequencies in the honeybee at the molecular level.
Correlation between ESβL Salmonella Serovars Isolated from Broilers and their Virulence Genes
Authors: RADY M. , EZZ-EL-DIN N.A. , MOHAMED K.F. , NASEF S. , SAMIR A. , ELFEIL W.K.
Published: July 2020

Salmonella is considered to be one of the major poultry bacterial pathogens. The poultry species are one of the main reservoirs for the human types, thus serving as public health hazards. The development of drug resistant genes and multidrug resistant types from Salmonella has increased recently. This current study was undertaken to estimate the correlation between extended spectrum beta-lactamase multidrug resistant (ESβL) Salmonella serovars isolated from broilers and their virulence genes. Two hundred and forty samples were collected from clinically diseased broilers chicks (showed disorders of the intestinal tract) and examined for the presence of Salmonella isolates according to ISO 6579: 2002 and ISO. 6579-3:2014 Fifty Salmonella isolates were isolated with an incidence of 20.8%. Isolates of Salmonella were serotyped as follows: 25 S. Kentucky, 9 S. Infantis, 6 S. Enteritidis, 4 S. Heidelberg, and one isolates per serovars S. Labadie, S. Typhi, S. Agona, S. Pullorum, S. Newport and S. Virginia. AST (antimicrobial susceptibility testing) showed that high percentage of isolates were resistant to all Ampicillin (90%), Nalidixic acid (88%), Sulfamethoxazole + Trimethoprim (82%) and Tetracycline (82%). Approximately 86% of the isolates demonstrated multiple resistance, of which 18.75% and 25% were resistant to three and four antimicrobial types, respectively. Phenotypic detection of ESβLs by using screening test (Cefinase®) and confirmatory test by using combined disk diffusion test revealed that 32% of isolates were positive for both tests with 20% similarity and 12% diversity between the two tests. Molecular characterization of some ESβLs genes (blaTEM, blaCTX, blaOXA, blaCMY and blaSHV) and some virulence genes (invA, avrA, sopB, bcfC, stn (was done using PCR. The results showed that all the ESβLs positive serovars were positive for amplification of all tested virulence genes and noticed that all the isolates were negativefor blaCMY gene. The present study suggests that virulent ESβL Salmonella serovars could infect broilers and should be taken into consideration as an important bacterial pathogen affecting poultry.