bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Relationship Between Palatal Cleft Type and Width With the Use of Relieving Incisions in Primary Repair
Authors: Davies Alex , Davies Amy , Wren Yvonne , Deacon Scott , Cobb Alistair R.M. , Chummun Shaheel
Published: June 2021

Objective:

The mainstay of palatal repair in the United Kingdom is the intravelar veloplasty (IVVP). It is not always possible to align the oral mucosa in the midline to achieve tension-free repair. The addition of lateral relieving incisions may aid transposition of the oral mucosa to allow closure. The aim of this study was to explore cleft features that may predispose to a requirement for relieving incisions in order to allow palate closure.

Design:

We performed a national multiinstitutional retrospective study using data from the UK Cleft Collective cohort study.

Patients:

The study sample consisted of 474 patients who had undergone IVVP at the time of palatal closure across all 16 of the UK cleft units.

Results:

We found strong evidence for the requirement for relieving incisions in patients with an increased degree of clefting per the Veau classification ( P < .001), increasing palatal soft-edge width ( P < .001) and moderate evidence of an associated use in patients with Pierre Robin sequence ( P = .015). Insufficient data were available to explore the relationship between intertuberosity distance and the presence of fistula formation with the use of relieving incisions.

Conclusions:

The results of this study identify cleft features that increase the likelihood for requiring lateral relieving incisions to allow palatal closure. The degree to which the addition of relieving incisions to IVVP affects maxillary growth and speech outcomes is unknown. Further study is required to answer this important question.
Let’s Work Together: Bill Success via Women’s Cosponsorship in U.S. State Legislatures
Authors: Holman Mirya R. , Mahoney Anna , Hurler Emma
Published: June 2021

Not all pieces of legislation introduced for consideration are equally likely to be successful. The characteristics of legislation’s cosponsors can influence bill passage rates. Despite facing marginalization in legislative bodies and more electoral vulnerability, women are effective lawmakers. We argue that one way by which women overcome marginalization and gendered expectations of performance is bill success from legislation cosponsored with other women. Testing this expectation on bills (140,000+) introduced in U.S. state legislatures in forty states in 2015, we find increased bill success from women’s cosponsorship with each other and women from the other party. Using variation in the share of women in legislative chambers and in legislative leadership, we find evidence to suggest that women’s success emerges both from marginalization and gendered opportunities.
A Social Identity Threat Perspective on Why Partisans May Engage in Greater Victim Blaming and Sexual Assault Myth Acceptance in the #MeToo Era
Authors: Ortiz Rebecca R. , Smith Andrea M.
Published: June 2021

This study examined how U.S. partisans ( N = 1,154) may engage in greater victim blaming and sexual assault myth acceptance to defend their political identities in the #MeToo era. The more Republicans and Democrats identified with being a member of their political party and reported feeling defensive when members from their political party are criticized, the more accepting they were of common sexual assault myths and thus the less likely they were to perceive sexual assault as a serious issue in need of addressing and the #MeToo movement as having a positive impact in the United States.
Blinatumomab-related pneumatosis intestinalis in a pediatric patient with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A case report
Authors: Kim Sung Eun , Lee So Mi , Kim Ji Yoon
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Pneumatosis intestinalis is characterized by air in the subserosal or submucosal layer of the intestine, with the severity ranging from mild and asymptomatic to symptomatic with serious conditions such as intestinal ischemia and perforation requiring surgery. Although several etiologies, including those from conventional chemotherapy agents and molecular target agents, have been suggested, blinatumomab-related pneumatosis intestinalis is quite rare.

Case report

An 11-year-old girl with history of B-cell ALL presented with bone marrow relapse 3 years after completion of initial chemotherapy. Reinduction chemotherapy and blinatumomab as post-reinduction consolidation were initiated. On day 28 of blinatumomab therapy, pneumatosis intestinalis from the ascending colon to the hepatic flexure was found incidentally on abdominal computed tomography. Management and outcome: After withholding blinatumomab therapy for 1 month, pneumatosis intestinalis improved significantly without abnormal gastrointestinal symptoms. Blinatumomab was resumed and safely completed. The computed tomography performed 4 months later showed complete resolution of pneumatosis intestinalis. The patient has been in good condition for over 1 year to date.

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the first case report of pneumatosis intestinalis after blinatumomab therapy in a pediatric patient with relapsed precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Herein, we highlight the importance of early detection of pneumatosis intestinalis through imaging follow-up during blinatumomab therapy.
In-plane free vibrations of functionally graded sandwich arches using shear and quasi-3D deformation theories
Authors: Xie Ke , Wang Yuewu , Niu Hongpan , Chen Hongyong
Published: June 2021

The in-plane vibration problem of functionally graded (FG) sandwich circular arch made up of two layers of power law FGM face sheet and one layer of homogeneous core is investigated. A framework for the vibration analysis of FG sandwich circular arches is presented, and the quasi-3D theories for the arch structures compatible with this framework are established for the first time. The quasi-3D theories take into account the changes of displacement through the thickness of the arch, and satisfy the stress-free boundary conditions naturally. The Lagrange equation is employed to derive the equation of motion, and various boundary conditions are implemented by applying simple algebraic polynomials as admissible functions to discrete the displacement fields of the FG sandwich arches. The comparison study of various high-order shear deformation theories and quasi-3D deformation theories for the FG sandwich circular arches is carried out via different numerical examples. The influences of material distributions and geometric parameters on the vibration characteristics of the FG sandwich circular arches are also presented and discussed for the first time.
Comparison of ultrasound-guided femoral artery cannulation versus palpation technique in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery
Authors: Salık Fikret , Bıçak Mustafa
Published: June 2021

Objectives:

Palpation technique for femoral artery cannulation can be very difficult, especially in neonates. In this study, we evaluated whether ultrasound-guided cannulation of the femoral artery is superior to palpation technique in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods:

Forty neonates undergoing cardiac surgery were prospectively randomized into two groups (Ultrasound group and Palpation group). Access time, number of attempts, number of successful cannulations on first attempt, success rate, number of cannulas used, inadvertent access, and complications were compared between the two groups. Cost analyses of the cannulation were performed in two groups.

Results:

In the ultrasound group, access time for femoral artery cannulation was shorter (6.4 ± 3.0 and 10.2 ± 4.4, p = 0.003) and the number of attempts (1.4 ± 0.6 and 2.3 ± 0.8, p < 0.001) was lower compared to the palpation group. The number of successful cannulations on first-attempt (15 (75%) and 5 (25%), p = 0.002) and the success rate (95% (19) and 60% (12), p = 0.008) were higher in the ultrasound group. The number of cannulas used in the ultrasound group was less than the palpation group ( p = 0.001). The cost of intervention was higher in the palpation group compared to the ultrasound group ( p = 0.048).

Conclusions:

The ultrasound-guided cannulation of the femoral artery in neonates is superior to the palpation technique based on the increased of the number of successful first-attempt cannulation and success rate, and the reducing of the access time, number of attempts, number of cannulas used, and cost of cannulation.
Protein Intake and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Coelho-Júnior Hélio José , Calvani Riccardo , Landi Francesco , Picca Anna , Marzetti Emanuele
Published: June 2021

Introduction:

The present study investigated the association between protein intake and cognitive function in older adults.

Methods:

We performed a literature search with no restriction on publication year in MEDLINE, SCOPUS, CINAHL, AgeLine from inception up to October 2020. Observational studies that investigated as a primary or secondary outcome the association of protein intake and cognitive function in older adults aged ⩾60 years were included.

Results:

Nine cross-sectional studies that investigated a total of 4929 older adults were included in the qualitative analysis. Overall cognitive function was examined in 6 studies. Four investigations reported null associations and 2 studies found that older adults with a high protein intake had higher global cognitive function than their counterparts. Results from the meta-analysis suggested that there were no significant associations between protein consumption and global cognitive function in older adults, regardless of gender. Three studies investigated other cognitive domains. Memory and protein intake were significantly and positively correlated in all studies. In addition, visuospatial, verbal fluency, processing speed, and sustained attention were positively associated with protein consumption in 1 study each.

Conclusion:

No significant associations between protein intake and global cognitive function were observed in neither qualitative nor quantitative analyses. The association between protein consumption with multiple other cognitive domains were also tested. As a whole, 3 studies reported a positive and significant association between high protein intake and memory, while 1 study observed a significant and positive association with visuospatial, verbal fluency, processing speed, and sustained attention.
Psychodynamics of imagination failures: Reflections on the 20th anniversary of 9/11
Authors: Fraher Amy L
Published: June 2021

This article aims to advance the psychodynamic understanding of imagination failures by studying lessons learned in the US government’s public inquiry into September 11th, 2001 (9/11). Analyzing the findings of The 9/11 Report, I theorize that two forms of macro-level hubris—America’s “hubris of empire-building” and Al Qaeda’s “hubris-nemesis complex”—amalgamated in a uniquely generative manner leading to events on 9/11. Previous studies of public inquiries often demonstrate that inquiry reports are monological story-telling performances used to create sense-making narratives that function hegemonically to impose a simplified version of reality to assign blame and depoliticize events in order to facilitate closure after shocking events. In contrast, findings here suggest that by constructing a critical narrative, The 9/11 Report may serve as a new type of public inquiry report that invites learning about the complex factors that underpin crisis. The article concludes by identifying fruitful areas of future research and ways to theorize further about the collective psychodynamics of macro-level hubris and the psychodynamic factors that hinder learning and contribute to imagination failures.
Indigenous mothers’ experiences of power and control in child welfare: Families being heard
Authors: Robertson Suzanne C , Sinclair Carey , Hatala Andrew R
Published: June 2021

There are upward of 11,000 Indigenous children and families in the Manitoba Child and Family Services (CFSs). Many factors coalesce as contributors to these high rates of care, including oppressive histories of Canadian settler colonialism, governmental policies and the Indian Residential Schools, and mass apprehensions of Indigenous children through “the 60’s scoop.” Although a process of “Devolution” began in Manitoba in 1999 to address Indigenous overrepresentation and improve cultural safety for children and families, the voices of women whose children are in care often remain silenced and marginal.

Findings

Utilizing an Indigenous Research lens, this qualitative study explored the stories and experiences of 12 Indigenous mothers involved with Manitoba CFS. The mothers’ stories revealed dynamics of power and control outlined in five core themes: (1) Being “set up to fail”; (2) Confronting “normalcy” and navigating case plans; (3) Dealing with tactics of intimidation; (4) Experiencing judgment and being labelled; and (5) Emotional politics. The mothers’ stories suggest that the CFS system continues to reflect colonial structures of oppression and that the “Devolution” did not fully have the intended impact on daily practice.

Applications

The womens' shared experiences highlight several areas for change, such as: enhanced family supports and worker relationships; utilization of capacity building frameworks; better institutional collaborations; increased efforts to maintain family relationships and units; and greater access to and quality of Indigenous cultural supports for mothers and children, including ceremony, healing, and access to Elders. Suggestions for more efficient and family-centered service provision are also offered.
Social workers and refugee service users (re)constructing their relationships in a hostile political climate
Authors: Birger Lior , Nadan Yochay
Published: June 2021

This article explores the relationship between social workers and adult Eritrean refugee service users in the context of a hostile political climate and restrictive state policies. It examines the implications of politics and policies on the formation of this relationship based on findings from a qualitative study conducted in Israel and Germany. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 38 participants – 16 Eritrean refugees and 22 social workers who work with refugees.

Findings

Despite different political, social and organizational contexts, especially in the asylum policies towards Eritrean refugees, our thematic analysis yielded two main themes common to both countries: First, changing relationship structures, in particular moving away from a ‘traditional’ conceptualization of the social work relationship towards ‘informal’ practices. These included modifications of the setting, of professional boundaries and of the therapeutic language. Second, shifting power relations, characterized by a friend-like dynamic, which enabled more egalitarian relations, and a parent–child dynamic, which included increased power imbalances and dependency.

Implications

An increased understanding of the role of restrictive policies, everyday racism and exclusionary political discourse in the reconstruction of the user-worker relationship dynamics could inform social work education and practice. Beyond the refugee arena, establishing informal relationship structures could help to reduce power differentials, increase trust-building and improve therapeutic outcomes with refugees and other service users. The possible risks of informal relations, such as misunderstandings or worker burnout, are also discussed.
Electrophysiological properties of maxillary trigeminal Aβ-afferent neurons of rats
Authors: Okutsu Yuya , Yamada Akihiro , Tonomura Sotatsu , Vaden Ryan J , Gu Jianguo G
Published: June 2021

Aβ-afferents in maxillary or V2 trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons are somatosensory neurons that may be involved in both non-nociceptive and nociceptive functions in orofacial regions. However, electrophysiological properties of these V2 trigeminal Aβ-afferent neurons have not been well characterized so far. Here, we used rat ex vivo trigeminal nerve preparations and applied patch-clamp recordings to large-sized V2 TG neurons to characterize their electrophysiological properties. All the cells recorded had afferent conduction velocities in the range of Aβ-afferent conduction speeds. However, these V2 trigeminal Aβ-afferent neurons displayed different action potential (AP) properties. APs showed fast kinetics in some cells but slow kinetics with shoulders in repolarization phases in other cells. Based on the derivatives of voltages in AP repolarization with time (dV/dt), we classified V2 trigeminal Aβ-afferent neurons into four types: type I, type II, type IIIa and type IIIb. Type I V2 trigeminal Aβ-afferent neurons had the largest dV/dt of repolarization, the fastest AP conduction velocities, the shortest AP and afterhyperpolarization (AHP) durations, and the highest AP success rates. In contrast, type IIIb V2 trigeminal Aβ-afferent neurons had the smallest dV/dt of AP repolarization, the slowest AP conduction velocities, the longest AP and AHP durations, and the lowest AP success rates. The type IIIb cells also had significantly lower voltage-activated K+ currents. For type II and type IIIa V2 trigeminal Aβ-afferent neurons, AP parameters were in the range between those of type I and type IIIb V2 trigeminal Aβ-afferent neurons. Our electrophysiological classification of V2 trigeminal Aβ-afferent neurons may be useful in future to study their non-nociceptive and nociceptive functions in orofacial regions.
Influence of non-scorer floater and numerical superiority on novices’ tactical behaviour and skill efficacy during basketball small-sided games
Authors: Diniz Laura Beatriz Faleiro , Bredt Sarah da Glória Teles , Praça Gibson Moreira
Published: June 2021

The study compared the tactical behaviour and skill efficacy of young novice basketball players during small-sided games (SSGs) in situations of numerical equality (3vs.3), numerical superiority (3vs.2), and a non-scorer floater (3vs.3 + 1). A total of forty-five schoolchildren (11.55 ± 0.49 years) from both sexes with no previous experience in basketball participated in ten four-minute SSGs of each format for four 1-h sessions. The Game Performance Assessment Instrument was used to analyse tactical behaviour and skill efficacy. Friedman’s test, Dunn’s post hoc test, and r effect size were used to compare the variables between SSGs. Pass inefficacy (3vs.3 > 3vs.2; p = 0.004; large effect), rebound efficacy (3vs.2 > 3vs.3 + 1 and 3vs.3; p = 0.002; large effect), support (3vs.3 > 3vs.3 + 1 e 3vs.2; p = 0.002; medium effect), and guard/mark (3vs.2 > 3vs.3 and 3vs.3 + 1; p = 0.001; medium effect) showed significant differences between SSGs. The results support the hypothesis that an unbalanced SSG is less complex than an SSG with numerical equality, as the technical-tactical performance is higher in unbalanced SSGs.
Exploring the global and local patterns of income segregation in Toronto, Canada: A multilevel multigroup modeling approach
Authors: Quick Matthew , Revington Nick
Published: June 2021

Residential income segregation is a spatial manifestation of social inequality and is an important factor that influences access to resources, services, and amenities. In general, past research analyzing income segregation has applied index-based methods to describe the separation of low-income households at one spatial scale; however, existing studies have not yet considered how income segregation varies across multiple income classes, spatial scales, and local contexts. This study applies a multilevel multigroup modeling approach to explore the global and local patterns of income segregation between dissemination areas (micro-scale), census tracts (meso-scale), and neighborhoods (macro-scale) in Toronto, Canada. A global model that estimates the overall multiscale segregation of five income classes finds that the most affluent families had the highest levels of segregation and that the segregation of all income classes was strongest at the macro- and micro-scales. A local model that allows the micro-scale segregation measures to vary geographically shows that higher-income families were less segregated in the city center than in the inner suburbs, that middle-income families were highly segregated in areas serviced by public transit, and that almost all income classes had high levels of segregation in disadvantaged neighborhoods prioritized for investment by local policymakers. The methodological and substantive contributions of this study for understanding the complex patterns of income segregation are discussed.
How Do We Choose Our Giants? Perceptions of Replicability in Psychological Science
Authors: Alister Manikya , Vickers-Jones Raine , Sewell David K. , Ballard Timothy
Published: June 2021

Judgments regarding replicability are vital to scientific progress. The metaphor of “standing on the shoulders of giants” encapsulates the notion that progress is made when new discoveries build on previous findings. Yet attempts to build on findings that are not replicable could mean a great deal of time, effort, and money wasted. In light of the recent “crisis of confidence” in psychological science, the ability to accurately judge the replicability of findings may be more important than ever. In this Registered Report, we examine the factors that influence psychological scientists’ confidence in the replicability of findings. We recruited corresponding authors of articles published in psychology journals between 2014 and 2018 to complete a brief survey in which they were asked to consider 76 specific study attributes that might bear on the replicability of a finding (e.g., preregistration, sample size, statistical methods). Participants were asked to rate the extent to which information regarding each attribute increased or decreased their confidence in the finding being replicated. We examined the extent to which each research attribute influenced average confidence in replicability. We found evidence for six reasonably distinct underlying factors that influenced these judgments and individual differences in the degree to which people’s judgments were influenced by these factors. The conclusions reveal how certain research practices affect other researchers’ perceptions of robustness. We hope our findings will help encourage the use of practices that promote replicability and, by extension, the cumulative progress of psychological science.
Clonal dynamics and clinical implications of postremission clonal hematopoiesis in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Tanaka Tomoyuki , Morita Kiyomi , Loghavi Sanam , Wang Feng , Furudate Ken , Sasaki Yuya , Little Latasha , Gumbs Curtis , Matthews Jairo , Daver Naval , Pemmaraju Naveen , DiNardo Courtney D. , Sasaki Koji , Yilmaz Musa , Kadia Tapan M. , Ravandi Farhad , Konopleva Marina Y. , Kantarjian Hagop M. , Champlin Richard E. , Al-Atrash Gheath , Garcia-Manero Guillermo , Wang Sa A. , Futreal P. Andrew , Takahashi Koichi
Published: June 2021

Although clonal hematopoiesis (CH) can precede the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), it can also persist after achieving remission. Long-term clonal dynamics and clinical implications of persistent CH are not well understood. Here, we studied the prevalence, dynamics, and clinical implications of postremission CH in 164 AML patients who attained complete remission after induction chemotherapies. Postremission CH was identified in 79 (48%) patients. Postremission CH persisted long term in 91% of the trackable patients despite treatment with various types of consolidation and maintenance therapies. Postremission CH was eradicated in 20 out of 21 (95%) patients who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplant. Although patients with postremission CH as a group had comparable hematopoiesis with those without it, patients with persistent TET2 mutations showed significant neutropenia long term. Postremission CH had little impact on relapse risk, nonrelapse mortality, and incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, although the clinical impact of post-CR CH was heterogeneous among different mutations. These data suggest that although residual clonal hematopoietic stem cells are generally resistant to consolidation and maintenance therapies, they retain the ability to maintain normal hematopoiesis and have little impact on clinical outcomes. Larger study is needed to dissect the gene-specific heterogeneity.
Cytokine and interleukin profile in patients with headache and COVID-19: A pilot, CASE-control, study on 104 patients
Authors: Trigo Javier , García-Azorín David , Sierra-Mencía Álvaro , Tamayo-Velasco Álvaro , Martínez-Paz Pedro , Tamayo Eduardo , Guerrero Angel Luis , Gonzalo-Benito Hugo
Published: June 2021

Background

The presence of headache during the acute phase of COVID-19 could be associated with the innate response and the cytokine release. We aim to compare the cytokine and interleukin profile in hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the moment of admission with and without headache during the course of the disease.

Methods

An observational analytic study with a case control design was performed. Hospitalized patients from a tertiary hospital with confirmed COVID-19 disease were included. Patients were classified into the headache or the control group depending on whether they presented headache not better accounted for by another headache disorder other than acute headache attributed to systemic viral infection. Several demographic and clinical variables were studies in both groups. We determined the plasmatic levels of 45 different cytokines and interleukins from the first hospitalization plasma extraction in both groups.

Results

One hundred and four patients were included in the study, aged 67.4 (12.8), 43.3% female. Among them, 29 (27.9%) had headache. Patients with headache were younger (61.8 vs. 69.5 years,p = 0.005) and had higher frequency of fever (96.6 vs. 78.7%,p = 0.036) and anosmia (48.3% vs. 22.7%,p = 0.016). In the comparison of the crude median values of cytokines, many cytokines were different between both groups. In the comparison of the central and dispersion parameters between the two groups, GROa, IL-10, IL1RA, IL-21, IL-22 remained statistically significant. After adjusting the values for age, sex, baseline situation and COVID-19 severity, IL-10 remained statistically significant (3.3 vs. 2.2 ng/dL,p = 0.042), with a trend towards significance in IL-23 (11.9 vs. 8.6 ng/dL,p = 0.082) and PIGF1 (1621.8 vs. 110.6 ng/dL,p = 0.071).

Conclusions

The higher levels of IL-10 -an anti-inflammatory cytokine- found in our sample in patients with headache may be explained as a counteract of cytokine release, reflecting a more intense immune response in these patients.
Identifying cell types from single-cell data based on similarities and dissimilarities between cells
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Luo Ping , Lu Yi , Wu Fang-Xiang
Published: June 2021

Background

With the development of the technology of single-cell sequence, revealing homogeneity and heterogeneity between cells has become a new area of computational systems biology research. However, the clustering of cell types becomes more complex with the mutual penetration between different types of cells and the instability of gene expression. One way of overcoming this problem is to group similar, related single cells together by the means of various clustering analysis methods. Although some methods such as spectral clustering can do well in the identification of cell types, they only consider the similarities between cells and ignore the influence of dissimilarities on clustering results. This methodology may limit the performance of most of the conventional clustering algorithms for the identification of clusters, it needs to develop special methods for high-dimensional sparse categorical data.

Results

Inspired by the phenomenon that same type cells have similar gene expression patterns, but different types of cells evoke dissimilar gene expression patterns, we improve the existing spectral clustering method for clustering single-cell data that is based on both similarities and dissimilarities between cells. The method first measures the similarity/dissimilarity among cells, then constructs the incidence matrix by fusing similarity matrix with dissimilarity matrix, and, finally, uses the eigenvalues of the incidence matrix to perform dimensionality reduction and employs the K-means algorithm in the low dimensional space to achieve clustering. The proposed improved spectral clustering method is compared with the conventional spectral clustering method in recognizing cell types on several real single-cell RNA-seq datasets.

Conclusions

In summary, we show that adding intercellular dissimilarity can effectively improve accuracy and achieve robustness and that improved spectral clustering method outperforms the traditional spectral clustering method in grouping cells.
PIGNON: a protein–protein interaction-guided functional enrichment analysis for quantitative proteomics
Authors: Nadeau Rachel , Byvsheva Anastasiia , Lavallée-Adam Mathieu
Published: June 2021

Background

Quantitative proteomics studies are often used to detect proteins that are differentially expressed across different experimental conditions. Functional enrichment analyses are then typically used to detect annotations, such as biological processes that are significantly enriched among such differentially expressed proteins to provide insights into the molecular impacts of the studied conditions. While common, this analytical pipeline often heavily relies on arbitrary thresholds of significance. However, a functional annotation may be dysregulated in a given experimental condition, while none, or very few of its proteins may be individually considered to be significantly differentially expressed. Such an annotation would therefore be missed by standard approaches.

Results

Herein, we propose a novel graph theory-based method, PIGNON, for the detection of differentially expressed functional annotations in different conditions. PIGNON does not assess the statistical significance of the differential expression of individual proteins, but rather maps protein differential expression levels onto a protein–protein interaction network and measures the clustering of proteins from a given functional annotation within the network. This process allows the detection of functional annotations for which the proteins are differentially expressed and grouped in the network. A Monte-Carlo sampling approach is used to assess the clustering significance of proteins in an expression-weighted network. When applied to a quantitative proteomics analysis of different molecular subtypes of breast cancer, PIGNON detects Gene Ontology terms that are both significantly clustered in a protein–protein interaction network and differentially expressed across different breast cancer subtypes. PIGNON identified functional annotations that are dysregulated and clustered within the network between the HER2+, triple negative and hormone receptor positive subtypes. We show that PIGNON’s results are complementary to those of state-of-the-art functional enrichment analyses and that it highlights functional annotations missed by standard approaches. Furthermore, PIGNON detects functional annotations that have been previously associated with specific breast cancer subtypes.

Conclusion

PIGNON provides an alternative to functional enrichment analyses and a more comprehensive characterization of quantitative datasets. Hence, it contributes to yielding a better understanding of dysregulated functions and processes in biological samples under different experimental conditions.
Fusion of single-cell transcriptome and DNA-binding data, for genomic network inference in cortical development
Authors: Bartlett Thomas
Published: June 2021

Background

Network models are well-established as very useful computational-statistical tools in cell biology. However, a genomic network model based only on gene expression data can, by definition, only infer gene co-expression networks. Hence, in order to infer gene regulatory patterns, it is necessary to also include data related to binding of regulatory factors to DNA.

Results

We propose a new dynamic genomic network model, for inferring patterns of genomic regulatory influence in dynamic processes such as development. Our model fuses experiment-specific gene expression data with publicly available DNA-binding data. The method we propose is computationally efficient, and can be applied to genome-wide data with tens of thousands of transcripts. Thus, our method is well suited for use as an exploratory tool for genome-wide data. We apply our method to data from human fetal cortical development, and our findings confirm genomic regulatory patterns which are recognised as being fundamental to neuronal development.

Conclusions

Our method provides a mathematical/computational toolbox which, when coupled with targeted experiments, will reveal and confirm important new functional genomic regulatory processes in mammalian development.
Evaluating daily profile of central aortic pressure and reflected pulse wave parameters in climacteric women
Authors: Tolstov Sergey N. , Salov Igor A. , Kiselev Anton R. , Rebrov Andrey P.
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Structural and functional changes of the vascular wall in women occur already at the very early stages of reproductive aging. An emergence of applanation tonometry made it possible to evaluate arterial stiffness and central hemodynamic parameters non-invasively, which considerably expanded the information that had been provided previously by invasive methods used for studying these parameters during cardiac catheterization. Whereas a few studies have assessed central aortic pressure (CAP) parameters and reflected pulse wave in women at different phases of their reproductive aging, none investigated the daily profile of CAP and reflected pulse wave parameters in women undergoing different stages of the menopause. Background: assessment of the daily variability in CAP and daily profile of amplification and augmentation of pulse blood pressure (PBP) in women at different menopause phases.

Methods

The study involved 384 climacteric women. The first group included 168 women undergoing perimenopause, the second group comprised of 216 women in their early postmenopausal stage. A 24-h blood pressure (BP) monitoring in the brachial artery and aorta (BPLab® Vasotens® system, Petr Telegin LLC, Russia) was performed via the measurements of the following indicators: systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse blood pressure (PBP), central aortic systolic pressure (CASP), central aortic pulse pressure (CAPP), aortic augmentation index (AIxao), and pulse pressure amplification (PPA).

Results

When investigating PPA values in the brachial artery and aorta, we detected smaller amplification and higher aortic augmentation index at night than in daytime, which reflected a disproportionately higher CAP level during night hours. This pattern was more pronounced in postmenopausal women. We calculated the logistic regression equation (adjusted R2 = 0.49, log-likelihood = − 50.3, chi-square (19) = 97.6, p < 0.001), in which dependent variable was represented by the menopausal status, whereas body mass index with all indicators of a 24-h BP monitoring represented independent variables. In this model, two indicators (body mass index and AIxao) were, independently of each other, associated significantly with the menopause phases. Differences among women at various climacteric phases in terms of remaining indicators of a 24-h BP monitoring, apparently, matched the differences in their body mass index values.

Conclusion

Rising CAP, in combination with declining PPA and augmenting reflected pulse wave amplitude, may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications.
The association between estrogen receptor 2 gene polymorphism and complexity of coronary artery disease: an analysis in elective percutaneous coronary intervention patients
Authors: Foroughinia Farzaneh , Dehghani Pooyan , Dianatpour Mehdi , Amiri Arghavan , Jamhiri Iman , Ghasemiyeh Parisa
Published: June 2021

Background

One of the most common causes of death in the world is coronary artery disease (CAD). Estrogen, the most important early sex hormones in women, plays an important role in the risk reduction of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Expression of estrogen as well as its receptors including estrogen receptor alpha (ER1) and estrogen receptor beta (ER2) might have an association with the severity or the complexity of CAD. Since most articles have focused on the relationship between ER1 gene polymorphism and CAD, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of two ER2 gene polymorphisms, rs4986938 (AluI) and rs1256049 (RsaI), with the severity of CAD.

Methods

148 patients with confirmed CAD who underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included in this study. Blood samples were collected before coronary angiography and ER2 gene polymorphisms were analyzed by the PCR–RFLP method. The STNTAX Score (SS), grading system for CAD complexity, was evaluated by an interventional cardiologist who was blinded to other data.

Results

110 men and 38 women were participated in this study. Our results revealed a statistically significant relationship between SS and rs4986938 polymorphism of ER2 in men. In contrast, there was no association between rs1256049 genotypes and SS after performing regression analysis.

Conclusions

Besides to the estrogen level, the genetic variation of its receptors might play an important role in the severity or the complexity of CAD. According to our results, rs4986938 polymorphism of ER2 gene may assert a pivotal role in the severity of CAD in men; however, this assumption needs to be proved in studies with a larger population.
Changing trends in seroprevalence rates of transfusion-transmitted diseases among blood donors in Jordan
Authors: Souan Lina , Siag Mahmoud , Al-Salahat Hala , Al-Atrash Tareq , Sughayer Maher A.
Published: June 2021

Background

Hepatitis B and C infections and transmission are a serious challenge to all healthcare systems. We studied seroprevalence rates of Transfusion Transmitted Diseases (TTD) among blood bank donors in Jordan from 2014 to 2019 as a follow-up study of our previously published work. In addition, we wanted to explore the efficacy of the mandatory vaccination of infants against hepatitis B virus (HBV) which was implemented by the Ministry of Health since 1995 for the eradication of HBV infection in Jordan.

Methods

We reviewed blood bank donors’ records at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) from January 1st, 2014, until December 31st, 2019. Results of seropositivity prevalence rates for HBsAg, anti-HBcore, and anti-HCV, using Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) were compared to seropositivity rates from our previously published data. In addition, our results were compared to data obtained from other blood banks in Jordan, as well as compared to published information from blood banks in neighboring countries.

Results

The prevalence rates (%) of seropositive blood donors for viral hepatitis for the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, were as follows: HBsAg rates were 0.3386, 0.2108, 0.1801, 0.1898, 0.2068, and 0.2741; anti-HBcore rates were 4.1112, 3.2271, 2.9748, 2.8405, 2.6879 and 3.0986; and anti-HCV rates were 0.1129, 0.0486, 0.0548, 0.0654, 0.0782, and 0.0839, respectively. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of HBsAg, Anti-HBcore and Anti-HCV antibodies in 2019 (one sample z-score test, p < 0.00001).

Conclusions

Prevalence rates of hepatitis B and C infections among Jordanian blood bank donors showed a steady decline between 2009 and 2017, and these rates were much lower in Jordan than in neighboring countries. However, an increase in the prevalence rates of hepatitis B and C infections among blood bank donors was documented in 2019. While the reasons for this increase are not clear yet, these findings highlight the importance of renewed efforts to increase public health awareness of HBV and implement effective measures to prevent the transmission and infection with HBV, including national vaccination programs.
Patient perspectives of target weight management and ultrafiltration in haemodialysis: a multi-center survey
Authors: Keane David , Glyde Megan , Dasgupta Indranil , Gardiner Claire , Lindley Elizabeth , Mitra Sandip , Palmer Nicholas , Dye Louise , Wright Mark , Sutherland Ed
Published: June 2021

Background

Decisions around planned ultrafiltration volumes are the only part of the haemodialysis prescription decided upon at every session. Removing too much fluid or too little is associated with both acute symptoms and long-term outcomes. The degree to which patients engage with or influence decision-making is not clear. We explored patient perspectives of prescribing ultrafiltration volumes, their understanding of the process and engagement with it.

Methods

A questionnaire developed for this study was administered to 1077 patients across 10 UK Renal Units. Factor analysis reduced the dataset into factors representing common themes. Relationships between survey results and factors were investigated using regression models. ANCOVA was used to explore differences between Renal Units.

Results

Patients generally felt in control of their fluid management and that they were given the final say on planned ultrafiltration volumes. Around half of the respondents reported they take an active role in their treatment. However, respondents were largely unable to relate signs and symptoms to fluid management practice and a third said they would not report common signs and symptoms to clinicians. A fifth of patients reported not to know how ultrafiltration volumes were calculated. Patients responded positively to questions relating to healthcare staff, though with significant variation between units, highlighting differences in perception of care.

Conclusions

Despite a lack of formal acknowledgement in fluid management protocols, patients have significant involvement in decisions regarding fluid removal during dialysis. Furthermore, substantial gaps remain in patient knowledge and engagement. Formalizing the role of patients in these decisions, including patient education, may improve prescription and achievement of target weights.
Understanding how social norms affect modern contraceptive use
Authors: Agha Sohail , Morgan Brooks , Archer Helena , Paul Shadae , Babigumira Joseph B. , Guthrie Brandon L.
Published: June 2021

Background

An aim of this study is to introduce a practitioner-friendly behavior model. Few theories of health behavior explicitly take the effect of social norms on behavior into account. Generally, theories that do take social norms into account assume that the effect of social norms on behavior operates through motivation. We use the Fogg Behavior Model (FBM), a behavior model that is new to public health, to explore whether social norms are associated with modern contraceptive use among Nigerian women, and whether they affect behavior through motivation or through ability. In other words, do social norms that discourage contraception lower women’s motivation to use contraception or do they lower women’s ability to use contraception.

Methods

This study uses data from a cross-sectional household survey of Nigerian women, ages 14–24. The survey collected data on socio-economic and demographic characteristics of women, whether they were sexually experienced, and whether they used contraception. Modern contraceptive use was the outcome of interest for the study. The survey also collected data on social norms around premarital sex and contraceptive use. Multivariate logistic regression was used for the analysis.

Results

After adjusting for a range of socio-economic and demographic variables, we found that social norms that discourage contraception had a statistically significant negative association with contraceptive use (aOR = 0.90, p < 0.001). The analysis found that the negative association between social norms and contraceptive use remained statistically significant after controlling for motivation but did not remain statistically significant after controlling for ability.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that social norms may affect contraceptive use in Nigeria through ability rather than motivation. In terms of programmatic implications, these finding suggest that public health interventions may be able to counter the negative effects of social norms that discourage contraceptive use by increasing women’s ability to practice contraception.
Experiences and expectations regarding COVID-19 prevention and control measures among the hill tribe population of northern Thailand: a qualitative study
Authors: Kitchanapaibul Siwarak , Udplong Anusorn , Apidechkul Tawatchai , Tamornpark Ratipark , Mulikaburt Thanatchaporn , Srichan Peeradone , Suratana Soontaree , Yeemard Fatima , Wongnuch Pilasinee
Published: June 2021

Background

COVID-19 has been a major human threat for a year. A large number of people have been infected and killed globally, including hill tribe people living in remote and border areas between Thailand and Myanmar. Different expectations of and experiences with the implemented disease prevention and control measures by local, national and international organizations have been widely reported. This study aimed to understand the experiences and expectations regarding the disease prevention and control measures that were implemented among hill tribe people in Thailand.

Methods

Qualitative data were collected from participants aged 20 and older who belonged to the hill tribes living on the border of northern Thailand and Myanmar. A semistructured questionnaire was used to guide interviews. Information was extracted for thematic analysis by the NVivo program.

Results

Fifty-seven participants (36 female, 21 male) were interviewed; 27 participants were Thai Yai, 14 participants were Yunnan Chinese, 8 participants were Akha, and 8 participants were from other tribes. The average age was 45.8 years (min = 20 years, max = 90 years). Thirty participants had never attended school, and the other 27 participants had received education at different levels, from primary school to higher education. Forty participants were unemployed, 13 worked as agriculturists, and the other 4 were attending school. Both positive experiences, such as improving personal hygiene practices, maintaining close contact and increasing relationships among family members and demonstrating the leadership of the villager leaders, and negative experiences, including interruption of social interactions, family financial problems, poor access to medical care services, and invisible people to the government, were found. Different expectations were observed regarding organizations at the local, national, and international levels. Expectations at the local level included villagers and community leaders taking action to strongly contribute to prevention and control measures and to prevent unscreened people from entering the village. Obtaining accurate information about the disease and being financially supported were expectations at the national level, while closing borders to protect cases from overflowing into their villages was an international-level expectation.

Conclusion

Although hill tribes reside in very remote rural areas, they experience both positive and negative effects of the disease prevention and control measures implemented by organizations. Their expectations are formally and informally voiced to policy makers at the local, national and international levels.