bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thai Monetary Policy Under the Inflation Targeting Regime
Authors: Wongpunya Nipit
Published: August 2020

This paper explores the macroeconomic effects of inflation targeting in Thailand. Furthermore, this study uses a nonlinear new Keynesian model under the dynamic stochastic general equilibrium framework with price indexation to analyze the monetary policy under inflation targeting in Thailand. The model is estimated using a Bayesian statistic for the Thai economy. It shows that inflation is more stabilized and inflation persistence has fallen after adopting inflation targeting. The paper also indicates that the Bank of Thailand is more responsive to the deviation of inflation from its target using inflation targeting. The key monetary mechanism exists through changes in the real interest rate which affect aggregate demand. It is worth noting that the larger the inflation targeting rate is, the lower the steady state output from its steady state level given no trend inflation.
Estimating Sector-Specific Data of the Electric Power Industry to Analyze the Effect of the Liberalization: The Case of Japan
Authors: Wakashiro Yasunobu
Published: August 2020

Input-output tables are employed to analyze the liberalization of electricity industries around the world. However, the input-output tables do not have sectoral data of the electricity industry in many countries. Electricity industries that consist of an electricity generation, transmission, and retail (and/or distribution) sector have experienced the different degrees of liberalization; the generation and retail sector have experienced liberalization in many countries or regions, while the transmission sector has not faced liberalization. In this study, we estimate the sectoral data of the electricity industry in an input-output table by using annual reports of the electric power companies and also defined the relationship among the sectors. Finally, we find that the data which are analyzed by previous methods can distort policy decisions and that especially the definition of the sectors' intersection in the industry is critical.Category & Number: 5. Industrial Organization and Structural PolicyJEL Classification: C32, C33, Q41, Q48
TER94 , the Drosophila Homologue of the ALS-related VCP gene, Influences Lifespan and Leads to a Decline in Motor Function
Authors: Hurley Emily Priscilla , Staveley Brian Ernest
Published: August 2020

Background: Valosin-Containing Protein (VCP) is an essential AAA+ ATPase with diverse functions within the cell. Mutations in the VCP gene have been detected in patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of this study is to create a novel model of human neurodegenerative disease in Drosophila melanogaster by altering the expression of TER94, the Drosophila orthologue of the human VCP gene. TER94 expression was altered in all neurons, the dopaminergic neurons and in the motor neurons, with longevity and locomotor function assessed over time. Altered TER94 expression in combination with the altered expression of known Parkinson Disease (PD) genes was examined to investigate potential interactions.Results: Inhibition of TER94 altered median lifespan in a manner dependent upon the transgene selected for use and the tissue-specific expression directed by the Gal4 transgene selected. Locomotor ability was significantly reduced in all cases of TER94 inhibition tested. The inhibition of TER94 by two TER94-RNAi inhibitory transgenes, in the motor neurons via D42-Gal4 lead to increases in median lifespan, with one inhibitory transgene generating a slightly reduced lifespan. Inhibition of TER94 in the dopaminergic neurons resulted in a severe reduction in lifespan. The co-inhibition of TER94 and parkin in the neurons resulted in a major decline in lifespan by approximately 30%. While the inhibition of TER94 and the co-expression of alpha-synuclein in the neurons resulted in an increase in lifespan by approximately 28%. Conclusions: The inhibition of TER94 in the motor neurons is an interesting model of ALS, due to the small, but reduced lifespan coupled with a strong decline in locomotor function. The inhibition of TER94 in the dopaminergic neurons is a potential model of ALS, due to the reduction of both lifespan and locomotor function over time. The co-inhibition of TER94 and parkin in the neurons provides a promising novel model of neurodegenerative disease, displaying a great reduction in lifespan and in locomotor ability over time.
Clinical Observation and Analysis of Patients with Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy Combined with Low 25(OH) D3 Levels
Authors: Zou Fan , Huang Yu , Yang Zhenhua
Published: August 2020

Background: To investigate the correlations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH) D3] levels and selected clinical indicators and renal pathology at initial onset of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) and to analyze changes in the main quantifiable indicators in IMN patients with different 25(OH) D3 levels.Methods: A total of 109 patients admitted to the Department of Nephrology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University between August 2015 and April 2019 and diagnosed with IMN were reviewed. Comparative analysis of the effects of different 25(OH)D3 levels on clinical and pathological indicators of IMN was performed, and the changes in serum albumin, eGFR, serum creatinine and other clinical indicators in these patients during follow-up were analyzed.Results: The 109 patients with IMN had 25(OH)D3 deficiency [25(OH)D3<70 nmol/L]. The incidence of nephrotic syndrome, serum phosphorus level, hs-CRP level, and ESR were higher in the 25(OH)D3<25nmol/L group than in the 25(OH)D3≥25nmol/L group. In contrast, the TP, ALB, serum calcium, and IgG levels were lower in the 25(OH)D3<25nmol/L group (P<0.05). No pathological parameters differed significantly between the two groups (P>0.05). Bivariate correlation analysis showed that 25(OH)D3 was positively correlated with nephrotic syndrome, the TP level, the ALB level, the eGFR, the serum calcium level and the IgG level (P<0.05) and negatively correlated with age, blood pressure, the Scr level, 24-hour UP quantitation, the serum phosphorus level, the hs-CRP level and the ESR (P<0.05). In single-factor repeated measures analysis of variance, the ALB levels in the 25(OH)D3<25nmol/L and 25(OH)D3≥25nmol/L groups showed an increasing trend but were lower in the 25(OH)D3<25nmol/L group than in the 25(OH)D3≥25 nmol/L group at each follow-up time point (P<0.001).Conclusion: Reduced 25(OH)D3 levels are prevalent among IMN patients. During follow-up, serum albumin increased significantly in patients administered vitamin D supplementation. 25(OH)D3 may play an important role in IMN development.
The Association Between Self-Management Ability and Malnutrition-Inflammation-Atherosclerosis Syndrome in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Huang Zehui , Fang Junyang , Song Ahui , Tong Yan , Deng Hai , Wei Shan , Ji Ouyang , Hu Chun , Li Pu , Zhang Chunli , Liu Yingli
Published: August 2020

BackgroundThe relationship between malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis syndrome (MIAS) and self-management ability has not been previously revealed even though both play an important role in the management of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.Materials and methodsIn total, 93 patients were enrolled in this study. A self-management questionnaire was used for the evaluation of self-management ability. The identification of MIAS was based on one or more of the following three conditions: C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥10 mg/L, malnutrition–inflammation score (MIS) > 7, and the presence of atherosclerosis related medical records. The possible association between different self-management abilities and MIAS was analyzed with a Spearman correlation analysis.ResultsThere were 40 (43.0%) patients in the atherosclerosis group, and 38 (40.9%), 38 (40.9%), 10 (10.8%), and 7 (7.5%) patients in the MIAS0, MIAS1, MIAS2, and MIAS3 groups, respectively. The group with a score above the mean score of the Dialysis Effect Evaluation and Monitoring dimension had a fewer number of hospitalizations, higher albumin levels, lower MIS scores, lower level of IL-6, and a lower number of MIAS factors. The Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses also revealed that this dimension was negatively correlated with the MIAS, MIS, IL-6, BNP, number of hospitalizations, and age and positively associated with albumin and prealbumin. ConclusionThe Dialysis Effect Evaluation and Monitoring dimension of the self-management scale for PD patients is closely linked to the MIAS, and the better the dialysis effect evaluation and monitoring capacity, the lower the chance of exposure to malnutrition and inflammation.Trial registrationChina Clinical Trials Register: SH9H-2020-T20-2, retrospectively registered 15 January 2020.
First Insights Into the Molecular Basis Association Between Promoter Polymorphisms of the Il1b Gene and Helicobacter Pylori Infection in the Sudanese Population: Computational Approach
Authors: Idris Abeer Babiker , Idris Einas Babiker , Ataelmanan Amany Eltayib , Mohamed Ali Elbagir Ali , Arbab Bashir M. Osman , Ibrahim El-Amin Mohamed , Hassan Mohamed A.
Published: August 2020

Background:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infects nearly half of the world’s population with a variation in incidence among different geographic regions. Genetic variants in the promoter regions of IL1B gene can affect cytokine expression and creates a condition of hypoacidity which favors the survival and colonization of H. pylori.Aim: To characterize the polymorphic sites in the 5’- region [-687_+297] of IL1B in H. pylori infection using in silico tools.Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 121 gastric biopsies and genotyping of IL1B-31 polymorphism was performed using PCR-CTPP to investigate its association with the susceptibility to H. pylori infection in the Sudanese population. In addition, Sanger sequencing was applied to detect SNPs in the 5’-region [-687_+297] of IL1B in 14 H. pylori-infected patients; and bioinformatics analyses were used to predict whether these mutations would alter TFBSs or CEs in this region. Also, comparative analysis was conducted for this region in 11 species using ECR browser and Mulan search engine.Results: A total of five nucleotide variations were detected in the 5’-regulatory region which led to the addition or alteration of the TFBSs and CEs. Genotyping of IL1B-31 C>T revealed a significant association between -31T and susceptibility to H. pylori infection in the studied population (P=0.0280). Comparative analysis showed conservation rates of IL1B upstream [−368_+10] region above 70% in chimpanzee, rhesus monkey, a domesticated dog, cow and rat.Conclusion: In H. pylori-infected patients, three detected SNPs (-338, -155 and -31) located in the IL1B promoter were predicted to alter TFBSs and CE, thereby might affecting gene expression. These in silico predictions provide insight for further experimental in vitro and in vivo studies of the regulation of IL1B expression and its relationship to H. pylori infection. However, recognition of regulatory motifs by computer algorithms is fundamental for understanding gene expression patterns.
Intestinal CD4-CD8αβ-TCRαβ+ T cells function as tolerogenic antigen presenting cells
Authors: Nemoto Yasuhiro , Tanaka Shohei , Takei Yuria , Morikawa Ryo , Oshima Shigeru , Nagaishi Takashi , Tsuchiya Kiichiro , Nakamura Tetsuya , Takenaka Kento , Ohtsuka Kazuo , Chen Xigui , Okazawa Hitoshi , Okamoto Ryuichi , Watanabe Mamoru , Andrian Ulrich von
Published: August 2020

The intestinal immune system is constantly exposed to a plethora of antigens (Ags) from innocuous ingested material and the commensal flora that must be distinguished from pathogen-derived antigens. To this end, a number of anatomic, cellular and molecular mechanisms operate in the intestinal tract to acquire, process, present and interpret Ags from the intestinal lumen. The intestinal mucosa is also populated by a large number of T cells that reside within the epithelial lining (intraepithelial lymphocytes, IELs), in the underlying lamina propria (LPLs) and in gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT). Both IELs and LPLs are heterogeneous populations consisting of conventional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and numerous unconventional T cells, including TCRγδ+ T cells and CD4-CD8αβ-TCRαβ+T cells (double negative; DNT cells). The latter are rarely found in non-intestinal tissues and their function is still enigmatic. Here, we show that murine DNT cells in the small intestine (SI) reach across the epithelial barrier to capture luminal Ags. A sizeable fraction of DNT cells in Peyer’s patches (PPs), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and among LPLs, but not among IELs, express MHC-II, but little or no classical co-stimulatory molecules, suggesting that DNT cells-mediated Ag presentation to naïve CD4+ T cells may trigger tolerogenic rather than effector responses. Indeed, intestinal DNT cells, particularly in PPs, acquire, process and present antigenic proteins and tolerize Ag-specific CD4+ T cells. Conditional genetic ablation of MHC-II in T cells disabled this suppressive function and rendered mutant mice hypersusceptible to DSS colitis. Moreover, similar to our findings in mice, DNT cells in human SI express HLA-DR and readily uptake exogenous Ags. Intriguingly, intestinal DNT cells in Crohn’s disease patients expressed lower levels of HLA-DR than control patients. These findings suggest that MHC-II+ DNT cells play a key role in intestinal immune homeostasis and may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.
Mapping the Vector Abundance of Endemic Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Southern Quebec
Authors: Allostry Julie , Ludwig Antoinette , Kotchi Serge Olivier , Rousseu François , Fournier Richard
Published: August 2020

Background: Climate change is increasing the dispersion of mosquitoes and the spread of viruses of which some mosquitoes are the main vectors. This increases the risk of humans coming into contact with infected mosquitoes and developing diseases with sometimes fatal consequences. In Quebec, the surveillance and management of endemic mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus or Eastern equine encephalitis, could be improved by mapping the areas of risk supporting vector populations. However, there is currently no active tool tailored to Quebec that can predict annual mosquito population abundances.Methods: Our modelling approach is designed to meet this need. Four species of mosquitos were studied in this project for the period from 2003 to 2014 for the southern part of the province: Aedes vexans (VEX), Coquillettidia perturbans (CQP), Culex pipiens-restuans group (CPRg) and Ochlerotatus stimulans group (STMg) species. We used a mixed linear regression approach to model the abundances of each species or species groups as a function of meteorological and land cover variables.Results: The best models incorporate, for CPRg, the agricultural land, grassland and woodland classes and the average minimum temperature in September of the previous year; for STMg, the urban and woodland classes and the mean precipitation in June; for CQP, urban areas and the mean precipitation in January and August; and finally, for VEX, the agricultural land class and the mean precipitation in January, February and September.Conclusions: The models proved to be robust and precise over almost the entire study area, and the presence of significant climate variables for each of the species or species groups makes it possible to consider their use in predicting long-term spatial variations, based on climate and landscape change, in the abundance of mosquitoes potentially harmful to public health in southern Quebec.Manuscript intended for publication in International J. of Health Geographics
RSV and exposure to cigarette smoking as risk factors for severe bronchiolitis in a tropical country
Authors: Buendia Jefferson A. , Acuña-Cordero Ranniery
Published: August 2020

Objetive: This study aims to identify risk factors associated with severe bronchiolitis in children. In a retrospective cohort study, we included all infants younger than two years of age in tertiary centers in Rionegro, Colombia, hospitalized due to bronchiolitis from January 2019 to December 2019. Severe bronchiolitis was defined as rhinorrhea, cough, tachypnea, wheezing, rales, and increased respiratory effort (e.g., grunting, nasal flaring, and intercostal and/or subcostal retraction), with symptoms of severity (e.g., increased respiratory rate, retractions, and oxygen saturation at 90% or lower). To identify factors independently associated with severe bronchiolitis, we used log-binomial regression and estimate prevalences ratio (PR) and adjust for potential confounding variables Results: Of a total of 417 included, 300 (72.12%) have severe bronchiolitis. After modeling and controlling for potential confounders in the multivariate analysis: RSV isolation (PR 1.15 95%CI 1.03–1.29) and current exposure to cigarette smoking (PR 1.19 95%CI 1.04–1.35) were independent predictors of severe bronchiolitis. We concluded that RSV and exposure to cigarette smoking are independent predictors of severe bronchiolitis. These potentially modifiable variables associated with severity should guide future interventions to reduce the morbidity and economic burden of bronchiolitis in our population.
Computational Gene Expression Profiling in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Reveals Network-Based Immune Signatures Associated With Smoking and Overall Survival
Authors: Song Rong-feng , Cheng Xiao-liang , Zhang Xin , Zhang Jun-kai , Fu Wen-fan , Li Kunsong
Published: August 2020

Background Lung cancer, a common risky disease, has been the leading cause of death since 2010. In this study, the prognosis of immune genes and its targeted miRNA of non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) was explored. Methods Based on microarray GSE13213 (lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) patient mRNA expression profiles), microarray GSE4573 (lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSC) patient mRNA expression profiles), and microarray GSE102286 (NSCLC patient miRNA profiles), the gene co-expression network was constructed with weight gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). KEGG and Gene Ontology were enriched. The binding site was predicted on miRanda. The genes corresponding to immune as well as smoking and its targeted miRNA which was also related to smoking was discovered. And then the prognostic value of them was estimated and confirmed in another data cohort. Results Smoking-related module from LSC had a remarkable association with immune gene set (P = 0.0001), which was not observed in LAD. KEGG and GO enrichment analysis in LSC also exhibited immunity-related pathways and functions, such as the B cell receptor signaling pathway, which was still not found in LAD. High expression of nine immune genes (CD27, CD38, CD79A, MZB1, IGHM, IGKC, IGLL3P, GUSBP11, and IGHD) from the purple module in LSC had better overall survival. In an independent LSC microarray, six of them (CD27, CD38, GUSBP11, IGKC, IGLL3P, and IGHD) were validated. IGHD related to plasma cell regulatory showed better overall survival (OS) in two datasets both. Low expression of IGHD targeted miR-29a and low infiltration of its regulated plasma cells was both associated with better OS. Conclusion Our study revealed that, in LSC, smoking might trigger a more severe immune response, compared to LAD. There were six immune genes related to prognosis being discovered. And miR-29a might bind to IGHD affect OS by regulating plasma cells in LSC.
Metagenomic and Metabonomic Profiling provide insights into AIDS resistance in African Green Monkey
Authors: Zhou Xiao-jun , Wang Jin , Shang Yan-jiao , Wang Shuang , Qiu Yefeng , Yuan Zheng
Published: August 2020

Background

As a natural host of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), African green monkeys (AGM) do not develop AIDS. AGM has recently been shown to rapidly activate and maintain evolutionarily conserved regenerative wound healing mechanisms in mucosal tissue in case of SIV acute infection, suggesting a role of mucosal integrity in AIDS resistance.However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms, especially of which the gut microbiome as well as the metabolites participate in. This study aims to characterize the profiles of gut microbiome and metabolites of AGM with chronic SIV infection (AGM_P), AGM without SIV infection (AGM_N), Cynomolgus macaque (CM), Rhesus macaque (RM).
Results

Compared with CM and RM, significant decreases in the abundances of Streptococcus, Alistipes, Treponema, Bacteoides, Methanobrevibacter, Methanobrevibacter (P < 0.01), as well as significant increases in the abundances of Clostridium, Eubacterium, Blautia, Roseburia, Faecalibacterium, Dialister (P < 0.01) were demonstrated in AGM_N. Compared with AGM_N, a trend in the increased abundances of Streptococcus and Roseburia were found in AGM_P. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis validated the increased abundances of butyrate-producing Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Eubacteria in AGM_N (P < 0.05). Metabolites involved in lipid metabolism, as well as in butanoate metabolism, were found to be with significantly different levels between AGM_P, AGM_N and CM. And some of these metabolites were shown to be correlated to the abundances of Haloarchaeobius, Methanobrevibacter, Methanothermococcus, and Methanoregula in AGM_N and AGM_P.
Conclusions

Compared with CM and RM, AGM possesses different capacities of lipid metabolism and butanoate metabolism, which correlates with gut homeostasis and mucosal integrity. These findings may provide insight into AIDS resistance in AGM.
Screening the six plant species for phytoremediation of synthetic textile dye waste water
Authors: Kaur Navjeet , Kaushal Jyotsna , Mahajan Pooja , Srivas Arun Lal
Published: August 2020

Most of the dyes are carcinogenic and mutagenic in nature. Plants are potential candidates to remediate textile dye wastewater from contaminated sites. The present study aimed toscreen potential plant species for removal of synthetic dye solution of triarylmethane dye Methylene Blue (MB) and diazo dye Congo Red (CR). Six plant species were screened for their phytoremediation ability for the removal of dyes present in synthetic wastewater. Six plants selected for screening areTrachyspermum ammi L. (T. ammi), Tagetes erecta L. (T. erecta), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (H. rosa- sinensis), Chrysanthemum indicum L. (C. indicum), Bryophyllum fedtschenkoi (B. fedtschenkoi), Catharanthus roseus L. (C. roseus). The phytotreatment of dyes was done up to 40 hfortwo different concentrations of dyes 10 mg L− 1 and 20 mg L− 1. Among these plants, the maximum decolouration was obtained from T. ammi plant followed by B. fedtschenkoi plant. Both of these plants showed active growth even after the phytoremediation process. T. ammi decolourised the MB dye 99% (10 mg L− 1) and 86% (20 mg L− 1) while the decolourisation of the CR dye solution was up to 95% (10 mg L− 1) and 84% (20 mg L− 1).T. ammi found to have maximum potential among screened plants for the removal of MB and CR dye from synthetic dye solution and can be used for decolouration of synthetic dye wastewater.
HDL Cholesterol Efflux Capacity and Concentration in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xie Binbin , He Jiang , Liu Yong , Liu Ting , Liu Chaoqun
Published: August 2020

Background: HDL cholesterol efflux capacity has been proposed as an independent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. However, the presented data has been less than convincing in RA. This meta-analysis aimed to identify whether CEC was impaired in RA or altered by drug therapy.Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library databases were searched to identify studies for CEC in RA patients. The primary outcomes were CEC, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and C-reactive protein.Results: A total of 11 eligible articles including 6 observational and 5 intervention studies. Pooled results showed there was no significantly decrease in the CEC of RA patients comparing with the healthy controls (SMD: -0.22, 95% CI: -0.65 to 0.20), whereas the plasma HDL-C levels was decreased in RA patients (WMD: -5.21, 95% CI: -7.69 to -2.72). Furthermore, in the before-after studies, CEC of RA patients (SMD: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.38) was increased but the plasma HDL-C levels (WMD: 3.26, 95% CI: -0.17 to 6.69) was similar after anti-rheumatic treatment comparing to the baseline. In addition, stratified analysis suggested that DAS28 could be potential sources of heterogeneity for CEC. The funnel plot was relatively symmetric and was not suggestive of presence of publication bias.Conclusion The current meta-analysis demonstrated a slight, nonsignificant, decrease in the CEC among RA patients as compared with healthy individuals, but it can be improved substantially following anti-rheumatic treatment. More large population studies evaluating the predictive role of CEC on cardiovascular risk in RA are needed.
Retrospective SPECT/CT Dosimetry Following Transarterial Radioembolization
Authors: Thompson Briana C. , Dezarn William A.
Published: August 2020

Background: Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE) effectively treats unresectable primary and metastatic liver tumors through local injection of Yttrium-90 (90Y) beta particle emitting microspheres. These microspheres implant around the tumor, damaging tumorous cells while sparing healthy liver tissue. Current dosimetry models are highly simplistic and based patient characteristics such as body surface area and fail to consider many important factors. There is a large need for an imaged based dosimetry post-TARE which would improve treatment safety and efficacy. Current post-TARE imaging is 90Y bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT and we study the use of these images for post-TARE dosimetry. Methods: Retrospective image review of 10 patients having a Philips HealthcareTM SPECT/CT following TARE SIR-Spheres® implantation. Emission series with attenuation correction were resampled to 3mm resolution and used to create image based dose distributions. Dose distributions and analysis were performed in MIM Software SurePlanTM utilizing SurePlanTM Local Deposition Method (LDM) and our own dose convolution method (WFBH). We sought to implement a patient specific background subtraction technique prior to dose calculation to make these noisy bremsstrahlung SPECT images suitable for post-TARE dosimetry calculations. Results: On average the percentage of mean background counts to maximum count in the image across all patients was 9.4 ± 4.9% with a maximum of 17.6% and minimum of 2.3%. Absolute dose increased and profile line width decreased as background subtraction value increased. The average value of the LDM and WFBH dose methods were statistically the same. As background subtraction value increased, we found the DVH curves to become unrealistic and distorted.Conclusion: Background subtraction on bremsstrahlung SPECT image had a large effect on post-TARE dosimetry. The background contour we defined provides a systematic estimate to the activity background that accounts for the scanner and patient conditions at the time of the image study and is easily implemented using commercially available software. We found using the mean count in the background contour as a constant subtraction across the entire image gave the most realistic dose distributions. Comparison of dosimetry from background subtracted SPECT images to image based dosimetry obtained via 90Y PET images will be the subject of our next analysis.
Exploring Equity and Inclusion in Malawi’s National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy and Implementation Plan
Authors: Ebuenyi Ikenna D , Smith Emma M. , Munthali Alister , Msowoya Steven W. , Kafumba Juba , Jamali Monica Z. , MacLachlan Malcolm
Published: August 2020

Background
Equity and inclusion are important principles in policy development and implementation. The aim of this study is to explore the extent to which equity and inclusion were considered in the development of Malawi’s National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy and Implementation Plan.
Methods
We applied an analytical methodology to review the Malawi’s National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy and Implementation Plan using the EquIPP (Equity and Inclusion in Policy Processes) tool. The EquIPP tool assesses 17 Key Actions to explore the extent of equity and inclusion.
Results
The development of the Malawi National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy and Implementation Plan was informed by a desire to promote the rights, opportunities and wellbeing of persons with disability in Malawi. The majority (58%) of the Key Actions received a rating of three, indicating evidence of clear, but incomplete or only partial engagement of persons with disabilities in the policy process. Three (18%) of the Key Actions received a rating of four indicating that all reasonable steps to engage in the policy development process were observed. Four (23%) of the Key Actions received a score five indicating a reference to Key Action in the core documents in the policy development process.
Conclusion
The development of disability policies and associated implementation strategies requires equitable and inclusive processes that consider input from all stakeholders especially those whose wellbeing depend on such policies. It is pivotal for government and organisations in the process of policy or strategy development and implementation, to involve stakeholders in a virtuous process of co-production – co-implementation – co-evaluation, which may strengthen both the sense of inclusion and the effectiveness of the policy life-cycle.
YY1-modulated Long Non-coding RNA SNHG12 Predicts and Promotes Gastric Cancer Metastasis via Activating miR-218-5p/YWHAZ-dependent β-catenin: A Bed to Bench Approach
Authors: Zhang Tian Qi , Dai Qingqiang , Beeharry Maneesh Kumarsing , Wang Zhenqiang , Su Liping , Li Chen
Published: August 2020

Background: Gastric Cancer (GC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths and mortality. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) such as SNHG12 play important roles in the pathogenesis and progression of cancers. However, the role and significanve of SNHG12 in the metastasis of GC has not yet been thoroughly investigated.Methods: The SNHG12 expression pattern was detected in GC tissue samples from our faculty and cell lines using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. In vivo and in vitro gain and loss assays were conducted to observe the effects of SNHG12 regulation on GC cell metastasis potential. The underlying mechanisms of SNHG12 regulation on EMT and metastatic potential of GC cells were further determined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR, western blotting, dual luciferase reporter assays, co-immunoprecipitation, immunoprecipitation, RIP assays, TOPFlash/FOPFlash reporter assays and Ch-IP assays.Results: SNHG12 was upregulated in GC tissues and cell lines. The expression levels of SNHG12 in GC samples was significantly related to tumor invasion depth, TNM staging and lymph node metastasis, and was associated with poorer DFS and OS in the GC patients. SNHG12 was significantly highly expressed in peritoneal metastatic tissues from GC patients and mice subjects, suggesting a possible role of SNHG12 in peritoneal carcinomatosis from GC. Further in vivo and in vitro gain and loss assays indicated that SNHG12 promoted GC metastasis and EMT. Based on hypothetical bioinformatic analysis findings, our mechanistic analyses revealed that miR-218-5p was a direct target of SNHG12 and suggested that both SNHG12 and miR-218-5p could collectively regulate YWHAZ, forming the SNHG12/ miR-218-5p/YWHAZ axis, hereby decreasing the ubiquitination of β-catenin, thus activating the β-catenin signaling pathway and facilitating metastasis and EMT. Further analysis also revealed that the transcription factor YY1 could negatively modulate SNHG12 transcription.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that SNHG12 is be a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for GC. Negatively modulated by transcription factor YYI, SNHG12 promotes GC metastasis and EMT by regulating the miR-218-5p/YWHAZ axis and hence activating the β-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, we discovered high SNHG12 expression could be related to peritoneal carcinomatosis from GC but this requires further validation.
Radiation induced bladder dysfunction in women during the acute and chronic phases following pelvic radiotherapy in a prospective observational cohort
Authors: Shenhar Chen , Chen Bertha H. , Kidd Elizabeth A. , Dobberfuhl Amy D.
Published: August 2020

Background

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common after pelvic radiotherapy (XRT), but most existing literature does not account for pre-XRT symptoms. Our aim was to characterize changes in LUTS before, during, and after (acute, chronic) XRT.
Methods

Adult women were prospectively enrolled into an observational cohort over a 10 month period from radiation oncology (Short Term group, ST) and urology (Long Term group, LT) clinic. Instruments included the American Urological Association Symptom Score (AUASS), Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS), Short form 12 item health survey, and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) genitourinary toxicity grading system. Data were analyzed in SAS.
Results

Twenty women were recruited (mean age 59.1 ± SD14.8 years, n = 12 ST, n = 8 LT) with a median follow-up of 9 (ST,IQR 7–50) and 6,170 (LT,IQR: 2,194-8,755) days since XRT [brachytherapy (55%,11/20), external beam (15%,3/20), combination (30%,6/20)]. Storage, voiding and incontinence were mildly worse during XRT (not significant). Storage and incontinence LUTS were prevalent before and after XRT. Worse LT scores (vs. ST) were captured by both AUASS and FLUTS for urgency (p < 0.005) and frequency (p < 0.05). Incontinence was worse in LT and only ascertained by the FLUTS (p < 0.05). AUASS quality of life was worse in ST during XRT (p < 0.05), and in LT after XRT (p < 0.05) when compared to ST. RTOG grade 3–4 toxicity was common (63%,5/8) in the LT group, and not identified at any point during XRT in ST.
Conclusions

XRT is associated with worse LT storage and incontinence, while differences in voiding symptoms did not reach statistical significance.
Sensitivity of prostate cancer foci using 1.5 T multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Ito Suguru , NAITO SEI , Narisawa Takafumi , Yagi Mayu , Kurota Yuta , Kanno Hidenori , Yamagishi Atsushi , Sakurai Toshihiko , Nishida Hayato , Yamanobe Takuya , Kato Tomoyuki , Tsuchiya Norihiko
Published: August 2020

Background

The detection of prostate cancer (CaP) has increasingly being carried out by multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). Despite many previous studies, the sensitivity for clinically significant CaP (csCaP) was high, information on mpMRI false-negative lesions is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use and limitations of mpMRI in CaP.
Methods

A total of 228 CaP foci in 100 patients who underwent 1.5 T mpMRI and radical prostatectomy between December 2015 and June 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The sensitivities of CaP foci, csCaP, and index tumors (ITs) were measured. Clinically significant CaP was defined into two categories based on the Gleason score (GS): csCaP/GS ≥ 3 + 4 (GS ≥ 3 + 4 or diameter > 10 mm) and csCaP/GS ≥ 4 + 3 (GS ≥ 4 + 3 or diameter > 10 mm). In addition, the characteristics of false-negative lesions were identified. The Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 was used to determine an mpMRI positive lesion, defined as a lesion having a score of ≥ 3.
Results

The sensitivity of all legions, csCaP/GS ≥ 3 + 4, csCaP/GS ≥ 4 + 3, and ITs were 61.4%, 75.8%, 83.0%, and 91%, respectively. There were 91 lesions that were mpMRI false, 40% of which were csCaP/GS ≥ 3 + 4. There were three lesions with a GS of ≥ 8 and ≥ 10 mm in the false-negative results.
Conclusions

mpMRI can highly detect ITs and csCaP/GS ≥ 4 + 3; however, a few large and high-GS CaPs constitute undetectable lesions in 1.5 T mpMRI.
Attitude Components Affecting Functional Dairy Foods Acceptance Among Iranian Urban Consumers
Authors: Kavoosi-Kalashami Mohammad , Faridi AmirAli , Bilali Hamid El
Published: August 2020

Background: Due to the effects that chemical and inorganic foods have on the human body system and cause a variety of diseases, including cancer, the use of functional foods is highly recommended for people. In this study, the attitudinal factors affecting the acceptance of functional dairy foods by urban consumers in Rasht, located in Guilan province, have been investigated.Methods: Data were obtained from 223 households in Rasht City, Northern Iran. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to investigate the effects of the general components of purchasing, the benefits of functional dairy food, the need of functional dairy foods, confidence in functional dairy foods, safety of functional dairy foods, health consciousness and healthy lifestyle, components on the willingness to buy of functional dairy foods.Results: The components of attitude towards healthy lifestyle and the general components of purchasing were the most effective factors in determining the acceptance of functional dairy foods by the households of Rasht City.Conclusions: Lifestyle changes and promotion of healthy lifestyle among urban consumers will increase the acceptance of functional dairy foods in Iran.
SUVmax of FDG PET-CT Can Be Used As An Identifier of Lesion for AI To Interpret Radiology Reports
Authors: Hirata Kenji , Manabe Osamu , Magota Keiichi , Furuya Sho , Shiga Tohru , Kudo Kohsuke
Published: August 2020

Background Radiology reports contribute not only to the particular patient, but also to constructing massive training dataset in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) is often described in daily radiology reports of FDG PET-CT. If SUVmax can be used as an identifier of lesion, that would greatly help AI interpret radiology reports. We aimed to clarify whether the lesion can be localized using SUVmax written in radiology reports.Methods The institutional review board approved this retrospective study. We investigated a total of 112 lesions from 30 FDG PET-CT images acquired with 3 different scanners. SUVmax was calculated from DICOM files based on the latest Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA) publication. The voxels showing the given SUVmax were exhaustively searched in the whole-body images and counted. SUVmax was provided with 5 different degrees of precision: integer (e.g., 3), 1st decimal places (DP) (3.1), 2nd DP (3.14), 3rd DP (3.142), and 4th DP (3.1416). For instance, when SUVmax=3.14 was given, the voxels with 3.135≤SUVmax<3.145 were extracted. We also evaluated whether local maximum restriction could improve the identifying performance, where only the voxels showing the highest intensity within some neighborhood were considered. We defined that “identical detection” was achieved when only single voxel satisfied the criterion.Results A total of 112 lesions from 30 FDG PET-CT images were investigated. SUVmax ranged from 1.3 to 49.1 (median = 5.6, IQR = 5.2). Generally, when larger and more precise SUVmax values were given, fewer voxels satisfied the criterion. The local maximum restriction was very effective. When SUVmax was determined to 4 decimal places (e.g., 3.1416) and the local maximum restriction was applied, identical detection was achieved in 33.3% (lesions with SUVmax<2), 79.5% (2≤SUVmax<5), and 97.8% (5≤SUVmax) of lesions.Conclusions SUVmax of FDG PET-CT can be used as an identifier to localize the lesion if precise SUVmax is provided and local maximum restriction was applied, although the lesions showing SUVmax<2 were difficult to identify. The proposed method may have potential to make use of radiology reports retrospectively for constructing training datasets for AI.
The Diagnostic Role of Sputum miRNA in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Hu Zaoxiu , Zhao Yonghe , Yang Yanlong , Shen Zhenghai , Huang Yunchao
Published: August 2020

Objective: Recent studies indicated sputum miRNAs may provide a promising approach for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis. But some results were still inconsistent. So, we performed meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic role of sputum miRNAs for the detection of NSCLC.Methods: Eligible studies that estimated the diagnostic accuracy of sputum miRNAs in NSCLC were searched in Pubmed, Embase and Web of Science and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Data from the eligible studies were collected and pooled; sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratios, weighted symmetric summary ROC curve and the area under the curve (AUC) were calculated by bi-variate random effects model. The between-study heterogeneity was evaluated by Q test and I2 statistics.Results: 30 studies from 16 articles were included for analysis. The overall analysis yielded the sensitivity of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.73–0.81) and specificity of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.83–0.90), with an area under the SROC curve (AUC) of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86–0.91). Subgroup analysis revealed the diagnostic accuracy in multiple miRNAs studies was higher than single miRNA (the sensitivity, specifcity and an AUC of multiple miRNAs were 0.76, 0.88 and 0.90; and for single miRNA, it was 0.74, 0.74, and 0.80). The diagnostic performance in early stage NSCLC was also very high (the sensitivity, specifcity and an AUC of stage I/II was 0.76, 0.88 and 0.91; and for stage I, it was 0.79, 0.85, and 0.87). We also found miR-210, miR-21, miR-31 and miR-126-3p might serve as potential biomarkers for lung cancer.Conclusion: Sputum miRNAs was useful noninvasive biomarkers for NSCLC diagnosis.
Quantitative method on study of Mani heaps: the case study on color analysis of Mani heaps in Dingqing county, Tibet
Authors: Peng Zhijun , Han Sun , Pan Deng , Zeng Fanyue , Yang Jing
Published: August 2020

A Mani heap, as an important religious art, is piled up by hundreds of stones or slates carved with a lot of information about religion, culture, history, art and lifestyle of Tibetans. Mani heaps are scattered almost everywhere in Tibet and also become a significant way to understand Tibet and Tibetans. However, the study on Mani heaps appears relatively limited in scope so far not only in Tibet or even in the Himalaya area. In most of the existing studies, qualitative research is the main method to describe or explain Mani heaps which leads to subjective tendencies in somewhere. In this paper, we propose a quantitative method by digital processing the colors of 70 images of Mani heaps in Dingqing county. Compared with the previous related studies, the results are more accurate to reflect the color features of Mani heaps in Dingqing county. More importantly, this quantitative, digital processing way may become an effective research method to apply, verify, underpin or challenge the study on Mani heaps in Tibet or other Himalaya areas.
Lower Mutant-Allele Tumor Heterogeneity is a Biomarker in FGFR3-Mutant Bladder Cancer for Better Prognosis
Authors: Han Yuying , Liu Xu , Ye Haihong , Tian Ye , Ji Zhengguo
Published: August 2020

Background: Bladder cancer displays a broad mutational spectrum and intratumor heterogeneity (ITH), which results in difference in molecular phenotypes and resistance to therapies. However, there are currently no clinically available measures to predict patient prognosis using ITH. We aimed to establish clinically relevant biomarker by using ITH for informing predictive of outcomes.Methods: We used the Bioconductor R package Maftools to efficiently and comprehensively analyze somatic variants of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We then used a mutant-allele tumor heterogeneity (MATH) algorithm to measure ITH and explored its correlation with clinical parameters as well as mutational subtypes.Results: We observed a broad range of somatic mutations in MIBC from TCGA. MATH value was higher for the high-grade group than for the low-grade group (p < 0.05). There was a strong correlation between higher MATH value and presence of TP53 mutations (p = 0.008), as well as between lower MATH value and presence of FGFR3 mutations (p = 0.006). Patients with FGFR3 mutation and low MATH value exhibit longer overall survival time than that of all BLCA patients (p = 0.044), which was replicated in another bladder cancer database composed of 109 BLCA patients.Conclusion: Measures of tumor heterogeneity may be useful biomarkers for identifying patients with bladder cancer. Low MATH value was an independent risk factor that predicted better prognosis for patients with FGFR3 mutation compared to all BLCA patients.
Pathological, Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Analysis of Amyloid Nephropathy
Authors: Zhao Xue , Wang Rong , Yu Che
Published: August 2020

Background: The number of patients diagnosed with renal amyloidosis is increasing year by year, and the pathological grade and prognostic factors are not clear. This study attempts to investigate the pathological features of renal amyloidosis and the prognostic factors in patients with amyloidosis. Method：To evaluate the pathological sections of 184 patients with renal amyloidosis in the Department of Pathology, Shandong University, and to retrospectively analyze the clinical data of 175 patients with amyloidosis in our center and to follow up them. Results: There was a positive correlation between different pathological grades and creatinine levels (rs = 0.275, P = 0.38), the higher the pathological grade, the higher the incidence of renal insufficiency (χ2 = 8.44, P = 0.015); the more severe the tubulointerstitial damage, the higher the incidence of renal insufficiency (χ2 = 14.15, P = 0.007); different degrees of tubulointerstitial damage and glomerulosclerosis affected the urinary protein quantification, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The treatment effect of older is worse (P=0.030，OR=1.040，95%CI=1.004，1.078) and the effect of selecting an effective treatment is better (P = 0.002, OR = 0.618, 95% CI = 0.456, 0.839). Hypotension, cardiac involvement, decreased serum albumin, and increased TnT were independent risk factors for survival; while receiving effective treatment modalities was an independent protective factor.Conclusion: The pathological grade of renal amyloidosis is associated with the incidence of renal insufficiency, in which the degree of tubulointerstitial chronic lesions significantly affects renal function.
Design and fabrication of ceramic hollow fiber membrane derived from waste ash using phase inversion-based extrusion/sintering technique for water filtration
Authors: Tai Zhong Sheng , Othman Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan , Dzahir Mohd Irfan Hatim Mohamed , Hubadillah Siti Khadijah , Koo Khong Nee , Azali Mohd Ariff , Alias Nur Hashimah , Mustafa Azeman , Ooi Boon Seng , Kurniawan Tonni Agustiono , Ismail Ahmad Fauzi
Published: August 2020

Low-cost green ceramic hollow fiber membranes (CHFM) were successfully designed and fabricated from the industrial waste ash, palm oil fuel ash (POFA) via phase inversion-based extrusion/sintering techniques for water filter application. The extrusion process parameters such as suspension viscosity, air gap distance, and bore fluid flow rate were systematically explored to produce the membrane with the desired morphology. A high suspension viscosity would result in a small macro-voids structure. Moreover, a high air gap distance would induce fiber with long macro-voids structure, while a low bore fluid flow rate would lead to the formation of distorted lumen structure. The effect of sintering temperature towards CHFM was also studied in detail. An increase in sintering temperature improved the membrane bending strength, but also adversely affected the pure water flux due to lower porosity and higher tortuosity. The developed membranes achieved excellent bending strengths of > 75 MPa at relatively low sintering temperatures than the alternative ceramic counterparts, due to its high potassium oxide, K2O content, which acted as the low melting point sintering aid. The relatively low sintering temperature of POFA-derived CHFMs could reduce the energy consumption and sintering duration, which could be more economically attractive, as compared to their ceramic counterparts, thus benefiting industrial users.