bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cycles of self-reported seizure likelihood correspond to yield of diagnostic epilepsy monitoring
Authors: Karoly Philippa J , Eden Dominique , Nurse Ewan S , Cook Mark J , Taylor Janelle , Dumanis Sonya , Richardson Mark P , Brinkmann Benjamin H , Freestone Dean R
Published: October 2020

Objective: Video-electroencephalography (vEEG) is an important component of epilepsy diagnosis and management. Nevertheless, inpatient vEEG monitoring fails to capture seizures in up to one third of patients during diagnostic and pre-surgical monitoring. We hypothesized that personalized seizure forecasts could be used to optimize the timing of vEEG and improve diagnostic yield.
Methods: We used a database of ambulatory vEEG studies to select a cohort with linked electronic seizure diaries of more than 20 reported seizures over at least 8 weeks. The total cohort included 48 participants. Diary seizure times were used to detect individuals' multi-day cycles and estimate times of high seizure risk. We then compared whether estimated seizure risk was significantly different between diagnostic and non-diagnostic vEEGs, and between vEEG with and without recorded epileptic activity.
Results: Estimated seizure risk was significantly higher for diagnostic vEEGs and vEEGs with epileptic activity. Across all cycle strengths, the average time in high risk during vEEG was 29.1% compared with 14% for the diagnostic/non-diagnostic groups and 32% compared to 18% for the epileptic activity/no epileptic activity groups. On average, 62.5% of the cohort showed increased time in high risk during vEEG when epileptic activity was recorded (compared to 28% of the cohort where epileptic activity was not recorded). For diagnostic vEEGs, 50% of the cohort had increased time in high risk, compared to 21.5% for non-diagnostic vEEGs.
Significance: This study provides a proof of principle that scheduling monitoring times based on personalized seizure risk forecasts can improve the yield of vEEG. Importantly, forecasts can be developed at low cost from mobile seizure diaries. A simple scheduling tool to improve diagnostic outcomes has the potential to reduce the significant cost and risks associated with delayed or missed diagnosis in epilepsy.
Sex differences in the human brain transcriptome of cases with schizophrenia
Authors: Hoffman Gabriel E. , Ma Yixuan , Montgomery Kelsey S. , Bendl Jaroslav , Jaiswal Manoj Kumar , Kozlenkov Alex ,   the CommonMind Consortium, Peters Mette A. , Dracheva Stella , Fullard John F. , Chess Andrew , Devlin Bernie , Sieberts Solveig K. , Roussos Panos
Published: October 2020

While schizophrenia differs between males and females in age of onset, symptomatology and the course of the disease, the molecular mechanisms underlying these differences remain uncharacterized. In order to address questions about the sex-specific effects of schizophrenia, we performed a large-scale transcriptome analysis of RNA-seq data from 437 controls and 341 cases from two distinct cohorts from the CommonMind Consortium. Analysis across the cohorts identifies a reproducible gene expression signature of schizophrenia that is highly concordant with previous work. Differential expression across sex is reproducible across cohorts and identifies X- and Y-linked genes, as well as those involved in dosage compensation. Intriguingly, the sex expression signature is also enriched for genes involved in neurexin family protein binding and synaptic organization. Differential expression analysis testing a sex-by-diagnosis interaction effect did not identify any genome-wide signature after multiple testing corrections. Gene coexpression network analysis was performed to reduce dimensionality and elucidate interactions among genes. We found enrichment of co-expression modules for sex-by-diagnosis differential expression signatures, which were highly reproducible across the two cohorts and involve a number of diverse pathways, including neural nucleus development, neuron projection morphogenesis, and regulation of neural precursor cell proliferation. Overall, our results indicate that the effect size of sex differences in schizophrenia gene expression signatures is small and underscore the challenge of identifying robust sex-by-diagnosis signatures, which will require future analyses in larger cohorts.
In-depth analysis of proteomic and genomic fluctuations during the time course of human embryonic stem cells directed differentiation into beta cells
Authors: Budnik Bogdan , Straubhaar Juerg , Neveu John , Shvartsman Dmitry
Published: October 2020

Pluripotent stem cells (PSC) endocrine differentiation at a large scale allows sampling of transcriptome and proteome with phosphoproteome (proteoform) at specific time points. We describe the dynamic time course of changes in cells undergoing directed beta-cell differentiation and show target proteins or previously unknown phosphorylation of critical proteins in pancreas development, NKX6-1, and Chromogranin A (CHGA). We describe fluctuations in the correlation between gene expression, protein abundance, and phosphorylation, which follow differentiation protocol perturbations of cell fates at all stages to identify proteoform profiles. Our computational modeling recognizes outliers on a phenomic landscape of endocrine differentiation, and we outline several new biological pathways involved. We have validated our proteomic data by analyzing two independent single-cell RNA sequencing datasets for in-vitro pancreatic islet productions using the same cell starting material and differentiation protocol and corroborating our findings for several proteins suggest as targets for future research.

Moreover, our single-cell analysis combined with proteoform data places new protein targets within the specific time point and at the specific pancreatic lineage of differentiating stem cells. We also suggest that non-correlating proteins abundances or new phosphorylation motifs of NKX6.1 and CHGA point to new signaling pathways that may play an essential role in beta-cell development. We present our findings for the research community’s use to improve endocrine differentiation protocols and developmental studies.
Dissecting phenotypic transitions in metastatic disease via photoconversion-based isolation
Authors: Sela Yogev , Li Jinyang , Kuri Paola , Merrell Allyson , Li Ning , Lengner Chris , Rompolas Pantelis , Stanger Ben Z.
Published: October 2020

Cancer patients presenting with surgically resectable disease often harbor occult metastases, a potential source of relapse that is targetable only through systemic therapy. Studies of this occult fraction have been limited by a lack of tools with which to isolate discrete cells based on spatial grounds. We developed PIC-IT, photoconversion-based isolation technique allowing efficient recovery of cell clusters of any size including solitary disseminated tumor cells (DTCs), which are largely inaccessible otherwise. In a murine pancreatic cancer model, transcriptional profiling of spontaneously arising DTCs revealed phenotypic heterogeneity, functionally reduced propensity to proliferate and enrichment for inflammatory-response phenotype associated with NF-κB /AP-1 signaling. Pharmacological inhibition of NF-κB depleted DTCs but had no effect on macrometastases, suggesting DTCs are particularly dependent on this pathway. PIC-IT enables systematic investigation of the earliest stages of metastatic colonization. Moreover, this new technique can be applied to other biological systems in which isolation and characterization of spatially distinct cell populations is not currently feasible.
Benchmarking non-targeted metabolomics using yeast derived libraries
Authors: Rampler Evelyn , Hermann Gerrit , Grabmann Gerlinde , El Abiead Yasin , Schoeny Harald , Baumgartinger Christoph , Köcher Thomas , Koellensperger Gunda
Published: October 2020

Non-targeted analysis by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is the essential discovery tool in metabolomics. Up to date, standardization and validation remain a challenge. Community wide accepted, cost-effective benchmark materials are lacking. In this work, we propose yeast (Pichia pastoris) extracts, derived from fully controlled fermentations for this purpose. We established an open-source metabolite library of > 200 metabolites, reproducibly recovered in ethanolic extracts by orthogonal LCHRMS methods, different fermentations (over three years) and different laboratories. More specifically, compound identification was based on accurate mass, matching retention times, and MS/MS spectra as compared to authentic standards and internal databases. The library includes metabolites from the classes of 1) organic acids and derivatives (2) nucleosides, nucleotides and analogues, (3) lipids and lipid-like molecules, (4) organic oxygen compounds, (5) organoheterocyclic compounds, (6) organic nitrogen compounds and (7) benzoids at expected concentrations ranges of sub-nM to µM. As yeast is a eukaryotic organism, key regulatory elements are highly conserved between yeast and all annotated metabolites were also reported in the Human metabolome data base (HMDB). A large fraction of metabolites was found to be stable for several years when stored at −80°C. Thus, the yeast benchmark material enabled not only to test for the chemical space and coverage upon method implementation and developments, but enabled in-house routines for instrumental performance tests. Finally, the benchmark material opens new avenues for batch to batch corrections in large scale non-targeted metabolomics studies.
Glycan-induced protein dynamics in human norovirus P dimers depend on virus strain and deamidation status
Authors: Dülfer Jasmin , Yan Hao , Brodmerkel Maxim N , Creutznacher Robert , Mallagaray Alvaro , Peters Thomas , Caleman Carl , Marklund Erik G , Uetrecht Charlotte
Published: October 2020

Noroviruses are the major cause of gastroenteritis and re-emerge worldwide every year, with GII.4 currently being the most frequent human genotype. The norovirus capsid protein VP1 is essential for host immune response. The P domain mediates cell attachment via histo blood-group antigens (HBGAs) in a strain-dependent manner but how these glycan-interactions actually relate to cell entry remains unclear. Here, hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) is used to investigate glycan-induced protein dynamics in P dimers of different strains, which exhibit high structural similarity but different prevalence in humans. While the almost identical strains GII.4 Saga and GII.4 MI001 share glycan-induced dynamics, the dynamics differ in the emerging GII.17 Kawasaki 308 and rare GII.10 Vietnam 026 strain. We also further examine structural effects of N373 deamidation upon glycan binding in partially deamidated GII.4 P dimers, which are likely present during infection. Such mixed species exhibit increased exposure to solvent in the P dimer upon glycan binding as opposed to pure wildtype. Furthermore, deamidated P dimers display increased flexibility and a monomeric population. Our results indicate that glycan binding induces strain-dependent structural dynamics, which are further altered by N373 deamidation, and hence hint at a role of deamidation in modulating cell attachment and entry in GII.4 strains.
Health care financing and income inequality in Nigeria
Authors: Oburota Chukwuedo Susan , Olaniyan Olanrewaju
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to decompose the inequities induced by the Nigerian health care financing sources and their effect on the income distribution. Inequities in health care financing sources are of immense policy concern particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria, where high-level income inequality exists, and the cost of medical care is generally financed out-of-pocket (OOP) due to limited access to health insurance.

Design/methodology/approach

The Ducloset al.decomposition model provided the theoretical framework for the study. Data were obtained from two waves of the Nigeria General Household Survey (GHS) panel, 2012–13 and 2015–16. The analysis covered 3,999 households in 2012–13 and 4,051 households in 2015–16. Two measures of health care financing: OOP payment and health insurance contribution (HIC) were used. The ability to pay measure was household consumption expenditure.

Findings

The major inequity issue induced by the OOP payments was vertical inequity. HICs created the problems of vertical inequity, horizontal inequity and reranking among households. Overall both health care financing options were associated with the worsening of income inequality both at the national and sectorial levels in the country. The operations of the NHIS need to be improved to ensuring improved health care coverage for the poor.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need to determine the income redistributive effects (REs) of the social health insurance (SHI) contribution at the national, urban and rural locations overtime.
Transformative place management (TPM) in commercial settings and business performance
Authors: Losada-Otálora Mauricio , Siqueira Jose Ribamar
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study aims to introduce transformative place management – TPM – (defined as the deliberate efforts of place managers in commercial settings to provide a pool of restorative resources to improve the consumers’ emotional well-being) by merging the REPLACE framework and transformative service research. Additionally, this research analyzes the direct and indirect impacts of restorative resources as a form of TPM on consumers’ emotional well-being and place attachment, considering the moderating role of employee emotional labor.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 240 customers were surveyed in an experience-based store in a developing country by using a questionnaire. Then, a moderated mediation model was applied to analyze the moderating role of employee emotional labor in the relationship between TPM and place attachment through consumers’ well-being.

Findings

TPM that provides restorative resources to consumers influences place attachment by improving consumer well-being. However, surface acting by employees reduces the ability of TPM to increase place attachment through the improvement of consumers’ emotional well-being. Deep acting, on the other hand, does not enhance the effect of TPM on place attachment through consumers’ emotional well-being.

Originality/value

This paper proposes new developments in the transformative service research (TSR) paradigm by introducing TPM. By showing how the place of consumption increases the well-being of customers, this paper helps TSR researchers to accomplish the purpose of transforming the lives of consumers through relevant research. Although marketing researchers and environmental psychologists have theoretically anticipated the positive effects on well-being from consumption settings, this paper explains how commercial places promote customer well-being through the provision of restorative resources. Also, this paper shows how the place of consumption transforms consumers’' lives and identifies some of the boundary conditions at which such a transformation occurs.
Various information aspects following the emergence of music streaming applications
Authors: Weinberger Maor , Bouhnik Dan
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This exploratory study explores usage habits in music streaming applications (MSA) and their influence on various dimensions, such as: changes in personal music management (PMM) and musical information retrieval; sense of ownership over songs being stored on MSA; and privacy concerns when using those applications. It also investigates the potential effect of demographic factors and personal musical preferences on the tested variables.

Design/methodology/approach

This is examined by using a mixed methodology that is consisted of two phases – qualitative and quantitative: The qualitative phase includes semistructured interviews with three MSA users, and the quantitative phase includes the distribution of closed-ended questionnaires among 192 users of MSA.

Findings

It seems that the musical information management methods have changed dramatically with the introduction of MSA. Also, the findings show that even though users are only moderately concerned about their privacy within MSA, they are willing to pay for premium services that will ensure privacy protection. Interestingly, personal musical preference was found to affect the belief in the potential of using MSA as part of a social activity and on the willingness to pay for premium services within them.

Originality/value

This paper represents an extension of the article by Weinberger and Bouhnik (2019). It appears to be the first academic research to investigate the issue of musical information retrieval and PMM among MSA. In addition, it is the first study that takes into account privacy-related issues among MSA users.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-04-2020-0118
Understanding the benefits of horticultural therapy on paediatric patient's well-being during hospitalisation
Authors: Guglielmetti Mugion Roberta , Menicucci Elisa
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study is to undertake a systemic literature review (SLR) of horticultural therapy and to explore whether its inclusion in a healthcare programme can enhance hospitalised children's well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was developed using a mixed methods approach to monitor stakeholders' perceptions of horticultural therapy. Specifically, hospitalised children (N = 31) and their families (N = 21), as well as medical and nursing staff (N = 3), were engaged in the empirical study. Qualitative and quantitative surveys were developed, involving two paediatric units in an Italian hospital.

Findings

The authors’ findings show a significant improvement of children's mood and psycho-physical well-being following horticultural therapy. The authors found positive effects of interactive horticultural therapy on hospitalised paediatric patients and their parents. Parents perceived a positive influence on their mood and found the therapy very beneficial for their children. Qualitative analyses of children's and parents' comments (and related rankings) revealed the helpful support role of horticultural therapy in dealing with the hospitalisation period. There is a very limited number of studies that have inspected co-therapy implementation in paediatric hospitals, and to the best of the authors' knowledge, no study has yet examined the effect of horticultural therapy in such a context. The practice of horticultural therapy with children in health settings has been documented in some Italian hospitals, but its effectiveness has not yet been well established in the literature.

Originality/value

The authors’ findings could provide useful insights to clinicians, health managers and directors in creating and sustaining a successful group co-therapy programme under the managed healthcare system.
Dynamic assessment and teachers' knowledge of children's mathematical thinking: a case study in children's mathematics
Authors: Moscardini Lio , Moscardini Chiara
Published: October 2020

This paper considers the kind of pedagogical knowledge and principles involved in the operationalisation of knowledge of children's mathematical thinking as a process of dynamic assessment. Using a case study of a particular child, this paper explores planning and instruction for a child determined by a detailed and informed interpretation of the child's conceptual understanding through a dynamic process. It presents as a case study the observations of a teacher who had undertaken professional development in children's mathematical thinking, theoretically informed by Cognitively Guided Instruction and Maths Recovery. The observations revealed the child's mathematical understanding and how the teacher used this knowledge dynamically to inform teaching. The paper outlines the kind of knowledge required of teachers to enact this dynamic process in mathematics teaching and argues for the centrality of this to the development of inclusive practice.
Durability of tunneled catheters in children is associated with catheter tip depth: A single‐center report
Authors: Premuzic Vedran , Mihaljevic Dragan , Pasini Miram , Mesar Ines , Luetic Tomislav , Antabak Anko
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of different catheter tip positions on catheter duration and dysfunction of tunneled catheters in children. Catheters were evaluated for place of insertion, time of insertion, catheter tip depth and position, duration of use, and reason for removal. The mean duration of implanted catheters with tips placed in cavo‐atrial junction/right atrium was significantly longer with significantly lower percentage of complications than tips placed in superior vena cava. Only catheter tips placed in cavo‐atrial junction/right atrium was a predictor of catheter functionality and survival. Shorter catheter survival in children with tunneled catheters is a consequence of a catheter tip depth proximal of CAJ and RA. Our results showed that the main factor responsible for better catheter functionality was not laterality but the depth of the catheter tip, which reduces need for future catheter insertions with increased catheter durability.
Shattering the paradox of guns and crime: Incidence, prevalence, and the 2020 Stockholm Prize
Authors: Sherman Lawrence W.
Published: October 2020

The apparent paradox of guns and crime is that gun homicide rates have been dropping for three decades in the United States while the number of guns in circulation has been rising. Those trends form an apparent paradox because guns are so much more lethal, given an attack, than other weapons, and in general, the more weapons in a state, the higher the rate of death from firearms. As both winners of the 2020 Stockholm Prize have shown, an additional element of evidence is needed to understand why there is no true paradox. With the declining percentage of households owning guns (at least until COVID‐19), the prevalence of gun ownership has been declining, even while the incidence (mean number of guns owned per owner) has been rising. The key to reducing gun violence, and perhaps suicides as well, may thus be reduced prevalence, even with rising incidence.
Disease severity affects myocardial functions in patients with treatment‐naive early rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Çakmak Ender Özgün , Fındıkçıoğlu Uğur , Tezcan Mehmet Engin
Published: October 2020

Objectives

The cross‐sectional study aimed to assess myocardial functions using global longitudinal strain (GLS) echocardiography and arrhythmia parameters with treatment naive newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and no clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

Seventy seven newly diagnosed treatment‐naive RA patients were enrolled. Disease severity was evaluated according to rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti‐citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) positivity, and Disease Activity Score 28 C‐reactive protein (DAS28 CRP). Myocardial functions were assessed using conventional echocardiography and GLS technique and electrocardiogram parameters cQT and Tp‐e/cQT.

Results

Twenty three patients had severe disease while 54 patients were non‐severe. The Left Ventricle GLS (17.98 ± 1.24 vs 21.29 ± 1.03, P < .001), cQT (428.71 ± 9.05 vs 394.61 ± 17.83, P < .001), Tp‐e/cQT (0.19 ± 0.02 vs 0.16 ± 0.01, P < .001) for severe RA patients was reduced compared to RA non‐severe patients. Penalized maximum likelihood estimation logistic regression analysis revealed LVGLS as the only significantly independent predictor of severe RA disease (OR 0.70, CI 95% 0.52‐0.92, P = .001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the LVGLS was revealed 19.9 as GLS discriminative value with 88.8% positive predictive value for predicting severity. Severe RA risk increases when log‐odds value was over 0, corresponds to LVGLS value less than 18 by partial effect plots.

Conclusion

RA severity was associated with lower LV systolic myocardial function and increased arrhythmia parameters. Only LVGLS was significantly independent predictor of RA disease severity.
Preoperative mediastinal staging in patients with cT1‐3NxM0 non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Steunenberg Bastiaan E. , Beddows Tom P.A. , De Groot Hans G.W. , Ayez Ninos , Van Der Leest Cor , Aerts Joachim G.J.V. , Veen Eelco J.
Published: October 2020

Background

Endosonography is accepted as the initial procedure for mediastinal staging in patients with suspected non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the diagnostic value of different staging methods in specific subgroups is unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the performance and outcome of mediastinal staging in lung cancer in a general teaching hospital.

Methods

The records of 870 consecutive patients with potentially resectable NSCLC (cT1‐3NxM0) were analyzed in a retrospective cohort study between January 2010 and December 2016. Patients were divided into four different groups according to ESTS guidelines. The primary endpoint was the rate of unforeseen mediastinal metastasis in these groups and the sensitivity of different staging methods.

Results

Mediastinal staging was performed in 336 patients of whom 112 (33%) underwent lobectomy. Unforeseen mediastinal metastasis was seen in 10 (9%) patients after negative mediastinal staging. Sensitivity after combined mediastinal staging (endosonography with mediastinoscopy) in the overall group was 94%. In patients without suspected mediastinal lymph nodes but with suspected hilar lymph nodes (N1), or a peripheral tumor >3 cm, sensitivity of endosonography was 33% and mediastinoscopy 75%. Biopsy of at least level 4L, 4R and 7 was taken in 18% of the endosonographies and 58% of the mediastinoscopies.

Discussion

Combined mediastinal staging (endosonography with mediastinoscopy) is reliable with a sensitivity of 94%. However, the diagnostic value of endosonography in patients with suspected hilar lymph nodes or a peripheral tumor >3 cm is questionable, and in these patients, performing direct mediastinoscopy should be considered.

Key points

Significant findings of this study

The diagnostic value of endosonography in patients without suspected mediastinal lymph nodes but with potential risk factors (suspected N1 disease or peripheral tumor >3 cm) is questionable. Therefore, mediastinoscopy as the first choice should be considered in these patients.

What this study adds?

Accurate mediastinal nodal staging is essential in patients with suspected NSCLC to avoid unnecessary lobectomy. Detailed knowledge about sensitivity and specificity of mediastinal staging techniques in different patient groups can make a difference.
Maternal known drug allergy and long‐term dermatological morbidity of the offspring
Authors: Noy Ariel , Wainstock Tamar , Sheiner Eyal , Leibson Tom , Horev Amir , Pariente Gali
Published: October 2020

Drug allergy is associated with adverse short‐term perinatal outcomes such as caesarian delivery and preterm delivery. The aim of the present study was to determine whether being born to a mother with known drug allergy increases the risk for long‐term dermatological morbidity of the offspring. A population‐based cohort study, comparing long‐term dermatological morbidity of offspring to mothers with and without known drug allergy, was conducted. Dermatological morbidity was assessed up to the age of 18 years according to a predefined set of ICD‐9 codes associated with hospitalization of the offspring. A Kaplan‐Meier survival curve was used to compare cumulative incidence of long‐term dermatological morbidity, and a Cox proportional hazards model was constructed to control of confounders. During the study period, 243,682 deliveries met the inclusion criteria, of them 4% (n = 9756) were of mothers with known drug allergy. Offspring born to mothers with known drug allergy had higher rates of long‐term dermatological morbidity Likewise, the cumulative incidence of long‐term dermatological morbidity was higher as compared with those without known drug allergy (Kaplan‐Meier log‐rank P = .021). Using a Cox proportional hazards model, controlling for confounders, being born to a mother with known drug allergy was found to be an independent risk factor for long‐term dermatological morbidity of the offspring (adjusted HR 1.2, 95% CI 1.03‐1.33, P = .016). Being born to a mother with known drug allergy is independently associated with higher risk for long‐term dermatological morbidity of the offspring.
Refugee Shelter in a Logistical World: Designing Goods for Supply‐Chain Humanitarianism
Authors: Pascucci Elisa
Published: October 2020

Focusing on the design and production of the IKEA Foundation “Better Shelter” and on its use in a camp on the island of Lesvos, Greece, this article explores the role of logistical calculative rationales in the provision of emergency shelters to refugees. It argues that an engagement with the critical geographies of logistics contributes to the study of such “humanitarian goods” in two main ways. First, it foregrounds the technologies that allow emergency shelter products to circulate across production sites and disaster and border zones, and their connections to broader infrastructures and commercial networks in what recent literature has called “supply‐chain humanitarianism”. Second, a logistical lens highlights the disruptions that characterise the production and usage of emergency shelter products. The analysis adds to a body of work that exposes humanitarian technology and design as sites of friction, deeply embedded in global processes of bordering and accumulation.
Fragmentation of cell‐free DNA is induced by upper‐tract urothelial carcinoma–associated systemic inflammation
Authors: Nakano Kosuke , Yamamoto Yoshiyuki , Yamamichi Gaku , Yumiba Satoru , Tomiyama Eisuke , Matsushita Makoto , Koh Yoko , Hayashi Yujiro , Wang Cong , Ishizuya Yu , Kato Taigo , Hatano Koji , Kawashima Atsunari , Ujike Takeshi , Fujita Kazutoshi , Nonomura Norio , Uemura Motohide
Published: October 2020

Reliable biomarkers for upper‐tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) have yet to be found. Plasma cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) has been clinically applied as a minimally invasive blood biomarker for various types of cancer. We investigated the utility of plasma cfDNA as a blood biomarker in UTUC patients. The fragment size of plasma cfDNA was shorter and the concentration of plasma cfDNA was higher in UTUC patients than in healthy controls. The fragment size of plasma cfDNA had a moderate accuracy of diagnosing UTUC (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.72), and multivariate analysis indicated that the fragment size of plasma cfDNA was significantly associated with the presence of UTUC (odds ratio = 0.807, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.653‐0.955, P = .024). Furthermore, we found that the size of plasma cfDNA shortens alongside disease progression (P < .001). The fragment size of plasma cfDNA in UTUC patients may be an auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of UTUC patients. We also found a high correlation between the fragmentation of plasma cfDNA and serum levels of three inflammatory cytokines (TNFα [r = −.837], interleukin‐6 [IL‐6] [r = −.964], interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist [IL‐1ra] [r = −.911]), which were reported to associate with poor prognosis. Also, we found that the proportion of short fragments of cfDNA was significantly increased in the supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy controls cultured in media containing TNFα. These results supposed that cancer‐associated systemic inflammation, especially tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNFα), may contribute to the fragmentation of plasma cfDNA in UTUC patients.
A worldwide survey on proctological practice during COVID‐19 lockdown (ProctoLock 2020): a cross‐sectional analysis
Authors: Gallo Gaetano , Sturiale Alessandro , De Simone Veronica , Di Tanna Gian Luca , Giani Iacopo , Grossi Ugo ,   the ProctoLock 2020 Working Group
Published: October 2020

Aim

Proctology is one of the surgical specialties that has suffered the most during COVID‐19 pandemic. Using a cross‐sectional non‐incentivised World Wide Web survey, we aimed to snapshot the current status of proctological practice in six world regions.

Method

Surgeons affiliated to renowned scientific societies with an interest in coloproctology were invited to join the survey. Members of the ProctoLock Working Group enhanced recruitment by direct invitation. The predictive power of respondents’ and hospitals’ demographics on the change of status of surgical and outpatient activities was calculated.

Results

Respondents (n = 1050) were mostly men (79%), with a mean age of 46.9 years, at consultant level (79%), practising in academic hospitals (53%) offering a dedicated proctology service (68%). A total of 119 (11%) tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. The majority (54%) came from Europe. Participants from Asia reported a higher proportion of unaltered practice (17%), while those from Europe had the highest proportion of fully stopped practice (20%). The likelihood of ongoing surgical practice was higher in men (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.13–2.09; P = 0.006), in those reporting readily availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) (OR 1.40, 1.08–1.42; P = 0.012) and in centres that were partially or not at all involved in COVID‐19 care (OR 2.95, 2.14–4.09; P < 0.001). This chance decreased by 2% per year of respondent’s age (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Several factors including different screening policies and resource capacity affected the current status of proctological practice. This information may help health authorities to formulate effective preventive strategies to limit curtailment of care of these patients during the pandemic.
Not Esoteric, Just Fallible: Comment on Starmans and Friedman About Philosophical Expertise
Authors: Ho Tsung‐Hsing
Published: October 2020

Gettier cases are scenarios conceived by philosophers to demonstrate that justified true beliefs may not be knowledge. Starmans and Friedman (2020) find that philosophers attribute knowledge in Gettier cases differently from laypeople and non‐philosophy academics, which seems to suggest that philosophers may be indoctrinated to adopt an esoteric concept of knowledge. I argue to the contrary: Their finding at most shows that philosophical reflection is fallible, but nevertheless able to clarify the concept of knowledge. I also suggest that their experiments could be modified to help determine when philosophical reflection might yield plausible results.
Defending Against Child Death: Deep learning‐based diagnosis method for abnormal identification of fetus ultrasound Images
Authors: Deepika P. , Suresh R.M. , Pabitha P.
Published: October 2020

One of the most important industries which protect human from various diseases is the medical industry. Child death is a crucial concern that needs to concentrate on “save the children.” Abnormality of a child can be obtained by diagnosing the prenatal by ultrasound system within a specific period for providing better treatment to do “save the children.”. This article aimed to diagnose the (prenatal) ultrasound‐images by design and implement a novel framework named Defending Against Child Death (DACD). The existing method is a semiautomatic method where it used convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm for classifying ultrasound images. Real‐time medical industry requires a fully automatic method for classifying the ultrasound images to save the human. Hence this article, includes deep learning by implementing five convolutional neural network architectures in an order where it learns, estimate, and confirms the fetus parameters. All the layers in the convolutional neural network extract and classify the different number of features in the ultrasound images automatically and provide a result. The increased number of hidden layers in the CNN can extract even the hidden features of the images. The extracted features are classified automatically and improve the accuracy of disease detection. To segment the fetus abdomen, U‐Net architecture is included in the CNN with Hough transformation. The experiment is carried out using the CNN toolbox in MATLAB and the outcomes are verified. The performance of the DACD is assessed by comparing the results with the earlier researches. From the experimental results, it is obtained that the accuracy of DACD is 99.7%, which is higher than the results obtained from the existing machine learning approach.
Molecular phylogeny reveals cryptic diversity and swim bladder evolution of Sillaginidae fishes (Perciformes) across the Indo‐West Pacific Ocean
Authors: Cheng Jie , Xiao Jiaguang , Song Na , Saha Shilpi , Qin Jianguang , Nomura Hirotaka , Panhwar Sher Khan , Farooq Noureen , Shao Kwangtsao , Gao Tianxiang
Published: October 2020

Aim

Sillaginidae is commercially exploited fish species across the Indo‐West Pacific (IWP), and changes in its abundance are of major conservation concern. Cryptic species in the marine realm emphasizes the necessity to revise our current perception of marine biodiversity, and understanding cryptic diversity is a prerequisite for sustainable development of ocean fisheries. Therefore, our goal was to provide an in‐depth understanding of cryptic diversity and evolutionary diversification of the family Sillaginidae across the IWP to assess the currently uncertain global status of the species.

Location

IWP shores spanning from Japan and Australia to South Africa.

Methods

Samples from 23 valid and two undefined Sillaginidae species were obtained across their habitats in IWP. Phylogenetic analyses and molecular dating of both mitochondrial (12S, 16S, Cyt b, and COI) and nucleic (RAG2) loci, combined with morphometrics of the swim bladder, were used to evaluate their cryptic species diversity and phylogeography.

Results

A total of 31 operational taxonomic units with two highly diverse cryptic complexes in Sillago ingenuua and Sillago sihama were identified across IWP, including a shallow dichotomous branch in the S. ingenuua complex and eight highly divergent clades from the S. sihama complex. The robust model‐based multigene phylogeny for 24 Sillaginidae species was well supported in accordance with the morphology evolution of swim bladder. The origin of the Sillaginidae was estimated during the Middle Eocene based on the relaxed molecular clock analysis calibrated by fossil and paleogeographic event.

Main conclusions

Our results indicated that more cryptic species could be present in the family Sillaginidae and a thorough reappraisal of the current S. sihama taxonomy is warranted. The swim bladder evolution in Sillaginidae fishes was from simplicity to complex corresponding with phylogeny. Given the complex cryptic diversity of Sillaginidae species, we suggested treating them as different management units in utilization of offshore fisheries resources.
A Collaboration Among Primary Care–Based Clinical Pharmacists and Community‐Based Health Coaches
Authors: Sorensen Andrea , Grotts Jonathan F. , Tseng Chi‐Hong , Moreno Gerardo , Maranon Richard , Whitmire Natalie , Viramontes Omar , Atkins Sandy , Sefilyan Ester , Simmons June W. , Mangione Carol M.
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Medication discrepancies and adverse drug events are common following hospital discharge. This study evaluates whether a collaboration between community‐based health coaches and primary care–based pharmacists was associated with a reduction in inpatient utilization following hospitalization.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study using propensity score matching.

SETTING

Urban academic medical center and surrounding community.

PARTICIPANTS

Intervention patients (n = 494) were adults aged 65 and older admitted to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Ronald Reagan Medical Center during the study period and who met study inclusion criteria. A matched‐control group was composed of patients with similar demographic and clinical characteristics who were admitted to the study site during the study period but who received usual care (n = 2,470). A greedy algorithm approach was used to conduct the propensity score match.

INTERVENTION

Following acute hospitalization, a health coach conducted a home visit and transmitted all medication‐related information to a pharmacist based in a primary care practice. The pharmacist compared this information with the patient's electronic medical record medication list and consulted with the patient's primary care provider to optimize medication management.

MEASUREMENTS

Thirty‐day readmissions (primary outcome), 60‐ and 90‐day readmissions, and 30‐day emergency department (ED) visits (secondary outcomes) to UCLA Health.

RESULTS

Among 494 patients who received the intervention, 307 (62.1%) were female with a mean age of 83.0 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 76–90 years). Among 2,470 matched‐control patients, 1,541 (62.4%) were female with a mean age of 82.7 years (IQR = 74.9–89.5 years). For the propensity score match, standardized mean differences were below .1 for 23 of 25 variables, indicating good balance. Patients who received this intervention had a significantly lower predicted probability of being readmitted within 30 days compared with matched‐control patients (10.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.9–13.2) vs 21.4%; 95% CI = 19.8–23.0; P value < .001).

CONCLUSION

A home visit conducted by a health coach combined with a medication review by a primary care–based pharmacist may prevent subsequent inpatient utilization.
Bag‐1 mediates glucocorticoid receptor trafficking to mitochondria after corticosterone stimulation: Potential role in regulating affective resilience
Authors: Luo Shaolei , Hou Yangyang , Zhang Yaping , Feng Lei , Hunter Richard G. , Yuan Peixiong , Jia Yue , Li Haoran , Wang Gang , K. Manji Husseini , S. McEwen Bruce , Xiao Chunjie , Bao Hongkun , Du Jing
Published: October 2020

Molecular abnormalities within the Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) stress signaling pathway involved in dysfunction of mitochondria and confer vulnerability to stress‐related psychiatric disorders. Bcl‐2 associated athanogene (Bag‐1) is a target for the actions of mood stabilizers. Bag‐1 interacts with GR, thereby regulating glucocorticoid function. In this study, we investigate the potential role of Bag‐1 in regulating GR translocation into mitochondria. Corticosterone (CORT) treatment significantly enhanced Bag‐1/GR complex formation and GR mitochondrial translocation in cultured rat cortical neurons after treatment for 30 min and 24 hr. By contrast, after stimulation with CORT for 3 days, localization of the Bag‐1/GR complex and mitochondrial GR were reduced. Similar results were obtained in mice, in which administrated CORT in drinking water for 21 days significantly impaired the GR levels in the mitochondria, while Bag‐1 over‐expression rescued this reduction. Furthermore, chronic CORT exposure led to anhedonia‐like and depression‐like behaviors in the sucrose‐consumption test and forced swimming test, and these behaviors were rescued by Bag‐1 over‐expression. These results suggest that Bag‐1 mediates GR trafficking to mitochondria and regulates affective resilience in response to a CORT increase and provide potential insight into the mechanisms by which Bag‐1 and GR could contribute to the physiology and pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders in response to the change of stress hormone.

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Relation of exercise and pain in patients with idiopathic distal axonal polyneuropathies
Authors: Stewart Sarah , Thomas Simone , Van Doormaal Perry TC , Höke Ahmet
Published: October 2020

Although exercise is associated with better outcomes in patients with some peripheral neuropathies, data in idiopathic peripheral neuropathies is lacking. This study was completed to do a comprehensive data analysis about the benefits of regular exercise in a well‐characterized cohort of patients with idiopathic distal, symmetrical, axonal polyneuropathy enrolled in the Peripheral Neuropathy Research Registry (PNRR) at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. From the patient‐reported exercise habits, metabolic equivalents (METs) were calculated and the patient information was grouped into four categories. The PNRR data set, including patient reported pain, numbness, and weakness, was analyzed using the METs categories to evaluate for the benefits of exercise. We controlled for the components of metabolic syndrome including Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), high density lipids (HDL) and triglyceride level, and body mass index (BMI) as defined by the Adult Treatment Panel III Guidelines. Lower METs were associated with neuropathic pain, but not with other peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Patients with IPN who exercised were less likely to have painful neuropathy independent of the average METs per week (P < .01). No significant differences were seen for patient reported numbness, weakness, or balance issues. The data suggests that patients with idiopathic neuropathy benefit from exercises even if performed on a low intensity level or less frequently, and patients are less likely to have severe pain symptoms when exercising on a regular basis.
Expression status of PD‐L1 and B7‐H3 in mesothelioma
Authors: Matsumura Eiji , Kajino Kazunori , Abe Masaaki , Ohtsuji Naomi , Saeki Harumi , Hlaing May Thinzar , Hino Okio
Published: October 2020

Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive malignancy with poor outcome, and has limited treatment options. The aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive analysis of programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) and B7 homolog 3 (B7‐H3) expression in mesothelioma. We investigated the protein expression of PD‐L1 and B7‐H3 and their potential correlation with histological subtype, which might help to develop new therapies targeting these immune checkpoint molecules. Expression analysis of PD‐L1 and B7‐H3 was performed by immunohistochemistry using serial tissue sections of specimens obtained from 31 patients with mesothelioma. Tumors were classified into 22 epithelioid, 6 sarcomatoid, and 3 biphasic types. Of the 31 patients, 13 (41.9%) were positive for PD‐L1 and 28 (90.3%) were B7‐H3 positive. Twelve of the 13 PD‐L1 positive patients were positive for B7‐H3. PD‐L1 and B7‐H3 were widely co‐expressed in biphasic and sarcomatoid type tumor cells. These findings might provide a rationale for the use of combination therapy for mesothelioma by targeting PD‐L1 and B7‐H3, as well as the development of anti‐B7‐H3 or anti‐PD‐L1 single agents.
National income and trust
Authors: Brückner Markus , Chong Alberto , Gradstein Mark
Published: October 2020

We explore whether national economic prosperity enhances mutual generalized trust. This is done using a panel data of multiple waves of the World Values Surveys, whereby national income levels are instrumented for using exogenous oil price shocks. We find significant and substantial effects of national income on the level of trust in the economy. In particular, a 1% increase in national income tends to cause an average increase of 1 percentage point (or more) in the likelihood that a person becomes trustful. We also identify crime and corruption as potential mechanisms that may lead to the reported causal effect and explore heterogeneous effects across individuals.