bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contribuições da Ciência da Informação para a cidadania digital no Brasil: a participação social em questão
Authors: Januário Sandryne Bernardino Barreto , Correa Renato Fernandes
Published: April 2020

Apresenta levantamento e discussão de trabalhos brasileiros sobre a cidadania digital na área da Ciência da Informação, com foco na participação social. Trata-se de pesquisa bibliográfica, exploratória e descritiva, pautada na análise de conteúdo das publicações selecionadas. A partir da pesquisa bibliográfica foram levantados onze trabalhos publicados nos últimos dez anos em periódicos científicos, eventos acadêmicos ou programas de pós-graduação em Ciência da Informação, diretamente relacionados à temática em questão. São sintetizados e apresentados os objetos, objetivos e contribuições de cada trabalho. Em seguida, apresenta-se e discute-se um quadro com o resumo dos estudos, incluindo os aspectos de cidadania digital identificados em cada trabalho. Como resultados, observou-se que a maior parte das pesquisas apontou problemáticas que impactam diretamente no exercício da cidadania digital. Isso porque, segundo os pesquisadores, parte das iniciativas nesse tema está cercada de um discurso de participação sem efeitos práticos, com pouca ou nenhuma influência no processo de decisão política. Por outro lado, também foram apresentados estudos na área que demonstraram a consolidação e a tendência do uso dos Dados Governamentais Abertos para um novo modelo de governança digital, o que representa um grande avanço para a cidadania digital no Brasil.
A relação entre as políticas públicas de avaliação de documentos e de memória no Brasil e no Uruguai
Authors: Mintegui Evelin , Gallo Carlos Artur , Karpinski Cezar
Published: April 2020

Este trabalho se propõe a analisar as políticas públicas de avaliação de documentos e de memória no Brasil e no Uruguai. Para isso, se debruça sobre as normativas dos dois países, buscando elementos que permitam identificar iniciativas do Estado em conservar documentos produzidos durante o último período de exceção democrática. A metodologia apresenta-se como qualitativa, utilizando fontes documentais e bibliográficas. Foram levantados documentos que embasam as políticas arquivísticas nos websites de suas instituições, especialmente, leis, resoluções e manuais, buscando elementos que indicam modelos, critérios e métodos de avaliação de documentos. Nesses materiais foram, então, buscadas referências a políticas de memória. Como resultados, considera que os dois países incorporam em sua metodologia a teoria do valor para estabelecer prazos para guarda e eliminação de documentos, mas que o Uruguai vincula medidas macro valorativas ao prescrever a conservação total de documentos produzidos no último período de exceção democrática. Finaliza-se com breves considerações sobre o processo de avaliação de arquivos e sua necessária apropriação, tanto por parte de agentes públicos envolvidos nas políticas de arquivo, como por parte dos grupos “empreendedores de memória”.
Dinantian lithostratigraphic units (Belgium)
Authors: POTY Edouard , HANCE Luc , LEES Alan , HENNEBERT Michel
Published: April 2020

Six paleogeographic sedimentation areas (s. a.) are recognized in the Namur-Dinant Basin: (1) the Hainaut s. a., (2) the Namur s. a., (3) the Condroz s. a., (4) the Dinant s. a., (5) the Visé-Maastricht s. a., and (6) the southern Avesnois s. a. (only in northern France). Together with the sea-level variations (third-order sequences), local controls influenced the nature of the sedimentary deposits, so the lithostratigraphic successions in each sedimentation area are distinctive. The depositional setting was that of a carbonate platform which evolved from a ramp in the early Tournaisian to a rimmed shelf during the early Viséan and then to a regionally extensive shelf during the middle and late Viséan. Before the Livian, open marine fades were developed to the south, but from the Livian onwards open marine facies were restricted to the north while evaporites developed in the south. This inversion of the normal pattern was probably related to an early phase of Variscan shortening. Dinantian biostratigraphy is mainly based upon foraminifera, rugose corals and conodonts. Fifty formations (including members), 3 groups and 2 informal lithostratigraphic units are briefly described.
Laparoscopic versus Open Whipple Procedure for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: ÇOLAK Bayram , ECE İlhan , YILMAZ Hüseyin , ALPTEKİN Hüsnü , KAFALI Ertuğrul , YORMAZ Serdar , ŞAHİN Mustafa
Published: April 2020

Background: The laparoscopic approach for pancreas
tumors is not comprehensively approved, due to its technical complexity. The
aim of this study was to compare the perioperative and postoperative results,
oncological outcomes and survival of patients with proximal pancreatic tumor
who underwent laparoscopic treatment (TLPD) versus open procedure (TPD).Patients and Methods: From 2009 to 2017, information of
patients undergoing pancreatic resection was collected. All patients undergoing
total pancreaticoduodenectomy (TPD) or TLPD were included in this study. The
patients were followed minimum 6 months after surgery and all complications
were analyzed. All complications were recorded and categorised according to the
clavien system. Results: 62 (%80.5) patients underwent TPD, 15
(%19.4) underwent TLPD. There were no differences in patients demografics.
Significant differences were determined in TLPD group about blood transfusion,
blood loss, lenght of hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, number of lymph nodes resected.
Operative time was significantly long in TLPD group. Postpancreatectomy
hemorragy was low in TLPD group. There were no
differences in other complications.

Conclusions: Laparoscopic whipple procedure is not only feasible
but safe, with low morbidity and acceptable complication rates. TLPD is
characterized by less blood loss, lower transfusion rates, improved lymph node
resection, less wound infection. However, the laparoscopic Whipple procedure
can be applied in selected cases.
Yoğun Bakım Ünitesinde Mortalite Sıklığı ve Risk Faktörlerinin Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: ÇAKIR Esra , KOCABEYOĞLU Gül Meral , GÜRBÜZ Özlem , BALTACI ÖZEN Sevil , MUTLU Nevzat Mehmet , ÖZKOÇAK TURAN İşil
Published: April 2020

AMAÇ: Ulusal ve uluslararası yoğun bakım
ünitelerindeki (YBÜ) mortalite oranları en güvenilir performans göstergesidir.
Ancak, Ulusal açıdan geniş kapsamlı mortalite verilerine sahip değiliz.
Çalışmamızda, YBÜ’mize yatan hastaların mortalite oranları ve risk faktörlerinin
belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır.

GEREÇ VE YÖNTEMLER: 1 Ağustos 2017 ile 31 Aralık 2018
tarihleri arasında 18 yaşından büyük Anestezi ve Reanimasyon YBÜ’mize yatan tüm
hastalar çalışmamıza dahil edildi. 
Hastaların yatış anında yaşları, cinsiyetleri, yatış nedenleri (organ
sistemleri, travma, zehirlenme, enfeksiyon gibi), kabul edilen servis (acil
veya diğer yataklı servisler), komorbid hastalık, yatış süreleri ve
mortaliteleri kayıt edildi.

BULGULAR: Çalışmamıza 757 hasta çalışmaya dahil
edildi. Toplam mortalite oranı %34,7 olarak bulundu. En yüksek yatış oranı
nörolojik sistem nedenli (%27,6) ve en yüksek mortalite oranı (%47,8)
kardiyovasküler nedenli olarak bulundu. Erkek cinsiyette mortalite oranı kadın
cinsiyetten anlamlı düşük (%45,2 v.s. %60,9) bulundu (p<0,001). Mortalite
olan hastalarda ortalama yaş (70,1±16,8 yıl) ve komorbid hastalık oranı (%95,1)
yaşayanlarda ortalama yaş (66,5±14,9 yıl) ve komorbid hastalık (%83,3) anlamlı
yüksek bulundu (sırasıyla, p=0,023, p=0,035).

SONUÇ: Çeşitli hastalık gruplarını takip eden
YBÜ’mizde mortalite oranları diğer ünitelerin verileri ile benzer bulunmuştur.
Her ünitenin kendi mortalite verilerini değerlendirmesi hastane performansı ve
hasta bakım kalitesini artırmak için yapması gerekmektedir.
YÜKSEK RAKIMDA YAŞAYAN BEHÇET HASTALARINDA HEMOTOKRİT YÜKSEKLİĞİNİN VASKÜLER TUTULUMA ETKİSİ
Authors: KÜÇÜK Hamit , KUDAŞ Özlem
Published: April 2020

Amaç: Behçet hastalığı tanısıyla izlenen hastalarda deniz seviyesinden 1890 m de yaşamanın vasküler tutulum ve trombüs ile ilişkisi incelendi.

Materyal ve Metod: Yüksek akımda yaşamakta olan (ortalama 1890 metre) bir eğitim araştırma hastanesinde takip edilen Behçet hastalığı tanısı konulmuş olan hastalar ile ve 890 metrede yaşayan Behçet hastasının vasküler patoloji ve trombüs açısından klinik ve demografik verileri retrospektif olarak karşılaştırıldı.

Bulgular: Her iki grubunda yaş ortalaması ve cinsiyet dağılımı açısından istatiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark yoktu. Vasküler tutulum ve tromboembolik olaylar açısından her iki grupta benzer tutulum gözlendi.

Sonuç: Yüksek rakım nedeniyle oluşmuş olan hemotokrit yüksekliği Behçet hastalarında vaskuler tutulum ve trombus için ilave bir risk oluşturmamaktadır.
New Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Complexities Resulting in a Tragedy.
Authors: Grunig Gabriele , Durmus Nedim , Marsh Leigh
Published: April 2020

A striking aspect of COVID-19 is the difference in the outcome of the infection between different countries, and different ethnic groups within one country. We surveyed the literature on SARS-CoV-2 complemented with comparative publications on SARS-CoV and other coronaviruses to capture the current understanding of virus – host interactions including virus subtypes, transmission, zoonotic aspects, and potential host determinants.
Pyruvate anaplerosis is a mechanism of resistance to pharmacological glutaminase inhibition in Triple-receptor Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Singleton Dean C , Dechaume Anne-Lise , Murray Pamela M , Katt William P , Baguley Bruce C , Leung Euphemia Y
Published: April 2020

Background Glutamine serves as an important nutrient with many cancer types displaying glutamine dependence. Following cellular uptake glutamine is converted to glutamate in a reaction catalysed by mitochondrial glutaminase. This glutamate has many uses, including acting as an anaplerotic substrate ( via alpha-ketoglutarate) to replenish TCA cycle intermediates. CB-839 is a potent, selective, orally bioavailable glutaminase inhibitor that has activity in Triple receptor-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) cell lines and evidence of efficacy in advanced TNBC patients. Methods A panel of eleven breast cancer cell lines was used to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of the glutaminase inhibitors CB-839 and BPTES in different types of culture medium, with or without additional pyruvate supplementation. The abundance of the TCA cycle intermediate fumarate was quantified as a measure if TCA cycle anaplerosis. Pyruvate secretion by TNBC cultures was then assessed with or without AZD3965, a monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) inhibitor. Finally, two dimensional (2D) monolayer and three dimensional (3D) spheroid assays were used to compare the effect of microenvironmental growth conditions on CB-839 activity. Results The anti-proliferative activity of CB-839 in a panel of breast cancer cell lines was similar to published reports, but with a major caveat; growth inhibition by CB-839 was strongly attenuated in culture medium containing pyruvate. This pyruvate-dependent attenuation was also observed with a related glutaminase inhibitor, BPTES. Studies demonstrated that exogenous pyruvate acted as an anaplerotic substrate preventing the decrease of fumarate in CB-839-treated conditions. Furthermore, endogenously produced pyruvate secreted by TNBC cell lines was able to act in a paracrine manner to significantly decrease the sensitivity of recipient cells to glutaminase inhibition. Suppression of pyruvate secretion using the MCT1 inhibitor AZD3965, antagonised this paracrine effect and increased CB-839 activity. Finally, CB-839 activity was significantly compromised in 3D compared with 2D TNBC culture models, suggesting that 3D microenvironmental features impair glutaminase inhibitor responsiveness. Conclusion This study highlights the potential influence that both circulating and tumour-derived pyruvate can have on glutaminase inhibitor efficacy. Furthermore, it highlights the benefits of 3D spheroid cultures to model the features of the tumour microenvironment and improve the in vitro investigation of cancer metabolism-targeted therapeutics.
Many-Persons-To-1-Test-Kit Infectious Disease Screening—Abridged Version
Authors: Tay Hiok Nam
Published: April 2020

COVID-19 has forced many cities and countries to restrict commerce and movement of people, causing unprecedented loss of economy. Protracted lockdown may become unavoidable as health authorities have no means to isolate all infected individuals because existing testing capacities are very small compared with entire populations.We propose here a new screening methodology that greatly expands the size of the screened cohort beyond given testing capacity. This is an abridged version of the full multiplier grid (MG) methodology paper.With expanded screening cohort size, entire highrise residential complex can be screened 20X faster, and the same test capacity can screen 20X as many residential complexes. The same methodology can be applied to factories, villages, towns, university campuses, office towers, cruise ships, etc. The exact multiplier varies between target populations and can be larger.
Primiparous Women’s Experiences of Normal Vaginal Delivery in Iran: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Khamehchian Marzieh , Adib-Hajbaghery Mohsen , HeydariKhayat Nastaran , Rezaei Mahboubeh , Sabery Mahdieh
Published: April 2020

Background: Childbirth is considered as the most challenging psychological event in a woman's life. It has a major effect on women’s lives with long-term positive or negative impacts. Cultural, religious, and socioeconomic differences can affect women’s perception about normal vaginal delivery (NVD) experience. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the primiparous women's perception about it.Methods: This qualitative study, with a descriptive content analysis approach, was conducted in Kashan, a city in the center of Iran. Purposive sampling was used to recruit the participants of the current study. Data was gathered by semi-structured interviews during 24 hours after normal vaginal birth among primiparous women. The sampling started from June to October in 2016. Interviews continued until data saturation which was achieved in the 14th interview but for assurance, it continued until the 17th one. Results: The following three main themes were extracted "immersion in stress", "pain, the essence of NVD" and "strategies for situation management". Furthermore, seven subthemes were obtained including 'loss threat’, ‘stressful context', temporary impairment in physiologic harmony, paradoxical emotions, self-management, emotional support, and spiritual support. Conclusions: This study showed that stress and pain were two highlighted issues in NVD process. Increasing women's awareness about NVD process, familiarizing the primiparous women with the simulated delivery room, accompanying these women for emotional support, and providing spiritual support can be effective in situation management to make the child delivery a pleasant and satisfying experience.
Evaluation of commercial veterinary probiotics containing enterococci for transferrable vancomycin resistance genes
Authors: Berreta Ana , Baumgardner Rachel M , Kopper Jamie Jennifer
Published: April 2020

Objective
Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) are of significant public health concern. The identification of VRE in livestock and food has increased. The objective of this study was to determine if the transferrable vancomycin resistance genes vanA and vanB were present in probiotics marketed for use in animals that claimed to contain Enterococcus spp.
Results
Of the 40 products selected, Enterococcus spp. DNA was successfully extracted from 36 products. Of these 36 products with enterococcal DNA, 2 (6%) had a PCR product consistent with vanA which was confirmed by sequencing. None of the products appeared to contain vanB.
Effect of functional food ingredients on gut microbiota in a rodent diabetes model
Authors: Surono Ingrid S. , Wardana Ata Aditya , Waspodo Priyo , Saksono Budi , Verhoeven Jessica , Venema Koen
Published: April 2020

Background: The gut microbiota has been shown to be involved in the development and severity of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of the present study was to test the effect of 4-week functional food ingredient feeding, alone or in combination, on the gut microbiota composition in diabetic rats.Methods: Streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats were treated for 4 weeks with i) native taro starch, ii) modified taro-starch, iii) beet juice, iv) psicose, v) the probiotic L.plantarum IS-10506, vi) native starch combined with beet juice, vii) native starch to which beet juice was adsorbed, viii) modified starch combined with beet juice or ix) modified starch to which beet juice was adsorbed, to modulate the composition of the gut microbiota. This composition was evaluated by sequencing the PCR amplified V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene.Results: The next-generation sequencing showed beneficial effects particularly of taro-starch feeding. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) related to health (e.g. correlating with low BMI, OTUs producing butyrate) were increased in relative abundance, while OTUs generally correlated with disease (e.g. Proteobacteria) were decreased by feeding taro-starch.Conclusion: The results of study show that a 4-week intervention with functional food ingredients, particularly taro-derived starch, leads to a more healthy gut microbiota in rats that were induced to be diabetic by induction with STZ.
Relationship Between Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) Index, Body Composition and Blood Biochemical Markers in Overweight /Obese Compared to Normal Weight Subjects
Authors: Madani Zahra , Javardi Maryam Moussavi , Djazayery Abolghassem , Karandish Majid , Movahedi Ariyo
Published: April 2020

Background and aim: Obesity is an important preventable disease, which promotes the development of multiple chronic disorders by altering several factors including oxidative stress. Dietary antioxidants protect the body against oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential association of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) index with obesity and its associated biochemical factors in adults. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study of 157 adult females and males in two groups of normal weight and overweight /obesity. General characteristics were registered and a 147-item food frequency questionnaire was completed for every participant. Thereafter, anthropometric measurements were conducted. Biochemical indices were obtained from the Electronic Health Clinic Database of science and Research branch of Islamic Azad University (SRBIAU) of Tehran, Iran. The amount of the dietary ORAC index was estimated using the data provided by the USDA Foods Table. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the normal and overweight/obese groups in terms of weight, body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), visceral fat level, body fat mass and body fat percentage (P=0.0001). Participants with normal weight consumed more fruits and vegetables than individuals in another group. Also, the dietary ORAC index in normal individuals was higher than the case group, but there was not significant difference (P=0.222). There was also a significant inverse correlation between dietary ORAC and BMI and WHR, whereas a significant positive correlation between dietary ORAC and plasma levels of HDL was observed (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that consumption of antioxidants from dietary sources is inversely associated with BMI and other measurements of adiposity, fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), total Cholesterol (TC) and LDL in both groups. It seems that following a diet rich in antioxidants can counteract obesity and its associated comorbidities.
ICON: A randomized phase IIb study evaluating immunogenic chemotherapy combined with ipilimumab and nivolumab in patients with metastatic hormone receptor positive breast cancer
Authors: Kyte Jon Amund , Andresen NK , Russnes HG , Fretland Signe Øien , Falk RS , Lingjærde OC , Naume B
Published: April 2020

Background: Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors (CI) targeting PD-1 or CTLA-4 has emerged as an important treatment modality for several cancer forms. In hormone receptor positive breast cancer (HR+ BC), this therapeutic approach is largely unexplored. We have started a clinical trial, ICON (CA209-9FN), evaluating CI combined with selected chemotherapy in patients with metastatic HR+ BC. The tumor lymphocyte infiltration is predictive for the effect of chemotherapy in BC. In ICON, we use antracyclins, which are considered as “immunogenic” chemotherapy, and low-dose cyclophosphamide, which has been reported to counter immunosuppressive cells. Methods: ICON is a randomized exploratory phase IIb study evaluating the safety and efficacy of combining nivolumab (nivo; anti-PD-1) and ipilimumab (ipi; anti-CTLA-4) with chemotherapy in subjects with metastatic HR+ BC. Primary objectives are aassessment of toxicity and progression-free survival.The trial will enrol 75 evaluable subjects, randomized 2:3 into two arms (A:B). Patients in Arm A receive only chemotherapy, i.e. pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD 20mg/m2 intravenously every 2nd week) + cyclophosphamide (cyclo; 50 mg per day, first 2 weeks in each 4 week cycle). Patients in Arm B receive PLD + cyclo + ipilimumab (1mg intravenously every 6th week) + nivolumab (240mg intravenously every 2nd week). Patients in arm A will be offered ipi+nivo after disease progression. Discussion: ICON is among the first clinical trials combining chemotherapy with PD-1 and CTLA-4 blockade, and the first in BC. There is a strong preclinical rationale for exploring if antracyclins, which are considered to induce immunogenic cell death, synergize with CI, and for combining PD-1 and CTLA-4 blockade, as these checkpoints are important in different phases of the immune response. If the ICON trial suggests acceptable safety and provide a signal of clinical efficacy, further studies are warranted. The sub-cohort from Arm A receiving ipilimumab/nivolumab without concomitant chemotherapy represents the first BC cohort receiving this therapy. The ICON trial includes a series of translational sub-projects addressing clinically important knowledge gaps. These studies may uncover biomarkers or mechanisms of efficacy and resistance, thereby informing the development of novel combinatory regimes and of personalised biomarker-based therapy. Trial registration: NCT03409198, Jan 24th 2018; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT03409198
Sedimentary system and coal seam distribution in the coal-bearing sequence stratigraphic framework in the Paleogene Meihe Formation (Meihe Basin, NE China)
Authors: Bai Yueyue , Lv Qingtian , Liu Zhaojun , Sun Pingchang , Liu Rong , Hu Xiaofeng , Wang Jianpeng , Yao Shuqing
Published: April 2020

The Meihe Basin is one of the important Paleogene coal-bearing fault basins of northeastern China in the Dunhua-Mishan Fault Zone. The Lower Coal-bearing Member and the Upper Coal-bearing Member are the primary layers studied. Through field observation, core description and observation under microscope, fan delta facies and lake facies are observed as the main sedimentary facies of the coal-bearing layers, and subfacies of fan delta plain, fan delta front, shallow lake and swamp have also been recognized. Coal seams primarily accumulated in the subfacies of swamp and fan delta plain. The study on sequence stratigraphy is based on outcrop section, well-log analysis, core observation and geochemical analysis. From the Lower Coal-bearing Member to the Upper Coal-bearing Member, three third-order sequences have been recognized; the Lower Coal-bearing Member developed in Sequence I and the Upper Coal-bearing Member developed in Sequence III, both sequences have developed the lowstand systems tract (LST), the transgressive systems tract (TST) and the highstand systems tract (HST). Single-factor analysis and the multifactor comprehensive mapping method have been used to rebuild the lithofacies palaeogeography of each system tract in Sequence I and Sequence III. Through analysis of contour maps of total stratum thickness, sandstone thickness and sand content, as well as contour maps of thicknesses and numbers of layers of coal seams, the results indicate that the sedimentary environments and coal seam distributions are variable in different system tracts. Coal types accumulating in the swamp facies are primarily developed in the transgressive systems tract (TST) and the highstand systems tract (HST) of Sequence I with a wide range of continuous and large thicknesses and may be mined commercially. Both the balanced accommodation growth rate with peat accumulation rate and little or no influence from sediment supply and channel migration promote to form the stable coal accumulating environments.
Incidentally detected pancake kidney:case report of an extremely rare congenital anomaly.
Authors: Bakshi Sabyasachi
Published: April 2020

Background:Congenital anomalies of urinary system are very common and have extremely varied presentation. Among them most rarely found structural anomaly is the pancake kidney. When both kidneys are fused along their medial surfaces to form a round shaped single renal mass is termed as Pancake kidney. In this case report, a pancake kidney was incidentally detected in a girl. The majority of subjects who have pancake kidney are usually symptom less but surgeons should be aware of coexisting malformation of other organs and its potential risk of developing malignancy.Case presentation:A 12-year-old young lady attended out-patient department with mild dull aching lower abdominal pain and dysuria. She had no history of fever, haematuria, menstrual abnormality, pelvic inflammatory disease or trauma. Urine examination showed traces of albumin and 10-12 pus cells/ HPF. She had normal kidney function test and digital X-ray of KUB region. A USG of the whole abdomen showed normal intra-abdominal organs except empty bilateral renal fossa. The Multi-Detector Computed Tomography(MDCT) scan of the whole abdomen revealed one round shaped mass measuring approximately 9 cm(vertical) X 10 cm(horizontal), in the pelvic cavity. That mass was finally identified as a pancake kidney. She was prescribed antibiotics based on urine culture, and sensitivity test that cured her symptoms. She was advised to follow-up regularly in Out-Patient Department to evaluate her kidney function and to rule out any neoplastic change.Conclusions: This condition can be managed conservatively, if the subject remains symptom less, by regular monitoring of renal function. Surgeon should remain alert for the development of infections, any obstructive manifestations leading to calculus formation and any malignant changes. The person should be careful in avoiding trauma to low-lying pelvic kidney. Extensive surgeries should be avoided and only selective procedures should be done so that the patient may lead a normal lifestyle.
Long-term sonographic evaluation of the peritoneum in peritoneal dialysis patients: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Taguchi Shinya , Ohtake Takayasu , Mochida Yasuhiro , Ishioka Kunihiro , Moriya Hidekazu , Hidaka Sumi , Kobayashi Shuzo
Published: April 2020

Background

Long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) causes morphological changes to the peritoneum. However, the sequential morphological changes of the peritoneum remain unclear due to the invasiveness and ethical dilemmas surrounding peritoneal biopsies. We aimed to evaluate these long-term morphological peritoneal changes using sonography, which was recently reported to be useful for morphological peritoneal evaluation.
Methods

We retrospectively identified 115 PD patients who underwent sonographic peritoneal membrane thickness (PMT) measurement. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses identified factors related to PMT at baseline (bPMT), at last measurement (lPMT), and the PMT change rate. Of the 115 patients, 42 patients had at least two PMT measurements, including a bPMT measurement. We evaluated the PMT change between bPMT and lPMT. We also evaluated the annual PMT change for 3 years before PD withdrawal in patients who discontinued PD due to peritoneal dysfunction. Clinical characteristics and parameters were analyzed according to PMT change rates (≤ 0 [n = 28] or > 0 [n = 20]).
Results

The mean age at PD introduction and mean PD duration were 63.7 ± 12.7 years and 40.5 ± 30.1 months, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between the dialysate to plasma ratio of creatinine (D/P Cr) and lPMT (r = 0.386, p = 0.004), but not bPMT (r=-0.114, p = 0.326). In the multivariate analyses, D/P Cr remained an independent predictor of lPMT (r = 0.478, p = 0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, PD duration, diabetes, and peritonitis rate. The mean bPMT and lPMT were 0.67 ± 0.15 mm and 0.69 ± 0.10 mm, respectively, without statistical difference (p = 0.49). Annual PMTs for 3 years before PD withdrawal were 0.67 ± 0.13 mm, 0.66 ± 0.11 mm, and 0.67 ± 0.08 mm, respectively, with no significant differences among measurements (p = 0.967). There were no differences in PD duration, the use of a dialysate containing over 2.5% glucose or icodextrin, and the peritonitis rate between groups divided by the PMT change rate.
Conclusions

PMT, measured by sonography, was positively correlated with peritoneal permeability. Repeated evaluation of the peritoneum by sonography will enable the recognition of transition in peritoneal function in real time and allow for more appropriate PD management. Furthermore, the peritoneum was not necessarily thickened regardless of PD duration or cause of withdrawal.
Effect of Chemical-Hydrothermal Pretreatments on Compositional and Morphological Changes of Spruce Wood Exploited in Biogas Systems
Authors: Rahimi-Ajdadi Fatemeh , Esmaili Masoomeh
Published: April 2020

Agricultural crops and forest residues are of valuable resources to produce biofuel due to anaerobic digestion. But, the recalcitrance nature of these lignocellulose residues limits its enzymatic degradation and decreases biogas production. Therefore, efficient pretreatments prior to anaerobic digestion are essential. In present study, hydrothermal-chemical pretreatments using Phenol (Ph), Sodium Hydroxide (SH) and Phosphoric Acid (PA), and combined pretreatments included Ph + SH and Ph + PA as chemical pretreatments were used for spruce wood. For hydrothermal pretreatments, the samples were put into the autoclave at 134 ºC for 20 min. Acid hydrolysis, FTIR and SEM analyses were carried out. The results indicated that all pretreatments were effective lignin removal having the highest value for Ph (42.362%). Adding Ph to PA, caused to increase lignin removal from 1.580–6.112%. Mixing Ph to SH represented the same trend in changing structure of spruce wood as compared to individually use of SH. All results proposed that when Ph contributed in binary pretreatment with SH and PA, it could be more effective on the morphological changes of spruce wood. In general, Ph was more effective on changing the crystalline structure of spruce wood than the others. After that, Ph + SH was more effective compared to Ph + PA on structural changes of spruce wood. In comparison between alkali and acidic pretreatments, SH represented more structural change in spruce wood than PA one. To have an intermediate state, it is recommended to use the combination of Ph with SH as infectious pretreatment instead of individually Ph. Because, this increases the biodegradation power of SH while the toxicity of Ph decreases. The obtained results are very important in biogas production systems.
Physiological and growth responses of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties inoculated with a new strain of Bacillus siamensis under Cadmium (Cd) stress
Authors: Khan Imran , Linkai Huang , Awan Samrah Afzal , Rehman Abd ur , Raza Muhammad Ali , Rizwan Muhammad , Khan Aaqil , Tariq Rezwan , Akhtar Nosheen , Shah Ghulam Abbas , Ansar Muhammad , Sarwar Majid , Brestic Marian , Ilyas Nosheen
Published: April 2020

Bioavailability of cadmium (Cd) metal in the soils due to scarcity of good quality water and industrial waste could be the major limiting factors negatively influencing the growth and yield of crops needs prompt solution to fulfil the requirement of food for increasing world population. In the recent time, variable range of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are being used on large scale in agriculture to reduce the risk of abiotic stresses on plants and increase crop productivity. Among them, the Bacillus siamensis has a huge potential to enhance the plant tolerance against abiotic stress but limited evidences are reported about the putative role of B.s in crop plants under heavy metal stress. The current study was aimed to investigate the potential of a new metal tolerant strain of B.s on two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties (NARC-2009 and NARC-2011) grown in Cd contaminated soil at different treatments i.e Cd (0, 20, 30 and 50 ppm) and Cd (0, 20, 30 and 50 ppm) + B.s. Our results depicted that Cd stress decreased the wheat growth related attributes, biomass, and photosynthetic parameters (Chlorophyll a, b and a + b) which increased in both wheat varieties upon inoculation with B.s. Moreover, Cd stress caused significant membrane damage and negatively affected the water content, water potential, and osmotic potential of leaf. However, PGPR considerably increased the soluble sugars to reduce the Cd toxicity. Overall, the plants inoculated with B.s enhanced their tolerance index of root and shoot and found better in NARC-2009 than NARC-2011. Therefore, microorganisms efficiently increase the plant growth by reducing the metal toxicity.
Whole exome sequencing reveals a combination of rare high and low penetrance variants that correlates with familial breast cancer relative risk
Authors: rekaya Mariem Ben , Hamdi Yosr , Labidi Soumaya , Mejri Nessrine , Jaidane Olfa , Ayari Jihene , Nasr Sonia Ben , Dallali Hamza , Messaoud Olfa , Meddeb Rym , Haddaoui Abderazek , Mrad Ridha , Boussen Hamouda , Abdelhak Sonia
Published: April 2020

Background: Genetic risk factors of breast cancer are very heterogeneous and complex. They vary according to the familial relative risk, the age of cancer diagnosis of the index case and the age of the affected relatives.Objectives: We aimed to investigate and identify simultaneously all rare pathogenic and common variants in unrelated BC cases with different relative risk ratios for breast cancer and evaluate the contribution of these variants in genetic susceptibility to breast cancer.Patients and Methods: All frequent mutations in BRCA genes previously identified in Tunisia have been excluded by Sanger sequencing in 42 women affected with high family risk having at least 3 cancer affected related individuals. Two unrelated cases having two different family histories (in terms of different numbers of affected first-degree relatives and young age onset) have been selected for whole exome sequencing. The first family is composed of three sisters F1.1, F1.2 and F1.3 affected at 46, 50, and 32 years old, respectively. The second has only two breast cancer cases, F2.2 and F2.4, affected at late age 61 and 70 years old, respectively, in addition to other 5 members affected by different kinds of cancer. Selected high risk variants were confirmed and segregation analysis was performed using Sanger sequencing. Results and discussion: For F1.1 case, we identified a pathogenic frame-shift loss of function variant in BRCA2 p.Val1283Lysfs. For F2.2 we identified a pathogenic rare variant in OGG1, p.Arg46Gln that co-segregates with a rare non sense variant in BRCA2 p.K3326X, only in the breast cancer affected cases. Moreover, F2.2 patient has 9 other common low penetrant variants in different loci known to represent independently minor, but cumulatively significant, increased risk for breast cancer.Conclusion: Family history and the young age at onset for patient F1.1 correlate with the presence of a rare high penetrant variant (p.Val1283Lysfs) in BRCA2 gene. However, the late age at onset and the less severe phenotype for patient F2.2 are probably the consequence of the presence of a pathogenic variant p.Arg46Gln in OGG1 gene that co-segregate with a low penetrant variant Lys3326X in BRCA2 only in breast cancer cases.
Comprehensive Characterization of RNA Editing in Primary Gastric Adenocarcinoma through RNA-seq Data Analysis
Authors: Behroozi Javad , Shahbazi Shirin , Bakhtiarizadeh Mohammad Reza , Mahmoodzadeh Habibollah
Published: April 2020

RNA editing is a post-transcriptional nucleotide modification in humans. Of the various types of RNA editing, the adenosine to inosine substitution is the most widespread in higher eukaryotes, which is mediated by ADAR family enzyme. Inosine is recognized by the biological machineries as guanosine, therefore, editing can potentially rendering substantial functional effects throughout the genome, depending on where it located. RNA editing could contribute to cancer by either exclusive editing of tumor suppressor/promoting genes or by introducing transcriptomic diversity to promote cancer progression. Here, we provided a comprehensive overview of the RNA editing sites in gastric adenocarcinoma and highlighted some of their possible contributions to gastric cancer. RNA-seq data corresponding to 8 gastric adenocarcinoma and their paired non-tumor counterparts were retrieved from GEO database. After pre-possessing and variant calling steps, a stringent filtering pipeline was employed to distinguish potential RNA editing sites from SNPs. The identified potential editing sites were annotated and compared with those in DARNED database. Totally, 12362 high-confidence adenosine to inosine RNA editing sites were detected across all samples. Of these, 12105 and 257 were known and novel editing events, respectively. These editing sites were unevenly distributed across genomic regions, nearly half of them were located in 3´UTR. Indeed, 4868, 3985 and 3509 editing sites were found to be common in both tissue, normal specific and cancer specific, respectively. Further analysis revealed significant number of differentially edited events among these sites, which were located in protein coding genes and microRNAs. Given the distinct pattern of RNA editing in gastric adenocarcinoma and adjacent normal tissue, edited sites have the potential to serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in gastric cancer diagnose, management and treatment.
Network Pharmacology-Based Identification of Pharmacological Mechanisms of Inula japonica Thunb. on Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Qian Huiqin , Wang Bai-Ling , Zhang Ling-Yun , Li Jia-Xiang , Huang Xiu-Xiu
Published: April 2020

Background

Inula japonica Thunb. (IJT) is an extensively applied herbal medicine for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) due to its anti-asthma, antitussive, and expectorant properties. However, the mechanism of IJT against NSCLC remains to be elucidated.
Methods

Network pharmacology analysis was applied to determine the function mechanism of IJT against NSCLC. Databases were used to collect compounds and their related and known therapeutic targets. The compound–target (C–T) and target–target networks were then constructed to screen the kernel compounds and NSCLC-related targets of IJT. Moreover, the NSCLC-related targets of IJT were input in the DAVID Bioinformatics Resources (version 6.8) for Gene Ontology Biological Processes (GOBP) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, the binding affinity of major compounds with the NSCLC-relevant targets of IJT was further verified by molecular docking.
Results

Two active compounds (quercetin and luteolin) and six putative targets (RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase, G1/S-specific cyclin-D1, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A, epidermal growth factor receptor, receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2, and cellular tumor antigen p53) were screened as the effective compounds and NSCLC-related targets of IJT. GOBP and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that NSCLC was the major pathway of IJT in the treatment of NSCLC and the mediation of apoptosis, cell cycle, tumor progression, and proliferation of biological processes, including the Ras, ERBB, MAPK, PI3K–Akt, calcium, and p53 signaling pathways. The results of molecular docking validated that 10 of the 12 pairs of compound-target had effective binding.
Conclusions

The mechanisms of IJT against NSCLC through multi-compounds, multi-targets, and multi-pathways were elucidated.
Short-term renoprotective effect of SGLT-2 inhibitor for renal function and albuminuria in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Kubota Mitsunobu , SHiroyama Eri , Tanaka Kanako , Yoshii Yoko
Published: April 2020

Background

Progression of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients is a factor that determines the prognosis of life. Empagliflozin and canagliflozin, two oral diabetic SGLT-2 inhibitors, have shown improved renal outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease in a large clinical study. These results suggest that SGLT-2 inhibitors could be used not only for hypoglycemic effects, but also for renal protective effects in patients with type 2 diabetes. It is not fully understood in which contexts the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors is likely to exert its renal protective effects. The purpose of this study was to clarify the profiles of patients in whom SGLT-2 inhibitors are more likely to exert a renal protective effect in clinical practice. We examined renal function and urinary albumin changes in short-term use of SGLT-2 inhibitors by patient background.
Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the chart information of sixty-three type 2 diabetic patients (33 males, 30 females, average age 53.0 ± 13.0 years) who were given usual doses of a SGLT-2 inhibitor. We investigated changes in body weight, blood pressure, glucose metabolism index, lipid metabolism index, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, UACR) three months before and after administration of a SGLT-2 inhibitor.
Results

Three months after administration of an SGLT-2 inhibitor, there were improvements in glucose tolerance, weight loss, blood pressure, and lipid indices. In all cases, there was no significant change in eGFR, but UACR decreased significantly. UACR decreased regardless of Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker medication and significantly decreased in the nephropathy stage 2 and 3 groups. UACR decreased only in the group in which blood pressure, body weight, and HbA1c decreased before and after administration of the SGLT-2 inhibitor.
Conclusions

Our study shows that SGLT-2 inhibitors are independent of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors, and in addition to direct renal protection, the comprehensive effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors, which lower body weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose, are also important for their renal protection effects.
Genome Wide Analysis of the Transcriptional Profiles in Different Regions of the Developing Rice Grains
Authors: Wu Ting-Ying , Müller Marlen , Gruissem Wilhelm , Bhullar Navreet K.
Published: April 2020

Background Rice is an important food source for humans worldwide. Because of its nutritional and agricultural significance, a number of studies addressed various aspects of rice grain development and grain filling. Nevertheless, the molecular processes underlying grain filling and development, and in particular in different contributions of grain tissues to these process, are not understood.Main text Using RNA-sequencing, we profiled gene expression activity in grain tissues comprised of cross cells (CC), the nucellar epidermis (NE), ovular vascular trace (OVT), endosperm (EN) and the aleurone layer (AL). These tissues were dissected using laser capture microdissection (LCM) at three distinct grain development stages. The mRNA expression datasets offer comprehensive and new insights into the gene expression patterns in different rice grain tissues and their contributions to grain development. Comparative analysis of the different tissues revealed their similar and/or unique functions, as well as the spatio-temporal regulation of common and tissue-specific genes. The expression patterns of genes encoding hormones and transporters indicate an important role of the OVT tissue in metabolite transport during grain development. Gene co-expression network prediction on OVT-specific genes identified several distinct and common development-specific transcription factors. Further analysis of enriched DNA sequence motifs proximal to OVT-specific genes revealed known and novel DNA sequence motifs relevant to rice grain development.Conclusion Together, the dataset of gene expression in rice grain tissues is a novel and useful resource for further work to dissect the molecular and metabolic processes during rice grain development.
Articular chondrocyte derived exosomes promote cartilage differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells by activation of autophagy
Authors: Ma Ke , Zhu Bo , Wang Zetao , Cai Peian , He Mingwei , Ye Danyan , Yan Guohua , Zheng Li , Yang Lujun , Zhao Jinmin
Published: April 2020

Background
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs)-based therapies were previously predicated in cartilage regeneration due to the chondrogenic potential of MSCs. However, chondrogenic differentiation of HUMSCs is limited by administration of growth factors like TGF-β that may cause cartilage hypertrophy. It has been reported the exosomes could modulate phenotypic expression of stem cells. However, the role of human chondrogenic derived exosomes (C-EXO) in chondrogenic differentiation of HUCMSCs has not been reported.
Results
In this study, we successfully isolated chondrocyte-derived exosomes (C-EXO) from human multi-finger cartilage and found that C-EXO efficiently promoted the proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of HUCMSCs, evidenced by highly expressed aggrecan (ACAN), COL2A and SOX-9. Also, the expression of the fibrotic marker, COL1A and hypertrophic marker, COL10, was significantly lower than that induced by TGF-β. In vivo, stimulation of C-EXO accelerated HUCMSCs-mediated cartilage repair in rabbit models. Furthermore, C-EXO led to increasing autophagosomes during the process of chondrogenic differentiation, indicating that C-EXO promoted cartilage regeneration might be through the activation of autophagy.
Conclusions
This study suggests that C-EXO has an essential role in fostering chondrogenic differentiation and proliferation of HUCMSCs, which may be a stable supply for articular cartilage repair.
pH Sensitive Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles Mediated Delivery of Docetaxel: A Viable Approach for Breast Cancer Therapeutic Intervention Development
Authors: Yuan Ye , Song Jia-Xing , Zhang Mei-Na , Yuan Baoshan
Published: April 2020

Present study was planned for the development of pH sensitive lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (pHS-LPHNPs) loaded with docetaxel (DTX) for guided and target specific cytosolic-delivery delivery of docetaxel (DTX). pHS-LPHNPs were formulated to entrap DTX by self-assembled nano-precipitation technique and characterised with respect to zeta potential, particle-size, entrapment efficiency, PDI as well as invitro drug release. The cell viability, apoptosis, cellular-uptake, pharmacokinetics, bio-distribution in vital organs, % changes in tumour volume and survival of breast cancer bearing animals were used for the evaluation of efficacy of the formulation. In-vitro studies showed increased cytotoxicity at lower IC50 and better cellular-uptake of pHS-LPHNPs mediated drug by breast cancer cell lines. We saw the better rate of apoptosis of breast cancer cells via Annexin V/Propidium iodide staining. Moreover, in-vivo studies demonstrated improved pharmacokinetics and targetability with minimum drug circulation in deep-seated organs upon delivery of DTX via pHS-LPHNPs in comparison with LPHNPs-DTX and free DTX. We observed sizeable % reduction in tumour-burden with pHS-LPHNPs-DTXthan that withLPHNPs-DTX &free DTX. In brief, pHS-LPHNPs mediated delivery of DTX exhibited promising approach for developing therapeutic-interventions against breast-cancer.