bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Night Effect of Anger: Relationship with Nocturnal Blood Pressure Dipping
Authors: Casagrande Maria , Favieri Francesca , Guarino Angela , Di Pace Enrico , Langher Viviana , Germanò Giuseppe , Forte Giuseppe
Published: April 2020

Introduction: The circadian pattern of blood pressure is characterized by a physiological drop occurring after sleep onset. The alteration of this phenomenon (non-dipping, extreme dipping, or reverse dipping) is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Besides altered autonomic and endocrine circadian rhythms, psychological aspects seem to play a role in this modification. However, the few studies that have analyzed the influence of psychological dimensions on the dipping phenomenon have reported inconsistent results. This study aimed to examine the relationship between anger expression and blood pressure (BP) dipping. Methods: We obtained 24 h ambulatory BP measurements from 151 participants and used them to define three groups according to their dipping status: Dippers (N = 65), Non-Dippers (N = 42), and Extreme Dippers (N = 44). Sociodemographic and anamnestic information was collected, and the State–Trait Anger Expression Inventory was used to assess anger. Results: Analysis of variance evidenced significant higher scores for Trait Anger Temperament and Anger Expression in Extreme Dippers than in both Dippers and Non-Dippers. However, after controlling for confounding variables, there was no significant relationship with trait anger, and only the result concerning the suppression of anger was confirmed. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the analysis of some psychological factors, such as anger, could be necessary to better understand differences in nocturnal BP alterations. Trait anger and suppression of anger may contribute to the description and classification of patients who exhibit a maladaptive dipping phenomenon. However, modifiable (i.e., cigarette consumption) and unmodifiable (i.e., age) risk factors appear to mediate this relationship. Although further studies are necessary to explore this association, these results highlight that some aspects of anger can represent risk factors or markers of maladaptive modulation of the dipping phenomenon.
Satisfaction with Social Support Received from Social Relationships in Cases of Chronic Pain: The Influence of Personal Network Characteristics in Terms of Structure, Composition and Functional Content
Authors: Fernández-Peña Rosario , Molina José Luis , Valero Oliver
Published: April 2020

The worldwide burden of chronic illnesses, constitutes a major public health concern and a serious challenge for health systems. In addition to the strategies of self-management support developed by nursing and health organizations, an individual’s personal network represents a major resource of social support in the long-term. Adopting a cross-sectional design based on personal network analysis methods, the main aim of this study is to explore the relationship between satisfaction with the social support received by individuals suffering chronic pain and the structure, composition, and functional content in social support of their personal networks. We collected personal and support network data from 30 people with chronic pain (20 person’s contacts (alters) for each individual (ego), 600 relationships in total). Additionally, we examined the level of satisfaction with social support in each of the 600 relationships. Bivariate and multivariate tests were performed to analyze the satisfaction with the social support received. Using cluster analysis, we established a typology of the 600 relationships under study. Results showed that higher satisfaction was associated with a balance between degree centrality and betweenness (i.e., measures of network cohesion and network modularity, respectively). Finally, new lines of research are proposed in order to broaden our understanding of this subject.
Association between Daily Living Walking Speed and Walking Speed in Laboratory Settings in Healthy Older Adults
Authors: Kawai Hisashi , Obuchi Shuichi , Watanabe Yutaka , Hirano Hirohiko , Fujiwara Yoshinori , Ihara Kazushige , Kim Hunkyung , Kobayashi Yoshiyuki , Mochimaru Masaaki , Tsushima Eiki , Nakamura Kozo
Published: April 2020

Although there is evidence on the predictors of adverse health outcomes in older individuals, walking speed has typically been measured in laboratory settings (LWS); LWS may be distinct from individuals’ actual walking speed in their daily lives (DWS). We examined whether DWS differs from LWS among older adults, and its association with physical frailty. Participants were 90 community-dwelling older adults. A five-meter normal (LWSnor) and maximum (LWSmax) walking speed was measured with a stopwatch. DWS was measured using a global positioning system-related smartphone application for one month during their daily lives. DWSavr, DWSmax, and DWSsd were defined as the average, maximum, and standard deviation of walking speed for one month. Participants’ mean DWSavr and DWSmax were 1.28 m/s and 2.14 m/s, respectively, significantly slower than the mean LWSnor (1.42 m/s) and LWSmax (2.24 m/s); the intraclass correlation coefficient between DWS and LWS were 0.188 to 0.341. DWS was significantly correlated with grip strength, one-legged stance, and LWS. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of DWSsd concerning pre-frailty was largest among DWSs, at 0.615, while that of LWSnor was 0.643. The findings suggest that DWS differs from LWS and is associated with physical function and pre-frailty.
The Influence of Income and Livelihood Diversification on Health-Related Quality of Life in Rural Ethiopia
Authors: Majbauddin Abir , Otani Shinji , Tsunekawa Atsushi , Haregeweyn Nigussie , Abeje Misganaw Teshager , Nigussie Zerihun , Alam Intekhab , Qing Qing , Masumoto Toshio , Kurozawa Youichi
Published: April 2020

Examining health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a rural setting can be beneficial for improving rural household policies and fostering public health promotion. The objective of this study was to measure the HRQOL and associated socioeconomic characteristics as well as test the reliability of the Amharic version of SF-8 (eight-item short form of HRQOL survey). A cross-sectional study was employed in three agroecologically different sites in rural Ethiopia, involving 270 household heads (218 male and 52 female) with a mean age ± standard deviation of 49 ± 12.88 years. The survey material consisted of a structured questionnaire for socioeconomic characteristics and SF-8 for HRQOL. The mean physical and mental component summary score of the whole sample was 30.50 ± 12.18 and 34.40 ± 7.26, respectively, well underneath the instrument average of 50. The SF-8 items showed excellent internal consistency in terms of both Cronbach’s α coefficients and item–total correlation. In stepwise multiple linear regression, the low-income group had worse self-perceived physical health than the higher-income groups. Likewise, a diversified livelihood had a profound influence on positive self-perceived physical health. These findings imply that developing and distributing wide-ranging socioeconomic and public health policies is crucial for effective health promotion in rural communities.
Unmet Healthcare Needs and Healthcare Access Gaps Among Uninsured U.S. Adults Aged 50–64
Authors: Choi Namkee G. , DiNitto Diana M. , Choi Bryan Y.
Published: April 2020

Lack of health insurance (HI) is a particular problem for near-older Americans aged 50–64 because they tend to have more chronic health conditions than younger age groups and are at increased risk of disability; however, little recent research has focused on HI coverage and healthcare access among this age group. Using the U.S. National Health Interview Survey data for the years 2013 to 2018, we compared HI coverage and healthcare access between the 50–64 and 65+ age groups. Using logistic regression analysis, we then examined the sociodemographic and health characteristics of past-year healthcare access of near-older Americans without HI to those with private HI or public HI (Medicare without Medicaid, Medicaid without Medicare, Medicare and Medicaid, and VA/military HI). We estimated the odds of healthcare access among those without HI compared to those with private or public HI. Near-older Americans without HI were at least seven times more likely to have postponed or foregone needed healthcare due to costs, and only 15% to 23% as likely to have had contact with any healthcare professional in the preceding 12 months. Expanding HI to near-older adults would increase healthcare access and likely result in reduced morbidity and mortality and higher quality of life for them.
Experiences of Homeless Families in Parenthood: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Qualitative Evidence
Authors: Andrade Filipa Maria Reinhardt , Simões Figueiredo Amélia , Capelas Manuel Luís , Charepe Zaida , Deodato Sérgio
Published: April 2020

The objective of this systematic review was to identify the available qualitative data and to develop a framework to address the life experiences of homeless families in parenthood. The research was performed in the PubMed and CINAHL Complete databases, for works published in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish. Studies that included qualitative data, or both qualitative and quantitative data, were considered for this research. A total of 358 articles were obtained, of which 37 were assessed for eligibility, and 26 were rejected. In the end, 11 studies were selected. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research was used. These studies were conducted mostly in the United States, in temporary/transitional shelters for nuclear or single-parent families (led by women) in a homeless situation. In this context, the area which arose as the more relevant one was mental health, followed by the social studies. Two types of dimensions emerged from the results: mediating dimensions (which include the categories “Insecurity”, “Lack of Privacy”, “Isolation”, “Stigma” and “Disempowerment”) that are responsible for difficulties related to education, and behavioural changes in both the parents and the children; and supporting dimensions (which include the categories “Context as a Facilitator”, “Relationship with Others” and “Parents’ and children’s Self”) that lead to motivation, as well as the acquisition of strategies by the parents, to resolve parenting issues. This research helps expand nursing knowledge and presents a synthesis of the life experiences of homeless families in parenthood. Nursing can respond to the vulnerable population, due to its predominant role in promoting their health.
Treatment-Seeking Behavior Among Male Civil Servants in Northeastern Malaysia: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Arumugam Pathman , Tengku Ismail Tengku Alina , Daud Aziah , Musa Kamarul Imran , A. Hamid Noor Aman , Ismail Shaiful Bahari , Mohd Said Zakiah
Published: April 2020

Background: Men’s health in Malaysia is slowly gaining more attention, but minimal research has examined how Malaysian men behave and seek treatment. While few studies have investigated men’s treatment-seeking behavior (TSB), those that have been conducted seem to be inconclusive and tend to yield contradictory findings. Objectives: This paper aims to determine the proportion of inappropriate TSB and to explore in-depth treatment-seeking behavior among male civil servants in northeastern Malaysia. Methods: This paper adopted a mixed-methods approach, specifically a concurrent parallel study design. A quantitative study using a self-administered questionnaire was performed to identify the proportion of appropriate and inappropriate TSB among male civil servants in northeastern Malaysia. Concurrently, a qualitative study was conducted involving six focus group discussion sessions, and the results of both parts were integrated to provide a detailed explanation of TSB among the participants. Results: A total of 381 participants were involved in the quantitative study, yielding a response rate of 94.8%; 246 (64.6%) engaged in inappropriate TSB. Some of the reported morbidities among the participants were hypertension (26.5%) and diabetes mellitus (26.2%). From the qualitative study, a main theme related to TSB emerged with several sub-themes, which were health literacy, stage of seeking treatment, preference for alternative treatment, perceived threat of illness, self-treatment, and the influence of family members and others. Conclusions: TSB among male civil servants in northeastern Malaysia is poor, and the factors contributing to it are multidimensional. This study has provided new valuable evidence on men’s TSB in northeastern Malaysia. The findings can be used to facilitate and improve current policies and the implementation of men’s health services throughout the country.
Competitive Growth of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria with Bioleaching Acidophiles for Bioremediation of Heap Bioleaching Residue
Authors: Phyo Aung Kyaw , Jia Yan , Tan Qiaoyi , Sun Heyun , Liu Yunfeng , Dong Bingxu , Ruan Renman
Published: April 2020

Mining waste rocks containing sulfide minerals naturally provide the habitat for iron- and sulfur-oxidizing microbes, and they accelerate the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) by promoting the oxidation of sulfide minerals. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are sometimes employed to treat the AMD solution by microbial-induced metal sulfide precipitation. It was attempted for the first time to grow SRB directly in the pyritic heap bioleaching residue to compete with the local iron- and sulfur-oxidizing microbes. The acidic SRB and iron-reducing microbes were cultured at pH 2.0 and 3.0. After it was applied to the acidic heap bioleaching residue, it showed that the elevated pH and the organic matter was important for them to compete with the local bioleaching acidophiles. The incubation with the addition of organic matter promoted the growth of SRB and iron-reducing microbes to inhibit the iron- and sulfur-oxidizing microbes, especially organic matter together with some lime. Under the growth of the SRB and iron-reducing microbes, pH increased from acidic to nearly neutral, the Eh also decreased, and the metal, precipitated together with the microbial-generated sulfide, resulted in very low Cu in the residue pore solution. These results prove the inhibition of acid mine drainage directly in situ of the pyritic waste rocks by the promotion of the growth of SRB and iron-reducing microbes to compete with local iron and sulfur-oxidizing microbes, which can be used for the source control of AMD from the sulfidic waste rocks and the final remediation.
The Effects of Family Financial Stress and Primary Caregivers’ Levels of Acculturation on Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Problems among Humanitarian Refugees in Australia
Authors: Yu Linlin , Renzaho Andre M.N. , Shi Lishuo , Ling Li , Chen Wen
Published: April 2020

The present study evaluated the application of the basic and extended (incorporated primary caregivers’ levels of acculturation) Family Stress Model (FSM) to understand the effect of family financial stress and primary caregivers’ levels of acculturation on children’s emotional and behavioral problems among refugees in Australia. A total of 658 refugee children aged 5–17 and their primary caregivers (n = 410) from the third wave of a nationwide longitudinal project were included in this study. We used multilevel structural equation models with bootstrapping to test the indirect effects of family financial stress and caregivers’ levels of acculturation (including English proficiency, self-sufficiency, social interaction, and self-identity) on children’s emotional and behavioral problems through caregivers’ psychological distress and parenting styles. The results showed that the extended FSM improved the model fit statistics, explaining 45.8% variation in children’s emotional and behavioral problems. Family financial stress, caregivers’ English proficiency, and self-identity had indirect effects on children’s emotional and behavioral problems through caregivers’ psychological distress and hostile parenting. The findings showed that interventions aimed at reducing caregivers’ psychological distress and negative parenting could be effective in alleviating the adverse effects of family financial stress and caregivers’ low levels of acculturation on refugee children’s mental health.
The Development of Chinese Assessment and Evaluation of Physical Literacy (CAEPL): A Study Using Delphi Method
Authors: Chen Si-Tong , Tang Yan , Chen Pei-Jie , Liu Yang
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study is to introduce the development of the Chinese Assessment and Evaluation of Physical Literacy (CAEPL), to present the theoretical model of the CAEPL, and to quantify the weight of each domain of the CAEPL. 34 experts took part in the Delphi survey, and 23 experts completed all the three rounds of the survey. Experts’ opinions are used to develop the theoretical model of the CAEPL. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was employed for determining the weights of subdomains and items of the CAEPL. The CAEPL is a comprehensive model, including intention of physical activity (IPA), knowledge of physical activity (KPA), motor/sport skill (MSS), behavior of physical activity (BPA) and physical fitness (PF). Specific weights of IPA, KPA, MSS, BPA and PF are 17.25%, 16.23%, 27.01%, 23.72% and 15.79%, respectively. The CAEPL provides an important and useful instrument to measure and improve physical literacy (PL) among young Chinese people. Studies on the feasibility, reliability, validity and sensitivity of the CAEPL should be conducted to improve it in the future.
Positive Effect of Breastfeeding on Child Development, Anxiety, and Postpartum Depression
Authors: Mikšić Štefica , Uglešić Boran , Jakab Jelena , Holik Dubravka , Milostić Srb Andrea , Degmečić Dunja
Published: April 2020

Background: Postpartum depression is a psychiatric disorder that starts from the second to the sixth week after birth. Breastfeeding is considered a protective factor for postpartum mood swings. This paper aims to examine the effect of breastfeeding on postpartum depression and anxiety, and how it affects child development. Methods: The study included 209 pregnant women, 197 puerperea, and 160 women at the end of the third month after delivery, followed through three time-points. The instruments used in the study were the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results: Postpartum mothers with low risk of PPD breastfed their children more often than mothers with a mild or severe risk of perinatal depression. Mean values on the BDI scale three months after giving birth were higher in mothers who did not breastfeed their child (M = 3.53) than those who did breastfeed their child (M = 2.28). Postpartum anxiety measured by BAI was statistically negatively correlated (rs-, 430) with the duration of breastfeeding. Conclusion: Nonbreastfeeding mothers are more depressed and anxious compared to breastfeeding mothers.
Exploring the Environmental Exposure to Methoxychlor, α-HCH and Endosulfan–sulfate Residues in Lake Naivasha (Kenya) Using a Multimedia Fate Modeling Approach
Authors: Abbasi Yasser , Mannaerts Chris M.
Published: April 2020

Distribution of pesticide residues in the environment and their transport to surface water bodies is one of the most important environmental challenges. Fate of pesticides in the complex environments, especially in aquatic phases such as lakes and rivers, is governed by the main properties of the contaminants and the environmental properties. In this study, a multimedia mass modeling approach using the Quantitative Water Air Sediment Interaction (QWASI) model was applied to explore the fate of organochlorine pesticide residues of methoxychlor, α-HCH and endosulfan–sulfate in the lake Naivasha (Kenya). The required physicochemical data of the pesticides such as molar mass, vapor pressure, air–water partitioning coefficient (KAW), solubility, and the Henry’s law constant were provided as the inputs of the model. The environment data also were collected using field measurements and taken from the literature. The sensitivity analysis of the model was applied using One At a Time (OAT) approach and calibrated using measured pesticide residues by passive sampling method. Finally, the calibrated model was used to estimate the fate and distribution of the pesticide residues in different media of the lake. The result of sensitivity analysis showed that the five most sensitive parameters were KOC, logKow, half-life of the pollutants in water, half-life of the pollutants in sediment, and KAW. The variations of outputs for the three studied pesticide residues against inputs were noticeably different. For example, the range of changes in the concentration of α-HCH residue was between 96% to 102%, while for methoxychlor and endosulfan-sulfate it was between 65% to 125%. The results of calibration demonstrated that the model was calibrated reasonably with the R2 of 0.65 and RMSE of 16.4. It was found that methoxychlor had a mass fraction of almost 70% in water column and almost 30% of mass fraction in the sediment. In contrast, endosulfan–sulfate had highest most fraction in the water column (>99%) and just a negligible percentage in the sediment compartment. α-HCH also had the same situation like endosulfan–sulfate (e.g., 99% and 1% in water and sediment, respectively). Finally, it was concluded that the application of QWASI in combination with passive sampling technique allowed an insight to the fate process of the studied OCPs and helped actual concentration predictions. Therefore, the results of this study can also be used to perform risk assessment and investigate the environmental exposure of pesticide residues.
Dynamics and Distribution of the Invasive Mosquito Aedes koreicus in a Temperate European City
Authors: Kurucz Kornélia , Manica Mattia , Delucchi Luca , Kemenesi Gábor , Marini Giovanni
Published: April 2020

Aedes koreicus is a mosquito species native to Asia that has recently successfully invaded new areas in several European countries. Here, we provide important data on Ae. koreicus establishment in Pécs (Southern Hungary). Mosquito surveillance was carried out weekly between 2016 and 2019 at 10 different sites located throughout the city from May to September. We conducted a statistical analysis to evaluate the most important abiotic factors driving Ae. koreicus abundance. We then calibrated a previously developed temperature-dependent mathematical model to the recorded captures to evaluate mosquito abundance in the study area. We found that too high summer temperatures negatively affect mosquito abundance. The model accurately replicated the observed capture patterns, providing an estimate of Ae. koreicus density for each breeding season, which we interpolated to map Ae. koreicus abundance throughout Pécs. We found a negative correlation between mosquito captures and human density, suggesting that Ae. koreicus does not necessarily require humans for its blood meals. Our study provides a successful application of a previously published mathematical model to investigate Ae. koreicus population dynamics, proving its suitability for future studies, also within an epidemiological framework.
Biomarkers for Lysosomal Storage Disorders with an Emphasis on Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Mashima Ryuichi , Okuyama Torayuki , Ohira Mari
Published: April 2020

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are characterized by an accumulation of various substances, such as sphingolipids, mucopolysaccharides, and oligosaccharides. The LSD enzymes responsible for the catabolism are active at acidic pH in the lysosomal compartment. In addition to the classically established lysosomal degradation biochemistry, recent data have suggested that lysosome plays a key role in the autophagy where the fusion of autophagosome and lysosome facilitates the degradation of amino acids. A failure in the lysosomal function leads to a variety of manifestations, including neurovisceral disorders. While affected individuals appear to be normal at birth, they gradually become symptomatic in childhood. Biomarkers for each condition have been well-documented and their proper selection helps to perform accurate clinical diagnoses. Based on the natural history of disorders, it is now evident that the existing treatment becomes most effective when initiated during presymptomatic period. Neonatal screening provides such a platform for inborn error of metabolism in general and is now expanding to LSDs as well. These are implemented in some areas and countries, including Taiwan and the U.S. In this short review, we will discuss several issues on some selected biomarkers for LSDs involving Fabry, Niemann–Pick disease type C, mucopolysaccharidosis, and oligosaccharidosis, with a focus on mass spectrometry application to biomarker discovery and detection.
A Pyrimidin-Like Plant Activator Stimulates Plant Disease Resistance and Promotes the Synthesis of Primary Metabolites
Authors: Li Jian , Long Ting , Sun Tie-Jun , Lu Yun , Yin Jian , Yang Yu-Bing , Dai Guang-Yi , Zhu Xiao-Yuan , Yao Nan
Published: April 2020

Plant activators are chemicals that induce plant defense responses to various pathogens. Here, we reported a new potential plant activator, 6-(methoxymethyl)-2-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl] pyrimidin-4-ol, named PPA2 (pyrimidin-type plant activator 2). Unlike the traditional commercial plant activator benzothiadiazole S-methyl ester (BTH), PPA2 was fully soluble in water, and it did not inhibit plant growth or root system development in rice (Oryza sativa). PPA2 pretreatment significantly increased plant resistance against bacterial infection in both Arabidopsis and rice, in conjunction with increases in the level of jasmonoyl-isoleucine and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid. In addition, metabolite profiling indicated that BTH significantly reduced the abundance of various primary metabolites in rice seedlings, including most amino acids, sugars, and organic acids; by contrast, PPA2 promoted their synthesis. Our results thus indicate that PPA2 enhances plant defenses against bacterial infection through the jasmonic acid pathway, and that as a water-soluble compound that can promote the synthesis of primary metabolites it has broad potential applications in agriculture.
Neuroprotection from Excitotoxic Injury by Local Administration of Lipid Emulsion into the Brain of Rats
Authors: Tanioka Motomasa , Park Wyun Kon , Shim Insop , Kim Kyeongmin , Choi Songyeon , Kim Un Jeng , Lee Kyung Hee , Hong Seong-Karp , Lee Bae Hwan
Published: April 2020

Lipid emulsion was recently shown to attenuate cell death caused by excitotoxic conditions in the heart. There are key similarities between neurons and cardiomyocytes, such as excitability and conductibility, which yield vulnerability to excitotoxic conditions. However, systematic investigations on the protective effects of lipid emulsion in the central nervous system are still lacking. This study aimed to determine the neuroprotective effects of lipid emulsion in an in vivo rat model of kainic acid-induced excitotoxicity through intrahippocampal microinjections. Kainic acid and/or lipid emulsion-injected rats were subjected to the passive avoidance test and elevated plus maze for behavioral assessment. Rats were sacrificed at 24 h and 72 h after kainic acid injections for molecular study, including immunoblotting and qPCR. Brains were also cryosectioned for morphological analysis through cresyl violet staining and Fluorojade-C staining. Anxiety and memory functions were significantly preserved in 1% lipid emulsion-treated rats. Lipid emulsion was dose-dependent on the protein expression of β-catenin and the phosphorylation of GSK3-β and Akt. Wnt1 mRNA expression was elevated in lipid emulsion-treated rats compared to the vehicle. Neurodegeneration was significantly reduced mainly in the CA1 region with increased cell survival. Our results suggest that lipid emulsion has neuroprotective effects against excitotoxic conditions in the brain and may provide new insight into its potential therapeutic utility.
Dynamics, a Powerful Component of Current and Future in Silico Approaches for Protein Design and Engineering
Authors: Surpeta Bartłomiej , Sequeiros-Borja Carlos , Brezovsky Jan
Published: April 2020

Computational prediction has become an indispensable aid in the processes of engineering and designing proteins for various biotechnological applications. With the tremendous progress in more powerful computer hardware and more efficient algorithms, some of in silico tools and methods have started to apply the more realistic description of proteins as their conformational ensembles, making protein dynamics an integral part of their prediction workflows. To help protein engineers to harness benefits of considering dynamics in their designs, we surveyed new tools developed for analyses of conformational ensembles in order to select engineering hotspots and design mutations. Next, we discussed the collective evolution towards more flexible protein design methods, including ensemble-based approaches, knowledge-assisted methods, and provable algorithms. Finally, we highlighted apparent challenges that current approaches are facing and provided our perspectives on their further development.
MTHFR and VDR Polymorphisms Improve the Prognostic Value of MYCN Status on Overall Survival in Neuroblastoma Patients
Authors: Olivera Gladys G. , Yáñez Yania , Gargallo Pablo , Sendra Luis , Aliño Salvador F. , Segura Vanessa , Sanz Miguel Ángel , Cañete Adela , Castel Victoria , Font De Mora Jaime , Hervás David , Berlanga Pablo , Herrero María José
Published: April 2020

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Pharmacogenetics can play an important role in the outcomes of the chemotherapy treatment in Neuroblastoma, helping doctors maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity. Employing AgenaBioscience MassArray, 96 SNPs were genotyped in 95 patients looking for associations of SNP with response to induction therapy (RIT) and grade 3–4 toxicities, in High Risk patients. Associations of SNPs with overall (OS) and event-free (EFS) survival in the whole cohort were also explored. Cox and logistic regression models with Elastic net penalty were employed. Association with grade 3–4 gastrointestinal and infectious toxicities was found for 8 different SNPs. Better RIT was correlated with rs726501 AG, rs3740066 GG, rs2010963 GG and rs1143684 TT (OR = 2.87, 1.79, 1.23, 1.14, respectively). EFS was affected by rs2032582, rs4880, rs3814058, rs45511401, rs1544410 and rs6539870. OS was influenced by rs 1801133, rs7186128 and rs1544410. Remarkably, rs1801133 in MTHFR (p = 0.02) and rs1544410 in VDR (p = 0.006) also added an important predictive value for OS to the MYCN status, with a more accurate substratification of the patients. Although validation studies in independent cohorts will be required, the data obtained supports the utility of Pharmacogenetics for predicting Neuroblastoma treatment outcomes.
Signaling Pathways Potentially Responsible for Foam Cell Formation: Cholesterol Accumulation or Inflammatory Response—What is First?
Authors: Orekhov Alexander N. , Sukhorukov Vasily N. , Nikiforov Nikita G. , Kubekina Marina V. , Sobenin Igor A. , Foxx Kathy K. , Pintus Sergey , Stegmaier Philip , Stelmashenko Daria , Kel Alexander , Poznyak Anastasia V. , Wu Wei-Kai , Kasianov Artem S. , Makeev Vsevolod Y. , Manabe Ichiro , Oishi Yumiko
Published: April 2020

Accumulation of lipid-laden (foam) cells in the arterial wall is known to be the earliest step in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. There is almost no doubt that atherogenic modified low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are the main sources of accumulating lipids in foam cells. Atherogenic modified LDL are taken up by arterial cells, such as macrophages, pericytes, and smooth muscle cells in an unregulated manner bypassing the LDL receptor. The present study was conducted to reveal possible common mechanisms in the interaction of macrophages with associates of modified LDL and non-lipid latex particles of a similar size. To determine regulatory pathways that are potentially responsible for cholesterol accumulation in human macrophages after the exposure to naturally occurring atherogenic or artificially modified LDL, we used transcriptome analysis. Previous studies of our group demonstrated that any type of LDL modification facilitates the self-association of lipoprotein particles. The size of such self-associates hinders their interaction with a specific LDL receptor. As a result, self-associates are taken up by nonspecific phagocytosis bypassing the LDL receptor. That is why we used latex beads as a stimulator of macrophage phagocytotic activity. We revealed at least 12 signaling pathways that were regulated by the interaction of macrophages with the multiple-modified atherogenic naturally occurring LDL and with latex beads in a similar manner. Therefore, modified LDL was shown to stimulate phagocytosis through the upregulation of certain genes. We have identified at least three genes (F2RL1, EIF2AK3, and IL15) encoding inflammatory molecules and associated with signaling pathways that were upregulated in response to the interaction of modified LDL with macrophages. Knockdown of two of these genes, EIF2AK3 and IL15, completely suppressed cholesterol accumulation in macrophages. Correspondingly, the upregulation of EIF2AK3 and IL15 promoted cholesterol accumulation. These data confirmed our hypothesis of the following chain of events in atherosclerosis: LDL particles undergo atherogenic modification; this is accompanied by the formation of self-associates; large LDL associates stimulate phagocytosis; as a result of phagocytosis stimulation, pro-inflammatory molecules are secreted; these molecules cause or at least contribute to the accumulation of intracellular cholesterol. This chain of events may explain the relationship between cholesterol accumulation and inflammation. The primary sequence of events in this chain is related to inflammatory response rather than cholesterol accumulation.
mTOR Signaling at the Crossroad between Metazoan Regeneration and Human Diseases
Authors: Lund-Ricard Yasmine , Cormier Patrick , Morales Julia , Boutet Agnès
Published: April 2020

A major challenge in medical research resides in controlling the molecular processes of tissue regeneration, as organ and structure damage are central to several human diseases. A survey of the literature reveals that mTOR (mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin) is involved in a wide range of regeneration mechanisms in the animal kingdom. More particularly, cellular processes such as growth, proliferation, and differentiation are controlled by mTOR. In addition, autophagy, stem cell maintenance or the newly described intermediate quiescence state, Galert, imply upstream monitoring by the mTOR pathway. In this review, we report the role of mTOR signaling in reparative regenerations in different tissues and body parts (e.g., axon, skeletal muscle, liver, epithelia, appendages, kidney, and whole-body), and highlight how the mTOR kinase can be viewed as a therapeutic target to boost organ repair. Studies in this area have focused on modulating the mTOR pathway in various animal models to elucidate its contribution to regeneration. The diversity of metazoan species used to identify the implication of this pathway might then serve applied medicine (in better understanding what is required for efficient treatments in human diseases) but also evolutionary biology. Indeed, species-specific differences in mTOR modulation can contain the keys to appreciate why certain regeneration processes have been lost or conserved in the animal kingdom.
Report of the 23rd Meeting on Signal Transduction 2019—Trends in Cancer and Infection
Authors: Schirmer Bastian , Giehl Klaudia , Kubatzky Katharina F.
Published: April 2020

The annual meeting “Signal Transduction–Receptors, Mediators and Genes” of the Signal Transduction Society (STS) is an interdisciplinary conference open to all scientists sharing the common interest in elucidating the signalling pathways underlying the physiological or pathological processes in health and disease of humans, animals, plants, fungi, prokaryotes and protists. The 23rd meeting on signal transduction was held from 4–6 November 2019 in Weimar, Germany, and focused on “Trends in Cancer and Infection”. As usual, keynote presentations by invited scientists introduced the respective workshops and were followed by speakers chosen from the submitted abstracts. Ample time had been reserved for discussion of the presented data during the workshops. In this report, we provide a concise summary of the various workshops and further aspects of the scientific program.
Comparative Analysis of Functional and Structural Decline in Retinitis Pigmentosas
Authors: Cabral Thiago , Lima de Carvalho Jose Ronaldo , Kim Joonpyo , Oh Jin Kyun , Levi Sarah R. , Park Karen Sophia , Duong Jimmy K. , Park Junhyung , Boudreault Katherine , Belfort Rubens , Tsang Stephen H.
Published: April 2020

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a category of inherited retinal dystrophies that is best prognosticated using electroretinography (ERG). In this retrospective cohort study of 25 patients with RP, we evaluated the correlation between 30 Hz flicker ERG and structural parameters in the retina. Internationally standardized 30 Hz flicker ERG recordings, short-wavelength autofluorescence (SW-AF), and spectral domain–optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were acquired at two visits at least one year apart. Vertical and horizontal hyperautofluorescent ring diameter measurements with SW-AF, as well as ellipsoid zone (EZ) line width measurements with SD-OCT, were used as structural parameters of disease progression. The 30 Hz flicker ERG amplitude decreased by 2.2 ± 0.8 µV/year (p = 0.011), while implicit times remained unchanged. For SD-OCT, the EZ line decreased by 204.1 ± 34.7 µm/year (p < 0.001). Horizontal and vertical hyperautofluorescent ring diameters decreased by 161.9 ± 25.6 µm/year and 146.9 ± 34.6 µm/year, respectively (p = 0.001), with SW-AF. A correlation was found between the progression rates of the 30 Hz flicker amplitude recorded with Burian–Allen electrodes and both the horizontal ring diameter (p = 0.020) and EZ line (p = 0.044). SW-AF and SD-OCT, two readily available imaging techniques, may be used to prognosticate disease progression because of the reliability of their measurements and correlation with functional outcome.
Effects of Single and Double Mutants in Human Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Variants Present in the Mexican Population: Biochemical and Structural Analysis
Authors: Martínez-Rosas Víctor , Juárez-Cruz Merit , Ramírez-Nava Edson , Hernández-Ochoa Beatriz , Morales-Luna Laura , González-Valdez Abigail , Serrano-Posada Hugo , Cárdenas-Rodríguez Noemí , Ortiz-Ramírez Paulina , Centeno-Leija Sara , Arreguin-Espinosa Roberto , Cuevas-Cruz Miguel , Ortega-Cuellar Daniel , Pérez de la Cruz Verónica , Rocha-Ramírez Luz , Sierra-Palacios Edgar , Castillo-Rodríguez Rosa , Baeza-Ramírez Isabel , Marcial-Quino Jaime , Gómez-Manzo Saúl
Published: April 2020

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most frequent human enzymopathy, affecting over 400 million people globally. Worldwide, 217 mutations have been reported at the genetic level, and only 19 have been found in Mexico. The objective of this work was to contribute to the knowledge of the function and structure of three single natural variants (G6PD A+, G6PD San Luis Potosi, and G6PD Guadalajara) and a double mutant (G6PD Mount Sinai), each localized in a different region of the three-dimensional (3D) structure. In the functional characterization of the mutants, we observed a decrease in specific activity, protein expression and purification, catalytic efficiency, and substrate affinity in comparison with wild-type (WT) G6PD. Moreover, the analysis of the effect of all mutations on the structural stability showed that its presence increases denaturation and lability with temperature and it is more sensible to trypsin digestion protease and guanidine hydrochloride compared with WT G6PD. This could be explained by accelerated degradation of the variant enzymes due to reduced stability of the protein, as is shown in patients with G6PD deficiency.
The Important Function of Mediator Complex in Controlling the Developmental Transitions in Plants
Authors: Zhang Lingjie , Guo Changkui
Published: April 2020

Developmental transitions in plants are tightly associated with changes in the transcriptional regulation of gene expression. One of the most important regulations is conferred by cofactors of RNA polymerase II including the mediator complex, a large complex with a modular organization. The mediator complex recruits transcription factors to bind to the specific sites of genes including protein-coding genes and non-coding RNA genes to promote or repress the transcription initiation and elongation using a protein-protein interaction module. Mediator complex subunits have been isolated and identified in plants and the function of most mediator subunits in whole life cycle plants have been revealed. Studies have shown that the Mediator complex is indispensable for the regulation of plant developmental transitions by recruiting age-, flowering-, or hormone-related transcription factors. Here, we first overviewed the Mediator subunits in plants, and then we summarized the specific Mediator subunits involved in developmental transitions, including vegetative phase change and floral transition. Finally, we proposed the future directions to further explore their roles in plants. The link between Mediator subunits and developmental transitions implies the necessity to explore targets of this complex as a potential application in developing high quality crop varieties.
TGF-β Signaling Regulates SLC8A3 Expression and Prevents Oxidative Stress in Developing Midbrain Dopaminergic and Dorsal Raphe Serotonergic Neurons
Authors: Chleilat Enaam , Pethe Abhishek , Pfeifer Dietmar , Krieglstein Kerstin , Roussa Eleni
Published: April 2020

Calcium homeostasis is a cellular process required for proper cell function and survival, maintained by the coordinated action of several transporters, among them members of the Na+/Ca2+-exchanger family, such as SLC8A3. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling defines neuronal development and survival and may regulate the expression of channels and transporters. We investigated the regulation of SLC8A3 by TGF-β in a conditional knockout mouse with deletion of TGF-β signaling from Engrailed 1-expressing cells, i.e., in cells from the midbrain and rhombomere 1, and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms. The results show that SLC8A3 is significantly downregulated in developing dopaminergic and dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons in mutants and that low SLC8A3 abundance prevents the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL. TGF-β signaling affects SLC8A3 via the canonical and p38 signaling pathway and may increase the binding of Smad4 to the Slc8a3 promoter. Expression of the lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde (MDA) was increased following knockdown of Slc8a3 expression in vitro. In neurons lacking TGF-β signaling, the number of MDA- and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE)-positive cells was significantly increased, accompanied with increased cellular 4-HNE abundance. These results suggest that TGF-β contributes to the regulation of SLC8A3 expression in developing dopaminergic and dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons, thereby preventing oxidative stress.
Caspase-11 Non-Canonical Inflammasome: Emerging Activator and Regulator of Infection-Mediated Inflammatory Responses
Authors: Yi Young-Su
Published: April 2020

Inflammation is a body’s protective mechanism to eliminate invading pathogens and cellular damaging signals. The inflammatory response consists of two main consecutive steps—a priming step preparing the inflammatory responses and a triggering step boosting the inflammatory responses. The main feature of the triggering step is the activation of the inflammasome, an intracellular multiprotein complex facilitating the inflammatory responses. The regulatory roles of ‘canonical’ inflammasomes in the inflammatory responses and diseases have been largely investigated, so far. New types of inflammasomes have been recently discovered and named as ‘non-canonical’ inflammasomes since their roles to induce inflammatory responses are similar to those of canonical inflammasomes, however, the stimulating ligands and the underlying mechanisms are different. Therefore, a growing number of studies have actively investigated the novel roles of non-canonical inflammasomes in inflammatory responses and diseases. This review summarizes and discusses the recent studies exploring the regulatory roles of caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome during the inflammatory responses and provides insight into the development of novel therapeutics for infectious and inflammatory diseases by targeting caspase-11 non-canonical inflammasome.
Newborn Screening for Cystic Fibrosis in Russia: A Catalyst for Improved Care
Authors: Sherman Victoria , Kondratyeva Elena , Kashirskaya Nataliya , Voronkova Anna , Nikonova Victoria , Zhekaite Elena , Kutsev Sergey
Published: April 2020

In order to assess the effectiveness of the detection of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients by screening compared with diagnoses based on clinical manifestations, the data of the National CF Patient Registry (NCFPR) from the year 2012 (group I: children aged 6–9 years, diagnosed prior to the start of screening) were compared with the data in the NCFPR from the year 2015 (group II: children 6–9 years after the start of screening) for CF patients from the Moscow region. Homozygotes for c.1521_1523delCTT (F508del) were separately compared in both groups. The average diagnosis age, genotype, body mass index, spirometry data, pulmonary infection, medications, and presence of complications were analyzed. This study demonstrated that in the c.1521_1523delCTT (F508del) homozygote group, the patients diagnosed by screening had significant advantages over the patients born before the start of newborn screening in the diagnosis age, the number of patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, the pulmonary function, and the growth in the percentiles. Newborn screening (NBS) detects nearly twice as many CF patients as the diagnostics based on clinical symptoms during the same time period. Importantly, patients will benefit from the early diagnosis of the disease and the early start of therapy.
Forecasting Appliances Failures: A Machine-Learning Approach to Predictive Maintenance
Authors: Fernandes Sofia , Antunes Mário , Santiago Ana Rita , Barraca João Paulo , Gomes Diogo , Aguiar Rui L.
Published: April 2020

Heating appliances consume approximately

48
%

of the energy spent on household appliances every year. Furthermore, a malfunctioning device can increase the cost even further. Thus, there is a need to create methods that can identify the equipment’s malfunctions and eventual failures before they occur. This is only possible with a combination of data acquisition, analysis and prediction/forecast. This paper presents an infrastructure that supports the previously mentioned capabilities and was deployed for failure detection in boilers, making possible to forecast faults and errors. We also present our initial predictive maintenance models based on the collected data.
The Effect of Augmented Reality on Students’ Learning Performance in Stem Education
Authors: Petrov Plamen D. , Atanasova Tatiana V.
Published: April 2020

The effect of one of the most popular 3D visualization and modelling technologies with haptic and touch feedback possibilities—augmented reality (AR)—is analysed herein. That includes a specific solution, incorporating augmented reality. A case study for delivering STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) content using this tool at one secondary school in Sofia is presented. The experience gained in one school year of using facilities for a STEM enrichment program has been examined.