bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fiction and indeterminate identity
Authors: Friedell David
Published: August 2019

In ‘Against fictional realism’ Anthony Everett argues that fictional realism leads to indeterminate identity. He concludes that we should reject fictional realism. Everett’s paper and much of the ensuing literature does not discuss what exactly fictional characters are. This is a mistake. I argue that some versions of abstract creationism about fictional characters lead to indeterminate identity, and that some versions of Platonism about fictional characters lead only to indeterminate reference. In doing so I show that Everett’s argument poses a more pressing problem for abstract creationism than for Platonism. The general lesson is that fictional realists should think more about the ontology of fictional characters in order to discern whether they are committed to indeterminate identity.
Karyotype evolution in Helianthemum (Cistaceae): dysploidy, achiasmate meiosis and ecological specialization in H. squamatum, a true gypsophile
Authors: Aparicio Abelardo , Escudero Marcial , Valdés-Florido Ana , Pachón Miguel , Rubio Encarnación , Albaladejo Rafael G , Martín-Hernanz Sara , Pradillo Mónica
Published: August 2019

Helianthemum squamatum is a specialist gypsophile, the only species of a recently diverged lineage in subgenus Helianthemum characterized by having the lowest chromosome number in the genus (n = 5). With the hypothesis of great genome reorganization in the lineage of H. squamatum, we (1) modelled the evolution of the chromosome number in the genus Helianthemum, (2) analysed the karyotype and the nuclear DNA content of H. squamatum and its sister species H. syriacum (n = 10) and (3) studied in detail the meiotic process of H. squamatum. Our analyses show that: (1) the rate of chromosome losses in the lineage that gave rise to H. squamatum is 100 times higher than in the genus as a whole; (2) compared to its sister species, H. squamatum has a more symmetric karyotype composed of longer metacentric chromosomes and retains c. 80% of its nuclear DNA content and (3) achiasmatic behaviour of chromosomes occurs during microsporogenesis despite full synapsis. Our results are in agreement with previous knowledge showing that reduced chromosome numbers in determinate lineages are found in short-lived species adapted to stressful environments, and we suggest that a combination of fewer chromosomes, a smaller genome, a shorter life cycle and the suppression of meiotic recombination can together contribute to the maintenance of those advantageous allelic combinations that makes H. squamatum a true gypsophile, enabling the individual plants to cope with the harshness imposed by dry gypsum soils.
Oral Vancomycin as an Adjuvant Treatment in IBD
Authors: Ayers Travis D , Leonard-Puppa Elaine , Kader Howard A , Waddell Jaylyn , Watkins Runa D , Blanchard Samra S , Safta Anca M , Rawal Nidhi
Published: August 2019

Objective

To study the efficacy of oral vancomycin (POV) treatment in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods

We conducted retrospective and prospective chart reviews, identifying patients using the Division’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) registry, ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes for IBD, and recall of patients receiving POV. Patients aged 2–21 years with active IBD at initiation of POV were included unless they had Clostridium difficile infection or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Pre- and posttreatment analysis included a Physician Global Assessment (PGA), pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) activity index (PUCAI), and an abbreviated pediatric Crohn’s disease (CD) activity index (PCDAI). The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test, determined if pre- and post-POV rankings of symptom severity differed. Mann–Whitney U tests assessed improvement in presenting symptoms.

Results

Nineteen patients met inclusion criteria (12 CD and 7 UC). POV improved the PGA score in 16 of 19 patients (P < 0.001). Mean PGA score pretreatment was 3 ± 0.471; posttreatment mean of 1.58 ± 0.769. Abdominal pain (P < 0.001), diarrhea (P < 0.002), anemia (P < 0.002), and blood in stool (P < 0.001) showed significant improvement. PUCAI and PCDAI scores, pretreatment means of 50 ± 17 and 33 ± 9, respectively, also improved with mean score reduction of 23 in CD and 38 in UC patients after POV initiation (P-value < 0.0001). This improvement was noted for both IBD subtypes.

Conclusions

POV may be an effective adjuvant treatment for pediatric IBD. Its effectiveness is likely due to a combination of its anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha-α activity and its influence on the gut microbiome. Further controlled studies of POV in IBD are warranted to determine the most efficacious use of POV in pediatric IBD.

Aim

This study attempts to expand on the current literature to determine efficacy of POV as an adjuvant therapy in treating active IBD in children.
Comparative psychopharmacology of autism and psychotic-affective disorders suggests new targets for treatment
Authors: Crespi Bernard J
Published: August 2019

The first treatments showing effectiveness for some psychiatric disorders, such as lithium for bipolar disorder and chlorpromazine for schizophrenia, were discovered by accident. Currently, psychiatric drug design is seen as a scientific enterprise, limited though it remains by the complexity of brain development and function. Relatively few novel and effective drugs have, however, been developed for many years. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how evolutionary biology can provide a useful framework for psychiatric drug development. The framework is based on a diametrical nature of autism, compared with psychotic-affective disorders (mainly schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression). This paradigm follows from two inferences: (i) risks and phenotypes of human psychiatric disorders derive from phenotypes that have evolved along the human lineage and (ii) biological variation is bidirectional (e.g. higher vs lower, faster vs slower, etc.), such that dysregulation of psychological traits varies in two opposite ways. In this context, the author review the evidence salient to the hypothesis that autism and psychotic-affective disorders represent diametrical disorders in terms of current, proposed and potential psychopharmacological treatments. Studies of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, the PI3K pathway, the NMDA receptor, kynurenic acid metabolism, agmatine metabolism, levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, and other treatments, demonstrate evidence of diametric effects in autism spectrum disorders and phenotypes compared with psychotic-affective disorders and phenotypes. These findings yield insights into treatment mechanisms and the development of new pharmacological therapies, as well as providing an explanation for the longstanding puzzle of antagonism between epilepsy and psychosis.

Lay Summary: Consideration of autism and schizophrenia as caused by opposite alterations to brain development and function leads to novel suggestions for pharmacological treatments.
Aspartic acid racemization constrains long-term viability and longevity of endospores
Authors: Liang Renxing , Lau Maggie C Y , Baars Oliver , Robb Frank T , Onstott Tullis C
Published: August 2019

Certain microorganisms survive long periods of time as endospores to cope with adverse conditions. Since endospores are metabolically inactive, the extent of aspartic acid (Asp) racemization will increase over time and might kill the spores by preventing their germination. Therefore, understanding the relationship between endospore survivability and Asp racemization is important for constraining the long-term survivability and global dispersion of spore-forming bacteria in nature. Geobacillus stearothermophilus was selected as a model organism to investigate racemization kinetics and survivability of its endospores at 65°C, 75°C and 98°C. This study found that the Asp racemization rates of spores and autoclaved spores were similar at all temperatures. The Asp racemization rate of spores was not significantly different from that of vegetative cells at 65°C. The Asp racemization rate of G. stearothermophilus spores was not significantly different from that of Bacillus subtilis spores at 98°C. The viability of spores and vegetative cells decreased dramatically over time, and the mortality of spores correlated exponentially with the degree of racemization (R2 = 0.9). This latter correlation predicts spore half-lives on the order of hundreds of years for temperatures typical of shallow marine sediments, a result consistent with studies about the survivability of thermophilic spores found in these environments.
Efficacy and safety of vedolizumab in elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a matched case–control study
Authors: Shashi Preeti , Gopalakrishnan Dharmesh , Parikh Malav P , Shen Bo , Kochhar Gursimran
Published: August 2019

Background

Vedolizumab was demonstrated to be safe and effective in adults with moderately to severely active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in clinical trials. However, there are limited data regarding its efficacy and safety in elderly patients.

Methods

This was a case–control study comparing the efficacy (measured by rates of mucosal healing and need for IBD surgery) and safety of vedolizumab in IBD among patients ≥65 years of age (the elderly group) vs those <65 years (the control group). The two groups were matched individually on a 1:4 ratio based on gender and type of IBD. Conditional logistic regression was used for stratified analysis to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals.

Results

We included 25 IBD patients in the elderly group and 100 matched patients in the comparison group. Eighty patients had Crohn’s disease and 45 had ulcerative colitis. At baseline, the groups were comparable with regard to duration of IBD, prior anti-TNF therapy, and prior IBD surgery. The rate of mucosal healing on follow-up endoscopy was comparable between the elderly and control groups (50% vs 53%, P = 0.507). Although more patients in the elderly group required IBD-related surgery while on vedolizumab, the difference did not reach statistical significance (40% vs 19%, P = 0.282). Rates of vedolizumab-related adverse effects—rash, arthralgia, infections, infusion reactions, and dyspnea—were comparable between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

Conclusions

In a real-world setting, vedolizumab was demonstrated to have an efficacy and safety profile among elderly IBD patients that were comparable to younger controls.
The draft genome sequence of the spider Dysdera silvatica (Araneae, Dysderidae): A valuable resource for functional and evolutionary genomic studies in chelicerates
Authors: Sánchez-Herrero Jose Francisco , Frías-López Cristina , Escuer Paula , Hinojosa-Alvarez Silvia , Arnedo Miquel A , Sánchez-Gracia Alejandro , Rozas Julio
Published: August 2019

Background

We present the draft genome sequence of Dysdera silvatica, a nocturnal ground-dwelling spider from a genus that has undergone a remarkable adaptive radiation in the Canary Islands.

Results

The draft assembly was obtained using short (Illumina) and long (PaciBio and Nanopore) sequencing reads. Our de novo assembly (1.36 Gb), which represents 80% of the genome size estimated by flow cytometry (1.7 Gb), is constituted by a high fraction of interspersed repetitive elements (53.8%). The assembly completeness, using BUSCO and core eukaryotic genes, ranges from 90% to 96%. Functional annotations based on both ab initio and evidence-based information (including D. silvatica RNA sequencing) yielded a total of 48,619 protein-coding sequences, of which 36,398 (74.9%) have the molecular hallmark of known protein domains, or sequence similarity with Swiss-Prot sequences. The D. silvatica assembly is the first representative of the superfamily Dysderoidea, and just the second available genome of Synspermiata, one of the major evolutionary lineages of the “true spiders” (Araneomorphae).

Conclusions

Dysderoids, which are known for their numerous instances of adaptation to underground environments, include some of the few examples of trophic specialization within spiders and are excellent models for the study of cryptic female choice. This resource will be therefore useful as a starting point to study fundamental evolutionary and functional questions, including the molecular bases of the adaptation to extreme environments and ecological shifts, as well of the origin and evolution of relevant spider traits, such as the venom and silk.
Clinical outcomes of oesophagectomy in elderly versus relatively younger patients: a meta-analysis
Authors: Han Yu , Liu Shengjun , Guo Wei , Zhang Yajie , Li Hecheng
Published: August 2019

OBJECTIVES

The surgical efficacy of oesophagectomy for elderly patients (>80 years old) is still unclear. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the clinical outcomes of oesophagectomy between elderly and relatively younger patients.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies comparing the clinical outcomes of oesophagectomy for elderly and relatively younger patients. Odds ratios were extracted to obtain pooled estimates of the perioperative effect, and hazard ratios were extracted to compare survival outcomes between the 2 cohorts.

RESULTS

Nine studies involving 4946 patients were included in this meta-analysis. For patients older than 80 years of age, in-hospital mortality [odds ratio (OR) 2.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28–3.13; P = 0.002] and the incidence rates of cardiac (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.10–2.20; P = 0.01) and pulmonary (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.11–2.22; P = 0.01) complications were higher than those of relatively younger patients. The overall postoperative complication rate (OR 1.40, 95% CI 0.82–2.40; P = 0.22) and the incidence of anastomotic leak (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.58–1.47; P = 0.73) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Elderly patients had a worse overall 5-year survival rate (HR 2.66, 95% CI 1.65–4.28; P < 0.001) than that of relatively younger patients. The cancer-related 5-year survival rate of elderly patients was also lower than that of relatively younger patients (HR 3.37, 95% CI 2.36–4.82; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with relatively younger patients, elderly patients with oesophageal cancer undergoing oesophagectomy are at higher risk of in-hospital mortality and have lower survival rates. However, there is no conclusive evidence that the overall rate of complications is elevated in elderly patients.
Optimizing nursing time in a day care unit: Quality improvement using Lean Six Sigma methodology
Authors: Davies Carmel , Lyons Caroline , Whyte Regina
Published: August 2019

Objective

This study applies Lean Six Sigma (LSS) to improve the efficiency of a private hospital day care unit and generate a positive impact on optimizing nursing time and improving personalized patient care and staff satisfaction.

Design

A prospective interventional study using pre- and post-evaluation.

Setting

A day care unit at a private hospital.

Participants

Nurses and patients from the day unit.

Intervention(s)

Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control was used as an overarching problem-solving framework. All front line staff, clinical leaders and managers were supported as active change agents in the quality improvement (QI) initiative. Multiple interventions were adopted across the service that aimed to de-implement non-value added activities and enhance processes with activities that added value.

Main outcome measures

Patient turnaround times (PTTs), nursing time, nurse-patient ratio, nurse and patient survey.

Results

A post-implementation evaluation highlighted significant improvements in service performance and patient and staff satisfaction. Significant added value includes a reduction in PTTs, an increase in nursing care time and improvement in the nurse-patient ratio.

Conclusion

This project identified that utilizing LSS that relies on collaborative team effort is effective in creating a positive organizational culture for improvement and change. The Six Sigma tools and techniques provide evidence-based approaches that support QI in practice.
The Analysis of Aerosolized Methamphetamine From E-cigarettes Using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Krakowiak Rose I , Poklis Justin L , Peace Michelle R
Published: August 2019

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) has expanded from a nicotine delivery system to a general drug delivery system. The internet is rife with websites, blogs and forums informing users how to modify e-cigs to deliver illicit drugs while maintaining optimal drug delivery of their device. The goal of this study was to qualitatively identify the presence of methamphetamine in the aerosol produced by an e-cig and to quantitatively assess the effect voltage on the concentration of aerosolized methamphetamine. A KangerTech AeroTank electronic cigarette containing a 30, 60 or 120 mg/mL of methamphetamine in 50:50 propylene glycol: vegetable glycerin formulation was used to produce the aerosol. To qualitatively identify aerosolized methamphetamine, the aerosol was generated at 4.3 V, trapped in a simple glass trapping system, extracted using solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and analyzed by high-resolution Direct Analysis in Real Time AccuTOF™ Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS). To assess the effect of voltage on the concentration of aerosolized methamphetamine, the aerosol was generated at 3.9, 4.3 and 4.7 V, trapped and quantified using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). SPME-DART-MS and SPME-GC-MS demonstrated the aerosolization of methamphetamine. The concentration of aerosolized methamphetamine at 3.9, 4.3 and 4.7 V was not statistically different at 800 ± 600 ng/mL, 800 ± 600 ng/mL and 1,000 ± 800 ng/mL, respectively. The characterization of the vapors produced from e-liquids containing methamphetamine provides an understanding of the dose delivery dynamics of e-cigarettes.
‘Ceci n’est pas un Berceau’: The Majestic Cradle of Napoleon’s Son
Authors: Ventura Gal
Published: August 2019

This article explores the significance of the cradle given on March 1811, by the citizens of Paris for the birth of Napoleon’s son—the King of Rome—by addressing the object, its designers, its user, and its socio-cultural environment. Through the inspection of the etymology and the history of the cradle, the configuration, material and aesthetics of the King of Rome’s other cradles, and the ‘economy of the gift’, this article claims that the citizens’ cradle was in fact not a throne-shaped cradle, but rather a cradle-shaped throne, representing a materialized contract between the inhabitants of Paris and their sovereign.
Pure and mixed plantations of Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.) for high quality timber production in Chile, South America
Authors: Loewe-Muñoz Verónica , Balzarini Mónica , Ortega González Marta
Published: August 2019

Aims

Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.), an interesting forest species for the veneering industry, requires adequate management to produce valuable high-quality logs. Since species associations and management level can improve stand productivity, the novelty of this work was to assess Persian walnut performance in different planting mixtures and in pure plantations conditioned to management intensity.

Methods

Growth, straightness and survival measurements were taken annually for 7 years after planting pure and mixed plantations under two contrasting management scenarios. Diseases were recorded at Age 7 in all plantations. Under each management intensity, besides the monoculture, three mixtures were tested: a mixture of only main forest species, main forest species plus one arboreal companion species, Black alder (Alnus glutinosa L.) and main species plus the shrub Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) as nurse species. A test of interaction between plantation type and management scenario was conducted using repeated growth data.

Important Findings

The interaction was significant, indicating the presence of different mechanisms underlying plantation effects under high and low management level. Compared with pure plantations, Persian walnut associated with the nurse shrub exhibited 78% higher height and 53% higher diameter growth in plantations under low management. Health benefits (lower presence of walnut blight than in the monoculture) and better straightness were also found in the association including the shrub when the management intensity was not high. These beneficial effects in the presence of Russian olive were not present under high management intensity (irrigation, fertilization, tutoring and frequent pruning). Site-specific designs for Persian walnut plantations would depend on the foreseen management intensity.
Persistent Changes in Child Behavior After Early Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Gagner Charlotte , Dégeilh Fanny , Bernier Annie , Beauchamp Miriam H
Published: August 2019

Objective

To document longitudinal changes in internalizing and externalizing behavioral symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) sustained in early childhood (i.e., between 18 and 60 months of age).

Methods

Participants (N = 226) were recruited to one of three groups: children with mTBI, typically developing children and orthopedic injured children. The Child Behavior Checklist was used to document the presence of internalizing and externalizing behaviors at 6, 18, and 30 months postinjury. Linear mixed-model analyses were used to examine group effects on the trajectory of internalizing and externalizing behavioral manifestations over 30 months postinjury.

Results

Children who sustain mTBI during the preschool period have higher rates of internalizing and externalizing behavioral symptoms at the initial assessment time point and these symptoms persist up to 30 months postinjury. Moreover, results indicate that for up to 18 months postinjury, significantly more children with mTBI present behavioral difficulties that may require some form of clinical attention (i.e., scores in the borderline or clinical range), than do their orthopedically injured and noninjured peers.

Conclusions

Sustaining mTBI early in life may lead to long-lasting behavioral changes in young children (i.e., at least 30 months). These changes are likely the product of a complex interplay between neurological and non-neurological factors, both contributing to generating and maintaining behavioral difficulties.
Medico-Legal Implications of Video Recording Patient-Provider Communication
Authors: Naeem Komal , Bhargava Malika , Porter Randall W
Published: August 2019

INTRODUCTION:

Recording patient-physician communication improves recall of medical information by patients, strengthens trust between the patient and physician, and results in higher satisfaction rates among patients and their family members. Despite being an efficient and cost-effective tool for better healthcare provision, its use has been limited due to the presumed concerns regarding unfavorable medico-legal consequences.

METHODS:

We started video recording clinical visits in 2009. The password protected video is uploaded on the internet and can only be accessed by the patient and relevant healthcare personnel. Patients can easily re-watch the video and can share it with their family.

RESULTS:

In past 10 yr, around 40 000 clinical encounters have been recorded. There has not been any malpractice claims (settled/paid) against the physicians in the meanwhile. The video recordings can serve as the evidence in the court room where jury and judge are biased towards the patients’ account as opposed to physicians’ because of presumed better recalling of patient about their unique clinic visit as compared to physician who sees multiple patients during the day. In 38 (76%) states it is legal to record the conversation as long as at least one party consents, hence if a patient records the entire visit without informing the physician, they are not liable legally. With recent technology it is not possible to limit the surreptitious recording of the clinic visit by patient hence the solution lies with the physician. The provision of this facility by health care personnel makes the entire process more organized so patients and physicians both find it beneficial without the violation of privacy and confidentiality.

CONCLUSION:

We report that the video recording of patient-physician encounter does not increase the risk of malpractice lawsuits, as it was feared earlier. In the contrary, it helps with the development of trustworthy relationship between the patient and the doctor.
Perspectives of United States–Based Infectious Diseases Physicians on Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Practice
Authors: Hamad Yasir , Lane Michael A , Beekmann Susan E , Polgreen Philip M , Keller Sara C
Published: August 2019

Background

Although outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is generally considered safe, patients are at risk for complications and thus require close monitoring. The purpose of this study is to determine how OPAT programs are structured and how United States–based infectious diseases (ID) physicians perceive barriers to safe OPAT care.

Methods

We queried members of the Emerging Infections Network (EIN) between November and December 2018 about practice patterns and barriers to providing OPAT.

Results

A total of 672 members of the EIN (50%) responded to the survey. Seventy-five percent of respondents were actively involved in OPAT, although only 37% of respondents reported that ID consultation was mandatory for OPAT. The most common location for OPAT care was at home with home health support, followed by post–acute care facilities. Outpatient and inpatient ID physicians were identified as being responsible for monitoring laboratory results (73% and 54% of respondents, respectively), but only 36% had a formal OPAT program. The majority of respondents reported a lack of support in data analysis (80%), information technology (66%), financial assistance (65%), and administrative assistance (60%). The perceived amount of support did not differ significantly across employment models. Inability to access laboratory results in a timely manner, lack of leadership awareness of OPAT value, and failure to communicate with other providers administering OPAT were reported as the most challenging aspects of OPAT care.

Conclusions

ID providers were highly involved in OPAT, but only one-third of respondents had a dedicated OPAT program. Lack of financial and institutional support were perceived as significant barriers to providing safe OPAT care.
Loan Officer Incentives, Internal Rating Models, and Default Rates*
Authors: Berg Tobias , Puri Manju , Rocholl Jörg
Published: August 2019

Manipulation of hard information has been at the center of a wave of investigations into fraudulent bank behavior, such as mis-selling of mortgages and rigging of London Interbank Offered Rate and Foreign Exchange rates. Despite these prominent cases, little is known as to why employees manipulate hard information. Using almost a quarter million retail loan applications, we show that loan officers who face volume-based incentives significantly manipulate ratings even in settings where ratings are computed using hard information only. Manipulation is widespread across loan officers, with low-performing loan officers manipulating more toward the end of the year. These incentives have a first-order effect on bank profitability, reducing return on equity by 1.5 percentage points. We conclude that reliance on hard information does not overcome loan officer agency problems, and it is important for banks and regulators to take manipulation of hard information into account when using hard information for risk assessment and regulation.
RADIOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF HYDROXYL RADICAL SCAVENGERS ON PROKARYOTIC AND EUKARYOTIC CELLS UNDER VARIOUS GAMMA IRRADIATION CONDITIONS
Authors: Ondrák Lukáš , Vachelová Jana , Davídková Marie , Neužilová Barbora , Čuba Václav , Múčka Viliam
Published: August 2019

The influence of various hydroxyl radical scavengers such as methanol, ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide on radiation sensitivity of prokaryotic cells (bacteria Escherichia coli) and eukaryotic cells (yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and V79 cells—Chinese hamster pulmonary fibroblasts) irradiated by 60Co gamma radiation was investigated. The dependence of radiation sensitivity on dose rate in range from 1.8 to 100 Gy h−1 was evaluated. Survival of cells irradiated by increasing dose rates was followed using clonogenic assay. Specific protective effect was found to be a nonmonotonous function of dose rate with typical maximum at the dose rate range from 50 to 55 Gy h−1 in all studied cell types.
Identification and Molecular Mapping of a Gummy Stem Blight Resistance Gene in Wild Watermelon (Citrullus amarus) Germplasm PI 189225
Authors: Ren Runsheng , Xu Jinhua , Zhang Man , Liu Guang , Yao Xiefeng , Zhu Lingli , Hou Qian
Published: August 2019

Gummy stem blight (GSB), caused by Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum (syn. Didymella bryoniae), is a destructive foliar disease of watermelon in areas with hot and humid climates. The wild watermelon germplasm PI 189225 is a known source of resistance to GSB. The identification and use of molecular markers linked to resistance genes in the wild-type germplasm will speed up the introgression of GSB resistance into new watermelon varieties. An F2segregating population was obtained from a cross between the resistant wild watermelon genotype PI 189225 and the susceptible genotype K3. The F2-derived F3families were inoculated with a single isolate of S. cucurbitacearum (JS002) from Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The results of the genetic analysis demonstrated that GSB resistance in PI 189225 was controlled by a major quantitative trait locus (QTL), temporarily designated Qgsb8.1. Based on the results of bulk sergeant analysis and sequencing, one associated region spanning 5.7 Mb (10,358,659 to 16,101,517) on chromosome 8 was identified as responsible for the resistance to GSB using the Δ(single-nucleotide polymorphism [SNP]-index) method. The result of a QTL linkage analysis with Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) SNP markers further mapped the GSB resistance locus between the SNP markers KASP_JS9383 and KASP_JS9168 in a region of 571.27 kb on chromosome 8. According to the watermelon gene annotation database, the region contains approximately 19 annotated genes and, of these 19 genes, 2 are disease resistance gene analogs: Cla001017 (coiled-coil nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat resistance protein) and Cla001019 (pathogenesis related). Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR demonstrated that the expression of the two genes changed following S. cucurbitacearum infection, suggesting that they play important roles in GSB resistance in watermelon. This result will facilitate fine mapping and cloning of the Qgsb8.1 locus, and the linked markers will further provide a useful tool for marker-assisted selection of this locus in watermelon breeding programs.
ToxA–Tsn1Interaction for Spot Blotch Susceptibility in Indian Wheat: An Example of Inverse Gene-for-Gene Relationship
Authors: Navathe Sudhir , Yadav Punam Singh , Chand Ramesh , Mishra Vinod Kumar , Vasistha Neeraj Kumar , Meher Prabina Kumar , Joshi Arun Kumar , Gupta Pushpendra Kumar
Published: August 2019

The ToxA–Tsn1 system is an example of an inverse gene-for-gene relationship. The gene ToxA encodes a host-selective toxin (HST) which functions as a necrotrophic effector and is often responsible for the virulence of the pathogen. The genomes of several fungal pathogens (e.g., Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, Parastagonospora nodorum, and Bipolaris sorokiniana) have been shown to carry the ToxA gene. Tsn1 is a sensitivity gene in the host, whose presence generally helps a ToxA-positive pathogen to cause spot blotch in wheat. Cultivars lacking Tsn1 are generally resistant to spot blotch; this resistance is attributed to a number of other known genes which impart resistance in the absence of Tsn1. In the present study, 110 isolates of B. sorokiniana strains, collected from the ME5A and ME4C megaenvironments of India, were screened for the presence of the ToxA gene; 77 (70%) were found to be ToxA positive. Similarly, 220 Indian wheat cultivars were screened for the presence of the Tsn1 gene; 81 (36.8%) were found to be Tsn1 positive. When 20 wheat cultivars (11 with Tsn1 and 9 with tsn1) were inoculated with ToxA-positive isolates, seedlings of only those carrying the Tsn1 allele (not tsn1) developed necrotic spots surrounded by a chlorotic halo. No such distinction between Tsn1 and tsn1 carriers was observed when adult plants were inoculated. This study suggests that the absence of Tsn1 facilitated resistance against spot blotch of wheat. Therefore, the selection of wheat genotypes for the absence of the Tsn1 allele can improve resistance to spot blotch.
Prevention of Opportunistic Infections in Women With HIV Infection
Authors: DUFF PATRICK
Published: August 2019

Opportunistic infections are those that are either more frequent or more severe as a result of the patient’s immunosuppressed condition. Opportunistic infections are, of course, the distinguishing feature of HIV infection, and they can be the cause of serious morbidity and even mortality. Some opportunistic infections can be prevented by vaccination, for example, pneumococcal infection, meningococcal infection, influenza, hepatitis A and B, and varicella. Other major opportunistic infections require prophylactic antibiotics or antiviral medications. In obstetric patients, pneumocystis infections and toxoplasmosis are most effectively prevented by the administration of trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole. The most effective agents for prevention of reactivation of tuberculosis are isoniazid, rifampin, and rifapentine. Fluconazole is of value in preventing cryptococcal infection and candidiasis. Acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famiclovir are effective in preventing recurrent outbreaks of herpes simplex virus. Ultimately; however, the best way to prevent opportunistic infections is to treat the patient with highly active antiretroviral agents and restore her immune competence.
Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Knowledge and Use Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in a Small Metropolitan Region of the Southeastern United States
Authors: Griffin James A. , Eldridge-Smith Elizabeth D. , Yohannan Jiby , Stepleman Lara M.
Published: August 2019

Men who have sex with men (MSM) in the southeastern United States continue to be at high risk for HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) provides effective prevention, but PrEP awareness varies across communities. We assessed sexual risk, HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing history, health care experiences associated with PrEP awareness, provider discussions, and PrEP use in a sample of 164 MSM in the Central Savannah River Area of the South. Results revealed that 80.5% of participants were aware of PrEP, 16.4% had discussed PrEP with a provider, and 9.2% had used PrEP. Education, gay identity, HIV status, recent HIV testing, and lack of provider awareness about sexual minorities independently predicted PrEP awareness. Recent STI testing independently predicted increased odds of PrEP discussion. Recent HIV and STI testing and non-White identity were associated with PrEP use. Effective, tailored marketing, provider competence, and open communication can increase PrEP adoption by southern MSM.
HIV-Related Stigma Among People Living With HIV in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, China
Authors: Yang Hui , Xie Xia , Nie Anliu , Yin Yao , Wang Huan , Chen Hong
Published: August 2019

HIV-related stigma is a worldwide phenomenon that can lead to a series of negative outcomes. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of HIV-related stigma and its associated factors among people living with HIV in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, China. A cross-sectional study was performed between September and December 2017. A total of 318 participants were included. The mean participant score on the Berger HIV Stigma Scale was 105.13 (SD = 21.58), showing a moderate level of stigma. In multivariable regression analysis, HIV-related stigma was more severe for participants with no religious beliefs, a shorter period since HIV diagnosis, nondisclosure of HIV status to sexual partners or friends, more affective support, and less emotional/information support. To reduce HIV-related stigma, health care providers should draw more attention to targeted interventions to assist those who may have a greater risk of stigma.
Mimicking nature-made beta cells: recent advances towards stem cell-derived islets
Authors: Tremmel Daniel M. , Mitchell Samantha A. , Sackett Sara D. , Odorico Jon S.
Published: August 2019

Purpose of review

Stem cell-derived islets are likely to be useful as a future treatment for diabetes. However, the field has been limited in the ability to generate β-like cells with both phenotypic maturation and functional glucose-stimulated insulin secretion that is similar to primary human islets. The field must also establish a reliable method of delivering the cells to patients while promoting rapid in-vivo engraftment and function. Overcoming these barriers to β cell differentiation and transplantation will be key to bring this therapy to the clinic.

Recent findings

The ability to generate stem cell-derived β-like cells capable of dynamic glucose-responsive insulin secretion, as well as β-like cells expressing key maturation genes has recently been demonstrated by several groups. Other groups have explored the potential of vascularized subcutaneous transplant sites, as well as endothelial cell co-transplant to support β cell survival and function following transplantation.

The generation of stem cell-derived islets with dynamic glucose-responsive insulin secretion has brought the field closer to clinical translation, but there is still need for improving insulin content and secretory capacity, as well as understanding the factors affecting variable consistency and heterogeneity of the islet-like clusters. Other questions remain regarding how to address safety, immunogenicity and transplantation site moving forward.
A Case of Recurrent Vulvar Carcinoma With Cardiac Metastasis: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Linder Revital , Lauterbach Roy , Reiss Arie
Published: August 2019

A 67-yr-old female patient was diagnosed with squamous cell vulvar carcinoma and treated with a radical vulvectomy and bilateral sentinel lymphadenectomy. Three months after the surgery, the patient presented with local recurrence and underwent surgical excision of the mass, followed by chemotherapy. Eight months later, the patient was admitted due to weakness and pleural effusion. The patient underwent a chest computed tomography and echocardiogram, which revealed a large mass in the right ventricle penetrating into the pericardium and an additional mass residing on the tricuspid valve. She underwent a pericardial biopsy, and the pathology revealed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma metastasis. The patient was admitted thereafter in the oncological department for additional chemotherapy treatment. Because of a rapid deterioration in the patient’s condition, only palliative treatment was given, and the patient died shortly after. Secondary cardiac tumors are very rare and have not been extensively studied in oncology. Therefore, optimal management is not entirely clear. It is extremely rare for vulvar cancer to metastasize to the heart, and only a handful of cases have been reported in the literature.
Ovarian Steroid Cell Tumor in an Adolescent With Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Marques Ana , Portugal Raquel
Published: August 2019

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by germline mutation of the VHL gene. It is associated with multiple neoplasias including hemangioblastoma, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, and neuroendocrine tumors. Ovarian tumors are extremely rare in this syndrome. We describe the case of a 16-yr-old girl with a previous diagnosis of bilateral pheochromocytoma and several pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in VHL syndrome context. Follow-up abdominal-pelvic magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 33 mm, well-circumscribed nodule in the right ovary. The patient was submitted to laparoscopic right salpingo-oophorectomy. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of polygonal cells with abundant microvacuolized clear cytoplasm arranged in a solid pattern. The neoplastic cells were immunohistochemically positive for inhibin and calretinin. A diagnosis of ovarian steroid cell tumor was made. Only 4 cases with this association have been reported to date. Of the previously described cases, only one concerns a child; the others were all adult women. All of them had a previous diagnosis of VHL syndrome and presented with secondary amenorrhea and/or hirsutism due to testosterone-secreting ovarian steroid cell tumors. Although extremely rare, the association between VHL syndrome and ovarian steroid cell tumor has been reported, and our case suggests there is a link between the 2 entities.
Vulvar Silicone Granuloma
Authors: Guerrieri Claudio , Hudacko Rachel , Joseph Eddy M.
Published: August 2019

We report a case of vulvar silicone granulomas following injection of liquid silicone into the labia. The patient is a 51-yr-old female who presented with vulvar pain and enlarged, indurated labia majora. In the past, she had undergone bilateral labial cosmetic augmentation with a silicone-based filler injected directly into the labia and into the gluteal regions. This had been performed in a nonmedical setting. At surgery, oblong firm soft tissue masses were removed from both labia. Microscopically, the lesions demonstrated replacement of the subcutaneous adipose tissue by fibrous tissue containing innumerable round empty spaces of different sizes, either within or surrounded by macrophages and occasional foreign-body giant histiocytes. The clear vacuoles corresponded to silicone fluid which had been dissolved during tissue processing. There are only rare case reports of vulvar silicone granuloma in the literature, and these were due to migration of silicone to the vulva from distant sites. Our report details a case of vulvar silicone granuloma secondary to direct injection of liquid silicone material into the labia.
Decoding the porcine developing spatial processing system and production of human entorhinal stellate cell-like cells by a direct programming approach
Authors: Bergmann Tobias , Liu Yong , Mogus Leo , Lee Julie , Pfisterer Ulrich , Handfield Louis-Francois , Asenjo-Martinez Andrea , Lisa-Vargas Irene , Seemann Stefan E , Hang Lee Jimmy Tsz , Patikas Nikolaos , Kornum Birgitte Rahbek , Denham Mark , Hyttel Poul , Witter Menno P , Gorodkin Jan , Pers Tune H , Hemberg Martin , Khodosevich Konstantin , Hall Vanessa Jane
Published: August 2019

Classic studies investigating how and when the entorhinal cortex (component of the memory processing system of the brain) develops have been based on traditional thymidine autoradiography and histological techniques. In this study, we take advantage of modern technologies to trace at a high resolution, the cellular complexity of the developing porcine medial entorhinal cortex by using single-cell profiling. The postnatal medial entorhinal cortex comprises 4 interneuron, 3 pyramidal neuron and 2 stellate cell populations which emerge from intermediate progenitor and immature neuron populations. We discover four MGE-derived interneurons and one CGE-derived interneuron population as well as several IN progenitors. We also identify two oligodendrocyte progenitor populations and three populations of oligodendrocytes. We perform a proof-of-concept experiment demonstrating that porcine scRNA-seq data can be used to develop novel protocols for producing human entorhinal cells in-vitro. We identified six transcription factors (RUNX1A1, SOX5, FOXP1, MEF2C, TCF4, EYA2) important in neurodevelopment and differentiation from oneRELN+ stellate cell population. Using a lentiviral vector approach, we reprogrammed human induced pluripotent stem cells into stellate cell-like cells which expressedRELN, SATB2, LEF1and BCL11B. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the formation of the brain’s cognitive memory and spatial processing system and provides proof-of-concept for the production of entorhinal cells from human pluripotent stem cells in-vitro.
Deconstructing glucose-mediated catabolite repression of thelacoperon ofEscherichia coli: I. Inducer exclusion, by itself, cannot account for the repression
Authors: Aggarwal Ritesh K. , Narang Atul
Published: August 2019

Thelacoperon ofEscherichia coliis repressed several 100-fold in the presence of glucose. This repression has been attributed to CRP-mediated transcriptional inhibition and EIIAGlc-mediated inducer exclusion. The growing evidence against the first mechanism has led to the postulate that the repression is driven by inducer exclusion. The literature shows that in fully induced cells, inducer exclusion reduces the permease activity only 2-fold. However, it is conceivable that inducer exclusion drastically reduces the permease activity in partially induced cells. We measured the decline of lactose permease activity due to inducer exclusion in partially induced cells, but found that the permease activity decreased no more than 6-fold. We show that the repression is small because these experiments are performed in the presence of chloramphenicol. Indeed, when glucose is added to a culture growing on glycerol and TMG, but no chloramphenicol,lacis repressed 900-fold. This repression is primarily due to reversal of the positive feedback loop, i.e., the decline of the intracellular TMG level leads to a lower permease level, which reduces the intracellular TMG level even further. The repression in the absence of chloramphenicol is therefore primarily due to positive feedback, which does not exist during measurements of inducer exclusion.
Mitochondrial sequences or Numts – By-catch differs between sequencing methods
Authors: Becher Hannes , Nichols Richard A
Published: August 2019

Nuclear inserts derived from mitochondrial DNA (Numts) encode valuable information. Being mostly non-functional, and accumulating mutations more slowly than mitochondrial sequence, they act like molecular fossils – they preserve information on the ancestral sequences of the mitochondrial DNA. In addition, changes to the Numt sequence since their insertion into the nuclear genome carry information about the nuclear phylogeny. These attributes cannot be reliably exploited if Numt sequence is confused with the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). The analysis of mtDNA would be similarly compromised by any confusion, for example producing misleading results in DNA barcoding that used mtDNA sequence. We propose a method to distinguish Numts from mtDNA, without the need for comprehensive assembly of the nuclear genome or the physical separation of organelles and nuclei. It exploits the different biases of long and short-read sequencing. We find that short-read data yield mainly mtDNA sequences, whereas long-read sequencing strongly enriches for Numt sequences. We demonstrate the method using genome-skimming (coverage < 1x) data obtained on Illumina short-read and PacBio long-read technology from DNA extracted from six grasshopper individuals. The mitochondrial genome sequences were assembled from the short-read data despite the presence of Numts. The PacBio data contained a much higher proportion of Numt reads (over 16-fold), making us caution against the use of long-read methods for studies using mitochondrial loci. We obtained two estimates of the genomic proportion of Numts. Finally, we introduce “tangle plots”, a way of visualising Numt structural rearrangements and comparing them between samples.