bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Housing Conditions, Level of Feeding and Presence of Antibiotics in The Feed Shape Rabbit Cecal Microbiota
Authors: Velasco-Galilea María , Guivernau Miriam , Piles Miriam , Viñas Marc , Rafel Oriol , Sánchez Armand , Ramayo-Caldas Yuliaxis , González-Rodríguez Olga , Sánchez Juan P.
Published: June 2020

Background: the effect of the production environment and different management practices in rabbit cecal microbiota remains poorly understood. While previous studies have proved the impact of the age or the feed composition, research in the housing conditions and other animal management aspects, such as the presence of antibiotics in the feed or the level of feeding, is still needed. Characterization of microbial diversity and composition of growing rabbits raised under different conditions could help better understand the role these practices play in cecal microbial communities and how it may result in different animal performance. Results: four hundred twenty-five meat rabbits raised in two different facilities, fed under two feeding regimes ( ad libitum or restricted) with feed supplemented or free of antibiotics, were selected for this study. A 16S rDNA-based assessment through the MiSeq Illumina sequencing platform was performed on cecal samples collected from these individuals at slaughter. Different univariate and multivariate approaches were conducted to unravel the influence of the different factors on microbial alpha diversity and composition at phylum, genus and OTU taxonomic levels. The animals raised in the facility harboring the most stable environmental conditions had greater, and less variable, microbial richness and diversity. Bootstrap univariate analyses of variance and sparse partial least squares-discriminant analyses endorsed that the farm exerted the largest influence on rabbit microbiota since the relative abundances of many taxa were found differentially represented between both facilities at all taxonomic levels characterized. Furthermore, only five OTUs were needed to achieve a perfect classification of samples according to the facility where animals were raised. The level of feeding and the presence of antibiotics did not modify the global alpha diversity but had an impact on some bacteria relative abundances, albeit in a small number of taxa compared with the farm, which is consistent with the lower sample classification power according to these factors achieved using microbial information. Conclusions: this study reveals different degrees of influence attributable to environment and animal management. It highlights the importance of offering a controlled breeding environment that reduces differences in microbial cecal composition that could be causative of different animal performance.
A case report of serious brain and lung injury caused by mistakenly taking Mosquito repellent liquid contains Meperfluthrin
Authors: Lou Qing , Zhang Shengxin , Zheng Shengkun , Liu Huaying , Lu Yi , Hong Shaoxian
Published: June 2020

Background

Mosquito repellent liquid containing Meperfluthrin is widely used in the daily life. Among all clinical cases that children take mosquito repellent by mistake, only a fewwere recorded with serious brain and lung damages caused by Meperfluthrin.
Case presentation:

This case report presents a 16-month-old child in Xiamen City of China with severe brain and lung injury caused by mistakenly taking mosquito repellent that contains 0.8% Meperfluthrin. The child was treated with mechanical ventilation, fiberoptic bronchoalveolar lavage, anti-infection, 20% mannitol for dehydration, ganglioside and neurologic rehabilitation. The child recovered after 2 months.
Conclusion

This case shows that the improper administration of Meperfluthrin may cause serious toxic damage to brain and lung. Clinicians and parents should pay attention to prevention and targeting treatment promptly after intoxication.
A Serum Metabolic Profiling Analysis During the Formation of Fatty Liver in Landes Geese via Gc-tof/ms
Authors: Gong Yujie , Lyu Wentao , Shi Xingfen , Zou Xiaoting , Lu Lizhi , Yang Hua , Xiao Yingping
Published: June 2020

Background:During the process of fatty liver production by overfeeding, the levels of endogenous metabolites in the serumof geese would change dramatically. This study investigated the effects of overfeeding on serum metabolism of Landes geese and the underlying mechanisms using a metabolomics approach.Results:Sixty Landes geese of the same age were randomly divided into the following 3 groups: D0 group (free from gavage); D7 group (overfeeding for 7 days); D25 group (overfeeding for 25 days). The results showed that overfeeding significantly increased the body weight and the liver weight of geese. Serum enzymatic activities and serum lipid levels were significantly enhanced following overfeeding.Gas chromatography time-of-flight/massspectrometry (GC-TOF/MS) was employed to explore the serum metabolic patterns, and to identify potential contributors to the formation of fatty liver and the correlatedmetabolic pathways. A large number of endogenous molecules in serum were altered, especially at the late stage of overfeeding (7 days to 25 days). Continuous elevated levels of pyruvic acid, alanine, proline and beta-glycerophosphoric acid and reduced lactic acid level were observed in the serum of overfed geese. Pathway exploration found that the most of significantly different metabolites were involved in various amino acids metabolism, carbohydrate metabolismand lipid metabolism.Conclusions: These findings pinpoint specific metabolite changes and identify potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of fatty liver disease, as well as provide insights into the perturbation of metabolic pathways involved in fatty liver formation.
Development and Validation of a Prognostic Nomogram to Predict Overall Survival of Elderly Patients with Gastric Cancer
Authors: Zhou Xingguo , Ding Yinlu , Wang Yu , Xue Ying , Zang Yifeng , Dong Changzheng , Zhou Wei
Published: June 2020

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of digestive tract origin in China. The proportion of elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC) gradually increases as the population ages. We aimed to develop a prognostic nomogram for prediction of elderly (≥ 75 years old) GC patients in overall survival (OS).
Patients and Methods

Patients with GC from 2005 to 2014 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database and randomly assigned to development and validation sets. The variables for establishing nomogram were confirmed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis based on the development set. The predictive accuracy and discriminative ability of the model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the concordance index (C-index) and calibration curves, while its clinical utility was assessed using decision curve analysis (DCA) and Kaplan-Meier curve.
Results

A total of 1445 patients were included in this study. The nomogram was developed including histologic grade, AJCC stage T, N, M and surgery according to the univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis, the area under the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and Occam’s Law of Razor. The C-index of the nomogram was higher than the TNM system in the training cohort (0.710 vs 0.652, p < 0.001), which was also confirmed in the validation cohort (0.701 vs 0.643, p < 0.001); and high AUCs were noted in both development and validation sets. The nomogram showed good discrimination and calibration in both development and validation sets. The DCA curves showed that the nomogram had better clinical utility compared to the AJCC stage model. In addition, participants could be divided into three disparate risk groups (low, moderate, high) by the nomogram.
Conclusion

This study established a prognostic nomogram that improved the performance of the AJCC staging system with incorporation of risk factors to better predict the short-term survival in elderly GC patients.
Efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and shear-wave elastography in conjunction with BI-RADS classification for diagnosis of small breast nodules
Authors: Shen Yan , He Jie , Liu Miao , Hu Jiaojiao , Wan Yonglin , Zhang Tingting , Ding Jun , Dong Jiangnan , Fu Xiaohong
Published: June 2020

Background

Identification of malignancy in small breast nodules can be difficult using conventional methods, especially in patients with dense breast tissue. Advanced imaging techniques, including contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and shear-wave elastography (SWE), may work in conjunction with Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) classification to more effectively characterize these nodules. This study aimed to evaluate the use of CEUS and SWE for differentiation of benign from malignant small (≤ 2 cm) breast nodules.
Methods

This retrospective study reviewed the medical records and imaging data of 302 patients who underwent evaluation for 305 small breast nodules from November 2015 to December 2019. BI-RADS classification of nodules and results from CEUS and SWE studies were retrospectively analyzed, and the diagnostic efficacy of these techniques were evaluated by comparison to pathology results. Receiver operating characteristic curves were analyzed based on CEUS patterns and shear wave velocity values of nodules. The sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracies of BI-RADS, CEUS, SWE, and a combination of all methods for identifying benign versus malignant small breast nodules were investigated.
Results

CEUS was effective at diagnosing malignant nodules when at least two out of nine suspicious features were present. Receiver operating curve analysis revealed that the best cut-off value for SWE was 3.7 m/s. The BI-RADS classification of nodules was reduced by one level when both CEUS and SWE diagnosed benign BNs and was unchanged when only CEUS or SWE diagnosed benign BN, with the highest level being category 5 and the lowest level being category 3. Furthermore, when using the combined method, 75.8% (91/120) of small breast nodules with a BI-RADS category 4A classification avoided the need for coarse needle biopsies.
Conclusion

CEUS and SWE can be used as auxiliary methods for clarifying BI-RADS classification of BNs, and a combination of these techniques may provide more diagnostic efficacy for identifying malignancy in small breast nodules.
Antiviral functions of type I and type III interferons in the olfactory epithelium
Authors: Zedan Ahmad , Winters Ashley D. , Yu Wei , Wang Shuangyan , Takeshita Ashley , Gong Qizhi
Published: June 2020

BackgroundThe olfactory epithelium (OE) is one of the few sites where environmental pathogens can gain direct access to the brain. Despite this vulnerable arrangement, little is known about the protective mechanisms in the OE to prevent viral infection and subsequent entry into the brain.MethodsWe systematically investigated acute responses in the olfactory mucosa (OM) upon exposure to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) by RNA-sEq. VSVs were nasally inoculated into C57BL/6 mice. OM were dissected for gene expression analysis at different time points after viral inoculation. Interferon functions were determined by comparing viral gene expression in interferon (Ifn) receptor knockout (Ifnar1−/− and Ifnlr1−/−) with wildtype OM.ResultsAntiviral responses were observed as early as 24hrs post viral exposure in the OM. Amongst the rapidly upregulated transcripts observed were specific type I as well as type III Ifns and interferon stimulated genes. Genetic analyses demonstrated that both type I and type III IFN signaling are required for the suppression of viral replication in the OM. Nasal IFNb1 or IFNl2 administration effectively reduces viral load in the OM.Conclusions:OE possesses innate ability to respond and suppress viral infection. Type I and type III IFNs actively participate in the OE’s antiviral functions. Nasal IFN application effectively blocks viral replication in the OE suggesting therapeutic potential against viral insult.
Causal Association Between Birth Weight and Atrial Fibrillation: Evidence from a Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Analysis
Authors: Chen Songzan , Yan Fangkun , Xu Tian , Wang Yao , Zhang Kaijie , Fu Guosheng , Zhang Wenbin
Published: June 2020

Background

Although several observational studies have shown an association between birth weight (BW) and atrial fibrillation (AF), controversy remains. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of elevated BW on the etiology of AF.
Methods

A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study was designed to infer the causality. The genetic data on the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with BW and AF were separately obtained from two large-scale genome-wide association study with up to 321,223 and 1,030,836 individuals respectively. SNPs were identified at a genome-wide significant level (p-value < 5 × 10− 8). The inverse variance-weighted (IVW) with fixed effects method was performed to obtain causal estimates as our primary analysis. MR-Egger regression was conducted to assess the pleiotropy and sensitivity analyses with various statistical methods were applied to evaluate the robustness of the results.
Results

In total, 122 SNPs were identified as the genetic instrumental variables. MR analysis revealed a causal effect of elevated BW on AF (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.13–1.29, p-value = 2.39 × 10− 8). The MR-Egger regression suggested no evidence of directional pleiotropy (intercept = 0.00, p-value = 0.62). All the results in sensitivity analyses were consistent with the primary result, which confirmed the causal association between BW and AF.
Conclusions

The findings from the two-sample MR study indicate a causal effect of elevated BW on AF. This suggests a convenient and effective method to ease the burden of AF by reducing the number of newborns with elevated BW.
Assessing Health Care Equity Through Administrative Data-Derived Qquity Indicators and Socio-Economic Determinants of Health in Emergency Care: A Systematic Review
Authors: Morisod Kevin , Luta Xhyljeta , Marti Joachim , Spycher Jacques , Malebranche Mary , Bodenmann Patrick
Published: June 2020

Background: Achieving equity in health care remains a challenge for health care systems worldwide and marked inequities in access and quality of care persist. The performance assessment of health care systems is often limited to quality and efficiency indicators. Identifying indicators of health care equity is an important first step in integrating the concept of equity into assessments of health care system performance. Because emergency care serves as the interface between ambulatory and inpatient care, it appears to be a key setting in which to begin this process.Methods: We conducted a systematic review of administrative data-derived health care equity indicators and their association with socio-economic determinants of health (SEDH) in emergency care settings. Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies using administrative data following PRISMA-equity guidelines. The outcomes of interest were indicators of health care equity and the associated SEDH they examine.Results: Among 29 studies identified, 14 equity indicators were identified and grouped into four categories that reflect the patient emergency care pathway. Total emergency department (ED) visits and ambulatory care sensitive condition-related ED visits were the two most frequently used indicators. The studies analysed equity based on seven SEDH: social deprivation, income, education level, social class, insurance coverage, health literacy and financial and non-financial barriers. Despite some conflicting results, all identified SEDH are associated with inequalities in access to and use of emergency care. Conclusion: The use of administrative data-derived indicators in combination with identified SEDH could improve the measurement of health care equity in emergency care settings across health care systems worldwide. Using a combination of indicators is likely to lead to a more comprehensive, well-rounded analysis of health care equity than using any one indicator in isolation. Though studies analysed focused on emergency care settings, it seems possible to extrapolate these indicators to measure equity in other areas of the health care system. Further studies elucidating root causes of health inequities in and outside the health care system are needed.
Exogenous Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) Promote Changes in Growth, Phospholipid Composition, Membrane Permeability and Virulence Phenotypes in Escherichia Coli
Authors: Herndon Joshua , Peters Rachel , Hofer Rachel , Symes Steven , Giles David
Published: June 2020

Background: The utilization of exogenous fatty acids by Gram-negative bacteria has been linked to many cellular processes, including fatty acid oxidation for metabolic gain, assimilation into membrane phospholipids, and control of phenotypes associated with virulence. The expanded fatty acid handling capabilities have been demonstrated in several bacteria of medical importance; however, a survey of the polyunsaturated fatty acid responses in the model organism Escherichia coli has not been performed. The current study examined the impacts of exogenous fatty acids on E. coli.Results: All PUFAs elicited higher overall growth, with several fatty acids supporting growth as sole carbon sources. Most PUFAs were incorporated into membrane phospholipids as determined by thin-layer chromatography and UPLC-mass spectrometry, whereas membrane permeability was variably affected as measured by two separate dye uptake assays. Biofilm formation, swimming motility and antimicrobial peptide resistance were altered in the presence of PUFAs, with arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids eliciting strong alteration to these phenotypes.Conclusions: The findings herein add E. coli to the growing list of Gram-negative bacteria with broader capabilities for utilizing and responding to exogenous fatty acids. Understanding bacterial responses to PUFAs may lead to microbial behavioral control regimens for disease prevention.
Effect of N-acetylcysteine on remission maintenance in patients with ulcerative colitis: A Randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Shirazi Kourosh Masnadi , Sotoudeh Simin , Shirazi Arman Masnadi , Moaddab Seyyed-Yaghoub , Nourpanah Zahra , Nikniaz Zeinab
Published: June 2020

Background: The use of antioxidant agents is suggested as a complementary therapy in UC patients for prevention of flares. Considering the potent antioxidant activity of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), in the present study we aimed to assess the effect of this supplement on remission maintenance in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: In the present double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, 168 volunteer UC patients who were on high dose corticosteroid for flare-up management, were recruited. The patients received 400 mg NAC or placebo twice daily for 16 weeks. Simultaneously, the prednisolone dose was tapered. The patients were followed up six more weeks post-intervention. The primary efficacy of the treatment was remaining in remission. The secondary outcomes were the endoscopic relapse, serum level of hs-CRP, hemoglobin, and fecal calprotectin level. Results: During 22 weeks follow up, 25 patients experienced relapses, six of them were in the NAC group and 19 of them were in the placebo group. There was a significant difference between the NAC and placebo groups regarding the relapse-free period (P=0.007). Compared with the NAC group, significantly more patients in the placebo group had an endoscopic relapse (p <0.001). At the end of the intervention period (16 weeks) and 6 weeks post-intervention, the mean fecal calprotectin, serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and hs-CRP levels were significantly lower in the NAC group compared with the placebo group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicated that NAC had a significantly more positive effect on the maintenance of remission compared with placebo in UC patients that were in the steroid-tapering phase of therapy.
Public Knowledge of Risk Factors and Warning Signs for Cardiovascular Disease Among Young and Middle-Aged Adults in Rural Tanzania
Authors: Muhihi Alfa , Anaeli Amani , Mpembeni Rose N.M , Sunguya Bruno F. , Leyna Germana , Kakoko Deodatus , Kessy Anna Tengia , Sando Mary Mwanyika , Njelekela Marina , Urassa David P.
Published: June 2020

Background: Improvement in cardiovascular health requires public knowledge and reduction of modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. This study assessed knowledge of risk factors and warning signs for CVDs in a general population of young and middle-aged adults in rural Morogoro, Tanzania.Methods: We conducted a community-based survey as part of cluster randomized controlled study of community health workers (CHWs) intervention for reduction of blood pressure among young and middle-aged adults in rural Morogoro. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of risk factors and warning signs for CVDs was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Knowledge was assessed using open-ended questions followed by closed-ended questions. Descriptive statistics were used to describe knowledge of risk factors and warning signs. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with adequate knowledge of risk factors and warning signs for CVDs.Results: Two-thirds (65.7%) of the participants had heard about CVDs. The main sources of information were mainly relatives/ neighbors (64.8%) and radio (53.0%). Only 28.3% of the participants reported health care providers as source of information about CVDs. More than half of the participants (52.4%) did not mention even one risk factor spontaneously while 55.2% were unable to mention any warning sign. When asked to select from a list, 6.9% were unable to correctly identify any risk factor whereas 11.8% could not correctly identify even a single warning sign. Overall, 25.4% of participants had good knowledge score of risk factors while 17.5% had good knowledge score of warning signs. Residing in Ulanga, having higher education level, having ever checked blood pressure and being overweight/obese predicted adequacy of knowledge score for both risk factors and warning signs.Conclusion: Knowledge of risk factors and warning signs in this rural population of young and middle-aged adults was generally poor. Health care providers were less likely to provide health education regarding risk factors and warning signs for CVDs. Health promotion interventions to increase population knowledge of risk factors and warning signs should be implemented for successful reduction of CVDs in Tanzania.
Gut Microbiota Changes During Helicobacter Pylori Eradication with Vonoprazan-Containing Triple Therapy Among Adolescents: A Prospective Multicenter Study in Japan
Authors: kakiuchi Toshihiko , Yamamoto Kentaroh , Imamura Ichiro , Hashiguchi Kazutoshi , Kawakubo Hiroharu , Yamaguchi Daisuke , Fujioka Yasuhiko , Nakayama Aiko , Okuda Masumi
Published: June 2020

Background: Whether the screening and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection are safe for children is debated in Japan. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy by examining long-term changes in the gut microbiota during therapy among children.Methods: Children with anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody in the urine and Helicobacter pylori antigen in the feces were enrolled in this study. Their stool samples were collected at three time points, which were as follows: prior to treatment, 1–2 days after treatment, and time of judgment of eradication therapy. After treatment, the relative abundance, alpha-diversity, and beta-diversity of the gut microbiota were assessed.Results: In 16 students finally included in the study, the number of Actinobacteria isolated decreased immediately after eradication therapy, and it returned to pretreatment condition at the judgment point. There was no change at the genus level. The alpha-diversity was lost immediately after eradication therapy. However, it recovered at the time of eradication judgment, and it was restored before eradication therapy. Meanwhile, there was no change in beta-diversity, and none of the participants experienced serious adverse events.Conclusion: Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is safe even for children in the view point of gut microbiota. Thus, further long-term evaluations of changes in the gut microbiota after eradication therapy and an assessment of healthy children without Helicobacter pylori must be performed. These will in turn promote screening and treatment among adolescents to prevent gastric cancer.Trial registration: This study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (no. UMIN000028726, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000032873) on 18 August 2017.
Characteristics of Secondary-Ruptured Faults in The Aso Caldera Triggered by The 2016 Mw 7.0 Kumamoto Earthquake
Authors: Fukushima Yo , Ishimura Daisuke
Published: June 2020

The 16 April 2016 Mw 7.0 Kumamoto earthquake caused prominent fault displacements and crustal deformation, not only around the main rupture faults but also around numerous secondary-ruptured faults. The physics and characteristics of such secondary faulting have not yet been studied in detail. We investigated a set of two secondary faults that appeared at the timing of the Mw 7.0 quake in the Aso Caldera by mainly using synthetic aperture radar interferometry and fault slip modeling. The two faults were found to be associated with surface slip of several centimeters or more, in the oblique sense of right-lateral and vertical. Fault slip inversions found that the slip was dominantly in normal sense with smaller contribution from the right-lateral component. The deeper limit of the slips was estimated to be around 1.3¥,km, which may coincide with the boundary between the superficial sediment layer and the basement rock. The shallowness of the slip and the difference in the dip angles of the main secondary fault and the Mw 7.0 seismogenic fault suggest separation of the two fault systems, although the fault strike and sense of motions were similar. The amount of slip on the two secondary faults was larger than that expected from the scaling law derived from seismogenic faults, which may indicate the difference in the physics of seismogenic and secondary faultings.
Study on the Dynamic Characteristics of Subway Tunnel Billboard Under Wind and Vibration Loads
Authors: Sun Yong-hang , Luo Zhong , Wang Yu , Wei Kai , Han Gui-xin
Published: June 2020

In order to avoid the damage of billboards in the subway tunnel, the dynamic characteristic of them subjected to the wind load, the train-induced vibration load and both of them (multi-load) were analyzed. First, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate unsteady airflow when a train runs in tunnel. Second, the train-induced vibration load is obtained by the fitting formula. Finally, a finite element model of Shenyang Metro was built and the response of the billboard under different loads were obtained. The result shows that the structural response of the billboard under multi-load is severer than each single load. For the wind load, it has a greater influence on the equivalent stress of the billboard, while for the vibration load, it has a greater influence on the acceleration of the billboard. The response under multiple loads includes the characteristics of two loads acting separately. This study reveals the dynamic characteristic of billboards under different loads, which will help to improve the stability and safety life of them.
Short- and medium-term clinical outcomes of culture-negative and culture-positive periprosthetic joint infection
Authors: Xu Zhiyang , Cai Yuanqing , Mei Jian , Fang Xinyu , Huang Zida , Zhang Chaofan , Li WenBo , Zhang Wenming
Published: June 2020

Background:Periprosthetic joint infection(PJI)，as a complication of Total joint arthroplasty, is not uncommon nowdays.There are many treatments and the basic one is the application of antibiotics according to the culture results of synovial fluid or tissue specimens.Though many reasearchs have been done about the results of those treatments，but the differences of the effectiveness between culture-negative periprosthetic infection(CN PJI) and culture-positive periprosthetic infection(CP PJI) still remain unknow.So we conduct this study to compare the clinical outcomes of CN PJI with CP PJI.Methods: The clinical data of 77 patients with prosthetic infections were collected retrospectively. The mean follow-up time was 29.2 months (12-76 months). The remission rates of CN PJI and CP PJI were compared. The effects of the culture results on the curative effect were further compared by survival analysis. The correlations between sex, age, underlying diseases, sinus, disease course, joint involvement, surgical strategy, culture results and clinical outcomes were further analyzed by logistic regression.Results: In total, there were 24 cases of CN PJI, with an incidence of 29.63%. The overall success rate of CN PJI was 86.4% (19/22)，and overall success rate of CP PJI was 87.5% (42/48). There was no significant difference in the success rate between CN PJI and CP PJI. The incidence of antibiotic-related complications for CN PJI was significant higher than that for CP PJI, with 58.3% for CN PJI and 11.3% for CP PJI, respectively.Conclusion: CN PJI was treated according to the strict standards for the diagnosis and treatment, and the success rate of treatment for CN PJI was similar to that for CP PJI. The incidence of antibiotic-related complications from CN PJI was higher than that from CP PJI.
Effects of canola or olive oil on plasma lipids, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and inflammatory cytokines in patients referred to coronary angiography
Authors: Khandouzi Nafiseh , Zahedmehr Ali , Nasrollahzadeh Javad
Published: June 2020

Background: The potential cardioprotective benefits of olive oil (OO) and canola oil (CO) consumption have been shown in some studies. The present study was conducted to compare the effects of CO and OO on plasma lipids, some inflammatory cytokines, and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) mass and activity in patients undergoing coronary angiography.Methods: A randomized, controlled, parallel-arm, clinical trial involving 48 patients (44 men and 4 women, aged 57.63 ± 6.34 years) with at least one classic cardiovascular risk factor (hypertension, dyslipidemia, or diabetes) who referred to coronary angiography was performed. Patients were randomly divided into two groups and received 25 mL/day refined olive oil (n=24) or canola oil (n=24) for 6 weeks. Plasma lipids, some selected inflammatory markers, and Lp-PLA2 levels were measured at the baseline and after the intervention.Results: CO consumption produced a significant reduction in plasma Lp-PLA2 mass (-0.97 ± 1.84 vs 0.34 ± 1.57 ng/mL, p = 0.008 for CO and OO, respectively), whereas the mean changes of IL-6 concentration were significantly lower after OO consumption compared with CO (-9.46 ± 9.46 vs -0.90 ± 6.80 pg/mL, p = 0.008 for OO and CO, respectively). After 6 weeks of intervention, no significant changes were observed in plasma Lp-PLA2 activity, complement C3, C4, and lipid profile in two intervention groups.Conclusions: Daily consumption of either of the refined olive or canola oils during a relatively short time could improve one of the inflammatory CVD risk factors.Trial registration: IRCT20160702028742N5 at www.irct.ir (04/19/2019)
The Role of Postprandial Very-low-density Lipoprotein in the Development of Atrial Remodeling in Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Lee Hsiang-Chun , Shin Shyi-Jang , Huang Jih-Kai , Lin Yu-Hsun , Ke Liang-Yin , Jiang He-Jiun , Tsai Wei-Chung , Chao Min-Fang , Lin Yi-Hsiung
Published: June 2020

Background:Negatively charged very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-χ) in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients exerts cytotoxic effects on endothelial cells and atrial myocytes. Atrial cardiomyopathy, manifested by atrial remodeling with a dilated diameter, contributes to atrial fibrillation pathogenesis and predicts atrial fibrillation development. The correlation of VLDL-χ with atrial remodeling is unknown. This study investigated the association between VLDL-χ and left atrial dilatation. Methods: We evaluated 87 MetS and 80 non-MetS individuals between 23 and 74 years old (50.6% men) without overt cardiovascular diseases. Blood samples were collected while fasting and postprandially (at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 hours after a unified meal). VLDL was isolated by ultracentrifugation; the percentile concentration of VLDL-χ (%) was determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography. The correlations of left atrial diameter (LAD) with variables including VLDL-χ, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, glucose, and blood pressure, were analyzed by multiple linear regression models. A hierarchical linear model was conducted to test the independencies of each variable’s correlation with LAD. Results: The mean LAD was 3.4 ± 0.5 cm in non-MetS subjects and 3.9 ± 0.5 cm in MetS patients (P< 0.01). None of the fasting lipid profiles were associated with LAD. VLDL-χ, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and blood pressure were positively correlated with LAD (all P<0.05) after adjustment for age and sex. We observedsignificant interactions between VLDL-χ and blood pressure, waist circumference, and hip circumference. When adjusted for obesity- and blood pressure-related variables, 2-hour postprandial VLDL-χ (mean 1.30 ± 0.61%) showed a positive correlation with LAD in MetS patients. Each 1% VLDL-χ increase was estimated to increase LAD by 0.62 cm. Conclusions: Postprandial VLDL-χ is associated with atrial remodeling. VLDL-χ is a novel biomarker for atrial cardiomyopathy in MetS patients and may be a therapeutic target. Trial registration: ISRCTN 69295295. Retrospectively registered 9 June 2020.
The Usefulness of Intrapartum Transperineal Ultrasonography for the Prediction of Mode of Delivery
Authors: Saridogan Erdinc , Moraloglu Tekin Ozlem
Published: June 2020

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the accuracy of intrapartum transperineal ultrasonography that is non-invasive, easy to learn, rapid to perform, comfortable for pregnant women, and low-cost method to evaluate the progress of labor objectively.STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated two hundred-ten singleton pregnant women at term with cephalic presentation who went into active labor via intrapartum transperineal ultrasonography using the angle of progression and head-perineum distance. Maternal characteristics, conventional vaginal examination findings, mode of delivery, and neonatal results were noted. The data were compared using correlation and regression analysis.RESULTS: The relationships between the descent of clinical fetal head station, the increase of angle of progression (p=0.001), and the decrease of head-perineum distance (p=0.001) were statistically significant. The receiver operating characteristics curve showed that measurement of angle of progression with <110.5 degrees (p=0.001) and measurement of head-perineum distance with >52.5 millimeters (p=0.001) were associated with emergent cesarean delivery. For the prediction of delivery mode, both angle of progression and head-perineum distance had high sensitivity and specificity.CONCLUSIONS: Intrapartum transperineal ultrasonography parameters were in agreement with each other and conventional vaginal examination for determination of delivery mode. Head-perineum distance was a parity-dependent measurement whilst angle of progression was parity-independent.
Scour depth in confluences considering tributary flow, bank slope, and post-confluence conditions
Authors: Khosravinia Payam , Malekpour Amir , Nikpour Mohammad Reza , Hosseinzadeh Dalir Ali
Published: June 2020

In this paper, scouring in confluences was experimentally studied considering the effects of bank slope angle (θ) of the main channel, discharge ratio (Qr) of tributary channel and densimetric Froude number (Frg3) of the post-confluence channel. The experiments were conducted using a constant confluence angle (α) equal to 90° and various bank slope angles of 45°, 60°, 75° and 90°. Applying different Qr and Frg3, the maximum effect of θ on scour depth was observed when the minor Qr was used in the tributary channel. The mildest bank slope angle caused the minimum scour depth for any given Frg3. Generally, the experiment using θ = 45° and Qr = 0.194 showed the best performance and reduced the maximum scour depth by 46%. Considering two obtained empirical relationships, it was concluded that the effect of θ on the height of the point bar is more than its effect on the scour depth. Finally, Frg3 and θ demonstrated their greatest influences on dimensionless scour depth (dse/y3) and dimensionless height of point bar (Hse/B3), respectively.
(Hetero)Aryloxyaminopropanols with N-Phenylpiperazine Structural Fragment – Review of Cardiovascular Activity
Authors: Marvanova Pavlina , Padrtova Tereza , Mokry Petr
Published: June 2020

Aryloxyphenylpiperazinylpropanols are a group of compounds exhibiting a wide range of
biological activities, affecting the central nervous system and many cardiovascular mechanisms
among them. As cardiovascular agents, aryloxyphenylpiperazinylpropanols work as antihypertensives,
antiarrhythmics, cardiotonics or antiaggregants. The mechanism of action is almost always an
α1-adrenolytic or combined α1- and β-adrenolytic effect, but sometimes other mechanisms (e.g., Ca2+ antagonism or phosphodiesterase inhibition)
antagonism or phosphodiesterase inhibition) can positively participate. In some cases, compounds
with a small modification of the connecting chain also exhibit the desired cardiovascular effects. Several
studies dealt with chirality of aryloxyphenylpiperazinylpropanols and determined the differences
between the particular activities of racemic and enantiomeric compounds.
Extracts of Leaves of Six Locally Available Plants from Bagmati Province of Nepal as Potent Inhibitors of Alpha-amylase, Lipase, Tyrosinase, Elastase, and Cholinesterases
Authors: Pandey Bishnu P. , Pradhan Suman P. , Adhikari Kapil , Joshi Prayon , Malla Sudeshna
Published: June 2020

Background:

Medicinal plants and their products are gaining global popularity due to
their several health benefits. However, the biological activities of the vast majority of medicinal plant
species have not been explored yet. In this study, we evaluated the enzyme inhibitory potential of six
medicinal plant species involved in digestion, skin-related problems, and neurological problems.

Methods:

The 80% methanol extracts of leaves of six locally available plants from the Bagmati province
of Nepal were analyzed for their flavonoids content, phenolics content, antioxidant activity, and
enzymes inhibitory potential. Antioxidant activity was analyzed by the DPPH assay. Alpha-amylase
inhibition was carried out by the DNSA method. Lipase, tyrosinase, elastase, acetylcholinesterase,
and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitions were analyzed by using p-NPB, L-DOPA, AAAPVN,
acetylthiocholine, and butyrylthiocholine as a respective substrate.

Results:

Among the analyzed plants species, Artocarpus heterophyllus displayed highest α-amylase
(IC50=6.28 ± 0.01 μg/mL), lipase (IC50= 475.14 ± 3.17 μg/mL), elastase (IC50= 72.75 ± 3.41 μg/mL)
and acetylcholinesterase (IC50= 68.66 ± 1.71 μg/mL) inhibition, whereas, Actinidia deliciosa displayed
highest tyrosinase inhibition (IC50=139.87 ± 0.72 μg/mL) and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition
(IC50= 18.32 ± 0.44 μg/mL). Furthermore, Jasminum humile showed no inhibitory tendencies against
elastase and Lygodium japonicum showed no inhibition towards lipase and elastase at the given concentration
range.

Conclusions:

Our study revealed that A. deliciosa and A. heterophyllus are the potential source of α-
amylase, lipase, elastase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors. Based on our
findings, we concluded that the analyzed plant species are of great scientific interest to the pharmaceutical,
cosmetics, and food industries.
Remifentanil with or without Propofol as Anesthesia Agents for Trans-Vaginal Ultrasonography Oocyte Retrieval (TUGOR) on Pregnancy and Anesthesia Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Atashkhoei Simin , Pouya Khadijeh , Hakimi Parvin , Zakeri Raana , Soltanzadeh Nasrin , Hatami-Marandi Pouya
Published: June 2020

Background:

Transvaginal Ultrasound-Guided Oocyte Retrieval (TUGOR) is a painful
procedure, which often requires the application of anesthesia agents. There is a controversy in the
literature about the effects of administrated anesthetics for TUGOR on patients & pregnancy outcomes.

Objective:

The current study aimed to compare the effects of remifentanil with or without propofol,
administrated for TUGOR, on pregnancy and anesthesia outcomes.

Method:

In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, 180 candidates of TUGOR, aged 18-40
years old, were included in the study. All study women received midazolam 0.03 mg/kg and
remifentanil 1 ug/kg as anesthesia induction; Later on, they were randomly assigned in two equalsize
groups in terms of anesthesia maintenance, as the intervention group received remifentanil
infusion 0.25 μg/kg/min and the control group received remifentanil infusion 1ug/kg/min with propofol
50-150 ug/kg/min. Hemodynamic symptoms, operation outcomes, including the side effects,
and pregnancy outcomes, were compared between the study groups. The study is registered with the
Iranian Clinical Trials Registry, number IRCT201611177013N15.

Results:

Although the hemodynamic symptoms showed significantly better ranges in the remifentanil
group, however, the study groups were not significantly different in durations of operation,
anesthesia, and recovery. However, the anesthesia side effects during and after the operation were
not significantly different between the groups; they were more common in control one. The reproductive
outcomes (numbers of collected oocytes, fertilized oocytes and transferred embryos, pregnancy
rates) showed better but non-significant ranges in the remifentanil group.

Conclusion:

Using remifentanil alone in comparison to remifentanil & propofol in the TUGOR
procedure can be achieved better pregnancy outcomes without imposing the side effects of propofol;
therefore, it is not recommended to use propofol as an anesthesia agent for a TUGOR procedure.
A Review on the Use of Reversal Agents of Direct Oral Anticogulant Drugs in Case of Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Authors: Ojetti Veronica , Saviano Angela , Brigida Mattia , Saviano Luisa , Migneco Alessio , Franceschi Francesco
Published: June 2020

Background:

Major bleeding is a life-threatening condition and a medical emergency
with high mortality risk. It is often the complication of anticoagulant’s intake. Anticoagulants are
commonly used for the prevention and treatment of thrombotic events. The standard therapy with
vitamin K antagonist (warfarin) has been frequently replaced by direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).
The latter agents (rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban, dabigatran, and betrixaban) showed better
efficacy and safety compared to standard warfarin treatment and they are recommended for the reduction
of ischemic stroke. Literature data reported a high risk of gastrointestinal bleeding with
DOACs, in particular with dabigatran and rivaroxaban. In case of life-threatening gastrointestinal
bleeding, these patients could benefit from the use of reversal agents.

Methods:

We performed an electronic search on PUBMED of the literature concerning reversal
agents for DOACs and gastrointestinal bleeding in the Emergency Department from 2004 to 2020.

Aim:

This review summarizes the current evidence about three reversal agents idarucizumab, andexanet
alfa and ciraparantag, and the use of the first two in the emergency setting in patients with
active major bleeding or who need urgent surgery which physicians indicate for a better management
approach in order to increase patient’s safety.

Conclusion:

Although these agents have been marketed for five years (idarucizumab) and two
years (andexanet alfa) respectively, and despite guidelines considering antidotes as first-line agents
in treating life-threatening hemorrhage when available, these antidotes seem to gain access very
slowly in the clinical practice. Cost, logistical aspects and need for plasma level determination of
DOAC for an accurate therapeutic use probably have an impact on this phenomenon.. An expert
multidisciplinary bleeding team should be established so as to implement international guidelines
based on local resources and organization.
Management of Pleural Effusions in the Emergency Department
Authors: Congedo Maria Teresa , Ferretti Gian Maria , Nachira Dania , Pennisi Mariano Alberto
Published: June 2020

Background:

In symptomatic patients, admitted in emergency department for acute chest pain and dyspnea, who require an urgent treatment, a rapid diagnosis and prompt management of massive pleural effusion or hemothorax can be lifesaving.

Aims:

The aim of this review was to summarize the current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the management of the main types of pleural effusions that physicians can have in an emergency department setting.

Methods:

Current literature about the topic was reviewed and critically reported, adding the experience of the authors in the management of pleural effusions in emergency settings.

Results:

The paper analyzed the main types of pleural effusions that physicians can have to treat. It illustrated the diagnostic steps by the principal radiological instruments, with a particular emphasis to the role of ultrasonography, in facilitating diagnosis and guiding invasive procedures. Then, the principal procedures, like thoracentesis and insertion of small and large bore chest drains, are indicated and illustrated according to the characteristics and the amount of the effusion and patient clinical conditions.

Conclusion:

The emergency physician must have a systematic approach that allows rapid recognition, clinical cause identification and definitive management of potential urgent pleural effusions.
Multi-label Learning for the Diagnosis of Cancer and Identification of Novel Biomarkers with High-throughput Omics
Authors: Liu Shicai , Tang Hailin , Liu Hongde , Wang Jinke
Published: June 2020

Background:

The advancement of bioinformatics and machine learning has facilitated the
diagnosis of cancer and the discovery of omics-based biomarkers.

Objective:

Our study employed a novel data-driven approach to classifying the normal samples and
different types of gastrointestinal cancer samples, to find potential biomarkers for effective diagnosis
and prognosis assessment of gastrointestinal cancer patients.

Methods:

Different feature selection methods were used, and the diagnostic performance of the proposed
biosignatures was benchmarked using support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF)
models.

Results:

All models showed satisfactory performance in which Multilabel-RF appeared to be the best.
The accuracy of the Multilabel-RF based model was 83.12%, with precision, recall, F1, and Hamming-
Loss of 79.70%, 68.31%, 0.7357 and 0.1688, respectively. Moreover, proposed biomarker signatures
were highly associated with multifaceted hallmarks in cancer. Functional enrichment analysis and impact
of the biomarker candidates in the prognosis of the patients were also examined.

Conclusion:

We successfully introduced a solid workflow based on multi-label learning with High-
Throughput Omics for diagnosis of cancer and identification of novel biomarkers. Novel transcriptome
biosignatures that may improve the diagnostic accuracy in gastrointestinal cancer are introduced for
further validations in various clinical settings.