bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Antenatal Oral Iron and Folic Acid Side Effects on Supplementation Duration in Low-Resource Rural Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Oiye Shadrack , Juma Margaret , Konyole Silvenus , Adan Fatuma
Published: May 2020

Background. Undesirable effects of a daily regimen of iron and folic acid ingested jointly (iron-folate) are potential disincentives to optimal antenatal supplementation. We intended to profile antenatal iron-folate side effects and elucidate their influence on supplementation duration in low-resource rural Kenya. Methods. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of randomly selected postnatal mothers of under-five-year-old children. Using a modified WHO Safe Motherhood Assessment standard questionnaire, they recalled the total number of days of antenatal iron-folate intake and the attendant supplement-attributed undesirable experiences. The analyses considered only participants who ingested the supplements in their immediate last pregnancies (n=277). Results. About half of the study participants reported at least a side effect and a mean of 2.4 (SD 1.5) effects per person in the entire pregnancy period. Most common reported effects were chest pains (31.8%), constipation (28.5%), severe stomach pains (11.6%), and diarrhoea (11.6%). Mothers who reported at least a side effect ingested the supplements for ten days less compared to those who did not experience any effect (p=0.03); and a greater proportion of the former were primigravida (p=0.02) and used combined form of iron and folic acid (p=0.003). In a multivariate analysis, significant correlations with supplementation compliance (ingestion for 90+ days) were found only for nausea and severe stomach pain experiences (r=−0.1, p=0.04; r=0.2, p=0.01, resp.). Conclusions. The commonness of undesirable experiences attributed to daily ingestion of 60 mg iron and 0.4 mg folic acid and their deterrence to longer supplementation durations suggest the need for considering a weekly intermittent regimen for some antenatal women in such set-ups. Our study demonstrated that potentially, more counselling on nausea as a side effect might be critical in advancing iron-folate supplementation compliance.
Nonsurgical Prevention Strategies in BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Carriers
Authors: Singer Christian F.
Published: May 2020

Background: Female carriers of a BRCA1 or 2 germline mutation face a high lifetime risk to develop breast and ovarian cancer. Risk-reducing surgery, such as prophylactic bilateral mastectomy and prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, are proven strategies to prevent breast and ovarian cancer. These procedures are, however, associated with considerable side effects, and the uptake of these highly effective interventions is therefore low in many countries. This highlights the need for alternative and noninvasive strategies for risk reduction in mutation carriers. Summary: While endocrine treatments with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors (AI) have been shown to be effective in secondary prevention, their benefit in primary prevention has never been prospectively evaluated. Moreover, their side effect profile makes them inappropriate candidates for chemoprevention in healthy premenopausal women. Recently, denosumab, a well-tolerated osteoprotective drug, has been shown to have an antitumoral effect on RANK+, BRCA1-deficient luminal progenitor cells in vitro, and has been demonstrated to abrogate tumors in BRCA1-deficient mouse models. Key Message: The prospectively randomized, double-blind BRCA-P trial is currently investigating the preventative effect of denosumab in healthy BRCA1 germline mutation carriers.
Treating Leukemia in the Time of COVID-19
Authors: Paul Shilpa , Rausch Caitlin R. , Jain Nitin , Kadia Tapan , Ravandi Farhad , DiNardo Courtney D. , Welch Mary Alma , Dabaja Bouthaina S. , Daver Naval , Garcia-Manero Guillermo , Wierda William , Pemmaraju Naveen , Montalban Bravo Guillermo , Thompson Philip , Verstovsek Srdan , Konopleva Marina , Kantarjian Hagop , Jabbour Elias
Published: May 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses several challenges to the management of patients with leukemia. The biology of each leukemia and its corresponding treatment with conventional intensive chemotherapy, with or without targeted therapies (venetoclax, FLT3 inhibitors, IDH1/2 inhibitors, Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors), introduce additional layers of complexity during COVID-19 high-risk periods. The knowledge about COVID-19 is accumulating rapidly. An important distinction is the prevalence of “exposure” versus “clinical infectivity,” which determine the risk versus benefit of modifying potentially highly curative therapies in leukemia. At present, the rate of clinical infection is <1–2% worldwide. With a mortality rate of 1–5% in CO­VID-19 patients in the general population and potentially of >30% in patients with cancer, careful consideration should be given to the risk of COVID-19 in leukemia. Instead of reducing patient access to specialized cancer centers and modifying therapies to ones with unproven curative benefit, there is more rationale for less intensive, yet effective therapies that may require fewer clinic visits or hospitalizations. Here, we offer recommendations on the optimization of leukemia management during high-risk COVID-19 periods.
Neuroendocrine Tumor Omic Gene Cluster Analysis Amplifies the Prognostic Accuracy of the NETest
Authors: Kidd Mark , Kitz Alexandra , Drozdov Ignat , Modlin Irvin
Published: May 2020

Background: The NETest is a multigene assay comprising 51 circulating neuroendocrine tumor (NET)-specific transcripts. The quotient of the 51-gene assay is based upon an ensemble of machine learning algorithms. Eight cancer hallmarks or “omes” (apoptome, epigenome, growth factor signalome, metabolome, proliferome, plurome, secretome, SSTRome) represent 29 genes. The NETest is an accurate diagnostic (>90%) test, but its prognostic utility has not been assessed. In this study, we describe the expansion of the NETest omic cluster components and demonstrate that integration amplifies NETest prognostic accuracy. Methods: Group 1: n = 222; including stable disease (SD, n = 146), progressive disease (PD, n = 76), and controls (n = 139). Group 2: NET Registry NCT02270567; n = 88; prospective samples (SD, n = 54; PD, n = 34) with up to 24 months follow-up. We used PubMed literature review, interactomic analysis, nonparametric testing, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and χ2 analyses to inform and define the prognostic significance of NET genomic “hallmarks.” Results: 2020 analyses: In-depth analyses of 47 ­NETest genes identified a further six omes: fibrosome, inflammasome, metastasome, NEDome, neurome, and TFome. Group 1 analysis: Twelve omes, excluding the inflammasome and apoptome, were significantly (p < 0.05, 2.1- to 8.2-fold) elevated compared to controls. In the PD group, seven omes (proliferome, NEDome, epigenome, SSTRome, neurome, metastasome, and fibrosome) were elevated (both expression levels and fold change >2) versus SD. Group 2 analysis: All these seven omes were upregulated. In PD, they were significantly more elevated (p < 0.02) than in SD. The septet omic expression exhibited a 69% prognostic accuracy. The NETest alone was 70.5% accurate. A low NETest (≤40) integrated with epigenome/metastasome levels was an accurate prognostic for PD (90%). A high NETest (>40) including the fibrosome/NEDome predicted PD development within 3 months (100%). Using decision tree analysis to integrate the four omes (epigenome, metastasome, fibrosome, and NEDome) with the NETest score generated an overall prognostic accuracy of 93%. Conclusions: Examination of NETest omic gene cluster analysis identified five additional clinically relevant cancer hallmarks. Identification of seven omic clusters (septet) provides a molecular pathological signature of disease progression. The integration of the quartet (epigenome, fibrosome, metastasome, NEDome) and the NETest score yielded a 93% accuracy in the prediction of future disease status.
Inherited Thoracic Aortic Disease
Authors: Fletcher Alexander J. , Syed Maaz B.J. , Aitman Timothy J. , Newby David E. , Walker Niki L.
Published: May 2020

Inherited thoracic aortopathies denote a group of congenital conditions that predispose to disease of the thoracic aorta. Aortic wall weakness and abnormal aortic hemodynamic profiles predispose these patients to dilatation of the thoracic aorta, which is generally silent but can precipitate aortic dissection or rupture with devastating and often fatal consequences. Current strategies to assess the future risk of aortic dissection or rupture are based primarily on monitoring aortic diameter. However, diameter alone is a poor predictor of risk, with many patients experiencing dissection or rupture below current intervention thresholds. Developing tools that improve the risk assessment of those with aortopathy is internationally regarded as a research priority. A robust understanding of the molecular pathways that lead to aortic wall weakness is required to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets that could improve patient management. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the genetically determined mechanisms underlying inherited aortopathies and critically appraise the available blood biomarkers, imaging techniques, and therapeutic targets that have shown promise for improving the management of patients with these important and potentially fatal conditions.
Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Sinus Node Disease, Atrial Fibrillation, and Other Cardiac Conditions
Authors: Bodin Alexandre , Bisson Arnaud , Gaborit Christophe , Herbert Julien , Clementy Nicolas , Babuty Dominique , Lip Gregory Y.H. , Fauchier Laurent
Published: May 2020

Background and Purpose—

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is known to increase risk of ischemic stroke (IS), but the risk of IS in isolated sinus node disease (SND) is unclear. We compared the incidence of IS in patients with SND, patients with AF, and in a control population with other cardiac diseases (disease of the circulatory system using the
International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision
).

Methods—

This French longitudinal cohort study was based on the national database covering hospital care for the entire population from 2008 to 2015.

Results—

Of 1 692 157 patients included in the cohort, 100 366 had isolated SND, 1 564 270 had isolated AF, and 27 521 had AF associated with SND. Incidence of IS during follow-up was higher in isolated patients with AF than in AF associated with SND (yearly rate 2.22% versus 2.06%) and in isolated patients with AF than in isolated patients with SND (yearly rate 2.22% versus 1.59%). The incidence of IS was lower in a control population with other cardiac conditions (n=479 108) compared with SND and patients with AF (0.96%/y, 1.59%/y, and 2.22%/y, respectively). After 1:1 propensity score matching, SND was associated with lower incidence of IS compared to AF (hazard ratio, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.73–0.82]) but higher incidence of IS compared to control population (hazard ratio, 1.27 [95%CI, 1.19–1.35]).

Conclusions—

Patients with SND had a lower risk of thromboembolic events than patients with AF but a higher risk than a control population with other cardiac diseases. Randomized clinical trial in a selected SND population, with, for example, a high CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score, would be required to determine the value of IS prevention by anticoagulation.
A Nomogram for Predicting Stroke Recurrence Among Young Adults
Authors: Yuan Kang , Chen Jingjing , Xu Pengfei , Zhang Xiaohao , Gong Xiuqun , Wu Min , Xie Yi , Wang Huaiming , Xu Gelin , Liu Xinfeng
Published: May 2020

Background and Purpose—

This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting the risk of stroke recurrence among young adults after ischemic stroke.

Methods—

Patients aged between 18 and 49 years with first-ever ischemic stroke were selected from the Nanjing Stroke Registry Program. A stepwise Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to develop the best-fit nomogram. The discrimination and calibration in the training and validation cohorts were used to evaluate the nomogram. All patients were classified into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups based on the risk scores generated from the nomogram.

Results—

A total of 604 patients were enrolled in this study. Hypertension (hazard ratio [HR], 2.038 [95% CI, 1.504–3.942];
P
=0.034), diabetes mellitus (HR, 3.224 [95% CI, 1.848–5.624];
P
<0.001), smoking status (current smokers versus nonsmokers; HR, 2.491 [95% CI, 1.304–4.759];
P
=0.006), and stroke cause (small-vessel occlusion versus large-artery atherosclerosis; HR, 0.325 [95% CI, 0.109–0.976];
P
=0.045) were associated with recurrent stroke. Educational years (>12 versus 0–6; HR, 0.070 [95% CI, 0.015–0.319];
P
=0.001) were inversely correlated with recurrent stroke. The nomogram was composed of these factors, and successfully stratified patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

The nomogram composed of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking status, stroke cause, and education years may predict the risk of stroke recurrence among young adults after ischemic stroke.
A new species of Diplycosia (Ericaceae) from Mount Jaya, western New Guinea

Authors: MUSTAQIM WENDY A. , CHIKMAWATI TATIK , UTTERIDGE TIMOTHY M.A. , HEATUBUN CHARLIE D.
Published: May 2020

Diplycosia puradyatmikai, a new species of Ericaceae, is described from Mount Jaya in the Indonesian province of Papua, western New Guinea. A detailed description, illustration, and comparisons with the similar species D. kosteri are provided.
New cyanobacterium Nodosilinea svalbardensis sp. nov. (Prochlorotrichaceae, Synechococcales) isolated from alluvium in Mimer river valley of the Svalbard archipelago

Authors: DAVYDOV DENIS , SHALYGIN SERGEI , VILNET ANNA
Published: May 2020

A cyanobacterial strain isolated from the Svalbard archipelago was studied using morphological, ecological, and molecular approaches. The morphology of natural populations fit well the description of the Leptolyngbya s.l. however, in culture, they formed specific nodules that prevented affiliation to this genus. Further phylogenetic analyses including the 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S ITS region revealed that the strain corresponds to the genus Nodosilinea. Based on this total evidence approach, we provide here a description of the new taxon Nodosilinea svalbardensis sp. nov.
New species and records of oribatid mites of the genus Protoribates (Acari, Oribatida, Haplozetidae) from China
Authors: XU SHUJING , CHEN YANNAN , CHEN JUN
Published: May 2020

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Protoribates (Oribatida, Haplozetidae) are described based on adult specimens from China. Protoribates tibetensis sp. nov. differs from all representatives of the genus Protoribates by larger body size, long, thick and barbed notogastral setae and monodactylous legs. Protoribates sichuanensis sp. nov. differs from Protoribates magnus (Aoki, 1982) by smaller body size, ventroanteriorly rounded femora II, shorter ad1 and single porose area A1. Three known species of Protoribates, P. crassisetiger nipponicus Fujita, 1989, P. geonjiensis Choi, 1994, and P. oblongus (Ewing, 1909), are recorded in China for the first time. Two other known species, Protoribates cattienensis Ermilov & Anichkin, 2011 and Protoribates dentatus (Berlese, 1883), are recorded in mainland China for the first time. Supplementary morphological information is given for all the above known species. A key to the Chinese species of the genus Protoribates is given.
Review of the species of Macrodactylus Dejean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from the Central American Nucleus
Authors: ARCE-PÉREZ ROBERTO , MORÓN MIGUEL ÁNGEL
Published: May 2020

Twenty species of Macrodactylus Dejean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Macrodactylini) from the Central American nucleus are described and illustrated, including two new species from Guatemala: Macrodactylus eniocanoi new species and Macrodactylus escuintlaensis new species. Macrodactylus hondurensis Arce-Pérez & Morón is recorded for the first time from El Salvador. Diagnoses for 18 species previously recorded in the Central American nucleus are provided. A key to all known species of Macrodactylus of Central American nucleus and distributional maps are included.
The Impact of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux on Patient-reported Measures of Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Brown Hannah J. , Kuhar Hannah N. , Plitt Max A. , Husain Inna , Batra Pete S. , Tajudeen Bobby A.
Published: May 2020

Objective:

This study explored the impact of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) on quality-of-life outcomes captured by Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and patients with symptoms of LPR.

Methods:

In a retrospective chart review, SNOT-22 and RSI scores were analyzed in patients seen at a tertiary care center with CRS, LPR, or both CRS and LPR. SNOT-22 items were grouped into sleep, nasal, otologic, and emotional symptom subdomains.

Results:

A total of 138 patients (36 with CRS alone, 60 with LPR alone, and 42 with both CRS and LPR) were included. Compared to patients with CRS alone, those with CRS and LPR (CRS+LPR) had higher SNOT-22 total (50.54 ± 19.53 vs 35.31 ± 20.20, P < .001), sleep (19.61 ± 9.31 vs 14.42 ± 10.34, P < .022), nasal (17.38 ± 7.49 vs 11.11 ± 8.52, P < .001), otologic subdomains (9.17 ± 5.07 vs 5.53 ± 5.14, P < .002), and RSI (22.06 ± 9.42 vs 10.75 ± 8.43, P < .003). Patients with LPR alone had higher RSI compared to those with CRS (18.48 ± 9.77 vs 10.75 ± 8.43, P < .037). RSI and SNOT-22 scores were positively correlated irrespective of patient group (R = 0.289, P = .003).

Conclusion:

Compared to patients with CRS or LPR alone, those with CRS+LPR demonstrated higher RSI and total and subdomain SNOT-22 scores. Patients with LPR alone had elevated SNOT-22 despite absent endoscopic evidence of sinusitis.
Geographic Variation in Epistaxis Interventions Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Authors: Hur Kevin , Badash Ido , Talmor Guy , Ference Elisabeth H , Wrobel Bozena B
Published: May 2020

Objectives:

To quantify the utilization of epistaxis procedures in the elderly population and assess whether the geographic variability of these procedures is associated with hypertension and direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was performed on publicly available Medicare procedure and beneficiary data from 2013 to 2016 for all epistaxis procedures categorized by Common Procedural Terminology (CPT). Epistaxis procedures were analyzed by state, complexity, and provider type. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated.

Results:

Over 4 years, 2 19 827 epistaxis procedures were performed on Medicare patients, 44.3% of which were categorized as simple (control of nasal hemorrhage: anterior simple or posterior primary). Otolaryngologists performed 92.6% of all epistaxis procedures. The frequency of epistaxis procedures performed by state ranged from 0.99 procedures per 10 000 Medicare beneficiaries (PP10K) in Hawaii to 25.7 PP10K in New Jersey. The percentage of epistaxis interventions categorized as complex (anterior complex, posterior subsequent, with nasal endoscopy, or open procedures) in each state varied from 0% in North Dakota to 72.6% in Hawaii. Epistaxis procedure utilization was weakly correlated with the prevalence of hypertension ( R2 = 0.08, P = .04) and higher percentage of DOAC among all anticoagulants prescribed ( R2 = 0.08, P = .04) in a state’s Medicare population. Utilization of complex epistaxis interventions was not correlated with the prevalence of hypertension or DOAC use.

Conclusions:

Otolaryngologists perform the vast majority of epistaxis procedures in the Medicare population. However, practice patterns vary across the United States. Hypertension and DOAC use are weakly associated with the utilization of epistaxis interventions.
Legislatures and Legislative Politics Without Democracy
Authors: Gandhi Jennifer , Noble Ben , Svolik Milan
Published: May 2020

What do authoritarian legislatures and legislators do? Would outcomes in dictatorships be different if they were absent? Why do dictatorships have legislatures in the first place? These questions represent central puzzles in the study of authoritarian politics and institutions. The introductory article to this special issue on legislatures in nondemocracies discusses what we now know about these assemblies; what the issue’s articles contribute to this body of knowledge; and what future work might fruitfully look at. The special issue as a whole aims to advance the research agendas of both authoritarian institutions and legislative studies.
Strengthening global health content in health professions curricula
Authors: Chapman Helena J , Veras-Estévez Bienvenido A
Published: May 2020

Background:

Health professionals should be prepared to lead and contribute to initiatives that mitigate emerging global health risks to target communities. Health professions education, however, has inconsistently incorporated essential global health topics into curricula despite growing interest among health professional students.

Objective:

To identify targeted strategies that health professions educators can integrate into coursework to strengthen global health training.

Method:

A narrative review of the literature was conducted to describe clinical and non-clinical skills that are indispensable to strong global health leadership.

Results:

Five strategies were highlighted that health professions educators can utilise to empower health professional students to strengthen their scientific knowledge base, develop ethical and culturally-appropriate community health interventions and effectively communicate health messages to stakeholders.

Conclusion:

Incorporating global health topics into health professions curricula can provide health professional students with a repertoire of evidence-based resources to apply in their clinical and community health initiatives. A trained global health workforce is essential to help nations achieve established national and international health objectives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals.
But is it Comprehensive? Unpacking the ‘comprehensive’ in comprehensive sexuality education
Authors: Miedema Esther , Le Mat Marielle L J , Hague Frances
Published: May 2020

Background:

Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is increasingly gaining traction within the international community. CSE is regarded as an important means of informing young people about their rights and sexual health, improving public health outcomes and contributing to sustainable development.

Context and objective:

Considerable variation exists in understandings regarding what makes sexuality education ‘comprehensive’. To gain greater clarity on what CSE is seen to be and entails, and how this form of sexuality education compares with other approaches, a review of existing programmatic and scholarly literatures was conducted.

Design:

This literature review analyses a range of CSE guidelines and academic sources engaging with the subject of CSE, and sexuality education more broadly.

Method:

Analysis of stated goals and means of CSE to identify core components of this form of education.

Results:

Four sets of core CSE components are identified, yet the analysis shows that the intended breadth of this type of sexuality education leaves considerable space for interpretation, with key concepts often remaining abstract. Furthermore, addressing the core elements of CSE and achieving its ‘emancipatory’ goals can work to exclude particular perspectives and subjectivities.

Conclusion:

The review draws attention to the politics of knowledge production at play in decisions concerning what is deemed ‘comprehensive’, for whom, when and where. It concludes that the notion of ‘comprehensive’ is a matter of degree, and that reaching consensus on a set of universal standards regarding what can be deemed as ‘comprehensive’ may neither be possible nor desirable. The analysis will be useful for those interested in more careful engagement with CSE and, specifically, in examining features that, in practice, may run counter to the original goals.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Danish residential homes for people with severe mental illness: Use and perceived benefits of CAM in relation to recovery
Authors: Dürr Dorte Wiwe , Lunde Anita
Published: May 2020

Background and Aim:

Mental health services in Denmark offer various rehabilitative treatment interventions to people with severe mental illness. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) such as National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) ear acupuncture are used as rehabilitative interventions. We investigated the use of CAM in four psychiatric residential homes, and whether CAM supports residents’ rehabilitation and personal recovery.

Methods:

Residents in four selected residential homes participated in a questionnaire study, which elicited information on the use of CAM offered in a residential home setting. The study was conducted from February to November 2017. Recovery scores were assessed using the Mental Health Recovery Measure (MHRM).

Results:

Of 131 eligible respondents, 68 (52%) participated. CAM was used by 84% of the residents. NADA ear acupuncture (38%) and music therapy (37%) were the most commonly used types of CAM.

Conclusions:

CAM is a commonly used rehabilitative intervention and more than 50% receiving treatment with CAM believed that it has supported their recovery process.
Roles of a Mast Cell–Specific Receptor MRGPRX2 in Host Defense and Inflammation
Authors: Chompunud Na Ayudhya C. , Roy S. , Thapaliya M. , Ali H.
Published: May 2020

Mast cells are multifunctional immune cells that are found most abundantly at host-environment interfaces, such as the skin, respiratory tract, and oral/gastrointestinal mucosa. Not surprisingly, mast cells act as sentinel cells that sense microbial attacks and initiate a protective immune response and promote healing. Although mast cells share many features with other innate immune effector cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages, they uniquely interact closely with blood vessels and release an extensive set of mediators for the recruitment of innate and adaptive immune cells. A novel human G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), known as Mas-related GPCR-X2 (MRGPRX2, mouse ortholog, MrgprB2), has recently been identified, which is expressed on mast cells but not neutrophils and macrophages. Interestingly, activation of MrgprB2 by bacteria-derived quorum-sensing peptides inhibits bacterial growth, prevents biofilm formation, and leads to the recruitment of neutrophils to effectively clear bacteria. Furthermore, host defense antimicrobial peptides and small-molecule peptide mimetics also activate mast cells via MRGPRX2/B2. MrgprB2-mediated activation of local mast cells also clears cutaneous bacterial infection, promotes healing, and protects against reinfection. In addition to their role in host defense, mast cells contribute to a number of chronic inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis, neurogenic inflammation, and inflammatory pain likely via the activation of MRGPRX2. In this review, we discuss the roles of MRGPRX2/B2 in the clearance of bacterial infection, wound healing, periodontal disease, neurogenic inflammation, and inflammatory pain. We propose that harnessing mast cells’ host defense and immunomodulatory properties via the activation of MRGPRX2 may lead to novel approaches for the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections. On the other hand, increased MRGPRX2 expression on mast cells and their inappropriate activation may contribute to periodontitis, neurogenic inflammation, and inflammatory pain. Thus, targeting MRGPRX2 could provide novel approaches to modulate these conditions.
Populist Leadership: The Superhero Donald Trump as Savior in Times of Crisis
Authors: Schneiker Andrea
Published: May 2020

The current debate on populism is mainly concerned with populist parties and movements. Less is written about populist leadership. Yet, political scientists need to pay more attention to populist leadership, especially in order to understand how populism functions in the absence of a populist party. In situations in which a political leader adopts a populist way of exercising political power without the backing of what is considered a populist party, populism is often reduced to a particular style of acting and speaking of that particular politician. By formulating a theory-based concept of political leadership based on the literature of celebrity politicians—the superhero—I show that populist leadership is not limited to a particular style, but also allows to explain particular policy choices. The concept of the superhero goes beyond that of charismatic leadership, because it explains how the leader’s exceptionality is performed and how this performance can be analyzed.
Getting ‘creative’ under capitalism: An analysis of creativity as a dominant keyword
Authors: Garrett Paul Michael
Published: May 2020

This article proposes a sociologically informed analysis of ‘creativity talk’ using an approach based on Raymond Williams’ ‘keywords’. Arguing that Williams’ perspective provides a helpful conceptual foundation, the discussion argues that the emergence of contemporary ideas circulating around creativity are rooted in material changes taking place within capitalism, the rise of humanistic psychology and the notion of the ‘creative city’/‘creative class’. Four discourses are proposed as potentially significant: austere creativity; liberatory creativity; analgesic creativity; and dissenting creativity.
India in the Rise of Britain and Europe: A Contribution to the Convergence and Great Divergence Debates
Authors: Bhattacharya Prabir
Published: May 2020

This article discusses the role of the British control of India in the rise of Britain and Europe as well as in the convergence in incomes within the Atlantic economy in the late nineteenth century. Britain was at the apex of the world economy throughout most of the nineteenth century. The article argues that the emergence of Britain as the apex economic and political power depended on her control over India. This control of India then enabled Britain to pursue a set of policies that were of critical importance, both for the convergence in incomes within the Atlantic economy and the rise of Europe. The thesis advanced here can be viewed, depending on one’s prior position, as being either complementary to or alternative to the views of many of the protagonists of the divergence debate in the literature.

JEL: N10, N13, N15, N70, O4
Reproducing work and family norms through daughter–parent communication
Authors: Daniels Rita , Rittenour Christine E.
Published: May 2020

This study contributes to the literature on work and family socialization by examining the nature of daughter–parent (i.e., mothers vs. fathers) communication and daughters’ likelihood to transmit parents’ memorable messages regarding work and family. Results indicated that (a) daughters’ report of mothers’ and fathers’ respectful accommodation and self-disclosure positively predicts daughters’ relational satisfaction with the target parent and (b) daughters’ relational satisfaction with their parent positively relates to daughters’ likelihood to transmit their parent’s memorable messages about work or family. However, results held true for both fathers and mothers, with no support for the hypothesis that daughters would be more likely to transmit mothers’ messages more than fathers’ messages. The authors discuss practical implications, directions for future research, and limitations of the study.
Targeted next-generation sequencing as a diagnostic tool in gastrointestinal system cancer/polyposis patients
Authors: Yalcintepe Sinem , Gurkan Hakan , Demir Selma , Tozkir Hilmi , Tezel Huseyin Ahmet , Atli Emine Ikbal , Atli Engin , Eker Damla , Cicin Irfan
Published: May 2020

Background:

Recent advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology have enabled multigene testing and changed the diagnostic approach to hereditary gastrointestinal cancer/polyposis syndromes. The aim of this study was to analyze different cancer predisposition genes in hereditary/sporadic gastrointestinal cancer/polyposis.

Methods:

Cancer predisposition genes were analyzed with an Illumina MiSeq NGS system in 80 patients with gastrointestinal cancer/polyposis who were examined between the years 2016 and 2019. Deletion/duplication analysis of MLH1, MSH2, and EPCAM genes was performed by using the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification method.

Results:

Germline testing of hereditary cancer-related genes was performed in 80 patients with gastrointestinal cancer/polyposis. A total of 30 variants in 30 cases (37.5%) were assessed as pathogenic/likely pathogenic. A total of 19 heterozygous variants were assessed as variants of uncertain clinical significance in 17 cases (21.25%) and 18 (22.5%) novel variations (9 pathogenic/likely pathogenic, 9 variants of uncertain significance) were determined. In 4 (5%) cases, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification detected deletions in MLH1, MSH2, and EPCAM genes.

Conclusion:

The accumulation of analyses with multigene testing will increase the available data for cancer predisposition genes in hereditary gastrointestinal cancer/polyposis. Educational campaigns for prevention, efficient screening programs, and more personalized care based on the profile of individual patients are necessary.
Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia: A Comprehensive Overview
Authors: Di Teodoro Giovanni , Marruchella Giuseppe , Di Provvido Andrea , D’Angelo Anna Rita , Orsini Gianluca , Di Giuseppe Paola , Sacchini Flavio , Scacchia Massimo
Published: May 2020

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a respiratory disease of cattle that is listed as notifiable by the World Organization for Animal Health. It is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and causes important productivity losses due to the high mortality and morbidity rates. CBPP is caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides ( Mmm) and is characterized by severe fibrinous bronchopneumonia and pleural effusion during the acute to subacute stages and by pulmonary sequestra in chronic cases. Additional lesions can be detected in the kidneys and in the carpal and tarsal joints of calves. Mmm infection occurs through the inhalation of infected aerosol droplets. After the colonization of bronchioles and alveoli, Mmm invades blood and lymphatic vessels and causes vasculitis. Moreover, Mmm can be occasionally demonstrated in blood and in a variety of other tissues. In the lung, Mmm antigen is commonly detected on bronchiolar and alveolar epithelial cells, in lung phagocytic cells, within the wall of blood and lymphatic vessels, inside necrotic areas, and within tertiary lymphoid follicles. Mmm antigen can also be present in the cytoplasm of macrophages within lymph node sinuses, in the germinal center of lymphoid follicles, in glomerular endothelial cells, and in renal tubules. A complete pathological examination is of great value for a rapid presumptive diagnosis, but laboratory investigations are mandatory for definitive diagnosis. The purpose of this review is to describe the main features of CBPP including the causative agent, history, geographic distribution, epidemiology, clinical course, diagnosis, and control. A special focus is placed on gross and microscopic lesions in order to familiarize veterinarians with the pathology and pathogenesis of CBPP.
The nineteenth-century opium complex: From Thomas Love Peacock to Sherlock Holmes
Authors: McDonagh Josephine , Wickes Briony
Published: May 2020

This introduction to the special issue proposes that two discrete nineteenth-century histories of opium – a literary history, initiated by the drug confessions of De Quincey, and a colonial history, exemplified by the commercial activities of the East India Company (in which Thomas Love Peacock participated) in cultivating opium in Bengal for export to China, leading to the first Opium War – are common elements in a nineteenth-century ‘opium complex’, a set of interlocking practices of individuals and (quasi)state actors, extending across the globe. Sherlock Holmes detective stories are read as compressed registers of tensions that inhere in this complex.
Extraterritorial Publication and American Missionary Authority about the ‘Opium War’: Contesting the Eloquence and Reciprocity of John Quincy Adams’s ‘Lecture on the War with China’
Authors: Johnson Kendall A.
Published: May 2020

The US missionaries Elijah Bridgman and Samuel Wells Williams leveraged authority from extraterritorial printing in South China to rebut the oratorical eloquence of ex-President John Quincy Adams on the First Opium War. They did this by editing Adams’s ‘Lecture on the War with China’ (1841) for The Chinese Repository that they published monthly from Guangzhou, Macao, and Hong Kong. Adams presents the British as righteous Christians defending ‘free trade’ from pagan China. The missionaries’ editorial strategies challenged Adams on points of fact to signal disagreement with him over the moral implications of opium smuggling and China’s status under international law.
Journeys to a war, and the literature of the 1860s and 1870s
Authors: Kuehn Julia
Published: May 2020

Analysing Albert Smith’s and Charley Dickens’s 1858 and 1860 trips to the sites of the Second Anglo-Chinese War, the article suggests that the experience of war, especially of wars fought abroad, is characterised by affective unease and epistemological breakdowns. Smith and Dickens enact war tourism in Hong Kong, Canton and Shanghai as they perform incongruous and tone-deaf cross-cultural relations in a ‘theatre of war’. Similarly, contemporary novels reveal the complicated entanglements of the Sino-British (opium) relationship as writers try to make sense of a world in which cultural contact is fraught with violence and cognition is brought to its limits.
Gandhi, De Quincey and Hali: The pleasures and pains of opium
Authors: Majeed Javed
Published: May 2020

This essay explores Gandhi’s representations of opium as indicative of the addictive nature of the colonial relationship in India. It also shows how the opium trade had an impact on Gandhi’s redefinition of food. Some submissions to the 1893–94 Royal Commission on Opium in India refer to De Quincey and reading De Quincey’s Confessions alongside Gandhi’s Hind Swaraj and Guide to Health reveals how both authors grappled with questions of dependency and selfhood in relation to modernity. I also discuss Gandhi’s representations of pleasure and opium alongside Altaf Hussain Hali’s (1837–1914), whom Gandhi admired as a reformist Urdu poet. Opium and intoxicants were a site on which colonial and postcolonial agency were both imagined and compromised in Gandhi, De Quincey and Hali.
What is Old Greek Daniel chapter 8 about?
Authors: Young Ian
Published: May 2020

The Old Greek text of Daniel chapter 8 exhibits many important differences compared to the Masoretic Text more familiar to most readers. Instead of a little horn who successfully challenges heaven, with a striking absence of divine intervention, the Old Greek tells of a strong horn who is thrown down by the heavenly powers and of a prince of the host who rescues the captives. This article attempts to give a coherent reading of the chapter in the Old Greek to bring out the quite different storyline and message of the Old Greek compared to the Masoretic Text.
Exploration of Christian Women’s Vocational Ministry Leadership and Identity Formation in Evangelical Churches on the West Coast
Authors: Glanz Judy L.
Published: May 2020

This empirical research explores adult identity formation through work experiences, gaining insight into structures and practices which allow women to thrive in leadership within the evangelical church ministry context. This qualitative research explores adult identity formation and gender role stereotypes in leadership domains within the evangelical church context on the West Coast. Twenty-five ( n = 25) women in vocational church leadership, aged 25–71, revealed what impedes or contributes to female leadership adult identity formation. Key findings revealed women leaders thrive and gain identity strength through agency found in union with Christ; hold back identity components and skills available to church leadership teams to fit the male work context; contextual factors impact women’s well-being in leadership including assumptions and mindsets adverse to women leading; and lead pastors and supervisors’ beliefs about women in leadership are critical to healthy identity formation. Therefore, this research is an exploration of what experiences assist women leaders to thrive or not thrive in evangelical vocational leadership on the West Coast and how their identity in Christ empowers their leadership.
Revisiting Theological Education for Older-Adult Ministry 1993–2018
Authors: Johnson Ronnie
Published: May 2020

A Delphi study identifying selected ministers’ predictions concerning older-adult ministry was conducted in 1993. Theological education as it related to older-adult ministry was considered important, neglected, and in need of enhancement. Predictions of the study were evaluated in the current research. The 2018 study suggests that theological education as it relates to older-adult ministry is still considered important, neglected, and in need of enhancement. This follow-up research reflected the validity of the original study.
Entrepreneurs institutionnels et stratégies de légitimation. Le cas de l’hygiène corporelle en France de 1880 à 1980
Authors: Galluzzo Anthony , Gorge Hélène
Published: May 2020

Cette recherche porte sur les représentations de l’hygiène corporelle en France entre les années 1880 et 1980. Une étude de type historique a été menée pour comprendre le travail de légitimation autour d’une nouvelle définition de l’hygiène corporelle mené par différents entrepreneurs institutionnels (entreprises, communauté scientifique, école, presse, etc.). Ces derniers mettent en œuvre plusieurs stratégies : ils associent l’hygiène corporelle aux bonnes mœurs, ils mettent en place de nouveaux outils d’hygiène corporelle pour accompagner les consommateurs, et ils définissent des comportements légitimes et illégitimes relatifs à l’hygiène. A travers ces stratégies, nous éclairons la notion de ressource distribuée, en contrastant les rôles et les modes d’intervention dans lesquels s’inscrivent les différents entrepreneurs institutionnels.
Death and End of Life: Perceptions Throughout The Career About Death, Palliative Care, and Educational Process
Authors: Corradi Maria Luiza Galoro , Duim Etienne , Rodrigues Cibele Isaac Saad
Published: May 2020

Purpose:

To evaluate the perception of attending physicians, medical residents, and undergraduate medical students about death and dying, the end of life (EoL), and palliative care (PC) during training and clinical practice, highlighting knowledge gaps, and the changes needed in medical school curricula.

Method:

Cross-sectional study of 12 attending physicians, residents, and undergraduate medical students randomly selected from a single teaching hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, 2018. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcripts were coded in depth, and categorizing analysis was carried out.

Results:

Three topical categories were recognized: Negative feelings about death and the EoL, importance of PC, and gaps in curricular structure hindering preparedness for PC and EoL communication. Besides differing perspectives depending on their years of experience, all participants strongly endorsed that the current medical school curriculum does not train and support physicians to handle EoL and PC.

Conclusions:

Medical education plays a fundamental role in the development of knowledge and skills on death, dying, and PC. Such practices should extend throughout the course and be continuously improved after graduates move to clinical practice.
Unsuspected Pregnancies in Hysterosalpingography: Implementation and Review of a Multi-Institutional Pre-Procedural Pregnancy Screening Protocol
Authors: Parhar Dennis , Budau-Bymoen Annemarie , Peterson Victoria , Shi Ge , Thakur Yogesh , Yong-Hing Charlotte J.
Published: May 2020

Purpose:

Owing to the increasing average age of first-time mothers, as well as advances in assistive reproductive technology, the number of hysterosalpingography (HSG) requests has continued to rise. This increases the likelihood of patients presenting with unsuspected early pregnancies prior to HSG. Currently, there is no standard of practice for the pre-procedural screening of pregnancy prior to HSG, with most institutions using patient-reported pregnancy status and unreliable menstrual cycle dating methods. We implemented a multi-institutional pre-procedural pregnancy screening protocol in order to determine the rate of unsuspected pregnancies prior to HSG and improve the quality and safety of these procedures.

Methods:

Following multi-institutional and multidisciplinary input, a consensus protocol was formulated and implemented across 9 institutions in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Subsequent tracking of pregnancy testing was then performed over a period of 3 years.

Results:

Pre-implementation review of protocols demonstrated large disparities between institutions. A total of 6333 HSG examinations were scheduled in the review period following implementation. Of these, 10 patients were found to have positive pregnancy tests (0.16%), despite self-reporting that they were not pregnant or had recent menstrual bleeding.

Discussion:

Hysterosalpingography is contraindicated in pregnancy, yet we identified 10 unsuspected pregnancies in patients who would have otherwise undergone HSG examinations with existing guidelines. While there remains insufficient data on the deleterious effects of performing HSG on an unsuspected pregnancy, the potential physical, economical, and psychosocial consequences of performing an HSG during pregnancy are sufficient to merit consideration of relatively inexpensive routine pregnancy screening prior to HSG.
Interrelationships Between Intimate Partner Violence, Coping Style, Depression, and Quality of Life Among the Regular Female Sexual Partners of Men Who Have Sex With Men
Authors: Yan Fang , Tang Siyuan , Goldsamt Lloyd , Wang Honghong , Chen Jia , Li Xianhong
Published: May 2020

The regular female sexual partners of men who have sex with men (MSM), namely, “ Tongqi” in China, increasingly attract attention in the field of public health due to their high levels of depression and intimate partner violence (IPV), and their potential risk of HIV infection. Few studies have explored the relationships among IPV, coping style, depression, and quality of life (QOL) in this population. To examine these relationships, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted in China from February 2016 to March 2017. A questionnaire, including the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales, the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, was completed by a total of 194 Chinese Tongqi. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the relationships among IPV, coping style, depression, and QOL. IPV (β = −0.12, p = .002), depression (β = −0.79, p < .001), and active coping style directly (β = 0.17, p < .001) affected the QOL of this group of women; IPV also indirectly affected QOL through the mediating effect of passive coping style and depression, and the positive coping style indirectly affected QOL through the mediating effect of depression. The proposed model showed good fit of indices, χ2/ d = 43.72/34 = 1.286 < 3, p = .123, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.038. Chinese Tongqi experienced high levels of IPV, which led to a poor QOL, partially through the mediating role of passive coping strategy and depression. Future studies or interventions should emphasize the IPV experienced by Chinese Tongqi and provide psychological support so as to improve the overall well-being of this vulnerable female population.