bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surfactant-secreted phospholipase A2interplay and respiratory outcome in preterm neonates
Authors: De Luca Daniele , Shankar-Aguilera Shivani , Autilio Chiara , Raschetti Roberto , Vedovelli Luca , Fitting Catherine , Payré Christine , Jeammet Louise , Perez-Gil Jesus , Cogo Paola E. , Carnielli Virgilio P. , Lambeau Gérard , Touqui Lhousseine
Published: May 2020

Secreted phospholipase A2hydrolyzes surfactant phospholipids and is crucial for the inflammatory cascade; preterm neonates are treated with exogenous surfactant, but the interaction between surfactant and phospholipase is unknown. We hypothesize that this interplay is complex and the enzyme plays a relevant role in neonates needing surfactant replacement. We aimed to: 1) identify phospholipases A2isoforms expressed in preterm lung; 2) study the enzyme role on surfactant retreatment and function and the effect of exogenous surfactant on the enzyme system; and 3) verify whether phospholipase A2is linked to respiratory outcomes. In bronchoalveolar lavages of preterm neonates, we measured enzyme activity (alone or with inhibitors), enzyme subtypes, surfactant protein-A, and inflammatory mediators. Surfactant function and phospholipid profile were also tested. Urea ratio was used to obtain epithelial lining fluid concentrations. Follow-up data were prospectively collected. Subtype-IIA is the main phospholipase isoform in preterm lung, although subtype-IB may be significantly expressed. Neonates needing surfactant retreatment have higher enzyme activity ( P = 0.021) and inflammatory mediators ( P always ≤ 0.001) and lower amounts of phospholipids ( P always < 0.05). Enzyme activity was inversely correlated to surfactant adsorption (ρ = −0.6; P = 0.008; adjusted P = 0.009), total phospholipids (ρ = −0.475; P = 0.05), and phosphatidylcholine (ρ = −0.622; P = 0.017). Exogenous surfactant significantly reduced global phospholipase activity ( P < 0.001) and subtype-IIA ( P = 0.005) and increased dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol ( P < 0.001) and surfactant adsorption ( P < 0.001). Enzyme activity correlated with duration of ventilation (ρ = 0.679, P = 0.005; adjusted P = 0.04) and respiratory morbidity score at 12 mo postnatal age (τ-b = 0.349, P = 0.037; adjusted P = 0.043) but was not associated with mortality, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or other long-term respiratory outcomes.
Imaging transcranial Doppler ultrasound to measure middle cerebral artery blood flow: the importance of measuring vessel diameter
Authors: Jarrett Catherine L. , Shields Katherine L. , Broxterman Ryan M. , Hydren Jay R. , Park Soung Hun , Gifford Jayson R. , Richardson Russell S.
Published: May 2020

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is commonly inferred from blood velocity measurements in the middle cerebral artery (MCA), using nonimaging, transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD). However, both blood velocity and vessel diameter are critical components required to accurately determine blood flow, and there is mounting evidence that the MCA is vasoactive. Therefore, the aim of this study was to employ imaging TCD (ITCD), utilizing color flow images and pulse wave velocity, as a novel approach to measure both MCA diameter and blood velocity to accurately quantify changes in MCA blood flow. ITCD was performed at rest in 13 healthy participants (7 men/6 women; 28 ± 5 yr) with pharmaceutically induced vasodilation [nitroglycerin (NTG), 0.8 mg] and without (CON). Measurements were taken for 2 min before and for 5 min following NTG or sham delivery (CON). There was more than a fivefold, significant, fall in MCA blood velocity in response to NTG (∆−4.95 ± 4.6 cm/s) compared to negligible fluctuation in CON (∆−0.88 ± 4.7 cm/s) ( P < 0.001). MCA diameter increased significantly in response to NTG (∆0.09 ± 0.04 cm) compared with the basal variation in CON (∆0.00 ± 0.04 cm) ( P = 0.018). Interestingly, the product of the NTG-induced fall in MCA blood velocity and increase in diameter was a significant increase in MCA blood flow following NTG (∆144 ± 159 ml/min) compared with CON (∆−5 ± 130 ml/min) ( P = 0.005). These juxtaposed findings highlight the importance of measuring both MCA blood velocity and diameter when assessing CBF and document ITCD as a novel approach to achieve this goal.
Aerobic exercise offsets endothelial dysfunction induced by repetitive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in young healthy men
Authors: Bock Joshua M. , Iwamoto Erika , Horak Jeffrey G. , Feider Andrew J. , Hanada Satoshi , Casey Darren P.
Published: May 2020

Consumption of a single, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) impairs vascular endothelial function. Regular aerobic exercise improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation; however, it is unknown whether these beneficial effects persist with frequent SSB consumption. Therefore, the purpose of this study was twofold; we studied the effects of repetitive SSB consumption (75 g d-glucose, 3 times/day) for 1 wk (Glu, n = 13, 23 ± 4 yr, 23.5 ± 3.4 kg/m2) on endothelium-dependent vasodilation (FMD). Then, in a separate cohort, we investigated whether 45 min of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on five separate days offset the hypothesized decrease in FMD during the Glu protocol (Glu+Ex, n = 11, 21 ± 3 yr, 23.8 ± 2.4 kg/m2). Baseline, fasting [glucose] ( P = 0.15), [insulin] ( P = 0.25), %FMD ( P = 0.48), absolute FMD ( P = 0.66), and shear rate area under the curve (SRAUC; P = 0.82) were similar between groups. Following the interventions, fasting [glucose] (Glu: 94 ± 6 to 92 ± 6 mg/dL, Glu+Ex: 89 ± 8 to 87 ± 6 mg/dL, P = 0.74) and [insulin] (Glu: 11.3 ± 6.2 to 11.8 ± 8.9 μU/mL, Glu+Ex: 8.7 ± 2.9 to 9.4 ± 3.2 μU/mL, P = 0.89) were unchanged. %FMD was reduced in Glu (6.1 ± 2.2 to 5.1 ± 1.3%) and increased in Glu+Ex (6.6 ± 2.2 to 7.8 ± 2.4%, P < 0.05 for both). SRAUC increased similarly in both Glu [17,715 ± 8,275 to 22,922 ± 4,808 arbitrary units (A.U.)] and Glu+Ex (18,216 ± 4,516 to 21,666 ± 5,392 A.U., main effect of time P < 0.05). When %FMD was adjusted for SRAUC, attenuation was observed in Glu (0.41 ± 0.18 to 0.23 ± 0.08%/s × 103, P < 0.05) but not Glu+Ex (0.38 ± 0.14 to 0.38 ± 0.13%/s × 103, P = 0.88). Despite unchanged fasting [glucose] and [insulin], repeated consumption of SSBs impaired conduit artery vascular endothelial function. Additionally, subjects who engaged in regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise did not demonstrate the same SSB-induced endothelial dysfunction. Collectively, these data suggest aerobic exercise may offset the deleterious effects of repetitive SSB consumption.
Serotonergic modulation across sensory modalities
Authors: Sizemore Tyler R. , Hurley Laura M. , Dacks Andrew M.
Published: May 2020

The serotonergic system has been widely studied across animal taxa and different functional networks. This modulatory system is therefore well positioned to compare the consequences of neuromodulation for sensory processing across species and modalities at multiple levels of sensory organization. Serotonergic neurons that innervate sensory networks often bidirectionally exchange information with these networks but also receive input representative of motor events or motivational state. This convergence of information supports serotonin’s capacity for contextualizing sensory information according to the animal’s physiological state and external events. At the level of sensory circuitry, serotonin can have variable effects due to differential projections across specific sensory subregions, as well as differential serotonin receptor type expression within those subregions. Functionally, this infrastructure may gate or filter sensory inputs to emphasize specific stimulus features or select among different streams of information. The near-ubiquitous presence of serotonin and other neuromodulators within sensory regions, coupled with their strong effects on stimulus representation, suggests that these signaling pathways should be considered integral components of sensory systems.
The Effect of a Tailored Health Education Programme on Medication Management in the Elderly
Authors: Mohamed Samir El Said Salma , El-Din Amin Ghada Essam , Mohamed Baumy Helal Essam , Salah Amin Radwan Reham , Wahba Hoda MF
Published: May 2020

Background. Empowering the elderly by education programs can decrease medication problems, morbidity, and mortality. Methods. A cross-sectional study to identify trends and baseline medication management among the elderly in nursing homes followed by an interventional study (tailored educational programme) offered within the same population followed by reassessment of the same medication management domains. Results. There was no effect regarding nursing home participants’ medication knowledge before and after intervention, while there were variable degrees of significant statistical differences in how the participants obtain and take their medications as well as their total deficiency scores before and after intervention. Other domains were also variably affected. Conclusion. It is vital to ensure that patients have sufficient knowledge regarding their medications and how to handle and administer them. Different domains may variably be affected by educational programmes mainly due to preassessment deficits. Educational programmes need to be tailored according to the requirements of the population targeted.
Consensus Formation Control and Obstacle Avoidance of Multiagent Systems with Directed Topology
Authors: Wang Lichao , Li Xing , Liu Bingyou , Zhang Zhengzheng
Published: May 2020

This study addresses the problems of formation control and obstacle avoidance for a class of second-order multiagent systems with directed topology. Formation and velocity control laws are designed to solve the formation tracking problem. A new obstacle avoidance control law is also proposed to avoid obstacles. Then, the consensus control protocol consists of the formation, velocity, and obstacle avoidance control laws. The convergence of the proposed control protocol is analyzed by a redesigned Lyapunov function. Finally, the effectiveness of theoretical results is illustrated by simulation examples. The simulation results show that the formation tracking problem of the given multiagent systems can be realized and obstacles can be avoided under the proposed control protocol.
Introduction to the Integrated Nutrient Management Strategies and Their Contribution to Yield and Soil Properties
Authors: Selim Mostafa Mohamed
Published: May 2020

Alleviation of poverty and achievement of zero-hunger target and food security are significant challenges faced by agricultural planners worldwide. Improving many agronomic approaches, which have drastic effects on crop growth and yield, is urgently needed to report this aim. Replacement of a part of chemical fertilizers by organic manure through a simple technique of using minimum effective dose of sufficient and balanced quantities of organic and inorganic fertilizers in combination with specific microorganisms, called INM, has a bright solution in this area. Recently, several investigators reported that integrated use of chemical fertilizers with organic manure is becoming a quite promising practice not only for maintaining higher productivity but also for greater stability to crop production. In addition, INM acts as a source of energy, organic carbon, and available nitrogen for the growth of soil microbes and improvement of physical properties of soil, and also have great residual effect on subsequent crops. So, the key component of the INM goal is to reach the eco-friendly practice through the harmonious properties of both sources by making a combination that can be used for decreasing the enormous use of chemical fertilizers and accreting a balance between fertilizer inputs and crop nutrient requirement, maintaining the soil fertility, optimizing the level of yield, maximizing the profitability, and subsequently reducing the environmental pollution. Lastly, INM is a tool that can offer good options and economic choices to supply plants with a sufficient amount of nutrients in need and can also reduce total costs, create favorable soil physiochemical conditions and healthy environment, eliminate the constraints, safeguard the soil nutrient balance, and find safety methods to get rid of agriculture wastes.
Results of Ranibizumab Treatment of the Myopic Choroidal Neovascular Membrane according to the Axial Length of the Eye
Authors: Stepanov Alexandr , Pencak Martin , Nemcansky Jan , Matuskova Veronika , Stredova Marketa , Beran David , Studnicka Jan
Published: May 2020

Aim. A retrospective evaluation of the results of treatment of myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) with intravitreal injections of ranibizumab in a pro re nata (PRN) regimen in three groups of patients distributed according to axial length. Methods. The paper presents a retrospective multicenter study carried out with the cooperation of several Departments of Ophthalmology in the Czech Republic. The study included 60 eyes of 60 patients suffering from mCNV, divided according to axial length into three groups. The first group consisted of 20 patients with an axial length of the eyes shorter than 28 mm (Group 1), the second group included 27 patients with axial lengths ranging from 28 mm to 29.81 mm (Group 2), and 13 patients had axial lengths longer than 30 mm (Group 3). All patients were first administered 3 initial intravitreal ranibizumab injections at monthly intervals (loading phase), and other injections were administered according to a PRN treatment regimen. Patients were evaluated before treatment and then at intervals of 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The effect of ranibizumab treatment on the functional and morphological parameters of the affected eye was evaluated. Results. The average baseline BCVA ± SD in Group 1 was 52.6 ± 12.5 letters of ETDRS optotypes, and at the end of the one-year follow-up, it was 63.3 ± 11.8 letters. The average baseline of CRT ± SD in this group was 377.4 ± 80.0 μm, and in the 12th month, it was 311.1 ± 63.7 μm. The average baseline BCVA ± SD in Group 2 was 50.2 ± 9.0 ETDRS letters, and at the end of the follow-up, it was 60 ± 12.4 letters. The average baseline of CRT ± SD in Group 2 was 391.2 ± 85.2 μm, and in the 12th month, it was 323.9 ± 91.2 μm. In Group 3, the average baseline of BCVA was 48.5 ± 14.5 ETDRS letters, and at the end of the one-year follow-up, it was 55.7 ± 16.1 letters. The average baseline CRT ± SD for Group 3 was 342.1 ± 94.9 μm, and after 12 months, it was 287.8 ± 88.4 μm. An improvement of BCVA by ≥15 letters of ETDRS optotypes was achieved by 3 patients of 20 (15%) in Group 1, by 5 patients of 27 (18.5%) in Group 2, and by 3 patients of 13 (23.1%) in Group 3. All these changes were statistically significant in comparison with the input values p<0.05. Conclusion. Ranibizumab treatment in patients with mCNV in our study resulted in statistically significant improvement in BCVA and a decrease in CRT in all groups of patients. Our results from a routine clinical practice correspond with the results of large clinical studies; we confirm a particularly good effect of treatment in patients with axial lengths of the eye smaller than 28 mm.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy of an Adolescent Stem Cell Transplantation Recipient with Hemorrhagic Cystitis and BK Virus
Authors: López David , Alismail Abdullah , Tan Laren D.
Published: May 2020

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) continues to show effectiveness in the treatment of several diseases and benefits such as fibroblast proliferation, capillary angiogenesis, and decreasing edema, especially in hemorrhagic cystitis (HC). We report a case of a 15-year-old male with chronic myelogenous leukemia status posthaploidentical stem cell transport with BK virus in the United States to be treated by HBOT. The patient received a total of 30 HBOT treatments for 90 minutes at 2 ATA. After HBOT treatments, patient showed signs of improvements such as cessation of hemorrhage cystitis. The findings of this case support and shows that there is growing evidence for the use of HBOT as adjunctive therapy for patients with BK virus associated with HC after stem cell transplantation.
UNaProd: A Universal Natural Product Database for Materia Medica of Iranian Traditional Medicine
Authors: Naghizadeh Ayeh , Hamzeheian Donya , Akbari Shaghayegh , Mohammadi Fahimeh , Otoufat Tohid , Asgari Saeme , Zarei Azadeh , Noroozi Samane , Nasiri Najmeh , Salamat Mahdi , Karbalaei Reza , Mirzaie Mehdi , Rezaeizadeh Hossein , Karimi Mehrdad , Jafari Mohieddin
Published: May 2020

Background. Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) is a holistic medical system that uses a wide range of medicinal substances to treat disease. Reorganization and standardization of the data on ITM concepts is a necessity for optimal use of this rich source. In an initial step towards this goal, we created a database of ITM materia medica. Main Body. Primarily based on Makhzan al‐Advieh, which is the most recent encyclopedia of materia medica in ITM with the largest number of monographs, a database of natural medicinal substances was created using both text mining methods and manual editing. UNaProd, a Universal Natural Product database for materia medica of ITM, is currently host to 2696 monographs, from herbal to animal to mineral compounds in 16 diverse attributes such as origin and scientific name. Currently, systems biology, and more precisely systems medicine and pharmacology, can be an aid in providing rationalizations for many traditional medicines and elucidating a great deal of knowledge they can offer to guide future research in medicine. Conclusions. A database of materia medica is a stepping stone in creating a systems pharmacology platform of ITM that encompasses the relationships between the drugs, their targets, and diseases. UNaProd is hyperlinked to IrGO and CMAUP databases for Mizaj and molecular features, respectively, and it is freely available at http://jafarilab.com/unaprod/.
Building Innovative Service Composition Based on Two-Way Selection in Cloud Manufacturing Environment
Authors: Zhao Jinhui , Li Muzi , Zhou Yu , Wang Peichong
Published: May 2020

In the cloud manufacturing environment, innovative service composition is an important way to improve the capability and efficiency of resource integration and realize the upgrading and transformational upgrade of the manufacturing industry. In order to build a stable innovative service composition, we propose a novel composite model, which uses two-way selection according to their cooperation to recommend the most suitable partners. Firstly, a rough number is applied to quantify the semantic evaluation. Using the expectation of cooperative condition as reference points, prospect theory is then applied to calculate the cooperative desires for both sides based on participants’ psychological attitudes toward gains and losses. Next, the cooperative desires are used to establish the two-way selection model of innovative service composition. The solution is determined by using an improved teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm. Compared with traditional combined methods in the cloud manufacturing environment, the proposed model fully considers the long-neglected needs and interests of service providers. Prospect theory takes psychological expectations and varying attitudes of decision makers towards gains and losses into account. Moreover, an interval rough number is used to better preserve the uncertain information during semantic quantification. Experimental results verify the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Polarization Navigation Simulation System and Skylight Compass Method Design Based upon Moment of Inertia
Authors: Liang Huaju , Bai Hongyang , Liu Ning , Sui Xiubao
Published: May 2020

Unpolarized sunlight becomes polarized by atmospheric scattering and produces a skylight polarization pattern in the sky, which is detected for navigation by several species of insects. Inspired by these insects, a growing number of research studies have been conducted on how to effectively determine a heading angle from polarization patterns of skylight. However, few research studies have considered that the pixels of a pixelated polarization camera can be easily disturbed by noise and numerical values among adjacent pixels are discontinuous caused by crosstalk. So, this paper proposes a skylight compass method based upon the moment of inertia (MOI). Inspired by rigid body dynamics, the MOI of a rigid body with uniform mass distribution reaches the extreme values when the rigid body rotates on its symmetry axes. So, a whole polarization image is regarded as a rigid body. Then, orientation determination is transformed into solving the extreme value of MOI. This method makes full use of the polarization information of a whole polarization image and accordingly reduces the influence of the numerical discontinuity among adjacent pixels and measurement noise. In addition, this has been verified by numerical simulation and experiment. And the compass error of the MOI method is less than 0.44° for an actual polarization image.
Restoration Methods Selection for Wood Components of Chinese Ancient Architectures Based on TODIM with Single-Valued Neutrosophic Sets
Authors: Long Xiaolu. , Liu Lizhi. , Xiao Can. , Cheng Pengfei. , Fu Chengxun.
Published: May 2020

The selection of restoration methods for ancient architectures is of great significance for the protection of human cultural heritage. This paper proposes a novel restoration methods selection approach for wood components of Chinese ancient architectures, in which a multicriteria group decision-making (MCGDM) method with decision-making information is in the form of single-valued neutrosophic sets (SNNSs). Firstly, it establishes an index system by comprehensively considering subjective and objective criteria. In addition, the best-worst method (BWM) and the entropy weight method are combined to produce index weights. Furthermore, the TODIM method is utilized by the single-valued neutrosophic sets to prioritize restoration methods. Finally, a specific case of wood component restoration is conducted to demonstrate the practicability of the proposed model. The robustness and effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by sensitivity analysis and comparison analysis.
Chemical Composition of Pistacia lentiscus Seeds’ Oil from Moroccan High Atlas Mountain
Authors: Ait Mohand Brahim , El Antari Abderraouf , Benkhalti Fatiha
Published: May 2020

Pistacia lentiscus is an aromatic member of the Anacardiaceae family, endemic to the Mediterranean regions, which produces red and black oleaginous seeds in maturity. Our study focuses on the characterization of Pistacia lentiscus seed oils from three localities of High Atlas Mountain in the Azilal region of Morocco. Our results showed a very appreciable oil yield reaching more than 21% which clearly differs between the three sites studied (21.33 ± 0.17% in Boizoghrane, 15.22 ± 0.10% in Tighanimine, and 7.67 ± 0.29% in Tawjanizm locality); the analysis of the total fatty acids composition revealed a predominance of the unsaturated fatty acids represented essentially by the oleic and linoleic fatty acids, and also the triglyceride composition was dominated mainly by POO + SOL, POL + SLL + PoOP, and OOO. This potential of the chemical composition offers the possibility of producing nutraceutical oil, which represents a source of income capable of insisting vulnerable local populations to protect this species from deforestation, thus maintaining biodiversity, and to reduce by this interest the migratory flow from marginal areas.
Possible Effects of Perchlorate Contamination of Drinking Water on Thyroid Health
Authors: Orathel Sunny P , Thomas Ronnie , Chandramohanakumar N. , Kulavelil Joy Job , Kumar Krishnapillai Girish , Menon Vadayath Usha , Jayaprakash P. , Krishnan Sajitha , Manju P.S. , Param Shaiju , Rajamanickam M. G. , Unnikrishnan U.G , Thomas Joe , Jose Ponnu
Published: May 2020

Background. Perchlorate is an anion that occurs as a contaminant in groundwater. It originates from the improper disposal of ammonium perchlorate, a component of rocket fuel. The objective of this study was to explore whether the exposure to perchlorate in drinking water had an impact on the thyroid function of the population residing near an ammonium perchlorate plant in Kerala. Methodology. Using an ecological study design, we compared the serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine, and thyroid peroxidase antibodies among a representative sample of 289 study subjects from the area surrounding the ammonium perchlorate enrichment plant to 281 study subjects in a control area. Results. The perchlorate concentration in the groundwater varied from 1600 ppb to 57,000 ppb in the 10 samples from the contaminated area and was below 24 ppb in all locations in the control area. No significant differences were found in the mean serum TSH concentration and mean T4 levels between the subjects from the contaminated area and the control area. On regression analysis, perchlorate contamination was not found to be a significant predictor of TSH. Conclusion. This study did not find any significant association between perchlorate in drinking water and changes in thyroid hormone levels. Our findings indicate the need for further investigation of this hypothesis using urinary perchlorate as a measure of individual exposure.
Serre’s Reduction and the Smith Forms of Multivariate Polynomial Matrices
Authors: Li Dongmei , Liang Rui
Published: May 2020

The equivalence of systems plays a critical role in multidimensional systems, which are usually represented by the multivariate polynomial matrices. The Smith form of a matrix is one of the important research contents in polynomial matrices. This paper mainly investigates the Smith forms of some multivariate polynomial matrices. We have obtained several new results and criteria on the reduction of a given multivariate polynomial matrix to its Smith form. These criteria are easily checked by computing the minors of lower order of the given matrix.
An Assessment of Food Safety Knowledge and Practices in the Ghanaian Hospitality Industry
Authors: Odonkor Stephen T. , Odonkor Carolyn J. A.
Published: May 2020

Food safety is critical for public health and economic development. The hospitality industry offers a variety of food services, led by food handlers with diverse background. The aim of this paper is to evaluate food safety knowledge and practices among food handlers in the Ghanaian hospitality sectors, with the purpose of informing public policy and improving food safety. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted between February and May 2019. Data were obtained from food handlers working in the Ghanaian hospitality industry (N = 306). The findings of the study indicate that most (52.9%) respondents who work in restaurants had knowledge about food safety principles. Lack of training and education was identified by 63.1% of the respondents as a major barrier to food safety. Interestingly, 75.8% of the respondents indicated that food safety practice is not the responsibility of the kitchen staff only. Diarrhea (35.95%), cholera (35.62%), and typhoid (27.42%) were identified as major diseases associated with improper handling of food. Only 65.69% of the respondents undergo annual medical screening at their workplaces. There is correlation between food safety practice and variables such as marital status, type of residence, age, and education level. Educational campaigns coupled with strict law enforcement should be put in place to ensure that food safety rules and guideline are effectively implemented in the hospitality food industry. Training programs should be organized for food vendors and other stakeholders in the food industry as well. Finally, there should be proactive supervision by local government officials to ensure that good sanitation and hygienic conditions are maintained within the food sectors.
Wenyang Lishui Decoction Ameliorates Podocyte Injury in Membranous Nephropathy Rat and Cell Models by Regulating p53 and Bcl‐2
Authors: Lu Huan , Luo Yuezhong , Su Baolin , Tang Shuifu , Chen Gangyi , Zhang Licai , Song Chao , Wang Chao , Tu Haitao , Wu Xinbo
Published: May 2020

Wenyang Lishui decoction (WYD) has been frequently used to treat patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) in China. Our previous study in vitro showed that WYD aqueous extract could alleviate F‐actin reorganization of podocytes induced by serum from idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) patients. This study aims to investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of WYD on MN. MN rat models were induced by cationic bovine serum albumin. Experimental rats were divided into four groups: normal, model, WYD, and benazepril. The normal group consisted of normal rats receiving distilled water for four weeks, while the model, WYD, and benazepril groups consisted of MN rats receiving distilled water, 16.5 g/kg/day WYD aqueous extract, and 10 mg/kg/day benazepril, respectively. Alanine aminotransferase, kidney function, albumin, and 24 h urine total protein (UTP) were measured. Hematoxylin‐eosin and electron microscopy analyses were performed. Mouse podocytes were induced to develop cell models by serum from IMN patients with antibody to the M‐type phospholipase A2 receptor and spleen and kidney Yang deficiency syndrome. They were divided into five groups: control, model, 2 mg/ml WYD, 4 mg/ml WYD, and 8 mg/ml WYD. CCK‐8 assays, flow cytometry, qRT‐PCR, and Western blot analyses were performed. In the animal experiment, side effects of WYD were not found. Also, there was no significant difference in kidney function among the groups. In addition, UTP level was significantly reduced, and kidney histological damage was restored in both WYD and benazepril groups but difference in UTP level between them was not found. In the cell experiment, apoptosis rate was increased in the model group while it was decreased by coincubation with WYD. Besides, mRNA and protein levels of p53 were decreased, and those of Bcl‐2 were increased by treatment using WYD. In conclusion, WYD could reduce proteinuria and ameliorate podocyte injury by regulating the expression of p53 and Bcl‐2. The study is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-OCH-14005137).
Preclinical Characterization of an Antibody–Drug Conjugate Targeting CS-1 and the Identification of Uncharacterized Populations of CS-1–Positive Cells
Authors: Chen Ruoyan , Rajan Saravanan , Overstreet Michael G. , Hurt Elaine M. , Thomas Suneetha B. , Muniz-Medina Vanessa , Ward Christopher , Sadowska Agnieszka , Fleming Ryan , Karanth Subramanya , Breen Shannon , Zheng Bo , Wu Yuling , Iverson William O. , Novick Steven , O'Day Terrence , Shah Dipesha P. , Dimasi Nazzareno , Tiberghien Arnaud C. , Osbourn Jane , Walker Jill
Published: May 2020

Multiple myeloma is a hematologic cancer that disrupts normal bone marrow function and has multiple lines of therapeutic options, but is incurable as patients ultimately relapse. We developed a novel antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) targeting CS-1, a protein that is highly expressed on multiple myeloma tumor cells. The anti–CS-1 mAb specifically bound to cells expressing CS-1 and, when conjugated to a cytotoxic pyrrolobenzodiazepine payload, reduced the viability of multiple myeloma cell lines in vitro. In mouse models of multiple myeloma, a single administration of the CS-1 ADC caused durable regressions in disseminated models and complete regression in a subcutaneous model. In an exploratory study in cynomolgus monkeys, the CS-1 ADC demonstrated a half-life of 3 to 6 days; however, no highest nonseverely toxic dose was achieved, as bone marrow toxicity was dose limiting. Bone marrow from dosed monkeys showed reductions in progenitor cells as compared with normal marrow. In vitro cell killing assays demonstrated that the CS-1 ADC substantially reduced the number of progenitor cells in healthy bone marrow, leading us to identify previously unreported CS-1 expression on a small population of progenitor cells in the myeloid–erythroid lineage. This finding suggests that bone marrow toxicity is the result of both on-target and off-target killing by the ADC.
Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma Mimicking Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor: A Case Report
Authors: Lee Jin , Oh Sung Jin
Published: May 2020

The presentation of submucosal gastric cancer, especially signet ring cell carcinoma, is rare. The submucosal tumor (SMT) is covered with normal mucosa, and confirmation is difficult through endoscopic biopsy; thus, histologic diagnosis is important to determine the appropriate treatment method. Here, we report a case of gastric signet ring cell carcinoma mimicking gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). A 2-cm-sized SMT suspected of being a GIST on preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography and computed tomography was suspected to be cancerous during surgery. The frozen diagnosis of the resected mass (obtained via wedge resection) showed a carcinoma with signet ring feature, and additional frozen diagnosis of one enlarged lymph node revealed metastatic cancer. Therefore, subtotal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection was performed. This case report suggests that preoperative histologic diagnosis of high-risk SMT might be useful, although the tumor had typical features of GIST on preoperative imaging. Overall, if a tumor is suspected of being a gastric carcinoma during surgery and the differential diagnosis between gastric carcinoma and GIST is uncertain, a careful surgical approach should be considered to account for the possibility of adenocarcinoma.
Conditional Disease-Free and Overall Survival of 1,858 Young Women with Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer and with Participation in a Post-Therapeutic Rehab Programme according to Clinical Subtypes
Authors: Pruessmann Jonathan , Pursche Telja , Hammersen Friederike , Katalinic Alexander , Fischer Dorothea , Waldmann Annika
Published: May 2020

Background: Breast cancer in young women is associated with unfavourable tumour biology and is the main cause of death in this group. Conditional survival analysis estimates survival rates under the pre-condition of already having survived a certain time. Objectives: To describe conditional disease-free and overall survival of female breast cancer patients according to clinical subtypes and age. Methods: This study analyses information from 1,858 breast cancer patients aged between 21 and 54 years, who were taking part in a post-therapeutic rehab programme (time between diagnosis and rehab start: maximum 24, median 11 months). Mean follow-up time was 3.6 years. We describe biological, clinical and pathological features in regard to different age groups (<40 and ≥40 years) and report conditional 5-year survival rates for overall and disease-free survival, and Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Very young and young patients differed in regard to hormone receptor negativity, tumour grade, lymphovascular invasion, and molecular subtypes. Young women bore triple-negative and HER2-like disease more frequently. Conditional 5-year overall survival did not differ substantially between women <40 and 40–54 years of age (95 vs. 96%). It was highest for women with cancer of the luminal A subtype (98%) and lowest for the triple-negative subtype (91%). Lymphangiosis was a significant predictor of death. Results for disease-free survival were comparable. Conclusions: Conditional 5-year overall survival after non-metastatic breast cancer was as high as 95.5%, and disease-free survival was 85.2%. When controlling for time between diagnosis and rehab start, molecular subtypes influenced overall and disease-free survival prospects. When additionally controlling for clinical characteristics, this effect only remained stable for disease-free survival.
A Changing Paradigm for the Treatment of Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Consensus Statements
Authors: Kudo Masatoshi , Han Kwang-Hyub , Ye Sheng-Long , Zhou Jian , Huang Yi-Hsiang , Lin Shi-Ming , Wang Chung-Kwe , Ikeda Masafumi , Chan Stephen Lam , Choo Su Pin , Miyayama Shiro , Cheng Ann Lii ,   on behalf of the APPLE Association
Published: May 2020

The Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert (APPLE) Consensus Statement on the treatment strategy for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was established on August 31, 2019, in Sapporo, Hokkaido during the 10th Annual APPLE Meeting. This manuscript summarizes the international consensus statements developed at APPLE 2019. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the only guideline-recommended global standard of care for intermediate-stage HCC. However, not all patients benefit from TACE because intermediate-stage HCC is a heterogeneous disease in terms of tumor burden and liver function. Ten important clinical questions regarding this stage of HCC were raised, and consensus statements were generated based on high-quality evidence. In intermediate-stage HCC, preservation of liver function is as important as achieving a high objective response (OR) because the treatment goal is to prolong overall survival. Superselective conventional TACE (cTACE) is recommended as the first choice of treatment in patients eligible for effective (curative) TACE, whereas in patients who are not eligible, systemic therapy is recommended as the first choice of treatment. TACE is not indicated as the first-line therapy in TACE-unsuitable patients. Another important statement is that TACE should not be continued in patients who develop TACE failure/refractoriness in order to preserve liver function. Targeted therapy is the recommended first-line treatment for TACE-unsuitable patients. Especially, the drug, which can have higher OR rate, is preferred. Immunotherapy, transarterial radioembolization, TACE + targeted therapy or other modalities may be considered alternative options in TACE-unsuitable patients who are not candidates for targeted therapy. Better liver function, such as albumin-bilirubin grade 1, is an important factor for maximizing the therapeutic effect of systemic therapy.
O fogo de palha de 68
Authors: Pacheco Ana Paula Sá e Souza
Published: May 2020

O ensaio busca analisar o filme No intenso agora (2017), de João Moreira Salles, interrogando o sentido da revisitação de Maio de 1968. Busca também compreender as relações entre o ponto de vista construído pelo filme brasileiro, a partir de cenas de outros filmes, e os protestos de junho de 2013.
Endovascular Intervention Versus Surgery in Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms in Equipoise
Authors: Chai Chung Liang , Pyeong Jeon Jin , Tsai Yi-Hsin , Whittaker Paula , Macdonald R. Loch , Lindgren Antti E. , Ayling Oliver G.S. , Acioly Marcus André , Cohen-Gadol Aaron , Huang Yu-Hua
Published: May 2020

Background and Purpose—

The benefits of endovascular intervention over surgery in the treatment of ruptured aneurysms of anterior circulation remains uncertain. Recently, published studies did not find superiority of endovascular intervention, challenging earlier evidence from a clinical trial. The earlier evidence also had a higher than average proportion of patients in good clinical status, leading to uncertainty about external validity of earlier trials.

Methods—

We performed a systematic review of studies after 2005 under a protocol published in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. Primary outcomes were posttreatment rebleeding and adverse events (procedural complications). Secondary outcomes were dependency at 3 to 6 and 12 months, delayed cerebral ischemia, and seizures.

Results—

Rebleeding was more frequent after endovascular intervention (Peto OR, 2.18 [95% CI, 1.29–3.70]; 3104 participants; 15 studies; I
2
=0%, Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation: very low certainty of evidence). Fewer adverse events were reported with the endovascular intervention (RR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.53–0.95]; 1661 participants; 11 studies; I
2
=14%, Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation: low certainty of evidence). Three to six months dependency (RR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.73–0.93]; 4081 participants; 18 studies; I
2
=15%, Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation: low certainty of evidence) and 12-month dependency (RR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.66–0.86]; 1981 participants; 10 studies; I
2
=0%, Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation: low certainty of evidence) were lower after endovascular intervention.

Conclusions—

This study found consistent results between recent studies and the earlier evidence, in that endovascular intervention results in lower chance of dependency compared with surgery for repair of ruptured anterior circulation aneurysms. A lower proportion of patients in good clinical status in this review supports the application of the earlier evidence.

Registration—

URL:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO
. Unique identifier: CRD42018090396.
Christian Ethics, Public Debate, and Pluralistic Society
Authors: Nikolajsen Jeppe Bach
Published: May 2020

In all its diversity, Lutheran ethics places a pronounced emphasis on the universal aspects of theological ethics. This article argues that due to the increasing pluralization of many societies in recent decades, however, it is becoming more and more relevant to develop the particular aspects of theological ethics in the Lutheran tradition. Holding together both the universal and particular aspects of theological ethics constitutes a position of relevance for a pluralistic societal situation. Such a position enables the Christian church to maintain its distinctiveness and, at the same time, to be engaged in dialogue with other positions. In this way, the church will at once stand for a tradition-determined distinctiveness and be engaged in a tradition-transcending dialogue. Consequently, this position is characterized by both distinctiveness and openness.
The Holy Defense Museum in Tehran, or How to Aestheticize War
Authors: Vanzan Anna
Published: May 2020

In September 2013 the Iranian authorities inaugurated the Holy Defense Museum (Muzeh-i Dafa’-i Moqaddas) in the capital Tehran that also hosts a Martyrs’ Museum (Muzeh-i Shuhada) built in the early 1980s and later renovated. The new museum is part of a grandiose project to commemorate the sacrifice of Iranians during the war provoked by the Iraqi regime (1980–1988). The museum encompasses various aspects of the arts (visual, cinematic, photographic, literary, etc.) shaped to remember and celebrate the martyrs of that war. The 1979 Iranian Revolution and the following Iran-Iraq War produced an enormous amount of visual material; works produced during this crucial period that disrupted the balance of power, both regionally and internationally, constitute an important part of Iran’s recent history. Visual materials produced in that period not only constitute a collective graphic memory of those traumatic years, they also revolutionized Iranian aesthetics. The Islamic Republic of Iran (hereafter IRI) establishment has a long experience in molding contemporary art for political purposes and the Holy Defense Museum represents the zenith of this imposing project. In this paper, I present an analytic and descriptive reading of the museum in light of my direct experience visiting the museum, and I explore its role in maintaining the collective memory of the Iran-Iraq conflict, in celebrating the revolution and in aestheticizing war.
A review of the taxonomic status of the New Caledonia Wattled Bat Chalinolobus neocaledonicus Revilliod, 1914 (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) and Chalinolobus gouldii venatoris Thomas, 1908 from northern Australia
Authors: PARNABY HARRY E , DIVLJAN ANJA , HOYE GLENN
Published: May 2020

The taxonomic status of the New Caledonia Wattled Bat Chalinolobus neocaledonicus Revilliod, 1914 has remained uncertain since its synonymy with mainland Australian Gould’s Wattled Bat C. gouldii (Gray, 1841) in 1971. Although Chalinolobus neocaledonicus is now widely accepted as a valid species, this was based on a tentative taxonomic opinion published in 1995. We examined most of the original material used to justify synonymy with C. gouldii, which included the type series of C. gouldii venatoris, a small northern Australian form that superficially resembles C. neocaledonicus but is currently not generally recognised as a valid subspecies. We found consistent differences in key diagnostic external and cranial criteria that support species status for C. neocaledonicus. We also review the taxonomic status of venatoris. Contrary to previous assessments, our re-interpretation of the taxonomic literature supports subspecific recognition of venatoris. Nevertheless, we are unable to conclusively resolve the status of venatoris because a more complex pattern of variation than a simple latitudinal size cline is apparent in C. gouldii. We argue that recognition of venatoris as the northern subspecies of C. gouldii has merit, pending a comprehensive analysis of variation in mainland C. gouldii to test for the presence of cryptic taxa.
RAP1-RAC1 Signaling Has an Important Role in Adhesion and Migration in HNSCC
Authors: Liu M. , Banerjee R. , Rossa C. , D’Silva N.J.
Published: May 2020

Cell-cell adhesion is a key mechanism to control tissue integrity and migration. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), cell migration facilitates distant metastases and is correlated with poor prognosis. RAP1, a ras-like protein, has an important role in the progression of HNSCC. RAC1 is an integrin-linked, ras-like protein that promotes cell migration. Here we show that loss of cell-cell adhesion is correlated with inactivation of RAP1 confirmed by 2 different biochemical approaches. RAP1 activation is required for cell-matrix adhesion confirmed by adhesion to fibronectin-coated plates with cells that have biochemically activated RAP1. This effect is reversed when RAP1 is inactivated. In addition, RAP1GTP-mediated adhesion is only facilitated through α5β1 integrin complex and is not a function of either α5 or β1 integrin alone. Moreover, the inside-out signaling of RAP1 activation is coordinated with RAC1 activation. These findings show that RAP1 has a prominent role in cell-matrix adhesion via extracellular matrix molecule fibronectin-induced α5β1 integrin and supports a critical role for the RAP1/RAC1 signaling axis in HNSCC cell migration.
Funeral Experience in South Korea: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Park Sungwon , Jang Min Kyeong , Seo Yoo-Jin , Doorenbos Ardith Z.
Published: May 2020

Few studies of death preparation in South Korea are available. This article describes South Koreans’ experiences of death and a funeral in a hospital setting to improve health care providers’ ability to care for dying patients and their family. Using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method, we conducted semistructured interviews with 40 South Koreans who had lost a family member in a hospital setting. Participants’ statements were classified into 12 themes, 5 theme clusters, and 3 categories: (a) vagueness of funeral culture, (b) distortion of meaning in funeral culture, and (c) the need to prepare for death and process grief. Our findings are relevant to hospital-based health care providers who care for dying patients and their family. Targeted educational information could help health care providers better serve patients and family. Policy changes could improve quality of care by allowing health care providers to transition with the family from hospital units to a hospital-based funeral setting.