bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
miR-29b is Involved in Cartilage Autophagy and Muscle Atrophy in a Rat Model of Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Ji Che , Peiyu Jia , Yantao Ma , Qi Han , Xiaolei Wang , Xiujuan Ning , Yongjun Zheng
Published: October 2020

Background

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a progressively degenerative form of arthritis characterized by chondrocyte apoptosis and cartilage degeneration. KOA also involves limb muscle atrophy, especially in the quadriceps muscles. However, there are limited options for the treatment of KOA. miR-29b stimulates apoptosis in the chondrocytes from patients with KOA and muscle atrophy in other models. Therefore, we investigated the therapeutic effect of miR-29b in cartilage autophagy and muscle atrophy.
Methods

Ten rats comprised the control cohort without anterior cruciate ligament transection. The treatment group (KOA induced in the right knee via anterior cruciate ligament transection) was divided into a model untreated group and a miR-29b-antagomir group (miR-29b antagomir injected 1 wk before surgery).
Results

Real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed successful downregulation of miR-29b using antagomir in the joints and muscles. A weight-bearing test showed that miR-29b downregulation affected joint function. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays demonstrated that downregulating miR-29b reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Immunohistochemistry revealed that miR-29b depletion enhanced autophagy by activating LC3 and beclin-1 in the cartilage. Autophagy was stimulated by the activation of MAPK and mTOR signaling. Depletion of miR-29b ameliorated the decrease in the weight of the quadriceps and the quadriceps weight/body weight ratio of the rats. Hematoxylin–eosin and periodic acid–Schiff staining showed that miR-29b downregulation inhibited muscular atrophy. Immunofluorescence showed that miR-29b downregulation affected IGF/PI3K/AKT signaling.
Conclusions

This study demonstrated the therapeutic effect of miR-29b on autophagy in the cartilage and on muscle atrophy in a rat model for KOA, highlighting the potential of miR-29b as a therapeutic target for KOA.
PD-L1 chimeric costimulatory receptor improves the efficacy of CAR-T cells for PD-L1-positive solid tumors and reduces toxicity in vivo
Authors: Liao Qibin , Mao Yunyu , He Huan , Ding Xiangqing , Zhang Xiaoyan , Xu Jianqing
Published: October 2020

Background: On-target off-tumor toxicity impedes the clinical application of chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells (CAR-T cells) in the treatment of solid tumors. Previous reports proved that the combinatorial antigen recognition strategy could improve the safety profile of CAR-T cells by targeting two different tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), one as a CAR-T targeted antigen and the other as a chimeric costimulatory receptor (CCR) ligand. The programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1, also known as B7-H1) is preferentially overexpressed on multiple tumors, it will be highly interesting to explore the potential of PD-L1 as a universal target for designing CCR.Methods: A novel dual-targeted CAR, which is composed of first-generation CD19/HER2 CAR with CD3ζ signaling domain and PD-L1 CCR containing the CD28 costimulatory domain, was constructed and delivered into T cells by pseudotyped lentivirus. The cytokine release, cytotoxicity and proliferation of dual-targeted CAR-T cells were tested in vitro, and their safety and therapeutic efficacy were evaluated using a human tumor xenograft mouse model in vivo.Results: The dual-targeted CAR-T cells exerted a similar cytotoxic activity against CD19/HER2+ tumor cells with or without PD-L1 in vitro, however, enhanced cytokine releases and improved proliferative capacity were only observed in the presence of both CD19/HER2 and PD-L1. Importantly, the dual-targeted CAR-T cells displayed no cytotoxicity against PD-L1+ cells alone in the absence of tumor antigen CD19/HER2. In addition, the dual-targeted CAR-T cells preferably destroyed tumor xenografts bearing both CD19/HER2 and PD-L1, but spared only antigen-positive tumor xenografts without PD-L1 in vivo. Furthermore, PD-L1 CCR also improved the antitumor efficacy of the low-affinity HER2 CAR-T cells against PD-L1+ tumors expressing high levels of HER2.Conclusion: Our observations demonstrated that PD-L1 could be used as a universal target antigen for designing CCR, and the dual-targeted CAR-T cells equipped with PD-L1 CCR could be used to reduce the risk of on-target off-tumor toxicity while retaining their potent antitumor efficacy in the treatment of PD-L1+ solid tumors.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on harm reduction services in Spain
Authors: Picchio Camila A , Valencia Jorge , Doran Jason , Swan Tracy , Pastor Marta , Martró Elisa , Colom Joan , Lazarus Jeffrey V
Published: October 2020

Background: Containment policies and other restrictions introduced by the Spanish government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic present challenges for marginalised populations, such as people who use drugs. Harm reduction centres are often linked to social services, mental health services, and infectious disease testing, in addition to tools and services that help to reduce the harms associated with injecting drugs. This study aimed to explore the impact of the pandemic on these services in four autonomous communities in Spain. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that employed a seven-section structured survey administered electronically to 20 centres in July 2020. Data from the most heavily affected months (March–June) in 2020 were compared to data from the same period in 2019. Averages were calculated with their ranges, rates, and absolute numbers.Results: All 11 responding centres reported having had to adapt or modify their services during the Spanish state of alarm (14 March–21 June 2020). One centre reported complete closure for two months and four reported increases in their operating hours. The average number of service users across all centres decreased by 22% in comparison to the same period in the previous year and the average needle distribution decreased by 40% in comparison to 2019. Most centres reported a decrease in infectious disease testing rates (hepatitis B and C viruses [HBV, HCV], human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and tuberculosis [TB]) for March, April, and May in 2020 compared to the previous year. Reported deaths as a result of overdose did not increase during the state of alarm, but 2/11 (18%) centres reported an increase in overdose deaths immediately after finalisation of the state of alarm.Conclusion: Overall, Spanish harm reduction centres were able to continue operating and offering services by adjusting operating hours. The number of overall service users and needles distributed fell during the Spanish state of alarm lockdown period, suggesting that fewer clients accessed harm reduction services during this time, putting them at greater risk of reusing or sharing injecting equipment, overdosing, acquiring infectious diseases with decreased access to testing or discontinuing ongoing treatment such as methadone maintenance therapy, hepatitis C treatment, or antiretroviral therapy.
Evolution of prosocial behavior in multilayer populations
Authors: Su Qi , McAvoy Alex , Mori Yoichiro , Plotkin Joshua
Published: October 2020

Human societies include many types of social relationships. Friends, family, business colleagues, online contacts, and religious groups, for example, can all contribute to an individual's social life. Individuals may behave differently in different domains, but their success in one domain may nonetheless engender success in another. The complexity caused by distinct, but coupled, arenas of social interaction may be a key driver of prosocial or selfish behavior in societies. Here, we study this problem using multilayer networks to model a population with multiple domains of social interactions. An individual can appear in multiple different layers, each with separate behaviors and environments. We provide mathematical results on the resulting behavioral dynamics, for any multilayer structure. Across a diverse space of structures, we find that coupling between layers tends to promote prosocial behavior. In fact, even if prosociality is disfavored in each layer alone, multilayer coupling can promote its proliferation in all layers simultaneously. We apply these techniques to six real-world multilayer social networks, ranging from the networks of socio-emotional and professional relationships in a Zambian community, to the networks of online and offline relationships within an academic University. Our results suggest that coupling between distinct domains of social interaction is critical for the spread of prosociality in human societies.
Force-FAK Signaling Coupling at Individual Focal Adhesions
Coordinates Mechanosensing and Microtissue Repair
Authors: Zhou Dennis , Fernández-Yagüe Marc , Holland Elijah , García Andrés , Castro Nicolas , O’Neill Eric , Eyckmans Jeroen , Chen Christopher , Fu Jianping , Schlaepfer David D. , García Andrés
Published: October 2020

How adhesive forces are transduced and integrated into biochemical signals at focal adhesions (FAs) is poorly understood. Using cells adhering to deformable micropillar arrays, we demonstrate that traction force and FAK localization as well as traction force and Y397-FAK phosphorylation are linearly coupled at individual FAs on stiff, but not soft, substrates. Similarly, FAK phosphorylation increases linearly with external forces applied to FAs using magnetic beads. This mechanosignaling coupling requires actomyosin contractility, talin-FAK binding, and full-length vinculin that binds talin and actin. Using an in vitro 3D biomimetic wound healing model, we show that force-FAK signaling coupling coordinates cell migration and tissue-scale forces to promote microtissue repair. A simple kinetic binding model of talin-FAK interactions under force can recapitulate the experimental observations. This study provides insights on how talin and vinculin convert forces into FAK signaling events regulating cell migration and tissue repair.
Ulnar Nerve Morphology in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predicts Nerve Recovery After Surgery for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Authors: Kim Jong Seop , Chae Young Ju , Shah Gajendra Mani , Gong Hyun Sik
Published: October 2020

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is helpful for the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS), but its prognostic value for surgical outcomes is unknown. We aimed to determine whether MRI parameters correlated with outcomes after surgery for CuTS. Methods: We reviewed 40 patients who had electrodiagnostic tests and MRIs for CuTS preoperatively and had 6-month evaluations postoperatively. The MRI parameters were ulnar nerve cross-sectional area (UNCSA) measured at 6 different levels around the medial epicondyle (ME), signal intensity changes of innervated muscles of the ulnar nerve, and the presence of ganglion around the ulnar nerve. Other factors assessed were age, symptom duration, symptom severity, presence of diabetes mellitus, and electrodiagnostic parameters including motor nerve conduction velocity (mNCV). We analyzed the factors associated with fair or poor outcomes graded by Wilson-Krout classification. Results: The UNCSA was the largest at ME level and smallest at 3cm distal to ME level. Increased ulnar nerve signal intensity changes were found in 34 subjects and increased forearm muscle signal intensity changes were found in two. Ten patients were found to have ganglia. Twelve patients (30%) had excellent results, 19 (48%) had good, 8 (20%) had fair, and 1 (4%) had a poor result. In univariate analysis, fair or poor outcomes were associated with increased UNCSA 1 cm proximal and 1 cm distal from the ME, the presence of ganglion, and decreased mNCV. In multivariate analysis, fair or poor outcomes were associated with either increased UNCSA 1 cm distal from the ME (OR 11.15; p = 0.019), or increased UNCSA 1 cm proximal from the ME (OR 16.01; p = 0.038) and decreased mNCV (OR 0.92; p = 0.044).Conclusions: This study demonstrated that increased ulnar nerve cross-sectional area on MRI correlated with suboptimal improvement after surgery for CuTS at 6 months follow up. MRI examination for morphologic changes of the ulnar nerve can be helpful for patient consultation on the prognosis of surgery for CuTS.
Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits in a young female: a rare case misdiagnosed and immunosuppressive-treated for over four years
Authors: Xu Zi-Gan , Li Wei-Long , Wang Xi , Zhang Shu-Yuan , Zhang Ying-Wei , Wei Xing , Li Chun-Di , Zeng Ping , Luan Shao-Dong
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUNDProliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits (PGNMID) is a newly recognized rare disease. The renal pathology is characterized by prominent manifestations of membranous hyperplasia, which is easy to misdiagnose. Clinical symptoms are severe. Massive proteinuria and hypoproteinemia are conspicuous, and most patients have renal insufficiency and microscopic hematuria.CASE PRESENTATIONA 27-year-old female was admitted to a hospital for macroscopic hematuria and proteinuria 4 years prior, and renal biopsy in the hospital suggested moderate-to-severe mesangial proliferating glomerulonephritis (MsPGN). She had taken glucocorticoid, cyclophosphamide (CTX), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and other treatments, and achieved brief partial remission. Recently, she visited our hospital due to massive proteinuria. Repeated renal biopsy and anatomic slice re-evaluation 4 years previous revealed monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition in the glomerulus. Bone marrow examination was performed to exclude hematologic malignancy, and the diagnosis was PGNMID. The patient showed remission after 4 cycles of bortezomib (B) + cyclophosphamide (C) + dexamethasone scheme (D).CONCLUSIONPGNMID is usually misdiagnosed as MsPGN or membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). Although it often occurs in middle-aged and elderly individuals, it cannot be readily excluded in young people, even when serum immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) is negative. IgG subtype and light chain staining are necessary in the presence of high suspicion of this disease. An accurate diagnosis at the earliest stage may avoid overuse of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants.
Deletion at an 1q24 locus reveals a critical role of long noncoding RNA DNM3OS in skeletal development
Authors: Yu Ting-ting , Xu Qiu-fan , Huang Hui-jie , Dugan Sarah , Shao Lei , Roggenbuck Jennifer , Liu Xiao-tong , Liu Huai-ze , Hirsch Betsy , Yue Shen , Liu Chen , Cheng Steven
Published: October 2020

Background: Skeletal development and maintenance are complex processes known to be coordinated by multiple genetic and epigenetic signaling pathways. However, the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of crucial epigenetic regulatory molecules, has been under explored in skeletal biology. Results: Here we report a young patient with short stature, hypothalamic dysfunction and mild macrocephaly, who carries a maternally inherited 690kb deletion at Chr.1q24.2 encompassing a noncoding RNA gene, DNM3OS, embedded on the opposite strand in an intron of the DYNAMIN 3 (DNM3)gene. We show that lncRNA DNM3OS sustains the proliferation of chondrocytes independent of two co-cistronic microRNAs miR-199a and miR-214. We further show that nerve growth factor (NGF), a known factor of chondrocyte growth, is a key target of DNM3OS-mediated control of chondrocyte proliferation.Conclusion: This work demonstrates that DNM3OS is essential for preventing premature differentiation of chondrocytes required for bone growth through endochondral ossification.
Acceptability and Impact of Group Interpersonal Therapy (IPT-G) on Kenyan Adolescent Mothers Living with HIV: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Yator Obadia , Khasakhala Lincoln , Stewart Grace John , Kumar Manasi
Published: October 2020

Background Task shifting is a well-tested implementation strategy, within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), that addresses the shortage of trained mental health personnel. Task sharing can increase access to care for patients with mental illnesses. In Kenya, community health workers [CHWs are a combination of community health assistants (CHAs) and community health volunteers (CHVs)], have played a crucial role in this front. In our study, we seek to assess the acceptability and feasibility of IPT-G delivered by CHWs among depressed postpartum adolescents (PPAs) living with HIV.Method Twenty-four PPAs were administered IPT-G by trained CHWs from two health centers. A two-arm study design (IPT-G intervention and treatment as usual) with an intent to treat was used to assess acceptability and feasibility of IPT-G. Participants who scored >10 on Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) and who were 6–12 weeks postpartum were eligible for the study using purposeful sampling. Participants were equally distributed into two groups: one group for intervention and another for wait-list group. This was achieved by randomly allocating numerical numbers and separating those with odd numbers (intervention group) and even numbers (wait-list group). Focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews ascertained the experience and perceptions of the postpartum adolescents and the CHWs. In addition to weekly face-to-face continuous supportive supervision for CHWs, phone calls, short messages services, and WhatsApp instant messaging services were also utilized.Results The CHWs found the intervention useful for their own knowledge and skill-set. On participation, 21out of the 24 adolescents attended all sessions. Most of the adolescents reported improvement in their interpersonal relationships with reduced distress and lessening of HIV-related stigma. Primary health care workers embraced the intervention by availing space for sessions. Conclusion Our study demonstrates possible benefits of task shifting in addressing mental health problems within low-resource settings in Kenya and group IPT is demonstrated to be both acceptable and feasible by health workers and adolescents receiving care.
Photoacoustic and High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging of Systemic Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Kersten Brigit E. , Daoudi Khalid , Ende Cornelia H van den , Hoogen Frank H van den , de Korte Chris L. , Vonk Madelon Clementina
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis starts with an early phase characterized by Raynauds phenomenon, puffy fingers/hands, autoantibodies and a scleroderma nailfold­microscopic pattern. Alterations in the nailfoldmicroscopic pattern are not evident in all early SSc patients. Photoacoustics(PA) and high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) could fulfill this need. The former can measure oxygen saturation while the latter can measure skin thickening. We hypothesize that photoacoustics and high-frequency ultrasound can distinguish (early) SSc patients from individuals with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) by measuring oxygenation of the fingertip and skin thickening.Methods: We compared measurements of the third finger in (early)SSc patients to healthy and PRP individuals. The level of oxygenation and skin thickness were compared between groups. Nailfoldcapillaroscopy was performed on all subjects.Results: Thirty-one adult subjects participated in this study: twelve patients with SSc, 5 patients with early SSc, 5 volunteers with PR and 9 healthy controls. We found a significant difference in oxygen saturation between (early) SSc patients (80.8% ± 8.1 and 77,9% ± 10.5 ) and individuals with PRP (93.9% ± 1.1). Measurements of skin thickening showed a significant difference in (early) SSc patients compared to individuals with PRP (0.48 ± 0.06 mm and 0.51 ±0.16 mm vs. 0.27 ± 0.01 mm). There was no significant difference between healthy and PRP individuals in oxygenation or skin thickening.Conclusion: Photoacoustic and high-frequency ultrasound can distinguish between (early)SSc, PRP and healthy individuals in both oxygenation and skin thickening.
Healing the Next Generation: An Adaptive Agent Model for the Effects of Parental Narcissism
Authors: Jabeen Fakhra , Gerritsen Charlotte , Treur Jan
Published: October 2020

Parents play an important role in the mental development of a child. In our previous work, we addressed how a narcissistic parent influences a child (online/offline) when (s)he is happy and admires the child. Now, we address the influence of a parent who is not so much pleased and, may curse the child for being the reason for his or her unhappiness. An abusive relationship with a parent can also cause trauma and poor mental health of the child. We also address how certain coping behaviors can help the child cope with such a situation. Therefore, the aim of the study is three folds. We present an adaptive agent model of a child, while incorporating the concept of mirroring through social contagion, the avoidance behaviors from a child, and the effects of regulation strategies to cope with stressful situations.
The implementation of remote consulting in UK primary care following the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods longitudinal study
Authors: Murphy Mairead , Scott Lauren , Salisbury Chris , Turner Andrew , Scott Anne , Denholm Rachel , Lewis Rhys , Iyer Geeta , Macleod John , Horwood Jeremy
Published: October 2020

Background: To reduce contagion of COVID-19, in March 2020 UK general practices implemented predominantly remote consulting via telephone, video or online consultation platforms.Aim: To investigate the rapid implementation of remote consulting and explore impact over the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic.Design and Setting: Mixed-methods study in 21 general practices in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.Methods: Quantitative: Longitudinal observational analysis comparing volume and type of consultations in April-July 2020 with April-July 2019. Negative binomial models were used to identify if changes differed amongst different groups of patients. Qualitative: 87 practice staff longitudinal interviews in four rounds investigated practices experience of the move to remote consulting, challenges faced and solutions. A thematic analysis utilised Normalisation Process Theory.Results: There was universal consensus that remote consulting was necessary. This drove a rapid change to 90% remote GP consulting (46% for nurses) by April 2020. Consultation rates reduced in April-July 2020 compared to 2019; GPs/nurses maintained a focus on older patients, shielding patients and patients with poor mental health. Telephone consulting was sufficient for many patient problems, video consulting was used more rarely, and was less essential as lockdown eased. SMS-messaging increased more than three-fold. GPs were concerned about increased clinical risk and some had difficulties setting thresholds for seeing patients face-to-face as lockdown eased.Conclusions: The shift to remote consulting was successful and a focus maintained on vulnerable patients. It was driven by the imperative to reduce contagion and may have risks; post-pandemic, the model may need adjustment.
Overview of Lithium´s Use: A Nationwide Survey
Authors: de Mendiola Xabier Pérez , Hidalgo-Mazzei Diego , Vieta Eduard , González-Pinto Ana
Published: October 2020

Background: Lithium is considered the gold standard treatment for bipolar disorder (BD). Its use as a first-line treatment in BD is supported by current clinical guidelines and scientific evidence. However, over the last two decades it has been observed a downward tendency in lithium´s use in several developed countries. Based on a nationwide survey, the objective of this study is to analyze in a large sample of psychiatrists relevant issues of the use of lithium salts in BD.Methods: Data were collected through an anonymous survey sent by email among 500 psychiatrists who belong to a National Society of Psychiatry (Spanish Society of Biological Psychiatry). The survey is a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 21 items on the most key aspects of the use of lithium (indication, dosage, monitoring and information for patients).Results: 212 psychiatrists completed the survey. 70% of psychiatrists prescribe lithium to more than 50% of patients diagnosed with BD. Adverse effects are the main reason not to use lithium salts. Over 75% of the participants consider lithium salts the treatment of choice for the maintenance phase of BD, both in women and men. Most of the participants (> 50%) start lithium after the first affective episode, use conservative plasma concentrations (0.6-0.8 mmol/L) and generally prescribe it twice a day. 57% of psychiatrists who treat patients under 18 do not use lithium in this population. About 70% of the survey respondents use official protocols to inform and monitor patients who are on lithium treatment.Conclusions: From the results of the present study it can be concluded that the use of lithium in Spain is in line with the recommendations of the main international clinical guidelines and current scientific literature. The first reason not to prescribe lithium in our country is the perception of its adverse effects and not the aspects related to its practical use or its effectiveness. Considering that BD is a chronic disease that has a typical onset in adolescence, the reasons for the low rate of prescription of lithium salts in patients under 18 must be thoroughly studied.
Elevated Procalcitonin and Depression As Risk Factors For Postoperative Delirium In The Elderly After Cardiac Surgery – A Prospective Observational Study.
Authors: Kupiec Anna , Adamik Barbara , Kozera Natalia , Gozdzik Waldemar
Published: October 2020

Background One of the most common complications after cardiac surgery is delirium. Determining the origin of this complication from possible pathomechanisms is difficult. The activation of an inflammatory response during surgery has been suggested as one possible mechanism of delirium. The usefulness of the inflammatory marker procalcitonin (PCT) as a predictor of delirium after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP) has not yet been investigated. Methods The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate the risk of developing postoperative delirium in a group of elderly patients using a multivariate assessment of preoperative (PCT, comorbidities, functional decline, depression) and intraoperative risk factors. 149 elderly patients were included. Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. Results Thirty patients (20%) developed post-operative delirium: hypoactive in 50%, hyperactive in 33%, mixed in 17%. Preoperative PCT above the reference range (> 0.05 ng/mL) was recorded more often in patients who postoperatively developed delirium than in the non-delirium group (50% vs. 27%, p=0.019). After surgery, PCT was significantly higher in the delirium than the non-delirium group: ICU admission after surgery: 0.08 ng/mL, IQR 0.03-0.15 vs. 0.05 ng/mL, IQR 0.02-0.09, p=0.011), and for consecutive days (day 1: 0.59 ng/mL, IQR 0.25-1.55 vs. 0.25 ng/mL, IQR 0.14-0.54, p=0.003; day 2: 1.21 ng/mL, IQR 0.24-3.29 vs. 0.36 ng/mL, IQR 0.16-0.76, p=0.006; day 3: 0.76 ng/mL, IQR 0.48-2.34 vs. 0.34 ng/mL, IQR 0.14-0.66, p=0.001). Patients with delirium were older (74 years, IQR 70 – 76 vs. 69 years, IQR 67 – 74; p=0.038) and more often had functional decline (47% vs. 28%, p=0.041). There was no difference in comorbidities with the exception of anaemia (43% vs. 19%, p=0.006). Depression was detected in 40% of patients with delirium and in 17% without delirium (p=0.005). In a multivariable logistic regression model of preoperative procalcitonin (OR= 3.05; IQR 1.02-9.19), depression (OR=5.02, IQR 1.67-15.10), age (OR=1.14; IQR 1.02-1.26), functional decline (OR=0.76; IQR 0.63-0.91) along with CPB time (OR=1.04; IQR 1.02-1.06) were significant predictors of postoperative delirium. Conclusion A preoperative PCT test and assessment of functional decline and depression may help identify patients at risk for developing delirium after cardiac surgery.
Mice Carrying a Schizophrenia-associated Mutation of the Arhgap10 Gene Are Vulnerable to the Effects of Methamphetamine Treatment on Cognitive Function: Association With Morphological Abnormalities in Striatal Neurons 
Authors: Hada Kazuhiro , Wulaer Bolati , Nagai Taku , Itoh Norimichi , Sawahata Masahito , Sobue Akira , Mizoguchi Hiroyuki , Mori Daisuke , Kushima Itaru , Nabeshima Toshitaka , Ozaki Norio , Yamada Kiyofumi
Published: October 2020

We recently found a significant association between exonic copy-number variations in the Rho GTPase activating protein 10 (Arhgap10) gene and schizophrenia in Japanese patients. Special attention was paid to one patient carrying a missense variant (p.S490P) in exon 17, which overlapped with an exonic deletion in the other allele, because two mutations in the same gene are considered a typical genetic model of severe schizophrenia. Accordingly, we generated a mouse model (ARHGAP10NHEJ/S490P mice) carrying a missense variant and a coexisting frameshift mutation (NHEJ). We examined the spatiotemporal expression of Arhgap10 mRNA in the brain and found the highest expression levels in the striatum and nucleus accumbens (NAc), followed by the frontal cortex in adolescent mice. The expression levels of phosphorylated myosin phosphatase-targeting subunit 1 and phosphorylated p21-activated kinases in the striatum and NAc were significantly increased in ARHGAP10NHEJ/S490P mice compared with WT littermates. ARHGAP10NHEJ/S490P mice exhibited a significant increase in neuronal complexity and spine density in the striatum and NAc. There was no difference in touchscreen-based visual discrimination (VD) learning between ARHGAP10NHEJ/S490P and WT mice, but a significant impairment of VD was evident in ARHGAP10NHEJ/S490P mice but not WT mice when they were treated with methamphetamine. The number of c-Fos-positive cells was significantly increased after methamphetamine treatment in the dorsomedial striatum and NAc core of ARHGAP10NHEJ/S490P mice. Taken together, these results suggested that schizophrenia-associated Arhgap10 gene mutations result in morphological abnormality in the striatum and NAc neurons, which may be associated with vulnerability of cognition to methamphetamine treatment.
Pain Assessment and Management in Care Homes: Understanding the Internal and External Context Through a Scoping Review
Authors: Pringle Jan , Hockley Jo , Alvarado Sofia , Haraldsdottir Erna , Kelly Fiona
Published: October 2020

Background: Internationally, 2-5% of people live in residential or nursing homes, many with multi-morbidities, including severe cognitive impairment. Pain is frequently considered an expected part of old age and morbidity, and may often be either under-reported by care home residents, or go unrecognized by care staff. We conducted a systematic scoping review to explore the complexity of pain recognition, assessment and treatment for residents living in care homes, and to understand the internal and external contexts that might influence its management.Methods: We conducted a scoping review using the methodological framework of Levac and colleagues. Articles were included if they examined pain assessment or management for care or nursing home residents. We searched Medline, CINAHL, ASSIA, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar; reference lists were screened, and website searches carried out of key organisations, to ensure relevant evidence was retrieved, including grey literature. As per the methodolocal framework, stakeholder evidence from 16 local care home managers was also accessed, to undertand their current perspectives.Results: Inclusion criteria were met by 109 studies. Three overarching themes were identified: staff variables and beliefs, pain assessment, and interventions. Evidence from the review indicated a lack of training and staff confidence in relation to pain assessment and management in care homes. This was particularly the case for residents with dementia, who cannot always verbalize their pain, and may resort to behavioral manifestations to try and communicate their distress.Conclusions: This review has highlighted that training and detailed guidelines for the appropriate assessment and treatment of pain are required by care home staff. Professionals external to the care home environment need to be aware of the issues facing care homes staff and residents in order to target their input in the most appropriate way. Internal and external contexts need further examination in order to integrate recognition and assessment of pain, and its management, to the benefit of residents.
Ethnobotanical Biocultural Diversity by Rural Communities in the Cuatrocienegas Valley, Coahuila; Mexico
Authors: Estrada-Castillón Eduardo , Villarreal-Quintanilla José Ángel , Encina-Domínguez Juan Antonio , Jurado-Ybarra Enrique , Cuéllar-Rodríguez Luis Gerardo , Garza-Zambrano Patricio , Arévalo-Sierra José Ramón , Cantú-Ayala Cesar Martín , Himmelsbach Wibke , Salinas-Rodríguez María Magdalena , Gutiérrez-Santillán Tania Vianney
Published: October 2020

BackgroundCuatrociénegas is a region of unique biological, geological, geographical and evolutionary importance. It is part of the Chihuahua Desert, its current population is mestizo; however, it protects a high historical, cultural and tourist relevance. It has been listed as Area of Protection of Flora and Fauna by Mexican law, as well as a site of High Protection by the World Wildlife Fund and UNESCO. Because of its complex biological and sociocultural characteristics, we consider it important to find out, determine, identify and analyze the traditional ethnobotanical knowledge and practices in this region.MethodsBetween 2016 and 2019, seven field trips were carried out to document and photograph the knowledge and use of the flora by local people. Cuatrociénegas is a protected area, collecting botanical material is regulated, so specimens were collected in communities surrounding the city, and also in public and private gardens; later permission was obtained to complete the collection of specimens (2019-2020). The plants were identified and entered into the flora database of the state of Coahuila, as well as deposited in the Herbarium of the Faculty of Forest Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Mexico. One hundred and ten local residents (50 men and 60 women) between the ages of 27 and 91 were interviewed (semi-structured interviews). the cultural importance of ethnobotanical resources (cultural significance index) and its contribution regarding ethnobotany wealth in other Biosphere Reserves (Mann-Whitney test) was evaluated.Results The ethnobotanical information collected from Cuatrociénegas records 158 species and 132 genera in 57 vascular and non-vascular families, registering greater knowledge and use of cultivated species (84) with respect to wild species (74). The diversity of plants reported, compared to other ethnobotanical studies conducted in Biosphere Reserves in Mexico, is notable; the residents pay more attention to medicinal and ornamental plants. The species that presented the highest use values are Larrea tridentata, Jatropha dioica and Machaeranthera pinnatifida, three characteristic species of the desert region.ConclusionsThe particular diversity of wild flora in Cuatrociénegas and its surroundings, combined with the varied flora introduced, is an important natural resource with multiple ethnobotanical applications. The broad knowledge and use of ethnobotany are an example, that biocultural diversity (at the conceptual level) is strongly associated with mestizo groups and semi-urban rural landscapes, ceasing to be exclusive to indigenous regions.
An Analysis of Differential Privacy Research in Location and Trajectory Data
Authors: Errounda Fatima Zahra , Liu Yan
Published: October 2020

Location and trajectory data are routinely collected to generate valuable knowledge about users' pattern behavior. However, releasing location data may jeopardize the privacy of the involved individuals. Differential privacy is a powerful technique that prevents an adversary from inferring the presence or absence of an individual in the original data solely based on the observed data. The first challenge in applying differential privacy in location is that a it usually involves a single user. This shifts the adversary's target to the user's locations instead of presence or absence in the original data. The second challenge is that the inherent correlation between location data, due to people's movement regularity and predictability, gives the adversary an advantage in inferring information about individuals. In this paper, we review the differentially private approaches to tackle these challenges. Our goal is to help newcomers to the field to better understand the state-of-the art by providing a research map that highlights the different challenges in designing differentially private frameworks that tackle the characteristics of location data. We find that in protecting an individual's location privacy, the attention of differential privacy mechanisms shifts to preventing the adversary from inferring the original location based on the observed one. Moreover, we find that the privacy-preserving mechanisms make use of the predictability and regularity of users' movements to design and protect the users' privacy in trajectory data. Finally, we explore how well the presented frameworks succeed in protecting users' locations and trajectories against well-known privacy attacks.
Proliferation Ability of Particulated Juvenile Allograft Cartilage
Authors: Zhang Changgui , Zhao Xingyu , Ao Yunong , Cao Jin , Yang Liu , Duan Xiaojun
Published: October 2020

Background: Particulated juvenile allograft cartilage (PJAC) has a good short-term clinical efficacy in repairing articular cartilage defects, but the proliferation ability of PJAC and the biological characteristics of transplanted cells after transplantation are still unclear.Purpose: To study the cartilage proliferation ability of PJAC in repairing full-thickness cartilage defects and the reasons for proliferation to provide experimental evidence for its clinical application.Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.Methods: Twenty Guizhou minipigs were randomly divided into the Autologous cartilage chip transplantation (PJAC) group and Autologous cartilage chip transplantation (ACC) group. In all minipigs, an 8 mm cylindrical full-thickness cartilage defect was created in the femoral trochlea of one knee. The experimental group received PJAC transplantation from five juvenile donor of Guizhou minipigs (PJAC group; n = 10) and the control group received transplantation of autologous cartilage chips (ACC group; n = 10). Both groups were followed at 1, 3 months after surgery; immunohistochemical evaluation of the tissue sections Ki-67, Lin28 was conducted, the positive rate was calculated according to the staining, and the proliferation ability of PJAC was analyzed. Results: All 20 Guizhou minipigs were followed, and there was no infection or incision healing disorder after surgery. By Ki-67 and Lin28 immunohistochemistry, the positive rates of Ki-67 were (88.9±0.2)% in the PJAC group and (28.3±3.6)% in the ACC group at 1 month, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); the positive rates of Lin28 were (34.6±3.3)% in the PJAC group and (7.6±1.4)% in the ACC group at 1 month, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). At 3 months, the positive rates of Ki-67 in PJAC group and ACC group were (53.6±6.9）% and (1.97±0.3%), respectively (P<0.05 ) and the positive rates of Lin28 were (86.6±3.3%) and (1.4±0.3%) , respectively (P<0.01 ).Conclusion: A large animal model was established with Guizhou minipigs and the expression of Ki-67 protein and Lin28 protein in the repaired transplanted tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry was stronger than that of adult cartilage. The proliferation of PJAC within 3 months after 3 months of transplantation was stronger than adult cartilage. The enhanced expression of Lin28 may be one of the mechanisms by which PJAC achieved stronger proliferation ability than adult cartilage.PJAC technology has shown good application prospects for repairing cartilage defects.
Probing 3-d Electrical Conductivity of the Mantle Using 6 Years of Swarm, Cryosat-2 and Observatory Magnetic Data and Exploiting Matrix Q-responses Approach
Authors: Kuvshinov Alexey , Grayver Alexander , Toffner-Clausen Lars , Olsen Nils
Published: October 2020

This study presents results of mapping three-dimensional (3-D) variations of the electrical conductivity in a depths range from 400 to 1200 km using six years of magnetic data from the Swarm and CryoSat-2 satellites as well as from ground observatories. The approach involves the 3-D inversion of matrix Q-responses (transfer functions) that relate spherical harmonic coefficients of external (inducing) and internal (induced) origin of the magnetic potential. Transfer functions were estimated from geomagnetic field variations at periods ranging from 2 to 40 days. We study the effect of different combinations of input data sets on the transfer functions. We also present a new global 1-D conductivity prole based on a joint analysis of satellite tidal signals and global magnetospheric Q-responses.
Perioperative Anaemia is a Risk Factor of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Partial Nephrectomy
Authors: Zhang Shun , Duan Huangqi , Wu Yu , Xia Weimin , Qian Subo , Shen Haibo
Published: October 2020

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) secondary to partial nephrectomy (PN) is a challenging clinical issue. During PN anaemia develops due to haemodilution and blood loss, which decreases oxygen transfer and provokes tissue hypoxia, leading to postoperative adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of perioperative anaemia on postoperative AKI after PN.Methods This retrospective cohort study included 68 adult patients undergoing PN for a single nonmetastatic renal tumor. Detailed clinical information was systematically reviewed and analyzed. Serum concentrations of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and creatinine (sCr) were tested before, 2 hours and 1 day after PN surgery. Perioperative anaemia was assessed according to haematocrit (Ht) value at the same timepoint. Association between perioperative anaemia and postoperative AKI were explored by logistic regression analyses and pearson correlation analysis. Results The rate of perioperative anaemia in patients undergoing PN was 35.3% when the criteria of Ht < 30% was adopted. AKI developed in 32.4% of the patients when KDIGO criteria was applicated and in 51.5% of the patients when the criteria of serum NGAL >150 ng/mL was used. The incidence of AKI in patients with perioperative anaemia was higher than that in patients without anaemia. Univariate logistic regression analyses showed perioperative anaemia was a relevant factor of postoperative AKI in patients undergoing PN.Conclusions Perioperative anaemia might be a risk factor of postoperative AKI after PN. But the detailed interrelation still needs to be verified by large-scale prospective studies.
Risk Factors for Recurrence of Positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA PCR in COVID-19 Convalescence: A Propensity Score Matching Study
Authors: Duan Wei , Liu En , Wang Yun , Xie Dongjing , He Jialin , Yang Shiming
Published: October 2020

Background Some discharged COVID-19 patients were required to be readmitted because of a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test at discontinuation of quarantine for 14 days. However, little is known about the clinical characteristics and underlying pathogenesis of these patients. Methods We followed up 165 confirmed COVID-19 adult inpatients admitted to the First Department of Wuhan HuoShenShan Hospital by phone, 17 of whom were found to be positive again by throat swab SARS-CoV-2 PCR after quarantine. Thirty-four of 148 enrolled patients whose SARS-CoV-2 throat swabs were PCR negative were score matched by one-to-two propensity score matching. The clinical data were statistically analyzed between these two groups.Results The levels of serum-specific IgM antibody in the PCR-positive group were obviously decreased compared to those in the score-matched group. Moreover, the levels of procalcitonin in the PCR-positive group were also significantly lower than those in the score-matched group.Conclusion The increased IgM antibody against SARS-CoV-2 in humoral immunity is beneficial to the clearance of virus in COVID-19 infection. Additionally, the combination of slight bacterial infection is also conducive to the elimination of SARS-CoV-2, probably due to strengthening the immune reaction.
Distinct Molecular Mechanisms Analysis of Obesity Based on Gene Expression Profiles
Authors: Joshi Harish , Vastrad Basavaraj Mallikarjunayya , Joshi Nidhi , Vastrad Chanabasayya Mallikarjunayya
Published: October 2020

Background Obesity is the most common metabolic disorder worldwide. Its progression rate has remained high in recent years. ObjectivesTherefore, the aim of this study was to diagnose important differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated in its development, which may be used as novel biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets for obesity. MethodsThe gene expression profile of E-MTAB-6728 was downloaded from the database. After screening DEGs in each ArrayExpress dataset, we further used the robust rank aggregation method to diagnose 876 significant DEGs including 438 up regulated and 438 down regulated genes. Pathway enrichment analyses and Gene Ontology (GO) were performed by online tool ToppCluster. These DEGs were shown to be significantly enriched in different obesity related pathways and GO functions. Then, the mentha, miRNet and NetworkAnalyst databases were used to construct the protein–protein interaction network, target genes - miRNA regulatory network and target genes - TF regulatory network. The module analysis was performed by the PEWCC1 plug‐in of Cytoscape based on the whole PPI network.Results We finally filtered out HSPA8, ESR1, YWHAH, RPL14, SOD2, BTG2, LYZ and EFNA1 hub genes. Hub genes were validated by ICH analysis, Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis and RT-PCR. The robust DEGs linked with the development of obesity were screened through the ArrayExpress database, and integrated bioinformatics analysis was conducted. ConclusionsOur study provides reliable molecular biomarkers for screening and diagnosis, prognosis as well as novel therapeutic targets for obesity.
DATA DRIVEN PERFORMANCE EVALUATION IN SHIPBUILDING
Authors:   Istanbul Technical University, Bilen Umran , Helvacioglu Sebnem
Published: October 2020

Rapid development in data science keeps paving the way for use of data for many purposes in shipbuilding, both for product development and production, such as Industry 4.0 have been developing many industries. Similar to other industries the evaluation of performance in shipbuilding is the key to success which is closely connected to productivity and lowered costs. Data mining and analysis techniques are used to create effective algorithms to evaluate the performance, also by means of cost estimation based on parametric methods. However, it is usually not very clear how data are collected, organised and prepared for analysing and deriving valuable knowledge as well as algorithms. In most of the cases, having this data requires either continuous investment in expensive software or expensive external expertise which are generally not available for small and medium size shipyards. In this study, considering the needs of the small and medium sized shipyards, a step-by-step methodology is proposed which could be easily applied with widely available low budget software. The application is demonstrated with a case to evaluate the performance of early phase structural design with a data driven cost estimation algorithm.