bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells attenuate myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury via upregulation of splenic regulatory T cells
Authors: Pang Ling-Xiao , Cai Wen-Wei , Li Qian , Li Heng-Jie , Fei Min , Yuan Yong-Sheng , Sheng Bin , Zhang Ke , An Rong-Cheng , Ou Ying-Wei , Zeng Wen-Jie
Published: April 2021

Background

Myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury (MIRI) is the main pathological manifestation of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction. The potential therapeutic effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and the participation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in MIRI remains to be defined.

Methods

We used the experimental acute MIRI that was induced in mice by left ascending coronary ischemia, which were subsequently randomized to receive immunoglobulin G (IgG) or anti-CD25 antibody PC61 with or without intravenously injected BM-MSCs. The splenectomized mice underwent prior to experimental MIRI followed by intravenous administration of BM-MSCs. At 72 h post-MIRI, the hearts and spleens were harvested and subjected to cytometric and histologic analyses.

Results

CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells were significantly elevated after MIRI in the hearts and spleens of mice receiving IgG + BM-MSCs and PC61 + BM-MSCs compared to the respective control mice (all p < 0.01). This was accompanied by upregulation of interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor β1 and downregulation of creatinine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in the serum. The post-MIRI mice receiving BM-MSCs showed attenuated inflammation and cellular apoptosis in the heart. Meanwhile, splenectomy compromised all therapeutic effects of BM-MSCs.

Conclusion

Administration of BM-MSCs effectively alleviates MIRI in mice through inducing Treg activation, particularly in the spleen.
Hospitalization and surgery rates in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Brazil: a time-trend analysis
Authors: Palacio Flávia Gonçalves Musauer , de Souza Lucila Marieta Perrotta , Moreira Jéssica Pronestino de Lima , Luiz Ronir Raggio , de Souza Heitor Siffert Pereira , Zaltman Cyrla
Published: April 2021

Background

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing globally, and the disease is frequently managed surgically. The aim of this study was to investigate the time trends and geographic distribution of IBD hospitalizations, surgeries and surgical-associated lethality.

Methods

Data from the Brazilian Health Public System were retrospectively collected regarding hospitalizations, in-hospital deaths, IBD-related surgical procedures and lethality from 2005 to 2015.

Results

This eleven-year period revealed decreases in the rates of hospitalization (24%), IBD-related surgeries (35%), and IBD-related surgical lethality (46%). Most surgeries were performed in Crohn’s disease patients, and the predominant procedure was small bowel resection, mostly in young adults. A higher prevalence of ulcerative was observed throughout the country. The highest hospitalization and surgical rates were observed in the more industrialized regions of the South and the Southeast and in the municipalities integrated with metropolitan regions (MRs). The highest surgical-related lethality rates were seen in the less-developed regions and in municipalities not integrated with MRs. The length of hospital stay showed a slight increase throughout the period.

Conclusions

Brazil follows the global trend of decreases in hospitalizations, lethality, surgeries, and surgical lethality associated with IBD. The unequal distribution of hospitalizations and surgeries, concentrated in the industrialized areas, but with a shift towards the Northeast and from urbanized to rural areas, indicates ongoing changes within the country. Reductions in the rates of IBD-related hospitalizations, surgeries and lethality suggest the effectiveness of decentralization and improvements in the quality of public health services and the advances in medical therapy during the study period.
Identifying risk factors for late HIV diagnosis and survival analysis of people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran (1987–2016)
Authors: Mohammadi Younes , Mirzaei Mohammad , Shirmohammadi-Khorram Nasrin , Farhadian Maryam
Published: April 2021

Background

Late-diagnosis of HIV is a major challenge for the control and prevention of AIDS in the world. The present study aimed to specify factors associated with the late diagnosis of HIV in Iran from 1987 to 2016.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, data for 4402 diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients were extracted from 158 behavioral disease counseling centers of 31 Iranian provinces. We defined late diagnosis as having a CD4 count less than 350 within 3 months after diagnosis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors influencing late diagnosis. Moreover, we used multivariate Cox regression to assess the association of these factors with the patients’ survival.

Results

In this study, the prevalence of late diagnosis among the patients was 58.2%. People aged 50 years and over (adjusted OR = 3.55), transmission through blood transfusion (adjusted OR = 2.89), co-infection with tuberculosis (adjusted OR = 2.06), and male gender (adjusted OR = 1.38) were the strongest predictors for late diagnosis of HIV. On the other hand, baseline CD4 (adjusted HR = 2.21), people aged 50 and over (adjusted HR = 1.81), male gender (adjusted HR = 1.76), being a widow (adjusted HR = 1.68), people with unknown transmission way (adjusted HR = 18.24), people who inject drugs (adjusted HR = 1.87), diagnosis at previous years (adjusted HR = 2.45) and co-infection with tuberculosis (adjusted OR = 1.77) significantly associated with the survival of patients.

Conclusion

The prevalence of late diagnosis is high among Iranian HIV/AIDS. The risk factors of late diagnoses include being males and aged 50 years and over, transmission through blood transfusion, and co-infection with tuberculosis. Therefore, implementation of screening programs for early diagnosis of HIV these high risk groups is recommended to Iranian health providers and policymakers.
Prognostic value of inflammation-based indices in patients with resected hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kong Weihao , Yang Mingwei , Zhang Jianfeng , Cheng Ya , Dai Tianxing , Zhang Jian , Wang Guoying , Zhang Jianlin
Published: April 2021

Background

As is well recognized that inflammation plays a crucial role in the genesis and progression of various cancer. Here we investigate the prognostic value of a novel index: the combination of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet distribution width (coNLR-PDW) in post-operation patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to determine the optimal cutoff values of continuous variables, including the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet distribution width (PDW). Kaplan-Meier method and the Log-rank test were used to compare survival differences across three groups stratified by the coNLR-PDW score. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were adopted to identify independent factors of HCC patient’s prognosis.

Results

1.59 and 13.0 were perceived as the optimal cutoff value for NLR and PDW based on the ROC curve, respectively. Kaplan-Meier method revealed that a higher coNLR-PDW score predicts poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P < 0.001). coNLR-PDW was demonstrated as an independent factor for both OS and DFS using Cox regression analysis in training and validation cohort.

Conclusion

coNLR-PDW is recognized as a valuable biomarker for predicting the survival of patients with HCC.
Orbital migration of schistosome eggs: a case report
Authors: Guirou Nouhoum , Resnikoff Serge , Yakoura Abba Kaka Hadja , Gouda Michel , Bakayoko Seydou , Napo Abdoulaye , Elien Rodrigue Romulad , Rocca Robert Della , Sylla Fatoumata , Traoré Lamine
Published: April 2021

Background

Ocular damage, including damage to the conjunctiva, lacrimal gland, eyelids, and orbit, caused by Schistosoma haematobium is sporadic. We report a clinical case of orbital migration of schistosome eggs.

Case presentation

A 14-year-old boy of Malian nationality presented with a painless swelling of the upper right eyelid, which had been gradually increasing for approximately 3 months. Visual acuity was logMAR 0.10 and 0.00 in the right and left eye, respectively. External examination revealed a right palpebral mass, pushing the globe slightly downward and inward. Computed tomography revealed a mass of the right lacrimal gland. Total excision of the mass was performed by transpalpebral orbitotomy. Pathological examination revealed an inflammatory granulomatous infiltrate of the lacrimal gland consisting of lymphocytes, eosinophils, giant cells, epithelioid cell, histiocytes and calcified Schistosoma eggs with terminal spine.

Urine examination revealed eggs of S. haematobium. Praziquantel 40 mg/kg was administered to the patient. The hematuria stopped after 1 week. After 3 years of follow-up, no recurrence was noted.

Conclusions

The bilharzian granuloma of the lacrimal gland is an ectopic site of the parasite. In this case, the granuloma was cured by surgical excision followed by a course of Praziquantel.
Age-related trabecular bone loss is associated with a decline in serum Galectin-1 level
Authors: Xu Wenting , Ni Cheng , Wang Yuxuan , Zheng Guoqing , Zhang Jinshan , Xu Youjia
Published: April 2021

Background

Senile osteoporosis with age-related bone loss is diagnosed depending on radiographic changes of bone and bone mineral density (BMD) measurement. However, radiographic alterations are usually signs of medium-late stage osteoporosis. Therefore, biomarkers have been proposed as indicators of bone loss. In the current study, Galectin-1 (Gal-1) showed age-related decline in mice serum. The role of Gal-1 in osteoporosis has not been investigated so far. Hence, the current study illustrated the relationship of serum Gal-1 level with bone loss.

Methods

We employed 6- and 18-month-old mice to establish an animal model of age-related trabecular bone loss, whose bone density and microstructure were investigated by micro-CT. ELISA was used to measure the levels of Gal-1 in serum. The correlation analysis was performed to illustrate the relationship between serum Gal-1 levels and trabecular bone loss. In addition, immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the abundance of Gal-1 in bone marrow of mice. ELISA and western blot were performed to measure the secretion ability and protein expression of Gal-1 in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC), hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and myeloid progenitor (MP) respectively. Flow cytometry was used to measure BMSC number in bone marrow. Finally, male volunteers with age-related BMD decrease were recruited and the relationship between serum Gal-1 and BMD was analyzed.

Results

Gal-1 showed age-related decline in mice serum. Serum Gal-1 was positively associated with BV/TV of femur, tibia and L1 vertebrae in mice. BMSC secreted more Gal-1 compared with HSC and MP. BMSC number in bone marrow was significantly lower in aged mice compared with young mice. Significant attenuation of Gal-1 protein expression was observed in BMSC and HSC from aged mice compared with young mice. Further, we found a decline in serum Gal-1 levels in men with age-related BMD decrease. There was positive correlation between BMD and serum Gal-1 levels in these men.

Conclusions

Age-related trabecular bone loss is associated with a decline in serum Gal-1 level in mice and men. Our study suggested Gal-1 had great potential to be a biomarker for discovering BMSC senescence, diagnosing early osteoporosis and monitoring trabecular bone loss.
Endovascular treatment of massive hemorrhage arising from inferior thyroid artery after fine needle aspiration of thyroid: a case report
Authors: Jang Ho Sig , Kim Yook
Published: April 2021

Background

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the thyroid gland is an effective and safe method for evaluating thyroid nodules; catastrophic complications following FNA of thyroid are rare. Massive hematomas with active bleeding leading to airway compromise are extremely rare complications of FNA, with only a few reported cases in literature.

Case presentation

An 80 year-old man presented to the emergency room with severe respiratory distress, four hours after undergoing thyroid FNA for the evaluation of a thyroid nodule. An axial neck computed tomography (CT) revealed a large hematoma in the retropharyngeal space that caused anterior deviation of the trachea, with extravasation of contrast media suggesting active bleeding within the hematoma. Right subclavian angiography identified active bleeding from the right inferior thyroid artery (ITA). Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was successfully performed with n-Butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA). Follow-up CT done three weeks after the procedure revealed a low-density lesion in the retropharyngeal space, indicating an old hematoma. The patient recovered well and was discharged 6 weeks later.

Conclusion

Massive hemorrhage arising from the ITA is a rare but possible complication following FNA, which can potentially be fatal. Appropriate preventive measures should be taken while performing FNA, especially in patients on long-term anticoagulant drugs, and prompt intervention is mandatory for patients with acute hematoma after FNA.
Model strategies to address barriers to cervical cancer treatment and palliative care among women in Zimbabwe: a public health approach
Authors: Tapera Oscar , Dreyer Greta , Nyakabau Anna Mary , Kadzatsa Webster , Stray-Pedersen Babill , Hendricks Stephen James Heinrich
Published: April 2021

Background

Cervical cancer treatment and care remains limited in Zimbabwe despite the growing burden of the disease among women. This study was aimed at investigating strategies to address barriers in accessing treatment and care by women with cervical cancer in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Methods

A qualitative inquiry was conducted to generate evidence for this study. Eighty-four (84) participants were purposively selected for interviews and participation in focus group discussions. The participants were selected from cervical cancer patients, caregivers of cervical cancer patients, health workers involved in the care of cervical cancer patients as well as relevant policy makers in the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Participants were selected in such as a way as to ensure different of characteristics to obtain diverse perspectives about the issues under study. Discussion and interview guides were used as data collection tools and discussions/interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and translated into English. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted usingDedoosesoftware.

Results

Salient sub-themes that emerged in the study at the individual patient level were: provision of free or subsidized services, provision of transport to treating health facilities and provision of accommodation to patients undergoing treatment. At the societal level, the sub-themes were: strengthening of health education in communities and training of health workers and community engagement. Salient sub-themes from the national health system level were: establishment of more screening and treatment health facilities, increasing the capacities of existing facilities, decentralization of some services, building of multidisciplinary teams of health workers, development and rolling out of standardized guidelines and reformation of Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS) levy into a fund that would finance priority disease areas.

Conclusion

This study revealed some noteworthy strategies to improve access to cervical cancer treatment and care in low-income settings. Improved domestic investments in health systems and reforming health policies underpinned on strong political are recommended.
Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) as a pathology of postmenopausal women: a case report with literature review
Authors: Bartl Thomas , Wolf Florian , Dadak Christian
Published: April 2021

Background

Due to the scarcity of adequately powered, randomized controlled trials and internationally standardized diagnostic criteria, evidence on the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) is limited. Earlier epidemiologic observations led to the attribution of PCS to the premenopausal state, and a remission of symptoms after menopause is frequently described a hallmark of the pathology. This concept has currently been challenged by radiological studies reporting a notable prevalence of ovarian venous congestion in adult female patients of advanced age. PCS as a pathology of postmenopausal women, however, has not been acknowledged by systematic research to date, impeding appropriate diagnostics and therapy for affected patients.

Case presentation

A 69-year-old postmenopausal patient presented with newly diagnosed dilated and insufficient pelvic veins in combination with characteristic pain anamnesis, thereby fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of PCS. Interventional coil embolization of both ovarian veins as a standard treatment previously described for premenopausal patients was successfully performed, resulting in prompt alleviation of symptoms. The patient remained symptom-free at the 18-month follow-up visit.

Conclusions

Given this first systematically documented case of a patient with postmenopausal symptomatic PCS in the light of recently published data on the prevalence of ovarian venous congestion in patients of advanced age, it may be assumed that PCS is not to be considered a pathology strictly limited to premenopausal state. Further clinical studies expanding the diagnostic scope beyond menopause may help to substantiate evidence and subsequently define standardized therapeutic approaches for affected postmenopausal patients.
Falciparum but not vivax malaria increases the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in women followed prospectively from the first trimester
Authors: Harrington Whitney E. , Moore Kerryn A. , Min Aung Myat , Gilder Mary Ellen , Tun Nay Win , Paw Moo Kho , Wiladphaingern Jacher , Proux Stephane , Chotivanich Kesinee , Rijken Marcus J. , White Nicholas J. , Nosten François , McGready Rose
Published: April 2021

Background

Malaria and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDoP) affect millions of pregnancies worldwide, particularly those of young, first-time mothers. Small case-control studies suggest a positive association between falciparum malaria and risk of pre-eclampsia but large prospective analyses are lacking.

Methods

We characterized the relationship between malaria in pregnancy and the development of HDoP in a large, prospectively followed cohort. Pregnant women living along the Thailand-Myanmar border, an area of low seasonal malaria transmission, were followed at antenatal clinics between 1986 and 2016. The relationships between falciparum and vivax malaria during pregnancy and the odds of gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, or eclampsia were examined using logistic regression amongst all women and then stratified by gravidity.

Results

There were 23,262 singleton pregnancies in women who presented during the first trimester and were followed fortnightly. Falciparum malaria was associated with gestational hypertension amongst multigravidae (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.59, 95%CI 1.59–4.23), whereas amongst primigravidae, it was associated with the combined outcome of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (AOR 2.61, 95%CI 1.01–6.79). In contrast, there was no association between vivax malaria and HDoP.

Conclusions

Falciparum but not vivax malaria during pregnancy is associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Uric acid participating in female reproductive disorders: a review
Authors: Hu Junhao , Xu Wenyi , Yang Haiyan , Mu Liangshan
Published: April 2021

Uric acid (UA) is the end metabolic product of purine metabolism. Early on, UA was considered to be a metabolite with a certain antioxidant capacity. As research has progressed, other properties of UA have been explored, and its association with many diseases has been found. The association between UA and kidney disease and cardiovascular disease is well established; however, there is still a paucity of reviews on the association between UA and the female reproductive system. An increasing number of epidemiological studies have shown elevated serum UA levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, etc. Additionally, serum UA can be used as a predictor of pregnancy complications and adverse foetal outcomes. An increasing number of animal experiments and clinical studies have revealed possible mechanisms related to the involvement of UA in certain female reproductive disorders: oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, etc. This article reviews the current mainstream mechanisms regarding the pathogenesis of UA and the role of UA in certain specific female reproductive disorders (direct involvement in the development of certain diseases or enhancement of other risk factors) in the hope of contributing to clinical prevention, diagnosis, treatment and improvement in prognosis.
A conceptual re-evaluation of reproductive coercion: centring intent, fear and control
Authors: Tarzia Laura , Hegarty Kelsey
Published: April 2021

Background

Reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA) is a hidden form of violence against women. It includes behaviours intended to control or dictate a woman’s reproductive autonomy, for the purpose of either preventing or promoting pregnancy.

Main text

In this commentary, we argue that there is a lack of conceptual clarity around RCA that is a barrier to developing a robust evidence base. Furthermore, we suggest that there is a poor understanding of the way that RCA intersects with other types of violence (intimate partner violence; sexual violence) and—as a result—inconsistent definition and measurement in research and healthcare practice. To address this, we propose a new way of understanding RCA that centres perpetrator intent and the presence of fear and/or control. Recommendations for future research are also discussed.

Conclusion

We suggest that IPV and SV are the mechanisms through which RCA is perpetrated. In other words, RCA cannot exist without some other form of co-occurring violence in a relationship. This has important implications for research, policy and healthcare practice including for screening and identification of women in reproductive healthcare settings.
The prevalence of depression among adolescent with HIV/AIDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ayano Getinet , Demelash Sileshi , Abraha Mebratu , Tsegay Light
Published: April 2021

Background

Depression is particularly common among adolescents with HIV/AIDS and has been associated with disruption of the important developmental process, subsequently leading to a wide range of negative mental, physical and psychosocial consequences, as well as poor quality of life in those population groups. Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, there are no prior systematic reviews and meta-analytic studies that determined the prevalence of depression among adolescents with HIV/AIDS.

Method

We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for relevant literature until May 2020. A random-effect meta-analysis was used to pool prevalence rates from individual studies. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed to identify the source of heterogeneities and to compare the prevalence estimates across the groups. The Joanna Briggs Institute’s quality assessment checklist was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Cochran’s Q and the I2 tests were used to assess heterogeneity between the studies.

Results

A total of ten studies were included for the final analysis, with 2642 adolescents living with HIV/AIDS. Our final meta-analysis showed that more than a quarter of adolescents with HIV had depression [26.07% (95% CI 18.92–34.78)]. The prevalence was highest amongst female adolescents (32.15%) than males (25.07%) as well as amongst the older adolescents aged 15–19 years (37.09%) than younger adolescents aged 10–14 years (29.82%).

Conclusion

Our study shows that a significant proportion of adolescents with HIV had depression, indicating the imperativeness of intervention strategies to alleviate the suffering and possibly reduce the probable negative ramifications.
Potential mechanisms of Guizhi decoction against hypertension based on network pharmacology and Dahl salt-sensitive rat model
Authors: Chen Jiye , Zhang Yongjian , Wang Yongcheng , Jiang Ping , Zhou Guofeng , Li Zhaoyu , Yang Jinlong , Li Xiao
Published: April 2021

Background

Guizhi decoction (GZD), a classical Chinese herbal formula, has been widely used to treat hypertension, but its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The present study aimed to explore the potential mechanisms and therapeutic effects of GZD on hypertension by integrating network pharmacology and experimental validation.

Methods

The active ingredients and corresponding targets were collected from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). The targets related to hypertension were identified from the CTD, GeneCards, OMIM and Drugbank databases. Multiple networks were constructed to identify the key compounds, hub targets, and main biological processes and pathways of GZD against hypertension. The Surflex-Dock software was used to validate the binding affinity between key targets and their corresponding active compounds. The Dahl salt-sensitive rat model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of GZD against hypertension.

Results

A total of 112 active ingredients, 222 targets of GZD and 341 hypertension-related targets were obtained. Furthermore, 56 overlapping targets were identified, five of which were determined as the hub targets for experimental verification, including interleukin 6 (IL-6), C–C motif chemokine 2 (CCL2), IL-1β, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), and MMP-9. Pathway enrichment analysis results indicated that 56 overlapping targets were mainly enriched in several inflammation pathways such as the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Molecular docking confirmed that most active compounds of GZD could bind tightly to the key targets. Experimental studies revealed that the administration of GZD improved blood pressure, reduced the area of cardiac fibrosis, and inhibited the expression of IL-6, CCL2, IL-1β, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in rats.

Conclusion

The potential mechanisms and therapeutic effects of GZD on hypertension may be attributed to the regulation of cardiac inflammation and fibrosis.
Comprehensive description of the current breast cancer microenvironment advancements via single-cell analysis
Authors: Yan Xueqi , Xie Yinghong , Yang Fan , Hua Yijia , Zeng Tianyu , Sun Chunxiao , Yang Mengzhu , Huang Xiang , Wu Hao , Fu Ziyi , Li Wei , Jiao Shiping , Yin Yongmei
Published: April 2021

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with a complex microenvironment consisting of tumor cells, immune cells, fibroblasts and vascular cells. These cancer-associated cells shape the tumor microenvironment (TME) and influence the progression of breast cancer and the therapeutic responses in patients. The exact composition of the intra-tumoral cells is mixed as the highly heterogeneous and dynamic nature of the TME. Recent advances in single-cell technologies such as single-cell DNA sequencing (scDNA-seq), single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and mass cytometry have provided new insights into the phenotypic and functional diversity of tumor-infiltrating cells in breast cancer. In this review, we have outlined the recent progress in single-cell characterization of breast tumor ecosystems, and summarized the phenotypic diversity of intra-tumoral cells and their potential prognostic relevance.
STOUT: SMILES to IUPAC names using neural machine translation
Authors: Rajan Kohulan , Zielesny Achim , Steinbeck Christoph
Published: April 2021

Chemical compounds can be identified through a graphical depiction, a suitable string representation, or a chemical name. A universally accepted naming scheme for chemistry was established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) based on a set of rules. Due to the complexity of this ruleset a correct chemical name assignment remains challenging for human beings and there are only a few rule-based cheminformatics toolkits available that support this task in an automated manner. Here we present STOUT (SMILES-TO-IUPAC-nametranslator), a deep-learning neural machine translation approach to generate the IUPAC name for a given molecule from its SMILES string as well as the reverse translation, i.e. predicting the SMILES string from the IUPAC name. In both cases, the system is able to predict with an average BLEU score of about 90% and a Tanimoto similarity index of more than 0.9. Also incorrect predictions show a remarkable similarity between true and predicted compounds.
Testing the seismic quiescence hypothesis through retrospective trials of alarm-based earthquake prediction in the Kurile–Japan subduction zone
Authors: Katsumata Kei , Nakatani Masao
Published: April 2021

We make trial binary forecasts for the Kurile–Japan subduction zone for the period 1988–2014 by hypothesizing that seismic quiescence (i.e., the absence of earthquakes of M ≥ 5 for a minimum period of Tq) is a precursor of a large (7.5 ≤ Mw < 8.5) earthquake in the coming period Ta within a radius R of the quiescence. We evaluate the receiver-operating-characteristic diagram constructed using a range of forecast models specified by (Tq, R, Ta). A forecast experiment targeting eight large earthquakes in the studied spacetime suggests that the risk of a large earthquake is modestly (probability gain G ~ 2) but significantly (p-value less than 5%) heightened for several years following a long quiescent period of Tq ≥ 9 years, within several tens of kilometers of the quiescence. We then attempt cross-validation, where we use half the data for training [i.e., optimization of (Tq, R, Ta)] and the remaining half for evaluation. With only four target earthquakes available for evaluation of the forecasts in each of the learning and evaluation periods, our forecast scheme did not pass the cross-validation test (with a criterion that the p-value is less than 5%). Hence, we cannot formally deny the possibility that our positive results for the overall period are a ghost arising from over-fitting. However, through detailed comparison of optimal models in the overall test with those in the cross-validation tests, we argue that severe over-fitting is unlikely involved for the modest G of ~ 2 obtained in the overall test. There is thus a reasonable chance that the presently tested type of quiescence will pass the cross-validation test when more target earthquakes become available in the near future. In the meantime, we find that G improves to ~ 5 when target earthquakes are limited to 8 ≤ Mw < 8.5, though we cannot say anything about the possible involvement of over-fitting because we have only three such very large target earthquakes.
Appendicitis with submucosal fecalith mimicking a submucosal tumor: a case report
Authors: Bekki Tomoaki , Fukuda Toshikatsu , Moriuchi Toshiyuki , Namba Yosuke , Okimoto Sho , Mukai Shoichiro , Saito Yasufumi , Oishi Koichi , Nishida Toshihiro , Ohdan Hideki
Published: April 2021

Background

Submucosal fecalith(s) mimicking submucosal tumors of the gastrointestinal lumen are rare. Moreover, accurate preoperative diagnosis of these entities is exceedingly difficult, and the mechanism(s) of their formation remains unclear.

Case presentation

A 40-year-old woman visited the authors’ hospital due to lower abdominal pain and diarrhea. She had previously been treated for endometriosis. Laboratory investigation revealed increased C-reactive protein levels. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed thickening of the appendix wall and dilation of the small intestine. The patient was diagnosed with paralytic ileus caused by appendicitis, and interval appendectomy was scheduled. She underwent laparoscopic-assisted appendectomy after conservative treatment. Partial cecal resection was selected due to the presence of an elastic mass in the cecum. The final pathological diagnosis was submucosal fecalith, not submucosal tumor. On day 5, the patient was discharged without any postoperative complications.

Conclusions

In cases of appendicitis with fecalith(s) that appear as submucosal tumor(s) on colonoscopy, submucosal fecalith mimicking submucosal tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Screening and identification of novel halotolerant bacterial strains and assessment for insoluble phosphate solubilization and IAA production
Authors: Joshi Gajendra , Kumar Vikash , Brahmachari Sunil Kumar
Published: April 2021

Background

Salinity is typical in seashore soils due to the interruption of seawater in the groundwater. Soil microbes of coastal regions play a vital role in increasing plant yields. Microbe-plant associated growth and its wide spectrum with soil environment remain one of the prime factors in agriculture for field application. Making such, in this study, very precise research work is outlined to serve microbial-based solution for solubilizing the insoluble phosphate under various harsh environmental conditions and IAA production. Salt-affected soils along the coast of Bay of Bengal, Sundarbans, India, have been collected.

Results

A total of five isolates effectively solubilize the considerable amount of Tri-calcium phosphate {TCP, (Ca3PO4)2} ranging from 50.67 to 116.66 P2O5 parts per million (ppm) under optimized conditions, i.e., pH 8.0, 5 to 10% saline and 30 °C temperature. Out of five, three produced Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) ranging from 0.054 to 0.183 (g l−1). Identification of isolates has been carried out by morphology, biochemical characterization and 16S rDNA sequencing. Among the sequenced isolates, 1 belonged to Firmicutes, 3 were Proteobacteria and 1 was Actinobacteria.

Conclusion

This is the first report which shows the presence of phosphate solubilizing activity by the member of the genus Halomonas and Halobacillus from the study site. These stress-tolerant bacteria will deliver reliable and cost-effective methods to overcome the existing scenario of saline-affected agriculture.
Improving Tolerance to Snorkel Mask Use as Alternative Personal Protective Equipment
Authors: Aljafar Ghassan , Connelly Neil Roy , Gagnon Greg , Aljafar Hassan
Published: April 2021

Snorkel masks have become an option for personal protective equipment (PPE) due to the shortage of air filtration at least 95% of airborne particle (N95) masks as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We developed a 3D design of a triheaded adapter that connects a snorkel mask to 3 different National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)–approved air filtration at least 99% of airborne particles (N99) filters with the aim of improving wearer comfort. We measured the resistance of the new triheaded adapter to be one-third the resistance of the single adapter. Interdepartmental survey of anesthesiologists showed an improvement in perceived comfort when using the triheaded adapter as compared to the single adapter.
Acute Intraoperative Hypoxemia During Right Pneumonectomy—The Heart and Lung Interaction: A Case Report
Authors: Barragan-Bradford Diana , Gaissert Henning , Vidal Melo Marcos F.
Published: April 2021

A 75-year-old woman with a history of right-upper lobectomy for adenocarcinoma presented for a right completion pneumonectomy due to 2 new fluorodeoxyglucose-avid densities on the remaining lung. After uneventful anesthetic induction and surgical resection with modest blood loss, the patient developed refractory hypoxemia on emergence without significant hemodynamic changes. Despite delivery of fraction of inspired oxygen (Fio2) = 1.0, confirmed position of the double-lumen tube, and exclusion of common causes of hypoxemia, hypoxemia persisted. An emergent transesophageal echocardiogram revealed a significant intracardiac shunt due to a patent foramen ovale. Specific cardiorespiratory management to achieve a positive left-right heart pressure gradient resulted in prompt normoxemia and successful extubation.
The Cemetery and the Novel
Authors: Brooks Peter
Published: April 2021

This essay revisits the question of the fictional person, largely by way of Proust’s claim that the novel offers us nonexistent persons the better to espouse vision through other eyes: knowledge of the world as experienced by another consciousness. If the New Critical stricture against taking fictional characters as real beings—something other than writing on a page—is correct, it does not account for the way in which we imagine, make use of, and interact with the minds of literary characters. Yet Proust’s understanding of the fictional being cohabits with the inevitable death of real persons. As in Henry James, for instance, character may border on nothingness, on illusion—yet it appears an inevitable illusion, one that we need in order to make sense of our lives.
Proust under the Covers
Authors: Pavel Thomas
Published: April 2021

This essay begins as a reminiscence of its author’s early readings, including the first volume of Marcel Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past. It then reflects on Proust’s depiction of his family, his love of art, and his pessimistic views on love.
The Philosophy Class
Authors: Wood Michael
Published: April 2021

Even as a schoolboy Marcel Proust specialized in thoughts of loss and doubt, and in À la recherche du temps perdu, he puts these thoughts to a very particular kind of philosophical work: the cultivation of epistemological (and other) errors that are certainly errors but are in some sense not entirely wrong. A noise is misinterpreted, attributed to an incorrect source, but Proust’s narrator, while scrupulously revising the perception, allows his first take a sort of magical afterlife. This effect is subtly developed in the last volume of the novel, where the narrator completes the experiences of involuntary memory that ground his whole theory of regained time—and also has experiences that contradict the theory, that show time to be ever-elapsing, impossible to regain. He doesn’t endorse the contradiction, and he doesn’t give up his theory. But he doesn’t erase the contradiction either.
The History of My Pleasure in Le Plaisir du texte
Authors: Gallop Jane
Published: April 2021

The author traces her reading of Barthes’s 1973 book, Le Plaisir du texte, over the last five decades. Examining her published writings on the book, she traces how it meshes with her critical attachments to psychoanalysis, feminism, and queer theory. Claiming it as a text that gives her definite pleasure, she finds it also always embroils her in contradiction. She works to understand that contradiction via the articulations of contradiction in Barthes’s text.
Rigor and Imprecision in Literary Studies
Authors: Pavel Thomas
Published: April 2021

The article examines several twentieth-century polemics between mechanist approaches to language and art and studies that emphasize creativity and historical developments. The 1944 exchange between Leonard Bloomfield and Leo Spitzer was an eloquent example of such polemics, as were the various points of view of Russian formalists as well as the French debates concerning historical determinism and creativity in literary studies.
Morphogenetic Interactions before Gastrulation in the Amphibian, Xenopus laevis—Regulation in Blastulae
Authors: Curtis A. S. G.
Published: April 2021

The site of the future dorsal lip of the gastrula is already determined to a considerable degree at the grey-crescent region by the 8-cell stage, probably by means of interactions within the cortex (Curtis, 1962b). But this determination is still easily disturbed because excision of the grey-crescent cortex from the 8-cell stage does not prevent the appearance of a dorsal lip. The embryo forms a new dorsal lip by a process of regulation. Similarly, Votquenne (1933) destroyed the blastomere containing the grey crescent at the 8-cell stage in Rana fusca and nevertheless obtained nearly normal embryos; which result indicated that regulation had happened. At a later stage, late blastula, excision of the cells of the presumptive dorsal lip region does not prevent a dorsal lip forming and subsequent neural induction occurring (Goerttler, 1926) although the embryos are of the abnormal ‘ring’ type. But though regulation in Goerttler’s experiments can hardly have occurred before gastrulation, due to the late stage used, it remains an open question whether the regulation of the embryo after Votquenne’s excision of a micromere or my excision of cortex from the 8-cell stage embryo, happens soon after the operation of excision or whether the necessary interactions amongst cells are delayed until some later stage such as gastrulation. The answer to this question will help to reveal the extent of developmental change before gastrulation. There is reason for thinking that a degree of morphogenesis of the various presumptive regions occurs by late blastula stages because Dalcq (1933) showed that considerable localization of organs had occurred by the late blastula stage of R. fusca.
Wingless, Decapentaplegic and EGF Receptor signaling pathways interact to specify dorso-ventral pattern in the adult abdomen of Drosophila
Authors: Kopp Artyom , Blackman Ronald K. , Duncan Ian
Published: April 2021

Adult abdominal segments of Drosophila are subdivided along the dorso-ventral axis into a dorsal tergite, a ventral sternite and ventro-lateral pleural cuticle. We report that this pattern is largely specified during the pupal stage by Wingless (Wg), Decapentaplegic (Dpp) and Drosophila EGF Receptor (DER) signaling. Expression of wg and dpp is activated at the posterior edge of the anterior compartment by Hedgehog signaling. Within this region, wg and dpp are expressed in domains that are mutually exclusive along the dorso-ventral axis: wg is expressed in the sternite and medio-lateral tergite, whereas dpp expression is confined to the pleura and the dorsal midline. Neither gene is expressed in the lateral tergite. Shirras and Couso (1996, Dev. Biol. 175, 24-36) have shown that tergite and sternite cell fates are specified by Wg signaling. We find that DER acts synergistically with Wg to promote tergite and sternite identities, and that Wg and DER activities are opposed by Dpp signaling, which promotes pleural identity. Wg and Dpp interact antagonistically at two levels. First, their expression is confined to complementary domains by mutual transcriptional repression. Second, Wg and Dpp compete directly with one another by exerting opposite effects on cell fate. DER signaling does not affect the expression of wg or dpp, indicating that it interacts with Wg and Dpp at the level of cell fate determination. Within the tergite, the requirements for Wg and DER function are roughly complementary: Wg is required mainly in the medial region, whereas DER is most important laterally. Finally, we show that Dpp signaling at the dorsal midline controls dorso-ventral patterning within the tergite by promoting pigmentation in the medial region.
Revisiting the Drosophila microchaete lineage: a novel intrinsically asymmetric cell division generates a glial cell
Authors: Gho Michel , Bellaïche Yohanns , Schweisguth François
Published: April 2021

The bristle mechanosensory organs of the adult fly are composed of four different cells that originate from a single precursor cell, pI, via two rounds of asymmetric cell division. Here, we have examined the pattern of cell divisions in this lineage by time-lapse confocal microscopy using GFP imaging and by immunostaining analysis. pI divided within the plane of the epithelium and along the anteroposterior axis to give rise to an anterior cell, pIIb, and a posterior cell, pIIa. pIIb divided prior to pIIa to generate a small subepithelial cell and a larger daughter cell, named pIIIb. This unequal division, oriented perpendicularly to the epithelium plane, has not been described previously. pIIa divided after pIIb, within the plane of the epithelium and along the AP axis, to produce a posterior socket cell and an anterior shaft cell. Then pIIIb divided perpendicularly to the epithelium plane to generate a basal neurone and an apical sheath cell. The small subepithelial pIIb daughter cell was identified as a sense organ glial cell: it expressed glial cell missing, a selector gene for the glial fate and migrated away from the sensory cluster along extending axons. We propose that mechanosensory organ glial cells, the origin of which was until now unknown, are generated by the asymmetric division of pIIb cells. Both Numb and Prospero segregated specifically into the basal glial and neuronal cells during the pIIb and pIIIb divisions, respectively. This revised description of the sense organ lineage provides the basis for future studies on how polarity and fate are regulated in asymmetrically dividing cells.
F-spondin and mindin: two structurally and functionally related genes expressed in the hippocampus that promote outgrowth of embryonic hippocampal neurons
Authors: Feinstein Yael , Borrell Víctor , Garcia Cristina , Burstyn-Cohen Tal , Tzarfaty Vered , Frumkin Ayala , Nose Akinao , Okamoto Hitoshi , Higashijima Shin-ichi , Soriano Eduardo , Klar Avihu
Published: April 2021

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins play an important role in early cortical development, specifically in the formation of neural connections and in controlling the cyto-architecture of the central nervous system. F-spondin and Mindin are a family of matrix-attached adhesion molecules that share structural similarities and overlapping domains of expression. Genes for both proteins contain a thrombospondin type I repeat(s) at the C terminus and an FS1-FS2 (spondin) domain. Both the vertebrate F-spondin and the zebrafish mindins are expressed on the embryonic floor plate. In the current study we have cloned the rat homologue of mindin and studied its expression and activity together with F-spondin in the developing rodent brain. The two genes are abundantly expressed in the developing hippocampus. In vitro studies indicate that both F-spondin and Mindin promote adhesion and outgrowth of hippocampal embryonic neurons. We have also demonstrated that the two proteins bind to a putative receptor(s) expressed on both hippocampal and sensory neurons.