bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How information sharing at information grounds helps reconnect a religiously divided society? Cafés, Christians and Muslims in Ambon, Indonesia
Authors: Rohman Abdul
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Different worldviews have been posed as constraining to information sharing. Religion is one element that constitutes the way people view the world. In many countries, religion has become a source for violent conflicts. This study investigates how Christians and Muslims in Ambon, Indonesia shared information at cafes situated at border areas and it helped the two religious communities reconcile their different worldviews after over a decade of living in conflicts.

Design/methodology/approach

Informed by information grounds theory, this study analyzes data collected through a series of observation at three cafes situated at border areas and in-depth interviews with 31 informants. The analysis illuminates the processes that enable Christians and Muslims to exchange their different worldviews.

Findings

This study found that, after the conflict, Christian and Muslim communities longed for the interaction they had with the other as it was before the conflict. However, these same communities tended to remain in there religiously homogenous environments as there was a conception that the others' area was unsafe. Cafés at the borders became platforms to fulfill the need to meet with the other, promoting inter-religious interactions. At the cafés, an array of information was shared to establish mutual interests, from which more meaningful interpersonal relationships such as friendship and collaboration arose. Such relationships allowed regular visitors to exchange worldviews, re-stitching the broken social fabric in post-conflict Ambon.

Originality/value

This study expands the applicability of information grounds theory to the context of a religious conflict in Southeast Asia. It demonstrates processes of how continuous interactions at information grounds can gradually facilitate communities with adversarial relationships to exchange their different worldviews.
The complex information needs of disadvantaged young first-time mothers: insights into multiplicity of needs
Authors: Buchanan Steven , Jardine Cara
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to holistically explore the information needs of socioeconomically disadvantaged young first-time mothers and associated issues of complexity.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used survey and semi-structured field interviews with 39 young mothers (aged 15–23) from UK areas of multiple deprivations.

Findings

Participants reported multiple and complex needs spanning interrelated topics of parenting, poverty and personal development. In the majority of instances, participants were either unsure of their ability to meet their needs or needed help with needs, and several described situations of considerable anxiety and stress. Multiplicity is identified and conceptualised as an important factor contributing to complexity, including three component elements: simultaneous occurrence of needs (concurrency), relationships between needs (interconnectivity) and evolving needs (fluidity). In various combinations, these elements influenced a mother's actions and/or ability to selectively attend to needs, with multiple needs often competing for attention, and compounding issues of cognitive load and affect.

Research limitations/implications

This study draws attention to multiplicity of needs as an understudied topic within human information behaviour and calls for further research into how people recognise and attend to complex needs and influencing factors.

Practical implications

This study raises important questions regarding how we approach complexity of information needs in our design and delivery of information systems and services.

Originality/value

Evidences disadvantaged young mothers to have more extensive and complex information needs than previously understood, and identifies and conceptualised multiplicity as an important factor contributing to the complexity of information needs during major life transitions such as motherhood.
The impact of general police officer outlooks on their attitudes toward body-worn cameras
Authors: Phillips Scott W. , Kim Dae-Young , Gramaglia Joseph
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The past five years have seen a growth in studies of police body-worn cameras (BWCs). A large share of the research focused on individual officer attitudes toward these new law enforcement tools. The scholarship, however, focused almost exclusively on their positive and negative perceptions of body cameras or correlations between those attitudes and general officer characteristics. This study examined whether the influence of negative or “concerning” policing attitudes toward body cameras is mediated by other variables, such as officer outlooks toward law enforcement, officers' perceptions of citizen cooperation or their opinions of the public.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was distributed to a convenience sample of police offices from two Northeastern police agencies.

Findings

Findings indicate that the relationship between experience and concerning perceptions of body cameras is mediated by distrust in citizens and perceived civilian cooperation. Further, an office's outlooks regarding aggressive law enforcement tactics do not have a direct effect on concerning perceptions of body cameras, nor do they serve as a mediator between years of experience and concerning perceptions of body cameras.

Originality/value

Findings uncover the nuance and complexity of studying and understanding police officer outlooks and perceptions of BWCs. Future experimental designs should include general outlook measures.
Orchid sexual deceit affects pollinator sperm transfer
Authors: Brunton Martin Amy L. , O'Hanlon James C. , Gaskett Anne C.
Published: April 2020

For many animals, sperm can be a limiting resource and impact lifetime reproductive success. Sperm limitation can arise from reduced male availability in a population, but may also be a consequence of external influences, such as sperm wastage. If sperm is finite and not always cost‐free to produce, do males vary sperm use strategies in response to sperm limitation? One way to answer this is to examine male sperm allocation in response to sexual deception that elicits sperm wastage.

Cryptostylis orchids trick their parasitoid wasp pollinator, male Lissopimpla excelsa, into mating with the flower and ejaculating. For many parasitoids sperm is limited; so this exploitative interaction could impose a high cost to males. Here, we ask whether this duped wasp can become sperm limited, and whether this impacts his ejaculate size following deception. Sperm limitation has implications for his future and lifetime reproductive success, and consequently, the ultimate fitness of the orchid, and the evolutionary maintenance of orchid deception systems in general.

We compared sperm use and availability for male L. excelsa wasps from wild populations that either did or did not co‐occur with sexually deceptive Cryptostylis orchids.

On average, males had ~50,000 sperm cells in their seminal vesicles and ejaculated ~10% of their existing sperm stock in a single encounter. Pollinators that were permitted to mate with an orchid had significantly less sperm than males that were not, suggesting they may become temporarily sperm limited. Pollinators from sites with orchids ejaculate significantly less sperm on orchids than naïve males.

The difference in ejaculate size for pollinators that do and do not co‐occur with orchids may be a consequence of males learning to avoid orchids, or an adaptation to avoid sperm depletion. Alternatively, males may reduce sperm allocation when they perceive more available ‘females’ (either orchids or real females) in the environment. These costs and responses to exploitation show how plants can influence the population dynamics of their pollinators, and, more broadly, provides an explanation for the maintenance antagonistic co‐evolutionary relationships. We suggest that by interfering with the population dynamics of a duped species, exploiters might improve their own persistence.

A free plain language summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
An extracytoplasmic protein and a moonlighting enzyme modulate synthesis of c‐di‐AMP in Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Gibhardt Johannes , Heidemann Jana L. , Bremenkamp Rica , Rosenberg Jonathan , Seifert Roland , Kaever Volkhard , Ficner Ralf , Commichau Fabian M.
Published: April 2020

The second messenger cyclic di‐AMP (c‐di‐AMP) is essential for growth of many bacteria because it controls osmolyte homeostasis. c‐di‐AMP can regulate the synthesis of potassium uptake systems in some bacteria and it also directly inhibits and activates potassium import and export systems, respectively. Therefore, c‐di‐AMP production and degradation have to be tightly regulated depending on the environmental osmolarity. The Gram‐positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes relies on the membrane‐bound diadenylate cyclase CdaA for c‐di‐AMP production and degrades the nucleotide with two phosphodiesterases. While the enzymes producing and degrading the dinucleotide have been reasonably well examined, the regulation of c‐di‐AMP production is not well understood yet. Here we demonstrate that the extracytoplasmic regulator CdaR interacts with CdaA via its transmembrane helix to modulate c‐di‐AMP production. Moreover, we show that the phosphoglucosamine mutase GlmM forms a complex with CdaA and inhibits the diadenylate cyclase activity in vitro. We also found that GlmM inhibits c‐di‐AMP production in L. monocytogenes when the bacteria encounter osmotic stress. Thus, GlmM is the major factor controlling the activity of CdaA in vivo. GlmM can be assigned to the class of moonlighting proteins because it is active in metabolism and adjusts the cellular turgor depending on environmental osmolarity.
Response to letter from Dr Scoggin regarding ‘What is the best treatment for mares with post‐partum haemorrhage?’
Authors: Wilkins P. A.
Published: April 2020

See the critically appraised topic by Wilkins and correspondence by Scoggin.
Testing equality of autocovariance operators for functional time series
Authors: Pilavakis Dimitrios , Paparoditis Efstathios , Sapatinas Theofanis
Published: April 2020

We consider strictly stationary stochastic processes of Hilbert space‐valued random variables and focus on fully functional tests for the equality of the lag‐zero autocovariance operators of several independent functional time series. A moving block bootstrap (MBB)‐based testing procedure is proposed which generates pseudo random elements that satisfy the null hypothesis of interest. It is based on directly bootstrapping the time series of tensor products which overcomessome common difficulties associated with applications of the bootstrap to related testing problems. The suggested methodology can be potentially applied to a broad range of test statistics of the hypotheses of interest. As an example, we establish validity for approximating the distribution under the null of a test statistic based on the Hilbert–Schmidt distance of the corresponding sample lag‐zero autocovariance operators, and show consistency under the alternative. As a prerequisite, we prove a central limit theorem for the MBB procedure applied to the sample autocovariance operator which is of interest on its own. The finite sample size and power performance of the suggested MBB‐based testing procedure is illustrated through simulations and an application to a real‐life dataset is discussed.
Dissection of the Arabidopsis HUA‐PEP gene activity reveals that ovule fate specification requires restriction of the floral A‐function
Authors: Rodríguez‐Cazorla Encarnación , Ripoll Juan‐José , Ortuño‐Miquel Samanta , Martínez‐Laborda Antonio , Vera Antonio
Published: April 2020

Ovules are essential for sexual plant reproduction and seed formation, and are fundamental for agriculture. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing ovule development is far from complete. In Arabidopsis, ovule identity is determined by homeotic MADS‐domain proteins that define the floral C‐ (AG) and D‐ (SHP1/SHP2, STK) functions. Pre‐mRNA processing of these genes is critical and mediated by HUA‐PEP activity, composed of genes encoding RNA‐binding proteins.

In strong hua‐pep mutants, functional transcripts for C‐ and D‐function genes are reduced, resulting in homeotic transformation of ovules. Thus, hua‐pep mutants provide an unique sensitized background to study ovule morphogenesis when C‐ and D‐functions are simultaneously compromised.

We found that hua‐pep ovules are morphologically sepaloid and show ectopic expression of the homeotic class‐A gene AP1. Inactivation of AP1 or AP2 (A‐function genes) in hua‐pep mutants reduced homeotic conversions, rescuing ovule identity while promoting carpelloid traits in transformed ovules. Interestingly, increased AG dosage led to similar results.

Our findings strongly suggest that HUA‐PEP activity is required for correct C and D floral functions, which in turn prevents ectopic expression of class‐A genes in ovules for their proper morphogenesis, evoking the classic A–C antagonism of the ABC model for floral organ development.
Pulsed Laser-Based Hybrid Microscribing of Cu and Al in Salt Solution
Authors: Shiby Sooraj , Srinagalakshmi Nammi , Vasa Nilesh J. , Matsuo Shigeki , Miryala Muralidhar
Published: April 2020

The influence of a subnanosecond pulsed laser-based scribing of copper (Cu) and aluminum (Al) in salt solutions (NaCl and KCl) on the formation of microchannels is reported. This technique allows laser scribing along with selective etching of Cu and Al thin films. The focused laser beam can elevate the surface temperature on the sample and hence the chemical reaction rate, resulting in combined ablation with selective-area etching. The depth of microchannels in Cu and Al films is increased by 3–5 μm using the proposed hybrid technique. The average surface roughness values in the microchannel are decreased compared to that of scribing in water and air. The hybrid approach of laser-based scribing combined with electrochemical etching in neutral salt solutions allows uniform channel with almost no redeposit layer and debris on the channel edges. Further, an approach wherein, an application of direct current (DC) voltage (1.2 V) between the tool and the workpiece while laser scribing of Cu and Al in salt solution was demonstrated to improve the channel depth by few micrometers. This hybrid machining technique has also resulted in a reduction in the surface oxidation near the laser-ablated zone compared to that observed in air and water-based experiments.
Efficacy of Bedaquiline, Alone or in Combination with Imipenem, against Mycobacterium abscessus in C3HeB/FeJ Mice
Authors: Le Moigne Vincent , Raynaud Clément , Moreau Flavie , Dupont Christian , Nigou Jérôme , Neyrolles Olivier , Kremer Laurent , Herrmann Jean-Louis
Published: April 2020

Mycobacterium abscessus
lung infections remain difficult to treat. Recent studies have recognized the power of new combinations of antibiotics, such as bedaquiline and imipenem, although
in vitro
data have questioned this combination. We report that the efficacy of bedaquiline-imipenem combination treatment relies essentially on the activity of bedaquiline in a C3HeB/FeJ mice model of infection with a rough variant of
M. abscessus
. The addition of imipenem contributed to clearing the infection in the spleen.
Ceftazidime-Avibactam Resistance Mediated by the N
346
Y Substitution in Various AmpC β-Lactamases
Authors: Compain Fabrice , Debray Agathe , Adjadj Pauline , Dorchêne Delphine , Arthur Michel
Published: April 2020

Chromosomal and plasmid-borne AmpC cephalosporinases are a major resistance mechanism to β-lactams in
Enterobacteriaceae
and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. The new β-lactamase inhibitor avibactam effectively inhibits class C enzymes and can fully restore ceftazidime susceptibility. The conserved amino acid residue Asn
346
of AmpC cephalosporinases directly interacts with the avibactam sulfonate. Disruption of this interaction caused by the N
346
Y amino acid substitution in
Citrobacter freundii
AmpC was previously shown to confer resistance to the ceftazidime-avibactam combination (CAZ-AVI).
Making football safer for women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of injury prevention programmes in 11 773 female football (soccer) players
Authors: Crossley Kay M , Patterson Brooke E , Culvenor Adam G , Bruder Andrea M , Mosler Andrea B , Mentiplay Benjamin F
Published: April 2020

Objective

To evaluate the effects of injury prevention programmes on injury incidence in any women’s football code; explore relationships between training components and injury risk; and report injury incidence for women’s football.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

Nine databases searched in August 2019.

Eligibility criteria

Randomised controlled trials evaluating any injury prevention programme (eg, exercise, education, braces) were included. Study inclusion criteria were: ≥20 female football players in each study arm (any age, football code or participation level) and injury incidence reporting.

Results

Twelve studies, all in soccer, met inclusion criteria, with nine involving adolescent teams (aged <18 years). All studies (except one) had a high risk of bias. Eleven studies examined exercise-based programmes, with most (9/11) including multiple (≥2) training components (eg, strength, plyometric, balance exercises). Multicomponent exercise programmes reduced overall (any reported) injuries (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.73, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.91) and ACL injuries (IRR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.92). For exercise-based strategies (single-component and multicomponent), hamstring injuries were also reduced (IRR 0.40, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.95). While exercise-based strategies resulted in less knee, ankle and hip/groin injuries, and the use of multiple training components was associated with greater reductions in overall and knee injuries, further studies would be required to increase the precision of these results. The incidence of overall injuries in women’s football was 3.4 per 1000 exposure hours; with ankle injuries most common.

Conclusion

In women’s football, there is low-level evidence that multicomponent, exercise-based programmes reduce overall and ACL injuries by 27% and 45%, respectively.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42018093527.
Codon usage bias affects α-amylase mRNA level by altering RNA stability and cytosine methylation patterns in Escherichia coli
Authors: Xing Yanzi , Gong Ruiqing , Xu Yichun , Liu Kunshan , Zhou Mian
Published: April 2020

Codon usage bias exists in almost every organism and is reported to regulate protein translation efficiency and folding. Besides translation, the preliminary role of codon usage bias on gene transcription has also been revealed in some eukaryotes such as Neurospora crassa. In this study, we took as an example the α-amylase-coding gene (amyA) and examined the role of codon usage bias in regulating gene expression in the typical prokaryote Escherichia coli. We confirmed the higher translation efficiency on codon-optimized amyA RNAs and found that the RNA level itself was also affected by codon optimization. The decreased RNA level was caused at least in part by altered mRNA stability at the post-transcriptional level. Codon optimization also altered the number of cytosine methylation sites. Examination on dcm knockouts suggested that cytosine methylation may be a minor mechanism adopted by codon bias to regulate gene RNA levels. More studies are required to verify the global effect of codon usage and to reveal its detailed mechanism on transcription.
Utilization of biomarkers as predictors of skeletal muscle mitochondrial content after physiological intervention and in clinical settings
Authors: Groennebaek Thomas , Nielsen Joachim , Jespersen Nichlas Riise , Bøtker Hans Erik , de Paoli Frank V. , Miller Benjamin F. , Vissing Kristian
Published: April 2020

The measurement of mitochondrial content is essential for bioenergetic research, as it provides a tool to evaluate whether changes in mitochondrial function are strictly due to changes in content or other mechanisms that influence function. In this perspective, we argue that commonly used biomarkers of mitochondrial content may possess limited utility for capturing changes in content with physiological intervention. Moreover, we argue that they may not provide reliable estimates of content in certain pathological situations. Finally, we discuss potential solutions to overcome issues related to the utilization of biomarkers of mitochondrial content. Shedding light on this important issue will hopefully aid conclusions about the mitochondrial structure-function relationship.
Chloroquine attenuates lithium-induced NDI and proliferation of renal collecting duct cells
Authors: Du Yang , Qian Yun , Tang Xiaomei , Guo Yan , Chen Shuang , Jiang Mingzhu , Yang Bingyu , Cao Weidong , Huang Songming , Zhang Aihua , Jia Zhanjun , Zhang Yue
Published: April 2020

Lithium is widely used in psychiatry as the golden standard for more than 60 yr due to its effectiveness. However, its adverse effect has been limiting its long-term use in clinic. About 40% of patients taking lithium develop nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI). Lithium can also induce proliferation of collecting duct cells, leading to microcyst formation in the kidney. Lithium was considered an autophagy inducer that might contribute to the therapeutic benefit of neuropsychiatric disorders. Thus, we hypothesized that autophagy may play a role in lithium-induced kidney nephrotoxicity. To address our hypothesis, we fed mice with a lithium-containing diet with chloroquine (CQ), an autophagy inhibitor, concurrently. Lithium-treated mice presented enhanced autophagy activity in the kidney cortex and medulla. CQ treatment significantly ameliorated lithium-induced polyuria, polydipsia, natriuresis, and kaliuresis accompanied with attenuated downregulation of aquaporin-2 and Na+-K+-2Cl−cotransporter protein. The protective effect of CQ on aquaporin-2 protein abundance was confirmed in cultured cortical collecting duct cells. In addition, we found that lithium-induced proliferation of collecting duct cells was also suppressed by CQ as detected by proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining. Moreover, both phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin and β-catenin expression, which have been reported to be increased by lithium and associated with cell proliferation, were reduced by CQ. Taken together, our study demonstrated that CQ protected against lithium-induced NDI and collecting duct cell proliferation possibly through inhibiting autophagy.
Diverting Ileostomy Duration Is the Main Determinant of Ileostomy-Related Complications after Surgical Treatment of Rectum Cancer
Authors: Hacim Nadir Adnan , Akbas Ahmet , Meric Serhat , Altinel Yüksel , Karabay Onder , Yavuz Erkan
Published: April 2020

Background. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with the development of ileostomy complications in rectal cancer patients, including those who received neoadjuvant treatment. Methods. This retrospective trial included 133 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for rectal cancer with temporary diverting ileostomy. Patients’ demographic characteristics as well as the pre- and postclosure outcomes and complications were analyzed. Results. In logistic regression analysis, longer duration of ileostomy emerged as a significant independent predictor of any complication during ileostomy. The respective odds ratios for 3–6 months and >6 months vs. <3 months of ileostomy duration were as follows: OR, 4.5 (95% CI, 1.2–16.7), p=0.023; and OR, 15.2 (95% CI, 3.1–75.2), p=0.001. An additional stepwise model also identified hypertension as a significant predictor. In stepwise logistic regression model, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy emerged as significant independent predictor of “any ileostomy-related complication after ileostomy closure”: OR, 4.5 (2.0–10.2), p<0.001. Conclusion. Duration of ileostomy appears to be the main determinant of ileostomy-related complications. Patients who had received neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy had longer ileostomy duration, which may be attributed to the concerns of the surgeon or to the complications themselves.
Single-Cell–Derived Primary Rectal Carcinoma Cell Lines Reflect Intratumor Heterogeneity Associated with Treatment Response
Authors: Braun Rüdiger , Anthuber Lena , Hirsch Daniela , Wangsa Darawalee , Lack Justin , McNeil Nicole E. , Heselmeyer-Haddad Kerstin , Torres Irianna , Wangsa Danny , Brown Markus A. , Tubbs Anthony , Auslander Noam , Gertz E. Michael , Brauer Philip R. , Cam Margaret C. , Sackett Dan L. , Habermann Jens K. , Nussenzweig Andre , Ruppin Eytan , Zhang Zhongqiu , Rosenberg Daniel W. , Ried Thomas
Published: April 2020

Purpose:

The standard treatment of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer consists of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery. However, the response of individual tumors to CRT is extremely diverse, presenting a clinical dilemma. This broad variability in treatment response is likely attributable to intratumor heterogeneity (ITH).

Experimental Design:

We addressed the impact of ITH on response to CRT by establishing single-cell–derived cell lines (SCDCL) from a treatment-naïve rectal cancer biopsy after xenografting.

Results:

Individual SCDCLs derived from the same tumor responded profoundly different to CRT in vitro. Clonal reconstruction of the tumor and derived cell lines based on whole-exome sequencing revealed nine separate clusters with distinct proportions in the SCDCLs. Missense mutations in SV2A and ZWINT were clonal in the resistant SCDCL, but not detected in the sensitive SCDCL. Single-cell genetic analysis by multiplex FISH revealed the expansion of a clone with a loss of PIK3CA in the resistant SCDCL. Gene expression profiling by tRNA-sequencing identified the activation of the Wnt, Akt, and Hedgehog signaling pathways in the resistant SCDCLs. Wnt pathway activation in the resistant SCDCLs was confirmed using a reporter assay.

Conclusions:

Our model system of patient-derived SCDCLs provides evidence for the critical role of ITH for treatment response in patients with rectal cancer and shows that distinct genetic aberration profiles are associated with treatment response. We identified specific pathways as the molecular basis of treatment response of individual clones, which could be targeted in resistant subclones of a heterogenous tumor.
Application of Postprocessing to Watershed-Scale Subseasonal Climate Forecasts over the Contiguous United States
Authors: Baker Sarah A. , Wood Andrew W. , Rajagopalan Balaji
Published: April 2020

Subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) climate forecasting has become a central component of climate services aimed at improving water management. In some cases, operational S2S climate predictions are translated into inputs for follow-on analyses or models, whereas the S2S predictions on their own may provide for qualitative situational awareness. At the spatial scales of water management, however, S2S climate forecasts often suffer from systematic biases, and low skill and reliability. This study assesses the potential to improve S2S forecast skill and salience for watershed applications through the use of postprocessing to harness skills in large-scale fields from the global climate model forecast outputs. To this end, the components-based technique—partial least squares regression (PLSR)—is used to improve the skill of biweekly temperature and precipitation forecasts from the Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2). The PLSR method forms predictor components based on a cross-validated analysis of hindcasts from CFSv2 climate and land surface fields, and the results are benchmarked against raw CFSv2 forecasts, remapped to intermediate-scale watershed areas. We find that postprocessing affords marginal to moderate gains in skill in many watersheds, raising climate forecast skill above a usability threshold over the four seasons analyzed. In other locations, however, postprocessing fails to improve skill, particularly for extreme events, and can lead to unreliably narrow forecast ranges. This work presents evidence that the statistical postprocessing of climate forecast system outputs has potential to improve forecast skill, but that more thorough study of alternative approaches and predictors may be needed to achieve comprehensively positive outcomes.
Gallic acid and omega-3 fatty acids decrease inflammatory and oxidative stress in manganese-treated rats
Authors: Owumi Solomon E , Nwozo Sarah O , Effiong Magdalene E , Najophe Eseroghene S
Published: April 2020

Evidence abounds—epidemiological and experimental—linking overexposure to manganese with hepatic and renal dysfunction. We investigated the beneficial effects of gallic acid or omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3-FA) on hepatorenal function in rats exposed to manganese (Mn). Rats were exposed to manganese (15 mg/kg) only or in the presence of ω-3-FA (30 mg/kg) or gallic acid (20 mg/kg) continuously for 14 days. Gallic acid or ω-3-FA co-treatment significantly ( P < 0.05) suppressed manganese-mediated increases in the biomarkers of hepatorenal toxicity. Furthermore, gallic acid or ω-3-FA relieved manganese-induced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione depletion.In addition to decreases in nitric oxide, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α levels, and myeloperoxidase concentration in treated rats, biochemical data on hepatorenal protection were buttressed by our histological findings. Gallic acid or ω-3-FA ameliorated manganese-induced hepatorenal toxicity by reducing the oxidative/inflammatory stress and preserved tissue integrity in rats.

Impact statement

Humans and animals are regularly exposed to toxic chemicals with subsequent adverse effects. Manganese exposure occurs via contaminated sources; over-exposure is associated with neuronal, hepatorenal dysfunction, etc. This work advances the field of natural chemopreventive agents by reporting evidence lacking in the literature on GA and ω-3-FA obtained primarily from the diet in protecting biological beings against toxic chemicals. Individually, GA and ω-3-FA exhibit various pharmacological effects. Our findings confirm the previous reports; however, we demonstrate the additional evidence for GA and ω-3-FA in abating toxic response incumbent on oxidative damage associated with manganese exposure. These findings further underscore the relevance of GA usage in food, cosmetics–pharmaceutical industries, and ω-3-FA as a safe supplement. Dietary supplements with GA and fish oil-rich in ω-3FA may be the potential natural therapy against hepatorenal injury in individuals inadvertently or occupationally exposed to manganese, thereby, promoting human and veterinary health outcomes.
Periconceptional folic acid supplementation and risk of parent-reported asthma in children at 4–6 years of age
Authors: Liu Jufen , Li Zhiwen , Ye Rongwei , Liu Jianmeng , Ren Aiguo
Published: April 2020

Background

Folic acid supplementation is universally recommended for women of child-bearing age to prevent fetal neural tube defects (NTDs). Concerns have arisen over the potential risk for childhood allergy and asthma due to folic acid supplementation. We examined whether periconceptional supplementation with low-dose folic acid only was associated with an increased risk for allergy symptoms or asthma in offspring at 4–6 years of age.

Methods

Out of 247 831 participating women enrolled in 1993–1996, 9090 were randomly selected and their children were followed up in 2000–2001. Information on mothers' demographic characteristics, folic acid supplementation and allergic diseases among children was collected. We used logistic regression to evaluate the association between folic acid intake and risk for allergic disease while adjusting for potential confounding factors.

Results

The rate of allergy symptoms was 1.54% among children whose mothers had taken folic acid compared with 2.04% among those whose mothers had not taken folic acid, and the rate of asthma was 0.92% and 0.88%, respectively. Maternal folic acid supplementation was not associated with risk for allergy symptoms or asthma, with odds ratios (95% CI) of 0.80 (0.58–1.11) and 1.04 (0.67–1.61), respectively. No differences in the occurrence of allergy symptoms or asthma were observed when data were analysed by timing of supplementation or compliance with folic acid supplementation.

Conclusions

Supplementation with low-dose folic acid only during the periconceptional period did not increase risk for allergy symptoms or asthma in children at 4–6 years of age in a population without staple fortification with folic acid.
The penile microbiota of Black South African men: relationship with human papillomavirus and HIV infection
Authors: Onywera Harris , Williamson Anna-Lise , Cozzuto Luca , Bonnin Sarah , Mbulawa Zizipho Z. A. , Coetzee David , Ponomarenko Julia , Meiring Tracy L.
Published: April 2020

Background

To date, the microbiota of the human penis has been studied mostly in connection with circumcision, HIV risk and female partner bacterial vaginosis (BV). These studies have shown that male circumcision reduces penile anaerobic bacteria, that greater abundance of penile anaerobic bacteria is correlated with increased cytokine levels and greater risk of HIV infection, and that the penile microbiota is an important harbour for BV-associated bacteria. While circumcision has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of acquiring human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the relationship of the penile microbiota with HPV is still unknown. In this study, we examined the penile microbiota of HPV-infected men as well as the impact of HIV status.

Results

The penile skin microbiota of 238 men from Cape Town (South Africa) were profiled using Illumina sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene.CorynebacteriumandPrevotellawere found to be the most abundant genera. Six distinct community state types (CSTs) were identified. CST-1, dominated byCorynebacterium, corresponded to less infections with high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) relative to CSTs 2–6. Men in CST-5 had greater relative abundances ofPrevotella,Clostridiales, andPorphyromonasand a lower relative abundance ofCorynebacterium. Moreover, they were significantly more likely to have HPV or HR-HPV infections than men in CST-1. Using a machine learning approach, we identified greater relative abundances of the anaerobic BV-associated bacteria (Prevotella,Peptinophilus, andDialister) and lower relative abundance ofCorynebacteriumin HR-HPV-infected men compared to HR-HPV-uninfected men. No association was observed between HIV and CST, although the penile microbiota of HIV-infected men had greater relative abundances ofStaphylococcuscompared to HIV-uninfected men.

Conclusions

We found significant differences in the penile microbiota composition of men with and without HPV and HIV infections. HIV and HR-HPV infections were strongly associated with greater relative abundances ofStaphylococcusand BV-associated bacterial taxa (notablyPrevotella,PeptinophilusandDialister), respectively.It is possible that these taxa could increase susceptibility to HIV and HR-HPV acquisition, in addition to creating conditions in which infections persist. Further longitudinal studies are required to establish causal relationships and to determine the extent of the effect.
New mutation of the ceruloplasmin gene in the case of a neurologically asymptomatic patient with microcytic anaemia, obesity and supposed Wilson’s disease
Authors: Ondrejkovičová Mária , Dražilová Sylvia , Drakulová Monika , Siles Juan López , Zemjarová Mezenská Renáta , Jungová Petra , Fabián Martin , Rychlý Boris , Žigrai Miroslav
Published: April 2020

Background

Aceruloplasminaemia is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in the ceruloplasmin gene, which is clinically manifested by damage to the nervous system and retinal degeneration. This classical clinical picture can be preceded by diabetes mellitus and microcytic anaemia, which are considered to be early manifestations of aceruloplasminaemia.

Case presentation

In our report, we describe the case of a patient with aceruloplasminaemia detected in an early stage (without clinical symptoms of damage to the nervous system) during the search for the cause of hepatopathy with very low values of serum ceruloplasmin.

Molecular genetic examination of the CP gene for ceruloplasmin identified a new variant c.1664G > A (p.Gly555Glu) in the homozygous state, which has not been published in the literature or population frequency databases to date. Throughout the 21-month duration of chelatase treatment, the patient, who is 43 years old, continues to be without neurological and psychiatric symptomatology. We observed a decrease in the serum concentration of ferritin without a reduction in iron deposits in the brain on magnetic resonance imaging.

Conclusion

Currently, there is no unequivocal recommendation of an effective treatment for aceruloplasminaemia. Early diagnosis is important in the neurologically asymptomatic stage.
The DNA hypermethylation phenotype of colorectal cancer liver metastases resembles that of the primary colorectal cancers
Authors: Orjuela Stephany , Menigatti Mirco , Schraml Peter , Kambakamba Patryk , Robinson Mark D. , Marra Giancarlo
Published: April 2020

Background

Identifying molecular differences between primary and metastatic colorectal cancers—now possible with the aid of omics technologies—can improve our understanding of the biological mechanisms of cancer progression and facilitate the discovery of novel treatments for late-stage cancer. We compared the DNA methylomes of primary colorectal cancers (CRCs) and CRC metastases to the liver. Laser microdissection was used to obtain epithelial tissue (10 to 25 × 106 μm2) from sections of fresh-frozen samples of primary CRCs (n = 6), CRC liver metastases (n = 12), and normal colon mucosa (n = 3). DNA extracted from tissues was enriched for methylated sequences with a methylCpG binding domain (MBD) polypeptide-based protocol and subjected to deep sequencing. The performance of this protocol was compared with that of targeted enrichment for bisulfite sequencing used in a previous study of ours.

Results

MBD enrichment captured a total of 322,551 genomic regions (249.5 Mb or ~ 7.8% of the human genome), which included over seven million CpG sites. A few of these regions were differentially methylated at an expected false discovery rate (FDR) of 5% in neoplastic tissues (primaries: 0.67%, i.e., 2155 regions containing 279,441 CpG sites; liver metastases: 1%, i.e., 3223 regions containing 312,723 CpG sites) as compared with normal mucosa samples. Most of the differentially methylated regions (DMRs; 94% in primaries; 70% in metastases) were hypermethylated, and almost 80% of these (1882 of 2396) were present in both lesion types. At 5% FDR, no DMRs were detected in liver metastases vs. primary CRC. However, short regions of low-magnitude hypomethylation were frequent in metastases but rare in primaries. Hypermethylated DMRs were far more abundant in sequences classified as intragenic, gene-regulatory, or CpG shelves-shores-island segments, whereas hypomethylated DMRs were equally represented in extragenic (mainly, open-sea) and intragenic (mainly, gene bodies) sequences of the genome. Compared with targeted enrichment, MBD capture provided a better picture of the extension of CRC-associated DNA hypermethylation but was less powerful for identifying hypomethylation.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that the hypermethylation phenotype in CRC liver metastases remains similar to that of the primary tumor, whereas CRC-associated DNA hypomethylation probably undergoes further progression after the cancer cells have migrated to the liver.
An exploratory study of the acceptability of indoor residual spraying for malaria control in upper western Ghana
Authors: Suuron Vitalis Mwinyuri , Mwanri Lillian , Tsourtos George , Owusu-Addo Ebenezer
Published: April 2020

Background

Despite the implementation of the World Health Organisation’s recommended indoor residual spraying (IRS) intervention in the upper west region of Ghana to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality, the uptake of this intervention remains low. This study explores the facilitators and barriers to the acceptability and community uptake of indoor residual spraying in a highly endemic region of Ghana.

Methods

The health belief model (HBM) and realist evaluation framework were used to inform the study. A qualitative enquiry was conducted between April to October 2016. Data were collected through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with program stakeholders including community members, AngloGold Ashanti malaria control (AGA Mal) spray operators, and AGA Mal officials.

Results

A total of 101 people participated in the study. Considerable barriers to community acceptance of indoor residual spraying (IRS) were found, including, dislike of spray insecticides, inadequate information, religious and cultural beliefs, perceived low efficacy of IRS, difficulties with packing, unprofessional conduct of IRS spray operators, and other operational barriers to spraying. Facilitators of IRS uptake included a perceived effectiveness of IRS in preventing malaria and reducing mosquito bites, incidental benefits, respect for authority, training and capacity building, and sensitization activities.

Conclusion

The numerous barriers to indoor residual spraying acceptance and implications show that acceptance levels could be improved. However, measures are required to address householders’ concerns and streamline operational barriers to increase community uptake of indoor residual spraying.
Relationship between body composition indicators and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese adults
Authors: Chen Yongchun , He Dongliang , Yang Tingting , Zhou Hao , Xiang Siyun , Shen Lijun , Wen Jing , Chen Shengcai , Peng Songxu , Gan Yong
Published: April 2020

Background

Body composition is a crucial factor associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, no study on this relationship has been performed in the Chinese population. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body composition indicators and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among Chinese adults undergoing medical examination.

Methods

Between January 2018 and July 2018, a retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 3367 (2307 male and 1060 female) participants aged ≥18 years undergoing medical examination in Zhengzhou. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship between body composition indicators and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to calculate cutoff points and the predictive power of each indicator.

Results

Among the 3367 participants, 12.53% were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Multivariate logistic analysis indicated that male participants (odds ratio [OR] = 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–2.19), older participants (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.04–1.06), participants with a waist-to-hip ratio above the reference value (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.18–2.07), participants with body fat percentage above the reference value (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.01–2.68), and participant with a large visceral fat area (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.01–1.02) had a high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage, and visceral fat area were the best indicators of type 2 diabetes mellitus (P < 0.001) with cutoff values of 0.90, 25.02%, and 92.00 cm2, respectively.

Conclusion

This study suggests a predictive relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and body composition indicators of waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage, and visceral fat area, which are valuable for screening diabetes and providing effective health education and behavioral intervention for high-risk populations.
Cancer symptom and risk factor awareness in Malaysia: findings from a nationwide cross-sectional study
Authors: Schliemann Désirée , Ismail Roshidi , Donnelly Michael , Cardwell Christopher R. , Su Tin Tin
Published: April 2020

Background

Cancer incidence in Malaysia is expected to double by 2040. Understanding cancer awareness is important in order to tailor preventative efforts and reduce the cancer burden. The objective of this research was to assess nationwide awareness about the signs and symptoms as well as risk factors for various cancers in Malaysia and identify socio-demographic factors associated with awareness.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted from March–November 2014 in the form of a telephone survey. Participants aged 40 years and above were randomly selected across Malaysia and interviewed using the validated Awareness Beliefs about Cancer (ABC) measurement tool. Linear regression was conducted to test the association between symptom and risk factor recognition and socio-demographic variables.

Results

A sample of 1895 participants completed the survey. On average, participants recognised 5.8 (SD 3.2) out of 11 symptoms and 7.5 (SD 2.7) out of 12 risk factors. The most commonly recognised symptom was ‘lump or swelling’ (74.5%) and the most commonly recognised risk factor was ‘smoking’ (88.7%). Factors associated with prompted awareness were age, ethnicity, education and smoking status.

Conclusion

Recognition of symptom and risk factors for most cancers was relatively low across Malaysia compared to previous studies in high-income countries and to studies conducted in Malaysia. There is a need to conduct regular public health campaigns and interventions designed to improve cancer awareness and knowledge as a first step towards increasing the early detection of cancer.
Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis developed during immunosuppressive treatment in polymyositis with interstitial lung disease: a case report
Authors: Sato S. , Akasaka K. , Ohta H. , Tsukahara Y. , Kida G. , Tsumiyama E. , Kusano K. , Oba T. , Nishizawa T. , Kawabe R. , Yamakawa H. , Amano M. , Matsushima H. , Takada T.
Published: April 2020

Background

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is characterized by the accumulation of surfactant proteins within the alveolar spaces. Autoimmune PAP (APAP) caused by elevated levels of GM-CSF autoantibodies (GM-Ab) is very rarely associated with systemic autoimmune disease. Here we report a case of APAP manifested during immunosuppressive treatment for polymyositis with interstitial lung disease.

Case presentation

A 52-year-old woman treated at our hospital because of polymyositis with interstitial pneumonia had maintained remission by immunosuppressive treatment for 15 years. She had progressive dyspnea subsequently over several months with her chest CT showing ground-glass opacities (GGO) in bilateral geographic distribution. Her bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with cloudy appearance revealed medium-sized foamy macrophages and PAS-positive amorphous eosinophilic materials by cytological examination. We diagnosed her as APAP due to an increased serum GM-CSF autoantibody level. Attenuating immunosuppression failed to lead GGO improvement, but whole lung lavage (WLL) was effective in her condition.

Conclusions

PAP should be considered as one of the differential diseases when the newly interstitial shadow was observed during immunosuppressive treatment. WLL should be regarded as the treatment option for APAP concurred in connective tissue disease (CTD).