bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brown Slime, the Silver Tsunami, and Apocalyptic Demography: The Importance of Ageism and Age Relations
Authors: Calasanti Toni
Published: April 2020

Despite our awareness of ageism, sociologists rarely examine either old age as a disadvantaged status or age relations as an inequality that intersects with others. I show how this exclusion limits our theory and our work for social justice. I outline age relations and two kinds of ageism that maintain them, one of them obvious and one more insidious and often found in works of social science. Age relations matter not only to our theory and research, but also to debates over social safety nets and other public policy. I focus on the example of the threatening “silver tsunami” in apocalyptic demography and the construction of dependence through the use of age dependency ratios. Neglect of ageism and age relations keeps sociologists unable to contribute to critical policy debates that shape lives across age groups. Researching how age relations intersect with other inequalities yields findings that contradict what many take for granted about such issues as poverty or sexual harassment. Sociology must focus more than it has on an inequality that shames and excludes elders from full citizenship and robs them of control over their lives. We all face that situation if we live long enough.
BTK inhibitor therapy is effective in patients with CLL resistant to venetoclax
Authors: Lin Victor S. , Lew Thomas E. , Handunnetti Sasanka M. , Blombery Piers , Nguyen Tamia , Westerman David A. , Kuss Bryone J. , Tam Constantine S. , Roberts Andrew W. , Seymour John F. , Anderson Mary Ann
Published: April 2020

Highly active BTK inhibitors (BTKis) and the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax have transformed the therapeutic landscape for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Results of prospective clinical trials demonstrate the efficacy of venetoclax to salvage patients with disease progression on BTKis, but data on BTKi therapy after disease progression on venetoclax are limited, especially regarding durability of benefit. We retrospectively evaluated the records of 23 consecutive patients with relapsed/refractory CLL who received a BTKi (ibrutinib, n = 21; zanubrutinib, n = 2) after stopping venetoclax because of progressive disease. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and median overall survival after BTKi initiation were 34 months (range, <1 to 49) and 42 months (range, 2-49), respectively. Prior remission duration ≥24 months and attainment of complete remission or undetectable measurable residual disease on venetoclax were associated with longer PFS after BTKi salvage (P = .044 and P = .029, respectively). BTKi therapy achieved durable benefit for patients with the BCL2 Gly101Val venetoclax resistance mutation (estimated 24-month PFS, 69%). At a median survivor follow-up of 33 months (range, 2-53), 11 patients remained on BTKi and 12 had stopped therapy because of disease progression (n = 8) or toxicity (n = 4). Our findings indicate that BTKi therapy can provide durable CLL control after disease progression on venetoclax.
RDb2C2: an improved method to identify the residue-residue pairing in β strands
Authors: Shao Di , Mao Wenzhi , Xing Yaoguang , Gong Haipeng
Published: April 2020

Background

Despite the great advance of protein structure prediction, accurate prediction of the structures of mainly β proteins is still highly challenging, but could be assisted by the knowledge of residue-residue pairing in β strands. Previously, we proposed a ridge-detection-based algorithm RDb2C that adopted a multi-stage random forest framework to predict the β-β pairing given the amino acid sequence of a protein.

Results

In this work, we developed a second version of this algorithm, RDb2C2, by employing the residual neural network to further enhance the prediction accuracy. In the benchmark test, this new algorithm improves the F1-score by > 10 percentage points, reaching impressively high values of ~ 72% and ~ 73% in the BetaSheet916 and BetaSheet1452 sets, respectively.

Conclusion

Our new method promotes the prediction accuracy of β-β pairing to a new level and the prediction results could better assist the structure modeling of mainly β proteins. We prepared an online server of RDb2C2 athttp://structpred.life.tsinghua.edu.cn/rdb2c2.html.
ddRADseq-assisted construction of a high-density SNP genetic map and QTL fine mapping for growth-related traits in the spotted scat (Scatophagus argus)
Authors: Yang Wei , Wang Yaorong , Jiang Dongneng , Tian Changxu , Zhu Chunhua , Li Guangli , Chen Huapu
Published: April 2020

Background

Scatophagus argusis a popular farmed fish in several countries of Southeast Asia, including China. AlthoughS. argushas a highly promising economic value, a significant lag of breeding research severely obstructs the sustainable development of aquaculture industry. As one of the most important economic traits, growth traits are controlled by multiple gene loci called quantitative trait loci (QTLs). It is urgently needed to launch a marker assisted selection (MAS) breeding program to improve growth and other pivotal traits. Thus a high-density genetic linkage map is necessary for the fine mapping of QTLs associated with target traits.

Results

Using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing, 6196 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were developed from a full-sib mapping population for genetic map construction. A total of 6193 SNPs were grouped into 24 linkage groups (LGs), and the total length reached 2191.65 cM with an average marker interval of 0.35 cM. Comparative genome mapping revealed 23 one-to-one and 1 one-to-two syntenic relationships betweenS. argusLGs andLarimichthys croceachromosomes. Based on the high-quality linkage map, a total of 44 QTLs associated with growth-related traits were identified on 11 LGs. Of which, 19 significant QTLs for body weight were detected on 9 LGs, explaining 8.8–19.6% of phenotypic variances. Within genomic regions flanking the SNP markers in QTL intervals, we predicted 15 candidate genes showing potential relationships with growth, such asHbp1,Vgll4andPim3, which merit further functional exploration.

Conclusions

The first SNP genetic map with a fine resolution of 0.35 cM forS. argushas been developed, which shows a high level of syntenic relationship withL. croceagenomes. This map can provide valuable information for future genetic, genomic and evolutionary studies. The QTLs and SNP markers significantly associated with growth-related traits will act as useful tools in gene mapping, map-based cloning and MAS breeding to speed up the genetic improvement in important traits ofS. argus. The interesting candidate genes are promising for further investigations and have the potential to provide deeper insights into growth regulation in the future.
Inactivation of the T6SS inner membrane protein DotU results in severe attenuation and decreased pathogenicity of Aeromonas veronii TH0426
Authors: Song Haichao , Kang Yuanhuan , Qian Aidong , Shan Xiaofeng , Li Ying , Zhang Lei , Zhang Haipeng , Sun Wuwen
Published: April 2020

Background

The inner membrane protein DotU of Aeromonas veronii is an important component of the minimal core conserved membrane proteome required for the formation of an envelope-transmembrane complex. This protein functions in a type VI secretion system (T6SS), and the role of this T6SS during the pathogenic process has not been clearly described.

Results

A recombinant A. veronii with a partial disruption of the dotU gene (720 bp of the in-frame sequence) (defined as ∆dotU) was constructed by two conjugate exchanges. We found that the mutant ∆dotU allele can be stably inherited for more than 50 generations. Inactivation of the A. veronii dotU gene resulted in no significant changes in growth or resistance to various environmental changes. However, compared with the wild-type strain colony, the mutant ∆dotU colony had a rough surface morphology. In addition, the biofilm formation ability of the mutant ∆dotU was significantly enhanced by 2.1-fold. Conversely, the deletion of the dotU gene resulted in a significant decrease in pathogenicity and infectivity compared to those of the A. veronii wild-type strain.

Conclusions

Our findings indicated that the dotU gene was an essential participant in the pathogenicity and invasiveness of A. veronii TH0426, which provides a novel perspective on the pathogenesis of TH0426 and lays the foundation for discovering potential T6SS effectors.
Phenological variation of flower longevity and duration of sex phases in a protandrous alpine plant: potential causes and fitness significance
Authors: Zhao Zhigang , Hou Meng , Wang Yijie , Du Guozhen
Published: April 2020

Background

Flower longevity plays an important role in pollen dispersal and reproductive success in plants. In dichogamous plants, the duration of anthesis as well as the time allocated to male and female functions can vary in response to intrinsic factors (e.g., flowering time and resource allocation) and pollination context along a growth season. However, the fitness consequences of phenological dynamics have rarely been examined. This study aims to unravel the potential causes driving variation in flower longevity, duration of sex phases, and phenotypic sex during a flowering season of strongly protandrous Aconitum gymnandrum, and particularly reproductive consequences of the phenological pattern.

Results

Population floral sex ratio shifted from completely male at the beginning to completely female at the end of the season, as is common in other protandrous plants. Phenological dynamics of the floral sex ratio and the duration of sex phases caused a shift from femaleness to maleness in the mean phenotypic sex over the whole season. Floral longevity was negatively correlated with flower size and positively affected by temperature. Early flowers within inflorescences rather than early-flowering individuals emphasized the duration of female over male phase. Owing to the dominance of male-phase flowers, early flowering for individual flowers and plants, or female-biased sex resulted in higher pollen deposition per flower and seed set. At the flower level, flower longevity positively affected female reproductive success, while the effect of flower size was negative. By contrast, plant-level female reproductive success was negatively affected by flower longevity but positively correlated to flower size.

Conclusions

The major result of this study lies in elucidating the relationship between variation in phenological sex expression and floral longevity and their fitness consequences of protandrous A. gymnandrum. The contrasting results on female fitness for individual flowers and plants contribute to our current understanding of the adaptive significance of floral longevity.
Hepatitis E virus outbreak associated with rainfall in the Central African Republic in 2008-2009
Authors: Tricou Vianney , Bouscaillou Julie , Laghoe-Nguembe Gina-Laure , Béré Aubin , Konamna Xavier , Sélékon Benjamin , Nakouné Emmanuel , Kazanji Mirdad , Komas Narcisse P.
Published: April 2020

Background

Infection by hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause a high burden of morbidity and mortality in countries with poor access to clean water and sanitation. Our study aimed to investigate the situation of HEV infections in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of the blood samples and notification forms collected through the national yellow fever (YF) surveillance program, but for which a diagnosis of YF was discarded, was carried out using an anti-HEV IgM ELISA and a HEV-specific RT-PCR.

Results

Of 2883 YF-negative samples collected between January 2008 and December 2012, 745 (~ 26%) tested positive by at least either of the 2 tests used to confirm HEV cases. The results revealed that the CAR was hit by a large HEV outbreak in 2008 and 2009. The results also showed a clear seasonal pattern with correlation between HEV incidence and rainfall in Bangui. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the circulating strains belonged to genotypes 1e and 2b.

Conclusions

Overall, this study provides further evidences that HEV can be a significant cause of acute febrile jaundice, particularly among adults during rainy season or flood, in a country from Sub-Saharan Africa.
Molecular characterization of human Echinococcus isolates and the first report of E. canadensis (G6/G7) and E. multilocularis from the Punjab Province of Pakistan using sequence analysis
Authors: Khan Aisha , Ahmed Haroon , Simsek Sami , Liu Hua , Yin Jianhai , Wang Ying , Shen Yujuan , Cao Jianping
Published: April 2020

Background

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease causing serious health problems in both humans and animals in different endemic regions across the world. There are two different forms of human echinococcosis: Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) and Alveolar Echinococcosis (AE). CE is caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato and AE by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. Geographically, CE is universally distributed, while AE is prevalent in the northern hemisphere. Although the disease is endemic in neighboring countries (China, Iran and India) of Pakistan, there are limited reports from that country. Besides, there are no comprehensive data on the genotyping of Echinococcus species in humans based on sequence analysis. This study aimed to detect the presence of human CE and to identify Echinococcus spp. in human isolates through genetic characterization of hydatid cysts in the Punjab Province of Pakistan.

Methods

Genetic analysis was performed on 38 human hydatid cyst samples collected from patients with echinococcosis using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), cytochrome b (cytb) and NADH subunit 1 (nad1). Patient data including age, epidemiological history, sex, and location were obtained from hospital records.

Results

According to the sequence analysis we detected E. granulosus sensu stricto (n = 35), E. canadensis (G6/G7) (n = 2), and E. multilocularis (n = 1). Thus, the majority of the patients (92.1%, 35/38) were infected with E. granulosus s.s. This is the first molecular confirmation of E. canadensis (G6/G7) and E. multilocularis in human subjects from Pakistan.

Conclusions

These findings suggested that E. granulosus s.s. is the dominant species in humans in Pakistan. In addition, E. canadensis (G6/G7) and E. multilocularis are circulating in the country. Further studies are required to explore the genetic diversity in both humans and livestock.
Imaging study of coronal structural matching of the distal radius in normal adults
Authors: Zhang Xin , Yuan Feng , Yin Yong , Fan Jian
Published: April 2020

Background

As an important anatomical basis, coronal structural position matching of the distal radius has long been lacking in terms of a quantitative understanding, and such matching is correlated with the postoperative functional recovery of patients with distal radius fracture. The purpose of this study was to explore the degree of coronal structural matching of the distal radius in a normal population and to improve the detailed anatomical knowledge of the distal radius.

Methods

The reconstructed 3D data were analysed using 3-matic research software from thin-film CT images of 80 normal adults, and the coronal structural matching of the distal radius was studied from two aspects: 1) self-matching of the distal radius; and 2) matching between the distal radius and ulna (i.e., the joint space of the distal radioulnar joint). Specific research methods: 1) The relative position of the medial wall of the distal radius with respect to the lunate was determined as the percentage (%) of the vertical distance from the medial wall of the radius to the most prominent ulnar point of the lunate in the corresponding plane from the ulna to the radius. 2) A total of 9 sets of data were collected for evaluating the palmar lateral spacing, median spacing, and dorsal lateral spacing at the distal, middle, and proximal levels of the radius.

Results

In the study, 9 sets of data were obtained. And the data of self-matching of the coronal structural of distal radius was also obtained, was 45.0% ± 16.2%. The P values in the above data were all greater than 0.05, showing no statistical significance. Finally, data of coronal bone structural matching of distal radius in 80 normal adults were obtained.

Conclusions

Our study refines the anatomical data of the degree of coronal bone structural matching of the distal radius in a normal population. To explore the relationship between coronal alignment and function in cases of distal radius fracture, a standardized approach was established. Thin- film CT may help diagnose patients with dysplasia around the lunate and radioulnar joint that is difficult to diagnose on MRI.
Community-level factors associated with the use of facility-based delivery assistance in Uganda: a multilevel analysis
Authors: Micah Angela E. , Hotchkiss David R.
Published: April 2020

Background

In low- and middle-income countries, the proportion of pregnant women who use health facilities for delivery remains low. Although delivering in a health facility with skilled health providers can make the critical difference between survival and death for both mother and child, in 2016, more than 25% of pregnant women did not deliver in a health facility in Uganda. This study examines the association of contextual factors measured at the community-level with use of facility-based delivery in Uganda, after controlling for household and individual-level factors.

Methods

Pooled household level data of 3310 observations of women who gave birth in the last five years is linked to community level data from the Uganda National Panel Survey (UNPS). A multilevel model that adequately accounted for the clustered nature of the data and the binary outcome of whether or not the woman delivered in a health facility was estimated.

Results

The study findings show a positive association at the county level between place of delivery, education and access to health services, and a negative association between place of delivery and poverty. Individuals living in communities with a high level of education amongst the household heads were 1.67 times (95% Confidence Interval: 1.07–2.61) more likely to have had a facility-based delivery compared to women living in communities where household heads did not have high levels of education. Women who lived in counties with a short travel time (less than 33 min) were 1.66 times (95% CI: 1.11–2.48) more likely to have had a facility-based delivery compared to women who lived in counties with longer travel time to any health facility. Women living in poor counties were only 0.64 times (95% CI: 0.42–0.97) as likely to have delivered in a health facility compared to pregnant women from communities with more affluent individuals.

Conclusions

The findings on household head’s education, community economic status and travel time to a health facility are useful for defining the attributes for targeting and developing relevant nation-wide community-level health promotion campaigns. However, limited evidence was found in broad support of the role of community level factors.
Case report of conjunctival sac fistula after cosmetic lateral canthoplasty
Authors: Zhang Weili , Huang Qinying , Li Jinying
Published: April 2020

Background

To report a case of conjunctival sac fistula after cosmetic lateral canthoplasty which is rare.

Case presentation

A young women who underwent bilateral canthoplasty appeared with lacrimation of the right eye. We found there was a skin fistula with transparent tears at 2 mm lateral to the right canthus ligament and the liquid containing fluorescein was seen to overflow at the fistula after using fluorescein sodium eye drops. The number 7 lacrimal duct probe was visible under the temporal conjunctiva when exploring the fistula, and the fistula was about 4 mm. The patient was diagnosed with conjunctival sac fistula and fistula excision was performed. The patient did not tear abnormally after observation 3 months later and the incision healed well.

Conclusions

The case report illustrates an uncommon post-lateral canthoplasty complication. We suggested that surgeons who perform this kind of surgery should ask about epiphora and look for conjunctival sac fistula at follow-up assessment.
Traumatic prolapse of the globe into the anterior cranial fossa: a case report
Authors: Liu Hui , Hu Shengli , Qin Wei
Published: April 2020

Background

Orbital fracture associated with traumatic intracranial prolapse of the eyeball is rare. In all previously reported cases, vision was severely impaired with no light perception. Herein, we report a case of traumatic prolapse of the globe into the anterior cranial fossa, in which the patient’s vision was preserved by early repositioning.

Case presentation

The present case report focused on a man hit by a steel pipe, leading to prolapse of the globe of the right eye into the anterior cranial fossa through fractures in the superior orbit roof, accompanied by cerebral contusion. The eyeball was immediately repositioned into the orbital cavity, along which the wound tract was debrided and the skull base was repaired. The patient underwent a follow-up period of 12 months, during which the visual acuity increased to 12/20 without any intracranial infections. However, the patient’s ptosis persisted and was associated with complete loss of supraduction.

Conclusions

In this case, early diagnosis and proper globe repositioning with reconstruction of the orbital roof could allow recovery of vision, as well as prevention of intracranial infection.
Relationship between the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and other outcomes: a targeted literature review
Authors: van Dijk Bas C. P. , Svedsater Henrik , Heddini Andreas , Nelsen Linda , Balradj Janita S. , Alleman Cathelijne
Published: April 2020

Background

The Asthma Control Test (ACT) has been used to assess asthma control in both clinical trials and clinical practice. However, the relationships between ACT score and other measures of asthma impact are not fully understood. Here, we evaluate how ACT scores relate to other clinical, patient-reported, or economic asthma outcomes.

Methods

A targeted literature search of online databases and conference abstracts was performed. Data were extracted from articles reporting ACT score alongside one or more of: Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) score; rescue medication use; exacerbations; lung function; health−/asthma-related quality of life (QoL); sleep quality; work and productivity; and healthcare resource use (HRU) and costs.

Results

A total of 1653 publications were identified, 74 of which were included in the final analysis. Of these, 69 studies found that improvement in ACT score was related to improvement in outcome(s), either as correlation or by association. The level of evidence for each relationship differed widely between outcomes: substantial evidence was identified for relationships between ACT score and ACQ score, lung function, and asthma-related QoL; moderate evidence was obtained for relationships between ACT score and rescue medication use, exacerbations, sleep quality, and work and productivity; limited evidence was identified for relationships between ACT score and general health-related QoL, HRU, and healthcare costs.

Conclusions

Findings of this review suggest that the ACT is an appropriate measure for overall asthma impact and support its use in clinical trial settings.

GlaxoSmithKline plc. study number HO-17-18170.
Exploring challenges in quality and safety work in nursing homes and home care – a case study as basis for theory development
Authors: Johannessen Terese , Ree Eline , Aase Ingunn , Bal Roland , Wiig Siri
Published: April 2020

Background

Management, culture and systems for better quality and patient safety in hospitals have been widely studied in Norway. Nursing homes and home care, however have received much less attention. An increasing number of people need health services in nursing homes and at home, and the services are struggling with fragmentation of care, discontinuity and restricted resource availability. The aim of the study was to explore the current challenges in quality and safety work as perceived by managers and employees in nursing homes and home care services.

Method

The study is a multiple explorative case study of two nursing homes and two home care services in Norway. Managers and employees participated in focus groups and individual interviews. The data material was analyzed using directed content analysis guided by the theoretical framework ‘Organizing for Quality’, focusing on the work needed to meet quality and safety challenges.

Results

Challenges in quality and safety work were interrelated and depended on many factors. In addition, they often implied trade-offs for both managers and employees. Managers struggled to maintain continuity of care due to sick leave and continuous external-facilitated change processes. Employees struggled with heavier workloads and fewer resources, resulting in less time with patients and poorer quality of patient care. The increased external pressure affected the possibility to work towards engagement and culture for improvement, and to maintain quality and safety as a collective effort at managerial and employee levels.

Conclusion

Despite contextual differences due to the structure, size, nature and location of the nursing homes and home care services, the challenges were similar across settings. Our study indicates a dualistic contextual dimension. Understanding contextual factors is central for targeting improvement interventions to specific settings. Context is, however, not independent from the work that managers do; it can be and is acted upon in negotiations and interactions to better support managers’ and employees’ work on quality and safety in nursing homes and home care.
Improving cytosolic aspartate biosynthesis increases glucoamylase production in Aspergillus niger under oxygen limitation
Authors: Cao Weiqiang , Wang Guan , Lu Hongzhong , Ouyang Liming , Chu Ju , Sui Yufei , Zhuang Yingping
Published: April 2020

Background

Glucoamylase is one of the most industrially applied enzymes, produced byAspergillusspecies, likeAspergillus niger. Compared to the traditional ways of process optimization, the metabolic engineering strategies to improve glucoamylase production are relatively scarce.

Results

In the previous study combined multi-omics integrative analysis and amino acid supplementation experiment, we predicted four amino acids (alanine, glutamate, glycine and aspartate) as the limited precursors for glucoamylase production inA. niger. To further verify this, five mutants namely OE-ala, OE-glu, OE-gly, OE-asp1 and OE-asp2, derived from the parental strainA. nigerCBS 513.88, were constructed respectively for the overexpression of five genes responsible for the biosynthesis of the four kinds of amino acids (An11g02620,An04g00990,An05g00410,An04g06380andAn16g05570). Real-time quantitative PCR revealed that all these genes were successfully overexpressed at the mRNA level while the five mutants exhibited different performance in glucoamylase production in shake flask cultivation. Notably, the results demonstrated that mutant OE-asp2 which was constructed for reinforcing cytosolic aspartate synthetic pathway, exhibited significantly increased glucoamylase activity by 23.5% and 60.3% compared to CBS 513.88 in the cultivation of shake flask and the 5 L fermentor, respectively. Compared toA. nigerCBS 513.88, mutant OE-asp2 has a higher intracellular amino acid pool, in particular, alanine, leucine, glycine and glutamine, while the pool of glutamate was decreased.

Conclusion

Our study combines the target prediction from multi-omics analysis with the experimental validation and proves the possibility of increasing glucoamylase production by enhancing limited amino acid biosynthesis. In short, this systematically conducted study will surely deepen the understanding of resources allocation in cell factory and provide new strategies for the rational design of enzyme production strains.
Impact of lignans in oilseed mix on gut microbiome composition and enterolignan production in younger healthy and premenopausal women: an in vitro pilot study
Authors: Corona Giulia , Kreimes Anna , Barone Monica , Turroni Silvia , Brigidi Patrizia , Keleszade Enver , Costabile Adele
Published: April 2020

Background

Dietary lignans belong to the group of phytoestrogens together with coumestans, stilbenes and isoflavones, and themselves do not exhibit oestrogen-like properties. Nonetheless, the gut microbiota converts them into enterolignans, which show chemical similarity to the human oestrogen molecule. One of the richest dietary sources of lignans are oilseeds, including flaxseed. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the concentration of the main dietary lignans in an oilseed mix, and explore the gut microbiota-dependent production of enterolignans for oestrogen substitution in young and premenopausal women. The oilseed mix was fermented in a pH-controlled batch culture system inoculated with women’s faecal samples. The lignan content and enterolignan production were measured by ultra‐high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS), and the faecal-derived microbial communities were profiled by 16S rRNA gene-based next-generation sequencing.

Results

In vitro batch culture fermentation of faecal samples inoculated with oilseed mix for 24 h resulted in a substantial increase in enterolactone production in younger women and an increase in enterodiol in the premenopausal group. As for the gut microbiota, different baseline profiles were observed as well as different temporal dynamics, mainly related to Clostridiaceae, and Klebsiella and Collinsella spp.

Conclusions

Despite the small sample size, our pilot study revealed that lignan-rich oilseeds could strongly influence the faecal microbiota of both younger and premenopausal females, leading to a different enterolignan profile being produced. Further studies in larger cohorts are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of lignan-rich diets on the gut microbiota and find out how enterolactone-producing bacterial species could be increased. Diets rich in lignans could potentially serve as a safe supplement of oestrogen analogues to meet the cellular needs of endogenous oestrogen and deliver numerous health benefits, provided that the premenopausal woman microbiota is capable of converting dietary precursors into enterolignans.
Serum albumin level predicts survival after surgical treatment of metastatic femur fractures: a retrospective study
Authors: Sim David Shaoen , Zainul-Abidin Suraya , Sim Eileen Yilin , Seng Chu Sheng , Tan Shern-En Evan , Tan Mann Hong , Howe Tet Sen , Koh Joyce Suang Bee
Published: April 2020

Background

Surgical treatment for metastatic pathological femur fractures is associated with high mortality. Correct estimation of prognosis helps in determining the palliative value of surgical treatment and informs surgical decision. This study evaluates the risk factors for mortality in these patients who were surgically treated.

Methods

This is a retrospective study of 112 patients with surgical treatment of metastatic pathological femur fractures. Risk factors evaluated included age, ASA status, Charlson comorbidity index, preoperative serum albumin and haemoglobin, primary tumour site, presence of visceral metastases, presence of spinal metastases, time from diagnosis of cancer to occurrence of pathological fracture, type of surgical procedure performed, lesion and whether treatment was received for an actual or impending fracture. A Cox regression model was used to determine if these factors were independent significant factors for survival.

Results

Mortality at 2 years after surgical treatment of metastatic femoral fractures was 86%. Cox regression analysis of risk factors revealed that preoperative serum albumin and type primary tumour were independent risk factors for mortality. Presence of visceral metastases was strongly correlated to serum albumin levels.

Conclusion

Preoperative serum albumin level and primary tumour site are independent risk factors of survival in patients treated for pathological femur fractures. Serum albumin level may be used as a prognostic tool to guide treatment in this cohort of patients with high mortality rates.
Patient experience of severe acute dyspnoea and relief during treatment in ambulances: a prospective observational study
Authors: Lindskou Tim Alex , Weinreich Ulla Møller , Lübcke Kenneth , Kløjgaard Torben Anders , Laursen Birgitte Schantz , Mikkelsen Søren , Christensen Erika Frischknecht
Published: April 2020

Background

Acute dyspnoea is common among ambulance patients, but little is known of the patients’ experience of symptom. We aimed to investigate ambulance patients initial perceived intensity of acute dyspnoea, and whether they experienced relief during prehospital treatment. Furthermore, to investigate the validity and feasibility of using a subjective dyspnoea score in the ambulance, and its association with objectively measured vital signs.

Methods

We performed a prospective observational study in the North Denmark Region from 1. July 2017 to 30. March 2019. We studied patients over the age of 18 to whom an ambulance was dispatched. Patients with acute dyspnoea assessed either at the emergency call or by ambulance professionals on scene were included. Patients were asked to assess dyspnoea on a 0 to 10 verbal numeric rating scale at the primary contact with the ambulance personnel and immediately before release at the scene or arrival at the hospital. Patients received usual prehospital medical treatment. We used visual inspection and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test, to assess dyspnoea scores and change hereof. Scatterplots and linear regression analyses were used to assess associations between the dyspnoea score and vital signs.

Results

We included 3199 patients with at least one dyspnoea score. Of these, 2219 (69%) had two registered dyspnoea scores. The initial median dyspnoea score for all patients was median 8 (interquartile range 6–10). In 1676 (76%) of patients with two scores, the first score decreased from 8 (6–9) to 4 (2–5) during prehospital treatment. The score was unchanged for 370 (17%) and increased for 51 (2%) patients. Higher respiratory rate, blood pressure, and heart rate was seen with higher dyspnoea scores whereas blood oxygen saturation lowered.

Conclusions

We found that acute dyspnoea scored by ambulance patients, was high on a verbal numerical rating scale but decreased before arrival at hospital, suggesting relief of symptoms. The acute dyspnoea score was statistically associated with vital signs, but of limited clinical relevance; this stresses the importance of patients’ experience of symptoms. To this end, the dyspnoea scale appears feasible in the prehospital setting.
Off-label and unlicensed drug use in Ayder comprehensive specialized hospital neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Gidey Meles Tekie , Gebretsadkan Yohannes Gebrehaweria , Tsadik Afewerki Gebremeskel , Welie Abraham Gebrezgabiher , Assefa Brhane Teklebrhan
Published: April 2020

Background

Off- label drug use refers to the use of medicines outside of their marketing authorization with respect to dose, dosage form, route of administration, indication or age. Off-label/unlicensed drug use significantly associated with adverse drug reactions and medication errors in neonates and critically ill neonates are more vulnerable to these problems.

Objective

To assess the prevalence and associated factors with off-label and unlicensed drug use in neonatal intensive care unit of Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 01,2019 to April 30, 2019 in neonatal intensive care unit of Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Neonates admitted for 24 h and took at least one medicine were included in the study. Data was collected from prescription and medical charts. The off-label and license status of the medicine was verified based on European medicine Agency electronic medicine compendium. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 21.0. Binary and multivariate logistic regression was done to assess the predictors of off-label/unlicensed medicine use at p-value ≤0.05 significance level.

Result

A total of 364 medicines prescribed for 122 neonates were analyzed. The prevalence of off-label and unlicensed drug use was 246 (67.58%), and 86 (23.63%) respectively. Of the total 122 neonates, 114(93.44%), and 57(46.72%) of them were exposed to at least one off-label and unlicensed drug respectively. Antibiotics were the most commonly prescribed off-label and unlicensed drugs. No statistically significant association was found between demographic as well as health related variables with off-label/unlicensed medicine use at p-value of ≤0.05 significance level.

Conclusion

Off-label and unlicensed medicine use was high among neonates admitted to intensive care unit of the hospital. Selecting the safest medicines for such vulnerable patients is crucial to promote rational prescribing and better therapeutic benefit.
Genome-wide analysis of differentially expressed profiles of mRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs in chickens during Eimeria necatrix infection
Authors: Fan Xian-Cheng , Liu Ting-Li , Wang Yi , Wu Xue-Mei , Wang Yu-Xin , Lai Peng , Song Jun-Ke , Zhao Guang-Hui
Published: April 2020

Background

Eimeria necatrix, the most highly pathogenic coccidian in chicken small intestines, can cause high morbidity and mortality in susceptible birds and devastating economic losses in poultry production, but the underlying molecular mechanisms in interaction between chicken and E. necatrix are not entirely revealed. Accumulating evidence shows that the long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators in various infectious diseases. However, the expression profiles and roles of these two non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) during E. necatrix infection are still unclear.

Methods

The expression profiles of mRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs in mid-segments of chicken small intestines at 108 h post-infection (pi) with E. necatrix were analyzed by using the RNA-seq technique.

Results

After strict filtering of raw data, we putatively identified 49,183 mRNAs, 818 lncRNAs and 4153 circRNAs. The obtained lncRNAs were classified into four types, including 228 (27.87%) intergenic, 67 (8.19%) intronic, 166 (20.29%) anti-sense and 357 (43.64%) sense-overlapping lncRNAs; of these, 571 were found to be novel. Five types were also predicted for putative circRNAs, including 180 exonic, 54 intronic, 113 antisense, 109 intergenic and 3697 sense-overlapping circRNAs. Eimeria necatrix infection significantly altered the expression of 1543 mRNAs (707 upregulated and 836 downregulated), 95 lncRNAs (49 upregulated and 46 downregulated) and 13 circRNAs (9 upregulated and 4 downregulated). Target predictions revealed that 38 aberrantly expressed lncRNAs would cis-regulate 73 mRNAs, and 1453 mRNAs could be trans-regulated by 87 differentially regulated lncRNAs. Additionally, 109 potential sponging miRNAs were also identified for 9 circRNAs. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of target mRNAs for lncRNAs, and sponging miRNA targets and source genes for circRNAs identified associations of both lncRNAs and circRNAs with host immune defense and pathogenesis during E. necatrix infection.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, the present study provides the first genome-wide analysis of mRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs in chicken small intestines infected with E. necatrix. The obtained data will offer novel clues for exploring the interaction mechanisms between chickens and Eimeria spp.
PF-127 hydrogel plus sodium ascorbyl phosphate improves Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cell-mediated skin wound healing in mice
Authors: Deng Qingzha , Huang Sunxing , Wen Jinkun , Jiao Yiren , Su Xiaohu , Shi Guang , Huang Junjiu
Published: April 2020

Background

Factors such as poor engraftment, retention, and survival of the transplanted stem cells are deemed to limit their therapeutic efficacy for wound regeneration. Hence, it is necessary to explore these issues in order to resolve them. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) hydrogel plus antioxidant sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP) in enhancing Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cell (WJMSC)-mediated effectiveness on full-thickness skin wound healing in mice.

Methods

First, the cytotoxicity of PF-127 and the biological effect of SAP on the survival of WJMSCs were tested in vitro using cell viability and proliferation assays. Next, a cell suspension containing WJMSCs, PF-127, and SAP was topically administered onto an 8-mm diameter excisional full-thickness wound bed. Eight days after transplantation, the mice were sacrificed and the skin tissue was excised for histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Finally, in vivo distribution of transplanted WJMSCs was traced to investigate cell engraftment and the potential therapeutic mechanism.

Results

PF-127 was found to be cytotoxic to WJMSCs while SAP significantly improved the survival of PF-127-embedded WJMSCs. When this combination was topically transplanted onto the wound bed, wound healing was facilitated and dermis regeneration was achieved on the 8th day after surgery, as evidenced by an increase in dermal thickness, newly developed hair follicles, and collagen fiber deposition accompanied by a reduction in scar width. Further, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a higher number of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages, proliferating cells, and newly formed blood vessels in the WJMSCs/PF-127/SAP group relative to all other groups. In addition, in vivo tracking results revealed a highly enhanced engraftment of WJMSCs accumulated in the dermis in the WJMSCs/PF-127/SAP group.

Conclusions

SAP significantly improves the survival of WJMSCs in PF-127 encapsulation. Further, PF-127 plus SAP is an effective combination that enhances WJMSC engraftment in the dermis, which then promotes full-thickness wound healing through potential M2 macrophage formation and angiogenesis.
Review on natural products databases: where to find data in 2020
Authors: Sorokina Maria , Steinbeck Christoph
Published: April 2020

Natural products (NPs) have been the centre of attention of the scientific community in the last decencies and the interest around them continues to grow incessantly. As a consequence, in the last 20 years, there was a rapid multiplication of various databases and collections as generalistic or thematic resources for NP information. In this review, we establish a complete overview of these resources, and the numbers are overwhelming: over 120 different NP databases and collections were published and re-used since 2000. 98 of them are still somehow accessible and only 50 are open access. The latter include not only databases but also big collections of NPs published as supplementary material in scientific publications and collections that were backed up in the ZINC database for commercially-available compounds. Some databases, even published relatively recently are already not accessible anymore, which leads to a dramatic loss of data on NPs. The data sources are presented in this manuscript, together with the comparison of the content of open ones. With this review, we also compiled the open-access natural compounds in one single dataset a COlleCtion of Open NatUral producTs (COCONUT), which is available on Zenodo and contains structures and sparse annotations for over 400,000 non-redundant NPs, which makes it the biggest open collection of NPs available to this date.
A different vision of translational research in biomarker discovery: a pilot study on circulatory mitochondrial proteins as Parkinson’s disease potential biomarkers
Authors: Anjo Sandra I. , dos Santos Patrícia Valério , Rosado Luiza , Baltazar Graça , Baldeiras Inês , Pires Diana , Gomes Andreia , Januário Cristina , Castelo-Branco Miguel , Grãos Mário , Manadas Bruno
Published: April 2020

Background

The identification of circulating biomarkers that closely correlate with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) has failed several times in the past. Nevertheless, in this pilot study, a translational approach was conducted, allowing the evaluation of the plasma levels of two mitochondrial-related proteins, whose combination leads to a robust model with potential diagnostic value to discriminate the PD patients from matched controls.

Methods

The proposed translational approach was initiated by the analysis of secretomes from cells cultured under control or well-defined oxidative stress conditions, followed by the identification of proteins related to PD pathologic mechanisms that were altered between the two states. This pipeline was further translated into the analysis of undepleted plasma samples from 28 control and 31 PD patients.

Results

From the secretome analysis, several mitochondria-related proteins were found to be differentially released between control and stress conditions and to be able to distinguish the two secretomes. Similarly, two mitochondrial-related proteins were found to be significantly changed in a PD cohort compared to matched controls. Moreover, a linear discriminant model with potential diagnostic value to discriminate PD patients was obtained using the combination of these two proteins. Both proteins are associated with apoptotic mitochondrial changes, which may correspond to potential indicators of cell death. Moreover, one of these proteins, the VPS35 protein, was reported in plasma for the first time, and its quantification was only possible due to its previous identification in the secretome analysis.

Conclusions

In this work, an adaptation of a translational pipeline for biomarker selection was presented and transposed to neurological diseases, in the present case Parkinson’s Disease. The novelty and success of this pilot study may arise from the combination of: i) a translational research pipeline, where plasma samples are interrogated using knowledge previously obtained from the evaluation of cells’ secretome under oxidative stress; ii) the combined used of statistical analysis and an informed selection of candidates based on their link with relevant disease mechanisms, and iii) the use of SWATH-MS, an untargeted MS method that allows a complete record of the analyzed samples and a targeted data extraction of the quantitative values of proteins previously identified.
Income and food Engel curves in Rwanda: a household microdata analysis
Authors: Nsabimana Aimable , Bali Swain Ranjula , Surry Yves , Ngabitsinze Jean Chrysostome
Published: April 2020

Food insecurity and malnutrition are still major challenges for large proportions of households in Sub-Saharan Africa. The empirical literature on food demand, however, suggests mixed evidence on the roles of income and other socio-economic attributes on food demand. This study analyzes the food demand among households in Rwanda, based on nationally representative household expenditures and demographic (EICV4, 2013/14) survey data. The results show that poor households consume merely food containing higher carbohydrates and starches. Further, the study finds that the majority of rural households spend almost nothing on micronutrients from animal products, suggesting that effective targeted food policy interventions for poor and rural households may play an important role in reducing the incidence of malnutrition through improving food diets.