bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Polymorphism and Intravenous Immunoglobulin Resistance Relationship in Kawasaki Disease
Authors: Varlı Yusuf Ziya , Caglayan Ahmet Okay , Bilguvar Kaya , Gunel Murat , Oztarhan Kazim
Published: March 2021

Objective
Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile systemic vasculitis and the most common cause of coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) in children. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy is used to prevent fever and systemic inflammation. However, IVIG resistance is the most important risk factor of morbidity and mortality. It has been identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to IVIG resistance and this research aims to analyze these polymorphisms in our study population.
Methods
Patients diagnosed with KD (n:259) were analyzed retrospectively. Blood samples were taken from a randomized subgroup (n:97). Previously reported IVIG resistance related exonic SNPs at five different gene loci (IL16, TNFSF14, NFATC2, DERL3, SAMD9L) were evaluated by whole exome sequencing (WES).
Results
Between 2010–2019, 259 patients (male/female: 1,67) with KD were submitted to our clinic. CAA and IVIG resistance rates were 11.6% and 21.6%, respectively. The risk of developing CAA was significantly increased in patients with IVIG resistance (p < 0.001). As a result, IVIG resistance frequency increased in the presence of three SNPs. These are "rs11556218"(p.Asn1147Lys), "rs344560"(p.Lys214Glu), "rs12479626"(p.His446Arg), and are located in IL16, TNFSF14, NFATC2 genes, respectively.
Conclusions
Until now, KD-related genetic data mostly obtained from studies involving large cohorts from Northeast Asian countries. In the analysis of this largest Turkish cohort in the literature, we found that, similar with previous studies, the IL16 gene may be plays important role in the IVIG resistance mechanism.
The Relationship Between Vitamin D Serum Levels and Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity in a Sample of Syrian Patients- a cross-sectional observational study
Authors: Alourfi Zaynab , Aldahhan Nisreen
Published: March 2021

Background. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic auto immune disease that mainly affects joints. It might cause functional disability and increased morbidity and mortality.Vitamin D was reported to have an immunomodulation role in reducing the inflammation process in many auto immune diseases; RA is one of them.The aim was to determine the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and rheumatoid arthritis activity in a sample of Syrian patients.Methods This cross-sectional observational study was carried out in Al-Mouwasat and Al-Assad University Hospitals(Damascus University - Syria). RA patients were diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League Against Rheumatism(EULAR)classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis 2010 standards.Results Vitamin D was significantly higher in RA patients in remission (27.92 ± 13 ng/ml) than in patients with active RA (21.22 ± 13 ng/ml). There was an inverse relationship between serum vitamin D levels and RA activity.Conclusion Serum vitamin D levels were inversely correlated with RA activity in a sample of Syrian RA patients.
Essential List of Medicinal Products for Rare Diseases – Recommendations from the IRDiRC Rare Disease Treatment Access Working Group
Authors: Gahl William A. , Wong-Rieger Durhane , Hivert Virginie , Yang Rachel , Zanello Galliano , Groft Stephen
Published: March 2021

Background
Treatments are often unavailable for rare disease patients, especially in low-and-middle-income countries. Reasons for this include lack of financial support for therapies and onerous regulatory requirements for approval of drugs. Other barriers include lack of reimbursement, administrative infrastructure, and knowledge about diagnosis and drug treatment options. The International Rare Diseases Research Consortium set up the Rare Disease Treatment Access Working Group with the first objective to develop an essential list of medicinal products for rare diseases.
Results
The Working Group extracted 215 drugs with Orphan designation in the FDA, EMA databases and/or China’s Rare Diseases Catalog. The drugs were organized in seven disease categories: metabolic, neurologic, hematologic, anti-inflammatory, endocrine, pulmonary, and immunologic, plus a miscellaneous category.
Conclusions
The proposed list of essential medicinal products for rare diseases is intended to initiate discussion and collaboration among patient advocacy groups, health care providers, industry and government agencies to enhance access to appropriate medicines for all rare disease patients throughout the world.
Importance of daptomycin dosage on the clinical outcomes in early post-liver transplant recipients with vancomycin-resistant enterococci infection
Authors: Lee Ing-Kit , Sng Yi-Ping , Li Wei-Feng , Chen Chao-Long , Wang Chih-Chi , Lin Chih-Che , Chen I-Ling
Published: March 2021

Background: The prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is increasing among liver transplant recipients. This study aimed to explore the clinical features of liver transplant recipients with VRE infection/colonization and to determine the impact of daptomycin dosage on the outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled pre-transplant and post-transplant patients with VRE colonization/infection from 2016 to 2019. Results: Altogether, 428 patients underwent liver transplantation. Among these, 22 (5.1%) patients developed VRE colonization/infection. All VRE isolates were Enterococcus faecium. Two (9%) patients acquired VRE in the pre-transplant period, 16 (3 colonizations and 13 infections) (72.7%) in the early post-liver transplant period (≤60-day after transplantation), and 4 (2 colonization and 2 infections) (18.1%) in the late post-liver transplant period (>6-month after transplantation). Among 13 patients with early post-liver transplant VRE infection, 12 (92.3%) underwent living-donor liver transplantation and 1 underwent deceased donor liver transplantation. Among these 13 patients, the median time from transplant to emergence of VRE infection was 12 days. The median interval from VRE infection to death was 27 days and the 30-day mortality was 67%. Of these 13 patients, eleven patients (8 survived; 3 died) received daptomycin therapy for VRE. Among them, 4 (36.3%) received daptomycin doses <8 mg/kg. Non-survivors (n=3) received significantly lower daptomycin dose than survivors (n=8) (P=0.040). Daptomycin doses <8mg/kg were more frequently associated with non-survivors (n=3) than with survivors (n=8) (P=0.024). Conclusions: In summary, the suboptimal dosage of daptomycin may have contributed to a higher rate of in-hospital mortality. Doses ≥8 mg/kg may be needed to adequately treat VRE infection in early post-liver transplant recipients.Level of evidence: Level III
Association of Short-term Particulate Matter Exposure with Suicide Death Among Major Depressive Disorder Patients: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Analysis
Authors: Hwang In Young , Choi Daein , Kim Jihoon Andrew , Choi Seulggie , Chang Jooyoung , Goo Ae Jin , Ko Ahryoung , Lee Gyeongsil , Kim Kyae Hyung , Son Joung Sik , Park Sang Min
Published: March 2021

Objective: There is growing evidence that suggests a potential association between particulate matter (PM) and suicide. However, it is unclear that PM exposure and suicide death among major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, a high-risk group for suicide.Methods: We investigated the risk of suicide among 1,046,169 newly-diagnosed MDD patients from 2004 to 2015 within the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database. We identified 3,372 suicide cases from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2017, within the death statistics database of the Korean National Statistical Office. PMs with diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), less than 10 μm (PM10), and 2.5 μm to 10 μm (PM2.5-10) were considered, which were provided from the National Ambient Air Monitoring System in South Korea. Time-stratified case-crossover analysis was performed to investigate the association of particulate matter exposure to suicide events.Results: The risk of suicide was significantly high upon the high level of exposure to PM2.5-10, PM10 on lag 1 (p for trend = 0.044, 0.035, respectively). A similar association was observed in the multi-day lag model (lag 0-3). Increasing exposure to PM 2.5 was not associated with increased suicide risk.Conclusions: Short-term exposure to a high level of PM2.5-10 and PM10 was associated with an elevated risk for suicide among MDD patients, while PM2.5 did not. There is a clear dose-response relationship between short-term coarse particle exposures with suicide death among Major Depressive Disorder patients. This result will be used as an essential basis for consideration when establishing an air pollution alarm system and implementing a suicide prevention program for reducing adverse health outcomes by PM.
Radiotherapy efficacies for vertebral hemangioma patients with severe spinal cord compression and cauda equina syndrome
Authors: Chen Yi-Lun , Yang Shih-Huang , Kuo Sung-Hsin
Published: March 2021

Background: Although vertebral hemangioma is the most common benign spine tumor, rare patients may experience spinal cord compression accompanied by pain and neurological deficits, in whom surgery remains the standard treatment option. For patients with comorbidities who cannot tolerate operation, radiotherapy may be an alternative treatment, however, previous studies suggested that if spinal cord cannel was aggressively compressed by vertebral hemangioma, the efficacies of radiotherapy were suboptimal. Methods and results: Herein, we presented two patients with vertebral hemangioma who developed spinal cord compression, first patient with underlying congenital heart disease had spinal canal encroachment of 63.4% at ninth thoracic vertebra, and second patient failed to transcatheter arterial embolization for treating total encroachment of sacrum plexus. The first patient underwent radiotherapy with 44 Gy at 20 fractions using Tomotherapy and became fully recovered from the severe neurological deficits at 5.5 months after completing radiotherapy. The second patient benefited from neurological symptoms relief at 6 months after completion of radiotherapy using 42 Gy at 21 fractions using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique.Conclusions: Our results indicate that radiotherapy with 42 to 44 Gy using conventional fractions could efficiently cause tumor regressions and improve neurological symptoms resulted from vertebral hemangioma-causing spinal cord compression.
Microplastics induced endocrine disruption, alteration in testicular tissue in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) pre-fed on Amphora coffeaeformis
Authors: Ismail Rania F. , Saleh Norhan E. , Sayed Alaa El-Din H.
Published: March 2021

This study examines the potential defending effects of the diatom, Amphora coffeaeformis, as a feed additive against the deleterious effects (mainly on gonads) caused by microplastics (MPs) in the Nile tilapia, Oreochromes niloticus. Male tilapia groups were pre-fed diets with four different supplementation levels of A. coffeaeformis (0%, 2.5%, 5% and 7.5%) for 70 days, then were exposed to 10 mg/L MPs for 15 days. The results showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher numbers of erythrocytes, but significant decreases (p < 0.05) in the number of RBCs, Hb, Ht, platelets, and eosinophil percentages. Testicular histological degenerative changes and testis-ova were found in the MPs-exposed fish. Thus, A. coffeaeformis supplementation displayed ameliorative properties that detoxified the negative effects of MPs. This study provides a better understanding of the reproductive injuries caused by MPs and provides evidence for the use of A. coffeaeformis as a natural remedy in freshwater tilapia.
Association of SYNTAX score with myocardial injury in STEMI patients: a cardiac magnetic resonance study
Authors: Gao Guangren , Feng Lianrong , Fu Jinguo , Huo Zhaoyang , Zhang Lei , Zheng Ruishuang , Wang Lei , Liu Jing , Niu Heping , Liu Fenghai , Kang Liqing , Liu Jieqiong , Liu Hui , Zhang Xinru , Zhang Jun
Published: March 2021

SYNTAX score (SS) is positively correlated with postprocedural myocardial injury identified by high sensitivity cardiac troponin in patients undergone elective coronary artery intervention, evidences about the association of SS with myocardial injury in STEMI patients were still scarce. A total of 149 consecutive patients within 24 h of STEMI were enrolled in the study. Both angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were performed during hospitalization. The time was 7.05 h (4.44,95.91, IQR) from symptom to angiography and 7.31 ± 2.60 days from symptom to CMR. The total median SS was 17(9–25, IQR). In terms of myocardial injury parameters, there was a positive correlation between SS and infarct size (IS) (p < 0.001, Spearman r = 0.292), and negative correlation between SS and myocardial salvage index (MSI) (p < 0.001, Spearman r=-0.314). There was no significant correlation between SS and area at risk, microvascular obstruction or intramyocardial hemorrhage. According to SS, patients were divided into low SS (< 22) (LSS)(n = 96) or mediate-high SS (≥ 22) (MHSS)(n = 53) group. In the multivariable model, after adjustment for important known predictors of IS, MHSS was significantly associated with high IS (≥ mean 35.43) (odd ratio = 2.245, 95% confidence interval [1.002–5.053], p = 0.048), as a continuous variate, SS was also significant associated with high IS (odd ratio = 1.053, 95% confidence interval [1.014–1.095], p = 0.008). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of SS for high IS and low MSI were 0.664 and 0.610. Conclusion: of STEMI patients who presented to hospital within 24h from symptom onset, SS was positively related with IS and negatively with MSI. SS was an independent predictor of IS after adjusting for important covariates.
Searching for refractory plasmonic materials: the structural and optical properties of Au3Zr intermetallic thin films
Authors: Littlehailes Hugh , Hendren William R , Drakeley Stacey , Bowman Robert M , Huang Fumin
Published: March 2021

Optical properties of refractory intermetallic thin films of Au 3 Zr were experimentally investigated for the first time, which show distinctive plasmonic properties in the visible and near infrared region. The films were fabricated through DC magnetron sputtering at various deposition temperature ranging from room temperature to 427°C and annealed at different vacuum levels. Both the structural and optical properties are found to be critically dependent on deposition temperature and anneal conditions. Films deposited between 205-320°C are shown to exhibit lower negative permittivity and better thermal stability, which could be linked to specific crystalline orientations. The films are stable when annealed at 10 -8 Torr, but are partially oxidized when annealed at 10 -6 Torr, suggesting oxidization could be a restricting issue for high-temperature applications in ambient environment.
Integrated geophysical approach for Coal mine fire in Jharia coalfield, India
Authors: Pal Sanjit Kumar , Kumar Sahadev , Srivast Shalivahan
Published: March 2021

Jharia coalfield is one of India's largest and most productive coal fields, home of the oldest-burning coal seam fires in the world. This paper highlights the combined study comprising Surface Temperature measurement, Magnetic, and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) methods for delineation and mapping of coal fires with their depths, extension and propagation direction. Surface temperature mapping allows straight forward demarcation of coal fire areas. Magnetic data provide a map showing the earlier burned, currently burning and unburned patches based on the contrast between magnetic effects of the subsurface and fluctuations with temperatures exceeding or under the Curie temperature. The pyrolysis of coal is one of the main processes in coal fires, which results in very high conductivity. Thus, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is also a promising technique for the characterization of a coal fire-affected area. Most of the features of low and high resistivity associated with active fires and voids have been delimited well in the ERT sections that are generated from combine inversion of all arrays. These are also delineated well by the surface temperature mapping, and Magnetic methods. The field photographs, available coal seam and borehole lithology clearly show the suitability of the combined study for characterization of coal seam fire. A model of the coal fire, char formation and void formation resulting from coal seam fire has been established. Finally, a fire propagation model of the study area has been established based on the combined geophysical data that can be effectively used for mine hazard mitigation.
CRISPR/Cas9-induced β-carotene Hydroxylase Mutation in Dunaliella Salina CCAP19/18
Authors: Hu Lina , FENG Shu ying , Liang Gaofeng , Du Jingxia , Li Aifang , Niu Chunling
Published: March 2021

Dunaliella salina (D. salina) has been exploited as a novel expression system for the field of genetic engineering. However, owing to the low or inconsistent expression of target proteins, it has been greatly restricted to practical production of recombinant proteins. Since the accurate gene editing function of CRISPR/Cas system, β-carotene hydroxylase gene was chosen as an example to explore D. salina application with the purpose of improving expression level of foreign genes. In this paper, based on pKSE401 backbone, three CRISPR/Cas9 binary vectors were constructed to targeting exon 1 and 3 of the β-carotene hydroxylase of D. salina CCAP19/18 (Dschyb). D. salina mutants were obtained by salt gradient transformation method, and the expression of Dschyb gene were identified through real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Moreover, carotenoids content was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography at different time points after high intensity treatment. Compared with wild type strains, the β-carotene levels of mutants showed a significant increase, nearly up to 1.4 μg/ml, and the levels of zeaxanthin decreased to various degrees in mutants. All the results provide a compelling evidence for targeted gene editing in D. salina. This study gave a first successful gene editing of D. salina which has a very important practical significance for increasing carotene yield and meeting realistic industry demand. Furthermore, it provides an approach to overcome the current obstacles of D. salina, and then gives a strong tool to facilitates the development and application of D. salina system.
Impact of Left Atrial Geometric Remodeling on Late Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence After Catheter Ablation
Authors: Guo Fuqian , Li Caiying , Yang Lan , Chen Chen , Chen Yicheng , Ni Jiqiong , Fu Rong , Jiao Yang , Meng Yuanyuan
Published: March 2021

Purpose: To quantitatively investigate the impact of left atrial (LA) geometric remodeling on atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation (CA).Methods: A retrospective analysis of 105 patients with AF who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography before CA. Risk factors for AF recurrence were identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis and used to create a nomogram.Results: After at least 12 months of follow-up, 30 patients (29%) developed recurrent AF. Patients with recurrence had a higher LA volume, LA sphericity, and a lower LA ejection fraction (LAEF) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in asymmetry index between the two groups (P = 0.121). Multivariable regression analysis showed that LA minimal volume index (LAVImin) (OR: 1.280, 95% CI: 1.027–1.594, P = 0.028), LA sphericity (OR: 1.268, 95% CI: 1.071–1.500, P = 0.006) and CHA2DS2-VASc score (OR: 1.326, 95% CI: 1.016–1.732, P=0.038) were independent predictors of AF recurrence. The combined model of the LA sphericity to the LAVImin substantially increased the predictive power for AF recurrence (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.736, 95% CI: 0.627–0.844, P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 61%. A nomogram was generated based on the contribution weights of the risk factors; the AUC was 0.769 (95% CI: 0.666–0.872) and had good internal validity.Conclusion: The CHA2DS2-VASc score, LA sphericity, and LAVImin were significant and independent predictors of AF recurrence after CA. Furthermore, the nomogram had a better predictive capacity for AF recurrence.
Docetaxel HIPEC Combined with Endostar versus Docetaxel HIPEC Alone in Treatment of Malignant Ascites：A Retrospective Study
Authors: Wu Jing , Jiang Hao , Chen Liting , Yu Bingqi , Wu Zhibing
Published: March 2021

Objective：The purpose of this study is to retrospectively observe the clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of docetaxel hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) combined with endostar in treatment of malignant ascites. Methods：56 cases of malignant ascites admitted to Zhejiang Hospital from July 2019 and October 2020 had received no less than second-line chemotherapy. The observation group (n = 29) was treated with endostar 60mg d1,4,7 Q3W intraperitoneal injection combined with docetaxel 60mg/m2 d4 HIPEC Q3W for 2 cycles. The control group (n = 27) was just treated with docetaxel 60mg/m2 d1 HIPEC Q3W for 2 cycles. The general clinical data and qualitative data of the treatment results were processed by SPSS26.0 using χ2 test, and quantitative data were processed by t test. When P < 0.05, statistical data can be considered statistically significant.Results：There were significant differences between the observation group and the control group in objective response rate (ORR) (65.5% vs 37.0%，P=0.033)，in the improvement rate of KPS (48.3% vs 22.2%, P=0.042)，also in the median control time (57dvs 45d，P=0.027). The incidence of III to IV adverse reactions was low, and no treatment-related death was observed. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups.Conclusion：Endostar combined with docetaxel HIPEC has good clinical effect on malignant ascites and can improve patients’ quality of life, and the adverse reactions can be tolerated.
Effect of The Surfactant Loaded Amount Into The Bentonite on The Elimination of Two Anionic Dyes: Adsorption, Kinetics, and Isotherm Studies
Authors: Guezzen Brahim , Adjdir Mehdi , Elaziouti Abdelkader , Didi Mohamed Amine
Published: March 2021

The present work focused on the preparation of hybrid-bentonite adsorbents by treating sodium bentonite (Na-B) with different amounts of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA+ Br-), corresponding to 50, 100 and 200% the value of the cation exchange capacity (CEC). The samples prepared, namely 50HDTMA-B, 100HDTMA and 200HDTMA-B, were characterized by different techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA ). The removal efficiency of two anionic dyes, namely. Congo Red (CR) and Indigo Carmine (IC), from aqueous solutions, was studied as a function of the amount of HDTMA, contact time, hybrid adsorbent and initial dye concentration. In addition, a kinetic study was conducted to fit the experimental data in order to compare the adsorption rate constants and the equilibrium sorption capacities of anionic dyes on the prepared materials. The results obtained indicated that the adsorption kinetics of clay samples could be best described by the pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption capacity of the hybrid-Bentonite is affected by the amount of modifier used. Based on Weber-Morris intra-particle diffusion equation, it was found that the CR and IC dyes diffused faster as the cationic surfactant loading increased from 0 to 100% of the CEC value. The Langmuir isotherm exhibited the best fit, with an adsorption capacity equal to 292 and 289 mg g-1, for CR and IC dyes, respectively.
Application Value of Whole-Body Pet/ct and Contrast-enhanced Brain Mri in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients With Synchronous Multiple Pulmonary Ground-glass Nodules
Authors: Xie Shaonan , Wang Cheng , Li Shaoteng , Deng Huiyan , Han Yaqing , Liu Guangjie , Liu Qingyi
Published: March 2021

Background: Synchronous multiple ground-glass nodules (SMGGNs) in synchronous multiple lung cancers (SMLCs) are associated with specific imaging findings. It is difficult to distinguish whether multiple nodules are primary tumors or metastatic lesions in the lungs. The need for positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and contrast-enhanced brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for these patients remains unclear. This study investigated the necessity of these two imaging examinations for SMGGN patients by means of retrospective analysis. Methods: SMGGN patients who were diagnosed and treated in the Department of Thoracic Surgery in our hospital from October 2017 to May 2020 and underwent whole-body PET/CT and/or contrast-enhanced brain MRI examinations were enrolled in this study. We analyzed the imaging and clinical characteristics of these patients to evaluate SMGGN patients’ need to undergo whole-body PET/CT and brain MRI examination. Results: A total of 87 SMGGN patients (26 men and 61 women, with a median age of 58 years at onset) were enrolled. Fifty-one patients underwent whole-body PET/CT examinations and did not show signs of primary tumors in other organs, metastatic foci in other organs, or metastasis to surrounding lymph nodes. Eighty-seven patients underwent whole-brain MRI, which did not reveal brain metastases but did detect an old cerebral infarction in 23 patients and a new cerebral infarction in one patient. Eighty-seven patients underwent surgical treatment in which 219 nodules were removed. All nodules were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma or atypical adenomatous hyperplasia. No lymph node metastasis was noted. Conclusion: For SMGGN patients, it is not necessary to perform a whole-body PET/CT examination before surgery. Contrast-enhanced brain MRI can assess the patient’s cerebrovascular function before surgery and reduce the risk of perioperative cerebrovascular accidents. Thus, it is a necessary examination.
Hyperthermia-induced Changes in EEG of Mice
Authors: Labra Carmen de , Pardo-Vazquez Jose L. , Cudeiro Javier , Rivadulla Casto
Published: March 2021

Currently, the role of hypothermia in electroencephalography (EEG) is well established. However, few studies have investigated the effect of hyperthermia on EEG, an important physiological parameter governing brain function. The aim of this work was to determine how neuronal activity in mice is affected when the temperature rise above the physiological threshold mandatory to maintain the normal body functions. In this study, a temperature-elevation protocol, from 37 ºC to 42 ºC, was applied to four female mice of 2-3 months old while EEG was recorded simultaneously. We found that hyperthermia reduces EEG amplitude by 4.36% when rising from 37 to 38 degrees and by 24.33% when it is increased to 42 degrees. Likewise, increasing the body temperature produces a very large impact on the EEG spectral parameters, reducing the frequency power at the theta, alpha, and beta bands. Our results show that hyperthermia has a global effect on the electrical activity of the brain, with an impact on physiological responses under fever but also needs to be taken into account in those situations where the temperature triggers a pathological condition (e.g., a mouse model of seizures where temperature is the trigger parameter).
Evaluation of the AirgloveTM, An Air-Regulated Thermal-Venodilatory Device Facilitating the Cannulation of Patients With Difficult Venous Access
Authors: D'Cruz Leon Gerard , Gardiner Elaine , Shukla Priyank , Dickson Dianne M. , Malaquias Tiago M. , Johnstone Scott , Yousef Zaheer , Lai Chris D , Jack Sheena , Husain Syed Arshad , Lai Francis Anthony
Published: March 2021

Background

Difficult venous access (DVA) can prevent delivery of life-saving intravenous (IV) fluids and medication. The Airglove™ was developed to facilitate IV access, circumventing DVA in chemotherapy patients, as current warm-water immersion (WWI) methods are sub-optimal.
Methods

This study had two parts; EAGLE-1, an observational, proof-of-concept study and EAGLE-2, a prospective, cross-sectional comparative study. EAGLE-1 recruited 80 adult participants undergoing chemotherapy for cancer with DVA where venous cannula insertion success rate was evaluated using Airglove™. EAGLE-2 was carried out on 34 adult healthy participants where the degree of venodilation by WWI and AirGlove™ in three veins; cubital-fossa cephalic vein, cubital-fossa median vein and the third dorsal carpal vein on both arms were measured using the GE Logic S8 multi-frequency linear-array transducer (L6-15MHz), two-dimension B-mode ultrasound. Baseline measurements were taken at 23oC, forearms were warmed to 38oC using the two modalities prior to ultrasound assessment.
Results

An IV cannulation success-rate of 87.5% was achieved with the Airglove™ in EAGLE-1. The EAGLE-2 study demonstrated significant venodilation enhancement in all veins examined (p < 0.001, 95% C.I) using the Airglove™. BMI, percentage body-fat, age, gender, or blood-pressure did not significantly influence the degree of venodilation.
Conclusions

Airglove™ enabled a significant percentage of successful cannulations in participants with DVA in EAGLE-1. EAGLE-2 demonstrated that Airglove™ significantly enhanced venodilation compared to WWI. There may be potential for Airglove™ to be considered in specific clinical settings where DVA is encountered.
Non-Academic Factors Influencing the Development of Empathy in Undergraduate Nursing Students: a Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Berduzco-Torres Nancy , Medina Pamela , San-Martín Montserrat , Bolton Roberto C. Delgado , Vivanco Luis
Published: March 2021

Background: Empathy is described as a core competence of nursing. There is abundant research evidence supporting that empathy varies according to personal characteristics and targeted training. The aim of this study was to characterize non-academic factors (personal and environmental) influencing the development of empathy in undergraduate nursing studies who are not receiving a targeted training in empathetic abilities in their nursing schools. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in the three nursing schools located in Cusco city, Peru (two private and one public). The Jefferson Scales of Empathy, Attitudes toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration, and Lifelong Learning, the Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults, and the Scale of Life Satisfaction, were applied as the main measures. Also, information regarding gender, nursing school, and age, were collected. After psychometric properties were assessed, all measures were used in the development of a multivariate regression model to characterize factors of influence in empathy. Results: In a sample composed by 700 undergraduate nursing students (72 males and 628 females), a multivariate linear regression model was created. This model explained the 53% of variance of empathy and fitted all conditions necessary for inference estimations. Teamwork abilities, loneliness, age, sex, subjective well-being, and nursing school, appeared as factors influencing the development of empathy in patients’ care.Conclusions: Findings have indicated that, in absence of a targeted training, individual characteristics and characteristics associated with social and family environments play an important role of influence in the development of empathy in nursing students. These findings are also in consonance with others previously reported in different cultural settings including high-, middle- and low-income countries.
Expression of MHC Class I Polypeptide-Related Sequence A (MICA) in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Espinoza Ingrid , Agarwal Sumit , Sakiyama Marcelo , Shenoy Veena , Orr W. Shannon , Diffalha Sameer Al , Prizment Anna , Manne Upender , Gomez Christian R.
Published: March 2021

Background: The major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A gene (MICA) is one of the ligands of NKG2D activating receptor. MICA stimulates NKG2D that further triggers activation of natural killer cells which leads to killing of infected target cells. Tumor cells utilize escape strategies to subvert the biological function of NKG2D by shedding overexpressing MICA. In this study, we determine the levels of MICA colorectal cancers (CRCs). Additionally, we establish correlations between MICA expression and clinical characteristics. Publicly available data and bioinformatics tools are used for validation purposes.Methods: We determined the MICA RNA expression levels and correlation with clinicopathological parameters in CRC using UALCAN web-portal. We performed immunohistochemical analysis on tissue microarrays having 192 samples, acquired from 96 CRC patients to validate the expression of MICA in CRC and adjacent uninvolved tissue and investigated its prognostic significance by Kaplan-Meir and proportional hazards methods.Results: Bioinformatics and immunohistochemical analyses showed that MICA expression was significantly upregulated in CRCs as compared to uninvolved and the overexpression of MICA was independent of pathologic stage, histotype, nodal metastasis status, p53-status, as well as patient’s race, age and gender. Moreover, PROGgeneV2 survival analysis of two cohorts showed poor prognosis of CRC patients exhibiting high MICA expression.Conclusions: Overall, our findings demonstrate high expression of MICA, suggest poor prognosis of CRC patients exhibiting high MICA expression. These results can be further explored due to its potential to provide clues to the mechanistic contributing role of the tumor microenvironment to the progression of progression of CRC.
Cobalt Graphitic Carbon Nanoparticles for Catalytic Hydrogenation of 2,4-Dinitrophenol
Authors: Hammud Hassan H. , Alkhalifah Mohammed A , Traboulsi Hassan , Karnati Ranjith Kumar , Hussain Syed Ghazanfar , Trabolsi Ali , Bakir Esam
Published: March 2021

Cobalt carbon nanoparticles CoCNPs were prepared by pyrolysis of cobalt phenanthroline complex at different pyrolysis temperature and time of pyrolysis and used for the catalytic hydrogenation of 2,4-dinitrophenol. CoCNPs (1) and (3) were prepared by heating at 600 ºC and 800 °C respectively, while (2) was prepared by heating at 600 °C with an additional intermediate stage at 300 °C. The structures and chemical properties of the three catalysts were correlated with their catalytic activities. Among the three studied catalysts, the highest rate constant was obtained for (2) while the highest conversion was achieved by (3). Our data show that an increase in oxygen content of the cobalt carbon nano-catalyst reduces the catalytic activity, while an increase in pyrolysis temperature improves the conversion yield.
Hydrophobic Metal Organic Framework Enhanced Acoustic Wave Formaldehyde Sensor Based on Polyethyleneimine and Bacterial Cellulose Nanofilms
Authors: Wang J.L. , Shang J.H. , Guo Y.J. , Jiang Y.Y. , Xiong W.K. , Li J.S. , Yang X. , Torun H. , Fu Y.Q. , Zu X.T.
Published: March 2021

A surface acoustic wave (SAW) formaldehyde gas sensor was fabricated on a 42°75' ST-cut quartz substrate, with a composite sensing layer of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-8 on polyethyleneimine (PEI)/ bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofilms. The addition of snowflake-like ZIF-8 structure on the PEI/BC sensitive film significantly improves the hydrophobicity of the SAW sensor and increases the sensor's sensitivity to formaldehyde gas. It also significantly increases the surface roughness of the sensitive film. Its hydrophobic nature prevents water molecules from entering into the internal pores of the BC film, thereby avoiding significant mass loading caused by the humidity change when the sensor is used to detect low-concentration formaldehyde gas. The Zn2+ sites at the surface of ZIF-8 improves the sensor's response to formaldehyde gas through enhancing the physical adsorptions. Experimental results show that the ZIF-8@PEI/BC SAW sensor has a response (e.g., frequency shift) of 40.3 kHz to 10 ppm formaldehyde gas at 25℃ and 30% RH. When the relative humidity was increased from 30% to 93%, the response (frequency shift) of the sensor drifts only ~5%, and there is negligible drift at a medium humidity level (~56% RH).
Development of a Winter Abnormal Cold Climate Index and Its Influencing Factors
Authors: Li CHEN , Zhang Lijuan , Jin BAN , Dong LIU , Jiaying ZHAO , Chunsheng LIU , Tao PAN
Published: March 2021

The prediction of extreme weather and climate events is a difficulty in the field of climate prediction. In practice, seasonal and monthly mean temperature has been used as the climate prediction index. However, the mean temperature forecast on seasonal and annual time scales cannot truly reflect the real climate situation as the mean temperature on a certain time scale smoothes abnormal cold and warm climate events. For instance, an abnormal cold climate event may occur even if the winter mean temperature is forecasted to be normal in a certain year. An abnormal warm climate event may also occur at the same time. Both affect the accuracy of climate prediction. Based on extreme weather events, this paper constructs a winter abnormal cold climate index, named WACCI, to represent the characteristics of extremely low temperature events. The index is composed of three factors, including cold duration, extremely cold temperature anomaly, and temperature cumulative anomaly. Taking Heilongjiang Province in China as the study area, relationships between WACCI and winter mean temperature, atmospheric circulation, and sea surface temperature (SST) are analyzed and compared. The analysis shows that the polar and mid-high latitude circulations have a significant impact on WACCI. The meridional circulation is dominant in the mid-high latitudes of Eurasia when the polar vortex area in the Northern Hemisphere is large, the intensity of the polar vortex is weak, and the polar vortex splits southward. Additionally, the intensity of the East Asian trough is strong and arctic oscillation (AO) is in an abnormal negative phase, which tends to result in a large WACCI. According to those atmospheric circulation factors, the regional and even global abnormal cold climate can be predicted in practice instead of using the prediction of winter mean temperature. The abnormal cold climate index proposed in this paper provides a new way for the extreme climate event occurrence trend, mechanism research, and short-term climate prediction (i.e., monthly or seasonal).
Revisiting Bupropion Anti-inflammatory Action: Involvement of the TLR2/TLR4 and JAK2/STAT3 
Authors: Karimollah Alireza , Hemmatpur Anahid , Vahid Taha
Published: March 2021

There are accumulating reports regarding poor response to the common antidepressant therapy. Antidepressant resistance has often been associated with activation of the inflammatory system. Accordingly, major depressive disorder (MDD) patients displaying inflammation prior to the treatment are less responsive to antidepressants. We hypothesized that the inefficacy of antidepressant therapy in some patients could be due to the drugs’ inflammatory mode of action that remained overshadowed by their substantial therapeutic value. Bupropion is a common-used antidepressant that is prescribed for seasonal affective disorders and smoking cessation as well. Nevertheless, there are some reports regarding inflammation induction and depressive behavior exacerbation in response to bupropion. Here, we put a spot on bupropion and investigate the alterations of innate and adaptive immunity cytokines and the influence on immune signaling pathways. Therefore, we treated LPS-stimulated human peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with different doses of bupropion. Pro-/ anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-ɑ, IL-1ß, IL-17, and IL-10) on both transcriptional and translational levels are assessed as well as the involvement of the JAK2 /STAT3, TLR2, and TLR4 signaling in this process. Bupropion decreased IL-17A, TNF-ɑ, and IL-1ß protein levels in the cultures. Nonetheless, the results regarding the target genes expression were controversial. Surprisingly, TNF-ɑ and IL-17A genes expression increased following bupropion treatment. TLR2, TLR4, JAK2, and STAT3 gene expression also rose in response to bupropion. Our findings suggest that bupropion possesses pro-inflammatory properties especially at concentrations of 50 and 100 and would rather be co-administrated with anti-inflammatory agents at least in patients with inflammatory conditions.
Reduced B12 Uptake and Increased Gastrointestinal Formate Drive Archaeome-Mediated Breath Methane Emission in Humans
Authors: Kumpitsch Christina , Fischmeister Florian , Mahnert Alexander , Lackner Sonja , Wilding Marilena , Sturm Corina , Springer Anna , Madl Tobias , Holasek Sandra , Hoegenauer Christoph , Berg Ivan , Schoepf Veronika , Moissl-Eichinger Christine
Published: March 2021

Background Methane is an end product of microbial fermentation in the human gastrointestinal tract. This gas is solely produced by an archaeal subpopulation of the human microbiome. Increased methane production has been associated with abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, IBD, CRC or other conditions. Twenty percent of the (healthy) Western populations innately exhale substantially higher amounts (>5 ppm) of this gas. The underlying principle for differential methane emission and its effect on human health was still not sufficiently understood. Results We assessed the breath methane content, gastrointestinal microbiome, metagenome, metabolome, and eating behavior of one-hundred healthy young adults (female: n = 52, male: n = 48; mean age =24.1). On the basis of the amount of methane emitted, participants were grouped into high methane emitters (CH4 breath content 5-75 ppm) and low emitters (CH4 < 5 ppm). The microbiomes of high methane emitters were characterized by a 1000-fold increase in Methanobrevibacter smithii. This archaeon co-occurred with a bacterial community specialized on dietary fibre degradation, which included members of Ruminococcaceae and Christensenellaceae. As confirmed by metagenomics and metabolomics, the biology of high methane producers was further characterized by increased formate and acetate levels in the gut. These metabolites were strongly correlated with dietary habits, such as vitamin, fat and fibre intake, host genetics, and microbiome function, altogether driving archaeal methanogenesis. Conclusions This study enlightens the complex, multi-level interplay of host diet, genetics and microbiome composition/function leading to two fundamentally different gastrointestinal phenotypes and identifies novel points of therapeutic action in methane-associated disorders.
Evidence of New Intragenic HBB Haplotypes Model for the Prediction of Beta-Thalassemia in the Malaysian Population
Authors: Aziz Nur-Aisyah , Taib Wan-Rohani Wan , Kharolazaman Nur-Khairunnisa , Ismail Imilia , Al-Jamal Hamid Ali Nagi , Jamil Wan-Arfah Nadiah Wan Abdul , Esa Ezalia , Ibrahim Hishamshah
Published: March 2021

This study sought to determine the potential role of HBB haplotypes for the prediction of beta-thalassemia in the Malaysian population. A total of 543 archived samples were reviewed and selected for this study. Five tagging SNPs in the beta-globin gene (HBB; NG_000007.3) were recorded and analysed for SNP-based and haplotype association using SHEsis online software. Single-SNP-based association analysis showed three tagging SNPs have statistical significant association with beta-thalassemia; IVS2-16G>C (p=0.036), IVS2-666C>T (p=0.032) and 3’UTR +314G>A (p=0.004). However, two tagging SNPs assigned as IVS2-74T>G and 3’UTR +233G>C did not yield significant association with p-value 0.099 and 0.211, respectively. In a further investigation, combined five tagging SNPs for haplotype association analysis revealed three susceptible haplotypes with significant p-values of which, assigned as haplotypes 1-2-2-1-1 (p=6.49x10-7, OR=10.371 [3.345~32.148]), 1-2-1-1-1 (p= 0.009, OR=1.423 [1.095~1.850] and 1-1-1-1-1 (p=1.39x10-4, OR=10.221 [2.345~44.555]). Another three haplotypes were found to be protective haplotype with significant p-value of which assigned as haplotypes 2-2-1-1-1 (p=0.006, OR=0.668 [0.500~0.893]), 1-1-2-2-1 (p=0.013, OR=0.357 [0.153~0.830]) and 1-1-2-1-1 (p=0.033, OR=0.745 [0.567~0.977]). This study has identified the potential use of intragenic polymorphic markers in the HBB gene, which were significantly associated with beta-thalassemia. A combination of these five tagging SNPs defined a new haplotype model for beta-thalassemia and further evaluation for the prediction of severity in beta-thalassemia.
Immunophenotypic Analysis of AIDS-Related Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Clinical Implications in Patients
Authors: li qiying , zhang wenjun , shi yang , kong zhenqi , huang dehong , guo bingling , xiao chunyan , xiang ying
Published: March 2021

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents a clinically heterogeneous disease. Models based on immunohistochemistry predict clinical outcomes. However, whether these immunophenotypes could be applied as a predictive indicator in AIDS-Related DLBCL remains unclear. To explore predictive immunophenotypes and their clinical implications in AIDS-related DLBCL, we analyzed patient samples treated 2008–2019 with R-CHOP/CHOP-like and central nervous system (CNS) prevention treatment for DLBCL with HIV infection in Chongqing cancer hospital. c-MYC, CD4 count, and co-expression of BCL-2 and c-MYC presented the potential of being predictive markers in the prognosis of AIDS-related DLBCL, while absolute lymphocyte count did not show any effects in clinical outcomes. Surprisingly, we found that BCL-2 and the germinal center b-cell (GCB) subtype also could predict the prognosis of AIDS-related DLBCL, which against previous studies. Thus, the specific mechanism of BCL-2 and GCB subtype in AIDS-related DLBCL still requires to be explored.
Resveratrol improves skeletal muscle insulin resistance through downregulating lncRNA NONMMUT044897.2
Authors: Liu Zhihong , Zhang Zhimei , Song Guangyao , Wang Xing , Xing Hanying , Wang Chao
Published: March 2021

Background: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has proved to be crucial factors in the progression of insulin resistance (IR). Resveratrol (RSV) exhibits promising therapeutic potential for the IR. Nonetheless, whether RSV could influence the expression of lncRNAs and the interaction mechanisms in IR remain unclear.Methods: We conducted high-throughput sequencing to detect the lncRNAs and mRNAs expression signatures and the co-expression network of lncRNAs and mRNAs in skeletal muscle after a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced IR mice model with or without RSV treatment, including hierarchical clustering, gene enrichment and gene co-expression networks analysis. Highly differentially expressed lncRNAs were selected and validated by RT-qPCR. Finally, the biological functions of the selected lncRNAs were investigated by silencing expressing the target genes through lentivirus transfection in C2C12 mouse myotubes cells.Results: We revealed that 338 mRNAs and 629 lncRNAs whose expression in skeletal muscle after a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced IR mice model was reversed by RSV treatment. Gene Ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes databases indicated that the differential expression mRNAs modulate the insulin signaling pathway. After validating randomly selected lncRNAs via RT-qPCR, we found that lncRNA (NONMMUT044897.2) and Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 (SOCS1) were up-regulated in the HFD group, and reversed by RSV treatment. Additionally, NONMMUT044897.2 was validated to function as a ceRNA of microRNA (miR)-7051-5p and SOCS1 was confirmed as a target for miR‑7051-5p. We further performed lentivirus transfection to knockdown NONMMUT044897.2 in vitro and found that NONMMUT044897.2 silence inactivated SOCS1 and promoted the insulin signaling pathway. Importantly, RSV could mimic the effects of silencing NONMMUT044897.2.Conclusion: Our study revealed that resveratrol improves skeletal muscle IR might be via regulation of NONMUT044897.2.