bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between miR‐155 expression and clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma in the dialyzed kidney
Authors: Shiomi Ei , Kato Renpei , Matsuura Tomohiko , Maekawa Shigekatsu , Kato Yoichiro , Kanehira Mitsugu , Takata Ryo , Sugimura Jun , Ishida Kazuyuki , Abe Takaya , Sugai Tamotsu , Obara Wataru
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma often develops in the context of the dialyzed kidney (end‐stage renal disease). However, the relationship between clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma and microRNA expression in patients with end‐stage renal disease remains unclear.

Case presentation

A left renal tumor measuring 22 mm was detected and a radical nephrectomy was performed on a 50‐year‐old man who had received hemodialysis for the past 6 years. A pathological diagnosis of pT1aNxMx, clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma was made. We studied the expression of miR‐155 in this case and compared it to the expression in nondialysis kidney tissue. The expression level of miR‐155 was upregulated in tumor tissue compared with expression levels in the renal cortex for the present case. The expression level of miR‐155 in the renal cortex was lower in the present case than in nondialysis kidney tissues.

Conclusion

We demonstrated upregulation of miR‐155 in a case of clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma arising from end‐stage renal disease.
Rare case of immunoglobulin G4‐related disease arising in gonadal glands with long‐term remission without steroid treatment: Discussion and literature review
Authors: Isobe Teruki , Naiki Taku , Naiki‐Ito Aya , Kawai Tatsuya , Etani Toshiki , Nagai Takashi , Nozaki Satoshi , Kobayakawa Yuki , Iwatsuki Shoichiro , Matsuyama Nayuka , Kato Hiroyuki , Kawai Noriyasu , Yasui Takahiro
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease embraces a wide range of extra‐pancreatic manifestations. However, localized pathogenesis in gonadal glands, including testes or seminal vesicles, is rare. The clinical course and therapeutic strategy for this disease have not been clearly characterized.

Case presentation

A 61‐year‐old Asian male had a left orchiectomy and right seminal vesicle biopsy because of a mass in the left testis and right seminal vesicle. Histological findings showed an infiltration of immunoglobulin G4‐positive plasma cells in the respective tissues and met immunoglobulin G4‐related disease diagnostic criteria. No recurrence and exacerbation have been observed after 12 years’ follow‐up without any clinical intervention. To date, immunoglobulin G4‐related disease in gonadal tissue is rare. This is the first case with mass‐forming lesions in both the testis and seminal vesicle.

Conclusion

Based on the clinical course of our case and the literature, for patients with accurately diagnosed inactive gonadal immunoglobulin G4‐related disease, watchful waiting is a feasible clinical treatment option.
Incidence of Hip and Subtrochanteric/Femoral Shaft Fractures in Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis in the Phase 3 Long-Term Odanacatib Fracture Trial
Authors: Papapoulos Socrates , Bone Henry , Cosman Felicia , Dempster David W , McClung Michael R , Nakamura Toshitaka , Restrepo José Fernando Molina , Bouxsein Mary L , Cohn Dosinda , de Papp Anne , Massaad Rachid , Santora Arthur
Published: March 2021

We prospectively assessed, with predefined criteria, the location and rates of all femur fractures (hip, subtrochanteric/femoral shaft [ST/FS], including atypical [AFF] and distal fractures) in women at increased fracture risk during treatment with the cathepsin K inhibitor, odanacatib (ODN), or placebo over 5 years in the Long-Term ODN Fracture Trial (LOFT and LOFT Extension [NCT00529373, EudraCT 2007-002693-66]). ODN was an investigational antiresorptive agent previously in development as an osteoporosis treatment that, unlike bisphosphonates, reduces bone formation only transiently. Women aged ≥65 years with a bone mineral density (BMD) T-score ≤−2.5 at the total hip (TH) or femoral neck (FN) or with a radiographic vertebral fracture and T-scores ≤−1.5 at the TH or FN were randomized (1:1) to receive ODN 50 mg/week or placebo. All patients received vitamin D3 (5600 IU/week) and calcium (total 1200 mg/d); the analysis included 16,071 women. Rates of all adjudicated low-energy femoral fractures were 0.38 versus 0.58/100 patient-years for ODN and placebo, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51–0.82; nominal p < .001), and for low-energy hip fractures were 0.29 versus 0.56/100 patient-years, respectively (HR = 0.52; 95% CI 0.40–0.67; p < .001). The cumulative incidence of combined hip and ST/FS or hip fractures alone in the ODN group was consistently lower than in the placebo group (1.93% versus 3.11% for combined fractures and 1.53% versus 3.03% for hip fractures at 5 years, respectively). However, low-energy ST/FS fractures were more frequent in ODN-treated women than in placebo-treated women (24 versus 6, respectively). Among these, 12 fractures were adjudicated as AFF in 10 patients treated with ODN (0.03/100 patient-years) compared with none in the 6 placebo-treated women (estimated difference 0.03; 95% CI 0.02–0.06). These results provide insight into possible pathogeneses of AFF, suggesting that the current criteria for diagnosing these fractures may need to be reconsidered. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR)..
A Novel HR-pQCT Image Registration Approach Reveals Sex-Specific Changes in Cortical Bone Retraction With Aging
Authors: van Rietbergen Bert , Biver Emmanuel , Chevalley Thierry , Ito Keita , Chapurlat Roland , Ferrari Serge
Published: March 2021

During aging, changes in endosteal and periosteal boundaries of cortical bone occur that differ between men and women. We here develop a new procedure that uses high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT) imaging and 3D registration to identify such changes within the timescale of longitudinal studies. A first goal was to test the sensitivity of the approach. A second goal was to assess differences in periosteal/endosteal expansion over time between men and women. Rigid 3D registration was used to transform baseline and all follow-up (FU) images to a common reference configuration for which the region consisting of complete slices (largest common height) was determined. Periosteal and endosteal contours were transformed to the reference position to determine the net periosteal and endosteal expansion distances. To test the sensitivity, images from a short-term reproducibility study were used (15 female, aged 21 to 47 years, scanned three times). To test differences between men and women, images from a subset of the Geneva Retirees Cohort were used (248 female, 61 male, average age 65 years, 3.5 and 7 years FU). The sensitivity study indicated a least significant change for detecting periosteal/endosteal expansion of 41/31 microns for the radius and 17/26 microns for the tibia. Results of the cohort study showed significant net endosteal retraction only in females at the radius and tibia after 3.5 years (38.0 and 38.4 microns, respectively) that further increased at 7 years FU (70.4 and 70.8 microns, respectively). No significant net periosteal changes were found for males or females at 7 years. The results demonstrate that it is possible to measure changes in endosteal contours in longitudinal studies within several years. For the investigated cohort, significant endosteal retraction was found in females but not in males. Whether these changes in cortical geometry are related to fracture risk remains to be investigated in larger cohorts © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Bone microarchitecture in patients with autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Schmidt Constantin , Stürznickel Julian , Strahl André , Oheim Ralf , Weiler-Normann Christina , Sebode Marcial , Barvencik Florian , Lohse Ansgar W. , Schinke Thorsten , Amling Michael , Schramm Christoph , Rolvien Tim
Published: March 2021

In patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), osteoporosis represents a common extrahepatic complication, which we recently showed by an assessment of areal bone mineral density (aBMD) via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, it is well established that bone quality and fracture risk does not solely depend on aBMD, but also on bone microarchitecture. It is currently not known whether AIH patients exhibit a site-specific or compartment-specific deterioration in the skeletal microarchitecture. In order to assess potential geometric, volumetric, and microarchitectural changes, high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) measurements were performed at the distal radius and distal tibia in female patients with AIH (n = 51) and compared to age-matched female healthy controls (n = 32) as well as to female patients with AIH/primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) overlap syndrome (n = 25) and female patients with PBC alone (PBC, n = 36). DXA at the lumbar spine and hip, clinical characteristics, transient elastography (FibroScan) and laboratory analyses were also included in this analysis. AIH patients showed a predominant reduction of cortical thickness (Ct.Th) in the distal radius and tibia compared to healthy controls (p < .0001 and p = .003, respectively). In contrast, trabecular parameters such as bone volume fraction (BV/TV) did not differ significantly at the distal radius (p = .453) or tibia (p = .508). Linear regression models revealed significant negative associations between age and Ct.Th (95% confidence interval [CI], −14 to −5 μm/year, p < .0001), but not between liver stiffness, cumulative prednisolone dose (even after an adjustment for age), or disease duration with bone microarchitecture. The duration of high-dose prednisolone (≥7.5 mg) was negatively associated with trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) at the distal radius. No differences in bone microarchitecture parameters between AIH, AIH/PBC, and PBC could be detected. In conclusion, AIH patients showed a severe age-dependent deterioration of the cortical bone microarchitecture, which is most likely the major contribution to the observed increased fracture risk in these patients. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Premature Growth Plate Closure Caused by a Hedgehog Cancer Drug Is Preventable by Co-Administration of a Retinoid Antagonist in Mice
Authors: Koyama Eiki , Mundy Christina , Saunders Cheri , Chung Juliet , Catheline Sarah E , Rux Danielle , Iwamoto Masahiro , Pacifici Maurizio
Published: March 2021

The growth plates are key engines of skeletal development and growth and contain a top reserve zone followed by maturation zones of proliferating, prehypertrophic, and hypertrophic/mineralizing chondrocytes. Trauma or drug treatment of certain disorders can derange the growth plates and cause accelerated maturation and premature closure, one example being anti-hedgehog drugs such as LDE225 (Sonidegib) used against pediatric brain malignancies. Here we tested whether such acceleration and closure in LDE225-treated mice could be prevented by co-administration of a selective retinoid antagonist, based on previous studies showing that retinoid antagonists can slow down chondrocyte maturation rates. Treatment of juvenile mice with an experimental dose of LDE225 for 2 days (100 mg/kg by gavage) initially caused a significant shortening of long bone growth plates, with concomitant decreases in chondrocyte proliferation; expression of Indian hedgehog, Sox9, and other key genes; and surprisingly, the number of reserve progenitors. Growth plate involution followed with time, leading to impaired long bone lengthening. Mechanistically, LDE225 treatment markedly decreased the expression of retinoid catabolic enzyme Cyp26b1 within growth plate, whereas it increased and broadened the expression of retinoid synthesizing enzyme Raldh3, thus subverting normal homeostatic retinoid circuitries and in turn accelerating maturation and closure. All such severe skeletal and molecular changes were prevented when LDE-treated mice were co-administered the selective retinoid antagonist CD2665 (1.5 mg/kg/d), a drug targeting retinoid acid receptor γ, which is most abundantly expressed in growth plate. When given alone, CD2665 elicited the expected maturation delay and growth plate expansion. In vitro data showed that LDE225 acted directly to dampen chondrogenic phenotypic expression, a response fully reversed by CD2665 co-treatment. In sum, our proof-of-principle data indicate that drug-induced premature growth plate closures can be prevented or delayed by targeting a separate phenotypic regulatory mechanism in chondrocytes. The translation applicability of the findings remains to be studied. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Pre‐deposited dynamic membrane adsorber formed of microscale conventional iron oxide‐based adsorbents to remove arsenic from water: application study and mathematical modeling
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Belkasmi Aida Idrissi , Kastoyiannis Ioannis A , Ernst Mathias
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

This study reports the development of a dynamic membrane (DM) adsorber by pre‐depositing powdered‐sizedfraction of iron oxide‐based adsorptive material on the surface of a microfiltration(MF) membrane. The aim is to use the developed DM adsorber for arsenate (As(V)) remediation from water by a combined mechanism of adsorptive and membrane filtration. The two applied iron oxide‐based adsorptive materials are micro‐sized granular ferric hydroxide and micro‐sized tetravalent manganese feroxyhyte, and are available at affordable price.

RESULTS

The results show that As(V) removal efficiency strongly depends on the physicochemical properties of the depositing material such as specific surface area, isoelectric point and particle size of the pre‐depositing material. The experimentally determined As(V) removal rates were mathematically modeled using a homogeneous surface diffusion model, which incorporates the equilibrium parameters and mass transport coefficients of the adsorption process. The simulations showed that the mathematical model could describe the As(V) removal rates accurately over a broad range of operating conditions. The results further showed that the longer filtration times with very low normalized As(V) permeate concentration (C/Cf = 0.1, for example) can be prolonged by operating the DM adsorber at the lowermost membrane water flux of 31 L m−2 h−1 and a large amount of pre‐depositing material on the MF membrane surface (Ma = 14 mg cm−2).

CONCLUSION

The results presented in this study confirm that use of these inexpensive materials (side‐product of granular iron oxide‐based adsorbents) in treating As(V)‐polluted water would enhance the sustainability of the industrial production process of conventional granular adsorbents by utilizing the wastes created during the process of adsorbent production. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Changes in the medical treatment status of Japanese outpatients during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
Authors: Takakubo Takeshi , Odagiri Yuko , Machida Masaki , Takamiya Tomoko , Fukushima Noritoshi , Kikuchi Hiroyuki , Amagasa Shiho , Nakamura Itaru , Watanabe Hidehiro , Inoue Shigeru
Published: March 2021

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has a tremendous influence in general public's behaviors; however, changes in the status of regularly scheduled outpatient visits in Japan during COVID‐19 pandemic are still unknown.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted in May 2020. Participants were recruited by an Internet‐based survey company. A total of 659 patients (54% male, average age 60 ± 14 years) who had regularly scheduled outpatient visits prior to the onset of COVID‐19 were enrolled. Participants answered four questions (“decrease in medical visit frequency,” “inability to take regular medication,” “deterioration of a chronic disease,” and “utilization of telephone/online medical care”) and stated whether they had a fear of acquiring infection at a medical facility. The associations between answers, fear of infection, and socio‐demographic factors were examined.

Results

Among the participants, 37.8% had decreased their medical visits, 6.8% were unable to take regular medications, 5.6% experienced a deterioration of chronic disease, and 9.1% utilized telephone/online medical care. Fear of being infected by COVID‐19 at medical facilities was strongly associated with a reduced frequency of medical visits and lack of regular medications even after adjusting for socio‐demographic factors and current medical histories.

Conclusions

During the first wave of COVID‐19, approximately 40% of participants reduced their frequency of medical visits. It is important to continue implementing thorough infection control measures at facilities and educating the public the importance of keeping chronic diseases in good condition, as well as promoting telephone/online medical care.
A real‐time touch control system design based on field‐programmable gate array via optimizing Bresenham algorithm for electrowetting displays
Authors: Yi Zichuan , Zeng Wenjun , Ma Caiyun , Feng Haoqiang , Yang Jianjun , Liu Liming , Zhang Zhi , Shui Lingling , Zhou Guofu , Zhang Chongfu
Published: March 2021

Electrowetting displays (EWDs) have the advantages of fast response speed and extremely low energy consumption. However, the function of real‐time touch control has not been realized in EWDs, and the rendering of hand‐drawn lines by a pixelated display has room for improvement, especially in the diagonal directions. The issue of clearly rendering diagonal lines drawn by touch control is not specific to EWDs, and the solution we offer can be beneficial to other display technologies. In this paper, a real‐time touch control system, which was based on field‐programmable gate array (FPGA) by optimizing Bresenham algorithm, was realized in EWDs. In hardware, Nios II processor was used as a main controller, I2C bus communication mode was used to establish a communication between a touch screen and the main controller, and MXEI1480 and MXEI2240 were used as driving chips to complete the design of EWD driver module. In software, Bresenham algorithm was optimized to add pixel points at diagonal corners for improving the clarity of line rendering. Then, touch coordinates were transmitted to the EWD driver module for displaying lines rendered. Experimental results showed that the lines rendered on the display by the optimized Bresenham algorithm were thicker and clearer.
Evaluation of Effects of Harvest on Alligator Populations in Louisiana
Authors: Joanen Ted , Merchant Mark , Griffith Rebekah , Linscombe Jeb , Guidry Angela
Published: March 2021

Biologists with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana, USA, have managed statewide annual harvest of alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) for 35 years (1981–present). We collected and analyzed harvest data for Louisiana alligators to determine the effects of harvest on the population structure, focusing on the larger size classes (≥274 cm) of this slow‐growing species. Linear regression analyses revealed that body size‐class structure, based on overall average size and the percentage of animals harvested in the larger size classes was relatively stable. Annual aerial alligator nest counts indicated a continual growth of the population, and over time harvested alligators maintained a constant average size. Analyses of population size (based on number of nests and population modeling) indicated that the current annual harvest represents approximately 3% of the population. Linear regression analysis showed that annual hunter success declined only slightly during the study period, and the scheduling of the hunt season after the hatch period and recommended hunting in areas not frequented by breeding females provides economic opportunities for hunters to participate in a sustainable harvest that preserves the larger size classes of alligators in the population. Strict enforcement of existing laws was a key factor responsible for the success of this harvest program. Comparison of alligator population size and number of harvest‐related citations indicated that illegal harvest did not have a negative effect on population size, and linear regression analyses revealed that the rate of increase in citations was lower than the increase in populations over the study period. The results of this harvest program indicated that alligators can be hunted in a sustainable manner if hunting is conducted after the hatch period and occurs in areas that primarily exclude the harvest of adult females, and strict law enforcement curbs illegal activities that negatively affect populations. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wildlife Society.
Stable equivalences of Morita type for Φ‐Beilinson–Green algebras
Authors: Pan Shengyong
Published: March 2021

The main focus of this paper is to present a method to construct new stable equivalences of Morita type. Suppose that a B‐A‐bimodule N define a stable equivalence of Morita type between finite dimensional algebras A and B. Then, for any generator X of the A‐module category and any finite admissible set Φ of natural numbers, the Φ‐Beilinson–Green algebras and are stably equivalent of Morita type. In particular, if , we get a known result in literature. As another consequence, we construct an infinite family of derived equivalent algebras of the same dimension and of the same dominant dimension such that they are pairwise not stably equivalent of Morita type. Finally, we develop some techniques for proving that, if there is a graded stable equivalence of Morita type between graded algebras, then we can get a stable equivalence of Morita type between Beilinson–Green algebras associated with graded algebras.
ROMP Synthesis of Side‐Chain Ferrocene‐Containing Polyelectrolyte and Its Redox‐Responsive Hydrogels Showing Dramatically Improved Swelling with β‐Cyclodextrin
Authors: Ling Qiangjun , Zhen Fangchen , Astruc Didier , Gu Haibin
Published: March 2021

A new side‐chain ferrocene (Fc)‐containing polyelectrolyte has been synthesized by controlled ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of a water‐soluble Fc‐containing norbornene‐based quaternary ammonium salt, as well as the corresponding covalently cross‐linked polyelectrolyte hydrogel. In order to provide Fc‐containing supramolecular polyelectrolyte hydrogels whose swelling property is largely improved by host−guest interaction, a covalently cross‐linked polyelectrolyte hydrogel is soaked into the β‐CD aqueous solution to form β‐CD@Fc supramolecular polyelectrolyte hydrogel, or alternatively the quaternary ammonium salt supramolecular monomer is first formed, then copolymerized with a crosslinking agent to fabricate the supramolecular hydrogel with better water absorption ability. All the Fc‐containing hydrogels exhibited good redox‐responsiveness with swelling–shrinking behaviors by chemically reversibly adjusting the disassembly/assembly of β‐CD@Fc inclusion complexes. This is the first example of side‐chain Fc‐containing polycationic supramolecular hydrogels possessing swelling–shrinking properties based on the splitting/combining of β‐CD and Fc units, and potential applications are expected as controlled drug delivery and actuators.
A Multiscale Approach for Estimating Permeability and Migration of Large Permeants through Poly(Phenylene Ether)
Authors: Sweere Augustinus J. M. , Patham Bhaskar , Sugur Vijayakumar , Handgraaf Jan‐Willem , Rodgers Patrick
Published: March 2021

Multiscale‐computational‐chemistry (MSCC) simulations are employed—bridging quantum chemistry, coarse‐grained dissipative particle dynamics (DPD), and molecular dynamics (MD)—to derive solubility and diffusivity of dibutylamine (DBA)—a residual moiety in commercially available poly(phenylene ether) (PPE) resins—in PPE and food simulants. Coarse‐grained DPD simulations are used for computationally inexpensive and faster equilibration of high‐molecular‐weight PPE chains, with a final MD step to estimate mean squared displacement (diffusivity) of DBA in PPE. State‐of‐the‐art algorithms involving quasichemical methods and thermodynamic‐integration in DPD are employed to estimate solubility of DBA in various mediums. Such approaches are not hitherto widely employed for polymers. The constants derived using MSCC approaches, implemented in CULGI, a commercially available tool, are used as inputs for estimating migration of DBA from PPE into food simulants using a commercial migration‐estimation software AKTS‐SML. The migration estimates from AKTS‐SML simulations, using parameters derived from MSCC, as well as those derived from in‐built thermodynamic models (Piringer, Brandsch) are compared with experimentally measured migration.
Molecular design and performance improvement in organic solar cells guided by high‐throughput screening and machine learning
Authors: Feng Jie , Wang Hongshuai , Ji Yujin , Li Youyong
Published: March 2021

Over past two decades, organic photovoltaics (OPVs) with unique advantages of low cost and flexibility meet significant development opportunities and the official world record for the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs) has reached to 17.3%. Traditionally, efficiency breakthrough need the constant input of intensive labor and time. The artificial intelligence, as a rising interdisciplinary, brings certainly a revolution in research methods. In this review, we introduce a state‐of‐art theoretical methodology of the synergy of high‐throughput screening and machine learning (ML) in accelerating the discovery of high‐efficient OSC materials. We present key details, rules and experience in database construction, selection of molecular features, fast‐screening calculations, models training and their predication capabilities. Meanwhile, three typical ML frameworks are concluded to reveal the structure‐property‐efficiency relationship, suggesting that this theoretical methodology can train powerful models with just molecular configurations and theoretical calculations for molecular design and efficiency improvements.
Effectiveness of bed bath methods for skin integrity, skin cleanliness and comfort enhancement in adults: A systematic review
Authors: Konya Issei , Nishiya Kotone , Yano Rika
Published: March 2021

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of bed bath methods for skin integrity, skin cleanliness and comfort enhancement in adults.

Design

A systematic review based on the PRISMA guidelines.

Methods

We searched for quantitative studies published between 2004–2020, using the PubMed, MEDLINE and CINAHL. The remaining 25 studies were appraised by the JBI tool.

Results

Only four of the included studies were of high quality. Studies of above moderate quality demonstrated that disposable towels were as effective as cotton towels for skin lesions and bacterial removal. Applying a hot towel maintained the skin barrier function and provided warmth; cotton towels were effective for cleaning even with weak pressure, and post‐bed bath moisturizer treatment contributed to skin integrity.

Conclusion

Although various methods have been examined, the available evidence is inadequate for establishing best practices. It is necessary to verify empirical research with rigorous methodology involving elderly inpatients and to develop instruments that measure patients' comfort.
Living with Long term condition Scale: A pilot validation study of a new person centred tool in the UK
Authors: Ambrosio Leire , Hislop‐Lennie Kelly , Barker Hannah , Culliford David , Portillo Mari Carmen
Published: March 2021

Aim

To cross‐culturally adapt and determine the preliminary psychometric properties of the English version of the LwLTC Scale in people living with long‐term conditions in the UK.

Design

Cross‐cultural adaptation and cross‐sectional study.

Methods

Forty‐nine patients with five long‐term conditions were included in the pilot study. Patients completed the English version of the LwLTC Scale and a bespoke questionnaire related to the scale. Feasibility/acceptability, internal consistency and construct validity were analysed.

Results

59.2% of participants were female, with an average age of 65.9 (SD = 12.30). Cronbach's alpha coefficient ranged between 0.50 and 0.84. Content validity showed that the English version of the LwLTC Scale was useful even negative items were identified.

Conclusion

These preliminary psychometric properties are satisfactory and promising. Further psychometric analyses are needed to verify them in a larger and more representative sample size during the main validation study, which is now in process.
Energy‐restricted interventions are effective for the remission of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: A systematic review of the evidence base
Authors: Jacob Elizabeth , Avery Amanda
Published: March 2021

Background

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic, progressive disease. Caloric restriction and subsequent weight loss have been associated with both improvements and, in some cases, remission of T2D.

Aim

To systematically review the safety and effectiveness of calorie‐restricted diets on weight change and the remission of T2D.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched. Intervention trials including a calorie restriction, published between 2010 and 2020, evaluating the remission of T2D (HbA1c <6.5% without diabetes medication) were selected. Risk of bias was assessed.

Results

Eight trials met inclusion criteria including four randomized controlled and four single‐arm trials. Three controlled trials found greater remission in the calorie‐restricted arm (p < 0.05). A recent diagnosis of diabetes was associated with higher remission rates (75%–80%) with an inverse association between duration of diabetes and rate of remission (r = −0.94). A higher level of remission was observed with greater calorie restriction in non‐new diagnosis studies. Greater weight loss was associated with increasing rates of remission (r = 0.83). No reported adverse events led to withdrawal from trials. There was great heterogeneity in study design.

Conclusion

Remission rate of T2D achieved through calorie restriction is high and similar to that reported in the bariatric surgery literature. Remission should be the aim at diagnosis and calorie restriction could be used to achieve this. The target weight loss should be >10% body weight in people with obesity. More research is needed into the optimum level of calorie restriction and the support required for long‐term remission. National guidelines should be updated to reflect recent evidence.
Stakeholder priorities determine the impact of an alien tree invasion on ecosystem multifunctionality
Authors: Linders Theo E. W. , Schaffner Urs , Alamirew Tena , Allan Eric , Choge Simon K. , Eschen René , Shiferaw Hailu , Manning Peter
Published: March 2021

While the ecological impact of environmental change drivers, such as alien plant invasions, is relatively well described, quantitative social‐ecological studies detailing how these changes impact multiple ecosystem services, and subsequently stakeholders, are lacking.

We used a social‐ecological approach to assess how Prosopis juliflora (Prosopis henceforth), an invasive tree, affects the provision of multiple ecosystem services to different stakeholder groups in a degraded East African dryland. We combined plot‐based ecological data on the impacts of the tree on indicators of ecosystem service supply with questionnaire survey data describing ecosystem service priorities from eight different stakeholder groups. These data were then used to quantify how tree invasion impacted individual ecosystem services, and the overall supply of services, relative to the priorities of each stakeholder group, using an ecosystem service multifunctionality metric.

In the study area, we found that Prosopis significantly increased the supply of shade, wood production and honey production, but reduced the supply of water availability, tourism potential and biodiversity protection.

Priorities for specific services differed between stakeholder groups. Although most groups assigned a high priority to provisioning services, such as water and crop production, it was either provisioning or cultural services which were a primary source of income, that were deemed most important.

Combining supply and priority data showed that most stakeholder groups saw a net decrease in ecosystem service multifunctionality with increasing Prosopis invasion, or no significant change overall. Increasing Prosopis cover increased multifunctionality for only two stakeholder groups, charcoal producers and NGOs involved in regional development.

Our research highlights the need to account for stakeholder priorities in studies of how global change impacts ecosystem multifunctionality. We found that there are conflicting patterns of ecosystem service priority between different stakeholder groups, resulting in large variation in how different groups were impacted by the invasive tree. Our approach also highlights possible synergies and conflicts when managing this tree invasion. More broadly, we recommend that future studies of ecosystem multifunctionality explicitly consider differing stakeholder priorities, as these strongly influence the perceived impact of environmental and land management change.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
One‐step preparation of carbon fiber‐ZrO2 hybrid and its enhancement on the wear‐resistant properties of polyimide
Authors: Dong Zhe , Chen Beibei , Zhang Mengjie , Li Jiaye , Wang Shuang
Published: March 2021

The carbon fiber‐ZrO2 (CF‐ZrO2) hybrid was prepared through one‐step hydrothermal method, which well realized the synergistic enhancement of CF and ZrO2 nanoparticles on the wear‐resistant performance of polyimide (PI) composites. Results showed that the ZrO2 nanoparticles were tetragonal and monoclinic mixed phase. The average particle size was about 10 nm. And they were in‐situ synthesized on the surface of CF, which endowed CF with much rougher surface and further improved the interfacial adhesion of PI composite. Moreover, the CF‐ZrO2 hybrid reinforced PI composite possessed higher shore hardness and thermal stability than those of PI or its composite reinforce with single CF because of CF with good compressive strength and ZrO2 with outstanding thermal property. In addition, the anti‐wear properties of the PI were greatly improved by filling CF‐ZrO2 hybrid, which was mainly because CF as the main bearing phase of the friction surface of the composites could bear most of the stresses onto the worn surface and protect the polymer matrix from severe wear in the sliding process. Meanwhile, the ZrO2 nanoparticles presented at the interface of CF and PI could not only carry the applied load, but also enhance the interfacial combination of CF with PI to form a good stress transfer and prevent the failure of CF, finally improving tribological properties of composites. Besides, the PI/CF‐ZrO2 kept reasonable friction and wear performance under high loads and rotating speeds.
The clinical features that contribute to poor bone health in young Australians living with cystic fibrosis: A recommendation for BMD screening
Authors: Atlas Gabby , Yap Matthew , Lim Angelina , Vidmar Suzanna , Smith Nathan , King Louise , Jones Alicia , Hong Jason , Ranganathan Sarath , Simm Peter J.
Published: March 2021

Background

For Australians living with cystic fibrosis (CF), increased longevity means greater consideration needs to be given to long‐term endocrine sequelae such as CF‐related bone disease. Deficits in bone mass accrual are most likely to occur during childhood and adolescence. Current guidelines in Australia suggest repeat dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans every 2 years. This study aims to stratify clinical factors that determine future bone health in the Australian CF population and use this to guide a more streamlined approach to bone health screening.

Methods

This study was a retrospective audit of all patients diagnosed with CF who were treated at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Australia from 2000 to 2016 (n = 453). Two hundred and two patients had a DXA scan in the study period (191 with height‐adjusted data) and 111 patients had more than one scan (108 with height‐adjusted data). An investigation into the associations between bone mineral density (BMD) Z score and potential risk factors was conducted using DXA and historical data.

Results

The main predictor of future BMD was the previous BMD Z score (p < .001). Other factors found to be determinants of BMD included nutritional status, lung function (FEV1), age, history of previous fracture, oral corticosteroid use, and the number of hospital admissions. However, after adjusting for previous BMD, evidence of an association remained only with nutritional status, FEV1, and number of hospital admissions.

Conclusion

Second yearly scans may be unnecessary in children with an adequate DXA score on the initial scan who remain clinically stable. However, clinical deterioration in those whose BMD was previously normal, may require closer monitoring of bone health. We propose a guideline for the frequency of DXA monitoring in relation to clinical risk factors.
Need for home oxygen in premature infants living in the city of Bogotá
Authors: Pallás‐Alonso Carmen
Published: March 2021

In Colombia, there are Kangaroo Mother Care Programs (KMCP) for the follow‐up of premature infants discharged early from neonatal units. In Bogotá, a considerable number of these children require oxygen at home. These infants are followed in KMCP where, in addition to controlling growth and development, oxygen saturation is monitored and weaning from oxygen supplements is performed. The results obtained are particularly good. However, it is striking that more than half of the children who require oxygen at home are more than 32 weeks of gestational age, and most of them meet the criteria for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. There are several reasons that could justify this finding. On the one hand, if the hospital stay is shortened, as is the case with KMCP programs, it is more likely that some preterm infants need oxygen at discharge. On the other hand, the use of noninvasive ventilation is extremely limited and invasive ventilation continues to be used very frequently, which is associated with lung damage and the need for oxygen. Finally, we must not forget that Bogotá is 2600 m above sea level, and this can lead to a more difficult adaptation of premature infants. It is not clear how much each of the above factors contributes. It would be desirable to have more information to better understand the particularities of premature children in the city of Bogotá.
Decomposition analysis as a framework for understanding heterogeneity of treatment effects in non‐randomized health care studies
Authors: Crown William H.
Published: March 2021

This paper uses the decomposition framework from the economics literature to examine the statistical structure of treatment effects estimated with observational data compared to those estimated from randomized studies. It begins with the estimation of treatment effects using a dummy variable in regression models and then presents the decomposition method from economics which estimates separate regression models for the comparison groups and recovers the treatment effect using bootstrapping methods. This method shows that the overall treatment effect is a weighted average of structural relationships of patient features with outcomes within each treatment arm and differences in the distributions of these features across the arms. In large randomized trials, it is assumed that the distribution of features across arms is very similar. Importantly, randomization not only balances observed features but also unobserved. Applying high dimensional balancing methods such as propensity score matching to the observational data causes the distributional terms of the decomposition model to be eliminated but unobserved features may still not be balanced in the observational data. Finally, a correction for non‐random selection into the treatment groups is introduced via a switching regime model. Theoretically, the treatment effect estimates obtained from this model should be the same as those from a randomized trial. However, there are significant challenges in identifying instrumental variables that are necessary for estimating such models. At a minimum, decomposition models are useful tools for understanding the relationship between treatment effects estimated from observational versus randomized data.
Regulation of microRNA‐21 expression by natural products in cancer
Authors: Shakeri Abolfazl , Ghanbari Mohsen , Tasbandi Aida , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: March 2021

Natural products have been of much interest in research studies owing to their wide pharmacological applications, chemical diversity, low side effects, and multitarget activities. Examples of these compounds include matrine, sulforaphane, silibinin, curcumin, berberin, resveratrol, and quercetin. Some of the present anticancer drugs, such as taxol, vincristine, vinblastine, and doxorubicin are also derived from natural products. The anti‐carcinogenic effects of these products are partly mediated through modulation of microRNA‐21 (miR‐21) expression. To date, numerous downstream targets of miR‐21 have been recognized, which include phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), ras homolog gene family member B (RHOB), phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)‐3, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) pathways. These signaling pathways, their regulation by oncomiR‐21 in cancer, and the modulating impact of natural products are the main focus of this review.
A standardized extract ofOpuntia ficus‐indica(L.) Mill andOlea europaeaL. improves gastrointestinal discomfort: Adouble‐blinded randomized‐controlledstudy
Authors: Malfa Giuseppe Antonio , Di Giacomo Claudia , Cardia Luigi , Sorbara Emanuela Elisa , Mannucci Carmen , Calapai Gioacchino
Published: March 2021

Gastrointestinal discomfort (GD), which often includes gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a common disorder in healthy adults affecting 40% of the worldwide population. The symptoms related to GD can have a negative impact on the quality of life (QoL). Current treatments for GERD are associated with side effects. We conducted a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial to assess the effect of a standardized extract ofOpuntia ficus‐indicaL. cladodes andOlea europaeaL. leaves on the symptoms and QoL of healthy adults with GD. One hundred healthy participants with GD were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups: 60 participants takingverum(400 mg/day) and 40 taking the placebo for 8 weeks. The Gastrointestinal Quality of Life index (GIQLI) and GERD Symptom Assessment Scale (GSAS) questionnaires were administered at the beginning of the study and after 4 and 8 weeks. The group treated withverumexperienced a statistically significant improvement of GIQLI and GSAS scores (p < .001). Moreover, the effect size measured revealed a clinical significance. A day‐dependent improvement of symptoms was also observed. The standardized extract represents a fast, effective, and well‐tolerated treatment for improving symptoms related to GD and GERD.
Cucurbitacin IIa: A review of phytochemistry and pharmacology
Authors: Zeng Yijia , Wang Jin , Huang Qinwan , Ren Yuanyuan , Li Tingna , Zhang Xiaorui , Yao Renchuan , Sun Jilin
Published: March 2021

Cucurbitacin IIa was first found in plants and it belongs to tetracyclo triterpenoids. It is one of the most important active components in cucurbitaceae plants. Studies have found that cucurbitacin IIa has a variety of pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antihepatitis B virus, inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus replication, and antidepressant effect. However, the underlying mechanisms, intracellular targets, and structure–activity relationships of cucurbitacin IIa remain to be completely elucidated. This review summarizes the current advances concerning the phytochemistry and pharmacology of cucurbitacin IIa. Electronic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and CNKI were used to find relevant information about cucurbitacin IIa using keywords such as “Cucurbitacin IIa,” “Pharmacology,” and “Phytochemistry.” These pharmacological effects involve the actin cytoskeleton aggregation, the regulation of JAK2/STAT3, ERBB‐MAPK, CaMKII α/CREB/BDNF signal pathways, as well as the regulation of survivin, caspases, and other cell cycles, apoptosis, autophagy‐related cytokines, and kinases. It has high development and use value.
High‐precision calculation of relativistic corrections for hydrogen‐like atoms with screened Coulomb potentials
Authors: Xie Hui Hui , Jiao Li Guang , Liu Aihua , Ho Yew Kam
Published: March 2021

The first‐order relativistic corrections to the non‐relativistic energies of hydrogen‐like atom embedded in plasma screening environments are calculated in the framework of direct perturbation theory by using the generalized pseudospectral method. The standard Debye–Hückel potential, exponential cosine screened Coulomb potential, and Hulthén potential are employed to model different screening conditions and their effects on the eigenenergies of hydrogen‐like atoms are investigated. The relativistic corrections which include the relativistic mass correction, Darwin term, and the spin‐orbit coupling term for both the ground and excited states are reported as functions of screening parameters. Comparison with previous theoretical predictions shows that both the relativistic mass correction and spin‐orbit coupling obtained in this work are in good agreement with previous estimations, while significant discrepancy and even opposite trend is found for the Darwin term. The overall relativistic‐corrected system energies predicted in this work, however, are in good agreement with the fully relativistic calculations available in the literature. We finally present the scaling law of the first‐order relativistic corrections and discuss the validity of the direct perturbation theory with respect to both the nuclear charge and the screening parameter.
Atomistic insights into lithium adsorption and migration on phosphorus‐doped graphene
Authors: Rani Babita , Bubanja Vladimir , Jindal Vijay K.
Published: March 2021

We present a comprehensive density functional theory study of the effects of phosphorus doping of graphene on adsorption and diffusion behavior of lithium. We find that protrusion introduced by phosphorus doping enhances the adsorption of a single lithium atom onto graphene due to an additional partial covalent bonding between lithium and carbon atoms of the substrate. With an increase in concentration of lithium atoms, cluster formation is observed near the phosphorus dopant. Finite density of states at Fermi level indicates the electronic conductivity of phosphorus‐doped graphene before and after the adsorption of a lithium atom. An increase in density of states above the Fermi level is observed with increased lithium concentration. The protrusions caused by phosphorus dopants act as trapping centers for lithium, thereby hindering their migration over the substrate. This atomic level study can act as a guideline for further development of electrode materials for novel battery technologies.
Tuberculous bronchopleural fistula
Authors: Stewart Alexandra G. A. , Boyd Sarah C.
Published: March 2021

Key message

Tuberculous bronchopleural fistula is a rare complication of pulmonary tuberculosis with presentation ranging from patients who are asymptomatic with incidental findings on imaging to those who present with acute tension pneumothorax.