bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Should I stay or should I go? The antecedents of turnover intention among police personnel
Authors: Jabeen Fauzia , Al Hashmi Maryam , Mishra Vinita
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the antecedents that may lead to turnover intentions among police personnel in the United Arab Emirates.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from police personnel (n = 176) through a questionnaire survey, and structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships.

Findings

The findings revealed that the work-family conflict and job autonomy significantly correlate with turnover intentions. Alternatively, perceived organizational support does not predict turnover intentions.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited by the study’s subjective assessment of police personnel turnover intentions through self-reported questionnaires. It provides implications for policymakers, organizational behavioral experts and those interested in formulating effective strategies to reduce turnover among police personnel.

Originality/value

This study offers a novel context as it assesses police personnel in an emerging Middle Eastern country. It provides insights to policymakers and academia concerning the factors strongly linked with police personnel turnover intentions and will help them formulate strategies for improving personnel satisfaction and advancing relationships between police and the community.
Cycling tourism: a perspective article
Authors: Han Heesup , Lho Linda Heejung , Al-Ansi Amr , Yu Jongsik
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to expand our understanding of cycling tourism research and the value of bicycles in tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examined how cycling tourism research has progressed in past decades and presented their personal points of view regarding the future trend in cycling tourism for the next 75 years.

Findings

Cycling tourism has obtained its popularity across the world for its high values on physical/mental health, social connections, entertainment and sustainability issues for the past century. Huge transitions in cycling tourism will be created for the next 75 years, which includes from 2020 to 2095, owing to new technology developments, which include electric bicycle and green power generation, urban cities development and environmental concerns/problems.

Originality/value

This paper offers originality because it successfully explores the past and future perspectives of cycling tourism, which is irrefutably an important trend in the emerging sustainable tourism sector.
A better impact factor: Anthropology and climate change
Authors: Hylland Eriksen Thomas
Published: February 2020

This guest editorial asks how anthropologists might position themselves in relation to climate change.
Speaking truth to power in a post‐truth era: Multidimensional and intersectional justice
Authors: Drexler Elizabeth F.
Published: February 2020

Anthropologists have spoken truth to power in many different forms and cases for decades; nevertheless, the terrain of truth is shifting. How do young people understand the post‐truth present and what does speaking truth to power look like in this era? How might anthropologists look, not simply at the production of knowledge, but at the reception of knowledge claims? What contributions can anthropologists make to forms of engagement and practice that are suited to the current moment? Shifting from a narrow focus on truth and facts, the author considers problems of emergent propaganda and affective responses to narratives and proposes a framework of multidimensional and intersectional justice.
Behind the Façade of the Rites Controversy: The Intriguing Contrast of Chinese and European Theism
Authors: Liu Yu
Published: February 2020

The Chinese rites controversy of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries has been often studied, but hitherto mostly as a quasi‐linguistic‐and‐technical dispute between the followers of Matteo Ricci, the legendary founder of the Jesuit China mission, and his many different enemies in the Catholic Church. In reality the involved debate was much more complex than that at every turn. To show this and more, this article takes a close look again at how and why Chinese terms and customs came to figure in Ricci's proselytising work in China, how they were challenged both inside and outside the Jesuit China mission, how the Chinese reacted and why, and what the debate revealed about the intriguing contrast of Chinese and European theism.
Pregnancy outcomes in women with primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Cauldwell M , Mackie FL , Steer PJ , Henehghan MA , Baalman JH , Brennand J , Johnston T , Dockree S , Hedley C , Jarvis S , Khan S , McAuliffe FM , Mackillop L , Penna L , Smith B , Trivedi P , Verma S , Westbrook R , Winifield S , Williamson C
Published: February 2020

Objective

To determine maternal, obstetric and neonatal outcomes in a cohort of women with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Ten specialist centres managing pregnant women with liver disease.

Population

Women with a diagnosis of PBC and PSC and a pregnancy of ≥20 completed weeks of gestation.

Methods

Retrospective case notes review.

Main outcome measures

Adverse outcomes were defined as: maternal – development of ascites, variceal bleeding, encephalopathy and jaundice; obstetric events – gestational hypertension, pre‐eclampsia and postpartum haemorrhage; and neonatal – stillbirth, preterm delivery and admission to neonatal unit. The relationship of alanine transferase (ALT) and bile acid levels with gestation at delivery was studied.

Results

The first recorded pregnancies of 34 women with PSC and 27 women with PBC were analysed. There were 60 live births and one intrapartum stillbirth that did not occur in the context of maternal cholestasis. The overall median gestation of delivery was 38 weeks but the rate of preterm birth was 28% (17/61 deliveries), 76% (13/17) of which were spontaneous. Gestation at birth negatively correlated with maternal serum ALT concentration at booking (P = 0.017) and serum bile acid concentration during pregnancy (P = 0.016). There were no other significant correlations and maternal and neonatal outcomes were good.

Conclusions

Pregnancy in PBC and PSC is well tolerated, but women should be counselled regarding the increased risk of preterm birth. Measurement of maternal ALT and bile acids may help identify women at risk of preterm delivery.

Tweetable abstract

Pregnancy in women with PBC and PSC is well tolerated; however, rates of preterm birth are high and are related to maternal bile acid levels.
Why Do Politicians Intervene in Accounting Regulation? The Role of Ideology and Special Interests
Authors: BISCHOF JANNIS , DASKE HOLGER , SEXTROH CHRISTOPH J.
Published: February 2020

Politicians frequently intervene in the regulation of financial accounting. Evidence from the accounting literature shows that regulatory capture by special interests helps explain these interventions. However, many accounting rules have broad economic or social consequences, such as their effects on income distribution or private sector subsidies. The perception of these consequences varies with a politician's ideology. Therefore, if accounting rules produce those consequences, ideology plausibly spills over and explains a politician's stance on the technical accounting issue, beyond special interest pressure. We use two prominent U.S. political debates about fair value accounting and the expensing of employee stock options to disentangle the role of ideology from special interest pressure. In both debates, ideology explains politicians’ involvement at exactly those points when the debate focuses on the economic consequences of accounting regulation (i.e., bank bailouts and top management compensation). Once the debates focus on more technical issues, connections to special interests remain the dominant force.
Chromosome‐level assembly of wild Bactrian camel genome reveals organization of immune gene loci
Authors: Ming Liang , Wang Zhen , Yi Li , Batmunkh Mijiddorj , Liu Tao , Siren Dalai , He Jing , Juramt Namuunaa , Jambl Tuyatsetseg , Li Yixue , Jirimutu
Published: February 2020

Camelids are characterized by their unique adaptive immune system that exhibits the generation of homodimeric heavy‐chain immunoglobulins, somatic hypermutation of T‐cell receptors, and low genetic diversity of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. However, short‐read assemblies are typically highly fragmented in these gene loci owing to their repetitive and polymorphic nature. Here, we constructed a chromosome‐level assembly of wild Bactrian camel genome based on high‐coverage long‐read sequencing and chromatin interaction mapping. The assembly with a contig N50 of 5.37 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 76.03 Mb, represents the most contiguous camelid genome to date. The genomic organization of immunoglobulin heavy‐chain locus was similar between the wild Bactrian camel and alpaca, and genes encoding for conventional and heavy‐chain antibodies were intermixed. The organizations of two immunoglobulin light‐chain loci and four T cell receptor loci were also fully deciphered using the new assembly. Additionally, the complete classical MHC region was resolved into a single contig. The high‐quality assembly presented here provides an essential reference for future investigations examining the camelid immune system.
The status of hepatitis C virus infection among people who inject drugs in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Mahmud Sarwat , Mumtaz Ghina R. , Chemaitelly Hiam , Al Kanaani Zaina , Kouyoumjian Silva P. , Hermez Joumana G. , Abu‐Raddad Laith J.
Published: February 2020

Background and aims

People who inject drugs (PWID) are a key population at high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to delineate the epidemiology of HCV in PWID in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Methods

Syntheses of data were conducted on the standardized and systematically assembled databases of the MENA HCV Epidemiology Synthesis Project, 1989–2018. Random‐effects meta‐analyses and meta‐regressions were performed. Meta‐regression variables included country, study site, year of data collection and year of publication [to assess trends in HCV antibody prevalence over time], sample size and sampling methodology. Numbers of chronically infected PWID across MENA were estimated. The Shannon Diversity Index was calculated to assess genotype diversity.

Results

Based on 118 HCV antibody prevalence measures, the pooled mean prevalence in PWID for all MENA was 49.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 44.4–54.1%]. The country‐specific pooled mean ranged from 21.7% (95% CI = 4.9–38.6%) in Tunisia to 94.2% (95% CI = 90.8–96.7%) in Libya. An estimated 221 704 PWID were chronically infected, with the largest numbers found in Iran at 68 526 and in Pakistan at 46 554. There was no statistically significant evidence for a decline in HCV antibody prevalence over time. Genotype diversity was moderate (Shannon Diversity Index of 1.01 out of 1.95; 52.1%). The pooled mean percentage for each HCV genotype was highest in genotype 3 (42.7%) and in genotype 1 (35.9%).

Conclusion

Half of people who inject drugs in the Middle East and North Africa appear to have ever been infected with hepatitis C virus, but there are large variations in antibody prevalence among countries. In addition to > 200 000 chronically infected current people who inject drugs, there is an unknown number of people who no longer inject drugs who may have acquired hepatitis C virus during past injecting drug use. Harm reduction services must be expanded, and innovative strategies need to be employed to ensure accessibility to hepatitis C virus testing and treatment.
Prevalence of Perineural Invasion in keratinocyte cancer in the general population and among organ transplant recipients
Authors: Adams Agnieszka , Pandeya Nirmala , De’Ambrosis Brian , Plasmeijer Elsemieke , Panizza Ben , Green Adele C , Olsen Catherine M. , Whiteman David C.
Published: February 2020

Background/Objectives

Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are the most commonly encountered cancers in fair‐skinned populations worldwide. Perineural invasion is associated with worse outcomes for patients with BCC or SCC. Estimates of perineural invasion prevalence range widely, likely reflecting non‐representative patient samples. We sought to determine the prevalence of perineural invasion in BCC and SCC in the general population, as well as among cancers arising in solid organ transplant recipients.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed histopathology reports of BCC and SCC from patients enrolled in the QSkin Study (a population‐based cohort of 43 794 Queensland residents recruited 2010–2011) and the Skin Tumours in Allograft Recipients (STAR) study (a cohort of 509 high‐risk kidney or liver transplant recipients at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, recruited 2012–2014.) We estimated the prevalence of perineural invasion (and 95% confidence interval) in BCC and SCC, respectively, and identified clinical factors associated with perineural invasion.

Results

In QSkin, we observed 35 instances of perineural invasion in 9850 histopathologically confirmed BCCs (0.36%) and 9 instances of perineural invasion in 3982 confirmed SCC (0.23%) lesions. In the STAR cohort, we identified 4 lesions with perineural invasion in 692 BCCs (0.58%) and 16 reports of perineural invasion in 875 SCC lesions (1.9%).

Conclusions

These data suggest that the overall prevalence of perineural invasion in keratinocyte cancer is low, although perineural invasion prevalence may be slightly higher among organ transplant recipients when compared to the general population.
Artificial neural network identifies nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs exacerbated respiratory disease (N‐ERD) cohort
Authors: Tyrak Katarzyna Ewa , Pajdzik Kinga , Konduracka Ewa , Ćmiel Adam , Jakieła Bogdan , Celejewska‐Wójcik Natalia , Trąd Gabriela , Kot Adrianna , Urbańska Anna , Zabiegło Ewa , Kacorzyk Radosław , Kupryś‐Lipińska Izabela , Oleś Krzysztof , Kuna Piotr , Sanak Marek , Mastalerz Lucyna
Published: February 2020

Background

To date, there has been no reliable in vitro test to either diagnose or differentiate nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID)–exacerbated respiratory disease (N‐ERD). The aim of the present study was to develop and validate an artificial neural network (ANN) for the prediction of N‐ERD in patients with asthma.

Methods

This study used a prospective database of patients with N‐ERD (n = 121) and aspirin‐tolerant (n = 82) who underwent aspirin challenge from May 2014 to May 2018. Eighteen parameters, including clinical characteristics, inflammatory phenotypes based on sputum cells, as well as eicosanoid levels in induced sputum supernatant (ISS) and urine were extracted for the ANN.

Results

The validation sensitivity of ANN was 94.12% (80.32%‐99.28%), specificity was 73.08% (52.21%‐88.43%), and accuracy was 85.00% (77.43%‐92.90%) for the prediction of N‐ERD. The area under the receiver operating curve was 0.83 (0.71‐0.90).

Conclusions

The designed ANN model seems to have powerful prediction capabilities to provide diagnosis of N‐ERD. Although it cannot replace the gold‐standard aspirin challenge test, the implementation of the ANN might provide an added value for identification of patients with N‐ERD. External validation in a large cohort is needed to confirm our results.
Protective effect of Berberine on reproductive function and spermatogenesis in diabetic rats via inhibition of ROS/JAK2/NFκB pathway
Authors: Song Jingyu , Gao Xintao , Tang Zhe , Li Hao , Ruan Yajun , Liu Zhuo , Wang Tao , Wang Shaogang , Liu Jihong , Jiang Hongyang
Published: February 2020

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) induces impairment of male reproductive system and is considered as a key factor that could partially provide an explanation for male infertility. Thus, understanding the mechanism underlying DM‐induced infertility will aid in the identification of novel therapeutic stratagems.

Objectives

To delineate the role of ROS/JAK2/NFκB pathway in DM‐induced low reproductive function and impaired spermatogenesis. Additionally, to investigate the protective effect of monomeric Berberine (BB) that inhibits ROS/JAK2/NFκB pathway, in the pathogenesis of DM‐induced infertility.

Methods

12‐week‐old male Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control group, DM group, control plus BB group, and DM plus BB group. Streptozotocin was used to induce DM. After treating the rats with BB for 4 weeks, fertility tests were conducted to investigate the reproductive function, and testis weight along with sperm motility was assessed through microscope. Oxidative stress was evaluated by DHE staining. TUNEL staining was utilized to detect the state of apoptosis. Cell experiments were carried out to define the role of BB in vitro. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting were employed to measure the protein expression.

Results

Our results indicate that the reproductive function of DM rats was low, accompanied by decreased testis weight and sperm motility in addition to the impairment of the seminiferous tubules. However, there was a significant improvement in the reproductive function parameters in the BB‐treated DM rats. Subsequently, our data revealed that DM rats produce an increased level of ROS in the testis, which activates JAK2 further activating the NFκB pathway, leading to increased apoptosis and impaired cells in the testicles. However, BB could attenuate the ROS production and abrogate activation of JAK2/NFκB pathway, thus inhibiting the apoptosis in the testicular cells of DM rats.

Conclusion

ROS/JAK2/NFκB pathway is involved in the DM‐induced low reproductive function and impaired spermatogenesis. BB can play a protective role in preserving the reproductive function and spermatogenesis in DM by inhibiting ROS/JAK2/NFκB pathway.
Prognostic implications of the microenvironment for follicular lymphoma under immunomodulation therapy
Authors: Menter Thomas , Tzankov Alexandar , Zucca Emanuele , Kimby Eva , Hultdin Magnus , Sundström Christer , Beiske Klaus , Cogliatti Sergio , Banz Yara , Cathomas Gieri , Karjalainen‐Lindsberg Marja‐Liisa , Grobholz Rainer , Mazzucchelli Luca , Sander Birgitta , Hawle Hanne , Hayoz Stefanie , Dirnhofer Stefan
Published: February 2020

Follicular lymphoma (FL) constitutes a significant proportion of lymphomas and shows frequent relapses. Beyond conventional chemotherapy, new therapeutic approaches have emerged, focussing on the interplay between lymphoma cells and the microenvironment. Here we report the immunophenotypic investigation of the microenvironment of a clinically well‐characterized prospective cohort (study SAKK35/10, NCT01307605) of 154 treatment‐naïve FL patients in need of therapy, who have been treated with rituximab only or a combination of rituximab and the immunomodulatory drug lenalidomide/Revlimid® A high ratio of CD4‐ to CD8‐positive T cells (P = 0·009) and increased amounts of PD1+ tumour‐infiltrating T cells (P = 0·007) were associated with inferior progression‐free survival in the whole cohort. Interestingly, the prognostic impact of PD1+ T cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio lost its significance in the subgroup treated with R2. In the latter group, high amounts of GATA3+ T helper (Th2) equivalents were associated with better progression‐free survival (P < 0·001). We identified tumour microenvironmental features that allow prognostic stratification with respect to immuno‐ and combined immuno‐ and immunomodulatory therapy. Our analysis indicates that lenalidomide may compensate the adverse prognostic implication of higher amounts of CD4+ and, particularly, PD1+ T cells and that it has favourable effects mainly in cases with higher amounts of Th2 equivalents.

[Correction added on 11 February 2020, after online publication: The NCT‐trial number was previously incorrect and has been updated in this version].
Removal of cattle accelerates tropical dry forest succession in Northwestern Mexico
Authors: Quisehuatl‐Medina Abdieel , Averett Joshua P. , Endress Bryan A. , Lopez‐Toledo Leonel
Published: February 2020

Domestic livestock influence patterns of secondary succession across forest ecosystems. However, the effects of cattle on the regeneration of tropical dry forests (TDF) in Mexico are poorly understood, largely because it is difficult to locate forests that are not grazed by cattle or other livestock. We describe changes in forest composition and structure along a successional chronosequence of TDF stands with and without cattle (chronic grazing or exclusion from grazing for ~ 8 year). Forest stands were grouped into five successional stages, ranging from recently abandoned to mature forest, for a total of 2.7 ha of the sampled area. The absence of cattle increased woody plant (tree and shrub) density and species richness, particularly in mid‐successional and mature forest stands. Species diversity and evenness were generally greater in sites where cattle were removed and cattle grazing in early successional stands reduced establishment and/or recruitment of new individuals and species. Removal of cattle from forest stands undergoing succession appears to facilitate a progressive and non‐linear change of forest structure and compositional attributes associated with rapid recovery, while cattle browsing acts as a chronic disturbance factor that compromises the resilience and structural and functional integrity of the TDF in northwestern Mexico. These results are important for the conservation, management, and restoration of Neotropical dry forests.
Tumor cell‐derived angiopoietin‐like protein 2 establishes a preference for glycolytic metabolism in lung cancer cells
Authors: Osumi Hironobu , Horiguchi Haruki , Kadomatsu Tsuyoshi , Tashiro Kyosei , Morinaga Jun , Takahashi Takashi , Ikeda Koei , Ito Takaaki , Suzuki Makoto , Endo Motoyoshi , Oike Yuichi
Published: February 2020

We previously revealed that tumor cell‐derived angiopoietin‐like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) accelerates the metastatic capacity of tumors in an autocrine/paracrine manner by activating tumor cell motility and invasiveness and the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition. However, the effects of ANGPTL2 on cancer cell glycolytic metabolism, which is a hallmark of tumor cells, are unknown. Here we report evidence supporting a role for tumor cell‐derived ANGPTL2 in establishing a preference for glycolytic metabolism. We report that a highly metastatic lung cancer cell subline expressing abundant ANGPTL2 showed upregulated expression of the glucose transporter GLUT3 as well as enhanced glycolytic metabolism relative to a less metastatic parental line. Most notably, ANGPTL2 overexpression in the less metastatic line activated glycolytic metabolism by increasing GLUT3 expression. Moreover, ANGPTL2 signaling through integrin α5β1 increased GLUT3 expression by increasing transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) signaling and expression of the downstream transcription factor zinc finger E‐box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1). Conversely, ANGPTL2 knockdown in the highly metastatic subline decreased TGF‐β1, ZEB1, and GLUT3 expression and antagonized glycolytic metabolism. In primary tumor cells from patients with lung cancer, ANGPTL2 expression levels correlated with GLUT3 expression. Overall, this work suggests that tumor cell‐derived ANGPTL2 accelerates activities associated with glycolytic metabolism in lung cancer cells by activating TGF‐β‐ZEB1‐GLUT3 signaling.
“I really like playing games together”: Understanding what influences children with congenital heart disease to participate in physical activity
Authors: Blais Angelica Z. , Lougheed Jane , Yaraskavitch Jenna , Adamo Kristi B. , Longmuir Patricia E.
Published: February 2020

Background

Participation in physical activity is essential to the long‐term health and development of all children. However, children living with cardiac conditions are typically not active enough to sustain positive health outcomes. Understanding the experiences of children living with congenital heart disease in community‐based settings could help inform the physical activity counselling practices of clinicians. The current study explored the perceptions of 7‐ to 10‐year‐old children with moderate or complex congenital heart disease as they participated in a 10‐week multisport programme.

Methods

Detailed field notes recorded the discussions and behaviours of 11 participants (45% female participants) each week during the programme sessions. Among those, four participants (50% female participants) were purposively selected to participate in preprogramme and postprogramme focus groups to gather more detailed accounts of their experiences.

Results

Four main themes surrounding physical activity were identified: (a) motivation, (b) self‐efficacy, (c) peer influences, and (d) family influences. Although feelings of excitement and enjoyment towards physical activity were prevalent throughout the data (“I'm really excited … because I really like those sports”), participants also often felt frustrated, nervous, and fatigued (“I'm not very good at the skills”). Social inclusion with peers and family influences were meaningful reasons to engage in physical activity (“I really like playing games together”). Following the completion of the programme, participants emphasized their enjoyment of physical activity as a primary source of motivation, demonstrating an important shift from recognizing positive health outcomes ( “… it's good for you”) towards more intrinsic sources of motivation (“… because it's fun”).

Conclusion

Opportunities for physical activity that enhance positive experiences and build intrinsic motivation should be identified and promoted to children with congenital heart disease. Community‐based programmes may also be an appropriate context for children with cardiac conditions to engage and maintain participation in physical activity through adolescence.
Anastomotic leak after surgery for colon cancer and effect on long‐term survival
Authors: Stormark K. , Krarup P.‐M. , Sjövall A. , Søreide K. , Kvaløy J. T. , Nordholm‐Carstensen A. , Nedrebø B.S. , Kørner H.
Published: February 2020

Aim

An anastomotic leak after surgery for colon cancer is a recognized complication but how it may adversely affect long‐term survival is less clear because data are scarce. The aim of the study was to investigate the long‐term impact of Grade C anastomotic leak in a large, population‐based cohort.

Method

Data on patients undergoing resection for Stage I–III colon cancer between 2008 and 2012 were collected from the Swedish, Norwegian and Danish Colorectal Cancer Registries. Overall relative survival and conditional 5‐year relative survival, under the condition of surviving 1 year, were calculated for all patients and stratified by stage of disease.

Results

A total of 22 985 patients were analysed. Anastomotic leak occurred in 849 patients (3.7%). Five‐year relative survival in patients with anastomotic leak was 64.7% compared with 87.0% for patients with no leak (P < 0.001). Five‐year relative survival among the patients who survived the first year was 88.6% vs 81.3% (P = 0.003). Stratification by cancer stage showed that anastomotic leak was significantly associated with decreased relative survival in patients with Stage III disease (P = 0.001), but not in patients with Stage I or II (P = 0.950 and 0.247, respectively).

Conclusion

Anastomotic leak after surgery for Stage III colon cancer was associated with significantly decreased long‐term relative survival.
Per oral endoscopic myotomy as salvage therapy in patients with achalasia refractory to endoscopic or surgical therapy is technically feasible and safe: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Hashimoto Rintaro , Inoue Haruhiro , Shimamura Yuto , Sakuraba Atsushi , Tomizawa Yutaka
Published: February 2020

Backgrounds and aims

Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been reported as an effective and safe salvage therapy for achalasia but there is limited composite data. We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies that reported the rates of clinical success and adverse events among patients who underwent POEM after failed conventional endoscopic or surgical therapy.

Methods

Electronic literature search was conducted from inception through December 2018 for articles reporting the efficacy and safety of POEM in patients with achalasia who failed endoscopic or surgical therapy. Primary outcome was the pooled estimated rates of clinical success, defined as Eckardt score ≤ 3 after POEM. Secondary outcomes were procedural time, the rates of POEM‐related gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and procedure‐related adverse events.

Results

Seven studies reporting outcomes on 487 patients met our criteria. Pooled estimated rate of clinical success of POEM was 88% (95% confidence interval (CI) 79–94%). Mean procedural time was 64 minutes (95% CI 44–85 minutes). POEM‐related GERD was found in 20% (95% CI 16–24%) of patients. Estimated incidence of overall adverse events was 10% (95% CI 5–18%) with individual risk of bleeding, mucosotomy, pneumothorax, pneumoperitoneum hydrothorax/mediastinitis, and subcutaneous emphysema ranging from 1 to 4%.

Conclusions

Per oral endoscopic myotomy after failed endoscopic or surgical therapy in patients with achalasia is an effective and safe treatment. Further long‐term follow‐up studies in a larger number of patients are warranted to validate the sustainable efficacy of POEM for achalasia.
Gene‐environment interaction in chronic kidney disease among people with type 2 diabetes from The Malaysian Cohort project: a case‐control study
Authors: Ahmad N. , Shah S. A. , Abdul Gafor A. H. , Abdul Murad N. A. , Kamaruddin M. A. , Abd Jalal N. , Ismail N. , Alias M. R. , Jamal R.
Published: February 2020

Aim

To examine the possible gene‐environment interactions between 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms and environmental factors that could modify the probability of chronic kidney disease.

Methods

A case‐control study was conducted involving 600 people with type 2 diabetes (300 chronic kidney disease cases, 300 controls) who participated in The Malaysian Cohort project. Retrospective subanalysis was performed on the chronic kidney disease cases to assess chronic kidney disease progression from the recruitment phase. We genotyped 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms using mass spectrometry. The probability of chronic kidney disease and predicted rate of newly detected chronic kidney disease progression were estimated from the significant gene‐environment interaction analyses.

Results

Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (eNOS rs2070744, PPARGC1A rs8192678, KCNQ1 rs2237895 and KCNQ1 rs2283228) and five environmental factors (age, sex, smoking, waist circumference and HDL) were significantly associated with chronic kidney disease. Gene‐environment interaction analyses revealed significant probabilities of chronic kidney disease for sex (PPARGC1A rs8192678), smoking (eNOS rs2070744, PPARGC1A rs8192678 and KCNQ1 rs2237895), waist circumference (eNOS rs2070744, PPARGC1A rs8192678, KCNQ1 rs2237895 and KCNQ1 rs2283228) and HDL (eNOS rs2070744 and PPARGC1A rs8192678). Subanalysis indicated that the rate of newly detected chronic kidney disease progression was 133 cases per 1000 person‐years (95% CI: 115, 153), with a mean follow‐up period of 4.78 (SD 0.73) years. There was a significant predicted rate of newly detected chronic kidney disease progression in gene‐environment interactions between KCNQ1 rs2283228 and two environmental factors (sex and BMI).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the gene‐environment interactions of eNOS rs2070744, PPARGC1A rs8192678, KCNQ1 rs2237895 and KCNQ1 rs2283228 with specific environmental factors could modify the probability for chronic kidney disease.
Impact of dose‐escalation schemes and drug discontinuation on weight loss outcomes with liraglutide 3.0 mg: A model‐based approach
Authors: Papathanasiou Theodoros , Strathe Anders , Agersø Henrik , Lund Trine Meldgaard , Overgaard Rune Viig
Published: February 2020

Aims

To investigate the impact on weight loss of the treatment changes in overweight or obese people that may be needed in case of gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability issues during escalation of the glucagon‐like peptide‐1 analogue liraglutide.

Materials and methods

The individual longitudinal body weight data from the main trial periods of three phase II/III trials in overweight or obese patients (56‐week treatment with once‐daily liraglutide 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 or 3.0 mg or placebo, n = 4952) were analysed using a non‐linear mixed‐effect modelling approach. Individual pharmacokinetic profiles were derived based on published pharmacokinetic models. Baseline body weight, baseline glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), age, gender, diabetes status (no diabetes, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes), race and trial region were investigated as covariates. As a form of external validation, the model was used to predict the weight regain after treatment cessation at week 56 (data not included in model development).

Results

A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model provided an adequate description of the weight loss trajectories for all studied doses. Gender and diabetes status were identified as the most influential covariates, and an underlying seasonal weight fluctuation was identified. Slower than that recommended, one‐week dose‐escalation algorithms led up to 2 weeks slower initial weight loss but similar long‐term weight loss trajectories.

Conclusions

The relationship between liraglutide systemic exposure and weight loss was successfully established in overweight or obese people. The model could predict the time course of weight regain after treatment cessation and suggests that GI tolerability can be mitigated by slower escalation with only minor impact on the weight loss trajectory.
Early detection of Agrilus planipennis: investigations into the attractive range of the sex pheromone (3Z)‐lactone
Authors: Parker Katie , Ryall Krista , Aukema Brian H. , Silk Peter
Published: February 2020

The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a highly destructive primary pest of ash (Fraxinus sp., Oleaceae) trees outside of its native range. Ash is an important component of many ecosystems and its loss would be detrimental to both the economy and the environment. The present study aimed to improve our understanding of the effectiveness of green sticky prism traps baited with host kairomone and insect pheromone lures for A. planipennis and to collect data for modelling the range of attraction of the pheromone (3Z)‐dodecen‐12‐olide [(3Z)‐lactone]. Traps were deployed over a single flight season in urban locations of Ontario, Canada, with low densities of EAB. Traps were placed in pairs of trees separated by not more than 25 m. All traps contained the host kairomone, (3Z)‐hexenol, with the remaining half in each pairing additionally baited with (3Z)‐lactone pheromone. Both lure types were highly effective in capturing EAB, with >90% detection rates overall. However, traps baited with the lactone pheromone and host volatile lures doubled trap captures of EAB over distances of at least 25 m from the nearest traps baited with only host volatiles. Although the baseline detection rate of traps containing (3Z)‐hexenol alone is not significantly reduced compared with traps containing (3Z)‐lactone, the overall trap effectiveness is significantly increased when (3Z)‐lactone is present. The implications for the use of (3Z)‐lactone at 3 mg per septum dose in an early warning trapping system are discussed. Trap layout methods and risk‐based analysis models can now be further refined by including these data about the attractive range of lures and their behaviour in different plot environments.
The involvement of oxytocin in the effects of chronic social defeat stress on emotional behaviours in adult female mandarin voles
Authors: Hou Wenjuan , He Zhixiong , Yang Yang , Yuan Wei , Wang Limin , Zhang Jing , Zhang Xueni , Cai Wenqi , Guo Qianqian , Tai Fadao
Published: February 2020

Chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) can induce anxiety and depression in male rodents, but the prevalence of anxiety and depression is much higher in females, and effects of CSDS on adult females and its underlying mechanism remain unclear. Oxytocin is a stress‐buffering hormone in the brain that modulates the physiological effects of stress. Strikingly, research regarding the effect of oxytocin on emotional changes caused by CSDS is still lacking in females. Thus, we focused on the involvement of the oxytocin system in changes in emotional regulation induced by CSDS in female voles. Seventy‐day‐old female mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus) were exposed to aggressive adult females for 14 days, and the effects of CSDS on emotion and regulation of oxytocin system were characterized. In addition, we injected vehicle, oxytocin and oxytocin receptor antagonist into the nucleus accumbens (Nacc) of female voles to investigate the involvement of Nacc oxytocin in the effect of CSDS on emotion. Herein, we reported that CSDS increased anxiety and depression‐like behaviour and the circulating level of corticosterone, but decreased the number of oxytocin projections and the protein and mRNA expression levels of oxytocin receptor in the Nacc. Injection of oxytocin into the Nacc reversed the effects of CSDS on anxiety‐like and depressive‐like behaviour, whereas combined injections of oxytocin and oxytocin receptor antagonist eliminated these effects. In conclusion, CSDS increases the levels of anxiety and depression possibly via a reduction in oxytocin projections and the oxytocin receptor level in the Nacc. Nacc oxytocin may be involved in the effects of CSDS on emotional behaviours.
Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test: validation of self‐administered neuroperformance modules
Authors: Rao S. M. , Galioto R. , Sokolowski M. , McGinley M. , Freiburger J. , Weber M. , Dey T. , Mourany L. , Schindler D. , Reece C. , Miller D. M. , Bethoux F. , Bermel R. A. , Williams J. R. , Levitt N. , Phillips G. A. , Rhodes J. K. , Alberts J. , Rudick R. A.
Published: February 2020

Background and purpose

The purpose was to determine the test–retest reliability, practice effects, convergent validity and sensitivity to multiple sclerosis (MS) disability of neuroperformance subtests from the patient self‐administered Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT) designed to assess low contrast vision (Contrast Sensitivity Test, CST), upper extremity motor function (Manual Dexterity Test, MDT) and lower extremity motor function (Walking Speed Test, WST) and to introduce the concept of regression‐based norms to aid clinical interpretation of performance scores using the MSPT cognition test (Processing Speed Test, PST) as an example.

Methods

Substudy 1 assessed test–retest reliability, practice effects and convergent validity of the CST, MDT and WST in 30 MS patients and 30 healthy controls. Substudy 2 examined sensitivity to MS disability in over 600 MS patients as part of their routine clinic assessment. Substudy 3 compared performance on the PST in research volunteers and clinical samples.

Results

The CST, MDT and WST were shown to be reliable, valid and sensitive to MS outcomes. Performance was comparable to technician‐administered testing. PST performance was poorer in the clinical sample compared with the research volunteer sample.

Conclusions

The self‐administered MSPT neuroperformance modules produce reliable, objective metrics that can be used in clinical practice and support outcomes research. Published studies which require patient voluntary consent may underestimate the rate of cognitive dysfunction observed in a clinical setting.
TINCR is not a non‐coding RNA but encodes a protein component of cornified epidermal keratinocytes
Authors: Eckhart Leopold , Lachner Julia , Tschachler Erwin , Rice Robert H.
Published: February 2020

Long non‐coding RNAs have been implicated in the regulation of a plethora of biological processes, yet it has been challenging to verify that they are truly not coding for proteins. Terminal differentiation‐induced non‐coding RNA (TINCR) is a 3.7‐kilobase mRNA that is highly abundant in epidermal keratinocytes prior to cornification. Here, we report the presence of an evolutionarily conserved open reading frame in TINCR and the identification of peptides derived from this open reading frame in the proteome of human stratum corneum. Our results demonstrate that TINCR is a protein‐coding RNA and suggest that the TINCR‐encoded protein is involved in keratinocyte cornification.
Mobile phone data statistics as a dynamic proxy indicator in assessing regional economic activity and human commuting patterns
Authors: Arhipova Irina , Berzins Gundars , Brekis Edgars , Binde Juris , Opmanis Martins , Erglis Aldis , Ansonska Evija
Published: February 2020

Various studies demonstrate that data on mobile phone use are useful when analysing problems in the fields of human activity or population dynamics, including tourism, transportation planning, public administration, etc. However, one of the biggest challenges is related to the restrictions contained in the General Data Protection Regulation that force the use of statistics about mobile operator client activities instead of allowing the analysis of mobile operator data. Therefore, a data analytics approach that does not involve information on the mobility of particular persons was developed, providing economically relevant data on aggregate mobility while protecting personal data. The activity data aggregation was conducted at 15‐min intervals in the area of each cellular base station; “activity” is defined as the number of outgoing and incoming calls and sent and received text messages (short message service or SMS) and, in some instances, as the count of unique users. The case study examines all of Latvia's municipalities, analysing the economic activity level in each municipality in comparison to the mobile phone activity in three periods: 2015–2016, 2017, and 2018. It was concluded that the economic activity in municipalities can be estimated, and positive dynamics of regional development have been detected. Such data and the data analytics method, which provides an understanding of how economic activities evolve in real time in particular locations and economic activity centres, can improve regional development planning and plan implementation. In order to assess which are the centres of economic activity in each municipality and its sphere of influence, the patterns of human commuting and fluctuations of internal activity on workdays and weekends/holidays in 2017–2018 were determined. In general, there is a shortage of reliable data on human commuting within Latvia and its specific regions; therefore, the method described here provides a practical tool for regional governments to keep track of strategy implementation and for strategic gap analysis.
Using Virtual Programming Lab to improve learning programming: The case of Algorithms and Programming
Authors: Cardoso Marílio , Marques Rui , de Castro António Vieira , Rocha Álvaro
Published: February 2020

Programming is one of the basic skills that students must acquire. However, learning to program is not an easy task. Also teaching programming is an arduous but challenging task, requiring close follow‐up and constant and meaningful feedback. So the main question is: how can we help teachers and students to achieve these goals? We identified a tool that can be useful to this purpose. That is Virtual Programming Lab (VPL), a Moodle plugin that allows students to submit their code and get prompt feedback without the teacher's intervention. In order to test this concept, an experiment was performed with several classes of beginner programming students, in two editions of Algorithms and Programming course unit of the degree in Informatics Engineering lectured at the Informatics Engineering Department at the School of Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Porto. The students were challenged to test their assignments in VPL with a set of test values previously defined by the teachers. After the experiments, we used surveys to gather the involved students' and teachers' opinion, and more than 70% of the students answered that they considered the VPL an added value for the teaching–learning process. The dynamics verified in the classes, the general opinion of the teachers, and the acceptance and participation of the students allow to classify the experience as positive.
Prospects for finding the mechanisms of sex differences in addiction with human and model organism genetic analysis
Authors: Datta Udita , Schoenrock Sarah E. , Bubier Jason A. , Bogue Molly A. , Jentsch James D. , Logan Ryan W. , Tarantino Lisa M. , Chesler Elissa J.
Published: February 2020

Despite substantial evidence for sex differences in addiction epidemiology, addiction‐relevant behaviors and associated neurobiological phenomena, the mechanisms and implications of these differences remain unknown. Genetic analysis in model organism is a potentially powerful and effective means of discovering the mechanisms that underlie sex differences in addiction. Human genetic studies are beginning to show precise risk variants that influence the mechanisms of addiction but typically lack sufficient power or neurobiological mechanistic access, particularly for the discovery of the mechanisms that underlie sex differences. Our thesis in this review is that genetic variation in model organisms are a promising approach that can complement these investigations to show the biological mechanisms that underlie sex differences in addiction.
Constraining the formation of authigenic carbonates in a seepage‐affected cold‐water coral mound by lipid biomarkers
Authors: Feenstra Eline Juliette , Birgel Daniel , Heindel Katrin , Wehrmann Laura M. , Jaramillo‐Vogel David , Grobéty Bernard , Frank Norbert , Hancock Leanne G. , Van Rooij David , Peckmann Jörn , Foubert Anneleen
Published: February 2020

Cold‐water coral (CWC) mounds are build‐ups comprised of coral‐dominated intervals alternating with a mixed carbonate‐siliciclastic matrix. At some locations, CWC mounds are influenced by methane seepage, but the impact of methane on CWC mounds is poorly understood. To constrain the potential impact of methane on CWC mound growth, lipid biomarker investigations were combined with mineralogical and petrographic analyses to investigate the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and authigenic carbonate formation in sediment from a seep‐affected CWC mound in the Gulf of Cadiz. The occurrence of AOM was confirmed by characteristic lipids found within a semi‐lithified zone (SLZ) consisting of authigenic aragonite, high‐magnesium calcite and calcium‐excess dolomite. The formation of high‐Mg calcite is attributed to AOM, acting as a lithifying agent. Aragonite is only a minor phase. Ca‐excess dolomite in the SLZ and upper parts may be formed by organoclastic sulphate reduction, favouring precipitation by increased alkalinity. The AOM biomarkers in the SLZ include isoprenoid‐based archaeal membrane lipids, such as abundant glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) dominated by GDGT‐2. The δ13C values of GDGT‐2, measured as ether‐cleaved monocyclic biphytanes, are as low as −100‰ versus V‐PDB. Further, bacterial dialkyl glycerol diethers with two anteiso‐C15 alkyl chains and δ13C values of −81‰ are interpreted as biomarkers of sulphate‐reducing bacteria. The lipid biomarker signatures and mineralogical patterns suggest that anaerobic methane‐oxidizing archaea of the ANME‐1 group thrived in the subsurface at times of slow and diffusive methane seepage. Petrographic analyses revealed that the SLZ was exhumed at some point (e.g. signs of bioerosion of the semi‐lithified sediment), providing a hard substrate for CWC larval settlement. In addition, this work reveals that AOM‐induced semi‐lithification likely played a role in mound stabilization. Lipid biomarker analysis proves to be a powerful tool to disentangle early diagenetic processes induced by microbial metabolisms.