bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Shape Characteristics on Tactile Sensing Recognition and Brain Activation
Authors: Sakaniwa Hidenori , Sutoko Stephanie , Obata Akiko , Atsumori Hirokazu , Fukuda Nobuhiro , Kiguchi Masashi , Kandori Akihiko ,   Center for Exploratory Research, Hitachi, Ltd. 1-280 Higashi-koigakubo, Kokubunji, Tokyo 185-8601, Japan,   Center for Exploratory Research, Hitachi, Ltd. 2520 Akanuma, Hatoyama-machi, Hiki-gun, Saitama 350-0395, Japan,   Center for Technology Innovation – Digital Technology, Hitachi, Ltd. 1-280 Higashi-koigakubo, Kokubunji, Tokyo 185-8601, Japan
Published: November 2019

Training tactile sensing for shape recognition is considered to be an effective rehabilitation technique. Previous studies in tactile sensing showed a tendency of recognition ambiguity, thus necessitating tactile sensing rehabilitation. Eleven subjects observed invisible objects using their fingers and were asked to identify the shape of the objects. The relationship between the degree of recognition and shape complexity was investigated. The results showed high self-confidence in recognizing high complexity shapes. The recognition process was confirmed in a second experiment measuring brain activation using near-infrared spectroscopy. Measurement of eight subjects showed the activation of verbal and visual processing regions, indicating that the act of handling the shape was translated to verbal expression and visual imaging. These results potentially quantify tactile sensing and contribute to the realization of personalized rehabilitation.
The precursor for nerve growth factor (proNGF) is not a serum or biopsy-rinse biomarker for thyroid cancer diagnosis
Authors: Rowe Christopher W , Faulkner Sam , Paul Jonathan W , Tolosa Jorge M , Gedye Craig , Bendinelli Cino , Wynne Katie , McGrath Shaun , Attia John , Smith Roger , Hondermarck Hubert
Published: November 2019

Background: Nerves and neurotrophic growth factors are emerging promoters of cancer growth. The precursor for Nerve Growth Factor (proNGF) is overexpressed in thyroid cancer, but its potential role as a clinical biomarker has not been reported. Here we have examined the value of proNGF as a serum and biopsy-rinse biomarker for thyroid cancer diagnosis. Methods: Patients presenting for thyroid surgery or biopsy were enrolled in separate cohorts examining serum (n=204, including 46 cases of thyroid cancer) and biopsy-rinse specimens (n=188, including 26 cases of thyroid cancer). ProNGF levels in clinical samples were analysed by ELISA. Multivariate statistical analyses testing for potential confounders were used to compare proNGF levels with clinicopathological parameters. Results: ProNGF was not detected in the majority of serum samples 176/204 (86%) and the detection of proNGF was not associated with thyroid cancer diagnosis. In the few cases where proNGF was detected in the serum, thyroidectomy did not affect proNGF concentration, demonstrating that the thyroid was not the source of serum proNGF. Intringuingly, an association between hyperthyroidism and serum proNGF was observed (OR 3.3, 95%CI 1.6-8.7 p=0.02). In biopsy-rinse, proNGF was detected in 73/188 (39%) cases, with no association between proNGF and thyroid cancer. However, a significant positive association between follicular lesions and biopsy-rinse proNGF was found (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.2-8.7, p=0.02). Conclusions: ProNGF levels in serum and biopsy-rinse are not increased in thyroid cancer and therefore proNGF is not a clinical biomarker for this condition.
Doctors experiences on the quality of care for pesticide poisoning patients in hospitals in Kampala, Uganda: a qualitative exploration using donabedian’s model
Authors: Ssemugabo Charles , MPH Sarah Nalinya , Halage Abdullah Ali , Neebye Ruth Mubeezi , Musoke David , Jørs Erik
Published: November 2019

Background Pesticide poisoning is a major public health problem in many Low-and-Middle Income Countries (LMICs). Pesticides are responsible for a significant percentage of deaths globally with majority occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Majority of the pesticide related deaths can be averted if poisoning patients are managed well. However, the quality of care given to pesticide poisoning patients is still insufficient especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study was aimed at exploring doctors’ experiences on quality of care for pesticide poisoning cases in hospitals in Kampala, Uganda. Methods Fifteen (15) in-depth interviews were conducted with doctors who were directly involved in management of pesticide poisoning patients in the accident and emergency, Medicine, Pediatrics and Intensive Care Unit wards in 5 hospitals in Kampala, Uganda. All interviews were transcribed and subjected to directed content analysis with the guidance of the Donabedian model of quality of care which emphasizes structure, process and outcome measures as pertinent ensuring quality care. Results Presence of hospital units such as medical wards including Intensive Care Unit (ICU), pediatrics and internal medicine; availability of equipment and clinical guidelines such as airway, breathing and consciousness (ABC) protocol; and doctors’ knowledge and experiences improved the quality of care given to pesticide poisoning patients. Doctors relied on history, and signs and symptoms to establish the cause and severity of pesticide poisoning. However, some patients and caretakers provided inaccurate pesticide poisoning history. Due to its availability in hospitals, doctors largely relied on atropine to manage pesticide poisoning cases. Although majority of the cases treated recovered, those due to suicide were further referred to the hospital psychiatrist. Sharing experiences of managing pesticide poisoning patients among health workers and engaging in sensitization outreaches against pesticide poisoning were reported as potential activities to improve quality of care for pesticide poisoning patients. Conclusion Doctors reflected on the structure, process and outcome measures of quality of care given to pesticide poisoning patients. The implications of hospital structures and clinical process to the quality of the outcomes of care demonstrates their importance to improving management of pesticide poisoning cases in hospitals in Kampala, Uganda.
Treatment outcomes and factors associated with “successful treatment” among tuberculosis patients at peripheral health settings of Northern Ethiopia: a registry-based retrospective case-series analysis.
Authors: Abdulkader Mahmud , Aken Ischa van , Niguse Selam Sahle , Hailekiros Haftamu , Spigt Mark
Published: November 2019

Objective: Evidence on treatment outcomes and identifying factors facilitating treatment success through a register based retrospective study have significant contribution in the improvement of a national tuberculosis program. This study was aimed at determining treatment outcomes and factors associated with “successful treatment” outcomes.
Results: A total of 3445 patient records were included. More than half, (58%) were males and the mean age was 33.88 ± 16.91 years (range: 0-90). From the total TB patients, 18.8% were HIV co infected. The treatment outcome of TB patients were 371 (10.8%) cured, 2234 (64.8) treatment completed, died 119 (3.5%) died, 9 (0.3%) failed, 178 (5.1%) defaulted and 534 (15.5%) were transferred out. The overall treatment success rate was 89.5%. The overall treatment success rate was 87% in year 2009-2010 to 92.8% in 2013-2014 with 6.67% change in the outcome indicator over the five years period. Among pulmonary TB, pulmonary negative TB and extra pulmonary TB the rate of successful treatment outcome was 83.1% to 89%, 85.1% to 89.4%, and 87.4% to 92%, respectively in the year 2009-2010 to 2013-2014. The percentage of the overall successful treatment outcomes were significantly associated with the year of treatment (p- =0.014).
Atmiyata, a community led intervention to address common mental disorders: Study protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial in rural Gujarat, India
Authors: Joag Kaustubh , Kalha Jasmine , Pandit Deepa , Chatterjee Susmita , Krishnamoorthy Sadhvi , Shields-Zeeman Laura , Pathare Soumitra
Published: November 2019

Background:
While lay-health worker models for mental health care have proven to be effective in controlled trials, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness and scalability of these models in rural communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Atmiyata is a rural community-led intervention using local community volunteers, called Champions, to identify and provide evidence-based counselling for persons with common mental disorders (CMD) as part of a package of community-based interventions for mental health.
Methods:
The impact of the Atmiyata intervention is evaluated through a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial (SW-CRCT) with a nested economic evaluation. The trial spans across 10 sub-blocks (645 villages) in Mehsana district with 1.52 million rural adult population. There are 56 primary health centers (PHCs) in Mehsana district and villages covered under these PHCs are equally divided into four groups of clusters of 14 PHCs each, and the intervention is rolled out in a staggered manner in these groups of villages at an interval of 5 months.
The primary outcome is symptomatic improvement measured through the GHQ-12 at 3-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include: quality of life using the EURO-QoL (EQ- 5D), symptom improvement measured by the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20), functioning using the World Health Organization’s Disability Assessment Scale (WHO-DAS-12), depression symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire, (PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms using Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, (GAD-7) and social participation using the Social Participation Scale (SPS). Generalized linear mixed effects model are employed for binary outcomes and linear mixed effects models for continuous outcomes. A Return on Investment (ROI) analysis of the intervention will be conducted to understand whether the intervention generates any return on financial investments made into the project.
Characterization of Pasteurella multocida isolated from dead rabbits with respiratory disease in Fujian, China
Authors: Wang Jinxiang , Sang Lei , Sun Shikun , Chen Yanfeng , Chen Dongjin , Xie Xiping
Published: November 2019

Background: Pasteurella multocida is one of the important pathogens that infect rabbits, causing major economic losses in commercial rabbit farming. In this study, 205 P. multocida isolates recovered from lungs of dead rabbits with respiratory disease were defined by capsular serogroups, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) genotypes, multi-locus sequence types and screened virulence factors by using PCR assays, and tested antimicrobial susceptibility.
Results: The 205 isolates were assigned into 2 capsular types, A and D, and 2 LPS genotypes, L3 and L6. When combining capsular types with LPS genotypes, 4 serotypes were detected. A:L3 (51.22%, 105/205) was the most predominant serotype, followed by A:L6 (24.88%, 51/205), D:L6 (19.02%, 39/205) and D:L3 (4.88%, 10/205). The 205 isolates were grouped into 3 sequence types, ST10, ST11 and ST12. ST12 (56.10%, 115/205) was the most prevalent sequence type, followed by ST10 (24.88%, 51/205) and ST11 (19.02%, 39/205). In the 205 isolates, virulence associated genes ptfA, fur, hgbB, ompA, ompH and oma87 were positive in the PCR screening, whereas the toxA and tbpA genes were negative. Notably, the 156 capsular serogroup A isolates carried the pmHAS gene. All the 205 isolates were susceptible to most of the used antibiotics, except for streptomycin, gentamycin, kanamycin and ceftriaxone, and the resistance rates of which were 27.80%, 15.61%, 9.27% and 2.44%, respectively.
Conclusions: This study, for the first time, described the prevalence and characteristics of P. multocida causing respiratory disease in rabbits in Fujian Province, which might be useful for tracking the epidemic strains and development of efficient vaccines and methods to prevent and control the pathogen.
The trend of full vaccination coverage in infants and inequalities by wealth quintile and maternal education: Analysis from four recent Demographic and Health Surveys in Nepal
Authors: Acharya Kiran , Paudel Yuba Raj , Dharel Dinesh
Published: November 2019

Background Despite policy intention to reach disadvantaged populations, inequalities in child health care use and health outcomes persist in Nepal. The current study aimed to investigate the trend of full vaccination coverage among infants and its equity gaps between Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) 2001 and 2016.Methods Using data from NDHS conducted in 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016, we investigated the trend of coverage of six antigens:Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG), Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT), Polio, and Measles during their infancy among children aged 12-23 months. We presented trends and correlates of vaccination coverage by different socio-demographic factors. We measured inequalities in full vaccination coverage by wealth quintile and maternal education using absolute measure (slope index of inequality) and relative measures (Relative index of inequality, concentration index) of inequalities.Results Full immunization coverage among infants steadily increased from 65.6% in 2001 to 87.0% in 2011; however, it decreased to 77.8% in 2016. Province 2 had a significantly lower full vaccination coverage compared to Province1.Although decreasing over time, there were significant inequalities by household wealth quintiles and maternal educational status. The slope index of inequality (SII) for wealth quintiles decreased from -32.3 [-45.5,-19.1] in 2001 to an SII of-8.4 [-18.6,-1.7] in 2016. Similarly, the SII for education decreased from -61.8 [-73.5,-50.1] in 2001 to an SII of -30.5 [-40.7,-20.2] in 2016. Similarly, the relative index of inequality (RII) also showed an improvement over time, indicating the narrowing equity gap. Additionally, concentration index on full immunization coverage by wealth quintiles dropped from 0.21 (0.12-0.28) in 2001 to 0.054 (-0.01-0.12) in 2016. Absolute and relative inequalities were persistently larger by maternal educational status compared to household wealth quintiles throughout the study period.Conclusion Full vaccination coverage in Nepal increased from 2001 until 2011 but saw a significant decrement away from the national target after 2011. However, the equity gap by household wealth quintile and maternal education status has narrowed over time. National Immunization programs need to give higher emphasis to infants born to mothers with less education, those born in the poorer wealth quintile households, and those living in Province 2.
Serum miR-375 levels are closely related to disease progression from HBV infection to HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Weilu , Fu Ting , Guo Zhenjun , Zhang Ye , Zhang Lei , Su Haixia , Long Yong , Ji Zhaohua , Yan Yongping , Shao Zhongjun
Published: November 2019

Background: Hepatitis B is a liver infected disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) that can become chronic and develop to the hepatocellular carcinoma. The expression of microRNA (miRNA) is a promising prognostic and diagnostic tool in HBV-related diseases. However, whether miR-375 expression can be changed in the serums of different types of HBV-infected patients and hepatoma cell lines are not entirely clear.
Methods: A total of 177 participants were enrolled. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the predictive capability of selected miR-375 for HBV-HCC. We upregulated miR-375 expression in HepG2, HepG2.2.15 and HepAD38 cells to determine its effect on cellular proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro using CCK-8 and Transwell assays.
Results: Serum miR-375 levels decreased in order from healthy controls to CHB without cirrhosis, followed by cirrhosis, and finally, HBV-HCC patients. MiR-375 levels were significantly lower in HBeAg-positive and HBV DNA-positive patients than negative (P<0.05), and significantly lower in patients with elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) than normal levels (P<0.05). MiR-375 might be a biomarker for HBV-HCC, with a high area under the curve (AUC) of 0.838 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.780 to 0.897; sensitivity: 73.9%; specificity: 93.0%). The AUC (0.768 vs 0.584) and sensitivity (93.8% vs 75.0%) for miR-375 were higher than those for AFP. The overexpression of miR-375 noticeably inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion in HepG2, HepG2.2.15 and HepAD38, especially in HepG2.2.15 and HepAD38, which are stably infected with HBV.
Conclusions: Serum miR-375 levels are closely related to disease progression from HBV infection to HBV-HCC.
Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, hepatocellular carcinoma, microRNA-375, clinical significance, disease progression
A Qualitative study of older adults’ perspectives on initiating exercise and mindfulness practice
Authors: Parra Diana C. , Wetherell Julie Loebach , Zandt Alexandria Van , Brownson Ross , Abhishek Janardan , Lenze Eric
Published: November 2019

Background: Mindfulness practice and exercise are ways by which older adults can improve and maintain their physical, emotional and cognitive health. Methods: This single-site qualitative study gathered insights of older adults’ perceptions about initiating and maintaining mindfulness and exercise practices. We carried out focus groups with 41 adults aged 65-85 who had recently initiated Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), structured exercise, or their combination as part of participation in a clinical trial. We used a semi-structured interview to ask them open-ended questions regarding the benefits, barriers and facilitators of participating in mindfulness and/or exercise interventions. The interview also included questions regarding translation of these practices into community settings as well as the long-term maintenance potential of these practices. Results: Older adults indicated that the mindfulness training increased their awareness and self-reflection and fostered a more self-accepting attitude. Furthermore, they improved their self-care habits and reported having better familial and social relationships. The main barrier for both the exercise and Mindfulness group was time management. The social benefits and sense of community were some of the primary motivators for older adults in the exercise and/or MBSR interventions. However, the research on how to motivate older adults to initiate healthy behavioral changes also needs to be answered. The benefits of exercise and MBSR are a motivation in and of themselves, as indicated by some of the participants. Conclusions: This study indicates that mindfulness training and exercise can serve as tools to cultivate important health lifestyle qualities among older adults, who are in the midst of mental, social, emotional and physical change. If it were not for the purpose of the research or the incentives provided by the research team, these older adults may have never started the healthy behavioral changes. From the responses, this may indicate that older adults may need more incentives to begin and maintain behavioral changes other than for their own health benefit. Key Words: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, mindfulness, exercise, older adults, qualitative study
Effectiveness of spiritual care training to enhance spiritual health and spiritual care competency among oncology nurses
Authors: Hu Yanli , Jiao Miaorui , Li Fan
Published: November 2019

Background: Although spiritual care is a basic element of holistic nursing, nurses' spiritual care knowledge and abilities are often unable to satisfy patients' spiritual care needs. Therefore, nurses are in urgent need of relevant training to enhance their abilities to provide patients with spiritual care.
Design: A nonrandomized controlled trial.
Objective: To establish a spiritual care training protocol and verify its effectiveness.
Methods: This study recruited 92 nurses at a cancer treatment hospital in a single province via voluntary sign-up. The nurses were divided into two groups—the study group (45 people) and the control (wait-listed) group (47 people)—using a coin-toss method. The study group received one spiritual care group training session every six months based on their routine nursing education; this training chiefly consisted of lectures by experts, group interventions, clinical practice, and case sharing. The control group participated in monthly nursing education sessions organized by the hospital for 12 continuous months.
Results: After 12 months of intervention, the nurses in the study group had significantly higher overall spiritual health and spiritual care competency scores as well as significantly higher scores on all individual dimensions compared with those in the control group (P<0.01).
Conclusions: A spiritual care training protocol for nurses based on the concept of mutual growth with patients enhances nurses' spiritual well-being and spiritual care competencies.
Intravenous antagomiR-494 lessens brain-infiltrating neutrophils by increasing HDAC2-mediated repression of multiple MMPs in experimental stroke
Authors: Li Fangfang , Zhao Haiping , Li Guangwen , Zhang Sijia , Wang Rongliang , Tao Zhen , Zheng Yangmin , Han Ziping , Liu Ping , Ma Qingfeng , Luo Yumin
Published: November 2019

Background: Neutrophil infiltration and phenotypic transformation are believed to contribute to neuronal damage and clinical outcome in ischemic stroke. Emerging evidence suggests that HDAC2 is an epigenetic regulator of inflammatory cells. Here, we investigated whether miR-494 affects HDAC2-mediated neutrophil infiltration and phenotypic shift. Methods: The miR-494 levels in neutrophils from AIS patients were detected by real-time PCR. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, and the N1/N2 neutrophil shift was examined. Cortical neurons were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation and stimulated with supernatant from differently treated neutrophils or were cocultured with neutrophils; neuronal injury was detected, and ChIP-Seq was performed to clarify which genes are the binding targets of HDAC2. Finally, a transwell assay was conducted to examine neutrophil migration. Results: Compared to the control subjects, AIS patients had increased neutrophil expression of miR-494, and in AIS patients, elevated miR-494 expression in neutrophils was a predictor of worse neurological outcomes. MiR-494 correlates with the upregulation of adhesion molecules in neutrophils of AIS patients. Systemically administered antagomiR-494 partly shifts neutrophils into the N2 phenotype in MCAO mice. AntagomiR-494-treated neutrophils exert a neuroprotective role in vitro. ChIP-seq revealed that HDAC2 targets multiple MMP genes in neutrophils of AIS patients. Further in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that antagomiR-494 repressed expression of MMP genes, including MMP7, MMP10, MMP13, and MMP16, to reduce the number of brain-infiltrating neutrophils by regulating HDAC2. Conclusion: MiR-494 may serve as an alternative predictive biomarker of the outcome of AIS patients, and antagomiR-494 treatment decreased the expression of multiple MMPs and the infiltration of neutrophils partly by targeting HDAC2.
The relation of meiotic behaviour to hybridity, polyploidy and apomixis in the Ranunculus auricomus complex (Ranunculaceae)
Authors: Barke Birthe Hilkka , Karbstein Kevin , Daubert Mareike , Hörandl Elvira
Published: November 2019

Background Hybridization and polyploidization are powerful evolutionary factors that are associated with manifold developmental changes in plants such as irregular progression of meiosis and sporogenesis. The emergence of apomixis, which is asexual reproduction via seeds, is supposed to be connected to these factors and was often regarded as an escape from hybrid sterility. However, the functional trigger of apomixis is still unclear. Recently formed di- and polyploid Ranunculus hybrids as well as their parental species were analysed for their modes of mega- and microsporogenesis by microscopy. Chromosomal configurations during male meiosis were screened for abnormalities. Developmental abnormalities were documented qualitatively and collected quantitatively for statistical evaluations. Results Allopolyploids showed significantly higher frequencies of erroneous microsporogenesis than homoploid hybrid plants. Among diploids, F 2 hybrids had significantly more disturbed meiosis than F 1 hybrids and parental plants. Chromosomal aberrations included laggard chromosomes, chromatin bridges and disoriented spindle activities. Meiotic failure appeared to be much more frequent in female compared to male development. Conclusions Results suggest diverging selective pressures on female and male meiosis, with only minor effects of hybridity on male development, but fatal effects on the course of megasporogenesis. Hence, pollen development continues without major alterations, while selection will favour alternatives to the female meiotic pathway. Relation of investigated meiotic errors with the observed occurrence of apospory in Ranunculus hybrids identifies disturbed female meiosis as potential elicitor of apomixis in order to rescue these plants from hybrid sterility. Meiotic disturbance appears to be stronger in neopolyploids than in homoploid hybrids, which may contribute to the prevalence of apomixis in polyploid plants.
level of Knowledge and attitude on final year nursing students regarding pain assessment and management at Asmara college of health sciences ,Eritrea,2018
Authors: Gebregiorgis Tecleab Okubai
Published: November 2019

Background Nurse’s knowledge and attitude towards pain management have been reported to be inadequate throughout the world. This research was carried out to study the level of knowledge and attitude on final year nursing students regarding pain assessment & management to190 students in 2018. Method The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional .The study tool was an adopted and standardized self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS applications version 22. The respondent’s level of knowledge and attitude about pain assessment & management was determined using descriptive statics and independent T-test method. Statistical significance was maintained when P=< 0.05. Result The average mean percent score was (M=47.7±11.5SD), it was below the passing score (80%) for this research. Conclusion This research highlighted that the school of Nursing should critically review its curriculums, determine whether students were getting evidence-based and up to date information about pain assessment and management.
Transcriptome analysis of lateral buds from Phyllostachys edulis rhizome during germination and early shoot stages
Authors: Shou Yuting , Zhu Yihua , Ding Yulong
Published: November 2019

The vegetative growth is an important stage for plants when they conduct photosynthesis, accumulate and collect all resources needed and prepare for reproduction stage. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plant species. The rapid growth of Phyllostachys edulis results from the expansion of intercalary meristem at the basal part of nodes, which are differentiated from the apical meristem of rhizome lateral buds. However, little is known about the major signaling pathways and players involved during this rapid development stage of bamboo. To study this question, we adopted the high-throughput sequencing technology and compared the transcriptomes of Moso bamboo rhizome buds in germination stage and late development stage. We found that the development of Moso bamboo rhizome lateral buds was coordinated by multiple pathways, including meristem development, sugar metabolism and phytohormone signaling. Phytohormones have fundamental impacts on the plant development. We found the evidence of several major hormones participating in the development of Moso bamboo rhizome lateral bud. Furthermore, we showed direct evidence that Gibberellic Acids (GA) signaling participated in the Moso bamboo stem elongation. Together, these results expand our knowledge on the Moso bamboo internodes fast growth and provide research basis for further study.
Optimal alternative therapy for metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer progression who previously received trastuzumab-based therapy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Feng Fubin , Zhang Tingting , Yin Fang , Liu Cun , Zhuang Jing , Wang Xue , Qi Lingyu , Tian Jinhui , Sun Changgang
Published: November 2019

Background: Trastuzumab remains the standard protocol recommended for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). After disease progression, the decision to continue trastuzumab treatment in combination with another type of chemotherapy, or to replace it with another HER2-targeted therapy, has not been conclusive. Methods: We systematically searched databases and extracted data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on patients who experienced disease progression after receiving trastuzumab-based therapies. Paired meta-analyses were performed to provide a comparison between patients continuously received trastuzumab-based therapy and those receiving other targeted therapies. Bayesian network meta-analysis was used to synthesize available evidence of direct or indirect comparison. Results: The 10 selected articles that included 3,158 patients were analyzed. The paired meta-analysis showed a 29% (hazard ratio (HR): 0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60–0.85) reduction in mortality risk for patients continued receiving trastuzumab-based therapy than those receiving other targeted regimen. Bayesian network meta-analysis suggested that pertuzumab and trastuzumab plus capecitabine (PHC) showed an improvement in the overall survival (OS), with the highest surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) (0.962 (82.3%)). In terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR), trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) showed the highest SUCRA (0.949 (73.2%) and 0.997 (98.5%), respectively). Conclusions：Continuing trastuzumab with another type of chemotherapy is a better option for patients who experience disease progression after receiving trastuzumab-based therapy. Patients treated with PHC had the highest OS. Meanwhile, patients treated with T-DM1 showed better PFS and ORR than those treated with other regimens.
Association of the gut microbiota with colorectal cancer in a South Asian cohort of patients
Authors: Sahankumari Pramoda , Gamage Bawantha , Malavige Gathsaurie Neelika
Published: November 2019

Background: As the gut microbiome is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma (CRC), we sought to investigate the patterns of gut microbiota that associate with CRC in a South Asian cohort of patients with CRC. Methods: The relative abundance of 45 types of gut microbial species were determined in faecal samples of CRC patients (n=24), DM (n=20) and healthy age matched controls (n=44), using a PCR array. Data was analyzed using the specific software for analysis of bacterial DNA quantification. Results: The species Bacteroides fragilis (23.9-fold), Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (8-fold) and Akkermansia muciniphila (5.9-fold) were several-fold over expressed in patients with CRC compared to healthy individuals, whereas bacterial species of the Phylum Proteobacteria were under expressed. There was no difference in the abundance of these 3 species of bacteria with tumour stage or gender and age of patients. Aeromonas species, Enterococcus faecium and Shigella dysenteriae (Proteobacteria) were over 100-fold over abundant in those with DM compared to healthy individuals. Although 70.83% of those with CRC also had diabetes, marked differences were seen between patients with CRC and those with DM. Conclusions: Patients with CRC and DM harbor a markedly different gut microbiota patterns compared to their healthy counterparts. Similar patterns of gut microbial dysbiosis that associate with CRC and DM appear be seen in South Asian populations, compared to Western countries, despite differences in the diet and ethnicity.
Monastrol Targeted KIF11 Showed Potential Treatment Effective of Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Wang Xinhui , Jiang Shanshan , Zhou Baolin , Liu Zhantao , Liu Ziling
Published: November 2019

Objective: This study is to identify Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) driver genes, annotate enrichment functions and key pathways, and also verify Monastrol therapeutic effect. Methods: The gene expression profiles of GSE40275 and GSE43346 was analyzed to identify the DEGs (Differentially Expressed Genes) between SCLC and the normal tissue. GO (Gene Ontology), KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis and PPI (Protein-protein interaction) network analysis were conducted to find out the enrichment functions, pathways and hub genes. Moreover, in vitro, MTT assay, colony-forming assay, and the scratch assay were performed to verify the effect of Monastrol. Results: There were common 129 up-regulated and 176 down-regulated DEGs between SCLC samples and normal lung samples. KIF11, NDC80 and PBK were identified as hub genes after PPI network analysis. The q-PCR results showed that genes KIF11, NDC80 and PBK consistently expressed higher in cancer cells than normal cell lines. And in vitro assay showed that Monastrol inhibited SCLC cellular viability, proliferation and migration (P < 0.01). Conclusion: KIF11, NDC80 and PBK were aberrantly expressed and could be potentially applied as diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers. Monastrol was a promising drug in treatment of SCLC patients. Key words: bioinformatics; lung science; SCLC; Monastrol.
Determination of Copy Number of Target Carbohydrase Genes in the Penicillium verruculosum fungus Recombinant Strains
Authors: Kislitsin V.Yu. , Zorov I.N. , Sinitsyn A.P. , Rozhkova A.M.
Published: November 2019

The protein profiles of the culture liquids of recombinant Penicillium verruculosum strains that secreted an Aspergillus niger β-glucosidase (BGL series) or a Penicillium canescens xylanase A (XYLA series) have been previously analyzed. It was shown that the producers were divided into two groups according to the target protein content: 75-85% (1) and no more than 15% (2). It was established in this work that the copy number of the target gene bgll in the recombinant strains correlated with the β-glucosidase content in the BGL-F10 and BGL-F12 enzyme preparations. However, this proportion was violated in the direction of decreasing the xylanase A relative amount: the target enzyme content of 50% and 17% in the XylA3 and XylA4 preparations corresponded to 20-22 and 6 copies, respectively, of the xylA gene. We believe that this effect is a result of titration of positive transcription factors in the P. verruculosum XylA3 strain containing 20 to 22 copies of the cbhl gene promoter.

Penicillium verruculosum, real-time PCR, gene copy number

This work was partially supported by the Russian Foundation for Bsic Research (Project number: 18-29-07070).
Virtual Database Screening Algorithm for the Detection of Practically Valuable Proteins of Bovine and Pig Lungs
Authors: Matveev E.V. , Novochadov V.V.
Published: November 2019

Abstract-The algorithm of the virtual database screening for the detection of proteins with the practical significance for the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries has been developed. The Pythom programming language v. 3.6.5 in Notepad++ framework was used to develop the algorithm. The UniProt database served as a source of the information about the structure of the proteins comprising the bovine and pig lung proteome, and the open DrugBank database was used to the subsequent search for matches in the protein structures. The virtual screening allowed to detect more than 5,500 proteins which are present in the proteome of bovine and pig lungs; the assessment of the practical significance was absent in 99% of the proteins, although it resulted from the manual search in the DrugBank database that some of them were parts of drags. The algorithm also made it possible to find out target proteins for drags in the human lung proteome, which were similar with those contained in the bovine (46) and pig (84) lung proteome. Paired alignment of amino acid sequences was used to compare the human and animals' target proteins. In the end, the developed algorithm for virtual screening allowed to identify in the first approximation the proteins with practical significance that are in varying degrees included in the farm animals' lung proteome. In the future, the more detailed screening will be possible due to the algorithm optimization and use of closed databases, which will provide more complete information about practically valuable proteins for biotechnology and medicine.

proteome, database, DragBank, UniProt, virtual screening, Python, lungs

The work was carried out with financial support by Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research and the administration of the Volgograd region within the framework of the scientific project No. 18-44-343003
Öğrenme Güçlüğü Olan ve Olmayan Öğrencilerin Sözcük Bilgisi ve Okuduğunu Anlama Becerileri Arasındaki İlişki
Authors: DELİMEHMET DADA Şenay , ERGÜL Cevriye
Published: November 2019

Bu araştırmada öğrenme güçlüğü olan ve normal gelişim gösteren öğrencilerin sözcük bilgileri ve okuduğunu anlama performansları ile bu becerileri arasındaki ilişki düzeyi incelenmiştir. Çalışma grubunu 30 öğrenme güçlüğü olan ve 30 normal gelişim gösteren toplam 60 öğrenci oluşturmuştur. Katılımcıların tümü 3. ve 4. sınıfa devam eden öğrenciler arasından seçilmiştir. Araştırmada ilişkisel tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Veriler Türkçe İfade Edici ve Alıcı Dil Testi (TİFALDİ) ve Formel Olmayan Okuma Envanteri (FOOE) kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Analizler sonucunda, sözcük bilgisi ve okuduğunu anlama becerilerinde öğrenme güçlüğü yaşayan öğrencilerin normal gelişim gösteren akranlarından anlamlı olarak daha düşük performans sergiledikleri görülmüştür. Öğrencilerin sözcük bilgileri ve okuduğunu anlama becerilerindeki ilişki incelendiğinde ise; öğrenme güçlüğü olan öğrencilerin bu becerileri arasında kısmi olarak anlamlı bir ilişki bulunurken normal gelişim gösteren öğrenciler için bu beceriler arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunamamıştır. Elde edilen bulgular alanyazın çerçevesinde tartışılmıştır.
La revista CES Psicología en SCOPUS
Authors: Pérez Paulina
Published: November 2019

La Revista CES Psicología, editada por la Facultad de Psicología de la Universidad CES, fue aceptada en SCOPUS, base de datos reconocida por la cantidad y la calidad de las revistas científicas que reúne. En la actualidad, SCOPUS contiene más de 23,700 revistas arbitradas (Elsevier, 2018) y además ofrece un conjunto de herramientas para buscar y analizar la investigación científica generada a nivel mundial; razones por las cuales se ha convertido en un referente de consulta de investigadores y académicos a nivel global.
Análisis Rasch de la medida de cooperación del paciente ortodóncico en adolescentes de Medellín
Authors: Rojas Ochoa Sandra Margarita , Cárdenas Juan Manuel , Sierra Ángela , Rojas-Gualdrón Diego Fernando
Published: November 2019

Introducción: La cooperación es un elemento relevante para el éxito terapéutico en procesos de ortodoncia. En el caso particular de los adolescentes, conocer su grado de cooperación permite al ortodoncista considerar, en la planeación de la intervención, comportamientos y actitudes que contribuyan a los propósitos del tratamiento. Objetivo: Analizar las evidencias de validez de la medida de cooperación del paciente ortodóncico, propuesta por Slakter, Albino, Fox y Lewis, siguiendo los lineamientos de Wolfe y Smith. Métodos: Estudio de validación anidado en un diseño de cohortes en el cual se siguieron, entre enero del 2014 y noviembre del 2015, 132 adolescentes pacientes activos de tratamiento de ortodoncia correctiva residentes de la ciudad de Medellín. Se estimaron las locaciones y estadísticos de ajuste de los ítems, confiabilidad, unidimensionalidad y funcionamiento diferencial por características clínicas y demográficas de los participantes. Se presenta el mapa de Wright. Resultados: Cuatro ítems fueron eliminados de la escala. A partir de los seis restantes se obtuvo una medida con una confiabilidad de .74 y capacidad para explicar el 74.9% de la varianza. Se identificó funcionamiento diferencial de los ítems según tipo de maloclusión y según antecedente de ortodoncia interceptiva. Conclusión: La validez de la medida se ve afectada por limitaciones en la generalización del constructo según características clínicas relevantes de los adolescentes.
A cultura medicalizante e os processos transgeracionais
Authors: Jaramillo Caruso Azevedo Luciana , Féres Carneiro Terezinha
Published: November 2019

O presente trabalho tem o intuito de reflexão a relação entre a cultura medicalizante e os processos transgeracionais. No cenário contemporâneo, observamos a crescente codificação dos sofrimentos psíquicos em termos de uma nomeação própria do discurso médico, mais precisamente psiquiátrico, que são amplamente socializados através da mídia e da escola. Nesse sentido, cabe pensar que os procedimentos de medicalização, surgidos nos cuidados com a população adulta, foram estendidos também às crianças. Partindo de observações clínicas, nos deparamos com um número cada vez maior de crianças desatentas ou inquietas, que demandariam um cuidado especial de seus professores e familiares, que passaram a ser diagnosticadas com transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (TDA/H). Contudo, a prática psicanalítica com crianças se destaca por ser uma área do conhecimento que apresenta significativas especificidades, incluindo a imprescindível abertura de espaço para a escuta dos pais nas entrevistas preliminares e o trabalho com eles, quando necessário. Assim, por estar incluído o trabalho com os pais e por parecer uma alternativa diante da medicalização desenfreada, se faz necessário um constante aprofundamento teórico das peculiaridades da clínica infantil articulada às relações familiares, por possuírem caráter estruturante na constituição do sujeito criança.
Características tempranas y predictores de la severidad del cuadro clínico en el trastorno del espectro autista
Authors: Gutiérrez-Ruiz Karol
Published: November 2019

A nivel mundial se han realizado esfuerzos importantes para detectar el Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA) durante los primeros años de vida, dado los efectos positivos en el pronóstico del desarrollo de los niños diagnosticados. Objetivo. Describir los antecedentes del desarrollo y características tempranas de un grupo de niños colombianos con diagnóstico de TEA, y comparar estas características tempranas con las de un grupo de niños con desarrollo típico. Adicionalmente, relacionar variables del desarrollo con la severidad de los signos de TEA y analizar su valor predictivo. Método. Estudio no experimental de corte transversal en el que se aplicó el Q-CHAT a 40 padres de niños con diagnóstico temprano de autismo y 40 padres de niños con desarrollo típico, y se evaluó el desarrollo psicomotor de los menores, entre los 18 y 40 meses de edad, mediante el Inventario del Desarrollo Battelle Screening. Resultados. La primera preocupación de los padres del grupo de niños diagnosticados con TEA respecto al desarrollo de sus hijos fue alrededor de los 25 meses y la edad promedio de diagnóstico fue de 34,6 meses. Los signos tempranos de TEA más frecuentes y que mejor discriminan entre niños con desarrollo típico y con diagnóstico son aquellos que involucran atención conjunta. Adicionalmente, existe correlación negativa estadísticamente significativa entre la severidad de los signos de TEA y el desarrollo infantil en las áreas personal-social, cognitiva y comunicación expresiva; por lo cual, dificultades en el desarrollo de estas áreas serían predictores importantes de la severidad de los signos de TEA a edades tempranas.
A simple preparation route for polysilicate titanium salt from spent titanium solutions
Authors: Xu Bin , Zhang Yingjie , Li Xue , Yao Yao , Huang Xuesong , Xia Shubiao , Dong Peng
Published: November 2019

Polysilicate titanium salt (PST) is synthesized by using spent titanium solutions and polysilicic acid (PSiA) as raw materials. PSiA could improve the aggregation ability of titanium salt flocculants and also restrain the hydrolysis of Ti4+ to stabilize titanium salts. Meanwhile, replacing titanium salt with spent titanium solutions could reduce the cost of PST and solve the problem of wastewater treatment in the titanium industry, which makes valuable waste regeneration possible. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results show the morphology transformation (sheet, spheroid, and sphere) of PST with different Ti/Si molar ratios. The formation process of PST is analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This study investigates the effect of Ti/Si molar ratios on PST flocculation performance in humic–kaolin water and actual domestic wastewater treatment. The in situ floc size change of PST is measured by laser particle size analyzer in humic–kaolin water treatment. Additionally, the performance of PST is comprehensively evaluated on flocculation and sedimentation ability, rapid sweep netting ability and stability. In short, the prepared PST in this study is suitable for treating wastewater with high turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in a wide range of pH values.
The study of immersion water heating to ensure the creation of new generation pilot water heating devices
Authors: Gurov Valery I. , Kurnosov Vladimir V. , Lanshin Alexander I. , Sverdlov Evgeny D. , Skibin Dmitry A.
Published: November 2019

This article explains the concept of immersion water heaters and presents their improvement history with references to the main patented technical solutions. The authors provide the test results of various designs of immersion heaters (with capacity of 50 to 100 kW) when working on propane-butane gas and natural gas. The study estimates the received technical parameters and the level of competitive ability of the immersion heaters, which allow speaking about their application prospects.
Based on the presented materials, the authors speak for creating a new generation boiler (without the heat exchangers) with a higher level of efficiency (up to 98%) and low indices of harmful emissions of nitrogen and carbon oxides.
Numerical study of the effect of surface tension on the flow structure in a cylindrical vessel, taking into account the maximum density of water
Authors: Simonov Oleg A. , Filimonova Lyudmila N.
Published: November 2019

A convective flow of water near the density inversion point in a cylindrical vessel, in the center of which a cylindrical cooling element is vertically located, was numerically investigated. The effect of the maximum density of water on the structure of convective flows without taking into account the surface tension and taking into account the surface tension at the upper boundary was studied. The significant effect of the surface tension at the interface between the phases(of phases) on the formation of a convective flow. The analysis of temperature and velocity fields shows that when taking into account the influence of surface tension, the convective flow of the liquid grows in intensity and average flow rates, which leads to a faster cooling of the liquid in the vessel.