bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preclinical Quantification of Prostate Cancer-Associated Vascular Alterations in the Bone Microenvironment in vivo
Authors: Schroeder Malte , Viezens Lennart , Sündermann Jördis , Hettenhausen Svenja , Hauenherm Gerrit , Wellbrock Jasmin , Mussawy Haider , Kossow Kai , Schaefer Christian
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Prostate cancer has a special predilection to form bone metastases. Despite the known impact of the microvascular network on tumour growth and its dependence on the organ-specific microenvironment, the characteristics of the tumour vasculature in bone remain unknown. Methods: The cell lines LNCaP, DU145, and PC3 were implanted into the femurs of NSG mice to examine the microvascular properties of prostate cancer in bone. Tumour growth and the functional and morphological alterations of the microvasculature were analysed for 21 days in vivo using a transparent bone chamber and fluorescence microscopy. Results: Vascular density was significantly lower in tumour-bearing bone than in non-tumour-bearing bone, with a marked loss of small vessels. Accelerated blood flow velocity led to increased volumetric blood flow per vessel, but overall perfusion was not affected. All of the prostate cancer cell lines had similar vascular patterns, with more pronounced alterations in rapidly growing tumours. Despite minor differences between the prostate cancer cell lines associated with individual growth behaviours, the same overall pattern was observed and showed strong similarity to that of tumours growing in soft tissue. Discussion: The increase in blood flow velocity could be a specific characteristic of prostate cancer or the bone microenvironment.
Diabetic Cystopathy Occurs Independently from Other Atherosclerotic Risks
Authors: Takahashi Osamu , Sakakibara Ryuji , Shimizu Ayami , Tateno Fuyuki , Aiba Yosuke
Published: March 2021

It has not yet been clarified whether atherosclerotic risks other than diabetes are related to bladder small fiber neuropathy (cystopathy) in type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to answer this question by urodynamics. This was a retrospective study. The subjects were 44 patients: 27 male, 17 female; mean age 67.0 ± 12.7 years; mean duration of diabetes 16.8 ± 13.1 years; mean HbA1c 7.8 ± 1.2%. We analyzed the relationship between diabetic cystopathy (at least one of the following abnormalities in urodynamics: decreased bladder sensation, post-void residual, detrusor overactivity, low-compliance detrusor) and clinical items, i.e., severity and duration of diabetes, nerve conduction, body mass index, blood pressure, cardio-ankle vascular stiffness index, and ultrasound Doppler echography (plaque score, intima-media thickness) in these patients. As a result, urodynamic diabetic cystopathy was not correlated with any of the above systemic items. In conclusion, the above findings suggest that bladder small fiber neuropathy can occur independently from systemic atherosclerotic risks.
Treatment of Metastatic Extramammary Paget Disease with Combination Ipilimumab and Nivolumab: A Case Report
Authors: Guercio Brendan John , Iyer Gopa , Kidwai Wajih Zaheer , Lacouture Mario E. , Ghafoor Soleen , Rossi Anthony M. , Assis David N. , Chen Ying-Bei , Busam Klaus J. , Janjigian Yelena Y. , Jhaveri Komal , Feldman Darren R. , Capozzi Anne , Figueroa Vanessa , Bajorin Dean F. , Rosenberg Jonathan E. , Hollmann Travis J. , Funt Samuel A.
Published: March 2021

Metastatic primary cutaneous extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a rare clinical entity with a 5-year survival <10% and no standard therapy. We report the first case to our knowledge of metastatic EMPD with treatment response to checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. The patient had diffusely metastatic disease and previously progressed on cytotoxic chemotherapy and a molecularly targeted agent. Treatment with four cycles of ipilimumab 1 mg/kg plus nivolumab 3 mg/kg resulted in a durable partial response lasting 7 months. Analysis of metastatic tumor tissue failed to identify known predictors of treatment response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as high PD-L1 expression, high tumor mutation burden, or microsatellite instability. These findings support further investigation of immune checkpoint inhibition for the management of metastatic EMPD, which currently has an abysmal prognosis and no standard therapies.
Using Ultrasound and Inflammation to Improve Prediction of Ischemic Stroke: A Secondary Analysis of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Baradaran Hediyeh , Delic Alen , Wong Ka-Ho , Sheibani Nazanin , Alexander Matthew , McNally J. Scott , Majersik Jennifer J. , De Havenon Adam
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Current ischemic stroke risk prediction is primarily based on clinical factors, rather than imaging or laboratory markers. We examined the relationship between baseline ultrasound and inflammation measurements and subsequent primary ischemic stroke risk. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), the primary outcome is the incident ischemic stroke during follow-up. The predictor variables are 9 carotid ultrasound-derived measurements and 6 serum inflammation measurements from the baseline study visit. We fit Cox regression models to the outcome of ischemic stroke. The baseline model included patient age, hypertension, diabetes, total cholesterol, smoking, and systolic blood pressure. Goodness-of-fit statistics were assessed to compare the baseline model to a model with ultrasound and inflammation predictor variables that remained significant when added to the baseline model. Results: We included 5,918 participants. The primary outcome of ischemic stroke was seen in 105 patients with a mean follow-up time of 7.7 years. In the Cox models, we found that carotid distensibility (CD), carotid stenosis (CS), and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) were associated with incident stroke. Adding tertiles of CD, IL-6, and categories of CS to a baseline model that included traditional clinical vascular risk factors resulted in a better model fit than traditional risk factors alone as indicated by goodness-of-fit statistics. Conclusions: In a multiethnic cohort of patients without cerebrovascular disease at baseline, we found that CD, CS, and IL-6 helped predict the occurrence of primary ischemic stroke. Future research could evaluate if these basic ultrasound and serum measurements have implications for primary prevention efforts or clinical trial inclusion criteria.
Collision Tumor of the Stomach
Authors: Kubo Kimitoshi , Takahashi Ryo , Kimura Noriko , Maiya Norishige , Matsuda Soichiro , Tsuda Momoko , Mizushima Takeshi , Ohara Masanori , Kato Mototsugu
Published: March 2021

Collison tumor of the stomach is rare, and its endoscopic and pathological features remain poorly described. A 70-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for examination and treatment of undifferentiated gastric cancer. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a whitish, superficial elevated lesion in contact with a reddish, superficial depressed lesion from the anterior wall of the gastric angle and antrum to the lesser curvature. Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy was performed for preoperative diagnosis of suspected early gastric cancer presenting as a differentiated and undifferentiated collision tumor, which led to the lesion being diagnosed as collision tumor, tub1-tub2+por1-sig, pT1a (M), ly0, v0, N0, stage IA. To our knowledge, this report represents a valuable addition to the collision tumor literature describing a rare case of preoperatively diagnosed collision tumor of the stomach.
Hematemesis, a Rare Presentation for Downhill Esophageal Varices
Authors: Van Jeremy , Singh Shubha
Published: March 2021

Downhill esophageal varices (DEV) are a rare form of esophageal varices associated with superior vena cava obstruction. Obstruction leads to retrograde blood flow through collateral venous channels, including the esophageal venous plexus, to redirect blood flow to the right atrium via the inferior vena cava. This leads to the formation of DEV. It is a rare phenomenon to have gastrointestinal bleeding, especially hematemesis, on a patient’s first presentation with this disease process. We describe such a case here involving a patient with DEV secondary to metastatic renal cell carcinoma presenting with hematemesis.
Clonal Upregulation of Effector Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in a Patient with Multiple Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Refractory Chronic Myeloid Leukemia with Long-Term Survival
Authors: Jo Tatsuro , Sakai Takahiro , Matsuzaka Kaori , Noguchi Kazuhiro , Hayashi Shizuka , Matsuo Masatoshi , Taguchi Jun
Published: March 2021

We present the case of a patient with multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-refractory chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) with a T315I mutation of abl1. Dasatinib, a second-generation TKI, was administered as the initial treatment but achieved neither a cytogenetic nor molecular response. A mutational analysis of abl1 revealed that the patient had a T315I mutation. The patient was then administered ponatinib, a third-generation TKI, which is thought to be effective against T315I; however, the complete blood counts became within normal limits, and neither a cytogenetic nor molecular response was achieved. However, the patient has maintained a healthy chronic phase (with no blast crises) for more than 5½ years since the diagnosis of CP-CML. T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire analyses using peripheral blood revealed a remarkable clonal expansion of effector cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that contained TCR V beta 13.6. We observed the clonal expansion of naïve CTLs with TCR V beta 13.6; however, no clonality was observed in the memory CTLs. The naïve and effector CTLs persisted at very high percentages since the seventh month after starting dasatinib. The CTLs could not have led to the molecular response; therefore, there might be plenty of CML stem cells remaining in the bone marrow. Therefore, although the CTLs might have prevented the disease from developing blast crises over more than 5 years, the CTLs might not have been able to become memory CTLs.
Psychometric Properties of the Persian Montreal Cognitive Assessment in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer Disease
Authors: Rashedi Vahid , Foroughan Mahshid , Chehrehnegar Negin
Published: March 2021

Introduction: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a cognitive screening test widely used in clinical practice and suited for the detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The aims were to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian MoCA as a screening test for mild cognitive dysfunction in Iranian older adults and to assess its accuracy as a screening test for MCI and mild Alzheimer disease (AD). Method: One hundred twenty elderly with a mean age of 73.52 ± 7.46 years participated in this study. Twenty-one subjects had mild AD (MMSE score ≤21), 40 had MCI, and 59 were cognitively healthy controls. All the participants were administered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to evaluate their general cognitive status. Also, a battery of comprehensive neuropsychological assessments was administered. Results: The mean score on the Persian version of the MoCA and the MMSE were 19.32 and 25.62 for MCI and 13.71 and 22.14 for AD patients, respectively. Using an optimal cutoff score of 22 the MoCA test detected 86% of MCI subjects, whereas the MMSE with a cutoff score of 26 detected 72% of MCI subjects. In AD patients with a cutoff score of 20, the MoCA had a sensitivity of 94% whereas the MMSE detected 61%. The specificity of the MoCA was 70% and 90% for MCI and AD, respectively. Discussion: The results of this study show that the Persian version of the MoCA is a reliable screening tool for detection of MCI and early stage AD. The MoCA is more sensitive than the MMSE in screening for cognitive impairment, proving it to be superior to MMSE in detecting MCI and mild AD.
Cognitive Performance in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: At Risk or Impaired?
Authors: Altieri Marta , Fratino Mariangela , Maestrini Ilaria , Dionisi Claudia , Annecca Rosanna , Vicenzini Edoardo , Di Piero Vittorio
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Since cognitive impairment (CI) occurs on average in 45% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, the early detection of patients “at risk” of CI is important in order to promptly apply preventive strategies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for CI in MS patients using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) as a screening test. Methods: During the 1-year period, CI was evaluated in 82 consecutives mild relapsing-remitting MS (EDSS ≤ 3.5) patients. Patients with 1 altered BICAMS test were defined “at risk.” Both “at risk” and CI patients underwent an extensive neuropsychological battery. Results: We found that: (i) 23% had CI, (ii), 25% were “at risk” of CI, and (iii) 76% of the “at risk” patients were already impaired at the NP assessment. In particular, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test was the most compromised (70% of “at risk” and 79% of CI patients). Patients with CI had more frequently an EDSS ≥ 2.5 (p = 0.05), lower education (p = 0.05), and relapses in the last 12 months (p = 0.03). Conclusions: CI is a significant issue in MS and integration of a screening test, such as the SDMT, into routine clinical practice could be of worth to identify “at risk” patients and to promote an early therapeutic intervention.
Genetic Alterations in Invasive Breast Carcinoma with a Glycogen-Rich Clear Cell Pattern: A Case Report
Authors: De la Sancha Carlo , Ruiz-Cordero Roberto , Popnikolov Nikolay
Published: March 2021

Invasive carcinoma with a glycogen-rich clear cell pattern (IC-GRCCP) is a rare and understudied subtype of invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (IBC-NST). Here we report the molecular characteristics of a mammary IC-GRCCP diagnosed in a 69-year-old woman. Next-generation sequencing of the tumor revealed an inv(1)(p36.12,q32.1) leading to loss-of-function of ARID1A gene, a MAP2K4 truncating mutation (p.E376), MYC amplification, a variant of uncertain significance of PTPRB gene (p.D1848N) and deep deletions of NCKAP5, CCNT2, MAP3K19, LRP1B, and KMT2A. The analysis of the involved pathways shows close resemblance to the ovarian clear cell carcinoma and indicates similarities in the molecular mechanisms of development of glycogen-rich clear cell carcinomas in different organs. Our findings and the literature review suggest new potential strategies for treatment of mammary IC-GRCCP, including epigenetic therapies, checkpoint inhibitors, radiation, or other double-strand DNA breaks-inducing agents. Nevertheless, larger studies are needed to substantiate those ideas.
Intracranial Hemorrhage in a Pediatric Patient with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase: A Case Report
Authors: Takahashi Nobuhisa , Sano Hideki , Mochizuki Kazuhiro , Kobayashi Shogo , Ohara Yoshihiro , Kikuta Atsushi
Published: March 2021

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is an uncommon entity in pediatric patients. CML in chronic phase (CML-CP) has a relatively favorable outcome. Leukostasis occurs in 9.7% of patients with CML. One of the most serious leukostasis-related complications is intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). However, this is very rare in patients with CML-CP, and few early mortalities have been reported in CML patients with leukostasis. We report the case of a 14-year-old female patient with CML-CP who developed ICH 8 days after admission. A 14-year-old girl developed symptoms of fatigue and slight fever and was diagnosed with CML-CP. She was treated with imatinib and received low-molecular-weight heparin owing to coagulation abnormalities. However, 6 days later, she developed sensorineural hearing loss, which is a symptom of leukostasis. She received hydroxyurea to reduce her white blood cell (WBC) count, and her treatment was changed from imatinib to nilotinib. The WBC and platelet counts remained unchanged, blast counts did not increase, and mild coagulation abnormality persisted. Eight days after admission, she suddenly lost consciousness and experienced respiratory arrest. Cranial computed tomography revealed multiple ICH lesions and brain hernia. She received intensive care but was diagnosed with brain death by electroencephalography and died 14 days after hospitalization. ICH is very rare in patients with CML-CP; however, patients with leukostasis and coagulation abnormalities can develop severe hemorrhage, even in the chronic phase. Thus, it is necessary to accurately estimate the cause and provide appropriate treatment for these patients.
Seizures and Neuropsychiatric Toxicity in Patients with Non-Metastatic CRPC Treated with New Antiandrogens: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sopeña Sutil Raquel , Silva Ruiz Jorge , Garcia Gomez Borja , Romero-Otero Javier , Garcia-Gonzalez Lucia , Duarte Ojeda Jose Manuel , de Velasco Guillermo , Castellano Gauna Daniel  , Rodriguez Antolin Alfredo
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Recently, enzalutamide, apalutamide, and darolutamide have shown benefits in metastasis-free survival in non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) patients compared to placebo. Previous evidence about the safety profile of these new androgens is limited. This meta-analysis studies seizure and neuropsychiatric effects of new anti-androgens compared to placebo in nmCRPC patients. Methods: PubMed and Cochrane databases were systematically reviewed until 1 March 2020 by 2 independent researchers using a pre-specified search strategy. Placebo-compared randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of nmCRPC patients treated with new anti-androgens providing data on neuropsychiatric events and seizures were included. Variables were seizure, headache, mental impairment, and dizziness. Pooled risk ratios (RR) were calculated using the Mantel-Hansel random effects model and Review Manager v5.3 software. Results: After systematic review, 3 eligible RCTs were selected that included 4,104 patients; 2,687 comprised the treatment group and 1,417 the control group. No significant increase in RR for seizures was registered with the new anti-androgens compared to placebo (RR 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40–9.61). However, 2 trials excluded patients with risk factors or a history of seizures. There was also no significant increase RR for grade ≥3 seizures (RR 2.50; 95% CI 0.12–52.02). RR for suffering dizziness (any grade) was 1.57 (95% CI 1.07–2.32) with the new anti-androgens, but no significant differences were found in the other study regarding neuropsychiatric events or grade ≥3 events. Conclusions: New anti-androgens (i.e., enzalutamide, apalutamide, and darolutamide) are acceptably safe in terms of seizures and neuropsychiatric toxicity compared to placebo in patients with nmCRPC.
Fibrotische interstitielle Lungenerkrankungen: Supportive und palliative Konzepte in die Behandlung integrieren
Authors: Drakopanagiotakis Fotios , Günther Andreas
Published: March 2021

Background: Patients suffering from fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (fILD) have a poor prognosis and a high symptom burden. Palliative treatment includes relief of symptoms such as breathlessness. There is no evidence-based treatment for chronic breathlessness but opioids are often used despite concerns due to the hypothetical risk of respiratory depression. This study investigated the effect of oral morphine drops in patients with fILD on chronic breathlessness and safety. Methods: In a double-blinded placebo-controlled study, 36 patients with fILD were randomised to either four daily doses of 5 mg of oral morphine drops or placebo for 1 week. Endpoints and safety parameters were obtained at baseline, at follow-up after 1 h and 1 week. Results: The primary endpoint, the visual analogue score (VAS) of dyspnea was reduced by 1.1 ± 0.33 cm in the morphine group at follow-up compared to baseline (P < 0.01), whereas the reduction was 0.35 ± 0.47 cm in the placebo group. However, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.2). Oral morphine drops did not affect respiratory frequency, pulse rate, blood pressure, peripheral saturation or the 6-min walk test. More patients treated with morphine reported constipation, nausea and confusion. Conclusions: Oral administration of morphine drops, 20 mg a day, in patients with fILD did not significantly reduce dyspnea VAS score during 1 week compared to placebo. Oral morphine did not induce respiratory depression, but was related to an increased risk of constipation, nausea and confusion. Trial registration: The trial is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02622022). Registered 4 December 2015.
Erfolgreiche Behandlung einer schweren interstitiellen Pneumonie durch Entfernung zirkulierender Autoantikörper: eine Fallserie
Authors: Eller Philipp , Flick Holger , Schilcher Gernot , Moazedi-Fürst Florentine , Eller Kathrin , Talakic Emina , Hermann Josef , Allanore Yannick , Olschewski Horst
Published: March 2021

Hintergrund: Über den Nutzen einer intensivierten Immunsuppression bei Patienten mit schwerer interstitieller Pneumonie, die mit Zeichen einer Autoimmunerkrankung oder neu auftretenden Bindegewebserkrankung assoziiert ist, liegen nur begrenzte klinische Daten vor. Fallbericht: In der vorliegenden Arbeit berichten wir über eine Serie von 3 aufeinander folgenden Patienten mit schwerer interstitieller Lungenerkrankung, die eine endotracheale Intubation und mechanische Beatmung erforderte. Die ersten beiden Patienten erfüllten zahlreiche diagnostische Kriterien für ein neu aufgetretenes Antisynthetase-Syndrom und der 3. Patient wies Kriterien für einen systemischen Lupus erythematodes auf. Wir entschieden uns dafür, bei diesen kritisch kranken Patienten eine aggressive immunsuppressive Strategie zu verfolgen, die den therapeutischen Plasmaaustausch sowie eine Immunadsorption und Gabe von Cyclophosphamid und Rituximab beinhaltete. Alle 3 Patienten erholten sich von der respiratorischen Insuffizienz und wurden schließlich nach erfolgreicher Entwöhnung vom Beatmungsgerät unter laufender Immunsuppression aus dem Krankenhaus entlassen. Schlussfolgerung: Patienten mit einer schweren Bindegewebserkrankung-assoziierten interstitiellen Lungenerkrankung und respiratorischer Insuffizienz können von einem aggressiven immunsuppressiven Therapieschema und einer extrakorporalen Blutreinigung mit schneller Verringerung der zirkulierenden Autoantikörper profitieren. Das eindrucksvolle klinische Ansprechen in dieser kleinen Fallserie sollte im Rahmen einer kontrollierten klinischen Studie untersucht werden.
The Racialization of “Illegality”
Authors: Menjívar Cecilia
Published: March 2021

This essay examines the intertwined nature of seemingly neutral immigration laws that illegalize certain immigrant groups and the socially constructed attitudes and stereotypes that associate the same legally targeted groups with “illegality,” to produce the racialization of illegality. These complementary factors are further sustained by other social forces, including media discourses that reify those associations. The racialization of illegality is a fundamentally situational, relational, dynamic, and historically and context-specific process. Today, Latino groups are the preeminent target group of both the social and the legal production of illegality. Thus, this essay examines Latinos' racialized illegality across geographical contexts, within their group, and in relation to other contemporary immigrants. Although expressions of racialized illegality and specific targeted groups will vary across time and space, the contours of the phenomenon will be present across contexts and times (and produce specific outcomes) because they are shaped by existing racial hierarchies.
“Trauma Makes You Grow Up Quicker”: The Financial & Emotional Burdens of
Deportation & Incarceration
Authors: Ceciliano-Navarro Yajaira , Golash-Boza Tanya Maria
Published: March 2021

Research on the impacts of incarceration and deportation describes the negative consequences for children and young people. But how these events impact adults and members of extended families has not been broadly considered. And no study has directly compared incarceration with deportation. The study described in this essay, based on interviews with 111 adult individuals with a family member deported (57) or incarcerated (54), reveals how these experiences have long-lasting emotional and financial impacts and considers the similarities and differences between incarceration and deportation. The deportation or incarceration of parents is devastating; yet the absence of other relatives such as sons, sisters, brothers, aunts, cousins, grandchildren, and other household members also translates into severe sentimental and economic hardships not only for the immediate but also for the extended family.
“Food (Not) from a Truck”
Authors: Zeller Benjamin E.
Published: March 2021

This article charts the major concepts, theoretical and methodological models, and approaches used by teachers and scholars of religion and food, with a focus on how such concepts may be embedded within courses on religion and nature. The article first introduces central topics such as foodways, the food cycle, and some key concepts within the cultural study of religion, nature, and food. Second, it notes how the study of religion, nature, and food requires drawing from the tools of food studies, religious studies, diet/nutritional studies, and cultural studies, among others. Finally, the article offers some best practices in terms of how to teach the topic, focusing on active learning strategies. The article proposes that because everyone eats, the topic of religion, nature, and food is a unique way to engage students, helping them think critically about an otherwise unexamined but pervasive aspect of life.
In Search of the City of the Apostles
Authors: Aviam Mordechai , Notley R. Steven
Published: March 2021

The authors present the results of four years of investigation (2016–2019) in their search for Bethsaida-Julias. They bring historical, geographical, and archaeological evidence to argue that Khirbet el-Araj should be considered the leading candidate for the New Testament home of the Apostles. Unlike the remote location of the alternate candidate at et-Tell, their excavations at el-Araj have demonstrated a significant Roman period settlement on the lakeshore of the Sea of Galilee, a much more likely location for a fishing village. In addition, their discovery in 2017 of a Roman bathhouse at el-Araj is characteristic of Herod Philip’s urbanization of the village of Bethsaida, which Josephus reports was transformed from a village into the polis of Julias. After the Roman period, the site was abandoned for two centuries (4th–5th cent. CE), and then resettled with a monastery and Byzantine basilica, reportedly built over the house of Peter and Andrew.
Interaction and Identity in a Cultural Space
Authors: Kang Youngjin
Published: March 2021

The Japanese genkan provides a space where one can take off and put on one’s shoes; yet this practical function is also accompanied by a social/symbolic one. As a transitional area, it embodies the Japanese concept of uchi/soto (inside/outside). In this article, the Japanese genkan was analysed to identify (1) what types of interaction take place in a genkan; and (2) what cultural concepts can be used to identify and classify those types of interaction. The current article suggests that (1) a visitor is identified as either an uchi (inside) or soto (outside) person, and (2) any tension or conflict in this person’s uchi/soto identity grants the visitor an ambiguous status, which unless it is resolved ensures that the interaction between visitor and householder is conducted within a genkan. The paper analyses sixteen possible situations in a genkan and takes examples of each from Shōwa-era films by the Japanese director Yasujirō Ozu.
Decentralisation, Local Governance and Path Dependency Theory
Authors: Kessy Ambrose T.
Published: March 2021

Tanzania has embarked on several radical measures to restructure its economy and governance structures, including local governments. For more than four decades, Tanzania has been striving relentlessly for effective decentralisation measures, yet the progress has been slow. The country has passed through several phases of decentralisation, with each phase inheriting some criticised characteristics that have been difficult to dismantle in the successive phases. For example, previously recognised mistakes have continued to block any attempts to diverge from the direction set by the Ujamaa policies. It is argued here that various attempts at decentralisation by the central government since the 1960s in Tanzania have fallen short of the government’s intentions to establish effective local governance. This being the case, two important questions prevail: Why has Tanzania made little progress towards effective decentralisation, despite various attempts to devolve powers from the centre? Why has Tanzania not fully decentralised, as echoed in the policy paper on Decentralisation-by-Devolution (D-by-D)? There have been a number of explanations for this retardation along the path to decentralisation. This article reflects upon the tenability of path dependency theory which posits that the longer an institution has been in place, the more resilient it is to change.
New Music Emerging from War: Lingwangwanja during the Frelimo-Renamo Civil Conflict in Mozambique 1977-1992
Authors: Ndomondo Mathayo Bernard
Published: March 2021

Lingwalangwanja is a dance tradition performed by young male members of the Makonde society in the northern part of Mozambique, and in south eastern Tanzania. It is usually performed in the evening for the purpose of entertainment. The tradition involves a variety of topical songs, including love, politics, and important social and cultural issues. The emergence of lingwalangwanja is linked to an outbreak of the Frelimo-Renamo civil war in Mozambique when young musicians, due to their fear of landmines, were unable to go to the bush to fetch wild animal-hides and tree-trunks for making drum shells, resorted to improvising alternative musical instruments. These instruments yielded a new dance tradition. Research on this dance tradition is important because most of the studies done on the impact of the civil war in Mozambique have focused on other social, cultural, economic and political aspects; yet there has been no attention paid to the impact of this war on the musical practices of the Makonde, including this dance. By employing an eclectic research methodology, and drawing upon complex theories of musical change, the emergence of lingwalanganja can be revealed as emanating from both the impact of the Frelimo-Renamo civil war in Mozambique, as well as from migratory movements of Makonde of Mozambique to Tanzania, and between the Makonde of both countries. The study draws on fieldwork experience conducted 1995-1998 and upon follow-up research thereafter in the districts of Newala and Mtwara Rural in Mtwara region concerning the music of migrations among the Makonde in Mtwara region, as well as the variety of published sources related to the impact that war and the search for refuge have upon music making.
Polygonum schischkinii is a member of Atraphaxis (Polygonaceae, Polygoneae): evidences from morphological and molecular analyses

Authors: YURTSEVA OLGA V. , SEVEROVA ELENA E. , DEVIATOV ANDREY G. , OLONOVA MARINA V. , SAMIGULLIN TAHIR H.
Published: March 2021

The Chinese endemic Polygonum schischkinii was studied from both morphological and molecular points of view. On the basis of the structure of ocreas and ocreolas, P. schischkinii appears to be a member of the genus Atraphaxis. The results of Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses of combined data of the plastid [rpl32-trnL(UAG) IGS, trnL(UAA) intron, trnL-trnF IGS] and nuclear rDNA ITS1–2 regions, carried out on 61 members of tribe Polygoneae, confirmed position of P. schischkinii in the Atraphaxis clade. A new combination—Atraphaxis glareosa—based on P. glareosum, which has nomenclatural priority over P. schischkinii, is proposed. Ecological notes and a detailed distributional map of the species are also provided.
New synonym of Nephus (Nephus) voeltzkowi Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), with comments on the origin of a Neartic population and its possible asexual status
Authors: MAGRO ALEXANDRA , ALMEIDA LÚCIA M. , CHURATA-SALCEDO JULISSA , HEMPTINNE JEAN-LOUIS
Published: March 2021

Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), commonly known as ladybirds or ladybugs, are a highly diversified family comprising nearly 6000 described species (Vandenberg 2002) distributed in 2 subfamilies and 24 tribes (Seago et al. 2011). The genus Nephus Mulsant, 1846, present worldwide, is currently placed in the vast Coccidulini tribe (Seago et al. 2011). There are different classifications for Nephus: Gordon (1976, 1985) considered five Nephus subgenera (Depressoscymnus Gordon, Nephus Mulsant, Scymnobius Casey, Sidis Mulsant, and Turboscymnus Gordon), while Fürsch (1987) considered nine Nephus subgenera, and later (Fürsch 1996) excluded Diomus Mulsant, 1850 as subgenus, leaving Bipunctatus Fürsch, 1987, Depressoscymnus Gordon, 1976, Geminosipho Fürsch, 1987, Nephus Mulsant, 1846, Parascymnus Chapin, 1965, Scymnobius Casey, 1899, Sidis Mulsant, 1850 and Turboscymnus Gordon, 1976. Gordon and González (2002) elevated Scymnobius to genus.
2. Publication Models and Open Access
Authors: Ball Cheryl E.
Published: March 2021

Cheryl Ball emphasizes the need for open work in the form of open access facilitation. Adding a historical view towards digital scholarship formats and highlighting the library’s role in archival practices, she suggests that digital dissertations play a significant role in embodying the possibility of sharing scholarship publicly and that librarians are pivotal collaborators for any digital scholarship endeavor. Significantly, Ball also emphasizes the need for openness when evaluating digital dissertation forms: why not approach digital work ‘on its own terms’ in order to allow for ‘radical scholarship’?
7. Navigating Institutions and Fully Embracing the Interdisciplinary Humanities
Authors: Walden Katherine , Oates Thomas
Published: March 2021

Katherine Walden and her advisor, Thomas Oates, describe the questions they contended with and the steps taken to create and defend Walden’s interdisciplinary digital thesis project in the field of American Studies. While there are signs of the field’s recent support for and of digital scholarship, they note, many questions remain. And since many of the obstacles to Walden’s dissertation were logistical and administrative in nature, her dissertation became a springboard to a larger conversation among faculty at the University of Iowa. Walden and Oates argue for the power of a precedent, and their chapter joins the expanding catalogue of models, offering both conceptual and instrumental advice to future doctoral students as well as their advisors.
8. MADSpace
Authors: Armand Cécile
Published: March 2021

Cécile Armand extends the call for rethinking the nature of the dissertation and academic argument in general. In 'MADSpace: A Janus-faced Digital Companion to a PhD Dissertation in Chinese History', Armand describes a digital database she created as a companion to her dissertation in Chinese history. This companion allowed her to make use of primary source materials that are not typically considered in scholarly work; these include newspaper advertisements as well as ‘professional handbooks, business materials, municipal archives (including correspondence, regulations and technical sketches), street photographs, and to a lesser extent, original maps and videos’. Although Armand’s first concern was the creation of a permanent home for these materials, this database actually impacted the written portion of her dissertation project since it allowed her a spatial view of her subject, for instance, which opened up new insights.
10. #SocialDiss
Authors: Glass Erin Rose
Published: March 2021

The desire for and influence of a larger audience for academic work is the focus of Erin Rose Glass as she describes the background and process of #SocialDiss, a project in which she posted drafts of her dissertation to a variety of online platforms for public review. Gauging the reviews and the many types of public and community engagement produced, Glass argues that academic writing, especially at the student level, would benefit from digital infrastructure, practices, and incentives that emphasize collaboration and community building.
Exploring the dynamics of slack in extreme contexts: A practice-based view
Authors: Leuridan Geoffrey , Demil Benoît
Published: March 2021

Organizations that operate in extreme contexts have to develop resilience to ensure the reliability of their operations. While the organizational literature underlines the crucial role of slack when facing unanticipated events, a structural approach to slack says little about the concrete ways in which organizational actors produce and use this slack. Adopting a practice-based perspective during a 14-month ethnographic study in a French Critical Care Unit, we study the slack practices, which consist in gathering, arranging and rearranging resources from both inside and outside the medical unit. This permanent process is captured in a dynamic model connecting situations, their evolutions and slack practices. Our research highlights the importance of situational slack production practices to ensure resilience. We also argue that these micro-practices are constitutive of the context in which actors are evolving. Finally, we discuss why these slack practices, although essential for ensuring resilience, can be endangered by the New Public Management context.
Comparison of streptozotocin-induced diabetes at different moments of the life of female rats for translational studies
Authors: Sinzato Yuri K , Klöppel Eduardo , Miranda Carolina A , Paula Verônyca G , Alves Larissa F , Nascimento Lívia LS , Campos Ana Paula , Karki Barshana , Hampl Václav , Volpato Gustavo T , Damasceno Débora C
Published: March 2021

Animal models are widely used for studying diabetes in translational research. However, methods for induction of diabetes are conflicting with regards to their efficacy, reproducibility and cost. A comparison of outcomes between the diabetic models is still unknown, especially full-term pregnancy.To understand the comparison, we analyzed the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes at three life-different moments during the neonatal period in Sprague–Dawley female rats: at the first (D1), second (D2) and fifth (D5) day of postnatal life. At adulthood (90 days; D90), the animals were submitted to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for diabetic status confirmation. The diabetic and control rats were mated and sacrificed at full-term pregnancy for different analyses. Group D1 presented a higher mortality percentage after STZ administration than groups D2 and D5. All diabetic groups presented higher blood glucose levels as compared to those of the control group, while group D5 had higher levels of glycemia compared with other groups during OGTT. The diabetic groups showed impaired reproductive outcomes compared with the control group. Group D1 had lower percentages of mated rats and D5 showed a lower percentage of a full-term pregnancy. Besides that, these two groups also showed the highest percentages of inadequate fetal weight. In summary, although all groups fulfill the diagnosis criteria for diabetes in adult life, in our investigation diabetes induced on D5 presents lower costs and higher efficacy and reproducibility for studies involving diabetes-complicated pregnancy.
Cleft Palate in Newborns Diagnosed With Prematurity
Authors: Shehan Jennifer N. , Danis David O’Neil , Bains Ashank , Basa Krystyne , Marston Alexander P. , Levi Jessica R.
Published: March 2021

Objective

Cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) is the most common major congenital malformation of the head and neck. Although numerous genetic features, syndromes, nutritional deficiencies, and maternal exposures have been implicated in the etiology of CLP, the impact of prematurity on the pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. This study seeks to evaluate the associations between prematurity and the development of CLP in the United States.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional.

Setting

Academic medical center.

Methods

The Kids’ Inpatient Database (2016) was used to identify weighted in‐hospital births with diagnoses of prematurity or CLP. Demographic information was obtained. Odds ratios were used to determine associations between prematurity and CLP.

Results

Among patients included in our data set, 8.653% (n = 326,147) were preterm; 0.136% (n = 5115) had CLP; and 0.021% (n = 808) were preterm and had CLP. Preterm infants had 1.90 times the odds (95% CI, 1.74‐2.07) of developing CLP when compared with the nonpreterm population. The binary logistic regression model accounting for possible confounding variables produced an odds ratio of 1.83 (95% CI, 1.66‐2.01) for the association between prematurity and CLP.

Conclusion

Infants who are born preterm are more likely to have CLP than full‐term infants. The current results will allow for improved risk stratification, maternal counseling, and interventions in the case of prematurity.

Level of Evidence:

4.
Viral Infectivity in Patients Undergoing Tracheotomy With COVID‐19: A Preliminary Study
Authors: George Manish M. , McIntyre Charlotte J. , Zhou Jie , Kugathasan Ruthiran , Amos Dora C. , Dillon Ivan J. , Barclay Wendy S. , Tolley Neil S.
Published: March 2021

Objective

To establish the presence of live virus and its association with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity and antibody status in patients with COVID‐19 undergoing tracheotomy.

Study Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

Single institution across 3 hospital sites during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

Patients who were intubated for respiratory wean tracheotomy underwent SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR nasal, throat, and endotracheal tube swabs at the time of the procedure. These were assessed via quantitative real‐time reverse transcription PCR. The tracheal tissue excised during the tracheotomy was cultured for SARS‐CoV‐2 with Vero E6 and Caco2 cells. Serum was assessed for antibody titers against SARS‐CoV‐2 via neutralization assays.

Results

Thirty‐seven patients were included in this study. The mean number of days intubated prior to undergoing surgical tracheotomy was 27.8. At the time of the surgical tracheotomy, PCR swab testing yielded 8 positive results, but none of the 35 individuals who underwent tissue culture were positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. All 18 patients who had serum sampling demonstrated neutralization antibodies, with a minimum titer of 1:80.

Conclusion

In our series, irrespective of positive PCR swab, the likelihood of infectivity during tracheotomy remains low given negative tracheal tissue cultures. While our results do not undermine national and international guidance on tracheotomy after day 10 of intubation, given the length of time to procedure in our data, infectivity at 10 days cannot be excluded. We do however suggest that a preoperative negative PCR swab not be a prerequisite and that antibody titer levels may serve as a useful adjunct for assessment of infectivity.
Diagnostic value of phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein 4 levels in patients receiving nursing interventions for advanced chronic kidney disease
Authors: He Peipei , Zhou Congli , Shen Huajuan
Published: March 2021

Objective

To explore the diagnostic role of phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein 4 (PEBP4) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving nursing interventions.

Methods

ELISA was used to evaluate serum PEBP4 levels. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was used to assess diagnostic accuracy. Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the relationships between PEBP4 levels and biochemical indexes.

Results

Serum PEBP4 was high in CKD patients compared with healthy individuals. PEBP4 levels were positively correlated with pathological stage in CKD patients. PEBP4 had higher sensitivity for diagnosis of CKD than common indexes including blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and C-reactive protein. Among CKD patients treated with calcium channel blockers, serum PEBP4 levels declined notably and were associated with concentrations of K+, Na+, Cl− and Ca2+. Nursing interventions significantly decreased serum PEBP4 levels. A significant association between serum PEBP4 level and ionic concentration was observed in CKD patients receiving nursing interventions.

Conclusions

This prospective study demonstrated that PEBP4 level might represent an effective diagnostic biomarker in CKD patients. PEBP4 also acted as a valuable care compliance factor for determining the necessity for nursing interventions. Nursing interventions restored ion channel function and subsequently resulted in decreased PEBP4 levels and proteinuria.
A cross-sectional analysis of refractive error prevalence and associated factors among elementary school children in Hawassa, Ethiopia
Authors: Alem Kindie Desta , Gebru Elias Abera
Published: March 2021

Objective

This study assessed the prevalence of refractive error (RE) and its associated factors among elementary school children in Hawassa, Ethiopia.

Methods

In this school-based cross-sectional study, a random selection technique with proportional allocation was used to ensure a representative sample of students. Survey questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic, environmental, and family history data. Clinical examinations were performed to assess RE and ocular health. Associations between dependent and independent variables were computed using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Overall, 529 children participated in this study, with a response rate of 95.5% (529/554). Most participants were aged ≥12 years (337 [63.7%]), in grade levels 5 to 8 (307 [58%]), and attended public schools (366 [69.2%]). RE prevalence was 12.9% (95% CI: 10.0–16.1). Higher grade level (AOR=3.18, 95% CI: 1.68–5.97), positive family history of RE (AOR=3.69, 95% CI: 1.57–8.67), lack of paternal formal education (AOR=3.25, 95% CI: 1.20–8.77), and public school attendance (AOR=3.33, 95% CI: 1.52–7.27) were factors significantly associated with RE.

Conclusions

RE prevalence among elementary school children in Hawassa was higher than in previous reports. Grade level, family history, paternal education level, and school type significantly influenced RE status.
Progesterone activates the cyclic AMP-protein kinase A signalling pathway by upregulating ABHD2 in fertile men
Authors: Jiang Feng , Zhu Yong , Chen Ying , Tang Xiaofeng , Liu Liu , Chen Guowu , Liu Yulin , Sun Xiaoxi
Published: March 2021

Objective

This was a prospective study to investigate whether progesterone affects sperm activity by regulating the cyclic AMP-protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA) signalling pathway via α/β hydrolase domain-containing protein 2 (ABHD2).

Methods

Spermatozoa were collected from healthy and infertile men (with oligoasthenospermia or abnormal acrosome; n = 30/group). The expression of and mutations in ABHD2 were detected by quantitative PCR, western blot, and gene sequencing. The expression of ABHD2 in the presence of progesterone was detected in all groups, and cAMP and PKA levels were detected by ELISA in fertile men after treatment with ABHD2 antibody and PKA inhibitor H-89, respectively.

Results

Expression of ABHD2 mRNA and protein were reduced in spermatozoa from infertile compared with fertile men. Four gene mutation sites were detected in spermatozoa from the infertile groups. Progesterone increased mRNA and protein levels of ABHD2 in healthy spermatozoa but not in spermatozoa from infertile men. The levels of cAMP and PKA were increased by progesterone in healthy spermatozoa, and the progesterone-increased cAMP and PKA were decreased by ABHD2 antibody and H-89, respectively.

Conclusion

Progesterone regulates the ABHD2-mediated cAMP-PKA signalling pathway in healthy spermatozoa, which provides a new target for clinical diagnosis and treatment of infertility.