bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What hinders and helps academics to conduct Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) research in the field of nutrition and physical activity? An international perspective
Authors: Koorts Harriet , Naylor Patti-Jean , Laws Rachel , Love Penelope , Maple Jaimie-Lee , van Nassau Femke
Published: January 2020

Background

Ineffective research-practice translation is a major challenge to population health improvement. This paper presents an international perspective on the barriers and facilitators associated with the uptake of and engagement in Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) research in the fields of physical activity and nutrition.

Methods

A mixed methods study involving participants from the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) network. Participants completed an online survey (May–July 2018) and/or participated in a focus group during the annual ISBNPA conference (June 2018). Descriptive statistics were generated for quantitative online and pre-focus group survey data. Fisher’s exact tests investigated associations of (i) length of time in academia, (ii) career stage and (iii) country of work, and agreement with ‘perceptions of D&I’. Qualitative data were analysed thematically.

Results

In total, 141 participants responded to the survey (76% female, 21% aged 35–39 years, 14 countries represented) and 25 participated in focus groups (n = 3). Participants self-identified as having knowledge (48%), skills (53%) and experience supporting others (40%) to conduct D&I research. The majority (96%) perceived D&I was important, with 66% having organizational support for D&I, yet only 52% reported prioritizing D&I research. Perceptions of D&I differed by length of time in academia, career stage and country of work. Barriers included: (i) lack of D&I expertise; (ii) lack of organisational support/value for D&I; (iii) embedded scientific beliefs/culture; (iv) methodological challenges with D&I research; (v) funding/publishing priorities and; (vi) academic performance structures. Facilitators included: (i) increased presence/value of D&I; (ii) collective advocacy; (iii) organisational support for D&I; (iv) recruitment of D&I scientists and; (v) restructure of academic performance models, funding/publishing criteria.

Conclusions

Individual, organisational and system-wide factors hindered academics’ engagement with and support for D&I research, which was perceived to reduce opportunities for research-practice translation. Factors were mostly consistent across countries and individual career stages/time spent in academia. Embedding D&I early within academic training, and system-wide reorientation of academic performance and funding structures to promote and facilitate D&I research, are some of the necessary actions to reduce the research-practice gap. Consistent with public health more broadly, these changes are long overdue in the fields of physical activity and nutrition.
The use of S100 proteins testing in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and autoinflammatory diseases in a pediatric clinical setting: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Aljaberi Najla , Tronconi Elena , Schulert Grant , Grom Alexei A. , Lovell Daniel J. , Huggins Jennifer L. , Henrickson Michael , Brunner Hermine I.
Published: January 2020

Background

Serum phagocyte-derived alarmins S100A8/9 and S100A12 are considered useful for the assessment of inflammatory diseases. Our study evaluated the use of S100 proteins in a pediatric clinical setting for estimating disease activity and supporting diagnosis.

Methods

Patients (n = 136) who had S100 proteins tested as part of clinical care were included in this study and relevant information obtained from the medical record: C-reactive protein (CRP), disease activity status (inactive: = 0 joint; active: > 0 active joint), systemic symptoms in systemic JIA (sJIA), and symptoms of flare of other autoinflammatory and fever syndromes. Patients were categorized as: sJIA, non-systemic JIA (nsJIA), other defined autoinflammatory syndromes (AID) and systemic undifferentiated recurring fever syndromes (SURFS).

Results

Patients with sJIA (n = 21) had significantly higher levels of S100A8/9 and S100A12 compared to patients with nsJIA (n = 49), other AIDs (n = 8) or SURFS (n = 14) (all p < 0.0001). Compared to CRP [area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) = 0.7], S100 proteins were superior in differentiating sJIA from AID and SURFS [AUC = 0.9]. S100A8/9 and S100A12 levels were not associated with disease activity in nsJIA, AID or SURFS. S100A8/9 and S100A12 levels were significantly higher in active sJIA compared to inactive (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0002 respectively).

Conclusion

Compared to other autoinflammatory and fever syndromes, sJIA patients have markedly higher levels of S100A8/9 and S100A12 proteins which may assist with diagnosis. S100 levels slightly outperformed CRP in distinguishing sJIA from other diagnoses and in sJIA disease activity. S100 proteins may aid in monitoring disease activity in sJIA patients.
Dysregulation of BDNF/TrkB signaling mediated by NMDAR/Ca2+/calpain might contribute to postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aging mice
Authors: Qiu Li-Li , Pan Wei , Luo Dan , Zhang Guang-Fen , Zhou Zhi-Qiang , Sun Xiao-Yun , Yang Jian-Jun , Ji Mu-Huo
Published: January 2020

Background

Postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) is a recognized clinical phenomenon characterized by cognitive impairments in patients following anesthesia and surgery, yet its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in neuronal plasticity, learning, and memory via activation of TrkB-full length (TrkB-FL) receptors. It has been reported that an abnormal truncation of TrkB mediated by calpain results in dysregulation of BDNF/TrkB signaling and is associated with cognitive impairments in several neurodegenerative disorders. Calpains are Ca2+-dependent proteases, and overactivation of calpain is linked to neuronal death. Since one source of intracellular Ca2+ is N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) related and the function of NMDARs can be regulated by neuroinflammation, we therefore hypothesized that dysregulation of BDNF/TrkB signaling mediated by NMDAR/Ca2+/calpain might be involved in the pathogenesis of POCD.

Methods

In the present study, 16-month-old C57BL/6 mice were subjected to exploratory laparotomy with isoflurane anesthesia to establish the POCD animal model. For the interventional study, mice were treated with either NMDAR antagonist memantine or calpain inhibitor MDL-28170. Behavioral tests were performed by open field, Y maze, and fear conditioning tests from 5 to 8 days post-surgery. The levels of Iba-1, GFAP, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), NMDARs, calpain, BDNF, TrkB, bax, bcl-2, caspase-3, and dendritic spine density were determined in the hippocampus.

Results

Anesthesia and surgery-induced neuroinflammation overactivated NMDARs and then triggered overactivation of calpain, which subsequently led to the truncation of TrkB-FL, BDNF/TrkB signaling dysregulation, dendritic spine loss, and cell apoptosis, contributing to cognitive impairments in aging mice. These abnormities were prevented by memantine or MDL-28170 treatment.

Conclusion

Collectively, our study supports the notion that NMDAR/Ca2+/calpain is mechanistically involved in anesthesia and surgery-induced BDNF/TrkB signaling disruption and cognitive impairments in aging mice, which provides one possible therapeutic target for POCD.
Transcriptome of pleuropodia from locust embryos supports that these organs produce enzymes enabling the larva to hatch
Authors: Konopová Barbora , Buchberger Elisa , Crisp Alastair
Published: January 2020

Background

Pleuropodia are limb-derived glandular organs that transiently appear on the first abdominal segment in embryos of insects from majority of “orders”. They are missing in the genetic modelDrosophilaand little is known about them. Experiments carried out on orthopteran insects 80 years ago indicated that the pleuropodia secrete a “hatching enzyme” that digests the serosal cuticle to enable the larva to hatch, but evidence by state-of-the-art molecular methods is missing.

Results

We used high-throughput RNA-sequencing to identify the genes expressed in the pleuropodia of the locustSchistocerca gregaria(Orthoptera). First, using transmission electron microscopy we studied the development of the pleuropodia during 11 stages of the locust embryogenesis. We show that the glandular cells differentiate and start secreting just before the definitive dorsal closure of the embryo and the secretion granules outside the cells become more abundant prior to hatching. Next, we generated a comprehensive embryonic reference transcriptome for the locust and used it to study genome wide gene expression across ten morphologicaly defined stages of the pleuropodia. We show that when the pleuropodia have morphological markers of functional organs and produce secretion, they are primarily enriched in transcripts associated with transport functions. They express genes encoding enzymes capable of digesting cuticular protein and chitin. These include the potent cuticulo-lytic Chitinase 5, whose transcript rises just before hatching. Unexpected finding was the enrichment in transcripts for immunity-related enzymes. This indicates that the pleuropodia are equipped with epithelial immunity similarly as barrier epithelia in postembryonic stages.

Conclusions

These data provide transcriptomic support for the historic hypothesis that pleuropodia produce cuticle-degrading enzymes and function in hatching. They may also have other functions, such as facilitation of embryonic immune defense. By the genes that they express the pleuropodia are specialized embryonic organs and apparently an important though neglected part of insect physiology.
HIV infection, hunger, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms are associated with exclusive breastfeeding to six months among women in western Kenya: a longitudinal observational study
Authors: Tuthill Emily L. , Miller Joshua D. , Collins Shalean M. , Widen Elizabeth M. , Onono Maricianah , Young Sera L.
Published: January 2020

Background

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is recommended for all infants. However, breastfeeding rates remain suboptimal; around 37% of infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months globally. In Nyanza region, western Kenya, numerous challenges to breastfeeding have been identified, including food insecurity, hunger, depressive symptoms, and HIV infection. Yet, evidence to inform our understanding of how these problems influence women’s breastfeeding behaviors across time is lacking. We therefore sought to examine these factors and how they interact to affect the initiation and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in this region. We hypothesized that women experiencing greater food insecurity, hunger, and/or depressive symptoms would be less likely to maintain exclusive breastfeeding for six months than women who were food secure or not depressed. We also hypothesized that women living with HIV would be more likely to maintain exclusive breastfeeding to six months compared to HIV-uninfected women.

Methods

Women in Pith Moromo, a longitudinal cohort study in western Kenya, were surveyed at two antenatal and three postpartum timepoints (n = 275). Data were collected on breastfeeding behavior and self-efficacy, maternal food insecurity and hunger, maternal psychosocial health, and HIV status. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify predictors of early exclusive breastfeeding cessation.

Results

The majority of women (52.3%) exclusively breastfed for the first six months. In the final multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, living with HIV was associated with a 64% decrease in the rate of early exclusive breastfeeding cessation. Additionally, the rate of early exclusive breastfeeding cessation increased by 100 and 98% for those experiencing probable depression or hunger, respectively. Although there was no main effect of breastfeeding self-efficacy, the interaction between breastfeeding self-efficacy and hunger was significant, such that the rate of early exclusive breastfeeding cessation was predicted to decrease by 2% for every point increase in breastfeeding self-efficacy score (range: 0–56).

Conclusions

This study contributes to previous work demonstrating that women living with HIV more consistently exclusively breastfeed and suggests that rates of exclusive breastfeeding could be increased through targeted support that promotes maternal mental health and breastfeeding self-efficacy, while reducing maternal hunger.

Trial registration

Study registration NCT02974972.
A method for functional testing constitutive and ligand-induced interactions of lysin motif receptor proteins
Authors: Li Chun-Lian , Xue De-Xing , Wang Yi-Han , Xie Zhi-Ping , Staehelin Christian
Published: January 2020

Background

Plant receptors with lysin motifs (LsyM) recognize microbial signals such as fungal chitin and lipo-chitooligosaccharidic Nod factors of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. It is generally assumed that ligand-induced dimerization of LysM receptors is an essential step in activation of intracellular kinase domains and downstream signaling. Consequently, genes required for plant defense and establishment of symbiosis are expressed. We recently found that three LysM receptor proteins (namely LYK1, LYK4 and LYK5) of Arabidopsis thaliana form a tripartite receptor complex to perceive chitin. However, constitutive and ligand-induced interactions of LysM receptors generally remain difficult to be characterized.

Results

Interactions between ectodomains of LYK1, LYK4 and LYK5 were investigated by a chimeric receptor approach using hairy roots of the legume Lotus japonicus. Synthetic receptor pairs consisting of a LYK ectodomain and the intracellular domain of a L. japonicus Nod factor receptor (NFR1 and NFR5, respectively) were tested for their capacity to activate expression of the symbiotic NIN (nodule inception) gene. The results indicated constitutive (LYK4ED–LYK4ED, LYK4ED–LYK5ED) and chitin-induced interactions (LYK1ED–LYK1ED, LYK1ED–LYK5ED) of the examined ectodomains.

Conclusion

We present a method to functionally analyze constitutive and ligand-induced interactions of LysM-type proteins.
Association between breastfeeding and osteoporotic hip fracture in women: a dose-response meta-analysis
Authors: Xiao Haixiang , Zhou Quan , Niu Gouqi , Han Guansheng , Zhang Zhongchuan , Zhang Qingbo , Bai Jianzhong , Zhu Xunbing
Published: January 2020

Objective

Approximately 300 mg of calcium a day is provided into infants to maintain the physical development of infants, and 5 to 10% bone loss occurs in women during breastfeeding. Hip fractures are considered the most serious type of osteoporotic fracture. We performed this meta-analysis to investigate the association between breastfeeding and osteoporotic hip fractures.

Material and methods

PubMed and Embase were searched until May 1, 2019, for studies evaluating the relationship between breastfeeding and osteoporotic hip fracture in women. The quality of the included studies was evaluated by the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS). For the dose-response meta-analysis, we used the “generalized least squares for trend estimation” method proposed by Greenland and Longnecker to take into account the correlation with the log RR estimates across the duration of breastfeeding.

Results

Seven studies were moderate or high quality, enrolling a total of 103,898 subjects. The pooled outcomes suggested that breastfeeding can decrease the incidence of osteoporotic hip fracture (RR = 0.64 (95% CI 0.43, 0.95), P = 0.027). Dose-response analysis demonstrated that the incidence of osteoporotic hip fracture decreased with the increase of breastfeeding time. The RR and 95% CI for 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months were RR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.88, 0.98; RR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.79, 0.96; RR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.67, 0.92; and RR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.59, 0.98, respectively, whereas no significant relationship was found between them when the duration of breastfeeding time was more than 25 months.

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis demonstrated that the incidence of osteoporotic hip fracture decreased with the extension of breastfeeding time. However, there is no significant relationship between them when the duration of breastfeeding time was more than 25 months.
Clinical outcome and explant histology after using a cellular bone allograft in two-stage total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Shahrdar Cambize , McLean Julie , Gianulis Elena , Softic Davorka , Qin Xiaofei , Moore Mark A. , Chen Jingsong
Published: January 2020

Background

Although use of cellular bone allografts (CBA) in orthopedic surgery has become increasingly common, little information is available regarding their short-term clinical performance. In these two case reports of two-stage hip arthroplasties, ViviGen Formable CBA (V-CBA) was used in stage one to fill voids left by previous metal implants.

Methods

The two patients had distinctly different health profiles, but each of them had previous metal implants due to a hip fracture. In the otherwise healthy 49-year-old male patient, the total hip arthroplasty (THA) was performed 7 weeks after nail removal and V-CBA backfill. In the 64-year-old female patient with Type 1 diabetes and severe osteoporosis, stage 2 was performed after 12 weeks. At the time of THA for each patient, bone containing some V-CBA was removed to accommodate the hip implant. The explants were histologically analyzed for bone matrix, mineralization, and neovascularization.

Results

Histological staining showed substantial new bone formation and neovascularization in both explants albeit at different levels of maturity.

Conclusions

Although limited, these results suggest that V-CBA may facilitate new bone formation in healthy as well as in metabolically challenged patients.

Level of evidence

V, case report
Effect of switching administration of alendronate after teriparatide for the prevention of BMD loss around the implant after total hip arthroplasty, 2-year follow-up: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Morita Akira , Kobayashi Naomi , Choe Hyonmin , Ike Hiroyuki , Tezuka Taro , Higashihira Shota , Inaba Yutaka
Published: January 2020

Background

Stress shielding after total hip arthroplasty (THA) can induce bone mineral density (BMD) loss around the femoral implant. Several studies using drug have described methods to prevent BMD loss around implants following THA. Switching from teriparatide to alendronate was reported to increase lumbar BMD; on the other hands, it is unclear whether switching from teriparatide to alendronate is effective around the implant. The aim of this study is that changes in BMD is compared in patients switched from teriparatide to alendronate, in patients treated with alendronate alone, and in control patients without medication after total hip arthroplasty.

Patients and methods

Patients were randomized into three groups, those switched to alendronate after teriparatide (switch:n= 17), those receiving continuous alendronate (ALD:n= 15), and control untreated patients (control:n= 16) and followed up for 2 years after THA. Baseline periprosthetic BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) 1 week after THA, followed by subsequent measurements at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Lumbar BMD was also evaluated at preoperatively, 1 and 2 years postoperatively.

Results

Two years after surgery, BMD (%) at zone 1 was significantly higher in the switch group than in the control group (P= 0.02). BMD (%) at zone 7 was significantly higher in the switch and ALD groups than in the control group (P= 0.01,P= 0.03). Lumbar BMD (%) anterior-posterior (AP) side was significantly higher in the switch group than in the ALD and control groups 2 years after surgery. On the other hand, lumbar BMD (%) lateral side was significantly higher in the switch and ALD groups than control group 2 years after surgery.

Conclusions

Switching therapy had a significant effect on BMD of the lumbar spine and zones 1 and 7 at 2 years postoperatively. At zone 1 in particular, it was found to be more effective than ALD alone.

Trial registration

UMIN, registry numberUMIN000016158. Registered 8 January 2015
Non‐invasive assessment of vibration perception and protective sensation in people with diabetes mellitus: inter‐ and intra‐rater reliability
Authors: Lanting Sean Michael , Spink Martin Jeremy , Tehan Peta Ellen , Vickers Stephanie , Casey Sarah Louise , Chuter Vivienne Helaine
Published: January 2020

Background

Testing of protective sensation and vibration perception are two of the most commonly used non‐invasive methods of screening for diabetes‐related peripheral neuropathy (DPN). However, there is limited research investigating the reliability of these tests in people with diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the inter‐ and intra‐rater reliability of methods used to test vibration perception and protective sensation in a community‐based population of adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Three podiatrists with varying clinical experience tested four‐ and 10‐site, 10 g monofilament and vibration perception threshold (VPT). In a separate cohort, the reliability of a graduated tuning fork as well as two methods of conventional tuning fork (on/off method and dampening method) was undertaken by a new graduate podiatrist and podiatrist with one‐year's clinical experience. The intra‐ (Cohen's К) and inter‐rater (Cohen's or Fleiss' К) reliability of each test was determined.

Results

Fifty participants (66% male, 100% type 2, 32% with DPN) underwent monofilament and neurothesiometer testing with 44 returning for the retest. Twenty‐four participants (63% male, 100% type 2, 4% with DPN) underwent tuning fork testing and returned for retest. All tests demonstrated acceptable inter‐rater reliability ranging from moderate (10‐site monofilament, К: 0.54, CI: 0.38–0.70, p = 0.02) to substantial (graduated tuning fork, К: 0.68, CI: 0.41–0.95, p < 0.01). The 10‐site monofilament (К: 0.44–0.77) outperformed the 4‐site test (К: 0.34–0.67) and the dampened tuning fork method (К: 0.41–0.49) showed lower intra‐rater reliability compared to both conventional (К: 0.52–0.57) and graduated methods (К: 0.50–0.57).

Conclusion

We support the current recommendations of using more than one test to screen and monitor progression of DPN. Four‐ and 10‐site 10 g monofilament testing have similarly acceptable levels of reliability and the neurothesiometer is the most reliable method of assessing vibration perception function. Use of a graduated tuning fork was slightly more reliable than other methods of tuning fork application however all had substantial reliability. Years of clinical experience only marginally affected test reliability overall and due to subjective nature of the tests we suggest that testing should be performed regularly and repetitively.
Efficacy and safety of Jianpishengsui for chemotherapy-related fatigue in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: study protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Xiao Zhiwei , Hu Leihao , Lin Jietao , Lu Liming , Huang Xuewu , Zhu Xiaoshu , Teo Chiahshean , Lin Lizhu
Published: January 2020

Background

Chemotherapy-related fatigue (CRF) is a common symptom in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. A Chinese herbal formula cream for oral application, called Jianpishengsui (JPSS), is extensively used in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine as an internal preparation for CRF and is associated with a promising response. Due to the lack of high-quality clinical evidence, a randomized placebo-controlled trial is required to assess the efficacy and safety of JPSS.

Methods/design

The efficacy and safety of JPSS herbal formula cream will be evaluated through a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. NSCLC patients with CRF will be randomized into two groups at a ratio of 1:1. Each group will receive either 15 g of the oral JPSS herbal formula cream or placebo twice a day from day 6 to day 20 during two courses of paclitaxel + platinum/docetaxel + platinum/pemetrexed + platinum (TP/DP/AP) chemotherapy. The primary endpoint is the difference in the degree of fatigue between baseline (the day before the start of the intervention) and day 42, which will be assessed by the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale score. The secondary endpoints are quality of life (measured by the 43-item European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire—Lung Cancer C43), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, and Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome score. The toxicity of the treatments will also be evaluated at the same time. All outcomes will be measured at baseline, day 6, day 21, and day 42 of the treatment.

Discussion

This randomized trial will investigate the efficacy and safety of JPSS applied for CRF in patients with NSCLC.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900023451. Registered on 28 May 2019.
A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating vibration therapy as an intervention for postural training and fall prevention after distal radius fracture in elderly patients
Authors: WONG Ronald Man Yeung , HO Wing-Tung , TANG Ning , TSO Chi Yin , Ng Wai Kit Raymond , CHOW Simon Kwoon-Ho , CHEUNG Wing-Hoi
Published: January 2020

Background

Fractures of the distal radius are one of the most common osteoporotic fractures in elderly men and women. These fractures are a particular health concern amongst the elderly, who are at risk of fragility fractures, and are associated with long-term functional impairment, pain and a variety of complications. This is a sentinel event, as these fractures are associated with a two to four times increased risk of subsequent hip fractures in elderly patients. This is an important concept, as it is well established that these patients have an increased risk of falling. Fall prevention is therefore crucial to decrease further morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of low-magnitude high-frequency vibration (LMHFV) on postural stability and prevention of falls in elderly patients post distal radius fracture.

Methods

This is a prospective single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Two hundred patients will be recruited consecutively with consent, and randomized to either LMHFV (n = 100) or a control group (n = 100). The primary outcome is postural stability measured by the static and dynamic ability of patients to maintain centre of balance on the Biodex Balance System SD. Secondary outcomes are the occurrence of fall(s), the health-related quality of life 36-item short form instrument, the Timed Up and Go test for basic mobility skills, compliance and adverse events. Outcome assessments for both groups will be performed at baseline (0 month) and at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months time points.

Discussion

Previous studies have stressed the importance of reducing falls after distal radius fracture has occurred in elderly patients, and an effective intervention is crucial. Numerous studies have proven vibration therapy to be effective in improving balancing ability in normal patients; However, no previous study has applied the device for patients with fractures. Our study will attempt to translate LMHFV to patients with fractures to improve postural stability and prevent recurrent falls. Positive results would provide a large impact on the prevention of secondary fractures and save healthcare costs.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03380884. Registered on 21 December 2017.
Association of the leptin receptor Q223R (rs1137101) polymorphism with obesity measures in Sri Lankans
Authors: Illangasekera Y. A. , Kumarasiri P. V. R. , Fernando D. J. , Dalton C. F.
Published: January 2020

Objective

The role of genetic factors in the development of obesity is largely unreported in Sri Lankans. The Q223R (rs1137101) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the leptin receptor (LEPR) gene has been associated with obesity measures in various ethnicities. We investigated the association of the Q223R polymorphism with obesity related anthropometric measures and biochemical parameters fasting blood glucose and lipid profile in a sample of 530 Sri Lankan adult subjects (age 18–70 years) representing both urban and rural areas of residence.

Results

The LEPR Q223R variant G allele frequency was 0.54. The polymorphism was associated with body mass index (p = 0.04) and waist circumference (p = 0.02) measures in overweight and obese (BMI ≥ 25 kgm−2) subjects with the variant allele conferring a greater risk of adiposity. Residency in urban areas eliminated the protective effect of the non-risk genotype (AA) in the development of obesity.
Use of a simple form to facilitate communication on long-term consequences of treatment in sarcoma survivors
Authors: Hompland Ivar , Fauske Lena , Lorem Geir Fagerjord , Bruland Øyvind S.
Published: January 2020

Background

To report on our experience using a simple optional form to facilitate communication on late effects between the patients and the oncologists during outpatient follow-up and to detail on the spectrum of challenges reported by sarcoma survivors.

Methods

The form was presented for the patients to complete before their consultation and covered topics related to late effects and unmet needs that the patient wished to discuss with the medical personnel. Logistic regression analysis examined how the distribution of the topics varied with age, gender, diagnosis and type of treatment received.

Results

The form was manageable in a busy outpatient clinic. Of the 265 patients that received the form, 236 (89%) returned it. Patients in a palliative setting and those with other diagnosis than bone sarcoma (BS) and soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) were excluded for subsequent analyses. The final study-cohort comprised 160 patients, 54 (34%) with BS and 106 (66%) with STS. Among these, 140 (88%) had late-effect topics they wanted to discuss with their oncologist. Fatigue was raised by 39% of the patients, pain by 29% and impaired mobility by 23%. BS patients raised fatigue more often (P < 0.005) than those with STS. Patients who had undergone multimodal treatment with chemotherapy raised fatigue more frequently (P < 0.001) than those who had only undergone surgery, radiotherapy or both.

Conclusions

A simple form on the long-term consequences of sarcoma treatment achieved a high response rate, was feasible to use in an outpatient clinic and facilitated communication on these issues. Fatigue was the most frequent topic raised and it was raised significantly more often in patients who had undergone chemotherapy.
Background perception for correlation filter tracker
Authors: Zhang Yushan , Li Jianan , Wu Fan , Wu Lingyue , Xu Tingfa
Published: January 2020

Visual object tracking is one of the most fundamental tasks in the field of computer vision, and it has numerous applications in many realms such as public surveillance, human-computer interaction, robotics, etc. Recently, discriminative correlation filter (DCF)-based trackers have achieved promising results in short-term tracking problems. Most of them focus on extracting reliable features from the foreground of input images to construct a robust and informative description of the target. However, it is often ignored that the image background which contains the surrounding context of the target is often similar across consecutive frames and thus can be beneficial to locating the target. In this paper, we propose a background perception regulation term to additionally exploit useful background information of the target. Specifically, invalid description of the target can be avoided when either background or foreground information becomes unreliable by assigning similar importance to both of them. Moreover, a novel model update strategy is further proposed. Instead of updating the model by frame, we introduce an output evaluation score, which serves to supervise the tracking process and select high-confidence results for model update, thus paving a new way to avoid model corruption. Extensive experiments on OTB-100 dataset well demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method BPCF, which gets an AUC score of 0.689 and outperforms most of the state-of-the-art.
On fractional $(p,q)$-calculus
Authors: Soontharanon Jarunee , Sitthiwirattham Thanin
Published: January 2020

In this paper, the new concepts of$(p,q)$(p,q)-difference operators are introduced. The properties of fractional$(p,q)$(p,q)-calculus in the sense of a$(p,q)$(p,q)-difference operator are introduced and developed.
A case of brucellosis concomitant with HIV infection in China
Authors: Dong Shuai-Bing , Wang Li-Ping , Wu Chao-Xue , Li Fan , Yue Yong , Piao Dong-Ri , Zhao Hong-Yan , Jiang Hai
Published: January 2020

Background

Human brucellosis is a neglected public health issue in China and reports of HIV-infected individuals complicated with brucellosis are rare. This report describes the case of an HIV-infected patient complicated with brucellosis. We want to raise awareness of clinical diagnosis of brucellosis among clinicians. Furthermore, we should be more concerned about cases with pyrexia of unknown origin, especially in non-epidemic areas of brucellosis in China.

Case presentation

We encountered the case of a 31-year-old HIV-infected male with a CD4+ T lymphocyte count of approximately 300. On May 1, 2019, the patient had onset of non-specific caustic irregular fever with body temperature reaching 41.0 °C. He was admitted to two medical institutions in Yunnan with pyrexia of unknown origin. Finally, on day 7 of hospitalization in the Public Health Clinical Medical Center in Chengdu City, he was diagnosed as having brucellosis infection based on blood culture results.

Conclusions

This is the first reported case of brucellosis concomitant with HIV infection in China. Laboratories in infectious disease hospitals and category A level III hospitals in the southern provinces of China should be equipped with reagents for clinical diagnosis of brucellosis and to strengthen the awareness of brucellosis diagnosis in China. Secondly, in provinces with a high incidence of AIDS and brucellosis such as Xinjiang and Henan, it is recommended to implement a joint examination strategy to ensure the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of this infection.
Impact of the stress ulcer prophylactic protocol on reducing the unnecessary administration of stress ulcer medications and gastrointestinal bleeding: a single-center, retrospective pre-post study
Authors: Ogasawara Osamu , Kojima Taiki , Miyazu Mitsunori , Sobue Kazuya
Published: January 2020

Background

Clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding from stress ulcers increases patient mortality in intensive care, and histamine type 2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors as stress ulcer prophylaxes were reported to decrease the incidence of that.

Although medical checklists are widely used to maintain high compliance with medications and interventions to improve patient outcome in the intensive care field, the efficacy of medical checklists regarding the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding and the reduction of unnecessary administration of stress ulcer prophylaxis medications has not been sufficiently explored to date.

This study aimed to investigate the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding and the rate of administering stress ulcer prophylaxis medication before and after setting administration criteria for stress ulcer prophylaxis and introducing a medical checklist for critically ill adults.

Methods

This was a retrospective pre-post study at a single-center, tertiary adult and pediatric mixed ICU. Adult patients (≥ 18 years) who were admitted to the ICU for reasons other than gastrectomy, esophagectomy, pancreatoduodenectomy, and gastrointestinal bleeding were analyzed. A medical checklist and stress ulcer prophylaxis criteria were introduced on December 22, 2014, and the patients were classified into the preintervention group (from September to December 21, 2014) and the postintervention group (from December 22, 2014, to April 2015). The primary outcome was the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and the secondary outcome was the proportion administered stress ulcer prophylaxis medications.

Results

One hundred adult patients were analyzed. The incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the pre- and postintervention groups was both 4.0% [95% confidence interval, 0.5–13.7%]. The proportion administered stress ulcer prophylaxis medications decreased from 100 to 38% between the pre- and post-intervention groups.

Conclusions

After the checklist and the criteria were introduced, the administration of stress ulcer prophylaxis medications decreased without an increase in upper gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill adults. Prospective studies are necessary to evaluate the causal relationship between the introduction of them and gastrointestinal adverse events in critically ill adults.
Development of the Palu–Koro Fault in NW Palu Valley, Indonesia
Authors: Patria Adi , Putra Purna Sulastya
Published: January 2020

The 220-km-long Palu–Koro Fault, Central Sulawesi, is a major fault with prominent expression in Eastern Indonesia. Many studies about the Palu–Koro Fault have shown its capability of generating large earthquakes, but how the Palu–Koro Fault has evolved remains enigmatic. This study is to investigate the geomorphology of NW Palu Valley based on DEMNAS (Digital Elevation Model of Indonesia) and field observations to understand the development of the Palu–Koro Fault. The study area comprises a high mountain in the west and a valley in the east. There are two major normal faults and a strike–slip fault observed in NW Palu Valley. The western normal fault is a basin-bounding fault, which marks the topographic break between mountain and valley. To the east, another normal fault is observed cutting the old alluvial fans and expressed by planar fault scarps. The strike–slip fault is observed within the basin and crosses the distal part alluvial fans. It is expressed by intra-basin ridges in places which are slightly uplifted from the adjacent surface. The surface rupture of the 2018 Mw 7.5 Palu earthquake in NW Palu Valley also shows left-lateral movement up to 4 m. We consider that the development of the Palu–Koro Fault in NW Palu Valley is characterized by toward-central-basin migration of faulting activity from basin-bounding fault to intra-basin fault.
Mesenteric venous thrombosis as a rare complication of decompression sickness
Authors: Toyota Satoshi , Nagata Shigeyuki , Yoshino Shinichiro , Kono Sota , Kawanami Syogo , Maeda Syohei , Kuramitsu Erina , Ichimannda Michihiro , Nagamatsu Satoko , Kai Seiichiro , Fukuyama Yasuro , Orita Hiroyuki , Korenaga Daisuke
Published: January 2020

Background

Decompression sickness (DCS) induced by extravascular and intravascular gas bubbles during decompression can present with varying manifestations, such as joint pain, numbness, cutaneous symptoms, and cardiopulmonary dysfunction. However, mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT) is a rare complication of DCS. To the best of our knowledge, only a few cases have been reported, and surgical cases of MVT secondary to DCS have not yet been reported.

Case presentation

A 59-year-old man who was a fisherman and recreational diver dived to a depth of 100 feet. After diving, he noted abdominal and postcervical pain and visited a community hospital. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a large amount of intravenous gas, so he was diagnosed with DCS. He was then transferred to a previous hospital, where hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was performed. HBOT reduced the amount of venous gas, but his abdominal pain worsened, so he was transferred to our hospital. CT showed pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis. Because of the possibility of intestinal necrosis, a laparoscopic examination was performed, which revealed necrosis of the transverse colon. We therefore performed a transverse colon resection. He was discharged 36 days after the surgery and followed an uneventful postoperative course.

Conclusions

DCS is likely to cause MVT. If intestinal necrosis is suspected, a laparoscopic examination may be useful for determining the diagnosis and treatment. MVT should be included as a differential diagnosis of abdominal pain that persists after HBOT.
Correction of wavefront rotation between interferometer and shack-hartmann sensor using bending modes
Authors: Zhu Yi , Chen Tao , Li Hongzhuang
Published: January 2020

In some active optics system, the influence function, which is the surface deformation ability of an actuator, is measured by directly detecting the mirror surface using an interferometer and the surface correction of the primary mirror is done using the Shack-Hartmann (S-H) sensor. However, if the wavefronts of the interferometer and the S-H sensor have an obvious rotation, a large error will be introduced to the correction force calculations. In this paper, bending modes are used to detect this wavefront rotation. Bending modes are a series of orthonormal stiffness-increasing modes calculated using the influence functions. Two methods, optimum search and top-line (a line passes through the surface center and the top of surface deformation peaks) detection, are developed and tested in simulation using the experimental data of a 620-mm active optics system. The detection errors of the two methods are 0.286° and 0.085° in the simulation, respectively. The rotation detection method is then tested on this 620-mm system. The simulation and experimental results show that top-line detection is a suitable method for the detection of wavefront rotation.
Fire and land cover change in the Palouse Prairie–forest ecotone, Washington and Idaho, USA
Authors: Morgan Penelope , Heyerdahl Emily K. , Strand Eva K. , Bunting Stephen C. , Riser II James P. , Abatzoglou John T. , Nielsen-Pincus Max , Johnson Mara
Published: January 2020

Background

Prairie–forest ecotones are ecologically important for biodiversity and ecological processes. While these ecotones cover small areas, their sharp gradients in land cover promote rich ecological interaction and high conservation value. Our objective was to understand how historical and current fire occurrences and human development influenced the Palouse Prairie–forest ecotone. We used General Land Office survey field notes about the occurrence of bearing trees to locate historical (1870s to 1880s) prairie, pine savanna, and forest at the eastern edge of the bioregion. We combined LANDFIRE Existing Vegetation classes to contrast historical land cover with current land cover. We reconstructed historical fire occurrence (1650 to 1900) from fire-scarred trees. We used fire and lightning records from 1992 to 2015 to interpret the role of people and lightning.

Results

Historically, the ecotone was a matrix of prairie with extensive savanna and some forest. More than half of the ecotone area was prairie, which is now dominated by agriculture, with some residential development. The 16% of the landscape that was pine savanna is now forest or shrubs, agriculture, perennial vegetation under the Conservation Reserve Program, or developed; no savanna now exists. Forests covered 12% of the ecotone and these are still mostly forest. Fires were historically frequent, occurring on average every 5 to 8 years at most sites. Lightning was not frequent but could likely have been sufficient to ignite fires that could spread readily given the rolling terrain and long fire season.

Conclusions

Fire was far more frequent historically than currently. Conservation, restoration, and other ongoing land-use changes will likely result in more continuous vegetation and hence fuel for fires. Lightning and people may ignite fires that therefore spread readily in the future. Understanding the past and potential future of fire in the Palouse Prairie bioregion may help us live with fire while conserving ecological values here and in similar prairie–forest ecotones.
Graft modification of carboxymethyl chitosan with styrene and its biological applications
Authors: Abdel Gawad Omayma F.
Published: January 2020

Background

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCh) is a water-soluble chitosan derivative and it has been widely used in biomedical applications due to its unique properties. Modification of CMCh by graft copolymerization with different monomers is done in order to enhance its applications.

Results

Graft copolymerization of styrene (S) onto CMCh using ammonium persulfate (APS) as initiator was successfully done with optimization of grafting parameters. The new materials were prepared in nano size. The antibacterial activities against Streptococcus pneumonia (RCMB 010010), Staphylococcus aureus (RCMB 010028) as Gram-positive and Escherichia coli (RCMB 010052) as Gram-negative bacteria and antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigates (RCMB 02568), Candida albicans (RCMB 05036), Syncephalastrum racemosum (RCMB 05922), and Geotricum candidum (RCMB 05097) were examined using the diffusion agar technique. Also, the cytotoxicity effect against mammalian cell lines (MCF-7cells (human breast cancer) and HTC-116 (colon carcinoma)) was evaluated.

Conclusions

The obtained data proved that grafted carboxymethyl chitosan with styrene (CMCh-g-S) shows better antimicrobial activities, while parent carboxymethyl chitosan showed higher activity than new grafted materials. Also the nano scaled grafted CMCh showed higher activities than grafted carboxymetyl chitosan in macro scale.
Randy Martin
Authors: Meister Robert
Published: January 2020

The article develops political implications of the late Randy Martin’s idea of “derivative sociality” as the real subsumption of human life under the option form. The option form, beginning with the hedge, allows realized surplus value to be preserved (locked in) and eventually accumulated by securing its convertibility back into money—its “liquidity.” The opposite, financial illiquidity is capital disaccumulation in Marx’s sense. It follows that the acceptability of capital accumulation depends on making financial market illiquidity politically unimaginable. This limitation on political imagination can, however, be largely overcome in the spirit of Marx (and Randy Martin) by using the conceptual resources of options theory itself. In options theory, for example, privately produced financial derivatives are priced as though a component of them is synthetic public debt (“risk-free”). But this can be true only because in crisis scenarios the government guarantees to swap its own debt for synthetic equivalents to it at par. However, such guarantees are themselves options that can be priced. That price in 2008, the “liquidity premium,” has been calculated by leading financial economists to be trillions of dollars. This is equivalent to the premium that a justice-seeking democracy could have extracted for wiping out the cumulative effects of capital accumulation, had doing so been understood as a political option that could be rolled over for a price. The goal of this article is to identify financial market liquidity as a political choke point in today’s capitalism so as to focus political attention on reversing the cumulative effect of capital markets in compounding historical injustices.