bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Features of the Fellow Eyes of Children with Unilateral Facial Port-Wine Stains and Ipsilateral Glaucoma
Authors: Shin Young In , Kim Young Kook , Choe Sooyeon , Lee Yun Jeong , Jang Mirinae , Wy Seoyoung , Jeoung Jin Wook , Park Ki Ho
Published: December 2021

Purpose: To investigate the clinical features of non-affected fellow eyes in patients with unilateral facial port-wine stain (PWS) and ipsilateral secondary glaucoma.Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 35 patients with unilateral facial PWS glaucoma and those of controls (35 subjects without both facial PWS and glaucoma) between September 1996 and May 2020. We noted patients’ age at the glaucoma diagnosis (for unilateral facial PWS glaucoma patients) or at the initial examination (for controls), cup-to-disc ratio (CDR), and intraocular pressure (IOP). We compared the clinical features between the glaucoma-free eyes in patients with unilateral facial PWS glaucoma and the controls.Results: The mean age at the glaucoma diagnosis for unilateral facial PWS glaucoma patients was 0.56 ± 0.99 years (range, 0.08-4). The mean IOP of the glaucoma-free eyes was 16.68 ± 5.73 mmHg (range, 9-22.9), and the mean CDR was 0.37 ± 0.14 (range, 0.15-0.80) at glaucoma diagnosis. The mean IOP of the glaucoma-free eyes was 14.14 ± 6.29 mmHg (range, 8.1-26.7), and the mean CDR was 0.37 ± 0.12 (range, 0.26-0.82) at final examination. When comparing glaucoma-free eyes of the unilateral facial PWS glaucoma patients with the control group (mean age, 11.2 ± 7.4 years), the mean CDR was significantly greater (0.37 ± 0.12 vs. 0.30 ± 0.08; p = 0.014) but there was no significant difference in the mean IOP (14.14 ± 6.29 mmHg vs. 14.57 ± 2.49 mmHg; p = 0.712).Conclusions: The glaucoma-free eyes of unilateral facial PWS glaucoma patients showed greater CDR compared to the non-facial PWS and non-glaucoma controls. Additional longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the clinical course of those eyes, whether the risk of developing glaucoma is increased.
Outcomes of Early Surgery in Children under Four Years Old with Large Angle Intermittent Exotropia
Authors: Choi Yeon Sun , Tolesa Kumale , Paik Hae Jung
Published: December 2021

Purpose: To find out the significance of early surgery in children of 4 years old and under with large angle intermittent exotropia of 35 prism diopters (PD) and more by examining the results of bilateral lateral rectus recession surgery and factors influencing the surgical outcome.Methods: It was a retrospective study of patients who underwent bilateral lateral rectus muscle recession surgery between 2006 to 2016 with intermittent exotropia greater than or equal to 35 PD and who were able to follow-up for at least 2 years after surgery were divided into two groups based on age of 4 years old. The surgical motor success was defined as exodeviation less than 10 PD, esodeviation less than 8 PD. The angle of deviation, binocular function, best corrected visual acuity, and amount of corrected PD per lateral recession (PD/mm) were compared at each observation point after surgery.Results: The motor success of bilateral rectus muscle recession surgery was 85% in children of age 4 years and under, 65.5% in age over 4 years. Success rate of early surgery was 1.3 times higher in younger age group, but there was no statistical meaning. The complication of surgery after 2 years of follow up was less in younger group-the rate of recurrent exotropia was 15% in younger group, 31.3% in older group and the rate of consecutive esotropia was 0% and 3.1%, respectively. Stereoacuity after 2 years of surgery was not fall behind in younger group compared to older group.Conclusions: It is possible to obtain good surgical results by performing early surgery rather than hesitating to operate due to the younger age in patients younger than 4 years old with large angle exotropia of 35 PD and more for long-term follow up and efficient patient management.
Hepatitis A
Authors: Hrynkevych Khrystyna , Schmitt Heinz-Josef
Published: December 2021

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a single-stranded “nonenveloped” RNA virus in the picornaviridae family.

HAV is most often transmitted by the fecal-oral route, but also by contaminated food, water, sexual contact, and intravenous drug use.

HAV causes little if any symptoms in the very young.

Disease symptoms from liver damage become more frequent in older ages and even fulminant liver failure with death is observed in the elderly.

Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease.

With lack of sanitation and hygiene, HAV infection occurs early in life inducing life-long protection, whereas in countries with good sanitation and hygiene, infections are seen later in life and are more severe.

There is no causal treatment, but available vaccines are well tolerated, have an excellent safety profile and are highly effective with long-lasting protection after 2 doses.

Hepatitis A vaccines can be used for pre- as well as for post-exposure prophylaxis and for individual as well as for population protection.

Vaccinating a small fraction of the population (3%) – i.e., children aged 1–4 years serving as the reservoir and source of HAV – resulted in herd protection with 96% disease reduction in the whole population of Israel.
Investigating the Trends of Teaching Reading Comprehension Skills at Primary Schools
Authors: Motuma Fisseha
Published: December 2021

This study explored lived academic experiences of primary school teachers in teaching reading. It attempted to find out whether primary school English teachers were aware of different thinking and comprehension strategies like cognitive, metacognitive and comprehension strategies: predicting, visualizing, making connections and summarizing. Purposive sampling technique was employed to specify the participants. To collect the required data, focus group discussion and classroom observation were used. Seven experienced primary school English teachers were involved in the study: two of the teachers participated in the classroom observations, whereas the five teachers participated in the Focus Group Discussion. The data collected through FGD were audio-recorded and later transcribed for analysis. The data were analyzed based on grounded theory using open, selective and substantiate coding. The results of the analysis indicated teachers gave little attention to thinking or thought-based teaching of reading comprehension. The teaching focused on textual comprehension instead of research-proved thinking strategies.
Henri H. Stahl 120 years after his birth
Authors: Rostás Zoltán
Published: December 2021

This paper was written on the occasion of 120 years anniversary since Professor Henry H. Stahl’s birthday. A member of the Sociological School in Bucharest (founded by Dimitrie Gusti), H.H. Stahl became the most important and original Romanian sociologist and historian of the last century. Despite this, the author of the paper emphasizes that his life and activity are not sufficiently known. For this reason, the homage of this scientist must be the beginning of new research.
Cultural heroism: Mihail Manoilescu. On the work of Pantelimon, Cristi, Mihail Manoilescu. Corporate doctrine. Oscar Print, Bucharest, 2021
Authors: Baltasiu Radu
Published: December 2021

Dr. Pantelimon's book is a witness to our times: it refers to an essential work at a critical moment. Dr. Pantelimon provides us with an almost complete synthesis of the omnia work of the great economist, sociologist, publicist, engineer, and politician, finally, the great Romanian, Mihail Manoilescu. Why is the work in question so important? Because it is a reality management technique, without which we will not be able to make the leap from the orbit of underdevelopment to that of development. The study is focused on the chapter structure as well the metastructure of the book – the main ideas and concepts of the overall Manoilescu’s work. We shall discuss on protectionism, corporatism, autarchy, orthodoxy and corporatism etc.
Strategies for the survival of the Gusti School during 1939-1948
Authors: Danciu Gabriela Cătălina
Published: December 2021

This article presents and analyzes the survival strategies of the Gusti School during 1939-1948. The specialized literature includes consistent information about the Gusti School, the monographs and research carried out, the School’s publications and the institutions in which the members of the Gusti School have been active. However, this article points out the important moments of the gustist activity after 1939, as forms of survival, through the documentary analysis of the texts published at that time, the documents of the Romanian Academy, as well as the subsequent sociological materials. An important part of the actions that indicate a certain type of strategy were extracted: journalism, the insistence to increase the sociological activity, even in conditions of war or the work carried out in different administrative positions. How was the activity of the Gusti School viewed after 1939 and what were the survival strategies? What were the main methods and strategies for promoting the Gusti School? In what (emergency) formula did the student teams continue their work? Is it possible to research in a time of war? Answering all these questions, we conclude that during 1939-1948, despite oppressive actions and purges targeting the Gusti School, its representatives managed to impose themselves, continuing the work to the limit allowed by the given political situations.
Opportunities to optimize socio-educational support services accessible to students with learning difficulties in primary school
Authors: Orban Rita , Flora Gavril
Published: December 2021

In Romania, since 1989, new trends have emerged in terms of transforming the educational system, so that it becomes accessible to all and offers equal opportunities for the beneficiaries of education. The aim of this research is to provide a multidimensional image of the socio-educational support environment accessible to students with learning difficulties/specific learning disabilities integrated in mainstream primary education in Oradea, from the perspective of the information, opinions and visions provided by primary education teachers and special pedagogues. The questionnaire based survey conducted among teachers in mainstream education allowed to obtain an overview of the issues analyzed in terms of opinions and evaluations. The focus group interview with participation of expert stakeholders aimed to obtain information from the social actors involved through their expertise and/or professional activity in the educational inclusion of students with learning difficulties. The overall picture of the research denotes that schools can provide specialized educational services for students in need, with only a small minority of schools not having the necessary conditions to provide these services. However, the research also shows that due to lack of knowledge or motivation, a significant share of the surveyed teachers do not use the various compensatory measures put forward in the national methodological recommendations that would contribute to improving students' chances. Primary school teachers would need, in this regard, to gain more expert knowledge from innovative models, experiences and good practices in the field.
Listening to/with Mar Paradoxo: a collective practice for sharing listenings
Authors: Germano Gustavo , Fernandez Alexandre , Tápia Daniel , Lima Henrique , Campesato Lílian , Mapurunga Marina , Valéria Bonafé Valéria , Farias Vicente
Published: December 2021

This paper presents an experimental methodology developed by the collective Laura: Place for Research on Aurality for approaching listening as a shared experience. As a motif for the application of this methodology, we take the work Mar Paradoxo (Raquel Stolf, 2016) as a proposition for experiencing multiple modes of listening. To contextualize our understanding of Stolf’s work, we refer to the concept of otography as a way of approaching the listening experience as something that makes and is made out of traces. By means of the production, sharing, and analysis of listening reports, we outline different modes through which our listening navigates. These modes help us understand listening as an experience that is multi-mediated and relational, singular and situated. In the end, we emphasize the presence of the other in the listening subject, resonating the thesis that the listening activity is driven by a desire of making one’s listening listened.
The Potential of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing as a Treatment Strategy for Inherited Diseases
Authors: Abdelnour Sameh A. , Xie Long , Hassanin Abdallah A. , Zuo Erwei , Lu Yangqing
Published: December 2021

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is a promising innovative technology for genomic editing that offers scientists the chance to edit DNA structures and change gene function. It has several possible uses consisting of editing inherited deficiencies, treating, and reducing the spread of disorders. Recently, reports have demonstrated the creation of synthetic RNA molecules and supplying them alongside Cas9 into genome of eukaryotes, since distinct specific regions of the genome can be manipulated and targeted. The therapeutic potential of CRISPR/Cas9 technology is great, especially in gene therapy, in which a patient-specific mutation is genetically edited, or in the treating of human disorders that are untreatable with traditional treatments. This review focused on numerous, in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo uses of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology in human inherited diseases, discovering the capability of this versatile in medicine and examining some of the main limitations for its upcoming use in patients. In addition to introducing a brief impression of the biology of the CRISPR/Cas9 scheme and its mechanisms, we presented the utmost recent progress in the uses of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in editing and treating of human genetic diseases.
Room-Temperature Synthesis of Ni and Pt-Co Alloy Nanoparticles Using a Microreactor
Authors: Watanabe Satoshi , Koshiyama Tomohiro , Watanabe Takeshi , Miyahara Minoru T.
Published: December 2021

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) are key materials used in a broad range of industries. Among the various synthetic routes of NPs, liquid-phase chemical reactions are promising because of their versatility in reaction conditions as well as their potential productivity. However, because the synthesis of NPs involves not only chemical reactions but also nucleation and growth processes, which are typically higher-order reactions in terms of the concentration, a small degree of nonuniformity in the concentration during mixing of reaction solutions can easily result in a wide size distribution of the resultant particles. A typical solution to this problem is to slow the rate of reactions compared with that of mixing; however, as a result, the synthetic processes often require long reaction periods and complex procedures. In this study, we applied a microreactor with excellent mixing performance to NP synthesis to simplify and intensify the processes. We synthesized nickel and platinum-cobalt alloy NPs as model materials. For the Ni NP synthesis, we demonstrated that the quick mixing provided by the microreactor enabled the precise control of the residence time, and consequently, monodispersed Ni NPs with an average size of 3.8 nm were synthesized. For the Pt-Co bimetallic system, the microreactor successfully produced Pt-Co alloy NPs, while batch-type synthesis with weaker mixing intensity resulted in a bimodal mixture of larger Pt NPs and smaller Co NPs. For both Ni and Pt-Co, monodispersed NPs were synthesized by simply mixing the reaction solutions in the microreactor at room temperature. These results demonstrate that the mixing process plays a key role in NP synthesis, and application of a microreactor enables the establishment of a facile and robust synthetic process.
New Method to Estimate Central Systolic Blood Pressure From Peripheral Pressure: A Proof of Concept and Validation Study
Authors: Chemla Denis , Millasseau Sandrine , Hamzaoui Olfa , Teboul Jean-Louis , Monnet Xavier , Michard Frédéric , Jozwiak Mathieu
Published: December 2021

Objective: The non-invasive estimation of central systolic blood pressure (cSBP) is increasingly performed using new devices based on various pulse acquisition techniques and mathematical analyses. These devices are most often calibrated assuming that mean (MBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP are essentially unchanged when pressure wave travels from aorta to peripheral artery, an assumption which is evidence-based. We tested a new empirical formula for the direct central blood pressure estimation of cSBP using MBP and DBP only (DCBP = MBP2/DBP).

Methods and Results: First, we performed a post-hoc analysis of our prospective invasive high-fidelity aortic pressure database (n = 139, age 49 ± 12 years, 78% men). The cSBP was 146.0 ± 31.1 mmHg. The error between aortic DCBP and cSBP was −0.9 ± 7.4 mmHg, and there was no bias across the cSBP range (82.5–204.0 mmHg). Second, we analyzed 64 patients from two studies of the literature in whom invasive high-fidelity pressures were simultaneously obtained in the aorta and brachial artery. The weighed mean error between brachial DCBP and cSBP was 1.1 mmHg. Finally, 30 intensive care unit patients equipped with fluid-filled catheter in the radial artery were prospectively studied. The cSBP (115.7 ± 18.2 mmHg) was estimated by carotid tonometry. The error between radial DCBP and cSBP was −0.4 ± 5.8 mmHg, and there was no bias across the range.

Conclusion: Our study shows that cSBP could be reliably estimated from MBP and DBP only, provided BP measurement errors are minimized. DCBP may have implications for assessing cardiovascular risk associated with cSBP on large BP databases, a point that deserves further studies.
Hybrid Data Mining Forecasting System Based on Multi-Objective Optimization and Selection Model for Air pollutants
Authors: Huang Yanwen , Deng Yuanchang , Wang Chen , Fu Tonglin
Published: December 2021

The air quality index (AQI) indicates the short-term air quality situation and changing trend of the city, which includes six air pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2, SO2 and O3. Due to the diversity of pollutants and the fluctuation of single pollutant time series, it is a challenging task to find out the main pollutants and establish an accurate forecasting system in a city. Previous studies primarily focused on enhancing either forecasting accuracy or stability and failed to analyze different air pollutants at length, leading to unsatisfactory results. In this study, a model selection forecasting system is proposed that consists of data mining, data analysis, model selection, and multi-objective optimized modules and effectively solves the problems of air pollutants monitoring. The proposed system employed fuzzy C-means cluster algorithm to analyze 13 original AQI series, and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation is used to find out the main air pollutants in each city. And then multiple artificial neural networks are used to forecast the main air pollutants for each category and find the optimal models. Finally, the modified multi-objective optimization algorithm is used to optimize the parameters of optimal models and model selection to obtain final forecasting values from optimal hybrid models. The experiment results of datasets from 13 cities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration demonstrated that the proposed system can simultaneously obtain efficient and reliable data for air quality monitoring.
A Comparison of Model-Assisted Estimators, With and Without Data-Driven Transformations of Auxiliary Variables, With Application to Forest Inventory
Authors: Ekström Magnus , Nilsson Mats
Published: December 2021

Forest information is requested at many levels and for many purposes. Sampling-based national forest inventories (NFIs) can provide reliable estimates on national and regional levels. By combining expensive field plot data with different sources of remotely sensed information, from airplanes and/or satellite platforms, the precision in estimators of forest variables can be improved. This paper focuses on the design-based model-assisted approach to using NFI data together with remotely sensed data to estimate forest variables for small areas, where the variables studied are total growing stock volume, volume of Norway spruce (Picea abies), and volume of broad-leaved trees. Remote sensing variables may be highly correlated with one another and some may have poor predictive ability for target forest variables, and therefore model selection and/or coefficient shrinkage may be appropriate to improve the efficiency of model-assisted estimators of forest variables. For this purpose, one can use modern shrinkage estimators based on lasso, ridge, and elastic net regression methods. In a simulation study using real NFI data, Sentinel 2 remote-sensing data, and a national airborne laser scanning (ALS) campaign, we show that shrinkage estimators offer advantages over the (weighted) ordinary least-squares (OLS) estimator in a model-assisted setting. For example, for a sample size n of about 900 and with 72 auxiliary variables, the RMSE was up to 41% larger when based on OLS. We propose a data-driven method for finding suitable transformations of auxiliary variables, and show that it can improve estimators of forest variables. For example, when estimating volume of Norway spruce, using a smaller expert selection of auxiliary variables, transformations reduced the RMSE by up to 10%. The overall best results in terms of RMSE were obtained using shrinkage estimators and a larger set of 72 auxiliary variables. However, for this larger set of variables, the use of transformations yielded at most small improvements of RMSE, and at worst large increases of RMSE, except in combination with ridge and elastic net regression.
Bacteria Respond Stronger Than Fungi Across a Steep Wood Ash-Driven pH Gradient
Authors: Cruz-Paredes Carla , Bang-Andreasen Toke , Christensen Søren , Ekelund Flemming , Frøslev Tobias G. , Jacobsen Carsten Suhr , Johansen Jesper Liengaard , Mortensen Louise H. , Rønn Regin , Vestergård Mette , Kjøller Rasmus
Published: December 2021

Soil pH is probably the most important variable explaining bacterial richness and community composition locally as well as globally. In contrast, pH effects on fungi appear to be less pronounced, but also less studied. Here we analyze the community responses of bacteria and fungi in parallel over a local extreme pH gradient ranging from 4 to 8. We established the pH gradient by applying strongly alkaline wood ash in dosages of 0, 3, 9, 15, 30, and 90 t ha–1to replicated plots in aPicea abiesplantation and assessed bacterial and fungal community composition using high throughput amplicon sequencing 1 year after ash application. At the same time, the experiment investigated if returning wood ash to plantation forests pose any immediate threats for the microbial communities. Among the measured environmental parameters, pH was by far the major driver of the microbial communities, however, bacterial and fungal communities responded differently to the pH increment. Whereas both bacterial and fungal communities showed directional changes correlated with the wood ash-induced increase in pH, the bacterial community displayed large changes at wood ash dosages of 9 and 15 t ha–1while only higher dosages (>30 t ha–1) significantly changed the fungal community. The results confirm that fungi are less sensitive to pH changes than bacteria but also that fertilizing plantation forests with wood ash, viewed through the lens of microbial community changes, is a safe management at standard dosages (typically 3 t ha–1).
A Novel Homozygous TTC7A Missense Mutation Results in Familial Multiple Intestinal Atresia and Combined Immunodeficiency
Authors: Mou Wenjun , Yang Shen , Guo Ruolan , Fu Libing , Zhang Li , Guo Weihong , Du Jingbin , He Jianxin , Ren Qinghua , Hao Chanjuan , Gui Jingang , Huang Jinshi
Published: December 2021

Rare autosomal-recessive variants in tetratricopeptide repeat domain 7A (TTC7A) gene have been shown to cause intestinal and immune disorders of variable severity. Missense mutations in TTC7A gene, usually retaining most of the functional motifs, is associated with relative milder clinical presentations. In this study, we reported a patient who was suffering from severe multiple intestinal atresia (MIA) with combined immunodeficiency (CID) that led to the pyloric diaphragm, ileum atresia, colon stenosis, and multiple episodes of sepsis. In spite of several surgeries and supportive treatment, the patient died of severe sepsis and multiple organ failure at age of 3 months. The whole exome sequencing (WES) of peripheral blood samples identified a novel homozygous TTC7A missense mutation (c. 206T>C, p. L69P), inherited from his parents with consanguineous marriage. In silico analysis revealed that a hydrogen bond present between Gly65 and Leu69 in the wild-type TTC7A was disrupted by the Leu69Pro mutation. Moreover, this homozygous missense mutation led to a reduced TTC7A expression in lymphocytes and intestinal tissues, accompanied by impeded lymphocyte development. Further studies demonstrated that the PI4K-FAM126A-EFR3A pathway was impaired in colon tissues. Our data strongly support the linkage of severe MIA-CID with the missense mutation in TTC7A gene. More knowledge of the TTC7A protein functions will have important therapeutic implications for patients with MIA-CID.
Altered Plasma Metabolic Profiles in Chinese Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Yang Fan , Wu Shao-chang , Ling Zong-xin , Chao Shan , Zhang Li-juan , Yan Xiu-mei , He Lin , Yu Li-mei , Zhao Long-you
Published: December 2021

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that leads to the demyelination of nerve axons. An increasing number of studies suggest that patients with MS exhibit altered metabolic profiles, which might contribute to the course of MS. However, the alteration of metabolic profiles in Chinese patients with MS and their potential roles in regulating the immune system remain elusive. In this study, we performed a global untargeted metabolomics approach in plasma samples from 22 MS-affected Chinese patients and 21 healthy subjects. A total of 42 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) belonging to amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates were identified in the plasma of MS patients and compared with those in healthy controls. We observed an evident reduction in the levels of amino acids, such as L-tyrosine, L-isoleucine, and L-tryptophan, whereas there was a great increase in the levels of L-glutamic acid and L-valine in MS-affected patients. The levels of lipid and carbohydrate metabolites, such as sphingosine 1-phosphate and myo-inositol, were also reduced in patients with MS. In addition, the concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-17 and TNF-α, were significantly increased, whereas those of several anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, such as IL-1ra, IL-7, and MIP-1α, were distinctly reduced in the plasma of MS patients compared with those in healthy subjects. Interestingly, some DAMs, such as L-tryptophan and sphingosine 1-phosphate, showed an evident negative correlation with changes in the level of TNF-α and IL-17, while tightly positively correlating with altered concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, such as MIP-1α and RANTES. Our results revealed that altered metabolomic profiles might contribute to the pathogenesis and course of MS disease by modulating immuno-inflammatory responses in the peripheral system, which is essential for eliciting autoimmune responses in the central nervous system, thus resulting in the progression of MS. This study provides potential clues for developing therapeutic strategies for MS in the near future.
α-Fetoprotein-Producing Endometrial Carcinoma Is Associated With Fetal Gut-Like and/or Hepatoid Morphology, Lymphovascular Infiltration, TP53 Abnormalities, and Poor Prognosis: Five Cases and Literature Review
Authors: Otani Tomoyuki , Murakami Kosuke , Shiraishi Naoki , Hagiyama Man , Satou Takao , Matsuki Mitsuru , Matsumura Noriomi , Ito Akihiko
Published: December 2021

The clinicopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular characteristics of α-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing endometrial carcinoma (AFP+ EC) are poorly understood. From 284 cases of endometrial carcinoma in our pathology archive, we identified five cases (1.8%) of AFP+ EC with fetal gut–like (4/5) and/or hepatoid (2/5) morphology. All cases exhibited lymphovascular infiltration. In addition, 24 cases of endometrial carcinoma with elevated serum AFP levels were retrieved from the literature. The patient age ranged from 44 to 86 years (median: 63). Of 26 cases whose FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage and follow-up information was available (mean follow-up 24 months), 15 were stage I or II and 11 were stage III or IV. Even in stage I or II disease, death or relapse occurred in more than half of the patients (8/15). Detailed analysis of our five cases revealed that, on immunohistochemistry, AFP+ EC was positive for SALL4 (4/5), AFP (3/5), and HNF1β (4/5) in >50% of neoplastic cells and negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors (5/5), PAX8 (4/5), and napsin A (5/5). Four cases exhibited aberrant p53 immunohistochemistry and were confirmed to harbor TP53 mutations by direct sequencing. No mutation was found in POLE, CTNNB1, or KRAS. In conclusion, AFP+ EC merits recognition as a distinct subtype of endometrial carcinoma, which occurs in 1.8% of endometrial carcinoma cases, are associated with TP53 abnormalities, exhibit lymphovascular infiltration, and can show distant metastasis even when treated in early stage.
Genetic Analysis of the Measles Virus From the Outbreaks in South Korea, 2019
Authors: Kim Jeong-Min , Park Sehee , Kim Sujin , Park Kye Ryeong , Wang Jin-Sook , Chung Yoon-Seok
Published: December 2021

Three genotypes (B3, D8, and H1) of the measles virus (MeV) have recently caused global outbreaks. In Korea, four measles outbreaks were reported during 2018–2019 and most patients were infants and health care workers in their 20s and 30s. To investigate the genetic characteristics and molecular epidemiology of the outbreaks, we analyzed the sequence of MeVs by targeting the N-450, MF-NCR, and/or H gene regions. Considering their phylogenetic relationships, besides the N-450 and MF-NCR sequences that are commonly used for genotyping MeVs, the MF-NCR-H sequence was related to the dynamics for identifying the transmission of MeVs. Phylogenetic clustering patterns reconstructed from the MF-NCR-H sequence set revealed that genotype D8 caused three of the four outbreaks, while B3 seemed to have induced the fourth outbreak. These results suggest that the MF-NCR-H sequence is useful for rapid confirmation of measles outbreaks and to identify the epidemiological routes of MeVs.
Different Responses of Soil Environmental Factors, Soil Bacterial Community, and Root Performance to Reductive Soil Disinfestation and Soil Fumigant Chloropicrin
Authors: Zhan Yu , Yan Ning , Miao Xinyue , Li Qiong , Chen Changbao
Published: December 2021

Reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) and soil fumigant chloropicrin (SFC) are two common agricultural strategies for the elimination of soil-borne pathogens. However, the differences in soil environmental factors, soil bacterial microbiome, and root performance between SFC and RSD are poorly understood. In this study, three soil treatments, untreated control (CK), SFC with 0.5 t⋅ha–1chloropicrin, and RSD with 15 t⋅ha–1animal feces, were compared. We evaluated their effects on soil environmental factors, bacterial community structure, and root activity using chemical analysis and high-throughput sequencing. RSD treatment improved soil composition structure, bacterial diversity, and root performance to a greater extent. Carbon source utilization preference and bacterial community structure were strikingly altered by SFC and RSD practices. Bacterial richness, diversity, and evenness were notably lowered in the SFC- and RSD-treated soil compared with the CK-treated soil. However, RSD-treated soil harbored distinct unique and core microbiomes that were composed of more abundant and diverse potentially disease-suppressive and organic-decomposable agents. Also, soil bacterial diversity and composition were closely related to soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activity, of which pH, available Na (ANa), available Mg (AMg), available Mn (AMn), total Na (TNa), total Ca (TCa), total Cu (TCu), total Sr (TSr), urease (S-UE), acid phosphatase (S-ACP), and sucrase (S-SC) were the main drivers. Moreover, RSD treatment also significantly increased ginseng root activity. Collectively, these results suggest that RSD practices could considerably restore soil nutrient structure and bacterial diversity and improve root performance, which can be applied as a potential agricultural practice for the development of disease-suppressive soil.
Widespread White Matter Microstructure Alterations Based on Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging in Patients With Pontine Infarction
Authors: Wei Ying , Wang Caihong , Liu Jingchun , Miao Peifang , Wei Sen , Wang Yingying , Wu Luobing , Xu Boyan , Han Shaoqiang , Wei Yarui , Wang Kaiyu , Cheng Jingliang
Published: December 2021

Neurological deficits after stroke are closely related to white matter microstructure damage. However, secondary changes in white matter microstructure after pontine infarction (PI) in the whole brain remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the correlation of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI)-derived diffusion and kurtosis parameters of abnormal white matter tracts with behavioral function in patients with chronic PI. Overall, 60 patients with unilateral chronic PI (33 patients with left PI and 27 patients with right PI) and 30 normal subjects were recruited and underwent DKI scans. Diffusion parameters derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and DKI and kurtosis parameters derived from DKI were obtained. Between-group differences in multiple parameters were analyzed to assess the changes in abnormal white matter microstructure. Moreover, we also calculated the sensitivities of different diffusion and kurtosis parameters of DTI and DKI for identifying abnormal white matter tracts. Correlations between the DKI-derived parameters in secondary microstructure changes and behavioral scores in the PI were analyzed. Compared with the NC group, both left PI and right PI groups showed more extensive perilesional and remote white matter microstructure changes. The DKI-derived diffusion parameters showed higher sensitivities than did the DTI-derived parameters. Further, DKI-derived diffusion and kurtosis parameters in abnormal white matter regions were correlated with impaired motor and cognitive function in patients with PI. In conclusion, PI could lead to extensive white matter tracts impairment in perilesional and remote regions. Further, the diffusion and kurtosis parameters could be complementary for identifying comprehensive tissue microstructural damage after PI.
Cardiovascular Metrics Associated With Prevention of Aging-Related Parkinsonian Signs Following Exercise Intervention in Sedentary Older Rats
Authors: Kasanga Ella A. , Little Joel , McInnis Tamara R. , Bugnariu Nicoleta , Cunningham J. Thomas , Salvatore Michael F.
Published: December 2021

Preservation of motor capabilities is vital to maintaining independent daily living throughout a person's lifespan and may mitigate aging-related parkinsonism, a progressive and prevalent motor impairment. Physically active lifestyles can mitigate aging-related motor impairment. However, the metrics of physical activity necessary for mitigating parkinsonian signs are not established. Consistent moderate intensity (~10 m/min) treadmill exercise can reverse aging-related parkinsonian signs by 20 weeks in a 2-week on, 2-week off, regimen in previously sedentary advanced middle-aged rats. In this study, we initiated treadmill exercise in sedentary 18-month-old male rats to address two questions: (1) if a rest period not longer than 1-week off exercise, with 15 exercise sessions per month, could attenuate parkinsonian signs within 2 months after exercise initiation, and the associated impact on heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and (2) if continuation of this regimen, up to 20 weeks, will be associated with continual prevention of parkinsonian signs. The intensity and frequency of treadmill exercise attenuated aging-related parkinsonian signs by 8 weeks and were maintained till 23 months old. The exercise regimen increased HR by 25% above baseline and gradually reduced pre-intervention MAP. Together, these studies indicate that a practicable frequency and intensity of exercise reduces parkinsonian sign severity commensurate with a modest increase in HR after exercise. These cardiovascular changes provide a baseline of metrics, easily measured in humans, for predictive validity that practicable exercise intensity and schedule can be initiated in previously sedentary older adults to delay the onset of aging-related parkinsonian signs.
New Insights Into the Role of Aberrant Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Epilepsy
Authors: Chen Peng , Chen Fuchao , Wu Yue , Zhou Benhong
Published: December 2021

Data accumulated over the past four decades have confirmed that adult hippocampal neurogenesis (HN) plays a key role in the wide spectrum of hippocampal pathology. Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures. Although neurogenesis in persistent germinative zones is altered in the adult rodent models of epilepsy, the effects of seizure-induced neurogenesis in the epileptic brain, in terms of either a pathological or reparative role, are only beginning to be explored. In this review, we described the most recent advances in neurogenesis in epilepsy and outlooked future directions for neural stem cells (NSCs) and epilepsy-in-a-dish models. We proposed that it may help in refining the underlying molecular mechanisms of epilepsy and improving the therapies and precision medicine for patients with epilepsy.
Ultraearly Hematoma Growth in Acute Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage Predicts Early and Long-Term Poor Clinical Outcomes: A Prospective, Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Wang Wen-Juan , Lu Jing-Jing , Liu Li-Ping , Jia Jiao-Kun , Zhao Xing-Quan
Published: December 2021

Aims: Although prognostic importance of ultraearly hematoma growth (uHG) in acute, non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has been established for early outcomes, longer-term clinical outcomes are lacking. We aimed to determine the association of uHG with early and 1-year clinical outcomes after acute ICH in a larger and broader range of patients.

Methods: We studied 589 patients with acute (<6 h) spontaneous ICH. uHG was defined as baseline ICH volume/onset-to-imaging time (OIT) (ml/h). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association of uHG with in-hospital mortality, 90-day, and 1-year poor outcome [3 ≤ modified Rankin Scale (mRS)] after ICH.

Results: The median speed of uHG was 4.8 ml/h. uHG > 9.3 ml/h was independently related to in-hospital mortality [odds ratio (OR) 2.81, 95% CI 1.52–5.23], 90-day poor outcome (OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.87–5.95), and 1-year poor outcome (OR 3.59, 95% CI 2.01–6.40) after ICH. The sensitivity of uHG > 9.3 ml/h in the prediction of in-hospital mortality, 90-day poor outcome, and 1-year poor outcome was 68.8, 48.0, and 51.1%, respectively.

Conclusions: Ultraearly hematoma growth was a useful predictor of in-hospital mortality, 90-day, and 1-year poor outcome after acute ICH. The combination of both uHG and baseline ICH volume could allow better selection of patients with ICH at high risk of poorest clinical outcomes for future clinical trials to improve early- and long-term clinical outcomes.
Specific Cues Can Improve Procedural Learning and Retention in Developmental Coordination Disorder and/or Developmental Dyslexia
Authors: Blais M. , Jucla M. , Maziero S. , Albaret J. -M. , Chaix Y. , Tallet J.
Published: December 2021

The present study investigates procedural learning of motor sequences in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and/or developmental dyslexia (DD), typically-developing children (TD) and healthy adults with a special emphasis on (1) the role of the nature of stimuli and (2) the neuropsychological functions associated to final performance of the sequence. Seventy children and ten adults participated in this study and were separated in five experimental groups: TD, DCD, DD, and DCD + DD children and adults. Procedural learning was assessed with a serial reaction time task (SRTT) that required to tap on a specific key as accurately and quickly as possible when stimuli appeared on the screen. Three types of stimuli were proposed as cues: the classical version of the SRTT with 4 squares aligned horizontally on the screen, giving visuospatial cues (VS cues), and two modified versions, with 4 letters aligned horizontally on the screen (VS + L cues) and letters at the center of the screen (L cues). Reaction times (RT) during the repeated and random blocks allowed assessing three phases of learning: global learning, specific learning and retention of the sequence. Learning was considered as completed when RT evolved significantly in the three phases. Neuropsychological assessment involved, among other functions, memory and attentional functions. Our main result was that learning and retention were not influenced by the available cues in adults whereas learning improved with specific cues in children with or without neurodevelopmental disorders. More precisely, learning was not completed with L cues in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. For children with DD, learning was completed with the VS and VS + L cues whereas for children with DCD (with or without DD), learning was completed with combined VS + L cues. Comorbidity between DD and DCD had no more impact on procedural learning than DCD alone. These results suggest that learning depends on the nature of cues available during practice and that cues allowing learning and retention depend on the type of disorder. Moreover, selective attention was correlated with RT during retention, suggesting that this neuropsychological function is important for procedural learning whatever the available cues.
Evaluating the Effects of 5-Hz Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation With and Without Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture on Improving Spasticity and Motor Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Li Jiamin , Chen Cen , Zhu Shenyu , Niu Xiulian , Yu Xidan , Ren Jie , Shen Min
Published: December 2021

Objective: The goal of this study is to explore the effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with 5-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on improving spastic state and motor function of children with spastic cerebral palsy by measuring electrophysiological parameters and behaviors.

Methods: Twenty-five children with spastic cerebral palsy were enrolled in a single-blind and randomized controlled trial. The control group received 20 sessions of 5-Hz rTMS over the affected hemisphere with 1,000 pulses. The experimental group was given wrist-ankle acupuncture on the basis of the control group. Gross motor function measure (GMFM-66), muscle tension, and electrophysiological parameters of the two groups were assessed at baseline and after intervention.

Results: After treatment, the GMFM-66 scores in the same groups were significantly improved (p < 0.001). Besides, the R-value of soleus, gastrocnemius, and hamstring muscle decreased (p < 0.05), and the results showed a trend of shortening MEP latency, increasing amplitude and duration (p < 0.05). Compared to the controlled group, the experimental group displayed more excellent changes in the GMFM-66 scores and motor evoked potential (MEP) latency. The statistical results showed that the increase of GMFM-66 score and the shortening of MEP latency in the experimental group were greater than that in the control group (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the assessment of muscle tension, amplitude, and duration of MEPs between two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with 5-Hz rTMS is optimal to improve gross motor function and enhance the conductivity of corticospinal tract in children with cerebral palsy but cannot highlight its clinical superiority in improving spasticity.

Clinical Trial Registration: [http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx], identifier [chictr2000039495].
Novel Biomarker Genes for Prognosis of Survival and Treatment of Glioma
Authors: Zhu Xiaopeng , Pan Sian , Li Rui , Chen Zebo , Xie Xingyun , Han Deqing , Lv Shengqing , Huang Yongkai
Published: December 2021

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive malignant primary central nervous system tumor. Although surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy treatments are available, the 5-year survival rate of GBM is only 5.8%. Therefore, it is imperative to find novel biomarker for the prognosis and treatment of GBM. In this study, a total of 141 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in GBM were identified by analyzing the GSE12657, GSE90886, and GSE90598 datasets. After reducing the data dimensionality, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that expression of PTPRN and RIM-BP2 were downregulated in GBM tissues when compared with that of normal tissues and that the expression of these genes was a good prognostic biomarker for GBM (p<0.05). Then, the GSE46531 dataset and the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database were used to examine the relationship between sensitivity radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy for GBM and expression of PTPRN and RIM-BP2. The expression of PTPRN was significantly high in RT-resistant patients (p<0.05) but it was not related to temozolomide (TMZ) resistance. The expression level of RIM-BP2 was not associated with RT or TMZ treatment. Among the chemotherapeutic drugs, cisplatin and erlotinib had a significantly good treatment effect for glioma with expression of PTPRN or RIM-BP2 and in lower-grade glioma (LGG) with IDH mutation. (p < 0.05). The tumor mutational burden (TMB) score in the low PTPRN expression group was significantly higher than that in the high PTPRN expression group (p=0.013), with a large degree of tumor immune cell infiltration. In conclusion, these findings contributed to the discovery process of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for glioma patients.
KRAS Mutations in Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Lung
Authors: Acker Fabian , Stratmann Jan , Aspacher Lukas , Nguyen Ngoc Thien Thu , Wagner Sebastian , Serve Hubert , Wild Peter J. , Sebastian Martin
Published: December 2021

KRAS is one of the most commonly mutated oncogenes in cancer, enabling tumor proliferation and maintenance. After various approaches to target KRAS have failed over the past decades, the first specific inhibitor of the p.G12C mutation of KRAS was recently approved by the FDA after showing promising results in adenocarcinomas of the lung and other solid tumors. Lung cancer, the most common cancer worldwide, is a promising use case for these new therapies, as adenocarcinomas in particular frequently harbor KRAS mutations. However, in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung, KRAS mutations are rare and their impact on clinical outcome is poorly understood. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on the prevalence and prognostic and predictive significance of KRAS mutations in the context of SCC.