bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Lean Body Mass to Menopausal Symptoms: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation
Authors: Woods Rosanne , Hess Rebecca , Biddington Carol , Federico Marc
Published: July 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of lean body mass (LBM) to the development of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) as women transition through menopause.Methods: This study is a secondary use of data available for public use from follow up visits six through 10 for participants in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. The study examined 2,533 women, between the ages 42 – 52 years, each year over a10-year period. Data was modeled for associations of lean body mass and VMS. Changes in LBM since prior visit and since baseline were also modeled along with differences in means using binary logistic regression, adjusting for covariates.Results: LBM was significantly associated to concurrent VMS (p = .036), percent change in LBM since prior visit (p = .003), percent change since baseline (p <.001), and overall means associations (p = .023). LBM was not significant for VMS at individual visit measures. In mixed regression modeling, time was significant (p <.0001) at all visits. The estimated probability of developing VMS decreases significantly as LBM increases. Conclusions: Lean body mass is negatively associated with incident VMS. Our data suggests that maintaining higher levels of LBM during the menopausal transition may be protective against the development of VMS. Every woman will experience menopause in her life and the ability to potentially prevent the onset of specific symptoms through basic interventions, such as resistance training to increase lean body mass, may positively impact this large population.
A high fat diet with a high C18:0/C16:0 ratio induced worse metabolic and transcriptomic profiles in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Wang Liqiang , Xu Fei , Song Zhenfeng , Han Dan , Zhang jingyi , Chen Linjun , Na Lixin
Published: July 2020

Background: Differential effects of individual saturated fatty acids (SFAs), particularly stearic acid (C18:0), relative to the shorter-chain SFAs have drawn interest for more accurate nutritional guidelines. However, specific biologic and pathologic functions that can be assigned to particular SFAs are very limited. The present study was designed to compare changes in metabolic and transcriptomic profiles in mice caused by a high C18:0 diet and high palmitic acid (C16:0) diet.Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to a normal fat diet (NFD), a high fat diet with high C18:0/C16:0 ratio (HSF) or an isocaloric high fat diet with a low C18:0/C16:0 ratio (LSF) for 10 weeks. An oral glucose tolerance test, 72-h energy expenditure measurement and CT scan of body fat were done before sacrifice. Fasting glucose and lipids were determined by an autobiochemical analyzer. Blood insulin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. Free fatty acids (FFAs) profiles in blood and liver were determined by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Microarray analysis was applied to investigate changes in transcriptomic profiles in the liver. Pathway analysis and Gene Ontology analysis were applied to describe the roles of differentially expressed mRNAs. Results: Compared with the NFD group, body weight, body fat ratio, fasting blood glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride, IL-6, serum and liver FFAs including total FFAs, C16:0 and C18:0 were increased in both high fat diet groups and were much higher in the HSF group than in the LSF group. Both HSF and LSF mice exhibited distinguishable long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA and mRNA expression profiles when compared with those of NFD mice. Additionally, more differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were observed in the HSF group than in the LSF group. Some biological functions and pathways, other than energy metabolism regulation, were identified as differentially expressed mRNAs between the HSF group and LSF group. Conclusion: The high fat diet with a high C18:0/C16:0 ratio induced more severe glucose and lipid metabolic disorders and inflammation and affected expression of more lncRNAs and mRNAs than an isocaloric low C18:0/C16:0 ratio diet in mice. These results provide new insights into the differences in biological functions and related mechanisms, other than glucose and lipid metabolism, between C16:0 and C18:0.
Impact of HIV-1 Vpr manipulation of the DNA repair enzyme UNG2 on B lymphocyte class switch recombination
Authors: Eldin Patrick , Péron Sophie , Galashevskaya Anastasia , Denis-Lagache Nicolas , Cogné Michel , Slupphaug Geir , Briant Laurence
Published: July 2020

Background: HIV-1 Vpr encodes a 14 kDa protein that has been implicated in viral pathogenesis through modulation of several host cell functions. In addition to pro-apoptotic and cytostatic properties, Vpr can redirect cellular E3 ubiquitin ligases (such as DCAF1-Cul4A E3 ligase complex) to target many host proteins and interfere with their functions. Among them, Vpr binds the uracil DNA glycosylase UNG2, which controls genome uracilation, and induces its specific degradation leading to loss of uracil removal activity in infected cells. Considering the essential role of UNG2 in antibody diversification in B-cells, we evaluated the impact of Vpr on UNG2 fate in B lymphocytes and examined the functional consequences of UNG2 modulations on class switch recombination (CSR). Methods: The impact of Vpr-induced UNG2 deregulation on CSR proficiency was evaluated by using virus-like particles able to deliver Vpr protein to target cells including the murine model CSR B-cell line CH12F3 and mouse primary B-cells. Co-culture experiments were used to re-examine the ability of Vpr to be released by HIV-1 infected cells and to effectively accumulate in bystander B-cells. Vpr-mediated UNG2 modulations were monitored by following UNG2 protein abundance and uracil removal enzymatic activity.Results: In this study we report the ability of Vpr to reduce immunoglobulin class switch recombination (CSR) in immortalized and primary mouse B-cells through the degradation of UNG2. We also emphasize that Vpr is released by producing cells and penetrates bystander B lymphocytes.Conclusions: This work therefore opens up new perspectives to study alterations of the B-cell response by using Vpr as a specific CSR blocking tool. Moreover, our results raise the question of whether extracellular HIV-1 Vpr detected in some patients may manipulate the antibody diversification process that engineers an adapted response against pathogenic intruders and thereby contribute to the intrinsic B-cell humoral defect reported in infected patients.
Twelve year trajectories of physical activity and health costs in mid-age Australian women
Authors: Gomes Grace Angelica de Oliveira , Brown Wendy J. , Codogno Jamile S. , Mielke Gregore I.
Published: July 2020

Background: Few studies have examined relationships between physical activity (PA) during mid-age and health costs in women. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between PA levels and trajectories over 12 years with medical and pharmaceutical costs in mid-age Australian women.Methods : Data from 6,953 participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (born in 1946–1951) were analysed in 2019. PA was self-reported in 2001 (50-55y), 2007 (56-61y) and 2013 (62-67y). PA data were linked with 2013-2015 data from the Medicare (MBS) and Pharmaceutical (PBS) Benefits Schemes. Quantile regression was used to examine associations between PA patterns [always active, increasers, decreasers, fluctuaters or always inactive (reference)] with these medical and pharmaceutical costs.Results: Among women who were consistently inactive (< 500 MET.minutes/week) in 2001, 2007 and 2013, median MBS and PBS costs (2013 to 2015) were AUD4261 and AUD1850, respectively. Those costs were AUD1728 (95%CI: 443-3013) and AUD578 (95%CI: 426-729) lower among women who were consistently active in 2001, 2007 and 2013 than among those who were always inactive. PBS costs were also lower in women who were active at only one survey (AUD205; 95%CI: 49-360), and in those whose PA increased between 2001 and 2013 (AUD388; 95%CI: 232-545).Conclusion: Maintaining ‘active’ PA status was associated with 40% lower MBS and 30% lower PBS costs over three years in Australian women. Helping women to remain active in mid-life could result in considerable savings for both women and the Australian government.
Establishment of Z score reference of growth parameters for Egyptian school children and adolescents aged from 5 to 19 years: a cross sectional study
Authors: El-Shafie Ali M , El-Gendy Fady M. , Allahony Dalia M. , Omar Zein A , Samir Mohamed A. , elbazzar ahmed N , El-Fattah Mohamed A. Abd , Monsef Amir A. Abdel , Kairallah Amir M. , Raafet Hythem M. , M.Baza Ghada , Salah Amany G. , Galab Walaa S. , Kasemy Zeinab A , Bahbah wael A
Published: July 2020

Background:Growth charts are an important method for evaluating a child's health, growth and nutritional status.Objective:To establish Lambda – Mu- Sigma (LMS) and Z score references for assessment of growth and nutritional status in Egyptian school children and adolescents.Methods:A total of 34,822 Egyptian school children and adolescents from 5 to 19 years were enrolled in a cross sectional randomized study from December 2017 to November 2019 to create LMS and Z score references for weight, height and body mass index (BMI) corresponding to ages. They were selected from different districts in Egypt. Apparent Healthy children with good nutritional history and not suffering from any chronic diseases were included in the study.Results:Egyptian children of both sexes (54.3% boys and 45.7 % girls) from 5 to 19 years old were studied. Then LMS and Z scores for weight for age, height for age, BMI for age of both sexes were represented in detailed tables and graphs. There was no statistically significant difference between the Egyptian Z score charts and the reference values of WHO for weight, height and BMI corresponding to age (P>0.05).Conclusion: This is the first national reference for growth and nutritional assessment using LMS and Z score charts in Egyptian school children and adolescents, this tool is essential for healthcare and research.Key words: Adolescent - Egyptian Z score -Growth parameters- Nutritional status-School children
Experimental Design of AL2O3/MWCNT/HDPE Hybrid Nanocomposites for Hip Joint Replacement
Authors: Dabees Sameh , Kamel Bahaa M. , Tirth Vineet , Elshalakny Abou Bakr
Published: July 2020

A hip fracture can be considered a major health issue facing the elderly fraction of humans. The loads exploited by the lower limbs are very acute and severe; in the femur, they can be several folds higher than the whole weight of the body. Mechanical properties like strength and hardness are challenging parameters which control the selection of the joint. In this research work, a modification has been performed by adding multi-layer carbon nanotubes to the High-density polyethylene thermoplastic polymer together with alumina. Prepared material well physiochemically characterized to check the morphology and the structure. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) dedicates that the percentage of crystallization has been increased to 6% after adding Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)to the polymer. According to mechanical properties results, MWCNTs successfully increase in young’s module and hardness of the polymer. Optimization of the materials ration has been done and it has been found that hybrid composite with structure (2.4% AL 2 O 3 and 0.6% MWCNT) obtains high mechanical properties compared to other ratios with 3% MWCNTs and 5% MWCNTs. Also, moisture absorption decreased to 90% at with 5% MWCNT ratio. Experimental results of MTT assay of a normal human epithelial cell line (1- BJ1) over AL 2 O 3 /MWCNT@ HDPE showed a low value of cytotoxic activity, which proves that it is proper for medical use.AL 2 O 3 /MWCNT@HDPE composite showed promising results for further studies of artificial joints.
Electroacupuncture pretreatment alleviates myocardial injury through regulating mitochondrial function
Authors: Wang Chunai , Liang Xi , Yu Yan , Li Yulan , Wen Xiaohui , Liu Min
Published: July 2020

Electroacupuncture is well known for its advantageous neuroanalgesic and therapeutic effects on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. The purpose of the present research was to verify whether electroacupuncture can alleviate bupivacaine-induced myocardial injury. Methods Specific-pathogen-free Wistar rats were used to establish the bupivacaine-induced myocardial injury model. Western blot, PCR, transmission electron microscope and enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) methods were used to evaluate bupivacaine-induced structure injury and dysfunction of the mitochondria as well as the alleviating effects of lipid emulsion, acupoint injection, and electroacupuncture pre-treatment of the oxidase stress response. Results Bupivacaine caused structural damage, degradation, and swelling of mitochondria. Furthermore, it reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis and impaired energy metabolism in the mitochondria. Structural and functional impairment of the mitochondria was alleviated via lipid emulsion injection, acupoint injection, and electroacupuncture pre-treatment. Electroacupuncture pre-treatment of PC6 yielded a greater alleviating effect than others approaches. Following electroacupuncture pre-treatment of PC6 point, the number of mitochondria increased; apoptosis was reduced, enzymatic activity of cytochrome C oxidase (COX) and superoxide dismutase and expression of uncoupling protein 2, voltage-dependent anion channel 1, and Bcl 2 were upregulated and SLC25A6, MDA levels were downregulated. Additionally, our findings indicated that electroacupuncture pre-treatment of PC6 point exerted an effect on the mitochondria via the mitochondrial-transcription-factor-A / nuclear-respiratory-factor-1 / proliferator-activated-receptor-gamma-coactivator -1 pathway. Conclusion The present study revealed that electroacupuncture pre-treatment of PC6 could effectively alleviate bupivacaine-induced myocardial mitochondrial damage, thereby providing a theoretical basis for clinical studies and applications of this treatment method.
Impact on Quality of Life 3 Years After Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer Patients Below 75 At Diagnosis: An Observational Case-Control Study
Authors: Houédé Nadine , Rébillard Xavier , Bouvet Sophie , Kabani Sarah , Fabbro-Peray Pascale , Trétarre Brigitte , Ménégaux Florence
Published: July 2020

Background: Prostate cancer patients are known to suffer from poor sexual and urinary long-term side-effects following treatment, potentially impacting quality of life. The purpose of our study was to compare health-related quality of life at 3 years between prostate cancer patients and healthy controls according to key life-style characteristics. Secondary objectives were to compare urological dysfunction, sexual function, anxiety and depression. Methods: Multicentric, case-control, observational prospective, open, follow-up study including 819 prostate cancer patients < 75 years old from the EPICAP cohort, newly diagnosed from 1 December 2011 to 31 March 2014 and 879 healthy controls. Participants were excluded if they experienced a relapse. Controls from the same geographical region were age-matched and were excluded if they were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Patients received one of the following treatments: active surveillance (AS), radical prostatectomy (RP), external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), High-intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), chemotherapy (CT), or androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) as appropriate. The primary outcome was the quality of life as evaluated by the QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Scores were analyzed by multivariate analysis to adjust for predefined socio-demographic confounding effects. Results: In total, 564 participants were included (mean age 67.9 years): 376 patients and 188 controls. Treatment breakdown was: 258 underwent RP, 90 received EBRT, 52 brachytherapy or HIFU, 15 CT, 26 ADT and 61 AS. There was no difference in median global quality of life between patients and controls (94.87 vs 94.15, p=0.71). Multivariate analysis showed poorer social functioning in patients (24.3% vs. 16.3%, p=0.0209), more dyspnea (22% vs. 12.4%, p=0.0078), and yet less current pain (23% vs 33%, p=0.0151). Conclusions: Global health status score at 3 years after diagnosis was similar between patients and controls, though patients showed a significantly worse social functioning. Prostate cancer diagnosis per se does not impact the quality of life of patients <75 years at diagnosis. However, the therapeutic option that will be chosen following diagnosis should be carefully discussed with the medical staff in terms of benefit-risk ratios as it could have a long-term impact on urinary or erectile dysfunction.Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02854982. Registered 4 August 2016 – retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02854982
Measurement of salivary testosterone in adolescents and young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Sahun Yolanda Alins , Cheetham Tim D , Boot Christopher , Straub Volker , Wood Claire L
Published: July 2020

BackgroundMany young adults with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) receive long-term glucocorticoids (GC). GC can cause hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and adolescents may therefore be candidates for pubertal induction. It is unclear whether men with DMD on or off GC have age-appropriate endogenous testosterone production. MethodsWe undertook a quality improvement project to assess the feasibility of measuring salivary testosterone (SalT) levels in men with DMD at home. A Sal-T sampling kit was sent by post to all patients with DMD, aged 17 and older, registered at the John Walton Muscular Centre in Newcastle (n=75). Submitted Sal-T samples were collected and submitted for analysis. Results28 out of 75 patients returned samples (age range: 17-34 years). 6/28 samples were unsuitable for analysis. Overall Sal-T levels (n=22) were significantly lower than in the healthy population (178 ±107 v 287 ±109 pmol/l, p=0.0001). Sal-T was lower in those on GC compared to those off GC (144± 81 versus 218 ±125 pmol/l, p=0.05). 3 patients were unable to collect a sample due to ventilator dependence.ConclusionSal T can provide a useful method of assessing androgen status in DMD patients at home, overcoming barriers such as mobility difficulties or venepuncture. However we only obtained samples in a minority of patients suggesting that Sal-T measurement may not be appropriate or acceptable to everyone. There needs to be a more detailed exploration of the barriers to sample submission and a greater understanding of the implications of testosterone status on physical and psychological health in DMD patients.
BNIP3 decreases the LPS-induced inflammation and apoptosis of chondrocytes by promoting the development of autophagy
Authors: Ma Zetao , Wang Deli , Weng Jian , Zhang Sheng , Zhang Yuanshi
Published: July 2020

Background: Inflammation and apoptosis of chondrocytes are the pathological basis of osteoarthritis. Autophagy could alleviate the symptoms of inflammation and apoptosis. Previous study has shown that BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa protein-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) can induce the occurrence and development of autophagy. However, it is unknown whether autophagy induced by BNIP3 can alleviate the inflammation and apoptosis of chondrocytes. Methods: We used the lentivirus to construct the overexpression BNIP3 chondrocytes. Next, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to stimulate these cells to simulate the physiological environment of osteoarthritis. After that, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were performed to determine the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the flow cytometry was performed to detect the apoptosis rates of chondrocytes. At last, the expression of autophagy related proteins was detected with the western blotting. Results: The expression of BNIP3 was suppressed after treatment with LPS. However, overexpression of BNIP3 inhibited the secretion of proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) and decreased the apoptosis of chondrocytes. Furthermore, overexpression of BNIP3 led to the upregulation of autophagy related proteins expression including little computer 3 (LC3), autophagy-related protein 7 (ATG7) and Beclin-1. Application of autophagy inhibitor recovered the expression of proinflammatory factors and apoptosis rates of chondrocytes. Conclusions: BNIP3 decreased the LPS induced inflammation and apoptosis of chondrocytes by activating the autophagy.
Deep learning-based framework for the distinction of membranous nephropathy: A new approach through hyperspectral imagery
Authors: Tu Tianqi , Wei Xueling , Yang Yue , Zhang Nianrong , Li Wei , Tu Xiaowen , Li Wenge
Published: July 2020

Background

Common subtypes seen in Chinese patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) include idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) and hepatitis B virus-related membranous nephropathy (HBV-MN). However, in some cases, the morphologic differences are not visible under the light microscope in the renal biopsy tissue.

Methods

We proposed a deep learning-based framework for processing hyperspectral images of renal biopsy tissue to define the difference between IMN and HBV-MN based on the component of their immune complex deposition.

Results

The proposed framework can achieve an overall accuracy of 95.04% for multiclass classification, which also proven to obtain a better performance compared to the support vector machine (SVM)-based algorithms.

Conclusion

IMN and HBV-MN could be correctly separated via the deep learning framework using hyperspectral imagery. Our results suggest the potential of the deep learning algorithm as a new method to aid the diagnosis process of MN.
The Relationship Between Self-Harm and Bullying Behavior: Results from a Population Based-Study of Adolescents
Authors: Myklestad Ingri , Straiton Melanie Lindsay
Published: July 2020

Background: This study aims to better understand the link between bullying behaviour (both the bullied, the bullies and the bully-victims) and self-harm, and which risk- and protective factors will moderate this link. Methods: A total of 16 182 adolescents, aged 12 to 19 years were invited to participate in the cross-sectional Ung-data survey. The response rate was 87%. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between self-harm and bulling behaviour, and which potential risk- and protective factors would partly explain this relationship. In addition, to test for potential interaction effects between protective factors and the three bullying groups on self-harm.Results: Fifteen percent of participating adolescents had engaged in self-harm in the last year. The risk for self-harm was six times higher for the “bully-victims”, five times higher for the bullied, and three times higher for the bullies, compared to the non-bullied nor bullies. The risk of self-harm in the face of being bullied was significantly greater for girls than boys, compared with their “neither being bullied nor bullying” counterparts. Depression and family conflicts explained part of the relationship between being bullied and self-harm, and between bully-victims and self-harm. School behaviour problems was an important risk factor for the bullies and bully-victims on self-harm. The relationship between self-harm and the bullied was significantly moderated by parental support and school well-being, and the relationship between self-harm and “bully-victims” was moderated by school well-being. Conclusion: Parental support and school well-being moderate the harmful consequences of bullying behaviour on self-harm among adolescents. The finding warrants further attention in future studies and interventions.
Gender-specific Prevalence and Influencing Factors of Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Chinese Rural Population: The Henan Rural Cohort Study
Authors: Wu Xueyan , Liu Xiaotian , Luo Zhicheng , Niu Miaomiao , He Yaling , Hou Jian , Mao Zhenxing , Huo Wenqian , Li Linlin , Wang Chongjian
Published: July 2020

Background: The American Heart Association define a new concept of ideal cardiovascular health (ICH), which was widely used. However, the prevalence of ICH according to the definition of Chinese rural population is unclear. The study aimed to estimate prevalence and influencing factors of ICH in rural areas of China.Methods: This study included 35081 participants (13711 men and 21370 women)aged 18 to 79 years from “the Henan Rural Cohort study”. The cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics, the ICH scores, the ideal health behaviors (IHB) scores and ideal health factors (IHF)scores were evaluated in Chinese rural adults. Each CVH metrics divided into ideal and non-ideal including diet, physical activity, smoking, BMI, blood pressure, total cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose. The influencing factors of ideal CVH (ICH scores≥5), ideal HB (IHB scores>3) and ideal HF (IHF scores>3) were explored by logistic regression analysis.Results: The age-standardized mean scores of the ICH was 4.30(3.62 in men and4.69 in women). Prevalence of ICH metrics about ideal physical activity was the highest (91.37%), while about ideal diet was lowest (0.48%).The age-standardized prevalence of population who with 7 scores of ICH was 0.10% (0.07% in men and 0.11% in women). The age-standardized prevalence of Ideal CVH (ICH scores≥5) was 48.86% (28.26% in men and 60.70% in women). The age-standardized prevalence of 4 of IHB scores and 4 of IHF scores were 0.16% (0.17% in men and 0.16% in women) and 33.26% (10.06% in men and 46.60% in women), respectively. Further, apart from IHB scores, age had an inverse relationship with the ICH scores and IHF scores in total populations and women. Much older, men, low family income, current drinking and abdominal obesity were independently associated with ICH in Chinese rural adults.Conclusions: The percentage of ideal cardiovascular health is extremely low in rural China. There is an increasing need for primordial prevention of unhealthy lifestyles and monitoring high risk factors to promote cardiovascular health in rural China.Clinical Trial Registration The Henan Rural Cohort Study has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Register (Registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-15006699). Date of registration: 2015-07-06.http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=11375
Economic Impact of Demonetization: Critical Analysis on Social Impact in India
Authors: Raju Valliappan
Published: July 2020

This research paper discusses the general effects of
demonetisation on the economy with the notion of its influence in
growth. In the research study, 3 important independent variables
are selected that have influences towards the performance of
demonetization in India. Indian economy took a momentous shift of
banning high denomination notes calculated as 87 percent of total
currency in November 2016. The independent variables are social
impact, political impact and economic impact. These selected
independent variables are the possible factors that might influence
the performance of demonetisation recently happened in India. In
this research study, 184 sets of questionnaires were prepared and
distributed to the targeted respondents who are affected through
this, and one more thing the target population is from the
southwest part of India called Andhra Pradesh. After the data were
collected, IBM SPSS was used to testing the data in order to
generate the final result. In the end, the final result shows that
there is significant effect on socially, politically and
economically towards the performance of demonetisation.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Gastric Cancer Surgery: A Single-center Retrospective Study Based on Real-world Data from China
Authors: Li Yu-xuan , He Chang-zheng , Liu Yi-chen , Zhao Peng-yue , Xu Xiao-lei , Wang Yu-feng , Xia Shao-you , Du Xiaohui
Published: July 2020

Backgrounds:
A respiratory epidemic defined as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is becoming unstoppable and has been declared a pandemic. Patients with cancer are more likely to develop COVID-19. Based on our experience during the pandemic period, we propose some surgery strategies for gastric cancer patients under the COVID-19 situation.
Methods
We defined the ‘COVID-19’ period as occurring between 2020-01-20 and 2020-03-20. All the enrolled patients were divided into two groups, pre-COVID-19 group (PCG) and COVID-19 group (CG). A total of 109 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled in this study.
Results
The waiting times before admission increased by 4 days in CG(PCG:4.5 [IQR: 2, 7.8] vs. CG:8.0 [IQR: 2,20]; P = 0.006). More patients had performed chest CT scan besides abdominal CT before admission during COVID-19 period(PCG:22[32%]vs. CG:30[73%], p = 0.001). After admission, during COVID period, the waiting time before surgery was longer(3[IQR: 2,5] vs. 7[IQR: 5,9]; P < 0.001),more laparoscopic surgery were performed(PCG: 51[75%] vs. CG: 38[92%],p = 0.021), and hospital stay after surgery was longer (7[IQR: 6,8] vs.9[IQR:7,11] ; P < 0.001). The total cost of hospitalization increased during COVID period, (9.22[IQR:7.82,10.97] vs. 10.42[IQR:8.99,12.57]; p = 0.006).
Conclusion
Since no data is available yet on the impact of COVID-19 on gastric cancer patients,our own experience with COVID-19 in gastric cancer surgery has hopefully provided an opportunity for colleagues to reflect on their own service and any contingency plans they have to tackle the crisis.
Impact of DNA methylation on 3D genome structure
Authors: Buitrago Diana , Labrador Mireia , Arcon Juan Pablo , Lema Rafael , Flores Oscar , Esteve-Codina Anna , Blanc Julie , Villegas Nuria , Bellido David , Gut Marta , Dans Pablo , Heath Simon , Gut Ivo , Heath Isabelle Brun , Orozco Modesto
Published: July 2020

The extreme complexity of epigenetic regulation in higher organisms makes the determination of the intrinsic effect of DNA methylation in chromatin structure and function challenging. We investigated the role of DNA methylation in a simpler model system, budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), an organism in which methylation-related machinery is normally absent thus making it a perfect model system to study the intrinsic role of methylation in chromatin structure and function. With this aim, we expressed the murine DNA Methyl Transferases in S. cerevisiae and analyzed the correlation between DNA methylation, nucleosome positioning, gene expression and 3D genome organization. We showed that despite the lack of machinery for positioning and reading of methylation marks, the methylation pattern follows a conserved pattern, the level of DNA methylation being very low at the 5’ end of the gene, and then increasing gradually toward the 3’ end, mimicking mammalian behavior. DNA methylation and gene expression correlate as DNA methylation is lower at the TSS and higher at the TTS in highly expressed genes compared to lowly expressed ones, mimicking again mammalian behavior. We found that methylated DNA is unlikely to be wrapped around nucleosomes, but is concentrated in linkers and nucleosome free regions. DNA methylation increases chromatin condensation in the peri-centromeric region, decreases overall DNA flexibility and favors the heterochromatin state. Taken together, these results demonstrate that methylation intrinsically modulates chromatin structure and function even in the absence of cellular machinery evolved to recognize and process the methylation signal.
Interfacial Barrier Free Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Electrolytes for All Solid-State Batteries
Authors: Lee Myeong Ju , Shin Dong Ok , Kim Ju Young , Oh Jimin , Kim Jumi , Kang Seok Hun , Kim Kwang Man , Kim Sang Ouk , Lee Young-Gi
Published: July 2020

Organic-inorganic hybrid solid electrolytes (HSEs) are expected to overcome the inherent limitations of rigid fragile inorganic electrolytes for solid state batteries. Li-ion conductive filler such as garnet Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) is proposed for the high performance of HSEs, unfortunately, which suffers from native surface layer resistance to Li-ion transport. Here we present highly conductive polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based HSEs incorporating LLZO fillers, whose resistive barriers are eliminated by dry etching. Our optimal composition of etched LLZO fillers (30 wt%) leads to ionic conductivity of 4.05 x 10-4 S cm-1, about two-fold improvement from non-etched counterpart. Li symmetric cells with etched fillers exhibit low interfacial resistance of 110 Ω cm2 and minimal overpotential of 46 mV. Moreover, high capacity of 79 mA h g-1 is highlighted at 4C, comparable or superior to liquid electrolyte or sulfide-based electrolyte devices. Interfacial environment in HSEs ideally modified for Li-ion transport is identified by 7Li NMR measurements.
Curcumin improves human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells survival and promotes motor outcome via ERK Signaling after spinal cord injury
Authors: Wanjiang Wu , Xin Chen , Yaxing Chen , Jie Wang , Hongyan Zhang , Fei Ni , Chengmin Ling , Chengjian Feng , Yuan Jichao , Jiangkai Lin
Published: July 2020

Background

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) transplantation are assumed as a promising strategy in spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the complex pathological microenvironment after SCI induces the apoptosis of hUC-MSCs, which limits the clinical application for the cell replacement therapy.
Methods

In this study, in order to investigate whether combined with curcumin could strengthen the therapeutic effects of hUC-MSCs transplantation for SCI, we mediated the apoptosis of hUC-MSCs with TNF-α and transplanted hUC-MSCs into SCI rats, followed by assessed the anti- apoptosis effect and mechanism of curcumin.
Results

LDH release test and flow cytometry demonstrated that TNF-α led to the hUC-MSCs apoptosis and curcumin increased survival rate of hUC-MSCs with dose-dependent. In addition, we showed that the phosphorylation levels of ERK, JNK and P38 were up-regulated in the hUC-MSCs apoptosis, while curcumin strengthened the phosphorylation of ERK, but not activated the JNK and P38, which was reversed by p42/44 antagonist U0126. Furthermore, we exhibited that the motor function scores and surviving HNA-positive cells were significantly increased after curcumin combined with hUC-MSCs transplantation therapy 8 weeks post SCI, while U0126 markedly attenuated these phenomenons.
Conclusions

The aforementioned data confirmed that curcumin suppressed the apoptosis of hUC-MSCs through ERK signal pathway and combined curcumin with hUC-MSCs treatment improved motor function after SCI in rats. The current research provides a strong basis for hUC-MSCs replacement therapy in conjunction with curcumin in the treatment and management of SCI in human.
Changes in the Gut Microbiome Community of nonhuman primate following radiation injury
Authors: Kalkeri Raj , Walters Kevin , Pol William Van Der , McFarland Braden C. , Fisher Nathan , Koide Fusataka , Morrow Casey D. , Singh Vijay K.
Published: July 2020

Background
Composition and maintenance of the microbiome is vital to gut homeostasis. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the impact of high doses of radiation, which can occur as a result of cancer radiation therapy, nuclear accidents or intentional release of a nuclear or radioactive weapon, on the composition of the gut microbiome. Therefore, we sought to analyze alterations to the gut microbiome of nonhuman primates (NHPs) exposed to high doses of radiation.
Methods
Fecal samples were collected from 19 NHPs (Chinese rhesus macaques, Macaca mulatta) one day prior and one and four days after exposure to 7.4 Gy cobalt-60 gamma-radiation (LD70 − 80/60). The 16S V4 rRNA sequences were extracted from each sample, followed by bioinformatics analysis using the QIIME platform.
Results
Alpha Diversity (Shannon Diversity Index), revealed no major difference between pre- and post-irradiation, whereas Beta diversity analysis showed significant differences in the microbiome after irradiation (day + 4) compared to baseline (pre-irradiation). The Firmicutes/Bacteriodetes ratio, a factor known to be associated with disruption of metabolic homeostasis, decreased from 1.2 to less than 1 post-radiation exposure. Actinobacillus, Bacteroides, Prevotella (Paraprevotellaceae family) and Veillonella genera were significantly increased by more than 2-fold and Acinetobacter and Aerococcus genus were decreased by more than 10-fold post-irradiation. Fifty-two percent (10/19) of animals exposed to radiation demonstrated diarrhea at day 4 post-irradiation. Comparison of microbiome composition of feces from animals with and without diarrhea at day 4 post-irradiation revealed an increase in Lactobacillus reuteri associated with diarrhea and a decrease of Lentisphaerae and Verrucomicrobioa phyla and Bacteroides in animals exhibiting diarrhea.
Conclusion
Our findings demonstrate that substantial alterations in the microbiome composition of NHPs occur following radiation injury and provide insight into early changes with high-dose, whole-body radiation exposure. Future studies will help identify microbiome biomarkers of radiation exposure and develop effective therapeutic intervention to mitigate the radiation injury.
Assessing Nursing Students' Attitude Toward Nursing Process Software
Authors: Parvan Kobra , Hosseini Fahimeh Alsadat , Jasemi Madineh , Thomson Brian , Bagherian Samaneh
Published: July 2020

Background: The nursing process is the core and the standard of practice in nursing profession. Nowadays, the use of information technology in the field of nursing processes, education and practice has been emphasized. Since nurse’s attitudes towards clinical information systems are considered as an indicator of the success rate of information systems, and nurse’s attitudes about the nursing process can effect their execution of the process. So the purpose of this study was to evaluate nursing students' attitudes in the field of the nursing process software.Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 160 undergraduate nursing students (terms 4-8) in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were selected by convenience sampling. To evaluate the effectiveness of nursing process software in this study, Mazlom and rajabpoor (2014) questionnaire consisted of 21 components based on a five-point Likert scale was completed by students after using the software. Data were then analyzed by SPSS 19 software.Results: The mean score of students' attitude toward nursing process software was good (80.70 ± 5.58). The highest student satisfaction with the software was respectively in the fields of "Effectiveness of software in prioritizing patient care and problems", "Completeness of electronic patient information compared to handwritten mode" and "Software effectiveness in saving your time". Also, the lowest level of students' satisfaction with the software was respectively related to the "sense of fairness in the work-division based on the software", "the effectiveness of the software in determining your workload" and "the sense of satisfaction in the work-division based on the software". There was a statistically significant relationship between gender and age and students' attitude toward nursing process software.Conclusions: Nursing students had a positive attitude about nursing process software. Therefore, in order to make the most use of the nursing process it is recommended to use this software in educational, research and clinical fields, which require a substructure of the nursing process software in universities and clinics.
Comparison of the effectiveness of existential, cognitive-existential, and humanistic-existential group psychotherapy on psychosomatic complaints in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Hanis Ghaffar Nasiri , Sadeghi Masoud , Gholamrezaei Simin
Published: July 2020

Background and aims: A significant amount of previous studies has confirmed the positive effect of existential, cognitive-existential, and humanistic-existential interventions on psychosocial problems with different populations. However, research on the effectiveness and comparison of the effect of these three independent variables on the problem of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is novel. So, the purpose of this research is to study the comparison of the effectiveness of existential, cognitive-existential, and humanistic-existential group psychotherapy on psychosomatic complaints among women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: The method of the research was semi-experimental, and its experimental design includes the pretest, post-test, and two-month follow-up tests with experimental and control parallel groups. Cases of this study included women with type 2 diabetes mellitus referring to the Specialist Diabetes Clinic of Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj in the first three months of 2019. 32 subjects selected by simple random sampling method of this society and were assigned to three experimental and one control group by substituting random method. The data collected based on the scale of psychosomatic complaints Takata & Sakata (2004). After the pre-test, the experimental groups participated in 120-minute sessions for 9 weeks. Data analyzed by the statistical test of repeated measures of the General Linear Model. Results: The results of repeated measures analysis showed that the effect of the interventions in experimental groups of psychosomatic complaints was significant and stable compared to the control group (computed using alpha = 0, 05). The effect of the group humanistic-existential psychotherapy on reducing psychosomatic complaints about women with type 2 diabetes mellitus is stable and significant compared to existential and cognitive-existential psychotherapy (The mean difference is significant at the 0,05 level).Conclusion: The findings show applying humanistic-existential psychotherapy more benefits than the other two method. So, humanistic-existential group psychotherapy could be a selective therapy for reducing psychosomatic complaints about women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Brown and beige adipose tissue regulate systemic metabolism to resist diet-induced obesity through metabolite signals in an inter-organ signaling axis
Authors: Whitehead Anna , Krause Fynn , Moran Amy , Scragg Jason , McNally Ben , Boateng Edward , Murfitt Steven , Virtue Sam , Wright John , MacCannell Amanda , Garnham Jack , Davies Graeme , Dodgson James , Schneider Jurgen , Murray Andrew , Church Christopher , Vidal-Puig Antonio , Witte Klaus , Griffin Julian , Roberts Lee
Published: July 2020

Brown and beige adipose tissue are emerging as distinct endocrine organs. These tissues are functionally associated with skeletal muscle, adipose tissue metabolism and systemic energy expenditure, suggesting an inter-organ signaling network. Using a metabolomic approach we identified 3-methyl-2-oxovaleric acid (MOVA), 5-oxoproline (5OP), and β-hydroxyisobutyric acid (BHIBA) as small molecule metabokines synthesized in browning adipocytes and secreted via monocarboxylate transporters. MOVA, 5OP and BHIBA induce a brown adipocyte-specific phenotype in white adipocytes and mitochondrial oxidative energy metabolism in skeletal myocytes both in vitro and in vivo. MOVA and 5OP signal through cAMP-PKA-p38 MAPK and BHIBA via mTOR. These metabolites reduce adiposity, increase energy expenditure and improve glucose and insulin homeostasis in mouse models of obesity and diabetes. In humans, plasma and adipose tissue MOVA, 5OP and BHIBA concentrations are correlated with markers of adipose browning and inversely associated with BMI. Our findings identify beige adipose-brown adipose-muscle physiological metabokine crosstalk.
A Novel Patient-Specific Three-Dimensional Printing Template Based on External Fixation for Pelvic Screw Insertion
Authors: Zhou Kaihua , Tao Xingguang , Pan Fugen , Luo Congfeng , Yang Huilin
Published: July 2020

(1) Background: To investigate the clinical effect of the novel patient-specific 3D printing templates based on external fixation for pelvic screw insertion. (2) Methods: We retrospectively studied 8 patients with pelvic fractures who were treated using this novel template from July 2017 to July 2018. During the operation, the screws were inserted with the aid of the template. The operative time per screw, radiation exposure time, and accuracy of the screw insertions as evaluated by post-operative CT scans were analyzed statistically and compared with previous outcomes using the fluoro-navigation technique. (3) Results: In the template group, a total of 9 pubis screws and 6 sacroiliac screws were inserted. The mean surgical time was 11.3 min/screw and the mean X-ray exposure time was 11.8 ± 3.9 s/screw. The mean deviation distance and angle between the actual and planned screw position was 2.6 ± 0.2 mm and 2.0 ± 0.3 degrees, and blood loss during the surgery was 12.2 ml/screw. No superficial and deep infections and no patient sustained recognized neurologic, vascular, or urologic injury occurred in the template group. The surgical time and X-ray exposure time was less than that in the fluoro-navigation group((P < 0.05) (4) Conclusions: The patient-specific template based on external fixation can guide the insertion of the pelvic screw accurately, safely and invasively and significantly reduce operation and radiation exposure time.
WITHDRAWN: Performance Modelling of the Regenerative Blower for Air Supply of SOFC System with Random Forest and Bayesian Optimization
Authors: Zhao Jiarong , Wu Xin , Xiong Xingyu , Qian Xiangchen
Published: July 2020

Air starvation is a serious hazard during the operation of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. So, an accurate performance model of the air supply system is needed for the control of air flow rate and the reduction of air starvation. The performance modelling of a regenerative blower, which is used for the air supply of a 5 kW SOFC system during power generation, is proposed based on the methods of random forest (RF) and Bayesian Optimization (BO). The performance model is first built through the RF method. The BO algorithm is then used to adjust the hyper-parameters of the model. The developed model can predict the outlet air flow rate through the operation data of regenerative blower, i.e. the rotation speed of impeller, the inlet and outlet pressure, humidity and temperature, without specific geometrical parameters. A series of operation data obtained from an experimental test rig are adopted to train and validate the presented method. Finally, the prediction performance of the developed algorithm is compared with different machine learning methods, such as decision tree regression, deep neural network. Results show that the proposed method can predict the outlet air flow rate under different working conditions with minimum prediction errors within 3.5% and acceptable computational cost. Therefore, the developed algorithm is promising for performance modelling of the blower, which can be used to predict the outlet flow rate and control the air supply system at SOFC in our next research.