bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Prophylactic Antimicrobial Therapy Practices for Patients With Marine-Associated Injuries in the Emergency Department
Authors: Byrkit Britany N. , LaScala Elizabeth C. , MenkinSmith Lacey , Hall Gregory A. , Weant Kyle A.
Published: June 2021

Background:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for the treatment of marine-associated wound infections include empiric coverage for Vibrio species with a combination of a third-generation cephalosporin and doxycycline. These recommendations are based on limited data and it remains unclear if this regimen is also indicated for prophylaxis.

Objective:

The purpose of this analysis was to assess the antibiotic regimens used in the emergency department (ED) for prophylaxis of marine-associated injuries relative to the CDC recommendations and evaluate any clinical impact.

Methods:

A retrospective review evaluated adult patients discharged from the ED over a 4-year period with an antibiotic prescription following an injury with marine exposure.

Results:

114 patients were included in the analysis. The majority of patients were < 40 years of age with no previous medical history and presented after sustaining a laceration secondary to oyster shells. 97.4% received prophylactic antibiotic therapy that did not match the CDC recommendations, with the majority receiving doxycycline monotherapy (82%). A 1.8% 30-day ED revisit rate was noted with 2 patients returning for therapy failure. No patients were admitted to the hospital within 30 days and no documented adverse effects related to antibiotic therapy were noted.

Conclusion:

Current prophylactic antibiotic prescribing practices diverge from the current CDC recommendations for the treatment of marine-associated infections, however, an effect secondary to these variations was not observed. Further investigations of prophylaxis against Vibrio infections in low-risk patients is warranted to limit collateral damage and improve antimicrobial stewardship in the ED.
The Consequences of Female Genital Mutilation on Psycho-Social Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research
Authors: O’Neill Sarah , Pallitto Christina
Published: June 2021

The health consequences of female genital mutilation (FGM) have been described previously; however, evidence of the social consequences is more intangible. To date, few systematic reviews have addressed the impact of the practice on psycho-social well-being, and there is limited understanding of what these consequences might consist. To complement knowledge on the known health consequences, this article systematically reviewed qualitative evidence of the psycho-social impact of FGM in countries where it is originally practiced (Africa, the Middle East, and Asia) and in countries of the diaspora. Twenty-three qualitative studies describing the psycho-social impact of FGM on women’s lives were selected after screening. This review provides a framework for understanding the less visible ways in which women and girls with FGM experience adverse effects that may affect their sense of identity, their self-esteem, and well-being as well as their participation in society.
Delamination effects on the unsteady aero-elastic behavior of composite wing by modal analysis
Authors: Torabi Ali Reza , Shams Shahrokh , Fatehi Narab Mahdi , Atashgah Mohammadali Amiri
Published: June 2021

This article deals with the investigation of delamination effects on the flutter behavior of a composite wing subjected to unsteady aerodynamic loads by providing an integrated procedure using exact methods. For this purpose, an undamaged wing structure is modeled as a cantilevered Bernoulli–Euler beam with coupled bending–torsion and delaminated wing structure is modeled as three interconnected intact beams. The modal analysis of the intact and delaminated beams is performed and mode shapes are obtained based on the development of the dynamic stiffness matrix, a computer code and an iterative method. The fundamental modes of the intact and delaminated beam derived from the free vibration analysis are used in Galerkin’s method and the flutter and divergence speeds are obtained with aerodynamic forces applied. In fact, modified shape functions were developed to reflect the delamination effect in the aeroelastic analysis. Also, for the unsteady aeroelastic analysis, an iterative algorithm is developed. It was found that the delamination location and its length can have a positive or a negative influence on the flutter behavior of the wing which depends on the fiber angle.
Load identification with regularized total least-squares method
Authors: Tang Zhonghua , Zhang Zhifei , Xu Zhongming , He Yansong , Jin Jie
Published: June 2021

Load identification in structural dynamics is an ill-conditioned inverse problem, and the errors existing in both the frequency response function matrix and the acceleration response have a great influence on the accuracy of identification. The Tikhonov regularized least-squares method, which is a common approach for load identification, takes the effect of the acceleration response errors into account but neglects the effect of the errors of the frequency response function matrix. In this article, a Tikhonov regularized total least-squares method for load identification is presented. First, the total least-squares method which can minimize the errors of the frequency response function matrix and acceleration response simultaneously is introduced into load identification. Then Tikhonov regularization is used to regularize the total least-squares method to improve the ill-conditioning of the frequency response function matrix. The regularization parameter is selected by the L-curve criterion. To validate the performance of the regularized total least-squares method, a load identification simulation with two excitation loads is studied on a plate based on the finite element method and a load identification experiment with two excitation loads is conducted on an aluminum plate. Both simulation and experiment results show that the excitation loads identified by the regularized total least-squares method match the actual loads well although there are errors existing in both the frequency response function matrix and acceleration response. In experiment, the average relative error of the regularized total least-squares method is 13.00% for excitation load 1 and 20.02% for excitation load 2, whereas the average relative error of the regularized least-squares method is 35.86% and 53.09% for excitation load 1 and excitation load 2, respectively. This result reveals that the regularized total least-squares method is more effective than the regularized least-squares method for load identification.
Research on intelligent vibration suppression control of high-speed lightweight Delta robot
Authors: Zheng Kunming
Published: June 2021

Lightweight Delta robot is typical high-speed and high-precision industrial parallel robot. However, under high-speed condition, because of the lightweight components, it will inevitably lead to the vibration of Delta robot, which reduces the position accuracy and positioning efficiency. To solve this problem comprehensively, this article considers the process vibration and residual vibration of Delta robot, and the intelligent shaping vibration suppression control system is designed by using trajectory planning method of improved trapezoidal mode, shaping control method, and fast terminal sliding mode controller, and the detailed experimental analysis is carried out. The experimental results show that the proposed intelligent shaping vibration suppression control method can well suppress the process vibration and residual vibration of Delta robot, which can effectively improve the operation stability, work efficiency, and position accuracy of Delta robot.
The timed 25-foot walk in a large cohort of multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Kalinowski Anissa , Cutter Gary , Bozinov Nina , Hinman Jessica A , Hittle Michael , Motl Robert , Odden Michelle , Nelson Lorene M
Published: June 2021

Background:

The timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) is a key clinical outcome measure in multiple sclerosis patient management and clinical research.

Objectives:

To evaluate T25FW performance and factors associated with its change in the Multiple Sclerosis Outcome Assessments Consortium (MSOAC) Placebo Database ( n = 2465).

Methods:

We created confirmed disability progression (CDP) variables for T25FW and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) outcomes. We used intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland Altman plots to evaluate reliability. We evaluated T25FW changes and predictive validity using a mixed-effects model, survival analysis, and nested case–control analysis.

Results:

The mean baseline score for the T25FW in this study population was 9.2 seconds, median = 6.1 (standard deviation = 11.0, interquartile range (IQR) = 4.8, 9.0). The T25FW measure demonstrated excellent test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.98). Walk times increased with age, disability, disease type, and disease duration; relapses were not associated with an increase. Patients with T25FW progression had a faster time to EDSS-CDP compared to those without (hazards ratio (HR): 2.6; confidence interval (CI): 2.2, 3.1). Changes in the T25FW were more likely to precede changes in EDSS.

Conclusion:

This research confirms the association of the T25FW with disability and provides some evidence of predictive validity. Our findings support the continued use of the T25FW in clinical practice and clinical trials.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and health behaviors in Swedish adolescents
Authors: Chen Yun , Osika Walter , Henriksson Göran , Dahlstrand Johan , Friberg Peter
Published: June 2021

Aims: There is an urgent need to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health and health behaviours. To date, there are no such studies on Swedish adolescents. As COVID-19 emerged in the middle of our ongoing 2-year follow-up examination of the Study of Adolescence Resilience and Stress, we had the unique opportunity to use the corona outbreak as a ‘natural experiment’ to study the impact of COVID-19 on 15-year-old adolescents in Sweden. Methods: Adolescents (baseline age 13.6±0.4 years) were recruited from schools in western Sweden (during the COVID-19 outbreak schools were kept open for those under 16 years of age). The COVID-19 pandemic reached Sweden on 31 January 2020. A total of 1316 adolescents answered the 2-year follow-up survey before (unexposed to COVID-19 pandemic, controls) and 584 after 1 February 2020 (COVID19-exposed). Data on stress, psychosomatic symptoms, happiness, relationships with parents and peers, school and health behaviours were collected. Results: Adolescents reported higher levels of stress and psychosomatic symptoms and lower levels of happiness at follow-up compared to baseline. These changes occurred to a similar extent in both the control and COVID-19-exposed groups. Likewise, the COVID-19-exposed group showed no deterioration in peer relations or relations with parents versus controls. We did not find any significant differences between groups regarding sleep duration and physical activity. Conclusions: Swedish adolescents exposed to COVID-19 during most of 2020 showed no differences in longitudinal changes in mental health, relationships with parents and peers, and health behaviours compared to those not exposed to COVID-19.
Vibration transmission path analysis of underwater vehicle power plant based on TPA power flow
Authors: Yang Yang , Pan Guang , Yin Shaoping , Yuan Ying
Published: June 2021

In order to obtain the energy contribution of all paths transmitting vibration from the underwater vehicle power plant to the outer shell, a new method named TPA (Transfer Path Analysis) power flow which combines classical TPA and power flow theory was proposed. Calculation results showed that isolators were the critical paths for transmitting vibration energy to the shell in low frequency band. In addition the main engine and sea water pump were critical vibration sources, which provided directions for reducing the vibration energy transmitted from vibration sources to the target body. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first time to assess the vibration transmission path of the underwater vehicle by TPA power flow method. This method can be employed in other works that need to evaluate the contribution of vibration energy.
Study of effect of waste tire rubber which is a recycling material in production of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) boards
Authors: Özkaya Kadir , Dizel Taner , Imirzi Hasan Özgür
Published: June 2021

The amount of waste produced by people increases with the increasing population in the world. Especially non-recyclable wastes have become a major environmental problem. Waste tires that emerge as car demands of people increase are one of the non-recyclable wastes. In this study, the usage possibilities of powder rubbers obtained from waste car tires were examined in the production of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) boards, which are preferred as furniture and decoration material in the forest products industry. For this, three different tree species (Scotch Pine— Pinus silvestris L., Oriental Beech— Fagus orientalis L., Stinking Juniper— Juniperus foetidissima Wild.) and two different types of glue (UF and PVAc glues) were used. Waste tire rubbers (WTR) were mixed into the glue in different proportions (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%). Physical (full dry and equilibrium moisture density, contraction in the transversal and longitudinal direction) and mechanical tests (MoR, MoE, bonding resistance) were performed on the LVL samples prepared. According to the results obtained, it has been seen that the mixtures of 10% and 20% WTR increase the LVL resistance. An eco-friendly building material has been obtained by using WTR produced from waste car tires in production of LVL.
Pharmacology Update: School Nurse Role and Emergency Medications for Treatment of Anaphylaxis
Authors: Bingemann Theresa A. , Nanda Anil , Russell Anne F.
Published: June 2021

Anaphylaxis is a rapidly occurring allergic reaction that is potentially life threatening. Recognition of the early signs and prompt treatment of anaphylaxis is critical. School nurses are tasked with educating nonmedical school personnel on the recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis and emphasizing that epinephrine is the first line of treatment for anaphylaxis. Fortunately, there is now availability of multiple epinephrine administration devices. However, this also means that there are more devices that school nurses and nonmedical assistive personnel need to learn about to be able to administer in an emergency. Once epinephrine is administered, emergency medical services must be activated. Education regarding what to expect after the administration of epinephrine with respect to side effects and onset of action is also necessary. Though adjunctive medicines, such as antihistamines and inhalers, may also be administered after the injection of epinephrine, they should not be solely relied on in anaphylaxis. School nurses are uniquely situated for this role, as they understand the local environment in a school and can assess and reassess the needs of the faculty and staff.
Quality of life of postmenopausal women in rural area, Nepal
Authors: Thapa Pratima , Thebe Prabha
Published: June 2021

Background

Menopause is one of the natural phenomena in every woman’s life. The transition phase gradually brings lots of changes in the life of women, both physically and mentally. In Nepal, these changes are often viewed as the symptoms of old age. This study aims to determine the prevalence of menopausal symptoms and their quality of life (QOL).

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural municipality of Jhapa district, Nepal, with study samples of 215 collected using purposive sampling technique. Semistructured questionnaire and MENQOL questionnaire were used for data collection. Descriptive (mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (t-test and ANOVA test) were used for data analysis. The confidence interval was taken as 95% and probability of significance at p < 0.05.

Results

The study showed that the mean age of the respondents was 53.51 ± 4.42 years with the mean age at menopause being 47.18 ± 6.16 years. The most prevalent symptoms among postmenopausal women were feeling tired or worn out (98.8%), followed by decrease in stamina (94%), decrease in physical strength (91.2%) and lack of energy (90%). The highest mean score was seen in physical domain (2.88 ± 1.61) followed by sexual (2.77 ± 1.93), vasomotor (2.65 ± 1.84) and psychosocial (2.45 ± 1.55). The overall mean score of QOL was found to be 80.06 ± 24.52. Marital status, number of children, educational status, occupational status and health seeking behaviour had significant association with the QOL score.

Conclusion

The most common symptoms experienced by the postmenopausal women were the physical symptoms followed by sexual, vasomotor and psychosocial. Presence of these symptoms certainly affects the QOL. Hence, effective awareness and education programme regarding the symptoms and ways to minimize those symptoms should be planned and provided both at individual and community levels.
Concussion reporting behaviors in student athletes across sexes and levels of contact
Authors: Chizuk Haley M , Haider Mohammad N , Solomito Matthew , Kostyun Regina , Willer Barry S , Leddy John J , Wang David
Published: June 2021

Context

Sport-related concussions (SRC) are common in student athletes. However, current literature suggests that many athletes do not accurately report their symptoms. The under-reporting of concussion symptoms can result in an increased risk of further injury and an underestimation of concussion prevalence.

Objective

This study aims to identify perspectives on concussion reporting behaviors in student athletes across levels of contact and by sex.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Elementary and high school, college. Patients or other participants: 1126 female (52%) and male (48%) athletes, mean age 16.6 years. Main outcome measure(s): Standardized questionnaire on concussion reporting during a series of hypothetical scenarios.

Results

Student athletes participating in sports with higher levels of contact had more education about concussions, yet professed they were less likely to report a concussion. The most common reasons athletes chose not to report were ‘not wanting to miss the game’ and ‘not wanting to let the coach down.’ Minimal differences were found between sexes, with females being just as unlikely, or sometimes more unlikely, to report a concussion than males. Lastly, females playing contact and non-contact sports appear to be more concerned about not wanting to let their coach down than males.

Conclusions

Although perspective on concussion reporting behavior varied across sports of different levels of contact, we did not find any conclusive evidence of differences in willingness to report a concussion between sexes when compared within the same level of contact.
Scoring System for Differentiation of Complicated Appendicitis in Pediatric Patients: Appendicitis Scoring System in Children
Authors: Lee Yujin , Cho Hyunjin , Gwak Geumhee , Bae Byungnoe , Yang Keunho
Published: June 2021

Although several scoring systems have been used to differentiate simple acute appendicitis from perforated appendicitis, no particular system has been widely accepted. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate preoperative factors associated with complicated appendicitis and to develop a scoring system that distinguishes complicated appendicitis in children aged <10 years. Patients aged <10 years who underwent surgical treatment for acute appendicitis between 2011 and 2019 were included in this study, after excluding those with insufficient medical records, with other diseases that affect the length of hospitalization, or without formal reports of abdominal computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography (US). Complicated appendicitis was defined as hospitalization for ≥5 days postoperatively or readmission within 30 days postoperatively. Patient characteristics, symptoms, physical examination, laboratory data, and radiographic results were collected to determine predictors of complicated appendicitis. The mean age of 279 patients was 7.3 years. Among them, 57 patients had complicated appendicitis. A scoring system was developed based on the following 5 independent risk factors derived from multiple logistic regression analysis: body temperature, anorexia, diarrhea, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and presence of periappendiceal free fluid on CT or US. The scoring system resulted in an area under the curve of .898 ( P < .001). For patients aged <10 years, a new model that includes objective factors, such as body temperature, CRP levels, and radiography results, might help predict complicated appendicitis and determine treatment plans.
PENs in the PENis: a case report and brief review of the literature
Authors: Bonatsos Vasileios , Batura Deepak
Published: June 2021

Background

According to the literature, there have been reports of introduction of foreign bodies into the urethra predominantly in males, both adults and children. Erotic stimulation, intoxication, assault and psychiatric conditions are the most frequent contributors.

Case presentation

A 70-year-old male presented with difficulty in passing urine for one week after having inserted two plastic ballpoint pens into his urethra. The patient had a failed attempt at removal using a rigid cystoscope and biopsy forceps. A Liga-clip applicator allowed successful blind removal of both pens while the patient was under a general anaesthetic.

Conclusions

Removal of urethral foreign bodies can be challenging as endoscopic removal may fail, and open or blind procedures may be required. Moreover, complications can be significant. On occasions, improvisations in techniques may be helpful, such as in our patient. A psychiatric review is vital to try and ensure the prevention of repeat incidents.
Unravelling population structure heterogeneity within the genome of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Campos Melina , Rona Luisa D. P. , Willis Katie , Christophides George K. , MacCallum Robert M.
Published: June 2021

Background

Whole genome re-sequencing provides powerful data for population genomic studies, allowing robust inferences of population structure, gene flow and evolutionary history. For the major malaria vector in Africa, Anopheles gambiae, other genetic aspects such as selection and adaptation are also important. In the present study, we explore population genetic variation from genome-wide sequencing of 765 An. gambiae and An. coluzzii specimens collected from across Africa. We used t-SNE, a recently popularized dimensionality reduction method, to create a 2D-map of An. gambiae and An. coluzzii genes that reflect their population structure similarities.

Results

The map allows intuitive navigation among genes distributed throughout the so-called “mainland” and numerous surrounding “island-like” gene clusters. These gene clusters of various sizes correspond predominantly to low recombination genomic regions such as inversions and centromeres, and also to recent selective sweeps. Because this mosquito species complex has been studied extensively, we were able to support our interpretations with previously published findings. Several novel observations and hypotheses are also made, including selective sweeps and a multi-locus selection event in Guinea-Bissau, a known intense hybridization zone between An. gambiae and An. coluzzii.

Conclusions

Our results present a rich dataset that could be utilized in functional investigations aiming to shed light onto An. gambiae s.l genome evolution and eventual speciation. In addition, the methodology presented here can be used to further characterize other species not so well studied as An. gambiae, shortening the time required to progress from field sampling to the identification of genes and genomic regions under unique evolutionary processes.
Prevalence of elder abuse and victim-related risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in China
Authors: Du Pengcheng , Chen Yu
Published: June 2021

Background

With the accelerated aging of the Chinese population, elder abuse has become a serious social problem. As COVID-19 has had a very large impact on economic development and lifestyle in China, it has also affected elder abuse. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of elder abuse in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify changes in risk factors for elder abuse in the context of COVID-19.

Methods

We designed a cross-sectional study. In Hunan Province, a face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among elderly people over 65 years of age. To ensure the consistency of the measurement standards, we used the elder abuse questionnaire from the “Third Survey on Chinese Women’s Social Status.” According to related research, we selected 10 victim-related risk factors as independent variables. A logistic regression model was established to analyze the relationship between the independent variables and the four kinds of abuse.

Results

We collected 10,362 samples from Hunan Province. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of financial abuse and neglect was significantly higher than that in 2010. Income had a significant impact on the four types of abuse. The lower the income was, the greater the risk of abuse. Moreover, factors such as an older age, being a woman, a lower cognitive ability, and not having a cohabiting spouse increased the possibility of abuse. The greater the number of children was, the greater the risks of physical abuse, financial abuse, and elder neglect. Seniors with higher education levels, those who frequently participated in social activities, and those with religious beliefs were less likely to suffer abuse.

Conclusions

During the COVID-19 epidemic, the prevalence of elder abuse in China has increased, which may be related to economic instability and social distancing measures. Increasing the income of the elderly and giving them more social support are important measures to reduce the prevalence of elder abuse.
The trends of complementary alternative medicine use among cancer patients
Authors: Jazieh Abdul Rahman , Abuelgasim Khadega A. , Ardah Husam I. , Alkaiyat Mohammad , Da’ar Omar B.
Published: June 2021

Background

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common among cancer patients and it may reflect the individual and societal beliefs on cancer therapy. Our study aimed to evaluate the trends of CAM use among patients with cancer between 2006 and 2018.

Methods

We included 2 Cohorts of patients with cancer who were recruited for Cohort 1 between 2006 and 2008 and for Cohort 2 between 2016 and 2018. The study is a cross-sectional study obtaining demographic and clinical information and inquiring about the types of CAM used, the reasons to use them and the perceived benefits. We compared the changes in the patterns of CAM use and other variables between the two cohorts.

Results

A total of 1416 patients were included in the study, with 464 patients in Cohort 1 and 952 patients in Cohort 2. Patients in Cohort 2 used less CAM (78.9%) than Cohort 1 (96.8%). Cohort 1 was more likely to use CAM to treat cancer compared to Cohort 2 (84.4% vs. 73%, respectively, p < 0.0001,); while Cohort 2 used CAM for symptom management such as pain control and improving appetite among others. Disclosure of CAM use did not change significantly over time and remains low (31.6% in Cohort 1 and 35.7% for Cohort 2). However, physicians were more likely to express an opposing opinion against CAM use in Cohort 2 compared to Cohort 1 (48.7% vs. 19.1%, p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

There is a significant change in CAM use among cancer patients over the decade, which reflects major societal and cultural changes in this population. Further studies and interventions are needed to improve the disclosure to physicians and to improve other aspects of care to these patients.
The effect of the Verbascum Thapsus on episiotomy wound healing in nulliparous women: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Taleb Sahar , Saeedi Maryam
Published: June 2021

Background

The pain and discomfort caused by episiotomy affect the quality of life of the mothers, so rapid and complete repair of the episiotomy is very important. Due to the effective ingredients of Verbascum Thapsus, it has been used since ancient times to treat wounds. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of Verbascum Thapsus on episiotomy wound healing.

Methods

The study was designed as a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Ninety-three primiparous women who were referred to Fatemeh Zahra Hospital in Saveh in 2015 were randomly divided into two groups of intervention (Verbascum Thapsus) and control (placebo). Both groups covered the episiotomy wound twice a day for 10 days with 2 cm of prescribed creams. Wound healing was assessed using the REEDA scale before the intervention and on days 1,3 and 10 after the intervention.

Results

Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of demographic characteristics, obstetrics, and REEDA scores between the two groups (p < 0.05). The mean scores of REEDA on days 1 and 3 in the intervention group were better than the control group but were not statistically significant. However, on the tenth day after the intervention, the mean scores of REEDA were significantly better in the Verbascum group than the placebo (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

According to the results of this study, it seems that Verbascum Thapsus is effective in repairing episiotomy wounds. The researchers hope that the results of this study can provide clinical evidence for the use of this herbal medicine in the wound healing process.

Trial registration

This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with the code “IRCT201404073106N15” on 02/12/2015.
A phase IV, multi-centre, randomized clinical trial comparing two pertussis-containing vaccines in pregnant women in England and vaccine responses in their infants
Authors: Jones Christine Elizabeth , Calvert Anna , Southern Jo , Matheson Mary , Andrews Nick , Khalil Asma , Cuthbertson Hannah , Hallis Bassam , England Anna , Heath Paul T. , Miller Elizabeth
Published: June 2021

Background

Pertussis vaccines containing three or five pertussis antigens are recommended in pregnancy in many countries, but no studies have compared the effect on infants’ antigen-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations. The aim of this study was to compare anti-pertussis IgG responses following primary immunization in infants of mothers vaccinated with TdaP5-IPV (low dose diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, acellular pertussis [five antigens] and inactivated polio) or TdaP3-IPV in pregnancy (three pertussis antigens).

Methods

This multi-centre phase IV randomized clinical trial was conducted in a tertiary referral centre and primary care sites in England. Women were randomized to receive TdaP5-IPV (n = 77) or TdaP3-IPV (n = 77) at 28–32 gestational weeks. A non-randomized control group of 44 women who had not received a pertussis-containing vaccine in pregnancy and their 47 infants were enrolled post-partum.

Results

Following infant primary immunization, there was no difference in the geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of anti-pertussis toxin, filamentous haemagglutinin or pertactin IgG between infants born to women vaccinated with TdaP5-IPV (n = 67) or TdaP3-IPV (n = 63). However, the GMC of anti-pertussis toxin IgG was lower in infants born to TdaP5-IPV- and TdaP3-IPV-vaccinated mothers compared to infants born to unvaccinated mothers (n = 45) (geometric mean ratio 0.71 [0.56–0.90] and 0.78 [0.61–0.98], respectively); by 13 months of age, this difference was no longer observed.

Conclusion

Blunting of anti-pertussis toxin IgG response following primary immunization occurs in infants born to women vaccinated with TdaP5-IPV and TdaP3-IPV, with no difference between maternal vaccines. The blunting effect had resolved by 13 months of age. These results may be helpful for countries considering which pertussis-containing vaccine to recommend for use in pregnancy.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02145624, registered 23 May 2014
Correlating genomic copy number alterations with clinicopathologic findings in 75 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Peng Gang , Chai Hongyan , Ji Weizhen , Lu Yufei , Wu Shengming , Zhao Hongyu , Li Peining , Hu Qiping
Published: June 2021

Background

Oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis has been used for detecting somatic copy number alterations (CNAs) in various types of tumors. This study aimed to assess the clinical utility of aCGH for cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate the correlation between CNAs and clinicopathologic findings.

Methods

aCGH was performed on 75 HCC cases with paired DNA samples from tumor and adjacent nontumor tissues. Survival outcomes from these cases were analyzed based on Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer Stage (BCLC), Edmondson-Steiner grade (E-S), and recurrence status. Correlation of CNAs with clinicopathologic findings was analyzed by Wilcoxon rank test and clustering vs. K means.

Results

The survival outcomes indicated that BCLC stages and recurrence status could be predictors and E-S grades could be a modifier for HCC. The most common CNAs involved gains of 1q and 8q and a loss of 16q (50%), losses of 4q and 17p and a gain of 5p (40%), and losses of 8p and 13q (30%). Analyses of genomic profiles and clusters identified that losses of 4q13.2q35.2 and 10q22.3q26.13 seen in cases of stage A, grade III and nonrecurrence were likely correlated with good survival, while loss of 1p36.31p22.1 and gains of 2q11.2q21.2 and 20p13p11.1 seen in cases of stage C, grade III and recurrence were possibly correlated with worst prognosis.

Conclusions

These results indicated that aCGH analysis could be used to detect recurrent CNAs and involved key genes and pathways in patients with HCC. Further analysis on a large case series to validate the correlation of CNAs with clinicopathologic findings of HCC could provide information to interpret CNAs and predict prognosis.
An immune-related model based on INHBA, JAG2 and CCL19 to predict the prognoses of colon cancer patients
Authors: Yang Xuankun , Yan Jia , Jiang Yahui , Wang Yaxu
Published: June 2021

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths and most common malignant tumors worldwide. Immune-related genes (IRGs) can predict prognoses of patients and the effects of immunotherapy. A series of colon cancer (CCa) samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed to provide a new perspective into this field.

Methods

Differential IRGs and IRGs with significant clinical outcomes (sIRGs) were calculated by the limma algorithm and univariate COX regression analysis. The potential molecular mechanisms of IRGs were detected by PPI, KEGG and GO analysis. Immune-related risk score model (IRRSM) was established based on multivariate COX regression analysis. Based on the median risk score of IRRSM, the high-risk group and low-risk group were distinguished. The expression levels of IHNBA and JAG2 and relationships between IHNBA and clinical features were verified by RT-qPCR.

Results

6 differential sIRGs of patients with CCa were selected by univariate COX regression analysis. Based on the sIRGs (INHBA, JAG2 and CCL19), the IRRSM was established to predict survival probability of CCa patients and to explore the potential correlations with clinical features. Furthermore, IRRSM reflected the infiltration status of 22 types of immune cells. The expression levels of IHNBA and JAG2 were higher in CCa tissues than that in adjacent normal tissues. The expression levels of IHNBA and JAG2 were increased in advanced T stages.

Conclusion

Our results illustrated that some sIRGs showed the latent value of predicting the prognoses of CCa patients and the clinical features. This study could provide a new insight for immune research and treatment strategies in CCa patients.
Recognize the role of CD146/MCAM in the osteosarcoma progression: an in vitro study
Authors: Lei Xing , Wang Kewei , Wang Wenbo , Jin Hao , Gu Wenguang , Chen Zhiguo , Wang Wei , Gao Kaituo , Wang Huan
Published: June 2021

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a common malignant bone tumor with poor prognosis. We previously reviewed that CD146 is correlated with multiple cancer progression, while its impact on OS is currently not systematically studied.

Methods

MG63 was transfected with lentivirus to express CD146 ectopically, and anti-CD146 neutralizing antibody ab75769 was used to inhibit 143B. Cyclic migration of MG63 and co-culture between MG63 and 143B were used to explore the role of OS malignancy in CD146 expression. The effect of OS cell medium (CM) on endothelium behaviors was assessed, and the expression changes of CD146 before and after co-culture of endothelium and OS were evaluated. Finally, the expression of CD146 in OS was detected under different culture conditions, including hyperoxia, low oxygen, high glucose and low glucose conditions.

Results

CD146 promoted the colony formation, migration, invasion and homotypic adhesion of OS cells, and reducing the concentration of soluble CD146 in the OS medium inhibited the proliferation, migration and lumen formation of the cultured endothelium. However, CD146 did not affect the adhesion between OS and endothelium, nor did co-culture of both sides affect the CD146 expression. Similarly, the proliferation, migration and CD146 expression of MG63 remained unchanged after many cycles of migration itself, as did its co-culture with 143B for expressing CD146. In addition, we also showed that high glucose promoted the expression of CD146 in OS, while hypoxia had the opposite effect.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that CD146 promotes OS progression by mediating pro-tumoral and angiogenic effects. Thus, CD146 could be a potential therapeutic target for OS, especially for OS patients with diabetes.
Plasmodium in the bone marrow: case series from a hospital in Pakistan, 2007–2015
Authors: Shaikh Muhammad Shariq , Ali Basim , Janjua Mahin , Akbar Ayesha , Haider Syed Arish , Moiz Bushra , Raheem Ahmed , Baird John Kevin , Beg Mohammad Asim
Published: June 2021

Background

Malaria is a life-threatening, multisystem disease caused by the plasmodial parasite with a global incidence of approximately 229 million annually. The parasites are known to have unique and crucial interactions with various body tissues during its life cycle, notably the liver, spleen, and recent work has shown the bone marrow to be a reservoir of infection.

Methods

This study is a case series of patients in whom examination of bone marrow revealed malarial parasites. A retrospective record review of 35 parasite-positive bone marrow specimens examined at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, Pakistan, over the years 2007 to 2015 was conducted. Bone marrow aspirates were collected as per International Council for Standardization in Haematology (ICSH) guidelines.

Results

The median age of patients was 22 years (range 1–75), and 60 % (n = 21) were male. 22 patients had evidence of Plasmodium falciparum, 12 had evidence of Plasmodium vivax and 1 patient had a mixed infection. Gametocytes and trophozoites were the most common stages identified on both peripheral blood and bone marrow examinations. Indications for bone marrow examination included fever of unknown origin and the workup of cytopenias and malignancies.

Conclusions

The incidental finding of Plasmodium in samples of bone marrow suggests the reticuloendothelial system may be regularly harbour these parasites, be the infection acute or chronic in character.
Polyethylene glycol-coated ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles-coupled sialyl Lewis X nanotheranostic platform for nasopharyngeal carcinoma imaging and photothermal therapy
Authors: Liu Qinmin , Liu Lijuan , Mo Chunwei , Zhou Xiao , Chen Dongming , He Yu , He Hailu , Kang Wei , Zhao Yongfeng , Jin Guanqiao
Published: June 2021

Background

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a type of head and neck malignant tumor with a high incidence in specific regional distribution, and its traditional therapies face some challenges. It has become an urgent need to seek new therapeutic strategies without or with low toxicity and side effects. At present, more and more researchers has been attracting attention by nanotheranostic platform. Therefore, our team synthesized the polyethylene glycol-coated ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles-coupled sialyl Lewis X (USPIO-PEG-sLex) nanotheranostic platform with high temperature pyrolysis.

Results

The USPIO-PEG-sLex nanoparticles had excellent photothermal conversion property, and the temperature of USPIO-PEG-sLex nanoparticles solution increased with its concentration and power density of near-infrared (NIR) on 808 nm wavelengths. Five USPIO-PEG-sLex nanoparticles with different concentrations of 0 mg/ml, 0.025 mg/ml, 0.05 mg/ml, 0.1 mg/ml and 0.2 mg/ml were prepared. The biological toxicity results showed that the viability of NPC 5-8F cells is related to the concentration of USPIO-PEG-sLex nanoparticles and the culture time (P < 0.001). The results of photothermal therapy (PTT) in vitro indicated that the viability of 5-8F cells decreased significantly with the concentration of USPIO-PEG-sLex nanoparticles increases (P < 0.001), and the viability of NPC 5-8F cells were 91.04% ± 5.20%, 77.83% ± 3.01%, 73.48% ± 5.55%, 59.50% ± 10.98%, 17.11% ± 3.14%, respectively. The USPIO-PEG-sLex nanoparticles could target the tumor area, and reduce the T2* value of tumor tissue. The T2* values of tumor pre- and post-injection were 30.870 ± 5.604 and 18.335 ± 4.351, respectively (P < 0.001). In addition, USPIO-PEG-sLex nanoparticles as a photothermal agent for PTT could effectively inhibit tumor progression. The ratio of volume change between tail vein injection group, control group, nanoparticles without laser irradiation group and blank group after 5 treatments were 3.04 ± 0.57, 5.80 ± 1.06, 8.09 ± 1.96, 7.89 ± 2.20, respectively (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our synthesized USPIO-PEG-sLex nanotheranostic platform, and it may be become a new strategy for the treatment of NPC.

Graphic Abstract
The influences of the environment and information on the complications of diabetes on patient outcomes
Authors: Inoue Kazuoki , Watanabe Jun , Kakehi Eiichi
Published: June 2021

This letter was written to address two concerns about the results of the paper published by Zeynep et al. (BMC Health Qual Life Outcomes 18:265, 2020). First, the differences between the two groups in the environment with or without occupation may strengthen the primary outcome results. Second, lack of information on the complications and treatments of diabetes makes interpretation of the results difficult.
A review of the biological and clinical implications of RAS-MAPK pathway alterations in neuroblastoma
Authors: Mlakar Vid , Morel Edouard , Mlakar Simona Jurkovic , Ansari Marc , Gumy-Pause Fabienne
Published: June 2021

Neuroblastoma is the most common extra-cranial solid tumor in children, representing approximately 8% of all malignant childhood tumors and 15% of pediatric cancer-related deaths. Recent sequencing and transcriptomics studies have demonstrated the RAS-MAPK pathway’s contribution to the development and progression of neuroblastoma. This review compiles up-to-date evidence of this pathway’s involvement in neuroblastoma. We discuss the RAS-MAPK pathway’s general functioning, the clinical implications of its deregulation in neuroblastoma, and current promising therapeutics targeting proteins involved in signaling.
Gene set enrichment analysis for genome-wide DNA methylation data
Authors: Maksimovic Jovana , Oshlack Alicia , Phipson Belinda
Published: June 2021

DNA methylation is one of the most commonly studied epigenetic marks, due to its role in disease and development. Illumina methylation arrays have been extensively used to measure methylation across the human genome. Methylation array analysis has primarily focused on preprocessing, normalization, and identification of differentially methylated CpGs and regions. GOmeth and GOregion are new methods for performing unbiased gene set testing following differential methylation analysis. Benchmarking analyses demonstrate GOmeth outperforms other approaches, and GOregion is the first method for gene set testing of differentially methylated regions. Both methods are publicly available in themissMethylBioconductor R package.
Spatial and temporal population dynamics of male and female Aedes albopictus at a local scale in Medellín, Colombia
Authors: Camargo Carolina , Alfonso-Parra Catalina , Díaz Sebastián , Rincon Diego F. , Ramírez-Sánchez Luis Felipe , Agudelo Juliana , Barrientos Luisa M. , Villa-Arias Sara , Avila Frank W.
Published: June 2021

Background

Diseases transmitted by invasive Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are public health issues in the tropics and subtropics. Understanding the ecology of mosquito vectors is essential for the development of effective disease mitigation programs and will allow for accurate predictions of vector occurrence and abundance. Studies that examine mosquito population dynamics are typically focused on female presence or total adult captures without discriminating the temporal and spatial distribution of both sexes.

Methods

We collected immature and adult mosquitoes bimonthly for 2 years (2018–2019) in the Medellín Botanical Garden. Collection sites differed in proximity to buildings and nearby vegetation, and were classified by their overhead vegetation cover. We used linear mixed models (LMMs) and Spatial Analysis by Distance Indices (SADIE) to assess the spatial distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Using our Ae. albopictus captures exclusively, we assessed (1) the spatial and temporal distribution of males and females using SADIE and a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), (2) the relationship between climatic variables/vegetation coverage and adult captures using GLMMs and LMMs, and (3) the correlation of male and female size in relation to climatic variables and vegetation coverage using LMMs.

Results

Spatial analysis showed that Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were distributed at different locations within the surveilled area. However, Ae. albopictus was the predominant species in the park during the study period. Adult Ae. albopictus captures were positively correlated with precipitation and relative humidity, and inversely correlated with temperature and wind speed. Moreover, we observed a spatial misalignment of Ae. albopictus males and females—the majority of males were located in the high vegetation coverage sites, while females were more evenly distributed. We observed significant associations of the size of our adult Ae. albopictus captures with precipitation, temperature, and wind speed for both sexes and found that overhead vegetation cover influenced male size, but observed no effect on female size.

Conclusions

Our work elucidates the differential dynamics of Ae. albopictus males and females, which is pivotal to develop accurate surveillance and the successful establishment of vector control programs based on the disruption of insect reproduction.

Graphical Abstract