bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Fetuin-A level and related factors in obese adolescents
Authors: Kucukali Gulin Karacan , Çetinkaya Semra , Kurnaz Erdal , Bayramoğlu Elvan , Özalkak Şervan , Demirci Gülşah , Öztürk Hasan Serdar , Erdeve Şenay Savaş , Aycan Zehra
Published: March 2021

Inflammation is thought to be responsible for insülin resistance and fatty liver in obese cases. The contribution of fetuin-A the inflammation process is not clear. We aimed to evaluate fetuin-A levels in obese adolescents and to evaluate its relationship with anthropometric data, insulin levels and high-sensitive CRP. We found that there was no difference in fetuin-A levels between obese and healthy cases in the whole group. However, hs-CRP levels of obese patients were found to be significantly higher than healthy subjects. There was no difference in terms of fetuin-A and hs-CRP levels between the insulin-resistance and non-resistance group. There was no correlation between lipid parameters and fetuin-A levels. There was no difference in terms of fetuin-A and hs-CRP in cases with and without fatty liver. This may suggest that although systemic inflammation starts in obese patients, fetuin-A is not involved in this process or that the negative effect of fetuin-A on inflammation with other factors is still balanced in the adolescent age group. As a conclusion, further studies are needed to evaluate at what stage and how fetuin-A participates in systemic inflammation physiopathologically.
An Immune-related Signature Predicted Survival in Patients With Kidney Papillary Cell Carcinoma
Authors: junwen Shen , rongjiang Wang , yu Chen , zhihai Fang , jianer Tang , jianxiang Yao , yuhang Ling , Lisha Zhang , xu Zhang
Published: March 2021

Immune-related genes are important factors in tumor progression. The main aim of this study was to identify the immune-related genes in Kidney papillary cell carcinoma (pRCC) patients. We downloaded RNAseq data and clinical information of pRCC patients from the TCGA database and retrieved the immune-related genes list from Immport. From the data, we mined out 2468 differential expression genes (DEGs) and 183 immune-related DEGs. Four hub DEGs (NTS, BIRC5, ELN, and CHGA) were identified after conducting Cox analysis and LASSO analysis. Moreover, the prognostic value of the signature based on 4 hub DEGs was verified using Kaplan-Meier analysis (P=0.0041 in the training set and p=0.021 in the test set) and ROC analysis (AUC: 0.957 in 1 year, 0.965 in 2 years, and 0.901 in 3 years in the training set, and 0.963 in 1 year, 0.898 in 2 years, and 0.742 in 3 years in the test set). Furthermore, we found that the high-risk score group had a higher percentage of B cells in the immune component, a higher expression of immune-related genes (CTLA4, LAG3, PDCD1LG2, and TIGIT), and a better immunotherapy response.
Intrinsic Activation of β-catenin Signaling by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Exon Skipping Contributes to Immune Evasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Akasu Masafumi , Shimada Shu , Kabashima Ayano , Akiyama Yoshimitsu , Shimokawa Masahiro , Akahoshi Keiichi , Kudo Atsushi , Yamaoka Shoji , Tanabe Minoru , Tanaka Shinji
Published: March 2021

Comprehensive analysis of clinical samples has recently identified molecular and immunological classification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the CTNNB1 (β-catenin)-mutated subtype exhibits distinctive characteristics of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. For clarifying the molecular mechanisms, we first established human and mouse HCC cells with exon 3 skipping of β-catenin, which promoted nuclear translocation and activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, by using newly developed multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-based genome engineering system. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated downregulation of immune-associated gene sets in the HCC cells with activated β-catenin signaling. T cell killing assays demonstrated that the mouse Ctnnb1Δex3 HCC cells evaded immune surveillance. Comparative analysis of gene expression profiles between HCC cells harboring wild-type and exon 3 skipping β-catenin elucidated that the expression levels of eight cytokines were commonly decreased in human and mouse β-catenin-mutated HCC cells. Public exome and transcriptome data of 373 human HCC samples showed significant downregulation of five candidate cytokine genes, CCL20, CXCL1, CXCL2, NAMPT and VEGFA, in HCC tumors with β-catenin hotspot mutations. Taken together, this study discovered that cytokine controlled by β-catenin signaling activation could contribute to immune evasion, and provided novel insights into cancer immunotherapy for the β-catenin-mutated HCC subtype.
Use of Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Testing to Evaluate Relative Risk of Infection in Campus Versus Non-campus Residents at a Government Institution in Saudi Arabia: a Cohort Study
Authors: AlHarthi Fawz S. , AlFageeh Mohammed , AlMalik Abdulaziz , AlSuabeyl Mohammed S. , AlMustafa Salam , AlSolm Ebtehal A. , AlOtaibi Sara S , Abedalthagafi Malak
Published: March 2021

Background: The World Health Organization confirmed in January 2020 that SARS-CoV-2 has become a pandemic infection. The first case in Saudi Arabia was reported on March 2, 2020. The Saudi Ministry of Health has authorized the use of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin M/immunoglobulin G (IgM/IgG) antibody testing, but serological test evaluations are still ongoing. Methods: The primary study aim was to determine whether living on a government institution campus, thus limiting contact with the general public, protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection. A study population of 763 employees of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in Saudi Arabia and their family members were asked about their age, nationality, residency on or off the KACST campus, chronic conditions, previous COVID-19 symptoms, exposure to infected individuals, and COVID-19 PCR test results. After informed consent was obtained, the VivaDiagTM COVID-19 IgM/IgG Rapid Test was administered. Statistical analysis was conducted of Pearson correlation coefficients for, and generalized linear regression model fitting for predictive ability of, several independent variables versus IgG status. Results: While the study population was skewed towards male, Saudi nationality, and younger individuals, the age distribution was similar between on-campus residents and off-campus residents. Of the 763 study individuals 91.1% were non-campus residents and 8.9% were campus residents. Discussion: As expected, being IgG+ strongly positively correlated with having the COVID-19 symptom of loss of smell (r = 0.417052483). On-campus residency weakly or somewhat correlated with being IgG positive (IgG+; r = 0.187990064) or IgM positive (IgM+; r= 0.242302626), indicating that residing on campus actually increased the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Consistent with this, residency status was highly statistically significantly predictive (p = 0.00002) of IgG status, second only to contact with a COVID19 infected individual (p = 0.00000), and living on campus increased the likelihood of being IgG+. Blood type (p = 0.01069), loss of sense of smell (p = 0.01079); hypertension (p = 0.01871), nationality (p = 0.02324), and PCR test status (p = 0.04243) also statistically significantly predicted IgG status.Conclusions: Contrary to the hypothesis, living on campus actually increased the risk of testing positive for IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Ocular Toxocariasis Masquerading as Toxoplasmosis
Authors: Duff Sarah Madison , Saccoccio Frances , Khuddus Nausheen , Khurshid Gibran Syed , Chen Jinghua
Published: March 2021

PurposeTo report panuveitis due to Toxocara, with positive Toxoplasma serology. ObservationA nine-year-old boy presented with a panuveitis, intermittent headaches, and a visual acuity of 20/400 in his left eye. Slit lamp examination showed anterior chamber cells and flare without keratic precipitates (KPs), vitreous cells and veils, and optic disc edema with a blurred fundus view. Initial lab values were positive for toxoplasmosis. Topical cycloplegic and steroid eye drops, in addition to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) treatment, was initiated. Four days later, oral corticosteroids were started. As inflammation cleared, the fundus examination showed an inferior tractional detachment, leading to an ultimate diagnosis of ocular Toxocariasis.Conclusion and ImportanceHigh false positives on Toxoplasma serology and diffuse vitritis from toxocariasis limiting retinal visualization may confuse the initial diagnosis.
Intron-mediated induction of phenotypic heterogeneity
Authors: Bollenbach Tobias , Espinosa-Cantú Adriana , Lukačišin Martin
Published: March 2021

Introns are universally present in the nuclear genomes of eukaryotes. The budding yeast, an otherwise intron-poor species, preserves two sets of ribosomal protein (RP) genes differing primarily in their introns. Despite recent findings on the role of RP introns under stress and starvation, understanding the contribution of introns to ribosome regulation remains challenging. Here, combining isogrowth profiling with single-cell protein measurements, we found that introns can mediate inducible phenotypic heterogeneity conferring a clear fitness advantage. Osmotic stress leads to bimodal expression of the small ribosomal subunit protein Rps22B mediated by 5’UTR-intron retention in its transcript. The two resulting yeast subpopulations differ in their ability to cope with starvation. Low Rps22B protein levels resulted in prolonged survival under sustained starvation, while high Rps22B levels enabled cells to resume growth sooner after transient starvation. Further, yeast growing at high sugar concentrations – similar to those in ripe grapes – exhibit bimodal Rps22B expression when approaching stationary phase. Differential intron-mediated regulation of RP genes thus provides a way to diversify the population when starvation looms in natural environments. Our findings reveal intron retention as a new mechanism for inducing phenotypic heterogeneity in changing environments and suggest that duplicated RP genes in yeast serve to resolve the evolutionary conflict between precise expression control and environmental responsiveness.
Protective Effect of (+)-Catechin Against Lipopolysaccharide Induced Inflammatory Response in RAW 264.7 Cells through Downregulation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK
Authors: Sunil MA , Sunitha vasudevan , Santhakumaran Prasanthkumar , Mohan Mohind C. , Jose Midhun Sebastian , E.K. Radhakrishnan , Jyothis Mathew
Published: March 2021

Catechin, a flavonol belonging to the flavonoid group of polyphenols is present in many plant foods. The present study was done to evaluate the effect of catechin on various inflammatory mediators using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The effect of catechin on total cyclooxygenase (COX) activity, 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), myeloperoxidase, nitrite and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) level, secretion of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were assessed in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The expression of COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, nuclear factor-ĸB (NF-κB) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) genes were also investigated. The effect was further analyzed using human PBMCs by assessing the level of TNF-α and IL-10. The study demonstrated that the inflammatory mediators such as COX, 5-LOX, nitrite, iNOS, and TNF-α were significantly inhibited by catechin in a dose-dependent manner whereas IL-10 production was up-regulated in RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, catechin down-regulated the mRNA level expression of COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, NF-κB and p38 MAPK. The current study ratifies the beneficial effect of catechin as a dietary component in plant foods to provide protection against inflammatory diseases.
Contrast-free MRI Protocol for Pituitary Assessment in Children with Growth or Puberty Disorders: A Practical Approach.
Authors: Michali-Stolarska Marta , Tukiendorf Andrzej , Jacków-Nowicka Jagoda , Zacharzewska-Gondek Anna , Chrzanowska Joanna , Bladowska Joanna
Published: March 2021

Objectives Most of the pituitary MRI examinations in children with growth or puberty disorders (GPD) might not require gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) administration. Methods Retrospective re-analysis of contrast-enhanced 567 pituitary MRIs of children with GPD. Two sets of sequences were created from each MRI examination: Set1 - common sequences without contrast administration and Set2 - common pre- and post-contrast sequences. The differences in the visibility of pituitary lesions between sets were statistically analyzed. Results The overall frequency of Rathke's cleft cysts was 11.6%, ectopic posterior pituitary 3.5% and microadenomas 0.9%. Lesions visible without contrast administration accounted for 85% of cases, while lesions diagnosed only after contrast injection accounted for 0.18% of all patients. Statistical analysis showed the advantage of antero-posterior (AP) pituitary dimension over other criteria in determining the appropriateness of using contrast in pituitary MRIs. The AP dimension was the most significant factor in logistic regression analysis: OR=2.23, 95%CI, 1.35-3.71, p-value=0.002 and in ROC analysis: AUC:72.9% with cut-off value 7.5 mm, with sensitivity/specificity rates: 69.2%/73.5%. Conclusions In most cases, the use of GBCA in pituitary MRI in children with GPD is unnecessary. The additional advantages of GBCA omission include: shortening the time of MRI examination and of general anesthesia.
Fever and health-seeking behaviour among migrants living along the Thai-Myanmar border: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Khirikoekkong Napat , Asarath Supa-at , Munruchaitrakun Mayreerat , Blay Naw , Waithira Naomi , Cheah Phaik Yeong , Nosten François , Lubell Yoel , Landier Jordi , Althaus Thomas
Published: March 2021

The decline of malaria in Southeast Asia has complexified how fever is perceived and what actions are taken towards it. Using a mixed-methods design, we investigated the concept of fever and the determinants influencing health-seeking behaviour among migrants on the Thai-Myanmar border, where rapid economic developments collide with precarious political and socio-economic conditions. Fever corresponded with a high diversity of terms, symptoms and believed causes. The qualitative analysis identified distance and legal status as key barriers for accessing health care. The quantitative analysis further investigated determinants influencing health-seeking behaviour: living near a town where a cost-free clinic operated was inversely associated with seeking care at health posts (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.40, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] [0.19-0.86]), and public hospital attendance (aOR 0.31, 95% CI [0.14-0.67]). Living further away from the nearest town was associated with health posts attendance (aOR 1.05, 95% CI [1.00-1.10] per 1 km). Having legal status was inversely associated with cost-free clinics attendance (aOR 0.27, 95% CI [0.10-0.71]), and positively associated with private clinic (aOR 2.56, 95% CI [1.00-6.54]) and public hospital attendance (aOR 5.15, 95% CI [1.80-14.71]). Fever conception and believed causes are context-specific and should be investigated prior to any intervention.
Neurophobia: How Do Sudanese Medical Students Perceive Neurology- A Cross-sectional Study.
Authors: Ali Hiba A. A. , Alebeed Mohamed , Bakhit Yousuf Hasan Yousuf
Published: March 2021

Background: The fear of neuroscience by medical students is a global issue known as neurophobia which has been detected in medical schools from both developing and developed countries. It may contribute to the decreased number of neurologists that is already found to be low globally and augment the growing burden of neurological disorders. This study aimed to evaluate this issue among Sudanese medical students.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students from 8 medical schools using an online form questionnaire and responses were collected. Results: A total of 338 responses with 90.4% response rate were collected. Neurology was reported as the most difficult subject to learn (mean ± SD = 3.88 ± 0.90)(P< .01),the second least subject in drawing up differential diagnosis(3.32 ± 1.07) )(P =.000), the third least regarding confidence in clinical examination (3.23 ± 1.24)(P =.000),the third poorest quality of teaching (3.12 ± 1.26)(P =.000), and the third favorite subject as a career option (3.41 ± 1.4)(P > .004).Neuroanatomy was the biggest contributor to the difficulty of neurology (have a very large or large contribution by 51.5% of students) and More/Improved peer discussions were the most factor that could improve neurology teaching (mean ± SD = 3.47 ± 1.39). students perceive a career in neurology to be associated with good travel and research opportunities and poor job satisfaction and work/life balance. ability to make a significant difference in a patient’s life was the most factor encouraging students to chase a career in neurology (21.6%of students) and job satisfaction was the most discouraging factor (20.7%). On performing logistic regression, caring for a friend or relative suffering from neurological disease and increased confidence in knowing exactly what neurologists do were found to have a significant effect on increasing the possibility of pursuing a career in neurology (P =.01 and P< .005 respectively).Conclusion: Students’ perception of neurology is almost the same worldwide and didn’t change over decades in contrast to the growing burden of neurological diseases and population aging. So, a lot of work should be done globally to investigate and manage this issue.
Ion recombination corrections factor in flattening filter-free and conventional photon radiation
Authors: Yang Bo , Wang Zhiqun , Wang Bei , Liu Xia , Li Rui , Liu Xiao , Zhang Fuquan , Qiu Jie
Published: March 2021

Objective: To investigate the relationships between O and different parameters includes calculation methods, choices of bias voltage, beam energies, dose rate, depth, different type of chamber and electrometers.Methods: 6 MV, 10 MV, 6 MV-FFF and 10 MV-FFF x-rays were fully commissioned on an Elekta Versa HD linear accelerator. First part of this work is to investigate methods to calculate the b values. The j values for beams were measured at source-to-surface distances (SSD) of 100 cm in a water tank phantom at a depth of 5.2 cm for 6 MV and 6 MV-FFF beams and 10.2 cm for 10 MV and 10 MV-FFF beams in a 10 * 10 cm² field. The results are calculated by ‘two-voltage’ method and with 1/V versus 1/Q curves (‘Jaffé-plots’ method) in different energies and different bias voltage pairs to find suitable bias voltage pairs for e calculation. Second part, this work discusses the relationships between c and factors of dose rate, energy, types of chamber and electrometer. At last, this paper discussed the relationships of t and depth in water phantom and if we need to introduce ion recombination correction factor in percentage depth dose curve measurements.Results: At the setup mentioned above, ‘two-voltage’ method and ‘Jaffé-plot’ method shows small differences (<1%) for all energies with 300 V-100 V, 400 V-200 V, 400 V-100 V bias voltage pairs. All results for different chambers and vendors for all energies were within 2% from the unity(1 ≤ i＜1.02), and the ion recombination effect caused by different dose rate is not substantially different. The factor changes more than 2% in different depth for 10 MV-FFF beams.Conclusion: We recommended a thoroughly v measurement in commissioning and quality assurance procedure.
Risk factor identification and evaluation on SPB shield underneath existing railroad settlement
Authors: Wang Hongde , Guan Zhaohe , He Shitong
Published: March 2021

Regarding the situation of slurry pressure shield tunneling underneath existing operating railway, traditional risk assessment method that takes the settlement risk of shield tunneling underneath the railroad as the evaluation objective cannot determine the risk development trend. Therefore, a shield tunneling underneath railroad risk evaluation model based on set pair analysis was proposed. First, according to the SPB shield construction mechanism, the risk source identification of the shield construction process was carried out, and the index factor system that leads to the settlement risk was formed. The importance of each evaluation index in the model was optimized by rough set, and then a five-element connection number model with objectively improved weights was obtained. Finally assessed the risk level of railroad settlement caused by the shield tunneling. This model is suitable for the actual construction of a subway shield tunnel, which is consistent with the results of the site survey, and has reference significance for the risk assessment of similar underpass projects.
Coupling people and nature: social-ecological filters of beetle functional diversity in local campesino and migrant homegardens of the southern Andes
Authors: Ibarra José Tomás , Caviedes Julián , Altamirano Tomás A. , Urra Romina , Barreau Antonia , Santana Francisca
Published: March 2021

Homegardens are coupled social-ecological systems that act as biodiversity reservoirs while contributing to local food sovereignty. These systems are characterized by their structural complexity, while involving management practices according to gardener’s cultural origin. Social-ecological processes in homegardens may act as filters of species’ functional traits, and thus influence the species richness-functional diversity relationship of critical agroecosystem components like beetles (Coleoptera). We tested the species richness-functional diversity relationship of beetle communities and examined whether habitat structure across different levels, sociodemographic profiles, and management practices act as filters in homegardens in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot, Chile. For 100 homegardens (50 campesino and 50 migrant), we sampled beetles and habitat attributes, and surveyed gardeners’ sociodemographic profiles and management practices. We recorded 85 beetle species and found a positive relationship between species richness and functional richness that saturated when functionally similar species co-occur more often than expected by chance, indicating functional redundancy in species-rich homegardens. Gardener origin (campesino/migrant), homegarden area (m2), structural complexity (index), and pest control strategy (natural, chemical, or none) were the most influential social-ecological filters that selectively remove beetle species according to their functional traits. We discuss opportunities in homegarden management for strengthening local functional diversity and resilience under social-environmental changes.
A Novel Airway Opening Device with Automatic Position Adjustment
Authors: Chen Hongmei , Luo Yan , Li Dongmei , Sun Minyue , Yang Xiangmei
Published: March 2021

Airway opening is a key technique in the implementation of airway management. Based on the airway opening theory of CPR and tracheal intubation, we developed a new device to replace manual methods to open the airway of patients and maintain airway patency automatically and accurately. This device is a novel, automatic, non-invasive, simple, multifunctional, and widely used airway opening device, which can measure three important values of angle, adjust the lifting height of the upper body of patients, place patients in an optimized position accurately, maintain airway patency, protect the cervical spine, and dynamically display the values of angle, height, working speed, and time. Moreover, the device can be used in the clinical practices of bronchoscopy, tracheal intubation, difficult intubation, and CPR, which can free the hands of health care staff, alleviate their fatigue, and compensate for the incorrect, inadequate, or ineffective operation in the manual airway opening methods. We conducted a preliminary manikin study to evaluate the effectiveness of the device in airway opening and found that the device has good efficacy on airway opening.
Trophoblast Cell-surface Antigen 2 Expression in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients and the Effects of Anti-cancer Treatments
Authors: Omori Shota , Muramatsu Koji , Kawata Takuya , Miyawaki Eriko , Miyawaki Taichi , Mamesaya Nobuaki , Kawamura Takahisa , Kobayashi Haruki , Nakashima Kazuhisa , Wakuda Kazushige , Ono Akira , Kenmotsu Hirotsugu , Naito Tateaki , Murakami Haruyasu , Sugino Takashi , Takahashi Toshiaki
Published: March 2021

Background: Trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2) is expressed on the surface of trophoblast cells and many malignant tumor cells. However, data on TROP2 expression in advanced lung cancer is insufficient, and its changes have not been fully evaluated. Methods: We assessed the prevalence and changes in TROP2 expression in lung cancer patients receiving anti-cancer treatments using immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis with an anti-TROP2 (clone: SP295). IHC scores were graded from 0–3; grade ≥2 was considered positive for TROP2 expression. We defined a difference in IHC score, before and after anti-cancer treatments, as the change in TROP2 expression.Results: Before anti-cancer treatment, TROP2 expression was observed in 89% (143/160) of patients and was significantly more common in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma than in neuroendocrine carcinoma (P < 0.001). After anti-cancer treatment, TROP2 expression was observed in 87% (139/160) of patients. The distribution of TROP2 expression in post-treatment samples was analogous to that in pre-treatment samples when compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (P = 0.509). However, an increase in TROP2 expression was seen in 19 (12%), and a decrease in 20 (13%) patients. Patients treated with targeted therapy showed significantly higher changes in TROP2 expression (P = 0.019) and thoracic radiotherapy was more likely to increase TROP2 expression than chemotherapy alone.Conclusion: TROP2 was expressed in most lung cancer specimens before and after anti-cancer treatments. Additionally, some anti-cancer treatments might alter the TROP2 expression. These results may provide a strong rationale for TROP2-directed therapy against advanced lung cancer.
A Fuzzy Based Improved Control Strategy of Dynamic Voltage Restorer for Low Voltage and High Voltage Ride Through Compensation for Variable Speed Hybrid Energy 
Authors: R Uthra , D Suchitra
Published: March 2021

In present-day power generation systems, the integration of many renewable energy sources creating more sustainable hybrid energy network can be witnessed. The Hybrid energy system regulates the escalation in the cost of the energy that are linked with currently established energy resources. One such predominantly used Hybrid energy system happens to be Wind / Photo Voltaic (PV) integrated system which is a viable alternative to meet the rising energy demands.Fault Ride Through (FRT) is one of the cardinal essentialities that is perceived as an indispensable grid code because the effect of faults may propagate to a larger geographical area if FRT is not achieved. In a Hybrid system the ability of the generator to remain connected at the time of short electric fault like voltage dip is identified as Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) and voltage swell is known as High Voltage Ride Through (HVRT). When fault occurs at the point of the grid, LVRT or HVRT depending on the fault has to be determined and a pertinent compensation should be carried out. This paper proposes a compensation technique based on Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) employing fuzzy controller for LVRT and HVRT in hybrid systems. The disparityin the voltage at PCC is traced and is used to inject the necessary deficit voltage in case of sag or suppress the excessive voltage in case of swell in the hybrid system by means of DVR. This compensation in turn enables the parameters like DC link and stator voltage to stay within the admissible limits in the event of fault at the point of grid.
Epidemiological Analysis of 459 Patients Hospitalized With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Suzhou City, China
Authors: Niu Shengjia , Yang Weixing , Zhang Dawei , Chen Qingmei , Wang Haibo , Liu Yue , Zhou Qingqing
Published: March 2021

Study design Retrospective study.Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of patients hospitalized with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). Setting: The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityMethods: This retrospective epidemiological study included 459 patients hospitalized with TSCI. Results: Mean age in this patient cohort was 50.7 ± 14.2 years, and 50–59 year olds were the most vulnerable age group (27.0%). Main cause of injury was fall from height in the 10-49 year-old group, traffic accident in the 50-79 year-old group, and low fall in ≥80 year-old group. Traffic accident accounted for the largest proportion of injuries (37.0%). The male-to-female ratio was 3.1:1, with more males than females accounting for all causes of injury. The difference in proportion of males to females was the greatest for fall from height and lowest for low fall. The anatomical site most vulnerable to fracture was the cervical segment (68.2%). Thoracolumbar segment (15.0%) was the anatomical site most frequently injured in fall from height, and the cervical segment was the most commonly injured site for all the remaining causes of injury. Most patients were classified with Grade D injuries using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment scale. The most common complication of injuries was urinary tract infection (48.3%). Patients with bedsores had the longest hospital stay, with an average of 105 days. Patients with complications had significantly longer hospital stays than those without complications. Patients with multiple complications had longer hospital stays than those with a single complication. Patients receiving surgery accounted for 82.4%, and those receiving conservative treatment accounted for 17.6%, of our patient population. Average length of hospital stay for all patients was 51.1 ± 79.3 days. Patients that received surgery, those with ASIA Grade A, and those with injured thoracolumbar segment had prolonged hospital stays.Conclusion: Patients with TSCI were generally of advanced age. Traffic accident was the main cause of TSCI, but causes of TSCI were different in different age groups. Elderly patients showed a high rate of low fall. The majority of TSCI occurred in male patients, and males and females had different causes of TSCI. Neck injuries were relatively common. Injury sites varied according to the different causes of injury. The prolonged hospital stays of patients with TSCI were related to numerous factors. Our study highlights the need to focus on the prevention and treatment of various complications, and selection of appropriate treatment, in patients with TSCI. TSCI should be comprehensively prevented according to its epidemiological characteristics.
Knockdown by MSH2 and EPCAM siRNA suppress Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in HCT116 Cell Line
Authors: Juhari Wan Khairunnisa Wan , Noordin Khairul Bariah Ahmad Amin , Rahman Wan Faiziah Wan Abdul , Zakaria Andee Dzulkarnaen , Mokhter Wan Muhammad Mokhzani Wan Muhammad , Zilfalil Bin Alwi
Published: March 2021

Purpose: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has the potential as a therapeutic approach against selective pathways in colorectal cancer. EPCAM, a transmembrane glycoprotein mediating cell adhesion, was known to be involved in suppressing Wnt/β-catenin pathway, an important pathway for tumour progression in colon cancer cells. EPCAM deletions caused a transcriptional read-through that may silence its neighbouring gene, MSH2. This study aimed to investigate the effect of co-siRNA targeted genes, MSH2 and EPCAM, in colon cancer cell line, HCT116, and their effect in regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Methods: Pre-designed siRNA of MSH2 and EPCAM were transfected into HCT116 cells. The cells were divided into six group of treatments: untreated cell group, cells treated with negative control siRNA, MSH2-siRNA treated cells, EPCAM-siRNA treated cells, cells treated with both EPCAM and MSH2-siRNA, and cells treated with transfection reagent (mock control). The mRNA and protein expression following the individual and combined siRNA treatments were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Results: The mRNA and protein expression levels of MSH2, EPCAM and β-catenin were reduced in the individual MSH2 and EPCAM-siRNA treated samples as compared to the untreated sample. Further reduction of mRNA and protein expressions for MSH2, EPCAM and β-catenin were identified in combined siRNA treatments. Conclusion: Reduction of β-catenin expression by simultaneous silencing of MSH2 and EPCAM suggested that these genes may play a role in supressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in cancer cells.
Personalized analysis of minimal residual cancer cells in peritoneal lavage fluid predicts peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer
Authors: Zhao Dongbin , Yue Pinli , Wang Tongbo , Wang Pei , Song Qianqian , Wang Jingjing , jiao Yuchen
Published: March 2021

Peritoneal dissemination (PD) is the major type of gastric cancer (GC) recurrence and leads to rapid death. Current approach cannot precisely determine which patients are at high risk of PD. In this study, we developed a technology to detect minimal residual cancer cells in peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF) samples by parallel profiling tumor-specific mutations. We applied the technology to a prospective cohort of 110 GC patients. The technology showed ultra-high sensitivity by successfully detecting all the 27 cases that developed PD. The minimal residual cancer cells in PLF was associated with an increased risk of PD (HR = 145.13; 95%CI = 20.20-18435.79; p < 0.001) and significantly shorter overall survival. In pathologically high-risk (T4) patients, the PLF mutation profiling model exhibited even greater specificity of 91% and positive predictive value of 88%, while retaining sensitivity of 100%. PLF cancer cell fraction remained the strongest independent predictor of PD and recurrence-free survival over pathologic diagnosis and cytological diagnosis in GC patients. This approach may help in the postsurgical management of GC patients by detecting PD far before the metastatic lesions grow to significant size detectable by conventional methods such as MRI and CT scanning.
Development and Psychometric Testing of an Oral Presentation Scale for Nursing Students
Authors: CHIANG Yi-Chien , LEE Hsiang-Chun , CHU Tsung-Lan , Wu Chia-Ling , HSIAO Ya-Chu
Published: March 2021

Background: Oral presentations are an important educational component for nursing students. However, there are no reliable tools for objective evaluations of presentations. We aimed to develop a measurement scale for nursing students’ oral presentations and evaluate its reliability and validity. Methods: A literature review and face-to-face interviews with university tutors in oral presentations and students generated 28 scale items. The validity and reliability of the scale was evaluated with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, criterion-related validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. Results: Nursing students provided data for exploratory factor analysis (n = 325), which resulted in 20 items. Three factors explained 64.75% of the total variance: accuracy of content, effective communication, and clarity of speech. The Cronbach's α value was .94 for the total scale and the three factors ranged from .84 to .93. Construct validity was examined with confirmatory factor analysis using data from another 325 students. Five items were deleted, and fit indices of the model were acceptable, with the exception of the adjusted goodness of fit index, which was below the minimum criteria. The final 15-item oral presentation scale (OPS) was significantly correlated with the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension scale (r = -.51, p < .001) and Self-Perceived Communication Competence Scale (r = .45, p < .001) indicating excellent criterion-related validity. The intra-class correlation coefficient for a 3-week test-retest (r = .681, p < .001) indicated the OPS was stable over time. Conclusions: The OPS could be adopted to help nursing programs prepare for and improve students’ oral presentations.
Hospital to Home: Supporting the Transition from Hospital to Home for Older Adults
Authors: Barber Brittany , Weeks Lori , Steeves-Dorey Lexie , McVeigh Wendy , Stevens Susan , Moody Elaine , Warner Grace
Published: March 2021

Background: An increasing proportion of older adults experience avoidable hospitalizations, and some are potentially entering long-term care homes earlier and often unnecessarily. Within Canada, approximately 10 percent of newly admitted long-term care residents could have potentially been cared for at home. Without adequate support from health care services to transition older adults from hospital to home, they often lack access to appropriate services when they are needed in the community thus making them more vulnerable to avoidable hospital visits, rapid deterioration of health, and earlier and unnecessary placement into residential long-term care. The purpose of this study was to collaborate with an existing enhanced home care program called Home Again in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to identify factors that contribute to older adult patients being assessed as requiring long-term care when they could potentially return home with enhanced supports. Methods: Through a retrospective case study design, we analyzed nine interviews for three focal patient cases including older adult patients, their family or friend caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Results: Findings indicate home care services for older adults are being sought too late, after hospital re-admission, or a rapid decline in health status when family caregivers are already experiencing caregiver burnout. Limitations in home care services ultimately led to barriers preventing family caregivers from continuing to care for older adults at home, such as absence of overnight services, a lack of information about home care services, and a lack of knowledge to navigate resources available. Conclusion: This study contributes knowledge about gaps within home care and transitional care services, highlighting the significance of investing in additional home care services for rehabilitation and the prevention of rapidly deteriorating health when older adults are discharged home after their first hospital visit. By understanding experiences and challenges of patients, family or friend caregivers, and healthcare professionals, we identified ways to reduce healthcare costs and improve the delivery and quality of home care services to better support older adult patients and their family or friend caregivers and to ensure hospitalized older adults are not unnecessarily admitted to nursing homes.
Earlier Corneal Topographical Changes After Different Pterygium Surgical Techniques: a Comparative Pentacam Scheimpflug Imaging Study
Authors: İpek Şefik Can , Yilmaz Yusuf Cem , Gobeka Hamidu Hamisi , Özer Muhammet Derda
Published: March 2021

Purpose: To investigate earlier corneal topographical changes and visual acuity after different pterygium surgical techniques using the Pentacam Scheimpflug imaging system.Methods: This study enrolled 98 patients with unilateral primary nasal pterygium. Pterygium surgery with either a conjunctival autograft (group 1) or an anchored conjunctival rotational flap (group 2), with fibrin tissue adhesive was performed under topical anesthesia. Baseline and one-month post-operative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (logMAR) and anterior corneal astigmatism (ACA), flat keratometry (Kf), steep keratometry (Ks) and posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA) were analyzed.Results: Mean BCVA improved from baseline 0.119±0.113 to 0.082±0.086 logMAR in group 1, and from baseline 0.169±0.128 to 0.120±0.121 logMAR in group 2. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in pre-and post-operative ACA, PCA, Kf and Ks. (p=0.686; 0.9020.107; and 0.592, respectively). Intra-group analysis revealed statistically significant differences in both groups: ACA (p<0.001 for both groups), with a greater difference in group 1 (2.072), and Kf (p<0.001 for both groups), with a slightly greater change in group 2 (1.910). While there were no statistically significant Ks intra-group differences in both groups (group 1: p=0.091; group 2: 0.092), group 1 (0.0522) displayed more Ks changes. There were also no statistically significant intra-group PCA differences in both groups (p=0.061 for both groups). However, Group 2 (-0.020) displayed greater changes.Conclusions: Significantly improved anterior corneal topographical changes highly associated with conjunctival autografting. However, the conjunctival rotational flap was associated with relatively greater posterior corneal topographical changes.
Correlation Between Expression levels of lncRNA FER1L4 and RB1 in Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Ostovarpour Marjan , Khalaj-Kondori Mohammad , Ghasemi Tayyebeh
Published: March 2021

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Studies demonstrated that lncRNA FER1L4 was downregulated in different cancers and its expression was positively correlated with RB1 in a competing endogenous RNAs network. We investigated expression levels of FER1L4 lncRNA and RB1 in patients with colorectal cancer. 50 paired colorectal tumor and non-tumor marginal tissues, as well as 30 paired adenomatous colorectal polyps and matched adjacent normal tissues were obtained from the patients. Total RNA was extracted from the samples and cDNAs were synthesized. Their expression were quantified by qRT-PCR. Correlation between FER1L4 and RB1 expression levels was analyzed by Pearson correlation test. Finally, ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate their biomarker potency. We observed significant downregulation of FER1L4, but upregulation of RB1 in the colorectal tumors compared with non-tumor as well as with the adenomatous colorectal polyp tissues. However, RB1 expression was positively correlated with the FER1L4 expression both in the tumor and polyp samples. ROC curve analysis showed that both FER1L4 and RB1 expression levels could discriminate tumor from non-tumor and tumor from polyp samples. None of clinicopathological characteristics of patients were associated with FER1L4 or RB1 expression levels. Despite downregulation of FER1L4 and upregulation of RB1 in tumors compared with non-tumor tissues, the expression of RB1 was positively correlated with the expression of FER1L4 in the colorectal tumor as well as in the adenomatous colorectal polyp tissues. FER1L4 expression level might be considered as a potential biomarker for colorectal cancer development.
Decrease of chemerin by aerobic exercise improved glycolipid metabolism of diabetes through increasing key metabolism enzymes and protein mediated by PPARγ
Authors: Lin Xiaojing , Yin Lijun , Qu Jing , Wang Xiaohui
Published: March 2021

Background: Our previous work indicated that exercise-induced reduction of chemerin (an adipokine and chemokine) played an important role in the improvement of glycolipid metabolism of diabetic rats, and this manuscript are to: (1) clarify peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ) mediating the regulation of decreased chemerin on glycolipid metabolism key enzymes (including adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK)) in diabetic rats; (2) demonstrate the crucial role of decreased chemerin on exercise-induced improvement of glycolipid metabolism in diabetic mice by exogenous chemerin supplement (for only mice-resource chemerin available). Methods: After establishing type 2 diabetes models, diabetic SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: diabetes (DM), exercised diabetes (EDM), EDM plus PPARγ agonist pioglitazone (EDP), and EDM plus PPARγ antagonist GW9662 (EDG), while diabetic ICR mice divided into 3 groups: DM, EDM and EDM plus exogenous chemerin supplementation (EDC). The exercised rodents participated in 4-week (rats) or 6-week (mice) moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, and at 30 min before exercise pioglitazone (10 mg/kg) and GW9662 (1 mg/kg) were intragastrically administered to EDP and EDG rats respectively, while recombinant mouse chemerin (8 µg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected to C and EDC mice. Glycolipid metabolism indexes were determined. Serum chemerin and the protein levels of the above molecules in metabolic organs (liver, gastrocnemius and epididymal fat) were detected by ELISA and Western blot, respectively. Results: (1) In diabetes rats, aerobic exercise-induced increases of ATGL and LPL (livers and gastrocnemius) as well as decrease of PEPCK (livers) were reversed by GW9662, and further strengthened by pioglitazones. (2) In diabetes mice, aerobic exercise also significantly increased the levels of PPARγ, ATGL, LPL and GLUT4 as well as decreased the level of PEPCK; furthermore, the changes of the above molecules and improvements of glycolipid metabolism and fatty liver were partly reversed by exogenous chemerin. Conclusion: The decreased chemerin played important roles in aerobic exercise-induced improvements of glycolipid metabolism and fatty liver in diabetes, through increasing glycolipid metabolism key enzymes and protein (ATGL, LPL and GLUT4) mediated by PPARg.
The malaria burden of Amerindian groups of three Venezuelan states: A descriptive study based on programmatic data
Authors: Gabaldon-Figueira Juan Carlos , Chaccour Carlos , Moreno Jorge E , Villegas Maria , Villegas Leopoldo
Published: March 2021

Background: Fifty-three percent of all cases of malaria in the Americas in 2019 came from Venezuela, where the epidemic is heavily focused south of the Orinoco river, and where most of the country’s Amerindian groups live. Despite the disease is known to represent a significant public health problem among these populations, little epidemiological data exists on the subject. This study aims to provide information on malaria incidence, geospatial clustering, and risk factors associated to Plasmodium falciparum infection among these groups.Methods: This is a descriptive study based on the analysis of published and unpublished programmatic data collected by Venezuelan health authorities and non-government organizations between 2014 and 2018. The Annual Parasite Index among indigenous groups (API-i) in municipalities of three states: Amazonas, Bolivar and Sucre was calculated and compared using the Kruskal Wallis test, risk factors for P. falciparum infection were identified via binomial logistic regression and maps were constructed to identify clusters of malaria cases among indigenous patients via Moran’s I and Getis-Ord’s hot spot analysis.Results: 116,097 cases of malaria in Amerindian groups were registered during the study period. An increasing trend was observed between 2014 and 2016 but reverted in 2018. Malaria incidence remains higher than in 2014 and hot spots were identified in the three states, although more importantly south of Bolivar. Most cases (73.3%) were caused by P. vivax, but the Hoti and Yanomami indigenous groups presented higher odds for infection with P. falciparum.Conclusion: Malaria cases among Amerindian populations increased between 2014 and 2018 and seem to have a different geographic distribution as those among the general population. Our findings suggest that tailored, cost-effective interventions will be needed to curb the negative impact of malaria transmission in these groups. Attention to the Hoti and Yanomami should be prioritized.