bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prompt closure versus gradual weaning of extraventricular drainage for hydrocephalus in adult patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: a systematic review protocol with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
Authors: Capion Tenna , Lilja-Cyron Alexander , Juhler Marianne , Mathiesen Tiit Illimar , Wetterslev Jørn
Published: October 2019

Introduction

In Neuro Intensive Care Units (NICU) and neurosurgical units, patients with an external ventricular drain (EVD) due to hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) are commonly seen. Cessation of the EVD involves the dilemma of either closing the EVD directly, or gradually weaning it before removal. Development of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and acute hydrocephalus with subsequent need of a permanent shunt has been associated with prompt closure of theEVD, whereas increased risk of infection with possible spreading to the brain and subsequent patient fatality is suspected in connection to a longer treatment as seen in gradual weaning. Sparse data exist on the recommendation of cessation strategy and patients are currently being treated on the basis of personal experience and expert opinion. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the available evidence from clinical trials on the effects of prompt closure versus gradual weaning of EVD treatment for hydrocephalus in adult patients with SAH.

Methods and analysis

We will search for randomised clinical trials in major international databases. Two authors will independently screen and select references for inclusion, extract data and assess the methodological quality of the included randomised clinical trials using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Any disagreement will be resolved by consensus. We will analyse the extracted data using Review Manager and trial sequential analysis. To assess the quality of the evidence, we will create a ‘Summary of Findings’ table containing our primary and secondary outcomes using the GRADE assessment.

Ethics and dissemination

Results will be published widely according to the interest of the society. No possible impact, harm or ethical concerns are expected doing this protocol.

Trial registration number

PROSPERO CRD42018108801
Effects of active smoking on postoperative outcomes in hospitalised patients undergoing elective surgery: a retrospective analysis of an administrative claims database in Japan
Authors: Yoshikawa Reiko , Katada Jun
Published: October 2019

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of smoking on prognosis after elective surgeries. Incidence of 30-day postoperative complications was compared between propensity score-matched ‘ever-smoker’ and ‘never-smoker’ cohorts. Thirty-day mortality and medical costs during the hospital stay were also compared.

Design and setting

A large-scale retrospective study using deidentified administrative claims data obtained from 372 acute care hospitals across Japan using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination system (ie, a flat-fee payment system).

Participants

Inpatients who were hospitalised to undergo elective surgery.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary endpoint of this study was incidence of 30-day postoperative complications. Secondary endpoints were 30-day mortality and total medical costs during hospitalisation. Comparison between ever-smokers and never-smokers was conducted using matched cohorts created by 1:1 propensity score matching.

Results

Using 561 598 eligible patients, matched ever-smoker and never-smoker cohorts (n=1 55 593 each) were created. Ever-smokers were defined as patients with Brinkman Index ≥1. The percentage of patients who were male was 76.7%, and mean ages for ever-smokers and never-smokers were 65.1±13.8 years old and 66.4±15.3 years old, respectively. The Brinkman Index of the ever-smoker cohort was 677.6±553.4. Smoking was significantly associated with higher risk of 30-day postoperative complications compared with not smoking (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.17, p<0.001). Similarly, smoking was significantly associated with postoperative 30-day mortality, with OR of 1.22 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.39, p=0.002).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that smoking could be associated with risk of poor postoperative outcomes. In particular, a history of smoking may increase the risk of 30-day postoperative complications as well as that of 30-day mortality. The results suggest that smoking might have a harmful effect on postoperative outcomes irrespective of types of surgery.
Modelling the costs and consequences of reducing healthcare-associated infections by improving hand hygiene in an average hospital in England
Authors: Guest Julian F , Keating Tomas , Gould Dinah , Wigglesworth Neil
Published: October 2019

Objective

To assess the potential clinical and economic impact of introducing an electronic audit and feedback system into current practice to improve hand hygiene compliance in a hypothetical general hospital in England, to reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs).

Methods

Decision analysis estimated the impact of introducing an electronic audit and feedback system into current practice to improve hand hygiene compliance among front-line healthcare practitioners (HCPs).

Results

The model assumed 4.7% of adult inpatients (ie, ≥18 years of age) and 1.72% of front-line HCPs acquire a HCAI in current practice. The model estimated that if use of the electronic audit and feedback system could lead to a reduction in the incidence of HCAIs of between 5% and 25%, then the annual number of HCAIs avoided could range between 184 and 921 infections per hospital and HCAI-related mortality could range between 6 and 31 deaths per annum per hospital. Additionally, up to 86 days of absence among front-line HCPs could be avoided and up to 7794 hospital bed days could be released for alternative use. Accordingly, the total annual hospital cost attributable to HCAIs could be reduced by between 3% and 23%, depending on the effectiveness of the electronic audit and feedback system. If introduction of the electronic audit and feedback system into current practice could lead to a reduction in the incidence of HCAIs by at least 15%, it would have a ≥0.75 probability of affording the National Health Service (NHS) a cost-effective intervention.

Conclusion

If the introduction of the electronic audit and feedback system into current practice in a hypothetical general hospital in England can improve hand hygiene compliance among front-line HCPs leading to a reduction in the incidence of HCAIs by ≥15%, it would potentially afford the NHS a cost-effective intervention.
From big data mining to technical sport reports: the case of inertial measurement units
Authors: Rojas-Valverde Daniel , Gómez-Carmona Carlos D , Gutiérrez-Vargas Randall , Pino-Ortega Jose
Published: October 2019

The inertial measurement units (IMU) are instruments used to quantify the external load of athletes; they are increasingly common in assessing team and individual sports. This type of instruments has several sensors, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers; this allows access to a large amount of information and analysis possibilities. Due to the complexity of synthesising this data, it is necessary to create a flow for collecting, analysing and presenting the collected data in a simple way and present it as quickly as possible to the technical staff. This report aims to present new methods of reduction of the data and propose a new approach method for the analysis of the IMU’s outcomes.
Conformal hypofractionated radiotherapy for dogs with large adrenal tumours
Authors: Maruo Takuya , Ito Tetsuro , Kanai Eiichi , Nemoto Yuki , Nishiyama Yuta
Published: October 2019

Adrenalectomy has been recognised as the treatment of choice for adrenal tumours. However, excision of large tumours with or without vena caval tumour thrombi is difficult. The purpose of this case series was to describe the use of 3D conformal hypofractionated radiotherapy for unresectable adrenal tumours (over 7 cm long) in three dogs (bulldog, shih tzu and miniature dachshund). The tumours had invaded the caudal vena cava in two of the dogs. The irradiation protocols included 23.7 Gy/three fractions/three weeks or 26 Gy/four fractions/four weeks. Following the treatment, tumours in two cases showed a 34 and 40 per cent reduction in size. No radiation‐related adverse events were detected. Metastatic lesions developed in all cases. The overall survival in the three dogs was 19, 25 and 27 months. Therefore, 3D conformal hypofractionated radiotherapy can treat adrenal tumours without severe complications, and prolong the survival in dogs.
Sodium nitroprusside attenuates hyperproliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats through the inhibition of overexpression of AT1 receptor, cell cycle proteins, and c-Src/growth factor receptor signaling pathways
Authors: Hossain Ekhtear , Sarkar Oli , Li Yuan , Anand-Srivastava Madhu B.
Published: October 2019

We recently showed that sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, attenuated hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Since hypertension is associated with enhanced proliferation and hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), the present study examines whether in vivo treatment of SHR with SNP could also inhibit the augmented proliferation of VSMC and explore the signaling mechanisms. Treatment of 8 week old SHR and Wistar Kyoto rats with SNP twice a week for 2 weeks inhibited the enhanced proliferation of VSMC from SHR, the enhanced expression of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor, and enhanced activation of c-Src and growth factor receptors and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. In addition, SNP also inhibited the overexpression of cell cycle proteins including cyclins D1, Cdk4, and phosphorylated pRB and restored the downregulated Cdk inhibitors p21Cip1 and p27Kip1 expression towards control levels. Furthermore, SNP-induced inhibition of enhanced levels of the AT1 receptor and enhanced proliferation was reversed by L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. These results suggest that the SNP-induced antiproliferative effect may be mediated through the inhibition of enhanced expression of the AT1 receptor, cell cycle proteins and activation of c-Src, growth factor receptors, and MAP kinase signaling.
THE HUMAN CAPITAL OF BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND INNOVATION: AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
Authors: VALENTI ALIX , HORNER STEPHEN
Published: October 2019

The human capital of corporate boards of directors is a key organizational resource affecting a variety of strategic outcomes. Using human capital theory within the broader theoretical contexts of agency theory and the resource dependence perspective, we investigate the effects of certain types of board human capital on firm innovation. Our findings are generally supportive of our theory that board human capital is associated with firm innovation. Specifically, we examine the role of certain types of board human capital on firm innovation and find that scientific expertise, industry experience, financial expertise, and women directors positively affect firm innovation in the pharmaceutical industry, with innovation measured by R&D expenditures and number of patents. These results imply that the knowledge, experience, and expertise that directors bring to corporate boards are important considerations in constituting corporate boards. Further, our work adds to understanding of the impact of board characteristics on firm strategic outcomes.
Existence of local stable manifolds for some nondensely defined nonautonomous partial functional differential equations
Authors: Rebey Amor
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we establish the existence of local stable manifolds for a semi-linear differential equation, where the linear part is a Hille–Yosida operator on a Banach space and the nonlinear forcing term [Formula: see text] satisfies the [Formula: see text]-Lipschitz conditions, where [Formula: see text] belongs to certain classes of admissible function spaces. The approach being used is the fixed point arguments and the characterization of the exponential dichotomy of evolution equations in admissible spaces of functions defined on the positive half-line.
Effect of TiO2 additive on thermoelectric properties of SrTiO3
Authors: Yang Wei-Ying , Wang Ke-Xian , Cao Zheng , Yu Hao-Yang , Ma Xiao-Bo , Yaer Xinba , Ma Wen , Wang Jun
Published: October 2019

Strontium titanate ([Formula: see text] has the advantages of being non-toxic, environmentally friendly and high-temperature stable, and has potential application in waste heat power generation at medium and high temperature. To explore the impact of TiO2 on the thermoelectric properties of SrTiO3, we synthesized TiO2/La10Nbb10-STO composite powders by hydrothermal method using precursor solution of 10[Formula: see text]mol.% La and 10[Formula: see text]mol.% Nb co-doped STO (La10Nb10-STO) containing TiO2 nanopowders with different molar ratio. After cold pressing and sintering, composite bulk materials were obtained, and their microstructure and thermoelectric transport properties were analyzed. With the increasing TiO2, although the thermal conductivity of TiO2/La10Nb10-STO composite decreased and the Seebeck coefficient increased, the minimum thermal conductivity and the maximum Seebeck coefficient were 2.54[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text] and 215[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text][Formula: see text], respectively, at 1000[Formula: see text]K, but the power factor decreased at high temperature due to the apparent decrease of electrical conductivity, resulting in the ZT values being lower than that of La0Nb10-STO without TiO2 addition at high temperature. Significantly, the addition of TiO2 can improve the thermoelectric performance of strontium titanate at low temperature. This approach is expected to improve the ZT of SrTiO3-based thermoelectric material through additional controlling of electrical conductivity.
China’s Core Interests and Critical Role in North Korea’s Denuclearisation
Authors: YUAN Jingdong
Published: October 2019

China remains an indispensable player in the peninsular denuclearisation process. Beijing seeks to foster peace and stability in the region, maintain a balanced two-Korea policy, and manage the North Korean nuclear challenge in the broader contexts of growing strategic rivalry with the United States, including disputes over trade, Taiwan and the South China Sea. Recent developments in China-DPRK relations indicate that Beijing continues to view North Korea as a strategic asset.
South Korea-Japan Relations in the 2010s: Ambivalent Strategic and Economic Partners?
Authors: JO Yanghyeon , LAM Peng Er
Published: October 2019

The power shift in the international system, the domestic politics of South Korea and Japan, and the attitudes of their top political leaders towards a historical reconciliation have worsened bilateral relations. Nevertheless, they share common strategic interests amidst a nuclearising Pyongyang. If Korean reunification is attained within the next few decades, developmental assistance from Tokyo will be immensely useful, making Japan a partner to Korea in the future.
Smart City Seoul
Authors: JOO Yu-Min
Published: October 2019

Seoul has systematically pushed different stages of digitalisation and smart city agenda over the years. Its latest plan—Global Digital Seoul 2020—highlights social values and developmental goals, and envisions co-creation of urban solutions with citizens, promotion of local small and medium-sized enterprises and global collaboration. There are global and local strategies as well as distinctly separate positioning of the smart city. Challenges also exist for smart city Seoul.
Donald Trump’s Asia Policy
Authors: DITTMER Lowell
Published: October 2019

The election of Donald J Trump has greatly changed American foreign policy. Trump has introduced two policy innovations: (i) minimise American role as leader of the free world in favour of a more narrowly focused national interest; and (ii) renegotiate the terms of American relations with its main adversaries. While the first has the most significant long-term international consequences it has been inconsistently applied. Trump’s attention is on the latter, greatly impacting American Asia policy.
Chinese Communist Party’s Grass-roots Organisations in Enterprises since the 1990s: Changes and Challenges
Authors: LI Yao
Published: October 2019

Since 1994, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has highlighted the different roles, functions and responsibilities of CCP’s Grass-root Party Organisations (GPOs) in different periods and enterprises of different ownership types. To solve the inconsistency between a modern corporation governance structure and the involvement of GPOs in firms, the CCP pays great attention to embedding GPOs in the corporate governance structure of enterprises, which is a cause for concern for domestic and foreign investors.
Simulation of consumers decision-making process using agent-based model approach
Authors: Forero Daniel Soto , Ceballos Yony F. , Torres German Sànchez
Published: October 2019

This paper describes a model to simulate the decision-making process of consumers that adopts technology within a dynamic social network. The proposed model use theories and tools from the psychology of consumer behavior, social networks and complex dynamical systems like the Consumat framework and fuzzy logic. The model has been adjusted using real data, tested with the automobile market and it can recreate trends like those described in the world market.
Theoretical Studies of the Structural, Electronic and Magnetic Properties of the CoFeCeZ (Z = P, As and Sb) Quaternary Heusler Alloys
Authors: Gharbi F. N. , Rabah I. E. , Rabah M. , Rached H. , Rached D. , Benkhettou N. , Boukabrine F.
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we investigate the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of CoFeCrZ ([Formula: see text], As,Sb) quaternary Heusler alloy, using the first-principles full potential linear muffin-tin orbital (FP-LMTO) method within the spin gradient generalized approximation (GGA) for the exchange and correlation potential. Our results demonstrate that in ferromagnetic phase, the all alloys CoFeCrZ are stable in type-1 configuration and are half-metallic ferromagnets (HMF) with gaps of 0.99[Formula: see text]eV, 0.57[Formula: see text]eV and 0.70[Formula: see text]Ev, respectively. The obtained negative formation energy shows that CoFeCrZ alloys have strong structural stability. The calculated total magnetic moment, [Formula: see text] for all alloys exhibit Slater-Pauling rule, [Formula: see text]. At zero pressure, the three alloys shown 100% spin-polarization at Fermi–level [Formula: see text] with high Curie temperatures [Formula: see text]. Our calculation indicate also that the half-metallicity and high magnetic moment of CoFeCrP, CoFeCrAs and CoFeCrSb are robust against the lattice compression (up to 7.80%, 5.40% and 11%, respectively). On the basis of these results, it is suggested that the CoFeCrZ Heusler could be suitable for spintronics devices applications.
Prenatal metyrapone treatment modulates neonatal cerebrovascular structure, function, and vulnerability to mild hypoxic-ischemic injury
Authors: Franco P. Naomi , Durrant Lara M. , Carreon Desirelys , Haddad Elizabeth , Vergara Adam , Cascavita Catherine , Obenaus Andre , Pearce William J.
Published: October 2019

This study explored the hypothesis that late gestational reduction of corticosteroids transforms the cerebrovasculature and modulates postnatal vulnerability to mild hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury. Four groups of Sprague-Dawley neonates were studied: 1) Sham-Control, 2) Sham-MET, 3) HI-Control, and 4) HI-MET. Metyrapone (MET), a corticosteroid synthesis inhibitor, was administered via drinking water from gestational day 11 to term. In Shams, MET administration 1) decreased reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to surgical trauma in postnatal day 9 (P9) pups by 37%, 2) promoted cerebrovascular contractile differentiation in middle cerebral arteries (MCAs), 3) decreased compliance ≤46% and increased depolarization-induced calcium mobilization in MCAs by 28%, 4) mildly increased hemispheric cerebral edema by 5%, decreased neuronal degeneration by 66%, and increased astroglial and microglial activation by 10- and 4-fold, respectively, and 5) increased righting reflex times by 29%. Regarding HI, metyrapone-induced fetal transformation 1) diminished reactivity of the HPA axis to HI-induced stress in P9/P10 pups, 2) enhanced HI-induced contractile dedifferentiation in MCAs, 3) lessened the effects of HI on MCA compliance and calcium mobilization, 4) decreased HI-induced neuronal injury but unmasked regional HI-induced depression of microglial activation, and 5) attenuated the negative effects of HI on open-field exploration but enhanced the detrimental effects of HI on negative geotaxis responses by 79%. Overall, corticosteroids during gestation appear essential for normal cerebrovascular development and glial quiescence but induce persistent changes that in neonates manifest beneficially as preservation of postischemic contractile differentiation but detrimentally as worsened ischemic cerebrovascular compliance, increased ischemic neuronal injury, and compromised neurobehavior.
Local angiotensin-(1–7) administration improves microvascular endothelial function in women who have had preeclampsia
Authors: Stanhewicz Anna E. , Alexander Lacy M.
Published: October 2019

Despite remission of clinical symptoms postpartum, women who have had preeclampsia demonstrate microvascular endothelial dysfunction, mediated in part by increased sensitivity to angiotensin II (ANG II). Angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)] is an endogenous inhibitor of the actions of ANG II and plausible druggable target in women who had preeclampsia. We therefore examined the therapeutic potential of Ang-(1–7) in the microvasculature of women with a history of preeclampsia (PrEC; n = 13) and parity-matched healthy control women (HC; n = 13) hypothesizing that administration of Ang-(1–7) would increase endothelium-dependent dilation and nitric oxide (NO)-dependent dilation and decrease ANG II-mediated constriction in PrEC. Using the cutaneous microcirculation, we assessed endothelium-dependent vasodilator function in response to graded infusion of acetylcholine (ACh; 10−7 to 102 mmol/L) in control sites and sites treated with 15 mmol/L NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; NO-synthase inhibitor), 100 µmol/L Ang-(1–7), or 15 mmol/L l-NAME + 100 µmol/L Ang-(1–7). Vasoconstrictor function was measured in response to ANG II (10−20-10−4 mol/L) in control sites and sites treated with 100 µmol/L Ang-(1–7). PrEC had reduced endothelium-dependent dilation ( P < 0.001) and NO-dependent dilation ( P = 0.04 vs. HC). Ang-(1–7) coinfusion augmented endothelium-dependent dilation ( P < 0.01) and NO-dependent dilation ( P = 0.03) in PrEC but had no effect in HC. PrEC demonstrated augmented vasoconstrictor responses to ANG II ( P < 0.01 vs. HC), which was attenuated by coinfusion of Ang-(1–7) ( P < 0.001). Ang-(1–7) increased endothelium-dependent vasodilation via NO synthase-mediated pathways and attenuated ANG II-mediated constriction in women who have had preeclampsia, suggesting that Ang-(1–7) may be a viable therapeutic target for improved microvascular function in women who have had a preeclamptic pregnancy.
Effects of visuomotor delays on the control of movement and on perceptual localization in the presence and absence of visual targets
Authors: Avraham Guy , Sulimani Erez , Mussa-Ivaldi Ferdinando A. , Nisky Ilana
Published: October 2019

The sensory system constantly deals with delayed feedback. Recent studies showed that playing a virtual game of pong with delayed feedback caused hypermetric reaching movements. We investigated whether this effect is associated with a perceptual bias. In addition, we examined the importance of the target in causing hypermetric movements. In a first experiment, participants played a delayed pong game and blindly reached to presented targets. Following each reaching movement, they assessed the position of the invisible cursor. We found that participants performed hypermetric movements but reported that the invisible cursor reached the target, suggesting that they were unaware of the hypermetria and that their perception was biased toward the target rather than toward their hand position. In a second experiment, we removed the visual target, and strikingly, the hypermetria vanished. Moreover, participants reported that the invisible cursor was located with their hand. Taking these results together, we conclude that the adaptation to the visuomotor delay during the pong game selectively affected the execution of goal directed movements, resulting in hypermetria and perceptual bias when movements are directed toward visual targets but not when such targets are absent.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Recent studies showed that adaptation to visuomotor delays causes hypermetric movements in the absence of visual feedback, suggesting that visuomotor delay is represented using current state information. We report that this adaptation also affects perception. Importantly, both the motor and perceptual effects are selective to the representations that are used in the execution of goal-directed movements toward visual targets.
Lunge Feeding in Rorqual Whales
Authors: Shadwick Robert E. , Potvin Jean , Goldbogen Jeremy A.
Published: October 2019

The largest animals are baleen filter feeders that exploit large aggregations of small-bodied plankton. Although this feeding mechanism has evolved multiple times in marine vertebrates, rorqual whales exhibit a distinct lunge filter feeding mode that requires extreme physiological adaptations—most of which remain poorly understood. Here, we review the biomechanics of the lunge feeding mechanism in rorqual whales that underlies their extraordinary foraging performance and gigantic body size.
Manipulating the Patterns of Mechanical Forces That Shape Multicellular Tissues
Authors: Herrera-Perez R. Marisol , Kasza Karen E.
Published: October 2019

During embryonic development, spatial and temporal patterns of mechanical forces help to transform unstructured groups of cells into complex, functional tissue architectures. Here, we review emerging approaches to manipulate these patterns of forces to investigate the mechanical mechanisms that shape multicellular tissues, with a focus on recent experimental studies of epithelial tissue sheets in the embryo of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster.
Low-Abundance Dietzia Inhabiting a Water-Flooding Oil Reservoir and the Application Potential for Oil Recovery
Authors: Gao Peike , Wang Hongbo , Li Guanxi , Ma Ting
Published: October 2019

With the development of molecular ecology, increasing low-abundance microbial populations were detected in oil reservoirs. However, our knowledge about the oil recovery potential of these populations is lacking. In this study, the oil recovery potential of low-abundance Dietzia that accounts for less than 0.5% in microbial communities of a water-flooding oil reservoir was investigated. On the one hand, Dietzia sp. strain ZQ-4 was isolated from the water-flooding reservoir, and the oil recovery potential was evaluated from the perspective of metabolisms and oil-displacing test. On the other hand, the strain has alkane hydroxylase genes alkB and P450 CYP153 and can degrade hydrocarbons and produce surfactants. The core-flooding test indicated that displacing fluid with 2% ZQ-4 fermentation broth increased 18.82% oil displacement efficiency, and in situ fermentation of ZQ-4 increased 1.97% oil displacement efficiency. Furthermore, the responses of Dietzia in the reservoir accompanied by the nutrient stimulation process was investigated and showed that Dietzia in some oil production wells significantly increased in the initial phase of nutrient injection and sharply decreased along with the continuous nutrient injection. Overall, this study indicates that Dietzia sp. strain has application potential for enhancing oil recovery through an ex situ way, yet the ability of oil recovery in situ based on nutrient injection is limited.
Circulating Monocytes, Tissue Macrophages, and Malaria
Authors: Ozarslan Nida , Robinson Joshua F. , Gaw Stephanie L.
Published: October 2019

Malaria is a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality. The Plasmodium parasite has a complex life cycle with mosquito, liver, and blood stages. The blood stages can preferentially affect organs such as the brain and placenta. In each of these stages and organs, the parasite will encounter monocytes and tissue-specific macrophages—key cell types in the innate immune response. Interactions between the Plasmodium parasite and monocytes/macrophages lead to several changes at both cellular and molecular levels, such as cytokine release and receptor expression. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the relationship between malaria and blood intervillous monocytes and tissue-specific macrophages of the liver (Kupffer cells), central nervous system (microglia), and placenta (maternal intervillous monocytes and fetal Hofbauer cells). We describe their potential roles in modulating outcomes from infection and areas for future investigation.
G-Causality Brain Connectivity Differences of Finger Movements between Motor Execution and Motor Imagery
Authors: Chen Chao , Zhang Jiaxin , Belkacem Abdelkader Nasreddine , Zhang Shanting , Xu Rui , Hao Bin , Gao Qiang , Shin Duk , Wang Changming , Ming Dong
Published: October 2019

Motor imagery is one of the classical paradigms which have been used in brain-computer interface and motor function recovery. Finger movement-based motor execution is a complex biomechanical architecture and a crucial task for establishing most complicated and natural activities in daily life. Some patients may suffer from alternating hemiplegia after brain stroke and lose their ability of motor execution. Fortunately, the ability of motor imagery might be preserved independently and worked as a backdoor for motor function recovery. The efficacy of motor imagery for achieving significant recovery for the motor cortex after brain stroke is still an open question. In this study, we designed a new paradigm to investigate the neural mechanism of thirty finger movements in two scenarios: motor execution and motor imagery. Eleven healthy participants performed or imagined thirty hand gestures twice based on left and right finger movements. The electroencephalogram (EEG) signal for each subject during sixty trials left and right finger motor execution and imagery were recorded during our proposed experimental paradigm. The Granger causality (G-causality) analysis method was employed to analyze the brain connectivity and its strength between contralateral premotor, motor, and sensorimotor areas. Highest numbers for G-causality trials of 37 ± 7.3, 35.5 ± 8.8, 36.3 ± 10.3, and 39.2 ± 9.0 and lowest Granger causality coefficients of 9.1 ± 3.2, 10.9 ± 3.7, 13.2 ± 0.6, and 13.4 ± 0.6 were achieved from the premotor to motor area during execution/imagination tasks of right and left finger movements, respectively. These results provided a new insight into motor execution and motor imagery based on hand gestures, which might be useful to build a new biomarker of finger motor recovery for partially or even completely plegic patients. Furthermore, a significant difference of the G-causality trial number was observed during left finger execution/imagery and right finger imagery, but it was not observed during the right finger execution phase. Significant difference of the G-causality coefficient was observed during left finger execution and imagery, but it was not observed during right finger execution and imagery phases. These results suggested that different MI-based brain motor function recovery strategies should be taken for right-hand and left-hand patients after brain stroke.
Primary Cilia Blockage Promotes the Malignant Behaviors of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Induction of Autophagy
Authors: Liu Lian , Sheng Jia-Qi , Wang Mu-Ru , Gan Yun , Wu Xiao-Li , Liao Jia-Zhi , Tian De-An , He Xing-Xing , Li Pei-Yuan
Published: October 2019

Primary cilia are organelles protruding from cell surface into environment that function in regulating cell cycle and modulating cilia-related signal. Primary ciliogenesis and autophagy play important roles in tumorigenesis. However, the functions and interactions between primary cilia and autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been reported yet. Here, we aimed to investigate the relationship and function of primary cilia and autophagy in HCC. In vitro, we showed that serum starvation stimuli could trigger primary ciliogenesis in HCC cells. Blockage of primary ciliogenesis by IFT88 silencing enhanced the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of HCC cells. In addition, inhibition of primary cilia could positively regulate autophagy. However, the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability which were promoted by IFT88 silencing could be partly reversed by inhibition of autophagy. In vivo, interference of primary cilia led to acceleration of tumor growth and increase of autophagic flux in xenograft HCC mouse models. Moreover, IFT88 high expression or ATG7 low expression in HCC tissues was correlated with longer survival time indicated by the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analysis. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that blockage of primary ciliogenesis by IFT88 silencing had protumor effects through induction of autophagy in HCC. These findings define a newly recognized role of primary cilia and autophagy in HCC.
An Efficient Design of DCT Approximation Based on Quantum Dot Cellular Automata (QCA) Technology
Authors: Gassoumi Ismail , Touil Lamjed , Ouni Bouraoui , Mtibaa Abdellatif
Published: October 2019

Optimization for power is one of the most important design objectives in modern digital image processing applications. The DCT is considered to be one of the most essential techniques in image and video compression systems, and consequently a number of extensive works had been carried out by researchers on the power optimization. On the other hand, quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) can present a novel opportunity for the design of highly parallel architectures and algorithms for improving the performance of image and video processing systems. Furthermore, it has considerable advantages in comparison with CMOS technology, such as extremely low power dissipation, high operating frequency, and a small size. Therefore, in this study, the authors propose a multiplier-less DCT architecture in QCA technology. The proposed design provides high circuit performance, very low power consumption, and very low dimension outperform to the existing conventional structures. The QCADesigner tool has been utilized for QCA circuit design and functional verification of all designs in this work. QCAPro, a very widespread power estimator tool, is applied to estimate the power dissipation of the proposed circuit. The suggested design has 53% improvement in terms of power over the conventional solution. The outcome of this work can clearly open up a new window of opportunity for low power image processing systems.
Braquiterapia para el cáncer de próstata. Una revisión actualizada de su historia, sus indicaciones, la evidencia que la sustenta y sus controversias.
Authors: Merino Lara Tomas , Bettoli Piero , San Francisco Reyes Ignacio , Zuñiga Diaz Alvaro , Ravi Ananth , Marsiglia Hugo , Vinés Vasquez Eugenio
Published: October 2019

Introducción: en Chile el cáncer de próstata es el cáncer más frecuente en hombres. Se estima que aproximadamente 5700 hombres son diagnosticados cada año. Esta enfermedad aun en sus estadios iniciales tiene un comportamiento y tratamiento específico dependiendo de características clínicas y patológicas. Las alternativas terapéuticas incluyen desde el seguimiento activo hasta la cirugía. La radioterapia en forma de braquiterapia tiene un rol fundamental desde el cáncer de próstata de bajo hasta el alto riesgo.Objetivos: el objetivo de esta revisión pretende resumir las publicaciones más recientes sobre la evolución histórica de esta modalidad de tratamiento, sus indicaciones de tratamiento así como la evidencia que la sustenta. Metodología: se realizó una revisión exhaustiva libre de la literatura publicada en Pubmed utilizando los términos MESH. Resultados: la Braquiterapia en su forma de baja y alta tasa tiene amplia evidencia que la sustenta tanto como escalamiento de dosis asociado cuando se asocia a radioterapia externa como tratamiento exclusivo. Estudios randomizados muestran resultados superiores en términos de control bioquímico sin diferencias en sobrevida global. Conclusiones: la braquiterapia de cáncer de próstata ha presentado grandes avances tecnológicos que la posicionan como una alternativa terapéutica para la gran mayoría de los pacientes con cáncer de próstata localizado y debiera discutirse con ellos previo al inicio del tratamiento.
Miastenia gravis ocular: caracterización de una serie de pacientes.
Authors: Nazar pizarro Cristobal andres , Araneda Sylvia , Morgado Alvaro , Salgado Cristian
Published: October 2019

ResumenObjetivo: describir y analizar una serie de pacientes con diagnóstico de Miastenia gravis ocular (MGO). Métodos: estudio retrospectivo de carácter descriptivo, de pacientes evaluados por sospecha de MGO entre marzo de 2011 y julio de 2016 por el equipo de Oftalmología de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Resultados: se realizó el diagnóstico de MGO en 16 pacientes: 10 mujeres (62,5%) y 6 hombres (37,5%). Sólo 1 paciente (6,25%) presentó generalización durante el periodo de seguimiento. En esta serie, la mitad de los pacientes (N=8) eran eutiroideos, 3 (18,75%) eran hipotiroideos y 2 (12,5%) eran hipertiroideos.Respecto al tratamiento, 7 (43,75%) pacientes recibieron un inhibidor de la acetil-colinesterasa como única terapia durante el período de seguimiento. Por otro lado, 3 pacientes (18,75%) recibieron inhibidor de la acetil-colinesterasa más corticoide como tratamiento.Conclusiones: esta serie de pacientes con MGO destaca por su predominio femenino, lo infrecuente de las generalizaciones y la mayor asociación con patología tiroidea a lo usualmente reportado. La evidencia actual destaca la posibilidad de considerar la terapia corticoidal como primera opción de tratamiento en estos pacientes.
Rectorragia en el lactante: diagnóstico diferencial
Authors: Arancibia Assael Gabriel
Published: October 2019

ResumenLa rectorragia en el lactante es un síntoma que genera gran alarma y ansiedad en los padres y representa un desafío diagnóstico para el equipo médico, Hemos visto con preocupación que durante los últimos años se ha tendido a considerar la rectorragia del lactante casi un sinónimo de alergia a la proteína de la leche de vaca, muchas veces con una historia clínica escueta, un examen físico incompleto y ninguna prueba diagnóstica. Es por esto que nos parece importante ampliar el diagnóstico diferencial en el enfrentamiento inicial del lactante con rectorragia. Partiremos describiendo brevemente dos casos clínicos evaluados en nuestro servicio para ejemplificar el problema.
Recreational Physical Activity Is Associated with Reduced Breast Cancer Risk in Adult Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer: A Cohort Study of Women Selected for Familial and Genetic Risk
Authors: Kehm Rebecca D. , Genkinger Jeanine M. , MacInnis Robert J. , John Esther M. , Phillips Kelly-Anne , Dite Gillian S. , Milne Roger L. , Zeinomar Nur , Liao Yuyan , Knight Julia A. , Southey Melissa C. , Chung Wendy K. , Giles Graham G. , McLachlan Sue-Anne , Whitaker Kristen D. , Friedlander Michael , Weideman Prue C. , Glendon Gord , Nesci Stephanie , Investigators kConFab , Andrulis Irene L. , Buys Saundra S. , Daly Mary B. , Hopper John L. , Terry Mary Beth
Published: October 2019

Although physical activity is associated with lower breast cancer risk for average-risk women, it is not known if this association applies to women at high familial/genetic risk. We examined the association of recreational physical activity (self-reported by questionnaire) with breast cancer risk using the Prospective Family Study Cohort, which is enriched with women who have a breast cancer family history (N = 15,550). We examined associations of adult and adolescent recreational physical activity (quintiles of age-adjusted total metabolic equivalents per week) with breast cancer risk using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusted for demographics, lifestyle factors, and body mass index. We tested for multiplicative interactions of physical activity with predicted absolute breast cancer familial risk based on pedigree data and with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation status. Baseline recreational physical activity level in the highest four quintiles compared with the lowest quintile was associated with a 20% lower breast cancer risk (HR, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.68–0.93). The association was not modified by familial risk or BRCA mutation status (P interactions >0.05). No overall association was found for adolescent recreational physical activity. Recreational physical activity in adulthood may lower breast cancer risk for women across the spectrum of familial risk.

Significance:

These findings suggest that physical activity might reduce breast cancer risk by about 20% for women across the risk continuum, including women at higher-than-average risk due to their family history or genetic susceptibility.

See related commentary by Niehoff et al., p. 23
MicroRNA-449a Is Downregulated in Cervical Cancer and Inhibits Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion
Authors: Wang Lianyun , Zhao Yu , Xiong Wendong , Ye Wen , Zhao Weidong , Hua Ying
Published: October 2019

Introduction: Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors among women in the world. MicroRNA-449a (miR-449a) has been identified as a tumor suppressor gene in various cancers. Our present study aimed to explore the biological role of miR-449a in cervical cancer. Methods: The expression of miR-449a in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines was detected using real-time quantitative PCR. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and a Cox regression assay were used to identify the prognostic significance of miR-449a in cervical cancer. A CCK-8 assay and a Transwell assay were performed to determine the impact of miR-449a on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer cells. Results: The expression of miR-449a was decreased in both cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. The decreased expression of miR-449a was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, differentiation, and FIGO stage, as well as with poor survival. In vitro, transfection of miR-449a mimic into cervical cancer cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Conclusion: All of the results revealed that miR-449a functions as a suppressor gene and inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in cervical cancer. In addition, it may serve as a prognostic biomarker for cervical cancer.
The Biological and Biographical Basis of Precision Medicine
Authors: Lobitz Gabriella , Armstrong Katrina , Concato John , Singer Burton H. , Horwitz Ralph I.
Published: October 2019

Construction of a patient narrative (case history) is a core strategy in the care of patients. Recent advances in biomarker identification and digital sensors to monitor physiological and behavioral features have made constructing a case history more complex. Notably, however, although a biological profile is increasingly a part of the patient’s profile, an analogous patient-based biographical (life experience) profile is typically overlooked. Evolving concepts such as allostasis and allostatic load refer to processes promoting stability of physiological systems in the presence of diverse life experiences. Integrating details of both biology and biography is a goal of “precision medicine.” In this review, we describe how complex interactions between biology and biography affect disease risk and treatment response and highlight a strategy to develop narratives that establish the integration of biology and biography as the scientific basis for precision medicine.
Pharmacokinetic Comparison of Subcutaneous and Intravenous Nadroparin Administration for Thromboprophylaxis in Critically Ill Patients on Vasopressors
Authors: Cihlar Radek , Sramek Vladimir , Papiez Adriana , Penka Miroslav , Suk Pavel
Published: October 2019

Introduction: Critically ill patients are exposed to a high risk of developing thromboembolism. Moreover, standard prophylaxis with subcutaneous (SC) heparin is less efficient in patients requiring vasopressors. The aim is a comparison of pharmacokinetics between SC and intravenous (IV) applied nadroparin. Methods: Thirty-eight ventilated ICU patients requiring vasopressor support were randomized into a single dose of nadroparin 3,800 IU (0.4 mL) subcutaneously (SC group) or 1,900 IU (0.2 mL) intravenously (IV group). Anti-factor Xa activity (anti-Xa) was observed over 24 h; data are stated as median (IQR). Results: Peak anti-Xa was significantly higher in the IV group 0.42 (0.39–0.43) IU/mL than in the SC group 0.16 (0.09–0.18) IU/mL (p < 0.001). There was a trend towards higher area under the curve (AUC) of anti-Xa in the SC group 1.41 (0.41–1.80) IU/mL × h than in the IV group 1.04 (0.93–1.13) IU/mL × h (p = 0.08). In the SC group, there was a negative correlation between anti-Xa AUC and both capillary refill time Xa (r = –0.86) and norepinephrine dose (r = –0.68). In the IV group, anti-Xa decrease half-life was 1.6 (1.4–2.0) h. Conclusions: IV administration of 1,900 IU of nadroparin led to a predictable effective peak anti-Xa. After SC administration, anti-Xa was heterogeneous and significantly influenced by peripheral perfusion.
Characterization of Oxidative Stress and Ammonia According to the Different Grades of Hepatic Encephalopathy
Authors: Montes-Cortes Daniel Hector , Olivares-Corichi Ivonne M. , Rosas-Barrientos José Vicente , Manuel-Apolinar Leticia , Martìnez-Godinez María de los Angeles , Hernández-López Juan Carlos , Cruz-Dominguez Maria del Pilar
Published: October 2019

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) is one of the main causes of reentry to the emergency department. Oxidative stress (OxS) regulated by ammonia leads to cerebral edema and astrocytes senescence in animal models, but seems to be different in humans. Objective: To analyze if OxS and ammonia in plasma are related to each other in the different grades of HE-CLD and to compare them with healthy volunteers (HV). Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we included 60 subjects in 2 groups: (a) 30 HV and (b) 30 HE patients. Plasma levels of oxidation lipids/proteins, ammonia, and West-Haven score were evaluated. Student t test, Spearman’s correlation, and ANOVA with Dunn’s post hoc test were performed. Results: Ammonia in HV and HE patients was 39–49 vs. 95–345 μmol/L, respectively (p < 0.0001). Malondialdehyde (MDA) in HV was 6.58 ± 3.11 compared to 16.69 ± 6.19 μmol/L in HE (p < 0.0001). Protein oxidation by osazone (carbonyls), formazan, and dityrosines was higher in HE than in HV (p < 0.0001). Ammonia level was directly associated to HE severity, but without correlation with lipid MDA or protein OxS formazan, carbonyls, and dityrosines. Lipid peroxidation showed higher levels at degree 2 and protein oxidation at degree 3 of HE. Conclusions: We confirm that OxS accompanies hyperammonemia in HE; however they contribute in different proportions to their natural progression. Early reduction of OxS in HE could contribute to minimize the neurotoxicity into CLD.