bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Awareness, expectation and satisfaction towards ward pharmacy services among patients in medical wards: a multi-centre study in Perak, Malaysia
Authors: Ng Chew Beng , Chang Chee Tao , Ong Su Yin , Mahmud Maslinatasha , Lee Lay Chin , Chew Wei Yee , Hamdan Normi , Kamaludin Ros Sakinah , Thong Kah Shuen , Choo Shea Jiun
Published: October 2021

Background

Patient’s awareness and satisfaction towards ward pharmacy services may influence perception towards effectiveness and safety of drugs, affecting medication adherence and clinical outcome. Nevertheless, studies on local ward pharmacy services were lacking. This study evaluated awareness, expectation and satisfaction of ward pharmacy services among patients in medical wards and determined their association with demographic characteristics.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaire conducted in medical wards of fourteen Perak state public hospitals from September to October 2020. In-patients aged ≥18 years old were included. The validated questionnaire had four domains. The student’s t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple linear regression were was employed to evaluate the association between patients’ demographic characteristics with their awareness, expectation and satisfaction towards ward pharmacy services.

Results

467 patients agreed to participate (response rate = 83.8%) but only 441 were analysed. The mean age of the patients was 54.9 years. Majority was male (56.2%), Malay (77.3%), with secondary education (62.9%), rural resident (57.1%) and reported good medication adherence (61.6%). The mean awareness score was 49.6 out of 60. Patients were least aware about drug-drug interaction (3.85 ± 1.15) and proper storage of medications (3.98 ± 1.06). Elderly patients (β = − 2.82, P < 0.001) obtained lower awareness score. Patients with tertiary education (β = 3.87, P = 0.001), rural residents (β = 3.65, P < 0.001) and with good medication adherence (β = 2.55, P = 0.002) had higher awareness score. The mean expectation score was 44.0 out of 50. The patients had higher expectation to encounter a polite ward pharmacist (4.51 ± 0.56). Patients with tertiary education (β = 1.86, P = 0.024), rural residents (β = 1.79, P = 0.001) and with good medication adherence (β = 1.48, P = 0.006) demonstrated higher expectation. The mean satisfaction score was 43.6 out of 50. The patients had high satisfaction in language used (4.45 ± 0.57) and level of knowledge demonstrated (4.41 ± 0.62) by the ward pharmacists. Patients with tertiary education (β = 2.16, P = 0.009), rural residents (β = 1.82, P = 0.001) and with good medication adherence (β = 1.44, P = 0.009) demonstrated higher satisfaction, while elderly patients (β = − 1.17, P = 0.031) had lower satisfaction towards ward pharmacy services.

Conclusion

There was a high level of awareness, expectation and satisfaction towards ward pharmacy services in public hospitals of Perak, Malaysia.
The impact of blood transcriptomic biomarker targeted tuberculosis preventive therapy in people living with HIV: a mathematical modelling study
Authors: Sumner Tom , Mendelsohn Simon C. , Scriba Thomas J. , Hatherill Mark , White Richard G.
Published: October 2021

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) preventive therapy is recommended for all people living with HIV (PLHIV). Despite the elevated risk of TB amongst PLHIV, most of those eligible for preventive therapy would never develop TB. Tests which can identify individuals at greatest risk of disease would allow more efficient targeting of preventive therapy.

Methods

We used mathematical modelling to estimate the potential impact of using a blood transcriptomic biomarker (RISK11) to target preventive therapy amongst PLHIV. We compared universal treatment to RISK11 targeted treatment and explored the effect of repeat screening of the population with RISK11.

Results

Annual RISK11 screening, with preventive therapy provided to those testing positive, could avert 26% (95% CI 13–34) more cases over 10 years compared to one round of universal treatment. For the cost per case averted to be lower than universal treatment, the maximum cost of the RISK11 test was approximately 10% of the cost of preventive therapy. The benefit of RISK11 screening may be greatest amongst PLHIV on ART (compared to ART naïve individuals) due to the increased specificity of the test in this group.

Conclusions

Biomarker targeted preventive therapy may be more effective than universal treatment amongst PLHIV in high incidence settings but would require repeat screening.
A novel synonymous ABCA3 variant identified in a Chinese family with lethal neonatal respiratory failure
Authors: Zhang Weifeng , Liu Zhiyong , Lin Yiming , Wang Ruiquan , Xu Jinglin , He Ying , Zhang Fengfeng , Wu Lianqiang , Chen Dongmei
Published: October 2021

Background

Lethal respiratory failure is primarily caused by a deficiency of pulmonary surfactant, and is the main cause of neonatal death among preterm infants. Pulmonary surfactant metabolism dysfunction caused by variants in theABCA3gene is a rare disease with very poor prognosis. Currently, the mechanisms associated with someABCA3variants have been determined, including protein mistrafficking and impaired phospholipid transport. However, some novel variants and their underlying pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated yet. In this study we aimed to identify the genetic features in a family with lethal respiratory failure.

Methods

We studied members of two generations of a Chinese family, including a female proband, her parents, her monozygotic twin sister, and her older sister. Trio whole exome sequencing (WES) were used on the proband and her parents to identify theABCA3variants. Sanger sequencing and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used on the monozygotic twin sister of proband to validate theABCA3synonymous variant and exon deletion, respectively. The potential pathogenicity of the identified synonymous variant was predicted using the splice site algorithms dbscSNV11_AdaBoost, dbscSNV11_RandomForest, and Human Splicing Finder (HSF).

Results

All patients showed severe respiratory distress, which could not be relieved by mechanical ventilation, supplementation of surfactant, or steroid therapy, and died at an early age. WES analysis revealed that the proband had compound heterozygousABCA3variants, including a novel synonymous variant c.G873A (p.Lys291Lys) in exon 8 inherited from the mother, and a heterozygous deletion of exons 4–7 inherited from the father. The synonymous variant was consistently predicted to be a cryptic splice donor site that may lead to aberrant splicing of the pre-mRNA by three different splice site algorithms. The deletion of exons 4–7 of theABCA3gene was determined to be a likely pathogenic variant. The variants were confirmed in the monozygotic twin sister of proband by Sanger sequencing and qPCR respectively. The older sister of proband was not available to determine if she also carried bothABCA3variants, but it is highly likely based on her clinical course.

Conclusions

We identified a novel synonymous variant and a deletion in theABCA3gene that may be responsible for the pathogenesis in patients in this family. These results add to the known mutational spectrum of theABCA3gene. The study ofABCA3variants may be helpful for the implementation of patient-specific therapies.
A novel missense mutation of FOXC1 in an Axenfeld–Rieger syndrome patient with a congenital atrial septal defect and sublingual cyst: a case report and literature review
Authors: Li Kaiming , Tang Min , Xu Manhua , Yu Yinggui
Published: October 2021

Background

Axenfeld–Rieger syndrome (ARS) is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disease characterized primarily by maldevelopment of the anterior segment of both eyes, accompanied by developmental glaucoma, and other congenital anomalies. FOXC1 and PITX2 genes play important roles in the development of ARS.

Case presentation

The present report describes a 7-year-old boy with iris dysplasia, displaced pupils, and congenital glaucoma in both eyes. The patient presented with a congenital atrial septal defect and sublingual cyst. The patient’s family has no clinical manifestations. Next generation sequencing identified a pathogenic heterozygous missense variant in FOXC1 gene (NM_001453:c. 246C>A, p. S82R) in the patient. Sanger sequencing confirmed this result, and this mutation was not detected in the other three family members.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, the results of our study reveal a novel mutation in the FOXC1 gene associated with ARS.
Plasmodium malariae infections as a cause of febrile disease in an area of high Plasmodium falciparum transmission intensity in Eastern Uganda
Authors: Ayo Daniel , Odongo Bakar , Omara Joseph , Andolina Chiara , Mulder Ole , Staedke Sarah G. , Bousema Teun
Published: October 2021

Background

Plasmodium falciparumis responsible for the vast majority of (severe) clinical malaria cases in most African settings. OtherPlasmodiumspecies often go undiagnosed but may still have clinical consequences.

Case presentation

Here, five cases ofPlasmodium malariaeinfections from Eastern Uganda (aged 2–39 years) are presented. These infections were all initially mistaken forP. falciparum,butPlasmodiumschizonts (up to 2080/µL) were identified by microscopy. Clinical signs included history of fever and mild anaemia.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the importance of considering non-falciparum species as the cause of clinical malaria. In areas of intenseP. falciparumtransmission, where rapid diagnostic tests that detect onlyP. falciparumantigens are commonly used, non-falciparum malaria cases may be missed.
The prognostic value of arginase-1 and glypican-3 expression levels in patients after surgical intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma resection
Authors: Qiang Zeyuan , Zhang Haofeng , Jin Shuai , Yan Cao , Li Zhen , Tao Lianyuan , Yu Haibo
Published: October 2021

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of arginase-1 (Arg-1) and glypican-3 (GPC-3) in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

Methods

Two hundred and thirty-seven patients with ICC were included in this study. All patients had undergone radical surgery and had complete clinical information. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the levels of Arg-1 and GPC-3 in ICC tissues. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify independent risk factors in ICC. The relationship between Arg-1 and GPC-3 levels and patient survival was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

High Arg-1 and GPC-3 expression levels were associated with poor prognosis in patients with ICC, and they could be as new prognostic biomarkers in ICC.

Conclusion

Arg-1 and GPC-3 can serve as independent prognostic biomarkers in ICC.
Avenues of research in dietary interventions to target tumor metabolism in osteosarcoma
Authors: Leite Taiana Campos , Watters Rebecca Jean , Weiss Kurt Richard , Intini Giuseppe
Published: October 2021

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most frequent primary bone cancer, affecting mostly children and adolescents. Although much progress has been made throughout the years towards treating primary OS, the 5-year survival rate for metastatic OS has remained at only 20% for the last 30 years. Therefore, more efficient treatments are needed. Recent studies have shown that tumor metabolism displays a unique behavior, and plays important roles in tumor growth and metastasis, making it an attractive potential target for novel therapies. While normal cells typically fuel the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway with the products of glycolysis, cancer cells acquire a plastic metabolism, uncoupling these two pathways. This allows them to obtain building blocks for proliferation from glycolytic intermediates and ATP from OXPHOS. One way to target the metabolism of cancer cells is through dietary interventions. However, while some diets have shown anticancer effects against certain tumor types in preclinical studies, as of yet none have been tested to treat OS. Here we review the features of tumor metabolism, in general and about OS, and propose avenues of research in dietary intervention, discussing strategies that could potentially be effective to target OS metabolism.
A scoping review on the measurement of transnationalism in migrant health research in high-income countries
Authors: Kim Ye Na , Urquia Marcelo , Villadsen Sarah Fredsted , Merry Lisa
Published: October 2021

Background

Migrants commonly maintain transnational ties as they relocate and settle in a new country. There is a growing body of research examining transnationalism and health. We sought to identify how transnationalism has been defined and operationalized in migrant health research in high income countries and to document which populations and health and well-being outcomes have been studied in relation to this concept.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review using the methodology recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). We searched nine electronic databases; no time restrictions were applied. Studies published in English or French in peer-reviewed journals were considered. Studies were eligible if they included a measure of transnationalism (or one of its dimensions; social, cultural, economic, political and identity ties and/or healthcare use) and examined health or well-being.

Results

Forty-seven studies, mainly cross-sectional designs (81%), were included; almost half were conducted in the United States. The majority studied immigrants, broadly defined; 23% included refugees and/or asylum-seekers while 36% included undocumented migrants. Definitions of transnationalism varied according to the focus of the study and just over half provided explicit definitions. Most often, transnationalism was defined in terms of social connections to the home country. Studies and measures mainly focused on contacts and visits with family and remittance sending, and only about one third of studies examined and measured more than two dimensions of transnationalism. The operationalization of transnationalism was not consistent and reliability and validity data, and details on language translation, were limited. Almost half of the studies examined mental health outcomes, such as emotional well-being, or symptoms of depression. Other commonly studied outcomes included self-rated health, life satisfaction and perceived discrimination.

Conclusion

To enhance comparability in this field, researchers should provide a clear, explicit definition of transnationalism based on the scope of their study, and for its measurement, they should draw from validated items/questions and be consistent in its operationalization across studies. To enhance the quality of findings, more complex approaches for operationalizing transnationalism (e.g., latent variable modelling) and longitudinal designs should be used. Further research examining a range of transnationalism dimensions and health and well-being outcomes, and with a diversity of migrant populations, is also warranted.
A potential misdiagnosis in the COVID-19 pandemic era: a case report of superimposed thrombosis or tumor recurrence
Authors: Zoroufian Arezou , Mohseni-Badalabadi Reza , Mahalleh Mehrdad , Ghorashi Seyyed Mojtaba , Momtahen Sharam , Omidi Negar
Published: October 2021

Background

The clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) overlap with those of other disorders, especially cardiovascular disease.

Case presentation

We herein describe a 58-year-old woman who presented with syncopal episodes and dyspnea on exertion with a left atrial (LA) mass, scheduled for surgical removal and mitral valve replacement. Nearly 3 months later, the patient developed dyspnea, fever, and a sore throat, resulting in hospital admission with suspected COVID-19. During the diagnostic evaluation, a larger LA mass was detected. The mass seemed to be a COVID-19–induced organized thrombus with prosthetic mitral valve malfunction. Resection was, therefore, planned. An immunohistochemistry study revealed a liposarcoma.

Conclusions

The unusual early recurrence of liposarcomas and the misdiagnosis with COVID-19–induced thrombosis are the hallmark of the present case.
RaDiCo, the French national research program on rare disease cohorts
Authors: Amselem Serge , Gueguen Sonia , Weinbach Jérôme , Clement Annick , Landais Paul ,   for the RaDiCo Program
Published: October 2021

Background

Rare diseases (RDs) affect nearly 3 million people in France and at least 26–30 million people in Europe. These diseases, which represent a major medical concern, are mainly of genetic origin, often chronic, progressive, degenerative, life threatening and disabling, accounting for more than one third of all deaths occurring during infancy. In this context, there are needs for coordinated information on RDs at national/international levels, based on high quality, interoperable and sharable data. The main objective of the RaDiCo (Rare Disease Cohorts) program, coordinated by Inserm, was the development of RD e-cohorts via a national platform. The cohort projects were selected through a national call in 2014. The e-cohorts are supported by an interoperable platform, equivalent to an infrastructure, constructed on the "cloud computing" principle and in compliance with the European General Data Protection Regulation. It is dedicated to allow a continuous monitoring of data quality and consistency, in line with the French Health Data Hub.

Results

Depending on cohorts, the objectives are to describe the natural history of the studied RD(s), identify the underlying disease genes, establish phenotype-genotype correlations, decipher their pathophysiology, assess their societal and medico-economic impact, and/or identify patients eligible for new therapeutic approaches. Inclusion of prevalent and incident cases started at the end of 2016. As of April 2021, 5558 patients have been included within 13 RD e-cohorts covering 67 diseases integrated in 10 European Reference Networks and contributing to the European Joint Program on RDs. Several original results have been obtained in relation with the secondary objectives of the RaDiCo cohorts. They deal with discovery of new disease genes, assessment of treatment management, deciphering the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic approaches, genotype–phenotype relationships, development and validation of questionnaires relative to disease burden, or methodological aspects.

Conclusion

RaDiCo currently hosts 13 RD e-cohorts on a sharable and interoperable platform constructed on the “cloud computing” principle. New RD e-cohorts at the European and international levels are targeted.
Determining oncogenic patterns and cancer predisposition through the transcriptomic profile in Mitchell–Riley syndrome with heterotopic gastric mucosa and duodenal atresia: a case report
Authors: Calcaterra Valeria , Chiricosta Luigi , Mazzon Emanuela , Gugnandolo Agnese , Alberti Daniele , Maestri Luciano , Meroni Milena , Vestri Elettra , Verduci Elvira , Dilillo Dario , Zuccotti Gianvincenzo , Pelizzo Gloria
Published: October 2021

Background

Homozygous mutations in the transcription factor RFX6 are the cause of the Mitchell–Riley syndrome (MRS) associating neonatal diabetes, congenital digestive system, such as biliary atresia, pancreatic hypoplasia, duodenal and/or jejunal atresia, intestinal malrotation, gallbladder aplasia, cholestasis. A constitutive inactivation of RFX6 leads also to gastric heterotopia. Application of RNA-seq in human diseases may help to better understand pathogenic mechanism of diseases and to predict the risk of developing chronic disorders and personalizing their prevention and treatment. We evaluated oncogenic patterns and cancer predisposition using the transcriptomic profile in a case of MRS with neonatal diabetes, duodenal atresia, and extensive intestinal tract gastric heterotopia.

Results

We signalled the interactors of RFX6 with other up and downregulated genes, that may be interested in severity of diabetic condition, in multi-organs impairment and cancer predisposition. Furthermore, several dysregulated genes are involved in biological processes that can lead to promote cancer including “Evading apoptosis” (BAD, BBC3, EGF, FGFR2, FLT3LG, HMOX1, HRAS, IFNAR2, IGF1R, IL12RB1, IL13RA1, IL15, IL2RB, IL2RG, IL6R, KEAP1, MGST1, PDGFA, PDGFRB, PIK3R3, RALB, RALGDS, RASSF1, SOS1, TGFA, TXNRD3), “Proliferation” (APC, BRAF, CCND2, CCND3, CCNE2, FGFR2, FLT3LG, FZD1, FZD6, HMOX1, HRAS, IGF1R, KEAP1, LRP6, MAPK3, MGST1, PDGFA, PDGFB, PDGFRB, RB1, SOS1, TGFA, TXNRD3, WNT10B), “Sustained angiogenesis” (BRAF, FGFR2, FLT3LG, HRAS, IGF1R, JAG1, MAPK3, NOTCH2, PDGFA, PDGFB, PDGFRB, SOS1, TGFA, TGFB1), “Genomic instability” (BAD, BBC3) and “Insensitivity to anti-growth signals” (SMAD2, TGFB1). We also inspected the signalings and their related genes in cancer, such as “PI3K signaling”, “ERK signaling”, “JAK-STAT signaling”, “Calcium signaling”, “Other RAS signaling”, “WNT signaling”.

Conclusions

In our MRS patient, we signaled the interactors of RFX6 with other up- and downregulated genes that may be related to severe diabetic condition, multi-organ impairment, and cancer predisposition. Notably, many dysregulated genes may lead to triggering carcinogenesis. The possibility of the patient developing cancer degeneration in heterotopic gastric mucosa and/or additional long-term tumoral sequelae is not excluded. Personalized prevention and treatment strategies should be proposed.
Immunoprofiling of early, untreated rheumatoid arthritis using mass cytometry reveals an activated basophil subset inversely linked to ACPA status
Authors: Koppejan H. , Hameetman M. , Beyrend G. , van Unen V. , Kwekkeboom J. C. , van der Helm-van Mil A. H. , Toes R. E. M. , van Gaalen F. A.
Published: October 2021

Background

Autoantibody production is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) are highly disease-specific, and their presence is associated with more severe disease and poor prognosis compared to ACPA-negative patients. However, the immune cell composition associated with antibody-positive/negative disease is incompletely defined. Mass cytometry (MC) is a high-dimensional technique offering new possibilities in the determination of the immune cell composition in rheumatic diseases. Here, we set up a broad phenotyping panel to study the immune cell profile of early untreated RA to investigate if specific immune cell subsets are associated with ACPA+ versus ACPA− RA.

Methods

Freshly obtained PBMCs of early, untreated RA patients (8 ACPA+ and 7 ACPA−) were analysed using a 36-marker MC panel, including markers related to various immune lineages. Data were processed using Cytosplore for dimensional reduction (HSNE) and clustering. Groups were compared using Cytofast. A second validation cohort of cryopreserved PBMCs obtained from early RA patients (27 ACPA+ and 20 ACPA−) was used to confirm MC data by flow cytometry (FC). FC data were processed and analysed using both an unsupervised analysis pipeline and through manual gating.

Results

MC indicated no differences when comparing major immune lineages (i.e. monocytes, T and B cells), but highlighted two innate subsets: CD62L+ basophils (p = 0.33) and a subset of CD16− NK cells (p = 0.063). Although the NK cell subset did not replicate by FC, FC replication confirmed the difference in CD62L+ basophil frequency when comparing ACPA+ to ACPA− patients (mean 0.32% vs. 0.13%; p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Although no differences in major lineages were found between early ACPA+ and ACPA− RA, this study identified the reduced presence of activated basophils in ACPA-negative disease as compared to ACPA-positive disease and thereby provides the first evidence for a connection between activated basophils and ACPA status.
Treatments and outcomes in Chinese patients with serologically active clinically quiescent systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Huang Hong , Mu Lin , Zhang Zhuoli , Gao Dai , Hao Yanjie , Zhou Wei
Published: October 2021

Objective

To clarify the frequency and outcome of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who achieved the clinical state as serologically active clinically quiescent (SACQ) and to identify factors associated with the flare of disease.

Methods

Clinical data of patients diagnosed as SLE and followed in Peking University First Hospital from 2009 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Six hundred eighty-two patients who were followed up for more than 6 months were analyzed. SACQ was defined as an at least a 6-month period with persistent serologic activity and without clinical activity and daily dose of prednisone or equivalent were less than 7.5 mg. Serologically quiescent clinically quiescent (SQCQ) patients served as control groups. Data including demographics, initial symptoms, duration to SACQ, treatments before and after SACQ, and characteristics of the patients suffered from flare were analyzed.

Results

Among the 682 patients, 170 patients were SACQ (24.9%) and 187 patients were SQCQ. SQCQ patients (38.61 ± 15.08 years old) were older at baseline than SACQ patients (38.61 ± 15.08 years vs. 32.09 ± 14.35 years, p < 0.001). Of 170 SACQ patients, 32.9% experienced flare that was significantly higher than 15.5% of SQCQ patients (29/187). Corticosteroids (OR 1.323, 95% CI 1.129 to 1.550; p = 0.001) was an independent risk factor for flare, while antimalarials (OR 0.045, 95% CI 0.004 to 0.474; p = 0.010) and immunosuppressants (OR 0.332, 95% CI 0.156 to 0.706; p = 0.004) were protective factors in SACQ patients; however, only antimalarials was protective factors in SQCQ patients (OR 0.028, 95% CI 0.001 to 0.743; p = 0.033).

Conclusion

About one third of SLE patients with SACQ experience flare, significantly more frequent than that of patients with SQCQ. Thus, approach to prevent flare in SACQ patient is required. Maintenance therapy of hydroxychloroquine and immunosuppressant agents may be protective and beneficial treatment strategy in these patients.
Dysregulation of RNA interference components in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Mousavi Seyyed Reza , Sajjadi Maryam Sadat , Khosravian Farinaz , Feizbakhshan Sara , Salmanizadeh Sharareh , Esfahani Zahra Taherian , Beni Faeze Ahmadi , Arab Ameneh , Kazemi Mohammad , Shahzamani Kiana , Sami Ramin , Hosseinzadeh Majid , Salehi Mansoor , Lotfi Hajie
Published: October 2021

Objective

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the novel coronavirus causing severe respiratory illness (COVID-19). This virus was initially identified in Wuhan city, a populated area of the Hubei province in China, and still remains one of the major global health challenges. RNA interference (RNAi) is a mechanism of post-transcriptional gene silencing that plays a crucial role in innate viral defense mechanisms by inhibiting the virus replication as well as expression of various viral proteins. Dicer, Drosha, Ago2, and DGCR8 are essential components of the RNAi system, which is supposed to be dysregulated in COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to assess the expression level of the mentioned mRNAs in COVID-19patients compared to healthy individuals.

Results

Our findings demonstrated that the expression of Dicer, Drosha, and Ago2 was statistically altered in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects. Ultimately, the RNA interference mechanism as a crucial antiviral defense system was suggested to be dysregulated in COVID-19 patients.
Characterization of the non-homogenous Dirac-harmonic equation
Authors: Shi Guannan , Ding Shusen , Liu Bing
Published: October 2021

We introduce the non-homogeneous Dirac-harmonic equation for differential forms and characterize the basic properties of solutions to this new type of differential equations, including the norm estimates and the convergency of sequences of the solutions. As applications, we prove the existence and uniqueness of the solutions to a special non-homogeneous Dirac-harmonic equation and its corresponding reverse Hölder inequality.
Factorization of Cesàro operator and related inequalities
Authors: Roopaei Hadi
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we introduce two factorizations for the Cesàro matrix of order n based on Cesàro and gamma matrices. The results of these factorizations are new inequalities, one of which is a generalized version of the well-known Hardy’s inequality. Moreover, we obtain the norm of Cesàro operator of order n on Cesàro and gamma matrix domains.
The effects of psychopathology and shame on social representations of health and lifestyle behaviours via free association: a graph analysis approach
Authors: Briseniou Evangelia , Skenteris Nikolaos , Hatzoglou Chryssi , Tsitsas George , Diamantopoulos Epaminondas , Dragioti Elena , Gouva Mary
Published: October 2021

Background

There is a knowledge gap in whether psychopathology aspects can shape and mark the social representations about health and lifestyle. In this work, we investigated the association of psychopathology and shame with the centrality of the words describing eight common social representations of health and lifestyle.

Methods

A convenience sample of 288 adults participated with an average age of 44.7, and 62.6% were women. The participants were asked to express three consecutive words associated with eight different health and lifestyle experiences by utilizing the free association method. The participants also were completed the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Experiences of Shame Scale (ESS), and the Other as Shamer Scale (OAS). Canonical correlation analysis was applied to investigate the relationship between the set of the eight-word centralities and the psycho-demographic variables consisting of the subject's age and gender, the SCL 90 subscales, the OAS, and the ESS. Based on these findings, a structural equation explorative model was formed to test the unidimensionality of the five centralities construct.

Results

Τhe psychological characteristics of interpersonal sensitivity, depression, external shame, and hostility were found to affect the word selection process on the social representations concerning nightlife, health, diet, lifestyle, and alcohol consumption. Participants with increased levels of depression tend to choose more centrally positioned words when the stimulus word was diet and more decentralized responses when the stimulus word was health. At the same time, higher external shame corresponded to more decentralized words for the categories of health and lifestyle.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that there is a potential interaction between the psychological state and how a social representation of health and lifestyle is constructed through selected words. Graph theory emerged as an additional tool to use to study these relations.
A novel SMARCA2-CREM fusion: expanding the molecular spectrum of intracranial mesenchymal tumors beyond the FET genes
Authors: Tauziède-Espariat Arnault , Pierron Gaëlle , Guillemot Delphine , Sievers Philipp , Cazals-Hatem Dominique , Faillot Thierry , Roux Alexandre , Benzakoun Joseph , Bockel Sophie , Weinbreck Nicolas , Hasty Lauren , Lechapt Emmanuèle , Chrétien Fabrice , Varlet Pascale
Published: October 2021

A novel histomolecular tumor of the central nervous system, the “intracranial mesenchymal tumor (IMT), FET-CREB fusion-positive” has recently been identified in the literature and will be added to the 2021 World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. However, our latest study using DNA-methylation analyses has revealed that intracranial FET-CREB fused tumors do not represent a single molecular tumor entity. Among them, the main subgroup presented classical features of angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma, having ultrastructural features of arachnoidal cells, for. Another tumor type with clear cell component and histopathological signs of aggressivity clustered in close vicinity with clear cell sarcoma of soft tissue. Herein, we report one case of IMT with a novel SMARCA2-CREM fusion which has until now never been described in soft tissue or the central nervous system. We compare its clinical, histopathological, immunophenotypic, genetic and epigenetic features with those previously described in IMT, FET-CREB fusion-positive. Interestingly, the current case did not cluster with IMT, FET-CREB fusion-positive but rather presented histopathological (clear cell morphology with signs of malignancy), clinical (with a dismal course with several recurrences, metastases and finally the patient’s death), genetic (fusion implicating the CREM gene), and epigenetic (DNA-methylation profiling) similarities with our previously reported clear cell sarcoma-like tumor of the central nervous system. Our results added data suggesting that different clinical and histomolecular tumor subtypes or grades seem to be included within the terminology “IMT, FET-CREB fusion-positive”, and that further series of cases are needed to better characterize them.
Time to think beyond door to balloon time: significance of total ischemic time in STEMI
Authors: Khowaja Sanam , Ahmed Salik , Kumar Rajesh , Shah Jehangir Ali , Khan Kamran Ahmed , Khan Naveed Ullah , Saghir Tahir , Rizvi Syed Nadeem Hasan , Qamar Nadeem , Karim Musa
Published: October 2021

Background

Significance of total ischemic time (TIT) in the context of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is still controversial. Therefore, in this study, we have evaluate the association of TIT with immediate outcomes in STEMI patients in whom recommended door to balloon (DTB) time of less than 90 min was achieved.

Results

A total of 5730 patients were included in this study, out of which 80.9% were male and median age was 55 [61–48] years. The median DTB was observed to be 60 [75–45] min and onset of chest pain to emergency room (ER) arrival time was 180 [300–120] min. Prolonged TIT was associated with poor pre-procedure thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade (p = 0.022), number of diseased vessels (p = 0.002), use of intra-aortic balloon pump (p = 0.003), and in-hospital mortality (p = 0.002). Mortality rate was 4.5%, 5.7%, and 7.8% for the patients with TIT of ≤ 120 min, 121 to 240 min, and > 240 min, respectively. Thirty days’ risk of mortality on TIMI score was 4.97 ± 7.09%, 5.01 ± 6.99%, and 7.12 ± 8.64% for the patients with TIT of ≤ 120 min, 121 to 240 min, and > 240 min, respectively.

Conclusions

Prolonged total ischemic was associated with higher in-hospital mortality. Therefore, TIT can also be considered in the matrix of focus, along with DTB time and other clinical determinants to improve the survival from STEMI.
Computational insight to design new potential hepatitis C virus NS5B polymerase inhibitors with drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic ADMET parameters predictions
Authors: Ejeh Stephen , Uzairu Adamu , Shallangwa Gideon A. , Abechi Stephen E.
Published: October 2021

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered a worldwide health problem since it affects over 3% of the population and causes 300,000 fatalities per year. Chronic infection causes high morbidity and mortality in patients, leading to liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, fibrosis, liver cancer, and other HCV-related illnesses. Finding novel and better HCV treatments is a top international health goal right now. As a result, the pressing need for new HCV antiviral drugs has fueled research into the structural requirements of NS5B polymerase inhibitors at a molecular basis.

Results

In this study, an in silico technique was applied to study 79 compounds with HCV inhibitory bioactivity, with the best statistical results ($$R^{2}$$

R
2

= 0.7051, $$Q^{2}$$

Q
2

= 0.6455, $$R_{{{\text{pred}}}}^{2}$$

R

pred

2

= 0.6992, $$^{{\text{c}}} R_{{\text{r}}}^{2}$$

c

R

r

2

= 0.6570, SEE = 0.2694).

Conclusions

This QSAR investigation allowed the research team to evaluate the influence of straightforward descriptors, shedding insight into the critical elements that guide the design of innovative effective molecules. Most of the innovative effective molecules exhibited better binding affinity (− 195.6 kcal/mol) than dasabuvir the reference drug (− 171.0 kcal/mol) with the target receptor (hepatitis C virus NS5B RNA polymerase). ADMET prediction disclosed enhanced pharmacokinetic properties with lower MRTD (maximum tolerated dose) of some new derivatives.
Brief Training and Intensive Mentoring Guide Postdoctoral Scholars to Student-Centered Instruction
Authors: Price R. M. , Self C. J. , Young W. C. , Klein E. R. , Al-Noori S. , Ma E. Y. , DeMarais A.
Published: October 2021

The Science Teaching Experience Program-Working in Science Education (STEP-WISE) provides mentorship, practice, and feedback for research postdocs who are learning and applying inclusive, evidence-based pedagogies. The program is successful and sustainable for institutions. Its salient components are outlined here.
Spotlight on International Quality: COVID-19 and Its Impact on Quality Improvement in Cancer Care
Authors: Blayney Douglas W. , Bariani Giovanni , Das Devika , Dawood Shaheenah , Gnant Michael , De Guzman Roselle , Martin S. Eric , O'Mahony Deirdre , Roach Alex , Ruff Paul , Sampaio Carlos , Sanchez Jose Angel , Vanderpuye Verna , Kamal Arif , Hendricks Carolyn
Published: October 2021

This report from ASCO's International Quality Steering Group summarizes early learnings on how the COVID-19 pandemic and its stresses have disproportionately affected cancer care delivery and its delivery systems across the world. This article shares perspectives from eight different countries, including Austria, Brazil, Ghana, Honduras, Ireland, the Philippines, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, which provide insight to their unique issues, challenges, and barriers to quality improvement in cancer care during the pandemic. These perspectives shed light on some key recommendations applicable on a global scale and focus on access to care, importance of expanding and developing new treatments for both COVID-19 and cancer, access to telemedicine, collecting and using COVID-19 and cancer registry data, establishing measures and guidelines to further enhance quality of care, and expanding communication among governments, health care systems, and health care providers. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care and quality improvement has been and will continue to be felt across the globe, but this report aims to share these experiences and learnings and to assist ASCO's international members and our global fight against the pandemic and cancer.
Facing the Past
Authors: Aslan Nora Tataryan
Published: October 2021

Through a consideration of three film works—Ravished Armenia/Auction of Souls (1919), Testimony (2007), and Remembering (2019), which all represent the testimonies of Armenian women to form truths of the catastrophe—this article problematizes how such portrayals might, contrary to their best intentions, resonate with the logic of genocide. By discussing specific woman figures in the three works, published at three times in the postgenocidal era—one just after the events, the other two recently—this article aims not only to mark the evolution of the representational regime with which the Armenian woman is surrounded but also to show that this phenomenon is a key component in a transformation of the lexicon developed around the recognition politics, which ought to involve something other than feverishly chasing a representation of the events of 1915–17 and using women’s witness narratives to this end.
A magnet attached to the forehead disrupts magnetic compass orientation in a migratory songbird
Authors: Packmor Florian , Kishkinev Dmitry , Bittermann Flora , Kofler Barbara , Machowetz Clara , Zechmeister Thomas , Zawadzki Lucinda C. , Guilford Tim , Holland Richard A.
Published: October 2021

For studies on magnetic compass orientation and navigation performance in small bird species, controlled experiments with orientation cages inside an electromagnetic coil system are the most prominent methodological paradigm. These are, however, not applicable when studying larger bird species and/or orientation behaviour during free flight. For this, researchers have followed a very different approach, attaching small magnets to birds, with the intention of depriving them of access to meaningful magnetic information. Unfortunately, results from studies using this approach appear rather inconsistent. As these are based on experiments with birds under free-flight conditions, which usually do not allow exclusion of other potential orientation cues, an assessment of the overall efficacy of this approach is difficult to conduct. Here, we directly tested the efficacy of small magnets for temporarily disrupting magnetic compass orientation in small migratory songbirds using orientation cages under controlled experimental conditions. We found that birds which have access to the Earth's magnetic field as their sole orientation cue show a general orientation towards their seasonally appropriate migratory direction. When carrying magnets on their forehead under these conditions, the same birds become disoriented. However, under changed conditions that allow birds access to other (i.e. celestial) orientation cues, any disruptive effect of the magnets they carry appears obscured. Our results provide clear evidence for the efficacy of the magnet approach for temporarily disrupting magnetic compass orientation in birds, but also reveal its limitations for application in experiments under free-flight conditions.
Rh-PVP Catalyzed Reductive Amination of Phenols by Ammonia or Amines to Cyclohexylamines under Solvent-free Conditions
Authors: Chaudhari Chandan , Sato Katsutoshi , Rumi Saeki , Nishida Yoshihide , Shiraishi Masaya , Nagaoka Katsutoshi
Published: October 2021

Colloidal metal nanoparticles were examined for reductive amination of phenol by ammonia under mild reaction conditions. The results showed that Rh-PVP was the most active catalyst for reductive amination reaction. Linear, cyclic, and amino alcohols were used as nucleophiles and converted to primary/secondary/tertiary amines. Using this strategy, the synthesis of an industrially important chemical, N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone was explored.
Urban Water Disinfection and Mortality Decline in Lower-Income Countries
Authors: Bhalotra Sonia R. , Diaz-Cayeros Alberto , Miller Grant , Miranda Alfonso , Venkataramani Atheendar S.
Published: October 2021

Historically, improvements in municipal water quality led to substantial mortality decline in today’s wealthy countries. However, water disinfection has not consistently produced large benefits in lower-income countries. We study this issue by analyzing a large-scale municipal water disinfection program in Mexico that increased water chlorination coverage in urban areas from 58 percent to over 90 percent within 18 months. We estimate that the program reduced childhood diarrheal disease mortality rates by 45 to 67 percent. However, inadequate sanitation infrastructure and age (degradation) of water pipes may have attenuated these benefits substantially. (JEL I12, I18, L95, O13, O18, Q25, Q53)
Profiles of inflammatory markers and their association with cardiometabolic parameters in rural and urban Uganda
Authors: Sanya Richard E. , Nalwoga Angela , Grencis Richard K. , Elliott Alison M. , Webb Emily L. , Andia Biraro Irene
Published: October 2021

Background: Inflammation may be one of the pathways explaining differences in cardiometabolic risk between urban and rural residents. We investigated associations of inflammatory markers with rural versus urban residence, and with selected cardiometabolic parameters previously observed to differ between rural and urban residents: homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI).

Methods: From two community surveys conducted in Uganda, 313 healthy individuals aged ≥ 10 years were selected by age- and sex-stratified random sampling (rural Lake Victoria island communities, 212; urban Entebbe municipality, 101). Fluorescence intensities of plasma cytokines and chemokines were measured using a bead-based multiplex immunoassay. We used linear regression to examine associations between the analytes and rural-urban residence and principal component analysis (PCA) to further investigate patterns in the relationships. Correlations between analytes and metabolic parameters were assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results: The urban setting had higher mean levels of IL-5 (3.27 vs 3.14, adjusted mean difference [95% confidence interval] 0.12[0.01,0.23] p=0.04), IFN-⍺ (26.80 vs 20.52, 6.30[2.18,10.41] p=0.003), EGF (5.67 vs 5.07, 0.60[0.32,0.98] p<0.00001), VEGF (3.68 vs 3.28, 0.40[0.25,0.56] p<0.00001), CD40 Ligand (4.82 vs 4.51, 0.31[0.12, 0.50] p=0.001) and Serpin-E1 (9.57 vs 9.46, 0.11[0.05,0.17] p<0.00001), but lower levels of GMCSF (2.94 vs 3.05, -0.10[-0.19,-0.02] p=0.02), CCL2 (2.82 vs 3.10, -0.45[-0.70,-0.21] p<0.00001) and CXCL10 (5.48 vs 5.96, -0.49[-0.71,-0.27] p<0.00001), compared to the rural setting. In PCA, the urban setting had lower representation of some classical inflammatory mediators but higher representation of various chemoattractants and vasoactive peptides. HOMA-IR, FBG, BP and BMI were positively correlated with several principal components characterised by pro-inflammatory analytes.

Conclusions: In developing countries, immunological profiles differ between rural and urban environments. Differential expression of certain pro-inflammatory mediators may have important health consequences including contributing to increased cardiometabolic risk observed in the urban environment.
Atribuições de causalidade, estratégias autoprejudiciais e a autopercepção de desempenho de universitários
Authors: Pereira da Silva Minutti Ana Lucia , Angeli dos Santos Acácia Aparecida , Ferraz Adriana Satico
Published: October 2021

As atribuições de causalidade intrapessoais, as estratégias autoprejudiciais e a autopercepção de desempenho são construtos psicológicos presentes na rotina acadêmica e estão associados à motivação para aprender. O presente estudo investigou o funcionamento destes construtos em uma amostra de 532 estudantes de uma universidade particular do interior paulista (Midade=22,98; DP=5,12). Estes estudantes responderam os seguintes instrumentos: Escala de Avaliação das Atribuições de Causalidade para Sucesso e Fracasso Acadêmico de Universitários; Escala de Estratégias Autoprejudiciais; Questionário de Autoclassificação de Desempenho. Identificou-se que as atribuições de causalidade internas e controláveis estavam associadas ao menor uso de estratégias autoprejudiciais. Os estudantes mais jovens, as mulheres e os com bom rendimento acadêmico apresentaram mais atribuições causais internas e controláveis e utilizaram menos estratégias autoprejudiciais. As atribuições causais para o sucesso e as estratégias autoprejudiciais foram preditoras da autopercepção de desempenho. Sugere-se a continuidade na investigação destes construtos no Ensino Superior.