bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantification of healthcare workers’ exposure to cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil by 24-h urine assay: A descriptive pilot study
Authors: Palamini Marie , Dufour Annick , Therrien Roxane , Delisle Jean-François , Mercier Geneviève , Gagné Sébastien , Caron Nicolas , Bussières Jean-François
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The objective of this pilot study was to determine the frequency of urination and the concentration of four hazardous drugs (cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil) in workers’ 24-h urine samples in relation to exposure to traces with hazardous drugs.

Methods

The study was conducted in three healthcare centers in the region of Montréal, Quebec, Canada. We recruited healthcare workers (nurses and pharmacy technicians) assigned to the hematology-oncology department. Each participant was asked to collect all urine voided during a 24-h period, to fill out an activity journal documenting tasks performed and to document the use of personal protective equipment. Samples were analyzed for cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, methotrexate, and alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine (FBAL, the main urinary metabolite of 5-fluorouracil). Drugs were quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (positive electrospray MRM mode).

Results

Eighteen healthcare workers (10 nurses and 8 technicians) were recruited and provided consent to participate. Urine samples were obtained between 1 September and 30 September 2019. The number of urinations over the 24-h collection period ranged from 3 to 11 per participant. A total of 128 urine samples were analyzed for the 18 workers. All urine samples were negative for the four antineoplastics tested.

Conclusion

No traces of cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, methotrexate, or FBAL were found in the 24-h urine samples of 18 healthcare workers practicing in three healthcare facilities in Quebec. Although it was feasible to collect 24-h urine samples in this research project, it appears unrealistic to do so recurrently as part of a large-scale surveillance program.
Impact of CW-FIT on Student and Teacher Behavior in a Middle School
Authors: Speight Renee , Whitby Peggy , Kucharczyk Suzanne
Published: March 2020

Positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) improve student behavior. Yet, teachers may not receive adequate training to implement PBIS at the classroom level. This study evaluated class-wide function-related intervention teams (CW-FIT) as a classroom-level behavior management system to determine whether the behavior of middle school students would improve with teacher implementation of CW-FIT. A multiple-baseline across conditions design was used to evaluate changes in on-task behavior of adolescent students in sixth and seventh grade from a socioeconomically and ethnically diverse middle school. In addition, the effects on teacher behavior-specific praise statements and teacher reprimands were assessed. Consistent with previous evaluations of CW-FIT, findings indicated a functional relation between the intervention and increases in on-task student behavior. In addition, the findings also showed improvements to teacher behavior with increases in behavior-specific praise statements; however, no effect was observed with teacher reprimands. Social validity measures indicated students and teachers found the intervention favorable. Implications, limitations, and areas for future inquiry are discussed.
The vibration of the cylindrically curved sandwich plate with rheological core and nanocomposite face sheets rested on the Winkler–Pasternak foundation
Authors: Ghorbanpour Arani A , Jamali SA
Published: March 2020

In this research, the vibration analysis of a cylindrically curved sandwich plate rested on Winkler–Pasternak foundation is investigated. The curved sandwich plate consists of a rheological core and nanocomposite top and bottom layers which are included in polyvinylidene fluoride matrix and carbon nanotubes fiber. The core has electric properties, and it is affected by applying electric fields. At first, the governing relations for different layers are written, separately, in order to determine the constitutive equations of the cylindrically curved sandwich plate. Then, differential motion equations are derived by applying the energy method and Hamilton’s principle. With regard to achieving the set of coupled equations, an appropriate analytical approach is proposed to solve them which can be considered as SSCC and SSSS boundary conditions. Also, it is observed that increasing the volume fraction of carbon nanotubes in face sheets leads to increase in the stability of the electro-rheological sandwich plate. This ﬁnding can be employed to design building smart structures, military, aviation, marine and automotive.
The practicability of proverbs in teaching Arabic language and culture
Authors: Tayyara Abed el-Rahman
Published: March 2020

This empirical case study has two objectives. First, it reports on the pedagogical applicability and practicability of proverbs in teaching Arabic language and culture at the novice level and up according to guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Second, it examines how the use of proverbs in teaching inspires active learning and stimulates students’ intercultural perception. The empirical activities presented in this article demonstrate that the constructive integration of Arabic proverbs in language teaching helps improve learners’ linguistic competency, intercultural awareness, and cross-cultural communication. The article also shows that proverbs constitute an important repository of authentic materials that can provide educators with new instructional ideas and strategies in teaching Arabic as a foreign or second language. The study’s findings also mirror ongoing pedagogical discussions about teaching Arabic as a foreign and strategic language. Such is the case with approaches and theories, textbooks, the role of culture in learning, the use of authentic materials, and Arabic diglossic disposition.
Becoming a strategist: The roles of strategy discourse and ontological security in managerial identity work
Authors: Mantere Saku , Whittington Richard
Published: March 2020

What is the managerial identity work involved in becoming a “strategist”? Building on a rich, longitudinal set of interviews, we uncover three tactics through which managers mobilize the strategist identity. The self-measurement tactic uses strategy discourse as a normative measuring stick for evaluating the individual as a manager. The self-construction tactic uses strategy discourse as a blueprint for realizing career aspirations. The final self-actualization tactic uses strategy discourse as an emotional basis for crafting meaning into work. We find that strategy discourse can play both disciplinary and emancipatory roles, influenced by managers’ sense of ontological security. The article highlights the importance of social-psychological processes in strategist identity work and discusses implications for the contemporary opening up of strategy and for other similarly loosely structured occupational groups.
Impacts of Performance-Enhancing Drug Suspensions on the Demand for Major League Baseball
Authors: Cisyk Jeffrey
Published: March 2020

In 2005, Major League Baseball (MLB) introduced a new policy regarding the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) wherein the league would not only suspend but also publicly name any player who tested positive for banned PEDs. Using the estimated television audience size of MLB games from 2006 to 2012, these PED suspension announcements provide a unique natural experiment to test how consumers react to news of PED use. This study finds that PED announcements have two major impacts on the demand for baseball. First, there is on average an immediate 9.3% reduction in the television audience of the PED player’s team. Second, the magnitude of the effect gradually decreases over time yet remains negative and significant for a period of 37 days or approximately 33 game-broadcasts. This is the first study to link PED use to an adverse reaction by consumers in a systematic way using television audience while controlling for the change in team quality caused by removing the suspended player from the team.
Evaluation of Prognosis in Nasopharyngeal Cancer Using Machine Learning
Authors: Akcay Melek , Etiz Durmus , Celik Ozer , Ozen Alaattin
Published: March 2020

Background and Aim:

Although the prognosis of nasopharyngeal cancer largely depends on a classification based on the tumor-lymph node metastasis staging system, patients at the same stage may have different clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the survival prognosis of nasopharyngeal cancer using machine learning.

Settings and Design:

Original, retrospective.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 72 patients with a diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer who received radiotherapy ± chemotherapy were included in the study. The contribution of patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics to the survival prognosis was evaluated by machine learning using the following techniques: logistic regression, artificial neural network, XGBoost, support-vector clustering, random forest, and Gaussian Naive Bayes.

Results:

In the analysis of the data set, correlation analysis, and binary logistic regression analyses were applied. Of the 18 independent variables, 10 were found to be effective in predicting nasopharyngeal cancer-related mortality: age, weight loss, initial neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, initial lactate dehydrogenase, initial hemoglobin, radiotherapy duration, tumor diameter, number of concurrent chemotherapy cycles, and T and N stages. Gaussian Naive Bayes was determined as the best algorithm to evaluate the prognosis of machine learning techniques (accuracy rate: 88%, area under the curve score: 0.91, confidence interval: 0.68-1, sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 100%).

Conclusion:

Many factors affect prognosis in cancer, and machine learning algorithms can be used to determine which factors have a greater effect on survival prognosis, which then allows further research into these factors. In the current study, Gaussian Naive Bayes was identified as the best algorithm for the evaluation of prognosis of nasopharyngeal cancer.
Perioperative Outcomes for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Based on Aneurysm Diameter
Authors: Ramos Christopher , Pujari Amit , Rajani Ravi R. , Escobar Guillermo A. , Rubin Brian G. , Jordan William D. , Benarroch-Gampel Jaime
Published: March 2020

Background:

Guidelines from the Society for Vascular Surgery recommend elective repair in asymptomatic patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) only if their diameter is greater than or equal to 5.5 cm, yet smaller ones are routinely repaired. This study aims to evaluate perioperative outcomes based on aneurysm size at the time of repair.

Methods:

Male patients who underwent elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) or open abdominal aneurysm repair (OAAR) repair of an infrarenal AAA were abstracted from 2011 to 2015 Targeted National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Patients with symptoms or with aneurysmal extension into the visceral or iliac vessels were excluded. Outcomes of open versus endovascular repair were reported, with multivariate analyses to identify factors associated with the decision to repair AAA ≤5.4 cm.

Results:

A total of 2115 (90.9%) patients underwent EVAR, while 213 (9.1%) underwent OAAR. The mean diameter in patients who underwent OAAR was 6.1 cm (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.2-6.1 cm) versus 5.7 cm (IQR: 5.2-6.0 cm) for EVAR. However, in 42.5% of EVAR and 32.8% of OAAR patients, the diameter of the AAA was 5.4 cm or less. The group undergoing repair of AAA ≤5.4 cm was younger compared to the larger AAA group (71.9 vs 73.9 years; P < .0001). Patients older than 80 years were less likely to have a repair of AAA measuring ≤5.4 cm (odds ratio [OR] = 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.30-0.65). Additionally, patients who underwent EVAR were more likely to have AAA measuring ≤5.4 cm repaired compared to those who underwent OAAR (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.19-2.21). There were no differences in perioperative morbidity or mortality between the groups.

Conclusion:

There were no differences in perioperative outcomes after AAA repair, independent of aneurysm diameter. We found a higher likelihood of repairing AAA ≤5.4 cm in younger patients who were more likely to have been repaired with EVAR. Patients older than 80 years were less likely to undergo small AAA repair.
Dimitrios Mavrokordatos Disproving the Hemostatic Myth of Aqua Binelli
Authors: Tsiamis Costas , Sgantzou Ioanna , Popoti Panagiota , Papavramidou Niki , Sgantzos Markos
Published: March 2020

“Aqua Binelli” or “Aqua Balsamica Arterialis” was a hemostatic compound invented by the Italian Fedele Binelli in 1797. Its hemostatic properties were viewed as the solution to treating hemorrhage in cases of wounds and surgical operations. Those who opposed the compound were persuaded of its total lack of effectiveness, supporting the view that hemostasis could be achieved by exerting pressure on, stitching, and ligating a vessel. The publications of Karl Ferdinand von Gräfe, Professor at the University of Berlin and fervent advocate of Aqua Binelli, helped spread the use of the compound in Europe. In 1832, however, one of his students, a young Greek named Dimitrios Mavrokordatos, who became the first Professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the newly established University of Athens in 1837, published in Würzburg his dissertation titled Observations on the Potency of Aqua Binelli ( Weitere Nachrichten über das Binellische Wasser), where a completely different picture emerged relating to those applications of the compound that von Gräfe considered successful. The case of Mavrokordatos’ dissertation was a typical 19th-century scientific controversy between a young student and his teacher who enjoyed the support of his associates. Eventually, the myth of the hemostatic activity of Aqua Binelli was debunked.
PF-06649751 efficacy and safety in early Parkinson’s disease: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Riesenberg Robert , Werth John , Zhang Yao , Duvvuri Sridhar , Gray David
Published: March 2020

Background:

PF-06649751 is a novel, oral, non-catechol-based, D1/D5 dopamine receptor partial agonist under investigation for the treatment of motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Methods:

A 15-week, phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of flexible-dose PF-06649751 in subjects with early stage Parkinson’s disease (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02847650).

Results:

Enrollment was terminated early for reasons unrelated to the trial. Overall, 57 subjects received study medication (PF-06649751 = 29; placebo = 28) and 47 completed the study (PF-06649751 = 25; placebo = 22). Despite early termination, the study met its primary endpoint with the PF-06649751 group showing statistically significant improvement from baseline in the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III score at week 15 compared with placebo. Mean (SE) change in MDS-UPDRS Part III score was −9.0 (1.54) for PF-06649751 and −4.3 (1.65) for placebo. This corresponds to an improvement versus placebo of 4.8 for the PF-06649751 group (two-sided p = 0.0407; 90% CI = 1.0, 8.6). Statistically significant improvement in MDS-UPDRS-III score was also observed at all assessment time points prior to week 15. The safety profile of PF-06649751 was similar to that observed in prior studies, with the majority of adverse events (AEs) reported as mild or moderate. The most common AEs in the PF-06649751 group were nausea, headache, dry mouth, somnolence, and tremor.

Conclusions:

Once-daily dosing of oral PF-06649751 resulted in significant improvement of motor symptoms and was generally well tolerated in subjects with early stage Parkinson’s disease.
Discrepancy in finger pulse oximetry reading related to positioning: a case report
Authors: Lee Yi Lin , Goh Meng Huat , Ong Yee Yian
Published: March 2020

Pulse oximetry is one of the five cardinal vital signs used to monitor patients in the clinical setting, and has contributed significantly to patient safety. Unfortunately, extremes in patient positioning may lead to changes in peripheral perfusion pressures resulting in erroneous pulse oximetry readings. We present a case of a relatively well patient coming for robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy who became hypoxic in the Trendelenburg position that spontaneously resolved upon transiting to supine. The reliability of the traditional method of assessing the pulse oximeter value via the plethysmograph is questioned and we discuss other modalities to assist in interpretation of the suspicious pulse oximetry reading.
Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and co‐existing lung disease: is this a new phenotype?
Authors: Peacock Andrew J. , Ling Yi , Johnson Martin K. , Kiely David G. , Condliffe Robin , Elliot Charlie A. , Gibbs J. Simon R. , Howard Luke S. , Pepke‐Zaba Joanna , Sheares Karen K.K. , Corris Paul A. , Fisher Andrew J. , Lordan James L. , Gaine Sean , Coghlan J. Gerry , Wort S. John , Gatzoulis Michael A.
Published: March 2020

Patients classified as idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (defined as Group 1 on European Respiratory Society (ERS)/European Cardiac Society (ESC) criteria) may have evidence of minor co‐existing lung disease on thoracic computed tomography. We hypothesised that these idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patients (IPAH lung disease) are a separate subgroup of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension with different phenotype and outcome compared with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patients without co‐existing lung disease (IPAH no lung disease). Patients with ‘IPAH lung disease’ have been eligible for all clinical trials of Group 1 patients because they have normal clinical examination and normal spirometry but we wondered whether they responded to treatment and had similar survival to patients with ‘IPAH no lung disease’. We described the outcome of the cohort of patients with ‘IPAH no lung disease’ in a previous paper. Here, we have compared incident ‘IPAH lung disease’ patients with ‘IPAH no lung disease’ patients diagnosed concurrently in all eight Pulmonary Hypertension centres in the UK and Ireland between 2001–2009. Compared with ‘IPAH no lung disease’ (n = 355), ‘IPAH lung disease’ patients (n = 137) were older, less obese, predominantly male, more likely to be current/ex‐smokers and had lower six‐minute walk distance, lower % predicted diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide, lower mean pulmonary arterial pressure and lower pulmonary vascular resistance index. After three months of pulmonary hypertension‐targeted treatment, six‐minute walk distance improved equally in ‘IPAH lung disease’ and ‘IPAH no lung disease’. However, survival of ‘IPAH lung disease’ was lower than ‘IPAH no lung disease’ (one year survival: 72% compared with 93%). This survival was significantly worse in ‘IPAH lung disease’ even after adjusting for age, gender, smoking history, comorbidities and haemodynamics. ‘IPAH lung disease’ patients had similar short‐term improvement in six‐minute walk distance with anti‐pulmonary arterial hypertension therapy but worse survival compared with ‘IPAH no lung disease’ patients. This suggests that ‘IPAH lung disease’ are a separate phenotype and should not be lumped with ‘IPAH no lung disease’ in clinical trials of Group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Exploring predictors of first appointment attendance at a pain management service
Authors: Monastra Mattia , White Susie , Simpson Jane
Published: March 2020

Background:

Individual characteristics such as gender, employment and age have been shown to predict attendance at pain management services (PMS). The characteristics of those who drop out of pain management programmes have also been explored, but as yet no studies have analysed the characteristics of those who do not attend the service following referral.

Purpose:

To explore the characteristics and predictors of those who attend and those who do not attend their first appointment with a PMS.

Method:

Predictive factors in the two groups – attenders ( n = 425) and non-attenders ( n = 69) – were explored using logistic regression.

Results:

Non-attendance was significantly predicted by the patient being a smoker and the appointment being in the morning. Non-attenders also scored higher on the Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire, indicating higher levels of somatic pain.

Discussion:

Predictors of non-attendance were different from those for individuals who drop out of pain services. Implications and recommendations are made for PMS.
Bilateral Symmetry, Sex Differences, and Primary Shape Factors in Ankle and Hindfoot Bone Morphology
Authors: Gabrielli Alexandra S. , Gale Tom , Hogan MaCalus , Anderst William
Published: March 2020

Background:

Ankle injuries and joint degeneration may be related to ankle bone morphology. Little data exist to characterize healthy hindfoot bone morphology. The purpose of this study was to characterize side-to-side symmetry and sex differences in ankle and hindfoot bone morphology, and to identify the primary shape factors that differentiate ankle and hindfoot bone morphology among individuals.

Methods:

Computed tomography was used to create 3D surface models of the distal tibia, talus, and calcaneus for 40 ankle and hindfoot bones from 20 healthy individuals. Morphologic differences between left and right bones of the same individual and between males and females were determined. Statistical shape modeling was performed to identify primary shape variations among individuals.

Results:

Side-to-side differences in bone morphology averaged 0.79 mm or less. The average distal tibia in males was larger overall than in females. No significant sex difference was noted in the tali. The average female calcaneus was longer and thinner than the average male calcaneus. Variability in ankle and hindfoot bone morphology is primarily associated with articulating surface shape, overall length and width, and tendon/ligament attachment points.

Conclusion:

In general, the contralateral ankle can serve as an accurate guide for operative restoration of native ankle morphology; however, specific regions demonstrate higher asymmetry.

Clinical Relevance:

Knowledge of regions of high and low bilateral symmetry can improve hindfoot and ankle reconstruction. Design of ankle prostheses can be improved by accounting for differences in bone morphology associated with sex and shape differences among individuals.
Could Suicide Be Fostered Through the Potential Antidepressant Mechanism of Biological Agents? A Psychodermatological Approach to Existing Bibliography
Authors: Malatesta Estela María , Sánchez del Río María Andrea
Published: March 2020

Background:

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a biological condition that affects between 2% and 5% of the population. Despite this, it is often underdiagnosed as unipolar depression, which increases the possibility of prescribing errors. This could foster episodes of inverse polarity (“switching”) which, in turn, raises the risk of suicide.

Objective:

This work reviews the existing literature for evidence that while biological agents could improve the mood of patients with psoriasis treated with these drugs, this same favorable antidepressant effect on humor may trigger a switch into mania, favoring attempted and completed suicide in undiagnosed bipolar patients treated for psoriasis with the abovementioned agents.

Method:

A systematic review of the literature was performed for evidence. Based on their titles and abstracts, 48 relevant articles from 18 countries in English, Spanish, and French from 2004 to 2019 were selected for this review.

Results:

Inherently, all antidepressants can be associated with treatment-emergent affective switch (TEAS). Biological agents may modify the neurotransmitter levels either improving or worsening the mood. A plausible hypothesis arises on the double-edged nature of biological agents: they would have an antidepressant effect that would be beneficial to treat the psychiatric comorbidity of the patient with psoriasis. However, this same antidepressant effect, in a patient with genetic vulnerability for depression with a concomitant inflammatory disease, could trigger a mood alteration.

Conclusion:

Both BD and psoriasis should be considered as a multisystem entity with a common physiopathology. Consequently, it is vital to emphasize the importance of the initial psychiatric evaluation.
Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis model for the Philippines
Authors: Peñarubia Henremagne C , Johnson Kendra L , Styron Richard H , Bacolcol Teresito C , Sevilla Winchelle Ian G , Perez Jeffrey S , Bonita Jun D , Narag Ishmael C , Solidum Renato U , Pagani Marco M , Allen Trevor I
Published: March 2020

The Philippine archipelago is tectonically complex and seismically hazardous, yet few seismic hazard assessments have provided national coverage. This article presents an updated probabilistic seismic hazard analysis for the nation. Active shallow crustal seismicity is modeled by faults and gridded point sources accounting for spatially variable occurrence rates. Subduction interfaces are modeled with faults of complex geometry. Intraslab seismicity is modeled by ruptures confined to the slab volume. Source geometries and earthquake rates are derived from seismicity catalogs, geophysical data sets, and historic-to-paleoseismic constraints on fault slip rates. The ground motion characterization includes models designed for global use, with partial constraint by residual analysis. Shallow crustal faulting near metropolitan Manila, Davao, and Cebu dominates shaking hazard. In a few places, peak ground acceleration with 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years on rock reaches 1.0 g. The results of this study may have utility for defining the design base shear in the National Structural Code of the Philippines.
Population structure of five native sheep breeds of Sweden estimated with high density SNP genotypes
Authors: Rochus Christina Marie , Jonas Elisabeth , Johansson Anna M.
Published: March 2020

Background

Native Swedish sheep breeds are part of the North European short-tailed sheep group; characterized in part by their genetic uniqueness. Our objective was to study the population structure of native Swedish sheep. Five breeds were genotyped using the 600 K SNP array. Dalapäls and Klövsjö sheep are from the middle of Sweden; Gotland and Gute sheep from Gotland, an island in the Baltic Sea; and Fjällnäs sheep from northern Sweden. We studied population structure by: principal component analysis (PCA), cluster-based analysis of admixture, and an estimated population tree.

Results

The analyses of the five Swedish breeds revealed that these breeds are five distinct breeds, while Gute and Gotland are more closely related to each other as seen in all analyses. All breeds had long branch lengths in the population tree indicating they’ve been subjected to drift. We repeated our analyses using 39 K SNP and including 50 K SNP genotypes from other European and southwestern Asian breeds from the Sheep HapMap project and 600 K SNP genotypes from a dataset of French sheep. Results arranged breeds into five groups: south-west Asia, south-west Europe, central Europe, north Europe and north European short-tailed sheep. Within this last group, Norwegian and Icelandic breeds, Finn and Romanov sheep, Scottish breeds, and Gute and Gotland sheep were more closely related while the remaining Swedish breeds and Ouessant sheep were distinct from all breeds and had longer branches in the population tree.

Conclusions

We showed population structure of five Swedish breeds and their structure within European and southwestern Asian breeds. Swedish breeds are unique, distinct breeds that have been subjected to drift but group with other north European short-tailed sheep.
Genome-wide identification of Diacylglycerol Acyltransferases (DGAT) family genes influencing Milk production in Buffalo
Authors: Liu Jiajia , Wang Zhiquan , Li Jun , Li Hui , Yang Liguo
Published: March 2020

Background

The diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGAT) are a vital group of enzymes in catalyzing triacylglycerol biosynthesis. DGAT genes like DGAT1 and DGAT2, have been identified as two functional candidate genes affecting milk production traits, especially for fat content in milk. Buffalo milk is famous for its excellent quality, which is rich in fat and protein content. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize DGAT family genes in buffalo and to find candidate markers or DGAT genes influencing lactation performance.

Results

We performed a genome-wide study and identified eight DGAT genes in buffalo. All the DGAT genes classified into two distinct clades (DGAT1 and DGAT2 subfamily) based on their phylogenetic relationships and structural features. Chromosome localization displayed eight buffalo DGAT genes distributed on five chromosomes. Collinearity analysis revealed that the DGAT family genes were extensive homologous between buffalo and cattle. Afterward, we discovered genetic variants loci within the genomic regions that DGAT genes located in buffalo. Seven haplotype blocks were constructed and were associated with buffalo milk production traits. Single marker association analyses revealed four most significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mainly affecting milk protein percentage or milk fat yield in buffalo. Genes functional analysis indicated that these DGAT family genes could influence lactation performance in the mammal through regulating lipid metabolism.

Conclusion

In the present study, we performed a comprehensive analysis for the DGAT family genes in buffalo, which including identification, structural characterization, phylogenetic classification, chromosomal distribution, collinearity analysis, association analysis, and functional analysis. These findings provide useful information for an in-depth study to determine the role of DGAT family gens play in the regulation of milk production and milk quality improvement in buffalo.
iREAD: a tool for intron retention detection from RNA-seq data
Authors: Li Hong-Dong , Funk Cory C. , Price Nathan D.
Published: March 2020

Background

Intron retention (IR) has been traditionally overlooked as ‘noise’ and received negligible attention in the field of gene expression analysis. In recent years, IR has become an emerging field for interrogating transcriptomes because it has been recognized to carry out important biological functions such as gene expression regulation and it has been found to be associated with complex diseases such as cancers. However, methods for detecting IR today are limited. Thus, there is a need to develop novel methods to improve IR detection.

Results

Here we present iREAD (intron REtention Analysis and Detector), a tool to detect IR events genome-wide from high-throughput RNA-seq data. The command line interface for iREAD is implemented in Python. iREAD takes as input a BAM file, representing the transcriptome, and a text file containing the intron coordinates of a genome. It then 1) counts all reads that overlap intron regions, 2) detects IR events by analyzing the features of reads such as depth and distribution patterns, and 3) outputs a list of retained introns into a tab-delimited text file. iREAD provides significant added value in detecting IR compared with output from IRFinder with a higher AUC on all datasets tested. Both methods showed low false positive rates and high false negative rates in different regimes, indicating that use together is generally beneficial. The output from iREAD can be directly used for further exploratory analysis such as differential intron expression and functional enrichment. The software is freely available at https://github.com/genemine/iread.

Conclusion

Being complementary to existing tools, iREAD provides a new and generic tool to interrogate poly-A enriched transcriptomic data of intron regions. Intron retention analysis provides a complementary approach for understanding transcriptome.
Effects of fenclorim on rice physiology, gene transcription and pretilachlor detoxification ability
Authors: Hu Lifeng , Yao Ying , Cai Ruwen , Pan Lang , Liu Kailin , Bai Lianyang
Published: March 2020

Background

Fenclorim (Fen) can effectively protect rice from pretilachlor (Pre) injury, but its effects on rice have not been formally evaluated; thus, the Fen mode of action for alleviating the phytotoxicity caused by Pre in rice is not clear. This study aimed to examine the biochemical and physiological effects of Fen on rice and to determine the changes induced by Fen at the transcriptome level.

Result

The chlorophyll content of rice plants was significantly affected by Pre but not by Fen. The activity of oxidative stress enzymes showed that Fen did not elicit any changes in oxidative stress; however, it reduced lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage induced by Pre. Fen did not affect the uptake of Pre but did affect its persistence in rice. In a transcriptome experiment, Fen upregulated genes in a detoxification pathway. Overall, 25 genes related to detoxification were identified, including P450, GST, and GT. Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis showed that four P450 genes, CYP71Y83, CYP71K14, CYP734A2 and CYP71D55, and two GST genes, GSTU16 and GSTF5, were upregulated by Fen and/or Pre.

Conclusion

Our work indicates that Fen acts in antioxidative defense in addition to enhancing the metabolism of herbicides in rice.
Comparative evaluation of epidural bupivacaine alone and bupivacaine combined with magnesium sulfate in providing postoperative analgesia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Li Li-Qin , Fang Mei-Dan , Wang Cong , Lu Hong-Liu , Wang Li-Xue , Xu Hong-Yu , Zhang Hou-Zhong
Published: March 2020

Background

The comparative efficacy of epidural bupivacaine alone and bupivacaine combined with magnesium sulfate in providing postoperative analgesia remains controversial.

Methods

We searched Mediline (OvidSP), EMBASE (OvidSP) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) to identify trials that compared epidural bupivacaine and magnesium sulfate combination (intervention) with bupivacaine alone (control). Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) framework was used to assess the quality of evidence.

Results

Eleven studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria after screening. We found that epidural bupivacaine combined with magnesium sulfate could prolong the time for first rescue analgesics (SMD 4.96; 95% CI [2.75, 7.17],P < 0.00001, I2 = 98%), reduce the number of patients who need rescue analgesics (RR 0.38; 95% CI [0.20, 0.74],P = 0.004, I2 = 75%) and requirement for rescue analgesics (SMD -2.65; 95% CI [− 4.23, − 1.06],P = 0.001, I2 = 96%).

Conclusions

Magnesium suifate as an adjuvant of epidural bupivacaine improved postoperative analgesia. However, we rated the quality of evidence to be very low because of high heterogeneity, imprecise of results and small sample sizes. Furthermore, further large high-quality trials are still needed to confirm the effects of magnesium sulfate on postoperative analgesia.
Serum Copeptin levels in the emergency department predict major clinical outcomes in adult trauma patients
Authors: Salvo Fulvio , Luppi Francesco , Lucchesi Davide M. , Canovi Simone , Franchini Stefano , Polese Alessandra , Santi Francesca , Trabucco Laura , Fasano Tommaso , Ferrari Anna Maria
Published: March 2020

Background

Early prognostication in trauma patients is challenging, but particularly important. We wanted to explore the ability of copeptin, the C-terminal fragment of arginine vasopressin, to identify major trauma, defined as Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 15, in a heterogeneous cohort of trauma patients and to compare its performances with lactate. We also evaluated copeptin performance in predicting other clinical outcomes: mortality, hospital admission, blood transfusion, emergency surgery, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission.

Methods

This single center, pragmatic, prospective observational study was conducted at Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, a level II trauma center in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Copeptin determination was obtained on Emergency Department (ED) arrival, together with venous lactate. Different outcomes were measured including ISS, Revised Trauma Score (RTS), hospital and ICU admission, blood transfusion, emergency surgery, and mortality.

Results

One hundred and twenty five adult trauma patients admitted to the ED between June 2017 and March 2018. Copeptin showed a good ability to identify patients with ISS > 15 (AUC 0.819). Similar good performances were recorded also in predicting other outcomes. Copeptin was significantly superior to lactate in identifying patients with ISS > 15 (P0.0015), and in predicting hospital admission (P0.0002) and blood transfusion (P0.016). Comparable results were observed in a subgroup of patients with RTS 7.84.

Conclusions

In a heterogeneous group of trauma patients, a single copeptin determination at the time of ED admission proved to be an accurate biomarker, statistically superior to lactate for the identification of major trauma, hospital admission, and blood transfusion, while no statistical difference was observed for ICU admission and emergency surgery. These results, if confirmed, may support a role for copeptin during early management of trauma patients.
Validation of the French version of the Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 (VES-13)
Authors: Belmin Joël , Khellaf Lyamna , Pariel Sylvie , Jarzebowski Witold , Valembois Lucie , Zeisel John , Lafuente-Lafuente Carmelo
Published: March 2020

Background

Identifying and assessing degree and type of frailty among older persons is a major challenge when targeting high risk populations to identify preventive interventions. The Vulnerable Elders Survey-(VES-13) is a simple instrument to identify frailty defined as risk for death, functional decline or institutionalization.

Objective

Translate VES-13 into French and validate it.

Methods

The French version of VES-13 was developed by forward-backward translation of the VES-13 survey instrument. The authors assessed its feasibility, construct validity, and ability to predict the combined outcomes of admission to institution or death at 18 months, in 135 persons over 70 years of age living in the community. Subjects were recruited from three settings: Group 1 – a health prevention center (n = 45); Group 2 – an ambulatory care geriatric clinic (n = 40); and Group 3 – an intermediate care hospital unit (n = 50). The combined outcomes data were recorded by telephone interview with participants or a proxy.

Results

Feasibility of the French version, named Echelle de Vulnérabilité des Ainés-13 or EVA-13, was excellent. The scale classified 5 (11%) persons as vulnerable (score of 3 or more) in Group 1, 23 (58%) in Group 2 and 45 (90%) in Group 3 (p < 0.001) with scores of 0.91 +/− 1.16, 4.27 +/− 3.17 and 6.90 +/− 3.17, respectively (p < 0.001). At follow-up, among the 60 non-vulnerable subjects, 58 (96%) were alive and living at home, whereas 46 (65%) of the 70 vulnerable subjects were alive and living at home (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

EVA-13 was determined to be valid and reliable.
Case report: an aortic aneurysm as cause of pseudoachalasia
Authors: Dejaeger Marian , Lormans Maud , Dejaeger Eddy , Fagard Katleen
Published: March 2020

Background

Pseudoachalasia is a rare disorder which has clinical, radiographic, and manometric findings that are often indistinguishable from primary achalasia. It is usually associated with malignancy. Few reports describe vascular compression as a cause of pseudoachalasia.

Case presentation

Here we present a case of a 84-year-old woman with anorexia, dysphagia and unintentional weight loss initially diagnosed as achalasia. Upon further investigation a rare cause of pseudoachalasia due to vascular compression of the esophagus was found. It could have been overlooked due to the fact that the initial work-out with a barium swallow, manometry and endoscopy was suggestive for primary achalasia.

Conclusion

Particularly in older patients with a manometric diagnosis of achalasia, additional investigation to rule out pseudoachalasia is warranted. Although malignant involvement of the esophagus is the most common cause of pseudoachalasia, benign origins have also been described.
The effect of prophylactic hemoclips on the risk of delayed post-endoscopic mucosal resection bleed for upper and lower gastrointestinal lesions: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chang Karen , Lee Brian S. , Tekeste Timnit , Nguyen Andrew , Adeyemo Mopelola , Girgis Agathon , Kwok Karl K. , Crowson H. Michael , Burris Alicia O. , Attam Rajeev , Chaya Charles T. , Durbin Theodore E. , Giap Andrew Q. , Hunt Gordon C. , Iskander John , Kao Kevin T. , Lim Brian S.
Published: March 2020

Background

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a minimally invasive procedure used for the treatment of lesions in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. There is increased usage of hemoclips during EMR for the prevention of delayed bleeding. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hemoclips in the prevention of delayed bleeding after EMR of upper and lower GI tract lesions.

Method

This is a retrospective cohort study using the Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) EMR registry. Lesions in upper and lower GI tracts that underwent EMR between January 2012 and December 2015 were analyzed. Rates of delayed bleeding were compared between the hemoclip and no-hemoclip groups. Analysis was stratified by upper GI and lower GI lesions. Lower GI group was further stratified by right and left colon. We examined the relationship between clip use and several clinically-relevant variables among the patients who exhibited delayed bleeding. Furthermore, we explored possible procedure-level and endoscopist-level characteristics that may be associated with clip usage.

Results

A total of 18 out of 657 lesions (2.7%) resulted in delayed bleeding: 7 (1.1%) in hemoclip group and 11 (1.7%) in no-hemoclip group (p = 0.204). There was no evidence that clip use moderated the effects of the lesion size (p = 0.954) or lesion location (p = 0.997) on the likelihood of delayed bleed. In the lower GI subgroup, clip application did not alter the effect of polyp location (right versus left colon) on the likelihood of delayed bleed (p = 0.951). Logistic regression analyses showed that the clip use did not modify the likelihood of delayed bleeding as related to the following variables: use of aspirin/NSAIDs/anti-coagulants/anti-platelets, pathologic diagnoses (including different types of colon polypoid lesions), ablation, piecemeal resection. The total number of clips used was 901 at a minimum additional cost of $173,893.

Conclusion

Prophylactic hemoclip application did not reduce delayed post-EMR bleed for upper and lower GI lesions in this retrospective study performed in a large-scale community practice setting. Routine prophylactic hemoclip application during EMR may lead to significantly higher healthcare cost without a clear clinical benefit.
Gait, cognition and falls over 5 years, and motoric cognitive risk in New Zealand octogenarians: Te Puāwaitanga o Nga Tapuwae Kia Ora Tonu, LiLACS NZ
Authors: Lord Sue , Moyes Simon , Teh Ruth , Port Waiora , Muru-Lanning Marama , Bacon Catherine J , Wilkinson Tim , Kerse Ngaire
Published: March 2020

Background

Understanding falls risk in advanced age is critical with people over 80 a rapidly growing demographic. Slow gait and cognitive complaint are established risk factors and together comprise the Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome (MCR). This study examined trajectories of gait and cognition and their association with falls over 5 years, and documented MCR in Māori and non-Māori of advanced age living in New Zealand.

Method

Falls frequency was ascertained retrospectively at annual assessments. 3 m gait speed was measured and cognition was assessed using the Modified Mini-Mental Status Examination (3MS). Frequency of MCR was reported. Gait and cognition trajectories were modelled and clusters identified from Latent Class Analysis. Generalised linear models examined association between changes in gait, cognition, MCR and falls.

Results

At baseline, 138 of 408 Māori (34%) and 205 of 512 non-Māori (40%) had fallen. Mean (SD) gait speed (m/s) for Māori was 0.66 (0.29) and 0.82 (0.26) for non-Māori. Respective 3MS scores were 86.2 (15.6) and 91.6 (10.4). Ten (4.3%) Maori participants met MCR criteria, compared with 7 (1.9%) non-Māori participants. Māori men were more likely to fall (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.0–2.43 (P = 0.04) whilst for non-Māori slow gait increased falls risk (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.24–0.68(P < 0.001). Non-Māori with MCR were more than twice as likely to fall than those without MCR (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.06–5.68 (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

Māori and non-Māori of advanced age show a mostly stable pattern of gait and cognition over time. Risk factors for falls differ for Māori, and do not include gait and cognition.
Reduced strength, poor balance and concern about falls mediate the relationship between knee pain and fall risk in older people
Authors: Hicks Cameron , Levinger Pazit , Menant Jasmine C. , Lord Stephen R. , Sachdev Perminder S. , Brodaty Henry , Sturnieks Daina L.
Published: March 2020

Background

Pain is an independent risk factor for falling. One in two older community-dwelling people with musculoskeletal pain fall each year. This study examined physical, psychological and medical factors as potential mediators to explain the relationship between knee pain and falls.

Methods

Three hundred and thirty-three community-dwelling people aged 70+ years (52% women) participated in this cohort study with a 1-year follow-up for falls. Participants completed questionnaires (medical history, general health and concern about falls) and underwent physical performance tests. Participants were classified into ‘pain’ and ‘no pain’ groups based on self-reported knee pain. Poisson Regression models were computed to determine the Relative Risk (RR) of having multiple falls and potential mediators for increased fall risk.

Results

One hundred and eighteen (36%) participants were categorised as having knee pain. This group took more medications and had more medical conditions (P < 0.01) compared to the no pain group. The pain group had poorer balance, physical function and strength and reported increased concern about falls. Sixty one participants (20%) reported ≥2 falls, with the pain group twice as likely to experience multiple falls over the 12 month follow up (RR = 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.27–3.13). Concern about falls, knee extension torque and postural sway with eyes closed were identified as significant and independent mediators of fall risk, and when combined explained 23% of the relationship between knee pain and falls.

Conclusion

This study has identified several medical, medication, psychological, sensorimotor, balance and mobility factors to be associated with knee pain, and found the presence of knee pain doubles the risk of multiple falls in older community living people. Alleviating knee pain, as well as addressing associated risk factors may assist in preventing falls in older people with knee pain.