bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The parameter identification of the autonomous underwater vehicle based on multi-innovation least squares identification algorithm
Authors: Huajun Zhang , Xinchi Tong , Hang Guo , Shou Xia
Published: April 2020

An accurate model is important for the engineer to design a robust controller for the autonomous underwater vehicle. There are two factors that make the identification difficult to get accurate parameters of an AUV model in practice. Firstly, the autonomous underwater vehicle model is a coupled six-degrees-of-freedom model, and each state of the kinetic model influences the other five states. Secondly, there are more than 100 hydrodynamic coefficients which have different effects, and some parameters are too small to be identified. This article proposes a simplified six-degrees-of-freedom model that contains the essential parameters and employs the multi-innovation least squares algorithm based on the recursive least squares algorithm to obtain the parameters. The multi-innovation least squares algorithm leverages several past errors to identify the parameters, and the identification results are more accurate than those of the recursive least squares algorithm. It collects the practical data through an experiment and designs a numerical program to identify the model parameters. Meanwhile, it compares the performances of the multi-innovation least squares algorithm with those of the recursive least squares algorithm and the least square method, the results show that the multi-innovation least squares algorithm is the most effective way to identify parameters for the simplified six-degrees-of-freedom model.
Altered serum interleukin-7 and interleukin-10 are associated with drug-free major depressive disorder
Authors: Anjum Sadia , Qusar M. M. A. Shalahuddin , Shahriar Mohammad , Islam Sardar Mohammad Ashraful , Bhuiyan Mohiuddin Ahmed , Islam Md. Rabiul
Published: April 2020

Background:

Abnormal expression of inflammatory cytokines in major depressive disorder (MDD) suggests the activation of an inflammatory process. The pattern of alterations in cytokine levels is still ambiguous. The present study aimed to evaluate interleukin-7 (IL-7) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) for their involvement in the pathophysiology of MDD and determine their relationships with depression risk.

Methods:

The study included 166 medication-free subjects: 84 MDD patients and 82 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs). A qualified psychiatrist diagnosed patients and evaluated controls based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). Hamilton depression rating scale (Ham-D) was used to measure the severity of depression in MDD patients. Serum IL-7 and IL-10 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.

Results:

Compared with HCs, the serum levels of IL-7 were significantly decreased, whereas that of IL-10 increased in MDD patients. Moreover, the severity of depression is correlated with the altered levels of IL-7 and IL-10 in MDD patients. We found a negative correlation between IL-7 and Hamilton depression rating (Ham-D) scores ( r = –0.580, p < 0.05), whereas there was a positive correlation between IL-10 and Ham-D scores ( r = 0.555, p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

The altered levels of serum IL-7 and IL-10 in MDD patients may represent a homeostatic mechanism that enhances the inflammatory process during depression. The alterations of these cytokine levels in MDD and their association with the severity of depression support them as promising, but there may still be controversial factors for understanding the pathophysiology of depression.
A model based on clinical parameters to identify myocardial late gadolinium enhancement by magnetic resonance in patients with aortic stenosis: An observational study
Authors: Kuk Mariya , Newsome Simon , Alpendurada Francisco , Dweck Marc , Pennell Dudley J , Vassiliou Vassilios S , Prasad Sanjay K
Published: April 2020

Objective

With increasing age, the prevalence of aortic stenosis grows exponentially, increasing left heart pressures and potentially leading to myocardial hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis and adverse outcomes. To identify patients who are at greatest risk, an outpatient model for risk stratification would be of value to better direct patient imaging, frequency of monitoring and expeditious management of aortic stenosis with possible earlier surgical intervention. In this study, a relatively simple model is proposed to identify myocardial fibrosis in patients with a diagnosis of moderate or severe aortic stenosis.

Design

Patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis were enrolled into the study; patient characteristics, blood work, medications as well as transthoracic echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance were used to determine potential identifiers of myocardial fibrosis.

Setting

The Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK

Participants

One hundred and thirteen patients in derivation cohort and 26 patients in validation cohort.

Main outcome measures

Identification of myocardial fibrosis.

Results

Three blood biomarkers (serum platelets, serum urea, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) and left ventricular ejection fraction were shown to be capable of identifying myocardial fibrosis. The model was validated in a separate cohort of 26 patients.

Conclusions

Although further external validation of the model is necessary prior to its use in clinical practice, the proposed clinical model may direct patient care with respect to earlier magnetic resonance imagining, frequency of monitoring and may help in risk stratification for surgical intervention for myocardial fibrosis in patients with aortic stenosis.
Etiology, Treatment, and Outcome of Children Aged 3 to 36 Months With Fever Without a Source at a Community Hospital in Southern Thailand
Authors: Phasuk Nonthapan , Nurak Awirut
Published: April 2020

Background: Fever without a source (FWS) in young children can result from occult bacteremia, urinary tract infection (UTI), meningitis, or certain viral infections. In rural areas of Thailand, where bacterial cultures are not available in some community hospitals, the appropriate examination and management of FWS remain controversial. Methods: We retrospectively searched electronic medical records for medical diagnoses associated with FWS and evaluated the characteristics and clinical courses of children aged 3 to 36 months with FWS who were admitted to a community hospital in southern Thailand between January 2015 and December 2016. Results: Sixty-seven children aged 3 to 36 months with an initial diagnosis of FWS were enrolled. The median age was 11 months (interquartile range [IQR] 8-21 months). Complete blood counts, blood cultures, urine analysis results and urinary cultures were obtained from 67 (100.0%), 31 (46.3%), 47 (70.1%), and 7 (10.5%) patients, respectively. The most common empirical antibiotic administered to these patients was ceftriaxone (71.6%); however, 4 patients recovered without antibiotic administration. The median duration of intravenous antibiotic administration was 4 days (IQR 2-4 days). Intravenous antibiotics were replaced by oral antibiotics in 38 patients (62.3%). The median time to fever subsidence was 30 hours (IQR 12-60 hours). Regarding final diagnoses, 5 patients (7.5%) were diagnosed with culture-confirmed UTI, and 2 (3.0%) had bacteremia (due to contamination). The majority of the children (60, 89.6%) retained the diagnosis of FWS. Presentation at the hospital was significantly earlier in children with culture-confirmed UTI (median 1 day) than in those with culture-negative FWS (median 3 days) ( P = .019). Discussion: We evaluated the characteristics and clinical courses of young children with FWS presenting at a community hospital and the treatment approaches utilized by physicians. Although all patients had good prognoses during the study period, we identified several areas for improvement in conducting proper examinations (especially assessments for UTI in children presenting within the first day of fever onset).
Distinct Risk Profiles in Social Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Tung Esther S. , Brown Timothy A.
Published: April 2020

Using a factor mixture model (FMM) approach, we examined whether social anxiety disorder (SAD) could be subtyped by distinct risk profiles and whether these subtypes predicted different manifestations of the disorder. We derived risk profiles from neurotic temperament (NT), positive temperament (PT), and autonomic arousability (AA), which are hypothesized to be important in the maintenance of anxiety disorders such as SAD. In our sample of 758 SAD outpatients, a two-class FMM solution fit the data best. Class 1 was characterized by very low PT, whereas PT in Class 2 was substantially higher. The two classes differed to a lesser extent on NT but were virtually equivalent on AA. Class 1 had significantly more men and individuals with depressive disorders, generalized SAD, and higher SAD severity. Class 2 had more individuals with performance subtype SAD. These findings provide initial support for distinct risk profiles within SAD that may be predictive of its clinical expression.
Tibial Tubercle–Roman Arch Distance: A New Measurement of Patellar Dislocation and Indication of Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy
Authors: Xu Zijie , Zhang Hua , Fu Binjie , Mohamed Sheikh Ibrahimrashid , Zhang Jian , Zhou Aiguo
Published: April 2020

Background:

The surgical indication for tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) has been based on a tibial tubercle–trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance of 20 mm or greater in patients with patellar dislocation. However, the measurement of this parameter is less reliable in patients with trochlear dysplasia.

Hypothesis:

The novel measurement of tibial tubercle–Roman arch (TT-RA) distance would be a reliable parameter for identifying the relative position of the tibial tubercle in patients with patellar dislocation, especially those with trochlear dysplasia.

Study Design:

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

A total of 56 patients with a diagnosis of patellar dislocation and 60 volunteers (60 knee joints) without a history of lower extremity pain or injury were included in our study. The TT-RA distance, TT-TG distance, and some femoral anatomic parameters were assessed by use of computed tomography. The measurements were performed by a radiologist and an orthopaedic surgeon in a blinded and randomized fashion. The difference in each parameter between the study and control groups was analyzed through use of an unpaired t test. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to evaluate the discriminatory capacity of the included parameters. The cutoff values of the included measurements with specificity and sensitivity were calculated. In addition, the TT-TG distance and TT-RA distance were analyzed using the Dejour classification to evaluate the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of each parameter in different types of femoral trochlea.

Result:

A significant difference for TT-RA distance was found between the study group (23.24 ± 4.41 mm) and control group (19.15 ± 4.24 mm) ( P < .001). The TT-RA distance had an area under the curve of 0.757. At a value greater than 23.74 mm, TT-RA distance had 53.57% sensitivity and 88.33% specificity for patellar dislocation. The ICCs of TT-RA distance measurements were excellent in all Dejour classifications (>0.939), whereas the ICCs of TT-TG distance measurements were relatively lower than the ICCs of TT-RA distance measurements. According to the data from included healthy individuals, the pathological TT-RA distance threshold was 26 mm.

Conclusion:

Compared with TT-TG distance, the TT-RA distance is a more reliable parameter for identifying the relative position of the tibial tubercle in patients with trochlear dysplasia. For patients with a TT-RA distance greater than 26 mm, surgery should be considered to correct the malposition of the tibial tubercle.
Phenotypic variability in bread wheat root systems at the early vegetative stage
Authors: Chen Yinglong , Palta Jairo , Prasad P. V. Vara , Siddique Kadambot H. M.
Published: April 2020

Background

Understanding root system morphology in bread wheat is critical for identifying root traits to breed cultivars with improved resource uptake and better adaptation to adverse environments. Variability in root morphological traits at early vegetative stages was examined among 184 bread wheat genotypes originating from 37 countries grown in a semi-hydroponic phenotyping system.

Results

At the onset of tillering (Z2.1, 35 days after transplanting), plants had up to 42 cm in shoot height and 158 cm long in root depth. Phenotypic variation existed for both shoot and root traits, with a maximal 4.3-fold difference in total root length and 5-fold difference in root dry mass among the 184 genotypes. Of the 41 measured traits, 24 root traits and four shoot traits had larger coefficients of variation (CV ≥ 0.25). Strong positive correlations were identified for some key root traits (i.e., root mass, root length, and these parameters at different depths) and shoot traits (i.e., shoot mass and tiller number) (P ≤ 0.05). The selected 25 global traits (at whole-plant level) contributed to one of the five principal components (eigenvalues> 1) capturing 83.0% of the total variability across genotypes. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis separated the 184 genotypes into four (at a rescaled distance of 15) or seven (at a rescaled distance of 10) major groups based on the same set of root traits. Strong relationships between performance traits (dry mass) with several functional traits such as specific root length, root length intensity and root tissue density suggest their linkage to plant growth and fitness strategies.

Conclusions

Large phenotypic variability in root system morphology in wheat genotypes was observed at the tillering stage using established semi-hydroponic phenotyping techniques. Phenotypic differences in and trait correlations among some interesting root traits may be considered for breeding wheat cultivars with efficient water acquisition and better adaptation to abiotic stress.
Confronting the culture of care: a call to end disrespect, discrimination, and detainment of women and newborns in health facilities everywhere
Authors: Sacks Emma , Peca Emily
Published: April 2020

Quality and respect are increasingly recognized as critical aspects of the provision of health care, and poor quality may be an essential driver of low health care utilization, especially for maternal and neonatal care. Beyond differential access to care, unequal levels of quality exacerbate inequity, and those who need services most, including displaced, migrant, and conflict-affected populations, may be receiving poorer quality care, or may be deterred from seeking care at all.

Examples from around the world show that mothers and their children are often judged and mistreated for presenting to facilities without clean or “modern” clothing, without soap or clean sheets to use in the hospital, or without gifts like sweets or candies for providers. Underfunded facilities may rely on income from those seeking care, but denying and shaming the poor further discriminates against vulnerable women and newborns, by placing additional financial burden on those already marginalized.

The culture of care needs to shift to create welcoming environments for all care-seekers, regardless of socio-economic status. No one should fear mistreatment, denial of services, or detainment due to lack of gifts or payments. There is an urgent need to ensure that health care centers are safe, friendly, respectful, and hospitable spaces for women, their newborns, and their families.
Epidemiology of antenatal depression in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Dadi Abel Fekadu , Wolde Haileab Fekadu , Baraki Adhanom Gebreegziabher , Akalu Temesgen Yihunie
Published: April 2020

Background

Antenatal depression is a serious problem worldwide that has devastating consequences not only for the mother but also for the child and family. The pooled evidence regarding the prevalence and associated factors of antenatal depression is rare in Africa. Hence this review aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of antenatal depression in Africa.

Methods

We searched CINHAL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Psychiatry online, PubMed, SCOPES, and Emcare databases for English written observational studies conducted in Africa from 2007 to 2018.Quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS), and studies with good quality were included in the final review. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using the I2 and Higgins test. Publication bias was checked using Funnel plot symmetry, and Egger’s regression test and adjustment was made by using Duval and Tweedie’s Trim and Fill analysis. A random effect Meta-analysis was employed to determine the pooled estimates with 95% confidence interval (CI). Stata 14 was used for analysis. The review protocol has been registered in PROSPERO number CRD42018106717.

Result

Of the 175 studies identified, 28 studies with an overall sample size of 17,938 were included. According to the random effect model following trim and fill analysis, the pooled prevalence of antenatal depression in Africa was 26.3% (95%CI: 22.2, 30.4%). Economic difficulties [POR = 1.87;95%CI:1.25,2.78,I2 = 88.1%], unfavorable marital condition [POR = 4.17;95% CI:1.75, 9.94, I2 = 81.2%], poor support from relatives [POR = 1.36;95% CI:1.18, 1.56, I2 = 78.0%], bad obstetric history [POR = 2.30;95% CI:1.81, 2.92), I2 = 81.7%], and history of mental health problem [POR = 2.97; 95% CI:1.74, 5.06, I2 = 92.0%]were the factors associated with antenatal depression.

Conclusion

The prevalence of antenatal depression is high in Africa, which showed that one in four pregnant women had depression. Pregnant mothers who had economic difficulties, bad obstetric history, poor support from relatives, previous mental health problems, and unfavorable marital conditions were at higher risk of antenatal depression. Therefore these factors should be considered while designing mental health care services for pregnant mothers.
Birthing outside the system: the motivation behind the choice to freebirth or have a homebirth with risk factors in Australia
Authors: Jackson Melanie K , Schmied Virginia , Dahlen Hannah G
Published: April 2020

Background

Childbirth in Australia occurs predominantly in a biomedical context, with 97% of births occurring in hospital. A small percentage of women choose tobirth outside the system –that is, to have a midwife attended homebirth with risk factors, or a freebirth, where the birth at home is intentionally unattended by any health professional.

Method

This study used a Grounded Theory methodology. Data from 13 women choosing homebirth and 15 choosing freebirth were collected between 2010 and 2014 and analysed over this time.

Results

The core category was ‘wanting the best and safest,’ which describes what motivated the women tobirth outside the system.The basic social process, which explains the journey women took as they pursued the best and safest, was ‘finding a better way’. Women who gavebirth outside the systemin Australia had the countercultural belief that their knowledge about what was best and safest had greater authority than the socially accepted experts in maternity care. The women did not believe the rhetoric about the safety of hospitals and considered a biomedical approach towards birth to be the riskier birth option compared to giving birth outside the system. Previous birth experiences taught the women that hospital care was emotionally unsafe and that there was a possibility of further trauma if they returned to hospital. Givingbirth outside the systempresented the women with what they believed to be the opportunity to experience the best and safest circumstances for themselves and their babies.

Conclusion

Shortfalls in the Australian maternity care system is the major contributing factor to women’s choice to give birth outside the system. Systematic improvements should prioritise humanising maternity care and the expansion of birth options which prioritise midwifery-led care for women of all risk.
Corneal thickness and endothelial morphology in Normal Thai eyes
Authors: Tananuvat Napaporn , Khumchoo Natawan
Published: April 2020

Background

This study aimed to determine the influence of age on central corneal thickness and corneal endothelial morphology as well as to identify the relationship between them in normal Thai eyes.

Methods

Non-contact specular microscopy was performed in volunteers stratified into seven age groups ranging from 11 to 88 years. The corneal endothelial parameters studied included central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation in cell size (CV), cell area (CA) and percentage of regular hexagonal cells.

Results

In a total of 501 subjects (1002 eyes), the mean age was 43.12 ± 18.80 years and 347(69.3%) were females. The mean CCT, ECD, CV, CA, and hexagonality was 533.80 ± 33.00 μm, 2732 ± 258 cell/mm2, 37.61 ± 6.76%, 369.04 ± 37.90 μm, and 49.03 ± 7.53%, respectively. There was a significant inverse correlation between age and CCT (r = − 0.215, P <  0.001), ECD (r = − 0.496, P <  0.001),and hexagonality (r = − 0.265, P <  0.001). The CV and CA directly correlated with age (r = 0.242, P <  0.001 and r = 0.470, P <  0.001). The estimate rate of endothelial cell loss was 0.2% per year. There was no correlation between CCT and ECD (P = 0.106).

Conclusion

Normative data for corneal endothelial morphology in healthy Thai eyes showed that CCT, ECD, and hexagonality were significantly decreased, while the endothelial cell area and the variation in cell size were increased with aging. The central corneal thickness did not correlate with the endothelial cell density.
Neovascular glaucoma in a pediatric patient with neurofibromatosis type 1: a case report
Authors: Liu Sha , Ran Li , Qi Dongmei , Meng Xiaohong , Yu Tao
Published: April 2020

Background

To report a case of a young patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

Methods: Here we review the treatment administered to a 7-year-old NF1 patient with neovascular glaucoma as the primary diagnosis.

Case presentation

A 7-year-old boy developed visual loss in the right eye associated with periocular pain and ipsilateral headache that had persisted for 1 week. The patient’s condition did not improve after treatment with topical or systemic glaucoma medications. Fundus examination of the right eye showed superotemporal retinal vasoproliferative tumors (RVPT). Near-infrared reflectance scans of the left eye’s fundus revealed bright patchy regions, scattered across the posterior pole; systemic examination showed café-au-lait spots all over the patient’s body. The patient had a clear family history. Genetic testing confirmed NF1. The right eye was treated with intravitreal ranibizumab injection, retinal lesion cryotherapy, and transscleral ciliary body photocoagulation. After treatment, RVPT scarring was observed. The patient’s intraocular pressure remained within normal limits.

Conclusions

We report a rare case of neurofibromatosis in a pediatric patient with neovascular glaucoma accompanied by RVPT. We suggest that evaluations of young patients with neovascular glaucoma should include careful attention to the overall condition of the patient and his/her parents, as well as family history. If necessary, NF1 molecular testing should be performed to avoid a missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis.
Comparative effects of various types of toric intraocular lenses on astigmatism correction
Authors: Moon Jayoon , Yoon Chang Ho , Kim Mee Kum
Published: April 2020

Background

Currently, various types of toric intraocular lenses (IOL) have been manufactured and can be divided into three types according to the location of correction component; front-toric IOL (correction on anterior IOL surface), back-toric IOL (correction on posterior IOL surface), and bi-toric IOL (correction on both anterior and posterior IOL surfaces). In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of reducing corneal astigmatism of either normal or post-penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) corneas according to the type of implanted toric IOLs.

Methods

Medical records were retrospectively reviewed in 370 patients who had undergone phacoemulsification with posterior chamber toric IOL insertion (front-toric IOL, back-toric IOL or bi-toric IOL). Subjects were divided into 2 groups; subjects who had no history of corneal disease with corneal astigmatism more than 1.00 diopters (D) (G1) and subjects who received previous PKP with all corneal sutures removed and had corneal astigmatism more than 1.25 D (G2). Preoperatively intended target from SRK/T was evaluated. Refractive astigmatism and its vector analysis (J0, J45), mean numerical error (MNE) and mean absolute error (MAE) were assessed at least a month after cataract surgery.

Results

Mean preoperative corneal astigmatisms were 2.2 D and 4.0 D in G1 and G2, respectively. There was significant reduction of mean postoperative refractive astigmatism to 0.89 D in G1 and to 2.33 D in G2. In G1, bi-toric IOL showed significantly more improved refractive astigmatism than back-toric IOL. In G2, no difference in refractive astigmatism according to toric IOL type was observed. While G2 showed no difference in MNE among toric IOLs, in G1, bi-toric IOL showed significant hyperopic shift compared to back-toric IOL. In both groups, there was no significant difference in MAE according to type of IOL. No postoperative complications were observed.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that all types of toric IOL are beneficial in correcting astigmatism of normal and post-PKP corneas. Noticeably, bi-toric IOL showed significantly better results in refractive astigmatism than back-toric IOL in normal cornea. However, bi-toric IOL showed a more hyperopic shift compared to back-toric IOL. Among post-PKP corneas, all types of toric IOL showed similar results.
A novel kefir product (PFT) inhibits Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice via induction of apoptosis and immunomodulation*
Authors: Badr El-Din Nariman K. , Shabana Sameh M. , Abdulmajeed Bashar A. , Ghoneum Mamdooh
Published: April 2020

Background

The popularity of fermented foods such as kefir, kuniss, and tofu has been greatly increasing over the past several decades, and the ability of probiotic bacteria to exert anticancer effects has recently become the focus of research. While we have recently demonstrated the ability of the novel kefir product PFT (Probiotics Fermentation Technology) to exert anticancer effects in vitro, here we demonstrate its ability to inhibit Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in mice.

Methods

Mice were inoculated intramuscularly with EAC cells to develop solid tumors. PFT was administered orally (2 g/kg/day) to mice 6 days/week, either 2 days before tumor cell inoculation or 9 days after inoculation to mice bearing solid tumors. Tumor growth, blood lymphocyte levels, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, apoptotic regulator expression, TNF-α expression, changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), PCNA, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in tumor cells were quantitatively evaluated by flow cytometry or RT-PCR. Further studies in vitro were carried out where EAC cells along with several other human cancer cell lines were cultured in the presence of PFT (0–5 mg/mL). Percent cell viability and IC50was estimated by MTT assay.

Results

Our data shows that PFT exerts the following: 1) inhibition of tumor incidence and tumor growth; 2) inhibition of cellular proliferation via a marked decrease in the expression of tumor marker PCNA; 3) arrest of the tumor cell cycle in the sub-G0/G1 phase, signifying apoptosis; 4) induction of apoptosis in cancer cells via a mitochondrial-dependent pathway as indicated by the up-regulation of p53 expression, increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, decrease in the polarization of MMP, and caspase-3 activation; and 5) immunomodulation with an increase in the number of infiltrating CD4+and CD8+T cells and an enhancement of TNF-α expression within the tumor.

Conclusions

PFT reduces tumor incidence and tumor growth in mice with EAC by inducing apoptosis in EAC cells via the mitochondrial-dependent pathway, suppressing cancer cell proliferation, and stimulating the immune system. PFT may be a useful agent for cancer prevention.
Dietary supplementation of micro-encapsulated sodium butyrate in healthy horses: effect on gut histology and immunohistochemistry parameters
Authors: Wambacq W. A. , van Doorn D. A. , Rovers-Paap P. M. , Ducatelle R. , Vlaminck L. , Lourenço M. , Hesta M.
Published: April 2020

Background

As colic and intestinal disorders are a major concern in horses, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of butyrate, known to have a diverse array of beneficial effects on intestinal health. The effect of micro-encapsulated sodium butyrate supplementation on gut histology and immunohistochemistry parameters was studied in 14 healthy warmblood horses destined for slaughter in two separate periods. Horses were fed a low fiber - high starch diet, designed to induce subsequent starch overflow in the large intestine, aiming to create a mild challenge for large intestinal health. Treatment included supplementation with either micro-encapsulated sodium butyrate (Excential Butycoat®, Orffa, Werkendam, the Netherlands) or placebo (containing only coating material). The horses were fed for 20 consecutive days at a dosage of 0.4 g/kg BW (body weight). At day 21, the horses were slaughtered and intestinal samples were collected for determination of gut pH, villus length, crypt depth and area % of CD3+ and CD20+ cells.

Results

Horses on the butyrate supplemented diet had significantly reduced crypt depths in the right dorsal colon compared to placebo-fed horses (P < 0.001). However, a treatment x period interaction (P = 0.002) was discovered regarding this parameter, which could not be explained by the authors. Further investigation into the number of KI67+ cells in the RDC crypts did not reveal any significant differences between treatments (P = 0.650), indicating that the reduction in crypt depth in butyrate-fed horses could not be explained by a significant difference in cellular proliferation. Intestinal pH, villus length and expression of intestinal CD3+ and CD20+ cells were not significantly affected by treatment at any intestinal level.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that supplementation of micro-encapsulated sodium butyrate to the equine diet did not influence gut histology (with the exception of a decrease found in the crypts of the RDC) or immunohistochemistry parameters in healthy horses. Further research is warranted to investigate the impact of butyrate supplementation in horses with intestinal disease.
LncGBP9/miR-34a axis drives macrophages toward a phenotype conducive for spinal cord injury repair via STAT1/STAT6 and SOCS3
Authors: Zhou Jiahui , Li Zhiyue , Wu Tianding , Zhao Qun , Zhao Qiancheng , Cao Yong
Published: April 2020

Background

Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) could cause mainly two types of pathological sequelae, the primary mechanical injury, and the secondary injury. The macrophage in SCI are skewed toward the M1 phenotype that might cause the failure to post-SCI repair.

Methods

SCI model was established in Balb/c mice, and the changes in macrophage phenotypes after SCI were monitored. Bioinformatic analyses were performed to select factors that might regulate macrophage polarization after SCI. Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were isolated, identified, and induced for M1 or M2 polarization; the effects of lncRNA guanylate binding protein-9 (lncGBP9) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) on macrophages polarization were examined in vitro and in vivo. The predicted miR-34a binding to lncGBP9 and SOCS3 was validated; the dynamic effects of lncGBP9 and miR-34a on SOCS3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1)/STAT6 signaling, and macrophage polarization were examined. Finally, we investigated whether STAT6 could bind the miR-34a promoter to activate its transcription.

Results

In SCI Balb/c mice, macrophage skewing toward M1 phenotypes was observed after SCI. In M1 macrophages, lncGBP9 silencing significantly decreased p-STAT1 and SOCS3 expression and protein levels, as well as the production of Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-12; in M2 macrophages, lncGBP9 overexpression increased SOCS3 mRNA expression and protein levels while suppressed p-STAT6 levels and the production of IL-10 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), indicating that lncGBP9 overexpression promotes the M1 polarization of macrophages. In lncGBP9-silenced SCI mice, the M2 polarization was promoted on day 28 after the operation, further indicating that lncGBP9 silencing revised the predominance of M1 phenotype at the late stage of secondary injury after SCI, therefore improving the repair after SCI. IncGBP9 competed with SOCS3 for miR-34a binding to counteract miR-34a-mediated suppression on SOCS3 and then modulated STAT1/STAT6 signaling and the polarization of macrophages. STAT6 bound the promoter of miR-34a to activate its transcription.

Conclusions

In macrophages, lncGBP9 sponges miR-34a to rescue SOCS3 expression, therefore modulating macrophage polarization through STAT1/STAT6 signaling. STAT6 bound the promoter of miR-34a to activate its transcription, thus forming two different regulatory loops to modulate the phenotype of macrophages after SCI.
Division of labour in a matrix, rather than phagocytosis or endosymbiosis, as a route for the origin of eukaryotic cells
Authors: Bateman Andrew
Published: April 2020

Two apparently irreconcilable models dominate research into the origin of eukaryotes. In one model, amitochondrial proto-eukaryotes emerged autogenously from the last universal common ancestor of all cells. Proto-eukaryotes subsequently acquired mitochondrial progenitors by the phagocytic capture of bacteria. In the second model, two prokaryotes, probably an archaeon and a bacterial cell, engaged in prokaryotic endosymbiosis, with the species resident within the host becoming the mitochondrial progenitor. Both models have limitations. A search was therefore undertaken for alternative routes towards the origin of eukaryotic cells. The question was addressed by considering classes of potential pathways from prokaryotic to eukaryotic cells based on considerations of cellular topology. Among the solutions identified, one, called here the “third-space model”, has not been widely explored. A version is presented in which an extracellular space (the third-space), serves as a proxy cytoplasm for mixed populations of archaea and bacteria to “merge” as a transitionary complex without obligatory endosymbiosis or phagocytosis and to form a precursor cell. Incipient nuclei and mitochondria diverge by division of labour. The third-space model can accommodate the reorganization of prokaryote-like genomes to a more eukaryote-like genome structure. Nuclei with multiple chromosomes and mitosis emerge as a natural feature of the model. The model is compatible with the loss of archaeal lipid biochemistry while retaining archaeal genes and provides a route for the development of membranous organelles such as the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum. Advantages, limitations and variations of the “third-space” models are discussed.

Reviewers

This article was reviewed by Damien Devos, Buzz Baum and Michael Gray.
Relationship between seepage water volume and total suspended solids of landslide dam failure caused by seepage: an experimental investigation
Authors: Dhungana Prakash , Wang Fawu
Published: April 2020

Background

Landslide dams inevitably demonstrate the potential for catastrophic failure with high-risk damage to life and property at the downstream site. Hence, knowledge of the internal stability of dam materials is a key to predicting the seepage failure of landslide dams. In this study, experiments were conducted to examine the relationship between seepage volume and total suspended solids (TSS) of seepage water based on hydro mechanical constrains. Understanding the relationship between the seepage volume and TSS with hydro-mechanical constraints supports the prediction of the seepage failure of landslide dams at the field level.

Result

Experiments were conducted with a mixed sample of silica sands. Seepage water was collected from a flume tank with the facility to measure the hydraulic gradient, vertical displacement, and seepage water volume. Grain size affected the life span of the dam. The seepage volume increased with the increase in the percentage of silica sand S4, whereas TSS increased with the increase in the percentage of silica sand S8. With the increase in the dam height, the dam life decreases for low coeficient of uniformity of the grain size distribution. With the increase in the reservoir size, TSS decreased, and the total seepage volume increased.

Conclusion

Dam failure depends on the particle size, dam geometry, inflow rates, reservoir size, hydraulic gradient, and seepage water volume, and TSS of seepage water. The results indicated that with the increase in fine particles, the life span decreases, and TSS increases. With the increase in the flow rate, the dam life span decreases, and the TSS and seepage volume rate increase.The dam height leads to an increase seepage volume with low TSS, where the life span of the dam also depends on the particle size distribution With the increase in the reservoir size, the seepage water volume decreases with low TSS.
Gallbladder metastasis of renal cell carcinoma presenting as a hypervascular polypoid lesion: case report of two cases with immunohistochemical analysis
Authors: Oba Takuya , Sato Norihiro , Tamura Toshihisa , Fujimoto Katsushi , Matsuyama Atsuji , Hirata Keiji
Published: April 2020

Background

Metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to the gallbladder is rare, and its clinicopathological feature remains poorly understood. We here present two cases of gallbladder metastasis from RCC presenting as a hypervascular polypoid lesion.

Case presentation

The first case was a 73-year-old man who had undergone right nephrectomy for clear cell RCC. Imaging studies detected a hypervascular polypoid lesion in the gallbladder 6 years after nephrectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done. The pathological findings of the polypoid lesion showed proliferation of clear cells in the submucosal layer. Immunohistochemically, the tumor was positive for carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) but negative for cytokeratin 7 (CK7), suggestive of metastatic RCC. The second case was a 43-year-old man who had undergone right nephrectomy for clear cell RCC. Imaging studies revealed a hypervascular polypoid lesion of 20 mm in diameter in the gallbladder 1 year after nephrectomy. The patient underwent expanded cholecystectomy and extra-hepatic bile duct resection with lymphadenectomy. Microscopically, the polypoid lesion of the gallbladder was composed of clear cells in the submucosal layer. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive staining for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) but negative staining for CK7, leading to the diagnosis of metastatic RCC.

Conclusions

Gallbladder metastasis from RCC is rare but should be considered when a hypervascular polypoid lesion in the gallbladder is detected during the follow-up period after RCC treatment.
Improvement of multiple intraperitoneal nodules resembling peritoneal cancer that developed after peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis caused by Mycobacterium abscessus with literature review: granuloma or carcinoma
Authors: Terada Kohsuke , Yan Tomohiro , Mugishima Koji , Kawasaki Sayuri , Itagaki Fumiaki , Yamada Takehisa , Sakai Yukinao
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Peritonitis is a crucial complication that leads to hospitalization or even death in patients who are undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). The incidence of PD-related peritonitis associated with nontuberculous mycobacteria has increased in recent years. However, a well-established treatment for peritonitis is lacking, particularly in peritonitis caused by Mycobacterium abscessus which is a difficult to treat disease due to its inherent resistance to majority of available antibiotics. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first to report on intraperitoneal multiple nodules that developed due to PD-related peritonitis caused by M. abscessus.

Case presentation

This case reported a case of a 40-year-old female patient who was undergoing PD and who showed multiple intraperitoneal nodules that resembled peritoneal cancer on computed tomography (CT) and that developed after PD-related peritonitis and catheter removal. After multiantibiotic therapy, multiple nodules were found to have disappeared on CT. The nodules continued to disappear and the patient did not show signs of recurrent peritonitis, although there was a possibility of recurrence.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first to report on nodules that resembled peritoneal cancer and that developed in the abdominal cavity due to PD-related peritonitis caused by M. abscessus. Positron emission tomography–CT was not useful in distinguishing peritoneal cancer from nodules caused by M. abscessus.
Computational pharmacokinetic analysis on some newly designed 2-anilinopyrimidine derivative compounds as anti-triple-negative breast cancer drug compounds
Authors: Abdulrahman Hadiza Lawal , Uzairu Adamu , Uba Sani
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Worldwide, cancer of the breast is the most commonly diagnosed disease and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality amongst women yearly (Miller et al., 2016). Computer-aided drug discovery (CADD) is a fundamental shortcut in drug discovery arena. CADD tools ascertain key molecule for testing, predicting the effectiveness, the possible side effect, and also assist in upgrading drug-likeliness of drug molecules (Leelananda and Lindert, 2016). The propose of carrying out this research is to design new 2-anilinopyrimidine derivative compounds based on the interaction of the derivative compounds (ligand) and thyroid hormone receptor (TRβ1), and also analyze their pharmacokinetic properties as drug compounds that would be used by the pharmaceuticals against triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-468 cell line).

Results

Three compounds (12, 17, and 18) had the highest docking score ranging from − 7.3 to − 7.4 kcal/mol. This showed that the compounds (ligands) bind tightly with the active site of the thyroid hormone receptor (TRβ1). Based on their tight interactions with the receptor, the compounds were chosen as lead compounds in the design of fourteen new compounds by incorporating some fragments found to bind intensely with the active site of the thyroid hormone receptor (TRβ1). All the newly designed compounds passed the pharmacokinetic analysis (adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and other physicochemical test) passed the drug-likeness test, and they also adhered to the Lipinski rule of five.

Conclusions

New derivative compounds of 2-anilinopyrimidine against MDA-MB-468 cell line were designed based on the information obtained from the molecular docking studies. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetics analysis (adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME) and other physicochemical properties) carried out on the newly designed compounds showed this compounds can be made into oral drugs for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (MBA-MD-468 cell line) as they serve as most promising inhibitors against thyroid hormone receptor (TRβ1).
The mental health of doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Galbraith Niall , Boyda David , McFeeters Danielle , Hassan Tariq
Published: April 2020

Doctors experience high levels of work stress even under normal circumstances, but many would be reluctant to disclose mental health difficulties or seek help for them, with stigma an often-cited reason. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis places additional pressure on doctors and on the healthcare system in general and research shows that such pressure brings a greater risk of psychological distress for doctors. For this reason, we argue that the authorities and healthcare executives must show strong leadership and support for doctors and their families during the COVID-19 outbreak and call for efforts to reduce mental health stigma in clinical workplaces. This can be facilitated by deliberately adding ‘healthcare staff mental health support process’ as an ongoing agenda item to high-level management planning meetings.
Heterogeneous Beliefs and School Choice Mechanisms
Authors: Kapor Adam J. , Neilson Christopher A. , Zimmerman Seth D.
Published: April 2020

This paper studies how welfare outcomes in centralized school choice depend on the assignment mechanism when participants are not fully informed. Using a survey of school choice participants in a strategic setting, we show that beliefs about admissions chances differ from rational expectations values and predict choice behavior. To quantify the welfare costs of belief errors, we estimate a model of school choice that incorporates subjective beliefs. We evaluate the equilibrium effects of switching to a strategy-proof deferred acceptance algorithm, and of improving households’ belief accuracy. We find that a switch to truthful reporting in the DA mechanism offers welfare improvements over the baseline given the belief errors we observe in the data, but that an analyst who assumed families had accurate beliefs would have reached the opposite conclusion. (JEL D83, H75, I21, I28)
Forced Migration and Human Capital: Evidence from Post-WWII Population Transfers
Authors: Becker Sascha O. , Grosfeld Irena , Grosjean Pauline , Voigtländer Nico , Zhuravskaya Ekaterina
Published: April 2020

We study the long-run effects of forced migration on investment in education. After World War II, millions of Poles were forcibly uprooted from the Kresy territories of eastern Poland and resettled (primarily) in the newly acquired Western Territories, from which the Germans were expelled. We combine historical censuses with newly collected survey data to show that, while there were no pre-WWII differences in educational attainment, Poles with a family history of forced migration are significantly more educated today than other Poles. These results are driven by a shift in preferences away from material possessions toward investment in human capital. (JEL I25, I26, J24, N34, R23)
A rare case of renal cell carcinoma with hematogenous extension into the right atrium discovered incidentally on echocardiogram
Authors: Dean Ryan , Maniam Ganesh , Vo Thien
Published: April 2020

While hematogenous spread of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is common, isolated extension into the renal vein and inferior vena cava (IVC) is rare and extension to the right atrium is even less likely. In the case, a 62-year-old Hispanic female was admitted for a suspected inferior myocardial infarction, and her echocardiogram revealed a right atrial mass consistent with the appearance of an atrial myxoma. Following cardiac catheterization, a histopathological examination of the mass revealed a clear cell tumor consistent with metastatic clear cell RCC. Following a CABG with excision of the atrial mas, the CT demonstrated a 5 cm right lower pole renal mass with hilar involvement, as well as filling defects in the IVC extending into the right renal vein; these findings were consistent with RCC tumor thrombus extension into the renal vein, IVC, and right atrium. The radical nephrectomy necessary for tumor removal could not be performed at this hospital, so the patient was discharged to a higher level of care. The incidence rate for RCC with extension into the right atrium is quite low, but clinicians should understand the lethality of RCC warrants immediate clinical investigation upon diagnosis. The increased utilization of sophisticated imaging modalities will likely continue to increase the rate of incidental discovery of such neoplasms, and physicians should keep RCC on the differential when a right atrial mass is discovered incidentally on echocardiogram.