bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intravitreal dexamethasone implant one month before versus concomitant with cataract surgery in patients with diabetic macular oedema: the dexcat study
Authors: Fallico Matteo , Avitabile Teresio , Castellino Niccolò , Longo Antonio , Russo Andrea , Bonfiglio Vincenza , Parisi Francesca , Furino Claudio , Panozzo Giacomo , Scorcia Vincenzo , Carnevali Adriano , Bandello Francesco , Parodi Maurizio Battaglia , Cennamo Gilda , Cillino Salvatore , Vadalà Maria , Sunseri Trapani Valentina , Cagini Carlo , Fiore Tito , Lupidi Marco , Parravano Mariacristina , Varano Monica , Giorno Paola , Boscia Francesco , Giancipoli Ermete , Eandi Chiara , Le Mer Yannick , Reibaldi Michele
Published: June 2020

Purpose

To report clinical outcomes of two different timings of intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant administration for prevention of diabetic macular oedema (DME) worsening following cataract surgery.

Methods

This multicentre, retrospective study included patients with DME who received an intravitreal DEX implant 1 month before cataract surgery, ‘precataract DEX’ group, or at the time of cataract surgery, ‘concomitant treatments’ group. Inclusion criteria were a follow‐up ≥3 months and ophthalmological examination with optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging at baseline (cataract surgery) and throughout follow‐up. Anatomical improvement was considered to be a decrease in OCT central subfield (CSF) thickness ≥20% compared to baseline. The primary outcomes were anatomical and functional results at 3 months.

Results

Two hundred twenty‐one patients were included: 136 in the ‘precataract DEX’ group and 85 in the ‘concomitant treatments’ group. At 3 months, a reduction of CSF thickness ≥ 20% was found in 7.3% of eyes in the ‘precataract DEX group’ and in 83.7% of eyes in the ‘concomitant treatments’ group (p < 0.001), with mean CSF thickness lower in the latter group (371 ± 52 µm versus 325 ± 57 µm, p < 0.001). At 3 months, mean best‐corrected visual acuity had improved from baseline in both groups (p < 0.001), with no difference between groups (p = 0. 20). No serious systemic adverse events were reported.

Conclusion

Both approaches prevented a worsening of DME, showing a comparable visual outcome. Dexamethasone (DEX) implant given at the same time as cataract surgery provided a better anatomical outcome.
Validation of the Retinopathy of Prematurity Activity Scale (ROP‐ActS) using retrospective clinical data
Authors: Pivodic Aldina , Nilsson Staffan , Stahl Andreas , Smith Lois E.H. , Hellström Ann
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The International Neonatal Consortium recently published a proposed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) activity scale intended for use in clinical trials after validation. The aim of this study was to validate the ROP activity scale (ROP‐ActS) in a ROP screened cohort with protocol based collected data by evaluating the ability of the ROP‐Act scores to predict ROP treatment. In addition, we aimed to evaluate the scale’s sensitivity characteristic of disease severity by studying association with gestational age (GA) in comparison with conventionally used ROP stage and zone.

Methods

A cohort of 535 preterm infants with 3324 ROP examinations with an end‐point of ROP treatment or end of screening in Gothenburg, Sweden, was included. Median GA was 28.1 weeks, 47.5% were girls, and 74 (13.8%) infants were treated for ROP. The validation was performed by estimating probabilities for ROP treatment, and by applying logistic and linear regression.

Results

The original ROP‐ActS was overall well‐ordered with respect to ability to predict ROP treatment but could be improved by re‐ordering score 3 (zone II stage 1) and 5 (zone III stage 3) based on our clinical cohort data. The modified ROP‐ActS was superior to ROP stage and zone in the prediction analysis of ROP treatment. Modified ROP‐ActS was more strongly related to GA than currently used ROP stage, but not zone.

Conclusion

In the studied cohort, the modified ROP‐ActS could better predict ROP treatment compared to ROP stage and zone. Retinopathy of Prematurity Activity Scale (ROP‐ActS) had a superior sensitivity characteristic studied through association to GA than conventionally used ROP stage.
Letter: bone fracture risk among older long‐term users of proton pump inhibitors
Authors: Sugiyama Toshihiro
Published: June 2020

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Ghosh et al and Schnoll‐Sussman and Katz papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15522 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15805.
Editorial: PNPLA3 genotype and liver diseases—more than non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Huang Jee‐Fu , Chuang Wan‐Long
Published: June 2020

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Mederacke et al and Mederacke and Mederacke papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15722 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15873.
Editorial: improving precision of iron deficiency diagnosis in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Detlie Trond Espen , Jahnsen Jørgen
Published: June 2020

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Daude et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15739 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15832.
Editorial: gut microbiota profile in patients with autoimmune hepatitis—a clue for adjunctive probiotic therapy? Authors' reply
Authors: Liwinski Timur , Schramm Christoph
Published: June 2020

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Liwinski et al and Granito et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15754 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15795.
Editorial: no man’s oesophagus is an island—authors' reply
Authors: Woo Matthew , Andrews Christopher N.
Published: June 2020

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Woo and Andrews and Ravi and Katzka papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15758 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15799.
Editorial: PNPLA3 genotype and liver diseases–more than non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. Authors' reply
Authors: Mederacke Young‐Seon , Mederacke Ingmar
Published: June 2020

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Mederacke et al and Huang and Chuang papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15722 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15788.
A Roman shipwreck with a cargo of Apuan marble (marmor lunense) at Punta del Francese (Stintino‐Sassari, Sardinia)
Authors: Beltrame C. , Lazzarini L. , Antonelli F.
Published: June 2020

The wreck‐site of Punta del Francese (Stintino‐Sassari) off the island of Sardinia (Italy) is composed of 14 roughly cubic blocks and slabs of marble lying in an almost coherent arrangement. Archaeometric analyses indicate a provenance of the entire cargo of marble from the Apuan Alps (marmor lunense) of north Italy. Fragments of amphoras confirm its dating to the Flavian period (first century ce). The dimensions of the cargo, and especially of the single blocks, suggest it would have been destined for the building of an important public monument in western Hispania or southern Gallia. A first hypothesis for the ship's sailing route, and a comparison with the other cargoes of marble from Luna, are proposed.
The crosstalk between AXL and YAP promotes tumor progression through STAT3 activation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Li Jiayi , Shi Chaoji , Zhou Rong , Han Yong , Xu Shengming , Ma Hailong , Zhang Zhiyuan
Published: June 2020

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and Yes‐associated protein (YAP) are critical driving factors in tumors. Currently, the regulation of RTKs in the Hippo‐YAP pathway has been recognized as an important issue. However, the relationship between AXL, one of the RTKs, and YAP in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unknown. In this study, the crosstalk between AXL and YAP was thoroughly investigated in vitro and in vivo. We determined that there was a positive correlation between AXL and YAP in the HNSCC tissue samples and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, and high co‐expression was associated with poor prognosis. Inhibiting YAP decreased AXL expression in HNSCC cells, while YAP overexpression increased AXL. Moreover, ectopic expression of AXL reversed tumor suppressor phenotypes mediated by YAP silencing. This reversal effect was also confirmed in vivo. In addition, AXL overexpression and Gas6, a ligand of AXL, stimulated YAP dephosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and target gene transcription. AXL inhibition decreased YAP dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Mechanistically, Gas6 induced a competitive binding to phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) with large tumor suppressor kinase 1 (LATS1) and inhibited the Hippo pathway. This study revealed a novel non‐transcriptional effect of STAT3 in Gas6/AXL‐induced YAP activity, suggesting that STAT3 acted as a critical “molecular switch” during the mutual promotion between AXL and YAP, which might be a promising therapeutic target in HNSCC.
TREC and KREC profiling as a representative of thymus and bone marrow output in patients with various inborn errors of immunity
Authors: Dasouki M , Jabr A , AlDakheel G , Elbadaoui F , Alazami A M , Al-Saud B , Arnaout R , Aldhekri H , Alotaibi I , Al-Mousa H , Hawwari A
Published: June 2020

Primary immune deficiency (PID) disorders are clinically and molecularly heterogeneous diseases. T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) and κ (kappa)-deleting excision circles (KRECs) are markers of T and B cell development, respectively. They are useful tools to assess T and B cell function and immune reconstitution and have been used for newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) and agammaglobulinemia, respectively. Their profiles in several genetically confirmed PIDs are still lacking. The objective of this study was to determine TREC and KREC genomic profiling among various molecularly confirmed PIDs. We used real-time–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT–qPCR)-based triplex analysis of TRECs, KRECs and β-actin (ACTB) in whole blood genomic DNA isolated from 108 patients with molecularly confirmed PIDs. All agammaglobulinemia patients had low KREC counts. All SCIDs and Omenn syndrome patients secondary to mutations in RAG1, RAG2, DCLRE1C and NHEJ1 had low TREC and KREC counts. JAK3-deficient patients had normal KREC and the TREC count was influenced by the type of mutation. Early-onset ADA patients had low TREC and KREC counts. Four patients with zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP70) had low TREC. All purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) patients had low TREC. Combined immunodeficiency (CID) patients secondary to AK2, PTPRC, CD247, DCLREC1 and STAT1 had normal TREC and KREC counts. Most patients with ataxia–telangiectasia (AT) patients had low TREC and KREC, while most DOCK8-deficient patients had low TRECs only. Two of five patients with Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome (WAS) had low TREC counts as well as one patient each with bare lymphocyte syndrome (BLS) and chronic granulomatous disease. All patients with Griscelli disease, Chediak–Higashi syndrome, hyper-immunoglobulin (Ig)M syndrome and IFNGR2 had normal TREC and KREC counts. These data suggest that, in addition to classical SCID and agammaglobulinemia, TREC/KREC assay may identify ZAP70 patients and secondary target PIDs, including dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8) deficiency, AT and some individuals with WAS and BLS.
Ashen History: Narrating the Fire at the Origin of Modern Singapore
Authors: Loh Kah Seng
Published: June 2020

Oral histories of former squatters trace the origins of modern Singapore to its largest and historically most important fire at Bukit Ho Swee on 25 May 1961. The inferno not only razed an urban kampong, it also set the stage for the government to transform Singapore into an organized public housing state of governable citizen‐workers. The storytellers’ ashen histories highlight the grey area colored by the memory of the inferno; they straddle national and local history, and reveal the price of citizenship in Singapore. The narratives of the kampong tell us much about people’s mobility, community, and modernity—they were far from inert, as the state depicted them. Where the state was transfixed on high modernism in the form of organized public housing blocks, the squatters were willing to accept different typologies of housing and ways of life. Their narratives of, and alternatively silence on, possible arson outline the social worlds of the squatters in the past but also underline the ambivalent position of socialized citizens today, straddling and mediating between their own narratives and that of the state.
The effect of the number of active electrode poles during tined lead placement on long‐term efficacy of sacral neuromodulation in patients with faecal incontinence
Authors: Assmann R. , Breukink S. O. , Caubergh S. A. P. , Stassen L. P. S. , van Kuijk S. M. J. , Melenhorst J.
Published: June 2020

Aim

There is an ongoing debate as to whether or not the efficacy of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is optimized by maximizing the total number of active electrode poles (AEPs) during lead placement because there are more programming options. However, this is at the cost of increased operating time. The aims of this study were to establish if a higher number of AEPs improves SNM efficacy during the trial period and after permanent implantable pulse generator (IPG) placement and if there is there a correlation between number of AEPs and battery life of the first placed IPG.

Method

This was a single centre retrospective cohort study of new patients with faecal incontinence who underwent SNM between 2000 and 2018. Exclusion criteria were sphincter defect > 30%, rectocele/enterocele Grade 3 or higher and incomplete records.

Results

In all, 288/456 (63%) patients (women 91%; mean age 58.5 ± 11.7 years) were eligible for analysis. The number of AEPs during lead placement was two (n = 42, 14.5%), three (n = 82, 28.5%) and four (n = 164, 57%). There was no association between the number of AEPs during tined lead placement and long‐term efficacy. Neither the success rate of the trial phase nor the battery life after first placed IPG was influenced by the number of AEPs.

Conclusion

In this study, the number of AEPs does not seem to influence long‐term efficacy of SNM success rate during the trial phase or the battery life of the first placed IPG. However, we also suggest that at the very least there should be two AEPs at lead placement.
Prioritizing road‐kill mitigation areas: A spatially explicit national‐scale model for an elusive carnivore
Authors: Russo Luca F. , Barrientos Rafael , Fabrizio Mauro , Di Febbraro Mirko , Loy Anna
Published: June 2020

Aim

Roads impact wildlife in different ways, among which road mortality has been the most studied. Budgets in conservation biology are usually small, and macroecological approaches have been employed in recent years as the first steps towards guiding management. Carnivores are particularly vulnerable to mortality on roads due to their elevated ecological needs (low population density, often low fecundity and relatively large home ranges). Our aim was to develop a ranking methodology to prioritize specific areas for road‐kill mitigation.

Location

Continental Italy.

Methods

We studied 271 occurrences of live polecats (Mustela putorius) and 212 polecat road‐kill sites. We used the former to generate a species distribution model and the latter to identify the variables that determined the road‐kill risk. Habitat suitability was derived from a spatial distribution model that combined the polecat occurrence data with a set of environmental variables. Prey availability was derived from the combination of suitability maps of 26 prey species. We used generalized linear modelling to identify the set of variables that best explained the occurrence of road‐kills. The variables included in the best performing model were combined to produce the road risk map and to identify the areas with the highest densities of road sections with highest risk.

Results

Road‐kills were positively associated with the road sections with higher broad‐leaved forest coverage. The number of casualties was found to be higher than expected on the national and provincial roads and lower than expected on the local roads.

Main conclusions

This approach allowed us to identify the 10 × 10 km cells where mitigation actions to prevent road‐kills should be prioritized. As mitigation actions (wildlife passage construction, fencing) are expensive, measures should be prioritized on the specific high‐risk road sections inside these selected cells, avoiding generalized mitigation plans.
Speech in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Mei Cristina , Reilly Sheena , Bickerton Molly , Mensah Fiona , Turner Samantha , Kumaranayagam Dhanooshini , Pennington Lindsay , Reddihough Dinah , Morgan Angela T.
Published: June 2020

Aim

To examine the frequency, characteristics, and factors associated with speech delay and disorder in a community sample of children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method

Participants were 84 children (37 females, 47 males; aged between 4y 11mo–6y 6mo) with CP identified through a population‐based registry. Speech and oromotor function were systematically evaluated to provide a differential diagnosis of articulation, phonological, and motor speech disorders.

Results

In total, 82% (69/84) of participants had delayed or disordered speech production, including minimally verbal presentations (n=20). Verbal participants (n=64) presented with dysarthria (78%), articulation delay or disorder (54%), phonological delay or disorder (43%), features of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) (17%), or mixed presentations across these conditions. Speech intelligibility was poorest in those with dysarthria and features of CAS. Speech delay or disorder in verbal participants was associated with language impairment (p=0.002) and reduced health‐related quality of life (p=0.04) (Fisher’s exact test). Poorer speech accuracy (i.e. lower percentage consonants correct) correlated with greater impairments in both language (p<0.001) and oromotor function (p<0.001) (Spearman’s test).

Interpretation

The speech profile of children with CP is characterized by impairment at multiple levels of speech production (phonetic, cognitive‐linguistic, neuromuscular execution, and high‐level planning/programming), highlighting the importance of a personalized differential diagnosis informing targeted treatment.
Genetic predisposition in metabolic‐dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease and cardiovascular outcomes—Systematic review
Authors: Ismaiel Abdulrahman , Dumitrascu Dan L.
Published: June 2020

Background

Despite the demonstrated increased cardiovascular (CV) risk associated with metabolic‐dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), genetic variants predisposing to MAFLD were not constantly associated with CV events. Recently, rs641738C > T near membrane‐bound O‐acyltransferase domain‐containing 7 (MBOAT7) has been studied in MAFLD and CV outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between rs641738C > T in the presence and severity of hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, biochemical markers and progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in addition to CV outcomes in MAFLD.

Materials and Methods

An electronic search on PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library for articles published till 23 March 2020 was systematically performed. Articles were screened, and data extracted from eligible studies by two reviewers independently.

Results

Studies conducted on adults with MAFLD involving European, Hispanic and African American populations evaluating rs641738 reported reduced hepatic expression of MBOAT7, increased hepatic fat content, severity of MAFLD, susceptibility to develop NASH, advanced fibrosis and HCC in adults. However, most articles involving Asian individuals contradicted these findings. Studies involving obese children associated rs641738 with increased plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, while its association with MAFLD remains inconsistent. The rs641738 variant was assessed as a MAFLD susceptibility gene in coronary artery disease (CAD) reporting neutral effects.

Conclusions

Despite inconclusive results in Asian populations, rs641738C > T near MBOAT7 is associated with increased hepatic fat, MAFLD severity, susceptibility to develop NASH, advanced fibrosis and HCC in adults from Caucasian, Hispanic and African American ethnicities with MAFLD, as well as elevated ALT levels in children, while exerting neutral effects in CAD.
Effect of temperature on reproduction, development, and phenotypic plasticity ofDrosophila suzukiiin Brazil
Authors: Schlesener Daniele C.H. , Wollmann Jutiane , Krüger Alexandra P. , Martins Liliane N. , Teixeira Cristiano M. , Bernardi Daniel , Garcia Flavio R.M.
Published: June 2020

Temperature is a determining factor for the development and establishment potential of insect pests. The present study describes the impact of temperature (13, 18, 23, 25, 28, 30, and 33 °C) on the life cycle parameters and phenotypic plasticity of South American populations ofDrosophila suzukii(Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in the laboratory. Secondary objectives were to determine the lower thermal threshold and thermal constant to estimate the number of annual generations of the insect in small‐fruit‐producing regions in Brazil. The highest egg‐to‐adult survival was recorded at 23 and 25 °C. At 30 and 33 °C, no emergence ofD. suzukiiwas observed. The egg‐to‐adult development time was shortest at 25 and 28 °C (ca. 10 days). The net reproductive rate (R0), and the intrinsic rate of population increase (rm) were highest at 23 and 25 °C. In contrast, temperatures of 13 and 28 °C generated largest and smallest body sizes, respectively, and caused reductions of 99 and 93% in R0. The estimated lower thermal threshold was 7.8 °C for egg‐to‐adult survival. The estimated thermal constant was 185.8 degree days, and the estimated annual number of generations ofD. suzukiiranged from 17.1 in cold regions to 27.2 in warm regions. The results of the present study are important for understandingD. suzukiioccurrence in the field, contributing to more informed and precise pest management.
Favorable COVID‐19 course despite significant comorbidities in a ruxolitinib‐treated patient with primary myelofibrosis
Authors: Koschmieder Steffen , Jost Edgar , Cornelissen Christian , Müller Tobias , Schulze‐Hagen Maximilian , Bickenbach Johannes , Marx Gernot , Kleines Michael , Marx Nikolaus , Brümmendorf Tim H. , Dreher Michael
Published: June 2020

COVID‐19 carries a high risk of severe disease course, particularly in patients with comorbidities. Therapy of severe COVID‐19 infection has relied on supportive intensive care measures. More specific approaches including drugs that limit the detrimental “cytokine storm”, such as Janus‐activated kinase (JAK) inhibitors, are being discussed. Here, we report a compelling case of a 55‐yo patient with proven COVID‐19 pneumonia, who was taking the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib in‐label for co‐existing primary myelofibrosis for 15 months prior to coronavirus infection. The patient had significant comorbidities, including chronic kidney disease, arterial hypertension, and obesity, and our previous cohort suggested that he was thus at high risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and death from COVID‐19. Since abrupt discontinuation of ruxolitinib may cause fatal cytokine storm and ARDS, ruxolitinib treatment was continued and was well tolerated, and the patient´s condition remained stable, without the need for mechanical ventilation or vasopressors. The patient became negative for SARS‐CoV‐2 and was discharged home after 15 days. In conclusion, our report provides clinical evidence that ruxolitinib treatment is feasible and can be beneficial in patients with COVID‐19 pneumonia, preventing cytokine storm and ARDS.
Serum soluble ST2 is a potential long‐term prognostic biomarker for transient ischaemic attack and ischaemic stroke
Authors: Tian X. , Guo Y. , Wang X. , Pei L. , Wang X. , Wu J. , Sun S. , Li Y. , Ning M. , Buonanno F. S. , Xu Y. , Song B.
Published: June 2020

Background and purpose

Soluble ST2 (sST2) is a promising biomarker in inflammation, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the association between serum sST2 and poor outcome in patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA)/ischaemic stroke.

Methods

Patients within 24 h after onset and with measured serum sST2 were prospectively enrolled in this study. Poor outcome was a combination of a new stroke event (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) and all‐cause death within 90 days and 1 year. The associations of serum sST2 with poor outcome were analysed by Cox proportional hazards.

Results

Among the 430 patients included, the median (interquartile range) sST2 was 17.72 (9.31–28.84) ng/mL. A total of 19 (4.4%) and 38 (8.8%) patients experienced poor outcome within 90 days and 1 year, respectively. Compared with the lowest sST2 tertile, hazard ratios (HRs) [95% confidence intervals (CI)] for the highest tertile were 5.14 (1.43–18.51) for poor outcome within 90 days and 3.00 (1.29–6.97) at 1 year after multivariate adjustments. Adding sST2 to a prediction model significantly improved risk stratification of poor outcome in TIA/ischaemic stroke, as observed by the continuous net reclassification improvement of 60.98% (95% CI, 15.37–106.6%, P = 0.009) and integrated discrimination improvement of 2.63% (95% CI, 0.08–5.18%, P = 0.043) at 90 days and the continuous net reclassification improvement of 41.68% (95% CI, 8.74–74.61%, P = 0.013) at 1 year.

Conclusions

Increased serum sST2 levels in TIA/ischaemic stroke were associated with increased risks of poor outcome within 90 days and 1 year, suggesting that serum sST2 may be a potential long‐term prognostic biomarker for TIA/ischaemic stroke.
Zebrafish model of posttraumatic epilepsy
Authors: Cho Sung‐Joon , Park Eugene , Telliyan Tamar , Baker Andrew , Reid Aylin Y.
Published: June 2020

Objective

Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) is defined as recurrent and unprovoked seizures occurring >1 week after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Animal studies of PTE are lengthy and expensive. In this study, we developed a cost‐effective PTE animal model using zebrafish to bridge the gap between in vitro studies and low‐throughput animal studies.

Methods

We used two different sets of parameters (G1 and G2) to induce closed‐head TBI in adult zebrafish using pulsed high‐intensity focused ultrasound. Injured fish and naive controls were evaluated for behavioral deficits and spontaneous behavioral seizure activity up to 21 days postinjury (DPI). We also assessed behavioral seizure susceptibility to a subconvulsive dose of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ; 2.5 mmol·L–1) and recorded electrophysiological signals to confirm seizure activity up to 40 DPI. In addition, we investigated injury‐related changes in the blood‐brain barrier and expression levels of various proteins altered in rodent and human TBI.

Results

The G2 parameters resulted in a more severe TBI, with a mortality rate of 25%, as well as motor dysfunction and heightened anxiety persisting at 21 DPI. One hundred percent of the G2 group showed spontaneous myocloniclike behavior, and 80% demonstrated tonic‐clonic–like behavioral seizures by 21 DPI. Such activities were not detected in the naive group. After the application of 2.5 mmol·L–1 PTZ, 100% of injured zebrafish had cloniclike seizures at 21 DPI, versus 30% of the naive group. We also demonstrated electrographic seizure activity at 40 DPI, which was not detected in the naive controls. Lastly, we observed acute blood‐brain barrier dysfunction and increased levels of HMGB1 and ratios of phosphorylated/total Akt and tau through 21 DPI.

Significance

Together, the results indicate that severe TBI in the adult zebrafish leads to similar behavioral and physiological changes to those of more traditional models, including the development of PTE, and suggest this may be a useful model that can accelerate research in TBI/PTE.
Surgical treatment of a mammary gland comedocarcinoma in an Arabian mare: Post‐operative management, and histopathological and immunohistochemical features
Authors: Sabiza S. , Rezaie A. , Naddaf H. , Sajjadi Dezfouli M. , Kaamyab Niya M.
Published: June 2020

A lactating 20‐year‐old, brown, Arabian mare, weighing about 300 kg, presented for bleeding from one teat and severe swelling of the entire mammary gland. The mare had untreated mastitis 10 months before. Consequently, a gangrenous teat developed after chronic bloody and purulent discharges. The teat was removed surgically by the field veterinarian. At that time, the mammary gland increased in size. Bloody and purulent discharges restarted 10 days previously. Under general anaesthesia, the entire mammary gland was removed. Comedocarcinoma was diagnosed by histopathological assessment. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for pan‐cytokeratin and vimentin. Microscopic examination of immunohistochemical stained slides revealed expression of pan‐cytokeratin. In conclusion, this report describes clinical, macroscopic, histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of comedocarcinoma that did not metastasise to regional lymph nodes. Reports in the field of equine oncology contribute to improved general knowledge in equine medicine, contributing to better diagnosis and treatment.
An integrated probabilistic linguistic projection method for MCGDM based on ELECTRE III and the weighted convex median voting rule
Authors: Chen Zi‐yu , Wang Xiao‐kang , Peng Juan‐juan , Zhang Hong‐yu , Wang Jian‐qiang
Published: June 2020

In the multi‐criteria group decision‐making (MCGDM) problems with great uncertainty, making full use of participants' evaluation information could help improve the accuracy and reliability of decision results. Probabilistic linguistic term set (PLTS) is an effective tool to represent qualitative data and can fully express the hesitation and preference of decision makers. Therefore, this paper aims to propose an MCGDM method based on PLTSs. In the proposed method, the projection of PLTSs is explored to measure the distance and angle differences between two objects, and Bayesian best–worst method (Bayesian BWM) is used to determine the aggregated final weights of criteria. Besides, the elimination and choice translating reality III (ELECTRE III) method combined with distillation algorithm deals with the projection of PLTSs to obtain the alternatives' ranking of each decision maker. Then, the weighted convex median voting rule is developed to integrate the rankings results regarding all decision makers, which can solve the conflict of ranking results among experts and ensure that the comprehensive ranking results are reasonable and practical. Finally, a case study of health‐care waste management is designed and comparative analyses are implemented to show the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method.
Density‐dependent prey behaviours and mutable predator foraging modes induce Allee effects and over‐prediction of prey mortality rates
Authors: Siders Zachary A. , Ahrens Robert N. M. , Allen Micheal S. , Walters Carl J.
Published: June 2020

Predator–prey models are often used to represent consumptive interactions between species but, typically, are derived using simple experimental systems with little plasticity in prey or predator behaviours. However, many prey and predators exhibit a broad suite of behaviours. Here, we experimentally tested the effect of density‐dependent prey and predator behaviours on per capita relative mortality rates using Florida bass (Micropterus floridanus) consuming juvenile Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus).

Experimental ponds were stocked with a factorial design of low, medium, and high prey and predator densities. Prey mortality, prey–predator behaviours, and predator stomach contents were recorded over or after 7 days. We assumed the mortality dynamics followed foraging arena theory. This pathologically flexible predator–prey model separates prey into invulnerable and vulnerable pools where predators can consume prey in the latter. As this approach can represent classic Lotka–Volterra and ratio‐dependent dynamics, we fit a foraging arena predator–prey model to the number of surviving prey.

We found that prey exhibited density‐dependent prey behaviours, hiding at low densities, shoaling at medium densities, and using a provided refuge at high densities. Predators exhibited ratio‐dependent behaviours, using an ambush foraging mode when one predator was present, hiding in the shadows at low prey–high predator densities, and shoaling at medium and high prey–high predator densities. The foraging arena model predicted the mortality rates well until the high prey–high predator treatment where group vigilance prey behaviours occurred and predators probably interfered with one another resulting in the model predicting higher mortality than observed.

This is concerning given the ubiquity of predator–prey models in ecology and natural resource management. Furthermore, as Allee effects engender instability in population regulation, it could lead to inaccurate predictions of conservation status, population rebuilding or harvest rates.
DUI and STI innovation modes in the Canadian wine industry: The geography of interaction modes
Authors: Doloreux David , Shearmur Richard , Porto‐Gomez Igone , Zabala‐Iturriagagoitia Jon Mikel
Published: June 2020

This paper explores the geography of collaborations and interactions that are linked to DUI (Doing, Using, and Interacting) and STI (Scientific and Technologically based Innovation) innovation modes in the wine industry: that is, the geography of interaction modes. DUI and STI interaction modes are analysed by exploring their association with innovation and the extent to which this varies with geography. The results, based upon firm‐level data from a sample of 151 Canadian wineries, suggest that different types of innovation are connected to specific interaction modes. We show that the effects of each interaction mode are strongly dependent on whether the mode is deployed regionally or non‐regionally. In particular, the paper highlights marked differences between regional and non‐regional DUI and between regional and non‐regional STI interactions modes with respect to their association with innovation outcomes.
Identifying risk factors and optimizing standard of care for patients with acquired haemophilia A: Results from a Czech patient cohort
Authors: Salaj Peter , Geierová Vera , Ivanová Eva , Loužil Jan , Pohlreichová Viera , Hrachovinová Ingrid , Dulíček Petr
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) is a rare autoimmune disorder, characterized by bleeds of varying severity caused by autoantibodies against factor VIII (FVIII).

Aim

Identify risk factors associated with AHA‐related deaths/relapses and assess the effect of increased corticosteroid doses.

Methods

AHA patients treated across two specialist centres in the Czech Republic, generally receiving first‐line haemostatic therapy with rFVIIa and immunosuppression with corticosteroids/cyclophosphamide, were included. We analysed the association between early death (within 8 weeks of diagnosis [considered disease‐related]) and age, malignancy, FVIII levels and bleeding severity. Risk factors associated with reduced 2‐year survival and relapse incidence, and the effect of increased corticosteroid doses on early death and remission were also assessed.

Results

The demographics of the described cohort (n = 66) were similar to other AHA registries. Early death occurred in 20% of cases. Unlike age and malignancy, FVIII levels <1% and severe bleeding were associated significantly with early death (P = .010 and P = .046, respectively). Patients with underlying malignancy or requiring continued haemostatic therapy exhibited significantly decreased 2‐year survival compared with those without these risk factors (P = .007 and P = .006, respectively). Patients with an underlying autoimmune disease relapsed significantly more than those without (P = .015). Higher corticosteroid doses were associated with a significantly increased incidence of early deaths (P < .001), but also with early remission (P < .001).

Conclusion

Based on this rather large patient cohort, we were able to evaluate the significance of several risk factors associated with treatment outcomes in AHA and the effect of initial treatment with corticosteroids on survival and time to remission.
Early childhood caries and related risk factors: A cross‐sectional study of children in Zhejiang Province, China
Authors: Zhu Haihua , Ying Xuan , Zhu Fudong , Huang Chaoqiang , Yu Yunxian
Published: June 2020

Objectives

This work aims to exploring the risk factors related to ECC by investigating oral health status, related behaviours and habits of children and their parent's knowledge regarding oral hygiene.

Method

A total of 2700 children aged 3‐5 years and their parents from Zhejiang province were examined. Chi‐square test or U test was used to analyse the difference of caries incidence among different groups. Logistic multiple factor stepwise regression model was used to analyse the risk factors influencing ECC prevalence.

Results

ECC prevalence rate in these children was 70.7%. The mean decayed missing filled teeth(dmft) scores were 4.33. Through analysis of logistic multiple factor stepwise regression model, risk factors related to the prevalence of ECC in children include: older age, region (coastal or mountainous area), higher frequency of bedtime dessert consumption and poor care of children's oral health by parents. In the questionnaire, 5 of 14 questions showed parents’ poor oral knowledge or awareness.

Conclusion

The prevalence rate of ECC in children aged 3‐5 in this study was high and associated with older age, region (coastal or mountainous area), higher frequency of bedtime dessert consumption and poor care of children's oral health. Parents need to strengthen their understanding and action of dental caries.
Manifestations of blood coagulation and its relation to clinical outcomes in severe COVID‐19 patients: Retrospective analysis
Authors: Zhang Yanhong , He Liwei , Chen Huixin , Lu Shuangyan , Xiong Yongfen , Liu Juan , Zheng Yao , Wang Shun , Liu Lei
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Characteristics of blood coagulation and its relation to clinical outcomes in COVID‐19 patients are still rarely reported. We aimed to investigate the blood coagulation function and its influences on clinical outcomes of patients with syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection.

Methods

A total of 71 severe patients with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection who were treated in Wuhan First Hospital from February 12 to March 20, 2020, were enrolled. The blood coagulation data in these patients and in 61 healthy controls were collected. The patients with COVID‐19 were divided into two groups: the aggravated group and the nonaggravated group, respectively, basing on whether the patients' conditions turned to critically ill or not after admission.

Results

Compared with healthy controls, patients with COVID‐19 had significant performances with coagulation dysfunction, including dramatically elevated values of FIB, PT, APTT, INR, FDP, and D‐Dimers but markedly reduced AT value (P < .05). Importantly, more noteworthy coagulation disorders similar to the differences between patients and controls were found in the aggravated patients with conditions deterioration after admission than those in the nonaggravated patients without conditions deterioration (P < .05). Moreover, the aggravated patients possessed a longer hospital stay and a higher mortality compared with the nonaggravated patients (P < .001). The coagulation parameters of COVID‐19 patients were widely and closely related to the indexes of liver function and inflammation (P < .05), indicating the coagulation dysfunction of these patients may be caused by liver injury and inflammatory storm.

Conclusion

Severe patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection often possess coagulation dysfunction on admission. A certain correlation exists in coagulation disorder and adverse clinical outcome among severe COVID‐19 patients.
Emploi des jeunes et inégalité des chances: en quoi le monde arabe est‐il différent?
Authors: DIMOVA Ralitza , STEPHAN Karim
Published: June 2020

Le marché du travail du Moyen‐Orient et de l'Afrique du Nord se caractérise par un chômage des jeunes généralisé et par un nombre disproportionné de chômeurs parmi les nouveaux diplômés. À partir des enquětes du BIT sur le passage de l'école à la vie active menées en Égypte, Jordanie et Tunisie, les auteurs regardent si cela tient à l'inégalité des chances ou à des caractéristiques structurelles induisant des discordances entre offre et demande de travail. Les principales explications seraient le faible nombre d'emplois qualifiés disponibles et le peu de valeur accordée aux qualifications acquises dans le système de formation professionnelle.
Time‐resolved mRNA and miRNA expression profiling reveals crucial coregulation of molecular pathways involved in epithelial–pneumococcal interactions
Authors: Li Haiyan , Lin Li , Chong Lei , Gu Shuge , Wen Shunhang , Yu Gang , Hu Xiaoguang , Dong Lin , Zhang Hailin , Li Changchong
Published: June 2020

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major causative agent of pneumonia worldwide and its complex interaction with the lung epithelium has not been thoroughly characterized. In this study, we exploited both RNA‐sequencing and microRNA (miRNA)‐sequencing approaches to monitor the transcriptional changes in human lung alveolar epithelial cells infected by S. pneumoniae in a time‐resolved manner. A total of 1330 differentially expressed (DE) genes and 45 DE miRNAs were identified in all comparisons during the infection process. Clustering analysis showed that all DE genes were grouped into six clusters, several of which were primarily involved in inflammatory or immune responses. In addition, target gene enrichment analyses identified 11 transcription factors that were predicted to link at least one of four clusters, revealing transcriptional coregulation of multiple processes or pathways by common transcription factors. Notably, pharmacological treatment suggested that phosphorylation of p65 is important for optimal transcriptional regulation of target genes in epithelial cells exposed to pathogens. Furthermore, network‐based clustering analysis separated the DE genes negatively regulated by DE miRNAs into two functional modules (M1 and M2), with an enrichment in immune responses and apoptotic signaling pathways for M1. Integrated network analyses of potential regulatory interactions in M1 revealed that multiple DE genes related to immunity and apoptosis were regulated by multiple miRNAs, indicating the coordinated regulation of multiple genes by multiple miRNAs. In conclusion, time‐series expression profiling of messenger RNA and miRNA provides a wealth of information for global transcriptional changes, and offers comprehensive insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying host–pathogen interactions.
CeO2 and CeO2:Pr nanocrystalline powders prepared by the polymeric precursor method: Yellow and red pigments with tunable color
Authors: Gonzaga Luiziana Aparecida , Santana Vinicius Tadeu , Bernardi Maria Inês Basso , Hrubý Jakub , Neugebauer Petr , Mesquita Alexandre
Published: June 2020

The development of stable and reproducible inorganic pigments is noteworthy for industrial applications mainly considering more intense shades and low toxicity. Among the various candidates to substitute non‐hazardous red and yellow pigments, CeO2 and CeO2:Pr have been attracting attention because of their opacity and high‐temperature stability besides being environmental‐friendly and health‐friendly. In this study, nanostructured CeO2 and CeO2:Pr samples were synthesized using the polymeric precursor method and structural and optical characterizations were performed. Scanning electron microscopy reveals the morphology of CeO2 nanoparticles in which the particle size ranges from 22 to 28 nm as a function of the annealing temperature. Pr‐doping does not show influence on the particle size. XRD results show that CeO2 and CeO2:Pr samples crystallize in the cubic fluorite lattice with Fm3m space group. Raman spectra show the fluorite F2g mode, confirming the XRD results. With Pr‐doping and the annealing of the samples, two bands are observed between 550 and 600 cm−1, which are related to the defects in the fluorite structure associated with oxygen vacancies. XPS spectra reveal an increase in the ratio of Ce3+ ions depending on the annealing temperature and Pr‐doping. This increase is associated with the carbon removal from the lattice by annealing. This behavior causes a change in the hue of the powders as the annealing temperature increases. According to diffuse reflectance and colorimetric measurements, CeO2 shows a light‐yellow color due to the O 2p­Ce 4f transitions whose b* parameter mainly decreases with annealing, becoming almost white. The CeO2:Pr sample exhibits a red‐orange color because of the electronic transitions between 4f2 → 5d1 states of Pr3+. Upon annealing, L* and b* parameters decrease, resulting in a red‐brown shade. The charge compensation or charge transfer is responsible for the modification of the hue of these pigments.
Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors reduce day‐to‐day glucose variability in patients with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Chiba Koki , Nomoto Hiroshi , Nakamura Akinobu , Cho Kyu Yong , Yamashita Kumiko , Shibayama Yui , Miya Aika , Kameda Hiraku , Kurihara Yoshio , Aoki Shin , Atsumi Tatsuya , Miyoshi Hideaki
Published: June 2020

Aims/Introduction

Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are used worldwide because of their multiple benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of SGLT2i in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Materials and Methods

Patients with type 1 diabetes who had been treated with SGLT2i for >12 weeks were included in this retrospective observation study. We recorded the changes in body mass, insulin dose, blood and urine test data, and adverse events. The changes in day‐to‐day glucose variability, as the primary end‐point, was evaluated using the interquartile range (P25/P75) of the ambulatory glucose data obtained using continuous glucose monitoring.

Results

A total of 51 patients (37 women; mean age 52.7 years) were included. Glycated hemoglobin and body mass significantly decreased by 0.4% and 1.6 kg, respectively. The total required insulin dose decreased by 9.4% (42.7 ± 26.6–38.7 ± 24.3 units/day). Continuous glucose monitoring data were obtained from 30 patients. P25/P75 decreased by 17.6 ± 20.7% during SGLT2i treatment (P < 0.001). The percentage of time per day within the target glucose range of 70–180 mg/dL significantly increased (from 42.2 to 55.5%, P < 0.001), without an increase in the percentage of time spent in the hypoglycemic range (<70 mg/dL). Urinary ketone bodies were detected in four patients (7.8%), but none developed ketoacidosis.

Conclusions

SGLT2i improved day‐to‐day glucose variability and time in the target glucose range, without increasing frequency of hypoglycemia, in patients with type 1 diabetes, and reduced glycated hemoglobin, body mass and the required insulin dose.