bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Best practices for stress measurement: How to measure psychological stress in health research
Authors: Crosswell Alexandra D , Lockwood Kimberly G
Published: July 2020

Despite the strong evidence linking psychological stress to disease risk, health researchers often fail to include psychological stress in models of health. One reason for this is the incorrect perception that the construct of psychological stress is too vague and broad to accurately measure. This article describes best practices in stress measurement, detailing which dimensions of stressor exposures and stress responses to capture, and how. We describe when to use psychological versus physiological indicators of stress. It is crucial that researchers across disciplines utilize the latest methods for measuring and describing psychological stress in order to build a cumulative science.
Evaluation of seminal fluid leukocyte subpopulations in patients with varicocele
Authors: Mongioì Laura Maria , Alamo Angela , Calogero Aldo E , Compagnone Michele , Giacone Filippo , Cannarella Rossella , La Vignera Sandro , Condorelli Rosita Angela
Published: July 2020

Varicocele is a common cause of sperm damage. Some studies showed higher concentration of seminal leukocytes in patients with varicocele. The aim of the study was to evaluate seminal leukocyte subpopulations in patients with varicocele. We enrolled 20 patients with varicocele and 20 age-matched healthy men. Sperm analysis was conducted according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 criteria. We evaluated seminal leukocyte subpopulations and bio-functional sperm parameters by flow cytometry. Patients with varicocele had significantly lower sperm concentration and total number than controls. Regarding seminal leukocyte subpopulations, patients with varicocele had a significantly lower percentage of CD8+ and CD16+ leukocytes and a significantly higher percentage of CD4+ leukocytes than controls. As for bio-functional sperm parameters, we found that patients with varicocele had a significantly lower percentage of alive spermatozoa compared to the control group. These results may explain the increased level of cytokines in the seminal plasma of patients with varicocele.
Impact of a Geriatric Day Hospital Program on Older Adults’ Functional Independence and Caregiver Stress: A Non-Experimental, Single Group Pre-/Posttest Study
Authors: Chung Yung-En , Angus Douglas E. , Backman Chantal
Published: July 2020

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a geriatric day hospital program on older adults’ functional independence and on caregiver stress. Methods: We used a single group pre- and posttest design. The data were collected through chart reviews and follow-up phone calls. Outcomes included fear of falling, balance, functional exercise capacity (walking distance), and caregiver stress. Descriptive statistics were used for sociodemographic data, dependent t test for paired samples of normally distributed data, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for determining differences between nonnormally distributed data sets. Results: We found a statistically significant difference in pre (33.54) and post (27.47) mean rank scores for fear of falling ( Z = −3.895, P < .001), pre (49.5) and post (59.42) scores for balance ( Z = −8.725, P < .001), and pre (250.07 m) and post (291.20 m) for functional exercise capacity ( P < .001). No statistically significant difference was found with respect to caregiver stress pre (22.05) and post (19.90) scores ( Z = −0.422, P = .673). Discussion: Future research may consider approaching evaluative studies of a similar type using not only quantitative but also qualitative methods to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of older adults’ functional ability and caregiver stress before and after participating in a geriatric day hospital program.
Risk Assessment of China’s Natural Gas Importation: A Supply Chain Perspective
Authors: Zhang Long , Bai Wuliyasu
Published: July 2020

With the rapid growth of China’s energy consumption and the great pressure on reduction of carbon emissions, natural gas is an increasingly valuable energy source for enhancing energy and environmental sustainability. To sustain external natural gas supply, China has constructed a series of gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals for the increasing gas importation. This article identified five gas corridors of China: Central Asia–China gas pipelines, Myanmar–China gas pipelines, Russia–China gas pipelines, Australia/Southeast Asia–China seaborne LNG shipment, and Middle East/North Africa–China seaborne LNG shipment. It then proposed a group of indicators that may influence the security of China’s external gas shipment from a supply chain perspective, and composed them into a Risk Index for assessing the corridors of China’s natural gas importation using the Fuzzy AHP and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods. The results indicate that (a) transport distance, geopolitical risk, and resource risk are the major obstacles for China’s natural gas importation; (b) China’s natural gas importation is experiencing a mid-level risk, and the gas pipelines from Central Asia, Myanmar, and Russia are the most secure gas corridors for China, while LNG shipment from Middle East and North Africa has the greatest risk index. (c) China’s diversification strategy has been successful, but a more balanced strategy is suggested to deal with the high gas dependence on Turkmenistan and Australia, as well as Russia when the cross-border gas pipelines are completed and fully utilized in the near future.
A Summer Country’s Coverage of a Winter Event: Australian Nationalistic Broadcast Focus of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games
Authors: Scott Olan , Li Bo (Norman) , Mighton Stephen
Published: July 2020

Broadcast commentary of sport programs often is seen as biased for the “home team.” This study sought to determine differences between how the media framed narratives of Australian and non-Australian Olympians by analyzing prime-time coverage of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games across all of Australia’s Seven Network channels. Because Australia is not a traditional powerhouse at the Winter Games, how the media portrays home team and foreign athletes is of interest in this summer sport country. Results revealed that overall, non-Australian athletes were covered and mentioned more frequently than Australian athletes. However, results found taxonomical differences in Seven Network’s depiction of Australian and non-Australian athletes’ successes—Australian success was attributed to athletic ability and courage, whereas non-Australians’ success was more frequently linked to intelligence, experience, and consonance. Differences in the attribution of failure by nationality were also found, with Australian’s failures more likely to be characterized by a lack of commitment and luck compared to their non-Australian counterparts. Athletes’ personalities also were described differently, with Australians receiving comments regarding their emotions, while non-Australians received either more neutral comments or had their appearance and body parts described more often. Theoretical and practical implications of this study are provided.
Outcome of nonoperative treatment for hip fractures in elderly patients: A systematic review of recent literature
Authors: Kim Seung-Ju , Park Hyun-Soo , Lee Dong-Woo
Published: July 2020

Many studies have shown that surgical management still leads to the best outcomes in elderly patients with hip fractures, with some studies showing non-inferiority of nonsurgical management as compared to surgery in fragility fractures. Evidence-based guidelines on whether to operate on these patients are lacking. A systematic literature search was conducted regarding outcomes of nonoperatively treated hip fractures in elderly patients with various comorbidities. A structured literature review of multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane library) referenced articles from 2000 to 2020. A total of 596 patients from 11 published studies were identified. Mean age was 83.3 years. Overall 328 (69.7%) complications occurred in 470 patients with nonsurgical treatment. Pneumonia and urinary tract infections were the most common complications which occurred in 53 (16.1%) and 46 (14.0%) patients, respectively. Hip fracture patients who were treated nonoperatively had a higher in-hospital (17.1% vs. 4.4%; p < 0.001), 30-day (31.4% vs. 10.2%; p < 0.001), and 1-year (48.5% vs. 19.9%; p < 0.001) mortality compared to a matched group of operatively treated patients ( n = 1464). Of the 110 patients whose reported cause of death was nonoperative care, 44 (40%) was due to pneumonia. Patients with nonoperative treatment following hip fracture were associated with substantially higher complication and mortality compared with patients who were treated operatively. Our study will help health-care providers and caregivers to enable more informed decision-making for families and patients confronted with a hip fracture.
Subchondral fracture of the femoral head in children: Differential diagnosis of pediatric hip pain
Authors: Yamaguchi Ryosuke , Nakamura Tomoyuki , Yamamoto Takuaki , Takamura Kazuyuki , Yanagida Haruhisa , Yamaguchi Toru , Nakashima Yasuharu
Published: July 2020

This report describes clinical and radiographic characteristics of two pediatric patients with a presumptive diagnosis of subchondral fracture of the femoral head made based on their clinical course and imaging findings. An 8-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl had subchondral fracture in the femoral head without osteonecrosis, which was verified by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Although complete disappearance of the fracture line was confirmed in the boy, the girl had a residual femoral head deformity after conservative treatment. Subchondral fracture of the femoral head should be included in the differential diagnosis of pediatric hip pain.
Do Patient Positioning and Portal Placement for Arthroscopic Subtalar Arthrodesis Matter?
Authors: Shamrock Alan G. , Amendola Annunziato , Glass Natalie A. , Shamrock Keith H. , Cychosz Christopher C. , Carender Christopher N. , Duchman Kyle R.
Published: July 2020

Background:

Arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis was first described over 2 decades ago and originally performed in the lateral decubitus or supine position using anterolateral and posterolateral portals situated about the fibula. More recently, several authors have advocated for prone positioning utilizing posteromedial and posterolateral portals with an optional accessory lateral portal. To date, a comparison of these techniques has been limited.

Purpose:

To determine the effect of patient positioning and portal placement on complication rates after arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Patients were placed into 1 of 3 groups: the lateral group if they were positioned lateral or supine with lateral-based portals; the 2-portal prone group if they were positioned prone with posteromedial and posterolateral portals; or the 3-portal prone group if posteromedial, posterolateral, and accessory lateral portals were utilized in the prone position. Inverse variance–weighted fixed-effects models were used to evaluate pooled estimates.

Results:

A total of 20 studies examining 484 feet in 468 patients with a mean follow-up of 36.1 months were included for analysis. Overall, 8 studies examined patients in the prone position with 2 posterior portals (n = 111; 22.9%), 7 articles evaluated lateral portals (n = 182; 37.6%), and 5 studies examined patients in the prone position with 3 portals (n = 191; 39.5%). The total complication rate was similar ( P = .620) between the 2-portal prone (18.9%), 3-portal prone (17.8%), and lateral (17.6%) groups. There was no difference observed in the rate of complications secondary to portal placement ( P ≥ .334), rate of painful hardware ( P ≥ .497), and rate of repeat surgery ( P ≥ .304). The 2-portal prone group had a significantly higher rate of nonunion than the lateral group (8.1% vs 1.1%, respectively; P = .020) but not the 3-portal prone group (5.8%; P = .198).

Conclusion:

The current study demonstrated a higher rate of nonunion following arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis with prone patient positioning using posteromedial and posterolateral portals without an accessory lateral portal.
Future dis(order)
Authors: Oidtmann Raphael , Mokry Sabine
Published: July 2020

The current global order is structured into multiple, fragmented, sometimes overlapping regionalisms. These regionalisms are simultaneously caused by and perpetuate great power competition between the United States and China. The legacy of a past liberal order is still visible in places such as Europe, where the European Union (EU) has developed into a strong and stable actor, even if its influence does not extend to other parts of the world. Between 2020 and 2035, three types of actors left their marks on the increasingly messy state of international affairs: the EU as an example of a successful international organization, individual citizens joining forces in grassroots movements and the two superpowers, the United States and China, competing with each other. Three cross-cutting processes contributed to the contemporary global order: stepping back and taking stock, becoming more inclusive as well as defining priorities and following through on them. Where one of these processes was effectively applied, coordination across different ‘worlds’ was possible. Where these processes were absent, the global order was marked by chaos. The outlined future is extrapolated from current trends. Once we acknowledge how daunting the challenges for the current global order are, we can move forward to change them.
Interdisciplinary Collaborations Required: Teaching Health Educators Infectious Disease Dynamics
Authors: James Tyler G. , Lippi Catherine A.
Published: July 2020

Infectious diseases, including zoonotic infectious diseases, are some of the leading causes of the global burden of diseases. Public health education/promotion specialists are specifically trained in methods and theory to deliver risk communication that can help decrease the transmissibility, morbidity, and mortality of infectious diseases. However, the limited training of health educators in infectious disease dynamics represents a critical barrier for health educators wishing to engage in this work. In this commentary, we describe the importance of health education/promotion specialists being trained on infectious disease dynamics to engage in effective science and health communication locally and globally.
Preservice Literacy Teachers “Bringing Hope Back” Through Practice-Based Research
Authors: Lammert Catherine
Published: July 2020

This descriptive case study explored literacy preservice teachers’ (PTs) learning for the use of practice-based research and the impact of research experiences on their literacy teaching. This project spanned two courses and two contexts: a learning and development course focused on PTs’ stance as inquirers, activists, and practice-based researchers, with work in a field placement classroom, and a reading methods course, focused on literacy teaching through inquiry and activism, with a mediated literacy mentoring experience. The researcher employed framings of communities of practice and transformative activism in analyzing PTs’ identity development as researchers, identifying resources and design features that supported PTs’ learning, and understanding connections between PTs’ stances as inquirers and use of inquiry as literacy curriculum. Findings indicate the ongoing identity development PTs experienced as they used practice-based research to envision and enact transformative possibilities in literacy teaching.
Fast and Slow Literacies: Digital and Compositional Conundrums in a Post-Truth Era
Authors: Schneider Jenifer Jasinski , King James R. , Kozdras Deborah , Welsh James L.
Published: July 2020

The purpose of this article is to isolate and detail various literacies deployed by youth when they composed multimodal texts that culminated in the production of student films. In particular, we focus on manifestations of young people’s thinking in the forms of fast and slow literacies. Using data from a series of research studies in which we observed Grades 3–12 students create short films in course-embedded field experiences and summer movie camps, we examined how the composition of student-made films allowed us to interrogate and elaborate literacies, both fast and slow, and the fast and slow thinking that supported the creation of those literate manifestations. We suggest fast and slow literacies, broadly construed, alter theories of literacy learning.
The Potential Impact of COVID-19 on the Medical School Application
Authors: O’Connell Rachel L , Kemp Michael T , Alam Hasan B
Published: July 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on the medical community. It is suspected that the pandemic will impact the medical school application process due to effects on standardized testing, performance measures, financial burdens, and interview strategies. It is important to consider these issues early to optimize success of future strategies and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the application cycle.
The Role of the Pharmacist in Inhaler Selection and Education in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Petite Sarah E. , Hess Michael W. , Wachtel Herbert
Published: July 2020

Objective: To review the role of pharmacists in educating and monitoring patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on inhalation technique. Data Sources: A PubMed search (January 2000 to May 2020) was performed using the following keywords and associated medical subject headings: adherence, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/COPD, education, inhaler, pharmacist, and technique. Study Selection and Data Extraction: The search was conducted to identify English language articles highlighting the importance of correct inhaler technique in COPD management and benefits of pharmacist inhaler training such as improved adherence, quality of life (QoL), and disease control. Randomized controlled trials, retrospective studies, observational studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis reporting pharmacist training were included. Data Synthesis: This review summarizes that incorrect inhaler use negatively affects treatment outcomes, prognosis, and QoL. Pharmacists are in a unique position to educate and monitor patients with COPD on optimal inhaler technique and an individualized, multifactorial approach to COPD management involving pharmacists could provide cost-effective patient care and improve adherence and minimize inhaler misuse. Several strategies used by pharmacists can optimize patient inhaler use, such as face-to-face technique demonstrations, the “teach-back” method, telemonitoring, instructional videos, or informational leaflets. An individualized action plan involving education and regular monitoring of inhaler use further enhances optimal adherence and disease management. Conclusions: As pharmacists are easily accessible to both patients and health care providers, they are ideally placed to play an important role in the enhancement of education on, and continuous assessment of, optimal inhaler technique, thereby improving adherence, disease control, and QoL.
The ageing lung under stress
Authors: Korfei Martina , MacKenzie BreAnne , Meiners Silke
Published: July 2020

Healthy ageing of the lung involves structural changes but also numerous cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic alterations. Among them are the age-related decline in central cellular quality control mechanisms such as redox and protein homeostasis. In this review, we would like to provide a conceptual framework of how impaired stress responses in the ageing lung, as exemplified by dysfunctional redox and protein homeostasis, may contribute to onset and progression of COPD and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We propose that age-related imbalanced redox and protein homeostasis acts, amongst others (e.g.cellular senescence), as a “first hit” that challenges the adaptive stress-response pathways of the cell, increases the level of oxidative stress and renders the lung susceptible to subsequent injury and disease. In both COPD and IPF, additional environmental insults such as smoking, air pollution and/or infections then serve as “second hits” which contribute to persistently elevated oxidative stress that overwhelms the already weakened adaptive defence and repair pathways in the elderly towards non-adaptive, irremediable stress thereby promoting development and progression of respiratory diseases. COPD and IPF are thus distinct horns of the same devil, “lung ageing”.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: WRN inhibits oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of human lensepithelial cells through ATM/p53 signaling pathway and its expression is downregulated by DNA methylation
Authors: Jiang Shengqun , Chen Jiansu
Published: July 2020

Background

Apoptosis and oxidative stress are the main etiology of age related cataract (ARC). This article aims to investigate the role of WRN in lens epithelial cells (LECs).

Methods

We estimated the methylation level of WRN in anterior lens capsule tissues of ARC patients. SRA01/04 (LECs) cells were treated with H2O2 or combined with 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) or chloroquine. CCK8 and flow cytometry were performed to explore proliferation and apoptosis. The content of ROS was detected by fluorescent probe DCFH-DA. The gene and protein expression was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR or western blot.

Results

WRN was down-regulated and the methylation level of WRN was increased in the anterior lens capsule tissues. WRN overexpression and 5-Aza-CdR enhanced proliferation and repressed apoptosis and oxidative stress of SRA01/04 cells. 5-Aza-CdR enhanced WRN expression. WRN knockdown inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis and oxidative stress of SRA01/04 cells, which was rescued by 5-Aza-CdR. WRN overexpression and 5-Aza-CdR repressed ATM/p53 signaling pathway. Furthermore, chloroquine inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis and oxidative stress of SRA01/04 cells by activating ATM/p53 signaling pathway. The influence conferred by chloroquine was abolished by WRN overexpression.

Conclusion

Our study reveals that DNA methylation mediated WRN inhibits apoptosis and oxidative stress of human LECs through ATM/p53 signaling pathway.
SOAPTyping: an open-source and cross-platform tool for sequence-based typing for HLA class I and II alleles
Authors: Zhang Yong , Chen Yongsheng , Xu Huixin , Fang Junbin , Zhao Zijian , Hu Weipeng , Yang Xiaoqin , Ye Jia , Cheng Yun , Wang Jiayin , Sun Weiqiang , Wang Jian , Yang Huanming , Yan Jing , Fang Lin
Published: July 2020

Background

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene family plays a key role in the immune response and thus is crucial in many biomedical and clinical settings. Utilizing Sanger sequencing, the golden standard technology for HLA typing enables accurate identification of HLA alleles in high-resolution. However, only the commercial software, such as uTYPE, SBT-Assign, and SBTEngine, and very few open-source tools could be applied to perform HLA typing based on Sanger sequencing.

Results

We developed a user-friendly, cross-platform and open-source desktop application, known as SOAPTyping, for Sanger-based typing in HLA class I and II alleles. SOAPTyping can produce accurate results with a comprehensible protocol and featured functions. Moreover, SOAPTyping supports a more advanced group-specific sequencing primers (GSSP) module to solve the ambiguous typing results. We used SOAPTyping to analyze 36 samples with known HLA typing from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) International HLA DNA Exchange platform and 100 anonymous clinical samples, and the HLA typing results from SOAPTyping are identical to the golden results and 5.5 times faster than commercial software uTYPE, which shows the usability of SOAPTyping.

Conclusions

We introduce the SOAPTyping as the first open-source and cross-platform HLA typing software with the capability of producing high-resolution HLA typing predictions from Sanger sequence data.
Analysing bioelectrical phenomena in the Drosophila ovary with genetic tools: tissue-specific expression of sensors for membrane potential and intracellular pH, and RNAi-knockdown of mechanisms involved in ion exchange
Authors: Schotthöfer Susanne Katharina , Bohrmann Johannes
Published: July 2020

Background

Changes in transcellular bioelectrical patterns are known to play important roles during developmental and regenerative processes. The Drosophila follicular epithelium has proven to be an appropriate model system for studying the mechanisms by which bioelectrical signals emerge and act. Fluorescent indicator dyes in combination with various inhibitors of ion-transport mechanisms have been used to investigate the generation of membrane potentials (Vmem) and intracellular pH (pHi). Both parameters as well as their anteroposterior and dorsoventral gradients were affected by the inhibitors which, in addition, led to alterations of microfilament and microtubule patterns equivalent to those observed during follicle-cell differentiation.

Results

We expressed two genetically-encoded fluorescent sensors for Vmem and pHi, ArcLight and pHluorin-Moesin, in the follicular epithelium of Drosophila. By means of the respective inhibitors, we obtained comparable effects on Vmem and/or pHi as previously described for Vmem- and pHi-sensitive fluorescent dyes. In a RNAi-knockdown screen, five genes of ion-transport mechanisms and gap-junction subunits were identified exerting influence on ovary development and/or oogenesis. Loss of ovaries or small ovaries were the results of soma knockdowns of the innexins inx1 and inx3, and of the DEG/ENaC family member ripped pocket (rpk). Germline knockdown of rpk also resulted in smaller ovaries. Soma knockdown of the V-ATPase-subunit vha55 caused size-reduced ovaries with degenerating follicles from stage 10A onward. In addition, soma knockdown of the open rectifier K+channel 1 (ork1) resulted in a characteristic round-egg phenotype with altered microfilament and microtubule organisation in the follicular epithelium.

Conclusions

The genetic tool box of Drosophila provides means for a refined and extended analysis of bioelectrical phenomena. Tissue-specifically expressed Vmem- and pHi-sensors exhibit some practical advantages compared to fluorescent indicator dyes. Their use confirms that the ion-transport mechanisms targeted by inhibitors play important roles in the generation of bioelectrical signals. Moreover, modulation of bioelectrical signals via RNAi-knockdown of genes coding for ion-transport mechanisms and gap-junction subunits exerts influence on crucial processes during ovary development and results in cytoskeletal changes and altered follicle shape. Thus, further evidence amounts for bioelectrical regulation of developmental processes via the control of both signalling pathways and cytoskeletal organisation.
Transcriptomic and biochemical investigations support the role of rootstock-scion interaction in grapevine berry quality
Authors: Zombardo A. , Crosatti C. , Bagnaresi P. , Bassolino L. , Reshef N. , Puccioni S. , Faccioli P. , Tafuri A. , Delledonne M. , Fait A. , Storchi P. , Cattivelli L. , Mica E.
Published: July 2020

Background

In viticulture, rootstock genotype plays a critical role to improve scion physiology, berry quality and to adapt grapevine (Vitis viniferaL.) to different environmental conditions. This study aimed at investigating the effect of two different rootstocks (1103 Paulsen - P - and Mgt 101–14 - M) in comparison with not grafted plants - NGC - on transcriptome (RNA-seq and small RNA-seq) and chemical composition of berry skin inPinot noir, and exploring the influence of rootstock-scion interaction on grape quality. Berry samples, collected at veraison and maturity, were investigated at transcriptional and biochemical levels to depict the impact of rootstock on berry maturation.

Results

RNA- and miRNA-seq analyses highlighted that, at veraison, the transcriptomes of the berry skin are extremely similar, while variations associated with the different rootstocks become evident at maturity, suggesting a greater diversification at transcriptional level towards the end of the ripening process. In the experimental design, resembling standard agronomic growth conditions, the vines grafted on the two different rootstocks do not show a high degree of diversity. In general, the few genes differentially expressed at veraison were linked to photosynthesis, putatively because of a ripening delay in not grafted vines, while at maturity the differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in the synthesis and transport of phenylpropanoids (e.g. flavonoids), cell wall loosening, and stress response. These results were supported by some differences in berry phenolic composition detected between grafted and not grafted plants, in particular in resveratrol derivatives accumulation.

Conclusions

Transcriptomic and biochemical data demonstrate a stronger impact of 1103 Paulsen rootstock than Mgt 101–14 or not grafted plants on ripening processes related to the secondary metabolite accumulations in berry skin tissue. Interestingly, theMYB14gene, involved in the feedback regulation of resveratrol biosynthesis was up-regulated in 1103 Paulsen thus supporting a putative greater accumulation of stilbenes in mature berries.
Improved reconstruction and comparative analysis of chromosome 12 to rectify Mis-assemblies in Gossypium arboreum
Authors: Ashraf Javaria , Zuo Dongyun , Cheng Hailiang , Malik Waqas , Wang Qiaolian , Zhang Youping , Abid Muhammad Ali , Yang Qiuhong , Feng Xiaoxu , Yu John Z. , Song Guoli
Published: July 2020

Background

Genome sequencing technologies have been improved at an exponential pace but precise chromosome-scale genome assembly still remains a great challenge. The draft genome of cultivatedG. arboreumwas sequenced and assembled with shotgun sequencing approach, however, it contains several misassemblies. To address this issue, we generated an improved reassembly ofG. arboreumchromosome 12 using genetic mapping and reference-assisted approaches and evaluated this reconstruction by comparing with homologous chromosomes ofG. raimondiiandG. hirsutum.

Results

In this study, we generated a high quality assembly of the 94.64 Mb length ofG. arboreumchromosome 12 (A_A12) which comprised of 144 scaffolds and contained 3361 protein coding genes. Evaluation of results using syntenic and collinear analysis of reconstructedG. arboreumchromosome A_A12 with its homologous chromosomes ofG. raimondii(D_D08) andG. hirsutum(AD_A12 and AD_D12) confirmed the significant improved quality of current reassembly as compared to previous one. We found major misassemblies in previously assembled chromosome 12 (A_Ca9) ofG. arboreumparticularly in anchoring and orienting of scaffolds into a pseudo-chromosome. Further, homologous chromosomes 12 ofG. raimondii(D_D08) andG. arboreum(A_A12) contained almost equal number of transcription factor (TF) related genes, and showed good collinear relationship with each other. As well, a higher rate of gene loss was found in corresponding homologous chromosomes of tetraploid (AD_A12 and AD_D12) than diploid (A_A12 and D_D08) cotton, signifying that gene loss is likely a continuing process in chromosomal evolution of tetraploid cotton.

Conclusion

This study offers a more accurate strategy to correct misassemblies in sequenced draft genomes of cotton which will provide further insights towards its genome organization.
Comparative analysis of single-cell transcriptomics in human and zebrafish oocytes
Authors: Can Handan , Chanumolu Sree K. , Gonzalez-Muñoz Elena , Prukudom Sukumal , Otu Hasan H. , Cibelli Jose B.
Published: July 2020

Background

Zebrafish is a popular model organism, which is widely used in developmental biology research. Despite its general use, the direct comparison of the zebrafish and human oocyte transcriptomes has not been well studied. It is significant to see if the similarity observed between the two organisms at the gene sequence level is also observed at the expression level in key cell types such as the oocyte.

Results

We performed single-cell RNA-seq of the zebrafish oocyte and compared it with two studies that have performed single-cell RNA-seq of the human oocyte. We carried out a comparative analysis of genes expressed in the oocyte and genes highly expressed in the oocyte across the three studies. Overall, we found high consistency between the human studies and high concordance in expression for the orthologous genes in the two organisms. According to the Ensembl database, about 60% of the human protein coding genes are orthologous to the zebrafish genes. Our results showed that a higher percentage of the genes that are highly expressed in both organisms show orthology compared to the lower expressed genes. Systems biology analysis of the genes highly expressed in the three studies showed significant overlap of the enriched pathways and GO terms. Moreover, orthologous genes that are commonly overexpressed in both organisms were involved in biological mechanisms that are functionally essential to the oocyte.

Conclusions

Orthologous genes are concurrently highly expressed in the oocytes of the two organisms and these genes belong to similar functional categories. Our results provide evidence that zebrafish could serve as a valid model organism to study the oocyte with direct implications in human.
Genome sequence and spore germination-associated transcriptome analysis of Corynespora cassiicola from cucumber
Authors: Gao Shigang , Zeng Rong , Xu Lihui , Song Zhiwei , Gao Ping , Dai Fuming
Published: July 2020

Background

Corynespora cassiicola, as a necrotrophic phytopathogenic ascomycetous fungus, can infect hundreds of species of plants and rarely causes human diseases. This pathogen infects cucumber species and causes cucumber target spot, which has recently caused large cucumber yield losses in China. Genome sequence and spore germination-associated transcriptome analysis will contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism of pathogenicity and spore germination ofC. cassiicola.

Results

First, we reported the draft genome sequences of the cucumber-sampledC. cassiicolaisolate HGCC with high virulence. Although conspecific, HGCC exhibited distinct genome sequence differences from a rubber tree-sampled isolate (CCP) and a human-sampled isolate (UM591). The proportion of secreted proteins was 7.2% in HGCC. A total of 28.9% (4232) of HGCC genes, 29.5% (4298) of CCP genes and 28.6% (4214) of UM591 genes were highly homologous to experimentally proven virulence-associated genes, respectively, which were not significantly different (P = 0.866) from the average (29.7%) of 10 other phytopathogenic fungi. Thousands of putative virulence-associated genes in various pathways or families were identified inC. cassiicola. Second, a global view of the transcriptome ofC. cassiicolaspores during germination was evaluated using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). A total of 3288 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. The majority of KEGG-annotated DEGs were involved in metabolism, genetic information processing, cellular processes, the organismal system, human diseases and environmental information processing.

Conclusions

These results facilitate the exploration of the molecular pathogenic mechanism ofC. cassiicolain cucumbers and the understanding of molecular and cellular processes during spore germination.
Screening diverse soybean genotypes for drought tolerance by membership function value based on multiple traits and drought-tolerant coefficient of yield
Authors: Yan Chunjuan , Song Shuhong , Wang Wenbin , Wang Changling , Li Haibo , Wang Feng , Li Shengyou , Sun Xugang
Published: July 2020

Background

Drought is a major limiting factor seriously influencing worldwide soybean production and its impact on yield, morphological and physiological traits depend on the timing it occurs and the intensity of water shortage. Only limited research has however been conducted on identifying the drought-tolerant genotypes at different growth stages (vegetative growth phase, reproductive growth phase and the whole growth phase) as well as evaluate the effectiveness and reliability of multiple phenotypic and yield-related characteristics in soybean.

Results

Two pot experiments and a 2-year field experiment were conducted to evaluate soybean drought tolerance at different growth stages. The membership function value of drought tolerance (MFVD) was used to identify drought-resistant cultivars during vegetative growth phase and reproductive growth stage; the relative drought index (RDI) of yield was used to assess drought-resistant cultivars during the whole growing period. In this study, regression models built based on MFVD indicated that the variation of drought tolerant coefficient (DC) of R/S, TRL, LAI and RSR could explain 73.70% of the total variation at vegetative growth phase. However, higher heritability only found in LAI and RSR, indicating the two traits could serve as reliable criteria for drought evaluation. Similarly, the DC of SPP, YPP, PH, PB, MSNN and STB could explain 94.30% of the total variation in MFVD according to stepwise multiple linear regression analyses at reproductive growth phase. Thus, these six traits were identified as indicators for screening drought resistance genotypes in soybean. In addition, correlation analysis revealed that the MFVD was significantly positively correlated with the DCRB, DCR/S, DCRSA, DCRSR and DCRBR at vegetative growth phase and DCYPP, DCSPP, DCRB, and DCPB at reproductive growth phase. This indicated that these traits were closely related to the drought resistance of plants.

Conclusions

LD24, JD36 and TF31 of vegetative growth phase, and TD37 and LD26 of reproductive growth phase were identified with drought tolerant and highly drought tolerant, respectively. Moreover, 30 accessions with drought tolerance were screened in the field trial and could be applied for the drought resistance of other genotypes by cross-breeding.
Transcriptome analysis of heat stress and drought stress in pearl millet based on Pacbio full-length transcriptome sequencing
Authors: Sun Min , Huang Dejun , Zhang Ailing , Khan Imran , Yan Haidong , Wang Xiaoshan , Zhang Xinquan , Zhang Jian , Huang Linkai
Published: July 2020

Background

Heat and drought are serious threats for crop growth and development. As the sixth largest cereal crop in the world, pearl millet can not only be used for food and forage but also as a source of bioenergy. Pearl millet is highly tolerant to heat and drought. Given this, it is considered an ideal crop to study plant stress tolerance and can be used to identify heat-resistant genes.

Results

In this study, we used Pacbio sequencing data as a reference sequence to analyze the Illumina data of pearl millet that had been subjected to heat and drought stress for 48 h. By summarizing previous studies, we found 26,299 new genes and 63,090 new transcripts, and the number of gene annotations increased by 20.18%. We identified 2792 transcription factors and 1223 transcriptional regulators. There were 318 TFs and 149 TRs differentially expressed under heat stress, and 315 TFs and 128 TRs were differentially expressed under drought stress. We used RNA sequencing to identify 6920 genes and 6484 genes differentially expressed under heat stress and drought stress, respectively.

Conclusions

Through Pacbio sequencing, we have identified more new genes and new transcripts. On the other hand, comparing the differentially expressed genes under heat tolerance with the DEGs under drought stress, we found that even in the same pathway, pearl millet responds with a different protein.
Correlation between ischemia-modified albumin level and coronary collateral circulation
Authors: Chen Xin , Lin Yan , Tian Lihua , Wang Zhiquan
Published: July 2020

Objective

To investigate the correlation between ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels and coronary collateral circulation (CCC) in patients with chronic total occlusive (CTO).

Methods

Coronary angiography was performed in the Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from 2017 to 08 to 2019–02 to identify 128 patients with CTO lesions in at least one major coronary artery. According to the Rentrop evaluation criteria, the degree of CCC formation was divided into the poor CCC formation group (Rentrop0–1 grade,n = 69) and the good CCC formation group (Rentrop2–3 grade,n = 59). The IMA level of the patients was measured using an albumin-cobalt binding assay. The general data, routine blood panel, total bilirubin (TBIL), blood lipids, uric acid (UA), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and other indicators of the patients were recorded and analyzed while assessing the patients’ blood vessel occlusion.

Results

The proportion of platelet count and diabetes in the poor CCC group was higher than that in the good CCC group (P < 0.05). The ratio of ischemia-modified albumin and total bilirubin in the poor CCC group was lower than that in the good CCC group (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ischemia-modified albumin was positively correlated with CCC formation [OR = 1.190,95% CI (1.092–1.297),P < 0.001], while diabetes was negatively correlated with CCC formation [OR = 0.285,95% CI (0.094–0.864), P < 0.05]. Ischemic modified albumin predicted good formation of CCC according to the ROC curve, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.769(95% CI,0.686–0.851, P<0.001); the optimal cut-off value was 63.35 KU/L, and the sensitivity was 71.2%,specificity is 71%.

Conclusion

The IMA level is closely related to good formation of CCC. Higher IMA levels can be used as an effective predictor of good CCC formation in patients with CTO.
The effect of milrinone on mortality in adult patients who underwent CABG surgery: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials with a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
Authors: Ren Yu-shan , Li Lan-fang , Peng Tao , Tan Yu-jun , Sun Ying , Cheng Guo-liang , Zhang Gui-min , Li Jie
Published: July 2020

Background

As an inodilator, milrinone is commonly used for patients who undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery because of its effectiveness in decreasing the cardiac index and mitral regurgitation. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing studies from the past 20 years to evaluate the impact of milrinone on mortality in patients who undergo CABG surgery.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature search on the application of milrinone in patients who underwent CABG surgery in studies published between 1997 and 2017 in BioMed Central, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register. The included studies evaluated milrinone groups compared to groups receiving either placebo or standard treatment and further compared the systemic administration.

Results

The network meta-analysis included 723 patients from 16 randomized clinical trials. Overall, there was no significant difference in mortality between the milrinone group and the placebo/standard care group when patients underwent CABG surgery. In addition, 9 trials (with 440 randomized patients), 4 trials (with 212 randomized patients), and 10 trials (with 470 randomized patients) reported that the occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI), myocardial ischemia, and arrhythmia was lower in the milrinone group than in the placebo/standard care group. Between the milrinone treatment and placebo/standard care groups, the occurrence of myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia, and arrhythmia was significantly different. However, the occurrence of stroke and renal failure, the duration of inotropic support (h), the need for an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), and mechanical ventilation (h) between these two groups showed no differences.

Conclusions

Based on the current results, compared with placebo, milrinone might be unable to decrease mortality in adult CABG surgical patients but can significantly ameliorate the occurrence of MI, myocardial ischemia, and arrhythmia. These results provide evidence for the further clinical application of milrinone and of therapeutic strategies for CABG surgery. However, along with milrinone application in clinical use, sufficient data from randomized clinical trials need to be collected, and the potential benefits and adverse effects should be analyzed and reevaluated.
Antimicrobial stewardship in the primary care setting: from dream to reality?
Authors: Avent M. L. , Cosgrove S. E. , Price-Haywood E. G. , van Driel M. L.
Published: July 2020

Background

Clinicians who work in primary care are potentially the most influential healthcare professionals to address the problem of antibiotic resistance because this is where most antibiotics are prescribed. Despite a number of evidence based interventions targeting the management of community infections, the inappropriate antibiotic prescribing rates remain high.

Discussion

The question is how can appropriate prescribing of antibiotics through the use of Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) programs be successfully implemented in primary care. We discuss that a top-down approach utilising a combination of strategies to ensure the sustainable implementation and uptake of AMS interventions in the community is necessary to support clinicians and ensure a robust implementation of AMS in primary care. Specifically, we recommend a national accreditation standard linked to the framework of Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship, supported by resources to fund the implementation of AMS interventions that are connected to quality improvement initiatives. This article debates how this can be achieved.

The paper highlights that in order to support the sustainable uptake of AMS programs in primary care, an approach similar to the hospital and post-acute care settings needs to be adopted, utilising a combination of behavioural and regulatory processes supported by sustainable funding. Without these strategies the problem of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing will not be adequately addressed in the community and the successful implementation and uptake of AMS programs will remain a dream.