bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Female Urethroplasty: A new hope for better quality of life
Authors: Bhuiyan Md Zahid H , Alfesani Syed
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Female urethral stricture is a difficult issue in Urology. Many of the times it may follow any sort of urethral instrumentation but in other cases no definite precipitating causes are unidentified.
Methods: This was a prospective study. The sample size was n – 50. All cases were recurrent with the history of urethral dilatations, urethrotomies in multiple sessions. The diagnostic investigations in VCUG (voiding cystourethrogram), Ultrasound scan of kidney Ureter, bladder with post void residues, Uroflometry etc. Due to limitations, Urodynamic study was done in limited cases. Urethral augmentation was done using dorsal substitution of OMG (oral mucosal graft). Urethral catheter was left for 03 – 04 weeks.
Results: After removal of catheter, urinary flow was observed; excellent in all the cases. It remain satisfactory in 06 months of follow-up. Overall result is excellent.
Conclusions: Female urethral stricture is a difficult issue in Urology, Urethral dilatation, urethrotomies, clean intermittent catheterization are good options but need frequent procedures. Urethral augmentation with dorsal substitution of oral mucosal graft is a curative approach in long-run.
Bangladesh Journal of Urology, Vol. 23, No. 2, July 2020 p.158-163
Comparative Study Between Mini PCNL and RIRS in the Treatment of Renal Stones <20mm : Our Experience in CMH Dhaka
Authors: Rakib Md Abdur , Islam Md Shahidul , Waheed SM Shameem , Chwdhury Md Ashif , Alam Mohammad Shafiul , Rashid Mohammad Harun Or
Published: December 2020

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mini-perc) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in management of renal stones with a diameter <15 mm.
Materials and Methods: This was an open-label prospective study that included a total of 80 cases underwent mini-perc (n = 40) and RIRS (n = 40) between July 2014 and August 2017. The primary outcome objective was stone-free rate, retreatment rate, complications, hospital stay, operative time, and reduction in hemoglobin level. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 Software.
Results: Overall, 80 patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 40.12 and 38.20 years, and the mean stone size was 1.15 and 1.30 cm in mini-perc and RIRS group, respectively. Majority of the study participants were males. Overall, mini-perc and RIRS had stone clearance rates of 100% and 95.4%, respectively. Two patients required retreatment in RIRS group. The duration of hospital stay and the rate of complication was similar in both the groups. Operative duration was more in RIRS group. Decrease in hemoglobin level was more in mini-perc group.
Conclusions: Results demonstrated that both modalities were associated with high stone clearance rates with minimal complications. RIRS was associated with less reduction in hemoglobin and could be used as standard treatment modality for small renal calculi.
Bangladesh Journal of Urology, Vol. 23, No. 2, July 2020 p.199-204
Enterococcal Urinary Tract Infection in Newborns at a Pediatric Hospital in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ahmad Shamweel , Alotaibi Hamed Abdullah , Alkhaibari Sultan Hamad , Alshahrani Bassam Mushabab
Published: December 2020

The main goal of this study was to examine the spectrum of Enterococci that cause urinary tract infection in newborns. This study was conducted during September 2018 to November 2018 at Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz University. A total of 317 urine samples were taken from newborns admitted to the Children's Hospital in the city of Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In total, 30 (9.5%) Enterococcal strains were isolated from 317 samples. Of these, 17 (56.6%) were from male and 13 (43.4%) were from female patients. From antibiotic sensitivity assay, it was observed that all of the isolates were resistant to clindamycin. But Imipenem and Augmentin were found highly sensitive. So, these sensitive antibiotics can be used for the treatment of newborns UTIs caused by the enterococcal strains.

Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 19(2): 119-124, 2020 (December)
Phytochemical and Biological Studies on Bark Extract of Aporosa wallichii Hook.f.
Authors: Shahriar Kazi Ruhullah , Salekin Sirajis , Islam Quazi Sufia , Ahsan Monira , M Hasan Choudhury
Published: December 2020

The ethyl acetate extract of bark of Aporosa wallichii Hook.f. was extensively investigated for the chemical characterization of secondary metabolites and for biological activities. After repeated chromatographic separation and purification, two compounds were elucidated as a phenolic compound ferulic acid (1) and an uncommon triterpene glut-5(6)-en-3β-ol (2) from the ethyl acetate extract of barks of A. wallichii by using high field NMR analyses. This is the first report of isolation of both compounds from this plant species. No significant antimicrobial activity was observed for any fraction after Kupchan partitioning of the extract. During the antioxidant activity assay, the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of A. wallichii demonstrated significant DPPH radical scavenging capacity with an IC50 value of 1.25 μg/mL. The other fractions viz. petroleum ether, aqueous and chloroform soluble fractions exhibited moderate, mild, and weak activity respectively. The petroleum ether soluble fraction demonstrated maximum thrombolytic property (51.33%) which was similar to that of standard streptokinase (66.81%).

Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 19(2): 139-143, 2020 (December)
Da flexibilização do trabalho à flexibilidade do conhecimento: a Educação Profissionalizante sob a Lei nº 13.415/2017
Authors: Oliveira Samara Taveira de , Barbosa Nonato Lucas Freitas , Brito Lúcia Helena de , Bezerra José Eudes Baima
Published: December 2020

O presente artigo tem por objetivo apresentar a reforma do Ensino Médio sob Lei n°13.415/2017 numa perspectiva de flexibilização do conhecimento para atender à nova perspectiva de trabalho, também flexibilizado. A partir da discussão das categorias Trabalho e Educação buscamos compreender quais os rumos que a educação pública no Brasil vem tomando. Percebemos que a educação pública brasileira reedita o mesmo modelo de educação dualista proferido na concepção de escola moderna. Os procedimentos de nossa análise fundamentam-se na metodologia do materialismo histórico dialético, embasados em revisão de literatura e análise documental. Dessa forma, nossa hipótese é que a educação para o trabalhador se alinha ao novo formato de trabalho precarizado. Assim, concluímos que a educação tem por base um modelo flexibilizado a atender aos interesses imediatos do mercado que se relaciona às TICs, condicionando à flexibilização do conhecimento escolar na sociedade do capital.
Core elements of character education essential for doctors suggested by medical students in Korea: a preliminary study
Authors: Hur Yera , Lee Keumho
Published: December 2020

This preliminary study aimed to determine how medical students perceive character education in Korea. A structured survey questionnaire was distributed to 10 medical students between September and December 2018, of whom 6 students replied. Students’ responses were classified into elements, which were also categorized. Twenty-nine core elements of characters in 8 categories were verified as essential for doctors and as needs for character education. The most frequently suggested categories were “care and respect,” “empathy and communication,” and “responsibility and calling.” Participants also stated that various forms of character education are necessary and that they were not satisfied with the teaching methods of the character education that they had received. These results verified the most essential character traits for doctors and identified problems related to current character education. The results of this study will be helpful for preparing the character education curriculum in medical schools.
KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AMONG NURSING STUDENTS IN YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA
Authors: Sunaryo Salsabilla Rohadatul ‘Aisy , Saifullah Azam David , Mulyani Sri
Published: December 2020

Background: Nursing students are prepared to deliver care for vulnerable people, including people with dementia. Nursing students tend to have lower levels of knowledge and attitudes toward dementia compared to registered nurses. While there is less evidence that discussed this topic in the Indonesian nursing student's context, it will be necessary to identify an aspect related to knowledge and attitude among students to be considered for improvement in the future.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the knowledge and attitudes toward dementia among nursing students in Indonesia.

Method: This study was a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. There were 334 nursing students recruited using a total sampling method at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta. Data were collected using the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS) and Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS). Spearman Rank, Mann Whitney Unpaired, Kruskal-Wallis test, Pearson Correlation, Unpaired t-test, and Unpaired ANOVA were used for data analysis according to the type and the distribution of the data.

Results: The median of the DKAS was 24 (min - max = 7 - 40), and the mean of DAS was 99.60 (SD = 10.25). The variables that were statistically significant correlated to knowledge of dementia were age (r = .332, p < .001), class standing (H = 72.253, p < .001), and experience in taking care of people with dementia (U = 3314, p = .047). Meanwhile, only the age of the students was found to have a statistically significant correlation with attitudes toward dementia (r = 158, p = .004).

Conclusion: In general, among the nursing students, knowledge toward dementia was relatively low, while the attitudes toward dementia were relatively high compared to other research. Age, class standing, and experience in taking care of people with dementia had significant correlations to the knowledge score of the students. Lastly, age also had a significant correlation with the attitude score of the students.
Covid-19 and the environment – the role of the Public Health Institute
Authors: Ulm Lea , Hrga Ivana , Stjepanovic Barbara , Vecenaj Ana , Krivohlavek Adela , Tesic Vanja , Kosanovic Licina Mirjana Lana , Sostar Zvonimir , Sikic Sandra , Jergovic Matijana , Maric Marko , Kovacek Ivancica , Tolic Sonja , Klobucar Ana , Zilic Irena , Susnjara Vesna , Cvetkovic Zelimira
Published: December 2020

The Croatian National
Health Care Act defines the areas of activities of the public health institute,
including the activities of the epidemiology of infectious diseases and chronic
non-communicable diseases, public health, health promotion, environmental health,
microbiology, school and adolescent medicine, mental health and addiction
prevention at Zagreb City level. This paper reviews the highly variable
activities in the Andrija Štampar Teaching Institute of Public Health with the
aim of promoting a comprehensive approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. Human and
analytical resources in the Institute, activities and rapid implementation of
innovations testify to the high capacities for adaptation to emerging
risks. In the Institute, it is possible
to carry out a whole range of tests and to monitor the environmental factors
with predominant impact on human health and safety of the Zagreb environment.
The supply of safe water for human consumption in the Republic of Croatia
during the current COVID-19 crisis has been uninterrupted and in accordance
with applicable legislation. Also, our laboratories have been developing and
introducing a method for wastewater testing for SARS-CoV-2 presence. The sludge
from wastewater treatment plants is used in agriculture, and potential risks
associated with the COVID-19 outbreak should be assessed prior to each
application on the soil. Increased use of disinfectants during the epidemic may
present a higher risk to the aquatic environment. Air quality monitoring
indicates a positive impact on air quality as result of isolation measures.
Comparison of three methods for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies
Authors: Marinac Julijana , Breyer Priselac Hana , Korac Petra
Published: December 2020

A novel positive-sense
RNA virus named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
was identified in December 2019 in China. It is a systemic disease that
includes severe respiratory distress, coronavirus disease 19 (Covid-19). The
primary way of transmitting this virus is person-to-person contact via respiratory
droplets, but it can also be transmitted by contaminated surfaces. Symptoms
range from mild to severe, and the virus spreads quickly. On 11 March 2020
Covid-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The standard
way to identify the presence of the virus is to detect its genome using
real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). It can be
applied to respiratory tract samples such as nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum and
bronchoalveolar lavage. In order to identify contact with the virus and
immunological response of the individual, tests based on immunoassays were
developed. Many of those tests were produced in short periods of time and they
mostly differ on the sample that can be used (serum, plasma or whole blood), complexity
and/or expense, and the class of the antibody they detect. The reliability of
such tests is of high importance for epidemiological surveys as well as for the
development of a vaccine. The aim of this study was to compare three
commercially available immunoassay tests. Our results show that different
serological tests have different sensitivity and specificity, and that the
rapid option, which is the easiest to perform and has the lowest cost, provides
the least reliable results.
Эконометрическое исследование занятости в Узбекистане: изменения и перспективы
Authors: Асракулов А. С. , Ханкелдиева Г. Ш. , Муминова Э. А. , Мирзаев А. Т.
Published: December 2020

В монографии проведена исследования по усовершенствованию классификации внешних и внутренних факторов, влияющих на занятость, путем выделения основных описательных признаков, классификация внутренних факторов с точки зрения государственных структур в сфере координации занятости и работодателей, оценена перспективы изменения показателей формальной и неформальной занятости на национальном рынке труда на основе факторного анализа, основанного на анализе уровня влияния факторов на занятость, анализ существующих проблем в сборе и обобщении показателей рынка труда и занятости в национальной статистической системе и решение системных проблем. Вместе с этим улучшена методология выявления и разграничения неформальной занятости на основе международного опыта определения границ неформальной занятости. На основе проведенных исследований предлагается внедрение комплексной программно-целевой модели развития рынка труда на основе когнитивной G-модели с целью повышения эффективности процессов развития рынка труда и управления. Монография рекомендована студентам, исследователям, интересующимся экономическими аспектами бизнеса.
The Effect of Oligopin Supplementation on Hormonal and Metabolic Profiles in the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Qorbani Mostafa , Sanginabadi Milad , Mohajeri-Tehrani Mohammad Reza , Karimi Sara , Gerami Hadis , Mahdavi-Gorabi Armita , Shirzad Nooshin , Samadi Majid , Baygi Fereshteh , Hosseini Saeed , Mansour Asieh
Published: December 2020

Background

A double blind clinical trial was performed to evaluate whether the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-specific serum markers and metabolic parameters would change in the women with PCOS during the three-month administration of oligopin.

Methods

In this double-blind multicenter trial, we randomly assigned 80 PCOS women, based on a 1:1 ratio, to receive oligopin (n= 40) or maltodextrin as placebo (n = 40) for up to 3 months. As PCOS-specific outcomes, we investigated the changes in testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), free androgen index (FAI), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Secondary end points were metabolic (fasting glycaemia, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipids, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)), anthropometrics parameters and blood pressure from the baseline to the end of treatment. We investigated serum transaminase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels as hepatic and kidney outcomes, respectively.

Results

The first participant was enrolled on April 18, 2018, and the last study visit took place on May 14, 2019. PCOS-specific serum parameters did not change during the three-month administration of oligopin (p > 0.05), except for a small increase in the FSH levels (p=0.03). Oligopin neither changed the metabolic profile nor the anthropometric parameters or blood pressure. ALP levels was significantly increased in placebo group, as compared with oligopin (p=0.01).

Conclusion

Oligopin supplementation does not seem to be exerting a beneficial effect on both hormonal and metabolic parameters in the women with PCOS.

Clinical Trial Registration

www.irct.ir, identifier IRCT20140406017139N3.
Roles of Dispersal Limit and Environmental Filtering in Shaping the Spatiotemporal Patterns of Invasive Alien Plant Diversity in China
Authors: Li Yiying , Shen Zehao
Published: December 2020

Biological invasion pose a severe threat to global biodiversity, and studies of bioinvasion patterns and the underlying mechanisms provide critical tests to ecological theories. China is a global hotspot of biodiversity and also biological invasions. The understanding of mechanisms for bioinvasion patterns has been limited by inadequacy of data spatial resolution, and lack of a historical perspective. This study compiled the first nation-scale distribution data with a sub-provincial spatial unit (prefecture) for 463 invasive alien plants species (IAPS) recorded in China, as well as their introduction times. The spatiotemporal patterns of species richness of invasive alien plants, including three life forms (annual-biennial, perennial, and woody) were explored, then related the species richness patterns with environmental, social-economic and historical factors. Statistical analyses included quantile regression, generalized linear model (GLM), and hierarchical variation partitioning. The results indicated that: (1) herbaceous species comprised 84% of the 463 IAPS in China; (2) plant introductions into China accelerated since 1800, reaching the maximum rate during 1900–1940. IAPS richness had a closer correlation with the time of newest introduction (R2= 0.155) than with that of the oldest introduction (R2= 0.472); (3) IAPS richness decreases with increasing latitude (r= −0.32,P< 0.001) and decreases from the coastal and southern terrestrial borders to inland regions, but doesn’t increase with prefecture size. The three life forms of IAPS showed similar latitudinal patterns of species richness and divergent latitudinal patterns of species percentage. (4) IAPS richness showed significantly positive correlations with thermal climate and a negative relationship with climate seasonality. GLM explained up to 65% of the variation in spatial patterns of IAPS and three life forms; with much less variation explained in the species percentage patterns. The year of the most recent IAPS introduction and the low temperature limit jointly dominated spatial patterns of IAPS richness in China, whereas road density showed little effect. Therefore, global warming and economic globalization play a prominent role in promoting biological invasion in the last few decades, and will continue to drive the trend of plant invasion in China and probably elsewhere.
Fusobacterium nucleatum Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Gut Epithelial Cell Innate Immunity via FomA and TLR2
Authors: Martin-Gallausiaux Camille , Malabirade Antoine , Habier Janine , Wilmes Paul
Published: December 2020

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from the gut microbiota are largely uncharacterized and their impacts on host intestinal physiology remain unresolved. Here, we isolated EVs from F. nucleatum for detailed characterization. Our analyses highlight the presence of the outer membrane protein porin FomA on EVs. Besides, we evaluated the impact of EVs on human intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in a non-inflammatory context. Our results show no detrimental impact on the epithelial barrier. No internalization of EVs was observed. Moreover, we demonstrate that F. nucleatum EVs trigger innate immunity of IECs by promoting NF-κB activation via the dynamin-mediated endocytosis. The NF-κB activation was found to be TLR2-dependent yet, TLR4 was dispensable. Using competitive binding assays, we establish that FomA is involved in the NF-κB response. Taken together, our data indicate that EVs induce effects similar to those observed with whole F. nucleatum bacteria on IECs. In particular, our study highlights the role of TLR2 and FomA as major modulators of the gut epithelium immune responses to F. nucleatum.
Akt-Fas to Quell Aberrant T Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis in Covid-19
Authors: Leonardi Anthony J. , Proenca Rui B.
Published: December 2020

Aberrant T cell differentiation and lymphopenia are hallmarks of severe COVID-19 disease. Since T cells must race to cull infected cells, they are quick to differentiate and achieve cytotoxic function. With this responsiveness, comes hastened apoptosis, due to a coupled mechanism of death and differentiation in both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytesviaCD95 (Fas) and serine-threonine kinase (Akt). T cell lymphopenia in severe cases may represent cell death or peripheral migration. These facets depict SARS-Cov-2 as a lympho-manipulative pathogen; it distorts T cell function, numbers, and death, and creates a dysfunctional immune response. Whether preservation of T cells, prevention of their aberrant differentiation, and expansion of their population may alter disease course is unknown. Its investigation requires experimental interrogation of the linked differentiation and death pathway by agents known to uncouple T cell proliferation and differentiation in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
“What About Automated Pain Recognition for Routine Clinical Use?” A Survey of Physicians and Nursing Staff on Expectations, Requirements, and Acceptance
Authors: Walter Steffen , Gruss Sascha , Frisch Stephan , Liter Joseph , Jerg-Bretzke Lucia , Zujalovic Benedikt , Barth Eberhard
Published: December 2020

Background:Over the last 12 years, the fundamentals of automated pain recognition using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have been investigated and optimized. The main target groups are patients with limited communicative abilities. To date, the extent to which anesthetists and nurses in intensive care units would benefit from an automated pain recognition system has not been investigated.

Methods:N= 102 clinical employees were interviewed. To this end, they were shown a video in which the visionary technology of automated pain recognition, its basis and goals are outlined. Subsequently, questions were asked about: (1) the potential benefit of an automated pain recognition in clinical context, (2) preferences with regard to the modality used (physiological, paralinguistic, video-based, multimodal), (3) the maximum willingness to invest, (4) preferences concerning the required pain recognition rate and finally (5) willingness to use automated pain recognition.

Results:The respondents expect the greatest benefit from an automated pain recognition system to be “to avoid over- or undersupply of analgesics in patients with limited communicative abilities,” a total of 50% of respondents indicated that they would use automated pain recognition technology, 32.4% replied with “perhaps” and 17.4% would not use it.

Conclusion:Automated pain recognition is, in principle, accepted by anesthetists and nursing staff as a possible new method, with expected benefits for patients with limited communicative skills. However, studies on automated pain recognition in a clinical environment and proof of its acceptance and practicability are absolutely necessary before such systems can be implemented.
Characteristics of Different Size Phytoplankton for Primary Production and Biochemical Compositions in the Western East/Japan Sea
Authors: Kang Jae Joong , Jang Hyo Keun , Lim Jae-Hyun , Lee Dabin , Lee Jae Hyung , Bae Hyeonji , Lee Chang Hwa , Kang Chang-Keun , Lee Sang Heon
Published: December 2020

The current phytoplankton community structure is expected to change, with small phytoplankton becoming dominant under ongoing warming conditions. To understand and evaluate the ecological roles of small phytoplankton in terms of food quantity and quality, the carbon uptake rates and intracellular biochemical compositions (i.e., carbohydrates, CHO; proteins, PRT; and lipids, LIP) of phytoplankton of different sizes were analyzed and compared in two different regions of the western East/Japan Sea (EJS): the Ulleung Basin (UB) and northwestern East/Japan Sea (NES). The average carbon uptake rate by the whole phytoplankton community in the UB (79.0 ± 12.2 mg C m–2h–1) was approximately two times higher than that in the NES (40.7 ± 2.2 mg C m–2h–1), although the average chlorophylla(chla) concentration was similar between the UB (31.0 ± 8.4 mg chlam–2) and NES (28.4 ± 7.9 mg chlam–2). The main reasons for the large difference in the carbon uptake rates are believed to be water temperature, which affects metabolic activity and growth rate, and the difference in euphotic depths. The contributions of small phytoplankton to the total carbon uptake rate were not significantly different between the regions studied. However, the rate of decrease in the total carbon uptake with increasing contributions from small phytoplankton was substantially higher in the UB than in the NES. This result suggests that compared to other regions in the EJS, the primary production in the UB could decrease rapidly under ongoing climate change. The calorific contents calculated based on biochemical compositions were similar between the small (1.01 ± 0.33 Kcal m–3) and large (1.14 ± 0.36 Kcal m–3) phytoplankton in the UB, whereas the biochemical contents were higher in the large phytoplankton (1.88 ± 0.54 Kcal m–3) than in the small phytoplankton (1.06 ± 0.18 Kcal m–3) in the NES. The calorific values per unit of chlawere higher for the large phytoplankton than for the small phytoplankton in both regions, which suggests that large phytoplankton could provide a more energy efficient food source to organisms in higher trophic levels in the western EJS.
Recent Advances in Biosorption of Copper and Cobalt by Filamentous Fungi
Authors: Dusengemungu Leonce , Kasali George , Gwanama Cousins , Ouma Kennedy Ochieng
Published: December 2020

Copper (Cu) and Cobalt (Co) are among the most toxic heavy metals from mining and other industrial activities. Both are known to pose serious environmental concerns, particularly to water resources, if not properly treated. In recent years several filamentous fungal strains have been isolated, identified and assessed for their heavy metal biosorption capacity for potential application in bioremediation of Cu and Co wastes. Despite the growing interest in heavy metal removal by filamentous fungi, their exploitation faces numerous challenges such as finding suitable candidates for biosorption. Based on current findings, various strains of filamentous fungi have high metal uptake capacity, particularly for Cu and Co. Several works indicate that Trichoderma, Penicillium, and Aspergillus species have higher Cu and Co biosorption capacity compared to other fungal species such as Geotrichum, Monilia, and Fusarium. It is believed that far more fungal species with even higher biosorption capability are yet to be isolated. Furthermore, the application of filamentous fungi for bioremediation is considered environmentally friendly, highly effective, reliable, and affordable, due to their low technology pre-requisites. In this review, we highlight the capacity of various identified filamentous fungal isolates for biosorption of copper and cobalt from various environments, as well as their future prospects.
Identification and Functional Assessment of the First Placental Adhesin of Treponema pallidum That May Play Critical Role in Congenital Syphilis
Authors: Primus Shekerah , Rocha Sandra C. , Giacani Lorenzo , Parveen Nikhat
Published: December 2020

Syphilis is a global, re-emerging sexually transmitted infection and congenital syphilis remains a major cause of adverse pregnancy outcomes due to bacterial infection in developing nations with a high rate of fetus loss. The molecular mechanisms involved in pathogenesis of the causative agent,Treponema pallidumsubsp.pallidumremain poorly understood due to the difficulties of working with this pathogen, including the inability to grow it in pure culture. To reduce the spread of syphilis, we must first increase our knowledge of the virulence factors ofT. pallidumand their contribution to syphilis manifestations. Tp0954 was predicted to be a surface lipoprotein ofT. pallidum. Therefore, we experimentally demonstrated that Tp0954 is indeed a surface protein and further investigated its role in mediating bacterial attachment to various mammalian host cells. We found that expression of Tp0954 in a poorly adherent, but physiologically related derivative strain of the Lyme disease causing spirocheteBorrelia burgdorferiB314 strain promotes its binding to epithelial as well as non-epithelial cells including glioma and placental cell lines. We also found that Tp0954 expression facilitates binding of this strain to purified dermatan sulfate and heparin, and also that bacterial binding to mammalian cell lines is mediated by the presence of heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate in the extracellular matrix of the specific cell lines. These results suggest that Tp0954 may be involved not only in initiatingT. palliduminfection by colonizing skin epithelium, but it may also contribute to disseminated infection and colonization of distal tissues. Significantly, we found that Tp0954 promotes binding to the human placental choriocarcinoma BeWo cell line, which is of trophoblastic endocrine cell type, as well as human placental tissue sections, suggesting its role in placental colonization and possible contribution to transplacental transmission ofT. pallidum. Altogether, these novel findings offer an important step toward unraveling syphilis pathogenesis, including placental colonization andT. pallidumvertical transmission from mother to fetus during pregnancy.
Face Recognition Deficits in a Patient With Alzheimer's Disease: Amnesia or Agnosia? The Importance of Electrophysiological Markers for Differential Diagnosis
Authors: Mazzi Chiara , Massironi Gloria , Sanchez-Lopez Javier , De Togni Laura , Savazzi Silvia
Published: December 2020

Face recognition deficits are frequently reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and often attributed to memory impairment. However, it has been hypothesized that failure in identifying familiar people could also be due to deficits in higher-level perceptual processes, since there is evidence showing a reduced inversion effect for faces but not for cars in AD. To address the involvement of these higher processes, we investigated event-related potential (ERP) neural correlates of faces in a patient with AD showing a face recognition deficit. Eight healthy participants were tested as a control group. Participants performed different tasks following the stimulus presentation. In experiment 1, they should indicate whether the stimulus was either a face or a house or a scrambled image. In experiments 2 and 3, they should discriminate between upright and inverted faces (in experiment 2, stimuli were faces with neutral or fearful expressions, while in experiment 3, stimuli were famous or unfamiliar faces). Electrophysiological results reveal that the typical face-specific modulation of the N170 component, which is thought to reflect the structural encoding of faces, was not present in patient MCG, despite being affected by the emotional content of the face implicitly processed by MCG. Conversely, the N400 component, which is thought to reflect the recruitment of the memory trace of the face identity, was found to be implicitly modulated in MCG. These results may identify a possible role for gnosic processes in face recognition deficits in AD and suggest the importance of adopting an integrated approach to the AD diagnosis while considering electrophysiological markers.
Theta-Burst Stimulation for Cognitive Enhancement in Parkinson's Disease With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial
Authors: Lang Stefan , Gan Liu Shi , Yoon Eun Jin , Hanganu Alexandru , Kibreab Mekale , Cheetham Jenelle , Hammer Tracy , Kathol Iris , Sarna Justyna , Martino Davide , Monchi Oury
Published: December 2020

Background: Mild cognitive impairment is a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD-MCI) and has minimal treatment options.

Objective: In this double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial, we assessed the effect of repeated sessions of intermittent theta-burst stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on cognition and brain connectivity in subjects with PD-MCI.

Methods: Forty-one subjects were randomized to receive real (n = 21) or sham stimulation (n = 20). All subjects underwent neuropsychological assessments before, 1 day, and 1 month after stimulation. Subjects also underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging before and 48 h after stimulation. The primary outcome was the change in the cognitive domain (executive function, attention, memory, language, and visuospatial abilities) z-scores across time.

Results: There was an insignificant effect on cognitive domain z-scores across time when comparing real with sham stimulation and correcting for multiple comparisons across cognitive domains (p > 0.05 Bonferroni correction). However, the real stimulation group demonstrated a trend toward improved executive functioning scores at the 1-month follow-up compared with sham (p < 0.05 uncorrected). After real stimulation, the connectivity of the stimulation site showed decreased connectivity to the left caudate head. There was no change in connectivity within or between the stimulation network (a network of cortical regions connected to the stimulation site) and the striatal network. However, higher baseline connectivity between the stimulation network and the striatal network was associated with improved executive function scores at 1 month.

Conclusions: These results suggest that intermittent theta-burst stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in subjects with PD-MCI has minimal effect on cognition compared with sham, although there were trends toward improved executive function. This intervention may be more effective in subjects with higher baseline connectivity between the stimulation network and the striatal network. This trial supports further investigation focusing on executive function and incorporating connectivity-based targeting.

Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03243214.
Differences in Proprioception Between Young and Middle-Aged Adults With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain
Authors: Pinto Sabina M. , Cheung Jason P. Y. , Samartzis Dino , Karppinen Jaro , Zheng Yong-ping , Pang Marco Y. C. , Wong Arnold Y. L.
Published: December 2020

Introduction: While young adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) exhibit impaired lumbar proprioception, it remains unclear if the same phenomenon is observed in middle-aged adults with CLBP.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether young or middle-aged adults with CLBP displayed different proprioception ability as compared to age-matched asymptomatic controls.

Methods: Sixty-four young adults with [median age:34 [interquartile range (IQR): 29–37] years] and without [median age:29 (IQR; 23–34) years] CLBP, and 87 middle-aged adults with [median age:53 (IQR: 49–58) years] and without [median age: 54 (IQR: 45–64) years] CLBP underwent postural sway tests on a force-plate with (unstable surface) and without a foam (stable surface), while bilateral L5/S1 multifidi and triceps-surae were vibrated separately. An individual's proprioception reweighting ability was estimated by relative proprioceptive reweighting (RPW). Higher RPW values indicate less reliance on lumbar multifidus proprioceptive signals for balance. Participants also underwent lumbar repositioning tests in sitting to determine repositioning errors in reproducing target lumbar flexion/extension positions.

Results: Young adults with CLBP demonstrated significantly higher median RPW values than age-matched asymptomatic controls for maintaining standing balance [stable surface: CLBP: 0.9 (IQR: 0.7–0.9), asymptomatic: 0.7 (IQR: 0.6–0.8), p < 0.05; unstable surface: CLBP: 0.6 (IQR: 0.4–0.8), asymptomatic: 0.5 (IQR: 0.3–0.7), p < 0.05]. No significant differences in repositioning error were noted between young or middle-aged adults with and without CLBP (p > 0.05). RPW values were unrelated to repositioning errors in all groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Young adults with CLBP, and middle-aged adults with and without CLBP had inferior proprioceptive reweighting capability. This finding may indicate potential age-related deterioration in central and peripheral processing of lumbar proprioceptive signals. Future studies should use advanced imaging and/or electroencephalogram to determine mechanisms underlying changes in proprioceptive reweighting in middle-aged adults.
Zonisamide for the Treatment of Parkinson Disease: A Current Update
Authors: Li Chengqian , Xue Li , Liu Yumei , Yang Zhengjie , Chi Song , Xie Anmu
Published: December 2020

Zonisamide has been used as an add-on treatment in order to overcome the deficiencies of the general therapies currently used to resolve the motor complications and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson disease. Various trials have been designed to investigate the mechanism of action and treatment effects of zonisamide in this condition. Most clinical trials of zonisamide in Parkinson disease were from Japan. The vast majority of studies used changes in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores and daily “OFF” time as primary endpoints. Based on adequate randomized controlled trials, zonisamide is considered a safe and efficacious add-on treatment in Parkinson disease. The most convincing proof is available for a dosage of 25–50 mg, which was shown to lead to a significant reduction in the UPDRS III score and daily “OFF” time, without increasing disabling dyskinesia. Furthermore, zonisamide may play a beneficial role in improving non-motor symptoms in PD, including impulsive–compulsive disorder, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, and dementia. Among the various mechanisms reported, inhibition of monoamine oxidase-B, blocking of T-type calcium channels, modulation of the levodopa–dopamine metabolism, modulation of receptor expression, and neuroprotection are the most often cited. The mechanisms underlying neuroprotection, including modulation of dopamine turnover, induction of neurotrophic factor expression, inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis, inhibition of neuroinflammation, modulation of synaptic transmission, and modulation of gene expression, have been most extensively studied. This review focuses on structure, pharmacokinetics, mechanisms, therapeutic effectiveness, and safety and tolerability of zonisamide in patients with Parkinson disease.
Is EEG Suitable for Marketing Research? A Systematic Review
Authors: Bazzani Andrea , Ravaioli Silvio , Trieste Leopoldo , Faraguna Ugo , Turchetti Giuseppe
Published: December 2020

Background: In the past decade, marketing studies have greatly benefited from the adoption of neuroscience techniques to explore conscious and unconscious drivers of consumer behavior. Electroencephalography (EEG) is one of the most frequently applied neuroscientific techniques for marketing studies, thanks to its low cost and high temporal resolution.

Objective: We present an overview of EEG applications in consumer neuroscience. The aim of this review is to facilitate future research and to highlight reliable approaches for deriving research and managerial implications.

Method: We conducted a systematic review by querying five databases for the titles of articles published up to June 2020 with the terms [EEG] AND [neuromarketing] OR [consumer neuroscience].

Results: We screened 264 abstracts and analyzed 113 articles, classified based on research topics (e.g., product characteristics, pricing, advertising attention and memorization, rational, and emotional messages) and characteristics of the experimental design (tasks, stimuli, participants, additional techniques).

Conclusions: This review highlights the main applications of EEG to consumer neuroscience research and suggests several ways EEG technique can complement traditional experimental paradigms. Further research areas, including consumer profiling and social consumer neuroscience, have not been sufficiently explored yet and would benefit from EEG techniques to address unanswered questions.
Topological Abnormalities of Functional Brain Network in Early-Stage Parkinson’s Disease Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Chen Xiangbin , Liu Mengting , Wu Zhibing , Cheng Hao
Published: December 2020

Recent studies have demonstrated structural and functional alterations in Parkinson’s disease (PD) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the topological patterns of functional brain networks in newly diagnosed PD patients with MCI are unclear so far. In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and graph theory approaches to explore the functional brain network in 45 PD patients with MCI (PD-MCI), 22 PD patients without MCI (PD-nMCI), and 18 healthy controls (HC). We found that the PD-MCI, PD-nMCI, and HC groups exhibited a small-world architecture in the functional brain network. However, early-stage PD-MCI patients had decreased clustering coefficient, increased characteristic path length, and changed nodal centrality in the default mode network (DMN), control network (CN), somatomotor network (SMN), and visual network (VN), which might contribute to factors for MCI symptoms in PD patients. Our results demonstrated that PD-MCI patients were associated with disrupted topological organization in the functional network, thus providing a topological network insight into the role of information exchange in the underlying development of MCI symptoms in PD patients.
Clmp Regulates AMPA and Kainate Receptor Responses in the Neonatal Hippocampal CA3 and Kainate Seizure Susceptibility in Mice
Authors: Jang Seil , Yang Esther , Kim Doyoun , Kim Hyun , Kim Eunjoon
Published: December 2020

Synaptic adhesion molecules regulate synapse development through trans-synaptic adhesion and assembly of diverse synaptic proteins. Many synaptic adhesion molecules positively regulate synapse development; some, however, exert negative regulation, although such cases are relatively rare. In addition, synaptic adhesion molecules regulate the amplitude of post-synaptic receptor responses, but whether adhesion molecules can regulate the kinetic properties of post-synaptic receptors remains unclear. Here we report that Clmp, a homophilic adhesion molecule of the Ig domain superfamily that is abundantly expressed in the brain, reaches peak expression at a neonatal stage (week 1) and associates with subunits of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) and kainate receptors (KARs). Clmp deletion in mice increased the frequency and amplitude of AMPAR-mediated miniature excitatory post-synaptic currents (mEPSCs) and the frequency, amplitude, and decay time constant of KAR-mediated mEPSCs in hippocampal CA3 neurons. Clmp deletion had minimal impacts on evoked excitatory synaptic currents at mossy fiber-CA3 synapses but increased extrasynaptic KAR, but not AMPAR, currents, suggesting that Clmp distinctly inhibits AMPAR and KAR responses. Behaviorally, Clmp deletion enhanced novel object recognition and susceptibility to kainate-induced seizures, without affecting contextual or auditory cued fear conditioning or pattern completion-based contextual fear conditioning. These results suggest that Clmp negatively regulates hippocampal excitatory synapse development and AMPAR and KAR responses in the neonatal hippocampal CA3 as well as object recognition and kainate seizure susceptibility in mice.
Fractal Analysis of Lung Structure in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Tanabe Naoya , Sato Susumu , Suki Béla , Hirai Toyohiro
Published: December 2020

Chest CT is often used for localizing and quantitating pathologies associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While simple measurements of areas and volumes of emphysema and airway structure are common, these methods do not capture the structural complexity of the COPD lung. Since the concept of fractals has been successfully applied to evaluate complexity of the lung, this review is aimed at describing the fractal properties of airway disease, emphysema, and vascular abnormalities in COPD. An object forms a fractal if it exhibits the property of self-similarity at different length scales of evaluations. This fractal property is governed by power-law functions characterized by the fractal dimension (FD). Power-laws can also manifest in other statistical descriptors of structure such as the size distribution of emphysema clusters characterized by the power-law exponent D. Although D is not the same as FD of emphysematous clusters, it is a useful index to characterize the spatial pattern of disease progression and predict clinical outcomes in patients with COPD. The FD of the airway tree shape and the D of the size distribution of airway branches have been proposed indexes of structural assessment and clinical predictions. Simulations are also useful to understand the mechanism of disease progression. Therefore, the power-law and fractal analysis of the parenchyma and airways, especially when combined with computer simulations, could lead to a better understanding of the structural alterations during the progression of COPD and help identify subjects at a high risk of severe COPD.