bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L-plastin Ser5 phosphorylation is modulated by the PI3K/SGK pathway and promotes breast cancer cell invasiveness
Authors: Machado Raquel A. C. , Stojevski Dunja , De Landtsheer Sébastien , Lucarelli Philippe , Baron Alexandre , Sauter Thomas , Schaffner-Reckinger Elisabeth
Published: February 2021

Background

Metastasis is the predominant cause for cancer morbidity and mortality accounting for approximatively 90% of cancer deaths. The actin-bundling protein L-plastin has been proposed as a metastatic marker and phosphorylation on its residue Ser5 is known to increase its actin-bundling activity. We recently showed that activation of the ERK/MAPK signalling pathway leads to L-plastin Ser5 phosphorylation and that the downstream kinases RSK1 and RSK2 are able to directly phosphorylate Ser5. Here we investigate the involvement of the PI3K pathway in L-plastin Ser5 phosphorylation and the functional effect of this phosphorylation event in breast cancer cells.

Methods

To unravel the signal transduction network upstream of L-plastin Ser5 phosphorylation, we performed computational modelling based on immunoblot analysis data, followed by experimental validation through inhibition/overexpression studies and in vitro kinase assays. To assess the functional impact of L-plastin expression/Ser5 phosphorylation in breast cancer cells, we either silenced L-plastin in cell lines initially expressing endogenous L-plastin or neoexpressed L-plastin wild type and phosphovariants in cell lines devoid of endogenous L-plastin. The established cell lines were used for cell biology experiments and confocal microscopy analysis.

Results

Our modelling approach revealed that, in addition to the ERK/MAPK pathway and depending on the cellular context, the PI3K pathway contributes to L-plastin Ser5 phosphorylation through its downstream kinase SGK3. The results of the transwell invasion/migration assays showed that shRNA-mediated knockdown of L-plastin in BT-20 or HCC38 cells significantly reduced cell invasion, whereas stable expression of the phosphomimetic L-plastin Ser5Glu variant led to increased migration and invasion of BT-549 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Finally, confocal image analysis combined with zymography experiments and gelatin degradation assays provided evidence that L-plastin Ser5 phosphorylation promotes L-plastin recruitment to invadopodia, MMP-9 activity and concomitant extracellular matrix degradation.

Conclusion

Altogether, our results demonstrate that L-plastin Ser5 phosphorylation increases breast cancer cell invasiveness. Being a downstream molecule of both ERK/MAPK and PI3K/SGK pathways, L-plastin is proposed here as a potential target for therapeutic approaches that are aimed at blocking dysregulated signalling outcome of both pathways and, thus, at impairing cancer cell invasion and metastasis formation.
CircAGAP1 promotes tumor progression by sponging miR-15-5p in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Lv Qi , Wang Gangmin , Zhang Yinan , Shen Aijun , Tang Junjun , Sun Yi , Ma Chunhui , Wang Peijun
Published: February 2021

Background

Accumulating evidence has revealed that circular RNAs (circRNAs), as novel noncoding RNAs, play critical roles in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. However, the functions and molecular mechanisms of circRNAs in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) are largely unknown.

Methods

The expression and functions of circAGAP1 were identified in clinical samples, ccRCC cells and in vivo animal models. The molecular mechanism of circAGAP1 was investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridization, RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays.

Results

circAGAP1 (circ0058792) expression was significantly upregulated in ccRCC tissues compared to adjacent nontumor tissues. Moreover, the expression of circAGAP1 was closely related to the tumor size, nuclear grade and clinical stage of ccRCC in patients. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that cytoplasmic circAGAP1 targeted miR-15-5p in an RNA-induced silencing complex. Additionally, miR-15-5p expression was downregulated in ccRCC. Luciferase reporter assays showed that E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) was a target of miR-15-5p, and upregulated E2F3 expression was positively correlated with circAGAP1 in ccRCC. Furthermore, the tumor-promoting functions of circAGAP1 could be alleviated by miR-15-5p mimics in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

Our results clarify that circAGAP1 exerts its oncogenic functions as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging miR-15-5p, which promotes E2F3 expression. Targeting circAGAP1 might be a new attractive therapeutic strategy in ccRCC.
Quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of adolescents: the crucial role of technology
Authors: Salzano Giuseppina , Passanisi Stefano , Pira Francesco , Sorrenti Lacrima , La Monica Giuseppa , Pajno Giovanni Battista , Pecoraro Maria , Lombardo Fortunato
Published: February 2021

Background

The year 2020 will be remembered as the “year of the COVID-19 pandemic”. The world population had to familiarize themselves with words as swabs, personal protective equipment, pandemic. To curb the wave of the pandemic, almost all the countries imposed self-isolation and social distancing. We conducted a web-based survey to investigate the behavioural responses during the quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Participants were 1860 youth aged 12–18 years attending lower secondary schools and upper secondary schools. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, lifestyle changes during the quarantine period, and the psychological impact of the lock-down on adolescents’ life.

Results

Most adolescents experienced feelings of fear, discouragement, and anxiety which strongly affected the approach to their daily lifestyles. Most of the surveyed subjects reported having used this period to acquire new skills and to practice physical activities at home. The use of technology was predominant both for recreational activities and educational purposes.

Conclusions

Despite the strong psychological impact of the quarantine, adolescents showed good levels of resilience. Technology played a crucial role during the quarantine for young subjects who have increased the daily use of technological devices to stay connected with the rest of the world.
Potential impact of flooding on schistosomiasis in Poyang Lake regions based on multi-source remote sensing images
Authors: Xue Jing-Bo , Wang Xin-Yi , Zhang Li-Juan , Hao Yu-Wan , Chen Zhe , Lin Dan-Dan , Xu Jing , Xia Shang , Li Shi-Zhu
Published: February 2021

Background

Flooding is considered to be one of the most important factors contributing to the rebound ofOncomelania hupensis, a small tropical freshwater snail and the only intermediate host ofSchistosoma japonicum, in endemic foci. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of intestinal schistosomiasis transmission impacted by flooding in the region around Poyang Lake using multi-source remote sensing images.

Methods

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data collected by the Landsat 8 satellite were used as an ecological and geographical suitability indicator ofO. hupensishabitats in the Poyang Lake region. The expansion of the water body due to flooding was estimated using dual-polarized threshold calculations based on dual-polarized synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The image data were captured from the Sentinel-1B satellite in May 2020 before the flood and in July 2020 during the flood. A spatial database of the distribution of snail habitats was created using the 2016 snail survey in Jiangxi Province. The potential spread ofO. hupensissnails after the flood was predicted by an overlay analysis of the NDVI maps in the flood-affected areas around Poyang Lake. The risk of schistosomiasis transmission was classified based onO. hupensissnail density data and the related NDVI.

Results

The surface area of Poyang Lake was approximately 2207 km2in May 2020 before the flood and 4403 km2in July 2020 during the period of peak flooding; this was estimated to be a 99.5% expansion of the water body due to flooding. After the flood, potential snail habitats were predicted to be concentrated in areas neighboring existing habitats in the marshlands of Poyang Lake. The areas with high risk of schistosomiasis transmission were predicted to be mainly distributed in Yongxiu, Xinjian, Yugan and Poyang (District) along the shores of Poyang Lake. By comparing the predictive results and actual snail distribution, we estimated the predictive accuracy of the model to be 87%, which meant the 87% of actual snail distribution was correctly identified as snail habitats in the model predictions.

Conclusions

Data on water body expansion due to flooding and environmental factors pertaining to snail breeding may be rapidly extracted from Landsat 8 and Sentinel-1B remote sensing images. Applying multi-source remote sensing data for the timely and effective assessment of potential schistosomiasis transmission risk caused by snail spread during flooding is feasible and will be of great significance for more precision control of schistosomiasis.

Graphical Abstract
Impulsive control of a class of multiple unstable neural networks
Authors: Jia Songfang , Chen Yanheng
Published: February 2021

This paper addresses the issue of stability of a class of multiple unstable Cohen–Grossberg neural networks(CGNNs) under impulsive control. Some novel sufficient conditions are given to make the unstable equilibrium points of the model locallyμ-stable. An example is offered to demonstrate the effectiveness of the control strategy by comprehensive computer simulations.
Study of an implicit type coupled system of fractional differential equations by means of topological degree theory
Authors: Sarwar Muhammad , Ali Anwar , Zada Mian Bahadur , Ahmad Hijaz , Nofal Taher A.
Published: February 2021

In this work, a sufficient condition required for the presence of positive solutions to a coupled system of fractional nonlinear differential equations of implicit type is studied. To study sufficient conditions essential for the existence of unique solution degree theory is used. Two examples are given to illustrate the established results.
Best approximation of a nonlinear fractional Volterra integro-differential equation in matrix MB-space
Authors: Chaharpashlou Reza , Saadati Reza
Published: February 2021

In this article, we introduce a class of stochastic matrix control functions to stabilize a nonlinear fractional Volterra integro-differential equation with Ψ-Hilfer fractional derivative. Next, using the fixed-point method, we study the Ulam–Hyers and Ulam–Hyers–Rassias stability of the nonlinear fractional Volterra integro-differential equation in matrix MB-space.
Multidisciplinary digital competencies of pre-service vocational teachers
Authors: Roll Michael J. J. , Ifenthaler Dirk
Published: February 2021

Developments of Industry 4.0 require a set of multidisciplinary digital competencies for future vocational teachers, consisting of specific knowledge, motivational aspects, cognitive abilities and skills to fulfill the demands of digitally interconnected work situations. The competence model that is adapted from future work scenarios of vocational apprentices in Industry 4.0 includes attitudes towards digitization and handling of digital devices, information literacy, application of digital security standards, virtual collaboration, digital problem solving as well as a demonstration of reflective judgment of one’s actions in an interconnected and digital environment. Structural equation modeling was used to assessN = 205 pre-service vocational teachers between 18 and 35 years of age. The findings indicate the relationship of the proposed dimensions, measured through external- and self-assessments validate the proposed structure of the multidisciplinary digital competencies. However, attitude towards digitization can predict the self-efficacy of the relevant Multidisciplinary Digital Competencies but not the actual achievement in an external assessed scenario. Nevertheless, this study confirms that self-assessed multidisciplinary digital competencies can predict achievement in an external and qualitative-assessed competence test. Fit indices show an acceptable model conception, the reliability and construct validity of the model were confirmed. Findings suggest that the attitude towards digitization and the application of digital security standards are important, whereas the ability to solve digital problems seems to have a weak relation to the general multidisciplinary digital competencies of pre-service vocational teachers.
Differentiated glioblastoma cells accelerate tumor progression by shaping the tumor microenvironment via CCN1-mediated macrophage infiltration
Authors: Uneda Atsuhito , Kurozumi Kazuhiko , Fujimura Atsushi , Fujii Kentaro , Ishida Joji , Shimazu Yosuke , Otani Yoshihiro , Tomita Yusuke , Hattori Yasuhiko , Matsumoto Yuji , Tsuboi Nobushige , Makino Keigo , Hirano Shuichiro , Kamiya Atsunori , Date Isao
Published: February 2021

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal primary brain tumor characterized by significant cellular heterogeneity, namely tumor cells, including GBM stem-like cells (GSCs) and differentiated GBM cells (DGCs), and non-tumor cells such as endothelial cells, vascular pericytes, macrophages, and other types of immune cells. GSCs are essential to drive tumor progression, whereas the biological roles of DGCs are largely unknown. In this study, we focused on the roles of DGCs in the tumor microenvironment. To this end, we extracted DGC-specific signature genes from transcriptomic profiles of matched pairs of in vitro GSC and DGC models. By evaluating the DGC signature using single cell data, we confirmed the presence of cell subpopulations emulated by in vitro culture models within a primary tumor. The DGC signature was correlated with the mesenchymal subtype and a poor prognosis in large GBM cohorts such as The Cancer Genome Atlas and Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project. In silico signaling pathway analysis suggested a role of DGCs in macrophage infiltration. Consistent with in silico findings, in vitro DGC models promoted macrophage migration. In vivo, coimplantation of DGCs and GSCs reduced the survival of tumor xenograft-bearing mice and increased macrophage infiltration into tumor tissue compared with transplantation of GSCs alone. DGCs exhibited a significant increase in YAP/TAZ/TEAD activity compared with GSCs. CCN1, a transcriptional target of YAP/TAZ, was selected from the DGC signature as a candidate secreted protein involved in macrophage recruitment. In fact, CCN1 was secreted abundantly from DGCs, but not GSCs. DGCs promoted macrophage migration in vitro and macrophage infiltration into tumor tissue in vivo through secretion of CCN1. Collectively, these results demonstrate that DGCs contribute to GSC-dependent tumor progression by shaping a mesenchymal microenvironment via CCN1-mediated macrophage infiltration. This study provides new insight into the complex GBM microenvironment consisting of heterogeneous cells.
Identifying violence against the LGTBI+ community in Catalan universities
Authors: Dueñas Jorge-Manuel , Racionero-Plaza Sandra , Melgar Patricia , Sanvicén-Torné Paquita
Published: February 2021

Social struggles have led to the legal recognition of the rights of LGTBI+ people in some countries. Even so, violence against LGTBI+ people is a social problem throughout the world, and has resulted in the vulnerability and victimization of the members of this group. In Spain, no research has been published to date that analyzes this problem in the university context. Considering the scarcity of studies on the identification of this type of violence in Spain, the main objective of this study was to identify violence against LGBTI+ people in Catalan universities. We administered a battery of questions to a sample of 571 university students from six universities in Catalonia (77.8% women) between 17 and 55 years old (M = 21.0; SD = 3.96). Of the 12 situations of violence presented, psychological violence was identified as the most common type. Within our sample, 61.0% reported either being aware of or having experienced some type of violence related to the university context and motivated by the sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression of the victim. The results also show that these types of violence in the university context are rarely reported, especially when they do not include physical violence. This study highlights a previously unreported problem and identifies future research avenues in university contexts.
Correction to: Estimation of bulk permittivity of the Moon’s surface using Lunar Radar Sounder on-board Selenological and Engineering Explorer
Authors: Hongo Keigo , Toh Hiroaki , Kumamoto Atsushi
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Correction to: Design and implementation of a maxi‑sized mobile robot (Karo) for rescue missions
Authors: Habibian Soheil , Dadvar Mehdi , Peykari Behzad , Hosseini Alireza , Salehzadeh M. Hossein , Hosseini Alireza H. M. , Najafi Farshid
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Influence maximization in social media networks concerning dynamic user behaviors via reinforcement learning
Authors: Chen Mengnan , Zheng Qipeng P. , Boginski Vladimir , Pasiliao Eduardo L.
Published: February 2021

This study examines the influence maximization (IM) problem via information cascades within random graphs, the topology of which dynamically changes due to the uncertainty of user behavior. This study leverages the discrete choice model (DCM) to calculate the probabilities of the existence of the directed arc between any two nodes. In this IM problem, the DCM provides a good description and prediction of user behavior in terms of following or not following a neighboring user. To find the maximal influence at the end of a finite-time horizon, this study models the IM problem by using multistage stochastic programming, which can help a decision-maker to select the optimal seed nodes by which to broadcast messages efficiently. Since computational complexity grows exponentially with network size and time horizon, the original model is not solvable within a reasonable time. This study then uses two different approaches by which to approximate the optimal decision: myopic two-stage stochastic programming and reinforcement learning via the Markov decision process. Computational experiments show that the reinforcement learning method outperforms the myopic two-stage stochastic programming method.
A combination of climate, tree diversity and local human disturbance determine the stability of dry Afromontane forests
Authors: Hishe Hadgu , Oosterlynck Louis , Giday Kidane , De Keersmaecker Wanda , Somers Ben , Muys Bart
Published: February 2021

Background

Anthropogenic disturbances are increasingly affecting the vitality of tropical dry forests. The future condition of this important biome will depend on its capability to resist and recover from these disturbances. So far, the temporal stability of dryland forests is rarely studied, even though identifying the important factors associated with the stability of the dryland forests could serve as a basis for forest management and restoration.

Methodology

In a degraded dry Afromontane forest in northern Ethiopia, we explored remote sensing derived indicators of forest stability, using MODIS satellite derived NDVI time series from 2001 to 2018. Resilience and resistance were measured using the anomalies (remainders) after time series decomposition into seasonality, trend and remainder components. Growth stability was calculated using the integral of the undecomposed NDVI data. These NDVI derived stability indicators were then related to environmental factors of climate, topography, soil, tree species diversity, and local human disturbance, obtained from a systematic grid of field inventory plots, using boosted regression trees in R.

Results

Resilience and resistance were adequately predicted by these factors with an R2 of 0.67 and 0.48, respectively, but the model for growth stability was weaker. Precipitation of the wettest month, distance from settlements and slope were the most important factors associated with resilience, explaining 51% of the effect. Altitude, temperature seasonality and humus accumulation were the significant factors associated with the resistance of the forest, explaining 61% of the overall effect. A positive effect of tree diversity on resilience was also important, except that the impact of species evenness declined above a threshold value of 0.70, indicating that perfect evenness reduced the resilience of the forest. Precipitation of the wettest month was the most important factor explaining 43.52% of the growth stability variation.

Conclusion

A combination of climate, topographic factors and local human disturbance controlled the stability of the dry forest. Also tree diversity is an important stability component that should be considered in the management and restoration programs of such degraded forests. If local disturbances are alleviated the recovery time of dryland forests could be shortened, which is vital to maintain the ecosystem services these forests provide to local communities and global climate change.
Ischemic proctitis 6 months after laparoscopic sigmoidectomy: a case report
Authors: Yoshida Takuto , Ichikawa Nobuki , Homma Shigenori , Yoshida Tadashi , Emoto Shin , Miyaoka Yoichi , Matsui Hiroki , Taketomi Akinobu
Published: February 2021

Background

Ischemic colitis is a common disease; however, its pathophysiology remains unclear, especially in ischemic proctitis after sigmoidectomy. We present a rare case of ischemic proctitis 6 months after laparoscopic sigmoidectomy.

Case presentation

The patient was a 60-year-old man with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. He was a smoker. He underwent laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for pathological stage I sigmoid colon cancer and was followed up without any adjuvant therapy. Six months after his surgery, he complained of lower abdominal discomfort, bloody stools, and tenesmus. Colonoscopy showed extensive rectal ulcers between the anastomotic site and the anal canal, which was particularly severe on the anal side several centimeters beyond the anastomosis. We provided non-surgical management, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The rectal ulcers had healed 48 days after the therapeutic intervention. He has not experienced any recurrence for 3.5 years.

Conclusions

While performing sigmoidectomy, it is important to consider the blood backflow from the anal side of the bowel carefully, especially for patients with risk factors of ischemic proctitis.
The integrative force of political institutions? Direct democracy and voter turnout across ethnic and nativity groups
Authors: Manatschal Anita
Published: February 2021

Much has been written on the positive effect of direct democracy (initiatives, referendums) on voter turnout. However, we have limited knowledge about potential differential effects on voters belonging to various ethnic groups. The paper argues that depending on a group’s responsiveness to the political context, direct democracy can (dis-)integrate voters (from) into the electorate. Empirical analysis of Current Population Survey (CPS) voting supplement survey data, together with data on the absolute use of direct democracy across US states, corroborates this theoretical expectation, however lending more support for the disintegrating assumption. Frequent direct democratic elections further widen the negative voting gap between first-generation Asian voters and voters living in the US for three generations or longer, whereas they tend to diminish this voting gap for first-generation Hispanic voters. The disintegrative pattern for first-generation Asian voters remains even significant when excluding California from the state sample, yet not the integrative tendency for first-generation Hispanics. Additional analyses using alternative measures of direct democracy and voting, and applying statistical adjustments to address causality concerns, confirm the robustness of these findings, which shed light on the so-far underexplored (dis-)integrative potential of political institutions.
Evaluation of Achyranthes aspera shoot extract as an alternative therapy for malaria
Authors: Mankilik Mary Matawal , Longdet Ishaya Yohanna , Luka Carrol Domkat
Published: February 2021

Background

Malaria is still a vital global health issue. The greatest disease burden is in sub-Saharan Africa. A. aspera is one of the medicinal herbs commonly used traditionally. The continuous resistance of Plasmodium falciparum, to available anti-malarial agents has led to the search for an alternative substance to combat malaria; hence, the study aimed to establish the potential of the extract from the shoot of Achyranthes aspera as an alternative anti-malarial agent against Plasmodium berghei (NK-65) strain in mice model. Acute toxicity test was performed as per the Organization for Economic Cooperative Development guidelines, 425. Rodent malaria parasite P. berghei at 1 × 107 parastemia was inoculated into Swiss albino mice of both sexes intraperitoneally. The extract was administered through oral route by an intra-gastric tube once daily for 5 days according to the Rane’s curative test. Chloroquine and Artemisinin were used as standard drugs and were administered through the same route.

Results

Phytochemical screening of A. aspera revealed the presence of phenols, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, and balsam. A. aspera extract neither caused any sign of gross toxicity nor caused mortality in the mice up to a single dose of 5000 mg/kg/bwt. The aqueous extract, of A. aspera, showed significant reduction (p < 0.05) in parasitemia at dose 400 mg/kg/day and 600 mg/kg/day in Swiss albino mice compared to negative control. The treated mice had prolonged survival time at all doses. Extracts prevented P. berghei induced body weight loss and temperature reduction compared to the negative control.

Conclusion

We conclude that the shoot extract of A. aspera is safe and displayed promising anti-malarial activity. This may account for its traditional use for malaria treatment among some locals in Nigeria.
TEVAR versus open repair of blunt traumatic descending aortic injury in polytraumatic patients involved in motor vehicle accidents
Authors: Manoly Imthiaz , El Tahan Mohamed , Al Shuaibi Maymoona , Adel Fatimah , Al Harbi Mohammed , Elghoneimy Yasser , Fouly Mohamed Abdel Hafez
Published: February 2021

Background

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is the standard-of-care for treating traumatic aortic injury (TAI). Few retrospective studies compared TEVAR to open repair in blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI). Our objectives were to compare the early outcomes of TEVAR for blunt traumatic descending aortic injury to open repair (OR) in polytraumatic patients involved in motor vehicle accidents (MVA).

Results

Between February 2005 and April 2017, 71 patients with TAI due to MVA presented to our institution. All patients with descending aortic injuries were considered for open repair (n = 41) or TEVAR (n = 30) if there was no contraindication. The primary outcome was mortality, and secondary outcomes were stroke, paraplegia, intensive care unit (ICU), and hospital stay.

The mean age was 28.4 ± 10.1 years in the OR group and 33.3 ± 16.6 years in TEVAR-group (P = 0.13). The injury severity scores were 41 ± 10 in the OR group and 33 ± 17 in the TEVAR group (P = 0.03). Patients in the OR group underwent emergency repair with a mean time of 0.56 ± 0.18 days from arrival. The TEVAR group had a longer time interval between arrival and procedure (2.1 ± 1.7 days, P = 0.001). The OR group had more blood transfusion (24 (58.5%) vs. 8 (27.5%), P = 0.002), renal impairment (6 (14.6%) vs. 1 (5.50%), P = 0.23), and wound infection (21 (51.2%) vs. 3 (10%), P < 0.001). Three TEVAR patients had a perioperative stroke compared to two patients in the OR group (P = 0.64). There was no difference in the mean ICU (6 ± 8.9 vs. 5.3 ± 2.9 days; P = 0.1) or hospital stay (20.1 ± 12.3 vs. 20.1 ± 18.3, P = 0.62) between the two groups. There were four deaths in the OR group and none in the TEVAR group (P = 0.13).

Conclusion

The results of TEVAR were comparable with the open repair for traumatic aortic injury with good early postoperative outcomes. TEVAR repair could be associated with lower mortality, blood transfusion, and infective complications. However, the complexity of the injury and technical challenges were higher in the open group.
Survival Outcomes of Breast Cancer in Sudanese Women: A Hospital-Based Study
Authors: Muddather Hiba F. , Elhassan Moawia M. A. , Faggad Areeg
Published: February 2021

PURPOSE

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading malignancy among Sudanese women. Yet, data on survival are limited. This study aimed to determine 5-year overall survival (OS) of BC in Sudanese women, and identify prognostic demographic and clinicopathologic factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted by reviewing data of women with BC diagnosed and treated at the National Cancer Institute—University of Gezira during 2012, and followed up to end of August 2018. Data were retrieved from medical records and analyzed, OS was determined, and the prognostic factors were explored.

RESULTS

A total of 225 cases were recruited. The median age at presentation was 45 years (range, 22-85 years). Clinical stage I, II, III, and IV represented 3.1%, 31.6%, 48%, and 17.3%, respectively. Most women (81.3%) were treated with curative intent. Of those, 25.1% received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Mastectomy was the commonest (61.7%) type of surgery. The median follow-up period was 59.8 months with mean OS time of 55.7 months. The 5-year cumulative survival rate was 58%. The 5-year OS rates for stages I, II, III, and IV were 71.5%, 82.4%, 56.5%, and 8.4%, respectively. For lymph node (LN)-positive cases, 5-year OS rate was 63% and for LN-negative was 83.5%. Presenting with advanced-stage disease and positive LN status associated with short OS times ( P < .005).

CONCLUSION

OS of women with BC in Central Sudan is worse than in the developed world, but similar to African countries. Our findings indicate that advanced stage at diagnosis and lymph nodal involvement are strong predictors of short survival times. Raising awareness and introducing early detection programs are critical for better survival of these patients.
Management of Dyspnea in Advanced Cancer: ASCO Guideline
Authors: Hui David , Bohlke Kari , Bao Ting , Campbell Toby C. , Coyne Patrick J. , Currow David C. , Gupta Arjun , Leiser Aliza L. , Mori Masanori , Nava Stefano , Reinke Lynn F. , Roeland Eric J. , Seigel Carole , Walsh Declan , Campbell Margaret L.
Published: February 2021

PURPOSE

To provide guidance on the clinical management of dyspnea in adult patients with advanced cancer.

METHODS

ASCO convened an Expert Panel to review the evidence and formulate recommendations. An Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) systematic review provided the evidence base for nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions to alleviate dyspnea. The review included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies with a concurrent comparison group published through early May 2020. The ASCO Expert Panel also wished to address dyspnea assessment, management of underlying conditions, and palliative care referrals, and for these questions, an additional systematic review identified RCTs, systematic reviews, and guidelines published through July 2020.

RESULTS

The AHRQ systematic review included 48 RCTs and two retrospective cohort studies. Lung cancer and mesothelioma were the most commonly addressed types of cancer. Nonpharmacologic interventions such as fans provided some relief from breathlessness. Support for pharmacologic interventions was limited. A meta-analysis of specialty breathlessness services reported improvements in distress because of dyspnea.

RECOMMENDATIONS

A hierarchical approach to dyspnea management is recommended, beginning with dyspnea assessment, ascertainment and management of potentially reversible causes, and referral to an interdisciplinary palliative care team. Nonpharmacologic interventions that may be offered to relieve dyspnea include airflow interventions (eg, a fan directed at the cheek), standard supplemental oxygen for patients with hypoxemia, and other psychoeducational, self-management, or complementary approaches. For patients who derive inadequate relief from nonpharmacologic interventions, systemic opioids should be offered. Other pharmacologic interventions, such as corticosteroids and benzodiazepines, are also discussed. Additional information is available at www.asco.org/supportive-care-guidelines .
Modelling epilepsy in the mouse: challenges and solutions
Authors: Marshall Grant F. , Gonzalez-Sulser Alfredo , Abbott Catherine M.
Published: February 2021

In most mouse models of disease, the outward manifestation of a disorder can be measured easily, can be assessed with a trivial test such as hind limb clasping, or can even be observed simply by comparing the gross morphological characteristics of mutant and wild-type littermates. But what if we are trying to model a disorder with a phenotype that appears only sporadically and briefly, like epileptic seizures? The purpose of this Review is to highlight the challenges of modelling epilepsy, in which the most obvious manifestation of the disorder, seizures, occurs only intermittently, possibly very rarely and often at times when the mice are not under direct observation. Over time, researchers have developed a number of ways in which to overcome these challenges, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. In this Review, we describe the genetics of epilepsy and the ways in which genetically altered mouse models have been used. We also discuss the use of induced models in which seizures are brought about by artificial stimulation to the brain of wild-type animals, and conclude with the ways these different approaches could be used to develop a wider range of anti-seizure medications that could benefit larger patient populations.
Ileosigmoid knotting: An update for Atamanalp classification
Authors: Atamanalp Sabri Selcuk
Published: February 2021

Ileosigmoid knotting (ISK) is an extremely rare double-loop bowel obstruction. ISK is treated by emergency surgery with a relatively poor prognosis. Although some classification methods have been developed for ISK to date, the most comprehensive method was defined in 2018. Then, some subjects concerning this issue were evaluated in the literature. The aim of this paper is to update the last classification method in light of both the evaluations in the literature and our clinical experience with 80 ISK cases, which is one of the largest published single-centre ISK series.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3179

How to cite this:Atamanalp SS. Ileosigmoid knotting: An update for Atamanalp classification. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(3):913-915. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3179

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Reverse transcription PCR to detect low density malaria infections
Authors: Christensen Peter , Bozdech Zbynek , Watthanaworawit Wanitda , Renia Laurent , Malleret Benoit , Ling Clare , Nosten Francois
Published: February 2021

Background: Targeted malaria elimination strategies require highly sensitive tests to detect low density malaria infections (LDMI). Commonly used methods for malaria diagnosis such as light microscopy and antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are not sensitive enough for reliable identification of infections with parasitaemia below 200 parasites per milliliter of blood. While targeted malaria elimination efforts on the Thailand-Myanmar border have successfully used high sample volume ultrasensitive quantitative PCR (uPCR) to determine malaria prevalence, the necessity for venous collection and processing of large quantities of patient blood limits the widespread tractability of this method.

Methods: Here we evaluated a real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) method that reduces the required sample volume compared to uPCR. To do this, 304 samples collected from an active case detection program in Kayin state, Myanmar were compared using uPCR and RT-PCR.

Results: Plasmodium spp. RT-PCR confirmed 18 of 21 uPCR Plasmodium falciparum positives, while P. falciparum specific RT-PCR confirmed 17 of the 21 uPCR P. falciparum positives. Combining both RT-PCR results increased the sensitivity to 100% and specificity was 95.1%.

Conclusion: Malaria detection in areas of low transmission and LDMI can benefit from the increased sensitivity of ribosomal RNA detection by RT-PCR, especially where sample volume is limited. Isolation of high quality RNA also allows for downstream analysis of malaria transcripts.
­­­­­­­A type I IFN, prothrombotic hyperinflammatory neutrophil signature is distinct for COVID-19 ARDS­­­
Authors: Reyes Leila , A. Sanchez-Garcia Manuel , Morrison Tyler , Howden Andy J. M. , Watts Emily R. , Arienti Simone , Sadiku Pranvera , Coelho Patricia , Mirchandani Ananda S. , Zhang Ailiang , Hope David , Clark Sarah K. , Singleton Jo , Johnston Shonna , Grecian Robert , Poon Azin , McNamara Sarah , Harper Isla , Fourman Max Head , Brenes Alejandro J. , Pathak Shalini , Lloyd Amy , Blanco Giovanny Rodriguez , von Kriegsheim Alex , Ghesquiere Bart , Vermaelen Wesley , Cologna Camila T. , Dhaliwal Kevin , Hirani Nik , Dockrell David H. , Whyte Moira K. B. , Griffith David , Cantrell Doreen A. , Walmsley Sarah R.
Published: February 2021

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe critical condition with a high mortality that is currently in focus given that it is associated with mortality caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Neutrophils play a key role in the lung injury characteristic of non-COVID-19 ARDS and there is also accumulating evidence of neutrophil mediated lung injury in patients who succumb to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods: We undertook a functional proteomic and metabolomic survey of circulating neutrophil populations, comparing patients with COVID-19 ARDS and non-COVID-19 ARDS to understand the molecular basis of neutrophil dysregulation.

Results: Expansion of the circulating neutrophil compartment and the presence of activated low and normal density mature and immature neutrophil populations occurs in ARDS, irrespective of cause. Release of neutrophil granule proteins, neutrophil activation of the clotting cascade and upregulation of the Mac-1 platelet binding complex with formation of neutrophil platelet aggregates is exaggerated in COVID-19 ARDS. Importantly, activation of components of the neutrophil type I interferon responses is seen in ARDS following infection with SARS-CoV-2, with associated rewiring of neutrophil metabolism, and the upregulation of antigen processing and presentation. Whilst dexamethasone treatment constricts the immature low density neutrophil population, it does not impact upon prothrombotic hyperinflammatory neutrophil signatures.

Conclusions: Given the crucial role of neutrophils in ARDS and the evidence of a disordered myeloid response observed in COVID-19 patients, this work maps the molecular basis for neutrophil reprogramming in the distinct clinical entities of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 ARDS.
Is fascia iliaca compartment block or intravenous opioid analgesia better when positioning patients with fractured neck of femur for spinal anaesthesia?
Authors: Heard R , Clements P
Published: February 2021

Patients with a fractured neck of femur require effective analgesia to improve positioning before the administration of spinal anaesthetic. This article discusses the evidence to show whether fascia iliaca compartment block or intravenous opioid analgesia is preferable in this situation.
Advancing Surface Water Pesticide Exposure Assessments for Ecosystem Protection
Authors: Fox Garey A. , Muñoz-Carpena Rafael , Brooks Bryan , Hall Tilghman
Published: February 2021

Highlights

Crop protection and pest management programs continue to be integral for modern food production.

Potential ecological impacts of pesticides must be assessed, and key mitigation practices adopted.

Efforts are needed to advance surface water pesticide exposure assessments from field to landscape scales.

Ensuring effective pesticide mitigation practices requires quantifying dynamic site-specific characteristics.

Ecological assessments must improve prediction of adverse population and community-level outcomes.

Abstract. As the global food demand increases, the use of pesticides will continue to increase with significant growth in low- and middle-income countries. Agricultural systems in which pesticides are used are complex with significant and often unknown biological, human, and physical-chemical interactions. These interactions include climate and hydrology, soil type, selection and use of best management practices, chemical fate and transport, application technology, and land use socioeconomics. The objective of this review article is to highlight key research opportunities identified from recent special meetings and workshops on advancing pesticide exposure assessments and mitigation. Research is needed in using advanced analytics and forensics to better understand the distribution of pesticides in the environment through novel monitoring and detection. Higher-tier modeling approaches can help inform monitoring a priori to better characterize pesticide distributions in the environment. Current pesticide exposure assessments are largely focused on the field or watershed scale, but advancements are needed to move toward landscape-scale analyses capable of analyzing for interacting ecosystems. Assessing the effects of complex, low-dose chemical mixtures on non-target aquatic organisms must advance with new quantitative high-throughput experimental methods focused on identifying interactions and not just additive effects. Field mitigation measures are currently considered as part of the pesticide exposure and risk assessment process using qualitative, fixed-efficiency type approaches, but we specifically call for the use of existing quantitative tools moving forward. These mechanistic modeling and simulation tools can capture the inherent complexity within an agroecological system. There is a need for risk assessment to be more predictive of population and community-level impacts as part of environmentally relevant scenarios. Finally, it is imperative that professional societies take a more proactive role in promoting the transdisciplinary collaboration of biological and agricultural engineers with other disciplines contributing to advances in ecological risk assessment. Keywords: Ecosystem, Exposure assessment, Landscape scale, Mechanistic modeling, Mitigation, Pesticides, Surface water quality.
The use of different stingless bee species to pollinate cherry tomatoes under protected cultivation
Authors: Moura-Moraes Maira Coelho de , Frantine-Silva Wilson , Gaglianone Maria Cristina , Campos Lucio Antonio de Oliveira
Published: February 2021

Under standard greenhouse conditions, the tomato fruits of spontaneous self-pollination are expected to be of lower quality than those of bee pollination, as well as that simultaneously use different bee species which can complement pollination services. To test these hypotheses, we evaluated the complementarity of pollination services from the use of three native stingless bee species that have distinct foraging behaviors, Melipona bicolor Lepeletier 1836, Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Lepeletier 1836) and Partamona helleri (Friese 1900) during flowering of cherry tomatoes in greenhouses. Fruit quality parameters resulted from pollination experiments were measured and the acclimatization of the analyzed bee species was evaluated. Visits of M. bicolor and N. testaceicornis to the tomato flowers contributed significantly to the increase in the average weight, seed number, and thickness of the pericarp (only for N. testaceicornis) of the fruits, compared to the spontaneous self-pollination treatment. Partamona helleri, however, did not show any pollen collection behavior in the experimental conditions. Although N. testaceicornis do not perform the buzzing behavior, fruits from its pollination were equivalent to those fruits from pollination by M. bicolor. The simultaneous use of bee species with different flower-visiting behaviors can optimize tomato pollination in greenhouses, contributing significantly to the quality of the fruits and the increase of productivity and consequently the commercial value.
Weather Variables Affecting the Behaviour of Insect Flower Visitors and Main Pollinators of Erythroxylum myrsinites Martius (Erythroxylaceae)
Authors: Sühs Rafael Barbizan , Somavilla Alexandre , Giehl Eduardo Luís Hettwer
Published: February 2021

Basic research assessing environmental effects on entire pollinator communities are still uncommon, particularly for rare and commercially unattractive plant-pollinator partners. We investigated the community of flower visitors of Erythroxylum myrsinites to check for potential pollinators and to check the extent of weather influence of visitor behaviour, registered as the number of visitors attending flowers of E. myrsinites. We then calculated species’ dominance and constancy and assessed location of pollen attachment in each visitor’s body. We correlated weather variables with the composition and abundance of visits carried out by the entire community and by most constant and dominant species. The wasps Polybia sericea, P. ignobilis and P. fastidiosuscula showed the highest values of constancy, dominance and attached pollen. There was a community-level effect of atmospheric pressure, solar radiation and wind speed on the number of visits. Atmospheric pressure affected the number of visits of eudominant species P. fastidiosuscula and P. sericea, while solar radiation affected the number of visits of P. ignobilis. Our results demonstrate the influence of weather variables on flower visiting insects and suggest the importance of native wasps in pollen transport and pollination, a relationship that should be further studied under the worldwide bee pollination decline.
Screening and mixture design applied to formulate anti-caking compositions for reducing the caking tendency of granular phosphate fertilizers
Authors: Lakehal Senhaji Mohammed , Hafnaoui Anass , Khouloud Mehdi , El Agri Asmae , El Asri Mohammed , Boulahna Ahmed
Published: February 2021

The demand for fertilizers in the agricultural sector has increased drastically with the world's exponential growth. Moreover, solid granular fertilizers remain by far the most requested. The granular fertilizers production presents several kinds of problems, especially the ternary fertilizers family. The caking is a severe issue that affects granules' physical quality, particularly during storage and transport. It makes them unsuitable for their intended uses. In this work, a new anti-caking agent has been developed to cope with the granular fertilizer caking problem and improve their physical quality. First of all, thanks to the screening design of Plackett-Burman, the effect of seven anti-caking components on the phosphate fertilizer caking trend was evaluated only by eight trials. Next, a mixture design was used to formulate a new anti-caking agent from three components (glycerol, calcium carbonate, and molasses). The screening design was chosen as the most effective components. Finally, from the mixture design results, a special cubic model was postulated and statically validated. The model delivered a wide range of compositions formulated from the three components mentioned above, capable of reducing the caking tendency of ternary granular fertilizer.