bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A aprendizagem ubíqua na educação aberta
Authors: Santaella Lucia
Published: February 2020

As mídias digitais vieram para embaralhar as cartas do jogo, em todos os campos do social, político, cultural, comunicacional, educacional com repercussões no psiquismo, nos modos de pensar e conhecer, nas disposições para agir e nas formas de perceber e sentir e interagir. Não há qualquer reduto da vida humana que tenha ficado incólume à voragem digital. As redes digitais se constituem não só em malhas de comunicação planetária, por onde perpassam compartilhamentos, solidariedades, controvérsias e conflitos, mas, sobretudo, constituem-se em espaços de difusão e acesso à informação e saberes. Não há conhecimento sem comunicação, nem comunicação sem midiatização das informações e dos dispositivos. Potencializando os processos de comunicação e acesso, as redes potencializam também as fontes e práticas de conhecimento, assim como incrementam o estabelecimento de ambientes de aprendizagem e a partilha de saberes e competências. Este artigo pretende discutir o papel que a aprendizagem ubíqua pode desempenhar no contexto de práticas e recursos educacionais abertos.
Dialogando com narrativas digitais e aprendizagens nos terreiros de candomblé
Authors: Pereira Máira Conceição Alves , Caputo Stela Guedes
Published: February 2020

Este ensaio tem o objetivo de propor um diálogo entre narrativas digitais e aprendizagens em terreiros de Candomblé por meio da apresentação e discussão de dois casos. O eixo da análise recai sobre as diversas redes educativas que se entrelaçam cotidianamente nos terreiros de Candomblé, ultrapassando os seus limites físicos e alcançando o ciberespaço, entendido como um espaço desterritorializante, sem controle centralizado e que existe em potência em um hipertexto mundial interativo, por meio de diversas narrativas digitais. Redes educativas nos formam com processos pedagógicos específicos e nelas nos modificamos, contribuindo para as mudanças que se processam em fluxo e cotidianamente. Os cotidianos representam um local de produção e recriação de conhecimentos e significações. As aprendizagens nos terreiros acontecem tradicionalmente de forma oral. Com o advento da internet e das novas tecnologias da informação e da comunicação, esses saberes podem se espalhar indefinidamente, constituindo novas redes educativas. Como essas narrativas digitais alteram e recriam os cotidianos nos terreiros? De que formas os adeptos do Candomblé atuam sobre essas narrativas, produzindo-as, discutindo-as e modificando-as? Essas são algumas questões que foram discutidas neste ensaio. Para tanto, foram mapeados rastros dessas narrativas digitais em ambos os casos apresentados com o dispositivo da observação participante de candomblecistas em páginas específicas no Facebook, bem como por meio de entrevistas online e presenciais. Os principais parceiros intelectuais são autores que pesquisam a cibercultura, as redes educativas e os cotidianos nos terreiros.Palavras-chave: Candomblé; narrativas digitais; redes ed
Reflexões sobre a Educação Física a partir dos conceitos de “campo” em PierreBourdieu e de “paradigma” em Thomas Kuhn
Authors: Mezzaroba Cristiano , Bassani Jaison José
Published: February 2020

Neste ensaio teórico tecemos considerações em torno dos conceitos de “campo”, oriundo da teoria sociológica de Pierre Bourdieu, e de “paradigma”, do físico e epistemólogo da ciência Thomas Kuhn, procurando refletir, em especial, sobre a constituição da Educação Física (EF) brasileira, seu campo acadêmico, científico e profissional. Questionamos se é possível pensar a EF brasileira como campo, relacionada ao modelo kuhniano de paradigmas, e elencamos práticas sociais no interior deste microcosmo como exemplos de padrões paradigmáticos na tentativa de tornar possível o exercício reflexivo que nos propomos. Na análise realizada, identificamos um percurso histórico que demonstra pequenas transformações no interior desta área, como por exemplo, uma aproxima- ção com as ciências sociais e humanas, que causam/causaram micro-anomalias em torno de um modo até então dominante (biomédico) dos seus saberes/fazeres, mostrando o quanto o conflito de ideias e de posições pode enriquecer/fortalecer/transformar o campo.
Jurisprudência professoral: o que dizem os professores sobre as dificuldades de aprendizagem dos estudantes da rede pública de ensino em Santa Catarina
Authors: Santos Marcos Rogério dos , Linder-Silva Jourdan
Published: February 2020

As reflexões de Pierre Bourdieu a respeito do “juízo professoral” e dos processos de nomeação, nos conduzem a analisar as percepções dos professores sobre dificuldades de aprendizagem dos estudantes. Utilizamos como fonte de dados 22.356 questionários respondidos por professores das escolas públicas de Santa Catarina, participantes das edições 2007 e 2011 da Prova Brasil. Os resultados analisados derivam de um bloco de 10 questões, as quais, contemplam: infraestrutura física e/ou pedagógica, conteúdos curriculares, insegurança física, não-cumprimento do conteúdo curricular, baixo salário dos professores, meio em que o aluno vive, nível cultural dos pais, e outros. Um conjunto de fatores, que segundo a literatura do campo educacional pode interferir no processo de aprendizagem dos estudantes. Em termos metodológicos os dados foram processados com auxílio do software estatístico SPSS, tivemos como fundamentação teórica autores do campo da Sociologia da Educação. As considerações destacam que o quadro de respostas analisadas indica atribuição a fatores externos a escola a responsabilidade pela promoção de dificuldades de aprendizagem.
EXPERIMENTAL MATURATION OF FEATHERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR INTERPRETATIONS OF FOSSIL FEATHERS
Authors: ZHAO TAO , HU JIANFANG , HU LIANG , PAN YANHONG
Published: February 2020

Exceptionally preserved fossil feathers and feather-like integumentary structures provide valuable insights into the early evolution of feathers and flight, but taphonomic biases often make interpretations at the microstructural and ultrastructural levels ambiguous. Maturation experiments have been demonstrated to be useful for investigating the taphonomic alterations of soft tissues, including feathers, during diagenesis. However, experimentally matured feathers resembling fossil feathers preserving keratinous matrix have not yet been obtained. Here we employ experimental maturation to obtain feathers corresponding to different degradation stages, and compare these matured feathers with untreated feathers and fossil feathers at the macroscopic, microstructural, and ultrastructural levels. Results show that several features of thermally matured feathers are similar to those found in fossil feathers. The fusion of barbules that occurred in thermally matured feathers suggests that such a process could occur during diagenesis, making barbules difficult to identify in fossil feathers. Under the most extreme experimental condition, the keratinous matrix can partially survive when the whole feather is turned into ash-like remains and many melanosomes are exposed. Moreover, our results show that the keratinous matrix immediately surrounding melanosomes appears to be more resistant to degradation than the unpigmented keratinous matrix, supporting the hypothesis that melanin can act as a fixative agent to prevent the degradation of keratin.
Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus among antenatal clinic attendees in Gamawa Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria
Authors: MUSTAPHA GARBA UMAR , Ibrahim Abdulrasul , Balogun Muhammad Shakir , Umeokonkwo Chukwuma David , Mamman Aisha Indo
Published: February 2020

Background: Hepatitis B virus disease is a potentially life-threatening liver infection and a major global health problem. It causes chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer. WHO estimated 257 million people are living with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and in 2015 alone HBV resulted in to 887,000 deaths globally. We determined the prevalence and associated factors of hepatitis B virus infection among Antenatal Care (ANC) attendees in Gamawa Local Government Area, Bauchi State.
Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional, health facility-based study between March and April 2018. We used systematic random sampling technique to recruit 210 pregnant women aged 15-49 years. With a structured questionnaire, we interviewed the respondents and collected blood sample to test for hepatitis B surface antigen. We calculated frequencies, means, proportions, and tested for associations using Epi Info 7.2 and Microsoft Excel.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 24.5 ± 6.0 years; 112 (53%) of whom were younger than 25 years. All were married, 183 (87%) had no formal education and up to 190 (90%) were employed. Overall, 14 (6.7%) tested positive for HBsAg; women aged ≥35 years had the highest prevalence (10%). None with tertiary education tested positive and women married before 18 years had 13 (6.2%) prevalence.
Conclusions: The prevalence of HBsAg among pregnant women in Gamawa LGA was 6.7% which is quite lower than the national prevalence reported. We recommended improved surveillance of HBV infection and screening of women attending ANC.
Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis B Surface antigen, Prevalence, Pregnancy, Health facilities, Hepatitis B
Validation and Modification of Staging Systems for Poorly Differentiated Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Haihong , Lin Zhenyu , Li Guiling , Zhang Dejun , Yu Dandan , Lin Qili , Wang Jing , Zhao Ye , Pi Guoliang , Zhang Tao
Published: February 2020

Background: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) staging classifications are two broadly used systems for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. This study aims to identify the most accurate and useful TNM staging system for poorly differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas(pNECs).Methods: An analysis was performed to evaluate the application of the ENETS, 7th edition (7th) AJCC and 8th edition (8th) AJCC staging classifications using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry (N = 568 patients). A modified system was proposed based on analysis of the 7th AJCC classification. Results: In multivariable analyses, only the 7th AJCC staging system allocated patients into four different risk groups, compared with the 8th AJCC staging system and ENETS staging system, although there was no significant difference. We modified the staging classification by maintaining the T and M definitions of the 7th AJCC staging and adopting new staging definitions. An increased hazard ratio (HR) of death was also observed from class I to class IV for the modified 7th (m7th) staging system (compared with stage I disease; HR for stage II =1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI)= 0.73-2.06, P =0.44; HR for stage III =2.20, 95% CI =1.06-4.56, P=0.03; HR for stage IV =4.95, 95% CI =3.20-7.65, P < 0.001).The concordance index (C-index) was higher for local disease with the m7th AJCC staging system than with the 7th AJCC staging system. Conclusions: The m7th AJCC staging system for pNECs proposed in this study provides improvements and may be assessed for potential adoption in the next edition.
Dynamics of toxigenic Clostridium perfringens colonisation in a cohort of prematurely born neonatal infants
Authors: Shaw Alexander G , Cornwell Emma , Sim Kathleen , Thrower Hannah , Scott Hannah , Brown Joseph C S , Dixon Ronald A , Kroll J Simon
Published: February 2020

Background
Clostridium perfringens forms part of the human gut microbiota and has been associated with life-threatening necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. Whether specific toxigenic strains are responsible is unknown, as is the extent of diversity of strains in healthy premature babies. We investigated the C. perfringens carrier status of premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit, factors influence this status, and the toxic potential of the strains.
Methods
C. perfringens was isolated by culture from faecal samples from 333 infants and their toxin gene profiles analysed by PCR. A survival analysis was used to identify factors affecting probability of carriage. Competitive growth experiments were used to explore the results of the survival analysis.
Results
29.4% of infants were colonized with C. perfringens before they left hospital. Three factors were inversely associated with probability of carriage: increased duration of maternal milk feeds, CPAP oxygen treatment and antibiotic treatment. C. perfringens grew poorly in breast milk and was significantly outperformed by Bifidobacterium infantis, whether grown together or separately. Toxin gene screening revealed that infants carried isolates positive for collagenase, perfringolysin O, beta 2, beta, becA/B, netB and enterotoxin toxin genes, yet none were observed to be associated with the development of NEC.
Conclusions
Approximately a third of preterm infants are colonised three weeks after birth with toxin gene-carrying C. perfringens. We speculate that increased maternal breast milk, oxygen and antibiotic treatment creates an environment in the gut hostile to growth of C. perfringens. Whilst potentially toxigenic C. perfringens isolates were frequent, no toxin type was associated with NEC.
Brucella melitensis B115-Based ELISA to Unravel False Positive Serologic Reactions in Bovine Brucellosis: A Field Study
Authors: Trotta Adriana , Marinaro Mariarosaria , Cirilli Margie , Sposato Alessio , Adone Rosanna , Beverelli Matteo , Buonavoglia Domenico , Corrente Marialaura
Published: February 2020

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonosis whose incidence is not declining worldwide despite the global effort to control the disease. Accurate and precise diagnosis is a crucial step in any prophylaxis program but single tests to unequivocally detect animals infected with Brucella spp. are currently unavailable. In Italy, serological diagnosis of bovine brucellosis is performed with two official tests: a rapid agglutination test (i.e., Rose Bengal Plate test, RBPT) and a complement fixation test (CFT) that detect antibodies directed mainly to the smooth lipopolysaccharide (S-LPS). Neither of the two tests is able to avoid the detection of false positive serological reactions (FPSRs) caused by bacteria sharing S-LPS components with Brucella spp. and responsible for the single reactors (SR) phenomenon. A B. melitensis R strain-based ELISA showed a good diagnostic performance in unravelling FP animals; however, since a limited number of animals were analyzed in that study, a large field study was conducted here to discriminate between Brucella-infected from FP animals, with the final aim of reducing the unnecessary slaughter of the latter. An ELISA based on a R strain of Brucella, i.e., Brucella melitensis B115, was employed to measure specific IgG responses in a collection of bovine sera (n=648). Sera were obtained from 180 farms (either officially brucellosis-free or not brucellosis-free) recruited during an extended period of time (2014-2018) and were preliminarily assayed with the official tests by the Italian Reference Centers and then subjected to the ELISA. Results: Negative sera, when subjected to the ELISA, gave O.D. values below the cutoff; SR sera, i.e. RBPT positive and CFT negative, as well as double positive (DP) sera, i.e. RBPT and CFT positive, gave O.D. values that were below the cutoff. All positive sera, i.e. from Brucella-infected animals, were RBPT positive and CFT positive (ICFTU ranging from 20 to 1280) and gave ELISA O.D. values above the cutoff. Conclusions: The B. melitensis B115-based ELISA systematically unravelled all false positive (FP) sera while confirming the diagnosis in Brucella-infected animals. Thus, the test employed in the present study may complement the official assays to avoid the costly slaughter of FP animals.
Perspectives of General Practitioners and Nursing Staff on Acute Hospital Transfers of Nursing Home Residents in Germany: Results of two cross-sectional Studies
Authors: Fassmer Alexander Maximilian , Pulst Alexandra , Spreckelsen Ove , Hoffmann Falk
Published: February 2020

Background : Visits in emergency departments and hospital admissions are common among nursing home (NH) residents and they are associated with significant complications. Many of these transfers are considered inappropriate. This study aimed to compare the perceptions of general practitioners (GPs) and NH staff on hospital transfers among residents and to illustrate measures for improvement.

Methods : Two cross-sectional studies were conducted as surveys among 1,121 GPs in the German federal states Bremen and Lower Saxony and staff from 1,069 NHs (preferably nursing staff managers) from all over Germany, each randomly selected. Questionnaires were sent in August 2018 and January 2019, respectively. The answers were compared between GPs and NH staff using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U tests and χ2-tests.

Results : We received 375 GP questionnaires (response: 34%) and 486 NH questionnaires (response: 45%). GPs estimated the proportion of inappropriate transfers higher than NH staff (hospital admissions: 35.0% vs. 25.6%, p<0.0001; emergency department visits: 39.9% vs. 20.9%, p<0.0001). The majority of NH staff and nearly half of the GPs agreed that NH residents do often not benefit from hospital admissions (NHs: 61.4% vs. GPs: 48.8%; p=0.0009). Both groups rated almost all potential measures for improvement differently (p<0.0001), however, GPs and NH staff considered most areas to reduce hospital transfers importantly. The two most important measures for GPs were more nursing staff (91.6%) and better communication between nursing staff and GP (90.9%). NH staff considered better care / availability of GP (82.8%) and medical specialists (81.3%) as most important. Both groups rated similarly the importance of explicit advance directives (GPs: 77.2%, NHs: 72.4%; p=0.1492).

Conclusions : A substantial proportion of hospital transfers from NHs were considered inappropriate. Partly, the ratings of possible areas for improvement differed between GPs and NH staff indicating that both groups seem to pass the responsibility to each other. These findings, however, support the need for interprofessional collaboration.
Genomic-based identification of environmental and clinical Listeria monocytogenes strains associated with an abortion outbreak in beef heifers
Authors: Whitman Katherine , Bono James L. , Clawson Michael L. , Loy John D. , Bosilevac Joseph M. , Arthur Terrance M. , Ondrak Jeff D.
Published: February 2020

Background In a beef cattle facility an outbreak of abortions occurred over a 36-day period and included two aborted fetuses and 21 post-abortion clinical cases sampled. There are numerous etiologies, including clinical listeriosis. At the species level, Listeria monocytogenes is ubiquitous in cattle production environments, including soil, feed, and occasionally water sources, and is a common enteric resident of cattle and other mammals. There are four genetically distinct lineages of L. monocytogenes (I-IV), with most lineage III and IV isolates obtained from ruminants. Definitive diagnosis of L. monocytogenes as a causative agent in disease outbreaks relies upon case identification, appropriate sample collection, and laboratory confirmation. Furthermore, clearly establishing a relationship between a pathogen source and clinical disease is difficult. Results Of the two fetal and 21 clinical case submissions, 19 were positive for L. monocytogenes. Subsequent culture for L. monocytogenes from water and silage sources identified both as potential origins of infection. Using whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses, clinical, water and silage L. monocytogenes strains grouped into two of four lineages. All water and silage strains, plus 11 clinical strains placed in lineage III, with identical or nearly identical genomic sequences. The remaining eight clinical strains placed in lineage I, with seven having nearly identical sequences and one distinctly different. Conclusion Three genetically distinct strains within two lineages of L. monocytogenes caused the abortion outbreak. The etiology of abortion in 11 cases was directly linked to water and silage contamination from a lineage III L. monocytogenes strain. The source of infection for the remaining abortion cases with two different strains from lineage I is unknown. This is the first report of L. monocytogenes genomics being used as part of an outbreak investigation of cattle abortion.
Is caregiver sex associated with HIV infection among orphans and vulnerable children in Tanzania? Learning from the USAID Kizazi Kipya Project
Authors: Exavery Amon , Charles John , Kuhlik Erica , Barankena Asheri , Koler Alison , Kikoyo Levina , Jere Elizabeth
Published: February 2020

Background Tanzania has met only 50.1% of the 90% target for diagnosing HIV in children. Context-specific strategies are necessary to find the hidden children for HIV testing. This study assesses the association between caregiver sex and HIV status of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). Methods Data originate from the community-based, USAID-funded Kizazi Kipya Project, which works towards increasing OVC’s and their caregivers’ uptake of HIV/AIDS and other social services in Tanzania. Included in this study are 39,578 OVC ages 0–19 years who the project served during January-March 2017 in 18 regions of Tanzania and who voluntarily reported their HIV status. Data analysis involved multi-level logistic regression, with OVC HIV status as the outcome and caregiver’s sex the main independent variable. Results Three-quarters (74.3%) of the OVC included in the study had female caregivers, and their overall HIV prevalence was 7.1%. The prevalence was significantly higher (p<0.001) among OVC with male caregivers (7.8%) than among OVC with female caregivers (6.8%), and indeed, multivariate analysis showed that OVC with male caregivers were significantly 40% more likely to be HIV-positive than those with female caregivers (OR=1.40, 95% CI 1.08–1.83). This effect was the strongest among 0–4 year-olds (OR=4.02, 95% CI 1.61–10.03), declined to 1.72 among 5–9 year-olds (OR=1.72, 95% CI 1.02–2.93), and lost significance for children over age 9 years. This effect was adjusted for OVC sex and nutritional status; caregiver marital status, education level, and HIV status; family’s place of residence, size, wealth quintile, and health insurance ownership; and co-residence of multiple OVC. Conclusion OVC in Tanzania with male caregivers have a 40% higher likelihood of being HIVpositive than those with female caregivers. HIV risk assessment activities should target OVC with male caregivers, as well as OVC who have malnutrition, HIV-positive caregivers, or caregivers who do not disclose their HIV status to community volunteers. Further, younger HIV-positive OVC are more likely to live in rural areas, while older HIV-positive OVC are more likely to live in urban areas. These factors should be integrated in HIV risk assessment algorithms to enhance HIV testing yields and pediatric case-finding in the OVC population in Tanzania.
An immune-centric exploration of BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutation related breast and ovarian cancers
Authors: Przybytkowski Ewa , Davis Thomas , Hosny Abdelrahman , Eismann Julia , Matulonis Ursula A. , Wulf Gerburg M. , Nabavi Sheida
Published: February 2020

Background: BRCA1/2 germline mutation related cancers are candidates for new immune therapeutic interventions. This study was a hypothesis generating exploration of genomic data collected at diagnosis for 19 patients. The prominent tumor mutation burden (TMB) in hereditary breast and ovarian cancers in this cohort was not correlated with high global immune activity in their microenvironments. More information is needed about the relationship between genomic instability, phenotypes and immune microenvironments of these hereditary tumors in order to find appropriate markers of immune activity and the most effective anticancer immune strategies. Methods: Mining and statistical analyses of the original DNA and RNA sequencing data and The Cancer Genome Atlas data were performed. To interpret the data, we have used published literature and web available resources such as Gene Ontology, The Cancer immunome Atlas and the Cancer Research Institute iAtlas. Results: We found that BRCA1/2 germline related breast and ovarian cancers do not represent a unique phenotypic identity, but they express a range of phenotypes similar to sporadic cancers. All breast and ovarian BRCA1/2 related tumors are characterized by high homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and low aneuploidy. Interestingly, all sporadic high grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOC) and most of the subtypes of triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) also express a high degree of HRD.Conclusions: TMB is not associated with the magnitude of the immune response in hereditary BRCA1/2 related breast and ovarian cancers or in sporadic TNBC and sporadic HGSOC. Hereditary tumors express phenotypes as heterogenous as sporadic tumors with various degree of “BRCAness” and various characteristics of the immune microenvironments. The subtyping criteria developed for sporadic tumors can be applied for the classification of hereditary tumors and possibly also characterization of their immune microenvironment. A high HRD score may be a good candidate biomarker for response to platinum, and potentially PARP-inhibition.Trial registration: Phase I Study of the Oral PI3kinase Inhibitor BKM120 or BYL719 and the Oral PARP Inhibitor Olaparib in Patients With Recurrent TNBC or HGSOC (NCT01623349), first posted on June 20, 2012. The design and the outcome of the clinical trial is not in the scope of this study.
Self-management practice, associated factors and its relationship with Health Literacy and Patient Activation among multi-morbid COPD patients from rural Nepal
Authors: Yadav Uday Narayan , Lloyd Jane , Hosseinzadeh Hassan , Baral Kedar Prasad , Bhatta Narendra , Harris Mark Fort
Published: February 2020

Background
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive and debilitating condition that affects individuals' quality of life . COPD self-management and supports provided by carers is key to the quality of life people living with COPD. Health literacy (HL) and Patient Activation (PA) are main drivers of self-management practices (SMPs). However, their contribution remains to be fully explored. This study aimed to examine the level of self-management practices, and the relationship with socio-demographic factors, HL and PA among multi-morbid COPD patients from rural Nepal.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study conducted between July 2018 and January 2019. Patients completed a survey, including Self-management Practices questionnaire (SMPQ), five domains of the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ), and Patient Activation Measure (PAM). The relationship between HL, PAM, and SMPs was examined using univariate statistics. Multivariable analysis was conducted to identify the factors associated with SMPs.
Results
A total of 238 patients responded to the study. The mean score of SMPQ was 45.31(SD=9.00). The HLQ and PAM scores were positively correlated with the total score of SMPQ. Low level of SMPs were found to be positively associated with being uneducated (β=-0.43, p=.001), having a low family income (β=-5.22, p=.002), and, negatively associated with the presence of more than one co-morbidity (β=3.58, p=0.007) after controlling for other socio-demographic variables in the multivariable analysis.
Conclusion
The overall SMPs among this sample of Nepalese with COPD were low. Our findings highlight the need to implement a self-management intervention program involving patient activation and health literacy-focused activities for COPD, creating a support system for patients from low-income families and low education.
Genome-wide indentification for genes involved in sodium dodecyl sulfate toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Cao Chunlei , Cao Zhengfeng , Yu Peibin , Zhao Yunying
Published: February 2020

Background: Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is one of the most widely used anionic alkyl sulfate surfactants. Toxicological information on SDS is accumulating, however, mechanisms of SDS toxicity regulation remain poorly understood. In this study, the relationship between the SDS-sensitive mutants and their intracellular ROS levels has been investigated.
Results: Through a genome-scale screen, we have identified 108 yeast single-gene deletion mutants that are sensitive to 0.03% SDS. These genes were predominantly related to the cellular processes of metabolism, cell cycle and DNA processing, cellular transport, transport facilities and transport routes, transcription and the protein with binding function or cofactor requirement (structural or catalytic). Measurement of the intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) levels of these SDS-sensitive mutants showed that about 79% of SDS-sensitive mutants accumulated significantly higher intracellular ROS levels than the wild-type cells under SDS stress. Moreover, SDS could generate oxidative damage and up-regulate several antioxidant defenses genes, and some of the SDS-sensitive genes were involved in this process.
Conclusion: This study provides insight on yeast genes involved in SDS tolerance and the elevated intracellular ROS caused by SDS stress, which is a potential way to understand the detoxification mechanisms of SDS by yeast cells.
Comparison between transpancreatic sphincterotomy and needle-knife fistulotomy in difficulty biliary access, a retrospective study in Taiwan
Authors: Liang Kai-Shun , Chen Chieh-Chang , Liao Wei-Chih , Kuo Yu-ting , Tseng Liang-Wei , He Wen-Tsung , Wang Hsiu-Po
Published: February 2020

Background Selective deep biliary cannulation is the first and the most important step before further biliary therapy. Transpancreatic sphincterotomy(TPS), and needle knife fistulotomy(NKF) were commonly used in patients with difficult cannulation, but few studies compare the outcome between TPS and NKF. Aims To investigate the success rate and complications of NKF and TPS in patients with difficult biliary access. Methods A total of 78 patients who met the criteria of difficult cannulation in the National Taiwan University hospital from October 2015 to October 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Their baseline demographics, success rate of biliary cannulation, and the rate of adverse events were assessed. Results 31 patients and 47 patients underwent TPS and NKF for difficult biliary access, respectively. The characteristics of the 2 groups were similar, but patients in TPS group had more frequent pancreatic duct cannulation. Bile duct cannulation was successful in 23 patients (74.2 %) in the TPS group and 39 (83.0%) in the NKF group (P=0.34). There was no difference between the TPS and NKF in the rate of adverse events, including post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) (16.1% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.17), and hemorrhage (3.2% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.35). No perforation occurred. Conclusions Both TPS and NKF have good biliary access rate in patient with difficult cannulation. TPS has acceptable successful rate and similar complication rate, compared with NKF.
Fluoroquinolone resistance and mutational profile of gyrA gene in pulmonary MDR tuberculosis patients
Authors: Kabir Saba , Tahir Zarfishan , Mukhtar Nadia , Sohail Muhammad , Saqalein Muhammad , Rehman Abdul
Published: February 2020

Background
Flouroquinolones (FQs) are the potential drugs that inhibit DNA synthesis and used in the treatment of MDR-TB and anti-TB short term regimens. In recent year’s high proportion of flouroquinolone (FQs) resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates has been observed. The development of FQs resistance among multidrug resistant TB (Pre-XDR TB) negatively impact patient treatment outcome and is a serious threat to control TB.
Methods
A total of 562 samples were included in the study from patients with pulmonary TB which had been on anti-tuberculosis therapy. MTBDRsl assay was performed for molecular detection of mutations. Sequence analysis was performed for characterization and mutational profiling of FQ resistant isolates.
Results

FQs resistance was observed in 104 (18.5%) samples and most of them were previously treated and treatment failure cases. A total of 102 isolates had mutations in gyrA gene while gyrB gene mutations were observed in only two isolates. Mutational analysis showed that the mutations mostly alter protein at codon 94 (D94G) (represents the replacement of aspartic acid with glycine) and 90 (A90V) (substitution of alanine with valine). In MDR and treatment failure cases, the FQs-R was most commonly associated with D94G mutation. Whereas, a high proportion of A90V mutation was observed in MTB isolates which were newly diagnosed.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that the genotypic studies for FQs resistance should be carried out at the time of initial diagnosis, before starting treatment, to rule out all type of mutations for its potential use in treatment to control the resistance.
neoANT-HILL: an integrated tool for identification of potential neoantigens
Authors: Coelho Ana Carolina , Fonseca Andre , Martins Danilo , Lins Paulo , Cunha Lucas da , de Souza Sandro
Published: February 2020

Background

Cancer neoantigens have attracted great interest in immunotherapy due to their capacity to elicit antitumoral responses. These molecules arise from somatic mutations in cancer cells, resulting in alterations on the original protein. Neoantigens identification remains a challenging task due largely to a high rate of false-positives.

Results

We have developed an efficient and automated pipeline for the identification of potential neoantigens. neoANT-HILL integrates several immunogenomic analyses to improve neoantigen detection from Next Generation Sequence (NGS) data. The pipeline has been compiled in a pre-built Docker image such that minimal computational background is required for download and setup. NeoANT-HILL was applied in the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) melanoma dataset and found several putative neoantigens including ones derived from the recurrent RAC1:P29S and SERPINB3:E250K mutations. neoANT-HILL was also used to identify potential neoantigens in RNA-Seq data with a high sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion

neoANT-HILL is a user-friendly tool with a graphical interface that performs neoantigens prediction efficiently. neoANT-HILL is able to process multiple samples, provides several binding predictors, enables quantification of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and considers RNA-Seq data for identifying potential neoantigens. The software is available on github at https://github.com/neoanthill/neoANT-HILL .
The Disruptive bEhavior manageMEnt ANd prevention in hospitalized patients using a behaviORal intervention team (DEMEANOR) study protocol: a pragmatic, cluster, crossover trial.
Authors: Morrison Jay , Hasselblad Michele , Kleinpell Ruth , Buie Reagan , Ariosto Deborah , Hardiman Erin , Osborn Stephen W , Lindsell Christopher J
Published: February 2020

Background

Disruptive behavior in hospitalized patients has become a priority area of safety concern for clinical staff, as well as having consequences for patient management and hospital course. Proactive screening and intervention of patients with behavioral co-morbidities has been reported to reduce disruptive behavior in some settings, but has not been studied in a rigorous way.

Methods

The D isruptive b E havior manage ME nt AN d prevention in hospitalized patients using a behavi OR al intervention team (DEMEANOR) study is a pragmatic, cluster, cross-over trial being conducted. Each month, the behavioral intervention team, comprised of a psychiatric-mental health advanced practice nurse and a clinical social worker, with psychiatrist consultation as needed, rotates between an adult medicine unit and a mixed cardiac unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. The team proactively screens patients upon admission utilizing a protocol which includes a comprehensive chart review, and if indicated, a brief interview, seeking to identify those patients who possess risk factors indicative of either a potential psychological barrier to their own clinical progress or a potential risk for exhibiting disruptive, aggressive or self-injurious behavior during their hospitalization. Once identified, the team provides interventions aimed at mitigating these risks, educates and supports the patient care teams (nurses, physicians and others), and assists non-psychiatric staff in the management of patients who require behavioral health care. Patients who are both admitted to and discharged from either unit are included in the study. Anticipated enrollment is approximately 1790 patients. The two primary outcomes are i) a composite of objective measures related to the patients’ disruptive, threatening or acting out behaviors, and ii) staff self-reported comfort with and confidence in their ability to manage patients exhibiting disruptive, threatening or acting out behavior. Secondary outcomes include patient length of stay, patient attendant (sitter) use, and the unit nursing staff retention.

Discussion

This ongoing trial will provide evidence on the real-world effectiveness of a proactive behavioral intervention to prevent disruptive, threatening or acting out events in adult hospitalized patients.
Comparative physiological and biochemical mechanisms of salt tolerance in five contrasting highland quinoa cultivars
Authors: Cai Zhiquan , Gao Qi
Published: February 2020

Background: Chenopodium quinoa Willd., a halophytic crop, shows great variability among different genotypesin response to salt. To investigate the salinitytolerance mechanisms, five contrasting quinoa cultivars belonging to highland ecotype were compared for their seed germination (under 0, 100 and 400 mM NaCl) and seedling’s responses under five salinity levels (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mM NaCl). Results: Substantial variations were found in plant size (biomass) and overall salinity tolerance (plant biomass in salt treatment as % of control) among the different quinoa cultivars. Plant salinity tolerance was negatively associated with plant size, especially at lower salinity levels (<300 mM NaCl), but salt tolerance between seed germination and seedling growth is was not closely correlated. Except for shoot/root ratio, all measured plant traits responded to salt in a genotype-specific way. Salt stress resulted in decreased plant height, leaf area, root length, and root/shoot ratio in each cultivar. With increasing salinity levels, leaf superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and lipid peroxidation generally increased, but catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities showed non-linear patterns. Organic solutes (soluble sugar, proline and protein) accumulated in leaves, whereas inorganic ion (Na + and K + )increased but K + /Na + decreased in both leaves and roots. Across different salinity levels and cultivars, without close relationships with antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, or CAT), salinity tolerance was significantly negatively correlated with leaf organic solute and malondialdehyde contents in leaves and inorganic ion contents in leaves or roots ( not except for root K + content), but positively correlated with K + /Na + ratio in leaves or roots. Conclusion: Our results establish indicate ed that leaf osmoregulation, K + retention, Na + exclusion, and ion homeostasis are the main physiological mechanisms conferring salinity tolerance of these cultivars, rather than the regulations of leaf antioxidative ability.As an index of salinity tolerance, K + /Na + ratio in leaves or roots can be used for the selective breeding of highland quinoa cultivars.
Comparison of amyloid PET measured in Centiloid units with neuropathological findings in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Amadoru Sanka , Doré Vincent , McLean Catriona A , Hinton Fairlie , Shepherd Claire E , Halliday Glenda M , Leyton Cristian E , Yates Paul A , Hodges John R , Masters Colin L , Villemagne Victor L , Rowe Christopher C
Published: February 2020

Background: The Centiloid scale was developed to standardise the results of beta-amyloid (Aβ) PET. We aimed to determine the Centiloid unit (CL) thresholds for CERAD sparse and moderate density neuritic plaques, Alzheimer’s disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) score of intermediate or high probability of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), final clinicopathological diagnosis of AD and expert visual read of a positive Aβ PET scan. Methods: Aβ PET results in CL for 49 subjects were compared with post-mortem findings, visual read, and final clinicopathological diagnosis. The Youden Index was used to determine the optimal CL thresholds from receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: A threshold of 20.1 CL (21.3 CL when corrected for time to death, AUC 0.97) yielded highest accuracy in detecting moderate or frequent plaque density while <10 CL was optimal for excluding neuritic plaque. The threshold for ADNC intermediate or high likelihood AD was 49.4 CL (AUC 0.98). Those cases with a final clinicopathological diagnosis of AD yielded a median CL result of 87.7 (IQR ±42.2) with 94% > 45 CL. Positive visual read agreed highly with results >26 CL. Conclusions: Centiloid values <10 accurately reflected the absence of any neuritic plaque, >20 CL indicated the presence of at least moderate plaque density but approximately 50 CL or more best confirmed both neuropathological and clinicopathological diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Increase of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strain type ST117 CT71 at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 2008 to 2018
Authors: Weber Anna , Maechler Friederike , Schwab Frank , Gastmeier Petra , Kola Axel
Published: February 2020

Background: In addition to an overall rise in vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm), an increase in certain strain types marked by sequence type (ST) and cluster type (CT) has been reported in Germany over the past few years. Outbreak analyses at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin revealed the frequent occurrence of VREfm ST117 CT71 isolates in 2017 and 2018. To investigate whether ST117 CT71 have emerged in recent years or whether these strains have been circulating for a longer time, we retrospectively analyzed non-outbreak strains that occurred between 2008 and 2018 to identify frequent STs and CTs.Methods: In total, 120 VREfm isolates obtained from clinical and surveillance cultures from the years 2008, 2013, 2015, and 2018 were analyzed. Thirty isolates per year comprising the first 7 - 8 non-outbreak isolates of each quarter of the respective year were sequenced using whole genome sequencing. MLST and cgMLST were determined as well as resistance genes and virulence factors. Risk factors for VREfm ST117 were analyzed in a multivariable analysis with patient characteristics as possible confounders. Results: The percentage of VREfm of type ST117 increased from 17% in 2008 to 57% in 2018 (p=0.012). In 2008, vanA genotype accounted for 80% of all ST117 isolates compared to 6% in 2018. VanB CT71 first appeared in 2018 and predominated over all other ST117 at 43% (p<0.0001). The set of resistance genes (msrC, efmA, erm(B), dfrG, aac(6')-Ii, gyrA, parC and pbp5) and virulence factors (acm, esp, hylEfm, ecbA and sgrA) in CT71 was also found in other ST117 non-CT71 strains, mainly in CT36. The study population did not differ among the different calendar years analyzed in terms of age, gender, length of stay, or ward type (each p>0.2).Conclusion: This study revealed an increase in ST117 strains from 2008 to 2018, accompanied by a shift toward CT71 strains with the vanB genotype in 2018. We did not detect resistance or virulence traits in CT71 that could confer survival advantage compared to other CTs among ST117 strains. To date, it is not clear why ST117 and in particular strain type ST117 CT71 predominates over other strains.
Comparison of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living assessment by face-to-face or telephone interviews: A randomized, crossover study
Authors: Dauphinot Virginie , Boublay Nawèle , Moutet Claire , Achi Sarah , Bathsavanis Anthony , Krolak-Salmon Pierre
Published: February 2020

Background

The functional autonomy assessment is essential to manage patients with a neurodegenerative disease, but its evaluation is not always possible during consultation. To optimize ambulatory autonomy assessment, we compared the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) questionnaire collected by telephone and face-to-face interviews.

Methods

A randomized, crossover study was carried-out among patients attending a memory clinic (MC). The IADL questionnaire was collected for patients during telephone and face-to-face interviews between nurses and patients’caregivers. The agreement between the two methods was measured using the proportion of participants giving the same response, Cohen’s Kappa, intraclass correlation (ICC) coefficient, and Bland and Altman method. The associations between patient characteristics, events occurring between the two assessments, and agreement were assessed.

Results

Among the 292 patients (means±SD age 81.5±7, MMSE 19.6±6, 39.7% with major neurocognitive disorders) analyzed, the proportion of agreement between the two modes was 89.4% for the total IADL score. Weighted Kappa coefficent was 0.66 and ICC score was 0.91 for total IADL score. The mean difference between the IADL score by telephone or face-to-face was 0.32. Overall, 96.9% of measures lay within the 95% limits of agreement. The occurrence of fall was less likely associated with the probability to lie within the 95% limits of agreement (OR=0.07[0.02-0.27]).

Conclusion

The administration of IADL by telephone with the caregiver appears to be an acceptable method of assessment for MC patients compared to face-to-face interview. The events such as falls which could occur in a time close to the evaluation should be reported.
Tight blood pressure control versus standard blood pressure control on the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke: An observational retrospective cohort study
Authors: Park Bumsoo , Budzynska Katarzyna , Almasri Nada , Islam Sumaiya , Alyas Fanar , Carolan Rachel L. , Abraham Benjamin E. , Castro-Camero Pamela A. , Shreve Maria E. , Rees Della A. , Lamerato Lois
Published: February 2020

Background: The 2017 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guideline defined hypertension as blood pressure (BP) ≥ 130/80 mmHg compared to the traditional definition of ≥ 140/90 mmHg. This change raised much controversy. We conducted this study to evaluate incidences of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke comparing tight (TBPC) and standard BP control (SBPC). Methods: The data were collected and analyzed in 2018. We retrospectively identified hypertensive patients for 1 year at our institution who were classified by BP rate across 3 years into 2 groups of TBPC (< 130 mmHg) and SBPC (130-139 mmHg). We compared the incidence of new MI and stroke between the 2 groups across a 2-year follow-up. Multivariate analysis was done to identify independent risk factors. Results: Of 5640 study patients, the TBPC group showed significantly less incidence of stroke compared to the SBPC group. No differences were found in MI incidence between the 2 groups. Multivariate analysis showed that increased age independently increased the incidence of both MI and stroke, and TBPC independently decreased the incidence of stroke but not of MI. Conclusions: Our observational study suggests that TBPC may be beneficial in less stroke incidence compared to SBPC but it didn’t seem to affect the incidence of MI. Our study is limited by its retrospective design with potential confounders.