bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geolocator tagging links distributions in the non-breeding season to population genetic structure in a sentinel North Pacific seabird
Authors: Hipfner J. Mark , Prill Marie M. , Studholme Katharine R. , Domalik Alice D. , Tucker Strahan , Jardine Catherine , Maftei Mark , Wright Kenneth G. , Beck Jessie N. , Bradley Russell W. , Carle Ryan D. , Good Thomas P. , Hatch Scott A. , Hodum Peter J. , Ito Motohiro , Pearson Scott F. , Rojek Nora A. , Slater Leslie , Watanuki Yutaka , Will Alexis P. , Bindoff Aidan D. , Crossin Glenn T. , Drever Mark C. , Burg Theresa M.
Published: November 2020

We tested the hypothesis that segregation in wintering areas is associated with population differentiation in a sentinel North Pacific seabird, the rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata). We collected tissue samples for genetic analyses on five breeding colonies in the western Pacific Ocean (Japan) and on 13 colonies in the eastern Pacific Ocean (California to Alaska), and deployed light-level geolocator tags on 12 eastern Pacific colonies to delineate wintering areas. Geolocator tags were deployed previously on one colony in Japan. There was strong genetic differentiation between populations in the eastern vs. western Pacific Ocean, likely due to two factors. First, glaciation over the North Pacific in the late Pleistocene might have forced a southward range shift that historically isolated the eastern and western populations. And second, deep-ocean habitat along the northern continental shelf appears to act as a barrier to movement; abundant on both sides of the North Pacific, the rhinoceros auklet is virtually absent as a breeder in the Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea, and no tagged birds crossed the North Pacific in the non-breeding season. While genetic differentiation was strongest between the eastern vs. western Pacific, there was also extensive differentiation within both regional groups. In pairwise comparisons among the eastern Pacific colonies, the standardized measure of genetic differentiation (FꞌST) was negatively correlated with the extent of spatial overlap in wintering areas. That result supports the hypothesis that segregation in the non-breeding season is linked to genetic structure. Philopatry and a neritic foraging habit probably also contribute to the structuring. Widely distributed, vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors, and exhibiting extensive genetic structure, the rhinoceros auklet is fully indicative of the scope of the conservation challenges posed by seabirds.
Potential prognostic factors for hamstring muscle injury in elite male soccer players: A prospective study
Authors: Shalaj Ismet , Gjaka Masar , Bachl Norbert , Wessner Barbara , Tschan Harald , Tishukaj Faton
Published: November 2020

Hamstring injuries remain the most common injury type across many professional sports. Despite a variety of intervention strategies, its incidence in soccer players playing in the UEFA Champions League has increased by 4% per year over the last decade. Test batteries trying to identify potential risk factors have produced inconclusive results. The purpose of the current study was to prospectively record hamstring injuries, to investigate the incidence and characteristics of the injuries, and to identify possible risk factors in elite male soccer players, playing in the Kosovo national premier league. A total of 143 soccer players from 11 teams in Kosovo were recruited. To identify possible prevalent musculoskeletal or medical conditions a widespread health and fitness assessment was performed including isokinetic strength testing, Nordic hamstring strength test, functional tests, and a comprehensive anamnesis surveying previous hamstring injuries. On average 27.9% of the players sustained at least one hamstring injury with three players suffering bilateral strains with the re-injury rate being 23%. Injured players were significantly older and heavier and had a higher body mass index compared to non-injured ones (p < 0.05). There was a lower passing rate in the Nordic hamstring strength test and a higher injury incidence among the previously injured players compared to non-injured ones (p < 0.05). Except for hamstring/quadriceps ratio and relative torque at 60°/sec (p < 0.05) for dominant and non-dominant leg, there were no other significant differences in isokinetic strength regardless of the angular velocity. No differences were observed for functional tests between cohorts. Regression analysis revealed that age, Nordic hamstring strength test, previous injury history, and isokinetic concentric torque at 240°/sec could determine hamstring injuries by 25.9%, with no other significant predicting risk factors. The battery of laboratory and field-based tests performed during preseason to determine performance related skills showed limited diagnostic conclusiveness, making it difficult to detect players at risk for future hamstring injuries.
Relationship between a pressure redistributing foam mattress and pressure injuries: An observational prospective cohort study
Authors: Bai Dorothy Li , Liu Tsai-Wen , Chou Hsiu-Ling , Hsu Yeh-Liang
Published: November 2020

Background and purpose

Pressure injuries remain a significant health care issue in various settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between a pressure redistributing foam mattress (PRFM) and the development of pressure injuries.

Methods

This study employed an observational prospective cohort study design. We enrolled 254 participants from the intensive care unit who were at risk of developing pressure injuries. Participants were exposed to either a nonpressure redistributing foam mattress (NPRFM), which was the standard mattress used at the study site, or a PRFM made of viscoelastic, temperature-sensitive, polyurethane memory foam. The patients’ assignment to either a PRFM or NPRFM was performed upon their admission, before the study eligibility screening. The relationship between the PRFM and the development of pressure injuries was studied using a logistic regression model.

Results

The overall incidence of pressure injuries was 5.9% (15/254) in our study, with 1.6% (2/127) for participants who used a PRFM and 10.2% (13/127) for those using a NPRFM. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, use of a PRFM was associated with an 88% reduced risk of pressure injury development (OR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.56, P = 0.007). The use of a PRFM also contributed to a postponed occurrence of pressure injuries by 4.2 days on average in comparison with that of a NPRFM (P= 0.041).

Conclusions

A PRFM is associated with a significantly reduced incidence and postponed occurrence of pressure injuries. It is recommended to use a PRFM for patients at risk of developing pressure injuries.
Glomerular developmental delay and proteinuria in the preterm neonatal rabbit
Authors: de Winter Derek , Salaets Thomas , Gie André , Deprest Jan , Levtchenko Elena , Toelen Jaan
Published: November 2020

Recent advances in neonatal care have improved the survival rate of those born premature. But prenatal conditions, premature birth and clinical interventions can lead to transient and permanent problems in these fragile patients. Premature birth (<36 gestational weeks) occurs during critical renal development and maturation. Some consequences have been observed but the exact pathophysiology is still not entirely known. This experimental animal study aims to investigate the effect of premature birth on postnatal nephrogenesis in premature neonatal rabbits compared to term rabbits of the same corrected age. We analyzed renal morphology, glomerular maturity and functional parameters (proteinuria and protein/creatinine ratio) in three cohorts of rabbit pups: preterm (G28), preterm at day 7 of life (G28+7) and term at day 4 of life (G31+4). We found no significant differences in kidney volume and weight, and relative kidney volume between the cohorts. Nephrogenic zone width increased significantly over time when comparing G31 + 4 to G28. The renal corpuscle surface area, in the inner cortex and outer cortex, tended to decrease significantly after birth in both preterm and term groups. With regard to glomerular maturity, we found that the kidneys in the preterm cohorts were still in an immature state (presence of vesicles and capillary loop stage). Importantly, significant differences in proteinuria and protein/creatinine ratio were found. G28 + 7 showed increased proteinuria (p = 0.019) and an increased protein/creatinine ratio (p = 0.023) in comparison to G31 +4. In conclusion, these results suggest that the preterm rabbit kidney tends to linger in the immature glomerular stages and shows signs of a reduced renal functionality compared to the kidney born at term, which could in time lead to short- and long-term health consequences.
Diabetic polyneuropathy with/out neuropathic pain in Mali: A cross-sectional study in two reference diabetes treatment centers in Bamako (Mali), Western Africa
Authors: Maiga Youssoufa , Diallo Salimata , Konipo Fatoumata dite Nènè , Sangho Oumar , Sangaré Modibo , Diallo Seybou H. , Mahamadou Saliou , Péréon Yann , Giumelli Bernard , Coulibaly Awa , Daou Mariam , Traoré Zoumana , Sow Sylla Djeneba , Albakaye Mohamed , Guinto Cheick Oumar , Ouologem Madani , Sissoko Adama S. , Traoré Hamar A. , Coulibaly Souleymane Papa , Damier Philippe , Attal Nadine , Nizard Julien
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) with or without neuropathic pain is a frequent complication of diabetes. This work aimed to determine the prevalence of diabetic polyneuropathy, to describe its epidemiological aspects, and to analyze the therapeutic itinerary of patients with DPN.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study performed synchronously over six months at two major follow-up sites for patients with diabetes in Mali. DPN was diagnosed based on the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). The neuropathic nature of the pain and the quality of life of patients were evaluated by the DN4 and the ED-5D scale, respectively. We used three (3) different questionnaires to collect data from patients (one at inclusion and another during the follow-up consultation) and from the caregivers of patients with DPN.

Results

We included 252 patients with diabetes, and DPN was found to have a healthcare facility-based prevalence of 69.8% (176/252). The sex ratio was approximately three females for every male patient. The patients were mostly 31 to 60 years of age, 83% had type 2 diabetes, and 86.9% had neuropathic pain Approximately half of the patients (48.3%) had autonomic neuropathy and they reported moderate to intense pain, which was mainly described as a burning sensation. The patients exhibited impaired exteroceptive and proprioceptive sensations in 51.7% of cases. The patients smoked tobacco in 3.4% of cases, while 36.6% of the patients were obese and had dyslipidemia. The caregivers clearly indicated that appropriate medications were not readily accessible or available for their patients with DPN.

Conclusion

The healthcare facility-based prevalence of DPN with or without neuropathic pain was high in our cohort. These inexpensive and easy-to-use tools (MNSI, DN4) can be used to adequately diagnose DPN in the African context. In Mali, screening and early treatment of patients at risk of DPN should allow for a reduction of the burden of the disease, while caregivers need to be adequately trained to manage DPN.
Mixed effects analysis of factors associated with barriers to accessing healthcare among women in sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from demographic and health surveys
Authors: Seidu Abdul-Aziz
Published: November 2020

Background

Access to healthcare is one of the key global concerns as treasured in the Sustainable Development Goals. This study, therefore, sought to assess the individual and contextual factors associated with barriers to accessing healthcare among women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Materials and methods

Data for this study were obtained from the latest Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between January 2010 and December 2018 across 24 countries in SSA. The sample comprised 307,611 women aged 15–49. Data were analysed with STATA version 14.2 using both descriptive and multilevel logistic regression modelling. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results

It was found that 61.5% of women in SSA face barriers in accessing healthcare. The predominant barriers were getting money needed for treatment (50.1%) and distance to health facility (37.3%). Women aged 35–39 (AOR = 0.945, CI: 0.911–0.980), married women (AOR = 0.694, CI: 0.658–0.732), richest women (AOR = 0.457, CI:0.443–0.472), and those who read newspaper or magazine at least once a week (AOR = 0.893, CI:0.811–0.983) had lower odds of facing barriers in accessing healthcare. However, those with no formal education (AOR = 1.803, CI:1.718–1.891), those in manual occupations (AOR = 1.551, CI: 1.424–1.689), those with parity 4 or more (AOR = 1.211, CI: 1.169–1.255), those who were not covered by health insurance (AOR = 1.284, CI: 1.248–1.322), and those in rural areas (AOR = 1.235, CI:1.209–1.26) had higher odds of facing barriers to healthcare access.

Conclusion

Both individual and contextual factors are associated with barriers to healthcare accessibility in SSA. Particularly, age, marital status, employment, parity, health insurance coverage, exposure to mass media, wealth status and place of residence are associated with barriers to healthcare accessibility. These factors ought to be considered at the various countries in SSA to strengthen existing strategies and develop new interventions to help mitigate the barriers. Some of the SSA African countries can adopt successful programs in other parts of SSA to suit their context such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the Community-based Health Planning and Services concepts in Ghana.
Roles of the prefrontal cortex in learning to time the onset of pre-existing motor programs
Authors: Lee Beom-Chan , Choi Jongkwan , Martin Bernard J.
Published: November 2020

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is involved in cognitive control of motor activities and timing of future intensions. This study investigated the cognitive control of balance recovery in response to unpredictable gait perturbations and the role of PFC subregions in learning by repetition. Bilateral dorsolateral (DLPFC), ventrolateral (VLPFC), frontopolar (FPFC) and orbitofrontal (OFC) cortex hemodynamic changes induced by unpredictable slips were analyzed as a function of successive trials in ten healthy young adults. Slips were induced by the acceleration of one belt as the participant walked on a split-belt treadmill. A portable functional near-infrared spectroscope monitored PFC activities quantified by oxyhemoglobin (ΔO2Hb) and deoxyhemoglobin (ΔHbR) during the consecutive trial phases: standing, walking, slip-recovery. During the first 3 trials, the average oxyhemoglobin (ΔO2Hbavg) in the DLPFC, VLPFC, FPFC, and OFC cortex was significantly higher during slip-recovery than unperturbed walking or the standing baseline. Then, ΔO2Hbavg decreased progressively from trial-to-trial in the DLPFC, VLPFC, and FPFC, but increased and then remained constant in the OFC. The average deoxyhemoglobin (ΔHbRavg) presented mirror patterns. These changes after the third trial were paralleled by the progressive improvement of recovery revealed by kinematic variables. The results corroborate our previous hypothesis that only timing of the onset of a “good enough recovery motor program” is learned with practice. They also strongly support the assumption that the PFC contributes to the recall of pre-existing motor programs whose onset timing is adjusted by the OFC. Hence, learning is clearly divided into two steps delineated by the switch in activity of the OFC. Additionally, motor processes appear to share the working memory as well as decisional and predictive resources of the cognitive system.
Variation by lineage in serum antibody responses to influenza B virus infections
Authors: Lau Yiu Chung , Perera Ranawaka A. P. M. , Fang Vicky J. , Luk Long Hei , Chu Daniel K. W. , Wu Peng , Barr Ian G. , Peiris J. S. Malik , Cowling Benjamin J.
Published: November 2020

Two lineages of influenza B virus currently co-circulate and have distinct antigenicity, termed Victoria and Yamagata after the B/Victoria/2/87 and B/Yamagata/16/88 strains, respectively. We analyzed antibody titer dynamics following PCR-confirmed influenza B virus infection in a longitudinal community-based cohort study conducted in Hong Kong from 2009–2014 to assess patterns in changes in antibody titers to B/Victoria and B/Yamagata viruses following infections with each lineage. Among 62 PCR-confirmed cases, almost half had undetectable hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) antibody titers to the lineage of infection both pre-infection and post-infection. Among those infected with influenza B/Victoria who showed an HAI titer response after infection, we found strong rises to the lineage of infection, positive but smaller cross-lineage HAI titer boosts, a small dependence of HAI titer boosts on pre-infection titers, and a shorter half-life of HAI titers in adults. Our study is limited by the low HAI sensitivity for non-ether-treated IBV antigen and the incapacity of performing other assays with higher sensitivity, as well as the mismatch between the B/Yamagata lineage circulating strain and the assay strain in one of the study seasons.
LDA filter: A Latent Dirichlet Allocation preprocess method for Weka
Authors: Celard P. , Vieira A. Seara , Iglesias E. L. , Borrajo L.
Published: November 2020

This work presents an alternative method to represent documents based on LDA (Latent Dirichlet Allocation) and how it affects to classification algorithms, in comparison to common text representation. LDA assumes that each document deals with a set of predefined topics, which are distributions over an entire vocabulary. Our main objective is to use the probability of a document belonging to each topic to implement a new text representation model. This proposed technique is deployed as an extension of the Weka software as a new filter. To demonstrate its performance, the created filter is tested with different classifiers such as a Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN), and Naive Bayes in different documental corpora (OHSUMED, Reuters-21578, 20Newsgroup, Yahoo! Answers, YELP Polarity, and TREC Genomics 2015). Then, it is compared with the Bag of Words (BoW) representation technique. Results suggest that the application of our proposed filter achieves similar accuracy as BoW but greatly improves classification processing times.
Modelling the initial epidemic trends of COVID-19 in Italy, Spain, Germany, and France
Authors: Wang Kai , Ding Lin , Yan Yu , Dai Chengguqiu , Qu Minghan , Jiayi Dong , Hao Xingjie
Published: November 2020

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has fast spread to over 200 countries and regions worldwide since its outbreak, while in March, Europe became the emerging epicentre. In this study, we aimed to model the epidemic trends and estimate the essential epidemic features of COVID-19 in Italy, Spain, Germany, and France at the initial stage. The numbers of daily confirmed cases and total confirmed cases were extracted from the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation reports of WHO. We applied an extended Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed (SEIR) model to fit the epidemic trend and estimated corresponding epidemic features. The transmission rate estimates were 1.67 (95% credible interval (CrI), 1.64–1.71), 2.83 (2.72–2.85), 1.91 (1.84–1.98), and 1.89 (1.82–1.96) for Italy, Spain, Germany, and France, corresponding to the basic reproduction numbers (R0) 3.44 (3.35–3.54), 6.25 (5.97–6.55), 4.03 (3.84–4.23), and 4.00 (3.82–4.19), respectively. We found Spain had the lowest ascertainment rate of 0.22 (0.19–0.25), followed by France, Germany, and Italy of 0.45 (0.40–0.50), 0.46 (0.40–0.52), and 0.59 (0.55–0.64). The peaks of daily new confirmed cases would reach on April 16, April 5, April 21, and April 19 for Italy, Spain, Germany, and France if no action was taken by the authorities. Given the high transmissibility and high covertness of COVID-19, strict countermeasures, such as national lockdown and social distancing, were essential to be implemented to reduce the spread of the disease.
Disorder-specific brain volumetric abnormalities in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder relative to Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Albajara Sáenz Ariadna , Van Schuerbeek Peter , Baijot Simon , Septier Mathilde , Deconinck Nicolas , Defresne Pierre , Delvenne Véronique , Passeri Gianfranco , Raeymaekers Hubert , Slama Hichem , Victoor Laurent , Willaye Eric , Peigneux Philippe , Villemonteix Thomas , Massat Isabelle
Published: November 2020

The overlap/distinctiveness between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been increasingly investigated in recent years, particularly since the DSM-5 allows the dual diagnosis of ASD and ADHD, but the underlying brain mechanisms remain unclear. Although both disorders are associated with brain volumetric abnormalities, it is necessary to unfold the shared and specific volume abnormalities that could contribute to explain the similarities and differences in the clinical and neurocognitive profiles between ADHD and ASD. In this voxel-based morphometry (VBM) study, regional grey matter volumes (GMV) were compared between 22 children with ADHD, 18 children with ASD and 17 typically developing (TD) children aged 8 to 12 years old, controlling for age and total intracranial volume. When compared to TD children or children with ASD, children with ADHD had a larger left precuneus, and a smaller right thalamus, suggesting that these brain abnormalities are specific to ADHD relative to ASD. Overall, this study contributes to the delineation of disorder-specific structural abnormalities in ADHD and ASD.
Cognition and interpersonal coordination of patients with schizophrenia who have sports habits
Authors: Fujii Keisuke , Yoshihara Yujiro , Matsumoto Yukiko , Tose Keima , Takeuchi Hideaki , Isobe Masanori , Mizuta Hiroto , Maniwa Daisuke , Okamura Takehiko , Murai Toshiya , Kawahara Yoshinobu , Takahashi Hidehiko
Published: November 2020

Team sports activities are effective for improving the negative symptoms and cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia. However, the interpersonal coordination during the sports and visual cognition of patients with schizophrenia who have team sports habits are unknown. The main objectives of this study were to test two hypotheses: first, patients with schizophrenia perform the skill requiring ball passing and receiving worse than healthy controls; and second, the patients will be impaired in these functionings in accordance with the previous studies regarding schizophrenia in general. Twelve patients with schizophrenia and 15 healthy controls, who had habits in football, participated in this study. The participants performed three conventional cognitive tests and a 3-vs-1 ball possession task to evaluate their interpersonal coordination. The results showed that in the 3-vs-1 possession task, the displacement in the pass angle for the patients was significantly smaller than that for the control. The recall in the complex figure test, the performance in the trail making test, and that in the five-choice reaction task for the patients were worse than those for the control. Moreover, we found the significant partial correlations in the patients between the extradimensional shift error and the pass angle as well as between the time in the trail making test and the displacement in the pass angle, whereas there was no significant correlation in the control group. This study clarified the impaired interpersonal coordination during team sports and the visual cognition of patients with schizophrenia who have team sports habits.
A novel mutation in the SLCO2A1 gene, encoding a prostaglandin transporter, induces chronic enteropathy
Authors: Jimbo Keisuke , Okuno Toshiaki , Ohgaki Ryuichi , Nishikubo Kou , Kitamura Yuri , Sakurai Yumiko , Quan Lili , Shoji Hiromichi , Kanai Yoshikatsu , Shimizu Toshiaki , Yokomizo Takehiko
Published: November 2020

Chronic enteropathy associated withSLCO2A1gene (CEAS) is caused by loss-of-function mutations inSLCO2A1, which encodes a prostaglandin (PG) transporter. In this study, we report a sibling case of CEAS with a novel pathogenic variant of theSLCO2A1gene. Compound heterozygous variants inSLCO2A1were identified in an 8-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl, and multiple chronic nonspecific ulcers were observed in the patients using capsule endoscopy. The splice site mutation (c.940 + 1G>A) of the paternal allele was previously reported to be pathogenic, whereas the missense variant (c.1688T>C) of the maternal allele was novel and had not yet been reported. The affected residue (p.Leu563Pro) is located in the 11th transmembrane domain (helix 11) of SLCO2A1. Because SLCO2A1 mediates the uptake and clearance of PGs, the urinary PG metabolites were measured by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The urinary tetranor-prostaglandin E metabolite levels in the patients were significantly higher than those in unaffected individuals. We established cell lines with doxycycline-inducible expression of wild type SLCO2A1 (WT-SLCO2A1) and the L563P mutant. Immunofluorescence staining showed that WT-SLCO2A1 and the L563P mutant were dominantly expressed on the plasma membranes of these cells. Cells expressing WT-SLCO2A1 exhibited time- and dose-dependent uptake of PGE2, while the mutant did not show any uptake activity. Residue L563 is very close to the putative substrate-binding site in SLCO2A1, R561 in helix 11. However, in a molecular model of SLCO2A1, the side chain of L563 projected outside of helix 11, indicating that L563 is likely not directly involved in substrate binding. Instead, the substitution of Pro may twist the helix and impair the transporter function. In summary, we identified a novel pathogenic variant ofSLCO2A1that caused loss-of-function and induced CEAS.
Comparative genome analysis of test algal strain NIVA-CHL1 (Raphidocelis subcapitata) maintained in microalgal culture collections worldwide
Authors: Yamagishi Takahiro , Yamaguchi Haruyo , Suzuki Shigekatsu , Yoshikawa Mayumi , Jameson Ian , Lorenz Maike , Nobles David R. , Campbell Christine , Seki Masanori , Kawachi Masanobu , Yamamoto Hiroshi
Published: November 2020

Raphidocelis subcapitata is one of the most frequently used species for algal growth inhibition tests. Accordingly, many microalgal culture collections worldwide maintain R. subcapitata for distribution to users. All R. subcapitata strains maintained in these collections are derived from the same cultured strain, NIVA-CHL1. However, considering that 61 years have passed since this strain was isolated, we suspected that NIVA-CHL1 in culture collections might have acquired various mutations. In this study, we compared the genome sequences among NIVA-CHL1 from 8 microalgal culture collections and one laboratory in Japan to evaluate the presence of mutations. We found single-nucleotide polymorphisms or indels at 19,576 to 28,212 sites per strain in comparison with the genome sequence of R. subcapitata NIES-35, maintained at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan. These mutations were detected not only in non-coding but also in coding regions; some of the latter mutations may affect protein function. In growth inhibition test with 3,5-dichlorophenol, EC50 values varied 2.6-fold among the 9 strains. In the ATCC 22662–2 and CCAP 278/4 strains, we also detected a mutation in the gene encoding small-conductance mechanosensitive ion channel, which may lead to protein truncation and loss of function. Growth inhibition test with sodium chloride suggested that osmotic regulation has changed in ATCC 22662–2 and CCAP 278/4 in comparison with NIES-35.
Comparative effectiveness and safety of antiviral agents for patients with COVID-19: Protocol for a systematic review and individual-patient data network meta-analysis
Authors: Cao Yulong , Shan Jiao , Gong Zhizhong , Kuang Jiqiu , Gao Yan
Published: November 2020

Background

A recent cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China, has been caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We propose the protocol described below to perform an individual-patient data (IPD) network meta-analysis (NMA) in order to evaluate the efficacies of different antiviral drugs to treat patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Materials and methods

We will search the Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, CNKI and VIP databases from their inceptions through July 2020. There will be no restrictions on language, publication year, or publication type. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies with antiviral treatments for COVID-19 will be considered. Two reviewers will independently select studies and collect data. Risk-of-bias assessments will be completed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias scale. Primary outcome will be the COVID-19 recovery rate. We will combine aggregated data from IPD with the NMA in a single model, compare the effects of different antiviral drugs on patient-relevant efficacy, and rank the results to decide which is the most effective.

Trial registration

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020167038.
Better coverage, better outcomes? Mapping mobile network data to official statistics using satellite imagery and radio propagation modelling
Authors: Koebe Till
Published: November 2020

Mobile sensing data has become a popular data source for geo-spatial analysis, however, mapping it accurately to other sources of information such as statistical data remains a challenge. Popular mapping approaches such as point allocation or voronoi tessellation provide only crude approximations of the mobile network coverage as they do not consider holes, overlaps and within-cell heterogeneity. More elaborate mapping schemes often require additional proprietary data operators are highly reluctant to share. In this paper, I use human settlement information extracted from publicly available satellite imagery in combination with stochastic radio propagation modelling techniques to account for that. I show in a simulation study and a real-world application on unemployment estimates in Senegal that better coverage approximations do not necessarily lead to better outcome predictions.
Role of oxidative metabolism in osseointegration during spinal fusion
Authors: Shum Laura C. , Hollenberg Alex M. , Baldwin Avionna L. , Kalicharan Brianna H. , Maqsoodi Noorullah , Rubery Paul T. , Mesfin Addisu , Eliseev Roman A.
Published: November 2020

Spinal fusion is a commonly performed orthopedic surgery. Autologous bone graft obtained from the iliac crest is frequently employed to perform spinal fusion. Osteogenic bone marrow stromal (a.k.a. mesenchymal stem) cells (BMSCs) are believed to be responsible for new bone formation and development of the bridging bone during spinal fusion, as these cells are located in both the graft and at the site of fusion. Our previous work revealed the importance of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Our objective here was to determine the impact of BMSC oxidative metabolism on osseointegration of the graft during spinal fusion. The first part of the study was focused on correlating oxidative metabolism in bone graft BMSCs to radiographic outcomes of spinal fusion in human patients. The second part of the study was focused on mechanistically proving the role of BMSC oxidative metabolism in osseointegration during spinal fusion using a genetic mouse model. Patients’ iliac crest-derived graft BMSCs were identified by surface markers. Mitochondrial oxidative function was detected in BMSCs with the potentiometric probe, CMXRos. Spinal fusion radiographic outcomes, determined by the Lenke grade, were correlated to CMXRos signal in BMSCs. A genetic model of high oxidative metabolism, cyclophilin D knockout (CypD KO), was used to perform spinal fusion in mice. Graft osseointegration in mice was assessed with micro-computed tomography. Our study revealed that higher CMXRos signal in patients’ BMSCs correlated with a higher Lenke grade. Mice with higher oxidative metabolism (CypD KO) had greater mineralization of the spinal fusion bridge, as compared to the control mice. We therefore conclude that higher oxidative metabolism in BMSCs correlates with better spinal fusion outcomes in both human patients and in a mouse model. Altogether, our study suggests that promoting oxidative metabolism in osteogenic cells could improve spinal fusion outcomes for patients.
Replicating dynamic humerus motion using an industrial robot
Authors: Aliaj Klevis , Feeney Gentry M. , Sundaralingam Balakumar , Hermans Tucker , Foreman K. Bo , Bachus Kent N. , Henninger Heath B.
Published: November 2020

Transhumeral percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses provide upper-extremity amputees with increased range of motion, more natural movement patterns, and enhanced proprioception. However, direct skeletal attachment of the endoprosthesis elevates the risk of bone fracture, which could necessitate revision surgery or result in loss of the residual limb. Bone fracture loads are direction dependent, strain rate dependent, and load rate dependent. Furthermore, in vivo, bone experiences multiaxial loading. Yet, mechanical characterization of the bone-implant interface is still performed with simple uni- or bi-axial loading scenarios that do not replicate the dynamic multiaxial loading environment inherent in human motion. The objective of this investigation was to reproduce the dynamic multiaxial loading conditions that the humerus experiences in vivo by robotically replicating humeral kinematics of advanced activities of daily living typical of an active amputee population. Specifically, 115 jumping jack, 105 jogging, 15 jug lift, and 15 internal rotation trials—previously recorded via skin-marker motion capture—were replicated on an industrial robot and the resulting humeral trajectories were verified using an optical tracking system. To achieve this goal, a computational pipeline that accepts a motion capture trajectory as input and outputs a motion program for an industrial robot was implemented, validated, and made accessible via public code repositories. The industrial manipulator utilized in this study was able to robotically replicate over 95% of the aforementioned trials to within the characteristic error present in skin-marker derived motion capture datasets. This investigation demonstrates the ability to robotically replicate human motion that recapitulates the inertial forces and moments of high-speed, multiaxial activities for biomechanical and orthopaedic investigations. It also establishes a library of robotically replicated motions that can be utilized in future studies to characterize the interaction of prosthetic devices with the skeletal system, and introduces a computational pipeline for expanding this motion library.
A role for phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in remodelling the urinary bladder after radiation exposure
Authors: Kim Hee Youn , Lee Dong Sup
Published: November 2020

Minimizing the toxicity of radiotherapy is challenging. We investigated the effects of a phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor (PDE5I) on the urinary bladder after pelvic radiotherapy. Eight rats were assigned to each group (group 1: control; group 2: radiation; group 3: radiation plus PDE5I). Radiation dose was 10 Gy/one fraction. Udenafil (20 mg/kg, daily for 4 weeks) was administered in group 3. Cystometry was performed 4 weeks after treatment, followed by real-time PCR for PDE5, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA, western blotting for PDE5, cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (PRKG), VEGF164, Akt, eNOS and NADPH oxidase (NOX)-2 proteins, and immunohistochemistry for eNOS. The expression of both VEGF mRNA and eNOS mRNA was higher in group 3 than in group 2. VEGF and eNOS protein expression improved with PDE5I treatment. Akt protein phosphorylation was higher in group 3 than in group 2, but NOX-2 protein expression was lower in group 3 than in group 2. Immunohistochemistry showed that the mean density of arterioles expressing eNOS was higher in group 3 than in group 2. Cystometry revealed that the intercontraction interval was remarkably longer in group 3 than in group 2 but that the maximal voiding pressure was higher in group 2 than in group 3. Daily treatment with a PDE5I after radiotherapy may prevent bladder storage dysfunction, potentially due to its effects on vasodilation and angiogenesis and through minimizing tissue oxidative damage by means of the VEGF/Akt/eNOS pathway.
A cohort study of 676 patients indicates D-dimer is a critical risk factor for the mortality of COVID-19
Authors: Huang Yongsheng , Lyu Xiaoyu , Li Dan , Wang Lin , Wang Yujun , Zou Wenbin , Wei Yingxin , Wu Xiaowei
Published: November 2020

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has recently become a public emergency and a worldwide pandemic. However, the information on the risk factors associated with the mortality of COVID-19 and of their prognostic potential is limited. In this retrospective study, the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome data were collected and analyzed from 676 COVID-19 patients stratified into 140 non-survivors and 536 survivors. We found that the levels of Dimerized plasmin fragment D (D-dimer), C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), procalcitonin (PCT) were significantly higher in non-survivals on admission (non-survivors vs. survivors: D-Dimer ≥ 0.5 mg/L, 83.2% vs. 44.9%, P<0.01; CRP ≥10 mg/L, 50.4% vs. 6.0%, P<0.01; LDH ≥ 250 U/L, 73.8% vs. 20.1%, P<0.01; PCT ≥ 0.5 ng/ml, 27.7% vs. 1.8%, P<0.01). Moreover, dynamic tracking showed D-dimer kept increasing in non-survivors, while CRP, LDH and PCT remained relatively stable after admission. D-dimer has the highest C-index to predict in-hospital mortality, and patients with D-dimer levels ≥0.5 mg/L had a higher incidence of mortality (Hazard Ratio: 4.39, P<0.01). Our study suggested D-dimer could be a potent marker to predict the mortality of COVID-19, which may be helpful for the management of patients.
Cancer in the news: Bias and quality in media reporting of cancer research
Authors: Amberg Amanda , Saunders Darren N.
Published: November 2020

Cancer research in the news is often associated with sensationalised and inaccurate reporting, which may give rise to false hopes and expectations. The role of study selection for cancer-related news stories is an important but less commonly acknowledged issue, as the outcomes of primary research are generally less reliable than those of meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Few studies have investigated the quality of research that makes the news and no previous analyses of the proportions of primary and secondary research in the news have been found in the literature. We analysed distribution of study types, research sources, reporting quality, gender bias, and national bias in online news reports by four major news outlets in USA, UK and Australia over six-months. We measured significant variation in reporting quality and observed biases in many aspects of cancer research reporting, including the types of study selected for coverage, the spectrum of cancer types, gender of scientists, and geographical source of research represented. We discuss the implications of these findings for guiding accurate, contextual reporting of cancer research, which is critical in helping the public understand complex science, appreciate the outcomes of publicly-funded research, maintain trust, and assist informed decision-making. The striking gender bias observed may compromise high-quality coverage of research by limiting diversity of opinion, reinforces stereotypes and skews public visibility and recognition towards male scientists. Our findings provide useful guidelines for scientists and journalists alike to consider in providing the most informative and accurate reporting of research.
Evaluation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in frail Tunisian older adults
Authors: Hammami Sonia , Ghzaiel Imen , Hammouda Souha , Sakly Nabil , Hammami Mohamed , Zarrouk Amira
Published: November 2020

The present study was undertaken to evaluate serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in Tunisian older adults and to examine the relationships between inflammatory marker levels, geriatric, and biochemical parameters. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of Tunisian older adults (N = 141, aged 65 and over). Patients were recruited from the Department of Internal Medicine, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital (Monastir, Tunisia) and from a nursing home (Sousse, Tunisia). Comprehensive geriatric assessment, history taking and examination including functional and nutritional assessment were done for each participant. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test was used to measure serum cytokine (TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6) levels. The modified Short Emergency Geriatric Assessment score (SEGAm) were used to classify patients as 51 very-frail, 40 frail, and 50 non-frail. The age of the participants (80 men, 61 women) ranged from 65 to 97 years. Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-8 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher in very-frail participants compared to frail and non-frail ones. However, no significant differences in IL-6 levels were detected among frailty groups. After adjustment for age, CRP and IL-8 levels remained significantly associated with frailty. Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve corresponding to IL-8 showed an area under the curve of 0.7 (p = 0.003; 95% CI [0.58–0.81]) and a predictive threshold of 5.27 pg/ml. Positive correlations were found between frailty score, IL-6, and IL-8 levels. In addition, a significant positive correlation was observed between IL-8 levels and Timed Up and Go test results. However, a negative correlation was observed between Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form score, IL-6 and CRP levels, as well as between Activities of Daily Living score and serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP. In conclusion, the key findings of this study collectively support a role of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, CRP, and especially IL-8 in the development of frailty in older adults.
Population-based trends in hospitalizations due to injection drug use-related serious bacterial infections, Oregon, 2008 to 2018
Authors: Capizzi Jeffrey , Leahy Judith , Wheelock Haven , Garcia Jonathan , Strnad Luke , Sikka Monica , Englander Honora , Thomas Ann , Korthuis P. Todd , Menza Timothy William
Published: November 2020

Background

Injection drug use has far-reaching social, economic, and health consequences. Serious bacterial infections, including skin/soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis, bacteremia, and endocarditis, are particularly morbid and mortal consequences of injection drug use.

Methods

We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort analysis of hospitalizations among patients with a diagnosis code for substance use and a serious bacterial infection during the same hospital admission using Oregon Hospital Discharge Data. We examined trends in hospitalizations and costs of hospitalizations attributable to injection drug use-related serious bacterial infections from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2018.

Results

From 2008 to 2018, Oregon hospital discharge data included 4,084,743 hospitalizations among 2,090,359 patients. During the study period, hospitalizations for injection drug use-related serious bacterial infection increased from 980 to 6,265 per year, or from 0.26% to 1.68% of all hospitalizations (P<0.001). The number of unique patients with an injection drug use-related serious bacterial infection increased from 839 to 5,055, or from 2.52% to 8.46% of all patients (P<0.001). While hospitalizations for all injection drug use-related serious bacterial infections increased over the study period, bacteremia/sepsis hospitalizations rose most rapidly with an 18-fold increase. Opioid use diagnoses accounted for the largest percentage of hospitalizations for injection drug use-related serious bacterial infections, but hospitalizations for amphetamine-type stimulant-related serious bacterial infections rose most rapidly with a 15-fold increase. People living with HIV and HCV experienced increases in hospitalizations for injection drug use-related serious bacterial infection during the study period. Overall, the total cost of hospitalizations for injection drug use-related serious bacterial infections increased from $16,305,129 in 2008 to $150,879,237 in 2018 (P<0.001).

Conclusions

In Oregon, hospitalizations for injection drug use-related serious bacterial infections increased dramatically and exacted a substantial cost on the health care system from 2008 to 2018. This increase in hospitalizations represents an opportunity to initiate substance use disorder treatment and harm reduction services to improve outcomes for people who inject drugs.
W obronie jedności kultury bośniackiej. Ivan Lovrenović – intelektualista totalny z Sarajewa
Authors: Kaniecka Dominika
Published: November 2020

Ivan Lovrenović to intelektualista z Sarajewa, pisarz, publicysta, autor esejów i rozpraw na temat bośniackiej kultury i historii. Opis wybranych aspektów działalności Lovrenovicia czyni z tego tekstu studium przypadku. Autorka zadaje pytania o totalność działalności intelektualnej Ivana Lovrenovicia, ale też o pozycję intelektualisty w Bośni i Hercegowinie, ponieważ tekst jest też próbą oglądu pewnego typu działalności intelektualnej uwarunkowanej lokalnymi okolicznościami. Z tekstu wyłania się obraz Lovrenovicia występującego w imieniu interesów wspólnej, bośniackiej kultury, konsekwentnie wskazującego niebezpieczeństwa wynikające z podziału na wyłącznie chorwacki, serbski i boszniacki opis bośniacko-hercegowińskiego świata. Totalność tego intelektualisty rozpatrywana jest przez pryzmat kompleksowości jego działań skupionych wokół zrozumienia, opisania i systematycznego propagowania idei, konsekwentnej postawy protestu, ale także zaangażowania na rzecz obrony zdrowego rozsądku.
Рынок жилья как отражение жилищной стратификации городов
Authors: Старикова Мария Михайловна
Published: November 2020

В статье представлены результаты контент-анализа объявлений сайта «Авито» о продаже жилья в трех городах Приволжского федерального округа: Казани, Кирове и Нижнем Новгороде. Цель данной статьи — оценить жилищно-пространственное неравенство и состояние жилищного фонда в городах сквозь призму предложений рынка жилья. Для формирования эмпирической базы был собран сплошной массив объявлений о продаже жилья за фиксированный отрезок времени и проведен структурный контент-анализ информации о продаваемых объектах. Также проведена серия экспертных интервью с риелторами в изучаемых городах. Систематизированы базовые и факультативные параметры, влияющие на ценообразование и престиж недвижимости. В ходе статистического анализа параметров продаваемого жилья сформирован и рассчитан интегральный показатель качества и престижа недвижимости, позволяющий ранжировать объекты рынка жилья с позиции жилищной стратификации. В соответствии с интегральным показателем в каждом городе выделены четыре типа микрорайонов по качеству жилья и степени однородности застройки, определены специфические черты жилищного фонда трех городов. На основе полученных данных построены карты городов, отражающие жилищно-пространственную дифференциацию микрорайонов. Апробированная методика контент-анализа объявлений о продаже жилья может быть использована для исследования жилищной дифференциации других городов, позволяет прогнозировать рыночную стоимость жилья в зависимости от его параметров и престижа районов города, судить о наполненности жилищных классов горожан, выявлять ключевые тенденции изменений жилищного фонда в регионах.
Благодарность. Статья подготовлена при поддержке Российского фонда фундаментальных исследований (РФФИ), грант № 18-011-00627 «Особенности жилищного неравенства в современных российских городах».