bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perinatal characteristics and schizophrenia : electrodermal activity as a mediating link in a vulnerability‐stress perspective
Authors: Hultman Christina M. , Öhman Arne
Published: July 2002

Vulnerability‐stress models of schizophrenia assert that the disorder results from an interaction between genetic or biologically acquired vulnerability and unfavourable environmental conditions. As our knowledge of early environmental factors for schizophrenia evolves, the question of links between early factors and a development of schizophrenia becomes more important. In this article, we analyse the relationship between obstetrical complications (OCs) and adult schizophrenia and methodological concerns in the search for pre‐ and perinatal risk factors. We review findings of aberrant electrodermal activity in schizophrenic patients and suggest that OCs may induce insults to cerebral structures that are critically involved in the control of orienting and of autonomic responses.
Responsiveness of subjective quality of life assessment in schizophrenic patients: a quasi-experimental pilot study
Authors: Franz M. , Meyer T. , Spitznagel A. , Schmidt H. , Wening K. , Gallhofer B.
Published: July 2002

Responsiveness of quality of life (QOL) assessments in chronic schizophrenic patients was investigated by a quasi-experimental pilot study. Satisfaction ratings were assessed over five time points with an externally imposed disturbing stimulus at the second time point. Despite a markedly high stability, the disturbance provoked a temporally limited decrease in QOL.
Quantitative assessment of dynamic electroencephalogram (EEG) organization as a tool for subtyping depressive syndromes
Authors: Ulrich G. , Fürstenberg U.
Published: July 2002

Up until now, no subclassification of affective psychoses has been validated biologically. This follows unavoidably from a research practice of defining diagnostic subtypes in consensus conferences and only thereafter allowing their validation. There is evidence that electroencephalograms (EEG) may be a useful tool in psychiatry, provided that the relevant information is extracted.

Our EEG quantification procedure aims at an assessment of both the amount and range of variation of spontaneous changes of topographical alpha-power distribution, developing within a certain period of recording under resting conditions. Our measures were designed to characterize the dynamic organization of the EEG. This is quite obviously an eyeball evaluation but it has nevertheless been neglected in research. The study design was done retrospectively. Included were inpatients with a primary depressive disorder. Main exclusion criteria were an age older than 62 years and psychotropic drugs other than antidepressants. The psychopathology and other clinical data were routinely assessed within three days after admission by the AMDP documentation. An EEG was also routinely performed at admission. We made use of robust, generally known non-parametric statistics.

Those patients who exhibited a dynamically rigid EEG are especially prone to recurrences, have a relative late onset of their illness, and show an acute symptomatology characterized by organic-like features.

The findings lend support to our contention that the quantitative assessment of the dynamics of the EEG-Gestalt allows the delimitation of a clinically important subtype that is characterized both cross-sectionally and in long-term respects.
Endless Patience: Explaining Soviet and Post-Soviet Social Stability
Authors: Ashwin Sarah
Published: July 2002

Various arguments have been put forward to explain the social stability of the post-Stalin era, in particular theories of a “social contract”, “incorporation” or “atomisation”. This article argues that all these theories have been cast into serious doubt by the response of workers to the reforms of the post-communist era and proposes an alternative view of the integration of workers which centres on the social organisation of the traditional Soviet enterprise. It goes on to show the way in which the form of workers' relation to the labour collective has structured their behaviour during the transition era.
Breastfeeding: How Could it be Enhanced? The Perceptions of Vietnamese Women in Sydney, Australia
Authors: Rossiter Joh Chin , Yam Bernard M.C.
Published: July 2002

In Australia, the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding is on the decline. The low incidence of breastfeeding includes the immigrant Vietnamese. The purpose of this study was to examine Vietnamese women's perceptions of factors that might influence their choice of infant feeding and how breastfeeding could be promoted and maintained by nurses, midwives, other health professionals, and the health care system as a whole.

A convenience sample of 124 postnatal Vietnamese women from community agencies in western and southwestern suburbs of Sydney was interviewed. Content analysis showed that factors that affect their choice of infant feeding method were language difficulties in communicating with health professionals concerning breastfeeding, lack of social support and follow‐up care, and attitudes of health professionals toward breastfeeding. To promote and maintain breastfeeding within the Vietnamese community in Sydney, Australia, appropriate health care planning and implementation based on their social, cultural, and language backgrounds and practices need to be considered.
GROUP B STREPTOCOCCAL (GBS) DISEASE SCREENING AND TREATMENT DURING PREGNANCY: NURSE‐MIDWIVES‘ CONSISTENCY WITH 1996 CDC RECOMMENDATIONS
Authors: Bloom Kathaleen C. , Ewing C. Ann
Published: July 2002

Objective: In 1998, the screening and treatment practices of certified nurse‐midwives (CNMs) for group B streptococcal (GBS) infection during pregnancy were studied and evaluated for their consistency with the 1996 perinatal GBS prevention guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Methodology: Five hundred thirty‐nine surveys were completed by CNMs attending the 1998 American College of Nurse‐Midwives' Convention. Of these, 502 (94.7%) reported a practice policy for GBS prophylaxis.

Results: The Culture‐Based Approach was used by 66.7% and the Obstetrical Risk Factor Approach by 28%. Most (69%) reported using multiple culture sites, most commonly the proximal vagina and anorectal area (33.2%), followed by the distal vagina and anorectal area (26.7%), and the anorectal area and proximal and distal vagina (7.1%). Most CNMs (92.5%) reported treating GBS intrapartally, with penicillin the most frequently reported antimicrobial (55.0%) used, and most (94.2%) reporting treatment through labor until birth.

Conclusion: Overall, GBS prophylaxis practices among survey respondents comply with 1996 CDC recommendations; however, GBS screening practices show room for improvement and the need for continuing education that emphasizes the CDC guidelines, updates as they become available, and other new literature about the topic. In addition, heightened awareness among all perinatal providers is needed with respect to CDC guidelines, especially as they pertain to variations in culture sites, identification of risk categories, and the selection of appropriate antimicrobial treatment agents.
MIDWIFING THE SCIENCE PROCESS … WITH CONFIDENCE AND HUMILITY
Authors: Shah Mary Ann , Paine Lisa L.
Published: July 2002

The American College of Nurse‐Midwives has accepted, with deep regret, the resignation of Lisa Paine as Editor‐in‐Chief of the Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. We extend our sincere thanks to her for the significant contributions she made during her tenure in this position. The editorial published in this issue was completed prior to her resignation and is included as a tribute to the vision she brought to the journal.
G Protein‐Coupled receptors and heterotrimeric G proteins as cancer drivers
Authors: Arang Nadia , Gutkind J. Silvio
Published: December 2020

G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) and heterotrimeric G proteins play central roles in a diverse array of cellular processes. As such, dysregulation of GPCRs and their coupled heterotrimeric G proteins can dramatically alter the signalling landscape and functional state of a cell. Consistent with their fundamental physiological functions, GPCRs and their effector heterotrimeric G proteins are implicated in some of the most prevalent human diseases, including a complex disease such as cancer that causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. GPCR/G protein‐mediated signalling impacts oncogenesis at multiple levels by regulating tumour angiogenesis, immune evasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. Here, we summarize the growing body of research on GPCRs and their effector heterotrimeric G proteins as drivers of cancer initiation and progression, and as emerging antitumoural therapeutic targets.
Unravelling the Molecular Origin of Organic Semiconductors with High‐Performance Thermoelectric Response
Authors: Shi Wen , Wong Zicong Marvin , Deng Tianqi , Wu Gang , Yang Shuo‐Wang
Published: December 2020

A decisive prerequisite toward systematic development of high‐efficiency organic thermoelectric materials is not only thoroughly understanding the microscopic physical processes controlling the performance, but also precisely correlating such processes and the macroscopic properties to the basic chemical structures. Here, by using multiscale first‐principles calculations, the interplay among thermoelectric properties, microscopic transport parameters, and molecular structures for the whole family of small‐molecule organic thermoelectric materials is rationalized, and general molecular design principles are concurrently formulated. It is unveiled that thermoelectric power factor of a wide variety of molecular semiconductors is directly proportional to a unified quality factor, and high‐performance thermoelectric response demands to boost the intermolecular electronic coupling, and to suppress the interaction of electron with lattice vibrations. Furthermore, it is uncovered that extending the π‐conjugated backbones along the long axis, and maximizing the networks of intermolecular S···S or CH···π contacts meet the proposed material design rule.
Operando Tailoring of Defects and Strains in Corrugated β‐Ni(OH)2 Nanosheets for Stable and High‐Rate Energy Storage
Authors: Li Shaofeng , Sharma Nikhil , Yu Chang , Zhang Yan , Wan Gang , Fu Rong , Huang Hongling , Sun Xueyan , Lee Sang‐Jun , Lee Jun‐Sik , Nordlund Dennis , Pianetta Piero , Zhao Kejie , Liu Yijin , Qiu Jieshan
Published: December 2020

Nickel hydroxide represents a technologically important material for energy storage, such as hybrid supercapacitors. It has two different crystallographic polymorphs, α‐ and β‐Ni(OH)2, showing advantages in either theoretical capacity or cycling/rate performance, manifesting a trade‐off trend that needs to be optimized for practical applications. Here, the synergistic superiorities in both activity and stability of corrugated β‐Ni(OH)2 nanosheets are demonstrated through an electrochemical abuse approach. With ≈91% capacity retention after 10 000 cycles, the corrugated β‐Ni(OH)2 nanosheets can deliver a gravimetric capacity of 457 C g−1 at a high current density of 30 A g−1, which is nearly two and four times that of the regular α‐ and β‐Ni(OH)2, respectively. Operando spectroscopy and finite element analysis reveal that greatly enhanced chemical activity and structural robustness can be attributed to the in situ tailored lattice defects and the strain‐induced highly curved micromorphology. This work demonstrates a multi‐scale defect‐and‐strain co‐design strategy, which is helpful for rational design and tuned fabrication of next‐generation electrode materials for stable and high‐rate energy storage.
Turning On Solid‐State Luminescence by Phototriggered Subtle Molecular Conformation Variations
Authors: Zhao Weijun , Liu Zhiyang , Yu Jie , Lu Xuefeng , Lam Jacky W. Y. , Sun Jinyan , He Zikai , Ma Huili , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: December 2020

The development of solid‐state intelligent materials, in particular those showing photoresponsive luminescence (PRL), is highly desirable for their cutting‐edge applications in sensors, displays, data‐storage, and anti‐counterfeiting, but is challenging. Few PRL materials are constructed by tethering the classic photochromic systems with newly‐emerged solid‐state emitters. Selective solid‐state photoreactions are demanded to precisely manipulate the luminescent behavior of these emitters, which require dramatic structural change and enough free space, thus limiting the scope of the PRL family. Here, a new PRL material, TPE‐4N, that features sensitive and reversible fluorescence switching is reported. The interesting on–off luminescent property of TPE‐4N can be facilely tuned through fast phototriggering and thermal annealing. Experimental and theoretical investigations reveal that subtle molecular conformation variation induces the corresponding PRL behavior. The crystalline and amorphous state endows an efficient and weak ISC process, respectively, to turn on and off the emission. The readily fabricated thin‐film of TPE‐4N exhibits non‐destructive PRL behavior with high contrast (>102), good light transmittance (>72.3%), and great durability and reversibility under room light for months. Remarkably, a uniform thin‐film with such fascinating PRL properties allows high‐tech applications in invisible anti‐counterfeiting and dynamic optical data storage with micro‐resolution.
Asymmetric Light Scattering on Heterodimers Made of Au Nanorods Vertically Standing on Au Nanodisks
Authors: Lai Yunhe , Cui Ximin , Li Nannan , Shao Lei , Zhang Wei , Wang Jianfang , Lin Hai‐Qing
Published: December 2020

Directional light control at nanoscale shows great potential in applications such as holograms, optical neural networks, and ultracompact photonic circuits. Plasmonic nanostructures with designed geometrical shapes or complex architectures have been employed to manipulate light directionally. The interaction among the electric dipole and multipole resonances in plasmonic nanostructures enables the wavefront reshaping of light, leading to directional light scattering behaviors. However, traditional methods for directional light control suffer from complicated fabrication procedures and large footprints. In this work, heterodimers are constructed out of chemically grown Au nanodisks and Au nanorods, with the nanorod sitting vertically on the nanodisk, and their directional light scattering behaviors are studied. When the nanorod is located off the center of the nanodisk, the incident light is scattered asymmetrically by the heterodimer, producing a crescent‐shaped far‐field scattering pattern. The light scattering directionality of the heterodimers is further proved to be highly dependent on the aspect ratio of the nanorod, the relative position of the two nanocrystals, and the orientation of the nanorod. The study provides a solid and useful foundation for the directional light manipulation in ultracompact nanophotonic systems.
Development of White Persistent Phosphors by Manipulating Lanthanide Ions in Gadolinium Gallium Garnets
Authors: Ueda Jumpei , Miyano Shun , Xu Jian , Dorenbos Pieter , Tanabe Setsuhisa
Published: December 2020

Lanthanide ions act as excellent luminescence centers and good charge carrier traps. By selecting proper lanthanide ions, persistent phosphors with the desired luminescent color can be developed. In addition, an appropriate host material can give not only better persistent luminescence performance but also an additional function. Herein, bright white persistent phosphors of Pr3+–Tb3+–Eu3+ tridoped paramagnetic Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG) are successfully developed. The GGG phosphors singly doped with Pr3+, Tb3+, and Eu3+ show reddish‐white (3PJ–3HJ), blue (5DJ–7FJ), and red (5D0–7FJ) photoluminescence, respectively, by UV excitation. On the other hand, the GGG samples codoped with Pr3+–Eu3+ and with Tb3+–Eu3+ show only Pr3+ reddish‐white persistent luminescence and Tb3+ blue persistent luminescence, respectively. Based on the thermoluminescence glow curves, it is found that the Eu3+ ion acts only as an electron trap in the persistent luminescence mechanism and the trapped electrons are released at around 325 K. The cool‐white persistent luminescence is achieved by combining Pr3+ and Tb3+ persistent luminescence centers in the GGG:Pr3+–Tb3+–Eu3+ phosphors. It is demonstrated that the white persistent phosphor powder in water can be dragged around by a permanent magnet due to the paramagnetic property of GGG.
Chemoreactive Nanotherapeutics by Metal Peroxide Based Nanomedicine
Authors: Hu Hui , Yu Luodan , Qian Xiaoqin , Chen Yu , Chen Baoding , Li Yuehua
Published: December 2020

The advances of nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine enable the triggering of in situ chemical reactions in disease microenvironment for achieving disease‐specific nanotherapeutics with both intriguing therapeutic efficacy and mitigated side effects. Metal peroxide based nanoparticles, as one of the important but generally ignored categories of metal‐involved nanosystems, can function as the solid precursors to produce oxygen (O2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through simple chemical reactions, both of which are the important chemical species for enhancing the therapeutic outcome of versatile modalities, accompanied with the unique bioactivity of metal ion based components. This progress report summarizes and discusses the most representative paradigms of metal peroxides in chemoreactive nanomedicine, including copper peroxide (CuO2), calcium peroxide (CaO2), magnesium peroxide (MgO2), zinc peroxide (ZnO2), barium peroxide (BaO2), and titanium peroxide (TiOx) nanosystems. Their reactions and corresponding products have been broadly explored in versatile disease treatments, including catalytic nanotherapeutics, photodynamic therapy, radiation therapy, antibacterial infection, tissue regeneration, and some synergistically therapeutic applications. This progress report particularly focuses on the underlying reaction mechanisms on enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of these modalities, accompanied with the discussion on their biological effects and biosafety. The existing gap between fundamental research and clinical translation of these metal peroxide based nanotherapeutic technologies is finally discussed in depth.
Use of an ultrasonic sensor for plant height estimation in irrigated cotton
Authors: Bronson Kevin F. , French Andrew N. , Conley Matthew M. , Barnes Edward M.
Published: December 2020

Plant height in field crops like cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) have long been of great interest to agronomists and plant breeders. Canopy height sensors can replace laborious point hand sampling and enable site‐specific management. Study objectives were to compare manual plant height measurements with ultrasonic distance sensor measurements in subsurface drip‐irrigated cotton, and to assess the effects of nitrogen and water management. Two Honeywell 943 sensors were used weekly to estimate canopy height in a nitrogen‐ and water‐management study in Maricopa, AZ from 2016 to 2018. Hand measurements of plant height–ultrasonic‐sensed height correlation increased with growth stage with r2 of .92 to .99 at mid bloom. Root mean square errors ranged from 0.9 to 4.0 cm. Canopy height was strongly affected by nitrogen and water treatments, starting at first square. This rapid‐response ultrasonic distance sensor is accurate and has great potential as a canopy height measuring instrument in cotton.
Metal–Organic Layers Hierarchically Integrate Three Synergistic Active Sites for Tandem Catalysis
Authors: Quan Yangjian , Lan Guangxu , Shi Wenjie , Xu Ziwan , Fan Yingjie , You Eric , Jiang Xiaomin , Wang Cheng , Lin Wenbin
Published: December 2020

We report the design of a bifunctional metal–organic layer (MOL), Hf12‐Ru‐Co, composed of [Ru(DBB)(bpy)2]2+ [DBB‐Ru, DBB=4,4′‐di(4‐benzoato)‐2,2′‐bipyridine; bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine] connecting ligand as a photosensitizer and Co(dmgH)2(PPA)Cl (PPA‐Co, dmgH=dimethylglyoxime; PPA=4‐pyridinepropionic acid) on the Hf12 secondary building unit (SBU) as a hydrogen‐transfer catalyst. Hf12‐Ru‐Co efficiently catalyzed acceptorless dehydrogenation of indolines and tetrahydroquinolines to afford indoles and quinolones. We extended this strategy to prepare Hf12‐Ru‐Co‐OTf MOL with a [Ru(DBB)(bpy)2]2+ photosensitizer and Hf12 SBU capped with triflate as strong Lewis acids and PPA‐Co as a hydrogen transfer catalyst. With three synergistic active sites, Hf12‐Ru‐Co‐OTf competently catalyzed dehydrogenative tandem transformations of indolines with alkenes or aldehydes to afford 3‐alkylindoles and bisindolylmethanes with turnover numbers of up to 500 and 460, respectively, illustrating the potential use of MOLs in constructing novel multifunctional heterogeneous catalysts.
Design of thermoelectric materials with high electrical conductivity, high Seebeck coefficient, and low thermal conductivity
Authors: Yoshihama Hiroki , Kaneko Hiromasa
Published: December 2020

Thermoelectric materials with a high Seebeck coefficient, high electrical conductivity, and low thermal conductivity are required to directly and efficiently convert unused heat into electricity. In this study, we construct models predicting the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity using existing material databases. In addition to the ratios of atoms in the crystals and temperature at which the materials are used, the values from the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectra were used as inputs to represent the crystal structure of the materials. It was confirmed that the constructed models could predict the properties with high accuracy using the X‐ray diffraction values. Additionally, using the constructed models, we succeeded in proposing promising new candidate materials with high Seebeck coefficients, high electric conductivities, and low thermal conductivities.
No space for mother's mind: A psychoanalytically oriented qualitative study of the experiences of women with a diagnosis of postnatal depression
Authors: Hesse Tyson Caragh , O'Connor John , Sheehan John D.
Published: December 2020

Our understanding of postnatal depression (PND), and in particular the emotional world of mothers who experience this, and the relational processes involved remain today quite limited. Indeed, what has been called “PND,” likely as explored here a catch‐all term for a variety of composite states of mind, seems quite prevalent and likely too has a significant impact on both mother and baby, as well as on the wider figures and systems that are involved. This study used a psychoanalytically informed research method to access material that emerged around women's postnatal depressive experiences. Each of the six participants engaged in three interviews. The main themes that emerged were the following: (a) Starting on a bad note: difficult experiences in birth and breast‐feeding; (b) Support falling away: the absence of mother's support at key times in pregnancy and birth; (c) No space for mother's mind: the absence of space for processing experience in systems around women; and (d) Unwelcome familiar feelings: the contradictory responses evoked in motherhood. These themes are discussed in relation to their significance for our thinking about supports for mothers in the period prior to and following birth. Also discussed here is whether the technology of birth, important in safeguarding baby, may have reduced the space for mother's emotional well‐being in our systems of care.
Exposures influencing the developing central autonomic nervous system
Authors: Schlatterer Sarah D. , du Plessis Adre J.
Published: December 2020

Autonomic nervous system function is critical for transition from in‐utero to ex‐utero life and is associated with neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric outcomes later in life. Adverse prenatal and neonatal conditions and exposures can impair or alter ANS development and, as a result, may also impact long‐term neurodevelopmental outcomes. The objective of this article is to provide a broad overview of the impact of factors that are known to influence autonomic development during the fetal and early neonatal period, including maternal mood and stress during and after pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, congenital heart disease, toxic exposures, and preterm birth. We touch briefly on the typical development of the ANS, then delve into both in‐utero and ex‐utero maternal and fetal factors that may impact developmental trajectory of the ANS and, thus, have implications in transition and in long‐term developmental outcomes. While many types of exposures and conditions have been shown to impact development of the autonomic nervous system, there is still much to be learned about the mechanisms underlying these influences. In the future, more advanced neuromonitoring tools will be required to better understand autonomic development and its influence on long‐term neurodevelopmental and neuropsychological function, especially during the fetal period.
l‐Cysteine modified silver nanoparticles‐based colorimetric sensing for the sensitive determination of Hg2+ in aqueous solutions
Authors: Fan Pengfei , He Shunzhen , Cheng Jianlin , Hu Congcong , Liu Can , Yang Shengyuan , Liu Jinquan
Published: December 2020

A simple and sensitive colorimetric sensing method was constructed for detection of Hg2+ in aqueous solutions and based on silver nanoparticles functionalized with l‐cysteine (l‐Cys–Ag NPs). In this method, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) induced aggregation of l‐Cys–Ag NPs. Simultaneously, the solution colour changed from bright yellow to brown. In the presence of Hg2+, Hg2+ chelated ATP to form a complex and reduce the degree of aggregation of l‐Cys–Ag NPs and was accompanied by a colour change from brown to bright yellow. The changing values of absorbance at 390 nm were linearly correlated with concentration of Hg2+ over the 4.00 × 10−8 to 1.04 × 10−6 mol·L−1 range, with a detection limit of 8 nM. This method was used successfully for detection of Hg2+ in real water samples and performed good selectivity and sensitivity. The recovery range was 91.5–109.1%, indicating that the method has vast application potential for determination of Hg2+ in the environment.
Perioperative CRP: A novel inflammation‐based classification in gastric cancer for recurrence and chemotherapy benefit
Authors: Lu Jun , Xu Bin‐Bin , Xue Zhen , Xie Jian‐Wei , Zheng Chao‐Hui , Huang Chang‐Ming , Li Ping
Published: December 2020

Background

Perioperative C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels have effects on the prognosis of cancer patients. We intended to determine the prognostic value of combining the two for gastric cancer (GC).

Methods

Data were extracted from a clinical trial. By calculating the area under the curve (AUC) and the C‐index, the predictive value of CRPs among different time points, including preoperative (pre‐CRP), postoperative days 1, 3, and 5 (post‐CRPs), and postoperative maximum CRP (post‐CRPmax), was derived. Multivariate analysis was performed to further explore the independent variates for recurrence‐free survival (RFS).

Results

Finally, 401 patients were available in the present study. For RFS, higher AUC (0.692) and concordance index (0.678) of pre‐CRP were observed when compared with those of post‐CRPs. Further, among post‐CRPs, post‐CRPmax had the highest predictive values (AUC: 0.591; concordance index: 0.585) among the other post‐CRPs. The threshold values in predicting RFS for pre‐CRP and post‐CRPmax were 3.1 mg/L and 77.1 mg/L. Multivariate analysis showed both pre‐CRP≥3.1 mg/L (high‐pre‐CRP) and post‐CRPmax≥77.1 mg/L (high‐post‐CRPmax) were risk factors for RFS. Postoperative chemotherapy benefit was further analyzed for patients with stage II/III GC and indicated that patients with pre‐CRP<3.1 mg/L had better prognosis without benefit from postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT), p = 0.557. In high‐pre‐CRP patients, only patients with post‐CRPmax≥77.1 mg/L but not post‐CRPmax<77.1 mg/L benefited from postoperative ACT (RFS: 33.2% vs 49.9% for non‐chemotherapy group and chemotherapy group, respectively, p = 0.037). Analyses for overall survival obtained the similar outcomes.

Conclusions

Both high‐pre‐CRP and high‐post‐CRPmax are associated with worse prognosis in GC. ACT seems to only improve the prognosis for stage II/III GC with pre‐CRP≥3.1 mg/L and post‐CRPmax≥77.1 mg/L after radical gastrectomy. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore the potential mechanism.
Experts' review of a virtual environment for virtual clinical simulation in South Africa
Authors: Botha Benjamin S. , de Wet Lizette , Botma Yvonne
Published: December 2020

Virtual reality (VR) is becoming ever more used within the field of education. During this study, the researchers created a virtual environment (VE) for use in Southern Africa, where students could practice managing a young adult with a foreign object in the airway. The aim of the VE was to determine whether a viable, “home‐made” solution could be created which could also be expanded later on to incorporate more scenarios. This was due to the expensive nature of existing systems for virtual clinical simulation. To determine whether the VE is usable, two expert review panels assisted in testing the VE. The first‐panel being Computer Science experts and the second Health Science (HS) experts. Each panel evaluated the environment and the scenario using heuristic evaluation and cognitive walkthroughs. The recommendations made during each of the expert reviews were implemented to improve the VE, thus enabling students to experience an accurate, virtual scenario that could positively influence their learning experience. The findings and recommendations made during the expert reviews are presented in this paper to assist in improving future developments within the field of VR in HS education, especially for developing countries in Africa.
An AZT Analog with Strongly Pairing Ethynylpyridone Nucleobase and Its Antiviral Activity against HSV1
Authors: Han Jianyang , Funk Christina , Eyberg Juri , Bailer Susanne , Richert Clemens
Published: December 2020

Challenges resulting from novel viruses or new strains of known viruses call for new antiviral agents. Nucleoside analogs that act as inhibitors of viral polymerases are an attractive class of antivirals. For nucleosides containing thymine, base pairing is weak, making it desirable to identify nucleobase analogs that pair more strongly with adenine, in order to compete successfully with the natural substrate. We have recently described a new class of strongly binding thymidine analogs that contain an ethynylmethylpyridone as base and a C‐nucleosidic linkage to the deoxyribose. Here we report the synthesis of the 3′‐azido‐2′,3′‐deoxyribose derivative of this compound, dubbed AZW, both as free nucleoside and as ProTide phosphoramidate. As a proof of principle, we studied the activity against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1). Whereas the ProTide phosphoramidate suffered from low solubility, the free nucleoside showed a stronger inhibitory effect than that of AZT in a plaque reduction assay. This suggests that strongly pairing C‐nucleoside analogs of pyrimidines have the potential to become active pharmaceutical ingredients with antiviral activity.
Management of generalized severe periodontitis using full‐mouth disinfection and systemic antibiotics in a leukemic patient before stem cell transplantation: A case report
Authors: Morikawa Satoru , Tsunoda Kazuyuki , Miyashita Yoko , Nasu Mana , Horie Nobuyuki , Usuda Sho , Kato Jun , Mori Takehiko , Nakagawa Taneaki
Published: December 2020

The full‐mouth disinfection protocol implemented in this case can be integrated into established protocols for treating severe periodontitis in the context of a hematological malignancy, without any interference with the cancer treatment.
Research Progress of High‐Performance Organic Material Pyrene‐4,5,9,10‐Tetraone in Secondary Batteries
Authors: Cui Haixia , Hu Pandeng , Zhang Yi , Huang Weiwei , Li Adan
Published: December 2020

Conjugated carbonyl electrode materials have attracted much attention because of their ability to store various cations, relatively high theoretical capacity, designability, and sustainability. In this Minireview, pyrene‐4,5,9,10‐tetraone (PTO) with four carbonyl functional groups served as the electrode material in secondary batteries. It exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, such as high theoretical specific capacity, high redox potential, and the high utility of active sites. Currently, there are many kinds of optimizations to address the high solubility of PTO in organic electrolytes and improve cycle stability. Forming polymers, immobilizing with carbon materials, changing polarity to form salts, and optimizing electrolytes, such as all‐solid‐state electrolytes, are mainly summarized. We hope this Minireview can provide a guideline for the development of high‐performance secondary batteries using PTO.
BL‐8040 CXCR4 antagonist is safe and demonstrates antileukemic activity in combination with cytarabine for the treatment of relapsed/refractory acute myelogenous leukemia: An open‐label safety and efficacy phase 2a study
Authors: Borthakur Gautam , Ofran Yishai , Tallman Martin S. , Foran James , Uy Geoffrey L. , DiPersio John F. , Showel Margaret M. , Shimoni Avichai , Nagler Arnon , Rowe Jacob M. , Altman Jessica K. , Abraham Michal , Peled Amnon , Shaw Stephen , Bohana‐Kashtan Osnat , Sorani Ella , Pereg Yaron , Foley‐Comer Adam , Oberkovitz Galia , Lustig Tzipi M. , Glicko‐Kabir Irit , Aharon Arnon , Vainstein‐Haras Abi , Kadosh Shaul E. , Samara Emil , Al‐Rawi Ahmed N. , Pemmaraju Naveen , Bueso‐Ramos Carlos , Cortes Jorge E. , Andreeff Michael
Published: December 2020

Background

CXCR4 mediates the retention and survival of acute myelogenous leukemia blasts in bone marrow and contributes to their resistance to chemotherapy. The authors evaluated a combination of the high‐affinity CXCR4 antagonist BL‐8040 with high‐dose cytarabine (HiDAC) chemotherapy in a phase 2a study of patients with relapsed and refractory AML.

Methods

Forty‐two patients received treatment with BL‐8040 monotherapy for 2 days followed by a combination of BL‐8040 with HiDAC for 5 days. Six escalating BL‐8040 dose levels were investigated (0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, and 2.0 mg/kg), and 1.5 mg/kg was selected as the dose for the expansion phase (n = 23).

Results

BL‐8040 in combination with HiDAC was safe and well tolerated at all dose levels. Clinical response was observed with BL‐8040 doses ≥1.0 mg/kg. The composite response rate (complete remissions plus complete remissions with incomplete hematologic recovery of platelets or neutrophils) was 29% (12 of 42) in all patients and 39% (9 of 23) in the 1.5‐mg/kg phase. The median overall survival was 8.4 months for all patients, 10.8 months in the 1.5‐mg/kg phase, and 21.8 months for responding patients in the 1.5‐mg/kg cohort. Two days of BL‐8040 monotherapy triggered the mobilization of blasts into peripheral blood, with significantly higher mean fold‐changes in responders versus nonresponders. This was accompanied by a decrease in bone marrow blasts.

Conclusions

The current results demonstrate the efficacy of CXCR4 targeting with BL‐8040 and support continued clinical development in acute myelogenous leukemia.
Doping in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC): A 4‐year epidemiological analysis
Authors: Fares Mohamad Y. , Baydoun Hasan , Salhab Hamza A. , Khachfe Hussein H. , Fares Youssef , Fares Jawad , Abboud Joseph A.
Published: December 2020

Background

Doping is a practice that is present in many sports and organizations, including mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The aim of this study is to explore the epidemiological patterns of doping among UFC athletes.

Methods

We screened the official United‐States‐Anti‐Doping‐Agency® (USADA) website, the annual USADA reports and the official UFC website for information on fighters and anti‐doping rule violations (ADRVs). Our dataset included gender, age, weight class, testing numbers, date of ADRV, type of ADRV, and duration of suspension. Appropriate statistical tests were conducted to assess for statistical significance.

Results

USADA tested 1070 UFC athletes 2624 times as of late 2015 up till the end of 2019 (N = 1070). A total of 209 adverse findings were recorded; out of which, 102 ADRVs were committed by 93 athletes (8.7%) from all weight divisions. This constituted an adverse finding rate of 16.55 per 1000 test and an ADRV rate of 8.08 per1000 test. Mean age of sanctioned athletes was 32 years. Use of anabolic steroids was significantly the most common ADRV recorded (p = 0.018). The men's heavyweight division had an ADRV rate of 19.3 per 1000 tests, significantly higher than that of women's bantamweight division at 2 per 1000 tests (p = 0.03), women's featherweight division at 0 per 1000 tests (p = 0.009), and men's flyweight division at 3 per 1000 tests (p = 0.035). ADRV rate showed a significantly increasing trend among men's weight divisions (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Doping is present in mixed martial arts. Increasing testing numbers, raising awareness and education on the risks of doping, and conducting further research on the issue is key to help resolve this problem.
Impact of tricuspid regurgitation on survival in patients with cardiac amyloidosis
Authors: Fagot Jerome , Lavie‐Badie Yoan , Blanchard Virginie , Fournier Pauline , Galinier Michel , Carrié Didier , Lairez Olivier , Cariou Eve ,   Toulouse Amyloidosis Research Network collaborators
Published: December 2020

Aims

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a common finding and has been associated with poorer outcome in patients with heart failure. This study sought to investigate the prognostic value of TR in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA).

Methods and results

Two‐hundred and eighty‐three patients with CA—172 (61%) wild‐type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt) and 111 (39%) light‐chain amyloidosis (AL)—were consecutively enrolled between December 2010 and September 2019. Transthoracic echocardiographies at time of diagnosis were reviewed to establish the presence and severity of TR and its relationship with all‐cause mortality during patients' follow‐up. Seventy‐four (26%) patients had a moderate‐to‐severe TR. Moderate‐to‐severe TR was associated with New York Heart Association status (P < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (P = 0.003), greater levels of natriuretic peptides (P = 0.002), worst renal function (P = 0.03), lower left ventricular ejection fraction (P = 0.02), reduced right ventricular systolic function (P = 0.001), thicker tricuspid leaflets (P = 0.019), greater tricuspid annulus diameter (P = 0.001), greater pulmonary artery pressure (P = 0.001), greater doses of furosemide (P = 0.001), and anti‐aldosterone (P = 0.01) and more anticoagulant treatment (P = 0.001). One hundred and thirty‐four (47%) patients met the primary endpoint of all‐cause mortality. After multivariate Cox analysis, moderate‐to‐severe TR was significantly associated with mortality [hazard ratio 1.89, 95% confidence interval (1.01–3.51), P = 0.044] in patients with ATTRwt. There was no correlation between TR and death [hazard ratio 0.84, 95% confidence interval (0.46–1.51), P = 0.562] in patients with AL.

Conclusions

Moderate‐to‐severe TR is frequent in CA, and it is an independent prognosis factor in patients with ATTRwt but not in patients with AL.
Late gadolinium enhancement for re‐worsening left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Nabeta Takeru , Ishii Shunsuke , Ikeda Yuki , Maemura Kenji , Oki Takumi , Yazaki Mayu , Fujita Teppei , Naruke Takashi , Inomata Takayuki , Ako Junya
Published: December 2020

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical parameters including late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) of cardiovascular magnetic resonance to predict re‐worsening of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods and results

We included 138 patients with recent‐onset DCM who had an LVEF <45% and underwent LGE of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging at diagnosis and echocardiography at the yearly follow‐up [median 6 (4–8.3) years]. Initial LVEF recovery was defined as LVEF increase >10% from baseline, resulting in LVEF ≧45% after treatment. The patients were divided into three groups: (i) improved (n = 83, 60%), defined as those with sustained LVEF ≧45%; (ii) re‐worsening (n = 39, 28%), those with >5% decrease and LVEF <45% after the initial LVEF recovery; and (iii) not‐improved (n = 16, 12%), those without initial LVEF recovery. The primary endpoint was a composite of hospitalization for heart failure or sudden cardiac death. In baseline, LGE was observed in 70 patients. The LGE area was significantly larger in the re‐worsening and not‐improved groups than that in the improved group (P < 0.001). Loess curves of long‐term LVEF trajectories showed that LVEF in the re‐worsening group increased in the first 2 years and slowly declined thereafter. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that LGE area [odds ratio (OR) 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.16, P = 0.004], B‐type natriuretic peptide (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.05–2.21, P = 0.030) level at the initial recovery, and LVEF (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.86–0.97, P = 0.004) at the initial LVEF recovery were independent predictors of re‐worsening of LVEF. During a median follow‐up of 2273 (interquartile range: 1634–3191) days, the primary endpoint was observed in 31 (22%) patients. Univariate Cox proportional hazards analysis demonstrated that the risk of experiencing the primary event in the re‐worsening group was significantly higher (hazard ratio: 4.30, 95% CI 1.63–11.31, P = 0.003) than that in the improved group and was lower than that in the not‐improved group (hazard ratio: 0.33, 95% CI 0.15–0.72, P = 0.006).

Conclusions

Re‐worsening of LVEF was observed in 28% of patients with recent‐onset DCM who showed an initial improvement in LVEF. High LGE burden, higher B‐type natriuretic peptide level, and lower LVEF at the initial LVEF recovery were independent predictors of re‐worsening of LVEF in patients with DCM. Careful observation is recommended for patients with a high risk for re‐worsening of LVEF, even in those with an initial LVEF recovery.
Pathway-Based Approaches for Assessing Biological Hazards of Complex Mixtures of Contaminants: A Case Study in the Maumee River
Authors: Ankley G.T. , Berninger J.P. , Blackwell B.R. , Cavallin J.E. , Collette T.W. , Ekman D.R. , Fay K.A. , Feifarek D.J. , Jensen K.M. , Kahl M.D. , Mosley J.D. , Poole S.T. , Randolph E.C. , Rearick D. , Schroeder A.L. , Swintek J. , Villeneuve D.L.
Published: December 2020

Assessment of ecological risks of chemicals in the field usually involves complex mixtures of known and unknown compounds. We describe the use of pathway-based chemical and biological approaches to assess the risk of chemical mixtures in the Maumee River (OH, USA), which receives a variety of agricultural and urban inputs. Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were deployed in cages for 4 d at a gradient of sites along the river and adjoining tributaries in 2012 and during 2 periods (April and June) in 2016, in conjunction with an automated system to collect composite water samples. More than 100 industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides were detected in water at some of the study sites, with the greatest number typically found near domestic wastewater treatment plants. In 2016, there was an increase in concentrations of several herbicides from April to June at upstream agricultural sites. A comparison of chemical concentrations in site water with single chemical data from vitro high-throughput screening (HTS) assays suggested the potential for perturbation of multiple biological pathways, including several associated with induction or inhibition of different cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes. This was consistent with direct effects of water extracts in an HTS assay and induction of hepatic CYPs in caged fish. Targeted in vitro assays and measurements in the caged fish suggested minimal effects on endocrine function (e.g., estrogenicity). A nontargeted mass spectroscopy-based analysis suggested that hepatic endogenous metabolite profiles in caged fish covaried strongly with the occurrence of pesticides and pesticide degradates. These studies demonstrate the application of an integrated suite of measurements to help understand the effects of complex chemical mixtures in the field. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1098–1122. © 2020 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Abstract

Pathway-based approaches for the assessment of the biological hazards of complex mixtures of contaminants. USEPA = US Environmental Protection Agency.
Approaches to Test the Neurotoxicity of Environmental Contaminants in the Zebrafish Model: From Behavior to Molecular Mechanisms
Authors: Fitzgerald Jennifer A. , Könemann Sarah , Krümpelmann Laura , Županič Anže , vom Berg Colette
Published: December 2020

The occurrence of neuroactive chemicals in the aquatic environment is on the rise and poses a potential threat to aquatic biota of currently unpredictable outcome. In particular, subtle changes caused by these chemicals to an organism's sensation or behavior are difficult to tackle with current test systems that focus on rodents or with in vitro test systems that omit whole-animal responses. In recent years, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a popular model organism for toxicological studies and testing strategies, such as the standardized use of zebrafish early life stages in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's guideline 236. In terms of neurotoxicity, the zebrafish provides a powerful model to investigate changes to the nervous system from several different angles, offering the ability to tackle the mechanisms of action of chemicals in detail. The mechanistic understanding gained through the analysis of this model species provides a good basic knowledge of how neuroactive chemicals might interact with a teleost nervous system. Such information can help infer potential effects occurring to other species exposed to neuroactive chemicals in their aquatic environment and predicting potential risks of a chemical for the aquatic ecosystem. In the present article, we highlight approaches ranging from behavioral to structural, functional, and molecular analysis of the larval zebrafish nervous system, providing a holistic view of potential neurotoxic outcomes. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:989–1006. © 2020 SETAC
Effect of pretreatment by supercritical fluids on antioxidant activity of protein hydrolyzate from quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)
Authors: Olivera‐Montenegro Luis , Best Ivan , Gil‐Saldarriaga Alonso
Published: December 2020

The effect of two pretreatments on the antioxidant activity was evaluated in quinoa protein hydrolysate, using supercritical CO2 extraction and ethanol as cosolvent, this type of pretreatment was compared to a conventional petroleum ether extraction method without recovery of bioactive compounds. The extractions were carried out at a temperature of 55°C and a pressure of 23 MPa using ethanol (7–8 g quinoa/100 ml); the CO2 mass flow was 35 g/min, the extraction time was 240 min and the particle size was 500 µm, enzyme COROLASE® 7089 was applied for enzymatic hydrolysis, finally ABTS test assessed antioxidant activity. A significant effect was found on the degree of hydrolysis (23.93%) and antioxidant activity (1,181.64 μmol TE/g protein) compared to a conventional method (24.33%) and (1,448.84 μmol TE/g protein). In conclusion, our results suggest that the use of supercritical CO2 and the addition of ethanol as cosolvent are the interesting green technology, to recovery oil and separate phenolic compounds prior to enzymatic hydrolysis to avoid interference with biological activities from quinoa protein hydrolysates, and shows highest antioxidant activity to be incorporate in food products.