bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management of Condyloma Acuminata in Pregnancy: A Review
Authors: Sugai Shunya , Nishijima Koji , Enomoto Takayuki
Published: October 2020

No clear guidelines are available for the management of pregnant women with condyloma acuminata, a human papillomavirus–associated benign neoplasm that develops in the genital tract. We performed a systematic review to gain a better understanding of the management of condyloma acuminata during pregnancy. In this review, we mainly focused on treatments. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science to identify studies on the treatment of condyloma acuminata during pregnancy. Thirty articles met the inclusion criteria. The treatment methods described in the literature were laser therapy, cryotherapy, imiquimod, photodynamic therapy, trichloroacetic acid, and local hyperthermia. The most effective treatment remains unclear. Various factors must be considered when deciding how to treat. Based on our assessment of the literature, we recommend cryotherapy as the first-choice treatment and laser therapy as the second-choice treatment. Imiquimod can be considered in cases such as extensive condyloma acuminata that is not easily treated by cryotherapy or laser therapy. In such cases, sufficient informed consent must be obtained from the patient. Cryotherapy, laser therapy, and imiquimod have been administered during all 3 trimesters with no severe adverse effects, but we cautiously recommend reserving laser therapy until the third trimester because of the lower risk of recurrence before delivery. There are still many unclear points regarding the management of condyloma in pregnancy, and further research is needed.
Environmental Contamination by Chlamydia trachomatis RNA Can Cause False-Positive Test Results in Clinical Samples
Authors: Toepfer Michael , Herrmann Björn , Sansone Martina , Lilja Caroline , Nolskog Peter
Published: October 2020

An investigation of unexpected positive test results for Chlamydia trachomatis at a women’s health clinic in Sweden revealed that samples were contaminated by RNA in the clinic. The risk for RNA contamination at a clinic has been postulated previously. We are, however, not aware that this has actually been demonstrated in practice.
Incident Reports of Naming Errors among Two Sets of Infant Twins
Authors: Redman Chelsea T. , Reddy Pooja , Kneifati-Hayek Jerard Z. , Applebaum Jo R. , Manzano Wilhelmina , Goffman Dena , Adelman Jason S.
Published: October 2020

Introduction:

Newborns are at high risk for identification errors due to their inability to speak and indistinguishable features. To reduce this risk, The Joint Commission requires hospitals to use a distinct identification method for newborns. Most hospitals create medical records for newborns at birth using temporary naming conventions, resulting in patients with similar identifiers. Typically, multiple-birth infants are distinguished from their siblings by a single character (1, 2, or A, B), placing them at higher risk for identification errors, which can delay care and compromise patient safety.

Methods:

We present 2 unrelated cases involving naming errors in sets of infant twins receiving care in a healthcare system using Joint Commission compliant distinct temporary naming convention.

Results:

In the 2 cases, system failures contributed to naming errors in 2 sets of infant twins, which resulted in delayed care. In the first case, twins were inadvertently assigned the same temporary name. In the second case, an infant’s blood specimen label did not include a single character, which distinguishes a multiple-birth infant from their sibling. Further safeguards are needed to reduce this risk. These cases illustrated the potential for misidentification related to newborn naming conventions during the registration process, especially between siblings of multiple-birth infants.

Conclusions:

Further research is needed to determine strategies to prevent newborn identification errors. Potential strategies to reduce this risk and protect newborns include improving the design of newborn identifiers, systems-level interventions such as verification alerts, and improved registration processes.
Dog Bites in the United States from 1971 to 2018: A Systematic Review of the Peer-Reviewed Literature
Authors: Bailey Chad M. , Hinchcliff Katharine M. , Moore Zachary , Pu Lee L. Q.
Published: October 2020

Background:

Surgical specialists in plastic, head and neck, hand, trauma surgery, and emergency medicine physicians bear the burden of treating the most serious injuries caused by animals. Most of these incidents result from an attack by a known dog, and breed has been proposed, but not proven, to be a controllable factor. The authors summarize the peer-reviewed literature on dog bites in the United States, specifically as related to the breeds implicated.

Methods:

A systematic review of all peer-reviewed publications reporting on dog bites in the United States was performed. MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library searches were conducted through May 8, 2018, for studies from the United States implicating a specific dog breed as responsible.

Results:

Forty-one articles met inclusion criteria, the majority of which were single-institution retrospective reviews. Main outcomes were any dog bite reported in the peer-reviewed literature where a specific breed was implicated. Secondary measures included dog bites reported in areas where breed-specific legislation was enacted. The most common pure breed identified was German Shepherd, followed by Pit Bull–type breeds (i.e., American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bully), Labrador, Collie, and Rottweiler, respectively. Pit bull–type and German Shepherd breeds are consistently implicated for causing the most serious injuries to patients in the United States across heterogeneous populations, and this remained consistent across multiple decades.

Conclusions:

The authors’ results indicate that German Shepherd and Pit Bull–type breeds account for the largest subset of pure breeds implicated in severe dog bites inflicted on humans in the medical literature. The role and complexity of mentioning breed in relation to human injuries are also discussed.
Health Literacy and Emergency Department Utilization Among Community Adults With Mental and Chronic Health Conditions
Authors: Dahl Alyssa M. , Hosler Akiko S.
Published: October 2020

Reducing unnecessary emergency department (ED) utilization is a national health care priority. Low health literacy is a little explored but suggested cause of excess ED utilization. This study investigated the association between health literacy and ED utilization among a community sample of adults with common mental and chronic health conditions. Cross-sectional health interview survey data from Schenectady, New York, were used. Adults (aged ≥18 years) who were diagnosed with anxiety/emotional disorders, depression, asthma, or diabetes were included in the study. Health literacy was assessed using the three-question screener developed and validated by L. D. Chew et al. (2004). ED visits in the previous 12 months specific to these health conditions were analyzed. Multivariable regression models were fitted for each condition with incremental covariate adjustments of demographics, health care access, and number of comorbidities. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Sample sizes were 404, 509, 409, and 237 for anxiety/emotional disorders, depression, asthma, and diabetes, respectively. Inadequate health literacy was significantly higher among individuals who had depression and visited an ED compared with individuals with depression without an ED visit (28.1% vs. 16.9%, p = 0.029). Significant and independent associations between inadequate health literacy and ED utilization was found among adults with anxiety/emotional disorder (fully-adjusted OR 2.22 [CI: 1.03, 4.76]) and among adults with depression (fully-adjusted OR 2.29 [CI: 1.18, 4.44]). No significant association was found among adults with asthma or diabetes. This study presented evidence that inadequate health literacy is common and independently associated with ED utilization among adults with mental health conditions. It supports an initiative to prioritize individuals with mental health conditions, and systematically screen, identify, and provide assistance to those with inadequate health literacy to reduce excess ED utilization. Several existing health literacy screening tools suitable for an emergency care setting are suggested.
Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. crassaminis subsp. nov., isolated from freshwater sediment, and reappraisal of Nocardiopsis alborubida Grund and Kroppenstedt 1990 emend. Nouioui et al. 2018
Authors: Camacho Pozo Miladis Isabel , Wieme Anneleen D. , Pérez Suyén Rodríguez , Llauradó Maury Gabriel , Snauwaert Cindy , Lescaylle Veranes Yaneisy , Peña Zamora Leonor , Schumann Peter , Vandamme Peter
Published: October 2020

An actinomycete, strain D1T, was isolated from a freshwater sediment sample collected from the San Pablo river in the La Risueña community, Santiago de Cuba province, Cuba. The strain was identified as a member of the genus

Nocardiopsis

by means of a polyphasic taxonomic study. It produced a light yellow non-fragmented substrate mycelium, a white well-developed aerial mycelium and straight to flexuous hyphae. No specific spore chains were observed. Strain D1T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, no diagnostic sugars, and MK-10(H2), MK-10(H4), MK-10 and MK-10(H6) as predominant menaquinones, but not phosphatidylcholine as diagnostic polar lipid of the genus

Nocardiopsis

. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, 10-methyl-C18 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Strain D1T showed the highest degree of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Nocardiopsis synnematoformans DSM 44143T (99.8 %),

Nocardiopsis dassonvillei

subsp.

albirubida

NBRC 13392T (99.8 %) and

Nocardiopsis dassonvillei

subsp.

dassonvillei

DSM 43111T (99.6 %). A genomic OrthoANIu value between D1T and

N. dassonvillei

subsp.

dassonvillei

DSM 43111T of 97.63 % and a dDDH value of 78.9 % indicated that strain D1T should be classified in

N. dassonvillei

. However, phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain D1T from its nearest neighbour taxon. On basis of these results we propose to classify strain D1T (=LMG 30468T=CECT 30033T) as a representative of a novel subspecies of the genus

Nocardiopsis

, for which the name

Nocardiopsis dassonvillei

subsp. crassaminis subsp. nov. is proposed. In addition, the genomic distance between

N. dassonvillei

subsp.

albirubida

NBRC 13392T and

N. dassonvillei

subsp.

dassonvillei

DSM 43111T as determined through OrthoANIu (93.64 %) and dDDH (53.40 %), along with considerable phenotypic and chemotaxonomic differences reported in earlier studies, indicated that the classification of this taxon as

Nocardiopsis alborubida

Grund and Kroppenstedt 1990 is to be preferred over its classification as

N. dassonvillei

subsp.

albirubida

Evtushenko et al. 2000.
Muricauda maritima sp. nov., Muricauda aequoris sp. nov. and Muricauda oceanensis sp. nov., three marine bacteria isolated from seawater
Authors: Guo Li-Li , Wu Dildar , Sun Cong , Cheng Hong , Xu Xue-Wei , Wu Min , Wu Yue-Hong
Published: October 2020

Three Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped strains, designated 72T, NH166T and 40DY170T, were isolated from seawater samples of the West Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and West Pacific Ocean, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity results revealed that strains 72Tand NH166T were most closely related to

Muricauda antarctica

Ar-22T,

Muricauda taeanensis

JCM 17757T,

Muricauda beolgyonensis

KCTC 23501T,

Muricauda lutimaris

KCTC 22173T and

Muricauda hadalis

MT-229T with 97.2–98.0% sequence similarity. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis also indicated that strain 40DY170T was most closely related to

Muricauda ruestringensis

DSM 13258T,

Muricauda aquimarina

JCM 11811T,

Muricauda lutimaris

KCTC 22173T and

Muricauda oceani

501str8T with 97.6–98.1% sequence similarity. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values among strains 72T, NH166T and 40DY170T were 96.5–99.2%. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that three new isolates represented three novel species by forming two distinctive lineages within the genus

Muricauda

. The DNA G+C contents of strain 72T, NH166T and 40DY170T were 43.4, 43.4 and 42.4 mol%, respectively. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strains 72T, NH166T, 40DY170T and the reference strains were 76.5–93.5% and 19.2–53.5%, respectively. The sole respiratory quinone in all strains was menaquinone-6. Their major fatty acids were iso-C17:0 3-OH, iso-C15:0 and iso-C15 : 1 G. The major polar lipids of strains 72T and NH166T were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. The major polar lipids of strain 40DY170T were phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. On the basis of their distinct taxonomic characteristics, the three isolates represent three novel species of the genus

Muricauda

, for which the names Muricauda maritima sp. nov. (type strain 72T=KCTC 62229T=MCCC 1K03350T), Muricauda aequoris sp. nov. (NH166T=KCTC 62228T=MCCC 1K03449T) and Muricauda oceanensis sp. nov. (40DY170T=KCTC 72200T=MCCC 1K03569T) are proposed.
Haloarcula mannanilytica sp. nov., a galactomannan-degrading haloarchaeon isolated from commercial salt
Authors: Enomoto Shigeaki , Shimane Yasuhiro , Ihara Kunio , Kamekura Masahiro , Itoh Takashi , Ohkuma Moriya , Takahashi-Ando Naoko , Fukushima Yasumasa , Yoshida Yasuhiko , Usami Ron , Takai Ken , Minegishi Hiroaki
Published: October 2020

A mannan-degrading halophilic archaeal strain, MD130-1T, was isolated from a commercial salt sample. Cells were motile, rod-shaped, and stained Gram-negative. Colonies were pink pigmented. Strain MD130-1T was able to grow at 1.5–4.6 M NaCl (optimum, 3.6 M) at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and at 25–50 °C (optimum, 40 °C). The DNA G+C content was 62.1 mol% (genome). The orthologous 16S rRNA gene sequence showed the highest similarity (99.4 %) to those of

Haloarcula japonica

JCM 7785T and

Haloarcula hispanica

JCM 8911T. The values of genome relatedness between strain MD130-1T and

Haloarcula

species were 84.33–85.96 % in ANIb and 30.4–32.9 % using GGDC formula 2. The polar lipids of strain MD130-1T were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester and triglycosyl diether-2. Based on the results of phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses, the strain represents a new species of the genus

Haloarcula

, for which the name Haloarcula mannanilytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MD130-1T (=JCM 33835T=KCTC 4287T) isolated from commercial salt made in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan.
Machine learning and MRI-based diagnostic models for ADHD: are we there yet?
Authors: Zhang-James Yanli , Razavi Ali Shervin , Hoogman Martine , Franke Barbara , Faraone Stephen V
Published: October 2020

Machine learning (ML) has been applied to develop magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based diagnostic classifiers for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This systematic review examines this literature to clarify its clinical significance and to assess the implications of the various analytic methods applied. We found that, although most of studies reported the classification accuracies, they varied in choice of MRI modalities, ML models, cross-validation and testing methods, and sample sizes. We found that the accuracies of cross-validation methods inflated the performance estimation compared with those of a held-out test, compromising the model generalizability. Test accuracies have increased with publication year but were not associated with training sample sizes. Improved test accuracy over time was likely due to the use of better ML methods along with strategies to deal with data imbalances. Ultimately, large multi-modal imaging datasets, and potentially the combination with other types of data, like cognitive data and/or genetics, will be essential to achieve the goal of developing clinically useful imaging classification tools for ADHD in the future.
Decrease in Hospitalizations for COVID-19 after Mask Mandates in 1083 U.S. Counties
Authors: Adjodah Dhaval , Dinakar Karthik , Fraiberger Samuel P. , Rutherford George W. , Glidden David V. , Gandhi Monica
Published: October 2020

Withdrawal

The authors have withdrawn this manuscript because there are increased rates of SARS- CoV-2 cases in the areas that we originally analyzed in this study. New analyses in the context of the third surge in the United States are therefore needed and will be undertaken directly in conjunction with the creators of the publicly-available databases on cases, hospitalizations, testing rates. Etc. We will be performing this in conjunction with machine learning experts at UCSF. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. We hope to have an updated analysis using data from the 2ndand now 3rdwave of SARS-CoV-2 in this country soon. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author.
Intervention Development Protocol for a novel, co-produced, sexually transmitted infection partner notification intervention for men who have sex with men
Authors: McQueen Jean M , Owusu Melvina Woode , Mapp Fiona , Estcourt Claudia S , Symonds Merle , Howarth Alison R , Nandwani Rak , Brice Susannah , Comer Alex , Flowers Paul
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The number of bacterial sexually transmitted infections diagnosed among men who have sex with men (MSM) continues to rise annually. Innovative public health interventions are needed to address this. Partner notification (PN), is important in reducing STI transmission by identifying, testing and treating the sex partners of people with STIs. Outcomes of PN in MSM are sub-optimal; some MSM with STIs report high numbers of “one-off” sex partners (where sex occurs on one occasion only) who appear to contribute disproportionately to community transmission but are poorly reached by current PN interventions.

Aims/Objectives

This paper describes the protocol for development of a novel, co-produced, multi-level, PN intervention for MSM with “one-off” partners. The process described will ensure the intervention is evidence-based, theoretically informed and acceptable to users, service providers, commissioners and those with community interest.

Methods and Analysis

Our three-phase approach draws on the revised Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance for developing and evaluating complex interventions. First, we combine evidence synthesis with stakeholder engagement to understand the barriers and enablers to PN to co-produce preliminary intervention ideas. Next, we further develop our intervention ideas and adapt our emerging programme theory by collecting detailed data through focus groups and interviews with purposively sampled stakeholders. Data analysis using the theoretical domains framework and the behaviour change wheel will detail the relationship between putative causal mechanisms and optimal intervention components involved in enhancing PN amongst MSM. Finally, we refine our programme theory, map and clarify our intervention and its intersecting components. We will share our intervention with a panel of expert clinicians, third sector organisations and a lay audience of MSM to detail a co-produced PN intervention.

Outcome

Co-produced intervention and programme theory suitable for testing in a future feasibility study.

Ethics and dissemination

This protocol received ethical approval from Glasgow Caledonian University HLS/NCH/19/059. Findings will be published with open access licenses.

Partner notification for men who have sex with men is suboptimal this paper describes a protocol to develop a co-produced multi-level partner notification intervention.
Nasopharyngeal aspirates vs. nasal swabs for the detection of respiratory pathogens: results of a rapid review protocol
Authors: Flynn Matthew F. , Kelly Martin , Dooley James S.
Published: October 2020

Background

Nasal pathogen detection sensitivities are often as low as 70% despite advances in molecular diagnostics. It has been suggested that this is linked, in part, to the choice of sampling method.

Methods

A diagnostic test accuracy review for sensitivity, using recently developed Cochrane methods for conducting rapid reviews, and the PRISMA protocol was undertaken, with QUADAS-2 risk of bias assessments and meta-analysis of included studies. Sensitivities were calculated by a consensus standard of positivity by either method as the gold standard. Insufficient and/or inaccurate, cross sectional or anatomical site pooling methodologies were excluded.

Results

Of 13 included studies, 8 had ‘high’ risk of bias, and 5 had ‘high’ applicability concerns. There were no statistical differences in pooled sensitivities between collection methods for 8 different viruses, and neither with use of PCR, Immunofluorescence nor culture. In a single study, Influenza H1N1 favoured nasopharyngeal swabs, with aspirates having 93.3% of the sensitivity of swabs (p>0.001). Similar equivocal sensitivities were noticed in detecting bacteria.

Conclusions

The chain of sampling, from anatomical site to laboratory results, features different potential foci along which sensitivity may be lost. A sufficient body of evidence exists that use of a different sampling method will not yield more respiratory pathogens. The new Cochrane Rapid Reviews guidance helped rapidly answer this relevant and timely clinical question.
Relaxed peripheral tolerance drives broad de novo autoreactivity in severe COVID-19
Authors: Woodruff Matthew C. , Ramonell Richard P. , Saini Ankur Singh , Haddad Natalie S. , Anam Fabliha A. , Rudolph Mark E. , Bugrovsky Regina , Hom Jennifer , Cashman Kevin S. , Nguyen Doan C. , Kyu Shuya , Piazza Michael , Tipton Christopher M. , Jenks Scott A. , Lee F. Eun-Hyung , Sanz Ignacio
Published: October 2020

An emerging feature of COVID-19 is the identification of autoreactivity in patients with severe disease that may contribute to disease pathology, however the origin and resolution of these responses remain unclear. Previously, we identified strong extrafollicular B cell activation as a shared immune response feature between both severe COVID-19 and patients with advanced rheumatic disease. In autoimmune settings, this pathway is associated with relaxed peripheral tolerance in the antibody secreting cell compartment and the generation of de novo autoreactive responses. Investigating these responses in COVID-19, we performed single-cell repertoire analysis on 7 patients with severe disease. In these patients, we identify the expansion of a low-mutation IgG1 fraction of the antibody secreting cell compartment that are not memory derived, display low levels of selective pressure, and are enriched for autoreactivity-prone IGHV4-34 expression. Within this compartment, we identify B cell lineages that display specificity to both SARS-CoV-2 and autoantigens, including pathogenic autoantibodies against glomerular basement membrane, and describe progressive, broad, clinically relevant autoreactivity within these patients correlated with disease severity. Importantly, we identify anti-carbamylated protein responses as a common hallmark and candidate biomarker of broken peripheral tolerance in severe COVID-19. Finally, we identify the contraction of this pathway upon recovery, and re-establishment of tolerance standards coupled with a concomitant loss of acute-derived ASCs irrespective of antigen specificity. In total, this study reveals the origins, breadth, and resolution of acute-phase autoreactivity in severe COVID-19, with significant implications in both early interventions and potential treatment of patients with post-COVID sequelae.
Anti-vaccine attitudes and risk factors for not agreeing to vaccination against COVID-19 amongst 32,361 UK adults: Implications for public health communications
Authors: Paul Elise , Steptoe Andrew , Fancourt Daisy
Published: October 2020

Background Negative attitudes towards vaccines and an uncertainty or unwillingness to receive vaccinations are major barriers to managing the COVID-19 pandemic in the long-term. We estimate predictors of four domains of negative attitudes towards vaccines and identify groups most at risk of uncertainty and unwillingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in a large sample of UK adults.
Methods Data were from 32,361 adults in the UCL COVID-19 Social Study. Ordinary least squares regression analyses examined the impact of socio-demographic and COVID-19 related factors on four types of negative vaccine attitudes: mistrust of vaccine benefit, worries about unforeseen effects, concerns about commercial profiteering, and preference for natural immunity. Multinomial logistic regression examined the impact of socio-demographic and COVID-19 related factors, negative vaccine attitudes, and prior vaccine behaviour on uncertainty and unwillingness to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Findings 16% of respondents displayed high levels of mistrust or misinformation about vaccines across one or more domains. Distrustful attitudes towards vaccination were higher amongst individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds, with lower levels of education, lower annual income, poor knowledge of COVID-19, and poor compliance with government COVID-19 guidelines. Overall, 14% of respondents reported unwillingness to receive a vaccine for COVID-19, whilst 22% were unsure. The largest predictors of both COVID-19 vaccine uncertainty and refusal were low income (< 30,000 GBP a year), having not received a flu vaccine last year, poor adherence to COVID-19 government guidelines, female gender, and living with children. Amongst vaccine attitudes, intermediate to high levels of vaccine benefit mistrust and concerns about future unforeseen side effects were the most important determinants of both uncertainty and unwillingness to vaccinate against COVID-19.
Interpretation Negative attitudes towards vaccines are major public health concerns in the UK. General mistrust in vaccines and concerns about future side effects in particular will be barriers to achieving population immunity to COVID-19 through vaccination. Public health messaging should be tailored to address these concerns.
Funding
The Nuffield Foundation [WEL/FR-000022583], the MARCH Mental Health Network funded by the Cross-Disciplinary Mental Health Network Plus initiative supported by UK Research and Innovation [ES/S002588/1], and the Wellcome Trust [221400/Z/20/Z and 205407/Z/16/Z].
Pitfalls in pre-operative prediction of lymph node metastasis in early endometrial cancer
Authors: Veena Pampapati , Ilango Rajalakshmi , Durairaj Jayalakshmi
Published: October 2020

Objective

The role of lymphadenectomy in early stage endometrial cancer is controversial as it is associated with intra-operative complications and its therapeutic benefit is not established. Prediction of lymph nodal metastasis so as to perform selective lymph node dissection is desirable. This study was conducted to study grade of the tumor obtained by endometrial biopsy specimen and depth of myometrial invasion assessed by imaging pre-operatively as predictors of lymph nodal metastasis in early endometrial cancers.

Methods

Our study was a cross sectional study done in a tertiary care center in south India, where 100 patients were studied from August 2016 to May 2018. After Ethical Committee clearance, all patients who were diagnosed with early endometrial cancer and who underwent surgery in our hospital were included in the study after getting informed consent. Pre-operative tumor grade and depth of myometrial invasion were studied as predictors of lymph nodal metastasis. They were also correlated with post-operative grade and myometrial invasion.

Results

The present study recruited 100 women of which 3 cases were excluded because of non-endometrioid histology. The incidence of positive lymph node metastasis in our study was 18.6%. Both pre-operative tumor grade and depth of myometrial invasion were not significantly associated with lymph node metastasis. There was significant variation between pre-operative and post-operative tumor grade and depth of myometrial invasion. Among post-operative histopathological factors, only lymphovascular space invasion was found to be significantly associated with lymph node metastasis.

Conclusion

In our study, neither pre-operative nor post-operative grade of the tumor and depth of myometrial invasion were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis. There was considerable variation between pre-op and post-op grade of the tumor making pre-op grade an unreliable factor in predicting lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer. Among post-operative histopathological factors, only lymphovascular space invasion was found to be significantly associated with lymph node metastasis.

Key message

Considerable variation between pre-op and post-op grade of the tumor makes pre-op grade an unreliable factor in predicting lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer
SACCHARIN TRANSIT TIME IN EXCLUSIVE E-CIGARETTES AND HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS USERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Authors: Polosa R. , Emma R. , Cibella F. , Caruso M. , Conte G. , Benfatto F. , Ferlito S. , Gulino A. , Malerba M. , Caponnetto P.
Published: October 2020

Tobacco smoking impairs mucociliary clearance (MCC) efficiency as shown by prolonged saccharin test transit time (STTT). Avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke from combustible cigarettes may restore MCC function and former smokers have been shown to exhibit similar STTT as never smokers. The impact of switching from smoking to combustion-free tobacco products such as e-cigarettes (ECs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) on STTT is not known. We report STTT of exclusive EC and HTP users. Test results were compared to those obtained in current, former, and never smokers.

STTT were obtained from 39 current, 40 former, 40 never smokers and from 20 EC and 20 HTP users. Comparison of STTT values showed significant difference among the five study groups (p< 0.00001) with current smokers having a median (IQR) STTT of 13.15 min, which was significantly longer compared to that of all other study groups. In particular, compared to former (7.26 min) and never smokers (7.24 min), exclusive EC users and exclusive HTP users had similar STTT at 7.00 and 8.00 min respectively.

Ex-smokers who have switched to exclusive regular use of combustion-free nicotine delivery systems (i.e. ECs and HTPs) exhibit similar saccharin transit time as never and former smokers. This suggests that combustion-free nicotine delivery technologies are unlikely to have detrimental effects on MCC function.
‘No lockdown’ policy for COVID-19 epidemic in Bangladesh : Good, bad or ugly?
Authors: Siam Zakaria Shams , Arifuzzaman M. , Rashid Md. Harunur , Islam Md. Shariful
Published: October 2020

Bangladesh has been combating the COVID-19 pandemic with limited financial resources and poor health infrastructure since March, 2020. Although the government has imposed several restricted measures to curb the progression of the outbreak, these arrays of measures are not sustainable in the long run. In this study, we assess the impact of lift of flexible lockdown on the COVID-19 dynamics in Bangladesh. Our analysis demonstrates that the country might experience second infection peak in 6-7 months after the withdrawal of current lockdown. Moreover, a prolonged restrictions until January, 2021 will shift the infection peak towards August, 2021 and will reduce approximately 20 % COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh.

What we know

Bangladesh has been going through COVID-19 crisis and in response, the Government has implemented restricted array of measures to curb the COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh.

What this article adds

The impact of ‘no lockdown’ policies on COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.

Appearance of second infection peak in 6-7 months after the withdrawal of current lockdown.
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in two regions of Estonia (KoroSero-EST-1)
Authors: Jõgi Piia , Soeorg Hiie , Ingerainen Diana , Soots Mari , Lättekivi Freddy , Naaber Paul , Toompere Karolin , Peterson Pärt , Haljasmägi Liis , Žusinaite Eva , Vaas Hannes , Pauskar Merit , Shablinskaja Arina , Kaarna Katrin , Paluste Heli , Kisand Kai , Oona Marje , Janno Riina , Lutsar Irja
Published: October 2020

Background

In Estonia, during the first wave of COVID-19 total number of cases confirmed by PCR was 13.3/10,000, similar in most regions, including capital Tallinn, but in the hotspot of Estonian epidemic, an island Saaremaa, the cumulative incidence was 166.1/10,000.

Aim

We aimed to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in these two regions, symptoms associated with infection and factors associated with antibody concentrations.

Methods

Participants were selected using stratified (formed by age decades) random sampling and recruited by general practitioners. IgG were determined from sera by four assays. Symptoms of acute respiratory illness associated with seropositivity were analyzed by multiple correspondence analysis, antibody concentrations by multiple linear regression.

Results

Total of 3608 individual were invited and 1960 recruited From May 8 to July 31, 2020. Seroprevalence was 1.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9-2.5) and 6.3% (95% CI 5.0-7.9), infection fatality rate 0.1% (95% CI 0.0-0.2) and 1.3% (95% CI 0.4-2.1) in Tallinn and Saaremaa, respectively. Of seropositive subjects 19.2% (14/73) had acute respiratory illness. Fever, diarrhea and the absence of cough and runny nose were associated with seropositivity in individuals aged 50 or more years. IgG concentrations were higher if fever, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain or diarrhea was present, or hospitalization required.

Conclusion

Similarly to other European countries the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Estonia was low even in the hotspot region Saaremaa suggesting that majority of population is still susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Focusing only on respiratory symptoms may delay accurate diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Diarrhea prevalence in a randomized, controlled prospective trial of point-of-use water filters in homes and schools in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Tintle Nathan , Van De Griend Kristin , Ulrich Rachel , Wade Randall D. , Baar Tena M. , Boven Emma , Cooper Carolyn E. A. , Couch Olivia , Eekhoff Lauren , Fry Benjamin , Goszkowicz Grace K. , Hecksel Maya A. , Heynen Adam , Laughlin Jade A. , Les Sydney M. , Lombard Taylor R. , Munson B. Daniel , Peterson Jonas M. , Schumann Eric , Settecerri Daniel J. , Spry Jacob E. , Summerfield Matthew J. , Sunder Meghana , Wade Daniel R. , Zonnefeld Caden G. , Brokus Sarah A. , Moen Francesco S. , Slater Adam D. , Peterson Jonathan W. , Pikaart Michael J. , Krueger Brent P. , Best Aaron A.
Published: October 2020

Background

Lack of sustainable access to clean drinking water continues to be an issue of paramount global importance, leading to millions of preventable deaths annually. Best practices for providing sustainable access to clean drinking water, however, remain unclear. Widespread installation of low-cost, in-home, point of use water filtration systems is a promising strategy.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled trial whereby 16 villages were selected and randomly assigned to one of four treatment arms based on the installation location of Sawyer®PointONE™ filters (filter in both home and school; filter in home only; filter in school only; control group). Water samples and self-reported information on diarrhea were collected at multiple times throughout the study.

Results

Self-reported household prevalence of diarrhea decreased from 25.6% to 9.76% from installation to follow-up (at least 7 days, and up to 200 days post-filter installation). These declines were also observed in diarrhea with economic or educational consequences (diarrhea which led to medical treatment and/or missing school or work) with baseline prevalence of 9.64% declining to 1.57%. Decreases in diarrhea prevalence were observed across age groups. There was no evidence of a loss of efficacy of filters up to 200 days post filter installation. Installation of filters in schools was not associated with decreases in diarrhea prevalence in school-aged children or family members. Unfiltered water samples both at schools and homes contained potential waterborne bacterial pathogens, dissolved heavy metals and metals associated with particulates. All dissolved metals were detected at levels below World Health Organization action guidelines.

Conclusions

This controlled trial provides strong evidence of the effectiveness of point-of-use, hollow fiber membrane filters at reducing diarrhea from bacterial sources up to 200 days post installation when installed in homes. No statistically significant reduction in diarrhea was found when filters were installed in schools. Further research is needed in order to explore filter efficacy and utilization after 200 days post-installation. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT03972618. Registered 3 June 2019 - Retrospectively registered,https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03972618.
Subthalamic neural oscillations reveal no effect of implicit versus explicit facial emotional processing
Authors: Duprez Joan , Dondaine Thibaut , Houvenaghel Jean-François , Modolo Julien , Haegelen Claire , Robert Gabriel , Millet Bruno , Drapier Dominique , Péron Julie , Grandjean Didier , Drapier Sophie , Vérin Marc , Sauleau Paul
Published: October 2020

In addition to the subthalamic nucleus’ (STN) role in motor control, STN deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease (PD) has also uncovered its involvement in cognitive and limbic processing. STN neural oscillations analyzed through local field potential (LFP) recordings have been shown to contribute to emotional (mostly in the alpha band [8-12 Hz]) and cognitive processing (theta [4-7 Hz] and beta [13-30 Hz] bands). In this study, we aimed at testing the hypothesis that STN oscillatory activity is involved in explicit and implicit processing of emotions. To achieve this objective, we used a task that presented patients with fearful emotional facial expressions and asked them to identify the emotion (explicit task) or gender associated with the face (implicit task). We evaluated emotion and task effects on STN neural oscillations power and intertrial phase consistency. Our results revealed that accuracy was lower in the implicit task. Increased STN delta power and decreased alpha and beta power were observed after stimulus presentation. However, there was no influence of emotional facial expression, i.e. neutral versus fear, nor task demands. Intertrial phase consistency in the delta and theta band increased after stimulus onset, in the same time-period as delta power increased. However, similarly to oscillatory power, no changes related to emotional fear expression or task demand were found.

These findings suggest that STN oscillatory activity is not specifically involved in explicit and/or implicit processing of emotions, and that power and phase synchronization changes might be more related to overall task-execution mechanisms. These conjectures remain to be confirmed.

Highlights

– STN LFPs were recorded during an emotional/gender recognition task in PD patients.

– STN delta power increased, and alpha and beta power decreased after stimulus onset.

– Power changes were not influenced by emotional fearful expression or task demands.

– Delta/theta intertrial phase consistency increased after stimulus onset.

– Intertrial phase consistency was not affected by emotional valence or task demands.

– The observed STN activity was likely related to general task-execution mechanisms.
Topologically associating domain boundaries are enriched in early firing origins and restrict replication fork progression
Authors: Lombardi Emilia Puig , Tarsounas Madalena
Published: October 2020

Topologically associating domains (TADs) are units of the genome architecture defined by binding sites for the CTCF transcription factor and cohesin-mediated loop extrusion. Genomic regions containing DNA replication initiation sites have been mapped in the proximity of TAD boundaries. However, the factors that determine this positioning have not been identified. Moreover, the impact of TADs on the directionality of replication fork progression remains unknown. Here we use EdU-seq technology to map origin firing sites at 10 kb resolution and to monitor replication fork progression after restart from hydroxyurea arrest. We show that origins firing in early/mid S-phase within TAD boundaries map to two distinct peaks flanking the centre of the boundary, which is occupied by CTCF and cohesin. When transcription is inhibited chemically or deregulated by oncogene overexpression, replication origins become repositioned to the centre of the TAD. Furthermore, we demonstrate the strikingly asymmetric fork progression initiating from origins located within TAD boundaries. Divergent CTCF binding sites and neighbouring TADs with different replication timing (RT) cause fork stalling in regions external to the TAD. Thus, our work assigns for the first time a role to transcription within TAD boundaries in promoting replication origin firing and demonstrates how genomic regions adjacent to the TAD boundaries could restrict replication progression.
Mapping the organization and dynamics of the posterior medial network during movie watching
Authors: Cooper Rose A. , Kurkela Kyle A. , Davis Simon W. , Ritchey Maureen
Published: October 2020

Brain regions within a posterior medial network (PMN) are characterized by sensitivity to episodic tasks, and they also demonstrate strong functional connectivity as part of the default network. Despite its cohesive structure, delineating the intranetwork organization and functional diversity of the PMN is crucial for understanding its contributions to multidimensional event cognition. Here, we probed functional connectivity of the PMN during movie watching to identify its pattern of connections and subnetwork functions in a split-sample replication of 136 participants. Consistent with prior findings of default network fractionation, we identified distinct PMN subsystems: a Ventral PM subsystem (retrosplenial cortex, parahippocampal cortex, posterior angular gyrus) and a Dorsal PM subsystem (medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, precuneus, posterior cingulate cortex, anterior angular gyrus). Ventral and Dorsal PM subsystems were differentiated by functional connectivity with parahippocampal cortex and precuneus and integrated by retrosplenial cortex and posterior cingulate cortex, respectively. Finally, the distinction between PMN subsystems is functionally relevant: whereas both Dorsal and Ventral PM connectivity tracked the movie content, only Ventral PM connections increased in strength at event transitions and appeared sensitive to episodic memory. Overall, these findings reveal PMN functional pathways and the distinct functional roles of intranetwork subsystems during event cognition.
2-Arachidonoylglycerol mobilization following brief synaptic stimulation in the dorsal lateral striatum requires glutamatergic and cholinergic neurotransmission
Authors: Liput Daniel J. , Puhl Henry L. , Dong Ao , He Kaikai , Li Yulong , Lovinger David M.
Published: October 2020

Several forms of endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling have been described in the dorsal lateral striatum (DLS), however most experimental protocols used to induce plasticity do not recapitulate the firing patterns of striatal-projecting pyramidal neurons in the cortex or firing patterns of striatal medium spiny neurons. Therefore, it is unclear if current models of eCB signaling in the DLS provide a reliable description of mechanisms engaged under physiological conditions. To address this uncertainty, we investigated mechanisms of eCB mobilization following brief synaptic stimulation that mimicsin vivopatterns of neural activity in the DLS. To monitor eCB mobilization, the novel genetically encoded fluorescent eCB biosensor, GRABeCB2.0, was expressed in corticostriatal afferents of C57BL6J mice and evoked eCB transients were measured in the DLS using a brain slice photometry technique. We found that brief bouts of synaptic stimulation induce long lasting eCB transients. Inhibition of monoacylglycerol lipase, prolonged the duration of the eCB transient, while inhibition of diacylglycerol lipase inhibited the peak amplitude, suggesting that 2-AG is the predominate eCB generated following brief synaptic stimulation. 2-AG transients were robustly inhibited by AMPA and NMDA receptor antagonists, DNQX and DL-AP5 respectively. Additionally, the 2-AG transient was inhibited by the muscarinic M1 receptor (M1R) antagonist, VU 0255035, and augmented by the M1R positive allosteric modulator, VU 0486846, indicating that acetylcholine (ACh) release is required for efficient 2-AG production. The dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) agonist, quinpirole, inhibited the 2-AG transient. However, in slices from mice lacking D2Rs on cholinergic interneurons (CINs), quinpirole did not inhibit the 2-AG transient, demonstrating that D2Rs on CINs can modulate 2-AG production. The AMPA receptor or NMDA receptor antagonists, DNQX or DL-AP5 respectively, occluded 2-AG augmentation by VU 0486846 suggesting that converging glutamatergic and cholinergic signals are required for efficient 2-AG production following brief synaptic stimulation. Collectively, these data uncover unrecognized mechanisms underlying 2-AG mobilization in the DLS.
Back to the future: Implications of genetic complexity for hybrid breeding strategies
Authors: Technow Frank , Podlich Dean , Cooper Mark
Published: October 2020

Commercial hybrid breeding operations can be described as decentralized networks of smaller, more or less isolated breeding programs. There is further a tendency for the disproportionate use of successful inbred lines for generating the next generation of recombinants, which has led to a series of significant bottlenecks, particularly in the history of the North American and European maize germplasm. Both the decentralization and the disproportionate inbred use reduce effective population size and constrain the accessible genetic space. Under these conditions, long term response to selection is not expected to be optimal under the classical infinitesimal model of quantitative genetics. In this study we therefore aim to propose an alternative rational for the success of large breeding operations in the context of genetic complexity arising from the structure and properties of interactive genetic networks. For this we use simulations based on theNKmodel of genetic architecture. We indeed found that constraining genetic space and reducing effective population size, through program decentralization and disproportionate inbred use, is required to expose additive genetic variation and thus facilitate heritable genetic gains. These results introduce new insights into why the historically grown structure of hybrid breeding programs was successful in improving the yield potential of hybrid crops over the last century. We also hope that a renewed appreciation for “why things worked” in the past can guide the adoption of novel technologies and the design of future breeding strategies for navigating biological complexity.