bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Struktur Insan sebagai Konsep Kepribadian Manusia Perspektif Sufi
Authors: Naan Naan , Nurlaela Andi
Published: December 2020

This paper focuses on Sufi views on human personality. The object of study is the human spiritual structure. The human spiritual structure, that is in the inner dimension is obtained from mystical experience and information from previous murshid. The writing of this article aims to explain personality theories and find true common thread put forward by some sufi figures. The method used for this study is literary surveys. In general, sufi literature states that human personality consist of spirit, heart and soul. All three are referred to as completing instruments. While reason takes the position as a logical conscious entity. This view based on the text of the holy Qur’an and  the myticism of the teacher’s guidance. This mystical experience produces interpretations that are rich in diversity and loaded with differences.
Usûlün Fürûya Yansıması Bağlamında Cessâs’ın Âhâd Haber Anlayışı -Şerhu Muhtasari’t-Tahâvî Örneği-
Authors: KORKMAZ Ömer
Published: December 2020

Sünnet’in Kur’ân’dan sonra İslam Hukukunun ikinci kaynağı konumunda olduğu hususunda İslam âlimlerinin çoğunluğu görüş birliği içindedir. Bununla birlikte haber-i vâhidin dini hükümlerde delil olarak kullanılması meselesi -sübûtunun zannî olması nedeniyle- ilk dönemlerden itibaren ciddi tartışmalara konu olmuştur. Özellikle Hanefî mezhebinin kurucu imamı Ebû Hanîfe haber-i vâhidleri delil olarak kullanmamakla itham edilmiş, daha çok re’yiyle hüküm verdiği iddia edilmiştir. Ancak Ebû Hanîfe’nin âhâd haberleri delil olarak kullanmadığı iddiasının yersiz olduğunu ispatlamak için pek çok eser kaleme alınmıştır. Cessâs da bu iddianın doğru olmadığını göstermek için konuya eserlerinde oldukça geniş şekilde yer vermiştir. Bu bağlamda Hanefîlerin âhâd haberlere bakışını ve âhâd haberlerin Hanefîler katında değerini de ihtiva eden ilk kapsamlı usûl eseri ile birçok fürû eseri yazmış olması Cessâs’ın açıklamalarına ayrı bir değer katmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Hanefî mezhebinin kurucu imamlarının ve onların öğrencilerinin fıkıh usûlü anlayışlarının sonraki dönemlere aktarılmasını sağlayan Hanefî âlim Cessâs’ın âhâd haberlere yönelik değerlendirmeleri ele alınacaktır. Cessâs’ın Şerhu muhtasari’t-Tahâvî adlı fıkıh eseri genel olarak incelenerek haber-i vâhide yaklaşımı ilgili eser çerçevesinde izah edilecektir.
Personal Brand of a Politician in an Election Campaign – Political Personas on Facebook
Authors: Kannasto Elisa
Published: December 2020

A politician’s persona is negotiated on multiple platforms in various ways. Some maintain a strategic, carefully negotiated self, while others reveal more and blur lines between professional and private dimensions of their persona (Street 2004). Together with constituents – who discuss them widely on different platforms – politicians build personal brands which construct their lives as performances and products to be sold (van Dijck 2013; Enli 2015a). Persona representations provoke feelings and politicians are expected to effectively manage scrutiny of both private and professional elements of their public selves.
Celebrity Personas, Self-help Culture, and Collective Psychology: Reflections and transformations
Authors: Kelsey Darren
Published: December 2020

The self-help industry bombards us with books and messages about how to live happier lives, but their advice is not always helpful. Celebrity endorsements of self-help methods and mythologies in popular culture create communicative tensions in our collective psyche, feeding messages of hope and optimism that are often, somewhat ironically, detrimental to our happiness. As a result, we now have a growing body of anti-self-help literature telling us to ditch the positive thinking, cut the endless fixation on goal setting, and live more resiliently in the face of life’s inevitable adversity (Brown 2016; Manson 2016; Brinkmann 2017).
N-chlorotaurine, a novel inhaled virucidal antiseptic is highly active against respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
Authors: Lackner Michaela , Rössler Annika , Volland André , Stadtmüller Marlena , Müllauer Brigitte , Banki Zoltan , Ströhle Johannes , Luttick Angela , Fenner Jennifer , Stoiber Heribert , Laer Dorothee von , Wolff Thorsten , Schwarz Carsten , Nagl Markus
Published: December 2020

N-chlorotaurine (NCT) is a long-lived oxidant generated in activated cells of the innate immune system, namely neutrophilic and eosinophilic granulocytes and monocytes. NCT acts as an antiseptic agent that can be synthesized chemically and applied topically on different infected body sites. Even treatment of the lower respiratory tract via inhalation, which has been in development in the last years, was well tolerated in a recent phase I clinical trial. In this study, we demonstrate the activity of NCT against viruses causing acute respiratory tract infections, in fact severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus. NCT revealed broad virucidal activity against all viruses tested. In the presence of organic proteinaceous material simulating body fluids, this activity was enhanced by transchlorination mechanisms so that significant inactivation of viruses could be achieved within 1 – 10 minutes. Inhalation of 1.0% NCT as a prophylactic and therapeutic strategy against acute viral respiratory tract infections deserves comprehensive clinical investigation.
Biomechanical comparison of cervical interbody fusion cages with ZK60 and Ti-6Al-4V materials: A finite element analysis and lattice topology optimization
Authors: Sun Jun , Wang Qiuan , Cai Dazhao , Gu Wenxiang , Ma Yiming , Sun Yang , Wei Yangyang , Yuan Feng
Published: December 2020

Background In current clinical practice, the most commonly used fusion cage materials are titanium (Ti) alloys. However, titanium alloys are non-degradable and may cause stress shielding. ZK60 is a bio-absorbable implant that can effectively avoid long-term complications, such as stress shielding effects, implant displacement, and foreign body reactions. In this study, we aimed at investigating the biomechanical behavior of the cervical spine after implanting different interbody fusion cages.Methods The finite element (FE) models of anterior cervical disc removal and bone graft fusion (ACDF) with a ZK60 cage and a Ti cage were constructed, respectively. Simulations were performed to evaluate their properties of flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation of the cervical spine. Moreover, a side-by-side comparison was conducted on the range of motion (ROM), the deformation of cages, the stress in the cages, bone grafts, and cage-end plate interface. Simultaneously, according to the results of biomechanical analysis, the microporous structure of the ZK60 cage was improved by the lattice topology optimization technology and validation using static structure.Results The ROMs in the current study were comparable with the results reported in the literature. There was no significant difference in the deformation of the two cages under various conditions. Moreover, the maximum stress occurred at the rear of the cage in all cases. The cage's and endplate-cage interface's stress of the ZK60 group was reduced compared with the Ti cage, while the bone graft stress in the ZK60 fusion cage was significantly greater than that in the Ti fusion cage (average 27.70%). We further optimized the cage by filling with lattice structures, the volume was decreased by 40%, and validation showed more significant biomechanical properties than ZK60 and Ti cages.Conclusion The application of the ZK60 cage can significantly increase the stress stimulation to the bone graft by reducing the stress shielding effect between the two instrumented bodies. We also observed that the stress of the endplate-cage interface decreased as the reduction of the cage's stiffness, indicating that subsidence is less likely to occur in the cage with lower stiffness. Moreover, we successfully designed a porous cage on the basis of the biomechanical load by lattice optimization.
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) coding capacities in Swiss University Hospitals using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
Authors: Cottler-Casanova Sara , Horowicz Mathide , Gayet-Ageron Angèle , Abdulcadir Jasmine
Published: December 2020

Background: To assess the number of inpatient women and girls in Swiss university hospitals from countries with high female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) prevalence, and of inpatients with a coded diagnosis of FGM/C.Methods: Exploratory descriptive study in Switzerland to assess the number of women and girls admitted to Swiss university hospitals between 2016 and 2018 from 30 FGM/C high prevalence countries (1), inpatients with a coded diagnosis of FGM/C (2). Participating hospitals provided anonymized data for all inpatient women and girls from 30 FGM/C practicing countries, and for all inpatients with a coded diagnosis of FGM/C. We calculated indirect estimates of inpatient women and girls with FGM/C and compared them with the number of inpatients with a coded diagnosis of FGM/C.Results: 8720 women and girls from countries with high prevalence of FGM/C were admitted. 207 patients were coded with FGM/C, including 7 with a nationality outside the 30 targeted countries, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 2.3% (95%CI: 2.0-2.6). The number of FGM/C cases by hospital was significantly different across year (P<0.001), with a higher proportion of cases collected in Geneva.Conclusions: The comparison between indirect estimates of inpatients with or at risk of FGM/C and the low number of FGM/C cases coded, suggests low recording and coding capacities of FGM/C.Funding: Swiss Federal Office of Public Health and Swiss Network against Female circumcision, Caritas Switzerland.
Two Parallel Pathways Mediate Olfactory-Driven Backward Locomotion
Authors: Israel Shai , Rozenfeld Eyal , Weber Denise , Huetteroth Wolf , Parnas Moshe
Published: December 2020

Although animals switch to backward walking upon sensing an obstacle or danger in their path, the initiation and execution of backward locomotion is poorly understood. The discovery of Moonwalker Descending Neurons (MDNs), made Drosophila useful to study neural circuits underlying backward locomotion. MDNs were demonstrated to receive visual and mechanosensory inputs. However, whether other modalities converge onto MDNs and what are the neural circuits activating MDNs are unknown. We show that aversive but not appetitive olfactory input triggers MDN-mediated backward locomotion. We identify in each hemisphere, a single Moonwalker Subesophageal Zone neuron (MooSEZ), which triggers backward locomotion. MooSEZs act both upstream and in parallel to MDNs. Surprisingly, MooSEZs also respond mostly to aversive odor. Contrary to MDNs, blocking MooSEZs activity has little effect on odor-evoked backward locomotion. Thus, this work reveals another important modality input to MDNs in addition to a novel olfactory pathway and MDN-independent backward locomotion pathway.
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) as potential first-choice analgesic in post-operative cognitive decline (POCD): Behavioral and molecular evidence in a middle-aged rat model
Authors: Garrone Beatrice , Durando Lucia , Prenderville Jack , Sokolowska Ewa , Milanese Claudio , Giorgio Francesco Di , Callaghan Charlotte , Bianchi Massimiliano
Published: December 2020

Post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a debilitating clinical phenomenon in elderly patients. Management of pain in elderly is complicated because analgesic opiates elicit major side effects. In contrast, paracetamol (acetaminophen) has shown analgesic efficacy, no impact on cognition, and its side effects are well tolerated. We investigated the efficacy of paracetamol, compared to the opioid analgesic buprenorphine, in a model of POCD by investigating cognitive decline, allodynia, peripheral and hippocampal cytokines levels, and hippocampal microtubule dynamics as a key modulator of synaptic plasticity. A POCD model was developed in middle-aged (MA) rats by inducing a tibia fracture via orthopaedic surgery. Control MA rats did not undergo any surgery and only received isoflurane anaesthesia. We demonstrated that cognitive decline and increased allodynia following surgery was prevented in paracetamol-treated animals, but not in animals which were exposed to anesthesia alone or underwent the surgery and received buprenorphine. Behavioral alterations were associated with different peripheral cytokine changes between buprenorphine and paracetamol treated animals. Buprenorphine showed no central effects, while paracetamol showed modulatory effects on hippocampal cytokines and markers of microtubule dynamics which were suggestive of neuroprotection. Our data provide the first experimental evidence corroborating the use of paracetamol as first-choice analgesic in POCD.
Deep Next Generation Sequencing Identifies Somatic Mutational Signature in Egyptian Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Youssef Amira , Abdel-Fattah Mohamed A. , Touny Ahmed O. , Hassan Zeinab K. , Nassar Auhood , Lotfy Mai M. , Moustafa Ahmed , Eldin Mohammed Mohey , Bahnassy Abeer , Zekri Abdel-Rahman N.
Published: December 2020

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence is progressively increasing in Egypt. Unfortunately, there is inadequate knowledge of the acquired somatic mutations in Egyptian CRC patients which limit our understanding of its progression. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to sequence multiple-gene panel to identify the somatic mutation pattern associated with CRC disease progression in a cohort of Egyptian patients. Custom 72 genes, which are frequently associated with CRC, were sequenced using Qiaseq UMI-based targeted DNA panel in 120 fresh tissues classified into; inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; n=20), colonic polyp (CP; n=38) and CRC (n=62) as well as 20 biopsies with non-specific colitis served as a control group (n=20). Results: Using Ingenuity Variant Analysis (IVA), we revealed that APC, TP53 & ATM genes harbored the highly frequent CRC-specific somatic mutations (15, 11 & 6, respectively). We also identified common somatic mutations (predictors) that were associated with disease progression from colitis to CRC; APC (c.1742delA (65%)), TP53 (c.121delG (58%), c.215C>G (52%)), ATM (c.640delT (16%)), IGF2 (c.677delG (56%)), RET (c.2071G>A (37%)), ACVR2A (c.1310delA (26%)), PIK3CA (c.1173A>G (16%)) & KIT (c.1621A>C (13%)). Furthermore, pathway analysis using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) showed that Wnt/βcatenin, ATM signaling, RTK-RAS and TGF-β were the most altered pathways in the CRC group (73%. 72%, 40% & 36%, respectively).Conclusion: In this data set, we shed the light on the most frequent somatic mutations and the most altered pathways that are crucial for understanding colorectal cancer predisposition and developing personalized therapies for the Egyptian CRC patients.
Evaluation of the Relationship Between Vitamin D Levels and Related Serum Markers as Well as Disease Activity in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-sectional Study in Western Iran
Authors: Moghimi Nasrin , Faridfar Ali , Shahriarirad Reza , Nikandish Mohsen , Salimi Amirhossein , Salimi Maryam
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Many studies have reported the role of vitamin D in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) which is related to several serum autoantibodies such as RF and Anti CCP. It also has been shown that vitamin D deficiency affect the DAS28 and VAS score inversely. Therefore, we aim to assess the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and RA-related autoantibodies including Anti CCP and RF levels and also evaluate the association between these parameters and the severity of disease.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, RA patients over 16 years of age were enrolled. The severity of diseases was assessed via the DAS28 scoring system. Serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D were determined by the ELISA method, along with other rheumatoid related laboratory evaluations including Anti CCP, RF and CRPResults: A total of 100 patients with a mean age of 45.27± 14.14 were included and evaluated; of them, 75% were female and 77% lived in the city. Most of the patients (66%) had moderate DAS28 levels; however, no substantial relationship was observed between DAS28 and vitamin D levels. A significant positive relation between serum 25(OH)D level and disease duration, as well as the level of education, was observed. There was also no significant correlation between RA-related autoantibodies and inflammatory serum marker with 25(OH)D.Conclusion: Due to vitamin deficiency in the majority of cases (73%) and the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and the duration of disease, it can be concluded that vitamin D levels should be checked in those patients.
Catch-up growth and nutritional status of preterms born at a Ugandan tertiary hospital: An Observational study.
Authors: Namiiro Flaviah , Batte Anthony , Rujumba Joseph , Nabukeera Nicolette , Munabi Ian , Kayom Violet , Serunjogi Robert , Kiguli Sarah
Published: December 2020

Introduction Advances in neonatal care have led to the increasing survival of preterm/low birth weight infants worldwide. However, there is limited data on growth outcomes following preterm births especially in low and middle income countries. We assessed the catch-up growth, nutritional status and associated factors of Ugandan children who were born preterm/ low birth weight at Mulago National Referral Hospital.Methods: We enrolled children aged 22-38 months who had been born as preterm with low birth weight and their mothers. Participants were identified and recruited from the follow up clinic for preterm babies discharged from the neonatal unit of Mulago Hospital. Anthropometric measurements for mothers and children were taken. The children’s weight for height z-scores, height for age z-scores, weight for age z-scores, head circumference and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) were taken and the mothers’ body mass index were generated based on the World Health Organization standards. Results: Of the 251 children and mother pairs recruited, 129 children (51.4%) were male, the mean age was 29.7 months (SD±4.5) and the mean maternal age was 29.9 (SD±5.3). 101(40.1%) of the children enrolled had attained catch up growth on the normal anthropometric measurements for their age. Among the participants, the prevalence of wasting, underweight and stunting was: 8 (3.2%), 36 (14.4%) and 106 (42.2%) respectively. Factors associated with stunting were male sex (AOR 2.36, 95% CI 1.42 to 3.95); p=0.001), maternal age ≤ 25years: AOR 2.27 (95%CI 1.13, 4.52); p= 0.020, and maternal height <150cm: AOR 5.57(95%CI 1.90, 16.94); P=0.002. Associations with underweight in the children were; birth weight ≤1500 gms: AOR 2.38(95%CI 1.14, 4.95); p=0.020 and post-natal hospitalization of more than 14 days: AOR 5.93(95%CI 1.96, 17.90); p=0.002. For 246 (98.8%) participants, MUAC was normal (≥ 12.5 cm) and for 216 (86.8%) the head circumference was within normal range for age.Conclusion: Of the children born preterm/LBW 40.1% of the participants had attained the expected catch up growth at 2 to 3 years of age, 42.2% were observed to be stunted while 14.4% were underweight both higher than the national levels. Targeted interventions are specifically needed for children born with very low birth weight, those requiring long postnatal hospitalization, males and those born to short or young mothers.
Pertussis Toxin Induced Inflammatory Response Exacerbates Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Ischemic Stroke in Mice
Authors: Zou Ming , Li Yan , Zhao Hui , Feng Yan , Zhang Ying , Li Haowen , Chen Qingfang , Cao Jingli , Wen Shaohong , He Wenyan , Jin Wei-Na
Published: December 2020

Background: Stroke is a devastating and debilitating disease and is a leading cause of death worldwide, including intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and ischemic stroke. Emerging evidence indicates that inflammatory cascades after hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke makes a great contribution to brain damage, mainly are involved in neuronal cell death, blood-brain-barrier (BBB) destruction and development of vasogenic edema. However, the features and direct effect of brain inflammation following stroke is still unknown. Methods: We adopted the ICH model by injection of collagenase and used a mouse model of transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. And pertussis toxin was used to create a pro-inflammatory milieu. Neurodeficits, lesion volume, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory factors, brain-infiltrating leukocytes and blood-brain-barrier (BBB) destruction were assessed in mice model treated with pertussis toxin or vehicle.Results: Adopting collagenase induced intracerebral hemorrhage mouse model, we show that pertussis toxin-induced systemic inflammation exacerbated neurological deficits, enlarged lesion size and brain perihematomal edema after intracerebral hemorrhage. Pertussis toxin promoted leukocyte infiltration and inflammatory cytokine release in the brain. Moreover, the integrity of the BBB was further disrupted after receiving pertussis toxin in ICH mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that pertussis toxin increased stroke severity and enhanced brain inflammation in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model. Conclusion: Our results suggest that pertussis toxin increases inflammatory response that exacerbates brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage or ischemic stroke in mouse model.
Screening Performance of C-Reactive Protein for Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis in HIV-Positive Patients: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Meca Andreea-Daniela , Bogdan Maria , Turcu-Stiolica Adina , Cocos Relu , Ungureanu Bogdan Silviu , Subtirelu Mihaela-Simona , Mahler Beatrice , Stanoiu Bogdan-Petre , Stanciulescu Elena Camelia , Banita Ileana Monica , Andrei Ana Marina , Pisoschi Catalina-Gabriela
Published: December 2020

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious cause of mortality worldwide. In the last years, resistant strains of the etiological agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, have emerged, thus demanding more triage tests to identify active pulmonary TB (PTB) patients and to evaluate their disease severity. Therefore, acute-phase reaction serum tests are required for monitoring TB patients, among WHO symptoms screening recommendations. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a non-specific inflammatory biomarker that has been recently proposed for TB screening and can be quantitatively analyzed through cost-effective point-of-care assays. A previous meta-analysis found CRP high sensitive and moderate specific for active pulmonary TB with confirmed HIV infection. Methods: We performed an update meta-analysis of diagnostic tests, pooling sensitivities and specificities in order to assess the accuracy of CRP as a potential test for the screening of HIV-associated PTB in outpatients. We searched MEDLINE, Web of Science, and SCOPUS, for eligible articles before April 1st, 2020. Results: We identified 9 eligible studies with HIV-positive patients with PTB. At CRP threshold of 10mg/L, CRP pooled sensitivity was 86% and pooled specificity was 73%. Using CRP threshold of 8mg/L, pooled sensitivity was 81% and pooled specificity was 88%. We found that CRP has a high sensitivity in screening of PTB in HIV-positive outpatients, consistent with findings reported previously. Conclusions: Regardless of pooled specificity, better results were found using the CRP threshold of 8mg/L as a test screening of PTB, meeting the need of evaluation of antituberculosis treatment outcomes and reducing resource consumption.
What Are the Variables Associated With Altmetric Scores? – An Overview of Methodological Reviews
Authors: Araujo Amanda Costa , Vanin Adriane Aver , Nascimento Dafne Port , Gonzalez Gabrielle Zoldan , Costa Leonardo Oliveira Pena
Published: December 2020

Background: Currently, social media has been used to disseminate contents of scientific articles. In order to measure this type of impact a new tool named Altmetric was created. Altmetric aims to quantify the impact of each article through the media online. This overview of methodological reviews aims to describe the associations between the publishing journal and the publishing articles variables with Altmetric scores. Methods: Search strategies on MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL and Cochrane Library. We extracted data related to the publishing trial and the publishing journal associated with Altmetric scores. Results: A total of 11 studies were considered eligible. These studies summarized a total of 565,352 articles. The variables citation counts, journal impact factor, access counts, papers published as open access and press release generated by the publishing journal were associated with Altmetric scores. The magnitudes of these correlations ranged from weak to moderate. Conclusion: Citation counts and journal impact factor are the most common associators of high Altmetric scores. Other variables such as access counts, papers published in open access journals and the use of press releases are also likely to influence online media attention.Systematic Review registrations: Not applicable
Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Spatial-temporal Dynamics of Gene Expression Essential for Soybean Seed Development
Authors: Zhang Hengyou , Hu Zhenbin , Yang Yuming , Liu Xiaoqian , Lv Haiyan , Song Bao-Hua , An Yong-qiang Charles , Li Zhimin , Zhang Dan
Published: December 2020

Background: Seeds are the economic basis of oilseed crops, especially for soybean, thus far the most widely cultivated oilseed crop worldwide. Seed development is accompanied with a multitude of diverse cellular processes and revealing the underlying regulatory activities is critical for seed improvement. Results: Here, we profiled transcriptomes of developing seeds (20, 25, 30, 40 days after flowering) representing key points of seed development from early to full development. We identified a set of highly-abundant genes and highlighted the importance of these genes to support nutrient accumulation and transcriptional regulation in developing seeds. We identified 8,925 differentially expressed genes that exhibited temporal expression patterns over the course and had expression specificities in distinct tissues including seeds and non-seed tissues (roots, stems, leaves). Genes with specificities to non-seed tissues have tissue-specialized roles while remain relatively low transcript abundance in developing seeds, exhibiting their supportive roles spatially for seed development. Co-expression network analysis identified several under-explored genes in soybean that bridge tissue-specific gene modules. Conclusions: Our study provides a global view of gene activities and biological processes critical for seed formation in soybean and prioritizes a set of genes for further study. The results shed insight into the mechanism controlling seed development and storage reserves.
Clinical Efficacy of Distal Tibial Tuberosity High Tibial Osteotomy Using The π-Plate in Obese Patients With Varus Knee Osteoarthritis: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Tian Xiangdong , Huang Ye , Tan Yetong , Wang Jian , Ma Sheng , Hu Yuanyi , Han Changxiao , Chen Handong , Ding Tiansong
Published: December 2020

Background: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is an effective treatment for varus knee osteoarthritis. However, obese patients require reinforced internal fixation materials to prevent internal fixation fractures and hardware failure after osteotomy. Thus, the purpose of our study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of distal tibial tuberosity high tibial osteotomy (DTT-HTO) using the new patented π-plate in obese patients with varus knee osteoarthritis.Methods: Thirty-four obese patients (39 knees) with varus knee osteoarthritis who underwent DTT-HTO with the π-plate and second-look arthroscopy when implant removal occurred from September 2017 to June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 9 males and 25 females, with body mass index (BMI) values ranging from 30.3 to 38.5 kg/m2 and ages ranging from 50 to 75 years old. The radiological assessment was performed with the weight-bearing line ratio (WBLR). The clinical outcomes were evaluated by the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). The status of the cartilage was evaluated by the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grading system. Results: All patients were followed up for 18-30 months. The WBLR significantly increased from 16.85±2.20 to 55.41±2.46% from before surgery to the last follow-up after surgery (P<0.001). The HSS score significantly improved from 56.65±5.27 preoperatively to 68.79±2.61, 77.82±2.15, and 86.12±2.78 at the 6-month, 12-month, and last follow-up after surgery (P<0.001). The WOMAC score significantly decreased from 105.47±3.89 preoperatively to 80.50±4.20, 71.44±4.65, and 52.44±3.14 at the 6-month, 12-month, and last follow-up after surgery (P<0.001). During implant removal, no internal fixation fractures occurred in any patient. The articular cartilage grade in the medial compartment of the knee were significantly higher in the second arthroscopy than in the first arthroscopy, according to the ICRS grading system (P < 0.001). The articular cartilage grade in the lateral compartment of the knee showed no statistical differences from the first- to the second-look arthroscopy (p > 0.05).Conclusions: The new patented π-plate is an effective internal fixation material to provide good structural stability in DTT-HTO. And DTT-HTO using the π-plate can yield excellent clinical results in obese patients with varus knee osteoarthritis.
Early Prediction of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in Critical Care Patients: a Machine Learning Model
Authors: Liang Yingjian , Zhu Chengrui , Tian Cong , Lin Qizhong , Li Zhiliang , Li Zhifei , Ni Dongshu , Ma Xiaochun
Published: December 2020

Background: This study was performed to develop and validate machine learning models for the early detection of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients 24 h before the diagnosis that enables VAP patients to receive early intervention and reduces the occurrence of complications.Patients and Methods: This study was based on the MIMIC-III dataset, which was a retrospective cohort. The random forest algorithm was applied to construct a base classifier, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity of the prediction model were evaluated. Meanwhile, a Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS)-based model (threshold value≥3) using the same training and test data set was used as the control model.Results: A total of 38,515 ventilation durations occurred in 61,532 ICU admissions. VAP occurred in 212 of these durations. We incorporated 42 VAP risk factors on admission and routinely measured vital characteristics and laboratory results. Five-fold cross-validation was performed to evaluate the model performance, and the model achieved an AUC of 84.4%±1.7% on validation, 74.3%±2.5% sensitivity and 70.7.6%±1.2% specificity 24 h before the gold standard time (at least 48 h after ventilation). Our VAP machine learning model improved the AUC of the CPIS-based model by almost 25%, and the sensitivity and specificity were also improved by almost 14% and 15%, respectively.Conclusions: We developed and internally validated an automated model of VAP prediction in the MIMIC-III cohort. The VAP prediction model achieved high performance for AUC, sensitivity and specificity. and its performance was superior to that of the CPIS model. External validation and prospective interventional or outcome studies using this prediction model are envisioned as future work.
WITHDRAWN: Safety of Denervation Following Targeted Lung Denervation Therapy for COPD: AIRFLOW-1 Three-year Outcomes
Authors: Pison Christophe , Shah Pallav , Slebos Dirk-Jan , Ninane Vincent , Janssens Wim , Perez Thierry , Kessler Romain , Garner Justin , Hartman Jorine , Deslee Gaetan , Bruno Degano , Mayr Anna , Mayse Martin , Peterson Alexander , Valipour Arschang
Published: December 2020

Background: Targeted lung denervation (TLD) is a novel bronchoscopic therapy that disrupts parasympathetic pulmonary nerve input to the lung reducing clinical consequences of cholinergic hyperactivity. The AIRFLOW-1 study assessed safety and TLD dose in patients with moderate-to-severe, symptomatic COPD. This analysis evaluated the long-term impact of TLD on COPD exacerbations, pulmonary function, and quality of life over three years of follow up.Methods: TLD was performed in a prospective, energy-level randomized (29 W vs 32 W power), multicenter study (NCT02058459). Additional patients were enrolled in an open label confirmation phase to confirm improved gastrointestinal safety after procedural modifications. Durability of TLD was evaluated at one, two, and three years post-treatment and assessed through analysis of COPD exacerbations, pulmonary lung function, and quality of life. Results: Three-year follow-up data were available for 73.9% of patients (n=34). The annualized rate of moderate to severe COPD exacerbations remained stable over the duration of the study. Lung function (FEV1, FVC, RV, and TLC) and quality of life (SGRQ-C and CAT) remained stable over three years of follow-up. No new gastrointestinal adverse events and no unexpected serious adverse events were observed. Conclusion: TLD in COPD patients demonstrated a positive safety profile out to three years, with no late-onset serious adverse events related to denervation therapy. Clinical stability in lung function, quality of life, and exacerbations were observed in TLD treated patients over three years of follow up.
Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for Assessing Dietary Lignans Intake in Hong Kong Chinese Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Authors: He Yiqian , Ho Suzanne C. , Cheng Ashley , Kwok Carol , Cheung Ka Li , Lei Yuanyuan , Lee Roselle , Mo Frankie , Yeo Winnie
Published: December 2020

Background

Lignans intake has been suggested to have effects on breast cancer outcomes based on some studies from the West. However, the relationship of lignans consumption and breast cancer outcomes in Chinese population has not been investigated. The development of a culture-specific lignan food frequency questionnaire (LFFQ) is necessary in order to assess dietary lignans intake among Chinese breast cancer patients. This study was designed to validate a newly developed LFFQ to specially assess lignans intake among Chinese subjects.
Methods

The original study cohort consisted of 1,462 patients with early-stage breast cancer. 133 of these patients were recruited from the original study cohort; 103 of them completed all the assessments from 2015 to 2017 and were included in the present analysis. Two face-to-face interviews were conducted one year apart using a newly developed LFFQ (LFFQ1, LFFQ2). Twelve monthly 24-hour dietary recalls (24-h DRs) were conducted through telephone interview during the same 1-year period. Total lignans intake derived from the LFFQs and 24-h DRs, correlation coefficients and cross classification between the two LFFQs and between LFFQ and 24-h DR were examined.
Results

Median (IQR) intakes of total lignans for LFFQ1, LFFQ2 and 24-h DRs were 1.66 (1.17–2.15), 1.38 (1.01–2.01), and 0.97 (0.70–1.31) mg/day, respectively. The energy-adjusted validity between LFFQ2 and 24-h DRs was 0.67 (P < 0.001) for log-transformed lignans intake. The reproducibility between lignans intake assessed by the two LFFQs was 0.43 (P < 0.001) for energy-adjusted lignans intake after log transformation. Bland-Altman analysis showed an acceptable agreement between methods (LFFQ and 24-h DR). Correct classification of participants into the same quartiles of energy-adjusted lignans intake after log transformation between LFFQ2 and 24-h DRs and between LFFQs were 42.7% and 37.9%, respectively. Misclassification rates of participants into extreme quartiles were 1.0% and 4.9%, respectively.
Conclusion

The newly developed LFFQ has acceptable validity and reproducibility, and thus could be regarded as a reasonable and useful instrument in the assessment of dietary lignans intake among Hong Kong Chinese women with early-stage breast cancer.
Okadaic acid exposure induced neural tube defects in chicken (Gallus gallus) embryos
Authors: Jiao Yu-hu , Wang Guang , Li Da-wei , Li Hong-ye , Liu Jie-sheng , Yang Xuesong , Yang Wei-dong
Published: December 2020

Background
Okadaic acid (OA) is an important liposoluble shellfish toxin distributed worldwide, and mainly responsible for diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in human beings. It has a variety of toxicities, including cytotoxicity, embryonic toxicity, neurotoxicity, and even genotoxicity. The embryotoxicity of OA is due to it can cross the placental barrier, which was proven in mice. However, there is no direct evidence of its developmental toxicity in human offspring. The chicken (Gallus gallus) embryo is a classic animal model for the studies of early vertebrate embryogenesis and late organogenesis due to its multiple advantages, such as convenience for observation, similarity to mammalian embryo, easy accessibility, and manipulation, etc.
Results
OA exposure could cause NTDs and inhibit the neuronal differentiation. Immunofluorescent staining demonstrated that OA exposure promoted cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis on the developing neural tube. Besides, the down-regulation of Nrf2 and increases in ROS content and SOD activity in the OA-exposed chicken embryos indicated that OA could result in the generation of oxidative stress in early chick embryos. The inhibition of BMP4 and Shh expression in the dorsal neural tube suggested that OA could also affect the formation of dorsolateral hinge points. The expression of LBP, JUN, FOS, and CCL4 in Toll-like receptor signaling pathway was significantly increased in the OA-exposed embryos, suggesting that the NTDs induced by OA might be associated with Toll-like receptor signaling pathway.
Conclusion
OA exposure can induce NTDs in chick embryos and increase the incidences of embryo mortality and malformation. Oxidative stress in early chick embryos may be subsequently responsible for the formation of NTDs. OA exposure can affect cell proliferation and apoptosis. Toll-like receptor signaling pathway may be responsible for the NTDs induced by OA.
Selenogenome and AMPK signal insight into the protective effect of dietary Se on chronic heat-stress induced hepatic metabolic disorder in growing pigs
Authors: Liu Yan , Tang Jiayong , He Ying , Jia Gang , Liu Guangmang , Tian Gang , Chen Xiaoling , Cai Jingyi , Kang Bo , Hua Zhao
Published: December 2020

Background:Chronic heat stress (CHS) disrupts hepatic metabolic homeostasis and jeopardizes product quality of pigs. Selenium (Se) may regulate the metabolic state through affect selenoprotein. Thus, we investigate the protective effect of dietary hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid (HMSeBA) on CHS induced hepatic metabolic disorder in growing pigs, and the corresponding response of selenoprotein. Methods:Forty crossbreed growing pigs were randomly assigned to five groups: control group raised in the thermoneutral environment (22 ± 2 oC) with basal diet; four CHS groups raised in hyperthermal condition (33 ± 2 oC) with basal diet and supplied with 0.0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg Se/kg HMSeBA, respectively. The trial lasted 28 days. Results:CHS significantly increased the rectal temperature, respiration rate, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of pigs, up-regulated hepatic heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and induced lower liver weight, hepatic glucokinase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). The CHS-induced liver metabolic disorder was associated with the aberrant expression of 6 metabolism-related gene and 11 selenoprotein encoding genes, and decreased the protein abundance of GCK, GPX4 and SELENOS. HMSeBA supplementation recovered the liver weight and improved anti-oxidative capacity and metabolism function in the liver. 0.4 or 0.6 mg Se/kg HMSeBA rescue of mRNA abundance of genes related to metabolism and protein levels of GCK. HMSeBA supplementation changed expressions of 15 selenoprotein encoding genes, and enhanced protein expression of GPX1, GPX4 and SELENOS in the liver affected by CHS. CHS alone showed no impact while HMSeBA supplementation increased protein levels of p-AMPKα in the liver. Conclusions:In summary, HMSeBA supplementation beyond nutrient requirement mitigates CHS-induced hepatic metabolic disorder, and the processes are associated with the activation of AMPK signal and regulation of selenoproteins in the liver of growing pigs.
Factors influencing healthcare providers’ attitude and willingness to use information technology in diabetes management.
Authors: Seboka Binyam Tariku , Yilma Tesfahun Melese , Birhanu Abraham Yeneneh
Published: December 2020

Background: The use of information technologies could help to improve communications between patients and care providers, might improve overall patient management practice. However, the potential for implementing these patient management options in Ethiopia has not been well documented. This institution-based survey aimed to describe the attitude and willingness of care providers towards the use of information technologies for managing diabetes patients, and factors influencing their interest.Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted on 423 study participants from February to March 2020 at two teaching hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia, where remote monitoring patients had not been implemented. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the required data. Other than descriptive statistics, the binary logistic regression analysis method was used to identify factors associated with attitude. Also, the negative binomial regression method was used to identify factors associated with willingness to use information technologies.Result: A total of 406 participants (69.7%, n= 283 nurses and 30.3%, n=123 physicians) were completed survey. Overall, 64% of respondents had a favorable attitude towards remote monitoring, and the majority of them were willing to use voice call (74.4%), text message (62.1%), video conference (61.3%), e-mail (60.6%), and social media (57.4%) as a source of communication to support patients. The result of regression analysis shows that having a computer (AOR=2.3, 95% CI: [1.3, 3.8]), innovativeness (AOR=2.8, 95% CI: [1.8, 4.3]), and practice of supporting patient by electronic technologies (AOR=1.7, 95% CI: [1.1, 2.6]) were significantly associated with attitude to remote monitoring. Attitude towards remote monitoring (IRR=2.3, 95% CI: 1.1- 4.7), computer use (IRR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.162- 3.023), frequently searching health-related information (IRR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.459-6.570), gender (IRR=1.2, 95% CI: 1.0-5.1), awareness towards remote monitoring (IRR=1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-2.7) were significantly associated with willingness to use information technologies.Conclusion: Improving the intention and skill of using computers should be a major point of attention for teaching hospitals who wish to improve their care providers' attitudes to remote monitoring and willingness in using information technologies. Besides, the awareness of professionals is crucial for improving willingness.
Statistical distribution fitting to the number of COVID-19 deaths in South Africa
Authors: Chikobvu Delson , Sigauke Caston
Published: December 2020

Background: COVID-19 first detected in Wuhan; China in December 2019, is a disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It has presented the greatest public health challenges globally since the 1918 influenza which was called the “mother” of all pandemics. South Africa and the rest of Africa are yet to experience the devastating effects of COVID-19. Methods: In this paper, the reported COVID-19 number of deaths in South Africa, for the period 27 March 2020 to 20 May 2020, is modeled using four statistical distributions which can be grouped under the Generalised Gamma distribution. This exploratory study also uses simple additive models to capture the underlying COVID-19 death rate. Results: Empirical results show that the Gamma distribution gives the best fit to the data. The hazard rate is still increasing, and the peak number of deaths has not been reached yet despite the lockdown and other measures to try and slow down the progression of the disease. Conclusions: The exploratory data analysis done in this study is simple and meant to complement the detailed and complex modelling done which is useful in informing policy and decision making.
Determinants of marketing innovation among SMEs in Vietnam: a resource-based and stakeholder perspective
Authors: Trung Thanh To , Thanh Ha Le , Phuong Dung Hoang , Ngoc Thang Doan , Anh Ngoc Tran
Published: December 2020

Innovative marketing practices are essential for firms to increase sales and profitability. This paper aims to investigate the determinants of firms’ marketing innovation based on the employment of resource-based view and stakeholder theory. A probit regression model linking marketing innovation with proxies of firms’ resources and pressures from firms’ stakeholders was tested based on a dataset of 5,857 Vietnamese enterprises taken from a survey by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam in 2016. The findings indicate that firms’ size decreases the probability of marketing innovation by 1%, while internal knowledge gained from internal R&D causes the probability of marketing innovation to increase by 0.18%. Besides, the political connection and collaborations with competitors and private consultants drive the probability that firms implement the marketing innovation up by 0.09%, 0.12%, and 0.09%, respectively. On the other hand, export-oriented firms are more likely to implement marketing innovation by 0.03%, while foreign ownership reduces the chance of this decision by 0.05%. This research also reveals the essential role of the firm’s market pressures to enter into new markets or improve product quality in encouraging marketing innovation by 0.16% and 0.13%, respectively. AcknowledgmentThis research was supported by National Economics University, Grant Number: 343-QĐ-ĐHKTQD.
Postoperative, or pseudophakic, macular edema
Authors: Ioshin I. E.
Published: December 2020

Causes of macular edema (ME) occurring on the pseudophakic eye after cataract phacoemulsification, and methods of its diagnosis and prevention are analyzed. As follows from the literature and our own data, the term “pseudophakic ME” better reflects the condition that the term “postoperative ME” as it takes into account the diversity of pathogenetic complications. Accordingly, we propose to include this term into the ICD list.