bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of health care services by people with substance use disorders in Belgium: a register-based cohort study
Authors: Baelen Luk Van , Plettinckx Els , Antoine Jérôme , De Ridder Karin , Devleesschauwer Brecht , Gremeaux Lies
Published: July 2020

Background To describe the frequencies of health-care utilization by people with substance use disorder (SUD), more specifically contacts with the general practitioner (GP), the psychiatrist, the emergency departments (ED) and hospital admissions and to compare this frequency to the general population.Methods Data from the national register of people who were in treatment for SUD between 2011–2014 was linked to health care data from the Belgian health insurance (N = 30,905). Four comparators were matched on age, sex and place of residence to each subject in treatment for SUD (N = 123,620). Cases were further divided in five mutually exclusive categories based on the main SUD (opiates, crack/cocaine, stimulants, cannabis and alcohol). We calculated the average number of contacts with GP, psychiatrists and ED, and hospital admissions per person over a ten year period (2008–2017), computed descriptive statistics for each of the SUD and used negative binomial regression models to compare cases and comparators.Results Over the ten-year period, people in treatment for SUD overall had on average 60 GP contacts, 3.9 psychiatrist contacts, 7.8 visits to the ED, and 16 hospital admissions. Rate ratios, comparing cases and corresponding comparators, showed that people in treatment for SUD had on average 1.9 more contacts with a GP (95% CI 1.9-2.0), 7.4 more contacts with a psychiatrist (95% CI 7.0-7.7), 4.2 more ED visits (95% CI 4.2–4.3), and 6.4 more hospital admissions (95% CI 6.3–6.5).Conclusion The use of health services for people with SUD is between almost two (GP) and seven times (psychiatrist) higher than for comparators. People in treatment for alcohol use disorders have a higher burden of disease than people in treatment for other SUD. The use of health services remained stable in the five years before and after the moment people with SUD entered into treatment for SUD.
Spatiotemporal Variations in Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality and Related Risk Factors in China Between 2010 and 2015: A Multilevel Analysis
Authors: Wang Baohua , Li Peiyao , Wang Lijun , He Fengdie , Sha Yuting , Wan Xia
Published: July 2020

Objectives: To explore the relationship between geographical differences of mortality and related risk factors in ischemic heart disease(IHD) in China.Methods: Data were collected from the national death cause surveillance system of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, surveillance of chronic diseases and risk factors in China in 2013, as well as the 2010 national census. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the mortality of IHD in Chinese population from 2010 to 2015. Multilevel negative binomial regression model was established. MLwiN2.30 software was used for multilevel analysis.Results: The crude mortality rate of IHD was 108.74/100,000 in 2015. The standardized mortality rate for IHD increased by 5.51% from 2010 to 2015. Multilevel analysis indicated significant differences in gender, urban/rural and different regions for IHD mortality for people aged over 40 years. The high urbanization rate was negatively associated with IHD mortality (risk ratio[RR]=0.728, 95% ; confidence interval[CI]=( 0.631, 0.840)). Mortality of IHD was significantly higher in population without medical insurance (RR= 1.218, 95%CI: 1.007, 1.473). The average levels of body mass index(BMI) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were positively correlated with IHD mortality, while the average level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) was negatively correlated.The relationship between the current smoking rate, excessive intake of red meat and vegetables and fruits intake rate and IHD mortality did not reach statistical significance. The negative correlation between the average sedentary time and the mortality of IHD is not conclusive due to the possible deviation of the data. Conclusions: The mortality of IHD showed an upward trend for people aged over 40 years in China during 2010-2015. SBP and overweight / obesity are risk factors of IHD. HDL is a protective factor. Higher urbanization rate and medical insurance ratio are beneficial to reduce the mortality of IHD.
Effective microRNAs in Ischemia/Reperfusion Before and After Bypass Graft Surgery in Coronary Artery Patients
Authors: Kandilli Erman , Yılmaz Şenay Görücü , Yardımcı Murat , Benlier Necla , Nacak Muradiye
Published: July 2020

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Significant advances have been made in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of CVD. New biomarkers and therapeutic targets are needed to reduce the incidence of this disease. Recently, there is growing evidence that circulating microRNAs can be used as diagnostic biomarkers in this disease. Methods We compared five microRNA (hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-mi181a-5p, hsa-miR-199a-5p, hsa-miR-199b-5p and hsa-miR-320a) expression levels associated with ischemia/reperfusion before and after bypass graft surgery in serum samples of patients (N=46) with coronary artery disease and healthy control subjects (N=48). Expression measurements were made for each miRNA preoperatively and postoperatively at 1. and 24. hours, and then compared with the control subjects. Troponin I, creatine phosphate kinase and creatine kinase myocardial band cardiac markers were measured before and 1 and 24 hours postoperatively and compared to miRNA expressions and controls. Quantitative real-time PCR was used for expression analysis. The data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test, chi-squared test, Logistic Regression analysis, and Kruskal-Wallis test with the statistical package SPSS. Results The five miRNAs were down-regulated compared to controls. The expression level for miR-199a at 24 h postoperatively was significantly lower than at 1 h (p=0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the area under the curve of miR-199a-5p was 0.810 (sensitivity 87% and specificity 68.5%) in preoperative patients. Conclusions: miR-199a and miR-199b in serum are a novel non-invasive biomarker candidate for coronary artery disease.
Temporal Dynamics in Clinical and Laboratory Manifestations During COVID-19 Progression
Authors: Ye Lin-Lin , Peng Wen-Bei , Wei Xiao-Shan , Wang Xu , Wang Zi-Hao , Xiang Xuan , Wang Xiao-Rong , Yang Wei-Bing , He Xin-Liang , Xiang Fei , Su Yuan , Zhou Qiong
Published: July 2020

BAckground

Severe COVID-19 patients account for most of the mortality of this disease. Early detection of severe cases of the disease remains a major challenge. Here, we performed clinical and laboratory profiling of COVID-19 to explore the early warning indicators of severe cases.
Methods

An analysis of the evolution during the hospitalization of clinical and laboratory findings from 78 confirmed COVID-19 patients and the associated risk factors.
Results

Of the 78 patients who were classified as un-severe at admission, 60 patients(stable group) were stable as mild cases until discharge, and the remaining 18 patients progressed to severe cases(exacerbated group) during hospitalization. Compared with stable patients, exacerbated patients exhibited older, higher BMI values and higher proportion of smokers. In the exacerbated patients, the median time from onset to deterioration was 7.5 days. Before the time point(days 0–7 from onset), we observed higher-levels of White blood cells(WBC), neutrophil, Neutrophi-Lymphocyte-Ratio(NLR), Lactose-dehydrogenase(LDH), D-dimer, and lower-levels of albumin in the exacerbated group, compared with the stable group. In the second week after the time point, the exacerbated patients displayed lower numbers of lymphocytes, CD3+, and CD8+T-cells, and higher-levels of C-reactive protein(CRP), erythrocyte-sedimentation-rate(ESR), Alanine-aminotransferase(ALT),Aspartate-aminotransferase(AST), and Interleukin-6. In the third week, the highest temperature and the proportion of febrile patients declined. All of the laboratory indicators gradually improved.
Conclusions

Advanced age and smoking history could be risk factors for COVID-19 progression. In the early stage, high-levels of WBC and neutrophils, with noticeably increased LDH and D-dimer, could be early indicators of the disease’s conversion from mild to severe, followed by elevated inflammatory markers, liver enzymes, and decreased T-lymphocytes in the next week.
Transcriptome Regulation of Carotenoids in Five Flesh-Colored Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
Authors: Yuan Pingli , Umer Muhammad Jawad , He Nan , Zhao Shengjie , Lu Xuqiang , Zhu Hongju , Gong Chengsheng , Diao Weinan , Gebremeskel Haileslassie , Kuang Hanhui , wenge liu
Published: July 2020

Background: Fruit flesh color in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a great index for evaluation of the appearance quality and a key contributor influencing consumers preferences, but the molecular mechanisms of this intricate trait remain largely unknown. Here, the carotenoids and transcriptome dynamics during fruit development in watermelon cultivars with 5 different flesh colors were analyzed.Results: A total of 13 carotenoids and 16,781 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including 1,295 transcription factors (TFs) were detected during the development of five watermelon genotypes. A number of structural genes and transcription factors were found to be involved in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway using comparative transcriptome analysis. Furthermore, we performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis and predicted hub genes in 6 main modules determining carotenoids contents. Cla018406 (a Chaperone protein dnaJ-like protein) maybe a candidate gene for β-carotene and highly expressed in orange flesh colored fruit. Cla007686 (a zinc finger CCCH domain-containing protein) was highly expressed in the red color watermelon, maybe a key regulator for lycopene accumulation. Cla003760 (merbrane protein) and Cla007686 (photosystenI reaction center subunit II) are predicted to be hub genes and play an important role in yellow flesh color formation.Conclusions: These results provide an important resource for dissecting the molecular basis and candidate genes governing flesh color formation in watermelon fruit.
Generation of New Salt-Tolerant Wheat Lines and Transcriptomic Exploration of the Responsive Genes to Ethylene and Salt Stress
Authors: Ma Qian , Zhou Huajian , Sui Xinying , Su Chunxue , Yu Yanchong , Yang Hongbing , Dong Chun-Hai
Published: July 2020

Background: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple crop in the world, but is only moderately salt tolerant. However, salt stress affects one-fifth of irrigated agricultural land in the world, it is of great importance to cultivate salt-tolerant varieties to improve the global wheat production. Results: In this study, over 90,000 wheat seeds of cultivar ‘Luyuan502’ were mutated by EMS, and 2000 salt-tolerant lines were harvested from salinized field. By analysis of ethylene sensitivity, salt related physiological factors, and preliminary crop yield, 12 salt-tolerant wheat lines with high production were selected among the crop plants. Transcriptome analysis indicated that a large number of the transcripts levels were significantly altered, mainly based on antenna proteins involved in photosynthesis, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, cyanoamino acid metabolism, carotenoid biosynthesis, thiamine metabolism, and cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis pathways including CABs, PERs/PODs, BGLUs, CYP707s, and ZEPs. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the expressions of salt-related genes in the wheat lines were mostly higher than the wild type, and salt stress can significantly increase the expression levels of the ethylene-related genes in the wheat lines. Based on transcriptomic data, nine novel wheat ERFs were identified and analyzed, and it is suggested that they may play important roles in mediation of ethylene response and salt tolerance.Conclusion: Salt-tolerant wheat mutant lines with ethylene insensitivity were obtained from screen of a wheat EMS-mutagenized pool. Transcriptome data showed that the mutant plants exhibit significant alterations in the antenna proteins involved in various biological processes. Expression analysis suggests that ERFs may mediate ethylene response and salt tolerance of the wheat lines.
Diffusion tensor imaging findings diagnosis for patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Liu He , Gao Dan , Sun Yuanbo , Tang Fengqiong , Hu Mingcheng , Li Hongyi
Published: July 2020

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can lead to systemic inflammatory responses and other cardiovascular disease. Diffusion tensor imaging findings generated by gadolinium-based MRI (DTI-GBMRI) is regarded as a standard method for assessing the pathology of CKD. To evaluate the diagnostic value of DTI-MRI for renal histopathology and renal efficiency, renal fibrosis and damage, noninvasive quantification of renal blood flow (RBF) were investigated in patients with CKD.Methods CKD patients (n = 186) were recruited and underwent diagnosis of renal DTI-GBMRI or DTI-MRI to identify the pathological characteristics and depict renal efficiency. The cortical RBFs and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were compared in CKD patients undergone DTI-GBMRI (n=92) or DTI-MRI (n=94). Results Results showed that gadolinium enhanced the diagnosis generated by DTI-MRI in renal fibrosis, renal damage and eGFR. The superiority in sensitivity and accuracy of DTI-GBMRI method in assessing renal function and evaluating renal impairment was observed in CKD patients compared with DTI-MRI. Outcomes demonstrated that DTI-GBMRI had higher accuracy, sensitivity and specificity than DTI-MRI in diagnosing patients with CKD. Conclusions In conclusion, these outcomes indicate that DTI-GBMRI is a potential noninvasive method for measuring renal function, which can provide valuable information for clinical CKD diagnosis (Trial registration number: ChiCTR-IPR-16010073, 02/12/2016, registered status).
Examining Changes to Food and Beverage Availability and Marketing in a Low-Income Community after the Opening of a New Supermarket: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Singleton Chelsea Renee , Li Yu , Zenk Shannon N. , Powell Lisa M.
Published: July 2020

Background: In 2016, a large chain supermarket opened in the Englewood community of Chicago, IL – a low-income African American community. The development of this supermarket was supported, in part, by the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) – a federal initiative to expand access to healthy foods in food deserts. The aim of this study was to examine changes to food and beverage availability and marketing in Englewood’s existing food stores after the supermarket’s opening. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted from 2016 – 2018. Trained fieldworkers audited all small grocery and limited-service stores (e.g., convenience stores, liquor stores, pharmacies, dollar/discount stores) located within one-square mile of the new supermarket and a one-square mile area of a demographically comparable community in Chicago that also lacked a supermarket. All stores in the one-square mile area were audited at three time points: before (2016) and after (2017 and 2018) the supermarket opened. Extensive data on availability and marketing were collected for staple food items, snacks, and beverages. Difference-in-differences (DID) regression models were used to identify significant differences between the intervention and comparison communities in the changes in food and beverage availability and marketing. Results: Of the 78 stores audited at baseline, 71.8% were limited-service stores, and 85.9% accepted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The availability of healthy food and beverage options in existing food stores was limited at baseline and both follow-up periods. Stores in the intervention community offered, on average, < 3 fresh vegetable options and < 2 fresh fruit options at all three time periods. DID regression models revealed a significant increase in 1) the percentage of stores in the intervention community offering regular cheese and promoting salty snacks at check-out from 2016 – 2017 and 2) the percentage of stores in the comparison community with interior store promotions for other sweetened beverages from 2016 – 2018. Conclusions: Minimal changes in food and beverage availability and marketing occurred one and two years after the opening of the new supermarket. However, the wide range of staple food items offered by the supermarket expanded healthy food retail in Chicago’s Englewood community.
The Role of Local Business Employees and Community Members in The HIV Risk Environment of Female Sex Workers in An Urban Setting: Associations Between Negative Interactions and Inconsistent Condom Use
Authors: Sherman Susan G , Tomko Catherine , Silberzahn Bradley E , White Rebecca Hamilton , Nestadt Danielle Friedman , Clouse Emily , Haney Katherine , Galai Noya
Published: July 2020

Background: The role of business employees and community members in the HIV risk environment of female sex workers (FSW) is underexplored, despite sex work often located in commercial and residential urban areas. We explored the effect of negative interactions between business employees and community members inconsistent condom use with clients.Methods: This study uses baseline data from the EMERALD study, a structural intervention with FSW. We recruited a sample of 361 FSW in Baltimore, Maryland using targeted sampling techniques in ten zones throughout the city. Participants were recruited between September 2017 and January 2019 and completed a survey, HIV rapid testing, and self-administered gonorrhea and chlamydia testing. The outcome, inconsistent condom use, was defined as not reporting “always” using condoms with paying clients. Poisson regressions with robust variance were used to model the effect of business employee and/or community member interactions on inconsistent condom use.Results: Over half (54%) the sample was between 18–40 years old, 44% Black or another race, and experienced a range of structural vulnerabilities such as housing instability and food insecurity. Forty-four percent of the sample reported inconsistent condom use with clients. FSW reported being reported to the police weekly or daily for selling drugs (14% by employees, 17% by community), for selling sex (19% by employees, 21% by community), and experiencing weekly or daily verbal or physical threats (18% by employees, 24% by community). In multivariable models, being reported to the police for selling sex weekly or daily by community members (vs. never, aOR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.86) and business owners (vs. never, aOR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.76) increased odds of inconsistent condom use, as did monthly verbal or physical threats by community members (vs. never, aOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.91).Conclusions: Results show that both actors play important roles in FSWs’ HIV risk environment. Businesses and community members are important targets for holistic HIV prevention interventions among FSW in communities where they coexist in close proximity.
Fine Mapping of the QTL cqSPDA2 for Chlorophyll Content in Brassica Napus L.
Authors: Ye Jingxiu , Liu Haidong , Zhao Zhi , Xu Liang , Li Kaixiang , Du Dezhi
Published: July 2020

Background: Chlorophyll is the most important factor enabling plants to absorb, transfer and transform light energy and plays an important role in yield formation. Brassica napus is one of the most important oil crops. Qinghai Province is located in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. Solar radiation and its intensity are higher, and the light duration is longer. Under this light condition, conducting high light efficiency breeding of Brassica napus from the perspective of improving photosynthetic efficiency has considerable social and economic value. At present, the fine mapping of chlorophyll quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in many crops has been studied, especially in rice. In Brassica napus, there have been studies on the initial location of chlorophyll in seed embryos and pericarps, but there are few reports on the fine mapping of chlorophyll QTLs. We built near-isogenic lines, fine mapped the chlorophyll locus, and evaluated the effect of the dominant locus on agronomic traits.Results: The cqSPDA2 locus was mapped in an interval of 21.87-22.91 Mb on the A02 chromosome of Brassica napus using doubled haploid (DH) lines. To fine map cqSPDA2, we built near-isogenic lines and designed Indel primers covering the mapping interval. The 469 individuals in the BC3F2 population were analyzed using these Indel primers. Among the Indel primers, 15 narrowed the mapping interval to 5.2 cM between Indel3 and Indel15. Next, 16 Indel primers and 19 SSR primers were designed within the new narrow mapping interval, and 7 primers were polymorphic and tightly linked to the cqSPDA2 locus in the BC4F2 population. The mapping interval was narrowed to 152 kb on A02 between SSR2 and Indel15. We found three annotated genes in the mapping interval, including BnaA02g30260D, BnaA02g30290D and BnaA02g30310D, which may be responsible for chlorophyll synthesis by gene expression analysis. Conclusions: The locus cqSPDA2, the dominant QTL for chlorophyll content in Brassica napus, was fine mapped to the 21.89-22.04 Mb interval on A02. Three annotated genes (BnaA02g30260D, BnaA02g30290D and BnaA02g30310D) which may be responsible for chlorophyll synthesis were found.
Non-Target Screening For Detecting The Occurrence of Plant Metabolites in River Waters
Authors: Nanusha Mulatu Yohannes , Krauss Martin , Brack Werner
Published: July 2020

Background: Surface waters may contain a large number of chemicals detectable as signals in liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) including a large fraction of unknown chemicals often with high peak intensity. In addition to synthetic chemicals these signals may represent also natural compounds released from plants, animals and microorganisms, which may contribute to the cumulative toxic risk. Thus, attempts were made to identify natural compounds in significant concentrations in surface waters by identifying overlapping LC-HRMS peaks between extracts of plants abundant in the catchment and river waters using a non-target screening (NTS) work flow. Results: The result revealed the presence of several thousands of overlapping peaks between water – plant pairs, of which 12 SPMs were identified to occur in river waters from different compound classes with flavonoids as a dominant group. The concentrations of the identified compounds ranged from 0.02 to 5 µg/L with apiin, hyperoside and guanosine with highest concentrations. Most of the identified compounds exceeded the threshold for toxicological concern (TTC) (0.1 µg/L) for non-genotoxic and non-endocrine disrupting chemicals in drinking water often by more than one order of magnitude. Conclusion: Our results revealed the contribution of chemicals eluted from the vegetation in the catchment to chemical load in surface waters and help to reduce the number of unknowns among NTS high-intensity peaks detected in rivers. Since SPMs are often produced for defence against other organisms and since concentrations ranges are clearly above TTC a contribution to toxic risks on aquatic organisms and impacts on drinking water safety cannot be excluded. This demands for including these compounds into monitoring and assessment of water quality.
Infection With Trypanosoma Lewisi or Trypanosoma Musculi May Promote The Spread of Toxoplasma Gondii
Authors: Gao Jiang-Mei , Yi Si-Qi , Geng Guo-Qing , Xu Zhi-Shen , Hide Geoff , Lun Zhao-Rong , Lai De-Hua
Published: July 2020

Background: Toxoplasma gondii can infect almost all warm-blooded vertebrates with pathogensis being largely influenced by the host immune status. As important epidemiological hosts, rodents are globally distributed and are also commonly found infected with haemoflagellates, such as those in the genus Trypanosoma. We here address whether and how co-infection with trypanosomes can influence T. gondii infection in laboratory models. Results: Rats of five strains, co-infected with T. lewisi, and mice of four strains, co-infected with T. musculi, were found to be more or less susceptible to T. gondii infection, respectively, with corresponding increased or decreased brain cyst burdens. Down-regulation of iNOS expression and decreased NO production or reverse were observed in the peritoneal macrophages of rats or mice, infected with trypanosomes, respectively.Conclusions: Trypanosoma lewisi and T. musculi can modulate host immune responses, either by enhancement or suppression, and influence the outcome of Toxoplasma infection.
Using pollen DNA metabarcoding to profile nectar sources of urban beekeeping in Kōtō-ku, Tokyo
Authors: Tanaka Keiske , Nozaki Akinobu , Nakadai Hazuki , Shiwa Yuh , Shimizu-Kadota Mariko
Published: July 2020

Objective: Apis mellifera is a honeybee that has been introduced around the world as an industrial beekeeping species. Recently, urban beekeeping has attracted attention as a means of ecosystem protection and urban greening. This study aimed to investigate nectar sources of an urban beekeeping in Kōtō-ku, Tokyo using pollen DNA metabarcoding.Results: We extracted DNA from pollen collected by the honeybees of a local urban beekeeping. DNA metabarcoding analysis was carried out by sequencing a part of the rbcL region of the chloroplast genome. A total of 31 samples collected between mid-March, 2018 and mid-October, 2018 yielded 54 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) comprising 14 families, 32 genera, and 8 species. Whereas 5 OTUs were profiled throughout all seasons, 38 OTUs were season-specific (spring, summer, or autumn). Therefore, we were able to infer seasonal nectar sources for the beekeeping at the family or genus level, and at the species level to a lesser extent. Our pollen-sampling strategy was effective for profiling season-specific nectar sources, with the exception of a few anomalies that can be accounted for by out–of-season flowering by artificial gardening and/or pollen accumulation over multiple seasons.
R.E.S.P.e.c.T and intimate partner violence: a cross-sectional study using DHS data in Kenya
Authors: Ward Caleb L , Harlow Siobán D
Published: July 2020

Background Thirty percent of all women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the World Health Organization’s (WHO) novel R.E.S.P.E.C.T framework for intervention and IPV prevalence among women in Kenya. Methods We used the 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS). Only women selected for the domestic violence module and who were married/living with their partner were eligible for this study (n=3,737). We created a summary score for each strategy denoted by R.E.S.P.T based on availability of questions addressing these strategies in the KDHS, and a total score that summed responses across all strategies. Each letter was assessed with Cronbach’s Alpha. Multiple logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between R.E.S.P.T scores and IPV.Results All strategies except for E lowered the odds of IPV. Decision-making (R) was negatively associated with experiencing IPV (OR = 0.62 [0.53-0.72]). Land and property ownership (E) were positively associated with experiencing IPV (OR = 1.25 [1.08-1.43]). Access to health care (S) was negatively associated with experiencing IPV (OR = 0.55 [0.48-0.63]). Higher levels of wealth (P) were negatively associated with experiencing IPV (OR = 0.47 [0.37-0.62]). Not justifying wife-beating in any scenario (T) was negatively associated with experiencing IPV (OR = 0.39 [0.29-0.53]). After adjusting for demographics, a 1-unit increase in total R.E.S.P.T score was negatively associated with experiencing IPV (AOR= 0.63 [0.57-0.70]) with a similar finding for IPV in the past 12 months (AOR = 0.59 [0.53-0.66]). Younger age, higher education, and Muslim religion were associated with decreased odds of experiencing IPV while living in a rural location and working were associated with increased odds of experiencing IPV.Conclusions Our study provides initial evidence that by implementing the multi-strategy R.E.S.P.E.C.T framework, countries can dramatically lower the odds of women experiencing IPV. The DHS can be used as a tool to monitor implementation and efficacy of this novel strategy.
Conditions Associated with Worse Acceptance of a Simplified Accelerated Recovery after Surgery Protocol in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Authors: Queiroz Fabio Lopes , Lacerda-Filho Antonio , Cherem Adriana Alves , Oliveira Fabio Henrique , Neto Paulo Rocha França , Paiva Rodrigo Almeida
Published: July 2020

Background: Accelerated Recovery after Surgery Programs were initially applied to colorectal surgery and used a multimodal care approach to relieve the response to surgical stress. An important factor that negatively impacts the success of these programs is the non-tolerance of patients to certain items in the adopted protocol, especially with regard to post-operative measures. The identification of these factors may help to increase the success rate of such programs, ensuring that benefits reach a greater number of patients and that resources are better allocated. Thus, the aims of this study were to assess the results of the implementation of a Simplified Accelerated Recovery Protocol (SARP) and to identify possible factors associated with failure to implement postoperative protocol measures in patients submitted to laparoscopic colorectal surgery.Methods: 161 patients were randomly divided into two groups. The SARP group (n = 84) was submitted to the accelerated recovery program and the CC group (n = 77), to conventional postoperative care. The SARP group was further divided into two subgroups: patients who tolerated the protocol (n=51) and those who did not (n=33), in order to analyze factors contributing to protocol nontolerance.Results: The groups had similar sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. The SARP group had a shorter hospital stay, better elimination of flatus, was able to walk and to tolerate a diet sooner (p < 0.0001). The rates of complications and of returns to the emergency room were similar between groups. In the multivariate analysis of the subgroups, we found that prolonged surgical time, stoma creation, and the development of complications were variables that placed program acceptance at risk (p < 0.0001).Conclusions: The accelerated postoperative recovery program that was adopted, although simplified, was able to improve recovery from laparoscopic colorectal surgery and proved to be safe for patients. Extensive surgeries, occurrence of complications, and the need for ostomy were variables associated with program non-acceptance. Trial registration: Trial Registry: RBR2b4fyr - Date of registration: 03 October 2017.
Cellular And Humoral Peritoneal Immunity To Mesocestoides Vogae Metacestodes Infection In Mice.
Authors: Kubašková Terézia Mačák , Mudroňová Dagmar , Vargová Miroslava , Reiterová Katarína , Hrčková Gabriele
Published: July 2020

Background: Here, Mesocestoides (M.) vogae infection in mice is proposed as a suitable experimental model for studying the immunity in the peritoneal cavity of mice. Methods: To investigate the kinetics of immune parameters in M. vogae-infected mice, we detected, using flow cytometry, the expression of selected lymphoid and myeloid markers within the peritoneal cell population at day 0, 3, 6, 10, 14, 19, 25, 30 and 35 post-infection. Then, using ELISA, we analyzed the cytokine IFN-γ, TGF-β, IL-4 and IL-10 responses and the levels of anti-M. vogae IgG and IgM antibodies in the peritoneal lavage fluid. Cells isolated from peritoneal cavity were subjected to further molecular analysis. To assess cell activation, peritoneal cells were exposed to LPS, and culture supernatants were collected and assayed for the level of cytokines and production of nitrite. Ly6C+ and Ly6G+ cells were isolated using MACS from the peritoneal cells at day 35 post-infection. Both MACS-isolated subsets were co-cultured with preactivated T cells to measure their suppressive capacity. Next, the role of parasite excretory-secretory antigens on induction of CD11b+ myeloid cells with the suppressive phenotype and the production of IL-10 was examined.Results: In the peritoneal cavity an initial increase of CD11b+Gr-1+F4/80highMHCIIhigh cells, NK, NKT cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells was observed in the first week of infection. At day 14 post-infection, an increase in the number of myeloid CD11b+Gr-1+ cells was detected, and most of this cell population expressed low levels of F4/80 and MHC II in later stages of infection, suggesting the impairment of antigen-presenting cell functions, probably through the excretory-secretory molecules. Moreover, we confirmed that peritoneal Gr1+ cells (Ly6C+ and Ly6G+ population) are phenotypically and functionally consistent with myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Metacestode infection elicited high levels of IL-10 and up-regulated of STAT-3 in peritoneal cells. A higher level of IgM suggests that this isotype may be predominant and involved in host protection.Conclusions: M. vogae tetrathyridia induced the recruitment of immunosuppressive cell subsets, which may play a key role in the down-regulation of immune response in long-term parasitic diseases, and excretory-secretory antigens seem to be the main regulatory factor.
Identification of Intestinal Flora-Related Key Genes and Therapeutic Drugs in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Zhang Jiayu , Zhang Huaiyu , Li Faping , Song Zheyu , Li Yezhou , Zhao Tiancheng
Published: July 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifactorial tumor and a leading cause of cancer-specific deaths worldwide. Recent research has shown that the alteration of intestinal flora contributes to the development of CRC. However, the molecular mechanism by which intestinal flora influences the pathogenesis of CRC remains unclear. This study aims to explore the key genes underlying the effect of intestinal flora on CRC and therapeutic drugs for CRC. 518 genes associated with intestinal flora were determined by text mining. Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we identified 48 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with intestinal flora, including 25 up-regulated and 23 down-regulated DEGs. The enrichment analyses indicated that the selected genes were mainly involved in cell-cell signaling, immune response, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed with 13 nodes and 35 edges. Moreover, 8 genes in the significant cluster were considered as the key genes and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL8) correlated positively with the overall survival of CRC patients. Finally, a total of 24 drugs were predicted as possible drugs for CRC treatment using the Drug-Gene Interaction database. These findings of this study may provide new insights into CRC pathogenesis and treatments. The prediction of drug-gene interaction is of great practical significance for exploring new drugs or novel targets for existing drugs.
Prognostic Value of Multiparametric MRI-Based Radiomics model: Potential Role for Chemotherapeutic Benefits in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
Authors: Cui Yanfen , Yang Wenhui , Ren Jialiang , Li Dandan , Du Xiaosong , Zhang Junjie , Yang Xiaotang
Published: July 2020

Background: Distant metastasis is the major cause of treatment failure in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) is usually used for distant control. However, only certain subgroups of patients could benefit from AC. Our aim was to develop a radiomics model for the prediction of survival and chemotherapeutic benefits using pretreatment multiparameter MR images and clinicopathological features in patients with LARC. Methods: 186 consecutive patients with LARC underwent feature extraction from the whole tumor on T2-weighted (T2w), contrast enhanced T1-weighted (cT1w), and ADC images. Feature selection was based on feature stability and the Boruta algorithm. Radiomics signatures for predicting DFS (disease-free survival) were then generated using the selected features. Combining clinical risk factors, a radiomics nomogram was constructed using Cox proportional hazards regression model. The predictive performance was evaluated by Harrell's concordance indices (C-index) and time-independent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Four features were selected to construct the radiomics signature, which was significantly associated with DFS (P < 0.001). The radiomics nomogram, incorporating radiomics signature and two clinicopathological variables (pN and tumor differentiation), exhibited better prediction performance for DFS than the clinicopathological model, with C-index of 0.780 (95%CI, 0.718-0.843) and 0.803 (95%CI, 0.717-0.889) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The radiomics nomogram-defined high-risk group had a shorter DFS, DMFS, and OS than those in the low-risk group (all P <0.05). Further analysis showed that patients with higher nomogram-defined score exhibited a favorable response to AC while the low-risk could not. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the newly developed pretreatment multiparameter MRI-based radiomics model could serve as a powerful predictor of prognosis, and may act as a potential indicator for guiding AC in patients with LARC.
Exogenous adiponectin with full Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists (pioglitazone) abrogates streptozotocin induced oxidative stress and vascular abnormalities in Spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Authors: Afzal Sheryar , Sattar Munavvar Abdul , Johns Edward James , Eseyin Olorunfemi. A.
Published: July 2020

Background Oxidative stress, associates with metabolic and anthropometric perturbations, leads to reactive oxygen species production and decrease in plasma adiponectin concentration. We investigated pharmacodynamically the pathophysiological role and potential implication of exogenously administered adiponectin with full and partial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) agonists on modulation of oxidative stress, metabolic dysregulation and antioxidant potential in streptozotocin induced Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).Methods Group I (WKY) serve as normotensive control, whereas 42 male SHRs were randomized equally into 7 groups (n = 6), group II: SHR control, groups III: SHR diabetic control, group IV, V and VI treated with irbesartan (30 mg/kg), pioglitazone (10 mg/kg) and adiponectin (2.5 µg/kg), whereas, groups VII and VIII received co-treatments as irbesartan + adiponectin), (pioglitazone + adiponectin) respectively. Diabetes was induced using an intra-peritoneal injection of Streptozotocin (40 mg/kg). Plasma adiponectin, lipid contents, arterial stiffness with oxidative stress bio-markers were measured using an in-vitro and in-vivo analysis.Results Diabetic SHRs exhibited hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, increased arterial stiffness with reduced plasma adiponectin and antioxidant enzymatic levels (P < 0.05). Diabetic SHRs pre-treated with pioglitazone and adiponectin separately exerted improvements in antioxidant enzyme activities, abrogated arterial stiffness, offset the increased production of reactive oxygen species and dyslipidaemic effects of STZ, except for blood pressure values which were more pronounced with irbesartan treated groups (all P < 0.05).Conclusions The combined treatment of exogenously administered adiponectin with full PPAR-γ agonist augmented the improvement in lipid contents and adiponectin concentration, restores arterial stiffness with antioxidant potential effects, indicating degree of synergism between adiponectin and full PPAR-γ agonists (pioglitazone).
Application of the PET Ligand 11C-ORM-13070 to Examine Receptor Occupancy by the Selective α2C-Adrenoceptor Antagonist ORM-12741: Translational Validation of Target Engagement in Rat and Human Brain
Authors: Shahid Mohammed , Rinne Juha O. , Scheinin Mika , Virta Jere , Marjamäki Päivi , Solin Olof , Arponen Eveliina , Sallinen Jukka , Kuokkanen Katja , Rouru Juha
Published: July 2020

Background
Availability of the α2C -adrenoceptor (α2C-AR) positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, 11C -ORM-13070, and the selective α2C-AR antagonist ORM-12741 allows probing of the roles of this G-protein coupled receptor subtype in brain function, both in healthy humans and in patients with various brain disorders. This translational study employed 11C-ORM-13070 PET to determine α2C-AR occupancy by ORM-12741 in rat and human brain.
Results
ORM-12741 has high affinity (Ki: 0.08 nM) and potent antagonist activity (Kb: 0.04 nM) as well as selectivity (Ki estimates for the human α2A-AR and α2B-AR were 8.3 nM and 0.8 nM, respectively) for the human α2C-AR subtype. 11C-ORM-13070 had highest uptake in the basal ganglia of rat and human brain. Pretreatment with ORM-12741 inhibited 11C-ORM-13070 binding in rat striatum in a time- and dose-dependent manner at 10 and 50 µg/kg (s.c.) with an EC50 estimate of 1.42 ng/mL in rat plasma, corresponding to protein-free drug concentration of 0.23 nM. In the living human brain, time- and dose-related α2C-AR occupancy was detected with EC50 estimates of 24 ng/mL and 31 ng/mL for the caudate nucleus and putamen, respectively, corresponding to protein-free concentrations in plasma of 0.07 nM and 0.1 nM. Modelling-based maximum α2C-AR occupancy estimates were 63% and 52% in the caudate nucleus and the putamen, respectively.
Conclusions
ORM-12741 is a selective α2C-AR antagonist which penetrates the rat and human brain to occupy α2C-ARs in a manner consistent with its receptor pharmacology.
Trial registration number and date of registration:
ClinicalTrial.cov NCT00829907. Registered 11 December 2008. https://clinicaltrials.gov/.
Establish deeper understanding on the osteogenic differentiation of monolayer cultured human pluripotent stem cells using novel and detail analyses
Authors: Zhou Ping , Shi Jia-Min , Song Jing-E , Han Yu , Li Hong-Jiao , Song Ya-Meng , Feng Fang , Wang Jian-Lin , Zhang Rui , Lan Feng
Published: July 2020

Background: Derivation of the osteoblast-like cell from human pluripotent stem cell becomes a hot topic in bone tissue engineering. Although many improvements have been achieved in this field, low induction efficiency because of the non-directed differentiation process hampers their application in bone regeneration. We think lack of detailed understanding on the osteogenic differentiation process should be the main reason.Methods: Monolayer cultured human embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells were inducted in traditional serum-containing osteogenic medium for 35 days. Except for traditional assays such as cell viability detection, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and alizarin red staining, we also applied cell counting, cell telomerase activity, cell cycle and quantitative expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 as essential indicators to analyze the cell type changes during the differentiation process. Results: The population of differentiated cells are quite heterogenous throughout 35 days of induction. Then, cell telomerase activity and cell cycle analyses have value in evaluating the cell type changes and tumorigenicity of obtained cells. Moreover, nuclear staining should be a recommended method to evaluate the cell number, because, it is still a great challenge to dissociate cells with varying differentiation times into single cells with high survival rate. Finally, a dynamic map was made to integrated analysis of these results, and the cell types at defined stages of osteogenic differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells was concluded. Conclusions: This study lay foundation to improve the in vitro osteogenic differentiation efficiency of human pluripotent stem cells by supplementing functional compounds at each stage according to a time-frame, then establish a step-wised induction system in the future.
Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy can Improve Survival for Breast Cancer Patients with 1-3 Positive Axillary Lymph Nodes: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using SEER Database
Authors: Yang Jian , Zhang Xiao , Ye Yifeng , yang qingmo , Cai Haoyang
Published: July 2020

Postmastectomy radiation (PMRT) is an important adjuvant treatment for high-risk breast cancer. However, evidence concerning the efficacy of PMRT on survival for breast cancer patients with 1-3 positive axillary lymph nodes remains insufficient. We identified 57,793 patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, including 15,126 cases of beam radiation and 42,667 cases of none/unknown radiation. All patients were diagnosed during 2010–2015. Kaplan–Meier curve was utilized to compare the survival of the two groups. We used univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models to identify independent prognostic factors with Hazard Ratio and 95% Confidence Intervals. Patients were stratified according to lymph node status, tumor size and molecular subtypes to perform subgroup analysis. The PMRT group shows more aggressive clinicopathological features, including higher grade (p<0.001), lager tumor size (p<0.001), more lymph nodes (p<0.001), younger age (p<0.001), more ER absence (p<0.001), more PR absence (p<0.001), and more HER2 overexpression (p<0.001). In addition, the PMRT group received more radical surgery (p<0.001) and more chemotherapy (p<0.001). In the multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, the PMRT group presented improved survival in terms of breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) (HR,0.739; 95% CI, 0.679–0.805; p<0.001) and overall survival (OS) (HR, 0.721; 95% CI, 0.670–0.777; p<0.001). After stratified according to positive axillary lymph nodes, the PMRT group showed improved BCSS and OS in the LN 1 to 3 subgroup (HR, 0.738, 95% CI, 0.639–0.853, p<0.001 and HR, 0.684, 95% CI, 0.604–0.776, p<0.001, respectively). For patients with 1-3 positive axillary lymph nodes and T1-2 tumors, the PMRT group still showed improved survival in terms of BCSS and OS (HR, 0.826, 95% CI, 0.688–0.992, p=0.04 and HR, 0.751, 95% CI, 0.643–0.878, p<0.001, respectively). In the subgroup analysis, PMRT remained a significant favorable prognostic factor in T2 and Her2-/HR+ subtype (p<0.05). This study suggests that even in the era of modern therapy, PMRT can confer a survival benefit to breast cancer patients with 1-3 positive axillary lymph nodes. Furthermore, for patients with 1-3 positive axillary lymph nodes and T1-2 tumors, PMRT can still provide survival benefits.