bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
It’s a Woman’s Thing: Gender Roles Sustaining the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation Among the Kassena-Nankana of Northern Ghana
Authors: AKWEONGO PATRICIA , Jackson Elizabeth F. , Appiah-Yeboah Shirley Afua , Sakeah Evelyn , Phillips James F.
Published: August 2020

BackgroundThe practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) in traditional African societies is grounded in traditions of patriarchy that subjugate women. It is widely assumed that approaches to eradicating the practice must therefore focus on women’s empowerment and changing gender roles. MethodsThis paper presents findings from a qualitative study of the FGM beliefs and opinions of men and women in Kassena-Nankana District of northern Ghana. Data are analyzed from twenty-two focus group panels of young women, young men, reproductive age women, and male social leaders. ResultsThe social systemic influences on FGM decision-making are complex. Men represent exogenous sources of social influence on FGM decisions through their gender roles in the patriarchal system. As such, their FGM decision influence is more prominent for uncircumcised brides at the time of marriage than for FGM decisions concerning unmarried adolescents. Women in extended family compounds are relatively prominent as immediate sources of influence on FGM decision-making for both brides and adolescents. Circumcised women are the main source of social support for the practice, which they exercise through peer pressure in concert with co-wives. Junior wives entering a polygynous marriage or a large extended family are particularly vulnerable to this pressure. Men are less influential and more open to suggestions of eliminating the practice of FGM than women. ConclusionFindings attest to the need for social research on ways to involve men in the promotion of FGM abandonment, building on their apparent openness to social change. Investigation is also needed on ways to marshal women’s social networks for offsetting their extended family familial roles in sustaining FGM practices.
Institutional Delivery Service Utilization and Associated Factors in Rural Communities of Central Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Weldeab Adane Nigusie , Azale Telake , Yitayal Mezgebu , Derseh Lemma
Published: August 2020

Introduction: Institutional delivery has been considered as one of the important strategies to improve maternal and child health, and significantly reduces birth related complications however it is still low in developing countries though there are some improvements. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of institutional delivery service utilization and associated factors among women who gave birth in Central Gondar zone, North West Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2019. A multistage systematic sampling technique was used to select a total of 1,394 study participants. Data were collected from women who gave birth during the past one year by using structured and pretested questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors at 95% confidence level. Results: The prevalence of institutional delivery service utilization was 58.17 % (95%CI: 55.57%, 60.77%). Multivariable logistic regression showed that women age ( ≥35years) (AOR= 1.43; 95% CI 1.04,1.96), having a family size of less than five (AOR= 4.61; 95% CI 3.34,6.34), husbands educational status of primary school (AOR= 1.64; 95% CI 1.19,2.24), middle level household wealth index (AOR= 1.78; 95% CI 1.25,2.54), rich level household wealth index (AOR= 2.01; 95% CI 1.42,2.86), having family discussion (AOR= 4.05; 95% CI 2.74,5.97), antenatal care visit during their recent pregnancy (AOR= 1.86;95% CI 1.16,2.97),distance from the nearby clinic(≤30min) (AOR= 2.92; 95% CI 1.53,5.58), decision power about place of delivery (AOR= 2.50; 95% CI 1.56,4.01) and bad behavior of health workers (AOR= 0.27; 95% CI 0.19,0.39) were significantly associated with utilization of institutional delivery service. Conclusion: Institutional delivery service utilization was low in the study area. Women age (≥35years), having a family size of less than five, educational status of husband (primary), household wealth index (middle and rich), family discussion, antenatal care visit, distance from the nearby clinic (≤30min), decision power about place of delivery and bad behavior of health workers were predictors of institutional delivery. This study implies that strengthening family discussion and up taking antenatal Care services in regular ways are few of the suggested recommendations.
Symmetry function as a new tool for evaluating the symmetry of gait in transfemoral amputees
Authors: Winiarski Slawomir , Rutkowska-Kucharska Alicja , Kowal Mateusz
Published: August 2020

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated significant asymmetries in unilateral amputee gait. The underlying dissimilarities between prosthetic and intact limbs have not yet been widely examined. To gain more insight into the functionality of asymmetries, we propose a new tool, the symmetry function (SF), to evaluate the symmetry of walking in terms of kinematic and dynamic variables of patients after unilateral transfemoral amputation and to identify areas with the largest side deviations in the movement cycle. Methods: An instrumented motion analysis system was used to register the gait of fourteen patients after unilateral trans-femoral amputation (TFA). Measurements involved evaluating the time series of gait variables characterizing a range of motion and the time series of the ground reaction force components. Comparison of the involved limb with the uninvolved limb in TFA patients was carried out on the basis of the SF values.Results: The symmetry function proved to be an excellent tool to localize the regions of asymmetry and their positive or negative directions in the full gait cycle. The difference between sides revealed by the symmetry function was the highest for the pelvis and the hip. In the sagittal plane, the pelvis was asymmetrically tilted, reaching the highest SF value of more than 25% at 60% cycle time. In the transverse plane, the pelvis was even more asymmetrically positioned throughout the entire gait cycle (50% difference on average). The hip in the frontal plane reached a 60% difference in SF throughout the single support phase for the prosthetic and then for the intact limb. Conclusions: The symmetry function allows for the detection of gait asymmetries and shifts in the center of gravity and may assess the precise in time adaptation of prostheses and rehabilitation monitoring, especially in unilateral impairments.Trial registration: The trial registration number (TRN): 379991 issued by the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) on 07.05.2020 (retrospectively registered).
The Use Of Dried Tube Specimens Of Plasmodium Falciparum In An External Quality Assessment Program To Evaluate Health Worker Performance For Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Testing In Healthcare Centers In Togo
Authors: Dorkenoo Monique Ameyo , Kouassi Kafui Codjo , Koura Adjane K. , Adams Martin L , Gbada Komivi , Katawa Gnatoulma , Yakpa Kossi , Charlebois Remi , Milgotina Ekaterina , Merkel Michele O , Aidoo Michael
Published: August 2020

Background: The use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to diagnose malaria is common in Sub-Saharan African laboratories, remote primary health facilities and in the community. Currently, there is a lack of reliable methods to ascertain health worker competency to accurately use RDTs in the testing and diagnosis of malaria. Dried tube specimens (DTS) have been shown to be a consistent and useful method for quality control of malaria RDTs, however, its application in National Quality Management programs has been limited. Methods: A P. falciparum strain was grown in culture and harvested to create DTS of varying parasite density (0, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 parasites/µL). Using the dried tube specimens as quality control material, a proficiency testing (PT) program was carried out in 80 health centers in Togo. Health worker competency for performing malaria RDTs (mRDTs) was assessed using five blinded DTS samples, and the DTS were tested in the same manner as a patient sample would be tested by multiple testers per health center. Results: All the DTS with 100 parasites/µl and 50% of DTS with 200 parasites/µl were classified as non-reactive during the pre-PT quality control step. Therefore, data from these parasite densities were not analyzed as part of the PT dataset. PT scores across all 80 facilities and 235 testers was 100% for 0 parasites/µl, 63% for 500 parasites/µl and 93% for 1,000 parasites/µl. Overall, 59% of the 80 healthcare centers that participated in the PT program received a score of 80% or higher on a set of 0, 500 and 1,000 parasites/ µl DTS samples. Sixty percent of health workers at these centers scored higher than 80%. Conclusions: The use of DTS for a malaria PT program was the first of its kind ever conducted in Togo. The ease of use of the DTS illustrates that they can serve as well-characterized, stable samples to assess staff competency. The implementation of quality management systems, refresher training and expanded PT at remote testing facilities are essential elements to improve the quality of malaria diagnosis.
Relationships between serum total bilirubin levels and hypercholesterolemia in Chinese men and women.
Authors: Zhang Xuemei , Huang Chao , Fan Yaguang , Xu Ke , Li Xue , Liu Ming , Ren Xiaojun , Zhu Mei , He Qing , Zhang Qing , Song Kun , Jia Qiyu , Zhang Chunmei , Wang Xiaoran , Meng Zhaowei
Published: August 2020

Objective

Bilirubin, an antioxidant, is reported to relate with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. The current study is to assess the relationship between total bilirubin (TB) and hypercholesterolemia in the Chinese population.
Methods

This cross-sectional study involved 48971 males and 31327 females who were in good health. Physical examinations and laboratory tests including TB and total cholesterol (TC) were performed. Subjects were divided into the following groups according to age: subjects younger than 30 years, subjects aged between 30 to 60 years and subjects older than 60 years. Binary logistic regression models examining factors independently related to TB was performed for males and females in different age groups.
Results

TB was negatively related to most parameters in males and females, such as body mass index (BMI), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), TC, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and glucose (G). The incidence of high TC was higher in females than in males and decreased with the increasing of TB in both genders. People older than 30 years demonstrated a similar trend. When there were no other covariates, TB appeared to be an important risk factor for high TC for men and women. However, this relationship disappeared when other covariates were added in the binary logistic regression models. Similar results also existed in men younger than 60 years and women younger than 30 years.
Conclusions

Our findings implied that serum TB concentration was not an independent risk predictor for hypercholesterolemia. TB was thought to be a covariate factor in the development of dyslipidemia.
Expression of VEGFA-mRNA in classical and MSX2-mRNA in non-classical monocytes in patients with spondyloarthritis is associated with peripheral arthritis.
Authors: Stec Małgorzata , Seweryn Michał , Korkosz Mariusz , Guła Zofia , Szatanek Rafał , Węglarczyk Kazimierz , Rutkowska-Zapała Magdalena , Lenart Marzena , Czepiel Marcin , Czyż Jarosław , Baran Jarosław , Gruca Anna , Wojnar-Lasoń Kamila , Wołkow Paweł , Siedlar Maciej
Published: August 2020

Background

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is characterized by chronic inflammation and structural damage involving spine and peripheral joints. Monocytes, as part of innate immune system, following migration into affected tissue, may play a role in the pathogenesis of SpA. Here, potential associations between osteogenesis-linked gene expression profile in particular monocyte subpopulations and clinical signs of SpA were investigated.
Methods

The 20 patients with axial and 16 with peripheral SpA were enrolled in the study. Monocyte subpopulations (classical - CD14 + + CD16-, intermediate - CD14 + + CD16 + and non-classical - CD14 + CD16++) were isolated from blood using flow cytometry and gene expression analysis was performed using real-time PCR method and TaqMan™ Array, Human Osteogenesis, Fast 96-well plates. Next, the characteristic clinical features of axial or peripheral SpA were analyzed in the context of the expression of selected genes in the three subpopulations of monocytes.
Results

We demonstrated that expression of VEGFA in classical and MSX2 in non-classical monocytes were associated with the number of swollen and painful peripheral joints of SpA patients.
Conclusions

Monocytes may contribute to the development of peripheral arthritis in SpA patients. This might be possible through subpopulation specific effects, linking number of inflamed joints with expression of VEGFA in classical monocytes and MSX2 in non-classical monocytes.
Loss of autophagy in tibial plateau chondrocytes causes increased apoptosis of chondrocytes in spontaneous osteoarthritis of guinea pigs
Authors: WANG XIAOJIAN , WEI LEI , WEI XIAOCHUN , XUE YAN , CHEN TAOYU , GUO SONGJIA , GAO YANFANG , LI LIJUN , CHANG FENG , LI RONGSHAN
Published: August 2020

Objective

To observe the effect of autophagy in tibial plateau chondrocytes on apoptosis in spontaneous knee osteoarthritis (OA) in guinea pigs.
Methods

Fifty 2-month-old female Hartley guinea pigs were divided into a normal group, which was euthanized after 7 months, and an OA group, ten of which were euthanized after 10 months. Immunohistochemistry, PCR and western blotting were used to evaluate the level of autophagy, intracellular glycogen accumulation and apoptosis in tibial plateau chondrocytes in vivo and in vitro. The remaining 30 guinea pigs in the OA group were divided into 3 groups: a rapamycin group, a normal saline group and a 3-MA group. Intracellular glycogen accumulation and chondrocyte apoptosis were observed by changing the level of autophagy in tibial plateau chondrocytes in vivo.
Results

When spontaneous OA occurred in the guinea pigs, the level of autophagy in tibial plateau chondrocytes decreased,and intracellular glycogen accumulation and the rate of chondrocyte apoptosis increased. After enhancing the autophagy level of tibial plateau chondrocytes in OA guinea pigs, the intracellular glycogen accumulation and the rate of chondrocyte apoptosis decreased. When the autophagy level of the chondrocytes was weakened, intracellular glycogen accumulation was further increased, and the apoptosis rate was higher.
Conclusions

The autophagy function of chondrocytes may be at least partly involved in the catabolism of glycogen in chondrocytes. In OA guinea pigs, the autophagy level in tibial plateau chondrocytes decreased, and the chondrocytes were unable to degrade intracellular glycogen into glucose, leading to less energy for the chondrocytes and increased apoptosis.
Strategies for increasing gait speed in patients with hip osteoarthritis: their clinical significance and effects on hip loading
Authors: Tateuchi Hiroshige , Akiyama Haruhiko , Goto Koji , So Kazutaka , Kuroda Yutaka , Ichihashi Noriaki
Published: August 2020

Background

Change in gait speed is required in various situations in daily life, and can be achieved by changing stride length, cadence, or both. Differences in strategies for increasing gait speed may have different effects on the hip joint and on physical function. Our primary purpose was to determine the effects of strategies for increasing gait speed on hip pain and physical function in patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA). The secondary purpose was to examine the effects of strategies for increasing gait speed on the changes in hip loading during gait.
Methods

Forty-seven patients with secondary hip OA (age 48.3 ± 11.0 years) were included. Gait speed, stride length, cadence, and peak and impulse of the hip joint moment were measured during gait at self-selected normal and fast gait speeds, using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. The patients were classified as types S (increasing mainly stride length), C (increasing mainly cadence), and SC (increasing stride length and cadence) according to whether they used changes in stride length and/or cadence to transition from a normal to a fast gait. Hip pain, physical function, and change in hip moments during gait were compared between the types.
Results

The distribution of the patients was as follows: types S, 23.4%; C, 48.9%; and SC, 27.7%. Physical function status was higher in types C (P = 0.018) and SC (P = 0.015) than in type S, even after adjustment for age and minimum joint space width. Hip pain was not significantly different between the types. The robustness of those results was confirmed by a sensitivity analysis. The rates of the increases in peak external hip adduction (P = 0.003) and internal rotation moments (P = 0.009) were lower in type C than in type SC.
Conclusions

Type C tended to suppress the increase in hip joint moments during fast gait. Types C and SC, which included increased cadence, maintained higher physical function levels than type S. Encouraging use of a cadence-increasing strategy may be useful for reducing hip loading and maintaining physical function in patients with hip OA.
Lactate-based microbial chain elongation for n-caproate and iso-butyrate production: genomic and metabolic features of three novel Clostridia isolates
Authors: Liu Bin , Popp Denny , Sträuber Heike , Harms Hauke , Kleinsteuber Sabine
Published: August 2020

Background
The platform chemicals n-caproate and iso-butyrate can be produced by anaerobic fermentation from agro-industrial residues in a process known as microbial chain elongation. A few chain-elongating species have been discovered to utilize lactate and used to study the physiology of lactate-based chain elongation in pure cultures. Recently we isolated three novel clostridial species (strains BL-3, BL-4 and BL-6) that convert lactate to n-caproate and iso-butyrate. Here, we analyzed the genetic background of lactate-based chain elongation in these strains and other chain-elongating species by comparative genomics.
Results
All three strains produced n-caproate and iso-butyrate from lactate, with the highest proportions of n-caproate (18%) for BL-6 and iso-butyrate (23%) for BL-4 in batch cultivation at pH 5.5. The strains are suggested to represent three novel species based on low similarities with their closest described relatives. The three genomes show low conservation of organization and a relatively small core-genome size (504 out of 6,654 gene families). Including data of another eleven experimentally validated chain-elongating strains, we found that the chain elongation-specific core-genome harbors genes involved in reverse β-oxidation, hydrogen formation and energy conservation, displaying substantial genome heterogeneity. The three new isolates contain the genes for lactate oxidation and a gene cluster encoding enzymes of reverse β-oxidation, including the CoA transferase for the formation of n-caproate. Our analysis gave no hints on the isomerization pathway for iso-butyrate formation. An operon encoding the Rnf complex was found in BL-3 and BL-4 but not in BL-6, which may instead use the Ech hydrogenase complex for energy conservation. BL-3 and BL-6 were predicted to have genes encoding both the BCD/EtfAB complex and the LDH/EtfAB complex for energy coupling.
Conclusions
The genetic background of lactate-based chain elongation was confirmed in three novel Clostridia species that convert lactate to n-caproate and iso-butyrate. They contain highly conserved genes involved in reverse β-oxidation, hydrogen formation and either of two types of energy conservation systems (Rnf and Ech). Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanism of iso-butyrate formation in these strains. Features of the three isolates may be interesting for further applications in n-caproate and iso-butyrate production.
Too sweet: cheminformatics for deglycosylation in natural products
Authors: Schaub Jonas , Zielesny Achim , Steinbeck Christoph , Sorokina Maria
Published: August 2020

Sugar units in natural products are pharmacokinetically important but often redundant and therefore obstructing the study of the structure and function of the aglycon. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the sugars before a theoretical or experimental study of a molecule. Deglycogenases, enzymes that specialized in sugar removal from small molecules, are often used in laboratories to perform this task. However, there is no standardized computational procedure to perform this task in silico . In this work, we present a systematic approach for in silico removal of ring and linear sugars from molecular structures. Particular attention is given to molecules of biological origin and to their structural specificities. This approach is made available in two forms, through a free and open web application and as standalone open-source software.
Incidence and predictors of diabetic ketoacidosis among children with diabetes in west and east gojjam zone referral hospitals north west Ethiopia, 2019.
Authors: Assefa Birtukan , Zeleke Haymanot , Murugan Rajalakshmi , Wondwossen Kalkidan
Published: August 2020

BackgroundRecurrent diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with already diagnosed diabetic mellitus remains a relevant problem in pediatric with an incidence of 1–10% per patient. Children may die due to cerebral edema and had a significant mortality (24%) and morbidity (35%).ObjectiveWe assess incidence and predictors of diabetic ketoacidosis among diabetic children at East and West Gojjam zone referral hospitals, North West Ethiopia, 2019.MethodsAn institution-based retrospective follow up study was conducted on children who were registered from January 1, 2014, to January 1, 2019. Epi data version 3.1 & Stata 14 were used for data entering and analysis respectively.ResultA total of 354 children were included from this 207(58.5%) had diabetic ketoacidosis. The overall incidence rate of diabetic ketoacidosis was 2.27/100 children/month of observation. Age < 5 years (AHR: 3.52, 95% CI (2.25, 5.49), non-adherence (AHR: 1.54, 95% CI (1.11, 2.14), inappropriate insulin storage (AHR: 1.36, 95% CI (1.008, 1.85), presence of upper respiratory tract infections during diabetic ketoacidosis diagnose (AHR: 2.22, 95% CI (1.11, 4.45) and preceding gastroenteritis (AHR: 2.18, 95% CI (1.07, 4.44) were significant predictors.Conclusion and recommendationage < 5 years old, non-adherence, inappropriate insulin placement at home, Preceding gastroenteritis and presence of upper respiratory tract infections at the time of diabetic ketoacidosis development were significant predictors. Hence, assessing and close monitoring as well as strengthened diabetic education should be given for the above predictors.
Clonal Expansion of Bone Marrow CD8+ T Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients at New Diagnosis and Post Chemotherapy
Authors: Feng Zhongxin , Fang Qin , Kuang Xingyi , Liu Xin , Chen Ying , Ma Dan , Wang Jishi
Published: August 2020

Background: CD8+ T cells are crucial adaptive immune effectors and express receptors (T cell receptors, TCRs) that specifically recognize and eradicate tumor cells. The diversity of the TCR repertoire is generated by specialized genetic diversification mechanisms, leading to an extremely variable TCR repertoire capable of recognizing a wide range of antigens. However, the variations in CD8+ TCR diversity and their clinical implications in AML patients remain unknown.Methods: CD8+ T cells in 10 healthy donors and 31 AML patients at diagnosis and after chemotherapy were enriched using the Dynabeads CD8 Positive Isolation Kit. Flow cytometry were used for PD-1 expression level analysis of CD8+ T cells and CD8+PD-1+ and CD8+PD-1- T cell sorting. TCRβ deep sequencing was performed to analysis the CD8+ T cells clonal expansion and TCR repertoire diversity.Results: Diminished TCR repertoire diversity and expansional T cell clones were noted in the bone marrow of AML patients. In relapsed patients, T cells were found to be more clonally expanded post chemotherapy when compared to new diagnosis. Moreover, more significantly expanded TCRβ clonotypes were noted in CD8+ PD-1+ T cells than in CD8+ PD-1- T cells regardless of the time point of examination. Conclusions: Our systematic T-cell repertoire analysis may help better characterize CD8+ T cells pre- and post-chemotherapy in AML, which may provide insights into therapeutic strategies in hematological malignancies.
Soft Tissue Deformation Modeling in the Procedure of Needle Insertion: A Kriging-based Method
Authors: Lei Yong , Li Murong , Gao Dedong
Published: August 2020

The simulation and planning system (SPS) requires accurate and real-time feedback regarding the deformation of soft tissues during the needle insertion procedure. Traditional mechanical-based models such as the finite element method (FEM) are widely used to compute the deformations of soft tissue. However, it is difficult for the FEM or other methods to find a balance between an acceptable image fidelity and real-time deformation feedback due to their complex material properties, geometries and interaction mechanisms. In this paper, a Kriging-based method is applied to model the soft tissue deformation to strike a balance between the accuracy and efficiency of deformation feedback. Four combinations of regression and correlation functions are compared regarding their ability to predict the maximum deformations of ten characteristic markers at a fixed insertion depth. The results suggest that a first order regression function with Gaussian correlation functions can best fit the results of the ground truth. The functional response of the Kriging-based method is utilized to model the dynamic deformations of markers at a series of needle insertion depths. The feasibility of the method is verified by investigating the adaptation to step variations. Compared with the ground truth of the finite element (FE) results, the maximum residual is less than 0.92mm in the Y direction and 0.31mm in the $X$ direction. The results suggest that the Kriging metamodel provides real-time deformation feedback for a target and an obstacle to a SPS.
In vivo emergence of resistance to cefiderocol in an XDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa and an MDR Citrobacter koseri after prolonged therapy: a case report.
Authors: Perez Carolina Grande , Maillart Evelyne , Deyi Véronique Yvette Miendje , Huang Te Din Daniel , Kamgang Prochore , Dernier Yves , Pierrakos Charalampos , clevenbergh philippe
Published: August 2020

The non-fermenters, e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the extended spectrum β-lactamases or carbapenemases producing enterobacteriaceae represent a serious threat for patients admitted in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). News antibiotics have been developed to treat multidrug resistant bacteria. However, treatment emerging resistance has been shown for many of these newest antibiotics. Cefiderocol, a siderophore-antibiotic, has been developed to overcome most of the resistance mechanisms and shows great efficacy against most multi-drug resistant and extensively drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including the non-fermenters. We report the case of a patient abundantly treated with antibiotics. He received 158 days of antibiotherapy on 230 hospitalization days, including a six-week course of cefiderocol, in 14 different treatment lines. The patient developed a Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC: 8 µg/ml, GES type ESBL) and a Citrobacter koseri (MIC: 16 µg/ml, CTX-M group 9 type class A β-lactamase and a class D OXA-1 oxacillinase) resistant to cefiderocol. This antibiotic should be used with caution to preserve its efficacy, within a strict antimicrobial stewardship program.
Ct Measurement of Proximal Femoral Medullary Cavity Morphology in Healthy Subjects From Northern China
Authors: Zhao Ran , Cai Hong , Tian Hua , Zhang Ke
Published: August 2020

Background

In total hip arthroplasty (THA), optimal stability and fixation is achieved via tight adaptation of the prosthesis to the bone. This study aimed to analyze the proximal femoral medullary cavity morphology of Chinese subjects on three-dimensional reconstructed imagery to explore the factors influencing these parameters.
Methods

CT was performed on 63 healthy subjects from northern China (94 hips; 31 men, 63 women). Three-dimensional CT reconstruction of the proximal femoral medullary cavity was performed using Mimics 22.0 software. The anatomical parameters related to THA were measured to examine the relationships between sex, age, and femoral length. These parameters were compared with previously published data.
Results

The internal and external coronal diameters of the femoral medullary cavity, and the anterior and posterior sagittal diameters had different contracting trends. There were correlations between the femoral length, femoral head diameter, and coronal diameter, and between the sagittal diameter and cross-sectional area of the medullary cavity. Age was negatively correlated with the CFI. Sex was correlated with the cross-sectional coronal/sagittal diameters, but not with the canal flare index. The proximal end of the medullary cavity was similar to that reported in Caucasians, but the Asian medullary cavity was narrower distal to the level of the lesser trochanteric line.
Conclusion

THA-related anatomy was affected by sex, age, and subpopulation. Compared with sex, age had a greater effect on the fit of the stem to the femoral canal. Each patient must be treated individually, as the anatomical structure varied between individuals.
The association of miR-138 variants with the prognosis of cervical cancer
Authors: Cao Shuangqing , Zheng Lei
Published: August 2020

Background

MicroRNA-138 (miR-138) is shown to inhibit tumor growth and played a critical role in tumor pathogenesis, the present study aimed to investigate the prognistic value of miR-138 in cervical cancer.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was used to detect the expression of miR-138 in the tissues of cervical cancer and adjacent normal tissues. The association of miR-138 expression with clinical characteristic was analyzed via χ2 test. Then Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to analyze the association of miR-138 expression with the overall survival of cervical cancer patients. The multivariate cox analysis was used to evaluate the prognostic value of miR-138.

Results

In the current study, we found the expression level of miR-138 was significantly downregulated in the most cervical cancer patients tissues compared with that in the adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.001). And its expression was closely affected by TNM stage (P = 0.043), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.011) and FIGO stage (P = 0.002). Kaplan-Meier analysis result showed that the decreased expression level of miR-138 expression was associated with poor overall survival of patients. The cox regression analysis result indicated that miR-138 expression was independently associated with the overall survival.

Conclusions

The expression of miR-138 is down-regulated and involved in the development of cervical cancer. Moreover, it may serve as a prognostic marker for patients with cervical cancer.
Connection between Gab1 Polymorphisms and cholangiocarcinoma patients prognosis
Authors: Wang Ning , Li Yanni , Zheng Yanfang , Chen Huoming , Wen Xiaolong , Li Zhaoxia
Published: August 2020

Background We conducted this study to measure the levels of GRB2 associated binding protein 1 (Gab1) mRNA in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) tissues and the paired normal tissues. And then assess the prognostic significance of Gab1 in CCA patients. Methods Quantitative real-time (qRT-PCR) was adopted to confirm the expression levels of Gab1 mRNA in both CCA tissues and normal controls. The Chi-square test was applied to estimate the influence of clinical parameters on Gab1 expression. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank test were used to determine overall survival rates of patients with different Gab1 expression. Cox regression analysis was carried out to evaluate prognostic value of factors in CCA patients. Results According to the qRT-PCR result, increased expression of Gab1 mRNA was found in CCA tissues compared with the paired noncancerous controls (P<0.0001). The Chi-square test demonstrated that the elevated expression of Gab1 was affected by poor differentiation (P=0.022), positive lymph node metastasis (P=0.008) and high TNM stage (P=0.004). However, age, gender, family history and resection margin had no significant influence on Gab1 levels (all, P>0.05). The survival curves suggested that up-regulation of Gab1 was related with poor prognosis of CCA patients. Furthermore, the Cox analysis demonstrated Gab1 was a prognostic biomarker for CCA patients (P=0.000, 95%CI=2.576, HR=1.552-4.275). Conclusion Taken together, Gab1 expression was increased in CCA and may be a useful biomarker to predict the outcomes of CCA patients.
Cardiotoxicity associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A retrospective analysis of patients at an academic tertiary care center
Authors: Waheed Nida , Fradley Michael G. , DeRemer David , Mahmoud Ahmad , Shah Chintan P. , Langaee Taimour Y. , Lipori Gloria P. , March Keith , Pepine Carl J. , Cooper-DeHoff Rhonda M. , Wu Yonghui , Gong Yan
Published: August 2020

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a novel class of anticancer agents that have demonstrated clinical response for both solid and hematological malignancies. ICIs are associated with development of immune-related adverse events including cardiotoxicity. We estimated the incidence of ICI-related cardiotoxicity in patients treated with ICIs at a large, tertiary care center.Methods: All patients with a cancer diagnosis who received any ICI treatment in the University of Florida’s Integrated Data Repository from 2011-2017 were included. Cardiotoxicity was defined as a new ICD diagnosis code for cardiomyopathy, heart failure, arrhythmia, heart block, pericardial disease, or myocarditis after initiation of ICI treatment.Results: Of 102,701 patients with a diagnosis of malignancy, 424 patients received at least one ICI. Sixty-two (14.6%) patients were diagnosed with at least one possible form of cardiotoxicity after initiation of ICI therapy. Of the 374 patients receiving one ICI, 21 (5.6%) developed heart failure. Of the 49 patients who received two ICIs sequentially, three (6.1%) developed heart failure and/or cardiomyopathy. Cardiotoxicity was diagnosed at a median of 63 days after initial ICI exposure. One patient developed myocarditis 28 days after receiving nivolumab. Mortality in those who developed ICI-attributable cardiotoxicity was higher compared to those who did not (66.1% vs. 41.4%, odds ratio=2.77, 1.55-4.95, p=0.0006). There was no evidence that use of cardioprotective agents such as beta-blockers or statins was associated with lower rates of cardiotoxicity or mortality.Conclusions: This study suggests that the incidence of ICI-related cardiotoxicity may be higher than previously reported.
Melatonin Promotes Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Osteogenic Differentiation and Prevents Osteoporosis Development Through Modulating circ_0003865 that Sponges miR-3653-3p
Authors: Wang Xudong , Chen Taiqiu , Deng Zhihuai , Gao Wenjie , Liang Tongzhou , Qiu Xianjian , Gao Bo , Wu Zizhao , Qiu Jincheng , Zhu Yuanxin , Chen Yanbo , Liang Zhancheng , Zhou Hang , Xu Caixia , Liang Anjing , Su Peiqiang , Peng Yan , Huang Dongsheng
Published: August 2020

Background: To investigate circRNAs in Melatonin (MEL)-regulated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) differentiation and osteoporosis.Methods: BMSC osteogenic differentiation was measured by qRT-PCR, western blot (WB), Alizarin Red and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. Differential circRNA and mRNA profiles of BMSCs treated by MEL were characterized by deep sequencing, followed by validation using RT-PCR, Sanger sequencing, and qRT-PCR. Silencing and overexpression of circ_0003865 were conducted for functional investigations. The sponged microRNAs and targeted mRNAs were predicted by bioinformatics and validated by qRT-PCR, RNA pull-down, and dual-luciferase reporter assay. The function of miR-3653-3p and circ_0003865/miR-3653-3p/growth arrest-specific gene 1 (GAS1) cascade were validated for the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by qRT-PCR, WB, Alizarin Red, and ALP staining. The effects of circ_0003865 on osteoporosis (OP) development was tested in murine osteoporosis model.Results: MEL promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. RNA sequencing revealed significant alterations in circRNA and mRNA profiles associated with multiple biological processes and signaling pathways. Circ_0003865 expression in BMSCs was significantly decreased by MEL treatment. Silencing of circ_0003865 promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Overexpression of circ_0003865 abrogated the promotion of BMSCs osteogenic differentiation induced by MEL. Furthermore, circ_0003865 sponged miR-3653-3p to promote GAS1 expression in BMSCs. BMSC osteogenic differentiation was enhanced by miR-3653-3p overexpression. By contrast, miR-3653-3p silencing mitigated the promoted BMSC osteogenic differentiation caused by circ_0003865 silencing. Finally, circ_0003865 silencing repressed OP development in mouse model.Conclusion: MEL promotes BMSC osteogenic differentiation and inhibits osteoporosis pathogenesis by suppressing the expression of circ_0003865, which regulates GAS1 gene expression via sponging miR-3653-3p.
Research on Coupling Vibration Mechanism Based on Contact System
Authors: HUANG Kepeng , Wang Fa-Zhan , Zhao Ming-Ji , Guo Bao-Liang , Ou Da-Quan
Published: August 2020

Aiming at the problem of vibration and bounce caused by the collision and contact of the moving and static contacts of the electrical switching device during the closing process, based on the comprehensive consideration of the nonlinear electromagnetic force and the collision contact force, the two-degree-of-freedom coupled motion differential equation of the contact system is established, and to solve and experimental analysis. The theoretical and experimental results show that the contact has not separated after the collision, and the iron core has collided, which further intensifies the contact bounce; when the iron core bounces for the second time, it does not affect the bounce of the contact; the contactor is in operation In this case, the movement of the moving iron core will cause slight jitter of the system. The research results provide a theoretical basis for further control and reduction of contact bounce.
Quality of Life of Children With Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Their Caregivers: A Chinese Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Yao Mei , Ma Ying , Qian Ruiying , Xia Yu , Yuan Changzheng , Bai Guannan , Mao Shanshan
Published: August 2020

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive motor neuron disease leading to multiple organs dysfunction, which can impair the quality of life (QoL) of patients and family. We aimed to evaluate QoL of children with SMA and their caregivers, and to assess the associated factors in a Chinese cross-sectional study.Methods: 101 caregivers and children aged 0-14 years with SMA were recruited from a children hospital. 26 children had type I SMA, 56 type II and 19 type III. Children’s QoL was measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 Neuromuscular Module (PedsQL NMM) that was filled by caregivers. Caregiver’s QoL was measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Family Impact Module (PedsQL FIM). Information on sociodemographic, disease-specific characteristics, and treatments were collected by the proxy-reported questionnaire. Two independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA were applied to compare differences in scores of QoL across subgroups.Results: Children with type III SMA had higher total score of PedsQL NMM, and scores in neuromuscular disease and family resources domain than those with type I and type II SMA (p < 0.001). Caregivers of children with type III SMA reported higher scores in domains of physical, emotional, social, and cognitive function of PedsQL FIM than those of children with types I and II (p < 0.05). In addition, disease-related characteristics (e.g. limited mobility, motor degeneration, skeleton deformity, and digestive system dysfunction) and respiratory support were associated with lower scores of PedsQL NMM and PedsQL FIM (p < 0.05). Exercise training, multidisciplinary team management and using the medication nusinersen were associated with higher scores of QoL in both PedsQL NMM and FIM (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study has demonstrated the factors that may impair or improve QoL of children patients with SMA and their parents. Particularly, QoL was relatively poor in children with type I and type II SMA as well as in their caregivers than those with type III SMA. Our study called for attention from clinical physicians on measuring QoL in their clinical practices in order to enhance the understanding of impacts of SMA and make better decisions regarding treatment.
On the origin of oldest Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold (IOCG) deposits at the transition from Archean drip to plate tectonics
Authors: Ganade Carlos E , Griffin William L. , Weinberg Roberto F. , Belousova Elena , Takenaka Lynthener B. , Lopes Leonardo L. , Lacasse Christian M. , Campos Leandro D.
Published: August 2020

Geological evidence supports a significant change in Earth’s behaviour in the mid- to late Archaean, between 3.2 and 2.5 Ga, reflecting stabilization of the lithosphere and replacement of vertical tectonics by linear imbricated belts. At the heart of this change, the oldest (c. 2.75 Ga) Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold deposits (IOCG) were formed in the Carajás Mineral Province (CMP) of the Amazon craton. U-Pb ages, Lu-Hf isotopes and trace element composition of detrital zircons from modern drainages record the crystallization ages of the exposed rocks of the CMP. Combined with the geochemistry of Archean granitoids in the CMP, we recognize four different age and compositional groups: 3.01-2.92 Ga TTG, 2.87-2.83 Ga transitional TTG + sanukitoid + K-rich granitoids, 2.78-2.72 Ga A-type crustal granites accompanying IOCGs, and 2.59-2.53 Ga alkaline high-K intrusions accompanied by renewed IOCG mineralization. The first two groups have a dominantly juvenile isotopic signature whereas the last two have evolved Hf-isotope signatures, accompanied by increase in K2O/Na2O, reflecting addition of old crustal components in the melting sources over time. The older juvenile granitoids are associated with dome-and-keel structures typical of granite-greenstone terranes, whereas the younger granitoids were emplaced along a linear shear belt associated with new mafic-ultramafic intrusions and remelting of older TTG. Based on the tectono-magmatic evolution, we argue that metasomatism and fertilization of the underlying lithospheric mantle by incompatible elements, necessary for the development of IOCG deposits, were related to vertical drip-tectonics during development of the TTG proto-continent. This proto-continent made the lithosphere rigid enough to allow linear translithospheric deformation to localize at c. 2.85 Ga, allowing decompression melting of the metasomatized lithospheric mantle in a restricted extensional setting to form abundant mafic and A-type granitoids at c. 2.75 Ga, and the first IOCG deposits on Earth.
Identification of novel mutations in SARS-COV-2 isolates from Turkey
Authors: Rehman Shazia , Mahmood Tariq , Aziz Ejaz , Batool Riffat
Published: August 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), originally emerged from Wuhan, has caused an unprecedented worldwide pandemic in the first half of 2020. Since the first report of SARS-CoV-2 on March 10th, 2020 in Turkey, more than 150,000 people in the country have been infected with this virus. In this study, a total of 80 genomic virulent strains from Turkey which were uploaded in NCBI and GISAID database were analyzed with other genomic sequences from different countries with the aim to characterize notable genomic features of SARS-CoV-2 and to identify some novel mutations. Consistent with other studies, the combination of variants at positions C3037T, C14408T and A23403G were most common mutations (73%), that exist together in isolates from Turkey. Our secondary structure prediction analysis also highlighted 11 unique non-substitutional mutations from viral SARS-COV-2 isolates of Turkey in different regions such as in spike (S) protein and non-structural proteins (Nsp2, Nsp3, NSP4, and NSP12/RdRP). Of these 11 mutations, nine of them have been found to be involved in structural alterations at different sites. 3/9 mutants (A771V, T1238I and G1251V) cause alteration in structure of S protein, while the rest of them induces structural changes in Nsp2 (A206T, R207C, T265I), Nsp3 (A1824V), Nsp4 (M2796I) and NSP12 (A4489V). These mutations identified here might have significant functional implications that needs to be addressed for future studies in the context of vaccine engineering and therapeutic interventions. Moreover, transmission and phylogenetic analysis revealed multiple independent sources of introductions for infection of hCovs in Turkey and close phylogenetic relationship of Turkish strains with Saudi strains.
Phyllosphere Microbiome in Response to Citrus Melanose
Authors: Li Pudong , Xu Jianping , Wang Zhengyi , Li Hongye
Published: August 2020

Background: Like microbiomes in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere microbiomes can have an important role in plant growth and health. However, whether and how the phyllosphere microbiomes respond to the invasion of pathogens is not well understood. In this study, we address this question using the citrus phyllosphere-associated microbiome as a model.Results: Through DNA metabarcoding (16S for bacteria and ITS for fungi) and shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we found that phyllosphere microbiomes in different ecological habitats (epiphytes and endophytes) responded differently to melanose disease caused by the fungal pathogen Diaporthe citri on citrus (Citrus unshiu) leaves. We observed that citrus phyllosphere-associated microbiome responded to the melanose disease in five ways: (1) increasing microbial richness; (2) reducing community evenness; (3) enriching selected microbes; (4) enhancing microbial interactions; and (5) enriching functional features involved in metabolism and fungal cell wall degrading.Conclusions: Our study revealed how phyllosphere microbiomes in the epiphytic and endophytic habitats differ between diseased and healthy leaves. Based on the differences at both the taxonomic and functional levels, we propose a general conceptual paradigm to describe the different microbial community assembly processes for the phyllosphere microbiome in response to leaf disease and how such processes impact plant health. Our results provide novel insights for understanding the contributions of the phyllosphere microbial community response during pathogen invasion.
Dictionary-Based Classification of Tweets About Environment
Authors: Cameletti Michela , Fabris Silvia , Schlosser Stephan , Toninelli Daniele
Published: August 2020

In the era of social media, the huge availability of digital data (e.g. posts sent through social networks or unstructured data scraped from websites) allows to develop new types of research in a wide range of fields. These types of data are characterized by some advantages such as reduced collection costs, short retrieval times and production of almost real-time outputs. Nevertheless, their collection and analysis can be challenging. For example, particular approaches are required for the selection of posts related to specific topics; moreover, retrieving the information we are interested in inside Twitter posts can be a difficult task.The main aim of this paper is to propose an unsupervised dictionary-based method to filter tweets related to a specific topic, i.e. environment. We start from the tweets sent by a selection of Official Social Accounts clearly linked with the subject of interest. Then, a list of keywords is identified in order to set a topic-oriented dictionary. We test the performance of our method by applying the dictionary to more than 54 million geolocated tweets posted in Great Britain between January and May 2019.