bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Magnesium sulfate reduces the rocuronium dose needed for satisfactory double lumen tube placement conditions in patients with myasthenia gravis
Authors: Fei Shoujun , Xia Hengfu , Chen Xiaowei , Pang Dazhi , Xu Xuebing 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background: Using a minimum dose of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) to achieve intubation condition is one of the goals in anaesthesia management of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) for thoracoscopic (VATS) thymectomy. However, tracheal intubation with double lumen tube (DLT) could be challenging if intubation condition is not optimal. This double-blind randomised controlled study was designed to investigate whether magnesium sulfate would reduce the rocuronium dose needed for DLT intubation and improve the DLT placement condition for patients with MG who were scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) thymectomy.
Methods: Recruited patients were randomly assigned to receive magnesium sulfate 60mg.kg-1 or normal saline (control) prior to the administration of NMB. Titrating dose of rocuronium was administered to achieve train of four (TOF) ratio less than 10% before DLT intubation. The primary outcome was the rocuronium dose required to achieve TOF ratio less than 10%. The secondary outcome was intubation condition for DLT placement.
Results: Twenty-three patients had received magnesium sulfate and 22 patients had received normal saline before rocuronium administration. The required rocuronium dose[mean (standard deviation)] were 0.10 (0.05) mg.kg-1 and 0.28(0.17) mg.kg-1 in patients who had magnesium sulfate and normal saline respectively(P<0.0001). With a similar depth of neuromuscular blockade and depth of anaesthesia, 100% of patients in the magnesium sulfate group and 72.7% of patients in the control group showed excellent intubation condition (P = 0.027) respectively. The patients in both groups had similar emergence characteristics.
Conclusions: Magnesium sulfate is associated with a decrease in rocuronium requirement for an optimal DLT intubation condition in patients with MG for VATS thymectomy.
Up-regulation of PKCγ subunits of rACC neurons contributes to the development of pain sensitivity in bone cancer rats
Authors: She Meng , Feng Hao , Feng Zequn , Wang Gongming , Cheng Guanghui , Li Kailin , Wang Ruoyi , Li Xiaohui 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
To explore the role of PKCγ subunits of rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) neurons in the development of bone cancer pain in rats. Healthy female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: blank control group (naive group), sham operation group (sham group), bone cancer pain group (BCP group), BCP plus empty lentiviral vector group (vehicle group) and BCP plus PKCγ/shRNA recombinant lentiviral vector group (PKCγ group). The BCP group, vehicle group and PKCγ group received a 10 µl intra-tibial injection of MADB-106 rat mammary carcinoma cell suspension (4.6×10 8 cell/ml). In comparison, the sham group received a 10 µl intra-tibial injection of saline. The mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were assessed on pre-operation day 0 (baseline) and days 3, 7, 14 and 21 after intra-tibial injection, respectively. To downregulate the PKCγ subunits of rACC neurons, the PKCγ group received a 10 µl bilateral rACC injection of shRNA/PKCγ recombinant lentivirus (1.25×10 9 TU/ml) on the day 7 after intra-tibial injection, whereas the vehicle group received an injection of the same dose of empty lentiviral vector. Western blotting, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analysis were performed to detect the different expression of PKCγ subunits in rACC neurons among these groups on postoperative days 7 or 21. No significant difference in the baseline of MWT and TWL was found among these five groups ( P > 0.05). However, compared with the naive group and sham group, the rats with bone cancer (BCP group, vehicle group and PKCγ group) demonstrated marked mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia that was evoked starting on postoperative day 7 following intra-tibial injection of carcinoma cells ( P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the western blotting analysis also confirmed that the expression of PKCγ in rACC neurons was significantly increased in the BCP model groups ( P < 0.05). However, from postoperative days 14-21, the injection of shRNA/PKCγ recombinant lentivirus in the PKCγ group alleviated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia ( P < 0.05).The present study indicates that up-regulation of PKCγ subunits of rACC neurons in bone cancer pain rats contributes to the development of bone cancer pain.
Investigation of muscle transcriptomes using gradient boosting machine learning identifies molecular predictors of feed efficiency in growing pigs
Authors: Messad Farouk , Louveau Isabelle , Koffi Basile , Gilbert Hélène , Gondret Florence 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background

Improving feed efficiency (FE) is a major challenge in pig production. This complex trait is characterized by a high variability. Therefore, the identification of predictors of FE may be a relevant strategy to reduce phenotyping efforts in breeding and selection programs. The aim of this study was to investigate the suitability of expressed muscle genes in prediction of FE traits in growing pigs. The approach considered different transcriptomics experiments to cover a large range of FE values and identify reliable predictors.

Results

Microarrays data were obtained from longissimus muscles of two lines divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI). Pigs (n = 71) from three experiments belonged to generations 6 to 8 of selection, were fed either a diet with a standard composition or a diet rich in fiber and lipids, received feed ad libitum or at restricted level, and weighed between 80 and 115 kg at slaughter. For each pig, breeding value for RFI was estimated (RFI-BV), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) and energy-based feed conversion ratio (FCRe) were calculated during the test periods. Gradient boosting algorithms were used on the merged muscle transcriptomes to identify very important predictors of FE traits. About 20,405 annotated molecular probes were commonly expressed in longissimus muscle across experiments. Six to 267 expressed muscle genes covering a variety of biological processes were found as important predictors for RFI-BV (R2=0.63-0.65), FCR (R2=0.61-0.70) and FCRe (R2=0.49-0.52). The error of prediction was less than 8% for FCR. Altogether, 56 predictors were common to RFI-BV and FCR. Expression levels of 24 target genes were further measured by qPCR. Linear regression confirmed the good accuracy of combining mRNA levels of these genes to fit FE traits (RFI-BV: R2=0.73, FRC: R2=0.76; FCRe: R2=0.75). Stepwise regression procedure highlighted 10 genes (FKBP5, MUM1, AKAP12, FYN, TMED3, PHKB, TGF, SOCS6, ILR4, and FRAS1) in a linear combination predicting FCR and FCRe. In addition, FKBP5 and expression levels of five other genes (IGF2, SERINC3, CSRNP3, EZR and RPL16) significantly contributed to RFI-BV.

Conclusion

It was possible to identify few genes expressed in muscle that might be reliable predictors of feed efficiency.
Variation of bispectral index in children aged 1-12 years under propofol anesthesia: An observational study
Authors: Wang Fang , Zhang Jianmin , Yu Jie , Tian Muyang , Cui Xiaohuan , Wu Anshi 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background

The use of the bispectral index (BIS) is widespread in pediatric anesthesia, but few studies have attempted to perform a detailed evaluation of how BIS varies according to age in children under propofol anesthesia. This prospective study aimed to explore the exact relationship between BIS value and the age of 1- to 12-year-old children under propofol anesthesia.

Methods

This study enrolled 165 children (1<0.01) as well as among the different age groups (p<0.01) after propofol administration. Post-hoc Bonferroni tests showed a difference in BIS values between groups 1–4 (1
Comparative transcriptomics reveals PrrAB-mediated control of metabolic, respiration, energy-generating, and dormancy pathways in Mycobacterium smegmatis
Authors: MAARSINGH JASON D. , YANG SHANSHAN , PARK JIN G. , Haydel Shelley E 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background.
Mycobacterium smegmatis is a saprophytic bacterium frequently used as a genetic surrogate to study pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The PrrAB two-component genetic regulatory system is essential in M. tuberculosis and represents an attractive therapeutic target. In this study, transcriptomic analysis (RNA-seq) of an M. smegmatis ΔprrAB mutant was used to define the PrrAB regulon and provide insights into the essential nature of PrrAB in M. tuberculosis.
Results.
RNA-seq differential expression analysis of M. smegmatis wild-type (WT), ΔprrAB mutant, and complementation strains revealed that during in vitro exponential growth, PrrAB regulates 167 genes (q < 0.05), 57% of which are induced in the WT background. Gene ontology and cluster of orthologous groups analyses showed that PrrAB regulates genes participating in ion homeostasis, redox balance, metabolism, and energy production. PrrAB induced transcription of dosR (devR), a response regulator gene that promotes latent infection in M. tuberculosis and 21 of the 25 M. smegmatis DosRS regulon homologues. Compared to the WT and complementation strains, the ΔprrAB mutant exhibited an exaggerated delayed growth phenotype upon exposure to potassium cyanide and respiratory inhibition. Gene expression profiling correlated with these growth deficiency results, revealing that PrrAB induces transcription of the high-affinity cytochrome bd oxidase genes under both aerobic and hypoxic conditions. ATP synthesis was ~64% lower in the ΔprrAB mutant relative to WT strain, further demonstrating that PrrAB regulates energy production.
Conclusions.
The M. smegmatis PrrAB two-component system regulates respiratory and oxidative phosphorylation pathways, potentially to provide tolerance against the dynamic environmental conditions experienced in its natural ecological niche. PrrAB positively regulates ATP levels during exponential growth, presumably through transcriptional activation of both terminal respiratory branches (cytochrome c bc1-aa3 and cytochrome bd oxidases), despite transcriptional repression of ATP synthase genes. Additionally, PrrAB positively regulates expression of the dormancy-associated dosR response regulator genes in an oxygen-independent manner, which may serve to fine-tune sensory perception of environmental stimuli associated with metabolic repression.
Comparing the effects of dezocine with lidocaine on prevention of propofol injection pain in adults: a prospective randomized double-blind trial
Authors: Zhu Xuqin , Jia Songlin , Xu Yajun , Sun Zhirong 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Abstract
Background: Propofol injection pain (PIP) is common and may decrease patient comfort. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dezocine with lidocaine on prevention of PIP.
Methods: 235 patients, who scheduled for elective surgery, aged 18-80 years and ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) I or II, were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 47 each). All patients were induced through the dor­sal hand vein or antecubital vein. The five groups were given the following medication intravenously: saline (Group I), lidocaine 20 mg (Group II), lidocaine 40 mg (Group III), dezocine 2 mg (Group IV) and dezocine 4 mg (Group V). Twenty seconds later all patients received a propofol infusion and were asked to grade pain or discomfort in the hand or forearm according to a four-point scale until anesthesia.
Results: Three groups showed a significantly lower incidence of total PIP than Group Ⅰ: Group III (OR (Odds ratio): 0.39 (0.16, 0.93)); Group IV (OR: 0.21 (0.09, 0.51)) and Group V (OR: 0.12 (0.05, 0.30)). Group Ⅳ showed a significantly lower incidence of total PIP than Group Ⅱ (OR: 0.32 (0.13, 0.77)). Group Ⅴ showed a significantly lower incidence of total PIP than Group Ⅱ (OR: 0.15 (0.06, 0.39)) or Group Ⅲ (OR: 0.30 (0.13, 0.72)).
Conclusion: Dezocine is a novel agent to alleviate PIP and appears to some extent to be more effective than lidocaine.
Intra- and interprofessional practices through fresh eyes: a qualitative analysis of medical students’ early workplace experiences
Authors: Leedham-Green Kathleen , Knight Alec , Iedema Rick 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background
Professional identities are influenced by experiences in the clinical workplace including socialisation processes that may be hidden from academic faculty and potentially divergent from formal curricula. With the current educational emphasis on complexity, preparedness for practice, patient safety and team-working it is necessary to evaluate and respond to what students are learning about collaborative practices during their clinical placements.

Methods
394 second year medical students at a London medical school were invited to submit a short formative essay as part of their coursework describing, evaluating and reflecting on their experiences of how healthcare professionals work together. Their experiences were derived from having spent two days each week for 25 weeks in clinical contexts across primary and secondary care. We consented 311 participants and used a Consensual Qualitative Research approach to analyse these essays, creating a ‘students-eye view’ of intra- and interprofessional practices in the workplace.

Results
We identified four overarching themes in students’ essays:
- Theme 1: analyses of contextual factors driving team tensions including staff shortages, shifting teams, and infrastructural issues;
- Theme 2: observations of hierarchical and paternalistic attitudes and behaviours;
- Theme 3: respect for team members’ ability to manage and mitigate tensions and attitudes; and
- Theme 4: take-forward learning including enthusiasm for quality improvement and system change.

Conclusions
Students are being socialised into a complex, hierarchical, pressurised clinical workplace and experience wide variations in professional behaviours and practices. They articulate a need to find constructive ways forward in the interests of staff wellbeing and patient care. We present educational recommendations including providing safe reflective spaces, using students’ lived experience as raw material for systems thinking and quality improvement, and closing the feedback loop with placement sites on behalf of students.
Bioinformatics and DNA-extraction strategies to reliably detect genetic variants from FFPE breast tissue samples
Authors: Bhagwate Aditya Vijay , Liu Yuanhang , Winham Stacey J. , McDonough Samantha J. , Stallings-Mann Melody L. , Heinzen Ethan P. , Davila Jaime I. , Vierkant Robert A. , Hoskin Tanya L. , Frost Marlene , Carter Jodi M. , Radisky Derek C. , Cunningham Julie M. , Degnim Amy , Wang Chen 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background

Archived formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples are valuable clinical resources to examine clinically relevant morphology features and also to study genetic changes. However, DNA quality and quantity of FFPE samples are often sub-optimal, and resulting NGS-based genetics variant detections are prone to false positives. Evaluations of wet-lab and bioinformatics approaches are needed to optimize variant detection from FFPE samples.

Results

As a pilot study, we designed within-subject triplicate samples of DNA derived from paired FFPE and fresh frozen breast tissues to highlight FFPE-specific artifacts. For FFPE samples, we tested two FFPE DNA extraction methods to determine impact of wet-lab procedures on variant calling: QIAGEN QIAamp DNA Mini Kit ("QA"), and QIAGEN GeneRead DNA FFPE Kit ("QGR"). We also used negative-control (NA12891) and positive control samples (Horizon Discovery Reference Standard FFPE). All DNA sample libraries were prepared for NGS according to the QIAseq Human Breast Cancer Targeted DNA Panel protocol and sequenced on the HiSeq 4000. Variant calling and filtering were performed using QIAGEN Gene Globe Data Portal. Detailed variant concordance comparisons and mutational signature analysis were performed to investigate effects of FFPE samples compared to paired fresh frozen samples, along with different library preparations.

In this study, we found that five times or more variants were called with FFPE samples, compared to their paired fresh-frozen tissue samples even after applying molecular barcoding error-correction and default bioinformatics filtering recommended by the vendor. We also found that QGR as an optimized FFPE-DNA extraction approach leads to much fewer discordant variants between paired fresh frozen and FFPE samples. Approximately 92% of the uniquely called FFPE variants were of low allelic frequency range (<5%), and collectively shared a “C>T|G>A” mutational signature known to be representative of FFPE artifacts resulting fromcytosine deamination. Based on control samples and FFPE-frozen replicates, we derived an effective filtering strategy with associated empirical false-discovery estimates.

Conclusions

Through this study, we demonstrated feasibility of calling and filtering genetic variants from FFPE tissue samples using a combined strategy with molecular barcodes, optimized DNA extraction, and bioinformatics methods incorporating genomics context such as mutational signature and variant allelic frequency.
DESEMPENHO AGRONÔMICO DA ALFACE CRESPA A PARTIR DE MUDAS PRODUZIDAS COM GONGOCOMPOSTO
Authors: De Sousa Antunes Luiz Fernando , Nogueira Scoriza Rafael , Machado França Emmeline , Galvão da Silva Dione , Fernandes Correia Maria Elizabeth , De Almeida Leal Marco Antonio , Ribeiro Costa Rouws Janaina 
Published: August 2019

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho agronômico da alface sob sistema de produção orgânico, de acordo com a qualidade das mudas produzidas a partir de gongocompostos. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições e quatro tratamentos, constituídos por mudas de alface desenvolvidas em quatro tipos de substratos: gongocomposto de 90 dias (T1); gongocomposto de 125 dias (T2); gongocomposto de 180 dias (T3) e substrato SIPA (T4). Aos 28 dias após a semeadura avaliou-se o vigor da muda e estabilidade do torrão e aos 42 dias após o transplantio, avaliou-se a massa fresca comercial (g), o diâmetro e altura da planta (cm), número de folhas maiores que cinco centímetros, classe comercial e produtividade. O tratamento T1 apresentou resultados inferiores quando comparado aos demais tratamentos avaliados, porém sua produtividade atende à esperada para o estado do Rio de Janeiro. Os demais tratamentos, mesmo não diferindo entre si estatisticamente, apresentaram diferença na produtividade estimada, com 10,38 e 11,82% menor para o tratamento T2 em relação aos tratamentos T3 e T4, respectivamente, confirmando que a qualidade da muda transplantada no campo é capaz de influenciar diretamente na produtividade na cultura da alface.
CURVA DE EMBEBIÇÃO DE SEMENTES DE PIMENTA BIQUINHO E MALAGUETA EM DIFERENTES TEMPERATURAS
Authors: Pinto Cleide Maria Ferreira 
Published: August 2019

A caracterização das fases de embebição das sementes fornece informações relevantes para outros trabalhos de pesquisa, que envolvem, por exemplo, o condicionamento osmótico, onde qualquer decisão crítica quanto à embebição deve ser feita enquanto as sementes permanecem na fase II. Com isso, objetivou-se caracterizar a curva de embebição das sementes de pimenta-biquinho (Capsicum chinense) e de pimenta-malagueta (Capsicum frutescens) em temperaturas distintas. As sementes utilizadas foram extraídas de frutos maduros, coletados em março de 2012, de plantas cultivadas em casa de vegetação. Inicialmente, determinou-se o teor de água das sementes, por meio do método da estufa a 105 ± 3 °C, por 24 h. A embebição das sementes ocorreu em caixas gerbox, utilizando como substrato entre papel germitest, com três folhas, umedecidos com solução KNO3 a 0,2% e acondicionadas em BOD. Os tratamentos consistiram em três temperaturas, sendo elas constantes de 25 e 30°C e temperatura alternada de 20-30 °C. Antes do início da embebição e durante as 12 h subseqüentes, as sementes foram secadas superficialmente com papel toalha e pesadas a cada duas horas. A partir deste ponto, realizaram-se a pesagem das sementes a cada 12 h, até que 50% das sementes apresentassem protrusão radicular. Os dados foram analisados segundo um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com medidas repetidas no tempo, utilizando três repetições de 50 sementes. Para delimitar o início e a duração de cada fase da curva de embebição realizou-se a derivação da equação e, conseqüentemente, os pontos de inflexão das curvas. As curvas de embebição para sementes de pimenta-biquinho e pimenta-malagueta seguem um padrão trifásico. Para sementes da pimenta-biquinho, não houve diferença entre os resultados proporcionados pelas temperaturas de 25 e 20-30 °C. Para ambas as espécies, os intervalos entre as fases I-II e II-III foram maiores nas sementes embebidas em temperaturas de 25 e 20-30 °C. A temperatura de 30 °C proporcionou uma fase II mais rápida, o que se pode inferir que a embebição das sementes de pimenta-biquinho e de pimenta-malagueta nesta temperatura é mais favorável ao processo germinativo, condição na qual se observa mais rapidamente a protrusão da radícula.
BALANÇO DE CARBONO EM MONOCULTIVO DE EUCALIPTO COM DIFERENTES ARRANJOS ESPACIAIS
Authors: Brianezi Daniel , Jacovine Laércio Antônio Gonçalves , Schettini Bruno Leão Said , Torres Carlos Moreira Miquelino Eleto , Rocha Samuel José Silva Soares da , Villanova Paulo Henrique , Oliveira Neto Silvio Nolasco de 
Published: August 2019

As plantações de eucalipto podem compensar as emissões de gases com efeito estufa (GEE) das atividades de fertilização e plantio, devido à capacidade das árvores em armazenar carbono na forma de biomassa. O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar o sequestro de carbono em plantações de eucalipto com diferentes densidades de instalação. O estudo foi conduzido no município de Lamim, no estado de Minas Gerais - Brasil, numa plantação de eucalipto dividida em quatro áreas de 0,25 ha com diferentes densidades de instalação. O diâmetro à altura do peito e altura total dos indivíduos foram obtidos por inventário florestal. A biomassa foi calculada pela multiplicação do volume e densidade básica da madeira. As emissões de GEE foram calculadas a partir dos dados de fertilização e calagem. O reservatório de carbono (90,94 MgCO2eq ha-1) e as emissões de GEE foram superiores no espaçamento de 2 x 1 m. A menor emissão de GEE por m3 de madeira produzido foi no espaçamento 2 x 2 m. O balanço de carbono foi positivo em todos os espaçamentos avaliados. Foi possível concluir que as florestas de Eucalipto são capazes de compensar as emissões de GEE da fertilização nitrogenada e calagem em plantações pouco tecnificadas.
El Contrato Administrativo de Prestación de Servicios (CAPS) visto desde los escenarios jurisprudenciales de la Corte Constitucional. Una interpretación Ficta de la Administración Pública
Authors: Apaza Niño Daniel 
Published: August 2019

El CAPS, es un contrato administrativo y la forma de desmaterializar una verdadera relación laboral es en sede judicial con la aplicación de la tesis del principio de la primacía de la realidad, convirtiéndolo en un Contrato Realidad indemnizable. De hecho, en el Estatuto General de Contratación de la Administración Pública, no se precisa el elemento subordinación y dependencia en la prestación personal del servicio por parte del contratista. En el presente escrito se realiza un barrido jurisprudencial desde los pronunciamientos de la Honorable Corte Constitucional durante el periodo 2003 a 2013, esto con el fin de identificar los diferentes contextos en torno al aludido contrato administrativo. En el presente trabajo se busca responder i) ¿Cuál es la línea Jurisprudencial Constitucional sostenida durante la última década respecto a los CAPS? y ii) ¿Es posible que la Administración Pública desde el Derecho Laboral realice una interpretación ficta del CAPS?, para esto se analizarán las diferentes tesituras de la Honorable Corte Constitucional Colombiana en esta última década.