Nursing professionals' experiences of the facilitators and barriers to the use of telehealth applications: a systematic review of qualitative studies.

Abstract: The aim of the study was to synthesise the best available research evidence on nursing professionals' experiences of the facilitators and barriers to the use of online telehealth services in nursing practice. Telehealth is used to deliver healthcare services and health-related information by means of information and communication technology (ICT). The systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted using thematic synthesis of previous studies. International electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, Eric, Web of Science/Web of Knowledge and Scopus, and Finnish databases Medic and Ohtanen were searched in spring 2013. In addition, the search was complemented in fall 2015. Following critical appraisal, 25 studies from 1998 to fall 2015 were reviewed and the findings were synthesised. Both facilitators and barriers were grouped into five main categories which were related to nurses' skills and attitudes, nurses' work and operations, organisational factors, patients and technology. The highest number of facilitators and barriers was found in the category focusing on nurses' work and operations. Based on the findings, nurses' skills and attitudes are preventing factors in the implementation of telehealth. There is also a need to focus on patients' role in telehealth usage although the findings support positive adoption of ICT tools among patients. The findings call for further development of technological tools used in nursing practice and healthcare services. The change from traditional face-to-face nursing to the use of telehealth calls for local agreements and further discussions among professionals on how this change will be accepted and implemented into practice. In addition, organisations need to make sure that nurses have enough resources and support for telehealth use.

communication
information technology
qualitative approaches
systematic review and meta-analyses
telenursing


Structural characterization of a novel polysaccharide from Panax notoginseng residue and its immunomodulatory activity on bone marrow dendritic cells.

Abstract: This study isolated and characterized a novel polysaccharide (PNPS-0.3) from the residue of Panax notoginseng by gradient elution. PNPS-0.3 mainly consisted of a backbone of →4)- α-D-GalAp-(1 → 4-β-L-Rhap-1 → 4)-β-D-Galp-(1 → residues, with an α-L-Araf-1 → 5)-α-L-Araf-(1 → branch connecting to the backbone at O-3 of →4-β-L-Rhap-1 → and a molecular weight of 76,655 Da. Furthermore, the adjuvant potential of PNPS-0.3 with bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs) was investigated. The results suggested that PNPS-0.3 could induce maturation of BMDCs by reshaping the morphology, upregulating the CD40, CD80, CD86 and MHC II membrane phenotypic markers, and by promoting the secretion of TNF-α and IL-12 proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, PNPS-0.3 can trigger the DC-induced T-cell immune response, as indicated by the higher expressions of CD4, CD8, CD69, and MHC II in T cells with increased secretion of INF-β. Furthermore, PNPS-0.3 can bind to the pattern recognition receptors (PRR) of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR 4), Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR 2), and mannose receptor (MR) on BMDCs. PNPS-0.3 also upregulated the expressions of Myd88, IKKβ, PP65, T-P65, and NF-κB, suggesting that the TLR4/TLR2-NF-κB signaling pathway was involved in the immunomodulatory mechanism. In conclusion, the immunoadjuvant potential of novel PNPS-0.3 was characterized, which is beneficial for the future utilization and development of P. notoginseng.

Liu|Shengnan|S| Yang|Ye|Y| Qu|Yuan|Y| Guo|Xiaoxi|X| Yang|Xiaoyan|X| Cui|Xiuming|X| Wang|Chengxiao|C|

Structural characterization
Polysaccharide
Bone marrow dendritic cells
Immunomodulatory adjuvant
Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen


Performance of rice straw as mono- and co-feedstock of Ulva spp. for thalassic biogas production.

Abstract: The seasonal availability of Ulva spp. (U) poses a problem for the continuous operation of thalassic (TH) biogas digesters. Hence, rice straw (RS) was tested as an alternative substrate because of its abundance in Asian countries. The anaerobic monodigestion (AMD) of RS was performed under freshwater (FW) and TH conditions to investigate the TH biogas production performance using terrestrial biomass. Biological hydrolysis (BH-P) and 3% NaOH (NaOH-P) pretreatments were employed to minimize the limitation of biomass hydrolysis in the methane fermentation process. The BH-P [FW = 62.2 ± 30.9 mLCH4 g-1VS (volatile solids); TH = 75.8 ± 5.7 mLCH4 g-1VS] of RS led to higher actual methane yield (AMY) than NaOH-P (FW = 15.8 ± 22.8 mLCH4 g-1VS; TH = 21.4 ± 4.2 mLCH4 g-1VS) under both conditions (P = 0.008), while AMY of FW BH-P was comparable (P = 0.182) to TH BH-P. Thus, TH and BH-P was applied to the anaerobic co-digestion (ACD) of U and RS of varying mixture ratios. All ACD set-ups resulted in higher AMY (25U:75RS = 107.6 ± 7.9 mLCH4 g-1VS, 50U:50RS = 130.3 ± 10.3 mLCH4 g-1VS, 75U:25RS = 121.7 ± 2.7 mLCH4 g-1VS) compared with 100% RS (75.8 ± 5.7 mLCH4 g-1VS) or 100% U (94.8 ± 6.8 mLCH4 g-1VS) alone. While the AMY of 50U:50RS was comparable to 75U:25RS (P = 0.181), it is significantly higher (P = 0.003) than its estimated methane yield (EMY; 85.3 mLCH4 g-1VS), suggesting a synergistic effect on ACD of U and RS under 50:50 ratio. The results show that RS can be used as an alternative mono-feedstock for TH biogas production, and a high AMY can be obtained when RS is used as co-feedstock with U.

Marquez|Gian Powell B|GPB|
Takeuchi|Hisae|H|
Montaño|Marco Nemesio E|MNE|
Hasegawa|Tatsuya|T|

Rice straw
Ulva
Biogas
Biofuel
Energy
Green chemistry
Green engineering
Marine
Seaweed
Waste treatment


Education, household income, and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older Japanese adults.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Income inequality has dramatically increased worldwide, and there is a need to re-evaluate the association between socio-economic status (SES) and depression. Relative contributions of household income and education to depression, as well as their interactions, have not been fully evaluated. This study aimed to examine the association between SES and depressive symptoms in Japanese adults, focusing on interactions between education and household income levels.

METHODS
This cross-sectional study used data from baseline surveys of two cohort studies. Participants were 38,499 community-dwelling people aged 40-74 years who participated in baseline surveys of the Murakami cohort study (2011-2012) and Uonuma cohort study (2012-2015) conducted in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Information regarding marital status, education level, household income, occupation, activities of daily living (ADL), and history of cancer, myocardial infarction, stroke, and diabetes was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were examined using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Logistic regression analysis was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs). Covariates included age, sex, marital status, education, household income, occupation, ADL, and disease history.

RESULTS
Individuals with higher education levels had lower ORs (adjusted P for trend = 0.0007) for depressive symptoms, independently of household income level. The OR of the university-or-higher group was significantly lower than that of the junior high school group (adjusted OR = 0.79). Individuals with lower household income levels had higher ORs (adjusted P for trend< 0.0001) for depressive symptoms, independently of education level. The type of occupation was not associated with depressive symptoms. In subgroup analyses according to household income level, individuals with higher education levels had significantly lower ORs in the lowest- and lower-income groups (adjusted P for trend = 0.0275 and 0.0123, respectively), but not in higher- and highest-income groups (0.5214 and 0.0915, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
Both education and household income levels are independently associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms, with household income levels showing a more robust association with depressive symptoms than education levels. This suggests that a high household income level may offset the risk of depressive symptoms from having a low education level.

Hinata|Aya|A| Kabasawa|Keiko|K|0000-0002-3665-9996 Watanabe|Yumi|Y| Kitamura|Kaori|K| Ito|Yumi|Y| Takachi|Ribeka|R| Tsugane|Shoichiro|S| Tanaka|Junta|J| Sasaki|Ayako|A| Narita|Ichiei|I| Nakamura|Kazutoshi|K|

Education
Income
Depression
Japan
Socioeconomic status


Flow-perfusion bioreactor system for engineered breast cancer surrogates to be used in preclinical testing.

Abstract: There is a need for preclinical testing systems that predict the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of cancer therapies better than existing in vitro and in vivo animal models. An approach to the development of predictive in vitro systems is to more closely recapitulate the cellular and spatial complexity of human cancers. One limitation of using current in vitro systems to model cancers is the lack of an appropriately large volume to accommodate the development of this complexity over time. To address this limitation, we have designed and constructed a novel flow-perfusion bioreactor system that can support large-volume, engineered tissue comprised of multicellular cancer surrogates by modifying current microfluidic devices. Key features of this technology are a three-dimensional (3D) volume (1.2 cm3 ) that has greater tissue thickness than is utilized in existing microfluidic systems and the ability to perfuse the volume, enabling the development of realistic tumour geometry. The constructs were fabricated by infiltrating porous carbon foams with an extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel and engineering through-microchannels. The carbon foam structurally supported the hydrogel and microchannel patency for up to 161 h. The ECM hydrogel was shown to adhere to the carbon foam and polydimethylsiloxane flow chamber, which housed the hydrogel-foam construct, when surfaces were coated with glutaraldehyde (carbon foam) and nitric acid (polydimethylsiloxane). Additionally, the viability of breast cancer cells and fibroblasts was higher in the presence of perfused microchannels in comparison to similar preparations without microchannels or perfusion. Therefore, the flow-perfusion bioreactor system supports cell viability in volume and stromal contexts that are physiologically-relevant. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Marshall|Lauren E|LE|
Goliwas|Kayla F|KF|
Miller|Lindsay M|LM|
Penman|Andrew D|AD|
Frost|Andra R|AR|
Berry|Joel L|JL|

bioreactor
perfusion
microchannels
3D breast cancer model
stroma


Plant factory: new resource for the productivity and diversity of human and veterinary vaccines.

Abstract: Vaccination is one of the most successful strategies to prevent diseases caused by pathogens. Although various expression systems including Escherichia coli, yeast, insect, and mammalian cells are currently used for producing many of vaccines, these conventional platforms have the limitation of post-translational modification, high cost, and expensive scalability. In this respect, the plant-based expression system has been considered as an attractive platform to produce recombinant vaccines due to fast, cost-effective and scalable production as well as safety. This review discusses the development of plant-derived vaccines and the current stage of plant-based expression system.

Vaccines
Antibodies
Pharmaceuticals
Transgenic plants


Irrigation water intensity and climate variability: an agricultural crops analysis of Italian regions.

Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between the requirement of water resources for irrigation and climate variability and analyses the ranking of the best and worst performance of irrigation water intensity for each Italian region. To measure water resources demanded by agriculture, the irrigation water intensity (IWI) indicator has been computed as the ratio between volumes of irrigation water and total crop harvested. By applying panel data methodologies to a regional dataset spanning from 2000 to 2009, we may address heterogeneity and omitted variable issues. By merging meteo-climatic with agricultural variables, we may confirm that water precipitations, maximum temperature, irrigation propensity indicator, and yields are the main and relevant determinants of the IWI indicator. Moreover, results confirm our expectations that regions belonging to South and Islands macro-areas seem the best performers in terms of irrigation water intensity. Also, our analysis reveals limited availability of information on water resource data and suggests strengthening the need for regularly collecting data and producing statistics to support in designing adequate tools for optimal policies.

Irrigation water intensity
Climate variability
Water resources
Agricultural water management
Italian regional agricultural sector
Pressure on local water resources


Evaluation of soccer players under the Moneyball concept.

Abstract: The recruitment of athletes with limited resources is a global problem in professional sports. In US Major League Baseball, the experience of the Oakland Athletics' general manager in the last decade turned his "Moneyball" model into a synonym of quantitative analysis in the transfer market of baseball players. His strategy focused on hiring players with outstanding technical skills but relatively low market value. This study adapted this model to the framework of a multiple criteria decision aid (MCDA), by selecting undervalued players who have complementary abilities. The novelty here refers to the joint use of four algorithms explored by the composition of probabilistic preferences (CPP) (i.e., ranking, classification, dynamic evaluation and regularity analysis) and their application to soccer player performance evaluation. The new model analysed the recent transfer of a left-back soccer player to Europe. The results indicated 12 opportunities for better investment, among 32 left and right-back players considered. Two years later, the value of the same player was considerably lower. He played only five matches in the 2018-2019 season, without scoring or providing any assists. On the other hand, the players better classified by the CPP-MB model presented higher performances and market values.

de Almada Garcia|Pauli Adriano|PA|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3934-4332

soccer
Moneyball
CPP
player performance
multicriteria


Spontaneous Bilateral Cervical Internal Carotid and Vertebral Artery Dissection in a Japanese Patient without Collagen Vascular Disease with Special Reference to Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms.

Abstract: Spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD) is a major cause of ischemic stroke in young adults. Frequently, sCAD involves multiple neck arteries, accounting for 13%-28% of the total sCAD cases. However, little is known about factors related to multiple sCAD. In this case, a 52-year-old man was admitted due to headache without aura. There was a personal history of migraine with aura and a family history of similar symptoms. The patient's younger brother had a left vertebral artery (VA) dissecting aneurysm and underwent endovascular occlusion of his parent artery at the age of 48. Magnetic resonance imaging of our admitted patient showed hyperintensities in the right internal carotid artery (ICA) without acute infarction, and magnetic resonance angiography revealed a narrowing of the right ICA. Angiography was then performed, which showed a trace of dissection of the left ICA and both VAs as well as the right ICA. The patient did not fulfill any major criteria of collagen vascular disease such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV or Loeys-Dietz syndrome. The data in our patient are quite similar to those reported in patients with single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of PHACTR1. Obtaining the patient's informed consent, we analyzed a common SNP variation in the rs9349379[G] allele (PHACTR1), which has been reported to be associated with a lower risk of sCAD.

Abe|Arata|A| Nito|Chikako|C| Sakamoto|Yuki|Y| Nogami|Akane|A| Hokama|Hiroyuki|H| Takahashi|Shiro|S| Kirita|Kumiko|K| Ueda|Masayuki|M| Ishimaru|Yoshiro|Y| Kimura|Kazumi|K|

D020215:Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection

vertebral artery dissection
migraine
PHACTR1
Carotid artery dissection


Lutetium DOTATATE whole body scans: A novel approach for evaluation of neuroendocrine tumors.

Abstract:
AIM
We undertook a study to evaluate whether Lutetium (Lu) DOTATATE whole body scan is well comparable to Gallium positron emission tomography (PET) / Indium Octreotide, and hence with dosimetric advantage can replace it in the pre-therapy setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We undertook a prospective study of a total of 39 patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumor (age 11-70 years), who underwent Lu-DOTATATE scans within the period August 2009-November 2010. This included 28 males and 11 females. Dose of Lu-DOTATATE injected for diagnostic scanning purpose was 10 mCi i.v. Whole body planar images and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-CT images were obtained at 4, 24 and 48 hours. The Lu-DOTATATE whole body and SPECT-CT images were compared to contrast CT scans in all patients, and Indium Octreotide and Gallium DOTATATE PET images in nine patients, with reference to detection sensitivity of number of lesions. The pre-therapy scans were also used for dosimetric calculations. Fourteen of these 39 patients further went ahead with Lu-DOTATATE therapy.

RESULTS
All 39 patients demonstrated Lu-DOTATATE uptake in the disease sites seen on the contrast CT images. The uptake intensity was well comparable to Indium Octreotide and Gallium DOTATATE PET scans of all nine patients, with equally well-defined lesions. The post-therapy Lu-DOTATATE scans of the 14 patients who underwent therapy demonstrated higher intensity uptake pattern in the same disease sites, suggesting favorable therapeutic effect. The scans were useful in determining dosimetric details for therapeutic purpose and adequate exposure rates to suggest good ablative effect.

CONCLUSION
Our preliminary data suggest that Lu-DOTATATE whole body scanning procedure is cost effective and equally sensitive as Gallium DOTATOC/NOC PET scan in pre-therapy setting of neuroendocrine tumors. The additional advantage of dosimetry calculations on this scanning procedure makes it more ideal to tailor therapies with more accuracy.

Singh|Natasha|N|
Krishna|Ba|B|
Vyas|Madhusudan|M|
Venkatesh|Meera|M|
Banerjee|Sharmila|S|
Das|Tapas|T|
Nair|Kv Vimal|KV|
Sudipta|||

Lutetium DOTATATE
whole body scan
neuroendocrine tumors
pre-therapy


Collective music listening: Movement energy is enhanced by groove and visual social cues.

Abstract: The regularity of musical beat makes it a powerful stimulus promoting movement synchrony among people. Synchrony can increase interpersonal trust, affiliation, and cooperation. Musical pieces can be classified according to the quality of groove; the higher the groove, the more it induces the desire to move. We investigated questions related to collective music-listening among 33 participants in an experiment conducted in a naturalistic yet acoustically controlled setting of a research concert hall with motion tracking. First, does higher groove music induce (1) movement with more energy and (2) higher interpersonal movement coordination? Second, does visual social information manipulated by having eyes open or eyes closed also affect energy and coordination? Participants listened to pieces from four categories formed by crossing groove (high, low) with tempo (higher, lower). Their upper body movement was recorded via head markers. Self-reported ratings of grooviness, emotional valence, emotional intensity, and familiarity were collected after each song. A biomechanically motivated measure of movement energy increased with high-groove songs and was positively correlated with grooviness ratings, confirming the theoretically implied but less tested motor response to groove. Participants' ratings of emotional valence and emotional intensity correlated positively with movement energy, suggesting that movement energy relates to emotional engagement with music. Movement energy was higher in eyes-open trials, suggesting that seeing each other enhanced participants' responses, consistent with social facilitation or contagion. Furthermore, interpersonal coordination was higher both for the high-groove and eyes-open conditions, indicating that the social situation of collective music listening affects how music is experienced.

groove
social facilitation
Collective behaviour
embodiment
group dynamics
joint action


Genetic analysis of the Arabidopsis protein kinases MAP3Kε1 and MAP3Kε2 indicates roles in cell expansion and embryo development.

Abstract: MAP3Kε1 and MAP3Kε2 are a pair of Arabidopsis thaliana genes that encode protein kinases related to cdc7p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have previously shown that the map3kε1;map3kε2 double-mutant combination causes pollen lethality. In this study, we have used an ethanol-inducible promoter construct to rescue this lethal phenotype and create map3kε1(-/-);map3kε2(-/-) double-mutant plants in order to examine the function of these genes in the sporophyte. These rescued double-mutant plants carry a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-MAP3Kε1 transgene under the control of the alcohol-inducible AlcA promoter from Aspergillus nidulans. The double-mutant plants were significantly smaller and had shorter roots than wild-type when grown in the absence of ethanol treatment. Microscopic analysis indicated that cell elongation was reduced in the roots of the double-mutant plants and cell expansion was reduced in rosette leaves. Treatment with ethanol to induce expression of YFP-MAP3Kε1 largely rescued the leaf phenotypes. The double-mutant combination also caused embryos to arrest in the early stages of development. Through the use of YFP reporter constructs we determined that MAP3Kε1 and MAP3Kε2 are expressed during embryo development, and also in root tissue. Our results indicate that MAP3Kε1 and MAP3Kε2 have roles outside of pollen development and that these genes affect several aspects of sporophyte development.

Chaiwongsar|Suraphon|S|
Strohm|Allison K|AK|
Su|Shih-Heng|SH|
Krysan|Patrick J|PJ|

Arabidopsis
MAP3Kε1
MAP3Kε2
cell expansion
embryo development
MAP kinase


A new species of Rhodocybe sect. Rufobrunnea (Entolomataceae, Agaricales) from Italy.

Abstract: Rhodocybe fumanellii is described from Italy as a new species based both on morphological and molecular nrITS/nrLSU data. It belongs in sect. Rufobrunnea and is characterised by massive tricholomatoid basidiomata with reddish-brown tinges, adnate and crowded lamellae, an enlarged stipe base with long rhizomorphs, long sinuose slender cheilocystidia, ellipsoid basidiospores and the presence of caulocystidia. Drawings of the main micromorphological features as well as a colour photograph of fresh basidiomata in situ are provided and its morphological relationships with allied species are discussed.

Vizzini|Alfredo|A|
Ferrari|Renato Jonny|RJ|
Ercole|Enrico|E|
Fellin|Alessandro|A|

Agaricomycetes
Basidiomycota
Molecular markers
Phylogeny
Taxonomy


The effect of mono- versus multi-segment musculoskeletal models of the foot on simulated triceps surae lengths in pathological and healthy gait.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Estimating muscle-tendon complex (MTC) lengths is important for planning of soft tissue surgery and evaluating outcomes, e.g. in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Conventional musculoskeletal models often represent the foot as one rigid segment, called a mono-segment foot model (mono-SFM). However, a multi-segment foot model (multi-SFM) might provide better estimates of triceps surae MTC lengths, especially in patients with foot deformities.

RESEARCH QUESTION
What is the effect of a mono- versus a multi-SFM on simulated ankle angles and triceps surae MTC lengths during gait in typically developing subjects and in children with CP with equinus, cavovarus or planovalgus foot deformities?

METHODS
50 subjects were included, 10 non-affected adults, 10 typically developing children, and 30 children with spastic CP and foot deformities. During walking trials, marker trajectories were collected for two marker models, including a mono- and multi-segment foot; respectively Newington gait model and Oxford foot model. Two musculoskeletal lower body models were constructed in OpenSim with either a mono- or multi-SFM based on the corresponding marker models. Normalized triceps surae MTC lengths (soleus, gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis) and ankle angles were calculated and compared between models using statistical parametric mapping RM-ANOVAs. Root mean square error values between simulated MTC lengths were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank and rank-sum tests.

RESULTS
Mono-SFM simulated significantly more ankle dorsiflexion (7.5 ± 1.2°) and longer triceps surae lengths (difference; soleus:2.6 ± 0.29 %, gastrocnemius medialis:1.7 ± 0.2 %, gastrocnemius lateralis:1.8 ± 0.2%) than a multi-SFM. Differences between models were larger in children with CP compared to typically developing children and larger in the stance compared to the swing phase of gait. Largest differences were found in children with CP presenting with planovalgus (4.8 %) or cavovarus (3.8 %) foot deformities.

SIGNIFICANCE
It is advisable to use a multi-SFM in musculoskeletal models when simulating triceps surae MTC lengths, especially in individuals with planovalgus or cavovarus foot deformities.

Zandbergen|Marit A|MA|
Schallig|Wouter|W|
Stebbins|Julie A|JA|
Harlaar|Jaap|J|
van der Krogt|Marjolein M|MM|

Cerebral palsy
Foot model
OpenSim
Biomechanics
Gastrocnemius muscle


A 6-minute sub-maximal run test to predict VO2 max.

Abstract: Maximal oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text] max) is a key indicator to assess health as well as sports performance. Currently, maximal exercise testing is the most accurate measure of maximal aerobic power, since submaximal approaches are still imprecise. In this paper, we propose a new method to predict [Formula: see text] max from a submaximal, low intensity, test in sports men and women. 182 males and 108 females from the High Performance Center of Pontevedra (Spain), aged 10-46 years old, with a [Formula: see text] max between 30.1 and 81.2 mL·min-1·kg-1, completed a maximal incremental test to volitional exhaustion. The test began at a speed of 6 km·h-1 and increased by 0.25 km·h-1 every 15 seconds. Using the data gathered during the first 6 minutes of the test, two different regression models were adjusted using functional data analysis and a traditional linear regression model with scalar covariates. The functional regression model obtained the best results, adjusted r2 = 0.845 and RMSE = 2.8 mL·min-1·kg-1, but the linear regression model also obtained a good fit, adjusted r2 = 0.798 and RMSE = 3.5 mL·min-1·kg-1. Both methods are more accurate than classical submaximal tests, although oxygen consumption needs to be measured during the test.

HR = heart rate
Maximum oxygen uptake prediction
RMSE = root mean square error
VO2 = oxygen uptake
low intensity submaximal test


Differences between Human and Mouse IgM Fc Receptor (FcµR).

Abstract: Both non-immune "natural" and antigen-induced "immune" IgM are important for protection against pathogens and for regulation of immune responses to self-antigens. Since the bona fide IgM Fc receptor (FcµR) was identified in humans by a functional cloning strategy in 2009, the roles of FcµR in these IgM effector functions have begun to be explored. In this short essay, we describe the differences between human and mouse FcµRs in terms of their identification processes, cellular distributions and ligand binding activities with emphasis on our recent findings from the mutational analysis of human FcµR. We have identified at least three sites of human FcµR, i.e., Asn66 in the CDR2, Lys79 to Arg83 in the DE loop and Asn109 in the CDR3, responsible for its constitutive IgM-ligand binding. Results of computational structural modeling analysis are consistent with these mutational data and a model of the ligand binding, Ig-like domain of human FcµR is proposed. Serendipitously, substitution of Glu41 and Met42 in the CDR1 of human FcµR with mouse equivalents Gln and Leu, either single or more prominently in combination, enhances both the receptor expression and IgM binding. These findings would help in the future development of preventive and therapeutic interventions targeting FcµR.

Kubagawa|Hiromi|H|
Skopnik|Christopher M|CM|
Al-Qaisi|Khlowd|K|
Calvert|Rosaleen A|RA|
Honjo|Kazuhito|K|
Kubagawa|Yoshiki|Y|
Teuber|Ruth|R|
Aliabadi|Pedram Mahmoudi|PM|
Enghard|Philipp|P|
Radbruch|Andreas|A|
Sutton|Brian J|BJ|0000-0002-4363-7568

FcµR
computational structural model
IgM binding
3D structure
FcR
Fcα/µR
pIgR
species difference


Impact of joint line orientation on clinical outcomes in bilateral Oxford mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Joint line orientation angle (JLOA) is the angle between the knee joint line and the floor. It has been reported to be related to postoperative outcome after TKA. Regarding unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), although it can be horizontal after UKA because it is a resurfacing surgery, there are few reports about the JLOA after UKA and its impact on clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to reveal the relationship between JLOA and clinical outcome after UKA.

METHODS
This study included 106 knees in 53 consecutive patients with osteoarthritis who underwent simultaneous bilateral mobile-bearing UKA. Their pre- and postoperative JLOAs were measured by full-leg-length standing coronal radiographs. We also evaluated the tibial component height (TCH) as the factor which we assumed could influence JLOA. We analyzed the patients' JLOAs, TCHs and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS
Pre- and postoperative JLOA were 0.4 ± 2.4° and 2.7 ± 2.6°, respectively. The JLOA significantly tilted medially (P < 0.0001). The JLOA significantly negatively correlated with the improvement of the clinical outcomes (Oxford Knee Score (OKS): r = 0.40, P < 0.0001, Knee Society Knee Score (KSKS): r = 0.25, P < 0.01, Knee Society Function Score (KSFS): r = 0.22, P = 0.02). The TCH showed a positive correlation with postoperative JLOA and with the postoperative JLOA change (r = 0.45, P < 0.001; r = 0.25, P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION
The JLOA significantly tilted medially after UKA. An excessive medial tilt of the JLOA was associated with poorer postoperative outcomes of UKA. It is therefore recommended to keep the JLOA horizontal and to avoid a lower tibial cut.

Nishida|Ryota|R| Hiranaka|Takafumi|T| Kamenaga|Tomoyuki|T| Hida|Yuichi|Y| Fujishiro|Takaaki|T| Okamoto|Koji|K| Kuroda|Ryosuke|R| Matsumoto|Tomoyuki|T|

D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Joint line orientation angle (JLOA)
Alignment
Oxford partial knee


Role of Intracellular Transport in the Centriole-Dependent Formation of Golgi Ribbon.

Abstract: The intracellular transport is the most confusing issue in the field of cell biology. The Golgi complex (GC) is the central station along the secretory pathway. It contains Golgi glycosylation enzymes, which are responsible for protein and lipid glycosylation, and in many cells, it is organized into a ribbon. Position and structure of the GC depend on the position and function of the centriole. Here, we analyze published data related to the role of centriole and intracellular transport (ICT) for the formation of Golgi ribbon and specifically stress the importance of the delivery of membranes containing cargo and membrane proteins to the cell centre where centriole/centrosome is localized. Additionally, we re-examined the formation of Golgi ribbon from the point of view of different models of ICT.

Mironov|Alexander A|AA|
Dimov|Ivan D|ID|
Beznoussenko|Galina V|GV|

D001692:Biological Transport
D002502:Centrioles
D006056:Golgi Apparatus
D007425:Intracellular Membranes
D008565:Membrane Proteins

Intracellular transport
Golgi ribbon
Golgi complex
Centriole
Coatomer I
Coatomer II
ER-Golgi transport
Intra-Golgi transport


Canine olfactory detection and its relevance to medical detection.

Abstract: The extraordinary olfactory sense of canines combined with the possibility to learn by operant conditioning enables dogs for their use in medical detection in a wide range of applications. Research on the ability of medical detection dogs for the identification of individuals with infectious or non-infectious diseases has been promising, but compared to the well-established and-accepted use of sniffer dogs by the police, army and customs for substances such as money, explosives or drugs, the deployment of medical detection dogs is still in its infancy. There are several factors to be considered for standardisation prior to deployment of canine scent detection dogs. Individual odours in disease consist of different volatile organic molecules that differ in magnitude, volatility and concentration. Olfaction can be influenced by various parameters like genetics, environmental conditions, age, hydration, nutrition, microbiome, conditioning, training, management factors, diseases and pharmaceuticals. This review discusses current knowledge on the function and importance of canines' olfaction and evaluates its limitations and the potential role of the dog as a biomedical detector for infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Osterhaus|Albertus Dominicus Marcellinus Erasmus|ADME|

Olfactory sense
Sniffer dogs
Olfaction
Biomedical detection dogs
Screening method


Spontaneous incidence of oncocytic proliferative lesions in control rat kidney.

Abstract: The spontaneous incidence of foci of oncocytic proliferation (oncocytic hyperplasia and oncocytoma) was assessed in a histopathological reevaluation of the kidneys of 2,391 male and female Fischer 344 (F344) groups of control rats from long-term carcinogenicity studies (involving 24 chemicals) that had been conducted by the National Toxicology Program. The overall incidence of oncocytic proliferation was 0.3%, with a male preponderance over females at 0.5% (6/1,236) versus 0.09% (1/1,155), respectively. In males, there appeared to be an association of oncocytic proliferation with advanced spontaneous chronic progressive nephropathy. Oncocytoma or oncocytic hyperplasia appear to be rare lesions in F344 rats, and observations from these carcinogenicity studies suggest that they are slow growing and tend to occur late in a rodent's life span.

Hard|Gordon C|GC|
Seely|John Curtis|JC|
Betz|Laura J|LJ|

incidence
oncocytic proliferative lesions
rat kidney
oncocytic hyperplasia
oncocytoma


The downside of tobacco control? Smoking and self-stigma: A systematic review.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about the consequences of tobacco smoking stigma on smokers and how smokers may internalize smoking-related stigma. This review summarizes existing literature on tobacco smoking self-stigma, investigating to what extent smokers are aware of negative stereotypes, agree with them and apply them to themselves.

METHODS
We carried out a systematic search of Pubmed/Web of Science/PsycInfo databases for articles related to smoking self-stigma through June 2013. Reference lists and citations of included studies were also checked and experts were contacted. After screening articles for inclusion/exclusion criteria we performed a quality assessment and summarized findings according to the stages of self-stigma as conceptualized in Corrigan's progressive model of self-stigma (aware, agree, apply and harm). Initial searches yielded 570 articles.

RESULTS
Thirty of these articles (18 qualitative and 12 quantitative studies) met criteria for our review. Awareness of smoking stigma was virtually universal across studies. Coping strategies for smoking stigma and the degree to which individuals who smoke internalized this stigma varied both within and across studies. There was considerable variation in positive, negative, and non-significant consequences associated with smoking self-stigma. Limited evidence was found for subgroup differences in smoking-related stigma.

CONCLUSION
While there is some evidence that smoking self-stigma leads to reductions in smoking, this review also identified significant negative consequences of smoking self-stigma. Future research should assess the factors related to differences in how individuals respond to smoking stigma. Public health strategies which limit the stigmatization of smokers may be warranted.

Evans-Polce|Rebecca J|RJ|
Castaldelli-Maia|Joao M|JM|
Schomerus|Georg|G|
Evans-Lacko|Sara E|SE|


Cystic fibrosis: Diagnosis and management - NICE guideline 78.

Abstract: NICE produced a guideline for the diagnosis and management of CF (NG78) in October 2017. This paper describes the process of producing the guideline and highlights some of the areas covered by it, including ideas for further research and tools that can be used by purchasers to help improve CF care.

D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic
D003428:Cross Infection
D003550:Cystic Fibrosis
D003920:Diabetes Mellitus
D005100:Expectorants
D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test
D006801:Humans
D008403:Mass Screening
D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities
D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
D012138:Respiratory Therapy
D006113:United Kingdom


Simple technologies and diverse food strategies of the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene at Huaca Prieta, Coastal Peru.

Abstract: Simple pebble tools, ephemeral cultural features, and the remains of maritime and terrestrial foods are present in undisturbed Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene deposits underneath a large human-made mound at Huaca Prieta and nearby sites on the Pacific coast of northern Peru. Radiocarbon ages indicate an intermittent human presence dated between ~15,000 and 8000 calendar years ago before the mound was built. The absence of fishhooks, harpoons, and bifacial stone tools suggests that technologies of gathering, trapping, clubbing, and exchange were used primarily to procure food resources along the shoreline and in estuarine wetlands and distant mountains. The stone artifacts are minimally worked unifacial stone tools characteristic of several areas of South America. Remains of avocado, bean, and possibly cultivated squash and chile pepper are also present, suggesting human transport and consumption. Our new findings emphasize an early coastal lifeway of diverse food procurement strategies that suggest detailed observation of resource availability in multiple environments and a knowledgeable economic organization, although technologies were simple and campsites were seemingly ephemeral and discontinuous. These findings raise questions about the pace of early human movement along some areas of the Pacific coast and the level of knowledge and technology required to exploit maritime and inland resources.

late Pleistocene
Peru
chile pepper
early Holocene Huaca Prieta
early peopling
simple stone tools


Linezolid-Associated Thrombocytopenia in Children With Renal Impairment.

Abstract: Impaired renal function has been associated with an increased risk of thrombocytopenia in adults receiving linezolid. Findings from this retrospective cohort demonstrate an association between thrombocytopenia and lower creatinine clearance in children receiving linezolid.

Jones|Sara J|SJ|
Nichols|Kristen R|KR|
DeYoung|Heather L|HL|
Cox|Elaine G|EG|
Knoderer|Chad A|CA|

thrombocytopenia
children
renal impairment
linezolid
pediatric


Effects of stepping exergames under stable versus unstable conditions on balance and strength in healthy community-dwelling older adults: A three-armed randomized controlled trial.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE
This non-blinded, three-armed randomized controlled trial aimed at comparing the effects of volitional step training under stable and unstable conditions on balance, mobility and strength adaptations.

METHODS
Fifty-one healthy and active older adults (age = 69.4 ± 5.6 years; BMI = 27.4 ± 4.6, physical activity = 9.2 ± 5.1 h/week) were allocated to either volitional stepping (VOL), volitional stepping under unstable conditions (VOL + US) or a control group (CON) using the minimization method. Participants underwent eight weeks of exergames based step training with three sessions per week. Pre- and Post-testing included reactive balance (postural sway upon perturbation), functional balance (Y-balance test) and mobility (timed up and go test) to compare the effects of both intervention groups. Strength was tested using the heel rise test and isometric leg extension and leg curl assessment to compare transfer effects of the intervention groups.

RESULTS
Data of 45 participants was finally analyzed. Adherence was 87 ± 5% in the VOL + US group and 86 ± 6% in the VOL group. No adverse events occurred. Increased reactive balance was observed in VOL + US only (p < 0.05, standard mean difference (SMD) = 0.3) whereas both intervention groups improved functional balance (p < 0.05, SMD = 0.5-1.0). Only VOL + US led to improved functional mobility performance under dual-task conditions (p < 0.05, SMD = -0.4). Both VOL + US and VOL significantly improved calf strength endurance (p < 0.05, SMD = 0.7-0.8), whereas isometric strength of the thigh muscles revealed no significant changes (p > 0.05). Explosive strength (rate of force development) showed insignificant but medium interaction effects of the leg extensors in favor of VOL + US (p = 0.08, η2p = 0.12, SMD = 0.2).

CONCLUSION
Volitional step training is an appealing and effective training tool to improve functional balance and calf strength in healthy older adults. Unstable volitional stepping seems to be superior in improving reactive balance and functional mobility under dual-task conditions. It appears that the volitional stepping under unstable conditions requires motor skills relevant for preventing falls since it is more tasks specific when compared to volitional stepping under stable conditions.

Morat|Mareike|M| Bakker|Julia|J| Hammes|Verena|V| Morat|Tobias|T| Giannouli|Eleftheria|E| Zijlstra|Wiebren|W| Donath|Lars|L|

Step training
Functional balance
Rate of force development
Falls prevention
Seniors
Sensorimotor training


Interatrial conduction times in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients with normal atrial volume and their correlation with areas of local prolonged bipolar electrograms.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Recent evidence has shown that the presence of abnormal substrate can be demonstrated also among patients with "lone" AF.

OBJECTIVES
Interatrial conduction slowing is likely to characterize patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and it could be correlated to the left atrium area of prolonged local bipolar endocardial electrograms.

METHODS
P-wave duration (PWD), amplified PWD and endocavitary interatrial conduction time (IACT), were analyzed in 60 patients; 30 undergoing de novo ablation for paroxysmal AF with normal atrial volumes and without any other cardiac disease and 30 of similar age undergoing electrophysiological study for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia or atrioventricular re- entrant tachycardia. In patients with AF, voltage maps and local bipolar electrograms (LBE) duration map were evaluated.

RESULTS
Although PWD was <120 ms in 28 patients with AF and in 29 controls, patients with AF exhibited longer PWD, amplified-PWD and IACT. Although low-voltage areas (<0.5 mV) were not found in the study population, 28 of them demonstrated areas with LBE longer than 60 ms. These LBE were found mainly in the roof of the left atrium and their extension was correlated to IACT (R = 0.51, p = 0.004). IACT >135.5 ms identified the subjects who experienced AF with 90% sensitivity and 97% specificity.

CONCLUSION
A subclinical interatrial conduction disturbance is demonstrable in subjects with paroxysmal AF and normal left atrial volume. IACT has a good correlation to the areas of abnormal LBE in the left atrium. IACT >135 ms identified subjects who have experienced AF.

Rossi|Pietro|P|
Cauti|Filippo Maria|FM|
Limite|Luca Rosario|LR|
Iaia|Luigi|L|
Allegretti|Greta|G|
Di Renzi|Paolo|P|
Longa|Giulia Della|GD|
Quaglione|Raffaele|R|
Piccirillo|Gianfranco|G|
Bianchi|Stefano|S|

D013611:Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry

Interatrial conduction time
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
P-wave duration
Electrograms duration


Predictors of ileus following colorectal resections.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Ileus following colorectal surgery is a significant burden for healthcare and can be challenging to manage. This study aims to evaluate risk factors for postoperative ileus in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

METHODS
Patients who underwent colorectal resections for any diagnosis were identified from our institutional database between 2009 and 2014. Patient demographics, pre-operative comorbidities, and operation-related variables were compared in patients with and without ileus within 30 days after surgery.

RESULTS
A total of 5369 patients were identified with a mean age of 53 years. 892 patients (16.6%) developed postoperative ileus. Males were twice as likely (p < 0.001) and patients with anastomosis were 1.4 times more likely to develop ileus compared to those without (p < 0.001). Laparoscopic surgery and younger age were associated with lower ileus risk. Patients with colorectal cancer, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis diagnoses were all more likely to develop postoperative ileus compared to patients with diverticular disease.

CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of factors such as male gender, older age, anastomosis formation, diagnosis of cancer and inflammatory bowel disease, can help facilitate earlier diagnosis of postoperative ileus and may require consideration of prophylactic therapy.

Sapci|Ipek|I|
Hameed|Irbaz|I|
Ceylan|Arda|A|
Oktem|Ayda|A|
Rencuzogullari|Ahmet|A|
Hull|Tracy L|TL|
Liska|David|D|
Delaney|Conor P|CP|
Gorgun|Emre|E|

Colorectal surgery
Risk factors
Postoperative ileus


Caveolin-1 and Sox-2 are predictive biomarkers of cetuximab response in head and neck cancer.

Abstract: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor cetuximab is the only FDA-approved oncogene-targeting therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Despite variable treatment response, no biomarkers exist to stratify patients for cetuximab therapy in HNSCC. Here, we applied unbiased hierarchical clustering to reverse-phase protein array molecular profiles from patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors and revealed 2 PDX clusters defined by protein networks associated with EGFR inhibitor resistance. In vivo validation revealed unbiased clustering to classify PDX tumors according to cetuximab response with 88% accuracy. Next, a support vector machine classifier algorithm identified a minimalist biomarker signature consisting of 8 proteins - caveolin-1, Sox-2, AXL, STING, Brd4, claudin-7, connexin-43, and fibronectin - with expression that strongly predicted cetuximab response in PDXs using either protein or mRNA. A combination of caveolin-1 and Sox-2 protein levels was sufficient to maintain high predictive accuracy, which we validated in tumor samples from patients with HNSCC with known clinical response to cetuximab. These results support further investigation into the combined use of caveolin-1 and Sox-2 as predictive biomarkers for cetuximab response in the clinic.

Bouhaddou|Mehdi|M|
Lee|Rex H|RH|
Li|Hua|H|
Bhola|Neil E|NE|
O'Keefe|Rachel A|RA|
Naser|Mohammad|M|
Zhu|Tian Ran|TR|
Nwachuku|Kelechi|K|
Duvvuri|Umamaheswar|U|
Olshen|Adam B|AB|
Roy|Ritu|R|
Hechmer|Aaron|A|
Bolen|Jennifer|J|
Keysar|Stephen B|SB|
Jimeno|Antonio|A|
Mills|Gordon B|GB|
Vandenberg|Scott|S|
Swaney|Danielle L|DL|
Johnson|Daniel E|DE|
Krogan|Nevan J|NJ|
Grandis|Jennifer R|JR|


Addressing the Antinomy Between Health Education and Health Literacy in Advancing Personal Health and Public Health Outcomes.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Health literacy evolved from a standard of English language proficiency designed to promote patient compliance into an inferential for promoting positive health decision-making and health outcomes. In turn, the United States relegated health literacy as a national strategy to improve personal health and health care outcomes as well as reduce national health care expenditures.

METHODS
We reviewed the literature to assess the empirical research about health literacy and health behavior and health status outcomes.

RESULTS
There is a paucity of empirical research supporting health literacy's capacity to improve personal health behavior or health outcomes. We submit that the process of acquiring scientifically valid health knowledge partnered with the skills for informed health decision-making as well as motivation to foster positive health behaviors and health outcomes is that of health education, and not that inferred by health literacy competency.

CONCLUSIONS
We recommend that comprehensive school health education serve as the standard for advancing personal health and health outcomes. We recommend that elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions be charged with the objective to provide comprehensive school health education intervention to advance personal health, community health, and concomitantly moderate national health care expenditures.

D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

health literacy
health outcomes
school health education
community health


Dedifferentiated Chondrosarcoma of the Larynx.

Abstract: Primary dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma occurring in the larynx is a rare head and neck malignancy. The cases reported in the literature suggest male gender predilection and variable clinical outcomes ranging from disease-free survival to disease-related death. Although a calcified matrix is suggestive of chondrosarcoma, the dedifferentiated component is not readily appreciated on conventional imaging modalities and thorough tissue sampling is necessary for confirming the diagnosis. Histologically, there is an abrupt transition from a well-differentiated chondrosarcoma to a high-grade spindle cell component, which can show focal heterologous differentiation. These features are exemplified in this sine qua non radiology-pathology correlation article.

Larynx
Primary dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma
Head and neck malignancy
Well-differentiated chondrosarcoma
Heterologous differentiation
Cricoid cartilage


Usnic acid causes apoptotic-like death in Leishmania major, L. infantum and L. tropica.

Abstract: Leishmaniasis, a deadly parasitic infection, threatens many people worldwide. Since the high cost, toxicity, and resistance are drawbacks of current treatment options, it is necessary to find safer and more effective new antileishmanial drugs. The aim of this study was to determine the antileishmanial activity of usnic acid and its apoptotic mechanism on Leishmania spp. promastigotes. The antileishmanial activity was evaluated by MTT assay and apoptosis-related gene expression was investigated by qRT-PCR. Usnic acid was to be effective against Leishmania major, L. infantum, and L. tropica promastigotes at IC50 = 10.76 µg/ml, 13.34 µg/ml, and 21.06 µg/ml, respectively. We also demonstrated a novel mechanism by which usnic acid inhibited proliferation and caused apoptosis; usnic acid upregulated p53, Bax, Casp-3, and Casp-9 gene expression and downregulated the level of Bcl-2 gene expression. Accordingly, the expression level of the P53 gene increased in L. major, L. infantum and L. tropica by 14.4-, 11.8-, and 9.5-fold, respectively, and in contrast, the Bcl-2 gene expression decreased in all three leishmaniasis by 0.8-, 0.8-, and 0.7-fold, respectively. The present study, therefore, revealed that usnic acid played a critical role in the usnic acid-induced apoptotic process in Leishmania species. Usnic acid is easily accessible and an inexpensive agent, and can be considered as an alternative therapeutic agent for Leishmania infections subject to further tests in animal models.

Derici|Mehmet Kürşat|MK|
Cansaran-Duman|Demet|D|
Taylan-Özkan|Ayşegül|A|

Usnic acid
Leishmania
qRT-PCR
Apoptosis
Lichen


Decarboxylative ipso Amination of Activated Benzoic Acids.

Abstract: In the presence of a bimetallic Pd/Cu system with 1,10-phenanthroline as the ligand and either air or N-methylmorpholine N-oxide as the oxidant, electron-deficient benzoic acids undergo oxidative decarboxylative coupling with unprotected amines. This operationally simple aniline synthesis is widely applicable with respect to the amine and gives good yields, even on multigram scale. The orthogonality of this reaction to other Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings allows the concise synthesis of multisubstituted arenes by sequential C-C, C-Cl, and C-N functionalizations. Mechanistic investigations suggest the intermediacy of a hypervalent Pd species.

decarboxylation
amination
copper
hypervalent compounds
palladium


New single nucleotide polymorphism G5508A in the SEPT12 gene may be associated with idiopathic male infertility in Iranian men.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Male infertility is a multifactorial disorder, which affects approximately 10% of couples at childbearing age with substantial clinical and social impact. Genetic factors are associated with the susceptibility to spermatogenic impairment in humans. Recently, SEPT12 is reported as a critical gene for spermatogenesis. This gene encodes a testis specific member of Septin proteins, a family of polymerizing GTP-binding proteins. SEPT12 in association with other Septins is an essential annulus component in mature sperm. So, it is hypothesized that genetic alterations of SEPT12 may be concerned in male infertility.

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research is exploration of new single nucleotide polymorphism G5508A in the SEPT12 gene association with idiopathic male infertility in Iranian men.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this case control study, 67 infertile men and 100 normal controls were analyzed for genetic alterations in the active site coding region of SEPT12, using polymerase chain reaction sequencing technique. Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis and p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS
Genotype analysis indicated that G5508A polymorphic SEPT12 alleles were distributed in three peaks of frequency in both control and diseases groups. Categorization of the alleles into (GG), (GA), (AA) types revealed a significant difference between infertile patients (azoospermic and asthenospermic) and normal controls (p=0.005).

CONCLUSION
According to our finding we suggest that G5508A polymorphism in SEPT12 gene can affect spermatogenesis in men, the opinion needs more investigation in different populations.

Shahhoseini|Maryam|M|
Azad|Mahnaz|M|
Sabbaghian|Marjan|M|
Shafipour|Maryam|M|
Akhoond|Mohammad Reza|MR|
Salman-Yazdi|Reza|R|
Sadighi Gilani|Mohammad Ali|MA|
Gourabi|Hamid|H|

Polymorphism
SEPT12
Male infertility
Spermatogenesis
Septin


Effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on plasma homocysteine levels in Indian population with chronic periodontitis: a pilot study.

Abstract:
AIM
Homocysteine (Hcy) is implicated in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The effect of periodontal disease and periodontal therapy on plasma Hcy remains controversial. Hence, in this pilot study we assessed the effect of periodontal disease and non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on plasma Hcy in systemically healthy Indian subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty participants (30 to 39 years) were enrolled in the study and were divided into two groups based on gingival index, probing depth, and clinical attachment level (CAL): Healthy (control group; n = 20) and Chronic Periodontitis (test group; n = 20). Plasma samples were collected and quantified at baseline and 12 weeks after scaling and root planing (SRP) for Hcy using High Performance Liquid Chromatography with fluorescent detection (HPLC-fld).

RESULTS
Plasma Hcy levels of chronic periodontitis (17.87 ± 1.21 μmol/l) subjects was significantly higher than healthy subjects (9.09 ± 2.11 μmol/l). Post-therapy, the plasma Hcy concentration reduced significantly (11.34 ± 1.87 μmol/l) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
The rise and descent of plasma Hcy levels with periodontal inflammation and therapy, respectively, indicate a direct relationship of Hcy with chronic periodontitis. NSPT may be employed as an adjunctive Hcy Lowering Therapy, contributing towards primary prevention against CVD's.

Bhardwaj|Smiti|S|
Prabhuji|M L Venkatesh|ML|
Karthikeyan|Bangalore Vardhan|BV|

D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid

plasma
homocysteine
chronic periodontitis
scaling
root planing


Potentiometric determination of pantoprazole using an ion-selective sensor based on polypyrrole doped films.

Abstract: The present work reports for the first time the use of polypyrrole (PPy) doped film for development of a potentiometric disposable sensor for determination of pantoprazole (PTZ), a drug used for ulcer treatment. Selective potentiometric response has been found by using a membrane of PPy doped with PTZ anions prepared under galvanostatic conditions at graphite pencil electrode (GPEM/PPy-PTZ) surface. Potentiometric response has been influenced for conditions adopted in polymerization and measurement step. After optimization of experimental (e.g. pH and time of conditioning) and instrumental parameters (e.g. current density and electrical charge) a linear analytical curve from 1.0 × 10(-5) to 1.1 × 10(-2) mol L(-1) with a slope of calibration of the 57.6 mV dec(-1) and limit of detection (LOD) of 6.9 × 10(-6) mol L(-1) was obtained. The determination of the PTZ content in pharmaceutical samples using the proposed methodology and official method recommended by Brazilian Pharmacopeia are in agreement at the 95% confidence level and within an acceptable range of error.

Noronha|Bárbara V|BV|
Bindewald|Eduardo H|EH|
de Oliveira|Michelle C|MC|
Papi|Maurício A P|MA|
Bergamini|Márcio F|MF|
Marcolino|Luiz H|LH|

Polypyrrole doped film
Disposable potentiometric sensor
Low cost analysis
Pantoprazole determination


Midbrain control of breathing and blood pressure: The role of periaqueductal gray matter and mesencephalic collicular neuronal microcircuit oscillators.

Abstract: Neural circuitry residing within the medullary ventral respiratory column nuclei and dorsal respiratory group interact with the Kölliker-Fuse and medial parabrachial nuclei to generate the core breathing rhythm and pattern during resting conditions. Triphasic eupnea consists of inspiratory [I], post-inspiratory [post-I], and late-expiratory [E2] phases. Mesencephalic zones exert modulatory influences upon respiratory rhythm-generating circuitry, sympathetic oscillators, and parasympathetic nuclei. The earliest evidence supporting the existence of midbrain control of breathing derives from studies conducted by Martin and Booker in 1878. These authors demonstrated electrical stimulation of the deep layers of the mesencephalic colliculi in the rabbit augmented ventilation and sequentially elicited chest wall tremors and tetany. Investigations performed during the past several decades would demonstrate stimlation of distributed zones within the midbrain reticular formation elicits starkly disparate effects upon respiratory phase switching. Schmid, Böhmer, and Fallert demonstrated electrical stimulation of the nucleus rubre and emanating axon bundles alternately elicits or inhibits the activity of medullary expiratory- or inspiratory-related units and phrenic nerve discharge with differential latency. A series of studies would later indicate the red nucleus mediates hypoxic ventilatory depression. Periaqueductal gray matter neurons exhibit extensive afferent and efferent interconnectivity with suprabulbar, brainstem, and spinal cord zones aptly positioning these units to modulate breathing, autonomic outflow, nociception locomotion, micturtion, and sexual behavior. Experimental stimulatory activation of the tectal colliculi and periaqueductal gray matter via electrical current or glutamate, D,L-homocysteinic acid, or bicuculline microinjections coordinately modulates neuromotor inspiratory bursting frequency and amplitude and discharge of pre-Bötzinger complex, ventrolateral medullary late-I and post-I, and ventrolateral nucleus tractus solitarius decrementing early-I and augmenting and decrementing late-I neurons, elicits expiratory outflow and vocalization, and blunt the Hering-Breuer reflex in unanesthetzed decerebrate and anesthetized preprations of the cat and rat. Stimulation of the mesencephalic colliuli or dorsal divisions of the PAG potently amplifes renal sympathetic neural efferent activity, dynamic arterial pressure magnitude, and myocardial contraction frequency and elicits various behavioral defense responses. Elicited physiological effects exhibit extensive locoregional heterogeneity and variably enlist requisite contributions from the dorsomedial hypothalamus and/or lateral parabrachial nuclei. Stimulation of the dorsal mesencephalon occasionally elicits dynamic increases of arterial pressure magnitude exhibiting prominent oscillatory variability coherent with phrenic nerve discharge, perhaps by generating intra-neuraxial hysteresis, serving to intermittently deliver blood to organ vascular beds under high pressure in order to prevent organ edema, microcirculatory dysfunction, and downregulation of vascular smooth muscle alpha adrenergic receptors. Chemosensitive mesencephalic caudal raphé units and projections of hypoxia-sensitive units in the caudal hypothalamus to the periaqueductal gray matter may imply the existence of a diencephalo-smesencephalic chemosensitive network modulating breathing and sympathetic discharge.

breathing respiratory modulation mesencephalon cardiovascular


Using sound pulses to solve the crystal-harvesting bottleneck.

Abstract: Crystal harvesting has proven to be difficult to automate and remains the rate-limiting step for many structure-determination and high-throughput screening projects. This has resulted in crystals being prepared more rapidly than they can be harvested for X-ray data collection. Fourth-generation synchrotrons will support extraordinarily rapid rates of data acquisition, putting further pressure on the crystal-harvesting bottleneck. Here, a simple solution is reported in which crystals can be acoustically harvested from slightly modified MiTeGen In Situ-1 crystallization plates. This technique uses an acoustic pulse to eject each crystal out of its crystallization well, through a short air column and onto a micro-mesh (improving on previous work, which required separately grown crystals to be transferred before harvesting). Crystals can be individually harvested or can be serially combined with a chemical library such as a fragment library.

Samara|Yasmin N|YN|
Brennan|Haley M|HM|
McCarthy|Liam|L|
Bollard|Mary T|MT|
Laspina|Denise|D|
Wlodek|Jakub M|JM|
Campos|Stefanie L|SL|
Natarajan|Ramya|R|
Gofron|Kazimierz|K|
McSweeney|Sean|S|
Soares|Alexei S|AS|
Leroy|Ludmila|L|0000-0002-4272-0298

crystal harvesting
automation
high-throughput screening
acoustic droplet ejection
crystal mounting
crystallography
drug discovery
microcrystals


Long-term clinical outcomes of 'Prairie Epidemic Strain' Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in adults with cystic fibrosis.

Abstract:
RATIONALE
Epidemic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) plays an important role in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. A novel strain, the 'Prairie Epidemic Strain' (PES), has been identified in up to 30% of patients in Prairie-based Canadian CF centres.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence, prevalence and long-term clinical impact of PES infection.

METHODS
A cohort of adults with CF was followed from 1980 to 2014 where bacteria isolated from clinical encounters were prospectively collected. Strain typing was performed using pulse-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing. Patients were divided into one of four cohorts: no PA, transient PA, chronic PA with unique strains and chronic PES. Proportional Cox hazard and linear mixed models were used to assess for CF-associated respiratory death or transplantation, and rates of %FEV1 and body mass index (BMI) decline.

RESULTS
274 patients (51.7% male) were analysed: 44--no PA, 29--transient PA, 137--unique PA, 64--PES. A total of 92 patients (33.6%) died or underwent lung transplantation (2423.0 patient-years). PES infection was associated with greater risk of respiratory death or lung transplant compared with the no PA group (aHR, 3.94 (95% CI 1.18 to 13.1); p=0.03) and unique PA group (aHR, 1.75 (95% CI 1.05 to 2.92) p=0.03). Rate of lung function decline (%FEV1 predicted) was greatest in the PES group (1.73%/year (95% CI 1.63% to 1.82%); p<0.001). BMI improved over time but at an attenuated rate in the PES group (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
Infection with PES was associated with increased patient morbidity through three decades and manifested in an increased risk of respiratory death and/or lung transplantation.

Somayaji|Ranjani|R|
Lam|John C|JC|
Surette|Michael G|MG|
Waddell|Barbara|B|
Rabin|Harvey R|HR|
Sibley|Christopher D|CD|
Purighalla|Swathi|S|
Parkins|Michael D|MD|

Cystic Fibrosis
Bacterial Infection
Clinical Epidemiology
Respiratory Infection


Examining associations of food insecurity with major depression among older adults in the wake of the Great Recession.

Abstract: As a psychosocial stressor, the degree to which food insecurity impacts major depression may be dependent on macro-level context, which can be examined in the wake of the Great Recession. The objective of this study was to determine (1) whether food insecurity transition status (i.e. initially food insecure, becoming food insecure, and remaining food insecure vs. not food insecure) was associated with major depression in older adults and; (2) whether this association was moderated by macro-level context. Data came from the United States Health and Retirement Study, 2008-2016. Multivariable logistic regression across all years revealed that major depression was associated with any exposure to food insecurity, however; this association was moderated by time period. Remaining food insecure was associated with major depression during all time periods. In contrast, becoming food insecure was associated with major depression in the years during and immediately following the Recession, but not in later time periods. Findings suggest that associations of food insecurity with major depression among older adults are moderated by macro-level context, consistent with theories of social comparison and relative disadvantage. Food insecurity may represent an important risk factor for major depression and mental health disparities across socioeconomic strata in old age. Thus, policies that increase access to food assistance programs or improve the quality of local food environments may buffer against the impact of food insecurity on depression and associated complications among older adults.

Food insecurity
Depression
Older adults
Recession
Social comparison
Relative disadvantage
Life transitions
Stress process


A Crystalline Diazadiborinine Radical Cation and Its Boron-Centered Radical Reactivity.

Abstract: One-electron oxidation of 1,4,2,5-diazadiborinine 1 has been studied. While the reaction of 1 a bearing phenyl groups on the B atoms with AgAl{OC(CF3 )3 }4 afforded a complex mixture, the same oxidation reaction with 1 b featuring bulky mesityl substituents on the B atoms rendered the corresponding cation radical 2 b as an isolable species. X-ray diffraction analysis, EPR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations of 2 b revealed the delocalization of the unpaired electron over the entire π-system of 2 b, as well as a large spin density (0.76 in total) on the two equivalent boron atoms. The chemical trapping reaction of 2 b with p-benzoquinone and triphenyltin hydride afforded the dicationic species 3 containing two newly formed B-O bonds and the monocationic product 2b-H containing a B-H bond, respectively, thus confirming the boron-centered radical reactivity of 2 b.

Wang|Baolin|B|
Li|Yongxin|Y|
Ganguly|Rakesh|R|
Webster|Richard D|RD|
Kinjo|Rei|R|0000-0002-4425-3937

radical cations
one-electron oxidation
boron
B,N heterocycles
radical reactions


Implications of Peer Pressure for Adolescent Nursing Research: A Concept Analysis Approach.

Abstract: The influence of peers is widely held as a significant factor in child and adolescent development. As health care providers seek ways to improve the health of children and adolescents, peer pressure must be examined. This article analyzes peer pressure and its relationship to the health of children and adolescents. Defining attributes of peer pressure are discussed, including incomplete identity formation, the presence of a peer influence, and a need for approval. Antecedents and consequences of peer pressure are also explored. Methods of measuring peer pressure are discussed, along with implications for health care research in the pediatric population.

peer pressure
Adolescents
concept analysis
health
behavior
conformity


Thermodynamic Properties, Viscosity, and Structure of CaO-SiO2-MgO-Al2O3-TiO2-Based Slag.

Abstract: The effect of TiO2 and the MgO/Al2O3 ratio on the viscosity, heat capacity, and enthalpy change of CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO-TiO2 slag at constant heat input was studied. The variation of slag structure was analyzed by the calculation of activation energy and FTIR spectrum measurements. The results showed that the heat capacity and enthalpy change of the slag decreased with the increase of TiO2 content. Under constant heat supply, the fluctuations in slag temperature were relatively apparent, and the temperature of slag increased as the TiO2 content increased. The viscosity of slag decreased due to the increase in slag temperature. Increasing the MgO/Al2O3 ratio could decrease the temperature and viscosity of slag. The effect of increasing the MgO/Al2O3 ratio on the viscosity was more pronounced than the decreasing temperature caused by increasing the MgO/Al2O3 ratio. The apparent activation energy decreased with increasing TiO2 content and MgO/Al2O3 ratio. The Ti-O bonds formed with TiO2 addition, and the Ti-O bonds were weaker than Si-O bonds, which resulted in the decrease in heat capacity and viscosity of slag.

Fang|Jinle|J| Pang|Zhuogang|Z| Xing|Xiangdong|X| Xu|Runsheng|R|

viscosity
structure
heat capacity
enthalpy change
activation energy


Dynamic Pupillometry in Type 2 Diabetes: Pupillary Autonomic Dysfunction and the Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Abstract:
Purpose
Autonomic dysfunction may precede the microvascular changes that characterise diabetic retinopathy. The aim of this pilot study was to measure and compare pupillometry indices in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients - with and without diabetic retinopathy - and in healthy, age-matched controls.

Methods
Two hundred and eleven participants with T2DM aged 45-80 years were recruited from Dunedin Hospital Eye Department, Dunedin, New Zealand. They were categorised into three groups - no, mild/moderate, or severe diabetic retinopathy. Seventy age-matched, diabetes screen negative control participants were recruited from the Dunedin city community. Dynamic pupillometry was performed using an infrared pupillometer. The main outcome measures were maximum constriction velocity, average constriction velocity, absolute constriction amplitude, relative reflex amplitude, average dilation velocity and 75% re-dilation (recovery) time. Outcome measures were compared between study groups using the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test (with Dunn's multiple comparison post-test).

Results
Pupillary parasympathetic function differed between groups. Maximum constriction velocity (p <0.001) and average constriction velocity (p <0.001) were slower, and absolute constriction amplitude (p <0.001) and relative reflex amplitude (p <0.05) were lower in the three diabetes groups compared with controls. There were no significant differences in pupillary sympathetic function between the four groups for re-dilation time, but the diabetes groups had significantly slower average dilation velocity times.

Conclusion
Pupillary light reflex is significantly impaired with diabetic retinal neuropathy, before clinically observable signs of diabetic retinopathy. Dynamic pupillometry may be a cheap, clinically relevant test, but sensitivity and specificity need to be determined before utilising as a screening tool for diabetic retinopathy.

diabetic retinopathy
diabetic autonomic neuropathy
diabetic macular oedema
parasympathetic nervous system
pupillary reflex
type 2 diabetes mellitus


Medical work guide for physician during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (trial edition).

Abstract: According to the fact that many coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients are seeking for medical help due to some other possible clinical symptoms, besides respiratory symptoms, all the internal medicine departments (including emergency department) could be involved. Moreover, an increasing number of physician are going to work in fever clinic, isolation wards and supporting the medical work in Hubei Province in the future. For a better medical work implementation of physician against COVID-19 and the interpretation of this viral transmission, the work guide was drawn up by Hunan Medical Association, Internal Medicine Specialized Committee.

severe acute respiratory syndrome cornavirus 2


Four-Dimensional Printed Shape Memory Metasurface to Memorize Absorption and Reflection Functions.

Abstract: Functional metasurfaces help wireless communication to reach beyond current electromagnetic control device limitations. However, current reconfigurable functional metasurfaces require separate systems for function control. In particular, it is difficult to realize millimeter-wavelength regimes due to the increasing number of active elements with the reduction in unit cell size. This paper proposes a four-dimensional printed memory metasurface to memorize absorption and reflection function in millimeter-wavelength regimes. Thus, metasurfaces with electromagnetic absorption and reflection functions can be realized through mechanical shape memory by memorizing electromagnetic properties using four-dimensional printed structures. The desired electromagnetic performance was experimentally demonstrated and deformation time to memorize the initial structure was measured. The results confirmed that the proposed four-dimensional printed metasurface has potential for considerable contribution to multifunctional wireless devices such as smart electromagnetic wave control systems in reconfigurable intelligent surface, stealth, and wireless sensing systems.

metasurface
multifunctional
4D printing
absorber
reflector
shape memory polymer


Small-animal, whole-body imaging with metamaterial-inspired RF coil.

Abstract: Particular applications in preclinical magnetic resonance imaging require the entire body of an animal to be imaged with sufficient quality. This is usually performed by combining regions scanned with small coils with high sensitivity or long scans using large coils with low sensitivity. Here, a metamaterial-inspired design employing a parallel array of wires operating on the principle of eigenmode hybridization was used to produce a small-animal imaging coil. The coil field distribution responsible for the coil field of view and sensitivity was simulated in an electromagnetic simulation package and the coil geometrical parameters were optimized for whole-body imaging. A prototype coil was then manufactured and assembled using brass telescopic tubes with copper plates as distributed capacitance. Its field distribution was measured experimentally using the B1+ mapping technique and was found to be in close correspondence with the simulated results. The coil field distribution was found to be suitable for large field of view small-animal imaging and the coil image quality was compared with a commercially available coil by whole-body scanning of living mice. Signal-to-noise measurements in living mice showed higher values than those of a commercially available coil with large receptive fields, and rivalled the performance of small receptive field and high-sensitivity coils. The coil was deemed to be suitable for some whole-body, small-animal preclinical applications.

Zubkov|Mikhail|M|0000-0003-0768-1737
Hurshkainen|Anna A|AA|
Brui|Ekaterina A|EA|
Glybovski|Stanislav B|SB|
Gulyaev|Mikhail V|MV|
Anisimov|Nikolai V|NV|
Volkov|Dmitry V|DV|
Pirogov|Yury A|YA|
Melchakova|Irina V|IV|

D000818:Animals
D003198:Computer Simulation
D007668:Kidney
D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging
D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
D011846:Radio Waves
D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio
D051598:Whole Body Imaging


Defect Compensation Weakening Induced Mobility Enhancement in Thermoelectric BiTeI by Iodine Deficiency.

Abstract: Carrier mobility (weighted mobility more specifically) of thermoelectrics fundamentally determines its power factor, representing a new cut-in point to optimize the thermoelectric performance. However, researches on enhancing the carrier mobility to improve power factor has been overlooked. In present work, we highlight a significant mobility enhancement in BiTeI by introducing I deficiency, which improves the power factor and final ZT value. A defect compensation weakening mechanism is adopted that the induced I vacancies reduce the concentration of intrinsic  and   antisite defects, which weakens the donor-acceptor defect compensation and suppresses the defects-induced carrier scattering. As a result, the carrier mobility is obviously enhanced in I-deficient samples, which ensures an effectively improved power factor and final ZT. A maximum ZT of 0.57 is achieved at 570 K perpendicular to the pressing direction, which is superior to pristine BiTeI and among the highest values reported for bulk BiTeI-based thermoelectric materials. Present work opens up a new avenue for thermoelectric optimization mainly by mobility enhancement.

Defect compensation weakening
Mobility enhancement
Thermoelectric material
Energy conversion
Materials science


Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium
                                                                                avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Dairy Cattle in Khartoum State, Sudan.

Abstract: Paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic wasting disease mainly of domestic and wild ruminants. It occurs worldwide, causing significant economic losses through decreased productivity, low fertility, increased cull rates and mortality. It is listed by the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) as a disease of concern to trade in animals. Prevalence of this disease can be studied by detecting anti-MAP antibodies by Enzyme linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The aim of this study was to investigate the current prevalence of MAP infection in cattle in Khartoum State. The overall apparent prevalence of MAP infection was found to be 6.3% and 18.9% at animal and herd levels, respectively. All seropositive animals were cross-bred females of good body condition; most of them (>90%) were >3 years old and >50% were from medium-sized herds in Omdurman. No significant association (p > 0.05) was found between seropositivity and animal herd size. The prevalence of MAP infection in Khartoum State is still low to medium compared to other parts of the world, but it is comparable to those reported from other African countries. Further studies with the view of designing nationwide surveys in domestic ruminants and camels in other states of the country are needed for establishing control programmes.

seroprevalence
cattle
Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis


Pleiotropic Effects of Metformin on the Antitumor Efficiency of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Abstract: Cancer is an important threat to public health because of its high morbidity and mortality. In recent decades, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have ushered a new therapeutic era in clinical oncology. The rapid development of immune checkpoint therapy is due to its inspiring clinical efficacy in a group of cancer types. Metformin, an effective agent for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has shown beneficial effects on cancer prevention and cancer treatment. Emerging studies have suggested that metformin in combination with ICI treatment could improve the anticancer effects of ICIs. Hence, we conducted a review to summarize the effects of metformin on ICI therapy. We also review the pleiotropic mechanisms of metformin combined with ICIs in cancer therapy, including its direct and indirect effects on the host immune system.

Liu|Wenhui|W| Wang|Ying|Y| Luo|Jianquan|J| Liu|Mouze|M| Luo|Zhiying|Z|

pleiotropic
metformin
PD-1
PD-L1
gut microbiome
immune check inhibitors


Conversion of painful tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis to total ankle replacement using a 3-component mobile bearing prosthesis.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess the short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes in patients who underwent conversion of a painful tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis to a total ankle replacement.

METHODS
Six patients with painful ankle arthrodesis after tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis were included in this study. In all patients, conversion to total ankle replacement was performed using a 3rd-generation, non-constrained, cementless three-component prosthesis. The outcomes were analyzed at a mean follow-up of 3.4±1.9years (range 1.0-6.5).

RESULTS
One patient with painful arthrofibrosis underwent two open arthrolysis procedures at 1.2 and 5.6 years post index surgery, respectively. No revision of tibial or talar prosthesis components was necessary in this study. All patients reported significant pain relief and significant improvement in functional status.

CONCLUSION
In the present study, the conversion of a painful ankle arthrodesis following tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis to a total ankle replacement was a reliable surgical treatment.

Preis|Markus|M|
Bailey|Travis|T|
Marchand|Lucas S|LS|
Weinberg|Maxwell W|MW|
Jacxsens|Matthijs|M|
Barg|Alexej|A|

Conversion
Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis
Total ankle replacement
Ankle arthrodesis
Hindfoot arthrodesis


Peptidomic changes of saliva after nonsurgical treatment of stage I / II generalized periodontitis.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE
To explore the changes of peptidome profiles of saliva, serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) before and after nonsurgical periodontal treatment in patients with generalized periodontitis (stage I / II).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Saliva, serum and GCF samples were collected from 17 patients at baseline (T0 ), one week after ultrasonic supragingival scaling (T1 ) and eight weeks after subgingival scaling and root planning (T2 ). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was carried out to detect changes in peptidomic profiles. Then nano-liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC/ESI-MS/MS) was performed to identify potential peptide biomarkers.

RESULTS
Most of the peptides from the patients exhibited a decreasing trend from the time point of pre-treatment to that of post-treatment. Cluster analysis and scatter plots using these peptides indicated that salivary peptidome has an acceptable capability of reflecting the status of stage I / II generalized periodontitis. Seven of these peptides were successfully identified as α-1-antitrypsin, immunoglobulin κ variable 4-1, haptoglobin and immunoglobulin heavy constant γ2.

CONCLUSIONS
Certain peptides in saliva, serum and GCF were down-regulated after nonsurgical periodontal treatment, demonstrating the application prospects of saliva in monitoring and surveillance of periodontal diseases in both clinical settings and communities.

saliva
nonsurgical treatment
mass spectrometry
chronic periodontitis


Moving toward a framework for electricity and heat equivalence in energy systems analysis.

Abstract: Sustaining, maintaining, and upgrading the electricity grid, while meeting decarbonization goals is a challenge facing policymakers, regulators, grid operators, and investors. Simultaneously meeting demands for future capacity, retiring older inefficient technologies, and addressing externalities from energy production and use requires more diverse and inclusive technologies to avoid constraints and shortfalls in grid capability. Changing the energy production paradigm by encouraging alternative technologies was a key driver for FERC Order 2222. This stimulus for developing new small-scale generation will complement and supplement the existing fleet only if it attracts new investment. This investment must reflect technology that goes beyond the energy-only characteristics of traditional generation, creating systems where suites of energy-equivalent outputs are enhanced by environmental quality benefits and offsets. We use energy system designs to highlight the contribution that measuring and accounting for equivalency values provides net increases in capacity, electricity, and alternative fuels while simultaneously reducing carbon waste impacts.

Kassem|Nazih|N|
Galantino|Christopher R|CR|
Tester|Jefferson W|JW|
Anderson|C Lindsay|CL|
Moore|Michal C|MC|

Energy systems
Energy engineering
Energy resources


Chemometric applications to assess quality and critical parameters of virgin and extra-virgin olive oil. A review.

Abstract: Today virgin and extra-virgin olive oil (VOO and EVOO) are food with a large number of analytical tests planned to ensure its quality and genuineness. Almost all official methods demand high use of reagents and manpower. Because of that, analytical development in this area is continuously evolving. Therefore, this review focuses on analytical methods for EVOO/VOO which use fast and smart approaches based on chemometric techniques in order to reduce time of analysis, reagent consumption, high cost equipment and manpower. Experimental approaches of chemometrics coupled with fast analytical techniques such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence, vibrational spectroscopies (NIR, MIR and Raman fluorescence), NMR spectroscopy, and other more complex techniques like chromatography, calorimetry and electrochemical techniques applied to EVOO/VOO production and analysis have been discussed throughout this work. The advantages and drawbacks of this association have also been highlighted. Chemometrics has been evidenced as a powerful tool for the oil industry. In fact, it has been shown how chemometrics can be implemented all along the different steps of EVOO/VOO production: raw material input control, monitoring during process and quality control of final product.

Gómez-Caravaca|Ana M|AM|
Maggio|Rubén M|RM|
Cerretani|Lorenzo|L|

D000069463:Olive Oil
D011786:Quality Control

Chemometrics
Olive oil
Analytical techniques
Quality control
Authentication


The use of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy among elderly patients in the United States.

Abstract:
PURPOSE
Previous studies have reported increased rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) in the United States among women with unilateral breast cancer. These trends have primarily focused on younger breast cancer patients. Given the growing aging population in the United States, we sought to determine whether CPM use is also increasing in elderly patients.

METHODS
This population-based study identified patients in the surveillance epidemiology and end results (SEER) data. We determined the rate of CPM as a proportion of all surgically treated patients and as a proportion of all mastectomies. We compared the unadjusted CPM rates over the study period using the Cochrane-Armitage test for trend. We used a logistic regression model to test for the factors associated with CPM utilization.

RESULTS
We identified 261,281 patients ≥ 65 years who underwent surgical treatment for breast cancer. For all patients treated with surgery for invasive breast cancer, the use of CPM increased from 1 in 2004 to 3% in 2014 (200% increase). Among mastectomy patients, the use of CPM increased from 3 in 2004 to 7% in 2014 (133% increase). Young age, non-Hispanic white race, lobular histology, higher grade, increased stage, negative lymph node status, and recent year of diagnosis were significantly associated with increased CPM rates.

CONCLUSIONS
For elderly patients the use of CPM has continued to increase in the United States. These observations warrant concern in light of increasing evidence that CPM does not improve oncological outcomes and is associated with increased morbidity in older patients.

D000367:Age Factors
D000368:Aged
D000369:Aged, 80 and over
D001943:Breast Neoplasms
D005260:Female
D019538:Health Care Surveys
D006801:Humans
D011159:Population Surveillance
D000072036:Prophylactic Mastectomy
D012307:Risk Factors
D018426:SEER Program
D000069584:Unilateral Breast Neoplasms
D014481:United States

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy
SEER
Trends over time


News media's framing of health policy and its implications for government communication: A text mining analysis of news coverage on a policy to expand health insurance coverage in South Korea.

Abstract: On August 9, 2017, South Korea announced a new measure to expand National Health Insurance (NHI) coverage, which was nicknamed "Mooncare." At the early stage of its implementation, the interpretation of a policy by social actors influences its success and the formation of social conflicts around it. This study sought to identify the strategies for interpreting Mooncare in newspapers and government documents and examine the conflicts between them. Therefore, this study used text mining methods that are well-suited to processing large amounts of natural language data. Findings revealed that, while the conservative newspaper The Chosun Ilbo tended to highlight the financial feasibility of Mooncare, the liberal newspaper The Hankyoreh emphasized the change in rationality of government from the previous administration implied by Mooncare. Additionally, medical newspapers tended to adopt the perspective of healthcare providers and to focus on the changes in the medical system that may threaten them. In contrast, general newspapers tended to adopt the perspective of Mooncare's beneficiaries. Finally, government documents were found to focus on simply introducing the benefits of Mooncare, not responding to the framings of various media. This study identified how various social actors interpreted Mooncare. The results suggest that the government should assume a more active role in the meaning making of the policy.

Framing
Government communication
Text mining
Mooncare
Meaning making


Chemical analyses and in vitro and in vivo toxicity of fruit methanol extract of Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum.

Abstract:
CONTEXT
Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. (Cucurbitaceae) is used in ethnomedicine, but the diversity of the varietal groups of this species has not often been considered. This is important because we previously reported that different variety of species exhibit different activities across different tumor cell lines.

OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the chemical composition and biological activities of extracts obtained from S. edule var. nigrum spinosum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The leukemia P388 cell line and mononuclear bone marrow cells (MNCBMs) were treated with the extract at a concentration ranging from 40 to 2370 μg/mL for cytotoxicity and viability assays. CD-1 mice were treated with 8-5000 mg/kg extract and monitored every hour for the first 24 h and subsequently for seven days for signs of toxicity (LD50). In addition, the chromatographic profile of the extract was determined by HPLC.

RESULTS
The extract inhibits the proliferation of both P388 cells and MNCBMs, with IC50 values of 927 and 1911 μg/mL, respectively, but reduced the viability and induced the apoptosis of only leukemia cells. The LD50 was higher than 5000 mg/kg, and this concentration did not alter the blood chemistry or cell count but doubled the mitotic index in the bone marrow. The HPLC showed the presence of cucurbitacins, phloridzin, naringenin, phloretin, apigenin, and gallic, chlorogenic, vanillic, p-hydroxybenzoic, caffeic, and p-coumaric acids.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum contains bioactive compounds that explain the antiproliferative and nutraceutical activities, and its lack of physiological side effects constitutes an added value to a widely consumed vegetable.

Aguiñiga-Sánchez|Itzen|I|
Cadena-Íñiguez|Jorge|J|
Santiago-Osorio|Edelmiro|E|
Gómez-García|Guadalupe|G|
Mendoza-Núñez|Víctor Manuel|VM|
Rosado-Pérez|Juana|J|
Ruíz-Ramos|Mirna|M|
Cisneros-Solano|Víctor Manuel|VM|
Ledesma-Martínez|Edgar|E|
Delgado-Bordonave|Angel de Jesus|AJ|
Soto-Hernández|Ramón Marcos|RM|

cytotoxicity HPLC GISeM chayote differential


Unique primed status of microglia under the systemic autoimmune condition of lupus-prone mice.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of various autoantibodies. This disease causes disabling neuropsychiatric symptoms even in the absence of apparent inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS), but the mechanisms involved remain unknown. Innate immune-mediated inflammation has attracted attention as a pathogenic mechanism in neuropsychiatric diseases.

METHODS
We investigated the CNS of lupus-prone mice focusing on innate immunity. Three strains of lupus-prone mice, FcγRIIB-/-Yaa, an F1 hybrid of NZB and NZW (NZB/NZW) mice, and MRL/Faslpr (MRL/lpr) mice were used to analyze CNS immunopathology.

RESULTS
Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated the numbers of brain CD45+ cells were increased compared with controls in lupus-prone mice. Upregulation of MHC class I and PDCA1 was observed in microglia and CD11b+ myeloid cells of lupus-prone mice, indicating they were activated in response to interferons (IFN). Microglial gene expression analysis of FcγRIIB-/-Yaa mice revealed the upregulation of IFN-responsive genes and inflammation-related genes including Axl, Clec7a, and Itgax, which were previously reported in neurodegenerative conditions and primed conditions. Upregulated chemokine gene expressions including Ccl5 and Cxcl10 were concurrent with increased numbers of T cells and monocytes, especially Ly6Clo monocytes in the CNS. Upregulation of Axl, Clec7a, Itgax, Ccl5, and Cxcl10 was also observed in NZB/NZW mice, indicating common lupus pathology. The primed status of microglia in FcγRIIB-/-Yaa mice was also demonstrated by morphological changes such as enlarged cell bodies with hypertrophic processes, and hyperreactivity to lipopolysaccharide. Immunohistochemistry of FcγRIIB-/-Yaa mice indicated reactive responses of astrocytes and vascular endothelium. Behavioral studies of FcγRIIB-/-Yaa mice revealed depressive-like behavior and heat hyperalgesia in the forced swim test and the tail-flick test, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicated that microglia in lupus exhibit a unique primed phenotype characterized by the upregulated expressions of neurodegeneration-related genes and IFN-responsive genes. Interaction with peripheral cells and brain resident cells was presumed to orchestrate neuroinflammation. Targeting innate immune cells, such as microglia and monocytes, may be a promising therapeutic approach for neuropsychiatric SLE.

Nomura|Atsushi|A| Noto|Daisuke|D| Murayama|Goh|G| Chiba|Asako|A| Miyake|Sachiko|S|

D000818:Animals
D015551:Autoimmunity
D018845:CD11 Antigens
D002490:Central Nervous System
D015870:Gene Expression
D037181:Lectins, C-Type
D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr
D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB
D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains
D018345:Mice, Knockout
D017628:Microglia
D009000:Monocytes
D022423:Myeloid Cells
D017452:Receptors, IgG
D013601:T-Lymphocytes

Autoimmunity
Myeloid cells
Monocytes
Neurodegeneration
Primed microglia


Using Network Theory to Understand and Predict Biological Invasions.

Abstract: Understanding and predicting biological invasions is challenging because of the complexity of many interacting players. A holistic approach is needed with the potential to simultaneously consider all relevant effects and effectors. Using networks to describe the relevant anthropogenic and ecological factors, from community-level to global scales, promises advances in understanding aspects of invasion from propagule pressure, through establishment, spread, and ecological impact of invaders. These insights could lead to development of new tools for prevention and management of invasions that are based on species' network characteristics and use of networks to predict the ecological effects of invaders. Here, we review the findings from network ecology that show the most promise for invasion biology and identify pressing needs for future research.

Frost|Carol M|CM|
Allen|Warwick J|WJ|
Courchamp|Franck|F|
Jeschke|Jonathan M|JM|
Saul|Wolf-Christian|WC|
Wardle|David A|DA|

invasibility
invasibility
ecological invasion
ecological network
invasive species
invasiveness
transportation network