A Color Restoration Algorithm for Diffractive Optical Images of Membrane Camera.

Abstract: In order to verify the technology of the membrane diffractive imaging system for Chinese next generation geo-stationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite, a series of ground experiments have been carried out using a membrane optical camera with 80 mm aperture (Φ80) lens. The inherent chromatic aberration due to diffractive imaging appears in the obtained data. To address the issue, an effective color restoration algorithm framework by matching, tailoring, and non-linearly stretching the image histograms is proposed in this letter. Experimental results show the proposed approach has good performances in color restoration of the diffractive optical images than previous methods. The effectiveness and robustness of the algorithm are also quantitatively assessed using various color deviation indexes. The results indicate that the chromatic aberration of diffractive images can be effectively removed by about 85%. Also, the proposed method presents reasonable computational efficiency.

Du|Yanlei|Y| Yang|Xiaofeng|X|0000-0001-9920-4641 Ma|Yiping|Y| Xu|Chunxue|C|

color restoration
diffractive optical images
membrane camera


Alcohol Outlet Clusters and Population Disparities.

Abstract: Alcohol outlet clusters are an important social determinant of health in cities, but little is known about the populations exposed to them. If outlets cluster in neighborhoods comprised of specific racial/ethnic or economic groups, then they may function as a root cause of urban health disparities. This study used 2016 liquor license data (n = 1204) from Baltimore City, Maryland, and demographic data from the American Community Survey. We defined alcohol outlet clusters by combining SaTScan moving window methods and distances between outlets. We used multiple logistic regression to compare census block groups (CBGs) (n = 537) inside and outside of four types of outlet clusters: total, on-premise, off-premise, and LBD-7 (combined on-/off-premise). The most robust predictor of alcohol outlet cluster membership was a history of redlining, i.e., racially discriminatory lending policies. CBGs that were redlined had 7.32 times the odds of being in an off-premise cluster, 8.07 times the odds of being in an on-premise cluster, and 8.60 times the odds of being in a LBD-7 cluster. In addition, level of economic investment (marked by vacant properties) appears to be a key characteristic that separates CBGs in on- and off-premise outlet clusters. CBGs with racial/ethnic or socioeconomic advantage had higher odds of being in on-premise clusters and CBGs marked by disinvestment had higher odds of being in off-premise clusters. Off-premise clusters deserve closer examination from a policy perspective, to mitigate their potential role in creating and perpetuating social and health disparities. In addition to addressing redlining and disinvestment, the current negative effects of alcohol outlet clusters that have grown up in redlined and disinvested areas must be addressed if inequities in these neighborhoods are to be reversed.

D000428:Alcohol Drinking
D000434:Alcoholic Beverages
D015142:Baltimore
D006801:Humans
D016015:Logistic Models
D012111:Residence Characteristics
D012959:Socioeconomic Factors

Alcohol outlets
Clustering
Health disparities
Alcohol policy
Violence


Synthesis and biological evaluation of anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity of a novel scaffold of thiazolidinone derivatives.

Abstract: We designed and synthesised novel N-substituted 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one derivatives for the evaluation of their anti-Toxoplasma gondii efficacy. This scaffold was functionalised both at the N1-hydrazine portion with three structurally different moieties and at the lactam nitrogen with substituted benzyl groups selected on the basis of our previous structure-activity relationships studies. Using three different assay methods, the compounds were assessed in vitro to determine both the levels of efficacy against the tachyzoites of T. gondii (IC50 = 5-148 μM), as well as any evidence of cytotoxicity towards human host cells (TD50 = 68 to ≥320 μM). Results revealed that ferrocene-based thiazolidinones can possess potent anti-tachyzoite activity (TI =2-64).

Carradori|Simone|S|
Secci|Daniela|D|
Bizzarri|Bruna|B|
Chimenti|Paola|P|
De Monte|Celeste|C|
Guglielmi|Paolo|P|
Campestre|Cristina|C|
Rivanera|Daniela|D|
Bordón|Claudia|C|
Jones-Brando|Lorraine|L|

1,3-thiazolidin-4-one
cytotoxicity
Toxoplasma
ferrocene
host cell invasion
parasite growth inhibition


Walter E. Dandy: his contributions to pituitary surgery in the context of the overall Johns Hopkins Hospital experience.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Walter E. Dandy (1886-1946) was an outstanding neurosurgeon who spent his entire career at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. After graduating from medical school in 1910, he completed a research fellowship in the Hunterian laboratory with Harvey Cushing and then joined the Department of Surgery as resident, rising to the rank professor in 1931. Dandy made several contributions that helped building the neurosurgical specialty, most famously the introduction of pneumo-ventriculography to image brain lesions for which he received a Nobel prize nomination. He also performed many pituitary surgeries, although his role in this area is less known and overshadowed by that of Cushing's.

PURPOSE
This retrospective cohort study was designed to unveil Dandy's pituitary work and place it in the context of the overall pituitary surgeries performed at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

METHODS
Pituitary surgery data were obtained by screening the paper and electronic surgical pathology records of the Department of Pathology, as well as the general operating room log books of the Johns Hopkins Hospital housed in the Chesney Medical Archives.

RESULTS
A total of 3211 pituitary surgeries associated with a pathological specimen were performed between February 1902 and July 2017 in 2847 patients. Most of the surgeries (2875 of 3211 89%) were done by 21 neurosurgeons. Dandy ranks 4th as number of surgeries, with 287 pituitary operations in 35 years of activity. He averaged 8 pituitary surgeries per year, a rate that positions him 6th among all Hopkins neurosurgeons. With the exception of his first operation done in July 1912 while Cushing was still at Hopkins, Dandy approached the pituitary gland transcranially, rather than transphenoidally. The majority of Dandy's pituitary patients had a pathological diagnosis of pituitary adenomas, followed by craniopharyngiomas and sellar cysts. In the decades Dandy operated, pituitary surgeries represented 0.56% of the total Johns Hopkins surgeries, a percentage significantly greater (p < 0.001) than the 0.1% observed in modern days. Dandy's pituitary clinical work was matched by important experimental studies done in the early stages of his career.

CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the role of Dandy as an important contributor to advance our understanding of pathophysiology and treatment of pituitary diseases.

Corsello|Andrea|A|
Di Dalmazi|Giulia|G|
Pani|Fabiana|F|
Chalan|Paulina|P|
Salvatori|Roberto|R|
Caturegli|Patrizio|P|

D004704:Endocrinology
D049673:History, 20th Century
D049674:History, 21st Century
D006801:Humans
D010900:Pituitary Diseases
D010902:Pituitary Gland
D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms
D012189:Retrospective Studies

Walter E. Dandy
Pituitary surgery
Harvey W. Cushing
History of endocrinology


Longitudinal processing speed impairments in males with autism and the effects of white matter microstructure.

Abstract: The present study used an accelerated longitudinal design to examine group differences and age-related changes in processing speed in 81 individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to 56 age-matched individuals with typical development (ages 6-39 years). Processing speed was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-3rd edition (WISC-III) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-3rd edition (WAIS-III). Follow-up analyses examined processing speed subtest performance and relations between processing speed and white matter microstructure (as measured with diffusion tensor imaging [DTI] in a subset of these participants). After controlling for full scale IQ, the present results show that processing speed index standard scores were on average 12 points lower in the group with ASD compared to the group with typical development. There were, however, no significant group differences in standard score age-related changes within this age range. For subtest raw scores, the group with ASD demonstrated robustly slower processing speeds in the adult versions of the IQ test (i.e., WAIS-III) but not in the child versions (WISC-III), even though age-related changes were similar in both the ASD and typically developing groups. This pattern of results may reflect difficulties that become increasingly evident in ASD on more complex measures of processing speed. Finally, DTI measures of whole-brain white matter microstructure suggested that fractional anisotropy (but not mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity, or axial diffusivity) made significant but small-sized contributions to processing speed standard scores across our entire sample. Taken together, the present findings suggest that robust decreases in processing speed may be present in ASD, more pronounced in adulthood, and partially attributable to white matter microstructural integrity.

Travers|Brittany G|BG|
Bigler|Erin D|ED|
Tromp|Do P M|do PM|
Adluru|Nagesh|N|
Froehlich|Alyson L|AL|
Ennis|Chad|C|
Lange|Nicholas|N|
Nielsen|Jared A|JA|
Prigge|Molly B D|MB|
Alexander|Andrew L|AL|
Lainhart|Janet E|JE|

Processing speed
Autism
White matter
Diffusion tensor imaging
Executive function


Asp22 drives the protonation state of the Staphylococcus epidermidis glucose/H+ symporter.

Abstract: The Staphylococcus epidermidis glucose/H+ symporter (GlcPSe) is a membrane transporter highly specific for glucose and a homolog of the human glucose transporters (GLUT, SLC2 family). Most GLUTs and their bacterial counterparts differ in the transport mechanism, adopting uniport and sugar/H+ symport, respectively. Unlike other bacterial GLUT homologs (for example, XylE), GlcPSe has a loose H+/sugar coupling. Asp22 is part of the proton-binding site of GlcPSe and crucial for the glucose/H+ co-transport mechanism. To determine how pH variations affect the proton site and the transporter, we performed surface-enhanced IR absorption spectroscopy on the immobilized GlcPSe We found that Asp22 has a pK of 8.5 ± 0.1, a value consistent with that determined previously for glucose transport, confirming the central role of this residue for the transport mechanism of GlcPSe A neutral replacement of the negatively charged Asp22 led to positive charge displacements over the entire pH range, suggesting that the polarity change of the WT reflects the protonation state of Asp22 We expected that the substitution of the residue Ile105 for a serine, located within hydrogen-bonding distance to Asp22, would change the microenvironment, but the pK of Asp22 corresponded to that of the WT. A167E mutation, selected in analogy to the XylE, introduced an additional protonatable site and perturbed the protonation state of Asp22, with the latter now exhibiting a pK of 6.4. These studies confirm that Asp22 is the proton-binding residue in GlcPSe and show that charged residues in its vicinity affect the pK of glucose/H+ symport.

Seica|Ana Filipa Santos|AFS|
Iancu|Cristina V|CV|
Pfeilschifter|Benedikt|B|
Madej|M Gregor|MG|
Choe|Jun-Yong|JY|
Hellwig|Petra|P|

D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative

membrane transport
transport
glucose transport
spectroscopy
major facilitator family
major facilitator superfamily
membrane proteins
pK value
proton transport
surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy
transport proteins


Genomic analysis of the aggressive tree pathogen Ceratocystis albifundus.

Abstract: The overall goal of this study was to determine whether the genome of an important plant pathogen in Africa, Ceratocystis albifundus, is structured into subgenomic compartments, and if so, to establish how these compartments are distributed across the genome. For this purpose, the publicly available genome of C. albifundus was complemented with the genome sequences for four additional isolates using the Illumina HiSeq platform. In addition, a reference genome for one of the individuals was assembled using both PacBio and Illumina HiSeq technologies. Our results showed a high degree of synteny between the five genomes, although several regions lacked detectable long-range synteny. These regions were associated with the presence of accessory genes, lower genetic similarity, variation in read-map depth, as well as transposable elements and genes associated with host-pathogen interactions (e.g. effectors and CAZymes). Such patterns are regarded as hallmarks of accelerated evolution, particularly of accessory subgenomic compartments in fungal pathogens. Our findings thus showed that the genome of C. albifundus is made-up of core and accessory subgenomic compartments, which is an important step towards characterizing its pangenome. This study also highlights the value of comparative genomics for understanding mechanisms that may underly and influence the biology and evolution of pathogens.

van der Nest|Magriet A|MA|
Steenkamp|Emma T|ET|
Roodt|Danielle|D|
Soal|Nicole C|NC|
Palmer|Marike|M|
Chan|Wai-Yin|WY|
Wilken|P Markus|PM|
Duong|Tuan A|TA|
Naidoo|Kershney|K|
Santana|Quentin C|QC|
Trollip|Conrad|C|
De Vos|Lieschen|L|
van Wyk|Stephanie|S|
McTaggart|Alistair R|AR|
Wingfield|Michael J|MJ|
Wingfield|Brenda D|BD|

Transposable elements
Adaptation
Ceratocystis wilt
Core and accessory genomes
Host jumps
Pathogenomics


Occurrence of on-farm risk factors and health effects of mycotoxins in dairy farms in Jordan.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of on-farm risk factors and health effects associated with contamination of dairy feeds with aflatoxins (AFs), zearalenone (ZEN), trichothecenes (T-2), deoxynivalenol (DON), and fumonisins (FB) in Jordan. A pre-tested and validated questionnaire was used to determine on-farm practices and health effects associated with high levels of mycotoxins. A total of 88 feed samples were collected from the 37 farms participating in the study and analyzed using commercially available ELISA kits. The mean total AF concentration exceeded the European Union (EU) limit in alfalfa (4%) and total mixed ration (TMR) (3%) samples. Similarly, levels exceeding EU limits were observed for T-2 in alfalfa (29%), TMR (30%), and corn silage (4%). The average concentrations of ZEN and FB were 300 ppb and 11,638 ppb, respectively, which were below the EU maximum limits in all feed samples examined. Intensive management system (OR = 7.70), imported feed (OR = 3.40), feed storage on the farm for more than 1-month duration (OR = 7.90), and not using antitoxins (OR = 2.30) were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with high levels of mycotoxins in feed samples. A significant correlation (P < 0.05) was evident between the presence of mycotoxins in dairy feed and feed refusal (R = 0.70), low milk production (R = 0.50), diarrhea problems (R = 0.60), infertility (R = 0.50), and repeated breeder problems (R = 0.80). Results show that mycotoxin contamination in dairy feeds is a problem in Jordan, and appropriate measures need to be undertaken to reduce risks to human and animal health and improve production.

Milk production
Infertility
Dairy cattle
Environmental contamination
Mycotoxicosis


Block Copolymer Micelles with Inverted Morphologies.

Abstract: Beyond the crew cut: Highly asymmetric block copolymers self-assemble into microparticles with inverse morphologies far beyond the crew-cut regime. These particles enclose highly ordered channel systems with simple cubic, double diamond, and hexagonally packed hollow-hoop symmetry. The extensive interface and confinement of these particles could enable applications in the storage of cargo, templating, and chemical reactions.

block copolymers
self-assembly
inverse micelles
mesoporous colloids
polymer cubosomes


Congenital hypoplastic trigeminal nerve revealed by manifestation of corneal disorders likely caused by neural factor deficiency.

Abstract:
PURPOSE
To report a case of hypoplastic trigeminal nerve associated with corneal epithelial disorders that were successfully treated with peptides derived from substance P and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).

CASE REPORT
A 16-month-old boy was referred for treatment of a persistent corneal epithelial defect on his left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the apparent absence of the trigeminal nerve on the left side, and the patient was therefore diagnosed with neurotrophic keratopathy. Treatment with eye drops containing the tetrapeptides FGLM-NH2 and SSSR derived from the neuropeptide substance P and the growth factor IGF-1, respectively, resulted in resurfacing of the corneal epithelial defect.

DISCUSSION
The trigeminal nerve anomaly of the patient likely gave rise to neurotrophic keratopathy as a result of a deficiency of neural factors, emphasizing the importance of neural regulation in corneal epithelial homeostasis.

Morishige|Naoyuki|N| Morita|Yukiko|Y| Yamada|Naoyuki|N| Nishida|Teruo|T| Sonoda|Koh-Hei|KH|

Trigeminal nerve
Corneal epithelial disorder
Neurotrophic keratopathy


Babao Dan improves neurocognitive function by inhibiting inflammation in clinical minimal hepatic encephalopathy.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Inflammation has been considered a precipitating event that contributes to neurocognitive dysfunction in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). Inhibition TLR-4 related inflammation can effectively improve neurocognitive dysfunction of MHE. Our previous study showed that Babao Dan (BBD) effectively inhibited inflammation and ameliorated neurocognitive function in rats with acute hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and chronic HE. The mechanism may lie in the regulation of TLR4 signaling pathway. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the role of BBD in the treatment of MHE patients with cirrhosis and to elucidate the underlying mechanism by which BBD regulated TLR4 pathway to alleviate inflammation.

METHODS
A randomized controlled trial (n = 62) was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy between BBD plus lactulose (n = 31) and lactulose alone (n = 31) in MHE patients by testing neurocognitive function (NCT-A and DST), blood ammonia, liver function (ALT, AST and TBIL) and blood inflammation (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α). Afterward, we detected NO, inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and the phosphorylation of P65, JNK, ERK as well as P38 in LPS-activated rat primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), peritoneal macrophages (PMs), and mouse primary BMDMs/PMs/microglia/astrocytes, to investigate the underlying mechanism of BBD inhibiting inflammation through TLR4 pathway. Also, the survival rate of mice, liver function (ALT, AST), blood inflammation (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α), inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and histopathological changes in the liver, brain and lung were measured to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of BBD on neurocognitive function in endotoxin shock/endotoxemia mice.

RESULTS
BBD combined with lactulose significantly ameliorated neurocognitive function by decreasing NCT-A (p＜0.001) and increasing DST (p＜0.001); inhibited systemic inflammation by decreasing IL-1β (p＜0.001), IL-6(p＜0.001) and TNF-α (p＜0.001); reduced ammonia level (p = 0.005), and improved liver function by decreasing ALT(p = 0.043), AST(p = 0.003) and TBIL (p = 0.026) in MHE patients. Furthermore, BBD inhibited gene and protein expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α as well as NO in rat primary BMDMs/PMs, and mouse primary BMDMs/PMs/microglia/astrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. BBD inhibited the activation of mouse primary BMDMs/PMs/microglia/astrocytes by regulating TLR4 pathway involving the phosphorylation of P65, JNK, ERK and P38. Also, BBD reduced the mortality of mice with endotoxin shock/endotoxemia; serum levels of ALT, AST, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α; gene expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the liver, brain and lung, and tissue damage in the liver and lung.

CONCLUSION
Our study provided for the first time clinical and experimental evidence supporting the use of BBD in MHE, and revealed that BBD could play a crucial role in targeting and regulating TLR4 inflammatory pathway to improve neurocognitive function in MHE patients.

Lu|Bingjie|B|
Wu|Chao|C|
Azami|Nisma Lena Bahaji|NLB|
Xie|Dong|D|
Zhao|Changqing|C|
Xu|Wan|W|
Hui|Dengcheng|D|
Chen|Xi|X|
Sun|Runfei|R|
Song|Jingru|J|
An|Yongtong|Y|
Li|Kun|K|
Wang|Huijun|H|
Ye|Guan|G|
Sun|Mingyu|M|

Ammonium persulfate (PubChem CID: 62648)

Carbon tetrachloride (PubChem CID: 5943)

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (PubChem CID: 679)

Disodium hydrogen phosphate (PubChem CID:24203)

Ethanol (PubChem CID: 702) chloroform (PubChem CID: 6212)

Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (PubChem CID: 516951)

Sodium dihydrogen phosphate (PubChem CID:23672064)

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (PubChem CID: 3423265)

P P P P P M M M M M M M M M U M M M M M M M M


Vaccination of special populations: Protecting the vulnerable.

Abstract: One of the strategic objectives of the 2011-2020 Global Vaccine Action Plan is for the benefits of immunisation to be equitably extended to all people. This approach encompasses special groups at increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as preterm infants and pregnant women, as well as those with chronic and immune-compromising medical conditions or at increased risk of disease due to immunosenescence. Despite demonstrations of effectiveness and safety, vaccine uptake in these special groups is frequently lower than expected, even in developed countries with vaccination strategies in place. For example, uptake of the influenza vaccine in pregnancy rarely exceeds 50% in developed countries and, although data are scarce, it appears that only half of preterm infants are up-to-date with routine paediatric vaccinations. Many people with chronic medical conditions or who are immunocompromised due to disease or aging are also under-vaccinated. In the US, coverage among people aged 65years or older was 67% for the influenza vaccine in the 2014-2015 season and 55-60% for tetanus and pneumococcal vaccines in 2013, while the coverage rate for herpes zoster vaccination among those aged 60years or older was only 24%. In most other countries, rates are far lower. Reasons for under-vaccination of special groups include fear of adverse outcomes or illness caused by the vaccine, the inconvenience (and in some settings, cost) of vaccination and lack of awareness of the need for vaccination or national recommendations. There is also evidence that healthcare providers' attitudes towards vaccination are among the most important influences on the decision to vaccinate. It is clear that physicians' adherence to recommendations needs to be improved, particularly where patients receive care from multiple subspecialists and receive little or no care from primary care providers.

Doherty|Mark|M|
Schmidt-Ott|Ruprecht|R|
Santos|Jose Ignacio|JI|
Stanberry|Lawrence R|LR|
Hofstetter|Annika M|AM|
Rosenthal|Susan L|SL|
Cunningham|Anthony L|AL|

Special group
Preterm
Pregnancy
Immunocompromised
Adolescent
Older adults


Inhibition of PTP1B by farnesylated 2-arylbenzofurans isolated from Morus alba root bark: unraveling the mechanism of inhibition based on in vitro and in silico studies.

Abstract: Among the 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives isolated from Morus alba, the farnesylated 2-arylbenzofuran is a rarer constituent. The derivative has been reported to exert anti-obesity effect; however, its inhibitory effect on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) has not been investigated. In the previous study, the presence of the farnesyl group in the structure of 2-arylbenzofurans was found to have positive influences on their pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity. In the present study, we have confirmed the authenticity of the notation based on the PTP1B inhibitory activity of farnesylated 2-arylbenzofurans. Specifically, two farnesylated 2-arylbenzofurans [morusalfurans B (2) and C (3)] showed strong inhibitory effects on PTP1B with IC50 values of 8.92 and 7.26 µM, respectively, which was significantly higher than that of the positive controls [sodium orthovanadate (IC50 = 15.10 µM) and ursolic acid (IC50 = 11.34 µM)]. Besides, two 2-arylbenzofurans [morusalfurans A (1) and F (6)], one flavonoid [morusalnol B (9)], and one geranylated stilbene [morusibene A (11)] exhibited PTP1B inhibition with IC50 values ranging from 11.02 to 26.56 µM. Kinetic studies revealed compounds 2, 3, 6, and 11 as mixed type PTP1B inhibitors, while 1 and 9 are known as noncompetitive. Molecular docking simulations demonstrated that these active compounds can bind with the respective catalytic or/and allosteric sites of PTP1B with negative binding energies and the results are in accordance with that of the kinetic studies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time, the PTP1B inhibitory activity of eleven compounds (1-11), as well as the mechanism of action underlying the effects on PTP1B enzyme of the active compounds, were investigated. In vitro and in silico results suggest that the farnesylated 2-arylbenzofurans from M. alba may potentially be utilized as an effective treatment therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus and its associated complications.

D054562:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1

Farnesylated 2-arylbenzofurans
Morus alba
Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B
Kinetic
Molecular docking
Moraceae


The association between vitamin D status and infectious diseases of the respiratory system in infancy and childhood.

Abstract:
PURPOSE
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a major cause of illness worldwide and the most common cause of hospitalization for pneumonia and bronchiolitis. These two diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years of age. Vitamin D is believed to have immunomodulatory effects on the innate and adaptive immune systems by modulating the expression of antimicrobial peptides, like cathelicidin, in response to both viral and bacterial stimuli. The aim of this review is to summarize the more recently published data with regard to potential associations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] with infectious respiratory tract diseases of childhood and the possible health benefits from vitamin D supplementation.

METHODS
The literature search was conducted by using the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, with the following keywords: vitamin D, respiratory tract infection, tuberculosis, influenza, infancy, and childhood.

RESULTS
Several studies have identified links between inadequate 25(OH)D concentrations and the development of upper or lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children. Some of them also suggest that intervention with vitamin D supplements could decrease both child morbidity and mortality from such causes.

CONCLUSIONS
Most studies agree in that decreased vitamin D concentrations are prevalent among most infants and children with RTIs. Also, normal to high-serum 25(OH)D appears to have some beneficial influence on the incidence and severity of some, but not all, types of these infections. However, studies with vitamin D supplementation revealed conflicting results as to whether supplementation may be of benefit, and at what doses.

Vitamin D
Respiratory system
Childhood
Infections


Public and patient involvement in quantitative health research: A statistical perspective.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The majority of studies included in recent reviews of impact for public and patient involvement (PPI) in health research had a qualitative design. PPI in solely quantitative designs is underexplored, particularly its impact on statistical analysis. Statisticians in practice have a long history of working in both consultative (indirect) and collaborative (direct) roles in health research, yet their perspective on PPI in quantitative health research has never been explicitly examined.

OBJECTIVE
To explore the potential and challenges of PPI from a statistical perspective at distinct stages of quantitative research, that is sampling, measurement and statistical analysis, distinguishing between indirect and direct PPI.

CONCLUSIONS
Statistical analysis is underpinned by having a representative sample, and a collaborative or direct approach to PPI may help achieve that by supporting access to and increasing participation of under-represented groups in the population. Acknowledging and valuing the role of lay knowledge of the context in statistical analysis and in deciding what variables to measure may support collective learning and advance scientific understanding, as evidenced by the use of participatory modelling in other disciplines. A recurring issue for quantitative researchers, which reflects quantitative sampling methods, is the selection and required number of PPI contributors, and this requires further methodological development. Direct approaches to PPI in quantitative health research may potentially increase its impact, but the facilitation and partnership skills required may require further training for all stakeholders, including statisticians.

public and patient involvement
quantitative
statistics
participatory
clinical trial
cohort studies


Comparative growth characteristics and interspecific competitive interaction of two cyanobacteria, Phormidium autumnale and Nostoc sp.

Abstract: This study examined the growth characteristics and competitive interaction of two cyanobacteria, Phormidium autumnale GJ_2B_I1 and Nostoc sp. DS_2B_I1, which were newly isolated from a southeast river (Nakdong) during the cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom (CyanoHAB) season in Korea. As major environmental parameters, the water temperature (25 and 30°C) and alkalinity (19 to 78 mg CaCO3 L-1 ), and nitrate concentration (1.5 to 3.5 mg NO3 -N L-1 ) were selected based on the water environmental monitoring data during the CyanoHAB season. Unlike P. autumnale, Nostoc sp. has a relatively high growth rate under both monoculture and co-culture and prefers the maximum environmental conditions (30°C and 78 mg CaCO3 L-1 /pH-9) during the CyanoHAB season. In addition, the growth of P. autumnale is relatively unaffected by alkalinity. Nitrogen stress also has a limiting effect in the interspecific interactions of both cyanobacterial strains. All other cases except for Nostoc sp. in a co-culture showed a considerable increase in growth rate with increasing nitrogen content (from 1.5 to 3.5 mg NO3 -N L-1 ), showing 20 - 64% under the minimum field conditions (25°C and 19 mg CaCO3 L-1 /pH-7) and 18 - 140% under the maximum field conditions. The results show that the growth of P. autumnale can be stimulated by enhanced nitrogen stress. On the other hand, Nostoc sp. is less affected by nitrogen stress compared to P. autumnale. Therefore, it has excellent potential to be a major group of CyanoHABs because of their relatively high growth rate, particularly in a range of nitrogen tested. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

competitive interaction
phormidium autumnale
nostoc sp
temperature
Alkalinity
nitrate


Commutability and interchangeability of commercial quality control materials with feline plasma for common biochemical analytes.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Species-specific plasma or serum pools are considered the ideal standard material for quality control materials (QCM) instead of commercially available human QCM. However, using plasma or serum pools is limited by volume restrictions, degradation over time, and a narrow range of analyte concentrations. Concentrations of QCM analytes should be consistent or commutable with those from species-specific plasma/serum samples, and the precision from plasma pools should be comparable or interchangeable with commercial human QCM.

OBJECTIVES
The aims of this study were to determine the commutability and interchangeability of 2 levels of commercial QCM (MAS chemTRAK-H [CT]) with feline plasma pools (PP) from normal and renal disease cats measured using a commercial laboratory analyzer and a veterinary in-house analyzer.

METHODS
Agreement between the 2 analyzers was assessed for 16 analytes by correlation and Passing-Bablok regression analyses of feline plasma samples. The difference between each CT data point and the regression line (residuals) was determined and standardized, and CT were considered 'commutable' with PP if the standardized residual was within a range of -3 to 3. Coefficients of variation (CVs) for CT and PP for 16 analytes on 2 analyzers were compared by bootstrap analysis to determine interchangeability.

RESULTS
Most CT analytes were within the range of patient plasma sample analytes, thus commutable. Only 2 analytes had equivalent precision for both levels of CT and both levels of PP, and 5 additional analytes had similar precision for at least one level of CT compared to at least one level of PP.

CONCLUSIONS
The QCM assessed is commutable to feline PP within the tested ranges for 2 particular analyzers. Commutability does not grant interchangeability.

Baral|Randolph M|RM|
Dhand|Navneet K|NK|
Freeman|Kathleen P|KP|

Passing-Bablok
residuals
Biochemistry analyzer
clinical chemistry
linear regression
reference materials


Bone mineral density loss in postmenopausal onset rheumatoid arthritis is not greater than premenopausal onset disease.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Postmenopausal onset rheumatoid arthritis (post-RA) is expected to have greater bone mineral density (BMD) loss than premenopauasal onset (pre-RA) due to estrogen deficiency and aging. This study aimed to compare the BMD status of the two RA groups with age-matched non-RA controls.

METHODS
The patients with RA on follow-up examination were stratified according to age of onset. Femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD (FN-BMD and LS-BMD) were assessed by DXA method. The patients of the two groups were compared with non-RA controls in regard to BMD gr/cm(2) and the risk of osteoporosis (OP).

RESULTS
Forty-eight post-RA and 94 pre-RA were compared with 31 and 57 age-matched controls. FN-BMD gr/cm(2) and LS-BMD gr/cm(2) in both groups of RA was significantly lower than the controls (P=0.001 for all). In post-RA, FN-BMDgr/cm(2) was 16% lower than controls versus 21% in pre-RA, whereas, LS-BMD reductions were 5% and 12%, respectively (P=NS). FN-OP was observed in 32(68%) and 9 (29%) post-RA and controls (P=0.001) versus 29 (30.8%) and 4 (7%) pre-RA and controls, respectively (P=0.001). Corresponding percentages for LS-OP in post-RA and controls were (37.5% vs 35.5%, P=0.52) and in pre-RA and controls were (21.3% vs 3.5%, P=0.002), respectively. Risk of osteoporosis at either measurement sites of FN or LS in post-RA increased by the adjusted odds of 1.54(95% CI, 0.60-3.9, P=0.36) and in pre-RA by the adjusted odds of 5 (95% CI, 1.78-14.5, P=0.002), respectively.

CONCLUSION
These findings indicate that BMD loss in post-RA is not greater than pre-RA as expected. It is possible that estrogen deficiency by modulating immunologic reactions compensates the negative effects of estrogen deprivation on bone mass in post-RA patients.

Bone mineral density
Postmenopausal
Rheumatoid arthritis
Premenopausal
Age of onset
Osteoporosis


Molecular cloning and functional analysis of two phosphate transporter genes from Rhizopogon luteolus and Leucocortinarius bulbiger, two ectomycorrhizal fungi of Pinus tabulaeformis.

Abstract: Inorganic phosphorus (Pi) is essential for plant growth, and phosphate (P) deficiency is a primary limiting factor in Pinus tabulaeformis development in northern China. P acquisition in mycorrhizal plants is highly dependent on the activities of phosphate transporters of their root-associated fungi. In the current study, two phosphate transporter genes, RlPT and LbPT, were isolated from Rhizopogon luteolus and Leucocortinarius bulbiger, respectively, two ectomycorrhizal fungi forming symbiotic interactions with the P. tabulaeformis. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the sequence of the phosphate transporter of L. bulbiger is most closely related to a phosphate transporter of Hebeloma cylindrosporum, whereas the phosphate transporter of R. luteolus is most closely related to that of Piloderma croceum. The subcellular localization indicated that RlPT and LbPT were expressed in the plasma membrane. The complementation assay in yeast indicated that both RlPT and LbPT partially compensated for the absence of phosphate transporter activity in the MB192 yeast strain, with a K m value of 57.90 μmol/L Pi for RlPT and 35.87 μmol/L Pi for LbPT. qPCR analysis revealed that RlPT and LbPT were significantly up-regulated at lower P availability, which may enhance P uptake and transport under Pi starvation. Our results suggest that RlPT and LbPT presumably play a key role in Pi acquisition by P. tabulaeformis via ectomycorrhizal fungi.

Zheng|Rong|R| Wang|Jugang|J| Liu|Min|M| Duan|Guozhen|G| Gao|Xiaomin|X| Bai|Shulan|S| Han|Yachao|Y|

D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal

Phosphate transporter
Pinus tabulaeformis
Ectomycorrhizae
Gene expression
Heterologous characterization


Distinguishing testicular torsion from torsion of the appendix testis by clinical features and signs in patients with acute scrotum.

Abstract:
PURPOSE
Many physicians encounter confusion and difficulty in distinguishing testicular torsion (TT) from torsion of the appendix testis (TAT) in patients with acute scrotum because of the overlapping signs and symptoms. The objective of our study was to evaluate the clinical features and signs that can help distinguish TT from TAT.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
We performed a retrospective study of patients with surgically confirmed TT and TAT at our institute from January 1990 to December 2013. Clinical findings, physical examination findings, climatic conditions, laboratory data, and color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) findings were compared between the TT and TAT groups.

RESULTS
Seventy patients were included in this study (49 with TT and 21 with TAT). Patients with TT were significantly older than those with TAT (p < 0.001). The ambient temperature at onset was significantly lower in patients with TT than in patients with TAT (p = 0.038). Testicular swelling, high-riding testes, onset during sleep, high leukocyte counts, and high creatine phosphokinase levels were significantly more common in patients with TT than with TAT (p = 0.021, 0.032, 0.006, 0.003, and 0.043, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that age and onset during sleep were significant independent factors for detection of TT. Eight patients (16.3%) underwent preoperative CDUS evaluation, and an absent or decreased blood signal in the involved testes was significantly correlated with the presence of TT (p = 0.018).

CONCLUSION
In clinical features, age and onset during sleep might be helpful to distinguish TT from TAT. When supported by findings, urgent surgical exploration is warranted in patients with suspected TT based on symptoms and CDUS features.

Fujita|Naoyuki|N| Tambo|Mitsuhiro|M| Okegawa|Takatsugu|T| Higashihara|Eiji|E| Nutahara|Kikuo|K|

testicular torsion
acute scrotum
color Doppler ultrasound
torsion of appendix testis


Reducing low-value care in endometriosis between limited evidence and unresolved issues: a proposal.

Abstract: Quantification of benefits and harms of medical interventions should be based on high-quality evidence, which is not always the case in the endometriosis field. In many clinical circumstances, healthcare decisions in women with endometriosis are taken based on suboptimal evidence or on evidence of coexistence of benefits and harms that must be balanced. In these conditions, it is important to avoid or reduce the use of low-value care, i.e. interventions with defined harms and uncertain benefits, or whose effectiveness is comparable with less expensive alternatives. In particular, we suggest that: (i) non-surgical diagnosis based on symptoms, physical findings and transvaginal ultrasonography is possible in most women with symptomatic endometriosis. Thus, except in doubtful cases, laparoscopy should be intended for surgical treatment, not for diagnostic purposes: early diagnosis and diagnostic laparoscopy are not synonymous; (ii) future trials on new drugs for endometriosis should address those outcomes that are most important to patients, should be designed as superiority trials and should include a progestin or an estrogen-progestin as a comparator. Moreover, limitation of repetitive surgery for recurrent endometriosis is among the objectives of long-term medical treatment; (iii) indications for surgery should be the result of a balance between demonstrated benefits in terms of fertility enhancement and pain relief, specific risks associated with excision of different types of endometriotic lesions, cost-effectiveness and patient preference after detailed information; (iv) physicians, health professionals and policy makers should discriminate between screening for and diagnosis of endometriosis. Limited peritoneal foci, which are frequently observed also in asymptomatic women, regress or remain stable in about two thirds of cases. Therefore, the theoretical premises for a screening campaign are currently unclear; (v) physicians should develop the ability to effectively communicate quantitative information based on international guidelines and systematic literature reviews. This will assist a woman's understanding of the interaction between the evidence and her priorities, facilitating the transition towards value-based medicine.

Vercellini|Paolo|P|
Giudice|Linda C|LC|
Evers|Johannes L H|JL|
Abrao|Mauricio S|MS|

low-value care
endometriosis
infertility
patient-centred medicine
pelvic pain


Classification of epileptic EEG recordings using signal transforms and convolutional neural networks.

Abstract: This paper describes the analysis of a deep neural network for the classification of epileptic EEG signals. The deep learning architecture is made up of two convolutional layers for feature extraction and three fully-connected layers for classification. We evaluated several EEG signal transforms for generating the inputs to the deep neural network: Fourier, wavelet and empirical mode decomposition. This analysis was carried out using two public datasets (Bern-Barcelona EEG and Epileptic Seizure Recognition datasets) obtaining significant improvements in accuracy. For the Bern-Barcelona EEG, we obtained an increase in accuracy from 92.3% to 98.9% when classifying between focal and non-focal signals using the empirical mode decomposition. For the Epileptic Seizure Recognition dataset, we evaluated several scenarios for seizure detection obtaining the best results when using the Fourier transform. The accuracy increased from 99.0% to 99.5% for classifying non-seizure vs. seizure recordings, from 91.7% to 96.5% when differentiating between healthy, non-focal and seizure recordings, and from 89.0% to 95.7% when considering healthy, focal and seizure recordings.

San-Segundo|Rubén|R|
Gil-Martín|Manuel|M|
D'Haro-Enríquez|Luis Fernando|LF|
Pardo|José Manuel|JM|

Wavelet transform and Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD)


Aerobic exercise promotes executive functions and impacts functional neural activity among older adults with vascular cognitive impairment.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) results from cerebrovascular disease, and worldwide, it is the second most common type of cognitive dysfunction. While targeted aerobic training is a promising approach to delay the progression of VCI by reducing cardiometabolic risk factors, few randomised controlled trials to date have specifically assessed the efficacy of aerobic training on cognitive and brain outcomes in this group at risk for functional decline.

AIM
To examine the effect of moderate-intensity aerobic training on executive functions and functional neural activity among older adults with mild subcortical ischaemic VCI (SIVCI).

METHODS
Older adults with mild SIVCI were randomly assigned to: (1) 6-month, 3×/week aerobic training (n=10) or (2) usual care (control; n=11). Participants completed functional MRI (fMRI) at baseline and trial completion. During the fMRI sessions, behavioural performance on the Eriksen flanker task and task-evoked neural activity were assessed.

RESULTS
At trial completion, after adjusting for baseline general cognition, total white matter lesion volume and flanker performance, compared with the control group, the aerobic training group significantly improved flanker task reaction time. Moreover, compared with the controls, the aerobic training group demonstrated reduced activation in the left lateral occipital cortex and right superior temporal gyrus. Reduced activity in these brain regions was significantly associated with improved (ie, faster) flanker task performance at trial completion.

SUMMARY
Aerobic training among older adults with mild SIVCI can improve executive functions and neural efficiency of associated brain areas. Future studies with greater sample size should be completed to replicate and extend these findings.

Hsu|Chun Liang|CL|
Best|John R|JR|
Davis|Jennifer C|JC|
Nagamatsu|Lindsay S|LS|
Wang|Shirley|S|
Boyd|Lara A|LA|
Hsiung|Gy Robin|GR|
Voss|Michelle W|MW|
Eng|Janice Jennifer|JJ|
Liu-Ambrose|Teresa|T|


Intrauterine hematomas in the second and third trimesters associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes: a retrospective study.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE
To carry out a retrospective study of the clinical features of patients with intrauterine hematoma in the second and third trimesters, and discuss the risk factors for poor pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS
A total of 398 patients who underwent routine examination in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2015 were classified into normal pregnancy (NP) group (N = 265) and adverse pregnancy (AP) group (N = 133), according to their pregnancy outcomes. Maternal clinical demographics, gestational age, location of hematoma, volume of hematoma, and accompanying contraction and vaginal bleeding were recorded.

RESULTS
The average age of pregnant women in the NP and AP groups was 28.25 ± 4.06 and 29.5 ± 5.06 years, respectively (p = 0.007). Gestational age at first detection of hematoma was 15.11 ± 5.13 weeks in the NP group compared with 21.22 ± 8.25 weeks in the AP group (p < 0.001). In the AP group, the incidence of retroplacental hematoma (54.1%) and palpable contractions (62.8%) was significantly higher than in the NP group (25.7% and 12.1%, respectively; p < 0.01). However, similar maternal parity or history of delivery, volume of hematoma and incidence of vaginal bleeding were found.

CONCLUSION
Intrauterine hematoma in the second and third trimesters is a sign of pathological pregnancy, resulting in adverse outcomes. Maternal age, gestational age at first diagnosis, location of hematoma and accompanying contraction are risk factors for poor pregnancy outcomes.

Ji|Wanqing|W| Li|Weidong|W| Mei|Shanshan|S| He|Ping|P|

Intrauterine hematoma
second and third trimester
pregnancy complications


Coxsackievirus A16 in Southern Vietnam.

Abstract: Background: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a major public health concern in the Asia-Pacific region. Most recent HFMD outbreaks have been caused by enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16), CVA10, and CVA6. There has been no report regarding the epidemiology and genetic diversity of CVA16 in Vietnam. Such knowledge is critical to inform the development of intervention strategies. Materials and Methods: From 2011 to 2017, clinical samples were collected from in- and outpatients enrolled in a HFMD research program conducted at three referral hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. Throat or rectal swabs positive for CVA16 with sufficient viral load were selected for whole genome sequencing and evolutionary analysis. Results: Throughout the study period, 320 CVA16 positive samples were collected from 2808 HFMD patients (11.4%). 59.4% of patients were male. The median age was 20.8 months (IQR, 14.96-31.41). Patients resided in HCMC (55.3%), Mekong Delta (22.2%), and South East Vietnam (22.5%). 10% of CVA16 infected patients had moderately severe or severe HFMD. CVA16 positive samples from 153 patients were selected for whole genome sequencing, and 66 complete genomes were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that Vietnamese CVA16 strains belong to a single genogroup B1a that clusters together with isolates from China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, France and Australia. The CVA16 strains of the present study were circulating in Vietnam some 4 years prior to its detection in HFMD cases. Conclusion: We report for the first time on the molecular epidemiology of CVA16 in Vietnam. Unlike EV-A71, which showed frequent replacement between subgenogroups B5 and C4 every 2-3 years in Vietnam, CVA16 displays a less pronounced genetic alternation with only subgenogroup B1a circulating in Vietnam since 2011. Our collective findings emphasize the importance of active surveillance for viral circulation in HFMD endemic countries, critical to informing outbreak response and vaccine development.

Nhu|Le Nguyen Truc|LNT|
Nhan|Le Nguyen Thanh|LNT|
Anh|Nguyen To|NT|
Hong|Nguyen Thi Thu|NTT|
Van|Hoang Minh Tu|HMT|
Thanh|Tran Tan|TT|
Hang|Vu Thi Ty|VTT|
Han|Do Duong Kim|DDK|
Ny|Nguyen Thi Han|NTH|
Nguyet|Lam Anh|LA|
Quy|Du Tuan|DT|
Qui|Phan Tu|PT|
Khanh|Truong Huu|TH|
Hung|Nguyen Thanh|NT|
Tuan|Ha Manh|HM|
Chau|Nguyen Van Vinh|NVV|
Thwaites|Guy|G|
van Doorn|H Rogier|HR|
Tan|Le Van|LV|

coxsackievirus A16
Vietnam
evolution
hand foot mouth disease
picornavirus


Recurrent acute pancreatitis and cholangitis in a patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Abstract: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an inherited disorder associated with multiple cyst formation in the different organs. Development of pancreatic cyst in ADPKD is often asymptomatic and is associated with no complication. A 38-year-old man with ADPKD was presented with six episodes of acute pancreatitis and two episodes of cholangitis in a period of 12 months. Various imaging studies revealed multiple renal, hepatic and pancreatic cysts, mild ectasia of pancreatic duct, dilation of biliary system and absence of biliary stone. He was managed with conservative treatment for each attack. ADPKD should be considered as a potential risk factor for recurrent acute and/or chronic pancreatitis and cholangitis.

Yazdanpanah|Kambiz|K|
Manouchehri|Navid|N|
Hosseinzadeh|Elinaz|E|
Emami|Mohammad Hassan|MH|
Karami|Mehdi|M|
Sarrami|Amir Hossein|AH|


Cartilage Analogue of Fibromatosis in the Maxillary Alveolar Bone.

Abstract: Cartilage analogue of fibromatosis is a relatively common tumor in the palms and soles of young children and adolescence. The characteristic histological finding of the tumor is the differentiation toward cartilage formation within a background of fibromatosis-like growth. Therefore, the tumor may cause potential diagnostic problems in the maxillofacial bones where it has not been described. The purpose of the present report is to describe the imaging characteristics, histological and immunohistochemical features of an extremely rare case of cartilage analogue of fibromatosis in the maxillary alveolar bone of a 25-year-old female.

Cartilage Fibromatosis Chondrosarcoma Myxoma


Extended lumbar drainage in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy.

Abstract:
BACKGROUND
When appropriately selected, a high proportion of patients with suspected idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) will respond to cerebrospinal fluid diversion with a shunt. Extended lumbar drainage (ELD) is regarded as the most accurate test for this condition, however, varying estimates of its accuracy are found in the current literature. Here, we review the literature in order to provide summary estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive- and negative predictive value for this test through meta-analysis of suitably rigorous studies.

METHODS
Studies involving a population of NPH patients with predominantly idiopathic aetiology (>80%) in which the intention of the study was to shunt patients regardless of the outcome of ELD were included in the review. Various literature databases were searched to identify diagnostic test accuracy studies addressing ELD in the diagnosis of iNPH. Those studies passing screening and eligibility were assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool and data extracted for bivariate random effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS
Four small studies were identified. They showed disparate results concerning diagnostic test accuracy. The summary estimates for sensitivity and specificity were 94% (CI 41-100%) and 85% (CI 33-100%), respectively. The summary estimates of positive and negative predictive value were both 90% (CIs 65-100% and 48-100%, respectively).

CONCLUSION
Large, rigorous studies addressing the diagnostic accuracy of ELD are lacking, and little robust evidence exists to support the use of ELD in diagnostic algorithms for iNPH. Therefore, a large cohort study, or ideally an RCT, is needed to determine best practice in selecting patients for shunt surgery.

Nunn|Adam C|AC|
Jones|Hayley E|HE|
Morosanu|Cezar O|CO|
Singleton|William G B|WGB|
Williams|Michael A|MA|
Nagel|Sean J|SJ|
Luciano|Mark G|MG|
Zwimpfer|Thomas J|TJ|
Holubkov|Richard|R|
Wisoff|Jeffrey H|JH|
McKhann|Guy M|GM|
Hamilton|Mark G|MG|
Edwards|Richard J|RJ|

D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts
D015331:Cohort Studies
D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine
D004322:Drainage
D006801:Humans
D006850:Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure
D011237:Predictive Value of Tests

extended lumbar drainage
normal pressure hydrocephalus
Cerebrospinal fluid shunts
diagnostic techniques


Massisteria marina has a sister: Massisteria voersi sp. nov., a rare species isolated from coastal waters of the Baltic Sea.

Abstract: For many years, the genus Massisteria (Cercozoa, Leucodictyida) comprised only one species, M. marina. This small species has a biphasic life cycle and feeds through filose, radiating pseudopodia. It has a distinct swimming form and is regularly detected in association with detritus aggregates. However, environmental sequences closely related to this species indicate a larger species richness than hitherto described for the genus Massisteria. Here we provide the first report of Massisteria voersi sp. nov., investigated with microscopic and molecular methods. Several strains of this new species were isolated from brackish water at a Baltic Sea coastal monitoring station. Their characteristics are typical of the genus. Massisteria voersi differs from M. marina by smaller cell size (2.3-3 μm vs. 2.5-9 μm) and absent fused motile cells. Additionally, in contrast to M. marina, the new species lacks a paranuclear body and its kinetosomes are arranged in parallel. Both species are quite distantly related regarding their 18S rRNA gene sequences. The sparse availability of environmental sequences closely related to M. voersi as well as our preliminary results from fluorescence in situ hybridization studies suggest that this new species is a representative of low-abundance populations comprising the so-called "rare biosphere."

Mylnikov|Alexander P|AP|
Weber|Felix|F|
Jürgens|Klaus|K|
Wylezich|Claudia|C|

D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence

Massisteria voersi
Rare species
Detritus
Brackish
Benthic–pelagic coupling


A novel integrative conjugative element mediates transfer of multi-drug resistance between Streptococcus suis strains of different serotypes.

Abstract: Streptococcus suis represents a key antibiotic resistance gene reservoir and an important pathogen for humans and animals. Resistance can be spread through horizontal gene transfer of chromosome-borne mobile genetic elements; however, the exact mechanism by which this occurs remains poorly understood. In the present study, we identified and characterized a novel 82-kb integrative conjugative element (ICE) named ICESsuCZ130302 from the virulent S. suis strain CZ130302. It carries genes that provide resistance to multiple antibiotics, such as tetracycline, doxycycline, erythromycin, lincomycin, neomycin, and kanamycin. It also contains a nisin biosynthesis gene cluster, a toxin-antitoxin system, a type IV secretion system, and an integrase and excisase system. The mobile element can be excised from the chromosome, circulized, and transferred via conjugation from serotype Chz strain CZ130302 to serotype 2 strain P1/7, where it confers resistance to the aforementioned antimicrobial agents. The full length ICE, where multiple antimicrobial resistance genes accumulated, was further identified to be naturally transferred between different serotypes strains of S. suis. This finding illustrates how such elements represent a potential means by which antimicrobial resistance is introduced to a wide range of bacteria of veterinary and medical significance.

Pan|Zihao|Z| Liu|Jin|J| Zhang|Yue|Y| Chen|Shenshen|S| Ma|Jiale|J| Dong|Wenyang|W| Wu|Zongfu|Z| Yao|Huochun|H|

D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial

Integrative conjugative element
Streptococcus suis
Serotype Chz
Naturally transferred
Multiple drug resistance
Transconjugant


Hypertension alters the endothelial-dependent biphasic response of bradykinin in isolated Microminipig basilar artery.

Abstract: Angiotensin (Ang) II is known to promote vascular disease and hypertension, partly through its effect on vascular endothelium. Bradykinin (BK) is an endothelium-dependent agonist that induces relaxation followed by contraction of the porcine basilar artery through release of NO and PGF2α, respectively. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Ang II-induced hypertension on basilar artery responsiveness to BK in the Microminipig (MMPig). Ang II (200ng/kg/min) or vehicle was infused into MMPigs for 14days using an osmotic mini-pump and blood pressure was monitored regularly. The responsiveness of subsequently isolated basilar arteries was then measured using a micro organ bath system. MMPig basilar artery endothelial cells were cultured and stimulated with Ang II or vehicle for 48h. Mean blood pressure was significantly (P<0.05; n=5) higher in Ang II-infused MMPigs than in vehicle-infused MMPigs. In vitro, BK-induced endothelium-dependent dilation of isolated basilar artery specimens was abolished and BK-induced contraction was significantly increased (Emax: 15.85±2.42% and 56.54±2.71% of 60mM KCl in control and Ang II group respectively at 10-7M concentration of BK; P<0.01; n=5) in Ang II-infused MMPigs. Ang II stimulation of the endothelial cells significantly decreased (54.15% at 24h; P<0.05; n=three independent experiment performed in triplicate) the amount of BK-elicited NO and increased (44.27% at 24h; P<0.05; n=three independent experiment performed in triplicate) the amount of BK-elicited PGF2α. These results suggest that the decrease of NO and increase of PGF2α production from endothelial cells are responsible for cerebrovascular dysfunction in hypertension, possibly causing cerebrovascular contraction and thus increasing the risk of brain infarction.

Zahorul Islam|Md|M|
Kawaguchi|Hiroaki|H|
Miura|Naoki|N|
Miyoshi|Noriaki|N|
Yamazaki-Himeno|Emi|E|
Shiraishi|Mitsuya|M|
Miyamoto|Atsushi|A|
Tanimoto|Akihide|A|

Hypertension
Bradykinin
Endothelium
Angiotensin II
Cerebral artery
Nitric oxide
Prostaglandin F(2α)


Expression of p57KIP2 reduces growth and invasion, and induces syncytialization in a human placental choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo.

Abstract:
INTRODUCTION
Syncytiotrophoblasts are the major components of the human placenta involved in fetal maternal exchange and hormone secretion. The syncytiotrophoblasts arise from the fusion of villous cytotrophoblasts. The cell cycle suppressor p57KIP2 is known to be an essential molecule for proper trophoblast differentiation during placental formation.

METHODS
We generated p57KIP2-expressing BeWo transfectant cells. Proliferation assay and matrigel invasion assay were used to characterize p57KIP2-expressing BeWo transfectant cells. To reveal the role of p57KIP2 in syncytialization, we proceeded syncytium formation analysis and qRT-PCR for detection of the expression levels Syncytin-1, Syncytin-2 and their receptors.

RESULTS
The human choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo has undetectable levels of p57KIP2 expression. Expression of p57KIP2 reduced cell proliferation rate and extracellular matrix invasion activity. p57KIP2 expressing cells displayed multinucleated cells associated with syncytiotrophoblast differentiation. In the syncytialization event, p57KIP2 was found to potentiate forskolin-induced upregulation of Syncytin-2 in a cAMP-independent manner.

DISCUSSION
These results indicate that the expression of p57KIP2 may act on the proliferation/invasion inhibitory factor and enhance the expression of Syncytin-2, which are associated with syncytialization in cytotrophoblasts.

Takahashi|Katsuhiko|K| Yoneyama|Yui|Y| Koizumi|Naoya|N| Utoguchi|Naoki|N| Kanayama|Naohiro|N| Higashi|Nobuaki|N|

Syncytialization
Trophoblast
BeWo cell line
p57(KIP2)


Myocardial injury in noncardiac surgery.

Abstract: Myocardial injury is defined as an elevation of cardiac troponin (cTn) without requiring an ischemic symptom. Robust evidences suggest that myocardial injury increases postoperative mortality of noncardiac surgery. The diagnostic criteria of myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) include an elevation of cTn within 30 days after surgery without an evidence of non-ischemic etiology. The majority of MINS does not present ischemic symptom and is caused by oxygen supply-demand mismatch. Predictive models for general cardiac risk stratification can be considered for MINS. The risk factors include comorbidities, anemia, glucose level, and intraoperative blood pressure. Modifiable factors may be helpful in preventing MINS, but further investigation will be needed. Recent guidelines recommend a routine monitoring of cTn during postoperative 48 hours in high-risk patients because MINS occurs mostly during the first 3 days after surgery without symptom. The use of cardiovascular drugs such as aspirin, antihypertensive drugs, and statin has shown to be beneficial in MINS patients, and direct oral anticoagulant reduced MINS mortality in a randomized trial. Myocardial injury detected before noncardiac surgery also showed an association with postoperative mortality, and more studies are required.

Mortality
Patient Outcome Assessment
Postoperative Complications
Postoperative Period
Troponin I
Troponin T


Potential impact on food safety and food security from persistent organic pollutants in top soil improvers on Mediterranean pasture.

Abstract: The organic carbon of biosolids from civil wastewater treatment plants binds persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorodibenzo -dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs), dioxin and non-dioxin -like polychlorobiphenyls (DL and NDL-PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). The use of such biosolids, derived digestates and composts as top soil improvers (TSIs) may transfer POPs into the food chain. We evaluated the potential carry-over of main bioavailable congeners from amended soil-to-milk of extensive farmed sheep. Such estimates were compared with regulatory limits (food security) and human intakes (food safety). The prediction model was based on farming practices, flocks soil intake, POPs toxicokinetics, and dairy products intake in children, of the Mediterranean area. TSI contamination ranged between 0.20-113 ng WHO-TEQ/kg dry matter for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs (N = 56), 3.40-616 μg/kg for ∑6 NDL-PCBs (N = 38), 0.06-17.2 and 0.12-22.3 μg/kg for BDE no. 47 and no. 99, 0.872-89.50 μg/kg for PFOS (N = 27). For a 360 g/head/day soil intake of a sheep with an average milk yield of 2.0 kg at 6.5% of fat percentage, estimated soil quality standards supporting milk safety and security were 0.75 and 4.0 ng WHO-TEQ/kg for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs, and 3.75 and 29.2 μg/kg for ∑6 NDL-PCBs, respectively. The possibility to use low-contaminated TSIs to maximize agriculture benefits and if the case, to progressively mitigate highly contaminated soils is discussed.

Brambilla|G|G|
Abate|V|V|
Battacone|G|G|
De Filippis|S P|SP|
Esposito|M|M|
Esposito|V|V|
Miniero|R|R|

Food safety
Food security
Top soil improvers
Mediterranean
POPs
Sheep
Dairy


Toxicity assessment of ash and dust from handmade gold jewelry manufacturing workshops in Bangladesh.

Abstract: Traditionally, handmade gold jewelry played a very important role in the cultural heritage of Bangladesh. Goldsmiths still are partially using ancient manufacturing process with coal fire, candle flame blowing, and nitric and sulfuric acid treatments. Such process leads to the contamination of workplace with the dust of toxic metals, acidic vapors, and particles of different natures. To evaluate contamination by particulate matter (PM), the passive particle collectors were installed in different manufacturing units for a period of 85 days at Tanti Bazar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The laser diffraction analysis of the samples collected at the soldering units showed significant amounts of particulates, both PM10 and PM 2.5, and also nanoparticles in both nucleation and accumulation mode. SEM/EDS analysis revealed partially melted micro blebs that contain a very high concentration of Fe along with Cu. The toxic elements were detected with ICP analysis and include higher concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As). It is notable that detection of arsenic contamination was unexpected since raw materials used for jewelry making should not have any arsenic.

Sikder|Arif M|AM|
Hossain|Tanvir|T|
Khan|Manzurul H|MH|
Aziz Hasan|M|M|
Fakhruzzaman|M|M|
Turner|Joseph B|JB|
Pestov|Dmitry|D|
McCallister|Leigh S|LS|
Maudood Elahi|K|K|

Dust
Handmade gold jewelry
Particulate matter
Nanoparticles
Toxic elements
Smelting


Sensitivity and Specificity of Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm and Standard Full Threshold Perimetry in Primary Open-angle Glaucoma.

Abstract: Perimetry is one of the mainstays in glaucoma diagnosis and treatment. Various strategies offer different accuracies in glaucoma testing. Our aim was to determine and compare the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm (SITA) Fast and Standard Full Threshold (SFT) strategies of the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA) in identifying patients with visual field defect in glaucoma disease. This prospective observational case series study was conducted in a university-based eye hospital. A total of 37 eyes of 20 patients with glaucoma were evaluated using the central 30-2 program and both the SITA Fast and SFT strategies. Both strategies were performed for each strategy in each session and for four times in a 2-week period. Data were analyzed using the Student's t-test, analysis of variance, and chi-square test. The SITA Fast and SFT strategies had similar sensitivity of 93.3%. The specificity of SITA Fast and SFT strategies was 57.4% and 71.4% respectively. The mean duration of SFT tests was 14.6 minutes, and that of SITA Fast tests was 5.45 minutes (a statistically significant 62.5% reduction). In gray scale plots, visual field defect was less deep in SITA Fast than in SFT; however, more points had significant defect (p < 0.5% and p < 1%) in pattern deviation plots in SITA Fast than in SFT; these differences were not clinically significant. In conclusion, the SITA Fast strategy showed higher sensitivity for detection of glaucoma compared to the SFT strategy, yet with reduced specificity; however, the shorter test duration makes it a more acceptable choice in many clinical situations, especially for children, elderly, and those with musculoskeletal diseases.

Bamdad|Shahram|S|
Beigi|Vahid|V|
Sedaghat|Mohammad Reza|MR|

Perimetry
Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Humphrey Field Analyzer
SITA Fast strategy
Standard Full Threshold Strategy


Genome-Wide Association Study of Major Agronomic Traits Related to Domestication in Peanut.

Abstract: Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) consists of two subspecies, hypogaea and fastigiata, and has been cultivated worldwide for hundreds of years. Here, 158 peanut accessions were selected to dissect the molecular footprint of agronomic traits related to domestication using specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq method). Then, a total of 17,338 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the whole peanut genome were revealed. Eleven agronomic traits in 158 peanut accessions were subsequently analyzed using genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Candidate genes responsible for corresponding traits were then analyzed in genomic regions surrounding the peak SNPs, and 1,429 genes were found within 200 kb windows centerd on GWAS-identified peak SNPs related to domestication. Highly differentiated genomic regions were observed between hypogaea and fastigiata accessions using F values and sequence diversity (π) ratios. Among the 1,429 genes, 662 were located on chromosome A3, suggesting the presence of major selective sweeps caused by artificial selection during long domestication. These findings provide a promising insight into the complicated genetic architecture of domestication-related traits in peanut, and reveal whole-genome SNP markers of beneficial candidate genes for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in future breeding programs.

Zhang|Xingguo|X| Zhang|Jianhang|J| He|Xiaoyan|X| Wang|Yun|Y| Ma|Xingli|X| Yin|Dongmei|D|

genome-wide association studies
domestication
peanut
selective sweeps
single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)


Triple Activity of Lamivudine Releasing Sulfonated Polymers against HIV-1.

Abstract: In this article a library of polymeric therapeutic agents against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is presented. The library of statistical copolymers of varied molar mass was synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The synthesized polymers comprise pendent hydroxyl and sulfonated side chains as well as the reverse transcriptase prodrug lamivudine (3TC) attached via a disulfide self-immolative linker. The glutathione mediated release of 3TC is demonstrated as well as the antiviral efficacy against HIV entry and polymerase activity. Although a high degree of polymer sulfonation is required for effective HIV entry inhibition, polymers with approximately ∼50% sulfonated monomer demonstrated potent kinase independent reverse transcriptase inhibition. In addition, the sulfonated polymers demonstrate activity against DNA-DNA polymerase, which suggests that these polymers may exhibit activity against a broad spectrum of viruses. In summary, the polymers described provide a triple-active arsenal against HIV with extracellular activity via entry inhibition and intracellular activity by kinase-dependent lamivudine-based and kinase-independent sulfonated polymer based inhibition. Since these sulfonated copolymers are easily formulated into gels, we envision them to be particularly suited for topical application to prevent the mucosal transmission of viruses, particularly HIV.

Danial|Maarten|M|
Andersen|Anna H F|AH|
Zuwala|Kaja|K|
Cosson|Steffen|S|
Riber|Camilla Frich|CF|
Smith|Anton A A|AA|
Tolstrup|Martin|M|
Moad|Graeme|G|
Zelikin|Alexander N|AN|
Postma|Almar|A|

HIV-1
RAFT
self-immolative linker
antiviral
drug delivery
inhibitor


A fatal case of primary cutaneous gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma complicated by HLH and cardiac amyloidosis.

Abstract: Gamma-delta T-cell lymphomas (GD-TCL) are rare and rapidly fatal neoplasms that are often associated with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a syndrome of fevers, cytopenias, and multiorgan failure that often leads to a rapid death. We report the first case demonstrating an association between GD-TCL, HLH, and cardiac amyloidosis, presenting a novel mechanism for rapid deterioration in these patients.

Gibson|Juliet Fraser|JF|
Kapur|Lucy|L|
Sokhn|Joseph|J|
Xu|Mina|M|
Foss|Francine M|FM|

primary cutaneous gamma–delta T-cell lymphoma


Decreased carboxylesterases expression and hydrolytic activity in type 2 diabetic mice through Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α/Stra13 pathway.

Abstract: 1. This study investigated the alteration of carboxylesterases in type 2 diabetes. We found that the carboxylesterase 1d (Ces1d) and carboxylesterase 1e (Ces1e) expression and the capacity of hydrolytic activity of liver and intestine decreased, whereas the Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α/ Stra13 (DEC1) signaling was activated in T2D mice. Consistently, high insulin could give rise to the same results in the high-glucose DMEM condition, which mimicked T2D, in primary mouse hepatocytes. 2. Perifosine or rapamycin almost abolished the decrease of the Ces1d and Ces1e expression and the hydrolytic activity induced by the insulin in the primary mouse hepatocytes. 3. The responsiveness of human hepatoma (HepG2) cells to high insulin in high-glucose condition was similar to that of primary mouse hepatocytes in terms of the altered expression of carboxylesterases. 4. The knockdown of HIF-1α or DEC1 with shRNA construct abrogated the decrease of the CES1 and CES2 expression induced by the insulin in high glucose condition in HepG2 cells. 5. Taken together, the decreased carboxylesterases expression and hydrolytic activity in T2D mice are through the Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α/Stra13 (DEC1) pathway.

Chen|Ruini|R| Wang|Yuwen|Y| Ning|Rui|R| Hu|Jinhua|J| Liu|Wei|W| Xiong|Jing|J| Wu|Lili|L| Liu|Jie|J| Hu|Gang|G| Yang|Jian|J|

D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors

D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit

type 2 diabetes
Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α/Stra13 pathway
carboxylesterase 1d (Ces1d)
carboxylesterase 1e (Ces1e)
insulin


A Prosthesis Retention System for Full-Arch, Fixed, Implant-Supported Prosthesis.

Abstract: Full-arch, fixed, implant-supported prostheses can be designed to be cement- or screw-retained. Both retention mechanisms have a few inherent disadvantages. A fixed attachment system has been introduced to circumvent the disadvantages of both screw and cement retention. This system eliminates the screw access holes and the use of cement. The number of intraoral procedures required is also reduced. The purpose of this article is to report a case using the Locator F-Tx Attachment System to facilitate fabrication of an esthetic, clinician-retrievable, full-arch implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis.

Massad|Joseph|J|
Wicks|Russell|R|
Ahuja|Swati|S|
Cagna|David R|DR|


Cleaning Up Mechanistic Debris Generated by Twister Ribozymes Using Computational RNA Enzymology.

Abstract: The catalytic properties of RNA have been a subject of fascination and intense research since their discovery over 30 years ago. Very recently, several classes of nucleolytic ribozymes have emerged and been characterized structurally. Among these, the twister ribozyme has been center-stage, and a topic of debate about its architecture and mechanism owing to conflicting interpretations of different crystal structures, and in some cases conflicting interpretations of the same functional data. In the present work, we attempt to clean up the mechanistic "debris" generated by twister ribozymes using a comprehensive computational RNA enzymology approach aimed to provide a unified interpretation of existing structural and functional data. Simulations in the crystalline environment and in solution provide insight into the origins of observed differences in crystal structures, and coalesce on a common active site architecture, and dynamical ensemble in solution. We use GPU-accelerated free energy methods with enhanced sampling to ascertain microscopic nucleobase pK  values of the implicated general acid and base, from which predicted activity-pH profiles can be compared directly with experiments. Next, ab initio quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) simulations with full dynamic solvation under periodic boundary conditions are used to determine mechanistic pathways through multi-dimensional free energy landscapes for the reaction. We then characterize the rate-controlling transition state, and make predictions about kinetic isotope effects and linear free energy relations. Computational mutagenesis is performed to explain the origin of rate effects caused by chemical modifications and make experimentally testable predictions. Finally, we provide evidence that helps to resolve conflicting issues related to the role of metal ions in catalysis. Throughout each stage, we highlight how a conserved L-platform structural motif, to- gether with a key L-anchor residue, forms the characteristic active site scaffold enabling each of the catalytic strategies to come together not only for the twister ribozyme, but the majority of the known small nucleolytic ribozyme classes.

Gaines|Colin S|CS|
Giese|Timothy J|TJ|
York|Darrin M|DM|

twister ribozyme
free energy
quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical
kinetic isotope effects
L-platform motif
RNA catalysis
molecular simulation


The Role of Traditional Acupuncture in Patients with Fecal Incontinence-Mini-Review.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE
Fecal incontinence affects up to 15% of the general population, with higher rates of incidence among women and the elderly. Acupuncture is an old practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine that might be used to treat fecal incontinence. The aim of this mini review was to assess the effect of acupuncture for fecal incontinence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and CENTRAL electronic databases were searched until August 2020. The following keywords were used: acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, fecal incontinence, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and bowel dysfunction. In addition, references were searched. Five studies (two randomized controlled trials), out of 52,249 predefined publications after an electronic database search, were included into the review.

RESULTS
Overall, 143 patients were included. All studies report significant improvements in continence, although they all apply different acupuncture regimens. Randomized controlled trials show significant differences in experimental groups treated with acupuncture in improving continence. Significant improvement in quality of life scores was reported. In addition, improvement in fecal continence remained significantly improved after 18 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSION
Acupuncture is a promising treatment alternative for fecal incontinence. Based on small, low-quality studies, it might be a safe, inexpensive, and efficient method. However, more high-quality studies are needed in order to apply this treatment technique routinely.

acupuncture
electroacupuncture
moxibustion
diarrhea
irritable bowel syndrome
bowel dysfunction
faecal incontinence


Gait assessment of the expectant mothers - Systematic review.

Abstract:
INTRODUCTION
Since pregnant women may have potentially greater difficulty maintaining balance, their stability has been investigated by some researchers. However, there is no consensus considering the results. The purpose of our investigation was to compare all the experimental studies focusing on the analysis of gait that have been conducted over the last years to assess their methodological issues and changes induced by pregnancy.

METHODS
The PRISMA Guidelines incorporating a risk of bias and strength of recommendations were used as a methodological template for this review. Literature searches were conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus, Scopus. After limiting the search to meet the inclusion criteria, 25 articles remained in the final analysis.

RESULTS
Some authors emphasised that adaptations due to pregnancy are recognised to provide safety and stability. Thus, they consistently reported reduced walking velocity as a result of lower frequency and smaller length of the steps. Longer contact times were reflected by the shortened peak forces. Plantar loads were redistributed from the rearfoot (decrease) to the midfoot and forefoot (increase) throughout pregnancy. Another adjustment was an increase of base of support to improve lateral gait stability which allows to compensate increased medio-lateral ground reaction force. During the course of pregnancy the increase of anterior body mass and hormonal changes enhance some realignments of the pelvis and lumbar spine. Methodological approaches varied across the included studies. The critical appraisal identified some areas of weaknesses that should be considered for designing the future investigations.

CONCLUSIONS
Since many gait parameters are interrelated, in order to understand the cause-and-effect relationships an integrative and complete analysis of multiple factors is required.

Forczek|Wanda|W|
Ivanenko|Yury P|YP|
Bielatowicz|Joanna|J|
Wacławik|Karolina|K|


Multilevel glenoid morphology and retroversion assessment in Walch B2 and B3 types.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE
A major factor that impacts the long-term outcome and complication rates of total shoulder arthroplasty is the preoperative posterior glenoid bone loss quantified by glenoid retroversion. The purpose of this study was to assess if glenoid retroversion varies significantly at different glenoid heights in Walch B2 and B3 glenoids.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients with B2 and B3 glenoid types were included following retrospective review of 386 consecutive CT shoulder studies performed for arthroplasty preoperative planning. True axial CT reconstructions were created using a validated technique. Two readers independently measured the glenoid retroversion angles according to the Friedman method using the "intermediate" glenoid at three glenoid heights: 75% (upper), 50% (equator), and 25% (lower). The variances between the three levels for a given patient were calculated.

RESULTS
Twenty-nine B2 and 8 B3 glenoid types were included. There was no significant difference in variance of glenoid version among the three levels in B2 or B3 groups. The mean variance in retroversion degree between equator-lower, upper-equator, and upper-lower glenoid was - 0.4, 0.3, and - 0.2 for B2; and - 0.2, 1.9, and 1.9 for B3 glenoid, respectively. The level of inter-reader agreement was fair to good for variance at equator-lower, and good to excellent for upper-equator and upper-lower glenoid.

CONCLUSIONS
Glenoid version can be accurately measured at any level between 25 and 75% of glenoid height for Walch B2 and B3. We recommend that the glenoid equator be used as the reference to assure consistent and reliable version measurements in this group of patients.

Samim|Mohammad|M| Virk|Mandeep|M| Mai|David|D| Munawar|Kamran|K| Zuckerman|Joseph|J| Gyftopoulos|Soterios|S|

D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted

Walch B2 and B3
Total shoulder arthroplasty
Glenoid retroversion
Glenohumeral osteoarthritis


Intervention to Prevent Falls: Community-Based Clinics.

Abstract:
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to document results of State funded fall prevention clinics on rates of self-reported falls and fall-related use of health services.

METHODS
Older adults participated in community-based fall prevention clinics providing individual assessments, interventions, and referrals to collaborating community providers. A pre-post design compares self-reported 6-month fall history and fall-related use of health care before and after clinic attendance.

RESULTS
Participants ( N = 751) were predominantly female (82%) averaging 81 years of age reporting vision (75%) and mobility (57%) difficulties. Assessments revealed polypharmacy (54%), moderate- to high-risk mobility issues (39%), and postural hypotension (10%). Self-reported preclinic fall rates were 256/751(34%) and postclinic rates were 81/751 (10.8%), ( p = .0001). Reported use of fall-related health services, including hospitalization, was also significantly lower after intervention.

IMPLICATIONS
Evidence-based assessments, risk-reducing recommendations, and referrals that include convenient exercise opportunities may reduce falls and utilization of health care services. Estimates regarding health care spending and policy are presented.

Baker|Dorothy I|DI|
Leo-Summers|Linda|L|
Murphy|Terrence E|TE|
Katz|Barbara|B|
Capobianco|Beth A|BA|

fall prevention
health care costs
state policy


Evolution of the human pelvis and obstructed labor: new explanations of an old obstetrical dilemma.

Abstract: Without cesarean delivery, obstructed labor can result in maternal and fetal injuries or even death given a disproportion in size between the fetus and the maternal birth canal. The precise frequency of obstructed labor is difficult to estimate because of the widespread use of cesarean delivery for indications other than proven cephalopelvic disproportion, but it has been estimated that at least 1 million mothers per year are affected by this disorder worldwide. Why is the fit between the fetus and the maternal pelvis so tight? Why did evolution not lead to a greater safety margin, as in other primates? Here we review current research and suggest new hypotheses on the evolution of human childbirth and pelvic morphology. In 1960, Washburn suggested that this obstetrical dilemma arose because the human pelvis is an evolutionary compromise between two functions, bipedal gait and childbirth. However, recent biomechanical and kinematic studies indicate that pelvic width does not considerably affect the efficiency of bipedal gait and thus is unlikely to have constrained the evolution of a wider birth canal. Instead, bipedalism may have primarily constrained the flexibility of the pubic symphysis during pregnancy, which opens much wider in most mammals with large fetuses than in humans. We argue that the birth canal is mainly constrained by the trade-off between 2 pregnancy-related functions: while a narrow pelvis is disadvantageous for childbirth, it offers better support for the weight exerted by the viscera and the large human fetus during the long gestation period. We discuss the implications of this hypothesis for understanding pelvic floor dysfunction. Furthermore, we propose that selection for a narrow pelvis has also acted in males because of the role of pelvic floor musculature in erectile function. Finally, we review the cliff-edge model of obstetric selection to explain why evolution cannot completely eliminate cephalopelvic disproportion. This model also predicts that the regular application of life-saving cesarean delivery has evolutionarily increased rates of cephalopelvic disproportion already. We address how evolutionary models contribute to understanding and decision making in obstetrics and gynecology as well as in devising health care policies.

evolution
cesarean delivery
cephalopelvic disproportion
bipedalism
cliff-edge model
Homo erectus
arrest of descent
arrest of dilatation
encephalization
erectile dysfunction
failure to progress in labor
fecal incontinence
fetal head
fistula
mismatch
parturition
pelvic dimensions
pelvic dimorphism
pelvic floor disorder
pelvic inlet
prolapse
starvation during pregnancy
symphysis pubis
urinary incontinence
uterine prolapse
uterine rupture
vaginal prolapse

P P P P P U M M U R M U M U U U M M R M U M M U U U U


Tracheostomy trends in paediatric intensive care.

Abstract: Paediatric tracheostomy is most commonly performed in children on the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) to facilitate long-term ventilation. We sought to identify trends in UK tracheostomy practice in PICUs. Data were analysed from 250 261 admissions, including 4409 children tracheostomised between 2003 and 2017. The incidence of tracheostomy in 2017 was approximately half that in 2003 (incidence rate ratio=0.48, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.57). The percentage of patients tracheostomised during a PICU admission, as a proportion of all admissions, was 2.44% (n=319) in 2003 and reduced to 0.97% (n=180) in 2017. Nevertheless, we identified great variability in practice between different PICUs with tracheostomy rates between 0.0% and 4.0% of all admissions. Risk-adjusted PICU mortality was comparable between tracheostomised children and all admissions to PICU.


Prevalence of child abuse in school environment in Kerala, India: An ICAST-CI based survey.

Abstract: Very few studies focus on childhood abuse in developing countries and only a small fraction of such studies explicitly deal with abuse in a school environment. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse in a school environment in a developing country. Abuse history was collected using the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) Child Abuse Screening Tool - Children's Institutional Version (ICAST-CI). Demographic variables were also collected. Student supportive measures were provided both during and after the survey. 6682 school attending adolescents in Thrissur, Kerala participated in this cross sectional self report study. One year and lifetime prevalence of physical (75.5%, 78.5%), emotional (84.5%, 85.7%) and sexual (21.0%, 23.8%) abuse was high. Abuse was considered to be present even if an individual item from these three categories was reported. Most abuse was reported as occurring 'sometimes' rather than 'many times'. More males than females reported being victims of abuse; figures for one-year prevalence were: physical abuse (83.4% vs. 61.7%), emotional abuse (89.5% vs. 75.7%), and sexual abuse (29.5% vs. 6.2%). Various factors significantly increase the likelihood of abuse-male gender, low socioeconomic status, regular use of alcohol and drugs by family member at home, and having other difficulties at school. Children tended to report abuse less frequently if they liked attending school and if they always felt safe at school. The results highlight the urgent need to address the issue of abuse in the school environment and minimize its impact.

Kumar|Manoj Therayil|MT|
Kumar|Sebind|S|
Singh|Surendra P|SP|
Kar|Nilamadhab|N|

Prevalence Abuse School India Sexual Physical Emotional Children Adolescent


Molecular signatures for vaccine development.

Abstract: The immune system has evolved complex and specialized mechanisms to mount specific defense responses against the various types of pathogens it encounters. For the development of new vaccines, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of what these mechanisms are and how they work. The field of vaccinology has adopted high-throughput profiling techniques to gain more detailed insights into the various immune responses elicited by different vaccines and natural infections. From all detailed transcriptional profiles generated today, a general picture of immunological responses emerges. First, almost every type of vaccine induces an early interferon-dominated signature. Second, different vaccine formulations induce distinct transcriptional signatures, representing the highly specialized defense mechanisms that must cope with the different pathogens and insults they cause. Transcriptional profiling has shifted its attention toward early molecular signatures, with a growing awareness that early innate responses are likely critical instructors for the development of adaptive immunity at later time points.

Maertzdorf|J|J|
Kaufmann|S H E|SH|
Weiner|J|J|


Exploring the survival tactics and plant growth promising traits of root-associated bacterial strains under Cd and Pb stress: A modelling based approach.

Abstract: The study represents a microbial method for reducing heavy metal stress in terrestrial environment. Two rhizobacterial strains Pantoea agglomerance (PC1) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (SA) having the ability to tolerate Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions stress, were employed in this study. The growth promotion and survival tactics of the strains under metal stress were explored through kinetic growth model using logistic equation, Luedeking-Piret model and Box Behnken design. Study also involves the interaction of strains with Zea mays L. under Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions stress. Results revealed that both strains have the potential to tolerate 500 mg L-1 of Cd2+ and Pb2+, ions and maintained the plant growth promoting traits. The Luedeking-Piret model estimated the maximum value of IAA on biomass growth (YP/X) 5.377 μg g-1 and 10.3 μg g-1 under Cd2+ ions, while 7.742 μg g-1 and 18.071 μg g-1 under Pb2+ ions stress for strains SA and PC1, respectively. Further, phosphate solubilization activity was optimized with the help of response surface methodology using Box Behnken Design. The optimum solubilization by strain PC1 and SA was achieved at 100 and 150 mg L-1 of Cd2+, and 150 and 200 mg L-1 of Pb2+ ion concentration at the pH range 6.75 and 7.5 respectively. The interactive study with Zea mays L. showed significant increase in seed germination in the presence of Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions thereby proving them as potent plant growth promoters and metal stress reducing biological agents. Hence, the findings of the study suggest that rhizobacterial strains could be a sustainable tool for restoration of metal contaminated sites.

Lal|Shatrohan|S|
Kumar|Rajesh|R|
Ahmad|Shamshad|S|
Dixit|Vijay Kant|VK|
Berta|Graziella|G|

Luedeking-Piret model
Box Behnken Design
Cadmium
Lead
PGPR


Anomaly Detection Using Electric Impedance Tomography Based on Real and Imaginary Images.

Abstract: This research offers a method for separating the components of tissue impedance, namely resistance and capacitive reactance. Two objects that have similar impedance or low contrast can be improved through separating the real and imaginary images. This method requires an Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) device. EIT can obtain potential data and the phase angle between the current and the potential measured. In the future, the device is very suitable for imaging organs in the thorax and abdomen that have the same impedance but different resistance and capacitive reactance. This device consists of programmable generators, Voltage Controlled Current Source (VCCS), mulptiplexer-demultiplexer potential meters, and phase meters. Data collecting was done by employing neighboring, while reconstruction was used the linear back-projection method from two different data frequencies, namely 10 kHz and 100 kHz. Phantom used in this experiment consists of distillated water and a carrot as an anomaly. Potential and phase data from the device is reconstructed to produce impedance, real, and imaginary images. Image analysis is performed by comparing the three images to the phantom. The experimental results show that the device is reliable.

Sapuan|Imam|I| Yasin|Moh|M| Ain|Khusnul|K|0000-0002-8315-7067 Apsari|Retna|R|

Electrical Impedance Tomography
real and imaginary image
detection of anomaly
resistive and capacitive image


Oral physiology, nutrition and quality of life in diabetic patients associated or not with hypertension and beta-blockers therapy.

Abstract: The relationship between type 2 diabetes oral physiology, nutritional intake and quality of life has not been fully elucidated. We assessed the impact of type 2 diabetes - exclusive or associated with hypertension with beta-blockers treatment - on oral physiology, mastication, nutrition and quality of life. This cross-sectional study was performed with 78 complete dentate subjects (15 natural teeth and six masticatory units minimum; without removable or fixed prostheses), divided into three groups: diabetics (DM) (n = 20; 45·4 ± 9·5 years), diabetics with hypertension and receiving beta-blockers treatment (DMH) (n = 19; 41·1 ± 5·1 years) and controls (n = 39; 44·5 ± 11·7 years) matched for gender, age and socioeconomic status. Blood glucose, masticatory performance, swallowing threshold, taste, food intake, stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow, pH and buffering capacity of saliva were assessed. Glycemia was higher in DM than in controls (P < 0·01). No differences were observed between DM and controls for nutrition and quality of life. Both stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow rate were lower in DMH (P < 0·01), which also presented the lowest number of teeth and masticatory units (P < 0·0001), and reduction in the number of chewing cycles (P < 0·01). Controls showed lower Decayed Missing Filled Teeth index (DMFT) scores in comparison with DMH (P = 0·021). Masticatory performance and saliva buffering capacity were similar among groups. Exclusive type 2 diabetes did not alter oral physiology, nutrition or quality of life. However, when hypertension and beta-blockers treatment were associated with diabetes, the salivary flow rate, chewing cycles and number of teeth decreased.

Pereira|L J|LJ|
Foureaux|R C|RC|
Pereira|C V|CV|
Alves|M C|MC|
Campos|C H|CH|
Rodrigues Garcia|R C M|RC|
Andrade|E F|EF|
Gonçalves|T M S V|TM|

saliva
dental physiological phenomena
oral health


Estimated radiation exposure and cancer risk from CT and PET/CT scans in patients with lymphoma.

Abstract:
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this study was to estimate total effective dose and cancer risk related to treatment monitoring and surveillance computed tomography (CT) scans in a cohort of patients diagnosed with lymphoma.

METHODS
76 patients with head, neck, chest, abdomen or pelvis CT and whole-body positron emission tomography (PET)/CT were identified from an institutional lymphoma database; this included 54 (71%) patients with non-Hodgkin and 22 (29%) patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Average treatment and surveillance periods were 8 months (range, 3-14 mo) and 23 months (range, 1-40 mo), respectively. Radiation exposure was estimated from the dose-length product (DLP) for CT scans and milli-Curies and DLP for PET/CT scans. Cancer risk was estimated using the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation model.

RESULTS
During their treatment period, 45 patients had 161 CT exams and 39 patients had 73 PET/CT exams. Mean effective dose was 39.3 mSv (range, 7.1-100 mSv). During the surveillance period, 60 patients had 378 CT exams and 25 patients had 39 PET/CT exams. Mean effective dose was 53.2 mSv (range, 2.6-154 mSv). Seventeen of 76 (22.4%) patients had total cumulative doses greater than 100 mSv. The mean increase in estimated cancer risk was 0.40%; the greatest estimated risk to any one patient was 1.19%.

CONCLUSION
Mean total effective dose and mean estimated cancer risk were low in patients with lymphoma undergoing serial imaging, suggesting that theoretical risks of radiation-induced cancer need not be a major consideration in radiologic follow-up.

Guttikonda|Ravi|R|
Herts|Brian R|BR|
Dong|Frank|F|
Baker|Mark E|ME|
Fenner|Kathleen B|KB|
Pohlman|Brad|B|

Radiation
Lymphoma
Computed tomography
Radiation-induced
Neoplasms
Positron-emission tomography