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Expression of SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry factors in immune system components of healt...
Ashutosh Kumar
Ravi Kant Narayan

Ashutosh Kumar

and 5 more

August 04, 2020
Introduction: Intense immunological dysregulation including immune cell lesions have been characteristically observed in severe cases of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), for which molecular mechanisms are least understood. A study of physiological expressions of SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry related factors in immune system components may help explain molecular mechanisms involved in COVID-19 immunopathology. Materials and Methods: Transcriptomic and proteomic expression metadata for SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry receptor ACE2 and entry associated proteases (TMPRSS2, CTSL, and FURIN) were analysed in silico across immune system components including blood lineage cells. Results: ACE2 was not-detected in any of the studied immune cell components, however, varying transcriptomic and proteomic expressions were observed, for TMPRSS2, CTSL, and FURIN. Conclusions: Non-detectable expressions of SARS-CoV-2 host cell entry receptor ACE2 in immune system components or blood lineage cells indicate it doesn’t mediate immune cell lesions in COVID-19. Alternative mechanisms need to be explored for COVID-19 immuno-pathogenesis.
Solar-powered electroflocculation harvesting system for nutraceutical coupled biodies...
Mary Leema
Thiruppathi Keppayan

Mary Leema J

and 6 more

August 04, 2020
Harvesting of microalgae is essentially the most energy intensive process in commercial algal culture ventures. Developing innovative, cost effective harvesting systems is of paramount need for commercial algal culture ventures. The study thus aimed at investigating the use of eco-friendly Solar Powered Electroflocculation (SPEF) coupled with battery for harvesting marine microalgae using aluminium electrodes. Optimization of various operating parameters like initial algal density, time of operation (5, 10, 15 and 30 min), (initial biomass concentration 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 gL-1) and electrode distance (35, 55, 75 and 95 cms) were done using direct current (D.C). Best flocculation efficiency (91.31 ± 2.91 %) was obtained using a current density of 37.2 Acm-2, a voltage of 24 V for 15 min at an electrode distance of 95 cm and pH 8.0. The quality of the harvested biomass was ascertained in-terms of biochemical components using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, total lipid and pigment profile. Due to the low resistance of seawater the energy required for electroflocculation was as low as 0.223 kWh/ton. The energy requirement for the electroflocculation system with or without solar power was also predicted. The results revealed SPEF can be developed as a potential alternative marine microalgal harvesting system for nutraceutical coupled biodiesel production.
Long-term outcomes of minimally invasive surgeries in partial nephrectomy. Robot or l...
Mehmet Salih Boga
Mehmet Giray Sonmez

Mehmet Salih Boga

and 6 more

August 04, 2020
Background: To compare long-term oncological and renal functional outcomes of laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomy for small renal masses. Methods: A total of 103 patients who underwent laparoscopic (n= 31) and robotic (n= 72) partial nephrectomy between April 2015 and November 2018 were included in the study. Perioperative parameters, long-term oncological and functional outcomes were compared between the laparoscopic and robotic groups. Results: No significant differences were found in terms of age, tumor size, RENAL and PADUA scores, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and presence of chronic hypertension and diabetes (p=0.479, p=0.199, p=0.120 and p=0.073, p=0.561 and p=0.082 and p=0.518, respectively). Only estimated blood loss was significantly higher in the laparoscopic group in operative parameters (158.23±72.24 mL vs 121.11±72.17 mL; P=0.019), but transfusion rates were similar between the groups (p=0.33). In the laparoscopic group, two patients (6.5%) required conversion to open, while no conversion was needed in the robotic group (p=0.89). There were no differences in terms of positive surgical margin and complication rates (p=0.636 and p=0.829, respectively). No significant differences were observed in eGFR changes and postoperative new-onset chronic kidney disease at one year after the operation (p=0.768, p=0.614, respectively). The overall mean follow- up period was 36.07±13.56 months (p=0.007). During the follow-up period, no cancer-related death observed in both group and non-cancer specific survival was 93.5% and 94.4% in laparoscopic and robotic groups, respectively (p=0.859). Conclusions: In this study, perioperative and long-term oncological and functional outcomes seems to be comparable between laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomies.
Mapping smallholder forest plantations in Andhra Pradesh, India using multitemporal H...
Paige Williams
Randolph Wynne

Paige Williams

and 3 more

August 04, 2020
This study’s objective was to develop a method by which smallholder forest plantations can be mapped accurately in Andhra Pradesh, India, using multitemporal visible and near-infrared (VNIR) bands from the Sentinel-2 MultiSpectral Instruments (MSIs). Conversion to agriculture, coupled with secondary dependencies on and scarcity of wood products, has driven the deforestation and degradation of natural forests in Southeast Asia. Concomitantly, forest plantations have been established both within and outside of forests, with the latter (as contiguous blocks) being the focus of this study. Accurately mapping smallholder forest plantations in South and Southeast Asia is difficult using remotely sensed data due to the plantations’ small size (average of 2 hectares), short rotation ages (4-7 years for timber species), and spectral similarities to croplands and natural forests. Cloud-free Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) S10 data was acquired over six dates, from different seasons, over four years (2015-2018). Available in situ data on forest plantations was supplemented with additional training data resulting in 2,230 high-quality samples aggregated into three land use classes: non-forest, natural forest, and forest plantations. Image classification used random forests on a thirty-band stack consisting of the VNIR bands and NDVI images for all six dates. The median classification accuracy from the 5-fold cross-validation was 94.3%. Our results, predicated on high-quality training data, demonstrate that (mostly smallholder) forest plantations can be separated from natural forests even using only the Sentinel-2 VNIR bands when multitemporal data (across both years and seasons) are used.
Neuronal circuits on a chip for biological network monitoring
MIGUEL HOLGADO

MIGUEL HOLGADO

August 04, 2020
We report a novel Cultured Neuronal Network on a chip as a viable alternative to current culture methods for the analysis of neuronal network formation and evolution of the structural properties of the network's graph . This innovative microfluidic chip fabricated from Polydimethylsiloxane, vinyl, and glass offers worthy features such as the posibility to develop and produce custom designs effortlessly, easy handling and monitoring, culture medium renewal, and reducing the exposure to contamination. Due to these benefits, longer survival of the neuronal networks are observed in comparison to conventional methods. In addition to the fast and cost-effective manufacturing of the chip, this technology provides a significant step forward in the studies of neuronal network development and many challening applications such as drug testing of in vitro cell culture models .
Transient simulation of electrochemical machining processes for manufacturing of surf...
Sascha Loebel
Mike Zinecker

Sascha Loebel

and 3 more

August 04, 2020
Electrochemical machining (ECM) is a method for removing metal by anodic dissolution. At the interface between the workpiece surface and an electrically conductive fluid (electrolyte), the material is dissolved locally without direct physical contact to the cathodic tool. Due to the force-free nature of the process, ECM is used for machining high-strength or hard materials, such as titanium aluminides, Inconel, Waspaloy, and high nickel, cobalt, and rhenium alloys.1 However, determining suitable process parameters remains challenging due to their interacting effects on working distances during the machining process. Therefore a simulation-based approach to process design substantially reduces resource and time investment to achieve the desired geometry of the finished part. This methodology requires data about the materials electrochemical properties, such as removal velocity and current efficiency, which have to be obtained experimentally. In this study, a methodology for acquiring and processing this data as well as the development of multiphysics simulation models is presented for two use cases: (i) manufacturing a centrifugal impeller with a diameter of 14 mm consisting of the nickel alloy Inconel 713C for use in turbomachinery and (ii) the generation of a defined surface micro structure into the novel Mg-Y-Zn alloy WZ73.
Trial of labor after Cesarean delivery for estimated large for gestational age fetuse...
Aya Mohr-Sasson
Or Bercovich

Aya Mohr-Sasson

and 7 more

August 04, 2020
Objective: Estimated fetal weight, large for gestational age (eLGA) (≥90th percentile) may be associated with failed trial of labor after Cesarean (TOLAC), like fetal macrosomia. The aim of this study was to evaluate obstetrical outcome and safety of TOLAC, for women with eLGA. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Setting: a single large tertiary care center. Population or Sample: all women with singleton pregnancy, gestational age ≥ 37weeks, admitted for TOLAC between 2012 and 2017. Methods: Women with eLGA were compared to women with EFW < 90th percentile. Main outcome measures: the rate of successful vaginal delivery, adverse obstetrical outcomes. Results: 1949 women met inclusion criteria, including78 (4%) eLGA and 1871 (96%) controls. Study group were older (35 vs. 33 year; p=0.004), with higher Body Mass Index (30.9 vs. 27.5 kg/m2; p=0.001) and higher gravidity (4 vs. 3; p=0.001) compared to the controls. Median fetal weight was [3887g (IQR 3718-4073) vs. 3275g (IQR 2995-3545); p=0.001 in the study vs. controls respectively]. 55 (70.5%) women in the study group had successful vaginal delivery compared to 1506 (80.5%) women in the control (p= 0.03). The rate of obstetrical complications, including: scar dehiscence, uterine rupture, 3rd /4th degree perineal tear or shoulder dystocia were comparable. The rate of post-partum hemorrhage was increased in the study group compared to controls (7.7% vs.1.7%; p=0.001). Conclusion: TOLAC for eLGA fetuses can be considered as safe, however, lower successful VBAC rates and increased PPH rate may be expected.
Using the Budyko framework to evaluate the human imprint on long-term surface water p...
Anav Vora
Riddhi Singh

Anav Vora

and 1 more

August 04, 2020
The Budyko curve, relating a catchment’s water and energy balance, provides a useful tool to analyse how humans may impact long-term runoff. Often a parametric form of the curve, the Fu’s equation, is used to represent the relationship between a catchment’s long-term water partitioning behaviour and climate. Fu’s parameter ω, typically derived from observed climate and runoff data, can further be related to catchments’ physio-climatic characteristics for understanding the main drivers of its water balance. We employ this approach to quantify the impact of human interventions on surface water partitioning across India. We explore the relationship between ω and a curated database of 33 physio-climatic and socio-economic characteristics for 534 regional divisions of India using two related machine learning algorithms: classification and regression trees (CART) and random forest (RF). Both algorithms diagnose the hierarchy of representative vegetation, climate, soil, land use land cover, topography and anthropogenic controls. RF validates CART output while also providing a data-driven model to estimate ω in assumed data-scarce regions, enabling us to assess the value of this dataset for predictions in ungauged basins. The most relevant characteristics controlling ω based on CART and RF analysis were: long-term temperature, percentage of short rooted vegetation, population density, and long-term precipitation. RFs were able to correctly predict the classified ω for 63.9 % of assumed ungauged regions. We found that population density’s influence on ω was comparable to that of climate and vegetation, highlighting the role of humans in controlling long-term surface water partitioning variability across India.
Teamwork in the Time of Coronavirus -- The MGH Experience
Arminder Jassar
Katy Perkins

Arminder Jassar

and 2 more

August 04, 2020
The global pandemic of COVID-19 caused by coronavirus has had a profound impact on the delivery of health care in the United States and globally. Boston was among the earliest hit cities in the United States, and within Boston, the Massachusetts General Hospital provided care for more patients with COVID -19 than any other hospital in the region. This necessitated a massive re-allocation of resources and priorities, with near doubling of intensive care bed capacity and a halt in all deferrable surgical cases. During this crisis, the Division of Cardiac Surgery responded in a unified manner, dealing honestly with the necessity to reduce Intensive Care Unit resource utilization, for the benefit of both the institution and our community, by deferring non-emergent cases while also continuing to efficiently care for those patients in urgent or emergent need of surgery. Many of the interventions that we instituted have continued to support teamwork as we adapt to the remarkably fluid changes in resource availability during the recovery phase. We believe that the culture of our division and the structure of our practice facilitated our ability to contribute to the mission of our hospital to support the community in this crisis, and now to its recovery. We describe here the challenge we faced in Boston and some of the details of the structure and function of our division.
Pyric---Tree Spatial Patterning Interactions in Historical and Contemporary Mixed Con...
Justin Ziegler
Chad Hoffman

Justin Ziegler

and 4 more

August 04, 2020
Tree spatial patterns in dry coniferous forests of the western US, and analogous ecosystems globally, were historically aggregated, comprising a mixture of single trees and groups of trees. Modern forests, in contrast, are generally more homogeneous and overstocked than their historical counterparts. As these modern forests lack regular fire, pattern formation and maintenance is generally attributed to fire. Accordingly, fires in modern forests may not yield historically analogous patterns. However, direct observations on how selective tree mortality among pre-existing forest structure shapes tree spatial patterns is limited. In this study, we (1) simulated fires in historical and contemporary counterpart plots in a Sierra Nevadan mixed-conifer forest, (2) estimated tree mortality, and (3) examined tree spatial patterns of live trees before and after fire, and of fire-killed trees. Tree mortality in the historical period was clustered and density-dependent, because trees were aggregated and segregated by tree size before fire. Thus, fires maintained an aggregated distribution of tree groups. Tree mortality in the contemporary period was widespread, except for dispersed large trees, because most trees were a part of large, interconnected tree groups. Thus, post-fire tree patterns were more uniform and devoid of moderately sized tree groups. Post-fire tree patterns in the historical period, unlike the contemporary period, were within the historical range of variability identified for the western US. This divergence suggests that decades of forest dynamics without significant disturbances has altered the historical means of pyric pattern formation. Our results suggest that ecological silvicultural treatments, such as forest restoration thinnings, which emulate qualities of historical forests may facilitate the reintroduction of fire as a means to reinforce forest structural heterogeneity.
Fetal Heart Rate Patterns in Labour and the Risk of Neonatal Encephalopathy: A Case C...
Adam Reynolds
Stewart Ater

Adam Reynolds

and 3 more

August 04, 2020
Objective To determine the accuracy of intrapartum fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities as defined by National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidelines for the prediction of moderate-severe hypoxic-ischemic neonatal encephalopathy (HIE). Design Case-control study Setting Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Population or Sample Eligible babies were born between September 2006 and November 2017 at ≥35+0 weeks’ gestational age. Cases were eligible babies with moderate-severe HIE. Controls were eligible babies born before and after each case with normal Apgar scores. Methods Blinded manual marking of FHR trace features followed by automated categorisation of each 15-minute segment. Main Exposure Measures FHR pattern features: baseline, variability, accelerations, early, variable, deep/prolonged variable, late or prolonged decelerations, bradycardia, sinusoidal pattern FHR pattern categories: normal, suspicious, or pathological Results Adequate FHR traces results were available in 52 of 88 cases and 118 of 176 controls. The FHR pattern feature with the largest area under the receiving operator characteristic curve (AUROCC) was the maximum number of consecutive segments with the baseline >160bpm (0.71 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.62-0.80]). The FHR category variable with the highest AUROCC was the number of suspicious segments (0.76 [95% CI: 0.67-0.84]). A multivariate model incorporating the number of segments and the percentage of segments classed suspicious/pathological achieved an AUROCC of 0.782 (95% CI: 0.704-0.861). Conclusions The power of FHR analysis to predict HIE is hampered by poor sensitivity for the rarity of the outcome. When analysing a suspicious FHR trace, it is beneficial to consider the overall duration of the suspicious patterns
Re: Implications for the future of Obstetrics and Gynaecology following the COVID‐19...
Rui-Hong Xue
Hefeng Huang

Rui-Hong Xue

and 1 more

August 04, 2020
Sir, We read with interests the article by Lorraine S Kasaven and collegues, entitled “Implications for the future of Obstetrics and Gynaecology following the COVID‐19 pandemic: A commentary”. They discussed the impact of COVID-19 on practice of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and summarized detailed suggestions. We would like to emphasize the importance of prevention in pregnancy.Though the management guidelines during pregnancy are evolving continuously, pregnant women suffered with COVID-19 mean worse pregnancy outcomes, both physically and mentally, especially during the first or second trimester, both the patient and doctor may stuck in the middle. What is worse, no drug or vaccine has been proved to be effective and safe enough to prevent COVID-19 until now.Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection have been proved to be effective in preventing person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. As confirmed that public health interventions could temporally improve control of the COVID-19 outbreak.“Don’t wait to lose to know how to cherish”, so as to health. After all, it could not be regarded as common flu, COVID-19 has a strong contagion effect and could cause significant morbidity and mortality. In the 1902 paper, Ballantyne said, “as with the premature, the ideal plan of procedure is prevention”, so with the COVID-19. With strong awareness of prevention and effective measures to be taken among the non-infected population, the current situation will gradually get better, and people will definitely defeat the epidemic at the end.Rui-hong Xue,1 He-feng Huang11International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
Comparison of FFT and marginal spectra by Hilbert-Huang transform for broadband spect...
Eduardo Arrufat-Pié
Mario Estévez-Báez

Eduardo Arrufat-Pié

and 5 more

August 04, 2020
Goal: Fast Fourier transform (FFT), has been the main tool for EEG spectral analysis (SPA). As EEG can show nonlinear and non-stationary behavior, FFT may at times be meaningless. A novel method was developed for analyzing nonlinear and non-stationary signals using the Hilbert-Huang transform. Methods: We compared spectral analyses of EEG using FFT with Hilbert marginal spectra (HMS) with a multivariate empirical mode decomposition algorithm. Segments of continuous 60-sec EEGs recorded from 19 leads of 47 healthy volunteers were studied. Results: HMS showed a reduction of the alpha activity (-5.64%), with increments in the beta-1 (+1.67%), and gamma (+1.38%) fast activity bands, an increment in theta (+2.14%), and in delta (+0.45%) bands, and vice versa for the FFT method. For weighted mean frequencies, insignificant mean differences (lower than 1Hz) were observed between both methods for delta, theta, alpha, beta-1 and beta-2 bands, and only for gamma band values. The HMS were 3 Hz higher than the FFT method. Conclusion: HMS may be considered a good alternative for SPA of the EEG when nonlinearity or non-stationarity may be present.
Enhancement in virtual learning cannot substitute for hands-on training in Cardiothor...
Nestor Villamizar
Dao Nguyen

Nestor Villamizar

and 1 more

August 04, 2020
This program director survey attempts to determine how coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is impacting current training in cardiothoracic surgery. A transition to virtual didactic sessions may prove beneficial with increasing attendance. On the other hand, decreasing live simulation and case volumes may jeopardize achieving competency in surgical skills.
A new symbiotic lineage related to Neisseria and Snodgrassella arises from the dynami...
Jana Říhová
Giampiero Batani

Jana Říhová

and 5 more

August 04, 2020
Phylogenetic diversity of symbiotic bacteria in sucking lice suggests that lice have experienced a complex history of symbiont acquisition, loss, and replacement during their evolution. By combining metagenomics and amplicon screening across several populations of two louse genera (Polyplax and Hoplopleura) we describe a novel louse symbiont lineage related to Neisseria and Snodgrassella, and show its independent origin within dynamic lice microbiomes. While the genomes of these symbionts are highly similar in both lice genera, their respective distributions and status within lice microbiomes indicate that they have different functions and history. In Hoplopleura acanthopus, the Neisseria-related bacterium is a dominant obligate symbiont universally present across several host’s populations, and seems to be replacing a presumably older and more degenerated obligate symbiont. In contrast, the Polyplax microbiomes are dominated by the obligate symbiont Legionella polyplacis, with the Neisseria-related bacterium co-occurring only in some samples and with much lower abundance.
The effect of rolling contact fatigue properties on 316 stainless steel under laser s...
fengze Dai
Wei Cheng

fengze Dai

and 2 more

August 04, 2020
In this paper, 316 stainless steel was treated by laser shock peening (LSP) technology, and the micro-hardness, residual stress and rolling contact fatigue (RCF) performance were investigated. The result suggests that LSP can effectively improve the RCF performance of 316 stainless steel. The main factor is that LSP can induce high amplitude compressive residual stress on the surface layer. With the increase of residual compressive stress, the worn mechanism of RCF surface changes from delamination to micro-plastic deformation. It is also found that the RCF of 316 stainless steel treated by LSP was sensitive to the contact stress.
Diagnosis of cardiac blood cyst by echocardiography in 8 cases
Jingyi Wang
Jiancheng Han

Jingyi Wang

and 6 more

August 04, 2020
Objective: To explore the characteristics of intra-cardiac blood cysts to provide a reference for accurate diagnosis and prognosis. Methods: In this study, 8 cases of cardiac blood cysts were analyzed retrospectively from January 2006 to March 2020, and the clinical symptoms, echocardiography, operation and prognosis were analyzed. Results: All clinical symptoms were not typical and cysts were isolated. The cysts were attached to the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve (n=4), posterior papillary muscle and chordae of mitral valve (n=1), septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve (n=2), or the tricuspid valve orifice and tricuspid anterior annulus (n=1). Echocardiography revealed the cysts were small and balloon‑like. They had high tension wall, the wall was thin and smooth. Calcification could be seen on the cyst wall. The inside was none echogenicity area and the cyst moved and swung with the valve or chordae. Of the 8 patients, 1 had no hemodynamic effects and did not need surgery. The other 7 cases were confirmed by surgery and pathology for the cardiac blood cysts. 3 subjects underwent simple cystectomy alone. 1 with infectious endocarditis and mitral valve vegetation, and the other one caused the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. 2 subjects had a history of mitral valve abnormality with mechanical mitral valve replacement. Conclusions: Cardiac blood cysts are rare and benign heart condition in adults. They can be diagnosed by echocardiography to guide intervention.
Could severe hemophilia A not worse prognosis in the pediatric oncological setting?
Lidia Costa
Maria Eduarda Couto

Lidia Costa

and 7 more

August 04, 2020
In spite of existing profuse information regarding hemorrhagic complications of hemophilia, literature is scarce towards the presence of cancer in hemophilia, especially in pediatric patients. There are still many uncertainties concerning these patients’ diagnosis and workup. We report here a rare case of two severe aggressive diseases (neuroblastoma and hemophilia A [HA]) concomitantly present in the same pediatric patient. We highlight that the diagnosis of severe HA did not have a negative impact on the patient’s oncologic course. This case also illustrates the significance of the enriching cooperation among different specialties and hospitals when caring for the same patient.
Influence of micro-crack on the propagation of a semi-infinite crack
Hamid Hamli Benzahar
Abderrazak SAID

Hamid Hamli Benzahar

and 2 more

August 04, 2020
The main objective of this research is to determine the influence of micro-crack on the propagation of a semi-infinite crack. This study is mainly based on the determination of the strain energy during the interaction between the semi-infinite crack and the neighboring microcrack. The problem is formulated by a plane element, having a micro-crack varies around itself and around a semi-infinite crack. The cracked element is subjected to a uniform load according to mode I. The theoretical analysis of the strain energy is based on the stress found during the propagation of the semi-infinite crack. During the positioning of the micro-crack with respect to the semi-infinite crack, according to the strain energy results, the presence of the micro-crack can amplify, reduce and sometimes arrest the propagation of the semi-infinite crack.
Cardiac Surgery can be performed safely in patients with recent COVID-19 infection
Ana Lopez-Marco
Martin Yates

Ana Lopez-Marco

and 7 more

August 04, 2020
Surgery in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection carries significant mortality and morbidity but the appropriate waiting period before surgical intervention after recovering from COVID-19 is not known. We analysed the outcomes of patients who underwent cardiac surgery after having been diagnosed of COVID-19 on pre-operative screening between March and July 2020. Depending on the clinical urgency we delayed surgery until negative testing and/or radiological clearance or postponed the operation where possible. As a result of waiting until COVID-19 resolution, all of our patients survived surgery without complications.
TBXAS1 Gene Polymorphism is Associated with the Risk of Ischemic Stroke of Metabolic...
Jie Peng
Fang-hong Lu

Jie Peng

and 5 more

August 04, 2020
Metabolic syndrome (MS) is caused by genetic and environmental factors, thromboxane A synthase 1 (TBXAS1) gene polymorphism is associated with metabolic disease. This study would explore the relationship between TBXAS1 gene polymorphism and MS. A total of 3072 eligible subjects were obtained, of which 1079 cases were normal controls, 1993 cases were MS patients. subjects were followed up for 5 years and the endpoint events were recorded. The gene polymorphism of TBXAS1 was detected by using Sequenom MassARRAY methods. The results showed that significant differences were observed in ischemic stroke and the genotypes of NC_000007.14:g.139985896C>T (all P < 0.05). The incidence of ischemic stroke was significantly higher in T allele carriers than in C allele carriers (all P < 0.05). C allele was the protective factor of the onset of ischemic stroke. The interaction effects showed there were negative interactions between C allele and waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), TG, HDL-C and FPG; These findings suggest that NC_000007.14:g.139985896C>T was related to the incidence of ischemic stroke in the whole and MS population, individuals who carry the C allele have a reduced risk of stroke.
In silico prediction of skin sensitization: Quo vadis?
Giang Huong Ta
Ching-Feng Weng

Giang Huong Ta

and 2 more

August 04, 2020
Direct skin contact with chemical or physical substances is predisposed to allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), in which the skin contact area develops various allergic reactions. ACD can be triggered by extremely complicated adverse outcome pathways. A variety of non-animal in vitro tests such as direct peptide reactivity assay (DPRA), KeratinoSens™, human cell line activation test (h-CLAT), U-SENSTM, and SENS-IS based on different mechanisms have been developed to identify the sensitizers. Additionally, a broad spectrum of in silico models to predict skin sensitization have emerged based on various animal and non-animal data using assorted modeling schemes.
Comparison of performance between Fast Track Diagnostics Respiratory Kit and the CDC...
Jennifer Milucky
Assana Cisse

Jennifer Milucky

and 8 more

August 04, 2020
Background Reliable diagnostics are key to identifying influenza infections. Our objectives were to describe detection of influenza among severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases, to compare test results from the FTD-33 kit for influenza detection to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) human influenza virus detection and characterization panel, and to assess seasonality of influenza in Burkina Faso. Methods: Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens from SARI cases (hospitalized patients with fever, cough, and onset in the previous 10 days) were tested using the FTD-33 kit and the CDC rRT-PCR influenza assays. We assessed sensitivity and specificity of the FTD-33 kit for detecting Influenza A, Influenza B, and the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 strain using the CDC human influenza rRT-PCR panel as the gold standard. Results: From December 2016 to February 2019, 1706 SARI cases were identified, 1,511 specimens were tested, and 211 were positive for influenza A (14.0%) and 100 for influenza B (6.6%) by either assay. Higher influenza circulation occurred between November and April with varying peaks of influenza A and B. Sensitivity of the FTD-33 assay was 91.9% for influenza A, 95.7% for influenza B, and 93.8% for A(H1N1)pdm09 subtype. Specificity was over 99% for all three tests. Conclusions: Our study indicates that Burkina Faso has one peak of influenza each year which is similar to the Northern Hemisphere and differs from other countries in West Africa. We found high concordance of influenza results between the two assays indicating FTD-33 can be used to reliably detect influenza among SARI cases.
Prior Food-Induced Allergic Gut Inflammation Leading To Multiple Food Allergies in C5...
Airton Pereira e Silva
Barbara Oliveira Marmello

Airton Pereira e Silva

and 3 more

August 04, 2020
BACKGROUND: Food allergies are usually managed by food avoidance. Hidden allergens in food, due to cross-contamination and/or allergenic additives added during production, place an important concern in today’s increasing food allergy cases worldwide. Previous studies showed that introduction of new food components, in an inflamed intestine, results in sensitization to this food. Thus, our aim was to evaluate the kinetics of multiple food allergy induction. METHODS: Adult male C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups, four of which were submitted to an intestinal inflammation induction protocol to peanuts. Egg white (OVA) diluted 1:5 v/v in distilled water was instilled by gavage 6h-before (EXP-1), concomitant (EXP-2) and 6h-after (EXP-3) the onset of the peanut challenge diet. Positive control (POS CONT) and NEG CONT received saline per gavage. Finally, animals were challenged with subcutaneous injections of OVA. RESULTS: No changes in diet intake were observed. Anti-OVA total IgG antibody titers significantly increased in EXP-2. Flow cytometry revealed significant decrease in CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ and significant increase in TCD8+ in EXP-2. Histomorphometrically, EXP-2 and EXP-3 were classified as Infiltrative and Partial Destruction stages. EXP-1 was classified as Infiltrative, while POS CONT was classified as Partial Destruction. NEG CONT was classified as Normal. CONCLUSION: The introduction of a new food only a few hours before the initiation of a gut inflammation is able to induce oral tolerance, however the introduction of a new dietary protein concomitant to the onset or during an ongoing gut inflammation may induce multiple allergies.
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