Browse publications by year: 2020

Fulltext Triple right testicular veins and their variant termination and communications

Nayak SB, Kodimajalu Vasudeva S

Heliyon, 2020 Sep;6(9):e05014.
PMID: 32995649 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05014

Testicular veins are known to show many variations in their origin, course and termination. Some of their variations can lead to male sterility. We report a unique variation of right testicular vein here. Pampiniform plexus reduced to three testicular veins (medial, middle and lateral) at the deep inguinal ring on the right side. The medial vein terminated into the right renal vein, the middle vein terminated into the inferior vena cava above the level of right renal vein (close to the suprarenal gland) and the lateral vein terminated partly into the veins in the capsules of the kidney and partly into the veins under the diaphragm. The medial and middle testicular veins were connected through an oblique communicating vein. The middle and lateral testicular veins were also connected to each other through another oblique communicating vein. Knowledge of this case could be useful to radiologists, nephrologists and surgeons in general.

MeSH terms: Adrenal Glands; Capsules; Diaphragm; Humans; Infertility, Male; Inguinal Canal; Kidney; Male; Renal Veins; Veins; Vena Cava, Inferior; Surgeons; Nephrologists; Radiologists
Oncological safety and postoperative complications in oncoplastic breast surgery among Asian women: A single institutional review

Teoh LY, Lai LL, Hanim Aa A, Teh MS, Jamaris S, Yahya A, et al.

Breast J, 2020 11;26(11):2208-2212.
PMID: 32996224 DOI: 10.1111/tbj.14060

Oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS) improves margin clearance and produces good esthetic outcome in breast cancer treatment. This study evaluates the complications and outcome of OBS in a multiracial patient cohort. Data of 421 patients between 2011 and 2018 were analyzed. The majority were Malays (41.8%), followed by Chinese (39.7%) and Indians (16.8%). Low local complications were noted, with no significant differences in disease-free survival (P = .927) and overall survival (P = .719) between low and high OBS levels. Shared decision-making in offering OBS for Asian women has potential to become a practical option in breast cancer treatment.

MeSH terms: Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Esthetics; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Mastectomy; Cohort Studies; Disease-Free Survival; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Margins of Excision
Fulltext Diagnostic Potential of an IgE-ELISA in Detecting Strongyloidiasis

Ahmad H, Balachandra D, Arifin N, Nolan TJ, Lok JB, Hayat Khan A, et al.

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2020 12;103(6):2288-2293.
PMID: 32996454 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0265

Strongyloides stercoralis infection is prevalent worldwide and can cause lifelong infection in immunocompetent individuals, and potentially death in immunosuppressed patients. The diagnosis is hindered by the low sensitivity of microscopic examination, thus making serology an important complementary test to improve the detection rate. However, there were reports that some Strongyloides-infected individuals were negative with specific IgG and IgG4 assays, and other helminth infections were positive with commercial Strongyloides IgG-ELISAs. Thus, there is a need to develop better serodiagnostic methods for strongyloidiasis. We investigated the diagnostic potential of IgE-ELISAs using Strongyloides larval lysate. Sera from two groups infected with Strongyloides served as the positive reference, that is, 1) positive by commercial IgG-ELISAs and IgG4 rapid test, and stool samples positive by microscopy and/or PCR (group IA; n = 20); and 2) negative by IgG-ELISAs and IgG4 rapid test, but stool samples were PCR positive (group IB sera; n = 11). Sera from another two groups served as negative reference (controls), that is, 1) infected with other parasites (group II; n = 73) and 2) healthy donors (group III; n = 22). Results showed a 100% diagnostic sensitivity in detecting sera from groups IA and IB. The latter group of individuals probably had early infection because their IgG and IgG4 assays were negative. The optical density values of group IB sera were also significantly lower than those of group IA (P < 0.003). The IgE-ELISA was 100% specific when tested against sera from groups II and III. This study highlights the diagnostic potential of IgE-ELISA using larval lysate to detect strongyloidiasis, especially those with probable early infection.

MeSH terms: Animals; Antibodies, Helminth/immunology*; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Feces/parasitology; Feces/chemistry; Helminthiasis/diagnosis; Helminthiasis/immunology; Humans; Immunoglobulin E/immunology*; Immunoglobulin G/immunology; Microscopy; Sensitivity and Specificity; Serologic Tests; Strongyloidiasis/diagnosis*; Strongyloidiasis/immunology; Case-Control Studies; Strongyloides stercoralis; DNA, Helminth/analysis; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Fulltext Multi-Laboratory Evaluation of a Lateral Flow Rapid Test for Detection of Amebic Liver Abscess

Noordin R, Yunus MH, Saidin S, Mohamed Z, Fuentes Corripio I, Rubio JM, et al.

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2020 12;103(6):2233-2238.
PMID: 32996457 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0348

Independent evaluations of XEh Rapid®, an IgG4-based rapid dipstick test, were performed to assess its diagnostic performance to detect amebic liver abscess (ALA) using 405 samples at seven laboratories in four countries. The test showed high diagnostic specificity (97-100%) when tested with samples from healthy individuals (n = 100) and patients with other diseases (n = 151). The diagnostic sensitivity was tested with a total of 154 samples, and the results were variable. It was high in three laboratories (89-94%), and moderate (72%) and low (38%) in two other laboratories. Challenges and issues faced in the evaluation process are discussed. Nevertheless, XEh Rapid is promising to be developed into a point-of-care test in particular for resource-limited settings, and thus merits further confirmation of its diagnostic sensitivity.

MeSH terms: Amebiasis/diagnosis*; Amebiasis/parasitology; Antibodies, Protozoan/blood*; Entamoeba histolytica/immunology*; Humans; Immunoglobulin G/blood*; Liver Abscess, Amebic/diagnosis*; Liver Abscess, Amebic/parasitology; Paper; Sensitivity and Specificity; Time Factors
Fulltext Ageing with HIV: health implications and evolving care needs

Ahmad A, Neelamegam M, Rajasuriar R

J Int AIDS Soc, 2020 Sep;23(9):e25621.
PMID: 32996718 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25621
Fulltext Peripheral Follicular T Helper Cells and Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells Represent Activated Phenotypes During the Febrile Phase of Acute Dengue Virus Infection

Preeyaa SU, Murugesan A, Sopnajothi S, Yong YK, Tan HY, Larsson M, et al.

Viral Immunol, 2020 11;33(9):610-615.
PMID: 32996843 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2020.0149

Peripheral follicular helper T (pTfh) cells represent specialized CD4+ T cells that help B cells to secrete antibodies. Dengue infection appears to cause immune activation in a wide array of immune cells. Herein, we investigated the signatures of immune activation of circulating Tfh cells and mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in adult subjects with confirmed acute clinical dengue virus (DENV) infection by multiparametric flow cytometry. The acute DENV infection induced a significant expansion of highly activated pTfh cells and circulating MAIT cells during acute febrile infection. We found a higher frequency of activated PD-1+ Tfh cells and CD38+ pTfh cells in clinical DENV infection. We also found similar activated and expanding phenotypes of MAIT cells in the patients tested. The total counts of activated pTfh cells and circulating MAIT cells were higher in dengue patients relative to healthy controls. We concluded that pTfh cells and circulating MAIT cells represent activated phenotypes in acute DENV infection.

MeSH terms: Dengue/immunology*; Humans
Intermittent Treatment with the Psychodynamic Psychiatrist: A Patient-Centered Approach

Olarte SW, Teo DCL, Alfonso CA

Psychodyn Psychiatry, 2020;48(3):314-336.
PMID: 32996848 DOI: 10.1521/pdps.2020.48.3.314

This study examines the experiences of patients in treatment with psychodynamic psychiatrists on an intermittent basis following an initial brief period of intensive psychotherapy and stabilization. Patients with non-psychotic disorders who received intermittent treatment answered a web-based questionnaire describing the usefulness of various supportive, cognitive-behavioral, and psychodynamic interventions. Forty-eight out of 58 patients invited to participate completed the survey (83% response rate). The majority (75%) of respondents welcomed the intermittent treatment frame. Therapeutic factors deemed to be most helpful included supportive interventions such as ability to relate to the clinician, ability of clinician to listen empathically, and feeling supported by a non-judgemental therapist when talking about private matters. The majority of respondents also endorsed as highly beneficial various cognitive-behavioral interventions such as understanding how thinking patterns impact behavior and feelings and discussing alternative coping skills. Also highly rated were psychodynamic interventions, including understanding how the present is modeled from past experiences and expression and regulation of affect. In the open-ended qualitative feedback, therapeutic factors including collaboration, forming an alliance, and empathic attunement emerged as important. Our preliminary findings suggest that the intermittent psychodynamic treatment frame is well received by patients. Patients welcome integration of different psychotherapeutic approaches to individualize treatment. The common factors in psychotherapy are important patient-reported therapeutic factors in the intermittent treatment approach.

MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Professional-Patient Relations*; Psychiatry*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Cognitive Therapy*; Patient-Centered Care*; Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic*
Texturized mung bean protein as a sustainable food source: techno-functionality, anti-nutrient properties, in vivo protein quality and toxicity

Brishti FH, Chay SY, Muhammad K, Rashedi Ismail-Fitry M, Zarei M, Saari N

Food Funct, 2020 Oct 21;11(10):8918-8930.
PMID: 32996964 DOI: 10.1039/d0fo01463j

Mung bean is gaining attention as a sustainable and economic source of plant protein. The current study evaluates the techno-functionality, anti-nutrient properties, in vivo protein quality and toxicity of texturized mung bean protein (TMBP) produced under optimized conditions. Our work successfully produces TMBP with improved techno-functionalities that are crucial for meat-based food applications, credited to retained juiciness and fat-binding ability. Alkaline extraction and extrusion significantly reduce trypsin inhibitor, phytic acid and tannin content in TMBP. An in vivo study using Sprague-Dawley rats reveals the good protein quality of TMBP, with a true protein digestibility of 99.26% resembling casein (99.36%, control protein), a net protein utilization of 63.99% and a biological value of 64.46%. The good protein quality, increased lean muscle mass along with reduced cholesterol and triglyceride secures TMBP's potential as a Protein meal replacer and dietary suplement. Non-toxicity of TMBP is confirmed by normal serum biochemical parameters and healthy organs, ascertaining the safety of alkaline extraction. The current study elucidates the production of TMBP with improved techno-functionalities (for meat-based food applications), reduced anti-nutritional factors and high quality (for weight-watchers and malnourished individuals).

MeSH terms: Animals; Male; Nutritive Value*; Phytic Acid/analysis; Tannins/analysis; Vegetable Proteins/pharmacology*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Dietary Supplements; Rats; Vigna/chemistry*
Fabrication of low-cost sustainable electrocatalyst: a diagnostic tool for multifunctional disorders in human fluids

Sinduja B, Gowthaman NSK, John SA

J Mater Chem B, 2020 10 28;8(41):9502-9511.
PMID: 32996975 DOI: 10.1039/d0tb01681k

In purine metabolism, the xanthine oxidoreductase enzyme converts hypoxanthine (HXN) to xanthine (XN) and XN to uric acid (UA). This leads to the deposition of UA crystals in several parts of the body and the serum UA level might be associated with various multifunctional disorders. The dietary intake of caffeine (CF) and ascorbic acid (AA) decreases the UA level in the serum, which leads to cellular damage. Hence, it is highly needed to monitor the UA level in the presence of AA, XN, HXN, and CF and vice versa. Considering this sequence of complications, the present paper reports the fabrication of an electrochemical sensor using low-cost N-doped carbon dots (CDs) for the selective and simultaneous determination of UA in the presence of AA, XN, HXN, and CF at the physiological pH. The colloidal solution of CDs was prepared by the pyrolysis of asparagine and fabricated on a GC electrode by cycling the potential from -0.20 to +1.2 V in a solution containing CDs and 0.01 M H2SO4. Here, the surface -NH2 functionalities of CDs were used to make a thin film of CDs on the GC electrode. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the involvement of the -NH2 group in the formation of the CD film. HR-TEM analysis depicts that the formed CDs showed spherical particles with a size of 1.67 nm and SEM analysis exhibits the 89 nm CD film on the GC electrode surface. The fabricated CD film was successfully used for the sensitive and selective determination of UA. The determination of UA was achieved selectively in a mixture consisting of AA, XN, HXN, and CF with 50-fold high concentration. The CDs-film fabricated electrode has several benefits over the bare electrode: (i) well-resolved oxidation peaks for five analytes, (ii) boosted sensitivity, (iii) shifted oxidation as well as on-set potentials toward less positive potentials, and (iv) high stability. The practical utility of the present sensor was tested by simultaneously determining the multifactorial disorders-causing agents in human fluids. The electrocatalyst developed in the present study is sustainable and can be used for multiple analyses; besides, the electrochemical method used for the fabrication of the CD film is environmentally benign.

MeSH terms: Ascorbic Acid/blood*; Caffeine/blood*; Carbon/chemistry; Catalysis; Electrodes; Female; Humans; Male; Uric Acid/blood*; Biosensing Techniques/economics; Biosensing Techniques/instrumentation; Hypoxanthine/blood*; Xanthine/blood*; Electrochemical Techniques/economics; Electrochemical Techniques/instrumentation*
State-of-the-Art on Functional Titanium Dioxide-Integrated Nano-Hybrids in Electrical Biosensors

Nadzirah S, Gopinath SCB, Parmin NA, Hamzah AA, Mohamed MA, Chang EY, et al.

Crit Rev Anal Chem, 2020 Sep 30.
PMID: 32997522 DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2020.1816447

Biosensors operating based on electrical methods are being accelerated toward rapid and efficient detection that improve the performance of the device. Continuous study in nano- and material-sciences has led to the inflection with properties of nanomaterials that fit the trend parallel to the biosensor evolution. Advancements in technology that focuses on nano-hybrid are being used to develop biosensors with better detection strategies. In this sense, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterials have attracted extensive interest in the construction of electrical biosensors. The formation of TiO2 nano-hybrid as an electrical transducing material has revealed good results with high performance. The modification of the sensing portion with a combination (nano-hybrid form) of nanomaterials has produced excellent sensors in terms of stability, reproducibility, and enhanced sensitivity. This review highlights recent research advancements with functional TiO2 nano-hybrid materials, and their victorious story in the construction of electrical biosensors are discussed. Future research directions with commercialization of these devices and their extensive utilizations are also discussed.

MeSH terms: Technology; Titanium; Reproducibility of Results; Biosensing Techniques; Nanostructures
A 5-year evaluation of using stool-based test for opportunistic colorectal cancer screening in primary health institutions across Malaysia

Tamin NSI, Razalli KA, Sallahuddin SN, Chan HK, Hassan MRA

Cancer Epidemiol, 2020 12;69:101829.
PMID: 32998070 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2020.101829

INTRODUCTION: The immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) has been widely used for opportunistic colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in average-risk individuals seeking care from public health clinics in Malaysia. This study provides a 5-year outcome evaluation of such a practice.
METHODS: The findings for a few outcome indicators, ranging from the iFOBT uptake to the CRC and polyp detection rates, were generated from the data contributed by 583 public health clinics between 2014 and 2018. The trends in their changes were also evaluated.
RESULTS: The iFOBT uptake constantly increased over the years (p < 0.001), totaling 2.29 % (n = 127,957) as at 2018. Nearly 10 % (n = 11,872) of the individuals screened had a positive test result. Of those who underwent colonoscopy (n = 6,491), 4.04 % (n = 262) and 13.93 % (n = 904) were found to have CRC and polyps, respectively.
CONCLUSION: An uptrend in the CRC screening uptake was witnessed following the introduction of the iFOBT in public health clinics.

MeSH terms: Aged; Feces; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Occult Blood; Time Factors; Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis*; Early Detection of Cancer
Size Preferences Uptake of Glycosilica Nanoparticles to MDA-MB-231 Cell

Li HY, Lin HC, Huang BJ, Kai Lo AZ, Saidin S, Lai CH

Langmuir, 2020 09 29;36(38):11374-11382.
PMID: 32902993 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02297

Recently, studies on the development and investigation of carbohydrate-functionalized silica nanoparticles (NPs) and their biomedicine applications such as cell-specific targeting and bioimaging has been carried out extensively. Since the number of breast cancer patients has been growing in recent years, potential NPs were being studied in this project for targeting breast cancer cells. Mannose receptors can be found on the surface of MDA-MB-231, which is a kind of human breast cancer cell line. Therefore, we decorated a cyanine 3 fluorescent dye (Cy3) and mannosides on the surface of silica NPs for the purpose of imaging and targeting. Galactoside was also introduced onto the surface of silica NPs acting as a control sample. Various sizes of silica NPs were synthesized by using different amounts of ammonium to investigate the effect of the size of NPs on the cellular uptake rate. The physical properties of these NPs were characterized by scanning electron microscope, dynamic light scattering, and their zeta potential. Cellular experiments demonstrated that mannoside-modified NPs can be uptaken by MDA-MB-231. From the experiment, we found out that the best cellular uptake rate of nanoparticle size is about 250 nm. The MTT assay showed that Man@Cy3SiO2NPs are not cytotoxic, indicating they may have the potential for biomedical applications.

MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents*; Female; Humans; Silicon Dioxide; Cell Line, Tumor
Fulltext Catalpol Ameliorates Insulin Sensitivity and Mitochondrial Respiration in Skeletal Muscle of Type-2 Diabetic Mice Through Insulin Signaling Pathway and AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α/PPAR-γ Activation

Yap KH, Yee GS, Candasamy M, Tan SC, Md S, Abdul Majeed AB, et al.

Biomolecules, 2020 09 24;10(10).
PMID: 32987623 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101360

Catalpol was tested for various disorders including diabetes mellitus. Numerous molecular mechanisms have emerged supporting its biological effects but with little information towards its insulin sensitizing effect. In this study, we have investigated its effect on skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration and insulin signaling pathway. Type-2 diabetes (T2DM) was induced in male C57BL/6 by a high fat diet (60% Kcal) and streptozotocin (50 mg/kg, i.p.). Diabetic mice were orally administered with catalpol (100 and 200 mg/kg), metformin (200 mg/kg), and saline for four weeks. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, plasma insulin, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), insulin tolerance test (ITT), oxygen consumption rate, gene (IRS-1, Akt, PI3k, AMPK, GLUT4, and PGC-1α) and protein (AMPK, GLUT4, and PPAR-γ) expression in muscle were measured. Catalpol (200 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the FBG, HbA1C, HOMA_IR index, and AUC of OGTT whereas, improved the ITT slope. Gene (IRS-1, Akt, PI3k, GLUT4, AMPK, and PGC-1α) and protein (AMPK, p-AMPK, PPAR-γ and GLUT4) expressions, as well as augmented state-3 respiration, oxygen consumption rate, and citrate synthase activity in muscle was observed in catalpol treated mice. The antidiabetic activity of catalpol is credited with a marked improvement in insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial respiration through the insulin signaling pathway and AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α/PPAR-γ activation in the skeletal muscle of T2DM mice.

MeSH terms: Animals; Blood Glucose; Citrate (si)-Synthase; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Fasting; Glucose Tolerance Test; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Male; Metformin; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Oxygen Consumption; Plasma; Respiration; Streptozocin; Signal Transduction; Muscle, Skeletal; Area Under Curve; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; PPAR gamma; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Mice; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; Sirtuin 1; Diet, High-Fat
Fulltext Correlation between Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Abnormalities and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Gestational Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

Kalok A, Ong MY, Hasrori A, Chiang KS, Yazim F, Baharuddin S, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 09 24;17(19).
PMID: 32987806 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17196990

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with maternal and neonatal complications. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the abnormalities of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This was a retrospective study of GDM patients over a five-year period in a Malaysian tertiary center. The diagnosis of GDM was based on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline. The data on patients' demographics, OGTT results, GDM treatment, and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed. A total of 1105 women were included in the final analysis. The percentage of women with isolated abnormal fasting glucose, isolated two-hour abnormality, and both abnormal values were 4.8%, 87.1%, and 8.1%, respectively. Women with both OGTT abnormalities had a higher risk of preeclampsia (odds ratio (OR) 4.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.45-15.41) and neonatal hypoglycemia (OR 8.78; 95% CI 1.93-39.88). Isolated postprandial abnormality was associated with an 80% lesser risk of neonatal hypoglycemia (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.04-0.87). Both isolated fasting and multiple OGTT abnormalities were associated with insulin therapy. Multiple OGTT abnormalities were a positive predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes, while isolated postprandial abnormality was associated with a lesser risk of neonatal complication. Further prospective study is essential to validate these findings.

MeSH terms: Adult; Blood Glucose; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Glucose Tolerance Test*; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies
Fulltext The Study of the Degree of Crystallinity, Electrical Equivalent Circuit, and Dielectric Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)-Based Biopolymer Electrolytes

B Aziz S, S Marf A, Dannoun EMA, Brza MA, Abdullah RM

Polymers (Basel), 2020 Sep 24;12(10).
PMID: 32987807 DOI: 10.3390/polym12102184

This report presents a facile and efficient methodology for the fabrication of plasticized polyvinyl alcohol (PVA):chitosan (CS) polymer electrolytes using a solution cast technique. Regarding characterizations of electrical properties and structural behavior, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are used, respectively. Crystalline peaks appear in the XRD pattern of the PVA:CS:NH4I while no peaks can be seen in the XRD pattern of plasticized systems. The degree of crystallinity is calculated for all the samples from the deconvoluted area of crystalline and amorphous phases. Considering the EIS measurements, the most conductive plasticized system shows a relatively high conductivity of (1.37 × 10-4) S/cm, which is eligible for applications in energy storage devices. The analysis of the EIS spectra reveals a decrease in bulk resistance which indicates an increase in free ion carriers. The electrical equivalent circuit (EEC) model is used in the analysis of EIS plots. Dielectric properties are modified with the addition of glycerol as a plasticizer. It is proved that the addition of glycerol as a plasticizer lowers ion association. It also shows, at the low-frequency region, a large value of a dielectric constant which is correlated with electrode polarization (EP). The distribution of relaxation times is associated with conducting ions.

MeSH terms: Electric Conductivity; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Glycerol; Ions; Plasticizers; Polymers; Polyvinyl Alcohol; X-Ray Diffraction; Chitosan; Dielectric Spectroscopy
Fulltext Partnership Status and Living Situation in Persons Experiencing Physical Disability in 22 Countries: Are There Patterns According to Individual and Country-Level Characteristics?

Fekete C, Arora M, Reinhardt JD, Gross-Hemmi M, Kyriakides A, Le Fort M, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 09 24;17(19).
PMID: 32987936 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17197002

Persons experiencing disabilities often face difficulties to establish and maintain intimate partnerships and the decision whether to live alone or with others is often not their own to make. This study investigates whether individual and country-level characteristics predict the partnership status and the living situation of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) from 22 countries. We used data from 12,591 participants of the International SCI Community Survey (InSCI) and regressed partnership status and living situation on individual (sociodemographic and injury characteristics) and country-level characteristics (Human Development Index, HDI) using multilevel models. Females, younger persons, those with lower income, without paid work, more severe injuries, and longer time since injury were more often single. Males, older persons, those with higher income, paid work, less severe injuries, and those from countries with higher HDI more often lived alone. This study provides initial evidence for the claim that the partnership status and the living situation of people with SCI are influenced by sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors and are not merely a matter of choice, in particular for those with severe injuries.

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Disabled Persons*; Humans; Income; Male; Middle Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult
Mechanical compression controls the biosynthesis of human osteoarthritic chondrocytes in vitro

Chong PP, Panjavarnam P, Ahmad WNHW, Chan CK, Abbas AA, Merican AM, et al.

Clin Biomech (Bristol), 2020 10;79:105178.
PMID: 32988676 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2020.105178

BACKGROUND: Cartilage damage, which can potentially lead to osteoarthritis, is a leading cause of morbidity in the elderly population. Chondrocytes are sensitive to mechanical stimuli and their matrix-protein synthesis may be altered when chondrocytes experience a variety of in vivo loadings. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the biosynthesis of isolated osteoarthritic chondrocytes which subjected to compression with varying dynamic compressive strains and loading durations.
METHODS: The proximal tibia was resected as a single osteochondral unit during total knee replacement from patients (N = 10). The osteoarthritic chondrocytes were isolated from the osteochondral units, and characterized using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The isolated osteoarthritic chondrocytes were cultured and embedded in agarose, and then subjected to 10% and 20% uniaxial dynamic compression up to 8-days using a bioreactor. The morphological features and changes in the osteoarthritic chondrocytes upon compression were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Safranin O was used to detect the presence of cartilage matrix proteoglycan expression while quantitative analysis was conducted by measuring type VI collagen using an immunohistochemistry and fluorescence intensity assay.
FINDINGS: Gene expression analysis indicated that the isolated osteoarthritic chondrocytes expressed chondrocyte-specific markers, including BGN, CD90 and HSPG-2. Moreover, the compressed osteoarthritic chondrocytes showed a more intense and broader deposition of proteoglycan and type VI collagen than control. The expression of type VI collagen was directly proportional to the duration of compression in which 8-days compression was significantly higher than 4-days compression. The 20% compression showed significantly higher intensity compared to 10% compression in 4- and 8-days.
INTERPRETATION: The biosynthetic activity of human chondrocytes from osteoarthritic joints can be enhanced using selected compression regimes.

MeSH terms: Aged; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cartilage, Articular/pathology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoarthritis/metabolism; Osteoarthritis/pathology*; Proteoglycans/metabolism; Stress, Mechanical; Chondrocytes/metabolism; Chondrocytes/pathology*; Mechanical Phenomena*
Fulltext Maximizing the value of forest restoration for tropical mammals by detecting three-dimensional habitat associations

Deere NJ, Guillera-Arroita G, Swinfield T, Milodowski DT, Coomes DA, Bernard H, et al.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2020 10 20;117(42):26254-26262.
PMID: 32989143 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2001823117

Tropical forest ecosystems are facing unprecedented levels of degradation, severely compromising habitat suitability for wildlife. Despite the fundamental role biodiversity plays in forest regeneration, identifying and prioritizing degraded forests for restoration or conservation, based on their wildlife value, remains a significant challenge. Efforts to characterize habitat selection are also weakened by simple classifications of human-modified tropical forests as intact vs. degraded, which ignore the influence that three-dimensional (3D) forest structure may have on species distributions. Here, we develop a framework to identify conservation and restoration opportunities across logged forests in Borneo. We couple high-resolution airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and camera trap data to characterize the response of a tropical mammal community to changes in 3D forest structure across a degradation gradient. Mammals were most responsive to covariates that accounted explicitly for the vertical and horizontal characteristics of the forest and actively selected structurally complex environments comprising tall canopies, increased plant area index throughout the vertical column, and the availability of a greater diversity of niches. We show that mammals are sensitive to structural simplification through disturbance, emphasizing the importance of maintaining and enhancing structurally intact forests. By calculating occurrence thresholds of species in response to forest structural change, we identify areas of degraded forest that would provide maximum benefit for multiple high-conservation value species if restored. The study demonstrates the advantages of using LiDAR to map forest structure, rather than relying on overly simplistic classifications of human-modified tropical forests, for prioritizing regions for restoration.

MeSH terms: Animals; Borneo; Conservation of Natural Resources/methods*; Mammals; Models, Theoretical; Plants; Tropical Climate; Ecosystem; Biodiversity; Environmental Restoration and Remediation/methods*; Forests
Acetic acid buffer as extraction medium for free and bound phenolics from dried blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) skins

Azman EM, Charalampopoulos D, Chatzifragkou A

J Food Sci, 2020 Nov;85(11):3745-3755.
PMID: 32990367 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.15466

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different solvent and extraction temperatures on the free and bound phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of dried blackcurrant skins (DBS). Apart from acetic acid buffer solution, different solvent systems, including water, methanol, and mixtures of methanol/water, were also employed and the effects of solvent and temperature (30 and 50 °C) on the free and bound forms of anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonols yield were assessed. The results showed that among all solvents, acetic acid buffer resulted in the highest free anthocyanin content (1,712.3 ± 56.1 mg/100 g) (P

MeSH terms: Methanol; Anthocyanins; Antioxidants; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Coumaric Acids; Flavonoids; Hydrolysis; Phenols; Solvents; Temperature; Water; Acetic Acid; Ribes; Flavonols
Fulltext Genome-wide CRISPR screens of oral squamous cell carcinoma reveal fitness genes in the Hippo pathway

Chai AWY, Yee PS, Price S, Yee SM, Lee HM, Tiong VK, et al.

Elife, 2020 09 29;9.
PMID: 32990596 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.57761

New therapeutic targets for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are urgently needed. We conducted genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens in 21 OSCC cell lines, primarily derived from Asians, to identify genetic vulnerabilities that can be explored as therapeutic targets. We identify known and novel fitness genes and demonstrate that many previously identified OSCC-related cancer genes are non-essential and could have limited therapeutic value, while other fitness genes warrant further investigation for their potential as therapeutic targets. We validate a distinctive dependency on YAP1 and WWTR1 of the Hippo pathway, where the lost-of-fitness effect of one paralog can be compensated only in a subset of lines. We also discover that OSCCs with WWTR1 dependency signature are significantly associated with biomarkers of favorable response toward immunotherapy. In summary, we have delineated the genetic vulnerabilities of OSCC, enabling the prioritization of therapeutic targets for further exploration, including the targeting of YAP1 and WWTR1.

MeSH terms: Humans; Mouth Neoplasms/genetics*; Signal Transduction/genetics*; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases/physiology*; Gene Expression Profiling; Cell Line, Tumor; Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats*

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