Tag: pubmed

Cells Dev. 2021 Jul 17:203723. doi: 10.1016/j.cdev.2021.203723. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The neural tube is the precursor of the central nervous system. Its early formation and growth are known to be extremely biased along the anteroposterior (AP) axis. Several mechanisms including addition of cells from the tail bud, lateral pressure from surrounding tissues and oriented cell divisions have been proposed to contribute to this biased growth. Here we show that, contrary to what has been found in posterior regions encompassing the tail bud region, the growth of the anterior trunk neural tube is slower along the AP direction than in the other axes. We found that this is due to anchorage of the neural tube to the matrix which favors apicobasal elongation at the expense of AP growth. In addition, as the neural tube develops, we found a moderate slowdown of cell proliferation that could account for the overall reduction of the pace of 3D growth in the same time window. However, as we found no preferred orientation of cell division, changes in cell cycle pace are unlikely to directly contribute to the observed AP-hindered growth of neural tube. Overall, these data indicate that neural tube growth is not intrinsically positively biased along the AP axis. Rather it switches from AP-favored to AP-hindered regimes between the most posterior and anterior trunk neural tube regions.

PMID:34284169 | DOI:10.1016/j.cdev.2021.203723

Environ Pollut. 2021 Jul 16;288:117802. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117802. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study investigates changes in air quality conditions during the restricted COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020 across 21 metropolitan areas in the Middle East and how these relate to surface urban heat island (SUHI) characteristics. Based on satellite observations of atmospheric gases from Sentinel-5, results indicate significant reductions in the levels of atmospheric pollutants, particularly nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO). Air quality improved significantly during the middle phases of the lockdown (April and May), especially in small metropolitan cities like Amman, Beirut, and Jeddah, while it was less significant in “mega” cities like Cairo, Tehran, and Istanbul. For example, the concentrations of NO₂ in Amman, Beirut, and Jeddah decreased by -56.6%, -43.4%, and -32.3%, respectively, during April 2020, compared to April 2019. Rather, there was a small decrease in NO₂ levels in megacities like Tehran (-0.9%) and Cairo (-3.1%). Notably, during the lockdown period, there was a decrease in the mean intensity of nighttime SUHI, while the mean intensity of daytime SUHI experienced either an increase or a slight decrease across these locations. Together with the Gulf metropolitans (e.g. Kuwait, Dubai, and Muscat), the megacities (e.g. Tehran, Ankara, and Istanbul) exhibited anomalous increases in the intensity of daytime SUHI, which may exceed 2 °C. Statistical relationships were established to explore the association between changes in the mean intensity and the hotspot area in each metropolitan location during the lockdown. The findings indicate that the mean intensity of SUHI and the spatial extension of hotspot areas within each metropolitan had a statistically significant negative relationship, with Pearson’s r values generally exceeding – 0.55, especially for daytime SUHI. This negative dependency was evident for both daytime and nighttime SUHI during all months of the lockdown. Our findings demonstrate that the decrease in primary pollutant levels during the lockdown contributed to the decrease in the intensity of nighttime SUHIs in the Middle East, especially in April and May. Changes in the characteristics of SUHIs during the lockdown period should be interpreted in the context of long-term climate change, rather than just the consequence of restrictive measures. This is simply because short-term air quality improvements were insufficient to generate meaningful changes in the region’s urban climate.

PMID:34284210 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117802

Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jul 16:2359-3997000000391. doi: 10.20945/2359-3997000000391. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Globally developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevalence as a major health problem can be related to multiple factors of genetic and environmental. Dimethylaminohydrolase 2 (DDAH2) is the main enzyme implicated in the cardiovascular system, which regulates the nitric oxide pathway. This study investigated the association of DDAH2 polymorphism -499C/G (rs805305) with the risk of MetS among the Azar-Cohort population.

METHODS: The occurrence of SNP rs805305 in the DDAH2 gene was tested using the PCR-RFLP method in 332 MetS cases and 294 healthy controls. Afterward, the association of the allele and genotypes with the risk of MetS and its components were examined.

RESULTS: The G allele and GC genotype were significantly associated with a reduced risk of MetS (P ≤ 0.001). Also, the dominant genetic model (GG+GC) significantly decreased the risk of MetS (P = 0.001), however, in sex subtypes MetS risk was significantly reduced in males before and in females after adjustment for age (P ≤ 0.02).

CONCLUSION: The -499C/G polymorphism of DDAH2 may play a protective role and reduce MetS risk among the Azar-Cohort population.

PMID:34283907 | DOI:10.20945/2359-3997000000391

Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jul 16:2359-3997000000370. doi: 10.20945/2359-3997000000370. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the autoimmunity in first degrees relatives (FDR) of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and the progression to T1DM after 10 years of follow up in the Brazilian population.

METHODS: Non-diabetic FDR of T1DM patients were interviewed and blood was drawn for autoantibodies measurement (GADA, IA-2A, IAA, ZnT8A). Serum samples were analyzed by standard radioligand binding assays performed at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (GADA, IAA and IA2A), and at the Skäne University Hospital, Sweden (ZnT8A). The FDR were interviewed by phone after 10 years to determine if they had developed T1DM. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed and results were described as means and standard deviation (SD).

RESULTS: 81 individuals were analyzed. Thirteen subjects had positive autoantibodies associated with T1DM.10 were positive for 1 autoantibody and 3 subjects were positive for multiple autoantibodies (1 of them showed positivity for 2 autoantibodies – GADA, ZnT8A – and the other two were positive for 3 autoantibodies – GADA, IA2A, ZnT8A). The 3 subjects with multiple positive autoantibodies developed T1DM within 10 years.

CONCLUSION: In Brazilian FDR of T1DM patients, the positivity for multiple autoantibodies indicate a greater chance of progression to T1DM, similar to observed in Caucasians. ZnT8A was helpful in the risk assessment for T1DM development.

PMID:34283897 | DOI:10.20945/2359-3997000000370

Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jul 16:2359-3997000000390. doi: 10.20945/2359-3997000000390. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has a high healthcare system cost worldwide. Educational strategies are important to improve self-care and control this disease. This study aimed to evaluate satisfaction and clinical efficacy of a Short Message Service (SMS) educational intervention in self-care and nutrition at a Brazilian university hospital.

METHODS: We conducted a trial of educational intervention and assigned eligible patients with DM to either receive weekly educational SMS for 6 months (intervention group [IG]) or no SMS at all (control group). A satisfaction questionnaire was applied before and after the intervention in both groups. Laboratory (fasting glucose, hemoglobin [Hb] A1c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein) and clinical (blood pressure) data were also collected. Data were analyzed using nonparametric tests with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

RESULTS: We included 128 patients (64 in each group). Responses to the satisfaction questionnaire with self-care and healthcare professionals from 112 patients revealed an improvement in the perception of receiving information regarding helpful eating habits and in healthy eating behavior and an improvement in satisfaction with their diabetes care in the IG. In the post-intervention period, improved systolic blood pressure and HbA1c levels were observed in the IG as illustrated by delta % (post-intervention minus pre-intervention data divided by pre-intervention data multiplied by 100) reductions of 2.3% and 3.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: SMS intervention was useful as an educational tool for improving satisfaction and glycemic and blood pressure control of patients with DM observed at a Brazilian university hospital.

PMID:34283906 | DOI:10.20945/2359-3997000000390

PLoS One. 2021 Jul 20;16(7):e0254530. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254530. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Brucellosis and Q fever are neglected zoonoses of global health importance, with unknown true prevalence in occupationally vulnerable settings, partly due to misdiagnosis for other febrile conditions and poor access to primary health care. We examined the seroprevalence of these diseases and associated factors amongst pastoralists and their cattle in Sokoto State, a hub of cattle and pastoral populations in Nigeria. Serum samples randomly collected from 137 pastoralists and 366 cattle from 27 herds in three selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state were analysed for antibodies to Brucella abortus using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBT) and competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (cELISA) as well as antibodies to Coxiella burnetti using indirect ELISA. Consenting pastoralists’ knowledge, perception and practices about the diseases were assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis at p ≤ 0.05 level of significance. Brucellosis adjusted individual seroprevalence were 0.83% (95%CI: 0.04-4.59%) and 0% among pastoralists; 2.28% (95%CI: 1.16-4.43%) and 5.70% (95%CI: 3.68-8.74%) in cattle by RBT and cELISA, respectively. Adjusted herd-level seroprevalence for brucellosis were 23.20% (95%CI: 11.07-42.54%) and 42.00% (95%CI: 25.27-61.11%) by RBT and cELISA, respectively. For Q fever, higher seroprevalence of 62.57% (95%CI: 54.04-70.46%) and 2.98% (95%CI: 1.57-5.58%) were recorded amongst the pastoralists and their cattle, respectively. with adjusted herd-level seroprevalence of 40.36% (95%CI: 22.57-63.17%). The LGAs of sampling were significantly (OR: 0.2; 95%CI: 0.02-1.00) associated with Q fever infection, though marginal. The majority of the pastoralists had poor knowledge, perception and practices towards the diseases. This is the first study establishing the presence of brucellosis and Q fever at the human-animal interface in Sokoto State, Nigeria. The pastoralists’ poor knowledge, perception and practices about these diseases are worrisome and are important factors for consideration in disease control.

PMID:34283853 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0254530

PLoS One. 2021 Jul 20;16(7):e0254209. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254209. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

The epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy is a major issue in public health. Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite. Toxoplasma parasite is at high risk for life-threatening diseases during pregnancy. Congenital toxoplasmosis results from a maternal infection acquired during gestation. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to determine the seropositive prevalence of toxoplasmosis infection among pregnant women who attended antenatal care in a health facility in Africa. A systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished studies were included. Databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, African Journals Online were used with relevant search terms. The quality of the articles was critically evaluated using the tool of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Data were extracted on Microsoft word 2016. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 14 software. The heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using the I2 statistics and Egger’s test, respectively. Forest plots were used to present the pooled prevalence and odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval of meta-analysis using the random effect model. In total, 23 studies comprising 7,579 pregnant women across ten countries in Africa were included in this meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of seropositive toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in Africa was 51.01% (95% CI; 37.66, 64.34). The heterogeneity test showed that heterogeneity was high, I2 = 99.6%, P-value < 0.001. The variables responsible for the source of heterogeneity were included from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia. Overall prevalence of toxoplasmosis in Africa showed that more than one-half of pregnant women were infected. The risk of acquiring toxoplasmosis infection during pregnancy is high; hence, preventive measures to avoid exposure of pregnant women to Toxoplasma infection should be strictly applied.

PMID:34283858 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0254209

PLoS One. 2021 Jul 20;16(7):e0253612. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253612. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

The rise of machine learning (ML) has created an explosion in the potential strategies for using data to make scientific predictions. For physical scientists wishing to apply ML strategies to a particular domain, it can be difficult to assess in advance what strategy to adopt within a vast space of possibilities. Here we outline the results of an online community-powered effort to swarm search the space of ML strategies and develop algorithms for predicting atomic-pairwise nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) properties in molecules. Using an open-source dataset, we worked with Kaggle to design and host a 3-month competition which received 47,800 ML model predictions from 2,700 teams in 84 countries. Within 3 weeks, the Kaggle community produced models with comparable accuracy to our best previously published ‘in-house’ efforts. A meta-ensemble model constructed as a linear combination of the top predictions has a prediction accuracy which exceeds that of any individual model, 7-19x better than our previous state-of-the-art. The results highlight the potential of transformer architectures for predicting quantum mechanical (QM) molecular properties.

PMID:34283864 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0253612

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Jul 20;15(7):e0009581. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009581. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

A number of mathematical models have been developed for canine rabies to explore dynamics and inform control strategies. A common assumption of these models is that naturally acquired immunity plays no role in rabies dynamics. However, empirical studies have detected rabies-specific antibodies in healthy, unvaccinated domestic dogs, potentially due to immunizing, non-lethal exposure. We developed a stochastic model for canine rabies, parameterised for Laikipia County, Kenya, to explore the implications of different scenarios for naturally acquired immunity to rabies in domestic dogs. Simulating these scenarios using a non-spatial model indicated that low levels of immunity can act to limit rabies incidence and prevent depletion of the domestic dog population, increasing the probability of disease persistence. However, incorporating spatial structure and human response to high rabies incidence allowed the virus to persist in the absence of immunity. While low levels of immunity therefore had limited influence under a more realistic approximation of rabies dynamics, high rates of exposure leading to immunizing non-lethal exposure were required to produce population-level seroprevalences comparable with those reported in empirical studies. False positives and/or spatial variation may contribute to high empirical seroprevalences. However, if high seroprevalences are related to high exposure rates, these findings support the need for high vaccination coverage to effectively control this disease.

PMID:34283827 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0009581

PLoS One. 2021 Jul 20;16(7):e0254728. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254728. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is a global public health issue. Several environmental, psychosocial, behavioral factors along with physical, sexual, and emotional abuse have been associated with suicidal ideation and attempts. Childhood physical, sexual abuse, and health risk behaviors are also associated with suicidal attempts. The suicidal ideation prevalence varied from 1 to 20% and it varied with study population, geography, age group, gender, and other factors. The Beck suicidal ideation scale is an effective tool for assessing the major suicidal ideation with a six cut-off score.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: 160 patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled into this cross-sectional study after random sampling among the patients visiting the Psychiatric OPD of Shree Birendra Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. The Semi-Structured Interview Schedule (SSIS), Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS), and Kuppuswamy’s Scale were used to collect the data from the patients enrolled in the study. The Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify and differentiate the factors associated with high suicidal risk.

RESULTS: Out of total 160 patients, 65% (n = 104) were female, 92.5% (n = 148) were married, 61.9% (n = 99) were residing in urban area, 93.1% (n = 148) were Hindus, 74.4% (n = 119) patients were living in the nuclear family, 5% (n = 8) patients had family history of psychiatric illness and 10.6% (n = 17) patients were using the substance of abuse. In the Beck scale for suicidal ideation questionnaire, 87.5% (n = 140) patients had moderate to strong wish to live, 89.4% (n = 143) patients responded as they would take precautions to save a life, 88.8% (n = 142) patients had such ideation/wish for brief, 96.3% (n = 154) had not considered for specificity/planning of contemplated suicidal attempt, 91.9% (n = 147) patients stated that they would not attempt active suicide because of a deterrent example from family, religion, irreversibility of the act and 98.1% (n = 157) patients had revealed ideas of deception/concealment of contemplated suicide openly. 16.9% (n = 27) of participants were categorized as high risk for suicide while 83.1% (n = 133) patients were as a low-risk category for suicide based on the Beck scale for suicidal ideation scoring.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study found that most of the suicidal attempts were done as an act of impulse and it is higher among female and married individuals residing in the urban areas. This study did not establish any statistically significant association or differences among independent variables with the higher risk scoring in the Beck suicidal ideation scale.

PMID:34283849 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0254728