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Bioresour Technol 2021 May 12;335:125255. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution (Hong Kong Branch) and Water Technology Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, HKUST Fork Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Guangdong, China. Electronic address:

This study investigated a new bioresource technology of recovering raw chemicals of sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) from the digested saline waste activated sludge (WAS) that naturally contained 3-30% (w/w) of SPs. Two bench-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) experiments were conducted under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions; the effectiveness of extracting SPs from digested WAS and the biochemical characteristics of SPs were examined. After 20-days of digestion, the results showed that approximately 54 - 58% of initial total SPs in WAS were recoverable, in which 38 - 48% in solid digestate and 10-15% in liquid supernatant). Read More

Appl Ergon 2021 May 12;95:103458. Epub 2021 May 12.

University of South Australia: Allied Health and Human Performance, iCAHE (International Centre for Allied Health Evidence), Adelaide, Australia.

Smartphone use is a risk factor for both neck and shoulder musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate an ergonomic arm support prototype device, which may help improve posture while using a smartphone, by determining its effect on muscle activity, muscle fatigue, and neck and shoulder discomfort. Twenty-four healthy young adult smartphone users performed 20 min of smartphone game playing under two different conditions, smartphone use with support prototype device (i. Read More

Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2021 Apr 20;39:100395. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Tokushima Research Institute, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 463-10 Kagasuno, Kawauchi-cho, Tokushima, 771-0192, Japan. Electronic address:

We constructed machine learning-based pharmacokinetic prediction models with very high performance. The models were trained on 26138 and 16613 compounds involved in metabolic stability and cytochrome P450 inhibition, respectively. Because the compound features largely differed between the publicly available and in-house compounds, the models learned on the public data could not predict the in-house compounds, suggesting that outside of a certain applicability domain (AD), the prediction results are unreliable and can mislead the design of novel compounds. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611.

Rationale: Atopic dermatitis(AD) causes sleep disturbance, yet the epidemiology is not known.

Objective: Estimate the US prevalence of sleep disturbance and its impact on psychological and neurocognitive function.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 180 parent-child dyads with AD, using stratified sampling based on disease severity(POEM,Patient Oriented Eczema Measure,mild(n=30)/moderate(n=75)/severe (n=75)), age, and race (White/Black or African American/Other). Read More

Neuroimage 2021 May 12:118143. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; Department of Artificial Intelligence, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known as one of the major causes of dementia and is characterized by slow progression over several years, with no treatments or available medicines. In this regard, there have been efforts to identify the risk of developing AD in its earliest time. While many of the previous works considered cross-sectional analysis, more recent studies have focused on the diagnosis and prognosis of AD with longitudinal or time series data in a way of disease progression modeling. Read More

Diabetes Metab 2021 May 12:101255. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, CHU Côte de Nacre, 14033 Caen CEDEX, France; University of Caen Basse-Normandie, Medical School, 14032 Caen CEDEX, France. Electronic address:

Background: Bariatric surgery in obese subjects can result in remission of type 2 diabetes (T2D) at some future point post-surgery. The aim of our observational prospective single-centre study was to examine glycaemic patterns in adult T2D candidates for bariatric surgery using a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor for 14 days after surgery to search for indicators predictive of T2D remission 1 year later.

Methods: Patients underwent CGM preoperatively and for 14 days postoperatively. Read More

Brain Res Bull 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, 9-Western Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian, Liaoning, 116044, China. Electronic address:

Sialylation, one of the most common and complex modes of glycosylation, corresponds with the development of the infant brain and nervous system. The most prevalent neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is mainly characterized by cognitive decline and behavioral disorders. However, the relationship between sialylation and AD occurrence is poorly understood. Read More

Environ Res 2021 May 12:111320. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Chemistry, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry Laboratories, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa-516005, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Cholinesterase enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) cause hydrolysis of acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter responsible for the cognitive functions of the brain such as acquiring knowledge and comprehension. Therefore, inhibition of these enzymes is an effective process to curb the progressive and fatal neurological Alzheimer's disease (AD). Herein, we explored the potential inhibitory activities of various pyridine, quinoxaline, and triazine derivatives (3a-k, 6a-j and 11a-h) against AChE and BuChE enzymes by following the modified Ellman's method. Read More

Life Sci 2021 May 12:119612. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address:

Aim Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer that usually develops in a background of chronic liver disease and prolonged inflammation. A major contributor in the complex molecular pathogenesis of HCC is the highly intertwined cross-talk between the tumor and the surrounding stromal cells, such as hepatic stellate cells, endothelial cells, macrophages and other immune cells. These tumor-stroma interactions actively fuel tumor growth and modulate the hepatic microenvironment to benefit tumor invasion and disease progression. Read More

Brain Res 2021 May 12:147517. Epub 2021 May 12.

Zanjan Applied Pharmacology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; Department of Pharmacology and toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the greatest geriatric medicinal challenges of our century and is the main disease leading to dementia. Despite extensive scientific research advances, available disease-modifying treatment strategies remained limited; thus, increasing demand for new drugs. In recent years, medicinal plants attracted attention due to their potential role in dementia. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021 May 15. Epub 2021 May 15.

Pfizer Inc, New York, NY, USA.

Given the lack of head-to-head studies of systemic therapies in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), network meta-analyses (NMAs) can provide comparative efficacy and safety data to inform clinical decision making. In this NMA, eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before October 24, 2019 were identified by a systematic literature review. Short-term (12-16 weeks) efficacy (Investigator's Global Assessment [IGA] and Eczema Area and Severity Index [EASI] responses), patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and safety data from each trial were abstracted and analyzed separately for monotherapy and combination-therapy (systemic plus topical anti-inflammatory therapy). Read More

Water Environ Res 2021 May 15. Epub 2021 May 15.

Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, JHE 301, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a biological treatment process to stabilize organic solids and produce biogas. If present, sulfate is reduced to sulfide by anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria and the sulfide can be toxic to anaerobic microorganisms. Here the effect of high initial sulfate concentration on AD of wastewater sludge was investigated using lab-scale batch experiments. Read More

Eur Radiol 2021 May 15. Epub 2021 May 15.

Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.

Objectives: To evaluate the utility of the splenial angle (SA), an axial angular index of lateral ventriculomegaly measured on diffusion tensor MRI color fractional anisotropy maps, in differentiating NPH from Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and healthy controls (HC), and post-shunt changes in NPH, compared to Evans' index and callosal angle.

Methods: Evans' index, callosal angle, and SA were measured on brain MRI of 76 subjects comprising equal numbers of age- and sex-matched subjects from each cohort of NPH, AD, PD, and HC by two raters. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and multivariable analysis were used to assess the screening performance of each measure in differentiating and predicting NPH from non-NPH groups respectively. Read More

J Vet Intern Med 2021 May 15. Epub 2021 May 15.

Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.

Background: Many diabetic dogs and cats require small doses of insulin that must be administered accurately.

Objectives: To compare the accuracy and precision of insulin syringes and pen-injectors.

Animals: None. Read More

Alzheimers Dement 2021 May 14. Epub 2021 May 14.

Cognitive Neuroscience Division of the Department of Neurology and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.

Introduction: Identifying the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD) for individual patients is important for numerous clinical applications. Ideally, prognostic models should provide information about a range of clinical features across the entire disease process. Previously, we published a new comprehensive longitudinal model of AD progression with inputs/outputs covering 11 interconnected clinical measurement domains. Read More

Alzheimers Dement 2021 May 14. Epub 2021 May 14.

Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium.

Introduction: Neurofilament light (NfL), chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40), and neurogranin (Ng) are biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) to monitor axonal damage, astroglial activation, and synaptic degeneration, respectively.

Methods: We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using DNA and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from the EMIF-AD Multimodal Biomarker Discovery study for discovery, and the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative study for validation analyses. GWAS were performed for all three CSF biomarkers using linear regression models adjusting for relevant covariates. Read More

Cancer Sci 2021 May 15. Epub 2021 May 15.

Office of New Drug V, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Tokyo, Japan.

Clinical studies intended for regulatory approval must demonstrate the clinical benefits of the drug in a target population. Clinical development of a drug proceeds via stepwise clinical studies; after safety and pharmacokinetics are evaluated and the recommended dosage and administration are determined, efficacy and safety are evaluated in an exploratory manner, and finally clinical benefits are compared with conventional standard therapies. Guidelines for the clinical evaluation of anti-cancer drugs in Japan were established in 1991 and amended in 2006 after molecular-targeted drugs were introduced. Read More

NPJ Digit Med 2021 May 14;4(1):84. Epub 2021 May 14.

Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

In this study, we explored the feasibility of using real-world data (RWD) from a large clinical research network to simulate real-world clinical trials of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The target trial (i.e. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 May 14;11(1):10343. Epub 2021 May 14.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 05505, South Korea.

Imaging biomarkers support the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We aimed to determine whether combining automated brain volumetry on MRI and quantitative measurement of tau deposition on [18F] THK-5351 PET can aid discrimination of AD spectrum. From a prospective database in an IRB-approved multicenter study (NCT02656498), 113 subjects (32 healthy control, 55 mild cognitive impairment, and 26 Alzheimer disease) with baseline structural MRI and [18F] THK-5351 PET were included. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 May 14;11(1):10333. Epub 2021 May 14.

Department of Neurology, Semmelweis University, Budapest Balassa utca 6., Budapest, 1083, Hungary.

Hungary has a single-payer health insurance system covering 10 million inhabitants. All medical reports of the in- and outpatient specialist services were collected in the NEUROHUN database. We used ICD-10 codes of Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), miscellaneous dementia group and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) for the inclusion of the patients. Read More

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.

Abstract: Aortic aneurysm (AA) remains one of the primary causes of death worldwide. Of the major treatments, prophylactic operative repair is used for AA to avoid potential aortic dissection (AD) or rupture. To halt the development of AA and alleviate its progression into AD, pharmacological treatment has been investigated for years. Read More

Bioresour Technol 2021 Apr 30;335:125234. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment, Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China; School of Technology, Huzhou University, Huzhou 311800, China. Electronic address:

An integrated two-phase AD with acidogenic off-gas diversion from a leach bed reactor to an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket was developed for improving methane production. However, this system had its own technical limitation such as mass transfer efficiency for solid-state treatment. In order to optimize the mass transfer in this two phase AD system, leachate recirculation with various water replacement rates regulating the total solids contents (TS) at 12. Read More

Waste Manag 2021 May 11;128:122-131. Epub 2021 May 11.

Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Biosciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA 94720, United States.

Diverting organic waste from landfills provides significant emissions benefits in addition to preserving landfill capacity and creating value-added energy and compost products. Dry anaerobic digestion (AD) is particularly attractive for managing the organic fraction of municipal solid waste because of its high-solids composition and minimal water requirements. This study utilizes empirical data from operational facilities in California in order to explore the key drivers of dry AD facility profitability, impacts of market forces, and the efficacy of policy incentives. Read More

Behav Brain Res 2021 May 11:113354. Epub 2021 May 11.

Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPSYLON EA 4556, F34000, Montpellier, France.

Performance on timing tasks changes with age. Whether these changes reflect a real "clock" problem due to aging or a secondary effect of the reduced cognitive resources of older adults still remains an unsettled question. Research on processing of time in aged populations marked by severe mnemonic and/or attentional deficits, such as patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), may help elucidate the role of cognitive resources in age-related temporal distortions. Read More

Exp Neurol 2021 May 11:113756. Epub 2021 May 11.

Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University, Hněvotínská 5, 77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic. Electronic address:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterised by the accumulation of intracytoplasmic aggregates of tau protein, which are suggested to spread in a prion-like manner between interconnected brain regions. This spreading is mediated by the secretion and uptake of tau from the extracellular space or direct cell-to-cell transmission through cellular protrusions. The prion-like tau then converts the endogenous, normal tau into pathological forms, resulting in neurodegeneration. Read More

Hum Vaccin Immunother 2021 May 14:1-12. Epub 2021 May 14.

IRD Global, Singapore, Singapore.

Auto-disable (AD) syringes are specifically designed to prevent syringe reuse. However, the notion that specific AD syringe designs may be unsafe due to reuse concerns related to the syringe's activation point has surfaced. We conducted a systematic review for evidence on the association between AD syringe design and syringe reuse, adverse events following immunization (AEFI), or blood borne virus (BBV) transmission. Read More

J Med Econ 2021 May 14. Epub 2021 May 14.

Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the predominant cause of dementia and a leading cause of death globally. With no cure or treatment to slow disease progression, AD-related healthcare costs are substantial and increase as the severity of the disease progresses. Given the complexity of this disease, including initial pathophysiological damage occurring decades before clinical manifestation, finding new impactful treatments for AD relies on highly innovative research and development. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021 May 14. Epub 2021 May 14.

German Center for Health Services Research in Dermatology (CVderm), Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Patients with chronic skin diseases suffer from physical and psychosocial impairments which can lead to a cumulative lifelong burden. Therefore, the concept of cumulative life course impairment (CLCI) was introduced, referring to the nonreversible damage due to the persistent life-long burden. This systematic review (PROSPERO registry number: CRD42020179141) aimed at mapping the risk factors and the associated burden over time in patients with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021 May 14. Epub 2021 May 14.

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) has far-reaching consequences in childhood and later in working life, but information on how it affects completion of education is sparse.

Objectives: To compare the educational achievement of individuals with AD in childhood/adolescence and individuals without a history of AD.

Methods: The study population included patients diagnosed with AD prior to the age of 16 registered in the Danish National Patient Register (DNPR) born in the period 1977-1993 and a 23-fold matched control group from the background population. Read More

Metab Brain Dis 2021 May 14. Epub 2021 May 14.

Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan.

As progressive, chronic, incurable and common reasons for disability and death, neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are significant threats to human health. Besides, the increasing prevalence of neuronal gradual degeneration and death during NDDs has made them a global concern. Since yet, no effective treatment has been developed to combat multiple dysregulated pathways/mediators and related complications in NDDs. Read More