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Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep 2021 Feb 26;2021. Epub 2021 Feb 26.

Department of Endocrinology, Chiba Children's Hospital, Chiba, Japan.

Summary: Ammonium acid urate (AAU) crystals are rare in industrialized countries. Furthermore, the number of children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) who develop severe acute kidney injury (AKI) after hospitalization is small. We encountered two patients with AKI caused by AAU crystals during the recovery phase of DKA upon admission. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021 Apr 14;557:174-179. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Division of Applied Pharmacology, Department of Health Promotion, Kyushu Dental University, 2-6-1 Manazuru, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu 803-8580, Japan. Electronic address:

Involvement of the bone matrix protein osteocalcin (OC) in the development of learning and memory, and the prevention of anxiety-like behaviors in mice. However, the direct effects of OC on neurons are still unknown comparing to the mechanism how OC affects systemic energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the effect of OC on proliferation, differentiation, and survival of neurons using the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021 Apr 14;557:166-173. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

Background: Renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) has become a growing concern in clinical practice with high morbidity and mortality rates. There is currently no effective prophylactic regimen available to prevent its occurrence and to improve its clinical prognosis. Dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) has been used for stroke treatment in China for years. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021 Apr 14;557:127-134. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Department of General Medicine, The Sixth Annex Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Wulumuqi, 830002, China. Electronic address:

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) has high morbidity and mortality worldwide, but the underlying mechanisms have not been entirely understood. TRIM27 is one of the Tri-domain proteins (TRIM) family proteins with crucial roles in numerous life processes. In the study, we attempted to explore the effects of heart-conditional knockout of TRIM27 (TRIM27) on MI/R progression both in vivo and in vitro. Read More

Eur J Cancer 2021 Apr 14;149:184-192. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy, University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Background: RAS variant-related functional impact on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, and correlation between MAPK activation and MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor responsiveness, is not established.

Patients And Methods: Of 1,693 tumours sequenced, 576 harboured a RAS alteration; 62 patients received an MEK inhibitor (MEKi) and had RAS mutations that were functionally characterised. We report that RAS mutants have variable levels of MAPK activity, as measured by a functional cell-based assay that quantified MAPK pathway activation after transfection with a variety of RAS mutations. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2021 Mar 16;82:105785. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, No. 325, Sec. 2, Chenggong Rd., Neihu District, Taipei City, 11490, Taiwan, ROC.

Introduction: Bladder urothelial carcinoma rarely spreads to the gastrointestinal tract, and its presentation in the rectum varies. We report a case of a patient who presented with an annular constriction of the rectum.

Presentation Of Case: A 60-year-old man was referred to our hospital with chief complaints of anal stricture and partial obstruction for about 1 month. Read More

Nurse Educ Today 2021 Apr 9;101:104889. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia.

Background: Use of academic electronic medical records is internationally recognised as a means for preparing health professional students for the digital healthcare environment. Reported practice benefits include skills for electronic documentation, health informatics, point-of-care clinical decision support systems, as well as preparation for information technology-enabled clinical settings, while challenges include lack of access to simulation software, faculty-related barriers, limited finances and educational software costs. However, little is known about best practices related to its use within pre-licensure or entry-to-practice nursing curricula and impact on clinical practice outcomes. Read More

Nurse Educ Today 2021 Apr 8;101:104882. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, North Cyprus, via Mersin 10, Turkey. Electronic address:

Objective: Currently, environmental problems have reached alarming levels, constituting a serious problem for public health. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the environmental awareness and sensitivity of nursing students.

Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 286 nursing students of a foundation university in Northern Cyprus in the fall term of the 2016-2017 academic year. Read More

Clin Imaging 2021 Apr 14;79:12-19. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Department, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Shamplion Street, Alexandria 21131, Egypt. Electronic address:

Purpose: To report imaging findings at computed tomography angiography (CTA) and venography (CTV) of the abdomen and pelvis in evaluation of hemorrhagic and thrombotic lesions in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, patients admitted to a single tertiary care center from April 1 to July 20, 2020, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and developed acute abdominal pain or decreasing hemoglobin levels over the course of hospitalization were included. Abdominal CTA/CTV imaging studies performed in these patients were reviewed, and acute hemorrhagic or thromboembolic findings were recorded. Read More

J Psychiatr Res 2021 Apr 9;138:194-199. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Nabeshima 5-1-1, Saga, 849-8501, Japan.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that is considered a valuable and promising technique for improving depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, the exact mechanism by which rTMS ameliorates depressive symptoms remains to be clarified.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyzed the changes in metabolites of patients with TRD in the rTMS treatment, especially focusing on the kynurenine (KYN) pathway. Read More

J Environ Manage 2021 Apr 14;290:112554. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Jointly Sponsored by Beijing Normal University and Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100875, China; Beijing Engineering Research Center for Global Land Remote Sensing Products, Institute of Remote Sensing Science and Engineering, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.

Keeping urbanization, economy and eco-environment in harmony is a core issue for attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in any complex geographical regions. Previous studies mainly focused on seeking the balance between urban expansion levels, eco-environment quality and socioeconomic degree. But the challenges still exist in solving the negative influence of urban expansion that affects eco-environmental and economic development. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Apr 14;783:146968. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Center for Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.

The interactions between plants and soils lead to complex feedbacks that regulate intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) and stomatal conductance (gs) at ecosystem level and reflect water constraints on plant productivity. However, the relationships among soil properties, biodiversity, and leaf functional traits contributing to the variability in ecosystem iWUE and gs remain largely unknown. To elucidate these relationships, we used principal component analysis to reduce soil properties to a fertility spectrum and a limiting-resource spectrum across grassland, and early-, mid- and late-successional forests in a karst catchment. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Mar 31;783:146871. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address:

This paper introduces a framework for extending global climate and socioeconomic scenarios in order to study agricultural nutrient pollution on an individual catchment scale. Our framework builds on and extends Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) and Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) at the spatial and temporal scales that are relevant for the drivers of animal husbandry, manure recycling and the application of inorganic fertilisers in crop production. Our case study area is the Aura river catchment in South-West Finland, which discharges into the heavily eutrophic Baltic Sea. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Apr 9;783:147002. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China.

The reduction of Fe(III) by metal-reducing bacteria through extracellular electron transfer (EET) is a critical link in the biogeochemical cycle of As/Fe, and humic substances are believed to play a role in this process. In this study, the indigenous As-resistant bacterium Bacillus D2201 isolated from the Datong Basin was responsible for the valence transition of Fe and As in the groundwater environment. The bacterium has both the arsC gene for intracellular arsenate reduction and an EET pathway for transferring electrons to an electrode or Fe(III). Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Apr 9;783:146994. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Post-Graduate Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.

Different and alternative renewable-source materials, commonly called bioplastics, have been proposed due to the high production and consumption of petroleum-derived plastics and to their high toxicity in the biota. However, their toxicological safety has not yet been assessed in a comprehensive way; therefore, their effects on several animal groups remain completely unknown. Thus, we aimed at testing the following hypothesis: the exposure of Physalaemus cuvieri tadpoles to polylaic acid biomicroplastic (PLA BioMP) at environmentally relevant concentrations (760 and 15,020 μg/L) induces physiological changes in them. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Mar 30;783:146701. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Japan.

Since 2008, we have conducted epidemiological cohort studies on the relationship between dioxin exposure and disruption with children in the area sprayed with defoliants during the Vietnam War. In a long-term survey of children through the age of five, we observed androgen disruption due to decreased dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone levels. In this study of 7-year-old, we separately elucidated androgen disruption for boys and girls, and discussed with respect to hormone disruption with sex differences on the steroid hormone biosynthesis process. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2021 Apr 8;783:146948. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, Jiangsu, China.

Developing models that can accurately simulate groundwater level is important for water resource management and aquifer protection. In particular, machine learning tools provide a new and promising approach to efficiently forecast long-term groundwater table fluctuations without the computational burden of building a detailed flow model. This study proposes a multistep modeling framework for simulating groundwater levels by combining the wavelet transform (WT) with the long short-term memory (LSTM) network; the framework is named the combined WT-multivariate LSTM (WT-MLSTM) method. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2021 Apr 6;416:125817. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Russian Institute of Radiology and Agroecology, Kievskoe shosse, 109 km, 49020 Obninsk, Russia.

An assessment of cytogenetic effects in crested hairgrass (Koeleria gracilis Pers.) populations was carried out within the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site (Kazakhstan) where combat radioactive substances were tested in 1953-1957. Current levels of radioactive contamination within this site are varied by orders of magnitude, while soil characteristics and heavy metal pollution are similar. Read More

Nurse Educ Pract 2021 Mar 19;52:103025. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

University of Granada. Faculty of Education and Sport, Melilla, Spain. Electronic address:

The inclusion of the smartphone in society has brought many advantages, but also disadvantages, such as nomophobia, considered as a digital disease generated by the excessive use of the smartphone. The general objective of the research is to know and analyse the prevalence of nomophobia among nursing students and knowing the influence of time to rest. The research design is descriptive, correlational, transversal and predictive with a quantitative research methodology. Read More

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2021 Apr 14;119:104506. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.

An abnormal remodelling process of bones can lead to various bone disorders, such as osteoporosis, making them prone to fracture. Simulations of load-induced remodelling of trabecular bone were used to investigate its response to mechanical signal. However, the role of mechanostat in trabecular-bone remodelling has not yet been investigated in simulations underpinned by a longitudinal in-vivo study in humans. Read More

Mar Pollut Bull 2021 Apr 14;167:112332. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, UK. Electronic address:

Sewage overflows (SOs) and Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) significantly contribute to the bacterial contamination of coastal waters, which is of especial concern for aquaculture, a growing industry worldwide. Hydrodynamic and water quality models were used to investigate impacts of CSO discharge frequency and duration, river discharge and tides on Escherichia coli levels at shellfish farming sites in the Dart Estuary (UK), being the employed methodology generally applicable. High E. Read More

Leuk Res 2021 Mar 31;106:106565. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218, Jixi Road, Shushan District, Hefei City, Anhui Province, 230032, China. Electronic address:

Background: Numerous long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are reported to affect the progression of multiple myeloma (MM). This study is aimed to explore the role and downstream mechanism of lncRNA LINC01003 in MM.

Materials And Methods: Xenograft tumor assay was used to assess the function of LINC01003 in MM in vivo. Read More

J Clin Virol 2021 Apr 10;139:104820. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address:

Background: Neutralization tests (NT) are the gold standard for detecting and quantifying anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAb), but their complexity restricts them to research settings or reference laboratories. Antibodies against S protein receptor binding domain (RBD) have been shown to confer a neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2. Assays quantitatively measuring anti-S1-RBD-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies could be of great value for NAb screening of potential donors for convalescent-phase plasma therapy, assessing natural or vaccine-induced immunity, stratifying individuals for vaccine receipt, and documenting vaccine response. Read More

J Environ Manage 2021 Apr 14;289:112561. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Institute of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Campinas, P.O. Box 6154, 13084-971, Campinas, SP, Brazil.

The consumption of low-calorie sweeteners (LCSs) such as acesulfame (ACE), sucralose (SUC), saccharin (SAC), cyclamate (CYC), aspartame (ASP), neotame (NEO), and stevioside (STV) is increasing worldwide to meet the demand for reduced-calorie foods and beverages. However, there are no consumption data available in Brazil, as well as their concentration in sewage and removal on wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In the present study, ACE, SUC, SAC, CYC, ASP, NEO, and STV were assessed at five WWTPs located in the metropolitan region of Campinas (São Paulo State, Brazil), in operation with different treatment processes. Read More

Hear Res 2021 Apr 8;405:108243. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Department of Anatomy, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, 1858 West Grandview Blvd, Erie, PA 16504, United States. Electronic address:

Excitotoxic injury during the neonatal period has been shown to result in neurodegenerative changes in several different brain regions. Exposure to monosodium glutamate (MSG) during the first two postnatal weeks results in glutamate neurotoxicity in the cochlea and has been shown to result in damage to cochlear hair cells and fewer neurons in the spiral ganglion. Further, we have shown that such exposure results in fewer neurons in the cochlear nucleus and superior olivary complex and abnormal expression of the calcium binding proteins calbindin and calretinin. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2021 Apr 14;139:111593. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

School of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Stem Cell Research Center, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Basic Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background: Cerebral ischemic events, comprising of excitotoxicity, reactive oxygen production, and inflammation, adversely impact the metabolic-redox circuit in highly active neuronal metabolic profile which maintains energy-dependent brain activities. Therefore, we investigated neuro-regenerative potential of melatonin (Mel), a natural biomaterial secreted by pineal gland.

Methods: We specifically determined whether Mel could influence tunneling nanotubes (TNTs)-mediated transfer of functional mitochondria (Mito) which in turn may alter membrane potential, oxidative stress and apoptotic factors. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2021 Apr 14;139:111587. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address:

Salvia-Nelumbinis naturalis (SNN) formula is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, and has been confirmed to be effective in treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. Here we showed that 4-week SNN administration alleviated methionine-choline-deficiency (MCD) diet-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation as well as serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) increase in C57BL/6 mice. Fecal 16S rDNA sequencing indicated that SNN altered the structure of gut microbiota and partially reversed the gut dysbiosis. Read More

Health Place 2021 Apr 13;69:102568. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

School of Earth, Environment & Society, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada. Electronic address:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health agencies and decision-makers have used social media to disseminate information, encourage changes to behaviour and promote community supports and resources. Their communications have served to educate the public on risks and initiate the widespread adoption of public health measures to 'flatten the curve'. We conducted a content analysis of COVID-19 Tweets by Canadian public health accounts during the first 6 months of the pandemic to explore differences in Tweeting practices by geography and identify opportunities to improve risk communication. Read More

Sleep Med Rev 2021 Mar 20;58:101482. Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Adelaide, Australia.

University students have low levels of physical activity and report disturbances to sleep, which are independently associated with poor health outcomes. Some research suggests that there is a bi-directional relationship between sleep and physical activity in adults. However, the relationship between sleep and physical activity in university students has not yet been evaluated. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2021 Apr 14;217:112230. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, 325035 Wenzhou, China. Electronic address:

Cadmium (Cd) has been widely used in industry and can accumulate in the water, soil, and food. Meretrix meretrix is one of the marine shellfishes cultivated for economic purpose in China. The increasing Cd levels in coastal marine water could adversely affect the economic benefits of shellfish cultivation. Read More