Highly differential count of circulating and tumor infiltrating immune cells in patients with non-HCV/non-HBV hepatocellular carcinoma

Background Liver transplantation and liver resection are curative options for early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The outcome is in part depended on the immunological response to the malignancy. In this study, we aimed to identify immunological profiles of non-HCV/non-HBV HCC patients. Methods Thirty-nine immune cell subsets were measured with multicolor flow cytometry. This immunophenotyping was performed in peripheral blood (PB) and tumor specimens of 10 HCC resection patients and 10 healthy donors. The signatures of the highly differential leukocyte count (hDIF) were analyzed using multidimensional techniques. Functional capability was measured using intracellular IFN-γ staining (Trial Registration DRKS00013567). Results The hDIF showed activation (subsets of T-, B-, NK- and dendritic cells) and suppression (subsets of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and T- and B-regulatory cells) of the antitumor response. Principal component analysis of PB and tumor infiltrating leukocytes (TIL) illustrated an antitumor activating gradient. TILs showed functional capability by secreting IFN-γ but did not kill HCC cells. Conclusions In conclusion, the measurement of the hDIF shows distinct differences in immune reactions against non-HBV/non-HCV HCC and illustrates an immunosuppressive gradient toward peripheral blood. Trial Registration DRKS00013567

SEVERITY OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AMONG CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES OF THE CHILDREN

Objective: To evaluate the severity of depression and anxiety among caregivers of children having cerebral palsy and correlate severity with the type of cerebral palsy and functional capability of the child. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Psychiatry and Rehabilitation Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Gujranwala, from Oct 2015 to Aug 2018. Methodology: Through consecutive sampling, 186 caregivers diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression based on the diagnostic criteria of International Classification of Diseases version 10, and their cerebral palsy children were recruited. Symptom severity was assessed using Beck Depressive Inventory for depression and Beck Anxiety Inventory for anxiety. The functional capabilities of the children were assessed through gross motor function classification system (GMFCS). For correlation, Pearson’s chi square test was used using SPSS version 20. Results: The mean age was 30 ± 3.3 years. Fourteen (7.5%) were fathers of cerebral palsy children and 172 (92.5%) were mothers of cerebral palsy children. Majority of the cerebral palsy children 74 (39.8%) had spastic diplegia and the functional level I of gross motor function classification system 53 (28.5%). Most of the caregivers had mild anxiety and minimal depression (33.9% and 38.7% respectively). Significant correlation existed among the gross motor functional capability and the level of anxiety but not with depression (p<0.01 and p=0.155 respectively). No statistical association was found between the type of cerebral palsy and the level of anxiety or depression (p=0.240 and p=0.102 respectively). Conclusion: Most caregivers in our study had mild anxiety and minimal depression..............

Distribution of ETBE-degrading microorganisms and functional capability in groundwater, and implications for characterising aquifer ETBE biodegradation potential

Microbes in aquifers are present suspended in groundwater or attached to the aquifer sediment. Groundwater is often sampled at gasoline ether oxygenate (GEO)-impacted sites to assess the potential biodegradation of organic constituents. However, the distribution of GEO-degrading microorganisms between the groundwater and aquifer sediment must be understood to interpret this potential. In this study, the distribution of ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE)-degrading organisms and ETBE biodegradation potential was investigated in laboratory microcosm studies and mixed groundwater-aquifer sediment samples obtained from pumped monitoring wells at ETBE-impacted sites. ETBE biodegradation potential (as determined by quantification of the ethB gene) was detected predominantly in the attached microbial communities and was below detection limit in the groundwater communities. The copy number of ethB genes varied with borehole purge volume at the field sites. Members of the Comamonadaceae and Gammaproteobacteria families were identified as responders for ETBE biodegradation. However, the detection of the ethB gene is a more appropriate function-based indicator of ETBE biodegradation potential than taxonomic analysis of the microbial community. The study shows that a mixed groundwater-aquifer sediment (slurry) sample collected from monitoring wells after minimal purging can be used to assess the aquifer ETBE biodegradation potential at ETBE-release sites using this function-based concept.

AGING FOOT SYNDROME: PATIENTS SCREENING AND ROUTING

В статье показано, что при оказании медицинской и социальной помощи пациентам старших возрастных групп целесообразно обращать внимание не только на наличие соматических заболеваний и общих гериатрических синдромов, но и проводить скрининг локальных гериатрических синдромов, таких как, в частности, синдром возрастной стопы, которые также влияют на функциональный статус пациентов. Применение скрининга синдрома возрастной стопы, маршрутизации пациентов, а также мер восстановительного лечения позволяют поддерживать на должном уровне состояние общей двигательной активности пациента и качества жизни. The article proves that when providing medical and social care to patients of older age groups, it is advisable to pay attention not only to the patients’ somatic and geriatric status, but also to perform screening of local geriatric syndromes that affect the patients’ functional status, such as, in particular, aging foot syndrome. Implementation of rehabilitation treatment measures that we propose allows to maintain the patients’ mobility level and consequently their general functional capability level and quality of life.

The effect of intravenous golimumab on health-related quality of life and work productivity in patients with active psoriatic arthritis: results of the Phase 3 GO-VIBRANT trial

Introduction/objectives To evaluate changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and productivity following treatment with intravenous (IV) golimumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods Patients were randomized to IV golimumab 2 mg/kg (n=241) at Weeks 0, 4, then every 8 weeks (q8w) through Week 52 or placebo (n=239) at Weeks 0, 4, then q8w, with crossover to IV golimumab 2 mg/kg at Weeks 24, 28, then q8w through Week 52. Change from baseline in EuroQol-5 dimension-5 level (EQ-5D-5L) index and visual analog scale (EQ-VAS), daily productivity VAS, and the Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) was assessed. Relationships between these outcomes and disease activity and patient functional capability were evaluated post hoc. Results At Week 8, change from baseline in EQ-5D-5L index (0.14 vs 0.04), EQ-VAS (17.16 vs 3.69), daily productivity VAS (−2.91 vs −0.71), and WLQ productivity loss score (−2.92 vs −0.78) was greater in the golimumab group versus the placebo group, respectively. At Week 52, change from baseline was similar in the golimumab and placebo-crossover groups (EQ-5D-5L index: 0.17 and 0.15; EQ-VAS: 21.61 and 20.84; daily productivity VAS: −2.89 and −3.31; WLQ productivity loss: −4.49 and −3.28, respectively). HRQoL and productivity were generally associated with disease activity and functional capability, with continued association from Week 8 through Week 52. Conclusion IV golimumab resulted in early and sustained improvements in HRQoL and productivity from Week 8 through 1 year in patients with PsA. HRQoL and productivity improvements were associated with improvements in disease activity and patient functional capability. Key Points• In patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), intravenous (IV) golimumab improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and productivity as early as 8 weeks and maintained improvement through 1 year• Improvements in HRQoL and productivity outcomes in patients with PsA treated with IV golimumab were associated with improvements in disease activity and patient functional capability outcomes• IV golimumab is an effective treatment option for PsA that can mitigate the negative effects of the disease on HRQoL and productivity

MetGEMs Toolbox: Metagenome-scale models as integrative toolbox for uncovering metabolic functions and routes of human gut microbiome

Investigating metabolic functional capability of a human gut microbiome enables the quantification of microbiome changes, which can cause a phenotypic change of host physiology and disease. One possible way to estimate the functional capability of a microbial community is through inferring metagenomic content from 16S rRNA gene sequences. Genome-scale models (GEMs) can be used as scaffold for functional estimation analysis at a systematic level, however up to date, there is no integrative toolbox based on GEMs for uncovering metabolic functions. Here, we developed the MetGEMs (metagenome-scale models) toolbox, an open-source application for inferring metabolic functions from 16S rRNA gene sequences to facilitate the study of the human gut microbiome by the wider scientific community. The developed toolbox was validated using shotgun metagenomic data and shown to be superior in predicting functional composition in human clinical samples compared to existing state-of-the-art tools. Therefore, the MetGEMs toolbox was subsequently applied for annotating putative enzyme functions and metabolic routes related in human disease using atopic dermatitis as a case study.

A Review of Climate Economic Models in Malaysia

This paper presents a review of literature on the development of climate economy models in Malaysia from 1988 to 2020. The type of climate economic models used in Malaysia and their attributes were analyzed. The key attributes reviewed include functions, capability, the various approaches, types of Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and various sectors included in the modelling. The review analysis revealed that climate economic modelling in Malaysia can be categorized into two groups namely Input-Output (I-O) table and Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) models as well as the Integrated Assessment Models (IAM). Both groups of climate economic models complement each other in functional capability to do top-down or bottom-up as well as short-term and long-term analysis. The key contribution of this review is in discovering three key gap clusters that exist in climate economic modelling in Malaysia. These gaps include the coverage on types of GHGs, disclosing the GHG sector’s coverage in the modelling, and the discovering of the exclusion of climate damage functions as well as the unavailability of customized functions to suit Malaysia’s climate and geography. These three key gaps need to be urgently addressed for effective policy interventions in Malaysia and to meet the global goals of the Paris Agreement.

The Effect of Robot-Assisted Gait Training on Locomotor Function and Functional Capability for Daily Activities in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Single-Blinded, Randomized Cross-Over Trial

Purpose: The effectiveness of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in children with cerebral palsy (CP), especially in terms of improving the performance of daily activities, remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of RAGT in children with CP. Methods: In this single-center, single-blinded, randomized cross-over trial, we enrolled 20 children with CP with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels II–IV (13 males; age range, 6.75 ± 2.15 years). The participants were randomized into the RAGT/standard care (SC) (n = 10) and SC/RAGT/SC sequence groups (n = 10). Using a Walkbot-K system, the RAGT program comprised 3 × 30-min sessions/week for 6 weeks with a continued SC program. The SC program comprised 2–4 conventional physiotherapy sessions/week for 6 weeks. The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), the pediatric functional independence measure (WeeFIM), and the Canadian occupational performance measure (COPM) scores were assessed pre- and post-RAGT or SC periods and treatment, period, follow-up, and carry-over effects were analyzed. Energy expenditure and body composition were measured pre- and post-RAGT. Results: Significant treatment effects were observed in dimensions D and E of the GMFM (D: p = 0.018; E: p = 0.021) scores, WeeFIM mobility subtotal (p = 0.007), and COPM performance (p < 0.001) and satisfaction (p = 0.001) measure scores. The period, follow-up, and carry-over effects were not statistically significant. The gross energy cost significantly decreased (p = 0.041) and the skeletal muscle mass increased (p = 0.014) at post-RAGT assessment. The factors associated with functional outcomes showed significant improvements in the GMFM D scores and were mainly observed in children with GMFCS levels II–III compared to those classified at level IV (p = 0.038). Conclusion: RAGT had training benefits for children with CP. Specifically, it improved locomotor function and functional capability for daily activities. These effects were better in ambulatory children with CP. However, as SC interventions continued during the RAGT period, these improvements may be also related to multiple treatment effects.

ADS-B Like UTM Surveillance Using APRS Infrastructure

Automatic packet reporting system (APRS) is selected as a candidate for automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) like solution for unmanned aircraft system traffic management (UTM). The APRS on-board unit (OBU) at 0.5 W radio power and a proper ground transceiver station (GTS) deployment together makes up the infrastructure for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance. The airborne APRS OBU, designed and built using an available LightAPRS module, and the GTS to relay received data into the UTM Cloud is developed in this study. By system integration, the APRS OBU reports position data and flight data periodically to UTM Cloud. This paper presents the development of the ADS-B like operation for UTM using APRS. To avoid communication jamming by HAMs, the adopted APRS shifts its carrying frequency from 144.64 MHz to 144.61 MHz. In addition, the data period is tuned to around 10 s to test its functional capability. The APRS OBU downlinks 90 bytes of surveillance data onto the UTM cloud using the Internet, including position and flight data from Pixhawk flight controller (FC). A series of system performance verifications are conducted to examine APRS ADS-B like reliability and continuity with coverage limit. Through 19 flight tests, the GTS collected 1330 packets of data out of 1331 transmitted from the APRS OBU. Each data packet has the complete 90 bytes for surveillance with position and six degree-of-freedom (DoF) flight data on the UTM cloud. The APRS GTS deployment, with a low rate of missing data, covers a 40 km radius at the specific frequency of 144.61 MHz. The test results verify the functional capability of APRS to support an ADS-B like for UTM in Taiwan.