BackgroundEducational interventions to improve teamwork in crisis situations have proliferated in recent years with substantial variation in teamwork measurement. This systematic review aimed to ...synthesise available tools and their measurement properties in order to identify the most robust tool for measuring the teamwork performance of teams in crisis situations.MethodsSearches were conducted in Embase (via OVID), PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Education Resources Information Center, Medline and Medline In-Process (via OVID) (through 12 January 2017). Studies evaluating the measurement properties of teamwork assessment tools for teams in clinical or simulated crisis situations were included. Two independent reviewers screened studies based on predetermined criteria and completed data extraction. Risk of bias was assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist.ResultsThe search yielded 1822 references. Twenty studies were included, representing 13 assessment tools. Tools were primarily assessed in simulated resuscitation scenarios for emergency department teams. The Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM) had the most validation studies (n=5), which demonstrated three sources of validity (content, construct and concurrent) and three sources of reliability (internal consistency, inter-rater reliability and test–retest reliability). Most studies of TEAM’s measurement properties were at no risk of bias.ConclusionsA number of tools are available for assessing teamwork performance of teams in crisis situations. Although selection will ultimately depend on the user’s context, TEAM may be the most promising tool given its measurement evidence. Currently, there is a lack of tools to assess teamwork performance during intraoperative crisis situations. Additional research is needed in this regard.
Wild-type aerolysin (AeL) nanopores allow direct single nucleotide discrimination of very short oligonucleotides (≤10 nt) without labelling, which shows great potential for DNA sensing. To achieve ...real applications, one major obstacle of AeL is its poor capture ability of long single-stranded DNA (ssDNA, >10 nt). Here, we have proposed a novel and robust strategy for the electrostatic focusing of long ssDNA into a lithium-chloride (LiCl)-active AeL. By using this method, for the first time we have demonstrated AeL detection of ssDNA longer than 100 nt. Due to screening more negative charges, LiCl improves AeL capture ability of long ssDNA (
60 nt) by 2.63- to 10.23-fold compared to KCl. Further calculations and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that strong binding between Li
and the negatively charged residue neutralized the AeL, leading to a reduction in the energy barrier for ssDNA capture. These findings facilitate the future high-throughput applications of AeL in genetic and epigenetic diagnostics.
Background
Trigger transposable element–derived 1 (TIGD1), a human species–specific gene, was identified as a cell cycle–related differentially expressed gene during the formation of liver cancer. As ...far as we know, there are no reports about the function of TIGD1. This study aimed to explore the expression of TIGD1 in human cancers and establish whether elevated TIGD1 can be used as a prognostic cancer biomarker and its potential role in cancer.
Methods
Molecular profiling of TIGD1 in human cancers was assessed using a series of databases, including Oncomine, COSMIC, Kaplan‐Meier, UCSC, and cBioPortal.
Results
We found that TIGD1 overexpressed in colorectal, gastric, liver, lung, and pancreatic cancers than their normal tissues and its expression might be negatively related with the prognosis. The TIGD1 coexpression genes were obtained from cBioPortal and analyzed using ClueGO plugin in Cytoscape to predict the function of TIGD1.
Conclusions
In summary, the elevated TIGD1 expression is coupled with a malignant survival rate in several cancers. It may play its role by regulating cell‐cycle progression. These findings provide fresh insight into our understanding of TEs in cancers. As a previously unreported gene, future research is required to validate our findings and illuminate the molecular mechanisms. In conclusion, we systemically analyze the expression, prognostic value, and likely role of TIGD1, the unknown function gene, in cancer. Our finding provides evidence that TIGD1 involve in the cell cycle. These findings provide fresh insight into our understanding of TEs in cancers. Next, the detailed mechanism of TIGD1 needs to be studied in the future.
Conflicting results have been obtained for the association between two common polymorphisms (C282Y, H63D) of human HFE (hereditary hemochromatosis) gene and the risks of the liver diseases, including ...non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
An updated systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential role of HFE polymorphisms in the susceptibility to NAFLD, liver cirrhosis and HCC. After retrieving articles from online databases, eligible studies were enrolled according to the selection criteria. Stata/SE 12.0 software was utilized to perform the statistical analysis.
In total, 43 articles with 5,758 cases and 14,741 controls were selected. Compared with the control group, a significantly increased risk of NAFLD was observed for the C282Y polymorphism in the Caucasian population under all genetic models and for the H63D polymorphism under the allele, heterozygote and dominant models (all OR>1, Passociation<0.05). However, no significant difference between liver cirrhosis cases and the control group was observed for HFE C282Y and H63D (all Passociation>0.05). In addition, we found that HFE C282Y was statistically associated with increased HCC susceptibility in the overall population, while H63D increased the odds of developing non-cirrhotic HCC in the African population (all OR>1, Passociation<0.05). Moreover, a positive association between compound heterozygosity for C282Y/H63D and the risk of NAFLD and HCC, but not liver cirrhosis, was observed.
Our meta-analysis provides evidence that the HFE C282Y and H63D polymorphisms confer increased genetic susceptibility to NAFLD and HCC but not liver cirrhosis. Additional well-powered studies are required to confirm our conclusion.
Ferroptosis contributes to the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF), although the mechanisms are still largely uncovered. The current study was designed to explore the pharmacological effects of ...icariin against ethanol-induced atrial remodeling, if any, and the mechanisms involved with a focus on SIRT1 signaling. Excessive ethanol-treated animals were administered with Ferrostatin-1, Erastin or icariin to evaluate the potential effects of icariin or ferroptosis. Then, the underling mechanisms was further explored in the in vitro experiments using HL-1 atrial myocytes. Excessive ethanol administration caused significant atrial damage as evidenced by increased susceptibility to AF, altered atrial conduction pattern, atrial enlargement, and enhanced fibrotic markers. These detrimental effects were reversed by Ferrostatin-1 or icariin treatment, while Erastin co-administration markedly abolished the beneficial actions conferred by icariin. Mechanistically, ethanol-treated atria exhibited markedly up-regulated pro-ferroptotic protein (PTGS2, ACSL4, P53) and suppressed anti-ferroptotic molecules (GPX4, FTH1). Icariin treatment inhibited ethanol-induced atrial ferroptosis by reducing atrial mitochondrial damage, ROS accumulation and iron overload. Interestingly, the in vivo and in vitro data showed that icariin activated atrial SIRT1-Nrf-2-HO-1 signaling pathway, while EX527 not only reversed these effects, but also abolished the therapeutic effects of icariin. Moreover, the stimulatory effects on GPX4, SLC7A11 and the suppressive effects on ACSL4, P53 conferred by icariin were blunted by EX527 treatment. These data demonstrate that ferroptosis plays a causative role in the pathogenesis of ethanol-induced atrial remodeling and susceptibility to AF. Icariin protects against atrial damage by inhibiting ferroptosis via SIRT1 signaling. Its role as a prophylactic/therapeutic drug deserves further clinical study.
The use of agents to circle a moving target and estimate its states with bearing measurements only is a kind of passive tracking technique, and has received wide attention in recent years. However, ...the performance of the existing estimation and control laws for moving agent are still not so satisfactory when the target position is not known beforehand. In this paper, an unbiased estimator to locate the position of the target and a controller to circumnavigate around the target at a prescribed circular distance are investigated for an unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV). First, a rough target-state estimator and a rough two-stage saturation UAV circumnavigation strategy are introduced, and their convergence performance is analyzed. Second, a virtual intersecting localization algorithm (VILA) is proposed based on a rough estimation strategy, and then the accurate target-state estimation is obtained with a Kalman filter. Third, the UAV rough circumnavigating strategy is modified with the accurate target-state estimation. By numerical simulation, it is verified that the steady estimation error with VILA is asymptotically unbiased, and the estimation accuracy is much higher than that of the existing estimation methods. It is also proven that the control error by the proposed UAV circumnavigating strategy can asymptotically converge to zero by the modified controller, which is also superior to that for the existing circumnavigating controller.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks fourth in global cancer mortality, accounting for 8.2% of all cancer deaths. Early detection of HCC has a significant impact on clinical outcomes. The aim of this ...study was to identify blood-based biomarkers which are HCC-specific.
Comprehensive gene expression raw data of purified RNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was downloaded from GEO and was then analyzed. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HCC were screened and the method of weighted gene co-expression network analysis was applied to identify candidate blood-based biomarkers associated with HCC.
Three modules closely related to HCC were screened using WGCNA. Nuclear localization signal (NLS)-bearing protein import into nucleus biological process was the most significant enriched physiological process identified by MCODE, and 3 genes (DICER1, GMPS and NCOR1) were selected as biomarkers.
In our study, three novel blood-based HCC-specific diagnostic biomarkers for human hepatocellular carcinoma were identified. These findings may contribute to the non-invasive detection of early HCC patients.
Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is a common and complicated pregnancy-related disease that lacks a suitable biomarker to predict its recrudescence.
Tandem mass tag (TMT) analysis was conducted ...to obtain quantitative proteomic profiles in follicular fluid from patients with a history of RSA and from control group. ELISA validation of candidate differentially expressed proteins was conducted in a larger group of patients.
A total of 836 proteins were identified by TMT analysis; 51 were upregulated and 47 were downregulated in follicular fluid from cases of RSA versus control group. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed several important pathways were enriched, involving a dysregulated immunoglobulin Fc receptor signaling pathway and overactivated complement cascade pathways. ELISA validated the differential expression of two proteins, histidine-rich globulin (HRG) and complement C4-B (C4B), which were downregulated and upregulated, respectively, in follicular fluid of patients with RSA. We performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the ELISA results with the outcomes of current IVF cycles as classification variables. The area under the curve results for HRG alone, C4B alone and HRG-C4B combined were 0.785, 0.710 and 0.895, respectively.
TMT analysis identified 98 differentially expressed proteins in follicular fluid from patients with RSA, indicating follicle factors that act as early warning factors for the occurrence of RSA. Among them, HRG and C4B provide candidate markers to predict the clinical outcomes of IVF/ICSI cycles, and the potential for modeling an early detection system for RSA.
This study aimed to translate the English version of the supportive care needs scale of head and neck cancer patients (SCNS-HNC) questionnaire into Mandarin and to test the reliability and validity ...of the SCNS-SF34 and SCNS-HNC module in head and neck cancer patients.
The Mandarin version of the Supportive Care Needs Survey Short-Form (SCNS-SF34) and SCNS-HNC scales were used to assess 206 patients with head and neck cancer in Chengdu, China. Among them, 51 patients were re-tested 2 or 3 days after the first survey. The internal consistency of the scale was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient, the retest reliability of the scale was evaluated by retest correlation coefficient r, the structural validity of the scale was evaluated by exploratory factor analysis, and the ceiling and floor effects of the scale were evaluated.
The Mandarin version of the SCNS-HNC had Cronbach's alpha coefficients greater than 0.700 (0.737 ≤ 0.962) for all of the domains. Except for the psychological demand dimension (r = 0.674) of the SCNS-SF34 scale, the retest reliability of the other domains was greater than 0.8. Three common factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis, and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 64.39%.
The Mandarin version of the SCNS-SF34 and SCNS-HNC demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity and is able to measure the supportive care needs of Chinese patients with head and neck cancer.
ChiCTR, ChiCTR1900026635 . Registered 16 October 2019- Retrospectively registered.
What is the physiological function of Yes-associated protein-1 (Yap1), a susceptibility gene for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs)?
Physiologically, steroid sex ...hormones stimulate follicle growth by activating YAP1; however, the preovulatory inhibition of YAP1 activity in GCs is a prerequisite of LH actions.
PCOS is a common gynecologic and endocrine disease with multiple short and long-term consequences. Many PCOS patients suffer anovulation caused by hyperandrogenism, but its etiology remains unclear.
To study the effect of acute hyperandrogenism on ovulation, we injected pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG)-primed (44 h) pubertal mice with dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the major biologically active form of androgen, in a superovulation assay. We investigated if YAP1 is regulated by testosterone and if it is potentially involved in follicle development and ovulation. Cultured primary GCs were subjected to Yap1 depletion by RNA interference and Yap1 overexpression by adenoviral infections.
Female mice at postnatal day (PD)-21~23 were analyzed to avoid the complexity of ovarian functions associated with estrous cycles and endogenous surges of gonadotropins. Immature mice were injected intraperitoneally with five IU PMSG to stimulate preovulatory follicle development followed 44 h later with five IU hCG to stimulate ovulation. For DHT treatments, female mice at PD23 were injected intraperitoneally with five IU PMSG followed 44 h later with five IU hCG alone (as control) or five IU hCG plus 100 μg DHT, which was dissolved in 0.1 ml DMSO. Methods of gene expression detection used include immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting and quantitative PCR. More than three biological and technical replicates were included in each experiments.
we provide novel evidence in a mouse model that YAP1 is required for proliferation of ovarian GCs, but is down-regulated by LH through the extracellular-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) cascade. Acute hyperandrogenism blocks LH actions and causes oligo-ovulation by activating YAP1.
N/A.
Results shown were obtained only in mouse, and need to be further confirmed in human samples.
These findings not only elucidated the role of YAP1 in maintaining normal ovarian functions, but also link the YAP1 deregulation to the pathogenesis of PCOS.
This study is funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC1000600 and 2017YFSF1001500) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (31528016, 31371449 and 31671558). The authors have no competing interests.
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