The application of exponential random graph models to collaboration networks in biomedical and health sciences: a review

Collaboration has become crucial in solving scientific problems in biomedical and health sciences. There is a growing interest in applying social network analysis to professional associations aiming to leverage expertise and resources for optimal synergy. As a set of computational and statistical methods for analyzing social networks, exponential random graph models (ERGMs) examine complex collaborative networks due to their uniqueness of allowing for non-independent variables in network modeling. This study took a review approach to collect and analyze ERGM applications in health sciences by following the protocol of a systematic review. We included a total of 30 studies. The bibliometric characteristics revealed significant authors, institutions, countries, funding agencies, and citation impact associated with the publications. In addition, we observed five types of ERGMs for network modeling (standard ERGM and its extensions—Bayesian ERGM, temporal ERGM, separable temporal ERGM, and multilevel ERGM). Most studies (80%) used the standard ERGM, which possesses only endogenous and exogenous variables examining either micro- (individual-based) or macro-level (organization-based) collaborations without exploring how the links between individuals and organizations contribute to the overall network structure. Our findings help researchers (a) understand the extant research landscape of ERGM applications in health sciences, (b) learn to control and predict connection occurrence in a collaborative network, and (c) better design ERGM-applied studies to examine complex relations and social system structure, which is native to professional collaborations

Cervical ganglioneuroma in collision with a metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma

Cervical ganglioneuromas are extremely rare with approximately six case reports. The current report highlights a unique collision tumor between a cervical ganglioneuroma and a metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma arising from a primary gingival mass. A 53-year-old male presented with a 2 cm left gingival mass that was excised and treated with systemic chemotherapy. Consequently, 9 months later, he developed a 3.2 cm left submandibular mass followed by recurrence of the left gingival mass. From the clinicopathologic perspective, this had to be separated from the differentials: ganglioneuroblastoma or metastatic involvement of a lymph node from primary gingival undifferentiated carcinoma

Towards endowing collaborative robots with fast learning for minimizing tutors’ demonstrations: what and when to do?

Programming by demonstration allows non-experts in robot programming to train the robots in an intuitive manner. However, this learning paradigm requires multiple demonstrations of the same task, which can be time-consuming and annoying for the human tutor. To overcome this limitation, we propose a fast learning system – based on neural dynamics – that permits collaborative robots to memorize sequential information from single task demonstrations by a human-tutor. Important, the learning system allows not only to memorize long sequences of sub-goals in a task but also the time interval between them. We implement this learning system in Sawyer (a collaborative robot from Rethink Robotics) and test it in a construction task, where the robot observes several human-tutors with different preferences on the sequential order to perform the task and different behavioral time scales. After learning, memory recall (of what and when to do a sub-task) allows the robot to instruct inexperienced human workers, in a particular human-centered task scenario.POFC - Programa Operacional Temático Factores de Competitividade(POCI-01-0247-FEDER-024541

Mpower, needs and challenges: Trends in the implementation of the who fctc in the eastern mediterranean region

Background: WHO MPOWER aims to help countries prioritize tobacco control measures in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Objectives: This paper assessed the progress and challenges in implementing the 6 priority policies of MPOWER in countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region since 2011. Methods: A checklist was developed and scores assigned based on the MPOWER indicators (maximum score 37). MPOWER data for the Region in the 2015 and 2017 tobacco control reports were extracted and scored. Data from similar analyses for 2011 and 2013 were also included. Countries were ranked by scores for each indicator for 2015 and 2017 and for overall scores for 2011 to 2017. Results: The Islamic Republic of Iran, Egypt and Pakistan had the highest scores in 2015 (33, 29 and 27 respectively) and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan and Yemen had the highest scores in 2017 (34, 31 and 27 respectively). The indicators with the highest and lowest combined score for all countries were for advertising bans and compliance with smoke-free policies: 67 and 18 respectively in 2015, and 73 and 15 respectively in 2017. Most countries (15/22) had higher total scores in 2017 than 2015: Afghanistan, Bahrain and Syrian Arab Republic had the greatest increases. The total score for the Region increased from 416 out of a maximum score of 814 in 2011 to 471 in 2017. Conclusions: Although notable achievements have been made in the Region, many challenges to policy implementation remain and require urgent action by governments of the countries of the Region. © World Health Organization (WHO) 2018

Lack of expression of ALK and CD30 in breast carcinoma by immunohistochemistry irrespective of tumor characteristics

CD30 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor family of cell surface receptors normally expressed in lymphocytes, as well as some lymphomas, but has been described in other malignancies. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a tyrosine kinase receptor that belongs to the insulin receptor superfamily, and is normally expressed in neural cells, but has been detected in several malignancies. There is conflicting data in the literature that describes the expression of these receptors in breast cancer, and the aim of this study is to test the expression of CD30 and ALK in a cohort of Middle Eastern patients with breast carcinoma.Cases of invasive breast cancer from the archives of AUBMC were reviewed over a period of 9 years, and the blocks that were used for immunohistochemical staining for ER, PR, Her-2/neu were selected. Immunohistochemical staining for CD30 (JCM182) and ALK (5A4 and D5F3) was performed.Two hundred eighty-four cases were identified (2 cases were male), with a mean age of 55±12. CD30 and ALK expression was not seen in any of the cases.Our cohort showed complete negativity to both CD30 and ALK, adding to the conflicting data available in the literature, and more studies are needed to reliably identify a trend of expression of CD30 and ALK in breast carcinoma, especially in the Middle East. © 2019 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc

Association between CYP2A6 genotypes and smoking behavior in Lebanese smokers

Introduction: With the absence of effective reinforcement of tobacco control laws in the country, the Lebanese population has been vulnerable to the health burden of smoking. Smoking and quitting behaviors are influenced by genetic factors, mainly CYP2A6 polymorphisms. To date, the assessment of the genetic profile and its effect on the behavior of Lebanese smokers has not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to determine the CYP2A6 polymorphisms and its relation to smoking and quitting behavior in a cohort of Lebanese smokers. Methods: Healthy adult Lebanese smokers were recruited from the American University of Beirut and its Medical Center. Their nicotine metabolite (NM) levels and CYP2A6 alleles (2, 4, 9 and 12) were determined. The smoking behavior, Nicotine Dependence Score (NDS) and quitting behavior of the participants were assessed after filling a “smoking assessment questionnaire”. Results: 53 healthy adult smokers participated in our study (M: F = 4:1, median age = 38.47 +/− 14.15 years). Mutated CYP* 2 was present in 33.9% (18/53 cases), CYP* 4 in 11.3% (6/53 cases), CYP* 9 in 100% (53/53 cases) and CYP* 12 in 86.7% (46/53 cases). Slow metabolizers constituted 90.6% of our group while 9.4% were intermediate metabolizers. Slow metabolizers smoked a smaller number of cigarettes per day (CPD) (median = 15 CPD vs 25 CPD) and had higher NM levels (median = 23 ng/mL vs 10 ng/mL or undetectable) than intermediate metabolizers. A statistically significant correlation with NDS and quitting behavior was not found in either group. Conclusion: In this first study from Lebanon, a unique distribution of CYP2A6 alleles (high prevalence of CYP2A6*9 and CYP2A6*12) was detected. In accordance with previously published data, slow metabolizers smoked a lower number of CPD and had higher NM levels in their serum. Larger studies are required to fully elucidate the CYP2A6 polymorphisms of Lebanese smokers and include them in personalized smoking cessation programs. © 2019 Elsevier B.V

Placenta accreta: Elective versus emergent delivery as a major predictor of blood loss

OBJECTIVE: To compare blood loss and the use for blood transfusion between elective (planned) and emergent cesarean hysterectomy performed for placenta accreta by a single, multidisciplinary team and to present the team's pre-operative evaluation and the surgical technique. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study at a single tertiary care center. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared between elective and emergent delivery of pregnancies complicated by placenta accreta. The primary outcomes were the need for blood transfusion and the number of units transfused. RESULTS: A total of 28 cases of confirmed placenta accreta underwent peripartum hysterectomy, including 22 as elective and 6 as emergent. Eleven out of 22 (50%) subjects in the elective group received blood transfusion, while all subjects in the emergency group required transfusion (p=0.03). More importantly, the number of units of packed red blood cells transfused was only 1.90 (±2.20) units in the elective cases compared to 7.83 (±4.90) units in cases performed emergently (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Elective cesarean hysterectomy for this indication using a clearly outlined surgical approach is associated with significantly lower blood loss and hence less need for transfusion, compared to its emergent counterpart. © 2017-IOS Press and the authors

Dental microwear texture analysis of Homo sapiens sapiens: foragers, farmers, and pastoralists

Objectives. The current study seeks to determine if a sample of foragers, farmers, and pastoralists can be distinguished by their dental microwear texture signatures. Materials and Methods. The study included a sample of 719 individuals from 51 archaeological sites (450 farmers, 192 foragers, 77 pastoralists). All were over age 12 and sexes were pooled. Using a Sensofar® white-light confocal profiler we collected dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) data from a single first or second molar from each individual. We leveled and cleaned data clouds following standard procedures and analyzed the data with Sfrax® and Toothfrax® software. The DMTA variables were complexity and anisotropy. Statistics included ANOVA with partial eta squared and Hedges's g. We also performed a follow-up K-means cluster analysis. Results. We found significant differences between foragers and farmers and pastoralists for complexity and anisotropy, with foragers having greater complexity than either the farmers or the pastoralists. The farmers and pastoralists had greater anisotropy than the foragers. The Old World foragers had significantly higher anisotropy values than New World foragers. Old and New World farmers did not differ. Among the Old World farmers, those dating from the Neolithic through the Late Bronze Age had higher complexity values than those from the Iron Age through the medieval period. The cluster analysis discerned foragers and farmers but also indicated similarity between hard food foragers and hard food farmers. Discussion. Our findings reaffirm that DMTA is capable of distinguishing human diets. We found that foragers and farmers, in particular, differ in their microwear signatures across the globe. There are some exceptions, but nothing that would be unexpected given the range of human diets and food preparation techniques. This study indicates that in general DMTA is an efficacious means of paleodietary reconstruction in humans

Surveillance of HIV and syphilis infections among antenatal clinic attendees in Tanzania-2003/2004

BACKGROUND: This paper presents the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis infections among women attending antenatal clinics (ANC) in Tanzania obtained during the 2003/2004 ANC surveillance. METHODS: Ten geographical regions; six of them were involved in a previous survey, while the remaining four were freshly selected on the basis of having the largest population among the remaining 20 regions. For each region, six ANC were selected, two from each of three strata (urban, peri-urban and rural). Three of the sites did not participate, resulting into 57 surveyed clinics. 17,813 women who were attending the chosen clinics for the first time for any pregnancy between October 2003 and January 2004. Patient particulars were obtained by interview and blood specimens were drawn for HIV and syphilis testing. HIV testing was done anonymously and the results were unlinked. RESULTS: Of the 17,813 women screened for HIV, 1,545 (8.7% (95% CI = 8.3–9.1)) tested positive with the highest prevalence in women aged 25–34 years (11%), being higher among single women (9.7%) than married women (8.6%) (p < 0.07), and increased with level of education from 5.2% among women with no education to 9.3% among those at least primary education (p < 0.001). Prevalence ranged from 4.8% (95% CI = 3.8% – 9.8%) in Kagera to 15.3% (95% CI = 13.9% – 16.8%) in Mbeya and was; 3.7%, 4.7%, 9.1%, 11.2% and 15.3% for rural, semi-urban, road side, urban and 15.3% border clinics, respectively (p < 0.001). Of the 17,323 women screened for syphilis, 1265 (7.3% (95%CI = 6.9–7.7)) were positive, with highest prevalence in the age group 35–49 yrs (10.4%) (p < 0.001), and being higher among women with no education than those with some education (9.8% versus 6.8%) (p < 0.0001), but marital status had no influence. Prevalence ranged from 2.1% (95% CI = 1.4% – 3.0%) in Kigoma to 14.9% (95% CI = 13.3%-16.6%) in Kagera and was 16.0% (95% CI = 13.3–18.9), 10.5% (95% CI = 9.5–11.5) and 5.8% (95% CI = 5.4–6.3) for roadside, rural and urban clinics, respectively. Syphilis and HIV co-infection was seen in 130/17813 (0.7%). CONCLUSION: The high HIV prevalence observed among the ANC clinic attendees in Tanzania call for expansion of current voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services and access to antiretroviral drugs (ARV) in the clinics. There is also a need for modification of obstetric practices and infant feeding options in HIV infection in order to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV. To increase uptake to HIV testing the opt-out strategy in which all clients are offered HIV testing is recommended in order to meet the needs of as many pregnant women as possible