by Maathar Al Qasimi  , Dhafer Manna Al Zulayqa  and Mostafa Seifan

Received: 29 July 2020;  Published: 23 October 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2004022

Additive manufacturing is a recent revolution in the construction field since cementitious materials became printable. This extrusion technique has enabled the construction of very complex geometry with a reduction in costs, time and labour interventions. This study aims to evaluate the possibility of reinforcing 3D printable cementitious composites with the use of nano and micro materials, particularly nano silica, micro silica and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) which are known for their ability to enhance the f [...]

by Courtney Tate  , Jason P Butler  , Cameron Curley  , Siok-Keen Tey  , Glen A Kennedy  and Ashleigh P Scott

Received: 23 June 2020;  Published: 23 October 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2004121

Acquired Severe Aplastic Anaemia (SAA) is a rare bone marrow failure syndrome, for which allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is a proven curative therapy. Despite excellent outcomes for matched sibling SAA recipients in terms of engraftment and survival, HSCT remains highly challenging in older matched-unrelated-donor (MUD) recipients, due to increased non-relapse mortality (NRM) from causes such as graft versus host disease (GVHD), organ failure and infection. We sought to evaluate our local HSCT [...]

by Emily Reeves  , Brigitte Liebig  and Eveline Degen

Received: 14 July 2020;  Published: 20 October 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2004041

High-quality care is an important aim of palliative care services. However, the quality of care is a complex phenomenon and is subjectively perceived by those who are closest to the services and are often evaluated poorly. Prior research has highlighted the difficulties in evaluating the quality of care because of different perspectives, and still, only a little is understood about the perception of the quality of care in palliative care services. Investigating the perspectives of key individuals involved in pallia [...]

by Em V. Adams  , Marieke Van Puymbroeck  , Brandi M. Crowe  , Cynthia L. S. Pury  and Arlene A. Schmid

Received: 19 August 2020;  Published: 20 October 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2004135

Residents of assisted living facilities face leisure constraints (barriers to leisure activities) at higher rates than their community-dwelling peers. Past research suggests yoga may be an effective intervention to decrease leisure constraints to physical activity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an eight-week yoga intervention on the leisure constraints of residents of assisted living facilities. The study employed a convergent mixed methods design to assess the impact of a 50-mi [...]

by Deborah R. Simkin  and L. Eugene Arnold

Received: 06 April 2020;  Published: 19 October 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2004040

Teen depression and suicide rates have risen despite conventional treatments. This article reviews adjunctive interventions that may improve outcomes. A search of the National Library of Medicine database used tailored searches with combinations of specific terms. Modern lifestyle is associated with increased inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokines leading to, for instance, hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which promotes depression. Inflammation also increases oxidative stress, leadin [...]

by Shalika B. Katugaha  , Oksana Shlobin  , Chris King  , Steve Nathan  , Shambu Aryal  , Kareem Ahmad  and Whitney Brown

Received: 04 September 2020;  Published: 13 October 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2004120

Strongyloides stercoralis infection derived from the donor in solid organ transplant (SOT) places recipients at risk for hyperinfection syndrome and death. We describe the case of a lung transplant recipient who developed strongyloidiasis presenting with GI symptoms and progressing to diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, bacteremia and multi-organ failure. The patient's clinical course illustrates the life cycle of Strongyloides. For treatment, the patient received ivermectin and albendazole. We advocate that early diagnos [...]

by Edda Cava  , Alessandro Collo  , Marcella Serioli  and Sergio Riso

Received: 30 June 2020;  Published: 12 October 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2004073

We report, for the first time, the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) onset in a 54-year-old woman not following a strict gluten-free diet (GFD) for six years after the diagnosis of celiac disease (CD). The patient did not display any sign of gluten toxicity, malabsorption, or CD-related comorbidity. Previous cases reported in medical literature showed ALS-like forms secondary to gluten intolerance, with symptom remission after a strict GFD. Even after correcting dietary flaws, the clinical manifestation o [...]

by Mary J. Lotesto  and Stacey L. Raimondi

Received: 26 June 2020;  Published: 07 October 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2004117

Estrogen-based cancers affect a substantial portion of the female population in the United States. While multiple studies have examined the effect of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα/ESR1) in cancer, the effects of ERβ/ESR2 are not as well understood in tumor tissues. Furthermore, there are few studies examining the role of specific binding partners of the estrogen receptors, such as early B-cell factor 1 (EBF1). EBF1 has been shown to have a role in B cell development and differentiation and is also know [...]

by Pierpaolo Di Cocco  , Alberto Fratti  , Kerim B. Kaylan  , Ivo G. Tzvetanov  and Enrico Benedetti

Received: 22 August 2020;  Published: 28 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2003119

This article reviews the current treatment strategies of antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplantation, which is increasingly recognized as the leading immunological cause of graft failure. The pathophysiologic complexity of this condition poses significant challenges for its treatment; however, progress toward advancing our understanding of its pathogenesis and diagnosis will allow for identification of new therapeutic targets. Emphasis is also given to prevention, which is mainly based on careful assessme [...]

by Ashleigh Trapuzzano  , Sara Chizmar  , Lauren Wilda  and Nicole Dawson

Received: 03 April 2020;  Published: 27 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2003134

This study investigated the predictors of gait speed in community dwelling older adults while examining interplay between physical performance and cognition on comfortable and fast gait speed. Sixty-six community-dwelling older adults (mean age 80.8 71% female) completed the following: 30-Second Chair Stand (30-SCS), Functional Reach (FR), Flanker Task, Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and gait speed (comfortable and fast). Hierarchical linear regression examined the relationship of comfortable and fast gait [...]

by Richard A. Manfready  , Jack Husney  , Swan Thung  and Ilan S. Weisberg

Received: 04 March 2020;  Published: 25 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.2003051

Patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy for inflammatory bowel disease may be susceptible to non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, now referred to as porto-sinusoidal vascular disease. Here we describe a patient treated with long-term azathioprine for Crohn’s disease who developed porto-sinusoidal vascular disease with obliterative portal venopathy without nodular regenerative hyperplasia on histology. Specific signs of portal hypertension were present, including porto-systemic collaterals on imaging. Histopathol [...]

by Tamuyen P. Do  , Eileen B. O'Keefe  and Nicole L. Spartano

Received: 04 June 2020;  Published: 23 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2003133

Individuals with dementia frequently report poor quality of life (QOL), which declines as their disease progresses. Some evidence suggests that physical activity may help maintain cognitive function in older age, but it is unclear whether physical activity affects quality of life in older adults with dementia. The purpose of this review paper is to explore whether and how physical activity impacts QOL in patients with diagnosed dementia in different residential settings. To conduct this systematic review, the follo [...]

by Bhagyashree Deshmankar  , Craig E. Eckfeldt  , Graf Oliver  , Aleksandr Lazaryan  and Nelli Bejanyan

Received: 19 July 2020;  Published: 18 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2003118

Severe hypercholesterolemia is an uncommon complication of allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Treatment options for hypercholesterolemia due to liver graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are limited because many antilipidemic medications are known to worsen hepatic functions. We report our experience on a case of a 38-year-old male with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia presenting with steroid-refractory hepatic and lower gastrointestinal acute GVHD after matched sibling don [...]

by Jiankang Jin  , Shumei Song  and Jaffer A. Ajani

Received: 30 June 2020;  Published: 16 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2003116

Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is among the three most common cancers in the world. The majority of GAC patients are diagnosed in an advanced stage and have a median survival of ~9 months. There are limited effective therapeutic strategies available in the clinic and currently U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved immune therapy is programmed death-1 (PD-1) antibodies (e.g. pembrolizumab) but only a few patients seem to benefit. Transformation to cancer occurs when multiple genes and cellular pathways are [...]

by Giuseppe Cocco

Received: 05 September 2020;  Published: 10 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2003132

Covid-19 pandemic has been infecting a substantial portion of the world population, thereby revealing quality deficits in health care in the majority of the countries around the globe. Severe illness and mortality from Covid-19 infection are present predominantly in minorities; especially they are more frequent in geriatric patients. Unfortunately, our knowledge is limited about what accounts for the variability in immune response from one person to another. This question is far from being merely academic, and find [...]

by Babak Jahani  , Xinnan Wang  and Amanda Brooks

Received: 26 June 2020;  Published: 08 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2003021

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) as a modern and more effective treatment for bone defects has recently received lots of attention. One of the pivotal parts of BTE is the “scaffold”, which functions as an indwelling carrier of cells and additives, as well as, providing a foundation for cell growth and eventually forming new, native-like bone. Up to now, many methods and materials have been employed to manufacture bone scaffolds. This review focuses on providing both basic knowledge of BTE as well as possible methods o [...]

by Miguel Mayo-Yáñez  and Irma Cabo-Varela

Received: 29 June 2020;  Published: 08 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2003072

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia in the world. This manuscript attempts to review the current knowledge of neurolaryngology and speech and language therapy in Alzheimer’s disease in order to distinguish it from other neurodegenerative diseases. Only a limited number of studies carried out on Alzheimer’s disease patients with speech or laryngeal disorders are found in the literature. Laryngeal (dysphonia, dysphagia, dry mucosa…) and speech symptoms (aphasic, rhythm alterations…) appear to exis [...]

by Parisa Gazerani

Received: 27 June 2020;  Published: 08 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2003071

Sleep plays an important role in maintaining brain function, memory consolidation, hormonal balance, immune system function, growth, and repair. The physiological and psychological effects of disruptions in sleep highlight its importance in human health and wellness. Epigenetic roles are proposed in sleep, and circadian regulation, but only a limited number of studies have determined the mechanism that underlies the epigenetics of environmental factors interacting with the sleep, particularly the ones related to sl [...]

by Yashiro Rojas  , Evana Halaka  , Mary Hanna  , Alex Sidotu  , Jehan Joma  , Mina Mikhael  , Roger A. Lalancette  and Ivan Bernal

Received: 26 July 2020;  Published: 07 September 2020;  doi: 10.21926/acr.2003008

The compound, [cis-dichloro-(tris-2-amino(ethylamine))cobalt(III)]chloride hydrate, [cis-Cl2-(tren)Co(III)Cl]·H2O, a conglomerate crystallizing in P21 with Z = 4 (Z’ = 2), has been used as a precursor in the synthesis of a new dicobalt(III) peroxo complex: [(μ2-hydroxo)(μ2-peroxo)bis(tris-2-amino(ethylamine))di-cobalt(III)] tris(triiodide) dihydrate. This material crystallizes, without disorder, in space group P212121 with Z = 4 (Z’ = 2), thus making it, unambiguously, an example of a conglomerate. Its cell constan [...]

by Giuseppe De Benedittis

Received: 25 August 2020;  Published: 31 August 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2003039

by Mario F. Tecce  , Walter Milano  and Anna Capasso

Received: 26 June 2020;  Published: 31 August 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2003038

Adipocytes play a central role in maintaining lipid homeostasis and energy balance by storing triacylglycerols (TAGs) or releasing free fatty acids in response to changes in energy requirements. Obesity is a major risk factor for many diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Besides, morbidity and mortality associated with being overweight and obese are on the rise. The development of obesity is characterized by an increase in lipid cells due to mitogenesis and differentiation, which [...]

by Renly Dutton  , Frank Abdi  , Levon Minnetyan  and James L. Sherley

Received: 22 April 2020;  Published: 28 August 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2003117

Although tissue stem cells are essential for the maintenance, renewal, and repair of vertebrate organs and tissues, previously, the simple act of counting them has not been possible. For more than a half-century, progress in tissue stem cell research and medicine has been undermined by the lack of a means to determine tissue stem cell number. In particular, a major unmet need for stem cell transplantation medicine has been a way to quantify the specific dosage of tissue stem cell treatments. The counting problem pe [...]

by Marek Łożyński  , Iwona Mądrzak-Litwa  and Aleksandra Borowiak-Resterna

Received: 29 June 2020;  Published: 27 August 2020;  doi: 10.21926/acr.2003007

1-Decylbenzimidazole (dbim) copper(II) complexes formed during solvent extraction were thoroughly studied, and their structures were predicted. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of their structures and Time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations of their spectra indicated that 1-decylbenzimidazole forms both mono- and binuclear complexes with copper(II), with coordination numbers of 4 or 5. At the molar ratio of [Cu(II)]aq/[dbim]org ≥ 1 and at [Cl-]aq ≥ 0.9 mol dm-3 in the extraction media, a binuclear 1:1 [...]

by Evelyne El Masri  and Tat-Hean Gan

Received: 28 May 2020;  Published: 27 August 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2003020

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) systems as sheets or plates are commonly used to strengthen and retrofit damaged reinforced concrete beams. In general, the bond between the FRP element and concrete defines the effectiveness of the externally bonded FRP materials. In most cases, the interface bonding behaviour is usually tested via static loading conditions. In this paper, the bonding is verified under dynamic conditions. Wave propagation is modelled in delaminated CFRP strengthened reinforced concrete beam. [...]

by Aline Duarte Folle  , Kimberly C Paul  , Cynthia D Kusters  , Jeff M Bronstein  , Adrienne M Keener  and Beate Ritz

Received: 30 June 2020;  Published: 26 August 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2003131

Insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness are the most common sleep disturbances in Parkinson’s disease. This study aims at better understanding how severity of PD motor and non-motor features and dopaminergic treatments contribute to these sleep symptoms in the first decade of PD. Data from a community-based cohort of PD patients was used to model cross-sectional PD-related risk factors for insomnia and EDS sleep scores using linear regression models adjusted for age, gender, and PD duration. Longitudinal changes [...]