bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Osteopontin promoter polymorphisms and risk of urolithiasis: a candidate gene association and meta-analysis study
Authors: Amar Ali , Afzal Ayesha , Hameed Athar , Ahmad Mumtaz , Khan Abdul Rafay , Najma Humaira , Abid Aiysha , Khaliq Shagufta
Published: April 2020

Background: Urolithiasis is a worldwide urological problem with significant contribution of genetic factors. Pakistan, which resides within the Afro-Asian stone belt, has a high reported prevalence (12%) of urolithiasis. Osteopontin (SPP1) is a urinary macromolecule with a suggested critical role in modulating renal stone formation, genetic polymorphisms of which may determine individual risk of developing urolithiasis. However, results of previous studies regarding SPP1 polymorphisms and susceptibility to urolithiasis have apparent inconsistencies with no data available for local population. Methods: A total of 235 urolithiasis patients and 243 healthy controls, all of Pakistani ancestry, underwent genotyping for six SPP1 genetic polymorphisms in an effort to investigate potential association with urolithiasis using indigenous candidate gene association study design. Further, a comprehensive meta-analysis following a systematic literature search was also done to ascertain an evidence based account of any existent association regarding SPP1 promoter polymorphisms and risk of developing urolithiasis. Results: Three SPP1 promoter polymorphisms, rs2853744:G>T, rs11730582:T>C and rs11439060:delG>G, were found to be significantly associated with risk of urolithiasis in indigenous genetic association study (OR = 3.14; p = 0.006, OR = 1.78; p = 0.006 and OR = 1.60; p = 0.012, respectively). We also observed a 1.68-fold positive association of a tri-allelic haplotype of these SPP1 promoter polymorphisms (G-C-dG) with risk of urolithiasis (OR = 1.68; p = 0.0079). However, no association was evident when data were stratified according to gender, age at first presentation, stone recurrence, stone multiplicity, parental consanguinity and family history of urolithiasis. The overall results from meta-analysis, which included 4 studies, suggested a significant association of SPP1 rs2853744:G>T polymorphism with susceptibility of urolithiasis (OR = 1.37; p = 0.004), but not for other SPP1 polymorphic variants analyzed. Conclusions: In conclusion, we report significant association of 3 SPP1 polymorphisms with urolithiasis for the first time from South Asia, however, this association persisted only for SPP1 rs2853744:G>T polymorphism after meta-analysis of pooled studies. Further studies with a larger sample size will be required to validate this association and assess any potential usefulness in diagnosis and prognosis of renal stone disease.
Intestinal helminthiasis as a relevant factor on immunological markers status of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients
Authors: VERDUGUEZ-ORELLANA ALEIDA , Cabrera Ernesto Rojas , Terrazas Mery Arteaga , Laura Fidelia Barrientos , Guzman-Rivero Miguel
Published: April 2020

Background: The intestinal helminths and the tegumentary leishmaniasis are frequent in rain forest area of Bolivia by absence of basic sanitation services and the natural presence of sand fly, vector of Leishmania parasites. Each one of these infections triggers a specific immune response by the host, nevertheless there is scant information regarding the behaviour of immune response during simultaneous Leishmania and intestinal helminths infections. The purpose of this study was contributing to the knowledge on this matter. Results: Forty-four cutaneous leishmaniasis patients and thirty controls entered in the study. The percentage of eosinophils from peripheral blood and plasma concentration of IgE and TNF-α were increased at after antimony treatment, respect the values presented before treatment in Albendazole and Non Albendazole groups, those increases were not statically significant. A decrease between before and after antimony treatment was observed in the ratio CD4/CD8 in both groups, but only in the receiving Albendazole group it was presented differences statistically significant.Conclusions: Several changes in the status of immunological markers including the number of eosinophils were found after the antimony treatment of patients. No additional clinical, neither immunological benefit of Albendazole treatment could be documented probably because the contact of individuals with helminths is long-standing.
Hepatic Encephalopathy Increases the Risk of Hip Fracture: a Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Yeh Kuang-Ting , Yu Tzai-Chiu , Lee Ru-Ping , Wang Jen-Hung , Liu Kuan-Lin , Peng Cheng-Huan , Chen Hao-Wen , Chen Ing-Ho , Hsu Chung-Yi , Wu Wen-Tien
Published: April 2020

BackgroundOsteoporotic hip fractures debilitate the patients and largely decrease their life quality. Early prevention of the fracture is essential in the recent decades by finding out the related risk factors as reference of further intervention. Hepatic encephalopathy, a major complication of liver cirrhosis, may increase the rate of falling down and weaken the bone quality. Few papers emphasized the association between hepatic encephalopathy and osteoporotic hip fracture.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study used data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2012. Patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy were matched at a ratio of 1:4 for age, sex, and index year. The incidence and hazard ratios of comorbidities related to aging and poor lifestyle were calculated using Cox proportional hazard regression models.ResultsIn total, 2496 patients with hepatic encephalopathy and 9984 patients without hepatic encephalopathy were enrolled. The average age of the patients was approximately 66.5 years. The incidence of comorbidities did not significantly differ between patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy. Patients with hepatic encephalopathy were 2.15-times more likely to develop osteoporotic hip fractures than patients without hepatic encephalopathy in the whole group and the risk ratio was significantly higher in female patients. Those who were aged 50–64 and 65–79 years were respectively 3.57- and 2.51-times more likely to develop osteoporotic hip fracture compared to their non-HE counterparts. The results were also similar in the comorbidity subgroups of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, senile cataract, gastric ulcer and depression. The cumulative incidence of the fractures significantly differed between patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy.ConclusionsHepatic encephalopathy is significantly associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic hip fractures and the significance was not affected by the comorbidities. The risk cumulated steadily through time goes by.
Self-efficacy and fatigue among health care workers during COVID-19 outbreak: A moderated mediation model of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and negative coping
Authors: Hou Tianya , Dong Wei , Zhang Ruike , Song Xiangrui , Zhang Fan , Cai Wenpeng , Liu Ying , Deng Guanghui
Published: April 2020

Background. Health care workers (HCWs) fighting Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are not immune to fatigue. Self-efficacy has been suggested as a protective factor for fatigue. Nonetheless, less is known regarding the underlying mechanisms behind the association. This research aimed to explore the prevalence of fatigue among HCWs during the pandemic, investigate the mediating effect of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and moderating effect of negative coping in the association between self-efficacy and fatigue.Methods. The cross-sectional study employed a sample of 527 HCWs from Anhui Province, China. Self-efficacy, PTSD symptoms, negative coping and fatigue were measured by General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (CSCQ) and 14-item Fatigue Scale (FS-14) respectively.Results. The prevalence of fatigue among HCWs was 56.7%. The effect of self-efficacy on fatigue was partially mediated by PTSD symptoms. Additionally, negative coping moderated both the direct effect of self-efficacy on fatigue and the mediating effect of PTSD symptoms. As revealed by Johnson-Neyman technique, when the standard score of negative coping enhanced to 1.49 and over, the direct association between self-efficacy and fatigue was not significant. Likewise, the effect of self-efficacy on PTSD symptoms had no statistical significance when the standard score of negative coping was − 1.40 and lower.Conclusions. More than half HCWs suffer from fatigue during the COVID-19. For HCWs during the COVID-19 epidemic, especially those with higher levels of negative coping, it might be crucial to design program combining the enhancement of self-efficacy and interventions for PTSD to reduce fatigue.
Early L-T4 Intervention Improves Fetal Heart Development in Pregnant Rats with Subclinical Hypothyroidism Rats by Activating BMP4/Smad4 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Xue D , Sun JL , Yang J
Published: April 2020

Background: It is unclear whether the offspring of SCH pregnant rats still have abnormal cardiac development, and whether early intervention with L-T4 can improve the abnormality of these offspring. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of early L-T4 intervention on the heart development of offspring of SCH pregnant rats and its possible molecular mechanism.Methods: Eighty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into Sham group (placebo control), SCH group, LT4-E10 group (L-T4 treatment started on the 10th day of gestation), and LT4-E13 group (L-T4 treatment started on the 13th day of gestation). Each group was further divided into E16, E18, P5 (postnatal day 5 rats), and P10 (postnatal day 10 rats) subgroups. The levels of serum TT4 and TSH, the ratio of heart weight to body weight of offspring rats, the expression of metabolic enzymes, and the histopathology of cardiomyocytes were determined. To elucidate the effects of L-T4 on cardiac development of offspring of SCH pregnant rats, the expression levels of GATA4, Nkx2-5 and proteins involved in BMP4/Smad4 signaling pathway were detected by immunohistochemistry, real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting to elucidate the molecular mechanism of L-T4 regulating the heart development of the offspring of SCH pregnant rats.Results: Compared with Sham group, serum TSH was significantly increased in SCH pregnant rats. Moreover, early L-T4 intervention significantly reduced the levels of serum TSH. Compared with the offspring in the SCH group, early L-T4 intervention significantly increased the heart weight, heart weight to body weight ratio, the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase, but reduced myocardial cell shrinkage and nuclear staining, hyperemia/congestion and vacuolar degeneration. In addition, early L-T4 intervention not only significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of Gata4 and Nkx2-5, but also increased the protein expression involved in BMP4/Smad4 signal pathway in myocardium of the offspring of SCH pregnant rats.Conclusions: Early L-T4 intervention can regulate the cardiac development of the offspring of SCH pregnant rats by activating BMP4/Smad4 signaling pathway and increasing the expression of Gata4 and Nkx2-5 proteins.
Hepatic Transcriptome Perturbations in Dairy Cows Fed Different Forage Resources
Authors: Gao Shengtao , Ma Lu , Zhang Yangdong , Wang Jiaqi , Loor JuanJuan , bu dengpan
Published: April 2020

BackgroundForage plays critical roles in milk performance of dairy. However, domestic high-quality forage such as alfalfa hay is far from being sufficient in China. Thus, more than 1 million tons of alfalfa hay were imported in China annually in recent years. At the same time, more than 10 million tons of corn stover are generated annually in China. Thus, taking full advantage of corn stover to meet the demand of forage and reduce dependence on imported alfalfa hay has been a strategic policy for the Chinese dairy industry. Changes in liver metabolism under different forage resources are not well known. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of different forage resources on liver metabolism using RNAseq and bioinformatics analyses.ResultsThe results of this study showed that the cows fed corn stover (CS) diet had lower milk yield, DMI, milk protein content and yield, milk fat yield, and lactose yield than the cows fed mixed forage (MF) diet (P < 0.01). KEGG analysis of for differently expressed genes (DEG) in liver (81 up-regulated and 423 down-DEG, Padj ≤ 0.05) showed that pathways associated with glycan biosynthesis and metabolism and amino acid metabolism was inhibited by the CS diet. In addition, results from DAVID and ClueGO indicate that biological processes related to cell-cell adhesion, multicellular organism growth, and amino acid and protein metabolism also were downregulated by feeding CS. Co-expression network analysis indicated that FAM210A, SLC26A6, FBXW5, EIF6, ZSCAN10, FPGS, and ARMCX2 played critical roles in the network. Bioinformatics analysis showed that genes within the co-expression network were enriched to “pyruvate metabolic process”, “complement activation, classical pathway”, and “retrograde transport, endosome to Golgi”.ConclusionsResults of the present study indicated that feeding a low-quality forage diet inhibits important biological functions of the liver at least in part due to a reduction in DMI. In addition, the results of the present study provide an insight into the metabolism response in liver to different-quality forage resources and they have the potential to promote a favorable strategy to improve the utilization of corn stover in China.
Air trapping is associated with heterozygosity for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin mutations in patients with asthma
Authors: Aiello Marina , Marianna Ghirardini , Roberta Pisi , Ilaria Ferrarotti , Giuseppina Bertorelli , Laura Marchi , Annalisa Frizzelli , Antonio Chetta Alfredo
Published: April 2020

Background: Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is a hereditary genetic disorder involving lungs in adults, characterized by low serum concentration of the protein alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT). Several reports indicate that asthma is common in AATD patients, but there are only few data on respiratory function in asthmatic patients with AATD. The aim of the study is to evaluate lung function in asthmatic outpatients with AATD vs. asthmatic subjects without AATD. Methods: We performed the quantitative analysis of the serum concentration of AAT in 600 outpatients affected by mild to moderate asthma from the University Hospital of Parma, Italy. Fifty-seven of them underwent the genetic analysis subsequently, they were subdivided into AATD and non-AATD subjects. All the AATD patients had a heterozygous genotype, except one (PI*SS). We assessed the lung function through a flow-sensing spirometer and the small airways parameters through an impulse oscillometry system.Results: The values of FVC (% predicted) and of the RV/TLC (%) ratio were respectively lower and higher in patients with AATD vs. patients without AATD, showing a significantly greater air trapping (p = 0.014 and p = 0.017 respectively). Moreover, patients with AATD in comparison to patients without AATD showed lower FEV3 (% predicted) and FEV6 (L) spirometric values, reflecting a smaller airways contribution.Conclusions: AATD in asthmatic heterozygote patients with PI*MZ and PI*MS genotypes was associated with small airways dysfunction and with lung air trapping.
Hand injuries in sports – a retrospective analysis of 364 cases
Authors: Stoegner Viola-Antonia , Kaltenborn Alexander , Laser Hans , Vogt Peter Maria
Published: April 2020

Background
Hand injuries are common in sports and associated with high drop-out rates and costs. Considering the multiplicity of health benefits of regular physical exercise, efforts should strive for rising the safety of sports. This implies knowledge of sports injury risk profiles. So far, major surveillance programs exist mainly in the Anglo-American countries, reflecting the specific concerns of sports in this part of the world. Data on sports injuries within Europe are scarce. As sports behavior appears to vary demographically, we hypothesized that risk injury profiles differ as well.
Methods
To assess, whether the described sports injuries of the hand, published internationally, are applicable to the German population, we performed a five-year retrospective, single-center analysis of sports-related hand injuries, using the data of the Enterprise Clinical Research Warehouse of Hannover Medical School.
Results
Notable differences in comparison to other data were observed. Ball sports, cycling and equestrian sports caused most of the recorded hand injuries, which were predominantly fractures of the wrist and hand. Hand injuries in equestrian sports were associated with significantly higher operation and hospitalisation rates as well as a significantly longer inpatient treatment.
Conclusion
National as well as European registry studies are needed in order to better estimate the risk patterns of sports injuries and reduce the sequelae.
Identification and Characterization of the Bacteriocin Carocin S3 from the Multiple Bacteriocin Producing Strain of Pectobacterium Carotovorum Subsp. Carotovorum
Authors: DERILO REYMUND CALLANGA , Wang Jyun-Wei , Lagitnay Ruchi Briam James , Wu Huang-Pin , Chen Kai-In , Chuang Duen-Yau
Published: April 2020

BackgroundPectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family which causes soft rot disease in numerous plants worldwide resulting in significant economic losses. Results from our previous studies showed that the strain H-rif-8-6 produces low-molecular-weight bacteriocin (LMWB) Carocin S1. Interestingly, TH22-10, the caroS1K:Tn5 insertional mutant in H-rif-8-6, loses Carocin S1 producing ability, but still produces other LMWBs which can be detected by using the indicator strain SP33. The SP33 is one of the many strains that are sensitive toward the cytotoxic effects of CaroS3K, but not Carocin S1. The result revealed that H-rif-8-6 is a multiple-bacteriocin producing strain.ResultsIn this study, a 4.1-kb DNA fragment was isolated by a DNA probe using the caroS1K gene as the template. DNA sequencing and analysis by GenBank revealed two complete open reading frames (ORFs), designated ORF1 and ORF2, which were identified within the sequence fragment. ORF1 and ORF2, similar to the identified Carocin S2 genes, encode the killer (CaroS3K) and the immunity (CaroS3I) proteins, respectively, which were homologous to the colicin E3 gene. CaroS3K and CaroS3I were expressed, isolated, and purified in Escherichia coli BL21 after subcloning of the expression plasmid pGS3KI or pGSK3I. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the relative masses of CaroS3K and CaroS3I were 95 kDa and 10 kDa, respectively. The results reveal that CaroS3K has higher antimicrobial and specific antimicrobial activities for Pcc along with a nuclease activity than CaroS3I. However, CaroS3I inhibits the activity of CaroS3K. Interestingly, high concentration of CaroS3I protein is also a DNA nuclease, and its activity is also inhibited by CaroS3K.ConclusionThis study showed that another type of bacteriocin was found in Pectobacterium carotovorum. This new type of bacteriocin, Carocin S3, has the killer protein, CaroS3K, and the immunity protein, CaroS3I.
The Five-Pattern Personality Inventory (FPPI), a Chinese localized personality scale, relates to topological properties of resting-state brain networks
Authors: Li Xiaozhen , Wang Yanfang , Guo Hao , Du Jian , Wang Hao , Wang Junjie , Li Yao , Li Jing , Sun Chao , Yang Qiuli , Yong Xu
Published: April 2020

Background Most studies assessing personality–brain associations have used Western personality questionnaires, which have been adapted for individuals in Western cultures. However, personality is influenced by culture and customs, and Western personality questionnaires may not objectively reflect the personality characteristics of individuals in Eastern cultures such as China. Hence, we adopted the graph analysis approach and the Chinese localized scale, the Five-Pattern Personality Inventory (FPPI), to explore the personality–brain associations of individuals in China.Methods The functional connectivity among 90 specific regions of the brain was mapped using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data obtained from 109 healthy adult Chinese subjects. This allowed for the construction of brain networks and the analysis of personality–brain associations.Results In the present study, the Chinese personality–brain associations were traced to specific regions in the brain, including the frontal, temporal, and occipital cortices. Shao Yin scores and nodal metrics were associated with the brain regions of the executive control network and the salience network (SN), primarily in the left hemisphere. Characteristics of the Shao Yin and Shao Yang traits were consistent with the function of their corresponding correlated brain regions, which may supply evidence for the neurobiological basis of personality traits in Chinese culture.Conclusion In summary, these results provide the brain mechanism foundations of personality traits in the FPPI. Furthermore, these findings provide a new perspective to help researchers understand personality–brain associations in the Chinese culture.
An outcome evaluation of an environmental nutrition intervention conducted in an institute of higher learning in Singapore: A cluster-randomized trial
Authors: Seah Sharna S.Y. , Dam Rob M. van , Tai Bee Choo , Tay Zoey , Wang May C. , Rebello Salome A.
Published: April 2020

Objective: Evidence for effective food environment interventions to improve the quality of out-of-home foods is limited in Asia. The Healthier Dining Programme (HDP) is a voluntary government programme designed to increase the availability and accessibility of healthier foods and beverages at eateries in Singapore, a multi-ethnic, urbanized and developed nation. The objective of our study was to evaluate effects of the HDP on the out-of-home dietary intakes of consumers at an institute of higher learning. Design/Setting: We used a cluster-randomized trial design. Six food centers (two food courts and four canteens) at a large university campus were randomly assigned to the intervention or control arm. Participants were university students or staff aged ≥18 years (n=408) who frequently dined at these six food centers. Relevant data were gathered by interview and a 7-day food diary before and after 10 weeks of the intervention. Generalized estimating equations for logistic and linear regression were used to assess the difference in intake of out-of-home healthier dishes between the two study arms. Results: Participants in the intervention arm were more likely to have at least one healthier out-of-home dish per week as compared to those in the control arm (84% vs. 65%, unadjusted OR: 2.79 95% CI: 1.59, 4.88). This was due mainly to the higher consumption of dishes prepared with healthier oil blends (unadjusted OR: 3.24 95% CI: 1.95, 5.38) and lower-sodium salt (unadjusted OR: 4.36 95% CI: 1.64, 11.58) in the intervention arm. Whilst saturated and polyunsaturated fat intake in the two arms were comparable, participants in the intervention arm had lower total fat (-1.27 g/1000 kcal, 95% CI: -2.48, -0.06) and monounsaturated fat intakes (-0.50 g/1000 kcal, 95% CI: -0.94, -0.06), from out-of-home dishes as compared with the control arm. Conclusions: These findings suggest that environmental interventions at institutes of higher learning to increase healthier food availability and accessibility can improve dietary intake from out-of-home foods.Trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT02435264. Registered 5 May 2015 - Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02435264NUS Institutional Review Board approval number: 11-137
BM-MSCs differentiated to chondrocytes for treatment of full-thickness cartilage defect of the knee
Authors: Mardones Rodrigo , Via Alessio Giai , Pipino Gennaro , Jofrè Claudio , Muñoz Sara , Narvaez Edgar , Maffulli Nicola
Published: April 2020

Background
Full-thickness articular cartilage injury of the knee is a major cause of disability. The aim of this study is to assess the results of patients treated with differentiated to chondrocytes bone marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BM-MSCs) cultured on a collagen Type I/III (Chondro-Gide®) scaffold. The secondary aim was to confirm the absence of adverse events.
Methods
Fifteen patients (19 knees) with symptomatic full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee have been enrolled for the study. Bone marrow was harvested from the iliac crest, BM-MSCs were prepared, and expanded cells were grown in a standard medium or in a standard culture medium containing TGF-β. BM-MSCs differentiated to chondrocytes were seeded in a porcine collagen Type I/III scaffold (Chondro-Gide®), and cultured in TGF- β containing media. After 4 weeks, the membrane was sutured on the cartilage defect. All patients underwent plain radiographs of the knee (antero-posterior, lateral, and axial view of the patella), and MRI of the affected knee. The Oxford knee score, the Lyhsolm scale, and the VAS score were administered to all patients. At final follow-up a MRI for the study of articular cartilage was undertaken.
Results
The mean size of the cartilage lesions was 20 × 17 mm (range, 15 × 10 mm − 30 × 30 mm). At final follow-up, the median Oxford knee score and Lyhsolm scale scores significantly improved from 29 (range 12–39; SD 7,39) to 45 (range 24–48; SD 5,6) and from 55.5 (range 25–81; SD 17,7) to 94.5 (58–100; SD 10,8) respectively. Pain, according the VAS score, significantly improved. 60% of patients reported their satisfaction as excellent, 20% as good, 14% as fair, and 1 patient as poor.
Conclusion
The treatment of full-thickness chondral injuries of the knee with differentiated to chondrocytes BM-MSCs and Chondro-Gide® scaffold showed encouraging outcomes. Further studies involving more patients, and with longer follow-up, are required in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and the long-term results.
Predictive Models on COVID 19: What Africans Should Do?
Authors: Likassa Habte Tadesse
Published: April 2020

BackgroundCOVID 19 is becoming a global health problem, where strong intervention is needed. Thus, this paper addresses predictive models on COVID 19 in Africa, from which the government and others put a strong intervention in optimizing resources and necessary healthcare demand.MethodsPredictive models (Cubic polynomial and quadratic regression models) are considered based on the daily report of WHO, 2020 rampant data. The data were analyzed using R and STATA packages.ResultsThe result of the study has shown that the spatial and temporal pattern of this novel virus is varying, spreading and covering the entire world within a brief time. The result has shown that the fitting effect of cubic model is best outperforming compared to the other six families of exponentials ( {R}^{2}=0.996, F=538.334, {D}_{{F}_{1}}=3,{D}_{{F}_{1}}=7, {b}_{1}=13691.949, {b}_{2}=-824.701, {b}_{1}=12.956). The cubic algorithm is more robust in predicting the deaths and confirmed cases of COVID 19. There are also evidences that the source of the outbreak of the epidemic is related to Huanan Seafood from the whole market, fever (78%), cough (59%), fatigue (75%), headache (76%), and others are identified as the major symptoms of COVID 19. Moreover, the result of our study has shown the corona virus infection epidemic is increasing, which seeks a long-term plan to take an action in disease prevention and intervention programs.ConclusionThe trend of COVID 19 is increasing with an alarm rate, thus strong intervention is needed to mitigate the spread of this novel virus. This also can be done through reducing the spread of COVID 19 as persistent and strict self-isolation. The results acquired from this study also recommend that COVID-19 mortality and more cases might be engulfing in Africa due to lack of preparedness and giving strong awareness for the public.This pandemic will sustain to grow up, and peak to the highest for which a strong care and public health interventions practically implemented. Africans must go beyond theory preparations, strong awareness for the public and practical implementation is highly recommended. Highly recommended more sophisticated equipment to tackle the spread of the virus and safe the loss of the infected from deaths.
Slow radiological improvement and persistent low-grade inflammation after chemotherapy in tuberculosis patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Mily Akhirunnesa , Sarker Protim , Taznin Inin , Hossain Md. Delwar , Haq Md. Ahsanul , Kamal SM. Mostofa , Agerberth Birgitta , Brighenti Susanna , Raqib Rubhana
Published: April 2020

Background: Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM) may impede immune responses in tuberculosis (TB) and thus contribute to enhanced disease severity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate DM-mediated alterations in clinical, radiological and immunological outcomes of TB disease.Methods: Newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients with or without DM (TB n=40; TB-DM n=40) were recruited in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Clinical symptoms, sputum smear and culture conversion as well as chest radiography were assessed, and peripheral blood and sputum samples were collected at the time of diagnosis (baseline) and after 1, 2 and 6 months of standard anti-TB treatment. Blood samples were also obtained from the healthy controls (n=20). mRNA expression of inflammatory markers in blood and sputum samples were quantified using real-time PCR.Results: Majority of TB-DM patients had a poor glycemic control (HbA1c>8%) and displayed elevated pulmonary pathology (P=0.039) particularly in the middle (P<0.004) and lower lung zones (P<0.02) throughout the treatment period. However, reduction of clinical symptoms, and time to sputum smear and culture conversion did not differ between the groups. Transcripts levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β (P=0.003 at month-1 and P=0.045 at month-2) and TNF-α (P=0.005 at month-1) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (P=0.005 at month-2) were higher in peripheral blood after anti-TB treatment in TB-DM compared to TB patients. Instead, in sputum, TB-DM patients showed reduced CD4 (P<0.009 at month-1) and IL-10 (P=0.005 at month-1 and P=0.006 at month-2) and elevated CD8 (P=0.016 at month-2) transcripts. At 1 and 2 months post-treatment, sputum IL-10 transcripts were inversely correlated with fasting blood glucose and HbA1C levels in all patients. Conclusion: Insufficient up-regulation of IL-10 in the lung may fuel persistent local inflammation promoting lung pathology in TB-DM patients with poorly controlled DM.
Short-term Renoprotective Effect of SGLT-2 Inhibitor for Renal Function and Albuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Kubota Mitsunobu , Shiroyama Eri , Tanaka Kanako , Yoshii Yoko
Published: April 2020

Background
Progression of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients is a factor that determines the prognosis of life. Empagliflozin and canagliflozin, two oral diabetic SGLT-2 inhibitors, have shown improved renal outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease in a large clinical study. These results suggest that SGLT-2 inhibitors could be used not only for hypoglycemic effects, but also for renal protective effects in patients with type 2 diabetes. It is not fully understood in which contexts the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors is likely to exert its renal protective effects. The purpose of this study was to clarify the profiles of patients in whom SGLT-2 inhibitors are more likely to exert a renal protective effect in clinical practice. We examined renal function and urinary albumin changes in short-term use of SGLT-2 inhibitors by patient background.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the medical record information of sixty-three type 2 diabetic patients (33 males, 30 females, average age 53.0 ± 13.0 years) who were given usual doses of a SGLT-2 inhibitor. We investigated changes in body weight, blood pressure, glucose metabolism index, lipid metabolism index, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, UACR) three months before and after administration of a SGLT-2 inhibitor.
Results
Three months after administration of an SGLT-2 inhibitor, there were improvements in glucose tolerance, weight loss, blood pressure, and lipid indices. In all cases, there was no significant change in eGFR, but UACR decreased significantly. UACR decreased regardless of Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker medication and significantly decreased in nephropathy patients with microalbuminuria or overt albuminuria. UACR decreased only in the group in which blood pressure, body weight, and HbA1c decreased before and after administration of the SGLT-2 inhibitor.
Conclusions
Our study shows that the renoprotective effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors are more likely to be exerted in diabetic nephropathy patients who have advanced to at least microalbuminuria stage, and in addition to direct renal protection, the comprehensive effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors, which lower body weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose, are also important for their renal protection effects.
Antiviral activity of Andrographolide against Ebola virus, Dengue fever and SARS coronavirus
Authors: Iwu Maurice M. , Okunji Christopher O. , Tchimene Michel , Sokomba Elijah
Published: April 2020

Andrographolide (1) a bitter, diterpenes lactone is the most biologically active constituent from Andrographis paniculata. Andrographolide showed in vitro inhibition of the growth of Ebola virus (Zaire) with EC50 activity of 10 µM which is twenty-five-fold the activity of the control Favipiravir (EC50 = 250µM) in the Crystal violet (Plaque reduction/ Neutral red (Toxicity) assay. It also showed significant activity against Dengue fever virus with EC50 value of 0.56 µg/ml in the Visual (Cytopathic effect/ Toxicity) Assay and EC50 of 0.58 µg/ml in the Neutral Red (Cytopathic effect/ Toxicity) Assay (comparable to the values obtained with 6-Azauridine as the positive control EC50 = 0.32 µg/ml and 0.38 µg/ml in the respective bioassays; and against SARS Coronavirus. Andrographolide had an EC50 of 1.2 µg/ml in the Visual (cytopathic effect/toxicity) assay and 1.1 µg/ml in the Neutral Red (cytopathic effect/toxicity) assay. The compound exerts several immunomodulatory properties. In experimental models, it effectively reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1/3, IL-6, GMCSF, and TNF-a. The compound has a good pharmacokinetics profile and relatively non-toxic even at high doses making it an experimental drug for the treatment of viral infections, with possible application in the control of the Novel Coronavirus, Covid – 19.
Understanding Social Media Beyond Text: A Reliable Practice on Twitter
Authors: Hou Qixuan , Han Meng , Qu Feiyang
Published: April 2020

Social media has been broadly applied in many applications in sales, marketing, event detection, etc. With high-volume and real-time data, social media has also been used for disaster responses. However, distinguishing between rumors and reliable information can be challenging, since social media, a user-generated content system, has a great number of users who update massive information every second. Furthermore, the rich information is not only included in the short text content but also embedded in the images, videos. In this paper, to address the emerging challenge of disaster response, we introduce a reliable framework for disaster information understanding and response with a practice on Twitter. The framework integrates both textual and imagery content from tweets in hope to fully utilize the information. The text classifier is built to remove noises, which can achieve 0.92 F1-score in classifying individual tweet. The image classifier is constructed by fine-tuning pre-trained VGG-F network, which can achieve 90\% accuracy. The image classifier serves as a verifier in the pipeline to reject or confirm the detected events. The evaluation indicates that the verifier can significantly reduce false positive events. We also explore Twitter-based drought management system and infrastructure monitoring system to further study the impacts of imagery content on event detection systems and we are able to pinpoint additional benefits which can be gained from social media imagery content.
Oxidation Characteristics of Functional Groups in Relation to Coal Spontaneous Combustion
Authors: Zhang Yutao , Zhang Jing , Li Yaqing , Gao Sheng , Yang Chaoping , Shi Xueqiang
Published: April 2020

To investigate the mechanism of coal spontaneous combustion, distributions, evolutions, and oxidation characteristics of functional groups in different coals were characterized by employing in-situ FTIR, EPR, and TG/DSC-FTIR experiments. Experimental results indicated that -OH was the most active groups of coal spontaneous combustion. It not only could react with the absorbed oxygen spontaneously but also thebe the main product of the chemisorption. Consequently, -OH was believed to contribute most both for the loss and increase of coal massduring the process of spontaneous combustion. Aliphatic hydrocarbons were the main components to form -C-O-O• and could be further oxidized into C = O. However, reactions between aliphatic hydrocarbons and oxygen were non-spontaneous.EPR experiments suggested that the tendency of coal spontaneous combustion acutely depended on the stability and survival time of free radicals. The more stable and longer survival time of free radicals are, the lower tendency of coal spontaneous combustion is.
Development and validation of epigenetic signature predict survival for patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Cui Jie , Wang Liping , Zhong Waisheng , Chen Zhen , Chen Jie , Yang Hong , Liu Genglong
Published: April 2020

Background: Epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation patterns, yield an important role in the initiation, progression and prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). We performed a genome-wide integrated analysis of methylation and the transcriptome to establish epigenetic signature to improve the accuracy of survival prediction and optimize therapeutic strategies for LSCC.Methods: LSCC DNA methylation datasets and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) datasets were acquired from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). MethylMix was applied to detect DNA methylation-driven genes (MDGs). By univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, five genes of DNA MDGs was developed an epigenetic signature. The predictive accuracy and clinical value of the epigenetic signature were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and decision curve analysis (DCA), and compared with TNM stage system. Additionally, prognostic value of the epigenetic signature was validated by external Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. According to 5 MDGs of epigenetic signature, the candidate small molecules for LSCC were screen out by the CMap database.Results: A total of 88 DNA MDGs were identified, five of which (MAGEB2, SUSD1, ZNF382, ZNF418 and ZNF732) were chosen to construct an epigenetic signature. The epigenetic signature can effectively divide patients into high-risk and low-risk group, with the area under curve (AUC) of 0.8 (5-year OS) and AUC of 0.745 (3-year OS). Stratification analysis affirmed that the epigenetic signature was still a significant statistical prognostic model in subsets of patients with different clinical variables. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated the efficacy of epigenetic signature appears independent of other clinicopathological characteristics. In terms of predictive capacity and clinical usefulness, the epigenetic signature was superior to traditional TNM stage. Additionally, the epigenetic signature was confirmed in external LSCC cohorts from GEO. Finally, CMap matched the 10 most significant small molecules as promising therapeutic drugs to reverse the LSCC gene expression.Conclusion: An epigenetic signature, with five DNA MDGs, was identified and validated in LSCC patients by integrating multidimensional genomic data. Compared TNM stage alone, it generates more accurate estimations of the survival probability and maybe offer novel research directions and prospects for individualized treatment of patients with LSCC.
Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the non-obese Chinese population
Authors: Wang Jiao , Tang Yunliang , Peng Kaili , Liu Honghong , Xu Jixiong
Published: April 2020

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease, and can be found in non-obese individuals. The purpose of this study was to construct and validate a model for predicting NAFLD in the non-obese Chinese population.
Methods

A total of 13240 NAFLD-free individuals at baseline from a 4-y longitudinal study were allocated to a training cohort (n = 8872) and a validation cohort (n = 4368). Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to select significant variables, and a nomogram was developed to predict NAFLD incidence in the training cohort. Concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves were applied to assess the predictive modeling of the nomogram in training and validation cohorts. Individuals were categorized into high- or low-risk groups based on median risk scores from the nomogram. Then, a decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to estimate the clinical usefulness of the nomogram in the combined training and validation cohorts.
Results

The overall incidence of NAFLD was 13%. Nine significant predictors including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), uric acid (UA) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were identified and constructed for the nomogram. The C-index was 0.804 [95% CI, 0.792–0.852] and 0.802 [95% CI, 0.784–0.820] in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. In the training cohort, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for 1-y, 2-y, 3-y and 4-y risk was 0.835, 0.825, 0.816 and 0.782, respectively. Likewise, in the validation cohort, the AUC for 1-y, 2-y, 3-y and 4-y risk was 0.817, 0.820, 0.814 and 0.813. The calibration curves for NAFLD risk showed excellent accuracy in the predictive modeling of the nomogram, internally and externally. The nomogram categorized individuals into high- and low-risk groups, and the DCA displayed the clinical usefulness of the nomogram for predicting NAFLD incidence.
Conclusions

Our nomogram can predict a personalized risk of NAFLD in the non-obese Chinese population. This nomogram can serve as a simple and affordable tool for stratifying individuals at a high risk of NAFLD, and thus serve to expedite treatment of NAFLD.
Direct comparison of [18F]FDG brain images acquired from a phantom and patients using SiPM- and PMT-PET/CT
Authors: Wagatsuma Kei , Sakata Muneyuki , Ishibashi Kenji , Hirayama Akira , Kawakami Hirofumi , Miwa Kenta , Suzuki Yukihisa , Ishii Kenji
Published: April 2020

Background
Silicon photomultiplier-positron emission tomography (SiPM-PET) has better sensitivity, spatial resolution, and timing resolution than photomultiplier tubes (PMT)-PET. The present study aimed to clarify the advantages of SiPM-PET in 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) brain imaging in a head-to-head comparison with PMT-PET in phantom and clinical studies.
Methods
Image contrast was calculated from images acquired from a Hoffman 3D brain phantom and image noise and uniformity were calculated from pooled images acquired from a pool phantom using SiPM- and PMT-PET. Sequential PMT-PET and SiPM-PET [18F]FDG images were acquired over a period of 10 min from 22 individuals. All images were separately normalized to a standard [18F]FDG PET template, then mean standardized uptake values (SUVmean) and Z-score were calculated by MIMneuro and Cortex ID Suite, respectively.
Results
Image contrast, image noise, and uniformity in SiPM-PET changed 27.5%, -2.1%, and − 138.2% from PMT-PET, respectively. These physical indices of SiPM-PET satisfied the criteria for acceptable image quality published by the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine of > 55%, ≤ 15% and ≤ 0.0249, respectively. The residual background count was reduced with time-of-flight algorithm especially in SiPM-PET. The SUVmean using SiPM-PET was significantly higher than PMT-PET and did not correlate with a time delay. Z-scores were also significantly higher in images acquired from SiPM-PET (except for the bilateral posterior cingulate) than PMT-PET because the peak signal that was extracted by the calculation of Z-score in Cortex ID Suite was raised.
Conclusions
The better spatial and timing resolution, and sensitivity in SiPM-PET were contributed to better image contrast, image noise, and uniformity on brain [18F]FDG images. SiPM-PET offers better quality and more accurate quantitation of brain PET images. The SUVmean and Z-score in SiPM-PET was higher than PMT-PET. [18F]FDG images acquired using SiPM-PET will help to improve diagnostic outcomes based on the statistical image analysis because the SiPM-PET was more localized the distribution of glucose metabolism on Z-score maps.
The association between breastfeeding supportive services during childbirth hospitalization and exclusive breastfeeding at discharge
Authors: Li Lingling , Zhang Yu , Li Mu , Jiang Hong , Yang Yajuan , Wu Ying , Gu Chunyi , Yu Yulian , Qian Xu
Published: April 2020

Background

Breast milk is the ideal food to meet all nutrients needs for a baby’s healthy growth and development. The status of breastfeeding supportive services in Baby-Friendly Hospitals and their role in influencing mothers’ breastfeeding practice in Shanghai, China is less understood. The aim of this study was to explore the association between breastfeeding supportive services provided by Baby-Friendly Hospitals around childbirth and exclusive breastfeeding rate at discharge.
Methods

This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study, conducted in eight Baby-Friendly Hospitals in Shanghai between October 2015 and January 2017. The breastfeeding supportive services during hospitalization were assessed using a 12-question questionnaire based on the evaluation criteria of Baby-Friendly Hospitals. In total 707 mothers completed the survey.
Results

The overall exclusive breastfeeding rate among participants was 34.4% at discharge. Mothers who received more breastfeeding supportive services during hospitalization were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding at discharge compared with mothers who received less services (aOR: 3.00; 95% CI: 2.08, 4.35; p < 0.001).
Conclusion

Better breastfeeding supportive services during hospitalization was significantly associated with higher rate of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge. More effective measures should be adopted to improve the breastfeeding supportive services in line with the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative’s Ten Steps to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding and better maternal and child health.