bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Pre-Hypertension Among Adults Visiting the Outpatient Department at Mizan Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia, 2021.
Authors: Guteta Mirresa
Published: September 2021

Background: Prehypertension is a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 120-139 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 80-89 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) According to JNC-7 report the new added category. It is considered as a starting point for cardiovascular and many other morbidities. Little is known about the magnitude of prehypertension and its associated factors in study area. Objective: To assess prevalence of Pre-hypertension and Associated factor among adults visiting the Outpatient department at Mizan Tepi university teaching hospital, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia, 2021.Methods: Institution based cross sectional study design was conducted in Mizan Tepi University Teaching hospital. Simple random sampling method was used to recruit study participants. Data was entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for data analysis. The descriptive analysis of data was done and the result presented using frequency tables and graphs. Multivariable logistic regression model was fitted, Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) at 95% confidence interval and p-value <0.05 were estimated to determine statistically significant association between predictors and outcome variable.Result: The prevalence of Prehypertension among adults visiting the Outpatient department at Mizan Tepi university teaching hospital was 30.7%. Significant association of prehypertension was found with age (AOR=1.22, 95% CI: 0.69, 2.15), educational status (AOR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.11, 1.00), physical exercise (AR=1.11, 95% CI: 0.57, 2.16) and Body Mass Index (AOR=4.14, 95% CI: 0.44, 39.34). Conclusion: Pre-Hypertension is high in the study area. As a result, concerned body should take action to enhance patients visiting Mizan Tepi University Teaching hospital about impact of Pre-Hypertension on individual health and how to control it.
Parentage Assignment Reveals Multiple Paternity in the Critically-Endangered Guatemalan Beaded Lizard (Heloderma Charlesbogerti)
Authors: Levine Brenna A , Hill Robert , Mendelson Joseph , Booth Warren
Published: September 2021

Within captive management programs for species of conservation concern, understanding the genetic mating system is of fundamental importance, given its role in generating and maintaining genetic diversity and promoting opportunities for sperm competition. If a goal of a conservation program is reintroduction, knowledge of the mating system may also inform prediction models aimed at understanding how genetic diversity may be spatially organized, thus informing decisions regarding where and which individuals should be released in order to maximize genetic diversity in the wild population. Within captive populations, such information may also influence how animals are maintained in order to promote natural behaviors. Here we investigate the genetic mating system of the Guatemalan beaded lizard, Heloderma charlesbogerti, a member of a genus lacking such information. A group of adult male and female H. charlesbogerti were co-habited for five years during the species perceived breeding season. Through genomic parentage analysis, 50% of clutches comprising multiple offspring were found to result from polyandry, with up to three males siring offspring within single clutches. Furthermore, males were found to be polygamous both within and across seasons, and females would exhibit promiscuity across seasons. As such, within this captive environment, where opportunities existed for mating with multiple sexual partners, the genetic mating system was found to be highly promiscuous, with multiple paternity common within clutches. These findings are novel for the family Helodermatidae, and the results have broader implications about how reproductive opportunities should be managed within captive conservation programs.
Dissections or Prosections; Which Method has a Better Impact on Sustainable Gross Anatomy Knowledge?
Authors: Wimalachandra Manujasri , Balagobi Balasingam , Hashintha Malith , Ranasinghe Narada , Niroshana Lamindu , Anthony Joseph , Jayasekara. Rohan
Published: September 2021

Background: Two groups of medical students in their final year were tested on the key concepts of gross anatomy using a question paper that included true false type questions and identification of anatomical line diagrams. These two batches of students followed a dissection based curriculum and a newly introduced prosections based curriculum at the beginning of their medical education respectively. The prosections based curriculum brought with it a significant cut down on the in-class teaching and learning activities when compared to the old curriculum. The objective of the study was to establish which method was more effective at establishing a core of anatomy knowledge that could be recalled after a considerable amount of time. This would in turn reflect how much of anatomy knowledge one would possess when they start to practice medicine as a newly qualified doctor and also embark on a postgraduate training programme.Methods: The two groups were subjected without prior warning to a question paper that comprised six questions, each with five True/False statements and four questions on identification and labelling of anatomical line diagrams.Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the marks obtained for the true false type questions between the two groups (p=0.076), but the prosections group obtained higher marks for the diagram identification questions (p = 0.022).Conclusions: Therefore, it was concluded that a prosection based curriculum when compared to a dissection based curriculum was equally effective at establishing a core of gross anatomy knowledge in a considerably lesser amount of time.
Quality of Nursing Education in the Philippines: The Impact of Nursing Programme Profile
Authors: Appiah Stella
Published: September 2021

Background: The production of nursing professionals who are capable of delivering quality health care services hinges on the quality of nursing education programme. Nevertheless, quality of nursing education programme has always been judged from the point of licensure exams results and calibre of faculty members. Objectives: To Investigate the impact of profile of nursing education programme such as years of establishment, kind of accreditation agency and level of accreditation on the quality of nursing education programme in the Philippines. Design: A cross-sectional survey study design was employed in this study. Study settings and Participants: One hundred and eight-five (185) faculty members in fifteen (15) higher educational institutions in the Philippines were selected for the research using purposive-census sampling. The study was carried out from January 1 to June 30, 2017. Method: Close-ended structured questionnaires based on study objectives were used to collect data. Frequency and percentages were used to analyse the profile of faculty members whereas weighted means from a four Likert’s scale was used to interpret the extent of perceived quality of nursing education programme.Results: Nursing education programmes offered in the Philippines was found to be of good quality. Years of establishment of nursing education programme showed significant impact on the quality of curriculum and instruction (p-value=0.007), physical structure and equipment (p-value=0.001), student services (p-value=0.001) and admission of nursing students (p-value=0.003) while level of accreditation had significant effect on the quality of administration nursing programme (p-value=0.000), faculty development programme (p-value=0.001), physical structure and equipment (p-value=0.000), student services (p-value=0.001), admission of student (p-value=0.006) and quality assurance system (p-value=0.000) of nursing education programme. However, accreditation agency only had significant impact on quality of admission of students (p-value=0.047).Conclusion: Profile of nursing education programme had significant impact on some criteria pertaining to the quality of nursing education programme in the Philippines.
Dental Students' Perception and Confidence Level in Key Dental Procedures for General Practice and the Impact of Competency Implementation On Their Confidence Level, Part I (Prosthodontics and Conservative Dentistry)
Authors: Elmanaseer Wijdan R. , Al-Omoush Salah , Alsoleihat Firas
Published: September 2021

Background: There are limited studies that assess the level of confidence among the final year dental students in the ability to conduct key dental procedures. The present study aims to assess the perception and confidence level of final year dental students ‎from the School of Dentistry at the University of Jordan to perform essential dental procedures ‎across various dental disciplines; to assess the effect of competencies implementation in curricula on the confidence level of students. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was answered by two cohorts of final year dental students: one group in 2016 before the implementation of the competency-based assessment system (group 1, n = 153), and the other in 2019 after the implementation of this system (group 2, n = 199). The two groups were compared regarding the degree of confidence in conducting key dental procedures. The data were analysed using SPSS statistics. Statistical significance was set at 0.05 level.Results: Statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding the confidence levels were found in 5 out of 20 prosthodontic procedures (placing treatment plan of removable partial dentures, using semi-adjustable articulator, giving oral hygiene instructions (OHIs) for denture patients, dealing with complete denture post-insertion complaints, and giving OHIs for denture patients); and in 5 out of 20 conservative Dentistry procedures (placing treatment plan of removable partial dentures (RPD), using semi-adjustable articulator, giving OHI's for Denture Patients, dealing with complete denture (CD) post-insertion complaints and giving OHI's for Denture patients). These differences were in favor of grope 2.Conclusion: This study has shown that final year dental students generally have high confidence levels in doing simple dental procedures and less confidence in more complex ones, thus additional focus on such complex procedures is advised during post-graduation training and before entitlement for practice licensing. Competency-based dental education is an advantageous over classical dental training systems, and thus should be maintained and continuously enhanced.
First-Degree Relationships and Genotyping Errors Deciphered by a High-Density SNP Array in a Duroc × Iberian Pig Cross
Authors: Gomez-Raya Luis , Izquierdo Emilio , Peña Eduardo Mercado de la , Garcia-Ruiz Fabian , Rauw Wendy Mercedes
Published: September 2021

Background Two individuals with a first-degree relationship share about 50 percent of their alleles. Parent-offspring relationships cannot be homozygotes for alternative alleles (genetic exclusion). Methods Applying the concept of genetic exclusion to HD arrays typed in animals for experimental purposes or genomic selection allows estimation of the rate of rejection of first-degree relationships as the rate at which two individuals typed for a large number of SNPs do not share at least one allele. An Expectation–Maximization algorithm is applied to estimate parentage. In addition, genotyping errors are estimated in true parent-offspring relationships due to the large number of SNPs. Nine candidate Duroc sires and 55 Iberian dams producing 214 Duroc × Iberian barrows were typed for the HD porcine Affymetrix array. Results We were able to establish paternity and maternity of 75 and 86 piglets, respectively. A lower bound of the genotyping error of 0.003345 was estimated based on the rate of rejection of true parent-offspring relationships among autosomal SNPs. The true genotyping error is estimated to be between twice and three times the average of the rate of rejection observed in true relationships, i.e., between approximately 0.0067 and 0.0100. A total of 8,558 SNPs were rejected in six or more true parent-offspring relationships facilitating identification of “problematic” SNPs with inconsistent inheritance. Conclusions This study shows that animal experiments and routine genotyping in genomic selection allow to establish or to verify first-degree relationships as well as to estimate genotyping errors for each batch of animals or experiment.
JQ1 Attenuates Neuroinflammation by Inhibiting Inflammasome-Dependent Canonical Pyroptosis Pathway in Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy
Authors: Zhong Xiaolin , Chen Zuyao , Wang Yajuan , Mao Mingli , Deng Yingcheng , Shi Mengmeng , Xu Yang , Chen Ling , Cao Wenyu
Published: September 2021

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is manifested clinically in hyperneuroinflammation and associated with increased morbidity worldwide. Pyroptosis, a novel programmed cell death, has been considered as a causative factor of SAE. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is a member of the Bromo and Extra-Terminal (BET) family, and promotes inflammatory response in various diseases. Thereby, we examined the effect of JQ1, which is a specific selective inhibitor of BRD4, on the inflammasome-induced pyroptosis of hippocampus in sepsis mice model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. And we found that JQ1 treatment inhibited the phosphorylation of BRD4, alleviated weight loss and splenomegaly, as well as decreased the serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH) induced by LPS injection. Moreover, JQ1 administration decreased the expression of nod-like receptor family protein 1 (NLRP1) or 3 (NLRP3) or the absent in melanoma 2 (Aim2) inflammasomes by blocking nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) signaling in the hippocampus of sepsis mice. Interestingly, we found that JQ1 selectively attenuated the canonical pyroptosis pathway in SAE mice, indicating by reduced expression of Caspase-1, Caspase-11, gasdermin D (GSDMD) and gasdermin A (GSDMA). JQ1 intervention also suppressed the activation of hippocampal microglia and the release of pro-inflammatory factors, such as IL-1β, IL-18 and IL-6 in SAE mice. In addition, JQ1 treatment protected blood brain barrier (BBB) by up-regulated the expression of tight junction protein occludin and ZO-1 in SAE mice. Furthermore, JQ1 administration remarkably rescued neuronal damage in SAE mice, as enhanced expression of hippocampal NeuN and Doublecortin (DCX). Thus, the protective effects of BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 on SAE were verified in neurons via the inhibition of canonical pyroptosis induced inflammation.
High-normal blood pressure (prehypertension) is associated with PM2.5 exposure in young adults
Authors: Ye Huaze , Tang Jie , Luo Leiqin , Yang Tianjian , Fan Kedi , Xu Long
Published: September 2021

We aimed to examine PM2.5 exposure, blood pressure (SBP and DBP) measurement, hypertension risk factors and to assess the association between PM2.5 exposure and hypertension among young adults. The mean SBP was 117.78 mmHg, with 11.22% high-normal blood pressure (prehypertension) and 2.51% hypertension (≥ 140 mmHg). DBP was 75.48 mmHg with 26.37% prehypertension and 4.53% hypertension (≥ 90 mmHg). The median PM2.5 in the past year was 31.79 µg/m3, with highest in winter (49.33 µg/m3), followed by spring (37.34 µg/m3), autumn (29.64 µg/m3) and summer (24.33 µg/m3). Blood pressure was positively correlated with age, height, weight, BMI, daily smoking, alcohol consumption, mental stress and stay-up in the past 1 year. After adjustment for the covariates, each 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with SBP (Day 1 = 1.07 mmHg, Day 3 = 1.25 mmHg, Day 5 = 1.01 mmHg) and DBP (Day 1 = 1.06 mmHg, Day 3 = 1.28 mmHg, Day 5 = 1.29 mmHg, Day 15 = 0.87 mmHg, Day 30 = 0.56 mmHg). Exposure in winter was associated with 1.17 mmHg increase in SBP. Logistic models showed for every 1 µg/m3 increase of PM2.5, SBP in Day 1 and Day 5 was increased by 6% and 4%, and DPB by 3% and 16%, respectively. SBP was increased by 13% in spring and 7% in winter, and DBP was increased by 12% in winter. Our data suggest a certain prevalence of pre- or hypertension among young population, which is associated with short-term fluctuation and season-specific exposure of PM2.5.
Metagenomics-Based Diagnosis and Monitoring Treatment of Disseminated Talaromyces Marneffei Infection
Authors: Xie Dan , Xu Wu , Li Mingliang , You Jingya , Fan Min , Bi Xiaogang , Zhang Kouxing , Xian Ying
Published: September 2021

Background: The diagnosis of T. marneffei infection remains challenging due to its non-specific clinical presentations and the inadequate performance of conventional diagnostic methods. Meanwhile, there is no good indicator to monitor when induction treatment should switch to consolidation treatment.Case summary: A 53-year-old male patient presented with a one-week history of high fever on March 21, 2019, 10 years after a liver transplant. A chest CT showed multiple pulmonary nodules. Blood culture revealed T. marneffei. After two weeks of intravenous treatment of voriconazole and caspofungin, the patient was discharged without fever and was given oral voriconazole on April 8. Two days later, the patient had a fever again. The patient was fever-free soon after intravenous voriconazole. However, a high fever occurred three days later. Cultures of blood and sputum were negative. Metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) detected T. marneffei sequences in blood and Enterococcus faecium sequences in sputum. Despite the use of caspofungin and linezolid, the patient maintained a daily fever of 38.5°C. Chest CT revealed that pulmonary nodules were growing in size and number. After administering Amphotericin B, the temperature quickly returned to normal. Liposomal amphotericin B was used due to increased creatinine. When the sequence of T. marneffei turned negative in the blood, the patient was discharged on May 24 and received 14-week oral voriconazole without relapse. Conclusion: mNGS can directly detect the sequence of T. marneffei in the blood. Consequently, mNGS is a powerful technique in precise diagnosis and a good monitoring technique for treating disseminated T. marneffei.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago barcoded: fish diversity in the remoteness and DNA barcodes reference library for metabarcoding monitoring
Authors: Cruz Marcelo Merten , Hoffmann Lilian Sander , de Freitas Thales R. O.
Published: September 2021

Anthropogenic pressures have been depleting the global biodiversity. In order to monitor the changes in ecosystems, molecular techniques can be used to characterize species composition. Among molecular markers capable of identifying species, the COI is the most used, and its sequencing is the standard procedure of how taxonomic information can be surveyed. Despite this, new possibilities of biodiversity profiling have become possible through the assessment of highly fragmented DNA molecules in environmental samples. Now, medium- and short-length markers are used in metabarcoding studies. Here, a survey of marine fish from the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago was barcoded, in which the COI barcode procedure identified 21 species of 11 families of fish. Then, the first extensive COI library of these islands located in isolation was constructed; from these sequences, the most appropriate primer pair for future metabarcoding studies was identified. The new Saint Peter and Saint Paul sequence database has 9,183 sequences from 165 species and 62 families of fish. The overall mean distance among all sequences was 0.4. This distance reveals that the archipelago is a reservoir of biodiversity as this attribute is higher than other islands around the world. Due to this, the protection of the archipelago should be enhanced and well monitored with science-based approaches such as DNA metabarcoding. In this case, the primer pair specifically designed from this library should be considered.
Structural, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Nickel-Copper Ferrite NixCu1-xFe2O4
Authors: Babaei Ferydon , Ghasemi Afroz
Published: September 2021

Nickel-copper ferrite nanoparticles NixCu1-x Fe2O4 with values x = 0.3, 0.5,0.7 fabricated by combustion method . X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyzes confirmed the formation of the ferrite structure. The average size of crystals was estimated to range from 39 to 44 nm. The particle morphology was detected and interpreted by the FSEM scanning microscope and the porosity characteristic of the ferrite structure based on the combustion method was observed. The FTIR analysis was performed to investigate the bonds in which the tensile vibrational mode of the tetrahedral site in the range of the wavelength of 500-600 cm-1 .The magnetic properties of nanoparticles were investigated using VSM analysis and the effect of increasing of copper ion on MS saturation magnetization and HC coercivity force was investigated. With respect to the saturation magnetization values for the synthesized samples, it was observed that by increasing the Cu content from x = .3 to x = .5 the saturation magnetization decreased and then increasing with increasing Cu content such that at x = .5, we had the lowest saturation magnetism. Reduction of saturation magnetization Copper ions occupy ferric ions in tetrahedral sites and iron ions are transferred to octahedral sites. The results of UV-Vis indicate to complete absorption in the samples. The linearity of the edge of the absorption spectrum relates to a direct energy band gap and the effect of increasing copper ions on ferrite conductivity was investigated.
Stray Dog Feeding and Self-Reported Stray Dog-Related Problems in Thailand.
Authors: Saree Afia , Klinpikul Anda , Kongchu Apissara , Wongaree Arya , Navykarn Bussabong , Songsakul Chaowanet , Kongsuwan Chayapa , Kiewlek Chuttama , Waesalaemae Hillmee , Sarasutjari Isarawadee , Benjama Jehrusdee , Thongprasert Napak , Sukchaiya Nathchanon , Suksai Nititon , Jongthitinon Pakjira , Chorueangsak Pattiya , Kiattisaksophon Pattamaporn , Boonbandan Pawanya , Sanguthai Phansang , Apiwatgaroon Ponnapat , Rattanakhot Pornlapat , Poomivanichakij Prapasiri , Kao-ian Sattawat , Thongchai Supatcha , Ongprakobkul Surathep , Sritula Tanabadee , Saisrikosol Thanatcha , Jong Sikarin , Sunghan Jutapoln , Chamroonkiadtikun Panya , Vichitkunakorn Polathep
Published: September 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
CRISPR Screening of E3 Ubiquitin Ligases Reveals Ring Finger Protein 185 as a Novel Tumor Suppressor in Glioblastoma Repressed by Promoter Hypermethylation and miR-587
Authors: Lin Kun , Shen Shang-Hang , Lu Feng , Zheng Pengfeng , Wu Shizhong , Liao Jingwei , Jiang Xiaohang , Zeng Guangming , Wei De
Published: September 2021

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant primary brain tumor. E3 ligases play important functions in glioma pathogenesis. CRISPR system offers a powerful platform for genome manipulation, while the screen of E3 ligases in GBM still remains to be explored. Here, we first constructed an E3 ligase small guide RNA (sgRNAs) library for glioma cells growth screening. After four passages, 299 significantly enriched or lost genes (SELGs) were compared with the initial state. Then the clinical significance of SELGs were validated and analyzed with TCGA glioblastoma and CGGA datasets. As RNF185 showed lost signal, decreased expression and favorable prognostic significance, we chose RNF185 for functional analysis. In vitro overexpressed cellular phenotype showed that RNF185 was a tumor suppressor in two glioma cell lines. Finally, the molecular mechanism of decreased RNF185 expression was investigated and increased miR-587 expression and DNA hypermethylation was evaluated. This study would provide a link between the molecular basis and glioblastoma pathogenesis, and a novel perspective for glioblastoma treatment.
Nature-Based Solutions in Mountain Catchments Reduce Impact of Anthropogenic Climate Change on Hydrological Drought Severity
Authors: Holden Petra , Rebelo Alanna , Wolski Piotr , Odoulami Romaric , Lawal Kamoru A. , Kimutai Joyce , Nkemelang Tiro , New Mark
Published: September 2021

Attributing the extent to which Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can offset emerging risk from anthropogenic climate change is a test of effectiveness for climate change adaptation, but has rarely, if ever, been done. Here we show that a widely applied NbS in South Africa – invasive alien tree clearing – can reduce the impact on hydrological drought severity due to human influence on climate, using the Cape Town “Day Zero” drought as an example. Using a multi-model “joint-attribution” framework of coupled climate and landscape states, we find that 12–29% of the hydrological drought severity can be attributed to anthropogenic climate change, compared to 7–15% for reduced rainfall and 1.6-2% for increased reference evapotranspiration. Attributable human influence on meteorological drought was amplified by 5–14% as it propagated through the hydrological system. Clearing invasive alien trees and preventing spread significantly reduced the attributable human influence on hydrological drought severity (2–15% for moderately and 10–27% for fully invaded catchments) but was not sufficient to remove the climate change impact completely. The relative contribution of NbS to drought severity reduction will decrease as climate change progresses. NbS will continue to be important but should be combined with other adaptation options to manage increasing hydro-climatic risk.
TERT Genetic Polymorphism rs2736100 Was Associated With Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Aggressive Manifestation
Authors: Nie Xilin , Shang Jinbiao , Wang Wendong
Published: September 2021

Background: The TERT rs2736100 genetic polymorphism was commonly found in human malignancies, indicated its key role in cancer cell transformation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the functional TERT rs2736100 genetic polymorphism in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients` outcomes.Methods: We had performed a retrospective study of the relationship betweenrs2736100and clinicopathological outcomes of PTC in 500 patients (378 female and 122 male) aged 43.8±11.4 years (rang 15-74 years) with median follow-up of 60 months (range, 1 to 455 months). Results: The TERT rs2736100 genetic polymorphism (TG/GG versus TT) were significantly associated with several high risk clinicopathological features such as tumor spread, extra-thyroidal extension, central/lateral lymph node metastases, stage T III or IV disease. However, in the Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, the rs2736100 mutation was unrelated to the overall disease-free survival with a log-rank p>0.05. In the Cox-regression analyses, the overall survival rate of recurrence/neo-metastasis was related with lager size of tumor, younger age and tumor spread, but unrelated with rs2736100 mutation. Conclusion: The TERT rs2736100 genetic polymorphism positive was more likely to manifest with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics but cannot worse prognosis much in PTC.
A Functional Outcome Prediction Model of Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Based on Extreme Gradient Boost
Authors: Zhan Sizheng , Huang Boxuan , Xie Wenyong , Xue Feng , Zhang Dianying , Jiang Baoguo
Published: September 2021

Purpose: We aimed to construct a nonlinear regression model through Extreme Gradient Boost (XGBoost) to predict functional outcome 1 year after surgical decompression for patients with acute spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods: We prospectively enrolled 249 patients with acute SCI from 5 primary orthopedic centers from June 1, 2016, to June 1, 2020. We identified a total of 6 predictors with three aspects: 1) clinical characteristics, including age, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) at admission, level of injury and baseline ASIA motor score (AMS); 2) MR imaging, mainly including Brain and Spinal Injury Center (BASIC) score; 3) surgical timing, specifically comparing whether surgical decompression was received within 24 hours or not. We assessed the SCIM score at 1 year after the operation as the functional outcome index. XGBoost was used to build a nonlinear regression prediction model through the method of boosting integrated learning.Results: We successfully constructed a nonlinear regression prediction model through XGBoost and verified the credibility. The average absolute value of the difference between the predicted value and the actual value is 3.72 (t=1.29, P=0.203), ranging from 0 to 8.44. AMS and age ranked first and second in predicting the functional outcome.Conclusion: We verified the feasibility of using XGBoost to construct a nonlinear regression prediction model for the functional outcome of patients with acute SCI, and we found that age and AMS play the most important role in predicting the functional outcome.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03103516.
Preparation of Non-polluting Tb-Doped Mesoporous Carbon Nitride Photocatalyst and Study on the Efficacy and Mechanism of Degradation of Antibiotics in Water
Authors: Wang Bing , Cao Qingtong , Li Guomin , Zhang Jian
Published: September 2021

Given that the biological treatment of antibiotic wastewater can easily induce resistant bacteria, the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics is considered a better method for treating antibiotic wastewater. Therefore, the ability to remove Tylosin (TYL) and Tetracycline (TC) in aqueous solution using rare earth element Tb-doped g-C3N4 under simulated natural solar radiation was investigated. A series of rare earth Tb3+ doped mesoporous g-C3N4 were successfully prepared by nitric acid treatment and Tb(NO3)3·5H2O samples showed significantly higher degradation efficiency for TYL and TC than pure g-C3N4. Leaching toxicity experiments were carried out on the catalyst using chard seeds and demonstrated negligible toxicity of the leachate from the catalyst. The structure, elemental state, optical properties, morphology and photogenerated carrier separation of the prepared xTCN catalysts were characterized by XRD, XPS, UV-Vis DRS, TEM and PL. The results showed that Tb doping enhanced the photocatalytic activity of the g-C3N4 catalyst by narrowing the band gap while improving the light-trapping ability; The separation and transport rate of photogenerated carriers were significantly increased after Tb doping. Finally, a simple, efficient and non-polluting Tb-doped carbon nitride photocatalyst is successfully developed in this paper.
Serum Levels of Vitamin D, Retinol, Zinc and CRP in Relation To Obesity Among Children and Adolescents
Authors: Zou Yan , Zhang Ronghua , Huang Lichun , Zhao Dong , Su Danting , Meng Jia , Fang Yueqiang
Published: September 2021

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the possible association between serum micronutrients (vitamin D, retinol, Zinc ), C-reactive protein (CRP) and obesity among children and adolescents. Methods: Weight and height were measured and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, serum retinol, serum Zinc and CRP were measured in 2818 children and adolescents(6-17 years of age), using the data of 10 investigation sites in Zhejiang Province. The difference of micronutrients (vitamin D, retinol, zinc), CRP among different BMI status were explored by ANOVA and chi-square test. The associated factors of micronutrients and CRP of overweight and obesity were explored by multifactor analysis.Results: There were significant differences between male students and female students on BMI, 25(OH)D3, CRP, and there were significant differences between children and adolescents and between students living in urban area and rural area on BMI, 25(OH)D3, retinol, zinc(p < 0.05). There were significant differences on 25(OH)D3 and CRP level, and on retinol level among children and adolescents with different nutritional conditions (p < 0.05). In multifactor analysis, we found that gender(OR=0.626, 95%CI:0.486-0.806), living area (OR=0.666, 95%CI:0.515-0.860), age group(OR=0.894, 95%CI:0.856-0.934), high CRP concentration (OR=1.084,95%CI:1.046-1.122) and appropriate retinol level (OR=1.536, 95%CI:1.185-1.991) were associated with students with obesity. Conclusion: Gender, living area, age group, CRP concentration and vitamin A status were associated with children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. More attention in the intervention of overweight and obesity should be paid to boys living in urban areas, and high serum CRP and retinol level should also be concerned.
Histamine Binding Activity of Surface-Modified Yeast by Histamine Binding Protein (HBP)
Authors: Jang Hyewon , Lee Geun Woo , Kim Yang-Hoon , Min Jiho
Published: September 2021

Histamine is an immune mediator that is mainly secreted when an immediate, rapid response is needed in the body, and an excessive secretion of histamine or lack of enzymes that degrade histamine can result in various side effects. Histamine binding protein (HBP) is secreted by a mite species to prevent the host’s histamine-induced immune responses by binding the histamine molecule in the blood. Cloning was performed to express HBP on the yeast surface (MBTL-GWL-1), and immunofluorescence (IF) and western blot was performed to confirm the expression of the recombinant protein. The histamine inhibitory ability of GWL-1 cells was tested according to the cell concentration. The highest inhibitory ability of 1.30×107 CFU/ml of GWL-1 cells was of about 60%. The GWL-1 cell concentration and the degree of histamine inhibition were confirmed to be dose-dependent, and dead cell debris was shown to have a histamine inhibitory effect, although not as much as that of whole cells. Phagocytosis assays were performed to determine whether histamine affected the RAW 264.7 cell’s phagocytosis, and to indirectly confirm the GWL-1 cell’s histamine inhibition. By confirming that, we found that GWL-1 captures histamine. Therefore, it can be expected to become a competitive material in the anti-allergy market.
Identification of Key Modules and Hub Genes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Based on Integrative Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis
Authors: Jiang Jun , Chen Delong , Xie Siyuan , Dong Qichao , Yu Yi , Xu Yi , Zhang Yuxuan
Published: September 2021

BackgroundHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heterogeneously inherited cardiac disorder with unclear biological pathogenesis. This study aims to identify the key modules and genes involved in the development of HCM.MethodsUsing weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) algorithm, we constructed integrative co-expression networks for the two large sample HCM datasets separately. After selecting clinically significant modules with the same clinical trait, functional enrichment analysis was performed to detect their common pathways. Based on the intramodular connectivity (IC), the shared hub genes were generated, validated, and further explored in gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA).ResultsThe orange and pink modules in GSE141910, the green and brown modules in GSE36961 were mostly related to HCM. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that HCM might exhibit enhanced processes including remodeling of extracellular matrix, activation of abnormal protein signaling, aggregation of calcium ion, and organization of cytoskeleton. SMOC2, COL16A1, RASL11B, TUBA3D, IL18R1 were defined as real hub genes due to their top IC values, significantly different expression levels, and excellent diagnostic performance in both datasets. Moreover, GSEA analysis demonstrated that pathways of the five hub genes were mainly involved in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, ECM-receptor interaction, Hedgehog signaling pathway.ConclusionOur study provides more comprehensive insights into the molecular mechanisms of HCM, identifies five hub genes as candidate biomarkers for HCM, which might be theoretically feasible for targeted therapy against HCM.
Photoinduced isomerization sampling of retinal in bacteriorhodopsin
Authors: Ren Zhong
Published: September 2021

Photoisomerization of retinoids inside a confined protein pocket represents a critical chemical event in many important biological processes from animal vision, non-visual light effects, to bacterial light sensing and harvesting. Light driven proton pumping in bacteriorhodopsin entails exquisite electronic and conformational reconfigurations during its photocycle. However, it has been a major challenge to delineate transient molecular events preceding and following the photoisomerization of the retinal from noisy electron density maps when varying populations of intermediates coexist and evolve as a function of time. Here I report several distinct early photoproducts deconvoluted from the recently observed mixtures in time-resolved serial crystallography. This deconvolution substantially improves the quality of the electron density maps hence demonstrates that the all-trans retinal undergoes extensive isomerization sampling before it proceeds to the productive 13-cis configuration. Upon light absorption, the chromophore attempts to perform trans-to-cis isomerization at every double bond coupled with the stalled anti-to-syn rotations at multiple single bonds along its polyene chain. Such isomerization sampling pushes all seven transmembrane helices to bend outward, resulting in a transient expansion of the retinal binding pocket, and later, a contraction due to recoiling. These ultrafast responses observed at the atomic resolution support that the productive photoreaction in bacteriorhodopsin is initiated by light-induced charge separation in the prosthetic chromophore yet governed by stereoselectivity of its protein pocket. The method of a numerical resolution of concurrent events from mixed observations is also generally applicable.
Dietary Patterns and Breast Cancer Risk: A KCPS-II Cohort Study
Authors: Lee Ji-Young , Cho Hae in , Jee Sun ha
Published: September 2021

Background: There have been inconsistencies in the evidence for a role of dietary risk factors in the development of breast cancer. In this study, we used a large-scale cohort (Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II [KCPS-II]) to examine the association between dietary patterns and breast cancer risk in Korean women.Methods: The dietary patterns of 14,807 women from the KCPS-II were derived by factor analysis and 135 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed during the follow-up period. Cox proportional models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the risk of breast cancer. Results: The following three major dietary factors were identified: “Korean dietary pattern” (high intake of Kimchi, vegetables, and rice); “Sweet dietary pattern” (high intake of soda and sugar); and “Western-like dietary pattern” (high intake of dairy products, eggs, oil, fruits, and bread). After adjusting for potential confounders, neither the Korean (HR for the highest compared with the lowest tertile, 1.04; 95% CI 0.53−2.06) nor the Sweet dietary patterns were associated with the risk of breast cancer. In contrast, the Western-like dietary pattern was found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer with an HR (95% CI) of 1.01 (0.65−1.60) for the second tertile and 1.61 (1.04−2.50) for the third tertile as compared with the lowest tertile. After stratifying by menopausal status, these effects were only statistically significant among premenopausal women for the third tertile, compared with those in the bottom tertile (HR 1.69; 95% CI 1.06−2.68; p = 0.028). No significant association was observed between the Korean or Sweet dietary pattern and breast cancer among either pre- or postmenopausal women.Conclusions: Our findings revealed that a greater consumption of a Western-like diet was associated with an increased breast cancer risk and consequently offer a potential prevention strategy for Korean women.
High Body Mass Polygenic Risk in Mothers Enhances De Novo Functional Mutations in Epigenetic and Microtubule Gene Pathways in Their Offspring With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Lohman Brian , Shabalin Andrey A , Farrell Andrew , Marth Gabor T , Docherty Anna R. , Coon Hilary
Published: September 2021

Background. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental diagnosis that encompasses deficits in social communication in addition to repetitive and restrictive behaviors and interests. Accumulated evidence implicates over 100 risk genes and suggests possible genetic subtypes. We tested one previously characterized subtype relating to high maternal body mass index (BMI) as an enhancing risk factor in genetically vulnerable offspring. Methods. Using 1,300 families from the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC), we created an objectively defined subgroup of mothers in the highest quartile of the distribution of derived BMI polygenic risk scores. Polygenic risk for BMI reflects background genetic risk independent of the many environmental modifiers of BMI.Results. In the ASD offspring of mothers in this highest quartile, we found significant associations with de novo, putatively functional variants in genes in pathways related to chromatin state, chromatin structure, histone activity, and microtubule function. These gene pathways represent potential epigenetic vulnerability to alterations in the metabolic prenatal environment and/or alterations in microtubule-related brain development processes. The observed pathway enrichments were maternal-specific, and were not observed in neurotypical offspring. Two-thirds of the 36 genes in the significant epigenetic pathways and over half of the 33 genes in the significant microtubule pathways had existing ASD or neurodevelopmental risk evidence. Limitations. Though tests and simulations were done to ensure robustness of results, these findings have not been replicated in an external cohort.Conclusions. Our results suggest that epigenetic modification and/or microtubule deficits may be unique to a subset of ASD probands of mothers at increased genetic metabolic risk, pending external replication. Beyond the current application of these methods, our approach presents a strategy to reveal genetic subsets through polygenic risk stratification across phenotypic domains.
Association of Next Generation Sequencing and Routine Testing with Survival of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in Clinical Practice
Authors: Wang Wenxian , Si Jinfei , Zhang Xiaoyan , Ma Tonghui , Lou Guangyuan , Shi Zhiyong , Shao Lan , Zhang Yiping , Song Zhengbo
Published: September 2021

Background: The rapid development of detection technologies has resulted in an increased use of next generation sequencing (NGS) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Here, we investigated the clinical benefits of different detection technologies for patients with advanced lung cancer in a real world setting. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled advanced NSCLC patients diagnosed between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2019 in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital who received genetic testing. Patients received either NGS or routine testing (EGFR and/or ALK and/or ROS1 only). Although different panels were used for NGS, they all included nine genes mentioned as molecular biomarkers in the NCCN guidelines (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, KRAS, HER2, BRAF, MET, RET, and NTRK). Clinical outcomes were compared between advanced NSCLC patients who received NGS and those undergoing routine testing. Overall survival (OS) and survival rates were analyzed. Propensity score analysis was used to prevent survival bias associated with patient characteristics.Results: Of 6,451 patients with advanced NSCLC included in the analysis, 5,666 (87.8%) patients underwent routine testing and 785 (12.2%) were tested by NGS. The median OS was 22.6 months and the 5-year survival rate was 22.89%. Comparison of OS showed an absolute difference between the two cohorts according to unadjusted survival curves (24.8 months vs. 22.1 months, P=0.0097), whereas no difference in OS was observed using propensity score analysis (P=0.533). The 1-year survival rate was significantly higher in patients tested by NGS than in those undergoing routine testing (82.0% vs. 70.7%, P=0.0004). In patients with uncommon mutations and in those receiving targeted therapies, propensity score analysis showed that the 1- and 2-year mortalities were significantly lower in the NGS group than in the routine testing group without mutations. This could be due to the higher rate of patients receiving targeted therapy (68.0% vs. 53.6%; P=0.042) and off-label drugs (28.10% vs. 11.40%; P=0.002) in the NGS testing cohort.Conclusions: Although propensity score analysis showed NGS had no significant benefit with RT, NGS detected more uncommon mutations and improved off-label drugs treatments. The findings highlight the importance of NGS detection, lead to a clinical benefit in uncommon mutations.
Mercury Goes Solid At Room Temperature At Nanoscale: Toward An Effective Hg Waste Storage
Authors: Kana N. , Morad R. , Akbari M. , Henini M. , Niemela J. , Hacque F. , Gibaud A. , Maaza M.
Published: September 2021

While room temperature bulk mercury is liquid, it is solid in its nanoconfiguration (Ønano−Hg ≤ 2.4 nm). Conjugating the nanoscale size effect and the Laplace-driven surface excess pressure, Hg nanoparticles of Ønano−Hg ≤ 2.4 nm embedded in a 2-D turbostratic BN host matrix exhibited net crystallization at room temperature via the experimentally observed (101) & (003) diffraction Bragg peaks of the solid Hg rhombohedric α-phase. The observed crystallization is correlated to a surface atomic ordering of 7 to 8 reticular atomic planes of the rhombohedric α-phase. Such a novel size effect on the phase transition phenomena in Hg is conjugated to a potential Hg waste storage technology. Considering the vapor pressure of bulk Hg, RT solid nano-Hg confinement represents a viable green approach for Hg waste storage derived from modern halogen-efficient light technology.
Glutaric Aciduria Type 1 ; Does it Effect of Hearing Function?
Authors: Özgedik Dilek , YILMAZ Suna Tokgöz , Gürbüz Berrak Bilginer , SİVRİ Serap Kalkanoğlu , Sennaroğlu Gonca
Published: September 2021

The main objective of this study was to observe the audiological findings of patients with Glutaric Aciduria Type 1 (GA-1), which is very difficult to evaluate and diagnose due to limited scientific literature. We used an audiological test battery to evaluate the study group of 17 individuals with GA-1 diagnosis and the control group of 20 healthy individuals. Following the otoscopic examination, the audiological test battery consisting of pure-tone hearing threshold (PTA) test, immittancemeter, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), contralateral suppression of otoacoustic emissions, and auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements were applied to all participants (N=37).DPOAE amplitudes and the contralateral distortion product suppression values were significantly lower in the study group compared to control group (p < 0,05). In the study group, although they had a normal hearing level, there were morphologically different ABR waves than the control group, which was considered a remarkable finding. As well as I-V interpeak latency, the absolute latencies of I, III, and V waves ABR of the study group, were observed to be prolonged significantly compared to the control group (p < 0,05). Our findings support that GA-1 disease of association with auditory damage. The use of otoacoustic emissions and ABR measurements in the audiological test battery would be useful tool in the early diagnosis and follow-up of hearing sensivity individuals with GA-1.