bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimated Change in Prevalence of Hypertension in Bangladesh According to Following JNC 7 and ACC/AHA 2017: Secondary Analysis From Nationally Representative Data
Authors: Rahman Md Ashfikur , Halder Henry , Yadav Uday Narayan , Mistry Sabuj Kanti
Published: January 2021

Most studies followed either Joint National Committee 7 (JNC 7) or World Health Organization-International Society of Hypertension (WHO-ISH) guidelines to ascertain the prevalence of hypertension among Bangladeshi adults. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) revised the definition of hypertension in 2017, which has significant public health importance. Identifying the change in the new guideline has resulted in the prevalence and associated factors of hypertension compared to that of the JNC7 guideline in Bangladesh. This study used data from the most recent round (2017-18) of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS). According to the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline, the participants were categorized as hypertensive if they had BP measurements greater than or equal to 130/80 mm Hg, which was greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg according to the JNC 7 guideline. A total of 11 959 weighted participants were included in the analysis. The median (IQR) age of the respondents was 34.0 (18.0-95.0) years. The prevalence of hypertension was 24.0% according to the JNC 7 guideline, which was 50.5% according to the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline. Participants who were overweight and obese, aged, member of affluent households, urban residents, and Rangpur division inhabitants had significantly higher odds of being hypertensive according to both guidelines. The new guideline suggests that half of the adult population in Bangladesh is hypertensive when measured according to the new guideline, urging the policymakers and public health practitioners to take immediate action to address the already established modifiable risk factors.
Quantitative Laryngoscopy With Computer-aided Diagnostic System for Laryngeal Lesions
Authors: Kuo Chung-Feng , Lai Wen-Sen , Liu Shao-Cheng
Published: January 2021

Background: Laryngoscopes are widely used in the clinical diagnosis of laryngeal lesions, but such diagnosis relies heavily on the physician's subjective experience. The purpose of this study was to develop a computer-aided diagnostic system for the detection of laryngeal lesions based on objective criteria.Methods: This study used the distinct features of the image contour to find the clearest image in the laryngoscopic video. For the illumination problem caused by the laryngoscope lens, which could not fix the position of the light source, this study proposed image compensation to provide the image with a consistent brightness range. We also proposed a method to automatically screen clear images from laryngoscopic film and automatically segment them based on structural features of the pharynx and larynx, using hue and geometric analysis in the vocal cords and other zones. Finally, the support vector machine was used to classify laryngeal lesions based on a decision tree.Results: This study evaluated the performance of the proposed system by assessing the laryngeal images of 284 patients. The accuracy of the detection for vocal cord polyps, cysts, leukoplakia, tumors, and healthy vocal cords were 93.15%, 95.16%, 100%, 96.42%, and 100%, respectively, and the classification accuracy for laryngeal lesions was 96.47%.Conclusion: Our results showed that it was feasible to take the hue and geometric features of the larynx as signs to identify laryngeal lesions and that they could effectively assist physicians in diagnosing laryngeal lesions.
Increased Total Serum Alkaline Phosphate Is Associated With Enhanced Bone Mineral Density in Dogs With Interval Exercise Training
Authors: Lee Hae Sung , Oh Hyun Ju , Kim Jong-Hee
Published: January 2021

There are growing attention and interdisciplinary efforts for One Health to attain optimal health and well-being for humans and animals. Exercise has been suggested as a powerful intervention for health care and fitness management in humans; however, few studies have demonstrated the beneficial effect of exercise on dogs. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise training on heart rate (HR), bone mineral density (BMD), muscle volume (MV), and hematological and serum biomarkers in dogs. Six healthy beagles completed the interval treadmill exercise protocol, developed based on the FITT principle, two times a week for 12 weeks. For a physiological parameter evaluation, the mean HR value was analyzed using a Polar H10 system and software program. Quantitative computed tomography was used to determine BMD in the femur and vertebrae and MV in the thigh before and after exercise training. To perform hematological and serum biochemical parameter assessment, blood samples were analyzed at zero and 12 weeks of exercise. We show that interval exercise results in a normal HR response and no adverse behavioral and physiological effects on dogs. Exercise improves BMD in the femur (541.6 ± 16.7 vs. 610.2 ± 27.8 HA, p < 0.01) and increases serum total alkaline phosphatase (TALP; 68.6 ± 9.2 vs. 81.3 ± 17.2, p < 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (23.5 ± 1.0 vs. 33.5 ± 1.6, p <0.01), and creatine kinase (114.8 ± 5.3 vs. 214.0 ± 20.8, p < 0.01) levels. There is a positive relationship between BMD and TALP (femur: r = 0.760, p = 0.004; vertebrae: r = 0.637; p = 0.025). Our findings suggest that long-term interval exercise training is beneficial to increase BMD in the femur, and an increased TALP level is a concomitant mechanism for enhancing BMD with exercise in dogs.
Repair Abilities of Mouse Autologous Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and ShakeGelTM3D Complex Local Injection With Intrauterine Adhesion by  BMP7-Smad5 Signaling Pathway Activation
Authors: Zhao Yun-xia , Huang Qiao-yi , Chen Wei-can , Xia Tian , Chen Shao-rong , Gao Hongzhi , Shi Qi-yang , Lin shu
Published: January 2021

Background: The objective was to explore the therapeutic effect of autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) combined with ShakeGelTM3D transplantation to activate the BMP7-Smad5 signaling pathway to treat intrauterine adhesions (IUA). Methods: Autologous ADSCs were isolated and then merged with ShakeGelTM3D. The IUA model was established by mechanical injury. The third generation of autologous ADSCs was injected directly into the uterus in combination with ShakeGelTM3D. After 7 days of treatment, endometrial morphology, number of endometrial glands, endometrial fibrosis area, and fibrosis biomarker analysis by RT-PCR and IHC were examined. BMP7 and phosphorylation of Smad5 were also detected, and the recovery of infertility function in treated mice was evaluated. Results: Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) showed that autologous ADSCs expressed CD105 (99.1%), CD29 (99.6%) and CD73 (98.9%). Autologous ADSCs could still maintain a good growth state in ShakeGelTM3D. Histological examination revealed that the number of endometrial glands increased significantly, and the area of fibrosis decreased. At the same time, the expression of BMP7 and Smad5 in the ADSCs + Gel group was significantly upregulated, and the final reproductive function recovered to about 70%. Conclusions: Autologous ADSCs can be used in combination with ShakeGelTM3D to maintain functionality and create a viable three-dimensional growth environment. The combined transplantation of autologous ADSCs and ShakeGelTM3D promotes the recovery of damaged endometrial tissue by increasing BMP7-Smad5 signal transduction, resulting in endometrium thickening, increased number of glands, and decreased fibrosis, leading to restoration of partial fertility.
A Misdiagnosis of a Huge Lung Fibroleiomyomatous Hamartoma in Pleural Cavity
Authors: Liu Minghui , Li Xin , Zhang Hongbing , Ren Fan , Dong Ming , Xia Chunqiu , Chen Jun
Published: January 2021

Backgroud: Lung fibroleiomyomatous hamartoma is an extremely rare benign tumor in lung, it belongs to hamartoma. There were only five patients with solitary pulmonary fibroleiomyomatous hamartoma reported in literatures and our case has the largest size of the tumor from lung.Case presentation: Our case is a 36-year woman with a huge mass in pleural cavity. She was once misdiagnosed mediastinal germ cell tumor with pleural effusion through percutaneous lung biopsy in other hospital. After traditional thoracotomy, a huge size of 22 x 18 x 5.5 cm mass was completely dissected and a diagnosis of pulmonary fibroleiomyomatous hamartoma was given by pathology combined with immunohistochemical staining, which showed the positive staining of SMA, Desmin, CD34, BCL2, TTF1, Napsin A, and CK7, and the negative staining of S-100 and Calretinin. The patient recovered well with 40 months following up without recurrence.Conclusions:In our case, we had reported the largest size of lung fibroleiomyomatous hamartoma. The treatment of fibroleiomyomatous hamartoma is completely resected it and have a good prognosis.
Direct measurements of the RHeq in salt mixtures including the contribution from metastable phases
Authors: Rorig-Dalgaard I
Published: January 2021

Accelerated salt-induced deterioration occurs by frequent changes across the equilibrium relative humidity (RH eq ). Therefore, knowledge of the actual RH eq of a salt mixture has a major impact on preventive conservation to ensure that the relative humidity (RH) does not cause a salt phase transition and in situ desalination as the dissolution of salt is the essential criterion to enable transport of salt (ions) in materials. For decades, it has been possible to determine the RH eq in salt mixtures with the user-friendly, thermodynamic-based ECOS-Runsalt software. However, the ECOS-Runsalt model is challenged by the influence of kinetics along with some limitations in regard to possible ion types and combinations. A dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) instrument is used for the direct measurement of RH eq and to deduce knowledge on the physicochemical nonequilibrium process related to the phase changes in salt mixtures. The experimentally measured RH eq values in this study of NaCl-Na 2 SO 4 -NaNO3, NaNO 3 -Na 2 SO 4 , NaCl-NaNO 3 , NaCl-Na 2 SO 4 , and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 -Na 2 SO 4 are in agreement with values from the literature. A comparison with thermodynamically calculated results makes it probable that the phase transition for some salts is significantly influenced by nonequilibrium conditions. The present work bridges some of the existing gaps in regard to accuracy, including the effects of kinetics and the possible ions and combinations that may be found in situ. The proposed method makes it possible to determine a more representative RH eq in relation to real conditions for the improved treatment of salt-infected constructs.
Are there network differences between the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres of pain in patients with migraine?
Authors: Lee Dong Ah , Lee Ho-Joon , Kim Hyung Chan , Park Bong Soo , Ko Junghae , Park Si Hyung , Kim Il Hwan , Park Jin Han , Lee Yoo Jin , Park Kang Min
Published: January 2021

Background

The present study aimed to investigate differences in the structural co-variance network based on structural volume and differences in the functional network based on cerebral blood flow between the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres of pain in patients with migraine.
Methods

We prospectively enrolled 27 patients with migraine without aura, all of whom had unilateral migraine pain that always occurred on the same side. We defined the ipsilateral hemisphere as the side of migraine pain, whereas we defined the contralateral hemisphere as that contralateral to the side of migraine pain. We obtained structural volumes using three-dimensional T1-weighted images and cerebral blood flow measurements using arterial spin labeling MRI. We then analyzed structural co-variance networks based on structural volumes and functional networks based on cerebral blood flow using graph theory.
Results

There were no significant differences in structural volume or cerebral blood flow between the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres. However, there were significant differences in the structural co-variance network and functional network. In the structural co-variance network, the betweenness centrality of the thalamus was lower in the ipsilateral hemisphere than in the contralateral hemisphere. In the functional network, the betweenness centrality of the anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus was lower, while that of the opercular part of the inferior frontal gyrus was higher, in the ipsilateral hemisphere than in the contralateral hemisphere.
Conclusion

The present findings successfully demonstrate that there are significant differences in the structural co-variance network and functional network between the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres of pain in patients with migraine. Such findings may be related to the pathogenesis of pain in these patients.
The compatibility of animal-sourced food and circularity in healthy European diets
Authors: Selm Benjamin van , Frehner Anita , de Boer Imke , Hal Ollie van , Hijbeek Renske , Ittersum Martin van , Talsma Elise , Lesschen Jan-Peter , Hendriks Chantal , Herrero Mario , Zanten Hannah Van
Published: January 2021

Several dietary guidelines are developed that propose limiting the intake of animal protein to stay within planetary boundaries and improve human health. Simultaneously, circular food systems are receiving significant attention in the European Union as an option to improve the current food system. In a circular system, animals are solely fed with low-opportunity-cost-biomass (LCB), resulting in substantially fewer animals and reduced supply of animal-sourced nutrients to humans. We assessed whether this circularity principle within the EU-28 is compatible with the recommended animal-source food consumption in healthy and environmentally friendly dietary guidelines such as the EAT-LANCET dietary guidelines. Our results show that the overall quantity of animal-sourced protein in EAT-LANCET dietary guidelines can be met, but that the precise levels of inclusion of different animal-sourced foods in such a diet cannot be achieved. The EAT-LANCET guidelines recommend larger quantities of chicken meat over beef and pork while a circular food system produces mainly milk, dairy-beef, and pork. All three circularity diets outperform the EAT-LANCET diet in nutritional value while reducing GHG emissions (up-to 31%) and arable land use (up-to 42%). Careful consideration of the permissible substitutability between animal-sourced foods is urgently needed to define the role of animal products in circular human diets. In this way the consumption of animal products - based on the circularity principle of only feeding animals with LCB - benefits both human health and the environment.
Psychiatry Curriculum: How Does It Affect Medical Students’ Attitude Toward Psychiatry?
Authors: Lee Hye Jeong , Jang Hyeok Jun , Jang Seoyoung , Bong Su Hyun , Won Geun Hui , Yoon Seoyoung , Choi Tae Young
Published: January 2021

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to identify the attitude of South Korean medical school students towards psychiatry and to analyze how lectures and clinical clerkship in psychiatry effect changes in students’ attitudes. MethodsA total of 100 medical school students were recruited as subjects in the study, 86 of whom completed psychiatry lectures and underwent psychiatry clerkship from March 2015 to August 2018. The participating students completed a survey, which included demographic data, specialty choice, and attitude towards psychiatry. ResultsSubjects who completed lectures and clinical clerkship in psychiatry showed positive changes in attitude towards psychiatry in the following items: “Among mental health professionals, psychiatrists have the most authority and influence” (p=0.002), “Psychiatrists frequently abuse their legal power to hospitalize patients against their will” (p<0.001), and “Many people who could not obtain a residency position in other specialties eventually enter psychiatry” (p=0.028). However, negative changes in attitude towards psychiatry were shown in the following item: “On average, psychiatrists make as much money as most other doctors” (p=0.008). Also, specific medical school factors scored positively overall. Although it was not statistically significant, the questionnaire item “During my psychiatry rotation, psychiatry residents were good role models” was more positively observed by students after completion of psychiatry lectures and clerkship. ConclusionAfter each curriculum, certain attitudes toward psychiatry were positively changed, but others either remained unchanged or were negatively changed. By using these study results to revise the current curriculum, medical school students’ attitude towards psychiatry can be improved.
Silicate Fertilization Improves Microbial Functional Potential For Stress Tolerance in Arsenic-Enriched Rice Cropping Systems
Authors: Das Suvendu , Kim Gil Won , Lee Jeong Gu , Bhuiyan Mohammad Saiful Islam , Kim Pil Joo
Published: January 2021

Background: The host plant and its rhizosphere microbiome are similarly exposed to abiotic stresses under arsenic (As)-enriched cropping systems. Since silicon (Si) fertilization is effective in alleviating As-induced stresses in plants, and plant-microbe interactions are tightly coupled, we hypothesized that Si-fertilization would improve soil microbial functional potential to environmental stress tolerance, which was surprisingly not yet studied. With the help of high throughput metagenome, microarray and analyzing plant impacts on soil microbiome and the environment, we tested the hypothesis in two geographically different rice (i.e., Japonica and Indica) grown on As- enriched soils.Results: Silicate fertilization in rice grown on As-enriched soils altered rhizosphere bacterial communities and increased several commensal microorganisms and their genetic potential to tolerate oxidative stress, osmotic stress, oxygen limitation, nitrogen and phosphate limitation, heat and cold shock, and radiation stress. The stress resistant microbial communities shifted with the changes in rhizosphere nutrient flows and cumulative plant impacts on the soil environment.Conclusions: The study highlights a thus-far unexplored behavior of Si-fertilization to improve microbial stress resilience under As-laden cropping systems and open up promising avenue to further study how commonalities in plant-microbe signaling in response to Si-fertilization alleviates As-induced stresses in agro-systems.
Establishment of Lymph Node Metastasis Prediction Model For T1a Gastric Cancer
Authors: Zeng Zhi , SHI ZHAN , LIU YANG , ZHAO JUNJUN , LU QILIANG , HU LINJUN , GAO YULING , XIAO ZUNQIANG , HUANG DONGSHENG , XU QIURAN
Published: January 2021

Background and Aims: Endoscopic resection has been widely used in the treatment of early gastric cancer recent tears. For patients undergoing endoscopic resection, lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor. Thus, we built a model to predict the likelihood of lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer.Methods: Data of 789 gastric cancer patients were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. We picked several variables and chi-square analysis was used to come up with statistically significant factors. Then, we used these factors to build a nomogram predicting the lymph node metastasis risk in T1a gastric cancer. Finally, we evaluated this nomogram using C-index, ROC curve and DCA.Results: We built a nomogram based on four factors. The C-index of this nomogram was 0.750. The AUC value of ROC curve for this nomogram was 0.750. DCA showed that it would be beneficial to use this nomogram if the threshold probability was between 0.01 and 0.41.Conclusion: This study built a nomogram to predicted the lymph node metastasis risk in T1a gastric cancer based on four factors. Upon evaluation, this nomogram has a good ability of predicting the risk of lymph node metastasis.
Prediction of COVID-19 Prognosis By Heterogeneity Analysis Based on Chest CT Scans
Authors: Yang Bo , Zhang Bei , Gao Lichen , Zhang Jian , Qiu Huaiming , Huang Wencai
Published: January 2021

BackgroundGround-glass opacity (GGO) and consolidation opacity (CLO) are the common CT lung opacities, and their heterogeneity may have potential for prognosis in COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to estimate clinical outcome in individual COVID-19 patient by using histogram heterogeneity analysis based on CT opacities. Methods71 COVID-19 cases’ medical records were retrospectively reviewed from a designated hospital in Wuhan, China, from January 24th to February 28th at the early stage of pandemic. Two characteristic lung abnormity opacities, GGO and CLO were drawn on CT images to identify the heterogeneity by using quantitative histogram analysis. The parameters (mean, mode, kurtosis, skewness) were derived from histograms to evaluate the accuracy of clinical classification and outcome prediction. Nomograms were built to predict the risk of death and median length of hospital stays (LOS), respectively. Results A total of 57 cases were eligible for the study cohort after exclusion 14 cases. The most highly frequency of lung abnormalities was GGO mixed with CLO in both survival population (26 in 42, 61.9%) and died population (10 in 15, 66.7%). The best performance heterogeneity parameters to discriminate severe type from mild/moderate counterparts were as following: GGO_skewness: specificity=66.67%, sensitivity=78.12%, AUC=0.706; CLO_mean: specificity=70.00%, sensitivity=76.92%, AUC=0.746. Nomogram based on histogram parameters has the ability to predict the individual risk of death and the prolonged median LOS of COVID-19 patients. C-indexes were 0.763 and 0.888 for risk of death and prolonged median LOS, respectively.ConclusionsThe histogram analysis method based on GGO and CLO has the ability for individual risk prediction in COVID-19 patients.
miR-3113-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-133a-3p, and miR-499a-5p are Sensitive Biomarkers to Diagnose Sudden Cardiac Death
Authors: Yan Fengping , Chen Yuanyuan , Ye Xing , Zhang Fu , Wang Shiquan , Zhang Le , Luo Xiaoting
Published: January 2021

BackgroundSudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a great health threat and diagnostic challenge, especially those cases without positive autopsy findings. Molecular biomarkers have been urgently needed for the diagnosis of SCD displaying negative autopsy results. Due to their nature of stability, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising diagnostic biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases. MethodsThis study investigated whether specific cardio-miRNAs (miR-3113-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-499a-5p, and miR-133a-3p) could serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of SCD. Thirty-four SCD cases were selected, 18 categorized as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without positive autopsy findings and 16 as atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) with gross myocardial scar. Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication (n=14) and fatal injury death (n=14) that displayed no pathological changes of myocardium were selected as control group, respectively. Histological analyses were performed to reveal the pathological changes and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to determine the expression of those miRNAs. Resultsit showed that heart samples from the AMI group displayed no remarkable difference with regard to the expression of cleaved-caspase3, CD31, and CD68 and the extent of fibrotic tissue accumulation when compared with control samples. The four cardio-miRNAs were significantly up-regulated in the SCD samples as compared with control. When discriminating SCD from controls, ROC curve analysis revealed that the areas under the curve (AUC) of these 4 miRNAs were from 0.7839 to 0.9043 with sensitivity of 64.71-97.06% and specificity of 70-100%. Moreover, when discriminating the specific causes of SCD, the four miRNA expressions increased in the AMI heart as relative to ASCVD, and a combination of two miRNAs presented higher diagnostic value (AUC=0.7407-0.8667). ConclusionmiR-3113-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-499a-5p, and miR-133a-3p may serve as independent diagnostic biomarkers for SCD, and a combination of two of these miRNAs could further discriminate detailed causes of SCD.
The Efficacy of Genetic Testing for Early Detection of Psoriatic Arthritis in Patients with Psoriasis
Authors: Eder Lihi , Li Quan , Jerome Dana , Farrer Chandra , Yeung Jensen , Rahman Proton
Published: January 2021

Background: Improved understanding of the genetic architecture of psoriatic disease (PsD) and reduction in genotyping costs provide an opportunity to assess the application of genetic testing for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) diagnosis. The study aimed to assess the performance of a multi-marker genetic kit in classifying patients as PsD and PsA and to assess whether the performance has improved by combining genetic and clinical data.Methods: 328 patients with psoriasis and musculoskeletal symptoms (78 PsA and 250 psoriasis alone) who were referred to rheumatology for suspected PsA and 341 non-psoriatic controls were analyzed. A custom multi-SNP genetic assay, including 41 variants based on large scale association genome-wide association studies in PsA, was genotyped. Machine-learning methods were used to identify the optimal classification model by area under the receiver operating curve (AUC). Results: The performance of all three classifiers to distinguish PsD from non-psoriatic controls was moderate with similar AUC (range 0.64 to 0.69). Logistic regression had the highest AUC and showed moderate specificity (61.9%) and specificity (67.9%). The ability of the models to correctly classify PsA among all psoriasis patients was suboptimal with AUC ranging from 0.55 to 0.60 with low sensitivity (1.3% to 34.6%) and moderate to high specificity (69.2% to 99.6%). The combination of genetic and clinical data resulted in an improvement in the performance of the models (AUC 0.65 to 0.69), however, the information contributed by the genetic markers was only marginal. Conclusions: Genetic testing has marginal effect on correctly classifying PsA among psoriasis patients in clinical setting.
LncRNA NCK1-AS1 is overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and predicts survival
Authors: Fu Xin , Chen Xi , Si Yuanyuan , Yao Youjie , Jiang Zhengming , Chen Kui
Published: January 2021

BackgroundsNCK1-AS1 promotes cervical cancer, while its involvement in esophageal cancer is hardly known. We therefore explored the involvement of NCK1-AS1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and analyzed the possible interaction between NCK1-AS1 and TGF-β signaling.MethodsOur study selected 52 cases (30 males and 22 females, 46 to 70 years, 56.4 ± 6.6 years) to be used as the research subjects in this study. RT-qPCR and western blot were used for gene expression analysis. Transient transfections were used to analyze gene interaction. Transwell assays were performed to analyze cell invasion and invasion.ResultsOur data showed that NCK1-AS1 was overexpressed in ESCC patients. NCK1-AS1 in plasma was positively correlated with the NCK1-AS1 in tumor but not in non-tumor tissues. High plasma levels of NCK1-AS1 were accompanied by poor survival. TGF-β1 expression level was also increased in tumor tissues compared to tumor adjacent normal tissues. TGF-β1 was positively correlated with NCK1-AS1 in tumor tissues. TGF-β1 overexpression did not affect NCK1-AS1 expression, while NCK1-AS1 upregulated TGF-β1 in ESCC cells. TGF-β1 and NCK1-AS1 increased ESCC cell migration and invasion, TGF-β inhibitor reduced the effects of NCK1-AS1 overexpression.ConclusionTherefore, NCK1-AS1 may promote ESCC by upregulating TGF-β1.
In-silico trial of intracranial flow diverters confirms and expands insights from conventional clinical trials
Authors: Sarrami-Foroushani Ali , Lassila Toni , Macraild Michael , Asquith Joshua , Roes Kit C. B. , Byrne James V. , Frangi Alejandro F
Published: January 2021

Although the cost of clinical trials is ever-increasing, in-silico trials, which rely on virtual populations and interventions simulated using patient-specificc models, may offer a solution to contain these costs. However, in-silico trial endpoints need to be compared to those available from conventional clinical trials to ensure that the predictions of safety or effcacy from the in-silico approach are valid. Here, we present the flow diverter performance assessment (FDPASS) in-silico trial, which modelled the treatment of intracranial aneurysms in 82 virtual patients with a flow-diverting stent, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to quantify post-treatment flow reduction in the aneurysm sac. The predicted FD-PASS flow-diversion success rate replicated the values previously reported in three reference clinical trials. The in-silico approach allowed broader investigation of factors associated with insuficient flow reduction and increased stroke risk after flow diversion than would be feasible in a conventional trial. These ndings demonstrate for the rst time that in-silico trials of medical devices can (i) replicate ndings of conventional clinical trials and (ii) incorporate virtual experiments that are impossible in conventional trials.
The extent of resection and adjuvant treatment are beneficial to the outcome of secondary glioblastoma
Authors: Hu Yan , Tu Ze-wei , Ji Pei-gang , Xu Meng , Chao Min , Cao Hai-yan , Ge Shunnan , Guo Hua , Gao Guo-dong , Qu Yan , Zhu Xin-gen , Wang Liang
Published: January 2021

Backgroud: to investigate secondary glioblastoma (sGBM) patients undergoing resection and evaluate the impact of treatment on survival of malignant progression (PMS) and the prognostic factors of secondary glioblastoma. Method: the prognostic factors of secondary glioblastoma were analyzed retrospectively including gender, age, the interval between first diagnosis and second, the extent of resection, adjuvant treatment, postoperative Karnofsky score (KPS), 06-methylguanine-DNA methytransferase (MGMT) status, IDH1 mutation status, and PMS in patients with sGBM. Result: Thirty-four patients with sGBM were included in this study. Sixteen patients were female and eighteen were male. Median PMS in females was longer than male patients with sGBM (17.38 (95%CI 10.63–24.12) vs 10.06(95%CI 5.32–14.79), p = 0.032). 22(64.7%) patients achieved gross total resection (GTR),12(35.3%) patients achieved subtotal resection (STR). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that GTR significantly improved survival after malignant progression (PMS) compared with STR (17.18(95%CI 10.97–23.40) vs 7.17(95%CI 4.97–9.36), p = 0.004). Adjuvant treatment after resection was executed in 17 (50.0%) patients, radiotherapy in one (2.9%) patient, chemotherapy in seven (20.6%) patients, and radio-chemotherapy in nine (26.5%) patients. Median preoperative KPS was 80(range 30–100), and 85(range 30–100) after surgery. The difference in PMS probability was significant between patients having a good postoperative clinical status (KPS༞70)versus poor (KPS ≤ 70). Long term survival could be achieved in patients with a good clinical status (16.57(95%CI 10.54–22.60) vs 9.00(95%CI 3.66–14.34), p = 0.02). Patients with a greater interval after initial diagnosis had longer survival than those with intervals less than 26.5 months (18.62(95%CI 10.81–26.43) vs 9.22(95%CI 5.61–12.83), p = 0.025). Conclusion: GTR and any adjuvant treatment significantly improved PMS in patients with secondary glioblastoma. Gender, postoperative KPS, time interval since the first diagnosis are associated with prognosis.
HOXB7 overexpression leads triple-negative breast cancer cells to a less aggressive phenotype
Authors: Garcia Simone Aparecida de Bessa , Araújo Mafalda , Pereira Tiago , Freitas Renata
Published: January 2021

Background

Breast cancer is a serious public health issue worldwide and, despite the advances in the understanding of this disease, its great complexity and heterogeneity still represent a major hurdle for accurate diagnosis and therapy decision-making. In addition to the biomarkers found to be useful in the prognosis a treatment of breast cancer, HOX genes have been proposed to be involved in the progression of this disease. For example, HOXB7 alterations in the expression and methylation patterns have been reported to promote breast cancer progression, most likely in a molecular subtype dependent way.
Methods

Here we induced HOXB7 overexpression in MDA-MB-231 cells, cellular model of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, and evaluated the phenotypic changes in cell viability, morphogenesis, migration, invasion and formation of colonies. We also evaluated the expression of putative downstream targets and their direct binding to HOXB7 by Chip-qPCR in HOXB7-overexpressing cells and controls, namely CTNNB1, EGFR, FGF2, CDH1, DNMT3B and COMMD7.
Result

During the phenotypic characterization of the HOXB7-overexpressing cells, we found consistently a less aggressive behavior represented by lower cell viability, inhibition of cell migration, invasion and attachment-independent colony formation capacities added to the more compact and organized spheroids growth in 3D culture. In addition, we detected that these phenotypic changes may relate to the direct or indirect interaction of the HOXB7 protein with CTNNB1, EGFR, FGF2, CDH1, DNMT3B and COMMD7 genes.
Conclusion

Taken together, these results highlight the plasticity of the HOXB7 function in breast cancer, according to the cellular genetic background and expression levels and provide evidence that in triple-negative breast cancer cells, HOXB7 overexpression has the potential to promote less aggressive phenotypes.
HnRNP-L regulated circCSPP1/miR-520h/EGR1 axis modulates autophagy and promotes progression in prostate cancer
Authors: Lu Jianming , Zhong Chuanfan , Shu Fangpeng , Lv Daojun , Liu Zezhen , Tan Xiao , Wang Shuo , Wu Kaihui , Yang Taowei , Zhong Weibo , Wang Bin , Chen Yanfei , Li Yuehan , Jia Zhenyu , Zou Yaguan , Zhong Weide , Mao Xiangming
Published: January 2021

Background
The circRNAs, a new subclass of non-coding RNAs that are catalyzed by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), have been reported to be associated with the progression of multiple types of cancers. We previously discovered that heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (HnRNP-L), a multi-functional RNA RBP, is associated with pro-proliferation and anti-apoptosis activities in prostate tumor cells. In this study, we aim to establish the biological relevance of circCSPP1 (a newly discovered signature circRNA in prostate cancer) and HnRNP-L to prostate cancer (PCa) progression.
Methods
The specific expression level of circCSPP1 (not confounded by the linear-CSPP1) in PCa was investigated and analyzed based on the publicly available datasets, and was quantified in vitro or in vivo using FISH and RT-qPCR in the current study. The RT-qPCR, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and mini-gene system were utilized to confirm that the expression of circCSPP1 was determined by HnRNP-L. We verified the autophagy-induced tumor-promoting effect of circCSPP1 in PCa through a series of gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments in vitro or in vivo. The western blot, confocal microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were employed in autophagy assays. Advanced bioinformatics analyses, dual-luciferase reporter assay, FISH and AGO2 RIP were applied to identify the endogenous RNA network involving circCSPP1/miR-520 h/EGR1 axis in PCa, which promote PCa progression through regulating autophagy activities.
Results
First, we demonstrated that circCSPP1 expression was higher in PCa tissues than in benign tissues, and higher in PCa cells than in the benign cells. Then, the in vitro gain- and loss-of-function experiments showed that the circCSPP1 expression in PCa cells was regulated by HnRNP-L, and the increased circCSPP1 significantly induced autophagy which led to an enhanced potential in proliferation, migration and invasion of PCa cells. These results were consistent with the in vivo experiment where increased circCSPP1 was associated with higher growth rate in grafted tumors. Finally, we demonstrated the potential competing endogenous RNA network, involving circCSPP1, miR-520 h, and EGR1, in PCa cells, which may play an important role in PCa progression.
Conclusions
Our study indicated that the increase in circCSPP1 in PCa, which may be catalyzed by HnRNP-L, can induce cellular autophagy through the CircCSPP1-miR-520 h-EGR1 axis, leading to the progression of prostate tumor. This newly discovered circRNA biomarker may be used for clinical prognosis of PCa as well as for development of novel therapy plans.
Landscape Characteristics Influence Ranging Behavior of Asian Elephants at the Human-wildlands Interface in Myanmar
Authors: Chan Aung Nyein , Wittemyer G. , McEvoy J. , Williams Amirtharaj Christy , Cox N. , Soe P. , Grindley M. , Shwe Nay Myo , Chit Aung Myo , Oo Zaw Min , Leimgruber P.
Published: January 2021

Context Asian elephant numbers are declining across much of their range, driven largely by serious threats from land use change resulting in habitat loss and fragmentation. Myanmar, holding critical range for the species, is undergoing major developments due to recent sociopolitical changes. To effectively manage and conserve the remaining populations of endangered elephants in the country, it is crucial to understand their ranging behavior.Objectives Our objectives were to (1) quantify dry season range sizes of elephants in Myanmar and assess how they vary with different configurations of agriculture and natural vegetation; and (2) evaluate how percentage of agriculture within dry core range of elephants relates to their daily distance travelled.Methods We estimated dry season, wet season, and annual range sizes with autocorrelated kernel density estimator (AKDE) using a continuous-time movement modeling (ctmm) framework and reported the 95% and 50% AKDE and 95% Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) range sizes. In a multiple regression framework, we developed candidate model sets to explain the variation in AKDE range sizes during the better sampled dry season when human-elephant interactions are the most likely to occur.Results Elephant dry season ranges were highly variable averaging 792 km2 and 184.2 km2 for the 95% and 50% AKDE home ranges, respectively. We found both the shape and spatial configuration of agriculture and natural vegetation patches within an individual elephant’s home range play a significant role in determining the size of its range. We also found that elephants are moving more (larger energy expenditure) in ranges with higher percentages of agricultural area.Conclusion Our results provide baseline information for advancing future land use planning that takes into account space-use requirements for elephants. Failing to do so may seriously further endangered declining elephant populations in Myanmar and across the species’ range.
Variants in PRKCE and KLC1, Potential Negative Regulators of Type I Psoriasis
Authors: Xing Jianxiao , Wang Ying , Zhao Xincheng , Li Junqin , Hou Ruixia , Niu Xuping , Yin Guohua , Li Xinhua , zhang kaiming
Published: January 2021

Background: Psoriasis is a multifactorial disease with a complex genetic predisposition. The pathophysiology of psoriasis is associated with genetic variants, especially in negative regulatory genes. To better characterize gene variants in psoriasis and identify the relationship between clinical characteristics and variant genes in its pathogenesis. DNA was extracted from 282 type Ⅰ psoriasis patients and purified, and 13 variable genes were amplified and sequenced using the Sanger method. Results: Among the 13 investigated genes, the variants frequencies of protein kinase C epsilon (PRKCE) (c.240T>C, 35.9% vs 47.7%, P< .05) and kinesin light chain 1 (KLC1) (c.216A>G, 2.9% vs 98.1%, P< .01) were significantly lower in patients than in normal Asian individuals. Additionally, we found considerable differences in the relationship between variants in genes CADM2, JPH2, SPTLC3 and clinical characteristics stratified by medical history and family history. Moreover, MEGF6 gene variants (39.52% vs. 22.50%, χ2=3.83, p < .05) showed a stronger association with the group as mild (PASI≤10) than with the group as heavy. Conclusions: Our results provide a comprehensive correlation analysis of negative regulatory genes that are regulated in psoriasis. This integrated analysis offers novel insight into the pathogenic mechanisms involved in psoriasis.
Genome Wide SSR Development and Their Application in Genetic Diversity Analysis in Wax Gourd
Authors: Hu Qianmei , Wang Haiping , Jiang Biao , Zhu Huayu , He Xiaoming , Song Pengyao , Song Jiangping , Yang Sen , Shen Junjun , Li Zheng , Jianbin Hu , Sun Shouru , Yang Luming
Published: January 2021

Background: Wax gourd (Benincasa hispida Cong., 2n=2x=24) is one of the most important winter vegetables of the Cucurbitaceae family. There are only limited markers available for this crop and the draft genome of wax gourd provides a powerful tool for SSR marker development.Results: In this study, we developed genome-wide SSR markers from wax gourd genome and characterized their distribution and frequency of different motifs and repeats. A total of 52,431 microsatellites from wax gourd genome were identified, of which 39,319 SSR markers were developed. 1,152 non-wax gourd SSR markers were selected from cucumber, melon, watermelon and pumpkin to test their transferability in wax gourd. 580 SSR markers could be transferable in wax gourd, and 42 of them were detected with polymorphic in 11 tested accessions of wax gourd. In addition, 11 good polymorphic transferrable SSR markers and 21 SSR markers of wax gourd were selected to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of 129 wax gourd accessions. 112 alleles were detected by these 32 SSR markers. The result of population structure showed that the 129 wax gourd accessions were divided into two main populations, and the genetic diversity analysis separated them into two clusters. Conclusions: The large number of wax gourd SSR markers developed in this study provides a valuable resource for genetic linkage map construction, molecular mapping, and marker-assisted selection (MAS) in wax gourd.
Burden of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Amongst Nigerian Pregnant Women: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Onwusulu Daniel N , Okoye Helen Chioma , Nna Emmanuel O , Onuka Samuel , Nnamani Amaka Obiageli , Ikeagwulonu Richard Chinaza , Duru Augustine Nwakuche , Asiegbu Uzoma Vivian , Obu Dorathy Chinwe , Okoye Ngozika Veronica , Afolabi Bamgboye M , Akanni Oluyemi Oluwatosin , Esangbedo Dorothy Omono , Garba Yunusa , Ezeonu Chinonyelum Thecla , Coker Motunrayo
Published: January 2021

BackgroundAsymptomatic bacteriuria can be a cause of adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes if undetected and untreated. Pregnant women are usually routinely screened with urine cultures at antenatal booking. However, the exact burden of asymptomatic bacteriuria in Nigeria is unknown. Our protocol is aimed at determining the pooled prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria amongst Nigerian pregnant women as well as the associated risk factors and pregnancy outcomes.MethodsNine databases: PubMed, African Journal Online, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Embase, ResearchGate, Scopus, and Web of Science will be searched using a search strategy that is developed by combinations of MeSH terms, keywords, text words, and entry terms. Only observational studies published or retrievable in the English Language will be included. Studies must be conducted in Nigeria. The primary measurable outcome of this study is the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women. Identified studies will be screened, selected, and deduplicated in DistillerSR. Data items will be extracted into predefined forms in the DistillerSR. Reports including Prisma flow chart, quality scores, risk of bias, and study outcomes will be generated in DistillerSR. Extracted data items will be exported into the Comprehensive Meta-analysis Software version 3 for quantitative analysis. Methodological, clinical, and statistical heterogeneity will be assessed for all the studies. Publication bias will be assessed using Funnel plots. There will be a subgroup analysis of pooled prevalence using categorical variables. The primary outcome will be expressed in pooled prevalence, standard error, variance, and 95% CI of variance. Quantitative risk factors and pregnancy outcomes will be used used for meta-regression. The reporting of the systematic review and meta-analysis will be according to PRISMA 2015 Statement.DiscussionThe pooled prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in Nigeria will be examined in relation to associated risk factors and pregnancy outcomes. The study will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.Trial Registration NumberThis protocol is registered with the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with registration number CRD42020213810
The Suitability of Mesozoic Limestone Aggregate for Possible use as Pavement Material in Harer-Dire Dawa Area.
Authors: Gudissa Leta , Raghuvanshi Tarun K. , Meten Matebie , Chemeda Yadeta C. , Schmerold Ronald
Published: January 2021

Road construction requires a prime quality and a tremendous amount of aggregates, within which their quality is set by geological and geotechnical properties. Therefore, the Mesozoic limestone was studied in the vicinity of Harer and Dire Dawa towns, for the fundamental engineering assessments. Thirty-seven Mesozoic limestone samples obtained from the area were subjected to petrographic and geotechnical analyses to work out the suitability of the rock as a road aggregate. Physical properties were investigated using ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), water absorption, Na2So4 soundness, and specific gravity tests. However, the mechanical properties were determined using unconfined compressive strength (UCS), Aggregate crushing value (ACV), Aggregate Impact Value (AIV), and Los Angles Abrasion value (LAAV). The study aimed to see if the limestone aggregate complies with the globally accepted standards by employing geotechnical laboratory analyses and petrographic examination. The petrographic observations reveal the Mesozoic limestones of the area are dominantly composed of micrite, sparite, and bioclasts with subordinate intraclasts, ooids, Fe-oxides, and dolomites. Results of the physical properties show the rock has a mean UPV of 4859 m/s, a dry specific gravity of 2.64, and very low water absorption ranging from 0.2-5.7%, and Na2So4 soundness ranges from 1-14%. Among the mechanical properties, UCS, AIV, ACV, and LAAV range from 20.5-180.5Mpa, 8-20%, 24-34%, and 18.9-31.1%, respectively.Based on the aforementioned results, the limestones of the area are suitable for aggregate in road construction as they’re complying with ERA, AASHTO, ASTM, and BS standards used for pavement works.