bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eliminating TRF-related System Errors Through Recursive TRF Realization Strategy for the CMONOC GPS Stations
Authors: wu weiwei , Meng Guojie , Wu Jicang , Zhao Guoqiang
Published: December 2020

It is vital in the study of crustal deformation to reduce system errors and enhance the accuracy of GPS coordinate time series. To eliminate system errors associated in the coordinate time series, which are related to the terrestrial reference frame (TRF) realization, we develop a recursive TRF realization strategy in regional GPS data processing. We have processed the whole set of CMONOC (Crustal Movement Observation Network of China) GPS data by the Bernese software, and employ the controlled datum removal (CDR) filter to solve the rank defect problem in the daily coordinate normal equations. On the recursive TRF realization of stations’ coordinates, we iteratively perform time series modeling with integral trajectory models, TRF realization with all continuous stations treated as “pseudo” fiducial stations, and frame alignment to the ITRF2014 with the 6-parameters Helmert transformation. We obtain the final coordinate time series through 3 times of iterations for the CMONOC data. Compared to the results derived from the conventional TRF realization strategy with the average root mean squares (RMS) being 1.98mm, 2.62 mm and 5.39 mm for east, north and up components, respectively, the average RMS earn significant reduction up to 30%, 43% and 16% in the first loop, with their quantities being 1.41 mm, 1.51 mm and 4.57 mm for east, north and up components, respectively, and negligible changes in the following 2 loops. In contrast to previous studies, our strategy is feasible in the processing of regional geodetic networks, and is concentrated on the TRF-related system errors without any pre-assumption and spatial limitation. In essence, our recursive strategy is to tighten the constraints for the CMONOC GPS stations in the TRF realization through the leaning of the barycenter of the processed geodetic network, thus inevitably loosening the constraints for other globally distributed stations, and slightly magnifying their RMS. On the whole, the north component of coordinates time series has a maximum RMS reduction, resulting in identical precision for both horizontal components, thus indicating that our strategy remedies the frame defects stemming from the extremely uneven distribution of the reference network, and retrieves the “real” precision of GPS observations. The insignificant RMS reduction on the vertical component may be attributed to insufficient time series modeling. Our recursive TRF realization strategy can benefit the velocity estimation for campaign stations.
Gut Microbial Variation May Predict Neonatal Jaundice and Microbial Alterations After Treatment
Authors: Ding Juan , Ma Xiao , Han Liping , Zhao Xianlan , Li Ang , Xin Qi , Lian Weining , Li Zhen , Ren Hongyan , Ren Zhigang
Published: December 2020

Background: Neonatal jaundice is a common disease that affects up to 60% of newborns and the relationship between early gut microbiome and development of neonatal jaundice is not fully understood. This study aims to characterize gut microbiome of newborns and to explore its association with risk of neonatal jaundice.Methods: We collected 257 fecal samples from 58 infants at 5 time points of 0, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months prospectively, and finally 114 samples from 6 neonatal jaundice infants (NJI) with treatment and 19 matched non-NJI completed Miseq sequencing and analysis. We characterized gut microbiome, identified microbial differences and gene functions. Results: Meconium microbial diversity from NJI was decreased versus non-NJI. Genus Gemella was decreased in NJI versus non-NJI. Eleven predicted microbial functions including fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase III and Pyruvate carboxylase subunit B decreased, while 3 functions including acetyl CoA acyltransferase increased in NJI. After treatments, microbial community presented a significant alterations based beta-diversity. Phylum Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were increased, while Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria were decreased. Microbial alterations were also analyzed between 6 recovery NJI and 19 non-NJI. Conclusion: Gut microbiota was unique in meconium microbiome from NJI, implying early gut microbiome intervention could be promising for the management of neonatal jaundice. Alterations of gut microbiota from NJI can be of great value to bolster evidence-based prevention against ‘bacterial dysbiosis’.
Impact of COVID-19 and Associated Preventive Measures on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in South Korea: An Observational Study
Authors: Sohn Minji , Koo Bo Kyung , Lim Soo , Yoon Ho Il , Song Kyoung-Ho , Kim Eu Suk , Kim Hong Bin
Published: December 2020

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been required to follow preventive measures such as social distancing or staying at home, which can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. We investigated the effect of these preventive measures on metabolic parameters in individuals with cardiometabolic risk factors.Methods: Using data for patients who visited a tertiary hospital in South Korea at least twice a year for the past 4 years, changes in clinical and biochemical data from the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2020) were compared with changes in the same data at the same annual time points during the three previous seasons of 2016–2019.Results: Among 7,094 patients, data for 1,485 were included. Systolic blood pressure increased by 2.6 ± 18.2 mmHg in the COVID-19 pandemic period compared with the 2018–2019, 2017–2018, and 2016–2017 seasons: –1.4 ± 16.5 mmHg, –2.8 ± 14.3 mmHg, and –0.7 ± 14.3 mmHg, respectively; all p < 0.05. The body mass index increased by 0.09 ± 1.16 kg/m2 in the 2019–2020 pandemic season whereas it changed by –0.39 ± 3.03 kg/m2 in 2018–2019 and by –0.34 ± 2.18 kg/m2 in 2017–2018 (both p <0.05). Total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels worsened in the pandemic season compared with the previous three. Fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels also showed increasing tendencies during the pandemic, but without significance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of patients whose metabolic syndrome worsened increased significantly by 21% compared with the 2018–2019 season. The 10-year coronary heart disease risk calculated using the Framingham risk score also increased significantly.Conclusions: Comorbidity and mortality arising from cardiometabolic disorders as collateral damage during COVID-19 infections and preventive procedures could have major impacts on human health in the future. Nationwide strategies to reverse the aggravation of cardiometabolic health during a pandemic should be implemented in countries attempting to cope with it.
Computed Tomography-Estimated Pancreatic Steatosis is a Risk Factor for Carotid Plaque in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Sun Pengtao , Fan Chunzhi , Wang Rengui , Chu Tongwei , Sun Xiaoli , Zhang Dongxue , Du Xuechao
Published: December 2020

Background Pancreatic steatosis correlates with the thickness of arterial intima. However, the correlation between pancreatic steatosis and carotid atherosclerosis plaque, which better predict the prognosis of cardiovascular disease, is unclear. We aimed to explore potential effects of pancreatic fat content measured by computer tomography (CT) on carotid plaque in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods Patients with T2DM who underwent CT scan of the upper abdomen and ultrasound of the carotid artery were consecutively enrolled. Based on ultrasound results, the patients were divided into non-plaque group and plaque group, and the latter was categorized into hypoechoic plaque subgroup and non-hypoechoic plaque subgroup. The CT attenuation of pancreas and spleen were measured. Pancreas-to-spleen attenuation ratio (P/S) and difference between pancreatic and splenic attenuation (P-S) were calculated. The cut-off values of P/S and P-S were obtained using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate association of P/S or P-S with carotid plaque or hypoechoic plaque.Results A total of 337 patients with T2DM were enrolled, including 101 cases (30.0%) in the non-plaque group, 146 cases (43.3%) in the hypoechoic plaque subgroup, and 90 cases (26.7%) in the non-hypoechoic plaque subgroup. P/S and P-S in plaque group were lower than those in non-plaque group, with a cut-off value of P/S and P-S as 0.72 and -13.33, respectively. After adjusting for risk factors, P/S and P-S correlated with carotid plaque [for low P/S: OR (95% CI): 3.15 (1.47-6.73), P=0.0031; for low P-S: OR (95% CI): 2.84 (1.42-5.66), P=0.0031] as well as carotid hypoechoic plaque [for low P/S: OR (95% CI): 1.82 (1.07-3.08), P=0.0259; for low P-S: OR (95% CI): 1.82 (1.09-3.02), P=0.021].Conclusions T2DM patients with carotid plaque have higher pancreatic fat content than those without. Pancreatic steatosis correlates with carotid plaque and hypoechoic plaque in T2DM patients.
Women’s Experiences of Induction of Labour With Low-dose Misoprostol Oral Tablets Compared With Slow-release Vaginal Insert. A Prospective Cohort Study Based on Questionnaires.
Authors: Hansen Karen Hell , Jeppegaard Maria , Eriksson Axelina , Jeppesen Sarah C. B. , Krebs Lone
Published: December 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to compare nulliparous women’s experiences of induction of labour with two different regimens of misoprostol.Methods: In two different hospitals, nulliparous women undergoing medical induction of labour were asked to complete a questionnaire after delivery. We adapted a validated questionnaire regarding mood and feelings during induction of labour, experience of labour and experience of induction.The questionnaire was completed by 123 (42.7%) of 288 eligible women; 57 (46.3%) had been allocated to oral misoprostol and 66 (53.7%) to slow-release vaginal insert. An independent-samples T-test was used for comparison of parametric continuous variables and a Pearson chi-square test was used for categorical data.Results: Women induced with oral misoprostol experienced a more painful induction of labour (p=0.019) and described feeling the length of stay at hospital as too long (p=0.028). The overall experience of giving birth after induction of labour was reported as “good” among 87.8% of women induced with oral misoprostol compared to 72.7% of women induced with slow-release misoprostol vaginal insert (p=0.039). Conclusions: Induction with low-dose oral misoprostol in nulliparous women is associated with experience of more pain and longer duration but overall a more positive experience of labour compared with induction with slow-release misoprostol vaginal insert.Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT02693587 on February 262,016.EudraCT number 2020–000366-42 on 23 January 2020, retrospectively registered.
An integrated genome-wide model for hookah constituents-gene-pathway-disease relationships
Authors: Huang Sing-Han , Chuang Yi-Hsuan , Luo Yong-Chun , Liu Wei-Ting , Lee Jung-Yu , Gordon Terry , Sun Hong , Pathak Nikhil , Lai Wen-Sen , Chen Lung-Chi , Yang Jinn-Moon
Published: December 2020

Hookah smoking is becoming increasingly popular worldwide and recent epidemiological studies indicate that it is significantly associated with respiratory diseases, and could contain constituents more harmful than cigarette smoking. However, the gene expression alterations and mechanisms of disease development induced by the hookah constituents are still unclear. Here, we are the first to propose a new experimental design and use RNA sequencing to profile bronchial epithelial cells from different hookah smoking exposure conditions (GSE162386). For our hookah-smoking dataset, we developed an integrated genome-wide model, hierarchical-systems biology model (HiSBiM), to systematically investigate the effects of smoking hookah and to compare the biological pathways with public cigarette smoking datasets. Our results show that the infectious disease-related pathways were enriched in hookah smoking than in cigarette smoking, which could be due to polluted hookah devices or pathogen contaminated water filters. Furthermore, we investigate the subsystem and pathway differences in hookah smoking between charcoal and electronic heating ways. We observed that cardiovascular and atherosclerosis-related pathways were activated after exposure to charcoal combustion, which may relate to combustion components carbon monoxide and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Overall, our results show that hookah smoking could involve a higher risk in several diseases than cigarette smoking and link the relations between hookah constituents to diseases. We believe that our HiSBiM is a useful integrated method for providing multiple-level valued insights for genome-wide analysis on various omics data sets.
Effect of Daidzein on the Proliferation of Lung Cancer Cells Involved in the Apoptotic Signaling Pathway
Authors: Liu Hui , Wang Xiaobo , Jin Ouyang , Fu Denggang , Peng You , Cheng Chengquan , Xiong Xiaowei , Huang Shaoxin , wang xin
Published: December 2020

Background: Daidzein is one of the key bioactive substances of soybean isoflavones that has a wide range of health benefits includes antineoplastic. Epidemiological evidence suggests that soy glycogen is associated with the incidence and prognosis of lung cancer. we purposed to assess the effect and molecular mechanism of daidzein on lung cancer, and to maximize therapy outcome for individualized treatment. Methods: In this report, H1299 were cultured in a medium with 10 μM daidzein for 6 hours , we detected the expression level of apoptosis-related genes in H1299 by cDNA microarray analysis. The selected genes were further validated by using RT-PCR analysis and Western blot. Finally, We usedflow cytometry to detect cell cycle alterations, and apoptosis the proliferation and apoptosis in HELF and H1299 cells were detected by Cell counting kit-8 assays. Results: These results indicate that low concentrations of isoflavone crude extract and daidzein could significantly affect the proliferation of H1299 (Human lung adenocarcinoma) and HELF (Human embryonic lung fibroblast) cells. The results of microarray in our study suggest that apoptosis-related genes are up-regulated induced by daidzein in H1299 cells and verified by RT-qPCR, particularly TP53 and caspase9. Western blotting shows the effect of daidzein on P53 and caspase9 in HELF cells be more obvious than it in H1299 cells. While the expression of TP53 was suppressed by pifithrin-α (PFTα) in HELF and H1299 cells, the mRNA and protein expression of TP53 still increase induced by daidzein, also, the effect of apoptosis induced by daidzein is involved in the P53 apoptosis pathway through inhibition of TP53 gene expression by PFTα. Conclusions: In conclusion, daidzein affected proliferation and apoptosis in HELF and H1299 cells, and the mechanism of apoptosis involved in the P53 signaling pathway.
A Logistic Regression Model for The Prediction of HBV-Related Cirrhosis
Authors: Luo Chang-Liang , Zhang Zhong-Lin , Wu Long , Wei Diao , Chen Hao , Wei Xiu-Qi , Zhang Wu-Wen , Hu Han-Ning , Wang Fu-Bing
Published: December 2020

Background: Cirrhosis is one of the most severe complications at the late stage of chronic HBV infection. The liver biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. However, a liver biopsy is associated with the risk of severe complications and a high cost. It is therefore necessary to find several biomarkers for the diagnosis of HBV-related cirrhosis. Methods: The research was proceeded to evaluate the diagnostic value of hematological parameters to find the surrogate markers in HBV-related cirrhosis. The research was proceeded on the training set, which was recruited from Zhongnan Hospital, including 102 HBV-related cirrhosis and 102 healthy individuals. The levels of selected hematological parameters were analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of these parameters. A logistic regression model was built and validated using four validation sets consisting of 261 patients.Results: The result show that the level of RDW, MPV, MPV/PC ratio, PLR and NLR were all significantly higher in HBV-related cirrhosis patients compared to healthy individuals. Most of these parameters owned a moderate AUC in HBV-related cirrhosis patients. However, their diagnostic sensitivities or specificities were unsatisfactory. Therefore, a logistic regression model was built by combining these hematological parameters. The model showed great diagnostic value with the AUC of 0.987, sensitivity of 96.1% and specificity of 95.1%. Besides, the other four validation sets were generated to validate the logistic regression model and all showed good AUC with moderate specificities and sensitivities. Conclusions: The data indicate that the model might be substantially useful for the diagnosis of HBV-related cirrhosis.
Body Mass Index is an Independent Predictor of Acute Kidney Injury After Urgent Aortic Arch Surgery for Acute Debakey Type I Aortic Dissection
Authors: Liu Taoshuai , Fu Yuwei , Liu Jie , Liu Yongmin , Zhu Junming , Sun Lizhong , Gong M.D. Ming , Dong Ran , Zhang Hongjia
Published: December 2020

Background: Aortic arch surgery and obesity are both related to risk of acute kidney injury. Our hypothesis was the risk of postoperative acute kidney injury increases when the body mass index increases in patients underwent urgent aortic total arch replacement surgery for acute Debakey Type I aortic dissection.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in Beijing Anzhen hospital from December 2015 to April 2017. All patients receiving urgent aortic total arch replacement surgery with a frozen elephant trunk implant for acute Debakey Type I aortic dissection were included. Body mass index was calculated based on height and weight. Acute kidney injury was diagnosed depended on the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes standards. Results: We included 115 consecutive patients in this timeframe. There were 53.0% (n=61) patients had acute kidney injury. Mean age was 47.8±10.7 years; 25.2% were women. Mean body mass index was 26.2±3.9 kg/m2. In-hospital mortality was obvious increased in the acute kidney injury group (13.1% vs 1.9%; P=0.025). Multivariate logistic regression showed that body mass index was associated with postoperative acute kidney injury after adjust other confounding factors (odds ratio=1.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.04-1.34; P =0.012).Conclusions: Body mass index was an independent predictor of acute kidney injury after urgent aortic total arch replacement surgery with a frozen elephant trunk implant.
Accuracy of an MR-only workflow for prostate radiotherapy using semi-automatically burned-in fiducial markers
Authors: Goudschaal Karin , Beeksma F. , Boon M. , Bijveld M. , Visser J. , Hinnen K. , Kesteren Z. van
Published: December 2020

BackgroundThe benefit of MR-only workflow compared to current CT-based workflow for prostate radiotherapy is reduction of systematic errors in the radiotherapy chain by 2 – 3 mm. Nowadays, MRI is used for target delineation while CT is needed for position verification. In MR-only workflows, MRI based synthetic CT (sCT) replaces CT.Intraprostatic fiducial markers (FMs) are used as a surrogate for the position of the prostate improving targeting. However, FMs are not visible on sCT. Therefore, a semi-automatic method for burning-in FMs on sCT was developed. Accuracy of MR-only workflow using semi-automatically burned-in FMs was assessed and compared to CT/MR workflow.MethodsThirty-one prostate cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, underwent an additional MR sequence (mDIXON) to create an sCT for MR-only workflow simulation. Three sources of accuracy in the CT/MR- and MR-only workflow were investigated. To compare image registrations for target delineation, the inter-observer error (IOE) of FM-based CT-to-MR image registrations and soft-tissue-based MR-to-MR image registrations were determined on twenty patients. Secondly, the inter-observer variation of the resulting FM positions was determined on twenty patients. Thirdly, on 31 patients CBCTs were retrospectively registered on sCT with burned-in FMs and compared to CT-CBCT registrations.ResultsImage registration for target delineation shows a three times smaller IOE for MR-only workflow compared to CT/MR workflow. All observers agreed in correctly identifying all FMs for 18 out of 20 patients (90%). The IOE in CC direction of the center of mass (COM) position of the markers was within the CT slice thickness (2.5mm), the IOE in AP and RL direction were below 1.0 mm and 1.5 mm, respectively. Registrations for IGRT position verification in MR-only workflow compared to CT/MR workflow were equivalent in RL-, CC- and AP-direction, except for a significant difference for random error in rotation.ConclusionsMR-only workflow using sCT with burned-in FMs is an improvement compared to the current CT/MR workflow, with a three times smaller inter observer error in CT-MR registration and comparable CBCT registration results between CT and sCT reference scans.Trial registrationMedical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO) does apply to this study and was approved by the Medical Ethics review Committee of the Academic Medical Center. Registration number: NL65414.018.18. Date of registration: 21-08-2018.
Ciphertext-only attacks on the double random-phase encryption based on redundancy vulnerability
Authors: Wu Xingzhi , Chen Haobo , Zhang Liwei , Ten Qiliang , Sun Wenqing
Published: December 2020

Background: The double random phase encoding techniques have received considerable attention from researchers in recent years because of its advantages of parallel and high speed processing capability. Meanwhile, the security of cryptosystem is also one of the major concerns. Methods : We experimentally demonstrated the ciphertext redundancy vulnerability of the coherent double random encryption system (DRPE). Based on the statistical ergodicity of speckles and the consistency of the power spectral density (ESD), we have proved that the most plaintext information can be retrieved from partial ciphertext alone. Results: In this paper, the simulation and experiment result were performed to verify whether the algorithm is effectiveness. The ciphertext redundancy of the DRPE system is analyzed from the results of ciphertext occlusion test. There is a risk of plaintext leakage of this scheme, as long as the average ESD can be estimated from the sub-images. The results will help to open up deeper understanding of limitation of current optical security techniques. Conclusions: The DRPE system has potential redundancy risk. Even one-time-pad manner is not secured in DRPE system. This vulnerability allows a cryptanalyst to estimate the plaintext information with only a half or less ciphertext.
Radiotherapy dose–volume parameters predict facial lymphedema after concurrent chemoradiation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Kim Donghyun , Nam Jiho , Kim Wontaek , Park Dahl , Joo Jihyeon , Jeon Hosang , Ki Yongkan
Published: December 2020

Background

To investigate risk factors for developing radiation-associated facial lymphedema (FL) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients after concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT).
Methods

Clinical data from 87 patients who underwent definitive CCRT for NPC in 2010–2018 was retrospectively evaluated. FL severity was graded using MD Anderson Cancer Center head and neck lymphedema rating scale. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the factors associated with the presence of moderate/severe FL (grade ≥ 2).
Results

At a median follow-up of 34 months (range, 18–96), 26/87 (29.9%) patients experienced grade ≥ 2 FL. A majority (84.6%) was experienced grade ≥ 2 FL 3–6 months after CCRT. Mean dose to the level IV, level I-VII neck node and N stage were significantly correlated with grade ≥ 2 FL at univariate analysis. At multivariate analysis, mean dose of level IV neck node (hazard ratio [HR], 1.238; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.084–1.414; p = 0.002) and level I-VII neck node (HR, 1.384; 95% CI = 1.121–1.708; p = 0.003) were independent predictors. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis showed that cut-off value of mean level IV neck node dose was 58.7 Gy (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.726; 95% CI = 0.614–0.839, p = 0.001) and mean level I-VII neck node dose was 58.6 Gy (AUC = 0.720; 95% CI = 0.614–0.826, p = 0.001) for grade ≥ 2 FL.
Conclusions

Keeping mean dose to the level IV and level I-VII below 58.7 Gy and 58.6 Gy may reduce the likelihood of moderate/severe FL after CCRT for NPC.
Invasibility and Recoverability of a Native Plant Community Following Invasion Depend on its Successional Stages
Authors: Xu Hongwei , Ai Zemin , Qu Qing , Wang Minggang , Liu Guobin , Xue sha
Published: December 2020

Background: Exotic species invasions represent important causes of biodiversity loss in ecosystems. Yet, knowledge remains limited on the invasion advantage of exotic species (invasibility of native plants) and the ability of native species to recover following invasions at different stages of succession.Results: We selected three grasses (Setaria viridis, Artemisia gmelinii, and Bothriochloa ischaemum) representing early, middle, and late successional species, respectively, and an exotic species (Panicum virgatum) from a stable grassland community. Four types of field soil were collected to treat the three early, middle, and later successional species, plus the exotic species. We examined the invasion ability of the exotic species on native communities and the recoverability of these communities following invasion across succession. We compared the performance of the four plant species grown in their “own” and “other” soils in a 2-year glasshouse experiment. Here we show that exotic species performed better in soils of early and mid-successional species, owing to higher soil nutrients and microbial residues, than in the soil of later successional species. In the soil of exotic species, early and mid-successional species exhibited poor growth, while that of later successional species was unchanged.Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that soil nutrients and microbial residues create a soil legacy regulating the invasibility and recoverability (or resilience) of native plant communities and how it changed with vegetation succession.
Effects of Dietary Soy Isoflavone and Soy Saponin on Growth Performance, Intestinal Structure, Intestinal Immunity and Gut Microbiota Community on Rice Field Eel (Monopterus Albus)
Authors: Hu Yajun , Chu Wuying , Zhang Junzhi , Hu Yi
Published: December 2020

Background: Soy isoflavone and soy saponin are heat-stable glycosides present in soybean meal, which is the major factor restrict soy protein using in aquatic feed. This study is aimed to conduct that dietary soy isoflavone and soy saponin on growth performance, intestinal structure, intestinal immunity and gut microbiota community on rice field eel (Monopterus albus), and revealed its mechanism.Results: In current study, dietary 1g/kg soy isoflavone, 2g/kg soy saponin and their mixed feed decreased growth of M. albus. Dietary 1g/kg soy isoflavone significantly increased serum alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.05), dietary 2g/kg soy saponin remarkably declined intestinal immunoglobulin M (P < 0.05). Dietary 1g/kg soy isoflavone and 2g/kg soy saponin mixed feed significantly decreased intestinal complement 3, complement 4 and immunoglobulin M, amounts of intestinal goblet cells per root and shannon of gut microbiota (P < 0.05). Dietary 1g/kg soy isoflavone, 2g/kg soy saponin and their mixed feed down regulated intestinal tight junction protein (Interleukin-12, Interleukin-15, Tight junction protein ZO-2-like) and anti-inflammatory (Interleukin-10, Transforming growth factor beta 2) mRNA expression, up regulated pri-inflammatory factors (Interleukin-1 β, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8, Interleukin-12 and Interleukin-15) mRNA expression.Conclusion: Based on the current results, dietary soy isoflavone and soy saponin could damage the intestinal structure and changes gut bacteria community of M. albus, and destroyed the intestinal barrier, eventually induced intestinal inflammatory occurring, soy isoflavone and soy saponin mixed feed has more serious effect than they single supplemented.
Ciglitazone Increases Adiponectin and Adipogenic Gene Expression in Bovine Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells
Authors: Zhang Junfang , Yan Yan , Sun Jianfu , Wang Ying , Cui Yan , Sun Bin , Yu Jia , Li Qiang , Yan Changguo , Choi S.H. , Smith S.B. , Li Xiangzi
Published: December 2020

Background: Ciglitazone is a member of the thiazolidinedione (TZD) family, and specifically binds to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) , thereby promoting adipocyte differentiation. We hypothesized that ciglitazone as a PPARγ ligand in the absence of an adipocyte differentiation cocktail would increase adiponectin and adipogenic gene expression in bovine satellite cells (BSC).Methods: Muscle-derived bovine satellite cells were isolated from six, 18-month-old Yanbian Yellow Cattle. The BSC were cultured for 96 h in differentiation medium containing 5 µM ciglitazone (CL), 10 µM ciglitazone (CM), or 20 µM ciglitazone (CH). Control (CON) BSC were cultured only in differentiation medium (containing 2% horse serum).Results: The presence of myogenin, desmin, and paired box 7 (Pax7) proteins were confirmed in the BSC by immunofluorescence staining. The CL, CM, and CH treatments produced higher concentrations of triacylglycerol and lipid droplet accumulation in myotubes than those of the CON treatment. Ciglitazone treatments significantly increased the relative expression of PPARγ , CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), C/EBPβ, fatty acid synthase stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) and perilipin 2. Ciglitazone treatments increased gene expression of paired box 3 (Pax3) and Pax7 and decreased expression of myogenic differentiation-1, myogenin, myogenic regulatory factor-5 (MRF5), and MYF4 (P < 0.01). Adiponectin concentration caused by ciglitazone treatments was significantly greater than CON (P < 0.01). RNA sequencing showed that 281 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in the treatments of ciglitazone. DEGs gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that the top 10 GO enrichment significantly changed the biological processes such as protein trimerization, negative regulation of cell proliferation, adipocytes differentiation, and cellular response to external stimulus. KEGG pathway analysis showed that DEGs were involved into p53 signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, biosynthesis of amino acids, TNF signaling pathway, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and Wnt signaling pathway.Conclusion: These results indicate that ciglitazone acts as PPARγ agonist, effectively increasing the adiponectin concentration and adipogenic gene expression, and stimulating the conversion of BSC to adipocyte-like cells in the absence of adipocyte differentiation cocktail.
The Pandemic of the COVID-19 Literature: A Bibliometric Analysis Running Title: Bibliometric Analysis of the COVID-19 Literature
Authors: Akl Elie A. , Meho Lokman I. , Farran Sarah H. , Nasrallah Ali A. , Ghandour Bachir
Published: December 2020

BackgroundThe research interest in COVID-19, one of the most serious pandemics in recent human history, is unprecedented. This study aims to determine the volume of COVID-19 research and to assess the characteristics of its production and publication.MethodsWe searched Scopus, Embase, PubMed, and the Web of Science databases for publications, up to August 20, 2020. We included all types of documents except corrections, interviews, personal narratives, and retracted publications. We analyzed publication count, type, status, research themes, publication venues, authorship trends, language, institutions, countries, collaboration, and funding.ResultsOf 40,519 eligible documents, 49% were original articles. Forty-nine percent of the original articles and reviews were published in top quartile journals, and 19% were single-authored. More than half of the documents were produced in the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and Italy. Twenty-two percent of the documents involved international collaboration and 17% reported financial support by at least one agency, with the National Natural Science Foundation of China being the most frequently reported funding source (n=982). There are already more documents published on COVID19 than documents ever published on the Ebola, MERS, HIN1, and SARS combined.ConclusionsThe first few months’ research output on COVID-19 is relatively large and originated mostly from four countries. Single-authored publications, international collaboration, and governmental funding activities were relatively common.
Early Prediction of the Carbapenem Resistance Gram-Negative Bacteria Carriage in Intensive Care Unit using Machine-Learning
Authors: Liang Qiqiang , Zhao Qinyu , Xu Xin , Zhou Yu , Huang Man
Published: December 2020

Background: The prevention and control of carbapenem-resistance gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB) is the difficulty and focus for clinicians in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study constructs a CR-GNB carriage prediction model in order to predict the CR-GNB incidence in the next week.Methods: We used our database to select patients with complete CR-GNB screening records and delete cases with positive culture at admission to ICU. We collected the data within a week before the cultures as the prediction data source, using the multivariate logistic regression and three machine learning algorithms to construct model. Then we choose the optimal model and verify the accuracy by daily predicted and recorded the occurrence of CR-GNB of all patients admitted for 4 months. Results: There are 1385 patients with positive CR-GNB cultures and 1535 negative patients in this study. Forty-five variables have statistically significant differences. We include the 17 variables in the multivariate logistic regression model and build three machine learning models for all variables. In terms of accuracy and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve, the random forest is better than XGBoost, decision tree, and better than multivariate logistic regression model (accuracy: 84%>82%>81%>72%, AUROC: 0.9089>0.894≈0.8987>0.7845). In the 4-month prospective study, 81 cases were predicted to be positive in CR-GNB culture within 7 days, 146 cases were predicted to be negative, 86 cases were positive, and 120 cases were negative, with an overall accuracy of 84% and AUROC of 91.98%. Conclusions: Prediction models by machine learning can predict the occurrence of CR-GNB colonization or infection within a week period, and can real-time predict and guide medical staff to identify high-risk groups more accurately.
Associated factors of access to health care among foreign residents living in Aichi Prefecture, Japan: Secondary data analysis of informal free consultations organized by a non-governmental organization
Authors: Higuchi Michiyo , Endo Maki , Ito Asako
Published: December 2020

Background

In Japan, foreign residents, and particularly new arrivals in the country, experience barriers to health care and show poorer health outcomes when compared to Japanese nationals. The health-care-related situation for foreign residents in Japan has been characterized by drastic changes over time; thus, there is difficulty identifying individuals who are “left behind” by the system. In this study, we aimed to identify, among foreign residents who attended informal free medical consultations, factors associated with “being advised to visit a medical facility” and “being referred to a medical facility,” which represented hypothetical proxy indicators of barriers to health care.
Methods

Secondary data analyses were conducted using the activity records of a non-governmental organization that provides free consultations targeting foreign residents in various locations in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Participant characteristics, including insurance coverage, were determined. Bivariable and multi-variable analyses were performed to identify factors associated with having barriers to health care.
Results

Among 608 extracted cases, 81.7% were covered by Japanese public insurance, and insurance coverage was associated with sex and region of origin. During the consultations, 164 (27.5%) cases were advised to visit a medical facility, and 72 (11.8%) were referred to a medical facility. Those who were not covered by public insurance showed a 1.56-times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19–2.05) higher prevalence of being advised to visit a medical facility when compared to those who were covered by public insurance. Unemployed people and students were more likely to be referred to a medical facility than were professional workers; the prevalence ratios were 3.28 (95% CI: 1.64–6.57) and 2.77 (95% CI: 1.18–6.46), respectively.
Conclusions

Information from the non-governmental organization revealed the diversity of foreign residents who require informal health-care-related consultations. Although the majority were insured, almost 30% were advised to visit a medical facility, which implied that they had had limited access to the formal health-care system before availing of the free consultations. The findings highlight specific groups who may be vulnerable, and it is important to provide these groups with the necessary support, based on updated evidence, to ensure that no one is “left behind.”
Identification of Mild Cognitive Impairment Subtypes Predicting Conversion to Alzheimer’s Disease Using a Heterogeneous Mixture Learning
Authors: Kikuchi Masataka , Kobayashi Kaori , Itoh Sakiko , Kasuga Kensaku , Miyashita Akinori , Ikeuchi Takeshi , Yumoto Eiji , Fushimi Yasuto , Takeda Toshihiro , Manabe Shirou , Kamijo Kenichi , Matsumura Yasushi
Published: December 2020

BackgroundMild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a high-risk condition for conversion to dementias, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. However, individuals with MCI show heterogeneity in patterns of pathology, and MCI does not always convert to AD dementia. Detailed subtyping of MCI and accurate prediction of the patients in whom MCI will convert to AD dementia may support new trial designs and enable evaluation of the efficacy of drugs within small numbers of patients during clinical trials. MethodsWe constructed a decision tree model by the heterogeneous mixture learning (HML) method, integrating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker data, structural MRI data, APOE genotype data, and a recorded age at examination. The decision tree model was applied to predict conversion to AD dementia and to identify subtypes of MCI. After the test performances of HML models were assessed, MCI subjects were classified into some subtypes based on a decision tree. Then, we characterized each MCI subtype in terms of the degree of CSF biomarker abnormalities and brain atrophy, declines of cognitive functions, and gene expression alterations derived from peripheral blood samples.ResultsWe identified five subtypes of MCI using the HML approach and categorized them into three groups: those similar to CN subjects with low conversion rates; those with intermediate conversion rates; and those similar to patients with AD with high conversion rates. Furthermore, the subtypes with intermediate conversion rates were separated into the subtype with CSF biomarker abnormalities or the subtype with brain atrophy. The results from the CSF inflammation marker and gene expression analysis suggested the occurrence of aberrant inflammatory immune responses in the CSF and blood of the subjects in the subtypes with CSF biomarker abnormalities. ConclusionThe subtypes that were identified in this study exhibited varying conversion rates to AD as well as differing levels of biological features. Focusing on specific subtypes in which conversion to AD can be predicted with the most accuracy could enable more efficient clinical trials to be conducted.
Hematological and biochemical characteristics of COVID-19 non-survivors: a meta- and network analysis
Authors: Kowsar Rasoul , Sadeghi Khaled , Kateb Sayed Farshad , Bonakdar Elham , Mahdavi Amir Hossein , Rahimi Amir Mohammad , Sr Magdalena
Published: December 2020

Background: Understanding the most relevant hematological/biochemical characteristics, pre-existing health conditions and complications among survivors and non-survivor will help to predict the mortality in COVID-19 patients.Methods: A literature review was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and various preprint servers (bioRxiv, medRxiv and SSRN) for COVID-19 mortality, with more than 97 reported clinical studies and preprints, consisting of survivor and non-survivor sub-populations. A total of 19014 patients including 14359 survivors and 4655 non-survivors were included in this meta-analysis. Outcome data was extracted and compared between survivors and non-survivors. Meta and network analyses were performed using META-MAR V2.7.0 and PAST software.Results: The finding showed higher concentrations of gamma-glutamyl transferase and creatinine and a higher number of neutrophils in non-survivors of COVID-19. A lower number of lymphocytes and platelets and a lower concentration of hemoglobin and albumin were observed in non-survivors. Data showed age, hypertension, and cerebrovascular disease as the most influential risk factors in non-survivors. Heart failure was the most common complication among non-survivors, accompanied by septic shock, and respiratory failure.Conclusions: Increased number of neutrophils and decreased number of platelets and lymphocytes, along with higher GGT concentration and lower hemoglobin levels were the best mortality indicators for COVID-19 patients. In addition, age, hypertension, and cerebrovascular disease were prevalent risk factors among non-survivors of COVID-19. Heart failure and septic shock were the most common complications among non-survivors. Data indicated that cheap and quick biochemical and hematological tests can be used to predict the risk of mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Associations between autism spectrum disorder and eating disorders with and without self-induced vomiting: an empirical study
Authors: Numata Noriko , Nakagawa Akiko , Yoshioka Kazuko , Isomura Kayoko , Matsuzawa Daisuke , Setsu Rikukage , Nakazato Michiko , Shimizu Eiji
Published: December 2020

Background: Although approximately 23% of anorexia nervosa (AN) patients have concomitant autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is clinically difficult to determine ASD coexistence in patients with eating disorders. Restrictive AN is more common in younger patients and self-induced vomiting usually appears during adolescence/young adulthood, in order to prevent gaining weight caused by overeating. However, some patients are tolerant of weight gain even if they start overeating. It is important to understand the essential difference between those who vomit and those who do not vomit. In this study, we hypothesised that the absence of self-induced vomiting may be associated with the presence of ASD and aimed to assess the presence of ASD traits in each eating disorder (EDs). Clarifying this association helps to consider the coexistence of ASD in the clinical setting and can lead to the next detailed ASD evaluation, and as a result, helps to determine the appropriate treatment and support individually.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 43 females aged 15–45 years who attended Chiba University Hospital between 2012 and 2016 using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) to quantify the severity of the EDs and to identify whether ASD traits were present.Results: There was no difference in the AQ score between bingeing-purging type AN and restricting type AN. However, there was significant difference in the AQ score between bulimia nervosa and binge EDs (BED). Of the 4 ED subtypes, BED had the highest ASD traits. The non-vomiting group with illness duration <4 years had a significantly higher AQ communication score than the vomiting group with illness duration ≥ 4 years.Conclusions: There was a difference in the AQ score by the presence or absence of self-induced vomiting. The results of this study suggest an association between high scores on AQ and non-vomiting. Thus, evaluation of patients for the absence of self-induced vomiting while assessing them for EDs may help us to understand the association with ASD traits.
A combination of herbal compound (SPTC) along with exercise or metformin more efficiently alleviated diabetic complications through down-regulation of stress oxidative pathway upon activating Nrf2-Keap1 axis in AGE rich diet-induced type 2 diabetic mice
Authors: Rahimi Golbarg , Heydari Salime , Rahimi Bahare , Abedpoor Navid , Nicktab Iman , Safaeinejad Zahra , Peymani Maryam , Forootan Farzad Seyed , Derakhshan Zahra , Esfahani Mohammad Hossein Nasr , Ghaedi Kamran
Published: December 2020

Background: SPTC is a mix of four herbal components (Salvia officinalis, Panax ginseng, Trigonella foenum-graeceum, and Cinnamomum zeylanicum) which might be prevented the development of AGE rich diet-induced diabetic complication and liver injury through activated the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related-factor-2 (Nrf2) pathway. Nrf2, as a master regulator of antioxidant response elements by activating cytoprotective genes expression, is decreased oxidative stress that associated with hyperglycemia and increases insulin sensitivity. the aim of this study was to assess whether the combination therapy of SPTC along with exercise or metformin moderate oxidative stress related liver injurie with more favorable effects in the treatment of AGE rich diet-induced type 2 diabetic mice. Methods: We induced diabetes in C57BL/6 mice by AGE using a diet supplementation and limitation of physical activity. After 16 weeks of intervention, AGE fed mice were compared to control mice. Diabetic mice were assigned into seven experimental groups (each group; n=5): diabetic mice, diabetic mice treated with SPTC (130 mg/kg), diabetic mice treated with Salvia Officinalis (65 mg/kg), diabetic mice treated with metformin (300 mg/kg), diabetic mice with endurance exercise training, diabetic mice treated with SPTC+metformin (130/300 mg/kg), diabetic mice treated with SPTC+exercise training.Results: SPTC+exercise and SPTC+metformin reduced diabetic complications like gain weight, water and calorie intake, blood glucose, insulin, and GLUT4 content more efficiently than each treatment. These combinations improved oxidative stress hemostasis by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway and attenuating keap1 protein more significantly.Conclusions: Eventually, combined treatment of SPTC with exercise or metformin as a novel approach had more beneficial effects to prevent the development of diabetes and oxidative stress associated with hyperglycemia.