bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient experiences and preferences for antiretroviral therapy service provision characteristics: implications for implementing differentiated service delivery in Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Belay Yihalem Abebe , Yitayal Mezgebu , Atnafu Asmamaw , Taye Fitalew Agimass
Published: March 2022

BackgroundUnderstanding the experiences, needs, preferences, and behaviors of people living with HIV (PLHIV) are critical to tailor HIV treatment. However, there is limited research evidence in Ethiopia on the views of PLHIV regarding their positive and negative experiences on current antiretroviral therapy (ART) service and their preferred models of HIV treatment. Hence, this study aimed to explore patients’ experiences of taking medications and preferences for ART service provision characteristics in Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsThis study with a phenomenological approach was conducted as part of the larger discrete choice experiment study. Purposive selection of stable and 18 years old and above PLHIVs using ART service at health facilities implementing four differentiated service delivery (DSD) models in East Gojjam, West Gojjam, Awi, and Bahir Dar special zones was done. Data were collected between July and September 2021. About 15 in-depth interviews with differentiated ART eligible patients were conducted. ATLAS.ti version 9 software was used for coding translated transcripts. A thematic analysis approach was employed.FindingsParticipants in this study had reported both positive and negative experiences in receiving ART. Five themes: stigma, time, availability of drug and provider, costs per clinic visit, provider-patient interaction were identified. Participants also reported varied preferences towards ART service features. Fifteen attributes: buddy system, ART refill (individualized or group), ART packaging and labeling, drug formulation and administration, ART room labeling, distance, location of service, preferences on involvement in treatment decision-making, person providing ART refills, provider’s attitude, spatial arrangement of ART room, time of health facility operation, time spent at clinics and total cost of visit were identified.ConclusionsParticipants provided both positive and negative experiences with the aspects of current ART service. The preferences of PLHIVs towards ART service delivery features were heterogeneous. Policy and program efforts should tailor ART services that suit patients’ needs and priorities in Ethiopia. Future research should also focus on understanding the satisfaction of patients enrolled among the four DSD models now under implementation in the country to get insights for optimizing each model implementation and to ensuring the strong quality of ART service provision for stable PLHIV.
Lidar-Camera Fusion For Road Detection Using Recurrent Conditional Random Field Model
Authors: Wang Lele , Huang Yingping
Published: March 2022

Reliable road detection is an essential task in autonomous driving systems. Two categories of sensors are commonly used: camera and LiDAR, each of which can provide corresponding supplemental. Nevertheless, existing sensor fusion methods do not fully utilize multimodal data. Most of them are dominated by image or taking point cloud as a supplement rather than making the best of them, the correlation between modalities is ignored. This paper proposes Recurrent Conditional Random Field Model (R-CRF) for road detection by fusing image and point cloud segmentation. The R-CRF integrates results (information) from modalities in a probabilistic way. Each modality is independently processed with its own semantic segmentation network. The probability scores obtained are considered as unary term for individual pixel nodes in random field while RGB image and the densified LiDAR-images are used as pairwise terms. The energy function is then iteratively optimized by mean-field variational inference so that we can refine the labeling results by exploiting fully-connected graphs of the RGB image and LiDAR-images. Extensive experiments are conducted on KITTI-Road dataset, and these demonstrate the method achieves competitive performance.
Evaluation of the Morphology of Accessory Canals of the Canalis Sinuosus via Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
Authors: Alkis Humeyra Tercanli , Ata Gamze Cosan , Tas Ayse
Published: March 2022

Purpose
This study aims to assess the presence of accessory canal (AC) associated with canalis sinuous (CS), describing their frequency, lateralization, location, direction and measurements in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).
Methods
Axial, coronal, sagittal, and cross-sectional reconstructions were analyzed in 248 CBCT images and the presence of CS, the presence of AC associated with CS, the lateralization, localization and direction course of AC associated with CS was evaluated. CS diameter, AC diameter, distance between nasal cavity floor and CS (M1), CS and the buccal cortical bone (M2) and CS and the alveolar ridge (M3) was measured.
Results
CS dedected in all CBCT scans as bilaterally. The prevalence of AC associated with CS was 35.5%. There was a significant difference between dental status and presence of AC associated with CS. There was a significant difference between gender, dental status, and lateralization of AC associated with CS. While M1 was greater in male patients than females, M3 was greater in female patients. M2 and M3 was greater in younger patients.
Conclusion
Clinicians performing surgical procedures should keep in mind that anatomical variations of the vascular nerve bundle may be seen. M1, M2, and M3 measurements can be affected by gender, age, and dental status.
High-fat diet impairs muscle function and increases the risk of environmental heatstroke in mice
Authors: Serano Matteo , Paolini Cecilia , Michelucci Antonio , Pietrangelo Laura , Guarnier Flavia Alessandra , Protasi Feliciano
Published: March 2022

Background. Environmental heat-stroke (HS) is a life-threatening response often triggered by a hot and humid weather. HS is characterized by an abnormal increase in body temperature (>40°C) causing dysfunction of organs, central nervous system, and that may end in death. Several lines of evidence indicate that environmental HS is caused by excessive heat production in skeletal muscle, which in turn is the result of abnormal Ca2+ leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and excessive production of oxidative species of oxygen and nitrogen (ROS and NOS). Methods. As high fat diet is known to increase oxidative stress, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of 3 months of high-fat diet (HFD) on HS susceptibility of wild type (WT) mice. HS susceptibility was tested in an environmental chamber where 4 months old mice (adult) were exposed to heat stress (41°C for 1 hr). Results. In comparison with mice fed with a regular diet, mice subjected to 3 months of HFD showed: a) increased body weight and accumulation of adipose tissue; b) elevated oxidative stress in both EDL and Soleus muscles (assessed by western blot of 3-NT levels and of expression of antioxidant enzymes such as SODs and Catalase) ; c) increased heat generation and oxygen consumption during exposure to environmental heat stress (oxygen consumption was assessed by indirect calorimetry) ; and finally d) enhanced sensitivity to both temperature and caffeine of isolated EDL and Soleus muscles during in vitro contracture test (IVCT), i.e. the gold standard procedure used to verify in-vitro HS susceptibility.Conclusions. The data collected suggest that HFD predisposes WT mice to HS, possibly as a result of elevated myoplasmic Ca2+ (indirectly assessed by IVCT) and increased oxidative stress (directly assessed by WB). These results could in principle have implications for the development of guidelines regarding food intake during periods of intense environmental heat.
Vertical depletion of ophiolitic mantle decodes melt focusing and interaction in the asthenospheric column under oceanic spreading centers
Authors: Xiong Qing , Dai Hongun , Jianping Zheng , Griffin William , Zheng Hong-Da , Wang Li , O'Reilly Suzanne
Published: March 2022

Adiabatic decompressional melting of asthenosphere under spreading centers has been accepted to produce vertical compositional variations of oceanic lithospheric mantle. However, theoretical estimates of the compositional gradients are much smaller than those observed from ophiolites, clearly requiring additional processes. Here we conduct systematic high-density sampling and whole-rock and mineral compositional analyses of harzburgites in a Tibetan ophiolitic mantle section (~2 km thick), which shows a primary upward depletion (~12% difference over ~2 km) and local depleted anomalies. Thermodynamic modeling demonstrates that these features cannot be produced by decompressional melting or proportional compression of residual mantle. Instead, they can be explained by reaction between silica-undersaturated melts and peridotite with lateral melt/rock variations in the topmost asthenospheric upwelling column, showing stronger depletion in its melt-focusing center and local zones. This column will split from the center into two parts, which rotate in the mantle flow to become horizontal, thus forming the oceanic uppermost lithospheric mantle characterized by vertical depletion and local anomalies within a sub-spreading-center regime.
Medical Equipment Utilization Efficiency and Associated Factors at Public Referral Hospitals in East Wollega Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
Authors: Geta Edosa Tesfaye , Rikitu Dufera , Ewunetu Adisu
Published: March 2022

Background
The medical equipment is any instrument, appliance, material, or other articles, whether used alone or in combination including the software necessary for the purpose of diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment, or alleviation of the disease. The importance of efficient utilization of medical equipment has been brought to full public attention. The association between hospital characteristics and utilization of medical equipment has received more attention for its complicated consequences on health care costs and quality. So, the study aimed to assess factors affecting efficient utilization of medical equipment at public referral hospitals in East Wollega zone, Oromia regional state.
Methods
The study was conducted at public referral hospitals in East Wollega, Oromia Regional National State, Ethiopia from July 30-August 30, 2021. Cross-sectional study design was conducted mixed with observation and document review. About 192 equipment were included in the study. The descriptive statics and Pearson Chi-square (χ2) were performed to identify association between each independent and dependent variables at p < 0.05 to declare level of significance.
Results
Using 95% confidence interval, the level of utilization coefficient was estimated to be 0.49(0.44–0.55). Accordingly, 111(57.8%) equipment were efficiently utilized whereas 81(41.2%) of the equipment were underutilized. The form in which the hospitals received (χ2 = 7.7.2; P = 0.005), regularly availability (χ2 = 19.30; P = 0.000), the equipment breakdown (χ2 = 11.57; P = 0.001), availability of adequate trained staffs operating the equipment (χ2 = 26.14; P = 0.000), performing preventive maintenance (χ2 = 91.54; P = 0.000), availability of adequate spare parts (χ2 = 32.36; P = 0.000), and availability accessories(consumables) (χ2 = 43.91; P = 0.000) were the statistically significant associated factors affecting efficient utilization of the equipment.
Conclusion
On average, the utilization coefficient of medical equipment in the study hospitals was low compared to other study findings which indicated that about 42.2% of the equipment were inefficiently utilized. The significant associated factors that could affect the efficient utilization of the equipment were the form in which the hospital received, regularly availability of the equipment, the equipment breakdown, availability of trained staffs operating the equipment, performing preventive maintenance, availability of adequate spare parts, and accessories. Every hospital should develop appropriate strategic framework to manage and utilize the available medical diagnostic equipment based on their level and demand.
Safe stool disposal and associated factors among mothers of children under-two age in Gambia: Evidence from Gambia Demographic Health Survey 2019/20
Authors: Tsegaw Menen , Mulat Bezawit , Shitu Kegnie
Published: March 2022

Background
Appropriate disposal of child stool is vital in preventing the spread of faceo-oral diseases. According to WHO/ UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program, Safe child stool disposal includes disposing a stool in to Flush or pour-flush toilet/latrine to (piped sewer system, septic tank, pit latrine ), Ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine and Pit latrine with slab.
Objective
The study aimed to assess safe child stool disposal practice and associated factors among mothers having under two age’s children in Gambia
Methods
This study was based on a large community-based cross-sectional survey, conducted from 21 November 2019 to 30 March 2020 in Gambia. The survey employed a two-staged stratified cluster sampling technique to recruit study participants. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to summarize descriptive data and identify factors associated with safe waste disposal, respectively. A p-value of less than 0.05 and 95% confidence interval were used to determine statistical significance.
Results
The prevalence of safe stool disposal among mothers having under two years of age were 56.3%( 95%CI: 54.6%, 58.1%). Mothers with in the age range of 25–34 (AOR = 0.78 (95%CI: 0.62, 0.98)),rich wealth quintile (AOR = 0.43 (95%CI:0.33,0.56)), being exposed to media (AOR = 1.37 (95%CI: 1.07, 1.76)), increasing age of children (AOR = 1.06 (1.05, 1.07)), Being employed (AOR = 1.31 (1.11, 1.55)) and Geographic region were significantly associated with safe child disposal practice.
Conclusion
The prevalence of safe child stool disposal was low in Gambia. Age of the mother, age of the child, region, wealth index, media exposure and occupational status of the mother were significantly associated with safe child stool disposal. Public health intervention strategies designed to promote safe child stools disposal need to conduct thorough community assessments to identify community-specific facilitators, needs and barriers. Additionally, public health experts and policy makers should take into consideration the geographical and wealth inequalities when designing programs aimed to improve safe child stool disposal practice
Postoperative Infarction After Clipping of Unruptured Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms: Anatomical Consideration and Type of Infarction Territory
Authors: Rim Hyun Taek , Ahn Jae Sung , Park Jung Cheol , Byun Joonho , Lee Seungjoo , Park Wonhyoung
Published: March 2022

Introduction An anterior communicating artery is a common location for both ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms and microsurgery is sometimes necessary for their successful treatment. However, postoperative infarction should be considered during clipping due to its complex surrounding structures. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors of postoperative infarction after surgical clipping of unruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm and its clinical outcomes.Methods Patients who underwent microsurgical clipping of unruptured anterior communicating aneurysm in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed between January 2008 and December 2020. Demographic data, anatomical features of anterior communicating artery complex and aneurysm, surgical technique, character of postoperative infarction, and its clinical course were evaluated.Results Notably, 66 of 848 patients (7.8%) had a radiologic infarction and 34 patients (4%) had symptomatic infarction. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension (OR 2.05; p<0.05), previous cerebrovascular accident (OR 2.79; p<0.05), posterior projection (OR 3.94; p<0.01), aneurysm size (OR 1.16; p<0.01), skull base to aneurysm distance (cut-off value 10 mm; OR 3.36, p<0.01) were associated with postoperative infarction. In the pterional approach, closed A2 was an additional risk factor (OR 1.98; p<0.05). The worst outcome was presented with the infarction of A2 cortical branches (mRS=2.00±1.63).ConclusionHypertension, old cerebrovascular accidents, posteriorly projecting aneurysm, size, and high positioned aneurysms are independent risk factors for postoperative infarction during surgical clipping of unruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm. Additionally, closed A2 plane is an additional risk factor for postoperative infarction in pterional approach.
STCovidNet: Automatic Detection Model of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Based on Swin Transformer
Authors: Wang Boyuan , Zhang Du , Tian Zonggui
Published: March 2022

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as an enormous challenge facing China today. Preventive Medicine physicians and Artificial Intelligence (AI) researchers try to improve the ability to early automatic warning of coronavirus infections, promote epidemic prevention, and reduce medical costs using deep learning methods. In this work, we build an extensive database of chest computed tomography (CT) scans with image data from domestic and international open-source medical datasets. Swin Transformer is chosen as the backbone network to establish a model (STCovidNet) for the prediction of COVID-19. We then compare the performance of our technique against that of Vision Transformer (ViT) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Next, to visualize our model's high-dimensional outputs in 2-dimensional space, we apply t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) as the dimension-reduction strategy. Finally, we employ gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) to present a class activation map. The results indicate that STCovidNet’s performance surpasses ViT and CNN with a 0.9811 AUC and 0.9858 accuracy score. Our network outperforms previous techniques to reduce intra-class variability and generate well-separated feature embedding. The CAM figure illustrates that the decision region corresponds to radiologists' detecting spots. The suggested method can be an effective way of catching COVID-19 instances.
Targeting Depletion of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Enhances PD-L1 Blockade Efficacy in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Tang Yao , Zhou Cong , Li Qingli , Cheng Xiaojiao , Huang Tinglei , Li Fuli , He Lina , Zhang Baiwen , Shuiping Tu
Published: March 2022

Background
Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the most common malignancieswith poor prognosis worldwide. Immunotherapy based on PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoints has achieved robust and durable responses in various types of cancer, but only a subset of gastric cancer patients benefits from it.Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have been demonstrated to suppress antitumor immunityand induceresistanceto PD-1/PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy. Death receptor5 (DR5), a receptor of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL), is upregulated in MDSCs and is also commonly expressed on cancer cells, making it a desirable target for both MDSCs and DR5-positive GC. In this study, we evaluated the MDSCs depleting and immune modulating effect of the agonist DR5 antibody (MD5-1), and tested the therapeutic effectof targeting DR5 in combination with anti-PD-L1 as a new strategyfor the treatment of GC.
Methods
The MDSCs and their DR5 expression insyngeneic GC murine model were evaluated. TheMDSCs depleting effect by MD5-1 wereinvestigated. We compared the antitumor efficacy of MD5-1 in GC bearing T cell-deficient nude mice andsyngeneic 615 mice, and assessed its immune correlates. The antitumor effect of MD5-1 combininganti-PD-L1 in syngeneic GC murine model were tested, the tumor growth, mice survival and intratumoral T cell infiltration and activation were evaluated.
Results
The MDSCs accumulate in the gastric tumor-bearing 615 mice express high levels of DR5. Targeting DR5 using MD5-1specifically depleted MDSCs and enhancedT cell antitumor response, resulted in tumor growth inhibition.MD5-1 enhanced the antitumor effect of anti-PD-L1 antibody, led to complete regression in 40% ofestablished tumors and significantly extended the survival tumor-bearing mice. The enhanced antitumor effect by MD5-1 combining anti-PD-L1 was associatedwith increased CD8+ T cell infiltration and activation.
Conclusions
These results show that targeting DR5 enhances the antitumor effect of PD-L1 blockadetherapy in gastric cancer through eliminating MDSCs and improving CD8+T cell antitumor response.Thus, targeting DR5 in combination with anti-PD-L1 may be a novel immunotherapy strategy forgastric cancer.
Assessment of a new physical based modelling suitable to capture the mechanical behaviour at high plastic strain of aluminium alloys
Authors: Bouaziz Olivier , Loyd David
Published: March 2022

It is reported for the first time the application of a new physical-based constitutive law suitable to capture the flow stress and the strain-hardening in a wide range of plastic strain. This law is validated by comparison with experiments related to alloying elements effect and temperature in aluminium alloys especially characterized by bulge test at room and at warm temperature.
Role of electronic excitation, relaxation and transport processes for X-ray induced ultrafast demagnetization within magnetic multilayer systems
Authors: Kapcia Konrad , Tkachenko Victor , Capotondi Flavio , Lichtenstein Alexander , Molodtsov Serguei , Müller Leonard , Philippi-Kobs André , Piekarz Przemyslaw , Ziaja-Motyka Beata
Published: March 2022

We investigated the role of electronic excitation, relaxation and transport processes in X-ray induced ultrafast demagnetization of magnetic multilayer systems. In what follows, we report on the results obtained with the newly developed modeling tool, XSPIN, which enables nanoscopic description of electronic processes occurring in X-ray irradiated ferromagnetic materials. With this tool, we have studied the specific response of Co/Pt multilayer system irradiated by an ultrafast XUV pulse at the M-edge of Co (photon energy ~ 60 eV). It was previously studied experimentally at the FERMI free-electron-laser facility, using the magnetic small-angle X-ray scattering technique. The XSPIN simulations show that the magnetic scattering signal from cobalt decreases -- on the femtosecond timescales considered -- due to electronic excitation, relaxation and transport processes both in the cobalt and in the platinum layers. The signal decrease scales with the increasing fluence of incoming radiation, following the trend observed in the experimental data. Confirmation of the predominant role of electronic processes for X-ray induced demagnetization in the regime below the structural damage threshold, achieved with our theoretical study, is a step towards quantitative control and manipulation of X-ray induced magnetic processes on femtosecond timescales.
LRP1 Regulates the Uptake and Propagation of α-Synuclein
Authors: Peng Caixia , Luo Hanjiang , Liu Jia , Li Qinghua , Liu Chengwei , Chen Min
Published: March 2022

The accumulation and transmission of α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is vital in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy body and multiple system atrophy. Clinical progression and severity of synucleinopathies are associated with deposition and spread of protein aggregates. α-Syn spreads between cells in a prion-like manner and causes neurotoxicity. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying misfolded α-Syn accumulation and propagation have not been conclusively determined. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), which is considered as a multifunctional endocytic receptor that is abundantly expressed in neurons, is elevated in the neurons of PD patients. In this study, elevated LRP1 levels were found in PC12 cells treated with extracellular added α-Syn pre-formed fibrils (PFFs) as well as PFFs-injected PD mice. Cytoplasmic α-Syn levels were markedly suppressed by LRP1 knockdown in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, LRP1 levels were elevated in cells transfected with full length and N-terminus of α-Syn. Interactions between α-Syn and LRP1 were mediated by lysine residues in the N-terminus of α-Syn. Furthermore, downregulation of LRP1 in mice effectively suppressed the propagation of α-Syn between neurons. These findings indicate that LRP1 regulates the uptake and propagation of α-Syn in the brains and may be a potential target for the treatment of α-Syn aggregation- and propagation-associated diseases.
Short and Long-Term Effect of Dexamethasone on the Transcriptome Profile of Primary Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells In vitro
Authors: Kathirvel Kandasamy , Karen Lester , Haribalaganesh Ravinarayanan , Krishnadas Ramasamy , Muthukkaruppan Veerappan , Lane Brian , Simpson David A , Goljanek-Whysall Kasia , Sheridan Carl , Bharanidharan Devarajan , Willoughby Colin E , Senthilkumari Srinivasan
Published: March 2022

In the quest of identifying newer molecular targets for the management of glucocorticoid-induced ocular hypertension (GC-OHT) and glaucoma (GCG), several microarray studies have attempted to investigate the genome-wide transcriptome profiling of primary human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells in response to dexamethasone (DEX). However, no studies are reported so far to demonstrate the temporal changes in the expression of genes in the cultured human TM cells in response to DEX treatment. Therefore, in the present study, the time-dependent changes in the genome-wide expression of genes in primary human TM cells after short (16 hours:16h) and long exposure (7 days: 7d) of DEX was investigated using RNA sequencing. There were 199 (118 up-regulated; 81 down-regulated) and 525 (119 up-regulated; 406 down-regulated) DEGs in 16h and 7d treatment groups respectively. The unique genes identified in 16h and 7d treatment groups were 152 and 478 respectively. This study found a distinct gene signature and pathways between two treatment regimes. Longer exposure of DEX treatment showed a dys-regulation of Wnt and Rap1 signaling and so highlighted potential therapeutic targets for pharmacological management of GC-OHT/glaucoma.
Did Angiodysplasia Associated with Heyde's Syndrome Disappear Spontaneously?: A case report
Authors: Li Rui , Zhang Jiechun , Ji Shuliang , Shi Jiaxi , Qing Lijin , Wu Wei
Published: March 2022

Background: Heyde’s syndrome can be easily overlooked or misjudged in clinical practice because it shares common clinical manifestations with multiple diseases and because of the limited accuracy of the corresponding examinations for diagnosing Heyde’s triad. Moreover, aortic valve replacement is often delayed in these patients because of the contradiction between anticoagulation and haemostasis. Herein, we present a rare case of atypical Heyde's syndrome. The patient's severe intermittent gastrointestinal bleeding was not completely cured even after a local enterectomy. In the absence of direct evidence of acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) or angiodysplasia, her long-standing gastrointestinal bleeding was finally stopped after receiving transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).Case presentation: A 64-year-old female suffered from refractory gastrointestinal bleeding and exertional dyspnoea. Local enterectomy was performed owing to persistent haemorrhage and repeated transfusions; subsequently, histological examination revealed angiodysplasia. Heyde's syndrome was not suspected until 3 years later, at which time the patient started bleeding again and was also found to have severe aortic valve stenosis on echocardiography. TAVI was consequently performed when the patient was in a stable condition even there was no evidence of angiodysplasia and AVWS at that time. The post-procedure and follow-up were uneventful.Conclusions: The visible characteristics of angiodysplasia or a shortage of HMWM-vWFs should not be indispensable for the clinical diagnosis of Heyde's syndrome. Enterectomy could be a bridging therapy for aortic valve replacement in patients with severe haemorrhage, and TAVI may benefit high-risk patients who are stable.
Correlation Between the TERT rs2736100 A/C Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Interstitial Lung Diseases: An Ethnicity-Based Meta-Analysis Study
Authors: Cui Beibei , Chen Yuehong , Ma Xinyue , Yin Geng , Xie Qibing
Published: March 2022

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the correlation between the TERT rs2736100 A/C polymorphism and susceptibility to interstitial lung diseases (ILD).Methods: The systematic review was registered in PROSPERO. OVID MEDLINE, OVID EMBASE, and Web of Science electronic databases were searched. The meta-analysis effect size was estimated using either incidence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) or odds ratio (OR). A funnel plot was used to assess the risk of publication bias.Results：A total of 12 eligible studies were finally analyzed, involving 5272 cases and 14767 controls. The frequency of rs2736100_C was lower in patients with ILD (38.4% vs 47.3%). Asian population had a lower rs2736100_C frequency than European population (32.8% vs 40%). A significant association between rs2736100_A and ILD was identified (p<0.00001, OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.24-1.48). The incidence of ILD increased with rs2736100_A in both European population (p<0.00001, OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.27-1.41) and Asian population (p=0.008, OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.10-1.85). Among six idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) studies, rs2736100_A was associated with the incidence of IPF (p<0.00001, OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.27-1.85). All genetic models, including recessive, dominant, and additive models, showed increased risk of IPF was associated with rs2736100_A. Rs2736100_A was not associated with the incidence ofconnective tissue disease associated ILD (CTD-ILD) (p=0.75, OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.71-1.61).Conclusion: This study demonstrated the frequency of rs2736100_A was lower in Asian population. We confirmed the TERT rs2736100 A/C polymorphism was a strong risk factor for IPF, but not for CTD-ILD. Whether the incidence of CTD-ILD increases with the TERT rs2736100 A/C polymorphism needs to be evaluated in the future.
Determination of Level of Nicotine in Some Commercial cigarettes Available in Ethiopia using UV-Vis spectrometer
Authors: Yesgat Derejaw Woldemariam
Published: March 2022

Nicotine is a psychoactive chemical found in in cigarette. Level of nicotine in different cigarette brand are depends on different factor. Nicotine reacts with alkaline potassium permanganate to form a product having maximum absorbance (λmax) at 610 nm. This observation made use of in a UV-vis spectroscopic determination of level of nicotine content in some commercial cigarettes. The content of variety of cigarettes brands studied were found to be as follows: Marlboro = 16.4 ± 1.25 mg/g, Nyala premium = 12.27 ± 1.46mg/g, Rothmans = 11.27 ± 1.35mg/g, Gisila = 11.0 ± 1.56 mg/g, Ghamdane = 9.67 ± 1.30 mg/g, Nyalla = 8.93 ± 0.35 mg/g, Royal = 8.89 ± 0.25mg/g, Delight = 8.47 ± 0.45 mg/g, finally Kent cigarette were found to have lowest nicotine level which is 6.73 ± 0.87mg/g. the result of this research also confirmed that the nicotine content of Ethiopian cigarette brands (13.19 mg/cigarettes) was a little bit smaller than level of nicotine in imported brands (15.30mg/cigarette). However, level of nicotine in Ethiopian cigarette brands (10.17 ± 16mg/g) have almost equivalent nicotine level when expressed in milligram per gram with imported cigarette brands (10. 59 ± 3.49mg/g).
FCHO1 Is a Prognostic Biomarker of Colon Adenocarcinoma and Associated with Immune Infiltration and Glycolysis
Authors: Cheng Fei , Yuan Lebin , Wu Zhao , li Xiaodong , Shen Wei
Published: March 2022

Background
Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is a common digestive tract tumor and the molecular mechanism is very complicated. Overexpression of FCHO1 plays the role of oncogene or tumor suppressor gene in the process of tumorigenesis and development. However, possible mechanisms of FCHO1 in COAD remains unknown.
Methods
Online database Oncomine, TIMER and TCGA were used to clarify the expression level of FCHO1 in COAD. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and GEIPA database to evaluate the prognostic value of FCHO1 in COAD. Then, STRING and GeneMANIA database were used to construct the protein-protein interaction network. The GO/KEGG enrichment analysis were performed by Using Funrich. Co-expression genes of FCHO1 were acquired by Linkedomics database, GSEA analysis was used to explore the possible pathway in co-expression genes of FCHO1. The correlation between FCHO1 expression and hypoxia-related genes, glycolysis-related genes and immune infiltrates was analyzed using the TIMER, Starbase and TCGA cohort.
Results
Our results revealed that high expression level of FCHO1 was significantly increased in COAD tissues than normal tissue. High expression of FCHO1 in COAD predicted worse survival, including OS (HR = 1.8 p = 0.0022), DFS (HR = 1.6 p = 0.043). GSEA analysis showed that co-expression genes were significantly linked with MicroRNAs in cancer, Oxidative phosphorylation, Cell cycle, Notch signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway and p53 signaling pathway. Further, the result revealed that hypoxia-related genes (NFKB1, VEGFB) was simultaneously positively correlated with FCHO1 expression in TIMER, Starbase database. Glycolysis-related genes (HK1, G6PD and SLC2A1) was positively associated with FCHO1 expression in TIMER, Starbase database. At the same time, PDCD1 and LAG3 expression, which as immune checkpoint, were positively correlated with FCHO1 expression.
Conclusion
Collectively, FCHO1 may act as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and correlated with hypoxia, glycolysis and immune infiltration in COAD.
Removal of Contaminant in Electroplating Waste Water and Its Toxic Effect Using Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Shittu Oluwatosin , Gara Theresa Yebo , Onyinye Ihebunna
Published: March 2022

The emergence of industries in developing countries is a rising challenge where the generation of undesirable liquid wastes containing pollutants are discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment. This research investigated the removal of contaminant in electroplating wastewater and its toxic effect using biosynthesized silver nanoparticles. Fresh leaves of Piliostigma thonningii were used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). Dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were used to characterize the produced Ag NPs. The electroplating wastewater was treated using green synthesized silver nanoparticle and subjected to physicochemical analysis using standard methods. The sub-chronic toxicity studies on the blood and liver tissues were carried out. At various conditions of concentration, temperature, pH and time, TEM showed the biosynthesized SNPs (1, 2, 3, and 4) to exhibit different particle size at 50 nm spherical shapes. FTIR revealed the presence of functional groups; -OH, -C = C, -C = O, -C-H and -NO. At different conditions, the SNPs demonstrated at the ability to remove pollutants in the electroplating wastewater with SNP4 displaying a higher affinity. In the toxicity evaluation of SNPs treated wastewater in rats, the heamatological parameters showed no significant influence on some parameters compared to the control group. However, the histopathological examination revealed toxic effects on the liver sections. It can be concluded that the biosynthesized Ag NPs contained functional groups that acts as stabilizing and reducing agent during the synthesis of Ag NPs had the ability to remove contaminant from electroplating wastewater.
Subjective well-being among medical staff: capturing mental health outcomes using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale
Authors: Zhu Jianing , Dong Aishu , Huang Jing , Guo Wenjian
Published: March 2022

Background: There is growing awareness of the importance of subjective well-being (SWB) in the general population and specific groups. The mental health of medical staff influences the quality of their treatment. We performed this study to explore the SWB of medical staff using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS).Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed medical staff at several hospitals in China. We recorded demographics and the WEMWBS from a cross-sectional online multicenter survey from May 15 to July 15, 2020. Univariate analysis and structural equation modeling were used to identify factors correlated with the SWB among medical staff.Results: A total of 572 respondents completed the questionnaires. The mean age was 34.18 ± 6.36 years (21 to 55 years). The mean WEMWBS was 38.47 ± 13.23 (standard deviation = 13.23; 95% confidence interval 37.45 to 39.61). The factors influencing SWB were age, marital status, religious status, job type, daily working hours, number of night shifts per week, daily fruit and vegetable consumption, weekly exercise duration, self-reported personality type, general health status, and health status compared with one year before (P＜0.05).Conclusions: The medical staff's SWB level was lower than occupational groups. These data provide a baseline for future research in this area, especially for promoting SWB. More attention should be paid to improving SWB among medical staff.
Comments on "Informational laws of genome structures"
Authors: Andrade-Restrepo Martín , Alvarez Carlos É.
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we expose possible flaws in some of the proofs of the mathematical results presented by Bonnici and Manca, 2016 and suggest some corrected proofs of two of their results. We show that the possibility of overlap between k-mers given a fixed value of k (minimum length such that all k-mers are hapaxes) was not taken into account in several steps of the proof in Lemma 2, which makes the theorem false. For this we show a counterexample to the Lemma. In addition, we correct the proofs of Lemma 1 and Proposition 3. In the former case, we explain why the argument presented is incomplete and provide a correct proof. In the case of the latter, we show with a counter example that their claim is incorrect without explicitly mentioning the correct ranges of k over which it holds. We also provide a more general proof which accounts for this correction. We remark that although some of these comments invalidate the mathematical basis of their results, there is a possibility that the associated error becomes small in the limit n>>k, hence allowing for the apparent agreement with the data and the simulations.
Based on variability parameters analysis of autonomic function in rats with Parkinson's disease induced by rotenone
Authors: Yu Yi , Gao Xudong , Wang Mengke , Lei Miaoqing , Liu Yilin , Chen Peiqi , Zhao Xuewei , Feng Yifan , Hu Heshun , Niu Yanxiang , Wang Chong , Shao Zhenpeng , Wu Yang , Zhu Yu , Mu Junlin , Zhao Zongya
Published: March 2022

Background: Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease, and while early detection of cardiovascular symptoms may aid in early diagnosis, there are no definitive markers to assess cardiovascular autonomic damage in Parkinson's disease. Methods: Twenty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=12) and control (n=8) groups, and a model of Parkinson's disease was created in the experimental group by stereotaxic injection of rotenone into the substantia nigra compacta and ventral tegmental area. Telemetry implantation was carried out after successful modeling. Equal dosages of saline were injected into control animals at the same places. In both groups of rats, ECG, blood pressure, core temperature, and activity were recorded using a Data Science International implantable physiological signal telemetry device. The time domain, frequency domain, and non-linear analysis were used to examine the blood pressure and heart rate variability of the two groups of rats. Results: The experimental group had higher Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) of blood pressure signals (systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure), mean arterial pressure, normalized high frequency power (nHF) than the control rats (p<0.05). The experimental group had lower sample entropy (SampEn) of blood pressure signals (diastolic and mean arterial pressure), root mean squared successive differences (RMSSD), normalized lower frequency power (nLF) and total power than the control group (p<0.05). However, the standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and continuous variation in the linear analysis of continuous blood pressure signal between the two groups were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The rats in the rotenone model had significant autonomic dysfunction, and non-linear analysis approaches such as detrended fluctuation analysis and sample entropy were able to discern the diseased condition of the rats more sensitively while processing the continuous blood pressure data.
Exacerbation Frequency, COPD Symptoms, and Health-Related Quality of Life of COPD Patients According to Post-Bronchodilator FEV1 – A Post-hoc Analysis of Pooled Data from Two Cross-Sectional Studies
Authors: Chai Chee-Shee , Ng Diana-Leh-Ching , Mos Sumastika Bt , Ibrahim Muhammad Amin B , Tan Seng-Beng , Pang Yong-Kek , Liam Chong-Kin
Published: March 2022

Background:This study aimed to compare and correlate the post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (PB-FEV1), exacerbation frequency, and scores of modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), COPD Assessment Tool (CAT), and St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD (SGRQ-c) of COPD patients. Methods:This was a post-hoc analysis of pooled data from two cross-sectional studies conducted from 1st June 2017 to 31st May 2018 at the respiratory clinic of University of Malaya Medical Center, and from 23rd January 2018 to 22nd January 2019 at the outpatient clinics of the Serian Divisional Hospital and Bau District Hospital in Malaysia, respectively. The parameters measured included PB-FEV1, exacerbation frequency, mMRC, CAT, and SGRQ-c. Descriptive, association and correlation statistics were used. Results:Of a total of 374 patients, the PB-FEV1 predicted was < 30% in 85 (22.7%), 30 – 49% in 142 (38.0%), 50 – 79% in 111 (29.7%), and ≥ 80% in 36 (9.6%) patients. Patients with PB-FEV1 < 30% predicted had significantly more COPD exacerbations than those with PB-FEV1 30 – 49% predicted (p < 0.001), 50 – 79% predicted (p < 0.001), and ≥ 80% predicted (p = 0.002). The scores of mMRC, CAT and SGRQ-c were not significantly higher in patients with more severe airflow limitation based on PB-FEV1 (p = 0.121 – 0.271). The PB-FEV1 predicted had significant small negative correlations with exacerbation frequency (r = - 0.182, p < 0.001), mMRC (r = - 0.121, p = 0.020), and SGRQ-c scores (r = - 0.114, p = 0.028). There was a moderate positive correlation between COPD exacerbation frequency and scores of mMRC, CAT, and SGRQ-c (r = 0.407 – 0.482, all p < 0.001). There were significant strong positive correlations between mMRC score with CAT (r = 0.727) and SGRQ-c scores (r = 0.847), and CAT score with SGRQ-c score (r = 0.851) (all p < 0.001). Conclusions:In COPD patients, different severity of airflow limitation was not associated with significant differences in the dyspnea symptom and HRQOL. Exacerbation was significantly more frequent in patients with very severe airflow limitation only. The correlation between airflow limitation with exacerbation, dyspnea symptom, and HRQOL was weak.
Combined administration of anisodamine and neostigmine reduced Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis through inducing autophagy and inhibiting inflammation
Authors: Kong Ni , Ke Ping
Published: March 2022

Background: Our Previous work demonstrated that combined treatment of ANI (anisodamine) and NEO (neostigmine) produced anti-shock effect and rescued acute lethal crush syndrome via activating α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR). In this study, we attemptted to reveal the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanisms of ANI/NEO combination in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.Methods: The expression of autophagy related proteins was detected by Western blot and the autophagy flux was evaluated by confocal microscopy transfected with tandem fluorescent AdPlus-mCherry-GFP-LC3B plasmid. The inflammatory cytokines were measured by RT-PCR and ELISA. Intestinal inflammation was reflected by HE staining.Results: Combining treatment of ANI and NEO at a ratio of 500:1 alleviated the symptoms of DSS-induced mice colitis, reduced body weight loss, improved the disease activity index, enhanced colon length and alleviated colon inflammation. Treatment with ANI/NEO combination also enhanced autophagy both in colon from DSS-induced colitis mice and Caco-2 cells stimulated with LPS/DSS. In addition, ANI/NEO significantly inhibited INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-22 in colon tissues and decreased TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA levels in Caco-2 cells. These effects were attenuated by autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and ATG5 siRNA. Further more, autophagy inhibitor 3-MA and α7nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA) weakened the protective effect of ANI/NEO on colitis in DSS-induced mice.Conclusion: Collectively, these results demonstrate that ANI/NEO combination could produce therapeutic effects in DSS-induced mice colitis and this effect is mediated by autophagy and a7nAChR.
Multimolecular Characteristics and Role of BRCA1 Interacting Protein C-Terminal Helicase 1 (BRIP1) in Human Tumors: A Pan-Cancer Analysis
Authors: Wang Ruohuang , Wang Lin , Cui Xin , Wang Shun , Chen Ting , Niu Yanfang , Du Xiaoyun , Kong Jingwen , Zhang Jisheng , Jiang Yan
Published: March 2022

Background
The aberrant expression of BRIP1 was associated with several cancers, the panoramic picture of BRIP1 in human tumors is unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the panoramic picture of expression of BRIP1 which was associated with several cancers.
Methods
Based on the data from TCGA, we utilized online databases to systematically analyze the multimolecular characteristics of BRIP1 in 33 human tumors.
Results
We observed prognosis-related differential BRIP1 expression between various carcinomas and the corresponding normal tissues. “Basal transcription factors”, “Homologous recombination”, “Nucleotide excision repair”, and DNA metabolism pathways may play a role in the functional mechanisms of BRIP1. Patients with uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma presented with the highest alteration frequency of BRIP1 (near 10%). Single nucleotide and copy number variation of BRIP1 were noticed in multiple cancer, and the expression of BRIP1 is significantly regulated by copy number variation in breast invasive carcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma. BRIP1 expression was negatively correlated to the methylation level in many human tumors, and the expression was associated with the activation of apoptosis, cell cycle, and DNA damage response, and inhibition of hormone ER and RNS/MARK signaling pathways. Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between BRIP1 expression and the immune infiltration level of cancer-associated fibroblasts and CD8 + T cells in lung adenocarcinoma.
Conclusion
Our pan-cancer analysis of BRIP1 provide valuable resource for understanding the characteristics of BRIP1 across human cancers.