bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scientific Production in Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak (Rhinorrhea and Otorrhea) from 1945 to 2018
Authors: Monjas-Canovas Irene , Ramos-Rincon Jose-Manuel , Abarca-Olivas Javier , Gras-Albert Juan-Ramón , Romero Isabel Belinchón , González-Alcaide Gregorio
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND: To analyze research activity on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks in general and CSF rhinorrhea and otorrhea in particular, and to identify the main topic clusters in these areas. METHODS: We identified all documents using the medical subject heading “Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak” indexed in the MEDLINE database between 1945 and 2018. We performed a descriptive bibliometric analysis and analyses of networks and research clusters in order to identify the main topic areas of research.RESULTS: From 1945 to 2018 a total of 4130 records were published with the term CSF, including 2821 documents (68.1%) with the term CSF rhinorrhea and 1040 documents (25.8%) with CSF otorrhea. The number of documents published increased from 10 in 1945-49 to 642 in 2010-14. Articles were the dominant document type (86.8% of the documents analyzed), while case reports were the main type of study (37.4%). In terms of geographic distribution, researchers from the United States of America (USA) led in the number of signatures (39.06%), followed by those from the United Kingdom (UK) (7.49%). The most active areas of research in the field were “Postoperative Complications,” “Tomography, X-Ray Computed,” and “Magnetic Resonance Imaging.” The terms “Adults,” “Young Adult,” and “Middle Aged” were most common in CSF rhinorrhea research; and the terms “Infant,” “Child, Preschool,” “Child,” and “Adolescent” were more common in CSF otorrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Articles and case reports related with “Surgery” and “Postoperative Complications” associated with diagnosis are the main topic of study, highlighting the importance of this document type in advancing knowledge.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Ventricular Arrhythmias: Efficacy, Safety and Image Analysis-First Asian Population Study
Authors: Ho Li-Ting , Chen Jenny Ling-Yu , Chan Hsing-Min , Huang Yu-Cheng , Su Mao-Yuan , Kuo Sung-Hsin , Chang Yeun-Chung , Lin Jiunn-Lee , Chen Wen-Jone , Lee Wen-Jen , Lin Lian-Yu
Published: November 2020

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has been proved to be effective in refractory ventricular arrhythmia (VA). We report the first Asian series of SBRT for refractory VA in a group of Taiwanese. This study included patients with treatment-failure VA. 3D electroanatomic maps, delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) and dual energy computed tomography (CT) were used to identify scar substrates. The target volume was treated with a single radiation dose of 20 Gy delivered by Varian TrueBeam System. Efficacy was assessed by VA events recorded by implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or 24-hour Holter. Pre- and post-radiation therapy image studies were also performed. Adverse events were monitored during follow-up. From February 2019 to December 2019, 7 patients were enrolled. Six male and one female patients, mean age 55 years, received the treatment. Among the 7 patients with variety of cardiomyopathy, one patient died of hepatic failure. For the other 6 patients, at a median follow-up of 14.5 months, the burden of VA decreased significantly. Increased intensity of DE-MRI might be associated with lower risk of VA recurrence while the dual energy CT had lower sensitivity in the detection. No acute and minimal late adverse events were reported. We conclude that, in patients with refractory VA, SBRT was associated with a marked reduction in the burden of VA and DE-MRI might be useful to monitor treatment effect.
Effects of A Preoperative Exercise Training Program on Postoperative Pulmonary Complications and Exercise Capacity In Patients With Abdominal Cancer: A Systematic Review Protocol of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Garcia Isabel Fialho Fontenele , Cavalheri Vinicius , Lunardi Adriana Claudia
Published: November 2020

Background

Abdominal cancer surgeries have a high incidence of postoperative complications. One strategy to prevent postoperative complications is preoperative exercise training. There are no systematic reviews that have compared the effects of preoperative exercise training programs of different length, frequency and duration on pre and postoperative clinical outcomes as well as on length of hospital stay (LOS) and in-hospital and late mortality in people with abdominal cancer.
Methods

Searches for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of preoperative exercise training for people undergoing major surgery for abdominal cancer will be conducted in Pubmed, EMBASE, PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) and the Cochrane Library. There will be no restrictions on the language or date of publication in the search. The primary outcomes of the systematic review will be incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications as well as post-intervention and postoperative exercise capacity. The risk of bias of included RCTs will be assessed using the PEDro scale. The quality of evidence will be rated using the GRADE system (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Subgroup analyzes will be conducted based on: intervention performed with or without supervision; types of exercises; and frequency and duration of the intervention.
Discussion

Our hypothesis is that preoperative exercise training will reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in people undergoing major surgery for abdominal cancer by improving their preoperative exercise capacity. We will also explore the effects of the program on LOS and mortality.
Systematic review registration:

This systematic review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (Prospective International Register of Systematic Reviews) (number CRD42020199765).
Evolution and Structural Variations of Chloroplast tRNAs in Gymnosperms
Authors: Zhao Yu-he , Zhou Tong , Zhang Ting-Ting , Dong Peng-Bin , Fang Min-Feng , Liu Jian-Ni , Li Zhong-Hu
Published: November 2020

Background: Transfer RNAs can participate in a variety of vital life activities. The gymnosperms with important ecological and economic values were the dominant and constructive species in the forest ecosystems in the North hemisphere. However, evolution and structural changes of chloroplast tRNA in gymnosperms remain largely unclear.Results: In this study, the nucleotide evolution, phylogenetic relationships and structural variations of 1,779 chloroplast tRNAs in gymnosperms were determined. The number and types of tRNA genes contained in the chloroplast genome of different gymnosperms were not much different, the average amount of tRNA contained was 33, and the occurrence frequency of various types of tRNA in gymnosperms was generally consistent. Nearly half of the anti-codons were absent. Molecular sequence variation analysis revealed the conservative secondary structure of tRNA. About a quarter of the tRNA genes were found to contain precoded 3’ CCA tails. A few tRNAs underwent novel structural changes that were closely related to their minimum free energy, these structural changes affected the stability of tRNA. Phylogenetic analysis showed that tRNAs have evolved from multiple common ancestors and tRNALeu was the most primitive type of tRNA. The transition rate of chloroplast tRNAs was higher than the transversion rate in gymnosperms. The tRNAs continuously have experienced more loss than duplication events during the evolutionary process. Conclusions: These findings provided novel insights into the molecular evolution and biological characteristics of the chloroplast tRNA in gymnosperms.
Genetically Modified Soybean Lines Exhibit Less Transcriptomic Variation Compared to Natural Narieties
Authors: Long Yan , Xu Wentao , Liu Caiyue , Dong Mei , Pei Xinwu , Chen Rui , Jin Wujun , Liu Weixiao , Li Liang
Published: November 2020

BackgroundGenetically modified (GM) soybeans provide a huge amount of food for human consumption and animal feed. However, the possibility of unexpected effects of transgenesis has increased food safety concerns. High-throughput sequencing profiling provides a powerful approach to directly evaluate unintended effects caused by foreign genes.ResultsIn this study, we performed transcriptomic analyses to evaluate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in individual soybean tissues, including cotyledon (C), germ (G), hypocotyl (H), and radicle (R), instead of using the whole seed, from four GM and three non-GM soybean lines. A total of 3,351 DEGs were identified among the three non-GM soybean lines. When the GM lines were compared with their non-GM parents, 1,836 to 4,551 DEGs were identified. Furthermore, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of the DEGs showed more abundant categories of GO items (199) among non-GM lines than between GM lines and the non-GM natural varieties (166). Results of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that most KEGG pathways were the same for the two types of comparisons.ConclusionsThe study successfully employed RNA sequencing to assess the differences in gene expression among four tissues of seven soybean varieties, and the results suggest that transgenes do not induce massive transcriptomic alterations in transgenic soybeans compared with those that exist among natural varieties. This work thus provides important support for safety evaluation of genetically modified soybeans based on seed tissues.
Identification of drought-tolerance genes in the germination stage of soybean
Authors: Zhao Xingzhen , Liu Zhangxiong , Li Huihui , Zhang Yanjun , Yu Lili , Qi Xusheng , Gao Huawei , Li Yinghui , Qiu Lijuan
Published: November 2020

Background

Drought stress influences the vigor of plant seeds and inhibits seed germination, making it one of the primary environmental factors adversely affecting food security. The seed germination stage is critical to ensuring the growth and productivity of soybeans in soils prone to drought conditions. We here examined the genetic diversity and drought-tolerance phenotypes of 410 accessions of a germplasm diversity panel for soybean and conducted quantitative genetics analyses to identify loci associated with the drought-tolerance of seedlings.
Results

We uncovered significant differences among the diverse genotypes for 4 growth indices and 5 drought-tolerance indices, which revealed abundant variation among genotypes, upon drought stress, and for genotype × treatment effects. We also used 158,327 SNP markers, and performed GWAS for the drought-related traits. Our data met the conditions (PCA + K) for using a mixed linear model in TASSEL, and we thusly identified 26 SNPs associated with drought tolerance indices for germination stage soybean plants. These were distributed across 10 soybean chromosomes, and these explain 5.19–9.66% of the observed phenotypic variation. Nine SNP sites, including for example Gm20_34956219 and Gm20_34956219, were associated with two or more phenotypic indices, and there were nine SNP markers located in or adjacent to (within 500 kb) previously reported drought tolerance QTLs. These SNP led to our identification of 41 candidate genes related to drought tolerance in the germination stage.
Conclusion

The results of our study contribute to a deeper understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying drought tolerance in soybeans at the germination stage, thereby providing a molecular basis for identifying useful soybean germplasm for breeding new drought-tolerant varieties.
Comparative genome analysis of Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovars Pullorum and Gallinarum decodes strain specific genes
Authors: Vaid Rajesh Kumar , Thakur Zoozeal , Anand Taruna , Kumar Sanjay , Tripathi Bhupendra Nath
Published: November 2020

Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum (bvP) and biovar Gallinarum (bvG) are the etiological agents of pullorum disease (PD) and fowl typhoid (FT) respectively, which cause huge economic losses to poultry industry especially in developing countries including India. Vaccination and biosecurity measures are currently being employed to control and reduce the S. Gallinarum infections. High endemicity, poor implementation of hygiene and lack of effective vaccines pose challenges in prevention and control of disease in intensively maintained poultry flocks. Comparative genome analysis unravels similarities and dissimilarities thus facilitating identification of genomic features that aids in pathogenesis, niche adaptation and in tracing of evolutionary history. The present investigation was carried out to assess the genotypic differences amongst S. enterica serovar Gallinarum strains including Indian strain S. Gallinarum Sal40 VTCCBAA614 with a focus on identification of candidate virulence factors. The comparative genome analysis revealed an open pan-genome consisting of 5091 coding sequence (CDS) with 3270 CDS belonging to core-genome, 1254 CDS to dispensable genome and strain specific genes i.e. singletons ranging from 3 to 102 amongst the analyzed strains. Moreover, the investigated strains exhibited diversity in genomic features such as genomic islands, prophage regions, toxin-antitoxin cassettes, and acquired antimicrobial resistance genes. The identified genetic differences among the S. enterica serovar Gallinarum strains could be used for bacterial typing, design of rapid and reliable diagnostics, structure based inhibitor development and vaccine design for effective infection control as well as eradication and will also form basis for future experimental investigations.
Tandem repeats structure of gel-forming mucin domains could be revealed by SMRT sequencing data
Authors: Lang Tiange
Published: November 2020

Background.

Gel-forming mucin domains of mucin genes show great complexity with tandem repeats (TRs), thus make it difficult to study the sequences.
Methods.

With the coming of single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technologies, we manage to present sequence structure of mucin domains via SMRT long reads for MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC6.
Results.

Our study shows that for different individuals, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could be found in mucin domains of MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC6, while different number of tandem repeats could be found in mucin domains of MUC2 and MUC6.
Conclusions.

This information will provided new insights on getting the sequence for Tandem Repeat parts which locate in coding region.
Comparative Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals Differentially Expressed Proteins Involved in Grain-Filling Rate of Rice at the Early Ripening Stage
Authors: Chen Jiana , Cao Fangbo , Huang Min , Abou-Elwafa Salah Fatouh
Published: November 2020

BackgroundGrain-filling ability is a determinant factor of rice potential yield. Grain filling is a biological process of starch accumulation involved a large number of major enzymes implicated in carbohydrates metabolism in developing rice endosperm and is governed by a complex balance between the sink (grains) and the source (assimilates). This study was carried out to analyze the proteomic profile of rice grains and to identify proteins associated with high grain-filling rate during the early ripening period in rice.ResultsTMT and LC-MS/MS were employed in analyzing proteomic profile of grains from two rice cultivars possess contrasting phenotypes in grain filling rate to identify proteins associated with high grain-filling rate during the early ripening stage. The two cultivars differed significantly in grain-filling rate during the period of 0–3 days after full heading, indicating the appropriacy of cultivars selection for quantitative proteomic analysis. A total of 219 differentially expressed proteins in grains between the two cultivars were identified, providing a database for quantified proteomics in rice grains during grain filling stage. Elevated expression of many enzymes involved in starch and sucrose metabolism during rice grain filling was observed. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the largest portion of differentially expressed proteins during grain filling associated with carbohydrate metabolism and transportation, suggesting a more specific function of those protein in rice grain development. Starch, sucrose, fatty acids and amino acids biosynthesis and metabolism were significantly enriched pathways.ConclusionsAnalysis of protein-protein interactions indicated the implication of the same proteins in several biological processes such as carbohydrate transport and metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, energy production and conversion and secondary metabolites biosynthesis. The data provide valuable information about the roles of biosynthesis, transport and metabolism of carbohydrate and amino acids in rice grain filling and development. The results represent a valuable foundation for further studies of the roles of differentially expressed proteins in underlying grain filling stage in rice and their potential impacts on rice productivity.
Factors Associated with The Efficiency of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection Among Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Retrospective Data Analysis
Authors: Zheng Yaochao , Luan Shuo , Lin Caina , Yang Qian , Wang Shaoling , Ma Chao , Wu Shaoling
Published: November 2020

Objectives: Intra-articular application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are found to effectively improve knee function in patients with Knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This study is to identify the factors that influence the effect of PRP in the treatment of KOA. Methods: PRP was performed with a rich-leukocyte autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) system in 82 patients who were diagnosed with KOA. A Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was used to score the level of KOA by 3 features as the evaluation indicator of therapeutic effect. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), X-ray and subsequent Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) scale level evaluation were performed before the treatment. Basic information of participants and disease duration were also collected. Simple correlation analysis, single-factor ANOVA and multivariant regression analysis were used for identifying factors associated with the efficiency of PRP injection. Results: WOMAC decreased after PRP therapy by 10.12 ± 0.98 points (P < 0.001). Simple correlation analysis and ANOVA suggest BMI, pre-treatment VAS scores, and pre-treatment K-L scale level positively correlated with the therapeutic effect of PRP treatment (P < 0.05), while the other factors were not significantly correlated with the effect (P > 0.05). Further multivariate model indicates that the responsible variable Y (Post-treatment changes of WOMAC scores) was affected by exploratory variables BMI (X1), VAS (X2), K-L scale level (X3) and Gender (X4) (F = 7.857, P < 0.001). The exploratory variable X3 had the biggest effect on Y.Conclusion: This study found that the therapeutic effect of PRP is better in male patients with higher BMI, higher VAS and lower K-L scale level.This study was qualified and registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry as ChiCTR2000039856.
Angiogenesis Imaging Study Using [18F] RGD-K5 PET/CT in Patients with Lymphoma Under Chemotherapy.
Authors: Tonnelet David , Bohn Pierre , Becker Stephanie , Decazes Pierre , Camus Vincent , Thureau Sebastien , TILLY Herve , Jardin Fabrice , Vera Pierre
Published: November 2020

Background : Our aim was to measure the impact of two cycles of standard chemotherapy on tumoral neoangiogenesis by [18F] Fluorine arginine-glycine-aspartic (RGD-K5) Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET) on patients presenting with lymphoma.Twenty one patients were prospectively included in Rouen’s Henri Becquerel Cancer Center. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and RGD-K5 PET were performed before (C0) and after (C2) two cycles of chemotherapy. End of treatment FDG PET was performed for final staging. Maximum Standardized Uptake Value (SUVmax), Mean SUV and Metabolic Tumor Volume (MTV) were measured for all lesions. RGD SUVmax and meanSUV were also analysed in 13 normal organs at C0 and C2. Patient’s treatment response was considered using Deauville score (DS) on end of treatment FDG PET. (DS 1 to 3 were considered as responders, DS 4 and 5 non-responders).Results : Nineteen patients had both C0 FDG and C0 RGD PET. Twelve patients had both C2 FDG and C2 RGD, completed treatment protocol and were included for end of treatment analysis. No statistical difference was found on normal organs RGD uptake before and after chemotherapy for SUVmax and SUVmean. On C0 RGD, apart from Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL)and Grey Zone Lymphoma (GZL), other lymphoma sub-types had low RGD uptake (p<0.001). Regarding FDG, there was no significant difference for SUVmax, SUVmean and MTV on C0 and C2 between patients with cHL and non Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)... On C2 RGD, non-responder patients had higher SUVmax, and SUVmean compared to responder patients (p<0.001). There was no significant difference for RGD MTV between responder and non-responder patients.Conclusions : Our study showed significant higher initial RGD uptake in patients presenting with cHL and GZL compared to NHL. Non responder patients also had higher post chemotherapy RGD uptake compared to responder patients. Issues raised by RGD uptake, particularly in cHL, are yet to be explored and need to be confirmed in a larger population.
Clinical Features, Radiological Profiles, Pathological Features and Surgical Outcomes of Pituicytomas: A Report of 16 Cases and a Pooled Analysis of Individual Patient Data
Authors: Cheng Jianhua , Nie Ding , Li Bin , Gui SongBai , Li ChuZhong , Zhang YaZhuo , Cavallo Luigi Maria , Zhao Peng
Published: November 2020

Background: Pituicytomas are rare neurogenic tumors of the sellar region.The diagnosis and treatment of pituicytoma needs to be further elucidated.Patients and Methods: This research included 16 patients with pituicytomas that were pathologically diagnosed in Tiantan Hospital from 2012 to 2019. And 68 other previously published cases of pituicytoma to analyze the predictive factors of the results.Results: Our cohort included 7 males (43.75%) and 9 females (56.25%), with a mean age of 49 years. The tumor was located in the suprasellar in 7 cases (43.75%), intrasellar in 6 cases (37.5%), and intrasellar-suprasellar mixed in 3 cases (18.75%). All patients were misdiagnosed with other common tumors in the sellar region before the operation. During the operation, gross total resection (GTR) of the tumor was achieved in 9 cases (56.25%) and subtotal resection (STR) in 7 cases (43.75%). The mean progression-free survival time (PFS) was 34.63 months. Tumor progression after surgical resection occurred in 5 patients (31.25%). Among them, 57.14% of the patients with STR had progression, while 11.11% of the patients with GTR had progression. Combined with 68 cases in the literature, it was found that GTR was an independent risk factor for PFS(P<0.05). Conclusions: Pituicytomas are more common in middle-aged people and the suprasellar region. The clinical manifestations of pituicytomas are different, there are no diagnostic clinical features, and its blood supply is abnormally abundant. Currently, GTR is the best approach for the treatment of pituicytomas.
Effects of Yucca Shidigera Extract and Candida Utilis on Growth Performance and Intestinal Health of Weaned Piglets
Authors: Yang Zhenguo , Wang Yao , He Tianle , Gifty Ziema Bumbie , Sun Zhihong , Sun Weizhong , Tang Zhiru
Published: November 2020

BackgroundEconomic benefit is an important goal pursued by animal husbandry industry. The emergence of antibiotics has promoted the development of animal husbandry, but many problems caused by the abuse of antibiotics have caused concerns about the use of antibiotics from all walks of life. Therefore, it is imperative to find alternatives to antibiotics. A large number of studies have shown that plant extracts and probiotics have certain potential in improving animal growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immune function. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of Yucca Shidigera Extract (YSE) and Candida Utilis (CU) on weaned piglets. We compared and evaluated the effects of YSE and CU on weaned piglets from the aspects of growth performance, immunity, antioxidant function, ileal morphology and microflora changes. Forty 28-day-old healthy weaned piglets (Rongchang pig×Landrace×Large white) were randomly divided into 4 treatments: (1) control group (CON); (2) CU; (3) YSE; (4) CU+YSE. ResultsOur results showed that YSE and CU improved the growth performance by significantly increasing final weight, average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.05), and there is decreasing trend of feed/gain ratio (P=0.087). The effect of adding YSE or CU alone on growth performance had little difference, and the effect of oral CU was slightly better than that of adding YSE. At the same time, the combination of YSE and CU had a good effect on reducing the diarrhea rate. In addition, both YSE and CU increased the diversity of cecal microflora, and CU increased the diversity more significantly, but did not change the dominant microflora of cecum. We also found that the addition of YSE and CU could maintain the structural integrity of intestinal tissue and regulate intestinal pH, to maintain the level of intestinal-associated immune proteins. At the same time, YSE and CU have certain benefits in regulating intestinal flora. ConclusionYSE and CU can improve the growth performance, reduce the diarrhea rate, improve intestinal health, and increase the diversity and abundance of cecal microflora in weaned piglets. Therefore, they are expected to be used as probiotics in the production of weaned piglets.
Human iPSC-derived Astrocytes Transplanted into the Mouse Brain Display three Morphological Responses to Amyloid-β Plaques
Authors: Preman Pranav , TCW Julia , Calafate Sara , Snellinx An , Alfonso-Triguero Maria , Corthout Nikky , Munck Sebastian , Thal Dietmar Rudolf , Goate Alison , Destrooper Bart , Arranz Amaia M
Published: November 2020

Background: Increasing evidence for a direct contribution of astrocytes to neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes causing Alzheimer’s disease comes from molecular studies in rodent models. However, these models may not fully recapitulate human disease as human and rodent astrocytes differ considerably in morphology, functionality, and gene expression. Methods: To address these challenges, we established an approach to study human astroglia within the context of the mouse brain by transplanting human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived glia progenitors into neonatal brains of immunodeficient mice. Results: Xenografted (hiPSC)-derived glia progenitors differentiate into astrocytes that integrate functionally within the mouse host brain and mature in a cell-autonomous way retaining human-specific morphologies, unique features and physiological properties. In Alzheimer´s chimeric brains, transplanted hiPSC-derived astrocytes respond to the presence of amyloid plaques with various morphological changes that seem independent of the APOE allelic background. Conclusion: In sum, this chimeric model has great potential to analyze the role of patient-derived and genetically modified astroglia in Alzheimer’s disease. Keywords: human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), astrocytes, chimeric mouse models, Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid plaques, APOE
Corneal Nerve Fiber Loss Relates to Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Che Ning-Ning , Jiang Qiu-Huan , Ding Guan-Xiao , Chen Si-Yuan , Zhao Zhen-Xiang , Li Xue , Malik Rayaz A , Ma Jian-Jun , Yang Hong-Qi
Published: November 2020

Background Cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD) adversely influences quality of life. There is currently no available biomarker to predict cognitive decline in PD. PD involves both the central and peripheral nervous system and especially small fiber damage occurs in PD. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) has been used as a non-invasive tool for quantifying small nerve fibre damage in PD. The present study investigated whether corneal nerve measures were associated with cognitive function in PD. Methods Patients with PD were classified into those with normal cognitive function (PD-CN), mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), and dementia (PDD). Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD) and corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) were quantified with CCM and compared with a control group.Results Sixty-five PD patients (44.62% male; mean age 64.60±6.95 years; mean disease duration 4.63±2.53 years) and 30 controls (53.33% male; mean age 62.43±6.16 years) were studied. CNFD was decreased and CNBD was increased in PD patients compared to controls ( P <0.05). CNFD decreased progressively with decline in cognitive function in PD patients. CNBD and CNBD/CNFD ratio was higher in PD-CN compared to controls but decreased with worsening cognitive function in PD-MCI and PDD patients. CNFD correlated with the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) score ( r =0.683, P <0.0001), unified Parkinson disease rating scale (UPDRS)-part III ( r =-0.481, P <0.0001) and total UPDRS scores ( r =-0.401, P <0.0001) in PD patients. CNFD, CNBD, CNFL were lower and CNBD/CNFD ratio was higher with increasing Hoehn and Yahr stage. There was no correlation between CNFD and Levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) ( r =0.176, P =0.161). CNFD, CNBD and CNFL could discriminate between PD-MCI and PD-CN with an area under the curve (AUC) of 82.85%, 67.47%, and 78.74%, respectively. CNFD, CNBD and CNFL could discriminate between PDD and PD-CN with an AUC of 96.67%, 90.12% and 84.44%. A combination of all three CCM parameters further increased the AUC value. Conclusions PD patients show evidence of corneal nerve loss compared with controls and corneal nerve parameters are associated with the severity of cognitive and motor dysfunction in PD. CCM could serve as an objective in vivo ophthalmic imaging technique to assess neurodegeneration in PD.
Face-to-Face Intubation in Adults: A Comparison of Video Laryngoscopes Kingvision and Airtraq for Intubation in Morbidly Obese Patients – Series of Cases.
Authors: Nowak-Tim Justyna , Gaszynski Tomasz
Published: November 2020

Backgroud: Traditional endotracheal intubation demands unlimited access to the patient and possibility to stand behind his head. However, in case of difficult conditions in emergency settings we can use an alternative method. Face-to-face intubation can be performed in patients in semi-erect position, prone position and in the situation of difficult access to the head. Method: After obtaining an approval from the Local Ethics Committee Nr RNN/62/20/KE and written informed consent from the patients, we performed 8 procedures of face-to-face intubations in 8 patients who were scheduled for planned operations, using Kingvision and Airtraq video laryngoscopes chosen in random way. Results: The intubation time was comparable between devices: 9.25 ±2.217 s vs 8 ±2.3 s (p=0.2322) in Kingvision and Airtraq videolaryngscopes respectively. Both devices appeared to deliver an optimal view of the larynx inlet and enable the operator to intubate with face-to-face method without any complications. Conclusions: There were no significant difference in effectiveness between Kingvision and Airtraq video laryngoscopes during face-to-face intubation. Utilisation of these devices allowed the anesthetist to stand in front of the patient during endotracheal intubation and ensured an excellent view of larynx entrance. We assume that in case of difficult access to the patient’s head or untypical position, the usage of examined video laryngoscopes, should be considered.
Association of Expression Levels of Clock Genes and Autophagy-Related Genes under Abnormal Light/Dark Cycle Stimulation in NAFLD Mice
Authors: Zhu Zhu , Wang Zhengyang , Qin Bo , Zhao Songfeng , Wang Huafei , He Lulu , Xie Jin , Qiu Long , Wang Yanran , Wang Li , Chen Bing , Liu Peipei , Liu Jinlin , Tian Xin
Published: November 2020

Background: Environmental disorders of the circadian rhythms can lead to metabolism-related diseases or exacerbate pathological conditions. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged with a growing occurrence. In the present study, we attempted to indicate whether circadian clock may influence lipid deposition and the expression levels of autophagy-related genes in liver of mice. Methods: High-fat diet and abnormal light/dark cycles were employed to induce a mouse model of NAFLD with circadian rhythm sleep disorder. Herein, liver samples were obtained at ZT0, ZT4, ZT8, ZT12, ZT16, and ZT20 time-point to detect the rhythmic expressions of circadian genes, autophagy-related genes, and Rev-erbα. Results: Abnormal exposure to light aggravated lipid deposition in liver of mice and exacerbated disorders related to 24-h expression levels of clock genes, autophagy-related genes, and Rev-erbα. Besides, Rev-erbα could transcriptionally control the expression levels of autophagy-related genes. Conclusions: The long-term high-fat diet combined with abnormal light/dark cycle stimulation aggravated the development of NAFLD and disturbed the expressions levels of autophagy-related genes. An abnormal circadian expression may lead to NAFLD aggression. Besides, the abnormal expression levels of clock genes may create an association between circadian rhythm sleep disorder and autophagy.
Non-HDL-C is more stable than LDL-C in assessing the percent attainment of non-fasting lipid for coronary heart disease patients
Authors: Guo Li-ling , Chen Yan-qiao , Lin Qiu-zhen , Tian Feng , Zhu Li-yuan , Xiang Qun-yan , Xu Jin , Wen Tie , Liu Ling
Published: November 2020

Background: This study aimed to compare the percentage attainment of fasting and non-fasting LDL-C and non-HDL-C target levels in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients receiving short-term statin therapy.Methods: This study enrolled 397 inpatients with CHD. Of these, 197 patients took statins for < 1 month (m) or did not take any statin before admission (CHD1 group), while 204 patients took statins for ≥ 1 m before admission (CHD2 group). Blood lipid levels were measured at 0 h, 2 h, and 4 h after a daily breakfast.Results: Non-fasting LDL-C and non-HDL-C levels significantly decreased after a daily meal (P < 0.05). Both fasting and non-fasting LDL-C or non-HDL-C levels were significantly lower in the CHD2 group. The percentage attainment of LDL-C < 1.4 mmol/L at 2 h and 4 h after a daily breakfast was significantly higher than that during fasting (P < 0.05), but the percent attainment of non-fasting non-HDL-C < 2.2 mmol/L was close to its fasting value (P > 0.05). Analysis of c-statistic showed that non-fasting cut-off points for LDL-C and non-HDL-C were 1.19 mmol/L and 2.11 mmol/L, corresponding to their fasting goal levels of 1.4 mmol/L and 2.2 mmol/L, respectively. When postprandial LDL-C and non-HDL-C goal attainments were re-evaluated using non-fasting cut-off points, there were no significant differences in percentage attainment between fasting and non-fasting states.Conclusions: Non-HDL-C is more stable than LDL-C in assessing the percent attainment of non-fasting lipid for coronary heart disease patients. If we want to use LDL-C to assess the percent attainment of postprandial blood lipids, we may need to determine a lower non-fasting cut-off point.
Modeling and Reviewing Study to the COVID-19 Epidemic in PR China
Authors: Wang Mingzhao , Xie Juanying , Xu Shengquan
Published: November 2020

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Risk Factors of Malaria Events among Pregnant Women in East Sumba Regency, Indonesia
Authors: Agustine Uly , Endang Maria , Kale Era , Akoit Emilia
Published: November 2020

East Nusa Tengga (NTT) province is a malaria endemic area in Indonesia, according to API data (Annual Paracite Incidence) 2017; NTT province had highest cases of malaria at 5.76% per 1,000 populations. These morbidity rates include pregnant women. Data from the Health Service Office of East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT) in 2014, malaria reported cases were 13.69% per 1,000 population, in 2015, it decreased to 7.06% per 1,000 population, in 2016, it decreased to 5.78‰ per 1,000 population and in 2017, it decreased to 3.77‰ per 1,000 population. Malaria cases in East Sumba Regency in 2016 were 3964 cases, in 2017, there were 7621 cases and in 2018, there were 1649 cases and 23 cases of malaria in pregnant women. East Sumba has 22 districts, 11 of which had cases of pregnant women with 1.40% positive malaria. The overall objective was to explore possibilities of preventing malaria among pregnant women by testing the correlation among eight variables that are relevant among pregnant women. Analytical research with case control design approach has been used in this study which is an analytical study concerning how risk factors are studied using a retrospective approach. In can be concluded that from 12 variables factors, there are five variables that have a correlation with the incidence of malaria in pregnant women, namely malaria medicine, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, health workers, family support and infrastructure. Between these five factors, the health worker factor is the one that simultaneously influences the incidence of malaria in pregnant women.
Extension of Flow Behaviour and Damage Models for Cast Iron Alloys with Strain Rate Effect
Authors: Liu Chuang , Sun Dongzhi , Zhang Xianfeng , Andrieux Florence , Gerster Tobias
Published: November 2020

Cast iron alloys with low production cost and quite good mechanical properties are widely used in the automotive industry. To study the mechanical behavior of a typical ductile cast iron (GJS-450) with nodular graphite, uni-axial quasi-static and dynamic tensile tests at strain rates of 10− 4, 1, 10, 100, and 250 s− 1 were carried out. In order to investigate the effects of stress state, specimens with various geometries were used in the experiments. Stress–strain curves and fracture strains of the GJS-450 alloy in the strain-rate range of 10− 4 to 250 s− 1 were obtained. A strain rate-dependent plastic flow law based on the Voce model is proposed to describe the mechanical behavior in the corresponding strain-rate range. The deformation behavior at various strain rates is observed and analyzed through simulations with the proposed strain rate-dependent constitutive model. The available damage model from Bai and Wierzbicki is extended to take the strain rate into account and calibrated based on the analysis of local fracture strains. The validity of the proposed constitutive model including the damage model was verified by the corresponding experimental results. The results show that the strain rate has obviously nonlinear effects on the yield stress and fracture strain of GJS-450 alloys. The predictions with the proposed constitutive model and damage models at various strain rates agree well with the experimental results, which illustrates that the rate-dependent flow rule and damage models can be used to describe the mechanical behavior of cast iron alloys at elevated strain rates.
Design of a Body-Powered Finger Prosthesis from Medical Images and Kinematic Analysis
Authors: Tasdemirci Cagatay , OZKAN Arif
Published: November 2020

With the advancement of technology, many prosthesis were developed to improve the life standard of a person who lost one or more limb. One of the most common limb loss is finger lose. Many finger prosthesis were developed to imitate the functionality of natural human fingers. But most of them are not personalised (does not fit perfectly to the user) and/or not easy to apply. Some finger prosthesis needs surgical operation to apply. The aim of this study is to design and manufacture accessible and sustainable finger prosthesis that is easy to apply and personalised. In this study, hand skeleton structure was modelled from computerized tomography images. Distal and middle phalanx bones were removed to show finger loss. Personalised finger prosthesis that fits perfectly to the user was designed on the hand skeleton structure. By using kinematic analysis, finger prosthesis movement capabilities are determined and general mathematic model was developed to be used in other patients. Before production, newly designed finger prosthesis movement was analysed and model was optimised with the result of the analysis. Finally, the gripping ability of the prosthesis that was produced and its similarity to the natural finger mechanical structure were confirmed by experiments and measurements.
Design of Linear Functional Noncircular Gear with High Contact Ratio Used in Continuously Variable Transmission
Authors: Hu Ya-Nan , Lin Chao , He Chun-Jiang , Yu Yong-Quan , Cai Zhi-Qin
Published: November 2020

Continuously variable transmission (CVT) of noncircular gears has the technical advantages of large bearing capacity and high transmission efficiency. This paper focuses on the linear functional noncircular gear pair to realize continuously variable transmission. According to the required working section transmission ratio of noncircular gear pair, the transmission ratio function in the non-working section, was constructed by using polynomial, and then the influence of pitch curve parameters in working section on which in non-working section was also analyzed. Furthermore, the pitch curve of the linear functional noncircular gear pair, which are suitable for transmission, were obtained. In order to improve the stability and bearing capacity of gear transmission, the noncircular gear pair transmission with high contact ratio was designed, and an indirect method to verify the contact ratio by detecting the contact length error of tooth profile was proposed. The error was calculated by comparing the actual contact tooth profile length obtained from the rolling experiment with the accurate value of contact tooth profile length based on the principle of gear and the property of involute profile, and the noncircular gear transmission with high contact ratio was verified.
Delineating Patterns of Sexualized Substance use and its Association with Sexual and Mental Health Outcomes Among Young Gay, Bisexual and Queer Men in Singapore: A Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Tan Rayner Kay Jin , O’Hara Caitlin Alsandria , Koh Wee Ling , Le Daniel , Tan Avin , Tyler Adrian , Tan Calvin , Kwok Chronos , Banerjee Sumita , Wong Mee Lian
Published: November 2020

Background: Young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YMSM) are vulnerable to the risks associated with sexualized substance use. This is a novel study in Singapore that aims to classify patterns of sexualized substance use among YMSM, and investigate its association with sexual and mental health outcomes. Methods: In this cross-sectional study among 570 YMSM aged 18 to 25 years old, latent class analysis (LCA) conducted to identify classes with similar patterns of sexualized substance use, across which measures of inconsistent condom use, recent STI diagnoses, past suicide ideation and depression severity were compared. Results: LCA revealed three classes of YMSM based on types of substances ever used in sexualized contexts, which we labelled as ‘substance-naïve’, ‘substance-novice’, and ‘chemsex’. Substance-naïve participants (n=404) had only ever used alcohol, while substance-novice participants (n=143) were primarily amyl nitrite users with a small proportion who reported using chemsex-related drugs. Chemsex partiipants (n=23) comprised individuals who had mostly used such drugs. Those in the chemsex group were more likely to report recent unprotected anal sex with casual partners, depression severity and a history of suicide ideation.Conclusions: Findings of this study highlight how the use of varying substances in sexualized contexts may be classified and characterized by different sexual and mental health outcomes. Health promotion efforts should be differentiated accordingly to address the risks associated with sexualized substance use among YMSM.
Developing a Prediction Model for Author Collaboration in Bioinformatics Research Using Graph Mining Techniques and Big Data Applications
Authors: Ebrahimi Fezzeh , Asemi Asefeh , Shabani Ahmad , Nezarat Amin
Published: November 2020

Nowadays, scientific collaboration has dramatically increased as a result of web-based technologies, advanced communication systems, and development of information and scientific databases. The present study aims to provide a predictive model for author collaborations in bioinformatics research output using graph mining techniques and big data applications. The study is an applied-developmental research adopting a mixed-method approach, i.e. a mix of quantitative and qualitative measures. The research population consisted of all bioinformatics research documents indexed in PubMed (n = 699160). The correlations of bioinformatics articles were examined in terms of weight and strength based on article sections including title, abstract, keywords, journal title, and author affiliation using graph mining techniques and big data applications. Eventually, the prediction model of author collaboration in bioinformatics research was developed using the abovementioned tools and expert-assigned weights. The calculations and data analysis were carried out using Expert Choice, Excel, Spark as well as Scala and Python programming languages in a big data server. Accordingly, the research was conducted in three phases: 1) identifying and weighting the factors contributing to authors’ similarity measurement; 2) implementing co-authorship prediction model; and 3) integrating the first and second phases (i.e. integrating the weights obtained in the previous phases). The results showed that journal title, citation, article title, author affiliation, keywords, and abstract scored 0.374, 0.374, 0.091, 0.075, 0.055, and 0.031, respectively. Moreover, the journal title achieved the highest score in the model for the co-author recommender system. As the data in bibliometric information networks is static, it was proved remarkably effective to use content-based features for similarity measures so that the recommender system can offer the best and most suitable collaboration suggestions. It is expected that the model work efficiently in other databases and provide suitable recommendations for author collaborations in other subject areas. By integrating expert opinion and systemic weights, the model can help alleviate the contemporary information overload and facilitate collaborator lookup by authors.
Butyrophilin-Like 9 Regulates Immune Infiltration and Serves as a Prognostic Marker in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ma Weishuang , Liang Jiaming , Zhang Siyuan , Ningdong Hu , Chen Zisheng , Tian Dongbo
Published: November 2020

Background: Butyrophilin (BTN) and butyrophilin-like (BTLN) belong to immunoglobulin superfamily, and also pertain the B7 co-stimulatory molecules family, which has multiple roles in immune modulation. Whether the BTNL9 expression in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) correlates with outcome has not been evaluated.Methods: Oncomine and GEPIA were used to analyze the BTNL9, while its mRNA expression in LUAD and corresponding adjacent tissues was investigated using TIMER. The clinical prognosis of BTNL9 was assessed in the GEPIA, Kaplan-Meier plotter, and OncoLnc. Besides, the correlation between BTNL9 and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TILs) was analyzed using TIMER and GEPIA. The correlation between BTNL9 expression and drug response was analyzed using CARE.Results: BNL9 expression was significantly low in LUAD. Low BTNL9 expression was associated with poor OS, and its expression was found to be regulated by both epigenetic regulation and post-transcriptional modification. BTNL9 expression was significant positively correlated with ImmuneScore and ESTIMATEScore. Moreover, BTNL9 expression was positively correlated with infiltrating levels of B cells, CD4+T, and macrophages, but Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that BTNL9 expression in B cells and DCs was significantly associated with OS. Furthermore, BTNL9 expression has significant positive CARE scores. Conclusions: Low BTNL9 expression can prevent the infiltration of naïve B cells and DCs in the tumor microenvironment and worsen the outcome in LUAD patients. Besides, these findings also suggest the potential role of BTNL9 as a prognostic biomarker and a new immuno-target.