bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Habitually Barefoot Children Inadvertently Resigned To Wear Ill-Fitting School Shoes: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Breet Marise Carina , Venter Ranel
Published: December 2021

Background

Research shows that ill-fitting shoes can negatively impact the development of the pediatric foot, in a very direct manner. The primary aim of the study was to determine if the dimensions of available prescribed school shoes fit the foot dimensions of habitually barefoot South African children and adolescents.
Methods

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted where static standing foot measurements of children and adolescents from urban and rural schools were obtained with a mobile caliper. The maximum heel-toe-length (HTL) and foot width (FW) with an added 10 mm (millimetres) toe and width fit allowance to each participant, were compared to the corresponding school shoe length and shoe width available in retail. A mixed model ANOVA was used to compare foot dimensions between gender, age and side.
Results

Six hundred and ninety-eight school children (N=698) (431 girls; 267 boys; average age 10.86 years, SD=2.55) were participants. A total of seventy-seven (N=77) black coloured prescribed school shoes currently available in retail ranging from different styles and brands were measured. Results show that, comparing the shoe length (SL) and HTL of participants, as well as taking a10 mm toe allowance into account, fifty-nine percent (59%) of children wore shoes that were not the correct length. With regards to the shoe width (SW) and the added 10 mm of width fit allowance, ninety-eight percent (98%) of the shoes worn by participants were too narrow for their feet.
Conclusions

Results confirmed that school shoes currently available in retail, are not suited for the habitually barefoot population studied. It is recommended that the shoe manufacturing industry should consider the shoe width of school shoes for children and adolescents in habitually barefoot populations to avoid the long-term negative effect of ill-fitting shoes on the pediatric foot.
Influence of AFP On Surgical Outcomes in Non-B Non-C Patients With Curative Resection For Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Tan Xiao-ping , Zeng Qing-li , Zhou Kai , Chen Wei
Published: December 2021

Objective: To study the clinical and prognostic features of non-B non-C alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (-)-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (NBNC-AFP(-)-HCC), and the relationship between the prognostic features of HCC and hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) status and AFP. Methods: We enrolled 227 patients underwent hepatic resection for HCC between January 1998 and December 2007 in Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, all of them were diagnosed with HCC by pathology. All patients were stratified into one of four groups (B-AFP(+)-HCC, B-AFP(-)-HCC, NBNC-AFP(+)-HCC, and NBNC-AFP(-)-HCC) according to AFP levels and HBsAg status. The clinicopathologic and survival characteristics of NBNC-AFP(-)-HCC patients were compared with all other three groups. Results: Out of the 105 NBNC-HCC patients, 43 patients (40.9%) were AFP-negative HCC. There were some differences in factors between the B-AFP(+) and NBNC-AFP(-) patients, such as age, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, and ALT (P<0.05). On univariate analysis, tumor size, secondary tumor, and portal invasion were prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P<0.05). Cox multivariate regression analysis suggested that tumor size and tumor number (P<0.05) were independent predictors. In addition, compared with that in the B-AFP(+)-HCC, B-AFP(-)-HCC, and NBNC-AFP(+)-HCC groups, the NBNC-AFP(-)-HCC patients had the best DFS (P<0.05). Compared with that in the B-AFP(+)-HCC and NBNC-AFP(+)-HCC groups, the NBNC-AFP(-)-HCC patients had better OS(P<0.05), and survival rates were similar to those of B-AFP(-)-HCC patients. Conclusion: NBNC-AFP(-)-HCC patients had a relatively favorable prognosis. It can serve as a useful marker in predicting the risk of tumor recurrence in the early stages.
A Bayesian Hierarchical Spatio-Temporal Model for Extreme Temperatures in Extremadura (Spain) Simulated by a Regional Climate Model
Authors: Garcia Jose Agustin , Acero Francisco Javier , Portero Javier
Published: December 2021

A statistical study was made of the temporal trend in extreme temperatures in the region of Extremadura (Spain) during the period 1981-2015 using a Regional Climate Model. For this purpose, a dataset of extreme temperature was obtained from the Weather Research and Forecating (WRF) Regional Climate Model. This dataset was then subjected to a statistical study using a Bayesian hierarchical spatio-temporal model with a Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) parametrization of the extreme data. The Bayesian model was implemented in a Markov chain Monte Carlo framework that allows the posterior distribution of the parameters that intervene in the model to be estimated. The role of the altitude dependence of the temperature was considered in the proposed model. The results for the spatial-trend parameter lend confidence to the model since they are consistent with the dry adiabatic gradient. Furthermore, the statistical model showed a slight negative trend for the location parameter. This unexpected result may be due to the internal and modeling uncertainties in the WRF model. The shape parameter was negative, meaning that there is an upper bound for extreme temperatures in the model.
Microbiological Profile, Antimicrobial Susceptibility, and Outcome Among Patients Admitted to Addis Ababa Intensive Care Units; a Cross-sectional Study.
Authors: Gebremedhin Yemane , Sultan Menbeu , Tesfaye Dagmawi
Published: December 2021

Background: ICU infections are major health care problems affecting millions globally each year. ICU mortality of infectious patients is increasing and as high as 14.31% to 45.4%. The objective of this study was to determine microbiological culture profile, their antimicrobial susceptibility and treatment outcome of patients admitted to intensive care units.Methods and materials: An institutional based cross sectional study was conducted in all patients with microbiological culture and susceptibility results after admission to intensive care units from January 2019 to December 2019. A modified, pretested questionnaire was used to collect data and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Correlation and regression analysis was done for association. P value of <0.05 with CI of 95% was taken as clinically significant.Results: A total of 106 patients with 173 culture results were analyzed. Majority 68(64.2%) were males and the mean age of the patients were 35.08 ± 1.6 years. The most common source of infection was the pulmonary system 84(54.5%) followed by urinary tract infection 26(16.9%). Forty-four (25.43%) of cultures had growth. Gram negative microorganisms were identified in 35(68.63%) of isolates and Acinetobacter species accounts for 10(28.57%) followed by Klebsiella pneumonia and E. coli 7(13.725%) each. Generally, higher resistance was observed with cephalosporins and penicillins, whereas sensitivity to carbapenems, PIP/TAZ, and amikacin was satisfactory. The mortality associated with intensive care infections was found to be 32.1%.Conclusion: This study revealed that the mortality rate associated with ICU infection was 32.1%. Early identification, targeted provision of antimicrobials based on microbiological culture and susceptibility result has to be implemented to have better outcome. Designs of future multicenter and large studies are crucial to improve outcome of critically ill patients.
The Distribution of Human Papillomavirus Type 30 (HPV30) Lineages Among Women With Normal Cervical Cytology in China
Authors: LI Ying , Guo Yifan , Wang Zhan , Wang Hui , Wang Jiao , Zhang Li , Li Jiaosheng , Liu Hongtu
Published: December 2021

Background: Human papillomavirus type 30 (HPV30) is involved in cervical diseases. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive women, the prevalence HPV30 is almost the same as HPV16. However, HPV30 has seldom been investigated. In order to better understand the prevalence and intratype lineage distribution of HPV30 in China, HPV30 infection among women with normal cytology was investigated.Methods: Prevalence of HPV30 was investigated by the screening of type specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR); intratype lineage distribution was performed by the phylogenetic analysis of the L2 DNA sequences of HPV30 isolates; the diversity of genetic variants of HPV30 isolates was also evaluated. Results: (1) The infection rate of HPV30 was 0.56% (9/1600). (2) All the nine HPV30 isolates belonged to lineage A, none belonged to lineage B. (3) Compared with the HPV30 prototype reference, 87 variations including 79 substitutions, four insertions and four deletions were observed in this study. (4) Sample 4 contained a C base deletion of the E2 gene resulting in an amino acid sequence shift. (5) Sample had a truncated L2 protein.Conclusions: The infection rate of HPV30 is 0.56% in this study. All of the HPV30 isolates belongs to lineage A. Natural L2 and E2 defective isolates of HPV30 were found.
Downregulation of CDK5 Signaling In the Dorsal Striatum Alters Striatal Microcircuits and Perturbs Circadian Behavior in Mice
Authors: Zhou Hu , Zhang Jingxin , Shi Huaxiang , Li Pengfei , Sui Xin , Wang Yongan , Wang Liyun
Published: December 2021

Dysfunction of striatal dopaminergic circuits has been implicated in motor impairment as well as in Parkinson’s disease (PD)-related circadian perturbations that may represent an early prodromal marker of PD. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) acts negatively on dopamine (DA) signaling in the striatum, suggesting a critical role in circadian and sleep disorders. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to produce dorsal striatum (DS)-specific knockdown (KD) of the Cdk5 gene in mice (referred to as DS-CDK5-KD mice) to investigate its role in vivo. DS-CDK5-KD mice exhibited deficits in locomotor activity and disturbances in daily rest/activity cycles. Additionally, Golgi staining of neurons in the DS revealed that Cdk5 deletion caused a reduction in dendrite length and functional synapses, which was confirmed by significant downregulation of MAP2, PSD95 and synapsin I. Correlated with this, DS-CDK5-KD mice displayed reduced phosphorylation of Tau at Thr181. Furthermore, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged neurons in the striatum of DS-CDK5-KD mice revealed a decrease in the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory post-synaptic currents and an alteration of the excitatory/inhibitory synaptic balance. Notably, anterograde labeling showed that CDK5 knockdown in the DS disrupted long-range projections to the secondary motor cortex, dorsal and ventral thalamic nuclei, and the basolateral amygdala, which are involved in the regulation of motor and circadian rhythms in the brain. These findings support a critical role of CDK5 in the DS in maintaining the striatal neural circuitry underlying motor and circadian rhythms related to PD.
An End-to-End Computer Vision Methodology for Quantitative Metallography
Authors: Rusanovsky Matan , Oren Gal , Beeri Ofer
Published: December 2021

Metallography is crucial for a proper assessment of material's properties. It involves mainly the investigation of spatial distribution of grains and the occurrence and characteristics of inclusions or precipitates.This work presents an holistic artificial intelligence model for Anomaly Detection that automatically quantifies the degree of anomaly of impurities in alloys. We suggest the following examination process: (1) Deep semantic segmentation is performed on the inclusions (based on a suitable metallographic database of alloys and corresponding tags of inclusions), producing inclusions masks that are saved into a separated database. (2) Deep image inpainting is performed to fill the removed inclusions parts, resulting in 'clean' metallographic images, which contain the background of grains. (3) Grains' boundaries are marked using deep semantic segmentation (based on another metallographic database of alloys), producing boundaries that are ready for further inspection on the distribution of grains' size. (4) Deep anomaly detection and pattern recognition is performed on the inclusions masks to determine spatial, shape and area anomaly detection of the inclusions. Finally, the system recommends to an expert on areas of interests for further examination. The performance of the model is presented and analyzed based on few representative cases. Although the models presented here were developed for metallography analysis, most of them can be generalized to a wider set of problems in which anomaly detection of geometrical objects is desired. All models as well as the data-sets that were created for this work, are publicly available at https://github.com/MLography/MLography.
Visualizing Risky Behaviors Induces a Stronger Neural Response in Brain Areas Responsible for Mental Imagery and Emotions Than Visualizing Neutral Behaviors
Authors: Zaleskiewicz Tomasz , Traczyk Jakub , Sobkow Agata , Fulawka Kamil , Megías-Robles Alberto
Published: December 2021

In the present study, we used a neuroimaging technique (fMRI) to test the prediction that visualizing risky behaviors induces a stronger neural response in brain areas responsible for emotions and mental imagery than visualizing neutral behaviors. We identified several brain regions that were activated when participants produced mental images of risky versus neutral behaviors and these regions overlap with brain areas engaged in visual mental imagery, speech imagery and movement imagery. We also found that producing mental images of risky behaviors, in contrast to neutral behaviors, increased neural activation in the insula – a region engaged in emotional processing. This finding is in line with previous results demonstrating that the insula is recruited by tasks involving induction of emotional recall/imagery. Finally, we observed an increased BOLD signal in the cingulate gyrus (mid-cingulate area), which is associated with reward-based decision making and monitoring of decision outcomes. In summary, we demonstrated that mental images of risky behaviors, compared to risk-free behaviors, increased neural activation in brain areas engaged in mental imagery processes, emotional processing and decision making. These findings imply that the evaluation of everyday risky situations may originate in visualizing the potential consequences of risk taking and may be driven by emotional responses that result from mental imagery.
miRNA-331-3p Affects The Proliferation, Metastasis And Invasion of Osteosarcoma Through SOCS1/JAK2/STAT3
Authors: Zu Dan , Dong Qi , Chen Sunfang , Chen Yongde , Yao Jun , Zou Yubin , Lin Jiawei , Fang Bin , Wu Bing
Published: December 2021

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are regulatory small noncoding RNAs, which play a key role in many cancers. It has been found that miR-331-3p is involved in the development and progression of various cancers, but there are few reports in osteosarcoma. Methods: The public GEO database was used to analyze the survival difference of miR-331-3p in OS organizations. The level of cell proliferation assay was assessed by CCK-8 and colony formation. Tanswell and Wound-healing detect the transfer and invasion ability of miR-331-3p in OS. TargetScan, miRDBmiR, TarBase, and dual luciferase reporter gene assays were used to determine SOCS1 as a targeted regulator. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of protein levels. A mouse model of subcutaneously transplantable tumors is used to evaluate the proliferation of OS in vivo.Results: The low expression of miR-331-3p is negatively correlated with the overall survival of OS patients. Overexpression of miR-331-3p significantly inhibited cell proliferation, metastasis and invasion. miR-331-3p affects the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma by targeting the SOCS1/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.Conclusion: miR-331-3p reduces the expression of SOCS1 by combining with its 3'UTR, thereby activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway to regulate the progression of OS.
The Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizophagus Clarus Improve Physiological Tolerance to Drought Stress in Soybean Plants
Authors: Oliveira Thales Caetano , Cabral Juliana Silva Rodrigues , Santana Leticia Rezende , Tavares Germanna Gouveia , Santos Luan Dionísio Silva , Paim Tiago Prado , Müller Caroline , Silva Fabiano Guimarães , Costa Alan Carlos , Souchie Edson Luiz , Mendes Giselle Camargo
Published: December 2021

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an economically important crop worldwide. However, increasingly long periods of drought have reduced the productivity of this crop. Studies have shown that inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provides a potential alternative strategy for mitigating drought. In the present study, we measured the physiological and morphological performance of two soybean cultivars under drought in symbiosis with Rhizophagus clarus. Soybean plants Anta82 and Desafio, were grown in pots previously inoculated with R. clarus. Water deficit (WD) was imposed at the V3 development stage and maintained for 7 days. A control group was performed in parallel with well-irrigated plants in the absence of R. clarus in a greenhouse. Three and seven days after the WD imposition the analysis were performed. Cultivar Anta82 showed a higher percentage of colonization, N and K leaf content, whereas Desafio, showed higher water potential, water-use efficiency under WD, and thermal dissipation that allowed higher values for Fv/Fm, A, and PH under WD+AMF. The Principal Components Analysis results were able to demonstrate that both cultivars in water deficit with AMF colonization clustered together with well-watered plants. These findings suggest that AMF had an effect on plants in order to reduce drought physiological impairment.
Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 Performance in Austrian COVID-19 Patients with and Without Diabetes
Authors: Aziz Faisal , Reisinger Alexander Christian , Aberer Felix , Sourij Caren , Tripolt Norbert , Siller-Matula Jolanta M , von-Lewinski Dirk , Eller Philipp , Kaser Susanne , Sourij Harald ,   COVID-19 in Diabetes in Austria Study Group
Published: December 2021

Background: TheSimplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS 3) is routinely used in intensive care units (ICUs) to predict in-hospital mortality. However, its predictive performance has not been widely evaluated in Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) patients.This studyevaluated and comparedthe performance of SAPS 3for predicting in-hospital mortalityinCOVID-19patients with and without diabetesin Austria.Methods: This study analyzed the Austrian national public health institute (GÖG) data ofCOVID-19patients admitted to ICUs (N=5,850)fromMarch 2020 to March 2021.The SAPS 3 score was calculated and the predicted in-hospital mortality was estimatedusingthreelogit regression equations: standard equation, Central European equation, and Austrian equation recalibrated for COVID-19 patients. Concordance between observed and predicted mortalities was assessed using the standardized mortality ratio (SMR). Discrimination was assessed using the C-statistic. The DeLong test was applied to compare discrimination between diabetes and non-diabetes patients. Accuracy was assessed using the Brier score andcalibration using the calibration plot and Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Results: Theobservedin-hospital mortality was 38.9% in all patients, 42.9% in diabetes, and 37.3% innon-diabetes patients. Themean ±SD SAPS 3 score was 57.4 ±13.2 in all patients,58.8 ±12.9 in diabetes, and 56.8 ±13.2 in non-diabetes patients.The SMR was significantly greater than 1 for standard and Central European equations, while it was close to 1 for the Austrian equation in all, diabetes, and non-diabetes patients. TheC-statistics was 0.69 with aninsignificant (P=0.193) difference between diabetes (0.70)and non-diabetes (0.68)patients. The Brier score was >0.20 for all SAPS 3 equations. Calibration was unsatisfactory for both standard and Central European equations in all cohorts, whereas it was satisfactory for the Austrian equation in diabetes patients.Conclusions:The SAPS 3 score demonstratedlow discrimination and accuracy in COVID-19 patients in Austria with aninsignificant difference between diabetes and non-diabetes patients. All three equations of SAPS 3 were miscalibrated particularly in non-diabetes patients, while the Austrian equation demonstrated satisfactory calibration in diabetes patients. These findingssuggest that both uncalibrated and calibrated versions ofSAPS 3 should be used with caution in COVID-19 patients.
The Molecular Determinants of Antigenic Drift in a Novel Avian Influenza A (H9N2) Variant Virus
Authors: Zheng Yiqing , Guo Yanna , Li Yingfei , Liang Bing , Sun Xiaoyuan , Li Shijia , Xia Huizhi , Ping Jihui
Published: December 2021

Background: In early 2020, a novel H9N2 AIV immune escape variant emerged in South China and rapidly spread throughout mainland China. The effectiveness of the current H9N2 vaccine is being challenged by emerging immune escape strains. Assessing key amino acid substitutions that contribute to antigenic drift and immune escape in the HA gene of circulating strains is critical for understanding virus evolution and in selecting more effective vaccine components. Methods: In this study, a representative immune escape strain, A/chicken/Fujian/11/2020 (FJ/20), differed from current H9N2 vaccine strain, A/chicken/Anhui/LH99/2017 (AH/17) by 18 amino acids in the head domain. To investigate the molecular determinants of antigenic drift of FJ/20, a panel of mutants were generated by reverse genetics including specific amino acids changes in the HA genes of FJ/20 and AH/17. The antigenic effect of the substitutions was evaluated by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay and antigenic cartography. Results: Fujian-like H9N2 viruses had changed antigenicity significantly, having mutated into an antigenically distinct sub-clade. Relative to the titers of the vaccine virus AH/17, the escape strain FJ/20 saw a 16-fold reduction in HI titer against antiserum elicited by AH/17. Our results showed that seven residue substitutions (D127S, G135D, N145T, R146Q, D179T, R182T and T183N) near the HA receptor binding sites were critical for converting the antigenicity of both AH/17 and FJ/20. Especially, the combined mutations 127D, 135G, 145N, and 146R could be a major factor of antigenic drift in the current immune escape variant FJ/20. The avian influenza A (H9N2) variant virus need further ongoing epidemiological surveillance.Conclusions: In this study, we evaluated the relative contributions of different combinations of amino acid substitutions in the HA globular head domain of the immune escape strain FJ/20 and the vaccine strain AH/17. Our study provides more insights into the molecular mechanism of the antigenic drift of the H9N2 AIV immune escape strain. This work identified important markers for understanding H9N2 AIV evolution as well as for improving vaccine development and control strategies in poultry.
Characterization of the High-Pressure and High-Temperature Phase Diagram and Equation of State of Chromium
Authors: Anzellini Simone , Errandonea Daniel , Burakovsky Leonid , Proctor John E. , Beavers Christine M.
Published: December 2021

The high-pressure and high-temperature melting curve of chromium has been investigated both experimentally (in situ), using a laser-heated diamond-anvil cell technique coupled with synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction, and theoretically, using ab initio density-functional theory simulations. In the pressure–temperature range covered experimentally (up to 90 GPa and 4500 K, respectively) only the solid body-centred-cubic and liquid phases of chromium have been observed. Experiments and computer calculations give melting curves in agreement with each other, that can be described by a Simon–Glatzel equation Tm(P) = 2136K(1+P/25.9) 0.41. In addition, a quasi-hydrostatic equation of state at ambient temperature has been experimentally characterized up to 131 GPa and compared with the present simulations. Both methods give very similar third-order Birch-Murnaghan equations of state with a bulk modulus of 182-185 GPa and its pressure derivative of 4.74-5.15. According to the present calculations, the obtained melting curve and equation of state are valid at least up to 815 GPa, being the melting temperature at this pressure 9310 K. Finally, from the obtained results, it was possible to determine a thermal equation of state of chromium valid up to 65 GPa and 2100 K.
Age is A Critical Factor In Wrist Function After Surgical Therapy of Patients Suffering From A-Type Distal Radius Fracture: A PROM Study
Authors: Von Matthey F , Weber Johannes , Müller Michael , Biberthaler Peter , Abel Helen
Published: December 2021

Background: Although distal radius fractures (DRF) are the most common fractures of the human body there is still no consensus concerning the best treatment option, especially for type A fractures. Moreover, studies concerning other anatomic regions could prove that patient age is of high impact on therapy and outcome. Therefore, we have quantified wrist function within a retrospective study design using PROM and we have analysed the influence of age between control and patient collective and young versus old, respectively.Patients and Methods: The retrospective study included all patients with a surgically treated DRF type A and a control group of healthy patients, age and gender matched. The function of the wrist was examined with a self-assessment questionnaire the Munich Wrist Questionnaire (MWQ) according to the patient related outcome measurements (PROM). Results: PROM was answered by 110 patients with DRF type A. The average follow-up was 66 months. 110 healthy wrists were the control group and subgroup matching induced similar age group distribution. Hence, 7 individuals < 30 years, 67 between 31 and 64 years, 29 control individuals between 65 and 79 years and 7 control individuals > 80 years, respectively. Women were significantly older than the men (59±15 vs. 47±17).In overall analysis, there was no significant difference between control and patient group (96±6 vs. 95±7). Function was significantly different between control and patient group < 30 years (100±1 vs. 98±2). In the control group the function was significantly decreasing with advanced aging whereas in the patient group this influence was absent. The difference between age group <30 and 65-79 and >80 and between 30-64 and 65-79 and >80 was significantly different with increasing age. Conclusion: PROM is a suitable tool for a retrospective study design as numerous patients can be analysed. The influence of age is critical for wrist function. Hence, we therefore strongly suggest that this information should be taken into consideration for future study plans.
Non-Fasting Changes of Hs-CRP Level in Chinese Patients With Coronary Heart Disease After A Daily Meal
Authors: Liu Ling , Lin Qiu-Zhen , Zang Xue-Yan , Fu Yan , Wen Xingyu , Liu Qi-Ming
Published: December 2021

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a key inflammatory factor in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. In Chinese patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), the changes in hs-CRP levels after a daily meal and the effect of statins on those were never explored. A total of 300 inpatients with CHD were included. Hs-CRP levels were measured in fasting and non-fasting state at 2 hour (h) and 4h after a daily breakfast. Group with fasting hs-CRP ≤ 3mg/L had significantly higher percentage of patients with statins using ≥ 1 month (m) than that with fasting hs-CRP > 3mg/L (51.4% vs. 23.9%, P < 0.05). Hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in non-fasting state (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the hs-CRP didn’t elevate significantly in inpatients with statins using ≥ 1m in hs-CRP > 3mg/L group, but it elevated significantly after meal in inpatients without and with statins using < 1m (P < 0.05). About 32% of patients with non-fasting hs-CRP > 3mg/L came from those with fasting hs-CRP ≤ 3mg/L. In conclusion, hs-CRP levels increased significantly in CHD patients after a daily meal. When fasting hs-CRP > 3mg/L but not ≤ 3mg/L, statins work partly in reducing hs-CRP elevation in non-fasting state.
Current Causes of Death in Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Benedí Victoria Marco , Bea Ana M , Cenarro Ana , Jarauta Estíbaliz , Laclaustra Martín , Civeira Fernando
Published: December 2021

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a codominant autosomal disease characterized by high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and high risk of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). The molecular bases have been well defined and effective lipid-lowering is possible. This analysis aimed to study the current major causes of death of genetically defined heFH. Methods: Case-control study designed to analyze life-long mortality in a group of heFH and control families. Data of first-degree family members of cases and controls (non-consanguineous cohabitants), including deceased relatives, were collected from a questionnaire and review of medical records. Mortality was compared among heFH, non-heFH, and non-consanguineous family members.Results: We analyzed 813 family members, 26.4% of them, deceased. Among deceased, mean age of death was 69.3 years in heFH, 73.5 years in non-heFH, and 73.2 years in non-consanguineous, differences that were not statistically significant. Among them, CVD cause of death was 59.7% in heFH, 37.7.% in non-heFH, and 37.4% in non-consanguineous (P=0.012). These differences were greater restricting the analyses to parents’ mortality. The hazard ratio of dying from CVD was 3.02 times higher (95% CI, 1.90-4.79) in heFH members in comparison with the other two groups (non-FH and non-consanguineous), who did not differ in their risk.Conclusions: Current CVD mortality in heFH is lower and occurs later than that described in the last century but still higher than in non-FH. This better prognosis in CVD risk is not associated with changes in non-CVD mortality.
Development of Monoclonal Antibody Based IgG and IgM ELISA for Diagnosis of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Infection
Authors: Zhang Mei , Du Yanhua , Yang Li , Zhan Lin , Yang Bin , Huang Xueyong , Xu Bianli , Morita Koichi , Yu Fuxun
Published: December 2021

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a newly emerged virus that possesses a great threat to human health because of the high fatality rate. Method: To develop sensitive and specific sero-diagnosis systems for SFTSV infections, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against recombinant SFTSV nucleocapsid (rSFTSV-N) protein were developed by immunizing BALB/C mice with rSFTSV-N protein and fusing the spleen cells with SP2/0 myeloma cells. Three hybridoma cell lines secreting MAbs against rSFTSV-N were obtained. MAb based IgG sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IgM capture ELISA systems were established by using the newly developed MAbs. One hundred fifteen clinical suspected SFTS patient serum samples were used to evaluate the newly established systems by comparing with the total antibody detecting sandwich ELISA system and indirect ELISA systems. Results: The MAb based sandwich IgG ELISA was perfectly matched with that of the total antibody sandwich ELISA and the indirect IgG ELISA with a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. IgM capture ELISA results perfectly matched with that of the total antibody sandwich ELISA while was more sensitive comparing with the indirect IgM ELISA. Conclusions: The MAbs against rSFTSV-N protein offer new tools for SFTSV studies and our newly developed MAb-based IgG and IgM capture ELISA systems would offer safe and useful tools for diagnosis of SFTS virus infections and epidemiological investigations.
Nationwide Comprehensive Epidemiological Study of Rare Diseases in Japan Using a Health Insurance Claims Database
Authors: Ninomiya Kota , Okura Masahiro
Published: December 2021

BackgroundMore than 7,000 diseases constitute what are called rare diseases, and they mostly have no specific treatment. Disease profiles, such as prevalence and natural history, among the population of a specific country are essential in determining for which disease to research and develop drugs. In Japan, disease profiles of fewer than 2,000 rare diseases, called Nanbyo, have been investigated. However, non-Nanbyo rare diseases remain largely uninvestigated. Accordingly, we reveal the prevalence and natural history of rare diseases among the Japanese population, using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan, which covered 99.9% of public health insurance claims from hospitals and 97.9% from clinics as of May 2015. Then, we compared them with the data reported in Orphanet. This cross-disease study is the first to analyze rare-disease epidemiology in Japan with high accuracy, disease coverage, and granularity.ResultsWe were provided with the number of patients of approximately 4,500 rare diseases by sex and age for 10 years with the permission of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. About 3,000 diseases have equivalent terms in Orphanet and other medical databases. The data show that even if the Nanbyo systems do not cover a rare disease, its patients survive in many cases. Moreover, regarding natural history, genetic diseases tend to be diagnosed later in Japan than they are in the West. The data collected for this research work are available in the supplement and the website of NanbyoData.ConclusionsOur research work revealed the basic epidemiology and the natural history of Japanese patients with rare diseases using a health insurance claims database. The results imply that the coverage of the present Nanbyo systems is inadequate for rare diseases. Therefore, fundamental reform might be needed to reduce unfairness between rare diseases. Moreover, most diseases in Japan follow a tendency similar to those reported in Orphanet. However, some diseases are detected later, partly because fewer clinical genetic tests are available in Japan than there are in the West. Finally, we hope that our data and analysis accelerate drug discovery for rare diseases in Japan.
Analysis The Effect of Gene and Platelet Testing Guide Dual Anti-Upgrade Therapy After PCI in Patients With ACS
Authors: Guo Guofeng
Published: December 2021

Objective

To analyze whether CYP2C19 gene and platelet testing guide ACS patients PCI benefit from postoperative dual antiplatelet escalation therapy.
Methods

Selecting ACS patients with 209 routine PCI surgery from January 2018 to January 2019 in Department of Cardiology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. Preoperative administration of aspirin 300mg and clopidogrel 600mg, and continued administration of clopidogrel 75mg/d and aspirin 100mg/d after operation. Genotype and light transmittance aggregation (LTA) was detected by gene chip 24 h after operation. According to genotype the remaining patients were divided into non loss of function (Non-LOF) alleles group Extensive-metabolisms (EMs) type, loss of function (LOF) alleles group as Intermediate metabolic (IMs) type and Poor-metabolisms (PMs) type. Define the maximum platelet aggregation rate (MPA)≥46% as hyperplatelet reactivity (HPR). The LOF group consisted of 23 patients who had both HPR and proclopidogrel and were upgraded to tigrillo for further treatment.The remaining patients without HPR who continued to be treated with clopidogrel comprised 90 patients in the LOF group without upgrade and 95 patients in the non-LOF group who continued to be treated with clopidogrel.Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were recorded in the follow-up period of 1 year, and the incidence of MACE in the three groups was compared to determine whether gene and platelet detection could guide the benefit of dual anti-platelet upgrade therapy in ACS patients after PCI.
Results

There were 26 cases occurred during follow-up MACE, among which the incidence of unstable angina recurrence and overall MACE in the LOF allele-not-up group was the highest and significantly different compared with the Non-LOF allele group (P<0.05), there was no significant difference compared with the LOF allele-up group (0.05). while there was no significant difference between the Non-LOF allele and the LOF allele upgrading group (P>0.05).
Conclusions

Gene is an important factor in the difference of platelet reactivity and is associated with MACE. Upgraded treatments for high-risk patients screened for gene and platelet testing did not benefit.
Numerical Evaluation of The Nonlinear Behavior of Soil-Pile Interaction Under The Effect of Coupled Static-Dynamic Loads
Authors: Al-Jeznawi Duaa , Jais ISMACAHYADI Mohamed , Albusoda Bushra S.
Published: December 2021

Liquefaction of saturated soil layers is one of the most common causes of structural failure during earthquakes. Liquefaction occurs as a result of increasing pore water pressure, whereby the rise in water pressure occurs due to unexpected change in stress state under short-term loading, i.e., shaking during an earthquake. Thus, general failure occurs when the soil softens and eliminates its stiffness against the uplift pressure from the stability of the subsurface structure. In this case, the condition of soil strata is considered undrained because there is not enough time for the excess pore water pressure to dissipate when a sudden load is applied. To represent the non-linear characteristics of saturated sand under seismic motions in Kobe and Ali Algharbi earthquakes, the computational model was simulated using the UBCSAND model. The current study was carried out by adopting three-dimensional-based finite element models that were evaluated by shaking table tests of a single pile model erected in the saturated soil layers. The experimental data were utilized to estimate the liquefaction and seismicity of soil deposits. According to the results obtained from the physical models and simulations, this proposed model accurately simulates the liquefaction phenomenon and soil-pile response. However, there are some differences between the experiment and the computational analyses. Nonetheless, the results showed good agreement with the general trend in terms of deformation, acceleration, and liquefaction ratio. Moreover, the displacement of liquefied soil around the pile was captured by the directions of vectors generated by numerical analysis, which resembled a worldwide circular flow pattern. The results revealed that during the dynamic excitation, increased pore water pressure and subsequent liquefaction caused a significant reduction in pile frictional resistance. Despite this, positive frictional resistance was noticed through the loose sand layer (near the ground surface) until the soil softened completely. It is worth mentioning that the pile exhibited excessive settlement which may attribute to the considerable reduction, in the end, bearing forces which in turn mobilizing extra end resistance.
Association of Glutathione S-transferases (GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTP1) Genes Polymorphisms with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Susceptibility: A Meta-analysis of Case-control Studies
Authors: Zhu Yi , Qiao Ming
Published: December 2021

Background: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) genes single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been connected with the susceptibility of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but with inconsistent results across the current evidences. The present work was schemed to explore the association between GSTs genes polymorphisms and the NAFLD vulnerability via meta-analysis.Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang were retrieved for eligible literatures previous to March 10, 2021. The odds ratio (OR) of the dichotomic variables and the standardized mean difference of quantitative variables with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were computed to evaluate the strength of the associations. The quality of included studies were assessed via using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).Results: In total, 7 case-control studies encompassing 804 NAFLD patients and 1362 disease-free controls in this meta-analysis. Ultimately, this analysis included six, five and five studies for GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms respectively. The pooled data revealed that the GSTs genes single-nucleotide polymorphisms had conspicuous associations with NAFLD susceptibility: for GSTM1, null vs. present, OR=1.46, 95%CI 1.20-1.79, P=0.0002; for GSTT1, null vs. present, OR=1.34, 95%CI 1.06-1.68, P=0.01; for GSTP1, Ile/Val or Val/Val vs. Ile/Ile, OR=1.60, 95%CI 1.23-2.09, P=0.0005.Conclusion: This work revealed that the GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null and GSTP1-Val genotypes might be related to increased NAFLD susceptibility.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Pathway: Association with Lower Incidence of Wound Complications and Severe Hypoalbuminemia in Patients Undergoing Posterior Lumbar Fusion Surgery
Authors: Wang Shuaikang , Wang Peng , Li Xiangyu , Sun Wenzhi , Kong Chao , Lu Shibao
Published: December 2021

Background. Wound complications were associated with worse satisfaction and additional costs in patients underwent posterior lumbar fusion(PLF) surgery ,the relationship between enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)pathway and wound complications remains poorly characterized.Methods. In this retrospective single-center study, we compared 530 patients receiving ERAS pathway care with previous 530 patients in non-ERAS group. The primary aim of our study was to identify the relationship between ERAS program and the incidence of postoperative wound related complications and other complications following PLF surgery, other outcomes included the length of stay(LOS), 90-day hospital and rehabilitation center readmission.Results. Average patient age was 65yr. There were more patients with old cerebral infarction in ERAS group (p<0.01), other demographics and comorbidities were similar between both groups. Patients in ERAS group had a lower incidence of postoperative wound-related complications compared with non-ERAS group(12.4 vs 17.8%, p=0.02).The non-ERAS group had a significantly higher rate of wound dehiscence or poor wound healing(6% vs 3%, p=0.02). ERAS group had a lower incidence of server postoperative hypoalbuminemia(serum albumin less than 30g/L)(15.8% vs 9.0% p<0.01).Additionally, ERAS patients had a shorter postoperative LOS (8.0±1.5 vs 9.5±1.7 p<0.01), lower rate of readmission within 90 days (1.9% vs 6.4%, p<0.01) and discharge to rehabilitation center (4.2% vs 1.0%, p<0.01).Conclusion. ERAS pathway may help to decrease the rates of postoperative wound complications and server hypoalbuminemia following PLF surgery, additionally, we demonstrated that ERAS pathway was also associated with shorter LOS and lower rate of readmissions within 90-day.
Ringed Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake Predicted Poor Prognosis After Resection of Pulmonary Pleomorphic Carcinoma
Authors: Shishido Yutaka , Aoyama Akihiro , Hara Shigeo , Sato Yuki , Tomii Keisuke , Hamakawa Hiroshi , Takahashi Yutaka
Published: December 2021

Background:Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (PPC) is a relatively rare and poorly differentiated non-small cell carcinoma. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features including programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression status in patients with PPC who underwent curative resection.Methods:We retrospectively studied 29 consecutive patients who had undergone anatomical lung resections for PPC. Perioperative and pathological variables, including radiological findings, were investigated to define prognostic factors.Results:Overall survival (OS) rates were 71.8% at 1 year and 60.0% at 5 years. Disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 54.8% at 1 year and 43.6% at 5 years. Univariate analysis revealed that ringed fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) (p=0.003), a cavity in the tumor on CT (p=0.004), and tumor size (>40mm) (p=0.014) were poor prognostic factors for OS. Regarding DFS, ringed FDG uptake (p=0.002), a cavity on CT (p<0.001), tumor size (p=0.007), and pleural invasion (p=0.014) were poor prognostic factors. PD-L1 expression was not a prognostic factor. Conclusion:Early relapse was frequently observed. This study showed for the first time that ringed FDG uptake on PET/CT is a poor prognostic factor of PPC. PD-L1 expression status was not related to the prognosis. Trial registration:The study was approved by the Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital’s ethics board (No. 20112) on August 20, 2020.
LncRNA MBNL1-AS1 Represses Proliferation and Cancer Stem-Like Properties of Breast Cancer Through MBNL1-AS1/ZFP36/CENPA Axis
Authors: Ding Yu , Li Yingjie , Duan Yunqiang , Wang Wan , Zheng Wei , Cheng Weilun , Qi Yuan , Feng Jianyuan , Chen Ziang , Yu Tianshui , Hu Anbang , Ma Fei , Guo Baoliang
Published: December 2021

Background: Emerging studies suggested the notion that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) were key regulators of cancer progression. In this research, the expression and roles of MBNL1-AS1 were explored in breast cancer (BC).Methods: In the present research, the MBNL1-AS1 expression in breast cancer tissue, as well as in cell line was studied by qRT-PCR assays. The effects of MBNL1-AS1 on proliferation and stemness were evaluated by MTT assays, colony formation assays, orthotopic breast tumor mice models, and sphere formation assays. Flexmap 3D assays were performed to show that MBNL1-AS1 downregulated the Centromere protein A (CENPA) secretion in BC cells. Western blot, RNA pull-down assays, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays, and Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were conducted to detect the mechanism.Results: The results revealed that the expression levels of MBNL1-AS1 were downregulated in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that overexpression of MBNL1-AS1 markedly inhibited BC cells proliferation and stemness. RNA pull-down assay, RIP assay, western blot assay, and qRT-PCR assay showed that MBNL1-AS1 downregulated CENPA mRNA via directly interacting with Zinc Finger Protein 36 (ZFP36) and subsequently decreased the stability of CENPA mRNA. Restoration assays also confirmed that MBNL1-AS1 suppressed the CENPA-mediated proliferation and stemness in breast cancer cells. Conclusions: We elucidated a new mechanism for how MBNL1-AS1 regulated the phenotype of BC and targeting the MBNL1-AS1/ZFP36/CENPA axis might serve as therapeutic targets for BC patients.
A Dynamic Approach for Early Risk Prediction of Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infection and Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Febrile Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Patients
Authors: Rubio José Antonio Villegas , Moraleda Pilar Palomo , Delgado Ana de Lucio , Sánchez Gonzalo Solís , García Belén Prieto , Galán Corsino Rey
Published: December 2021

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the usefulness of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Procalcitonin (PCT) and Interleukine 6 (IL6) biomarkers in predicting the existence of Gram negative bloodstream infections (Gr-BSI) or the development of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) during the first 24 hours of fever in pediatric cancer patients. The present study included a total of 103 consecutive fever episodes in 44 hemato-oncological pediatric patients, from whom samples for biomarkers CRP, PCT and IL6 were taken upon initial evaluation and then between 12 and 24 hours after.An IL6 value at the first evaluation (IL6-1) higher than 164 pg/ml and an increase in CRP higher than 291% between the first and subsequent samples (CRP-2vs1) showed a statistically significant OR of 26.03 and 19.62, respectively, in multivariate analysis.Conclusion: IL6-1 and CRP-2vs1 showed a strong, independent correlation with Gr-BSI and SIRS episodes and, therefore, could be used as reliable predictors of these kinds of severe episodes. The approach taken in our study, using biomarker variations over time as a variable, has shown itself to be an improvement in the predictive model.