bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distribution and factors associated with serum HBV pregenomic RNA levels in Chinese chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: Wang Meng‐Lan , Liao Juan , Ye Feng , Tao Ya‐Chao , Wu Dong‐Bo , He Min , Tang Hong , Chen En‐Qiang 
Published: September 2020

AbstractCorrelations between serum hepatitus B virus (HBV) pregenomic RNA (pgRNA), hepatitus B surface antigen (HBsAg), and hepatitus B core‐related antigen (HBcrAg) levels, and influencing factors of serum HBV pgRNA levels in Chinese chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients are rarely reported. This was a retrospective cohort study consisting of 204 outpatients with CHB. Serum levels of HBV pgRNA, HBsAg, and HBcrAg were quantitative measured in frozen blood samples. The linear regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to determine associated factors of serum HBV pgRNA levels. In this cohort, the median serum HBV pgRNA level was 4.12 log10 copies/ml and 33.33% (68/204) of them had serum HBV pgRNA under low limit of detection (LLD) (<500 copies/ml); and the percentage of patients with serum HBV pgRNA under LLD in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive patients was significantly lower than that in HBeAg‐negative patients (15.75% [23/46] vs. 77.59% [45/58], p < .001). Overall, serum HBV pgRNA strongly correlated with HBcrAg (r = 0.760, p < .001), and moderately correlated with HBV DNA (r = 0.663, p < .001) and HBsAg (r = 0.670, p < .001). As compared with HBsAg and HBV DNA, only HBcrAg showed stable correlation with serum HBV pgRNA both in HBeAg‐positive and HBeAg‐negative patients. Serum HBV pgRNA level differed between HBeAg‐positive and HBeAg‐negative patients; and it had better and more stable correlation with serum HBcrAg than serum HBV DNA and HBsAg, irrespective of HBeAg status.
Alendronate enhances osseointegration in a murine implant model
Authors: Vertesich Klemens , Sosa Branden R. , Niu Yingzhen , Ji Gang , Suhardi Vincentius , Turajane Kathleen , Mun Sehwan , Xu Ren , Windhager Reinhard , Park‐Min Kyung Hyun , Greenblatt Matthew B. , Bostrom Mathias P. , Yang Xu 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAdministration of bisphosphonates following total joint arthroplasty might be beneficial to reduce aseptic loosening. However, their effects on peri‐implant bone formation and bone–implant interface strength have not been investigated yet. We used a physiologically loaded mouse implant model to investigate the short‐term effects of postoperative systemic alendronate on osseointegration. A titanium implant with a rough surface was inserted in the proximal tibiae of 17‐week‐old female C57BL/6 mice (n = 44). Postimplantation mice were given alendronate (73 μg/kg/days, n = 22) or vehicle (n = 22) 5 days/week. At 7‐ and 14‐day postimplantation, histology and histomorphometry were conducted. At 28 days, microcomputed tomography and biomechanical testing were performed (n = 10/group). Postoperative alendronate treatment enhanced osseointegration, increasing maximum pullout load by 45% (p < .001) from 19.1 ± 4.5 N in the control mice to 27.6 ± 4.9 N in the treated mice, at day 28 postimplantation. Alendronate treatment increased the bone volume fraction by 139% (p < .001) in the region distal to the implant and 60% (p < .05) in the peri‐implant region. At 14‐day postimplantation, alendronate treatment decreased the number of osteoclasts per bone perimeter (p < .05) and increased bone volume fraction (p < .01) when compared with the control group. Postimplantation, short‐term alendronate treatment enhanced osseointegration as demonstrated by increased bone mass, trabecular bone thickness, and maximum pullout load. Alendronate decreased peri‐implant osteoclasts while preserving peri‐implant osteoblasts and endothelial cells, in turn, increasing bone volume fraction. This data supports the postoperative clinical use of bisphosphonates, especially in patients with high risks of aseptic loosening.
Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering of secretory proteins for the cytotoxicity analysis of low‐dose doxorubicin
Authors: Zheng Mengmeng , Gao Siqi , Lin Yamin , Lin Yating , Huang Zufang , Xie Shusen , Yu Yun , Lin Juqiang 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe cytotoxicity and dose of anticancer drugs must be strictly controlled to achieve better therapeutic effects while reducing side effects. Here, surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of secretory proteins was employed to analyze the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin at low dose (0.01 and 0.05 μg/ml), which could not be evaluated by the conventional methyl thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The variances of SERS signals of secretory proteins between control and doxorubicin‐treated groups became greater gradually with the increase of doxorubicin dosage, and the SERS bands at 660 and 1,375 cm−1 were closely related to the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin. Combined with principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis (PCA‐LDA), SERS spectra of secretory proteins from different drug dose groups could be distinguished with high sensitivity (97.2%) and accuracy (84.7%), demonstrating promising potential as an alternative nanotechnology for cytotoxicity analysis of low‐dose anticancer drugs.
Activity of Bromelain with Cationic Surfactants and the Correlation with the Change of 1H NMR Signals
Authors: Tian Maozhang , Zhu Jiaxin , Guo Jingjing , Guo Xia 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis study observed the activities of bromelain in the presence of various cationic surfactants at different temperatures and the conformational changes in bromelain by 1H NMR spectroscopy. We found that the bromelain activity was enhanced by tens to hundreds of micromoles per liter of the surfactant. In the presence of the surfactants, bromelain exhibited good tolerance to a range of substrate temperatures and its thermal stability was also increased. The 1H NMR experiments indicated that when the temperature was increased from 25.0 to 45.0 °C, the protons of bromelain having chemical shifts (δ) between 3.7 and 5.2 ppm moved upfield, while those having δ values between 3.2 and 3.7 ppm moved downfield. In the bromelain/cationic surfactant mixture, the values of δ for the protons in both bromelain and the cationic surfactants decreased, accompanied by the broadening of the half‐peak width of the surfactant protons. These results indicated that both increasing temperature and adding a cationic surfactant made the bromelain chain more flexible and hence, increased the bromelain activity. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first time that the relationship between the protein activity and the 1H NMR data was expounded.
A brief hot‐water treatment alleviates chilling injury symptoms in fresh tomatoes
Authors: Loayza Francisco E , Brecht Jeffrey K , Simonne Amarat H , Plotto Anne , Baldwin Elizabeth A , Bai Jinhe , Lon‐Kan Elena 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDReducing the negative effects of chilling injury (CI) in tomatoes after harvest is essential to ensure good quality and to minimize losses. CI is a postharvest disorder associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the fruit. Therefore, antioxidant accumulation can counteract ROS, alleviating CI symptoms. In this sense, it has been confirmed that a brief hot‐water (HW) immersion promotes the synthesis of antioxidants.RESULTSHW treatment at 52 °C for 5 min significantly reduced chilling‐associated decay, from 66.7% to 17.2% in breaker turning (BT) and from 55.8% to 9.8% in mature green (MG) ‘BHN‐602’ tomatoes stored at 5 °C for 2 weeks and from 26.7% to 6.7% in BT tomatoes stored at 5 °C for 1 week. Also, HW treatment significantly increased lycopene content by 17% in BT tomatoes stored at 5 °C for 2 weeks, as well as ascorbic acid by 11%, lipophilic phenolics by 18% and total phenolics by 6.5% in BT tomatoes stored at 12.5 °C for 1 week. Despite the increase of antioxidants, HW treatment did not enhance the sensory aromatic profile, color and antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, HW treatment reduced ripening time by 3 days in MG tomatoes stored at 5 °C for 2 weeks or at 12.5 °C for 1 week.CONCLUSIONHW treatment applied to MG or BT ‘BHN‐602’ tomatoes can alleviate the development of some CI symptoms, particularly decay, possibly by increasing antioxidants that scavenge ROS. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Seed priming and foliar application with jasmonic acid enhance salinity stress tolerance of soybean (Glycine max L.) seedlings
Authors: Sheteiwy Mohamed S , Shao Hongbo , Qi Weicong , Daly Paul , Sharma Anket , Shaghaleh Hiba , Hamoud Yousef Alhaj , El‐Esawi Mohamed A , Pan Ronghui , Wan Qun , Lu Haiying 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDJasmonic acid (JA) is an important molecule that has a regulatory effect on many physiological processes in plant growth and development under abiotic stress. This study investigated the effect of 60 μmol L−1 of JA in seed priming (P) at 15 °C in darkness for 24 h, foliar application (F), and/or their combination effect (P + F) on two soybean cultivars – ‘Nannong 99‑6’ (salt tolerant) and ‘Lee 68’ (salt sensitive) – under salinity stress (100 mmol L−1 sodium chloride (NaCl)).RESULTSSalinity stress reduced seedling growth and biomass compared with that in the control condition. Priming and foliar application with JA and/or their combination significantly improved water potential, osmotic potential, water use efficiency, and relative water content of both cultivars under salinity stress. Similarly, seed priming with JA, foliar application of JA, and/or their combination significantly improved the following properties under salinity stress compared with the untreated seedlings: net photosynthetic rate by 68.03%, 59.85%, and 76.67% respectively; transpiration rate by 74.85%, 55.10%, and 80.26% respectively; stomatal conductance by 69.88%, 78.25%, and 26.24% respectively; intercellular carbon dioxide concentration by 61.64%, 40.06%, and 65.79% respectively; and total chlorophyll content by 47.41%, 41.02%, and 55.73% respectively. Soybean plants primed, sprayed with JA, or treated with their combination enhanced the chlorophyll fluorescence, which was damaged by salinity stress. JA treatments improved abscisic acid, gibberellic acid, and JA levels by 60.57%, 62.50% and 52.25% respectively under salt stress compared with those in the control condition. The transcriptional levels of the FeSOD, POD, CAT, and APX genes increased significantly in the NaCl‐stressed seedlings irrespective of JA treatments. Moreover, JA treatment resulted in a reduction of sodium ion concentration and an increase of potassium ion concentrations in the leaf and root of both cultivars regardless of salinity stress. Monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and proline contents decreased in the seedlings treated with JA under salinity stress, whereas the ascorbate content increased with JA treatment combined with NaCl stress.CONCLUSIONThe application of 60 μmol L−1 JA improved plant growth by regulating the interaction between plant hormones and hydrogen peroxide, which may be involved in auxin signaling and stomatal closure under salt stress. These methods could efficiently protect early seedlings and alleviate salt stress damage and provide possibilities for use in improving soybean growth and inducing tolerance against excessive soil salinity. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Red araçá pulp microencapsulation by hydrolyzed pinhão starch, and tara and arabic gums
Authors: Rosário Fernanda Menegon , Biduski Barbara , Santos David Fernando dos , Hadlish Elisângela Vanessa , Tormen Luciano , Santos Gustavo Henrique Fidelis dos , Pinto Vânia Zanella 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDRed araçá is a Brazilian native species whose fruits are rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids. To preserve the properties of compounds during processing, red araçá pulp (RAP) was encapsulated by hydrolyzed pinhão starch (PS), tara gum (TG), and arabic gum (AG) in different blends in equal proportions, serving as a coating material.RESULTSFresh RAP had a gallic acid equivalent of 3098 mg per 100 g of dry weight, 156.29 μg β‐carotene per gram of dry weight, total anthocyanins of 18 mg per 100 g of dry weight and exhibited high antioxidant activity. The highest encapsulation efficiency achieved with the PS, TG, and AG blend was 80.4% for the total carotenoids, and that for the total anthocyanins was 76% with the TG and AG blend. Only one step of antioxidant activity degradation was identified, and the carrier system PSTG was efficient at maintaining the antioxidant activity, with half‐life of 23.60–37.27 days.CONCLUSIONThe use of PS alone as a coating material or associated with TG and AG gums resulted in improved retention of bioactive compounds, these being an excellent alternative coating material since they improved the stability of the antioxidant activity of RAP. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Changes in the sexual function of male patients with rectal cancer over a 2‐year period from diagnosis to 24‐month follow‐up: A prospective, multicenter, cohort study
Authors: Sakamoto Takashi , Hida Koya , Hoshino Nobuaki , Yamaguchi Takashi , Manaka Dai , Yamada Masahiro , Kadokawa Yoshio , Yamanokuchi Satoshi , Kondo Masato , Kanazawa Akiyoshi , Abe Hiroyasu , Okada Tomoaki , Morita Satoshi , Sakai Yoshiharu 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThis prospective study aimed to identify long‐term changes in sexual function of men with rectal cancer from point of diagnosis to 24 months postoperatively.MethodsMale patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery were prospectively enrolled. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Questionnaire scores were collected at diagnosis; first follow‐up; and 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Missing values were managed via multiple imputations using the propensity score method. Paired t tests were applied to examine changes in IIEF scores over time.ResultsThis study analyzed 115 patients. For erectile function, there were no significant changes in scores from the point of diagnosis to first treatment (9.4 vs. 9.8 as mean scores; p = .227). Scores deteriorated postoperatively and recovered until 12 months post‐surgery, but did not improve significantly from 12 months to 24 months post‐surgery (8.7 vs. 8.2 as mean scores; p = .440). This pattern of change was observed in all other domains: orgasmic function, sexual desire, orgasmic satisfaction, and overall satisfaction.ConclusionsSexual function was not influenced by a rectal cancer diagnosis. Sexual function deteriorated following surgery and recovered until 12 months post‐surgery; however, it did not significantly improve from 12 months to 24 months postoperatively.
Effect of Endoscope Sinus Surgery on Pulmonary Function in Cystic Fibrosis Patients: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Yin Mei , Gao Xiaoping , Di Lingling , Yang Pei , Liu Jing , Li Xia , Yan Xiaohui , Wang Wei , Cui Hua 
Published: September 2020

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to quantify the effect of endoscopic sinus surgery on pulmonary function in patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic rhinosinusitis.MethodsThe PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched for studies published in English, without any language and time restrictions from their inception to March 1, 2020. Studies examining pulmonary function outcomes in patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic rhinosinusitis following endoscopic sinus surgery were included. Primary outcomes were pulmonary function tests, including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity (FEF25‐75).ResultsA total of 12 studies with 570 patients were included for data extraction and meta‐analysis. For FEV1 (%), the summarized mean difference (MD) was −6.92 (95% confidence interval [CI] = −19.67 to 5.83, P = .29) and 0.70 (95% CI = −3.81 to 5.21, P = .76) for the postoperative results after 6 months and 12 months, respectively. The pooled MDs for FVC (%) and FEV1/FVC ratio (%) for the postoperative results after 6 months were 0.60 (95% CI = −4.12 to 5.31, P = .80) and −1.29 (95% CI = −6.14 to 3.55, P = .60).ConclusionEndoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis patients with cystic fibrosis did not improve the pulmonary function in chronic rhinosinusitis patients with cystic fibrosis. More prospective studies and meta‐analyses addressing the same topic are needed in the future. Laryngoscope, 131:720–725, 2021
Use of the medial canthal point (MCP) as a reliable anatomical landmark to the frontal sinus
Authors: Jolly Karan , Kontogiannis Theodoros , Pankhania Miran , Hussain Khalid , Naik Paresh Pramod , Ahmed Shahzada K. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractObjectivesFrontal sinus surgery is considered one of the more challenging aspects of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, due to the complex variations in normal sinus anatomy but also increased morbidity due to the close proximity of critical structures such as the anterior cranial fossa and orbits. We aim to investigate the medial canthal point (MCP) as an anatomical landmark for safe frontal sinus access.MethodsThe MCP intranasally is identified during surgery with non‐tooth forceps, with one limb just anterior to the medial canthus and the other intranasally in the same coronal plane along the skull base. This point was identified on 100 paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) scan reconstructions. The distance between the anterior cranial fossa and MCP was measured on imaging—medial canthal point distance (MCPD). The maximal anterior‐posterior (AP) distance was measured on all scans.ResultsThe average MCPD for males was 13.0 mm (8.7‐20.4 mm) and for females 12.0 mm (6.8‐22.8 mm). Mean AP distance for males was 12.0 mm (4.5‐20.2 mm) and for females 10.4 mm (3.8‐15.9 mm). Mean distance for all 100 patients was 12.6 mm (range 7.5‐22.8 mm). In all cases, the MCP was anterior to the cranial fossa. Mixed effects modelling analysis showed a significant correlation between the MCPD and AP distance (P = .006).ConclusionThe MCP is a consistent anatomical landmark that can serve as an adjunct to safe frontal sinus access alongside the first olfactory fiber and CT navigation systems. However, patient selection continues to be very important, with larger well pneumatized frontal sinuses being ideal to tackle earlier in a surgeon's career.Level of evidenceNA
Paroxysmal Cranial Dyskinesia and Nail‐Patella Syndrome Caused by a Novel Variant in the LMX1B Gene
Authors: Bech Sara , Løkkegaard Annemette , Nielsen Troels T. , Nørremølle Anne , Grønborg Sabine , Hasholt Lis , Steffensen Gudrun K. , Graehn Gabor , Olesen Jess H. , Tommerup Niels , Mang Yuan , Bak Mads , Nielsen Jørgen E. , Eiberg Hans , Hjermind Lena E. 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundIn a Danish family, multiple individuals in five generations present with early‐onset paroxysmal cranial dyskinesia, musculoskeletal abnormalities, and kidney dysfunction.ObjectiveTo demonstrate linkage and to identify the underlying genetic cause of disease.MethodsGenome‐wide single‐nucleotide polymorphisms analysis, Sequence‐Tagged‐Site marker analyses, exome sequencing, and Sanger sequencing were performed.ResultsLinkage analyses identified a candidate locus on chromosome 9. Exome sequencing revealed a novel variant in LMX1B present in all affected individuals, logarithm of the odds (LOD) score of z = 6.54, predicted to be damaging. Nail‐patella syndrome (NPS) is caused by pathogenic variants in LMX1B encoding a transcription factor essential to cytoskeletal and kidney growth and dopaminergic and serotonergic network development. NPS is characterized by abnormal musculoskeletal features and kidney dysfunction. Movement disorders have not previously been associated with NPS.ConclusionsParoxysmal dyskinesia is a heretofore unrecognized feature of the NPS spectrum. The pathogenic mechanism might relate to aberrant dopaminergic circuits. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson Movement Disorder Society. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
A putative frameshift variant in the CHM gene is associated with an unexpected splicing alteration in a choroideremia patient
Authors: Fioretti Tiziana , Ungari Silvana , Savarese Maria , Cattaneo Fabio , Pirozzi Enza , Esposito Gabriella 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundDue to the limited availability of mRNA analysis data, the number of exonic variants resulting in splicing impairment is underestimated although aberrant splicing correction is a promising therapeutic option to treat monogenic diseases, including choroideremia (CHM), a rare X‐linked eye disorder arising from sequence alteration of the CHM gene. Herein we report an exonic frameshift variant associated with an mRNA splicing alteration that leads to a CHM hypomorphic allele.MethodsTotal RNA and genomic DNA were extracted from peripheral blood of a patient affected by a mild form of CHM. The CHM gene was analyzed by PCR‐based methods and Sanger sequencing.ResultsBesides the known c.1335dup frameshift variant, mRNA analysis revealed a splicing alteration that restored the reading frame of the mutant transcript, likely leading to an aberrant protein with residual activity. Bioinformatic analyses identified novel putative exonic splicing enhancer elements and provided clues that also pre‐mRNA secondary structure should be taken into account when exploring splicing mechanisms.ConclusionA careful molecular characterization of the c.1335dup variant's effect explains the relationship between genotype and phenotype severity in a CHM patient and provides new perspectives for the study of therapeutic strategies based on splicing correction in human diseases.
The spectrum of CYP21A2 gene mutations in patients with classic salt wasting form of 2l‐hydroxylase deficiency in a Chinese cohort
Authors: Liu Yang , Zheng Jie , Liu Nan , Xu Xiaowei , Zhang Xinjie , Zhang Ying , Li Guoxu , Liu Geli , Cai Chunquan , Shu Jianbo 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackground21‐Hydroxylase deficiency (21‐OHD) caused by the CYP21A2 gene mutations is the most common form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It is an autosomal recessive disorder that results in defective synthesis of cortisol and aldosterone. The incidences of various CYP21A2 gene mutations and the genotype–phenotype correlations vary among different populations.Materials and MethodsThe clinical and molecular data of 22 patients were analyzed in this study. All patients were recruited from the neonatal intensive care unit. Locus‐specific polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing were applied to identify gene micro‐conversions, and multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification was used to detect large fragment deletions/conversions. Then, the genotypes were categorized in to Null, A, B, C, and D groups to analyze the relationships between genotypes and phenotypes.ResultsAll 22 patients were classified into classic salt wasting form of 21‐OHD. Molecular defects were detected in 44 alleles (100%). Micro‐conversion mutation IVS2‐13A/C>G (70.5%) is most common in our cohort, followed by large gene deletions and conversions (22.7%). The other mutations present were p.R357 W (4.5%) and E6 Cluster (2.3%). Genotypes of 22 patients (100%) were consistent with the predictive phenotypes.ConclusionIn this study, we identified the mutation spectrum of CYP21A2 gene in Chinese patients, especially the younger age cohort in pediatrics. Micro‐conversions were the most popular mutations. Moreover, the genotypes and phenotypes were well correlated in this cohort of salt wasting 21‐OHD recruited from neonatal intensive care unit.