bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Conserved associations between G-quadruplex-forming DNA motifs and virulence gene families in malaria parasites
Authors: Gage Hunter L. , Merrick Catherine J. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background :
The Plasmodium genus of malaria parasites encodes several families of antigen-encoding genes. These genes tend to be hyper-variable, highly recombinogenic and variantly expressed. The best-characterized family is the var genes, exclusively found in the Laveranian subgenus of malaria parasites infecting humans and great apes. Var genes encode major virulence factors involved in immune evasion and the maintenance of chronic infections. In the human parasite P. falciparum , var gene recombination and diversification appear to be promoted by G-quadruplex (G4) DNA motifs, which are strongly associated with var genes in P. falciparum . Here, we investigated how this association might have evolved across Plasmodium species – both Laverania and also more distantly related species which lack var s but encode other, more ancient variant gene families.
Results :
The association between var genes and G4-forming motifs was conserved across Laverania, spanning ~1 million years of evolutionary time, with suggestive evidence for evolution of the association occurring within this subgenus. In rodent malaria species, G4-forming motifs were somewhat associated with pir genes, but this was not conserved in the Laverania, nor did we find a strong association of these motifs with any gene family in a second outgroup of avian malaria parasites. Secondly, we compared two different G4 prediction algorithms in their performance on extremely A/T-rich Plasmodium genomes, and also compared these predictions with experimental data from G4-seq, a DNA sequencing method for identifying G4-forming motifs. We found a surprising lack of concordance between the two algorithms and also between the algorithms and G4-seq data.
Conclusions:
G4-forming motifs are uniquely strongly associated with Plasmodium var genes, suggesting a particular role for G4s in recombination and diversification of these genes. Secondly, in the A/T-rich genomes of Plasmodium species, the choice of prediction algorithm may be particularly influential when studying G4s in these important protozoan pathogens.
Age- and gender-specific trends in respiratory outpatient visits and diagnoses at a tertiary pediatric hospital in China: a 10-year retrospective study
Authors: Shi Peng , Zhang Xiaobo , Liu Lijuan , Tang Liangfeng , Li Jing , Wang Libo , Li Albert M. , Cao Yang , Xu Hong , Huang Guoying 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: Respiratory infections are one of three leading causes of childhood mortality, and worldwide increase and recent plateau in childhood asthma has been reported. However, data on trends of respiratory diseases over long period of time is limited. This study aimed to determine the trends of respiratory disease outpatient visits (ROVs) and diagnoses (RODs) in one of the largest children’s teaching hospitals in China between 2009 and 2018. Methods: A retrospective study based on routine administrative data was designed and implemented according to the RECORD statement. Demographic details and diagnoses of the outpatients <18 years visiting the respiratory department of the hospital were extracted from the Hospital Information System. Age- and gender-specific trends were illustrated by calculating average annual growth rate (AAGR) for ROVs and comparing change of proportion for different RODs over time. Results: There were 698054 ROVs from 285574 children (40.4% female). AAGR of ROVs was 15.2%. Children aged 4 to < 7 years had a faster increase than other age groups. Bronchitis (27.6%), pneumonia (18.5%), pneumonia affecting other systems (18.4%), asthma and status asthmaticus (10.7%), and vasomotor and allergic rhinitis (9.2%) accounted for 84.4% of all RODs. The proportion of bronchitis decreased across years, with the concomitant increasing trend in the proportion of pneumonia. Age-specific trend in diagnoses showed greater proportion of asthma in all visits for the children aged 7 to < 18 years than younger children. Gender-specific trend in diagnoses showed the proportion of asthma was greater for males but the AAGR was greater for females. Conclusion: The persistent upward trend in ROVs was observed among children at different ages and a gender difference was also seen. In contrast to what has been reported, burden of asthma and allergies diseases continues to increase locally.
Provider attitudes about childhood tuberculosis prevention in Lesotho: A qualitative study
Authors: Hirsch-Moverman Yael , Mantell Joanne E. , Lebelo Limakatso , Howard Andrea A , Hesseling Anneke , Nachman Sharon , Frederix Koen , Maama Llang B , El-Sadr Wafaa M 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background : The World Health Organization estimated that 1.12 million children developed tuberculosis (TB) in 2018, and at least 200,000 children died from TB. Implementation of effective child contact management is an important strategy to prevent childhood TB but these practices often are not prioritized or implemented, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Objective : To explore attitudes of healthcare providers toward TB prevention and perceived facilitators and challenges to child contact management in Lesotho, a high TB burden country.
Design : Qualitative data were collected via group and individual in-depth interviews with 12 healthcare providers at five health facilities in one district and analyzed using a thematic framework.
Results : Healthcare providers in our study were interested and committed to improve child TB contact management and identified facilitators and challenges to a successful childhood TB prevention program. Facilitators included: provider understanding of the importance of TB prevention and enhanced provider training on child TB contact management , with a particular focus on ruling out TB in children and addressing side effects. Challenges identified by providers were at multiple levels -- structural, clinic, and individual and included: (1) access to care, (2) supply-chain issues, (3) identification and screening of child contacts, and (4) adherence to isoniazid preventive therapy.
Conclusions : Given the significant burden of TB morbidity and mortality in young children and the recent requirement by the WHO to report IPT initiation in child contacts, prioritization of child TB contact management is imperative and should include enhanced provider training on childhood TB and mentorship as well as strategies to eliminate challenges. Strategies that enable more efficient child TB contact management delivery include creating standardized tools that facilitate the implementation, tracking, and monitoring of child TB contact management coupled with guidance and mentorship from the district health management team. To tackle access to care challenges, we propose delivering intensive community health education, conducting community screening more efficiently using standardized tools, and facilitating access to services in the community.
Roles of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in prognosis and in differentiation of potential beneficiaries in HER2-positive breast cancer with trastuzumab therapy
Authors: Ding Nianhua , Huang Juan , Li Ningsha , Yuan Jiaqi , Wang Shouman , Xiao Zhi 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Purpose

The relationship of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to prognosis of HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) is not well studied. We aimed to assess the prognostic role of NLR in HER2-positive BC patients treated with or without trastuzumab.

Methods

The clinical data of 843 HER2-positive BC patients from July 2013 to July 2018 were collected. The difference among variables was calculated by chi-square test. The associations between clinicopathological factors, NLR and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Patients were divided into three groups. In group 1 containing 255 patients without trastuzumab treatment, pretreatment NLR showed no predictive value. Patients with trastuzumab treatment were divided into two groups on equal, according to pretreatment NLR values, low NLR (group 2) and high NLR (group 3). Patients in group 2 showed significantly higher 3-year DFS rate than patients in group 1 and group 3 (95.3% vs. 91.6% vs. 90.5%, respectively, P = 0.011); patients in the group 1 and group 3 had a similar 3-year DFS outcome. Multivariate analysis showed high pretreatment NLR was significantly associated with shorter DFS (HR = 2.917, 95% CI=1.055-8.062, P = 0.039) in HER2-positive BC patients treated with trastuzumab.

Conclusion

Among HER2-positive trastuzumab-treated BC patients, low pretreatment NLR value was associated with better DFS, and it might help to differentiate potential beneficiaries of trastuzumab treatment.
αβ-Dehydrocurvularin isolated from the fungus Aspergillus welwitschiae effectively inhibited the behaviour and development of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola in rice roots
Authors: xiang Chao , Liu Ying , Liu Shi-Ming , Huang Ya-Fei , Kong Ling-An , Peng Huan , Liu Mao-Yan , Liu Jing , Peng De-Liang , Huang Wen-Kun 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola has become a serious threat to rice production as a result of the cultivation changes from transplanting to direct seeding. The nematicidal activity of Aspergillus welwitschiae have been investigated in vitro , and the disease control efficacy of the active compound has been evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions.
Results: The active compound αβ-dehydrocurvularin (αβ-DC), isolated by nematicidal assay-directed fractionation, showed significant nematicidal activity against M. graminicola , with an median lethal concentration (LC 50 ) value of 122.2 μg mL −1 . αβ-DC effectively decreased the attraction of rice roots to nematodes and the infection of nematodes and also suppressed the development of nematodes under greenhouse conditions. Moreover, αβ-DC efficiently reduced the root gall index under field conditions.
Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the nematicidal activity of αβ-DC against M. graminicola . The results obtained under greenhouse and field conditions provide a basis for developing commercial formulations from αβ-DC to control M. graminicola in the future.
Current situation of the presence of the zoonotic nematode Dirofilaria immitis in dogs and humans in Bucaramanga, Colombia
Authors: Esteban-Mendoza M.Victoria , Arcila-Quiceno Víctor , Albarracín-Navas Javier Hernando , Hernández Isabel , N María Camila Flechas-Alarcón , Morchón Rodrigo 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background : The cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria immitis, is a vector-born infection, which can be transmitted to humans. The main host are both domestic and wild canids. It mainly occurs in tropical and subtropical climates, temperature and humidity are the main factors that favor the presence and proliferation of Culicidae mosquitoes. There are few reports of this disease in dogs and humans in Colombia, a region with favorable climatic conditions for the development of this disease. Therefore, this research aimed to study its current prevalence in dogs and the risk of human exposure to the disease in Bucaramanga, one of the most populated areas in Colombia located at the center of the country. Furthermore, its demographic and environmental characteristics could be useful as a study model for other similar locations and neighboring countries. Method: Serum samples from 351 dogs and 506 humans from the Bucaramanga metropolitan area were analyzed. All dog samples were tested with a commercial immunochromatographic test kit to detect the presence of circulating antigens of D. immitis . Human samples were analyzed using a non-commercial ELISA test kit to detect IgG against the somatic antigens of adult D. immitis and Wolbachia . Positive results were further confirmed using a Western blot analysis. Results: Dirofilaria immitis prevalence was 10.82% (95% CI) in dogs and 5.12% (95% CI) in microfilaremic dogs. Seroprevalence in humans was 6.71% (95% CI) and was significantly higher in individuals aged 16–34 years and in women than in men. Conclusions: This study describes seropositivity to D. immitis for the first time in a Colombian human population located in the same area as that of dogs infected with D. immitis , which represents a potential threat to public health. In humans, age and sex can be considered risk factors for exposure to D. immitis .
Usual physical activity and subsequent hospital usage over 20 years in a general population: the EPIC-Norfolk cohort
Authors: Luben Robert N , Hayat Shabina , Wareham Nicholas , Pharoah Paul , Khaw Kay-Tee 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background While physical activity interventions have been reported to reduce hospital stays, it is not clear if, in the general population, usual physical activity patterns may be associated with subsequent hospital use independently of other lifestyle factors. We examined the relationship between reported usual physical activity and subsequent admissions to hospital and time spent in hospital for 11 228 men and 13 786 women aged 40–79 years in the general population. Methods Participants from a British prospective population-based cohort study were followed for 20 years (1999–2019) using record linkage to document hospital usage. Total physical activity was estimated by combining workplace and leisure time activity reported in a baseline lifestyle questionnaire and repeated in a subset at a second time point approximately 12 years later. Results Compared to those reporting no physical activity, participants who were the most active had a lower likelihood of spending more than 20 days in hospital odds ratio (OR) 0.88 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81–0.96) over the next 20 years after multivariable adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, education, social class and body mass index. Participants reporting any activity had a mean of 0.42 fewer hospital days per year between 1999 and 2009 compared to inactive participants, an estimated potential saving to the National Health Service (NHS) of £247 per person per year, or approximately 7% of UK health expenditure. Participants who remained physically active or became active 12 years later had lower risk of subsequent hospital usage than those who remained inactive or became inactive, p-trend < 0.001. Conclusions Usual physical activity in this middle-aged and older population predicts lower future hospitalisations - time spent in hospital and number of admissions independently of behavioural and sociodemographic factors. Small feasible differences in usual physical activity in the general population may potentially have a substantial impact on hospital usage and costs.
Detection of CNV in the SH3RF2 gene and its effects on growth and carcass traits in chickens
Authors: Jing Zhenzhu , Wang Xinlei , Cheng Yingying , Wei Chengjie , Hou Dan , Li Tong , Li Wenya , Han Ruili , Li Hong , Sun Guirong , Tian Yadong , Liu Xiaojun , Kang Xiangtao , Li Zhuanjian 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: The SH3RF2 gene is a protein-coding gene located in a quantitative trait locus associated with body weight, and its deletion has been shown to be positively associated with body weight in chickens.
Results: In the present study, CNV in the SH3RF2 gene was detected in 4,079 individuals from 17 populations, including the “Gushi ×Anka” F2 resource population and populations of Chinese native chickens, commercial layers, and commercial broilers. The F2 resource population was then used to investigate the genetic effects of the chicken SH3RF2 gene. The results showed that the local chickens and commercial layers were all homozygous for the wild-type allele. Deletion mutation individuals were detected in all of the commercial broiler breeds except Hubbard broiler. A total of, 798 individuals in the F2 resource group were used to analyze the effects of genotype (DD/ID/II) on chicken production traits. The results showed that CNV was associated with 2-, 6-, 10-, and 12-week body weight ( P = 0.026, 0.042, 0.021 and 0.039 respectively) and significantly associated with 8-week breast bone length ( P = 0.045). The mutation was significantly associated with 8-week body weight ( P = 0.007) and 4-week breast bone length ( P = 0.010). CNV was significantly associated with evisceration weight, leg muscle weight, carcass weight, breast muscle weight and gizzard weight ( P = 0.032, 0.033, 0.045, 0.004 and 0.000, respectively).
Conclusions: CNV of the SH3RF2 gene contributed to variation in the growth and weight gain of chickens.
An Assessment Of The Food Safety Knowledge And Attitudes Of Food Handlers In Hospitals
Authors: Tabit Frederick Tawi , Teffo Lesiba A 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Method: Up to 210 individuals (18-65 years) who were employed in these hospitals, and who were involved in the preparation and serving of food to patients were purposefully selected. Data collection was by means of an interview using a questionnaire design for this study. The FSK and FSA scores of hospital food handlers were obtained by adding the correct response to FSK or FSA questions.
Results: Only 29% of the hospital food handlers have attended a food safety-training course. Many food handlers were not knowledgeable on the correct temperature for handling foods, and on the correct minimum internal cooking temperature for poultry, seafood and egg. Only the minority of food handlers knew that Salmonella is the main foodborne bacteria pathogen mostly associated with poultry products (47.1%) and that food borne bacteria will grow quickly in food at a temperature of 37 ˚C (38.1%). Hospital food handlers with higher academic qualifications do not possess more FSK than those with lower academic qualifications. 51% of the hospital food handlers possessed a Satisfactory FSK while 10% possessed a Good FSK and 39% possessed an Inadequate FSK.
Conclusion: More than 60% of the hospital food handlers possesses either Good FSK or Satisfactory FSK. Higher levels of education, experience in food handling and job position did not lead to better FSK outcome. All the hospital food handlers possess at least a Satisfactory FSA. There was a weak positive but significant correlation between the FSK and FSA of hospital food handlers. It is recommended all employees involved in food handlers be subjected to food safety training programmes on a regular basis irrespective of their academic, employment and training details.
Ripasudil alleviated the inflammation of RPE cells by targeting the miR-136-5p/ROCK/NLRP3 pathway
Authors: Gao Zhao , Li Qiang , Zhang Yunda , Gao Xiaohong , Li Haiyan , Yuan Zhigang 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: Inflammation of RPE cells led to different kinds of eye diseases and affected the normal function of the retina. Furthermore, higher levels of ROCK1 and ROCK2 induced injury of endothelial cell s and many inflammatory diseases of the eyes. Ripasudil, which was used for the treatment of glaucoma , was one kind of the inhibitor of ROCK1 and ROCK2, but whether ripasudil could relieve the LPS-induced inflammation and damage of RPE cells was not clear.
Methods: We used LPS to stimulate ARPE-19 cells, the RPE cell line. After that, we detected the levels of ROCK1 and ROCK2 by western-blotting after the stimulation of LPS and treatment of ripasudil. Then luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm the targeting effect of miR-136-5p on ROCK1 and ROCK2. At last, the levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase1, IL-1β and IL-18 were detected with the western-blotting after the knockdown of miR-136-5p.
Results: The levels of ROCK1, ROCK2 and miR-136-5p in ARPE-19 cells were promoted after the stimulation of LPS. After the treatment of ripasudil, the expression levels of ROCK1, ROCK2 and miR-136-5p were suppressed. The expression of ROCK1 and ROCK2 was targeted and inhibited by the miR-136-5p. The levels of inflammation related proteins NLRP3, ASC, caspase1, IL-1β and IL-18 was also inhibited after the treatment of ripasudil. However, the expression of these proteins was rescued after the knockdown of miR-136-5p.
Conclusion: Ripasudil relieved the inflammatory injury of RPE cells by upregulating miR-136-5p, therefore inhibiting the expression of ROCK1, ROCK2, NLRP3, ASC, caspase1, IL-1β and IL-18.
Sex difference in the association between education and schizophrenia in Chinese adults
Authors: Luo Yanan , Pang Lihua , Zhao Yihao , Guo Chao , Zhang Lei , Zheng Xiaoying 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Objective: Improving education level was evidenced to decrease the risk of schizophrenia, but whether this strength of education role depends on gender is not. This study aimed to investigate whether there is sex difference in the association between education and schizophrenia in Chinese adults. Methods: Data was obtained from the Second China National Sample Survey on Disability in 2006, and restricted our analysis to 1,909,205 participants aged 18 years or older, which covered 31 provinces (administrative districts) in China. Schizophrenia was ascertained according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision. Logistics regression models was fitted to examine the combined effect of sex and education on schizophrenia. Results: The prevalence of schizophrenia in female groups was higher than in male groups, with 0.44% (95% CI : 0.42%, 0.45%) and 0.36% (95% CI : 0.35%, 0.37%), respectively. There is a statistical significant difference that more females experienced severe or extreme difficulty in understanding and communicating. However, more males suffered from severe or extreme difficulty in the function of daily activities and participation in society. The combined effect of education and schizophrenia was statistically significant ( OR =1.05, 95%CI =1.02, 1.08), indicating that, as the level of education level increased, schizophrenia risk of females decreased faster than the risk of males. Conclusions: This study showed that additional years of education reduce the risk of schizophrenia for both men and women while also closing the gender gap between them. As education elevated, the risk of schizophrenia decreased more for women than for men. The findings indicated that improving education level may have an effect on reducing gender gaps in schizophrenia in China. Action to prevent schizophrenia and close its gender gap will require attention to the improving educational opportunities. Keywords : Schizophrenia; education ; sex difference