bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic factors affecting the short-term efficacy of non-surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis: a multilevel modelling analysis
Authors: Liu Hui-Jie , Wang Bo , Wang Ao-Chen , Zhang Dan-Hong , Mao Cui , Li Qiu-Hong 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Objective This current study is aimed to analyze the prognostic factors affecting the short-term efficacy of non-surgical treatment of patients in periodontitis from stage II to stage IV by the multilevel modelling analysis. Materials and Methods A total of 58 patients of chronic periodontitis were included in this study. Patients were clinically explored before and 3 months after the treatment, with the data of Δ probing depth (PD) [Δ PD = baseline PD – finial probing depth (FPD)] as the outcome variables. All the data were divided into site level, tooth level and patient level to construct a multi-layer linear model. Results Compared with the mesial sites and distal sites of the multi-rooted teeth, the number of PD ≥ 5mm or PD < 5mm after the treatment was significantly different ( P < 0.05), and the proportion of PD < 5mm was higher in mesial sites. The null model showed that Δ PD varied greatly between groups at various levels ( P <0.001), with prediction variable of site level, tooth level, and patient level accounted for 66%, 18%, and 16% of the overall difference, respectively. The complete model showed that the Δ PD of smokers was significantly lower than that of non-smokers ( P < 0.001). The Δ PD of the mesial and distal sites was larger than that of the buccolingual central site ( P < 0.001). The Δ PD of single-rooted teeth was larger than that of multi-rooted teeth ( P < 0.001). The baseline PD, tooth mobility (TM), bleeding index (BI), clinical attachment loss (CAL) were significantly negatively correlated with Δ PD ( P < 0.001). Conclusions Patients with periodontitis from stage II to stage IV, who are non-smoking, have good compliance, good awareness of oral health, and low percentage sites with PD ≥ 5mm at baseline, single rooted teeth with hypomobility, less CAL and lower BI and sites of mesial or distal can obtain an ideal short-term efficacy of non-surgical treatment.
Are registered nurses ready to take care at the end-of-life: crossectional survey
Authors: Blazeviciene Aurelija , Laurs Lina , Newland Jamesetta A 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: End-of-life care is provided in a variety of healthcare settings, not just palliative care hospitals. This is one reason it is very important to assess all the obstacles to end-of-life care and to provide safe and quality services to patients. The main purpose of this study was to examine attitudes faced by registered nurses in providing end-of-life care and to explore obstacles and supportive behaviors for nurses. Methods: A descriptive, correlational design was applied in this study. Cross‐sectional survey of 1320 registered nurses within 7 hospitals in Lithuania. Results: Registered nurses working in the three different profiles emphasized safe and effective care andthe importance of meeting the patient's spiritual needs at the end of life. The main obstacles assigned by nurses caring for patients at the end of life were angry family membersthe inadequate understanding of nursing care by the patient's relatives; family members' inadequate knowledge about the situation and lack of time to talk to patients about their wishes, lack of nursing knowledge to deal with the bereaved patient's family, lack of evaluation of nurses' opinions, and the evasion by physicians to talk about the diagnosis and their over-optimistic view of the situation. Conclusions: Spiritual needs were identified by nurses as the primary needs of patients at the end of life. Family-related obstacles remain one of the main obstacles to end-of-life care. Also, the behavior of physicians and their relationship with nurses remains one of the most sensitive issues in end-of-life care.
Comparing the Efficacy of Syngeneic Iliac and Femoral Allografts with Iliac Crest Autograft in a Rat Model of Lumbar Spinal Fusion
Authors: Holmes Christina , Elder Benjamin D. , Ishida Wataru , Pantoja Alexander Perdomo , Locke John , Cottrill Ethan , Lo Sheng-Fu L. , Witham Timothy F. 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: Despite widespread use of femoral-sourced allografts in clinical spinal fusion procedures and the increasing interest in using femoral reamer–irrigator–aspirator (RIA) autograft in clinical bone grafting, few studies have examined the efficacy of femoral grafts compared to iliac crest grafts in spinal fusion. The objective of this study was to directly compare the use of autologous iliac crest with syngeneic femoral and iliac allograft bone in the rat model of lumbar spinal fusion.Methods: Single-level bilateral posterolateral intertransverse process lumbar spinal fusion surgery was performed on Lewis rats divided into three experimental groups: iliac crest autograft; syngeneic iliac crest allograft; and syngeneic femoral allograft bone. Eight weeks postoperatively, fusion was evaluated via microCT analysis, manual palpation and histology. In vitro analysis of the colony-forming and osteogenic capacity of bone marrow cells derived from rat femurs and hips was also performed to determine whether there was a correlation with the fusion efficacy of these graft sources.Results: Although no differences were observed between groups in CT fusion rates or fusion mass volumes, iliac allografts displayed a higher rate of bilateral fusion via manual palpation. Histologically, hip-derived grafts showed better integration with host bone than femur derived ones, likely associated with the higher concentration of osteogenic progenitor cells observed in hip-derived bone marrow.Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using syngeneic allograft bone in place of autograft bone within inbred rat fusion models and highlights the need for further study of femoral-derived grafts in fusion.
Comparative chromosomal localization of 45S and 5S rDNAs in 76 purple-fleshed sweet potato cultivars
Authors: Su Dan , Chen Lei , Sun Jianying , Zhang Luyue , Gao Runfei , Li Qiang , Han Yonghua , Li Zongyun 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: In recent years, purple-fleshed sweet potato has been paid more and more attention because of its high nutritional value. However, the current studies on purple-fleshed sweet potato were still focused on the research and production of the related products. The research on its cytogenetics is relatively lagging behind, which cannot satisfy the study of genetic diversity of purple-fleshed sweet potato. Therefore, we carried out cytogenetic analysis on 76 purple-fleshed sweet potato cultivars, aim to analyze the chromosome structure and distribution of 45S rDNA and 5S rDNA in 76 purple-fleshed sweet potato cultivars.Results: We have found that only 62 purple-fleshed sweet potato cultivars with 90 chromosomes, and the others were aneuploid with 88, 89, 91, 92 chromosomes. The number of 45S rDNA in 76 purple-fleshed sweet potato cultivars varies from 16 to 21, with different signal sizes and intendities, and localized at the terminal or satellite of chromosomes. The number of 5S rDNA were relatively stable, 74 of the varieties investigated contained 6 sites, located at the terminal of chromosomes and near centromere. Only the Quanzishu 96 has 7 5S rDNA sites, and Yuzixiang 10 has 5 5S rDNA sites. In addition, rDNA analysis was also performed on two parents of Quanzishu 96. Both the two parents had 18 45S rDNA sites and 6 5S rDNA sites, which were different from the results of Quanzishu 96.Conclusions: For hexaploid sweet potato cultivars, there is genetic instability between purple-fleshed sweet potato cultivars. The 45S rDNA sites showed numerical variation, whereas conserved number of 5S rDNA sites were observed.
The affordability of a healthy and sustainable diet: An Australian case study.
Authors: Goulding Tara , Lindberg Rebecca , Russell Catherine Georgina 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS : EAT– Lancet Commission’s Planetary Health Diet proposed a diet that integrates nutrition and sustainability considerations, however its affordability is unknown in many country-specific contexts, including Australia. The aim of this study is to develop a healthy and sustainable food basket modelled on the Planetary Health Diet to determine the affordability of the Planetary Health Diet basket across various socio-economic groups, and compare this affordability with a food basket modelled on the typical current diet, in an Australian setting.METHODS : An Australian-specific Planetary Health Diet basket was developed for a reference household (2 adults and 2 children) modelled on the Planetary Health Diet reference diet, and compared to a previously-developed Typical Australian Diet basket. The cost of each food basket was determined by online supermarket shopping surveys in low, medium and high socio-economic areas in each Australian state. Basket affordability was determined for the reference household by comparing the basket cost to disposable income in each socio-economic group in each state. Mann-Whitney U tests then determined if there were significant differences between the median costs and the median affordability of both baskets.RESULTS : The Planetary Health Diet basket was shown to be less expensive and more affordable than the Typical Australian Diet basket nationally, in all metropolitan areas, in all socio-economic groups across Australia (median cost: Planetary Health Diet=AUD$188.21, Typical Australian Diet=AUD$224.36; median affordability: Planetary Health Diet=13%, Typical Australian Diet=16%; p =<0.05).CONCLUSIONS : This study showed the Planetary Health Diet to be more affordable than the Typical Australian Diet for metropolitan-dwelling Australians.IMPLICATIONS : These results can help to inform public health and food policy aimed at achieving a healthy and sustainable future for all Australians, including reductions in overweight/obesity rates and increased food security.
Identification of saquinavir as a potent inhibitor of dimeric SARS-CoV2 main protease through MM/GBSA
Authors: Martiniano Bello , Alberto Martínez-Muñoz , Irving Balbuena-Rebolledo 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Among targets selected for studies aimed to identify potential inhibitors against COVID-19, SARS-CoV2 main proteinase (Mpro) is highlighted. Mpro is indispensable for virus replication, and is a promising target of potential inhibitors of COVID-19. Recently, monomeric SARS-CoV2 Mpro, drug repurposing and docking methods have facilitated the identification of several potential inhibitors. Results were refined through the assessment of dimeric SARS-CoV2 Mpro, which represents the functional state of enzyme. Docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with molecular mechanics/generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA) studies indicated that dimeric Mpro most significantly impacts binding affinity tendency compared with the monomeric state, which suggesting that dimeric state is most useful when performing studies aimed to identify drugs targeting Mpro. In this study, we extend previous research by performing docking and MD simulation studies coupled with an MM/GBSA approach to assess binding of dimeric SARS-CoV2 Mpro to 12 FDA-approved drugs (darunavir, indinavir, saquinavir, tipranavir, diosmin, hesperidin, rutin, raltegravir, velpatasvir, ledipasvir, rosuvastatin and bortezomib), which were identified as the best candidates for treatment of COVID-19 in some previous dockings studies involving monomeric SARS-CoV2 Mpro. This analysis identified saquinavir as a potent inhibitor of dimeric SARS-CoV2 Mpro, therefore, the compound may have clinical utility against COVID-19.
The Rises of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) death rate in Japan with high PM2.5
Authors: Nawahda Amin 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Currently vulnerable age groups in most countries are affected by the respiratory -coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Long-term-exposure to high levels of PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5μm) is also associated positively with repository deaths. The aim of this study is to find if high PM2.5 levels affect COVID-19 caused deaths in Japan. COVID-19 caused death and tested positive cases in all prefectures during the study period from Feb. 18 up to Apr. 16, 2020 are analyzed. PM2.5 caused deaths from 2010 to 2017 are calculated based on PM2.5-relative risk (RR) of 1.04 (95% CI: 1.01 – 1.08) from the World Health Organization-Air Quality Guidelines (WHO–AQG). The findings of this study show that old people who are living in prefectures with high levels of PM2.5 are the most vulnerable to COVID-19. The estimated death cases from 2010 to 2017 are about 115,532 (95% CI: 28,883 - 231,064) cases. Thus; policy decision makers could consider PM2.5 data to support their efforts not only to minimize the spread of COVID-19, but also to improve air quality.
Metabolic engineering of phosphite metabolism in Synechococcus elongatus as an effective measure to control biological contaminants in outdoor raceway ponds
Authors: González-Morales Sandra Isabel , Pacheco-Gutiérrez Navid , Rodríguez-Sierra Carlos A. , Brito-Bello Alethia A. , Estrella-Hernández Priscila , Herrera-Estrella Luis , ARREDONDO DAMAR LOPEZ 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background The use of cyanobacteria and microalgae as cell factories to produce biofuels and added-value bioproducts has received great attention during the last two decades. Important investment has been made by public and private sectors to develop this field. However, it has been a challenge to develop a viable and cost-effective platform for cultivation of cyanobacteria and microalgae under outdoor conditions. Dealing with contamination caused by bacteria, weedy algae/cyanobacteria and other organisms is a major constraint to establish effective cultivation processes.Results Here we describe the implementation in the cyanobacteria Synechococcus elongatus of a phosphorus selective nutrition system to control biological contamination during cultivation. The system is based on the metabolic engineering of S. elongatus to metabolize phosphite, a phosphorus source normally not metabolized by most organisms, by expressing a bacterial phosphite oxidoreductase (PTXD). Conversion of phosphite into phosphate supports normal growth of S. elongatus. The engineered S. elongatus expressing PTXD grows on media supplemented with phosphite at a similar rate as the non-transformed control supplemented with phosphate. We show that when grown in media containing phosphite as sole phosphorus source in glass flasks, the engineered strain was able to grow and outcompete biological contaminants even when the system was intentionally inoculated with natural competitors isolated from an irrigation canal. We also show that the PTXD/phosphite system can be successfully used for outdoor cultivation of engineered S. elongatus in 100 L cylindrical reactors and 1,000 L raceway ponds, under non-axenic conditions and without the need of sterilizing containers or media and the implementation of any other chemical agent or additional measure to control contamination.Conclusions Our results suggest that the PTXD/phosphite system is a stable and a sufficiently robust strategy to control biological contaminants without the need of sterilizing and other complex aseptic procedures. Our data shows that the PTXD/phosphite system allows the production of cyanobacteria in non-sterile outdoor reactors at lower cost, which in principle should be applicable to other cyanobacteria and microalgae engineered to metabolize phosphite.
Identifying the know-do gap in evidence-based neonatal care practices among informal health care providers—A cross-sectional study from Ujjain, India
Authors: Mungai Isaac Gikandi , Baghel Sumit Singh , Soni Suchi , Vagela Shailja , Sharma Megha , Diwan Vishal , Tamhankar Ashok J. , Lundborg Cecilia Stålsby , Pathak Ashish 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background
More than a quarter of global neonatal deaths are reported from India, and a large proportion of these deaths are preventable. However, in the absence of robust public health care systems in several states in India, informal health care providers (IHCPs) with no formal medical education are the first contact service providers. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of IHCPs in basic evidence-based practices in neonatal care in Ujjain district and investigated factors associated with differences in levels of knowledge.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a questionnaire with multiple-choice questions covering the basic elements of neonatal care. The collective score per question among the respondents was calculated. The score achieved by each respondent was calculated, grouped into either “fair” or “low”, and then checked for association with the practitioners’ age and years of experience, number of patients examined per day, and whether they attended children in their practice.
Results
Of the 945 IHCPs approached, 830 (88%) participated in the study. Of the potential 39,840 points, only an average of 18,483 (46%) were achieved, indicating a knowledge gap. Although these providers could identify key tenets of enhancing survival chances of neonates, they scored low on the specifics of cord care, breastfeeding, vitamin K use to prevent neonatal hemorrhage, and identification and care of low-birth-weight babies. The practitioners particularly lacked knowledge about neonatal resuscitation, and only a small proportion reported following up on immunizations in children they attended. Fair knowledge of IHCPs was significantly associated with attending more than 10 but less than 50 patients per day and of being aged between 35 and 45 years. Offering pediatric consultations was not significantly associated with achieving a fair score.
Conclusions
The present study highlighted that know-do gap exists in evidence-based practices for all key areas of neonatal care tested among the IHCPs. The study provides the evidence that educational interventions targeting IHCPs can improve neonatal care services and is an innovative way to reach a large rural population in the study setting.
The economic impact and health-related quality of life of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: An analysis across Europe.
Authors: Longobardo Luz María Peña , Aranda-Reneo Isaac , Oliva-Moreno Juan , Litzkendorf Svenja , Durand-Zaleski Isabelle , Tizzano Eduardo F. , López-Bastida Julio 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background this study aimed to estimate the economic impact and health related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in three European countries. For this purpose, it was a cross-sectional study carried out in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Data were collected from July 2015 to November 2015. Healthcare costs (hospitalizations, emergencies, medical tests, drugs consumption, visits to GPs and specialists, health material and healthcare transport) and non-healthcare costs (social services and informal care) were identified and valued. EuroQol instruments, the Zarit interview and the Barthel Index were also used to reflect the burden and the social impact of the disease beyond the healthcare cost.Results we included 86 children with SMA, 26.7% of them Type I and 73.3% Type II or III. The annually average cost associated with SMA reaches at 54,295 € in the UK, 32,042 € in France and 51,983 € in Germany. The direct non-healthcare costs ranged between 79%-86% of the total cost and the informal care costs were the main determinant of these costs. Additionally, people suffering from this disease have a very low health related quality of life, showing large differences between countries.Conclusions SMA represents a considerably high socioeconomic impact both in terms of healthcare and social costs. It was also observed exceptional reduced HRQOL of children affected. The figures shown in this study may help to design more efficient and equitable policies, with special emphasis on the support provided to the families or non-healthcare aids.
Malaria Prevalence and Knowledge, Attitude and Practice about Malaria among Febrile Patients Attending Chagni Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Belay Bogale , Gelana Tegenu , Gebresilassie Araya 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: Ethiopia has achieved remarkable progresses in the prevention and control of malaria in the past decades, yet it is a formidable health concern and socio-economic impediment. This study aimed at assessing the magnitude and knowledge, attitudes and practices towards malaria among febrile patients attending Chagni health center, northwest Ethiopia. Methods: In the health facility based cross-sectional study, patients attending health center with suspicion of malaria symptoms and signs, were enlisted. To determine the magnitude of malaria, finger prick blood samples were collected from malaria suspected patients visiting health center between September 2017 and February 2018. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was also applied to assess KAP of suspected malaria patients attending the health center. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Prevalence of malaria among febrile patients attending at the sampled health facility was 7.3%. Of these, Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, and mixed infection accounted for 55, 44.3 and 0.7% of the cases, respectively. This study also revealed that 97% of the respondents had ever heard about malaria and recognized it as a serious health problem. Mosquito bite was identified as the main malaria transmission. Taking drug (86.3%), use of mosquito nets (73.3%), drain stagnated water (68%), and house spay with insecticides (66%) were mentioned as the main malaria prevention methods. Mosquito net coverage and its utilization in the previous night were 98% and 75%, respectively. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) coverage was 99%, of which 77.5% of houses of participants were get sprayed in the last six months. Conclusions: The current study revealed that prevalence of malaria among febrile illnesses in the study area was relatively low (7.3%) with a high proportion of P. falciparum. Besides, participants had adequate knowledge, encouraging attitudes, and good practices about prevention and control of malaria. However, some misconceptions on malaria disease, its transmission, and prevention have been noted that actually require due attention by the concerned stakeholders. We believe that findings of this study would make inroads into the implementation effective malaria interventions in the area and beyond focusing on enhancing community awareness and scaling up coverage of evidence-based interventions.