bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Potential Role of Local Pharmacies to Assess Asthma Control: an Italian Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Caminati Marco , Cegolon Luca , Bacchini Marco , Segala Nadia , Dama Annarita , Bovo Chiara , Olivieri Bianca , Furci Fabiana , Senna Gianenrico 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background. Asthma control and monitoring still represents a challenge worldwide. Although the international guidelines suggest the interplay with primary care as an effective strategy to control the disease, community pharmacies’ are seldom involved in asthma control assessment. The present cross-sectional study aimed at providing a picture of the relationship between asthma severity and control in community pharmacies of the health district of the city of Verona (Veneto Region, North-Eastern Italy).Methods. A call for participation was launched through the Pharmacists’ Association of Verona. Patients referring to the participating pharmacies with an anti-asthmatic drug medical prescription and an asthma exemption code were asked to complete the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and a brief questionnaire collecting information on their age, sex, smoking status, aerobic physical exercise and usual asthma therapy, which also defined asthma severity. A multinomial logistic regression model was fitted to investigate the risk of uncontrolled as well as poorly controlled vs. controlled asthma (base). Results were expressed as relative risk ratios (RRR) with 95% confidence interval (95%CI).Results. 57 community pharmacies accepted to participate and 584 asthmatic patients (54% females; mean-age: 51 ± 19 years) were consecutively recruited from 1st January to 30th June 2018 (6 months). Based upon ACT score 50.5% patients had a controlled asthma, 22.3% a poorly controlled and 27.2% uncontrolled. A variable proportion of patients with uncontrolled asthma were observed for every level of severity, although more frequently with mild persistent form of asthma. Most patients (92%) reported regular compliance with therapy. At multinomial regression analysis, patients under regular asthma treatment course (RRR=0.33; 95%CI: 0.15; 0.77) were less likely to have an ACT<16 compared to those not taking medications regularly.Conclusions. Overall, our findings highlighted an unsatisfactory asthma control in the general population, independently of the severity level of the disease. Community pharmacies could be a useful frontline interface between patients and the health care services, supporting an effective asthma management plan, from disease assessment and monitoring treatment compliance to referral of patients to specialist medical consultancies.
Hemodilution is Associated with Underestimation of Serum Creatinine in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Jin Jifu , Xu Jiarui , Xu Sujuan , Hu Jiachang , Jiang Wuhua , Shen Bo , Wang Chunsheng , Teng Jie , Ding Xiaoqiang 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Fluid overload is related to the development and prognosis of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI). The study is to investigate the influence of serum creatinine (SCr) corrected by fluid balance on the prognosis of patients with cardiac surgery.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 1334 patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery from January 1 to December 31, 2015. Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria for AKI were applied to identify CSA-AKI. SCr was measured every 24 hours during ICU period and was accordingly adjusted for cumulative fluid balance. Changes in SCr, defined as ∆Crea, were determined by difference between before and after adjustment for cumulative fluid balance. All patients were then divided into three groups: underestimation group (∆Crea ≥ P75), normal group (P25 < ∆Crea < P75) and overestimation group (∆Crea ≤ P25).Results: The incidence of AKI increased from 29.5% to 31.8% after adjustment for fluid balance. Patients in underestimation group showed prolonged length of ICU stay compared with normal group and overestimation group (3.2[1.0-4.0] vs 2.1[1.0-3.0] d, P < 0.001; 3.2[1.0-4.0] vs 2.3[1.0-3.0] d, P < 0.001). Length of hospital stay and mechanical ventilation dependent days in underestimation group were significantly longer than normal group (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed age, baseline SCr and left ventricular ejection fraction were independently associated with underestimation of creatinine.Conclusions: Cumulative fluid balance after cardiac surgery disturbs accurate measurement of serum creatinine. Patients with underestimation of SCr were associated with poor prognosis.
The spectral scalings of magnetic fluctuations upstream and downstream of the Venusian bow shock
Authors: XIAO S. D. , Wu M. Y. , Wang G. Q. , Chen Y. Q. , Zhang T. L. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
We statistically investigate the spectral scalings of magnetic fluctuations at the upstream and downstream regions near the Venusian bow shock and perform a differentiation by shock geometry. Based on the Venus Express data, 115 quasi-parallel (Q∥) bow shock crossings and 303 quasi-perpendicular (Q⊥) bow shock crossings are selected. The statistical results suggest that the bow shock tends to modify the upstream spectra flatter to 1/f noise in the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) regime and steeper to turbulence in the kinetic regime after the magnetic fluctuations crossing the bow shock, and this modification for the Q∥ and Q⊥ bow shock is basically consistent. While the upstream spectral scalings are associated with the shock geometry. The changes of the spectral scalings of magnetic fluctuations near the Q∥ bow shocks are not as significant as near the Q⊥ bow shock crossings. That might result from the fluctuations generated by the backstreaming ions which can escape across the Q∥ bow shock into the foreshock. Our results suggest that the energy cascade and dissipation near Venus can be modified by the Venusian bow shock, and the Q∥ bow shock plays an important role on the energy injection and dissipation in the solar wind interaction with Venus. The large dispersion of spectral scalings indicates that this fluctuation environment is complicated, and the shock geometry is not the only key factor in the fluctuations across the Venusian bow shock. Other possible factors in the shock modification to the upstream fluctuations will be explored in future.
Development of Integration Indexes to Determine the Extent of Family Planning and Child Immunization Services Integration in Health Facilities in Urban Areas of Nigeria
Authors: Sheahan Kate L. , Orgill-Meyer Jennifer , Speizer Ilene , Curtis Sian , Paul John , Weinberger Morris , Bennett Antonia V. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Integrating family planning into child immunization services may address unmet need for contraception by offering family planning information and services to postpartum women during routine child immunization visits. However, policies and programs promoting integration are often based on insubstantial or conflicting evidence about its effects on service delivery and health outcomes. While integration models vary, many studies measure integration as binary (a facility is integrated or not) rather than a multidimensional and varying continuum. It is thus challenging to ascertain the determinants and effects of integrated service delivery. This study creates Facility and Provider Integration Indexes, which measure capacity to support integrated family planning and child immunization services and applies them to analyze the extent of integration across 400 health facilities. Methods: This study utilizes cross-sectional health facility (N= 400; 58% hospitals, 42% primary healthcare centers) and healthcare provider (N= 1,479) survey data that were collected in six urban areas of Nigeria for the impact evaluation of the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative. Principal Components Analysis was used to develop Provider and Facility Integration Indexes that estimate the extent of integration in these health facilities. The Provider Integration Index measures provider skills and practices that support integrated service delivery while the Facility Integration Index measures facility norms that support integrated service delivery. Index scores range from zero (low) to ten (high). Results: Mean Provider Integration Index score is 5.42 (SD 3.10), and mean Facility Integration Index score is 6.22 (SD 2.72). Twenty-three percent of facilities were classified as having low Provider Integration scores, 32% as medium, and 45% as high. Fourteen percent of facilities were classified as having low Facility Integration scores, 38% as medium, and 48% as high. Conclusion: Many facilities in our sample have achieved high levels of integration, while many others have not. Results suggest that measuring integration as a binary variable does not (a) reflect the true variation in integration within and across health facilities, (b) enable nuanced measurement of the determinants or effects of integration, or (c) provide tailored, actionable information about how best to improve integration. Overall, results reinforce the importance of utilizing more nuanced measures of facility-level integration.
Confocal laser endomicroscopy under propofol-based sedation for early gastric cancer and pre-cancerous lesions is associated with better diagnostic accuracy: a retrospective cohort study in China
Authors: Chu Lihua , Zhao Jialian , Sheng Cheng , Yue Min , Wang Feifei , Song Shengwen , Fang Xiangming , Cheng Baoli , Xie Guohao 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) has advantages in detecting gastric neoplastic lesions, meanwhile it requires strict patient cooperation. Sedation could improve patient cooperation and quality of endoscopy. However, sedation is still not very popular in some resource-limited countries and regions. The purpose of this study was to compare propofol-based sedated versus un-sedated CLE in the value of diagnosing early gastric cancer (EGC) and precancerous lesions.Methods: A retrospective, cohort, single center study of 226 patients who underwent CLE between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017 was performed. Patients enrolled were allocated into the propofol-based sedated group (n=126) and the un-sedated group (n=100). The comparison of validity and reliability of CLE for identifying EGC and precancerous lesions between the two groups was performed through analyzing CLE diagnosis and pathological diagnosis. Reporting followed the STROBE guidelines.Results: The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of diagnosing EGC in the sedated group was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95 to 0.99), which was higher than that in the un-sedated group (0.88 (95% CI: 0.80 to 0.97), P =0.0407). CLE with sedation performed better than without sedation in diagnosing intraepithelial neoplasia and intestinal metaplasia (P =0.0008 and P =0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: Propofol based sedation was associated with improved diagnostic value of CLE for detecting EGC as well as precancerous lesions (intraepithelial neoplasia OR intestinal metaplasia).
Genomic Context of the Two Integrons of ST-111 Pseudomonas aeruginosa AG1: A VIM-2-carrying Old-acquaintance and a Novel Imp-18-carrying Integron
Authors: Molina-Mora Jose Arturo , Chinchilla-Montero Diana , Batán Raquel García , García Fernando 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunist and versatile organism responsible for infections mainly in immunocompromised hosts. This pathogen has high intrinsic resistance to most antimicrobials. P. aeruginosa AG1 (PaeAG1) is a Costa Rican high-risk ST-111 strain with resistance to multiple antibiotics, including carbapenems, due to the activity of VIM-2 and IMP-18 metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs). These genes are harbored in two class 1 integrons located inone out of the 57 PaeAG1 genomic islands. However, the genomic context associated to these determinants in PaeAG1 and other P. aeruginosa strains is unclear. Thus, we first assessed the transcriptional activity of VIM-2 and IMP-18 genes when exposed to imipenem (a carbapenem) by RT-qPCR. To select related genomes to PaeAG1, we implemented a pan-genome analysis to define and up-date the phylogenetic relationship among complete P. aeruginosa genomes. We also studied the PaeAG1 genomic islands content in the related strains and finally we described the architecture and possible evolutionary steps of the genomic regions around the VIM-2- and IMP-18-carrying integrons.Expression of VIM-2 and IMP-18 genes was demonstrated to be induced after imipenem exposure. In a subsequent comparative genomics analysis with 211 strains, the P. aeruginosa pan-genome revealed that complete genome sequences are able to separate clones by MLST profile, including a clear ST-111 cluster with PaeAG1. The PaeAG1 genomic islands were found to define a diverse presence/absence pattern among related genomes. Finally, landscape reconstruction of genomic regions showed that VIM-2-carrying integron (In59-like) is an old-acquaintance element harbored in the same known region found in other two ST-111 strains. Also, PaeAG1 has an exclusive genomic region containing a novel IMP-18-carrying integron (registered as In1666), with an arrangement never reported before. Altogether, we provide new insights about the genomic determinants associated with the resistance to carbapenems in this high-risk P. aeruginosa using comparative genomics.
Effect of a nurse-led lifestyle choice and coaching intervention on systolic blood pressure among Type 2 diabetic patients with a high atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk: study protocol for a cluster randomized trial
Authors: Lumu William , Kibirige Davis , Wesonga Ronald , Bahendeka Silver 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background:More than 50% of patients with type 2 diabetes have hypertension in Uganda. Diabetic patients with elevated systolic blood pressure experience higher all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events compared with normotensive diabetic individuals hence escalating resource utilization and cost of care.The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a nurse-led lifestyle choice and coaching intervention on systolic blood pressure among type 2 diabetic patients with a high atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk.Methods:This is a cluster-randomized study comprising of two arms (intervention and non-intervention – control arm) with four clusters per arm with 388 diabetic patients with a high predicted 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk. The study will be implemented in 8 health facilities in Uganda. The intervention arm will employ a nurse-led lifestyle choice and coaching intervention. Within the intervention, nurses will be trained to provide structured health education, protocol-based hypertension management and general atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk factor management, 24-hour phone calls, and 2-monthly text messaging. The control group will be constituted by the usual care. The primary outcome measure is the mean difference in systolic blood pressure between the intervention and usual care groups after 6 months. The study is designed to have an 80% statistical power to detect an 8.5mmhg mean reduction in systolic blood pressure from baseline to 6 months.The unit of analysis for the primary outcome is the individual participants. To monitor the effect of within-cluster correlation, generalized estimating equations will be used to assess changes over time in systolic blood pressure as a continuous variable.DiscussionThe data generated from this trial will inform change in policy of shifting task of screening of hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease from doctors to nursesTrial registration: Pan African Trials Registry; PACTR 202001916873358. Registered on 6th October 2019.
The effects of BMMSC treatment on Lung tissue degeneration in elderly macaques
Authors: Yang Yukun , Li Ye , Wang Yanying , Ruan Guangping , Tian Chuan , Wang Qiang , He Huanyu , Zhu Gaohong , Fang Dong , Wang Mao , ZHU Xiangqing , Pan Xinghua 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Age-associated lung tissue degeneration is a risk factor for lung injury and exacerbated lung disease. It is also the main risk factor for chronic lung diseases (such as COPD, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cancer, among others).So, it is particularly important to find new anti-aging treatments.Methods: We systematically screened and evaluated elderly senile multiple organ dysfunction macaque models to determine whether BMMSCs inhibited lung tissue degeneration.Results: The average alveolar area, Mean linear intercept（MLI）and fibrosis area in the elderly macaque models were significantly larger than in young rhesus monkeys (p <0.05), while the capillary density around the alveoli was significantly low than in young macaque models (p<0.05). Intravenous infusion of BMMSCs reduced the degree of pulmonary fibrosis, increased the density of capillaries around the alveoli (p <0.05), and the number of type Ⅱ alveolar epithelium in elderly macaques (p <0.05). In addition, the infusion reduced lung tissue ROS levels, systemic and lung tissue inflammatory levels and Treg cell ratio in elderly macaque models（p<0.05）. Indirect co-cultivation revealed that BMMSCs suppressed the expression of senescence-associated genes, ROS levels, apoptosis rate of aging type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells (A549 cells) and enhanced their proliferation (p<0.05).Conclusions: BMMSC treatment inhibited age-associated lung tissue degeneration.
Unveiling the transcriptomic complexity of Miscanthus sinensis using a combination of PacBio long read- and Illumina short read sequencing platforms
Authors: Wang Yongli , Li Xia , Wang Congsheng , Gao Lu , Wu Yanfang , Ni Xingnan , Sun Jianzhong , Jiang Jianxiong 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Miscanthus sinensis Andersson is a perennial grass that exhibits remarkable lignocellulose characteristics suitable for sustainable bioenergy production. However, knowledge of the genetic resources of this species is relatively limited, which considerably hampers further work on its biology and genetic improvement.Results: In this study, through analyzing the transcriptome of mixed samples of leaves and stems using the latest PacBio Iso-Seq sequencing technology combined with Illumina HiSeq, we report the first full-length transcriptome dataset of M. sinensis with a total of 58.21 Gb clean data. An average of 15.75 Gb clean reads of each sample were obtained from the PacBio Iso-Seq system, which doubled the data size (6.68 Gb) obtained from the Illumina HiSeq platform. The integrated analyses of PacBio- and Illumina-based transcriptomic data uncovered 408,801 non-redundant transcripts with an average length of 1,685 bp. Of those, 189,406 transcripts were commonly identified by both methods, 169,149 transcripts with an average length of 619 bp were uniquely identified by Illumina HiSeq, and 51,246 transcripts with an average length of 2,535 bp were uniquely identified by PacBio Iso-Seq. When comparing our data with genomes of four species of Andropogoneae, M. sinensis showed the closest relationship with sugarcane with up to 93% mapping ratios, followed by sorghum with up to 80% mapping ratios, indicating a high conservation of orthologs in these three genomes. Furthermore, 306,228 transcripts were successfully annotated against public databases including cell wall related genes and transcript factor families, thus providing many new insights into gene functions. The PacBio Iso-Seq data also helped identify 3,898 alternative splicing events and 2,963 annotated AS isoforms within 10 function categories.Conclusions: Taken together, the present study provides a rich data set of full-length transcripts that greatly enriches our understanding of M. sinensis transcriptomic resources, thus facilitating further genetic improvement and molecular studies of the Miscanthus species.
Administration of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Lin Wenshan , Li Hong-Yan , Yang Qian , Chen Guangyong , Lin Shujun , Liao Chunling , Zhou Tianbiao 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy shows great promise for diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients. Research has been carried out on this topic in recent years. The main goal of this paper is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of MSCs on DKD through a meta-analysis and address the mechanism through a systematic review of the literature. Method: An electronic search of the Embase, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science, PubMed and U.S National Library of Medicine (NLM) databases was performed for all articles about MSC therapy for DKD, without species limitations, up to January 2020. Data were pooled for analysis with Stata SE 12. Result: The MSC-treated group showed a large and statistically significant hypoglycemic effect at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 6 months. Total hypoglycemic effect was observed (SMD=-1.954, 95%CI: -2.389 to -1.519, p＜0.001; I²= 85.1%). The overall effects on serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were analyzed, suggesting that MSC decreased SCr and BUN and mitigated the impairment of renal function (SCr: SMD= -4.838, 95%CI: -6.789 to -2.887, p＜0.001; I²= 90.8%; BUN: SMD= -4.912, 95%CI: -6.402 to -3.422, p＜0.001; I²= 89.3 %). Furthermore, MSC therapy decreased the excretion of urinary albumin. Fibrosis indicators were assessed, and the results showed that transforming growth factor-β, collagen-I, fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin were significantly decreased in the MSC-treated group compared to the control group. Conclusion: MSCs might improve glycemic control and reduce SCr, BUN, and urinary protein. MSCs can also alleviate renal fibrosis. MSC therapy might be a potential treatment for DKD.
MODERN APPROACHES TO TREATMENT OF CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA
Authors: Danilenko A. A. , Shakhtarina S. V. , Falaleeva N. A. 
Published: December 2020

Purpose of the study: to systematize published data on the effectiveness of drugs used to treat patientswith chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Material and Methods. A literature search was conducted using Medline, Pubmed databases. 93 publications were selected to write this review.Results. General information about chronic lymphocytic leukemia (biological features, criteria for establishing diagnosis, staging, criteria for evaluating antitumor therapy response) was presented. The focus was made on antitumor drugs used as monotherapy and in combination with other anti-cancer agents. The use of drugs belonging to the classes of cytostatics, monoclonal antibodies, as well as drugs that affect the signaling pathways of the B-cell receptor, BCL -2 inhibitors, immunomodulators was discussed. The gold standard for first-line therapy remains the RFC scheme. With a positive Coombs test, bendamustine is an equivalent alternative to the FC regimen. The use of chlorambucil is limited in situations in which the goal of therapy is the palliative treatment of older people with serious comorbidity. In subsequent lines of therapy, molecular action drugs are beginning to take an increasingly important place.Conclusion. During the past twenty years, significant advances have been made in understanding biological features of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the synthesis of several dozen new therapeutic drugs of targeted action, some of which are already undergoing clinical testing. These drugs may lead to serious complications. The review is devoted to new drugs, the efficacy and safety of which has already been tested in a clinical setting.