bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Change of Circulating Tumor Cells During Chemoradiation Therapy and Its Correlation with Prognosis in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Liu Jun , Liu Yongping , Gu Cheng , Zhang Lei , Lu Xujing 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: This study aimed to investigate the association of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) change during chemoradiation with the treatment response and survival profiles in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.Methods: 58 advanced NSCLC patients underwent concurrent chemoradiation were enrolled, then their peripheral blood samples were collected pre-chemoradiation and at 1 months post-chemoradiation to assess the CTCs using a CTC-Biopsy system. Moreover, CTCs were classified as CTCs positive and CTCs negative according to CTCs’ count, and CTCs’ change was calculated. Additionally, response of chemoradiation was evaluated at 1 months post-chemoradiation, then progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Results: Pre-chemoradiation CTCs positive was associated with increased TNM stage, but not correlated with other clinicopathologic characteristics. After chemoradiation, the CTCs’ number (1.0 (0.0-3.0) vs. 4.0 (2.0-10.0)) and the percentage of CTCs positive cases (37.9% vs. 77.6%) were both decreased compared with those prior to chemoradiation. Regarding treatment response, pre-chemoradiation CTCs positive was associated with lower partial response; post-chemoradiation CTCs positive was associated with reduced disease control rate; while CTCs’ change during chemoradiation was not associated with treatment response. Kaplan–Meier curves showed that post-chemoradiation CTCs positive and increased CTCs’ number during chemoradiation were associated with reduced PFS, then multivariate Cox’s regression analysis disclosed that they independently predicted decreased PFS. However, no correlation of CTCs status or CTCs’ change with OS was observed. Conclusions: Longitudinal monitoring of CTCs may provide important reflection for the prognosis in chemoradiation treated advanced NSCLC patients.
Characterizing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Stock Indices through Comparative Analysis
Authors: Balilla Jeffhraim 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
This paper shows the impact of COVID-19 on the global stock indices through the use of comparative analysis. Stock indices are presented by regions (Africa, Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania) and national stock indices are compared based on historical data. A 2:4 month ratio is used as a “window” for observing the changes in the movement of the price of indices from November – December 2019 and January – May 2020 respectively. COVID-19 infection count, recovery rate, and death rate are identified in each country from the first case recorded up to May 20, 2020. Based on analysis it appeared that there is no sufficient evidence to conclude that the changes in the value of indices is affected by the COVID-19 infection count (p-value = 0.9129). In Africa, only INDZI (Zimbabwe) showed a positive change of price in percentage points (1.39%) for January to May 2020 with 51 confirmed COVID-19 cases. In Asia, only SZSE (China) showed a positive mean change of price in percentage points (0.07%) in the same period with 82,971 confirmed cases. Similarly, in Europe, only OMXC20 (Denmark) showed the same with (0.09%) with 11,182 confirmed cases. In the Americas, NYSE Arca (US), Nasdaq100 (US), and MERVAL (Argentina) showed a positive mean change in price in percentage points (0.31%, 0.20%, and 0.89%) with 1,620,902 and 9,918 confirmed cases respectively. On the other hand, in Oceania, both NZX 50 (New Zealand) and S&P/ASX20 (Australia) showed a negative mean change in prices (-0.03 & -0.15) respectively. In general Asian and European indices suffered a 0.28% decrease in the mean change in daily prices as compared during November to December 2019. African indices on average stood to be the least affected with 0.11% mean change in daily prices as compared to -0.02% from November to December 2019.
A Novel Biomarker TLCD1 Correlates With Prognosis and Immune Infiltrates in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Shen Hanyu , Huang Ailong , Zhu Dandan , Zhang Jiali , Ren Shiqi , Duan Lian , Sun Pingping , Wang Ziheng , Duan Yinong 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: The HCC has seen a spike in the morbidity and the mortality rate in recent times. This calls for an urgent understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of the HCC and to speed up the quest for the search of the target molecules to ensure quick diagnosis and prognosis subsequently. TLCD1 is a gene only reported in membrane fluidity. The variations in the TLCD1 expression levels related to the infiltration of the immune cells in HCC and the prognosis shall be examined initially.Methods: The data received from TCGA shall provide the details of the gene expression, clinicopathology analysis and TME estimate, along with the enrichment analysis. Moreover, we performed additional analysis of the bioinformatics available. The immune responses of TLCD1 expression in HCC were analyzed using CIBERSORT and TIMER, while the statistical analysis was handled through R. HPA was used to validate the outcomes.Results: Higher TLCD1 expression is strongly correlated with a poor prognostic and worse overall survival. Specifically, the increase in TLCD1 expression positively correlated with Tregs cells and T cells CD4 memory resting. The pathways strongly associated with TLCD1 was fatty acid metabolism and PPAR signaling pathway.Conclusions: From the outcome of the study, it could be surmised that TLCD1 could be considered as a potential target for future treatment of HCC, as it was observed to be associated with the tumor-infiltrating immune cells in tumor microenvironment, establishing itself as a novel potential prognostic biomarker in HCC.
Impact of Sugarcane Irrigation on Malaria Vector Anopheles Mosquito Fauna, Abundance and Seasonality in Arjo-Didessa, Ethiopia
Authors: Shifera Assalif Demissew , Hawaria Dawit , Kibret Solomon , Animut Abebe , Tsegaye Arega , Lee Ming-Cheih , Yan Guiyun , Yewhalaw Delenasaw 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Although irrigation activities are increasing in Ethiopia, limited studies evaluated their impact on malaria vector mosquito composition, abundance and seasonality. This study aimed at evaluating the impact of sugarcane irrigation on species composition, abundance and seasonality of malaria vectors. Methods: Adult Anopheles mosquitoes were collected using CDC light traps from three irrigated and three non-irrigated clusters in and around Arjo-Didessa sugarcane irrigation scheme in southwestern Ethiopia. Mosquito collections were conducted in four seasons: two wet and two dry, in 2018 and 2019. Mosquito species composition, abundance and seasonality were compared between irrigated and non-irrigated clusters. Anopheles mosquitoes were identified to species using morphological keys and An. gambiae s.l to sibling species using PCR. Chi-square was used to analyze the association between Anopheles species occurrence and environmental and seasonal parameters. Results: Overall, 2,108 female Anopheles mosquitoes comprising of six species were collected. Of these, 92.7% (n=1954) were from irrigated clusters and 7.3% (n=154) from the non-irrigated. An. gambiae s.l was the most abundant (67.3%) followed by An. coustani complex (25.3 %) and An. pharoensis (5.7%). PCR based identification revealed that 74.7% (n=168) of the An. gambiae s.l were An. arabiensis and 22.7% (n=51) An. amharicus. Density of An. gambiae s.l. (both indoor and outdoor) was higher in irrigated than non-irrigated clusters. The overall anopheline mosquito abundance during the wet seasons (87.2%; n=1837) was higher than the dry seasons (12.8%; n=271). Conclusion: The ongoing sugarcane irrigation activities in Arjo-Didessa created conditions suitable for increased malaria transmitting Anopheles species diversity and abundance. This in turn could drive malaria transmission in Arjo-Didessa and its environs in both dry and wet seasons. Thus, currently practiced malaria vector interventions need to be strengthened and consider larval source management to reduce vector abundance in the irrigated areas.
Prognosis analysis of patients with resectable T4 colorectal cancer
Authors: Chen Wei , Ye Jun-Wen , Tan Xiao-ping , Zhang Yan , Liang Jing-Lin , Huang Meijin 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Objective: To observe the factors related to survival and prognosis of patients with resectable stage T4 colorectal cancer. Methods : 148 patients with resectable stage T4 colorectal cancer who underwent surgery in the first Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between August, 1994 and December, 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses of associations between clinicopathological variables and survival were analyzed using the Cox regression model. Results: At the end of December of 2010 or death, the 5-year and 10 years OS rates were 49.0% and 32.2% respectively, the median OS was 25 months. The disease free survival rates (DFS) at 5 and 10 years were 44.2% and 30.3% respectively. In univariate analysis, patients with postoperative pathology lymph node metastasis was associated with the prognosis of patients with OS (all P< 0.01), postoperative adjuvant therapy failed to improve OS and DFS (P>0.05). Postoperative pathology lymph node metastasis was associated with DFS too (all P< 0.01). In multivariate analysis, postoperative pathology lymph node metastasis was independent factor affected OS and DFS in colorectal cancer patients. Conclusion: Postoperative prognosis of T4 colorectal cancer patients is poor, postoperative pathology lymph node positive was an independent factor affect OS and DFS.
Pulmonary Adverse Event Data in Hypertension with Implications on COVID-19 Morbidity
Authors: Stafford Emma G. , Riviere Jim , Xu Xuan , Gedara Nuwan Indika Millagaha , Kawakami Jessica , Wyckoff Gerald J. , Jaberi-Douraki Majid 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Hypertension is a recognized comorbidity for COVID-19. The contribution of medications to COVID-19 morbidity in hypertensive patients is unknown; however, ACE2, responsible for SARS-CoV-2 cell entry, is upregulated in patients taking ACEI and ARB antihypertensive drugs. Here, we evaluated prevalence of pulmonary adverse drug events (ADEs) in hypertensive patients receiving ACEIs/ARBs to help elucidate how these medications may affect clinical outcomes in acute respiratory illnesses. ADEs reported to the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System for hypertensive patients taking ACEI or ARB drugs show a cluster of pulmonary symptoms potentially exacerbating symptoms in COVID-19 patients. We found that retrospective analysis of 13 predominant pulmonary ADEs showed significant differences in ADEs associated with Quinapril and Trandolapril, compared to all other ACEIs and all ARBs. This study suggests that specific members of the ACEI hypertensive class (Quinapril and Trandolapril) have a cluster of pulmonary ADEs which could impact the management of COVID-19 patients.
Incidence, Severity, and Burden of Ankle Sprain in Male Collegiate Rugby Union
Authors: Ogaki Ryo , Nariai Miki , Otake Gento , Ogura Ayane , Murakami Taiki , Takemura Masahiro 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Rugby is a high risk of injury to the ankle, but epidemiological data on ankle injury is limited to specific competition levels and generations. This study aimed to clarify the epidemiological characteristics of ankle sprain by longitudinally investigating the incidence, severity and burden of ankle sprains in men's collegiate rugby players. Methods: The study recorded ankle sprains in rugby matches and training across three seasons from 2017 to 2019, investigating 128 male collegiate rugby players.Results: The incidence of ankle sprain was 1.21 injuries/1000 Player-hours (1000 PHs), and the risk of occurrence during matches (18.18 injuries/1000 PHs) was 25.6 times higher than during training (0.71 injuries/1000 PHs). Thus, it was thought that reducing the incidence of ankle sprains during matches would contribute greatly to reducing the loss of competition time due to injury of team members. The results suggested that the main injury mechanism was related to contact play and steps, and that contact skills and physical fitness characteristics were also involved in the risk of sprains. The incidence of ankle sprains in collegiate rugby players was higher than that reported in a previous study on professional-level players, and the rate of initial sprains was high in this study. Conclusions: This suggests that prevention of ankle sprains is important in university age rugby players.
Elucidating the cellular response of silver nanoparticles as a potential combinatorial agent for cisplatin chemotherapy
Authors: Miranda Renata Rank , Fonseca Micaella Pereira da , Korzeniowska Barbara , Skytte Lilian , Rasmussen Kaare Lund , Kjeldsen Frank 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background

Combination chemotherapy uses drugs that target different cancer hallmarks, resulting in synergistic or additive toxicity. This strategy enhances therapeutic efficacy as well as minimizes drug resistance and side effects. In this study, we investigated whether silver nanoparticles act as a combinatorial partner to cisplatin. In so doing, we compared post-treatment biological endpoints, intracellular drug accumulation, and changes in the proteome profile of tumoral and normal cell lines.

Results

Combinatorial treatment corresponded to cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in both cell lines, yet was substantially more effective against tumoral cells. Proteome analysis revealed that proteins related to energy metabolism pathways were upregulated in both cell lines, suggesting that combinatorial treatment corresponded to energetic modulation. However, proteins and upstream regulators involved in the cell cycle were downregulated, indicating reduced cell proliferation. The response to oxidative stress was markedly different in both cell lines; downregulation of antioxidant proteins in tumoral cells, yet upregulation of the antioxidant defense system in normal cells. These outcomes may have prevented further cell damage and avoided higher cell death rates in normal cells.

Conclusions

Taken together, our results indicate that combining silver nanoparticles with cisplatin increases the therapeutic efficacy of the latter, and the combination warrants further exploration for future therapies.
In silico immune infiltration profiling reveals the role of naïve B cells in lung tissues of COVID-19 patients
Authors: Chiu Yi-Lin , Wu Yi-Ying , Wang Sheng-Huei , Wu Chih-Hsien , Yen Li-Chen , Lai Hsing-Fan , Ho Chin-Liang 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly spread to more than 160 countries worldwide since 2020. Despite the tremendous efforts and resources spent around the world trying to explore antiviral drugs, there is still no effective clinical treatment for COVID-19. Approximately 15% of COVID-19 cases progress to pneumonia, patients with severe pneumonia may die from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In addition, further pulmonary fibrosis from SARS-CoV-2 infection causes ARDS that often leads to irreversible impairment of lung function. If the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 infection primarily cause immune responses or immune cell infiltration can be identified, it is possible to alleviate or prevent severe lung damage by modulating the infiltration and activation of specific immune cells to mitigate excessive immunity response.The extent to which subsets of immune cells are significantly altered in the lung tissue of COVID-19 patients remains unclear. This study applied the CIBERSORT method to comprehensively evaluate the immune infiltration landscape in lung tissues of COVID-19 patients, and further compared with the one from lung tissue of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We found several immune cell subtypes; particularly naïve B cells are highly infiltrated in COVID-19 group. A comparison of functional gene set analysis revealed that non-differentiated naïve B cells may be the main cause of the overactive humoral immune response. We further compared several specific COVID-19 cases receiving therapies targeting B cells and found that appropriate suppression of naïve B cells might be a new strategy to alleviate severe symptoms of COVID-19.
Pregnancy-related anxiety during COVID-19: A nationwide survey of 2,740 pregnant women
Authors: Moyer Cheryl A , Compton Sarah D , Kaselitz Elizabeth , Muzik Maria 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Purpose: To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women’s anxiety and identify factors most strongly associated with greater changes in anxiety.Methods: An anonymous, online, survey of pregnant women (distributed April 3 - 24, 2020) included a modified Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Scale (PRAS) reflecting respondents’ perception of pregnancy anxiety before COVID-19 and a current assessment of pregnancy-related anxiety. The difference between these scores was used as the outcome variable. Data were analysed using bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. Results: 2,740 pregnant women from 47 states completed the survey. 25.8% (N=706) stopped in-person visits, 15.2% used video visits (N=415), and 31.8% (N=817) used phone visits for prenatal care as a result of COVID-19. Those planning a hospital birth dropped from 2641 (96.4%) to 2400 (87.7%) following COVID-19. More than half of women reported increased stress about food running out (59.2%, N=1622), losing a job or household income (63.7%, N=1745), or loss of childcare (56.3%, N=1543). More than a third reported increasing stress about conflict between household members (37.5%, N=1028), and 93% (N=2556) reported increased stress about getting infected with COVID-19. Slightly less than half of respondents (either selves or family members) were healthcare workers (41.4%, N=1133) or worked in essential services (45.5%, N=1246). In multivariate analysis, those reporting higher agreement with COVID-19-related stressors had greater changes in pre- to post-COVID-19 pregnancy-related anxiety.Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic is profoundly affecting pregnant women’s mental health, and factors independent of pregnancy appear to be driving changes in pregnancy-specific anxiety.
Neural Responses to Novel and Existing Words in Children with Autism Spectrum and Developmental Language Disorders
Authors: Knowland Victoria Catherine Penrose , Baker Daniel H , Gaskell Gareth , Rijn Elaine van , Walker Sarah A , Norbury Courtenay , Henderson Lisa-Marie 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background The formation of new phonological representations is key to establishing items in the mental lexicon. Phonological forms become more stable with repetition, time and sleep. This study measured changes in ERP responses to novel and known words within and between two sessions 24 hours apart. We hypothesised that modulation of the auditory N400 would mark changes in lexical processing in children with and without communication difficulties, as novel forms were encoded and consolidated.Method Children listened passively to known and novel words on two consecutive days, while ERPs were recorded using dry electrodes. Data were analysed from 20 typically developing children, 18 children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 13 children with developmental language disorder (DLD). Results We saw reduced activity overall in our DLD group, reflecting activation in a sparse lexical network, and reduced activity across groups on the second day indicating lexical pre-activation. The DLD group showed the smallest inter-day difference, perhaps signalling reduced overnight maintenance of task-based knowledge. Finally, an effect of lexicality (increased amplitude response to nonwords relative to words) was seen only in the ASD group.Conclusion Data support the dynamic nature of the lexical system, in which neural responses to words and nonwords cause lasting effects on brains' ability to predict incoming stimuli over a 24-hour period, but with these dynamics varying in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
COVID-19 Related Deaths in an Urban Academic Medical Center in Brooklyn – A Descriptive Case Series
Authors: McCracken James Andrew , Nakeshbandi Mohamed , Arace Jeffrey , Riley Wayne J , Sharma Roopali 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background Available studies are lacking in analysis of baseline demographics and hospital presentation of patients at risk of expiring due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly Black American patients. We conducted a retrospective chart review to determine similarities in demographics and hospital presentation among patients who expired due to COVID-19 at an academic medical center in Brooklyn, New York.Study design and methods This is a retrospective observational study of 200 patients who expired due to complications of COVID-19. Patients were included in this study if they had laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and expired during their admission. Data were collected on patients who expired between March 17 and April 16, 2020. Results A vast majority of patients were Black Americans (89%) with no history of international travel who had more than one comorbidity (81%), with the most common comorbidities being hypertension (84·5%), diabetes mellitus (57·5%), and obesity (41·5%). Fifty-five percent of our patient population had three or more comorbidities. Among patients with available data, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and ferritin values were elevated above normal limits at admission. Dyspnea was the most common presenting symptom (92·5%). Most (90·5%) presented within the first week of symptoms, with a median time of symptoms prior to expiration being 8·42 days (IQR 5·57 – 12·72). Interpretation Socioeconomic status and healthcare inequalities have greatly affected the Black population of Brooklyn, New York, and these disparities become even more apparent in COVID-19 infection. Patients presenting with numerous comorbidities and elevated inflammatory markers represent a population at high risk of in-hospital mortality.
Objective Evaluation Method of Vehicle Ride Comfort Based on Small-Sample Statistics
Authors: Li Xiaolong , Fu Wenkui 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Although ride comfort has been researched for many years, there is still no definite objective evaluation method which can match the subjective assessment feeling well. The mainly presented approaches are mostly based on ISO 2631, but the consistency and correlation between subjective evaluation and objective evaluation are inadequate in these studies. Taking the motion control as the study content, which is primary ride comfort. Different type components of vehicle have been combined in a tuning car to achieve various ride performance, such as springs, dampers, jounce bumpers and tires. Then corresponding subjective evaluation results and acceleration measurement data have been collected when driving the tuning car on a sine wave road. With correlation and clustering analysis, the most representative features of measurement data for subjective assessment were extracted. Based on the small-sample statics theory, a new objective evaluation method for ride motion control has been established using the features by the LASSO model. The cross validation and comparison results indicate that the new objective evaluation method has a good estimation for ride motion control and the method can be a complement for ISO 2631.