bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis of Pediatric Hypertension: European Society of Hypertension-Recommended 24-Hour vs. 24-Hour-Day–Night Ambulatory Blood Pressure Thresholds
Authors: Sharma Ajay P , Norozi Kambiz , Grattan Michael , Filler Guido , Altamirano-Diaz Luis 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
The impact of diagnosing pediatric hypertension based on all three-24-hour, day and night ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) thresholds (combined ABP threshold) vs. conventionally used 24-hour ABP threshold is not known.

Methods
In this cross-sectional, retrospective study from a tertiary care outpatient clinic, we evaluated the diagnosis of hypertension based on the 24-hour European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and combined ESH ABP thresholds in untreated children with essential hypertension. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Fourth Report thresholds were used to classify office blood pressure (OBP).

Results
In 159 children, aged 5–18 years, the 24-hour ESH and combined ESH thresholds classified 82% (95th confidence interval (CI) 0.68, 0.97) ABP similarly with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 (95th CI 0.80, 0.91). However, the AUC of the 2 ABP thresholds was significantly higher in the participants with office hypertension than office normotension, with OBP classified by the AAP (AUC 0.93, 95th CI 0.84, 0.98 vs. 0.80, 95th CI 0.71, 0.88) or Fourth Report (AUC 0.93, 95th CI 0.83, 0.98 vs. 0.81, 95th CI 0.73, 0.88) threshold. With OBP classified by the either OBP threshold, the combined ESH threshold diagnosed significantly more masked hypertension (MH) (difference 15%, 95th CI 4.9, 24.7; P = 0.00); however, the diagnosis of white coat hypertension (WCH) by the 2 ABP thresholds did not differ significantly (difference 4%, 95th CI 1.8, 10; P = 0.16).

Conclusions
In children with essential hypertension, the 24-hour and combined ESH thresholds have a stronger agreement for diagnosing WCH than MH.
Mapping Taste: Urban Modernities from theTatlerandSpectatortoFrederick Douglass’ Paper
Authors: Peterson Carla L 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis essay, which is part of a larger book project, reflects my interest in rethinking concepts of Black modernity and speculating on its possible manifestations in different forms at different historical moments. Specifically, I posit the emergence of an urban Black modernity in US northern cities during the antebellum era. I begin by mapping a literary history of urban modernity in periodical culture over a span of 150 years. I examine its origins in Richard Steele’s Tatler (1709–11) and Joseph Addison and Steele’s Spectator (1711–12), which detail the rise of modern London and its new middle-class subjects, whose conspicuous consumption demanded the regulation of taste, deemed a crucial marker of modernity. This urban modernity is then reconfigured across the Atlantic in New York, specifically in Washington Irving’s Letters of Jonathan Oldstyle, Gent (1802) and Salmagundi (1807–08), which anatomize the behaviors of New York’s social elite. I then elucidate how a group of Black New York correspondents to Frederick Douglass’ Paper (1852–55)—notably James McCune Smith, William J. Wilson, and Philip Bell—take up and repurpose such representations of urban modernity to define the taste of the city’s Black urbanites and meet their intellectual, social, and political needs at mid-century.
Bioinformatic analysis of SMN1–ACE/ACE2 interactions hinted at a potential protective effect of spinal muscular atrophy against COVID-19-induced lung injury
Authors: Li Zheng , Li Xingye , Shen Jianxiong , Tan Haining , Rong Tianhua , Lin Youxi , Feng Erwei , Chen Zhengguang , Jiao Yang , Liu Gang , Zhang Lin , Vai Chan Matthew Tak , Kei Wu William Ka 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are susceptible to the respiratory infections and might be at a heightened risk of poor clinical outcomes upon contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the potential associations of SMA with the susceptibility to and prognostication of COVID-19 need to be clarified. We documented an SMA case who contracted COVID-19 but only developed mild-to-moderate clinical and radiological manifestations of pneumonia, which were relieved by a combined antiviral and supportive treatment. We then reviewed a cohort of patients with SMA who had been living in the Hubei province since November 2019, among which the only 1 out of 56 was diagnosed with COVID-19 (1.79%, 1/56). Bioinformatic analysis was carried out to delineate the potential genetic crosstalk between SMN1 (mutation of which leads to SMA) and COVID-19/lung injury-associated pathways. Protein-protein interaction analysis by STRING suggested that loss-of-function of SMN1 might modulate COVID-19 pathogenesis through CFTR, CXCL8, TNF and ACE. Expression quantitative trait loci analysis also revealed a link between SMN1 and ACE2, despite low-confidence protein-protein interactions as suggested by STRING. This bioinformatic analysis could give hint on why SMA might not necessarily lead to poor outcomes in patients with COVID-19.
Altered expression of ADM and ADM2 by hypoxia regulates migration of trophoblast and HLA-G expression†
Authors: Gu Changdai , Park Sohae , Seok Jin , Jang Hee Yeon , Bang Yong Ju , Kim G I Jin 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a placental disorder caused by endothelial dysfunction via trophoblast inadequate invasion activity. Adrenomedullin (ADM) and ADM2 are multifunctional peptides that can support vascular activity and placental growth. However, correlation between ADMs and trophoblast functions is currently unclear. The objective of this study was to analyze changes in expression of ADMs in placenta and HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells under hypoxia and their effects on invasion activity of trophoblast cells and expression of HLA-G. In placental tissues of PE, expression levels of ADM and HLA-G were significantly increased (P &lt; 0.05) whereas expression of ADM2 was decreased compared to that in normal term placenta. Under hypoxia, expression levels of ADM, ADM2, and HLA-G and invasion ability of trophoblast cells were increased in hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1α)- dependent manner (P &lt; 0.05). Treatment with ADMs agonists reduced HIF-1α activity whereas enhanced invasion ability under hypoxia. However, they were not changed after cotreatment of ADMs and HIF-1α inhibitor, YC-1, although expression levels of invasion-related genes MMP2, MMP9, and Rac1 were altered (P &lt; 0.05). ADMs also increased HLA-G expression under normoxia whereasADM2 or cotreatment of ADMs under hypoxia attenuated HLA-G expression (P &lt; 0.05). Our findings demonstrate that altered expression of ADMs plays a critical role in placental physiology, especially in trophoblast invasion and immune-modulation under hypoxia.
Fully Retroactive Minimum Spanning Tree Problem
Authors: de Andrade Júnior José Wagner , Duarte Seabra Rodrigo 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
This article describes an algorithm that solves a fully dynamic variant of the minimum spanning tree (MST) problem. The fully retroactive MST allows adding an edge to time $t$, or to obtain the current MST at time $t$. By using the square root technique and a data structure link-cut tree, it was possible to obtain an algorithm that runs each query in $O(\sqrt{m} \lg{|V(G)|})$ amortized, in which $|V(G)|$ is the number of nodes in graph $G$ and $m$ is the size of the timeline. We use a different approach to solve the MST problem instead of the standard algorithms, such as Prim or Kruskal, and this allows using the square root technique to improve the final complexity of the algorithm. Our empirical analysis shows that the proposed algorithm runs faster than re-executing the standard algorithms, and this difference only increases when the number of nodes in these graphs is larger.
Automated Detection of Oral Pre-Cancerous Tongue Lesions Using Deep Learning for Early Diagnosis of Oral Cavity Cancer
Authors: Shamim Mohammed Zubair M , Syed Sadatullah , Shiblee Mohammad , Usman Mohammed , Ali Syed Jaffar , Hussein Hany S , Farrag Mohammed 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Discovering oral cavity cancer (OCC) at an early stage is an effective way to increase patient survival rate. However, current initial screening process is done manually and is expensive for the average individual, especially in developing countries worldwide. This problem is further compounded due to the lack of specialists in such areas. Automating the initial screening process using artificial intelligence (AI) to detect pre-cancerous lesions can prove to be an effective and inexpensive technique that would allow patients to be triaged accordingly to receive appropriate clinical management. In this study, we have applied and evaluated the efficacy of six deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) models using transfer learning, for identifying pre-cancerous tongue lesions directly using a small dataset of clinically annotated photographic images to diagnose early signs of OCC. DCNN models were able to differentiate between benign and pre-cancerous tongue lesions and were also able to distinguish between five types of tongue lesions, i.e. hairy tongue, fissured tongue, geographic tongue, strawberry tongue and oral hairy leukoplakia with high classification performances. Preliminary results using an (AI + Physician) ensemble model demonstrate that an automated pre-screening process of oral tongue lesions using DCNNs can achieve ‘near-human’ level classification performance for diagnosing early signs of OCC in patients.
Higher mortality of COVID-19 in males: sex differences in immune response and cardiovascular comorbidities
Authors: Bienvenu Laura A , Noonan Jonathan , Wang Xiaowei , Peter Karlheinz 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The high mortality rate of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a critical concern of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Strikingly, men account for the majority of COVID-19 deaths, with current figures ranging from 59% to 75% of total mortality. However, despite clear implications in relation to COVID-19 mortality, most research has not considered sex as a critical factor in data analysis. Here, we highlight fundamental biological differences that exist between males and females, and how these may make significant contributions to the male-biased COVID-19 mortality. We present preclinical evidence identifying the influence of biological sex on the expression and regulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is the main receptor used by SARS-CoV-2 to enter cells. However, we note that there is a lack of reports showing that sexual dimorphism of ACE2 expression exists and is of functional relevance in humans. In contrast, there is strong evidence, especially in the context of viral infections, that sexual dimorphism plays a central role in the genetic and hormonal regulation of immune responses, both of the innate and the adaptive immune system. We review evidence supporting that ineffective anti-SARS-CoV-2 responses, coupled with a predisposition for inappropriate hyperinflammatory responses, could provide a biological explanation for the male bias in COVID-19 mortality. A prominent finding in COVID-19 is the increased risk of death with pre-existing cardiovascular comorbidities, such as hypertension, obesity, and age. We contextualize how important features of sexual dimorphism and inflammation in COVID-19 may exhibit a reciprocal relationship with comorbidities, and explain their increased mortality risk. Ultimately, we demonstrate that biological sex is a fundamental variable of critical relevance to our mechanistic understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the pursuit of effective COVID-19 preventative and therapeutic strategies.
Full-length Dhh and N-terminal Shh act as competitive antagonists to regulate angiogenesis and vascular permeability
Authors: Hollier Pierre-Louis , Chapouly Candice , Diop Aissata , Guimbal Sarah , Cornuault Lauriane , Gadeau Alain-Pierre , Renault Marie-Ange 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Aims
The therapeutic potential of Hedgehog (Hh) signalling agonists for vascular diseases is of growing interest. However, molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the role of the Hh signalling in vascular biology remain poorly understood. The purpose of the present article is to clarify some conflicting literature data.

Methods and results
With this goal, we have demonstrated that, unexpectedly, ectopically administered N-terminal Sonic Hh (N-Shh) and endogenous endothelial-derived Desert Hh (Dhh) induce opposite effects in endothelial cells (ECs). Notably, endothelial Dhh acts under its full-length soluble form (FL-Dhh) and activates Smoothened in ECs, while N-Shh inhibits it. At molecular level, N-Shh prevents FL-Dhh binding to Patched-1 (Ptch1) demonstrating that N-Shh acts as competitive antagonist to FL-Dhh. Besides, we found that even though FL-Hh ligands and N-Hh ligands all bind Ptch1, they induce distinct Ptch1 localization. Finally, we confirmed that in a pathophysiological setting, i.e. brain inflammation, astrocyte-derived N-Shh acts as a FL-Dhh antagonist.

Conclusion
The present study highlights for the first time that FL-Dhh and N-Hh ligands have antagonistic properties especially in ECs.
miR-130a-3p, a Preclinical Therapeutic Target for Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Zhao Jie , Wang Honggang , Zhou Jin , Qian Jun , Yang Haojun , Zhou Yan , Ding Hao , Gong Yu , Qi Xiaoyang , Jiao Yuwen , Ying Pu , Tang Liming , Sun Ye , Zhu Weiming 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundCrohn’s disease [CD] is a chronic, relapsing and incurable inflammatory disorder. Micro RNAs [miRNAs], which modulate gene expression by binding to mRNAs, may make significant contributions to understanding the complex pathobiology and aetiology of CD. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic role and mechanism of miR-130a-3p in CD.MethodsDifferentially expressed miRNAs in colon tissues of CD patients and normal controls [NCs] were screened using an miRNA microarray and then validated by quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR [qRT-PCR]. The functional role of miR-130a-3p in the pathogenesis of CD was then demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo studies. The target genes of miR-130a-3p and the associated signalling pathways were identified using bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification of the interactions between the target predicted by the algorithms and dysregulated mRNAs. The therapeutic role of miR-130a-3p in trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid [TNBS]-induced colitis models was further investigated.ResultsOur data demonstrated that miR-130a-3p is the most significantly upregulated miRNA and that miR-130a knockout significantly protects mice against TNBS-induced colitis. Gain- and loss-of-function studies indicated that miR-130a-3p promotes CD development by targeting ATG16L1 via the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, an miR-130a-3p inhibitor significantly suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activity by inducing autophagy in a mouse macrophage cell line [RAW264.7]. Therapeutically, an miR-130a-3p inhibitor effectively ameliorated the severity of TNBS-induced colitis.ConclusionOur study reveals that miR-130a-3p promotes CD progression via the ATG16L1/NF-κB pathway and serves as a potential preclinical therapeutic target in CD.
Hospital doctors and the struggle for work-life balance: the case of Ireland
Authors: Humphries N , Creese J , Byrne J-P 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
Ireland has a high rate of doctor emigration. Difficult working conditions, particularly in the hospital sector, are often cited as a driver of doctor emigration. In October 2019, a random sample of Ireland's hospital doctors were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey about their working conditions.

Methods
The survey was distributed via the national Medical Register (with the assistance of the Medical Council of Ireland). Invitations were sent to 5356 hospital doctors, stratified by registration status (including interns, trainees, those not in training and consultants). An overall response rate of 20% was achieved (N = 1070). This paper focusses on responses to two free-text survey questions: (1) Do you have any other comments about your work-life balance? (N = 314). (2) Do you have any other comments on your working conditions as a hospital doctor? (N = 469).

Results
Respondent hospital doctors, at all levels of seniority, were struggling to achieve a balance between work and life. Of the free-text responses received, 8/10 were negative, with work-life balance/imbalance and work-overload being the issues arising most frequently. Respondents discussed how long and unpredictable working hours, combined with a high level of work intensity, meant that they often spent their personal time recovering from work.

Conclusions
Poor work-life balance has become normalised within Irish hospital medicine. The findings call to action to critically reflect on the sustainability of this way of working for the individual doctors, the wider workforce and the Irish health system.
Impact assessment of the TFA regulation on fatty acid composition of foods in Hungary
Authors: Varga A , Sarkadi Nagy E , Zámbó L , Illés É , Bakacs M , Felkai C s , Nagy A , Boda B , Feigl E , Biró K 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Trans fatty acids are formed during the industrial processing of food, and are proven to be harmful for the human body. They have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, abdominal obesity, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Decree 71/2013. (XI. 20.) of the Ministry of Human Capacities, which has been in force since 2014, defines the highest permitted amount of trans fats in food products placed on the market in Hungary. The impact of the decree on the industrially produced trans fatty acids (iTFA) availability and population intake was assessed in 2017. Results demonstrated that iTFA were replaced by other fatty acids due to the legislation. In 2019, we investigated food groups which had high measured TFA content before the regulation entered into force and compared the total fat and fatty acid profiles to the same brand or similar products being on the market afterwards. In collaboration with the World Health Organization, this was the first assessment to determine to which extent manufacturers increased saturated fat (SFA) content of foodstuffs to reduce iTFA content. In those product groups, which were identified as significant food sources of iTFA before introducing the regulation (biscuits, coffee creamers and flavorings, sweets, bakery products, confectionary, wafers, margarines) we found no significant changes in the total fat content, while in most foodstuffs the average proportion of SFA was higher after reformulation, as iTFA were mainly substituted with SFA in 61% of the products, with cis-MUFA in 25% and cis-PUFA in 14% of the products, respectively. Evidence from this analysis supports concerns that eliminating iTFA in certain foodstuffs leads to unwanted substitution with saturated fat, hence reducing the possible health benefits. Given the high SFA intake and the unfavourable cardiovascular statistics in Hungary, the consumption frequency and portion size control of these products are advised.

Key messages
Monitoring the changes of food composition is important in order to evaluate the effect of the regulation. Manufacturers should be encouraged to reduce the SFA content to a technologically feasible level.
The epidemiology of child maltreatment and its association with mental and somatic health in Norwegian teenagers – a national survey among 9240 12-16-year olds
Authors: Hafstad G S , Sætren S , Myhre M C , Bergerud-Wichstrøm M , Augusti E M 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
Child maltreatment has emerged as a key public health issue because of its serious consequences and long-term costs. Still, there are few large epidemiological studies on the prevalence of child maltreatment in adolescents, despite being a crucial transitional period making it particularly important to study.

Aims
We aimed to estimate the prevalence of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse in Norwegian adolescents, as well as health and daily functioning in abused versus non-abused youth.

Methods
A representative sample of 9240 Norwegian 12-16-year olds (response rate of 86.6%) completed a web-based survey designed to measure lifetime and last-year prevalence of physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse by adults or peers, and neglect. We also assessed mental and physical health, and daily functioning, including sleep, school absence.

Results
Four percent of the sample (no sex difference) reported at least one episode of severe physical abuse from a caregiver during their childhood, while an additional 15% percent reported less severe abuse episodes. While 6% reported sexual abuse by an adult, 22% had experienced sexual abuse by a peer, the latter escalating significantly during adolescence. There was a large overlap in exposure types; more than 50% of those experiencing physical abuse, had also experienced emotional abuse.

Conclusions
Severe maltreatment was strongly associated with parental risk factors such as low SES, substance abuse, and immigrant status, while less severe violence was more randomly distributed. Somatic and mental health and daily functioning were significantly more negatively affected in maltreated youth compared to non-abused peers.
Shared Signature of Recent Positive Selection on theTSBP1–BTNL2–HLA-DRAGenes in Five Native Populations from North Borneo
Authors: Hoh Boon-Peng , Zhang Xiaoxi , Deng Lian , Yuan Kai , Yew Chee-Wei , Saw Woei-Yuh , Hoque Mohammad Zahirul , Aghakhanian Farhang , Phipps Maude E , Teo Yik-Ying , Subbiah Vijay Kumar , Xu Shuhua 
Published: October 2020

AbstractNorth Borneo (NB) is home to more than 40 native populations. These natives are believed to have undergone local adaptation in response to environmental challenges such as the mosquito-abundant tropical rainforest. We attempted to trace the footprints of natural selection from the genomic data of NB native populations using a panel of ∼2.2 million genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms. As a result, an ∼13-kb haplotype in the Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II region encompassing candidate genes TSBP1–BTNL2–HLA-DRA was identified to be undergoing natural selection. This putative signature of positive selection is shared among the five NB populations and is estimated to have arisen ∼5.5 thousand years (∼220 generations) ago, which coincides with the period of Austronesian expansion. Owing to the long history of endemic malaria in NB, the putative signature of positive selection is postulated to be driven by Plasmodium parasite infection. The findings of this study imply that despite high levels of genetic differentiation, the NB populations might have experienced similar local genetic adaptation resulting from stresses of the shared environment.