bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modeling Survival Time to Recovery from COVID-19: A Case Study on Singapore
Authors: Mollazehi Monira , Mollazehi Mohammad , Abdel-Salam Abdel-Salam G. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of viruses that originated in China. In December 2019, a strange case of pneumonia was reported in Wuhan, which then was diagnosed to be COVID-19. In Singapore, the first positive case was reported on January 23, 2020.

Aim

This study aims to study the recovery time from COVID-19 in Singapore between January 23 and March 13, 2020.

Methods

It's a retrospective study from January 23 until March 13, 2020 for 187 cases with COVID-19 infection. Data of the instances were collected to identify the factors affecting the recovery time from COVID-19. Several parametric models were fitted and the best predictor model was selected using the Bayesian information criterion (BIC).

Results

Out of 187 patients, 96 (51.34%) were cured. The mean (±standard deviation) survival time was 9.40±7.17 days. Based on BIC, the exponential regression model was the weakest and the Weibull model was the best for fitting to data. According to the Weibull model, age (HR=1.01) and nationality (HR=0.76) had significant statistical effects (α=0.05) on patient recovery time.

Conclusion

According to the findings of the study, younger patients recover faster compared to elderly patients, and the Singaporean patients cure more quickly than non-Singaporean patients.
Development of a TB vaccine trial site in Africa and lessons from the Ebola experience.
Authors: Kaguthi Grace , Nduba Videlis , Rabuogi Prisca , Okelloh Douglas , Ouma Samuel G. , Blatner Gretta , Gelderbloem Sebastian J. , Mitchell Ellen M.H. , Scott Cherise P. , Verver Suzanne , Hawkridge Anthony , de Steenwinkel Jurriaan E.M , Laserson Kayla F. , Richardus Jan Hendrik 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Tuberculosis is the deadliest infection of our time. In contrast, about 11,000 people died of Ebola between 2014 and 2016. Despite this manifest difference in mortality, there is now a vaccine licensed in the United States and by the European Medicines Agency, with up to 100% efficacy against Ebola. The developments that led to the trialing of the Ebola vaccine were historic and unprecedented. The single licensed TB vaccine (BCG) has limited efficacy. There is a dire need for a more efficacious TB vaccine. To deploy such vaccines, trials are needed in sites that combine high disease incidence and research infrastructure. We describe our twelve-year experience building a TB vaccine trial site in contrast to the process in the recent Ebola outbreak. There are additional differences. Relative to the Ebola pipeline, TB vaccines have fewer trials and a paucity of government and industry led trials. While pathogens have varying levels of difficulty in the development of new vaccine candidates, there yet appears to be greater interest in funding and coordinating Ebola interventions. TB is a global threat that requires similar concerted effort for elimination.
Quantitative comparison of clinical outcomes and decompression parameters between extreme lateral lumbar interbody fusion and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in treating lumbar spinal stenosis: a 3-year retrospective cohort study
Authors: Xing Junchao , Cheng Peng , Xu Jianzhong , Lu Hongwei , He Qingyi 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background This retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare the clinical efficacy and decompression parameters of extreme lateral lumbar interbody fusion (XLIF) with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in treating lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Methods From January 2012 to June 2016, 1455 patients with LSS who underwent surgery were reviewed and 83 cases were included (40 cases for XLIF and 43 cases for TLIF). The operative time, blood loss, accumulated fluoroscopy time, visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), fusion rate and complications were evaluated. Moreover, decompression parameters were compared, including the sagittal disc height (DH), the foraminal height (FH) and area (FA), the lumbar lordosis (LL), the transverse area of the dural sac (DS), as well as the rate of change loss of these parameters. Results The baseline was consistent between two groups. The mean follow-up time was 36.9 months. Both of XLIF and TLIF yielded clinical improvements. XLIF had advantages over TLIF in blood loss, operative time, hospital stay and complication. The fusion rate, postoperative VAS and ODI scores were comparable. Particularly, XLIF showed analogous, or even better, capacity of ameliorating decompression parameters to TLIF, especially regarding DH, LL and the maintenance of decompression. Conclusions Compared with TLIF, XLIF is advantageous to avoid blood loss, shorten the operative time, hospital stay and maintain the decompressive effect in treating LSS.
A Comprehensive Data Analysis of Differentially Regulated Genes in Melanoma
Authors: Han Yanjie , Li Xinxin , Yan Jiliang , Ma Chunyan , Wang Xin , Pan Hong , Zheng Xiaoli , Zhang Zhen , Gao Biao , JI Xin-Ying 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: Melanoma is the most deadly tumor in skin tumors and is prone to distant metastases. The incidence of melanoma has increased rapidly in the past few decades, and current trends indicate that this growth is continuing. This study was aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms of melanoma pathogenesis and discover underlying pathways and genes associated with melanoma.Methods: We used high-throughput expression data to study differential expression profiles of related genes in melanoma. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of melanoma in GSE15605, GSE46517, GSE7553 and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets were analyzed. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by paired t-test. Then the DEGs were performed cluster and principal component analyses and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network construction. After that, we analyzed the differential genes through bioinformatics and got hub genes. Finally, the expression of hub genes was confirmed in the TCGA databases and collected patient tissue samples.Results: Total 144 up-regulated DEGs and 16 down-regulated DEGs were identified. A total of 17 gene ontology analysis (GO) terms and 11 pathways were closely related to melanoma. Pathway of pathways in cancer was enriched in 8 DEGs, such as junction plakoglobin (JUP) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In the PPI networks, 9 hub genes were obtained, such as loricrin (LOR), filaggrin (FLG), keratin 5 (KRT5), corneodesmosin (CDSN), desmoglein 1 (DSG1), desmoglein 3 (DSG3), keratin 1 (KRT1), involucrin (IVL) and EGFR. The pathway of pathways in cancer and its enriched DEGs may play important roles in the process of melanoma. The hub genes of DEGs may become promising melanoma candidate genes. Five key genes FLG, DSG1, DSG3, IVL and EGFR were identified in the TCGA database and melanoma tissues.Conclusions: The results suggested that FLG, DSG1, DSG3, IVL and EGFR might play important roles and potentially be valuable in the prognosis and treatment of melanoma.
Small repeating earthquake catalog for the Japanese Islands
Authors: Igarashi Toshihiro 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Groups of repeating earthquakes, which occur in approximately the same location and possess a similar focal mechanism, have been extracted in various tectonic environments worldwide. Their recurrence interval has been used to estimate the spatiotemporal evolution of aseismic slip along major tectonic boundaries. Furthermore, slight changes between the waveforms of repeating earthquakes have been analyzed to delineate temporal changes in the local seismic velocity structure. Here we construct a long-term catalog of small repeating earthquakes throughout the Japanese Islands since 2001 (2001–2019) based on waveform similarity and relative source locations. Most of the long-duration sequences are located near the strongly coupled areas of the Philippine Sea and Pacific plates as they subduct from the Ryukyu-Nankai-Sagami and Kuril–Japan trenches, respectively. Many of the repeating sequences that occur in shallow crustal environments are short-lived. This repeating earthquake catalog allows us to estimate the slip history along each tectonic boundary. We believe that this and similar catalogs will be useful for future investigations of source processes, temporal slip and stress changes along faults, and local velocity structures, thereby providing new insights into earthquake generation mechanisms.
Children with type 1 diabetes have elevated high sensitivity C-reactive protein compared to a control group
Authors: Pérez-Segura Pilar , de Dios Olaya , Herrero Leticia , Vales-Villamarín Claudia , González-Aragón Isabel , Gavela-Pérez Teresa , Garcés Garmen , Soriano-Guillen Leandro 
Published: March 2020

Abstract

Objectives To compare high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in children with type 1 diabetes, healthy controls, and children with obesity. Additionally, we aimed to analyze the association between hsCRP levels and glycemic control measured by glycohemoglobin A (HbA1c) and anthropometric and biochemical variables. Methods We conducted a non-randomized descriptive study of children with type 1 diabetes matched for sex and age with a control group and group with obesity. We recorded anthropometric parameters and studied variables related to diabetes, blood pressure, lipid profile, and HbA1c. HsCRP was measured by ELISA.Results We included 49 children with type 1 diabetes, 46 controls, and 40 children with obesity. hsCRP levels were significantly higher in the group with type 1 diabetes compared to controls and nearly significantly lower than in the group comprising children with obesity. We found no correlation between hsCRP and HbA1C and characteristics of type 1 diabetes with the exception of albuminin creatinine ratio (ACR). Statistically significant association was found between hsCRP and BMI and waist circumference Z-score. Conclusions Children with type 1 diabetes have a higher hsCRP than healthy subjects; this difference is not associated with HbA1c, but is related to waist circumference, BMI, and ACR. Obesity prevention should be a priority when performing follow-up in children with type 1 diabetes.
TEAS treatment improves gastrointestinal function after abdominal surgery: study protocol for a prospective randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bai Yafan , Gao Chao , Li Wenjing , Du Yi , An Lixin 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background : Postoperative gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction (PGD) is a common problem after abdominal surgery. PGD can increase the length of hospital stay and the economic burden and may even lead to some serious complications. Acupuncture and moxibustion are alternative therapies recommended for PGD. However, the effect of preventive application of acupuncture or transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation (TEAS) is still uncertain. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of the continuous application of TEAS on GI function recovery in patients after abdominal surgery. At the same time, we will try to confirm the mechanism of TEAS through the brain-gut axis.Methods/design : This study is a prospective, single-center, two-arm, randomized controlled trial that will be performed in a general hospital. In total, 280 patients scheduled for gastric or colorectal cancer surgery will be stratified into two groups. The experimental group will receive TEAS stimulation at Hegu (L14) and Neiguan (PC6), Zusanli (ST36), and Shangjuxu (ST37) once a day for 30 min during and after surgery until GI function recovery. The sham group will receive pseudo-TEAS at sham acupoints. The primary outcome will be the recovery time of postoperative bowel sounds, flatus, bowel movements and the changes in perioperative brain-intestinal peptides. The secondary outcome will be postoperative pain, perioperative complications, and hospitalization duration.Discussion : The results of this study will demonstrate that continuous preventive application of TEAS can improve the GI function recovery in patients undergoing abdominal surgery and that this effect may act through brain-gut peptides.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ID: ChiCTR1900023263, Registered on 11 May 2019,http://www.chictr.org.cn
Effect of does parity order on litter homogeneity parameters
Authors: Pollesel Marta , Tassinari Marco , Frabetti Andrea , Fornasini Daniela , Cavallini Damiano 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: In rabbits reproductive performance, litter size and litter weight at birth, growth rate and mortality rate are the main factors that help to define the productive potential and they are influenced by the parity order. Birth weight represents a basic parameter in the management of a rabbit farm, because it is linked to mortality rate and weaning weight. Litter size affects the weight gained by suckling rabbits at weaning and it is connected with the chance of kits to find an available teat during the suckling period. For these reasons, it is of prime importance to study individual newborn and an intra-litter homogeneity parameters. This experimental study aimed to consider the litter homogeneity weight at birth, both within each litter and in the whole population, in order to suggest a proper litter homogenization practice.Results: The 1st and 6th parity order showed respectively the lowest and highest values in litter size, born-alives, litter weight, born-alives weight and homogeneity. These parameters decreased in greater parity order. Not significant effects on still-borns number and mortality rate were recorded. All these litter homogeneity evaluation parameters appeared interesting in describe differences between parity orders.Conclusions: The results of this research confirm that does parity order influences litter size and born-alives weight, but also the intra- and inter-litter homogenization. Litter homogenization is crucial to ensure proportionate share of milk, more equal growth and better productive performances. Based on these results we suggest equalizing primiparous with primiparous litters, and, consequently, the following parity orders among them.
Automatic Facial Landmark Localization in Clinical Populations - Improving Model Performance with a Small Dataset
Authors: Guarin Diego L , Taati Babak , Hadlock Tessa , Yunusova Yana 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background Automatic facial landmark localization in videos is an important first step in many computer vision applications, including the objective assessment of orofacial function. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) for facial landmarks localization are typically trained on faces of healthy and young adults, so model performance is inferior when applied to faces of older adults or people with diseases that affect facial movements, a phenomenon known as algorithmic bias. Fine-tuning pre-trained CNN models with representative data is a well-known technique used to reduce algorithmic bias and improve performance on clinical populations. However, the question of how much data is needed to properly fine-tune the model remains. Methods In this paper, we fine-tuned a popular CNN model for automatic facial landmarks localization using different number of manually annotated photographs from patients with facial palsy and evaluated the effects of the number of photographs used for model fine-tuning in the model performance by computing the normalized root mean squared error between the facial landmarks positions predicted by the model and those provided by manual annotators. Furthermore, we studied the effect of annotator bias by fine-tuning and evaluating the model with data provided by multiple annotators. Results Our results showed that fine-tuning the model with as little as 8 photographs from a single patient significantly improved the model performance on other individuals from the same clinical population, and that the best performance was achieved by fine-tuning the model with 320 photographs from 40 patients. Using more photographs for fine-tuning did not improve the model performance further. Regarding the annotator bias, we found that fine-tuning a CNN model with data from one annotator resulted in models biased against other annotators; our results also showed that this effect can be diminished by averaging data from multiple annotators. Conclusions It is possible to remove the algorithmic bias of a\textbf{depth} CNN model for automatic facial landmark localization using data from only 40 participants (total of 320 photographs). These results pave the way to future clinical applications of CNN models for the automatic assessment of orofacial function in different clinical populations, including patients with Parkinson’s disease and stroke.
Clinical Efficacy of Intramedullary Fixation vs. Plate Fixation for Femoral Intertrochanteric Fractures
Authors: Zhou Yu , Xia Chongjun , Ma Xiaowei , Yu Xiaobing 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of proximal femoral intramedullary fixation and anatomical locking compression plate in the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fractures among the elderly. Methods: In this retrospective study, 210 surgically treated patients with intertrochanteric fractures of the femur were analyzed and divided into groups A, B and C according to the surgical approach. Group A had interlocking compression nailing (INTERTAN) done (n=69); group B had γ-III interlocking intramedullary nailing (γ-III) done (n=73); and group C had proximal femoral anatomic locking plate (PFLP) done (n=68). All patients’ data were followed up completely, and their clinical outcomes were observed. Results: Group A and B were found to perform better than group C in operation time, bleeding volume, time of leaving bed, fracture healing time and hospitalization time (P < 0.05). Their respective incidences of postoperative complications were significantly lower than that of group C (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between group A and group B (P > 0.05). The Harris scores of groups A and B at 1, 3 and 6 months after operation were significantly higher than those of group C (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between group A and group B (P > 0.05). Conclusions: In the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fractures, intramedullary fixation influences little on blood circulation at the fracture end, accelerates fracture healing, and enhances hip joint function, which assists patients in recovering faster postoperatively. Moreover, it enables them to gain mobility at an early stage and reduces postoperative complications of fractures. Its short-term clinical effects are better than extramedullary fixation, which should be more widely adapted clinically.
CCL1 blockade alleviates human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in a murine sclerodermatous graft-versus-host disease (Scl-GVHD) model
Authors: Lim Ji-Young , Ryu Da-Bin , Kim Tae Woo , Lee Sung-Eun , Park Gyeongsin , Yoon Hyoung Kyu , Min Chang-Ki 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
BackgroundHuman chronic graft-versus-host disease (CGVHD) shares clinical characteristics with a murine sclerodermatous GVHD (Scl-GVHD, B10.D2 → BALB/c) model that is characterized by skin and lung fibrosis. In this study, bone marrow- or adipose tissue-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were injected into the Scl-GVHD mice to address their therapeutic effect on CGVHD.MethodsLethally irradiated BALB/c mice were transplanted with B10.D2 T cell depleted bone marrow with or without spleen cells to generate Scl GVHD. hMSCs were intravenously treated on days 3, 5 and 7 post-transplantation. And the control antibody or CCL1 blocking antibody was subcutaneously injected into the same schedule as hMSCs. At 14 days after transplantation, the recipient mice sacrificed and their skin and lung analyzed.ResultsAfter early injection of hMSCs after transplantation, the clinical and pathological severity of Scl-GVHD in the skin was significantly attenuated, whereas the pathological score was exacerbated in the lungs. hMSCs migrated into the lungs but not into the skin. CD11b monocyte/macrophages and CD4 T cells were markedly decreased in skin tissues, whereas there was an early recruitment of CD11b cells, and subsequently increased infiltration of CD4 T cells, in the lungs. Importantly, hMSCs persistently up-regulated the expression of CCL1 in the lungs but not in the skin. Concurrent treatment of hMSCs with a CCL1-blocking antibody alleviated the severity of the lung histopathology score and fibrosis with preservation of the cutaneous protective effect against CGVHD. Infiltration of CD3 T cells and CD68 macrophages and up-regulation of chemokines were also decreased in lung tissues, along with recruitment of eosinophils and tissue IgE expression. In the skin, chemokine expression was further reduced after CCL1 blockade.ConclusionsThese data demonstrate that despite a protective effect against Scl-GVHD in the skin, administration of hMSCs exacerbated lung fibrosis associated with eosinophilia and airway inflammation through persistent CCL1 up-regulation. CCL1 blockade offers a potential treatment of pulmonary complications induced after treatment with hMSCs.
The spectrum of CYP21A2 gene mutations in patients with 2l-hydroxylase deficiency -induced congenital adrenal hyperplasia in a Chinese cohort
Authors: Liu Yang , Zheng Jie , Xu Xiaowei , Zhang Xinjie , Zhang Ying , Li Guoxu , Liu Geli , Cai Chunquan , Shu Jianbo 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) caused by the CYP21A2 gene mutations is the most popular form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It is an autosomal recessive disorder results in the defective synthesis of cortisol and aldosterone. The incidences of various CYP21A2 gene mutations and the genotype-phenotype correlations vary among different populations. Therefore, the aim of current study was to identify the spectrum of CYP21A2 gene mutations of patients from northern China and analyze the genotype-phenotype correlation.Methods The clinical and molecular data of 22 patients were analyzed in this study. Locus-specific polymerasechain reaction and Sanger sequencing were applied to identify gene micro-conversions, and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification as an alternative to Southern blotting was used to detect large fragment deletions/conversions. Then the genotypes were categorized in to Null, A, B, C and D groups to analyze the relationships between genotypes and phenotypes.Results Molecular defects were detected in 44 alleles (100%). Micro-conversion mutation IVS2-13A/C> G (70.5%) is most common in our cohort, followed by large gene deletions and conversions (22.7%). The other mutations present were p.R357W (4.5%) and E6 Cluster (2.3%). Genotypes of 22 patients (100%) were consistent with the predictive phenotypes.Conclusions In this study, we collected 22 21-OHD patients’ clinical and mutations data in Chinese population, especially in northern China. Micro-conversions were the most popular mutations and the frequencies were consistent with other cohorts. Moreover, thegenotypes and phenotypes in 21-OHDwere well correlated. This studyidentifiedthe mutation spectrum of CYP21A2gene and conduced to genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.