bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Spatial Access and Modern Contraceptive Use: Is Proximity to a Healthcare Facility a Determinant of Use Among Women in Kinshasa, DRC?
Authors: Babazadeh Saleh , Hernandez Julie , Anglewicz Philip , Bertrand Jane T 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: Spatial access has a direct effect on health service utilization in many settings. While, all elements of access are usually affected by service delivery points and client characteristics. Distance to facility has proven to affect family planning service use in many Sub-Saharan countries. Studies show that women who reside closer to facilities offering family planning services are more likely to use modern contraceptives. However, researchers often test the theory of distance decay to observe any association between an increased distance of health facilities and health service utilization. This study to analyze the significance of proximity to family planning (FP) services, as well as service availability and quality of family planning services in Kinshasa.
Methods: We used a pool of four rounds of facility- and population-based survey data in Kinshasa. We tested if women who live closer to service delivery points with higher level of availability and quality are more likely to use modern contraceptives or less likely to have unmet need for contraceptive services.
Results: Our findings show that living closer to an SDP is not a determinant of modern contraceptive use or having unmet need for FP services.
Discussion: Lack of cognitive access, economic barriers, bypassing the closest facility, and sociocultural norms are among the strong barriers for women in Kinshasa not to use modern contraceptives. Our analysis shows that proximity to quality services does not necessarily result in increased FP use among women of reproductive age living in Kinshasa, thus suggesting that a bypass phenomenon may occur when obtaining modern contraceptive services.
Conclusion: This study indicates that proximity to facilities does not necessarily equate proximity to methods, nor does it necessarily enable current users or women with an unmet need (potential contraceptive users) to easily obtain services for their method of choice. This study notes that other barriers to access may be substantial determinants of contraceptive use or unmet need. More research should be conducted that directly measures multidimensional components of access in order to interpret women’s contraceptive seeking behaviors in urban areas of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Alpha-enolase in viral target cells suppresses the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integration.
Authors: Kishimoto Naoki , Yamamoto Kengo , Iga Nozomi , Kirihara Chie , Abe Towa , Takamune Nobutoki , Misumi Shogo 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background A protein exhibiting more than one biochemical function is termed a moonlighting protein. Glycolytic enzymes are typical moonlighting proteins, and these enzymes control the infection of various viruses. Previously, we reported that glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and alpha-enolase (ENO1) are incorporated into human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) particles from viral producer cells and suppress viral reverse transcription independently each other. However, it remains unclear whether these proteins expressed in viral target cells affect the early phase of HIV-1 replication. Results Here we show that the GAPDH expression level in viral target cells does not affect the early phase of HIV-1 replication, but ENO1 has a capacity to suppress viral integration in viral target cells. In contrast to GAPDH, suppression of ENO1 expression by RNA interference in the target cells increased viral infectivity, but had no effect on the expression levels of the HIV-1 receptors CD4, CCR5 and CXCR4 and on the level of HIV-1 entry. Quantitative analysis of HIV-1 reverse transcription products showed that the number of copies of the late products (R/ gag ) and two-long-terminal-repeat circular forms of viral cDNAs did not change but that of the integrated (Alu- gag ) form increased. In contrast, overexpression of ENO1 in viral target cells decreased viral infectivity owing to the low viral integration efficiency. Results of subcellular fractionation experiments suggest that the HIV integration at the nucleus was negatively regulated by ENO1 localized in the nucleus. In addition, the overexpression of ENO1 in both viral producer cells and target cells most markedly suppressed the viral replication. Conclusions These results indicate that ENO1 in the viral target cells prevents HIV-1 integration. Importantly, ENO1, but not GAPDH, has the bifunctional inhibitory activity against HIV-1 replication. The results provide and new insights into the function of ENO1 as a moonlighting protein in HIV-1 infection.
Associations with rates of falls among home care clients in Ontario, Canada: a population-based, cross-sectional study
Authors: Manis Derek R. , McArthur Caitlin , Costa Andrew P. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background

Accidental falls among older adults are a leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations. Reducing falls is an ongoing quality improvement priority for home care, given that many home care clients experience falls. In this study, we identify factors associated with the rate of falls among home care clients.

Methods

We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study using secondary data from the Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand, and Brant health region of Ontario, Canada from January 1 – March 31, 2018. We captured person-level characteristics with falls from the Resident Assessment Instrument – Home Care (RAI-HC). Negative binomial regression was used to model the rate of falls.

Results

Functional characteristics of home care clients had strong, statistically significant associations with the rate of falls. Declines in activities of daily living, assistive device use for locomotion indoors, polypharmacy, and health conditions, such as dizziness or lightheadedness, and parkinsonism, were associated with a higher rate of falls. Males who used assistive devices had a higher rate of falls compared to females; however, males with neurological and cardiovascular health conditions had a decrease in the rate of falls compared to females. Home care clients with parkinsonism who used a cane and took eight or more drugs had stronger associations with an increased rate of falls compared to those who do not have parkinsonism.

Conclusions

Functional characteristics, polypharmacy, and health conditions are associated with increased rates of falls among home care clients. Home care clients who are at a greater risk of falls may require environmental adjustments in their home to reduce or eliminate the possibility of falling.
Biofilm forming properties of quinolone resistant Escherichia coli from the broiler production chain and their dynamics in mixed biofilms
Authors: Nesse Live L. , Osland Ane Mohr , Mo Solveig Sølverød , Sekse Camilla , Slettemeås Jannice Schau , Bruvoll Anna Eline E. , Urdahl Anne Margrete , Vestby Lene K. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background

Quinolone resistant Escherichia coli (QREC) have been found in samples from Norwegian broiler chicken, despite quinolones not being administered to poultry in Norway. Biofilm production may be one factor contributing to the observed persistence in the broiler production chain. In the present study, 158 QREC strains from chicken caecal and retail meat samples were screened for biofilm production in microtiter plates, biofilm morphotype on Congo Red (CR) agar plates and phylotype by multiplex PCR. Furthermore, the dynamics in mixed biofilms with strains of different morphotypes were studied on glass slides and on CR agar plates.

Results

All strains but one produced biofilm in microtiter plates and/or on CR agar plates at room temperature. There were no differences between strains from chicken caecum and chicken retail meat in the mean amount of biofilm produced in microtiter plates. Furthermore, no differences in biofilm production were observed between phylotypes. However, significant differences in biofilm production were found between biofilm morphotypes. The morphotype RDAR (red dry and rough), which has both curli and cellulose in the matrix, was displayed by 70% of the strains. Mean biofilm production by these strains were significantly higher than by strains with the morphotypes PDAR (pink dry and rough) with only cellulose or BDAR (brown dry and rough) with only curli. Interestingly, the two latter morphotypes produced biofilms with the morphotype RDAR when grown together. None of the strains achieved significantly higher numbers of colony forming units (cfu) in mixed biofilms than in single strain biofilms on glass slides.

Conclusions

The results indicate that QREC can form biofilm reservoirs on both inert and organic surfaces in production environments, as well as on meat. This may contribute to persistence and dissemination of the strains. Strains with both curli and cellulose in the biofilm matrix were significantly better biofilm formers than strains lacking one of these components. However, strains with only one of the components could compensate for this by producing mixed biofilms with strains having the other component, and thereby most likely enhance their probabilities of persistence in the production environment.
A Novel Mutation in the Kringle IV Domain of LPA Gene Leading to Familial Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Li Youran , Zhang Xinyue , Wang Yizhong , Gong Fan , Yu Xiaofei , Zhang Ting 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
This study aims to investigate the clinical characterization and causative genetic defect of a four-generation Chinese Han family with cardiovascular diseases.
Methods
The combined use of next-generation sequencing and qPCR technique was performed to investigate genetic pathology of familial cardiovascular diseases.
Results
The clinical manifestations of the family members include coronaty artery disease, early-onset hypertension, lipoma, cerebral infarction and even unexplained sudden death, and a novel heterozygous deletion of 3-16 exon of LPA gene was identified to be causative for the symptoms in the family.
Conclusions
A novel deletion in the LPA gene was identified in a Chinese family associated with elevated Lp(a) levels and cardiovascular diseases, which expands the spectrum of the LPA mutation and its associated phenotypes.
Keywords
Copy number variation; Cardiovascular diseases；Kringle IV; Lipoprotein(a); LPA;
Association between gene polymorphisms of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and hypertension in the Dai people of China: a case-control study
Authors: Huang LiFan , Chu Yan , Huang Xiaoqin , Ma Shaohui , Lin Keqin , Huang Kai , Sun Hao , Yang Zhaoqing 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background : Abnormal calcium homeostasis related to the development of hypertension. As the key regulator of intracellular calcium concentration, voltage-gated calcium channels (VDCCs), the variations in these genes may have important effects on the development of hypertension. Here we evaluate VDCCs variability with respect to hypertension in the Dai ethnic group of China.

Methods : A total of 1034 samples from Dai individuals were collected, of which 495 were used as cases, and 539 were used as controls. Blood pressure was measured using a standard mercury measurement method, three times with a rest for 5 min, and the average was used for analyses. Seventeen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the four protein-coding genes ( CACNA1A, CACNA1C, CACNA1S, CACNB2 ) of VDCCs were identified by multiplex PCR-SNP typing technique. Chi-square tests and regression models were used to analyse the associations of SNPs with hypertension.

Results: The results of chi-square tests showed that the allele frequencies of 5 SNPs were significantly different between the case and the control groups (P<0.05), but the statistical significance was lost after Bonferroni’s correction. However, after adjusting for BMI, age, sex and other factors by logistic regression analyses, the results showed that 5 SNPs consistent with chi-square tests (rs2365293, rs17539088, rs16917217, rs61839222 and rs10425859) were still statistically positive.

Conclusions: This finding suggested that the significant association of these SNPs with hypertension may be noteworthy in future studies.
Improving early recognition and intervention in people at increased risk for the development of bipolar disorder - Study protocol of a prospective-longitudinal, naturalistic cohort study (Early-BipoLife)
Authors: Pfennig Andrea , Leopold Karolina , Martini Julia , Boehme Anne , Lambert Martin , Stamm Thomas , Bermpohl Felix , Reif Andreas , Kittel-Schneider Sarah , Juckel Georg , Fallgatter Andreas J. , Kircher Tilo , Jansen Andreas , Pfeiffer Steffi , Berndt Christina , Rottmann-Wolf Maren , Sauer Cathrin , Ritter Philipp , Correll Christoph U. , Bechdolf Andreas , Falkenberg Irina , Bauer Michael 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background

Bipolar disorders (BD) belong to the most severe mental disorders, characterized by an early onset and recurrent, severe episodes or a chronic course with poor psychosocial functioning in a proportion of patients. Many patients with BD experience substantial symptomatology months or even years before full BD manifestation. Adequate diagnosis and treatment is often delayed, which is associated with a worse outcome. This study aims to prospectively evaluate and improve early recognition and intervention strategies for persons at-risk for BD.

Methods and Results

Early-BipoLife is a prospective-longitudinal cohort study of 1,419 participants (aged 15-35 years) with at least five waves of assessment over a period of at least 2 years (baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months). A research consortium of ten university and teaching hospitals across Germany conducts this study. The following risk groups (RGs) were recruited: RG I: help-seeking youth & young adults consulting early recognition centres/facilities presenting ≥1 of the proposed risk factors for BD, RG II: in-/outpatients with unipolar depressive syndrome, and RG III: in-/ outpatients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The reference cohort was selected from the German representative IMAGEN cohort. Over the study period, the natural course of risk and resilience factors, early symptoms of BD and changes of symptom severity (including conversion to manifest BD) are observed. Psychometric properties of recently developed, structured instruments on potential risk factors for conversion to BD and subsyndromal symptomatology (Bipolar Prodrome Symptom Scale, Bipolar at-risk criteria, EPI bipolar ) and biomarkers that potentially improve prediction are investigated. Moreover, actual treatment recommendations are monitored in the participating specialized services and compared to recently postulated clinical categorization and treatment guidance in the field of early BD.

Conclusion

Findings from this study will contribute to an improved knowledge about the natural course of BD, from the onset of first noticeable symptoms (precursors) to fully developed BD, and about mechanisms of conversion from subthreshold to manifest BD. Moreover, these generated data will provide information for the development of evidence-based guidelines for early-targeted detection and preventive intervention for people at risk for BD.
Astaxanthin-loaded polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles (ATX-LPN) Assessment of potential otoprotective effects
Authors: Gu Jiayi , Chen Yuming , Tong Ling , Wang Xueling , Yu dehong , Wu Hao 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background

Ototoxicity is one of the major side effects of platinum-based chemotherapy, especially cisplatin therapy. To date, no FDA approved agents to alleviate or prevent this ototoxicity are available. However, ototoxicity is generally believed to be produced by excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the inner ear, thus leading to the development of various antioxidants, which act as otoprotective agents. Astaxanthin (ATX) is an interesting candidate in the development of new therapies for preventing and treating oxidative stress-related pathologies, owing to its unique antioxidant capacity.

Methods and Results

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential antioxidant properties of ATX in the inner ear by using the HEI-OC1 cell line, zebrafish, and guinea pigs. Because ATX has poor solubility and cannot pass through round window membranes (RWM), we established lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPN) for loading ATX. The LPN enabled ATX to penetrate RWM and maintain concentrations in the perilymph in the inner ear for 24 h after a single injection. ATX-LPN were found to have favorable biocompatibility and to strongly affect cisplatin-induced generation of ROS, on the basis of DCFHDA staining in HEI-OC1 cells. JC-1 and MitoTracker Green staining suggested that ATX-LPN successfully reversed the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential induced by cisplatin in vitro and rescued cells from early stages of apoptosis, as demonstrated by FACS stained with Annexin V-FITC/PI. Moreover, ATX-LPN successfully attenuated OHC losses in cultured organ of Corti and animal models (zebrafish and guinea pigs) in vivo. In investigating the protective mechanism of ATX-LPN, we found that ATX-LPN decreased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (caspase 3/9 and cytochrome-c) and increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. In addition, the activation of JNK induced by CDDP was up-regulated and then decreased after the administration of ATX-LPN, while P38 stayed unchanged.

Conclusions

To best of our knowledge, this is first study concluded that ATX-LPN as a new therapeutic agent for the prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.
Value of T1 Mapping on Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for Microvascular Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Rao Chenyi , Wang Xinquan , Li Minda , Zhou Guofeng , Gu Hongmei 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: To evaluate the utility of non-invasive parameters driving from T1 mapping and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for predicting microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 94 patients with single HCC undergoing partial hepatectomy was analyzed in the retrospective study. Preoperative T1 mapping and DWI on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI was performed. The parameters including precontrast, postcontrast and reduction rate of T1 relaxation time and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured for differentiating MVI-positive HCCs (n=38) from MVI-negative HCCs (n=56). The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was analyzed to compare the diagnostic performance of the calculated parameters. Results: MVI-positive HCCs demonstrated a significantly lower reduction rate of T1 relaxation time than that of MVI-negative HCCs (39.4% vs 49.9, P<0.001). The areas under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were 0.587, 0.728, 0.824 and 0,690 for precontrast, postcontrast, reduction rate of T1 relaxation time and ADC, respectively. The cut-off value of the reduction rate and ADC calculated though maximal Youden index in ROC analyses was 44.9% and 1553.5 s/mm2. To achieve a better diagnostic performance, the criteria that combining the reduction rate lower than 44.9% and the ADC value lower than 1553.5 s/mm2 was proposed with a high specificity of 91.8% and accuracy of 80.9%. Conclusions: The criteria that combining the reduction rate of T1 relaxation time lower than 44.9% and the ADC value lower than 1553.5 s/mm2 on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI holds promise for evaluating MVI status of HCC.
Screening, cloning and expression patterns of phosphorus-related genes of Burkholderia multivorans WS-FJ9 at different phosphorus levels
Authors: Liu Yuqing , Wang Yahui , Kong Weiliang , Liu Wanhui , Xie Xingli , Wu Xiaoqin 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
As important plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) fix nitrogen, dissolve potassium, promote growth, improve the soil microenvironment, and enhance soil fertility. A high-efficiency PSB strain from the pine tree rhizosphere, Burkholderia multivorans WS-FJ9, was screened in our laboratory. In this study, we using a Bio Screener fully automatic microbial growth curve meter to determine the growth of the WS-FJ9 strain in phosphate-removing medium, the growth and mineral phosphate solubilization of WS-FJ9 were obtained by Mo-Sb colorimetry and organophosphate-degradation plate assays. Second-generation sequencing technology was used to obtain genomic information and analyze possible phosphorus decomposition genes. The quantitative expression of these genes under different phosphorus levels was determined by real-time PCR. The results showed that WS-FJ9 had strong adaptability and capacity for mineral phosphate solubilization at low phosphorus levels, which is characterized by its low phosphorus induction and high phosphorus inhibition.and the amount of solubilized mineral phosphate could exceed 140 mg/L. The total length of WS-FJ9 was 7,497,552 bp after splicing, and the GC content was 67.37%. Eight phosphate-related genes were selected for further study of their expression patterns at different phosphorus levels. Among them, AP-2, GspE and GspF were only related to organic phosphorus, HlyB was only related to inorganic phosphorus, and PhoR, PhoA, AP-1 and AP-3 were related to both. The strain utilizes multiple pathways for mineral phosphate solubilization, and the degradation processes of different phosphorus sources are interrelated and independent, indicating that WS-FJ9 can adapt to different phosphorus source environments and has good application potential.
Adenosine deaminase (ADA) characterization in saliva and serum samples of different animal species
Authors: Contreras-Aguilar María Dolores , Tvarijonaviciute Asta , Monkeviciene Ingrida , Martín-Cuervo María , Franco Lorena , Cerón José Joaquín , Tecles Fernando , Escribano Damian 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background The enzymatic activity of total adenosine deaminase (tADA) and its isoenzymes ADA1 and ADA2 were studied in canine, equine, porcine and bovine serum and saliva. Erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA) was used as a specific ADA1 inhibitor at different concentrations, and the distribution of the isoenzymes in serum and saliva was studied in different inflammatory situations in each species. Results Total ADA was present in serum and saliva of healthy animals of the four species. EHNA concentration of 0.47mM was needed for ADA1 inhibition in canine and porcine samples (serum and saliva) and bovine saliva, whereas for equine saliva 0.94mM was needed. ADA2 activity was not detected in bovine serum and was very low or absent in equine serum and bovine saliva. An automated procedure to measure ADA2 consisting of adding EHNA to a commercial reagent for tADA measurement provided repetitive (coefficients of variation <8.8% in serum and <10% in saliva) and accurate (linearity under dilution approaches gave R 2 >0.90) results, being equivalent to a manual incubation of the sample with EHNA at a similar concentration. Salivary tADA, as well as ADA1 and ADA2, were higher in dogs with leishmaniosis, horses with acute abdominal disease and pigs with lameness than in healthy animals. ADA showed significant correlation with serum ferritin in dogs ( r = 0.602, P < 0.01; r = 0.555, P < 0.05; and r = 0.632, P < 0.01; respectively for tADA, ADA1 and ADA2) and serum C-reactive protein in pigs ( r = 0.700, P < 0.01, for both tADA and ADA1; r = 0.770, P < 0.001, for ADA2), whereas salivary ADA2 significantly correlated with serum amyloid A in the horse ( r = 0.649, P < 0.01). In the cow, salivary tADA and ADA1 significantly increased after calving, being correlated with total white blood cell count ( r = 0.487, P < 0.05, both). Conclusions ADA activity, as well as its isoenzymes, can be measured in serum and saliva of different animal species, and the salivary levels of these analytes could potentially be inflammatory biomarkers in these species.