bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long non-coding RNA THOR promotes Ovarian Cancer cells progression via IL-6/STAT3 pathway
Authors: Ge Jing , Han Tao , Shan Lili , Na Jing , Li Ya , Wang Jun 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. The prognosis of OC remains poor due to the advanced stage and distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Recently, a novel lncRNA, THOR (testis-associated highly conserved oncogenic long non-coding RNA), was characterized in human cancers and shown to exhibit an oncogenic role. However, the role of THOR in OC remains unclear. Methods: RT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of THOR, p-STAT3 and IL-6. The impact of THOR on OC proliferation, metastasis and self-renewal was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The prognostic value of THOR was determined in OC patient cohorts. Results: In this study, our results find that THOR is markedly upregulated in human OC tissues and predicts the poor prognosis of OC patients. Functional studies have revealed that knockdown of THOR inhibits the growth, metastasis and self-renewal of OC cells. Mechanistically, THOR drives OC cell progression via the IL-6/STAT3 signaling. Moreover, the specific STAT3 inhibitor S3I-201 or IL-6R inhibitor tocilizumab diminish the discrepancy in the growth, metastatic and self-renewal capacity between THOR-silenced OC cells and control cells, which further confirm that IL-6/STAT3 is required in THOR-driven OC cells progression. Conclusion: Our findings reveal that THOR could promote OC cells growth, metastasis and self-renewal by activating IL-6/STAT3 signaling and may be a good predictive factor and therapeutic target.
Uptake of Intermittent Preventive Treatment for Malaria during Pregnancy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine in Malawi after adoption of updated World Health Organization policy: An Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey 2015-2016
Authors: Azizi Steven Chifundo 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: Malawi adopted the 2012 updated Word Health Organization (WHO) Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria during pregnancy with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) policy in 2013. This study aimed to estimate the proportion of and identify factors associated with the uptake of at least three doses of IPTp with SP among pregnant women in Malawi after the adoption and operationalisation of updated WHO IPTp-SP policy. Methods: The 2015-16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey dataset was analysed. Of 1,219 women aged 15-49 years who had live births and the children were born after the date of July 2015, 1,069 women were included in the analysis. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression were used in data analysis. The statistical analysis took into account a complex survey sample design. Results: Of the 1,069 women, 447 (42%, 95% CI: 38.1-45.6) received three (optimal) or more doses of IPTp-SP. Less than half (47%) managed to attend at least four antenatal care (ANC) clinics. Only 52% received optimal SP doses among those who made at least four ANC visits. Only the number of ANC visits was associated with the optimal uptake of SP. Women who attended ANC three times only and those who visited ANC once or twice only were less likely to receive at least three doses of SP than those who managed to attend ANC at least four times during pregnancy (AOR=0.71, 95% CI 0.49-1.02) and (AOR=0.12, 95% CI 0.06-0.21) respectively. Conclusions: To achieve effective malaria prevention in pregnancy, IPTP-SP is used alongside other interventions. However, there is low uptake of optimal SP doses in Malawi, and this seems to be associated with the number of ANC visits. Moreover, there is limited effectiveness of an increased number of ANC visits on the uptake of optimal SP doses. Further research should be done to explore health systems factors affecting uptake of optimal IPTp with SP doses during pregnancy.
Posttraumatic stress disorder and depression of survivors 12 months after the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in South Korea
Authors: Park Hye Yoon , Park Wan Beom , Lee So Hee , Kim Jeong Lan , Lee Jung Jae , Lee Haewoo , Shin Hyoung-Shik 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: The 2015 outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the Republic of Korea is a recent and representative occurrence of nationwide outbreaks of Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) . In addition to physical symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are common following outbreaks of EID. Methods: The present study investigated the long-term mental health outcomes and related risk factors in survivors of MERS. A prospective nationwide cohort study was conducted 12 months after the MERS outbreak at multi-centers throughout Korea. PTSD and depression as the main mental health outcomes were assessed with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised Korean version (IES-R-K) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) respectively. Results: 42.9% of survivors reported PTSD (IES-R-K ≥ 25) and 27.0% reported depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) at 12 months post-MERS. A multivariate analysis revealed that anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.76; 95%CI, 1.29–25.58; P = 0.021), and a greater recognition of stigma (aOR, 11.09, 95%CI, 2.28–53.90; P = 0.003) during the MERS-affected period were independent predictors of PTSD at 12 months after the MERS outbreak. Having a family member who died from MERS predicted the development of depression (aOR, 12.08, 95%CI, 1.47–99.19; P = 0.020). Conclusion: This finding implies that psychosocial factors, particularly during the outbreak phase, influenced the mental health of patients over a long-term period. Mental health support among the infected subjects and efforts to reduce stigma may improve recovery from psychological distress in an EID outbreak.
Association of TB treatment initiation delay with clinical severity and risk of transmission among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study
Authors: Tedla kiros , Medhin Girmay , Berhe Gebretsadik , Mulgeta Afework , Berhe Nega 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background Delayed treatment initiation of tuberculosis (TB) increases disease progression and development of complications which may lead to a higher risk of transmission, clinical severity and increased mortality. But, published evidences that investigated the effect of delayed initiation of treatment on clinical severity and risk of transmission of pulmonary tuberculosis patients is scarce in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Objective To investigate the association of delayed treatment initiation of Pulmonary Tuberculosis with clinical severity and risk of transmission. Methods In this cross-sectional study design, a total of 875 newly diagnosed adult pulmonary tuberculosis patients were recruited from 21 health facilities from October 2018 to October 2019. Health facilities were selected by simple random sampling method and the study participants were enrolled consecutively. Data were collected using questionnaires through face-to-face interviews of patients within the first 2 weeks of treatment initiation. Clinical severity was assessed by Bandim tuberculosis score and risk of transmission was assessed by smear positivity or lung cavitations. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 software program. Logistic regression analysis was used to ascertain the association of delay with clinical severity and risk of transmission. P-value of less than 0.05 was reported as being statistically significant. Results Those who had initiating treatment without delay and those who were initiated treatment after a medium delay of 31 to 60 days were significantly associated with decreased clinical score compared to those who initiated treatment after a delay of more than two months. Compared with patients who were initiated treatment within one month, the risk of transmission was greater for delay of 30-60 days and above 60 days. Patients having more than 3 family members have higher risk to transmit TB as compared to those who have maximum of 3 family members. Whereas, patients having at least two rooms and being HIV negative have lower risk to transmit TB compared to their counter patients. Conclusion Narrowing the gap between initial occurrence of TB symptoms and treatment initiation is the way forward to improve clinical courses of TB patients and to reduce the risk of transmission of TB to other people from these patients.
Performance of Xpert® MTB/RIF in diagnosing tuberculous pleuritis using thoracoscopic pleural biopsies
Authors: Li Chengjun , Liu Chang , Sun Bingqi , Zhang Wei , Wang Yang , Sun Jiao , Ma Fang , Chen Yu 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: Etiological diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis is challenging owing to the low number of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) cells in the affected region. Moreover, currently available methods, such as detection of acid-fast bacilli and microbiological cultures, are not always conducive to timely diagnosis and treatment. Objectives: We evaluated the performance of GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay (referred to as “Xpert” hereafter) in detecting MTB in difficult-to-diagnose patients using suspensions of pleural biopsy tissue specimens under direct thoracoscopic guidance. Methods: All suspected patients with pleural effusion who visited Shenyang Tenth People’s Hospital and Shenyang Chest Hospital between 2017 and 2018 were screened. Excluding the confirmed patients, the remaining 160 patients with unexplained pleural effusion underwent local anesthesia, and an intercostal incision of approximately 1.0 cm was made for biopsy. The specimen was used for pathological and etiological examination. The performance of Xpert MTB/RIF test was evaluated for its sensitivity, specificity, and the positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively) against the gold standards, MGIT 960 culture, and a composite reference standard (CRS). Results: The sensitivity and specificity of Xpert were 69.84% and 66.67%, respectively against those of MGIT 960. The PPV and NPV of Xpert were 59.46% and 75.95%, respectively. The sensitivity of Xpert was 70.27% against CRS, which was significantly higher than that of MGIT at 59.26%. The PPV and NPV of Xpert against CRS were 100.0% and 58.75%, respectively. Conclusions: Xpert showed better sensitivity than MGIT in the pleural biopsy and is a potential tool for diagnosing tuberculous pleuritis.
Analysis of Retractions from Hospitals in Mainland China from 2017-2019
Authors: Zhao Tianye , Dai Tiancong , Lun Zhijun , Gao Yanli 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the features of retractions from hospitals in mainland China, and to discuss the causes of research misconduct by Chinese doctors.Research Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Retraction Watch Database were searched to collect eligible records and to extract characteristics of the included entries, including publishers and Open Access status of the journals involved, ORCID, PubPeer comments before the retraction, whether there are authors from Grade A, Third-class hospitals, and whether there are response or requirements from authors.Results: 521 retractions were included. Retractions were found primarily from authors of grade A, third-class hospitals, a limited regions, and published in journals with medium and high impact factor. The main reasons for retractions were Data Manipulation/Fabrication/Fraud(27.1%), Error by Author(19.9%), Plagiarism(16.7%), Self-Plagiarism(9.1%), Fake Peer Review(7.6%) and Forged Authorship(6.3%). Most of the retracted publications have neither ORCID nor PubPeer comments before their retraction.Conclusion: This is the first report focus on the retractions from hospitals in mainland China. The large number of retractions from Chinese hospitals in recent years is worrying. The results suggests that some retractions are related to third-parties. Some features of retractions are centralized, and it is difficult to evaluate the role of ORCID and PubPeer in the retractions during this period.
Five-year longitudinal study of frailty prevalence and course assessed using the Kihon Checklist among community-dwelling older adults in Japan
Authors: Ohashi Masayuki , Yoda Takuya , Imai Norio , Fujii Toshihide , Watanabe Kei , Tashi Hideki , Shibuya Yohei , Watanabe Jin , Endo Naoto 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: The natural course of scores of the Kihon Checklist, one of the promising tools used for frailty screening, is unknown. We aimed to analyze the 5-year natural course of frailty as assessed using the Kihon Checklist in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: We used the data from the postal Kihon Checklist survey conducted by the municipal government between 2011 and 2016. The sample of the current study consisted of 551 older adults (265 men and 286 women) aged 65-70 years in 2011, who responded to the postal Kihon Checklist both in 2011 and in 2016. A Kihon Checklist score of 0 to 3 was considered an indicator of robustness, 4 to 7 of prefrailty, and 8 or higher of frailty. Group comparisons were performed with significance set at p<0.05. To identify independent risk factors for a transition towards frailty, a logistic regression analysis was performed using factors of p <0.20 in the group comparisons. Results: The median Kihon Checklist score significantly increased from 2 (interquartile range, 1-3) in 2011 to 3 (1-5) in 2016 (p<0.001). Hence, the prevalence of frailty significantly increased from 8.0% to 12.3% (p<0.001) during the same period. Regarding the 5-year transitions in frailty status, the majority (68.3%) of older adults remained unchanged, while 21.4% transitioned towards a worse frailty status, and 10.3% towards an improved status. Of the 507 respondents who were robust or prefrail at the baseline, 44 experienced a transition towards frailty, indicating that the 5-year incidence of frailty was 8.7%. These 44 individuals had higher body mass indexes and lower physical activity scores on the Kihon Checklist than the others (p<0.05). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that the physical activity score of the Kihon Checklist independently predicted a transition towards frailty in 5 years (odds ratio, 1.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–2.15; p=0.009). Conclusions: This study was the first to evaluate the course of frailty status, assessed using the Kihon Checklist in community-dwelling elderly adults, and should provide reference data to evaluate the effects of frailty interventions. Additionally, our results suggest that maintaining optimal physical activity should be recommended to prevent transition towards frailty.
miR-432 is a novel biomarker for PCNSL and is associated with cell adhesion: An integrated bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Ma Qiang 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), a rare form of the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), usually has a poor prognosis, and molecular pathogenesis of PCNSL has not been fully elucidated. Here, potential miRNA biomarkers were investigated in patients with PCNSL using an integrated bioinformatics analysis. Methods: Expression profile arrays (GSE122011, GSE139031, and GSE25297) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Free-scale miRNA co-expression networks were constructed with 27 PCNSL patients from GSE122011 by the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) in order to identify candidate biomarkers. Subsequently, miRNA-miRNA networks were visualized with the Cytoscape. Expression of candidate miRNAs was assessed in serum samples from GSE139031, including 42 PCNSL patients and 77 non-cancer individuals, and the sensitivity and the specificity were assessed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. From GSE25297, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the PCNSL tissues (n = 7) and the normal lymph nodes (n = 7) were compared, target genes of candidate miRNAs were downloaded from TargetScan database, and target genes that were also down-regulated in GSE25297 were used to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and for the gene ontology (GO) analysis. Results: miRNAs were clustered into two groups with 8 modules in 27 patients with PCNSL. One group consisted of the yellow and the turquoise modules, and the second group consisted of the other six modules. In the miRNA-miRNA network, the highest nodes were observed between miR-432 and miR-330-3p, which were from the yellow and the turquoise modules, and only miR-432 was closely associated with both the yellow (0.977, P = 2.88E -18 ) and the turquoise modules (0.525, P = 0.005). Additionally, patients with PCNSL had higher serum miR-432 expression compared with that in the non-cancer controls in GSE139031, and miR-432 has a higher accuracy for discriminating between PCNSL and non-cancer samples (AUC: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.6923 to 0.8550). For target genes of miR-432, RASGRF , DGKG , SMIM22 , SPOCD1 , NRCAM , CNTN2 , PTPRD , POTED , IGSF3 , SLC24A2 , CTNND2 , AIF1L , TMEM229A , GLDN , and MOBP were down-regulated in the PCNSL tissues. Among them, CTNND2 , GLDN , NRCAM , and PTPRD were associated with cell adhesion. Conclusion: Up-regulated miR-432 expression is a novel biomarker for patients with PCNSL and may be associated with cell adhesion.
Molecular allergen sensitization of Aspergillus fumigatus in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in Guangzhou, Southern China
Authors: Luo Wenting , Hu Haisheng , Wu Zehong , Wei Nili , Huang Huimin , Zheng Peiyan , Sun Baoqing , Liu Yong 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background Few studies have assessed the sensitization of mycotic allergens and Aspergillus fumigatus molecular allergen. This study aimed to investigate the connection between A.fumigatus components and mycotic allergens between allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) patients and A. fumigatus (Af)-sensitized asthma. Methods Serum Penicillium chrysogenum , Cladosporium herbarum , Mucor racemosus , Candida albicans , Alternaria alternata , Helminthosporium halodes and A.fumigatus allergen components (Asp f 1, Asp f 2, Asp f 3, Asp f 4, and Asp f 6) sIgE level were measured via ImmunoCAP assay in 18 ABPA patients and 54 Af-sensitized asthma patients in Guangzhou city. Results 94.44% of ABPA patients and 87.04% of Af-sensitized asthma patients were co-sensitization to at least one another fungal allergen. The positivity rates of C. albicans ( P < 0.05) and A.alternata ( P < 0.05) were higher in ABPA than that in Af-sensitized asthma patients. The positive rates of Asp f 1 (88.89% vs 59.26%, P < 0.05), Asp f 2 (66.67% vs 33.33%, P < 0.05), Asp f 4 (61.11% vs 33.33%, P < 0.05), and Asp f 6 (66.67% vs 14.81%, P < 0.001) in ABPA were higher than those in Af-sensitized asthma patients. Patients with ABPA had higher IgE levels of Asp f 1 ( P < 0.05), Asp f 4 ( P < 0.05) and Asp f 6 ( P < 0.001) than those of Af-sensitized asthma patients. A.fumigatus was strongly correlated with C.herbarum ( r s = 0.688) in ABPA and A.alternata ( r s = 0.692) in Af-sensitized asthma patients. Optimal scale analysis was show that ABPA was more relevant to Af-components. (Cronbach`s alpha = 90.7%) Conclusion The A.fumigatus components and it`s connection with various mycotic allergens were different in ABPA and Af-sensitized asthma patients. This findings can expected to help local doctors in the diagnosis and immunotherapy of fungal allergies.
Microbial succession during the transition from active to inactive stages of deep-sea hydrothermal vent sulfide chimneys
Authors: Hou Jialin , Sievert Stefan M. , Wang Yinzhao , Seewald Jeff S. , Natarajan Vengadesh Perumal , Wang Fengping , Xiao Xiang 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are highly productive, yet ephemeral biodiversity hotspots in the deep ocean supported by chemosynthetic microorganisms that play critical roles in the maintenance and development of these extreme ecosystems. While several studies have investigated the microbial diversity in both active and inactive sulfide chimneys that have been extinct for a long time, little is known about chimneys that ceased activity more recently as well as the microbial succession occurring during the transition from active to inactive chimneys. Results Genome-resolved metagenomics was applied to an active and a recently ceased (~7 years) sulfide chimney from the 9°50'N hydrothermal vent field on the East Pacific Rise. Full-length 16S rRNA gene and a total of 173 high quality metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) were retrieved for comparative analysis. In the active chimney (EPR-L), sulfide- and/or hydrogen-oxidizing Campylobacteria and Aquificae with the potential for denitrification were identified as the dominant community members and primary producers, fixing carbon through the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle. In contrast, the microbiome of the recently extinct chimney (EPR-M) was largely composed of heterotrophs from various bacterial phyla, including Delta -/ Beta -/ Alphaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes . Gammaproteobacteria were identified as the main primary producers, using the oxidation of metal sulfides and/or iron oxidation coupled to nitrate reduction to fix carbon through the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle. Further analysis revealed a phylogenetically distinct Nitrospirae cluster that has the potential to oxidize sulfide minerals coupled to oxygen and/or nitrite reduction, as well as for sulfate reduction, and that might serve as an indicator for the early stages of chimneys after venting has ceased. Conclusions This study shed light on the composition, metabolic functions, and succession of microbial communities in deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimneys. Collectively, microbial succession during the life span of a chimney could be described to go from a "fluid-shaped" microbial community in newly formed and actively venting chimneys to a "mineral-shaped" community after hydrothermal activity has ceased. Remarkably, the transition appears to happen early on, after which the communities stay stable for thousands of years.
Increased serum calpain activity is associated with HMGB1 levels in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Zheng Ji-Na , Li Yang , Yan Yue-Mei , Yu Yong , Shao Wen-Qi , Wang Qiang 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) or scleroderma is an intractable autoimmune disorder that affects multiple organs. The objectives were to investigate clinical correlations of serum calpain activity and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) levels with immunological and clinical traits. Methods A total of 31 patients with SSc, 20 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects (HC) and 10 patients with other connective tissue diseases (CTD) were recruited in the study. We measured serum calpain activity and HMGB1 levels and analyzed the datasets (GSE40839, GSE48149, GSE76808, GSE81292 and GSE33463) from gene expression omnibus (GEO) database to explore potential mechanism by which calpain exerts its function through bioinformatics methods. Results Serum calpain activity was significantly increased in patients with SSc compared with those in HC and in patients with CTD and was correlated with serum HMGB1 levels, modified Rodnan skin score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mean platelet volume and plateletcrit. Notably, serum calpain activity and HMGB1 levels in SSc patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) were significantly higher than that in SSc patients without ILD. Serum calpain activity and HMGB1 levels could be the independent risk factors for SSc-ILD and novel biomarkers in patients with SSc. Conclusion This is the first study that reports increased serum calpain activity and the correlation between calpain and HMGB1 in patients with SSc or SSc-ILD. The serum calpain activity and HMGB1 levels may serve as measures of ILD in patients with SSc. Also, calpain and HMGB1 could be potentially therapeutic targets for patients with SSc or SSc-ILD in the future.