bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anti-Platelet Aggregation of Panax Notoginseng Triol Saponins by Regulating GP1BA for Ischemic Stroke Therapy
Authors: Xu Zhiyi , Xu Yang , Xie Xiaofang , Tian Yin , Sui Junhui , Sun Yong , Lin Dasheng , Gao Xing , Peng Cheng , Fan Yujiang 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background: Panax notoginseng triol saponins (PTS) has been used clinically for ischemic stroke therapy (IST) in China for more than sixteen years due to its anti-platelet aggregation and neuro-protective effects, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. In this study, anti-platelet aggregation-related protein analysis and computer simulations of drug-protein binding interactions were performed to explore the mechanism of the effects of PTS against ischemic stroke in an ischemia reperfusion model. Methods: Three oral doses of PTS were administered in a model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Panax notoginseng total saponins (PNS) and a combination of PTS and aspirin were chosen for comparison. To evaluate therapeutic effects and explore possible mechanisms of anti-platelet aggregation, we measured cerebral infarct size and water content in brain tissue, histomorphological changes, expression of related factors (such as arachidonic acid metabolites) and platelet receptors in serum, as well as the binding affinity of PTS for platelet adhesion receptors. Results: Compared with PNS, PTS showed a stronger and more extensive anti-platelet aggregation effect in MCAO model rats. The combination of PTS and aspirin could reduce adverse gastrointestinal effects by regulating the TXA2/PGI2 ratio. PTS was found to regulate Glycoprotein Ib-α (GP1BA) in a model animal for the first time, and they had a relatively stable binding ability, especially ginsenoside Rg1 and GP1BA, which could form a stable structure. However, PTS could reduce von Willebrand factor (VWF)-mediated platelet adhesion to damaged vascular endothelium, and thus enhance the probability of anti-platelet aggregation and anti-thrombosis under pathological conditions.Conclusions: Our results showed that GP1BA was closely related to the anti-platelet aggregation action of PTS, which provided new scientific evidence for its clinical application.
Comparative transcriptomic analysis of antimony resistant and susceptible Leishmania infantum lines
Authors: Andrade Juvana Moreira , Gonçalves Leilane Oliveira , Liarte Daniel Barbosa , Lima Davi Alvarenga , Guimarães Frederico Gonçalves , Resende Daniela , Santi Ana Maria Murta , de Oliveira Luciana Marcia , Velloso João Paulo Linhares , Delfino Renato Guimarães , Pescher Pascale , Späth Gerald F. , Ruiz Jeronimo Conceição , Murta Silvane Maria Fonseca 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background: One of the major challenges for leishmaniasis treatment is the emergence of parasites resistant to antimony. In order to study differentially expressed genes associated with drug resistance we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis between wild-type and potassium antimonyl tartrate (SbIII)-resistant Leishmania infantum lines using high-throughput RNA sequencing.Methods: All the cDNA libraries were constructed from promastigote forms of each line, sequenced and analyzed using STAR for mapping the reads against the reference genome (L. infantum JPCM5) and DESeq2 for differential expression statistical analyses. All the genes were functionally annotated using sequence similarity search.Results: The analytical pipeline considering an adjusted p-value lower than 0.05 and fold change greater than 2.0 identified 933 transcripts differentially expressed (DE) between wild-type and SbIII-resistant L. infantum lines. Out of 933 DE transcripts, 504 presented functional annotation and 429 were assigned as hypothetical proteins. A total of 837 transcripts were upregulated and 96 were downregulated in the SbIII-resistant L. infantum line. Using this DE dataset, the proteins were further grouped in functional classes according to the Gene Ontology database. The functional enrichment analysis for biological processes showed that the upregulated transcripts in the SbIII-resistant line are associated with protein phosphorylation, microtubule-based movement, ubiquitination, host-parasite interaction, cellular process and other categories. The downregulated transcripts in the SbIII-resistant line are assigned in the GO categories: ribonucleoprotein complex, ribosome biogenesis, rRNA processing, nucleosome assembly and translation.Conclusions: The transcriptomic profile of L. infantum showed a robust set of genes from different metabolic pathways associated with antimony resistance phenotype in this parasite. Our results address the complex and multifactorial antimony resistance mechanisms in Leishmania, identifying several candidate genes that may be further evaluated as molecular targets for chemotherapy of leishmaniasis.
Whole microbial community viability is not quantitatively reflected by propidium monoazide sequencing approach
Authors: Wang Ya , Yan Yan , Thompson Kelsey N. , Bae Sena , Accorsi Emma K. , Zhang Yancong , Shen Jiaxian , Vlamakis Hera , Hartmann Erica M. , Huttenhower Curtis 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background High-throughput sequencing provides a powerful window into the structural and functional profiling of microbial communities, but it is unable to characterize only the viable portion of microbial communities at scale. There is as yet not one best solution to this problem. Previous studies have established viability assessments using propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment coupled with downstream molecular profiling (e.g. qPCR or sequencing). While these studies have met with moderate success, most of them focused on the resulting “viable” communities without systematic evaluations of the technique. Here, we present our work to rigorously benchmark “PMA-seq” (PMA treatment followed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing) for viability assessment in synthetic and realistic microbial communities. Results PMA-seq was able to successfully reconstruct simple synthetic communities comprising viable/heat-killed Escherichia coli and Streptococcus sanguinis. However, in realistically complex communities (computer screens, computer mice, soil and human saliva) with E. coli spike-in controls, PMA-seq did not accurately quantify viability (even relative to variability in amplicon sequencing), with its performance largely affected by community properties such as initial biomass, sample types and compositional diversity. We then applied this technique to environmental swabs from the Boston subway system. Several taxa differed significantly after PMA treatment, while not all microorganisms responded consistently. To elucidate the “PMA-responsive” microbes, we compared our results with previous PMA-based studies and found that PMA-responsiveness varied widely when microbes were sourced from different ecosystems but were reproducible within similar environments across studies. Conclusions This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of PMA-seq exploring its quantitative potential in synthetic and complex microbial communities, where the technique was effective for semi-quantitative purposes in simple synthetic communities, but provided only qualitative assessments in realistically complex community samples.
An Intersectional Analysis Providing More Precise Information on Inequities in Self-Rated Health
Authors: Wemrell Maria , Karlsson Nadja , Vicente Raquel Perez , Merlo Juan 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background: Intersectionality theory combined with an analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy (AIHDA) can facilitate our understanding of health disparities. This enables the application of proportionate universalism for resource allocation in public health. Analyzing self-rated health (SRH) in Sweden, we show how an intersectional perspective allows for a detailed mapping of health inequalities while avoiding simplification and stigmatization based on indiscriminate interpretations of differences between group averages.Methods: We analyzed participants (n=133,244) in 14 consecutive National Public Health Surveys conducted in Sweden in 2004-2016 and 2018. Applying AIHDA, we investigated the risk of bad SRH across 12 intersectional strata defined by gender, income and migration status, adjusted by age and survey year. We calculated odds ratios (with 95% confidence intervals) to evaluate between-strata differences, using native-born men with high income as the comparison reference. We calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AU-ROC) to evaluate the discriminatory accuracy of the intersectional strata for identifying individuals according to their SRH status.Results: The analysis of intersectional strata showed clear average differences in the risk of bad SRH. For instance, the risk was seven times higher for immigrated women with low income (OR 7.00 [95% CI 6.14-7.97]) than for native men with high income. However, the discriminatory accuracy of the intersectional strata was small (AU-ROC=0.67).Conclusions: The intersectional AIHDA approach provides more precise information on the existence (or the absence) of health inequalities, and can guide public health interventions according to the principle of proportionate universalism. The low discriminatory accuracy of the intersectional strata found in this study warrants universal interventions rather than interventions exclusively focused on strata with a higher average risk of bad SRH.
Reduced human-biting preferences of the African malaria vectors Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae in an urban context: controlled, competitive host-preference experiments in Tanzania
Authors: Mlacha Yeromin P , Chaki Prosper P. , Muhili Athuman , Massue Dennis J. , Tanner Marcel , Majambere Silas , Killen Gerry F , Govella Nicodem J. 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
BackgroundHost preference is a critical determinant of human exposure to vector-borne infections and the impact of vector control interventions. Widespread use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) across sub-Saharan Africa, which protect humans against mosquitoes, may select for altered host preference traits of malaria vectors over the long term. Here, the host preferences of Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) were experimentally assessed in the field, using direct host-preference assays in two distinct ecological settings in Tanzania.MethodsEight Ifakara Tent Trap (ITT), four baited with humans and four with bovine calves, were simultaneously used to catch malaria vectors in open field sites in urban and rural Tanzania. The numbers of mosquitoes collected in human-baited traps versus calf-baited traps were used to estimate human feeding preference for each site's vector species. ResultsThe estimated proportion [95% confidence interval (CI)] of mosquitoes attacking humans rather than cattle was 0.60 [0.40, 0.77] for An. arabiensis in the rural setting and 0.61 [0.32, 0.85] for An. gambiae s.s. in the urban setting, indicating no preference for either host in both cases (P=0.32 and 0.46, respectively) and no difference in preference between the two (Odds Ratio (OR) [95%] = 0.95 [0.30, 3.01], P=0.924). However, only a quarter of An. arabiensis in the urban setting attacked humans (0.25 [0.09, 0.53]), indicating a preference for cattle that approached significance (P=0.08). Indeed, urban An. arabiensis were less likely to attack humans rather than cattle when compared to the same species in the rural setting (OR [95%] = 0.21 [0.05, 0.91], P =0.037). ConclusionUrban An. arabiensis had a stronger preference for cattle than the rural population and urban An. gambiae s.s. showed no clear preference for either humans or cattle. In the urban setting, both species exhibited stronger tendencies to attack cattle than previous studies of the same species in rural contexts. Cattle keeping may, therefore, particularly limit the impact of human-targeted vector control interventions in Dar es Salaam and perhaps in other African towns and cities.
Development and Validation of a Model for Individualized Prediction of Cervical Insufficiency Risks in Patients undergoing IVF/ICSI Treatment
Authors: Wu Yaoqiu , Liang Xiaoyan , Cai Meihong , Gao Linzhi , Lan Jie , Yang Xing 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background: Women who conceived with in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes than women who conceived naturally. Cervical insufficiency (CI) is one of the important causes of miscarriage and premature birth, however there is no published data available focusing on the potential risk factors predicting CI occurrence in women who received IVF/ICSI treatment. This study aimed to identify the risk factors that could be integrated into a predictive model for CI, which could provide further personalized and clinically specific information related to the incidence of CI after IVF/ICSI treatment.Patients and methods: This retrospective study included 4710 patients who conceived after IVF/ICSI treatment from Jan 2011 to Dec 2018 at a public university hospital. The patients were randomly divided into development (n = 3108) and validation (n = 1602) samples for the building and testing of the nomogram, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was developed on the basis of pre-pregnancy clinical covariates assessed for their association with CI occurrence.Results: A total of 109 patients (2.31%) experienced CI among all the enrolled patients. Body mass index (BMI), basal serum testosterone (T), gravidity and uterine length were associated with CI occurrence. The statistical nomogram was built based on BMI, serum T, gravidity and uterine length, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.84 (95% confidence interval: 0.76 - 0.90) for the developing cohort. The AUC for the validation cohort was 0.71 (95% confidence interval: 0.69 - 0.83), showing a satisfactory goodness-of-fit and discrimination ability in this nomogram.Conclusion: The user-friendly nomogram which graphically represents the risk factors and a pre-pregnancy predicted tool for the incidence of CI in patients undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment, provides a useful guide for medical staff on individualized decisions making, where preventive measures could be carried out during the IVF/ICSI procedure and subsequent pregnancy.
Seeking Research Questions from Implementers: Considerations for Leveraging Ground Actors Research Needs in the Fight against Malaria in West Africa.
Authors: Amouh Tete Sitou , Ekoye Saidou Malam , Ahanhanzo Césaire Damien , Guiguemdé Tinga Robert , Sombié Issiaka 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
In Sahel countries in West Africa malaria remains a public health scourge. To strengthen the fight against malaria, weaknesses, and solutions must be identified before programs implementation. This study reports experiences gained from collaborations between decision-makers and researchers. This project was undertaken in the framework of the regional World Bank funded project titled: Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Sahel (SM/NTD). The objectives of this World Bank program are to identifying bottlenecks in program implementation as well as the related research questions they enticed. National malaria control program managers and prioritization workshops were used as working method to identify research questions. These identified priority research questions were implemented in selected countries. The results of this study showed that priority issues were related to prevention, governance, drugs, monitoring, and evaluation of programs. The first five priority questions were related to (1) factors of compliance with drug doses for the second and third days during the seasonal chemoprevention (SMC) campaigns, (2) the contribution of community-based distributors to the management of severe cases of malaria in under 5 years-old children, (3) the SMC efficacy, (4) artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) tolerance and efficacy according to existing guidelines, and (5) the quality of malaria control at all levels of the health system. In conclusion, this work showed the effectiveness of collaboration between implementers, programs managers, and researchers in identifying research questions. Furthermore, the results of this study will contribute to improve the implementation of malaria control programs across African countries.
Sex and nest type influence avian blood parasite prevalence in a high elevation bird community
Authors: Rodriguez Marina D. , Doherty Paul F. , Piaggio Antoinette J. , Huyvaert Kathryn P. 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background - Prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites and the factors influencing infection in the Colorado Rocky Mountains are largely unknown. With climate change expected to promote the expansion of vector and avian blood parasite distributions, baseline knowledge and continued monitoring of the prevalence and diversity of these parasites is needed. Methods - Using an occupancy modeling framework, we conducted a survey of haemosporidian parasite species infecting an avian community in the Colorado Rocky Mountains in order to estimate prevalence and diversity of blood parasites and to investigate species-level and individual-level characteristics that may influence infection. Results - We estimated prevalence and diversity of avian haemosporidia across 24 bird species, detecting 39 parasite haplotypes. We found that open cup nesters have higher Haemoproteus prevalence than cavity or ground nesters. Additionally, we found that male Ruby-crowned Kinglets, White-crowned Sparrows, and Wilson’s Warblers have higher Haemoproteus prevalence compared to other host species. Plasmodium prevalence was relatively low (5%), consistent with the idea that competent vectors may be rare at high altitudes. Conclusions - Our study presents baseline knowledge of haemosporidian parasite presence, prevalence, and diversity among avian species in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and adds to our knowledge of host-parasite relationships of blood parasites and their avian hosts.
Anemoside B4 ameliorates TNBS-induced colitis through S100A9/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Yong , Zha Zhengxia , Shen Wenhua , Li Dan , Kang Naixin , Chen Zhong , Liu Yanli , Xu Guoqiang , Xu Qiongming 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background: Despite the increased morbidity of ulcerative colitis (UC) in the developing countries, available treatments remain unsatisfactory. Therefore, it is urgent to discover more effective therapeutic strategies. Pulsatilla chinensis was widely used for the treatment of inflamed intestinal diseases including UC for thousands of years in China. Anemoside B4, the most abundant triterpenoid saponin isolated from P. chinensis, exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and may be the most active compounds, which is responsible for the therapeutic effects. However, the mechanism how anemoside B4 executes its biological functions is still elusive.Methods: Here, we used the 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis rat model to evaluate the therapeutic effect of anemoside B4. Blood samples of colitis rats were collected for hematology analysis. The inflammation-associated factors were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell proliferation and apoptosis was determined with EdU cell proliferation assay and TUNEL assay. The proteins regulated by anemoside B4 were identified by label-free quantitative proteomics. The significantly down-regulated proteins were verified by Western blotting analysis. mRNA expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.Results: The results showed that anemoside B4 ameliorated TNBS-induced colitis symptoms, including tissue damage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, apoptosis and slowed proliferation in colon. Quantitative proteomic analyses discovered that 56 proteins were significantly altered by anemoside B4 in the TNBS-induced rats. These proteins mainly clustered in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and respiratory electron transport chain. Among the altered proteins, S100A9 is one of the most significantly down-regulated proteins and associated with NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of UC. Further experiments revealed that anemoside B4 suppressed the expression of S100A9 and its downstream genes including TLR4 and NF-κB in colon. In vitro, anemoside B4 could inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway induced by recombinant S100A9 protein in human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells. Moreover, anemoside B4 inhibits neutrophils recruitment and activation in colon induced by TNBS.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that anemoside B4 prevents TNBS-induced colitis by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway through deactivating S100A9, suggesting that anemoside B4 is a promising therapeutic candidate for colitis.
SARS-CoV-2 Infected Cardiomyocytes Recruit Monocytes by Secreting CCL2
Authors: Chen Shuibing , Yang Liuliu , Nilsson-Payant Benjamin , Han Yuling , Jaffré Fabrice , Zhu Jiajun , Wang Pengfei , Zhang Tuo , Redmond David , Houghton Sean , Møller Rasmus , Hoagland Daisy , Horiuchi Shu , Acklin Joshua , Lim Jean , Bram Yaron , Richardson Chanel , Chandar Vasuretha , Borczuk Alain , Huang Yaoxing , Xiang Jenny , Ho David , Schwartz Robert , tenOever Benjamin , Evans Todd 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Heart injury has been reported in up to 20% of COVID-19 patients, yet the cause of myocardial histopathology remains unknown. In order to study the cause of myocardial pathology in COVID-19 patients, we used a hamster model to determine whether following infection SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, can be detected in heart tissues. Here, we clearly demonstrate that viral RNA and nucleocapsid protein is present in cardiomyocytes in the hearts of infected hamsters. Interestingly, functional cardiomyocyte associated gene expression was decreased in infected hamster hearts, corresponding to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS). This data using an animal model was further validated using autopsy heart samples of COVID-19 patients. Moreover, we show that both human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-derived CMs) and adult cardiomyocytes (CMs) can be infected by SARS-CoV-2 and that CCL2 is secreted upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, leading to monocyte recruitment. Increased CCL2 expression and macrophage infiltration was also observed in the hearts of infected hamsters. Using single cell RNA-seq, we also show that macrophages are able to decrease SARS-CoV-2 infection of CMs. Overall, our study provides direct evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infects CMs in vivo and proposes a mechanism of immune-cell infiltration and pathology in heart tissue of COVID-19 patients.
On track to the stomach! ! Cortrak® for the insertion of nasogastric tubes amongst neuroscience patients – how effective is it?
Authors: Woon Caroline 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Nasogastric tube feeding is common amongst neuroscience patients and they are typically placed blindly at the bedside. However, the procedure for inserting feeding tubes has remained time consuming with misplacement into the lungs still occurring. Methods for checking nasogastric tube placement have evolved over time but complications remain.
The Cortrak® 2 enteral access system (EAS) uses a computer screen for real-time placement viewing using an electromagnetic stylet to avoid the complications of blind tube insertion. A trial was commenced to determine whether the Cortrak® 2 is accurate for nasogastric tube placement and whether this eliminates the use of x-ray.
The trial also examined whether the Corgrip® NG/NJ feeding tube retention system would prevent the need for reinsertion of nasogastric tubes and reduce the need for a one on one health care assistant watch to prevent removal. Super users were trained to insert the Cortrak® nasogastric tubes and the Corgrip® feeding tube retention system. The trial demonstrated favourable results and these will be presented.