bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in primary colorectal cancer and metastases
Authors: Martin Steve Zacharias , Tagscherer Katrin E. , Deckert Stefanie , Horst David , Moehler Markus , Lang Hauke , Roth Wilfried 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background

Precise prognostic biomarkers are urgently needed to improve treatment and hence prognosis for patients with metastasized colorectal carcinoma. Tumor-infiltrating CD3 and CD8 positive lymphocytes have been shown to robustly predict survival of colorectal cancer in stages I-III in retro- and prospective studies. Their clinical value in metastasized tumors or the role of other types of immune cells is not well known.
Methods

We performed a detailed characterization of tumor infiltrating immune cells of primary colorectal cancer and metastases of 55 patients. Immune infiltrates were assessed visually and digitally.
Results

High densities of CD3, CD8, CD20, CD4, CD45R0, CD68, FOXP3, PD1 and PD-L1- positive cells in both primary colorectal cancer and metastases were significantly associated with prolonged survival in univariate and multivariate analysis. For CD3-CD8 immunoscore, CD8-CD20 TB cell score, CD45R0, CD68 and PD1 the evaluation of metastatic immune infiltrates showed superior hazard ratios, compared to evaluation of primary tumor-infiltrating immune cells (hazard ratio = 9.2; 5.7; 8.9; 5.7; 6.0, respectively). In case of FOXP3, CD4 and PD-L1 the combined evaluation of primary and metastatic immune infiltrates increased prognostic precision even further (hazard ratio = 5.7; 19.6 and 8.5, respectively). Visual analysis confirmed digital image analysis, but showed inferior hazard ratios.
Conclusions

A broad range of types of immune infiltrates predicts longer survival in metastasized colorectal cancer patients. Of all immune infiltrates, CD4 showed the highest prognostic precision. The combined assessment in primary colorectal cancer and metastases is valuable in most cases. Thus, automated digital analysis of immune infiltrates in colorectal metastases could improve the prognostic stratification of patients.
Indications of Lymph Node Metastasis and Survival Analysis in T1N+M0 Gastric Cancer: a Population-Based Study
Authors: Jin Peng , Li Yang , Ma Shuai , Kang Wenzhe , Liu Hao , Ma Fuhai , Hu Haitao , Li Weikun , Tian Yantao 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background

Since the definition of early gastric cancer (EGC) was first proposed in 1971, the treatment of gastric cancer with or without lymph node metastasis (LNM) has changed a lot. The present study aims to identify risk factors for LNM and prognosis, and to further evaluate the indications for adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in T1N + M0 gastric cancer.
Methods

A total of 1291 patients with T1N + M0 gastric cancer were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for LNM. The effect of LNM on overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) was compared with patients grouped into T1N0-1 and T1N2-3, as the indications for AC.
Results

The rate of LNM was 19.52%. Multivariate analyses showed age, tumor size, invasion depth, and type of differentiation and retrieved LNs were associated with LNM (p < 0.05). Cox multivariate analyses indicated age, sex, tumor size, N stage were independent predictors of OS and CSS (p < 0.05), while race was indicator for OS (HR 0.866; 95%CI 0.750–0.999, p = 0.049), but not for CSS (HR 0.878; 95% CI 0.723–1.065, p = 0.187). In addition, survival analysis showed the proportion of patients in N+/N0 was better distributed than N0-1/N2-3b. There were statistically significant differences in OS and CSS between patients with and without chemotherapy in pT1N1M0 patients (p༜0.05).
Conclusions

Both tumor size and invasion depth are associated with LNM and prognosis. LNM is an important predictor of prognosis. pT1N + M0 may be appropriate candidates for AC. Currently, the treatment and prognosis of T1N0M0/T1N + M0 are completely different. An updated definition of EGC, taking into tumor size, invasion depth and LNM, may be more appropriate in an era of precision medicine.
Reliability of SNIP test in healthy children from 6 to 11 years.
Authors: Marcelino Ana Aline , Fregonezi Guilherme , Marques Layana , Lista-Paz Ana , Torres-Castro Rodrigo , RESQUETI VANESSA R. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background

Sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) is a voluntary inspiratory maneuver measured through a plug occluding one nostril. The investigation of the number of maneuvers necessary to reach the highest peak of SNIP in pediatric populations has been inconsistent. Thus, our goal was to assess the reliability SNIP in healthy children aged 6 to 11 years and compare with regard to sex and age group, as well as to determine the adequate number of maneuvers.
Methods

This cross-sectional study included healthy children with normal pulmonary function. Were performed 12 to 20 maneuvers SNIP near functional residual capacity, with a 30 s rest between each. Reliability was tested using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC), and Bland-Altman analysis for agreement.
Results

A total of 121 children (62 girls [51%]) were included. The ICC and corresponding confidence interval (CI) between the highest measure and the first reproducible maneuver was 0.752 (0.656–0.824), SEM of 10.37 cmH2O and MDC of 28.74 cmH2O. For children aged 6–7 and 8–11 years, the ICC (CI) was 0.669 (0.427–0.822), SEM = 10.76 cmH2O and MDC = 29.82 cmH2O, and 0.774 (0.662–0.852), with SEM = 9.74 cmH2O and MDC = 26.05 cmH2O, respectively. For girls, the ICC (CI) was 0.817 (0.706–0.889), SEM = 9.40 cmH2O and MDC = 26.05 cmH2O; for boys, 0.671 (0.487–0.798), SEM = 11.51 cmH2O and MDC = 31.90 cmH2O. Approximately 80% of the total sample reached the highest SNIP before the 10th maneuver.
Conclusions

SNIP demonstrated moderate reliability between the maneuvers in children aged 6 to 11 years. Otherwise, older children and girls reached the SNIP peak faster. Finally, results suggested that 12 maneuvers were sufficient for healthy children aged 6 to 11 years to achieve the highest SNIP peak.
Association between Decreased Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and Hyperuricemia in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Early-stage Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Feng Xiaomeng , Huang Jing , Peng Yan , Xu Yuan 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background

Serum uric acid (SUA) is associated with the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Thyroid hormones can regulate metabolism and insulin resistance. The relationship between SUA and thyroid function is still uncertain.
Methods

254 type 2 diabetic patients with early-stage DKD were enrolled in current study and were further classified as high SUA group (SUA > 360 µmol/L, n = 126) and normal SUA group (SUA ≤ 360 µmol/L, n = 128). 85 control subjects were recruited as control group. The clinical characteristics were obtained via face-to-face surveys and medical records.
Results

Compared with normal SUA group and control group, high SUA group exhibited the increased SUA, free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels, and the decreased thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level (P < 0.017 for all), and no significant difference was detected in these parameters between normal SUA group and control group. Furthermore, the increased creatinine (β = 2.049, P < 0.001), triglycerides (β = 10.068, P < 0.001), urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (β = 0.262, P = 0.001), fasting blood glucose (β = 5.280, P = 0.003) and fasting insulin (β = 1.440, P = 0.034) levels, and the decreased TSH (β = -24.906, P < 0.001) level were independently correlated with higher SUA level in type 2 diabetic patients with early-stage DKD. Notably, decreased TSH retained a significant association (odds ratio = 1.654, P = 0.002) with hyperuricemia in type 2 diabetic patients with early-stage DKD.
Conclusions

TSH is negatively correlated with SUA, and decreased TSH is an independent risk factor for hyperuricemia in type 2 diabetic patients with early-stage DKD. These results indicate that thyroid hormones, TSH in particular, might participate in regulating uric acid metabolism in patients with early-stage DKD.
Correction of Radial Load Distribution Integral for Radial Bearings
Authors: Hou Yu , Yin Yi , Wang Xi 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
The radial load distribution integral is corrected for radial bearings. The error of Harris integral method for calculating the radial load distribution is analysed. The error is found absolutely caused by the inaccurate values of the radial load distribution integral given by Harris. Based on the extent of the load zone, the radial load distribution integral is corrected by three stages. The corrected radial load distribution integral is capable of calculating the load distribution of a bearing with a small load zone caused by a light external load or a great radial clearance. The corrected radial load distribution integral is found affected by the number of rolling elements. According to the variation of the number of rolling elements participating in the radial load transfer, the corrected radial load distribution integral can be divided into different phases. Some specific numerical examples are shown to illustrate the performance of the corrected radial load distribution integral. The comparison between the results obtained from the corrected radial load distribution integral and Harris integral shows the higher accuracy and superiority of the corrected radial load distribution integral.
Gender equity and norms in health programs: learnings from a drowning reduction program in Bangladesh
Authors: Gupta Medhavi , Rahman Aminur , Dutta Notan Chandra , Hossain Md. Shafkat , Nambiar Devaki , Parveen Samina , Ivers Rebecca , Jagnoor Jagnoor 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Community-based health programs implemented in low-and middle-income countries have additional health impacts beyond their targeted outcomes, such as on gender norms, roles and relationships, partly due to their engagement of local human resources. We conducted a gender analysis on a drowning reduction program in rural Bangladesh providing survival swimming classes to children to identify unexpected consequences.Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used. Quantitative program monitoring data was analysed to assess gender differences in program staff recruitment, participation and engagement. A qualitative approach using interviews, focus group discussions and observations aimed to find explanations for quantitative findings and additional experiences of the program. The analysis was conducted using Family Health International 360’s Gender Integration Framework.Results: Women were not hired in leadership roles in the implementing organisation due to constraints on transport access and perceptions on women’s ability to conduct labour-intensive activities. However, the program influenced communities to become more accepting of local women’s mobility and involvement in employed work due to their engagement in the program as swim instructors. Women swim instructors were also more satisfied with the pay and part-time nature of the work as men were able to earn more elsewhere, and so women were recruited in higher numbers by the implementing organisation. Fewer girls participated in the swimming classes than boys due to cultural perceptions on appropriate activities for girls and their greater involvement in domestic work.Conclusions: Within the implementing organisation, changes to attitudes and the formulation of gender-specific strategies will support women in leadership roles, ensuring that women-specific issues are considered in program delivery. The implementing organisation may also consider strategies to combat perceptions that lower-paying part time work is more suitable for women than men. Systematised strategies are required to ensure equal participation of girls and boys in swim classes and enable equitable drowning outcomes. Addressing these issues would have positive implications for the health and equity of both men and women in these rural communities.
Electronic Forms for Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are an Effective, Time-Efficient, and Cost-Minimizing Alternative to Paper Forms
Authors: Yu Jennifer Y , Goldberg Talia , Lao Nicholas , Feldman Brian M , Goh Y. Ingrid 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) provide valuable information to the healthcare team regarding their patient’s health status. Identified dilemmas of PROMs completed on paper include missing answers, incorrectly scored answers, and missing questionnaires. Collecting PROMS on an electronic platform can potentially avoid these challenges. The objectives of this project were to a) determine the equivalence of the paper and electronic forms (e-form) of Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and Quality of My Life (QoML) questionnaires; b) identify potential benefits and barriers associated with using an e-form to capture patient reported outcome measures (PROMs); and c) gather feedback on user experience. METHODS: Participants completed both a paper and an e-form of the questionnaires in a randomized order, following which they completed a feedback survey. Agreement of the scores between the forms were statistically analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (95% CI) and bias was assessed using a Bland-Altman plot. Completion and processing times of the forms were compared using mean and median measures. Quantitative analysis was performed to assess user experience ratings, while comments were qualitatively analyzed to identify important themes.RESULTS: 196 patients participated in this project. Scores on the forms had high intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) agreement >0.9. New patients took longer than returning patients to complete the forms. Overall, the e-form was completed and processed in a shorter amount of time than the paper form. 83% of survey respondents indicated that they either preferred the e-form or had no preference. Approximately 10% of respondents suggested improvements to improve the user interface.CONCLUSIONS: E-forms collect comparable information in an efficient manner to paper forms. Given that patients and caregivers indicated they preferred completing PROMs in this manner, we will implement their suggested changes and incorporate e-forms as standard practice for PROMs collection in our pediatric rheumatology clinic.
Production of the 13C/15N single-labeled insecticidal protein Cry1Ab/Ac for the assessment of metabolic fate using recombinant Escherichia coli
Authors: Wang Zibo , Hu Cong , Sun Yu , Jiang Wei , Wu Guogan , Pan Aihu , Li Peng , Tang Xueming 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Stable isotope-labeled Cry1Ab/Ac protein is necessary for the metabolic study of exogenous insecticidal protein in soil using the stable isotope labeling technique, but no recombinant expression protocols for this protein have been reported. The artificially synthesized gene Cry1Ab/Ac of Bt rice Huahui No. 1, which obtained the safety certificate in China, was subcloned into pUC57 in this study, and the expression vector pET-28a-CryAb/Ac was constructed and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) competent cells. Next, 0.2 mM IPTG was added to these cells and cultured at 37°C for 4 h to induce the expressed protein to form inclusion bodies in the presence of M9 medium containing either [U-13C] glucose (5% 13C-enriched) or [15N] ammonium chloride (5% 15N-enriched). Then Cry inclusion bodies were dissolved in urea and purified by Ni column affinity chromatography under denaturing conditions, renatured by dialysis, and further detected by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The purities of 13C/15N-labeled Cry proteins were each 99%, the amounts of which were 12.6 mg/L and 8.8 mg/L. The δ 13C and δ 15N values of 13C-labeled Cry protein and 15N-labeled Cry protein were 3268.68‰ and 2854.28‰, respectively. An insecticidal test showed that the prokaryotic expression of Cry1Ab/Ac protein had strong insecticidal activity. The stable isotope-labeled insecticidal Cry proteins produced for the first time in this study will provide an experimental basis for future metabolic studies of Cry protein in soil and the characteristics of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) transformation. The findings will also provide a reference and basis for elucidating the environmental behaviors and ecological effects of Cry plants and expressed products.
Multimodal Ellipsoid Model for Non-Probabilistic Structural Uncertainty Quantification and Propagation
Authors: Liu Jie , Yu Zhongbo , Zhang Dequan , Liu Hao 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
The traditional ellipsoid convex set is a kind of basic non-probabilistic model to measure uncertainties. However, it is difficult or inaccurate to quantify the uncertainties of variables with multimodal distributed samples. In this paper, a more generalized non-probabilistic ellipsoid model named multimodal ellipsoid model is proposed to effectively deal with the multimodal distributed samples. The samples with one or more similar properties are clustered together, and the principal directions of the samples and characteristic matrix are appropriately found through the Gaussian mixture model. Then, the multimodal ellipsoid model can be constructed by using the elliptical contour features of the Gaussian model to measure the uncertainties of variables. The proposed multimodal ellipsoid model can not only establish traditional ellipsoid model, but also establish multi-ellipsoid model for uncertain variables with multimodal samples. Furthermore, combining with the multimodal ellipsoid model and performance measure approach, the uncertain propagation results of system are obtained accurately. Three numerical examples and one engineering application are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed multimodal ellipsoid model.
Epidemiological characteristics of peripheral circulating tumor cells and their relationship with the morbid state in gastric polyps and non-metastatic gastric cancer
Authors: He Jun , Xu Yingjie , Sun Peng , Qian Chen , Yan Jun , Yang Chengguang 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
BackgroundCirculating tumor cells (CTCs) can be detected in peripheral blood of many malignant tumor cases, but low numbers of CTCs can be detected in peripheral blood of healthy individuals as well as patients with benign tumors. It is not known whether peripheral CTC counts differ between patients with benign gastric diseases and those with gastric cancer. It is still unknown whether peripheral CTC counts can act as a superior factor to assess the clinicopathological stage in gastric cancer.MethodsComparative analysis of preoperative peripheral CTC counts was completed in patients with gastric polyps and non-metastatic gastric cancer. Correlation analysis was carried out between peripheral CTC counts and histological differentiation types, histopathological types, depth of tumor infiltration, positive lymph node metastasis rate and tumor markers (CEA, CA19-9 and CA72-4).ResultsPatients with gastric cancer had higher CTC counts than those with gastric polyps (3.05 ± 0.48/3.2 ml vs 0.69 ± 0.17/3.2 ml, P < 0.05). Over 84.62% of the higher CTC group (≤ 1/3.2 ml) were gastric polyp patients. A significant difference was observed between lower CTC counts group (≤ 1/3.2 ml) and higher CTC counts group (> 1/3.2 ml) diagnosed with either gastric polyps or gastric cancer (X2 = 9.67, P < 0.005). Significant difference was observed between moderate differentiation and poor differentiation in gastric cancer (X2 = 2.43, P < 0.05).The tissue pathological types distributions showed no statistically difference between two CTC counts group (P>0.05). Significant CTC counts difference was observed between mucous membrane invasive group and muscular layer invasive group in gastric cancer (3.00 ± 0.33/3.2 ml vs 1.4 ± 0.4/3.2 ml, P < 0.05). No significant CTC counts difference was observed in different positive lymph node ratios groups in gastric cancer (P>0.05). CTC counts could show higher positive ratio when compared with CEA, CA19-9 and CA72-4 respectively (X2 = 34.37, X2 = 36.89, X2 = 29.72, P < 0.001) or jointly (X2 = 16.71, P < 0.001) in gastric cancer.ConclusionsPeripheral CTC counts were different between patients with gastric polyps and patients with gastric cancer. CTC counts could act as an independent factor to assess the clinicopathological stage in gastric cancer. CTC counts might be more sensitive than routine tumor markers to reflect the existence of early gastric cancer.
The Polyketide Synthase-Encoding Gene Crpks is Involved in Clonostachys Rosea Chlamydospore Formation
Authors: Sun Zhan-Bin , Wang Qi , Zhang Yu-Wei , Sun Man-Hong , Li Shi-Dong 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Clonostachys rosea is an excellent agent for biocontrol of numerous plant fungal diseases. Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are widely distributed in plants and microorganisms and synthesize various types of polyketides. In this study, a type I PKS-encoding gene, crpks, was cloned and identified from the C. rosea 67-1 genome, and the biological function was investigated through gene knockout. The results showed that crpks deletion did not affect C. rosea morphology, ability for parasitism of sclerotia and the capacity for biocontrol of soybean Sclerotinia white mold, but had a marked influence on the chlamydospore formation ability of C. rosea. After cultivation for 48 and 72 h, chlamydospore production by ∆crpks was increased by 70.1% and 47.6%, respectively, compared to that of the wild-type strain. These data indicate that crpks is involved in C. rosea chlamydospore formation and provide useful insights into the molecular mechanisms of chlamydospore formation in C. rosea.