bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Retrospective analysis on Mass Drug Administration of Deng's Herbal Tea Granula preventing from Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (COVID-19)
Authors: Tang Ye-Xiao , Pan Zi-Yi , Zou Yuan-Yuan , Zhang Hong-Ying , Guo Jia-Wen , Yuan Yue-Ming , Xu Zhi-Yong , Deng Chang-Sheng , Wang Qi 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
As the kinetics of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) outbreak still going all over the world and we can't predict when it'll make that turnaround and start coming down, seeking ways to prevent and control this disease is particularly important. Here we describe the role of traditional Chinese medicine in preventing COVID-19. In this clinical observation study, we selected 65 people who came back from Hubei province as subjects and launched a mass drug administration with them. We collected the data of the days from Hubei, non-symptoms rate, temperature before and after administration of these people. We treated them by isolating for 14 days and taking Deng's Herbal Tea Granula once a day for seven days. Then we assessed the possible efficacy of Deng's Herbal Tea Granula on COVID-19. Enrolled people had an average age of 27 years old (3–66 years old), among which 34 (53.97%) were females, with a median temperature of 36.4℃ (36.1–36.8℃). The median of the days from Hubei was 16 days (10–27 days). None of them presents any abnormal clinical manifestation. Isolation is the most effective way to defend and control COVID-19, but accompanied by the treatment of Deng's Herbal Tea Granula may increase the power of prevention. Not only this plant solid beverage which made of Chinese medicine can keep the temperature of all the suspected people at a healthy and stable level, but also is suitable for a large group of ages.
Clinical Significance of Inflammatory Factors Within the Synovial Fluids in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis for Predicting Meniscus Degeneration Progression
Authors: Wang Dalin , Wang Zhe , Jiang Weihai , Li Mingcheng 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: This research aims to investigate the expressions and clinical significance of inflammatory factors in the synovial fluid of the meniscus degeneration with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: A total of 100 patients with meniscus degeneration in knee OA were divided into into stage II and III groups based on MRI imaging. The expressions of inflammatory factors including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and tumor growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in the knee joint fluid were determined by means of an ELISA and chemiluminescence assay. International general Lysholm score and correlation between the levels of four cytokines were further analyzed.Results: Compared with stage II group, patients in stage III group had significantly increased levels of IL-1β in the synovial fluid along with increases in TNF-α (P <0.05) and higher levels of IL-17 (P <0.05). In addition, stage II group also showed a decrease in TGF-β1 (P<0.05). The levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-17 were negatively correlated with Lysholm score whilst TGF-β1 was positively correlated with Lysholm score (P<0.05). The values of the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the four cytokines in the diagnosis of meniscus degeneration in knee OA were 0.652, 0.604, 0.714 and 0.391 respectively. Conclusions: The high expression levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-17, and the low expression levels of TGF-β1 in knee joint fluid are related to the severity of meniscus injury in patients with knee OA. These cytokines are associated with the pathological development of knee injury and ultimately lead to the decline of knee joint function.
Tennis Elbow, Study Protocol for Randomized Clinical Trial: Needling With and Without Platelet-Rich Plasma After Failure of Up-to-Date Rehabilitation
Authors: Schwitzguebel Adrien J-P , Bogoev Mitko , Nikolov Viktor , Ichane Freddy , Laedermann Alexandre 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: The conservative management of lateral epicondylitis is known to be a difficult-to-treat annoying condition. A treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is often performed, but its efficacy remains controversial.Methods: This study is a single-center, randomized double-blind controlled trial, preceded by a case series.This monocentric study including 232 patients will occur in two steps. During the first step, all patients will undergo an up-to-date rehabilitation, including epicondylar stretching and strengthening, periscapular tonification, epicondylar brace or taping, and focused extracorporeal shock waves therapy. Unsatisfied patients after the first step will be allocated for the 1:1 randomized trial of second step. Stratification is planned on age and lesion pattern. The masking will be quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator & Outcome Assessor). The patients will undergo ultrasound (US)-guided needling combined with either PRP (intervention group) or saline (Control group). Outcome data will be collected at -3, 0, 3, 6, and 12 months of the intervention.The primary endpoint is the pain improvement between months 0 and 3 on a 0-10 visual analog scale (VAS) during a maximal strength isometric contraction of the extensor carpialis brevis muscle. The secondary endpoints include the proportion of patients for which the tendon needling is not necessary after rehabilitation protocol, pain changes on VAS at rest and during maximal strength isometric contraction, changes of Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score, changes of Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) score, changes of maximal grip strength on Jamar test, and changes of the US of the epicondylar tendons (i.e. Volume of the lesion in mm3; Doppler reaction classified at the proportion of the tendon marked with the Doppler signal; Solution of continuity in mm3; Tendon thickness in mm; Concomitant superficial lesion & volume in mm3; Pain on a 0-10 VAS scale during sonopalpation).Discussion: The study results will provide insight into the effect of PRP as adjuvant therapy to tendon fenestration, and may contribute to identify the best preceding and concomitant rehabilitation protocol.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03987256, registered 20 August 2019
Diagnostic Value of MRA and MRI for The Articular-Sided Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Li Lianxin , Dong Jinlei , Li Qinghu , Dong Jinye , Zhou Dongsheng , Liu Fanxiao 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: This study aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR arthrography (MRA) for the articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tear (PTRCT).Methods: Three electronic databases, PubMed/Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library, were utilized to retrieve articles comparing the diagnostic value of MRA and MRI for detecting articular-sided PTRCTs. The pooled statistical indexes included sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive value, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Eleven studies involving 1703 patients and 1704 shoulders were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR and AUC and their 95% CIs of MRA to diagnose articular-sided PTRCTs were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.65-0.90), 0.96 (95% CI, 0.91-0.98), 68.14 (95% CI, 33.20-139.84) and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.94-0.97), respectively. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR and AUC and their 95% CIs of MRI were 0.78 (95% CI, 0.65-0.87) and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.84-0.99), 47.82 (95% CI, 8.29-275.89) and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.86-0.92), respectively.Conclusions: This meta-analysis reveals that MRA has a better diagnostic value than that of MRI for the diagnosis of articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, but only small improvement of sensitivity. Considering the price and invasion of MRA, MRI is recommended as an initial examination to detect patients suspected with articular-side partial-thickness rotator cuff tears.
Therapeutic Effects and Outcomes of Rescue High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation for Premature Infants With Severe Refractory Respiratory Failure
Authors: Hsu Jen-Fu , Yang Mei-Chin , Chu Shih-Ming , Yang Lan-Yan , Chiang Ming-Chou , Lai Mei-Yin , Huang Hsuan-Rong , Pan Yu-Bin , Fu Ren-Huei , Tsai Ming Horng 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Despite wide application of high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in neonates with respiratory distress, little has been reported about its rescue use in preterm infants. We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of HFOV in preterm neonates with refractory respiratory failure and investigate the independent risk factors of in-hospital mortality.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data collected prospectively (January 2011-December 2018) in four neonatal intensive care units of two tertiary-level medical centers in Taiwan. All premature infants (gestational age 24-34 weeks) receiving HFOV as rescue therapy for refractory respiratory failure were included.Results: A total of 668 preterm neonates with refractory respiratory failure were enrolled. The median (IQR) gestational age and birth weight were 27.3 (25.3-31.0) weeks and 915.0 (710.0-1380.0) g, respectively. Pre-HFOV use of cardiac inotropic agents and inhaled nitric oxide were 70.5% and 23.4%, respectively. The oxygenation index (OI), FiO2, and AaDO2 were markedly increased after HFOV initiation (all p < 0.001), and can be decreased within 24-48 hours (all p < 0.001) after use of HFOV. 375 (56.1%) patients had a good response to HFOV within 3 days. The final in-hospital mortality rate was 34.7%. No association was found between specific primary pulmonary disease and survival in multivariate analysis. We found preterm neonates with gestational age < 28 weeks, occurrences of sepsis, severe hypotension, multiple organ dysfunctions, initial higher severity of respiratory failure and response to HFOV within the first 72 hours were independently associated with final in-hospital mortality.Conclusions: The mortality rate of preterm neonates with severe respiratory failure remains high after rescue HFOV treatment. Aggressive therapeutic interventions to treat sepsis and prevent organ dysfunctions are the suggested strategies to optimize outcomes.
Development of the Equine Hindgut Microbiome in Semi-feral and Domestic Conventionally-Managed Foals
Authors: Tavenner Meredith , McDonnell Sue M , Biddle Amy S 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background Early development of the gut microbiome is an essential part of neonate health in animals. It is unclear whether the acquisition of gut microbes is different between domesticated animals and their wild counterparts. In this study, fecal samples from ten domestic conventionally managed (DCM) Standardbred and ten semi-feral managed (SFM) Shetland-type pony foals and dams were compared using 16S rRNA sequencing to identify differences in the development of the foal hindgut microbiome related to time and management. Results Gut microbiome diversity of dams was higher than foals overall, and foals from both groups at Week 1 had less diverse gut microbiomes than subsequent weeks. The core microbiomes of SFM dams and foals had more taxa overall, and greater numbers of taxa within species groups when compared to DCM dams and foals. The gut microbiomes of SFM foals demonstrated enhanced diversity of key groups: Verrucomicrobia (RFP12), Ruminococcaceae, Fusobacterium spp., and Bacteroides spp., based on age and management. Lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus spp. and Lactobacillaceae gen. were enriched only in DCM foals, specifically during their second and third week of life. Predicted microbiome functions estimated computationally suggested that SFM foals had higher mean sequence counts for taxa contributing to the digestion of lipids, simple and complex carbohydrates, and protein. DCM foal microbiomes were more similar to their dams in week five and six than were SFM foals at the same age. Conclusions This study demonstrates the impact of management on the development of the foal gut microbiome in the first 6 weeks of life. The higher numbers of taxa within and between bacterial groups found in SFM dams and foals suggests more diversity and functional redundancy in their gut microbiomes, which could lend greater stability and resiliency to these communities. The colonization of lactic acid bacteria in the early life of DCM foals suggests enrichment in response to the availability of dams’ feed. Thus, management type is an important driver of gut microbiome establishment on horses, and we may look to semi-feral horses for guidance in defining a healthy gut microbiome for domestic horses.
Has Bipolar Disorder become a predominantly female gender related condition? Analysis of recently published large sample studies
Authors: Dell'Osso Bernardo , Cafaro Rita , Ketter Terence A. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Bipolar Disorders are disabling and severe psychiatric disorders, commonly perceived as equally affecting both men and women. The prevalence of BD in the general population has been growing over the last decade, however, few epidemiological studies are available regarding BD gender distribution, leaving unanswered the question whether the often reported increment of BD diagnosis could be gender specific. In fact, BD in female patients can often be misdiagnosed as MDD, leaving such women non correctly treated for longer times than their male counterparts. From this perspective, we searched literature for large sample (>1000 subjects) studies conducted in the last decade (2010 onward) on BD patients. We included ten large sample studies that reported the gender distribution of their samples, and we therefore analysed them. Our results show a higher preponderance of female patients in every sample and sub-sample of BDI and BDII, supporting our hypothesis of an increase in BD diagnosis in females. BD in women presents with higher rates of rapid cycling, depressive polarity and suicide attempts, characteristics of non inferior severity compared to males; prompt recognition and adequate treatment of BD is therefore crucial to reduce risks and improve quality of life of affected women. In this regard, our results could lead the way for national or international epidemiological studies with the aim of more accurately assessing gender-specific prevalence of BD.
Loss of 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine as an Epigenetic Signature that Correlates with Poor Outcomes in Patients with Medulloblastoma
Authors: Zhao Fu , Zhang Zhi-Wei , Zhang Jing , Zhang Shun , Zhang Heng , Zhao Chi , Chen Yang , Luo Lin , Tong Wei-Min , Li Chunde , Niu Yamei , Liu Pinan 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Medulloblastoma, as the most common malignant brain tumor in children, exhibits highly dysregulated DNA methylation. The novel epigenetic marker—5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) plays essential role in gene regulation during brain development and in brain tumors. However, the biological and clinical implications of 5hmC in medulloblastoma are still unclear. Methods: Here, we detected global 5hmC levels in two independent medulloblastoma patient cohorts (discovery cohort: n = 81; validation cohort: n = 171) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify the cell proliferation and expression of Ten-eleven translocation 1 and 2 (TET1/2). The prognostic impacts of covariates on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using multivariate Cox hazards-regression models.Results: We observed that global 5hmC levels were decreased in medulloblastomas compared to normal cerebellums (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that low 5hmC levels correlated with poor PFS and OS rates (discovery cohort: PFS: P = 0.003, OS: P = 0.002; validation cohort: PFS: P = 0.0002, OS: P = 0.001). Immunohistochemistry showed an inverse correlation between 5hmC score and Ki-67 index (r = -0.747, P < 0.0001). Moreover, 5hmC score was associated with protein expression of TET1 (r = -0.419, P = 0.003) and TET2 (r = -0.399, P = 0.005).Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that loss of 5hmC is an epigenetic biomarker in medulloblastomas. Our results indicate that 5hmC could be a candidate prognostic indicator for improving survival prediction of risk stratification in patients with medulloblastoma.
Female Versus Male Oral Cavity Cancer: is There a Difference?
Authors: Lee Yi-Chieh , Chien Huei-Tzu , Young Chi-Kuang , Chin Shy-Chyi , Iandelli Andrea , Liao Chun-Ta , Tsao Chung-Kang , Kang Chung-Jan , Huang Shiang-Fu 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Objectives: Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a leading cause of death in Taiwan, and most of the patients are male. Little is known about the differences in risk factors, cancer characteristics and treatment outcomes in female patients. The study aim is to investigate the clinicopathological and outcome differences between gender in patients affected by oral cancer in Taiwan.Methods: This is a retrospective study based on data obtained between 1995 and 2019. A total of 2,046 patients were recruited for analysis. Cancer characteristics, risk factors and treatment outcomes in patients with oral cancer between genders were collected. Results: Female patients represented the 6.7% of the entire cohort of study. Females were diagnosed at an older age and at an earlier local stage compared to male patients (p < 0.001). The female patients were less exposed to cigarette, alcohol, and betel-nut (BQ) (all p-values < 0.001). Tongue (55.1%) was the most frequent subsite involved in the female group, while buccal (38.4%) and tongue (35.3%) were more likely (p < 0.001) to be associated with male gender. In tongue cancer subgroup, female patients presented less frequently extra-nodal extension compared with male patients (p = 0.040). During the follow-up period, there was no significant difference in recurrence and overall deaths between genders.Conclusion:In Taiwan, the male to female ratio in OSCC is 14:1. The tumor subsite distribution, environment exposure and stage distribution are different between females and male. There are no differences in term of survival between female and male OSCC patients.
Investigation of the Piroplasm Diversity Circulating in Wildlife and Cattle of the Greater Kafue Ecosystem, Zambia
Authors: Squarre David , Nakamura Yukiko , Hayashida Kyoko , Kawai Naoko , Chambaro Herman , Namangala Boniface , Sugimoto Chihiro , Yamagish Junya 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Piroplasms are vector-borne intracellular haemoprotozoan parasites that infect wildlife and livestock. Wildlife species are reservoir hosts to a diversity of piroplasms and play an important role in the circulation, maintenance and evolution of these parasites. The potential for likely spillover of both pathogenic and non-pathogenic piroplasms from wildlife to livestock is underlined when common ecological niche is shared in the presence of a competent vector. Method: To investigate piroplasm cryptic variation and diversity in parasite community in wildlife and cattle population of the greater Kafue ecosystem, we utilized PCR to amplify the 18S rRNA V4 hyper-variable region and meta-barcoding strategy using illumina MiSeq sequencing platform and amplicon sequence variant (ASV) based bioinformatics pipeline to generate high resolution data which discriminate sequences down to a single nucleotide difference. Results: A parasite community of 45 ASVs and 23 piroplasm species consisting of 4 genera of Babesia, Theileria, Hepatozoon and Colpodella was identified in wildlife and cattle population from the study area. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrates the usefulness of illumina MiSeq sequencing to describe the area specific parasite composition, which is critical in the application and establishment of disease control strategy options of ideal diagnostic tools to employ and area specific vaccine development.
18S rDNA Sequence-Structure Phylogeny of The Trypanosomatida (Kinetoplastea, Euglenozoa) with Special Reference on Trypanosoma
Authors: Borges Alyssa R , Engstler Markus , Wolf Matthias 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Parasites of the order Trypanosomatida are known due to their medical relevance. Trypanosomes cause African sleeping sickness and Chagas disease in South America, and Leishmania Ross, 1903 species mutilate and kill hundreds of thousands of people each year. However, human pathogens are very few when compared to the great diversity of trypanosomatids. Despite the progresses made in the past decades on understanding the evolution of this group of organisms, there are still many open questions which require robust phylogenetic markers to increase the resolution of trees. Methods: Using two known 18S rDNA template structures (from Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, 1909 and Trypanosoma brucei Plimmer & Bradford, 1899), individual 18S rDNA secondary structures were predicted by homology modeling. Sequences and their secondary structures, automatically encoded by a 12-letter alphabet (each nucleotide with its three structural states, paired left, paired right, unpaired), were simultaneously aligned. Sequence-structure trees were generated by neighbor joining and/or maximum likelihood.Results: With a few exceptions, all nodes within a sequence-structure maximum likelihood tree of 43 representative 18S rDNA sequence-structure pairs are robustly supported (bootstrap support >75). Even a quick and easy sequence-structure neighbor-joining analysis yields accurate results and enables reconstruction and discussion of the big picture for all 240 18S rDNA sequence-structure pairs of trypanosomatids that are currently available.Conclusions: We reconstructed the phylogeny of a comprehensive sampling of trypanosomes evaluated in the context of trypanosomatid diversity, demonstrating that the simultaneous use of 18S rDNA sequence and secondary structure data can reconstruct robust phylogenetic trees.
Tumor microenvironment subtypes and immune-related signatures for the prognosis of breast cancer
Authors: Han Yiqun , Wang Jiayu , Xu Binghe 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
To better understand the heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment (TME) and establish a prognostic model for breast cancer in clinical practice, the leukocyte infiltrations of 22 cell types of interest from 2620 breast cancer patients were quantitatively estimated using deconvolution algorithms, and three TME subtypes with distinct molecular and clinical features were identified by unsupervised clustering approach. Then, we carried out systematic analyses to illustrate the contributing mechanisms for differential phenotypes, which suggested that the divergences were distinguished by cell cycle dysfunction, variation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes activity. Next, through dimensionally reduction and selection based on random-forest analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis, and uni- and multivariate COX regression analysis, a total of 15 significant genes were proposed to construct the prognostic immune-related score (pIRS) system and, in combinations with clinicopathological characteristics, a predictive model was ultimately built with well performance for survival of breast cancer patients. Comparative analyses demonstrated that proactivity of CD8 T lymphocytes and hyper-angiogenesis could be attributed to distinct prognostic outcomes. In conclusion, we retrieved three TME phenotypes and the curated prognostic model based on pIRS system for breast cancer. This model is justified for validation and optimized in the coming future.