bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment related renal dysfunction after 3 monthly doses of 60 mg/kg of praziquantel for Schistosome haematobium infection
Authors: Darko Samuel Nkansah , Hanson Henry , Ankrah Sampson Twumasi , Baffour Sandra , Adjei-Kusi Priscilla , Yar Denis , Owusu-Dabo Ellis 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background: Praziquantel (PZQ) is the standard treatment for Schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is evidence suggesting praziquantel treatment failure in Schistosome infections with associated potential renal impairment. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of three monthly doses of 60 mg/kg/day PZQ on schistosome egg count, liver and renal function during the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in Ghana.Methods: A nested case-control study was designed from a cohort screened for schistosomiasis; 28 schistosomiasis positive cases by microscopy matched with 53 healthy controls by age and gender. The study population was urban dwellers from the Asokwa sub-metropolitan area, Kumasi in Ghana. Participants were within the age range of 6 to 30 years. We assessed S. haematobium egg counts in urine and its associated impact on liver and renal function at baseline, treatment and post-treatment phases. Results: Of the 28 cases and 53 controls, 78.6% and (81.1% were males respectively. Globulin levels before treatment was higher in cases [(36.92±1.46 vrs 27.88±1.49), p=0001] at pre-treatment but not at post-treatment [(35.35±1.28 vrs 37.26±1.77), p= 0.391]. Estimated cure rate was 42.9%, 46.4% and 96.4% after first, second and third dose respectively. Schistosome egg counts dropped significantly (p= 0.001) from before second dose to post-treatment. Similarly, levels of alanine aminotransferase (p=0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.028) and gamma glutamyl transferase (p=0.001) significantly declined towards post-treatment. Estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly improved from before second dose to post-treatment using both the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Program (p=0.001) and 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (p=0.002) equations. Conclusion: Treatment of urinary Schistosoma hematobium infections with a repeated high monthly dose of 60 mg/kg of praziquantel for 3 months could be an effective and safe alternative for the current treatment option 40 mg/kg body weight.
Characterization of CT scan in Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome compared with non-BHD diffuse cysts lung diseases in Chinese Patients
Authors: Xu WenShuai , Xu Zhiyan , Liu Yaping , Zhan Yongzhong , Sui Xin , Feng Ruie , Peng Min , Li Xue , Wang Jun , Meng Shuzhen , Wang Li , Tian Xinlun , Zhang Xue , Xu Kai-Feng 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background and objective: The purpose of this study was to create a practical CT-based algorithm to differentiate Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome from other diffuse cystic lung diseases (DCLD). Methods: The study was a retrospective review of the CT images of 18 patients with BHD syndrome, 18 patients with LAM, and 16 patients with NBNL (non-BHD and non-LAM) DCLD patients. On the basis of the data collected, the CT images were reviewed again to evaluate the characteristics (size, number, distribution, morphology) of pulmonary cysts. Results: Lower lung–predominant cysts were prone to be found in patients with BHD syndrome than in patients with LAM, but there is no difference between BHD and NBNL DCLD group. In the axial distribution, 9 of 18 patients in BHD-group had cysts predominance near the mediastinum, relatively, all the patients in the non-BHD group have diffuse cysts. The appearance of fusiform cysts was easier observed in patients of BHD group. Most patients in BHD-group had less than 50 lung cysts, while all patients in non-BHD group had more than 50 lung cysts. The maximum cyst located in the lower lobe in 16 of 18 patients in BHD-group, while 6 of 18 patients in LAM group and 8 patients in NBNL DCLD group had the maximum cyst in the lower lobe. Conclusion: The pulmonary cysts in patients with BHD tend to be fusiform, less numerous, and have a predominance in the lower lobe and near the mediastinum. These radiologic pulmonary features could assist physicians differentiating BHD from other DCLDs.
Associations of an empirical dietary pattern with cardiometabolic risk factors in Malaysian adolescents
Authors: Emi Aishah , Gan Wan Ying , Shariff Zalilah Mohd , Zaini Azriyanti Anuar , Shamsuddin Nurainul Hana , Appukutty Mahenderan , Appannah Geeta 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background This study aimed to identify a dietary pattern (DP) characterised mainly by high intakes of free sugar and other nutrients hypothesised to be associated with obesity such as dietary energy density (DED), percentage of energy from total fat and fibre density in adolescents from three southern states of Peninsular Malaysia, and its associations with cardiometabolic risk factors.Methods This is a cross-sectional study among 335 adolescents who provided both dietary information assessed using a validated My-UM food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and biochemical parameters including lipid profile, blood glucose, serum insulin and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Anthropometric measurements included weight (kg), height (cm) and waist circumference (cm), while body mass index (BMI) in kg/m 2 was estimated, respectively. Reduced rank regression (RRR) identified a DP with percentage of energy from sugar and total fat, DED and fibre density intake as response variables.Results The identified ‘high sugar, high fibre, high DED and low fat’ DP was characterised by high intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, fruits, sweets and low intakes of meat and cereal. Adolescents in the highest tertile of the identified DP had about 3.0 (OR=2.7; 95%CI: 1.3, 5.6) and 2.0 (OR=1.9; 95%CI: 1.0, 3.5) times higher odds of having dyslipideamia or elevated total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level, respectively compared to adolescents in the lowest tertile DP after adjusting for sex, school location, maternal education, physical activity, dietary misreporting and BMI z-score. This DP was not significantly associated with overweight and obesity.Conclusions Higher adherence to a DP characterised mainly by free sugars and DED was associated with greater odds of having dyslipideamia, elevated total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in Malaysian adolescents.
Comparative Analysis of MRI and Pathological Findings in a Resected Specimen of Rectal Cancer
Authors: Kobayashi Toshinori , Hamada Madoka , Miki Hisanori , Sekimoto Mitsugu , Ikeda Shigeki , Kurokawa Hiroaki , Ishida Mitsuaki , Uemura Yoshiko 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study is to examine the diagnostic value of MRI of the resected specimen (smr) of rectal cancer in terms of pathological circumferential resection margin (pCRM).MethodsTwenty-three patients with middle to low rectal cancer underwent laparoscopic radical surgery from March 2017 to April 2018, and smr was performed. Two radiologists interpreted smr with the pathological findings blinded. We examined two categories in the accuracy comparison with pCRM; 1) correlation betweenzand pCRM and correlation between smr CRM and pCRM. 2) diagnostic accuracy of smr in identifying the mesorectal lymph-nodes (LN) and tumor deposit (TD) that should be taken into consideration in the CRM measurements.ResultsPatient characteristics (median): male 18, female 5, Age 67 years (45-79), Anal verge 8.0cm (0-13.0), pre-operative chemoradiotherapy + / -:10/13, Surgical procedure low anterior reaction (LAR)/ abdominoperineal resection (APR)/ total pelvic exenteration (TPE):20/2/1. pT x/1/2/3:1/1/3/18, pN 0/1a/1b/1c/2b:12/5/2/3/1. pStage X/I/IIA/ IIIA/IIIB/IIIC:1/3/8/1/9/1.1) Sixteen cases of TME surgery were examined correlation between in-vivoCRM, smrCRM and pCRM. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and a simple regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between in-vivoCRM (p <0·001, p<0.05), smrCRM(p <0·001, p<0.01) and pCRM. The correlation coefficient between smrCRM and pCRM was stronger than that between in-vivoCRM and pCRM. 2) Ninety-six mesorectal nodules included: pLN (-) 77, pLN (+) 10, TD 9, and kappa value of diagnostic agreement for each radiologist was 0.105 and 0.138. Inter-observer agreement was 0.204.Conclusionsmr could become a tool for assessing CRM accurately.
Vascular inflammation is a risk factor associated with brain atrophy and disease severity in Parkinson’s disease: a case-control study
Authors: Yu Chiun-Chieh , Chen Hsiu-Ling , Chen Meng-Hsiang , Lu Cheng-Hsien , Tsai Nai-Wen , Huang Chih-Cheng , Chang Yung-Yee , Li Shau-Hsuan , Chen Yueh-Sheng , Chiang Pi-Ling , Lin Wei-Che 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background: Systemic inflammation with elevated oxidative stress causing neuroinflammation is considered a major factor in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD).The interface between systemic circulation and the brain parenchyma is the blood - brain barrier (BBB), which also plays a role in maintaining neurovascular homeostasis. Relatedly, intermediate vascular inflammation causing BBB dysfunction is a key component of PD pathogenesis. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate brain endothelial function, neoangiogenesis, and, in turn, neuronal homeostasis regulation, such that their dysregulation can result in neurodegeneration, such as gray matter atrophy, in PD. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the associations among specific levels of gray matter atrophy, peripheral vascular adhesion molecules, miRNAs, and clinical disease severity in order to achieve a clearer understanding of PD pathogenesis.Methods: Blood samples were collected from 33 patients with PD and 27 healthy volunteers, and the levels of VCAM-1 and several miRNAs in those samples were measured. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was performed using 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and SPM (Statistical Parametric Mapping software program). The associations among the vascular parameter, miRNAs, gray matter volume and clinical disease severity measurements were evaluated by partial correlation analysis.Results: The levels of VCAM-1, miRNA-22 and miRNA-29a expression were significantly elevated in the PD patients. The gray matter volume atrophy in the left parahippocampus, bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus, fusiform gyrus, left temporal gyrus, and cerebellum was significantly correlated with increased clinical disease severity, the upregulation of miRNA levels, and increased vascular inflammation.Conclusions: Patients with PD seem to have abnormal levels of vascular inflammatory markers and miRNAs in the peripheral circulation, and these levels are correlated with specific brain volume changes. This study reinforces the associations among peripheral inflammation, the BBB interface, and gray matter atrophy in PD, and further demonstrates that BBB dysfunction with neurovascular impairment may play an important role in PD progression.
Effect of diallyl disulfide on lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like behavior in mice
Authors: Lu Jiashu , He Haiyan , Huang Chao , Chen Zhuo 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background: Depression is associated with high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative markers. Inhibition of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress is beneficial for depression prevention and/or therapy. Diallyl disulfide (DADS), an active compound in garlic oil, has been shown to inhibit neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role and mechanism of DADS in lipopolysacharide (LPS)-induced depression-like behaviors in mice.Methods: We used behavioral tests and biochemical analysis to illustrate the role and mechanism of DADS in depression regulation.Results: Similarly to imipramine (10 mg/kg), a clinical antidepressant, DADS (40 or 80 mg/kg), which was administered 1 h before LPS treatment (pre-LPS) or 1.5 h and 23.5 h after LPS treatment (post-LPS), prevented and reversed the LPS (100 μg/kg)-induced increase in immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) in mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that DADS pre-treatment or post-treatment at the dose of 40 and 80 mg/kg prevented and reversed (i) the LPS-induced increases in interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, (ii) the LPS-induced increases in contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), a parameter reflecting high levels of oxidative stress, as well as (iii) the LPS-induced decreases in contents of GSH, a marker reflecting weakened anti-oxidative ability, in both hippocampus and prefrontal cortexes in mice.Conclusions: DADS is comparable to imipramine in effectively ameliorating LPS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice, providing a potential value for DADS in prevention and/or therapy of depression.
Design of a drinking water quality monitoring and evaluation system
Authors: Zhao Meilian , Liu Peixue , Jiang Baohua , Chen Yujie 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
With the rapid development of industry and agriculture, water pollution is found everywhere, and the protection of water resources has attracted increasing attention. For a long time, drinking water pollution was measured manually, which is time-consuming and laborious. To effectively detect and evaluate drinking water pollution, a drinking water quality monitoring and evaluation system is designed. The system can perform real-time measurements of water temperature, conductivity, turbidity and other parameters. The measurement results can be displayed on an LCD screen and can be transmitted remotely. The system can be used to detect the contamination of drinking water resources, such as surface water and groundwater, and to judge whether the water quality is qualified according to the set threshold parameters. The test results demonstrate that the system can realize dynamic monitoring and evaluation of drinking water resources. In addition, the system can provide effective data for water resource environmental protection.
Tailoring electronic configurations in adsorptive sites for the enhancement of As(V) removal from groundwater
Authors: Tian Kaixun , Xiao Jing , Shen Jian , Zhao He 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
In the past few decades, heavy metal pollution, such as As(V), has become an important issue for aqueous environment safety. For reasons of practical feasibility and cost-effectiveness, adsorption has been widely used in the water treatment and reuse community, with rapid development of adsorbents. However, the precise control of the electronic configuration of the adsorbents' sites to enhance adsorption performance is largely unexplored. In this study, to demonstrate the effect of electronic configuration on adsorption performance, we synthesized granular activated carbon (GAC) supported Fe-based hydroxides adsorbents by varying the valence state in transition metals. Furthermore, the adsorbents are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to identify surface structure and morphological properties. Adsorptive performance studies show that the adsorption capacity and arsenic removal efficiency of Fe(II)-GAC are twice those of Fe(III)-GAC, as a matter of charge transfer between adsorbents and cationic pollution (such as Fe-O and As species). Finally, PO43− was selected as a control sample to confirm the rationality of the removal mechanism. Collectively, fine-tuning of the electronic configuration from charge transfer will not only benefit heavy metal removal channels, but also supply fundamental information for adsorbents design for organics removal.
Remote control rain sampler for rainfall runoff collection
Authors: Su Chengzhi , Hou Daiguo , Zhao Shiruo , Li Xin , Yuan Zedong , Yu Danyang 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The availability of high spatial resolutions rainfall runoff data is vitally important in water resource estimation and management. To settle the problem of untimely collection of rainfall runoff caused by the uncertainty of rainfall, an unattended rainfall runoff collector with remote control was developed. According to the whole system, when the trigger device detects rainfall runoff, an energy-saving circuit connects, and the sampler is powered. At the same time, state and position information are sent to the mobile phone through the communication module. Then, the mobile phone sends instructions and starts an order back to the sampler through texts based on different requirements. The instructions and start order are then passed to the single-chip micyoco (SCM) control system, which also occurs via the communication module. A disconnected signal will be sent to the energy-saving circuit after the rainfall runoff collection. This signal will power off the sampler at the end. Test experiments showed that the maximum sampling error of the sampler developed in this paper was 1′02″, and the minimum sampling error was 22″.
Method for flood risk estimation in a tropical basin
Authors: Farias Bettys , Marquez Adriana , Guevara Edilberto , Rey Demetrio 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
This study proposes a method for estimating the flood risk in a tropical basin. The novelty consists of using two dynamic variables represented by the precipitation and the land use and land cover (LULC) to obtain the effective rainfall and its exceedance probability. The flood risk is determined by using deterministic methods depending on the exceedance probability of effective rainfall. Two time series of precipitation were involved. The first precipitation time series was used to prove the method corresponding to the months of the rainy season obtained from 58 gauging stations during the period 1980–2000. The second precipitation time series was applied for the validation stage of method corresponding to the period 2015–2018. In the validation stage, it has been found that there is a slight difference between the principal component N° 1 in the first time series with respect to the second time series. The method represents a contribution to determine the spatio-temporal distribution of flood risk that allows decisions to be taken to achieve preventive measures that contribute to the protection of human beings and goods.
Removal efficiency of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using a natural coagulant during coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation processes
Authors: Sha'arani Shazwana , Azizan Siti Noor Fitriah , Md Akhir Fazrena Nadia , Muhammad Yuzir Muhamad Ali , Othman Nor'azizi , Zakaria Zuriati , Mohd Noor Megat Johari Megat , Hara Hirofumi 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Staphylococcus sp. as Gram-positive and Escherichia coli as Gram-negative are bacterial pathogens and can cause primary bloodstream infections and food poisoning. Coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation processes could be a reliable treatment for bacterial removal because suspended, colloidal, and soluble particles can be removed. Chemical coagulants, such as alum, are commonly used. However, these chemical coagulants are not environmentally friendly. This present study evaluated the effectiveness of coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation processes for removing Staphylococcus sp. and E. coli using diatomite with standard jar test equipment at different pH values. Staphylococcus sp. demonstrated 85.61% and 77.23% significant removal in diatomite and alum, respectively, at pH 5. At pH 7, the removal efficiency decreased to 79.41% and 64.13% for Staphylococcus sp. and E. coli, respectively. At pH 9, there was a decrease in Staphylococcus sp. after adding diatomite or alum compared with that of E. coli. The different removal efficiencies of the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria could be owing to the membrane composition and different structures in the bacteria. This study indicates that diatomite has higher efficiency in removing bacteria at pH 5 and can be considered as a potential coagulant to replace alum for removing bacteria by the coagulation process.
Mechanisms and Characteristics of Sulfonylureas and Glinides
Authors: Lv Wei , Wang Xianqing , Xu Qian , Lu Wencong 
Published: December 2019

Background:Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex progressive endocrine disease characterized by hyperglycemia and life-threatening complications. It is the most common disorder of pancreatic cell function that causes insulin deficiency. Sulfonylurea is a class of oral hypoglycemic drugs. Over the past half century, these drugs, together with the subsequent non-sulfonylureas (glinides), have been the main oral drugs for insulin secretion.Objective:Through in-depth study, the medical profession considers it as an important drug for improving blood sugar control.Methods:The mechanism, characteristics, efficacy and side effects of sulfonylureas and glinides were reviewed in detail.Result:Sulfonylureas and glinides not only stimulated the release of insulin from pancreatic cells, but also had many extrapanular hypoglycemic effect, such as reducing the clearance rate of insulin in liver, reducing the secretion of glucagon, and enhancing the sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin in type 2 diabetes mellitus.Conclusion:Sulfonylureas and glinides are effective first-line drugs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Although they have the risk of hypoglycemia, weight gain and cardiovascular disease, their clinical practicability and safety can be guaranteed as long as they are reasonably used.
Preeclampsia Emerging as a Novel Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease in the Offspring
Authors: Karatza Ageliki A. , Dimitriou Gabriel 
Published: December 2019

Introduction:
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder which affects 2%-8% of all
gestations and is associated with high maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide.
There is no “cure” for the disease except for early delivery of the fetus and placenta, however
leaving preeclampsia a long term health risk both for mothers and infants.

Aim:
The aim of the study is to review currently available information linking preclampsia to longterm
cardiovascular complications in infants and children.

Results:
Currently, there is evidence of predisposition to cardiovascular disease, and a higher incidence
of cardiovascular risk factors among children born to preeclamptic mothers. Both in experimental
models and human epidemiological studies it is now clear that the infants of pregnancies
complicated by preeclampsia have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure and double
the risk of stroke in later life. Preeclampsia is consistently associated with higher blood pressure
and body mass index as early as 4–10 years of age. Also there is some evidence of higher cardiovascular
risk in adults exposed to maternal hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. It seems that
preeclampsia has an impact on the cardiovascular system independent of preterm birth and is associated
with endothelial dysfunction, increased carotid intima media thickness and reductions in cardiac
function that cannot be accounted for by prematurity alone.

Conclusion:
Taking into consideration the currently available evidence, it can now be suggested
that preeclampsia is linked to adverse effects on the cardiometabolic health of the infant. Understanding
the relationship between preeclampsia and cardiovascular disease will allow for implementation
of early interventions to prevent or delay the onset of adverse events in this high risk
population.