bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surveillance on schistosomiasis in five provinces of the People’s Republic of China in the post-elimination era
Authors: Guo Jing-yi , Xu Jing , Zhang Lijuan , Shan Lv , Cao Chun-li , Li Shi-zhu , Zhou Xiao-nong 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: The People’s Republic of China (P. R. China) has made significant progress on schistosomiasis control. Among the 12 provinces (municipality, autonomous region) with schistosomiasis endemic in P.R. China, Guangdong, Shanghai, Fujian, Guangxi and Zhejiang provinces (following called as five provinces) had successively eliminated schistosomiasis during 1985-1995. However, given the increasing mobilization of the population and goods, wetland protection, climate changes etc., consolidation of the schistosomiasis elimination in these five provinces remains challenging. In the current study, we sought to understand the epidemic situation in these post-elimination areas and their surveillance capabilities on schistosomiasis. Methods: (Ⅰ) Through the national schistosomiasis reporting system, annual data reflecting the interventions and surveillance on human beings, cattle and snails based on county level from 2005 to 2016 were collected and analyzed to understand the epidemic status of schistosomiasis in five provinces. (Ⅱ) A standardized score sheet was designed to assess the surveillance capacity for schistosomiasis of selected disease control agencies in five provinces and ten counties. Assessment on surveillance capacity consisted of two parts: the first part focused on the capacity of testing skills including schistosomiasis diagnostic skills, identification of snails’ living and infection status; the second part was to assess the knowledge level about schistosomiasis and its control.Results: The comprehensive assessments showed that no local cases in humans and cattle or infected snail were found in these five provinces from 2005, and the surveillance abilities on schistosomiasis of the prevention and control institutions in five provinces were appropriate. However, from 2005 to 2016, a total of 221 imported cases were detected in Zhejiang, Shanghai and Fujian provinces, and 11.98 hm2 of new snail habitats were found in Zhejiang, Shanghai and Guangxi provinces. In addition, snail infestation reoccurred in 247.55 hm2 of former snail habitats since 2011.Conclusions: Elimination of schistosomiasis was consolidated successfully in five provinces of P.R. China due to effective and strong post-elimination surveillance. Comprehensive consolidation strategies should be focused on the elimination of residual snails and the prevention of imported infection sources among the five provinces to consolidate the achievements of schistosomiasis control.
Wilms’ Tumor 1-associating Protein Promotes Prostate Cancer Proliferation via Upregulation of CDK4 Transcript
Authors: Zhang Lei , Gao Yiren , Wang Jun , Liang Linghui , Cheng Yifei , Qi Feng , Wang Zengjun , hua lixin , Cheng Gong 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Wilms’ tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP) plays an important role in cell physiological function and have attracted increased interest in cancer research recently. Cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) are known to participate in regulating the cell cycle and often connected to many malignancies in tumor. We aim to explore whether WTAP or CDKs could play an role in the initiation and progression of prostate cancer(PCa) and hope to provide new insights into PCa treatment and prognostic. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry were performed to explore the expression of WTAP and CDK4 in prostate cancer tissues and cell lines. The survival analysis was used to investigate the association between WTAP expression and the clinical outcomes of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer cell lines were stably transfected with lentivirus approach. CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, cell invasion and migration assay, cell cycle assay and tumorigenesis in nude mice were performed to study the effect of WTAP in prostate cancer cell lines. RNA immunoprecipitation assay, dual-luciferase reporter assay and siRNA transfection were performed to verify the direct binding sites of WTAP with CDK4 transcript.Results: In prostate cancer tissues and cell lines, WTAP was significantly up-regulated and high expression of WTAP was connected to poor clinical outcomes. Additionally, cell function test indicated that overexpression of WTAP in prostate cancer cell lines could promote cell proliferation, while knocking down showed an opposite results. Subcutaneous xenograft tumor model revealed that overexpression of WTAP could induce tumorigenesis in vivo. Mechanism study showed that CDK4 expression could regulate the expression level of WTAP. Moreover, WTAP could directly bind to 3’-UTR of CDK4 transcript and enhance its stability. Furthermore, specific inhibitors of CDK4 as well as small interfering RNA (siRNA) of CDK4 reversed the promotion of proliferation induced by WTAP.Conclusions: These data indicated that WTAP may act as an oncogenic in prostate cancer by directly binding to CDK4 3’-UTR and stabilizing its transcript which might provide new insights into prostate cancer treatment and prognostic.
CD4 T-cell immune stimulation of HER2+ breast cancer cells alters response to trastuzumab in vitro
Authors: Song Patrick , Mansur Amer , Dugger Kari J. , Davis Tessa R. , Howard Grant , Yankeelov Thomas E. , Sorace Anna G. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Introduction: The HER2+ tumor immune microenvironment is composed of macrophages, natural killer cells, and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, which produce pro-inflammatory cytokines. Determining the effect of T-cells on HER2+ cancer cells during therapy could guide immunogenic therapies that trigger antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. This study utilized longitudinal in vitro time-resolved microscopy imaging to measure T-cell influence on trastuzumab in HER2+ breast cancer.Methods: Fluorescently-labeled breast cancer cells (BT474, SKBR3, MDA-MB-453, and MDA-MB-231) were co-cultured with CD4+ T-cells (Jurkat cell line) and longitudinally imaged to quantify cancer cell viability when treated with or without trastuzumab (10, 25, 50 and 100 mg/mL). The presence and timing of T-cell co-culturing was manipulated to determine immune stimulation of trastuzumab-treated HER2+ breast cancer. HER2 and TNF-a expression were evaluated with western blot and ELISA, respectively. Significance was calculated using a two-tailed parametric t-test. Results: The viability of HER2+ cancer cells significantly decreased when exposed to 25 mg/mL trastuzumab and T-cells, compared to cancer cells exposed to trastuzumab without T-cells (p = 0.01). The presence of T-cells significantly increased TNF-a expression in trastuzumab-treated cancer cells (p = 0.02). Conversely, cancer cells treated with TNF-a and trastuzumab had a similar decrease in viability as trastuzumab-treated cancer cells co-cultured with T-cells (p = 0.32).Conclusions: The presence of T-cells significantly increases the efficacy of targeted therapies and suggests trastuzumab may trigger immune mediated cytotoxicity. Increased TNF-a receptor expression suggest cytokines may interact with trastuzumab to create a state of enhanced response to therapy in HER2+ breast cancer, which has potential to reducing tumor burden.
Does Integrated Medical Insurance System (IMIS) Alleviate the Difficulty of Using Cross-Region Health Care for the Migrant Parents in China
Authors: Ma Chao , Huo Shutong , Chen Hao 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background

A large number of internal immigrants in the process of urbanization in China is Migrant Parents, the aging group who move to urban area involuntarily to support their family. They are more vulnerable economically and physically than the younger migrants. However, the fragmentation of rural and urban health insurance schemes divided by “hukou” household registration system limit migrant’s access to healthcare services in their resident location. Some provinces have started to consolidate the Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance and the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme as one Integrated Medical Insurance Schemes (IMIS) to reduce the disparity between different schemes and increate the health care utilization of migrants.
Methods

Using China Migrants Dynamic Survey, we used OLS for regression in models.
Results

We found that the migrant parents who are covered by the IMIS are more likely to choose inpatient service and to seek medical treatment in the migrant destination, by improving the convenience of medical expense reimbursement and relieving the economic pressure.
Discussion

The potential mechanisms of our results could be that IMIS alleviates the difficulty of seeking medical care in migrant destination by improving the convenience of medical expense reimbursement and relieving the economic constrain.
Pre-HAART CD4+ T-Lymphocytes as Biomarkers of Post-HAART Immune Recovery in HIV-TB Co-Infected Children
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Vivek , Bose Eliezer , Nair Usha , Cheng Yuwei , Ghebremichael Musie 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background Infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) dramatically increases the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB). Several studies have indicated that co-infection with TB increases the risk of HIV progression and death. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the brunt of these dual epidemics, with about 2.4 million HIV-infected people living with TB. The main objective of our study was to assess whether the pre-HAART CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and percentages could serve as biomarkers for post-HAART treatment immune-recovery in HIV-positive children with and without TB co-infection. Methods The data analyzed in this retrospective study were collected from a cohort of 305 HIV-infected children being treated with HAART. A Lehmann family of ROC curves were used to assess the diagnostic performance of pre- HAART treatment CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and percentage as biomarkers for post-HAART immune recovery. The Kaplan–Meier estimator was used to compare differences in post-HAART recovery times between patients with and without TB co-infection.Results We found that the diagnostic performance of both pre-HARRT treatment CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and percentage was comparable and achieved accuracies as high as 74%. Furthermore, the predictive capability of pre-HAART CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and percentage were slightly better in TB-negative patients. Our analyses also indicate that TB-negative patients have a shorter recovery time compared to the TB-positive patients. Conclusions Pre-HAART CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and percentage are stronger predictors of immune recovery in TB-negative pediatric patients, suggesting that TB co-infection complicates the treatment of HIV in this cohort. These findings suggest that the detection and treatment of TB is essential for the effectiveness of HAART in HIV-infected pediatric patients.
Cell wall and cell membrane defects contribute to reduced cell growth at 28 °C in Phaffia rhodozyma mutant strain MK19
Authors: Miao Lili , Chi Shuang , Hou Ting-Ting , Liu Zhi-Pei , Li Ying 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Phaffia rhodozyma has many desirable properties for astaxanthin production, including rapid heterotrophic metabolism and high cell densities in fermenter culture. The low optimal temperature range (17-21 °C) for cell growth and astaxanthin synthesis in this species presents an obstacle to efficient industrial-scale astaxanthin production. The inhibition mechanism of cell growth at > 21 °C in P. rhodozyma have not been investigated.Results: MK19, a mutant P. rhodozyma strain grows well at moderate temperatures, its cell growth was also inhibited at 28 °C, but such inhibition was mitigated, and low biomass 6 g/L was obtained after 100 h culture. Transcriptome analysis indicated that low biomass at 28 °C resulted from strong suppression of DNA and RNA synthesis in MK19. Growth inhibition at 28 °C was due to cell membrane damage with a characteristic of low mRNA content of fatty acid (f.a.) pathway genes (acc, fas1, fas2), and consequent low f.a. content. Thinning of cell wall and low mannose content (leading to loss of cell wall integrity) also contributed to reduced cell growth at 28 °C in MK19. Levels of astaxanthin and ergosterol, two end-products of isoprenoid biosynthesis (a shunt pathway of f.a. biosynthesis), reached 2000 μg/g and 7500 μg/g respectively; ~2-fold higher than levels at 21 or 25 °C. Abundance of ergosterol, an important cell membrane component, compensated for lack of f.a., making possible the biomass production of 6 g/L for MK19 at 28 °C. Conclusion: Inhibition of growth of P. rhodozyma at 28 °C results from blocking of DNA, RNA, f.a., and cell wall biosynthesis. In MK19, abundant ergosterol made possible biomass production 6 g/L at 28 °C. Significant accumulation of astaxanthin and ergosterol indicated a active MVA pathway in MK19 at 28 °C. Strengthening of the MVA pathway can be a feasible metabolic engineering approach for enhancement of astaxanthin synthesis in P. rhodozyma. The present findings provide useful mechanistic insights regarding adaptation of P. rhodozyma to 28 °C, and improved understanding of feasible metabolic engineering techniques for industrial scale astaxanthin production by this economically important yeast species.
Aptamer targeted therapy potentiates immune checkpoint blockade in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Camorani Simona , Passariello Margherita , Agnello Lisa , Esposito Silvia , Collina Francesca , Cantile Monica , Bonito Maurizio Di , Ulasov Ilya V. , Fedele Monica , Zannetti Antonella , De Lorenzo Claudia , Cerchia Laura 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a uniquely aggressive cancer with high rates of relapse due to resistance to chemotherapy. TNBC expresses higher levels of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) compared to other breast cancers, providing the rationale for the recently approved immunotherapy with anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). A huge effort is dedicated to identify actionable biomarkers allowing for combination therapies with immune-checkpoint blockade. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) is highly expressed in invasive TNBC, both on tumor cells and tumor microenvironment. We recently proved that tumor growth and lung metastases are impaired in mouse models of human TNBC by a high efficacious PDGFRβ aptamer. Hence, we aimed at investigating the effectiveness of a novel combination treatment with the PDGFRβ aptamer and anti-PD-L1 mAbs in TNBC.Methods: The targeting ability of the anti-human PDGFRβ aptamer toward the murine receptor was verified by streptavidin-biotin assays and confocal microscopy, and its inhibitory function by transwell migration assays. The anti-proliferative effects of the PDGFRβ aptamer/anti-PD-L1 mAbs combination was assessed in human MDA-MB-231 and murine 4T1 TNBC cells, both grown as monolayer or co-cultured with lymphocytes. Tumor cell lysis and cytokines secretion by lymphocytes were analyzed by LDH quantification and ELISA, respectively. Orthotopic 4T1 xenografts in syngeneic mice were used for dissecting the effect of aptamer/mAb combination on tumor growth, metastasis and lymphocytes infiltration. Ex vivo analyses through immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR and immunoblotting were performed. Results: We show that the PDGFRβ aptamer potentiates the anti-proliferative activity of anti-PD-L1 mAbs on both human and murine TNBC cells, according to its human/mouse cross-reactivity. Further, by binding to activated human and mouse lymphocytes, the aptamer enhances the anti-PD-L1 mAb-induced cytotoxicity of lymphocytes against tumor cells. Importantly, the aptamer heightens the antibody efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth and lung metastases in mice. It acts on both tumor cells, inhibiting Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways, and immune populations, increasing intratumoral CD8+T cells and reducing FOXP3+Treg cells. Conclusion: Co-treatment of PDGFRβ aptamer with anti-PD-L1 mAbs is a viable strategy, thus providing for the first an evidence of the efficacy of PDGFRβ/PD-L1 co-targeting combination therapy in TNBC.
Single cell RNA sequencing of infantile hemangioma reveals cellular heterogeneity
Authors: Yu Zhang , Chen Xuanfeng , Cai Ren , Chen Qianyi , Chang Lei , Qiu Yajing , Chen Zongan , Ying Hanru , Hua Cheng , Gao Wei , Chen Hui , Jin Yunbo , Ma Gang , Pan Weijun , Lin Xiaoxi 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Clinical Utility of Liquid Biopsy for EGFR Driver, T790M Mutation and EGFR Amplification in Plasma in Patients with Aacquired Resistance to Afatinib
Authors: Oya Yuko , Yoshida Tatsuya , Asada Kazuhiro , Oguri Tetsuya , Inui Naoki , Morikawa Sayako , Ito Kentaro , Kimura Tomoki , Kunii Eiji , Matsui Takashi , Kubo Akihito , Kato Tatsuo , Abe Takashi , Tsuda Takeshi , Hida Toyoaki 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) genotyping in plasma using the cobas EGFR Mutation Test v2 (cobas) is the first liquid biopsy as a companion diagnosis to identify the EGFR T790M mutation (T790M) after the failure of treatment of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) (1st generation, gefitinib [G] and erlotinib [E] and afatinib [A]). This study investigated the clinical utility of a liquid biopsy for patients who acquired resistance to afatinib.Methods: We prospectively collected plasma from 51 patients who had acquired resistance to afatinib between April 2015 and November 2016 to evaluate the frequency of T790M using the cobas and digital droplet PCR (UMIN000025112). Additionally, we retrospectively reviewed 38 patients who tested by cobas in plasma after G/E failure to compare for T790M detection between A and with G/E.Results: The detection rate of EGFR sensitive mutation (EGFR sens.) and T790M in plasma in patients treated with A (A group) as an initial EGFR-TKI was lower than with G/E followed by A (G/E→A), although the differences were not significant (EGFR sens.: 41% (A) vs. 67% (G/E→A), P=0.1867; and T790M: 8% (A) vs. 17% (G/E→A), P=0.5798). In first-line setting, the detection rate for EGFR-sens. and T790M in plasma by cobas was lower in A group than in G/E group, although there was no significant difference (EGFR sens.: 34% (A) vs. 52% (G/E), P=0.2072; and T790M: 10% (A) vs. 27% (G/E), P=0.1161).Conclusion: The detection of EGFR sens. and T790M in plasma by cobas might be insufficient in patients treated with afatinib than with G/E.
Dexamethasone Blunts Post-Spinal Hypotension in Geriatric Patients Undergoing Orthopedic Surgery: A Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Ashoor Tarek , Hussien Noha S. , Anis Sherif G. , Esmat Ibrahim M. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background. Post-spinal hypotension in elderly is challenging, correction by fluids either colloids or crystalloids or by vasoconstrictors pose the risk of volume overload or compromising cardiac conditions. Dexamethasone is used to treat conditions manifested by decrease of peripheral vascular resistance; we were the first to test the hypothesis of its role in preventing or decreasing the incidence of post-spinal hypotension.Methods. 110 patients aged 60 years or more were recruited in the study, 55 in the Dexamethasone group (D group) were given 8 mg Dexamethasone 2 hours preoperatively, and 55 were given placebo (C group).Variations in blood pressure and heart rate and need of vasoconstrictors and/or atropine following spinal anesthesia (SA) was done. SA was done by subarachnoid injection of 3 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine.Results. Demographic data and the quality of sensory and motor block were comparable between groups. At 5, 10 minutes; systolic, diastolic and, mean arterial pressures were significantly higher in group D. At 20 minutes readings were non significant between groups. Heart rate changes didn’t show any significance. Need for ephedrine was less in group D, side effects were less in the D group. Conclusion. Dexamethasone may attenuate post-spinal hypotension in elderly, with a favorable response against nausea, vomiting and shivering that associate spinal anesthesia.
Photo-induced Afterglow of Carbon Dots for Dynamic Patterning
Authors: Liu Yanfeng , Huang Xin , Niu Zuoji , Wang Dongni , Gou Huilin , Liao Qiaobo , Xi Kai , An Zhongfu , Jia Xudong 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Flexible materials with afterglow feature have received considerable attention in the field of flexible electronics. To date, it is still a formidable challenge to develop flexible materials with dynamic long afterglow for practical applications. Herein, we report for the first time photo-induced long afterglow in a flexible solid composite film made of luminescent carbon dots (CDs) and the oxygen-permeable poly pyrrolidone (PVP). The phosphorescent afterglow of the film can be reversibly activated by photo-irradiation and de-activated by thermal treatment. Impressively, the photo-activation leads to a significant luminescence lifetime enhancement with a factor of over 3900, and editable afterglow patterns with fine resolution exceeding 1280 dpi are readily achieved by masking and lithography. Furthermore, the retention time of such memorized optical patterns can be tuned from minutes to days by varying temperature, enabling the unique time-temperature indicating function. These findings not only enrich both the library of the afterglow materials vastly, but also extend the scope of the potiential applications of CDs materials.
COVID-19 Lung CT Image Segmentation Using Deep Learning Methods: UNET Vs. SegNET
Authors: Saood Adnan , hatem iyad 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Currently, there is an urgent need for efficient tools to assess in the diagnosis of COVID-19 patients. In this paper, we present feasible solutions for detecting and labeling infected tissues on CT lung images of such patients. Two structurally-different deep learning techniques, SegNet and UNET, are investigated for semantically segmenting infected tissue regions in CT lung images. Methods: We propose to use two known deep learning networks, SegNet and UNET, for image tissue classification. SegNet is characterized as scene segmentation network and UNet as a medical segmentation tool. Both networks were exploited as binary segmentors to discriminate between infected and healthy lung tissue, and as multi-class segmentors to learn the infection type on the lung. Each network is trained using 72 data images, validated on 10 images and tested against the left 18 images. Several statistical scores are calculated for the results and tabulated accordingly. Results: The results show the superior ability of SegNet in classifying infected/non-infected tissues compared to the other methods (with 0.95 mean accuracy), while the UNET shows better results as a multi-class segmentor (with 0.91 mean accuracy). Conclusion: Semantically segmenting CT scan images of COVID-19 patients is a crucial goal because it would not only assist in disease diagnosis , but also help in quantifying the severity of the disease ,and hence, prioritize the population treatment accordingly. We propose computer-based techniques that prove to be reliable as detectors for infected tissue in lung CT scans. The availability of such a method in today’s pandemic would help automate, prioritize, fasten, and broaden the treatment of COVID-19 patients globally.