bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of a novel Protein Disulfide-isomerase A3 (PDIA3) transcript variant as a potential biomarker associated with late stage prostate cancer
Authors: Cruz Maria Araceli Diaz , Karlsson Sandra , Szekeres Ferenc , Faresjö Maria , Lund Dan , Haux Johan , Larsson Dennis 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a heterogeneous and unpredictable disease and becomes untreatable when the tumor progress to castrate-resistant (CR) or androgen independent (AI). A major clinical challenge in prostate cancer is the lack of diagnostic and prognostic tests that distinguish between different stages of the disease. Isoforms of gene transcripts are emerging as suitable candidates to represent disease progression. Vitamin D receptor transcript isoforms could be the target candidates of study since they have been related with anti-tumoral effects and carcinogenesis in several cancer types. The current study investigates the role of vitamin D receptor transcript isoforms in prostate cancer cell lines, PNT2, P4E6, LNCaP, DU145 and PC3; representing different progression and androgen dependency stages of PCa. Total RNA from these cell lines was sequenced with Illumina RNAseq Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and expression values of the vitamin D receptors VDR, PDIA3 and RXRA; were analyzed. Absolute quantification of PDIA3 isoforms was performed with Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) in order to validate NGS findings. Functional and location prediction analysis of the different PDIA3 isoforms was performed with several bioinformatic tools. The NGS analysis revealed a novel PDIA3 transcript isoform (PDIA3N) that is higher expressed than the PDIA3 isoform that codifies for the receptor protein, in prostate cells. The expression of PDIA3N was validated by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) absolute quantification, which confirmed the findings from the NGS analyses. The PDIA3N isoform was present in higher levels than PDIA3, in the metastatic androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells. Moreover, results shown that the ratio between PDIA3N and PDIA3 is related to androgen dependency and PCa progression. Finally, analysis of PDIA3N sequence indicate that the variations present in its sequence are altering the original protein function and structure as well as the predicted subcellular localization of the protein.We conclude that, PDIA3N due to the high expression in LNCaP cells and its abnormality in predicted structure, localization and function can be a potential target for the study of prostate cancer progression. The correlation of PDIA3N/PDIA3 ratio with PCa progression and androgen dependency stage will be further tested in PCa human samples.
Effects of six month personalized endurance training on work ability in middle-aged sedentary women: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Stenner Hedwig Theda , Eigendorf Julian , Kerling Arno , Kück Momme , Hanke Alexander A. , Boyen Johanna , Nelius Anne-Katrin , Melk Anette , Boethig Dietmar , Bara Christoph , Hilfiker Andres , Berliner Dominik , Bauersachs Johann , Hilfker-Kleiner Denise , Eberhard Jörg , Stiesch Meike , Schippert Cordula , Haverich Axel , Tegtbur Uwe , Haufe Sven 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: To test the effects of guided endurance training on work ability in middle-aged female hospital workers of various occupations. Methods : We randomized 265 healthy, sedentary, middle-aged women (45-65 years) to an endurance training group (EG 210 min/week) or a wait-list control group (CG). At baseline and at 6-month follow-up, we assessed work ability (Work Ability Index [WAI]), physical activity (Freiburger activity questionnaire) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. To examine the influence of baseline work ability, participants were divided into poor-moderate (WAI 1, 7-36 points, n=83), good (WAI 2, 37-43 points, n=136) and excellent (WAI 3, 44-49 points, n=46) WAI subgroups.Results: Cardiorespiratory fitness improved significantly after 6 months in the EG but not in the CG. The WAI total score increased significantly in the EG (38.3±5.0 to 39.8±4.9 points) but not in the CG (39.4±4.7 to 39.3±4.9 points), with a significant difference between groups (p<0.01). In the EG, only the poor-moderate subgroup (WAI 1, 33.0±2.9 to 36.6±4.8 points, p<0.05) increased the WAI total score, with this increase being significantly higher compared to the good (WAI 2, 40.2±2.1 to, 40.4±3.7 points) and excellent (WAI 3, 45.6±1.5 to 45.7±1.8 points) subgroup.Conclusions: A 6-month guided exercise training intervention significantly increases cardiorespiratory fitness with concomitant improvements in work ability in middle-aged previously sedentary hospital employees. Women with low baseline work ability seem to particularly benefit from the intervention, which implies that similar interventions may be particularly beneficial for this group of individuals.Trial Registration: German Clinical Trails Register Identifier: DRKS00005159. Registered 25 September 2013, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00005159.
Osteopontin promoter polymorphisms and risk of urolithiasis: a candidate gene association and meta-analysis study
Authors: Amar Ali , Afzal Ayesha , Hameed Athar , Ahmad Mumtaz , Khan Abdul Rafay , Najma Humaira , Abid Aiysha , Khaliq Shagufta 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: Urolithiasis is a worldwide urological problem with significant contribution of genetic factors. Pakistan, which resides within the Afro-Asian stone belt, has a high reported prevalence (12%) of urolithiasis. Osteopontin (SPP1) is a urinary macromolecule with a suggested critical role in modulating renal stone formation, genetic polymorphisms of which may determine individual risk of developing urolithiasis. However, results of previous studies regarding SPP1 polymorphisms and susceptibility to urolithiasis have apparent inconsistencies with no data available for local population. Methods: A total of 235 urolithiasis patients and 243 healthy controls, all of Pakistani ancestry, underwent genotyping for six SPP1 genetic polymorphisms in an effort to investigate potential association with urolithiasis using indigenous candidate gene association study design. Further, a comprehensive meta-analysis following a systematic literature search was also done to ascertain an evidence based account of any existent association regarding SPP1 promoter polymorphisms and risk of developing urolithiasis. Results: Three SPP1 promoter polymorphisms, rs2853744:G>T, rs11730582:T>C and rs11439060:delG>G, were found to be significantly associated with risk of urolithiasis in indigenous genetic association study (OR = 3.14; p = 0.006, OR = 1.78; p = 0.006 and OR = 1.60; p = 0.012, respectively). We also observed a 1.68-fold positive association of a tri-allelic haplotype of these SPP1 promoter polymorphisms (G-C-dG) with risk of urolithiasis (OR = 1.68; p = 0.0079). However, no association was evident when data were stratified according to gender, age at first presentation, stone recurrence, stone multiplicity, parental consanguinity and family history of urolithiasis. The overall results from meta-analysis, which included 4 studies, suggested a significant association of SPP1 rs2853744:G>T polymorphism with susceptibility of urolithiasis (OR = 1.37; p = 0.004), but not for other SPP1 polymorphic variants analyzed. Conclusions: In conclusion, we report significant association of 3 SPP1 polymorphisms with urolithiasis for the first time from South Asia, however, this association persisted only for SPP1 rs2853744:G>T polymorphism after meta-analysis of pooled studies. Further studies with a larger sample size will be required to validate this association and assess any potential usefulness in diagnosis and prognosis of renal stone disease.
Intestinal helminthiasis as a relevant factor on immunological markers status of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients
Authors: VERDUGUEZ-ORELLANA ALEIDA , Cabrera Ernesto Rojas , Terrazas Mery Arteaga , Laura Fidelia Barrientos , Guzman-Rivero Miguel 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: The intestinal helminths and the tegumentary leishmaniasis are frequent in rain forest area of Bolivia by absence of basic sanitation services and the natural presence of sand fly, vector of Leishmania parasites. Each one of these infections triggers a specific immune response by the host, nevertheless there is scant information regarding the behaviour of immune response during simultaneous Leishmania and intestinal helminths infections. The purpose of this study was contributing to the knowledge on this matter. Results: Forty-four cutaneous leishmaniasis patients and thirty controls entered in the study. The percentage of eosinophils from peripheral blood and plasma concentration of IgE and TNF-α were increased at after antimony treatment, respect the values presented before treatment in Albendazole and Non Albendazole groups, those increases were not statically significant. A decrease between before and after antimony treatment was observed in the ratio CD4/CD8 in both groups, but only in the receiving Albendazole group it was presented differences statistically significant.Conclusions: Several changes in the status of immunological markers including the number of eosinophils were found after the antimony treatment of patients. No additional clinical, neither immunological benefit of Albendazole treatment could be documented probably because the contact of individuals with helminths is long-standing.
Hepatic Encephalopathy Increases the Risk of Hip Fracture: a Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Yeh Kuang-Ting , Yu Tzai-Chiu , Lee Ru-Ping , Wang Jen-Hung , Liu Kuan-Lin , Peng Cheng-Huan , Chen Hao-Wen , Chen Ing-Ho , Hsu Chung-Yi , Wu Wen-Tien 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
BackgroundOsteoporotic hip fractures debilitate the patients and largely decrease their life quality. Early prevention of the fracture is essential in the recent decades by finding out the related risk factors as reference of further intervention. Hepatic encephalopathy, a major complication of liver cirrhosis, may increase the rate of falling down and weaken the bone quality. Few papers emphasized the association between hepatic encephalopathy and osteoporotic hip fracture.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study used data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2012. Patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy were matched at a ratio of 1:4 for age, sex, and index year. The incidence and hazard ratios of comorbidities related to aging and poor lifestyle were calculated using Cox proportional hazard regression models.ResultsIn total, 2496 patients with hepatic encephalopathy and 9984 patients without hepatic encephalopathy were enrolled. The average age of the patients was approximately 66.5 years. The incidence of comorbidities did not significantly differ between patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy. Patients with hepatic encephalopathy were 2.15-times more likely to develop osteoporotic hip fractures than patients without hepatic encephalopathy in the whole group and the risk ratio was significantly higher in female patients. Those who were aged 50–64 and 65–79 years were respectively 3.57- and 2.51-times more likely to develop osteoporotic hip fracture compared to their non-HE counterparts. The results were also similar in the comorbidity subgroups of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, senile cataract, gastric ulcer and depression. The cumulative incidence of the fractures significantly differed between patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy.ConclusionsHepatic encephalopathy is significantly associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic hip fractures and the significance was not affected by the comorbidities. The risk cumulated steadily through time goes by.
Self-efficacy and fatigue among health care workers during COVID-19 outbreak: A moderated mediation model of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and negative coping
Authors: Hou Tianya , Dong Wei , Zhang Ruike , Song Xiangrui , Zhang Fan , Cai Wenpeng , Liu Ying , Deng Guanghui 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background. Health care workers (HCWs) fighting Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are not immune to fatigue. Self-efficacy has been suggested as a protective factor for fatigue. Nonetheless, less is known regarding the underlying mechanisms behind the association. This research aimed to explore the prevalence of fatigue among HCWs during the pandemic, investigate the mediating effect of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and moderating effect of negative coping in the association between self-efficacy and fatigue.Methods. The cross-sectional study employed a sample of 527 HCWs from Anhui Province, China. Self-efficacy, PTSD symptoms, negative coping and fatigue were measured by General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (CSCQ) and 14-item Fatigue Scale (FS-14) respectively.Results. The prevalence of fatigue among HCWs was 56.7%. The effect of self-efficacy on fatigue was partially mediated by PTSD symptoms. Additionally, negative coping moderated both the direct effect of self-efficacy on fatigue and the mediating effect of PTSD symptoms. As revealed by Johnson-Neyman technique, when the standard score of negative coping enhanced to 1.49 and over, the direct association between self-efficacy and fatigue was not significant. Likewise, the effect of self-efficacy on PTSD symptoms had no statistical significance when the standard score of negative coping was − 1.40 and lower.Conclusions. More than half HCWs suffer from fatigue during the COVID-19. For HCWs during the COVID-19 epidemic, especially those with higher levels of negative coping, it might be crucial to design program combining the enhancement of self-efficacy and interventions for PTSD to reduce fatigue.
Early L-T4 Intervention Improves Fetal Heart Development in Pregnant Rats with Subclinical Hypothyroidism Rats by Activating BMP4/Smad4 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Xue D , Sun JL , Yang J 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: It is unclear whether the offspring of SCH pregnant rats still have abnormal cardiac development, and whether early intervention with L-T4 can improve the abnormality of these offspring. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of early L-T4 intervention on the heart development of offspring of SCH pregnant rats and its possible molecular mechanism.Methods: Eighty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into Sham group (placebo control), SCH group, LT4-E10 group (L-T4 treatment started on the 10th day of gestation), and LT4-E13 group (L-T4 treatment started on the 13th day of gestation). Each group was further divided into E16, E18, P5 (postnatal day 5 rats), and P10 (postnatal day 10 rats) subgroups. The levels of serum TT4 and TSH, the ratio of heart weight to body weight of offspring rats, the expression of metabolic enzymes, and the histopathology of cardiomyocytes were determined. To elucidate the effects of L-T4 on cardiac development of offspring of SCH pregnant rats, the expression levels of GATA4, Nkx2-5 and proteins involved in BMP4/Smad4 signaling pathway were detected by immunohistochemistry, real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting to elucidate the molecular mechanism of L-T4 regulating the heart development of the offspring of SCH pregnant rats.Results: Compared with Sham group, serum TSH was significantly increased in SCH pregnant rats. Moreover, early L-T4 intervention significantly reduced the levels of serum TSH. Compared with the offspring in the SCH group, early L-T4 intervention significantly increased the heart weight, heart weight to body weight ratio, the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase, but reduced myocardial cell shrinkage and nuclear staining, hyperemia/congestion and vacuolar degeneration. In addition, early L-T4 intervention not only significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of Gata4 and Nkx2-5, but also increased the protein expression involved in BMP4/Smad4 signal pathway in myocardium of the offspring of SCH pregnant rats.Conclusions: Early L-T4 intervention can regulate the cardiac development of the offspring of SCH pregnant rats by activating BMP4/Smad4 signaling pathway and increasing the expression of Gata4 and Nkx2-5 proteins.
Hepatic Transcriptome Perturbations in Dairy Cows Fed Different Forage Resources
Authors: Gao Shengtao , Ma Lu , Zhang Yangdong , Wang Jiaqi , Loor JuanJuan , bu dengpan 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
BackgroundForage plays critical roles in milk performance of dairy. However, domestic high-quality forage such as alfalfa hay is far from being sufficient in China. Thus, more than 1 million tons of alfalfa hay were imported in China annually in recent years. At the same time, more than 10 million tons of corn stover are generated annually in China. Thus, taking full advantage of corn stover to meet the demand of forage and reduce dependence on imported alfalfa hay has been a strategic policy for the Chinese dairy industry. Changes in liver metabolism under different forage resources are not well known. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of different forage resources on liver metabolism using RNAseq and bioinformatics analyses.ResultsThe results of this study showed that the cows fed corn stover (CS) diet had lower milk yield, DMI, milk protein content and yield, milk fat yield, and lactose yield than the cows fed mixed forage (MF) diet (P < 0.01). KEGG analysis of for differently expressed genes (DEG) in liver (81 up-regulated and 423 down-DEG, Padj ≤ 0.05) showed that pathways associated with glycan biosynthesis and metabolism and amino acid metabolism was inhibited by the CS diet. In addition, results from DAVID and ClueGO indicate that biological processes related to cell-cell adhesion, multicellular organism growth, and amino acid and protein metabolism also were downregulated by feeding CS. Co-expression network analysis indicated that FAM210A, SLC26A6, FBXW5, EIF6, ZSCAN10, FPGS, and ARMCX2 played critical roles in the network. Bioinformatics analysis showed that genes within the co-expression network were enriched to “pyruvate metabolic process”, “complement activation, classical pathway”, and “retrograde transport, endosome to Golgi”.ConclusionsResults of the present study indicated that feeding a low-quality forage diet inhibits important biological functions of the liver at least in part due to a reduction in DMI. In addition, the results of the present study provide an insight into the metabolism response in liver to different-quality forage resources and they have the potential to promote a favorable strategy to improve the utilization of corn stover in China.
Air trapping is associated with heterozygosity for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin mutations in patients with asthma
Authors: Aiello Marina , Marianna Ghirardini , Roberta Pisi , Ilaria Ferrarotti , Giuseppina Bertorelli , Laura Marchi , Annalisa Frizzelli , Antonio Chetta Alfredo 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is a hereditary genetic disorder involving lungs in adults, characterized by low serum concentration of the protein alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT). Several reports indicate that asthma is common in AATD patients, but there are only few data on respiratory function in asthmatic patients with AATD. The aim of the study is to evaluate lung function in asthmatic outpatients with AATD vs. asthmatic subjects without AATD. Methods: We performed the quantitative analysis of the serum concentration of AAT in 600 outpatients affected by mild to moderate asthma from the University Hospital of Parma, Italy. Fifty-seven of them underwent the genetic analysis subsequently, they were subdivided into AATD and non-AATD subjects. All the AATD patients had a heterozygous genotype, except one (PI*SS). We assessed the lung function through a flow-sensing spirometer and the small airways parameters through an impulse oscillometry system.Results: The values of FVC (% predicted) and of the RV/TLC (%) ratio were respectively lower and higher in patients with AATD vs. patients without AATD, showing a significantly greater air trapping (p = 0.014 and p = 0.017 respectively). Moreover, patients with AATD in comparison to patients without AATD showed lower FEV3 (% predicted) and FEV6 (L) spirometric values, reflecting a smaller airways contribution.Conclusions: AATD in asthmatic heterozygote patients with PI*MZ and PI*MS genotypes was associated with small airways dysfunction and with lung air trapping.
Hand injuries in sports – a retrospective analysis of 364 cases
Authors: Stoegner Viola-Antonia , Kaltenborn Alexander , Laser Hans , Vogt Peter Maria 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
Hand injuries are common in sports and associated with high drop-out rates and costs. Considering the multiplicity of health benefits of regular physical exercise, efforts should strive for rising the safety of sports. This implies knowledge of sports injury risk profiles. So far, major surveillance programs exist mainly in the Anglo-American countries, reflecting the specific concerns of sports in this part of the world. Data on sports injuries within Europe are scarce. As sports behavior appears to vary demographically, we hypothesized that risk injury profiles differ as well.
Methods
To assess, whether the described sports injuries of the hand, published internationally, are applicable to the German population, we performed a five-year retrospective, single-center analysis of sports-related hand injuries, using the data of the Enterprise Clinical Research Warehouse of Hannover Medical School.
Results
Notable differences in comparison to other data were observed. Ball sports, cycling and equestrian sports caused most of the recorded hand injuries, which were predominantly fractures of the wrist and hand. Hand injuries in equestrian sports were associated with significantly higher operation and hospitalisation rates as well as a significantly longer inpatient treatment.
Conclusion
National as well as European registry studies are needed in order to better estimate the risk patterns of sports injuries and reduce the sequelae.