bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of candidate tolerance genes to low-temperature during maize germination by GWAS and RNA-seq approaches
Authors: Zhang Hong , Zhang Jiayue , Xu Qingyu , Wang Dandan , Di Hong , Huang Jun , Yang Xiuwei , Wang Zhoufei , Zhang Lin , Dong Ling , Wang Zhenhua , Zhou Yu 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundMaize (Zea maysL.) is one of the main agricultural crops with the largest yield and acreage in the world. However, maize germplasm is very sensitive to low temperatures, mainly during germination, and low temperatures significantly affect plant growth and crop yield. Therefore, the identification of genes capable of increasing tolerance to low temperature has become necessary.ResultsIn this study, fourteen phenotypic traits related to seed germination were used to assess the genetic diversity of maize through genome-wide association study (GWAS). A total of 30 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to low-temperature tolerance were detected (−log10(P) > 4), fourteen candidate genes were found to be directly related to the SNPs, further additional 68 genes were identified when the screen was extended to include a linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay distance ofr2 ≥ 0.2 from the SNPs. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis was then used to confirm the linkage between the candidate gene and low-temperature tolerance. A total of ten differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (|log2fold change (FC)| ≥ 0.585,P < 0.05) were found within the set distance of LD decay (r2 ≥ 0.2). Among these genes, the expression of six DEGs was verified using qRT-PCR.Zm00001d039219andZm00001d034319were putatively involved in ‘mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction’ and ‘fatty acid metabolic process’, respectively, based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Thus, these genes appeared to be related to low-temperature signal transduction and cell membrane fluidity.ConclusionOverall, by integrating the results of our GWAS and DEG analysis of low-temperature tolerance during germination in maize, we were able to identify a total of 30 SNPs and 82 related candidate genes, including 10 DEGs, two of which were involved in the response to tolerance to low temperature. Functional analysis will provide valuable information for understanding the genetic mechanism of low-temperature tolerance during germination in maize.
Relationship between the place of living and mortality in patients with advanced heart failure
Authors: Muñoz Miguel-Angel , Garcia Raquel , Navas Elena , Duran Julio , Del Val-Garcia José-Luis , Verdú-Rotellar José-Maria 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Social and environmental factors in advanced heart failure (HF) patients may be crucial to cope with the end stages of the disease. This study analyzes health inequalities and mortality according to place of residence (rural vs urban) in HF patients at advanced stages of the disease.

Methods
Population-based cohort study including 1148 adult patients with HF attended in 279 primary care centers. Patients were followed for at least 1 year after reaching New York Heart Association IV functional class, between 2010 and 2014.
Data came from primary care electronic medical records. Cox regression models were applied to determine the hazard ratios (HR) of mortality.

Results
Mean age was 81.6 (SD 8.9) years, and 62% were women. Patients in rural areas were older, particularly women aged > 74 years (p = 0.036), and presented lower comorbidity. Mortality percentages were 59 and 51% among rural and urban patients, respectively (p = 0.030). Urban patients living in the most socio-economically deprived neighborhoods presented the highest rate of health service utilization, particularly with primary care nurses (p-trend < 0.001). Multivariate analyses confirmed that men (HR 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34–1.90), older patients (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04–1.06), Charlson comorbidity index (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.11–1.22), and residing in rural areas (HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.67) was associated with higher mortality risk.

Conclusions
Living in rural areas determines an increased risk of mortality in patients at final stages of heart failure.
Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier: a potential target for diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Zhu Huanhuan , Wan Huiting , Wu Lin , Li Qing , Liu Simeng , Duan Suyan , Huang Zhimin , Zhang Chengning , Zhang Bo , Xing Changying , Yuan Yanggang 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1) and mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 2 (MPC2) play a bottleneck role in the transport of pyruvate into mitochondrial across the mitochondrial inner membrane. A previous study showed that increasing mitochondrial pyruvate carrier content might ameliorate diabetic kidney disease in db/db mice. However, the expression status of MPC1 and MPC2 in patients with DN is unclear.

Methods
Patients with primary glomerulonephropathy (PGN, n = 30), PGN with diabetes mellitus (PGN-DM, n = 30) and diabetic nephropathy (DN, n = 30) were included. MPC1 and MPC2 protein levels were examined by immunohistochemistry. The expression of MPC in different groups was evaluated by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Spearman’s rank correlation was performed for correlation analysis between MPC levels and clinical factors.

Results
Both MPC1 and MPC2 were localized in renal tubules. Levels of MPC1 and MPC2 were lower in DN patients than in PGN patients and in PGN patients with DM, whereas there were no differences in MPC1 and MPC2 levels among DN stage II to stage IV. Moreover, both MPC1 and MPC2 levels were significantly correlated with serum creatinine, BUN and eGFR in patients with DN, whereas no analogous trend was observed in nondiabetic kidney disease.

Conclusions
Our study indicated that MPC localized in renal tubules, which were significantly decreased in DN. MPC was associated with clinical features, especially those representing renal functions.
Sudden onset of syncope and disseminated intravascular coagulation at 14 weeks of pregnancy: a case report
Authors: Kamata Mayumi , Maruyama Tetsuo , Nishiguchi Tomizo , Iwasaki Shinya 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE), also known as anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy (ASP), typically occurs during labor and may result in cardiorespiratory collapse and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). There are reports describing less typical presentations of AFE/ASP in which patients do not necessarily have the classic triad of hypoxia, hypotension, and coagulopathy. AFE/ASP rarely occurs in the absence of labor, but such cases may involve medical or surgical abortion, spontaneous miscarriage, or obstetrical procedures including amniocentesis and amnioinfusion. There are, however, no previously reported cases of AFE/ASP with sudden loss of consciousness and disseminated intravascular coagulation occurring during early pregnancy, in the absence of any intervention or obstetric event.

Case presentation
A 32-year-old G3P2 Japanese woman had sudden-onset syncope at 14 weeks’ gestation. On arrival at our hospital, her level of consciousness was severely disturbed as determined by the Glasgow Coma Scale. Although her vital signs were initially stable, blood samples collected intravenously and by femoral artery puncture did not coagulate. A subchorionic hematoma with active extravasation of blood was apparent on contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Two hours after her arrival, she developed hypovolemic shock with progression of DIC, presumably due to intrauterine and retroperitoneal bleeding. After transfusion of blood products; treatments for DIC including the use of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin, ulinastatin, and corticosteroids; and hysterectomy, her level of consciousness and physical condition improved remarkably. Later investigation of preoperative blood samples revealed that serum levels of AFE/ASP-associated markers were elevated. Immunohistochemical studies on the excised, unruptured uterus showed that amniotic fluid components were present inside a uterine blood vessel.

Conclusions
This is the first reported patient with sudden-onset syncope and DIC, but without apparent cardiorespiratory collapse, with the highly likely etiology of AFE/ASP occurring at the beginning of the second trimester of pregnancy and in the absence of intervention or delivery. Maternal collapse with DIC during any stage of pregnancy should be considered an AFE/ASP-associated event, even in the absence of labor or obstetric procedures. This event may occur in the presence of subchorionic hematoma alone.
Quality control of bedside DR in neonatal chest radiography using a chest stabilization device and its clinical application
Authors: Zhang Xinqi , Zhang Yinfeng 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
To develop a method for movement control during radiation exposure and to improve image quality of bedside thoracic DR in neonates.

Methods
Total 60 cases of neonates’ thoracic DR X-ray images, which were taken before and after neonates’ movement control, were compared and analyzed. X-ray exposure was set at 47 kV/1.4 mAs for all films that were taken without movement control, while various exposure conditions were used based on the neonate’s body weight when the neonate’s movement was controlled.

Results
The radiation dose of X-ray exposure was significantly lower after neonates’ movement control (7.32 ± 0.20 μGy) than that before the movement control (24.20 ± 0.82 μGy, P <  0.05), and it was decreased most dramatically in the neonates with lowest body weight (70%). After neonates’ movement control, image quality was significantly improved (44 cases out of 60, 73.3%) compared to that before movement control (only 5 out 60, 8.3%, P <  0.05). There was no significant difference in the score of image background noise before and after movement control (P <  0.05).

Conclusion
Movement control with simple device could not only significantly improve the image quality, but also remarkably reduce radiation exposure dose.
Response to: “timing of administration of indocyanine green for fluorescence-guided surgery in pancreatic cancer: response to Shirakawa et al.”
Authors: Shirakawa Sachiyo , Toyama Hirochika , Kido Masahiro , Fukumoto Takumi 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis is the response article to correspondence article received for our published article in BMC surgery titled “A prospective single-center protocol for using near-infrared fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green during staging laparoscopy to detect small metastasis from pancreatic cancer”. Peter L. Labib, MBChB pointed out the necessity to administer indocyanine green intravenously in separate timing for detection of metastasis in liver and peritoneum. Preoperative injection is suitable to detect hepatic metastasis and intraoperative injection is reported to be well suited to detect peritoneal metastasis. However, we could not find the usefulness of intraoperative injection of indocyanine green for detecting peritoneal metastasis in cases with staging laparoscopy prior to this study. We employed this study protocol with only preoperative injection of indocyanine green to simplify the procedure with consideration of probably more frequent cases of hepatic metastasis that is difficult to detect with white-light imaging than those of peritoneal metastasis.
Perioperative serum albumin as a predictor of adverse outcomes in abdominal surgery: prospective cohort hospital based study in Northern Tanzania
Authors: Issangya Christian Ephata , Msuya David , Chilonga Kondo , Herman Ayesiga , Shao Elichilia , Shirima Febronia , Naman Elifaraja , Mkumbi Henry , Pyuza Jeremia , Mtui Emmanuel , Sanga Leah Anku , Abdul Seif , Leyaro Beatrice John , Chugulu Samuel 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Albumin is an important protein that transports hormones, fatty acids, and exogenous drugs; it also maintains plasma oncotic pressure. Albumin is considered a negative active phase protein because it decreases during injuries and sepsis. In spite of other factors predicting surgical outcomes, the effect of pre and postoperative serum albumin to surgical complications can be assessed by calculating the percentage decrease in albumin (delta albumin). This study aimed to explore perioperative serum albumin as a predictor of adverse outcomes in major abdominal surgeries.

Methods
All eligible adult participants from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Surgical Department were enrolled in a convenient manner. Data were collected using a study questionnaire. Full Blood Count (FBP), serum albumin levels preoperatively and on postoperative day 1 were measured in accordance with Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Data was entered and analyzed using STATA version 14. Association and extent of decrease in albumin levels as a predictor of surgical site infection (SSI), delayed wound healing and death within 30 days of surgery was determined using ordinal logistic regression models. In determining the diagnostic accuracy, a Non-parametric Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) model was used. We adjusted for ASA classification, which had a negative confounding effect on the predictive power of the percent drop in albumin to adverse outcomes.

Results
Sixty one participants were studied; the mean age was 51.6 (SD16.3), the majorities were males 40 (65.6%) and post-operative adverse outcomes were experienced by 28 (45.9%) participants. In preoperative serum albumin values, 40 (67.8%) had lower than 3.4 g/l while 51 (91%) had postoperative albumin values lower than 3.4 g/l. Only 15 (27.3%) had high delta albumin with the median percentage value of 14.77%. Delta albumin was an independent significant factor associated with adverse outcome (OR: 6.68; 95% CI: 1.59, 28.09); with a good predictive power and area under ROC curve (AUC) of 0.72 (95% CI 0.55 0.89). The best cutoff value was 11.61% with a sensitivity of 76.92% and specificity of 51.72%.

Conclusion
Early perioperative decreases in serum albumin levels may be a good, simple and cost effective tool to predict adverse outcomes in major abdominal surgeries.
Critical analysis of evidence about the impacts on surgical teams of ‘mental practice’ in systematic reviews: a systematic rapid evidence assessment (SREA)
Authors: Snelgrove Huon , Gabbott Ben 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Mental Rehearsal (MR) the cognitive act of simulating a task in our heads to pre-experience events imaginatively. It has been used widely to improve individual and collective performance in fields outside healthcare and offers potential for more efficient training in time pressured surgical and medical team contexts. The study aims to review the current systematic review literature to determine the impact of MP on surgical performance and learning.

Methods
Medline, Embase, British Educational Index, CINAHL, Web of Science PsycINFO, Cochrane databased were searched in the period 1994–2018. The primary outcomes measure were performance improvements in surgical technical skills, stress reduction, confidence and team performance. Study quality of the Systematic Reviews was assessed using AMSTAR 2, a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews. The reported impacts of MP in all included studies were mapped onto Kirkpatrick’s framework for the evaluation of educational interventions.

Results
Six Systematic reviews were identified which met the inclusion criteria, of which all reported positive and varying benefits of MP on surgical performance, confidence, and coping strategies. However, reported impacts on a modified Kirkpatrick’s framework did not exceed level 3. Mental practice was described in terms of mental imagery and mental rehearsal with most authors using each of the terms in their search strategies. The impacts on transfer to practice and the long- term acquisition of skills, but also personal uptake of mental practice routines were not reported.

Conclusion
The majority of studies demonstrate benefits of MP for technical performance. Overall the systematic reviews were of medium to high quality. However, studies lacked a sufficiently articulated evaluation methodology to examine impacts beyond the immediate experimentations. This is also due to the limitations found in the primary studies. Future research should look at longitudinal mixed method evaluation designs and focus on real clinical teams.
Is it financially beneficial for hospitals to prevent nosocomial infections?
Authors: Benenson Shmuel , Cohen Matan J. , Schwartz Carmela , Revva Michael , Moses Allon E. , Levin Phillip D. 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Financial incentives represent a potential mechanism to encourage infection prevention by hospitals. In order to characterize the place of financial incentives, we investigated resource utilization and cost associated with hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and assessed the relative financial burden for hospital and insurer according to reimbursement policies.

Methods
We conducted a prospective matched case-control study over 18 months in a tertiary university medical center. Patients with central-line associated blood-stream infections (CLABSI), Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) or surgical site infections (SSI) were each matched to three control patients. Resource utilization, costs and reimbursement (per diem for CLABSI and CDI, diagnosis related group (DRG) reimbursement for SSI) were compared between patients and controls, from both the hospital and insurer perspective.

Results
HAIs were associated with increased resource consumption (more blood tests, imaging, antibiotic days, hospital days etc.). Direct costs were higher for cases vs. controls (CLABSI: $6400 vs. $2376 (p < 0.001), CDI: $1357 vs $733 (p = 0.047) and SSI: $6761 vs. $5860 (p < 0.001)). However as admissions were longer following CLABSI and CDI, costs per-day were non-significantly different (USD/day, cases vs. controls: CLABSI, 601 vs. 719, (p = 0.63); CDI, 101 vs. 93 (p = 0.5)). For CLABSI and CDI, reimbursement was per-diem and thus the financial burden ($14,608 and $5430 respectively) rested on the insurer, not the hospital. For SSI, as reimbursement was per procedure, costs rested primarily on the hospital rather than the insurer.

Conclusion
Nosocomial infections are associated with both increased resource utilization and increased length of stay. Reimbursement strategy (per diem vs DRG) is the principal parameter affecting financial incentives to prevent hospital acquired infections and depends on the payer perspective. In the Israeli health care system, financial incentives are unlikely to represent a significant consideration in the prevention of CLABSI and CDI.
SARS-CoV-2 induces transcriptional signatures in human lung epithelial cells that promote lung fibrosis
Authors: Xu Jincheng , Xu Xiaoyue , Jiang Lina , Dua Kamal , Hansbro Philip M. , Liu Gang 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2-induced coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease that affects > 2.8 million people worldwide, with numbers increasing dramatically daily. However, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 and much remains unknown about this disease. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2 is a cellular receptor of SARS-CoV-2. It is cleaved by type II transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS)2 and disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain (ADAM)17 to assist viral entry into host cells. Clinically, SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in acute lung injury and lung fibrosis, but the underlying mechanisms of COVID-19 induced lung fibrosis are not fully understood.

Methods
The networks of ACE2 and its interacting molecules were identified using bioinformatic methods. Their gene and protein expressions were measured in human epithelial cells after 24 h SARS-CoV-2 infection, or in existing datasets of lung fibrosis patients.

Results
We confirmed the binding of SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 by bioinformatic analysis. TMPRSS2, ADAM17, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)3, angiotensinogen (AGT), transformation growth factor beta (TGFB1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A and fibronectin (FN) were interacted with ACE2, and the mRNA and protein of these molecules were expressed in lung epithelial cells. SARS-CoV-2 infection increased ACE2, TGFB1, CTGF and FN1 mRNA that were drivers of lung fibrosis. These changes were also found in lung tissues from lung fibrosis patients.

Conclusions
Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 binds with ACE2 and activates fibrosis-related genes and processes to induce lung fibrosis.
Expression, homology modeling and enzymatic characterization of a new β-mannanase belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 1 from Enterobacter aerogenes B19
Authors: Liu Siyu , Cui Tangbing , Song Yan 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundβ-mannanase can hydrolyze β-1,4 glycosidic bond of mannan by the manner of endoglycosidase to generate mannan-oligosaccharides. Currently, β-mannanase has been widely applied in food, medicine, textile, paper and petroleum exploitation industries. β-mannanase is widespread in various organisms, however, microorganisms are the main source of β-mannanases. Microbial β-mannanases display wider pH range, temperature range and better thermostability, acid and alkali resistance, and substrate specificity than those from animals and plants. Therefore microbial β-mannanases are highly valued by researchers. Recombinant bacteria constructed by gene engineering and modified by protein engineering have been widely applied to produce β-mannanase, which shows more advantages than traditional microbial fermentation in various aspects.ResultsA β-mannanase gene (Man1E), which encoded 731 amino acid residues, was cloned fromEnterobacter aerogenes. Man1E was classified as Glycoside Hydrolase family 1. The bSiteFinder prediction showed that there were eight essential residues in the catalytic center of Man1E as Trp166, Trp168, Asn229, Glu230, Tyr281, Glu309, Trp341 and Lys374. The catalytic module and carbohydrate binding module (CBM) of Man1E were homologously modeled. Superposition analysis and molecular docking revealed the residues located in the catalytic module of Man1E and the CBM of Man1E. The recombinant enzyme was successfully expressed, purified, and detected about 82.5 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The optimal reaction condition was 55 °C and pH 6.5. The enzyme exhibited high stability below 60 °C, and in the range of pH 3.5–8.5. The β-mannanase activity was activated by low concentration of Co2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Ba2+and Ca2+. Man1E showed the highest affinity for Locust bean gum (LBG). The Kmand Vmaxvalues for LBG were 3.09 ± 0.16 mg/mL and 909.10 ± 3.85 μmol/(mL min), respectively.ConclusionsA new type of β-mannanase with high activity fromE. aerogenesis heterologously expressed and characterized. The enzyme belongs to an unreported β-mannanase family (CH1 family). It displays good pH and temperature features and excellent catalysis capacity for LBG and KGM. This study lays the foundation for future application and molecular modification to improve its catalytic efficiency and substrate specificity.