bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alexithymia 3.0: reimagining alexithymia from a medical perspective
Authors: Lane Richard D. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Although alexithymia research has greatly expanded in recent decades, our ability to treat it clinically remains limited. This article provides a new perspective on why that may be true and offers a fresh approach to clinical intervention.

Summary
The recent distinction between the agnosia and anomia subtypes of alexithymia, coupled with the introduction of the three-process model of emotional awareness (consisting of affective response generation, affective response representation and cognitive control), suggests that alexithymia is a phenotype that includes a spectrum of deficits that vary in their underlying neurobiology. This advance creates the opportunity to improve our ability to treat alexithymia. In the history of medicine major advances in the ability to provide effective treatments became possible once the relevant underlying morbid anatomy and physiology were discovered and the different causes of a common clinical phenotype were identified. The author suggests that we may now be entering a new era of this type in alexithymia research and clinical care. According to this perspective, Era 1.0 consisted of the pioneering clinical observations of abnormalities in emotional functioning culminating in the consensus definition of alexithymia in Heidelberg in 1976. Era 2.0 from 1976 to the present has consisted of empirical studies in which sound psychometric measures based on this clinical phenotype have been used in combination with clinical assessments and objective measures such as emotion recognition ability, peripheral physiology and neuroimaging. We may now be entering Era 3.0 in which a new model of an alexithymia spectrum grounded in brain-body interactions can transcend the constraints of a phenotype standard and provide a guide for personalized clinical care targeting the specific deficits present in a given individual. This new approach is meant to supplement rather than replace existing research and clinical practices.

Conclusion
This new era constitutes a medical perspective in three ways: 1) a focus on underlying neurobiology and associated clinical manifestations rather than an overarching phenotype; 2) a focus on the mechanisms of brain-body interactions associated with alexithymia that lead to adverse outcomes in systemic medical disorders; 3) clinical treatments directed at the specific deficits present in any given case.
Evaluation of an intervention aimed at supporting new parents: the Baby Newsletter project
Authors: Panza Costantino , Volta Alessandro , Broccoli Serena , Bonvicini Laura , Kendall Sally , Marchesi Maddalena , Giorgi Rossi Paolo 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundAnticipatory guidance for parents is commonly used to improve parenting skills. The objective of this pre/post-intervention controlled study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a periodic newsletter with advice on childcare and development in improving parenting self-efficacy.MethodsThis was a non-randomized pre/post-intervention controlled study.All the parents of children born between September 2014 and December 2015 resident in the S. Ilario d’Enza municipality (Italy) received eight Baby Newsletters. Parents resident in other municipalities of the same Health District were the control. Parents with linguistic barriers or with preterm or hospitalized children were excluded.Improvement in parenting self-efficacy was measured through the TOPSE (Tool to Measure Parenting Self-Efficacy) questionnaire during the first week (t0) after delivery and at 5 (t1) and 12 months (t2) of life at two vaccination appointments. A score ranging from 0 to 60 was computed for each of the eight domains investigated by the TOPSE.Variations of each TOPSE score between delivery and 12 months in the two groups were compared, adjusting for parity, education, age of parents, and child’s sex, and stratifying by parity and education.Results /findingsOne hundred thirty-six families accepted to participate in the study. Scores at 12 months were higher than 1 week after delivery in both groups for all TOPSE domains. The improvement was slightly stronger in the Newsletter group for almost all the skills exceptlearning and knowledge[difference in the mean of variation: -0.48 (95% CI: − 3.17; 2.21)]; the difference was significant only forplay and enjoyment[2.18 (95% CI: 0.12; 4.25)]. The increase in scores in almost all domains was more pronounced for parents with high education level at first child.ConclusionsThe intervention was effective in improving parents’ ability to play. However, it risks worsening existing differences between parents with high and with low education levels.Trial registrationClinical trial registration:NCT03268408.
Health sequelae of human cryptosporidiosis in industrialised countries: a systematic review
Authors: Carter Bethan L. , Chalmers Rachel M. , Davies Angharad P. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite which is a common cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. In developing countries, it is one of the most important causes of moderate to severe diarrhoea in young children; in industrialised countries it is a cause of outbreaks of gastroenteritis associated with drinking water, swimming pools and other environmental sources and a particular concern in certain immunocompromised patient groups, where it can cause severe disease. However, over recent years, longer-term sequelae of infection have been recognised and a number of studies have been published on this topic. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the literature in order to better understand the medium- to long-term impact of cryptosporidiosis.

Methods
This was a systematic review of studies in PubMed, ProQuest and Web of Science databases, with no limitations on publication year or language. Studies from any country were included in qualitative synthesis, but only those in industrialised countries were included in quantitative analysis.

Results
Fifteen studies were identified for qualitative analysis which included 3670 Cryptosporidium cases; eight studies conducted in Europe between 2004–2019 were suitable for quantitative analysis, including five case-control studies. The most common reported long-term sequelae were diarrhoea (25%), abdominal pain (25%), nausea (24%), fatigue (24%) and headache (21%). Overall, long-term sequelae were more prevalent following infection with Cryptosporidium hominis, with only weight loss and blood in stool being more prevalent following infection with Cryptosporidium parvum. Analysis of the case-control studies found that individuals were 6 times more likely to report chronic diarrhoea and weight loss up to 28 months after a Cryptosporidium infection than were controls. Long-term abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting, joint pain, headache and eye pain were also between 2–3 times more likely following a Cryptosporidium infection.

Conclusions
This is the first systematic review of the long-term sequelae of cryptosporidiosis. A better understanding of long-term outcomes of cryptosporidiosis is valuable to inform the expectations of clinicians and their patients, and public health policy-makers regarding the control and prevention of this infection.
Systematic review registration PROSPERO Registration number CRD42019141311
Spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of mosquito population density and community structure in Hainan Island, China
Authors: Li Yiji , Zhou Guofa , Zhong Saifeng , Wang Xiaoming , Zhong Daibin , Hemming-Schroeder Elizabeth , Yi Guohui , Fu Fengyang , Fu Faxing , Cui Liwang , Cui Guzhen , Yan Guiyun 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Mosquitoes are vectors of many tropical diseases. Understanding the ecology of local mosquito vectors, such as species composition, distributions, population dynamics, and species diversity is important for designing the optimal strategy to control the mosquito-borne diseases.

Methods
Entomological surveillance of adult mosquitoes was conducted in five sites representing different ecological settings across Hainan Island from January to December of 2018 using BG Sentinel (BGS) traps and Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) light traps. In each site, we selected three areas representing urban, suburban and rural settings. Eighteen trap-days were sampled in each setting at each site, and CDC light traps and BGS traps were setup simultaneously. Mosquito species composition, distribution, population dynamics, and species diversity were analyzed. Mosquito densities were compared between different study sites and between different settings.

Results
Nine species of mosquitoes belonging to four genera were identified. Culex quinquefasciatus (80.8%), Armigeres subalbatus (13.0%) and Anopheles sinensis (3.1%) were the top three species collected by CDC light traps; Cx. quinquefasciatus (91.9%), Ae. albopictus (5.1%), and Ar. subalbatus (2.8%) were the top three species collected by BGS traps. Predominant species varied among study sites. The population dynamics of Ae. albopictus, An. sinensis and Cx. quinquefasciatus showed clear seasonal variation regardless of study sites with a varied peak season for different species. Mosquito abundance of all species showed significant differences among different study sites and among urban, suburban and rural areas. Danzhou had the highest mosquito biodiversity, with an α, β, and Gini-Simpson biodiversity index of 8, 1.13 and 0.42, respectively. BGS traps captured Aedes mosquito at a higher efficiency than CDC light traps, whereas CDC light traps captured significantly more Anopheles and Armigeres mosquitoes than BGS traps.

Conclusions
Mosquitoes were abundant on Hainan Island with clear seasonality and spatial heterogeneity. Population density, species composition, distribution, and species diversity were strongly affected by the natural environment. Different tools are required for the surveillance of different mosquito species.
DNA methylation suppresses chitin degradation and promotes the wing development by inhibiting Bmara-mediated chitinase expression in the silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Xu Guanfeng , Yi Yangqin , Lyu Hao , Gong Chengcheng , Feng Qili , Song Qisheng , Peng Xuezhen , Liu Lin , Zheng Sichun 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
DNA methylation, as an essential epigenetic modification found in mammals and plants, has been implicated to play an important role in insect reproduction. However, the functional role and the regulatory mechanism of DNA methylation during insect organ or tissue development are far from being clear.

Results
Here, we found that DNA methylation inhibitor (5-aza-dC) treatment in newly molted pupae decreased the chitin content of pupal wing discs and adult wings and resulted in wing deformity of Bombyx mori. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the up-regulation of chitinase 10 (BmCHT10) gene might be related to the decrease of chitin content induced by 5-aza-dC treatment. Further, the luciferase activity assays demonstrated that DNA methylation suppressed the promoter activity of BmCHT10 by down-regulating the transcription factor, homeobox protein araucan (Bmara). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay, DNA pull-down and chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated that Bmara directly bound to the BmCHT10 promoter. Therefore, DNA methylation is involved in keeping the structural integrity of the silkworm wings from unwanted chitin degradation, as a consequence, it promotes the wing development of B. mori.

Conclusions
This study reveals that DNA methylation plays an important role in the wing development of B. mori. Our results support that the indirect transcriptional repression of a chitin degradation-related gene BmCHT10 by DNA methylation is necessary to keep the proper wing development in B. mori.
Epidemiology of gout in Hong Kong: a population-based study from 2006 to 2016
Authors: Tsoi Man Fung , Chung Man Ho , Cheung Bernard Man Yung , Lau Chak Sing , Cheung Tommy Tsang 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Objective
To determine the incidence and prevalence of gout in the general population and the utilisation of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) among patients with gout in Hong Kong.

Methods
A total of 2,741,862 subjects who attended any outpatient clinics or accident and emergency department (with or without hospitalisation) in 2005 and did not die before 2006 were identified from the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System (CDARS) of the Hospital Authority in Hong Kong. All subjects were followed until the end of 2016 or death.
Demographics, diagnosis of gout, serum urate levels, and ULT prescriptions were retrieved from CDARS. Gout was defined by the diagnosis codes in CDARS. The serum urate levels achieved after prescribing ULT were the means of all serum urate levels measured 6 months after prescriptions. Results were analysed by R version 3.3.3 with package ‘prevalence’ version 0.4.0.

Results
The crude incidence of gout increased from 113.05/100,000 person-years (PY) in 2006 to 211.62/100,000 PY in 2016. The crude prevalence of gout increased from 1.56% in 2006 to 2.92% in 2016. Only 25.55% of patients with gout were prescribed ULT in 2016. 35.8% of patients treated with ULT were able to achieve the target serum urate level of < 6 mg/dL.

Conclusions
Population ageing as well as other risk factors contributed to an increase in the incidence and prevalence of gout in Hong Kong. In 2016, the crude prevalence of gout in Hong Kong was comparable to that in many western countries. However, only one in four patients with gout in Hong Kong was prescribed ULT.
The role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex species on apoptosis and necroptosis state of macrophages derived from active pulmonary tuberculosis patients
Authors: Yanti Budi , Mulyadi Mulyadi , Amin Muhammad , Harapan Harapan , Mertaniasih Ni Made , Soetjipto Soetjipto 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Objective
The role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) species in tuberculosis (TB) infection in human is still questioned. The aim of this study was to determine whether M. tuberculosis and M. bovis is associated with apoptosis and necroptosis by measuring the expression of specific signaling pathways components (Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD) and receptor interacting protein 3 (RIP3)), and the level of apoptosis.

Results
We recruited 30 patients with pulmonary TB; 24 patients were infected with M. tuberculosis Beijing strain and six patients with M. bovis BCG strain. M. tuberculosis-infected patients were more likely to have severe lung damage compared to those infected with M. bovis (odds ratio [OR] 7.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07–54.09). M. tuberculosis infection was associated with lower expression of FADD and lower apoptosis level of macrophages compared to M. bovis. No significant different of RIP3 between MTBC species groups. In conclusion, M. tuberculosis Beijing strain was associated with severe pulmonary damage, inhibited FADD expression and reduced apoptosis level of macrophages derived from pulmonary TB patients. This suggests that the M. tuberculosis Beijing strain is potentially to be used as determinant of disease progressivity and tissue damage in TB cases.
Pyrosequencing scrutiny of bacterial and fungal communities in two Sudanese sorghum-based fermented foods
Authors: Eltayeb Mohamed Mutasim , Eltigani Sara Ahmed , Taniguchi Takeshi 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Several fermented foods are produced from sorghum flour in Africa, especially in the dryland regions where it is the principal crop. It is important to explore the microbial communities in these foods to improve their quality and organoleptic properties. In this study, the bacterial and fungal communities of two popular sorghum-based fermented foods in Sudan (kisra and hulumur) were analyzed, for the first time, using a culture-independent method of next-generation sequencing.

Methods
Fermented doughs for kisra and hulumur production were prepared according to the traditional approach, and then the bacterial and fungal communities were investigated using high-throughput sequencing.

Results
Firmicutes and Proteobacteria phyla were the predominant bacteria in both fermented doughs. At the genus level, the bacterial community was dominated by lactic acid bacteria, primarily Lactobacillus and Pediococcus, which represented 95.7% and 72% of the bacterial population in kisra and hulumur, respectively. Next, acetic acid bacteria (Gluconobacter and Acetobacter) were subdominant in hulumur. The fungal community was more heterogeneous among the fermented doughs. Zygomycota (85.5%) comprised the major phylum in kisra fermented dough, whereas Ascomycota (99.5%) was predominant in hulumur. The major fungal genera, Rhizopus, Alternaria, Penicillium, Gibberella, Lasiodiplodia, and Aspergillus, were extremely varied between the fermented doughs.

Conclusion
Exploration of kisra and hulumur microbial community structure will expand the knowledge about their microbiota to manipulate the microbial community and improve their quality and organoleptic properties using different microbial recipes.
DeepGraphMolGen, a multi-objective, computational strategy for generating molecules with desirable properties: a graph convolution and reinforcement learning approach
Authors: Khemchandani Yash , O’Hagan Stephen , Samanta Soumitra , Swainston Neil , Roberts Timothy J. , Bollegala Danushka , Kell Douglas B. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractWe address the problem of generating novel molecules with desired interaction properties as a multi-objective optimization problem. Interaction binding models are learned from binding data using graph convolution networks (GCNs). Since the experimentally obtained property scores are recognised as having potentially gross errors, we adopted a robust loss for the model. Combinations of these terms, including drug likeness and synthetic accessibility, are then optimized using reinforcement learning based on a graph convolution policy approach. Some of the molecules generated, while legitimate chemically, can have excellent drug-likeness scores but appear unusual. We provide an example based on the binding potency of small molecules to dopamine transporters. We extend our method successfully to use a multi-objective reward function, in this case for generating novel molecules that bind with dopamine transporters but not with those for norepinephrine. Our method should be generally applicable to the generation in silico of molecules with desirable properties.
Nuclear imaging methods for the prediction of postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing localized, liver-directed treatments: a systematic review
Authors: Espersen Caroline , Borgwardt Lise , Larsen Peter Nørgaard , Andersen Trine Borup , Stenholt Louise , Petersen Lars Jelstrup 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Several nuclear imaging methods may predict postoperative liver function and outcome, but none has achieved recommendations in clinical guidelines. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the existing knowledge on this topic.

Methods
MEDLINE and Web of Science were searched for studies investigating nuclear medicine imaging methods for the prediction of postoperative liver function in patients undergoing localized, liver-directed treatments. The postoperative endpoints were clinical outcome (morbidity and mortality) as well as measures of postoperative liver function, e.g., liver function assessed by biochemical tests or nuclear imaging.

Results
A total of 1352 references were identified, of which 82 fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Most studies (n = 63) were retrospective studies. The vast majority of studies assessed [99mTc]Tc-galactosyl serum albumin (GSA) (n = 57) and [99mTc]Tc-mebrofenin (n = 19). Liver resection was entirely or partly major (involved at least three segments) in 78 reports. There were notable variations in the research methodology, e.g., image acquisition, imaging variables, and endpoints. Thirty-seven studies reported on postoperative mortality, of which most reported descriptive data at the patient level. Of the four reports that performed multivariate analyses, two showed significant predictive results of isotope-based preoperative tests. Fifty-two papers presented data on postoperative liver failure. Multivariate predictive analyses were performed in eighteen trials, of which fifteen showed the significant value of nuclear medicine tests.

Conclusion
There is sparse evidence supporting the significant value of nuclear medicine imaging methods in predicting postoperative mortality. In contrast, a notable number of trials showed a significant prediction of liver failure in multivariate analyses. The research methodology was heterogeneous and exploratory in most trials. Documentation of nuclear medicine tests in this setting awaits the results of properly designed, prospective trials with the standardization of both the nuclear medicine test and endpoints.
Investigation of bovine abortion and stillbirth/perinatal mortality - similar diagnostic challenges, different approaches
Authors: Mee John F. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis pracademic paper reviews current bovine foetopathy (abortion and stillbirth) case definitions, reporting and triage, and causes and time-of-death and proposes veterinary practitioner-focused investigative standard operating procedures (SOPs). Issues of under- and over-triage and intra-institutional SOP harmonisation are also discussed. It is proposed that an ‘observable abortion’ (120–260 days of gestation) is a more practitioner-friendly definition of abortion for reporting and benchmarking purposes and that the term ‘peristillbirth’ can replace stillbirth and perinatal mortality. Diagnosis of bovine foetopathy involves an investigative triad of the farmer, veterinary practitioner and the veterinary diagnostic laboratory. However, the poor sensitivity of abortion reporting undermines the value of currently adopted scanning/passive surveillance; parallel active surveillance/sentinel herd models should also be employed. The approach to abortion investigation differs from that of peristillbirth. The former should include collecting a herd and case history, examination and sampling of dam and cohorts and sampling of the foetus and placenta. A sample selection decision tree is provided to assist test selection. In peristillbirths, non-infectious and periparturient causes-of-death are more important hence the anamnesis must focus on peristillbirth risk factors and calving management. The foetopsy, while including the sampling menu appropriate to aborted foetuses, must also include a detailed internal and external examination of the carcass for lesions indicative of periparturient causes-of-death. In addition, for aborted foetuses the time-of-death is not important as the foetus is generally not viable; however, for the peristillbirth the time-of-death is critical as it provides useful information for the farmer to address modifiable risk factors and to alter their perinatal management. Reporting of the ultimate cause-of-death is more useful to prevent future abortions and peristillbirths though the proximate cause-of-death is often reported in the absence of a complete clinical anamnesis. Finally, the common reasons for diagnosis not reached (DNR) and the limitations of current investigative approaches are discussed.