bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The use of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (DSM 9843) in cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition – study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Karolina Kaźmierczak-Siedlecka , Folwarski Marcin , Skonieczna-Żydecka Karolina , Ruszkowski Jakub , Makarewicz Wojciech 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background Nutritional treatment is one of the most important components of multidisciplinary anti-cancer therapy. Home enteral nutrition is considered as a safe procedure, however, it may be associated with the risk of side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea. It is uncertain whether diarrhoea is the result of the enteral formula administration or gut dysbiosis. One of the methods which may be used to alter the composition of gut microbiota is the administration of a probiotic strain. Lactobacillus plantarum 299v ingestion was found to diminish the adverse events of irritable bowel syndrome and Clostridium difficile infection - entities that share the symptoms with enteral nutrition side effects. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to determine the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v on nutritional status of cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition. The secondary aims are to evaluate the role of this probiotic strain in the improvement of enteral nutrition tolerance and patients’ quality of life. Methods Forty patients with cancer receiving home enteral nutrition will be enrolled in this clinical trial and randomized to receive one capsule of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Sanprobi IBS®) twice a day or placebo for 12 weeks in a double-blind manner. Laboratory tests (the level of albumin, total protein, transferrin, and total lymphocyte count), anthropometric parameters (body mass, the content of fat mass, muscle mass, and total body water), Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS 2002), enteral nutrition tolerance as well as quality of life will be measured. Measurements will be obtained at the baseline and after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. Discussion The adverse events observed during administration of enteral nutrition have an negative impact on enteral formula tolerance and as a consequence patients’ quality of life. The previous studies have demonstrated that probiotics may reduce the gastrointestinal symptoms related to enteral nutrition. Thus, administration of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v may be effective in improvement of nutritional status, enteral nutrition tolerance, and quality of life of cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03940768
Night sleep duration and risk of each lipid profile abnormality in a Chinese population: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Song Qiaofeng , Liu Xiaoxue , Zhou Wenhua , Wu Shouling , Wang Xizhu 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background To explore the associations between sleep duration and abnormalities in each serum lipid level in a Chinese population. Methods A prospective study was conducted with 34,260 participants from the general Chinese population. Sleep duration was categorized as ≤5, 6, 7, 8 or ≥9 h. Each lipid profile abnormality was defined according to the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults (2016). The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess these associations. Results Compared with a 7 h sleep duration, long sleep duration (≥9 h) was significantly associated with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (hazard ratio (HR): 1.24; 95% CI: 1.12–1.38). In subgroup analyses, the positive association between long sleep duration and low HDL-C levels in men and in the different age groups were more pronounced than the association in women. No significant interactions were observed in the association between sleep duration and each abnormal serum lipid level by sex/age in the study population( P - interaction>0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest that long sleep duration is associated with low HDL-C levels among the Kailuan community population.
Serum concentration of asprosin in new-onset type 2 diabetes
Authors: Naiemian Shakiba , naeemipour Mohsen , Zarei Mehdi , Gohari Ali , Behroozikhah Mohammad Reza , Heydari Hafez , Miri Mohammad 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: Asprosin, a newly identified adipokine, is pathologically increased in individuals with insulin resistance. However, the available evidence on the association of asprosin and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) status is still scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between serum concentrations of asprosin and T2DM status. Methods: This observational study was performed based on 194 adults (97 newly diagnosed T2DM and 97 healthy individuals). Anthropometric and biochemical variables were determined in all participants. Serum concentrations of asprosin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: In patients with T2DM, the serum concentrations of asprosin were significantly higher than the healthy controls (4.18 [IQR: 4.4] vs. 3.5 [IQR: 1.85], P< 0.001). The concentrations of asprosin were significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in healthy subjects and with BMI, FBG, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and quantitative insulin check index (QUICKI), triacylglycerol (TAG) and total cholesterol/ high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) ratio in the T2DM group. In fully adjusted model, the odds ratio (OR) of T2DM with serum concentrations of asprosin was approximately 1.547 (95% CI 1.293-1.850, P< 0.001) compared to the control group. Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that FBG and HOMA-IR were independently associated with asprosin in T2DM. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that serum concentrations of asprosin are increased in patients with T2DM. Also, asprosin is correlated with insulin resistance and TC/HDL-C ratio (atherosclerotic risk factor of cardiovascular diseases) in patients with T2DM.
Identification and Validation of an Individualized Autophagy-Clinical Prognostic Index in Gastric Cancer Patients
Authors: Qiu Jieping , Sun Mengyu , Wang Yaoqun , Chen Bo 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background : The purpose of this study is to perform bioinformatics analysis of autophagy-related genes in gastric cancer, and to construct a multi-gene joint signature for predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer. Methods : GO and KEGG analysis were applied for differentially expressed autophagy-related genes in gastric cancer, and PPI network was constructed in Cytoscape software. In order to optimize the prognosis evaluation system of gastric cancer, we established a prognosis model integrating autophagy-related genes. We used single factor Cox proportional risk regression analysis to screen genes related to prognosis from 204 autophagy-related genes in The Atlas Cancer Genome (TCGA) gastric cancer cohort. Then, the generated genes were applied to the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO). Finally, the selected genes were further included in the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to establish the prognosis model. According to the median risk score, patients were divided into high-risk group and low-risk group, and survival analysis was conducted to evaluate the prognostic value of risk score. Finally, by combining clinic-pathological features and prognostic gene signatures, a nomogram was established to predict individual survival probability. Results : GO analysis showed that the 28 differently expressed autophagy-related genes was enriched in cell growth, neuron death, and regulation of cell growth. KEGG analysis showed that the 28 differently expressed autophagy-related genes were related to platinum drug resistance, apoptosis and p53 signaling pathway. The risk score was constructed based on 4 genes (GRID2, ATG4D,GABARAPL2, CXCR4), and gastric cancer patients were significantly divided into high-risk and low-risk groups according to overall survival. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, risk score was still an independent prognostic factor (HR = 1.922, 95% CI = 1.573-2.349, P < 0.001). Cumulative curve showed that the survival time of patients with low-risk score was significantly longer than that of patients with high-risk score (P < 0.001). The external data GSE62254 proved that nomograph had a great ability to evaluate the prognosis of individual gastric cancer patients. Conclusions: This study provides a potential prognostic marker for predicting the prognosis of GC patients and the molecular biology of GC autophagy.
Salivary β2- microglobulin Levels in Patients with Erosive Oral Lichen Planus and Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Nosratzehi Fatemeh , Nosratzehi Tahereh , Alijani Ebrahim , Rad Soha Saberi 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Obectives: β2 microglobulin, as a biomarker, is used for the diagnosis oforal malignant and pre-malignant lesions. The components of the microglobulin system can directly or indirectly helpgrow and develop tumors. The present study aims to comparebeta-2 microglobulin levels in patients with lichen planus of the esophagus, oral squamous cell carcinoma, and healthy individuals. Further, it evaluated the salivaryβ2- microglobulin level in malignantand pre-malignant lesions. Oral lichen planus(OLP) is a chronic skin-mucus disorder. Of the total 75 patients referred to Oral Medicine at Dentistry School of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, 25 were healthy and 25 had oral Lichen Planus(OLP) and the rest had squamous cell carcinoma(SCC). To collect the saliva samples, unstimulated spitting was used. They were collectedbetween 9 and 12 a.mSalivary beta2microglobin was recorded based on the factory instructions by ELISA optical density method with 450nm wavelength for each sample.The data were analyzed using descriptive, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney and Pearson’s correlation coefficient (SPSS 21).Results: The salivary β2 microglobulin level in patients with squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) and oral lichen plan(OLP) is significantly higher than that inhealthy group. Thus, this index is usedfor assessing early malignant transformationand oral pre-malignantlesion.
Knockdown of Son, a mouse homologue of the ZTTK syndrome gene, causes neuronal migration defects and dendritic spine abnormalities.
Authors: Ueda Masashi , Matsuki Tohru , Fukada Masahide , Eda Shima , Toya Akie , Iio Akio , Tabata Hidenori , Nakayama Atsuo 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Zhu-Tokita-Takenouchi-Kim (ZTTK) syndrome, a rare congenital anomaly syndrome characterized by intellectual disability, brain malformation, facial dysmorphism, musculoskeletal abnormalities, and some visceral malformations is caused by de novo heterozygous mutations of the SON gene. The nuclear protein SON is involved in gene transcription and RNA splicing; however, the roles of SON in neural development remain undetermined. We investigated the effects of Son knockdown on neural development in mice and found that Son knockdown in neural progenitors resulted in defective migration during corticogenesis and reduced spine density on mature cortical neurons. The induction of human wild-type SON expression rescued these neural abnormalities, confirming that the abnormalities were caused by SON insufficiency. We also applied truncated SON proteins encoded by disease-associated mutant SON genes for rescue experiments and found that a truncated SON protein encoded by the most prevalent SON mutant found in ZTTK syndrome rescued the neural abnormalities while another much shorter mutant SON protein did not. These data indicate that SON insufficiency causes neuronal migration defects and dendritic spine abnormalities, which seem neuropathological bases of the neural symptoms of ZTTK syndrome. In addition, the results support that the neural abnormalities in ZTTK syndrome are caused by SON haploinsufficiency independent of the types of mutation that results in functional or dysfunctional proteins.
Lumbar degenerative disease after oblique lateral interbody fusion:sagittal spinopelvic alignment and its impact on low back pain
Authors: Li Jia , Zhang Di , Shen Yong , Qi Xiangbei 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: We determined the incidence and risk factors of low back pain (LBP) in patients with lumbar degenerative disease after single-level oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 120 lumbar degenerative disease patients who underwent single-level OLIF. We compared preoperative and postoperative radiographic parameters, including segmental lordosis (SL), lumbar lordosis (LL), disk height (DH), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), thoracic kyphosis (TK), C7-sagittal vertical axis (SVA). Clinical outcomes were evaluated using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores and visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain. All patients were followed up for at least 2 years. Results: Thirty-eight patients had postoperative LBP (VAS score for back pain ≥ 3; LBP group); the remaining 82 patients were in the non-LBP group. Age (P = 0.082), gender (P = 0.425), body mass index (P = 0.138), diagnosis (degenerative spondylolisthesis vs. lumbar spinal stenosis; P = 0.529), surgical level (P = 0.651), blood loss (P = 0.889), and operative time (P = 0.731) did not differ between the groups. In both groups, the ODI and VAS scores for back pain and leg pain significantly improved at the final follow-up compared to the preoperative scores (P = 0.003). Except for the VAS score for back pain (P = 0.000), none of the scores significantly differed between the two groups at the final follow-up (P > 0.05). In the non-LBP group, LL, SL, DH, TK, and SS significantly improved, while PT and C7-SVA significantly decreased at the final follow-up as compared to the preoperative values. In both groups, DH significantly improved postoperatively, with no significant between-group difference (P = 0.325). At the final follow-up, LL, PI-LL mismatch, PT, and C7-SVA showed significantly greater improvement in the non-LBP group than in the LBP group (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified PT, PI-LL mismatch, and C7-SVA as significant risk factors for LBP after OLIF. Conclusion: OLIF for single-level lumbar degenerative disease had satisfactory clinical outcomes. PT, PI-LL mismatch, and C7-SVA were significant risk factors for postoperative LBP. Patients with appropriately decreased PT, improved C7-SVA, and PI-LL match experienced less LBP.
Characteristics of cytokines in the sciatic nerve stumps and DRGs after rat sciatic nerve crush injury
Authors: Zhang Ruirui , Chen Sailing , Cheng Zhangchun , Shen Yinying , Yi Sheng , Xu Hui 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: Cytokines are essential cellular modulators of a variety of physiological and pathological activities, including peripheral nerve repair and regeneration. However, the molecular changes of these cellular mediators after peripheral nerve injury are not well clarified. The study is aimed to discover critical cytokines for the regenerative process of injured peripheral nerves.Methods: The sequencing data of the injured nerve stumps and the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats subjected to sciatic nerve (SN) crush injury were analyzed to determine expression patterns of genes coding for cytokines. PCR experiments were used to validate the accuracy of sequencing data.Results: A total of 46, 52, and 54 upstream cytokines were differentially expressed in SNs at 1 day, 4 days, and 7 days after nerve injury. And a total of 25, 28, and 34 upstream cytokines were differentially expressed in DRGs at these time points. The expression patterns of some essential upstream cytokines were displayed in a heatmap and validated by PCR experiment. Bioinformatic analysis of these differentially expressed upstream cytokines after nerve injury demonstrated that inflammatory and immune responses were significantly involved.Conclusions: In summary, these findings provided an overview of the dynamic changes of cytokines in SNs and DRGs at different time points after rat nerve crush injury, elucidated the biological processes of differentially expressed cytokines, especially the important roles in inflammatory and immune responses after peripheral nerve injury, and thus might contribute to identification of potential treatments for peripheral nerve repair and regeneration.
Comparison of Bailout and Planned Rotational Atherectomy for Severe Coronary Calcified Lesions
Authors: CAO Cheng-fu , MA Yu-liang , LI Qi , LIU Jian , ZHAO Hong , LU Ming-yu , Wang Weimin 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Objective : To compare outcomes of bailout and planned rotational atherectomy (RA) in the treatment of severe calcified coronary lesions. Methods: Data of patients treated with RA from 2017 to 2018 at a single-center registry were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into planned RA and bailout RA groups, data between two groups were compared. Results: A total of 190 patients were included in this study, 138 patients received planned RA and 52 patients received bailout RA. Baseline clinical characteristics had no significant differences between groups. The number of implanted stents and total stents length were similar. But the number of balloon (1.6±0.8 vs. 2.7±1.3, P <0.001), operation time (83.5±26.2 vs. 100.8±36.4min, P =0.007), fluoroscopy volume (941±482 vs. 1227±872mGy, P =0.012] and contrast amount （237±62 vs. 275±90ml, P =0.003）were all lower in planned RA group. Planned RA had a higher procedural success rate (99.3% vs. 92.3%, P =0.007) and a lower complication incidence (4.3% vs. 17.3%, P =0.009). But the cumulative 3-year incidences of MACE events (9.2% and 16.6%, log rank p 0.24) had no difference between groups. Conclusion: For severe coronary artery calcification, although planned RA did not reduce MACE compared with bailout RA, but it can improve the immediate procedural success rate, reduce the incidence of complications, the operation time and the volume of contrast.
Are Patients on Oral Anticoagulation Therapy Aware of its Effects? A Cross-sectional Study from Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Zahid Ibrahim , Hassan Syed Wajih Ul , Bhurya Nida Sehar , Alam Sheena Nadeem , Shah Bakht Hussain , Fatima Fasiha Bakhtawar , Hasan Choudhary Ahmed , Ahmed Ayesha , Hassan Syed Sabih Ul , Hayat Javeria , Zulfiqar Aqsa , Sheikh Rija , Aziz Momin , Siddiqi Rabbia , Fatima Kaneez , Khan Muhammad Shahzeb 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Objective: Oral anticoagulants are one of the most frequently used medications. However, these drugs have a range of side effects including potential life-threatening complications. Little is known regarding the awareness of its side effect profile amongst the patients in Pakistan. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of oral anticoagulant therapy and its side effects among its users. Results: The mean age was 48.9± 15.2 years. Median scores of the participants for knowledge regarding oral anticoagulants and warfarin were 48.7 (8.3-91.7) and 10.3 (0.0-70.0) respectively. Of 207 patients, most notably, 65.7% did not know what side effects to be wary of or how to reduce their occurrence; and most patients were unaware of the interaction between oral anticoagulant drugs and over-the-counter substances such as aspirin, herbal medicines and alcohol. Knowledge of International Normalised Ratio (INR) was extremely poor with more than 75% of the population not being aware of the target INR range during warfarin therapy. Higher level of education was significantly associated with better knowledge scores. Overall, knowledge of oral anticoagulant therapy and INR monitoring is extremely poor among oral anticoagulant users.
Prognostic and immune roles of synaptotagmin-4 in gastric cancer and brain lower-grade glioma
Authors: Jiang Siyuan , Zhu Lizhe , Jiang Chao , Yu Shibo , Wang Bin , Ren Yu 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background Synaptotagmins (SYTs) are a family of proteins whose primary function is serving as a calcium sensor in vesicle transport and exocytosis, playing an important role in the function of immune cells. There is also a close relationship between immune cells and tumours. SYT4 is one molecule involved in this relationship, but the relationship between SYT4 and cancer remains unclear. Therefore, we hypothesize that SYT4 can affect the prognosis of cancer, and may be related to immune cells. Methods The following databases were used to study the immunological and prognostic role of SYT4 in cancers: Oncomine, Kaplan-Meier plotter, The Human Protein Atlas, CCLE, GEPIA2, TIMER, and CGGA. Results SYT4 expressions were lower in many cancers than in normal tissues. Specifically in gastric cancer and lower-grade gliomas, SYT4 played a protective and harmful role, respectively. Moreover, a difference between SYT4 expression and the levels of immune infiltration existed in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) and brain lower-grade glioma (LGG). In addition, we found that the relationship between markers of monocytes, M1 and M2 macrophages, tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), Treg cells, B lymphocytes, dendritic cells (DCs) and SYT4 expression was opposite in STAD and LGG. Conclusions The effect of SYT4 on the prognosis of patients with STAD and LGG was opposite. And SYT4 has different effects on immune infiltration in these two tumours. Therefore, SYT4 might be a potential prognostic and tumour immune-related biomarker in STAD and LGG.
Metabolic enzyme clustering by coiled coils improves the biosynthesis of resveratrol and mevalonate
Authors: Fink Tina , Stevović Bojana , Verwaal René , Roubos Johannes A. , Gaber Rok , Benčina Mojca , Jerala Roman , Gradišar Helena 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
The clustering of biosynthetic enzymes is used in nature to channel reaction products and increase the yield of compounds produced by multiple reaction steps. The coupling of multiple enzymes has been shown to increase the biosynthetic product yield. Different clustering strategies have particular advantages as the spatial organization of multiple enzymes creates biocatalytic cascades with a higher efficiency of biochemical reaction. However, there are also some drawbacks, such as misfolding and the variable stability of interaction domains, which may differ between particular biosynthetic reactions and the host organism. Here, we compared different protein-based clustering strategies, including direct fusion, fusion mediated by intein, and noncovalent interactions mediated through small coiled-coil dimer-forming domains. The clustering of enzymes through orthogonally designed coiled-coil interaction domains increased the production of resveratrol in Escherichia coli more than the intein-mediated fusion of biosynthetic enzymes. The improvement of resveratrol production correlated with the stability of the coiled-coil dimers. The coiled-coil fusion-based approach also increased mevalonate production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae , thus demonstrating the wider applicability of this strategy.