bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of physical and chemical factors on pseudorabies virus&nbsp;activity in vitro
Authors: Gong Lang , Deng Qiwei , Xu Runda , Ji Chihai , Wang Heng , Zhang Gui-Hong 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Pseudorabies (PR) is latent and can persist in infected sows for a long time, and thus, convalescent sows can carry the virus throughout life, causing severe economic losses to farmers and posing a tremendous challenge to PR prevention and control. Here, to investigate the biological characteristics of pseudorabies virus (PRV), a variety of physical and chemical factors were analyzed under controlled conditions.Results: The results showed that a high ambient temperature and dry environment led to faster virus inactivation. PRV had a certain resistance to weakly acidic or alkaline environments and was rapidly inactivated in strongly acidic or alkaline environments. The effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on PRV activity primarily depended on the frequency, intensity, and irradiation time of the UV exposure. Exposure to sunlight inactivated PRV via multiple factors, including temperature, sunlight intensity, UV intensity, and environmental humidity, and any shielding from sunlight strongly lowered the killing effect. Conventional disinfectants had a good disinfection effect on PRV. Conclusions:. The biological characteristics of different PRV strains are variable. Generally, the activity of PRV is affected by multiple factors, which can show both synergy and antagonism. Real-world conditions should be taken into consideration to guide pork production.
Interferon-beta enhances sensitivity to gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Blaauboer Amber , Booy Stephanie , Koetsveld Peter M. van , Karels Bas , Dogan Fadime , Zwienen Suzanne van , Eijck Casper H.J. van , Hofland Leo J. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Adjuvant gemcitabine for pancreatic cancer has limited efficacy in the clinical setting. Impaired drug metabolism is associated with treatment resistance. We aimed to evaluate the chemosensitising effect of interferon-beta (IFN-β).Methods: BxPC-3, CFPAC-1, and Panc-1 cells were pre-treated with IFN-β followed by gemcitabine monotherapy. The effect on cell growth, colony formation, and cell cycle was determined. RT-qPCR was used to measure gene expression. BxPC-3 cells were used in a heterotopic subcutaneous mouse model. Results: IFN-β increased sensitivity to gemcitabine (4-, 7.7-, and 1.7-fold EC50 decrease in BxPC-3, CFPAC-1, and Panc-1, respectively; all P<0.001). Findings were confirmed when assessing colony formation. The percentage of cells in the S-phase was significantly increased after IFN-β treatment only in BxPC-3 and CFPAC-1 by 12% and 7%, respectively (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively). Thereby, IFN-β upregulated expression of the drug transporters SLC28A1 in BxPC-3 (252%) and SLC28A3 in BxPC-3 (127%) and CFPAC-1 (223%) (all p<0.001). In vivo, combination therapy reduced tumor volume with 45% (P=0.01). Both ex vivo and in vivo data demonstrate a significant reduction in the number of proliferating cells, whereas apoptosis was increased. Conclusions: For the first time, we validated the chemosensitising effects of IFN-β when combined with gemcitabine in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. This was driven by cell cycle modulation and associated with an upregulation of genes involving intracellular uptake of gemcitabine. The use of IFN-β in combination with gemcitabine seems promising in patients with pancreatic cancer and needs to be further explored.
A preliminary multicenter evaluation of endoscopic sublay repair for ventral hernia from China
Authors: Tang Rui , Jiang Huiyong , WU Weidong , Wang Tao , Meng Mengxiang , Liu Guozhong , Cai Xiaoyan , Liu Jianwen , Cui Xijun , Si Xianke , Liu Nan , Wei Nina 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: For ventral hernia, endoscopic sublay repair (ESR) may overcome the disadvantages of open sublay and laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair. This retrospective study presents the preliminary multicenter results of ESR from China. The feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of ESR were evaluated; its surgical points and indications were summarized. Methods: The study reviewed 156 ventral hernia patients planned to perform with ESR in ten hospitals between March 2016 and July 2019. Patient demographics, hernia characteristics, operative variables, and surgical results were recorded and analyzed.Results: ESR was performed successfully in 153 patients, 135 with totally extraperitoneal sublay (TES) and 18 with transabdominal sublay (TAS). In 19 patients, TES was performed with the total visceral sac separation (TVS) technique, in which the space separation is carried out along the peritoneum, avoiding damage to the aponeurotic structure. Endoscopic transversus abdominis release (eTAR) was required in 17.0% of patients, and only 18.3% of patients required permanent mesh fixation. The median operative time was 135 min. Most patients had mild pain and resume eating soon after operation. No severe intraoperative complications occurred. Bleeding in the extraperitoneal space occurred in two patients and was stopped by nonsurgical treatment. Seroma and chronic pain were observed in 5.23% and 3.07% of patients. One recurrence occurred after TAS repair for an umbilical hernia.Conclusion: ESR is feasible, safe, and effective for treating ventral hernias when surgeons get the relevant surgical skills, such as the technique of “partition breaking,” TVS, and eTAR. Small-to-medium ventral hernias are the major indications.
Serum IgE in the clinical features and disease outcome of IgG4-related disease: a large retrospective cohort study
Authors: Zhou Jiaxin , Peng Yu , Peng Linyi , Wu Di , Li Jing , Jiang Nan , Li Jieqiong , Lu Hui , Liu Zheng , Luo Xuan , Teng Fei , Fei Yunyun , Zhang Wen , Zhao Yan , Zeng Xiaofeng 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of serum IgE levels in the clinical features and outcomes of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 459 newly diagnosed IgG4-RD patients with serum IgE examined at baseline from 2012 to 2019 and compared the clinical features between group A (serum IgE level ≤ 60 KU/L) and group B (serum IgE level > 60 KU/L). Subsequently, 312 patients who had been followed up for ≥ 1 year were further selected to evaluate the correlation between serum IgE level and disease outcome. Results: At baseline, the serum IgE level was positively correlated with the serum IgG4 level (r=0.1779, P=0.0001), eosinophil count (r=0.3004, P<0.0001), and serum IgG level (r=0.2189, P<0.0001) in IgG4-RD patients. Compared with group A, group B had more patients with allergic diseases (P=0.004), more organ involvement (P=0.003), and higher IgG4-RD responder index scores (P=0.002). During follow-up, group A patients had a higher remission induction rate than group B patients (88.4% vs. 73.6%, P=0.035), while group B patients had a higher relapse rate than group A patients (29.0% vs. 16.2%, P=0.039). Multivariate analysis found that a serum IgE level > 125 KU/L at baseline was a risk factor for disease relapse (hazard ratio [HR], 1.894 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.022–3.508]; P=0.042). Cox regression analysis showed that elevation of the eosinophil count was a risk factor for relapse in both group A and group B patients (HR, 8.504 [95% CI 1.071–42.511]; P=0.009; and HR, 2.078 [95% CI 1.277–3.380]; P=0.003, respectively), and the involvement of the lacrimal gland (HR, 1.756 [95% CI 1.108–2.782]; P=0.017), submandibular gland (HR, 1.654 [95% CI 1.037–2.639]; P=0.035), and kidney (HR, 3.413 [95% CI 1.076–10.831]; P=0.037) were also risk factors for relapse in group B patients.Conclusion: IgG4-RD patients with high serum IgE levels at baseline were more likely to have higher disease activity, and baseline high IgE levels were associated with disease relapse.
Membrane and lipid metabolism plays an important role in desiccation resistance in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Ren Qun , Brenner Rebecca , Boothby Thomas C. , Zhang Zhaojie 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
BackgroundAnhydrobiotes, such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are capable of surviving almost total loss of water. Desiccation tolerance requires an interplay of multiple events, including preserving the protein function and membrane integrity, preventing and mitigating oxidative stress, maintaining certain level of energy required for cellular activities in the desiccated state. Many of these crucial processes can be controlled and modulated at the level of organelle morphology and dynamics. However, little is understood about what organelle perturbations manifest in desiccation-sensitive cells as a consequence of drying or how this differs from organelle biology in desiccation-tolerant organisms undergoing anhydrobiosis.ResultsIn this study, electron and optical microscopy was used to examine the dynamic changes of yeast cells during the desiccation process. Dramatic structural changes were observed during the desiccation process, including the diminishing of vacuoles, decrease of lipid droplets, decrease in mitochondrial cristae and increase of ER membrane, which is likely caused by ER stress and unfolded protein response. The survival rate was significantly decreased in mutants that are defective in lipid droplet biosynthesis, or cells treated with cerulenin, an inhibitor of fatty acid synthesis.ConclusionOur study suggests that the metabolism of lipid droplets and membrane may play an important role in yeast desiccation tolerance by providing cells with energy and possibly metabolic water. Additionally, the decrease in mitochondrial cristae coupled with a decrease in lipid droplets is indicative of a cellular response to reduce the production of reactive oxygen species.
Population Frequencies Determined by Next-generation Sequencing Provide Strategies for Prospective HLA Epitope Matching for Transplantation
Authors: Tran Jenny , Gunther Oliver , Sherwood Karen , Fenninger Franz , Allan Lenka , Lan James , Sapir-Pichhadze Ruth , Duquesnoy Rene , Claas Frans , Marsh Steven , McMaster W. Robert , Keown Paul 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Compatibility for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes between transplant donors and recipients improves graft survival but prospective matching is rarely performed due to the vast heterogeneity of this gene complex. To reduce complexity, we have combined next-generation sequencing and in silico mapping to determine population frequencies and matching probabilities of 150 antibody-binding eplets across all 11 classical HLA genes in 2000 ethnically heterogeneous renal patients and donors. We show that eplets are more common and more uniformly distributed between donors and recipients than the respective HLA isoforms. Simulation of targeted eplet matching shows that a high degree of overall compatibility, and perfect identity at the clinically important HLA class II loci, can be obtained within a patient waiting list of approximately 250 subjects. Internal epitope-based allocation is thus feasible for most major renal transplant programs, while regional or national sharing may be required for other solid organs.
Comparative analysis of clinical factors associated with pedicle screw pull-out between intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography and postoperative computed tomography
Authors: Sumiya Satoshi , Fukushima Kazuyuki , Kurosa Yoshiro , Hirai Takashi , Inose Hiroyuki , Yoshii Toshitaka , Okawa Atsushi 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: No studies to date have elucidated the clinical factors associated with pedicle screw pull-out. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of pedicle screw pull-out by comparing intraoperative scans obtained using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) with scans acquired postoperatively using computed tomography (CT). We also sought to determine the incidence of pedicle screw pull-out and identify relevant risk factors.Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data for 742 pedicle screws placed in 76 consecutive patients who underwent at least triple-level posterior fixation for thoracic or lumbar spinal injury, spinal metastasis, or pyogenic spondylitis between April 2014 and July 2020. Pedicle screw pull-out distance in the axial and sagittal planes was compared between CT scans obtained 2 days postoperatively and CBCT images acquired intraoperatively. Risk factors associated with pedicle screw pull-out were investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: Pedicle screw pull-out was seen with 58 pedicle screws (7.8%) in 26 (34.2%) patients. There were significant differences in age, number of fused segments, frequency of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), and medical history of osteoporosis for pedicle screw pull-out. Risk factors for pedicle screw pull-out were older age (odds ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.130) and a diagnosis of DISH (odds ratio 3.35, 95% confidence interval, 1.12–10.00).Conclusions: Several cases of intraoperative pedicle screw pull-out may be caused by use of connecting rods. Older age and DISH are risk factors for pedicle screw pull-out.
Tennis Elbow, study protocol for a randomized clinical trial: Needling With and Without Platelet-rich Plasma After Failure of Up-to-date Rehabilitation
Authors: SCHWITZGUEBEL ADRIEN J-P , Bogoev Mitko , Nikolov Viktor , Ichane Freddy , Laedermann Alexandre 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: The conservative management of lateral epicondylitis is known to be a difficult-to-treat annoying condition. A treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is often performed, but its efficacy remains controversial. Methods: This study is a single-center, randomized double-blind controlled trial, preceded by a case series. All the 232 planned patients of the case series will undergo an up-to-date comprehensive rehabilitation program, including focused extracorporeal shock waves therapy. This rehabilitation program is expected to have a maximum success rate 75%. It is therefore aimed to allocate a minimum of 58 patients with rehabilitation failure into the 1:1 randomized trial. Stratification is planned on age and lesion pattern. The masking will be quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator & Outcome Assessor). The patients will undergo an ultrasound (US)-guided needling combined with either PRP (intervention group) or saline (Control group). The primary endpoint will be the pain improvement from baseline (month 0) at 3 months on a 0-10 visual analog scale (VAS) during a maximal strength isometric contraction of the extensor carpialis brevis muscle. The main secondary endpoints will include the rehabilitation success rate and improvements from baseline at 3, 6 and 12 months of the following outcomes: (i) Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score, (ii) Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) score, (iii) maximal grip strength on Jamar test, and (iv) the ultrasonographic evaluation of the US of the epicondylar tendons.Discussion: The study results will provide insight into the effect of PRP as adjuvant therapy to tendon fenestration, and may contribute to identify the best preceding and concomitant rehabilitation protocol. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03987256, registered 20 August 2019
Bayesian Multilevel Model on Maternal Mortality in Ethiopia
Authors: Dugasa Shibiru Jabessa , Dugasa Dabala Jabessa 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Maternal mortality is one of the socio-economic problems and widely considered a serious indicator of the quality of a health. Ethiopia is considered to be one of the top six sub-Saharan countries with severe maternal mortality. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the Demographic and Socio-economic determinant factors of maternal mortality in Ethiopia. Data from the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey indicated that the sample of women (15-49) was (n=10103). The Bayesian multilevel l was used to explore the major risk factors and regional variations in maternal mortality in Ethiopia. MCMC methods with non-informative priors have been applied. The DIC model selection criteria were used to select the appropriate model. The analysis result, 145(1.43%) mothers were died due to pregnancy. Using model selection criteria Bayesian multilevel random coefficient was found to be appropriate. With this model, Age of mother, marital status, number of living children, wealth index and Education are found to be the significant determinants of maternal mortality in Ethiopia. The study indicated that there was within and between regional variations in maternal mortality. Inference is the fully Bayesian multilevel model based on recent Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques. Some of the socioeconomic, demographic and environmental determinants included in the study were found to be statistically significant. The result of the Bayesian multilevel model in this study has shown that educational attainment, wealth index, an age of mother, marital status and number of living children was a significant factor of maternal mortality.
Continuous extracorporeal treatments in a dialysis patient with COVID-19
Authors: Nihei Yoshihito , Nagasawa Hajime , Fukao Yusuke , Kihara Masao , Ueda Seiji , Gohda Tomohito , Suzuki Yusuke 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is now a major global health threat. More than half a year have passed since the first discovery of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2), no effective treatment has been established especially in intensive care unit. Inflammatory cytokine storm caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection has been reported to play a central role in COVID-19; therefore, treatments for suppressing cytokines, including extracorporeal treatments, are considered to be beneficial. However, until today the efficacy of removing cytokines by extracorporeal treatments in patients with COVID-19 is unclear. Herein, we report our experience with a 66-year-old male patient undergoing maintenance peritoneal dialysis who became critically ill with COVID-19 and underwent several extracorporeal treatment approaches including plasma exchange, direct hemoperfusion using a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column and continuous hemodiafiltration. Though the patient developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) repeatedly and subacute cerebral infarction and finally died for respiratory failure on day 30 after admission, these attempts appeared to dampen the cytokine storm based on the observed decline in serum IL-6 levels and were effective against ARDS and secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. This case suggests the significance of timely initiation of extracorporeal treatment approaches in critically ill patients with COVID-19.
Risk factors for pulmonary interstitial fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Yang Ji , Cui Xiangxiang , Li Ming 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background

Pulmonary interstitial fibrosis (PIF) is a frequent manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, there is a lack of good clinical indicators for predicting PIF. Here, we evaluated autoantibodies and clinical phenotypes to predict the involvement of PIF in SSc.
Methods

Peripheral blood was collected from the 86 SSc patients enrolled in this study to detect autoantibodies. PIF, lung function, and heart function were analyzed by lung high-resolution computed tomography, pulmonary function test, and standard transthoracic echocardiography, respectively. The correlation between autoantibodies, clinical phenotype, and internal organ involvement were summarized.
Results

PIF occurred in 68.4% anti-SCL-70 antibody positive SSc patients (p = 0.0045), 59.8% anti-centromere antibody negative SSc patients (p = 0.0013), and 71.4% anti-SSA antibody positive SSc patients (p = 0.0107). PIF occurred in 94.1% anti-SCL-70 antibody and anti-SSA antibody double positive SSc patients, which was higher than in anti-SCL-70 antibody single positive patients, p = 0.0452. More SSc patients with digital ulcers had PIF (73.5%) than SSc patients without digital ulcers (p = 0.0008).
Conclusion

These data suggest that SSc patients with double positive for anti-SCL-70 and anti-SSA antibodies are more prone to develop PIF. In addition, digital ulcers are an important and convenient predictor for PIF in SSc patients.
Clinical and Hemodynamic Characterization Super Responders to IV Prostacyclin
Authors: Conger Adrienne K , Halliday Steven J , Pugh Meredith E , Robbins Ivan M , Hemnes Anna R 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
BackgroundParenteral prostacyclins are the only therapy proven to extend survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), yet at the bedside clinicians have no tools to predict which patients are most likely to benefit from this medication class. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed all PAH patients treated with IV epoprostenol therapy at our center from 1/1/1996 to 12/31/2016. We analyzed survival in patients and defined the 90 th percentile of survival. Patients were divided into those who survived past this point (super responders) and those who had had an event prior to this time point after initiation of iv epoprostenol (usual responders).ResultsThe median survival after IV epoprostenol initiation was 4.32 years, and the 90 th percentile of event-free survival was 11.09 years. Fourteen patients met criteria for super responder and 45 had a survival <90 th percentile, comprising the usual responder group. Super responders tended to be younger, have longer six-minute walk distances and higher mean pulmonary arterial pressure (p<0.05 for all). In follow up, super responders continued to have a higher six-minute walk distance and were more likely to have achieved normal or only mildly impaired right ventricular function, though no differences in hemodynamics were observed.ConclusionsThere may be a super responder phenotype that can be defined in patients with PAH by >90 th percentile of survival. Super responders were more likely that usual responders to be younger and were more likely to have achieved favorable right ventricular function at follow up, however, differences in hemodynamics were not observed.
Blood pressure prediction by exploiting informative features from ICU patients’ ECG and PPG signals under a heterogeneous ensemble learning framework
Authors: Qin Keke , Xu Guobiao , Huang Jun 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
BackgroundAlthough invasive methods are currently used to monitor blood pressure (BP) for intensive care patients, accurate and timely non-invasive BP monitoring in non-invasive way is still significant. Yet, physiological signal data of patients is irregular, with more noise and abnormal patterns included, making accurate and stable prediction challenging. The traditional BP measurement methods are cuff-based, and the prediction accuracy and stability of the machine learning based cuff-less prediction model needs to be further improved. Additionally, data must be cleaned and effective features must be grubbed from the irregular signals, which is a prerequisite for model training.ResultsIn the present study, we proposed a novel heterogeneous ensemble learning BP prediction (ELBP) model, where: 1) Related features are systematically extracted and selected for systolic, diastolic and mean BP prediction tasks; 2)Then, multiple regression models are trained and then are weighted for final prediction, wherein the weights are learned from data; 3) Hyper-parameters of each model are optimised using Bayesian optimisation based on cross-validation. We experimentally verified the ELBP effectiveness, the mean absolute error of ELBP is 1.802 mmHg, 3.936 mmHg and 3.121 mmHg for diastolic, systolic and mean BP respectively on mimic-1, and 2.722 mmHg, 5.039 mmHg and 3.812 mmHg respectively on mimic-2. Further experiments demonstrated that ELBP performance is superior to state-of-the-art algorithms on seven evaluation metrics.ConclusionIn conclusion, BP prediction precision can be further improved by integrating multiple learners appropriately, and this study is valuable in promoting BP prediction in practical application.