bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in Inflammatory Cytokines, Antioxidants and Liver Stiffness after Chelation Therapy in Individuals with Chronic Lead Poisoning
Authors: Teerasarntipan Tongluk , Chaiteerakij Roongruedee , Prueksapanich Piyapan , Werawatganon Duangporn 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background Chronic exposure to lead causes lead to accumulate mainly in the liver. In vivo studies have shown that lead toxicity is related to alterations in the inflammatory response. We aimed to evaluate the association between lead poisoning and liver fibrosis as well as the change in the degree of liver fibrosis, levels of inflammatory mediators and glutathione (GSH) after chelation therapy.Methods Workers from a battery factory who were exposed to lead for > 12 months and had a blood lead level (BLL) > 70 µg/dL were enrolled (n=86) in the study. Participants underwent chelation therapy with intravenous CaNa2EDTA for 2 days followed by treatment with oral D-penicillamine for 90 days. The primary outcome was the change in the degree of liver fibrosis, which was presented as liver stiffness (LS) measured by FibroScan®. Secondary outcomes were the changes in the levels of serum GSH and inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) after chelation therapy.Results Among the 86 participants, there was a positive correlation between the duration of lead exposure and LS (r=0.249, p=0.021). To avoid the confounding effect of obesity-related steatosis, only 70 individuals who had controlled attenuation parameters < 296 dB/m, BMI < 25 kg/m2 and normal waist circumference were included in the interventional analysis. After chelation, the mean LS significantly decreased from 5.4 ± 0.9 to 4.8 ± 1.4 kPa (p=0.001). Similarly, all of the inflammatory cytokines studied significantly decreased after chelation (p<0.001); TNF-α decreased from 371.6 ± 211.3 to 215.8 ± 142.7; the levels of IL-1β decreased from 29.8 ± 1.7 to 25.9 ± 4.3; and the levels of IL-6 decreased from 46.8 ± 10.2 to 35.0 ± 11.9. On the other hand, the mean GSH level increased significantly from 3.3 ± 3.3 to 13.1 ± 3.7 (p<0.001) after chelation therapy.Conclusion The duration of lead exposure was significantly correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis. Chelation treatment was associated with increased levels of GSH and decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and could potentially reduce the degree of LS. Trial registration: This study was retrospectively registered and approved by the Thai Clinical Trial Registry (TCTR) on 2019-11-07. The TCTR identification number is TCTR20191108001. http://www.clinicaltrials.in.th/index.php?tp=regtrials&menu=trialsearch&smenu=fulltext&task=search&task2=view1&id=2867
SHiNeMaS : A web tool dedicated to seed lots history, phenotyping and cultural practices
Authors: De Oliveira Yannick , Burlot Laura , Dawson Julie C. , Goldringer Isabelle , Madi Darkawi , Rivière Pierre , Steinbach Delphine , Frank Gaëlle Van , Thomas Mathieu 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Motivation
In 2005, researchers from the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (Institut national de recherche pour l’agriculture, l’alimentation et l’environnement, INRAE) started a collaboration with the French farmers' seed network Réseau Semences Paysannes (RSP) on bread wheat participatory breeding (PPB). The aims were: (1) to study on-farm management of crop diversity, (2) to develop population-varieties adapted to organic and low-inputs agriculture, (3) to co-develop tools and methods adapted to on-farm experiments. In this project, researchers and farmers' organizations needed to map the history and life cycle of the population-varieties using network formalism to represent relationships between seed lots. All this information had to be centralized and stored in a database.
Results
We describe here SHiNeMaS (Seeds History and Network Management System) a web tool database. SHiNeMaS aims to provide useful interfaces to track seed lot history and related data (phenotyping, environment, cultural practices). Although SHiNeMaS has been developed in the context of a bread wheat participatory breeding program, the database has been designed to manage any kind and even multiple cultivated plant species. SHiNeMaS is available under Affero GPL licence and uses free technologies such as the Python language, Django framework or PostgreSQL database management system (DBMS).
Conclusion
We developed SHiNeMaS, a web tool database, dedicated to the management of the history of seed lots and related data like phenotyping, environmental information and cultural practices. SHiNeMaS has been used in production in our laboratory for 5 years and farmers' organizations facilitators manage their own information in the system.
Oral prednisolone administration in postoperative period improves results of TKA in patient with severe range of motion limitation – a paired outcome study
Authors: Grzelecki Dariusz , Kowalczewski Jacek , Kordasiewicz Bartłomiej , Sibinski Marcin , Olewnik Łukasz , Marczak Dariusz 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background. One of the most common problems related to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is postoperatively limited range of motion, especially in the most difficult cases. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of oral use of prednisolone in the postoperative period on the final results in a patient after TKA with severely limited postoperative range of motion.Methods. Thirty-two patients (32 knees) with a mean age of 61.2 years were selected from our prospectively-collected data base with severe knee range of motion limitation (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, posttraumatic and postoperative osteoarthritis). Prednisolone was administrated in two doses per day (1 mg per kg of body mass) and then the dose was slowly reduced for no more than three months. Results. The prednisolone group demonstrated significantly better results one year after the operation than the non-prednisolone group in terms of range of motion (mean extension 0.5˚ and 3.0˚; p=0.02, mean flexion 100.1˚ and 88˚; p= 0.01), WOMAC (mean 85.0 and 76.8 points; p=0.02) and KSS clinical score (mean 86.9 and 81.7; p=0.001) and KSS functional score (79.3 and 71.0 points; p=0.01). No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of postoperative systemic and surgical site complications; therefore, no complications could be defined as steroid related. Conclusions. The administration of oral prednisolone for a longer postoperative time in patients with severe preoperative range of motion following TKA significantly improves functional results without steroid related complications at one year follow-up.
Lessons learned through piloting a community-based SMS referral system for common mental health disorders used by female community health volunteers in rural Nepal
Authors: Bhardwaj Anvita , Subba Prasansa , Rai Sauharda , Bhat Chaya , Ghimire Renasha , Jordans Mark , Green Eric , Vasudevan Lavanya , Kohrt Brandon 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Objective: The Community Informant Detection Tool (CIDT) is a paper-based proactive case detection strategy with evidence for improving help-seeking behavior for mental healthcare. Key implementation barriers for the paper-based CIDT include delayed reporting of cases and lack of active follow up. We used mobile phones and the structured text messages to improve timeliness of case reporting, encouraging follow up, and case record keeping. 36 female community health volunteers piloted this mobile phone CIDT (mCIDT) for three months in 2017 in rural Nepal. Results: Only 8 cases were identified by health volunteers using mCIDT, and only two of these cases engaged with health services post-referral. Accuracy with the mCIDT was considerably lower than paper-based CIDT, especially among older health volunteers, those with lower education, and those having difficulties sending text messages. Qualitative findings revealed implementation challenges including cases not following through on referrals due to perceived lack of staff at health facilities, assumptions among health volunteers that all earthquake-related mental health needs had been met, and lack of financial incentives for use of mCIDT. Based on study findings, we provide 5 recommendations—in particular attitudinal and system preparedness changes—to effectively introduce new mental healthcare technology in low resource health systems.
Trends and determinants of HIV transmission among men who inject drugs in the Pokhara Valley, Nepal: Analysis of cross-sectional studies
Authors: Hogan Sam , Page Andrew , Ogbo Felix , Dixit Sameer , Rajbhandari Rajesh Man , Rawal Bir , Deuba Keshab 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background HIV is a major public health issue around the world, especially in developing countries. Although the overall prevalence of HIV in Nepal is relatively low and the country itself is considered low risk, there are specific sub-populations where the prevalence is far higher than the national average. One of these sub-groups is male injection drug users (IDUs). In order to understand the reasons for the differences in prevalence, a series of socio-demographic, behavioural and knowledge-based risk factors need to be assessed. Methods The study used a series of 7 cross-sectional survey datasets, collected between 2003 and 2017 (N=2,235) to investigate trends in HIV prevalence among male IDUs by key socio-demographic and behavioural and knowledge-based risk factors. A series of logistic regression models were conducted to investigate the association between study factors and HIV in the Pokhara valley, Nepal. Results Overall HIV prevalence has decreased from the levels seen in 2003 (22.0%) and 2005 (21.7%), with the lowest prevalence recorded in 2015 (2.6%), however prevalence has increased in the most recent period (4.9%). A lower risk of HIV was associated with younger age (less than or equal to 24 years compared to greater than 24 years, OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.10, 0.31), being married (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.25, 3.02) and shorter duration of drug use (less than or equal to 4 years compared to greater than 4 years, OR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.09, 0.29). A higher risk of HIV was associated with low (compared to secondary or higher) education level (OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.75, 4.36), a lack of addiction treatment (OR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.64, 4.08), and recent use of unsterilized injection equipment (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.20, 4.11). Conclusion The main determinants which increase the risk of HIV among male IDUs in Pokhara were low education level, a lack of treatment for drug addiction and the recent use of unsterilised equipment. Each of these indicate the need to improve addiction treatment and education programs for intra-venous drug use to aid this at-risk group in avoiding risk-taking behaviours.
An efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst of phosphorous carbon co-doped MOFs
Authors: Du Li , Lv Mengyuan , Liu Dandan , Song Huiyu 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
It is eager to develop high-performance and cheap bifunctional electrochemical catalysts for both of the ORR or OER for the energy crisis and environmental problems. Herein, we report a series of ZIF-derived Co-P-C co-doped polyhedral materials with a well-defined morphology. The optimized catalyst Co/P/MOFs-CNTs-700 exhibited favorable electrochemical activities with the lowest over potential of 420 mV to achieve the current density of 10 mA cm -2 for OER and the half potential of 0.8 V for ORR in 0.1 M NaOH. The performance can be well improved by doping phosphorous resource which greatly changed its morphology. Meanwhile, the doped carbon resources also improve the conductivity, which makes it a promising bifunctional electrochemical catalyst and can be comparable with the commercial electrocatalysts.
A novel bacterial β-N-acetyl glucosaminidase from Chitinolyticbacter meiyuanensis possessing transglycosylation and reverse hydrolysis activities
Authors: Zhang Alei , Mo Xiaofang , Zhou Ning , Wang Yingying , Wei Guoguang , Chen Jie , Chen Kequan , Ouyang Pingkai 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) and N-acetyl chitooligosaccharides (N-acetyl COSs) exhibit many biological activities, and have been widely used in the pharmaceutical, agriculture, food, and chemical industries. Particularly, higher N-acetyl COSs with degree of polymerization from 4 to 7 ((GlcNAc)4−(GlcNAc)7) show good antitumor and antimicrobial activity, as well as possessing strong stimulating activity towards natural killer cells. Thus, it is of great significance to discover a β-N-acetyl glucosaminidase (NAGase) that can not only produce GlcNAc, but also synthesize N-acetyl COSs. Results: The gene encoding the novel β-N-acetyl glucosaminidase, designated CmNAGase, was cloned from Chitinolyticbacter meiyuanensis SYBC-H1. The deduced amino acid sequence of CmNAGase contains a glycoside hydrolase family 20 catalytic module that shows low identity (12−35%) with the corresponding domain of most well-characterized NAGases. The CmNAGase gene was highly expressed with an active form in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells. The specific activity of purified CmNAGase toward p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl glucosaminide (pNP-GlcNAc) was 4,878.6 U/mg of protein. CmNAGase had a molecular mass of 92 kDa, and its optimum activity was at pH 5.4 and 40ºC. The Vmax, Km, Kcat, and Kcat/Km of CmNAGase for pNP-GlcNAc were 16,666.67 μmol min-1 mg-1, 0.50 μmol mL-1, 25,555.56 s-1, and 51,111.12 mL μmol-1 s-1, respectively. Analysis of the hydrolysis products of N-acetyl COSs and colloidal chitin revealed that CmNAGase is a typical exo-acting NAGase. Particularly, CmNAGase can synthesize higher N-acetyl COSs ((GlcNAc)3−(GlcNAc)7) from (GlcNAc)2−(GlcNAc)6, respectively, showed that it possesses transglycosylation activity. In addition, CmNAGase also has reverse hydrolysis activity toward GlcNAc, synthesizing various linked GlcNAc dimers. Conclusions: The observations recorded in this study that CmNAGase is a novel NAGase with exo-acting, transglycosylation, and reverse hydrolysis activities, suggests a possible application in the production of GlcNAc or higher N-acetyl COSs.
Macrolide and fluoroquinolone associated mutations in Mycoplasma genitalium in a retrospective study of male and female patients seeking care at an STI Clinic in Guangzhou, China, 2016-2018.
Authors: Ke Wujian , Li Dongling , Tso Lai Sze , Wei Ran , Lan Yinyuan , Chen Zhengyu , Zhang Xiaohui , Wang Liuyuan , Liang Chunmei , Liao Yuying , Chen Huiru , Liu Yahui , Zheng Heping , Yang Ligang 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Antimicrobial resistance in M. genitalium is a growing clinical problem. We investigated the mutations associated to macrolide and fluoroquinolones, two commonly used medical regimens for treatment in China. Our aim is to analyze the prevalence and diversity of mutations among M. genitalium-positive clinical specimens in Guangzhou, south China.Methods: A total of 154 stored M. genitalium positive specimens from men and women attending an STI clinic were tested for macrolide and fluoroquinolone mutations. M. genitalium was detected via TaqMan MGB real-time PCR with a sensitivity of five genome equivalents (geq)/reaction. Mutations associated with macrolide resistance were detected using primers targeting region V of the 23S rRNA gene. Fluoroquinolone resistant mutations were screened via primers targeting topoisomerase IV (parC) and DNA gyrase (gyrA).Results: 98.7% (152/154), 95.5% (147/154) and 90.3% (139/154) of M. genitalium positive samples produced sufficient amplicon for detecting resistance mutations in 23S rRNA, gyrA and parC genes, respectively. 66.4% (101/152), 0.7% (1/147) and 77.7% (108/139) samples manifested mutations in 23S rRNA, gyrA and parC genes, respectively. A2059G (59/101, 58.4%) and S83I (79/108, 73.1%) were highly predominating in 23S rRNA and parC genes, respectively. Two samples had amino acid substitutions in gyrA (M95I and A96T, respectively). Two samples had two amino acid substitutions in parC (S83I + D87Y). 48.6% (67/138) of samples harbored both macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance-associated mutations. The most common combination of mutations was A2059G (23S rRNA) and S83I (parC) (40/67, 59.7%). One sample had three amino acid changes in 23S rRNA, gyrA and parC genes (A2059G + A96T + S83I).Conclusions: The high antimicrobial resistance rate of M. genitalium in Guangzhou is a very worrying problem and suggests that antimicrobial resistance testing and the development of new antibiotic regimens are crucially needed.
Evaluation of standard and semantically-augmented distance metrics for neurology patients
Authors: Hier Daniel B , Kopel Jonathan , Brint Steven U , II Donald C Wunsch , Olbricht Gayla R , Azizi Sima , Allen Blaine 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: When patient distances are calculated based on phenotype, signs and symptoms are often converted to concepts from an ontological hierarchy. There is controversy as to whether patient distance metrics that consider the semantic similarity between concepts can outperform standard patient distance metrics that are agnostic to concept similarity. The choice of distance metric often dominates the performance of classification or clustering algorithms. Our objective was to determine if semantically augmented distance metrics would outperform standard metrics on machine learning tasks. Methods: We converted the neurological signs and symptoms from 382 published neurology cases into sets of concepts with corresponding machine-readable codes. We calculated inter-patient distances by four different metrics (cosine distance, a semantically augmented cosine distance, Jaccard distance, and a semantically augmented bipartite distance). Semantic augmentation for two of the metrics depended on concept similarities from a hierarchical neuro-ontology. For machine learning algorithms, we used the patient diagnosis as the ground truth label and patient signs and symptoms as the machine learning features . We assessed classification accuracy for four classifiers and cluster quality for two clustering algorithms for each of the distance metrics. Results: Inter-patient distances were smaller when the distance metric was semantically augmented. Classification accuracy and cluster quality were not significantly different by distance metric. Conclusion: Using patient diagnoses as labels and patient signs and symptoms as features, we did not find improved classification accuracy or improved cluster quality with semantically augmented distance metrics. Semantic augmentation reduced inter-patient distances but did not improve machine learning performance.
Efficacy of combined education to promote self efficacy and self-care oral health behaviors of students: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hashemi Zahra Sadat , khorsandi Mahboobeh , Shamsi Mohsen , Moradzadeh Rahmatollah 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: In order to prevent oral diseases, the use of appropriate educational methods at childhood is one of the most important strategies for the public health. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of training through animations and games on oral health self-efficacy and self-care behaviors among 6-12-aged students. Methods: In this interventional study, 82 students were selected based on cluster random sampling including 38 for the case and 44 for control group). The case group received four sessions of combined learning per week including animations and games while the control group received routine school education. The data were collected in six domains including demographics, self-care, knowledge, attitude, behavior and self-efficacy before and 5 months after the intervention using a questionnaire. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis.Results: Five months after the intervention, the mean score of self-care, self-efficacy, behavior increased from 3.8 to 4.8, 36.8 to 48.9, and 17.07 to 18.29, respectively indicating a significant change (p < 0.05). However, no significant change was reported in these variables in the control group (p >0.05)Conclusion: The use of combined methods for oral health self-care education can positively influence the students' performance and self-efficacy
Use of Resuscitation promoting factors to screen for tuberculosis infection in household-exposed children in The Gambia
Authors: Loon Welmoed Van , Gomez Marie P , Jobe Dawda , Franken Kees CLMC , Ottenhoff Tom HM , Corninx Michael , Kestens Luc , Sutherland Jayne , Kampmann Beate , Djomkam Leopold Tientcheu 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background Interferon-γ release assays (IGRA) with Resuscitation promoting factor (Rpf) proteins enhanced tuberculosis (TB) screening and diagnosis in adults but have not been evaluated in children. Children often develop paucibacillary TB and their immune response differs from that of adults, which together affect TB disease diagnostics and immunodiagnostics. We assessed the ability of Rpf to identify infection among household TB-exposed children in The Gambia and investigated their ability to discriminate Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infection from active TB disease in children. Methods Detailed clinical investigations were done on 93 household TB-exposed Gambian children and a tuberculin skin test (TST) was administered to asymptomatic children. Venous blood was collected for overnight stimulation with ESAT-6/CFP-10-fusion protein (EC), purified protein derivative and RpfA, B, C, D and E. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production was measured by ELISA in supernatants and corrected for the background level. Infection status was defined by IGRA with EC and TB disease by mycobacterial confirmation and/or clinical diagnosis. We compared IFN-γ levels between infected and uninfected children and between infected and TB diseased children using a binomial logistic regression model while correcting for age and sex. A Receiver Operating Characteristics analysis was done to find the best cut-off for IFN-γ level and calculate sensitivity and specificity. Results Interferon gamma production was significantly higher in infected (IGRA+, n=45) than in uninfected (IGRA-, n=20) children after stimulation with RpfA, B, C, and D (P = 0.03; 0.007; 0.03 and 0.003, respectively). Using RpfB and D-specific IFN-γ cut-offs (33.9 pg/mL and 67.0 pg/mL), infection was classified with a sensitivity-specificity combination of 73%-92% and 77%-72% respectively, which was similar to and better than 65%-75% for TST. Moreover, IFN-γ production was higher in infected than in TB diseased children (n=28, 5 bacteriologically confirmed, 23 clinically diagnosed), following RpfB and D stimulation (P = 0.02 and 0.03, respectively). Conclusion RpfB and RpfD show promising results for childhood MTBC infection screening, and both performed similar to and better than the TST in our study population. Additionally, both antigens appear to discriminate between infection and disease in children and thus warrant further investigation as screening and diagnostic antigens for childhood TB.