bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A feasibility study to investigate the utility of a home–based exercise intervention during and after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for oesophago-gastric cancer – the ChemoFit study protocol
Authors: Chmelo Jakub , Phillips Alexander William , Greystoke Alastair , Charman Sarah Jane , Avery Leah , Hallsworth Kate , Welford Jenny , Sinclair Rhona Catherine France 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
Treatment of locally advanced oesophago-gastric adenocarcinoma usually entails neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), and surgery. Surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Cardiopulmonary reserve of patients having major surgery is related to postoperative outcomes. Complications are associated with poorer quality of life and may affect prognosis. Preventing complications may be beneficial to both of these and have cost implications. Prehabilitation may improve recovery from surgery by increasing a patients’ fitness before surgery. Designing a potentially cost and resource effective regimen which improves cardiopulmonary reserve may have a beneficial impact on patient outcomes after surgery.
Methods
The ChemoFit study is a non-randomised, single-arm and single-centre pilot study designed to investigate the feasibility of a home-based prehabilitation exercise intervention for patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment prior to oesophago-gastric surgery. Forty patients will be recruited at a single high-volume centre. The simple, home-based exercise intervention involves patients increasing their daily step-count during and after NAC and in the weeks leading up to surgical resection of the cancer. Additionally, quality of life assessments (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OG25), oncological treatment delivery and participant perceptions of the study assessed by focus groups and questionnaires will be performed. The primary outcomes are to assess feasibility of the exercise intervention. The secondary outcomes will evaluate changes in cardiopulmonary reserve, sarcopenia and fat composition.
Discussion
It is anticipated that during an important teachable moment, the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, our patients will be open to the possibility of improving their fitness during chemotherapy and before major cancer surgery. It is possible that the negative impact of NAC on cardiopulmonary fitness could be prevented by implementing a home-based prehabilitation programme during and after NAC, prior to surgery for oesophago-gastric adenocarcinoma.
Trial registration
This study has been approved by the Health Research Authority (REC 18/WA/0427). Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NUTH) will act as the study sponsor and the work is funded by a grant awarded by The Jon Moulton Charitable Foundation, supported by a research post funded by the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04194463. Registered 11 th December 2019 – retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04194463.
Real-world use of ACEI/ARB in diabetic hypertensive patients before the initial diagnosis of obstructive coronary artery disease: patient characteristics and long-term follow-up outcome
Authors: Zhang Yue , Ding Xiaosong , Hua Bing , Liu Qingbo , Chen Hui , Zhao Xue-Qiao , Li Weiping , Li Hongwei 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: Current guidelines recommend angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) /angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) as a first-line therapy in diabetic hypertensive patients and for secondary prevention in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD). However, the effects of using ACEI/ARB before the initial diagnosis of OCAD on major adverse cardiac and cerebral event (MACCE) in diabetic hypertensive patients remain unclear. This study investigated whether using ACEI/ARB before the initial diagnosis of OCAD could be associated with improved clinical outcomes in diabetic hypertensive patients. Methods: A total of 2501 patients with hypertension and diabetes, who were first diagnosed with OCAD by coronary angiography, were included in the analysis. Of the 2501 patients, 1300 did not used ACEI/ARB before the initial diagnosis of OCAD [the ACEI/ARB(-) group]; 1201 did [the ACEI/ARB(+) group]. Propensity score matching at 1:1 was performed to select 1050 patients from each group. Incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), infarct size in patients with AMI, heart function, and subsequent MACCE during a median of 25.4-month follow-up were determined and compared between the 2 groups. Results: Compared with the ACEI/ARB(-) group, the ACEI/ARB(+) group had significantly lower incidence of AMI (22.5% vs. 28.4%, p<0.05), smaller infarct size in patients with AMI (pTNI: 5.7 vs. 6.8 ng/ml, p<0.05; pCKMB: 21.7 vs. 28.7 ng/ml, p<0.05), better heart function (LVEF: 60.0 vs. 58.5%, p<0.05), and lower incidences of non-fatal stroke (2.4% vs. 4.6%, p<0.05) and composite MACCE (23.1% vs. 29.7%, p<0.05). No prior ACEI/ARB therapy was significantly and independently associated with non-fatal stroke and composite MACCE. Conclusions: In diabetic hypertensive patients, treatment with ACEI/ARB before the initial diagnosis with OCAD was associated with decreased incidence of AMI, smaller infarct size, improved heart function, and lower incidences of non-fatal stroke and composite MACCE. Trial registration: retrospectively registered.
Enhanced production of recombinant proteins in Corynebacterium glutamicum by construction a bicistronic gene expression system
Authors: Sun Manman , Gao Xiong , Zhao Zihao , Li An , Wang Yali , Yang Yankun , Liu Xiuxia , Bai Zhonghu 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: Corynebacterium glutamicum is a traditional food-grade industrial microorganism， in which an efficient endotoxin-free recombinant protein expression factory is under developing in recent years. However, the intrinsic disadvantage of low recombinant protein expression level is still difficult to be solved. Here, according to the bacteria-specific polycistronic feature that multiple proteins can be translated in one mRNA, efforts have been made to insert a leading peptide gene upstream of target genes as an expression enhancer, and it is found that this can remarkably improve the expression level of proteins under the control of inducible tac promoter in C. glutamicum. Results: In this research, the Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) tac promoter combined with 24 different fore-cistron sequences were constructed in a bicistronic manner in C. glutamicum. Three strong bicistronic expression vectors were isolated and exhibited high efficiency under different culture conditions. The compatibility of these bicistronic vectors was further validated using six model proteins- aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), RamA (regulator of acetate metabolism), Bovine interferon-a (BoIFN-a), glycoprotein D protein (gD) of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV) and procollagen type I N-terminal peptide (PINP). All examined proteins were highly expressed compared with the original vector with tac promoter. Large-scale production of PINP was also performed in fed-batch cultivation, and the highest PINP production level was 1.2 g/L. Conclusion: In this study, the strength of the inducible tac promoter for C. glutamicum was improved by screening and inserting fore-cistron sequences in front of the target genes. Those vectors with bicistronic expression patterns have strong compatibility for expressing various heterogeneous proteins in high yield. This new strategy could be used to further improve the performance of inducible promoters, achieving double competence of inducible control and high yield.
Characterization of LGR5 expression in poorly differentiated colorectal carcinoma with mismatch repair protein deficiency
Authors: Nakajima Tomoyuki , Uehara Takeshi , Iwaya Mai , Kobayashi Yukihiro , Maruyama Yasuhiro , Ota Hiroyoshi 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) is a promising intestinal stem cell and carcinoma stem cell marker. We examined the relationship between mismatch repair (MMR) protein deficiency and LGR5 expression in poorly differentiated (PD) colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Methods: In 29 cases of PD-CRC, deficiencies in MMR proteins (MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, MSH6) and β-catenin expression were identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC). LGR5 expression was examined by the RNAscope assay in tissue microarrays. Results: LGR5 H-scores in MMR-deficient (MMR-D) cases were significantly lower than those in MMR-proficient (MMR-P) cases (P=0.0033). Nuclear β-catenin IHC scores in MMR-D cases were significantly lower than those in MMR-P cases (P=0.0024). In all cases, there was a positive correlation between LGR5 H-score and nuclear β-catenin IHC score (r=0.6796, P<0.001). Even in MMR-D and MMR-P cases, there was a positive correlation between LGR5 H-score and nuclear β-catenin IHC score (r=0.7180, P<0.0085 and r=0.6574, P<0.003, respectively). MMR-D CRC cases showed low expression of LGR5, which may be due to low activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Conclusions: Our results reveal the relationship between LGR5 expression and MMR protein profiles in PD-CRC. A further study is warranted to confirm these findings.
Serum Fetuin-A levels were increased and associated with insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Liu Sha , Hu Wenjing , He Yirui , Li Ling , Liu Hua , Gao Lin , Yang Gangyi , Liao Xin 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a common characteristic of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It has been reported that circulating Fetuin-A levels were associated with IR and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, previous reports on changes in circulating Fetuin-A concentrations in women with PCOS have been inconsistent.Methods: 207 subjects were screened for PCOS according to the diagnostic guideline of the Rotterdam consensus criterion. Serum Fetuin-A levels were measured using an ELISA kit. An independent t-test or Nonparametric test was used to detect differences between PCOS and control groups. The association of the serum Fetuin-A with other parameters was examined by spearman’s correlation analysis.
Results: Our findings show that circulating Fetuin-A concentration ranged from 196.6 to 418.2 µg/L for most women without PCOS (95 %). Women with PCOS have higher circulating Fetuin-A levels than healthy women (437.9 ± 119.3 vs. 313.8 ± 60.5 μg/L; p < 0.01). Serum Fetuin-A was positively correlated with BMI, WHR, TG, TC, LDL-C, HOMA-IR, LH, T, and DHEA-S. Multivariate regression analysis showed that WHR, TG, HOMA-IR, and DHEA-S were independent predictors of the levels of circulating Fetuin-A. Binary logistic regression revealed that serum Fetuin-A was associated with the .occurrence of PCOS. In addition, our ROC curve analysis found that the cutoff values for Fetuin-A to predict PCOS and IR were 366.3 and 412.6 µg/L.Conclusion: Blood Fetuin-A may be a useful biomarker for screening women for PCOS and IR.
High-throughput profiling of diapause regulated genes from Trichogramma dendrolimi, an important egg parasitoid
Authors: Author) Xue Zhang(Former Corresponding , Du Wenmei , Zhang Junjie , Zou Zhen , New Changchun Ruan 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background The parasitoid insect Trichogramma dendrolimi can successfully enter diapause at the prepupal stage. Thus, diapause is an efficient preservation method during the mass production of T. dendrolimi . Previous studies on diapause have focused mostly on ecological characteristics, so the molecular mechanism of diapause in T. dendrolimi is mostly unknown. In this study, we compared transcriptomes of diapause and non-diapause T. dendrolimi to identify genes involved in the development of diapause. Results Transcriptome sequencing was performed using different samples, including diapause prepupae, pupae after diapause, normal prepupae, and pupae. This initially yielded a total of 87,022 unigenes with an average length of 1,604 bp. By removing redundant sequences and those without significant BLAST hits, a non-redundant dataset was generated, containing 7,593 sequences with an average length of 3351 bp. Among the differentially expressed genes, 1,204 were specifically expressed during the diapause stage, and 820 were significantly up-regulated. The result of GO enrichment analysis revealed that binding, oxidation−reduction process, and ribosome biogenesis were significantly affected. Ten genes were selected for validation using a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The changes showed the same trend between the qPCR and RNA-Seq results. Based on previous studies and our data, several genes were identified to be involved in diapause, including UDP-glucuronosyltransferase ; Glutathione-S-transferase , ATGs , zinc finger protein genes, cell cycle-related genes, Trehalase , trehalose transporter , hsp68 , p53, and DNA damage-regulated gene 1 ( pdrg1 ), and genes related to lipid metabolism were also included. Conclusions In this study, we generated a great amount of transcriptome data from T. dendrolimi , providing a resource for gene function research. The diapause-related genes that we identified establish a valuable basis for future studies on the molecular mechanisms of diapause, not only for T. dendrolimi, but for other species as well.
In vitro synergistic potentials of novel antibacterial combination therapies against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium
Authors: Hossain Md. Akil , Park Hae-Chul , Lee Kwang-jick , Park Sung-Won , Park Seung-Chun , Kang JeongWoo 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: The antibiotics generally used in farm animals are rapidly losing their effectiveness all over the world as bacteria develop antibiotic resistance. Like some other pathogenic bacteria multidrug-resistant strains of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) are also frequently found in animals and humans which poses a major public health concern. New strategies are needed to block the development of resistance and to prolong the life of traditional antibiotics. Thus, this study aimed to increase the efficacy of existing antibiotics against S. Typhimurium by combining them with the opportunistic phenolic compounds gallic acid (GA), epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin and hamamelitannin. Fractional inhibitory concentration indexes (FICI) of phenolic compound-antibiotic combinations against S. Typhimurium were determined. Based on the FICI and clinical importance, 1 combination (GA and ceftiofur) was selected to evaluate its effects on the virulence factors of this bacterium. Viability of Rattus norvegicus (IEC-6) cell in presence of this antibacterial combination was evaluated.Results: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of GA, epigallocatechin and hamamelitannin found against different strains of S. Typhimurium were 256, (512–1024), and (512–1024) μg/mL, respectively. Synergistic antibacterial effect was obtained from the combination of erythromycin-epicatechin gallate (FICI: 0.50) against S. Typhimurium. Moreover, additive effects (FICI: 0.502–0.750) were obtained from 16 combinations against this bacterium. The time-kill assays and ultrastructural morphology showed that GA-ceftiofur combination more efficiently inhibited the growth of S. Typhimurium compared to individual antimicrobials. Biofilm viability and swimming and swarming motilities of S. Typhimurium in presence of GA-ceftiofur combination were more competently inhibited than individual antimicrobials. Viabilities of IEC-6 cells were significantly enhanced by GA-ceftiofur combinations than these antibacterials alone.Conclusions: This study suggest that GA-ceftiofur combination can be potential medication to treat S. Typhimurium-associated diarrhea and prevent S. Typhimurium-associated blood-stream infections (e.g.: fever) in farm animals, and ultimately its transmission from animal to human. Further in vivo study to confirm these effects and safety profiles in farm animal should be undertaken for establishing these combinations as medications.
Contribution of the simulation in the training of the 7th grade medical students in the insertion of the interval intra-uterine device
Authors: Kiemtoré Sibraogo , Ouédraogo Issa , Sib Rodrigue Sansan , Komboigo Evelyne , Kaboré Wendyam Charles Paulin Didier , Ouédraogo Ali , Bonané Blandine 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Introduction A simulation laboratory has been set up in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Yalgado Ouedraogo Teaching Hospital. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of the simulation in training of 7th grade students on interval IUD insertion. Material and method This was an evaluation study of skills before and after training that included 38 students of 7th grade medicine. Pre-training knowledges and skills were compared to those based on training using the paired Student test with a 5% significance level. Perceptions and suggestions for improvement of training made by students were collected. Results The sex of the study participants was 1.1. Their average age was 26.8 ± 0.9 years. The training increased the average knowledges score from 48.2% to 93.0% (p<0.001). The average skills score increased from 34.4% to 92.8% (p<0.001). The 7th grade medicine students had a good perception of this training. Conclusion The training of 7th grade medicine students in IUD insertion using simulation had a positive impact on their knowledges and skills and was well appreciated.
HIV patients dying on anti-tuberculosis treatment: are undiagnosed infections still a problem in French Guiana?
Authors: nacher mathieu , Adenis Antoine , Abboud Philippe , Djossou Felix , Demar Magalie , Epelboin Loïc , Couppié Pierre 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Objective
Despite scaling-up testing and antiretroviral treatment in Latin America, advanced HIV remains a significant public health problem. The objective of the present study was look for historical risk factors for death in French Guiana’s HIV cohort taking into account the immunological status, the main opportunistic infections, and their treatment. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on data collected between 1992 and 2008 to identify factors associated with death in a cohort 2323 patients.
Results
There were 370 deaths for a total 9608 patient-years. Being on tuberculosis treatment was associated with a greater hazard of death. The diagnosis of confirmed tuberculosis, of histoplasmosis, of toxoplasmosis, and pneumocystosis were independently associated with death. Interactions terms between cotrimoxazole treatment and pneumocystosis, or between confirmed tuberculosis and tuberculosis treatment showed a protective treatment-effect. All patients having received anti-tuberculosis treatment (n=347) did not have a final diagnosis of tuberculosis (n=93). For histoplasmosis, 199 patients received antifungal treatment while 141 were diagnosed as having histoplasmosis. The number of patients on anti-tuberculosis drugs was far greater that the number of patients with confirmed tuberculosis, and these patients on treatment without confirmed tuberculosis had a twofold greater risk of dying.
Clinical and cost effectiveness of staff training in the delivery of positive behaviour support (PBS) for adults with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and challenging behaviour - randomised trial
Authors: Strydom André , Bosco Alessandro , Vickerstaff Victoria , Hunter Rachael , Hassiotis Angela 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background: Although Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a widely usedintervention for ameliorating challenging behaviour (CB), evidence for its use in adults with intellectual disability (ID) and comorbid autism (ASD) is lacking. We report a planned subsidiary analysis of adults with both ASD and ID who participated in a randomised trial of PBS delivered by health professionals.Methods: The study was a multicentre, cluster randomised trial conducted in 23 community ID services in England, participants were randomly allocated to either the delivery of PBS (n=11 clusters) or to treatment as usual (TAU; n=12). One-hundred and thirteen participants (46% of all participants in the trial) had a diagnosis of ID, autism spectrum disorder and CB (ASD+); (47 allocated to the intervention arm, and 66 to the control). CB (primary outcome) was measured with the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist total score (ABC-CT). Secondary outcomes included mental health status, psychotropic medication use, health and social care costs and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) over 12 months.Results: There were no statistically significant differences in ABC-CT between ASD+ groups randomised to the two arms over 12 months (adjusted mean difference = -2.10, 95% CI: -11.3 7.13, p =0.655) or other measures. The mean incremental cost of the intervention per participant was £628 (95% CI -£1004 to £2013). There was a difference of 0.039 (95% CI -0.028 to 0.103) for QALYs and a cost per QALY gained of £16,080.Conclusions: Results suggest lack of clinical effectiveness for PBS delivered by specialist ID clinical teams. Further evidence is needed from larger trials, and development of improved interventions.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01680276
Further Development of the 12-item EDE-QS: Identifying a Cut-Off for Screening Purposes
Authors: Prnjak Katarina , Mitchison Deborah , Griffiths Scott , Mond Jonathan , Gideon Nicole , Serpell Lucy , Hay Phillipa 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background The Eating Disorder Examination – Questionnaire Short (EDE-QS) was developed as a 12-item version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) with a 4-point response scale that assesses eating disorder (ED) symptoms over the preceding 7 days. It has demonstrated good psychometric properties at initial testing. The purpose of this brief report is to determine a threshold score that could be used in screening for probable ED cases in community settings. Methods Data collected from Gideon et al. (2016) were re-analyzed. In their study, 559 participants (80.86% female; 9.66% self-reported ED diagnosis) completed the EDE-Q, EDE-QS, SCOFF, and Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA). Discriminatory power was compared between ED instruments using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Results A score of 15 emerged as the threshold that ensured the best trade-off between sensitivity (.83) and specificity (.85), and good positive predictive value (.37) for the EDE-QS, with discriminatory power comparable to other ED instruments. Conclusion The EDE-QS appears to be an instrument with good discriminatory power that could be used for ED screening purposes.