bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transversus abdominis plane block with general anesthesia blunts the perioperative stress response in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy
Authors: Liu Ruizhu , Qin Haiyan , Wang Meng , Li Kai , Zhao Guoqing 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Surgical stress induces the release of neuroendocrine mediators and cytokines during perioperative period, which may have adverse effects on cancer patients. While the surgical stress responsse can be affected by anesthetic technique. Therefore, we designed this study to assess whether subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block can affect perioperative neuroendocrine stress response, postoperative analgesia and postoperative recovery in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy under general anesthesia.

Methods
Sixty-five patients were recruited. Patients randomly received general anesthesia (control group), or general anesthesia combined with TAP block (40 mL of 0.375% ropivacaine) (TAP group). The primary outcome was neuroendocrine levels including norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), cortisol (Cor), glucose (Glu), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 during 48 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes included pain score, hemodynamic variables and recovery characteristics.

Results
Data from 61 of 65 patients were analyzed. The levels of NE, E, Cor, and Glu were blunt by TAP block during perioperative period. The levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly lower in TAP group than in control group. TAP block efficiently relieved postoperative acute pain up to 12 h postoperatively with more stable perioperative hemodynamics compared with control group.

Conclusions
Subcostal TAP block blunts perioperative stress response and provides efficient analgesia, with good hemodynamic stability and minimal adverse effects.
A case report and mechanism analysis of a normal phenotype mosaic 47, XXY complicated by paternal iUPD (9) who had a normal PGD result
Authors: Li Dan , Wang Yun , Zhao Nan , Chang Liang , Liu Ping , Tian Chan , Qiao Jie 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundUniparental disomy (UPD) refers to the situation in which two copies of homologous chromosomes or part of a chromosome originate from the one parent and no copy is supplied by the other parent.Case presentationHere, we reported a woman whose karyotype was 46, XX, t (1;17)(q42;q21), has obtained 5 embryos by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) after one cycle of in vitro fertility (IVF). After microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) for preimplantation genetic testing for chromosomal structural rearrangements (PGT-SR), two embryos were balanced, one balanced embryo was implanted and the patient successfully achieved pregnancy. Amniocentesis was performed at the 19th week of gestation for karyotype analysis and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-array test. The result of karyotype analysis was: mos 47, XXY [19]/46, XY [81]; SNP-array results revealed 46, XY, iUPD (9) pat. After full genetic counseling for mosaic Klinefelter’s syndrome and paternal iUPD (9), the couple decided to continue pregnancy, and the patient gave birth to a healthy boy. The newborn is now 3.5 years old, and developed normally. This case will provide counseling evidences of paternal iUPD (9) for doctors.ConclusionsThis is the first case report of paternal iUPD9 with mosaic Klinefelter’s syndrome, and no abnormality has been observed during the 3.5-year follow-up. Further observation is required to determine whether the imprinted genes on the chromosomes are pathogenic and whether recessive pathogenetic genes are activated.
How does psychosocial stress affect the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and overweight and obesity? Examining Hemmingsson’s model with data from a Danish longitudinal study
Authors: Poulsen Per Hoegh , Biering Karin , Winding Trine Nøhr , Nohr Ellen Aagaard , Petersen Liselotte Vogdrup , Ulijaszek Stanley J. , Andersen Johan Hviid 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Chronic stress in childhood may increase the risk of overweight and obesity in young people. Erik Hemmingsson has suggested a new obesity causation model which focuses on psychosocial stress.
The aim was to examine the associations between socioeconomic disadvantage and overweight and obesity and examine if these associations attenuate, when the effect of the different domains from Eric Hemmingsson’s obesity causation model were taken into account.

Methods
A longitudinal study using data from The West Jutland Cohort Study (N = 2879). Outcome was overweight and obesity combined derived from self-reported weight and height at age 15, 18, 21 and 28 years. Exposure variables were equivalised household income, educational level and labour market participation of the mother derived from registers and psychosocial variables derived from questionnaires. A three-step adjustment model using logistic regression and stratified by gender was applied.

Results
Mother’s low educational level was associated with a 3-fold increased odds of obesity in 18 year-old-girls, which attenuated when adjusting for the domains adult distress, disharmonious family environment and offspring distress. In 28 year-old girls, a 2.5-fold increased odds of obesity was observed, which attenuated when mutual adjusted for other socioeconomic variables and attenuated even further when adjusting for all the domains. In 18-year-old boys, a 3-fold increased odds of obesity was observed which attenuated after adjustments for adult distress, disharmonious family environment and offspring distress. In 21-year old boys, a four-fold increased odds of obesity was observed that attenuated after adjustments. At age 28 years, a three-fold increased odds of obesity was observed, which vanished in the fully adjusted model.

Conclusions
Our study confirms to some extent that the associations between socioeconomic disadvantage and overweight and obesity can be explained by the domains included in Erik Hemmingsson’s model, although our results should be interpreted with caution. Adult distress, disharmonious family environment and offspring distress accounted for some of the association in girls, whereas in boys it was primarily offspring distress, which had the greatest impact. Young people’s educational attainment can act as a buffer in the relationship between mother’s lower educational level and obesity at age 28 years.
Multiplex quantitative PCR for single-reaction genetically modified (GM) plant detection and identification of false-positive GM plants linked to Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) infection
Authors: Bak Aurélie , Emerson Joanne B. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundMost genetically modified (GM) plants contain a promoter, P35S, from the plant virus,Cauliflower mosaic virus(CaMV), and many have a terminator, TNOS, derived from the bacterium,Agrobacterium tumefaciens.Assays designed to detect GM plants often target the P35S and/or TNOS DNA sequences. However, because the P35S promoter is derived from CaMV, these detection assays can yield false-positives from non-GM plants infected by this naturally-occurring virus.ResultsHere we report the development of an assay designed to distinguish CaMV-infected plants from GM plants in a single multiplexed quantitative PCR (qPCR) reaction. Following initial testing and optimization via PCR and singleplex-to-multiplex qPCR on both plasmid and plant DNA, TaqMan qPCR probes with different fluorescence wavelengths were designed to target actin (a positive-control plant gene), P35S, P3 (a CaMV-specific gene), and TNOS. We tested the specificity of our quadruplex qPCR assay using different DNA extracts from organic watercress and both organic and GM canola, all with and without CaMV infection, and by using commercial and industrial samples. The limit of detection (LOD) of each target was determined to be 1% for actin, 0.001% for P35S, and 0.01% for both P3 and TNOS.ConclusionsThis assay was able to distinguish CaMV-infected plants from GM plants in a single multiplexed qPCR reaction for all samples tested in this study, suggesting that this protocol is broadly applicable and readily transferrable to any interested parties with a qPCR platform.
ThalPred: a web-based prediction tool for discriminating thalassemia trait and iron deficiency anemia
Authors: Laengsri V. , Shoombuatong W. , Adirojananon W. , Nantasenamat C. , Prachayasittikul V. , Nuchnoi P. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe hypochromic microcytic anemia (HMA) commonly found in Thailand are iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and thalassemia trait (TT). Accurate discrimination between IDA and TT is an important issue and better methods are urgently needed. Although considerable RBC formulas and indices with various optimal cut-off values have been developed, distinguishing between IDA and TT is still a challenging problem due to the diversity of various anemic populations. To address this problem, it is desirable to develop an improved and automated prediction model for discriminating IDA from TT.MethodsWe retrospectively collected laboratory data of HMA found in Thai adults. Five machine learnings, includingk-nearest neighbor (k-NN), decision tree, random forest (RF), artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector machine (SVM), were applied to construct a discriminant model. Performance was assessed and compared with thirteen existing discriminant formulas and indices.ResultsThe data of 186 patients (146 patients with TT and 40 with IDA) were enrolled. The interpretable rules derived from the RF model were proposed to demonstrate the combination of RBC indices for discriminating IDA from TT. A web-based tool ‘ThalPred’ was implemented using an SVM model based on seven RBC parameters. ThalPred achieved prediction results with an external accuracy, MCC and AUC of 95.59, 0.87 and 0.98, respectively.ConclusionThalPred and an interpretable rule were provided for distinguishing IDA from TT. For the convenience of health care team experimental scientists, a web-based tool has been established athttp://codes.bio/thalpred/by which users can easily get their desired screening test result without the need to go through the underlying mathematical and computational details.
Genomic interrogation of familial short stature contributes to the discovery of the pathophysiological mechanisms and pharmaceutical drug repositioning
Authors: Wong Henry Sung-Ching , Lin Ying-Ju , Lu Hsing-Fang , Liao Wen-Ling , Chen Chien-Hsiun , Wu Jer-Yuarn , Chang Wei-Chiao , Tsai Fuu-Jen 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Genetic factors, dysregulation in the endocrine system, cytokine and paracrine factors are implicated in the pathogenesis of familial short stature (FSS). Nowadays, the treatment choice for FSS is limited, with only recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) being available.

Methods
Herein, starting from the identification of 122 genetic loci related to FSS, we adopted a genetic-driven drug discovery bioinformatics pipeline based on functional annotation to prioritize crucial biological FSS-related genes. These genes were suggested to be potential targets for therapeutics.

Results
We discovered five druggable subnetworks, which contained seven FSS-related genes and 17 druggable targerts.

Conclusions
This study provides a valuable drug repositioning accompanied by corresponding targetable gene clusters for FSS therapy.
Extracellular production of the engineered thermostable protease pernisine from Aeropyrum pernix K1 in Streptomyces rimosus
Authors: Šnajder Marko , Carrillo Rincón Andrés Felipe , Magdevska Vasilka , Bahun Miha , Kranjc Luka , Paš Maja , Juntes Polona , Petković Hrvoje , Poklar Ulrih Nataša 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
The thermostable serine protease pernisine originates from the hyperthermophilic Archaeaon Aeropyrum pernix and has valuable industrial applications. Due to its properties, A. pernix cannot be cultivated in standard industrial fermentation facilities. Furthermore, pernisine is a demanding target for heterologous expression in mesophilic heterologous hosts due to the relatively complex processing step involved in its activation.

Results
We achieved production of active extracellular pernisine in a Streptomyces rimosus host through heterologous expression of the codon-optimised gene by applying step-by-step protein engineering approaches. To ensure secretion of fully active enzyme, the srT signal sequence from the S. rimosus protease was fused to pernisine. To promote correct processing and folding of pernisine, the srT functional cleavage site motif was fused directly to the core pernisine sequence, this way omitting the proregion. Comparative biochemical analysis of the wild-type and recombinant pernisine confirmed that the enzyme produced by S. rimosus retained all of the desired properties of native pernisine. Importantly, the recombinant pernisine also degraded cellular and infectious bovine prion proteins, which is one of the particular applications of this protease.

Conclusion
Functional pernisine that retains all of the advantageous properties of the native enzyme from the thermophilic host was successfully produced in a S. rimosus heterologous host. Importantly, we achieved extracellular production of active pernisine, which significantly simplifies further downstream procedures and also omits the need for any pre-processing step for its activation. We demonstrate that S. rimosus can be used as an attractive host for industrial production of recombinant proteins that originate from thermophilic organisms.
Education and lifestyle predict change in dietary patterns and diet quality of adults 55 years and over
Authors: Thorpe Maree G. , Milte Catherine M. , Crawford David , McNaughton Sarah A. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Diet is a key risk factor for chronic disease, and an increasing concern among older adults. We aim to examine the changes in dietary patterns using principal component analysis and a diet quality index among older adults and examine the predictors of dietary change over a 4 year period.

Methods
Data was obtained via a postal survey in a prospective cohort, the Wellbeing Eating and Exercise for a Long Life (WELL) study. Australian adults aged 55 years and over (n = 1005 men and n = 1106 women) completed a food frequency at three time points and provided self-reported personal characteristics. Principal component analysis was used to assess dietary patterns and diet quality was assessed using the 2013 Revised Dietary Guideline Index. The relationships between predictors and change in dietary patterns were assessed by multiple linear regression.

Results
Two dietary patterns were consistently identified in men and women at three time points over 4 years. One was characterised by vegetables, fruit and white meat, and the other was characterised by red and processed meat and processed foods. Reduced consumption of key food groups within the principal component analysis-determined dietary patterns was observed. An increase in diet quality over 4 years was observed in men only. Reported higher education levels and favourable lifestyle characteristics, including not smoking and physical activity, at baseline predicted an increase in healthier dietary patterns over 4 years.

Conclusions
There was stability in the main dietary patterns identified over time, however participants reported an overall decrease in the frequency of consumption of key food groups. Compliance with the Australian Dietary Guidelines remained poor and therefore targeting this population in nutritional initiatives is important. Design of nutrition promotion for older adults need to consider those with lower socioeconomic status, as having a lower level of education was a predictor of poorer dietary patterns. It is important to consider how nutrition behaviours can be targeted alongside other lifestyle behaviours, such as smoking and inadequate physical activity to improve health.
Factors associated with past 30-day abstinence from cigarette smoking in adult established smokers who used a JUUL vaporizer for 6 months
Authors: Russell Christopher , Haseen Farhana , McKeganey Neil 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
JUUL is the fastest growing and highest selling brand of e-cigarette/vapor products in the USA. Assessing the effect of JUUL vapor products on adult smokers’ use of conventional tobacco cigarettes can help inform the potential population health impact of these products.

Methods
Participants were 15,456 US adult established current smokers aged 21 years who had purchased their first JUUL Starter Kit from a retail store or online within the past 7 days. Online surveys assessed past 30-day use of conventional cigarettes, JUUL vapor products, and other e-cigarettes/vapor products at 3 and 6 months after their first JUUL purchase. Logistic regression models examined factors associated with smokers’ odds of self-reporting past 30-day abstinence from cigarette smoking at 6 months.

Results
Past 30-day point prevalence abstinence from smoking at 6 months was 31.6% in the intent-to-treat (ITT) sample and 54.0% among those who responded at 6 months (n = 9040; 58.5% of ITT). Consecutive past 30-day smoking abstinence outcomes at 3 and 6 months were reported by 20.3% of the ITT sample and 40.6% of responders to both assessments (n = 7726). Covariate-adjusted odds for reporting past 30-day smoking abstinence at 6 months were significantly higher among primary users of mint- or mango-flavored JUULpods (compared to primary users of Virginia tobacco-flavored JUULpods), exclusive users of JUULpods in characterizing flavors (compared to exclusive users of tobacco-flavored JUULpods), daily users of the JUUL vaporizer (compared to less-than-daily), initial retail purchasers (compared to initial e-commerce purchasers), and those who first purchased a JUUL to help to quit smoking completely. Odds for reporting past 30-day smoking abstinence were significantly lower among those who, at study enrolment, had smoked regularly for ≥ 20 years, smoked ≥ 10 cigarettes per day, and smoked on all 30 of the previous 30 days.

Conclusions
Around one third of enrolled smokers and one half of smokers who responded to a 6-month follow-up reported being past 30-day abstinent from cigarette smoking after using a JUUL vaporizer for 6 months. More frequent use of a JUUL vaporizer and primary use of JUULpods in characterizing flavors, particularly mint and mango, appeared to be important to smokers’ chances of quitting. The impact of suspending retail sales of flavored JUULpods on adult smokers’ likelihood of quitting should be closely assessed.
The collaboration and reporting quality of social welfare systematic reviews in the Campbell Collaboration online library
Authors: Wei Li-li , Zhang Jing , Yang Ying , Cao Hao-Yu , Yang Ke-hu , Si Li-Juan , Tian Jin-Hui 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundTo analyze the collaboration and reporting quality of the systematic reviews of social welfare in the Campbell collaboration online library.MethodsThe Campbell collaboration online library was searched for systematic reviews of social welfare and the basic information extracted in order to assess the reporting quality of systematic reviews using a MOOSE checklist. BICOMS-2 and UCINET software were used to produce the social network, and Comprehensive Meta Analysis (Version 2) and STATA 13.0 were used to analyze the related data.ResultsFifty-seven systematic reviews of social welfare were included. Twenty-eight items of the included social welfare systematic reviews were rated as complete (≥70%). There were significant differences between ≤2013 and ≥ 2014 in five items. These differences were as follows: research published by one organization or more than one organization in one item, more than three authors or less than four authors in two items, and one country or more than one country in six items. It’s completed about researches with more than one organization, three authors or more than one country. Some items were found to have a low reporting rate of studies published before 2014, by one organization, with less than four authors or one country, respectively. The social network of authors and organizations showed good collaboration.ConclusionsSome items could be further improved with regard to the rate of reporting systematic reviews of social welfare in the Campbell collaboration online library. This could improve the overall quality of social welfare systematic reviews.
An extension of Phase Linearity Measurement for revealing cross frequency coupling among brain areas
Authors: Sorrentino Pierpaolo , Ambrosanio Michele , Rucco Rosaria , Baselice Fabio 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Brain areas need to coordinate their activity in order to enable complex behavioral responses. Synchronization is one of the mechanisms neural ensembles use to communicate. While synchronization between signals operating at similar frequencies is fairly straightforward, the estimation of synchronization occurring between different frequencies of oscillations has proven harder to capture. One specifically hard challenge is to estimate cross-frequency synchronization between broadband signals when no a priori hypothesis is available about the frequencies involved in the synchronization.

Methods
In the present manuscript, we expand upon the phase linearity measurement, an iso-frequency synchronization metrics previously developed by our group, in order to provide a conceptually similar approach able to detect the presence of cross-frequency synchronization between any components of the analyzed broadband signals.

Results
The methodology has been tested on both synthetic and real data. We first exploited Gaussian process realizations in order to explore the properties of our new metrics in a synthetic case study. Subsequently, we analyze real source-reconstructed data acquired by a magnetoencephalographic system from healthy controls in a clinical setting to study the performance of our metrics in a realistic environment.

Conclusions
In the present paper we provide an evolution of the PLM methodology able to reveal the presence of cross-frequency synchronization between broadband data.
Identification of microRNAs regulated by tobacco curly shoot virus co-infection with its betasatellite in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Du Jiang , Wu Gentu , Zhou Zhongpiao , Zhang Jiayuan , Li Mingjun , Sun Miao , Jiang Kairong , Qing Ling 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of 21–24 nucleotide endogenous non-coding small RNAs that play important roles in plant development and defense responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Tobacco curly shoot virus (TbCSV) is a monopartite begomovirus, cause leaf curling and plant stunting symptoms in many Solanaceae plants. The betasatellite of TbCSV (TbCSB) induces more severe symptoms and enhances virus accumulation when co-infect the plants with TbCSV.

Methods
In this study, miRNAs regulated by TbCSV and TbCSB co-infection in Nicotiana benthamiana were characterized using high-throughput sequencing technology.

Results
Small RNA sequencing analysis revealed that a total of 13 known miRNAs and 42 novel miRNAs were differentially expressed in TbCSV and TbCSB co-infected N. benthamiana plants. Several potential miRNA-targeted genes were identified through data mining and were involved in both catalytic and metabolic processes, in addition to plant defense mechanisms against virus infections according to Gene Ontology (GO) analyses. In addition, the expressions of several differentially expressed miRNAs and their miRNA-targeted gene were validated through quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) approach.

Conclusions
A large number of miRNAs are identified, and their target genes, functional annotations also have been explored. Our results provide the information on N. benthamiana miRNAs and would be useful to further understand miRNA regulatory mechanisms after TbCSV and TbCSB co-infection.