bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biomarkers associating endothelial dysregulation in pediatric-onset systemic lupus erythematous
Authors: Lee Wan-Fang , Wu Chao-Yi , Yang Huang-Yu , Lee Wen-I , Chen Li-Chen , Ou Liang-Shiou , Huang Jing-Long 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackground/purposeEndothelium is a key element in the regulation of vascular homeostasis and its alteration can lead to the development of vascular diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease with potential extensive vascular lesions, involving skin vessels, renal glomeruli, cardiovascular system, brain, lung alveoli, gastrointestinal tract vessels and more. We aimed to assess endothelial dysregulation related biomarkers in pediatric-onset SLE (pSLE) patient serum and elucidate its correlation with their clinical features, laboratory parameters, and the overall disease activity.MethodsDisease activities were evaluated by SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Patient characteristics were obtained by retrospective chart review. Six biomarkers associated with endothelial dysregulation, including Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), Tie2, Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), thrombomodulin, and a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motif (ADAMTS13) were tested through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measurement.ResultsThis study comprised 118 pSLE patients. Data from 40 age-matched healthy controls were also obtained. The mean diagnostic age was 13 ± 4.12 years-old and 90.7% are females. Serum levels of VEGF, Tie2, thrombomodulin were significantly higher while serum ADAMTS13 was lower in active pSLE patients when compared to those with inactive diseases (allp < 0.05). In organ specific association, serum thrombomodulin level was higher in pSLE patient with renal involvement, and serum ADAMTS13 levels was negatively associated with neurological involvement (p < 0.05). A cutoff of thrombomodulin at 3333.6 pg/ml best correlated renal involvement. (AUC = 0.752,p < 0.01).ConclusionEndothelial dysregulation associating proteins seems to be potent biomarkers for pSLE activity as well as organ involvement in pSLE patients. These biomarkers may be beneficial in understanding of the vascular pathogenesis and disease monitoring.
The association of infant feeding patterns with food allergy symptoms and food allergy in early childhood
Authors: Mathias Joacy G. , Zhang Hongmei , Soto-Ramirez Nelis , Karmaus Wilfried 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
The role of infant feeding for food allergy in children is unclear and studies have not addressed simultaneous exposures to different foods. The goal of this study was to analyze existing data on feeding practices that represent realistic exposure and assess the risk of food allergy symptoms and food allergy in children.

Methods
The Infant Feeding Practices Study II conducted by the CDC and US-FDA enrolled pregnant women and collected infant feeding information using nine repeated surveys. Participants were re-contacted after 6 years. Food allergy data were collected at 4, 9, 12, and 72 months. In total, 1387 participants had complete infant feeding pattern data for 6 months and information on food allergy symptoms and doctors’ diagnosed food allergy. Feeding patterns constituted six groups: 3-months of feeding at breast followed by mixed feeding, 3-months of breast milk and bottled milk followed by mixed feeding, 1-month of feeding at breast followed by mixed feeding, 6-months of mixed feeding i.e., concurrent feeding of breast milk, bottled milk and formula, 2–3 months of formula followed by formula and solid food, and formula and solid food since the first month. To estimate risks of food allergy, we used linear mixed models, controlling for potential confounders.

Results
Of the 328 children with food allergy symptoms in infancy and at 6 years, 52 had persistent symptoms from infancy. Children exposed to mixed feeding had a higher risk of food allergy symptoms (Risk Ratio [RR] 1.54; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.04, 2.29) compared to 3-months of feeding at breast adjusted for confounding. No statistically significant risk of infant feeding patterns was found for doctors’ diagnosed food allergy. Paternal allergy posed a higher risk for food allergy symptoms (RR 1.36; 95% CI 1.01, 1.83). Prenatal maternal smoking increased the risk for doctors’ diagnosed food allergy (RR 2.97; 95% CI 1.53, 5.79).

Conclusions
Analysis of this prospective birth cohort suggest that introduction of multiple feeding source may lead to food allergy symptoms. Future efforts are needed to determine acceptable approaches to improve the ascertainment of food allergy in children and the role of infant feeding.
Effects of reflexology on premenstrual syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hasanpour Marzieh , Mohammadi Mohammad Mehdi , Shareinia Habib 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a set of somatic and psychological symptoms that occur cyclically in the luteal phase of a menstrual cycle. There is no report of final result of reflexology on PMS. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of reflexology on PMS through a systematic review and meta-analysis study.

Method
The present study was a systematic review and meta-analysis that was conducted by searching in 8 electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ProQuest, Scopus, Google Scholar, and SID until December 28, 2018. In this regard, interventional studies, which examined the impact of reflexology on women with premenstrual syndrome, were included. These studies were published during 1993 to 2018. The Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess the quality of studies. Meta-analysis was performed by the help of CMA 2 software.

Results
Nine out of 407 studies finally remained after screening, and quantitative and quantitative analyses were performed on them. The total number of research samples was 475. The mean treatment time with reflexology was 40.55 min per session that was performed in 6 to 10 sessions of treatment in 66.67% of studies. According to the meta-analysis and based on the random effects model, the reflexology could decrease the severity of PMS in the intervention group compared to the control group (SMD = − 2.717, 95% CI: − 3.722 to − 1.712). Meta-regression results indicated that the duration of intervention sessions (β = − 0.1124, 95% CI − 0.142 to − 0.084, p < 0.001) had a significant impact on the severity of PMS. Reflexology could also significantly affect somatic (SMD = − 1.142, 95% CI: − 1.481 to − 0.803) and psychological (SMD = − 1.380, 95% CI: − 2.082 to − 0.677) symptoms arising from PMS.

Conclusion
In general, results of the present study indicated that the reflexology could relieve PMS symptoms, so that overall scores, somatic and psychological symptoms of PMS decreased by applying the reflexology intervention. Furthermore, an increase in the length of reflexology time in each session increased its efficiency. Reflexology can be used as an effective intervention in a patient care program by nurses and its efficiency can be enhanced by increasing intervention time in each reflexology treatment session.
Painless destructive thyroiditis in a patient with resistance to thyroid hormone: a case report
Authors: Nagamine Tomoko , Noh Jaeduk Yoshimura , Emoto Naoya , Kogai Takahito , Hishinuma Akira , Okajima Fumitaka , Sugihara Hitoshi 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) usually features a syndrome of inappropriate secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone (SITSH) without suppression of the typical high thyroid hormone levels. However, some patients with RTH show thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression due to thyrotoxicosis. We report a case of painless thyroiditis in a patient with RTH that was misdiagnosed as Graves’ disease because of TSH-suppressed thyrotoxicosis.

Case presentation
A sixteen-year-old boy consulted a local general physician for fatigue. He had a goiter, and biochemical analysis showed TSH < 0.1 μIU/mL, free triiodothyronine (FT3) of 2.70 pg/mL, and free thyroxine (FT4) of 3.6 ng/dL. He was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and was treated with 20 mg thiamazole. One year later, he was referred to the department of endocrinology because of SITSH. He was finally diagnosed with RTH due to the finding of a heterozygous missense mutation (methionine 334 threonine) in the thyroid hormone receptor β gene. Three years after cessation of thiamazole, his hyperthyroxinemia showed marked exacerbation with TSH suppression. We diagnosed him with painless destructive thyroiditis because of low technetium-99 m (Tc-99 m) uptake in the thyroid. Extreme hyperthyroxinemia was ameliorated, with a return to the usual SITSH levels, within 1 month without any treatment.

Conclusion
The present case demonstrates that diagnosing RTH is difficult when patients show hyperthyroxinemia with complete suppression of TSH to undetectable levels, and the data lead to misdiagnosis of RTH as Graves’ disease. The initial diagnosis is important, and Tc-99 m scintigraphy is useful for the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis accompanying RTH.
Soil domestication by rice cultivation results in plant-soil feedback through shifts in soil microbiota
Authors: Edwards Joseph , Santos-Medellín Christian , Nguyen Bao , Kilmer John , Liechty Zachary , Veliz Esteban , Ni Jiadong , Phillips Gregory , Sundaresan Venkatesan 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundSoils are a key component of agricultural productivity, and soil microbiota determine the availability of many essential plant nutrients. Agricultural domestication of soils, that is, the conversion of previously uncultivated soils to a cultivated state, is frequently accompanied by intensive monoculture, especially in the developing world. However, there is limited understanding of how continuous cultivation alters the structure of prokaryotic soil microbiota after soil domestication, including to what extent crop plants impact soil microbiota composition, and how changes in microbiota composition arising from cultivation affect crop performance.ResultsWe show here that continuous monoculture (> 8 growing seasons) of the major food crop rice under flooded conditions is associated with a pronounced shift in soil bacterial and archaeal microbiota structure towards a more consistent composition, thereby domesticating microbiota of previously uncultivated sites. Aside from the potential effects of agricultural cultivation practices, we provide evidence that rice plants themselves are important drivers of the domestication process, acting through selective enrichment of specific taxa, including methanogenic archaea, in their rhizosphere that differ from those of native plants growing in the same environment. Furthermore, we find that microbiota from soils domesticated by rice cultivation contribute to plant-soil feedback, by imparting a negative effect on rice seedling vigor.ConclusionsSoil domestication through continuous monoculture cultivation of rice results in compositional changes in the soil microbiota, which are in part driven by the rice plants. The consequences include a negative impact on plant performance and increases in greenhouse gas emitting microbes.
sli is required for proper morphology and migration of sensory neurons in the Drosophila PNS
Authors: Gonsior Madison , Ismat Afshan 
Published: October 2019

AbstractNeurons and glial cells coordinate with each other in many different aspects of nervous system development. Both types of cells are receiving multiple guidance cues to guide the neurons and glial cells to their proper final position. The lateral chordotonal organs (lch5) of the Drosophila peripheral nervous system (PNS) are composed of five sensory neurons surrounded by four different glial cells, scolopale cells, cap cells, attachment cells and ligament cells. During embryogenesis, the lch5 neurons go through a rotation and ventral migration to reach their final position in the lateral region of the abdomen. We show here that the extracellular ligand sli is required for the proper ventral migration and morphology of the lch5 neurons. We further show that mutations in the Sli receptors Robo and Robo2 also display similar defects as loss of sli, suggesting a role for Slit-Robo signaling in lch5 migration and positioning. Additionally, we demonstrate that the scolopale, cap and attachment cells follow the mis-migrated lch5 neurons in sli mutants, while the ventral stretching of the ligament cells seems to be independent of the lch5 neurons. This study sheds light on the role of Slit-Robo signaling in sensory neuron development.
Genome sequence of a pathogenic Corynebacterium ulcerans strain isolated from a wild boar with necrotizing lymphadenitis
Authors: Busch Anne , Möller Jens , Burkovski Andreas , Hotzel Helmut 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Objectives
Corynebacterium ulcerans can colonize a wide variety of animals and also humans are infected, typically by zoonotic transmission. Symptoms range from skin ulcers or systemic infections to diphtheria-like illness. In contrast, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is widely distributed among herds of sheep, goats and other farm animals, where it causes high economic losses due to caseous lymphadenitis. Here we describe the genome sequence of an atypical C. ulcerans strain isolated from a wild boar with necrotizing lymphadenitis. This strain has similarities to C. pseudotuberculosis.

Data description
Genome sequence data of C. ulcerans isolate W25 were generated, analyzed and taxonomical relationship to other Corynebacterium species as well as growth properties of the isolate were characterized. The genome of C. ulcerans W25 comprises 2,550,924 bp with a G+C content of 54.41% and a total of 2376 genes.
Anti-Toxoplasma activity of Sorghum bicolor-derived lipophilic fractions
Authors: Abugri Daniel A. , Jaynes Jesse M. , Witola William H. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Objective
Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular zoonotic parasite, infects approximately a third of the world population. Current drugs for treatment of T. gondii infection have been challenged with ineffectiveness and adverse side effects. This necessitates development of new anti-Toxoplasma drugs. Sorghum bicolor [Moench] leaf extract has been used in African traditional medicine for the management of anemia and treatment of infectious diseases. We tested the in vitro anti-Toxoplasma inhibitory activity of S. bicolor’s oil-like crude extracts and fractions against T. gondii and determined their cytotoxic effects on human host cells.

Results
Significant inhibitory activities against the growth of T. gondii tachyzoites were observed for the crude extract (IC50 = 3.65 µg/mL), the hexane-methanol fraction (IC50 = 2.74 µg/mL), and the hexane fraction (IC50 = 3.55 µg/mL) after 48 h of culture. The minimum cytotoxicity concentrations against HFF were 34.41, 16.92 and 7.23 µg/mL for crude extract, hexane-methanol and hexane fractions, respectively. The crude extract and fractions showed high antiparasitic effects with low cytotoxic effects. Further studies to determine synergistic activities and modes of action would provide impetus for the development of new toxoplasmosis drugs or nutraceuticals.
Live cell imaging of macrophage/bacterium interaction demonstrates cell lysis induced by Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium ulcerans
Authors: Weerasekera Dulanthi , Hahn Jonas , Herrmann Martin , Burkovski Andreas 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Objectives
In frame of a study to characterize the interaction of human macrophage-like cells with pathogenic corynebacteria, Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium ulcerans, live cell imaging experiments were carried out and time lapse fluorescence microscopy videos were generated, which are presented here.

Data description
The time lapse fluorescence microscopy data revealed new insights in the interaction of corynebacteria with human macrophage-like THP-1 cells. In contrast to uninfected cells and infections with non-pathogenic C. glutamicum used as a control, pathogenic C. diphtheriae and C. ulcerans showed highly detrimental effects towards human cells and induction of cell death of macrophages.
A 5 year retrospective analysis of common intestinal parasites at Poly Health Center, Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Ayelgn Meseret , Worku Ligabaw , Ferede Getachew , Wondimeneh Yitayih 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Objective
Intestinal parasites are present throughout the world in varying degrees of prevalence due to many factors. The aim of this study was to determine the 5-year trend prevalence of intestinal prevalence among patients who had been suspected for intestinal parasite infections. A retrospective study was conducted from 2009 to 2013 at Poly Health Center Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. Samples were examined using direct saline wet mount methods. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 20 software and a P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results were presented in tables and graphs.

Results
During the study period, a total of 13,329 stool samples were requested for intestinal parasite diagnose and 5510 (41.3%) laboratory-confirmed cases were reported with a fluctuating trend. Ten different parasites were reported in each year with Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (16.8%) being the predominant parasite followed by Giardia lamblia (11.4%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (6.7%). Both males (49%) and females (51%) were equally affected (P = 0.14). The intestinal parasite was reported in all age groups in the area but the highest and the lowest prevalence were reported in age groups of 20–29 years and 40–49 years, respectively (26.5% vs 6.4%) (P < 0.001).
Evaluation of polysaccharide intercellular adhesion (PIA) and glycerol teichoic acid (Gly-TA) arisen antibodies to prevention of biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains
Authors: Gholami Sanaz Amir , Goli Hamid Reza , Haghshenas Mohammad Reza , Mirzaei Bahman 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Objective
Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis as opportunistic pathogens, notable for their frequency and severity of infections are recognized as the most usual reasons for medical device-associated infections that strike hospitalized patients and also immunocompromised individuals. In this study, the polysaccharide intercellular adhesion (PIA) and Glycerol teichoic acid) Gly-TA) as two major macromolecules in the biofilm formation process were purified under the native condition and their structure was analyzed by using colorimetric assays and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Afterward, the immune response of macromolecules and the mixture of them were assessed by measuring total IgG titers. Subsequently, biofilm inhibitory effects of raising antibodies to biofilm former S. aureus and S. epidermidis were evaluated.

Results
Obtained data were shown a significant rise in levels of antibodies in immunized mice with mentioned antibodies in comparison with the control group. According to the obtained findings, mentioned antibodies could eliminate S. aureus and S. epidermidis biofilm formation in vitro assays. This survey confirms the proposal that immunization of mice with a mixture of Gly-TA and PIA vaccine could be secure and protected against S. epidermidis and S. aureus infection.
A meta-analysis of two high-risk prospective cohort studies reveals autism-specific transcriptional changes to chromatin, autoimmune, and environmental response genes in umbilical cord blood
Authors: Mordaunt Charles E. , Park Bo Y. , Bakulski Kelly M. , Feinberg Jason I. , Croen Lisa A. , Ladd-Acosta Christine , Newschaffer Craig J. , Volk Heather E. , Ozonoff Sally , Hertz-Picciotto Irva , LaSalle Janine M. , Schmidt Rebecca J. , Fallin M. Daniele 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects more than 1% of children in the USA. ASD risk is thought to arise from both genetic and environmental factors, with the perinatal period as a critical window. Understanding early transcriptional changes in ASD would assist in clarifying disease pathogenesis and identifying biomarkers. However, little is known about umbilical cord blood gene expression profiles in babies later diagnosed with ASD compared to non-typically developing and non-ASD (Non-TD) or typically developing (TD) children.MethodsGenome-wide transcript levels were measured by Affymetrix Human Gene 2.0 array in RNA from cord blood samples from both the Markers of Autism Risk in Babies-Learning Early Signs (MARBLES) and the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) high-risk pregnancy cohorts that enroll younger siblings of a child previously diagnosed with ASD. Younger siblings were diagnosed based on assessments at 36 months, and 59 ASD, 92 Non-TD, and 120 TD subjects were included. Using both differential expression analysis and weighted gene correlation network analysis, gene expression between ASD and TD, and between Non-TD and TD, was compared within each study and via meta-analysis.ResultsWhile cord blood gene expression differences comparing either ASD or Non-TD to TD did not reach genome-wide significance, 172 genes were nominally differentially expressed between ASD and TD cord blood (log2(fold change) > 0.1,p < 0.01). These genes were significantly enriched for functions in xenobiotic metabolism, chromatin regulation, and systemic lupus erythematosus (FDRq < 0.05). In contrast, 66 genes were nominally differentially expressed between Non-TD and TD, including 8 genes that were also differentially expressed in ASD. Gene coexpression modules were significantly correlated with demographic factors and cell type proportions.LimitationsASD-associated gene expression differences identified in this study are subtle, as cord blood is not the main affected tissue, it is composed of many cell types, and ASD is a heterogeneous disorder.ConclusionsThis is the first study to identify gene expression differences in cord blood specific to ASD through a meta-analysis across two prospective pregnancy cohorts. The enriched gene pathways support involvement of environmental, immune, and epigenetic mechanisms in ASD etiology.
Clustering K-SVD for sparse representation of images
Authors: Fu Jun , Yuan Haikuo , Zhao Rongqiang , Ren Luquan 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
K-singular value decomposition (K-SVD) is a frequently used dictionary learning (DL) algorithm that iteratively works between sparse coding and dictionary updating. The sparse coding process generates sparse coefficients for each training sample, and the sparse coefficients induce clustering features. In the applications like image processing, the features of different clusters vary dramatically. However, all the atoms of dictionary jointly represent the features, regardless of clusters. This would reduce the accuracy of sparse representation. To address this problem, in this study, we develop the clustering K-SVD (CK-SVD) algorithm for DL and the corresponding greedy algorithm for sparse representation. The atoms are divided into a set of groups, and each group of atoms is employed to represent the image features of a specific cluster. Hence, the features of all clusters can be utilized and the number of redundant atoms are reduced. Additionally, two practical extensions of the CK-SVD are provided. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed methods could provide more accurate sparse representation of images, compared to the conventional K-SVD and its existing extended methods. The proposed clustering DL model also has the potential to be applied to the online DL cases.