bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hepcidin and GDF-15 are potential biomarkers of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in South Africa
Authors: Nalada Aishatu Muhammad , Olorunfemi Gbenga , Dix-Peek Therese , Dickens Caroline , Khambule Lungile , Snyman Tracy , Paget Graham , Mahlangu Johnny , Duarte Raquel , George Jaya , Naicker Saraladevi 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background Anaemia is a common presenting feature among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and it is associated with poor clinical outcomes and quality of life. It is not clear if growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) or hepcidin are useful as early markers of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) among non-dialysis CKD patients. We therefore evaluated the diagnostic validity of GDF-15 and hepcidin as biomarkers of IDA among non-dialysis CKD patients in Johannesburg, South Africa. Method An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted among non-dialysis CKD patients (n=312) and apparently healthy controls (n=184) from June to December 2016 at an Academic Hospital, in Johannesburg, South Africa. An interviewer administered proforma was used to obtain the Socio-biological and clinical characteristics of the participants. Serum levels of GDF-15 and hepcidin were determined Predictive logistic regression models were built and post estimation receiver operator characteristics was determined to evaluate diagnostic validity of hepcidin and GDF-15 for absolute and functional iron deficiency anaemia. Results About half (50.6%) of the participants were female while the participants’ mean age was 49.7 ±15.8 years. The predictive value of diagnosing absolute IDA among CKD patients using GDF-15 was 74.02% (95% CI: 67.62% - 80.42%) while the predictive value of diagnosing functional IDA among CKD patients using hepcidin was 70.1% (95% CI: 62.79% - 77.49%).There was a weak negative correlation between hepcidin levels and GFR (r=-0.19, p=0.04) in anaemic CKD patients, and between serum GDF-15 and haemoglobin (r=-0.34, p=0.001). Serum ferritin (β=0.00389, P-value<0.001), was a predictor of log hepcidin. MCHC (β= -0.0220, P-value 0.005) and CKD stage (β=0.4761, P-value <0.001), race (β = 0.3429, P-value = 0.018) were predictors of log GDF-15. Both GDF-15 (adj OR: 1.0003, 95%CI: 1.0001 – 1.0005, P=0.017) and hepcidin (adj OR: 1.003, 95%CI: 1.0004 – 1.0055, P=0.023) were associated with iron deficiency anaemia after multiple linear regression modelling.Conclusion Serum GDF-15 is a potential biomarker of absolute IDA, while hepcidin levels can predict functional IDA among CKD patients.
Molecular epidemiological surveillance of Africa and Asia imported malaria in Wuhan, Central China: comparison of diagnostic tools during 2011–2018
Authors: Xie Yiting , Wu Kai , Cheng Weijia , Jiang Tingting , Yao Yi , Xu Mingxing , Yang Yan , Tan Huabing , Li Jian 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background
Malaria remains a serious public health problem globally. As the elimination of indigenous malaria continues in China, imported malaria has gradually become a major health hazard. Well-timed and accurate diagnoses could support the timely implementation of therapeutic schedules, reveal the prevalence of imported malaria and avoid transmission of the disease.
Methods
Blood samples were collected in Wuhan, China, from August 2011 to December 2018. All patients accepted microscopy and rapid diagnosis test (RDT) examinations. Subsequently, each of the positive or suspected positive cases was tested for four human-infectious Plasmodium species by using 18S rRNA-based nested PCR and Taqman probe-based real-time PCR. The results of the microscopy and the two molecular diagnostic methods were analysed. Importation origins were traced by country, and the prevalence of Plasmodium species was analysed by year.
Results
A total of 296 blood samples, including 288 that were microscopy and RDT positive, 7 RDT and Plasmodium falciparum positive, and 1 suspected case, were collected and reanalysed. After application of the two molecular methods and sequencing, 291 cases including 245 P. falciparum, 15 Plasmodium vivax, 20 Plasmodium ovale, 6 Plasmodium malariae and 5 mixed infections (3 P. falciparum + P. ovale, 2 P. vivax + P. ovale) were confirmed. These patients had returned from Africa (95.53%) and Asia (4.47%). Although the prevalence displayed a small-scale fluctuation, the overall trend of the imported cases increased yearly.
Conclusions
These results emphasize the necessity of combined utilization of the four tools for malaria diagnosis in clinic and in field surveys of potential risk regions worldwide including Wuhan.
Latent-space embedding of expression data identifies gene signatures from sputum samples of asthmatic patients
Authors: LOU Shaoke , Li Tianxiao , Spakowicz Daniel , Yan Xiting , Chupp Geoffrey Lowell , Gerstein Mark 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: The pathogenesis of asthma is a complex process involving multiple genes and pathways. Identifying biomarkers from asthma datasets, especially those that include heterogeneous subpopulations, is challenging. Potentially, autoencoders provide ideal frameworks for such tasks as they can embed complex, noisy high-dimensional gene expression data into a low-dimensional latent space in an unsupervised fashion, enabling us to extract distinguishing features from expression data.Results: Here, we developed a framework combining a denoising autoencoder and a supervised learning classifier to identify gene signatures related to asthma severity. Using the trained autoencoder with 50 hidden units, we found that hierarchical clustering on the low-dimensional embedding corresponds well with previously defined and clinically relevant clusters of patients. Moreover, each hidden unit has contributions from each of the genes, and pathway analysis of these contributions shows that the hidden units are significantly enriched in known asthma-related pathways. We then used genes that contribute most to the hidden units to develop a secondary random-forest classifier for directly predicting asthma severity. The feature importance metric from this classifier identified a signature based on 50 key genes, which are associated with severity. Furthermore, we can use these key genes to successfully estimate FEV1/FVC ratios across patients, via support-vector-machine regression. Conclusion: We found that the denoising autoencoder framework can extract meaningful patterns corresponding to functional gene groups and patient clusters from the gene expression of asthma patients.
Differential metabolism -associated gene expression of duck pancreatic cells in response to two subtype s of duck hepatitis A virus type 1
Authors: SHI Shaohua , CHEN Zhen , HUANG Yu , HUANG Cuiqin , LIU Rongchang , CHENG Longfei , FU Guanghua , CHEN Hongmei , WAN Chunhe , FU Qiuling 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Duck hepatitis A virus type 1 (DHAV-1) causes a highly contagious disease in domestic ducklings, which is traditionally characterized by lesions in the liver and rarely in the pancreas. However, several outbreaks of DHAV-1, which were characterized by yellow coloration and hemorrhage in pancreatic tissues, have occurred in China. Genomic sequencing indicated variation rates of 3.4-6.5% in the genome of the novel DHAV-1 compared with those of DHAV-1. The antigenic relationship between the novel DHAV-1 and DHAV-1 indicated large variation. Therefore, the novel DHAV-1 was named as DHAV-1 subtype (DHAV-1s). However, the mechanism involved in infection of DHAV-1s is still unclear. Results: In the present study, transcriptome analysis of duck pancreas infected with DHAV-1 and DHAV-1s was carried out. Following deep sequencing with Illumina-Solexa, a total of 53.9 Gb clean data were obtained from the cDNA library of the pancreas and a total of 29,597 unigenes with an average length of 993.43 bp were generated following de novo sequence assembly. The expression levels of D-3-phosphoglyceratedehydrogenase, phosphoserine aminotransferase, phosphoserine phosphatase, which are involved in glycine, serine and threonine metabolism pathway, were significantly downregulated in the DHAV-1s-infected group compared with those of the DHAV-1-infected group.Conclusion: These findings provide information regarding differential expression levels of metabolism-associated genes between the novel DHAV-1s and DHAV-1, indicating that intensive metabolism disorders may contribute to different phenotypes of DHAV-1-infection.
Informing urban climate planning with high resolution data: the Hestia fossil fuel CO2 emissions for Baltimore, Maryland
Authors: Roest Geoffrey Scott , Gurney Kevin R , Miller Scot M , Liang Jianming 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Cities contribute more than 70% of global anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and are leading the effort to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through sustainable planning and development. However, urban greenhouse gas mitigation often relies on self-reported emissions estimates that may be incomplete and unverifiable via atmospheric monitoring of GHGs. We present the Hestia Scope 1 fossil fuel CO2 (FFCO2) emissions for the city of Baltimore, Maryland – a gridded annual and hourly emissions data product for 2010 through 2015 (Hestia-Baltimore v1.6). We also compare the Hestia-Baltimore emissions to overlapping Scope 1 FFCO2 emissions in Baltimore’s self-reported inventory for 2014. Results: The Hestia-Baltimore emissions in 2014 totaled 1487.3 kt C (95% confidence interval of 1,158.9 – 1,944.9 kt C), with the largest emissions coming from onroad (34.2% of total city emissions), commercial (19.9%), residential (19.0%), and industrial (11.8%) sectors. Scope 1 electricity production and marine shipping were each generally less than 10% of the city’s total emissions. Baltimore’s self-reported Scope 1 FFCO2 emissions included onroad, natural gas consumption in buildings, and some electricity generating facilities within city limits. The self-reported Scope 1 FFCO2 total of 1,182.6 kt C was similar to the sum of matching emission sectors and fuels in Hestia-Baltimore v1.6. However, 20.5% of Hestia-Baltimore’s emissions were in sectors and fuels that were not included in the self-reported inventory. Petroleum use in buildings were omitted and all Scope 1 emissions from industrial point sources, marine shipping, nonroad vehicles, rail, and aircraft were categorically excluded.Conclusions: The omission of petroleum combustion in buildings and categorical exclusions of several sectors resulted in an underestimate of total Scope 1 FFCO2 emissions in Baltimore’s self-reported inventory. Accurate Scope 1 FFCO2 emissions, along with Scope 2 and 3 emissions, are needed to inform effective urban policymaking for system-wide GHG mitigation. We emphasize the need for comprehensive Scope 1 emissions estimates for emissions verification and measuring progress towards Scope 1 GHG mitigation goals using atmospheric monitoring.
Evaluation of the liver function by the liver parenchyma, spleen and portal vein signal intensity during the hepatobiliary phase in Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI
Authors: Yang Ming , Zhang Yue , Zhao Wenlu , Cheng Wen , Wang Han , Guo Shengren 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Previous studies used the signal intensity (SI) to reflect liver function. However, there are still few studies on the assessment of liver function via the portal vein, and no study has pointed out that in terms of SI (liver, spleen, portal vein), which one can better reflect liver function. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate whether these parameters can be used to evaluate liver function in patients with cirrhosis and determine which parameter is best.Methods: A total of 120 patients with normal livers (n = 41) or Child–Pugh class A (n = 50), B (n = 21) or C (n = 8) disease who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were retrospectively reviewed. Comparisons of the SI of the liver parenchyma, portal vein, and spleen and liver-to-portal vein (LPC), liver-to-spleen (LSC), and portal vein-to-spleen (PSC) contrast ratios on the 15-min hepatobiliary phase images were performed among groups, and the correlations among liver function parameters (total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, albumin, creatinine, platelet count, prothrombin time and international normalized ratio), liver function scores and MRI date were also quantitatively analyzed.Results: Significant differences were observed in the SI of the liver parenchyma, LPC and LSC among groups. These values all decreased gradually from normal livers to Child–Pugh class C cirrhotic livers (P < 0.001). The SI of the portal vein constantly and slightly increased from normal livers to Child–Pugh class C cirrhotic livers, but there were no differences among groups in portal vein signal and PSC (P > 0.05). LPC had a stronger correlation with Child-Pugh score and MELD score than LSC and liver parenchyma SI. The order of the AUCs of these parameters, from largest to smallest, was as follows: LPC, LSC, and liver parenchyma SI (P > 0.05).Conclusion: Liver parenchyma SI, LSC and LPC may be used as alternative imaging biomarkers for assessing liver function, while the portal vein signal and PSC could not reflect liver function. Furthermore, LPC values can more effectively distinguish severity among patients with cirrhosis than liver parenchyma SI and LSC.
Vibroarthrographic analysis of patellofemoral joint arthrokinematics during squats with increasing external loads
Authors: Ołowiana Ewelina , Selkow Noelle , Laudner Kevin , Puciato Daniel , Bączkowicz Dawid 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: The patellofemoral joint (PFJ) provides extremely low kinetic friction, which results in optimal arthrokinematic motion quality. Previous research showed that these friction-reducing properties may be diminished due to the increase in articular contact forces. However, this phenomenon has not been analyzed in vivo during functional daily-living activities. The aim of this study was the vibroarthrographic assessment of changes in PFJ arthrokinematics during squats with variated loads.Methods: 114 knees from 57 asymptomatic subjects (23 females and 34 males) whose ages ranged from 19 to 26 years were enrolled in this study. Participants were asked to perform 3 trials: 4 repetitions of bodyweight squats (L0), 4 repetitions of 10 kg barbell back loaded squats (L10), 4 repetitions of 20 kg barbell back loaded squats (L20). During the unloaded and loaded (L10, L20) squats, vibroarthrographic signals were collected using an accelerometer placed on the patella and were described by the following parameters: variation of mean square (VMS), mean range (R4), and power spectral density for frequency of 50-250 Hz (P1) and 250-450 Hz (P2).Results: Obtained results showed that the lowest values were noted in the unloaded condition and that the increased applied loads had a significant concomitant increase in all the aforementioned parameters bilaterally (p<0.05).Conclusion: This phenomenon indicates that the application of increasing knee loads during squats corresponds to higher intensity of vibroacoustic emission, which might be related to higher contact stress and kinetic friction as well as diminished arthrokinematic motion quality.
A qualitative study of perceived barriers to hepatitis C care among people who did not attend appointments in the non-urban U.S. South
Authors: Sherbuk Jacqueline , Tabackman Alexa , McManus Kathleen A , Knick Terry , Schexnayder Julie , Flickinger Tabor E , Dillingham Rebecca 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Most people diagnosed with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) have not linked to care, despite the availability of safe and effective treatment. We aimed to understand why people diagnosed with HCV have not pursued care in the non-urban southern United States. Methods: We conducted a survey and semi-structured interview with participants referred to an HCV clinic who did not attend an appointment between 2014 and 2018. Our clinic is located in a non-urban region of Virginia at a university hospital. Qualitative data collection was guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM). Data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis to identify key factors influencing patient perceptions regarding HCV and pursuit of care.Results: Over half of previously referred patients (N=200) could not be reached by phone. Eleven participants enrolled, including 7 men and 4 women. Based on survey responses, unreliable transportation, unstable housing, substance use, and lack of insurance were common. Participants demonstrated good knowledge of HCV disease, complications, and treatment. On qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews, final themes emerged from within and between HBM constructs. Emerging themes influencing patient perceptions included (1) structural barriers, (2) stigma, (3) prior experiences of HCV disease and treatment, (4) discordance between the recognized severity of HCV and expected impacts on one’s own health, and (5) patient-provider relationship. Substance use was not identified to be a barrier to care.Conclusions: Participants perceived individual and structural barriers to linking to care. A strong HCV knowledge base was not sufficient to motivate pursuit of care. Efforts to improve linkage to care must address barriers at multiple levels, and system-level changes are needed. As the majority of previously referred patients could not be contacted by phone, current approaches to patient engagement are not effective for reaching these populations. Expansion of HCV care to primary care settings with an established patient-provider relationship or co-located treatment within substance use treatment programs may serve to increase access to HCV treatment.
A mobile app using therapeutic exercise and education for self-management in patients with hand rheumatoid arthritis. A randomized controlled trial protocol.
Authors: Rodríguez-Sánchez-Laulhé Pablo , Luque-Romero Luis Gabriel , Blanquero Jesús , Suero-Pineda Alejandro , Biscarri-Carbonero Ángela , Barrero-García Francisco José , Heredia-Rizo Alberto Marcos 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
• Background: Therapeutic exercise is a safe and cost-effective approach to alleviate hand rheumatoid arthritis (RA) related symptoms. This study aims to investigate the differences in self-management between a smartphone app (CareHand), using hand exercises and educational advices, compared with a standard approach, on hand overall function, pain intensity, stiffness, and grip and pinch strength in patients with hand RA.• Methods: The project is a prospective, longitudinal, superiority, randomized controlled trial. Fifty-eight participants with hand RA will be randomly assigned into an experimental group (CareHand app) or a control group (conventional treatment). Control intervention involves a paper sheet with exercises and recommendations, and the experimental group includes the use of a smartphone app, which provides individualized exercise programmes, self-management and educational strategies to promote adherence to treatment. Both intervention protocols will last for 3 months. The principal investigator will conduct an educational session at baseline for all participants. Primary outcome comprises the overall hand function, assessed with the Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire (MHQ). Secondary outcomes include self-reported functional ability with the Quick DASH questionnaire, self-reported pain intensity and morning stiffness using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and hand grip and pinch strength (dynamometer). Outcome measures will be collected at baseline, and at 1 month and 3-month follow-up.• Discussion: This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a telerehabilitation tool, which uses exercise and self-management strategies, compared to a conventional approach, in patients with hand RA. The smartphone app will allow to monitor the patient´s status, and to enhance patient-therapist communication. Some limitations may be related to the short follow-up duration and the lack of evaluation of psychosocial factors. Overall, this new way of promoting long-term effects in patients with a chronic rheumatic disease could be feasible and easy to implement in daily life clinical practice and current musculoskeletal care.• Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04263974. Registered 7 March 2020. Date of last update 15 April 2020. Ethics committee code: PI_RH_2018.
Availability of Essential Commodities and Related Bottlenecks for Community Health System: Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Pradhan Ami , Bogue Erin , Schreiber Benjamin , Dini Hannah Sarah , Hurkchand Hitesh , Briggs Jane , Ballard Madeleine 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: This paper explores the extent of community-level stock-out of essential and program commodities for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) among Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), and identifies the underlying bottlenecks leading to such stock-outs.Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted of published and grey literature. 48 studies containing information on the number or percentage of CHWs or health facilities (HFs) stocked-out, or reasons for stock-outs at these levels, were included. In addition, interviews were conducted with domain experts from different organizations working on community health to identify primary reasons for stock-outs. The qualitative data regarding reasons for stock-outs were categorized under different themes, using a content analysis method. Results: 48.09% [CI 95%: 39.28 - 56.90] of the Community Health Workers and 54.76 % [CI 95%: 43.54 - 65.98] of the health facilities in SSA countries included in this study experienced stock-outs of essential commodities. A hypothesis test showed no significant difference in stock-out rates between CHWs and HFs. The most frequently cited reason for CHW stock-outs was a lack of financial resources, leading to inadequate national level stocks, affecting supply available at the last mile. Moreover, issues at HF and CHW levels in the following areas contributed to stock-outs: transportation, data and estimation of needs, human resources, and stock management and storage. These significant bottlenecks hinder the ability of CHWs to save lives.Conclusion: Stock-outs of health commodities impact almost half of CHWs, preventing effective service delivery. Many factors contribute to stock-outs, which occur at all levels of the health supply chain. A system strengthening approach is necessary to reduce CHW stock-outs. Sparse data, differing definitions of stock-outs, and inconsistent reporting metrics posed significant challenges to analyzing results from reviewed studies. Therefore, a set of standard metrics to measure the rate, period, and frequency of stock-outs in future studies is recommended.