bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictive factors of severe coronavirus disease 2019 in previously healthy young adults: a single-center, retrospective study
Authors: Zhou Changzhi , Huang Zhe , Tan Weijun , Li Xueying , Yin Wen , Xiao Yang , Tao Zhaowu , Geng Shuang , Hu Yi 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Several previously healthy young adults have developed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and a few of them progressed to the severe stage. However, the factors are not yet determined.

Method
We retrospectively analyzed 123 previously healthy young adults diagnosed with COVID-19 from January to March 2020 in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan. Patients were classified as having mild or severe COVID-19 based on their respiratory rate, SpO2, and PaO2/FiO2 levels. Patients’ symptoms, computer tomography (CT) images, preadmission drugs received, and the serum biochemical examination on admission were compared between the mild and severe groups. Significant variables were enrolled into logistic regression model to predict the factors affecting disease severity. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to validate the predictive value of predictors.

Result
Age; temperature; anorexia; and white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage, platelet count, lymphocyte count, C-reactive protein, aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase, albumin, and fibrinogen values were significantly different between patients with mild and severe COVID-19 (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis confirmed that lymphopenia (P = 0.010) indicated severe prognosis in previously healthy young adults with COVID-19, with the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.791(95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.704–0.877)(P < 0.001).

Conclusion
For previously healthy young adults with COVID-19, lymphopenia on admission can predict severe prognosis.
Indirect comparison of glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists regarding cardiovascular safety and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: network meta-analysis
Authors: Alfayez Osamah M. , Almohammed Omar A. , Alkhezi Omar S. , Almutairi Abdulaali R. , Al Yami Majed S. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
The cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) have shown that glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) have varying degrees of cardiovascular (CV) safety in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM.) The lack of any head-to-head comparative trials among GLP1RAs urged the need for an indirect comparison of these agents. Therefore, this study was conducted to indirectly compare the CV safety and mortality effects among different GLP1RAs in patients with T2DM using network meta-analysis (NMA).

Methods
Medline was searched to identify GLP1RA CVOTs to date. The outcomes of interest were CV death, myocardial infarction (IM), stroke, and death from any cause. An NMA with binomial likelihood logit link model was used for the binary outcomes. We conducted both fixed effects and random effects models for each outcome, and selected the best model based on the deviance information and the average posterior residual deviance. This NMA was reported in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA-NMA).

Results
A total of seven GLP1RA CVOTs were included having 56,004 patients. The NMA results showed that oral semaglutide was statistically better than exenatide (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.21–0.99), dulaglutide (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.20–0.97), albiglutide (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.19–0.97), lixisenatide (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19–0.92) in reducing CV death events. No significant differences were detected between most of the treatments regarding reducing death from any cause, MI and stroke events. The ranking results showed that oral semaglutide had the highest probability to be ranked first (> 90%) in reducing CV death and death from any cause. Moreover, once weekly semaglutide had the highest probability to be ranked first in reducing MI and stroke events.

Conclusion
The GLP1RAs have shown significant benefits in terms of CV safety. The indirect comparison and ranking probability results have shown that one weekly semaglutide and oral semaglutide seems to be the preferred option in patients with T2DM and established or at high risk of CVD. This result can aid health care providers, pharmacy and therapeutics committees in hospitals, and insurance companies when deciding which GLP1RA to start or add to their formulary.
CircRNA DONSON contributes to cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells by regulating miR-802/BMI1 axis
Authors: Liu Yong , Xu Jianzhong , Jiang Min , Ni Lingna , Ling Yang 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Circular RNA downstream neighbor of SON (circDONSON) has been revealed to promote gastric cancer (GC) growth and invasion, while the role and molecular mechanism underlying circDONSON in GC cisplatin (DDP) resistance remain unclear.

Methods
Levels of circDONSON, microRNA (miR)-802, and B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 (BMI1) mRNA were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell viability and apoptosis were measured by cell counting kit-8 assay, colony formation assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Protein levels of BMI1, Cyclin D1, p27, Caspase-3 Cleavage and Caspase-9 Cleavage were determined by western blot. The interaction between miR-802 and circDONSON or BMI1 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. In vivo experiments were conducted via the murine xenograft model.

Results
CircDONSON was elevated in GC tissues and cell lines, especially in DDP-resistant GC tissues and cells. Knockdown of circDONSON sensitized GC cells to DDP by inhibiting cell viability and promoting cell apoptosis in vitro. Further mechanism-related investigations suggested that circDONSON functioned as “sponge” by competing for miR-802 binding to modulate its target BMI1. Silencing miR-802 reversed the inhibition of DDP-resistance in GC cells induced by circDONSON down-regulation. Besides, miR-802 alleviated DDP resistance in GC cells by targeting BMI1. Functionally, circDONSON knockdown enhanced the cytotoxicity of DDP in GC in vivo.

Conclusion
Our findings demonstrated circDONSON promoted cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells by regulating miR-802/BMI1 axis, shedding light on the development of a novel therapeutic strategy to overcome chemoresistance in gastric cancer patients.
Patterns of human exposure to malaria vectors in Zanzibar and implications for malaria elimination efforts
Authors: Monroe April , Msaky Dickson , Kiware Samson , Tarimo Brian B. , Moore Sarah , Haji Khamis , Koenker Hannah , Harvey Steven , Finda Marceline , Ngowo Halfan , Mihayo Kimberly , Greer George , Ali Abdullah , Okumu Fredros 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Zanzibar provides a good case study for malaria elimination. The islands have experienced a dramatic reduction in malaria burden since the introduction of effective vector control interventions and case management. Malaria prevalence has now been maintained below 1% for the past decade and the islands can feasibly aim for elimination.

Methods
To better understand factors that may contribute to remaining low-level malaria transmission in Zanzibar, layered human behavioural and entomological research was conducted between December 2016 and December 2017 in 135 randomly selected households across six administrative wards. The study included: (1) household surveys, (2) structured household observations of nighttime activity and sleeping patterns, and (3) paired indoor and outdoor mosquito collections. Entomological and human behavioural data were integrated to provide weighted estimates of exposure to vector bites, accounting for proportions of people indoors or outdoors, and protected by insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) each hour of the night.

Results
Overall, 92% of female Anopheles mosquitoes were caught in the rainy season compared to 8% in the dry season and 72% were caught outdoors compared to 28% indoors. For individual ITN users, ITNs prevented an estimated two-thirds (66%) of exposure to vector bites and nearly three quarters (73%) of residual exposure was estimated to occur outdoors. Based on observed levels of ITN use in the study sites, the population-wide mean personal protection provided by ITNs was 42%.

Discussion/conclusions
This study identified gaps in malaria prevention in Zanzibar with results directly applicable for improving ongoing programme activities. While overall biting risk was low, the most notable finding was that current levels of ITN use are estimated to prevent less than half of exposure to malaria vector bites. Variation in ITN use across sites and seasons suggests that additional gains could be made through targeted social and behaviour change interventions. However, even for ITN users, gaps in protection remain, with a majority of exposure to vector bites occurring outdoors before going to sleep. Supplemental interventions targeting outdoor exposure to malaria vectors, and groups that may be at increased risk of exposure to malaria vectors, should be explored.
Coverage of community case management for malaria through CHWs: a quantitative assessment using primary household surveys of high-burden areas in Chhattisgarh state of India
Authors: Garg Samir , Gurung Preeti , Dewangan Mukesh , Nanda Prabodh 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundCommunity Case Management of Malaria (CCMM) has been implemented through community health workers (CHWs) in many countries. Existing studies have shown that CHWs can be viable means of implementing CCMM. However, not many studies have examined the coverage under large-scale CCMM programmes. India is a big contributor to global malaria burden. Chhattisgarh is a leading state in India in terms of malaria incidence and mortality. CCMM was implemented on a large scale through the ‘mitanin’ CHWs in rural Chhattisgarh from 2015. Under CCMM, 37,696 CHWs in 84 high-burden administrative blocks of the state were trained and equipped with rapid diagnostic tests (RDT), artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) and chloroquine.MethodsThis descriptive quantitative study assesses coverage of CCMM in detection and treatment of Malaria over three rounds of household surveys—2015, 2016 and 2018. Household-interviews covered more than 15,000 individuals in each round, using multi-stage random sampling across the 84 blocks. The main objectives were to find out the coverage in identification and treatment of malaria and the share of CHWs in them. A 15-days recall was used to find out cases of fever and healthcare sought by them.ResultsIn 2018, 62% of febrile cases in rural population contacted CHWs. RDT, ACT and chloroquine were available with 96%, 80% and 95% of CHWs, respectively. From 2015 to 2018, the share of CHWs in testing of febrile cases increased from 34 to 70%, while it increased from 28 to 69% in treatment of malaria cases. CHWs performed better than other providers in treatment-completion and administered medication under direct observation to 72% of cases they treated.ConclusionThis study adds to one of the most crucial but relatively less reported area of CCMM programmes, i.e. the extent of coverage of the total febrile population by CHWs, which subsequently determines the actual coverage of case-management in malaria. Mitanin-CHWs achieved high coverage and treatment-completion rates that were rarely reported in context of large-scale CCMM elsewhere. Close to community, well-trained CHWs with sufficient supplies of rapid tests and anti-malarial drugs can play a key role in achieving the desired coverage in malaria-management.
A tale of two cities: the cost, price-differential and affordability of current and healthy diets in Sydney and Canberra, Australia
Authors: Lee Amanda J. , Kane Sarah , Herron Lisa-Maree , Matsuyama Misa , Lewis Meron 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
The perception that healthy foods are more expensive than unhealthy foods has been reported widely to be a key barrier to healthy eating. However, assessment of the relative cost of healthy and unhealthy foods and diets is fraught methodologically. Standardised approaches to produce reliable data on the cost of total diets and different dietary patterns, rather than selected foods, are lacking globally to inform policy and practice.

Methods
This paper reports the first application, in randomly selected statistical areas stratified by socio-economic status in two Australian cities, of the Healthy Diets Australian Standardized Affordability and Pricing (ASAP) method protocols: diet pricing tools based on national nutrition survey data and dietary guidelines; store sampling and location; determination of household incomes; food price data collection; and analysis and reporting. The methods were developed by the International Network on Food and Obesity/NCD Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS) as a prototype of an optimum approach to assess, compare and monitor the cost and affordability of diets across different geographical and socio-economic settings and times.

Results
Under current tax policy in Australia, healthy diets would be 15–17% less expensive than current (unhealthy) diets in all locations assessed. Nevertheless, healthy diets are likely to be unaffordable for low income households, costing more than 30% of disposable income in both cities surveyed. Households spent around 58% of their food budget on unhealthy food and drinks. Food costs were on average 4% higher in Canberra than Sydney, and tended to be higher in high socioeconomic locations.

Conclusions
Health and fiscal policy actions to increase affordability of healthy diets for low income households are required urgently. Also, there is a need to counter perceptions that current, unhealthy diets must be less expensive than healthy diets. The Healthy Diets ASAP methods could be adapted to assess the cost and affordability of healthy and unhealthy diets elsewhere.
MicroRNA-181a as novel liquid biopsy marker of central nervous system involvement in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Egyed Bálint , Kutszegi Nóra , Sági Judit C. , Gézsi András , Rzepiel Andrea , Visnovitz Tamás , Lőrincz Péter , Müller Judit , Zombori Marianna , Szalai Csaba , Erdélyi Dániel J. , Kovács Gábor T. , Semsei Ágnes F. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Refractory central nervous system (CNS) involvement is among the major causes of therapy failure in childhood acute leukemia. Applying contemporary diagnostic methods, CNS disease is often underdiagnosed. To explore more sensitive and less invasive CNS status indicators, we examined microRNA (miR) expressions and extracellular vesicle (EV) characteristics.

Methods
In an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) discovery cohort, 47 miRs were screened using Custom TaqMan Advanced Low-Density Array gene expression cards. As a validation step, a candidate miR family was further scrutinized with TaqMan Advanced miRNA Assays on serial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood samples with different acute leukemia subtypes. Furthermore, small EV-rich fractions were isolated from CSF and the samples were processed for immunoelectron microscopy with anti-CD63 and anti-CD81 antibodies, simultaneously.

Results
Regarding the discovery study, principal component analysis identified the role of miR-181-family (miR-181a-5p, miR-181b-5p, miR-181c-5p) in clustering CNS-positive (CNS+) and CNS-negative (CNS‒) CSF samples. We were able to validate miR-181a expression differences: it was about 52 times higher in CSF samples of CNS+ ALL patients compared to CNS‒ cases (n = 8 vs. n = 10, ΔFC = 52.30, p = 1.5E−4), and CNS+ precursor B cell subgroup also had ninefold higher miR-181a levels in their BM (p = 0.04). The sensitivity of CSF miR-181a measurement in ALL highly exceeded those of conventional cytospin in the initial diagnosis of CNS leukemia (90% vs. 54.5%). Pellet resulting from ultracentrifugation of CNS+ CSF samples of ALL patients showed atypical CD63−/CD81− small EVs in high density by immunoelectron microscopy.

Conclusions
After validating in extensive cohorts, quantification of miR-181a or a specific EV subtype might provide novel tools to monitor CNS disease course and further adjust CNS-directed therapy in pediatric ALL.
Involvement of glutathione peroxidases in the occurrence and development of breast cancers
Authors: Zhang Man-Li , Wu Hua-Tao , Chen Wen-Jia , Xu Ya , Ye Qian-Qian , Shen Jia-Xin , Liu Jing 
Published: June 2020

AbstractGlutathione peroxidases (GPxs) belong to a family of enzymes that is important in organisms; these enzymes promote hydrogen peroxide metabolism and protect cell membrane structure and function from oxidative damage. Based on the establishment and development of the theory of the pathological roles of free radicals, the role of GPxs has gradually attracted researchers’ attention, and the involvement of GPxs in the occurrence and development of malignant tumors has been shown. On the other hand, the incidence of breast cancer in increasing, and breast cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related death in females worldwide; breast cancer is thought to be related to the increased production of reactive oxygen species, indicating the involvement of GPxs in these processes. Therefore, this article focused on the molecular mechanism and function of GPxs in the occurrence and development of breast cancer to understand their role in breast cancer and to provide a new theoretical basis for the treatment of breast cancer.
Modelling HIV disease process and progression in seroconversion among South Africa women: using transition-specific parametric multi-state model
Authors: Dessie Zelalem G. , Zewotir Temesgen , Mwambi Henry , North Delia 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundHIV infected patients may experience many intermediate events including between-event transition throughout their follow up. Through modelling these transitions, we can gain a deeper understanding of HIV disease process and progression and of factors that influence the disease process and progression pathway. In this work, we present transition-specific parametric multi-state models to describe HIV disease process and progression.MethodsThe data is from an ongoing prospective cohort study conducted amongst adult women who were HIV-infected in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants were enrolled during the acute HIV infection phase and then followed up during chronic infection, up to ART initiation.ResultsTransition specific distributions for multi-state models, including a variety of accelerated failure time (AFT) models and proportional hazards (PH) models, were presented and compared in this study. The analysis revealed that women enrolling with a CD4 count less than 350 cells/mm3(severe and advanced disease stages) had a far lower chance of immune recovery, and a considerably higher chance of immune deterioration, compared to women enrolling with a CD4 count of 350 cells/mm3or more (normal and mild disease stages). Our analyses also showed that older age, higher educational levels, higher scores for red blood cell counts, higher mononuclear scores, higher granulocytes scores, and higher physical health scores, all had a significant effect on a shortened time to immunological recovery, while women with many sex partners, higher viral load and larger family size had a significant effect on accelerating time to immune deterioration.ConclusionMulti-state modelling of transition-specific distributions offers a flexible tool for the study of demographic and clinical characteristics’ effects on the entire disease progression pathway. It is hoped that the article will help applied researchers to familiarize themselves with the models, including interpretation of results.
Comparison of pathological clotting using haematological, functional and morphological investigations in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients with deep vein thrombosis
Authors: Jackson Brandon S. , Nunes Goncalves Julien , Pretorius Etheresia 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundPatients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are more prone to systemic inflammation and pathological clotting, and many may develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as a result of this dysregulated inflammatory profile. Coagulation tests are not routinely performed unless there is a specific reason.MethodsWe recruited ten healthy control subjects, 35 HIV negative patients with deep vein thrombosis (HIV negative-DVT), and 13 HIV patients with DVT (HIV positive-DVT) on the primary antiretroviral therapy (ARV) regimen-emtricitabine, tenofovir and efavirenz. Serum inflammatory markers, haematological results, viscoelastic properties using thromboelastography (TEG) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of whole blood (WB) were used to compare the groups.ResultsThe DVT patients (HIV positive and HIV negative) had raised inflammatory markers. The HIV positive-DVT group had anaemia in keeping with anaemia of chronic disorders. DVT patients had a hypercoagulable profile on the TEG but no significant difference between HIV negative-DVT and HIV positive-DVT groups. The TEG analysis compared well and supported our ultrastructural results. Scanning electron microscopy of DVT patient’s red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets demonstrated inflammatory changes including abnormal cell shapes, irregular membranes and microparticle formation. All the ultrastructural changes were more prominent in the HIV positive-DVT patients.ConclusionsAlthough there were trends that HIV-positive patients were more hypercoagulable on functional tests (viscoelastic profile) compared to HIV-negative patients, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups. The sample size was, however, small in number. Morphologically there were inflammatory changes in patients with DVT. These ultrastructural changes, specifically with regard to platelets, appear more pronounced in HIV-positive patients which may contribute to increased risk for hypercoagulability and deep vein thrombosis.
Food insecurity and the risk of depression in people living with HIV/AIDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ayano Getinet , Tsegay Light , Solomon Melat 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
The link between food insecurity and depression in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) has been explored in numerous studies; however, the existing evidence is inconclusive due to inconsistent results. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine the relationship between food insecurity and depression in PLWHA.

Methods
We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus to identify relevant studies. A random-effect model was used for conducting the meta-analysis. We assessed the risk of publication bias by funnel plot and Egger’s regression asymmetry test.

Results
In this review, seven studies were included in the final analysis. Our meta-analysis revealed that food insecurity significantly increased the risk of depression in PLWHA [RR 2.28 (95% CI 1.56–3.32)]. This association remained significant after adjusting for the confounding effects of drug use [RR 1.63 (95% CI 1.27–2.10)], social support [RR 2.21 (95% CI 1.18–4.16)] as well as ART drugs [RR 1.96 (95% CI 1.17–3.28)]. Our subgroup and sensitivity confirmed the robustness of the main analysis.

Conclusion
This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest a significant association between food insecurity and increased risk of depression PLWHA. Therefore, early screening and management of food insecurity in PLWHA seem to be necessary.