bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Association Between Retinal Vessel Abnormalities and H-type Hypertension
Authors: Huang Kuankuan , Yun Wenwei , Huang Shan , Jia Yanwen , Zhang Zhixiang , Zhang Min 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between H-type hypertension and retinal vessel abnormalities. Methods: Hypertensive patients were retrospectively enrolled in this study. According to serum homocysteine (HCY), patients were divided into isolated hypertension and H-type hypertension group. Retinal fundus photography was used to evaluate the diameter of retinal vessels and retinopathy. Univariate and multivariate regression were used to investigate difference of retinal vessel abnormalities between H-type hypertension and isolated hypertension patients. Results: A total of 191 hypertensive patients were included, of which 85 were isolated hypertension and 106 were H-type hypertension. H-type hypertension patients had a higher ratio of retinopathy(P=0.004) and higher degree of retinal arteriosclerosis (P=0.005). CRAE(P=0.002) and AVR(P=0.001) were smaller in H-type hypertension group. Multivariate analysis showed that after adjusting for age, sex, course of hypertension and diabetes, H-type hypertension were still risk factor of retinopathy(OR, 2.259; 95%CI, 1.165—4.378; P=0.016), CRAE (B=-5.669; 95%CI, -9.452—-1.886; P=0.004), and AVR(B=-0.023; 95%CI,-0.039—-0.007; P=0.005). Conclusion: H-type hypertension may aggravate retinal vessel abnormalities compared with isolated hypertension.
Use of the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire and the AD8 Questionnaire for Screening Depression in Older People in Communities
Authors: Wei Yi-Chia , Huang Li-Yuan , Lin Chemin , Shyu Yu-Chiau , Chen Chih-Ken 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background Depression presents with emotional and somatic symptoms, and sometimes cognitive complaints. On the other hand, depression is one of the important psychiatric symptoms of mild cognitive impairment and dementia.Methods Residents who were older than 50 years reported their depressive tendency using the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire (TDQ) and cognitive complaints using the AD8 questionnaire and were assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and for objective cognitive evaluation using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).Results TDQ score (OR 1.154, p = 0.003) and AD8 score (OR 1.769, p = 0.018) were statistically significant in predicting current major depressive disorder (MDD) when adjustment were made for age, sex, sleep quality and cognitive performance. However, in elderly people with age ≥ 65, TDQ score failed to distinguish a diagnosis of current MDD from no such diagnosis (AUC 0.780, p = 0.063). A linear combination of TDQ and AD8 scores provided a new predictive score that successfully separated elderly people with MDD from those without it (AUC 0.875, p = 0.013). Finally, decision-tree learning was used to generate a classification tree for classifying people with and without current MDD. At the first decision level, value less than 29 from the sum of TDQ score and 4 folds of AD8 score 100% excluded people without current MDD.Conclusions The self-reported response to the TDQ is a feasible way to identify MDD in community-dwelling people. Combining TDQ and AD8 scores further improved detecting depression in older people in communities.
Multi-Analyte Liquid Biopsies for Treatment Guidance in Advanced Refractory Cancers: Findings of the LIQUID IMPACT Trial
Authors: Nagarkar Rajnish , Patil Darshana , Crook Timothy , Datta Vineet , Roy Shirsendu , Kate Shruti , Palwe Vijay , Akolkar Dadasaheb 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background

LIQUID IMPACT (CTRI/2019/02/017548) is a single arm, open label, phase II/III study to evaluate the feasibility of providing therapeutic guidance in cancers based on non-invasive interrogation of circulating tumor analytes in peripheral blood (Encyclopedic Liquid Biopsy: eLB). The study enrolled patients with solid organ cancers where the disease had progressed following systemic therapy failure, where no (further) viable standard of care (SoC) therapy options were available, and where invasive biopsies to obtain tumor tissue (for molecular profiling) were contraindicated.
Methods

Encyclopedic Liquid Biopsy (eLB) interrogated gene alterations in cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA), and differentially expressed genes in exosomal mRNA. eLB also evaluated Circulating Tumor Associated Cells for expression of therapeutically relevant cell-surface signaling receptors as well as the chemoresistance profile towards systemic anticancer agents. Patients who received personalized combination therapy regimens based on eLB findings were evaluated radiologically to determine response to treatment, Objective Response Rate (ORR) and Quality of Life (QoL).
Results

At the time of submission of this manuscript, Partial Response (PR) was observed in 14 of 43 patients evaluable per protocol (ORR = 32.6%). Majority of patients reported stable to improved QoL.
Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that refractory cancers have latent vulnerabilities which can be identified via non-invasive eLB to design personalized label- and organ-agnostic treatment regimens to yield meaningful treatment benefit.
Trial registration

Clinical Trial Registry – India, CTRI/2019/02/017548 [Registered on: 02/08/2019] - http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pdf_generate.php?trialid=31265&EncHid=&modid=&compid=%27,%2731265det%27; Trial Registered Prospectively.
Plasma Levels of Phospholipids in Patients With COVID-19; A Promising Simple Biochemical Parameter to Evaluate the Disease Severity
Authors: Abdalla Mohammed , Ismail Noor Eldin Mohamed , mohamed ahmed h , Borik Rita M , ali Ali a , Mosaad Yasser O 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background Cronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic is a worldwide public health problem knowing in China recently from December 25, 2019. Phospholipids are structural components of mammalian cytoskeleton and cell membranes. Phospholipids is an anionic lipid found in mammalian membranes in low amounts (1–2%) of the total phospholipids. Also, it suppressed viral attachment to the plasma membrane and subsequent replication in lung cells. Aim: The present study was carried out to explain the correlation between the plasma phospholipids as well as secretory phospholipase-A2α2 (sPLA2α2) and cytokine storm; tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin--1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL)-6 and interleukin-13 (IL-13_ levels of patients with COVID-19 to assess the infection severity. Methods: Serum samples from enrolled 34 patients with mild, moderate, and acute COVID-19 infection. Complete blood picture (CBC), plasma d-dimer, ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), lipid profile, phospholipids, sPLA2α2 and TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-13 as well as lung computed tomography (CT) imaging.Results: CBC showed that the presence of leukopenia, lymphopenia, eosinopenia in patient with mild, moderate, and acute COVID-19 infection. Also, significant increase in plasma d-dimer, CRP, ferritin, triacyclglycerols, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-13 levels as well as sPLA2α2 activity when compared to normal persons. However, plasma levels of phospholipids, cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C were decreased significantly in patient with acute COVID-19 infection only, when compared to normal persons. In addition, lung computed tomography (CT) scan showed that the presence of ground glass opacity (GGO), bronchial wall thickening, crazy paving sign as well as right, left, upper and lower lung predominant in patient with mild, moderate and acute COVID-19 infection. The levels of blood leukopenia, lymphopenia and eosinopenia as well as plasma phospholipids d-dimer, CRP, ferritin, cytokine storm and sPLA2α2 were pronounced in group of patients with acute COVID-19 infection more the mild and moderate one.Conclusion: The present study was showed that there is a correlation between plasma phospholipids depletion as well as elevation sPLA2α2 and cytokines storm with the severity of COVID-19 infection. Also, the plasma phospholipids levels can used to estimate COVID-19 infection severity and help to identify patients into three classes: mild, moderate and severe one.
SOCS2 serves as a prognostic indicator and is regulated by miR-7-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liu Lu , Yu Kangkang , Zheng Yahui , Huo Meisi , Zhao Hao , Li Xiaoqi , Huang Chong , Zhang Jubo 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family members are essential components of negative regulation of cytokine signaling known to be involved in occurrence and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while a comprehensive analysis of the correlation between SOCS family members and HCC has not yet been elucidated.
Methods

Differential expression analysis of SOCS genes was performed on TIMER, which was further validated by GSE94660 dataset from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Prognostic values of SOCS genes were analyzed by TIMER and GEPIA. TISIDB was used to assess association between SOCS2 expression, clinical stages and pathological grades of HCC, as well as SOCS2 expression across immune subtypes and iClusters. Differential expression of genes (DEGs) identification was tested by two-tail student’s t test using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA-seq of HCC. And functional annotation of the DEGs was performed by Metascape. Fraction of Immune cells was estimated by CIBERSORT, and infiltration difference were compared by two-tail student’s t test. Genetic alteration identification and promoter methylation evaluation were analyzed by cBioPortal and DNMIVD, respectively. Starbase was used to predict potential miRNAs that target SOCS2. Differential expressions of candidate miRNAs were analyzed by dbMEMC, which was further validated by GSE22058 from GEO. Survival analysis of miRNA was performed with KM Plotter.
Results

Differential expression analysis showed SOCS2 and SOCS3 were significantly downregulated, while SOCS5 and SOCS7 were upregulated in HCC. Survival analysis revealed only SOCS2 mRNA had significant prognostic value in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival in HCC. Specifically, higher SOCS2 predicted improved outcome. Significant correlations were found between SOCS2 and pathological stage, grade, molecular subtypes and immune subtypes. When comparing SOCS2high versus SOCS2low patients, the DEGs were functionally enriched in metabolism of RNA, organic cyclic compound catabolic process, and rRNA processing in the nucleus and cytosol. Immune cell infiltration analysis showed resting memory CD4 T cells, γδ T cells, follicular helper T cells, regulatory T cells and M0 macrophages were associated with SOCS2 expression. Mechanistically, miR-7-5p was the potential contributor responsible for downregulation of SOCS2.
Conclusions

SOCS2 could be a promising prognostic indicator and a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
Factors predicting short-term and long-term mortality in ICU patients with a malignancy: the importance of SOFA and ECOG performance status
Authors: Zee Esther Nadine van der , Noordhuis Lianne M. , Epker Jelle L. , Leeuwen Nikki van , Wijnhoven Bas P.L. , Benoit Dominique D. , Bakker Jan , Kompanje Erwin J.O. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) triage decisions in patients with a malignancy can be difficult as clinicians have concerns about potential unfavourable outcomes. Therefore, clinicians may have doubts about the appropriateness of an ICU admission. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term mortality and performance status of critically ill patients with an active malignancy or a malignancy in their prior history admitted unplanned to the ICU. Furthermore, we aimed to compare the long-term mortality of those patients to the mortality of patients without a malignancy.
Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a large tertiary referral university hospital in the Netherlands. We categorized all adult patients with an unplanned admission to the ICU in 2017 in two groups: 1) the study population consisting of patients with an active malignancy and patients with a malignancy in their medical history (complete remission, CR) and 2) patients without a malignancy. Pearson’s Chi-square tests and Independent Samples T-Tests or the Mann-Whitney U tests were used to evaluate the long-term mortality, the primary objective was 2-year mortality.
Results

Of the 1046 unplanned ICU admissions, 125 (12%) patients had an active malignancy, 41 (3.9%) < 5 year CR and 33 (3.2%) ≥ 5 year CR. The 2-year mortality in the study population was significantly higher than in the population without a malignancy (67.4% and 40.2%, P < 0.001). The median performance status at 2 years after ICU admission in the study population was 1 (IQR 0–2). SOFA score (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.10–1.42) and ECOG performance status of 2 (OR 11.23; 95% CI 2.66–47.33), 3 (OR 5.91; 95% CI 1.77–19.79) and 4 (OR 13.16; 1.85–93.74) were independently associated with 2-year mortality.
Conclusions

Two thirds of the study population died within 2 years after ICU admission, which is higher than in the population without a malignancy. However, the majority of the study population had a good performance status at 2 years after ICU admission. The severity of the critical illness and the performance status before ICU admission are independently associated with 2-year mortality and should be considered as main factors in ICU triage.
The Abundance and Diversity of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Atmospheric Environment of Biology Laboratories and Surroundings
Authors: Tao Yile , Yang Yue , Wang Jing 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) have been considered as a global emerging threat to public health systems. Places including farms and hospitals where antibiotics are used, and wastewater treatment plants and landfills where antibiotics are discharged, have been the hot spots for studies. However, locations where ARGs are directly used, such as biology laboratories have been largely neglected. Methods: In this study, 11 Swiss biology laboratories working on different fields and located in the city center, suburb and rural area were studied to reveal the abundance and diversity of airborne ARGs in them and their surrounding areas with Colony-forming units (CFU) cultivation and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). Results: Most biology laboratories did not discharge significant amounts or varieties of ARGs and cultivate bacteria via air. No correlation was found between the number of CFUs and the abundance of 16S rRNA, but two clusters of correlated airborne ARGs, the animal husbandry related cluster, and city and hospital related cluster were identified in this study. Conclusions: Although most biology laboratories may not be the emission sources of variety of airborne ARGs, the ARGs in the animal husbandry related cluster which were abundant in the animal laboratories and aadA1 which was abundant in the laboratories working on other eukaryocyte need to be furtherly studied to make sure if they are potential health risks for the researchers.
Public financing in agricultural research development and rural poverty alleviation in West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) States
Authors: DAH Ollo , BASSOLET Toussaint Boubié 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
This paper analyzed the effects of public funding for agricultural research and development on rural poverty reduction through farm income in West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries. To conduct this analysis, an agricultural production function was developed that integrates public policies. In view of the scope of the analysis, a dynamic panel was developed to take into account the dynamics of agricultural income. The data used in this research were mainly taken from the databases of the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the FAO and cover the period from 2000 to 2016. The data were estimated using the Generalized Moment Method (GMM) in system. The results show that public spending on agricultural research and development contributes to reducing rural poverty through increased agricultural income. Thus, it is recommended that WAEMU states make efforts in the allocation of public resources in the area of agricultural research and development to boost the development of the agricultural sector and significantly reduce rural poverty.
Process characterization for ethanol precipitation of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma using 1H NMR spectroscopy and chemometrics
Authors: Zhao Fang , Li Wen-zhu , Pan Jian-yang , Qu Hai-bin 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background

Quality control of the herbal medicines (HMs) still hits technical bottlenecks due to their complicated multi-step pharmaceutical processes. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy could serve as a powerful technique able to obtain comprehensive information of chemical compounds in the manufacturing process of HMs by a single analytical test. In this study, ethanol precipitation of Salvia miltiorrhiza Radix et Rhizoma (Danshen in China), a critical purification process of a particularly commonly used herbal medicinal material, was employed as the research subject.
Methods

Processed with different variables, including ethanol-material ratio, apparent ethanol concentration and moisture concentration of the raw material, 40 lab-scale experiments of ethanol precipitation were orchestrated by a full factor design with additional central composite circumscribed experiments. After 1H NMR tests, chemometrics methods, including orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), principle component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression (MLR), were applied to analyze the spectra of samples.
Results

16 metabolites were recognized as the most critical potential chemical markers in the process of Danshen ethanol precipitation by 1H NMR spectra and OPLS-DA, including γ-aminobutyrate, pyroglutamate, succinate, acetate, malonate, fructose, sucrose, raffinose, stachyose, mannotriose, danshensu, lithospermic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid A and B. PCA reasonably distinguished all the process intermediates as a function of different process variables adopted during the ethanol precipitation. MLR made the statistical interpretation by quadratic equations to characterize how do significant variables affect the chemical markers.
Conclusions

Our study indicates that NMR can track detailed potential chemical markers of ethanol precipitation process, which could promote the further understanding of ethanol precipitation process and open up possibilities to develop a more effective process quality control and consistency evaluation methodology of an HM, through providing a more in-depth and improved theoretical process understanding and characterization.
Electroacupuncture attenuates depressive disorder and gastrointestinal dysfunction in myocardial hypertrophy via upregulation of 5-HT on Rats
Authors: Li Jia , Lu Wei , Huang Wei , Wu Song , Fu Yimeng , Chen Jianyi , Huang Zhongsheng , Zhou Xiaohong , Wang Hua 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Acupuncture therapy has been described as a preventive and therapeutic technique with low or no risk for a number of conditions related to cardiovascular disease. However, its role in protecting against myocardial hypertrophy (MH) has not been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) can attenuate MH by upregulating tryptophan 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) metabolism, depressive disorder and gastrointestinal dysfunction in MH rats model.Methods: We assessed the anti-myocardial ischemia effects of EA by using the isoproterenol hydrochloride (ISO)-induced myocardial hypertrophy (MH) rats model. Forty 3-month-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal, model, EA and sham EA groups, with ten rats in each group. Regression of MH was evaluated by ratio of heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) and ratio of left ventricular weight/body weight (LVW/BW). Ultrastructural observation and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were evaluated to cardiac pathology. The sucrose preference test (SPT), open field test (OFT), and forced swim test (FSW) were conducted to examine the depression-like behavior. Gastric retention and intestinal transit were evaluated using the carbon powder labeling method, while immunohistochemical staining was used to detect 5-HT expression in the cerebral cortex and ileum.Key findings: EA therapy alleviates rats’ depression-like symptoms. For example, the rate of sucrose solution consumption was higher, the total and central distance traveled in the open field test were increased, and immobility time was decreased in these rats by EA therapy. Furthermore, swimming, struggling and latency to immobility were increased in the forced swim test as well. Expression of 5-HT was increased in the cerebral cortex and ileum after EA treatment.Conclusion: EA improved the ischemic and depressed symptoms, as well as gastrointestinal dysfunction of MH rats model induced by ISO, which may related with 5-HT metabolism.
Seven-day Fasting as a multimodal complex intervention for Adults with Type 1 Diabetes –&nbsp;Feasibility, Benefit and Safety in a Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Berger Bettina , Jenetzky Ekkehart , Köblös Diana , Stange Rainer , Baumann Andrea , Michalsen Andreas , Schmelzer Kurt , Martin David D. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Aims/Hypothesis: Intermittent as well as prolonged fasting are receiving considerable attention and appear favorable in conditions like the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, rheumatic diseases and others. Fasting for people with type 1 diabetes is generally considered too risky. However, the ability and possibility to change from carbohydrate to ketone-based fuel supply may also be relevant for people with type 1 diabetes. The aim of this patient-led research was to investigate the feasibility, benefit and safety of a seven-day multimodal fasting intervention in people with type 1 diabetes. Methods: A non-randomized controlled pilot study, with 20 participants with and 10 without type 1 diabetes with data acquisition toking place prior, post and four months after the intervention and daily during intervention. Results: 29 of 30 participants finished the intervention. Mean ß-hydroxybutyrate as representative ketone body increased to 2.8 ± 1.9 mmol/L on day 7 while average glucose remained between 4.9 ± 1.5 to 7.5 ± 2.3 mmol/L89 [± 27 and 136 ± 40 mg/dL]. Fasting-related side effects were all temporary, and slightly more prevalent in those with type 1 diabetes. Mean daily insulin dose was adjusted from 24.4 (3-50) IU on the day before fasting to 7.6 (0-26.7) IU on day 7. Quality of life (WHO-5) normalized from 54.0 ± 4.4 to 68.8 ± 15.0 (p = 0.01) after fasting. The was a decrease from before until the follow -up four month late of weight from 77.6 ± 20.4 kg to 76.6 ± 20.9 kg (p = 0.023) and for the BMI from (27.68 ± 7.04) to (26.74 ± 7.15) kg/m2 (p = 0.008). Diastolic blood pressure increased from 69.75 ± 11.41 mmHg to 75.74 ± 8.42 mmHg (p = 0.028) and stayed in a healthy range on average. Conclusions/Interpretation: This study demonstrates the feasibility, benefits and safety aspects of a 7-day fast in adults with type 1 diabetes.