bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Renin Angiotensin System Blockage by Losartan Neutralize Hypercholesterolemia-Induced Inflammatory and Oxidative Injuries
Authors: AlSaad Abdulaziz , Alasmari Fawaz , Abuohashish Hatem , Mohany Mohamed , Ahmed Mohammed , Al-Rejaie Salim 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: Hypercholesterolemia induces several metabolic diseases via oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways. Renin angiotensin system (RAS) contributes to the pathogenesis of hypercholesterolemia-associated metabolic changes. Therefore, this study aims to explore the protective role of losartan (LT) against oxidative and inflammatory damages in different physiological systems including heart, liver and kidney tissues in hypercholesterolemic rats. Methods: After induction of hypercholesterolemia by high cholesterol diet for 6 weeks, LT was administered for 4 weeks. In serum samples, the levels of lipoproteins, aminotransferases, creatine kinases, urea, apoptosis and inflammatory markers were measured. In cardiac, hepatic and renal tissues, lipid peroxidation product and glutathione as well as antioxidant enzymatic activities were assayed. Finally, histopathological assessment evaluated the structural damage in in cardiac, hepatic and renal tissues. Results: Serum markers of cardiac, hepatic and renal toxicities including creatine kinases, aminotransferases and urea were attenuated by LT in hypercholesterolemic animals. Moreover, LT markedly corrected the elevated levels of lipoproteins, apoptosis and inflammatory biomarkers. Hypercholesterolemia-induced lipid peroxidation, low glutathione levels and diminished activities of antioxidant enzymes were prominently improved in LT treated animals. Histopathological alterations by hypercholesterolemia in heart, liver and kidney tissues were ameliorated by LT. Conclusion: This study confirmed the pathological enrolment of renin-angiotensin system in hypercholesterolemia-associated metabolic alterations. LT had a significant cardiac, hepatic and renal protective role against these impairments through down-regulation of oxidative damage, inflammation and necrosis.
The effect of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation and Electrical isotonic contraction on anthropometric measurements, body composition, angiogenesis factors, sirtunin-1, and PGC1-α in obese people undergoing a weight loss diet
Authors: Mohammadshahi Majid , Zakizadeh Elahe , Angali Kambiz Ahmadi , Ravanbakhsh Majid , Helli Bijan 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: The anti-obesity effects of Alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) and isotonic contraction has been reported. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of α-LA supplementation and Faradic (an electrical stimulating system) on anthropometric parameters, body composition, VEGF, Sirtunin-1, nitric oxide (NO), and PGC1-α in obese people undergoing a weight loss regime.Methods: This randomized clinical trial was carried out on 100 obese adults. The subjects were randomly assigned to four groups of 25 subjects including Faradic, α-LA, -α-LA+Faradic, and control. A Bio Impedance Analyzer (BIA) was used to estimate anthropometric measurements including weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass, and fat free mass. The serum levels of Sirtunin-1, PGC1-α, VEGF, and NO levels were measured. All measurements were done at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention.Results: A significant weight reduction was observed in all four groups compared to baseline (p=<0.01). The placebo group had significantly higher weight, BMI, weight circumstance (WC), and body fat (BF) compared with the other groups. The α-LA+Faradic group had significantly lower weight, BMI, BF, WC than control, faradic, and α-LA groups and higher, Sitruin,, and PGC than the control group (all P <0.05).Conclusions: The findings indicated that the α-LA and Faradic interventions may have a synergistic effect on weight, BMI, BF, WC, and SLM, possibly through changes in serum level of VEGF, NO, and PGC. Further researches are warranted to clarify the mutual effects of –α-LA and Faradic on obesity and molecular biomarkers.Name of the registry: Iranian Registry of Clinical TrialsTrial registration number: IRCT20131117015424N2Date of registration: https://www.irct.ir/search/result?query=IRCT20131117015424N2URL of trial registry record: 04/04/2018
Long Term Effectiveness of Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme Strategies: A System Dynamics Simulation Analysis
Authors: Chong Ka Chun , Fung Hong , Yam Carrie , Chau Patsy , Chow Tsz Yu , Zee Benny , Wong Eliza , Wang Maggie , Yeoh Eng Kiong 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: The elderly healthcare voucher (EHCV) scheme is expected to increase the number of elders choosing private primary healthcare services and, on the other hand, to reduce reliance on the public sector in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, the scheme was not satisfactorily as reported in the literature to date. In this study, we examined the changes in the ratio of visits between public and private doctors in primary care (as a metric of reliance on the public sector) for different strategic scenarios in the scheme.Methods: Based on the comments from the expertise discussion, a system dynamics model was formulated to simulate the impact of different enhanced strategy in the scheme: Increasing voucher amounts, lowering the age eligibility, and designating vouchers for chronic conditions follow-up. Data and statistics for model calibration were collected from different sources.Results: The simulation results showed that the current EHCV scheme was unable to reduce the utilization of public healthcare services as well as the ratio of visits between public and private when the local population aging was taken into account. When comparing the 3 different tested scenarios, even if the increase of annual voucher amount could be kept with a current pace or the age eligibility could be lowered to 60 years old, the impacts on the shifts from public to private utilization were not apparent in which the public-to-private ratio could only drop slightly from 0.74 to 0.64 in the first several years. Nevertheless, introducing a chronic disease-oriented voucher could result in an apparent drop of public-to-private ratio to 0.50 in the early implementation phase but the effect could not be maintained for a period of time. Conclusions: Our findings assist officials to further improve the design of EHCV scheme, within the bigger context of promoting primary care among the elderly. We suggested an additional chronic disease-oriented voucher could be an alternative strategy but the enhancement on the voucher amount should be considered if a long term planning was required. For not substantially rising the government expenditure for refining the scheme, health promotion works for encouraging co-payment from elderly for is recommended.
Is deployement of diagnostic test alone enough? Comprehensive package of interventions to strengthen TB laboratory network: three years of experience in Burkina Faso
Authors: Alagna Riccardo , Combary Adjima , Tagliani Elisa , Sawadogo Léon Tinnoga , Saouadogo Tandaogo , Diandé Souba , Ouedraogo Francis , Cirillo Daniela Maria 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Backgrounds Laboratory plays a critical role in tuberculosis (TB) control by providing testing for diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and surveillance at each level of the health care system. Weak accessibility to TB diagnosis services still represents a big concern in many limited resources’ countries. Here we review the experience of Burkina Faso in implementing a comprehensive intervention packages to strengthen TB laboratory capacity and diagnostic accessibility. Methods Interventions lasted from October 2016 to December 2018 and focused on two main areas: i) development of strategic documents and policies; ii) implementation of TB diagnostic technology. National TB laboratory data were collected over 2016–2018, stratified according to five programmatic TB laboratory indicators: i) Percentage of notified new and relapse TB cases with bacteriological confirmation; ii) Percentage of notified new and relapse TB cases tested with a WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic test (WRD); iii) Percentage of notified, bacteriologically confirmed TB cases with DST results for rifampin; iv) Percentage of notified MDR-TB cases; v) Smear/Xpert ratio. We evaluated the following indicators between 2016-2017 and 2016-2018 Results From 2016 to 2018 the number of bacteriologically confirmed cases increased of 4%. The number of new and relapse TB cases notified tested with a WRD increase of 27% compared to 2016 and the number of bacteriologically confirmed cases with an available DST result for rifampicin increased from 27% of 2016 to 66% in 2018. The number of MDR-TB cases notified over the number of estimated MDR-TB cases in 2018 increase of 35% compared to 2016. In 2018, the ratio between the number of smear microscopy and Xpert MTB/RIF test decreased from 53 in 2016 to 21 to 2018. Conclusion We demonstrated that implementation of comprehensive package of laboratory strengthening interventions had a positive effect on the evaluated indicators and external assistance has played a fundamental role in speeding up the TB laboratory system improvement process
Exploring the prevalence and distribution patterns of antibiotic resistance genes in bovine gut microbiota using a metagenomic approach
Authors: Zhu Zhen , Cao Mingze , Wang Weiwei , Zhang Liwei , Ma Tenghe , Liu Guanhui , Zhou Xuzheng , Li Bing , Chen Xu , Shi Yuxiang , Zhang Jiyu 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have become recognized contaminants and pose a high public health risk. The animal gut microbiota is a reservoir of ARGs, but the knowledge of the origin and dissemination of ARGs remains unclear.Methods: 30 of the fecal samples were obtained from bovine and were immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Total metagenomic DNA was extracted by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method and sequenced by Illumina HiSeq X Ten platform. After quality control and assembled, the sequence were annotated by NR, CARD and ISfinder. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 19.0.Results: A total of 42 ARG types were detected by annotating the metagenomic sequencing data from the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD). We found that the diversity and abundance of ARGs in individual yaks were significantly lower than those in dairy and beef cattle. The results of heat map and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) clustering suggest that ARGs from dairy and beef cattle are more similar, while those from yaks cluster separately. Conclusion: The long-term use of antibiotics may contribute to this difference, suggesting that antibiotic consumption is the main cause of ARG prevalence. Furthermore, abundant insertions and integrations were also found in this study, signifying a strong potential for horizontal transfer of ARGs among microbes, especially pathogens.
Bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation: A case report and literature review
Authors: Tong Nianting , Wang Liangyu , Wang Nan , Zhou Zhanyu 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background Bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation (BDUMP) is a rare paraneoplastic intraocular disease that causes progressive visual loss in patients driven by an IgG factor associated with an underlying malignancy. Characteristic ocular findings include exudative retinal detachment, rapid cataract formation and uveal melanocytic tumors. Case presentation Here, we presented a patient, whose clinical manifestation was diffusely thickened choroid, shallow anterior chamber, cataract formation and exudative retinal detachment. Histopathologic examination for the biopsies from the choroid during the surgery showed the the tissue might be originated from melanocytes and with the benign biologic behavior. Therefore, the diagnosis for this patient was BDUMP, although there was no obvious history of malignancy until we prepared for this article. Conclusions This was a rare BDUMP clarified by ophthalmic manifestations and histopathologic examination, without clear history of systematic malignancy.
Effectiveness of a Peer-Based Intervention on Socially Isolated Older Chinese Immigrants in Canada: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Lai Daniel W.L. , Li Jia , Ou Xiaoting , Li Celia Y.P. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: Social isolation is a key concern for immigrant older adults. We examined the effectiveness of a peer-based intervention in reducing loneliness, social isolation, and improving psychosocial well-being with a sample of aging Chinese immigrants. Methods: Sixty community-dwelling older Chinese immigrants aged 65 and older were randomly assigned to an intervention group and a control group (n=30 each). Intervention group participants received an eight-week peer support intervention. Twenty-four volunteers aged 48 to 76 engaged in two-on-one peer support through home visits and telephone calls to provide emotional support, problem-solving support, and community resource sharing. An randomized control trial design was used to capture the changes of both the intervention group and the control group participants in a range of psychosocial outcomes including loneliness, social support, barriers to social participation, depressive symptoms, anxiety, life satisfaction, happiness, and purpose in life. Results: The intervention group participants showed a decrease in loneliness and increase in resilience when compared to control group participants. They reported fewer depressive symptoms, fewer barriers to social participation, increased life satisfaction, and happiness while no such improvements were observed in the control group. Conclusions: There is a need to further examine the use of peer-based interventions for both program effectiveness and delivery efficiency. In the era of population aging and increasing immigration, diverse aging adults can be trained to fill volunteer support roles via peer-based intervention approaches. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN14572069, Registered 23 December 2019 – Retrospectively registered, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN14572069 Funding: There are no external funding for this study.
SHAMAN: a user-friendly website for metataxonomic analysis from raw reads to statistical analysis
Authors: Volant Stevenn , Lechat Pierre , Woringer Perrine , Motreff Laurence , Malabat Christophe , Kennedy Sean , Ghozlane Amine 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
BackgroundComparing the composition of microbial communities among groups of interest (e.g., patients vs healthy individuals) is a central aspect in microbiome research. It typically involves sequencing, data processing, statistical analysis and graphical representation of the detected signatures. Such an analysis is normally obtained by using a set of different applications that require specific expertise for installation, data processing and in some case, programming skills. ResultsHere, we present SHAMAN, an interactive web application we developed in order to facilitate the use of (i) a bioinformatic workflow for metataxonomic analysis, (ii) a reliable statistical modelling and (iii) to provide among the largest panels of interactive visualizations as compared to the other options that are currently available. SHAMAN is specifically designed for non-expert users who may benefit from using an integrated version of the different analytic steps underlying a proper metagenomic analysis. The application is freely accessible at http://shaman.pasteur.fr/, and may also work as a standalone application with a Docker container (aghozlane/shaman), conda and R. The source code is written in R and is available at https://github.com/aghozlane/shaman. Using two datasets (a mock community sequencing and published 16S rRNA metagenomic data), we illustrate the strengths of SHAMAN in quickly performing a complete metataxonomic analysis. ConclusionsWe aim with SHAMAN to provide the scientific community with a platform that simplifies reproducible quantitative analysis of metagenomic data.
Age-associated changes in aging lungs: A study with auto-segmentation and radiomics based on CT images
Authors: Cui Sijia , Shu Zhenyu , Shao Yuan , Pang Peipei , Gong XiangYang 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: The senile lung undergoes physiologic changes that are well known but have not been investigated with computed tomographic (CT) texture analysis. The thin-section pulmonary computed tomographic (CT) microstructure features change in asymptomatic elderly individuals were not explored.Methods: We retrospectively selected 259 subjects under-going chest computed tomography (CT) between April 2018 and June 2019, as group A(consist of group1 and group2), without a history of smoking within the past 5 years, respiratory symptoms or any known chronic pulmonary disease. There were 118 patients in group 1(age ≥ 60 years-elderly) and 141 patients in group 2 (age≤50 years-young). Furthermore, 273 patients with pulmonary function tests(PFTs) were included as group B, which divided into two cohorts, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n=83) and non-COPD (healthy smoker [HS], n=90; healthy non-smoker [HNS], n=100) cohort. The radiomic features were extracted and selected from group A, trialed in group B, using the LASSO algorithm.Results: A total of 233 features were significant in group A. Among these features, 17 features exhibited distinct differences between COPD and non-COPD patients, 18 features exhibit distinct differences between HSs and HNSs. Meanwhile, five features were shared in group B. A negative correlation was determined between carbon monoxide diffusing capacity(DLCO) and the two features: ShortRunLowGreyLevelEmphasis_AllDirection_offset9_SD (ρ = -0.70) and LowGreyLevelRunEmphasis_AllDirection_offset2_SD (ρ = -0.63). Similarly, a positive correlation was found between FEV1/FVC and HighGreyLevelRunEmphasis_AllDirection_offset8_SD (ρ = 0.74).Conclusion: Radiomic features, which associated with the ages and significant in COPD patients and smokers, maybe reveal the microstructure changes of the aging lungs.
Minimal Important Difference in Patient Reported Outcome Measures in Persons with Severe Mental Illness, a Post-hoc Pre-Post Analysis
Authors: Beentjes Titus , Teerenstra Steven , Vermeulen Hester , Sanden Maria W.G. Nijhuis-van der , Gaal Betsie G.I. van , Goossens Peter J.J. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: Complementary interventions for persons with severe mental illness (SMI) provide broad strategies for recovery and illness self-management. It is not known which outcome measure can be considered to be relevant for persons with SMI. This knowledge can motivate a professional to offer and stimulate a person to participate in that intervention. This paper aimed to identify the outcome measures that determine the most relevant and meaningful change and capture the benefits of a complementary intervention. Methods: By using anchor-based and distribution-based methods, we estimated the minimal important difference (MID) to determine which outcome measure persons improved in beyond the MID to reflect a relevant change in pre-post effect of a complementary intervention, in casu the Illness Management and Recovery programme (IMR).Results: The anchor MID was based on the results of the measure Rand General Health Perception (Rand-GHP). On all MIDs, the Mental Health Recovery Measure (MHRM) had the highest score on the effect compared to its MIDs, and also on all MIDs the MHRM had the highest percentages of participants that scored above the MID. Conclusion: The Rand-GHP is considered to be an excellent measure for investigating the MID as a result of an intervention. The results of our study can be used in shared decision-making processes to determine which intervention is suitable for a person with SMI. A person who desires a recovery outcome, as measured by the MHRM, can be recommended to do the IMR programme.
Long noncoding RNA XIST suppresses tumorigenesis and enhances radiosensitivity in neuroblastoma cells through regulating miR-653-5p/HK2 axis
Authors: Mou Liping , Wang Lili , Zhang Shaoming , Wang Qinghua 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background Abnormal expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) was often involved in tumorigenesis and radiosensitivity of various cancers. The aim of this study was to explore the biological function and regulatory mechanism of lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) in tumorigenesis and radiosensitivity of neuroblastoma. Methods The expression of XIST, microRNA-329-3p (miR-653-5p) and hexokinase 2 (HK2) was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Methylthiazolyldiphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, colony formation assay and transwell assay were utilized to detect cell viability, colony formation and cell invasion abilities. Glucose consumption or lactate production was measured by glucose assay kit or lactate assay kit, respectively. The mice xenograft model was established to investigate the role of XIST in vivo. The interaction between miR-653-5p and XIST or HK2 was predicted by starBase v2.0 and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of HK2. Results XIST and HK2 were highly expressed while miR-653-5p was lowly expressed in neuroblastoma tissues and cells. XIST knockdown inhibited tumorigenesis by repressing cell proliferation and invasion, and increased the radiosensitivity via inhibiting colony formation rates and glycolysis. XIST knockdown also suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, miR-653-5p could bind to XIST and its downregulation reversed the effects of XIST knockdown on tumorigenesis and radiosensitivity. Additionally, HK2 was a direct target of miR-653-5p and its overexpression attenuated the effects of miR-653-5p restoration on suppression of tumorigenesis and promotion of radiosensitivity. Besides, XIST functioned as a molecular sponge of miR-653-5p to regulate HK2 expression. Conclusion XIST interference inhibited tumorigenesis and increased radiosensitivity via regulating miR-653-5p/HK2 axis, providing a novel therapeutic strategy for neuroblastoma.