bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression and function of dinkkopf 4 in oral squamous cell carcinoma and in vitro
Authors: Cai Xinjia , Yao Zhigang , Huang Junhui 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background Oral squamous cell carcinoma accounts for about 90% of malignant tumors of the head and neck, and its 5-year survival is less than 50%. The number of new cases of oral cancer worldwide is expected to increase by 62% in 2035. Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway plays a role in the tumorigenesis and progression of cancer. dinkkopf 4 is involved in a variety of cancers as a molecule in Wnt/β-catenin signal. To our knowledge, the study of DKK4 in OSCC has not been reported. Methods The well differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma and normal oral mucosa samples were collected from Department of Pathology of Xiangya Stomatological Hospital of Central South University. Human oral epithelial cell HOEC and human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell TSCC1 were cultured for experiments. The plasmid vector was constructed to inhibit the expression of DKK4 to form TSCC1-shDKK4 cells and TSCC1-NC cells were transfected with blank plasmid. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 test. Apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI assay. Cell migration was detected by Transwell assay. IBM SPSS Statistics 24.0 and GraphPad Prism 8 were performed for statistical analysis and graphing. Results We found that the expression of DKK4 and β-catenin increased in OSCC and in vitro (P<0.05). dinkkopf 4 may promote the expression of β-catenin in OSCC. The proliferation and migration of TSCC1-shDKK4 cells decreased and the apoptosis of TSCC1-shDKK4 cells increased (P<0.01). Conclusions dinkkopf 4 may promote the proliferation and migration of OSCC cells and inhibit the apoptosis of OSCC cells in vitro by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway.
Clinical implications of serum Mac-2-binding protein (M2BPGi) as novel biomarkers of advanced hepatic fibrosis in diabetes
Authors: Park Huiyul , Kim Mimi , Jun Dae Won , Park Hoon-ki 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background Appropriate strategy for screening, identification, and linkage to care of patients with advanced fibrosis in general population is unsolved issue. The aim of this study was to find reference value and clinical role of Mac2 binding protein glycan isomer (M2BPGi) in health check-up setting.Methods Adult subjects (n=1,073) who underwent a health check-up at the healthcare center were finally included for analysis, except for 952 subjects with risk factors for liver disease and insufficient data. Body composition analyzed by using the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). M2BPGi quantification based on a lectin antibody sandwich immunoassay. Fatty liver diagnosed by using abdominal sonography.Results Reference value of M2BPGi was 0.5~1.0 C.O.I in the average risk group. Serum M2BPGi showed a positive correlation with metabolic parameters as well as age. Prevalence of abnormal M2BPGi (> 1.0) was higher in low muscle mass (4.7%, vs 17.4%, p=0.002), metabolic syndrome (14.2% vs. 30.4%, p=0.003) and hypertension (21.8%, vs. 58.7%, p<0.001) compare to healthy control. M2BPGi had a positive correlation with estimated fibrosis formulae such as FIB-4 (R=0.293, p< 0.001) and NAFLD fibrosis score (R=0.248, p<0.001). While the prevalence of advanced fibrosis in total population was just 1.6% (FIB-4 >2.65), the prevalence of advanced fibrosis increased to 50% in high M2BPGi (> 1.0) group with diabetes. It was 31.25 times higher than total population group.Conclusions There was high possibility of advanced hepatic fibrosis in subjects with abnormal M2BPGi levels (> 1.0) in diabetes.
Risk of rebleeding from gastroesophageal varices after initial treatment with cyanoacrylate: a systematic review and pooled analysis.
Authors: Hu Zixuan , Zhang Decai , Swai Joel , Liu Tao , Liu Shaojun 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background Cyanoacrylate alone or in combination with other interventions, can be used to achieve variable rates of successes in preventing rebleeding. Our study aims to assess the pooled risk of gastric and esophageal varices rebleeding after an initial treatment with cyanoacrylate alone and/or in combination with other treatments, by systematic review of literature and pooled analysis.Methodology PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS and the Cochrane library were searched for studies that reported the risk of rebleeding during the follow-up period after treatment of gastric or esophageal varices with either cyanoacrylate alone or in combination with other treatments. Standard error, upper and lower confidence intervals at 95% confidence interval for the risk, were obtained STATA Version 15 which was also used to generate forest plots for pooled analysis. Random or fixed effect model was used depending on the heterogeneity (I2).Results A total of 39 studies were found to report treatment of either gastric or esophageal varices with either cyanoacrylate alone or in combination with other treatments. When gastric varices are treated with cyanoacrylate alone, the risk of rebleeding during the follow-up period is 0.16(Confidence Interval: 0.13-0.18). When combined with lipiodol; polidocanol or sclerotherapy the rebleeding risks are 0.13 (CI:0.03-0.22), 0.10(CI:0.02-0.19) and 0.10(CI:0.05-0.18), respectively. When combined with percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization; percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization; endoscopic ultrasound guided coils; or with ethanolamine, the rebleeding risk are 0.10(CI:0.03-0.17), 0.10(CI:0.03-0.17), 0.07(CI:0.03-0.11) and 0.08(CI:0.02-0.14), respectively. When esophageal varices are treated with cyanoacrylate alone, the risk of rebleeding is 0.29(CI:0.11-0.47). When combined with percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization; sclerotherapy; or band ligation, the risks of rebleeding are 0.16(CI:0.10-0.22), 0.12(CI:0.04-0.20) and 0.10(CI:0.04-0.24), respectively. When combined with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt; or ethanolamine, the risks of rebleeding are 0.06(CI:-0.01-0.12) and 0.02 (CI:-0.02-0.05), respectively.Conclusion In treating both gastric and esophageal varices, cyanoacrylate produces better results in terms of lower risk of rebleeding when combined with other treatments than when used alone. The combination of cyanoacrylate with ethanolamine or with endoscopic ultrasound guided coils produces lowest risk of rebleeding in esophageal and gastric varices, respectively. We call upon randomized trials to test these hypotheses.
Lower levels of serum albumin are associated with impairment of cognitive function in cirrhotic patients with early-stage hepatic encephalopathy: An exploratory data analysis of phase II/III clinical trials of rifaximin in Japan
Authors: Kaji Kosuke , Okita Kiwamu , Suzuki Kazuyuki , Sato Ikuya , Fujisawa Masaki , Yoshiji Hitoshi 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background Because covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) has been shown to affect the prognosis of cirrhotic patients, early diagnosis of HE is a prerequisite for preservation of patients’ quality of life and for prophylaxis of overt HE. Currently, neuropsychological tests are used for the diagnosis of early-stage HE including CHE. However, it would be inefficient to apply them to all cirrhotic patients. Thus, some biomarkers correlated with the above diagnostic modalities are available for screening examination. The aim of this study was to identify a clinical parameter to predict impairment of cognitive function in cirrhotic patients with early-stage HE.Methods This exploratory data analysis was based on the data from 172 patients with cirrhotic or idiopathic portosystemic shunt (PSS) in phase II/III trials of rifaximin in Japan. Their data at baseline before treatment with rifaximin were utilized to analyze the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and different clinical parameters We Classification and regression trees (CART) were constructed to identify clinical profiles related to cognitive dysfunction, as indicated by the prolongation of time required for the number connection test (NCT-B).Results CART analysis detected age 65 years as the variable for the initial split, and serum albumin level was selected as the variable for the second split among patients aged ≤ 65 years. In 27 cirrhotic patients aged ≤ 65 years without PSS, receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the optimal albumin level cutoff point was 3.05 g/dL, and the area under the curve was 0.80 for the prolongation of NCT-B time, which was higher than that of other HE-related parameters including the branched-chain amino acids-to-tyrosine ratio (0.46), the prothrombin time–international normalized ratio (PT-INR) (0.68), serum ammonia (0.61), and total bilirubin (0.69).Conclusions Lower serum albumin level as a clinical biomarker associated with impaired cognitive function is available as a screening examination for early-stage HE in cirrhotic patients aged ≤ 65 years without PSS before undergoing neuropsychological tests.
Curative Effect and Safety of Tolvaptan Combined with Traditional Diuretics in Treatment of Patients with Cirrhotic Ascites and Relevant Research on its Dose: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Li Xin , Liu Shidong , Zhang Hui , Liang Fuxiang , Miao Long , Xu Hao , Zhao Zhenjie , Zhou Wence 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background Tolvaptan is a receptor antagonist of highly selective vasopressin V2, and it can promote excretion of water without electrolyte.Aims To evaluated curative effect and safety of Tolvaptan in treatment of cirrhotic ascites, and its relationship with drug dose.Methods Computer retrieval of PubMed, EMbase and The Cochrane Library was carried out to search the clinical trials of cirrhotic ascites treatment by Tolvaptan. The time limit of retrieval is from the database setup to May 31, 2019. 2 researchers independently screened studies, extracted the data and crosschecked. RevMan 5.3 software was used for Meta-analysis.Results Finally, 6 articles and 848 patients were included in the study. Meta-analysis indicates that after the intervention for 7 days, serum sodium ion concentration of the combined diuretic group obviously increased, compared with the traditional diuretic group (WMD=2.92mmol/L, 95%CI [2.15, 3.70], P<0.001). In addition, Tolvaptan also can decrease patients’ ascites amount through increasing liquid discharge. However, the drug dose has no obvious correlation with the reduction degree of ascites amount. The rise of blood uric acid is the major adverse event in the treatment of cirrhotic ascites patients by Tolvaptan (OR=6.01, 95%CI [1.11, 32.56], P=0.04). When the dose of Tolvaptan rose to 15mg or 30mg, the total incidence of adverse events was obviously higher than it of traditional diuretic group.Conclusion Tolvaptan combined with traditional diuretics has good curative effect for the patients with cirrhotic ascites. As its adverse reactions, the recommended dose of Tolvaptan is 7.5mg in the combined therapy.Registration number: The meta-analysis was registered prospectively on the PROSPERO database (ID: CRD42019143480).
Effect of TrkB-PLC/IP3 pathway on intestinal inflammatory factors and enterocyte apoptosis in mice with colitis
Authors: Xu Guangmeng , Sun Yajuan , He Huaiqiang , Xue Qiuli , Liu Yajie , Dong Lihua 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background This study aimed to explore the effect of TrkB-PLC/IP3 pathway on intestinal inflammatory factors and enterocyte apoptosis in mice with colitis.Methods Forty 8-week SPF C57BL/6J mice were randomly and averagely divided into normal group (healthy mice), control group (sham-operated mice), model group (model mice without any treatment), and K252a group (model mice with the treatment of 100 μmoL/kg TrkB-PLC/IP3 pathway inhibitor for 5 d before clysis). Mice in model and K252a groups were used to establish ulcerative colitis models after medication.Results There were no significant changes of the content of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and TNF-γ and protein expressions of TNF-α and TNF-γ in the colon tissues (all P >0.05), a significant increase of disease activity index, colon mucosa damage index, tissue damage index scores, content and protein expressions of serum interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-8, and a significant decrease of content and protein expressions of serum IL-10 (all P <0.05) in model and K252a groups, as compared to normal and control groups. Mice in model and K252a groups had blocked enterocyte cycle progression, raised apoptosis ratio, significantly increased mRNA and protein expressions of Caspase3, Bax, FasL and Fas, and significantly reduced mRNA and protein expressions of p-TrkB, PLC-γ1, IP3 and Bcl-2 (all P <0.05). Moreover, intestinal inflammation and apoptosis induced by colitis in K252a group became more aggravated through the inhibition of TrkB-PLC/IP3 pathway activity.Conclusions Inhibition of TrkB-PLC/IP3 pathway can promote the expression of intestinal inflammatory factors and enterocyte apoptosis in mice with colitis.
Improving phage titre through examining point of infection
Authors: Ali Junaid , Rafiq Qasim , Ratcliffe Elizabeth 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Bacteriophages are viruses that cause the lysis of bacteria. They have recently been used to combat antimicrobial resistant infections as an alternative therapy to antibiotics. Their production and propagation, however, remains understudied and will be key to obtaining titres required for future clinical studies and research. Previous work suggests that temperature of infection significantly influences the production process and output yield of phage, with a reduction in temperature from 37ºC to 28ºC resulting in significant increases in productivity for multiple host-phage systems. The current study aimed to build upon this previous work by examining different temperature conditions at the point of infection to determine the effect on harvest phage titre improvements. Investigations were conducted at different culture scales ranging from 20mL shake flasks to 3L stirred tank bioreactor cultures to investigate process differences when scaling from laboratory bench-scale to initial industrial scale fermentations. Additionally, the kinetics of phage infection were investigated. In small scale cultures, the greatest phage bursts and harvest titres were generated by maintaining cultures under static 28 o C incubation during infection compared to agitation and temperature reduction from 37 o C. Investigating the dynamics around the point of infection will help to inform scalable processes for manufacture of phage for a variety of applications ranging from direct therapeutic application to self-assembling bio-templates for nanostructure synthesis.
Laparoscopic assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy vs. totally laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy for malignant tumor: a retrospectively controlled study
Authors: Yao Guo-Liang , Zhai Jing-Ming 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy was now accepted worldwide with potential advantages over open pacreaticoduodenectomy. The defect was time wasting with the prone of increased postoperative complications. To assess the potential superiority and feasibility of laparoscopic assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy (LAPD) comparing to totally laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (TLPD), we introduce this study.Methods Retrospectively analyzed the relation data from the patients who had laparoscopic pancreaticodedunostomy due to malignant tumor in The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology during January 2015 to July 2019. Complications and operation time were compared. SPSS 16.0 was employed for analysis.Results Both groups had almost the same baseline characteristics, such as Sex (P=0.880), Age (P=0.861), ASA (P=0.559), BMI (P=0.854), pancreatic duct size (P=0.623), pancreatic texture (P=0.573) and tumor origin (P=0.878). LAPD was association to shorter operation time (231.6±43.7 min VS. 305.4±55.3 min; P=0.047), pancreaticojejunostomy time (13.8±4.2 min VS. 41.6±9.4 min; P=0.007), gastrojejunostomy time (10.9±3.0 min VS. 24.8±6.5 min; P=0.014) and jejunojejunostomy time (7.8±2.4 min VS. 23.4±5.8 min; P=0.005). No statistical difference was observed relation to resection time (P=0.864), cholangiojejunostomy time (P=0.897), blood loss (P=0.723), number of required transfusion (P=0.809), and incision length (P=0.183). Both groups had comparable conversion to open approach (P=0.402). LAPD had comparable complications to TLPD, such as pancreatic leakage (P=0.328), biliary leakage (P=0.673), bleeding (P=0.889), pneumonia (P=0.809) and thrombosis (P=0.443) and incision infection (P=0.889). No statistical difference was observed relation to visual analogue score at 1 day postoperatively (P=0.913) and hospitalization (P=0.137).Conclusions Laparoscopic assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy with open pancreaticojejunostomy should be a choice for certain surgeons with less operation time.
Conjunctival polymerase chain reaction-tests of 2019 novel coronavirus in patients in Shenyang,China
Authors: Xu Li , Zhang Xinyue , Song Wei , Sun Baijun , Mu Jinping , Wang Bing , Wang Zhiqian , Cao Yehong , Dong Xue 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background We report the laboratory results of conjunctival PCR-tests and some clinical features of these patients infected with COVID-19 in shenyang China.Methods We collected conjunctival samples of the patients to do the laboratory tests by PCR.Medical observed patients were enrolled if they had clinical symptoms. Then we analysed the PCR results and clinical features in order to find some relationships.Results The study include 14 confirmly diagnosed cases ,16 suspected cases and some medical observed patients.1 of the identified case coverted from suspected case.22 medical observed cases were removed because none of them converted to identified cases.1 of the suspected converted to identified case recently.All the conjunctival results of PCR-test were negative.Discussion The reasons of the negative detection results of PCR in conjunctival swabs were discussed.Conclusion Conjunctiva may be a transmission way of COVID-19.And ocular conjunctival swabs could be a diagnostic method for identifying the infection of COVID-19.Emphasis on the false-negative results is vital.
Identification and validation of a commercial cryopreservation medium for the practical preservation of Dirofilaria immitis microfilaria
Authors: Shirozu Takahiro , Soga Akira , Fukumto Shinya 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background Dirofilaria immitis is a parasitic nematode transmitted by mosquitoes and the cause of heartworm disease in dogs and dirofilariasis in humans and other mammals. The parasite is endemic worldwide. Vector stage research requires a reliable supply of D. immitis microfilariae (mf). It is believed that cryopreserved mf would retain viability and provide a powerful tool for vector stage research. However, reports on cryopreservation of D. immitis mf are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to validate commercial cryopreservation media to establish a practical, convenient, and reproducible storage procedure for D. immitis mf.Methods Six different commercially available cryopreservation media were compared with the traditional polyvinylpyrrolidone-dimethyl sulfoxide (PVP-DMSO) preservation solution. In vitro viability of purified D. immitis mf and mf-infected total blood was analyzed using a motility assay and propidium iodide staining. In vivo infectivity of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with cryopreserved mf was assessed using a mosquito survival test and quantifying the number of infective third stage larvae (L3) after 13 d post-infection.Results Purified mf cryopreserved in CultureSure showed the best viability when compared to mf cryopreserved in the remaining five commercially available media and PVP-DMSO. Viability of mf in mf-infected total blood cryopreserved in CultureSure varied with the ratio of infected blood to CultureSure. Optimum results were obtained with 200 µL mf-infected blood:800 µl CultureSure. CultureSure was also the optimum medium for cryopreserving mf prior to infectivity of Ae. aegypti. The number of L3 was approximately the same for CultureSure cryopreserved mf (3×-concentrated solution) and non-cryopreserved fresh mf.Conclusions CultureSure is an optimal commercial cryopreservation solution for the storage of D. immitis purified mf, mf-infected total blood, and mf used for in vivo mosquito experiments. Furthermore, this study describes an easy preservation method for clinical D. immitis -infected blood samples facilitating vector stage studies, as well as the education of veterinarians.
SR stress in locomotor muscles of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Qaisar Rizwan , Qayyum Mughal , Muhammad Tahir 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background The potential contribution of chronic dysregulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) protein homeostasis (a condition called SR stress) to skeletal muscle loss is poorly understood. We investigated the degree of activation of SR stress in locomotor muscles of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a respiratory disease with systemic manifestations. Methods We analyzed the markers of SR stress and associated pathologies in vastus lateralis muscles of 60-65 years old male healthy controls and patients with mild (COPD stages 1 & 2) and advanced (COPD stages 3 & 4) COPD (N = 6-8 / group). Results Skeletal muscle proteins expressions of GRP94, BiP, CHOP and ATF were significantly elevated in advanced COPD (≈53%, ≈3.6 fold, ≈3.5 fold and ≈3.2 fold, respectively) compared with healthy controls. The expression of downstream markers of SR stress including apoptosis, inflammation and autophagy was increased, while the maximal activity of SR Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) enzyme was significantly reduced in advanced COPD (≈41%) than healthy controls. Single muscle fiber diameter and cytoplasmic domain per myonucleus were significantly smaller (≈14% and 13%, respectively) in patients with advanced COPD than healthy controls. These changes in SR dysfunction were accompanied by substantially elevated levels of global oxidative stress including lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial ROS production. Conclusion Taken together, our data suggests that the muscle weakness in advanced COPD is in part driven by elevated SR stress and its pathological consequences. The data provided can lead to potential therapeutic interventions of SR dysfunction for muscle detriment in COPD.