bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patient and health care system characteristics are associated with delayed treatment of tuberculosis cases in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Chien-Chou , Chiang Po-Huang , Chen Yen-Hsu , Fan I-Chun , Chan Ta-Chien 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
The decline of the incidence rate of tuberculosis in Taiwan has been partly attributed to the launch of the directly observed therapy short course (DOTS) program in 2006, followed by the DOTS-Plus in 2007. However, with the phasing out of the specialized tuberculosis care system and the declining incidence, clinical workers in Taiwan might become less familiar with the presentation of tuberculosis. Complementing the patient-pathway analysis with health system delay estimates, the objective of this study is twofold: to estimate the alignment between patient care initiation and the availability of prompt diagnostic and treatment services, and to identify the risk factors of delayed tuberculosis treatment.

Methods
The study population included all Taiwanese patients with incident tuberculosis in 2013. We (1) identified 11,507 incident tuberculosis patients from the 2013 National TB Registry, and (2) linked 10,932 Taiwanese from the registry to the 2012–2013 National Health Insurance Research Database. We assessed patient’s care-seeking pathways and associated the determinants of health system delay in a Cox model.

Results
The overall health system delay was 46 days. We found that 20.5 and 3.5% of 10,932 tuberculosis patients were diagnosed and treated respectively at the initial visit to seek care for TB-related symptoms. Risk factors related to the prolonged health system delay included female gender (adjusted HR = 0.921, 95% CI: 0.884, 0.960), age > =65 years (adjusted HR = 0.720, 95% CI: 0.692, 0.750), non-severe (chest X-ray without cavities) (adjusted HR =0.721, 95% CI 0.683–0.760), chronic respiratory diseases (adjusted HR = 0.544, 95% CI: 0.522, 0.566), living in long-term care facilities (adjusted HR = 0.580, 95% CI: 0.525,0.640), an initial visit at a primary care clinic (adjusted HR = 0.588, 95% CI: 0.565, 0.612), and living in southern Taiwan (adjusted HR = 0.887, 95% CI: 0.798, 0.987).

Conclusions
The low access to TB diagnostic and treatment services at the initial visit and the prolonged health system delay indicate inefficiency in the health care system. Strengthening training of physicians at public hospitals and health workers at nursing homes might improve the efficiency and timeliness of tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment in Taiwan.
Implementation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in former Soviet Union countries
Authors: Amangaldiyeva Aidana , Davlidova Salima , Baiserkin Bauyrzhan , Dzissyuk Natalya , DeHovitz Jack , Ali Syed 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAgainst the current global trends, in the former Soviet Union (FSU) countries HIV prevalence is on the rise. Visa-free movement across borders has facilitated migrant-associated HIV transmission within this region. Despite efforts from the governments to curtail the growing epidemic, there is still a serious need for the development of strategies that focus on high-risk behaviors and practices responsible for the continued transmission of HIV in this region. While governments of FSU countries have taken commendable steps in recent years to address hurdles at each step of the HIV care continuum, to ensure 100% antiretroviral treatment (ART) accessibility to people living with HIV (PLHIV), testing for HIV needs to be enforced widely in FSU countries. Stigma against people who inject drugs (PWID), men who have sex with men (MSM), migrants, and PLHIV need to be addressed. Finally, to avoid breaks in ART supply, FSU countries need to gain independence in funding HIV care so that the provision of ART to PLHIV is made available without interruption.
Viral suppression in adults, adolescents and children receiving antiretroviral therapy in Cameroon: adolescents at high risk of virological failure in the era of “test and treat”
Authors: Fokam Joseph , Sosso Samuel Martin , Yagai Bouba , Billong Serge Clotaire , Djubgang Mbadie Rina Estelle , Kamgaing Simo Rachel , Edimo Serge Valery , Nka Alex Durand , Tiga Ayissi Aline , Yimga Junie Flore , Takou Désiré , Moudourou Sylvie , Ngo Nemb Marinette , Nfetam Elat Jean-Bosco , Santoro Maria-Mercedes , Perno Carlo-Federico , Colizzi Vittorio , Ndjolo Alexis 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
After the launching of the « Test & Treat » strategy and the wider accessibility to viral load (VL), evaluating virological success (VS) would help in meeting the UNAIDS targets by 2020 in Cameroon.

Setting and methods
Cross-sectional study conducted in the Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon; data generated between October 2016 and August 2017 amongst adults, adolescents and children at 12, 24, 36 and ≥ 48 months on ART. VS was defined as < 1000 copies/mL of blood plasma and controlled viremia as VL < 50 copies/mL. Data were analysed by SPSS; p < 0.05 considered as significant.

Results
1946 patients (70% female) were enrolled (1800 adults, 105 adolescents, 41 children); 1841 were on NNRTI-based and 105 on PI-based therapy; with 346 patients at M12, 270 at M24, 205 at M36 and 1125 at ≥ M48. The median (IQR) duration on was 48 months (24–48). Overall, VS was 79.4% (95% CI 77.6–81.2) and 67.1% (95% CI 64.9–69.1) had controlled viral replication. On NNRTI-based, VS was 79.9% vs. 71.4% on PIs-based, p = 0.003. By ART duration, VS was 84.1% (M12), 85.9% (M24), 75.1% (M36) and 77.2% (≥ M48), p = 0.001. By age, VS was 75.6% (children), 53.3% (adolescents) and 81.1% (adults), p < 0.001.

Conclusions
In this sub-population of patients receiving ART in Cameroon, about 80% might be experiencing VS, with declining performance at adolescence, with NNRTI-based regimens, and as from 36 months on ART. Thus, improving VS may require an adapted adherence support mechanism, especially for adolescents with long-term treatment in resource-limited settings.
Comments on “Reporting quality of randomized controlled trial abstracts in the seven highest-ranking anesthesiology journals”
Authors: Ochani Rohan Kumar , Shaikh Asim , Yamani Naser 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRandomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard in assessing treatment regimens, and since abstracts may be the only part of a paper that a physician reads, accurate reporting of data in abstracts is essential. The CONSORT checklist for abstracts was designed to standardize data reporting; however, for papers submitted to anesthesiology journals, the level of adherence to the CONSORT checklist for abstracts is unknown. Therefore, we commend Janackovic and Puljak for their efforts in determining the adherence of reports of trials in the highest-impact anesthesiology journals between 2014 and 2016. The results of their study are extremely important; however, we believe that that study had some methodological limitations, which we discuss in this manuscript.
The physical microenvironment of hematopoietic stem cells and its emerging roles in engineering applications
Authors: Zhang Pan , Zhang Chen , Li Jing , Han Jiyang , Liu Xiru , Yang Hui 
Published: November 2019

AbstractStem cells are considered the fundamental underpinnings of tissue biology. The stem cell microenvironment provides factors and elements that play significant roles in controlling the cell fate direction. The bone marrow is an important environment for functional hematopoietic stem cells in adults. Remarkable progress has been achieved in the area of hematopoietic stem cell fate modulation based on the recognition of biochemical factors provided by bone marrow niches. In this review, we focus on emerging evidence that hematopoietic stem cell fate is altered in response to a variety of microenvironmental physical cues, such as geometric properties, matrix stiffness, and mechanical forces. Based on knowledge of these biophysical cues, recent developments in harnessing hematopoietic stem cell niches ex vivo are also discussed. A comprehensive understanding of cell microenvironments helps provide mechanistic insights into pathophysiological mechanisms and underlies biomaterial-based hematopoietic stem cell engineering.
Antler stem cell-conditioned medium stimulates regenerative wound healing in rats
Authors: Rong Xiaoli , Chu Wenhui , Zhang Haiying , Wang Yusu , Qi Xiaoyan , Zhang Guokun , Wang Yimin , Li Chunyi 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
When the deer antler is cast, it leaves a cutaneous wound that can achieve scarless healing due to the presence of antler stem cells (ASCs). This provides an opportunity to study regenerative wound healing.

Methods
In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and mechanism of antler stem cell-conditioned medium (ASC-CM) on cutaneous wound healing in rats. In vitro, we investigated the effects of the ASC-CM on proliferation of HUVEC and NIH-3T3 cell lines. In vivo, we evaluated the effects of ASC-CM on cutaneous wound healing using full-thickness skin punch-cut wounds in rats.

Results
The results showed that ASC-CM significantly stimulated proliferation of the HUVEC and NIH-3T3 cells in vitro. In vivo, completion of healing of the rat wounds treated with ASC-CM was on day 16 (± 3 days), 9 days (± 2 days) earlier than the control group (DMEM); the area of the wounds treated with ASC-CM was significantly smaller (p < 0.05) than the two control groups. Further molecular characterization showed that the ratios of Col3A1/Col1A2, TGF-β3/TGF-β1, MMP1/TIMP1, and MMP3/TIMP1 significantly increased (p < 0.01) in the healed tissue in the ASC-CM group.

Conclusions
In conclusion, ASC-CM effectively accelerated the wound closure rate and enhanced the quality of healing, which might be through transforming wound dermal fibroblasts into the fetal counterparts. Therefore, the ASC-CM may have potential to be developed as a novel cell-free therapeutic for scarless wound healing.
Changes in students’ mental models from computational modeling of gene regulatory networks
Authors: Dauer Joseph T. , Bergan-Roller Heather E. , King Gretchen P. , Kjose McKenzie , Galt Nicholas J. , Helikar Tomáš 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
Computational modeling is an increasingly common practice for disciplinary experts and therefore necessitates integration into science curricula. Computational models afford an opportunity for students to investigate the dynamics of biological systems, but there is significant gap in our knowledge of how these activities impact student knowledge of the structures, relationships, and dynamics of the system. We investigated how a computational modeling activity affected introductory biology students’ mental models of a prokaryotic gene regulatory system (lac operon) by analyzing conceptual models created before and after the activity.

Results
Students’ pre-lesson conceptual models consisted of provided, system-general structures (e.g., activator, repressor) connected with predominantly incorrect relationships, representing an incomplete mental model of gene regulation. Students’ post-lesson conceptual models included more context-specific structures (e.g., cAMP, lac repressor) and increased in total number of structures and relationships. Student conceptual models also included higher quality relationships among structures, indicating they learned about these context-specific structures through integration with their expanding mental model rather than in isolation.

Conclusions
Student mental models meshed structures in a manner indicative of knowledge accretion while they were productively re-constructing their understanding of gene regulation. Conceptual models can inform instructors about how students are relating system structures and whether students are developing more sophisticated models of system-general and system-specific dynamics.
Network robustness improvement via long-range links
Authors: Carchiolo Vincenza , Grassia Marco , Longheu Alessandro , Malgeri Michele , Mangioni Giuseppe 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMany systems are today modelled as complex networks, since this representation has been proven being an effective approach for understanding and controlling many real-world phenomena. A significant area of interest and research is that of networks robustness, which aims to explore to what extent a network keeps working when failures occur in its structure and how disruptions can be avoided. In this paper, we introduce the idea of exploiting long-range links to improve the robustness of Scale-Free (SF) networks. Several experiments are carried out by attacking the networks before and after the addition of links between the farthest nodes, and the results show that this approach effectively improves the SF network correct functionalities better than other commonly used strategies.
Nest-site fidelity and breeding dispersal by Common Tailorbirds in a tropical forest
Authors: Feng Changzhang , Yang Canchao , Liang Wei 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
Information pertaining to nest-site fidelity and breeding dispersal over successive years can help to better our understanding of how birds respond to nest predation.

Methods
By using mist nets and tracking the color banded individuals, we investigated nest-site fidelity and breeding dispersal by Common Tailorbirds (Orthotomus sutorius) throughout a year and between successive years in 2017–2018.

Results
The present study showed that Common Tailorbirds could produce up to four clutches per breeding season. When multiple broods were produced within a year, breeding pairs remained together, and the nest rebuilding rate was up to 92.2%, with only four cases (7.8%) in which birds reused their old nests. The dispersal distance between the nests during multiple breeding was found to be 10.0 ± 10.5 m, and nest-site fidelity within the same year was 90.0%. By the second year of breeding, 76.2% of individuals remained in the original breeding pairs, while for those that did switch partners, the females remained in the nest from the previous year and paired with new males. The dispersal distance between years was 26.5 ± 41.9 m, and nest-site fidelity between different years was 80.1%. There was no significant difference between within-year and between-year dispersal distances. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the dispersal distance of rebuilt nests between birds that had experienced nest predation and those that had not.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that Common Tailorbirds maintain a high degree of fidelity to mates and nest-sites, and nest predation had no significant effect on territorial changes or breeding dispersal distance between each breeding attempt.
Nutrition education and cooking workshops for families of children with cancer: a feasibility study
Authors: Beaulieu-Gagnon S. , Bélanger V. , Meloche C. , Curnier D. , Sultan S. , Laverdière C. , Sinnett D. , Marcil V. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
Changes in food intake are common in children with cancer and are often caused by nausea and perturbations in sense of taste. The VIE (Valorization, Implication, Education) study proposes family-based nutrition and cooking education workshops during childhood cancer treatments. Process evaluation during implementation allows to assess if the intervention was delivered as planned and to determine its barriers and facilitators. The study objective was to describe the implementation process of a nutrition education and cooking workshop program for families of children actively treated for cancer in a non-randomized non-controlled feasibility study.

Methods
Six open-to-all in-hospital workshops were offered on a weekly basis during a one-year implementation phase. We collected qualitative and quantitative data using field notes and activity reports completed by the registered dietician facilitator; surveys and questionnaires fulfilled by the workshop participants and by the families enrolled in the VIE study. Field notes were used to collect only qualitative data. Survey respondents (n = 26) were mostly mothers (n = 19, 73%). Children’s mean age was 7.80 (± 4.99) years and the mean time since diagnosis was 7.98 (± 0.81) months. Qualitative data were codified using hybrid content analysis. The first deductive analysis was based on the Steckler & Linnan concepts. Subthemes were then identified inductively. Quantitative data were presented with descriptive statistics.

Results
Workshop attendance was low (17 participants over 1 year) and 71% of the planned workshops were cancelled due to lack of participants. The principal barriers to participation referred the child’s medical condition, parental presence required at the child’s bedside and challenges related to logistics and time management. The level of interest in the topics addressed was found high or very high for 92% of the participants. The themes that were perceived as the most useful by parents were related to the child’s specific medical condition.

Conclusions
Despite high interest, workshops delivered in a face-to-face format were poorly feasible in our sample population. This supports the need to develop educational programs in pediatric oncology using strategies and delivery formats that address the major barriers for participation encountered by families.
A portable assist-as-need upper-extremity hybrid exoskeleton for FES-induced muscle fatigue reduction in stroke rehabilitation
Authors: Stewart Ashley , Pretty Christopher , Chen Xiaoqi 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
Hybrid exoskeletons are a recent development which combine Functional Electrical Stimulation with actuators to improve both the mental and physical rehabilitation of stroke patients. Hybrid exoskeletons have been shown capable of reducing the weight of the actuator and improving movement precision compared to Functional Electrical Stimulation alone. However little attention has been given towards the ability of hybrid exoskeletons to reduce and manage Functional Electrical Stimulation induced fatigue or towards adapting to user ability. This work details the construction and testing of a novel assist-as-need upper-extremity hybrid exoskeleton which uses model-based Functional Electrical Stimulation control to delay Functional Electrical Stimulation induced muscle fatigue. The hybrid control is compared with Functional Electrical Stimulation only control on a healthy subject.

Results
The hybrid system produced 24° less average angle error and 13.2° less Root Mean Square Error, than Functional Electrical Stimulation on its own and showed a reduction in Functional Electrical Stimulation induced fatigue.

Conclusion
As far as the authors are aware, this is the study which provides evidence of the advantages of hybrid exoskeletons compared to use of Functional Electrical Stimulation on its own with regards to the delay of Functional Electrical Stimulation induced muscle fatigue.
Endomyocardial fibrosis presented by ventricular tachycardia: case report
Authors: Abdelnabi Mahmoud , Almaghraby Abdallah , Saleh Yehia , Abd Elsamad Sherif , Elfawal And Sara 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a form of restrictive cardiomyopathy that is diagnosed mainly in children and young adults and is geographically found in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. It is a condition with high morbidity and mortality, unknown etiology, and no definitive treatment. Although its main clinical presentation is congestive heart failure with or without related supraventricular arrhythmia like atrial fibrillation, it very rarely presents with ventricular arrhythmias and tachycardias (VA, VT).

Case presentation
We report a case of right ventricular (RV) EMF presented with recurrent attacks of hemodynamically unstable VT that required direct current (DC) cardioversion. The diagnosis was suspected by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and established by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The patient underwent implantable cardioverter–defibrillator (ICD) implantation for secondary prevention of VT, and he was discharged safely on antiarrhythmic drugs with regular follow-up visits.

Conclusion
EMF presenting with VT are quite rare and to the best of our knowledge, our case is the fourth case in the literature to report VT as a clinical presentation of EMF.
Automated breast ultrasound system (ABUS): can it replace mammography as a screening tool?
Authors: Abd Elkhalek Yasser I. , Bassiouny Ahmed M. , Hamid Rasha Wessam Abdel Rahman Abdel 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
Mammography is the most accepted, accurate, and effective modality in screening of breast cancer, yet its sensitivity is affected by the density of the breast tissue. Alternative methods for screening are the sonography and MRI but both had their limitations. A new option named ABUS (automated breast ultrasound system) is now proposed to overcome the breast US limitation as it is time-consuming and operator-dependent and to overcome the costly time-consuming MRI. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the accuracy of ABUS in the detection of different breast lesions as a substitution for mammography. This prospective study included 25 women outreached for digital mammography or handheld ultrasound examination at the period between January 2017 and February 2018. Women have no specific age group.

Results
Significant improvement in the detection of breast lesions by ABUS use with mammogram especially in dense breasts (ACR class C and D)

Conclusion
ABUS is a promising competitor to mammogram in screening of breast lesions
Clinical application of acellular matrix derived from the bubaline diaphragm and caprine rumen for the repair of abdominal wall defects in animals
Authors: Rathore Harendra S. , Kumar Naveen , Singh Kiranjeet , Maiti Swapan K. , Shrivastava Sameer , Shivaramu Shivaraju , Saxena Sonal , Agarwal Ravi K. 
Published: November 2019

The abdominal wall hernias resulting due to trauma or other clinical conditions are common in animals. Large hernias required the use of synthetic mesh, which is costly and may result in infection, fistula formation, and pain. Application of biomaterials in hernia repair causes a reduction in pain, reduced recovery time, and rate of recurrence. The study was undertaken to test the acellular bubaline diaphragm matrix (BDiaM) and acellular caprine rumen matrix (CRuM) for the repaired hernia in clinical cases. Fresh bubaline diaphragm and caprine rumen were decellularized using sodium deoxycholate (1% for CRuM and 2% for BDiaM) for 48h. Acellularity was ascertained histologically and by DNA quantification. Histologically, both the matrices showed complete acellularity and orderly arranged collagen fibers after 48 h. The DNA contents were significantly (P0.05) reduced in both the matrices in comparison to the native matrices. The BDiaM and CRuM matrices were applied in eight and nine clinical cases of abdominal wall defects, respectively. Animals with BDiaM and CRuM matrices recovered uneventfully and remained sound at least up to 3 months. Hematological and immunological findings were unremarkable. BDiaM and CRuM matrices showed good results without complications. Keywords:Biocompatibility, Bubaline diaphragm matrix, Caprine rumen matrix, DNA quantification, ELISA, SDS-PAGE