bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Helix B surface peptide reduces sepsis‐induced kidney injury via PI3K/Akt pathway
Authors: Qu Yan , Sun Qiang , Song Xiaoxia , Jiang Yan , Dong Hai , Zhao Wanjun , Li Cuiping 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAimHelix B‐Surface peptide (HBSP) is the latest discovered erythropoietin (EPO) analogue that can retain the activity of EPO. EPO, which is widely used for treating renal anemia, has recently been proved to have protective effects on ischemia‐reperfusion injury of brain, heart and kidney. The protective effects of EPO and HBSP on cardiac function were found in rats with myocardial ischemia. However, the effect of HBSP on sepsis‐induced renal injury is still unclear.MethodsEstablishment of rat kidney injury model and treated with HBSP and lipoposaccharide. Renal injury in rats was observed by hematoxylin‐eosin staining and injury index score. Levels of serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Cystatin C (Cys C) were detected using fully automatic biochemical analyzer, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and IL‐1β were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the role of HBSP in phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway.ResultsAcute kidney injury (AKI) appeared after modeling, however, HBSP alleviated the pathological conditions of the kidney injury. In addition, HBSP lowered kidney injury index score in the rats, and decreased the levels of SCr, BUN, Cys C, TNF‐α, IL‐6 and IL‐1β, moreover, HBSP also showed the effect of activating PI3K/Akt pathway.ConclusionHBSP alleviated lipoposaccharide‐induced AKI and improved kidney function of the rats with sepsis. More importantly, the effects of HBSP on lipoposaccharid‐induced AKI were realized via activating PI3K/Akt pathway. The findings in the current study provide new insights into the therapeutic mechanism for treating the disease.
Peanut residues supply minimal plant‐available nitrogen on a major soil series in the USA peanut basin
Authors: Jani Arun D. , Mulvaney Michael J. , Balkcom Kipling S. , Wood Charles Wesley , Jordan David L. , Wood Brenda H. , Devkota Pratap 
Published: November 2019

AbstractField observations have shown that a substantial portion of peanut leaves abscise in windrows during pod curing, leading to an uneven distribution of leaves and stems when intact residues are spread during harvest. Possible differences in nitrogen (N) mineralization rates between peanut leaf and stem residues may lead to spatial and temporal variability in available N during subsequent crops. The objective of this study was to quantify N mineralization in soil amended with different peanut residue components under simulated conventional and conservation tillage practices. A 252‐day microlysimeter incubation was conducted in which peanut leaves, stems and a 1:1 mixture of leaves:stems from three varieties were incorporated or placed on the soil surface to simulate conventional or conservation tillage, respectively. Soils were periodically leached to assess N mineralization compared with a soil‐only control. Nitrogen mineralization was only affected by residue component. Averaged over variety and residue placement, soil amended with leaves mineralized 10% more N relative to the control or soil containing stems. It was estimated that leaves supplied 25 kg N ha−1 over 252 days at 0–15 cm soil depth, which would likely be insufficient to induce a yield response by a subsequent crop. This study suggests that uneven distribution of peanut leaf and stem residues following harvest causes only minor spatial and temporal variability in available N during subsequent crop growth. These results support the growing body of evidence indicating that peanut residue N contributions to subsequent crops are negligible in the peanut basin of the south‐eastern USA.
Return rate in blood donors: A 7‐year follow up
Authors: Kasraian Leila , Hosseini Sahar , Dehbidi Sahar , Ashkani‐Esfahani Soheil 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectiveDetermining the current return rates of blood donors and their related factors.BackgroundUnderstanding the current pattern of blood donors' return rates and also their motivations will be beneficial when there is a need to implement measures to encourage new blood donors and retain existing ones.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study was conducted on 4200 blood donors in Shiraz, Iran, from 26 November 2010 to 26 December 2010. Blood donors' return rate and its related factors were investigated in a 7‐year follow up.ResultsThe overall return rates of blood donors indicated a significant yearly decline of 51.2%, 45.1%, 37.6%, 38.8%, 28.7%, 22.7% and 22.1% over a 7‐year follow up. The return rates for first‐time donors declined annually by 30%, 25%, 21%, 18.5%, 15.2%,12.3% and 11.8% (P ≤ .05). Return rates were higher among male, older, low‐educated, Rh‐negative and regular donors. Blood donations for altruistic reasons and religious reasons were higher in regular and older donors (P < .001); donation for positive effects on their health and free access to screening tests and curiosity was higher in first‐time donors and females (P < .001). The most frequent deterrents were lack of time (42.7%), unsuitable condition (37.6%) and difficult access to donation sites (26.2%).ConclusionDesigning new strategies to retain donors, advertisement, appreciation methods and providing convenient conditions for donation are needed to increase the return rates, particularly in young, highly educated, female and first‐time donors.
The controversial histologic classification of canine subcutaneous whorling tumours: The path to perivascular wall tumours
Authors: Avallone Giancarlo , Stefanello Damiano , Ferrari Roberta , Roccabianca Paola 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSubcutaneous spindle cell tumours characterized by whorling growth patterns are common in dogs and are identified as a distinct entity. These tumours were misnamed as hemangiopericytomas (HPCs) because of some minor morphological parallels with their human counterparts. In veterinary medicine, the cell of origin of HPC has been under debate for a long time. Some authors have suggested a perivascular origin while others a perineural one. The evidence of the orientation of the neoplastic cells around the vessels and the expression of contractile proteins supported a perivascular origin while S100 expression and an inconsistent vascular connection supported a perineural origin. Despite the morphological similarities with peripheral nerve sheath tumours in humans, the perineural origin was supported mainly by the expression of markers with low specificity. On the contrary, the majority of studies have supported the perivascular origin of ‘old’ canine HPC. Since a variable degree of myoid‐pericytic differentiation was described, the term perivascular wall tumours (PWTs) were suggested to substitute HPC. Once the diagnostic criteria of PWTs were defined, the clinical behaviour and prognostic variables were investigated, demonstrating differences as compared with the group of canine soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) in general. PWTs are less aggressive, mostly locally invasive, and rarely metastasizing. Their behaviour seems to be less influenced by histological grade, suggesting that canine STSs are heterogeneous. The study of the biological behaviour of specific STS tumour types may be valuable in detecting differences which have passed unnoticed when STSs have been studied concomitantly.
Human beta defensins may be a multifactorial modulator in the management of diabetic wound
Authors: Sanapalli Bharat K. R. , Yele Vidyasrilekha , Kalidhindi Rama S. R. , Singh Sachin K. , Gulati Monica , Karri Veera V. S. R. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractDiabetic wound (DW) is considered as one of the serious complications associated with diabetes mellitus. Though some pharmacological approaches are available for managing DW, none of them has been reported to be very effective. Widely accepted options for its management include treatment of infection caused by various pathogens, wound debridement, reducing the period of the prolonged inflammatory phase, and supervision of the remodeling phase of wound healing. Satisfactory management of DW thus requires exploring new avenues for finding a potential therapeutic strategy. Literature shows that human beta defensins (HBDs) help in combating the insulin resistance by inhibiting the production of glucocorticoids, reducing chronic inflammation by acting through Toll‐like receptor signaling pathway, and provoking cell migration, proliferation, angiogenesis, and stabilization of fibroblasts and keratinocytes, ultimately resulting in wound closure. In the present review, beneficial role of HBDs in the treatment of DW is discussed in detail.
Olfactory ensheathing cells improve the survival of porcine neural xenografts in a Parkinsonian rat model
Authors: Weng Shao‐Ju , Chen Chien‐Fu F. , Huang Yuahn‐Sieh , Chiu Chuang‐Hsin , Wu Shinn‐Chih , Lin Chen‐Ying , Chueh Sheau‐Huei , Cheng Cheng‐Yi , Ma Kuo‐Hsing 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundParkinson's disease (PD) features the motor control deficits resulting from irreversible, progressive degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons of the nigrostriatal pathway. Although intracerebral transplantation of human fetal ventral mesencephalon (hfVM) has been proven effective at reviving DA function in the PD patients, this treatment is clinically limited by availability of hfVM and the related ethical issues. Homologous tissues to hfVM, such as porcine fetal ventral mesencephalon (pfVM) thus present a strong clinical potential if immune response following xenotransplantation could be tamed. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are glial cells showing immunomodulatory properties. It is unclear but intriuging whether these properties can be applied to reducing immune response following neural xenotransplantation of PD.MethodsTo determine whether OECs may benefit neural xenografts for PD, different compositions of grafting cells were transplanted into striatum of the PD model rats. We used apomorphine‐induced rotational behavior to evaluate effectiveness of the neural grafts on reviving DA function. Immunohistochemistry was applied to investigate the effect of OECs on the survival of neuroxenografts and underlying mechanisms of this effect.ResultsFour weeks following the xenotransplantation, we found that the PD rats receiving pfVM + OECs co‐graft exhibited a better improvement in apomorphine‐induced rotational behavior compared with those receiving only pfVM cells. This result can be explained by higher survival of DA neurons (tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity) in grafted striatum of pfVM + OECs group. Furthermore, pfVM + OECs group has less immune response (CD3+ T cells and OX‐6+ microglia) around the grafted area compared with pfVM only group. These results suggest that OECs may enhance the survival of the striatal xenografts via dampening the immune response at the grafted sites.ConclusionsUsing allogeneic OECs as a co‐graft material for xenogeneic neural grafts could be a feasible therapeutic strategy to enhance results and applicability of the cell replacement therapy for PD.
High prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and insulin resistance 6 years after hyperglycemia first detected in pregnancy in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Chivese Tawanda , Norris Shane A , Levitt Naomi S 
Published: November 2019

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and associated cardiovascular risk factors 6 years after hyperglycemia first detected in pregnancy (HFDP) in Cape Town, South Africa.Research design and methodsData were collected during the index pregnancy from all women diagnosed with HFDP at a major referral hospital in Cape Town. Participants were evaluated 6 years later using a cross-sectional study. At follow-up participants had a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, fasting lipogram, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements, and a fieldworker administered the questionnaire. We used the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome and individual risk factors. Insulin resistance was assessed using the homeostatic model of insulin resistance.ResultsAt follow-up 220 women were reviewed. Their mean age at follow-up was 37.2 (SD 6.0) years. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors was 60.9% (95% CI 54.3 to 67.2) for metabolic syndrome, 75% (95% CI 65.9 to 82.3) for insulin resistance, 62.3% (95% CI 55.6 to 68.5) for dysglycemia, 41.4% (95% CI 35.0 to 48.0) for raised blood pressure, and 74.6% (95% CI 683 to 79.9) for dyslipidemia. Women with diabetes in pregnancy compared with those with gestational diabetes during the index pregnancy had a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (74.3% vs 54.7%, p=0.010) and dysglycemia (88.6% vs 50.0%, p<0.001) at follow-up. Lower school education attainment, having a subsequent pregnancy, waist circumference at follow-up, and fasting blood glucose at HFDP diagnosis were associated with metabolic syndrome.ConclusionWe found a high prevalence of CVD risk factors in South African women within 6 years of HFDP, which highlights the need to develop and evaluate interventions optimizing the cardiometabolic health of this vulnerable group. The main limitations of our research are the lack of a comparative group of women without HFDP and that we did not assess for CVD risk factors before HFDP.
Association between socioeconomic position and occupational health service utilisation trajectories among young municipal employees in Finland
Authors: Sumanen Hilla , Harkko Jaakko , Piha Kustaa , Pietilainen Olli , Rahkonen Ossi , Kouvonen Anne 
Published: November 2019

ObjectivesTo identify groups of municipal employees between the ages of 20 and 34 years with distinct utilisation trajectories of primary care services provided by occupational health service (OHS), measured as the annual number of OHS visits, and to identify demographic and socioeconomic risk factors that distinguish employees in the high utilisation trajectory group(s).MethodsThe present study is a retrospective register-based cohort study. All municipal employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland, aged 20–34 in the Helsinki Health Study, recruited from 2004 to 2013, with follow-up data for 4 years were included in the study (n=9762). The outcome measure was group-based trajectories of OHS utilisation, identified with a group-based trajectory analysis. The demographic and socioeconomic variables used to predict the outcome were age, first language, educational level and occupational class. The analyses were stratified by gender.ResultsA large proportion of the young employees do not use OHS. Trajectory groups of ‘No visits’ (50%), ‘Low/increasing’ (18%), ‘Low/decreasing’ (22%) and ‘High/recurrent’ (10%) use were identified. We found occupational class differences in OHS utilisation patterns showing that lower occupational classes had a higher propensity for ‘High/recurrent’ OHS utilisation for both genders.ConclusionsPreventive measures should be targeted particularly to the trajectory groups of ‘Low/increasing’ and ‘High/recurrent’ in order to intervene early. In addition, OHS utilisation should be closely monitored among the two lowest occupational classes. More research with longitudinal OHS data is needed.
Efficacy of electroacupuncture for the treatment of constipation in Parkinson’s disease: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Li Kunshan , Wang Zhaoqin , Chen Yiyi , Shen Lirong , Li Zhongqiu , Wu Yiwen , Yuan Canxing , Huang Yan , Wu Luyi , Bao Chunhui , Zhang Wei , Xu Shifen , Wu Huangan 
Published: November 2019

IntroductionConstipation is one of the most common non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Acupuncture can have a positive on chronic functional constipation and PD, but its efficacy for the treatment of constipation in PD has not yet been confirmed by high-quality clinical trials. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of constipation in PD.Methods and analysisThis study is a multicentre randomised controlled trial. A total of 124 qualified patients with PD and constipation will be randomly divided into the intervention group (62 participants will receive 12 weeks of EA +usual care) or the waitlist control group (62 participants will receive 12 weeks of usual care). EA will be performed three times per week from weeks 1–8, two times per week during weeks 9 and 10, and once a week during weeks 11 and 12. The primary outcome is the change in mean weekly spontaneous bowel movements from baseline to weeks 8 and 9. The secondary outcomes are the changes from baseline in mean weekly bowel movements, mean weekly stool consistency, and mean weekly straining. Other secondary outcomes include the weekly doses of defecation drugs, Visual Analogue Scale for subjective improvements in stool symptoms, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, and the time and number of steps required to walk 20 m. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, week 4, 8, 12 (intervention period); as well as at week 16, 24 (follow-up period).Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained from four local ethics committees. The results of the study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and will be disseminated through national and international conferences.Trial registration numberChiCTR1900021053
Experiences of psychotropic medication use and decision-making for adults with intellectual disability: a multistakeholder qualitative study in the UK
Authors: Sheehan Rory , Hassiotis Angela , Strydom André , Morant Nicola 
Published: November 2019

ObjectivesUnderstanding patient and carer perspectives is essential to improving the quality of medication prescribing. This study aimed to explore experiences of psychotropic medication use among people with intellectual disability (ID) and their carers, with a focus on how medication decisions are made.DesignThematic analysis of data collected in individual semistructured interviews.Participants and settingFourteen adults with ID, 12 family carers and 12 paid carers were recruited from specialist psychiatry services, community groups, care providers and training organisations in the UK.ResultsPeople with ID reported being highly compliant with psychotropic medication, based on a largely unquestioned view of medication as important and necessary, and belief in the authority of the psychiatrist. Though they sometimes experienced medication negatively, they were generally not aware of their right to be involved in medication decisions. Paid and family carers reported undertaking a number of medication-related activities. Their ‘front-line’ status and longevity of relationships meant that carers felt they possessed important forms of knowledge relevant to medication decisions. Both groups of carers valued decision-making in which they felt they had a voice and a genuine role. While some in each group described making joint decisions about medication with psychiatrists, lack of involvement was often described. This took three forms in participants’ accounts: being uninformed of important facts, insufficiently included in discussions and lacking influence to shape decisions. Participants described efforts to democratise the decision-making process by gathering information, acting to disrupt perceived power asymmetries and attempting to prove their credibility as valid decision-making partners.ConclusionsStakeholder involvement is a key element of medication optimisation that is not always experienced in decisions about psychotropic medication for people with ID. Forms of shared decision-making could be developed to promote collaboration and offer people with ID and their carers greater involvement in medication decisions.
Improving the quality of assessment and management of nasal trauma in a major trauma centre (MTC): Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham
Authors: Khajuria Apoorva , Osborne Max Sallis , McClleland Lisha , Ghosh Sandip 
Published: November 2019

BackgroundNasal fractures present in 39% of patients with facial trauma. These patients are assessed in the emergency department followed by outpatient review in the senior house officer-led emergency ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinic. Inadequate treatment of nasal trauma can result in debilitating functional and aesthetic problems. Inexperienced junior doctors may be apprehensive in assessing nasal trauma resulting in time pressured clinics and suboptimal management.MeasuresA retrospective review of clinical noting over 3 months was carried out to gauge the extent of the problem. Three baseline measurements for satisfactory quality of assessments included: (1) 3/5 key symptoms elicited by the clinician (epistaxis, rhinorrhoea, nasal airway obstruction, dental malocclusion and diplopia). (2) Presence/absence of ‘septal haematoma’ (SH) and ‘deviated nasal septum’ (DNS) documented. (3) Patient follow-up within 2 weeks after the initial injury. Three Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were conducted with implementation of interventions (proforma, clinic poster, patient information leaflet and training) as visualised in our ‘driver diagram’.ResultsThe quality of nasal trauma assessments improved following each intervention. There was an increase from 86% to 100% patients being seen within 2 weeks of the injury. There was an improvement in quality of assessments following the teaching as two-thirds (PDSA cycle 2) followed by 100% (PDSA cycle 3) of clinical documentation included ‘rhinorrhoea’ and 83% (PDSA cycle 2) to 100% (PDSA cycle 3) included ‘nasal airway obstruction’. Similarly, two thirds (PDSA cycle 2) followed by 100% (PDSA cycle 3) examined and documented the presence/absence of SH and DNS. A 100% improvement in trainee confidence was reported. We are now conducting more comprehensive assessments of nasal trauma patients.ConclusionThe need to provide relevant training and support to ENT junior doctors is crucial in their development, as well as to ensure delivery of high-quality patient-centred care.
Homology modeling of mouse NLRP3 NACHT protein domain and molecular dynamics simulation of its ATP binding properties
Authors: Lai Hien T. T. , Ha Do Minh , Nguyen Duc Manh , Nguyen Toan T. 
Published: November 2019

Gout is an extremely painful form of inflammatory arthritis, caused by the formation of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the joints. MSU crystals are one of the triggers for the activation of nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome (NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein), which in turn induces caspase-1 activation and a nonspecific immune responses that cause inflammation. Further structural studies and ligand designs are needed to block the interaction of NLRP3 with MSU or allow the interaction without activating caspase-1. This would facilitate the screening of new drugs for the treatment of gout. Using computational methods for homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations, the structural model of mouse NLRP3 protein with its domains, three potential structural models were consistently constructed and tested to find the most stable structural model. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) — an activator of NACHT (the central domain of mouse NLRP3 protein) — was docked and simulated. Ligand effects to activate as well as limit this protein were analyzed. This study provides insights to deeper understanding about gout development pathway via the NLRP3 protein.