bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Community perceptions about dementia in southwestern Uganda
Authors: Owokuhaisa Judith , Rukundo Godfrey Zari , Wakida Edith , Obua Celestino , Buss Stephanie S. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: With the increasing number of people surviving into older age in Africa, dementia is becoming a public health concern. Understanding the social dynamics of dementia in resource-limited settings is critical for developing effective interventions. We explored community perceptions about people with dementia in southwestern Uganda.Methods: Fifty-nine individuals (aged 19-85 years, 56% female) participated in seven focus group discussions. In addition, 22 individual in-depth interviews were conducted among individuals (aged 22-84 years, 36% female). Both interviews and focus group discussions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and evaluated using a quantitative content analysis approach.Results: Five themes were generated during content analysis: i) Labeling of the illness, ii) Presentation of the person with dementia, iii) Causation, iv) Impact of the disease on people with dementia and their caregivers and v) Views on how to address unmet needs in dementia care. Dementia was commonly referred to as “okuhuga” or “okwebwayebwa” (also, oruhuzyo/ empugye / akahuriko) which translates as “mental disorientation”. The participants reported that most people with dementia presented with forgetfulness, defecating and urinating on themselves, wandering away from home, going out naked, and picking up garbage. Some participants perceived memory problems as a normal part of the aging process, while others attributed the cause of dementia to syphilis, cancer, allergy, old age, satanic powers, witchcraft, poor nutrition, or life stress. Participants reported multiple sources of stress for caregivers of people with dementia, including financial, social, and emotional burdens. Finally, participants suggested that community and governmental organizations should be involved in meeting the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers.Conclusions: Community members in southwestern Uganda largely identified dementia as a problem that comes with older age, and can identify key features of dementia presentation. Participants identified significant stressors affecting people with dementia and their caregivers, and reported that families and caregivers would benefit from education on the management of symptoms of dementia, and assistance in overcoming associated financial, social, and emotional burdens related to caretaking.
Development of thermo-photo sensitive genic male sterile lines in wheat using doubled haploid breeding
Authors: Li Hongsheng , Li Shaoxiang , Abdelkhalik Sedhom , Shahzad Armaghan , Gu Jian , Yang Zhonghui , Ding Mingliang , Liu Kun , Zhao Hong , Yang Mujun 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: Two-line hybrid wheat system using thermo-photo sensitive genic male sterility (TPSGMS) is currently the most promising approach for wheat heterosis utilization in China. However, during past twenty years only few TPSGMS lines were developed in hybrid wheat breeding, which has been the main limiting factor to create heterotic hybrids. Application of doubled haploid (DH) breeding provides a useful strategy to efficiently develop practically usable TPSGMS lines. Results: F1s and selected F2 and F3 sterile plants of eight crosses made from two commercial TPSGMS lines were used to produce DH lines. We developed a total of 24 elite DH sterile lines with stable sterility, good outcrossing and yield potential, resistance to yellow rust and powdery mildew, as well as desirable plant height (50-60 cm). These DH lines were developed within 4 years through at least one year of evaluation. The stability of male sterility was confirmed for most (20/24) of these elite DH sterile lines by multiple tests in two or three years. These lines are expected to be used in hybrid wheat breeding. The percentage of elite lines developed from the tested DH lines produced from filial generations was in the order of F2 > F3 > F1. Conclusions: We demonstrate that coupling DH techniques with conventional breeding is an efficient strategy for accelerating the development of more practical wheat TPSGMS lines. Generation of DHs from F2 generation appeared to be the better choice considering the balance of shortening breeding time and overall breeding efficiency.
Impact of Hemodialysis and Post-Dialysis Period on Granular Activity Levels
Authors: Larkin John W , Han Maggie , Han Hao , Guedes Murilo H , Gonçalves Priscila Bezerra , Poli-de-Figueiredo Carlos Eduardo , Cuvello-Neto Américo Lourenço , Barra Ana Beatriz L , de Moraes Thyago Proença , Usvyat Len A , Kotanko Peter , Canziani Maria Eugenia F , Raimann Jochen G , Pecoits-Filho Roberto 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: Physical activity (PA) is typically lower on hemodialysis (HD) days. Albeit intradialytic inactivity is expected, it is unknown whether recovery after HD contributes to low PA. We investigated the impact of HD and post-HD period on granular PA relative to HD timing. Methods: We used baseline data from the HDFIT trial conducted from August 2016 to October 2017. Accelerometry measured PA over one week in patients who received thrice-weekly high-flux HD (vintage 3 to 24 months), were clinically stable, and had no ambulatory limitations. PA was assessed on HD days (0 to ≤24 hours after start HD), first non-HD days (>24 to ≤48 hours after start HD) and second non-HD day (>48 to ≤72 hours after start HD). PA was recorded in blocks/slices: 4 hours during HD, 0 to ≤2 hours post-HD (30 minute slices), and >2 to ≤20 hours post-HD (4.5 hour slices). Blocks/slices of PA were captured at concurrent/parallel times on first/second non-HD days compared to HD days. Results: Among 195 patients (mean age 53±15 years, 71% male), step counts per 24-hours were 3919±2899 on HD days, 5308±3131 on first non-HD days (p<0.001), and 4926±3413 on second non-HD days (p=0.032). During concurrent/parallel times to HD on first and second non-HD days, patients took 1308 and 1128 more steps (both p<0.001). Patients took 276 more steps and had highest rates of steps/hour 2-hours post-HD versus same times on first non-HD days (all p<0.05). Consistent findings were observed on second non-HD days. Conclusions: PA was higher within 2-hours of HD versus same times on non-HD days. Lower PA on HD days was attributable to intradialytic inactivity. The established PA profiles are of importance to the design and development of exercise programs that aim to increase activity during and between HD treatments. Trial Registration: HDFIT was registered 20 April 2016 on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02787161) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02787161.
Theoretical characterisation of strand cross-correlation in ChIP-seq
Authors: Anzawa Hayato , Yamagata Hitoshi , Kinoshita Kengo 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: Strand cross-correlation profiles are used for both peak calling pre-analysis and quality control (QC) in chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis. Despite its potential for robust and accurate assessments of signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) because of its peak calling independence, it remains unclear what aspects of quality such strand cross-correlation profiles actually measure. Results: We introduced a simple model to simulate the mapped read-density of ChIP-seq and then derived the theoretical maximum and minimum of cross-correlation coefficients between strands. The results suggest that the maximum coefficient of typical ChIP-seq samples is directly proportional to the number of total mapped reads and the square of the ratio of signal reads, and inversely proportional to the number of peaks and the length of read-enriched regions. Simulation analysis supported our results and evaluation using 790 ChIP-seq data obtained from the public database demonstrated high consistency between calculated cross-correlation coefficients and estimated coefficients based on the theoretical relations and peak calling results. In addition, we found that the mappability-bias-correction improved sensitivity, enabling differentiation of maximum coefficients from the noise level. Based on these insights, we proposed virtual S/N (VSN), a novel peak call-free metric for S/N assessment. We also developed PyMaSC, a tool to calculate strand cross-correlation and VSN efficiently. VSN achieved most consistent S/N estimation for various ChIP targets and sequencing read depths. Furthermore, we demonstrated that a combination of VSN and pre-existing peak calling results enable the estimation of the numbers of detectable peaks for posterior experiments and assess peak calling results. Conclusions: We present the first theoretical insights into the strand cross-correlation, and the results reveal the potential and the limitations of strand cross-correlation analysis. Our quality assessment framework using VSN provides peak call-independent QC and will help in the evaluation of peak call analysis in ChIP-seq experiments.
Synchronous dissection of chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes clarifies the intra- and inter-genus phylogeny for the agriculturally important genus Brassica
Authors: Qiao Jiangwei , Zhang Xiaojun , Chen Biyun , Huang Fei , Xu Kun , Huang Qian , Huang Yi , Hu Qiong , Wu Xiaoming 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background : The genus Brassica mainly comprises three diploid and three recently derived allotetraploid species, which are highly important vegetable, oil or ornamental crops cultivated worldwide. Despite being extensively studied, the origination of B. napus and the detailed interspecific relationships within Brassica genus remains unresolved and somewhere confused. By synchronous sequencing of both the chloroplast DNA and mitochondrial DNA, the whole Brassica phylogeny and the origination of the predominant nap -type B. napus have been clarified based on a large plant population, which maximally integrated the known Brassica species. Results : The phylogenetic analyses based on a data set including 72 de novo assembled whole chloroplast genomes, delineated a comprehensive evolutional atlas inside and around Brassica genus. Different from the monophyletical maternal origin of B. juncea and B. carinata from cam-type B. rapa and B. nigra , respectively, the natural B. napus has multiplex maternal origins. It contains three major cytoplasmic haplotypes: the cam -type which directly inherited from B. rapa , polima -type which is close to cam -type as a sister, and the predominant nap -type. Intriguingly, nap -type seems phylogenetically integrated with certain sparse C-genome wild species , thus implying that which may have primarily contributed the cytoplasm and the corresponding C subgenome to B. napus . Human breeding creation of the B. napus cytoplasmic male sterile lines (e.g., mori and nsa ) have dramatically disturbed the concurrent inheritance between mtDNA and cpDNA. Strong parallel evolution among genera Raphanus , Sinapis, Eruca , Moricandia with Brassica indicates their uncomplete divergence from each other. Conclusions : The elaborated phylogenetic relationships and overall variation data obtained herein can substantially facilitate to develop novel Brassica germplasms and to improve the Brassica crops.
Both comorbidity and worse performance status are associated with poorer overall survival after external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer
Authors: Lehtonen Miikka , Heiskanen Lauri , Reinikainen Petri , Kellokumpu-Lehtinen Pirkko-Liisa 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: In this retrospective study, we evaluated the biochemical recurrence rate, metastatic disease progression, and prostate cancer-specific and overall survival in patients curatively treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for early prostate cancer (PC). We also examined the prognostic effect of comorbidity by Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and overall performance status by Eastern Clinical Oncology Group (ECOG) score. Methods: A total of 665 men treated between 2008 and 2013 were enrolled from Tampere University Hospital, Finland. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and hospital records were used to determine the 5-year survival for each aforementioned endpoint using a Kaplan-Meyer estimate. To analyze the impact of the selected prognostic factor, we used a Cox regression model to calculate the corresponding hazard ratio (HR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI). Results: With a median follow-up-time of 7.12 years, the 5-year overall survival (OS) after EBRT was 88.9 % [86.5 %-91.3 %], prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS) was 97.9 % [96.7 %-99.1%], metastasis-free survival (MFS) 94.8 % [93.0 %-96.6 %] and biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) 88.7 % [86.2 %-91.2 %]. Both CCI (HR = 1.38, [1.25-1.51]) and ECOG score (HR = 1.63, [1.29-2.05]) declined OS, as well as Gleason score and T score (P < 0.05). Gleason score and T grade also associated to worse PCSS, MFS and BRFS. Conclusions: CCI and ECOG score are useful tools in evaluating the overall life expectancy of the patient after EBRT for PC. T-stage and Gleason score remain still the major prognostic factors.
Role of the ADCY9 gene in cardiac abnormalities of the Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome
Authors: Wu Yueheng , Xia Yu , Li Ping , Qu Hui-Qi , Liu Yichuan , Yang Yongchao , Lin Jijin , Zheng Meng , Tian Lifeng , Wu Zhuanbin , Huang Shufang , Qin Xianyu , Zhou Xianwu , Chen Shaoxian , Liu Yanying , Wang Yonghua , Li Xiaofeng , Zeng Hanshi , Hakonarson Hakon , Zhuang Jian 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background ： Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome (RSTS) is a rare, congenital, plurimalformative, and neurodevelopmental disorder. Previous studies have reported that large deletions contribute to more severe RSTS phenotypes than those caused by CREBBP point mutations, suggesting a concurrent pathogenetic role of flanking genes, typical of contiguous gene syndromes, but the detailed genetics are unclear.
Results ： This study presented a rare case of Rubinstein-Taybi (RT) syndrome with serious cardiac abnormalities. Based on the clinical and genetic analysis of the patient, the ADCY9 gene deletion was highlighted as a plausible explanation of cardiac abnormalities. In adcy9 morphant zebrafish, cardiac malformation was observed. Immunofluorescence study disclosed increased macrophage migration and cardiac apoptosis. RNA sequencing in zebrafish model highlighted the changes of a number of genes, including increased expression of the mmp9 gene which encodes a matrix metalloproteinase with the main function to degrade and remodel extracellular matrix.
Conclusions ： In this study, we identified a plausible new candidate gene ADCY9 of CHD through the clinical and genetic analysis of a rare case of Rubinstein-Taybi (RT) syndrome with serious cardiac abnormalities. By functional study of zebrafish, we demonstrated that deletion of adcy9 is the causation for the cardiac abnormalities. Cardiac apoptosis and increased expression of the MMP9 gene are involved in the pathogenesis.
The growing impact of older patients in the Emergency Department: a 5-year retrospective analysis in Brazil
Authors: Gomes João Carlos Pereira , Dias Roger Daglius , Barros Jacson Venancio , Velasco Irineu Tadeu , Filho Wilson Jacob 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: The average age of the global population is rising at an increasing rate. There is a disproportional increase in Emergency Department (ED) visits by older people worldwide. In the Brazilian health system, complex and severely ill patients and those requiring specialized urgent procedures are referred to tertiary level care. As far as we know, no other study in Latin America has analyzed the impact of demographic changes in tertiary ED attendance. Aim: To describe the sociodemographic characteristics and outcomes of tertiary Brazilian ED users.Methods: Design: Observational cross-sectional analytic study. Setting: Emergency Department, tertiary university hospital, São Paulo, Brazil. Participants: patients aged 18 years or older attending a tertiary ED (2009-2013). The primary outcomes were hospitalization and mortality; the secondary outcome was ICU admission. Age was categorized as ‘young adults’ (18-39y), ‘adults’ (40-59y), ‘young-older adults’ (60-79y), and ‘old-older adults’ (80-109y). Other variables included sex, reason for attendance, time of ED visit, mode of presentation, type of hospitalization, main procedure, length of hospital stay (LOS) and length of ICU stay (ICU-LOS). We calculated descriptive statistics, built generalized linear mixed models for each outcome and estimated Odds Ratios (95% CI) for the independent categorical variables. The significance level was 5% with Bonferroni correction. Results: Older age-groups represented 26.6% of 333,028 ED visits, 40.7% of admissions, 42.7% of ICU admissions and 58% of all deaths. Old-older patients accounted for 5.1% of ED visits, 9.5% of admissions and 10.1% of ICU admissions. Hospitalization, ICU admission and mortality rates increased with older age in both sexes. LOS and ICU-LOS were similar across age-groups. The proportions of visits and admissions attributed to young adults decreased annually, while those of people aged 60 or over increased. The ORs for hospitalization, ICU admission and mortality associated with the old-older group were 3.49 (95% CI = 3.15-3.87), 1.27 (1.15-1.39) and 5.93 (5.29-6.66) respectively, with young adults as the reference.Conclusions: In tertiary ED, age is an important risk factor for hospitalization and mortality, but not for ICU admission. Old-older people are at the greatest risk and demand further subgroup stratification.
Clinical Correlates of Insomnia in Patients with Persistent Post-Traumatic Headache Compared with Migraine
Authors: Kim Soo-Kyoung , Chong Catherine D , Dumkrieger Gina , Ross Katherine , Berisha Visar , Schwedt Todd J. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
Close associations between insomnia with other clinical factors have been identified in migraine, but there have been few studies investigating associations between insomnia and clinical factors in patients with persistent post-traumatic headache (PPTH). The study objective was to contrast the severity of insomnia symptoms in PPTH, migraine, and healthy controls, and to identify factors associated with insomnia in patients with PPTH vs. migraine.

Methods

In this cross-sectional cohort study, 57 individuals with PPTH attributed to mild traumatic brain injury, 39 with migraine, and 39 healthy controls were included. Participants completed a detailed headache characteristics questionnaire, the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ), Allodynia Symptom Checklist, Photosensitivity Assessment Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) checklist, Ray Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and the Trail Making Test A and B to assess headache characteristics, disability, insomnia symptoms, sensory hypersensitivities, and neuropsychological factors. Fisher’s test and one-way ANOVA or Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference were used to assess group differences of categorical and continuous data. Stepwise linear regression analyses were conducted to identify clinical variables associated with insomnia symptoms.

Results

Those with PPTH had significantly higher ISI scores (16.7 ± 6.6) compared to migraine patients (11.3 ± 6.4) and healthy controls (4.1 ± 4.8) ( p < 0.001). For those with PPTH, insomnia severity was most strongly correlated with the BDI (Spearman's rho ( Common.EditSubmissionSteps.Transform.EquationText ) = 0.634, p < 0.01), followed by Trait Anxiety ( Common.EditSubmissionSteps.Transform.EquationText = 0.522, p < 0.01), PTSD ( Common.EditSubmissionSteps.Transform.EquationText  = 0.505, p < 0.01), HQ ( Common.EditSubmissionSteps.Transform.EquationText  = 0.469, p < 0.01), State Anxiety ( Common.EditSubmissionSteps.Transform.EquationText  = 0.437, p < 0.01), and MIDAS scores ( Common.EditSubmissionSteps.Transform.EquationText = 0.364, p < 0.01). According to linear regression models, BDI, headache intensity, and hyperacusis scores were significantly positively associated with insomnia severity in those with PPTH, while only delayed memory recall was negatively associated with insomnia severity in those with migraine.

Conclusions

Insomnia symptoms were more severe in those with PPTH compared to migraine and healthy control cohorts. Depression, headache intensity, and hyperacusis were associated with insomnia in individuals with PPTH. Future studies should determine the bidirectional impact of treating insomnia and its associated symptoms.
Retraction and force analysis of transporting bone segment during Ilizarov bone transport
Authors: Ma Yunhong , Yin Qudong , Wu Yongwei , Wang Zongnan , Sun Zhenzhong , Gu Sanjun , Rui Yongjun , Han Xiaofei 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: Previous research rarely reported the cause and relevant factors of retraction of transporting bone segment (TBS). The purpose of this study is to analyze the force and cause of retraction of TBS during Ilizarov bone transport after removal of its fixator. Methods: 37 cases with tibial bone defect treated by Ilizarov bone transport, in whom the fixator of TBS was removed before mature of mineralization of the distraction callus or union of the docking site, were analyzed retrospectively. Bivariate correlation was used to analyze relationship between retraction distance of TBS and age, gender, disease course, length of bone defect, times of pre-operation, size of TBS, transport distance, cause of removal, timing and time interval of removal of TBS fixator. Risk factors with significant level were further identified using multivariate linear regression. Results: Bivariate correlation analysis showed the timing of removal was negatively correlated while the time interval, cause of removal, transport distance and size of TBS were positively correlated with the transport distance（all p<0.05), however the age, gender, disease course, length of bone defect and times of pre-operation were not correlated with the transport distance（p>0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed the timing of removal, transport distance and size of TBS were significant risk factors for the retraction distance (p<0.05), of which, the timing of removal had the greatest impact, followed by the transport distance and size of TBS, however the cause of removal and time interval were not significant for the retraction (p>0.05). Conclusion: The traction force of the TBS endured from soft tissue , not from the distraction callus, is elastic and can induce a retraction of TBS when its fixator is removed in advance. The retraction distance is related to the size of TBS, transport distance and timing of removal, especially the timing of removal is an independent risk factor.