bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of isokinetic trunk muscle strength and its association with health-related quality of life in patients with degenerative spinal deformity
Authors: Yang Sen , Chen Can , Du Shiyu , Tang Yong , Li Kai , Yu Xueke , Tan Jiulin , Zhang Chengmin , Rong Zhigang , Xu Jianzhong , Wu Wenjie , Luo Fei 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
A considerable portion of the elderly population are increasingly afflicted by degenerative spinal deformity (DSD), which seriously affects patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HRQoL index is used across many studies to show correlations between radio-graphical alignment, disability, and pain in patients with DSD. However, imaged structural deformity represents only one aspect for consideration, namely, the disability effect of DSD. We assessed the isokinetic strength of trunk muscle in patients with degenerative spinal deformity (DSD), and investigated its relationship with HRQoL.

Methods
In total, 38 patients with DSD (DSD group) and 32 healthy individuals (control group) were recruited. Both groups were homogeneous for age, weight, height and body mass index (BMI). Assessments were performed using the isokinetic dynamometer IsoMed-2000; trunk extensor, flexor strength and flexion/extension (F/E) ratios were explored concentrically at speeds of 30°, 60° and 120° per second. The grip strength of both hands was measured using a hand-held dynamometer. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), a Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RDQ), and a 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) evaluated patient HRQoL. Correlations between trunk strength and HRQoL were analyzed.

Results
When compared with the control group, the DSD group showed lower trunk extensor strength at three velocity movements, and higher F/E ratios at 60° and 120°/s (p < 0.05). Both groups exhibited similar trunk flexor strength and grip strength (p > 0.05). In DSD group, trunk extensor strength at 60°/s was negatively associated with ODI and RDQ (p < 0.05). A negative relationship between trunk flexor strength at 120°/s and ODI was also recorded (p < 0.05). In addition, trunk extensor strength at 60°/s and trunk flexor strength at 120°/s were positively correlated with physical functioning and role-physical scores according to the SF-36 (p < 0.05).

Conclusions
We identified isolated trunk extensor myopathy in DSD, which causes an imbalance in trunk muscle strength. Isokinetic trunk extensor strength at 60°/s and trunk flexor strength at 120°/s can predict disability, and decrease physical HRQoL in DSD patients.
Skin manifestations after bariatric surgery
Authors: Itthipanichpong Yada , Damkerngsuntorn Wilawan , Tangkijngamvong Natsinee , Udomsawaengsup Suthep , Boonchayaanant Patchaya , Kumtornrut Chanat , Kerr Stephen J. , Asawanonda Pravit , Rerknimitr Pawinee 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
Skin signs observed in morbid obesity may change as the weight reduces, especially post-bariatric surgery (BaS). Data concerning the skin findings exclusively in post-BaS patients remain limited.

Methods
Seventy post-BaS patients were examined for cutaneous abnormalities. The patients were divided into those with successful weight loss (% excessive body weight loss (EBWL) of at least 50%) and a non-successful group (%EBWL < 50%).

Results
Forty-six patients with successful weight loss demonstrated a significantly lower prevalence of acanthosis nigricans on the neck, axillae and inguinal areas, keratosis pilaris (KP) and pebble fingers. However, a higher prevalence of alopecia was observed. After adjustment with patients’ factors, KP (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.21, 95%CI 0.06–0.74, p = 0.02) and pebble fingers (aOR = 0.09, 95%CI 0.01–0.89, p = 0.04) remained significantly less likely in patients with successful weight loss. Laboratory results comparing pre- and post-surgery values revealed significant decreases in fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and triglyceride and an increase of high-density lipoproteins in both groups. However, significant decreases of liver aminotransferases (AST and ALT) were observed only in the successful group (p = 0.04, 0.003). Nonetheless, a decrease in vitamin B12 (p = 0.01) was observed in the successful group.

Conclusion
Weight loss after BaS provided an improvement for metabolic profiles. Successful weight reduction resulted in better skin improvement. However, nutritional supplements may be necessary.

Trial registration
Thai Clinical Trials Registry TCTR20171003002. Registered October 3. 2017, retrospectively registered.
Combined pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse using alkali and ionic liquid to increase hemicellulose content and xylanase production
Authors: Rashid Rozina , Ejaz Uroosa , Ali Firdous Imran , Hashmi Imran Ali , Bari Ahmed , Liu Jing , Wang Li , Fu Pengcheng , Sohail Muhammad 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
Lignin in sugarcane bagasse (SB) hinders its utilization by microorganism, therefore, pretreatment methods are employed to make fermentable components accessible to the microbes. Multivariate analysis of different chemical pretreatment methods can aid to select the most appropriate strategy to valorize a particular biomass.

Results
Amongst methods tested, the pretreatment by using sodium hydroxide in combination with methyltrioctylammonium chloride, an ionic liquid, (NaOH+IL) was the most significant for xylanase production by Bacillus aestuarii UE25. Investigation of optimal levels of five significant variables by adopting Box-Behnken design (BBD) predicted 20 IU mL− 1 of xylanase and experimentally, a titer of 17.77 IU mL− 1 was obtained which indicated the validity of the model. The production kinetics showed that volumetric productivity of xylanase was much higher after 24 h (833.33 IU L− 1 h− 1) than after 48 h (567.08 IU L− 1 h− 1). The extracted xylan from SB induced more xylanase in the fermentation medium than pretreated SB or commercially purified xylan. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy of SB indicated removal of lignin and changes in the structure of SB after NaOH+IL pretreatment and fermentation.

Conclusion
Combined pretreatment of SB with alkali and methyltrioctylammonium chloride appeared better than other chemical methods for bacterial xylanase production and for the extraction of xylan form SB.
Does oral health-related quality of life of patients after solid organ transplantation indicate a response shift? Results of a systematic review
Authors: Schmalz Gerhard , Garbade Jens , Kollmar Otto , Ziebolz Dirk 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
The physical oral health and dental behaviour of patients after solid organ transplantation (SOT) has repeatedly been reported as insufficient. The objective of this systematic review was to detect whether the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients after SOT is reduced compared to that of healthy individuals.

Methods
A systematic literature search was performed by two independent individuals based on the PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases by using the following search terms: “transplantation” AND “oral health-related quality of life”. The findings were checked to determine eligibility, whereby publication prior to 31 October 2020, examination of adult patients (age at least 18 years) with SOT, reporting of an OHRQoL outcome and full text in English language were the prerequisites for inclusion in the qualitative analysis. Quality appraisal of the included studies was performed using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality methodology checklist.

Results
Seven of 25 studies that examined patients after kidney (3), heart (2), liver (1) and lung transplantation (1) were included. Four studies included healthy controls, and five studies included a cohort of patients before transplantation for comparison. Clinical oral health examinations were heterogeneous between groups. The majority of studies (5/7) applied the short form of the “Oral Health Impact Profile” (OHIP 14) to assess OHRQoL. The OHIP 14 values ranged between 1.7 and 8.9 across studies, indicating an unaffected or just slightly reduced OHRQoL. Only one study found better OHRQoL in patients after SOT compared to a group before SOT, and one study confirmed worse OHRQoL of SOT recipients compared to a healthy control. Only two studies revealed an association between OHRQoL and oral health parameters. Furthermore, two studies each found a relationship between OHRQoL and general health-related quality of life or disease-related parameters.

Conclusions
Patients after SOT show an unaffected or only slightly reduced OHRQoL, which was mainly independent of the insufficient oral status. This might indicate a shift in the perception threshold for oral diseases and conditions caused by the general health burden related to the SOT.
Are there associations between religious affiliation and drive for muscularity? A cross-sectional survey of young Muslim women, Christian women and atheist women from Germany
Authors: Wilhelm Leonie , Hartmann Andrea S. , Becker Julia C. , Waldorf Manuel , Vocks Silja 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundOver the last 20 years, society’s perception of the ideal female body size in Western cultures has changed from thin to athletic, and many women practice sports to achieve well-toned bodies. However, to date, no study has investigated whether Muslim women who live in a Western country and veil their bodies strive for lean or muscular bodies too. The current cross-sectional survey therefore addressed this question.MethodsVeiled Muslim women (n = 70), unveiled Muslim women (n = 50), Christian women (n = 79), and atheist women (n = 68) living in Germany answered several questionnaires assessing engagement in sports, body appreciation, and drive for leanness and muscularity. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to compare the four groups.ResultsThe results of univariate and multivariate analyses showed that Muslim women engaged less in sports and veiled Muslim women reported higher body appreciation than did Christian and atheist women. Although the groups did not differ significantly in drive for muscularity, Muslim women showed lower levels of drive for leanness than did Christian and atheist women.ConclusionGiven that Muslim women engaged less in sports and strived less for a lean body compared to Christian and atheist women, a well-toned body might be less important for them. Nevertheless, as being active is beneficial for general health, barriers that prevent Muslim women from engaging in sports should be diminished.
4-Hydroxyisoleucine relieves inflammation through iRhom2-dependent pathway in co-cultured macrophages and adipocytes with LPS stimulation
Authors: Zhou Cong , Chen Rui , Gao Feng , Zhang Jiaoyue , Lu Furong 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
4-Hydroxyisoleucine (4-HIL) is an active ingredient extracted from Trigonella foenum-graecum L., a Chinese traditional herbal medicine, which exerts the efficacy of anti-obesity and anti-diabetes. We previously reported that 4-HIL potentiates anti-inflammatory and anti-insulin resistance effects through down-regulation of TNF-α and TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE) in 3 T3-L1 adipocytes and HepG2 cells. In the present study, we further investigate the effects and mechanisms of 4-HIL on obesity-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophages and 3 T3-L1 adipocytes co-culture system.

Methods
RAW264.7 macrophages and 3 T3-L1 adipocytes were co-cultured to mimic the microenvironment of adipose tissue. siRNA-iRhom2 transfection was performed to knockdown iRhom2 expression in RAW264.2 macrophages. The mRNA and protein expression of iRhom2 and TACE were measured by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. The production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), IL-6 and IL-10 were evaluated by ELISA. The ratio of M2/M1 was detected by flow cytometry.

Results
4-HIL significantly repressed the mRNA and protein levels of iRhom2 and TACE in RAW264.7 macrophages after LPS stimulated. Meanwhile, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-6, were substantially suppressed by 4-HIL in the co-culture system. Moreover, the level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased significantly by 4-HIL in the co-culture system after LPS stimulation. Additionally, the ratio of M2/M1 was also increased by 4-HIL in the co-culture system after LPS stimulation. Finally, these effects of 4-HIL were largely enhanced by siRNA-iRhom2 transfection.

Conclusion
Taken together, our results indicated that obesity-induced inflammation was potently relieved by 4-HIL, most likely through the iRhom2-dependent pathway.
Prediction of the VeriStrat test in first-line therapy of pemetrexed-based regimens for advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients
Authors: Jia Bo , Dong Zhi , Wu Di , Zhao Jun , Wu Meina , An Tongtong , Wang Yuyan , Zhuo Minglei , Li Jianjie , Wang Yang , Zhang Jie , Zhao Xinghui , Li Sheng , Li Junfeng , Ma Menglei , Chen Chen , Yang Xue , Zhong Jia , Chen Hanxiao , Wang Jingjing , Chi Yujia , Zhai Xiaoyu , Cui Song , Zhang Rong , Ma Qingwei , Fang Jian , Wang Ziping 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
Although advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients have significantly better survival outcomes after pemetrexed based treatment, a subset of patients still show intrinsic resistance and progress rapidly. Therefore we aimed to use a blood-based protein signature (VeriStrat, VS) to analyze whether VS could identify the subset of patients who had poor efficacy on pemetrexed therapy.

Methods
This study retrospectively analysed 72 advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients who received first-line pemetrexed/platinum or combined with bevacizumab treatment.

Results

Plasma samples from these patients were analysed using VS and classified into the Good (VS-G) or Poor (VS-P) group. The relationship between efficacy and VS status was further investigated. Of the 72 patients included in this study, 35 (48.6%) were treated with pemetrexed plus platinum and 37 (51.4%) were treated with pemetrexed/platinum combined with bevacizumab. Among all patients, 60 (83.3%) and 12 (16.7%) patients were classified as VS-G and VS-P, respectively. VS-G patients had significantly better median progression-free survival (PFS) (Unreached vs. 4.2 months; P < 0.001) than VS-P patients. In addition, the partial response (PR) rate was higher in the VS-G group than that in the VS-P group (46.7% vs. 25.0%, P = 0.212). Subgroup analysis showed that PFS was also significantly longer in the VS-G group than that in the VS-P group regardless of whether patients received chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy plus bevacizumab.

Conclusions
Our study indicated that VS might be considered as a novel and valid method to predict the efficacy of pemetrexed-based therapy and identify a subset of advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients who had intrinsic resistance to pemetrexed based regimens. However, larger sample studies are still needed to further confirm this result.
Asymptomatic recrudescence after artemether–lumefantrine treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mumtaz Rida , Okell Lucy C. , Challenger Joseph D. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
In clinical trials of therapy for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum, there are usually some patients who fail treatment even in the absence of drug resistance. Treatment failures, which can be due to recrudescence or re-infection, are categorized as ‘clinical’ or ‘parasitological’ failures, the former indicating that symptoms have returned. Asymptomatic recrudescence has public health implications for continued malaria transmission and may be important for the spread of drug-resistant malaria. As the number of recrudescences in an individual trial is often low, it is difficult to assess how commonplace asymptomatic recrudescence is, and with what factors it is associated.

Methods
A systematic literature review was carried out on clinical trials of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in patients seeking treatment for symptomatic uncomplicated falciparum malaria, and information on symptoms during treatment failure was recorded. Only treatment failures examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were included, so as to exclude re-infections. A multivariable Bayesian regression model was used to explore factors potentially explaining the proportion of recrudescent infections which are symptomatic across the trials included in the study.

Results
Across 60 published trials, including 9137 malaria patients, 37.8% [95% CIs (26.6–49.4%)] of recrudescences were symptomatic. A positive association was found between transmission intensity and the observed proportion of recrudescences that were asymptomatic. Symptoms were more likely to return in trials that only enrolled children aged < 72 months [odds ratio = 1.62, 95% CIs (1.01, 2.59)]. However, 84 studies had to be excluded from this analysis, as recrudescences were not specified as symptomatic or asymptomatic.

Conclusions
AL, the most widely used treatment for uncomplicated P. falciparum in Africa, remains a highly efficacious drug in most endemic countries. However in the small proportion of patients where AL does not clear parasitaemia, the majority of patients do not develop symptoms again and thus would be unlikely to seek another course of treatment. This continued asymptomatic parasite carriage in patients who have been treated may have implications for drug-resistant parasites being introduced into high-transmissions settings.
Beyond the map: evidencing the spatial dimension of health inequalities
Authors: Fayet Yohan , Praud Delphine , Fervers Béatrice , Ray-Coquard Isabelle , Blay Jean-Yves , Ducimetiere Françoise , Fagherazzi Guy , Faure Elodie 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background
Spatial inequalities in health result from different exposures to health risk factors according to the features of geographical contexts, in terms of physical environment, social deprivation, and health care accessibility. Using a common geographical referential, which combines indices measuring these contextual features, could improve the comparability of studies and the understanding of the spatial dimension of health inequalities.

Methods
We developed the Geographical Classification for Health studies (GeoClasH) to distinguish French municipalities according to their ability to influence health outcomes. Ten contextual scores measuring physical and social environment as well as spatial accessibility of health care have been computed and combined to classify French municipalities through a K-means clustering. Age-standardized mortality rates according to the clusters of this classification have been calculated to assess its effectiveness.

Results
Significant lower mortality rates compared to the mainland France population were found in the Wealthy Metropolitan Areas (SMR = 0.868, 95% CI 0.863–0.873) and in the Residential Outskirts (SMR = 0.971, 95% CI 0.964–0.978), while significant excess mortality were found for Precarious Population Districts (SMR = 1.037, 95% CI 1.035–1.039), Agricultural and Industrial Plains (SMR = 1.066, 95% CI 1.063–1.070) and Rural Margins (SMR = 1.042, 95% CI 1.037–1.047).

Conclusions
Our results evidence the comprehensive contribution of the geographical context in the constitution of health inequalities. To our knowledge, GeoClasH is the first nationwide classification that combines social, environmental and health care access scores at the municipality scale. It can therefore be used as a proxy to assess the geographical context of the individuals in public health studies.
Landscape disturbance impacts on Attalea butyracea palm distribution in central Panama
Authors: Mertzlufft Caitlin E. , Madden Marguerite , Gottdenker Nicole L. , Velásquez Runk Julie , Saldaña Azael , Tanner Susan , Calzada José E. , Yao Xiaobai 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundIncreasedAttalea butyraceapalm propagation, notable for its role as key habitat for the primary Chagas disease vector in Panama, has been linked to landscape disturbance in single-palm observations in this region. Close proximity of these palms to human dwellings is proposed to increase risk of Chagas disease transmission from sylvatic transmission cycles to domestic transmission involving human populations. This study examines the relationship between landscape disturbance and matureA. butyraceaspatial distribution, density, and proximity to human populations and vector and reservoir species’ movement corridors at a regional scale in a 300 km2heterogeneous tropical landscape in central Panama.MethodsWe remotely identified the locations of over 50,000 matureA. butyraceapalms using high-resolution WorldView2 satellite imagery. A local Getis-Ord Gi* spatial analysis identified significant clusters of aggregated palms. Associations between palm and cluster abundance and a landscape disturbance gradient, derived from official Panama land cover data, were tested using Chi-square tests for Homogeneity and Z-test for proportions. Kruskall-Wallis non-parametric analysis of variance tests were run to assess whether palm cluster area varied by disturbance level, or whether disturbance was associated with proximity of palms and palm clusters to susceptible populations or vector movement corridors.ResultsOur findings indicate a regional relationship between landscape disturbance andA. butyraceaoccurrence. We observe a significant increase in both individual and clusteredA. butyraceain secondary forest, but a reduction of palms in agricultural settings. We do not detect evidence of any reduction in abundance of palms in residential settings. The majority of residential and commercial buildings in our study area are within vector flight distance of potential vector habitat in palm crowns.ConclusionsWe observe probable anthropogenic elimination ofA. butyraceapalms in agricultural, but not residential, settings. Even in heavily deforested regions, significant concentrations of mature palms remain in close proximity to human establishments.