bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic variants of VEGFR-1 gene promoter in acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Wang Haihua , Zhang Shufang , Wang Na , Zhang Jie , Chen Mingkai , He Xiaohui , Cui Yinghua , Pang Shuchao , Yan Bo 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundCoronary artery disease (CAD) including acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a common complex disease caused by atherosclerosis. Vascular epithelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) stimulates angiogenesis and vascular permeability, and functions as a decoy to sequester VEGF and prevent initiation of intracellular signaling. VEGFR-1 knockout mice exhibit significantly higher mortality due to heart failure, cardiac hypertrophy, and cardiac dysfunction. An evident increase in macrophage infiltration and cardiac fibrosis are also observed after transverse aortic constriction. Therefore, VEGFR-1 gene variants may be involved in CAD. In this study, VEGFR-1 gene promoter was genetically and functionally analyzed in large cohorts of AMI patients and ethnic-matched controls.ResultsA total of 16 DNA sequence variants (DSVs) including six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in the VEGFR-1 gene promoter and 5′-untranslated region. Five novel DSVs and one SNP were only identified in AMI patients group. These DSVs and SNP significantly altered the transcriptional activity of the VEGFR-1 gene promoter in both HEK-293 and H9c2 cells (P < 0.05). Further electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that the DSVs and SNPs evidently affected the binding of transcription factors.ConclusionsThe genetic variants in VEGFR-1 gene identified in AMI patients may alter the transcriptional activity of the VEGFR-1 gene promoter and change VEGFR-1 level, contributing to AMI development.
Surgical restoration of drop-hand syndrome with tendon transfer in patients injured in the Syrian civil war
Authors: Ucak Murat 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe radial nerve is one of the most common war-related injury sites due to penetrating cutting tool injuries or gunshot wounds, resulting in drop-hand syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of tendon transfer in patients with drop-hand syndrome who had been injured in the Syrian Civil War.MethodsThis level-II, prospective, comparative study included 13 civilians injured in the Syrian Civil War 2015 and 2017. The palmaris longus tendon was used for transfer to the extensor pollicis longus for thumb extension. The pronator teres was transferred to the extensor carpi radialis brevis for wrist extension. The flexor carpi radialis was transferred to the extensor digiti communis for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th finger extension. All outcomes of thumb abduction and extension, wrist extension, wrist flexion, and finger extension were assessed.ResultsThere was a high level of radial nerve injury in all patients included in the study. The time from injury to treatment ranged from 1.5 months to 9 months. The mechanism of injury most commonly observed was a gunshot wound, which was observed in 8 patients (61.5%), followed by a penetrating cutting tool injury (n = 3; 23.1%) and humerus fracture (n = 2; 15.4%).ConclusionsIn radial nerve injuries, successful results can be achieved with tendon transfer. All patients regained thumb abduction of up to approximately 60°. All the patients were able to bend the wrist, grip, and extend the fingers while in wrist flexion, neutral wrist and wrist extension positions. Although the reason for the radial injury varied, the postoperative outcomes were good for all patients, and the rehabilitation period progressed successfully in patients who underwent tendon transfer repair within 90 days of injury.
PPI in research: a reflection from early stage researchers
Authors: Biggane Alice M. , Olsen Maria , Williamson Paula R. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
The importance of patient and public involvement (PPI) in the design and conduct of health research projects is gaining widespread recognition; however, it is still a developing area. Furthermore, PPI in methodological health research can help increase research value Thus, it is of great importance that researchers, especially early stage researchers continue to discuss and learn about the future challenges and opportunities of PPI.

Objective
With this commentary, we aim to disseminate i) key messages from a recent PPI training event and ii) discuss what early stage researchers (ESRs) in the “Methods in Research on Research” (MiRoR) project can do to improve our current and future work by considering and incorporating PPI.

Main body
The latest MiRoR network meeting held at the University of Split in Croatia (2nd-3rd October), included a PPI training session with presentations from Mr. Stephens a patient, about “Waste in research” and Dr. Westmore a funder on “Research integrity”, followed by smaller round-table discussions. This provided early stage researchers (ESRs) with an opportunity to discuss and explore the benefits and challenges of PPI in research, and the appropriate questions and research that is required for improving the implementation of PPI in clinical research.

Conclusion
As with intervention research, PPI is also important for methodological research since this will help to increase both the value, integrity and quality of research.
By providing early stage researchers with appropriate educational, interactive and real-world training, this will introduce the various merits and challenges associated with PPI in early-stage research.
Energy enhanced tissue texture in spectral computed tomography for lesion classification
Authors: Gao Yongfeng , Shi Yongyi , Cao Weiguo , Zhang Shu , Liang Zhengrong 
Published: November 2019

AbstractTissue texture reflects the spatial distribution of contrasts of image voxel gray levels, i.e., the tissue heterogeneity, and has been recognized as important biomarkers in various clinical tasks. Spectral computed tomography (CT) is believed to be able to enrich tissue texture by providing different voxel contrast images using different X-ray energies. Therefore, this paper aims to address two related issues for clinical usage of spectral CT, especially the photon counting CT (PCCT): (1) texture enhancement by spectral CT image reconstruction, and (2) spectral energy enriched tissue texture for improved lesion classification. For issue (1), we recently proposed a tissue-specific texture prior in addition to low rank prior for the individual energy-channel low-count image reconstruction problems in PCCT under the Bayesian theory. Reconstruction results showed the proposed method outperforms existing methods of total variation (TV), low-rank TV and tensor dictionary learning in terms of not only preserving texture features but also suppressing image noise. For issue (2), this paper will investigate three models to incorporate the enriched texture by PCCT in accordance with three types of inputs: one is the spectral images, another is the co-occurrence matrices (CMs) extracted from the spectral images, and the third one is the Haralick features (HF) extracted from the CMs. Studies were performed on simulated photon counting data by introducing attenuation-energy response curve to the traditional CT images from energy integration detectors. Classification results showed the spectral CT enriched texture model can improve the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) score by 7.3%, 0.42% and 3.0% for the spectral images, CMs and HFs respectively on the five-energy spectral data over the original single energy data only. The CM- and HF-inputs can achieve the best AUC of 0.934 and 0.927. This texture themed study shows the insight that incorporating clinical important prior information, e.g., tissue texture in this paper, into the medical imaging, such as the upstream image reconstruction, the downstream diagnosis, and so on, can benefit the clinical tasks.
Temporal stability of the rumen microbiota in beef cattle, and response to diet and supplements
Authors: Snelling Timothy J. , Auffret Marc D. , Duthie Carol-Anne , Stewart Robert D. , Watson Mick , Dewhurst Richard J. , Roehe Rainer , Walker Alan W. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundDietary intake is known to be a driver of microbial community dynamics in ruminants. Beef cattle go through a finishing phase that typically includes very high concentrate ratios in their feed, with consequent effects on rumen metabolism including methane production. This longitudinal study was designed to measure dynamics of the rumen microbial community in response to the introduction of high concentrate diets fed to beef cattle during the finishing period.A cohort of 50 beef steers were fed either of two basal diet formulations consisting of approximately 10:90 or 50:50 forage:concentrate ratios respectively. Nitrate and oil rich supplements were also added either individually or in combination. Digesta samples were taken at time points over ~ 200 days during the finishing period of the cattle to measure the adaptation to the basal diet and long-term stability of the rumen microbiota.Results16S rRNA gene amplicon libraries were prepared from 313 rumen digesta samples and analysed at a depth of 20,000 sequences per library. Bray Curtis dissimilarity with analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed highly significant (p < 0.001) differences in microbiota composition between cattle fed different basal diets, largely driven by reduction of fibre degrading microbial groups and increased relative abundance of an unclassifiedGammaproteobacteriaOTU in the high concentrate fed animals. Conversely, the forage-based diet was significantly associated with methanogenic archaea. Within basal diet groups, addition of the nitrate and combined supplements had lesser, although still significant, impacts on microbiota dissimilarity compared to pre-treatment time points and controls. Measurements of the response and stability of the microbial community over the time course of the experiment showed continuing adaptation up to 25 days in the high concentrate groups. After this time point, however, no significant variability was detected.ConclusionsHigh concentrate diets that are typically fed to finishing beef cattle can have a significant effect on the microbial community in the rumen. Inferred metabolic activity of the different microbial communities associated with each of the respective basal diets explained differences in methane and short chain fatty acid production between cattle. Longitudinal sampling revealed that once adapted to a change in diet, the rumen microbial community remains in a relatively stable alternate state.
Effects of Dapagliflozin on Endothelial Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes With Established Ischemic Heart Disease (EDIFIED)
Authors: Zainordin Nur Aisyah , Hatta Sharifah Faradilla Wan Muhamad , Mohamed Shah Fatimah Zaherah , Rahman Thuhairah Abdul , Ismail Nurhuda , Ismail Zaliha , Abdul Ghani Rohana 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Objectives
To evaluate the effect of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2-I) dapagliflozin on endothelial function in patients with high-risk type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods
This was a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of patients with T2DM with underlying ischemic heart disease who were receiving metformin and insulin therapy (n = 81). After 12-weeks of additional therapy with either dapagliflozin (n = 40) or placebo (n = 41), systemic endothelial function was evaluated by change in flow-mediated dilation (ΔFMD), change in nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (ΔNMD) and surrogate markers including intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]). Glycemic and lipid profiles were also measured.

Results
The dapagliflozin group demonstrated significant reductions of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) compared to the placebo group (ΔHbA1c –0.83 ± 1.47% vs –0.16 ± 1.25%, P = 0.042 and ΔFBG vs –0.73 ± 4.55 mmol/L vs –1.90 ± 4.40 mmol/L, P = 0.015, respectively). The placebo group showed worsening of ΔFMD while the dapagliflozin group maintained similar measurements pre- and posttherapy (P = not significant). There was a reduction in ICAM-1 levels in the dapagliflozin group (–83.9 ± 205.9 ng/mL, P &lt; 0.02), which remained unchanged in the placebo group (–11.0 ± 169.1 ng/mL, P = 0.699). Univariate correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between HbA1c and ΔFMD within the active group.

Conclusion
A 12-week therapy with dapagliflozin, in addition to insulin and metformin therapies, in high-risk patients resulted in significant reductions in HbA1c, FBG, and surrogate markers of the endothelial function. Although the dapagliflozin group demonstrated a significant association between reduction in HbA1c and improvement in FMD, there was no significant difference in FMD between the 2 groups.
Preliminary evaluation of a Trypanosoma brucei FG-GAP repeat containing protein of mitochondrial localization
Authors: Namyanja Monica , Xu Zhi-Shen , Mugasa Claire Mack , Lun Zhao-Rong , Matovu Enock , Chen Zhengjun , Lubega George W. 
Published: November 2019

Background: Trypanosoma brucei, a causative agent of African Trypanosomiasis, is known to cross the blood brain barrier during the second stage of the disease. It was previously suggested that this parasite crosses the blood brain barrier in a manner similar to that of lymphocytes. This would imply that trypanosomes possess integrins that are required to interact with adhesion molecules located on the blood brain barrier microvascular endothelial cells, as a first step in traversal. To date, no T. brucei integrin has been described. However, one T. brucei putative FG-GAP repeat containing protein (typical of integrins) encoded by the Tb927.11.720 gene, was predicted to be involved in cell-cell/cell-matrix adhesion. Therefore, this study sought to characterize a putative FG-GAP repeat containing protein (FG-GAP RCP) and to determine its cellular localization as a basis for further exploration of its potential role in cell-cell or cell-matrix adhesion. Methods: In this study, we successfully cloned, characterized, expressed and localized this protein using antibodies we produced against its VCBS domain in T. brucei. Results: Contrary to what we initially suspected, our data showed that this protein is localized to the mitochondria but not the plasma membrane. Our data showed that it contains putative calcium binding motifs within the FG-GAP repeats suggesting it could be involved in calcium signaling/binding in the mitochondrion of T. brucei. Conclusion: Based on its localization we conclude that this protein is unlikely to be a trypanosomal integrin and thus that it may not be involved in traversal of the blood brain barrier. However, it could be involved in calcium signaling in the mitochondrion.
Anaemia in solitary acyanotic ventricular septal defect in comorbid with pneumonia or pulmonary hypertension: A retrospective study of 75 paediatric cases
Authors: Changwe Geoffrey Joseph , Zhang Haizhou , Li Hongxin , Farhaj Zeeshan , Tewara Marlvin Anemey , Zhang Wenlong , Zou Chengwei 
Published: November 2019

Background: Ventricular septal defects (VSD) are the second commonest congenital heart defects after bicuspid aortic valve. When left unrepaired, they can undergo spontaneous closure or elicit a spectrum of complications including pneumonia (PNA) or pulmonary hypertension (PH) with subsequent anaemia. In this retrospective study, we aim to establish and compare the prevalence of anaemia in patients with solitary acyanotic VSD in comorbid with PNA or PH. Methods: A total of 75 case files of patients with solitary acyanotic VSD, who underwent surgical closure or device occlusion had haemoglobin level analysed prior to the procedure. The cohort included patients with (history of) PNA and PH, and asymptomatic. The cohort included 27 females and 48 males with mean age and weight of 8.3±5.72 (3-24) months and 5.9±3.9 (2.7-17.8) kilograms, respectively. Depending on associated complication and age, the cohort was divided: PNA (A), PH (B) and Control (C); and (I) young children (≥3-6≤) and (II) older children (>6-≤24) months. We used 95 and 105 grams per litre as haemoglobin lower threshold level for (I) and (II), respectively. Results: According to data analysis 27 patients (36%) in total had anaemia. Of the anaemia cohort 16 (59.3%) had PNA, 9 (33.3%) PH and 2 (7.4%) were asymptomatic. Of the cohort, 42 were young children, with anaemia prevalence of 19/42 (45.2%), while 24.2% of the older children had anaemia. Intergroup ANOVA independent sample t-test was significant (p<0.05). In addition, intergroup Tukey HSD test for haemoglobin: A/B (p>0.05), A/C (p<0.01), B/C (p<0.01). Conclusion: Paediatric patients with acyanotic VSD in comorbid with PNA or PH are 8 and 4 times more susceptible to develop anaemia compared to asymptomatic counterparts. Susceptibility is even higher among young children (3-6months). However, a prospective study is needed to validate our findings.
Molecular characterization of Pasteurella multocida pfhaB1 gene fragment from buffalo and cattle isolates from Nusa Tenggara Timur Indonesia
Authors: Karni Ine , Handijatno Didik , Suwanti Lucia Tri , Kusnoto Kusnoto , Rahmahani Jola , Tyasningsih Wiwiek 
Published: November 2019

Almost all regions in Nusa Tenggara Timur East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province Indonesia are endemic areas of Haemorragic Septicaemia (HS), which is caused by Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida ) Serotypes B: 2. The fragment pfhaB1gene is one of the virulence factors of P. multocida.The objective of this study was to determaine the phylogenetic, homology of P. multocidapfhaB1gene fragment of isolatedfrom Buffalo and Cattle in NTT. The P. multocida isolateswere re-cultured and further microscopic examined the biochemical tests, PCR, sequencing, homology, and phylogenetic relatedness test. P. multocida was observed as gram negative, coccobacilus, no growth on MacConkey Agar, does not produce H2S and gas, nonmotile and indole positive, does not produce urease enzymes, does not use citrate as a carbon source, does not ferment maltose and lactose but it does ferment glucose, sucrose and mannitol. ThepfhaB1gene fragmentfrom buffalo and cattle NTT isolates and also Katha strain vaccine showed DNA band 506 bp. P.multocida isolates from buffalo and cattle in NTT have 91% - 99% score homology with the comparative isolate. The isolate P. multocida from buffalo and cattle in NTT are in one cluster and their phylogenetic relatedness is close to isolates from Iran and India. It is concluded that the pfhaB1gene fragmentof P. multocida from buffalo and cattle isolates have phylogenetic relatedness close and homolog with the other comparative isolates. Keywords: Haemorrhagic Septicaemia; Nusa Tenggara Timur; Pasteurella multocida; pfhaB1gene
Glycolysis intensity and activities of energy metabolism enzymes in the rat brain during repeated exposure to hypoglycemic doses of insulin
Authors: Telushkin P. K. , Potapov P. P. 
Published: November 2019

Renewable conditions of hypoglycemia are a frequent complication in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, determine the clinic of pancreatic insulinomas, are observed in diseases of the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract and alcoholism, leading to the development of posthypoglycemic encephalopathy. At the same time, a single, even severe, insulin coma is accompanied by reversible metabolic changes in the brain.
Therefore, the pathological features of metabolism in the nervous tissue, which are the result of repeated hypoglycemia, in particular possible disturbances in energy metabolism, require further study.
In this work, we studied the main ways of glucose metabolism - the intensity of glycolysis and glycogenolysis, the activity of Krebs cycle dehydrogenases, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases in the rat brain in setting of multiple hypoglycemia.
A Late Composition Dedicated to Nergal
Authors: Cecilia Ludovica 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
This article treats a composition that was probably dedicated to Nergal, a god with a long cultic tradition in ancient Mesopotamia who was mainly related to war and death. The text was first edited by Böhl (1949; 1953: 207–216, 496–497), followed by Ebeling (1953: 116–117). Later, Seux (1976: 85–88) and Foster (2005: 708–709) translated and commented upon it. I will present a new reading of the invocation on the tablet’s upper edge, which confirms that the tablet originated in Uruk during the Hellenistic period. Furthermore, I will discuss the many Neo-Babylonian and Late Babylonian grammatical elements of this composition. The high frequency of these elements, typical of the vernacular language, is unusual for a literary text and suggests that not only the tablet, but also the composition of the text stems from the first millennium BCE, and perhaps, just like the tablet, from Hellenistic Uruk. The purpose of this contribution is, therefore, to show through an analysis of this text, that the conservative and poetic literary language was reworked and adapted to the cultural situation of the late period in Mesopotamian literary production.
Trema orientalis (Linn.) leaves promotes anticancer activity in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice
Authors: Kabir Masnoon , AL-Noman Abdullah , Dash Biplab Kumar , Hasan Mahmudul , Akhter Shahina , Rahman Mashiar 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
The in vivo anticancer effect of the Trema orientalis leaves crude methanol extract (TLME) was screened against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice.

Materials and methods
The cytotoxic activity of TLME was determined in vitro by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The growth inhibitory activity and morphological alterations were determined by the hemocytometer counting of the EAC cells using trypan blue dye. The apoptotic cells were assessed by DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining. The hematological and biochemical parameters of experimental mice were also estimated.

Results
After treatment with the TLME, the viable tumor cell count, morphological changes and nuclear damages of the EAC cells were observed along with the hematological parameters of the experimental mice. The LD50 of TLME was 3120.650 mg/kg body weight, and this extract was proven to be safe at a dose of as high as 800 mg/kg body weight. The oral administration of the TLME at 400 mg/kg body weight resulted in approximately 59% tumor cell growth inhibition compared with the control mice, with considerable apoptotic features, including membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation and aggregation of the apoptotic bodies in DAPI staining under a fluorescence microscope. The TLME also dose-dependently restored the altered hematological parameters to approximately normal levels. The TLME exhibited bolstering cytotoxic effect against the EAC cell with the IC50 value of 29.952 ± 1.816 μg/mL.

Conclusion
The TLME has potential as a natural anti-cancer product with apoptosis induction property and cytotoxicity against carcinoma cells.