bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Closed Vs. Open Reduction/Salter Innominate Osteotomy for Developmental Hip Dislocation After Age 18 Months
Authors: Scott Elizabeth J. , Dolan Lori A. , Weinstein Stuart L. 
Published: April 2020

Background:
Despite widespread use of single-stage open reduction and pelvic osteotomy for treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) after walking age, this aggressive strategy remains controversial. We directly compared dislocated hips treated with closed reduction (CR) to those treated with open reduction and Salter innominate osteotomy (OR/IO) to estimate the relative hazard of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and the THA-free survival time.

Methods:
In a series of patients 18 to 60 months of age, 45 patients (58 hips) underwent CR and 58 patients (78 hips) were treated with OR/IO and followed to a minimum 40 years post-reduction. Observations in the survival analysis were censored if no THA had occurred by 48 years. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard of THA given treatment, age, and bilaterality. Complications and additional procedures were noted.

Results:
At 48 years of follow-up, 29 (50%) of the hips survived after CR compared with 54 (69%) after OR/IO. At 45 years, the survival probability after OR/IO was 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.50 to 0.78) compared with 0.55 (95% CI = 0.43 to 0.72) after CR. The hazard ratio (HR) of THA was modeled as a function of treatment, age at reduction, and bilaterality. The effect of age and treatment on the outcome of hips in patients with unilateral involvement was minimal. However, age did significantly alter the relationship between treatment and outcome in bilateral cases. In the bilateral group, the predicted HR of THA was lower after CR in hips that were reduced at the age of 18 months (HR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.64) but higher in those that were reduced at 36 months (HR = 4.23, 95% CI = 2.00 to 8.95). Additional procedures were indicated for 17% and 22% of hips after CR and OR/IO, respectively.

Conclusions:
Osteoarthritis and THA was more likely after CR than OR/IO, but the data do not indicate a difference in unadjusted hip-survival time. In patients with bilateral disease, an older age at reduction was associated with an increased hazard of THA after CR than after OR/IO. Both treatments provided substantial benefit relative to the natural history of DDH, but THA is the expected outcome in middle adulthood.

Level of Evidence:
Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
A Systematic Review to Assess the Effectiveness of Technology-Based Interventions to Address Obesity in Children
Authors: McMullan Megan , Millar Rachel , Woodside Jayne 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is associated with a multitude of co-morbidities, including hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Childhood obesity can also affect a young person’s social, emotional and mental health if they encounter negative prejudice and social marginalisation. Given the prevalence of overweight and obese children globally, it is imperative that effective interventions are developed. Children are receptive to information conveyed via digital means, therefore, the use of technology may play a crucial role in interventions to reduce childhood obesity. This systematic review aimed to review and critically appraise the literature published to date in relation to the effectiveness of technology-based interventions, employed as secondary prevention, in addressing childhood obesity.Methods: An electronic search strategy was undertaken in Medline and Embase, covering publications up to and including 12th July 2018. Randomised controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of technology-based interventions on weight-related outcomes in children, aged 8 to 18, published only in the English language, were included. Results: From an initial search total of 1,012 studies, 11 met the inclusion criteria. They were assessed for methodological quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomised Controlled Trials and were analysed using a narrative approach. The findings of this review showed a limited potential of technology-based interventions, employed as secondary prevention, to address childhood obesity. Of the eleven studies reviewed, three (27%) showed a positive relationship between technology-based interventions and weight-related outcomes in overweight or obese children. Conclusions: This review suggests that technology-based interventions, primarily active video games, as well as internet or web-based interventions and mobile phone communications, may, with further research, have the potential to impact positively on weight-related outcomes. It is difficult to determine the degree of efficacy of these technology-based interventions, as only two databases were searched, selecting only English language articles. Moreover, the included studies demonstrated a lack of high-quality evidence. The lack and heterogeneity of studies with technology-based interventions is a further limitation.
Identification of stable reference genes for qPCR studies in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings under short-term drought stress
Authors: Dudziak Karolina , Sozoniuk Magdalena , Szczerba Hubert , Kuzdraliński Adam , Kowalczyk Krzysztof , Börner Andreas , Nowak Michał 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Background Quantitative PCR (qPCR) is one of the most common and accurate methods of gene expression analysis. However, the biggest challenge for this kind of examinations is normalization of the results, which requires the application of dependable internal controls. The selection of appropriate reference genes (RGs) is one of the most crucial points in qPCR data analysis and for correct assessment of gene expression. Because of the fact that many reports indicate that the expression profiles of typically used RGs can be unstable in certain experimental conditions, species or tissues, reference genes with stable expression levels should be selected individually for each experiment. In this study, we analysed a set of ten candidate RGs for wheat seedlings under short-term drought stress. Our tests included five ‘traditional’ RGs (GAPDH, ACT, UBI, TUB, and TEF1) and five novel genes developed by the RefGenes tool from the Genevestigator database.Results Expression stability was assessed using five different algorithms: geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, RefFinder and the delta Ct method. In the final ranking, we identified three genes: CJ705892, ACT, and UBI, as the best candidates for housekeeping genes. However, our data indicated a slight variation between the different algorithms that were used. We revealed that the novel gene CJ705892, obtained by means of in silico analysis, showed the most stable expression in the experimental tissue and condition. Conclusions Our results support the statement, that novel genes selected for certain experimental conditions have a more stable level of expression in comparison to routinely applied RGs, like genes encoding actin, tubulin or GAPDH. Selected CJ705892 gene can be used as a housekeeping gene in the expression analysis in wheat seedlings under short-term drought. The results of our study will be useful for subsequent analyses of gene expression in wheat tissues subjected to drought.
A New Features of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a City of China
Authors: Hongjun Zhao , Lu Xiaoxiao , Li Tiegang , Rao Boqi , Wang Dedong , Wu Di , Qiu Fuman , Yang Zhicong , Lu Jiachun 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
BACKGROUND: An outbreak of pneumonia associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan city and then to other city. It is very urgent to delineate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of these affected patients. METHODS: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of the COVID-19, a cross-sectional study was executed with 459 patients with confirmed COVID-19 in WZ of China from January 27 to February 12, 2020. RESULTS: The median age of all patients was 48.0 years, and 46.8% were females. 37.5% of patients had a history of residence in Wuhan. Fever (72.1%) and cough (43.6%) were the most frequent symptoms. In addition, three kinds of unconventional cases were observed, in which included 4.4% confirmed virus carrier who were asymptomatic, 7.8% confirmed patients who had no link to Wuhan city but contact with individuals from Wuhan without any symptoms at the time of contact, and 10.7% confirmed patients who had no link to Wuhan city nor a history of intimate contact with patients or individuals from Wuhan without any symptoms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings presented the possibility of asymptomatic carriers affected with SARS-CoV-2, and this phenomenon suggested that chances of uncontrollable transmission in the larger population might be higher than formerly estimated, and transmission by these three kinds of unconventional patients in WZ may be one of the characteristics of infection in other Chinese cities outside the Wuhan epidemic area.
Biosurfactant production by Trichoderma sp. MK116452 and its possible application in oil recovery
Authors: Matussin Nur Bazilah Afifah , Shivanand Pooja , Lim Lee Hoon 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Surfactants are amphiphatic compounds containing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, which are capable of lowering surface or interfacial tension. Considering the advantages of using biosurfactants produced by microorganisms, the aim of this study was to develop and characterise a biosurfactant produced by Trichoderma sp. MK116452 isolated from Seri Chermin filling station, Brunei Darussalam, and to examine its potential application in microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). The microorganism was cultured in a minimal salt medium containing 1% crude oil as a carbon source and a cell-free culture broth was used to screen its efficiency in producing biosurfactants. Characterisation of the biosurfactant showed the presence of glycosides and fatty acids, suggesting its glycolipidic nature. The isolated biosurfactant showed no toxicity to the micro-crustacean Artemia salina or to red bean (Vigna angularis). The extracted biosurfactant was effective at recovering up to 60% of crude oil from sand using the sand pack column method, which is similar to the recovery rate for a chemical surfactant (SDS) (65%). These findings highlight the potential use of Trichoderma sp. MK116452 biosurfactant in the oil industry.
Human Papillomavirus: Six years genotype distribution of a hospital-based population study in women in Chongqing, China
Authors: Li Xiaoqin , Shi Yongjun , Yang Yanlong , Wei Qiang , Tang Yishu , He Xiaoling 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background Infection due to HPV (human papillomavirus) is the primary etiology for cervical cancer. Here, we investigated HPV genotypes prevalence and distribution among women in Chongqing, China.Methods Women (total 150639) were recruited from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Health Management Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in Chongqing Province from January 2014 to December 2019. Cervical samples were conducted for HPV genotyping by testing through a flow cytometry-fluorescence hybridization test.Results All-inclusive HPV prevalence and infection rate in the Health Management Center was 22.3% and 14.4% respectively. Out of the total positive individuals, the rates of single and multiple infections were 77.5% and 22.5%, respectively (the rates of double infections, triple infections, and quadruple or more infections were 17.1%, 4.1%, and 1.3%, respectively). The most frequent genotypes for high risk (HR-HPV) were HPV 52, 16, 58, 53, 56, 39, and 18 in the same sequence, while the most frequent low risk (LR-HPV) genotypes were HPV 61, 81, 43, 44, and 6 in this sequence. For overall and multiple infections of HPV, two peaks for the frequencies were observed on age subgroup analysis, one of these peaks represented women group under 25 years, and the other represented that over 55 years of age.Conclusion Our survey showed that HPV prevalence among women in Chongqing was associated with age and was as high like in other large Chinese cities. Our data provide information for HPV screening and estimating vaccines in this region.
Metagenomic analysis of cucumber rhizospheric microbiome provides insights into NaHCO3 stress mitigation by Rheinheimera pacifica NYJ
Authors: Wu Fenghui , Li Songwen , Du Binghai , Wang Xiu-Juan , Han Xiaotong , Chen Jiayu , Xing Xiaoshuang , Li Han , Zhang Wenqian , Bai Ji-Gang 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: NaHCO3 in soil leads to alkalinization and causes stress in plants, thus hindering agricultural sustainability. A strain NYJ was identified as Rheinheimera pacifica and applied into cucumber-planted soil to mitigate NaHCO3 stress in this study. We aimed to detect the taxonomy and functional potential of rhizospheric microbiome affected by NaHCO3 stress and NYJ application, obtaining NaHCO3-tolerant microbes and exploring one mechanism underlining NaHCO3 stress mitigation by NYJ application.Results: The strain NYJ grew well under 0.01-0.06 g L-1 NaHCO3 and had plant growth-promoting capacity. Application of NYJ into NaHCO3-contaminated and cucumber-planted soil improved plant growth, increased relative water contents and osmotic potential of leaves, and decreased malonaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents in seedlings, mitigating NaHCO3 stress in cucumber. In cucumber rhizospheric soil, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes of microbes were dominant phyla with 69, 17, and 6% of total abundance. To respond to NaHCO3 stress, 669 species and 208 genera of microbes were enriched in rhizospheric soil, while 190 sodium ion-related genes, 1242 osmotic stress-related genes, and 121 other stress-related genes from microbial genera including Pseudomonas showed the increased abundances. Under NaHCO3 stress, 26 microbial genera were distributed in connectors, the interaction network of rhizospheric microbes was changed, and soil enzyme activities were decreased. When NYJ being applied into the NaHCO3-contaminated soil, 1327 species and 487 genera of microbes were enriched than those under NaHCO3 stress alone. Meantime, soil enzyme activities were increased, while 2238 symbiont- and immune-related genes and 2434 plant growth-promoting genes including 16 genes encoding chitinase had the elevated abundances in microbial genera. Moreover, NYJ negatively interacted with one bacterial genus and positively interacted with 3 microbial genera under NaHCO3 stress. As a result, 25 bacterial genera were distributed in connectors, and microbial interaction network in rhizospheric soil was different from the one caused by NaHCO3 stress alone.Conclusions: 669 NaHCO3-tolerant species and 208 NaHCO3-tolerant genera of microbes were identified. NYJ application affected microbial community structure and interaction network in rhizospheric soil, increased the abundances of genes related to symbiont, immune, and plant growth-promoting traits in microbes, and activated soil enzymes, thereby mitigating NaHCO3 stress in cucumber.1 These authors contributed equally to this work.
Altered functional connectivity strength in the cuneus and precuneus in patients with persistent postural-perceptual dizziness
Authors: Yang Xu , Li Kangzhi , Cui Bin , Si Lihong , Li Zheyuan 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Background: Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic functional vestibular disorder, but its pathogenesis is still unclear. Results of our previous study revealed altered spontaneous functional activity of cuneus and precuneus in PPPD patients, which may be associated with the development of PPPD. The study aimed to explore the changes in functional integration, especially the changes in functional connectivity strength (FCS) in the cuneus and precuneus in patients with PPPD using FCS and seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analyses.Methods: Twelve PPPD patients and 12 healthy controls were enrolled. Functional MRI (fMRI) was further performed in all subjects. Global FCS, long--range FCS (lFCS) and short-range FCS (sFCS) were calculated to explore the FCS changes in PPPD patients. Moreover, seed-based FC analysis was performed on regions with altered FCS to further investigate the alterations in FC and the possible causes for FCS changes. Correlation analysis between FCS/FC and clinical indicators in PPPD patients were performed.Results: Compared with healthy controls, no significant change in global FCS and lFCS was found in PPPD patients. PPPD patients exhibited weaker sFCS in the cuneus and precuneus (K=621, P<0.05, FWE corrected). Areas showing weaker sFCS included precuneus, cuneus, extending inward along the parieto-occipital sulcus, covering parahippocampal gyrus and cortices at the splenium of the corpus callosum. Further seed-based FC analysis showed reduced FC with precuneus, cuneus, indicating that weaker sFCS was mainly caused by reduced FC in the precuneus and cuneus. Changes in sFCS and FC were negatively correlated with DHI and DHI-F scores, and the lower the FCS values, the more severe the subjective symptoms of patients.Conclusion: PPPD patients exhibited altered FCS in the bilateral precuneus and cuneus, which may be associated with abnormal integration of visual and vestibular information and abnormal integration between different spatial reference frames.
Natural products may interfere with SARS-CoV-2 attachment to the host cell
Authors: Elfiky Abdo 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 has been emerged in December 2019 in China, causing deadly (5% mortality) pandemic pneumonia, termed COVID-19. More than one host-cell receptor is reported to be recognized by the viral spike protein, among them is the cell-surface Heat Shock Protein A5 (HSPA5), also termed GRP78 or BiP. Upon viral infection, HSPA5 is upregulated, then translocating to the cell membrane where it is subjected to be recognized by the SARS-CoV-2 spike. In this study, some natural product compounds are tested against the HSPA5 substrate-binding domain β (SBDβ), which reported to be the recognition site for the SARS-CoV-2 spike. Methods: Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations are used to test some natural compounds binding to HSPA5 SBDβ. Results: The results show high to a moderate binding affinity for the phytoestrogens (Diadiazin, Genistein, Formontein, and Biochanin A), chlorogenic acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid, caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, hydroxytyrosol, cis-p-Coumaric acid, cinnamaldehyde, and thymoquinone to the HSPA5 SBDβ. Based on its binding affinities, the natural compounds, and some hormones, may interfere with SARS-CoV-2 attachment to the stressed cells. Conclusion: These compounds can be successful as anti-COVID-19 agents for people with a high risk of cell stress like elders, cancer patients, and front-line medical staff.
Rifampicin may be repurposed for COVID-19 treatment: Insights from an in-silico study
Authors: Pathak Yamini , Mishra Amaresh , Tripathi Vishwas 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The ongoing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has led to global epidemics with high morbidity and mortality. However, there are no efficacious therapeutic options available for the treatment of COVID-19. Considering this medical emergency, drug repurposing is the need of the hour. Therefore, this study aimed to determine possible COVID-19 drug candidates using virtual screening of selected FDA approved drugs by targeting the main protease (Mpro) of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). In this study, first, we have done an extensive literature search to find out the marketed FDA approved drug compounds available for human therapeutic applications having anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. The preliminary reports paved the way for further studies that revealed some of the drugs approved to treat other viral or bacterial infections may be a promising drug candidate and can be repurposed for the treatment of COVID-19. Using a computer-aided drug designing approach, novel candidates for drug repurposing were identified. Based on our preliminary screening supported by previous works of literature, we selected Rifampicin, Ciclesonide, Reserpine, Loperamide, Elvitegravir, Brivudine, Pentoxifylline, Eugenol, Isoniazid, Tinidazole, Diethylcarbamazine, and Vancomycin to target the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). These compounds were examined based on docking studies using Autodock 4.2 Autodock 4.2., visualization of the docked results using Pymol version 1.7.4.5 Edu and prediction of two main toxicity aspects hepatotoxicity and cytotoxicity to check the safety of the hit compounds. Selected drugs were ranked for potential efficacy against COVID-19 based on their binding energy. The docking results were found in the order of Rifampicin (-11.16), Ciclesonide (-8.77), Reserpine (-7.76), Loperamide (-7.63), Elvitegravir (-6.58), Brivudine (-6.06), Pentoxifylline (-5.64), Eugenol (-4.78), Isoniazid (-4.71), Tinidazole (-4.51), Diethylcarbamazine (-4.66), Vancomycin (-4.11). ). In the current study, Rifampicin appeared as the most promising drug showing a very good binding energy. Based on our preliminary insights from in silico studies, we propose that Rifampicin may be repurposed for the treatment of COVID-19 however it is pertinent to mention here that our findings need further validation by in vitro studies and clinical trials. In summary, the findings of this study suggest Rifampicin might be a promising drug for targeting the COVID-19 protease.
In silico studies reveal potential antiviral activity of phytochemicals from medicinal plants for the treatment of COVID-19 infection
Authors: Pandit Mansi , Latha N. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The spread of COVID-19 across continents has led to a global health emergency. COVID-19 disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected nearly all the continents with around 1.52 million confirmed cases worldwide. Currently only a few regimes have been suggested to fight the infection and no specific antiviral agent or vaccine is available. Repurposing of the existing drugs or use of natural products are the fastest options available for the treatment. The present study is aimed at employing computational approaches to screen phytochemicals from the medicinal plants targeting the proteins of SARS-CoV2 for identification of antiviral therapeutics. The study focuses on three target proteins important in the life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 namely Spike (S) glycoprotein, main protease (Mpro) and RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp). Molecular docking was performed to screen phytochemicals in medicinal plants to determine their feasibility as potential inhibitors of these target viral proteins. Of the 30 plant phytochemicals screened, Silybin, an active constituent found in Silybum marianum exhibited higher binding affinity with targets in SARS-CoV-2 in comparison to currently used repurposed drugs against SARS-CoV-2. Withaferin A from Withania somnifera also showed significant binding to the targets proteins. In addition, phytochemicals from Tinospora cordiofolia and Aloe barbadensis displayed good binding energetics with the target proteins in SARS-CoV-2. These results provide a basis for the use of traditional medicinal plants as alternative lines of treatment for COVID-19 infection.