bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical significance of family accommodation and parental psychological distress in a sample of children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder aged 8-17 years old
Authors: Pontillo Maria , Demaria Francesco , Tata Maria Cristina , Averna Roberto , Gargiullo Prisca , Pucciarini Maria Laura , Santonastaso Ornella , Boldrini Tommaso , Tozzi Alberto Eugenio , Vicari Stefano 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Background
Family Accommodation (FA) refers to the involvement of family members (especially parents) in the compulsive behaviors of children and adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (e.g. modifying family routines or facilitating avoidance of obsessive-compulsive triggers). Many studies have examined the high prevalence of FA in this clinical population; however, less is known about its clinical significance and relationship to the individual psychological distress of parents. In our study, we investigated the clinical significance of FA examining its relationship with obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, functioning, anxiety and depressive symptoms in a clinical sample (n = 51) of children and adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) aged 8–17 years old and their parents, included to examine their individual psychological distress.

Methods
The sample was divided into two groups: the High Accommodation group (n = 36) and the Low Accommodation group (n = 15).

Results
Results demonstrated that children and adolescents in the OCD High Accommodation group reported major functional impairment in global (p = .001313), social (p = .000334) and role (p = .000334) domains, and higher depressive symptoms than the Low Accommodation group. Both fathers and mothers from the High Accommodation group reported a higher level of individual psychological distress compared to mothers and fathers from the Low Accommodation group (p = .040365).

Conclusions
The findings of this study show that FA is common in children and adolescents with OCD and it could cause not only an impairment of the patient’s global, social and role functioning but also a high level of individual psychological distress in the single parent. The presence of FA should therefore be carefully investigated and considered in planning assessment and treatment of OCD in children and adolescents.
Phylogenetics-based identification and characterization of a superior 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase for Zymomonas mobilis expression
Authors: Subramanian Venkataramanan , Lunin Vladimir V. , Farmer Samuel J. , Alahuhta Markus , Moore Kyle T. , Ho Angela , Chaudhari Yogesh B. , Zhang Min , Himmel Michael E. , Decker Stephen R. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundZymomonas mobilishas recently been shown to be capable of producing the valuable platform biochemical, 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO). Despite this capability, the production of high titers of 2,3-BDO is restricted by several physiological parameters. One such bottleneck involves the conversion of acetoin to 2,3-BDO, a step catalyzed by 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase (Bdh). Several Bdh enzymes have been successfully expressed inZ. mobilis,although a highly active enzyme is yet to be identified for expression in this host. Here, we report the application of a phylogenetic approach to identify and characterize a superior Bdh, followed by validation of its structural attributes using a mutagenesis approach.ResultsOf the 11 distinctbdhgenes that were expressed inZ. mobilis,crude extracts expressingSerratia marcescensBdh (SmBdh) were found to have the highest activity (8.89 µmol/min/mg), when compared to other Bdh enzymes (0.34–2.87 µmol/min/mg). TheSmBdh crystal structure was determined through crystallization with cofactor (NAD+) and substrate (acetoin) molecules bound in the active site. ActiveSmBdh was shown to be a tetramer with the active site populated by a Gln247 residue contributed by the diagonally opposite subunit.SmBdh showed a more extensive supporting hydrogen-bond network in comparison to the other well-studied Bdh enzymes, which enables improved substrate positioning and substrate specificity. This protein also contains a short α6 helix, which provides more efficient entry and exit of molecules from the active site, thereby contributing to enhanced substrate turnover. Extending the α6 helix to mimic the lower activityEnterobacter cloacae(EcBdh) enzyme resulted in reduction ofSmBdh function to nearly 3% of the total activity. In great contrast, reduction of the corresponding α6 helix of theEcBdh to mimic theSmBdh structure resulted in ~ 70% increase in its activity.ConclusionsThis study has demonstrated thatSmBdh is superior to other Bdhs for expression inZ. mobilisfor 2,3-BDO production.SmBdh possesses unique structural features that confer biochemical advantage to this protein. While coordinated active site formation is a unique structural characteristic of this tetrameric complex, the smaller α6 helix and extended hydrogen network contribute towards improved activity and substrate promiscuity of the enzyme.
Molecular signatures of the rediae, cercariae and adult stages in the complex life cycles of parasitic flatworms (Digenea: Psilostomatidae)
Authors: Nesterenko Maksim A. , Starunov Viktor V. , Shchenkov Sergei V. , Maslova Anna R. , Denisova Sofia A. , Granovich Andrey I. , Dobrovolskij Andrey A. , Khalturin Konstantin V. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundParasitic flatworms (Trematoda: Digenea) represent one of the most remarkable examples of drastic morphological diversity among the stages within a life cycle. Which genes are responsible for extreme differences in anatomy, physiology, behavior, and ecology among the stages? Here we report a comparative transcriptomic analysis of parthenogenetic and amphimictic generations in two evolutionary informative species of Digenea belonging to the family Psilostomatidae.MethodsIn this study the transcriptomes of rediae, cercariae and adult worm stages ofPsilotrema simillimumandSphaeridiotrema pseudoglobulus, were sequenced and analyzed. High-quality transcriptomes were generated, and the reference sets of protein-coding genes were used for differential expression analysis in order to identify stage-specific genes. Comparative analysis of gene sets, their expression dynamics and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis were performed for three life stages within each species and between the two species.ResultsReference transcriptomes forP. simillimumandS. pseudoglobulusinclude 21,433 and 46,424 sequences, respectively. Among 14,051 orthologous groups (OGs), 1354 are common and specific for two analyzed psilostomatid species, whereas 13 and 43 OGs were unique forP. simillimumandS. pseudoglobulus, respectively. In contrast toP. simillimum, where more than 60% of analyzed genes were active in the redia, cercaria and adult worm stages, inS. pseudoglobulusless than 40% of genes had such a ubiquitous expression pattern. In general, 7805 (36.41%) and 30,622 (65.96%) of genes were preferentially expressed in one of the analyzed stages ofP. simillimumandS. pseudoglobulus, respectively. In both species 12 clusters of co-expressed genes were identified, and more than a half of the genes belonging to the reference sets were included into these clusters. Functional specialization of the life cycle stages was clearly supported by Gene Ontology enrichment analysis.ConclusionsDuring the life cycles of the two species studied, most of the genes change their expression levels considerably, consequently the molecular signature of a stage is not only a unique set of expressed genes, but also the specific levels of their expression. Our results indicate unexpectedly high level of plasticity in gene regulation between closely related species. Transcriptomes ofP. simillimumandS. pseudoglobulusprovide high quality reference resource for future evolutionary studies and comparative analyses.
Molecular basis of resistance to organophosphate insecticides in the New World screw-worm fly
Authors: Tandonnet Sophie , Cardoso Gisele Antoniazzi , Mariano-Martins Pedro , Monfardini Raquel Dietsche , Cunha Vanessa A. S. , de Carvalho Renato Assis , Torres Tatiana Teixeira 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background
The emergence of insecticide resistance is a fast-paced example of the evolutionary process of natural selection. In this study, we investigated the molecular basis of resistance in the myiasis-causing fly Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to dimethyl-organophosphate (OP) insecticides.

Methods
By sequencing the RNA from surviving larvae treated with dimethyl-OP (resistant condition) and non-treated larvae (control condition), we identified genes displaying condition-specific polymorphisms, as well as those differentially expressed.

Results
Both analyses revealed that resistant individuals have altered expression and allele-specific expression of genes involved in proteolysis (specifically serine-endopeptidase), olfactory perception and cuticle metabolism, among others. We also confirmed that resistant individuals carry almost invariably the Trp251Ser mutation in the esterase E3, known to confer OP and Pyrethroid resistance. Interestingly, genes involved in metabolic and detoxifying processes (notably cytochrome P450s) were found under-expressed in resistant individuals. An exception to this were esterases, which were found up-regulated.

Conclusions
These observations suggest that reduced penetration and aversion to dimethyl-OP contaminated food may be important complementary strategies of resistant individuals. The specific genes and processes found are an important starting point for future functional studies. Their role in insecticide resistance merits consideration to better the current pest management strategies.
Phyllodistomum kupermani n. sp. from the European perch, Perca fluviatilis L. (Perciformes: Percidae), and redescription of Phyllodistomum macrocotyle (Lühe, 1909) with notes on the species diversity and host specificity in the European Phyllodistomum spp. (Trematoda: Gorgoderidae)
Authors: Petkevičiūtė Romualda , Zhokhov Alexander E. , Stunžėnas Virmantas , Poddubnaya Larisa G. , Stanevičiūtė Gražina 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background
European species of the large genus Phyllodistomum Braun, 1899 had historically been erected based solely on morphological characters. Unfortunately, many of them are still poorly known and inadequately described. Molecular approaches are critical to delineate species which were impossible to differentiate based on morphology alone.

Methods
New samples of adult Phyllodistomum spp. were collected from the urinary bladder and/or ureters of European freshwater fishes and fixed to conduct a light and scanning electron microscopy study, and to obtain sequences of nuclear (ITS2 spacer and 28S rRNA gene), to be analysed in the context of a molecular phylogeny.

Results
Based on new findings, a new species of Phyllodistomum from the urinary bladder of the European perch, Perca fluviatilis, in Volga River basin, Russia, is described. Additionally, new data on the morphology and tegumental surface topography of P. macrocotyle (Lühe, 1909) Odhner, 1911 from ureters of the common rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus, is presented. The host range of P. folium, confirmed by DNA analysis, is extended to other cyprinid fish species.

Conclusions
The present study has again shown that species of the genus Phyllodistomum are in dire need of revision based on both molecular analysis and detailed morphological redescriptions of the forms attributed to the genus. Morphologically, P. kupermani n. sp. most closely resembles P. pseudofolium, a highly host-specific parasite of Gymnocephalus cernuus (L.), but molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS2 and 28S rDNA sequences showed that these species are distantly related. Phyllodistomum kupermani n. sp. was found to be phylogenetically most closely related to the type-species of Phyllodistomum, P. folium. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Phyllodistomum kupermani n. sp. and P. folium formed a clade with other freshwater species for which cystocercous cercariae develop in bivalves of the family Sphaeriidae. The micromorphology and tegumental surface topography of P. macrocotyle revealed in the present study provide a valuable taxonomic criterion for congeneric species differentiation.
Bacterial etiology of sputum from tuberculosis suspected patients and antibiogram of the isolates
Authors: Regmi Ramesh Sharma , Khadka Sujan , Sapkota Sanjeep , Adhikari Sanjib , Dhakal Khuma Kumari , Dhakal Bishnu , Lamsal Bandana , Kafle Sarad Chandra 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjectiveThe current study aims to explore the bacteriology of sputum of tuberculosis (TB) suspected patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the sputum samples of 150 TB suspected patients visiting District Public Health Office, Bharatpur, Nepal. The samples were subjected to cultural, microscopic and biochemical analyses for the identification of the isolates. In addition, antibiotic susceptibility tests were carried out with a special focus on ESBL and MBL production following Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute guidelines.ResultsBacterial growth was recovered in 47% (71/150) of the TB suspected patients of which 12.66% (19/150) had pulmonary TB infection.Streptococcusspp. (9%) andPseudomonas aeruginosa(9%) were the most frequently isolated bacteria. Enterobacteriaceae accounted for 35% of the total isolates. Occurrence of bacterial pathogens was more in males (69%) than in females (31%).The incidence of bacterial pathogen was seen associated with gender of the patients and with the TB infection (p < 0.05) but independent with age of the patients and HIV infection (p > 0.05). Tetracycline was effective againstStreptococcusspp. whereas gentamicin was effective againstBacillusspecies. Imipenem and co-trimoxazole were effective drugs for Gram-negative isolates. Among 83 isolates, 35 were multi-drug resistant, 9 were ESBL producers and 4 were MBL producers.
FINET: Fast Inferring NETwork
Authors: Wang Anyou , Hai Rong 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjectivesNumerous software has been developed to infer the gene regulatory network, a long-standing key topic in biology and computational biology. Yet the slowness and inaccuracy inherited in current software hamper their applications to the increasing massive data. Here, we develop a software, FINET (FastInferringNETwork), to infer a network with high accuracy and rapidity from big data.ResultsThe high accuracy results from integrating algorithms with stability-selection, elastic-net, and parameter optimization. Tested by a known biological network, FINET infers interactions with over 94% precision. The high speed comes from partnering parallel computations implemented with Julia, a new compiled language that runs much faster than existing languages used in the current software, such as R, Python, and MATLAB. Regardless of FINET’s implementations with Julia, users with no background in the language or computer science can easily operate it, with only a user-friendly single command line. In addition, FINET can infer other networks such as chemical networks and social networks. Overall, FINET provides a confident way to efficiently and accurately infer any type of network for any scale of data.
Association between asthma and invasive pneumococcal disease risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Lingling , Cheng Yusheng , Tu Xiongwen , Yang Jie , Wang Chenghui , Zhang Min , Lu Zhiwei 
Published: November 2020

AbstractPurposeAsthma has been shown to be related to an increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), although the results remain inconclusive. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to determine whether asthma increases the risk of IPD. This meta-analysis was performed to validate and strengthen the association between asthma and IPD.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the reference lists of all relevant articles and books were screened until May 2019. Two authors independently assessed eligibility and study quality and extracted data. A common odds ratio was estimated using a random-effects meta-analysis model of aggregated published data.ResultsA total of eight studies with 8877 IPD cases and 78,366 controls were included. Our meta-analysis showed that asthma was significantly associated with the increased risk of IPD (OR 2.44 [95% CI, 2.02–2.96]). The children with asthma (0–17 years old) (OR 2.86 [95% CI 1.80–4.55]) had a higher risk of IPD susceptibility compared with the adult patients (≥ 18 years old) (OR 2.45 [95% CI 1.98–3.03]).ConclusionsResults of this meta-analysis indicated that the patients with asthma had a higher risk of IPD susceptibility, especially among the children with asthma.
The value of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT in identifying non-metastatic high-risk prostate cancer
Authors: Hong Jun-jie , Liu Bo-le , Wang Zhi-qiang , Tang Kun , Ji Xiao-wei , Yin Wei-wei , Lin Jie , Zheng Xiang-wu 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Background
Clinical management decisions on prostate cancer (PCa) are often based on a determination of risk. 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-11-positron emission tomography (PET)/computer tomography (CT) is an attractive modality to assess biochemical recurrence of PCa, detect metastatic disease and stage of primary PCa, making it a promising strategy for risk stratification. However, due to some limitation of 68Ga-PSMA-11 the development of alternative tracers is of high interest. In this study, we aimed to investigate the value of 18F-PSMA-1007 in identifying non-metastatic high-risk PCa.

Methods
A total of 101 patients with primary non-metastatic PCa who underwent 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT were retrospectively analyzed. According to the European Association of Urology guidelines on PCa, patients were classified into intermediate-risk (IR) group or high-risk (HR) group. The maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of the primary prostate tumor were measured on PET/CT images. The diagnostic performance of PET/CT for IR and HR PCa was calculated, and the relationship between the SUVmax of primary prostate tumor, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and Gleason score (GS) was analyzed.

Results
Of all 101 patients, 49 patients were classified into IR group and 52 patients were classified into HR group. There was a significant positive correlation between PSA level/GS and SUVmax (r = 0.561, r = 0.496, P < 0.001, respectively). Tumors with GS 6 and 7a showed significantly lower 18F-PSMA-1007 uptake compared to patients with GS 8 and 9 (P < 0.01). SUVmax in patients of HR was significantly higher than those of IR (median SUVmax: 16.85 vs 7.80; P < 0.001). In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cutoff value of the SUVmax for identifying high-risk PCa was set as 9.05 (area under the curve: 0.829; sensitivity: 90.4%; specificity: 65.3%).

Conclusion
18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT showed the powerful diagnosis efficacy for high-risk PCa, which can be used as an objective imaging reference index for clinical reference.
HPLC phenolic profile and induction of apoptosis by Linum usitatissimum extract in LNCaP cells by caspase3 and Bax pathways
Authors: Zhou Xin , Huang Ningou , Chen Wenxin , Xiaoling Tang , Mahdavi Behnam , Raoofi Amir , Mahdian Davood , Atabati Hadi 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Linum usitatissimum is a candidate as a remedy to treat prostate problems in some folklore medicines. In this study, we have reported the phenolic and flavonoid constituents, antioxidant activity, and potential of the plant extract against prostate cancer cells. The phenolic and flavonoid compound profile of the extract were established using HPLC analysis. While the total phenolic and flavonoid content (TPC and TFC) were analyzed using classic methods. The antioxidant activity of the extract was also evaluated. MTT assay and flow cytometry technique was used to evaluate antiproliferation activity and induction apoptosis of the plant extract on prostate cancer cells of LNCaP. We also evaluated the gene expression of Bax and caspase-3 using the real-time qPCR assay. HPLC result revealed that L. usitatissimum extract (LUE) was rich in phenolic acids such as gallic, ferulic, and vanillic acid with the amount of 3.56, 2.12, 1.24 μg/g extract respectively. 383.4 mg GAE/g and 47.1 mgRuE/g were calculated for total phenolic and flavonoid content. LUE exhibited radical scavenging activity with IC50 = 19.3 ± 1.1 µg/mL. LUE chelated ferrous ions with IC50 = 121.1 ± 1.3 µg/mL. LUE showed anti-proliferative activity on LNCaP cells with the IC50 values of 8.3, 6.3, and 5.4 μg/mL after 24, 48, and 72 h treatment. LUE also increased cell mortality by inducing apoptosis (15.3–29.8%). The real-time qPCR results exhibited an increase in gene expression of Bax and caspase-3. Our in vitro study demonstrates that L. usitatissimum can be considered as an effective agent to inhibit the growth and invasion the human prostate cancer cells.
DNA methylation modification is associated with gonadal differentiation in Monopterus albus
Authors: Wang Xin , Lai Fengling , Xiong Jun , Zhu Wang , Yuan Bifeng , Cheng Hanhua , Zhou Rongjia 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Background
Both testis and ovary can be produced sequentially in an individual with the same genome when sex reversal occurs in the teleost Monopterus albus, and epigenetic modification is supposed to be involved in gonadal differentiation. However, DNA methylation regulation mechanism underlying the gonadal differentiation remains unclear.

Results
Here, we used liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) to simultaneously determine endogenous levels of both 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine (m5dC) and 5-hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxycytidine (hm5dC) during gonadal differentiation. Overall DNA methylation level was upregulated from ovary to testis via ovotestis. As a de novo methylase, dnmt3aa expression was also upregulated in the process. Notably, we determined transcription factor Foxa1 for dnmt3aa gene expression. Site-specific mutations and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that Foxa1 can bind to and activate the dnmt3aa promoter. Furthermore, DNA methylation levels of key genes foxl2 (forkhead box L2) and cyp19a1a (cytochrome P450, family 19, subfamily A, polypeptide 1a) in regulation of female hormone synthesis were consistently upregulated during gonadal differentiation.

Conclusions
These data suggested that dynamic change of DNA methylation modification is associated with gonadal differentiation.
Positive solutions of a nonlinear algebraic system with sign-changing coefficient matrix
Authors: Jia Yanping , Gao Ying , Feng Wenying , Zhang Guang 
Published: November 2020

AbstractExistence of positive solutions for the nonlinear algebraic system$x=\lambda GF ( x ) $x=λGF(x)has been extensively studied when the$n\times n$n×ncoefficient matrixGis positive or nonnegative. However, to the best of our knowledge, few results have been obtained when the coefficient matrix changes sign. In this case, some commonly applied analysis methods such as the cone theory, the Krein–Rutman theorem, the monotone iterative techniques, and so on cannot be directly applied. In this note, we prove the existence of positive solutions for the above nonlinear algebraic system with sign-changing coefficient matrix taking the advantages of the classical Brouwer fixed point theorem combined with a decomposition condition on the coefficient matrix. We provide an example in solving a second-order difference equation with periodic boundary conditions to illustrate the applications of the results.