bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Results of Meniscal Allograft Transplantation Surgery: What is Success?
Authors: Searle Henry Kelvin Christopher , Asopa Vipin , Coleman Simon , McDermott Ian 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background : Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) may improve symptoms and function, and limit premature knee degeneration in patients under 50 years with symptomatic meniscal loss. The aim of this retrospective study was to examine patient outcomes after MAT and to explore the potential definitions of ‘success' or ‘failure’. Methods : 60 patients who underwent MAT between 2008-2014, aged 18-50 were identified. Six validated outcome measures for knee pathologies, patient satisfaction and return to sport were incorporated into a questionnaire. Surgical failure (removal of most/all the graft, revision MAT or conversion to arthroplasty), clinical failure (Lysholm <65), complication rates (surgical failure plus repeat arthroscopy for secondary allograft tears) and whether patients would have the procedure again were recorded. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, with patient-reported outcome measures reported as median and range. A binomial logistic regression was performed to assess factors contributing to failure. Results : 43 patients (72%) responded, mean age 35.6 (±7.5). 72% required concomitant procedures, and 44% had Outerbridge III or IV chondral damage. The complication rate was 21% (9). At mean follow-up of 3 (±1.9) years, 9% (4) were surgical failures and 21% (9) were clinical failures. Half of those patients considered a failure stated they would undergo MAT again. In the 74% (32) reporting they would undergo MAT again, median KOOS, IKDC and Lysholm scores were 82.1, 62.1 and 88, compared to 62.2, 48.5 and 64 in patients who said they would not. None of the risk factors significantly contributed to surgical or clinical failure, although female gender and number of concomitant procedures were nearly significant. Following MAT, 40% were dissatisfied with type/level of sport achieved, but only 14% would not consider MAT again. Conclusions: None of the risk factors examined were linked to surgical or clinical failure. Whilst less favourable outcomes are seen with Outerbridge Grade IV, these patients should not be excluded from potential MAT. Inability to return to sport is not associated with failure since 73% of these patients would undergo MAT again. The disparity between ‘clinical failure’ and ‘surgical failure’ means these terms may need re-defining using a bespoke MAT scoring system.
Process optimization and effect of thermal, alkaline, H2O2 Oxidation and combination pre-treatment of sewage sludge on solubilisation and anaerobic digestion
Authors: Siami Salar , Aminzadeh Behnoush , Karimi Razieh , Hallaji Seyed Mostafa 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background This study investigated the feasibility of enhancing anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge with triple, dual, and individual pre-treatment of waste activated sludge with heat, alkalinity, and hydrogen peroxide. These pre-treatments disrupt sludge flocs, organisms’ cell walls, extracellular polymeric substance, and intracellular organic matter, which increase biodegradability and hydrolysis rate of organic matter. In addition, the influence of various variables on methane production was analyzed using the response surface methodology with the quadratic model. Eventually, an optimized temperature and chemical concentration for the highest methane production and lowest chemical usage is suggested.Results The highest amount of methane production was obtained from the sludge pretreated with triple pretreatment (heat (90°C), alkalinity (pH=12), and hydrogen peroxide (30 mg H2O2 /g TS)), which had better performance with 96% higher than that of the control sample with Temperature of 25°C approximately and alkalinity of pH=8. Response surface methodology with the quadratic model was also used for analyzing the influence of temperature, pH, and hydrogen peroxide concentration on anaerobic digestion efficiency. It was revealed that the optimized temperature, pH, and hydrogen peroxide concentration for maximizing methane production and solubilisation of organic matter and minimizing thermal energy and chemical additives of the pre-treatments are 83.2°C, pH=10.6 and 34.8 mg H2O2 /g TS, respectively, has the desirability of 0.67.Conclusion This study reveals that triple pre-treatment of waste activated sludge performs better than dual and individual pre-treatment, Respectively. The enhanced methane production can be used as an important renewable energy resource in wastewater treatment plants for producing electrical and thermal energy. Furthermore, exploiting a higher amount of methane in the anaerobic digestion stage decreases methane emission to the atmosphere in dewatering and landfilling stages and enhances the quality of digested sludge, bringing about environmentally friendly and economically attractive sewage sludge treatment process.
Lufenuron can be transferred by gravid Aedes aegypti females to breeding sites and can affect its fertility, fertility and blood intake capacity
Authors: Gonzalez Paula V , Harburguer Laura 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes aegypti (L.) is the main vector of dengue, yellow fever, Zika and chikungunya viruses. A new method for controlling this mosquito has been developed based on the possibility that wild adult mosquitoes exposed to artificial resting sites contaminated with a larvicide, can disseminate it to larval breeding sites, is named ‘‘autodissemination’’. The present study was undertaken to evaluate if a chitin synthesis inhibitor like lufenuron can by disseminated to larval breeding sites and prevent adult emergence and also if forced contact of Ae. aegypti females with treated surfaces can affect its fertility, fecundity and blood in take capaity.METHODSLarval susceptibility to lufenuron was measured through EI50 and EI90. On the other hand gravid females were exposed by tarsal contact to lufenuron-treated papers, we used the WHO susceptibility test kit tube to line the papers, and 1, 3 or 5 females for the transference. We also evaluate if the exposure of mosquito females to lufenuron-treated papers (0.4 and 1 mg a.i./cm 2 ) has an effect on their fecundity, fertility or in the ability to feed on blood. In each assay 12-15 mosquito females were exposed to lufenuron for 1 hour; 24 h before (before blood meal - BBM) or 24 h after a blood meal (ABM).RESULTSLufenuron proved to be very active against Ae. aegypti larvae with an EI 50 of 0.164 ppb and EI 95 of 1.26 ppb. We also found that lufenuron can be transferred by females from treated surfaces to clean containers causing the inhibition of emergence of the larvae (between 30 and 50%). This effect was dependent on the concentration applied on the paper and also the number of females added to each cage.CONCLUSIONSThis paper introduces an innovation by first exploring the possibility that an IGR belonging to the group of benzoylphenyl ureas, such as lufenuron, can be transferred by gravid females to breeding sites and that at the same time can have an effect on fertility, fertility and blood intake capacity of adult mosquitoes.
Evidence on mental health policy gaps in South East Asia: A systematic review of South East Asian countries with special focus on Myanmar
Authors: Krishnan Anil Kumar Indira , N Parvathy , Mohan Rajeev , Stein Claire , Sandar Win Pa 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackground: The authors synthesised the findings of current and available policies on mental health in the South-East Asian region, primarily focusing and aiming at providing evidence and guidance for framing the mental health policy for Myanmar. Methodology: The research questions were framed using Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes and Study Design (PICOS) framework and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were used for study selection. A comprehensive literature search of different electronic databases such as Medline, Science Direct, SCOPUS, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews and Google Scholar was carried out in order to identify relevant studies. Results: The main findings indicate that very few countries in the South East Asian region currently have a National Policy on mental health, and those that do have encounter several barriers in rolling out these policies. Little importance and efforts have been made to address mental health disorders, making the burden even more difficult to address. Myanmar is considerably behind other countries in the South East Asian region and is in need for developing a national policy and guidelines targeting mental health disorders. Conclusions: In order to address the mental health burden in the country, increased advocacy and evidence-based policy recommendations for integrating mental health services into national health guidelines and policy plans is necessary. Keywords: Systematic review, South-east Asia Region, Mental health, Myanmar, national policy, evidence
NDRG2 gene expression pattern in ovarian cancer and its specific roles in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and suppressing cancer cell apoptosis
Authors: Kang Fenhong , Wang Yanlong , Luo Yaping , Zhang Yongjun 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background The cancer cell metastasis and the acquisition of chemotherapy resistance remain huge challenge for ovarian cancer treatment. Previously, N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) serves as a tumor suppressor for many cancers. Here, we attempted to investigate the specific roles of NDRG2 in ovarian cancer.Methods The expression levels of NDRG2 were detected by qRT-PCR or Immunoblotting assay. CCK-8 assay was employed to examine the cell viability of ovarian cancer cells. The colony formation ability was determined by colony formation assay. Flow cytometry analyses were performed to detect the cell apoptosis and cell cycle.Results Herein, we revealed that NDRG2 mRNA expression and protein levels were downregulated within both ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines. The overexpression of NDRG2 dramatically inhibited the cell viability and colony formation, whereas promoted the cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in G1 phase within ovarian cancer cells. More importantly, NDRG2 overexpression significantly enhanced the suppressive roles of cisplatin (DDP) in ovarian cancer cell viability. On the contrary, NDRG2 silence exerted opposing effects on ovarian cancer cells.Conclusions In summary, we provide a solid experimental basis demonstrating the tumor-suppressive effects of NDRG2 in inhibiting the cell proliferation, enhancing the cell apoptosis, eliciting the cell cycle arrest in G1 phase, and promoting the suppressive effects of DDP on the viability of ovarian cancer cells. NDRG2 administration presents a potent adjuvant treatment for ovarian cancer therapy, which needs further in vivo and clinical investigation.
Mechanisms affecting the implementation of a national antimicrobial stewardship programme; multi-professional perspectives explained using Normalisation Process Theory
Authors: Currie Kay , Laidlaw Rebecca , Ness Valerie , Gozdzielewska Lucyna , Malcom William , Sneddon Jacqueline , Seaton Ronald Andrew , Flowers Paul 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackground Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) describes activities concerned with safe-guarding antibiotics for the future, reducing drivers for the major global public health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), whereby antibiotics are less effective in preventing and treating infections. Appropriate antibiotic prescribing is central to AMS. Whilst previous studies have explored the effectiveness of specific AMS interventions, largely from uni-professional perspectives, our literature search could not find any existing evidence evaluating the processes of implementing an integrated national AMS programme from multi-professional perspectives.Methods This study sought to explain mechanisms affecting the implementation of a national antimicrobial stewardship programme, from multi-professional perspectives. Data collection involved in-depth qualitative telephone interviews with 27 implementation lead clinicians from 14/15 Scottish Health Boards and 15 focus groups with doctors, nurses and clinical pharmacists (n=72) from five Health Boards, purposively selected for reported prescribing variation. Data was first thematically analysed, barriers and enablers were then categorised, and Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) was used as an interpretive lens to explain mechanisms affecting the implementation process. Analysis addressed the NPT questions ‘ which group of actors have which problems , in which domains, and what sort of problems impact on the normalisation of AMS into everyday hospital practice’ .Results Results indicated that major barriers relate to organisational context and resource availability. AMS had coherence for implementation leads and prescribing doctors; less so for consultants and nurses who may not access training. Conflicting priorities made obtaining buy-in from some consultants difficult; limited role perceptions meant few nurses or clinical pharmacists engaged with AMS. Collective individual and team action to implement AMS could be constrained by lack of medical continuity and hierarchical relationships. Reflexive monitoring based on audit results was limited by the capacity of AMS Leads to provide direct feedback to practitioners.Conclusions This study provides original evidence of barriers and enablers to the implementation of a national AMS programme, from multi-professional, multi-organisational perspectives. The use of a robust theoretical framework (NPT) added methodological rigour to the findings. Our results are of international significance to healthcare policy makers and practitioners seeking to strengthen the sustainable implementation of hospital AMS programmes in comparable contexts.
Profiling the urinary microbiome in men with calcium-based kidney stones
Authors: Xie Jing , Huang Jian-sheng , Huang Xiang-jiang , Peng Jun-ming , Yu Zhou , Yuan Ye-qing , Xiao Ke-feng , Guo Ji-nan 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background The dogma that urine is sterile in healthy individuals has been overturned by recent studies applying molecular-based methods. Mounting evidences indicate that dysbiosis of the urinary microbiota is associated with several urological diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the characteristics of the urinary microbiome of patients with calcium-based kidney stones and compare it with those of healthy individuals.Method We collected bladder urine samples from 22 adult male patients with calcium-based kidney stones and 21 age-matched healthy controls by transurethral catheterization. For kidney stone patients, paired renal pelvis urine was also collected via ureteral catheter using aseptic technique. The V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was sequenced, and the urinary microbiota was analyzed by kidney stone status and specimen-type.Results The diversity of the urinary microbiota in kidney stone patients was significantly lower than that of healthy controls based on the Shannon and Simpson index (P<0.001 for both indices). The urinary microbiota structure also significantly differed between kidney stone patients and healthy controls (ANOSIM, R = 0.11, P <0.001). Differential representation of inflammation associated bacteria (e.g., Acinetobacter ) and several enriched functional pathways were identified in the urine of kidney stones patients. Meanwhile, we found the species diversity, overall composition of microbiota and predicted functional pathways were similar between bladder urine and renal pelvis urine in kidney stone patients.Conclusion A marked dysbiosis of urinary microbiota in male patients with calcium-based kidney stones was observed, which may be helpful to interpret the association between bacteria and calcium-based kidney stones.
Safe driving behaviors in taxi drivers: A predictive cross-sectional study based on the health belief model
Authors: Dadipoor Sakineh , Ghaffari Mohtasham , Rakhshanderou Sakineh , Safari-Moradabadi Ali 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to predict safe driving behaviors in taxi drivers of Tehran based on the constructs of health belief model. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 450 taxi drivers in Tehran using multi-stage sampling. Data were analyzed through SPSS software version 18 using Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate regression analysis. The P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the constructs of health belief model, perceived severity, perceived benefits and self-efficacy, had significant and direct relationship and perceived barriers had a significant and reverse relationship with safe driving behaviors. According to the results, the constructs of health belief model predicted 17.3% of safe driving behaviors. Self-efficacy was the strongest determinant of safety behavior (0.362 CI 0.098-0.625). Conclusions:Increasing self-efficacy, reducing perceived barriers and highlighting benefits for the purpose of accepting safe behavior can be considered as a principle in driving education and training. Also, increasing the perceived severity of adverse outcomes of RTAs and the susceptibility to these outcomes will lead to higher levels of safe driving behaviors.
Association between Haemoglobin and Growth Hormone peak in Chinese Children and Adolescents with Short Stature: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhang Tian , Ban Bo , Zhang Mei , Ji Baolan , Sun Hailing , Sun Bing 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background: This research aimed to investigate the relationship between haemoglobin (Hb) and growth hormone (GH) peak in children and adolescents with short stature.Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 787 children and adolescents with short stature. Anthropometric and biochemical indicators were measured at baseline. All patients underwent GH provocation tests with L-dopa and insulin to assess GH peak levels.Results: The univariate analysis results showed that Hb was positively associated with GH peak (β 0.07, P=0.001). Furthermore, a non-linear relationship was detected between Hb and GH peak in multivariate piecewise linear regression analysis, and the breakpoint was 123 g/L. GH peak increased with Hb elevation when the Hb level was greater than 123 g/L (β 0.08, 95% CI 0.01, 0.14; P=0.0207). However, when the Hb level was lower than 123 g/L, there was no significant relationship between Hb and GH peak (β -0.12, 95% CI -0.30, -0.06; P = 0.1867).Conclusion: In children and adolescents with short stature, we found a non-linear association between Hb and GH peak. These findings suggest that clinicians should pay more attention to Hb levels in patients with short stature.
Prospective Randomized Study Evaluating the Usefulness of a Surgical Smoke Evacuation System in Operating Rooms
Authors: Tokuda Yutaka , Okamura Takuho , Maruta Miki , Orita Mutsuko , Noguchi Miyuki , Suzuki Toshiyasu , Matsuki Hideaki 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background No prospective evaluation of surgical smoke evacuation systems has yet been conducted anywhere in the world. A prospective randomized study was conducted to clarify the usefulness of a surgical smoke evacuation system in terms of reducing the quantity of environmental pollutants found in operating room air and reducing the occupational exposure of doctors and nurses involved in surgical procedures to surgical smoke, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, etc.Methods Operating room environment conditions with and without the use of a surgical smoke evacuation system were measured, and the personal exposure levels of doctors and nurses involved in surgical procedures were also surveyed. Use of the evacuation system was determined randomly, and the procedures involved were breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy, which were treated as stratification factors.Results The average total volatile organic compound concentration in the operating room was significantly lower when the evacuation system was used compared with when it was not used. The findings were similar for formaldehyde concentration. Multiple regression analysis for healthcare professionals’ personal exposure levels showed that the evacuation system was a factor that significantly impacted their formaldehyde and acetaldehyde personal exposure levels, which were greatly reduced by the use of the system.Conclusion This study’s findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the evacuation systems, which should increase awareness that their benefits take priority over the drawbacks.
Cone-beam Computed Tomography Investigation of Middle Mesial Canals and Isthmuses in Mandibular First Molars in a Chinese Population
Authors: Xu Shuaimei , Dao Junfeng , Liu Zhongjun , Zhang Zhiyong , Lu Yu , Zeng Xiongqun 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background: While there is ample research into the anatomy of mandibular molars, little is known regarding isthmuses and middle mesial (MM) canals in Chinese populations. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of MM canals and isthmuses in the mesial root of mandibular first molars using Cone-beam Computed Tomography. Methods: Cone-beam Computed Tomography images of 357 mature mandibular first molars were retrospectively analyzed. Presence of isthmuses and MM canals, and the length of isthmuses in the mesial root were recorded. Meanwhile, we also recorded possible correlated factors such as demographics, side of mandible, presence of separated distal-lingual roots. Results: Of these 357 teeth, 209 showed evidence of either complete or partial communication in the mesial root. Of these, 11(3.1%) exhibited true MM canals while 198(55.5%) exhibited isthmuses. Sex or side of mandible was not correlated with the prevalence of isthmuses (P> 0.05). However, there was a significant association between the presence of a distal-lingual root and the prevalence of such communication (P< 0.001). The average length of isthmuses was 4.3 ± 3.1mm. Conclusions: We detected high rate of isthmuses and low rate of MM canals in mesial roots of mandibular first molars, which is important as such areas should be identified and cleaned during root canal treatment.