bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the effect of antioxidants and a vasodilator on overall safety and residual hearing preservation in cochlear implant patients
Authors: Scheper Verena , Schmidtheisler Melanie , Lasch Florian , von der Leyen Heiko , Koch Armin , Schwieger Jana , Büchner Andreas , Lesinski-Schiedat Anke , Lenarz Thomas 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
The standard therapy for patients suffering from sensorineural hearing loss is cochlear implantation. The insertion of the electrode array into the cochlea, with potential mechanical trauma and the presence of this foreign body inside the cochlea, may lead to free radical formation and reduced blood perfusion of the cochlea which can result in a loss of residual hearing. Studies have suggested that a particular combination of the antioxidants vitamins A, C and E as well as the vasodilator magnesium (together: ACEMg) may protect the residual hearing.

Methods
The potential protective effect of ACEMg on residual hearing preservation in cochlear implant (CI) patients was investigated in a single-centre, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase II clinical trial. CI candidates with some residual hearing in low frequencies receiving MED-EL implants of different FLEX electrode array lengths were treated with ACEMg tablets or placebo respectively 2 days preoperatively and up to 3 months postoperatively. The study objective was to demonstrate that ACEMg is more efficacious than placebo in preserving residual hearing during cochlear implantation by comparing the hearing loss (change in hearing thresholds at 500 Hz from baseline) 3 months after the first fitting between the two treatment groups and to investigate the treatments’ safety.

Results
Fifty-one patients were included in the study, which had to be terminated before the recruitment goal was reached because of IMP-resupply mismanagement of one partner. In the intention-to-treat population, 25 patients were treated with ACEMg and 24 patients with placebo. The mean hearing loss at 500 Hz was (± 15.84) 30.21 dB (placebo) or (± 17.56) 26.00 dB (ACEMg) 3 months after the initial fitting. Adjusting the postoperative hearing loss for the baseline residual hearing, planned electrode length and surgeon results in 8.01 dB reduced hearing loss in ACEMg-treated patients compared to placebo-treated ones. The safety analysis revealed that ACEMg was generally well-tolerated with adverse event frequencies below the placebo level.

Conclusion
This is the first clinical trial investigating a drug effect on residual hearing in CI patients. These first-in-man data may suggest that a perioperative oral administration of ACEMg is safe and may provide protection of residual hearing in CI patients.

Trial registration
EU Clinical Trial Register No. 2012-005002-22. Registered on 6 December 2013. Funding: European Commission FP7-HEALTH-2012-INNOVATION-2.
Structural elucidation, molecular docking, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition studies of 5-amino-nicotinic acid derivatives
Authors: Nawaz Muhammad , Taha Muhammad , Qureshi Faiza , Ullah Nisar , Selvaraj Manikandan , Shahzad Sumaira , Chigurupati Sridevi , Waheed Abdul , Almutairi Fadiah Ammar 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn this study, 5-amino-nicotinic acid derivatives (1–13) have been designed and synthesized to evaluate their inhibitory potential against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The synthesized compounds (1–13) exhibited promising α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. IC50 values for α-amylase activity ranged between 12.17 ± 0.14 to 37.33 ± 0.02 µg/mL ± SEM while for α-glucosidase activity the IC50 values were ranged between 12.01 ± 0.09 to 38.01 ± 0.12 µg/mL ± SEM. In particular, compounds 2 and 4–8 demonstrated significant inhibitory activities against α-amylase and α-glucosidase and the inhibitory potential of these compounds was comparable to the standard acarbose (10.98 ± 0.03 and 10.79 ± 0.17 µg/mL ± SEM, respectively). In addition, the impact of substituent on the inhibitory potential of these compounds was assessed to establish structure activity relationships. Studies in molecular simulations were conducted to better comprehend the binding properties of the compounds. All the synthesized compounds were extensively characterized with modern spectroscopic methods including 1H-NMR, 13C–NMR, FTIR, HR-MS and elemental analysis.
Measuring mosquito control: adult-mosquito catches vs egg-trap data as endpoints of a cluster-randomized controlled trial of mosquito-disseminated pyriproxyfen
Authors: Garcia Klauss K. S. , Versiani Hanid S. , Araújo Taís O. , Conceição João P. A. , Obara Marcos T. , Ramalho Walter M. , Minuzzi-Souza Thaís T. C. , Gomes Gustavo D. , Vianna Elisa N. , Timbó Renata V. , Barbosa Vinicios G. C. , Rezende Maridalva S. P. , Martins Luciana P. F. , Macedo Glauco O. , Carvalho Bruno L. , Moreira Israel M. , Bartasson Lorrainy A. , Nitz Nadjar , Luz Sérgio L. B. , Gurgel-Gonçalves Rodrigo , Abad-Franch Fernando 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus are the main urban vectors of arthropod-borne viruses causing human disease, including dengue, Zika, or West Nile. Although key to disease prevention, urban-mosquito control has met only limited success. Alternative vector-control tactics are therefore being developed and tested, often using entomological endpoints to measure impact. Here, we test one promising alternative and assess how three such endpoints perform at measuring its effects.

Methods
We conducted a 16-month, two-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial (CRCT) of mosquito-disseminated pyriproxyfen (MD-PPF) in central-western Brazil. We used three entomological endpoints: adult-mosquito density as directly measured by active aspiration of adult mosquitoes, and egg-trap-based indices of female Aedes presence (proportion of positive egg-traps) and possibly abundance (number of eggs per egg-trap). Using generalized linear mixed models, we estimated MD-PPF effects on these endpoints while accounting for the non-independence of repeated observations and for intervention-unrelated sources of spatial-temporal variation.

Results
On average, MD-PPF reduced adult-mosquito density by 66.3% (95% confidence interval, 95% CI: 47.3–78.4%); Cx. quinquefasciatus density fell by 55.5% (95% CI: 21.1–74.8%), and Ae. aegypti density by 60.0% (95% CI: 28.7–77.5%). In contrast, MD-PPF had no measurable effect on either Aedes egg counts or egg-trap positivity, both of which decreased somewhat in the intervention cluster but also in the control cluster. Egg-trap data, therefore, failed to reflect the 60.0% mean reduction of adult Aedes density associated with MD-PPF deployment.

Conclusions
Our results suggest that the widely used egg-trap-based monitoring may poorly measure the impact of Aedes control; even if more costly, direct monitoring of the adult mosquito population is likely to provide a much more realistic and informative picture of intervention effects. In our CRCT, MD-PPF reduced adult-mosquito density by 66.3% in a medium-sized, spatially non-isolated, tropical urban neighborhood. Broader-scale trials will be necessary to measure MD-PPF impact on arboviral-disease transmission.
An exponential-trigonometric spline minimizing a seminorm in a Hilbert space
Authors: Shadimetov Kholmat M. , Boltaev Aziz K. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn the present paper, using the discrete analogue of the operator $\mathrm{d} ^{6}/\mathrm{d} x^{6}-1$

d
6

/
d

x
6

−
1
, we construct an interpolation spline that minimizes the quantity $\int _{0}^{1}(\varphi {'''}(x)+\varphi (x))^{2}\,\mathrm{d}x$

∫

0

1

(

φ
‴

(
x
)
+
φ
(
x
)
)

2

d
x
in the Hilbert space $W_{2}^{(3,0)}$

W
2

(
3
,
0
)

. We obtain explicit formulas for the coefficients of the interpolation spline. The obtained interpolation spline is exact for the exponential-trigonometric functions ${{e}^{-x}}$

e

−
x

, ${{e}^{\frac{x}{2}}}\cos ( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}x)$

e

x
2

cos
(

3

2

x
)
, and ${{e}^{\frac{x}{2}}}\sin ( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}x )$

e

x
2

sin
(

3

2

x
)
.
Dietary plant extracts modulate gene expression profiles in alveolar macrophages of pigs experimentally infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus
Authors: Kim Kwangwook , Ji Peng , Song Minho , Che Tung M. , Bravo David , Pettigrew James E. , Liu Yanhong 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Our previous study showed that 3 plant extracts enhanced the immune responses and growth efficiency of weaned pigs infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), which is one of the most economically important disease in swine industry. However, each plant extract differently effected on growth efficiency and immune responses. Therefore, the objective of this study was conducted to characterize the effects and investigate the potential underlying mechanisms of 3 plant extracts on gene expression of alveolar macrophages in weaned pigs experimentally infected with PRRSV.

Results
PRRSV infection altered (P < 0.05) the expression of 1,352 genes in pigs fed the control (CON; 755 up, 597 down). Compared with the infected CON, feeding capsicum (CAP), garlic botanical (GAR), or turmeric oleoresin (TUR) altered the expression of 46 genes (24 up, 22 down), 134 genes (59 up, 75 down), or 98 genes (55 up, 43 down) in alveolar macrophages of PRRSV-infected pigs, respectively. PRRSV infection up-regulated (P < 0.05) the expression of genes related to cell apoptosis, immune system process, and response to stimulus, but down-regulated (P < 0.05) the expression of genes involved in signaling transduction and innate immune response. Compared with the infected CON, feeding TUR or GAR reduced (P < 0.05) the expression of genes associated with antigen processing and presentation, feeding CAP up-regulated (P < 0.05) the expression of genes involved in antigen processing and presentation. Supplementation of CAP, GAR, or TUR also enhanced (P < 0.05) the expression of several genes related to amino acid metabolism, steroid hormone synthesis, or RNA degradation, respectively.

Conclusions
The results suggest that 3 plant extracts differently regulated the expression of genes in alveolar macrophages of PRRSV-infected pigs, especially altering genes involved in immunity.
Role of biochar in promoting circular economy in the agriculture sector. Part 1: A review of the biochar roles in soil N, P and K cycles
Authors: Jindo Keiji , Audette Yuki , Higashikawa Fábio Satoshi , Silva Carlos Alberto , Akashi Kinya , Mastrolonardo Giovanni , Sánchez-Monedero Miguel Angel , Mondini Claudio 
Published: July 2020

AbstractRecently, biochar has been widely used for versatile applications in agriculture and environment sectors as an effective tool to minimise waste and to increase the efficiency of circular economy. In the present work, we review the current knowledge about biochar role in N, P and K cycles. Ammonia volatilisation and N2O emission can be reduced by biochar addition. The content of available P can be improved by biochar through enhancement of solubilisation and reduction in P fixation on soil mineral, whilst high extractable K in biochar contributes to K cycle in soil. Liming effect and high CEC are important properties of biochars improving beneficial interactions with N, P and K soil cycle processes. The effectiveness of biochar on N, P and K cycles is associated with biochar properties which are mainly affected by feedstock type and pyrolysis condition.
Disparities in triage and management of the homeless and the elderly trauma patient
Authors: Schaffer Kathryn B. , Wang Jiayan , Nasrallah Fady S. , Bayat Dunya , Dandan Tala , Ferkich Anthony , Biffl Walter L. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundTrauma systems are designed to provide specialized treatment for the most severely injured. As populations change, it is imperative for trauma centers to remain dynamic to provide the best care to all members of the community.MethodsA retrospective review of all trauma patients treated at one Level II trauma center in Southern CA over 5 years. Three cohorts of patients were studied: geriatric (> 65 years), the homeless, and all other trauma patients. Triage, hospitalization, and outcomes were collected and analyzed.ResultsOf 8431 patients treated, 30% were geriatric, 3% homeless and 67% comprised all other patients. Trauma activation criteria was met for 84% of all other trauma patients, yet only 61% of homeless and geriatric patients combined. Injury mechanism for homeless included falls (38%), pedestrian/bicycle related (27%) and assaults (24%), often while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Average length of hospital stay (LOS) was greater for homeless and geriatric patients and frequently attributed to discharge planning challenges. Both the homeless and geriatric groups demonstrated increased complications, comorbidities, and death rates.ConclusionsHomeless trauma patients reflect similar challenges in care as with the elderly, requiring additional resources and more complex case management. It is prudent to identify and understand the issues surrounding patients transported to our trauma center requiring a higher level of care yet are under-triaged upon arrival to the Emergency Department. Although a monthly review is done for all under-triaged patients, and geriatric patients are acknowledged to be a cohort continually having delays, the homeless cohort continues to be under-triaged. The admitted homeless trauma patient has similar complex case management issues as the elderly related to pre-existing health issues and challenges with discharge planning, both which can add to longer lengths of hospital stay as compared to other trauma patients. Given the lack of social support that is endemic to both populations, these cohorts represent a unique challenge to trauma centers. Further research into specialized care is required to determine best practices to address disparities evident in the homeless and elderly, and to promote health equity in marginalized populations.
Inter-observer agreement of baseline whole body MRI in multiple myeloma
Authors: Croft James , Riddell Angela , Koh Dow-Mu , Downey Kate , Blackledge Matthew , Usher Marianne , Boyd Kevin , Kaiser Martin , Messiou Christina 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Whole body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now incorporated into international guidance for imaging patients with multiple myeloma. The aim of this study was to investigate inter-observer agreement of triple reported baseline whole-body MRI in myeloma and highlight potential pitfalls.

Methods
Fifty-seven patients with symptomatic myeloma at first presentation or relapse and planned for autologous stem cell transplant were included. All patients completed baseline whole body MRI within 2 weeks prior to starting treatment. Each scan was reported independently by 3 radiologists using a defined scoring system. Differences in observer scores were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and inter-observer agreement assessed using intra class correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results
There was no significant difference in mean observer scores for whole skeleton and ICC demonstrated excellent inter-observer agreement at 0.91. ICC varied between skeletal regions with spine, pelvis and ribs showing good inter-observer agreement, whereas skull and long bones were moderate. Scans with variation in observer scores were re-examined and cause of discrepancies identified. This information was used to describe potential anatomical pitfalls in reporting .

Conclusion
Whole-body MRI has excellent inter-observer agreement in reporting symptomatic myeloma at baseline. Inter-observer agreement varied between skeletal regions highlighting specific areas of difficulty.
Antioxidant and in vivo hepatoprotective effects of Gardenia gummifera L.f. fruit methanol extract
Authors: Vinaykumar N. M. , Mahmood Riaz , Krishna V. , Ravishankara B. , Shastri Sudhesh L. 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Gardenia gummifera L.f. (Family: Rubeacea) is used in indigenous system of medicine to cure many diseases. To authenticate the traditional medicinal claim investigation has been under taken to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of Gardenia gummifera L.f. fruit methanol extract (GFME).

Method
GFME was evaluated using various antioxidant assays, including DPPH and Nitric oxide radical scavenging assays. The protective effects of GFME were studied in carbon tetrachloride reduced biochemical markers of hepatic injury such as serum glutamyl oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamyl pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), total bilirubin (TB) and direct bilirubin (DB) and in silico studies were carried out to screen the GFME phytocompounds.

Results
The extract showed significant antioxidant activity in DPPH and Nitric oxide radical scavenging with IC50 value of 131.11 and 175.95 respectively. Quantitative phytochemical assay determines the presence of alkaloids 69.1 μg/1 mg and phenolics 76.5 μg/1 mg. GC-MS analysis of aromatic extract resulted in 36 compounds. Among them, compounds 2, 3-Dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4 h-pyran-4-one, 2-furancarboxaldehyde 5-(hydroxymethyl) and Quinic acid are the major ones. The fruit methanol extract showed significant in vivo hepatoprotective activity by altering the levels of liver function biochemical parameters such as SGOT, SGPT, ALP, TP, TB and DB. Histology of the liver section also confirms the hepatoprotective activity of GFME. Molecular docking of GC-MS profiled phytocompounds with the target protein TGF-β1and PPARα also confirmed the therapeutic effect with good hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions.

Conclusion
Thus the present study clearly strengthened the traditional medicinal claim of the plant Gardenia gummifera L.f. possessing the hepatoprotective drug.
Food-drug interaction and pharmacokinetic study between fruit extract of Capsicum frutescens L. and glimepiride in diabetic rats
Authors: Raja Mettupalayam Annadurai , Mondal Prasenjit , Venu Kola , Thimmaraju Manish Kumar , Kiran Poudala 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
The present study was designed to explore the food-drug and pharmacokinetic interaction between C.frutescens, a culinary herb on hypoglycemic activity of glimepiride, a sulfonyl urea derivative used in the treatment of type-2 diabetes) in diabetic rats in combination of each as single doses for one day. Further it is also aimed to study the effect of AQEFCF on antidiabetic effect of glimepiride by repeated dose treatment of AQEFCF for 8 days followed by single dose of Glimepiride in diabetic rats and also with repeated dose treatment of both drugs for 8 days in diabetic rats.

Methods
Acute toxicity study was conducted as per OECD guidelines 425, as per this study maximum 2000 mg/kg dose was given to albino mice as observed for mortality of the aqueous extract of C.frutescens. Later in order to know the dose dependent action three doses were selected (1/5th,1/10th and 1/20th) for antidiabetic study. Before treatment with either AQEFCF or Glimepiride fasting ‘0’ blood samples were collected and serum glucose levels were analysed by GOD-POD method using semi-auto analyser. AQEFCF (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o) glimepiride 1/2TD, TD and 2TD (0.036, 0.072 and 0.144 mg/200 g p.o) were administered orally alone as well as in combination i.e. AQEFCF as single dose followed by a single dose of glimepiride 30 min later in Phase I. In II Phase repeated doses of AQEFCF for 8 days followed by a single dose of glimepiride (30 min later) on 8th day. In Phase III both the drugs are administered as single doses for 8 days in the same group of diabetic rats. After the treatment serum glucose levels were determined in all the groups of rats at prefixed time intervals i.e.; 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 24 h.

Results
Both AQEFCF and glimepiride when administered as single doses produced a dose dependent antidiabetic activity in diabetic rats. The combination of AQEFCF and glimepiride at the different dose levels has shown an better antidiabetic effect. AQEFCF augmented the effect of glimepiride in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Conclusion
It has been concluded that no significant food drug interaction occurred between AQEFCF of C. frutescence and glimepiride either single dose or combination of repeated doses. Empirical evidences clears that there is also no pharmacokinetic interaction also observed.
Comparison between volume-controlled ventilation and pressure-controlled volume-guaranteed ventilation in postoperative lung atelectasis using lung ultrasound following upper abdominal laparotomies: a prospective randomized study
Authors: Hassan Bahaa El-din Ewees , El-Shaer Ahmed Nagah , Elbeialy Marwa Ahmed Khairy , Ismail Shimaa Ahmed Mohamed 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Atelectasis is a common side effect of general anesthesia. Prevention of lung atelectasis, carbon dioxide retention, and chest infection would improve the quality of medical care and decrease hospital stay and costs. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) and pressure-controlled volume-guaranteed ventilation (PCVG) on postoperative lung atelectasis using lung ultrasound (LUS) following upper abdominal laparotomies.

Results
Sixty patients (male and female) scheduled for upper abdominal laparotomies. They were randomly allocated into two equal groups: Group A (n = 30): received intraoperative volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) mode and group (n = 30): received intraoperative pressure-controlled ventilation volume-guaranteed (PCV-VG) mode. Arterial blood samples were obtained immediately after extubation, and 30, 120, 240, and 360 min postextubation. Lung ultrasound was done intraoperatively at 30 min from induction, immediate, and 120 and after 360 min postoperatively. There was difference between two groups favoring PCV-VG group but that difference failed to be statically significant regarding arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCo2) between the two groups in preoperative, immediate postoperative, and 120, 240, and 360 min postoperative. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was significantly lower among patients in the VCV group immediate postextubation compared with patients in group PCV-VG (p value = 0.009*). Although signs of atelectasis were low in group B, 36.7% of the patients showed normal lung ultrasound, 63.3% showed various abnormalities, 46.7% showed the presence of lung pulse (vertical rhythmic movement synchronous with cardiac pulsation through motionless lung), and 46.7% showed B lines (vertical lines indicate abnormal lung aeration), while 30% of the patients showed the absence of A-lines (indicates the absence of lung sliding and abnormal lung aeration). Also, some patients demonstrated more than one sign. However, there was no a significant difference between the two groups both showed atelectasis immediate, 2 h and 6 h postoperatively.

Conclusion
PCV-VG offered no significant advantage over VCV regarding the occurrence of the postoperative atelectasis. However, we prefer to use PCV-VG as postoperative hypoxia and atelectasis was much less in that mode. Further, large-scale studies are required to confirm these findings and to establish a definite conclusion.