bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing and mass testing in Kenya - Insights from a mathematical model&nbsp;
Authors: Mbogo Rachel Waema , Odhiambo John W. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the world is currently facing a devastating pandemic of a novel coronavirus ( COVID -19), which started as an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown cause in the Wuhan city of China in December 2019. Within days and weeks, the COVID -19 pandemic had spread to over 210 countries. By the end of April, COVID -19 had caused over three million confirmed cases of infections and 230,000 fatalities globally. The trend poses a huge threat to global public health. Understanding the early transmission dynamics of the infection and evaluating the effectiveness of control measures is crucial for assessing the potential for sustained transmission to occur in new areas.We employed a SEIHCRD delay differential mathematical transmission model with reported Kenyan data on cases of COVID -19 to estimate how transmission varies over time and which population to target for mass testing. The model is concise in structure, and successfully captures the course of the COVID -19 outbreak, and thus sheds light on understanding the trends of the outbreak and the vulnerable populations. The results from the model gives insights to the government on the population to target for mass testing. The government should target population in the informal settlement for mass testing. People with pre-existing medical and non-medical conditions should be identified and given special medical care. With aggressive effective mass testing and adhering to the government directives and guidelines, we can get rid of COVID -19 epidemic.
The Effect of Sevoflurane Anesthesia for Dental Procedure on Neurodevelopment in Children: A Prospective, Equivalence, Controlled Trial
Authors: Zhou Pinping , Zhang Chao , Huang Guijin , Hu Yuan , Ma Wenzhu , Yu Cong 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: Dental procedures under general anesthesia (DGA) was found to improve the oral health-related quality of children's life. However, some parents and pediatricians expressed concern about the neurotoxicity of general anesthesia. The purpose of this trial was to investigate whether DGA in children has an adverse effect on neurodevelopment.Methods: In this prospective, assessor-masked, controlled, equivalence trial, we recruited 340 children younger than 7 years who were undergoing caries treatment between Feb 1, 2019, and Aug 31, 2019, without factors affecting neurodevelopment. They received either sevoflurane-based general anesthesia or awake-local anesthesia. The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition was used to evaluate the neurodevelopment of children at six months after surgery, and the Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) was selected as the primary outcome. Predefine the 95% CI of a difference in means within five (1/3 SD) as the equivalence margin.Results: The outcome data were obtained from 129 children in the general anesthesia group and 144 in the local anesthesia group. The median length of general anesthesia was 130 min (IQR 110 – 160). There was equivalence in means of FSIQ score between the general anesthesia group and the local anesthesia group (local minus general anesthesia 0.46, 95% CI -2.35 to 1.61). There was no significant difference in FSIQ scores between different age groups and different anesthesia durations. Only the mother's education could affect the primary outcome.Conclusions: In this trial, prolonged DGA with a sevoflurane-only anesthetic in preschool children, does not adversely affect neurodevelopment at six months after surgery compared with awake-local anesthesia. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800015216. Registered Mar 15 2018, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=24830.
Genetic Aetiology of Primary Adrenal Insufficiency in Chinese Children
Authors: Chang Zhuo , Lu Wei , Zhao Zhu-Hui , Xi Li , Li Xiao-Jing , Ye Rong , Ni Jin-Wen , Pei Zhou , Zhang Miao-Ying , Cheng Ruo-Qian , Zheng Zhang-Qian , Sun Cheng-Jun , Wu Jing , Luo Feihong 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) is a life-threatening condition, and a definitive aetiological diagnosis is essential for management and prognostication. We conducted this study to investigate the genetic aetiologies of PAI in South China and explore their clinical features.Methods: Seventy children were enrolled. Clinical information was collected, and combined genetic tests were performed according to the children’s manifestations. Statistical analysis was performed among the different groups. In silico or in vitro experiments were applied to determine the pathogenicity of novel variants.Results: Among the 70 children, 84.29% (59/70) were diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and a diagnosis of 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) was subsequently genetically confirmed in 91.53% of the cases. Salt wasting (SW), simple virilization (SV), and non-classic (NC) CAH accounted for 66.10% (39/59), 30.51% (18/59), and 3.39% (2/59) of the cases, respectively. Interestingly, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and testosterone levels in females were significantly higher than those in males among both SW and SV CAH patients. Additionally, 15.71% (11/70) of the patients were diagnosed with PAI, 72.73% (8/11) of whom had positive genetic findings. Among all the cases, two novel variants in CYP21A2, c.833dupT (p.279GfsX17) and c.651+2T>G, were harboured by CAH patients. A microdeletion (Xp21.2-21.3) and five novel variants, including 2 in the NR0B1 gene (p.108S>X, p.L411Vfs*6, c.1231_1234delCTCA, p.L411Vfs*6), 2 in the AAAS gene (c.399+1G>A, p.V103Afs*8, c.250delT, p.W84Gfs*10) and 1 in the NNT gene (p.I758Mfs*10), were detected. The novel variant c.399+1G>A in the AAAS gene was further confirmed to lead to exon 4 deletion in mRNA transcription and produce a truncated ALADIN protein.Conclusions: We found ethnic differences in the CYP21A2 gene variant spectrum among different study populations. Female 21-OHD patients tended to have higher 17-OHP and testosterone levels, which warrants caution in relation to the virilization effect both physically and psychologically. Novel gene variants detected in the CYP21A2, NR0B1, AAAS and NNT genes expanded the genetic spectrum of paediatric PAI; however, further improvement of genetic testing tools beyond our protocol is still needed to uncover the complete aetiology of PAI in children.
Clinical Features and Survival Outcome of Patients with Malignant Transformation Arising in Mature Cystic Teratoma: A 20-Year Experience at Multicenter Institution and Literature Review on 342 Cases
Authors: Wang Tian , Yang Runfeng , Wang Shixuan , Wu Mingfu 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: To analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis in malignant transformation of mature cystic teratoma (MT-MCT).Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 23 patients (cohort 3) diagnosed with MT-MCT from the medical center (Tongji Hospital and Hubei cancer hospital), between January 1990 to June 2020. Cohort 2 was obtained from the PubMed, CNKI, Web of Science, and MEDLINE database, between January 1990 to June 2020. Cohort 3 was based on the surveillance, epidemiology, and results registry (SEER) database, between January 1975 and December 2016. Results: Among 3865 cases diagnosed with mature cystic teratoma, the incidence of MT-MCT is 23 (0.59%). The mean age of 23 patients was 50.6 years (median 49.0, range 24 to71 years). Patients mainly had abdominal pain (21.7%) or complained about an abdominal mass (30.4%). The mean tumor size was 11.6 cm (median 11.9, range 5.2 to 14.8 cm). According to the FIGO stage, eight patients were in stage I (34.8%), two cases were in stage II (8.6%), III (47.8%), and IV (8.7%), respectively. Most patients were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (91.3%). Most patients received total hysterectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy, and omentectomy. Five patients (21.7%) received lymphadenectomy. Platinum-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy were selectively used for patients after surgical resection. The mean of disease-free survival was 27.3 months (median 22.0, range 3.0 to 67.0 months). According to the published data analysis of 342 cases, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 53.2%, 33.1%, and 23.2%, respectively. The young patients (＜55 years) showed better prognosis. Conclusion: MT-MCT has an aggressive clinical course, with poor long-term prognosis. The high incidence in postmenopausal women should not be ignored. The effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy after surgery is needed to elucidate in the future.
Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality Trends by Sex and Population Group in South Africa: 2002-2014.
Authors: Motsuku Lactatia Matsie , Chen Wenlong Carl , Muchengeti Mazvita Molleen , Quene Tamlyn Mac , Kellett Patricia , Mohlala Matshediso Ivy , Chu Kathryn Minghsia , Singh Elvira , Naidoo Megan 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
BackgroundSouth Africa (SA) has experienced a rapid transition in the Human Development Index (HDI) over the past decade, which had an effect on the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to provide CRC incidence and mortality trends by population group and sex in SA from 2002 to 2014.MethodsIncidence data were extracted from the South African National Cancer Registry and mortality data obtained from Statistics South Africa (STATS SA), for the period 2002 to 2014. Age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR) and age-standardised mortality rates (ASMR) were calculated using the STATS SA mid-year population as the denominator and the Segi world standard population data for standardisation. A Joinpoint regression analysis was computed for the CRC ASIR and ASMR by population group and sex.ResultsA total of 33,232 incident CRC cases and 26,836 CRC deaths were reported during the study period. Of the CRC cases reported, 54% were males and 46% were females, and among deaths reported, 47% were males and 53% were females. Overall, there was a 2.5% annual average percentage change (AAPC) increase in ASIR from 2002 to 2014 (95% CI: 0.6- 4.5, p-value <0.001). For ASMR overall, there was 1.3% increase from 2002 to 2014 (95% CI: 0.1- 2.6, p-value <0.001). The ASIR and ASMR among population groups were stable, with the exception of the Black population group. The ASIR increased consistently at 4.3% for black males (95% CI: 1.9- 6.7, p-value <0.001) and 3.4% for black females (95% CI: 1.5- 5.3, p-value <0.001) from 2002 to 2014, respectively. Similarly, ASMR for black males and females increased by 4.2% (95% CI: 2.0- 6.5, p-value <0.001) and 3.4% (, 95%CI: 2.0- 4.8, p-value <0.01) from 2002 to 2014, respectively.ConclusionsThe disparities in the CRC incidence and mortality trends may reflect socioeconomic inequalities across different population groups in SA. The rapid increase in CRC trends among the Black population group is concerning and requires further investigation and increased efforts for cancer prevention, early screening and diagnosis, as well as better access to cancer treatment.
Pharmacological Treatment After Acute Coronary Syndrome: Baseline Clinical Characteristics and Sex Differences in a Population-Based Cohort Study.
Authors: Sotorra-Figuerola Gerard , Ouchi Dan , García-Sangenís Ana , Giner-Soriano Maria , Morros Rosa 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular disease remains the most common cause of death worldwide. Some differences between sexes in secondary prevention pharmacological therapies after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been described, being women less likely to be treated. The aim was to to describe baseline socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and drugs prescribed for secondary prevention after a first episode of ACS in a Primary Health Care cohort population in Catalonia (Spain) and to assess differences between sexes.Methods: Population-based observational cohort study of patients with a first episode of ACS during 2009-2016. Data source: Information System for Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP) database. Results: There were 8,071 patients included, 71.3% of them were men and 80.2% had an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Their mean age was 65.3, being older the women than the men. The most frequent comorbidities were hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes and they were more common in women. Antiplatelets (91.3%) and statins (85.7%) were the study drugs most prescribed. The uses of all comedications were significantly higher in women, except for nitrates. The combination of four study groups was initially prescribed in 47.7% of patients and combination of beta-blockers, statins and antiplatelets was prescribed in 18.4%. More men than women received all recommended pharmacological groups.Conclusion: Women were older, had more comorbidities and received more comedication. Most patients were treated with a combination of four or three study drugs for secondary prevention. Men initiated more treatments for secondary prevention and dual antiplatelet therapy than women.
Spinal reflexive movement follows General Tau Theory
Authors: Bahadori Mehrdad , Cesari Paola , Craig Cathy M , Andani Mehran Emadi 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
Tau theory explains how both intrinsically and perceptually guided movements are controlled by the brain. According to general tau theory, voluntary, self-paced human movements are controlled by coupling the tau of the movement (i.e. the rate of closure of the movement gap at its current closure rate) onto an intrinsically generated tau-guide (Lee, 1998). To date there are no studies that have looked at involuntary movements, which are directly guided by innate patterns of neural energy generated at the level of the spinal cord or brain, and that can be explained by general tau theory. This study examines the guidance of an involuntary movement generated by the Patellar reflex in presence of a minimized gravitational field.
Results
The results showed that the Patellar reflexive movement is strongly coupled to an intrinsic tau-guide particularly when the limb is not moving in the direction of gravity.
Conclusion
These results suggest that the same principles of control underpin both voluntary and involuntary movements irrespective of whether they are generated in the brain or the spinal cord. Secondly, given that movements like the patellar reflex are visible from infancy, one might conclude that tau-guidance is an innate form of motor control, or neural blueprint, that has evolved over time.
Impact of Central Nervous System International Prognostic Index on the treatment of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Ma'koseh Mohammad , Ma’koseh Mohammad , Tamimi Faris , Abufara Alaa , Abusalem Lana , Salama Osama , Saleh Jacob , Khader Rnad , Faiyoumi Baha A. , Al-Rwashdeh Mohammad , Halahleh Khaled 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
The central nervous system international prognostic index [CNS-IPI]is being usedwidely for the identification of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma [DLBCL]with highrisk of CNS relapse. The aim of our study is to confirm the value of the CNS-IPI in predicting CNS relapse in our young study population and to evaluate the impact on selection of patients for CNS prophylaxis.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed patients with pathological diagnosis of DLBCL who were treated with R-CHOP [rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone] regimen from January 2004 till December 2016 with no evidence of CNS involvement on diagnosis. Different demographic, disease characteristics and treatment given including the use of intrathecal chemotherapy prophylaxis were collected. Correlation between CNS-IPI and CNS relapse was examined through chi square test. Median time to CNS relapse and median overall survival [OS] after CNS relapse were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier plots.
Results
354 patients were included. Median age was 46 years. 52 [15%] patients were given intrathecal chemotherapy [ITC] prophylaxis, of whom CNS-IPI was high in 7[13%]. Overall, 5% of the patients [n = 17] developed CNS relapse.The median survival after CNS relapse was 7 months. The rate of CNS relapse in patients with low, intermediate and high risk CNS-IPI was 0.6%, 3% and 22% respectively [p = < 0.001].On multivariate analysis, involvement of bone marrow [p = 0.039]and renal or adrenal glands[p = 0.023]significantly correlated with CNS relapse. Considering theCNS-IPI and high risk anatomical sites [breast, uterus, testis and epidural space], 26% of our patients with DLBCLwould have needed prophylaxis.
Conclusion
Although CNS-IPI helps in better selection of DLBCL patients for CNS prophylaxis, it will significantly and possibly unnecessarily increase the number of patients exposed to prophylaxis. More investigational biomarkers and methods are necessary to better refining high risk patients.
Risk Factors Associated with Ischemic Stroke in a Young Non-Diabetic and Non-Hypertensive Population: A Retrospective Case-Control Study
Authors: Zhang Nan , Zhang Lin , Wang Qiu , Zhao Jingwei , Liu Jia , Wang Guang 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: Globally, rates of ischemic stroke (IS) have been rising among young adults. This study was designed to identify risk factors associated with IS incidence in young adults unaffected by hypertension or diabetes.Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study of early-onset IS patients without diabetes and hypertension. Control patients were matched with healthy individuals based upon sex, age (±2 years), and BMI (±3 kg/m2) at a 1:3 ratio. Sociodemographic, clinical, and risk factor-related data pertaining to these patients was collected. The association between these risk factors and IS incidence was then assessed using conditional logistic regression models.Results: We recruited 60 IS patients and 180 controls with mean ages of 44.37±4.68 and 44.31±4.71 years, respectively, for this study. Relative to controls, IS patients had significantly higher total cholesterol (TG), homocysteine (HCY), white blood cell (WBC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels, and significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride cholesterol (TC), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) levels (all P< 0.05). After controlling for potential confounding factors, HCY and ANC were found to be significantly positively associated with IS incidence (OR 1.518, 95%CI 1.165-1.977, P= 0.002 and OR 2.418, 95%CI 1.061-5.511, P=0.036, respectively), whereas HDL-C and FT3 levels were negatively correlated with IS incidence (OR 0.001, 95%CI 0.000-0.083, P=0.003 and OR 0.053, 95%CI 0.008-0.326, P=0.002, respectively).Conclusion: In young non-diabetic and non-hypertensive patients, lower HDL-C and FT3 levels and higher HCY and ANC levels may be associated with an elevated risk of IS. Additional prospective studies of large patient cohorts will be essential to validate these findings.
Flow of Room Air Leads to Rapid Changes in Mucociliary Transport in the Tracheal Epithelium
Authors: Kelly Susyn Joan , Martinsen Paul , Tatkov Stanislav 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inspired air is heated and humidified in the nose before it reaches lower airways. This mechanism is bypassed during tracheostomy, directly exposing the lower airways to colder and drier air from the environment, which is known to have negative effects on mucociliary transport; however, little is known about how quickly mucociliary transport deteriorates. The purpose of this study was to determine the short-term effect of flowing room air on mucociliary transport in the trachea. In an ovine perfused in vitro tracheal model (N=7) the epithelium was exposed to 25 L/min of flow, heated to lamb body temperature (38 °C) and fully saturated with water vapor as the control, followed by room air (22 °C and 50% relative humidity) for a short duration, until mucociliary transport had visually stopped. Mucus transport velocity (MTV) and cilia beat frequency (CBF), as well as the area of the surface with beating cilia, were continuously measured with video-microscopy.RESULTS: Exposing the tracheal epithelium to air heated to body temperature and fully humidified resulted in stable MTV 9.5 ± 1.1 mm/min and CBF 13.4 ± 0.6 Hz. When exposed to the flow of room air, MTV slowed down to 0.1 ± 0.1 mm/min in 2.0 ± 0.4 seconds followed by a decrease in CBF to 6.7 ± 1.9 Hz, after 2.3 ± 0.8 second. Both MTV and CBF recovered to their initial state when heated and humidified air-flow was re-introduced. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates mucociliary transport can deteriorate within seconds of exposing the tracheal epithelium to flowing room air. The reduction in MTV precedes slowing of CBF. Their relationship is non-linear and a minimum CBF of approximately 6 Hz is required for MTV > 0. Clinically these findings indicate a potential rapid detrimental effect of breathing with non-humidified air via bypassed upper airways.
Turn-key super-resolution mapping of cell receptor force orientation and magnitude using a commercial structured illumination microscope
Authors: Blanchard Aaron , Combs J. Dale , Brockman Joshua , Kellner Anna , Glazier Roxanne , Su Hanquan , Bender Rachel , Bazrafshan Alisina , Chen Wenchun , Quach M , Li Renhao , Mattheyses Alexa , Salaita Khalid 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Many cellular processes, including cell division, development, and cell migration require spatially and temporally coordinated forces transduced by cell surface receptors. Nucleic acid-based molecular tension probes allow one to quantify and visualize the piconewton (pN) forces applied by these receptors. Building on this technology, we recently imaged DNA tension probes using fluorescence polarization imaging to map the magnitude and 3D orientation of receptor forces with diffraction limited resolution (~ 250 nm). Further improvements in spatial resolution are desirable as many force-sensing receptors are organized at the nano-scale in supramolecular complexes such as focal adhesions. Here, we show that structured illumination microscopy (SIM), a super-resolution technique, can be used to perform super-resolution molecular force microscopy (MFM). Using SIM-MFM, we generate the highest resolution maps of both the magnitude and orientation of the pN traction forces applied by cells. We apply SIM-MFM to map platelet and fibroblast integrins forces, as well as T cell receptor forces. The method reveals that platelets dynamically re-arrange the orientation of their integrin forces during activation. Monte Carlo simulations validated the results and provided analysis of the sources of noise. Importantly, we envision that SIM-MFM will be broadly adopted by the cell biology and mechanobiology communities because it can be implemented on any standard SIM microscope without hardware modifications.