bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intake ofn-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in childhood,FADSgenotype and incident asthma
Authors: Talaei Mohammad , Sdona Emmanouela , Calder Philip C. , Jones Louise R. , Emmett Pauline M. , Granell Raquel , Bergström Anna , Melén Erik , Shaheen Seif O. 
Published: January 2021

Longitudinal evidence on the relation between dietary intake ofn-3 (ω-3) very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids,i.e.eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in mid-childhood and asthma risk is scarce. We aimed to investigate whether a higher intake of EPA and DHA from fish in childhood is associated with a lower risk of incident asthma.In the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, dietary intakes of EPA and DHA from fish were estimated by food frequency questionnaire at 7 years of age. We used logistic regression, controlling for confounders, to analyse associations between intake of EPA and DHA (quartiles) and incidence of doctor-diagnosed asthma at age 11 or 14 years, and explored potential effect modification by a fatty acid desaturase (FADS) polymorphism (rs1535). Replication was sought in the Swedish BAMSE birth cohort.There was no evidence of association between intake of EPA plus DHA from fish and incident asthma overall (n=4543). However, when stratified byFADSgenotype, the odds ratio comparing the topversusbottom quartile among the 2025 minor G allele carriers was 0.49 (95% CI 0.31–0.79; ptrend=0.006), but no inverse association was observed in the homozygous major A allele group (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.83–2.46; ptrend=0.19) (pinteraction=0.006). This gene–nutrient interaction on incident asthma was replicated in BAMSE.In children with a commonFADSvariant, higher intake of EPA and DHA from fish in childhood was strongly associated with a lower risk of incident asthma up to mid-adolescence.
Higher genome variability within metabolism genes associates with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection
Authors: Kulecka Maria , Waker Edyta , Ambrozkiewicz Filip , Paziewska Agnieszka , Skubisz Karolina , Cybula Patrycja , Targoński Łukasz , Mikula Michał , Walewski Jan , Ostrowski Jerzy 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundClostridium difficile (C. difficile)is a major source of healthcare-associated infection with a high risk of recurrence, attributable to many factors such as usage of antibiotics, older age and immunocompromised status of the patients.C. difficilehas also a highly diverse genome, which may contribute to its high virulence. Herein we examined whether the genome conservation, measured as non-synonymous to synonymous mutations ratio (dN/dS) in core genes, presence of single genes, plasmids and prophages increased the risk of reinfection in a subset of 134C. difficileisolates from our previous study in a singly hemato-oncology ward.MethodsC. difficileisolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on Ion Torrent PGM sequencer. Genomes were assembled with MIRA5 and annotated with prokka and VRprofile. Logistic regression was used to asses the relationship between single gene presence and the odds of infection recurrence. DN/dS ratios were computed with codeml. Functional annotation was conducted with eggNOG-Mapper.ResultsWe have found that the presence of certain genes, associated with carbon metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation, increased the odds of infection recurrence. More core genes were under positive selective pressure in recurrent disease isolates – they were mostly associated with the metabolism of aminoacids. Finally, prophage elements were more prevalent in single infection isolates and plasmids did not influence the odds of recurrence.ConclusionsOur findings suggest higher genetic plasticity in isolates causing recurrent infection, associated mainly with metabolism. On the other hand, the presence of prophages seems to reduce the isolates’ virulence.
Men perspectives on attending antenatal care visits with their pregnant partners in Misungwi district, rural Tanzania: a qualitative study
Authors: Boniphace Maendeleo , Matovelo Dismas , Laisser Rose , Swai Hadija , Yohani Victoria , Tinka Sylvia , Mwaikasu Lusako , Mercader Hannah , Brenner Jennifer L. , Mitchell Jennifer 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Mens’attendance with their pregnant partners at facility-based antenatal care (ANC) visits is important for maternal and child health and gender equality yet remains uncommon in parts of rural Tanzania. This study examined men’s perspectives on attending ANC with their pregnant partners in Misungwi District, Tanzania.

Methods
Twelve individual interviews and five focus group discussions were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires with fathers, expectant fathers, and in-depth interviews were done to health providers, volunteer community health workers, and village leaders. Interviews were recorded and transcribed in Swahili and later translated to English. The research team conducted thematic analysis to identify common themes among interviews.

Results
We identified two broad themes on the barriers to male attendance at facility-based ANC visits: (1) Perceived exclusion during ANC visits among men (2) Traditional gender norms resulting to low attendance among men.

Conclusion
Attendance at health facility for ANC visits by men with their pregnant partners in the study areas were challenged by structural and local cultural norms. At the facility men were uncomfortable to sit with women due to lack of specific waiting area for men and that they perceived to be neglected. Local cultural norms demanded women to have secrecy in pregnancy while men perceived not to have a role of being with their partners during ANC visits.
Identifying the determinants and associated factors of mortality under age five in Ethiopia
Authors: Yohannis Hunachew Kibret , Fetene Moges Zerihun , Gebresilassie Habtamu Gebremariam 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Mortality rate under the age of five is the proportion of deaths of children below the age of 5 years out of 1000 live births. It is related with the living standard of a population, and it is taken as one of the health and socioeconomic status deterioration index. Mortality rate under the age of five also indicates a poor quality life standards of a population. It is very significantly high in Sub-Saharan African countries. Ethiopia is one of these Sub-Saharan African countries where mortality rate under the age five is high. This research work aims to identify the determinants and associated factors of under-five mortality in Ethiopia.

Methods
The data for this paper were gathered from the EDHS 2016, collected by CSA. In this study, count family models such as Poisson, negative binomial, zero-inflated Poisson and zero-inflated negative binomial regression were applied for analyzing the data. Each of these count models were compared with different statistical tests like log-likelihood ratio test, Akaike information criteria, mean absolute difference, Vuong test and observed versus predicted probability plot.

Results
The study revealed that as mothers’ age at first birth increased by one unit, the average number of under-five mortality rate decreased by 2.69%. In the same way the number of under-five mortality of Afar, Benishangul Gumuz and Dire Dawa were 1.3446, 1.6429 and 1.3320 times more likely to Tigray respectively. The risk of under-five mortality for primary and secondary education level of the mother was 28.31 and 40.96% less likely than to mothers who have no education respectively.

Conclusion
From the result we found that, there were overabundance zeros and broad heterogeneity in the non-zero outcomes. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression model was found to best fit the data, and from the regression model, age of mothers at first birth, mother’s education level, place of residence and region were statistically significant factors of under-five mortality per mother.
Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis presenting with isolated facial edema complicated by acute respiratory failure: a case report
Authors: Lim Doo-Ho , So Min Wook , Kim Yeon Mee , Ryu Ji Hwa , Lee Jae Ha , Park Chan Sun , Kim Seong-Ho , Lee Sunggun 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
In clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis, the hallmark cutaneous manifestations are the key to diagnosis. We report a case of clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis which presented with facial edema as the sole cutaneous manifestation and was later complicated by acute respiratory failure leading to death.

Case presentation
A 58-year-old woman presented with edema of the face that had developed approximately one year ago. There was no weakness in the extremities, and the serum creatine kinase level was within normal range. On MRI, there was diffuse edematous change in the bilateral masticator and extra-ocular muscles, accompanied by subcutaneous fat infiltration in the face. A shared decision was made to defer muscle biopsy in the facial muscles. The facial swelling almost resolved with medium-dose glucocorticoid therapy but relapsed in days at glucocorticoid doses lower than 15 mg/day. Combination therapy with either azathioprine, mycophenolate, or methotrexate was not successful in maintaining clinical remission, and the swelling became more severe after relapses. A US-guided core-needle biopsy was subsequently performed in the right masseter muscle. On pathologic examination, there was a patchy CD4 + T cell-dominant lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in the stroma, necrosis of the myofibrils and prominent perifascicular atrophy. Based on those findings, a diagnosis of clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis was made. Therapy with gamma-globulin was not effective in maintaining remission. In the sixth week after starting rituximab, she presented to emergency room with altered mental state from acute respiratory failure. Despite treatment with antibiotics, glucocorticoid pulse, cyclosporin, and polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column direct hemoperfusion, she died three weeks later from persistent hypoxemic respiratory failure.

Conclusions
This case showed the full spectrum and severity of internal organ involvement of dermatomyositis, although the patient presented exclusively with subcutaneous edema limited to the head. The prognosis may be more closely associated with a specific auto-antibody profile than the benign-looking initial clinical manifestation. Close follow-up of lung involvement with prophylactic treatment for Pneumocystis pneumonia and prompt implementation of emerging therapeutic regimens may improve the outcome.
Changes in the regional homogeneity of resting-state magnetic resonance imaging in perimenopausal women
Authors: Liu Min , Yang Hui , Qin Jian , Yao Qianqian , Yang Guihua , Li Jiang 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
There is a noticeable lack of systematic researches on evaluating the correlation between serum estrogen levels and changes in brain functional areas of perimenopausal women.The aim of this study is to investigate the regional spontaneous brain activity changes in perimenopausal women.

Methods
Based on the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging datasets acquired from 25 perimenopausal women and 20 healthy women of reproductive age, a two-sample t-test was performed on individual normalized regional homogeneity (ReHo) maps. Relationships between abnormal ReHo values and the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), the self-rating depression scale (SDS) were investigated with Pearson correlation analysis. We also investigated the correlation between abnormal ReHo values and serum estrogen level.

Results
In the perimenopausal group, we found increased ReHo in the right posterior cerebellum (region 2), left middle frontal gyrus and left middle cingulate gyrus ($$P<0.05$$

P
<
0.05

). Additionally, the ReHo values in left middle frontal gyrus and leftt middle cingulate gyrus showed positively significant correlation with the SAS, SDS scores. On the contrary, there was no significant correlation between the ReHo value in right posterior cerebellum and SDS, SAS scores. In the perimenopausal group, the ReHo values in the left middle frontal gyrus and left middle cingulate gyrus were negatively correlated with the serum estrogen level ($$P<0.05$$

P
<
0.05

).

Conclusion
The results of this preliminary study have suggested that abnormal spontaneous activities of multiple brain regions during resting state was already altered in perimenopausal women. Alterative activities might be related to emotional regulation deficits and cognitive impairment, and might potentially represent the neural mechanism underlying perimenopausal period.
Synergistic antifungal evaluation of over-the-counter antifungal creams with turmeric essential oil or Aloe vera gel against pathogenic fungi
Authors: Ogidi Clement Olusola , Ojo Ayokunbi Elizabeth , Ajayi-Moses Oluwatayo Benjamin , Aladejana Oluwatoyin Modupe , Thonda Oluwakemi Abike , Akinyele Bamidele Juliet 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
The frequent incidence of fungal infection and widespread of antibiotic resistance are emergent concerns in public health. Hence, there is a need to harness the potential of natural bioactive compounds from plant towards treatment of fungal infection. Combination effect of antibiotic creams with natural products from plants is prospective strategy to produce new antifungal agent. This study therefore, revealed antifungal effect of combined Antifungal Creams (AFCs) with Turmeric Essential Oil (TEO) or Aloe vera Gel (AVG).

Methods
Phytochemicals and bioactive compounds in TEO and AVG were revealed using GC-MS. Bioactive compounds in plant extracts were compared to known compounds in database library of National Institute of Standards and Technology (U.S.). Antifungal activity and synergistic effect of AFCs with TEO or AVG were carried out using agar well diffusion method.

Results
Phenol, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides were present in TEO and AVG. GCMS revealed thirty-six (36) and eighteen (18) bioactive compounds in TEO and AVG, respectively. AFCs displayed zones of inhibition with values ranged from 5.0 to 14.3 mm, TEO was 5.0 to 11.0 mm and AVG was 8.0 to 11.7 mm against tested fungi. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) by AFCs, TEO and AVG ranged from 1.25 to 10.0 mg/ml. Combinatory effects of AFCs with TEO or AVG revealed synergistic and indifferent properties.

Conclusion
Development of novel products using bioactive ingredients from plants with commercially available AFCs will serve as potential alternative therapy to cure dermatological infections with no side effects.
Bitter taste receptor agonists regulate epithelial two-pore potassium channels via cAMP signaling
Authors: Kohanski Michael A. , Brown Lauren , Orr Melissa , Tan Li Hui , Adappa Nithin D. , Palmer James N. , Rubenstein Ronald C. , Cohen Noam A. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Epithelial solitary chemosensory cell (tuft cell) bitter taste signal transduction occurs through G protein coupled receptors and calcium-dependent signaling pathways. Type II taste cells, which utilize the same bitter taste signal transduction pathways, may also utilize cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) as an independent signaling messenger in addition to calcium.

Methods
In this work we utilized specific pharmacologic inhibitors to interrogate the short circuit current (Isc) of polarized nasal epithelial cells mounted in Ussing chambers to assess the electrophysiologic changes associated with bitter agonist (denatonium) treatment. We also assessed release of human β-defensin-2 from polarized nasal epithelial cultures following treatment with denatonium benzoate and/or potassium channel inhibitors.

Results
We demonstrate that the bitter taste receptor agonist, denatonium, decreases human respiratory epithelial two-pore potassium (K2P) current in polarized nasal epithelial cells mounted in Ussing chambers. Our data further suggest that this occurs via a cAMP-dependent signaling pathway. We also demonstrate that this decrease in potassium current lowers the threshold for denatonium to stimulate human β-defensin-2 release.

Conclusions
These data thus demonstrate that, in addition to taste transducing calcium-dependent signaling, bitter taste receptor agonists can also activate cAMP-dependent respiratory epithelial signaling pathways to modulate K2P currents. Bitter-agonist regulation of potassium currents may therefore serve as a means of rapid regional epithelial signaling, and further study of these pathways may provide new insights into regulation of mucosal ionic composition and innate mechanisms of epithelial defense.
Transition of inflammatory bowel disease patients from pediatric to adult care: an observational study on a joint-visits approach
Authors: Corsello Antonio , Pugliese Daniela , Bracci Fiammetta , Knafelz Daniela , Papadatou Bronislava , Aloi Marina , Cucchiara Salvatore , Guidi Luisa , Gasbarrini Antonio , Armuzzi Alessandro 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Transition from pediatric to adult care of patients affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a critical step that needs specific care and multidisciplinary involvement. The aim of our study was to evaluate the outcome of the transition process of a cohort of IBD patients, exploring their readiness and the possible impact on quality of life.

Methods
This observational study followed transitioned IBD patients from pediatric to adult care. Transition was carried-out through combined visits, jointly performed by the pediatrician and the adult gastroenterologist. Clinical data were collected before and after transition. A subgroup of patients was submitted to an anonymous online questionnaire of 38 items based on the validated questionnaires TRAQ and SIBDQ within the first 6 months from the beginning of the transition process.

Results
Eighty-two patients with IBD were enrolled, with a mean age at transition of 20.2±2.7 years. Before transition, 40.2% of patients already had major surgery and 64.6% started biologics. At transition, 24% of patients were in moderate to severe active phase of their disease and 40% of them had already been treated with ≥ 2 biologics. The mean score of the TRAQ questionnaires collected is 3.4±1.5 and the mean score of SIBDQ is 53.9±9.8. A significant association was found between a TRAQ mean score > 3 and a SIBDQ > 50 (p=0.0129). Overall, 75% of patients had a positive opinion of the transition model adopted.

Conclusions
A strong association has been found between TRAQ and SIBDQ questionnaires, showing how transition readiness has a direct impact on the quality of life of the young adult with IBD.
Insight into ECMO, mortality and ARDS: a nationwide analysis of 45,647 ECMO runs
Authors: Friedrichson Benjamin , Mutlak Haitham , Zacharowski Kai , Piekarski Florian 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has become an integral part of modern intensive therapy. The choice of support mode depends largely on the indication. Patients with respiratory failure are predominantly treated with a venovenous (VV) approach. We hypothesized that mortality in Germany in ECLS therapy did not differ from previously reported literature

Methods
Inpatient data from Germany from 2007 to 2018 provided by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany were analysed. The international statistical classification of diseases and related health problems codes (ICD) and process keys (OPS) for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) types, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and hospital mortality were used.

Results
In total, 45,647 hospitalized patients treated with ECLS were analysed. In Germany, 231 hospitals provided ECLS therapy, with a median of 4 VV-ECMO and 9 VA-ECMO in 2018. Overall hospital mortality remained higher than predicted in comparison to the values reported in the literature. The number of VV-ECMO cases increased by 236% from 825 in 2007 to 2768 in 2018. ARDS was the main indication for VV-ECMO in only 33% of the patients in the past, but that proportion increased to 60% in 2018. VA-ECMO support is of minor importance in the treatment of ARDS in Germany. The age distribution of patients undergoing ECLS has shifted towards an older population. In 2018, the hospital mortality decreased in VV-ECMO patients and VV-ECMO patients with ARDS to 53.9% (n = 1493) and 54.4% (n = 926), respectively.

Conclusions
ARDS is a severe disease with a high mortality rate despite ECLS therapy. Although endpoints and timing of the evaluations differed from those of the CESAR and EOLIA studies and the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry, the reported mortality in these studies was lower than in the present analysis. Further prospective analyses are necessary to evaluate outcomes in ECMO therapy at the centre volume level.
COVID-19: What we’ve done well and what we could or should have done better—the 4 Ps
Authors: Vincent Jean-Louis , Wendon Julia , Martin Greg S. , Juffermans Nicole P. , Creteur Jacques , Cecconi Maurizio 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe current coronavirus pandemic has impacted heavily on ICUs worldwide. Although many hospitals and healthcare systems had plans in place to manage multiple casualties as a result of major natural disasters or accidents, there was insufficient preparation for the sudden, massive influx of severely ill patients with COVID-19. As a result, systems and staff were placed under immense pressure as everyone tried to optimize patient management. As the pandemic continues, we must apply what we have learned about our response, both good and bad, to improve organization and thus patient care in the future.
Retinal vessel segmentation with constrained-based nonnegative matrix factorization and 3D modified attention U-Net
Authors: Yu Yang , Zhu Hongqing 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDue to the complex morphology and characteristic of retinal vessels, it remains challenging for most of the existing algorithms to accurately detect them. This paper proposes a supervised retinal vessels extraction scheme using constrained-based nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) and three dimensional (3D) modified attention U-Net architecture. The proposed method detects the retinal vessels by three major steps. First, we perform Gaussian filter and gamma correction on the green channel of retinal images to suppress background noise and adjust the contrast of images. Then, the study develops a new within-class and between-class constrained NMF algorithm to extract neighborhood feature information of every pixel and reduce feature data dimension. By using these constraints, the method can effectively gather similar features within-class and discriminate features between-class to improve feature description ability for each pixel. Next, this study formulates segmentation task as a classification problem and solves it with a more contributing 3D modified attention U-Net as a two-label classifier for reducing computational cost. This proposed network contains an upsampling to raise image resolution before encoding and revert image to its original size with a downsampling after three max-pooling layers. Besides, the attention gate (AG) set in these layers contributes to more accurate segmentation by maintaining details while suppressing noises. Finally, the experimental results on three publicly available datasets DRIVE, STARE, and HRF demonstrate better performance than most existing methods.