bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variations in haematological and biochemical parameters in healthy ponies
Authors: Olga Witkowska-Piłaszewicz , Cywinska Anna , Katarzyna Michlik-Połczyńska , Michal Czopowicz , Katarzyna Strzelec , Anna Biazik , Marta Parzeniecka-Jaworska , Mark Crisman , Lucjan Witkowski 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Breed specific reference ranges for selected blood parameters are recommended for proper interpretation of blood tests, but there are only few reports dealing with ponies. The purpose of this study was to investigate if blood parameters differ among ponies’ classes and to check if general normal values for equine species are applicable to ponies.Results: All, except total protein concentration, biochemical parameter significantly (p<0.05) differed among ponies’ classes. The most pronounced difference was noted in blood lactate concentrations, higher (p<0.001) in the smallest ponies (class A). In all groups of ponies muscle enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase) and urea were high when compared to normal values for equine species, but triglycerides and creatinine were low. Blood lactate concentration was high in comparison with normal values for horses only in class A ponies’.Conclusions: In healthy ponies, blood lactate concentration significantly differs between height classes. Normal values for equine species should not be directly applied to interpret the lactate, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase values in ponies.
Person-centered, non-pharmacological intervention in reducing psychotropic medication use among residents with dementia in Australian rural aged care homes
Authors: Parajuli Daya Ram , Kuot Abraham , Hamiduzzaman Mohammad , Gladman Justin , Isaac Vivian 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background High rates of psychotropic medications are prescribed in aged care homes despite their limited effectiveness and associated adverse effects. We aim to evaluate the changes in prescription patterns for elderly residents with dementia in the ‘Harmony in the Bush Dementia Study’. Harmony in the Bush is a person-centered model of dementia care in nursing homes, based on the principles of Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold and person-centered music intervention. Methods Our larger study (12 weeks period) was a quasi-experimental design conducted in five rural nursing homes in Australia. Medication charts (n=31) were collected retrospectively from three rural aged care facilities. Medication data for each resident was collected from a three-month medication charts, pre-intervention, and post-intervention. Fifty-three staff participated in 31 semi-structured interviews and 8 focus groups at post-intervention, and at 1-month and 3-months follow up.Results The median age of the participants was 83 years, and 68% of them were female. Polypharmacy was measured in 87% (n=27) of the participants. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and the Alzheimer’s disease were the major comorbidities identified in residents. None of the residents received more than the maximum dose of psychotropic medications recommended by the guidelines. There was a reduction of 22.4% (77.4% vs 55%) in the use of at least any psychotropic medication, 19.6% (39% vs, 19.4%) reduction in antipsychotics and benzodiazepines (39% vs 19.4%), and 6.5% (42% vs 35.5%) reduction in antidepressants prescription medicines, when comparing residents’ medication charts data covering 3-months pre- and post-intervention, however, these changes were not statistically significant. Additionally, there was a decreasing trend in the use of inappropriate medications. Psychotropic medications were prescribed in up to 43% and anti-dementia medications in 44% of participants for more than 6 months. Three themes extracted from qualitative data include decrease behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia due to medication weaning or dose tapering, other strategies to reduce medication use, and environmental or noise control. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the Harmony in the Bush model as a non-pharmacological approach reduces the prescription of psychotropic medications in rural nursing homes as supported by findings from both quantitative and qualitative data. Trial registration: ANZCTR, ACTRN12618000263291. Registered on 20th February 2018. http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12618000263291p.aspx).
Influence of Indications on Perinatal Outcomes After Radio frequency Ablation in Complicated Monochorionic Pregnancies: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Wang Hongmei , Zhou Qian , Wang Xietong , Song Jia , Chen Pengzheng , Wang Yanyun , Li Lei , Li Hongyan 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is recommended to prevent potential neurological injury or intrauterine foetal death (IUFD) of the co-twin(s) in complicated monochorionic (MC) pregnancies. However, the impacts of various indications on the pregnancy outcome following RFA remain unclear. This study aimed to determine how the indications influence the perinatal outcomes in complicated MC pregnancies undergoing radiofrequency ablation.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study performed in a single centre. All consecutive MC pregnancies treated with RFA between July 2011 and July 2019 were included. The adverse perinatal outcomes and the survival rate were analysed based on various indications. The continuous variables with and without normal distribution were compared between the groups using Student’s t-test and Mann–Whitney U test, respectively, and for categorical variables, Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used. P < 0.05 indicated a significant difference.Results: We performed 272 RFA procedures in 268 complicated MC pregnancies, including 60 selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR), 64 twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), 12 twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence (TRAPs), 66 foetal anomaly and 66 elective foetal reduction (EFR) cases. The overall survival rate of the co-twin was 201/272 (73.9%). The overall technical successful rate was determined at 201/263 (76.7%). The IUFD rate in the co-twin was 20/272 (7.4%). The TTTS group had recorded the lowest survival rate (37/64, 57. 8%), and the survival rate significantly correlated with Quintero stages (P = 0.029). Moreover, the sIUGR III subgroup had a lower survival rate compared with sIUGR II (55.6%, versus 84.3%). The subgroup of foetal anomaly of gastroschisis or exomphalos had the highest IUFD rate (4/10, 40%), followed by sIUGR III (2/9, 22.2%) and dichorionic triamniotic (DCTA) subgroup (8/46, 17.9%). In EFR group, eight IUFD cases were all coming from the DCTA subgroup and received RFA before 17 weeks.Conclusions: The perinatal outcome of RFA was correlated with the indications, with the lowest survival rate in TTTS IV and the highest IUFD incidence in abdominal wall defect followed by sIUGR III. Elective RFA after 17 weeks may prevent IUFD in DCTA pregnancies.
Maternal Obesity Influences Birth Weight more than Gestational Diabetes
Authors: Alfadhli Eman M 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
BACKGROUNDMaternal obesity and gestational diabetes (GDM) are commonly encountered during pregnancy. Both conditions are independently associated with unfavorable pregnancy consequences. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of obesity and GDM on birth weight, macrosomia, and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.METHODSThis cohort study involved 531 women with a singleton pregnancy attending the Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Medina, Saudi Arabia, between June 2014 and June 2015. Participants underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks. The International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria were used for GDM diagnosis. BMI was assessed at the first antenatal visit, and obesity was defined as a BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2. All women were followed up until delivery. Women were divided into 4 groups: non-GDM nonobese (reference group), GDM nonobese, obese non-GDM, and obese GDM. Clinical characteristics and adverse pregnancy outcomes were compared. RESULTSThe mean age and BMI of the participants were 30.5 years and 29.3 kg/m2, respectively. GDM was diagnosed in 50.2% of the participants, and obesity was diagnosed in 47.8% of the participants. Obese women with GDM were the oldest and heaviest among all women. The mean birth weight increased in order among the four groups; it was highest in the infants in the obese GDM group, followed by those in the obese non-GDM, GDM nonobese and reference groups. Obesity and GDM alone or in combination were associated with higher rates of macrosomia and cesarean deliveries than the reference group. Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission was higher in infants in the GDM nonobese and obese GDM groups. The frequency of low Apgar score was significantly higher in infants in the obese GDM group than in infants in the reference group.CONCLUSIONSMaternal obesity seems to influence birth weight more than GDM, while GDM is associated with a greater risk of admission to the NICU. The combination of both conditions is associated with the greatest risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Using Baidu search values to monitor and predict the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in China - evidence from Baidu Index
Authors: Tu Bizhi , Wei Laifu , Jia Yaya , Qian Jun 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: New coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a severe threat to human life and caused a global pandemic. The current research aimed to explore whether the search-engine query patterns could serve as a potential tool for monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19.Methods: We collected the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases between January 11, 2020, and April 22, 2020, from the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). The search index values of the most common symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough, fatigue) were retrieved from the Baidu Index. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to analyze the association between the Baidu index values for each COVID-19-related symptom and the number of confirmed cases. Regional distributions among 34 provinces/ regions in China were also analyzed.Results: Daily growth of confirmed cases and Baidu index values for each COVID-19-related symptom presented robust positive correlations during the outbreak (fever: rs=0.705, p=9.623×10-6; cough: rs=0.592, p=4.485×10-4; fatigue: rs=0.629, p=1.494×10-4; sputum production: rs=0.648, p=8.206×10-5; shortness of breath: rs=0.656, p=6.182×10-5). The average search-to-confirmed interval (STCI) was 19.8 days in China. The daily Baidu Index value's optimal time lags were the four days for cough, two days for fatigue, three days for sputum production, one day for shortness of breath, and 0 days for fever.Conclusion: The searches of COVID-19-related symptoms on the Baidu search engine were significantly correlated to the number of confirmed cases. Since the Baidu search engine could reflect the public's attention to the pandemic and the regional epidemics of viruses, relevant departments need to pay more attention to areas with high searches of COVID-19-related symptoms and take precautionary measures to prevent these potentially infected persons from further spreading.
Differences of tensile strength in knot tying technique between orthopaedic surgical instructors and trainees
Authors: Harato Kengo , Yagi Mitsuru , Kaneda Kazuya , Iwama Yu , Masuda Akihiko , Kaneko Yosuke , Oya Akihito , Matsumura Noboru , Suzuki Taku , Nakayama Robert , Kobayashi Shu 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Knot tying technique is an extremely important basic skill for all surgeons. Clinically, knot slippage or suture breakage will lead to wound complications. Although some previous studies described the knot-tying technique of medical students or trainees, little information had been reported on the knot-tying technique of instructors. The objective of the preset study was to assess surgeons’ manual knot tying techniques and to investigate the differences of tensile strength in knot tying technique between surgical instructors and trainees.Methods: A total of 48 orthopaedic surgeons (postgraduate year: PGY 2-18) participated. Surgeons were requested to tie surgical knots manually using same suture material. They were divided into two groups based on each career; instructors and trainees.　Although 4 open conventional knots with 4 throws were chosen and done with self-selected methods, knot tying practice to have the appropriate square knots was done as education only for trainees before the actual trial. The knots were placed over a 30 cm long custom made smooth polished surface with 2 cylindrical rods. All knots were tested for tensile strength using a tensiometer. The surgical loops were loaded until the knot slipped or the suture broke. The tensile strength of each individual knot was defined as the force (N) required to result in knot failure. Simultaneously, knot failure was evaluated based on knot slippage or suture rupture. In terms of tensile strength or knot failure, statistical comparison was performed between groups using two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher exact probability test, respectively.Results: Twenty-four instructors (PGY6- PGY18) and 24 trainees (PGY2-PGY5) were enrolled. Tensile strength was significantly greater in trainees (83.0 ± 27.7N) than in instructors (49.9 ± 34.4N, P=0.0246). The ratio of slippage was significantly larger in instructors than in trainees (P<0.001). Knot slippage (31.8 ± 17.7N) was significantly worse than suture rupture (89.9 ± 22.2N, P<0.001) in tensile strength.Conclusions: Mean tensile strength of knots done by trainees after practice was judged to be greater than that done by instructors in the present study. Clinically, knot slippage can lead to wound dehiscence, compared to suture rupture.
Influence of psycho-sexual factors on the quality of life in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Path Analysis
Authors: Alijanpour Masoumeh , Sadatmahalleh Shahideh Jahanian , Samaneh Youseflu , Mahnaz Bahri Khomami , Majid Yousefi Afrashteh , Moini Ashraf , Kazemnejad Anoshiravan 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Introduction: COVID-19 has spread rapidly around the world. This epidemic has created stress and anxiety for pregnant women in different parts of the world. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between quality of life (QoL) with anxiety, depression, coronavirus induced anxiety, sexual function (SF), and marital satisfaction (MS) in pregnant women during the Covid-19 pandemic.Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional study involving 261 pregnant women, administered through an online survey.Outcomes: The Short-Form Health Survey (SF_12), Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and coronavirus induced anxiety questionnaire, Padua Obsession Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) are used for data collection. Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis.Results: The overall goodness-of-fit statistics revealed that the predictors of QoL had excellent fitness indices (RMSEA=0.02; AGFI=0.99). The results show that coronavirus induced anxiety, marital satisfaction (MS), sexual function (SF), depression, and anxiety have a direct effect on women’s QoL. Among the variables, GHQ has a more direct effect on women’s QoL. General health (GH) is considered as a mediator variable; variables such as anxiety, depression, and coronavirus induced anxiety with effect on GH can impress QoL. Anxiety as a main predictor of QoL, with direct and indirect effects through GH, depression, SF, and MS can impress QoL.Conclusion: Since the QoL in pregnant women is associated with coronavirus epidemics, these results can be used to plan to improve the health and QoL of these people.
Evolutionary pattern of Macaca fascicularis in Southeast Asia inferred using Y-chromosomal gene
Authors: Rovie-Ryan Jeffrine J , Khan Faisal Ali Anwarali , Abdullah Mohd Tajuddin 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: We analyzed a combined segment (2,032-bp) of the sex-determining region and the testis-specific protein of the Y-chromosome (Y-DNA) gene to clarify the gene flow and phylogenetic relationships of the long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Southeast Asia. Phylogenetic relationships were constructed using the maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and the median-joining network from a total of 164 adult male M. fascicularis from 62 localities in Malaysia, including sequences from the other regions from previous studies. Results: Based on Y-DNA, we confirm the presence of two lineages of M. fascicularis: the Indochinese and Sundaic lineages. The Indochinese lineage is represented by M. fascicularis located northwards of the Surat Thani-Krabi depression region and is introgressed by the Macaca mulatta Y-DNA. The Sundaic lineage is free from such hybridization event, thus defined as the original carrier of the M. fascicularis Y-DNA. We further revealed that the Sundaic lineage differentiated into two forms: the insular and the continental forms. The insular form, which represents the ancestral form of M. fascicularis, consists of two haplotypes: a single homogenous haplotype occupying the island of Borneo, Philippines, and southern Sumatra; and the Javan haplotype. The more diverse continental form consists of 17 haplotypes in which a dominant haplotype was shared by individuals from southern Thai Peninsular (south of Surat Thani-Krabi depression), Peninsular Malaysia, and Sumatra. Uniquely, Sumatra contains both the continental and insular Y-DNA which can be explained by a secondary contact hypothesis. Conclusions: Overall, the findings in this study are important: 1) to help authority particularly in Malaysia on the population management activities including translocation and culling of conflict M. fascicularis, 2) to identify the unknown origin of captive M. fascicularis used in biomedical research, and; 3) the separation between the continental and insular forms warrants for the treatment as separate management units.
Novel fusion peptide-mediated siRNA delivery using self-assembled nanocomplex
Authors: Ryu Yeong Chae , Kim Kyungah , Kim Byoung Choul , Wang Hui-Min David , HWANG BYEONG HEE 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Gene silencing using siRNA can be a new potent strategy to treat many incurable diseases at the genetic level, including cancer and viral infections. Treatments using siRNA essentially requires an efficient and safe method of delivering siRNA into cells while maintaining its stability. Thus, we designed novel synergistic fusion peptides, i.e., SPACE and oligoarginine.Results: Among the novel fusion peptides and siRNAs, nanocomplexes have enhanced cellular uptake and gene silencing effect in vitro and improved retention and gene silencing effects of siRNAs in vivo. Oligoarginine could attract siRNAs electrostatically to form stable and self-assembled nanocomplexes, and the SPACE peptide could interact with the cellular membrane via hydrogen bonding. Therefore, nanocomplexes using fusion peptides showed improved and evident cellular uptake and gene silencing of Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) via the lipid raft-mediated endocytosis pathway, especially to the HDFn cells of the skin, and all of the fusion peptides were biocompatible. Also, intratumorally injected nanocomplexes had increased retention time of siRNAs at the site of the tumor. Finally, nanocomplexes demonstrated significant in vivo gene silencing effect without immunogenicity.Conclusions: The new nanocomplex strategy could become a safe and efficient platform for the delivery of siRNAs into cells and tissues to treat various target diseases through gene silencing.
Anti-Platelet Aggregation of Panax Notoginseng Triol Saponins by Regulating GP1BA for Ischemic Stroke Therapy
Authors: Xu Zhiyi , Xu Yang , Xie Xiaofang , Tian Yin , Sui Junhui , Sun Yong , Lin Dasheng , Gao Xing , Peng Cheng , Fan Yujiang 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Panax notoginseng triol saponins (PTS) has been used clinically for ischemic stroke therapy (IST) in China for more than seventeen years due to its anti-platelet aggregation and neuro-protective effects, but its mechanism of action is not fully understand. In this study, anti-platelet aggregation-related protein analysis and computer simulations of drug-protein binding interactions were performed to explore the mechanism of the effects of PTS against ischemic stroke in an ischemia reperfusion model. Methods: Three oral doses of PTS were administered in a model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Panax notoginseng total saponins (PNS) and a combination of PTS and aspirin were chosen for comparison. To evaluate therapeutic effects and explore possible mechanisms of anti-platelet aggregation, we measured cerebral infarct size and water content in brain tissue, histomorphological changes, expression of related factors (such as arachidonic acid metabolites) and platelet receptors in serum, as well as the binding affinity of PTS for platelet adhesion receptors. Results: Compared with PNS, PTS showed a stronger and more potent anti-platelet aggregation effect in MCAO model rats. The combination of PTS and aspirin could reduce adverse gastrointestinal effects by regulating the TXA2/PGI2 ratio. We demonstrated for the first time that PTS was able to regulate Glycoprotein Ib-α (GP1BA) in a model animal. The binding of ginsenoside Rg1 and GP1BA could form a stable structure. Moreover, PTS could reduce von Willebrand factor (VWF)-mediated platelet adhesion to damaged vascular endothelium, and thus enhance the probability of anti-platelet aggregation and anti-thrombosis under pathological conditions.Conclusions: Our results showed that GP1BA was closely related to the anti-platelet aggregation action of PTS, which provided new scientific and molecular evidence for its clinical application.