bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Feasibility and accuracy of ED frailty identification in older trauma patients: a prospective multi-centre study
Authors: Jarman Heather , Crouch Robert , Baxter Mark , Wang Chao , Peck George , Sivapathasuntharam Dhanupriya , Jennings Cara , Cole Elaine 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
The burden of frailty on older people is identifiable by its adverse effect on mortality, morbidity and long term functional and health outcomes. In patients suffering from a traumatic injury there is increasing evidence that it is frailty rather than age that impacts greatest on these outcomes and that early identification can guide frailty specific care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of nurse-led assessment of frailty in older trauma patients in the ED in patients admitted to major trauma centres.

Methods
Patients age 65 years and over attending the Emergency Departments (ED) of five Major Trauma Centres following traumatic injury were enrolled between June 2019 and March 2020. Patients were assessed for frailty whilst in the ED using three different screening tools (Clinical Frailty Scale [CFS], Program of Research to Integrate Services for the Maintenance of Autonomy 7 [PRIMSA7], and the Trauma Specific Frailty Index [TSFI]) to compare feasibility and accuracy. Accuracy was determined by agreement with geriatrician assessment of frailty. The primary outcome was identification of frailty in the ED using three different assessment tools.

Results
We included 372 patients whose median age was 80, 53.8% of whom were female. The most common mechanism of injury was fall from less than 2 m followed by falls greater than 2 m. Completion rates for the tools were variable, 31.9% for TSFI, compared to 93% with PRISMA7 and 98.9% with the CFS. There was substantial agreement when using CFS between nurse defined frailty and geriatrician defined frailty. Agreement was moderate using PRISMA7 and slight using TSFI.

Conclusions
This prospective study has demonstrated that screening for frailty in older major trauma patients within the Emergency Department is feasible and accurate using CFS.

Trial registration
ISRCTN, ISRCTN10671514. Registered 22 October 2019
Clinical epigenetics settings for cancer and cardiovascular diseases: real-life applications of network medicine at the bedside
Authors:   the International Network Medicine Consortium, Sarno Federica , Benincasa Giuditta , List Markus , Barabasi Albert-Lazlo , Baumbach Jan , Ciardiello Fortunato , Filetti Sebastiano , Glass Kimberly , Loscalzo Joseph , Marchese Cinzia , Maron Bradley A. , Paci Paola , Parini Paolo , Petrillo Enrico , Silverman Edwin K. , Verrienti Antonella , Altucci Lucia , Napoli Claudio 
Published: March 2021

AbstractDespite impressive efforts invested in epigenetic research in the last 50 years, clinical applications are still lacking. Only a few university hospital centers currently use epigenetic biomarkers at the bedside.
Moreover, the overall concept of precision medicine is not widely recognized in routine medical practice and the reductionist approach remains predominant in treating patients affected by major diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. By its’ very nature, epigenetics is integrative of genetic networks. The study of epigenetic biomarkers has led to the identification of numerous drugs with an increasingly significant role in clinical therapy especially of cancer patients. Here, we provide an overview of clinical epigenetics within the context of network analysis. We illustrate achievements to date and discuss how we can move from traditional medicine into the era of network medicine (NM), where pathway-informed molecular diagnostics will allow treatment selection following the paradigm of precision medicine.
The adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell secretome promotes hepatic regeneration in miniature pigs after liver ischaemia-reperfusion combined with partial resection
Authors: Jiao Zhihui , Ma Yajun , Zhang Qianzhen , Wang Yue , Liu Tao , Liu Xiaoning , Piao Chenxi , Liu Boyang , Wang Hongbin 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is inevitable in complicated liver surgery and is a major factor leading to postoperative complications and liver dysfunction. Studies have shown that the paracrine mechanisms of stem cell may be essential to tissue repair and functional improvement after transplantation. However, the role of the adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell secretome (ASC-secretome) in liver regeneration in large animals remains to be determined.

Methods
Twenty-four miniature pigs were subjected to laparoscopic liver ischaemia-reperfusion combined with partial hepatectomy and divided into the following four groups: the saline group, the DMEM group, the ASC group and the ASC-secretome group. Serum and liver tissue samples were collected before the operation and at 1, 3 and 7 days after the operation, and changes in tissue pathology, serum inflammation, liver function, angiogenesis-related factors and liver tissue regeneration-related genes and proteins were evaluated.

Results
Detailed histological analysis showed that ASCs and the ASC-secretome changed pathological damage to liver tissue after liver ischaemia-reperfusion combined with partial hepatectomy (1 and 3 days: p < 0.01). Compared with the saline and DMEM control groups, the ASC-secretome group had significantly reduced expression levels of ALP (1 and 3 days: p < 0.05), ALT (1 day: p < 0.01; 3 days: p < 0.05) and AST (1 and 3 days: p < 0.01), which promoted the recovery of liver function. Moreover, detection of the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-1β (1 day: p < 0.01; 3 days: p < 0.05), IL-6 (1 and 3 days: p < 0.05) and IL-10 (1 and 3 days: p < 0.01) in serum confirmed that the ASC-secretome had obvious anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, the ASC-secretome increased the expression levels of ANG-1 (3 days: p < 0.01), ANG-2 (3 and 7 days: p < 0.01) and VEGF (1 and 7 days: p < 0.05; 3 days: p < 0.01) and promoted angiogenesis during liver regeneration. Moreover, it promoted the mRNA expression of HGF and Cyclin D1 (1 and 3 days: p < 0.01); increased the levels of p-STAT3 (1 and 3 days: p < 0.01), PCNA and Ki67 (1 and 3 days: p < 0.01; 7 days: p < 0.05); inhibited the negative feedback of SOCS3 (1 and 3 days: p < 0.01); and decreased the mRNA expression of TGF-β (3 days: p < 0.01). The cytokines and growth factors detected in the ASC-secretome included TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, ANG-1, ANG-2, VEGF and b-FGF.

Conclusion
The ASC-secretome alleviates the inflammatory response induced by ischaemia-reperfusion combined with partial hepatectomy in miniature pigs and promotes liver regeneration.
Muscle atrophy induced by overexpression of ALAS2 is related to muscle mitochondrial dysfunction
Authors: Peng Yahui , Li Jihong , Luo Dixian , Zhang Shuai , Li Sijia , Wang Dayong , Wang Xidi , Zhang Zhujun , Wang Xue , Sun Changhui , Gao Xu , Hui Yang , He Rongzhang 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
ALAS2 (delta-aminolevulinate synthase 2) is one of the two isoenzymes catalyzing the synthesis of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), which is the first precursor of heme synthesis. ALAS2-overexpressing transgenic mice (Tg mice) showed syndrome of porphyria, a series of diseases related to the heme anabolism deficiency. Tg mice showed an obvious decrease in muscle size. Muscle atrophy results from a decrease in protein synthesis and an increase in protein degradation, which ultimately leads to a decrease in myofiber size due to loss of contractile proteins, organelles, nuclei, and cytoplasm.

Methods
The forelimb muscle grip strength of age-matched ALAS-2 transgenic mice (Tg mice) and wild-type mice (WT mice) were measured with an automated grip strength meter. The activities of serum LDH and CK-MB were measured by Modular DPP. The histology of skeletal muscle (quadriceps femoris and gastrocnemius) was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscope. Real-time PCR was used to detect mtDNA content and UCP3 mRNA expression. Evans blue dye staining was used to detect the membrane damage of the muscle fiber. Single skeletal muscle fiber diameter was measured by single-fiber analyses. Muscle adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were detected by a luminometric assay with an ATP assay kit.

Results
Compared with WT mice, the strength of forelimb muscle and mass of gastrocnemius were decreased in Tg mice. The activities of serum CK-MB and LDH, the number of central nuclei fibers, and Evans blue positive fibers were more than those in WT mice, while the diameter of single fibers was smaller, which were associated with suppressed expression levels of MHC, myoD1, dystrophin, atrogin1, and MuRF1. Re-expression of eMyHC was only showed in the quadriceps of Tg mice, but not in WT mice. Muscle mitochondria in Tg mice showed dysfunction with descented ATP production and mtDNA content, downregulated UCP3 mRNA expression, and swelling of mitochondria.

Conclusion
ALAS2 overexpressing-transgenic mice (Tg mice) showed muscle dystrophy, which was associated with decreased atrogin-1 and MuRF-1, and closely related to mitochondrial dysfunction.
The inhibitory effects of Staphylococcus aureus on the antibiotic susceptibility and virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A549 cell line model
Authors: Dehbashi Sanaz , Alikhani Mohammad Yousef , Tahmasebi Hamed , Arabestani Mohammad Reza 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus often lead to serious lung infections. This study aimed to investigate the role of S. aureus in the expression of the β-lactamase enzymes and virulence factors of P. aeruginosa in the polymicrobial infections of the respiratory tract. Biofilm and planktonic co-culture of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were performed in the A549 cell line. Then, antibiotic resistance and virulence factors of P. aeruginosa were examined, and the expression of lasR, lasI, algD, mexR, and KPC genes were determined using qPCR. S.aureus decreased β-lactam resistance but increased resistance to tobramycin in the biofilm condition. Furthermore, S.aureus showed a positive effect on reducing resistance to meropenem, doripenem, and tobramycin (except PA-2). Altough it was demonstrated that S.aureus reduced the viability of P. aeruginosa, particularly in the biofilm state, the pathogenicity of the recovered strains of P.aeruginosa increased. Moreover, the gene expression levels for lasR/I and algD were increased in biofilm conditions. The levels of lasI were more prominent in the virulent strain than the β-lactamase producing strain. Furthermore, the expression of KPC was increased in all strains of P. aeruginosa. According to the findings of this study, S. aureus has an inhibitory effect in polymicrobial infections by suppressing the β-lactamase genes and viability of P. aeruginosa. Also, it cooperates with the biofilm-producing P. aeruginosa strains to increase pathogenicity and resistance to tobramycin.
Left ventricular longitudinal wall fractional shortening accurately predicts longitudinal strain in critically ill patients with septic shock
Authors: Johansson Blixt Patrik , Chew Michelle S. , Åhman Rasmus , de Geer Lina , Blomqwist Lill , Åström Aneq Meriam , Engvall Jan , Andersson Henrik 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Left ventricular longitudinal strain (LVLS) may be a sensitive indicator of left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with sepsis, but is dependent on high image quality and analysis software. Mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) and the novel left ventricular longitudinal wall fractional shortening (LV-LWFS) are bedside echocardiographic indicators of LV systolic function that are less dependent on image quality. Both are sparsely investigated in the critically ill population, and may potentially be used as surrogates for LVLS. We assessed if LVLS may be predicted by LV-LWFS and MAPSE in patients with septic shock. We also assessed the repeatability and inter-rater agreement of LVLS, LV-LWFS and MAPSE measurements.

Results
122 TTE studies from 3 echocardiographic data repositories of patients admitted to ICU with septic shock were retrospectively assessed, of which 73 were suitable for LVLS analysis using speckle tracking. The correlations between LVLS vs. LV-LWFS and LVLS vs. MAPSE were 0.89 (p < 0.001) and 0.81 (p < 0.001) with mean squared errors of 5.8% and 9.1%, respectively. Using the generated regression equation, LV-LWFS predicted LVLS with a high degree of accuracy and precision, with bias and limits of agreement of -0.044 ± 4.7% and mean squared prediction error of 5.8%. Interobserver repeatability was good, with high intraclass correlation coefficients (0.96–0.97), small bias and tight limits of agreement (≤ 4.1% for all analyses) between observers for all measurements.

Conclusions
LV-LWFS may be used to estimate LVLS in patients with septic shock. MAPSE also performed well, but was slightly inferior compared to LV-LWFS in estimating LVLS. Feasibility of MAPSE and LV-LWFS was excellent, as was interobserver repeatability.
A time-delay COVID-19 propagation model considering supply chain transmission and hierarchical quarantine rate
Authors: Yang Fangfang , Zhang Zizhen 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn this manuscript, we investigate a novel Susceptible–Exposed–Infected–Quarantined–Recovered (SEIQR) COVID-19 propagation model with two delays, and we also consider supply chain transmission and hierarchical quarantine rate in this model. Firstly, we analyze the existence of an equilibrium, including a virus-free equilibrium and a virus-existence equilibrium. Then local stability and the occurrence of Hopf bifurcation have been researched by thinking of time delay as the bifurcation parameter. Besides, we calculate direction and stability of the Hopf bifurcation. Finally, we carry out some numerical simulations to prove the validity of theoretical results.
Dietary supplementation of dried plum: a novel strategy to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens
Authors: Wasti Sanjeev , Sah Nirvay , Singh Amit K. , Lee Chin N. , Jha Rajesh , Mishra Birendra 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Heat stress is a significant problem in the poultry industry, causing a severe economic loss due to its detrimental effects on chickens’ health and performance. Dried plum (DP) is a good source of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and phenolic compounds. Studies have suggested that DP has several health benefits, such as maintaining the body’s redox system, immune status, and calcium hemostasis. Based on the health benefits of DP, we hypothesized that the dietary supplementation of DP would alleviate the detrimental effects of heat stress on broiler chickens.

Results
To test the hypothesis, day-old broiler chicks (n = 72) were randomly allocated to three treatment groups (n = 24/group): no heat stress (NHS), heat stress (HS), and heat stress with dried plum (HS + DP), and reared under standard conditions. The inclusion of 2.5% DP in the feed of the HS + DP group was made during the treatment period, while birds in other groups were provided with a standard finisher diet. After 21 days, birds in the HS and HS + DP groups were exposed to cyclic heat stress conditions (33 °C for 8 h during daytime) for 3 weeks, while those in the NHS group were reared under normal conditions (22–24 °C). Weekly body weight and feed intake were recorded to calculate the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Heat stress significantly decreased the final body weight, ADG, ADFI, and increased FCR compared to the NHS group, whereas dietary supplementation of DP significantly improved these growth performance parameters compared to the HS group. Furthermore, supplementation of DP significantly increased the expression of heat shock protein-related genes (HSF1, HSF3, HSP70, and HSP90), antioxidant-related genes (SOD1, SOD2, GPX1, GPX3, PRDX1, and TXN), tight junction-related genes (CLDN1, and OCLN), and immune-related genes (IL4, MUC2) in the ileum as compared to the HS group. The microbiota analysis showed significant enrichment of Bacillales, Christensenellaceae, Bacillaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, and Anaerotruncus in heat-stressed birds supplemented with DP as compared to the HS group. Further, DP supplementation also significantly increased the concentration of acetate, propionate, and total VFA in the cecal digesta of the HS + DP group as compared to the HS group.

Conclusion
These findings suggest that DP supplementation effectively improved the growth performances and gut health parameters in the heat-stressed birds. Thus, dried plum can be a potential feed supplement to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens.
An evaluation of machine learning classifiers for next-generation, continuous-ethogram smart trackers
Authors: Yu Hui , Deng Jian , Nathan Ran , Kröschel Max , Pekarsky Sasha , Li Guozheng , Klaassen Marcel 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Our understanding of movement patterns and behaviours of wildlife has advanced greatly through the use of improved tracking technologies, including application of accelerometry (ACC) across a wide range of taxa. However, most ACC studies either use intermittent sampling that hinders continuity or continuous data logging relying on tracker retrieval for data downloading which is not applicable for long term study. To allow long-term, fine-scale behavioural research, we evaluated a range of machine learning methods for their suitability for continuous on-board classification of ACC data into behaviour categories prior to data transmission.

Methods
We tested six supervised machine learning methods, including linear discriminant analysis (LDA), decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN), random forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) to classify behaviour using ACC data from three bird species (white stork Ciconia ciconia, griffon vulture Gyps fulvus and common crane Grus grus) and two mammals (dairy cow Bos taurus and roe deer Capreolus capreolus).

Results
Using a range of quality criteria, SVM, ANN, RF and XGBoost performed well in determining behaviour from ACC data and their good performance appeared little affected when greatly reducing the number of input features for model training. On-board runtime and storage-requirement tests showed that notably ANN, RF and XGBoost would make suitable on-board classifiers.

Conclusions
Our identification of using feature reduction in combination with ANN, RF and XGBoost as suitable methods for on-board behavioural classification of continuous ACC data has considerable potential to benefit movement ecology and behavioural research, wildlife conservation and livestock husbandry.
Plant health and its effects on food safety and security in a One Health framework: four case studies
Authors: Rizzo David M. , Lichtveld Maureen , Mazet Jonna A. K. , Togami Eri , Miller Sally A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAlthough healthy plants are vital to human and animal health, plant health is often overlooked in the One Health literature. Plants provide over 80% of the food consumed by humans and are the primary source of nutrition for livestock. However, plant diseases and pests often threaten the availability and safety of plants for human and animal consumption. Global yield losses of important staple crops can range up to 30% and hundreds of billions of dollars in lost food production. To demonstrate the complex interrelationships between plants and public health, we present four case studies on plant health issues directly tied to food safety and/or security, and how a One Health approach influences the perception and mitigation of these issues. Plant pathogens affect food availability and consequently food security through reductions in yield and plant mortality as shown through the first case study of banana Xanthomonas wilt in East and Central Africa. Case studies 2, 3 and 4 highlight ways in which the safety of plant-based foods can also be compromised. Case study 2 describes the role of mycotoxin-producing plant-colonizing fungi in human and animal disease and examines lessons learned from outbreaks of aflatoxicosis in Kenya. Plants may also serve as vectors of human pathogens as seen in case study 3, with an example of Escherichia coli (E. coli) contamination of lettuce in North America. Finally, case study 4 focuses on the use of pesticides in Suriname, a complex issue intimately tied to food security though protection of crops from diseases and pests, while also a food safety issue through misuse. These cases from around the world in low to high income countries point to the need for interdisciplinary teams to solve complex plant health problems. Through these case studies, we examine challenges and opportunities moving forward for mitigating negative public health consequences and ensuring health equity. Advances in surveillance technology and functional and streamlined workflow, from data collection, analyses, risk assessment, reporting, and information sharing are needed to improve the response to emergence and spread of plant-related pathogens and pests. Our case studies point to the importance of collaboration in responses to plant health issues that may become public health emergencies and the value of the One Health approach in ensuring food safety and food security for the global population.
Application of diffusion tensor imaging in Alzheimer’s disease: quantification of white matter microstructural changes
Authors: Esrael Shereen Magdy Abdel Malak , Hamed Ahmed Mostafa Mohamed , Khedr Eman M. , Soliman Radwa Kamel 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the aging population, responsible for 60–70% of all demented cases. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a very recent technique that allows the mapping of white matter (WM) microstructure changes in neurological disorders. The current study was conducted to compare DTI parameters between AD patients and healthy elderly subjects and to determine whether DTI can act as a potential biomarker for AD.ResultsThere were significant differences in Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (MMMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) between the two groups. As regards the DTI parameters, significant differences were found between AD patients versus healthy subjects, in the mean diffusivity (MD) of the splenium [(1.05 ± 0.19) vs. (0.92 ± 0.22) ,P=0.03], the MD of the right uncinate fasciculus [(0.92 ± 0.04) vs. (0.87 ± 0.05),P= 0.01], and MD of the right arcuate fasciculus (AF) [(0.83 ± 0.04) vs. (0.79 ± 0.04)P=0.01], as well as the MD of the right and left inferior fronto-occipital fasiculus (IFOF) [(0.89 ± 0.06) vs. (0.83 ± 0.04),P=0.01]. In addition, there were significant differences in the fractional anisotropy (FA) of the right and left cingulum between both groups [(0.45 ± 0.02) vs. (0.47 ± 0.03),P=0.01 and (0.45 ± 0.03) vs. 0.49± 0.04),P=0.01, respectively]. The overall accuracy of the aforementioned parameters ranged between 73 and 81% with the MD of the left cingulum revealing the highest accuracy.ConclusionDTI proofed to be a useful tool in differentiating AD patients from healthy subjects. In our study, we found that the splenium, cingulum, IFOF, and the right UF and right AF are the main tracts involved in AD. The left cingulum provided the highest accuracy in differentiating AD from normal subjects.