bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Sodium Butyrate as a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor on the Activation of Toll-Like Receptor 4 in Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Ozkan Asuman Deveci , Eskiler Gamze Guney , Turna Ozge , Kazan Nur 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
I. Background: Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in men and the covalent acetylation and deacetylation of histone proteins by the histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes can be considered a novel therapeutic target in PCa cells. Sodium butyrate (NaBu) is one of the most studied HDAC inhibitor (HDACi) which is a promising potential anticancer drug. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are expressed on prostate cells and TLR4 expression is increased in prostate cancer cells and HDACi alter TLR-inducible gene expressions. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effects of NaBu on TLR4 mediating signaling pathways in two different PCa cells (DU-145 and LNCaP) for the first time.II. Methods and Results: The cytotoxicity of NaBu in PCa cells was determined by WST-1 assay. Apoptotic effects of NaBu were analyzed by Annexin V and AO/PI assays. Subcellular localization of TLR4, IRF3 and NF-κB proteins was evaluated by IF assay. Our results showed that NaBu significantly inhibited the viability of PCa cells and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells (p<0.01). However, DU-145 cells were more sensitive to NaBu than LNCaP cells. Furthermore, NaBu can induce the cytoplasmic TLR4 and IRF3 expression in particularly DU-145 cells without affecting nuclear translocation of NF-kB in PCa cells.III. Conclusions: NaBu induces apoptotic cell death and regulated the TLR4/IRF3 signaling pathways in DU-145 cells but not in LNCaP cells. Therefore, PCa cells differentially responded to NaBu treatment due to probably AR status. Therefore, further investigations should be performed to assess the molecular mechanisms underlying cell response to NaBu-induced TLR-mediated signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo.
Prediction of Mental Health by Religious Orientation and the Mediating Role of Death Anxiety Among Nurses in the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Farhadi Akram , Javadian Hamed , Afshar Pouya Farokhnezhad 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been around for more than a year as a global problem, with nurses being among the first groups involved in treating epidemics. In addition to becoming infected and dying from the disease, nurses also suffer from death anxiety, affecting their mental health. It is necessary to investigate the modulating factors of this anxiety. The purpose of this study was to predict mental health by religious orientation and the mediating role of death anxiety among nurses in the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: The present descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted on 208 nurses working in the Central Hospital for the Treatment of COVID-19 patients in the Persian Gulf Martyrs Hospital in Bushehr, who were enrolled in the census. Data collection tools were the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), the Templer’s Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), and the Revised Religious Orientation Scale (ROS). Data were analyzed by SPSS version 22 software using the Pearson correlation test and multiple regression analysis.Results: Among the subjects, 53.5% of nurses experienced high death anxiety. According to the findings, death anxiety had a significant negative effect on mental health (P<0.001, β=-0.54). Intrinsic religious orientation led to a reduction in death anxiety (P=0.01, β=-0.16) and improved mental health (P<0.001, β=0.40), while extrinsic socially-oriented religiousness resulted in increased death anxiety (P<0.001, β=0.19) and decreased mental health (P<0.001, β=-0.20).Conclusion: The prevalence of death anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic was high in nurses, which led to a decrease in their mental health. The results of this study revealed that the intrinsic religious orientation had a positive effect on reducing death anxiety and promoting mental health.
Differentially expressed circulating microRNAs in Brazilian patients with COVID-19: a preliminary study on potential biomarkers for diagnosis and severity
Authors: Nicoletti Aline de Souza , Visacri Marília Berlofa , Ronda Carla Regina da Silva Correa da , Vasconcelos Pedro Eduardo do Nascimento Silva , Quintanilha Julia Coelho França , de Souza Rafael Nogueira , Ventura Deise de Souza , Eguti Adriana , Silva Lilian Ferreira de Souza , Junior Mauricio Wesley Perroud , Catharino Rodrigo Ramos , Reis Leonardo Oliveira , Santos Luiz Augusto dos , Durán Nelson , Fávaro Wagner José , Lancellotti Marcelo , Costa José Luiz da , Moriel Patricia , Pincinato Eder de Carvalho 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is known that host microRNAs (miRNAs) can be modulated to favor viral infection or to protect the host. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed circulating miRNAs in Brazilian patients with COVID-19 as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and severity. Methods: miRNAs were extracted from the blood plasma of eight patients with COVID-19 (four patients with mild/moderate COVID-19 and four patients with severe/critical COVID-19) and four healthy controls. The patients and controls were matched for sex and age. miRNA expression levels were detected using high-throughput sequencing. Differential miRNA expression and enrichment analyses were further evaluated. Results: A total of 18 human miRNAs were differentially expressed between patients with COVID-19 (n = 8) and controls (n = 4), with 13 significantly upregulated and five significantly downregulated miRNAs. miR-4433b-5p, miR-6780b-3p, miR-6883-3p, miR-320b, miR-7111-3p, miR-4755-3p, miR-320c, and miR-6511a-3p were the most important miRNAs found significantly involved in the PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, and STAT3 signaling pathways, which have a crucial role in viral infections. Moreover, 42 miRNAs were differentially expressed between severe/critical patients with COVID-19 (n = 4) and mild/moderate patients with COVID-19 (n = 4). miR-451a, miR-101-3p, miR-185-5p, miR-30d-5p, miR-25-3p, miR-342-3p, miR-30e-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-15b-5p, and miR-29c-3p were the most important miRNAs found to be significantly involved in the Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κβ, and STAT3 signaling pathways, which play crucial roles in immune response and inflammation. Conclusions: Differentially expressed miRNAs found in this study may be used as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and severity of COVID-19. Larger studies are needed to validate these miRNAs as biomarkers of COVID-19.
Comparison of Time Management Ability Between Medical Students Who Entered Medical Universities Through Different Approaches
Authors: Shy Haw-Yaw , Chiu Ching-Yun , Chiang Ming-Wei , Liao Shih-Chieh 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Approaches to admission into medical schools in Taiwan are diverse but primarily involve the Multi-Star Project (MSP), General Scholastic Ability Test (GSAT), and Advanced Subject Tests (ASTs). This study aimed to investigate the differences in time management ability between students admitted into medical schools through different approaches. Methods: The Time Management Disposition Inventory was employed in a questionnaire survey on 390 students from the 1st to 4th years of the School of Medicine at China Medical University to investigate their time management ability. Results: The valid response rate was 100%. According to factor analysis results, the items in the original questionnaire were divided into 3 factors. The total eigenvalue was 14.15; the total variance of the 3 factors was 90.1% and the Cronbach’s α = 0.934. According to the between-group comparison results, the MSP (adjusted mean = 3.924), GSAT (adjusted mean = 3.729), and AST (adjusted mean = 3.802) groups differed significantly only in their sense of time efficacy. Conclusions: Approaches of admission into universities profoundly affect medical students’ time management ability. Admission through MSP requires exceptional academic performance in 3-year high schools; therefore, the MSP group exhibited the highest sense of time efficacy out of all 3 groups. This enabled those students to effectively plan their short- and long-term learning and perform self-learning at all times. Admission through the GSAT or ASTs solely emphasizes one-time college entrance examination scores. Therefore, those students exhibited a relatively high sense of time value, which enabled them to achieve satisfactory performance in college entrance examinations.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) Alleviates Ovalbumin-induced Allergic Airway Inflammation in Neonatal Mice via the PD-1/PD-L1 Axis
Authors: Wu Cheng , Zhang Juan , Jia Yuan-Yuan , Wang Xing-Zhi , Li Qiu-hong , Su Hui , Sun Xin 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Asthma is the common respiratory disorder in children, which is associated with abnormal gut microbiota. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has successfully ameliorated the symptoms of several diseases and restored the balance of gut microbiota. However, there are few researches about the role of FMT in asthma. This study aimed at exploring whether FMT can alleviate allergic airway inflammation in neonatal mice and elucidating the probable underlying mechanism. A neonatal mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma was established and transplanted with fecal filtrates. Our results manifested that FMT could protect against the allergic airway inflammation through enhancing mesenteric CD11c + CD103 + DCs and accumulating mucosal Helios + Tregs. Besides, the programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death protein 1 ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) signal pathway was inhibited after FMT intervention. Furthermore, this beneficial role of FMT was also associated with the rebalanced gut microbiota, such as Akkermansia. Thus, our findings indicated that FMT intervention could exert a therapeutic effect in a neonatal mouse model of OVA-induced allergic airway inflammation through its remodeling on gut microbiota and regulation of Treg homeostasis via the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, which might be used as an alternative therapy for allergic asthma.
A Comparative Study of Spark Plasma and Conventional Sintering of Undoped SnO2 Sputtering Targets
Authors: Koroglu Levent , Aciksari Cem , Ayas Erhan , Ozel Emel , Suvaci Ender 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
SnO2 ceramics were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and conventional (pressureless) sintering techniques by using undoped submicron SnO2 powders. The effect of sintering temperature and dwell time on the densification behavior, phase evolution and microstructural development of sintered ceramics were investigated. The relative density of SPSed ceramics increased when dwell time was raised from 1 to 10 min at 950ºC. However, full densification was prevented by the decomposition of SnO2 to Sn and O2(g). The decomposition starts after ~ 10 min at 950ºC. In parallel to this observations, as sintering temperature increases, amount of the elemental Sn in agglomerated form increases. On the other hand, the relative densities of conventionally sintered ceramics (at 1200ºC-1400ºC) were relatively low (i.e., 63 % relative density), and abnormal grain growth was observed due to the shift in sintering mechanisms to evaporation-condensation as a dominant mechanism. Since the undoped SnO2 ceramics, SPSed at 950°C for 5 min under 30 MPa exhibit 93 % relative density, high chemical purity, homogeneous grain size distribution and smaller average grain size, they demonstrate great potential as sputtering targets for production of high-quality thin film gas sensors.
Deep Learning Approach to Recognition of Novel COVID-19 Using CT Scans and Digital Image Processing
Authors: Herath H.M.K.K.M.B. , Karunasena G.M.K.B. , Ariyathunge S.V.A.S.H. , Priyankara H.D.N.S. , Madhusanka B.G.D.A. , Herath H.M.W.T. , Nimanthi U.D.C. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
COVID-19 was announced as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. With more than 31.3 million confirmed cases and over 965 thousand deaths recorded as of September 2020, it has inflicted catastrophic damage worldwide. The aim of this study is to develop an algorithm based on artificial intelligence (AI) and image processing techniques to identify COVID-19 patients with the aid of CT chest scan images. This study used a CT scan image dataset that is publically available for the researchers at Kaggle. We randomly extracted 27% of positive CT (pCT) images and 11% of negative CT (nCT) images from the original dataset. In the testing process, 120 of the test subjects in both nCT and pCT were used to validate the algorithm. Based on the experimental findings, the proposed COVID-19 detection algorithm shows promising results for the identification of COVID-19 patients with 90.83% accuracy at an average precision of 0.905.
Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections in an eastern state of India: A preliminary report
Authors: Dash Girish Chandra , Subhadra Subhra , Turuk Jyotirmayee , Parai Debaprasad , Rath Sonalika , Sabat Jyotsamayee , Rout Usha Kiran , Kanungo Srikanta , Choudhary Hari Ram , Nanda Rashmi R , Pattnaik Matrujyoti , Pati Sanghamitra , Bhattacharya Debdutta 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
We recorded the vaccine breakthrough cases of Covaxin and Covishield through passive and voluntary reporting at various healthcare facilities of Odisha. A total of 274 samples were found to be COVID-19 positive after 14 days of receiving complete doses of the vaccines. Almost 83.2% of the individuals were found to be symptomatic with 9.9% of those required hospitalization and were having less median antibody titers than individual in home isolation.
Novel Nanocombinations of L-tryptophan and L-cysteine: Preparation, Characterization and Their Applications for Dye Decolorization, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities
Authors: Abd-Elhamid Ahmed I. , El-Gendi Hamada , Abdallah Abdallah E. , El-Fakharany Esmail 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Tungsten oxide WO3 nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared in a form of nanosheets with a homogeneous size and dimensions in one step through acid precipitation using a cation exchange column. The resulting WO3 nanosheets surface was decorated with one of the two amino acids (AAs) L-tryptophan (Trp) or L-cysteine (Cys) for their dye removal, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities. A noticeable improvement in the biological activity of WO3 NPs was detected upon amino acid modification compared to the original WO3. The prepared WO3-Trp and WO3-Cys exhibited strong dye removal activity toward methylene blue and safranin dyes with complete dye removal (100%) after 6 h. WO3-Cys NPs and WO3-Trp NPs revealed higher broad-spectrum antibacterial activity toward both G-ve and G+ve bacteria with strong antifungal activity toward Candida albicans. Anticancer results of the modified WO3-Cys and WO3-Trp NPs against various kinds of cancer cells including MCF-7, caco-2, and HepG-2 cells indicated that they have a potent effect in a dose-dependent manner with high selectivity to cancer cells and safety against normal cells. The expression levels of E2F2, Bcl-2 genes were found to be suppressed after treatment with both WO3-Cys and WO3-Trp NPs more than 5-FU-treated cells. While expression level of the p53 gene in all tested cells was evidently up-regulated after treatment by more than 5-8 folds as compared to untreated cells. The docking results confirmed the ability of both NPs to bind to P53 gene with relevant potency in binding to other tested gens and participation of cysteine SH-functional group in such interaction.
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in blood products and plasma derivatives
Authors: Fox S. M. , Stavely-Haiber L. M. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Both anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions to transfused blood products and plasma derivatives have occurred in IgA-deficient patients with antibodies to IgA. This study reports the concentration of IgA in various blood products to assist in the development of treatment protocols for IgA-deficient patients. Five types of blood products and seven types of plasma derivatives were tested for the presence of IgA using a semiquantitative hemagglutination inhibition method. The concentration of IgA was measured by radial immunodiffusion and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. Blood products which consistently contained IgA less than 0.05 mg/dL (the present definition for IgA deficiency used by the American Red Cross Rare Donor Registry) were from IgA-deficient donors, deglycerolized red blood cells (RBCs) prepared with an extra wash cycle, and RBCs washed using a total volume of approximately 1300 mL of 0.9 percent sodium chloride.
A review: occupational safety in blood banking—concepts and conundrums
Authors: AuBuchon J. P. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The field of blood banking is grappling with a new facet of regulation and risk. Long accustomed to regulations governing the safety and efficacy of blood products, blood bankers are now anticipating federal regulations on occupational safety. Yet despite all attempts to reduce occupational safety risks-through appropriate procedures introduced by management, diligent efforts by employees, and oversight activities by regulatory agencies-safety remains an elusive quality Just as a truly risk-free society is not obtainable, workplace safety can never be absolute. What then are the goals of occupational safety programs? How should risks be managed in blood banking environments?
This review will attempt to define reasonable goals for worker safety in blood banking. There are different perspectives that must be considered in defining the requirements for safety. The risk of an environment must be understood and accepted by those working in it. In reviewing these concepts, readers will be able to assess what “safety” means to them in their environment and subsequently take appropriate measures to satisfy their own safety requirements and those of regulatory agencies.
Evaluating the need for Rh immune globulin in some unusual situations
Authors: Stroup-Walters M. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
In most situations the use of Rh Immune Globulin (RhIG) for the prevention of Rh subo(D) immunization in Rh-negative women of child-bearing age is routine. The following nine unusual situations are based on telephone calls received by Technical Services of Ortho Diagnostic Systems. Comments are not meant to he all-inclusive and the author suggests consultation when in doubt about a particular case.
Micropool procedure for routine donor antibody detection
Authors: Smith D. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Microplate technology was combined with manual sample pooling techniques to determine if advantages associated with each method could be realized in a single test system. Fresh serum and plasma samples collected from routine blood donors and patient samples selected from frozen storage were screened for significant, unexpected antibodies. A total of 94 samples with known antibody specificities were selected for testing. Two micropool techniques, stream-micropool and mix-micropool, were compared to a pooled-tube method. The stream-micropool method proved superior in overall detection of the antibodies (85%) and in detection of the macroscopically reactive antibodies (96%). Special formulas were used to calculate sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency of each micropool method. The sensitivity of the streammicropool method was 96 percent and that of the mix-micropool, 87 percent. For both methods, specificity and efficiency were ≥ 99 percent. In a separate study, there was no difference between the use of serum as opposed to plasma. Micropool methods offer a sensitive, easily mastered alternative to manual tube testing techniques for large batch donor antibody detection.
Evaluation of a complementdependent anti-Jka by various sensitization and detection methodologies: a case report
Authors: DeLong E. N. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
A 79-year-old woman with a diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal bleeding was found to have a complement dependent anti-Jka in her serum. The anti-Jk1 was evaluated by the antiglobulin technique with polyspecific, anti-C3, and anti-lgG antihuman globulin (AHG). A variety of sensitization and detection methods were used, including the prewarmed saline technique, enzyme treatment of test cells, a low-ionic additive solution (LISS), 22 percent albumin, Polybrene, and an increased serum/cell ratio. The anti-Jk1 was detected only when polyspecific AHG and anti-C3 were used compared to anti-lgG, regardless of the selected enhancement technique. Anti-C3 gave weaker reactions than polyspecific AHG. IgG subclassing was inconclusive. The anti-Jka was not detected when plasma was substituted for serum. The use of polyspecific versus IgG AHG in pretransfusion testing is discussed.
Problem solving: a course for blood bankers
Authors: Weaver-Dahm M. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
A structured program for the training of blood bank personnel and students entitled “Problem Solving” is presented in its entirety. The explanation includes the primary objective for this program, course description, how to evaluate student results, a grading system used for errors, and preparation of specimens and practical examinations. An example of an actual problem is also presented.
Database management systems for blood bank applications
Authors: Morel EA. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Blood banks have a need for efficient, long-term storage of records and quick access to the stored information. Database management systems make it easy to retrieve and review large amounts of data. They provide such functions as data entry, sorting capability, search and find capacity, report production, calculation and graphic capacities, programming, and the relating of fields in one file to those in another file. Privately developed programs can be shared by blood banks. A program for managing an inventory of frozen blood units is offered in this paper.
A case report: cold hemagglutinin disease in a pancreatic and renal transplant patient
Authors: Beiting C.Y , Larimore K.S. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
A 33-year-old white male, 30 days postpancreatic transplant, with a history of juvenile onset diabetes mellitus and previous renal transplant, appeared to have cold hemagglutinin disease (CHD). He was being treated for acute organ rejection and had received two units of red blood cells (RBCs) on postoperative day 11, at which time no serum antibodies were detectable. On postoperative day 30, serum studies showed an autoanti-I with a titer of 512 in 30 percent albumin at 4°C and a maximum thermal amplitude of 37°C. The patient had a weakly positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) with only complement detectable on the red cells. The patient recovered spontaneously. The etiology of the CHD is unclear. The use of cyclosporin-A, OKT3 monoclonal anti-body, and anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) to treat acute rejection could have played a part.