bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Construction of a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network Reveals Potential Mechanism and Treatment Options for Osteosarcoma
Authors: He Yi , Zhou Haiting , Wang Wei , Xu Haoran , Cheng Hao 
Published: May 2021

BackgroundOsteosarcoma is a common malignant primary bone tumor in adolescents and children. Numerous studies have shown that circRNAs were involved in the proliferation and invasion of various tumors. However, the role of circRNAs in osteosarcoma remains unclear. Here, we aimed to explore the regulatory network among circRNA-miRNA-mRNA in osteosarcoma.MethodsThe circRNA (GSE140256), microRNA (GSE28423), and mRNA (GSE99671) expression profiles of osteosarcoma were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed circRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs were identified. CircRNA-miRNA interactions and miRNA-mRNA interactions were determined by Circular RNA Interactome (CircInteractome) database and microRNA Data Integration Portal (mirDIP) database, respectively. Then, we constructed a regulatory network. Function enrichment analysis of miRNA and mRNA was performed by DIANA-miRPath v3.0 and Metascape database, respectively. mRNAs with significant prognostic value were identified based on expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and we constructed a subnetwork for them. To make the most of the network, we used the CLUE database to predict potential drugs for the treatment of osteosarcoma based on mRNA expression in the network. And we used the STITCH database to analyze and validate the interactions among these drugs and mRNAs, and to further screen for potential drugs.ResultsA total of 9 circRNAs, 19 miRNAs, 67 mRNAs, 54 pairs of circRNA-miRNA interactions and 110 pairs of miRNA-mRNA interactions were identified. A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed. Function enrichment analysis indicated that these miRNAs and mRNAs in the network were involved in the process of tumorigenesis and immune response. Among these mRNAs, STC2 and RASGRP2 with significantly prognostic value were identified, and we constructed a subnetwork for them. Based on mRNA expression in the network, three potential drugs, quinacridine, thalidomide and zonisamide, were screened for the treatment of osteosarcoma. Among them, quinacridine and thalidomide have been proved to have anti-tumor effects in previous studies, while zonisamide has not been reported. And a corresponding drug-protein interaction network was constructed.ConclusionOverall, we constructed a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network to investigate the possible mechanism in osteosarcoma, and predicted that quinacridine, thalidomide and zonisamide could be potential drugs for the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Association Between Alkaline Phosphatase and Muscle Mass, Strength, or Physical Performance in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis
Authors: Kang Seok Hui , Do Jun Young , Kim Jun Chul 
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an indicator for checking liver or bone disorders, but recent studies have shown the possibility of an additive indicator beyond the simple mineral-bone status in dialysis patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ALP level and various indicators for malnutrition, physical performance, or hospitalization in patients on hemodialysis (HD).Methods: This study was an observational study (n = 84). We included all patients undergoing HD with the following criteria: age ≥ 20 years, duration of dialysis ≥ 6 months, ability to ambulate without an assistive device, ability to communicate with the interviewer, and no hospitalization within the last 3 months before enrollment. Furthermore, none of the patients had liver disease. We recommended abstinence of alcohol for ≥ 1 month for the duration of the study. The patients were divided into tertiles based on the ALP level. Muscle mass [appendicular muscle mass index using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (ASM/Ht2), thigh muscle area index using computed tomography (TMA/Ht2)], strength [handgrip strength (HGS)], and physical performance [gait speed (GS), sit-to-stand for 30-s test (STS30), 6-min walk test (6-MWT), or Short Physical Performance Battery test (SPPB)] were evaluated. The number of hospitalizations was also evaluated.Results: The ALP level in the low, middle, and high tertiles was 50.5 ± 7.5, 69.8 ± 5.4, and 113.3 ± 47.3 IU/l, respectively. The high tertile group showed the poorest trends in ASM/Ht2, TMA/Ht2, HGS, GS, STS30, and 6-MWT compared to the other tertile groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that the high tertile group for low HGS, low GS, or low SPPB had a higher odds ratio compared to the other tertiles. Subgroup analyses according to age, sex and diabetes mellitus showed similar trends as in the total cohort. Hospitalization-free survival rates after 300 days in the high tertile and the other tertiles were 53.8 and 77.2%, respectively (P = 0.105).Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that ALP is associated with muscle mass, strength, and physical performance in patients on maintenance HD. In addition, the trend showed better hospitalization-free survival in the low or middle tertiles than in the high tertile. ALP can be considered as a simple and useful indicator to detect malnutrition, physical performance, or hospitalization in patients on HD.
Association Between Polymorphisms in Gastric Cancer Related Genes and Risk of Gastric Cancer: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Pu Yan , Wen Xu , Jia Zhangjun , Xie Yu , Luan Changxing , Yu Youjia , Chen Feng , Chen Peng , Li Ding , Sun Yan , Zhao Jian , Lv Haiqin 
Published: May 2021

Gastric cancer has the second highest incidence among all the malignancies in China, just below lung cancer. Gastric cancer is likewise one of the main sources of cancer related passings. Gastric cancer therefore remains a huge threat to human health. The primary reason is absence of high sensitivity and specificity for early detection while the pathogenesis of GC is stayed muddled. During the last few decades, a lot of GC related genes have been identified. To find candidate GC related variant in these GC related genes, we conducted this case-control study. 29 tagSNPs located in 7 GC related genes were included. 228 gastric cancer patients and 299 healthy controls were enrolled. Significant differences were found between the genotype frequencies of EFNA1 rs4971066 polymorphism between gastric cancer patients and healthy controls. The result indicated that ephrin-A1 tagSNP rs4971066 GT/TT genotypes was significantly associated with reduced susceptibility of gastric cancer development.
Surgical Outcomes and EEG Prognostic Factors After Stereotactic Laser Amygdalohippocampectomy for Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Wu Shasha , Issa Naoum P. , Lacy Maureen , Satzer David , Rose Sandra L. , Yang Carina W. , Collins John M. , Liu Xi , Sun Taixin , Towle Vernon L. , Nordli Douglas R. , Warnke Peter C. , Tao James X. 
Published: May 2021

Objective: To assess the seizure outcomes of stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampectomy (SLAH) in consecutive patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) in a single center and identify scalp EEG and imaging factors in the presurgical evaluation that correlate with post-surgical seizure recurrence.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical and EEG records of 30 patients with drug-resistant mTLE who underwent SLAH and had at least 1 year of follow-up. Surgical outcomes were classified using the Engel scale. Univariate hazard ratios were used to evaluate the risk factors associated with seizure recurrence after SLAH.Results: The overall Engel class I outcome after SLAH was 13/30 (43%), with a mean postoperative follow-up of 48.9 ± 17.6 months. Scalp EEG findings of interictal regional slow activity (IRSA) on the side of surgery (HR = 4.05, p = 0.005) and non-lateralizing or contra-lateralizing seizure onset (HR = 4.31, p = 0.006) were negatively correlated with postsurgical seizure freedom. Scalp EEG with either one of the above features strongly predicted seizure recurrence after surgery (HR = 7.13, p &lt; 0.001) with 100% sensitivity and 71% specificity.Significance: Understanding the factors associated with good or poor surgical outcomes can help choose the best candidates for SLAH. Of the variables assessed, scalp EEG findings were the most clearly associated with seizure outcomes after SLAH.
Idiosyncratic Characteristics of Postural Sway in Normal and Perturbed Standing
Authors: Sakanaka Tania E. , Lakie Martin , Reynolds Raymond F. 
Published: May 2021

ObjectiveAre people with a characteristically large physiological sway rendered particularly unstable when standing on a moving surface? Is postural sway in standing individuals idiosyncratic? In this study, we examine postural sway in individuals standing normally, and when subtle continuous sinusoidal disturbances are applied to their support platform. We calculate consistency between conditions to verify if sway can be considered characteristic of each individual. We also correlate two different aspects of participants’ responses to disturbance; their sway velocity and their regulation of body orientation.MethodsNineteen healthy adults (age 29.2 ± 3.2 years) stood freely on footplates coaxially aligned with their ankles and attached to a motorized platform. They had their eyes closed, and hips and knees locked with a light wooden board attached to their body. Participants either stood quietly on a fixed platform or on a slowly tilting platform (0.1 Hz sinusoid; 0.2 and 0.4 deg). Postural sway size was separated into two entities: (1) the spontaneous sway velocity component (natural random relatively rapid postural adjustments, RMS body angular velocity) and (2) the evoked tilt gain component (much slower 0.1 Hz synchronous tilt induced by the movement of the platform, measured as peak-to-peak (p-p) gain, ratio of body angle to applied footplate rotation).ResultsThere was no correlation between the velocity of an individual’s sway and their evoked tilt gain (r= 0.34,p= 0.15 andr= 0.30,p= 0.22). However, when considered separately, each of the two measurements showed fair to good absolute agreement within conditions. Spontaneous sway velocity consistently increased as participants were subjected to increasing disturbance. Participants who swayed more (or less) did so across all conditions [ICC(3,k)= 0.95]. Evoked tilt gain also showed consistency between conditions [ICC(3,k)= 0.79], but decreased from least to most disturbed conditions.ConclusionThe two measurements remain consistent between conditions. Consistency between conditions of two very distinct unrelated measurements reflects the idiosyncratic nature of postural sway. However, sway velocity and tilt gain are not related, which supports the idea that the short-term regulation of stability and the longer-term regulation of orientation are controlled by different processes.
The Distribution of Skull Score and Skull Density Ratio in Tremor Patients for MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy
Authors: Tsai Kevin Wen-Kai , Chen Jui-Cheng , Lai Hui-Chin , Chang Wei-Chieh , Taira Takaomi , Chang Jin Woo , Wei Cheng-Yu 
Published: May 2021

ObjectiveMagnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a minimum-invasive surgical approach to non-incisionally cause the thermos-coagulation inside the human brain. The skull score (SS) has already been approved as one of the most dominant factors related to a successful MRgFUS treatment. In this study, we first reveal the SS distribution of the tremor patients, and correlate the SS with the image feature from customized skull density ratio (cSDR). This correlation might give a direction to future clinical studies for improving the SS.MethodsTwo hundred and forty-six patients received a computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain, and a bone-enhanced filter was applied and reconstructed to a high spatial resolution CT images. The SS of all patients would be estimated by the MRgFUS system after importing the reconstructed CT images into the MRgFUS system. The histogram and the cumulative distribution of the SS from all the patients were calculated to show the percentage of the patients whose SS lower than 0.3 and 0.4. The same CT images of all patients were utilized to calculated the cSDR by first segmented the trabecular bone and the cortical bone from the CT images and divided the average trabecular bone intensity (aTBI) by the average cortical bone intensity (aCBI). The Pearson’s correlations between the SS and the cSDR, aTBI, and the aCBI were calculated, respectively.ResultsThere were 19.19 and 50% of the patient who had the SS lower than the empirical threshold 0.3 and 0.4, respectively. The Pearson’s correlation between the SS and the cSDR, aCBI, and the aTBI were R = 0.8145, 0.5723, and 0.8842.ConclusionHalf of the patients were eligible for the MRgFUS thalamotomy based on the SS, and nearly 20% of patients were empirically difficult to achieve a therapeutic temperature during MRgFUS. The SS and our cSDR are highly correlated, and the SS had a higher correlation with aTBI than with aCBI. This is the first report to explicitly reveal the SS population and indicate a potential way to increase the chance to achieve a therapeutic temperature for those who originally have low SS.
Age-Related Changes in Cardiac Autonomic Modulation and Heart Rate Variability in Mice
Authors: Piantoni Chiara , Carnevali Luca , Molla David , Barbuti Andrea , DiFrancesco Dario , Bucchi Annalisa , Baruscotti Mirko 
Published: May 2021

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess age-related changes in cardiac autonomic modulation and heart rate variability (HRV) and their association with spontaneous and pharmacologically induced vulnerability to cardiac arrhythmias, to verify the translational relevance of mouse models for further in-depth evaluation of the link between autonomic changes and increased arrhythmic risk with advancing age.MethodsHeart rate (HR) and time- and frequency-domain indexes of HRV were calculated from Electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings in two groups of conscious mice of different ages (4 and 19 months old) (i) during daily undisturbed conditions, (ii) following peripheral β-adrenergic (atenolol), muscarinic (methylscopolamine), and β-adrenergic + muscarinic blockades, and (iii) following β-adrenergic (isoprenaline) stimulation. Vulnerability to arrhythmias was evaluated during daily undisturbed conditions and following β-adrenergic stimulation.ResultsHRV analysis and HR responses to autonomic blockades revealed that 19-month-old mice had a lower vagal modulation of cardiac function compared with 4-month-old mice. This age-related autonomic effect was not reflected in changes in HR, since intrinsic HR was lower in 19-month-old compared with 4-month-old mice. Both time- and frequency-domain HRV indexes were reduced following muscarinic, but not β-adrenergic blockade in younger mice, and to a lesser extent in older mice, suggesting that HRV is largely modulated by vagal tone in mice. Finally, 19-month-old mice showed a larger vulnerability to both spontaneous and isoprenaline-induced arrhythmias.ConclusionThe present study combines HRV analysis and selective pharmacological autonomic blockades to document an age-related impairment in cardiac vagal modulation in mice which is consistent with the human condition. Given their short life span, mice could be further exploited as an aged model for studying the trajectory of vagal decline with advancing age using HRV measures, and the mechanisms underlying its association with proarrhythmic remodeling of the senescent heart.
Psychological Impact During the First Outbreak of COVID-19 on Frontline Health Care Workers in Shanghai
Authors: Feng Jingjing , Xu Jinfu , Xu Susu , Cao Huifang , Zheng Cuixia , Sharma Lokesh , Dela Cruz Charles S. , Zhang Jing , Chu Dejie , Yu Li , Tu Chunlin , Li Fan , Ren Tao , Zhang Fengying , Du Chunlin , Gu Wenchao , Liu Hongwei , Qian Yechang , Shen Changxing , Tang Chunhong , Bi Yueping , Xiao Feng , Gu Kejia , Zhang Jie , Ye Zheng , Zhao Liang , Zhai Jiayi , Hu Xiaoying , Qu Jieming , Jie Zhijun 
Published: May 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a significant health threat. Health care worker (HCWs) are at a significant risk of infection which may cause high levels of psychological distress. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 on HCWs and factors which were associated with these stresses during the first outbreak in Shanghai.Methods: Between February 9 and 21, 2020, a total of 3,114 frontline HCWs from 26 hospitals in Shanghai completed an online survey. The questionnaire included questions on their sociodemographic characteristics, 15 stress-related questions, and General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). Exploratory factor analysis was applied to the 15 stress-related questions which produced four distinct factors for evaluation. Multiple linear regression models were performed to explore the association of personal characteristics with each score of the four factors. Binary logistic analysis was used to explain the association of personal characteristics and these four factors with the GHQ-12.Results: There were 2,691 valid surveys received. The prevalence of emotional distress (defined as GHQ-12 ≥ 12) was noted in 47.7% (95%CI:45.7–49.6%) HCWs. Females (OR = 1.43, 95%CI:1.09–1.86) were more likely to have a psychological distress than males. However, HCWs who work in secondary hospitals (OR = 0.71, 95% CI:0.58–0.87) or had a no contact history (OR = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.35–0.58) were less likely to suffer psychological distress. HCWs who were nurses, married, and had a known contact history were highly likely to have anxiety. HCWs working at tertiary hospitals felt an elevated anxiety regarding the infection, a lack of knowledge, and less protected compared to those who worked at secondary hospitals.Conclusions: Our study shows that the frontline HCWs had a significant psychosocial distress during the COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai. HCWs felt a lack of knowledge and had feelings of being not protected. It is necessary for hospitals and governments to provide additional trainings and psychological counseling to support the first-line HCWs.
Social Capital and Depressive Episodes: Gender Differences in the ELSA-Brasil Cohort
Authors: Souto Ester Paiva , Moreno Arlinda B. , Chor Dóra , Melo Enirtes C. Prates , Barreto Sandhi M. , Nunes Maria Angélica , Griep Rosane Harter 
Published: May 2021

Introduction: The association between social capital and depression is a frequent research topic in developed countries, often with inconclusive results. Furthermore, for both social capital and depression, there are gender differences established in the literature. This study investigates gender differences in the association of social capital with the incidence and maintenance of depressive episodes.Methods: Baseline and second wave data (4 years of follow-up) from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), a multicenter cohort of civil servants with 15,105 workers aged 35–74 years, were used. Social capital was assessed using the Resource Generator, a scale composed of two different dimensions: “social support” and “prestige and education.” Depressive episodes were assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule - Revised (CIS-R). The statistical analysis was performed using multinomial regression with adjustments for possible confounding factors.Results: Among men, low social capital in the “social support” dimension was associated with the incidence of depressive episodes (RR = 1.66; 95% CI: 1.01–2.72). Among women, social support was associated with the maintenance of depressive episodes (RR = 2.66; 95% CI: 1.61–4.41). Social capital was not associated with the incidence or maintenance of depressive episodes in the “prestige and education” dimension in both genders.Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of the dimension “social support” in both genders in its association with mental health. The resource-based social capital approach proved to be adequate for investigating mental health and confirms the idea that social networks can be useful in the treatment and prevention of depressive episodes.
Vitamin D Status and Its Influence on the Health of Preschool Children in Hangzhou
Authors: Chen Zhaojun , Lv Xi , Hu Wensheng , Qian Xia , Wu Ting , Zhu Yunxia 
Published: May 2021

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in children are global public health problems. However, few studies have focused on vitamin D status in healthy preschool children, especially in Asia. This study aimed to investigate vitamin D status and host-related factors in healthy preschool children in Hangzhou to analyze the impact of low vitamin D levels (&lt;30 ng/mL) on health outcomes (obesity, early childhood caries, and respiratory tract infections).Methods: A total of 1,510 healthy children aged 24–72 months from 15 kindergartens in Hangzhou were included. Data on the children's gender, age, body mass index (BMI), caries, and blood samples available for vitamin D analysis were collected from June to August 2018. A total of 325 children aged 36–48 months took part in a survey on the frequency of respiratory tract infections in the last year.Results: The children's mean 25(OH)D level was 28.01 ± 7.29 ng/mL. A total of 11.4% of the children had vitamin D deficiency, and 52.6% had vitamin D insufficiency. Only 36.0% had vitamin D sufficiency. No significant difference was found by gender or BMI group. However, children in the obesity group had the highest prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and the lowest 25(OH)D levels. A significant negative correlation was found between the 25(OH)D level and child age (r = −0.144, p &lt; 0.001). Regression analysis showed that the children’s 25(OH)D levels decreased by 0.17 ng/mL per month with age. In addition, children with low vitamin D levels might increase the risk of obesity and early childhood caries. Multiple linear regression indicated that the number of caries in children increased by 0.08 per 1-ng/mL decrease in the 25(OH)D level (β = −0.08, p &lt; 0.001).Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is a serious problem among healthy preschool children in Hangzhou. Public health policies or interventions should be implemented to ensure that preschool children have adequate vitamin D to reduce the risk of related diseases.