bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association Between Systemic Corticosteroid Therapy and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Pan Tingyu , Bai Le , Chen Shi , Zhou Kejie , Wang Jing , Li Yehui , Zhang Weizhou , Zhou Xianmei , He Hailang 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background

Whether the patients admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) due to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) would benefit from systemic corticosteroid treatment remains controversial. In this study, we aim to investigate the relationship between the systemic corticosteroid treatment and mortality in patients with severe AECOPD, using the public Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database (MIMIC III).
Methods

The baseline characteristics, laboratory examination and prognosis of AECOPD patients were retrieved from MIMIC III. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between systemic corticosteroid treatment and prognosis. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to validate our findings.
Results

A total of 882 patients were included in our study, of which 293 patients (33.22%) underwent systemic glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. 30-day mortality was not reduced by treatment with systemic corticosteroid in this study. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 1.296 (95% CI: 0.907–1.852, p = 0.155) and 1.243 (95% CI: 0.867–1.782, p = 0.236) in the logistic regression model 1 and model 2 respectively. Similar results were replicated after PSM (OR 1.144, 95% CI: 0.744–1.759, p = 0.541). In the subgroup of patients with initial eosinophil concentration ≥ 0.35%, corticosteroid treatment resulted in worse outcomes compared with non-GC group. The adjusted odds ratio of 30-day mortality and in-hospital mortality for glucocorticoid therapy were 1.691 (95% CI: 1.002–2.855, p = 0.049) and 2.247 (95% CI: 1.218–4.147, p = 0.010) respectively.
Conclusion

Our study observed that Systemic corticosteroid therapy did not improve the mortality of severe AECOPD patients in ICU and aggravated the mortality of patients with high eosinophils. The results need to be verified in randomized controlled trials.
Vision-Related Quality of Life and Psychosocial Well-Being of Patients with Episcleritis and Scleritis: A Neglected Essence ?
Authors: Tamrakar Apurva Ratna , (Sitaula) Ranju Kharel , Joshi Sagun Narayan , Bajracharya Manjita 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: To assess the change in vision-related quality of life and psychosocial well-being of the patients with episcleritis and scleritis patients before and after treatment.Results: This one-and-a-half-year prospective study was conducted among 76 eyes of 71 new patients of episcleritis and scleritis. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the visual and to analyze the change in effect size. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.536. Episcleritis was seen in 41 cases (57.7%) while scleritis was seen in 30 cases (42.3%). Patients with episcleritis had statistically significant improvement in general function score (GF) (p<0.05) using paired t-test. The effect size showed medium improvement (approximately 0.5). Whereas there was no statistically significant change in psychosocial impact (PI), visual symptoms (VS) scoring, and a total score (p<0.05) using paired t-test. The effect size showed no improvement for PI and total score and small improvement for VS score. Patients with scleritis had statistically significant improvement in general function score (GF), visual symptoms (VS) scoring and total score (p<0.05) using paired-t-test. The effect size showed medium improvement (approximately 0.5) for general function score (GF) and total score. However, the effect size showed only a small improvement (approximately 0.2) for psychosocial impact (PI) score.Conclusions: Vision Related Quality of Life of patients with scleritis showed significant improvement following treatment unlike episcleritis indicating scleritis more adversely affecting psychosocial well-being.
Community Knowledge, Practice and Prevalence of Brucellosis in Livestock owners in Northern Red Sea Region, Eritrea
Authors: Ghebremeskel Efrem , Tesfai Berhe , Kibreab Fitsum , Weldegebriel Samuel , Dawit Abraham , Mekonen Zemui , Milkyas Hagos , Tseghehannes Esayas , Belay Weldeyesus 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Brucellosis is an infectious zoonotic disease. In the Sub-Saharan Africa, where the prevalence of brucellosis is not clear and the disease has been reported in most parts of Africa including Eritrea. To this date, the level of knowledge and brucellosis status in the livestock owners’ of Northern Red Sea region, Eritrea, was unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge and practice, and determine the prevalence of brucellosis in livestock owners in the Northern Red Sea region, Eritrea.Methods: It was a descriptive community-based cross-sectional study where villages and households were selected by simple random sampling and systematic random sampling respectively. A total of twenty-nine villages and 22 livestock owners from each village were selected randomly. Blood samples were screened using Rose Bengal plate test and positives further confirmed using competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay techniques. Predesigned structured questionnaire was used as data collection tool. A written informed consent was obtained from each study participants. Data were entered into CSPro and analyzed by SPSS software. Results were presented in percent and frequencies.Results: A total of 637 respondents were enrolled in the study with a mean age of 42.96. Respondents were dominated by males (74.9%) and Tigre (73%) in ethnicity. Majority of them were illiterate (55.5%) and 70.5% were farmers. The overall sero-prevalence of brucellosis in the selected community was found to be 1.8% with the highest prevalence in Gindae (3.9%) followed by Shieb (3.6%) subregion. The comprehensive good knowledge and practice was rated as 58.4% and 10.5% respectively. A significant association was also shown with age, ethnicity, religion, level of education, occupation and subregions of the respondents (p <0.001). Conclusion: The overall sero-prevalence of brucellosis in the livestock owners in the study region was generally low. However, they had lower level of knowledge and very poor practice. Their level of knowledge and practice showed significant association with their age, ethnicity, level of education and sub-regions. Increasing community awareness, introducing Brucella vaccination to animals and strict controlling of selling of unpasteurized milk to the consumers are highly recommended.
Differences of Virulence Factors, And Antimicrobial Susceptibility According To Phylogenetic Group In Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Strains Isolated From Korean Patients
Authors: Hyun Miri , Lee Ji Yeon , Kim Hyun Ah 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Escherichia coli is among the most common uropathogens. Increased antibiotic resistance to gram negative bacilli is global concern. Alternative therapeutic options including vaccines against uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) have been developed. In this study, we compared the genotypic characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility of UPEC according to phylogenetic groups. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of pyelonephritis patients with UPEC between February 2015 and June 2018. We compared the clinical and genotypic characteristics of UPEC according to phylogenetic groups. The phylogenetic groups and 29 virulence factors were identified using multiplex polymerase chain reaction.Results: Phylogenetic group analysis revealed that most uropathogenic E. coli belonged to groups B2 and D: B2 (276, 77.7%), D (62, 17.5%), B1 (12, 3.4%), and A (5, 1.4%). Among the virulence factors, fyuA, fimH, traT, iutA, papG allele II, and papC were the most frequently observed. Phylogenetic group B2 was more closely related to virulence factors, including fimH, sfa/focED, focG, hlyA, cnf1, fyuA, and PAI, than group D. Groups B2 and D showed similar clinical presentations and complications. Group B2 had mostly healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance. Group D mostly had community-acquired infections. The K1 serotype was prevalent in group B2, and K5 was the most prevalent in group D.Conclusions: Phylogenetic group B2 had more proportions and types of virulence factors than group D. Group B2 showed a high presentation of virulence factors related to adhesions and toxins. An increased presentation of antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections was also noted. Considering the genetic characteristics of UPEC, alternative therapeutic options targeting frequent virulence factors might be considered in addition to antibiotics.
Lactate Induces Aberration in the miR-30a-DBF4 Axis to Promote the Development of Gastric Cancer and Weakens the Sensitivity to 5-Fu
Authors: Wang Tengkai , Ji Rui , Liu Guanqun , Ma Beilei , WANG ZEHUA , Zuo Xiuli 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies, molecular mechanism of which is still not clear. Aberrant expression of tumor-associated genes is the major cause of tumorigenesis. DBF4 is an important factor in cancers, although there is yet no report on its function and molecular mechanism in GC.Methods: The expression of DBF4 in tumor tissues or cells of GC was detected by RT-PCR and western blotting. Gastric cancer cell line MGC-803 and AGS were transfected with DBF4 siRNA or overexpression vector to detect the function of DBF4 in proliferation and migration with CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay and wound healing assay. miR-30a was found to be the regulator of DBF4 by online bioinformatics software and confirmed with RT-PCR, western blot and dual-luciferase reporter assays.Results: In our study, increased expression of DBF4 in GC tissues was first identified through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and later confirmed using specimens from GC patients. Furthermore, functional experiments were applied to demonstrate that DBF4 promotes cell proliferation and migration in GC cell lines, moreover weakens the sensitivity of MGC803 and AGS cells to 5-Fu. We further demonstrated that miR-30a showed significantly lower expression in GC cells and inhibited the expression of DBF4 through 3ʹ-UTR suppression. Furthermore, rescue experiments revealed that the miR-30a-DBF4 axis regulated the GC cell proliferation and migration. The important composition in tumor microenvironment, lactate, may be the primary factor that suppressed miR-30a to strengthen the expression of DBF4. Conclusions: Taken together, our study was the first to identify DBF4 as a regulator of cell proliferation and migration in GC. Furthermore, our study identified the lactate-miR-30a-DBF4 axis as a crucial regulator of tumor progression and the tumor sensitivity to 5-Fu, which maybe serve useful for the development of novel therapeutic targets.
Bayesian Variable Selection For High-Dimensional Data With An Ordinal Response: Application Predicting Prognostic Risk Group In Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Zhang Yiran , Archer Kellie J. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous cancer of the blood, though specific recurring cytogenetic abnormalities in AML strongly are associated with attaining complete response after induction chemotherapy, remission duration, and survival. Therefore recurring cytogenetic abnormalities have been used to segregate patients into favorable, intermediate, and adverse prognostic risk groups. However, it is unclear how expression of genes is associated with these prognostic risk groups. We postulate that expression of genes monotonically associated with these prognostic risk groups may yield important insights into leukemogenesis. Therefore, in this paper we propose penalized Bayesian ordinal response models to predict prognostic risk group using gene expression data. We consider a double exponential prior, a spike-and-slab normal prior, a spike-and-slab double exponential prior, and a regression-based approach with variable inclusion indicators for modeling our high-dimensional ordinal response, prognostic risk group, and identify genes through hypothesis tests using Bayes Factor. Results: Gene expression was ascertained using Affymetrix HG-U133Plus2.0 GeneChips for 97 favorable, 259 intermediate, and 97 adverse risk AML patients. When applying our penalized Bayesian ordinal response models, genes identified for model inclusion were consistent among the four different models. Additionally, the genes included in the models were biologically plausible, as most have been previously associated with either AML or other types of cancer. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that our proposed penalized Bayesian ordinal response models are useful for performing variable selection for high-dimensional genomic data and have the potential to identify genes relevantly associated with an ordinal phenotype.
Effects of Different Concentrations of PM2.5 on the Expression of the Nasal Mucosa, Olfactory Bulb, and Related Inflammatory Factors in Rats
Authors: Jiang Zhiming , Zhao Lina , Li Xiaojia , Wu Zijian , Hu Ling 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
BackgroundAlthough the damaging effect of inhaled smoke on the respiratory system has been widely reported, there are relatively few studies on the effects of inhaled smoke on the nasal mucosa and olfactory bulb. In this study, we observed the activities of adult rats chronically exposed to different concentrations of PM2.5 and analyzed its effects on the olfactory function and the expression of inflammatory factors in the serum, nasal mucosa, and olfactory bulb of rats.MethodsSD rats were randomly divided into normal control, low-smoke, middle-smoke, and high-smoke groups. The groups exposed to different concentrations of PM2.5 smoke were treated with smoke environment intervention for 4 h twice daily for 90 days, while the normal control group was fed routinely,After 90 d,the behavior of in the food-seeking glomeruli of rats was analyzed. The contents of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-ɑ in the serum, nasal mucosa, and olfactory bulb of rats were determined by ELISA, and the correlation between them was analyzed. taken for HE staining and TUNEL detection to observe the pathological damage of the nasal mucosa and olfactory bulb.ResultsAfter a series of tests, we found that Long-term exposure to the low, medium, and high concentrations of moxa smoke can cause pathological changes in the nasal mucosa, increase the number of apoptotic cells in the nasal mucosa and olfactory bulb, and increase the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-ɑ in the serum, nasal mucosa, and olfactory bulb. Simultaneously,The behavior of the rats also changed. The rats in the medium and high concentrations of moxa smoke searched for food longer, traveled shorter distances and slowed down.ConclusionLong-term exposure to medium and high concentrations of moxa smoke can decrease the olfactory sensitivity of rats.
Cine MR-Based Radiomics to Predict Myocardial Segments With Infarction
Authors: Peng Yongjia , Wang Yan , Wu Kongyang , Luo Yan , Liu Jing , Wang Yixiang , Gong Jingshan 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Although myocardial infarction (MI) can be assessed quantitatively and qualitatively by using late gadolinium-enhanced (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, intravenous administration of gadolinium can expose patients to high risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, especially in those with cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study is to harness cine CMR-based radiomics for predicting MI without introducing gadolinium.Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 48 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) confirmed by later gadolinium enhancement (LGE) at CMR. CMR examinations were performed within 2 to 6 days after PCI. According to the LGE, each myocardial segment was dichotomized into with and without MI. Radiomic features of myocardial segments were extracted from cine CMR images and the myocardial segments were divided into training and validation sets randomly at a ratio of 0.7:0.3. Pearson correlation and Mann-Whitney U rank test were used to eliminate redundant and irrelevant features. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used for features selection in the training set. Radiomic signatures were constructed in both the training and validation sets and its predictive performance was assessed using area under the cure of receiver operating characteristic (AUC-ROC).Results：Of 768 myocardial segments in the 48 patients, there were 291 (38%) segments with MI and 477 (62%) segments without MI. After univariate analysis, there were 22 RFs related to MI with statistical significance. LASSO regression selected 18 RFs for radiomics signature builting. AUC-ROC of radiomic signatures in prediction of segments with MI was 0.74(95% CI:0.69-0.78)and 0.68 (95%CI: 0.60-0.75) in the training and validation sets, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant (p=0.14).Conclusion: Cine MR-based radiomics signature can achieve a good prediction performance for MI, which showed the potential to be a promising imaging biomarker for MI without the administration of contrast agent.
Kinetic Modelling of Insitu Treatment of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soil Using Bone Char and NPK Fertilizers
Authors: Okwonna Obumneme O. , Otaraku Ipeghan J. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
This study investigates the effectiveness of bone char (organic) and NPK (inorganic) fertilizers as stimulants in the degradability of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants on soil. The Physicochemical properties of the hydrocarbon sludge were used to assess the effectiveness of this process over an 8-week period using 0.5 – 3.5kg mass of each fertilizer at different experiments. A first order kinetic model was used to estimate the rate of degradation of the total hydrocarbon content (THC) and total organic carbon (TOC) contaminants and the half-life of the remediation process. The microbial population within the period was also determined. The P-Value (P<0.05) indicate that these fertilizers were effective in degrading these contaminants on the soil, because of the significant difference between the treated and the control soil samples. A direct relationship was observed between with the mass and performance of the fertilizers. With 3.5 kg mass of the fertilizers, rate constants of 0.018 day-1 and 0.019 day-1 were obtained for the removal of the THC and TOC contaminants, respectively using the bone char fertilizer, whereas NPK fertilizer gave rates of 0.03 day-1 and 0.023 day-1 respectively. The performance of the NPK fertilizer is attributable to its Nitrogen and Phosphorous content. The model adequately described the process and showed the effectiveness of both fertilizers in the remediation process.
Detection of Cell Membrane Interactions with Lipid-functionalized Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Kallmyer Nathaniel , Eeg Danielle , Khor Rachel , Roby Nathan , Reuel Nigel 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Membrane-active molecules are of great importance to drug delivery and antimicrobials applications. While the ability to prototype new membrane-active molecules has improved greatly with the advent of automated chemistries and rapid biomolecule expression techniques, testing methods are still limited by throughput, cost, and modularity. Existing methods suffer from feasibility constraints of working with pathogenic, living cells and by intrinsic limitations of model systems. Herein, we demonstrate an abiotic sensor that uses semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) as near infrared fluorescent transducers to report membrane interactions. This sensor is comprised of SWNT aqueously suspended in a phospholipid monolayer; these SWNT probes are very sensitive to solvent access (changes in permittivity) and thus report morphological changes to the membrane by modulation of fluorescent signal where binding and disruption are reported as brightening and attenuation, respectively. This mechanism is first demonstrated with chemical and physical membrane-disruptive agents including ethanol, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and application of electrical pulses. Known cell-penetrating and antimicrobial peptides are then used to demonstrate how the dynamic response of these sensors can be deconvoluted to evaluate different, parallel mechanisms of interaction. Lastly, SWNT functionalized in several different bacterial lipopolysaccharides (P aeruginosa, K pneumoniae, and E coli) are used to evaluate a panel of known membrane-disrupting antimicrobials to demonstrate that drug selectivity can be assessed by suspension of SWNT with different membrane materials.
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Morpholinated Isatin-Quinoline Hybrids as Potential Anti-Breast Cancer Agents.
Authors: Singh Atamjit , Kaur Komalpreet , Kaur Jaspreet , Gulati Puja , Duggal Amit , Bedi Preet Mohinder Singh 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Keeping in view the emerging need of potent and safer anti-breast cancer agents as well as pharmacological attributes of isatin, quinoline and morpholine derivatives, novel hydrazone linked morpholinated isatin-quinoline hybrids has been designed, synthesized and evaluated as anti-breast cancer agents. Synthesized hybrid compounds were preliminary screened against two breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). Almost all synthetics showed potent inhibitory potential against hormone positive MCF-7 cells while inactive against hormone negative MDA-MB-231 cells. Potent compounds were further evaluated against L929 (noncancerous skin fibroblast) cell line and found highly selective for MCF-7 cells over L929 cells. Cell cycle analysis confirmed that most potent compound AS-4 (MCF-7: GI50 = 4.36 µM) cause mitotic arrest at G2/M-phase. Due to higher selectivity toward estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) dependent MCF-7 cells various binding interactions of AS-4 with ERα are also streamlined, suggesting the capability of AS-4 in completely blocking ERα. Overall study suggest that, AS-4 can act as a potential lead for further development of potent and safer anti-breast cancer agents.