bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of expression of VDR-associated lncRNAs in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Taheri Mohammad , Rad Lina Moallemi , Hussen Bashdar Mahmud , Nicknafs Fwad , Sayad Arezou , Ghafouri-Fard Soudeh 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been shown to cause serious health problems among them is the Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome (ARDS). Vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling possibly partakes in the pathophysiology of this devastating complication.

Methods
In the current project, we have appraised expression levels of VDR, CYP27B1 and a number of associated lncRNAs in the circulation of COVID-19 patients versus healthy subjects using real-time PCR method.

Results
Expression of SNHG6 was considerably lower in COVID-19 patients compared with control subjects (Ratio of mean expression (RME) = 0.22, P value = 7.04E-05) and in both female and male COVID-19 patients compared with sex-matched unaffected individuals (RME = 0.32, P value = 0.04 and RME = 0.16, P value = 0.000679683, respectively). However, its expression was similar among ICU-hospitalized and non-ICU patients. Similarly, expression of SNHG16 was lower in in COVID-19 patients compared with controls (RME = 0.20, P value = 5.94E-05) and in both female and male patients compared with sex-matched controls (RME = 0.32, P value = 0.04 and RME = 0.14, P value = 0.000496435, respectively) with no significant difference among ICU-hospitalized and non-ICU hospitalized patients. Expression of VDR was lower in COVID-19 patients compared with controls (RME = 0.42, P value = 0.04) and in male patients compared with male controls (RME = 0.27, P value = 0.02). Yet, expression of VDR was statistically similar between female subgroups and between ICU-hospitalized and non-ICU hospitalized patients. Expression levels CYP27B, Linc00511 and Linc00346 were similar among COVID-19 patients and healthy subjects or between their subgroups. Significant correlations have been detected between expression levels of VDR, CYP27B and SNHG6, SNHG16, Linc00511 and Linc00346 lncRNAs both among COVID-19 patients and among healthy controls with the most significant ones being SNHG6 and SNHG16 (r = 0.74, P value = 3.26e-17 and r = 0.81, P = 1.54e-22, respectively).

Conclusion
Combination of transcript levels of VDR, CYP27B and SNHG6, SNHG16, Linc00511 and Linc00346 could differentiate patients from controls with AUC = 0.76, sensitivity = 0.62 and specificity = 0.81. The current data potentiate SNHG6, SNHG16 and VDR as possible contributors in COVID-19 infection but not in the severity of ARDS.
Positive renal familial history in IgA nephropathy is associated with worse renal outcomes: a single-center longitudinal study
Authors: Sato Yoshinori , Tsukaguchi Hiroyasu , Higasa Koichiro , Kawata Naoto , Inui Kiyoko , Linh Tran Nguyen Truc , Quynh Tran Thuy Huong , Yoshihiko Inoue , Koiwa Fumihiko , Yoshimura Ashio 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide. Although most IgAN cases are sporadic, few show a familial aggregation. However, the prevalence and prognosis of IgAN individuals with positive familial history (FH) of renal disorders remains uncertain. To address these issues, we conducted a longitudinal observational study on a single-institution cohort of patients with biopsy-proven IgAN.

Methods
A total of 467 IgAN patients who underwent renal biopsy during 1994 to 2019 were ascertained to have positive- or negative-FH by history taking and were followed for an average of 8.9 years. We compared the clinical and pathological features of the two subgroups. The primary outcome, a composite of a hard endpoint (end-stage renal disease [ESRD]) and surrogate endpoint (a 50% or more reduction in the estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] from baseline), was evaluated. To estimate the risk for progression to ESRD, a Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed for a subset of patients who underwent follow-up for > 2 years and had an eGFR > 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline (n = 389; observation, 8.7 years).

Results
Positive-FH subtype accounted for 11.6% (n = 54) of all IgAN patients. At baseline, there were no significant differences between the positive- and negative-FH subgroups regarding age, sex, comorbid disease, MEST-C score, observation period, and therapeutic interventions. However, the eGFR value at baselines was significantly lower in the positive-FH subgroup than in the negative-FH subgroup (P < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, positive-FH emerged an independent determinant of poorer renal outcomes (odds ratio, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–4.85; P = 0.03), after adjusting for confounding factors. eGFR at follow-up was significantly lower in the positive-FH subgroup than in the negative-FH subgroup after adjustment for age and observation period.

Conclusions
Positive-FH was found in 11.6% of all IgAN patients, consistent with the incidence seen in previous literature. A significantly lower eGFR at baseline and last follow-up and unfavorable renal outcomes in the positive-FH subgroup suggest that certain genetic risk factors predisposing to renal failure may exist in a fraction of our IgAN cohort. (331 words).
The mechanisms of colorectal cancer cell mesenchymal-epithelial transition induced by hepatocyte exosome-derived miR-203a-3p
Authors: Xu Heyang , Lan Qiusheng , Huang Yongliang , Zhang Yang , Zeng Yujie , Su Pengwei , Chu Ziqiang , Lai Wei , Chu Zhonghua 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Liver metastasis is the most common cause of death in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 induces CRC metastasis by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, which promotes CRC cell liver metastasis. Mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET), the opposite of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, has been proposed as a mechanism for the establishment of metastatic neoplasms. However, the molecular mechanism of MET remains unclear.

Methods
Using Immunohistochemistry, western blotting, invasion assays, real-time quantitative PCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter assays, human miRNA arrays, and xenograft mouse model, we determined the role of hepatocyte exosome-derived miR-203a-3p in CRC MET.

Results
In our study, we found that miR-203a-3p derived from hepatocyte exosomes increased colorectal cancer cells E-cadherin expression, inhibited Src expression, and reduced activity. In this way miR-203a-3p induced the decreased invasion rate of CRC cells.

Coclusion
MiR-203a-3p derived from hepatocyte exosomes plays an important role of CRC cells to colonize in liver.
Prevalence and risk factors of refractive error in Qinghai, China: a cross-sectional study in Han and Tibetan adults in Xining and surrounding areas
Authors: Wang Meng , Gan Linyang , Cui Jiantao , Shan Guangliang , Chen Ting , Wang Xianghua , Wang Yuhan , Pan Li , Li Zhanquan , Cui Sen , Yang Airong , Li Wenfang , Jia Guoqiang , Han Ximing , He Huijing , Zhong Yong , Ma Jin 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Our study aimed to explore the prevalence and risk factors of refractive error (RE) in Han and Tibetan population aged 50–79 years in Xining and surrounding areas in Qinghai Province on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Methods
As part of the China National Health Survey, our cross-sectional study compared the age-adjusted prevalence of RE in Han and Tibetan older adults aged 50–79 years in Xining and surrounding areas. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors for myopia and hyperopia.

Results
Among 769 Han participants and 476 Tibetan participants, the age-adjusted prevalence of myopia (spherical equivalent (SE) < − 0.5D), hyperopia (SE > + 0.5D), high myopia (SE < -6.0D) and astigmatism (cylindrical equivalent > = 0.5D) is 28.56, 22.82, 2.80, and 69.38%. Han participants have higher age-adjusted prevalence of myopia (32.93% vs 21.64%, p < 0.001), high myopia (3.93% vs 1.02%, p = 0.001) and astigmatism (72.14% vs 64.94%, p = 0.021) compared to Tibetan participants. Being Tibetan is the protective factor of myopia compared to being Han (OR 0.58, 95%CI 0.42–0.79, p < 0.001). Older age (p = 0.032), longer time length in rural area (p = 0.048), undergraduate/graduate education level (p = 0.031), lighter active level (p = 0.007) and lower BMI (p = 0.015) are risk factors for myopia. Older age (all p < 0.001) and pterygium status of the same eye (p = 0.013) also increase the hyperopia risk.

Conclusions
Our study found an overall prevalence of myopia of 28.56% in Xining and surrounding areas in adults older than 50 years. Han population has higher myopia risk than Tibetan population. More medical and social resources should be allocated to improve the vision and life quality of older adults.
Patent ductus arteriosus, systemic NT-proBNP concentrations and development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very preterm infants: retrospective data analysis from a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Potsiurko Solomiia , Dobryanskyy Dmytro , Sekretar Lesya 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common complication in very preterm infants. It is known that there is an association between PDA and development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death before the postmenstrual age (PMA) of 36 weeks, but this association remains one of the most controversial aspects of the problem. The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between PDA, serum NT-proBNP levels at 2–3 and 8–9 days of life, and BPD/death in very preterm infants.

Methods
Data of 52 preterm infants with a gestational age < 32 weeks, chronological age < 72 h, and PDA diameter > 1.5 mm, enrolled in a randomized controlled trial, were used for the retrospective analysis. All patients underwent daily echocardiographic and two serum NT-proBNP measurements within the first 10 days after birth. Two groups of infants were formed retrospectively at PMA of 36 weeks depending on the outcome, BPD (n = 18)/death (n = 7) or survival without BPD (n = 27). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive performance of serum NT-proBNP levels for BPD/death occurrence.

Results
The percentage of infants who received pharmacological treatment for PDA did not differ between the groups. Based on the area under the ROC curve, serum NT-proBNP levels on the 2–3 day of life (AUC = 0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.56–0.9; p = 0.014)) and on the 8–9 day of life (AUC = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.6–0.9; p = 0.002) could reliably predict BPD/death in very preterm infants who had PDA diameter > 1.5 mm in the first 72 h of life. Hemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA) was significantly more often detected in newborns with BPD/death, however, treatment of infants with hsPDA did not reduce the incidence of BPD/death.

Conclusions
In very preterm infants with PDA > 1.5 mm at the age of 24–48 h, serum NT-proBNP concentration could reliably predict the development of BPD or death, regardless of the persistence of PDA, with the highest diagnostic value at 8–9 days.

Trial registration
This study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT03860428 on March 4, 2019.
Multi-purpose cash transfers and health among vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Lyles Emily , Arhem Jakob , El Khoury Ghada , Trujillo Antonio , Spiegel Paul , Burton Ann , Doocy Shannon 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Multipurpose cash transfers (MPCs) are used on a widespread basis in the Syrian refugee response; however, there is little to no evidence as to how they affect health in humanitarian crises.

Methods
A prospective cohort study was conducted from May 2018 through July 2019 to evaluate the impact of MPCs on health care-seeking and expenditures for child, adult acute, and adult chronic illness by Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Households receiving MPCs from UNHCR were compared to control households not receiving UNHCR MPCs.

Results
Care-seeking for childhood illness was consistently high in both MPC and non-MPC households. An increased proportion of households did not receive all recommended care due to cost; this increase was 19.3% greater among MPC recipients than controls (P = 0.002). Increases in child hospitalizations were significantly smaller among MPC recipients than controls (DiD -6.1%; P = 0.037).
For adult acute illnesses, care-seeking increased among MPC recipients but decreased in controls (adjusted DiD 11.3%; P = 0.057); differences in change for other utilization outcomes were not significant. The adjusted difference in change in the proportion of MPC households not receiving recommended chronic illness care due to cost compared to controls was − 28.2% (P = 0.073). Access to medication for adult chronic illness also marginally significantly improved for MPC households relative to controls. The proportion of MPC recipients reporting expenses for the most recent child and adult acute illness increased significantly, as did the [log] total visit cost.
Both MPC and control households reported significant increases in borrowing to pay for health expenses over the year study period, but differences in change in borrowing or asset sales were not significant, indicating that MPC was not protective against for household financial risks associated with health.

Conclusions
While MPC may have shown some positive effects, findings were mixed and MPC appears insufficient on its own to address health utilization and expenditures. A broader strategy addressing Syrian refugee health in Lebanon is needed of which MPC should be incorporated, with additional support such as additional conditional cash transfers for health.
Caregivers’ perception of the caring challenges in coronavirus crisis (COVID-19): a qualitative study
Authors: Mohammadi Fateme , Farjam Mojtaba , Gholampour Yousef , Sohrabpour Mojtaba , Oshvandi Khodayar , Bijani Mostafa 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe nurses act as the guardians of people’s health by preventing, controlling, and curing emerging diseases, including coronavirus, a highly infectious and contagious disease which has presented the caregivers in the Iranian healthcare system with many clinical challenges. In view of lack of research on the clinical challenges which arise during health crises, emerging diseases included, there is need for further investigation of those clinical challenges and dilemmas. The aim in present study was to describe the caregivers’ experiences of the caring challenges in patients with coronavirus (COVID-19).MethodsThe present study is a qualitative work with a phenomenological-descriptive design. Data were collected via semi-structured, in-depth, individual interviews. The collected data were analyzed according to Colaizzi’s method. The participants were 23 members of the medical staff responsible for coronavirus patients in Iran who met the inclusion criteria. The participants were selected via purposeful sampling which was continued to the point of data saturation.ResultsThe results yielded 3 main themes “psychological tension”, “inefficient management”, and “contextual factors” with 11 categories.ConclusionIn dealing with coronavirus patients and providing quality care to them, nurses face various clinical challenges which affect their performance. Administrators must, alongside giving instructions to people on how to prevent the coronavirus disease and taking effective safety measures, make sure that clinical centers are managed efficiently in order for nurses to fulfill their caring objectives satisfactorily.
Utilization of eye health services and diabetic retinopathy: a cross-sectional study among persons living with diabetes visiting a tertiary eye care facility in Ghana
Authors: Akrofi Bridgid , Tetteh John , Amissah-Arthur Kwesi N. , Buxton Eileen N.A. , Yawson Alfred 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
There have been a major advance made in screening, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy among Person living with diabetes (PLWD). However, screening services remain a challenge in Low-Middle-Income-Countries where access to eye care professionals is inadequate. This study assesses the utilization of Eye Health Service prevalence (UEHS) among PLWD and associated factors and further quantifies its association with Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR).

Methods
A cross-sectional study design with a random sample of 360 PLWD was conducted at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, a National Referral Centre in Ghana from May to July 2019. UEHS and DR were the study outcomes. We adopted Poisson and Probit regression analysis to assess factors associated with UEHS over the past year. We employed pairwise and phi correlation (fourfold correlational analysis) to assess the relationship between UEHS and DR (ordinal and binary respectively). Ordered Logistic and Poisson regression were applied to assess the association between the UEHS and DR. Stata 16.1 was used to perform the analyses and a p-value ≤ 0.05 was deemed significant.

Results
The prevalence of UEHS over the past year and DR was 21.7 %(95 %CI = 17.7–26.2) and 65.0 %(95 %CI = 59.9–69.8 respectively. The prevalence of severe NPDR with Clinically Significant Macular Edema (CSME) was 23.9 %(19.8–28.6). Type of diabetes, increasing age, educational level, mode of payment for healthcare services, marital status, years since diagnosis, and current blood glucose significantly influenced UEHS. There was a negative relationship between DR and UEHS (Pairwise and φ correlation were − 20 and − 15 respectively; p < 0.001). Non-UEHS among PLWD doubles the likelihood of experiencing severe NPDR with CSME compared with UEHS among PLWD [aOR(95 %CI) = 2.05(1.03–4.08)]. Meanwhile, the prevalence of DR among patients per non-UEHS was insignificantly higher [12 %; aPR(95 %CI) = 0.89–1.41)] compared with patients who utilized eye care health service.

Conclusions
Most of the PLWD did not utilize the eye health service even once in a year and that was highly influenced by type of diabetes and increasing age. Type 2 diabetes patients and middle age decreased the likelihood of UEHS. There was a negative relationship between DR and UEHS among PLWD and this doubled the likelihood of experiencing severe NPDR with CSME. Structured health education and screening interventions are key to improving UEHS.
Screening the genome for HCC-specific CpG methylation signatures as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis evaluation
Authors: Zhang Rui-kun , Liu Jia-lin 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and invasive malignant tumors in the world. The change in DNA methylation is a key event in HCC.

Methods
Methylation datasets for HCC and 17 other types of cancer were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The CpG sites with large differences in methylation between tumor tissues and paracancerous tissues were identified. We used the HCC methylation dataset downloaded from the TCGA as the training set and removed the overlapping sites among all cancer datasets to ensure that only CpG sites specific to HCC remained. Logistic regression analysis was performed to select specific biomarkers that can be used to diagnose HCC, and two datasets—GSE157341 and GSE54503—downloaded from GEO as validation sets were used to validate our model. We also used a Cox regression model to select CpG sites related to patient prognosis.

Results
We identified 6 HCC-specific methylated CpG sites as biomarkers for HCC diagnosis. In the training set, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for the model containing all these sites was 0.971. The AUCs were 0.8802 and 0.9711 for the two validation sets from the GEO database. In addition, 3 other CpG sites were analyzed and used to create a risk scoring model for patient prognosis and survival prediction.

Conclusions
Through the analysis of HCC methylation datasets from the TCGA and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, potential biomarkers for HCC diagnosis and prognosis evaluation were ascertained.
RSF1 in cancer: interactions and functions
Authors: Cai Guiyang , Yang Qing , Sun Wei 
Published: June 2021

AbstractRSF1, remodelling and spacing factor 1, is an important interphase centromere protein and is overexpressed in many types of cancers and correlated with poor overall survival. RSF1 has functions mainly in maintaining chromosome stability, facilitating DNA repair, maintaining the protein homeostasis of RSF1 and suppressing the transcription of some oncogenes when RSF1 protein is expressed at an optimal level; however, RSF1 overexpression facilitates drug resistance and cell cycle checkpoint inhibition to prompt cancer proliferation and survival. The RSF1 expression level and gene background are crucial for RSF1 functions, which may explain why RSF1 has different functions in different cancer types. This review summarizes the functional domains of RSF1, the overexpression status of RSF1 and SNF2H in cancer based on the TCGA and GTEX databases, the cancer-related functions of RSF1 in interacting with H2Aub, HDAC1, CENP-A, PLK1, ATM, CENP-S, SNF2H, HBX, BubR1, cyclin E1, CBP and NF-κB and the potential clinical value of RSF1, which will lay a theoretical foundation for the structural biology study of RSF1 and application of RSF1 inhibitors, truncated RSF1 proteins and SNF2H inhibitors in the treatment of RSF1-overexpressing tumours.
Inequities in the delivery of mental health care: a grounded theory study of the policy context of primary care
Authors: Ashcroft Rachelle , Menear Matthew , Silveira Jose , Dahrouge Simone , Emode Monica , Booton Jocelyn , McKenzie Kwame 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Strengthening capacity for mental health in primary care improves health outcomes by providing timely access to coordinated and integrated mental health care. The successful integration of mental health in primary care is highly dependent on the foundation of the surrounding policy context. In Ontario, Canada, policy reforms in the early 2000’s led to the implementation of a new interprofessional team-model of primary care called Family Health Teams. It is unclear the extent to which the policy context in Ontario influenced the integration of mental health care in Family Health Teams emerging from this period of policy reform. The research question guiding this study was: what were key features of Ontario’s policy context that influenced FHTs capacity to provide mental health services for mood and anxiety disorders?

Methods
A qualitative study informed by constructivist grounded theory. Individual interviews were conducted with executive directors, family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and the range of professionals who provide mental health services in interprofessional primary care teams; community mental health providers; and provincial policy and decision makers. We used an inductive approach to data analysis. The electronic data management programme NVivo11 helped organise the data analysis process.

Results
We conducted 96 interviews with 82 participants. With respect to the contextual factors considered to be important features of Ontario’s policy context that influenced primary care teams’ capacity to provide mental health services, we identified four key themes: i) lack of strategic direction for mental health, ii) inadequate resourcing for mental health care, iii) rivalry and envy, and, iv) variations across primary care models.

Conclusions
As the first point of contact for individuals experiencing mental health difficulties, primary care plays an important role in addressing population mental health care needs. In Ontario, the successful integration of mental health in primary care has been hindered by the lack of strategic direction, and inconsistent resourcing for mental health care. Achieving health equity may be stunted by the structural variations for mental health care across Family Health Teams and across primary care models in Ontario.