bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of AST‐120 on muscle health and quality of life in chronic kidney disease patients: results of RECOVERY study
Authors: Cha Ran‐hui , Kang Seok Hui , Han Mi Yeun , An Won Suk , Kim Su‐Hyun , Kim Jun Chul 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of sarcopenia is increased with declining renal function. Elevated serum indoxyl sulfate levels are associated with poor skeletal muscle conditions. We aimed to determine the effects of AST‐120, the oral adsorbent of indoxyl sulfate, on sarcopenia and sarcopenia‐associated factors in chronic kidney disease patients.MethodsThis was a 48 week, randomized controlled, parallel group, open‐label, multicentre trial (n = 150). The participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the control (CON) and AST‐120 (Renamezin®, REN) groups. Outcome measurements were performed at baseline and every 24 weeks for 48 weeks. The primary outcome was gait speed difference ≥0.1 m/s between the two groups, and secondary outcomes included hand grip strength, muscle mass, and health‐related quality of life.ResultsA difference of gait speed ≥0.1 m/s was not observed during the study period. The mean dynamic‐start gait speed in the REN group increased from baseline to 48 weeks (1.04 ± 0.31 to 1.08 ± 0.32 m/s, P = 0.019). The static‐start gait speed changed by −0.024 and 0.04 m/s (P = 0.049) in the CON and REN groups over 48 weeks, respectively. Hand grip strength decreased during the first 24 weeks and did not significantly change over the next 24 weeks in either group. The proportion of low muscle mass or sarcopenia at baseline was larger in the REN group than in the CON group, but the difference attenuated over the study period [low muscle mass and sarcopenia in the CON and REN groups at baseline, 4.0% vs. 18.9% (P = 0.004) and 2.7% vs. 13.5% (P = 0.017); at 24 weeks, 2.9% vs. 13.6% (P = 0.021) and 1.4% vs. 10.5% (P = 0.029); and at 48 weeks, 7.6% vs. 12.9% (P = 0.319) and 4.5% vs. 8.1% (P = 0.482), respectively]. Bodily pain, vitality, symptoms/problems, and cognitive function in the REN group improved, while the quality of social interactions and the kidney disease effects in the CON group aggravated from baseline to 48 weeks. Interaction between time and group was evident only in symptoms/problems, cognitive function, and kidney disease effects.ConclusionsThe addition of AST‐120 to standard treatment in chronic kidney disease patients did not make a significant difference in gait speed, although AST‐120 modestly had beneficial effects on gait speed change and quality of life and showed the potential to improve sarcopenia. (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03788252).
Morphology and distribution of antennal sensilla in adults of Xylotrechus quadripes
Authors: Yang Yang , Shan Yunhui , Liu Anqi , Li Yawen , Liu Xiaofei , Cao Jun , He Feifei , Ye Hui 
Published: December 2021

AbstractXylotrechus quadripes (Chevrolat) is the serious woodborer pest of arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.). To further elucidate the behavior mechanism of the insect based on chemical odorant and to advance effective trapping methods, the typology, distribution, and abundance of antennal sensilla were investigated meticulously in both sexes of X. quadripes by scanning electron microscopy. The filiform antennae of both sexes are composed of 11 segments, namely the scape, pedicel, and nine flagellomeres (f1–9). Ten types (14 subtypes) of sensilla were identified morphologically: sensilla chaetica (three subtypes, Ch.1–3), sensilla basiconica (three subtypes, Ba.1–3), Böhm bristles (Bb), sensilla dentiform (De), sensilla trichodea (Tr), sensilla auricillica (Au), sensilla campaniformia (Ca), grooved peg sensilla (Gp), cuticular pores (Cp), and a newly observed sensillum, named sensilla cone (Cone). The sensilla were mainly distributed in flagellomeres, and the types and amounts increased in frequency from scape to the ninth flagellomere. The numbers of sensilla were the highest on the antennal dorsal side, while the lowest on the ventral side. The types of sensilla were the most abundant on the lateral side, and two sensilla basiconica (Ba.1–2) were found exclusively. The average number of Tr, Ba, and Au on the antenna of the males was significantly greater than females, while the Gp and Cp on the antenna of the females were significantly greater than males. Ca was exclusively occurred on the male antennae but was absent in females. This study discusses the putative functions of the antennal sensilla in adults of X. quadripes based on their characteristics in related species' sensilla, and these results provide an important foundation to clarify the ecological adaption, olfactory recognition mechanism, and to develop the chemical ecology control of X. quadripes.
Isolated pancreatectomy using mesenteric approach
Authors: Nakao Akimasa 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIn 1981, we developed the first antithrombogenic bypass catheter for the portal system. This catheter‐bypass procedure relieved the time limitation caused by portal occlusion and facilitated safe and easy resection and reconstruction of the portal vein or hepatic artery. We thereafter explored isolated pancreatoduodenectomy, in which pancreatoduodenectomy is performed under non‐touch isolation techniques. It is difficult to perform isolated pancreatoduodenectomy because of the complex arterial anatomy of the peripancreatic head region. In 1992, a mesenteric approach was developed for pancreatoduodenectomy. This approach allows dissection from the non‐cancerous side and determination of both cancer‐free margins and resectability followed by systematic lymphadenectomy around the superior mesenteric artery. This approach also enables early ligation of the inferior pancreatoduodenal artery and dorsal pancreatic artery branches from the superior mesenteric artery, as well as complete excision of the total mesopancreas (which is thought to be the second portion of the pancreatic head nerve plexus). Through this development of the mesenteric approach and antithrombogenic catheter‐bypass procedure, our isolated pancreatoduodenectomy was finally established in 1992. This is the ideal surgery for pancreatic head cancer from both surgical and oncological aspects. We herein introduce the precise surgical techniques.
Kojic acid aldol adduct with isatin as inhibitors of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase
Authors: Elinson Michail N. , Ryzhkova Yuliya E. , Ryzhkov Fedor V. , Fakhrutdinov Artem N. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe new catalytic aldol transformation has been found: the reaction of isatins and kojic acid in ethanol in the presence of basic catalysts results in the formation of the new pharmacologically important substituted 3‐hydroxy‐3‐[3‐hydroxy‐6‐(hydroxymethyl)‐4‐oxo‐4H‐pyran‐2‐yl] indolin‐2‐ones in 60%–90% yields. The optimized reaction conditions and a mechanistic rationale for this catalytic aldol transformation are presented. This new catalytic process is a facile and efficient way to compounds containing both 3‐hydroxyindolin‐2‐one and 5‐hydroxy‐2‐hydroxymethyl‐4H‐pyran‐4‐one fragments, which are promising compounds for different biomedical applications, among them anticonvulsant, anticancer, anti‐AIDS agents, and antiinflammatory remedies. All synthesized compounds were investigated using a molecular docking procedure. The investigation showed that these compounds are prone to occupy the binding site in pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) inhibiting the binding of adenosine triphosphate. It makes them promising ligands for the investigations in the treatment of PDK‐related diseases such as heart failure, diabetes, and cancers of certain types.
Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of myocarditis associated with the mRNA COVID‐19 vaccine
Authors: Woo Wongi , Kim Ah Y. , Yon Dong K. , Lee Seung W. , Hwang Jimin , Jacob Louis , Koyanagi Ai , Kim Min S. , Moon Duk H. , Jung Jo W. , Choi Jae Y. , Jung Se Y. , Eun Lucy Y. , Lee Sungsoo , Shin Jae Il , Smith Lee 
Published: December 2021

AbstractTo analyze the clinical presentation and outcomes of myocarditis after administration of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. Nine case series and 15 case reports (74 patients) of myocarditis after administration of the BNT162b2 or mRNA‐1273 vaccine were reviewed from PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. We analyzed clinical manifestations, diagnostic findings, and outcomes. In addition, we performed a pooled analysis and investigated risk factors leading to admission to the intensive care unit and recovery with conservative care. Most patients were male (94.6%), and the median age (range) was 17.6 (14–70) years. Patients who received the BNT162b2 (n = 58, 78.4%) vaccine presented fewer systemic symptoms and left ventricular dysfunction than mRNA‐1273 recipients. Although patients under 20 years experienced more fever and myalgia, they had better ejection fraction and less prominent myocardial inflammation in magnetic resonance imaging than older patients. The clinical course of all patients was favorable without mortality, and one‐third of patients resolved with conservative care alone. Risk factor analyses revealed that patients with gastrointestinal symptoms required intensive care (odds ratio: 20.3, 95% confidence interval 1.90–217, p = 0.013). The risk of fatality in myocarditis subjected to mRNA vaccination seems to be low. However, patients with gastrointestinal symptoms received more intensive care, and a significant proportion of patients recovered with conservative management.
Epidemiological characteristics and cerebrospinal fluid cytokine profiles of enterovirus encephalitis in children in Hangzhou, China
Authors: Xu Jialu , Sun Zeyu , Li Wei , Liu Lifang , Gao Feng , Pan Dongli 
Published: December 2021

AbstractEnteroviruses (EVs) are common causes of viral encephalitis in children. To better understand the epidemiological and pathological characteristics of EV encephalitis, we enrolled suspected encephalitis patients younger than 15 years old in Hangzhou, China, from October 2016 to September 2019 for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection and analyses. A total of 7735 CSF samples were collected, among which 330 (4.27%) were positive for the EV genome. The positivity rate was significantly higher in boys than girls (χ2 =  5.68, p =  0.02). The monthly case numbers peaked from June to August (80.30%). Among the different age groups, the 0–2 months age group showed the highest number of cases (28.48% of all cases). The 6–7 years (10.82%) and 9–10 years (9.29%) age groups showed the highest EV‐positivity rates among suspected encephalitis cases. Sixty‐two EV‐positive and 53 control CSF samples were collected for Bio‐Plex Pro human cytokine assays that simultaneously tested 48 cytokines. Principle component analyses showed significant separation between EV‐positive and control samples, but insignificant separation between children and newborns. The levels of 28 cytokines and chemokines were significantly elevated in the EV‐positive group including many proinflammatory and a few anti‐inflammatory cytokines, as well as chemokines belonging to the CC and CXC subfamilies. Only one cytokine, stem cell growth factor‐β, showed a decrease in the EV‐positive group. Thus, this study revealed age, sex, and seasonal preferences for EV encephalitis incidences in children and identified many cytokines dysregulated during EV encephalitis.
Super droughts over East Asia since 1960 under the impacts of global warming and decadal variability
Authors: Wang Lin , Chen Wen , Fu Qiang , Huang Gang , Wang Qiulin , Chotamonsak Chakrit , Limsakul Atsamon 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIn the last decade, a sequence of once‐in‐50 year or even once‐in‐100 year high‐impact drought events have hit East Asia. By defining a super drought with the Standardized Precipitation Evaporation Index for the time scales of 3, 6, 12 and 24 months all below −1.5, this study aims to examine the changes in super droughts and the underlying mechanism over East Asia in the past 60 years, putting the recent high‐impact droughts in the context. Super droughts in the last 10 years over East Asia have been the most expansive, with two hotspots located in the Transitional Climate Zone (TCZ) and the Southeast Asian region (SEA) regions, together accounting for 2/3 of the total. The seasonal distribution characterizes the largest contribution from summer followed by autumn and then spring and winter. Super droughts over TCZ peak in the recent two decades, which are primarily driven by the increase in potential evaporation (PET) contributing 41 and 80% in the first and second 10 years, respectively. It turns out that global warming signal can explain more than 90% of this PET increase. Over SEA, the recent decade and the period around 1990 saw the most widespread super droughts that were not spatially uniformly distributed but clustered in three subregions. Different from TCZ, the precipitation rather than PET is the most influential in governing super droughts over SEA. Out of the total variability in precipitation, about half of the super droughts in the recent decade is caused by decadal variability, while the trend mode has negligible influence.
Analogue methods and ERA5: Benefits and pitfalls
Authors: Horton Pascal 
Published: December 2021

AbstractPerfect prognosis statistical downscaling relies on the statistical relationships established using observational data for predictands and predictors. Predictors are often retrieved from reanalyses, which are considered pseudo‐observations. The impact of the choice of a reanalysis dataset on the performance of the downscaling method is usually overlooked, as global reanalyses are frequently assumed to be equivalent for the last few decades and data‐rich regions such as Europe. However, it was recently shown that the reanalysis dataset can have a bigger impact on the method skill than the choice of predictor variables. Generally, reanalyses processed by more recent atmospheric models assimilate more data and perform best. This work is aimed at assessing the extent of potential gains from the use of ERA5, following its release, compared to other global reanalyses. The assessment was carried out using six variants of analogue methods, which are statistical downscaling techniques, to predict daily precipitation at 301 stations across Switzerland. ERA5 proved to be one of the best performing reanalyses across the different analogue methods. Due to data availability, we recommend using 20CR for applications starting between 1851 and 1900, CERA‐20C for those between 1900 and 1950, and ERA5 for applications after 1950. However, ERA5 high spatial resolution (0.25°) turned out to be a trap for simple calibration techniques. The domains over which the predictor fields are compared need to be optimized, and high‐resolution grids come along with numerous sub‐optimal local solutions. An enhanced calibration procedure, thus, must be used. Besides the risk of poorly‐calibrated domains, the high resolution also requires much higher computational time with no gain in skill, provided that the predictors considered are relevant at a synoptic scale. Although ERA5 should be the dataset of choice, its use at a lower resolution to predict daily precipitation should provide equivalent performance.
Recent Observed Changes in Extreme High‐Temperature Events and Associated Meteorological Conditions over Africa
Authors: Iyakaremye Vedaste , Zeng Gang , Ullah Irfan , Gahigi Aimable , Mumo Richard , Ayugi Brian 
Published: December 2021

AbstractMore frequent and intensified high‐temperature extremes are acceptable indicators of global warming, which pose serious socio‐economic impacts. In the present research, the Climate Prediction Center daily minimum and maximum temperature are used to characterize high temperatures into intensity of hot days (TXx), hot nights (TNx), and frequency indices based on the 90th percentile of hot days (TX90p) and hot nights (TN90p) as defined by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices from 1981 to 2020 over Africa. The regression approach based on iterative reweighted least squares and correlation analyses are used to estimate the trends in extreme high‐temperature events and their relationship with various meteorological variables. Furthermore, the Pruned exact linear time algorithm is used to assess if the maximum temperature experienced an abrupt change. Results show that many parts of Africa experienced more frequent and intensified hot days and nights in the current period (1998–2020) compared to the recent past (1981–1997), suggesting a clear shift in climate. Thus, we used the climatological mean differences between meteorological parameters before and after the breakpoint to assess the relationship between atmospheric conditions and extreme high‐temperature events. As a result, we found that the current period observed an increase in the geopotential height at 500 hPa and reduced total cloud cover, as well as an increase in upward longwave radiation resulting in an upsurge in the frequency of hot days over many African sub‐regions. The present study's findings provide useful information for future planning and development of early warning systems to cope with risks associated with hot extremes.
Spraying high concentrations of chelated zinc enhances zinc biofortification in wheat grain
Authors: Xu Meng , Liu Mengjiao , Si Linlin , Ma Qingxu , Sun Tao , Wang Jun , Chen Kaijun , Wang Xiangjie , Wu Lianghuan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDFoliar application of highly concentrated ZnSO4 fertilizer improves Zn biofortification in wheat grains. However, excess ZnSO4·7H2O concentration (≥5 g kg−1, w v−1) has been associated with leaf burn and yield loss, necessitating Zn sources with a high threshold concentration. The aim of this study, based on a 2 year field experiment conducted on wheat cultivated in acidic and alkaline soil, was to identify a suitable Zn formulation with a high Zn concentration or efficient adjuvant to achieve optimal Zn biofortification levels without compromising agronomic performance.RESULTSThere was a continued increase in the Zn concentration in wheat grains and a decrease in grain yield with an increase in the concentration of the Zn foliar sprays in both soil types examined. Wheats treated with chelated Zn foliar sprays – Zn glycine chelate (ZnGly) and Zn‐ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (ZnEDTA) – had less foliar injury than those treated with unchelated Zn fertilizers. Furthermore, irrespective of wheat cultivars and soil types, ZnEDTA applied to wheat at a concentration of 10 g kg−1 achieved the highest grain Zn concentration without negatively affecting the wheat performance. Adjuvant type and concentration caused no significant variation in grain Zn concentration.CONCLUSIONOverall, without foliar burn, wheat treated with 10 g kg−1 ZnEDTA foliar spray had the best performance with regard to grain Zn concentration and grain yield, which could have considerable implications for Zn biofortification of wheat grain. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
High‐performance counter‐current chromatography purification and off‐line mass spectrometry monitoring and identification of pyrrolizidine alkaloid markers of tropical Ghanaian honey
Authors: Letsyo Emmanuel 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe nutritional and medicinal properties of honey have been well‐documented. However, honey has occasionally been contaminated with hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids as a result of bees foraging on the flowers of pyrrolizidine alkaloid plants. This study establishes a simple and rapid method to determine the marker pyrrolizidine alkaloids in honey using high‐performance counter‐current chromatography and an off‐line electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry, in order to identify the botanical sources responsible for the contamination. The honey sample was initially liquid‐liquid extracted (sulfuric acid/hexane, 2:3, v/v) to enrich the pyrrolizidine alkaloids and subsequently purified by a semi‐preparative high‐performance counter‐current chromatography using a solvent system, hexane/butanol/1% aqueous ammonia, 1:1:2, v/v, based on partition coefficient measurements of the target alkaloids. The recovered fractions were profiled by injecting them sequentially into an off‐line electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry device to monitor the preparative molecular weight based on elution and extrusion modes. The monitored lycopsamine‐type pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N‐oxides (m/z 300, 316; lycopsamine, intermedine, rinderine, and echinatine) were used as the phytochemical markers to identify plants like Chromolaena odorata, Ageratum spp., or Heliotropium spp. to be responsible for the pyrrolizidine alkaloid contamination. Identification of these pyrrolizidine alkaloid plants could guide beekeepers in locating their beehives in order to minimize their potential liver damaging effects.
Role of Shear Wave Elastography of Thyroid Gland in Children With Newly Diagnosed Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Preliminary Study
Authors: Agarwal Divij , Bhatia Anmol , Saxena Akshay K. , Dayal Devi , Sodhi Kushaljit S. 
Published: December 2021

ObjectivesThe data on the use of shear wave elastography (SWE) in children with thyroid disorders is limited. We aimed to assess the role of SWE in the evaluation of the thyroid gland in children newly diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT).MethodsThe thyroid gland was evaluated in 18 children (5 boys and 13 girls, age range: 5–12 years) with newly diagnosed HT and 27 (21 boys and 6 girls, age range: 4–12 years) healthy controls using grayscale ultrasound followed by SWE. The values of SWE (in kPa) were compared between cases and controls and were also correlated with various demographic variables and serum thyroid hormone concentrations.ResultsThe overall median of SWE values in cases and controls was 20.6 kPa (IQR = 19.16–26.94) and 10.7 kPa (IQR = 9.9–16.32), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (W = 438.5, P < .001). There was a moderate positive correlation between serum triiodothyronine concentrations and SWE (ρ = 0.57, P = .016) and a moderate negative correlation between serum thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations and SWE (ρ = −0.54, P = .020). A significant difference (W = 61.0, P = .003) was also seen in median SWE of the thyroid gland between boys (median: 29.63 kPa, IQR = 27.53–32.88) and girls (median: 19.43 kPa, IQR = 18.88–21.32).ConclusionThere is a significant difference between SWE values of thyroid in normal children and children with newly diagnosed HT. Hence, SWE may be used as a noninvasive imaging technique in distinguishing normal and abnormal thyroid gland at an early stage. We suggest larger studies to confirm our preliminary findings of SWE in pediatric HT.