bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Parasite and host defense mechanisms: whenToxoplasma subjugates the brain
Authors: Mahmoud Motamed Elsayed , Salman Doaa , Igarashi Makoto 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Brain is an immune-privileged organ for infection with the neurotropic protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. T. gondii escapes the immune system by establishing a dormant and lifelong bradyzoite cyst during chronic and latent phases within the brain and musculature of immunocompetent individuals. During acute stage T. gondii stimulates the host defense to display depressive behaviors over a background of sickness. Infection with T. gondii is initiated with its proliferative tachyzoite that acts on peripheral immune cells to produce the pro-inflammatory cytokines, most of them induce the behavioral signs of sickness. For instance, interleukin-(IL) 1β, tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-6 are triggering most of sickness symptoms. Whereas, the cardinal inflammatory cytokine interferon-γ activates, indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), an enzyme mainly synthesized by phagocytic cells like macrophages and microglia. IDO activation causes tryptophan depletion and precipitates the depressive symptoms. On other hand, brain encysting with the bradyzoite is characterized by immunosuppression in form of reduced pro-inflammatory and heightened anti-inflammatory responses as evidenced by increased phagocytic activity and release of IL-10 and TGF-β. To conclude, T. gondii has multiple strategies to harness the host’s immune mechanisms and behavior by the virtue of dual effects of tachyzoite-induced immune invasion intertwined with bradyzoite-induced immune evasion.
IGF-1 Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Lens Epithelial Cells That is Conferred by miR-3666 Loss
Authors: Shi Zhan , Zhao Xiumei , Su Ying , Wang Chao , Ge Hongyan , Liu Ping 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The abnormal proliferation, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of lens epithelial cells (LECs) are the main reasons of vision loss caused by posterior capsular opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was found to be associated with the pathogenesis of cataract, but its biological role in PCO is poorly understood. In the present study, IGF-1 overexpression facilitated the proliferation, migration and EMT, whereas knockdown of IGF-1 markedly suppressed the proliferation, migration and TGF-β2-induced EMT of LECs. Additionally, To evaluate valuable microRNAs (miRNAs) which target IGF-1 to modulate LECs-EMT, we predicted miR-3666 might regulate IGF-1 by binding its 3’UTR according bioinformatics database. Furthermore, we verified that miR-3666 directly targeted to IGF-1 by luciferase reporter assay. By using miR-3666 mimics, cells proliferation, migration, and invasion were suppressed, while were enhanced by reduction of miR-3666. Knockout of IGF1 reverses the effect of miR-3666 inhibitor on the malignant behavior of LECs. These results indicate the role for miR-3666/IGF-1 in LECs-EMT that offer new strategies for the therapy and prevention of PCO.
Use case of no code machine learning tools for medical image classification.
Authors: Kalshetty Ashwini , Rakshit Sutapa 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
AI tools are making paradigm chanegs in the field of medical imaging. Currently, the development of AI tools and their validation for clinical use is heterogenously distributed with the end-users (i.e the physians or radiologists) adopting the software solution. As we are all progressing towards democratization of AI, no code tools offer a versatile and convenient; but largely under-utilized method for medical imaging tasks. Purpose: As a proof-of-concept study, we attempted to evaluate whether no-code machine learning (ML) tools like teachable machine could perform a basic medical image classification task. Methods: We selected 85 cases from our imaging database whose planar whole body Iodine-131 diagnostic scans were labelled into 2 classes as “No evidence of disease” (NED) and “abnormal for training and testing the model. Results: The model generated could accurately classify all NED cases (100%) and abnormal cases with 93% accuracy. Conclusion: We propose that no-code ML tools can perform simple medical image tasks easily. Validation on multiple source larger datasets may allow early adoption of this technology by imaging specialists.
Bidirectional Control of Coronary Vascular Resistance by Eicosanoids via a Novel GPCR
Authors: Alkayed Nabil , Cao Zhiping , Qian Zu Yuan , Nagarajan Shanthi , Methner Carmen , Liu Xuehong , Nelson Jonathan , Xie Fuchun , Li Bingbing , Fan Wei , Liu Lijuan , Grafe Marjorie , Xiao Xiangshu , Barnes Anthony , Kaul Sanjiv 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Arachidonic acid metabolites epoxyeicosatrienoates (EETs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoates (HETEs) are important regulators of myocardial blood flow and coronary vascular resistance (CVR), but their mechanisms of action are not fully understood. We identified G protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39) as a microvascular smooth muscle cell (mVSMC) receptor antagonistically regulated by two endogenous eicosanoids: 15-HETE, which stimulates GPR39 to increase mVSMC intracellular calcium and augment microvascular CVR, and 14,15-EET, which inhibits these actions. Furthermore, zinc ion acts as an allosteric modulator of GPR39 to potentiate the efficacy of the two ligands. Finally, GPR39 knockout mice are protected from myocardial ischemia compared to wild-type littermates. Our findings will have a major impact on understanding the roles of eicosanoids in cardiovascular physiology and disease, and provide an opportunity for the development of novel GPR39-targeting therapies for cardiovascular disease. One Sentence Summary: GPR39 is a microvascular smooth muscle cell receptor regulated by two vasoactive eicosanoids with opposing actions.
Prognostic Value of Survival−Associated Splicing Factor SNRPA1 Overexpression And Its Potential Mechanism In Liver Cancer
Authors: Liu Mengying , Lu Yueda , Wei Lei , Wang Xiaowo , Lu Yinying , Jia Xiaodong , Wang Shihui , An Wenlin 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide A (SNRPA1) is a splicing factor (SF) responsible for the processing of pre−mRNA into mRNA. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic significance of SNRPA1 mRNA expression in liver cancer and its potential mechanism as an SF.Methods: A total of 418 RNA−Seq and clinical data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Alternative splicing (AS) profiles were downloaded from TCGA SpliceSeq. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare normal tissues with tumor tissues and analyze subgroups. We used the Kaplan−Meier analysis method to draw the survival curves. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were employed to estimate the prognostic value of SNRPA1. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to identify the signaling pathways. Then we used univariate and Pearson's correlation tests to analyze the correlation between SFs and exon skip (ES) events. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were applied to analyze the relationships between different spliceosome and cancers. We also analyzed the relationship between the expression of SCP2 (related to SNRPA1) and clinical symptoms. We then evaluated the expression levels of these genes with clinical samples and The Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC). Results: The level of SNRPA1 mRNA expression in liver cancer was significantly up−regulated in tumor tissues compared with normal tissues (p = 1.411e−27) in liver cancer and was positively correlated with survival status (p = 0.035). In addition, we found that SNRPA1 mRNA levels can reflect the prognosis of liver cancer (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.14, p = 0.005). The enriched KEGG pathway by GESA revealed a splicesome as the main pathway of SNRPA1. Alternative splicing events of SNRPA1 was related to the expression of SCP2. SNRPA1 exon 6 skip and SCP2 exon 12 skip correlated with many cancer types. Finally, SNRPA1 and SCP2 percent−spliced−in (PSI) values positively correlated with survival status (p = 3.022e−04 and p = 2.932e−03). Conclusions: Splicing Factor SNRPA1 is superior to its mRNA expression in predicting the prognosis of liver cancer and correlates with the SCP2 spliceosome, which is consistent with that of SNRPA1 in clinical samples.
Effect of shRNA-Mediated Knockdown EBF1 Gene Expression on the Proliferation of Lung Cancer Cell Line A549 In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: WANG Lin , Li Ding , REN Li , FENG Honglei 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
BackgroundThe incidence of lung cancer is increasing year by year. The study on the proliferation and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma cells is of positive significance to improve the prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma, but there is still a lack of more effective treatment for the proliferation and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma cells .Here we find that a lymphocyte lineage specific transcription factor,EBF1, is frequently expressed in human lung cancer tissues and affects the proliferation of tumor cells , Objective to explore the possible mechanism of affecting the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma cells.MethodsImmunohistochemistry and PCR were used to detect the expression of EBF1 in lung cancer tissues and lung cancer cell lines. According to the interference RNA (shRNA) sequence designed by our laboratory for EBF1 as the target sequence and a random sequence as the negative control, the recombinant retrovirus was constructed and transfected into A549 cells, which were used as A549-shRNA-EBF1 and A549-shRNA-control of experimental group and control group respectively; Knockdown of EBF1 gene was detected by PCR and Western blot. MTT and BrdU staining were used to detect the effect of EBF1-shRNA on the proliferation of A549 cells in vitro;flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle of each group; subcutaneous inoculation of cells in axilla of nude mice was used to observe the effect of EBF1-shRNA on the tumorigenicity of A549 cells in nude mice; Western blot was used to detect the expression of CDK6, P21 and P27 proteins.ResultsEBF1 was not expressed in stromal cells of adjacent tissues and lung cancer tissues, but in nuclei of NSCLC and SCLC cancer cells. EBF1-shRNA knockdown EBF1 gene expression effectively; knockdown EBF1 gene expression can inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells in vitro and in vivo, and block the cell cycle of experimental group at G1 phase; after knockdown EBF1 gene expression, CDK6 protein expression in experimental group cells decreases, while P21 and P27 protein increase.ConclusionsEBF1-shRNA can inhibit the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma A549 in vitro and in vivo by blocking cell cycle in G1 phase, which involves the decrease of CDK6 expression and the up-regulation of P21 and P27 expression. This study will supplement the theory that heterotopic expression of hematogenous transcription factors in lung cancer affects tumor proliferation and discover new molecular targets for cancer therapy.
The Influence of Sociocultural Factors on Shared Reading in Jordan.
Authors: Nasir Arwa , Bawaneh Saif , Alaraj Bayan , Kussad Sara , Nasir Laeth , Lyden Elizabeth , Badran Eman 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Shared reading has many benefits to children’s language and literacy development. The practice of shared reading varies widely among different cultural groups and is influenced by sociocultural factors. Promotion of shared reading in the healthcare setting has been shown to be effective in many western countries. Very little data are available from other nations, particularly those in the Middle East about parental experiences and attitudes towards shared reading with children. The aim of this study was to explore sociocultural factors that influence shared reading with children in Jordan, a low-middle income Arabic speaking country. Methods: We used survey methodology to collect information on shared reading from a sample of parents of children 3-8 years of age presenting to the Jordan University Hospital Pediatrics clinic in Amman, Jordan. Data were also gathered through solicitation of narrative unstructured comments from parents. Qualitative and statistical data analysis were performed. Findings: Mothers universally believed that shared reading is beneficial for children. However, only a small minority (16.4%) reported reading to their children daily. Shared reading behaviors correlated with frequency of mothers’ personal reading and with the number of books in the home. Mothers indicated a preference for culturally appropriate books, written in classical Arabic and books having a moral or a lesson. Barriers to shared reading included a perceived lack of encouragement of this practice from society and schools and lack of access to books and public libraries.Discussion: Promotion of shared reading is an effective way to enhance the literacy of children from varying ethnic and cultural backgrounds and represents an opportunity to reduce health disparities worldwide. Understanding regional sociocultural dynamics is an essential factor in planning successful interventions to promote literacy. We identified barriers to reading as well as cultural values that may be leveraged to enhance shared reading in Jordan.
A validated method to assess glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity
Authors: Hadwan Mahmoud H. , Ahmed Ahmed Yasser 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
This essay presents a reliable, effective and easy procedure for measuring glutathione peroxidase activity (Gpx). The enzyme samples were incubated with phosphate buffer, which included appropriate concentrations of glutathione and peroxide as substrates, to determine the Gpx activity. After a sufficient incubation time, the CUPRAC reagent (Cu(Nc) 2 2+ ) was added to stop the enzyme’s reaction. The unreacted substrates act to reduce Cu(II)-neocuproine complex (Cu(Nc) 2 2+ ) to strongly coloured Cu(I)-neocuproine complex (Cu(Nc) 2 + ) that was measured spectrophotometrically at 450 nm (CUPRAC method). The glutathione peroxidase activity was linked to a decrease in the absorbance of the coloured Cu(I)-neocuproine complex (Cu(Nc) 2 + ).
The procedure uses the Box–Behnken design (BBD) to optimise the formation of the Cu(I)-neocuproine complex (Cu(Nc) 2 + ). The response surface methodology (RSM) is used to determine the accuracy of the method. This new protocol was confirmed by applying a Bland–Altman plot analysis of Gpx activity in matched samples using the Gpx-DTNB assay. The correlation coefficient between the two protocols was 0.9967. This means that the new protocol was very accurate and on par with the comparison method.
Safety and Efficacy Studies of Kyphoplasty, Mesh-Container-Plasty and Pedicle Screw Fixation Plus Vertebroplasty for Thoracolumbar Osteoporotic Vertebral Burst Fractures
Authors: Li Yimin , Qian Yunfan , Shen Guangjie , Tang Chengxuan , Zhong Xiqiang , HE Shaoqi 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP), percutaneous mesh-container-plasty (PMCP) and pedicle screw fixation plus vertebroplasty (PSFV) were three methods for osteoporotic vertebral burst fractures (OVBF). The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of PKP, PMCP, and PSFV for OVBFs.
Methods
This retrospective study included 338 consecutive patients with thoracolumbar OVBFs who underwent PKP (n = 111), PMCP (n = 109), or PSFV (n = 118) and compared their epidemiological data, surgical outcomes, and clinical and radiological features. Clinical evaluations of VAS and ODI and radiological evaluations of height restoration, deformity correction, cement leakage, and canal compromise were calculated preoperatively, postoperatively, and 2 years postoperatively.
Results
Cement leakage (31/111 vs. 13/109 and 16/118, P < 0.05) was significantly higher in group PKP than in groups PSFV and PMCP. VAS and ODI scores improved postoperatively from 7.04 ± 1.15 and 67.11 ± 13.49 to 2.27 ± 1.04 and 22.00 ± 11.20, respectively, in group PKP (P < 0.05); from 7.04 ± 1.29 and 67.26 ± 12.79 to 2.17 ± 0.98 and 21.01 ± 7.90, respectively, in group PMCP (P < 0.05); and from 7.10 ± 1.37 and 67.36 ± 13.11 to 3.19 ± 1.06 and 33.81 ± 8.81, respectively, in the PSFV group (P < 0.05). Moreover, postoperative VAS and ODI scores were significantly higher in group PSFV than in groups PKP and PMCP (P < 0.05). However, VAS scores were not significantly different in the three groups 2 years postoperatively (P > 0.05). Postoperative anterior (81.04 ± 10.18% and 87.51 ± 8.94% vs. 93.46 ± 6.42%, P < 0.05) and middle vertebral body height ratio (83.01 ± 10.16% and 87.79 ± 11.62% vs. 92.38 ± 6.00%, P < 0.05) were significantly higher in group PSFV than in groups PMCP and PKP. Postoperatively, Cobb angle (10.04 ± 4.26° and 8.16 ± 5.76° vs. 4.97 ± 4.60°, P < 0.05) and canal compromise (20.76 ± 6.32 and 19.85 ± 6.18 vs. 10.18 ± 6.99, P < 0.05) were significantly lower in group PSFV than in groups PMCP and PKP.
Conclusion
Despite relatively worse radiological results, PMCP is a safe and minimally invasive surgical method that can obtain better short-term clinical results than PKP and PSFV for OVBFs.
A Survey of Depression and Anxiety Disorders in Urban and Rural Suriname
Authors: Jadnanansing Raj , de Beurs Edwin , Etwaroo Kajal , Blankers Matthijs , Dwarkasing Rudi , Peen Jaap , Lumsden Vincent , Bipat Robbert , Dekker Jack 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Suriname is a Low-middle income country consisting of diverse population groups. Epidemiological studies concerning mental disorders like depression and anxiety had not been conducted until 2015. The treatment gap for mental disorders in Low and middle-income countries (LMICs) may reach 76-80% as treatment is not always readily available. In this study, we estimate and compare the prevalence of depression and anxiety, as well as the size of the treatment gap for these disorders, in a rural (Nickerie) and urban (Paramaribo) region of Suriname, a lower middle income country.Methods: Subjects were selected by a specific sampling method of the national census bureau. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) was used to assess depression. Generalized anxiety disorder was assessed with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) and The Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ), the Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ) were used to assess Panic disorder. The treatment gap was calculated by estimating the percentage of subjects with depression or anxiety that did not seek out professional help.Results: About 18% of the respondents from Nickerie and 16% from Paramaribo were at risk of depression and the established cut-off values of the instruments used indicate that about 3-4 % in both regions may suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Women in both samples were most at risk of high anxiety about body sensations and maladaptive thoughts about panic. The treatment gap varies between 78 and 100% for the two disorders.Conclusions: A high depression rate has been found in both areas, especially among young females. In addition, a high treatment gap is noted which insinuates that more therapeutic strategies are required to tackle depression and anxiety in Suriname.
A Dedicated Paediatric [18F]FDG PET/CT Dosage Regimen
Authors: Cox Christina , Assema Daniëlle M.E. vas , Verburg Frederik A. , Brabander Tessa , Konijnenberg Mark , Segbers Marcel 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
BackgroundThe role of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) Positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT) in children is still expanding. Dedicated paediatric dosage regimens are needed to keep the radiation dose as low as reasonably achievable and reduce the risk of radiation-induced carcinogenesis. The aim of this study is to propose a paediatric dosage regimen based on patient size that provides a constant and clinical sufficient image quality at a reasonable effective dose.MethodsIn this retrospective analysis 102 children (54 boys and 48 girls) were included that underwent a diagnostic [18F]FDG PET/CT scan. The image quality of the PET scans was measured by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the liver. The SNR liver was normalized (SNRnorm) for administered activity and acquisition time to apply curve fitting with body weight, body length, body mass index, body weight/body length and body surface area. Curve fitting was performed with two power fits, a non-linear 2-parameter model α p-d and a linear single parameter model α p-0.5. The fit parameters of the preferred model were combined with a user preferred SNR to obtain at least moderate or good image quality for the dosage regimen proposal.ResultsBody weight demonstrated the highest coefficient of determination for the non-linear (R2 = 0.81) and linear (R2 = 0.80) models. The non-linear model was preferred by the Akaike’s corrected information criterion. We decided to use a SNR of 6.5, based on the expert opinion of three nuclear medicine physicians. Comparison with the quadratic adult protocol confirmed the need for different dosage regimens for both patient groups. The amount of administered activity can be reduced with at least 41%when compared with the current paediatric guidelines. ConclusionBody weight has the strongest relation with [18F]FDG PET image quality in children. The proposed non-linear dosage regimen based on body mass will provide a constant and clinical sufficient image quality with a significant reduction of the effective dose compared to the current guidelines. A dedicated paediatric dosage regimen is necessary, as a universal dosing regimen for paediatric and adult is not feasible.
Polymorphisms of Mitochondrial COII and16S rRNA Gene in Meloidogyne enterolobii on Mulberry
Authors: Shao Hudie , Zhang Pan , You Chunping , LI Chuanren , Feng Yan 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
This study explores the genetic diversity and polymorphisms of Meloidogdyne enterolobii (M enterolobii) on mulberry in China. The sequence of cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) and 16S rRNA gene in M enterolobii populations in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hunan Provinces were PCR-amplified, sequenced, and analyzed for genetic diversity. The haplotypes (Hap) numbers, the total number of mutations, the average number of nucleotide differences (K), haplotype diversity (Hd), and nucleotide diversity (π) of mtCOII gene were 14, 25, 3.563, 0.942 and 0.00429, respectively. The significant differences in Fst value (0.125) and a high level of gene flow (2.83) were detected among the 19 M enterolobii populations. High genetic variation within each population and a small genetic distance among populations was observed. Both phylogenetic analyses and network mapping of the 14 haplotypes revealed a dispersed distribution pattern of the 19 M enterolobii populations. There was an absence of branches strictly corresponding to the 19 range sampling sites. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that the genetic differentiation of M enterolobii populations was mainly contributed by the variation within each of the defined geographical groups. No significant correlation was found between the genetic distance and geographical distance of 19 M enterolobii populations. This study provides theoretical basis for the future control of M enterolobii and also provides a guarantee for the production of other hosts of M enterolobii.