bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Changing Pattern of Bacterial and Fungal Respiratory Isolates in Patients with COVID-19 Admitted to Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Zuglian Gianluca , Ripamonti Diego , Tebaldi Alessandra , Cuntrò Marina , Riva Ivano , Farina Claudio , Rizzi Marco 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Objectives Severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has had a heavy impact on national health system, especially in the first wave. That impact hit principally the Intensive Care Units (ICUs). The large number of patients requiring hospitalization in ICUs lead to a complete upheaval of intensive wards. The increase in bed, the fewer number of nurses per patient, the constant use of personal protective equipment, the new antimicrobial surveillance protocols could have had deeply effects on microbiological flora of these wards. Moreover, the overconsumption of antimicrobial therapy in COVID-19 patients, like several studies report, could have impact of this aspect. Aim of this study is to evaluate the changing pattern of microbiological epidemiology during and before COVID-19 pandemic in a tertirary hospital ICUs.Methods A retrospective, observational study was conducted in ICUs of “ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII”, a large tertiary referral hospital in Northern Italy. We have retrospectively collected the microbiological data from BAL and TA of patients hospitalized in ICUs from 22 nd February 2020 to 31 st May 2020 (Period 1) and from 22 nd February 2019 to 31 st May 2019 (Period 2). We compared the prevalence and the antibiotic profile of bacterial and fungal species in the two time periods.Results The prevalence of Pseudomonas spp. shows a statistically significant increase from period 2 to period 1, as well as the prevalence of Enterococcus spp. On the contrary, the prevalence of Gram negative non fermenting bacteria (GN-NFB), Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae showed a significant reduction between two periods. Therewas a statistically significant increase in resistance of Pseudomonas spp. to carbapenems and piperacillin/tazobactam and Enterobacterales spp. for piperacillin/tazobactam, in period 1 compared to period 2, respectively.Conclusions A changing pattern in prevalence and resistance profiles of bacterial and fungal species was observed during COVID-19 pandemic.
Assessment of Irrigation Water Quality in Menzel Habib Aquifer System – A Combined Geochemical and Fuzzy Logic Approaches
Authors: Dhaoui Oussama , Agoubi Belgacem , Antunes IMHR , Tlig Lotfi , Kharroubi Adel 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Groundwater is an important source for irrigation uses in many arid and semi-arid regions such as Menzel Habib area. In this work, the groundwater quality for irrigation water was investigated based on conventional indices notably Electrical Conductivity (EC), Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP), Magnesium Adsorption ratio (MAR), Kelly Ratio (KR) and Permeability index (PI). The water quality for irrigation was also evaluated by Simsek method. However, a proposal fuzzy logic model has been developed to avoid uncertainties associated to the classical methods. The results obtained on thirty-six groundwater samples, indicated that 3% of these samples are classified as “good” for irrigation, 3% are “good to permissible”, 33% “permissible”, 36% “permissible to unsuitable” and 25% with an “unsuitable” quality. The application of fuzzy logic approaches has more reliable results with the definition of seven classes to evaluate the groundwater quality for agricultural irrigation.
Healthcare utilisation after discharge in patients admitted with gout in Western Australia
Authors: Kelty Erin , Robinson Philip , Hill Catherine , Nossent Johannes , Raymond Warren , Inderjeeth Charles , Preen David , Keen Helen 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Objectives

Evidence suggests that gout is associated with high health care costs and that many inpatient admissions are preventable. Understanding the drivers of health care costs in patients with gout will allow more targeted intervention. The objective was to examine factors associated with high health service utilisation and costs in patients admitted to hospital with gout.
Methods

Hospital and emergency department data was obtained for patients who had been admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of gout for the first time between 2002 and 2009. The total number, cost and potentially preventable events for the follow-up period was calculated for up to five years post the initial gout hospitalisation. The association between patient characteristics with health service utilisation and health care costs was examined using generalised linear models.
Results

The cohort included 4,379 individuals, that had 22,222 ED attendances (median cost: $1,826 per patient, IQR: $433 - $4,414), and 58,920 hospital admissions (median cost: $25,009 per patient, IQR: $6,844 - $60,535). Gout was not a primary driver of ED attendances or hospitalisations. A history of smoking and comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health disorders were associated with an increase health service utilisation and costs.
Conclusion

The presence of comorbidities play an important role the risk of health service utilization in people with gout and represents an opportunity to both improve the health-related outcomes for these patients and reduce re-presentations and associated health care costs for the health care system.
Mercury Removal From Coal Combustion Flue Gas by Pyrite-Modified Fly Ash Adsorbent
Authors: QI Liqiang , WANG Xu , WANG Wen , LI Jingxin , HUANG Yan 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Pyrite and fly ash have certain advantages in adsorption and mercury oxidation. The pyrite-modified fly ash (PY+AC-FA) mercury adsorbent was prepared by mixing pyrite (PY) with acid-modified fly ash (AC-FA), which has better mercury removal effect than AC-FA. The experimental results of mercury adsorption show: when the reaction temperature is 50°C, the best doping proportion of modified fly ash is 20wt%, the mass proportion of pyrite to acid modified fly ash is 4:1, and the flue gas flow rate is 1.0L/min, the adsorbent has the best performance, and the adsorption rate of mercury reaches 91.92%. BET, XRD, SEM, TG-DSG and XRF were used to characterize these adsorbents. And the mechanism of mercury removal of pyrite-modified fly ash adsorbent is inferred: Hg0 is first adsorbed on the surface of the adsorbent, and then oxidized to HgS by the active component FeS2 in pyrite-modified fly ash.
Three-level algorithm to control COVID-19 spreading
Authors: Dieguez Giovanni M. , Batistela Cristiane M. , Piqueira José Roberto C. 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
As the main ways of the coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading are air and physical contact, actions to mitigate and suppress its spreading must be developed in order to change population behavior, providing efficient control strategies. Here, these actions are described as a simple heuristic frame work to establish public policies. The possible effects of these actions are modeled as a stratified control algorithm applied to an extension of the Susceptible-Infected-Removed (SIR) compartmental model. The model dynamics is analyzed and validated with simulations considering parameters obtained from epidemiological data from Brazil and Uruguay. Model simulations allow the proposition of a three-level control strategy that, as the numerical experiment sshow, presents promising results for the development of strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
No Effects of Intra-Articular Injections of Sodium Hyaluronate, Corticosteroids, Platelet-Rich Plasma on Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis: a Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Xie Yuan , Zhao Kun , Ye Guanchen , Yao Xudong , Yu Mengfei , Ouyang Hongwei 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background

Intra-articular injections of corticosteroids (CCS), hyaluronic acid (HA), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have often been used for temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA). However, there is no guideline for the choice of pharmacological injections. The aim of this network meta-analysis (NMA) is to compare the efficacy of different intra-articular injectable treatments on TMJ OA.
Methods

Studies were identified from PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central with date up to December 2020. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) included were the studies of patients with TMJ OA who had intra-articular treatment with CCS, HA, PRP, placebo and follow-up assessing TMJ function in target outcome variables. The primary outcome was temporomandibular joint pain (VAS). The secondary outcomes were maximal mouth opening (mm), and lateral movement to the affected side (mm).
Results

Nine RCTs involving 316 patients were included. For primary pain outcome, no significance was detected when CCS, HA and PRP were compared with placebo by both short- (3-6 months) and long-term (>12 months) follow-up. In addition, these injectables did not significantly outperform placebo by evaluating secondary functional outcomes (maximal mouth opening and lateral movement) with the same follow-up. Subgroup analyses showed that the effect of CCS on subgroups with more than 70% women was statistically less effective compared with placebo.
Conclusion

Evidence suggested that intra-articular pharmacological injections of CCS, HA, and PRP had no effect on improving TMJ pain and functional outcomes compared with placebo injection.
Trial registration

This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42021270914.
Speciation and Bioaccessibility of Arsenic in Rice and Its Implication in Risk Assessment
Authors: Li Meihui , Guo Xiaoyuan , Wen Nihong , Gan Zijun , Huang Yanru , Zhang Yuanbo , Kang Yuan , Zeng Lixuan 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Numerous studies have studied the health risk assessment of human exposure to As or bioaccessible As via rice intake, however, the bioaccessibility of different As species in rice is seldom reported. In the present study, 31 rice samples were collected from markets or individual growers to investigate the speciation and bioaccessibility of As. Five different species (AsⅢ, AsV, DMA, MMA and AsB) were detected in rice samples from different regions, among which AsⅢ accounted for the largest proportion (62.95% in average), followed by DMA and AsV. In addition, the cooking method could facilitate the release of As from rice into gastric and intestinal juice, and subsequently increase the bioaccessibility of As. The bioaccessibility of inorganic As in cooked rice ranged from 71.83% to 100%, and that of organic As ranged from 31.69% to 61.04%. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk assessment of children and adults exposure to As via rice intake considering the bioaccessibility of cooked rice was carried out. The hazard quotient (HQ) of iAs and total As for children ranged from 0.21 to 1.61 and 0.48 to 2.26, respectively, while those for adults ranged from 0.12 to 0.88 and 0.26 to 1.23, respectively. Incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for children and adults ranged from 9.57 × 10-5 to 7.25 × 10-4 and 5.21 × 10-5 to 3.95 × 10-4, respectively. The results of risk assessment indicated that children would face a higher health risk than adults when they took the same type of rice as their staple food.
Assessment of Snowmelt Quality Discharging from a Cold-Climate Urban Landscape During Spring Melt
Authors: Popick Hayley , Brinkmann Markus , McPhedran Kerry 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Stormwater results from precipitation events and melting snow running off urban landscapes and typically being released into receiving water bodies with little to no treatment. Despite evidence of its deleterious impacts, snowmelt (SM) management and treatment are limited, partly due to a lack of quality and loading data. This study examines snowmelt quality during the spring for a cold-climate, semi-arid Canadian city (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan). Four snow storage facilities receiving urban snow plowed from roads in mixed-land-use urban catchments (228 km2) were sampled including snow piles (five events) and SM (twelve events) runoff in 2019 and 2020. Samples were analyzed for pH, EC, TDS, TSS, COD, DOC, metals, chloride, PAHs, and Raphidocelis subcapitata and Vibrio fischeri toxicity. Notable event-specific TSS spikes occurred on April 13th, 2019 (3,513 mg/L) and April 24th, 2019 (3,838 mg/L), and TDS, chloride, and manganese on March 26th, 2020 (15,000 mg/L, 5,800 mg/L, 574 mg/L), April 17th, 2020 (5,200 mg/L, 2,600 mg/L, 882 mg/L), and April 23rd, 2020 (5,110 mg/L, 2,900 mg/L, 919 mg/L), though chloride remained elevated through May 1st, 2020 samples (1,000 mg/L). Additionally, at two sites sampled April 13th, 2019 pulses of aluminum (401 mg/L) and PAHs (pyrene, phenanthrene, anthracene; 71 µg/L, 317 µg/L, 182 µg/L) were detected. The EC50 for R. subcapitata and V. fischeri was observed, if at all, above expected toxicity thresholds.
The Accuracy of Acetabular Cup Placement in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Using an Image-free Navigation System
Authors: Naito Yohei , Hasegawa Masahiro , Tone Shine , Wakabayashi Hiroki , Sudo Akihiro 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: Intraoperative navigation systems have been shown to improve the accuracy of acetabular component insertion in total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of cup orientation in primary THA using an image-free navigation system.Methods: A total of 107 consecutive cementless THAs using an image-free navigation system were performed from February 2017 to March 2020 (the navigation group). As a control group, 77 retrospective consecutive cases who underwent THAs with manual implant-techniques between February 2012 and April 2017 were included. Postoperative cup radiographic inclination and radiographic anteversion relative to the functional pelvic plane were assessed using a 3D-template system after computed tomography (CT) examination.Results: The mean absolute errors of the postoperative measured angles from the target angles in inclination were 3.4°±3.0° in the navigation group and 8.4°±6.6° in the control group (p<0.001). The mean absolute errors in anteversion were 5.1° ± 3.6° in the navigation group and 10.8° ± 6.5° in the control group (p<0.001). The percentage of cups inside the Lewinnek safe zone was 93% in the navigation group and 44% in the control group (p<0.001). The mean absolute values of navigation error were 3.3° ± 2.8° in inclination and 5.8° ± 4.9° in anteversion. Among the cases of osteoarthritis, the inclination error was significantly higher in Crowe group 2 to 4 than in Crowe group 1 (5.1° ± 3.5° and 3.0° ± 2.5°, respectively, p<0.05). The percentage of hips with inclination error over 10° in Crowe group 2 to 4 was significantly higher than in Crowe group 1 (17% and 1%, respectively, p<0.05).Conclusions: The image-free navigation system improved the accuracy of cup orientation. The accuracy of cup position was less in Crowe group 2 to 4 than in Crowe group 1.
Can magnitude and days with fever predict urinary tract infection in infants with fever without source?
Authors: Buendía Jefferson Antonio , Bedoya Marisela , Benjumea-Bedoya Dione 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Introduction: Fever continues to be the most frequent cause of care in the pediatric population. It is frequently the use of invasive and unnecessary tests which results in discomfort to the patients. The present study aims to describe the epidemiology of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children with fever without source aged 0–36 months and to evaluate if there are differences in the magnitude and days with fever in patients with and without urinary tract infection and fever without focus.MethodsWe included children aged 0–36 months presenting with fever without source in our emergency unit. Demographic and clinical characteristics, investigations, and management procedures were recorded at the time of inclusion. Potential predictors of SBI-UTI were compared between patients with and without SBI-UTI.ResultsBetween January 2015 to December 2017, 137 patients were included. Forty children (29.2%, CI 95% 21-36%) were diagnosed with SBI. A total of 32 children (43%) had a final diagnosis of SBI, which were all urinary tract infections (UTI). There were no differences statistically significantly between the groups in appearance in admission, magnitude and days with fever, white blood cell count, CPR levels.ConclusionsIn patients with FWS under 3 years of age, urinary tract infection is the main cause of SBI. A high degree of clinical suspicion should be maintained since neither symptoms, signs, CBC or CPR distinguish children with or without UTI in this population. Future studies should further validate, in a different setting and in a larger population, our results.
Evaluation of Factors Affecting the Expression of Anti-HBs in Children in Hunan Province
Authors: Tan Shan , Li Shizhou , Dong Jianxiang , Dai Hongmei , Yang Minghua , Sun Fang , Yang Yang , Jiang Jie , Zhao Mingyi 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background and objectives Vaccine is the most essential avenue to prevent hepatitis B infection in infants and preschool children in China, with the largest populations carrying hepatitis B virus in the world. This study aimed to evaluate the factors affecting the response level of anti-HBs in children, with a view to provide instructions for hepatitis B prevention clinically. MethodsThe children taking physical examinations in the Third Xiangya Hospital from January 2013 to April 2020 were recruited. Telephone follow-up were adopted to collect further information. Univariate logistic regression was used to analyse the relationship between age and anti-HBs expression. After grouping by age and anti-HBs expression, we used chi-square test and T test to compare the difference between positive and negative antibody expression in each age subgroup. The meaningful variables (P<0.10) in chi-square test and T test were assessed with collinearity and chosen for univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis by the stepwise backward maximum likelihood method (αin=0.05, αout=0.10).ResultsA total of 5838 samples (3362 males, 57.6%) were enrolled. The outcomes showed that the expression of anti-HBs was associated with age [OR=1.037(1.022-1.051)] in whole sample. Anemia[OR=0.392(0.185-0.835)], age[OR=2.542(1.961-3.295)] and Vit D[OR=0.977(0.969-0.984)] in 0.5-2.99 years subgroup, Zinc deficiency[OR=0.713(0.551-0.923] and age[OR=1.151(1.028-1.289)] in 3-5.99 years subgroup, Vit D[OR=0.983(0.971-0.995)] in 12-18 years subgroup had significant effect on the expression of anti-HBs. Conclusions This retrospective study illustrated that age, anaemia status, zinc deficiency and vitamin D were associated with the expression of anti-HBs in different age groups children, which could serve as a reference for the prevention of hepatitis.
The Study of m6A, m5C, m1A, m7G, Adenosine-to-Inosine and Pseudouridine RNA Modification-related Molecules in Peripheral Blood of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Yu Ziqing , Tang Jifeng , Xia Jinfang , Xiao Yinfeng , He Yujue , Jiang Renquan , Chen Shuhui , Lin Jinpiao 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background

The overall situation of RNA epigenetics in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the expression level of m6A, m5C, m1A, m7G, adenosine-to-inosine, pseudouridine(ψ) modification-related molecules in peripheral blood of RA.
Methods

33 RA patients and 36 healthy donors (HD) were included in this study. Gene expression levels were detected by real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Correlation analyses were performed by Pearson correlation test. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression (LASSO) regression and Logistic regression were used for seeking risk factors.
Results

The expression levels of METTL3, TET2, ADAR1 increased while ALKBH5, TRMT10C TRMT61B ALKBH3 ALYREF METTL1 decreased in RA patients. Analysis shown 47 weak correlations, 43 moderate correlations and 2 strong correlations existed among these molecules. Area under curve (AUC) of ALYREF and TET2 combined ROC was 0.976 which indicated them were the most valuable risk factors in RA. The expression of ALKBH3 and TRMT10C was higher in ESR-negative RA patients, while the expression of METTL1 and METTL3 was higher in RF-negative group or CRP-negative group respectively. Besides, the level of METTL3 and TRMT10C was increased in DAS-28-ESR. Furthermore, METTL3 level was negative related with the levels of RF and DAS28-ESR. The level of TRMT10C was negative with ESR and DAS-28-ESR levels, and ALKBH5 expression was positive related with CRP level. The differential expression genes were mostly correlated with PLT and MCHC of blood routine examination.
Conclusions

Our study constructed a network of six kinds of mRNA modifications in RA. We found multiple mRNA-modification-related genes were different expression between RA patients and HD. Complicated mutual relations existed among these genes. ALYREF and TET2 were the most valuable risk factors in RA. This work hopes to support a new perspective for clarifying pathogenic mechanism of RA.
Diabetes Mellitus Induced by Steroid Overtreatment in Adrenal Insufficiency: Is it Possible to Predict it?
Authors: Guarnotta Valentina , Tomasello Laura , Giordano Carla 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Objective: To assess the differences between patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and prediabetes/diabetes mellitus (DM) in secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI). Design and patients: We retrospectively evaluated 102, out of a total of 140, patients with SAI, who were on hydrocortisone (HC) (n=50) and cortisone acetate (n=52) replacement therapy. Clinical, anthropometric, and metabolic parameters were compared in patients with NGT (n=60) and DM (n=42).Results: Patients with prediabetes/DM have a more marked family history of DM (p=0.002), BMI (p<0.001), higher waist circumference (p<0.001), total cholesterol (p= 0.012), LDL-cholesterol (p=0.004), triglycerides (p=0.031), fasting glucose (p=0.002), fasting insulin (p=0.035), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (p= 0.018), HOMA-IR (p=0.039), area under curves of glucose (p=0.001) and insulin (p=0.002), HbA1c (p<0.001), Visceral adiposity index (VAI) (p=0.038) and lower ISI-Matsuda (p=0.008) and oral disposition index (p<0.001) than patients with NGT. Multivariate analysis showed that high doses of cortisone acetate, duration of conventional steroid replacement therapy, family history of diabetes mellitus and VAI are independent predictive factors for DM in patients with SAI.Conclusions: High doses of cortisone acetate replacement treatment, longer duration of steroid treatment, family history of DM and VAI may be predictors of the development of DM in patients with SAI.