bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Community overview on the differential prevalence of Hepatitis E in two Sub Counties in Kitgum District: A qualitative study
Authors: Aloyo Judith , Kiguli Juliet , Garimoi Christopher Orach , Kitara David Lagoro 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background

There was an epidemic of Hepatitis E infection in Kitgum District in 2007. More than 10,422 people were infected, and over 166 deaths were registered due to the Hepatitis E virus. Kitgum District Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) showed that Hepatitis E cases continued to occur more in Mucwini than Kitgum Matidi Sub County despite instituting similar epidemic control measures in the two communities. The tenacity of the virus in Mucwini Sub County had remained unclear.
Objective

To assess communities’ views and perspectives on the differential prevalence of Hepatitis E in the two Sub Counties of Kitgum Matidi and Mucwini in Northern Uganda.
Methods

A cross-sectional study using qualitative methods was conducted. Four Focus Group discussions and six key informant interviews were conducted with village health teams, local council chairpersons, health workers, and community members. These persons were chosen purposively because of their expertise and experience in community and health services. Face-to-face interview guides were administered to obtain detailed information on factors associated with the differential occurrence of Hepatitis E in the two Sub Counties. This study was approved by a local IRB and Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (UNCS&T).
Results

The most significant findings from this study were the differences in prevention and control practices in the two communities. Residents of Mucwini were less compliant to infection, prevention, and control guidelines, and disagreements between local councilors and village health teams in Mucwini led to poor implementation and non-adherence to guidelines on community control of Hepatitis E.
Conclusion

A differentially higher prevalence of Hepatitis E in Mucwini than Kitgum Matidi Sub County resulted from poor personal and community hygiene and non-adherence to behavior change communication among residents Mucwini compared to their counterparts in Kitgum Midi. The authors recommend a more proactive approach in managing the epidemic by securing the willingness of the affected community to adopt appropriate infection prevention and control guidelines. In addition, disagreements among stakeholders should be resolved timely so that all community members adhere to control measures.
Celastrol and thymoquinone alleviate aluminum chloride-induced neurotoxicity: behavioral psychomotor performance, neurotransmitter level and oxidative-inflammatory burden in brain of rats
Authors: Abbas Faten , Eladl Mohamed Ahmed , El-Sherbiny Mohamed , Abozied Nadia , Nabil Amaal , Mahmoud Shereen M. , Zaitone Sawsan , Ibrahim Dalia 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The exposure to metal aluminum such as aluminum chloride (AlCl3) induces inflammatory-oxidative reactions with progressive neurodegeneration in different brain regions in animal models. The current study was designed to assess the role of celastrol or thymoquinone (TQ) in alleviating AlCl3 induced behavioral psychomotor changes and oxidative-inflammatory burden in albino male rats. Four groups were used in this study, (i) vehicle control group, (ii) AlCL3 control group: rats received intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of AlCl3 (10 mg/kg), (iii) AlCl3+TQ (10 mg/kg, i.p.) group and (iv) AlCl3+celastrol (1 mg/kg, i.p.) group. In general, all injections remained for 6 weeks. Behavioral psychomotor evaluation (open field test, rotarod test and forced Swimming test) were done to assess locomotor, motor coordination, anxiety-like behavior and depressive-like behavioral. Markers of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and catalase enzyme activity (CAT) and the proinflammatory mediators, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interlukin-6 (IL-6) were measured in the rat brains. Neurotransmitters including acetylcholine (ACh), dopamine and serotonin in addition to acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) level were measured in brain homogenates. Our results demonstrated that daily injection of TQ or celastrol significantly improved behavior psychomotor deficits, decreased AChE activity towards their normal levels. Tissue oxidative stress and proinflammatory markers were modulated by TQ and celastrol. These results concluded that TQ and celastrol have useful in alleviating AlCl3-induced neurotoxicity by their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, they are looking promising for investigating their preventive effect in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases.
Chemoradiotherapy is an Alternative Choice for Patients with Primary Mediastinal Seminoma
Authors: Zhai Yirui , Chen Bo , Feng Xiaoli , Liu Kan , Wang Shulian , Hui Zhouguang , Feng Qinfu , Li Junling , Xiao Zefen , Lv Jima , Gao Yushun , Liu Yueping , Fang Hui , Wang Jianyang , Deng Lei , Liu Wenyang , Wang Wenqing , Zhou Zongmei , Li Ye-Xiong 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background: The low incidence of primary mediastinal seminomas has precluded the development of clinical trials on mediastinal seminomas. We investigated the clinicopathologic characteristics, prognosis of patients with primary mediastinal seminomas as well as the efficiency of nonsurgical treatments compared with treatments containing surgery.Methods: We retrospectively collected data on the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatments, toxicities, and survival of 27 patients from a single center between 2000 and 2018. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they received operation. Survivals were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analysis was performed using the log-rank test.Results: The median age was 28 (13-63) years. The most common symptoms were chest pain (29.6%), cough (25.9%), and dyspnea (22.2%). There were 13 and 14 patients in surgery and non-surgery group. Patients in the non-surgical group were more likely to be with poor performance scores (100% vs.76.9%) and disease invaded to adjacent structures(100% vs.76.9%) especially great vessels(100% vs.46.2%).The median follow-up period was 32.23 (2.7-198.2) months. There was no significant difference of overall survival (5-year 100% vs 100%), cancer-specific survival (5-year 100% vs.100%), local regional survival (5-year 91.7% vs.90.0%, p=0.948) , distant metastasis survival (5-year 100.0% vs. 90.9%, p=0.340) and progression-free survival (82.5% vs.90.0%, p=0.245) between patients with and without surgery. Conclusions: Primary mediastinal seminoma was with favorable prognosis, even though frequently invasion into adjacent structures brings difficulties to surgery administration. Chemoradiotherapy is an alternative treatment with both efficacy and safety.
Credit and Liquidity Risk Assessment of NCC Bank: A Correlational Analysis
Authors: Chowdhury Md. Ataur Rahman 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Credit risk and default risk are two interchangeable terms. Credit risk arises mainly from the lending, trade finance, leasing, and treasury business. This can be described as a potential loss from a counterparty's failure to perform as per contractual agreement with the bank being financially incapable or unwilling to repay it. Financial incapability arises when the creditor's source of earning becomes volatile. The unwillingness comes from the creditor's tendency to cheat and to make a bulk grain from the fraudulent activities. At a stretch, credit risk for the bank illustrates that the bank's performing loan portion can turn into non-performing ones. And that will decrease the recovery rate of the loan extended, and, as a result, the bank will face trouble providing the required interest amount by the depositors. Gradually the bank will become insolvent and maybe some days a bankrupt one.
Downlink Transmission And Channel Estimation For Cell-Free Massive MIMO-OFDM With Symbol Time Offset
Authors: Guo Yunxiang , Fan Zhenqi , Lu An , Wang Pan , Liu Dongjie , Xia Xinjiang , Wang Dongming 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
In a cell-free massive MIMO system, multiple users arrive at multiple access points at separate times, while in an OFDM system, different delays can be equivalent to symbol timing offsets (STOs). Since symbol timing offsets are not all the same, in the downlink transmission process, it is necessary to consider its impact on transmission techniques, such as channel estimation and downlink precoding. In this paper, aiming at the performance loss caused by STO in cell-free massive MIMO-OFDM system, we propose a multi-RB precoding optimization algorithm that maximizes the downlink sum rate. We derive the sum rate maximization problem into an iterative second-order cone programming (SOCP) form to achieve convex approximation. Then, considering the impact of STO on the accuracy of cell-free massive MIMO-OFDM channel estimation, we propose a downlink channel estimation method, which jointly uses channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) and demodulation reference signal (DMRS). Simulation results show that the proposed multi-RB optimal precoding can effectively improve the downlink sum rate, and the proposed downlink channel estimation can obtain accurate multi-RB frequency domain channel parameters.
Calibrated comparison of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody levels in response to protein-, mRNA-, and vector-based COVID-19 vaccines
Authors: Karbiener Michael , Farcet Maria R , Zollner Andreas , Masuda Taisei , Mori Mitsuhiro , Moschen Alexander R , Kreil Thomas R 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies have been suggested to reflect the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. This study reports the first direct comparison of the SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody response elicited by a protein- (NVX-CoV2373), an mRNA- (Comirnaty), and a vector-based (Vaxzevria) COVID-19 vaccine, calibrated against the WHO international SARS-CoV-2 antibody standard, and further supports the use of neutralizing antibody levels as correlate of protection.
LC-MS-Based Metabolomics Analysis Revealed Deleterious Effect of Infrapatellar Fat Pad on Articular Chondrocytes of Osteoarthritis
Authors: Zeng Ni , Yan Zhi-Peng , Liao Tao , Li Jie-Ting , Chen Yan , Ni Guo-Xin 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Objective: To investigate the interaction of infrapatellar fat pad/cartilage and related mechanisms in knee osteoarthritis (OA) using the metabolomics method.Method: Fat-conditioned media (FCM) of the infrapatellar fat pad from patients with OA were used to treat human OA chondrocytes. The extracellular metabolites of human OA chondrocytes were detected by nontargeted metabolic footprint analysis based on liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Then, the different metabolites were found, and the main metabolic pathways were explored, combined with bioinformatics methods.Results: After treatment with FCM for 48 h, the proliferation of human OA chondrocytes was slowed down, indicating that FCM had a certain inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human OA chondrocytes (P = 0.023). On the pattern diagram of principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), after FCM treatment, the data sample areas were obviously separated, indicating that FCM can significantly affect the metabolic footprint of human OA chondrocytes. Through metabonomic identification, 131 different metabolites were screened after FCM treatment compared with before treatment. For 4 pathways in total, significantly different activity levels were discovered in pairwise comparisons: alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; citrate cycle (TCA cycle); arginine and proline metabolism; and phenylalanine metabolism.Conclusion: The infrapatellar fat pad aggravates OA chondrocyte injury and is involved in OA by disturbing the chondrocyte TCA cycle, amino acid metabolism, and glutamine metabolism, among others.
CYP-450 Mediated Herb-Drug Interactions of Ashwagandha and AYUSH-64 Used in COVID-19 Integrative Management: A Case Example of Remdesivir
Authors: Kasarla Siva Swapna , Borse Swapnil , Kumar Yashwant , Sharma Neha , Dikshit Madhu 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
AimWithania somnifera Dunal (WS), known as Ashwagandha and AYUSH-64, a polyherbal formulation are repurposed for the management of COVID-19. The extensive use of these botanicals as home remedy along with other drugs for managing multifarious disease conditions is increasing over nations. This raises high chances of herb-drug interactions (HDIs) which may be beneficial, harmful, or even fatal. Therefore, current study aimed to explore the CYP mediated herb-drug interactions (HDIs) of Ashwagandha and AYUSH-64 along with case example of remdesivir to harness the best of these HDIs for integrative management of COVID-19Materials and MethodsThe aqueous extract of Ashwagandha and AYUSH-64 were characterized by LC-MS/MS. The in-silico pharmacokinetic (ADME) parameters were studied by using ADME tool. The in-vitro CYP-450 (CYP3A4, 2C8, 2D6) inhibition studies of WS and AYUSH-64 alone and in combination with a remdesivir were carried out resembling clinically scenario.ResultsTotal of 11 and 24 phytoconstituents were identified from the aqueous extract of Aswagandha and AYUSH-64. The in-silico ADME studies revealed that most of the phytoconstituents showed good oral bioavailability, drug likeliness, GI affinity and some of them displayed CYP-450 inhibitory activity. The in-vitro CYP-450 studies of remdesivir showed moderate inhibitory effect on CYP3A4, 2C8, 2D6. The aqueous extract of Aswagandha did not show any inhibitory activity towards all the studied CYP’s alone and in combination with remdesivir (IC50 >100µg/ml). Whereas, AYUSH-64 also followed the same trend but showed moderate inhibitory effect on CYP2C8 (IC50 <100µg/ml).ConclusionAswagandha did not exhibit HDIs with the CYP3A4, CYP2C8 and CYP2D6 thereby seem to be safe to co-administer with respective substrates. Whereas, AYUSH-64 only showed moderate HDIs towards CYP2C8 substrate among studied CYP enzymes. Caution is therefore warranted for prescribing AYUSH 64 along with CYP2C8 substrate drugs.
Correlation Between Changes of Pelvic Bone Marrow Fat Content and Hematological Toxicity in Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Cervical Cancer
Authors: Wang Cong , Qin Xiaohang , Gong Guanzhong , Wang Lizhen , Su Ya , Yin Yong 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Objectives: To quantify the pelvic bone marrow (PBM) fat content changes receiving different radiation doses of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer and to determine association with peripheral blood cell counts. Methods: Fifty-four patients were prospectively collected. Patients underwent MRI iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetrical and least squares estimation (IDEAL IQ) scanning at RT-Pre, RT mid-point, RT end, and six months. The changes in proton density fat fraction (PDFF%) at 5–10 Gy, 10–15 Gy, 15–20 Gy, 20–30 Gy, 30–40 Gy, 40–50 Gy, and >50 Gy doses were analyzed. Spearman’s rank correlations were performed between peripheral blood cell counts versus the differences in PDFF% at different dose gradients before and after treatment. Results: The lymphocytes (ALC) nadirs appeared at the midpoint of radiotherapy, which was only 27.6% of RT-Pre; the white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils (ANC), and platelets (PLT) nadirs appeared at the end of radiotherapy which was 52.4%, 65.1%, and 69.3% of RT-Pre, respectively. At RT mid-point and RT-end, PDFF% increased by 46.8% and 58.5%, respectively. Six months after radiotherapy, PDFF% decreased by 4.71% under 5–30 Gy compared to RT-end; while it still increased by 55.95% compared to RT-Pre. There was a significant positive correlation between PDFF% and ANC nadirs at 5–10 Gy (r = 0.62, P = 0.006), and correlation was observed between PDFF% and ALC nadirs at 5–10 Gy (r = 0.554, P = 0.017). Conclusion: MRI IDEAL IQ imaging was a non-invasive approach to evaluate and track the changes of PBM fat content with concurrent chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer. The limitation of low-dose bone marrow irradiation volume in cervical cancer concurrent chemoradiotherapy should be paid more attention.
A Five-year retrospective hospital-based study on epidemiological data regarding human Leishmaniasis in West Kordofan state - Sudan
Authors: Abdullah A. A , AHMED Musa , GADEED Ahmed , Eltayeb Adam , AHMED Safa , HAMAD Suad , Hussein Mohammed 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic zoonotic disease caused by the Leishmania parasites genus. The estimation of this disease is very important to inform the health care policymakers and the governments to applied proper health and economic policies. Thus, this study aimed, to find out the frequency and distribution of human leishmaniasis in West Kordofan state, based on sex and age during 5 years- Sudan.
Methods

Five years retrospective study from 2016 through 2020 was carried out using local hospital records of leishmaniasis patients. The age and gender of each patient were recorded. The collected data were analysed using STATA package version 16.
Results

A total of 162,443 patient records from 2016 to 2020 were retrieved. Of these, 4.39% were found to be positive for leishmaniasis. The disease has been more common in males (65.3%) than in females (, 34.7%). The highest reported prevalence (6.58%) was in patients 15-44 years old, which was, and the lowest prevalence (1.95%) was among patients in ≥65-year-old.
Conclusion

The current study indicates that leishmaniasis is endemic in the study area even though the numbers of patients in the five consecutive years were varying. Besides, the disease was common in males and adults.
Perceptions Towards Childhood Asthma and Barriers To Its Management Among Patients, Caregivers and Healthcare Providers: A Qualitative Study From Ethiopia
Authors: Kassa Eden , Kebede Rahel Argaw , Habte Bruck Messele 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background

The management of asthma, which is one of the major causes of childhood morbidity and mortality has been affected by non-adherence to recommended treatment regimens with severe consequences. The aim of the present study was therefore to explore the perceptions of the children with asthma, their caregivers and their healthcare providers towards asthma and barriers to long term childhood asthma management in an institutional setting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods

A qualitative descriptive design was followed for the present study that used individual interviews as a data collection method. The study participants were 23 pairs of children with asthma that had treatment follow ups in two tertiary hospitals and their caregivers and eight healthcare providers who cared for these children. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis approach.
Results

The study findings revealed that the children and their caregivers were facing physical, emotional and social burdens related with asthma and reported low adherence to their recommended treatment regimens. Factors affecting childhood asthma management were found to be limited awareness about asthma and its management and inadequate education received from healthcare professionals. Non-adherence to especially inhaled corticosteroids appears to be influenced by necessity beliefs towards chronic administration of treatment regimens and concerns related with difficulty of administration, fear of side effects and general bad attitude towards it, in addition to their low availability and affordability.
Conclusions

Varied perceptions about asthma and its management were reported by children with asthma and their caregivers compared to the biomedical recommendation that were related to different factors. This in turn may contribute to the low adherence of the children to their recommended regimens and suboptimal health outcomes. The findings support the need for strong asthma care and education programs that are sensitive to local and individual patients’ and family perceptions and experiences including emotional distress and of the need to institute chronic care approach.
Hydrothermal Assisted Biogenic Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles And Their Anticandidal Activity On Virulent Candida Isolates From COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Khalil Fatma O , Ghonaim Enas M. , El-sattar Shimaa Abed , Elkhadry Sally W. , El-Refai Hala , Taj Muhammad Babar , Ali Omar Makram , Elgawad Ahmed Salah A. , Alshater Heba 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Till now the exact mechanism and effect of biogenic silver nanoparticles on fungus is an indefinable question. To focus on this issue, we prepared hydrothermal assisted thyme coated silver nanoparticles (T/AgNPs) and their toxic effect on Candida isolates is described. The role of thyme (Thymus Vulgaris) in the reduction of silver ions and stabilization of T/AgNPs are estimated by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, structure and size of present silver nanoparticles were detected via atomic force microscopy as well as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The biological activity of T/AgNPs was observed against Candida isolates from COVID-19 Patients. Testing of virulence of Candida species using Multiplex PCR. T/AgNPs proved highly effective against Candida albicans, Candida kruzei, Candida glabrata and MIC values ranging from 156.25 to 1,250 µg/mL and MFC values ranging from 312.5 to 5,000 µg/mL. The structural and morphological modifications due to T/AgNPs on Candida albicans were detected by TEM. It was highly observed that when Candida albicans cells were subjected to 50 and 100 µg/mL T/AgNPs, a remarkable change in the cell wall and cell membrane was observed.
JPTQ Decoction Inhibits Tumor Proliferation and Lung Metastasis in Tumor-bearing Mice with Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Zhang Jin , Cai Biyu , Ye Chenxiao , Li Xinrong , Chen Haitao , Lu Yi , Xu Zhili , Yao Qinghua , Guo Yong 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background.
With the increasing incidence of breast cancer and the integration of multiple methods in the treatment, traditional Chinese medicine plays an increasingly important role in the comprehensive treatment of breast cancer. we aimed to determine the anti-cancer metastasis effect of Jianpi Tiaoqi Decoction (JPTQ) on breast cancer-bearing mice by monitoring the effects of its on tumor proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and regulation of immune microenvironment.
Methods.
The general phenotype of the Cancer-bearing mice was monitored. Bioluminescence-imaging was performed to assess the tumor status and the metastatic status of other organs. We investigated its mechanism of the effect through transcriptome analysis, Flow Cytometry(FCM) was used to analyze peripheralblood CD4+ T cells, spleen T helper 1 (Th1) cell, the proportion of MDSCs in lung. The changes of EMT process, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Ki-67, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 were detected by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR), western blot (WB) or immunohistochemistry (IHC).
Results.
JPTQ inhibited the tumors proliferation and reduced lung metastasis. The transcriptome analysis of lung and tumor tissues indicated that EMT-related genes, angiogenesis, proliferation and apoptosis genes were regulated in JPTQ group, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis observed enrichment of immune-related pathways. FCM suggested that JPTQ could reduced the proportion of M-MDSCs in the lung, and increased peripheral blood CD4+ T cells and Th1 cells in spleen. The q-PCR, WB or IHC assay demonstrated that E-cadherin was up-regulated in lung and tumor tissue, and Snail was down-regulated, the expression of matrix metalloprotein-9(MMP-9)was down-regulated in lung tissue. IHC showed the down-regulation of Ki67 and VEGF in lung and tumo tissues. WB found that Cleved-Caspase3 was significantly up-regulated, while Bcl-2 was down-regulated.
Conclution.
JPTQ can inhibit proliferation, angiogenesis, promote apoptosis and improve the immune microenvironment, and reverse the EMT process to inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of TNBC.