bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PCAT6 may be a new prognostic biomarker in various cancers: a meta-analysis and bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Shi Song-bo , Cheng Qing-hao , Gong Shi-yi , Lu Ting-ting , Guo Shi-fang , Song Shao-ming , Yang Yu-ping , Cui Qi , Yang Ke-hu , Qian Yao-wen 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
LncRNA prostate cancer-associated transcript 6 (PCAT6) has been reported to be dysregulated in several cancers and is associated with tumor progression. Here, we have performed a meta-analysis to assess the general prognostic role of PCAT6 in malignancies.

Methods
Four public databases (Embase, Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) were used to identify eligible studies, then data was extracted and associations between prognostic indicators and clinical characteristics were combined to estimate hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Publication bias was measured using the Begg's test, and the stability of the combined results was measured using sensitivity analysis. Subsequently, results were validated using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and the National Genomics Data Center (NGDC).

Results
Ten studies were considered eligible for inclusion. In total, 937 patients and eight types of cancer were included. Our results revealed that overexpression of PCAT6 was significantly associated with a shorter OS (HR = 1.82; 95% CI, [1.40, 2.38]; P < 0.0001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 1.66; 95% CI, [1.22, 2.25]; P < 0.0001) in cancer patients, and that PCAT6 overexpression was significantly associated with individual tumor clinicopathological parameters, including TNM stage (OR = 0.29; 95% CI, [0.09, 0.94]; P = 0.04), gender (OR = 1.84; 95% CI, [1.31, 2.59]; P = 0.0005), and whether the tumor was metastatic (OR = 5.02; 95% CI, [1.36, 18.57]; P = 0.02). However, PCAT6 overexpression was not correlated with patient age and tumor differentiation. PCAT6 expression was significantly up-regulated in four types of cancer, which was validated using the GEPIA cohort. Combining OS and disease-free survival (DFS) of these four types of cancer revealed a shorter OS and DFS in patients with PCAT6 overexpression. PCAT6 expression in various types of cancer was also validated in NGDC. A total of eight cancers were analyzed and PCAT6 was highly expressed in all eight cancers. Further functional predictions suggest that PCAT6 is correlated with tumor prognosis, and that PCAT6 may be useful as a new tumor-specific marker.

Conclusions
LncRNA PCAT6 is highly expressed in multiple cancer types and its upregulation was significantly associated with patient prognosis and poorer clinical features, thereby suggesting that PCAT6 may be a novel prognostic factor in multiple cancer types.
Relationship between PD-L1 expression, CD8+ T-cell infiltration and prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients
Authors: Deng Min , Li Shao-Hua , Fu Xu , Yan Xiao-Peng , Chen Jun , Qiu Yu-Dong , Guo Rong-Ping 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Programmed death- ligand 1 (PD-L1) seems to be associated with the immune escape of tumors, and immunotherapy may be a favorable treatment for PD-L1-positive patients. We evaluated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) specimens for their expression of PD-L1, infiltration of CD8+ T cells, and the relationship between these factors and patient survival.

Methods
In total, 69 resections of ICC were stained by immunohistochemistry for PD-L1, programmed death factor-1 (PD-1), and CD8+ T cells. CD8+ T-cell densities were analyzed both within tumors and at the tumor-stromal interface. Patient survival was predicted based on the PD-L1 status and CD8+ T-cell density.

Results
The expression rate of PD-L1 was 12% in cancer cells and 51% in interstitial cells. The expression rate of PD-1 was 30%, and the number of CD8+ T-cells increased with the increase of PD-L1 expression (p < 0.05). The expression of PD-L1 in the tumor was correlated with poor overall survival(OS) (p = 0.004), and the number of tumor and interstitial CD8+ T-cells was correlated with poor OS and disease-free survival (DFS) (All p < 0.001).

Conclusions
The expression of PD-L1 in the tumor is related to poor OS, and the number of tumor or interstitial CD8+ T-cells is related to poor OS and DFS. For patients who lose their chance of surgery, PD-L1 immunosuppressive therapy may be the focus of future research as a potential treatment.
A psychometric evaluation of the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Heart Failure Index in a Thai population
Authors: Srisuk Nittaya , Wichit Nutchanath , Thompson David R. , Ski Chantal F. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Caregivers are major contributor to the self-care of patients with heart failure. The Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (CC-SCHFI) measures these contributions across three scales: self-care maintenance (symptom monitoring and treatment adherence); self-care management (dealing with symptoms); and confidence in contributing to the self-care (self-efficacy in managing self-care) of patients with heart failure. Informal caregivers play a vital role in supporting family members with heart failure in Thailand, yet no validated tool exists to measure their contribution. We examined the psychometric properties of the CC-SCHFI in a Thai population.

Methods
The CC-SCHFI was translated into Thai using a standard forward and backward translation procedure. A cross-sectional design was used to examine the psychometric properties of the Thai version of the CC-SCHFI in 100 family caregivers of heart failure patients in Southern Thailand. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess construct validity, and factor score determinacy coefficients were computed to evaluate internal consistency reliability.

Results
The Thai version of the CC-SCHFI demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (composite reliability of each scale ranged from 0.76 to 0.99). Reliability estimates were adequate for each scale (McDonald’s omega ranged from 0.75 to 0.96). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original factor structure of the instrument, with good fit indices for all three scales (comparative fit index = 0.98–1.00; root-mean-square error of approximation = 0.00–0.07).

Conclusions
The Thai version of the CC-SCHFI appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring caregiver contributions to self-care maintenance and self-care management as well as contributing to caregiver confidence in the self-care of Thai heart failure patients.
Low urinary iodine is a protective factor of central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zeng Ziyang , Li Kang , Wang Xianze , Ouyang Siwen , Zhang Zimu , Liu Zhen , Sun Juan , Ye Xin , Kang Weiming , Yu Jianchun 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
An abrupt increase of thyroid cancer has been witnessed paralleling the supplemented iodine intake in formerly iodine-deficient countries. And increased iodine intake has been linked to the rising incidence rate of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). However, the correlation between iodine and clinicopathological features of PTC has not been well-characterized. This study aimed to investigate the associations between iodine intake and the clinicopathological features of PTC patients.

Methods
Three hundred and fifty-nine PTC patients who received surgical treatment in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from May 2015 to November 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The associations between urinary iodine (UI), urinary iodine/creatinine ratio (UI/U-Cr), and the clinicopathological features of PTC were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to investigate the relationship between UI level and central lymph node metastasis (CLNM).

Results
There were no significant differences in UI in different groups according to the variables studied, except that patients with CLNM had higher UI level than CLNM(−) patients. No associations were found between UI/U-Cr and clinicopathological features except variant subtypes (classic/follicular). After dividing patients into high-iodine group and low-iodine group, more patients were found to have CLNM in the high-iodine group (p = 0.02). In addition, younger age, larger tumor size, and classic variant were positively correlated with CLNM (p < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that insufficient iodine intake (≤ 99 μg/L) was associated with decreased CLNM risk in PTC. And after defining insufficient iodine intake as ≤ 109 μg/L and above requirements as ≥ 190 μg/L, multivariate analysis showed that lower iodine was associated with CLNM in total population of PTC (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.31–0.91) and in PTC < 1 cm (papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, PTMC) (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21–0.87).

Conclusions
Low iodine was a protective factor for CLNM in papillary thyroid cancer, particularly in those < 1 cm. These results indicated that iodine may not only be an initiator of tumorigenesis, but also a promoter of the development of PTC.
Measuring self-reliance among refugee and internally displaced households: the development of an index in humanitarian settings
Authors: Seff Ilana , Leeson Kellie , Stark Lindsay 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Humanitarian practitioners have recently expanded their focus from the provision of assistance only to working to ensure refugees and internally displaced peoples (IDPs) can develop sustained ‘self-reliance’. However, few tools measure self-reliance, and even fewer capture non-financial dimensions of self-reliance or measure the construct within refugee and IDP populations. To help address these gaps in measurement and provide organizations with a tool to track households’ self-reliance over time, the Self-Reliance Index (SRI) was developed. The index component of the tool comprises 12 domains of self-reliance, including housing, food, education, healthcare, health status, safety, employment, financial resources, assistance, debt, and savings, and social capital. This paper presents the methodology used to evaluate the tool’s internal consistency and scoring validity, shares the corresponding findings, and offers a practical approach for developing a culturally relevant and robust tool for humanitarian settings.

Results
Data were collected from 57 and 59 refugee households in Nairobi, Kenya, and Palenque, Mexico, respectively; repeat follow-up interviews were held with 34 and 33 households in Kenya and Mexico after a period of 3 months. Cronbach’s alpha was found to be 0.66 in Kenya and 0.64 in Mexico, both of which met the a priori minimum threshold for internal consistency of 0.6. A data-driven process was used to inform the design of the scoring rubric for the SRI, prioritizing the tool’s validity such that the final score would signal useful information about a household’s overall level of self-reliance while also keeping the process as straightforward for users as possible. Final descriptive statistics and score distributions, considered alongside organizational knowledge of sample households and sensitivity analyses, suggest good score validity.

Conclusions
The SRI aims to serve as an important step in measuring the complex subject of self-reliance in a comprehensive way and over time. Results suggest that, with some contextualizing for each setting, the universal tool offers a measurement approach that is feasible, reliable, and valid. By encouraging relevant stakeholders to more holistically conceptualize and measure self-reliance, the SRI also aims to promote a more cross-sector, all-inclusive approach to programming.
A call to safeguard sexual and reproductive health information and services during Ebola outbreaks
Authors: Tran Nguyen Toan , Lichtenstein Désirée , Black Benjamin , Rosmini Alice , Schulte-Hillen Catrin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe recent Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks in 2021 exemplify how sexual and reproductive health services are too often considered unessential during health emergencies. Bleeding for reasons other than EVD, such as pregnancy complications or rape, can be construed as EVD symptoms, reinforcing fear and stigmatisation, and delaying timely access to adequate care. In this commentary, we urgently call on all humanitarian actors to integrate the Minimum Initial Services Package for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Crisis Situations into current and future EVD preparedness and response efforts.
Transcription-coupled structural dynamics of topologically associating domains regulate replication origin efficiency
Authors: Li Yongzheng , Xue Boxin , Zhang Mengling , Zhang Liwei , Hou Yingping , Qin Yizhi , Long Haizhen , Su Qian Peter , Wang Yao , Guan Xiaodong , Jin Yanyan , Cao Yuan , Li Guohong , Sun Yujie 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Metazoan cells only utilize a small subset of the potential DNA replication origins to duplicate the whole genome in each cell cycle. Origin choice is linked to cell growth, differentiation, and replication stress. Although various genetic and epigenetic signatures have been linked to the replication efficiency of origins, there is no consensus on how the selection of origins is determined.

Results
We apply dual-color stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) super-resolution imaging to map the spatial distribution of origins within individual topologically associating domains (TADs). We find that multiple replication origins initiate separately at the spatial boundary of a TAD at the beginning of the S phase. Intriguingly, while both high-efficiency and low-efficiency origins are distributed homogeneously in the TAD during the G1 phase, high-efficiency origins relocate to the TAD periphery before the S phase. Origin relocalization is dependent on both transcription and CTCF-mediated chromatin structure. Further, we observe that the replication machinery protein PCNA forms immobile clusters around TADs at the G1/S transition, explaining why origins at the TAD periphery are preferentially fired.

Conclusion
Our work reveals a new origin selection mechanism that the replication efficiency of origins is determined by their physical distribution in the chromatin domain, which undergoes a transcription-dependent structural re-organization process. Our model explains the complex links between replication origin efficiency and many genetic and epigenetic signatures that mark active transcription. The coordination between DNA replication, transcription, and chromatin organization inside individual TADs also provides new insights into the biological functions of sub-domain chromatin structural dynamics.
Altered skeletal muscle metabolic pathways, age, systemic inflammation, and low cardiorespiratory fitness associate with improvements in disease activity following high-intensity interval training in persons with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Andonian Brian J. , Johannemann Andrew , Hubal Monica J. , Pober David M. , Koss Alec , Kraus William E. , Bartlett David B. , Huffman Kim M. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Exercise training, including high-intensity interval training (HIIT), improves rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inflammatory disease activity via unclear mechanisms. Because exercise requires skeletal muscle, skeletal muscle molecular pathways may contribute. The purpose of this study was to identify connections between skeletal muscle molecular pathways, RA disease activity, and RA disease activity improvements following HIIT.

Methods
RA disease activity assessments and vastus lateralis skeletal muscle biopsies were performed in two separate cohorts of persons with established, seropositive, and/or erosive RA. Body composition and objective physical activity assessments were also performed in both the cross-sectional cohort and the longitudinal group before and after 10 weeks of HIIT. Baseline clinical assessments and muscle RNA gene expression were correlated with RA disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS-28) and DAS-28 improvements following HIIT. Skeletal muscle gene expression changes with HIIT were evaluated using analysis of covariance and biological pathway analysis.

Results
RA inflammatory disease activity was associated with greater amounts of intramuscular adiposity and less vigorous aerobic exercise (both p < 0.05). HIIT-induced disease activity improvements were greatest in those with an older age, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, low cardiorespiratory fitness, and a skeletal muscle molecular profile indicative of altered metabolic pathways (p < 0.05 for all). Specifically, disease activity improvements were linked to baseline expression of RA skeletal muscle genes with cellular functions to (1) increase amino acid catabolism and interconversion (GLDC, BCKDHB, AASS, PYCR, RPL15), (2) increase glycolytic lactate production (AGL, PDK2, LDHB, HIF1A), and (3) reduce oxidative metabolism via altered beta-oxidation (PXMP2, ACSS2), TCA cycle flux (OGDH, SUCLA2, MDH1B), and electron transport chain complex I function (NDUFV3). The muscle mitochondrial glycine cleavage system (GCS) was identified as critically involved in RA disease activity improvements given upregulation of multiple GCS genes at baseline, while GLDC was significantly downregulated following HIIT.

Conclusion
In the absence of physical activity, RA inflammatory disease activity is associated with transcriptional remodeling of skeletal muscle metabolism. Following exercise training, the greatest improvements in disease activity occur in older, more inflamed, and less fit persons with RA. These exercise training-induced immunomodulatory changes may occur via reprogramming muscle bioenergetic and amino acid/protein homeostatic pathways.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02528344. Registered on 19 August 2015.
Erysipelas of the right arm due to Bordetella trematum: a case report
Authors: Lacasse M. , Inyambo K. , Lemaignen A. , Mennecart M. , Gensburger S. , Valentin A. S. , Bernard L. , Fougère B. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Bordetella trematum is unknown to most clinicians and microbiologists. However, this Gram-negative opportunistic bacterium can be responsible for ulcer superinfection but also bacteremia and sometimes death by septic shock.

Case report
We report the case of erysipelas due to B. trematum with bacteremia in an immunocompromised 88-year-old Caucasian patient.

Conclusion
In immunocompromised patients, unusual microbial agents such as B. trematum can be responsible for cutaneous and systemic infections, requiring specific antibiotic therapy. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the need for specific bacterial identification such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing in the context of atypical evolution of erysipelas in such patients.
An efficient authentication and key agreement protocol for IoT-enabled devices in distributed cloud computing architecture
Authors: Huang Huihui , Lu Siqi , Wu Zehui , Wei Qiang 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWith the widespread use of Internet of Things and cloud computing in smart cities, various security and privacy challenges may be encountered.The most basic problem is authentication between each application, such as participating users, IoT devices, distributed servers, authentication centers, etc. In 2020, Kang et al. improved an authentication protocol for IoT-Enabled devices in a distributed cloud computing environment and its main purpose was in order to prevent counterfeiting attacks in Amin et al.’ protocol, which was published in 2018. However, We found that the Kang et al.’s protocol still has a fatal vulnerability, that is, it is attacked by offline password guessing, and malicious users can easily obtain the master key of the control server. In this article, we extend their work to design a lightweight pseudonym identity based authentication and key agreement protocol using smart card. For illustrating the security of our protocol, we used the security protocol analysis tools of AVISPA and Scyther to prove that the protocol can defend against various existing attacks. We will further analyze the interaction between participants authentication path to ensure security protection from simulated attacks detailedly. In addition, based on the comparison of security functions and computing performance, our protocol is superior to the other two related protocols. As a result, the enhanced protocol will be efficient and secure in distributed cloud computing architecture for smart city.
The prevalence of tuberculosis, malaria and soil-transmitted helminth infection in minority indigenous people of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gilmour Beth , Alene Kefyalew Addis , Clarke Naomi E. , Clements Archie C. A. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), malaria and soil-transmitted helminthiasis continue to impose a significant global health burden and socio-economic impact. Globally, minority indigenous people are disproportionately affected by poverty and are shown to experience a disparate burden of disease and poorer health outcomes than the comparative majority population. Despite these inequalities, countries rarely systematically compile epidemiological data disaggregated by ethnicity to enable the extent of the differential to be quantified.

Methods
The systematic review will be reported in accordance with The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta- Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Systematic searches will be conducted in EMBASE, Medline, Scopus and Web of Science for studies reporting data which enable the prevalence of TB, malaria, and/or soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections amongst minority indigenous populations within the Southeast Asia Region (SEAR) and Western Pacific Region (WPR) to be calculated.
Where studies provide data on disease prevalence for both minority indigenous and other populations within the same study, a comparative analysis will be undertaken. In addition to a narrative synthesis, where sufficient data are available, a random-effects meta-analysis will be conducted to obtain a pooled estimate value for each disease/infection by country and mortality stratum.
Heterogeneity between studies will be examined using the Cochran’s Q test and quantitatively measured by the index of heterogeneity squared (I2) statistics. The methodological quality of the included studies will be assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Discussion
This systematic review aims to analyse the available data on the prevalence of TB, malaria and STH infections within minority indigenous populations of the SEAR and WPR.

Registration
Open Science Framework registration: osf.io/m6sqc
The impact of Greenfield investment on domestic entrepreneurship
Authors: Ha Tung Son , Chu Vu Tuan , Nguyen Mai Tuyet Thi , Nguyen Dung Hoai Thi , Nguyen Anh Ngoc Thi 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe FDI-entrepreneurship nexus has received growing attention over the last decade. However, the empirical findings on their relationship have been inconsistent at best. This study seeks to examine how the inflows of Greenfield investment influence entrepreneurship of the host country. Using panel data from 110 countries during the period 2001-2018, we find that growing level of Greenfield investment brings detrimental impact on the level of total and opportunity-driven entrepreneurial activities in the host countries while the impact on necessity-driven entrepreneurship have been mixed. The results regarding the impact of Greenfield investment on total entrepreneurial activities and opportunity-based entrepreneurial activities are robust across different econometric settings, different time span, and different categories of control variables.