bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
TO STUDY CORRELATION OF SERUM VITAMIN D LEVEL WITH OSTEOARTICULAR INFECTION
Authors: Ranjan Navendu , Kumar Sudhir , Dharmshktu Ishwar Singh , Saini Pankaj Kumar , Khan Shekh Mohammed 
Published: August 2021

Background: To study correlation of serum vitamin D level with osteoarticular infection
Methods: All patients (5 to 65 years of age) were presented with pain and raised local temperature of osteoarticular joint or prosthetic joint in the Orthopaedic department of S.M.S. Medical college and attached hospitals, were included in the study.
Results: The mean (SD) of S. Vitamin D (ng/mL) in the Osteoarticular Infection: Present group was 19.08 (8.41). The mean (SD) of S. Vitamin D (ng/mL) in the Osteoarticular Infection: Absent group was 18.53 (9.26). The median (IQR) of S. Vitamin D (ng/mL) in the Osteoarticular Infection: Present group was 17.7 (14.15-23.3). The median (IQR) of S. Vitamin D (ng/mL) in the Osteoarticular Infection: Absent group was 14.85 (11.6-23.3). The S. Vitamin D (ng/mL) in the Osteoarticular Infection: Present ranged from 8.2 -38. The S. Vitamin D (ng/mL) in the Osteoarticular Infection: Absent ranged from 9.2 - 46.
Conclusion: Our study result were similar in respect to other authors but statistically not significant, therefore requires reopening of the debate on correlation of serum vitamin D with osteoarticular infections.
Keywords: Osteoarticular Infection, Vitamin D, Joint
Study on a 3D-Bioprinted Tissue Model of Self-Assembled Nanopeptide Hydrogels Combined With Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Zhou Guanzhou , Tian Ailing , Yi Xin , Fan Lufeng , Shao Wenchong , Wu Han , Sun Nianfeng 
Published: August 2021

Objective: This study aimed to observe the cell growth status and multidirectional differentiation ability in a 3D-bioprinted tissue model of self-assembled nanopeptides and human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs).Methods: Primary Ad-MSCs were isolated, cultured, and identified by flow cytometry. Tissue models were printed via 3D bioprinting technology using a “biological ink” consisting of a mixed solution of self-assembled nanopeptides and Ad-MSCs. Ad-MSCs were induced into osteogenic, adipogenic, and endothelial differentiation and compared with the control groups by staining.Results: The nanopeptide fiber was 10–30 nm in diameter and 200–500 nm in length under the atomic-force microscope. It had the characteristics of nano-scale materials. Flow cytometry showed that the isolated and cultured cells were positive for CD29 (98.51%), CD90 (97.87%), and CD166 (98.32%) but did not express CD31 (1.58%), CD34 (2.42%), CD45 (2.95%), or human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR (0.53%), consistent with the immunophenotype of Ad-MSCs. Then, a tissue model was printed using the biological ink, followed by induction of differentiation of Ad-MSCs within the tissue model. Alizarin red S staining showed the formation of calcium nodules in the osteogenesis induction experimental group, and oil red O stained lipid droplets in Ad-MSCs in the adipogenesis induction experimental group, whereas the two control groups were not stained.Conclusion: Ad-MSCs from primary cultures have the characteristics of stem cells. Self-assembled nanopeptide hydrogel is a good tissue engineering material that can serve as an extracellular matrix. Ad-MSCs in the 3D-printed tissue model using a biological ink consisting of a mixed solution of self-assembled nanopeptides and Ad-MSCs grew well and still had strong differentiation ability.
Influence of Electrolyte Concentration on Single-Molecule Sensing of Perfluorocarboxylic Acids
Authors: Yao Xinyun , Song Ning-Ning , Wang Jia , Zhao Xian , Cheng Meng-Yuan , Zuo Jiaqi , Qiu Kaipei 
Published: August 2021

Perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) are an emerging class of persistent organic pollutants. During the fabrication process, it is unavoidable to form PFCA homologs or isomers which exhibit distinct occurrence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. The precision measurement of PFCAs is therefore of significant importance. However, the existing characterization techniques, such as LC-MS/MS, cannot fully meet the requirement of isomer-specific analysis, largely due to the lack of authentic standards. Single-molecule sensors (SMSs) based on nanopore electrochemistry may be a feasible solution for PFCAs determination, thanks to their ultra-high spatiotemporal resolutions. Hence, as a first step, this work was to elucidate the influence of electrolyte concentration on the four most critical indicators of nanopore measurements, and furthermore, performance of nanopore SMSs. More specifically, three of the most representative short-chain PFCAs, perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), were adopted as the target analytes, aerolysin nanopore was employed as the sensing interface, and 2, 3 and 4 M KCl solutions were used as electrolytes. It was found that, when the concentration of KCl solution increased from 2 to 4 M, the conductance of aerolysin nanopore increased almost linearly at a rate of 0.5 nS per molar KCl within the whole voltage range, the current blockade of PFPeA at −50 mV increased from 61.74 to 66.57% owing to the enhanced steric exclusion effect, the maximum dwell time was more than doubled from 14.5 to 31.5 ms, and the barrier limited capture rate increased by 8.3 times from 0.46 to 3.85 Hz. As a result, when using 4 M KCl as the electrolyte, over 90% of the PFPeA, PFHxA and PFHpA were accurately identified from a mixed sample, and the calculated limit of detection of PFPeA reached 320 nM, more than 24 times lower than in 2 M KCl. It was thus clear that tuning the electrolyte concentration was a simple but very effective approach to improve the performance of nanopore SMSs for PFCAs determination.
Platelet-Rich Plasma for Bone Fracture Treatment: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence in Preclinical and Clinical Studies
Authors: Zhang Yangming , Xing Fei , Luo Rong , Duan Xin 
Published: August 2021

Background:Recently, there is an increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for bone fracture treatment. Nevertheless, the effect of PRP for bone fracture treatment remains controversial and is still a matter of discussion. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PRP injection for treatment of bone fracture.Methods:The main bibliographic databases, including Medline, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library, were comprehensively searched for studies focusing on the application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on bone fracture treatment. All relevant articles were screened for eligibility and subdivided into the preclinical and clinical studies. Data were extracted and presented systematically.Results:Finally, twenty-sixin vitropreclinical studies (basic studies), ninein vivopreclinical studies (animal studies), and nine clinical studies, met the selection criteria, and were included in the present systematic review. Preclinical studies showed an overall positive effect of PRP on osteoblast-like cellsin vitroand bone healing in animal models. The most used treatment for bone fracture in animal and clinical studies is fixation surgery combined with PRP injection. The clinical studies reported PRP shortened bony healing duration, and had no positive effect on improving the healing rate of closed fractures. However, the results of functional outcomes are controversial. Additionally, compared with control group, PRP would not increase the rate of postoperative wound infection.Conclusion:The present systematic review confirmed the continuing interests of PRP as an additional treatment for bone fracture. Preclinical studies highlighted the potential value of PRP as promising therapy for bone fracture. However, the preclinical evidence did not translate into a similar result in the clinical studies. In addition, types of fractures and procedures of PRP preparation are heterogeneous in enrolled studies, which might result in controversial results. Meanwhile, characteristics of PRP, such as platelet concentration, the numbers of leukocytes, still need to be determined and further research is required.
Modulation of the Somatosensory Evoked Potential by Attention and Spinal Cord Stimulation
Authors: Niso Guiomar , Tjepkema-Cloostermans Marleen C. , Lenders Mathieu W. P. M. , de Vos Cecile C. 
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) is a last-resort treatment for patients with intractable chronic pain in whom pharmacological and other treatments have failed. Conventional tonic SCS is accompanied by tingling sensations. More recent stimulation protocols like burst SCS are not sensed by the patient while providing similar levels of pain relief. It has been previously reported that conventional tonic SCS can attenuate sensory-discriminative processing in several brain areas, but that burst SCS might have additional effects on the medial, motivational-affective pain system. In this explorative study we assessed the influence of attention on the somatosensory evoked brain responses under conventional tonic SCS as well as burst SCS regime.Methods: Twelve chronic pain patients with an implanted SCS device had 2-weeks evaluation periods with three different SCS settings (conventional tonic SCS, burst SCS, and sham SCS). At the end of each period, an electro-encephalography (EEG) measurement was done, at which patients received transcutaneous electrical pulses at the tibial nerve to induce somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP). SEP data was acquired while patients were attending the applied pulses and while they were mind wandering. The effects of attention as well as SCS regimes on the SEP were analyzed by comparing amplitudes of early and late latencies at the vertex as well as brain activity at full cortical maps.Results: Pain relief obtained by the various SCS settings varied largely among patients. Early SEP responses were not significantly affected by attention nor SCS settings (i.e., burst, tonic, and sham). However, late SEP responses (P300) were reduced with tonic and burst SCS: conventional tonic SCS reduced P300 brain activity in the unattended condition, while burst SCS reduced P300 brain activity in both attended and unattended conditions.Conclusion: Burst spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of chronic pain seems to reduce cortical attention that is or can be directed to somatosensory stimuli to a larger extent than conventional spinal cord stimulation treatment. This is a first step in understanding why in selected chronic pain patients burst SCS is more effective than tonic SCS and how neuroimaging could assist in personalizing SCS treatment.
Case Report: GPi DBS for Non-parkinsonian Midline Tremor: A Normative Connectomic Comparison to a Failed Thalamic DBS
Authors: Morishita Takashi , Sakai Yuki , Mishima Takayasu , Umemoto George , Okun Michael S. , Tanaka Saori C. , Tsuboi Yoshio , Inoue Tooru 
Published: August 2021

Introduction: The clinical efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for midline tremor has been heterogenous. Here, we present an atypical case with facial and palatal tremor treated with DBS. We aimed to show the difference between the fibers affected by stimulation of the two targets [globus pallidus interna (GPi) and ventral intermediate (Vim) thalamic nucleus] using a normative connectome analysis.Case Report: A 76-year-old woman with a 4-year history of severe facial and palatal tremor due to craniofacial dystonia. Following a failed bilateral Vim DBS, explantation of preexisting leads and implantation of bilateral GPi leads resulted in the resolution of tremor symptoms following a failed bilateral Vim DBS. We performed a normative connectome analysis using the volume of tissue activated (VTA) as a region of interest. The results revealed that the fiber tracts associated with VTA of GPi DBS had connections with the facial area of the motor cortex while the Vim DBS did not.Conclusion: This case study suggests the possibility that GPi DBS may be considered for midline tremor, and that the normative connectome analysis may possibly offer clues as to the structures underpinning a positive response. We may refine targets for some of the more difficult to control symptoms such as the midline tremor in this case.
Sorafenib Versus Apatinib Both Combined Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis: A Comparative Retrospective Study
Authors: Cao Yanyan , Sun Tao , Guo Xiaopeng , Ouyang Tao , Kan Xuefeng , Chen Lei , Liang Bin , Wang Mingfu , Zheng Chuansheng 
Published: August 2021

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combining with sorafenib or apatinib for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).MethodsFrom June 2015 to March 2020, a total of 89 consecutive advanced HCC patients with PVTT who were treated with sorafenib-TACE (S-TACE) or apatinib-TACE (A-TACE) in our center were enrolled. The overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP), tumor response, and adverse events in the two groups were compared.ResultsThere were 32 and 41 patients included in the S-TACE group and A-TACE group, respectively. The median follow-up was 10.0 months (range, 3.0–36.0 months) in the whole study. The median OS (11.0 vs. 10.0 months, P = 0.419), median TTP (5.0 vs. 6.0 months, P = 0.073), and tumor response (P = 0.529) between the S-TACE group and the A-TACE group were not significantly different. The adverse events related to sorafenib or apatinib were tolerable.ConclusionS-TACE and A-TACE exhibited comparable prognosis for HCC patients with PVTT, which provide another effective and safe method of A-TACE for these patients except for conventional S-TACE.
Development and Performance Evaluation of Wearable Respiratory Self-Training System Using Patch Type Magnetic Sensor
Authors: Kang Hyo Kyeong , Kim Hojin , Hong Chae-Seon , Kim Jihun , Kim Jin Sung , Kim Dong Wook 
Published: August 2021

PurposeRespiratory training system that can be used by patients themselves was developed with a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS)-based patch-type magnetic sensor. We conducted a basic function test and clinical usability evaluation to determine the system’s clinical applicability.MethodsThe system is designed with a sensor attached to the patient’s chest and a magnet on the back to monitor the patient’s respiration by measuring changes in magnetic intensity related to respiratory movements of the thoracic surface. The system comprises a MEMS-based patch-type magnetic sensor capable of wireless communication and being applied to measurement magnets and mobile applications. System performance was evaluated by the level of systemic noise, the precision of the sensor in various breathing patterns, how measurement signals change for varying distances, or the presence or absence of material between the sensor and the magnet. Various breathing patterns were created using the QUASAR respiratory motion phantom; the data obtained were analyzed using the fitting and peak value analysis methods.ResultsThe sensor had a noise ratio of &lt;0.54% of the signal; the average errors in signal amplitude and period for breathing patterns were 78.87 um and 72 ms, respectively. The signal could be measured consistently when the sensor–magnet distance was 10–25 cm. The signal difference was 1.89% for the presence or absence of a material, indicating that its influence on the measurement signal is relatively small.ConclusionThe potential of our MEMS-based patch-type wearable respiratory self-training system was confirmed via basic function tests and clinical usability evaluations. We believe that the training system could provide thorough respiratory training for patients after a clinical trial with actual patients confirming its clinical efficacy and usability.
Prevalence of Smell or Taste Dysfunction Among Children With COVID-19 Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yan Qingzi , Qiu Dan , Liu Xiang , Guo Xiaolan , Hu Yixiang 
Published: August 2021

Background: Smell and taste dysfunctions are common and have been reported as an early indicator of COVID-19. The prevalence of smell and taste dysfunctions among children with COVID-19 varies greatly across studies, which remains to be summarized quantitatively. This review aimed at examining the pooled prevalence of smell or taste dysfunctions among children with COVID-19, summarizing possible causes of the inconsistencies in the current estimates.Methods: Systematic searches of databases were conducted for literature published until 12 January 2021. Statistical analyses were performed using R software, the pooled prevalence was combined using random effects model. The Loney criteria were used for quality assessment.Results: A total of 18 eligible studies were included. The results showed that the pooled prevalence of smell dysfunction among children with COVID-19 was 15.97% (95% CI: 8.18–23.77%), the pooled prevalence of taste dysfunction among children with COVID-19 was 9.20% (95% CI: 4.25–14.16%), the pooled prevalence of smell or taste dysfunction among children with COVID-19 was 15.50% (95% CI: 10.30–20.70%) and the pooled prevalence of smell and taste dysfunction among children with COVID-19 was 20.21% (95% CI: 14.14–26.28%). Higher smell or taste dysfunction rates were associated with being female, younger age, smaller sample size, patients in Asia, and with comorbidities.Conclusions: Evidence suggests that smell or taste dysfunctions were common among children with COVID-19. Further research is needed to identify effective strategies for preventing and treating smell and taste dysfunctions among children with COVID-19.
No Spread of SARS-CoV-2 From Infected Symptomatic Children to Parents: A Prospective Cohort Study in a Controlled Hospital Setting
Authors: Nunziata Francesco , Poeta Marco , Vassallo Edoardo , Continisio Grazia Isabella , Lo Vecchio Andrea , Guarino Alfredo , Bruzzese Eugenia 
Published: August 2021

Introduction: The transmission rates severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from children to adults are unclear due to a lack of controlled conditions.Materials and Methods: We investigated the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among 12 discordant child-parent pairs in our ward. In each hospital isolation room, caregivers and children lived in close contact during the entire hospitalization period.Results: A total of 136 swab-positive children (mean age, 3.6 ± 4.9 median age, 1; IQR 0–6.2, range 0.1–17) attended by their caregivers were hospitalized. Of those, 12/136 (8.8%, mean age, 6.1 ± 5.3 median age, 4.5) were attended by caregivers who were swab and serology negative at admission despite previous close contact with positive children at home. Three children were completely dependent on their mothers, one of whom was being breastfed. The mean duration of overall exposure to the index case was 20.5 ± 8.2 days.Conclusion: None of the infected children transmitted SARS-CoV-2 infection to their caregivers, raising the hypothesis of a cluster of resistant mothers or of limited transmission from children to adults despite prolonged exposure and close contact. These data might provide reassurance regarding school openings and offer the chance of investigating SARS-CoV-2 variants in the future under the same quasi-experimental conditions.
Gene Expression Pattern of Peyer’s Patch Lymphocytes Exposed to Kagocel Suggests Pattern-Recognition Receptors Mediate Its Action
Authors: Andreev-Andrievskiy Alexander A. , Zinovkin Roman A. , Mashkin Mikhail A. , Frolova Olga Yu. , Kazaishvili Yuriy G. , Scherbakova Victoria S. , Rudoy Boris A. , Nesterenko Vladimir G. 
Published: August 2021

Kagocel is a synthetic carboxymethylcellulose derivative copolymerized with gossypol. Clinical data evidence its safety and efficiency for the treatment of flu and other viral infections via enhancement of interferon production. The gut-associated lymphoid tissue seems a likely site of kagocel action. The study was aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of its action using murine Peyer’s patches lymphocytes as a test system and the cytokines production and gene expression patterns as the primary outcomes. The Peyer’s patches lymphocytes isolated from BALB/c mice were stimulated with concanavalin A, or, to mimic viral infection, with a combination of concanavalin A and TLR3 ligand poly I:C. After 24 h of stimulation the cells were treated with saline, 30, 100, or 300 μg/ml of kagocel, or, as positive controls, 300 μg/ml oats b-D-glucan or 300 μg/ml lentinan. After 24 and 72 h of incubation with these drugs cytokines production was analyzed with ELISA and gene expression pattern was investigated using nCounter Inflammation panel chips followed by bioinformatics analysis. Expression of genes involved in the inflammatory response, antiviral defense, lymphocytes survival and proliferation (C1qa, C2, C3, Ccl21a, Il11, Il1b, Il23a, Il5, Ltb4r2, Alox15, Pla2g4a, Ptger1, Mapkapk5, Hras, Ifna1, Tlr2, Mrc1, Mx2) was upregulated in kagocel-treated Peyer’s patches lymphocytes. A list of plausible transcription factors (CEBPs, IRF, NFκB, RXR, Stat, Tead4, and ZSCAN) and master-regulators has been identified (cIAP, CIKS, dock9, MEKK1, FXR, IKK, IRAK, TRAF, dsRNA:TLR3:TRIF). The changes in gene expression pattern and the outcomes of bioinformatics analysis suggest that pattern recognition receptors, TLRs and dectin-1, are the key mediators of kagocel immunomodulatory action, with the possible involvement of interferon autocrine loop. The genes upregulated with kagocel include diverse components of the innate immune defense system.
The Antidepressant-Like and Analgesic Effects of Kratom Alkaloids are accompanied by Changes in Low Frequency Oscillations but not ΔFosB Accumulation
Authors: Buckhalter Shoshana , Soubeyrand Eric , Ferrone Sarah A.E. , Rasmussen Duncan J. , Manduca Joshua D. , Al-Abdul-Wahid M. Sameer , Frie Jude A. , Khokhar Jibran Y. , Akhtar Tariq A. , Perreault Melissa L. 
Published: August 2021

Mitragyna speciosa (“kratom”), employed as a traditional medicine to improve mood and relieve pain, has shown increased use in Europe and North America. Here, the dose-dependent effects of a purified alkaloid kratom extract on neuronal oscillatory systems function, analgesia, and antidepressant-like behaviour were evaluated and kratom-induced changes in ΔFosB expression determined. Male rats were administered a low or high dose of kratom (containing 0.5 or 1 mg/kg of mitragynine, respectively) for seven days. Acute or repeated low dose kratom suppressed ventral tegmental area (VTA) theta oscillatory power whereas acute or repeated high dose kratom increased delta power, and reduced theta power, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), prefrontal cortex (PFC), cingulate cortex (Cg) and VTA. The repeated administration of low dose kratom additionally elevated delta power in PFC, decreased theta power in NAc and PFC, and suppressed beta and low gamma power in Cg. Suppressed high gamma power in NAc and PFC was seen selectively following repeated high dose kratom. Both doses of kratom elevated NAc-PFC, VTA-NAc, and VTA-Cg coherence. Low dose kratom had antidepressant-like properties whereas both doses produced analgesia. No kratom-induced changes in ΔFosB expression were evident. These results support a role for kratom as having both antidepressant and analgesic properties that are accompanied by specific changes in neuronal circuit function. However, the absence of drug-induced changes in ΔFosB expression suggest that the drug may circumvent this cellular signaling pathway, a pathway known for its significant role in addiction.