bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preterm Birth and Birth Weight and the Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in Chinese Children
Authors: Huang Ke , Si Shuting , Chen Ruimin , Wang Chunlin , Chen Shaoke , Liang Yan , Yao Hui , Zheng Rongxiu , Liu Fang , Cao Binyan , Su Zhe , Mireguli Maimaiti , Luo Feihong , Li Pin , Du Hongwei , Zhu Min , Yang Yu , Cui Lanwei , Yu Yunxian , Fu Junfen 
Published: April 2021

AimsFindings from previous studies about the association of preterm birth as well as birth weight with the risk of T1DM were still inconsistent. We aimed to further clarify these associations based on Chinese children and explore the role of gender therein.MethodsA nationwide multicenter and population-based large cross-sectional study was conducted in China from 2017 to 2019. Children aged between 3 and 18 years old with complete information were included in this analysis. Multiple Poisson regression models were used for evaluating the associations of birth weight as well as preterm birth with T1DM in children.ResultsOut of 181,786 children, 82 childhood T1DM cases were identified from questionnaire survey. Children with preterm birth (&lt;37 weeks) had higher risk of type 1 diabetes (OR: 3.17, 95%CI: 1.76-5.71). Children born with high birth weight (≥4,000g) had no statistically significant risk of T1DM (OR:1.71, 95%CI: 0.90-3.22). However, children’s gender might modify the effect of high birth weight on T1DM (girls: OR: 3.15, 95%CI: 1.33-7.47; boys: OR: 0.99, 95%CI: 0.38-2.55, p for interaction=0.065). In addition, children with low birth weight were not associated with T1DM (OR: 0.70, 95%CI: 0.24-2.08). The findings from matched data had the similar trend.ConclusionsIn China mainland, preterm birth increased the risk of childhood T1DM, but high birth weight only affected girls. Therefore, early prevention of T1DM may start with prenatal care to avoid adverse birth outcomes and more attention should be paid to children with preterm birth and girls with high birth weight after birth.
Independent Associations of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Interleukin-1 Beta With Radiographic Emphysema in People Living With HIV
Authors: Thudium Rebekka F. , Ringheim Hedda , Ronit Andreas , Hoel Hedda , Benfield Thomas , Mocroft Amanda , Gerstoft Jan , Trøseid Marius , Borges Álvaro H. , Ostrowski Sisse R. , Vestbo Jørgen , Nielsen Susanne D. 
Published: April 2021

BackgroundPeople living with HIV (PLWH) have increased systemic inflammation, and inflammation has been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of emphysema. We investigated whether elevated cytokine concentrations (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interferon-gamma (IFNγ), soluble CD14 (sCD14) and sCD163 were independently associated with radiographic emphysema in PLWH.MethodsWe included PLWH from the Copenhagen Comorbidity in HIV Infection (COCOMO) Study without hepatitis B and C co-infection and with a plasma sample and a chest computed tomography scan available. Emphysema plus trace emphysema was defined as the percentage of low attenuation area under −950 Houndsfield Unit (%LAA-950) using a cut-off at 5%. Cytokine concentrations were measured by ELISA or Luminex immunoassays. An elevated cytokine concentration was defined as above the 75th percentile.ResultsOf 783 PLWH, 147 (18.8%) had emphysema. PLWH were predominantly male (86.0%) and 743 (94.9%) had undetectable viral replication. PLWH with emphysema had higher concentrations of TNFα (median (IQR): 8.2 (6.4-9.8) versus 7.1 (5.7-8.6) pg/ml, p&lt;0.001), IL-1β (0.21 (0.1-0.4) versus 0.17 (0.1-0.3) pg/ml, p=0.004) and IL-6 (3.6 (2.6-4.9) versus 3.1 (2.0-4.3) pg/ml, p=0.023) than PLWH without. In a logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, BMI and CD4 nadir, elevated TNFα (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.78 [95%CI: 1.14-2.76], p=0.011) and IL-1β (aOR: 1.81 [95%CI: 1.16-2.81], p=0.009) were independently associated with emphysema. The association between IL-1β and emphysema was modified by smoking (p-interaction=0.020) with a more pronounced association in never-smokers (aOR: 4.53 [95%CI: 2.05-9.98], p&lt;0.001).ConclusionTwo markers of systemic inflammation, TNFα and IL-1β, were independently associated with emphysema in PLWH and may contribute to the pathogenesis of emphysema. Importantly, the effect of IL-1β seems to be mediated through pathways that are independent of excessive smoking.Clinical Trial Registrationclinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT02382822.
Increased TPSAB1 Copy Number in a Family With Elevated Basal Serum Levels of Tryptase
Authors: Hernández-Hernández Laura , Sanz Catalina , Marcos-Vadillo Elena , García-Sánchez Asunción , Moreno Esther , Lorente Félix , González-de-Olano David , Dávila Ignacio , Isidoro-García María 
Published: April 2021

Background: Some recent familial studies have described a pattern of autosomal dominant inheritance for increased basal serum tryptase (BST), but no correlation with mRNA expression and gene dose have been reported.Objective: We analyzed TPSAB1 mRNA expression and gene dose in a four-member family with high BST and in two control subjects.Methods: Blood samples were collected from the family and control subjects. Complete morphologic, immunophenotypical, and molecular bone marrow mast cell (MC) studies were performed. mRNA gene expression and gene dose were performed in a LightCycler 480 instrument. Genotype and CNV were performed by quantitative real-time digital PCR (qdPCR).Results: CNV analysis revealed a hereditary copy number gain genotype (3β2α) present in all the family members studied. The elevated total BST in the family members correlated with a significant increase in tryptase gene expression and dose.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: We present a family with hereditary α-tryptasemia and elevated BST which correlated with a high expression of tryptase genes and an increased gene dose. The family members presented with atypical MC-mediator release symptoms or were even asymptomatic. Clinicians should be aware that elevated BST does not always mean an MC disorder.
Development of a Simple and Practical Screening Tool for Detection of Sarcopenia in Older People: The Bushehr Elderly Health Program
Authors: Shafiee Gita , Ostovar Afshin , Maleki Birjandi Saba , Nabipour Iraj , Larijani Bagher , Heshmat Ramin 
Published: April 2021

Background: Sarcopenia is defined by the loss of muscle mass and function with a considerable prevalence which increases morbidity and mortality. We aimed to develop and validate a simple tool for screening of sarcopenia in Iranian older population.Methods: In this study, we included 2,211 adults aged 60 years or older that participated in the stage II of Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program, a population-based prospective cohort study. We defined sarcopenia as reduced skeletal muscle strength plus low muscle mass. The study sample was divided into two parts; development set which were allocated to the development of the model (n = 1,499) and validation set (n = 712) were allocated to validation of the model.Results: There were 22.9% of men and 23.2% women classified as having sarcopenia based on EWGSOP-2.After selection of variables, the final models named SarSA-Mod (Sarcopenia Scoring Assessment Models) were developed with area to under curves (AUC) of 0.82 (0.79–0.86) and 0.87 (0.84–0.90) in men and women, respectively. The final model included “age,” “weight,” and “calf circumference” in both sexes. The sensitivity and specificity and positive and negative predictive values for sarcopenia were 84.3, 76.0, 49.8, and 94.5% for women, 85.4, 64.8, 40.2, and 94.2% for men, respectively. The model performance was tested in the validation set with accuracy 91 and 84% among women and men, respectively.Conclusions: Sarcopenia could be detected using SarSA-Mod, as a simple screening test with high accuracy among both sexes. Also, this screening test is valid, feasible, reliable and cost-effective compared to other tools.
Polymorphisms in Genes Encoding Glutathione Transferase Pi and Glutathione Transferase Omega Influence Prostate Cancer Risk and Prognosis
Authors: Santric Veljko , Dragicevic Dejan , Matic Marija , Djokic Milica , Pljesa-Ercegovac Marija , Radic Tanja , Suvakov Sonja , Nikitovic Marina , Stankovic Vesna , Milojevic Bogomir , Radovanovic Milan , Dzamic Zoran , Simic Tatjana , Savic-Radojevic Ana 
Published: April 2021

Considering the pleiotropic roles of glutathione transferase (GST) omega class members in redox homeostasis, we hypothesized that polymorphisms in GSTO1 and GSTO2 might contribute to prostate cancer (PC) development and progression. Therefore, we performed a comprehensive analysis of GSTO1 and GSTO2 SNPs’ role in susceptibility to PC, as well as whether they might serve as prognostic biomarkers independently or in conjunction with other common GST polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1). Genotyping was performed in 237 PC cases and 236 age-matched controls by multiplex PCR for deletion of GST polymorphisms and quantitative PCR for SNPs. The results of this study, for the first time, demonstrated that homozygous carriers of both GSTO1*A/A and GSTO2*G/G variant genotypes are at increased risk of PC. This was further confirmed by haplotype analysis, which showed that H2 comprising both GSTO1*A and GSTO2*G variant alleles represented a high-risk combination. However, the prognostic relevance of polymorphisms in GST omega genes was not found in our cohort of PC patients. Analysis of the role of other investigated GST polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1) in terms of PC prognosis has shown shorter survival in carriers of GSTP1*T/T (rs1138272) genotype than in those carrying at least one referent allele. In addition, the presence of GSTP1*T/T genotype independently predicted a four-fold higher risk of overall mortality among PC patients. This study demonstrated a significant prognostic role of GST polymorphism in PC.
Comprehensive Metabolomics Identified the Prominent Role of Glycerophospholipid Metabolism in Coronary Artery Disease Progression
Authors: Chen Hui , Wang Zixian , Qin Min , Zhang Bin , Lin Lu , Ma Qilin , Liu Chen , Chen Xiaoping , Li Hanping , Lai Weihua , Zhong Shilong 
Published: April 2021

Background: Coronary stenosis severity determines ischemic symptoms and adverse outcomes. The metabolomic analysis of human fluids can provide an insight into the pathogenesis of complex disease. Thus, this study aims to investigate the metabolomic and lipidomic biomarkers of coronary artery disease (CAD) severity and to develop diagnostic models for distinguishing individuals at an increased risk of atherosclerotic burden and plaque instability.Methods: Widely targeted metabolomic and lipidomic analyses of plasma in 1,435 CAD patients from three independent centers were performed. These patients were classified as stable coronary artery disease (SCAD), unstable angina (UA), and myocardial infarction (MI). Associations between CAD stages and metabolic conditions were assessed by multivariable-adjusted logistic regression. Furthermore, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic-based classifiers were used to identify biomarkers and to develop prediagnostic models for discriminating the diverse CAD stages.Results: On the basis of weighted correlation network analysis, 10 co-clustering metabolite modules significantly (p &lt; 0.05) changed at different CAD stages and showed apparent correlation with CAD severity indicators. Moreover, cross-comparisons within CAD patients characterized that a total of 72 and 88 metabolites/lipid species significantly associated with UA (vs. SCAD) and MI (vs. UA), respectively. The disturbed pathways included glycerophospholipid metabolism, and cysteine and methionine metabolism. Furthermore, models incorporating metabolic and lipidomic profiles with traditional risk factors were constructed. The combined model that incorporated 11 metabolites/lipid species and four traditional risk factors represented better discrimination of UA and MI (C-statistic = 0.823, 95% CI, 0.783–0.863) compared with the model involving risk factors alone (C-statistic = 0.758, 95% CI, 0.712–0.810). The combined model was successfully used in discriminating UA and MI patients (p &lt; 0.001) in a three-center validation cohort.Conclusion: Differences in metabolic profiles of diverse CAD subtypes provided a new approach for the risk stratification of unstable plaque and the pathogenesis decipherment of CAD progression.
Afterdischarges in Myasthenia Gravis
Authors: Yang Li , Guo Shougang , Chen Xiuying 
Published: April 2021

Introduction: This study aimed to analyze the clinical features of myasthenia gravis (MG) in combination with the afterdischarges and compare the characteristics of afterdischarges in MG with different serum antibodies.Methods: Ninety-two patients with MG were analyzed retrospectively. The afterdischarges were investigated using motor nerve conduction examination, F-wave examination, and repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS).Results: Afterdischarges were observed after the M wave in 14 of 92 patients. Three of these 14 patients tested positive for the muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibody (MuSK-Ab), and 11 patients tested positive for the acetylcholine receptor antibody (AchR-Ab). The characteristics of the afterdischarges on RNS differed distinctly between the two antibody groups. The afterdischarges occurred on the first stimulation, but decreased on the second and subsequent stimulations in patients with MuSK-MG, while the afterdischarges continued to occur on each stimulation in patients with AchR-MG.Discussion: The characteristics of the afterdischarges on RNS enabled easy identification of their synaptic or neurogenic nature.
Brain Oscillation Entrainment by Perceptible and Non-perceptible Rhythmic Light Stimulation
Authors: Lingelbach Katharina , Dreyer Alexander M. , Schöllhorn Isabel , Bui Michael , Weng Michael , Diederichs Frederik , Rieger Jochem W. , Petermann-Stock Ina , Vukelić Mathias 
Published: April 2021

Objective and Background:Decades of research in the field of steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) have revealed great potential of rhythmic light stimulation for brain–computer interfaces. Additionally, rhythmic light stimulation provides a non-invasive method for entrainment of oscillatory activity in the brain. Especially effective protocols enabling non-perceptible rhythmic stimulation and, thereby, reducing eye fatigue and user discomfort are favorable. Here, we investigate effects of (1) perceptible and (2) non-perceptible rhythmic light stimulation as well as attention-based effects of the stimulation by asking participants to focus (a) on the stimulation source directly in an overt attention condition or (b) on a cross-hair below the stimulation source in a covert attention condition.Method:SSVEPs at 10 Hz were evoked with a light-emitting diode (LED) driven by frequency-modulated signals and amplitudes of the current intensity either below or above a previously estimated individual threshold. Furthermore, we explored the effect of attention by asking participants to fixate on the LED directly in the overt attention condition and indirectly attend it in the covert attention condition. By measuring electroencephalography, we analyzed differences between conditions regarding the detection of reliable SSVEPs via the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and functional connectivity in occipito-frontal(-central) regions.Results:We could observe SSVEPs at 10 Hz for the perceptible and non-perceptible rhythmic light stimulation not only in the overt but also in the covert attention condition. The SNR and SSVEP amplitudes did not differ between the conditions and SNR values were in all except one participant above significance thresholds suggested by previous literature indicating reliable SSVEP responses. No difference between the conditions could be observed in the functional connectivity in occipito-frontal(-central) regions.Conclusion:The finding of robust SSVEPs even for non-intrusive rhythmic stimulation protocols below an individual perceptibility threshold and without direct fixation on the stimulation source reveals strong potential as a safe stimulation method for oscillatory entrainment in naturalistic applications.
Effects of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes and Their Subsets in Children: Imbalanced CD4+/CD8+ T Cell Ratio and Disease Severity
Authors: Mahmoudi Shima , Yaghmaei Bahareh , Sharifzadeh Ekbatani Meisam , Pourakbari Babak , Navaeian Amene , Parvaneh Nima , Haghi Ashtiani Mohammad Taghi , Mamishi Setareh 
Published: April 2021

Introduction: While pathogenesis in COVID-19 is not fully known and the effects between SARS-CoV-2 and the immune system are complicated, it is known that lymphopenia, hyper-inflammatory responses, and cytokines play an important role in the pathology of COVID-19. While some hematological abnormalities have been described among the laboratory features of COVID-19, there have not been studies reported on lymphocyte subset analyses in children. The aim of this study was to describe lymphocyte subsets in pediatric patients with mild/moderate or severe COVID-19.Methods: The subjects in the study were children with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia confirmed with the real-time RT-PCR. The subjects were admitted to the Children's Medical Center, affiliated with the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, between March 7th and June 10th of 2020. The complete blood counts and lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed for each patient.Results: The study included 55 hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (34 patients (62%) with an observed mild/moderate case of the disease and 21 patients (38%) with severedisease). Lymphocyte counts were found to be lower in patients with a severe case (mean ± SD 1.6 ± 0.9 in the severe group vs. 2.3 ± 2.2 in the mild group). Compared to the group with mild/moderate pneumonia, children with severe pneumonia had an increased count of CD8+ T cell and a lower percentage of CD4+ T cell. However, the differences between the groups were negligible. Interestingly, the severe group had a lower CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio compared to the mild group (1.1 ± 0.47 vs. 1.4 ± 0.8, p-value: 0.063). CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio &lt;2, 1.5, and 1 was found in 48 (87%), 40 (73%), and 19 cases (35%). All of the seven cases in which the subject passed (13%) had CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio of &lt;2, 86% had CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio of &lt;1.5, and 29% had CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio of &lt;1.Conclusion: The CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio was lower in patients with severe COVID-19 compared to those with mild/moderate form of disease. However, although a decline in CD4+/CD8+ ratio may serve as a useful metric in analyzing of the derangement in immune responses in patients with severe COVID-19, further study with larger sample sizes is highly recommended.
Using MEST-C Scores and the International Study of Kidney Disease in Children Classification to Predict Outcomes of Henoch–Schönlein Purpura Nephritis in Children
Authors: Wang Meiqiu , Wang Ren , He Xu , Zhang Pei , Kuang Qianhuining , Yao Jun , Fang Xiang , Shi Zhuo , Wu Heyan , Peng Yingchao , Xia Zhengkun , Gao Chunlin 
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Henoch–Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) bear similarities in some aspects. The histological classification of HSPN was built on the International Study of Kidney Disease in Children (ISKDC) criteria, while IgAN was established on the 2016 Oxford classification (MEST-C scores). The purpose of this paper was to discuss the predictive value of the ISKDC classification and MEST-C scores in children with HSPN.Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 877 children with HSPN in a single center between 2001 and 2019. The primary outcome was defined as chronic kidney disease—estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) &lt;90 ml/min/1.73 m2.Results: During the follow-up period of 23.3 (10.9–47.9) months, 51 (5.8%) patients reached the primary outcome. As revealed in a Kaplan–Meier plot, segmental glomerulosclerosis (S) (P &lt; 0.001) and tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (T) (P &lt; 0.001) significantly predict poor renal outcome. Other Oxford lesions and the ISKDC classification, however, did not show a significant difference in a worse outcome. In a multivariate Cox model adjusted for pathological and clinical factors, eGFR [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.831, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.359–5.896], S lesion (HR = 3.936, 95% CI = 2.078–7.457), and T lesion (HR = 4.002, 95% CI = 1.733–9.242) were independent risk factors for the renal outcome.Conclusion: This series constitutes the largest series reported so far in the literature of such patients. According to our findings, S and T of the Oxford classification, which are ignored by the ISKDC classification, could be applied to predict the renal prognosis of children with HSPN.
Catfish Epidermal Preparation Accelerates Healing of Damaged Nerve in a Sciatic Nerve Crush Injury Rat Model
Authors: Renno Waleed M. , Afzal Mohammad , Paul Bincy , Nair Divya , Kumar Jijin , Al-Hassan Jassim M. 
Published: April 2021

Preliminary investigations showed that preparations from Arabian Gulf catfish (Arius bilineatus, Val) epidermal gel secretion (PCEGS) exhibit potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties as shown in our previous clinical trials for the healing of non-healing diabetic foot ulcers, chronic back pain, and some other neurological disorders. Here, we report for the first time a unique preparation containing only proteins and lipids (soluble protein fraction B, SPF-FB), derived from the PCEGS accelerated the healing and recovery of sensory-motor functions of experimental sciatic nerve crush injury in rats with its unique neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties on the spinal neurons and peripheral nerve fibers. Male rats were randomly assigned to five groups: (I) NAÏVE, (II) SHAM, (III) CRUSH treated with saline, (IV) CRUSH + SPF-FB treated with 3 mg/kg intraperitoneally (IP) and (V) CRUSH + SPF-FB treated with 6 mg/kg subcutaneously (SC) groups. The crush groups III, IV and V underwent sciatic nerve crush injury, followed by treatment daily for 14 days with saline, SPF-FB IP and SPF-FB SC. All animals were tested for the neurobehavioral parameters throughout the 6 weeks of the study. Sciatic nerve and spinal cord tissues were processed for light and electron histological examinations, stereological analysis, immunohistochemical and biochemical examinations at Week 4 and Week 6 post-injury. Administration of SPF-FB IP or SC significantly enhanced the neurobehavioral sensory and motor performance and histomorphological neuroregeneration of the sciatic nerve-injured rats. The stereological evaluation of the axon area, average axon perimeters, and myelin thickness revealed significant histomorphological evidence of neuroregeneration in the FB-treated sciatic nerve crush injured groups compared to controls at 4 and 6 weeks. SPF-FB treatment significantly prevented the increased in NeuN-immunoreactive neurons, increased GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes, and decreased GAP-43. We conclude that SPF-FB treatment lessens neurobehavioral deficits, enhances axonal regeneration following nerve injury. We conclude that SPF-FB treatment lessens neurobehavioral deficits and enhances axonal regeneration following nerve injury, as well as protects spinal neurons and enhances subcellular recovery by increasing astrocytic activity and decreasing GAP-43 expression.
Mechanical Stretch Induces Smooth Muscle Cell Dysfunction by Regulating ACE2 via P38/ATF3 and Post-transcriptional Regulation by miR-421
Authors: Liu Xiaolin , Liu Xinxin , Li Mengmeng , Zhang Yu , Chen Weijia , Zhang Meng , Zhang Cheng , Zhang Mei 
Published: April 2021

Graphical AbstractMechanical stretch may decrease the level of the protective factor ACE2 via the p38 MAPK/ATF3 pathway by prompting ATF3 translocation into the nucleus, which could directly bind to the ACE2 promoter via post-transcriptional regulation by miR-421.