bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Association Between Vitamin D and Acute Rejection in Human Kidney Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Study
Authors: Mirzakhani Mohammad , Mohammadkhani Sheyda , Hekmatirad Shirin , Aghapour Soudabeh , Gorjizadeh Negar , Shahbazi Mehdi , Mohammadnia-Afrouzi Mousa 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D (VitD) deficiency is associated with several diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory infection, and so forth. In the field of transplantation (kidney transplantation), some studies reported that patients with VitD deficiency are of increased chance of acute rejection, but other studies did not show such a chance. On the other hand, since VitD is a modulatory factor and can reduce the inflammatory response, understanding the exact role of it in transplantation may contribute to tolerance condition in these patients.Methods: The electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, ProQuest, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, were searched for eligible studies. In general, 14 studies with a total of 4,770 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Regarding the methodological heterogeneity, we selected a random-effects combination model. Moreover, OR was chosen as an effect size for this study.Results: After the combination of 14 studies, we showed that patients in the VitD-deficient group had an 82% increased chance of acute rejection compared with patients in the VitD-sufficient group, and this effect was significant (OR 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.29, 2.56]; I2 = 52.3%). This result was significant, and, regarding the narrow CI, it can be a conclusive result. Study quality and gender variables were the main sources of inconsistent results in the primary studies. Moreover, using meta-regression, we showed that VitD deficiency (independent from the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of patients) increased the chance of acute rejection.Conclusion: The normal VitD status of patients a few days before and after transplantation can reduce the risk of acute rejection, as it has definite modulatory effects on immune cells.
Association between respiratory and heart rate fluctuations and death occurrence in dying cancer patients: Continuous measurement with a non-wearable monitor
Authors: Fukui Sakiko , Ikuta Kasumi , Maeda Isseki , Hattori Satoshi , Hatano Yutaka , Yamakawa Miyae , Utsumi Momoe , Higami Yoko , Tanaka Haruka , Higuchi Akari 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
The present study aimed to explore the association between impending death and continual changes in respiratory and heart rates measured by a non-wearable monitor every minute for the final 2 weeks of dying cancer patients.
Methods
In this longitudinal study, we enrolled patients in a palliative-care-unit and continuously measured their respiratory/heart rates by a monitor, capturing their other vital signs and clinical status from medical records.
Result
A dataset was created with 240 patient-days from every minute data to death (345,600 data) among 24 patients for 3–14 days to death. We analyzed this 240 patient-day data. After confirming the associations between the value of death day (n = 24) or other days (2–14 days before death, n = 216) and the mean, maximum, minimum, and variance of respiratory and heart rates every 24 hours by univariate analyses, we conducted a repeated measures logistic regression analysis using a generalized estimating equation. Finally, the maximum respiratory rate and mean heart rate were significantly associated with death at 24, 48, and 72 hours later, other than the respiratory rate of the last 24 hours.
Conclusion
The maximum respiratory rate and mean heart rate measured every minute by a monitor can warn imminent death during the last days of life among dying patients. Our findings can help for family caregivers and care staff to aware imminent death among dying patients at home or in facilities, in collaboration with palliative care professionals.
A pivotal restructuring of modelling the control of COVID-19 during and after massive vaccination for the next few years
Authors: Cruz Jose B , Ronquillo Tirso A , Sangalang Ralph G B , Amante Albertson D , Ronquillo Divina G D , Peralta Janice F , Chua Antonette V , Jose Oliver L J A , Inojosa Raynell A 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
This paper presents a new mathematical feedback model to demonstrate how direct observations of the epidemiological compartments of population could be mapped to inputs, such that the social spread of the disease is asymptotically subdued. Details of the stabilization and robustness are included. This is a pivotal restructuring of modelling the control of corona virus from the current models in use world-wide which do not utilize feedback of functions of epidemiological compartments of population to construct the inputs. Although several vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) massive vaccination would take several years to reach herd immunity in most countries. Furthermore, the period of efficacy of the vaccination may be approximately one year only resulting in an unending vaccination. Even during the vaccination, there would be an urgent need to control the spread of the virus. When herd immunity is reached and vaccination is discontinued, there would be new surges of the disease. These surges of disease are not possible in appropriately designed stable feedback models. However, extensive testing, contact tracing, and medical treatment of those found infected, must be maintained.
Hypoxia-Related Gene FUT11 Promoted Pancreatic Cancer Progression Via Maintaining The Stabilization of PDK1
Authors: Cao Wenpeng , Zeng Zhirui , Pan Runsang , He Zhiwei , Wu Hao , Zhang Xiangyan , Chen Hui , Nie Yingjie , Lei Shan , Yu Zijiang 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Hypoxia participated in the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer (PC). However, genes associated with hypoxia respond and their regulated mechanism in PC cells were unclear. The current research was aimed to illuminate the role and hypoxia regulated mechanism of fucosyltransferase 11 (FUT11) in the progression of PC.Methods: After predicting FUT11 as a key hypoxia associated gene in PC using bioinformatics analysis. The expression of FUT11 in PC using quantitative real-time fluorescent PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. The effects of FUT11 on PC cells proliferation, migration and invasion under normoxia and hypoxia were detected using Cell Counting Kit 8, 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine assay, colony formation assay and transwell assay. Spleen capsule injected liver metastasis and subcutaneously injected model were performed to confirm the effects of FUT11 in vivo. Furthermore, western blot, luciferase assay and immunoprecipitation were performed to explore the regulated relationship among FUT11, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) in PC.Results: FUT11 was markedly increased of PC cells in hypoxia, up-regulated in the PC clinical tissues, and predicted a poor outcome. Inhibition of FUT11 reduced PC cell growth and mobility of PC cells under normoxia and hypoxia conditions in vitro, and growth and mobility in vivo. FUT11 bind with PDK1 and regulated the expression PDK1 under normoxia and hypoxia. FUT11 knockdown significantly increased the degradation rate of PDK1 under hypoxia, while treatment with MG132 can relieve the degradation of PDK1 induced by FUT11 knockdown. Overexpression of PDK1 in PC cells under hypoxia conditions reversed the suppressiv impacts of FUT11 knockdown on PC cell growth and mobility. In addition, HIF1α bound to the enhancer of FUT11 and increased its expression, as well as co-expressing with FUT11 in PC tissues. Furthermore, overexpress of FUT11 partially rescued the suppressiv effects of HIF1α knockdown on PC cell growth and mobility in hypoxia conditions.Conclusion: Our data further implicate that hypoxia-induced FUT11 in PC contributes to proliferation and metastasis by maintaining the stability of PDK1, and suggest FUT11 maybe a novel and effective target for treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Transmission frequency of covid-19 through pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in AJK: A report of 201 cases
Authors: Mahmood Majid , Ilyas Noor-ul-ain , Khan Muhammad Faraz , Hasrat Muhammad Naseem 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, declared as “once-in-a-century” pandemic, has affected about entire human population. Till now, the most promising control strategy is to block the transmission which will never be effective without completely knowing the transmission patterns.Methods: This was a retrospective case to case study aiming to estimate and calculate the transmission rate of COVID-19 through pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Contact history of included positive cases during the period of 24 hours before appearance of symptoms and infection confirmation for symptomatic and asymptomatic cases respectively was traced for disease transmission. Results: Overall, a total of 201 cases had contacted with 7168 people in last 24 hours with an average of 35.66 contacts per patient ranging from a minimum of 4 to maximum of 87 contacts (Meetings). Out of 7168 meeting persons, the infection was traced in 64 (0.89%) persons. For 155 symptomatic patients, a total of 5611 contacting persons were traced before appearance of symptoms (pre-symptomatic) in last 24 hours with an average of 36.20 meetings per patient. The infection was transmitted in 63 (1.12%) people and remaining 5548 (98.88%) were remained uninfected. Out of the 63 transmissions, 62 (98.4%) were traced within last 6 hours before the onset of symptoms while only 1 was traced from 6-12 hours before symptoms. A total of 1557 persons were traced having meeting/contacts with asymptomatic cases in last 24 hours before their infection confirmation. Out of these 1557 persons, only 1 was found to be infected and the infection rate was calculated to be 0.06%. Conclusion: The study concludes that the risk of pre-symptomatic transmission of infection is low (1.12%) and it becomes very rare in contacts made longer than 6 hours before onset of symptoms. The infection transmission is traced as long as about 9 hours before the appearance of clear symptoms in the patients but the incidence was as low as about 0.02% of the total contacts in that period. Transmission frequency by asymptomatic patients is also rare (0.06%) in the studied population.
Elevated Liver Enzymes and Incident Type Two Diabetes Mellitus Risk in Yemeni Patients&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Authors: Dahman Lotfi S. Bin , Humam Mariam A. , Musiaan Nabil S. , Daakik Ahmed M. , Balfas Mohammed A. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
This case-control study was aimed to assess the association between liver enzymes and incident T2D in Yemeni patients. The present study comprising 142 T2D patients and 142 healthy control subjects were recruited from the diabetic outpatient clinic of Ibn-Sina Hospital in Mukalla during the period from 1st January to 30th May 2020. Serum fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were analyzed using the Cobas Integra Plus 400 autoanalyzer. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were taken from each participant. T2D patients had significantly higher FBG (P= <0.0001), total cholesterol (P= <0.0001), LDL-C (P= <0.0001), and GGT (P= <0.0001) while, HDL-C was significantly lower in T2D patients (P= 0.021). Serum ALT and GGT levels were significantly associated with increased incident T2D risk (P= 0.006 for ALT and 0.022 for GGT), and the odds ratios at 95% CI comparing the highest versus lower tertiles of ALT and GGT were 2.75(2.01-3.48) and 1.17(1.83-6.42) respectively. In conclusion, higher levels of ALT and GGT are positively associated with increased blood glucose levels and are used as predictive biomarkers for developing a higher risk of diabetes. Thus, routine screening of ALT and GGT in T2D patients is recommended for the early detection of liver disorders.
Ocular related emergencies in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic, a multicenter study.
Authors: Puzo Martin , Sanchez-Monroy Jorge , Plana Carmen Alejandra Porcar , Bartol-Puyal Francisco de Asís , Dotti-Boada Marina , Peña-Urbina Pilar , Izquierdo-Serra Jordi , López-Montero Ana , Pérez-García Pilar , Bordonaba-Bosque Daniel , Pablo-Julvez Luis Emilio , Calvo-Perez Pilar 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate ophthalmological emergencies (OE) during the COVID-19 pandemic comparing them with the same period of the previous year. Methods: Retrospective observational study of all OE visits in four tertiary hospitals in Spain comparing data from March 16th to April 30th, 2020 (COVID-19 period) and the same period of 2019 (pre-COVID-19 period). Severity of the conditions was assessed following Channa et al. publication. Data on demographics, diagnosis and treatments were collected from Electronic Medical Records. Results: During lockdown, OE significantly declined by 75.18%, from 7,730 registered in the pre-COVID-19 period to 1,928 attended during the COVID-19 period (p<0.001). In 2019, 23.86% of visits were classified as emergent, 59.50% as non-emergent, and 16.65% could not be determined. In 2020, the percentage of emergent visits increased up to 29.77%, non-emergent visits significantly decreased to 52.92% (p<0.001), and 17.31% of the visits were classified as “could not determine”. During the pandemic, people aged between 45 and 65 years old represented the largest attending group (37.89%), compared to 2019, where patients over 65 years were the majority (39.80%). In 2019, most frequent diagnosis was unspecified acute conjunctivitis (11.59%), followed by vitreous degeneration (6.47%), and punctate keratitis (5.86%). During the COVID-19 period, vitreous degeneration was the first cause for consultation (9.28%), followed by unspecified acute conjunctivitis (5.63%) and punctate keratitis (5.85%). Conclusions: OE visits dropped significantly during the pandemic in Spain (75.18%), although more than half were classified as non-urgent conditions, indicating a lack of understanding of the really emergent ocular pathologies among population.
Minimally Invasive Open Reduction by a Modified Suture Bridge with Anchors for Avulsion-type Greater Tuberosity Fracture of the Humerus
Authors: Kong Lingpeng , Yang Juanjuan , Yang Yongliang , Wang Fu 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: This study aims to describe a new procedure of minimally invasive open reduction by a modified suture bridge with anchors for avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the humerus and to evaluate its clinical effectiveness.Methods: From January 2015 to January 2018, 16 patients who were diagnosed with an avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the proximal humerus and treated with minimally invasive open reduction by modified suture bridges with anchors were retrospectively studied. Endpoints were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively and included the visual analog scale (VAS), the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulders score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES), and the range of motion (ROM) for shoulders.Results: There were 7 males and 9 females with an average age of 44.94 years. Six fractures involved the left shoulder, and 10 involved the right shoulder. The time between injury and operation ranged from 1 to 5 days, with an average of 2.32 days. The average length of stay was 6.5 ± 0.85 days; the mean operation time was 103.1 ± 7.23 minutes; and the mean amount of operative blood loss was 51.88 ± 6.40 ml. All patients achieved bone union within 3 months after surgery. The VAS score significantly decreased at 3 weeks postoperatively (p = 0.002), as did the average degree of forward elevation (p = 0.047). The mean degree of abduction increased at 6 weeks after the operation (p = 0.035), and the average degree of external rotation and internal rotation improved at 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.012; p = 0.007). The ASES score and the UCLA score improved at the 6-week follow-up (p = 0.092; p = 0.029). No procedure-related death or incision-related superficial or deep tissue infection was identified in any case. No iatrogenic neurovascular injuries or fractures were found in this study.Conclusion: The fracture block was fixed firmly by minimally invasive open reduction with a modified suture bridge with anchors. Patients were allowed to move their shoulder early after surgery and recovered quickly. It is an efficient method for the treatment of avulsion-type greater tuberosity fractures of the humerus.
Renin-Angiotensin System Blockade Influences ACE2 in Human Type II Pneumocytes
Authors: Silva Mauro G , Falcoff Nora L , Corradi Gerardo C , Alfie José , Seguel Rolando F. , Tabaj Gabriela , Iglesias Laura , Nuñez Myriam , Guman Gabriela R. , Gironacci Mariela M. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Rationale—Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) 2 and the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) are key for cellular entry of the type 2 coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV2), the etiological agent of coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19). There has been a growing concern that renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade with ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) or type 1 angiotensin (Ang II) receptor blockers (ARBs) increases ACE2 expression and then elevate patient susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. However, evidence about RAS blockade and ACE2 in human lung are lacking.Objective– To investigate RAS blockade on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in type II pneumocytes of human lung parenchymal of untreated and ACEI/ARB-treated hypertensive subjects.Methods and Results– ACE2 and TMPRSS2 protein expression were measured by immunohistochemistry. We found that smoking and RAS blockade influence on the percentage of human ACE2-expressing type II pneumocytes (p= 0.026). Smokers subjects under RAS blockade treatment exhibited higher percentage of ACE2-expressing type II pneumocytes than normotensive ones. Within the ACEI/ARB-treated group, the percentage of ACE2-expressing type II pneumocytes was higher in smokers than never smokers. A significant association between ACE2 immunostaining intensity and smoking on subjects over 60 years old was found (p= 0.05): older smokers exhibited higher ACE2 protein levels compared to youngers. The percentage of TMPRSS2-expressing type II pneumocytes was greater in men than women (p= 0.026) and in subjects under 60 years old (p= 0.040) and trend to be higher in ACEI/ARB-treated subjects than normotensives (p= 0.060). A significant association between TMPRSS2 immunostaining intensity with smoking and age or with RAS blockade and age or with RAS blockade and smoking was observed. Older or smokers subjects under ACEI/ARB treatment exhibited higher TMPRSS2 protein levels than youngers or never smokers.Conclusions—ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are influenced by smoking and ACEI/ARB treatment. These findings help explain the increased susceptibility to COVID-19 in subjects with treated cardiovascular-related pathologies.
Estimation of effective dilution rate to inhibit cyanobacterial blooms based on a novel competitive growth model -Case study in Lake Tega, Japan
Authors: Li Jingnan , Chujo Masato , Amano Yoshimasa , Machida Motoi 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Although water transfer as a functional method to improve water quality and control cyanobacterial blooms in lakes has been used for several decades, there was few studies examining effective dilution rate depending on various water qualities in lakes. It would be due to the scarcity of water transfer execution in fields. Therefore, in order to clarify the optimum dilution rate to suppress cyanobacterial blooms, the competitive growth model based on the Droop model and the Lotka-Volterra model developed for eutrophic conditions was used. First, to verify the wide applicability of the simulation model, a competitive culture experiment between Microcystis sp. and Cyclotella meneghiniana under limited phosphorus and sufficient nitrogen concentration was conducted, then the cell densities of the two species were predicted by using the simulation model. Results of the competitive experiment revealed that there was no significant discrepancy in the growth of Microcystis sp. cell among different dilution groups (p＞0.05), while that of Cyclotella meneghiniana had significant discrepancy between groups (p＜0.05), and the accuracy of the simulation model under limited phosphorus concentration was verified. Based on these results, an exact effective dilution rate for the inhibition of Microcystis blooms in Lake Tega, Japan, was suggested by this novel simulation model. When the dilution rate reaches 13.3%, the Microcystis blooms will hard to occur. The predicted data were also compared with the actual data collected over years in Lake Tega, and its effectiveness has been confirmed.
Determinants of timely access to Specialized Mental Health Services and maintenance of a link with Primary Care: A cross-sectional study.
Authors: Treichel Carlos Alberto dos Santos , Bakolis Ioannis , Onocko-Campos Rosana Teresa 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Although it is known that several factors may influence the access to specialized care, the factors related to the maintenance of a link with Primary Care by patients who accessed Specialized Mental Health Services (SMHS) remain unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the determinants of timely access to SMHS and maintenance of a link with Primary Care. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, conducted with 341 users of SMHS at outpatient and community level in a medium-sized city in Brazil. Associations between the outcomes and the other variables were explored with the use of Poisson regression models with robust variance estimators. Results: Among the factors associated with the study outcomes, those related to the organization of services and the movement between them were noteworthy. Patients referred by Primary Care were less likely to access specialized services in a timely manner (RR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.93). However, the referral of cases by Primary Care (RR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.79) and follow-up with visits by Community Health Agents (RR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.53) appeared to favor maintenance of the patient-Primary Care link. Conclusion: This study reinforces the idea that integration between Primary Care and SMHS should be strengthened, both to reduce waiting times for between-service referrals and benefit continuity of care.