bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CCDC137 Is a Prognostic Biomarker and Correlates With Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment Based on Pan-Cancer Analysis
Authors: Guo Lihao , Li Boxin , Lu Zhaohong , Liang Hairong , Yang Hui , Chen Yuting , Zhu Shiheng , Zeng Minjuan , Wei Yixian , Liu Tonggong , Jiang Tikeng , Xuan Mei , Tang Huanwen 
Published: May 2021

BackgroundThe coiled-coil domain containing (CCDC) family proteins have important biological functions in various diseases. However, the coiled-coil domain containing 137 (CCDC137) was rarely studied. We aim to investigate the role of CCDC137 in pan-cancer.MethodsCCDC137 expression was evaluated in RNA sequence expression profilers of pan-cancer and normal tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database. The influence of CCDC137 on the prognosis of tumor patients was analyzed using clinical survival data from TCGA. Function and pathway enrichment analysis was performed to explore the role of CCDC137 using the R package “clusterProfiler.” We further analyzed the correlation of immune cell infiltration score of TCGA samples and CCDC137 expression using TIMER2 online database.ResultsCCDC137 was over-expressed and associated with worse survival status in various tumor types. CCDC137 expression was positively correlated with tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in Lower Grade Glioma (LGG) and Uveal Melanoma (UVM). In addition, high CCDC137 expression was positively correlated with most immunosuppressive genes, including TGFB1, PD-L1, and IL10RB in LGG and UVM.ConclusionsOur study identified CCDC137 as an oncogene and predictor of worse survival in most tumor types. High CCDC137 may contribute to elevated infiltration of TAMs and CAFs and be associated with tumor immunosuppressive status.
Investigating 18F-FDG PET/CT Parameters as Prognostic Markers for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Systematic Review
Authors: Wang Hongxi , Dai Hongyuan , Li Qianrui , Shen Guohua , Shi Lei , Tian Rong 
Published: May 2021

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) parameters might be prognostic markers for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC).Methods: We searched for eligible articles in PubMed, EMBASE (Ovid), Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to February 2021. We included studies addressing the association between 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters and clinical outcomes among patients with DTC. Quality assessment was performed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool.Results: A total of 25 studies including 2,954 patients (1,994 females, 67.5%) were included; 2,416 patients (81.8%) had papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and the mean or median follow-up time ranged from 19.1 months to 17.1 years. Thirteen (52.0%) studies were assessed as “unclear” for the domain of study participation. The most common timing of PET/CT scans was after thyroidectomy (in 20 of 25 studies, 80%), especially in patients with an elevated thyroglobulin (Tg) and a negative radioiodine whole-body scan (WBS). The most common PET parameter was FDG uptake. Twelve of 17 (70.6%) and 12 of 12 (100%) studies showed an association between PET/CT parameters and disease progression and survival in patients with DTC, respectively.Conclusion:18F-FDG PET/CT parameters alone or combined with other variables can serve as prognostic markers to identify DTC patients with poor outcomes, especially in the setting of an elevated Tg and a negative WBS. Future research is needed to confirm these findings and to examine the prognostic value of PET/CT parameters for DTC patients, considering the heterogeneity in PET/CT parameters, unclear information of patients, and PET/CT-adapted treatment modifications.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy and Combined Therapy in Children: Efficacy and Long-Term Results
Authors: Burgos Lucena Laura , Fernández Bautista Beatriz , Parente Hernández Alberto , Ortiz Rodríguez Ruben , Angulo Madero Jose María 
Published: May 2021

Background: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is nowadays the first choice for the treatment of upper urinary tract stones smaller than 2 cm, considering its low complications and high success rate.Aim: To present an update of the current situation of ESWL treatment and to analyse our series of patients and the efficacy of combined lithiasis treatment in different locations and sizes.Patients and Method: Retrospective study including patients with urolithiasis treated with ESWL between 2007 and 2019. Collected data included: gender and age at treatment, presentation symptoms, imaging studies, stone location and size, complications and stone clearance. Success was defined as stone-free status or the presence of clinically insignificant residual fragments (&lt;4 mm after 3 months follow-up). Patients with residual stones larger than 4 mm after 3 months were programmed for another ESWL session or received a combined sandwich therapy, followed by URS or percutaneous approach.Results: Between 2007 and 2019, 37 patients presented a total of 41 lithiasis episodes that were treated with ESWL sessions. Median age at first procedure was 9 years old (1–17) and median follow-up time was 6 years (3–12). Stones were located in the renal pelvis, followed by the lower, middle and upper calyx, proximal ureter, and 51% of our patients had multiple lithiasis. Median stone size was 12 mm (5–45), the main component being calcium oxalate (34%). During immediate postoperative period, 8 patients (19%) presented complications: renal colic, hematuria and urinary tract infection. After the first ESWL, 41% of the patients (n = 17) were stone-free. Out of the 24 residual lithiasis episodes (58%), three patients (7%) underwent a second ESWL session. In the remaining 19 patients, ESWL was combined with URS or percutaneous approach to achieve complete stone clearance. Overall stone free status after combined therapy was 95% (n = 39).Conclusion: These data support that ESWL is an effective minimally invasive technique, with low cost and morbidity, reproducible and safe for the treatment of stone disease in children. Even though lithiasis size seems to be a significant factor in ESWL success, in combination with other lithotripsy procedures it can reach very high rates of stone clearance.
Diagnostic Value of Diurnal Variability of Orthostatic Heart Rate Increment in Children and Adolescents With POTS
Authors: Cai Hong , Wang Shuo , Zou Runmei , Li Fang , Zhang Juan , Wang Yuwen , Xu Yi , Wang Cheng 
Published: May 2021

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the diurnal variability of heart rate (HR) increment after standing (ΔHR) in pediatric postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and explore appropriate cutoff values of ΔHR at different times for the POTS diagnosis.Materials and Methods: Seventy-eight patients (9–14 years) who presented with orthostatic intolerance symptoms were enrolled. Forty-three patients were diagnosed as POTS (ΔHR ≥40 bpm), and 35 patients were assigned to the non-POTS group (ΔHR &lt;40 bpm). Twenty-six healthy children served as the control group. All subjects completed three standing tests in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Orthostatic HR parameters were analyzed to predict the diagnosis of POTS. Additionally, 41 patients were recruited as an external validation group.Results: Orthostatic HR increments in both the POTS and non-POTS groups exhibited diurnal variability, which was markedly larger in the morning (P &lt; 0.05), whereas it did not differ with the time of day in the control group. Among the POTS patients, 100% met the diagnostic criteria for POTS in the morning, 44.2% in the afternoon, and 27.9% in the evening. Almost half of the POTS patients (51.2%) displayed a positive result only in the morning standing test. However, in the three standing tests at different times, ΔHR from 1 to 10 min after standing and ΔHRmax were the highest in the POTS group compared with in the non-POTS and control groups (P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, the maximum ΔHR (ΔHRmax) and ΔHR at 5 and 10 min in the afternoon and evening standing tests yielded moderate predictive values for the POTS diagnosis. The external validation test showed that the afternoon ΔHRmax ≥30 bpm to diagnose POTS yielded sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 85, 71.4, and 78%, respectively, and the evening ΔHRmax ≥25 bpm yielded sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 85, 76.2, and 80.5%, respectively.Conclusions: The orthostatic HR increment exhibits diurnal variability in children and adolescents with POTS that may affect the diagnosis of POTS. Supplementary criteria are proposed for the POTS diagnosis based on diurnal variability.
Risk Factors for Recurrent Tracheoesophageal Fistula After Gross Type C Esophageal Atresia Repair
Authors: Yang Shen , Li Siqi , Yang Zhi , Liao Junmin , Hua Kaiyun , Zhang Yanan , Zhao Yong , Gu Yichao , Li Shuangshuang , Huang Jinshi 
Published: May 2021

Background: To determine the possible risk factors of recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula (rTEF) after Gross type C esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) repair.Methods: The medical records of 343 pediatric patients with Gross type C EA/TEF who underwent surgical repair were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were retrospectively divided into two groups according to whether they had rTEF. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to identify risk factors for rTEF.Results: After the diagnosis of EA/TEF, 343 patients (221 boys) underwent primary repairs after birth. According to the follow-up results (257 patients survived, 42 died, and 43 were lost to follow-up), 259 patients (257 survived and two died after rTEF repair) were included in the analysis. rTEF occurred in 33 patients (33/259, 12.74%), with a median onset time to recurrence of 3.8 (2.2, 8.2) months. Multivariate analysis showed that closing the original TEF with ligation and hospital stay ≥ 28.5 days were significant risk factors of rTEF with OR of 4.083 (1.481, 11.261) and 3.228 (1.431, 7.282).Conclusions: Surgical closure technique of original TEF and the length of initial stay could influence the occurrence of rTEF after Gross type C EA/TEF repair.
Case Report: Neonatal Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Two Cases From Saudi Arabia
Authors: Shaiba Lana A. , Hadid Adnan , Altirkawi Khalid A. , Bakheet Hind M. , Alherz Aminah Mohammed , Hussain Shaik Asfaq , Sobaih Badr H. , Alnemri Abdulrahman M. , Almaghrabi Rana , Ahmed Medina , Arafah Maria A. , Jarallah Abdullah , Bukhari Elham Essa , Alzamil Fahad A. 
Published: May 2021

Background: Vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is under investigation. A few reports suggest the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from mothers to their neonates. Most neonates have mild symptoms, but some develop multisystem involvement and shock.Case Presentation: We report two cases of possible SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission from mothers to their neonates. The first case shows maternal infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the second trimester followed by recurrent infection in the third trimester right before the delivery. The infant demonstrated respiratory distress soon after delivery along with myocardial dysfunction and multi-organ system involvement. The second case shows maternal infection with SARS-COV-2 at the time of delivery with preterm labor secondary to placental abruption, with that delivery resulting in the preterm neonate requiring non-invasive ventilation with multisystem involvement in the context of persistently positive SARS-COV-2 PCR in the neonate. Both neonates were treated with IVIG along with steroids. Both neonates recovered fully and were discharged and allowed to go home.Conclusion: In neonates, COVID-19 usually presents as an asymptomatic or mild illness; some may develop a more severe course. Our two cases, however, demonstrate that multisystem involvement, although rare, is possible. This report also supports the current evidence of possible vertical transmission from mothers to their neonates. This multisystem involvement might be underreported and should be considered in neonates with respiratory distress when born to mothers suffering of COVID-19.Clinical Trial Registration: [KSUMC], identifier [No#98763298].
Tortoise Plastron and Deer Antler Gelatin Prevents Against Neuronal Mitochondrial Dysfunction In Vitro: Implication for a Potential Therapy of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Cheng Dan , Yang Xin-Jing , Zhang Lu , Qin Zong-Shi , Li Wen-Qi , Xu Hai-Chun , Zhang Zhang-Jin 
Published: May 2021

Mitochondrial dysfunction with oxidative damage plays the fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice, animal tissue-derived gelatins are often used as nootropic agents to treat cognitive deterioration and senile dementia. Tortoise plastron gelatin (TPG) and deer antler gelatin (DAG) are the two most commonly used gelatins for this purpose. This study sought to examine the effects of the two gelatins in preventing neuronal mitochondria from oxidative damage. PC12 cells, a cell line derived from rat pheochromocytoma, exposed to the neurotoxin Aβ25–35 served as an in vitro model of Alzheimer’s disease. The cells were separately pre-treated with TPG and DAG at various concentrations ranging from 6.26 µg/ml–200 µg/ml, followed by co-incubation with 20 μM Aβ25–35 for different duration. Cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ultrastructure, intracellular ATP, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium (Ca2+) level, the expression of mitochondrial dynamic proteins and biomarkers of apoptosis were measured. Pretreatment with TPG and DAG reversed the Aβ-induced reduction of cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Both TPG and DAG significantly increased MMP and ATP, alleviated the accumulation of damaged mitochondrial fragments, and normalized the aberrant expression of multiple mitochondrial dynamic proteins of the Aβ-exposed cells. Both gelatins also suppressed intracellular ROS overproduction and Ca2+ overload, overexpression of cytochrome c and pro-apoptosis biomarkers induced by the Aβ exposure. These results suggest that TPG and DAG may have the anti-dementia potential by preventing neuronal mitochondria from oxidative damage.
Deep Learned Quantization-Based Codec for 3D Airborne LiDAR Point Cloud Images
Authors: Tamilmathi A. Christoper , Chithra P. L. 
Published: May 2021

This paper introduces a novel deep learned quantization-based coding for 3D Airborne LiDAR (Light detection and ranging) point cloud (pcd) image (DLQCPCD). The raw pcd signals are sampled and transformed by applying the Nyquist signal sampling and Min-max signal transformation techniques, respectively for improving the efficiency of the training process. Then, the transformed signals are feed into the deep learned quantization module for compressing the data. To the best of our knowledge, this proposed DLQCPCD is the first deep learning-based model for 3D airborne LiDAR pcd compression. The functions of Mean Squared Error and Stochastic Gradient Descent optimization function enhance the quality of the decompressed image by 67.01 percent on average, compared to other functions. The model’s efficiency has been validated with established well-known compression techniques such as the 7-Zip, WinRAR, and tensor tucker decomposition algorithm on the three inconsistent airborne datasets. The experimental results show that the proposed model compresses every pcd image into constant 16 Number of Neurons of data and decompresses the image with approximately 160 dB of PSNR value, 174.46 s execution time with 0.6 s execution speed per instruction, and proved that it outperforms the other existing algorithms regarding space and time.
Adverse Childhood Experiences Predict Early Initiation of Opioid Use Behaviors
Authors: Guarino Honoria , Mateu-Gelabert Pedro , Quinn Kelly , Sirikantraporn Skultip , Ruggles Kelly V. , Syckes Cassandra , Goodbody Elizabeth , Jessell Lauren , Friedman Samuel R. 
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Although a substantial body of research documents a relationship between traumatic stress in childhood and the initiation of substance use later in the life course, only limited research has examined potential linkages between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the initiation of non-medical prescription opioid use and other opioid use behaviors. The present study contributes to this growing body of work by investigating the association of childhood trauma with early initiation of a series of opioid use behaviors.Methods: New York City young adults (n = 539) ages 18–29 who reported non-medical use of prescription opioids or heroin use in the past 30 days were recruited using Respondent-Driven Sampling in 2014–16. Ten ACEs were assessed via self-report with the ACE Questionnaire. Associations between number of ACEs and self-reported ages of initiating seven opioid use behaviors (e.g., non-medical prescription opioid use, heroin use, heroin injection) were estimated with multivariable logistic regression.Results: Eighty nine percent of participants reported at least one ACE, and 46% reported four or more ACEs, a well-supported threshold indicating elevated risk for negative health consequences. Every increase of one trauma was associated with a 12–23% increase in odds of early initiation across the seven opioid use behaviors. Findings also document that the mean age at initiation increased with increasing risk severity across the behaviors, contributing to evidence of a trajectory from opioid pill misuse to opioid injection.Discussion: Increasing number of childhood traumas was associated with increased odds of earlier initiation of multiple opioid misuse behaviors. In light of prior research linking earlier initiation of substance use with increased substance use severity, present findings suggest the importance of ACEs as individual-level determinants of increased opioid use severity. Efforts to prevent onset and escalation of opioid use among at-risk youth may benefit from trauma prevention programs and trauma-focused screening and treatment, as well as increased attention to ameliorating upstream socio-structural drivers of childhood trauma.
Sex and Age-Group Differences in Strength, Jump, Speed, Flexibility, and Endurance Performances of Swedish Elite Gymnasts Competing in TeamGym
Authors: Höög Stefan , Andersson Erik P. 
Published: May 2021

Purpose:To analyze sex and age group differences in strength, jump, speed, flexibility, and endurance performances of TeamGym athletes.Methods:A total of 91 Swedish elite gymnasts (junior female,n= 26, age = 15.4 y; senior female,n= 23, age = 20.0 y; junior male,n= 19, age = 15.6 y; senior male,n= 23, age = 20.6 y) participated in three testing sessions on three separate days. These were: (1) a series of flexibility tests for the lower- and upper-body; (2) strength tests for the lower- and upper-body; and (3) various types of jumps, a 20-m sprint-run, and a 3,000-m run test.Results:Males were 24% stronger in the back squat one-repetition maximum (relative to body mass) compared to females (P&lt; 0.001,Hg= 1.35). In the pull-ups and dips, 2.4 and 2.3 times more repetitions were completed by the males compared to the females (bothP&lt; 0.001, 0.70 ≤R≤ 0.77). However, females were similarly strong as males in the hanging sit-ups test (P= 0.724). The males jumped 29, 34, 33, and 17% higher in the squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJa), and drop jump (DJ), respectively, compared to the females (allP≤ 0.002, 0.14 ≤ηp2 ≤0.60). In the 20-m sprint run, males were 4% faster than females (P&lt; 0.001,R= 0.40). Moreover, the females had significantly better flexibility than the males in the trunk forward bending, front split, and side split tests (allP&lt; 0.001, 0.24 ≤ηp2≤ 0.54). In the 3,000-m run test, males were 11% faster than females (P&lt; 0.001,ηp2≤ 0.54). Compared to junior athletes, seniors performed better in the pull-ups, dips, SJ, CMJ, CMJa, and 20-m sprint-run tests (allP≤ 0.012, 0.31 ≤R≤ 0.56, 0.16 ≤ηp2≤ 0.25), with separate within-sex age-group differences (i.e., juniors vs. seniors) that were significant for the males but not for the females in the SJ, CMJ, CMJa, and 20-m sprint-run tests (males: allP&lt; 0.001, 0.67 ≤R≤ 0.69, 1.37 ≤Hg≤ 2.01; females: allP= 0.298–732).Conclusions:Large sex and age-group differences were observed for most physical performance metrics with specific within-sex age-group differences only observed for male athletes, with male seniors performing better than juniors in the SJ, CMJ, CMJa, and 20-m sprint-run tests.
Hyper-Interleukin-6 Protects Against Renal Ischemic-Reperfusion Injury—A Mouse Model
Authors: Zuaiter Mohammad , Axelrod Jonathan H. , Pizov Galina , Gofrit Ofer N. 
Published: May 2021

Background: Most of the ischemia-reperfusion injury (IR-I) occurs during reperfusion and is mediated by the immune system. In this study we determined whether immunomodulation with hyper-Interleukin-6 (a recombinant designer cytokine composed of interleukin-6 linked to its soluble receptor) is protective against IR-I in mice kidneys.Methods: Hyper-Interleukin-6 (HIL-6) was administered by in vivo plasmid DNA transfection to 10 male mice. Twenty-four hours later, unilateral nephrectomy was done. IR-I immediately followed by closure of the remaining kidney vascular pedicle for 40 min. Seven mice transfected with non-coding control plasmid served as the control group. The functional and morphological effects of IR-I and its effect on mice longevity were explored. This was done by serial blood tests and by histopathology done upon sacrifice of the animals at post-operative day 7.Findings: Mice pretreated with HIL-6 had a mean creatinine level at post-operative day 1 of 35.45 ± 4.03 μmol/l and mean Urea level was 14.18 ± 2.69 mmol/l, whereas mean creatinine was 89.33 ± 69.27 μmol/l (P = 0.025), and mean urea was 38.17 ± 20.77 mmol/l (P = 0.0024) in the control group. Histological changes in the control group included inflammatory infiltration, tubular damage, and architectural distortion. These were not seen in the treatment group. Seven days post-operatively the survival rate of treated mice was 100% compared to 50% in the control group (P = 0.015).Interpretation: In this single kidney mouse model, pretreatment with HIL-6 administration effectively protected against IR-I both morphologically and functionally. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanism and feasibility of using this immunomodulator.