bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fluticasone Propionate Suppresses Poly(I:C)-Induced ACE2 in Primary Human Nasal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Nakazono Akira , Nakamaru Yuji , Ramezanpour Mahnaz , Kondo Takeshi , Watanabe Masashi , Hatakeyama Shigetsugu , Kimura Shogo , Honma Aya , Wormald P. J. , Vreugde Sarah , Suzuki Masanobu , Homma Akihiro 
Published: April 2021

BackgroundFrom the first detection in 2019, SARS-CoV-2 infections have spread rapidly worldwide and have been proven to cause an urgent and important health problem. SARS-CoV-2 cell entry depends on two proteins present on the surface of host cells, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). The nasal cavity is thought to be one of the initial sites of infection and a possible reservoir for dissemination within and between individuals. However, it is not known how the expression of these genes is regulated in the nasal mucosa.ObjectiveIn this study, we examined whether the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 is affected by innate immune signals in the nasal mucosa. We also investigated how fluticasone propionate (FP), a corticosteroid used as an intranasal steroid spray, affects the gene expression.MethodsPrimary human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) were collected from the nasal mucosa and incubated with Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists and/or fluticasone propionate (FP), followed by quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence, and immunoblot analyses.ResultsAmong the TLR agonists, the TLR3 agonist Poly(I:C) significantly increased ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA expression in HNECs (ACE2 36.212±11.600-fold change, p&lt;0.0001; TMPRSS2 5.598±2.434-fold change, p=0.031). The ACE2 protein level was also increased with Poly(I:C) stimulation (2.884±0.505-fold change, p=0.003). The Poly(I:C)-induced ACE2 expression was suppressed by co-incubation with FP (0.405±0.312-fold change, p=0.044).ConclusionThe activation of innate immune signals via TLR3 promotes the expression of genes related to SARS-CoV2 cell entry in the nasal mucosa, although this expression is suppressed in the presence of FP. Further studies are required to evaluate whether FP suppresses SARS-CoV-2 viral cell entry.
Exploring the Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases as Biomarkers in Sporadic Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. A Pilot Study
Authors: Terraneo Silvia , Lesma Elena , Ancona Silvia , Imeri Gianluca , Palumbo Giuseppina , Torre Olga , Giuliani Lisa , Centanni Stefano , Peron Angela , Tresoldi Silvia , Cetrangolo Paola , Di Marco Fabiano 
Published: April 2021

Background: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis can develop in a sporadic form (S-LAM) or in women with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes potentially involved in cystic lung destruction, and in the process of migration of LAM cells. The aim of the study was to explore the role of MMP-2 and MMP-7, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -C and -D in women with LAM, including patients with minor pulmonary disease (i.e., &lt;10 lung cysts), and TSC with or without LAM.Methods: We evaluated 50 patients: 13 individuals affected by S-LAM, 20 with TSC-LAM, of whom six with minor pulmonary disease, and 17 with TSC without pulmonary involvement. Sixteen healthy women were used as controls.Results: MMP-2 resulted higher in LAM compared to healthy volunteers, and TSC patients (p = 0.040). MMP-7 was higher in TSC-LAM patient, with even greater values in patients with TSC-LAM minor pulmonary disease, than in S-LAM patients, and in controls (p = 0.001). VEGF-D level was lower than 800 pg/mL in all healthy controls and resulted higher in S-LAM and TSC-LAM than in TSC patients and controls (p &lt; 0.001). VEGF-C values were not statistically different in the study population (p = 0.354). The area under ROC curves (AUCs) of MMP-2, and MMP-7 for predicting LAM diagnosis were of 0.756 ± 0.079 (p = 0.004), and 0.828 ± 0.060 (p &lt; 0.001), respectively. Considering only patients with TSC, the AUCs for MMP-2, and MMP-7 in predicting LAM were 0.694 ± 0.088 (p = 0.044), and 0.713 ± 0.090 (p = 0.027), respectively.Conclusions: Our data suggest that MMP-2 and MMP-7 could be promising biomarkers for LAM diagnosis.
The Key Target and Molecular Mechanism of the Volatile Component of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in Acute Lung Injury Based on Network Pharmacology
Authors: Zhu Guosong , Zhang Jiaqiang , Yang Yali , Zhang Haoran , Jin Wenwen , Su Fangchu , Liang Junting , Wang Kaiwei , Zhang Jianhua , Chen Chuanliang 
Published: April 2021

Ethnopharmacological relevance:Scutellaria baicalensis georgi is one of the most widely studied TCMs; its effects in ALI have been studied in a large number of experiments, and the efficacy of volatile oil from TCM remains to be studied.Aim: The volatile component of Scutellaria baicalensis georgi was selected to act on the key target of acute lung injury and was preliminarily studied for its specific molecular mechanism.Methods: The volatile active substances of Scutellaria baicalensis georgi were extracted by GC–MS, and the active ingredients related with the occurrence and development of acute lung injury were searched and matched by the TCMSP database. The pharmacologic data and analysis platform of TCM were used to retrieve and screen for the volatile active components and the possible therapeutic targets of Scutellaria baicalensis georgi. In addition, acute lung injury was searched in the disease target database to identify the corresponding disease target proteins, thereby establishing a protein–protein interaction network. Finally, the effects of wogonin on the apoptotic and inflammatory factors in the acute lung injury cell model were analyzed experimentally.Results: We identified 100 candidate targets and successfully constructed a complex target network. The targets identified by the above gene enrichment analysis played important roles in the autoimmune disease cell cycle apoptosis and related signaling pathways. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that most of the target genes were involved in the inflammatory response regulation of the TRP, PI3K-Akt, and IL-17 signaling pathways. The participation of wogonin in the specific regulatory pathways of PI3K-Akt signaling and IL-17 signaling was verified through experiments. In the lung-injured cell model, the results showed that wogonin inhibited the apoptosis of injured lung cells by inhibiting the expression of BAD gene and the activation of cleaved caspase-3 gene while increasing Bcl-2 expression. In addition, wogonin inhibited the expression of the abovementioned inflammatory factors and further inhibited the inflammatory response in the lung injury cells.Conclusion: The results of pharmacological network analysis can predict and explain the regulation mechanism of multi-target and multi-pathway of TCM components. This study identified the potential target and important pathway of wogonin in regulating acute lung injury. At the same time, the accuracy of network pharmacological prediction is also preliminarily verified by molecular biology experiment.
Efficacy and Safety of Berberine Alone for Several Metabolic Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Ye Yu , Liu Xiufen , Wu Ninghua , Han Yanqi , Wang Jiawen , Yu Yuandong , Chen Qingjie 
Published: April 2021

Background: Metabolic activity is the basic life activity of organisms and the fundamental for maintaining body functions. With the improvement of living standards, the incidence of metabolic disorder is also increasing. At present, most of the clinical treatment strategies and meta-analysis for metabolic disorder uncover that combined medicines with berberine ameliorate several metabolic disorders. However, evidence to disclose the therapeutic effect of berberine treatment alone and the possible factors affecting the efficacy is limited. Therefore, we have formulated strict inclusion criteria and selected more reliable data for meta-analysis through more refined screening strategies to provide evidence and guidance for clinical decision-making and understand the effect of berberine treatment alone and the factors affecting its efficacy.Methods and results: Using meta-analysis of “Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions” as guidelines, we searched PubMed, GeenMedical, Cochrane library, and china national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI) for trials reporting clinical treatment data of berberine. Another 417 trials were included through other sources to increase confidence in results. Among the 1,660 related documents retrieved from the four databases, 18 eligible documents were selected for analysis. Given the differences in trial design and measurement units, we used the standardized mean difference (SMD) method to eliminate the differences and then summarize the data for analysis. The main factors are triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Random-effect model analysis was performed: TG (SMD: 0.94; 95%CI: 0.49,1.38; p = 0.00), TC (SMD: 1.06; 95%CI: 0.64, 1.48; p = 0.00), LDL (SMD: 1.77; 95%CI: 1.11,2.44; p = 0.00), HDL (SMD: −1.59; 95%CI: −2.32, −0.85; p = 0.00), HOMA-IR (SMD: 1.25; 95%CI: 0.25,2.24; p = 0.01), and FPG (SMD: 0.65; 95%CI: 0.28,1.03; p = 0.00). This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to evaluate the therapeutic effect of berberine singly on metabolic diseases.Conclusion: Berberine can improve obesity and hyperlipidemia by reducing TG, TC, and LDL and increasing HDL; reduce insulin resistance to improve type Ⅱ diabetes; and prevent diabetic encephalopathy.
Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Strategies for Resumption of Activities During the Second Wave of the Pandemic: A Report From Eight Paediatric Hospitals From the ECHO Network
Authors: Indolfi Giuseppe , Stivala Micol , Lenge Matteo , Diaz Naderi Ruben , McIntosh Jennifer , Llandrich Ricard Casadevall , Gannon Joe , McGreevy Kathleen S. , Trapani Sandra , Miettinen Päivi , Lahdenne Pekka , Desborough Louisa , Pavare Jana , van Rossum Annemarie , Zyska Dagmara , Resti Massimo , Zanobini Alberto 
Published: April 2021

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic impacted the organization of paediatric hospitals. This study aimed to evaluate the preparedness for the pandemic among a European network of children's hospitals and to explore the strategies to restart health care services. A cross-sectional, web-based survey was distributed in May 2020 to the 13 children's tertiary care hospitals belonging to the European Children's Hospitals Organisation. Responses were obtained from eight hospitals (62%). Significant reductions were observed in accesses to the emergency departments (41.7%), outpatient visits (35.7%), intensive and non-intensive care unit inpatient admissions (16.4 and 13%, respectively) between February 1 and April 30, 2020 as compared with the same period of 2019. Overall, 93 children with SARS CoV-2 infection were admitted to inpatient wards. All the hospitals created SARS-CoV-2 preparedness plans for the diagnosis and management of infected patients. Routine activities were re-scheduled. Four hospitals shared their own staff with adult units, two designated bed spaces for adults and only one admitted adults to inpatient wards. The three main components for the resumption of clinical activities were testing, source control, and reorganization of spaces and flows. Telemedicine and telehealth services were used before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic by three hospitals and by all the hospitals during it.Conclusion: The present study provides a perspective on preparedness to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic among eight large European children's hospitals, on the impact of the pandemic on the hospital activities and on the strategies adopted to restart clinical activities.
Antimeningococcal Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Workers in an Italian University Hospital
Authors: Gattini Vittorio , Napoletano Marco , Bonotti Alessandra , Mignani Aldo , Cosentino Francesca , Guglielmi Giovanni , Fallahi Poupak , Cristaudo Alfonso , Foddis Rudy 
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Following an outbreak of meningococcal epidemic in 2015 and 2016 in Tuscany, we registered a higher demand for antimeningococcal vaccination (anti-Men ACWY) by Healthcare Workers of the University Hospital of Pisa [Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana (AOUP)]. The purpose of this work is to analyze and discuss data on vaccination coverage resulting from this vaccination campaign.Materials and Methods: We conducted a monocentric study about anti-Men vaccination in the healthcare workers of the AOUP following the outbreak of meningococcal meningitis that occurred mainly in the population of the Tuscan provinces of Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, and Florence. The variables under examination were age, sex, educational qualification, and job profile. Department healthcare workers were vaccinated with two types of conjugated tetravalent vaccines for the A, C, Y, and W135 strains. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software.Results: The total population of the workers in AOUP was 7,188 subjects; the population considered in the study was 5,889. Between 2015 and 2017, a total of 2,423 subjects (41.1%) underwent anti-Men vaccination. Women, older HCWs, those with a lower educational qualification, doctors, and the HCWs of the maternal and child department, and imaging department recorded a statistically significant better vaccine compliance.Discussion: The AOUP, implementing the program of the Tuscany Region of vaccination against Neisseria meningitidis, has contributed to reduce the incidence of invasive meningococcal disease. Some critical issues remain in the compliance of some sections of the population, despite the high level of adherence recorded in this case, probably also due to the great media coverage of the event.
Multi-Step Combined Upfront Surgery for Locally Advanced Paravertebral Sarcoma: A Case Report
Authors: Cariboni Umberto , Gennaro Nicolò , Costa Francesco , Renne Salvatore Lorenzo , Novellis Pierluigi , Marrari Andrea , Bertuzzi Alexia Francesca , Civilini Efrem 
Published: April 2021

Background: Paravertebral localization of primary undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) with bone and vascular involvement is infrequent and challenging. Multi-step surgical procedure has been described as a feasible and effective option to achieve sustained local tumor control.Methods: We report on a 62-year old man with paravertebral UPS infiltrating the aortic wall and the 9th thoracic vertebra who underwent a multi-step surgical procedure aimed at achieving oncologic radicality through a coordinated effort between thoracic, vascular and spinal surgeons. After balancing the risks and benefits of perioperative therapies, upfront surgery was performed including aortic resection with bypass grafting followed by a triple en bloc vertebrectomy with tumor excision. Mid-term follow-up (22 months) is then provided.Results: The combined procedure achieved oncological radicality and no local recurrence in the mid-term. No major complications occurred.Conclusions: Multi-step and multi-specialty surgery is a feasible and effective strategy to treat primary UPS in unfavorable localization. A strategic cooperation between surgeons and a multidisciplinary tumor board is required to define an optimal, personalized treatment strategy in sarcoma patients.
Foucault, capitalismo y sexualidad: tensiones conceptuales circa 1976
Authors: Ben Pablo 
Published: April 2021

Este artículo realiza un analisis del concepto de “capitalismo” en la Historia de la Sexualidad de Michel Foucault publicada en 1976 detallando el debate teórico con el marxismo y el neoliberalismo. En oposición a las nociones contractualistas, Foucault fundó una nueva agenda de investigación que distanciandose de la hipótesis represiva caracterizaba a la sexualidad como unidad artificial de caracter histórico relativamente reciente. El autor proveía ejemplos históricos de la emergencia de la sexualidad que coincidían cronológicamente con el surgimiento del capitalismo. Al mismo tiempo, proponía desvincular la relación entre sexualidad y capitalismo recurriendo a concepciones binarias que oponían oriente y occidente, o señalando a la confesión cristiana como factor precapitalista en la genealogía de la sexualidad. Puede observarse una ambivalencia respecto del uso mismo de la categoría de capitalismo, que en algunos casos está referida de manera más o menos explícita, y en otros casos está negada. Dado que la Historia de la Sexualidad se convirtió en un texto fundante para el conjunto de la disciplina, la ambivalencia inicial frente al marxismo y a la noción de capitalismo se amplificó en otros estudios realizados durante las últimas cuatro décadas.
A shortest path approach to optic disc detection in retinal fundus images
Authors: Wigdahl Jeffrey , Guimaraes Pedro , Ruggeri Alfredo 
Published: April 2021

Aim: To evaluate a new algorithm to detect the optic disc in retinal fundus images on a number of publicly available datasets. Optic Disc detection is an important first step in many automated algorithms, either to be masked out of future processing or for the use in optic disc related disease such as glaucoma and papilledema.Methods: We propose a new method for optic disc detection that converts the retinal image into a graph and exploits vessel enhancement methods to calculate edge weights in finding the shortest path between pairs of points on the periphery of the image. The line segment with the maximum number of shortest paths is considered the optic disc location, with refinement from a combination template matching approach in the found region. The method was tested on three publicly available datasets: DRIVE, DIARETDB1, and Messidor consisting of 40, 89, and 1200 images. All images were acquired at a 45°-50° field of view.Results: The method achieves an accuracy of 100, 98.88, and 99.42% on the DRIVE, DIARETDB1, and Messidor databases respectively.Conclusions: The method performs as well or better than state-of-the-art methods on these datasets. Processing takes an average of 32 seconds (+-1.2) to detect the optic disc, with 26 of those seconds used for the vessel enhancement process. The accuracy over a wide variety of images shows that the method is robust and would be optimal for retinal analysis systems that perform vessel enhancement as part of their processing.
Peripapillary non-flow area measurement for the measurement of progressive localized glaucomatous perfusion damage
Authors: Hollo Gabor 
Published: April 2021

Purpose: To investigate the applicability of peripapillary non-flow area (PNFA) measurement in the radial peripapillary capillaries (RPC) layer for the measurement of progressive localized glaucomatous perfusion damage.
Methods: A research soft ware version of the Angiovue /RTVue-XR OCT (Optovue, Fremont, CA, USA) was used to measure localized PNFA progression by clicking on a predefined peripapillary non-perfusion area on prospectively acquired images. Capillary vessel density (VD) in the corresponding peripapillary sector was also measured. High-quality peripapillary Angiovue OCT VD images of an open-angle glaucoma population prospectively imaged for 2 to 2.5 years (5 or 6 visits at 6-month intervals) were investigated. Eyes with both localized PNFA at baseline and statistically significant peripapillary VD progression in the hemifield of the PNFA were selected for the analysis.
Results: Four eyes of four patients were eligible. In three eyes, the Octopus visual field cluster mean defect in the cluster spatially corresponding to the area of the PNFA progressed significantly (P < 0.01) at a rate of 1.5 to 3.4 dB/year. In two eyes, neither PNFA nor sector VD showed significant correlation with the follow-up time. In one eye, significant negative correlation for sector VD (r = -0.841, P = 0.036) and almost significant positive correlation for PNFA (r = 0.803, P = 0.055) was found, while in another eye significant positive correlation for PFNA (r = 0.875, P = 0.022) but no correlation for sector VD was found.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that PNFA measurement in the RPC layer is a potentially useful tool for the measurement of progression of localized glaucomatous capillary perfusion damage in open-angle glaucoma eyes with localized peripapillary non-perfusion.
CAPITAL AND CREDIT RISK: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON VIETNAMESE BANKS
Authors: Phan Huong Thi , Nguyen Dong Trung 
Published: April 2021

The study provides experimental evidence about the effects of owner’s capital on credit risk provision rate at Vietnamese Commercial Banks during the period from 2006 to 2018. The results show that this is a positive relationship. In addition, the research results also demonstrate that there is a nonlinear relationship between the credit risk provision ratio and the equity ratio. The study provided more information on the factors affecting banks’ credit risk provisions. From researching the results of the study, it is possible to give genuine implications in controlling the impacts of equity to the credit risk provision ratio of commercial banks.
Asociación entre memoria y rendimiento en matemáticas: un estudio correlacional
Authors: Hernández Suárez César Augusto , Gamboa Suárez Audin Alioso , Prada Núñez Raúl 
Published: April 2021

El objetivo del estudio es determinar la asociación entre la memoria y el rendimiento académico en matemáticas de estudiantes de educación básica primaria. El trabajo se centra en la investigación cuantitativa de tipo correlacional con diseño no experimental. Se utilizó la batería neuropsicológica Neuropsi y las calificaciones en matemáticas de 45 estudiantes con edades entre 10 y 12 años. El análisis de los resultados indica que hay una correlación significativa entre memoria de trabajo y las calificaciones en la asignatura de matemáticas de los estudiantes. Como conclusión, se puede afirmar que a mayor amplitud de memoria de trabajo mayor rendimiento en matemáticas, luego, una preparación adecuada y oportuna de la memoria de trabajo de los estudiantes debe fortalecer su rendimiento académico en matemáticas.
Experiencias de la cultura maker en la asignatura arquitectura de computadoras
Authors: Correa Lemus Freddy Alberto , Naranjo Sánchez Bertha Alice 
Published: April 2021

La siguiente propuesta profundiza la necesidad de acercar a los jóvenes hacia las disciplinas ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería, arte y matemáticas, las cuales proponen el acercamiento a la cultura maker. Estas se pueden aprender de diversas formas en el aula desarrollando competencias a través del hacer mas no el ver. De esta manera los estudiantes pueden aprender conceptos teóricos aplicados en el aula, ya que la tecnología contribuye a que desarrollen en ellos cualidades y competencias tempranas que favorecen el emprendimiento, la cultura maker, así como el desarrollo de la investigación científica. En este artículo se describe la experiencia de estudiantes al hacer productos de alta y baja tecnología enfocados a favorecer la inclusión educativa, social y laboral de personas con discapacidad, desde la filosofía de un maker en la asignatura arquitectura de computadoras. La investigación de tipo exploratorio utilizó como instrumento la encuesta en línea a 43 estudiantes y entrevistas a 5 de ellos seleccionados al azar. Los resultados obtenidos permitieron conocer las características de los maker así como la experiencia adquirida en el proceso de aprendizaje donde se resalta que aprender a hacer despierta interés y rompe paradigmas en el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje, porque se vuelve más real y con un sentido social.