bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Yield of Serum Dexamethasone Measurement for Reducing False-Positive Results of Low-Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Testing
Authors: Roper Stephen M 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Background
The low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (DST) using a cortisol cutoff of 1.8 µg/dL has approximate sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 80% for detecting Cushing syndrome. False-positive DST results can be caused by a variety of conditions, by low dexamethasone bioavailability, or by failure to take dexamethasone as instructed. In an effort to reduce false positives caused by low bioavailability or medication noncompliance, we evaluated the yield of serum dexamethasone measurement for identifying invalid results.

Methods
Data were queried for orders requesting concurrent measurement of serum cortisol and dexamethasone over a 41-month period. Inclusion criteria were serum cortisol and dexamethasone measured from the same specimen, specimen collection before 9 AM after 1 mg dexamethasone administration, and results for both analytes documented in the electronic medical record. Seventy paired measurements were identified with these criteria. Results were categorized into 4 groups based on observed cortisol and dexamethasone concentrations: (a) suppressed cortisol, low dexamethasone; (b) suppressed cortisol, therapeutic dexamethasone; (c) unsuppressed cortisol, low dexamethasone; or (d) unsuppressed cortisol, therapeutic dexamethasone.

Results
Overall, 35 (50%) results demonstrated suppressed cortisol and therapeutic dexamethasone levels. The next largest group was unsuppressed cortisol and therapeutic dexamethasone, representing approximately 32% (n = 22) of the study population. Ten result sets (14%) fell into the unsuppressed cortisol and low dexamethasone category, and 3 paired measurements (4%) fit the criteria for suppressed cortisol and low dexamethasone.

Conclusions
The measurement of serum dexamethasone following DST reduces the false-positive rate associated with subtherapeutic dexamethasone levels.
Acceptability and feasibility of a mobile health application for blood pressure monitoring in rural Uganda
Authors: Mugabirwe Beatrice , Flickinger Tabor , Cox Lauren , Ariho Pius , Dillingham Rebecca , Okello Samson 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Background
Mobile technologies to improve blood pressure control in resource-limited settings are needed. We adapted and evaluated the acceptability and feasibility of PositiveLinks, a mobile phone application for self-monitoring, social support, and engagement in care for people living with HIV, among patients with hypertension in rural Uganda.

Methods
We enrolled adults on treatment for hypertension at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital and Mbarara Municipal health center IV, southwestern Uganda. We provided and educated all participants on the use of PositiveLinks application and automated blood pressure monitors. We administered a baseline questionnaire and performed in-depth interviews 30 days later to explore acceptability, feasibility, medication adherence, social support, and blood pressure control.

Results
A total of 37 participants completed the interviews, mean age of 58 years (SD 10.8) and 28 (75.7%) were female. All participants embraced the PositiveLinks mobile app and were enthusiastic about self-monitoring of blood pressure, 35 (94.6%) experienced peer to peer support. Among the 35 participants non-adherent to medications at baseline, 31 had improved medication adherence. All except 1 of the 31(83.8%) who had uncontrolled blood pressure at baseline, had self-reported controlled blood pressure after 30 days of use of PositiveLinks.

Conclusion
Patients with hypertension in rural Uganda embraced the PositiveLinks mobile application and had improved medication adherence, social support, and blood pressure control. Further assessment of cost-effectiveness of the application in blood pressure control in resource-limited settings will be pursued in future studies.
Malignant potential of colorectal neoplasms in Lynch syndrome: an analysis of 325 lesions endoscopically treated at a single institute
Authors: Hatamori Hiroyuki , Chino Akiko , Arai Masami , Ide Daisuke , Saito Shoichi , Igarashi Masahiro , Kita Mizuho , Nakajima Takeshi , Kawachi Hiroshi , Fujisaki Junko 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Background
Patients with Lynch syndrome are at an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, and the adenoma-carcinoma sequence is accelerated in these patients. However, the clinicopathological characteristics of colorectal neoplasms in Lynch syndrome patients are not well-known.

Methods
A total of 325 consecutive colorectal neoplasms were endoscopically removed from 68 patients with Lynch syndrome between June 2005 and May 2018 and retrospectively reviewed.

Results
Of the 325 lesions, 94 (29%), 220 (68%) and 11 (3%) were from patients with MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6 mutations, respectively. The median lesion size was 5 mm (range 2–40 mm), with 229 (71%) lesions having a non-polypoid morphology. The frequencies of advanced neoplasms, including high-grade adenomas, intramucosal carcinomas and submucosal invasive carcinomas were 14, 34, 97 and 93% for lesions with diameters of &lt;5, ≥5 and &lt;10, ≥10 and &lt;20, and ≥20 mm, respectively. The frequencies of advanced neoplasms in the proximal colon, distal colon and rectum did not significantly differ (36, 35 and 41%, respectively).

Conclusions
Our results suggest that the malignant transformation interval from low-grade adenomas to advanced neoplasms is similar in all parts of the colon. Furthermore, since one-third of neoplastic lesions with diameters of ≥5 and &lt;10 mm and most of those ≥10 mm were advanced neoplasms, we recommend that in Lynch syndrome patients, careful colonoscopic surveillance should be performed throughout the colon, and all neoplastic lesions, regardless of the size, should be subjected to detailed endoscopic examination, complete resection and detailed pathological examination.
Community Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Malaria Vector Control Strategies in Lagos State, South-West Nigeria
Authors: Omotayo Ahmed I , Ande Adeolu T , Oduola Adedayo O , Olakiigbe Abiodun K , Ghazali Aishat K , Adeneye Adeniyi , Awolola Samson T 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Malaria is a leading public health challenge causing mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. Prominent malaria vector control methods employed in sub-Saharan Africa include Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) and Indoor Residual spraying (IRS). This study investigated knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of malaria vector control methods in Lagos, South-West Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were employed for the cross-sectional survey which was carried out between May and August 2018. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select Lagos Mainland, Kosofe, and Ojo local government areas (LGAs). Five hundred and twenty questionnaires were used for the study. Data were analyzed for descriptive statistics, whereas χ 2 was used to determine influence of respondents’ LGA, level of education and type of dwelling on respondents’ attitude and practice. Respondents’ LGAs have no significant impact on attitude and practice to malaria vector control methods. However, ‘level of education’ as well as ‘type of dwelling structure’ impacted significantly on some practices and attitude. Basically, IRS is the major tool employed in malaria vector control, but sometimes it is used in combination with other methods. A good number of residents also use LLINs. ‘Choice of method’ employed is mainly based on the effectiveness of method. General perception about LLINs and IRS is that they are effective, cheap and safer. Considering the widespread use of IRS and LLINs for malaria vector control in Lagos, implementation of malaria control programs should consider KAP to these two strategies.
Evaluation of TEM specimen quality prepared by focused ion beam using symmetry breaking index of convergent-beam electron diffraction
Authors: Morikawa Daisuke , Ageishi Masaki , Sato Kaori , Tsuda Kenji , Terauchi Masami 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Degradation of the crystalline quality of transmission electron microscopy specimens in silicon prepared with different conditions has been examined using convergent-beam electron diffraction (CBED). The specimens are prepared using focused ion beam (FIB) with different accelerating voltages, Ar-ion milling and crushing method. Symmetry breaking of CBED patterns was quantitatively evaluated by symmetry breaking index S, which has been previously reported. The degradation and inhomogeneity of the FIB specimen were suppressed by decreasing the accelerating voltages of the FIB fabrication in the final process.
Augmented cytotoxicity using the physical adsorption of Poloxamer 188 on allicin-loaded gelatin nanoparticles
Authors: Ossama Muhammed , Hathout Rania M , Attia Dalia A , Mortada Nahed D 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Objectives
The aim of this work was to study the effect of the physically adsorbed Poloxamer 188 coating polymer on the cytotoxic activity of allicin-loaded gelatin nanoparticles.

Methods
The double desolvation method was utilised to prepare the nanoparticles which were characterised for particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential and visualised using transmission electron microscopy. The coating density of the used polymer was determined using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR); 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity on HepG-2 cell lines.

Key findings
The particles were spherical possessing a PS of 714 ± 25.21 nm and a PDI of 0.663 ± 0.143. These results together with the 1H-NMR results analysis confirmed the efficient coating of Poloxamer 188. The coating of particles rendered them more cytotoxic, scoring an IC50 of 6.736 µm (2-folds lower than the uncoated counter parts and 4-folds lesser than the allicin solution), and apt for cancer-targeting. Moreover, the prepared nanoparticles were stable to gamma-sterilisation and to a storage of 12 months.

Conclusions
Augmented cytotoxicity on HepG-2 cell lines was obtained using the physical adsorption of an abundant and relatively cheap material, Poloxamer 188, on allicin-loaded gelatin nanoparticles.
A review on phytochemical and therapeutic potential of Iris germanica
Authors: Yousefsani Bahareh Sadat , Boozari Motahareh , Shirani Kobra , Jamshidi Amirhossein , Dadmehr Majid 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Objectives
Iris germanica L. is a medicinal plant, which has a long history of uses, mainly in medieval Persia and many places worldwide for the management of a wide variety of diseases. In this study, we aimed to review ethnopharmacological applications in addition to phytochemical and pharmacological properties of I. germanica.

Key findings
Ethnomedical uses of I. germanica have been reported from many countries such as China, Pakistan, India, Iran and Turkey. The medicinal part of I. germanica is the rhizome and the roots. Based on phytochemical investigations, different bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, triterpenes, sterols, phenolics, ceramides and benzoquinones, have been identified in its medicinal parts. Current pharmacological studies represent that the plant possesses several biological and therapeutic effects, including neuroprotective, hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antiplasmodial, antifungal, immunomodulatory, cytotoxic and antimutagenic effects.

Summary
Although the majority of preclinical studies reported various pharmacological activities of this plant, however, sufficient clinical trials are not currently available. Therefore, to draw a definitive conclusion about the efficacy and therapeutic activities of I. germanica and its bioactive compounds, further clinical and experimental studies are required. Moreover, it is necessary to focus on the pharmacokinetic and safety studies on the extracts of I. germanica.
Page kidney post ureteroscopy: a case report
Authors: AlAsmi Raed , Alfozan Mohammed 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Renal injury after surgical intervention is not uncommon in current urological practice with most complication would be anticipated in high risk patient. Subcapsular renal hematoma is not known complication post some urological interventions such as extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and trauma. Few cases of subcapsular hematomas are reported as a complication post ureteroscopy in the literature. Clinical spectrum varies from spontaneous resolution through acute renal failure secondary to Page kidney. Page kidney is the external compression of a kidney usually caused by a subcapsular hematoma associated with high blood pressure and occasional renal failure. It is named after Dr. Irvin Page who first demonstrated in 1939 that applying external compression on the renal parenchyma could cause hypertension. Various management options are mentioned in literature and depend upon the severity and presentation. Percutaneous drainage is an option for the management of subcapsular hematoma in hemodynamically stable patient.
Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy-enabled elemental mapping illuminates the ‘battle for nutrients’ between plant and pathogen
Authors: Naim Fatima , Khambatta Karina , Sanglard Lilian M V P , Sauzier Georgina , Reinhardt Juliane , Paterson David J , Zerihun Ayalsew , Hackett Mark J , Gibberd Mark R 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Metal homeostasis is integral to normal plant growth and development. During plant–pathogen interactions, the host and pathogen compete for the same nutrients, potentially impacting nutritional homeostasis. Our knowledge of outcome of the interaction in terms of metal homeostasis is still limited. Here, we employed the X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) beamline at the Australian Synchrotron to visualize and analyse the fate of nutrients in wheat leaves infected with Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, a necrotrophic fungal pathogen. We sought to (i) evaluate the utility of XFM for sub-micron mapping of essential mineral nutrients and (ii) examine the spatiotemporal impact of a pathogen on nutrient distribution in leaves. XFM maps of K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn revealed substantial hyperaccumulation within, and depletion around, the infected region relative to uninfected control samples. Fungal mycelia were visualized as thread-like structures in the Cu and Zn maps. The hyperaccumulation of Mn in the lesion and localized depletion in asymptomatic tissue surrounding the lesion was unexpected. Similarly, Ca accumulated at the periphery of the symptomatic region and as microaccumulations aligning with fungal mycelia. Collectively, our results highlight that XFM imaging provides the capability for high-resolution mapping of elements to probe nutrient distribution in hydrated diseased leaves in situ.
Primary beam effects of radio astronomy antennas – II. Modelling MeerKAT L-band beams
Authors: Asad K M B , Girard J N , de Villiers M , Ansah-Narh T , Iheanetu K , Smirnov O , Santos M G , Lehmensiek R , Jonas J , de Villiers D I L , Thorat K , Hugo B , Makhathini S , Jozsa G I G , Sirothia S K 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACT
After a decade of design and construction, South Africa’s SKA-MID precursor MeerKAT has begun its science operations. To make full use of the widefield capability of the array, it is imperative that we have an accurate model of the primary beam of its antennas. We have taken available L-band full-polarization ‘astro-holographic’ observations of three antennas and a generic electromagnetic simulation and created sparse representations of the beams using principal components and Zernike polynomials. The spectral behaviour of the spatial coefficients has been modelled using discrete cosine transform. We have provided the Zernike-based model over a diameter of 10 deg averaged over the beams of three antennas in an associated software tool (EIDOS) that can be useful in direction-dependent calibration and imaging. The model is more accurate for the diagonal elements of the beam Jones matrix and at lower frequencies. As we get more accurate beam measurements and simulations in the future, especially for the cross-polarization patterns, our pipeline can be used to create more accurate sparse representations of MeerKAT beams.
Constraining the fast radio burst properties using the joint distributions of dispersion measure and fluence of the events detected at Parkes, ASKAP, CHIME, and UTMOST
Authors: Bhattacharyya Siddhartha , Bharadwaj Somnath 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACT
The Parkes, ASKAP, CHIME, and UTMOST telescopes, which have all detected fast radio bursts (FRBs), each works at a different frequency and has a different detection criteria. Using simulations, we have combined the constraints from all four telescopes to identify an allowed range of model parameters $(\alpha , \overline{E}_{33})$ for the FRB source population. Here, α is the spectral index and $\overline{E}_{33}$ is the mean FRB energy in units of $10^{33} \, {\rm J}$ across a 2128–2848 MHz band in the FRB rest frame. We have considered several different FRB energy distributions, and also different scenarios for the scattering pulse broadening, the event rate density variation with z and the host dispersion measure (DM). We find that in all cases, the common allowed region includes the range −3.9 ≤ α ≤ −1.3 and $0.42\le \overline{E}_{33}\le 1$. In all case, large values α &gt; 4 and $\overline{E}_{33} \gt 60$ are ruled out. Considering the allowed $(\alpha , \overline{E}_{33})$ parameter range, we predict that CHIME is unlikely to detect an FRB with extragalactic dispersion measure (DMEx) exceeding $3700\, {\rm pc\, cm}^{-3}$. A substantially larger DMEx in the large FRB sample anticipated from CHIME would falsify the assumptions of the present analysis. Our analysis is expected to yield tighter parameter constraints with the advent of more FRB data.
A hyperluminous obscured quasar at a redshift of z ≈ 4.3
Authors: Efstathiou Andreas , Małek Katarzyna , Burgarella Denis , Hurley Peter , Oliver Seb , Buat Veronique , Shirley Raphael , Duivenvoorden Steven , Lesta Vicky Papadopoulou , Farrah Duncan , Duncan Kenneth J , Varillas María del Carmen Campos 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACT
In this work we report the discovery of the hyperluminous galaxy HELP_J100156.75 + 022344.7 at a photometric redshift of $z$ ≈ 4.3. The galaxy was discovered in the Cosmological Evolution Survey (COSMOS) field, one of the fields studied by the Herschel Extragalactic Legacy Project (HELP). We present the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the galaxy and fit it with the CYprus models for Galaxies and their NUclear Spectra (CYGNUS) multi-component radiative transfer models. We find that its emission is dominated by an obscured quasar with a predicted total 1–1000 μm luminosity of $3.91^{+1.69}_{-0.55} \times 10^{13}\, \mathrm{ L}_\odot$ and an active galactic nucleus (AGN) fraction of $\sim 89{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. We also fit HELP_J100156.75 + 022344.7 with the cigale(code investigating galaxy emission) code and find a similar result. This is only the second $z$ &gt; 4 hyperluminous obscured quasar discovered to date. The discovery of HELP_J100156.75 + 022344.7 in the ∼2 deg2 COSMOS field implies that a large number of obscured hyperluminous quasars may lie in the HELP fields, which cover ∼1300 deg2. If this is confirmed, tension between supermassive black hole evolution models and observations will be alleviated. We estimate the space density of objects like HELP_J100156.75 + 022344.7 at $z$ ≈ 4.5 to be ∼1.8 × 10−8 Mpc−3. This is slightly higher than the space density of coeval hyperluminous optically selected quasars, suggesting that the obscuring torus in $z$ &gt; 4 quasars may have a covering factor $\gtrsim 50{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$.
Transcription Factors Drive Opposite Relationships between Gene Age and Tissue Specificity in Male and Female Drosophila Gonads
Authors: Witt Evan , Svetec Nicolas , Benjamin Sigi , Zhao Li 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Evolutionarily young genes are usually preferentially expressed in the testis across species. Although it is known that older genes are generally more broadly expressed than younger genes, the properties that shaped this pattern are unknown. Older genes may gain expression across other tissues uniformly, or faster in certain tissues than others. Using Drosophila gene expression data, we confirmed previous findings that younger genes are disproportionately testis biased and older genes are disproportionately ovary biased. We found that the relationship between gene age and expression is stronger in the ovary than any other tissue and weakest in testis. We performed ATAC-seq on Drosophila testis and found that although genes of all ages are more likely to have open promoter chromatin in testis than in ovary, promoter chromatin alone does not explain the ovary bias of older genes. Instead, we found that upstream transcription factor (TF) expression is highly predictive of gene expression in ovary but not in testis. In the ovary, TF expression is more predictive of gene expression than open promoter chromatin, whereas testis gene expression is similarly influenced by both TF expression and open promoter chromatin. We propose that the testis is uniquely able to express younger genes controlled by relatively few TFs, whereas older genes with more TF partners are broadly expressed with peak expression most likely in the ovary. The testis allows widespread baseline expression that is relatively unresponsive to regulatory changes, whereas the ovary transcriptome is more responsive to trans-regulation and has a higher ceiling for gene expression.
Extract of bulbus ofFritillaria cirrhosainduces spindle multipolarity in human-derived colonic epithelial NCM460 cells through promoting centrosome fragmentation
Authors: Guo Xihan , Wang Chunlei , Tian Weimeng , Dai Xueqin , Ni Juan , Wu Xiayu , Wang Xu 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBulbus of Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don (BFC), an outstanding antitussive and expectorant herbal drug used in China and many other countries, has potential but less understood genotoxicity. Previously, we have reported that aqueous extract of BFC compromised the spindle assembly checkpoint and cytokinesis in NCM460 cells. Here, we found that one remarkable observation in BFC-treated NCM460 cells was multipolar mitosis, a trait classically compromises the fidelity of chromosome segregation. More detailed investigation revealed that BFC-induced spindle multipolarity in metaphases and ana-telophases in a dose- and time-dependent manner, suggesting BFC-induced multipolar spindle conformation was not transient. The frequency of multipolar metaphase correlated well to that of multipolar ana-telophases, indicating that BFC-induced multipolar metaphases often persisted through anaphase. Unexpectedly, BFC blocked the proliferation of binucleated cells, suggesting spindle multipolarity was not downstream of BFC-induced cytokinesis failure. Exposure of BFC to early mitotic cells, rather than S/G2 cells, contributed greatly to spindle multipolarity, indicating BFC might disrupt centrosome integrity rather than induce centrosome overduplication. The immunofluorescence results showed that the centrosomes were severely fragmented by a short-term treatment of BFC and the extent of centrosome fragmentation in early mitotic cells was larger than this in S/G2 cells. Consistently, several genes (e.g. p53, Rb centrin-2, Plk-4, Plk-1 and Aurora-A) involved in regulating centrosome integrity were significantly deregulated by BFC. Together, our results suggest that BFC causes multipolar spindles primarily by inducing centrosome fragmentation. Coupling these results to our previous observations, we recommend the risk/benefit ratio should be considered in the practical use of BFC.