bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D Deficiency and Associated Factors in Adult Females of Chattogram
Authors: Ahmed Shaheda , Uddin Mohammed Jalal , Tasnim Nayeema 
Published: November 2021

Background : Vitamin D is an essential nutrient and deficiency of it leads to devastating disorders. This study aimed to find out the associated factors with selected variables of low vitamin D among adult females of Chattogram.
Materials and methods : Cross-sectional observational study was conducted from September 2019 to February 2020 at a diagnostic complex of Chattogram. Participants were adult females of Chattogram. All participants gave oral informed consent and answered a questionnaire that included 16 questions covering demographic information, monthly income, educational status, occupation, body weight, duration of sun exposure, dress pattern (Using hijab or burkha, regular dress-up) drug and disease history. Blood samples were collected by cautious aseptic procedure. Serum vitamin D levels were measured by using immunoassay method. Adult females of Chattogram with no religious restrictions, n= 150,aged 31 to 70 years.
Results: Overall, 88% had low vitamin D levels with deficient 60.66% and insufficient 27.34%. Sufficient level of vitamin D was found only among 12%. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was much higher in females with house-wife status 73.33% (p value of 0.0001) wearing hijab 46.66% (p value of 0.001). It could be due to interference with UVB radiation into skin, short duration of sun exposure, use of sunblock cream or less supplementary intake.
Conclusion : Vitamin D deficiency is an emerging but neglected health issue in modern time, particularly more vulnerable are female population. Ironically, abundant sunlight of Bangladesh seems failed to protect the self-imposed concrete prisoner, classically known as home-makers, and practitioner of indoor life style that leads to avoidance of sun light. However, large sample size is mandatory to boost-up the findings of current study.
Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.20 (2); July 2021; Page 74-78
Multifunctional Gold Nano-Cytosensor With Quick Capture, Electrochemical Detection, and Non-Invasive Release of Circulating Tumor Cells for Early Cancer Treatment
Authors: Zhang Rui , You Qiannan , Cheng Mingming , Ge Mingfeng , Mei Qian , Yang Li , Dong Wen-Fei , Chang Zhimin 
Published: November 2021

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are metastatic tumor cells that shed into the blood from solid primary tumors, and their existence significantly increases the risk of metastasis and recurrence. The timely discovery and detection of CTCs are of considerable importance for the early diagnosis and treatment of metastasis. However, the low number of CTCs hinders their detection. In the present study, an ultrasensitive electrochemical cytosensor for specific capture, quantitative detection, and noninvasive release of EpCAM-positive tumor cells was developed. The biosensor was manufactured using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to modify the electrode. Three types of AuNPs with controllable sizes and conjugated with a targeting molecule of monoclonal anti-EpCAM antibody were used in this study. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) of the cytosensors were performed to evaluate the cell capture efficiency and performance. The captured 4T1 cells by the AuNPs hindered electron transport efficiency, resulting in increased EIS responses. The cell capture response recorded using EIS or DPV indicated that the optimal AuNPs size should be 17 nm. The cell capture response changed linearly with the concentration range from 8.0 × 10 to 1 × 107 cells/mL, and the limit of detection was 50 cells/mL. After these measurements, glycine-HCl (Gly-HCl) was used as an antibody eluent to destroy the binding between antigen and antibody to release the captured tumor cells without compromising their viability for further clinical research. This protocol realizes rapid detection of CTCs with good stability, acceptable assay precision, significant fabrication reproducibility with a relative standard deviation of 2.09%, and good recovery of cells. Our results indicate that the proposed biosensor is promising for the early monitoring of CTCs and may help customize personalized treatment options.
Raman Spectrum of Follicular Fluid: A Potential Biomarker for Oocyte Developmental Competence in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Huang Xin , Hong Ling , Wu Yuanyuan , Chen Miaoxin , Kong Pengcheng , Ruan Jingling , Teng Xiaoming , Wei Zhiyun 
Published: November 2021

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder in reproductive women where abnormal folliculogenesis is considered as a common characteristic. Our aim is to evaluate the potential of follicular fluid (FF) Raman spectra to predict embryo development and pregnancy outcome, so as to prioritize the best promising embryo for implantation, reducing both physiological and economical burdens of PCOS patients. In addition, the altered metabolic profiles will be identified to explore the aetiology and pathobiology of PCOS. In this study, follicular fluid samples obtained from 150 PCOS and 150 non-PCOS women were measured with Raman spectroscopy. Individual Raman spectrum was analyzed to find biologic components contributing to the occurrence of PCOS. More importantly, the Raman spectra of follicular fluid from the 150 PCOS patients were analyzed via machine-learning algorithms to evaluate their predictive value for oocyte development potential and clinical pregnancy. Mean-centered Raman spectra and principal component analysis (PCA) showed global differences in the footprints of follicular fluid between PCOS and non-PCOS women. Two Raman zones (993–1,165 cm−1 and 1,439–1,678 cm−1) were identified for describing the largest variances between the two groups, with the former higher and the latter lower in PCOS FF. The tentative assignments of corresponding Raman bands included phenylalanine and β -carotene. Moreover, it was found that FF, in which oocytes would develop into high-quality blastocysts and obtain high clinical pregnancy rate, were detected with lower quantification of the integration at 993–1,165 cm−1 and higher quantification of the integration at 1,439–1,678 cm−1 in PCOS. In addition, based on Raman spectra of PCOS FF, the machine-learning algorithms via the fully connected artificial neural network (ANN) achieved the overall accuracies of 90 and 74% in correctly assigning oocyte developmental potential and clinical pregnancy, respectively. The study suggests that the PCOS displays unique metabolic profiles in follicular fluid which could be detected by Raman spectroscopy. Specific bands in Raman spectra have the biomarker potential to predict the embryo development and pregnancy outcome for PCOS patients. Importantly, these data may provide some valuable biochemical information and metabolic signatures that will help us to understand the abnormal follicular development in PCOS.
N2O–Assisted Siphon Foaming of Modified Galactoglucomannans With Cellulose Nanofibers
Authors: Nypelö Tiina , Fredriksson Jessica , Arumughan Vishnu , Larsson Emanuel , Hall Stephen A. , Larsson Anette 
Published: November 2021

Foaming of most bio-based polymers is challenged by low pore formation and foam stability. At the same time, the developing utilization of bio-based materials for the circular economy is placing new demands for easily processable, low-density materials from renewable raw materials. In this work, we investigate cellulose nanofiber (CNF) foams in which foaming is facilitated with wood-based hemicelluloses, galactoglucomannans (GGMs). Interfacial activity of the GGM is modulatedviamodification of the molecule’s amphiphilicity, where the surface tension is decreased from approximately 70 to 30 mN m−1for unmodified and modified GGM, respectively. The chemical modification of GGMs by substitution with butyl glycidyl ether increased the molecule’s hydrophobicity and interaction with the nanocellulose component. The highest specific foam volume using 1 wt% CNF was achieved when modified GGM was added (3.1 ml g−1), compared to unmodified GGM with CNF (2.1 ml g−1). An amount of 96 and 98% of the GGM and GGM-BGE foams were lost after 15 min of foaming while the GGM and GGM-BGE with cellulose nanofibers lost only 33 and 28% of the foam respectively. In the case of GGM-BGE, the foam stability increased with increasing nanofiber concentration. This suggests that the altered hydrophobicity facilitated increased foam formation when the additive was incorporated in the CNF suspension and foamed with nitrous oxide (N2O). Thus, the hydrophobic character of the modified GGM was a necessity for foam formation and stability while the CNFs were needed for generating a self-standing foam structure.
Statistical Relationship Between the Decrease of Major Seismicity and Drought in Southern California Since 1900
Authors: Bragato Pier Luigi 
Published: November 2021

The seismicity in Southern California significantly decreased over the last decades. The decrease went in parallel with the reduction of meteoric groundwater recharge, which is a well-known factor capable of affecting seismicity. In this work the existence of a systematic statistical relationship was investigated by comparing the time density of Mw ≥ 5.7 earthquakes since 1900 with the time series of the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), an indicator of soil moisture roughly correlated with groundwater recharge. Given the non-stationarity of the two signals, the formal comparison was performed using both binomial logistic regression and cointegration testing. The analysis showed a significant statistical relationship, with peaks of seismicity 8 years behind those of PDSI. This finding suggests the hypothesis that groundwater recharge might affect earthquakes at a multi-year time scale. Proving this theory requires accurate measures and hydrogeological modeling, which is behind the scope of this work. Nonetheless, according to previous studies, the observed time lag might be explained by the slow propagation of pore pressure from the surface to the seismogenic volume. The ongoing trend towards an arid climate, made more evident by the recent severe droughts, might have contributed to the earthquake reduction of the last decades. The connection is particularly evident in the Salton Trough, with possible implications for the interpretation of its paleoseismicity.
Is Response to Genotoxic Stress Similar in Populations of African and European Ancestry? A Study of Dose-Response After in vitro Irradiation
Authors: Soumboundou Mamadou , Dossou Julien , Kalaga Yossef , Nkengurutse Innocent , Faye Ibrahima , Guingani Albert , Gadji Macoura , Yameogo Koudbi J. , Zongo Henri , Mbaye Gora , Dem Ahmadou , Diarra Mounibé , Adjibade Rached , Djebou Catherine , Junker Steffen , Oudrhiri Noufissa , Hempel William M. , Dieterlen Alain , Jeandidier Eric , Carde Patrice , El Maalouf Elie , Colicchio Bruno , Bennaceur-Griscelli Annelise , Fenech Michael , Voisin Philippe , Rodriguez-Lafrasse Claire , M’Kacher Radhia 
Published: November 2021

Background: Exposure to genotoxic stress such as radiation is an important public health issue affecting a large population. The necessity of analyzing cytogenetic effects of such exposure is related to the need to estimate the associated risk. Cytogenetic biological dosimetry is based on the relationship between the absorbed dose and the frequency of scored chromosomal aberrations. The influence of confounding factors on radiation response is a topical issue. The role of ethnicity is unclear. Here, we compared the dose-response curves obtained after irradiation of circulating lymphocytes from healthy donors of African and European ancestry.Materials and Methods: Blood samples from six Africans living in Africa, five Africans living in Europe, and five Caucasians living in Europe were exposed to various doses (0–4 Gy) of X-rays at a dose-rate of 0.1 Gy/min using an X-RAD320 irradiator. A validated cohort composed of 14 healthy Africans living in three African countries was included and blood samples were irradiated using the same protocols. Blood lymphocytes were cultured for 48 h and chromosomal aberrations scored during the first mitosis by telomere and centromere staining. The distribution of dicentric chromosomes was determined and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the dose-response curves of the two populations.Results: No spontaneous dicentric chromosomes were detected in African donors, thus establishing a very low background of unstable chromosomal aberrations relative to the European population. There was a significant difference in the dose response curves between native African and European donors. At 4 Gy, African donors showed a significantly lower frequency of dicentric chromosomes (p = 8.65 10–17), centric rings (p = 4.0310–14), and resulting double-strand-breaks (DSB) (p = 1.32 10–18) than European donors. In addition, a significant difference was found between African donors living in Europe and Africans living in Africa.Conclusion: This is the first study to demonstrate the important role of ethnic and environmental factors that may epigenetically influence the response to irradiation. It will be necessary to establish country-of-origen-specific dose response curves to practice precise and adequate biological dosimetry. This work opens new perspective for the comparison of treatments based on genotoxic agents, such as irradiation.
Presentation and Real-World Management of Giant Cell Arteritis (Artemis Study)
Authors: Mahr Alfred , Hachulla Eric , de Boysson Hubert , Guerroui Nassim , Héron Emmanuel , Vinzio Stéphane , Broner Jonathan , Lapébie François-Xavier , Michaud Martin , Sailler Laurent , Zenone Thierry , Djerad Mohamed , Jouvray Mathieu , Shipley Emilie , Tieulie Nathalie , Armengol Guillaume , Bouldoires Bastien , Viallard Jean-Francois , Idier Isabelle , Paccalin Marc , Devauchelle-Pensec Valérie 
Published: November 2021

Background: Few studies of daily practice for patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) are available. This French study aimed to describe the characteristics and management of GCA in a real-life setting.Methods: Cross-sectional, non-interventional, multicenter study of patients ≥50 years old who consulted hospital-based specialists for GCA and were under treatment. Patient characteristics and journey, diagnostic methods and treatments were collected. Descriptive analyses were performed.Results: In total, 306 patients (67% females, mean age 74 ± 8 years old) were recruited by 69 physicians (internists: 85%, rheumatologists: 15%); 13% of patients had newly diagnosed GCA (diagnosis-to-visit interval &lt;6 weeks). Overall median disease duration was 13 months (interquartile range 5–26). Most patients were referred by general practitioners (56%), then ophthalmologists (10%) and neurologists (7%). Most common comorbidities were hypertension (46%), psychiatric disorders (10%), dyslipidemia (12%), diabetes (9%), and osteoporosis (6%). Initial GCA presentations included cranial symptoms (89%), constitutional symptoms (74%), polymyalgia rheumatica (48%), and/or other extra-cranial manifestations (35%). Overall, 85, 31, 26, and 30% of patients underwent temporal artery biopsy, high-resolution temporal artery Doppler ultrasonography, 18FDG-PET, and aortic angio-CT, respectively. All patients received glucocorticoids, which were ongoing for 89%; 29% also received adjunct medication(s) (methotrexate: 19%, tocilizumab: 15%). A total of 40% had relapse(s); the median time to the first relapse was 10 months. Also, 37% had comorbidity(ies) related to or aggravated by glucocorticoids therapy.Conclusion: This large observational study provides insight into current medical practices for GCA. More than one third of patients had comorbidities related to glucocorticoid therapy for a median disease duration of 13 months. Methotrexate and tocilizumab were the most common adjunct medications.
Comparison of Clinical Characteristics for Distinguishing COVID-19 From Influenza During the Early Stages in Guangdong, China
Authors: Li Yongzhi , He Huan , Gao Yuhan , Ou Zejin , He Wenqiao , Chen Caiyun , Fu Jiaqi , Xiong Husheng , Chen Qing 
Published: November 2021

Background: To explore the differences in clinical manifestations and infection marker determination for early diagnosis of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and influenza (A and B).Methods: A hospital-based retrospective cohort study was designed. Patients with COVID-19 and inpatients with influenza at a sentinel surveillance hospital were recruited. Demographic data, medical history, laboratory findings, and radiographic characteristics were summarized and compared between the two groups. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used for categorical variables, and Kruskal–Wallis H-test was used for continuous variables in each group. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to differentiate the intergroup characteristics. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the predisposing factors.Results: About 23 patients with COVID-19 and 74 patients with influenza were included in this study. Patients with influenza exhibited more symptoms of cough and sputum production than COVID-19 (p &lt; 0.05). CT showed that consolidation and pleural effusion were more common in influenza than COVID-19 (p &lt; 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with influenza had high values of infection and coagulation function markers, but low values of blood routine and biochemical test markers than patients with COVID-19 (mild or moderate groups) (p &lt; 0.05). In patients with COVID-19, the ROC analysis showed positive predictions of albumin and hematocrit, but negative predictions of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Multivariate analysis revealed that influenza might associate with risk of elevated CRP, PCT, and LDH, whereas COVID-19 might associated with high HBDH.Conclusion: Patients with influenza had more obvious clinical symptoms but less common consolidation lesions and pleural effusion than those with COVID-19. These findings suggested that influenza likely presents with stronger inflammatory reactions than COVID-19, which provides some insights into the pathogenesis of these two contagious respiratory illnesses.
Associations Between Nutritional Deficits and Physical Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Lu Wan-Hsuan , Giudici Kelly Virecoulon , Rolland Yves , Guyonnet Sophie , Mangin Jean-François , Vellas Bruno , de Souto Barreto Philipe 
Published: November 2021

Background: Whether multiple nutritional deficiencies have a synergic effect on mobility loss remains unknown. This study aims to evaluate associations between multi-nutritional deficits and physical performance evolution among community-dwelling older adults.Methods: We included 386 participants from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT) (75.6 ± 4.5 years) not receiving omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation and who had available data on nutritional deficits. Baseline nutritional deficits were defined as plasma 25 hydroxyvitamin D &lt;20 ng/ml, plasma homocysteine &gt;14 μmol/L, or erythrocyte omega-3 PUFA index ≤ 4.87% (lower quartile). The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), gait speed, and chair rise time were used to assess physical performance at baseline and after 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months. We explored if nutrition-physical performance associations varied according to the presence of low-grade inflammation (LGI) and brain imaging indicators.Results: Within-group comparisons showed that physical function (decreased SPPB and gait speed, increased chair rise time) worsened over time, particularly in participants with ≥2 nutritional deficits; however, no between-group differences were observed when individuals without deficit and those with either 1 or ≥2 deficits were compared. Our exploratory analysis on nutritional deficit-LGI interactions showed that, among people with ≥2 deficits, chair rise time was increased over time in participants with LGI (adjusted mean difference: 3.47; 95% CI: 1.03, 5.91; p = 0.017), compared with individuals with no LGI.Conclusions: Accumulated deficits on vitamin D, homocysteine, and omega-3 PUFA were not associated with physical performance evolution in older adults, but they determined declined chair rise performance in subjects with low-grade inflammation.Clinical Trial Registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00672685], identifier [NCT00672685].
The Integration of the Pre-Treatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in the Eighth Edition of the AJCC Staging System for Nasopharynx Cancer
Authors: Liang Zhong-Guo , Zhang Fan , Li Ye , Li Ling , Qu Song , Su Fang , Yu Bin-Bin , Guan Ying , Han Lu , Li Kai-Guo , Zhu Xiao-Dong 
Published: November 2021

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to evaluate the role of integrating the pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) into the eighth edition of the AJCC staging system for nasopharynx cancer in an endemic region.MethodsBetween May 2007 and December 2012, a total of 713 cases with NPC were retrospectively analyzed. The separation ability in terms of overall survival (OS), local failure-free survival (LFFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and failure-free survival (FFS) was evaluated. The discriminatory ability was assessed using Harrell’s concordance index (c-index). Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) was conducted and incorporated with pretreatment NLR.ResultsWhen integrated with NLR, the separate and discriminatory abilities for N classifications were improved in terms of OS and DMFS, but not for T categories. By using Recursive partitioning analysis, five subgroups were generated. Compared with the overall stage, the integration of NLR could not enhance the separate and discriminatory abilities. However, patients in the RPA 4 group gained significant benefits in terms of OS (HR 0.390 (95%CI 0.212-0.716), P = 0.002) and FFS (HR 0.548 (95%CI 0.314-0.958), P = 0.032) from the additional adjuvant chemotherapy after concurrent chemoradiotherapy.ConclusionThe integration of NLR into the 8th edition of the AJCC staging system could enhance the separation and discriminatory abilities for N classifications, but not for T categories. In addition, patients in the RPA 4 group could benefit from the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy to concurrent chemoradiotherapy.