bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology, Clinical Features and Prognostic Factors of Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Results From an Italian Multicenter Study
Authors: Garazzino Silvia , Lo Vecchio Andrea , Pierantoni Luca , Calò Carducci Francesca Ippolita , Marchetti Federico , Meini Antonella , Castagnola Elio , Vergine Gianluca , Donà Daniele , Bosis Samantha , Dodi Icilio , Venturini Elisabetta , Felici Enrico , Giacchero Roberta , Denina Marco , Pierri Luca , Nicolini Giangiacomo , Montagnani Carlotta , Krzysztofiak Andrzej , Bianchini Sonia , Marabotto Caterina , Tovo Pier-Angelo , Pruccoli Giulia , Lanari Marcello , Villani Alberto , Castelli Gattinara Guido ,   The Italian SITIP-SIP Pediatric Infection Study Group
Published: September 2021

Background: Many aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents remain unclear and optimal treatment is debated. The objective of our study was to investigate epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection, focusing on risk factors for complicated and critical disease.Methods: The present multicenter Italian study was promoted by the Italian Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, involving both pediatric hospitals and general pediatricians/family doctors. All subjects under 18 years of age with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection and referred to the coordinating center were enrolled from March 2020.Results: As of 15 September 2020, 759 children were enrolled (median age 7.2 years, IQR 1.4; 12.4). Among the 688 symptomatic children, fever was the most common symptom (81.9%). Barely 47% of children were hospitalized for COVID-19. Age was inversely related to hospital admission (p &lt; 0.01) and linearly to length of stay (p = 0.014). One hundred forty-nine children (19.6%) developed complications. Comorbidities were risk factors for complications (p &lt; 0.001). Viral coinfections, underlying clinical conditions, age 5–9 years and lymphopenia were statistically related to ICU admission (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusions: Complications of COVID-19 in children are related to comorbidities and increase with age. Viral co-infections are additional risk factors for disease progression and multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporarily related to COVID-19 (MIS-C) for ICU admission.
Study of the Etiology of Acute Respiratory Infections in Children Under 5 Years at the Dr. Agostinho Neto Hospital, Praia, Santiago Island, Cabo Verde
Authors: Correia Wilson , Dorta-Guerra Roberto , Sanches Mitza , Almeida Semedo Carmen de Jesús Borges , Valladares Basilio , de Pina-Araújo Isabel Inês M. , Carmelo Emma 
Published: September 2021

Background: Acute respiratory infections are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years in developing countries and are a challenge for the health system of these countries. In Cabo Verde, despite the lack of recent studies, data indicate that it affects thousands of children, being the fourth leading cause of infant mortality in 2013. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the etiological agents associated with acute respiratory tract infections in children under 5 years old, and their associated risk factors, such as clinical symptoms or socio-demographic characteristics.Methods: Naso-pharyngeal samples were collected from children under 5 years attending at Dr. Agostinho Neto Hospital (Praia, Santiago Island, Cabo Verde) with suspected ARI at different time-points during 2019. Samples were analyzed using FilmArray® Respiratory Panel v. 2.0 Plus to identify etiological agents of ARI. A questionnaire with socio-demographic information was also collected for each participant. Data analyses were carried out using the IBM SPSS version 25 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY) and R 3.5.1 statistical software.Results: A total of 129 naso-pharyngeal samples were included in the study. Seventeen different etiologic agents of respiratory infections were identified. HRV/EV was the most frequent agent detected, followed by FluA H3 and RSV. Coinfection with two or more pathogens was detected in up to 20% of positive samples. The results were analyzed in terms of age-group, sex, period of the year and other social and demographic factors.Conclusion: Viruses are the main causative agents of ARI in children &lt;5 years attending at the pediatrics service at the Dr. Agostinho Neto Hospital in Praia city, Santiago Island, Cabo Verde. Some factors are described in this study as statistically associated with the presence of an infectious agent, such as having one or more children sharing the bedroom with an adult and the presence of some clinical symptoms. The data addresses the need for studies on respiratory tract infections in Cabo Verde.
An Advanced Automated Patch Clamp Protocol Design to Investigate Drug—Ion Channel Binding Dynamics
Authors: Lukacs Peter , Pesti Krisztina , Földi Mátyás C. , Zboray Katalin , Toth Adam V. , Papp Gábor , Mike Arpad 
Published: September 2021

Standard high throughput screening projects using automated patch-clamp instruments often fail to grasp essential details of the mechanism of action, such as binding/unbinding dynamics and modulation of gating. In this study, we aim to demonstrate that depth of analysis can be combined with acceptable throughput on such instruments. Using the microfluidics-based automated patch clamp, IonFlux Mercury, we developed a method for a rapid assessment of the mechanism of action of sodium channel inhibitors, including their state-dependent association and dissociation kinetics. The method is based on a complex voltage protocol, which is repeated at 1 Hz. Using this time resolution we could monitor the onset and offset of both channel block and modulation of gating upon drug perfusion and washout. Our results show that the onset and the offset of drug effects are complex processes, involving several steps, which may occur on different time scales. We could identify distinct sub-processes on the millisecond time scale, as well as on the second time scale. Automated analysis of the results allows collection of detailed information regarding the mechanism of action of individual compounds, which may help the assessment of therapeutic potential for hyperexcitability-related disorders, such as epilepsies, pain syndromes, neuromuscular disorders, or neurodegenerative diseases.
Normalized Shear Modulus and Damping Ratio of Soil–Rock Mixtures With Different Volumetric Block Proportions
Authors: Wang Shengnian , Gao Xinqun , Hui Honglei , Ma Wei , Shi Chong , Zhang Peng 
Published: September 2021

The volume fraction of rock blocks plays a particularly significant role in static/dynamic shear behaviors of soil–rock mixtures (SRM). Large-scale cyclic triaxial tests for SRM with different volumetric block proportions (VBPs) were performed at different confining pressures to investigate the reduction of dynamic shear modulus (G) and the increase of damping ratio (λ). Results indicate that VBP has a significant effect on the dynamic behaviors of SRM. The higher VBP is more likely to result in a gentler reduction of G and a faster increase of λ. The variations of dynamic shear modulus ratio (G/G0) and normalized damping ratio (λnor) fall within relatively narrow bands but are very different with gravelly soils and sands due to VBP with particle size larger than 2 mm. The G/G0 and λnor can be characterized by empirical functions about normalized shear strain amplitude (γnor).
Psychological Distress Among Cancer Patients During COVID-19 Pandemic in the World: A Systematic Review
Authors: Momenimovahed Zohre , Salehiniya Hamid , Hadavandsiri Fatemeh , Allahqoli Leila , Günther Veronika , Alkatout Ibrahim 
Published: September 2021

Aim: Patients with malignancies, experience high rates of psychological distress. Fear of Corona-infection combined with the interruptions in some treatment programs might affect the psychological health of cancer patients. This review study was conducted to investigate the psychological distress among cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemic to offer system-adapted individual solutions.Materials and methods: To identify the psychological distress of cancer patients, a comprehensive search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. English language and original articles were included in this study. Articles that addressed any psychological distress among cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemic were included.Results: At first 1,410 articles, were included in the study. After removing duplicate articles and reviewing the title and abstract, 55 articles were selected for the review. The findings of this study revealed COVID-19 greatly affects psychological health of cancer patients. Fear of COVID-19, fear of disease progression, disruption of oncology services, cancer stage, and immunocompromised status were the most common causes of psychological distress in oncology patients which can influence patients' decisions about treatment.Conclusion: The COVID-19 related anxiety is an expected reaction to the current situation. Although psychological distress affects many people, it can confuse cancer patients to the point that they refuse to continue treatment for the fear of infection and worsening of their condition. Since the end of this pandemic is unknown, this action can endanger the health and prognosis of this group of patients, so it seems that using psychological interventions and intensive counseling in the current situation is one of the main priorities for cancer patients.
Satisfaction With Life, Satisfaction With Job, and the Level of Care Rationing Among Polish Nurses—A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kołtuniuk Aleksandra , Witczak Izabela , Młynarska Agnieszka , Czajor Karolina , Uchmanowicz Izabella 
Published: September 2021

Background: Rationing of nursing care is a serious issue that has been widely discussed throughout recent years in many countries. The level of satisfaction with life and of satisfaction with job as the nurse-related factors may significantly affect the level of care rationing.Aim: To assess the rationing of nursing care among the Polish nurses and the impact of nurse-related variables, i.e., satisfaction with life and satisfaction with job on the level of nursing care rationing.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 529 Polish registered nurses employing in two University Hospitals. Three self-report scales in the Polish version were used in this study, namely, Basel Extent of Rationing of Nursing Care-revised version (BERNCA-R), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and Satisfaction with Work Scale (SWWS).Results: The respondents indicated that the most frequently rationed activity is studying the situation of individual patients and care plans at the beginning of the shift. The least frequently rationed activity indicated by the respondents was adequate hand hygiene. The patient-to-nurse ratio and the level of satisfaction with job are significant independent factors affecting the level of care rationing.Conclusions: The assessment of the level of satisfaction with life and identification of factors affecting this assessment will enable reducing the occurrence of care rationing.
Psychosocial Determinants of Marital Satisfaction Among Gynecologic Cancer Survivors in Malaysia
Authors: Hatta Sidi , Woon Luke Sy-Cherng , Nik Sumayyah Nik Mohd Nor , Mohamad Nasir Shafiee 
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Marital issues among gynecologic cancer survivors are common but complex. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sociodemographic and clinical factors, including sexual dysfunction and marital satisfaction among Malaysian gynecologic cancer survivors.Methods: A cross-sectional survey of married women with gynecologic cancers was conducted at a Malaysian university hospital. Sociodemographic and clinical data were gathered. Sexual dysfunction was measured using the Malay Version Female Sexual Function Index (MVFSFI), while marital satisfaction was evaluated with the Malay Version Golombok Rust Inventory for Marital Satisfaction (MVGRIMS).Results: A total of 116 patients participated in this study. The median age was 59.0 years (Interquartile range, IQR: 49.0–67.0 years); the median duration of marriage was 32 years (IQR: 20.0–40.8 years). 80.2% had a secondary and lower level of education. 37.9% of study subjects (n = 44) reported poor-and below-levels of marital satisfaction, which was equivalent to MVGRIMS transformed scores of &gt;5. The median FSFI total score was 49.9 (IQR: 2.0–63.0). MVGRIMS transformed score correlated significantly with all MVFSFI sub-scores. In logistic regression, lower educational levels were associated with poor marital satisfaction [primary, (adjusted Odds Ratio) aOR = 12.67, 95% CI: 1.40–114.87; secondary: aOR = 11.52, 95% CI: 1.39–95.72], while higher MVFSFI total score reduced the likelihood of poor marital satisfaction (aOR = 0.979, 95% CI: 0.964–0.994).Conclusion: Both sexual dysfunction and low education level may affect marital satisfaction among gynecologic cancer survivors. Targeted efforts focusing on sex education for patients may help to improve marital satisfaction.
Longer Disciplined Tapers Improve Marathon Performance for Recreational Runners
Authors: Smyth Barry , Lawlor Aonghus 
Published: September 2021

For marathoners the taper refers to a period of reduced training load in the weeks before race-day. It helps runners to recover from the stresses of weeks of high-volume, high-intensity training to enhance race-day performance. The aim of this study was to analyse the taper strategies of recreational runners to determine whether particular forms of taper were more or less favorable to race-day performance.Methods: We analyzed the training activities of more than 158,000 recreational marathon runners to define tapers based on a decrease in training volume (weekly distance). We identified different types of taper based on a combination of duration (1–4 weeks of decreasing training) and discipline (strict tapers progressively decrease training in the weeks before the marathon, relaxed tapers do not) and we grouped runners based on their taper type to determine the popularity of different types of taper and their associated performance characteristics.Results: Kruskal-Wallis tests (H(7)≥ 521.11, p &lt; 0.001), followed by posthoc Dunns tests with a Bonferroni correction, confirmed that strict tapers were associated with better marathon performance than relaxed tapers (p &lt; 0.001) and that longer tapers of up to 3 weeks were associated with better performance than shorter tapers (p &lt; 0.001). Results indicated that strict 3-week tapers were associated with superior marathon finish-time benefits (a median finish-time saving of 5 min 32.4 s or 2.6%) compared with a minimal taper (p &lt; 0.001). We further found that female runners were associated with greater finish-time benefits than men, for a given taper type ( ≤ 3-weeks in duration), based on Mann Whitney U tests of significance with p &lt; 0.001.Conclusion: The findings of this study for recreational runners are consistent with related studies on highly-trained athletes, where disciplined tapers were associated with comparable performance benefits. The findings also highlight how most recreational runners (64%) adopt less disciplined (2-week and 3-week) tapers and suggest that shifting to a more disciplined taper strategy could improve performance relative to the benefits of a less disciplined taper.
Biomarkers in Bladder Cancer Surveillance
Authors: Sugeeta Sukumar S. , Sharma Anand , Ng Kenrick , Nayak Arvind , Vasdev Nikhil 
Published: September 2021

Aim: This is a narrative review with an aim to summarise and describe urinary biomarkers in the surveillance of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). It provides a summary of FDA-approved protein biomarkers along with emerging ones which utilise genetic, epigenetic and exosomal markers. We discuss the current limitations of the available assays.Background: Current guidelines advice a combination of cystoscopy, imaging,and urine cytology in diagnosis and surveillance. Although cytology has a high specificity, it is limited by low sensitivity particularly in low grade tumours. There are six FDA-approved urinary assays for diagnosis and surveillance of bladder cancer. They have shown to improve sensitivity and specificity to be used alongside cytology and cystoscopy but have a lower specificity in comparison to cytology and false positives often occur in benign conditions. Recent developments in laboratory techniques has allowed for use of markers which are RNA-, DNA-based as well as extracellular vesicles in the past decade.Methods: Using the PubMed/Medline search engines as well as Google Scholar, we performed an online search using the terms “bladder cancer,” “non-muscle invasive bladder cancer,” and “urine biomarkers” with filter for articles in English published up to May 2021. Systematic reviews and original data of clinical trials or observational studies which contributed to the development of the biomarkers were collated.Results: Biomarkers identified were divided into FDA-approved molecular biomarkers, protein biomarkers and gene-related biomarker with a table summarising the findings of each marker with the most relevant studies. The studies conducted were mainly retrospective. Due to the early stages of development, only a few prospective studies have been done for more recently developed biomarkers and limited meta-analyses are available.Therefore a detailed evaluation of these markers are still required to decide on their clinical use.Conclusion: Advancements of analytical methods in BC has driven the research towards non-invasive liquid-based biomarkers in adjunct to urine cytology. Further large prospective studies are required to determine its feasibility in a clinical setting as they are not effective when used in isolation as they have their limitation. With the ongoing pandemic, other than reduction in costs and increased accuracy, the need for biomarkers to cope with delay in cystoscopies in diagnosis and surveillance is crucial. Thus clinical trials with direct comparison is required to improve patient care.
Low Expression of Stanniocalcin 1 (STC-1) Protein Is Associated With Poor Clinicopathologic Features of Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Khatun Masuma , Urpilainen Elina , Ahtikoski Anne , Arffman Riikka K. , Pasanen Annukka , Puistola Ulla , Tapanainen Juha S. , Andersson Leif C. , Butzow Ralf , Loukovaara Mikko , Piltonen Terhi T. 
Published: September 2021

Stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1) is a glycoprotein hormone involved in diverse biological processes, including regulation of calcium phosphate homeostasis, cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress responses, and cancer development. The role of STC-1 in endometrial cancer (EC) is yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the protein expression pattern of STC-1 in a tissue microarray (TMA) cohort of hysterectomy specimens from 832 patients with EC. We then evaluated the prognostic value of STC-1 expression regarding the clinicopathologic features and patients survival over a period of 140 months. Our results revealed that in EC tissue samples, STC-1 is mainly localized in the endometrial epithelium, although some expression was also observed in the stroma. Decreased STC-1 expression was associated with factors relating to a worse prognosis, such as grade 3 endometrioid tumors (p = 0.030), deep myometrial invasion (p = 0.003), lymphovascular space invasion (p = 0.050), and large tumor size (p = 0.001). Moreover, STC-1 expression was decreased in tumors obtained from obese women (p = 0.014) and in women with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2; p = 0.001). Interestingly, the data also showed an association between DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency and weak STC-1 expression, specifically in the endometrial epithelium (p = 0.048). No association was observed between STC-1 expression and disease-specific survival. As STC-1 expression was particularly low in cases with obesity and DMT2 in the TMA cohort, we also evaluated the correlation between metformin use and STC-1 expression in an additional EC cohort that only included women with DMT2 (n = 111). The analysis showed no difference in STC-1 expression in either the epithelium or the stroma in women undergoing metformin therapy compared to metformin non-users. Overall, our data may suggest a favorable role for STC-1 in EC behavior; however, further studies are required to elucidate the detailed mechanism and possible applications to cancer treatment.
GC-MS Analysis and In Silico Approaches of Indigofera heterantha Root Oil Chemical Constituents
Authors: Zeb Muhammad Aurang , Rahman Taj Ur , Sajid Muhammad , Xiao Weilie , Musharraf Syed Ghulam , Bibi Shabana , Akitsu Takashiro , Liaqat Wajiha 
Published: September 2021

The phytochemical investigation on Indigofera heterantha root oil resulted in the identification of 121 phytochemicals using GC-MS analysis. These phytochemicals were docked against alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase enzymes. The docking results suggested that Hexacosyl acetate (121) possess alpha-amylase inhibitory potential with a docking score of −8.2944994 and the interaction with alpha-glucosidase enzyme was −9.73762512, followed by 9, 12, 15-Octadecatrienoic acid, 2, 3-dihydroxypropyl ester, (Z, Z, Z)-(83) with a docking score of −9.59869957, showed outstanding results in all the stages of the study and may be shown as the most auspicious phytochemical resulting from the docking studies of the new antidiabetic drug. Additionally, Pharmacokinetic and PASS studies revealed their drug-likeness, expected safety upon consumption, and likely pharmacological effects.
Advances in Understanding of the Immune Response to Mycobacterial Pathogens and Vaccines through Use of Cattle and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis as a Prototypic Mycobacterial Pathogen
Authors: Davis William C. , Abdellrazeq Gaber S. , Mahmoud Asmaa H. , Park Kun-Taek , Elnaggar Mahmoud M. , Donofrio Gaetano , Hulubei Victoria , Fry Lindsay M. 
Published: September 2021

Lack of understanding of the immune response to mycobacterial pathogens has impeded progress in development of vaccines. Infection leads to development of an immune response that controls infection but is unable to eliminate the pathogen, resulting in a persistent infection. Although this puzzle remains to be solved, progress has been made using cattle as a model species to study the immune response to a prototypic mycobacterium, Mycobacterium a. paratuberculosis (Map). As chronicled in the review, incremental advances in characterizing the immune response to mycobacteria during the last 30 years with increases in information on the evolution of mycobacteria and relA, a gene regulating the stringent response, have brought us closer to an answer. We provide a brief overview of how mycobacterial pathogens were introduced into cattle during the transition of humankind to nomadic pastoralists who domesticated animals for food and farming. We summarize what is known about speciation of mycobacteria since the discovery of Mybacterium tuberculsis Mtb, M. bovis Mbv, and Map as zoonotic pathogens and discuss the challenges inherent in the development of vaccines to mycobacteria. We then describe how cattle were used to characterize the immune response to a prototypic mycobacterial pathogen and development of novel candidate vaccines.