bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microarray analysis and functional prediction of differentially expressed circular RNAs in acquired middle ear cholesteatoma
Authors: Xie Shumin , Jin Li , Yin Tuanfang , Ren Jihao , Liu Wei 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Middle ear cholesteatoma is characterized by hyper-proliferation of keratinocytes. Circular RNA (circRNA) plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of many proliferative diseases. However, the role of circRNA in the etiopathogenesis of middle ear cholesteatoma is rarely investigated so far. We aimed to investigate the differential expression profiling of circRNAs between acquired middle ear cholesteatoma and normal skin, and to identify potential circRNAs contributing to the etiopathogenesis of middle ear cholesteatoma. Microarray analysis and functional prediction were performed to investigate the circRNA expression profiling between middle ear cholesteatoma and normal skin. Validation of differentially expressed circRNAs was conducted by qRT-PCR. Prediction of m6A modification was also carried out.

Results
Microarray analysis displayed that totally 93 up-regulated and 85 down-regulated circRNAs were identified in middle ear cholesteatoma. Through validation, expressions of hsa_circRNA_104327 and hsa_circRNA_404655 were significantly higher, while hsa_circRNA_000319 was significantly down-regulated in cholesteatoma. GO classification, KEGG pathway, and ceRNA network analyses suggested that these differentially expressed circRNAs might play important roles in the etiopathogenesis of middle ear cholesteatoma. Prediction of m6A modification exhibited that hsa_circRNA_000319 possessed 4 m6A sites with very high confidence, and hsa_circRNA_404655 had 3 m6A sites with high confidence.

Conclusions
Our study revealed that these differentially expressed circRNAs might contribute to the etiopathogenesis of middle ear cholesteatoma. Further researches should be conducted to investigate the exact mechanism of these differentially expressed circRNAs in the etiopathogenesis of middle ear cholesteatoma. Targeting on these circRNAs may provide a new strategy for middle ear cholesteatoma therapy in the future.
Implementation of paediatric vision screening in urban and rural areas in Cluj County, Romania
Authors: Kik Jan , Nordmann Mandy , Cainap Simona , Mara Mihai , Rajka Daniela , Ghițiu Monica , Vladescu Alin , Sloot Frea , Horwood Anna , Fronius Maria , Vladutiu Cristina , Simonsz Huibert Jan 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
In 2018 and 2019, paediatric vision screening was implemented in Cluj County, Romania, where universal paediatric vision screening does not yet exist. We report on the preparation and the first year of implementation.

Methods
Objectives, target population and screening protocol were defined. In cities, children were screened by kindergarten nurses. In rural areas, kindergartens have no nurses and children were screened by family doctors’ nurses, initially at the doctors’ offices, later also in rural kindergartens.
CME-accredited training courses and treatment pathways were organised.
Implementation was assessed through on-site observations, interviews, questionnaires and analysis of screening results of referred children.

Results
Out of 12,795 eligible four- and five-year-old children, 7,876 were screened in 2018. In the cities, kindergarten nurses screened most children without difficulties. In Cluj-Napoca 1.62x the average annual birth rate was screened and in the small cities 1.64x. In the rural areas, however, nurses of family doctors screened only 0.49x the birth rate. In 51 out of 75 rural communes, no screening took place in the first year. Of 118 rural family doctors’ nurses, 51 had followed the course and 26 screened children. They screened only 41 children per nurse, on average, as compared to 80 in the small cities and 100 in Cluj-Napoca. Screening at rural kindergartens met with limited success. These are attended by few children because of low population density, parents working abroad or children being kept at home in case of bad weather and road conditions.

Conclusions
Three times fewer children were screened in rural areas as compared to urban areas. Kindergartens in rural areas are too small to employ nurses and family doctors’ nurses do not have easy access to many children and have competing healthcare priorities: there are 1.5x as many family doctors in urban areas as compared to rural areas. For nationwide scaling-up of vision screening, nurses should be enabled to screen a sufficient number of children in rural areas.
Are we really all in this together? The social patterning of mortality during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
Authors: Gadeyne Sylvie , Rodriguez-Loureiro Lucia , Surkyn Johan , Van Hemelrijck Wanda , Nusselder Wilma , Lusyne Patrick , Vanthomme Katrien 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Belgium was one of the countries that was struck hard by COVID-19. Initially, the belief was that we were ‘all in it together’. Emerging evidence showed however that deprived socioeconomic groups suffered disproportionally. Yet, few studies are available for Belgium. The main question addressed in this paper is whether excess mortality during the first COVID-19 wave followed a social gradient and whether the classic mortality gradient was reproduced.

Methods
We used nationwide individually linked data from the Belgian National Register and the Census 2011. Age-standardized all-cause mortality rates were calculated during the first COVID-19 wave in weeks 11-20 in 2020 and compared with the rates during weeks 11-20 in 2015-2019 to calculate absolute and relative excess mortality by socioeconomic and -demographic characteristics. For both periods, relative inequalities in total mortality between socioeconomic and -demographic groups were calculated using Poisson regression. Analyses were stratified by age, gender and care home residence.

Results
Excess mortality during the first COVID-19 wave was high in collective households, with care homes hit extremely hard by the pandemic. The social patterning of excess mortality was rather inconsistent and deviated from the usual gradient, mainly through higher mortality excesses among higher socioeconomic groups classes in specific age-sex groups. Overall, the first COVID-19 wave did not change the social patterning of mortality, however. Differences in relative inequalities between both periods were generally small and insignificant, except by household living arrangement.

Conclusion
The social patterning during the first COVID-19 wave was exceptional as excess mortality did not follow the classic lines of higher mortality in lower classes and patterns were not always consistent. Relative mortality inequalities did not change substantially during the first COVID-19 wave compared to the reference period.
Introduction of gasless laparoscopic surgery as a minimally invasive procedure for endometrial cancer and its usefulness from the viewpoint of the learning curve
Authors: Ito Hiroe , Moritake Tetsuya , Terauchi Fumitoshi , Isaka Keiichi 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
We investigated the usefulness of gasless laparoscopic surgery (GLS) using a subcutaneous abdominal wall lifting method for endometrial cancer.

Methods
We studied 105 patients with early endometrial cancer who underwent GLS (55) or open surgery (50). A uterine manipulator was used in all GLS cases. We compared operative time, blood loss, number of lymph nodes removed, hospital stay, perioperative complications, cases converted to laparotomy, and recurrence and survival rates. We also studied the learning curve and proficiency of GLS.

Results
The GLS group had significantly longer operative time (265 vs. 191 min), reduced blood loss (184 vs. 425 mL), shorter hospital stay (9.9 vs. 17.6 days), and fewer postoperative complications (1.8 vs. 12.0%) than the open group. No case was converted to laparotomy. Disease-free and overall survival rates at 4 years postoperatively (GLS vs. open groups) were 98.0 versus 97.8 and 100 versus 95.7%, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the groups. Regarding the learning curve for GLS, two different phases were observed in approximately 10 cases. Operator 2, who was not accustomed to laparoscopic surgery, showed a significant reduction in operative time in the later phase 2.

Conclusions
GLS for endometrial cancer results in less bleeding, shorter hospital stay, and fewer complications than open surgery. Recurrence and survival rates were not significantly different from those of open surgery. This technique may be introduced in a short time for operators who are skilled at open surgery but not used to laparoscopic surgery.
Regulated cell death: discovery, features and implications for neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Cui Juntao , Zhao Suhan , Li Yinghui , Zhang Danyang , Wang Bingjing , Xie Junxia , Wang Jun 
Published: December 2021

AbstractRegulated cell death (RCD) is a ubiquitous process in living organisms that is essential for tissue homeostasis or to restore biological balance under stress. Over the decades, various forms of RCD have been reported and are increasingly being found to involve in human pathologies and clinical outcomes. We focus on five high-profile forms of RCD, including apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy-dependent cell death, necroptosis and ferroptosis. Cumulative evidence supports that not only they have different features and various pathways, but also there are extensive cross-talks between modes of cell death. As the understanding of RCD pathway in evolution, development, physiology and disease continues to improve. Here we review an updated classification of RCD on the discovery and features of processes. The prominent focus will be placed on key mechanisms of RCD and its critical role in neurodegenerative disease.Graphical Abstract
Nine weeks of high-intensity indoor cycling training induced changes in the microbiota composition in non-athlete healthy male college students
Authors: Donati Zeppa Sabrina , Amatori Stefano , Sisti Davide , Gervasi Marco , Agostini Deborah , Piccoli Giovanni , Pazienza Valerio , Gobbi Pietro , Rocchi Marco B. L. , Sestili Piero , Stocchi Vilberto 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
The gut microbiota constitutes a dynamic microbial system constantly challenged by environmental conditions, including physical exercise. Limited human studies suggest that exercise could play a beneficial role for gut health, increasing microbial diversity, even if the effects of exercise on gut microbial microorganisms depends on its intensity and duration. This study aimed to investigate the effects of nine weeks of high-intensity interval exercise on gut microbiota composition in healthy young adults.

Methods
The gut microbiota composition of seventeen healthy male college students was analysed before and after nine weeks of high-intensity interval cycling training by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. PERMANOVA for repeated measures was used to test pre-post differences in the relative abundance of all taxonomic levels, and correlations between variations in microbial composition and physical and dietary features were also assessed.

Results
Physical exercise induced changes in microbiota composition, at all taxonomic levels analysed (phyla: F [1, 32]=3.97, p=0.029; classes: F [1, 32]=3.39, p=0.033, orders: F [1, 32]=3.17, p=0.044, families: F [1, 32]=1.54, p=0.037, genera: F [1, 32]=1.46, p=0.015, species: F [1, 32]=1.38, p=0.007). Conversely, no differences were found between pre and post-training conditions for microbial community richness (Chao1: V=105, p=0.06) or diversity (Shannon index: V=62, p=0.52; Simpson index: V=59, p=0.43). Changes in the relative abundance of eighteen genera were correlated to changes of twenty environmental factors grouped in physical features, sport-related features, and dietary features.

Conclusions
Nine weeks of high-intensity exercise induced modifications in gut microbiota composition in healthy male college students, shifting the gut microbial population towards a healthier microbiome with benefit to human health in general.
Editing out HIV: application of gene editing technology to achieve functional cure
Authors: Xun Jingna , Zhang Xinyu , Guo Shuyan , Lu Hongzhou , Chen Jun 
Published: December 2021

AbstractHighly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) successfully suppresses human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication and improves the quality of life of patients living with HIV. However, current HAART does not eradicate HIV infection because an HIV reservoir is established in latently infected cells and is not recognized by the immune system. The successful curative treatment of the Berlin and London patients following bone marrow transplantation inspired researchers to identify an approach for the functional cure of HIV. As a promising technology, gene editing-based strategies have attracted considerable attention and sparked much debate. Herein, we discuss the development of different gene editing strategies in the functional cure of HIV and highlight the potential for clinical applications prospects.
Graphical Abstract
Prediction of robotic neurorehabilitation functional ambulatory outcome in patients with neurological disorders
Authors: Kuo Chao-Yang , Liu Chia-Wei , Lai Chien-Hung , Kang Jiunn-Horng , Tseng Sung-Hui , Su Emily Chia-Yu 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Introduction
Conflicting results persist regarding the effectiveness of robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) for functional gait recovery in post-stroke survivors. We used several machine learning algorithms to construct prediction models for the functional outcomes of robotic neurorehabilitation in adult patients.

Methods and materials
Data of 139 patients who underwent Lokomat training at Taipei Medical University Hospital were retrospectively collected. After screening for data completeness, records of 91 adult patients with acute or chronic neurological disorders were included in this study. Patient characteristics and quantitative data from Lokomat were incorporated as features to construct prediction models to explore early responses and factors associated with patient recovery.

Results
Experimental results using the random forest algorithm achieved the best area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.9813 with data extracted from all sessions. Body weight (BW) support played a key role in influencing the progress of functional ambulation categories. The analysis identified negative correlations of BW support, guidance force, and days required to complete 12 Lokomat sessions with the occurrence of progress, while a positive correlation was observed with regard to speed.

Conclusions
We developed a predictive model for ambulatory outcomes based on patient characteristics and quantitative data on impairment reduction with early-stage robotic neurorehabilitation. RAGT is a customized approach for patients with different conditions to regain walking ability. To obtain a more-precise and clearer predictive model, collecting more RAGT training parameters and analyzing them for each individual disorder is a possible approach to help clinicians achieve a better understanding of the most efficient RAGT parameters for different patients.
Trial registration: Retrospectively registered.
Frequencies of emergency department use and hospitalization comparing patients with different types of substance or polysubstance-related disorders
Authors: Armoon Bahram , Grenier Guy , Cao Zhirong , Huỳnh Christophe , Fleury Marie-Josée 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
This study measured emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization for medical reasons among patients with substance-related disorders (SRD), comparing four subgroups: cannabis-related disorders, drug-related disorders other than cannabis, alcohol-related disorders and polysubstance-related disorders, controlling for various clinical, sociodemographic and service use variables.

Methods
Clinical administrative data for a cohort of 22,484 patients registered in Quebec (Canada) addiction treatment centers in 2012-13 were extracted for the years 2009-10 to 2015-16. Using negative binomial models, risks of frequent ED use and hospitalization were calculated for a 12-month period (2015-16).

Results
Patients with polysubstance-related disorders used ED more frequently than other groups with SRD. They were hospitalized more frequently than patients with cannabis or other drug-related disorders, but less frequently than those with alcohol-related disorders. Patients with alcohol-related disorders used ED more frequently than those with cannabis-related disorders and underwent more hospitalizations than both patients with cannabis-related and other drug-related disorders. Co-occurring SRD-mental disorders or SRD-chronic physical illnesses, more years with SRD, being women, living in rural territories, more frequent consultations with usual general practitioner or outpatient psychiatrist, and receiving more interventions in community healthcare centers increased frequency of ED use and hospitalization, whereas both adverse outcomes decreased with high continuity of physician care. Behavioral addiction, age less than 45 years, living in more materially deprived areas, and receiving 1-3 interventions in addiction treatment centers increased risk of frequent ED use, whereas living in semi-urban areas decreased ED use. Patients 25-44 years old receiving 4+ interventions in addiction treatment centers experienced less frequent hospitalization.

Conclusion
Findings showed higher risk of ED use among patients with polysubstance-related disorders, and higher hospitalization risk among patients with alcohol-related disorders, compared with patients affected by cannabis and other drug-related disorders. However, other variables contributed substantially more to the frequency of ED use and hospitalization, particularly clinical variables regarding complexity and severity of health conditions, followed by service use variables. Another important finding was that high continuity of physician care helped decrease the use of acute care services. Strategies like integrated care and outreach interventions may enhance SRD services.
Acupressure in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled exploratory trial
Authors: Israel Lukas , Rotter Gabriele , Förster-Ruhrmann Ulrike , Hummelsberger Josef , Nögel Rainer , Michalsen Andreas , Tissen-Diabaté Tatjana , Binting Sylvia , Reinhold Thomas , Ortiz Miriam , Brinkhaus Benno 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundAcupuncture has shown beneficial effects for seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR); however, it is time and cost intensive. We investigated feasibility and effects of self-administered body acupressure as a self-care technique that stimulates acupuncture points with manual pressure in SAR patients.MethodsWe conducted a two-armed randomized controlled exploratory trial to compare effects of self-administered acupressure over 4 weeks at five acupuncture points plus rescue medication (RM) with cetirizine compared to RM alone in SAR patients. Among other outcome parameters, we assessed disease-related quality of life (Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire [RQLQ]), overall SAR symptoms by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a rescue medication score (RMS) after 4 and 8 weeks.ResultsForty-one SAR patients (mean age 38.5 ± 10.0 years, n = 21, 51.2% women) were randomized. Compared to RM alone (n = 21), acupressure plus RM (n = 20) was associated with relevant improvements after 4 weeks, shown by the difference between groups in adjusted means of RQLQ: − 0.9 points (95% CI − 1.6 to − 0.2; p = 0.011) and VAS overall SAR symptoms: − 21.6 mm (95% CI − 36.3 to − 6.8; p = 0.005). The RMS was lower in the acupressure group than in the control group: 1.9 points (95% CI − 3.8 to − 0.1; p = 0.120). Group differences decreased slightly until week 8. The acupressure was feasible and safe.ConclusionResults of this exploratory study indicate that self-applied acupressure is feasible, may improve disease-specific quality of life and reduce disease-related symptoms as well as anti-allergic medication intake in SAR patients. High-quality confirmatory studies including a sham-control group are needed in the future.Trial registrationDRKS-ID: DRKS00014310. Date of registration in DRKS: 2018/04/24. Investigator sponsored/initiated trial (IST/IIT): yes. Ethics approval/approval of the ethics committee: Approved (leading) Ethics Committee No. EA1/033/18, Ethik-Kommission der Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin. URL:https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00014310
Neuropathology and molecular diagnosis of Synucleinopathies
Authors: Koga Shunsuke , Sekiya Hiroaki , Kondru Naveen , Ross Owen A. , Dickson Dennis W. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractSynucleinopathies are clinically and pathologically heterogeneous disorders characterized by pathologic aggregates of α-synuclein in neurons and glia, in the form of Lewy bodies, Lewy neurites, neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions, and glial cytoplasmic inclusions. Synucleinopathies can be divided into two major disease entities: Lewy body disease and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Common clinical presentations of Lewy body disease are Parkinson’s disease (PD), PD with dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), while MSA has two major clinical subtypes, MSA with predominant cerebellar ataxia and MSA with predominant parkinsonism. There are currently no disease-modifying therapies for the synucleinopathies, but information obtained from molecular genetics and models that explore mechanisms of α-synuclein conversion to pathologic oligomers and insoluble fibrils offer hope for eventual therapies. It remains unclear how α-synuclein can be associated with distinct cellular pathologies (e.g., Lewy bodies and glial cytoplasmic inclusions) and what factors determine neuroanatomical and cell type vulnerability. Accumulating evidence fromin vitroandin vivoexperiments suggests that α-synuclein species derived from Lewy body disease and MSA are distinct “strains” having different seeding properties. Recent advancements inin vitroseeding assays, such as real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) and protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), not only demonstrate distinct seeding activity in the synucleinopathies, but also offer exciting opportunities for molecular diagnosis using readily accessible peripheral tissue samples. Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structural studies of α-synuclein derived from recombinant or brain-derived filaments provide new insight into mechanisms of seeding in synucleinopathies. In this review, we describe clinical, genetic and neuropathologic features of synucleinopathies, including a discussion of the evolution of classification and staging of Lewy body disease. We also provide a brief discussion on proposed mechanisms of Lewy body formation, as well as evidence supporting the existence of distinct α-synuclein strains in Lewy body disease and MSA.