bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants of the intensity of uremic pruritus in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhao Jian-Hui , Zhu Qiu-Shuang , Li Yi-Wen , Wang Li-Li 
Published: January 2021

BackgroundUremic pruritus (UP) is a common and frustrating symptom in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). The majority of patients have mild to moderate itching of the skin, and a small percentage have severe itching, which seriously affects their quality of life and survival rate. However, little is known about factors that influence the intensity of itching in patients.MethodsA cross-sectional study on uremic pruritus in male and female patients receiving HD was conducted in September 2019. This study included 148 eligible patients who received HD at the Blood Purification Center of Xinchang County People’s Hospital, Zhejiang Province, China from March 2019 to June 2019. We collected general data consisted of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), place of residence, educational level, diabetes mellitus status and duration of HD; as well as clinical, biochemical indicators, including serum calcium (Ca), serum phosphorus (P), serum albumin (ALB), haemoglobin (Hb), serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), pre-dialysis serum urea nitrogen (BUN), normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), urea nitrogen clearance index (KT/V), ferritin (FER) and pre-dialysis serum creatinine (sCR). We also assayed the inflammatory cytokine serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). The Five-Dimensional Itching Scale (5DIS) was used to evaluate the degree of skin itching (none, mild, moderate, or severe). We used multiple logistic regression to analyze influencing factors on the degree of skin itching in patients with UP.ResultsOf the 148 patients, 60 had uremic pruritus (incidence rate, 40.54%). These included 22 cases of mild skin itching (14.86%), 30 of moderate skin itching (20.27%), and 8 of severe skin itching (5.41%). Compared with uremia patients without skin pruritus, patients with UP had higher levels of iPTH, Hb, BUN, nPCR, and hs-CRP. The composition ratio showed significant differences between urban and rural patients with different degrees of skin itching (P= 0.017); moreover, the difference of iPTH and hs-CRP levels were statistically significant (P= 0.009 and < 0.001, respectively). Using no itching as a reference, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that as hs-CRP level increased, the patient’s risks of mild skin itching (odds ratio [OR] = 1.740; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.061–2.854;P= 0.028), moderate skin itching (OR = 2.8838 95% CI, 1.744–4.718;P< 0.001), and severe skin itching (OR = 9.440; 95% CI, 3.547–25.124; P < 0.001) all increased as well. Compared with urban residents, rural residents have a higher risk of moderate itching (OR = 3.869; 95% CI, 1.099–13.622; P = 0.035).ConclusionLevels of hs-CRP were associated with the intensity of skin itching in patients with UP. Higher hs-CRP levels were closely related to severe skin itching. The relationship between the intensity of skin itching and the environment in maintenance hemodialysis patients needs further clarification.
The intra-articular administration of triamcinolone hexacetonide in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Its effects in a naturally occurring canine osteoarthritis model
Authors: Alves João C. , Santos Ana , Jorge Patrícia , Lavrador Catarina , Carreira L. Miguel 
Published: January 2021

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of an intra-articular (IA) administration of triamcinolone hexacetonide, compared with saline.Patients and methodsForty (N = 40) hip joints were randomly assigned to a treatment group (THG, n = 20, receiving IA triamcinolone hexacetonide) and a control group (CG, n = 20, receiving IA saline). On treatment day (T0), and at 8, 15, 30, 90 and 180 days post-treatment, weight distribution, joint range of motion, thigh girth, digital thermography, radiographic signs, synovial fluid interleukin-1 and C-reactive protein levels were evaluated. Data from four Clinical Metrology Instruments was also gathered. Results were compared Repeated Measures ANOVA, with a Huynh-Feldt correction, Paired Samples T-Test or Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. A Kaplan-Meier test was performed to compare both groups, with p<0.05.ResultsJoints were graded as mild (65%), moderate (20%) and severe (15%). Patients of both sexes, with a mean age of 6.5±2.4 years and bodyweight of 26.7±5.2kg, were included. No differences were found between groups at T0. Comparing THG to CG, weight distribution showed significant improvements in THG from 8 (p = 0.05) up to 90 days (p = 0.01). THG showed lower values during thermographic evaluation in the Lt view (p<0.01). Pain and function scores also improved from 30 to 180 days. Increasing body weight, age, and presence of caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte corresponded to worse response to treatment. Results of the Kaplan Meier test showed significant differences between groups, with THG performing better considering several evaluations and scores.ConclusionTHG recorded significant improvements in weight-bearing and in with the considered CMIs, particularly pain scores. Lower thermographic values were registered in THG up to the last evaluation day. Age, sex, and radiographic findings did significantly influenced response to treatment.
Desigualdad y bienestar en el periodo postdictatorial: Chile 1990-1998
Inequality and well-being in the post-dictatorial period: Chile 1990-1998
Authors: Matus-Lopez Mauricio 
Published: January 2021

Durante la época post dictatorial (1990-1998) Chile fue considerado un ejemplo de crecimiento económico, transición democrática y mejoras sociales. Durante estos años el PIB creció un 81%, el PIB per cápita un 60% y la tasa de pobreza cayó del 25,7% al 16,1%. Sin embargo, los índices de desigualdad continuaron siendo de los más elevados de la región, de manera que los efectos de las medidas regresivas implementadas durante la dictadura (1973-1989) se mantuvieron en democracia. En esta línea de investigación se analiza la evolución de la desigualdad en distintos aspectos del bienestar (salud, educación, vivienda, trabajo e ingreso), durante el denominado
periodo de oro de la economía chilena.
During the post-dictatorial era (1990-1998) Chile was considered an example of economic growth, democratic transition and social improvements. During these years GDP grew by 81%, GDP per capita by 60% and the poverty rate fell from 25.7% to 16.1%. However, inequality rates remained among the highest in the region, so the effects of regressive measures implemented during the dictatorship (1973-1989) remained in democracy. This line of research analyses the evolution of inequality in different aspects of well-being (health, education, housing, work and income), during the so-called "golden period of the Chilean economy".
Alcohol Ablation of Cardiac Tissues Quantified and Evaluated Using CIELAB Euclidean Distances
Authors: Rook Ashley , John Mathews M. , Post Allison , Razavi Mehdi 
Published: January 2021

Ethanol solubilizes cell membranes, making it useful for various ablation applications. We examined the effect of time and alcohol type on the extent of ablation, quantified as Euclidean distances between color coordinates.
We obtained biopsy punch samples (diameter, 6 mm) of left atrial appendage, atrial, ventricular, and septal tissue from porcine hearts and placed them in transwell plates filled with ethanol or methanol for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 min. Control samples were taken for each time point. At each time point, samples were collected, cut transversely, and photographed. With use of a custom MATLAB program, all images were analyzed in the CIELAB color space, which is more perceptually uniform than the red-green-blue color space. Euclidean distances were calculated from CIELAB coordinates. The mean and standard error of these distances were analyzed. Two-way analysis of variance was used to test for differences among time points, and 2-tailed t tests, for differences between the alcohol datasets at each time point.
Generally, Euclidean distances differed significantly between all time points, except for those immediately adjacent, and methanol produced larger Euclidean distances than ethanol did. Some tissue showed a plateauing effect, potentially indicating transmurality.
Mean Euclidean distances effectively indexed alcohol ablation in cardiac tissue. Furthermore, we found that methanol ablated tissue more effectively than ethanol did. With ethanol, the extent of ablation for atrial tissue was largest at 60 min. We conclude that to achieve full transmurality in clinical applications, ethanol must remain in contact with atrial tissue for at least one hour.
Food-Seeking Behavior Is Mediated by Fos-Expressing Neuronal Ensembles Formed at First Learning in Rats
Authors: Quintana-Feliciano Richard , Gobin Christina , Kane Louisa , Sortman Bo , Rakela Samantha , Genovese Ariana , Tunstall Brendan , Caprioli Daniele , Iñiguez Sergio D. , Warren Brandon L. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractNeuronal ensembles in the infralimbic cortex (IL) develop after prolonged food self-administration training. However, rats demonstrate evidence of learning the food self-administration response as early as day 1, with responding quickly increasing to asymptotic levels. Since the contribution of individual brain regions to task performance shifts over the course of training, it remains unclear whether IL ensembles are gradually formed and refined over the course of extensive operant training, or whether functionally-relevant ensembles might be recruited and formed as early as the initial acquisition of food self-administration behavior. Here, we aimed to determine the role of IL ensembles at the earliest possible point after demonstrable learning of a response-outcome association. We first allowed rats to lever press for palatable food pellets and stopped training rats once their behavior evidenced the response-outcome association (learners). We compared their food-seeking behavior and neuronal activation (Fos protein expression) to similarly trained rats that did not form this association (non-learners). Learners had greater food-seeking behavior and neuronal activation within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), suggesting that mPFC subregions might encode initial food self-administration memories. To test the functional relevance of mPFC Fos-expressing ensembles to subsequent food seeking, we tested region-wide inactivation of the IL using muscimol+baclofen and neuronal ensemble-specific ablation using the Daun02 inactivation procedure. Both region-wide inactivation and ensemble-specific inactivation of the IL significantly decreased food seeking. These data suggest that IL neuronal ensembles form during initial learning of food self-administration behavior, and furthermore, that these ensembles play a functional role in food seeking.
Striatal Afferent BDNF Is Disrupted by Synucleinopathy and Partially Restored by STN DBS
Authors: Miller Kathryn M. , Patterson Joseph R. , Kochmanski Joseph , Kemp Christopher J. , Stoll Anna C. , Onyekpe Christopher U. , Cole-Strauss Allyson , Steece-Collier Kathy , Howe Jacob W. , Luk Kelvin C. , Sortwell Caryl E. 
Published: January 2021

Preclinical studies show a link between subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) and neuroprotection of nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons, potentially through brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling. However, the question of whether DBS of the STN can be disease-modifying in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unanswered. In particular, the impact of STN DBS on α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation, inclusion-associated neuroinflammation, and BDNF levels has yet to be examined in the context of synucleinopathy. To address this, we examined the effects of STN DBS on BDNF using the α-syn preformed fibril (PFF) model in male rats. While PFF injection resulted in accumulation of phosphorylated α-syn (pSyn) inclusions in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and cortical areas, STN DBS did not impact PFF-induced accumulation of pSyn inclusions in the SNpc. In addition, nigral pSyn inclusions were associated with increased microgliosis and astrogliosis; however, the magnitude of these processes was not altered by STN DBS. Total BDNF protein was not impacted by pSyn inclusions, but the normally positive association of nigrostriatal and corticostriatal BDNF was reversed in rats with PFF-induced nigrostriatal and corticostriatal inclusions. Despite this, rats receiving both STN DBS and PFF injection showed increased BDNF protein in the striatum, which partially restored the normal corticostriatal relationship. Our results suggest that pathologic α-syn inclusions disrupt anterograde BDNF transport within nigrostriatal and corticostriatal circuitry. Further, STN DBS has the potential to exert protective effects by modifying the long-term neurodegenerative consequences of synucleinopathy.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAn increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been linked to the neuroprotection elicited by subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) in neurotoxicant models of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, whether STN DBS can similarly increase BDNF in nigrostriatal and corticostriatal circuitry in the presence of α-synuclein (α-syn) inclusions has not been examined. We examined the impact of STN DBS on rats in which accumulation of α-syn inclusions is induced by injection of α-syn preformed fibrils (PFFs). STN DBS significantly increased striatal BDNF protein in rats seeded with α-syn inclusions and partially restored the normal corticostriatal BDNF relationship. These findings suggest that STN DBS can drive BDNF in the parkinsonian brain and retains the potential for neuroprotection in PD.
Rove beetles of the subfamily Aleocharinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from the Hutsulshchyna National Nature Park
Authors: Glotov S. V. , Hushtan K. V. 
Published: January 2021

This work is the first attempt to make up an inventory of the fauna of rove beetles in the Hutsulshchyna National Natural Park (Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast), which was created in 2002 and has an area of 32,271 hectares. The modern territory of the park has never been the object of special scientific research on the fauna of rove beetles of the Aleocharinae subfamily. As a result, information about the finds of representatives of the Aleocharinae subfamily has been obtained from the study of the largest collection of rove beetles in Ukraine, which contains both modern collections and collections of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The collection was formed by Marian-Aloiz Lomnitski and was further developed and replenished with collections from different parts of Ukraine and the world by several generations of Ukrainian and European entomologists. For the moment, the collection is kept in the funds of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and contains more than 1,500 specimens, which belong to more than 300 species and are of great historical and scientific value. As a result of the conducted studies, 30 species belonging to 18 genera are reported for the first time for the fauna of the Hutsulshchyna National Nature Park, of which 4 species (Atheta corvina (Thomson, 1856), Schistoglossa viduata (Erichson, 1837), Leptusa puellaris puellaris (C. Hampe, 1863), Silusa rubra (Erichson, 1839)) are reported for the first time for the territory of Ukraine. The species and specimens (with references, data of their distribution in Europe, as well as substrate and biotope preferences of adults) are listed. The obtained data will later on provide an opportunity to expand the understanding of the distribution of species – specifically for faunal research, as well as for biogeographic modelling.
Cuticular wax composition of mature leaves of species and hybrids of the genus Prunus differing in resistance to clasterosporium disease
Authors: Khromykh N. O. , Lykholat Y. V. , Anishchenko A. A. , Didur O. O. , Gaponov A. A. , Kabar A. M. , Lykholat T. Y. 
Published: January 2021

The interaction of a host plant with pathogen implies an extremely complex process involving the outer waxy layer of the cuticle, cutin, cell membrane, and intracellular structures. However, the initial contact between plants and pathogens takes place in cuticular waxes covering the surface of leaves, stems and fruits. Despite many findings on the role of plant epicuticular waxes, there is a gap in the understanding of the relationship between individual compounds and their functions. The pathogenic fungus Clasterosporium carpohilum (Lev.) Aderh. parasitizes the tissues of many stone fruit trees, damaging leaf and fruit surface. The aim of this work was to find out if the quantity and composition of leaf epicuticular wax could be responsible for the resistance to clasterosporium disease. The study of differences of plants in fungal resistance was carried out on species and hybrids of the genus Prunus from the collection of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (Dnipro city, Ukraine). The chloroform extracts of epicuticular waxes from the surface of mature leaves were analyzed by gas chromatography connected to mass-spectrometry. GC/MS assay was performed using Shimadzu GCMS-QP 2020 El equipped with capillary column (5% diphenyl/95% dimethyl polysiloxane), and helium as a carrier gas. Mass Spectrum Library 2014 for GSMS was used to identify the separated compounds of the wax extracts. The maximum total wax amount on the adaxial and abaxial leaf surface of hybrid 2 was twice the minimum wax accumulation for hybrid 4. Overall, 20 individual compounds belonging to six hydrocarbon classes were identified. Leaf epicuticular wax composition both in Prunus persica (L.) Batsch and P. dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb, and hybrids was dominated by long-chain n-alkanes with even carbon number (77.6–90.9% of total sum). The alkenes’ class was represented only by 17-pentatriacontene detected in the wax of both Prunus species. Octadecanaldehyde was found in epicuticular wax of P. dulcis while absent in wax of the more resistant species P. persica. Prime alcohols 1-tetradecanol and 1-hexacosanol were detected in leaf waxes of hybrid 4 and P. dulcis respectively. The ester class contained seven compounds found in leaf epicuticular waxes of both plant species and all hybrid forms. The identification of phthalic acid esters in leaf wax extracts was unexpected, and the phthalates’ origin is discussed. Strong positive correlation between leaf damage and tetrapentacontane content in epicuticular waxes could presumably be the result of infection-induced metabolism reprogramming in epidermal cells of infected leaves.
Synthesis, structure and electrical properties of Li+-doped pyrochlore Gd2Zr2O7
Authors: Anokhina Irina A. , Animitsa Irina E. , Buzina Anastasia F. , Voronin Vladimir I. , Vykhodets Vladimir B. , Kurennykh Tatyana E. , Zaikov Yuri P. 
Published: January 2021

The pyrochlore Gd1.55Li0.45Zr2O6.55 was prepared by the solution and solid-state methods. The introduction of lithium in the Gd-sublattice led to decrease in the lattice parameter a = 10.4830(8) Å in comparison with Gd2Zr2O7 (a =10.5346(2) Å). Monitoring of the lithium content in the sample during heat treatments showed a loss of lithium at temperatures above 1100 °C, so, to maintain the stoichiometry of lithium the low temperature sintering methods are required. The sample Gd1.55Li0.45Zr2O6.55 exhibited a predominant oxygen-ion transport over a wide range of temperatures. Although doping did not lead to an increase in the oxygen-ion conductivity compared to Gd2Zr2O7, it caused the suppression of the hole conductivity.
Determinantes da judicialização da saúde: uma análise bibliográfica
Authors: De Carvalho André Luís Bonifácio , Diniz Andrey Maia Silva , Batista Bianca Nóbrega de Medeiros , Barbosa Daniella de Souza , Rocha Edjavane , Santos Otávio Augusto Nasser , Do Nascimento Raquel Veloso 
Published: January 2021

Objective: health judicialization is a multifaceted phenomenon; thus, it is necessary to identify what are the factors that cause this phenomenon in Brazilian scientific literature. Methods: it was conducted an integrative literature review, based on an exploratory-descriptive and bibliographic study of 101 publications available in Capes database. The search used 5 descriptors: judicialization and health and Brazil; health judicialization and law; judicialization and health and causes; judicialization and health and consequences; and judicialization and the right to health. Results: of a corpus of 101 articles, the authors selected 30, which were organized into three categories based on their theme: 14 articles discussed the judicialization of pharmaceutical assistance; 10 articles addressed the judicialization of the right to health; and 6 articles discussed judicialization with emphasis on management practices. Conclusion: Brazilian intellectual production is still incipient to identify and systematize the determinants of health judicialization. However, it was possible to have a preliminary understanding of the main themes, which were divided into three categories: the judicialization of pharmaceutical assistance, the judicialization of the right to health, and the judicialization and management practices.
HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS, PRESENTING PATTERNS IN SULAIMANI
Authors: Faraj Faruk , Mohiadeen Ronak , Majed Aween , Mohammed Dara 
Published: January 2021

Background
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a common chronic autoimmune thyroid disease, affecting mostly young and middle-aged females. It causes painless, firm, diffusely enlarged thyroid gland. The clinical presentations and thyroid status are variable. The anti-thyroid autoantibodies and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology with lymphocytic infiltration with Hurthle’s cells are pathognomonic.
Objectives
To assess the pattern of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in Sulaimani city, investigating the patients’ characteristics, clinical presentations, thyroid status and diagnosis and if these are mosaic, i.e. a mess or proper and organized like Messi.
Patients and Methods
A cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in Sulaimani Teaching Hospital, Iraq, from October 2014, to October 2015. The study enrolled eighty patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Results
The mean age of the patients was 36.7 years. There was only one male patient. Only a quarter of patients had weight gain, but more than that (30%) had weight loss. The firmly diffuse enlarged gland was found in 64 (80%) patients. Over one-third of patients (36.25%) had high ESR. The majority (92.5%) had high anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Variable thyroid status was detected, slightly over half of them were hypothyroid, 30 (37.5%) patients had euthyroid status, and 7 (8.75%) were in hyperthyroid status. Ultrasound scan revealed; hypo-echogenicity (87.5%), enlarged thyroid gland (82.5%), increased vascularity (52.5%) and psuedonodules in (85%) of the patients. Seventy-six patients (95%) had lymphocytic infiltration, and 58 (72.5%) had Hürthle cells.
Conclusion
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis has variable clinical presentations and thyroid status, but it causes: Hypothyroidism, it is an Autoimmune disease, mainly affect women (sex distribution), of Middle age, with Enlarged thyroid gland, with characteristics ultrasound Scan findings, with raised Serum antibodies and characteristic lymphocytic cell Infiltration, therefore, HAS MESSI.