bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of bacterial infection on sperm quality and DNA fragmentation in subfertile men with Leukocytospermia
Authors: Eini Fatemeh , Kutenaei Maryam Azizi , Zareei Fayegheh , Dastjerdi Zeinolabedin Sharifian , Shirzeyli Maryam Hosseinzadeh , Salehi Ensieh 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundAlthough bacterial infections have been recognized as a possible cause of male infertility, the effect of bacterial infections on sperm quality and sperm DNA fragmentation remains controversial. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate of bacterial infection in subfertile men and its effect on semen quality. Seminal fluid was collected from 172 male members of infertile couples attending the andrology infertility center and a group of 35 fertile subjects as a control. Sperm parameters and DNA fragmentation were evaluated based on the type of bacteria in all ejaculates.ResultsFrom the 172 patients investigated for infertility, 60 (34.88%) patients had a positive culture for pathogenic bacteria of different species. Leukocytospermia was significantly higher in infected samples in comparison with non-infected samples (p < 0.05). Sperm concentration and motility and morphology were significantly lower in infected than non-infected samples. Moreover, sperm DNA fragmentation was significantly higher in infected than non-infected samples. Besides, our results showed that sperm DNA fragmentation was correlated significantly with leukocytospermia (R: 0.22,p < 0.01).ConclusionThe present study suggested that bacterial infection significantly correlated with leukocytospermia could impair male fertility potential through decreasing sperm motility, morphology, and DNA integrity.
Radiating pain: venom has contributed to the diversification of the largest radiations of vertebrate and invertebrate animals
Authors: Arbuckle Kevin , Harris Richard J. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundUnderstanding drivers of animal biodiversity has been a longstanding aim in evolutionary biology. Insects and fishes represent the largest lineages of invertebrates and vertebrates respectively, and consequently many ideas have been proposed to explain this diversity. Natural enemy interactions are often important in diversification dynamics, and key traits that mediate such interactions may therefore have an important role in explaining organismal diversity. Venom is one such trait which is intricately bound in antagonistic coevolution and has recently been shown to be associated with increased diversification rates in tetrapods. Despite ~ 10% of fish families and ~ 16% of insect families containing venomous species, the role that venom may play in these two superradiations remains unknown.ResultsIn this paper we take a broad family-level phylogenetic perspective and show that variation in diversification rates are the main cause of variations in species richness in both insects and fishes, and that venomous families have diversification rates twice as high as non-venomous families. Furthermore, we estimate that venom was present in ~ 10% and ~ 14% of the evolutionary history of fishes and insects respectively.ConclusionsConsequently, we provide evidence that venom has played a role in generating the remarkable diversity in the largest vertebrate and invertebrate radiations.
Genome analyses of four Wolbachia strains and associated mitochondria of Rhagoletis cerasi expose cumulative modularity of cytoplasmic incompatibility factors and cytoplasmic hitchhiking across host populations
Authors: Morrow Jennifer L. , Riegler Markus 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe endosymbiontWolbachiacan manipulate arthropod reproduction and invade host populations by inducing cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). Some host species are coinfected with multipleWolbachiastrains which may have sequentially invaded host populations by expressing different types of modular CI factor (cif) genes. The tephritid fruit flyRhagoletis cerasiis a model for CI andWolbachiapopulation dynamics. It is associated with at least fourWolbachiastrains in various combinations, with demonstrated (wCer2,wCer4), predicted (wCer1) or unknown (wCer5) CI phenotypes.ResultsWe sequenced and assembled the draft genomes of theWolbachiastrainswCer1,wCer4 andwCer5, and compared these with the previously sequenced genome ofwCer2 which currently invadesR. cerasipopulations. We found completecifgene pairs in all strains: four pairs inwCer2 (three Type I; one Type V), two pairs inwCer1 (both Type I) andwCer4 (one Type I; one Type V), and one pair inwCer5 (Type IV).Wolbachiagenome variant analyses across geographically and genetically distant host populations revealed the largest diversity of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) inwCer5, followed bywCer1 and thenwCer2, indicative of their different lengths of host associations. Furthermore, mitogenome analyses of theWolbachiagenome-sequenced individuals in combination with SNP data from six European countries revealed polymorphic mitogenome sites that displayed reduced diversity in individuals infected withwCer2 compared to those without.ConclusionsCoinfections withWolbachiaare common in arthropods and affect options forWolbachia-based management strategies of pest and vector species already infected byWolbachia. Our analyses ofWolbachiagenomes of a host naturally coinfected by several strains unravelled signatures of the evolutionary dynamics in bothWolbachiaand host mitochondrial genomes as a consequence of repeated invasions. Invasion of already infected populations by newWolbachiastrains requires new sets of functionally differentcifgenes and thereby may select for a cumulative modularity ofcifgene diversity in invading strains. Furthermore, we demonstrated at the mitogenomic scale that repeated CI-drivenWolbachiainvasions of hosts result in reduced mitochondrial diversity and hitchhiking effects. Already residentWolbachiastrains may experience similar cytoplasmic hitchhiking effects caused by the invadingWolbachiastrain.
Transcriptome sequencing and differential expression analysis of seed starch accumulation in Chinese chestnut Metaxenia
Authors: Li Shengxing , Shi Zhuogong , Zhu Qiurong , Tao Liang , Liang Wenhui , Zhao Zhiheng 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundChestnut seeds are important kinds of edible nuts rich in starch and protein. The characteristics and nutrient contents of chestnut have been found to show obvious metaxenia effects in previous studies. To improve the understanding of the effect of metaxenia on chestnut starch and sucrose metabolism, this study used three varieties of chestnut, ‘Yongfeng 1’, ‘YongRen Zao’ and ‘Yimen 1’, as male parents to pollinate the female parent, ‘Yongfeng 1’, and investigated the mechanisms of starch and sucrose metabolism in three starch accumulation stages (70 (S1), 82 (S2), and 94 (S3) days after pollination, DAP) in chestnut seed kernels.ResultMost carbohydrate metabolism genes were highly expressed in YFF (self-pollinated ‘Yongfeng 1’) in stage S2 and in YFR (‘Yongfeng 1’ × ‘Yongren Zao’) and YFM (‘Yongfeng 1’ × ‘Yimen 1’) in stage S3. In stage S3, hub genes encoding HSF_DNA-binding, ACT, Pkinase, and LIM proteins and four transcription factors were highly expressed, with YFF showing the highest expression, followed by YFR and YFM. In addition, transcriptome analysis of the kernels at 70, 82 and 94 DAP showed that the starch granule-bound starch synthase (EC 2.4.1.242) and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.7 .7.27) genes were actively expressed at 94 DAF. Chestnut seeds regulate the accumulation of soluble sugars, reducing sugars and starch by controlling glycosyl transferase and hydrolysis activity during development.ConclusionThese results and resources have important guiding significance for further research on starch and sucrose metabolism and other types of metabolism related to chestnut metaxenia.
RNA-Seq analysis reveals potential regulators of programmed cell death and leaf remodelling in lace plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis)
Authors: Rowarth Nathan M. , Curtis Bruce A. , Einfeldt Anthony L. , Archibald John M. , Lacroix Christian R. , Gunawardena Arunika H. L. A. N. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
The lace plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis) is an aquatic monocot that develops leaves with uniquely formed perforations through the use of a developmentally regulated process called programmed cell death (PCD). The process of perforation formation in lace plant leaves is subdivided into several developmental stages: pre-perforation, window, perforation formation, perforation expansion and mature. The first three emerging “imperforate leaves” do not form perforations, while all subsequent leaves form perforations via developmentally regulated PCD. PCD is active in cells called “PCD cells” that do not retain the antioxidant anthocyanin in spaces called areoles framed by the leaf veins of window stage leaves. Cells near the veins called “NPCD cells” retain a red pigmentation from anthocyanin and do not undergo PCD. While the cellular changes that occur during PCD are well studied, the gene expression patterns underlying these changes and driving PCD during leaf morphogenesis are mostly unknown. We sought to characterize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that mediate lace plant leaf remodelling and PCD. This was achieved performing gene expression analysis using transcriptomics and comparing DEGs among different stages of leaf development, and between NPCD and PCD cells isolated by laser capture microdissection.

Results
Transcriptomes were sequenced from imperforate, pre-perforation, window, and mature leaf stages, as well as PCD and NPCD cells isolated from window stage leaves. Differential expression analysis of the data revealed distinct gene expression profiles: pre-perforation and window stage leaves were characterized by higher expression of genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, plant proteases, expansins, and autophagy-related genes. Mature and imperforate leaves upregulated genes associated with chlorophyll development, photosynthesis, and negative regulators of PCD. PCD cells were found to have a higher expression of genes involved with ethylene biosynthesis, brassinosteroid biosynthesis, and hydrolase activity whereas NPCD cells possessed higher expression of auxin transport, auxin signalling, aspartyl proteases, cysteine protease, Bag5, and anthocyanin biosynthesis enzymes.

Conclusions
RNA sequencing was used to generate a de novo transcriptome for A. madagascariensis leaves and revealed numerous DEGs potentially involved in PCD and leaf remodelling. The data generated from this investigation will be useful for future experiments on lace plant leaf development and PCD in planta.
Analysis of 18 complex diffuse arteriovenous malformation cases treated with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation
Authors: Ge Chun-Xiao , Tai Mao-Zhong , Chen Tao , Li Ke-Lei , Xu Zhen-Guo , Qin Zhong-Ping 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the short-term efficacy and feasibility of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of complex diffuse arteriovenous (AV) malformations.

Methods
The data of 18 patients (8 male and 10 female) with complex AV malformations treated between December 2014 and June 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The lesion area was 10 × 7 cm ~ 28 × 30 cm. Under duplex ultrasound guidance, the site with the most abundant blood flow signals in the lesion was percutaneously punctured with the radiofrequency ablation needle (electrode). The impedance automatic adjustment mode was adopted, and ablation was monitored usingduplex ultrasoundduring the entire process.

Results
Of the included patients, 1 had a high fever after two rounds of treatment, 2 had transient hemoglobinuria, and 1 had tissue necrosis in the original ruptured tumor area as well as a penetrating defect in the cheek, which was repaired with a pedicled trapezius myocutaneous flap. In 9 patients who experienced bleeding, the bleeding stopped after one round of treatment. During the follow-up period of 1–5 years, there were 0 grade I (poor) cases, 0 grade II (medium) cases, 7 grade III (good) cases, and 11 grade IV (excellent) cases.

Conclusion
The “high power and continuous” radiofrequency ablation technique conducted under real-time duplex ultrasoundmonitoring can completely destroy the deep core lesions of AV malformations and effectively control life-threatening massive hemorrhage; it is an effective alternative treatment method for complex diffuse AV malformations in which interventional embolization, sclerotherapy, and surgery are ineffective.
Hypertriglyceridemia impact on arterial parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Rinkūnienė Egidija , Dženkevičiūtė Vilma , Petrulionienė Žaneta , Majauskienė Eglė , Ryliškytė Ligita , Puronaitė Roma , Badarienė Jolita , Navickas Rokas , Laucevičius Aleksandras 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe development of metabolic syndrome (MS) augments risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), but pathophysiological mechanisms of this relation are still under discussion. Overlapping CVD risk factors make it difficult to assess the importance of individual elements. This study aimed to analyze subclinical atherosclerosis based on arterial structure and function parameters in patients with MS and different triglycerides levels.MethodsPatients (aged 40–65 years) were divided into two groups: patients with MS and with or without hypertriglyceridemia (hTG). Noninvasive assessment of vascular parameters—aortic augmentation index adjusted for heart rate 75 bpm (AIxHR75), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) were performed.ResultsCarotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) and carotid-radial PWV (crPWV) were significantly higher in patients with hTG. After adjusting for age, gender, waist circumference, fasting glucose, smoking status, cardiovascular family history and mean arterial pressure, crPWV (OR 1.150; CI 95% 1.04–1.28), cfPWV (OR 1.283; CI 95% 1.14–1.42) and cIMT (OR 1.13; CI 95% 1.02–1.25) were significantly associated with hTG (p < 0.05), while AIxHR75 did not show significant association.ConclusionIncreased triglycerides are independently associated with a cfPWV, crPWV, and cIMT and may modify CVD risk in patients with MS.
Pain and psyche in a patient with irritable bowel syndrome: chicken or egg? A time series case report
Authors: Engel Felicitas , Stadnitski Tatjana , Stroe-Kunold Esther , Berens Sabrina , Schaefert Rainer , Wild Beate 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) appears to have a bidirectional interaction with both depressive and anxiety-related complaints. However, it remains unclear how exactly the psychological complaints, at the individual level, are related to somatic symptoms on a daily basis. This single case study investigates how somatic and psychological variables are temporally related in a patient with irritable bowel syndrome.Case reportThe patient was a woman in her mid-twenties with an IBS diagnosis. She reported frequent soft bowel movements (5–6 times per day), as well as flatulence and abdominal pain. She resembled a typical IBS patient; however, a marked feature of the patient was her high motivation for psychosomatic treatment as well as her willingness to try new strategies regarding the management of her symptoms. As an innovative approach this single case study used a longitudinal, observational, time series design. The patient answered questions regarding somatic and psychological variables daily over a period of twelve weeks with an online diary. The diary data was analysed using an autoregressive (VAR) modeling approach. Time series analyses showed that in most variables, strong same-day correlations between somatic (abdominal pain, daily impairment) and psychological time series (including coping strategies) were present. The day-lagged relationships indicated that higher values in abdominal pain on one day were predictive of higher values in the psychological variables on the following day (e.g. nervousness, tension, catastrophizing, hopelessness). The use of positive thinking as a coping strategy was helpful in reducing the pain on the following days.ConclusionIn the presented case we found a high correlation between variables, with somatic symptoms temporally preceding psychological variables. In addition, for this patient, the use of positive thoughts as a coping strategy was helpful in reducing pain.
Systematic review and meta-analysis: real-world data rates of deep remission with anti-TNFα in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Alipour Omeed , Gualti Alakh , Shao Ling , Zhang Bing 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Deep remission (DR) is a treatment target in IBD associated with reduced hospitalization and improved outcome. Randomized control trial (RCT) data demonstrates efficacy of anti-TNFα agents in achieving DR; however, real-world data (RWD) can provide information complementary to RCTs, specifically regarding treatment duration. In this systematic review with meta-analysis, we use real-world data (RWD) to determine rates of DR in IBD treated with anti-TNFα.

Methods
We completed a systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE on July 8, 2019 with review of major gastrointestinal conference abstracts from 2012 to 2019. Studies utilizing RWD (data not from phase I-III RCTs) of adult IBD patients treated with anti-TNFα agents were included. DR was defined by clinical and endoscopic remission at minimum. DR was assessed at 8 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Risk of bias was assessed with the Newcastle Ottawa Scale.

Results
29,033 publications were identified. Fifteen publications, nine manuscripts and six conference abstracts, were included encompassing 1212 patients (769 Crohn’s disease-CD, 443 ulcerative colitis-UC), and analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis. Rate of DR was 36.4% (95% CI 12.6–69.4%) at 8 weeks, 39.1% (95% CI 10.4–78%) at 6 months, 44.4% (95% CI 34.6–54.6%) at 1 year, and 36% (95% CI 18.7–58%) at 2 years. DR in CD at 1 year was 48.6% (95% CI 32.8–64.7%) and in UC was 43.6% (95% CI 32.8–55.1%).

Conclusions
The rate of DR was highest after 1 year of therapy, in nearly 45% of IBD patients treated with anti-TNFα. Similar rates were achieved between patients with UC and CD. The findings highlight the efficacy of anti-TNFα in real-world setting. Future studies using RWD can determine efficacy of newer IBD therapeutics in routine clinical practice.
School-based surveillance of acute infectious disease in children: a systematic review
Authors: Donaldson A. L. , Hardstaff J. L. , Harris J. P. , Vivancos R. , O’Brien S. J. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundSyndromic surveillance systems are an essential component of public health surveillance and can provide timely detection of infectious disease cases and outbreaks. Whilst surveillance systems are generally embedded within healthcare, there is increasing interest in novel data sources for monitoring trends in illness, such as over-the-counter purchases, internet-based health searches and worker absenteeism. This systematic review considers the utility of school attendance registers in the surveillance of infectious disease outbreaks and occurrences amongst children.MethodsWe searched eight databases using key words related to school absence, infectious disease and syndromic surveillance. Studies were limited to those published after 1st January 1995. Studies based in nursery schools or higher education settings were excluded. Article screening was undertaken by two independent reviewers using agreed eligibility criteria. Data extraction was performed using a standardised data extraction form. Outcomes included estimates of absenteeism, correlation with existing surveillance systems and associated lead or lag times.ResultsFifteen studies met the inclusion criteria, all of which were concerned with the surveillance of influenza. The specificity of absence data varied between all-cause absence, illness absence and syndrome-specific absence. Systems differed in terms of the frequency of data submissions from schools and the level of aggregation of the data. Baseline rates of illness absence varied between 2.3–3.7%, with peak absences ranging between 4.1–9.8%. Syndrome-specific absenteeism had the strongest correlation with other surveillance systems (r = 0.92), with illness absenteeism generating mixed results and all-cause absenteeism performing the least well. A similar pattern of results emerged in terms of lead and lag times, with influenza-like illness (ILI)-specific absence providing a 1–2 week lead time, compared to lag times reported for all-cause absence data and inconsistent results for illness absence data.ConclusionSyndrome-specific school absences have potential utility in the syndromic surveillance of influenza, demonstrating good correlation with healthcare surveillance data and a lead time of 1–2 weeks ahead of existing surveillance measures. Further research should consider the utility of school attendance registers for conditions other than influenza, to broaden our understanding of the potential application of this data for infectious disease surveillance in children.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO 2019 CRD42019119737.
Comparison of yield and relative costs of different screening algorithms for tuberculosis in active case-finding: a cross-section study
Authors: Zhao Fei , Zhang Canyou , Yang Chongguang , Xia Yinyin , Xing Jin , Zhang Guolong , Xu Lin , Wang Xiaomeng , Lu Wei , Li Jianwei , Liu Feiying , Lin Dingwen , Wu Jianlin , Shen Xin , Hou Shuangyi , Yu Yanling , Hu Dongmei , Fu Chunyi , Wang Lixia , Cheng Jun , Zhang Hui 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Part of tuberculosis (TB) patients were missed if symptomatic screening was based on the main TB likely symptoms. This study conducted to compare the yield and relative costs of different TB screening algorithms in active case-finding in the whole population in China.

Methods
The study population was screened based on the TB likely symptoms through a face-to-face interview in selected 27 communities from 10 counties of 10 provinces in China. If the individuals had any of the enhanced TB likely symptoms, both chest X-ray and sputum tests were carried out for them furtherly. We used the McNemar test to analyze the difference in TB detection among four algorithms in active case-finding. Of four algorithms, two were from WHO recommendations including 1a/1c, one from China National Tuberculosis Program, and one from this study with the enhanced TB likely symptoms. Furthermore, a two-way ANOVA analysis was performed to analyze the cost difference in the performance of active case-finding adjusted by different demographic and health characteristics among different algorithms.

Results
Algorithm with the enhanced TB likely symptoms defined in this study could increase the yield of TB detection in active case-finding, compared with algorithms recommended by WHO (p < 0.01, Kappa 95% CI: 0. 93–0.99) and China NTP (p = 0.03, Kappa 95% CI: 0.96–1.00). There was a significant difference in the total costs among different three algorithms WHO 1c/2/3 (F = 59.13, p < 0.01). No significant difference in the average costs for one active TB case screened and diagnosed through the process among Algorithms 1c/2/3 was evident (F = 2.78, p = 0.07). The average costs for one bacteriological positive case through algorithm WHO 1a was about two times as much as the costs for one active TB case through algorithms WHO 1c/2/3.

Conclusions
Active case-finding based on the enhanced symptom screening is meaningful for TB case-finding and it could identify more active TB cases in time. The findings indicated that this enhanced screening approach cost more compared to algorithms recommend by WHO and China NTP, but the increased yield resulted in comparative costs per patient. And it cost much more that only smear/bacteriological-positive TB cases are screened in active case-finding.