bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association Between Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Chinese Women
Authors: Tang Zhaoyang , Chen Xueyu , Zhang Wenran , Sun Xiangfu , Hou Qingzhi , Li Yuejin , Feng Xia , Chen Yanru , Lv Jian , Ji Long , Ding Guoyong , Li Dong 
Published: February 2021

Background: Dementia, as a global public health problem, is becoming increasingly serious. As a precursor of dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) plays an important role in the diagnosis and prevention of dementia. Recent studies have found a correlation between gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels and cognitive function in men. The relationship between GGT levels and cognitive function in women remains unclear because GGT activity and expression differ between the sexes.Method: We recruited a total of 2,943 Chinese women from Jidong and Taian in 2019. We grouped the participants according to GGT levels, diagnosed MCI using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) scale, and modeled the study outcomes using logistic regression to explore the relationship between GGT level and MCI. We also analyzed the interaction of obesity, sleep duration, and hyperuricemia with GGT in the development of MCI.Results: The prevalence of MCI increased with increasing GGT level, from the lowest quartile to the highest quartile of GGT: 8.4% (66/786), 14.2% (119/840), 17.6% (108/613), and 21.4% (151/704), respectively. At the same time, as GGT levels increased, so did the risk of MCI. In the fully adjusted model, compared with those for participants in the lowest GGT quartiles, the odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for MCI for participants in the second, third, and fourth GGT quartiles were 1.49 (1.04–2.12), 1.53(1.06–2.21), and 1.88 (1.33–2.65), respectively. The risk of developing MCI was further increased in people with high GGT levels who were obese (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.39–2.76, P &lt; 0.001), slept less (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.35–2.71, P &lt; 0.001), had high levels of uric acid (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.03–2.32, P &lt; 0.001), or after menopause (OR = 2.92, 95% CI: 2.07–4.12, P &lt; 0.001).Conclusion: We found that MCI is more common in women with elevated GGT levels, so GGT could be a potential diagnostic marker for MCI. Meanwhile, our findings indicated that women with high GGT levels had an increased risk of MCI when they were obese, sleep deprived, had high serum uric acid (SUA) levels or underwent menopause.
Interleukin-1β Modulates Synaptic Transmission and Synaptic Plasticity During the Acute Phase of Sepsis in the Senescence-Accelerated Mouse Hippocampus
Authors: Hoshino Koji , Uchinami Yuka , Uchida Yosuke , Saito Hitoshi , Morimoto Yuji 
Published: February 2021

BackgroundAging and pre-existing cognitive impairment are considered to be independent risk factors for sepsis-associated encephalopathy. This study aimed to investigate the manner in which aging and pre-existing cognitive dysfunction modified neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity, and basal synaptic transmission during the acute phase of sepsis using Senescence-Accelerated Mice Prone 8 (SAMP8) and Senescence-Accelerated Resistant Mice 1 (SAMR1).MethodsWe used 6-month-old SAMP8 and SAMR1. Sepsis was induced using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The animal’s hippocampi and blood were collected for subsequent investigations 24 h after surgery.ResultsLong-term potentiation (LTP) was impaired in the Shaffer-collateral (SC)-CA1 pathway of the hippocampus in SAMP8 without surgery compared to the age-matched SAMR1, which was reflective of cognitive dysfunction in SAMP8. CLP impaired the SC-CA1 LTP in SAMR1 compared to the sham-operated controls, but not in SAMP8. Moreover, CLP decreased the input-output curve and increased the paired-pulse ratio in SAMP8, suggesting the reduced probability of basal synaptic transmission due to sepsis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that CLP elevated IL-1β levels, especially in the hippocampi of SAMP8 with microglial activation. In vivo peripheral IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) administration in the septic SAMP8 revealed that the neuroinflammation was not correlated with the peripheral elevation of IL-1β. Ex vivo IL-1ra administration to the hippocampus ameliorated LTP impairment in SAMR1 and the reduction in basal transmission in SAMP8 after sepsis.ConclusionsThe mechanism of the modulation of synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity by the acute stage of sepsis differed between SAMR1 and SAMP8. These changes were related to centrally derived IL-1 receptor-mediated signaling and were accompanied by microglial activation, especially in SAMP8.
Association of SNCA Parkinson's Disease Risk Polymorphisms With Disease Progression in Newly Diagnosed Patients
Authors: Szwedo Aleksandra A. , Pedersen Camilla Christina , Ushakova Anastasia , Forsgren Lars , Tysnes Ole-Bjørn , Counsell Carl E. , Alves Guido , Lange Johannes , Macleod Angus D. , Maple-Grødem Jodi 
Published: February 2021

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of SNCA polymorphisms originally identified as risk factors for Parkinson's disease (PD) on the clinical presentation and progression of the disease in a large cohort of population-based patients with incident PD.Methods: Four hundred thirty-three patients and 417 controls from three longitudinal cohorts were included in the study. Disease progression was recorded annually for up to 9 years using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) or Mini-Mental State Examination. Genotypes for five variants within the SNCA locus (rs2870004, rs356182, rs5019538, rs356219, and rs763443) were determined. We studied the association between each variant and disease progression using linear mixed-effects regression models.Results: The clinical profile of the patients with PD at the point of diagnosis was highly uniform between genotype groups. The rs356219-GG genotype was associated with a higher UPDRS II score than A-allele carriers (β = 1.52; 95% confidence interval 0.10–2.95; p = 0.036), but no differences were observed in the rate of progression of the UPDRS II scores. rs356219-GG was also associated with a faster annual change in Mini-Mental State Examination score compared with A-carriers (β = 0.03; 95% confidence interval 0.00–0.06; p = 0.043).Conclusions: We show that the known PD-risk variant rs356219 has a minor effect on modifying disease progression, whereas no differences were associated with rs2870004, rs356182, rs5019538, and rs763443. These findings suggest that SNCA variants associated with PD risk may not be major driving factors to the clinical heterogeneity observed for PD.
Physiological Ripples Associated With Sleep Spindles Can Be Identified in Patients With Refractory Epilepsy Beyond Mesio-Temporal Structures
Authors: Bruder Jonas C. , Schmelzeisen Christoph , Lachner-Piza Daniel , Reinacher Peter , Schulze-Bonhage Andreas , Jacobs Julia 
Published: February 2021

Introduction: High frequency oscillations (HFO) are promising biomarkers of epileptic tissue. While group analysis suggested a correlation between surgical removal of HFO generating tissue and seizure free outcome, HFO could not predict seizure outcome on an individual patient level. One possible explanation is the lack of differentiation between physiological and epileptic HFO. In the mesio-temporal lobe, a proportion of physiological ripples can be identified by their association with scalp sleep spindles. Spike associated ripples in contrast can be considered epileptic. This study investigated whether categorizing ripples by the co-occurrence with sleep spindles or spikes improves outcome prediction after surgery. Additionally, it aimed to investigate whether spindle-ripple association is limited to the mesio-temporal lobe structures or visible across the whole brain.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed EEG of 31 patients with chronic intracranial EEG. Sleep spindles in scalp EEG and ripples and epileptic spikes in iEEG were automatically detected. Three ripple subtypes were obtained: SpindleR, Non-SpindleR, and SpikeR. Rate ratios between removed and non-removed brain areas were calculated. We compared the distinct ripple subtypes and their rates in different brain regions, inside and outside seizure onset areas and between patients with good and poor seizure outcome.Results: SpindleR were found across all brain regions. SpikeR had significantly higher rates in the SOZ than in Non-SOZ channels. A significant positive correlation between removal of ripple-events and good outcome was found for the mixed ripple group (rs = 0.43, p = 0.017) and for ripples not associated with spindles (rs=0.40, p = 0.044). Also, a significantly high proportion of spikes associated with ripples were removed in seizure free patients (p = 0.036).Discussion: SpindleR are found in mesio-temporal and neocortical structures, indicating that ripple-spindle-coupling might have functional importance beyond mesio-temporal structures. Overall, the proportion of SpindleR was low and separating spindle and spike associated ripples did not improve outcome prediction in our patient group. SpindleR analysis therefore can be a tool to identify physiological events but needs to be used in combination with other methods to have clinical relevance.
Education, Training, and Practices of Neurorehabilitation in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Surya Nirmal , Srivastava Abhishek , Nagda Taral , Palande Deepak , Someshwar Hitav 
Published: February 2021

Background: Corona virus disease (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. This has affected service delivery among all medical disciplines in India including neurorehabilitation services.Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives of the study were to assess the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on neurorehabilitation services across India.Methodology: A prospective nationwide survey study was undertaken by the Indian Federation of Neurorehabilitation during the pandemic. A questionnaire was prepared using Google forms software consisting of four sections: demography, neurorehabilitation practice before COVID-19 pandemic, neurorehabilitation practice during COVID-19 pandemic, and continuing medical education during COVID-19 pandemic.Results: Responses (872) were received from neurorehabilitation professionals across the country out of which 2.2% professionals did not give consent for participating in the survey. Participants (36.6%) were practicing traditional or independent referral basis rehabilitation, while 63.4% participants were practicing multidisciplinary rehabilitation. On an average, respective units were conducting 500–750 therapy sessions per month. Majority of the rehabilitation units in India lacked a physiatrist, rehabilitation nurse, music therapist, cognitive therapist, and urologist. Approximately 80% of the rehabilitation units have the basic rehabilitation modalities and advance technology was present in only 20% of the rehabilitation units. During COVID-19 pandemic, 19.5% centers were providing elective services, 50.3% emergency services, 15.6% new outpatient services, and 22.7% were providing follow-up outpatient services. Centers (51.5%) were providing telerehabilitation services for neurological conditions during the times of COVID-19 pandemic. Professionals (61.1%) providing telerehabilitation were working from home. Among the patients who needed neurorehabilitation, 28% were doing their exercises independently, 31% were supervised by caregivers, 17% were supervised by therapists, and 24% were not receiving any therapy. Participants (95.5%) wanted to receive more training in the field of neurorehabilitation. The participants utilized webinars (71%), online courses (22%), case discussion forums (19%), panel discussions (13%), and literature search (8%) during COVID-19 pandemic to continue education.Conclusion: The study reflects the situation of neurorehabilitation service delivery in India during the pandemic as the respondents were from all parts of the country and included most components of the neurorehabilitation team. Neurorehabilitation services were severely affected across India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tele-neurorehabilitation has emerged as a new service delivery model during the pandemic. Online means of education has emerged as the primary source of continuing medical education during the pandemic.
The Prognostic and Predictive Significance of circRNA CDR1as in Tumor Progression
Authors: Jian Fang , Yangyang Ren , Wei Xu , Jiadan Xu , Na Li , Peng Yang , Maohong Bian , Guoping Niu , Zhaoji Pan 
Published: February 2021

Cerebellar degeneration-related protein 1 antisense (CDR1as) is an important member of the circRNAs family, also known as cirs-7. Its main function in vivo is to act as a mir-7 sponge. Accumulated studies show that CDR1as is closely related to various diseases, especially cancer. Our analysis show that CDR1as expression in human cancer is significantly associated with poor overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.06–3.04; p &lt; 0.00001) and that high CDR1as expression is associated with the tumor node metastasis stage (odds ratio [OR] = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.63–2.78; p &lt; 0.00001), and distant metastasis (OR = 3.50, 95% CI = 1.90–6.64; p &lt; 0.00001). Furthermore, the results reveal the prognostic significance of CDR1as in neoplasms of the digestive system (HR = 1.69, 95% CI = 2.14–2.71; p &lt; 0.001), colorectal cancer (HR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.96–2.85; p &lt; 0.001), and non-small cell lung cancer (HR = 2.40, 95% CI = 3.42–4.83; p = 0.008). In this study, we summarize in detail the latest research findings and demonstrate the function and regulatory mechanism of CDR1as in various cancer processes, and its potential as a biomarker for cancer prevention and prognosis.
Case Report: A Case Report and Literature Review of 3p Deletion Syndrome
Authors: Fu Junxian , Wang Ting , Fu Zhuo , Li Tianxia , Zhang Xiaomeng , Zhao Jingjing , Yang Guanglu 
Published: February 2021

Objective: The aim of the present study is to explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of 3p deletion syndrome to improve clinicians' understanding of the disease.Methods: The clinical manifestations, process of diagnosis and treatment, and genetic characteristics of an individual case of 3p deletion syndrome were analyzed. CNKI, Wanfang Data, and the Biomedical Literature Database (PubMed) were searched. The search time limit, using “3p deletion syndrome” and “BRPF1” as keywords, was from the creation of the database up to June 2020. Related data were reviewed.Results: The proband was a male child with general developmental and intellectual disabilities, special facial features and congenital heart disease. The child was the parents' first pregnancy and first born. Gene microarray analysis showed a 10.095 Mb deletion in the 3p26.3-p25.3 region, resulting in a heterozygous mutation of the BRPF1 gene; thus, the patient was diagnosed with 3p deletion syndrome. At the time of diagnosis, the child was 1 year of age and was responding to comprehensive rehabilitation training. A total of 29 well-documented cases were found in the literature, of which 19 cases had an onset within 1 year of birth, and mainly manifested with mental and motor development disabilities and abnormal facial features, with different gene deletions, depending on the size and location of the 3p deletion.Conclusion: The genetic test results of the child in this study indicated a heterozygous deletion of the BRPF1 gene on the short arm of chromosome 3, which was a unique feature of this study, since it was rarely mentioned in other reports of 3p deletion syndrome. The clinical phenotype of this syndrome is complex as it can include intellectual and motor development backwardness, low muscle tone, certain abnormal facial features (low hairline, bilateral ptosis, widely spaced eyes, a forward nose, left ear auricle deformity, a high-arched palate, a small jaw), and the deformation of systems such as the gastrointestinal tract and the urinary tract malformation or symptoms of epilepsy. As clinical manifestations can be relatively mild, the syndrome is easy to miss or misdiagnose. Clinical workers need to be aware of this disease when they find that children have special features, such as stunted growth, low muscle tone or ptosis, and it needs to be diagnosed through genetic testing. Most children are able to develop certain social skills after rehabilitation treatment.
Multiple Biological Activities of Rhododendron przewalskii Maxim. Extracts and UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF/MS Characterization of Their Phytochemical Composition
Authors: Dai Lixia , He Jian , Miao Xiaolou , Guo Xiao , Shang Xiaofei , Wang Weiwei , Li Bing , Wang Yu , Pan Hu , Zhang Jiyu 
Published: February 2021

Backgroud:Rhododendron przewalskii Maxim. is an evergreen shrub that is used as a traditional medicine in China. However, the modern pharmacology and the chemical components of this plant has not been studied. In this paper, we aimed to investigate the antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and underlying mechanism of its aqueous and ethanol extracts, and analyze their chemical composition and active compounds of R. przewalskii.Methods: The antifungal activity was determined in vitro, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and underlying mechanism of its aqueous and ethanol extracts were evaluated in vitro and in RAW 264.7 cells. The chemical composition were analyzed using UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF/MS, and the contents of six compounds were determined via HPLC.Results: Both extracts of R. przewalskii showed promising anti-inflammatory activity in vitro; decreased the production of four inflammatory cytokines, namely, nitric oxide, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-ɑ, in RAW 264.7 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide; and exhibited weak cytotoxicity. The extracts significantly scavenged DPPH radicals, superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals to exert antioxidant effects in vitro. The two extracts also exhibited cellular antioxidant activity by increasing superoxide dismutase and CAT activities and decreasing malondialdehyde content in RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS. However, the antifungal activity of the two extracts was weak. Nine flavonoids were identified by UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF/MS. Of these, six compounds were analyzed quantitatively, including avicularin, quercetin, azaleatin, astragalin and kaempferol, and five compounds (myricetin 3-O-galactoside, paeoniflorin, astragalin, azaleatin and kaempferol) were found in this species for the first time. These compounds demonstrated antioxidant activities that were similar to those of the R. przewalskii extracts and were thought to be the active compounds in the extracts.Conclusion:R. przewalskii extracts presented promising anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The extracts contained amounts of valuable flavonoids (8.98 mg/g fresh material) that were likely the active compounds in the extract contributing to the potential antioxidant activity. These results highlight the potential of R. przewalskii as a source of natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents for the pharmaceutical industry.
INSPIRED but Tired: How Medical Faculty’s Job Demands and Resources Lead to Engagement, Work-Life Conflict, and Burnout
Authors: Lee Rebecca S. , Son Hing Leanne S. , Gnanakumaran Vishi , Weiss Shelly K. , Lero Donna S. , Hausdorf Peter A. , Daneman Denis 
Published: February 2021

BackgroundPast research shows that physicians experience high ill-being (i.e., work-life conflict, stress, burnout) but also high well-being (i.e., job satisfaction, engagement).ObjectiveTo shed light on how medical faculty’s experiences of their job demands and job resources might differentially affect their ill-being and their well-being with special attention to the role that the work-life interface plays in these processes.MethodsQualitative thematic analysis was used to analyze interviews from 30 medical faculty (19 women, 11 men, average tenure 13.36 years) at a top research hospital in Canada.FindingsMedical faculty’s experiences of work-life conflict were severe. Faculty’s job demands had coalescing (i.e., interactive) effects on their stress, work-life conflict, and exhaustion. Although supportive job resources (e.g., coworker support) helped to mitigate the negative effects of job demands, stimulating job resources (e.g., challenging work) contributed to greater work-life conflict, stress, and exhaustion. Thus, for these medical faculty job resources play a dual-role for work-life conflict. Moreover, although faculty experienced high emotional exhaustion, they did not experience the other components of burnout (i.e., reduced self-efficacy, and depersonalization). Some faculty engaged in cognitive reappraisal strategies to mitigate their experiences of work-life conflict and its harmful consequences.ConclusionThis study suggests that the precise nature and effects of job demands and job resources may be more complex than current research suggests. Hospital leadership should work to lessen unnecessary job demands, increase supportive job resources, recognize all aspects of job performance, and, given faculty’s high levels of work engagement, encourage a climate that fosters work-life balance.
Prevalence and Factors Associated With Surgical Site Infections in the University Clinics of Traumatology and Urology of the National University Hospital Centre Hubert Koutoukou Maga in Cotonou
Authors: Dégbey Cyriaque , Kpozehouen Alphonse , Coulibaly Drissa , Chigblo Pascal , Avakoudjo Josué , Ouendo Edgard-Marius , Hans-Moevi Aristote 
Published: February 2021

Objectives: Study the prevalence and factors associated with the occurrence of surgical site infections in University Clinics of Trauma-Orthopedics, Reconstructive Surgery and Urology in a developing country.Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive and analytical study of 384 people operated on during the period of 2019. Logistic regression was used to study the factors associated with surgical site infections. The associations between the dependent variable and the other variables were assessed by the odds ratio (OR) followed by their 95% confidence interval.Results: The prevalence of surgical site infections was 7.81% CI 95% = (5.12–10.51). The factors linked to the surgical site infections in the studied population were the patient&amp;apos;s admission method [OR = 2.74; 95% CI = (1.08–6.95)] and the length of the postoperative stay [OR = 8.75; 95% CI = (2.83–26.98)]. The interview and direct observation identified health care system dysfunctions, medical errors, patient monitoring and financial unavailability as factors that could favor the onset of surgical site infections.Conclusion: Interventions should be focused on the factors identified for the effective management of operated patients.