bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prehospital characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Helsinki – experience of the first wave of the pandemic
Authors: Kuisma Markku , Harve-Rytsälä Heini , Pirneskoski Jussi , Boyd James , Lääperi Mitja , Salo Ari , Puolakka Tuukka 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundThere is a lack of knowledge how patients with COVID-19 disease differ from patients with similar signs or symptoms (but who will have a diagnosis other than COVID-19) in the prehospital setting. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of these two patient groups met by the emergency medical services.MethodsAll prehospital patients after the World Health Organisation (WHO) pandemic declaration 11.3.2020 until 30.6.2020 were recruited for the study. The patients were screened using modified WHO criteria for suspected COVID-19. Data from the electronic prehospital patient reporting system were linked with hospital laboratory results to check the laboratory confirmation for COVID-19. For comparison, we divided the patients into two groups: screening- and laboratory-positive patients with a hospital diagnosis of COVID-19 and screening-positive but laboratory-negative patients who eventually received a different diagnosis in hospital.ResultsA total of 4157 prehospital patients fulfilled the criteria for suspected COVID-19 infection during the study period. Five-hundred-thirty-six (12.9%) of the suspected cases received a laboratory confirmation for COVID-19. The proportion of positive cases in relation to suspected ones peaked during the first 2 weeks after the declaration of the pandemic. In the comparison of laboratory-positive and laboratory-negative cases, there were clinically insignificant differences between the groups in age, tympanic temperature, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, on-scene time, urgency category of the call and mode of transportation. Foreign-language-speakers were overrepresented amongst the positive cases over native language speakers (26,6% vs. 7,4%,p < 0,001). The number of cases in which no signs or symptoms of COVID-19 disease were reported, but patients turned out to have a positive test result was 125 (0,3% of the whole EMS patient population and 11,9% of all verified COVID-19 patients encountered by the EMS).ConclusionsIn a sample of suspected COVID-19 patients, the laboratory-positive and laboratory-negative patients were clinically indistinguishable from each other during the prehospital assessment. Foreign-language-speakers had a high likelihood of having Covid-19. The modified WHO criteria still form the basis of screening of suspected COVID-19 patients in the prehospital setting.
Treatment of the lung injury of drowning: a systematic review
Authors: Thom Ogilvie , Roberts Kym , Devine Susan , Leggat Peter A. , Franklin Richard C. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundDrowning is a cause of significant global mortality. The mechanism of injury involves inhalation of water, lung injury and hypoxia. This systematic review addressed the following question: In drowning patients with lung injury, what is the evidence from primary studies regarding treatment strategies and subsequent patient outcomes?MethodsThe search strategy utilised PRISMA guidelines. Databases searched were MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science and SCOPUS. There were no restrictions on publication date or age of participants. Quality of evidence was evaluated using GRADE methodology.ResultsForty-one papers were included. The quality of evidence was very low. Seventeen papers addressed the lung injury of drowning in their research question and 24 had less specific research questions, however included relevant outcome data. There were 21 studies regarding extra-corporeal life support, 14 papers covering the theme of ventilation strategies, 14 addressed antibiotic use, seven papers addressed steroid use and five studies investigating diuretic use. There were no clinical trials. One retrospective comparison of therapeutic strategies was found. There was insufficient evidence to make recommendations as to best practice when supplemental oxygen alone is insufficient. Mechanical ventilation is associated with barotrauma in drowning patients, but the evidence predates the practice of lung protective ventilation. There was insufficient evidence to make recommendations regarding adjuvant therapies.ConclusionsTreating the lung injury of drowning has a limited evidentiary basis. There is an urgent need for comparative studies of therapeutic strategies in drowning.
Haploflow: strain-resolved de novo assembly of viral genomes
Authors: Fritz Adrian , Bremges Andreas , Deng Zhi-Luo , Lesker Till Robin , Götting Jasper , Ganzenmueller Tina , Sczyrba Alexander , Dilthey Alexander , Klawonn Frank , McHardy Alice Carolyn 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWith viral infections, multiple related viral strains are often present due to coinfection or within-host evolution. We describe Haploflow, a deBruijn graph-based assembler for de novo genome assembly of viral strains from mixed sequence samples using a novel flow algorithm. We assess Haploflow across multiple benchmark data sets of increasing complexity, showing that Haploflow is faster and more accurate than viral haplotype assemblers and generic metagenome assemblers not aiming to reconstruct strains. We show Haploflow reconstructs viral strain genomes from patient HCMV samples and SARS-CoV-2 wastewater samples identical to clinical isolates.
Does intervention with GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide modulate perception of sweet taste in women with obesity: study protocol of a randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Jensterle Mojca , Ferjan Simona , Battelino Tadej , Kovač Jernej , Battelino Saba , Šuput Dušan , Vovk Andrej , Janež Andrej 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Preclinical studies demonstrated that glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is locally synthesized in taste bud cells and that GLP-1 receptor exists on the gustatory nerves in close proximity to GLP-1-containing taste bud cells. This local paracrine GLP-1 signalling seems to be specifically involved in the perception of sweets. However, the role of GLP-1 in taste perception remains largely unaddressed in clinical studies. Whether any weight-reducing effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists are mediated through the modulation of taste perception is currently unknown.

Methods and analysis
This is an investigator-initiated, randomized single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. We will enrol 30 women with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either semaglutide 1.0 mg or placebo for 16 weeks. The primary endpoints are alteration of transcriptomic profile of tongue tissue as changes in expression level from baseline to follow-up after 16 weeks of treatment, measured by RNA sequencing, and change in taste sensitivity as detected by chemical gustometry. Secondary endpoints include change in neural response to visual food cues and to sweet-tasting substances as assessed by functional MRI, change in body weight, change in fat mass and change in eating behaviour and food intake.

Discussion
This is the first study to investigate the role of semaglutide on taste perception, along with a neural response to visual food cues in reward processing regions. The study may identify the tongue and the taste perception as a novel target for GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Ethics and disseminations
The study has been approved by the Slovene National Medical Ethics Committee and will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice guidelines. Results will be submitted for publication in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.govNCT04263415. Retrospectively registered on 10 February 2020
A two-step actin polymerization mechanism drives dendrite branching
Authors: Shi Rebecca , Kramer Daniel A. , Chen Baoyu , Shen Kang 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Dendrite morphogenesis plays an essential role in establishing the connectivity and receptive fields of neurons during the development of the nervous system. To generate the diverse morphologies of branched dendrites, neurons use external cues and cell surface receptors to coordinate intracellular cytoskeletal organization; however, the molecular mechanisms of how this signaling forms branched dendrites are not fully understood.

Methods
We performed in vivo time-lapse imaging of the PVD neuron in C. elegans in several mutants of actin regulatory proteins, such as the WAVE Regulatory Complex (WRC) and UNC-34 (homolog of Enabled/Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (Ena/VASP)). We examined the direct interaction between the WRC and UNC-34 and analyzed the localization of UNC-34 in vivo using transgenic worms expressing UNC-34 fused to GFP.

Results
We identify a stereotyped sequence of morphological events during dendrite outgrowth in the PVD neuron in C. elegans. Specifically, local increases in width (“swellings”) give rise to filopodia to facilitate a “rapid growth and pause” mode of growth. In unc-34 mutants, filopodia fail to form but swellings are intact. In WRC mutants, dendrite growth is largely absent, resulting from a lack of both swelling and filopodia formation. We also found that UNC-34 can directly bind to the WRC. Disrupting this binding by deleting the UNC-34 EVH1 domain prevented UNC-34 from localizing to swellings and dendrite tips, resulting in a stunted dendritic arbor and reduced filopodia outgrowth.

Conclusions
We propose that regulators of branched and linear F-actin cooperate to establish dendritic branches. By combining our work with existing literature, we propose that the dendrite guidance receptor DMA-1 recruits the WRC, which polymerizes branched F-actin to generate “swellings” on a mother dendrite. Then, WRC recruits the actin elongation factor UNC-34/Ena/VASP to initiate growth of a new dendritic branch from the swelling, with the help of the actin-binding protein UNC-115/abLIM. Extension of existing dendrites also proceeds via swelling formation at the dendrite tip followed by UNC-34-mediated outgrowth. Following dendrite initiation and extension, the stabilization of branches by guidance receptors further recruits WRC, resulting in an iterative process to build a complex dendritic arbor.
An incidental finding of testicular seminoma in the context of acute pulmonary embolism: a case report
Authors: Mayne Kaitlin J. , Lewis Emma , Vickers Lewis 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Clinical guidelines do not recommend further investigation for occult malignancy in the scenario of unprovoked venous thromboembolism in the absence of additional clinical features suggestive of malignancy. We present the case of a young gentleman with pulmonary embolism who was diagnosed with testicular seminoma despite lack of symptoms or signs suggestive of malignancy. This is a unique case describing a scenario not well documented in existing literature where contravention of clinical guidelines had a potentially advantageous outcome for the patient.

Case presentation
A 37-year-old white male presented with seemingly unprovoked acute pulmonary embolism with right heart strain. He did not have any predisposing factors for venous thromboembolism and did not have any symptoms or signs suggestive of malignancy. Clinical guidelines do not recommend further investigation to screen for malignancy in this scenario. Despite this, our young, otherwise healthy patient proceeded to computed tomography scanning, resulting in the diagnosis of localized testicular seminoma. Testicular ultrasound described normal-sized testes (despite a discrete lesion in the right testis), suggesting this was not detectable by the patient or clinician on routine examination. The patient was anticoagulated and had an inferior vena cava filter inserted to facilitate orchidectomy followed by adjuvant radiotherapy.

Conclusions
This case highlights the importance of considering malignancy in seemingly unprovoked venous thromboembolism and the availability of guidelines to direct further investigation. Our patient’s treatment was not in line with clinical guidelines and was considered a “lucky find.”
A dedicated paediatric [18F]FDG PET/CT dosage regimen
Authors: Cox Christina P. W. , van Assema Daniëlle M. E. , Verburg Frederik A. , Brabander Tessa , Konijnenberg Mark , Segbers Marcel 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
The role of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in children is still expanding. Dedicated paediatric dosage regimens are needed to keep the radiation dose as low as reasonably achievable and reduce the risk of radiation-induced carcinogenesis. The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between patient-dependent parameters and [18F]FDG PET image quality in order to propose a dedicated paediatric dose regimen.

Methods
In this retrospective analysis, 102 children and 85 adults were included that underwent a diagnostic [18F]FDG PET/CT scan. The image quality of the PET scans was measured by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the liver. The SNR liver was normalized (SNRnorm) for administered activity and acquisition time to apply curve fitting with body weight, body length, body mass index, body weight/body length and body surface area. Curve fitting was performed with two power fits, a nonlinear two-parameter model α p−d and a linear single-parameter model α p−0.5. The fit parameters of the preferred model were combined with a user preferred SNR to obtain at least moderate or good image quality for the dosage regimen proposal.

Results
Body weight demonstrated the highest coefficient of determination for the nonlinear (R2 = 0.81) and linear (R2 = 0.80) models. The nonlinear model was preferred by the Akaike’s corrected information criterion. We decided to use a SNR of 6.5, based on the expert opinion of three nuclear medicine physicians. Comparison with the quadratic adult protocol confirmed the need for different dosage regimens for both patient groups. In this study, the amount of administered activity can be considerably reduced in comparison with the current paediatric guidelines.

Conclusion
Body weight has the strongest relation with [18F]FDG PET image quality in children. The proposed nonlinear dosage regimen based on body mass will provide a constant and clinical sufficient image quality with a significant reduction of the effective dose compared to the current guidelines. A dedicated paediatric dosage regimen is necessary, as a universal dosing regimen for paediatric and adult is not feasible.
Differing susceptibility of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice—parents of the murine BXD family, to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection
Authors: Li Kui , Shen Yang , Miller Mark A. , Stabenow Jennifer , Williams Robert W. , Lu Lu 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by a novel coronavirus termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that is closely related to SARS-CoV, poses a grave threat to global health and has devastated societies worldwide. One puzzling aspect of COVID-19 is the impressive variation in disease manifestations among infected individuals, from a majority who are asymptomatic or exhibit mild symptoms to a smaller, largely age-dependent fraction who develop life-threatening conditions. Some of these differences are likely the consequence of host genetic factors. Systems genetics using diverse and replicable cohorts of isogenic mice represents a powerful way to dissect those host genetic differences that modulate microbial infections. Here we report that the two founders of the large BXD family of mice—C57BL/6J and DBA/2J, differ substantially in their susceptibility to a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV, MA15. Following intranasal viral challenge, DBA/2J develops a more severe disease than C57BL/6J as evidenced by more pronounced and sustained weight loss. Disease was accompanied by high levels of pulmonary viral replication in both strains early after infection but substantially delayed viral clearance in DBA/2J. Our data reveal that the parents of the BXD family are segregated by clear phenotypic differences during MA15 infection and support the feasibility of using this family to systemically dissect the complex virus-host interactions that modulate disease progression and outcome of infection with SARS-CoV, and provisionally also with SARS-CoV-2.
Robust hand gesture recognition using multiple shape-oriented visual cues
Authors: Bakheet Samy , Al-Hamadi Ayoub 
Published: July 2021

AbstractRobust vision-based hand pose estimation is highly sought but still remains a challenging task, due to its inherent difficulty partially caused by self-occlusion among hand fingers. In this paper, an innovative framework for real-time static hand gesture recognition is introduced, based on an optimized shape representation build from multiple shape cues. The framework incorporates a specific module for hand pose estimation based on depth map data, where the hand silhouette is first extracted from the extremely detailed and accurate depth map captured by a time-of-flight (ToF) depth sensor. A hybrid multi-modal descriptor that integrates multiple affine-invariant boundary-based and region-based features is created from the hand silhouette to obtain a reliable and representative description of individual gestures. Finally, an ensemble of one-vs.-all support vector machines (SVMs) is independently trained on each of these learned feature representations to perform gesture classification. When evaluated on a publicly available dataset incorporating a relatively large and diverse collection of egocentric hand gestures, the approach yields encouraging results that agree very favorably with those reported in the literature, while maintaining real-time operation.
Implicit nonlinear fractional differential equations of variable order
Authors: Benkerrouche Amar , Souid Mohammed Said , Sitthithakerngkiet Kanokwan , Hakem Ali 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn this manuscript, we examine both the existence and the stability of solutions to the implicit boundary value problem of Caputo fractional differential equations of variable order. We construct an example to illustrate the validity of the observed results.
Postoperative atrial fibrillation in paraesophageal hernia repair: can it be prevented?
Authors: Mardini Jennifer , Bruceta Melanio , Parrella-O’Donnell William , Karamchandani Kunal 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAcute ischemic thromboembolic stroke is one of the most feared complications of atrial fibrillation (AF), and the risk increases with higher CHA2DS2-VASc scores. Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is common after noncardiac surgery, particularly after thoracic surgery, and can result in significant morbidity and mortality. We report the case of an 85-year-old female with a history of untreated hypertension (HTN) and no prior history of AF, who presented 5 days after an elective repair of a paraesophageal hernia with recurrence of a large type III paraesophageal hiatal hernia, AF, and subsequent acute thromboembolic ischemic stroke. Patient’s AF resolved shortly after treatment with calcium channel blocker. The risk of stroke is high in patients who develop AF and a period of 48 h after onset of AF is usually considered safe as the risk of stroke is low in this time period. However, this may not be the case during the perioperative period and preventive measures such as preoperative calcium channel blocker could be considered. Our case highlights that acute ischemic thromboembolic stroke might develop earlier tha 48 h after onset of POAF in patients undergoing paraesophageal hernia repair. Initiation of a calcium channel blocker should be considered during preoperative evaluation for patients undergoing paraesophageal hernia repairs, especially in those with untreated HTN.
A LC–ESI–MS/MS analysis procedure coupled with solid phase extraction and MeOH extraction method for determination of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Tussilago farfara and Lithospermi erythrorhzion
Authors: Ko Kyung Yuk , Jeong Se Hee , Choi Eun Young , Lee Kyungjin , Hong Yongmin , Kang Il hyun , Cho Sooyeul , Lee Chulhyun 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that are plant toxin naturally produced for protection against herbivores in some plant families. They are associated with the potential hepatotoxic and carcinogenic diseases serious hepatic disease in humans and animals. As the concern of human health risk posed by exposure to PAs has been gradually increased, precise and reliable analysis is required for monitoring PAs. The present study developed a new and simple pretreatment using 50% MeOH (methanol) for quantification analysis of the PAs contained with high content in the herbal medicines. Another pretreatment method using cation-ion exchange solid-phase extraction (MCX-SPE) was employed for determining most of the PAs that are not contained in the herbal medicines. That is, the proposed LC–MS/MS method coupled with MCX-SPE extraction and 50% MeOH extraction method was developed. And to evaluate the reliability of its application for Farfarae Flos and Lithospermi Radix, a validation study was conducted. In addition, monitory study was performed with ten samples in each herbal medicine. As a result, the proposed method had good linearity with r2 ≥ 0.997. Also, the recoveries indicated to be in the ranges of 70.4–118.0% for the Farfarae Flos, 70.2–119.7% for the Lithospermi Radix. In two herbal medicines, the intra-day precision was revealed to satisfy the reference criteria in most of the PAs. In monitoring results, most of the PAs were not contained in two herbal medicines, whereas a part of PAs revealed to have high concentration in Farfarae Flos and Lithospermi Radix. The proposed method is considered as a simple and reliable method to quantify 28 PAs present in two herbal medicines. Especially, the simple MeOH extraction method seems to be available for quantification analysis of certain PAs in herbal medicines with high content.
Bta-miR-34b controls milk fat biosynthesis via the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by targeting RAI14 in bovine mammary epithelial cells
Authors: Wang Yujuan , Wang Xiaoyu , Wang Meng , Zhang Li , Zan Linsen , Yang Wucai 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
The biosynthesis of milk fat affects both the technological properties and organoleptic quality of milk and dairy products. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNAs that inhibit the expression of their mRNA targets and are involved in downstream signaling pathways that control several biological processes, including milk fat synthesis. miR-34b is a member of the miR-34 miRNA cluster, which is differentially expressed in the mammary gland tissue of dairy cows during lactation and dry periods. Previous studies have indicated miR-34b is a potential candidate gene that plays a decisive role in regulating milk fat synthesis; therefore, it is important to focus on miR-34b and investigate its regulatory effect on the biosynthesis of milk fat in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs).

Results
In this study, elevated miR-34b levels reduced milk fat synthesis, upregulated 1,999 genes, and downregulated 2,009 genes in BMECs. Moreover, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of differentially expressed genes suggested that miR-34b may play an inhibitory role in milk fat synthesis via the protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway by reducing phosphorylation levels. Notably, the mTOR activator MHY1485 rescued the inhibitory effect of miR-34b. Furthermore, we demonstrated that retinoic acid-induced protein 14 (RAI14) is a target of miR-34b via TargetScan and immunofluorescence assays. RAI14 mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased by the miR-34b mimic and increased by the miR-34b inhibitor. Moreover, the reduction in RAI14 levels led to the inhibition of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Conclusions
Overall, our results identified a miR-34b-RAI14-Akt/mTOR regulatory network, while also providing a theoretical basis for the molecular breeding of dairy cows.