bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Presenilin1 inhibits glioblastoma cell invasiveness via promoting Sortilin cleavage
Authors: Yang Wei , Xiang Yan , Liao Mao-Jun , Wu Peng-Fei , Yang Lin , Huang Guo-Hao , Shi Bao-Zhong , Yi Liang , Lv Sheng-Qing 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and glioblastoma are the most common and devastating diseases in the neurology and neurosurgery departments, respectively. Our previous research reports that the AD-related protein Presenilin1 represses cell proliferation by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in glioblastoma. However, the function of Presenilin1 and the underlying mechanism need to be further investigated.

Methods
The correlations of two genes were conducted on the R2 microarray platform and CGGA. Wound healing, Transwell assays and glioblastoma transplantation were performed to detect invasion ability. Phalloidin staining was employed to show cell morphology. Proximity ligation assays and protein docking assays were employed to detect two protein locations. We also employed western blotting to detect protein expression.

Results
We found that Presenilin1 clearly repressed the migration, invasion and mesenchymal transition of glioblastoma cells. Intriguingly, we observed that the expression of Presenilin1 was positively correlated with Sortilin, which is identified as a pro-invasion molecule in glioma. Furthermore, Presenilin1 interacted with Sortilin at the transmembrane domain and repressed Sortilin expression by cleaving it in glioblastoma cells. First, we found that Sortilin introduced the function of Presenilin1 in phosphorylating β-catenin and repressing invasion in glioblastoma cells. Last, Presenilin1 stimulation sharply suppressed the invasion and mesenchymal transition of glioblastoma in mouse subcutaneous and intracranial transplantation models.

Conclusions
Our study reveals that Sortilin mediates the regulation of β-catenin by Presenilin1 and transduces the anti-invasive function of Presenilin1, which may provide novel therapeutic targets for glioblastoma treatment.
Gas embolism under standard versus low pneumoperitoneum pressure during laparoscopic liver resection (GASES): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Jin Danfeng , Liu Mingyue , Huang Jian , Xu Yongfeng , Liu Luping , Miao Changhong , Zhong Jing 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Gas embolism induced by CO2 pneumoperitoneum is commonly identified as a risk factor for morbidity, especially cardiopulmonary morbidity, after laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) in adults. Increasing pneumoperitoneum pressure (PP) contributes to gas accumulation following laparoscopy. However, few studies have examined the effects of PP in the context of LLR. In LLR, the PP-central venous pressure (CVP) gradient is increased due to hepatic vein rupture, hepatic sinusoid exposure, and low CVP management, which together increase the risk of CO2 embolization. The aim of this study is to primarily determine the role of low PP (10 mmHg) on the incidence of severe gas embolism.

Methods
Adult participants (n = 140) undergoing elective LLR will be allocated to either a standard (15 mmHg) or low (10 mmHg) PP group. Anesthesia management, postoperative care, and other processes will be performed similarly in both groups. The occurrence of severe gas embolism, which is defined as gas embolism ≥ grade 3 according to the Schmandra microbubble method, will be detected by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and recorded as the primary outcome. The subjects will be followed up until discharge and followed up by telephone 1 and 3 months after surgery. Postoperative outcomes, such as the Post-Operative Quality of Recovery Scale, pain severity, and adverse events, will be assessed. Serum cardiac markers and inflammatory factors will also be assessed during the study period. The correlation between intraoperative inferior vena cava-collapsibility index (IVC-CI) under TEE and central venous pressure (CVP) will also be explored.

Discussion
This study is the first prospective randomized clinical trial to determine the effect of low versus standard PP on gas embolism using TEE during elective LLR. These findings will provide scientific and clinical evidence of the role of PP.

Trial status
Protocol version: version 1 of 21-08-2020

Trial registration
ChiCTR2000036396 (http://www.chictr.org.cn). Registered on 22 August 2020.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis with hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial
Authors: Grau-Pujol Berta , Camprubí-Ferrer Daniel , Marti-Soler Helena , Fernández-Pardos Marc , Carreras-Abad Clara , Andrés Maria Velasco-de , Ferrer Elisabet , Muelas-Fernandez Magdalena , Jullien Sophie , Barilaro Giuseppe , Ajanovic Sara , Vera Isabel , Moreno Laura , Gonzalez-Redondo Eva , Cortes-Serra Núria , Roldán Montserrat , Arcos Ana Artes-de , Mur Isabel , Domingo Pere , Garcia Felipe , Guinovart Caterina , Muñoz Jose 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a promising strategy to break COVID-19 transmission. Although hydroxychloroquine was evaluated for treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis, it is not evaluated for COVID-19 PrEP yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PrEP with hydroxychloroquine against placebo in healthcare workers at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection during an epidemic period.

Methods
We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial in three hospitals in Barcelona, Spain. From 350 adult healthcare workers screened, we included 269 participants with no active or past SARS-CoV-2 infection (determined by a negative nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 PCR and a negative serology against SARS-CoV-2). Participants allocated in the intervention arm (PrEP) received 400 mg of hydroxychloroquine daily for the first four consecutive days and subsequently, 400 mg weekly during the study period. Participants in the control group followed the same treatment schedule with placebo tablets.

Results
52.8% (142/269) of participants were in the hydroxychloroquine arm and 47.2% (127/269) in the placebo arm. Given the national epidemic incidence decay, only one participant in each group was diagnosed with COVID-19. The trial was stopped due to futility and our study design was deemed underpowered to evaluate any benefit regarding PrEP efficacy. Both groups showed a similar proportion of participants experiencing at least one adverse event (AE) (p=0.548). No serious AEs were reported. Almost all AEs (96.4%, 106/110) were mild. Only mild gastrointestinal symptoms were significantly higher in the hydroxychloroquine arm compared to the placebo arm (27.4% (39/142) vs 15.7% (20/127), p=0.041).

Conclusions
Although the efficacy of PrEP with hydroxychloroquine for preventing COVID-19 could not be evaluated, our study showed that PrEP with hydroxychloroquine at low doses is safe.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.govNCT04331834. Registered on April 2, 2020.
Low-dose naltrexone for the treatment of fibromyalgia: protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Bruun Karin Due , Amris Kirstine , Vaegter Henrik Bjarke , Blichfeldt-Eckhardt Morten Rune , Holsgaard-Larsen Anders , Christensen Robin , Toft Palle 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is used widely as an off-label treatment for pain despite limited evidence for its effectiveness. A few small trials with a high risk of bias have investigated the effect of LDN on pain associated with fibromyalgia in women, but larger and more methodologically robust studies are needed. The primary aim of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate if 12 weeks of LDN treatment is superior to placebo in reducing the average pain intensity during the last 7 days in women with fibromyalgia.

Methods
A single-center, permuted block randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial will be performed in Denmark. Randomization comprises 100 women aged 18–64 years diagnosed with fibromyalgia who will be treated with either LDN or placebo for 12 weeks including a 4-week titration phase. The primary outcome is change in average pain intensity (during the last 7 days) from baseline to 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes are other fibromyalgia-related symptoms, i.e., tenderness, fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, memory problems, depression, anxiety and measures of global assessment, physical function, impact of fibromyalgia, pain distribution, and health-related quality of life. Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed, and the number of responders with a more than 15%, 30%, and 50% improvement of pain after 12 weeks will be calculated for the LDN and placebo groups. Exploratory outcomes include measures of pain sensitivity, muscle performance, and biomarkers.

Discussion
This study will contribute with high-level evidence on the efficacy of low-dose naltrexone for the treatment of pain in women with fibromyalgia. Secondary outcomes include both disease-specific and generic components investigating whether LDN influences other symptoms than pain. Explorative outcomes are included to provide greater insight into the mechanism of action of LDN and possibly a better understanding of the underlying pathology in fibromyalgia.

Trial registration
EudraCT 2019-000702-30. Registered on 12 July 2019. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04270877. Registered on 17 February 2020
Genome-wide transcriptome analysis of the early developmental stages of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces reveals extensive alternative splicing events in the spliceosome pathway
Authors: Mohammadi Mohammad Ali , Harandi Majid Fasihi , McManus Donald P. , Mansouri Mehdi 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
The complex life cycle of Echinococcus granulosus involves numerous environmental conditions within different intermediate and definitive hosts. This requires adaptation at different levels of transcript regulation. Alternative splicing (AS) and the related cellular functions as one of the major fields of post-genomics has been poorly studied in tapeworms. In the present study, we investigated AS events and their potential biological effects in E. granulosus.

Methods
Whole transcriptome sequencing data of four groups of protoscoleces were prepared for RNA-seq library construction. Fresh protoscoleces were either used as non-induced controls (NT group) or incubated for 15 min with pepsin (PEP group) and cultivated in a biphasic medium for 12 and 24 h (12 and 24 h groups). The frequency and different types of AS events were identified using rMATS software. Functional annotations and gene ontology of differential AS (DAS) genes were performed using Blast2GO software. AS events were experimentally validated by PCR on the protoscolex cDNAs using specific primers for each gene.

Results
At least one AS event was found in 38.1% of the genes (3904 out of 10,245) in the protoscoleces during early strobilar development. The genes were associated primarily with cellular and metabolic processes and binding and catalytic activity. KEGG pathway analysis of DAS events revealed a number of genes belonging to different components of the spliceosome complex. These genes tended to belong to common SR proteins, U1-related factors, U2-related factors, complex A-specific factors and other splicing-related proteins.

Conclusions
The high number of AS events in the transcriptome regulatory mechanisms indicates the essential rapid molecular processes required by the parasite for adaptation in different environments.

Graphical Abstract
Bio-surveillance of environmental pollutants in the population of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): a small pilot study
Authors: Bayebila Menanzambi Trésor , Dufour Patrice , Pirard Catherine , Nsangu Jean , Mufusama Jean-Pierre , Mbinze Kindenge Jérémie , Marini Djang’eing’a Roland , Charlier Corinne 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Environmental pollutants are known to be ubiquitous and may present toxic effects (endocrine-disruption properties, carcinogenicity …) and represent a real threat to human health. The aim of the present pilot study was to assess the content of environmental pollutants (inorganic, persistent, and non-persistent pollutants) in biological samples (urine, serum, and whole blood), collected from volunteers in Kinshasa, capital of Democratic Republic of Congo, in order to identify pollutants of interest and to design a protocol for a larger scale study.

Methods
From randomly selected 15 volunteers living in Kinshasa, aged from 25 to 66 years, (mean age = 43.4 years), including 10 men and 5 women, urine, whole blood, and serum samples were used in this study to estimate the contents in these environmental pollutants, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

Results
When compared to data nationally and internationally available, the preliminary outcomes of this study indicated a very high level of exposure to environmental pollutants in the population of Kinshasa, especially for heavy metals, parabens and triclosan. To a lesser extent, contamination measured for glyphosate, phthalates, organochlorine pesticides, pyrethroids and dialkylphosphate pesticides was also significant. In contrast, the investigated population of Kinshasa was found to be weakly exposed to other persistent organic pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls, brominated flame retardants, phenolic organohalogens, and perfluoroalkyl substances.

Conclusion
Although the biologic fluids were collected from a limited number of volunteers (n = 15), the results of the present report clearly indicate that the population of Kinshasa is not spared by the investigated environmental pollutants. Moreover, this study gives us important information to design a larger scale study protocol.
New phenylalkanoids from the rhizome of Cnidium officinalis Makino
Authors: Kim Hyoung-Geun , Nguyen Trong Nguyen , Lee Yeong-Geun , Lee Min-Ho , Lee Dae Young , Lee Youn-Hyung , Baek Nam-In 
Published: November 2021

AbstractCnidium officinalis rhizomes were immersed in 80% MeOH. The extract was fractionated to water, n-butanol, and ethyl acetate fractions (Fr). Open column chromatography was repeatedly carried out on n-butanol and ethyl acetate Fr using silica gel, octadecyl silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20 as the stationary phase affording five phenyl alkanoids 1–5 including two new ones. The molecular structures including stereochemistry were decided based on spectroscopic interpretation of nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and infrared spectroscopy as well as chemical reaction. Three known compounds, coniferyl alcohol methyl ether (1), vanillin (2), and coniferyl aldehyde (3), were reported in the beginning for this plant by authors. Two new phenyl alkanoids were named, 7-methoxyeugenol and cnidiumoside.
Decreased urinary uromodulin is potentially associated with acute kidney injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: You Ruilian , Zheng Hua , Xu Lubin , Ma Tiantian , Chen Gang , Xia Peng , Fan Xiaohong , Ji Peili , Wang Li , Chen Limeng 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Urinary uromodulin (uUMOD) is one of the novel biomarkers for predicting AKI. However, currently available publications showed inconsistent results. We designed this meta-analysis to evaluate the potential association between uUMOD and AKI.

Methods
We searched research articles with no language restriction in Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and 3 Chinese datasets from inception to February 2021. We used random-effects models to estimate the standardized mean difference (SMD) between patients with AKI or not, while the leave-one-out method and random-effects meta-regression to evaluate the sensitivity and the impact of potential confounders such as age and surgery.

Results
The meta-analysis comprising 3148 subjects from 11 studies showed that the uUMOD of the AKI group is significantly lower than the non-AKI group (SMD: − 0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI), − 1.00, − 0.42, P < 0. 001, I2 = 78.8%). Subgroup analysis revealed the difference is also significant in a different age, surgery condition, and assay time but not acute rejection (AR) group, especially in children (SMD: − 1.21, 95% CI: − 1.80, − 0.61; P < 0.001) and patients undergoing surgery (SMD: − 1.03, 95% CI: − 1.75, − 0.30; P < 0.001). Lower uromodulin is associated with higher odds for AKI incidence (odds ratio = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.12, 5.47; P < 0.001, I2 = 89%). Meta-reggression found that age was associated with the SMD of uUMOD. The study outcome was reliably confirmed by the sensitivity analysis.

Conclusion
The present study suggested a negative association between uUMOD and AKI especially in children and surgical patients.
Machine learning adaptation of intraocular lens power calculation for a patient group
Authors: Mori Yosai , Yamauchi Tomofusa , Tokuda Shota , Minami Keiichiro , Tabuchi Hitoshi , Miyata Kazunori 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
To examine the effectiveness of the use of machine learning for adapting an intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation for a patient group.

Methods
In this retrospective study, the clinical records of 1,611 eyes of 1,169 Japanese patients who received a single model of monofocal IOL (SN60WF, Alcon) at Miyata Eye Hospital were reviewed and analyzed. Using biometric metrics and postoperative refractions of 1211 eyes of 769 patients, constants of the SRK/T and Haigis formulas were optimized. The SRK/T formula was adapted using a support vector regressor. Prediction errors in the use of adapted formulas as well as the SRK/T, Haigis, Hill-RBF and Barrett Universal II formulas were evaluated with data from 395 eyes of 395 distinct patients. Mean prediction errors, median absolute errors, and percentages of eyes within ± 0.25 D, ± 0.50 D, and ± 1.00 D, and over + 0.50 D of errors were compared among formulas.

Results
The mean prediction errors in the use of the SRT/K and adapted formulas were smaller than the use of other formulas (P < 0.001). In the absolute errors, the Hill-RBF and adapted methods were better than others. The performance of the Barrett Universal II was not better than the others for the patient group. There were the least eyes with hyperopic refractive errors (16.5%) in the use of the adapted formula.

Conclusions
Adapting IOL power calculations using machine learning technology with data from a particular patient group was effective and promising.
“Self as enterprise”: overmarketization and the self-management of R&D engineers
Authors: Yan Xia 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis article analyzes the self-enterprising mechanism of research & development (R&D) engineers based on a case study of labor control in a high-tech company. The concept of “self as enterprise” refers to the form of labor control by allowing workers to self-manage according to the market principle. It is neither a form of normative control built upon accepting and internalizing market-oriented values nor responsible autonomy aiming to enhance workers' organizational commitment. R&D engineers' reproduction of current living standards depends heavily on performance-based salaries, which forces them to pragmatically comply with market rules. When both the reproduction of labor and the labor market have been overmarketized, R&D engineers are at high risk of downgrading their living standards and facing double job insecurity. Therefore, they must manage their work and life in an enterprising way to maximize labor value and prevent it from being devalued.
Association between medication adherence and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Moradkhani Boyuk , Mollazadeh Samaneh , Niloofar Parastoo , Bashiri Afsaneh , Oghazian Mohammad Bagher 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the prominent cause of mortality worldwide. Nowadays, the level of medication adherence in COPD patients is very low, which reduces the clinical therapeutic effects. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between medication adherence and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in COPD patients referred to the pulmonologist’s office.

Methods
This observational study was performed on 100 COPD outpatient cases. Each patient was interviewed to answer questionnaires regarding demographic and clinical information. To assess quality of life, health status, and severity of dyspnea, the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire - COPD-Specific Version (SGRQ-C), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and Modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) questionnaires were used, respectively. Persian version of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8-Item) was used to measure medication adherence. To determine the adherence predictors, an ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results
Out of 100 patients with mean (±SD) age of 61.35 (±10.79) years, 74% had medium and high medication adherence. In the final ordinal logistic model, quality of life, health status, and education level found to have positive effect on medication adherence while polypharmacy had negative effect. We did not find any significant association between age, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), and other variables with medication adherence.

Conclusions
Patients with high quality of life are more adherent to their medications. Furthermore, patients who have polypharmacy, tend to have less adherence to their medications.
Treatment outcome and associated factors of bacterial meningitis at pediatric wards of southwestern Ethiopian hospital: a prospective observational study
Authors: Bekele Firomsa , Ahmed Anuwar , Kedir Abas , Sheleme Tadesse 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundMeningitis is a common infectious cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric age-groups. Acute bacterial meningitis is considered a medical emergency, because it is a life-threatening infection that requires immediate treatment. Therefore the study was aimed to assess the magnitude and predictors of poor treatment outcome among pediatric patients admitted to Bedele General Hospital.MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted at pediatric wards of Bedele General Hospital from February 12, 2020 to August 11, 2020. Lumbar puncture, in the absence of contraindications, was performed under aseptic conditions for all patients with suspected bacterial meningitis to collect cerebrospinal fluid specimen. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of poor treatment outcome.ResultOf the 196 pediatric patients involved, 112(57.1%) were male and the mean and standard deviation of their age was 6.09 ± 4.46. Regarding to their clinical profile, a total of 101(51.5%) were completely immunized and 115(58.7%) were given corticosteroid during their treatment. In our study the most frequently occurred clinical manifestation of meningitis was fever 164(83.67%), neck rigidity149 (76.02%), and irritability 122(62.24%). Regarding to their pharmacotherapy, the most commonly prescribed antibiotics were Ampicillin 104(24.82%), and Gentamycin 102(24.34%). The magnitude of good treatment outcome was 132(67.35%) whereas 64(32.65%) were poorly controlled. The presence of comorbidity (AOR = 3.64, 95CI%:1.83–7.23,P = < 0.001),corticosteroid use (AOR = 2.37, 95CI%:1.17–4.81,P = 0.017) and oxygen administration (AOR = 3.12, 95CI%: 1.34–7.25,P = 0.008) was a predictor of meningitis treatment outcome.ConclusionThe treatment outcome of meningitis was good in of two-third of the patients. It was found that the presence of comorbidity, the administration of oxygen and use of corticosteroid was predictors of the treatment outcomes of bacterial meningitis in children. Therefore, in patients with these factors, appropriate meningitis treatment should be encouraged and locally applicable treatment guidelines should be prepared to improve patient outcome. Finally, the meningitis patients should be given corticosteroid and oxygen as treatment and special attention should be given for patients having co-morbidities.