bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Features and Familial Mutations in an Autosomal-Inherited Alport Syndrome Patient With the Presentation of Nephrotic Syndrome
Authors: Wang Dahai , Shan Chunrong , Jing Xinxin , Zhang Qiuye , Chang Hong , Lin Yi 
Published: November 2021

Background: The aim of this study was to report the clinical features and mutations in a patient with autosomal-inherited Alport syndrome (AS).Methods: We examined the clinical data, mutation analysis results, and family tree of a patient with autosomal-inherited AS, who had nephrotic syndrome as her first manifestation.Results: The proband was a girl of 11 months who presented with nephritic and nephrotic syndromes including gross hematuria but had a normal renal function. Her treatment course was complicated by steroid resistance and a poor response to cyclosporine A and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy. Renal biopsy was performed 2 years after disease onset; light microscopy showed glomerular segmental mesangio-proliferative lesions, and type IV collagen staining showed the loss of the α3 chain in the glomerular and tubular basement membrane (GBM and TBM) and α5 chain loss in the GBM. Electron microscopy showed uneven GBM thickness, with the dense basement membrane (BM) layer obviously delaminated and torn, showing a typical “lace-like” change. The segmental BM was loosened and widened. Her father did not develop microscopic hematuria until 10 years later, while her grandmother had asymptomatic hematuria and proteinuria when the proband was diagnosed. We detected a new COL4A4 mutation in the proband, namely c.1715delG (p.G572Vfs * 81) in exon 24. Her father and grandmother carried the same mutation, but her mother and sister did not.Conclusions: We found a new potentially pathogenic mutation of COL4A4 in a patient with autosomal-inherited AS, which presented as nephrotic syndrome in infancy.
Xin Su Ning—A Review of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology Integrated With Traditional Chinese Medicine Antiarrhythmic Theory
Authors: Wang Xuan , Wang Taiyi , Ding Shuwen , Ma Yu-Ling 
Published: November 2021

Xin Su Ning (XSN) is a patented multicomponent medicine, which was certified in 2005 by the China State Food and Drug Administration to be produced pharmaceutically and to be used clinically. The XSN capsule was developed from an effective formula composed by Prof. Shuwen Ding of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Through more than 30 years of clinical observation, Prof. Ding concluded that XSN has a significant effect on arrhythmia with phlegm-heat heart-disturbed syndrome according to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis. XSN, derived from a classical TCM formula Huanglian Wen Dan Decoction, is formulated with 11 Chinese herbal medicines to treat cardiac ventricular arrhythmia. Clinical evidence suggests that it is particularly efficacious for the arrhythmias induced by cardiac ischemia and viral myocarditis without obvious adverse reactions being reported. Cellular electrophysiological studies in ventricular myocytes revealed that XSN prolongs the duration and suppresses the amplitude of the action potential (AP), which is supported by the blockage of sodium and potassium channels indicating the characteristics of class I and III antiarrhythmic drugs. A recently reported double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial of XSN enrolled 861 patients (ChiCTR-TRC-14004180) and showed that XSN significantly inhibited premature ventricular contraction (PVC). The cellular electrophysiological discoveries provided the mechanistic evidence for the clinical efficacy on inhibition of PVC by XSN as demonstrated in the clinical trial. These studies, for the first time, provided exclusive evidence that multicomponent TCM antiarrhythmic medicine can be evaluated using conventional research methods that have been used for antiarrhythmic drug discoveries for decades. We aimed to give a comprehensive review on XSN including its origin with the support of TCM theory, its pre-licensing clinical use and development, and its pharmacological and clinical study discoveries. The review will be summarized with the discoveries reported in a novel network pharmacological study that introduced a weight coefficient, which made it possible to evaluate the pharmacological properties of the TCM formula with regard to its formation based on TCM theory. Limitations regarding XSN’s basic and clinical research and possible future studies are listed. We hope that the advances in how XSN was studied may offer useful guidance on how other TCM could be studied with respect to the integrity of the TCM formulas.
Tissue Type Differences in ABCB1 Expression and Paclitaxel Tissue Pharmacokinetics in Patients With Esophageal Cancer
Authors: van Eerden Ruben A. G. , van Doorn Leni , de Man Femke M. , Heersche Niels , Doukas Michail , van den Bosch Thierry P. P. , Oomen-de Hoop Esther , de Bruijn Peter , Bins Sander , Ibrahim Eman , Nikkessen Suzan , Friberg Lena E. , Koolen Stijn L. W. , Spaander Manon C. W. , Mathijssen Ron H. J. 
Published: November 2021

Background: Data from previous work suggests that there is no correlation between systemic (plasma) paclitaxel exposure and efficacy in patients treated for esophageal cancer. In this trial, we investigated ATP-binding cassette efflux transporter expression and intratumoral pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel to identify changes which could be a first sign of chemoresistance.Methods: Patients with esophageal cancer treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin (± concomitant radiotherapy) were included. During the first and last cycle of weekly paclitaxel, blood samples and biopsies of esophageal mucosa and tumor tissue were taken. Changes in paclitaxel exposure and expression of ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein) over time were studied in both tumor tissue and normal appearing esophageal mucosa.Results: ABCB1 was significantly higher expressed in tumor tissue compared to esophageal tissue, during both the first and last cycle of paclitaxel (cycle 1: p &lt; 0.01; cycle 5/6: p = 0.01). Interestingly, ABCB1 expression was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma than in squamous cell carcinoma (p &lt; 0.01). During the first cycle, a trend towards a higher intratumoral paclitaxel concentration was observed compared to the esophageal mucosa concentration (RD:43%; 95%CI: −3% to 111% p = 0.07). Intratumoral and plasma paclitaxel concentrations were significantly correlated during the first cycle (AUC0–48 h: r = 0.72; p &lt; 0.01).Conclusion: Higher ABCB1 expression in tumor tissue, and differences between histological tumor types might partly explain why tumors respond differently to systemic treatment. Resistance by altered intratumoral paclitaxel concentrations could not be demonstrated because the majority of the biopsies taken at the last cycle of paclitaxel did contain a low amount of tumor cells or no tumor.
Chronic Circadian Rhythm Disturbance Accelerates Knee Cartilage Degeneration in Rats Accompanied by the Activation of the Canonical Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
Authors: Song Xiaopeng , Ma Tianwen , Hu Hailong , Zhao Mingchao , Bai Hui , Wang Xinyu , Liu Lin , Li Ting , Sheng Xuanbo , Xu Xinyu , Zhang Xinmin , Gao Li 
Published: November 2021

With the gradual deepening of understanding of systemic health and quality of life, the factors affecting osteoarthritis (OA) are not limited to mechanical injury, metabolic abnormality, age and obesity, etc., but circadian rhythm, which plays a non-negligible role in human daily life. The purpose of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of chronic circadian rhythm disturbance (CRD) inducing cartilage OA-like degeneration. Rats with the anterior cruciate ligament excision transection (ACLT) were used to establish the early-stage OA model (6-week). The light/dark (LD) cycle shifted 12 h per week for 22 weeks in order to establish a chronic CRD model. BMAL1 knockdown (KD) and Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibition were performed in chondrocytes. The contents of proinflammatory factors and OA biomarkers in serum and chondrocyte secretions were detected by ELISA. Pathological and immunohistochemical staining of articular cartilage indicated the deterioration of cartilage. WB and qPCR were used to evaluate the relationship between matrix degradation and the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in chondrocytes. We found that chronic CRD could cause OA-like pathological changes in knee cartilage of rats, accelerating cartilage matrix degradation and synovial inflammation. The expression of MMP-3, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4, and β-catenin increased significantly; BMAL1, Aggrecan, and COL2A1 decreased significantly in either LD-shifted cartilage or BMAL1-KD chondrocytes. The expression of β-catenin and p-GSK-3β elevated, while p-β-catenin and GSK-3β diminished. The inhibitor XAV-939 was able to mitigated the increased inflammation produced by transfected siBMAL1. Our study demonstrates that chronic CRD disrupts the balance of matrix synthesis and catabolic metabolism in cartilage and chondrocytes, and it is related to the activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Relationship Between the Early Initiation of Substance Use and Attempted Suicide Among in-School Adolescents in Seven Low- or Middle-Income African Countries: An Analysis of the Global School-Based Student Health Survey Data
Authors: Li Lian , Zhao Yuanzhi , Shi Meijun , Wang Yucheng 
Published: November 2021

Background: Preventing suicide among adolescents is an urgent global public-health challenge, especially in Africa. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the early initiation (&lt; 12 years old) of substance use (cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and drug use) and attempted suicide among in-school adolescents in seven African countries.Methods: Data on the early initiation of substance use and on attempted suicide among in-school adolescents over the previous 12 months in Benin, Liberia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, and the United Republic of Tanzania were collected from Global School-based Student Health Surveys and were pooled to determine the overall prevalence of these behaviors in adolescents. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were then performed to evaluate country-specific associations between the early initiation of substance use and attempted suicide in these adolescents, followed by meta-analyses to evaluate overall pooled associations.Results: In the abovementioned seven African low- or middle-income countries (LMICs), overall weighted prevalences of attempted suicide and early initiation of cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and drug use among in-school adolescents were 16.05, 7.76, 17.68, and 3.48%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that relative to non-smoking, the early initiation of smoking was significantly associated with attempted suicide in these adolescents [OR (95% CI) = 1.783 (1.219–2.348)]. Additionally, the relationship between early initiation of cigarette smoking and attempted suicide is mostly driven by a higher association in girls [OR (95% CI) = 1.867 (1.031–2.703)] than boys [OR (95% CI) = 1.392 (0.995−1.789)]. Moreover, relative to not using other drugs, the early and later initiation of other drug use were also significantly associated with attempted suicide in these adolescents [ORs (95% CIs) = 2.455 (1.701–3.208) and 1.548 (1.198–1.898)].Conclusion: Programs that can eliminate or decrease the early initiation of substance use among adolescents should be implemented in African LMICs to prevent subsequent suicide attempts, especially among adolescent girls.
Mental Health Problems Among School-Aged Children After School Reopening: A Cross-Sectional Study During the COVID-19 Post-pandemic in East China
Authors: Wang Jingyi , Wang Yingying , Lin Haijiang , Chen Xiaoxiao , Wang Hao , Liang Hongbiao , Guo Xiaoqin , Fu Chaowei 
Published: November 2021

Background: Most studies on mental health problems caused by COVID-19 crisis in children were limited to the period of home quarantine. It remained unclear what adverse impact of the psychosocial stressors caused by school reopening, as well as the transitions in daily activities and social interactions had on mental health in children.Methods: A total of 6400 students in primary schools were enrolled in a cross-sectional study conducted in East China, between June 26 and July 6, 2020, when schools reopened. Children’s mental health status was assessed by the parent version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Ultimately, data on a total of 6017 children with completed information on mental health, psychosocial stressors, daily activities, and social interactions were eligible for analysis. The associations of mental health with psychosocial stressors, daily activities, and social interactions were determined by ordinal logistic regression models. Stratified analyses were conducted according to grade, gender, school level, area, and caregiver–child relationship to further observe the effects of stressors on mental status.Results: The prevalence of borderline, moderately abnormal, and prominently abnormal scores were 7.16, 3.34, and 1.96% for total difficulties, and 13.83, 13.45, and 17.85% for prosocial behavior, respectively. Children with psychological stressors had a significantly higher risk of being in a worse category of mental health status, with the maximum adjusted OR of 7.90 (95% CI 3.33–18.75) in those definitely afraid of inadaptation to study and life styles. Time used in home work and computer games was positively related to mental health problems, while physical exercises and frequency of communication with others was negatively related. The effects of psychological stressors on total difficulties were more evident in middle-high grade students (OR = 7.52, 95% CI 4.16–8.61), boys (OR = 6.95, 95% CI 4.83–8.55), those who lived in Taizhou (OR = 7.62, 95% CI 4.72–8.61) and with poor caregiver–child relationship (OR = 7.79, 95% CI 2.26–8.65).Conclusion: Emotional and behavioral difficulties, especially less prosocial behavior, were prevalent in primary school children after schools reopened. The Chinese government, communities, schools, and families need to provide more effective support for students’ transition back into the school building and address emotional and behavioral problems for children with difficulties.
Examining the Relationship Between Hair Cortisol With Stress-Related and Transdiagnostic Subclinical Measures
Authors: Torrecilla Pilar , Barrantes-Vidal Neus 
Published: November 2021

Background: Hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) provide a retrospective examination of long-term cortisol production as a measure of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning, one of the major neural systems implicated in mediating the effects of stress on mental illness. However, evidence about the relationship between HCC with stressors and symptoms is scattered. In the present study, we aimed to examine the association between HCC and a wide range of stress-related and transdiagnostic subclinical measures in a sample of non-clinical young adults with a wide distribution of schizotypy.Methods: A total sample of 132 non-clinical young adults recruited at college and technical schools oversampled for schizotypy scores were assessed on distal and proximal stressful experiences, appraisals of stress, traits and symptoms of the affective, psychosis and dissociation spectrums, as well as stress-buffering measures, and provided 3 cm-hair samples.Results: No significant associations were found between HCC and any of the stress-related and subclinical measures. Only suspiciousness and disorganization showed a trend for a positive association with HCC but the magnitude was small.Conclusions: The present findings support previous studies indicating an overall lack of concordance between a broad range of stress-related and (sub)clinical phenotypic measures with hair cortisol. This study examined for the first time the relationship of HCC with the non-clinical expression of the psychosis spectrum, that is, schizotypy, which complements previous studies on clinical high risk and established psychosis and offers a promising strategy for studying possible HPA dysfunctions characterizing the subclinical psychosis continuum without the confounds associated to clinical psychosis.
Vaccine Confidence and Hesitancy at the Start of COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment in the UK: An Embedded Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Roberts Chrissy h. , Brindle Hannah , Rogers Nina T. , Eggo Rosalind M. , Enria Luisa , Lees Shelley 
Published: November 2021

Background: Approval for the use of COVID-19 vaccines has been granted in a number of countries but there are concerns that vaccine uptake may be low amongst certain groups.Methods: This study used a mixed methods approach based on online survey and an embedded quantitative/qualitative design to explore perceptions and attitudes that were associated with intention to either accept or refuse offers of vaccination in different demographic groups during the early stages of the UK's mass COVID-19 vaccination programme (December 2020). Analysis used multivariate logistic regression, structural text modeling and anthropological assessments.Results: Of 4,535 respondents, 85% (n = 3,859) were willing to have a COVID-19 vaccine. The rapidity of vaccine development and uncertainties about safety were common reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. There was no evidence for the widespread influence of mis-information, although broader vaccine hesitancy was associated with intentions to refuse COVID-19 vaccines (OR 20.60, 95% CI 14.20–30.30, p &lt; 0.001). Low levels of trust in the decision-making (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.08, 2.48, p = 0.021) and truthfulness (OR 8.76, 95% CI 4.15–19.90, p &lt; 0.001) of the UK government were independently associated with higher odds of refusing COVID-19 vaccines. Compared to political centrists, conservatives and liberals were, respectively, more (OR 2.05, 95%CI 1.51–2.80, p &lt; 0.001) and less (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.22–0.41, p &lt; 0.001) likely to refuse offered vaccines. Those who were willing to be vaccinated cited both personal and public protection as reasons, with some alluding to having a sense of collective responsibility.Conclusion: Dominant narratives of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy are misconceived as primarily being driven by misinformation. Key indicators of UK vaccine acceptance include prior behaviors, transparency of the scientific process of vaccine development, mistrust in science and leadership and individual political views. Vaccine programmes should leverage the sense of altruism, citizenship and collective responsibility that motivated many participants to get vaccinated.
A DIY Fabrication Approach of Stretchable Sensors Using Carbon Nano Tube Powder for Wearable Device
Authors: Wiranata Ardi , Ohsugi Yunosuke , Minaminosono Ayato , Mao Zebing , Kurata Haruyuki , Hosoya Naoki , Maeda Shingo 
Published: November 2021

Soft robotics and wearable devices are promising technologies due to their flexibility. As human-soft robot interaction technologies advance, the interest in stretchable sensor devices has increased. Currently, the main challenge in developing stretchable sensors is preparing high-quality sensors via a simple and cost-effective method. This study introduces the do-it-yourself (DIY)-approach to fabricate a carbon nanotube (CNT) powder-based stretchable sensor. The fabrication strategy utilizes an automatic brushing machine to pattern CNT powder on the elastomer. The elastomer ingredients are optimized to increase the elastomer compatibility with the brushing method. We found that polydimethylsiloxane-polyethyleneimine (PDMS-PEIE) is 50% more stretchable and 63% stickier than previously reported PDMS 30-1. With these improved elastomer characteristics, PDMS-PEIE/multiwalled CNT (PDMS-PEIE/MWCNT-1) strain sensor can realize a gauge factor of 6.2–8.2 and a responsivity up to 25 ms. To enhance the compatibility of the powder-based stretchable sensor for a wearable device, the sensor is laminated using a thin Ecoflex membrane. Additionally, system integration of the stretchable sensors are demonstrated by embedding it into a cotton-glove and a microcontroller to control a virtual hand. This cost-effective DIY-approach are expected to greatly contribute to the development of wearable devices since the technology is simple, economical, and reliable.
Incidencia de actividades de rebote en la motivación y desempeño facilitado por Liveworksheets
Authors: Vega Tomalá Ruth Alexandra , Sigüencia Carrión Johnny Hiller 
Published: November 2021

Las TIC cumplen un rol fundamental en la generación de contenidos digitales. El objetivo del presente trabajo estuvo orientado a motivar y reforzar el aprendizaje de los estudiantes a través de Liveworksheets. El estudio abordó una muestra de 20 estudiantes de primer ciclo de un Instituto Superior en la ciudad de Guayaquil. Se aplicaron encuestas, test de inicio y final. Algunos estudios relacionados con el uso de la tecnología en ambientes virtuales se han revisado, pero ninguno ha abordado el uso de Liveworksheets en actividades de rebote. La investigación fue apoyada por un análisis de datos cualitativo y cuantitativo. Los hallazgos indicaron el grado de incidencia de actividades de rebote en la motivación de los estudiantes y en su desempeño en un gran alcance. Se evidenciaron las perspectivas positivas de los estudiantes en su progreso. La investigación contribuye al campo de la enseñanza de Informática como un mecanismo formativo
Analisis Klaster K-Means Terhadap Kualitas Air Sungai di Kota Surakarta, Jawa Tengah
Authors: Handayani Yuli , Syafrudin Syafrudin , Suherman Suherman 
Published: November 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menafsirkan kumpulan data kualitas air pada Sungai Pepe, Sungai Anyar, Sungai Jenes, Sungai Kedung Jumbleng, Sungai Gajah Putih, Sungai Brojo, dan Sungai Premulung di Kota Surakarta, Jawa Tengah. Data diperoleh dari hasil pemantauan kualitas air yang dilakukan oleh Dinas Lingkungan Hidup Kota Surakarta di 13 titik lokasi pengambilan sampel pada tahun 2020. Terdapat 12 parameter yang digunakan yaitu TSS, TDS, pH, BOD, COD, DO, P, NO3-N, NH3, NO2-N, Total Coliform, dan Fecal Coliform. Dengan algoritma k-means diperoleh dua klaster dengan parameter pembeda yaitu Total Coliform dan Fecal Coliform. Dengan kandungan 3.790.050 MPN/100ml Total Coliform dan 604.400 MPN/100ml Fecal Coliform, Sungai Jenes Hilir mempunyai kualitas air yang lebih buruk dibandingkan sungai lainnya dalam hal kandungan pencemar Total Coliform dan Fecal Coliform.
Kajian Karakteristik Volume Konsumsi Gas Bumi Pelanggan Rumah Tangga Jaringan Gas Kota Kabupaten Bekasi, Jawa Barat
Authors: Zaky Abdul Rohman , Arwin M. Ayub 
Published: November 2021

Kajian ini memberikan gambaran umum volume konsumsi gas bumi pelanggan Rumah Tangga (RT) Kabupaten Bekasi meliputi tren, karakteristik, dan klasifikasi volume konsumsi gas bumi pelanggan RT secara temporal yang berguna sebagai salah satu parameter pengambilan keputusan dalam pengelolaan dan pengembangan jaringan Gas Kota Kabupaten Bekasi. Kajian ini dilakukan dengan metode statistik deskriptif dimana data yang digunakan meliputi volume konsumsi gas bumi bulanan pelanggan RT Kabupaten Bekasi periode 2017-2020. Hasil analisis didapatkan bahwa sepanjang periode kajian, volume konsumsi minimum gas bumi pelanggan RT sebesar 0 m3/bulan, volume konsumsi maksimum berkisar 48-50 m3/bulan, dan volume konsumsi rata-rata berkisar 7-13 m3/bulan. Karakteristik volume konsumsi gas bumi pelanggan RT diketahui 33,53% merupakan pelanggan RT dengan volume konsumsi gas bumi minimum per bulan (0-4 m3/bulan), sedangkan 66,47% lainnya merupakan pelanggan RT dengan volume konsumsi gas bumi di atasnya (5-50 m3/bulan). Klasifikasi volume konsumsi gas bumi bulanan pelanggan RT menggunakan rumus equal interval didapatkan 3 kategori volume yaitu volume rendah (20.686-26.110 m3/bulan), volume sedang (26.111-31.535 m3/bulan), dan volume tinggi (31.536-36.960 m3/bulan).