bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effect of a Single Mega dose Injection of Vitamin D on serum Adiponectin concentration at First Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Mahdieh , Razmpush Elham , Shareghfarid Elham , Hosseinzadeh Elham , Hadinedoushan Hossein , Salami Maryam , Khosravi Maryam , Amini Maryam , Mozaffari-Khosravi Hassan 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background: vitamin D is being increasingly recognized for its important non-skeletal functions including endocrine actions. This study investigated if a single, large, intramuscular post‐artum injection of vitamin D improve adiponectin levels among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
Methods: A total of 45 pregnant women with GDM participated in this randomized clinical trial. They were randomly divided into intervention and control group. The intervention group received an intramuscular injection of 300,000 IU of vitamin D during 3 to 10 days after their child delivery, but controls did not. Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c and serum adiponectin were measured at baseline and after 3 months of intervention.
Results: Serum 25 OH vitamin D increase significantly in the intervention but not in the control group from 24.25 to 62.10 (nmol/l) (p-value< 0.01). Comparison in within group showed that adiponectin level increased significantly only among intervention group after the vitamin D injection from 7.45 to 8.98 (ngr/dl) (P-value=0.01), while between group comparisons showed no significant differences in adiponectin concentration after the intervention (P-value<0.05). Between and within group comparisons reported no significant alterations in the levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and FPG (fasting plasma glucose), as well.
Conclusions: The 300,000 IU single dose of intramuscular injection of vitamin D is regarded as an effective procedure to improve vitamin D status which significantly increased the adiponectin levels among mothers with gestational diabetes after delivery.
Trial registration: The trial was registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials available at http://www.irct.ir. The reference number is IRCT138902113840N1.
Early intervention and follow-up programs among children with cerebral palsy in Moldova: Do they make a difference?
Authors: Bufteac Ecaterina Gincota , Andersen Guro L. , Spinei Larisa , Jahnsen Reidun 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Aim

To study whether early intervention services (EI) and a follow-up program (FU) influence outcomes of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Moldova.

Methods

Records from 351 children with CP in Moldova born during 2009 and 2010 were retrieved from hospital and orphanage archives between 1 July 2016 and 30 September 2017. We investigated the proportion enrolled in EI and FU at the Early Intervention Centre Voinicel and at the Institute of Mother and Child. Logistic regression analyses were applied to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for outcomes in children enrolled and not enrolled.

Results

Among all children with CP, 166 (47%) were enrolled in EI and FU. Of the 51 children born extremely preterm (gestational age ≤31 weeks), 46 (90%) were enrolled, compared to 97 (39%) of the 250 children born at term. Among 110 non-walking children with CP, 82 (74%) were enrolled into EI and FU, compared to 84 (35%) of 241 able to walk.

There was no difference in outcomes of associated impairments between those enrolled or not enrolled in EI and FU. However, the subgroup analyses showed that among all children with CP the risk of contractures was five times higher among those not enrolled, regardless of GMFCS level (OR = 5.474, 95% CI 3.306–9.063, p <0.000).

Conclusion

In Moldova, EI and FU seem to be offered mostly to extremely preterm and non-walking children with CP. The results indicate a decreased risk for contractures in these children.
Changes in Macular Perfusion Detected by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Following 3 Intravitreal Monthly Bevacizumab Injections for Diabetic Macular Edema in the IMPACT Study
Authors: Elnahry Ayman , Abdel-Kader Ahmed A. , Raafat Karim A. , Elrakhawy Khaled 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background
This study was done to evaluate macular perfusion changes following intravitreal bevacizumab injections for diabetic macular edema (DME) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography angiography (SD-OCTA).
Methods
This study was a prospective noncomparative interventional case series. Treatment naïve patients with DME were recruited at Cairo University retina clinic and underwent full ophthalmological examination and SD-OCTA scanning at baseline and after 3 intravitreal bevacizumab injections. Both the 6X6 and 3X3-mm macular scan protocols were used. Pre and post-treatment OCTA images were automatically aligned using a commercially available retina alignment software (i2k Align Retina software) then the fractal dimension (FD), vascular density (VD), and skeleton VD changes were obtained at the full retinal thickness (Full) and superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexuses after processing images using a semi-automated program. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was manually measured and FD was calculated using the FracLac plugin of ImageJ.
Results
Forty eyes of 26 patients were included. Following injections, there was an 8.1% increase in FAZ, 1.3% decrease in FD-Full and FD-SCP, 1.9% decrease in FD-DCP, 8% decrease in VD-Full, 9.1% decrease in VD-SCP, 10.6% decrease in VD-DCP, 13.3% decrease in skeleton VD-Full, 12.5% decrease in skeleton VD-SCP, and 16.3% decrease in skeleton VD-DCP in the 6X6 mm macular area, and a 2.6% decrease in FD-Full, 3.4% decrease in FD-SCP, 11.5% decrease in VD-Full, 14.3% decrease in VD-SCP, and 25.1% decrease in skeleton VD-SCP in the 3X3 mm macular area which were all statistically significant (p<0.05). There was also an 8.3% increase in the FAZ, 18.5% decrease in skeleton VD-Full, 2.6% decrease in FD-DCP, 8.8% decrease in VD-DCP, and 19.7% decrease in skeleton VD-DCP in the 3X3 mm macular area but these were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Using univariate and multivariate analysis, the pre-treatment FD, VD, and skeleton VD at each capillary layer significantly negatively correlated with the change in FD, VD, and skeleton VD at the corresponding capillary layer respectively (p>0.05).
Conclusion
OCTA is a useful non-invasive tool for quantitative evaluation of macular perfusion changes following DME treatment.
Trial Registration
Trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on August 11, 2017 (Study ID: NCT03246152).
Latrine availability and associated factors among Religious institution in Northern Ethiopia, 2018
Authors: Abrha Mulugeta Woldu , Ghebremedhin Kiros Demoz , Weldeslasie Tesfay Teklemariam 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background

Religious institutions found at the community, not only uphold belief and cultural values but also as a force for positive change and development. Improved sanitation and hygiene is crucial in these institutions to decrease preventable infections due to unsanitary conditions. However, there are no studies among religious institution on availability of latrine. So this study was conducted to assess the latrine availability and associated factors among religious institution in Tigray Region, Ethiopia.Method

Institution based cross – sectional study design was conducted in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. Multi-stage sampling was used to sample 385 religious institutions. Data was collected using pre tested, structured questionnaire and observation checklist. Logistic regression was fitted and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) with p-value less than 0.05 was used to determine the predictors of latrine availability. Analysis was carried out using SPSS 20 TM - software package.Results

In this study latrine availability was 32.8%. And was significantly affected by currently saved money towards having a latrine (Adjusted Odds ratio (AOR): 0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.25, 0.42]), any messages seen, heard or received on sanitation and hygiene (AOR: 0.43, 95% CI [0.38, 0.51]) and place where messages seen, heard, received (AOR: 2.95, 95% CI [1.11, 5.55]).Conclusion

Availability of latrine was very low when compared to the national target of 100% among the religious institution and was affected by the currently saved money towards having a latrine, any messages seen, heard or received on sanitation and hygiene and place where the messages receive. Information regarding latrine availability should be provided to the community visiting religious institutions through available channels and practical models promotion.
Palliative care training addressed to hospital healthcare professionals by palliative care specialists: a mixed-method evaluation
Authors: Artioli Giovanna , Bedini Gabriele , Bertocchi Elisabetta , Ghirotto Luca , Cavuto Silvio , Costantini Massimo , Tanzi Silvia 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background

Despite the great advances in the concept of palliative care (PC) and its benefits, its application seems to be delayed, leaving unfulfilled the many needs of patients and family members. One way to overcome this difficulty could be to develop a new training programme by palliative care specialists to improve PC primary skills in healthcare professionals The aim of this study was to evaluate the training's impact on trainees within a hospital setting using Kirkpatrick’s and Moore's models.

Methods

We adopted a mixed-method evaluation with concurrent triangulation. The evaluation followed the first three steps of Kirkpatrick’s and Moore’s models and included a pre- and post-training evaluation through self-administered questionnaires and focus groups. We used the McNemar statistical test.

Results

The results highlighted the significant amount of knowledge acquired by the hospital professionals after training, in terms of increasing their knowledge of palliative care and in terms of the change in meaning that they attributed to phenomena related to chronicity and incurability, which they encounter daily in their professional practice. In both quantitative and qualitative research, the results, in synthesis, highlight:

(i) the development of a new concept of palliative care, centred on the response to the holistic needs of people;

(ii) that palliative care can also be extended to non-oncological patients in advanced illness stages (our training was directed to Geriatrics and Nephrology/Dialysis professionals);

(iii) the empowerment and the increase in self-esteem that healthcare professionals gained, from learning about the logistical and structural organization of palliative care, to activate and implement PC;

(iv) the need to share personal aspects of their professional life (this result emerges only in qualitative research);

(v)

the appreciation of cooperation and the joining of multiple competences towards a synergistic approach and enhanced outcomes.

Conclusion

It is necessary to further develop rigorous research on training evaluation, at the most complex levels of the Kirkpatrick and Moore models, to measure primary skills in health care professionals. This will develop the effectiveness of the integration of I- and II-level palliative care competencies in hospitals and improve outcomes of patients’ and families’ quality of life.
Comparative analysis of intestinal microbiota in two different Acipenseridae fish fed with the same diet/the same fish fed with two different diets
Authors: Xu Guanling , Xing Wei , Li Tieliang , Xue Min , Ma Zhihong , Jiang Na , Luo Lin 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background: Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baeri Brandt) and Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) are two important commercial fish in China, and the feeding habits of them are very different. Diets and feeding habits are two significant factors to affect the gastrointestinal microbiota in ﬁsh. The intestinal microbiota has been reported to play a key role in nutrition and immunity. However, it is rarely reported about the relationship between the intestinal microbiota and feeding habits/diets on different Acipenseridae fish. This study is to comparative analysis of gut microbial community in two different Acipenseridae fish fed with the same diet/the same fish with different diets in order to realize the effects of different feeding habits/diets on the intestinal microﬂora of fish.
Results: According to the experimental objectives, BL and BH groups were Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) fed with low fishmeal diet and high fishmeal diet, respectively. SH group represented Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baeri Brandt) fed with the same diet as BH group. After 16 weeks feeding trial, the intestinal microbiota was examined by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology. On the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were signiﬁcantly higher in BL group than BH group, and Cyanobacteria showed the opposite trend. Compared with BH group, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were signiﬁcantly increased in SH group, whereas Cyanobacteria were clearly decreased. At the genus level, Pseudomonas and Citrobacter in BL group were signiﬁcantly higher comparing with BH group, while Bacillus, Luteibacter, Staphylococcus and Oceanobacillus was lower in BH group than SH group.
Conclusions: Alpha and beta diversities indicated that the intestinal microﬂora were significant difference between Siberian sturgeon and Beluga sturgeon when they fed with the same diet. Meanwhile, Beluga sturgeon fed with low fishmeal diet can increase the species diversity of intestinal microbiota than it fed high fishmeal diet. Therefore, feeding habits clearly affected the gastrointestinal microbiota of sturgeons. Moreover, the impact of changes in food on the gut microbiota of sturgeons should be taken into consideration during the process of sturgeon aquaculture.
Biodegradation of Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol A by Pseudomonas putida Strain YC-AE1 Isolated from Polluted Soil, Guangdong, China
Authors: Eltoukhy Adel Aly Esmail , Jia Yang , Nahurira Ruth , Abo-Kadoum M. A. , Khokhar Ibatsam , Wang Junhuan , Yan Yanchun 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
YC-AE1 is a Gram negative bacterial strain isolated from soil and identified as Pseudomonas putida by 16S rRNA and BIOLOG identification system. This strain found to have a high capacity to degrade the endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA). Response surface methodology using central composite design was used to statistically optimize the environmental factors during BPA degradation and the results obtained by significant model were 7.2, 30 oC and 2.5% for optimum initial pH, temperature and inoculum size, respectively. Prolonged incubation period with low NaCl concentration improve the biodegradation of BPA. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed high coefficient of determination, R2 and Adj-R2 which were 0.9979 and 0.9935, respectively. Substrate analysis found that, strain YC-AE1 could degrade a wide variety of bisphenol A-related pollutants such as bisphenol B, bisphenol F, bisphenol S, Dibutyl phthalate, Diethylhexyl phthalate and Diethyl phthalate in varying proportion. Pseudomonas putida YC-AE1 showed high ability to degrade a wide range of BPA concentrations (0.5-1000 mg l−1) with completely degradation for 0.5- 500 mg l−1 within 3 days. Metabolic intermediates detected in this study by HPLC-MS were identified as 4,4-dihydroxy-alpha-methylstilbene, p-hydroxybenzaldeyde, p-hydroxyacetophenone, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate, 4-hydroxyphenacyl alcohol, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propanol, 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propanol and 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate. This study reports Pseudomonas putida YC-AE1 as BPA biodegrader with high performance in degradation and tolerance to high BPA concentration. Moreover, it degrades BPA in a short time compared to other reported strains via two different degradation pathways.
Cognitive impairment and fear of falling in elderly with different social support levels: Findings from a community survey in Central Vietnam
Authors: Vo Thi Hue Man , Nakamura Keiko , Seino Kaoruko , Nguyen Hoang Thuy Linh , Vo Thang Van 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background

Fear of falling (FoF) in the elderly is one of the major public health concerns in this era of aging of the population. Identifying risk factors is a step towards devising interventions for FoF. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of FoF and the associations between cognitive impairment and FoF by the social support level, after adjustments for potential confounders.

Methods

Data from the “Health needs assessment of elderly in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam in 2018” survey of 725 elderly aged 60 years or older were used for analysis. FoF was assessed using the Fall Efficacy Scale - International. High FoF was defined as a score above 28. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was used to measure the perception of support. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the factors that might be significantly (p <0.05) associated with the FoF.

Results

The prevalence of high FoF among the elderly was 40.8%. Female gender, advanced age, a marital status of single or formerly married, living alone, history of injury, history of falls, chronic diseases (arthritis and/or hypertension), limitations of the IADL and BADL, visual difficulty and walking difficulty, low social support, and cognitive impairment were all significantly associated with a high FoF. After adjustments for the age, gender, marital status, history of falls and health-related factors, cognitive impairment remained significantly associated with a high FoF among the elderly with a low to moderate social support level (OR = 2.97, 95% CI 1.49-5.89), but not in those with a high social support level.

Conclusions

Impairment of cognitive function was associated with a high FoF among the elderly who perceived themselves as having low or moderate support levels, even after adjustments for socio demographic and physical functional factors. However, this association was not observed among the elderly who perceived themselves as having high social support levels. Fall prevention programs for the elderly with various levels of social support should be carefully devised, keeping in mind the cognitive function levels of the target recipients.
Plasma volume expansion across healthy pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies
Authors: Aguree Sixtus , Gernand Alison D. 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background: Plasma volume expansion is an important physiologic change across gestation. High or low expansion has been related to adverse pregnancy outcomes, yet there is a limited understanding of normal/healthy plasma volume expansion. We aimed to evaluate the pattern of plasma volume expansion across healthy pregnancies from longitudinal studies.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify original studies that measured plasma volume in singleton pregnancies of healthy women. Specifically, we included studies that measured plasma volume at least two times across gestation and one time before or after pregnancy in the same women. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, CINAHL, and clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched from the beginning of each database to February 2019. We combined data across studies using a random effects model.
Results: Ten observational studies with a total of 347 pregnancies were eligible. Plasma volume increased by 6% (95% CI 3-9) in the first trimester compared to the non-pregnant state. In the second trimester, plasma volume was increased by 18% (95% CI 12-24) in gestational weeks 14-20 and 29% (95% CI 21-36) in weeks 21-27 above the nonpregnant state. In the third trimester, plasma volume was increased by 42% (95% CI 38-46) in weeks 28-34 and 48% (95% CI 44-51) in weeks 35-38. The highest rate of increase occurred in the first half of the second trimester. Included studies were rated from moderate to high quality; 7 out of 10 studies were conducted over 30 years ago.
Conclusions: In healthy pregnancies, plasma volume begins to expand in the first trimester, has the steepest rate of increase in the second trimester, and peaks late in the third trimester. The patterns observed from these studies may not reflect the current population, partly due to the changes in BMI over the last several decades. Additional longitudinal studies are needed to better characterize the range of normal plasma volume expansion across maternal characteristics.
Genome-wide systematic characterization of HAK/KUP/KT gene family and their expression profiles during plant growth and in response to low K+ stress in Saccharum
Authors: Feng Xiaomin , Wang Yongjun , Zhang Nannan , Wu Zilin , Zeng Qiaoying , Wu Jiayun , Wu Xiaobin , Wang Lei , Zhang Jisen , Qi Yongwen 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background Plant genomes contain large number of HAK/KUP/KT transporters, and they play important roles in potassium uptake and translocation, osmotic potential regulation, salt tolerance as well as root morphogenesis and plant development. Potassium deficiency in soil of main sugarcane planting area is serious. However, the HAK/KUP/KT gene family remains to be characterized in sugarcane (Saccharum). Results In this study, 30 HAK/KUP/KT genes were identified from Saccharum spontaneum. Phylogenetics, duplication events, gene structure and expression pattern were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis of HAK/KUP/KT genes from 15 representative plants showed that this gene family were divided into four groups (clade I-IV). Both ancient whole-genome duplication (WGD) and recent gene duplication contributed to the expansion of HAK/KUP/KT gene family. Nonsynonymous to synonymous substitution ratio (Ka/Ks) analysis showed that purifying selection was the main force to drive the evolution of HAK/KUP/KT genes. The divergence time of HAK/KUP/KT gene family was estimated to range from 134.8 to 233.7 Mya based on Ks analysis, suggesting that it is an ancient gene family in plants. Gene structure analysis showed that HAK/KUP/KT genes was accompanied by intron gain/loss in the process of evolution. RNA-seq data analysis demonstrated that HAK/KUP/KT genes from clade II and III mainly displayed constitutive expression in various tissues, while most genes from clade I and IV had no or very low expression in the tested tissues at different developmental stages. SsHAK1 and SsHAK21 displayed upregulated expression in response to low K+ stress. Conclusions This study provided insight into the gene evolutionary history of HAK/KUP/KT genes. HAK7/9/18 were mainly expressed in the high photosynthetic zone and mature zone of stem. Moreover HAK7/9/18/25 were regulated by sunlight. SsHAK1 and SsHAK21 played important role in mediating potassium acquisition under limited K+ supply. Our results provide valuable information and key candidate genes for further study on the function of HAK/KUP/KT genes in Saccharum.