bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relationship among GNB3 rs5443, PNPLA3 rs738409, GCKR rs780094 gene polymorphisms, type of maternal gestational weight gain and neonatal outcomes (STROBE-compliant article)
Authors: Mărginean Claudiu , Mărginean Cristina Oana , Bănescu Claudia , Meliţ Lorena Elena , Tripon Florin , Iancu Mihaela 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
The gestational weight gain is determined by food habits, environmental and genetic factors.
The aims of this paper were to establish relationships between maternal gene polymorphisms (patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 rs738409 [PNPLA3 rs738409], glucokinase regulatory protein rs780094 [GCKR rs780094], and guanine nucleotide-binding protein rs5443 [GNB3 rs5443]) and mothers’ gestational weight gain, but also neonatal outcomes (birth weight, length, and ponderal index [PI]).
We performed a cross-sectional study in a sample of 158 mothers and their product of conception’ in an Obstetrics-Gynecology Clinic from Romania. We divided the pregnant women according to the Institute of Medicine recommendations into 3 subgroups: (1) insufficient gestational weight gain; (2) normal gestational weight gain; and (3) excessive gestational weight gain.
The gestational weight gain among pregnant women included in this study was classified as insufficient (10.1%), normal (31%), and excessive (58.9%). We found a tendency towards statistical significance for mothers that were overweight or obese before pregnancy to present an excessive gestational weight gain as compared to the normal weight ones. Similarly, we identified a tendency for statistical significance regarding the association between the variant genotype of GNB3 rs5443 and excessive gestational weight gain. We noticed differences that tended to be statistical significant concerning aspartate aminotransferase values between the 3 subgroups, mothers with excessive gestational weight gain having higher values than mothers with normal gestational weight gain (median, IQR: 22.89[17.53; 31.59] for mothers with excessive gestational weight gain versus 22.71[18.58; 27.37] for mothers with normal gestational weight gain). In mothers with excessive gestational weight gain, we found a significant association between the variant genotype of PNPLA3 rs738409 polymorphism and neonatal PI noticing a decrease of this index in case of newborns from mothers carrying the variant genotype.
Excessive gestational weight gain was noticed in pregnant women that were obese and overweight before pregnancy. We found a positive association between the variant genotype of GNB3 rs5443 polymorphism and excessive gestational weight gain. Similarly, the presence of variant genotype of PNPLA3 rs738409 in mothers was associated with a lower PI in their newborns. Our study pointed out the most important factors that influence gestational weight gain and related birth outcomes.
MC4R and HNF4α promoter methylation at birth contribute to triglyceride levels in childhood
Authors: Kwon Eun Jin , Lee Hye Ah , You Young-Ah , Yoo Jae Young , Park Hyesook , Park Eun Ae , Ha Eun Hee , Kim Young Ju 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
Although the changes in DNA methylation are assumed to be due to the association between adverse intrauterine conditions and adult metabolic health, evidence from human studies is rare. Little is known about the changes in DNA methylation present at birth that affect metabolic profiles in childhood. Previous studies have shown that the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) genes are associated with obesity and metabolic disorders. Thus, we investigated the associations of the DNA methylation statuses of MC4R and HNF4α in cord blood with metabolic profiles in childhood.
We collected data from 90 children 7 to 9 years of age included in the Ewha Birth & Growth Cohort Study in Korea. DNA methylation was analyzed by pyrosequencing. The children were split into 2 groups according to the cutoff triglyceride (TG) levels (<110 and ≥110 mg/dL).
The methylation statuses of MC4R and HNF4α at birth were significantly associated with the TG level in childhood (P < .05). It was interesting to note that the methylation statuses of MC4R and HNF4α in cord blood were significantly decreased, whereas childhood body mass index was significantly increased, in children with high TG levels compared with children with low TG levels (P < .05).
Our findings show that the methylation statuses of MC4R and HNF4α at birth are associated with metabolic profiles in childhood. These epigenetic modifications occurring in early life may contribute to subsequent metabolic-related disorders. Thus, we suggest that DNA methylation status in cord blood may be predictive of the risk of developing metabolic syndrome.
Circulating alarin concentrations are high in patients with type 2 diabetes and increased by glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist treatment
Authors: Hu Wenjing , Fan Xiaoyun , Zhou Baoyong , Li Ling , Tian Bo , Fang Xia , Xu Xiaohui , Liu Hua , Yang Gangyi , Liu Yongsheng 
Published: July 2019

Abstract

Context:
Alarin has been reported to be relative to food intake and an increase in body weight. However, to date, no report has demonstrated the relationship between circulating alarin and diabetes in humans.

Objective:
The objective of this study is to gain insight into the possible role of alarin in humans.

Design and methods:
164 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (nT2DM), 112 IGT and 134 healthy subjects were recruited for this study. In an interventional study, 29 nT2DM patients were treated by a weekly GLP-1RA for 6 months. Plasma alarin concentrations were measured by ELISA.

Results:
Circulating alarin concentrations were significantly higher in both IGT and nT2DM subjects than in healthy individuals (0.40 ± 0.14 and 0.54 ± 0.24 vs 0.37 ± 0.10 μg/L, P < .05 or P < .01), whereas in T2DM patients, circulating alarin levels were higher than in IGT subjects. Circulating alarin positively correlated with FBG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, AUCglucose and TNFα (P < .05 or P < .01). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that circulating alarin levels were correlated with IGT and T2DM. GLP-1RA treatment for 6 months increased circulating alarin levels in T2DM patients (from 0.34 ± 0.10 for baseline, to 0.39 ± 0.14 for 12 weeks, and finally to 0.38 ± 0.15 μg/L for 24 weeks; vs. pre-treatment P < .05).

Conclusions:
These data suggest that alarin might be involved in the pathogenesis of T2DM in humans.

Clinical Trial Registration Number:
ChiCTR-OCS-13003185 (18/03/2013 ).
Accommodation changes after visian implantable collamer lens with central hole for high myopia
Authors: Chen Minjie , Long Qiurong , Gu Hao , Hong Jiaxu 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
To characterize the accommodative changes in high-myopic patients after the implantation of the Visian implantable collamer lens with a central hole (ICL V4c).
This prospective study enrolled 30 patients (60 eyes) with uneventful surgery of ICL V4c implantation. Parameters including amplitude of accommodation (AA), monocular and binocular facility of accommodation (FA), positive relative accommodation (PRA), negative relative accommodation (NRA), near point convergence (NPC), accommodative response, and accommodation convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratio were assessed before surgery, at 1 and 3 months postoperatively.
Mean preoperative SE was −10.86 ± 3.87 diopter (D) (range, −6.5D to −22D), which improved to 0.27 ± 0.51D at 1 month and 0.09 ± 0.47D at 3 months after surgery (P <.001). Significant improvements in AA, NRA, PRA, NPC, monocular, and binocular FA were seen at 1 month and 3 months postoperatively compared to the values before surgery (P <.05), but the difference between 1 month and 3 months were not obvious (P >.05) except for binocular FA (P = .002). However, no significant changes were seen in either AC/A ratio or accommodative response at any postoperative follow-ups in contrast to those before surgery (P >.05). Similar changes in accommodative function were found in patients with less myopia (> −10.00D) and those with more myopia (≤10.00D) (P >.05).
The accommodative function of eyes after the implantation of ICL V4c is enhanced and stabilizes at 1 month, except for the AC/A ratio and accommodative response. The clearer vision and increased amount of accommodation for near target account for the majority of the improvement.
Tuina for children with upper respiratory tract infections
Authors: Zhang Jiayuan , Chen Yunhui , Cao Liu , Zhang Renyan , Ren Renyuan , Zhang Qi 
Published: July 2019

Abstract

Background:
Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) is a common disease in children, which is also known as the common cold. Pediatric Tuina is a common treatment that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors commonly use for URTIs. However, there has no relevant systematic review studied on its effects and safety been reported. We plan to perform a systematically reviewing of all the clinical evidence on the effectiveness and safety of Tuina for URTIs in children.

Methods:
We will conduct the literature searching in the following electronic databases: Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, Wanfang, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese Clinical Trial Registry System. The time limit for retrieving studies is from establishment to July 2019 for each database. All published randomized controlled trials (RTCs) related to this review will be included. Review Manager (V.5.3.5) will be implemented for the assessment of bias risk and data analyses. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis will be performed based on the conditions of included data.

Results:
A high-quality synthesis of current evidence of Tuina for children with URTIs will be provided in this study.

Conclusion:
This systematic review will provide evidence of whether Tuina is an effective intervention for children with URTIs.

PROSPERO registration number:
CRD42019126963.
Increased renal cortical stiffness is associated with coronary artery disease severity in patients with acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Demirtaş Abdullah Orhan , Bulut Atilla 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
Atherosclerosis is the primary etiological factor associated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Kidneys have a highly arterial vascular structure and are therefore commonly affected by atherosclerosis, including those affecting the coronary arteries. Renal shear wave elastography (SWE) is an ultrasonographic method, which provides reliable information regarding the condition of the renal parenchyma.
We investigated the relationship between SWE findings and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
We calculated the following: the renal cortical stiffness (rCS) evaluated via SWE, the renal resistive index, the renal pulsatility index, the acceleration time, and the mean Syntax score (SS). Patients with a mean SS <12 were categorized into a low-risk (LR) and those with a mean SS ≥12 were categorized into the high-risk (HR) group.
Our study included 132 patients—76 in the LR and 56 in the HR group. Creatinine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and rCS were significantly higher, but the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was significantly lower in the HR group. The Hs-CRP (odds ratio [OR] 1.220), GFR (OR 0.967), and rCS (OR 1.316) were observed to be independent predictors for the HR group. The cutoff value of rCS using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was 4.43 for the prediction of HR patients and showed 60.7% sensitivity and 57.9% specificity (area under the curve 0.642).
SWE which shows renal parenchymal injury and atherosclerosis in renal vessels may give an idea about the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
Prevalence of actinic keratosis in patients attending the dermatology outpatient clinic
Authors: Yaldiz Mahizer 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
Actinic keratoses (AKs) are precancerous epidermal lesions that develop on sensitive, frequently sun-exposed skin surfaces. There are very little data regarding AK prevalance. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of AK and related conditions among patients in a dermatology outpatient clinic.
Patients attending our dermatology outpatient clinic between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017 were evaluated retrospectively usingan automated system. A total of 54,786 patients aged ≥30 years attending the dermatology outpatient clinic were included in the study. We identified 1375 patients diagnosed with AK.
In our study, the AK prevalence was 0.01% for patients between 30 and 39 years of age, 0.45% for patients between 40 and 49 years of age, 1.77% for patients between 50 and 59 years of age, 4.61% for patients between 60 and 69 years of age, 9.38% for patients between 70 and 79 years of age, and 14.57% for patients ≥80 years. AK prevalence was 2.50% among patients of all ages.
The exposure to sunlight is excessive due to the geographical location of our country. Due to the tendency of AKs to convert to malignancies, the identification of patients at high risk for AK development and the identification of high-risk anatomical regions are important to establish the basis of effective screening programs to support public health.
Endoscopic nasogastric tube insertion for treatment of benign afferent loop obstruction after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer
Authors: Cao Yuning , Kong Xiangheng , Yang Daogui , Li Senlin 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
Afferent loop obstruction is an uncommon complication associated with Billroth-II distal gastrectomy. Inappropriate treatment may result in life-threatening events as perforation and peritonitis. For the benign afferent loop obstruction, Braun or Roux-en-Y reconstruction has been reported as the choice. However, the edematous afferent loop may result in anastomotic fistula. In this study, a less invasive technique was described for treatment of benign afferent loop obstruction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic nasogastric tube insertion for treatment of benign afferent loop obstruction.
We conducted a retrospective review of the data of 2548 gastric cancer patients who underwent distal gastrectomy from January 2002 to January 2018. Patients who developed benign afferent loop obstruction were treated by this procedure. Outcomes were recorded. Follow-up was scheduled at 3, 6, and 12 months after the treatment.
Twenty-six patients (1.0%) developed afferent loop obstruction. The median age, consisting of 19 men and 7 women, was 60 years (range 36–69 years). Of these 26 patients, 23 underwent the endoscopic treatment. The obstructive symptoms had a rapid relief in all the 23 patients. No one died due to this procedure. However, 2 patients underwent surgical treatment due to intestinal obstruction because of adhesion at >4 and 7 months after the endoscopic drainage, respectively.
Endoscopic nasogastric tube insertion is an effective and safe procedure for treatment of benign afferent loop obstruction. In addition, it could be considered as the first step in treatment, especially in high-surgical-risk patients.
Parenteral Nutrition Complications in Children Undergoing Bone Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Soussi Mohamed A. , Besbes Habib , Mellouli Fethi , Drira Chema , Lazreg Olfa , Belghith Asma , Zouari Bechir , Zaouali Selima , Bejaoui Mohamed , Razgallah Khrouf Myriam 
Published: July 2019

Background:
Parenteral nutrition (PN) seems to be a practical solution to face the negative nutritional effects of bone marrow transplantation.

Objective:
Report and describe all observed PN-related complications in children undergoing allogenic bone marrow transplantation in a tertiary center and determine the possible risk factors.

Materials and Methods:
This was a retrospective and observational study including 51 allografted children 2 to 17 years of age. We collected from medical patient records any noticed PN-related complications using an assessment causality method. The independent risk factors for complications were investigated by multivariate analysis.

Results:
A total of 92% of patients (n=47) developed a total of 136 complications attributable to PN. The incidence rate of complications was 5 for 100 patient days of PN. Infectious complications (32.3%) and electrolytic disorders (27.9%) were the most common conditions identified during our study. Multivariate analysis showed that the duration of PN exposure, age, and hyperglycemia were the risk factors for the onset of these complications.

Conclusions:
Although we have noticed multiple complications attributable to PN, a certain causal link is difficult to establish in this particular context. Emphasizing enteral nutrition in bone marrow graft protocols would be the best way to avoid these complications.
Do Errorless Methods Improve Discharge Medication Instruction and Adherence?
Authors: Patiag Maricel Carlos , Deveux Sharon , Farrar Highfield Martha E. 
Published: July 2019

Abstract

Purpose and Design
Postdischarge adverse drug events are a national issue, and effective inpatient instruction may help. Therefore, this intervention study examined whether using errorless teaching/learning methods including pictorial medication cards (ETL + card) improved RN teaching and patient medication adherence among persons with cognitive challenges (PWCCs).

Methods
Convenience samples of RNs and PWCCs from a 24-bed rehabilitation unit provided baseline data. RNs implemented ETL + card, and postintervention data were collected. Adapted and investigator-designed instruments had preliminary reliability/validity.

Findings
Postintervention RNs demonstrated more teaching strategies (p = .003), and teaching satisfaction rose from 0% to 50%. Minutes per teaching interaction were unchanged (p > .05). Baseline patients filled a higher number (p = .02) but a lower percentage (67%) of their prescriptions than did postintervention patients (85%). Medication dose adherence scores were unchanged (p > .05).

Conclusions
ETL + card improved RN teaching and possibly patient adherence. Further study is warranted.

Clinical Relevance
ETL + card may help PWCCs achieve safe medication self-management.
VGF in Cerebrospinal Fluid Combined With Conventional Biomarkers Enhances Prediction of Conversion From MCI to AD
Authors: Llano Daniel A. , Devanarayan Priya , Devanarayan Viswanath 
Published: July 2019

Background:
Previous work has suggested that the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of a neural protein involved in synaptic transmission, VGF (a noninitialism), may be altered in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer Disease (AD). The objective of the current work is to examine the potential of CSF levels of a peptide derived from VGF to predict conversion from MCI to AD.

Materials and Methods:
Using multivariate analytical approaches, the performance of the conventional biomarkers (CSF Aβ1-42 and phosphorylated tau +/− hippocampal volume) was compared with the same biomarkers combined with CSF VGF peptide levels in a large publicly available data set from human subjects.

Results:
It was observed that VGF peptides are lowered in CSF of patients with AD compared with controls and that combinations of CSF Aβ1-42 and phosphorylated tau, hippocampal volume, and VGF peptide levels outperformed conventional biomarkers alone (hazard ratio=2.2 vs. 3.9), for predicting MCI to AD conversion.

Conclusions:
CSF VGF enhances the ability of conventional biomarkers to predict MCI to AD conversion. Future work will be needed to determine the specificity of VGF for AD versus other neurodegenerative diseases.
The fecal microbiome in diverticulitis and asymptomatic diverticulosis: A case-control study in the US
Authors: Hullar Meredith A. J. , Sandstrom Richard S. , Stamatoyannopoulos John A. , Lampe Johanna W. , Strate Lisa L. 
Published: July 2019

ObjectiveThe intestinal microbiota are hypothesized to play a role in the pathogenesis of diverticulitis. We compared fecal microbial communities in individuals with diverticulitis to those with uncomplicated diverticulosis.MethodsWe used 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to assess and compare the microbiota composition of fecal samples from 10 patients presenting with acute diverticulitis (cases) and 10 controls with asymptomatic diverticulosis matched on age and sex.ResultsWe found differences in the distribution of relative abundances of bacterial phyla and genera in diverticulitis cases versus diverticulosis controls. At the phyla level, Verrucomicrobia was more abundant on average in diverticulitis cases at the time of diagnosis than in diverticulosis controls (p=0.07). Univariate analysis identified a significant increase in the genera Coriobacteria (p=0.050), Anaerotruncus (0.046), Subdoliganulum (p=0.034), Marvinabryantia (p=0.006), and Akkermansia (p=0.04), and a decrease in Barnesiella (p=0.035) and Coprococcus (p=0.035) in diverticulitis cases at the time of diagnosis compared to diverticulosis controls. However, after correction for multiple comparisons, these differences were no longer significant. Partial least squares discriminant analysis on all microbial genera showed partial separation of diverticulitis cases at diagnosis and diverticulosis controls. The microbial alpha diversity was higher in diverticulitis cases at time of diagnosis vs controls but this was not significant (Shannon diversity index 7.4±0.6 vs 6.8±0.7, p=0.08).ConclusionsIndividuals with diverticulitis differ from those with asymptomatic diverticulosis based on components of the fecal microbiome.
SICM6A: Identifying m6A Site across Species by Transposed GRU Network
Authors: Liu Wenzhong 
Published: July 2019

ABSTRACTN6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent cross-species RNA methylation modification and plays a pivotal role in various biological processes. The biochemical methods to find m6A sites are expensive and time-consuming, and the false positive rate of identified sites is high relatively. Meanwhile, the current computations are complex, and the prediction performance is relatively low both on little data sets and large data sets. This paper, at this point, presents a deep learning model with a transposed operation in the middle of GRU layers, SICM6A, for identifying m6A sites across-species. It adopts the mixed precision training manner to improve the speed and performance, and predicts m6A sites only by directly reading the 3-mer encoding of the m6A short sequence. The cross-validation and independent test verification show SICM6A is more accurate than the state-of-the-art methods. This, therefore, makes SICM6A provide new idea for predicting other modification sites of RNA sequences. The prediction software SICM6A is on github (https://github.com/lwzyb/SICM6A).
Mutational impact of chronic alcohol use on stem cells in cirrhotic liver
Authors: Jager Myrthe , Kuijk Ewart , Lieshout Ruby , Locati Mauro D. , Besselink Nicolle , van der Roest Bastiaan , Janssen Roel , Boymans Sander , de Jonge Jeroen , IJzermans Jan N.M. , Doukas Michael , Verstegen Monique M.A. , van Boxtel Ruben , van der Laan Luc J.W. , Cuppen Edwin 
Published: July 2019

ABSTRACTExcessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing liver cancer, but the mechanism through which alcohol drives carcinogenesis is as yet unknown. Here, we determined the mutational consequences of chronic alcohol use on the genome of human liver stem cells prior to cancer development. No change in base substitution rate or spectrum could be detected. Analysis of the trunk mutations in an alcohol-related liver tumor by multi-site whole-genome sequencing confirms the absence of specific alcohol-induced mutational signatures driving the development of liver cancer. However, we did identify an enrichment of nonsynonymous base substitutions in cancer genes in stem cells of the cirrhotic livers, such as recurrent nonsense mutations in PTPRK that disturb Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)-signaling. Our results thus suggest that chronic alcohol use does not contribute to carcinogenesis through altered mutagenicity, but instead induces microenvironment changes which provide a ‘fertile ground’ for selection of cells with oncogenic mutations.