bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative study between intrathecal dexmedetomidine and intrathecal magnesium sulfate for the prevention of post-spinal anaesthesia shivering in uroscopic surgery. (RCT)
Authors: Omar Heba , adel Wessam , Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud , Hassan Amany , Hassan Passaint , Elshall Ahmed , Khalid Dalia , Mostafa Maha , Zarif pierre , hossameldin Mona , Wedad Mai , abdelhamid Bassant Mohamed 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Background: Hypothermia and shivering are common complications after spinal anaesthesia, especially after uroscopic procedures in which large amounts of cold intraluminal irrigation fluids are used. Magnesium sulfate and dexmedetomidine are the most effective adjuvants with the least side effects. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of intrathecal dexmedetomidine versus intrathecal magnesium sulfate on the prevention of post-spinal anaesthesia shivering.
Methods: This prospective randomized, double-blinded controlled study included 105 patients who were scheduled for uroscopic surgery at the Kasr El-Aini Hospital. The patients were randomly allocated into three groups. Group C (n=35) received 2.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% (12.5 mg) + 0.5 ml of normal saline, Group M (n=35) received 2.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% (12.5 mg) + 25 mg of magnesium sulfate in 0.5 ml saline, and Group D (n=35) received 2.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% (12.5 mg) + 5 μg of dexmedetomidine in 0.5 ml saline. The primary outcomes were the incidence and intensity of shivering. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of hypothermia, sedation, the use of meperidine to control shivering and complications.
Results: Group C had significantly higher proportions of patients who developed shivering (21), developed grade IV shivering (20) and required meperidine (21) to treat shivering than group M (8,5,5) and group D (5,3,6) , which were comparable to each other.
The time between block administration and meperidine administration was similar among the three groups. Hypothermia did not occur in any of the patients.
The three groups were comparable regarding the occurrence of nausea, vomiting, bradycardia and hypotension. All the patients in group C, 32 patients in group M and 33 patients in group D had a sedation score of 2. Three patients in group M and 2 patients in group D had a sedation score of 3.
Conclusions: Intrathecal injections of both dexmedetomidine and magnesium sulfate were effective in reducing the incidence of post -spinal anaesthesia shivering. Therefore, we encourage the use of magnesium sulfate, as it is more physiologically available, more readily available in most operating theatres and much less expensive than dexmedetomidine.
Biometric indicators of Eyes with Occult Lens Subluxation inducing Secondary Acute Angle Closure
Authors: Xing Xiaoli , Huang Liangyu , Tian Fang , Zhang Yan , Lv Yingjuan , Liu Wei , Liu AihuaLiu 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Background : To compare the anterior biometry of eyes with secondary acute angle closure induced by occult lens subluxation (LS), misdiagnosed as acute primary angle closure (APAC) (ASAC-LS ) at the first visit, APAC, chronic primary angle closure glaucoma (CPACG), cataract.
Methods : This retrospective case study included 17 eyes with primary angel closure(PAC)due to occult LS, who were misdiagnosed as APAC on their first visit, 56 eyes diagnosed as APAC, 54 eyes diagnosed as CPACG, and 56 eyes diagnosed as cataract. Axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD) , aqueous depth (AD) and lens thickness (LT) were recorded. Lens position (LP), relative lens position (RLP), corrected lens position (CLP) were calculated. Quantitative data were subject to one-way analysis of variance and correlation analysis. Categorical data were analyzed using the chi-squared test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to obtain a suitable cutoff value of ocular biometry.
Results: The patients in the ASAC-LS group had a longer ocular axial length than those with acute angle closure and CPACG. Corneal thickness in the ASAC-LS group was not significantly different from that in the APAC group, but was significantly different from those of the CPACG and cataract group. The APAC group had the smallest ACD, while the ASAC-LS group had the smallest AD. The ASAC-LS group exhibited significantly shallower AD (P<0.01). The ASAC-LS group had the largest lens thickness. According to ROC curve analysis,RLP, ACD, AD, LP, CLP, CCT were high power of discrimination.
Conclusions: This study revealed that LS secondary PAC patients had a shallower AD, thicker CCT comparing to those of APAC, CPACG and cataract patients. LP and CLP can be helpful for differential diagnosis.
MultiTex RCT – a multifaceted intervention package for protection against cotton dust exposure among textile workers – a cluster randomized controlled trial in Pakistan: study protocol
Authors: Nafees Asaad Ahmed , De Matteis Sara , Kadir Muhammad Masood , Burney Peter , Coggon David , Semple Sean , Cullinan Paul 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Background In the Pakistani textile industry the prevalence of workplace respiratory illnesses, including byssinosis, is high. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention package in reducing dust levels in cotton mills, decreasing the frequency of respiratory symptoms among cotton textile workers, and improving their lung function. Methods/design We will conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial at 28 textile mills in Karachi. The intervention will comprise: training in occupational health for all workers and managers backed by regular refresher sessions; the formation of workplace committees to draw up, agree and promote a health and safety plan that includes wet mopping, safe disposal of cotton dust, and the use of simple face masks, as well as further publicity about the risks from cotton dust; and provision of adequate supplies of face masks to support the health and safety plan. Participating mills will be randomized to intervention and control arms following a baseline survey. The impact of the intervention will be determined through follow-up surveys conducted at 3, 12 and 18 months. Data collection in the surveys will include spirometry, questionnaire-based interviews and cotton dust measurements. Discussion If successful, the study may pave the way for simple, low-cost interventions that can help reduce cotton dust levels in textile mills, and improve the respiratory health of textile workers in developing countries such as Pakistan.
Bifidobacterium mongoliense genome is particularly adapted to milk oligosaccharides digestion leading to production of antivirulent metabolites
Authors: Bondue Pauline , Milani Christian , Arnould Emilie , Ventura Marco , Daube Georges , Lapointe Gisèle , Delcenserie Veronique 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) could promote the growth of bifidobacteria, improving young children’s health. In addition, fermentation of carbohydrates by bifidobacteria can result in the production of metabolites presenting an antivirulent activity against intestinal pathogens. Bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMO), structurally similar to HMO, are found at high concentration in cow whey. This is particularly observed for 3’-sialyllactose (3’SL). This study focused on enzymes and transport systems involved in HMO/BMO metabolism contained in B. crudilactis and B. mongoliense genomes, two species from bovine milk origin. The ability of B. mongoliense to grow in media supplemented with whey or 3’SL was assessed. Next, the effects of cell-free spent media (CFSM) were tested against the virulence expression of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Due to the presence of genes encoding β-galactosidases, β-hexosaminidases, α-sialidases and α-fucosidases, B. mongoliense presents a genome more sophisticated and more adapted to the digestion of BMO/HMO than B. crudilactis (which contains only β-galactosidases). In addition, HMO/BMO digestion involves genes encoding oligosaccharide transport systems found in B. mongoliense but not in B. crudilactis. B. mongoliense seemed able to grow on media supplemented with whey or 3’SL as main source of carbon (8.3±1.0 and 6.7±0.3 log cfu/mL, respectively). CFSM obtained from whey resulted in a significant under-expression of ler, fliC, luxS, stx1 and qseA genes (-2.2, -5.3, -2.4, -2.5 and -4.8, respectively) of E. coli O157:H7. CFSM from 3’SL resulted in a significant up-regulation of luxS (2.0) gene and a down-regulation of fliC (-5.0) gene. CFSM obtained from whey resulted in significant up-regulations of sopD and hil genes (2.9 and 3.5, respectively) of S. Typhimurium, while CFSM obtained from 3’SL fermentation down-regulated hil and sopD genes (-2.7 and -4.2, respectively). From enzymes and transporters highlighted in the genome of B. mongoliense and its potential ability to metabolise 3’SL and whey, B. mongoliense seems well able to digest HMO/BMO. The exact nature of the metabolites contained in CFSM has to be identified still. These results suggest that BMO associated with B. mongoliense could be an interesting synbiotic formulation to maintain or restore intestinal health of young children.
Expression patterns of two pal genes of Pleurotus ostreatus across developmental stages and under heat stress
Authors: Hou Ludan , Wang Lining , Wu Xiangli , Gao Wei , Zhang Jinxia , Huang Chenyang 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Background: Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.24) is the first key enzyme in the phenylpropanoid pathway. The pal gene has been widely studied in plants and participates in plant growth, development and defense systems. However, in P leurotus ostreatus , the biological functions of pal during organismal development and exposure to abiotic stress have not been reported.
Results: In this study, we cloned and characterized the pal1 (2232 bp) and pal2 (2244 bp) genes from the basidiomycete P. ostreatus CCMSSC 00389. The pal1 and pal2 genes are interrupted by 6 and 10 introns, respectively, and encode proteins of 743 and 747 amino acids, respectively. Furthermore, prokaryotic expression experiments showed that PAL enzymes catalyzed the conversion of L-phenylalanine to trans-cinnamic acid. The function of pal1 and pal2 was determined by constructing overexpression (OE) and RNA interference (RNAi) strains. The results showed that the two pal genes had similar expression patterns during different developmental stages. The expression of pal genes was higher in the reproductive growth stage than in the vegetative growth stage . And the interference of pal1 and pal2 delayed the formation of primordia. The results of heat stress assays showed that the RNAi- pal1 strains had enhanced mycelial tolerance to high temperature, while the RNAi- pal2 strains had enhanced mycelial resistance to H 2 O 2 .
Conclusions: These results indicate that two pal genes may play a similar role in the development of P. ostreatus fruiting bodies, but may alleviate stress through different regulatory pathways under heat stress.
Vestigial mediated by miR-147b regulates wing development in the bird cherry-oat Rhopalosiphum padi
Authors: Fan YJ , Li XX , Mohammed Abd Allah A. H. , Liu Y , Gao Xiwu 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Background: The wing polyphenism occurs under crowding and nutrition-deficiency conditions in most aphid species. Although the influence of environmental factors on wing polyphenism of aphids have been extensively investigated, molecular mechanisms underlining morph differentiation (i.e. wing development /degeneration) has been poorly understood.
Results: We examined the expression levels of the twenty genes involved in wing patterning network, and only vestigial (vg ) showed significantly different expression levels in both whole-body and wall-body of third instar nymphs, with 5.4- and 16.14- fold higher in winged lines compared to wingless lines, respectively in Rhopalosiphum padi . Moreover, vg expressions were higher in winged aphids compared to wingless aphids at third, fourth instar nymphs and adults, and larger difference ratio were observed in third (21.38-fold) and fourth (20.91-fold) instar nymphs relative to adult (3.12-fold) between wing morphs. Suppression of vg using RNAi repressed the wing development of third winged morphs. Furthermore, dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that the miR-147 can target the vg mRNA, and modulation of miR-147b levels by microinjection of its mimics decreased vg expression levels and repressed wing development.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that vg is essential for wing development and that miR-147b modulates its expression. To our knowledge, our results provide an evidence that miRNA is involved in the regulation of wing morphs in aphids.
Epidemiology of acute rubella infection in Zambia during the pre-vaccination period (2005 – 2016) as a baseline for monitoring rubella epidemiology in the post-rubella vaccine introduction era.
Authors: Mazaba Mazyanga Lucy , Siziya Seter , Monze Mwaka , Cohen Daniel 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Background: Rubella is highly under reported in Zambia as in most sub-Saharan countries despite being a disease of major public health concern especially among women of childbearing age. In September 2016, Zambia introduced a combined measles-rubella vaccine in children aged 0-14 years. In this study, we estimated the proportion of acute rubella among suspected cases during the pre Measles-Rubella vaccine introduction era (2005-2016) and determined its correlates for monitoring rubella epidemiology post-rubella vaccine introduction.
Methods: In a retrospective study, 4497 measles IgM negative serum samples from 5686 clinically suspected measles cases were examined for rubella IgM antibodies using the Siemens, Enzygnost® ELISA kit at the national measles laboratory. Data on demographics, year and month of onset were extracted from the surveillance data. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using backward variable selection was conducted to determine independent predictors for acute rubella.
Results: Overall, a proportion of 29.2% (1313/4497) affecting mostly those between 5 and 24 years was determined. Only age, province, month and year were independently associated with acute rubella. The regional proportions varied from 21.8 – 37.3% peaking in the hot dry month of October. Persons in the age group 10-14 years (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]=2.43; 95% CI [2.01 - 2.95]) were more likely while those aged <1 year less likely (AOR=0.31; 95% CI [021 - 0.48]) to have acute rubella compared to those aged 25 years or older. Persons in 2010 were less likely (AOR=0.12; CI [0.05, 0.28]) to have acute rubella compared to those in 2016. While acute rubella was more likely to occur between July and November compared to December, it was less likely to occur between February and May.
Conclusions: R ubella virus was circulating in Zambia between 2005 and 2016 affecting mostly persons in the age group 5-24 years peaking in the month of October during the hot dry season. It is important that Zambia has introduced a rubella containing vaccine, however, establishing the baseline epidemiological profile of rubella prior to MR vaccine introduction is important for monitoring the success of the preventative vaccination strategy employed.
Keywords: Rubella, Acute, Proportion, Correlates, Zambia, Pre vaccination era, Immunisation
The effects of a globin blocker on the resolution of 3’mRNA sequencing data in porcine blood
Authors: Lim Kyu-Sang , Dong Qian , Moll Pamela Renate , Vitkovska Jana , Wiktorin Gregor , Bannister Stephanie , Daujotyte Dalia , Tuggle Christopher K. , Lunney Joan K. , Plastow Graham S. , Dekkers Jack C. M. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Background : Gene expression profiling in blood is a potential source of biomarkers to evaluate or predict phenotypic differences between pigs but is expensive and inefficient because of the high abundance of globin mRNA in porcine blood. These limitations can be overcome by the use of 3’mRNA sequencing combined with a method to deplete or block the processing of globin mRNA prior to or during library construction. Here, we validated the effectiveness of a novel specific globin blocker (GB) that is included in the library preparation step of 3’mRNA sequencing.
Results : Four concentrations of the GB were applied to RNA samples from two pigs. The GB significantly reduced the proportion of globin reads ( P = 0.005) and increased the number of detectable non-globin genes. The highest evaluated concentration (C1) of the GB resulted in the largest reduction of globin reads (from 56.4 to 10.1%). The second highest concentration C2, showed very similar globin depletion rates (12 %) as C1 but a better correlation of the expression of non-globin genes between GB and non-GB ( r = 0.98), and allowed the expression of an additional 1,295 non-globin genes to be detected. Concentration C2 was applied in the rest of the study. The distribution of the percentage of globin reads for non-GB (n=184) and GB (n=189) samples clearly showed the effects of the GB on reducing globin reads, in particular for HBB . The proportion of globin reads that remained in GB samples was found to be positively correlated with reticulocyte count of the blood sample ( P < 0.001).
Conclusions : The GB for 3’mRNA sequencing is a useful tool in the quantification of whole gene expression profiles in porcine blood. The GB reduced the proportion of globin reads, thereby increasing the efficiency of sequencing non-globin mRNA. The evaluated GB method has as additional advantage that it does not require an additional step prior to or during library creation.
Crystallization process and nucleation kinetics of Mg2+//SO42−, NO3−-H2O system
Authors: Zhang Caiduan , Liu Feng , Wang Fengjia , Li Haotian , Zeng Fang , Ma Yongliang , Wang Lidong 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In order to achieve efficient recovery of ions from the simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification wastewater, the effects of various factors (i.e. the saturation temperature, the cooling termination temperature, the stirring rate and the cooling rate) on crystallization yield, metastable zone width and crystal morphology were investigated to determine the optimal crystallization conditions of Mg2+//SO42−, NO3–-H2O system. According to the results of experiments, the nucleation kinetics were also speculated by Nývlt self-consistent equation and classical 3D nucleation theory. Also, the crystallization products were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Under the determined optimal conditions, the yield of the crystal can reach 78%, and the crystal products were verified as pure MgSO4· 7H2O, whose morphology is complete without defects.
Adsorption of pharmaceutical residues on adsorbents prepared from olive stones using mixture design of experiments model
Authors: Boudrahem F. , Yahiaoui I. , Saidi S. , Yahiaoui K. , Kaabache L. , Zennache M. , Aissani-Benissad F. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In this work, inexpensive and easily available olive stone (OS) waste was used as the source material to prepare activated carbons (ACs) by chemical activation with phosphoric acid and zinc chloride. The mixture design of experiments (MDOE) method was applied to study the effect of the composition of the mixture of unmodified olive stones (UOS) and ACs prepared from olive stones activated with ZnCl2 (ACOS ZnCl2) and H3PO4 (ACOS H3PO4) on the absorption of pharmaceutical residues. The adsorbed tetracycline (TC) amounts at equilibrium predicted from the model equation developed using Microsoft Excel were found to be in good agreement with the experimental values (R2 = 0.999). Based on the results of the model, the amount of TC removed increased as the proportion of ACOS H3PO4 in the adsorbent mixture increased and the highest amount of TC adsorbed was obtained with an adsorbent made up entirely of ACOS H3PO4. Separate adsorption tests for sulfamethazine (SMT) and amoxicillin (AMX) on ACOS H3PO4 showed that SMT was adsorbed best (189.81 mg/g), followed by TC (183.11 mg/g) then AMX (155.69 mg/g). However, when these molecules were present together in the same solution, it was TC that adsorbed best, followed by SMT then AMX. In addition to this, the sorption process studied was best described by a pseudo-first-order model and it was the Langmuir model that satisfactorily described the equilibrium data.
Synthesis of polyethersulfone (PES)/GO-SiO2 mixed matrix membranes for oily wastewater treatment
Authors: Alkindy Maryam B. , Naddeo Vincenzo , Banat Fawzi , Hasan Shadi W. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The treatment of oily wastewater continues to pose a challenge in industries worldwide. Membranes have been investigated recently for their use in oily wastewater treatment due to their efficiency and relatively facile operational process. Graphene oxide (GO) and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles have been found to improve membrane properties. In this study, a polyethersulfone (PES) based GO-SiO2 mixed matrix membrane (MMM) was fabricated, using the phase inversion technique, for the treatment of oil refinery wastewater. The PES/GO-SiO2 membrane exhibited the highest water flux (2,561 LMH) and a 38% increase in oil removal efficiency by comparison to a PES membrane. Compared to PES/GO and PES/SiO2 membranes, the PES/GO-SiO2 MMM also displayed the best overall properties in terms of tensile strength, water permeability, and hydrophilicity.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation in patients with critical lower limb ischemia using the WIQ Questionnaire
Authors: Kamenskaya O. , Klinkova A. , Loginova I. , Ashurkov A. , Lomivorotov V. , Karaskov A. 
Published: October 2019

Aim. To evaluate various parameters of walking using the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) in patients with critical lower limb ischemia (CLLI) before and one year after spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Methods. In 46 patients with CLLI aged 64.5 (54.9–72.6) years, the following parameters were assessed before and one year after SCS using the WIQ questionnaire: pain, distance, speed, stairs, where 100% no restrictions when walking. Results. In patients with CLLI, low WIQ values were initially identified for the scales of distance, speed, and stairs, less than 10%, and about 30% for the pain scale. One year after SCS, the values of pain, distance, and speed increased to 83.3% (68.4%–100%), 39.5% (17.9%–55.2%), and 24.4% (17.3%–35.8%), respectively, with significance at p < 0.001, p = 0.004, and p = 0.005, respectively. The lowest rates were on the scale of stairs: 6.2% (3.4%–7.3%), p = 0.06. Before the SCS, the factor adversely affecting the indicators of the distance scale was diabetes mellitus (β = –0.417; p = 0.002), and the age factor adversely affected the walking speed (β = –0.544; p = 0.005). After SCS, age exerted a negative effect on the walking speed (β = –0.497; p = 0.002). The scale for stairs was negatively affected by the presence of coronary heart disease (β = –0.421; p = 0.001) or diabetes mellitus (β = –0.325; p = 0.032). Conclusion. The use of SCS in patients with CLLI improves the parameters of walking in the long-term follow up after treatment, except for the ability to climb stairs. Age and the presence of diabetes mellitus or coronary heart disease are adverse factors that affect the walking parameters, both before and in the long-term period after SCS.
Received 14 March 2019. Accepted 25 July 2019.
Funding: The study did not have sponsorship.
Conflict of interest: Authors declare no conflict of interest.