bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul in a Scottish childcare facility: the influence of parental under-reporting
Authors: Thomson Rachel M. , Henderson Hazel J. , Smith-Palmer Alison 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundSalmonellaoutbreaks in childcare facilities are relatively rare, most often occurring secondary to contaminated food products or poor infection control practices. We report an outbreak ofSalmonellaSaintpaul at a pre-school facility in Ayrshire, Scotland with atypical clinical and epidemiological features.MethodsFollowing notification of the initial two cases, the multi-disciplinary Incident Management Team initiated enhanced active case finding and two environmental inspections of the site, including food preparation areas. Parent and staff interviews were conducted by the Public Health department covering attendance, symptomatology and risk factors for all probable and confirmed cases. Microbiological testing of stool samples and the facility water tank was conducted. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) was performed for positive stool samples at the national reference laboratory. Infection control measures were introduced iteratively due to the atypical progression of the outbreak.ResultsThere were 15 confirmed cases and 3 children admitted to hospital during the outbreak. However, 35.7% of cases reported extremely mild symptoms. The attack rate was 15.2%, and age of affected children ranged from 18 to 58 months (mean 35 months). All cases were the same Multilocus Sequence Type (MLST50). Epidemiological investigation strongly suggested person-to-person spread within the facility. Existing infection control practices were found to be of a high standard, but introduction of additional evidence-based control measures was inadequate in halting transmission. Facility staff reported concerns about lack of parental disclosure of gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly where these were mild, with 50.0% of cases having attended while symptomatic against public health advice. Voluntary two-week closure of the facility was implemented to halt transmission, following which there were no new cases. WGS results were unavailable until after the decision was taken to close the facility.ConclusionsThis is the first reported instance of aSalmonellaSaintpaul outbreak at a childcare facility, or where person-to-person transmission is indicated. Clinicians should consider the influence of parental under-reporting on gastrointestinal outbreaks in childcare settings, particularly where perceived severity is low and financial or social pressures to attend work may reduce compliance. WGS cannot yet replace conventional microbiological techniques during short, localised outbreaks due to delays receiving results.
Using electronic medication monitoring to guide differential management of tuberculosis patients at the community level in China
Authors: Wang Ni , Zhang Hui , Zhou Yang , Jiang Hui , Dai Bing , Sun Miaomiao , Li Ying , Kinter Amelia , Huang Fei 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
In settings such as China, where universal implementation of directly observed therapy (DOT) is not feasible, innovative approaches are needed to support patient adherence to TB treatment. The electronic medication monitor (EMM) is one of the digital technologies recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), but evidence from implementation studies remains sparse. In this study, we evaluated acceptance of the EMM among health care workers and patients while implementing the device for differential TB patient management at the community level.

Methods
Zhenjiang City in Jiangsu Province was purposively selected for the study. All participating patients were allowed to select their preferred management approach. If patients declined to use the EMM, DOT was offered. The EMM was designed to hold 1 month of anti-TB drugs for once-daily dosing of fixed-dose combination (FDC) tablets. Patient EMM records were monitored monthly by a physician; if 20 to 50% of doses were missed twice, or more than 50% of doses were missed once, the patient was switched to DOT. The four physicians and five nurses involved in the study at four designated hospitals were surveyed using a structured questionnaire to assess their acceptance of the EMM.

Results
From October 2017 through January 2018, 316 pulmonary TB patients were notified in the TB information management system, and 231 (73.1%) met the study enrollment criteria. Although 186 patients (80.5%) initially consented to use the EMM, 17 later refused to use it. Among the 169 patients who used the EMM, 15 (8.9%) were switched to DOT due to poor adherence, and the other 154 completed the treatment course. The median adherence rate was 99.3%. Surveyed health care workers from designated hospitals found the EMM acceptable, although eight of nine felt use of the device moderately increased their workload. However, the EMM program significantly reduced the workload of community physicians by reducing patient visits by 87.9%.

Conclusions
This study demonstrated the acceptability of using an indigenously developed EMM for differential management of TB patients at the community level. However, more operational research should be conducted before introducing and scaling the technology throughout China.
Geographic distribution and risk of upper urothelial carcinomas in Croatia, 2001–2011
Authors: Medunjanin Danira , Sonicki Zdenko , Vena John E. , Cvitkovic Ante , Robb Sara Wagner 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Strong associations exist between Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and upper urothelial carcinomas (UUCs). However, the common etiology between the two remains unclear and there are no studies to date that visualize UUC risks in Croatia. In Croatia, 14 villages in the southwestern part of Brod-Posavina County are considered endemic for BEN. The aim of this ecological study is to map cancer risks and describe the case distribution of UUCs in Croatia at the county level during 2001–2011.

Methods
A total of 608 incident cases from the Croatian National Cancer Registry were identified. Indirect standardization was employed to compute standardized incidence ratios (SIRs).

Results
Counties with SIRs greater than 1 were concentrated around the agricultural region of Slavonia and the coastal region of Dalmatia. However, only Brod-Posavina County and Vukovar-Srijem County had a statistically significant risk of UUC development, where there were 390 and 210% more UUC cases observed than expected, respectively. Only unique to Brod-Posavina County, females were at higher risk (SIR 4.96; 95% CI 3.59–6.34) of developing UUCs than males (SIR 3.03; 95% CI 2.04–4.01) when compared to their Croatian counterparts. Although Brod-Posavina County only made up 3.7% of the total Croatian population (as of 2011), it had the highest frequency of incident UUC cases after the capital City of Zagreb. No elevated cancer risks were noted in the City of Zagreb, even after stratifying by sex.

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that Brod-Posavina County had the highest cancer risk for UUCs, especially among females, when compared to Croatia as a whole during 2001–2011. Given that a majority of BEN patients develop associated UUCs, concurrent screening programs for UUCs and BEN should be considered not only in endemic areas of BEN but also the surrounding rural areas and amongst at-risk groups such as those undergoing hemodialysis, who frequently develop UUCs, to help clarify BEN-UUC associations by identifying common risk factors while standardizing disease estimates across endemic regions for BEN.
CSB affected on the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to platinum-based drugs through the global decrease of let-7 and miR-29
Authors: Yang Zhenbang , Liu Chunling , Wu Hongjiao , Xie Yuning , Gao Hui , Zhang Xuemei 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) plays a prominent role in the removal of DNA adducts induced by platinum-based chemotherapy reagents. Cockayne syndrome protein B (CSB), the master sensor of TCR, is also involved in the platinum resistant. Let-7 and miR-29 binding sites are highly conserved in the proximal 3′UTR of CSB.

Methods
We conducted immunohistochemisty to examine the expression of CSB in NSCLC. To determine whether let-7 family and miR-29 family directly interact with the putative target sites in the 3′UTR of CSB, we used luciferase reporter gene analysis. To detect the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells to platinum-based drugs, CCK analysis and apoptosis analysis were performed.

Results
We found that let-7 and miR-29 negatively regulate the expression of CSB by directly targeting to the 3′UTR of CSB. The endogenous CSB expression could be suppressed by let-7 and miR-29 in lung cancer cells. The suppression of CSB activity by endogenous let-7 and miR-29 can be robustly reversed by their sponges. Down-regulation of CSB induced apoptosis and increased the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to cisplatin and carboplatin drugs. Let-7 and miR-29 directly effect on cisplatin and carboplatin sensitivity in NSCLC.

Conclusions
In conclusion, the platinum-based drug resistant of lung cancer cells may involve in the regulation of let-7 and miR-29 to CSB.
Factors affecting the growth of infants diagnosed with cystic fibrosis by newborn screening
Authors: Patterson K. D. , Kyriacou T. , Desai M. , Carroll W. D. , Gilchrist F. J. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Newborn screening (NBS) for cystic fibrosis (CF) improves nutritional outcomes. Despite early dietetic intervention some children fail to grow optimally. We report growth from birth to 2 years in a cohort of children diagnosed with CF by NBS and identify the variables that influence future growth.

Methods
One hundred forty-four children were diagnosed with CF by the West Midlands Regional NBS laboratory between November 2007 and October 2014. All anthropometric measurements and microbiology results from the first 2 years were collated as was demographic and CF screening data. Classification modelling was used to identify the key variables in determining future growth.

Results
Complete data were available on 129 children. 113 (88%) were pancreatic insufficient (PI) and 16 (12%) pancreatic sufficient (PS). Mean birth weight (z score) was 3.17 kg (− 0.32). There was no significant difference in birth weight (z score) between PI and PS babies: 3.15 kg (− 0.36) vs 3.28 kg (− 0.05); p = 0.33. By the first clinic visit the difference was significant: 3.42 kg (− 1.39) vs 4.60 kg (− 0.48); p < 0.0001. Weight and height remained lower in PI infants in the first year of life. In the first 2 years of life, 18 (14%) infants failed to regain their birth weight z score. The median time to achieve a weight z score of − 2, − 1 and 0 was 18, 33 and 65 weeks respectively. The median times to reach the same z scores for height were 30, 51 and 90 weeks. Birth weight z score, change in weight z score from birth to first clinic, faecal elastase, isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, isolation of Staphylococcus aureus and sweat chloride were the variables identified by the classification models to predict weight and height in the first and second year of life.

Conclusions
Babies with CF have a lower birth weight than the healthy population. For those diagnosed with CF by NBS, the weight difference between PI and PS babies was not significantly different at birth but became so by the first clinic visit. The presence of certain factors, most already identifiable at the first clinic visit can be used to identify infant at increased risk of poor growth.
Is physician assessment of alcohol consumption useful in predicting risk of severe liver disease among people with HIV and HIV/HCV co-infection?
Authors:   for the ICONA Foundation Study Group, Shanyinde Milensu , Girardi Enrico , Puoti Massimo , De Luca Andrea , Sighinolfi Laura , Caterina Uberti Foppa , Caramello Pietro , Lampe Fiona C. , D’Arminio Monforte Antonella , Cozzi-Lepri Alessandro 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundAlcohol consumption is a known risk factor for liver disease in HIV-infected populations. Therefore, knowledge of alcohol consumption behaviour and risk of disease progression associated with hazardous drinking are important in the overall management of HIV disease. We aimed at assessing the usefulness of routine data collected on alcohol consumption in predicting risk of severe liver disease (SLD) among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) with or without hepatitis C infection seen for routine clinical care in Italy.MethodsWe included PLWHIV from two observational cohorts in Italy (ICONA and HepaICONA). Alcohol consumption was assessed by physician interview and categorized according to the National Institute for Food and Nutrition Italian guidelines into four categories: abstainer; moderate; hazardous and unknown. SLD was defined as presence of FIB4 > 3.25 or a clinical diagnosis of liver disease or liver-related death. Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between level of alcohol consumption at baseline and risk of SLD.ResultsAmong 9542 included PLWHIV the distribution of alcohol consumption categories was: abstainers 3422 (36%), moderate drinkers 2279 (23%), hazardous drinkers 637 (7%) and unknown 3204 (34%). Compared to moderate drinkers, hazardous drinking was associated with higher risk of SLD (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.03–2.03). After additionally controlling for mode of HIV transmission, HCV infection and smoking, the association was attenuated (aHR = 1.32; 95% CI: 0.94–1.85). There was no evidence that the association was stronger when restricting to the HIV/HCV co-infected population.ConclusionsUsing a brief physician interview, we found evidence for an association between hazardous alcohol consumption and subsequent risk of SLD among PLWHIV, but this was not independent of HIV mode of transmission, HCV-infection and smoking. More efforts should be made to improve quality and validity of data on alcohol consumption in cohorts of HIV/HCV-infected individuals.
Soybean plants expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis cry8-like gene show resistance to Holotrichia parallela
Authors: Qin Di , Liu Xiao-Yi , Miceli Cristina , Zhang Qi , Wang Pi-wu 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Cry8-like from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) encodes an insecticidal crystal (Cry) protein. Holotrichia parallela (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidae), commonly known as the dark black chafer, is a troublesome pest of soybean (Glycine max). To test whether cry8-like can confer resistance against H. parallela to soybean, we introduced cry8-like from the Bt strain HBF-18 into soybean cultivar Jinong 28.

Results
Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis demonstrated that cry8-like was expressed most highly in soybean leaves. In addition, Southern blot assays revealed that one copy of the integrated fragment was present in the transformed plants. Eight independent cry8-like transgenic lines were subsequently fed on by H. parallela. Under H. parallela feeding stress, the survival rates of the non-transgenic plants were 92% lower than those of the transgenic plants. The mortality rate of H. parallela increased when the larvae fed on the roots of T1 transgenic soybean plants. Moreover, the surviving larvae were deformed, and their growth was inhibited.

Conclusions
Collectively, our data suggest that transgenic soybean plants expressing the cry8-like gene are more resistant to H. parallela than non-transgenic plants and that transgenic expression of the cry8-like gene may represent a promising strategy for engineering pest tolerance. The events generated in this study could thus be utilized in soybean breeding programs.
Elevated serum levels of aminotransferases in relation to unhealthy foods intake: Tehran lipid and glucose study
Authors: Mirmiran Parvin , Gaeini Zahra , Bahadoran Zahra , Azizi Fereidoun 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Abnormal levels of liver enzymes, particularly aminotransferases, are prognostic features of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Considering the important role of dietary intakes in development of NAFLD, we aimed to determine possible association of unhealthy foods (fast foods, soft drinks, sweet and salty snacks) consumption with elevated levels of aminotransferases.

Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted within the framework of sixth phase of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (2014–2017), on 187 adult men and 249 adult women (19–70 y). Usual intakes of unhealthy foods (kcal/week) were measured using a validated semi-quantitative 147-items food frequency questionnaire. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of elevated aminotransferases in each tertile of energy-dense unhealthy foods.

Results
Mean age of participants was 44.44 ± 15.09 years, 43% of participants were men. Higher consumption of fast foods (> 11.39% kcal/week) was associated with elevated ALT to AST ratio (OR: 3.27; 95% CI: 1.90–5.63) and elevated ALT (OR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.57–4.76). Also, each 1 SD increased energy intakes from fast foods was related to increased chance of having elevated ALT and ALT to AST ratio by 35% (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.08–1.68, OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.10–1.66, respectively). There was no significant association between consumption of soft drinks, sweet or salty snacks and elevated aminotransferases.

Conclusions
Higher intakes of energy from fast foods seems to be associated with an elevated serum levels of ALT and ALT to AST ratio, as indicators of development of NAFLD.
Trajectories of Rehabilitation across Complex Environments (TRaCE): design and baseline characteristics for a prospective cohort study on spinal cord injury and acquired brain injury
Authors: Legg Melissa , Foster Michele , Parekh Sanjoti , Nielsen Mandy , Jones Rachel , Kendall Elizabeth , Fleming Jennifer , Geraghty Timothy 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Purpose
Trajectories of Rehabilitation across Complex Environments (TRaCE), a consented prospective cohort study, addresses a critical need to better understand access to the healthcare system after acute treatment and specialist inpatient rehabilitation for acquired disability. It is expected that this study will produce new knowledge on access to healthcare through the linkage of administrative, survey, and spatial datasets on the one cohort. This paper outlines the study design and baseline characteristics of the cohort.

Methods
The TRaCE cohort is comprised of 165 inpatients who are currently being followed up for 12 months after discharge from specialist rehabilitation for acquired brain injury (ABI) and spinal cord injury (SCI). This project combines a data linkage framework on health service use with a prospective survey on psychosocial wellbeing, geographical information systems to examine spatial accessibility to services, and qualitative interviews with a sub-cohort on experiences of service access.

Conclusion
Ultimately, TRaCE will have strong translational impact on strategies for more targeted interventions to improve the healthcare system and support individuals with acquired disabilities in the long-term.
Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in stunting prevalence in Latin America and the Caribbean countries: differences between quintiles and deciles
Authors: Flores-Quispe Maria del Pilar , Restrepo-Méndez María Clara , Maia Maria Fátima S. , Ferreira Leonardo Z. , Wehrmeister Fernando C. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is a renewed commitment of tackling the varied challenges of undernutrition, particularly stunting (SDG 2.2). Health equity is also a priority in the SDG agenda and there is an urgent need for disaggregated analyses to identify disadvantaged subgroups. We compared time trends in socioeconomic inequalities obtained through stratification by wealth quintiles and deciles for stunting prevalence.

Methods
We used 37 representative Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster surveys from nine Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries conducted between 1996 and 2016. Stunting in children under-5 years was assessed according to the 2006 WHO Child Growth Standards and stratified by wealth quintiles and deciles. Within-country socioeconomic inequalities were measured through concentration index (CIX) and slope index of inequality (SII). We used variance-weighted least squares regression to estimate annual changes.

Results
Eight out of nine countries showed a statistical evidence of reduction in stunting prevalence over time. Differences between extreme deciles were larger than between quintiles in most of countries and at every point in time. However, when using summary measures of inequality, there were no differences in the estimates of SII with the use of deciles and quintiles. In absolute terms, there was a reduction in socioeconomic inequalities in Peru, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Belize, Suriname and Colombia. In relative terms, there was an increase in socioeconomic inequalities in Peru, Bolivia, Haiti, Honduras and Guatemala.

Conclusions
LAC countries have made substantial progress in terms of reducing stunting,. Nevertheless, renewed actions are needed to improve equity. Particularly in those countries were absolute and relative inequalities did not change over time such Bolivia and Guatemala. Finer breakdowns in wealth distribution are expected to elucidate more differences between subgroups; however, this approach is relevant to cast light on those subgroups that are still lagging behind within populations and inform equity-oriented health programs and practices.
Combination of light-driven co-delivery of chemodrugs and plasmonic-induced heat for cancer therapeutics using hybrid protein nanocapsules
Authors: Villar-Alvarez E. , Cambón A. , Pardo A. , Arellano L. , Marcos A. V. , Pelaz B. , del Pino P. , Bouzas Mosquera A. , Mosquera V. X. , Almodlej A. , Prieto G. , Barbosa S. , Taboada P. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Improving the water solubility of hydrophobic drugs, increasing their accumulation in tumor tissue and allowing their simultaneous action by different pathways are essential issues for a successful chemotherapeutic activity in cancer treatment. Considering potential clinical application in the future, it will be promising to achieve such purposes by developing new biocompatible hybrid nanocarriers with multimodal therapeutic activity.

Results
We designed and characterised a hybrid nanocarrier based on human serum albumin/chitosan nanoparticles (HSA/chitosan NPs) able to encapsulate free docetaxel (DTX) and doxorubicin-modified gold nanorods (DOXO-GNRs) to simultaneously exploit the complementary chemotherapeutic activities of both antineoplasic compounds together with the plasmonic optical properties of the embedded GNRs for plasmonic-based photothermal therapy (PPTT). DOXO was assembled onto GNR surfaces following a layer-by-layer (LbL) coating strategy, which allowed to partially control its release quasi-independently release regarding DTX under the use of near infrared (NIR)-light laser stimulation of GNRs. In vitro cytotoxicity experiments using triple negative breast MDA-MB-231 cancer cells showed that the developed dual drug encapsulation approach produces a strong synergistic toxic effect to tumoral cells compared to the administration of the combined free drugs; additionally, PPTT enhances the cytostatic efficacy allowing cell toxicities close to 90% after a single low irradiation dose and keeping apoptosis as the main cell death mechanism.

Conclusions
This work demonstrates that by means of a rational design, a single hybrid nanoconstruct can simultaneously supply complementary therapeutic strategies to treat tumors and, in particular, metastatic breast cancers with good results making use of its stimuli-responsiveness as well as its inherent physico-chemical properties.