bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA-21 as a diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Qu Juan , Yang Jizhi , Chen Ming , Cui Lihong , Wang Tianxi , Gao Wei , Tian Jingjing , Wei Rongna 
Published: August 2019

Background: MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is one of the oncogenic miRNAs which may be a potential diagnostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: We systematically searched Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus from inception to August 15, 2018, and reference lists of identified primary studies. Two independent investigators extracted patient and study characteristics. The sensitivity and specificity of microRNA-21 for HCC detection and were analyzed with a random effect model. The area under summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to estimate overall test performance.
Results: A total of 515 HCC patients, and 338 healthy or chronic hepatitis controls from six published studies were enrolled in this meta-analysis. All articles were published in English with moderate-to-high quality. The overall pooled sensitivity and specificity were 85.2% (73.3% to 88.4%) and 79.2% (68.4% to 87.0%), respectively. The AUC area was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.85-0.91). The studies had moderate heterogeneity (I2=70.11%). None of the subgroups investigated-ethnicity, controls, sample source-could account for the heterogeneity.
Conclusion: MiR-21 is a helpful biomarker for early diagnosis of HCC. Nevertheless, the results of the test must be interpreted carefully in the context of medical history, erological tests and imaging examinations for HCC surveillance.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.685
How to cite this:Qu J, Yang J, Chen M, Cui L, Wang T, Gao W, et al. MicroRNA-21 as a diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(5):1466-1471. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.685
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Loss of Life Expectancy by 10 Years or More From Elevated Aspartate Aminotransferase: Finding Aspartate Aminotransferase a Better Mortality Predictor for All-Cause and Liver-Related than Alanine Aminotransferase
Authors: Xie Kunlin , Chen Chien-Hua , Tsai Shan-Pou , Lu Po-Jung , Wu Hong , Zeng Yong , Ye Yuanqing , Tu Huakang , Wen Christopher , Huang Maosheng , Zhang Yajie , Lee Jun-Han , Tsai Min-Kuang , Wen Chi-Pang , Wu Xifeng 
Published: August 2019

OBJECTIVES:
Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) are 2 commonly ordered liver function tests, and ALT has long been considered more liver-specific than AST. Between the 2, the one which is better in predicting liver or non–liver-related mortality remains unsettled.

METHODS:
The cohort, 416,122 adults, came from a self-paying comprehensive health surveillance program during 1994–2008 and was followed up till 2008. Mortality came from National Death Index, with 10,412 deaths identified. Hazard ratios (HRs), computed by Cox model, and life expectancy, by life table method, were presented for 5 levels of AST and ALT with elevated AST or ALT defined as ≥40 IU/L. Liver disease included liver cancer and other liver conditions.

RESULTS:
There were 3 times more elevated ALT (15.4%) than AST (5.7%). However, those with elevated AST had higher mortality for all-cause (HR = 2.44), for liver disease (HR = 27.2), and for liver cancer (HR = 47.6) than its ALT counterparts (HR = 1.69, 10.8, and 20.2, respectively). Elevated AST also lost more years of life expectancy (10.2) than those lost by ALT (5.2) and larger than most common risks. Elevated AST had increased mortality from all cancers (HR = 3.57), stroke (HR = 1.36), respiratory diseases (HR = 1.34), and injuries (HR = 1.82), other than just liver disease. All-cause mortality remained significantly increased, when high risk groups were excluded, such as frequent drinkers, hepatitis carriers, those died from nonmedical conditions, those died in the first 3 years, or advanced fibrosis index based on 4 factors or aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index. Results were consistent between those returned for second visits and those analyzed in initial visits.

DISCUSSION:
Those with elevated AST (≥40 IU/L) had life expectancy cut short by 10.2 years, doubled the number of years lost with elevated ALT. For all-cause and for liver-related mortality, AST was an important predictor, better than ALT.
Indigenous Cultural Practices and Natural Resources Conservation in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Authors: Eneji Chris-Valentine Ogar , Ogundu Charles Nnaji , Ojelade I. A. 
Published: August 2019

This study was designed to examine how indigenous socio-cultural practices contribute to the conservation and management of natural resources in Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria. The major purpose of this paper is to investigating the extent to which totemism (forbidden items), creation of protected areas (evil forest, sacred grooves, burial ground), shrines and sanctuaries as indigenous socio-cultural practices contribute to natural resources conservation in Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria. Three research questions and three commensurate null hypotheses were formulated for the study.. The population of the study consisted of farmers, carvers, traders, civil and public servants, conservation organizations among others. The multi-stage sampling techniques, was used to select a sample of 240 respondents from a population of about twelve thousand persons from 12 selected autonomous communities. A structured questionnaire divided into two sections with the modified four point Likert scale response option was the major instrument for data collection. The researcher with the help of trained community secretary administered the instruments and there was a 100% instrument return rate. Pie chart and simple percentage were used to answer the research questions, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis was used to test the relationship between the sub variables which makes up indigenous cultural practices and the conservation of natural resources at 0.05 significant levels at 238 degree of freedom. The result of the analyses of all the hypotheses were significant indicating that each of the sub-variable constituting indigenous cultural practices contributes to the conservation of natural resources in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. It was recommended among others that modern conservation activities should purposely design strategies to incorporate indigenous socio-cultural practices for the conservation of natural resources in the study area and beyond.
Address Forms and Honorifics Encoding in the Fur Society
Authors: Jumaa Abdallah Dawod Omer 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
The paper of Address Forms and Honorifics Encoding in the Fur Society is a trial study from the Fur native speaker to shed light on the Fur language and urge the Fur language native speakers to brain storm and reflect on their language to open the gate way to those who are interested in the Fur researches. It is a thorough survey of the address forms and honorifics used in the Fur society. The investigation is a thorough tour in the Fur culture of practicing their social and political relationships using the address terms and honorifics. This is depicted from the familial address forms and honorifics to embrace pre-greeting forms, system of personal names, lexical address forms, honorifics and address terms stem from marital relationships and using the personal pronoun as an address term besides the form hayi to the titles given after professions. Furthermore, the paper explains the titles and honorifics given to the rankings of ruling class and their fillers besides titles given to those who were achieving certain functions in the Sultanate.
Key words: the Fur; the Fur language; address forms; honorifics; the Sultanate
The effect of successful low-dose immunotherapy ascertained by provocation neutralization on lymphocytic calcium ion influx following electric field exposure
Authors: Puri Basant K. , Segal Daniel R. , Monro Jean A. 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Background
Low-dose immunotherapy affects baseline levels of intracellular calcium. However, the effect of background electric fields is yet to be ascertained. The aim of this study was to test the following hypotheses: desensitization by low-dose immunotherapy is associated with reduced calcium ion influx during electric field exposure; the effect of low-dose immunotherapy on intracellular calcium ion concentration does not depend on electric field exposure; and the intracellular calcium ion concentration is amplified by electric field exposure.

Methods
The experimental design was balanced and orthogonal. Intracellular lymphocytic calcium ion concentrations were assayed in 47 patients, following incubation with picogram amounts of 12 test allergens, using a cell-permeable calcium-sensing ratiometric fluorescent dye and fluorescence spectroscopy, both at baseline and following successful provocation neutralization treatment with low-dose immunotherapy. Duplicates were also exposed to an electric field which replicated the frequency spectrum measured in a non-Faraday shielded room.

Results
A significant or trend-level main effect was found for low-dose immunotherapy for: benzoate; formaldehyde; metabisulfite; natural gas; nitrosamines; organophosphates; salicylate; azo-dyes and precursors; nickel; and petrol (gasoline) exhaust. Significant or trend-level main effects for electric field exposure were observed for: formaldehyde; mercury (inorganic); natural gas; nickel; nitrosamines; petrol exhaust; salicylate; benzoate; and metabisulfite. There was no evidence of a statistical interaction between these two factors. Electric field exposure was associated with a higher intracellular calcium ion concentration.

Conclusion
There was support for all three hypotheses. The results suggest that patients may experience increased sensitivity to allergens as a result of exposure to everyday electric fields.
Celecoxib, ibuprofen, and indomethacin alleviate depression-like behavior induced by interferon-alfa in mice
Authors: Mesripour Azadeh , Shahnooshi Shahrzad , Hajhashemi Valiollah 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Background
Interferon-α (IFNα) therapy causes psychiatric side effects, including depression that may result in poor compliance of therapy. It is important to find alternative therapies for the prevention of IFNα induced depression. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been useful in depressive disorder. Therefore the effects of celecoxib, ibuprofen, and indomethacin were evaluated following IFNα-induced depression in mice.

Methods
Male albino mice weighing 26 ± 2 g were used. Depression was induced by IFNα (16 × 105 IU/kg, SC) for six consecutive days. Animals were first subject to the locomotor test, then the splash test and finally the forced swimming test (FST) on the 7th day. The NSAIDs were administered (IP) either one single dose before the test, or simultaneously with IFNα.

Results
locomotor activity was only impaired by ibuprofen high dose (75 mg/kg), thus it was not further evaluated. Following IFNα therapy depression-like behaviors were observed; significant changes during the splash test (grooming time 24 ± 7 sec vs. control 63 ± 7 sec), the FST (immobility time 166  ± 15 sec vs. control 128  ± 6 sec), and sucrose preference reduced to 64 ± 0.8%. The NSAIDs noticeably reduced the immobility time in FST, while grooming time was increased. Celecoxib and indomethacin single doses were effective while ibuprofen showed better antidepressant effects when it was administered along with IFNα.

Conclusions
The NSAIDs were able to prevent IFNα induced depression in mice. NSAIDs administration with IFNα does not interfere with clinical benefit effects of IFNα and they could also be useful to prevent IFNα psychiatric side effects, thus further clinical trials are suggested.
Liability for the Violation of Human Rights and Labour Standards in Global Supply Chains: A Common Law Perspective
Authors: Cabrelli David 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWhere there have been violations of labour standards or human rights by organisations operating overseas, but such entities are either owned or controlled by a transnational corporation (‘TNC’) based in a Common Law system such as England and Wales, the current position in company, tort, contract and private international law is that the right of injured overseas workers (of those overseas entities) or citizens to recover the losses they have suffered from TNC is negligible to zero. This is startling in light of policies underpinning product liability and private laws. The question is whether modifications of existing private and company law doctrines could facilitate a change in the position whereby transnational corporations are held liable. Other possibilities for addressing the TNC accountability gap are also discussed.
The Law and Economics of Tort Liability for Human Rights Violations in Global Supply Chains
Authors: Geistfeld Mark A 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe human rights of foreign workers in global supply chains are routinely violated, yet the problem so far has largely evaded a legal solution. Economic analysis shows why domestic tort liability can partially address this problem. Many consumers in developed countries have a lower willingness-to-pay for products produced by global supply chains that systemically subject foreign workers to egregiously dangerous working conditions in gross violation of their human rights. This attribute of consumer demand provides a basis for subjecting the domestic chain leader to domestic tort liability for the bodily injuries suffered by these foreign workers, including those employed by independent suppliers. Chain leaders, like other product sellers, are obligated to warn about foreseeable safety risks that are not known by consumers and would be material to their decision about whether to purchase or use a product. The tort duty also requires sellers to instruct consumers about the ways in which the purchase or use of the product might foreseeably harm third parties. A domestic seller that is the chain leader of a global supply chain would breach this duty by not warning domestic consumers that the product is produced by foreign workers who are systemically subjected to working conditions that are so unsafe as to amount to a gross violation of their human rights. Because the purchase of the product foreseeably exposes foreign workers to this ongoing risk of physical harm, they are protected by the tort duty and can recover for its breach. Causation can be established by the logic of the breached tort duty. If consumers had been warned that the product is produced in such a systemically unsafe work environment, a substantial number of them would not have purchased it – they would instead have purchased the same product at the higher price necessary to protect the foreign workers from these ongoing safety violations. By distorting consumer demand in this manner, the domestic product seller’s failure to warn domestic consumers of these human rights violations in the global supply chain proximately caused injury to these foreign workers, entitling them to compensation. By remedying these human rights violations, domestic chain leaders would satisfy the reasonable expectations of domestic consumers who have altruistic preferences to rescue foreign workers from extreme dangers within the production process. Tort law cannot redress the full range of human rights violations in global supply chains, but consumer demand provides a sound basis for tort liability that addresses a limited, though important component of the problem.
The Swiss Responsible Business Initiative and the Counter-Proposal
Authors: Werro Franz 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBoth the Swiss Responsible Business popular initiative and the parliamentary counter-proposal suggest applying principals’ liability to corporate group relationships for the wrongdoing of their subsidiaries. This is in line with a clear domestic and international trend. Neither draft extends the applicable liability parameters; instead, they simply give them a concrete expression, and even limit the potential scope of tort liability by requiring human rights or environmental law violations. The liability rule anchored is thus in effect rather modest if not timid. Besides giving the defendant the possibility to escape liability by bringing an exculpatory proof – just like art 55 Swiss Code of Obligations (OR), the rule imposes liability on parent companies only for wrong done by subsidiaries they effectively control. Accordingly, relative to international trends, Switzerland has thus opted for a moderate solution. Nonetheless, the Council of States, on 12 March 2019, refused to consider the counter-proposal put forward by the National Council. On 13 June 2019 however, the National Council reacted to this refusal by deciding with an overwhelming majority to maintain its counter-proposal. The Council of States will have to deal with the consequences of this decision later this year. The chances of a parliamentary compromise solution are now higher and that of a popular vote lower.
Protocols for early discharging of premature infants: an empirical assessment on safety and savings
Authors: Daicampi Chiara , Comoretto Rosanna I. , Soriani Nicola , Lolli Elisabetta , Boschetto Stefania , Cecchin Micol , Marinetto Anna , Pagano Eva , Perissinotto Egle , Baraldi Eugenio , Gregori Dario 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Background
Preterm newborns may be discharged when clinical conditions are stable. Several criteria for early discharge have been proposed in the literature. This study carried out the first quantitative comparison of their impact in terms of hospitalization savings, safety and costs.

Methods
This study was based on the clinical histories of 213 premature infants born in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Padova University Hospital between 2013 and 2014. Seventeen early discharge criteria were drawn from the literature and retrospectively applied to these data, and computation of hospitalization savings, safety and costs implied by each criterion was carried out.

Results
Among the criteria considered, average gains ranged from 1.1 to 10.3 hospital days and between 0.3 and 1.1 fewer infections per discharged infant. Criteria that led to saving more hospital days had higher cost-effectiveness in terms of crisis and infection, and they spared infants from more infections. However, episodes of apnea and bradycardia were detected after the potential early discharge date for all criteria, with a mean number of episodes numbering between 0.3 and 1.4.

Conclusion
The results highlight a clear trade-off between days saved and health risks for infants, with potential consequences for health care costs.
Cervical length at 31–34 weeks of gestation: transvaginal vs. transperineal ultrasonographic approach
Authors: Tsakiridis Ioannis , Dagklis Themistoklis , Mamopoulos Apostolos , Gerede Angeliki , Athanasiadis Apostolos 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Objectives
To investigate the correlation between transperineal (TP) and transvaginal (TV) ultrasonography in the measurement of cervical length (CL) in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Methods
In this prospective study, CL measurements were conducted in women between 31 and 34 weeks of gestation by both the TP and TV approaches. A comparison of the measurements was made between the two techniques. The Pearson correlation coefficient, the paired samples t-test and Bland-Altman plot were used.

Results
In total, 240 women participated in the study. The CL was successfully measured transvaginally in all cases and transperineally in 229 (95.4%) of the cases. The mean TV CL was 32.8 ± 8.2 mm and the mean TP CL was 32.5 ± 8.1 mm. In the 229 cases with paired measurements, the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.964. No significant differences in mean CL were identified between the two methods (t = 1.805; P = 0.072). In the Bland-Altman plot, the difference between the paired means was 0.26 mm and the 95% tolerance interval for any given paired observation (TV CL–TP CL) was −4.05 to 4.57 mm.

Conclusion
The findings of this study suggest that at 31–34 weeks of gestation the cervix can be visualized adequately by both the TV and TP sonography in about 95% of cases. The TP CL measurements demonstrate a close correlation with the TV measurements. TP ultrasound is a feasible alternative, especially in cases where the use of the vaginal transducer should be minimized or is not acceptable by women.
Immunology markers that can be predictive for the diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Sur Lucia M. , Silaghi Ciprian , Colceriu Marius C. , Sur Daniel G. , Aldea Cornel , Sur Genel , Floca Emanuela , Tataru Alexandru , Lupan Iulia , Samasca Gabriel 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to investigate the implications of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the association with uveitis and the favorable evolution of the disease.

Methods
We followed 45 pediatric patients suffering from JIA, according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR), for a period of 2 years. ANAs were followed through immunofluorescence methods using a high-performance immunofluorescence automatic Helios device.

Results
A total of 15 of the ANA-positive patients presented an oligoarticular form of the disease, eight of them presented a polyarticular form of the disease and two of them presented a systemic form. The most severe forms have associated iridocyclitis. ANA-positive patients presented an earlier onset of disease in comparison with ANA-negative ones. ANA-positive patients from different ILAR categories had similar characteristics of the disease such as onset age (earlier), higher prevalence in females and the presence of asymmetric arthritis or iridocyclitis.

Conclusions
ANA may be an important marker for JIA and association with iridocyclitis. Following ANA titer in evolution might be a criterion for assessing the evolution of the disease. The association between positive ANA, oligoarticular JIA, iridocyclitis and a 2- to 4-year-old onset is common.
Crystal structure of [aqua[2,2′-(1,2-phenylene)bis(1H-imidazole-4-carboxylato-5-carboxy)-κ4
N
3,N3′,O
4,O4′] zinc(II)] monohydrate, C16H10N4O9Zn⋅H2O
Authors: Wang Wen-Bin , Shi Xin-Chang , Li Ying-Ying , Cheng Fang-Rong 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
C16H12N4O10Zn, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 18.6618(10) Å, b = 13.5466(6) Å, c = 14.7722(8) Å, β = 108.481(2)°, V = 3541.9(3) Å3, Z = 8, R
gt(F) = 0.0392, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1061, T = 293(2) K.
Crystal structure of catena-poly{[μ2-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane]dichloridocadmium(II)}, C26H24CdCl2P2
Authors: Tan Yee Seng , Tiekink Edward R.T. 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
C26H24CdCl2P2, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 13.2003(1) Å, b = 11.4655(1) Å, c = 16.7390(1) Å, β = 100.955(1)°, V = 2487.25(3) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0173, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0451, T = 100(2) K.
Crystal structure of ethyl 2-methyl-4-(5-methylthiophen-2-yl)-5-oxo-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroquinoline-3-carboxylate, C18H21NO3S
Authors: Luo Han-Sheng , Liu Yao 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
C18H21NO3S, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 7.2345(18) Å, b = 10.842(3) Å, c = 11.573(3) Å, α = 69.174(4)°, β = 77.335(4)°, γ = 79.555(4)°. V = 822.5(4) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0471, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1419, T = 296(2) K.
The co-crystal structure of (17b)-estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17diol – acetamide (1/1), a Z′ = 4 structure, C20H29NO3
Authors: Gong Xiao F. , Song Tao , Ning Li F. , Chen Xiao F. , Xu Juan , Li Peng , Gou Ying Z. , Wang Hui P. 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
C20H29NO3, monoclinic, P21 (no. 4), a = 16.167(3) Å, b = 9.3424(19) Å, c = 25.656(5) Å, β = 108.27(3)°, V = 3679.8(14) Å3, Z = 8, R
gt(F) = 0.1030, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.2296, T = 153(2) K.