bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of seasonal malaria chemoprevention in three regions of Togo: a population-based longitudinal study from 2013 to 2020
Authors: Bakai Tchaa A. , Thomas Anne , Iwaz Jean , Atcha-Oubou Tinah , Tchadjobo Tchassama , Khanafer Nagham , Rabilloud Muriel , Voirin Nicolas 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) in areas of high seasonal transmission. Though implemented since 2013, the effectiveness of SMC in Togo was never evaluated.

Methods
This study concerned routine data from 2013 to 2020 mass SMC campaigns for children under five in all health facilities of three Regions of Togo. Treatment coverage, reasons for non-treatment, and SMC-attributable adverse reactions were analysed per year and treatment round. Random effect logistic models estimated SMC effectiveness per health district, year, and treatment round.

Results
The overall coverage was 98% (7,971,877 doses for 8,129,668 children). Contraindication was the main reason for non-administration. Over the study period, confirmed malaria cases decreased from 11,269 (1st round of 2016) to 1395 (4th round of 2020). Only 2,398 adverse reactions were reported (prevalence: 3/10,000), but no severe Lyell syndrome or Stevens-Johnson-type skin reaction. Compared to 2016, malaria prevalence decrease was estimated at 22.6% in 2017 (p < 0.001) and 75% in 2020 (p < 0.001). SMC effectiveness ranged from 76.6% (2nd round) to 96.2% (4th round) comparison with the 1st round.

Conclusions
SMC reduced significantly malaria cases among children under five. The results reassure all actors and call for effort intensification to reach the WHO goals for 2030.
Development and application of a novel model to predict the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among lean pre-diabetics with normal blood lipid levels
Authors: Zhu Wentao , Shi Pei , Fu Jiwei , Liang An , Zheng Ting , Wu Xiaoping , Yuan Songsong 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with type 2 diabetes, but its relationship with pre-diabetes is still unknown. This study aims to determine whether pre-diabetes is associated with NAFLD, followed by establishing a NAFLD predictive nomogram for lean Chinese pre-diabetics with normal blood lipids.

Methods
Datasets from 3 previous studies, 1 (2774 pre-diabetics with normal blood lipids for training, 925 for validation), 2 (546 for longitudinal internal validation, post-5-year follow-up), and 3 (501 from another institution for external validation), were used. Kaplan-Meier determined cumulative NAFLD hazard, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis uncovered its risk factors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis constructed the nomogram, followed by validation with receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration plot, and decision curve analyses.

Results
NAFLD incidence increased with diabetes progression, and pre-diabetics had higher cumulative risk versus non-diabetics, even for lean individuals with normal blood lipids. Six risk factors were identified: body mass index, total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase:aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride:high density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose and γ-glutamyl-transferase. The nomogram yielded areas under the curve of 0.808, 0.785, 0.796 and 0.832, for respectively, training, validation, longitudinal internal validation, and external validation, which, along with calibration curve values of p = 0.794, 0.875, 0.854 and 0.810 for those 4 datasets and decision curve analyses, validated its clinical utility.

Conclusions
Lean pre-diabetic Chinese with normal blood lipids have higher NAFLD risk versus non-diabetics. The nomogram is able to predict NAFLD among such individuals, with high discrimination, enabling its use for early detection and intervention.
Engineering magnetic nano-manipulators for boosting cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Yan Bin , Wang Siyao , Liu Chen , Wen Nana , Li Hugang , Zhang Yihan , Wang Hao , Xi Ziyi , Lv Yi , Fan Haiming , Liu Xiaoli 
Published: December 2022

AbstractCancer immunotherapy has shown promising therapeutic results in the clinic, albeit only in a limited number of cancer types, and its efficacy remains less than satisfactory. Nanoparticle-based approaches have been shown to increase the response to immunotherapies to address this limitation. In particular, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a powerful manipulator are an appealing option for comprehensively regulating the immune system in vivo due to their unique magnetically responsive properties and high biocompatibility. This review focuses on assessing the potential applications of MNPs in enhancing tumor accumulation of immunotherapeutic agents and immunogenicity, improving immune cell infiltration, and creating an immunotherapy-sensitive environment. We summarize recent progress in the application of MNP-based manipulators to augment the efficacy of immunotherapy, by MNPs and their multiple magnetically responsive effects under different types of external magnetic field. Furthermore, we highlight the mechanisms underlying the promotion of antitumor immunity, including magnetically actuated delivery and controlled release of immunotherapeutic agents, tracking and visualization of immune response in real time, and magnetic regulation of innate/adaptive immune cells. Finally, we consider perspectives and challenges in MNP-based immunotherapy.
High Hepcidin expression predicts poor prognosis in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Tang Yuting , Ge Shengdong , Zheng Xiao , Zheng Jiejiao 
Published: December 2022

AbstractClear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a growing public health challenge worldwide. Hepcidin antimicrobial peptide (HAMP) is differentially expressed in various tumors. However, the roles and functions of HAMP in ccRCC remain unclear. In the present study, we integrated systematic bioinformatics approaches to investigate the roles and functions of HAMP and its association with immune cell infiltration in ccRCC. Compared with paracancerous tissue, HAMP expression was significantly upregulated in ccRCC patients. Meanwhile, we found good diagnostic performance of HAMP for ccRCC patients and its close associations with the clinicopathological features of ccRCC patients. In addition, we found that HAMP is closely related to multiple immune pathways and positively correlated with various immune cells. HAMP was a significant independent predictor for ccRCC. High expression of HAMP was associated with worse clinical prognosis and more immune cell infiltration in ccRCC patients. HAMP may offer potential as a biomarker to predict prognosis and the clinical treatment outcome of ccRCC patients.
Barium Sulfate Deposition in the Gastrointestinal Tract: Review of the literature
Authors: Zaccarini Daniel J. , Lubin David , Sanyal Soma , Abraham Jerrold L. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Barium sulfate is utilized for imaging of the gastrointestinal tract and is usually not deposited within the wall of the intestine. It is thought that mucosal injury may allow barium sulfate to traverse the mucosa, and allow deposition to occur uncommonly. Most pathology textbooks describe the typical barium sulfate deposition pattern as small granular accumulation in macrophages, and do not describe the presence of larger rhomboid crystals. This review will summarize the clinical background, radiographic, gross, and microscopic features of barium sulfate deposition in the gastrointestinal tract. A review of the PubMed database was performed to identify all published cases of barium sulfate deposition in the gastrointestinal tract that have been confirmed by pathologic examination.

Conclusions
A review of the literature shows that the most common barium sulfate deposition pattern in the gastrointestinal tract is finely granular deposition (30 previously described cases), and less commonly large rhomboid crystals are seen (19 cases) with or without finely granular deposition. The fine granules are typically located in macrophages, while rhomboid crystals are usually extracellular. There are various methods to support that the foreign material is indeed barium sulfate, however, only a minority of studies perform ancillary testing. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) can be useful for definitive confirmation. This review emphasizes the importance of recognizing both patterns of barium sulfate deposition, and the histologic differential diagnosis.
Calibration and evaluation of the relative biological effectiveness for carbon-ion radiotherapy in a new relative to a clinically applied treatment planning system
Authors: Wang Weiwei , Huang Zhijie , Sun Wei , Wang Xufei , Zhao Jingfang , Shen Hao 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
The study objective was to validate the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) in RayStation for carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) using the Syngo treatment planning system as reference.

Methods
Local effect model I was established in RayStation (Ray-LEM) with the same parameters as in LEM I in Syngo (Syngo-LEM). Three cube plans covering most of the tumors treated at our center were generated with Syngo-LEM. Ray-LEM re-calculated the Syngo plans and compared the RBEs to the Syngo counterparts. The results showed that RayStation RBE was smaller than Syngo RBE. To ensure that Ray-LEM reproduced Syngo RBE, the observed deviations were used to scale the maximum RBE (RBEmax) in Ray-LEM. After this calibration, we further compared the RayStation RBE to Syngo RBE using additional plans in both homogeneous phantoms and patients, to ensure that the calibrated Ray-LEM reproduced Syngo RBE even with more complex planning features.

Results
The calibration increased the RBEmax by 2.3% to raise the Ray-LEM RBE. The target mean RBE deviations in the phantom evaluation plans were median: 0.0 (minimum: − 1.1 to maximum: 0.7) %, and the target mean RBE deviations of the clinical target volumes of 16 patient cases were − 0.4 (− 1.5 to 0.2) %.

Conclusions
The residual RBE difference between RayStation and Syngo was found to be ≤ 1.0%. Thus, we can propose to use RayStation for clinical CIRT treatment planning. However, the potential differences due to the absorbed beam model warrants further exploration.
The role of the sirtuin family in cartilage and osteoarthritis: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets
Authors: Sun Kaibo , Wu Yuangang , Zeng Yi , Xu Jiawen , Wu Limin , Li Mingyang , Shen Bin 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is mainly characterized by the progressive destruction of articular cartilage. Mounting studies have revealed that disruption of extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis, aberrant chondrocyte metabolism, an increase in the number of senescent chondrocytes and abnormal activation of cell death such as chondrocyte apoptosis and autophagy, are the crucial steps in OA development. Additionally, mitochondrial dysfunction also participates in the abovementioned processes and is the key element of OA pathogenesis. Sirtuin (SIRT) is a family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent protein deacetylases that can actively participate and primarily regulate chondrocyte function in OA pathophysiological processes. Some members of the SIRT family located in mitochondria can regulate mitochondrial function and mediate mitochondrial homeostasis via deacetylation to protect chondrocytes. In addition, SIRT can maintain ECM homeostasis, regulate chondrocyte metabolism, inhibit chondrocyte apoptosis and autophagy, and prevent chondrocyte senescence in cartilage by exerting its deacetylation activity. However, the molecular mechanism of the SIRT family against the onset and development of OA remains poorly elucidated. In this review, we will discuss the potential protective role of SIRT in the progression of OA and summarize several sirtuin-activating molecules as well as their potential therapeutic applications for OA.
Alpha-synuclein: a pathological factor with Aβ and tau and biomarker in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Shim Kyu Hwan , Kang Min Ju , Youn Young Chul , An Seong Soo A. , Kim SangYun 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBackgroundAlpha-synuclein (α-syn) is considered the main pathophysiological protein component of Lewy bodies in synucleinopathies. α-Syn is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP), and several types of structural conformations have been reported, depending on environmental factors. Since IDPs may have distinctive functions depending on their structures, α-syn can play different roles and interact with several proteins, including amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders.Main bodyIn previous studies, α-syn aggregates in AD brains suggested a close relationship between AD and α-syn. In addition, α-syn directly interacts with Aβ and tau, promoting mutual aggregation and exacerbating the cognitive decline. The interaction of α-syn with Aβ and tau presented different consequences depending on the structural forms of the proteins. In AD, α-syn and tau levels in CSF were both elevated and revealed a high positive correlation. Especially, the CSF α-syn concentration was significantly elevated in the early stages of AD. Therefore, it could be a diagnostic marker of AD and help distinguish AD from other neurodegenerative disorders by incorporating other biomarkers.ConclusionThe overall physiological and pathophysiological functions, structures, and genetics of α-syn in AD are reviewed and summarized. The numerous associations of α-syn with Aβ and tau suggested the significance of α-syn, as a partner of the pathophysiological roles in AD. Understanding the involvements of α-syn in the pathology of Aβ and tau could help address the unresolved issues of AD. In particular, the current status of the CSF α-syn in AD recommends it as an additional biomarker in the panel for AD diagnosis.
Effects of non-modifiable risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease on intracortical myelin content
Authors: Fernandez-Alvarez Marina , Atienza Mercedes , Cantero Jose L. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBackgroundNon-modifiable risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have lifelong effects on cortical integrity that could be mitigated if identified at early stages. However, it remains unknown whether cortical microstructure is affected in older individuals with non-modifiable AD risk factors and whether altered cortical tissue integrity produces abnormalities in brain functional networks in this AD-risk population.MethodsUsing relative T1w/T2w (rT1w/T2w) ratio maps, we have compared tissue integrity of normal-appearing cortical GM between controls and cognitively normal older adults with either APOE4 (N= 50), with a first-degree family history (FH) of AD (N= 52), or with the co-occurrence of both AD risk factors (APOE4+FH) (N= 35). Additionally, individuals with only one risk factor (APOE4 or FH) were combined into one group (N= 102) and compared with controls. The same number of controls matched in age, sex, and years of education was employed for each of these comparisons. Group differences in resting state functional connectivity (rs-FC) patterns were also investigated, using as FC seeds those cortical regions showing significant changes in rT1w/T2w ratios.ResultsOverall, individuals with non-modifiable AD risk factors exhibited significant variations in rT1w/T2w ratios compared to controls, being APOE4 and APOE4+FH at opposite ends of a continuum. The co-occurrence of APOE4 and FH was further accompanied by altered patterns of rs-FC.ConclusionsThese findings may have practical implications for early detection of cortical abnormalities in older populations with APOE4 and/or FH of AD and open new avenues to monitor changes in cortical tissue integrity associated with non-modifiable AD risk factors.
Hemolysin function of Listeria is related to biofilm formation: transcriptomics analysis
Authors: Li Ruidan , Liang Qian , Tian Sicheng , Zhang Yunwen , Liu Sijing , Ou Qian , Chen Zhaobin , Wang Chuan 
Published: December 2022

AbstractListeriolysin O (LLO) is the main virulence protein of Listeria monocytogenes (LM), that helps LM escape lysosomes. We previously found that the cellular immune response elicited by L.ivanovii (LI) is weaker than that elicited by LM. We speculated that this may be related to the function of ivanolysin O (ILO). Here, we constructed hemolysin gene deletion strain, LIΔilo, and a modified strain, LIΔilo::hly, in which ilo was replaced by hly. Prokaryotic transcriptome sequencing was performed on LI, LIΔilo, and LIΔilo::hly. Transcriptome differences between the three strains were compared, and genes and pathways with significant differences between the three strains were analyzed. Prokaryotic transcriptome sequencing results revealed the relationship of ilo to the ribosome, quorum sensing, and phosphotransferase system (PTS) pathways, etc. LIΔilo exhibited attenuated biofilm formation ability compared to LI. Biofilm formation was significantly recovered or even increased after replenishing hly. After knocking out ilo, the relative expression levels of some virulence genes, including sigB, prfA, actA, smcL, and virR, were up-regulated compared to LI. After replenishing hly, these genes were down-regulated compared to LIΔilo. The trend and degree of such variation were not completely consistent when cultured in media containing only monosaccharides or disaccharides. The results confirmed that hemolysin is related to some important biological properties of Listeria, including biofilm formation and virulence gene expression levels. This is the first comprehensive study on ILO function at the transcriptomic level and the first evidence of a relationship between Listeria hemolysin and biofilm formation.
Dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.) suppresses the decrease in physical strength and exercise capacity caused by insufficient liver function
Authors: Zhang Yinglong , Li Bo , Wu Guangliang 
Published: December 2022

AbstractIn this study, D-galactose was used to establish a model of liver dysfunction caused by oxidative stress in mice, and the effect of dandelion on improving the exercise capacity of mice with liver dysfunction was observed and its mechanism was expounded. This study examined the role and mechanism of dandelion in improving running ability, swimming endurance, blood biochemical indices, histopathological changes, and tissue mRNA expression changes. The animal results showed that dandelion extended the running and swimming time to exhaustion in liver dysfunctional mice, reduced the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), blood lactic acid (BLA) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver, and increased hepatic glycogen (HG) and muscle glycogen (MG) levels as well as uperoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities. Histopathological observations suggested that dandelion alleviated lesions in the liver. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis results showed that dandelion downregulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) mRNA expression and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), and catalase (CAT) expression in the liver and skeletal muscle of the liver-dysfunctional mice. In contrast, dandelion downregulated syncytin-1 mRNA expression in skeletal muscle of mice with a dysregulated liver. The positional analysis showed that the main components of dandelion were gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, rutin, myricitrin, isoquercitrin, isochlorogenic acid A, and luteolin.
Digital PCR-based evaluation of nucleic acid extraction kit performance for the co-purification of cell-free DNA and RNA
Authors: Deleu Jill , Schoofs Kathleen , Decock Anneleen , Verniers Kimberly , Roelandt Sofie , Denolf Angie , Verreth Joke , De Wilde Bram , Van Maerken Tom , De Preter Katleen , Vandesompele Jo 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Blood plasma, one of the most studied liquid biopsies, contains various molecules that have biomarker potential for cancer detection, including cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA). As the vast majority of cell-free nucleic acids in circulation are non-cancerous, a laboratory workflow with a high detection sensitivity of tumor-derived nucleic acids is a prerequisite for precision oncology. One way to meet this requirement is by the combined analysis of cfDNA and cfRNA from the same liquid biopsy sample. So far, no study has systematically compared the performance of cfDNA and cfRNA co-purification to increase sensitivity.

Results
First, we set up a framework using digital PCR (dPCR) technology to quantify cfDNA and cfRNA from human blood plasma in order to compare cfDNA/cfRNA co-purification kit performance. To that end, we optimized two dPCR duplex assays, designed to quantify both cfDNA and cfRNA with the same assays, by ensuring that primers and probes are located within a highly abundant exon. Next, we applied our optimized workflow to evaluate the co-purification performance of two manual and two semi-automated methods over a range of plasma input volumes (0.06–4 mL). Some kits result in higher nucleic acid concentrations in the eluate, while consuming only half of the plasma volume. The combined nucleic acid quantification systematically results in higher nucleic acid concentrations as compared to a parallel quantification of cfDNA and cfRNA in the eluate.

Conclusions
We provide a framework to evaluate the performance of cfDNA/cfRNA co-purification kits and have tested two manual and two semi-automated co-purification kits in function of the available plasma input amount and the intended use of the nucleic acid eluate. We demonstrate that the combined quantification of cfDNA and cfRNA has a benefit compared to separate quantification. We foresee that the results of this study are instrumental for clinical applications to help increase mutation detection sensitivity, allowing improved disease detection and monitoring.