bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Racial disparities in conditional survival of patients with bladder cancer: a population-based study
Authors: Liu Wei , Xiong Jie , Wang Honghao , Li Shuo , Lei Zhentao , Jiang Lili , Cao Jin , Yang Lin , Guo Hongfeng , Gao Qiang , Wang Shenghan , Zhang Bao 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Traditional estimates can only provide static predictions of cancer outcomes and cannot assess the evolving effect of race on patient survival. This study aims to reveal the dynamic survival of patients with bladder cancer and to explore the evolving effect of race on patient prognosis.

Methods
Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry, 99,590 white, 6,036 African American, and 4,685 Asian/Pacific Islander (API) patients with bladder cancer were identified. Conditional cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates, which could reflect the dynamic survival prediction of cancer patients, represented the primary outcomes, and were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier algorithm. The evolving effect of race on patient survival was evaluated by multivariable Cox regression in combination with conditional survival (CS) estimates.

Results
The 5-year CSS for African American patients who had survived 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years after definitive therapy improved from the baseline calculation by + 5.8 (84.4%), + 9.5 (87.4%), + 12.8 (90.0%), + 14.4 (91.3%), and + 14.7% (91.5%), respectively. The increasing trend also held for overall white and API patients, and for all patient subsets when CS was calculated according to different levels of sex, age, and disease stage. African Americans, despite having the worst survival at baseline, could have CSS comparable to their white and API counterparts after 4 years of survivorship. In addition, the risk of death for African Americans tended to decrease with increasing survival, and the risk was no longer significantly different from that of whites after 4 years of survival.

Conclusions
While having the worst initial predicted outcomes, African Americans may eventually achieve comparable survival to white and API patients given several years of survivorship. As patient survival increases, African American race may lose its role as an indicator of poorer prognosis.
Predictors of applicant pool racial and ethnic diversity among physician assistant education programs: a national cross-sectional cohort study
Authors: Honda Trenton J. , Sturges Daytheon , Mills Daphne C. , Yuen Cynthia X. , Chitwood Ryan W. , Rodríguez José E. 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Numerous studies have demonstrated that the increasing racial and ethnic diversity of the US population benefits from access to healthcare providers from similarly diverse backgrounds. Physician assistant (PA) education programs have striven to increase the diversity of the profession, which is predominantly non-Hispanic white, by focusing on admitting students from historically excluded populations. However, strategies such as holistic admissions are predicated on the existence of racially and ethnically diverse applicant pools. While studies have examined correlates of matriculation into a medical education program, this study looks earlier in the pipeline and investigates whether applicant – not matriculant – pool diversity varies among PA programs with different characteristics.

Methods
Data were drawn from the 2017–2018 Central Application Service for PAs admissions cycle. Applications to programs with pre-professional tracks and applicants missing race/ethnicity data were excluded, resulting in data from 26,600 individuals who applied to 189 PA programs. We summarized the racial and ethnic diversity of each program’s applicant pools using: [1]the proportion of underrepresented minority (URM) students, [2]the proportion of students with backgrounds underrepresented in medicine (URiM), and [3]Simpson’s diversity index of a 7-category race/ethnicity combination. We used multiple regressions to model each diversity metric as a function of program characteristics including class size, accreditation status, type of institution, and other important features.

Results
Regardless of the demographic diversity metric examined, we found that applicant diversity was higher among provisionally accredited programs and those receiving more applications. We also identified trends suggesting that programs in more metropolitan areas were able to attract more diverse applicants. Programs that did not require the GRE were also able to attract more diverse applicants when considering the URM and SDI metrics, though results for URiM were not statistically significant.

Conclusions
Our findings provide insights into modifiable (e.g., GRE requirement) and non-modifiable (e.g., provisionally accredited) program characteristics that are associated with more demographically diverse applicant pools.
Contribution of the World Health Organization/ the special program for research and training in tropical disease (WHO/TDR’s) in institution building: lessons from Ethiopia
Authors: Kaba Mirgissa , Solomon Kalkidan , Kitaw Yayehyirad , Berhe Derbew Fikadu , Abdissa Alemseged 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
World Health Organization/Tropical Disease Research (WHO/TDR) has enduring investment in transfers of skills critical to sustaining resilient health research systems through postgraduate training, clinical research and development fellowship (CRDF), bioethics, and grants to neglected tropical disease research. TDR has a long history of partnership with Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) in Ethiopia. The collaboration started with individuals and lead to institution survival and success. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the impact and lessons learned of TDR initiatives in Ethiopia.

Method
This study was guided by the ‘TDR Impact Pathways’. A total of thirteen in-depth, and five key informant interviews were conducted with individuals who are currently working in Addis Ababa, Gondar, Jimma Universities and AHRI. In addition to the interviews, reports, written communications and publications were reviewed. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, inductively coded, and analyzed thematically. The results were presented following the themes with supportive verbatim quotes.

Conclusion
TDR’s seed grants, training opportunities and technical support catalyzed individual, institutional and national research capacity in Ethiopia. This is a useful indication of how long-term collaboration between individuals could have broader institutional implication as evidenced from the TDR-AHRI complementary partnership.
TEAS, DHEA, CoQ10, and GH for poor ovarian response undergoing IVF-ET: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Zhu Fengya , Yin Shao , Yang Bin , Li Siyun , Feng Xia , Wang Tianyu , Che Deya 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has brought good news to infertile patients, but how to improve the pregnancy outcome of poor ovarian response (POR) patients is still a serious challenge and the scientific evidence of some adjuvant therapies remains controversial.

Aim
Based on previous evidence, the purpose of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of DHEA, CoQ10, GH and TEAS on pregnancy outcomes in POR patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation (IVF-ET). In addition, we aimed to determine the current optimal adjuvant treatment strategies for POR.

Methods
PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library and four databases in China (CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed) were systematically searched up to July 30, 2022, with no restrictions on language. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adjuvant treatment strategies (DHEA, CoQ10, GH and TEAS) before IVF-ET to improve pregnancy outcomes in POR patients, while the control group received a controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) regimen only. This study was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was used to provide a pooled measure of cumulative ranking for each outcome.

Results
Sixteen RCTs (2323 women) with POR defined using the Bologna criteria were included in the network meta-analysis. Compared with the control group, CoQ10 (OR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.05 to 4.71) and DHEA (OR 1.92, 95% CI: 1.16 to 3.16) had obvious advantages in improving the clinical pregnancy rate. CoQ10 was the best in improving the live birth rate (OR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.07 to 5.38). DHEA increased the embryo implantation rate (OR 2.80, 95%CI: 1.41 to 5.57) and the high-quality embryo rate (OR 2.01, 95% CI: 1.07 to 3.78) and number of oocytes retrieved (WMD 1.63, 95% CI: 0.34 to 2.92) showed a greater advantage, with GH in second place. Several adjuvant treatment strategies had no significant effect on reducing the cycle canceling rate compared with the control group. TEAS was the least effective of the four adjuvant treatments in most pooled results, but the overall effect appeared to be better than that of the control group.

Conclusion
Compared with COS regimen, the adjuvant use of CoQ10, DHEA and GH before IVF may have a better clinical effect on the pregnancy outcome of POR patients. TEAS needs careful consideration in improving the clinical pregnancy rate. Future large-scale RCTs with direct comparisons are needed to validate or update this conclusion.

Systematic review registration
PROSPERO CRD42022304723
Engineered Escherichia coli platforms for tyrosine-derivative production from phenylalanine using phenylalanine hydroxylase and tetrahydrobiopterin-regeneration system
Authors: Satoh Yasuharu , Fukui Keita , Koma Daisuke , Shen Ning , Lee Taek Soon 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Aromatic compounds derived from tyrosine are important and diverse chemicals that have industrial and commercial applications. Although these aromatic compounds can be obtained by extraction from natural producers, their growth is slow, and their content is low. To overcome these problems, many of them have been chemically synthesized from petroleum-based feedstocks. However, because of the environmental burden and depleting availability of feedstock, microbial cell factories are attracting much attention as sustainable and environmentally friendly processes.

Results
To facilitate development of microbial cell factories for producing tyrosine derivatives, we developed simple and convenient tyrosine-producing Escherichia coli platforms with a bacterial phenylalanine hydroxylase, which converted phenylalanine to tyrosine with tetrahydromonapterin as a cofactor, using a synthetic biology approach. By introducing a tetrahydrobiopterin-regeneration system, the tyrosine titer of the plasmid-based engineered strain was 4.63 g/L in a medium supplemented with 5.00 g/L phenylalanine with a test tube. The strains were successfully used to produce industrially attractive compounds, such as tyrosol with a yield of 1.58 g/L by installing a tyrosol-producing module consisting of genes encoding tyrosine decarboxylase and tyramine oxidase on a plasmid. Gene integration into E. coli chromosomes has an advantage over the use of plasmids because it increases genetic stability without antibiotic feeding to the culture media and enables more flexible pathway engineering by accepting more plasmids with artificial pathway genes. Therefore, we constructed a plasmid-free tyrosine-producing platform by integrating five modules, comprising genes encoding the phenylalanine hydroxylase and tetrahydrobiopterin-regeneration system, into the chromosome. The platform strain could produce 1.04 g/L of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, a drug medicine, by installing a gene encoding tyrosine hydroxylase and the tetrahydrobiopterin-regeneration system on a plasmid. Moreover, by installing the tyrosol-producing module, tyrosol was produced with a yield of 1.28 g/L.

Conclusions
We developed novel E. coli platforms for producing tyrosine from phenylalanine at multi-gram-per-liter levels in test-tube cultivation. The platforms allowed development and evaluation of microbial cell factories installing various designed tyrosine-derivative biosynthetic pathways at multi-grams-per-liter levels in test tubes.
Math anxiety affects career choices during development
Authors: Eidlin-Levy Hili , Avraham Elad , Fares Laurain , Rubinsten Orly 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Links between math anxiety and the choice of a math-intensive career might change over development and differ by gender. The study included three research populations: primary school (N = 87, 48 females, mean age = 10.2), high school (N = 107, 61 females, mean age = 15.7), and university students (N = 100, 53 females, mean age = 27.4). Students completed a math anxiety questionnaire and reported their desired career choice.

Results
Findings suggest that math anxiety directly predicted the career choice math intensity for high school and university students, but not primary school students. Gender had a direct effect on younger students, as female students attending primary and high school preferred careers with a lower math intensity. The effect of gender on career choice math intensity for university students was not direct but mediated by math anxiety.

Conclusions
It is crucial to identify young students with math anxiety and provide appropriate math anxiety reduction programs to reduce the cumulative effect of math anxiety on academic achievement and career choice.
The Chinese patent medicine Tongfengding capsule for gout in adults: a systematic review of safety and effectiveness
Authors: Hua Qiaoli , Liu Xusheng , Luo Yang , Lin Yujie , Zheng Kairong , Xia Ai , Yang Qianchun 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Gout is a common inflammatory arthritis caused by increased serum uric acid levels. Untreated or insufficiently treated gout can lead to deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints, cartilage, and kidneys. Although Tongfengding capsules, a Chinese patent medicine, have long been used to treat gout, their effects and safety have not been reviewed systematically. This study evaluated its efficacy and safety for gout in adults.

Methods
Randomized controlled trials involving Tongfengding capsule for gout in adults were searched from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CBM, CNKI, and VIP databases, and analyzed using the Cochrane Handbook criteria. The primary outcome measures were the total effective rate. The secondary outcome measures including the blood uric acid (BUA), 24-h urinary total protein (24-h UTP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and adverse effects. The risk of bias was evaluated in all included studies. RevMan ver. 5.3.5 and GRADE profiler was used for data analysis and assessing the quality of evidence, respectively.

Results
Six studies (n = 607 Chinese participants) were included. Tongfengding capsules plus conventional treatment significantly increased the total effective rate (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.11–1.33), while reducing the BUA (MD − 66.05 µmol/L, 95% CI − 81.26 to − 50.84), 24-h UTP (MD − 0.83 g/24 h, 95% CI − 0.96 to − 0.70), BUN (MD − 0.90 mmol/L, 95% CI − 1.60 to − 0.20), IL-6 (MD − 6.99 ng/L, 95% CI − 13.22 to − 0.75), IL-8 (MD − 12.17 ng/L, 95% CI − 18.07 to − 6.27), TNF-α (MD − 8.50 ng/L, 95% CI − 15.50 to − 1.51), and adverse effects (RR 0.21, 95% CI 0.04–0.95).

Conclusion
Tongfengding capsules plus conventional treatment is safe and beneficial for adults with gout compared with conventional treatment.
A glycoside hydrolase 12 protein from Cytospora chrysosperma triggers plant immunity but is not essential to virulence
Authors: Xu Zhiye , Luo Zheng , Xiong Dianguang , Gao Meng , Tian Chengming 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPhytopathogens secrete numerous effectors that facilitate their infection and colonization processes. However, the pathogenic mechanism of effectors in Cytospora chrysosperma, the causal agent of canker disease in many woody plants, remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified five glycoside hydrolase family 12 (GH12) effector genes in C. chrysosperma genome, all of which were significantly upregulated during the infection stages. Among them, CcEG1, which contains an additional carbohydrate-binding module family 1 domain (CBM1) at the C-terminal, was selected for further analysis. Transient expression studies showed that CcEG1 was localized to the apoplastic region of Nicotiana benthamiana and acted as an elicitor to induce cell death, and activate the expression of genes involved in salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET) signaling pathways. Furthermore, the GH12 domain (position 43–249) was sufficient for cell death-inducing activity, rather than the CBM1 domain. Additionally, the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor-like kinases NbBAK1 and NbSOBIR1 were required for defense responses triggered by CcEG1. Intriguingly, deletion of CcEG1 did not affect fungal pathogenicity, growth, response to hydrogen peroxide and cell wall integrity agents, but affected cellulase utilization. In conclusion, our results suggest that CcEG1 induces coreceptors NbBAK1- and NbSOBIR1- dependent plant immunity, increasing our understanding about fungal pathogenesis during the interaction between C. chrysosperma and its host.
The project-partnership cycle: managing city-university partnerships for urban sustainability and resilience transformations
Authors: Caughman Liliana , Beaudoin Fletcher , Withycombe Keeler Lauren 
Published: July 2023

AbstractCities across the globe are striving to produce viable solutions to pressing urban sustainability and resilience problems. Despite aspirations, municipal governments often need additional support in terms of knowledge, capacity, or resources to achieve transformations. Partnerships between cities and universities are one mechanism for co-producing knowledge and achieving sustained progress on complex challenges. When properly structured and effectively managed, city-university partnerships (CUPs) are purported to increase transformative capacity in city administrations and support actions which accelerate urban transformations; but these outcomes are not always achieved. As CUPs grow in numbers, there is a pressing need to identify which principles and practices facilitate transformation. Therefore, we used iterative reflective focus group sessions to develop in-depth case studies of five sustainability and resilience CUPs across three countries. The CUPs were cross-compared to explore the partnership dynamics and management practices that aid progress towards transformative goals. Observations were then related to transformative capacity typologies, and mapped to the newly described project-partnership cycle – which is useful for the management of transformative partnerships.
Impact of methods of estimating baseline Serum Creatinine (bSCr) on the incidence and outcomes of acute kidney injury in childhood severe malaria
Authors: Ibrahim Olayinka Rasheed , Afolayan Folake Moriliat , Alao Michael Abel , Mohammed Bashir , Suleiman Bello Mohammed , Adedoyin Olanrewaju Timothy 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Estimated baseline serum creatinine (bSCr) affects the incidence and outcomes of childhood severe malaria. Herein, we estimated baseline serum creatinine (bSCr) levels of 541 children with severe malaria using Pottel and Scwartz formulas for AKI incidence, hospitalization outcomes, and evaluated risk factors for death.

Methods
This was a retrospective review of malaria cases from January 2019 to December 2020 at a tertiary health facility in northern Nigeria. We extracted relevant data from the electronic health record. AKI definition and staging was based on the 2012 Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO).

Results
The estimated bSCr using Pottel’s method was lower with a mean (standard deviation) bias of -0.039 (0.013) mg/dl, an upper limit of agreement (-0.014 mg/dl), and the lower limit of agreement (-0.063 mg/dl). All (100%) of the estimated bSCr using Pottel’s method fell within 30% of the Schwartz method's estimated bSCr. The incidence of AKI from Pottel’s method was higher than the Schwartz’s method (43.3% vs. 38.4%, p < 0.001). The incidence of AKI derived from Pottel’s method was highest among those under 5 years old (p < 0.001). The mortality rate was 6.1% (33 deaths out of 541 admissions). Pottel’s method detected more deaths (57.6%; 19 out of 33) vs. Schwartz’s method (48.5%; 16 out of 33), p < 0.001. Factors that were associated with malaria AKI death included acidosis with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 9.2 (95% CI 1.671 to 50.097), the first 72 h [AOR 7.0 (95% CI 1.358, 35.840)], and KDIGO stage 3 of AKI [AOR 14.4 (95% CI 3.073, 66.969)].

Conclusion
Among Nigerian children with severe malaria, bSCr back-calculated from Pottel’s equation showed a minimal bias, narrow limit of agreement, and high degree of accuracy. Also, Pottel’s method detected more AKI and deaths.
Case series of identity: renal lymphangiectasia mistaken for non-functional hydronephrotic kidney
Authors: Kosinepalli Sai Siddartha , Das Sudha Kiran , Gurumurthy Balasubramanian , Sachin T. , Dharmaraju Swathi Hassan 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Renal lymphangiectasia also referred to as renal lymphangiomatosis is a rare, but benign condition is characterized by the ectatic of lymphatic channels and is characterized by ectasia of peripelvic, perirenal and/or intrarenal lymphatic vessels. It can mimic the appearance of hydronephrosis or cystic renal lesions on imaging. As radiologists, to avoid therapeutic misadventure, it becomes critical to make an accurate diagnosis.

Case presentation
The clinical presentation of renal lymphangiectasia is typically asymptomatic, but it can be complicated by infection or bleeding. We report two cases, who presented with loin pain, diagnosed as hydronephrosis on ultrasound, one of whom had a nephrectomy done for a hydronephrotic and non-functioning right kidney.

Conclusions
Hence, this case series brings to light a short review of the literature on renal lymphangiectasia, including its pathophysiology, clinical presentation, imaging findings, complications and differential diagnosis.