bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epidemiological investigations of diarrhea in children in Praia city, Cape Verde
Authors: Colito Denise Andrade , Dorta-Guerra Roberto , Da Costa Lima Hailton Spencer , Pina Carine , Gonçalves Deisy , Valladares Basilio , Foronda Pilar 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionDiarrheal disease is a major cause of infant mortality and morbidity in Africa and results primarily from contaminated food and water sources, but its prevalence predictors in Cape Verde are not completely known. For this reason, this study aimed to identify the etiological agents of diarrhea in Cape Verdean children and assess its associated risk factors.MethodsA survey questionnaire was used, and a total of 105 stool samples from children with diarrhea aged 0–12 years at the Central Hospital of Praia (Santiago, Cape Verde) were analyzed. The analyses were carried out using Biofire FilmArray Gastrointestinal Panels. Possible risk factors for these pathogens were analyzed using logistic regression, chi-square tests, or Fisher’s exact test.ResultsAmong the bacteria, enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (45.71%; 95% CI: 36.71–56.70), enteropathogenic E. coli (40%; 95% CI: 30.56–50.02), Shigella/enteroinvasive E. coli (29.52%; 95% CI: 21.02–39.22), E. coli enterotoxigenic (12.38%; 95% CI: 6.76–20.24), Campylobacter sp. (10.48%; 95% CI: 5.35–1.97), Vibrio sp. (4.76%; 95% CI: 1.56–10.76), Clostridioides difficile (3.81%; 95% CI: 1.05–9.47), Vibrio cholerae (2.86%; 0.59–8.12), Shiga-like toxin-producing E. coli (2.86%; 0.59–8.12) and Salmonella sp. (0.95%; 0.02–5.19) were identified; four viruses, Rotavirus A (28.57%; 95% CI: 20.18–38.21), Sapovirus I. II. IV and V (11.43%; 95% CI: 6.05–19.11), Norovirus GI.GII (6.67%; 95% CI: 2.72–13.25) and Adenovirus F 40.41 (6.67%; 95% CI: 2.72–13.25) were also observed. All the pathogens detected in this study were found in coinfections. Significant associations with risk factors were found; specifically, having a bathroom at home reduced the risk of Campylobacter sp., having animals at home increased the risk of Shigella/EIEC infection, and drinking bottled water reduced the risk of Sapovirus infection.DiscussionFrom the findings of this study, it can be concluded that, in Cape Verde, there is a high prevalence and diversity of pathogens among children. Our results could help to establish an adequate diagnosis and effective treatments for diarrheal disease.
The clinical characteristics and risk factors for severe COVID-19 in patients with COVID-19 and tuberculosis coinfection
Authors: Wang Yang , Chen Yanping , Gu Lina , Lou Lixin , Zhang Jian , Zhang Kaiyu 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundUnder the wave of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant Omicron epidemic, the number of infectious cases has increased dramatically in Jilin Province, China since March 2022.The clinical features and severity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection in tuberculosis (TB) patients are not yet clear.MethodsData were obtained from 153 patients with the Omicron variant and TB coinfection and 153 non-TB COVID-19 patients who had been hospitalized at Changchun Infectious Disease Hospital from March to June 2022.ResultsAmong these coinfection patients, 17 patients showed COVID-19-related pneumonia on chest imaging and 11 were diagnosed with severe COVID-19. The median duration of SARS-CoV-2 clearance was 13 days. The negative conversion time was associated with age, COVID-19-related pneumonia and antibody IgG. A higher white blood cell count, a lower lymphocyte percentage, a higher CRP level, and a higher D-dimer level were found in the severe group. Age and increased PCT were individual risk factors for the severity of COVID-19. Compared with the non-TB patients, the coinfection patients had higher severity of COVID-19 and the elder coinfection patients had a longer negative conversion time.ConclusionThis study found an association between age, pneumonia, antibody IgG and RNA negative conversion time in COVID-19 and TB coinfection patients, and age and increased PCT were risk factors for the severity of COVID-19.
Comparative transcriptomic analysis-based identification of the regulation of foreign proteins with different stabilities expressed in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Niu Tingting , Cui Yi , Shan Xu , Qin Shuzhen , Zhou Xuejie , Wang Rui , Chang Alan , Ma Nan , Jing Jingjing , He Jianwei 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionThe industrial yeast Pichia pastoris is widely used as a cell factory to produce proteins, chemicals and advanced biofuels. We have previously constructed P. pastoris strains that overexpress protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), which is a kind of molecular chaperone that can improve the expression of an exogenous protein when they are co-expressed. Chicken cystatin (cC) is a highly thermostable cysteine protease inhibitor and a homologous protein of human cystatin C (HCC). Wild-type cC and the two mutants, I66Q and ΔW (a truncated cC lacking the á-helix 2) represent proteins with different degrees of stability.MethodsWild-type cC, I66Q and ΔW were each overexpressed in P. pastoris without and with the coexpression of PDI and their extracellular levels were determined and compared. Transcriptomic profiling was performed to compare the changes in the main signaling pathways and cell components (other than endoplasmic reticulum quality control system represented by molecular chaperones) in P. pastoris in response to intracellular folding stress caused by the expression of exogenous proteins with different stabilities. Finally, hub genes hunting was also performed.Results and discussionThe coexpression of PDI was able to increase the extracellular levels of both wild-type cC and the two mutants, indicating that overexpression of PDI could prevent the misfolding of unstable proteins or promote the degradation of the misfolded proteins to some extent. For P. pastoris cells that expressed the I66Q or ΔW mutant, GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analyses of the common DEGs in these cells revealed a significant upregulation of the genes involved in protein processing, but a significant downregulation of the genes enriched in the Ribosome, TCA and Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis pathways. Hub genes hunting indicated that the most downregulated ribosome protein, C4QXU7 in this case, might be an important target protein that could be manipulated to increase the expression of foreign proteins, especially proteins with a certain degree of instability.ConclusionThese findings should shed new light on our understanding of the regulatory mechanism in yeast cells that responds to intracellular folding stress, providing valuable information for the development of a convenient platform that could improve the efficiency of heterologous protein expression in P. pastoris.
Prevalence of restless legs syndrome during the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic in South Korea: A nationwide cross-sectional population-based study
Authors: Kim Jiyoung , Kang Kyung Wook , Kim Keun Tae , Cho Yong Won 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundThe 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with a significant increase in sleep disorders. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of restless leg syndrome (RLS) and the effect of COVID-19 on RLS during the pandemic in Korea.MethodsThe National Sleep Survey of South Korea 2022 was employed in this study. This study was a large population-based web survey using a structural questionnaire of a four thousand representative sample of individuals aged 20–69 years in Korea. The survey was conducted between January 2022 and February 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. RLS was diagnosed using the Korean version of the paradigm of questions for epidemiological studies of RLS. Chronic persistent RLS was defined for individuals with RLS symptoms at least twice a week.ResultsSix hundred forty-nine (16.2%) and 172 (4.3%) patients were classified as having RLS and chronic persistent RLS, respectively. Female sex, being employed, the presence of COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse events, decreased sleep duration, the presence of EDS, and current treatment for insomnia were significantly associated with chronic persistent RLS.ConclusionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of RLS and chronic persistent RLS in the adult Korean population was higher than that reported in previous studies.
Altered gut microbiomes are associated with the symptomatic status of unruptured intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Sun Kaijian , Cao Ying , Chen Yiting , Peng Qing , Xie Yugu , Luo Yunhao , Tian Hao , Li Xin , Zeng Meiqin , Zhang Xin , Li Xifeng , Su Shixing , He Xuying , Duan Chuanzhi , Sun Haitao 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundGut microbiome has recently been recognized as an important environmental factor affecting the occurrence and development of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between gut microbiome and symptomatic UIA, which is a predictor of instability and a high propensity to rupture.MethodsA total of 132 patients including 86 asymptomatic UIA and 46 symptomatic UIA were recruited in the study. The composition of gut bacterial communities was determined by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. In addition, Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) was used to predict the functional composition of the gut microbiome.ResultsThere is no difference in the fecal microbial alpha diversity between symptomatic and asymptomatic UIA, but gut microbiome composition changed significantly. At the order level, the relative abundance of Clostridiales was significantly enriched in the symptomatic compared with asymptomatic UIA (p = 0.043). In addition, similar alterations were observed at the family levels of Ruminococcaceae. The Linear discriminant analysis (LEfSe) revealed Fournierella, Ruthenibacterium, and Anaerotruncus as discriminative features in the symptomatic group. Notably, functional differences in gut microbiome of patients with symptomatic UIA included decreased propionate metabolism pathway and enrichment of peptidoglycan biosynthesis pathways.ConclusionThe present study comprehensively characterizes gut microbiome in a large cohort of different risk statuses of UIA patients and demonstrates the potential biological function of gut microbiome involved in the development of UIA. It may provide additional benefits in guiding UIA management and improving patient outcomes.
Non-linear connections between maternal hemoglobin during the third trimester of pregnancy and birth weight outcomes in full-term newborns: Estimating the breakpoints
Authors: Xie Guilan , Wang Ruiqi , Zhang Boxing , Sun Landi , Xiang Wanwan , Xu Mengmeng , Zhu Sijing , Guo Leqian , Xu Xu , Yang Wenfang 
Published: December 2022

ObjectiveAnemia is still an unfinished global health problem, and adverse birth weight outcomes have everlasting influences on the health of later life. However, the non-linear connections and breakpoints of maternal hemoglobin with birth weight outcomes are still needed to be further elucidated. We aimed to reveal the non-linear connections between maternal hemoglobin during the third trimester of pregnancy and birth weight, low birth weight (LBW), macrosomia, small for gestational age (SGA), and large for gestational age (LGA) in full-term newborns and elucidate the breakpoints of the connections.MethodsA total of 11,411 singletons, full-term, and live newborns, whose mothers conducted the examination of hemoglobin concentration before delivery, were included in this study. A generalized additive model was used to identify and visualize the non-linear connections between maternal hemoglobin and birth weight outcomes. Piecewise linear regression model was adopted to estimate the breakpoints of the connections and report the non-linear connections in detail.ResultsThere were inverted “U”-shaped exposure–response connections between maternal hemoglobin concentration and birth weight and the risk of macrosomia. There was an increasing trend of the risk of LBW and a decreased trend of LGA with the increase in maternal hemoglobin concentration. The breakpoints of maternal hemoglobin for birth weight were 100 and 138 g/L, and those for SGA were 97 and 138 g/L. The breakpoints of maternal hemoglobin were 119 g/L for LBW, 105 g/L for macrosomia, and 106 g/L for LGA. When maternal hemoglobin concentration ranged from 100 to 138 g/L, maternal hemoglobin concentration increased per 1 g/L, and birth weight significantly decreased by 2.58 g (95% CI: –3.33, –1.83). When maternal hemoglobin concentration ranged from 97 to 138 g/L, maternal hemoglobin concentration increased per 1 g/L, and the risk of SGA significantly increased by 2% (95% CI: 1%, 3%). When maternal hemoglobin concentration was equal to or lower than 119 g/L, maternal hemoglobin concentration increased per 1 g/L, and the risk of LBW significantly increased by 3% (95% CI: 0%, 5%). When maternal hemoglobin concentration was higher than the breakpoints, the risks of macrosomia (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98, 0.99) and LGA (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.00) declined as the increase of maternal hemoglobin concentration.ConclusionsThere were non-linear connections between maternal hemoglobin and birth weight outcomes, and there are breakpoints in the connections. Cost-effective interventions targeting pregnant women in the prevention of abnormal maternal hemoglobin concentration should be taken to reduce the incidence of adverse birth weight outcomes.
A combined predicting model for benign esophageal stenosis after simultaneous integrated boost in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients (GASTO1072)
Authors: Liu Weitong , Zeng Chengbing , Wang Siyan , Zhan Yizhou , Huang Ruihong , Luo Ting , Peng Guobo , Wu Yanxuan , Qiu Zihan , Li Derui , Wu Fangcai , Chen Chuangzhen 
Published: December 2022

PurposeWe aimed to develop a combined predicting model for benign esophageal stenosis (BES) after simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) with concurrent chemotherapy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).MethodsThis study included 65 patients with EC who underwent SIB with chemotherapy. Esophageal stenosis was evaluated using esophagograms and the severity of eating disorders. Risk factors were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses. Radiomics features were extracted based on contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) before treatment. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was used for feature selection and radiomics signature construction. The model’s performance was evaluated using Harrell’s concordance index and receiver operating characteristic curves.ResultsThe patients were stratified into low- and high-risk groups according to BES after SIB. The area under the curves of the clinical model, Rad-score, and the combined model were 0.751, 0.820 and 0.864, respectively. In the validation cohort, the AUCs of these three models were 0.854, 0.883 and 0.917, respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that there was no deviation from model fitting for the training cohort (p=0.451) and validation cohort (p=0.481). The C-indexes of the nomogram were 0.864 and 0.958 for the training and validation cohort, respectively. The model combined with Rad-score and clinical factors achieved favorable prediction ability.ConclusionDefinitive chemoradiotherapy could alleviate tumor-inducing esophageal stenosis but result in benign stenosis. We constructed and tested a combined predicting model for benign esophageal stenosis after SIB. The nomogram incorporating both radiomics signature and clinical prognostic factors showed favorable predictive accuracy for BES in ESCC patients who received SIB with chemotherapy.Trial registration number and date of registrationRegistered in www.Clinicaltrial.gov, ID: NCT01670409, August 12, 2012
Prognostic value of pan-immune-inflammation value in colorectal cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Xiao-Chuan , Liu Hui , Liu Ding-Cheng , Tong Chao , Liang Xian-Wen , Chen Ri-Hui 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundThe pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) has been reported as a novel prognostic biomarker in multiple malignancies. The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic value of the PIV in patients with colorectal cancer.MethodsWe comprehensively searched electronic databases including PubMed, Embase and Web of Science up to August 2022. The endpoints were survival outcomes. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for survival data were collected for analysis.ResultsSix studies including 1879 participants were included. A significant heterogeneity in the PIV cut-off value among studies was observed. The combined results indicated that patients in the high baseline PIV group had a worse overall survival (HR=2.09; 95%CI: 1.67-2.61; P&lt;0.0001; I2 = 7%) and progression-free survival (HR=1.82; 95%CI: 1.49-2.22; P&lt;0.0001; I2 = 15%). In addition, early PIV increase after treatment initiation was significantly associated with decreased overall survival (HR=1.79; 95%CI: 1.13-2.93; P=0.01; I2 = 26%), and a trend toward poor progression-free survival (HR=2.00; 95%CI: 0.90-4.41; P=0.09; I2 = 70%).ConclusionBased on existing evidence, the PIV could act as a valuable prognostic index in patients with colorectal cancer. However, the heterogeneity in the PIV cut-off value among studies should be considered when interpreting these findings.
The reduction of 18F-FDG uptake ability of tumor tissue after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer can effectively reflect the degree of tumor regression
Authors: Wu Fengpeng , Zhang Xiaoxiao , Yang Congrong , Wang Kanghua , Xiao Linlin , Zhou Chaoxi , Zhao Xinming , Wang Guiying 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionTo evaluate the predictive value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography (18F-FDG PET-CT) imaging parameters for the response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).MethodsFrom January 2016 to March 2020, 52 LARC patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET-CT scans within 1 week before and 8-9 weeks after nCRT, were enrolled in this study according to a pre-designed screening criteria. After total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery, we assessed tumor response to treatment and analyzed the correlation between imaging parameters obtained from two PET-CT scans and tumor regression status.ResultsTumor response assessment showed that 13 of 52 patients received good response (GR), including 9 cases with pathological complete regression (pCR) and 4 cases with near-pathological complete regression (near-pCR). We also found that the maximum standard uptake value after nCRT (post-SUVmax), the response index (RI), the mean standard uptake values after nCRT (post-SUVmean), and the ratio of tumor SUVmean to liver SUVmean after nCRT (post-Ratio), were correlated with GR and pCR. Among these parameters, post-SUVmax and RI had a near-strong correlation with pCR (rs= -0.58 and 0.59, respectively), and also had a strong correlation with GR (rs = -0.7 and 0.63, respectively). Further ROC analysis showed that post-SUVmax and RI had higher values in predicting whether patients could achieve GR and pCR after nCRT, and the area under the curve (AUC) of both were greater than 0.9. The positive predictive values (PPVs) and negative predictive values (NPVs) of post-SUVmax for GR were 80.01% and 97.3%, and for pCR were 66.68% and 97.5%, respectively. The PPVs and NPVs of the RI values for GR were 84.61% and 94.87%, and for pCR were 69.24% and 100%, respectively.ConclusionFor LARC patients, the analysis of imaging parameters such as post-SUVmax and RI, which can reflect the changes of 18F-FDG uptake capacity of tumor tissues before and after nCRT, is of great value for predicting the response of patients to neoadjuvant therapy and guiding the selection of subsequent treatment strategies.
Association of systemic inflammation index with survival in patients with advanced perihilar cholangiocarcinoma treated with interventional therapy
Authors: Li Jinyu , Gao Long , Liu Tianci , Feng Duiping 
Published: December 2022

ObjectiveImmunity and inflammation are key mediators of carcinoma development, invasion and metastasis. However, it remains unknown whether the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) can be used as a prognostic indicator for cholangiocarcinoma. In this study, we investigated the association and predictive value of the SII with the prognosis of advanced perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) after interventional therapy.MethodsA retrospective cohort of patients with advanced pCCA treated with interventional therapy at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University enrolled in this study from January 2019 through January 2021 was examined. Cox regression models were used to analyze the relationship between the SII and overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced pCCA. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the predictive power of SII.ResultsPreoperative SII was positively associated with poor OS of pCCA after interventional therapy, with corresponding hazard ratios (HR) of 1.57 (95% CI: 1.17 - 2.10) for an inter-quartile range increase. The predictive power of SII was higher than that of other inflammation indexes based on ROC analysis (AUC = 0.835 [95% CI (0.731 - 0.940)]). The optimal cut-off values, sensitivity, and specificity with SII were 700, 0.774 and 0.846, respectively. An SII ≥ 700 was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and high carbohydrate antigen199 (CA199) level. In multivariate analyses, total bilirubin, carbohydrate antigen 199, vascular invasion, and SII independently predicted overall survival (P &lt; 0.05).ConclusionThis is the first study demonstrating that an increase in the SII is associated with poor advanced pCCA prognosis, and could serve as a reliable prognostic indicator of pCCA after interventional therapy.
Case report: Neurofibromatosis type 1 gastrointestinal stromal tumor and small bowel adenocarcinoma with a novel germline NF1 frameshift mutation
Authors: Zhang Wuming , Hu Xianqin , Chen Zhikang , Lai Chen 
Published: December 2022

A synchronous case of small bowel adenocarcinoma(SAB) is reported, accompanied with gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST),and gangliocytomain in an elderly woman with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). A 67-year-old female was hospitalized with the chief complaint of abdominal pain, the computed tomography scan indicated a large bowel mass. Multiple tumors were found in the small intestine, through which two larger tumors (7 cm and 1.5 cm) were resected. A novel germline NF1 mutation and a PMS2 mutation were identified after genetic testing, followed by the exploration of possible relationship between them in promoting tumorigenesis. Our results suggest multiple gastrointestinal tumors emerging in NF1 patients, and genetic testing can better guide postoperative treatment in a more efficient way.