bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Chinese version of the Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire
Authors: Zhai Shuheng , Xu Nanfang , Liu Shanshan , Liu Zhongjun , Liu Xiaoguang , Wei Feng 
Published: November 2022

Background contextPatients with spinal metastases always have a poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and disease- and treatment-related adverse outcomes. The Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire (SOSGOQ) has been verified and validated in English for patients with spinal metastases but not in Chinese.PurposeThis paper aimed to complete the cross-cultural adaptation of the Chinese version of the SOSGOQ, to verify its reliability and validity, and to report on the HRQoL of Chinese patients with spinal metastases.Study design/settingThis is a single-center, prospective, observational cross-sectional study.Patient sampleSeventy-six patients were enrolled in this study.Outcome measuresThe SOSGOQ is made up of five HRQoL domains (physical function, neurological function, pain, mental health, social function) and post-therapy questions. The EQ-5D 3L questionnaire covers five items in mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain discomfort, and anxiety-depression, each with three answer options. The SF-36 comprises 36 items divided into eight domains.MethodsA single-center, prospective, observational cross-sectional study involving patients with spinal metastases who underwent surgery was conducted. HRQoL was evaluated using the Chinese version of the SOSGOQ, the Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), and the EuroQol 5-Dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D). Demographic, tumor, symptom, and treatment data, as well as Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) information, were collected. Internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, concurrent validity, and clinical validity were used to evaluate reliability. A Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between variables.ResultsThis study enrolled 76 patients, with a mean age of 55.8 years. The kidney was the most common primary tumor site, and the thoracic spine was the most affected. The internal consistency of the overall SOSQOQ (0.907) was higher than the EQ-5D (0.819), and all items of the SOSQOQ had a high convergent validity (&gt;0.40). The SOSGOQ was significantly correlated with the EQ-5D in respective domains (p &lt; 0.001) and overall score (p &lt; 0.001), whereas the SF-36 was related to the overall SOSGOQ score and most domains. Total SOSGOG was significantly sensitive to changes in ECOG (p = 0.017), prior surgery (p = 0.001), and tumor type (p = 0.026).ConclusionsThe SOSGOQ is a reliable and effective tool for evaluating HRQoL in patients with spinal metastases, with high sensitivity and specificity. Surgical treatment can significantly improve patients’ HRQoL.
TMEM158 expression is negatively regulated by AR signaling and associated with favorite survival outcomes in prostate cancers
Authors: Huang Jian , Liu Wang , Zhang Da , Lin Biyun , Li Benyi 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundMembrane protein TMEM158 was initially reported as a Ras-induced gene during senescence and has been implicated as either an oncogenic factor or tumor suppressor, depending on tumor types. It is unknown if TMEM158 expression is altered in prostate cancers.MethodsMultiple public gene expression datasets from RNA-seq and cDNA microarray assays were utilized to analyze candidate gene expression profiles. TMEM158 protein expression was assessed using an immunohistochemistry approach on a tissue section array from benign and malignant prostate tissues. Comparisons of gene expression profiles were conducted using the bioinformatics software R package.ResultsCOX regression-based screening identified the membrane protein TMEM158 gene as negatively associated with disease-specific and progression-free survival in prostate cancer patients. Gene expression at the mRNA and protein levels revealed that TMEM158 expression was significantly reduced in malignant tissues compared to benign compartments. Meanwhile, TMEM158 downregulation was strongly correlated with advanced clinicopathological features, including late-stage diseases, lymph node invasion, higher PSA levels, residual tumors after surgery, and adverse Gleason scores. In castration-resistant prostate cancers, TMEM158 expression was negatively correlated with AR signaling activity but positively correlated with neuroendocrinal progression index. Consistently, in cell culture models, androgen treatment reduced TMEM158 expression, while androgen deprivation led to upregulation of TMEM158 expression. Correlation analysis showed a tight correlation of TMEM158 expression with the level of R-Ras gene expression, which was also significantly downregulated in prostate cancers. Tumor immune infiltration profiling analysis discovered a strong association of TMEM158 expression with NK cell and Mast cell enrichment.ConclusionThe membrane protein TMEM158 is significantly downregulated in prostate cancer and is tightly associated with disease progression, anti-tumor immune infiltration, and patient survival outcome.
MKI67 as a potential diagnostic biomarker in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Zhou Huiling , Gong Ke , Yang Yifeng , Wu Qin , Wang Qiuguo , Shen Yadan , Xie Li , Gong Yibo , Liu Haidan , Liu Jijia 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundRight heart failure results from advanced pulmonary hypertension (PH) and has a poor prognosis. There are few available treatments for right heart failure. Pulmonary artery remodeling, including changes in pulmonary artery endothelial cells to endothelial-mesenchymal cells, and aberrant fibroblast and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation, are characteristics of the pathophysiological process of PH. As a result, the clinical situation requires novel PH diagnostic and treatment targets.MethodsMonocrotaline was used to create an animal model of PH, and lung tissue was removed for transcriptome sequencing. The targets with the highest differences were chosen for transfection after possible targets were identified using bioinformatic techniques and confirmed by qPCR to examine their function in hypoxic PASMCs.ResultsAfter sequencing 781 differentially expressed mRNAs, we compared them with the GEO dataset and found 43 differentially expressed genes. We chose the top three scores for further study and verification and discovered that MKI67, a crucial element of the cell cycle that regulates PASMC proliferation, had the greatest effect. After suppressing MKI67 in PASMCs, both cell proliferation and migration decreased.ConclusionSeveral potential targets were chosen for this study, and MKI67 was found to play a regulatory role in cell migration and proliferation. This implies that PH can be diagnosed and treated using MKI67.
The efficacy of topical 0.1% mometasone furoate for treating symptomatic severe phimosis: A comparison of two treatment regimens
Authors: Zhou Guanglun , Yin Jianchun , Sun Junjie , Zhu Wenbin , Jin Shiyang , Li Shou-lin 
Published: November 2022

BackgroundTwice daily 0.1% mometasone furoate is an effective treatment for phimosis in children. However, mometasone furoate has an important therapeutic advantage because it is effective in once-daily applications. This study was to compare the efficacy of two different topical 0.1% mometasone furoate regimens for the treatment of symptomatic severe phimosis in pediatric patients.MethodsA total of 1,689 patients with symptomatic severe phimosis classified by the Kikiros system were prospectively enrolled in the study from March 2018 to February 2021. A total of 855 patients received 0.1% mometasone furoate twice-daily (BID group) and 834 patients received 0.1% mometasone furoate once-daily (QD group) for 4 weeks.ResultsA total of 1,595 boys completed the treatment (798 and 797 in the BID and QD groups, respectively). The success rate of the BID group was higher than that of the QD group at the end of week 2 (44.8% vs. 33.3%, P &lt; 0.05), while there was no difference in the success rate at 4 weeks and 3 months between the two groups (70.7% vs. 69.7%, and 66.8% vs. 64.9%, respectively) (P &gt; 0.05). In both treatment groups, the success rate of grade 5 phimosis was lower than that of grade 4 at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 3 months. A total of 83 patients experienced recurrence of phimosis. Only fifteen patients had local mild adverse drug reactions.ConclusionTopical application of 0.1% mometasone furoate once-daily or twice-daily for 4 weeks had comparable efficacy in children with symptomatic severe phimosis. A once a day regimen may be more suitable for children. Topical steroid application is more effective in children with low-grade phimosis than those with high-grade phimosis.
BV score differentiates viral from bacterial-viral co-infection in adenovirus PCR positive children
Authors: Stein Michal , Shapira Ma’anit , Bamberger Ellen , Chistyakov Irena , Dumov Daniel , Srugo Isaac , Stein Michal , Bont Louis J. , Klein Adi 
Published: November 2022

Background and objectivesAdenovirus causes acute respiratory illness that can mimic bacterial infection, making it challenging to differentiate adenoviral infection from adenoviral-bacterial co-infection. A host-protein score (BV score) for differentiating bacterial from viral infection that combines the expression levels of TNF-related apoptosis-induced ligand, interferon gamma-induced protein-10, and C-reactive protein exhibited a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98% in prior studies. Here we evaluate BV score's diagnostic accuracy in pediatrics with adenovirus PCR detection.MethodsThis is a sub-analysis of children aged 3 months to 20 years with adenovirus PCR-positive infection recruited prospectively in two previous cohort studies. Reference standard diagnosis (bacterial, viral or indeterminate) was based on expert adjudication. BV score ranges from 0 to 100 and provides three results based on predefined cutoffs: viral or other non-bacterial etiology (0 ≤ score &lt; 35), equivocal (35 ≤ score ≤ 65), and bacterial or co-infection (65 &lt; score ≤ 100). Experts were blinded to BV results.ResultsOut of 1,779 children, 142 had an adenovirus PCR-positive nasopharyngeal swab. Median age was 1.2 years (interquartile range 0.6–1.8), 50.7% were male and 52.8% were hospitalized. 12 cases were reference standard bacterial, 115 reference standard viral and 15 were indeterminate. BV score attained sensitivity of 100.0% (no false negatives), specificity of 89.5% (95% confidence interval: 83.2–95.8), and NPV of 100.0% (92.6–100.0). Equivocal rate was 19.7%.ConclusionsBV score accurately differentiated between adenoviral and bacterial-adenoviral co-infection in this cohort of children with PCR-positive adenovirus detection. This performance supports a potential to improve appropriate antibiotic use.
Natural products targeting glycolysis in cancer
Authors: Zhao Yuanyuan , Chard Dunmall Louisa S , Cheng Zhenguo , Wang Yaohe , Si Lingling 
Published: November 2022

Many energy metabolism pathways exist in cancer, including glycolysis, amino acid metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, and mitochondrial respiration. Tumor cells mainly generate energy through glycolysis to maintain growth and biosynthesis of tumor cells under aerobic conditions. Natural products regulate many steps in glycolysis and targeting glycolysis using natural products is a promising approach to cancer treatment. In this review, we exemplify the relationship between glycolysis and tumors, demonstrate the natural products that have been discovered to target glycolysis for cancer treatment and clarify the mechanisms involved in their actions. Natural products, such as resveratrol mostly found in red grape skin, licochalcone A derived from root of Glycyrrhiza inflate, and brusatol found in Brucea javanica and Brucea mollis, largely derived from plant or animal material, can affect glycolysis pathways in cancer by targeting glycolytic enzymes and related proteins, oncogenes, and numerous glycolytic signal proteins. Knowledge of how natural products regulate aerobic glycolysis will help illuminate the mechanisms by which these products can be used as therapeutics to inhibit cancer cell growth and regulate cellular metabolism.Systematic Review Registration: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/, https://clinicaltrials.gov/, http://lib.zzu.edu.cn/
High-order harmonic spectroscopy in an ionized high-density target
Authors: Kurz Heiko G. , Kretschmar Martin , Binhammer Thomas , Nagy Tamas , Ristau Detlev , Lein Manfred , Morgner Uwe , Kovačev Milutin 
Published: November 2022

We use high-order harmonic spectroscopy to study ionization dynamics in a macroscopic target with tunable density, spanning over six orders of magnitude. In an in situ pump-probe experiment, the target is prepared at different densities with varying degrees of laser-induced ionization. High-order harmonic radiation is generated in the pre-ionized target, and a steepening in the decrease of the harmonic yield is observed for increasing pre-ionization, allowing not only to identify the contributing quantum paths during high-order harmonic generation but also in determining the amount of ionization within the target. The measurements allow probing of ionization dynamics in laser-induced plasma with high spatio-temporal resolution and are specifically of interest for the optimization of the harmonic generation process in high-density targets with number densities of up to 1022 cm−3.
Specific alterations of gut microbiota in patients with membranous nephropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Yumeng , Zhao Jin , Qin Yunlong , Wang Yuwei , Yu Zixian , Ning Xiaoxuan , Sun Shiren 
Published: November 2022

Background: The pathogenesis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) has not yet been thoroughly clarified, and gut dysbiosis may be a contributor to IMN. However, the characterization of gut microbiota in patients with IMN remains uncertain.Methods: Cochrane Library, PubMed, China National Knowledge Internet, Web of Science, and Embase were used to search for studies through 18 May 2022. A meta-analysis based on the standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was conducted on the alpha diversity index. The between-group comparison of the relative abundance of gut microbiota taxa and the beta diversity were extracted and qualitatively analyzed.Results: Five studies were included involving 290 patients with IMN, 100 healthy controls (HCs), and 129 patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The quantitative combination of alpha diversity indices indicated that although bacterial richness was impaired [ACE, SMD = 0.12, (−0.28, 0.52), p = 0.55, I2 = 0%; Chao1, SMD = −0.34, (−0.62, −0.06), p &lt; 0.05, I2 = 36%], overall diversity was preserved [Shannon, SMD = −0.16, (−0.64, 0.31), p = 0.50, I2 = 53%; Simpson, SMD = 0.27, (−0.08, 0.61), p = 0.13, I2 = 0%]. The beta diversity was significantly varied compared to HCs or DKD patients. Compared to HCs, the abundance of Proteobacteria increased, while that of Firmicutes decreased at the phylum level. Furthermore, the abundance of Lachnospira were depleted, while those of Streptococcus were enriched at the genus level. Proteobacteria and Streptococcus were also increased compared to DKD patients.Conclusions: The expansion of Proteobacteria and depletion of Lachnospira may be critical features of the altered gut microbiota in patients with IMN. This condition may play an important role in the pathogenesis of IMN and could provide bacterial targets for diagnosis and therapy.
p62/Sqstm1 rescue in muscle retards the progression of steatohepatitis in p62/Sqstm1-null mice fed a high-fat diet
Authors: Miura Ikuru , Okada Kosuke , Ishii Akiko , Warabi Eiji , Watahiki Takahisa , To Keii , Shimano Hitoshi , Ariizumi Shunichi , Shoda Junichi 
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Obesity is a risk factor for many diseases because it leads to a reduction in skeletal muscle mass and promotes insulin resistance. p62/Sqstm1-knockout mice are a model of metabolic syndrome; show obesity, insulin resistance, and non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL); and develop non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in response to the feeding of a high-fat diet (HFD). These phenotypes suggest that muscle p62 may prevent obesity-induced muscle dysfunction. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of muscle p62 on skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, insulin resistance, and NASH pathology.Methods: We generated muscle-specific p62 gene rescue mice (p62-mRes), which express p62 only in muscle and were derived from p62-knock out mice (p62KIKI) using the cre/loxp system. p62KIKI and p62-mRes mice were fed an HFD for 20 weeks and their phenotypes were compared.Results: HFD-feeding caused severe obesity in both p62KIKI and p62-mRes mice, but there was no effect of muscle p62 on body mass. Limb skeletal muscle mass, grip strength, and the cross-sectional area of muscle fibers were higher in p62-mRes mice than in p62KIKI. The glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity of the p62-mRes mice were also superior. The protein expression of mechanistic target of rapamycin, which promotes muscle protein synthesis, and GLUT4, a glucose transporter in skeletal muscle, were higher in the p62-mRes mice. p62KIKI mice developed severe NASH when fed an HFD, but the progression of NASH was retarded by p62 gene rescue in muscle, and the expression of Tgf-β1, which encodes a factor that promotes hepatic fibrosis, was reduced.Conclusion: Rescue of muscle-specific p62 in the whole-body p62 knock-out mice ameliorates the insulin resistance and retards the progression of NASH caused by systemic p62 ablation.
Maize/soybean strip intercropping produces higher crop yields and saves water under semi-arid conditions
Authors: Raza Muhammad Ali , Yasin Hassan Shehryar , Gul Hina , Qin Ruijun , Mohi Ud Din Atta , Khalid Muhammad Hayder Bin , Hussain Sajad , Gitari Harun , Saeed Amjed , Wang Jun , Rezaei-Chiyaneh Esmaeil , Sabagh Ayman El , Manzoor Amir , Fatima Akash , Ahmad Shakeel , Yang Feng , Skalicky Milan , Yang Wenyu 
Published: November 2022

Sustainable increases in crop production require efficient use of resources, and intercropping can improve water use efficiency and land productivity at reduced inputs. Thus, in a three-year field experiment, the performance of maize/soybean strip intercropping system differing with maize plant density (6 maize plants m-2, low, D1; 8 maize plants m-2, medium, D2; and 10 maize plants m-2, high, D3) was evaluated in comparison with sole maize or soybean cropping system. Results revealed that among all intercropping treatments, D2 had a significantly higher total leaf area index (maize LAI + soybean LAI; 8.2), total dry matter production (maize dry matter + soybean dry matter; 361.5 g plant-1), and total grain yield (maize grain yield + soybean grain yield; 10122.5 kg ha-1) than D1 and D3, and also higher than sole maize (4.8, 338.7 g plant-1, and 9553.7 kg ha-1) and sole soybean (4.6, 64.8 g plant-1, and 1559.5 kg ha-1). The intercropped maize was more efficient in utilizing the radiation and water, with a radiation use efficiency of 3.5, 5.2, and 4.3 g MJ-1 and water use efficiency of 14.3, 16.2, and 13.3 kg ha-1 mm-1, while that of intercropped soybean was 2.5, 2.1, and 1.8 g MJ-1 and 2.1, 1.9, and 1.5 kg ha-1 mm-1 in D1, D2, and D3, respectively. In intercropping, the land and water equivalent ratios ranged from 1.22 to 1.55, demonstrating that it is a sustainable strategy to improve land and water use efficiencies; this maximization is likely associated with the species complementarities for radiation, water, and land in time and space, which resulted in part from competition avoidance responses that maximize the economic profit (e. g., 1300 US $ ha-1 in D2) over sole maize (798 US $ ha-1) or sole soybean (703 US $ ha-1). Overall, these results indicate that optimizing strip intercropping systems can save 20–50% of water and land, especially under the present scenario of limited resources and climate change. However, further research is required to fully understand the resource capture mechanisms of intercrops in intercropping.
Separate foliar sodium selenate and zinc oxide application enhances Se but not Zn accumulation in pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds
Authors: Malka Maksymilian , Du Laing Gijs , Li Jun , Bohn Torsten 
Published: November 2022

Up to 15% and 17% of the world population is selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) deficient, respectively. Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important staple legume with a high potential for Se and Zn biofortification in seeds. A 2-year pot experiment investigated two pea varieties (Ambassador and Premium) following foliar-applied sodium selenate (0/50/100 g of Se/ha) and zinc oxide (0/375/750 g of Zn/ha) at the flowering stage. Selenate and zinc oxide had minimal overall effects on growth parameters. Zinc oxide did not improve Zn accumulation in both seed varieties, while selenate improved Se accumulation in both seed varieties dose-dependently. Premium accumulated greater amounts of Se in seeds than Ambassador (p &lt; 0.001). Selenium concentrations were highest in seeds of Premium treated with 100 g of Se/ha [7.84 mg/kg DW vs. the control (0.16 mg/kg DW), p &lt; 0.001]. The predominant Se species in Se-enriched seeds was selenomethionine (40%–76% of total Se). Furthermore, a significant (p &lt; 0.01) positive correlation was found between Zn and S concentrations in Ambassador (r2 = 0.446) and Premium (r2 = 0.498) seeds, but not between Se and S. Consuming as little as 55 g/day of pea biofortified by 50 g of Se/ha would cover 100% of the adult RDA (55 µg) for Se. Findings are important for improving foliar biofortification of pea with Se and Zn.
Diagnostic accuracy of the Cobas 6800 RT-PCR assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA
Authors: Mahmoud Sally , Ganesan Subhashini , Raheja Preety , Cantarutti Flavia , Ateia Hagar , Zaher Walid 
Published: November 2022

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the rapid development and launch of several commercial RT-PCR-based assays for identification of SARS-CoV-2. However, there is need for peer-reviewed evaluation of these assays that can support their clinical performance. In this study, we, therefore, conduct an in-house evaluation of the automated Cobas 68000 RT-PCR assay in detecting SARS-CoV-2 infections using different pooling techniques.Methods: An observational study is conducted to evaluate the clinical performance of the Cobas 6800 SARS-CoV-2 assay in comparison with the Labgun Exofast RT-PCR kit, using both pooled and non-pooled sample techniques. A total of 300 nasopharyngeal swab samples, 40 known positive samples and 260 negative samples, are used for pooling, while the performance is evaluated in three different sample pool sizes of 4, 5, and 6.Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the Cobas 6,800 was 100% when compared to the comparable assay. The sample pooling technique showed that specificity was 100% in all pool sizes and the sensitivity varied from 95% in the 6-pooled sample to 100% in both the 5- and 4-pooled samples. The lower limit of detection was verified as 25 copies/ml for un-pooled samples, and, therefore, the limit of detection was 100, 125, and 150 copies/ml for the 4, 5, and 6 sample pools, respectively. Strong correlation was observed between the Ct values of the target genes of both assays.Conclusion: Cobas 6800 RT-PCR assay is a reliable platform for qualitative and rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 and can be effectively utilized for pooling of samples with highly efficient performance when disease prevalence is lower.