bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transabdominal cerclage during pregnancy: A retrospective single operator series over a quarter century
Authors: Hall David R. , van de Vyver Mari 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the pregnancy outcomes and complications observed in a series of cases of transabdominal cerclage (TAC), which is reserved for highly selected women with recurrent mid‐trimester pregnancy loss, due to cervical insufficiency.MethodsA retrospective audit covering 25 years (January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2021) was performed at the Obstetric Special Care division, Tygerberg Academic Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. All 118 pregnancies from 94 procedures, operated and managed by the principal author were included for descriptive analysis.ResultsEighty‐four (91.3%) of the 92 first pregnancies after first insertion had successful outcomes. All second and third pregnancies (24/24; 100%) were successful. Eight pregnancies did not achieve viability, two women (2/8) did however achieve a successful pregnancy after a subsequent repeat TAC procedure. For the viable pregnancies (110/118), the median gestational age at delivery was 37 weeks (range 28–39 weeks). The median intraoperative blood loss during cerclage insertion was 100 ml (range 25–750 ml).ConclusionIn experienced hands, TAC during pregnancy is a safe and effective operation, when other less invasive procedures have failed.
Assessing peer effects and subsidy impacts in conservation technology adoption: Application to grazing management choices
Authors: Che Yuyuan , Feng Hongli , Hennessy David A. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractRotational grazing has the potential to provide environmental and economic benefits; however, the adoption rate is about 30% in the United States. We develop a model to examine peer networking and grazing practice decisions, and how subsidies affect decisions in the presence of peer effects. We apply a simultaneous‐equations model to address endogeneity issues with peer effects that are measured as either the number of adopters a rancher knows or the extent of adoption in a rancher's neighborhood. Empirical analysis provides evidence of significant peer effects on rotational grazing adoption. Incentive policies have multiplier effects on adoption through peer networking.
How to implement a pharmacogenetics service at your institution
Authors: Cicali Emily J. , Lemke Lauren , Al Alshaykh Hana , Nguyen Khoa , Cavallari Larisa H. , Wiisanen Kristin 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe vast majority of patients possess one or more pharmacogenetic variants that can influence optimal medication use. When pharmacogenetic data are used to guide drug choice and dosing, evidence points to improved disease outcomes, fewer adverse effects, and lower healthcare spending. Although its science is well established, clinical use of pharmacogenetic data to guide drug therapy is still in its infancy. Pharmacogenetics essentially involves the intersection of an individual's genetic data with their medications, which makes pharmacists uniquely qualified to provide clinical support and education in this field. In fact, most pharmacogenetics implementations, to date, have been led by pharmacists as leaders or members of a multidisciplinary team or as individual practitioners. A successful large‐scale pharmacogenetics implementation requires coordination and synergy among administrators, clinicians, informatics teams, laboratories, and patients. Because clinical implementation of pharmacogenetics is in its early stages, there is an urgent need for guidance and dissemination of shared experiences to provide a framework for clinicians. Many early adopters of pharmacogenetics have explored various strategies among diverse practice settings. This article relies on the experiences of early adopters to provide guidance for critical steps along the pathway to implementation, including strategies to engage stakeholders; evaluate pharmacogenetic evidence; coordinate laboratory testing, results interpretation and their integration into the electronic health record; identify reimbursement avenues; educate providers and patients; and maintain a successful program. Learning from early adopters' published experiences and strategies can allow clinicians leading a new pharmacogenetics implementation to avoid pitfalls and adapt and apply lessons learned by others to their own practice.
Vitexin alleviates inflammation and enhances apoptosis through the regulation of the JAK/STAT/SOCS signaling pathway in the arthritis rat model
Authors: Zhang Daojian , Ning Taiguo , Wang Hongbin 
Published: August 2022

AbstractRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorder. RA is progressive and needs long‐term treatment. Vitexin is a naturally‐occurring flavonoid that is identified in various plant sources. Vitexin is demonstrated to produce antioxidant effects with numerous pharmacological activities. This experimental in vivo study assessed the antiarthritic and apoptotic role of a natural plant extract, vitexin, on RA. Collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) rat model Sprague Dawley males were grouped into five sets with six rats each: control, CIA, CIA + vitexin (10 mg/kg bw), CIA + Methotrexate (1 mg/kg bw), and vitexin (10 mg/kg bw) alone. The body weight, organ weight, biochemical assay, inflammatory enzymes, apoptosis, and cytokines levels were evaluated and compared among groups. Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)/suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) levels and histopathology of ankle joints were also studied and compared. Significance was considered at a p < 0.05. Vitexin (10 mg/kg bw) significantly reduced the inflammatory enzyme markers, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐17, IL‐4, IL‐10, tumor necrosis factor‐α, interferon‐γ, and iNOS levels in arthritis rats (p < 0.05). Vitexin significantly improved collagen‐induced arthritic histological changes (p < 0.05). Vitexin also reduced JAK/STAT expressions associated with inflammation and significantly increased elevated SOCS levels (p < 0.05). Aberration in apoptosis, inflammatory mediators, C‐reactive protein, and rheumatoid factor levels in the arthritic rats reverted to normal with vitexin. These results emphasize that vitexin possesses anti‐inflammatory and apoptotic activity via the regulation of JAK/STAT/SOCS signaling in CIA in a rat model. Hence, vitexin is a promising auxiliary drug for RA treatment.
Is pre‐heat necessary for the measurement of 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydroguanosine and 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydro‐2′‐deoxyguanosine in urine samples
Authors: Zou Yutong , Ma Xiaoli , Yu Songlin , Qiu Ling 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundIt is currently unclear for the necessary of pre‐heating urine samples for the accurate determination of 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydroguanosine (8‐oxoG) and 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydro‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐oxodG). Thus, we conducted this study to evaluate the effect of pre‐heat (i.e., to 37°C) on the accurate measurement of 8‐oxoG and 8‐oxodG in frozen urine samples.MethodsRandom urine samples from six healthy volunteers, six patients with renal dysfunction, and six patients with systematic diseases such as diabetes were collected, split, and stored at −80°C for up to 1 month. The frozen samples were thawed at room temperature (RT) or 37°C for different time, 10‐fold diluted with ddH2O containing 1% formic acid, and determined by self‐established LC–MS/MS method coupled with an ACQUITY™ Primer HSS T3 column.ResultsThawing the samples at RT for 30 or 120 min, or at 37°C for 15 or 90 min did not affect the determination of 8‐oxoG and 8‐oxodG in urine samples. Moreover, no significant difference between thawing the urine samples at RT and 37°C was found after storing at −80°C for 1–3 months.ConclusionIt is not always necessary to pre‐heat the frozen urine samples to release 8‐oxoG and 8‐oxodG from precipitates, which is associated with different pre‐treatment and determination methods.
Population Pharmacokinetics and Hemorrhagic Risk Analysis of Rivaroxaban in Elderly Chinese Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Zhang Dan , Chen Wenqian , Qin Wei , Du Wenwen , Wang Xiaoxing , Zuo Xianbo , Li Pengmei 
Published: August 2022

AbstractRivaroxaban is a popular direct factor Xa inhibitor used for anticoagulation therapy in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The aim of this study was to establish a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model for rivaroxaban in elderly Chinese patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, evaluate precision dosing regimens, and analyze hemorrhagic risk after rivaroxaban treatment. A 1‐compartment population PK model with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), total bilirubin (TBIL), and ABCB1 rs1045642 as major covariates for apparent clearance was developed using the nonlinear mixed‐effects model (NONMEM). A Monte Carlo simulation was performed to evaluate various dosing schemes and different levels of covariates for the target range of therapeutic drug‐monitoring concentrations (Cmax,ss and Cmin,ss). The exposure to rivaroxaban was simulated and assessed through hemorrhagic risk evaluation. The results showed that the average probability of target attainment (PTA) for optimal dosing regimens with different covariate levels for the targeted Cmax,ss and Cmin,ss were 29.35% to 31.3% and 64.91% to 65.8%, respectively. A dosage of 10 mg of rivaroxaban in elderly Chinese patients with normal renal and liver function was appropriate. The area under the concentration–time curve estimated over 24 hours with precision dosing at steady state (AUC24,ss) was statistically significantly associated with an increased risk of bleeding events (OR 1.0006, 95%CI 1.0003 to 1.001, P < .0001), and the bleeding risk increased by 1.82‐fold for every 1000 μg*h/L increase in AUC24,ss. A lower dose is recommended for elderly patients with renal impairment to avoid overexposure and bleeding events. The PPK model could inform individualized dosing for elderly Chinese patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation receiving rivaroxaban anticoagulation therapy.
Establishment and validation of an ultrasound‐based nomogram with risk stratification for short disease‐free survival in breast cancer
Authors: Guo Qiang , Dong Zhiwu , Jiang Lixin , Zhang Lei , Li Ziyao , Wang Dongmo 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPurposeThis retrospective study aimed to develop and validate an Ultrasound (US)‐based nomogram to predict short disease‐free survival (short‐DFS, less than 120 months DFS) in breast cancer (BC).MethodsNomogram was established based on a training data of 311 BC patients by multivariable logistic regression, and were assessed by discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness. Risk stratification was performed by X‐tile. An independent testing data of 200 patients with BC was used for external validation.ResultsNine predictors including three US features and six clinical parameters were screened into the nomogram by Lasso (log λ = −3.594) in training data. Better performance was obtained in the training data (C‐index: 0.942) and testing data (C‐index: 0.914). Calibration analysis indicated optimal agreement between nomogram predictions and actual observations (p = 0.67). Decision curve analysis showed a great clinical benefit (Youden index: 0.634). Three risk levels are low‐risk (<184.0), moderate‐risk (184.0–345.3) and high‐risk (>345.3). Our nomograms had larger area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves compared with Magee Equation and Nottingham Prognostic models (0.942 vs. 0.824, 0.790).ConclusionThe US‐based nomogram and the practical score system facilitate individualized prediction of short‐DFS to optimize clinical decisions and improve prognosis in patients with BC.
Clean Water Act at 50: Celebrating the golden anniversary of the blue policy
Authors: Smith Douglas 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBoth the U.S. Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Journal of Environmental Quality (JEQ) trace back to 1972. The journal has a strong history of publishing science in support of the CWA, from basic science used to develop best management practices to address water quality problems to special sections on hot issues of the day and publishing long‐term data that provide evidence of success. The objective of this article is to provide a brief overview of how JEQ has provided a publication outlet for researchers involved in efforts focused on key CWA issues and to introduce a special section celebrating the golden anniversary of this blue policy. The special section includes papers that look back historically on biosolids research that began with the advent of the CWA as well as a forward‐looking paper encouraging readers to think about the implications of the ubiquitous use of lithium‐ion batteries and a call to action before tangible problems are realized.
RETRACTED: Safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant receptor‐binding domain‐based protein subunit vaccine (Noora vaccine™) against COVID‐19 in adults: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, Phase 1 trial
Authors: Salimian Jafar , Ahmadi Ali , Amani Jafar , Olad Gholamreza , Halabian Raheleh , Saffaei Ali , Arabfard Masoud , Nasiri Mojtaba , Nazarian Shahram , Abolghasemi Hassan , Alishiri Gholamhossein 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe development of a safe and effective vaccine is essential to protect populations against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). There are several vaccine candidates under investigation with different mechanisms of action. In the present study, we have evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant receptor‐binding domain (RBD)‐based protein subunit vaccine (Noora vaccine) against COVID‐19 in adults. This Phase 1 trial is a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the recombinant RBD‐based protein subunit vaccine (Noora vaccine) against COVID‐19 in healthy adults volunteers. Eligible participants were included in this study after evaluating their health status and considering the exclusion criteria. They were then randomized into three groups and received three doses of vaccine (80 µg, 120 µg, and placebo) on Days 0, 21, and 35. Primary outcomes including solicited, unsolicited, and medically attended adverse events were recorded during this study. Secondary outcomes including the humoral and cellular immunity (including anti‐RBD IgG antibody and neutralizing antibody) were measured on Days 0, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49 by using the ELISA kit and the Virus Neutralization Test (VNT) was performed on day 49. Totally 70 cases were included in this Phase 1 trial and 60 of them completed the study. Safety assessments showed no severe adverse events. Local pain at the vaccine injection site occurred in 80% of the vaccinated volunteers. Induration and redness at the injection site were the other adverse reactions of this vaccine. There was no significant difference between the studied groups regarding adverse reactions. Anti‐RBD IgG antibody and neutralizing antibody assessment showed significant seroconversion in comparison to the placebo group (80%, and 100% respectively, p < 0.001). The cellular immunity panel also showed mild to moderate induction of TH1 responses and the VNT showed 78% of seroprotection. The results of this Phase 1 trial showed acceptable safety without serious adverse events and significant seroconversions in the humoral and cellular immunity panel. The dose of 80 µg is an appropriate dose for injection in the next phases of the trial.
Disease severity and efficacy of homologous vaccination among patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta or Omicron VOCs, compared to unvaccinated using main biomarkers
Authors: Ali Ayad M. , Tofiq Ahmed M. , Rostam Hassan M. , Ali Kameran M. , Tawfeeq Hassan M. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractFrom March 2021, various countries including Iraq issued prompted recommendations for increased COVID‐19 vaccine protection in individuals especially those at risk of catching the virus (i.e., lifestyle, health sector workers, and chronic diseases). It is critically important to understand the impact of COVID‐19 vaccinations with the most commonly used vaccines (Pfizer and AstraZeneca) among populations either on the severity of the disease or the transmissibility of SARS‐CoV‐2 variants of concern (VOCs) and in sequential waves. This study was conducted to establish the clinical severity of COVID‐19 caused by Delta and Omicron SARS‐CoV‐2 variants among patients who either attended or were admitted to hospitals and to compare the effectiveness of Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID‐19 vaccines (single or double doses) at least to prevent hospitalizations if not eradicating the pandemic. A case–control study was done of 570 hospitalized patients; including 328 COVID‐19 confirmed patients (166 males, 160 females) who received homologous vaccinations and 242 unvaccinated patients (128 males, 114 females) during the studied waves. The study showed that unvaccinated COVID‐19 patients in both waves had expressed significantly a higher number and longer periods of symptoms than vaccinated ones. Additionally, there was no significant effect of vaccine types, Pfizer and AstraZeneca or vaccine shot numbers on the PCR‐Ct in the last (Omicron) wave of the pandemic. However, in the previous (Delta) wave of the pandemic, fully vaccinated (double doses) COVID‐19 patients had higher PCR‐Ct values. Whether among vaccinated or unvaccinated patients, lower CRP levels recorded during the Omicron wave than that of the Delta wave, and regardless of the vaccine type or shot numbers, there were no significant differences between the two waves. Lower WBCs were observed in patients (vaccinated and unvaccinated) infected with the Delta variant in comparison to those infected with the Omicron variant and without any remarkable effect of the vaccine type or shot numbers. This is the first molecular and investigational study of the Delta variant and circulated Omicron in Iraq, regarding the severity of these two waves of SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic and the efficacy of homologous vaccination, indicating the insufficiency of two doses and the demand for booster dose(s) as the most effective way of keeping on the safe‐side against SARS‐CoV‐2.
Estimating the undetected infections in the Monkeypox outbreak
Authors: Maruotti Antonello , Böhning Dankmar , Rocchetti Irene , Ciccozzi Massimo 
Published: August 2022

AbstractWhile the number of detected Monkeypox infections are widely available, an understanding of the extent of undetected cases is urgently needed for an effective tackling of its spread. The aim of this study is to estimate the true number of Monkeypox (detected and undetected) infections in most affected countries. The question being asked is: How many cases have actually occurred? We propose a lower bound estimator for the true number of Monkeypox cases. The estimator is data‐driven and can be easily computed from the cumulative distributions of weekly cases. We focused on the ratio of the total estimated cases to the observed cases on July 31, 2022: The proportion of undetected cases was relevant in all countries, with countries whose estimated true number of infections could be more than three times the observed one. We provided a practical contribution to the understanding of the current Monkeypox wave and reliable estimates on how many undetected cases are going around in several countries, where the epidemic spreads differently.
Forecasting occurrence and quantity of monthly precipitation simultaneously while accounting for complex serial correlation
Authors: Duan Xingde , Ma Renjun , Zhang Xiaolei 
Published: August 2022

AbstractTweedie's compound Poisson regression models have been introduced in recent years to model and predict daily, monthly and seasonal precipitation data. Tweedie's compound Poisson regression analysis of precipitation data captures the relationship between the mean structure of precipitation and covariates while accounting for its right‐skewness and zero‐inflation appropriately, and thus extends trend analysis stage of classical time series techniques to handle right‐skewed time series data with possible zero‐inflation. A distinctive advantage of Tweedie's compound Poisson modelling of precipitation data is that the occurrence and quantity of precipitation can be simultaneously modelled using a single distribution; however, this approach ignores serial correlation between precipitation data observed over time. In this study, we propose to accommodate complex correlation structures of time series precipitation data using the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models at the next stage as done in the classical time series analysis. Our analyses of monthly precipitation data in Australia demonstrated the usefulness of our two‐stage approach to prediction of precipitation.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy in an immobilized knee model in rats prevents progression of joint contracture
Authors: Iwatsu Jun , Yabe Yutaka , Kanazawa Kenji , Itaya Nobuyuki , Sogi Yasuhito , Saijo Yoshifumi , Aizawa Toshimi , Hagiwara Yoshihiro 
Published: August 2022

AbstractJoint immobilization, which ensures rest and accelerates tissue recovery in musculoskeletal disorders, often causes joint contracture, for which there is still no effective prevention. To address this, we investigated the effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in preventing joint contracture, in a unilaterally immobilized knee rat model. Under general anesthesia, ESWT (0.25 mJ/mm2, 3000 shot, 4 Hz, 3 days/week) was administered from 1 day after immobilization up to 2, 4, and 6 weeks. The immobilized control group received general anesthesia without ESWT. We evaluated joint angle, tissue elasticity, and gene and protein expression related to fibrosis, inflammation, and angiogenesis in the joint capsule. Relative to the control, the ESWT group had greater joint angle at 4 and 6 weeks, and lower posterior‐capsule elasticity at 6 weeks. In the ESWT group, at 6 weeks, gene expression of collagen type I (col1α1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) was significantly downregulated, whereas interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) gene expression was upregulated, relative to that in the control. Compared with that in the control, at 4 and 6 weeks, the ratio of CTGF+ cells was significantly lower in the ESWT group; at 4 weeks, the ESWT group had significantly fewer CD68+ cells in the adhesion area, and at 6 weeks, significantly more blood vessels. Statement of Clinical Significance: In a rat model, ESWT counteracted fibrosis, suppressed macrophage infiltration, and promoted neovascularization, reducing elasticity, and increasing joint range‐ofmotion. ESWT offers a potential new strategy to prevent progression in joint contracture.