bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Function in Obese Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea by Three-dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography
Authors: Zhao Jingwen , Li Weihong , Wang Jianli , Hu Zixuan , Huang Yongwei , Zhang Yongzhen , Zhang Liqiang 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)and obesity can cause myocardial remodeling and cardiac insufficiency via corresponding pathophysiological pathways. Therefore, it is speculated that the superposition of OSA and obesity may cause more severe impairment of cardiac function. The objective of our study was to evaluate the early changes of left ventricular systolic function in obese patients with OSA with three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography(3D-STE).
Methods
This study was conducted with33 obese OSA, 46 non-obese OSA, and 20 healthy subjects. Demographic, biochemical, and Polysomnography(PSG) data were collected, and their relation with the left ventricular strain was measured and analyzed with 3D-STE.
Results
The Left ventricular strain was significantly worse in the OSA group compared to the control group(P < 0.05). The global longitudinal strain(GLS) was significantly worse in the OSA obese group compared to non-obese OSA group (P < 0.05). The GLS value positively correlated with body mass index(BMI) (r = 0.406, P < 0.001),Apnea-hypopnea index(AHI)(r = 0.610, P < 0.001)and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOME-IR) (r = 0.431, P < 0.001) in patients with OSA. Multiple linear regression analysis showed BMI as a predictor of GLS and global circumferential strain(GCS), AHI as a predictor of GLS, and HOME-IR as a predictor of global area strain(GAS) and global radial strain(GRS).
Conclusion
In OSA patients, the myocardial strain was impaired before the damages in left ventricular ejection fraction, suggesting that the left ventricular systolic function is damaged early. The coexistence of obesity and OSA can lead to severe impairment of cardiac function through hypoxia and insulin resistance.
Cascade of care, awareness and treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B in Malaysia- findings from a community-based screening campaign
Authors: Lim Zhuo-zhi , Lim Teck Onn , Teo Jau shya , Tan Ah Choon 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Introduction In 2016 the World Health Organization (WHO) had adopted a global strategy to eliminate Hepatitis B (HBV) by 2030 through five core interventions. One of which is the “cascade of care”, the continuum of services that persons with chronic HBV should receive as they progress from screening to diagnosis to treatment to chronic care. We determined the prevalence of the awareness and treatment of chronic HBV in Malaysia based on a large sample data from a screening campaign.Methods A total of 10,436 subjects participated in the HBV screening campaign organized by the Hepatitis Free Pahang Malaysia (HFPM) in 2018 and 2019. All screen-positive subjects were recalled to undergo laboratory-based HBsAg and HBV DNA tests. Patients with confirmed chronic HBV were referred to local health services, while continued being monitored by HFPM. ResultsWe estimated 13.1% of Malaysian adults aged 20 or older with chronic HBV were aware of their HBV status, and of those only 0.7% had received prior anti-viral treatment, but among those with baseline HBV DNA level>20,000 IU/ml, 15.6% were subsequently treated. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was the only medicine used on all treated patients. ConclusionFew Malaysian adults with HBV were aware of their infection and even less received anti-viral therapy. Concerted public health efforts are urgently needed to improve HBV screening and care cascade in order to meet WHO’s targets for HBV elimination.
Impact of PESTLE Constraints on the Development of Small-scale Biogas Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ketuama Chama Theodore , Mazancová Jana , Roubík Hynek 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
The sustainable production and use of small-scale biogas energy is needed to ensure clean household energy access in developing countries including the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region. This is influenced by market risks which can be identified as political, economic, social, technical, legal and environmental (PESTLE). This study examines peer-reviewed and grey literature for the period from 2000 to 2020 to identify the PESTLE constraints and assess their impact on the sustainable deployment of the technology in the SSA region. The production of biogas with small-scale plants is commonly by rural and peri-urban households. Results show that economic constraints are the most dominant and reducing at a slow pace. This is followed by political constraints which have received much attention in the last two decades. Despite the provided policy improvements, national bioenergy policies and interventions are still to make significant gains, especially in the Central African region. In order of significance, the Southern, East and West Africa regions have made comparably larger progress in reducing the constraints. However, to achieve sustainable development of the technology, there is need to further address the PESTLE constraints at national and regional level. This study partly deduces that the unsustainable production, use and inadequate regulation of the small-scale biogas sector is delaying its transition in the SSA region.
GREM1/PPP2R3A expression in heterogeneous fibroblasts initiates pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Shi Xiaoni , Yang Shaoqi , Luo Wei , Wang Sha , Huang Jie , Chen Mengling , Wang Jing , Cheng Yusi , Zhang Xinxin , Chao Jie 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background: Fibroblasts have important roles in the synthesis and remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins during pulmonary fibrosis. However, the spatiotemporal distribution of heterogeneous fibroblasts during disease progression remains unknown.Results: In the current study, silica was used to generate a mouse model of pathological changes in the lung, and single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptome sequencing and an analysis of markers of cell subtypes were performed to identify fibroblast subtypes. A group of heterogeneous fibroblasts that played an important role in the early pathological stage were identified, characterized by the expression of inflammatory and proliferation genes (termed infla-pro fibroblasts) and concentrated in the lesion area. GREM1/protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''alpha (PPP2R3A) expression in infla-pro fibroblasts was found to initiate early pulmonary pathological changes by increasing cell viability, proliferation and migration.Conclusions: Infla-pro fibroblasts play a key role in the early pathological changes of silicosis, in which GREM1 is the driving factor that targets PPP2R3A and initiates the inflammatory response, followed by irreversible fibrosis induced by SiO2. The GREM1/PPP2R3A pathway may be a potential target for the early treatment of silicosis.
Higher levels of nonylphenol were found in human urine and drinking water from rural areas than metropolitan regions of Wuhan, China despite less aquatic contamination
Authors: Xu Chunyan , Ling Haibo , Fan Chuangang , Xiang Luojing , Zhang Shu , Li Weiwei , Yi Chuan 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
The suspected endocrine disruptor nonylphenol (NP) is closely associated with anthropogenic activities; therefore, studies on this compound have been clustered in urban areas. This study investigated the NP concentrations in drinking water sources (n = 8), terminal tap water (n = 36), and human urine samples (n = 127) collected from urban and rural areas in Wuhan, China. The mean concentrations of NP measured in drinking water sources in urban and rural areas were 92.3 ± 7.5 and 11.0 ± 0.8 ng/L (mean ± SD), respectively, whereas the mean levels in urban and rural tap waters were 5.0 ± 0.7 and 44.2 ± 2.6 ng/L (mean ± SD), respectively. Nevertheless, NP was detected in 74.1% and 75.4% of the human urine samples from urban and rural participants, with geometric mean concentrations of 0.19 ng/ml (0.26 µg/g creat) and 0.27 ng/ml (0.46 µg/g creat), respectively. Although the NP concentrations measured in the drinking water sources of urban areas were significantly higher than those in rural areas (P < 0.05), the tap water and urine NP concentrations measured in urban areas were unexpectedly lower than those of rural areas (P < 0.05). Additionally, this investigation showed that the materials comprising household water supply pipelines and drinking water treatment processes in the two areas were also different. Our results indicated that the levels of exposure to NP in drinking water and human urine in rural areas were not necessarily lower than those in urban areas. Thus, particular attention should be paid to rural areas in future studies of NP.
Characterization of sub-cycle Electromagnetic pulse
by long-life traces of wavefronts sampled in attosecond-level step
Authors: lin hai , Liu P 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Current methods of characterizing electromagnetic(EM)-pulse can be divided into two classes,one is based on photons replica of the EM-pulse under test and the other on electrons replica. Methods in first class, such as interferometry and spectrography, are difficult to be competent for characterization of EM-pulse with attosecond(AS)-level duration due to too short duration or too broad bandwidth. Methods in second class, such as streak camera method, is competent but
demands the pulse to have a peak strength high enough for efficiently producing X-ray photons. We propose a simple, universal method without special demand on the peak strength. It uses conventional optics method to sample, in AS-level step, wavefronts of the EM-pulse under test. Phase information carried by each sampled wavefront is fixed into, as a long-life trace, solid-state circuit and hence allow recording raw measurement data to be conducted over a feasible longer time scale.
Bayesian updating of seismic fragility curves through experimental tests
Authors: Tekeste Gidewon Goitom , Correia António A. , Costa Aníbal G. 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Fragility curves, commonly derived using analytical methods, are important ingredients of seismic risk analysis of structures in the framework of performance-based earthquake engineering. Hence, the accurate estimation of realistic fragility functions is a decisive step in a reliable risk assessment. This paper proposes a Bayesian updating procedure applied to analytical fragility curves of reinforced concrete (RC) structures based on data from experimental tests, namely shaking table tests. The latter are commonly performed by progressively increasing the intensity of the input motion applied to the same test specimen. In this regard, the maximal benefit from the output of a shaking table test is sought here, aiming to convert n sequential stages of a shaking table test of a single virgin specimen into n equivalent shaking table tests that are performed on n virgin specimens. This is performed by modifying the intensity of the input motion applied during the stage-wise testing based on a damage index coefficient. The parametric studies performed to validate this objective reveal that the approach is more suitable for simple structures compared to large or complex structures. The ATC-58 and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approaches for Bayesian updating of fragility curves are also closely examined and compared. The proposed Bayesian updating is applied to a RC structure, where fragility curves that are derived from incremental dynamic analysis are updated using shaking table results. The updating is examined considering three damage state models, namely HAZUS, homogenized RC and strain-based damages states. This work also highlights the pitfalls of using a limited sample of experimental test data for updating less reliable priors. Besides, the MCMC-based approach is shown to be more robust in the presence of complex analytical fragilities than the ATC-58 approach.
A rare case of hydatid cyst of the neck with concurrent pulmonary hydatid disease
Authors: Tiwari Pawan , Shukla Amarendra Kumar , Peter Amrutha , Arya Veerendra , Dwivedi Vineet , Gupta Manish Kumar , Rai Nimish , Bhargava Jitendra K 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Echinococcosis, commonly known as hydatid disease, is a zoonotic infection caused by dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. Hydatid disease of the head and neck region is scarcely reported even in endemic areas. We herein report a case with with neck swelling and respiratory symptoms subsequently diagnosed to have disseminated echinococcosis of the neck and left lung.
Berberine ameliorate mesenteric vascular dysfunction by perivascular adipose tissue on diet-induced obesity rats
Authors: Wang Man , Geng Xufang , Li Kaipeng , Wang Yawen , Duan Xiaofeng , Hou Congcong , Zhao Lili , Zhou Huimin , Zhao Ding 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Berberine has been found to have anti-obesity effects, and obesity can lead to adipose tissue degeneration. As a special adipose tissue, perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is closely related to vascular function. What happens to PVAT in diet-induced obesity and how it affects vascular function are the focus of our experimental study.
Methods
Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with high fat diet (fat 34% kcal) for 4 weeks, simulated early obesity model. Obesity rats were treated with BBR (200 mg/kg) or metformin (100 mg/kg) by gavage for 2 weeks. The mesenteric arterioles were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), the Force vs time curves were observed and analyzed to indicate vascular function. Nitric oxide (NO) and noradrenaline (NA) released were quantified using organ bath with fluorescence assays and ELISA, respectively. Using network pharmacology to analyze the overlapping targets related of BBR and obesity-related diseases, and further analyzes the expression of NOS in mesenteric perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) with immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. The serum inflammatory factors levels were tested.
Results
BBR could significantly reduce the levels of blood glucose, blood lipid and inflammatory factors in serum, and effectively improved the abnormal mesenteric vasoconstriction and relaxation in obesity rats. There was no significant change in mesenteric vascular structure in obesity rats, but collagen fibers in mesenteric tissue were increased, and NO production and eNOS expression in mesenteric PVAT were increase, NA was decrease. All these changes in obesity rats on mesenteric tissue and PVAT were reversed by treated with BBR and metformin.
Conclusions
In diet-induced obesity rats, the function of vasoconstriction and relaxation in mesenteric arterioles are altered, NO is increased but NA is decreased in mesenteric PVAT. All these changes are reversed by BBR, suggesting a novel effects of BBR ameliorate mesenteric vascular dysfunction through regulating the PVAT, which may closely relate with anti-inflammatory and against oxidative stress effects.
Child-related factors associated with depressive symptoms among mothers in urban Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Sultana Sharmin , Muhammad Faisal , Chowdhury ABM Alauddin , Mistry Sabuj Kanti 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background:International evidence suggest that several child-related health outcomes and mother-children bondingare associated with depression among mothers. However, no studies documented this among Bangladeshi mothers. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the child-related factors associated with depression among mothers in urban Bangladesh.Methods:This cross-sectional studywas conducted among mothers of school-going children from Dhaka City of Bangladesh duringJune andDecember 2019. A multistage sampling technique was adopted and atotal of 324 mothers of school-going children (class V-VIII) from 12 schools of Dhaka City Corporation was selected. The inclusion criteria includedthe mothers of the children studying in the same school for at least six months. Depression was measured using a 20-item Self-Rating Depression Scale weighted to 100 percent, with 25-49 categorized as no depression and 50-59 as having depression.A binary logistic regression model was executedto identify the child-related factors associated with depression among mothers.Results:More than half of the participants (54.3%) were aged ≥40 yearsandhad up to HSC level education (52.5%).Most of them were homemakers (67.0%)and mothers of a girl child(53.1%). In addition, 82.1% of the participants lived in a nuclear family, and 52.8% of the participantshad a family income of ≥50,000 BDT. Adjusted analyses revealedthat mother’s depression was associated with child’s frequent complaint of headaches or stomachaches(aOR=13.19, 95% CI 3.03-57.37), having an injury (aOR=4.05, 95% CI 1.44-11.41), and unfriendly relationship with mothers(aOR=21.46, 95% CI 5.04-91.28).Conclusion:Findings of the present study identified severalchild-related factors such as sickness, injury, and unfriendly relationships with mothers are associated with depression among mothers of school-going children.Policymakers and public health practitioners should address the child-related factors linked to mother's depression as part of the management of overall depression among mothers in urban Bangladesh.
Acyloxyacyl hydrolase deficiency induces chronic inflammation and bone loss in male mice
Authors: Cheng Xu , Song Xiaoting , Li Zhiyan , Yuan Chiting , Lei Xinhuan , Feng Mingxuan , Hong Zhenghua , Zhang Liwei , Hong Dun 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Hormonal homeostasis is essential in bone remodeling. Recent studies have shown that the treatment of intestinal inflammation can result in the regulation of bone resorption in distant bones. Increased intestinal permeability may lead to systemic inflammation and bone loss, also known as gut-bone axis. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a component of gram-negative bacteria that can increase osteoclastic differentiation in vitro. Acyloxyacyl hydrolase (AOAH) is a specific degrading enzyme of LPS, but little is known about the role of AOAH in bone metabolism. In this study, Adult Aoah−/− mice showed a chronic inflammatory state and osteopenic phenotype analyzed by micro-CT and HE staining. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining of femurs showed an increase in TRAP-positive cells from Aoah−/− mice. AOAH depletion enhanced the osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption capacity of BMMs. The enhanced osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption capacity of Aoah−/− BMMs were reversed by rAOAH. In conclusion, the chronic inflammatory state of adult Aoah−/− mice promotes bone resorption. AOAH participates in bone metabolism, which is mainly mediated by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation. LPS may be a key mediator of the gut-bone axis, and targeting AOAH may represent a feasible strategy for the treatment of chronic inflammatory bone resorption.
First DNA barcode efficiency assessment for an important ingredient in the Amazonian ayahuasca tea: mariri/jagube, Banisteriopsis (Malpighiaceae)
Authors: Luz Thalita Zanquetta , Cunha-Machado Antonio Saulo , Batista Jacqueline Silva da Silva 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Mariri or jagube (Banisteriopsis spp.) is a vine of the Malpighiaceae family naturally found in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. It is also an important ingredient of ayahuasca tea used by some traditional, indigenous people and religious groups of Amazonian origin. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of six markers such as DNA barcode to access genetic diversity and use them in the identification of either ethnovarieties or species of Banisteriopsis spp. used in the preparation of ayahuasca in the Amazon. The efficiency of three plastid genes (matK, ndhF, and rcbL) and three nuclear markers (MP3 and yage5 isolated in the present study and ITS - Internal Transcribed Spacer) were tested. For these six markers, a total of 4,792 base pairs were sequenced. The plastid markers identified that all the samples analyzed belong to the genus Banisteriopsis; however, they presented the lowest indices of genetic diversity and were not efficient for use in the identification of ethnovarieties. Nuclear DNA markers showed the highest levels of genetic diversity. The ITS showed the highest values of genetic distances between the identified lineages. This study demonstrates that the use of ITS for DNA barcoding was more efficient since the identified lineages showed correspondence with the ethnovarieties of Banisteriopsis spp. used in the preparation of ayahuasca. We encourage new integrative studies like this one, which combines modern approaches and traditional knowledge, to contribute to the maintenance of traditional knowledge as well as the conservation of species.
Successful initial high-dose tofacitinib treatment for acute severe ulcerative colitis with steroid resistance: A case series
Authors: Komeda Yoriaki , Kono Masashi , Kashida Hiroshi , Tribonias George , Masaki Sho , Takada Ryutaro , Nagai Tomoyuki , Hagiwara Satoru , Nishida Naoshi , Takenaka Mamoru , Honjo Hajime , Matsui Shigenaga , Tsuji Naoko , Kudo Masatoshi 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
BackgroundThe standard therapy for acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) is intravenous corticosteroids; however, 30% of UC patients do not recover with corticosteroids alone. Infliximab or cyclosporin is indicated to decrease the rates of colectomy of hospitalized ASUC patients. Although a previous study showed that moderate to severe UC had a rapid response to tofacitinib, few studies have reported the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib for ASUC.We report a case series of successful first-line treatment consisting of high-dose tofacitinib (20 mg/day) administered to ASUC patients with steroid resistance. Case presentationPatients diagnosed with ASUC at our institution between October 2018 and February 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. They were administered high dose of tofacitinib (20 mg) after they had no response to steroid therapy comprising a dose of 1 to 1.5 mg/kg/day. This study included a total of eight patients with ASUC. There were four (50%) men and four (50%) women with a median age of 47.1 years (range, 19–65 years). All patients had a median UC duration of 4 years (range, 0–20 years). Four patients had no previous history of UC.A clinical response was observed in six of the eight patients before they experienced remission. Six patients were able to avoid colectomy. One patient (patient 2) had no response; however, remission was achieved after switching from tofacitinib to infliximab. One patient (patient 6) with no response to tofacitinib underwent total colectomy. When we used tofacitinib during induction and the follow-up phase, only one patient (patient 4) experienced a major adverse event, herpes zoster, which was treated with acyclovir without stopping tofacitinib. ConclusionClinical remission can be achieved with high probability and colectomy can be avoided by administering high-dose tofacitinib to steroid-resistant ASUC patients.