bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Early structural brain development in infants exposed to HIV and antiretroviral therapy in utero in a South African birth cohort
Authors: Wedderburn Catherine J. , Groenewold Nynke A. , Roos Annerine , Yeung Shunmay , Fouche Jean‐Paul , Rehman Andrea M. , Gibb Diana M. , Narr Katherine L. , Zar Heather J. , Stein Dan J. , Donald Kirsten A. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIntroductionThere is a growing population of children who are HIV‐exposed and uninfected (HEU) with the successful expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) use in pregnancy. Children who are HEU are at risk of delayed neurodevelopment; however, there is limited research on early brain growth and maturation. We aimed to investigate the effects of in utero exposure to HIV/ART on brain structure of infants who are HEU compared to HIV‐unexposed (HU).MethodsMagnetic resonance imaging using a T2‐weighted sequence was undertaken in a subgroup of infants aged 2–6 weeks enrolled in the Drakenstein Child Health Study birth cohort, South Africa, between 2012 and 2015. Mother–child pairs received antenatal and postnatal HIV testing and ART per local guidelines. We compared subcortical and total grey matter volumes between HEU and HU groups using multivariable linear regression adjusting for infant age, sex, intracranial volume and socio‐economic variables. We further assessed associations between brain volumes with maternal CD4 cell count and ART exposure.ResultsOne hundred forty‐six infants (40 HEU; 106 HU) with high‐resolution images were included in this analysis (mean age 3 weeks; 50.7% male). All infants who were HEU were exposed to ART (88% maternal triple ART). Infants who were HEU had smaller caudate volumes bilaterally (5.4% reduction, p < 0.05) compared to HU infants. There were no group differences in other subcortical volumes (all p > 0.2). Total grey matter volume was also reduced in infants who were HEU (2.1% reduction, p < 0.05). Exploratory analyses showed that low maternal CD4 cell count (<350 cells/mm3) was associated with decreased infant grey matter volumes. There was no relationship between timing of ART exposure and grey matter volumes.ConclusionsLower caudate and total grey matter volumes were found in infants who were HEU compared to HU in the first weeks of life, and maternal immunosuppression was associated with reduced volumes. These findings suggest that antenatal HIV exposure may impact early structural brain development and improved antenatal HIV management may have the potential to optimize neurodevelopmental outcomes of children who are HEU.
An insight into fruit aroma volatilome during postharvest maturation in two popular Musa cultivars of tropics
Authors: Mukherjee Subhadip , Pal Ananya , Mitra Adinpunya 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBACKGROUNDBanana is one of the major global horticultural fruit crops cultivated in the humid tropics and subtropics. Fruit quality and consumer acceptability of any climacteric fruit depend mainly on its postharvest aroma volatile profiles. The present study aimed to profile fruit volatiles status during postharvest storage of two banana cultivars: Kanthali (Musa sp. cv. Kanthali, Kt) and Kacha Kela (Musa sp. cv. Kacha Kela, Kk) from the ABB genome group.RESULTSBoth cultivars showed differences in the soluble sugar contents, with Kt being higher than Kk. The volatile compounds were profiled from the pulp as emitted, endogenous and glycosyl‐bound forms, along with peel‐endogenous and whole fruit volatiles during postharvest storage. Both cultivars showed a wide range of variations in volatile aroma pools; nevertheless, esters and aliphatic compounds were found to be the major contributors of fruit volatiles in Kt and Kk, respectively. The pulp‐endogenous volatiles served as the major pool, which showed a sharp decline with a corresponding increase of emission. Many volatiles were found to be glycosylated during early postharvest storage, with de‐glycosylation occurring with an increase in storage time, resulting in fruit softening and a concurrent supply of sugar bound volatiles towards emission.CONCLUSIONAs a whole, the study outcome provides an overview of fruit volatilome during postharvest storage and suggests a possible inter‐linking among the volatile components in the cultivars. It is plausible that the release of aroma volatiles from pulp is mediated via peel, with volatiles accumulating as peel‐endogenous volatiles representing the temporary pool reservoir. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Early Lung Ultrasound Findings in Patients With COVID‐19 Pneumonia: A Retrospective Multicenter Study of 479 Patients
Authors: Caroselli Costantino , Blaivas Michael , Marcosignori Matteo , Tung Chen Yale , Falzetti Sara , Mariz José , Fiorentino Romano , Pinto Silva Rafael , Gomes Cochicho Joana , Sebastiani Simone , Carlini Mauro , Polati Enrico , Simonini Valentina , Malagola Sara , Raffaldi Irene , Longo Daniele 
Published: January 2022

ObjectivesLung ultrasound (LUS) holds the promise of an accurate, radiation‐free, and affordable diagnostic and monitoring tool in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pneumonia. We sought to evaluate the usefulness of LUS in the diagnosis of patients with respiratory distress and suspicion of interstitial severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pneumonia, in comparison to other imaging modalities.MethodsThis was a multicenter, retrospective study. LUS was performed, on Emergency Department (ED) arrival of patients presenting for possible COVID‐19 evaluation, by trained emergency physicians, before undergoing conventional radiologic examination or while waiting for the report. Scans were performed using longitudinal transducer orientation of the lung regions. CXR was interpreted by radiologists staffing ED radiology. Subjects were divided into two group based on molecular test results. LUS findings were compared to COVID test results, nonlaboratory data, and other imaging for each patient. Categorical variables were expressed as percentages and continuous variables as median ± standard error.ResultsA total of 479 patients were enrolled, 87% diagnosed with SARS‐CoV‐2 by molecular testing. COVID positive and COVID negative patients differed with respect to sex, presence of fever, and white blood cells count. Most common findings on lung point of care ultrasound (POCUS) for COVID‐positive patients were B‐lines, irregular pleural lines, and small consolidation. Normal chest X‐ray was found in 17.89% of cases.ConclusionsThis 479 patient cohort, with COVID‐19, found LUS to be noninferior to chest X‐ray (CXR) for diagnostic accuracy. In this study, COVID‐positive patients are most likely to show B lines and sub‐pleural consolidations on LUS examination.
Differential survival in the presence of spatially structured ptarmigan harvest suggests additive mortality
Authors: Frye Graham G. , Lindberg Mark S. , Merizon Richard A. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe effects of hunting on wildlife populations vary dramatically, depending on the timing and magnitude of harvest, and population‐specific states and vital rates. We examined the hypothesis that spatially and seasonally concentrated harvest decreases annual survival probabilities of willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus). We estimated survival of radio‐marked willow ptarmigan at 2 categories of sites: those where ptarmigan were easily accessible and heavily hunted and those that were remote and received little or no hunting pressure in Alaska, USA. We predicted that seasonal survival estimates during the willow ptarmigan hunting season would be lower in access corridors than at remote sites and that this would result in lower annual survival unless subsequent seasonal compensatory mortality occurred. Consistent with our prediction, annual survival was higher at remote sites (adult males: 0.50, 95% credible interval [CrI] = 0.42–0.57; adult females: 0.36, 95% CrI = 0.26–0.46; juveniles: 0.39, 95% CrI = 0.29–0.50) than at accessible sites (adult males: 0.36, 95% CrI = 0.26–0.46; adult females: 0.23, 95% CrI = 0.12–0.32; juveniles: 0.25, 95% CrI = 0.13–0.37) for all demographic groups. Concentrated harvest occurred in accessible sites during the hunting season (Aug–Mar). During the post‐breeding season (Aug–Nov), when willow ptarmigan were near their breeding sites and the hunting season was open, survival was higher for those from remote sites than for those from accessible sites when accounting for demographic group (adult male, adult female, juvenile). In contrast, during winter (Dec–Mar), when willow ptarmigan had moved away from breeding territories and were no longer segregated into remote and accessible sites, survival estimates did not differ between those from remote breeding territories and those from accessible breeding territories. This pattern of differential survival indicates an association between concentrated hunting at accessible sites and reduced survival, and it suggests an additive component of harvest mortality. In addition, the timing of these survival patterns relative to seasonal movements suggests that early season harvest (prior to seasonal movements away from breeding territories) may have a greater impact on local breeders in accessible areas than later harvest.
Contextual factors related to the execution of knowledge strategies in intellectual disabilities organizations
Authors: Kersten Marion C. O. , Taminiau Elsbeth F. , Weggeman Mathieu C. D. P. , Embregts Petri J. C. M. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe sharing and application of knowledge in intellectual disabilities care are vital and challenging. Therefore, organizations providing care and support for people with intellectual disabilities use strategies to stimulate these processes. To optimize these strategies, we investigated the contextual factors that influence their execution. We conducted individual, in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews with 11 CEOs of organizations providing care for people with intellectual disabilities in the Netherlands. A thematic data analysis was conducted in which a deductive approach was followed by a bottom‐up clustering. We thus identified factors related to both the internal and the external context. The internal context involves persons within the organization and the organizational structures. The external context involves the organization's socio‐political environment and collaborative partnerships. We concluded that the execution of strategies to improve the sharing and application of knowledge is influenced by contextual factors which appear to be interconnected. These contextual factors point to the key role played by care professionals.
Solamargine inhibits the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma and enhances the anticancer effect of sorafenib by regulating HOTTIP‐TUG1/miR‐4726‐5p/MUC1 pathway
Authors: Tang Qing , Li Xiaojuan , Chen Yun , Long Shunqin , Yu Yaya , Sheng Honghao , Wang Sumei , Han Ling , Wu Wanyin 
Published: January 2022

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common primary malignancies. Drug resistance has significantly prevented the clinical application of sorafenib (SF), a first‐line targeted medicine for the treatment of HCC. Solamargine (SM), a natural alkaloid, has shown potential antitumor activity, but studies about antitumor effect of SM are obviously insufficient in HCC. In the present study, we found that SM significantly inhibited the growth of HCC and enhanced the anticancer effect of SF. In brief, SM significantly inhibited the growth of HepG2 and Huh‐7 cells. The combination of SM and SF showed a synergistic antitumor effect. Mechanistically, SM downregulated the expression of long noncoding RNA HOTTIP and TUG1, followed by increasing the expression of miR‐4726‐5p. Moreover, miR‐4726‐5p directly bound to the 3′‐UTR region of MUC1 and decreased the expression of MUC1 protein. Overexpression of MUC1 partially reversed the inhibitory effect of SM on HepG2 and Huh‐7 cells viability, which suggested that MUC1 may be the key target in SM‐induced growth inhibition of HCC. More importantly, the combination of SM and SF synergistically restrained the expression of MUC1 protein. Taken together, our study revealed that SM inhibited the growth of HCC and enhanced the anticancer effect of SF through HOTTIP‐TUG1/miR‐4726‐5p/MUC1 signaling pathway. These findings will provide potential therapeutic targets and strategies for the treatment of HCC.
Classifying Idiopathic Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder, Controls, and Mild Parkinson's Disease Using Gait Parameters
Authors: Cochen De Cock Valérie , Dotov Dobromir , Lacombe Sandy , Picot Marie Christine , Galtier Florence , Driss Valérie , Giovanni Castelnovo , Geny Christian , Abril Beatriz , Damm Loic , Janaqi Stefan 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACTBackgroundSubtle gait changes associated with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) could allow early detection of subjects with future synucleinopathies.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to create a multiclass model, using statistical learning from probability distribution of gait parameters, to distinguish between patients with iRBD, healthy control subjects (HCs), and patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).MethodsGait parameters were collected in 21 participants with iRBD, 21 with PD, and 21 HCs, matched for age, sex, and education level. Lasso sparse linear regression explored gait features able to classify the three groups.ResultsThe final model classified iRBD from HCs and from patients with PD equally well, with 95% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, and 90% specificity.ConclusionsGait parameters and a pretrained statistical model can robustly distinguish participants with iRBD from HCs and patients with PD. This could be used to screen subjects with future synucleinopathies in the general population and to identify a conversion threshold to PD. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Weight gain, weight management and medical care for individuals living with overweight and obesity during the COVID‐19 pandemic (EPOCH Study)
Authors: Glazer Stephen A. , Vallis Michael 
Published: January 2022

AbstractObjectiveMedical care and weight related experiences have been challenged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic for those living with obesity. The magnitude of this impact requires further attention in order to optimize patient care and outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and lockdown on access to, and experience of, medical care, weight gain and management strategies, as well as predictors of weight gain.MethodsAn online survey (June–October 2020) was conducted with two samples; one representative of Canadians living with overweight and obesity (n = 1089) and a second of individuals recruited through obesity clinical services or patient organizations (n = 980).ResultsLess than half of the total respondents thought that their providers were available for their medical care and most preferred in‐person appointments over telemedicine. Only one quarter were satisfied with their obesity care. Sixty percent of the respondents reported weight gain (on average 5.65 kilograms [kg] gained), with 39.0% gaining more than 5% of their body weight (10.2% gained more than 10%). Over half of the respondents experienced decreased motivation for healthy eating or exercise. One third experienced more frequent and greater food consumption. Although worsening sleep occurred in approximately 20%, there was no significant increase in smoking, alcohol, or cannabis use. Predictors of weight gain were younger patients, higher weight categories, those who struggled with obtaining medical care during the pandemic, as well as those who struggled with eating.ConclusionThese results suggest that the COVID‐19 pandemic negatively impacted patient care for those living with overweight and obesity and was associated with weight gain and interfered with weight management strategies. Greater attention to personalized weight management and interventions that focus on the predictors of weight gain should be undertaken.
Left heart hypoplasia in the fetus: Echocardiographic predictors of outcome
Authors: Colquitt John L. , Loar Robert W. , Bolin Elijah H. , Ezon David S. , Heinle Jeffrey S. , Morris Shaine A. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIntroductionFetal left heart hypoplasia (LHH) with an apex‐forming left ventricle may require neonatal intervention but it is difficult to predict.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of fetuses with LHH defined as normal segmental anatomy, apex‐/near‐apex forming left ventricle, and ≥1 left‐sided z‐score ≤ −2 between 1997 and 2014. Fetuses with mitral or aortic atresia, critical aortic stenosis, extracardiac anomalies, or fetal intervention were excluded. Classification and regression tree analyses (CART) were performed to construct algorithms to predict postnatal circulation: no surgery versus biventricular surgery versus single ventricle (SV) palliation.ResultsAmong 138 included fetuses, 52 (37%) underwent neonatal surgery, with 10 (7%) undergoing SV palliation. The strongest single outcome discriminator was exclusively left‐to‐right flow foramen ovale (FO) flow ≥32 weeks gestational age (GA) (seen in 0% with no surgery, 22% with biventricular surgery, 88% with SV palliation). On CART analysis >32 weeks GA, fetuses with right‐to‐left FO flow and aortopulmonary ratio >0.76 had 0% probability of neonatal surgery, while those with left‐to‐right FO flow and mitral valve z‐score < −3.6 had a 70% probability of SV palliation.ConclusionSV palliation is an uncommon outcome of fetal LHH. Fetal FO flow and other echocardiographic measures can help determine risk and type of postnatal intervention.
Metallized polyimide films for biomedical applications: X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface tension, and blood compatibility studies
Authors: Nica Simona Luminita , Hulubei Camelia , Popovici Dumitru , Dobromir Marius 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe implications of nitrogen plasma exposure of a semi‐aromatic polyimide (PI) and a fully aromatic one, was studied in regard to gold adhesion for biomedical purposes. The hydrophobicity of the analyzed PI films, estimated by the contact angle method, was influenced by both plasma treatment and gold sputtering. Comparative evaluation of the chemical binding states and surface chemical composition was determined by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for pristine, plasma treated, and metallized PI films. The appearance of the polar functional groups upon plasma exposure facilitates binding of the gold on the PI surface. Hemocompatibility was theoretically evaluated based on surface tension data. The observed characteristics of the metallized samples could be useful for making components for blood contacting devices, such as blood pressure or blood glucose detection.
Activation of PGC‐1α via isoliquiritigenin‐induced downregulation of miR‐138‐5p alleviates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Wang Lu , Wang Xiaohui , Kong Lina , Li Yingying , Huang Kai , Wu Jingjing , Wang Changyuan , Sun Huijun , Sun Pengyuan , Gu Jiangning , Luo Haifeng , Liu Kexin , Meng Qiang 
Published: January 2022

AbstractNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a metabolic disease, has received wide attention worldwide. However, there is no approved effective drug for NAFLD treatment. In the study, H&E and Oil Red O staining were employed to detect liver histopathological changes and the accumulation of lipid droplets. Quantitative real‐time PCR, Western blot, bioinformatics, luciferase assay, immunofluorescence staining, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and siRNA were used to further elucidate the mechanism of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) against NAFLD. The results showed that ISL significantly reduced the liver‐to‐body weight ratios and biochemical index. And the staining results showed that ISL remarkedly ameliorated liver histopathological changes of NAFLD. Furthermore, ISL significantly increased the levels of PPARα, CPT1α, and ACADS, which were involved in lipid metabolism, and inhibited the ROS, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 expression by activating PGC‐1α. Bioinformatics and luciferase assay analysis confirmed that miR‐138‐5p might bind to PGC‐1α mRNA in NAFLD. Importantly, the expression of miR‐138‐5p was increased in the NAFLD, which was significantly decreased by ISL. In addition, the miR‐138‐5p inhibitor also promoted lipid metabolism and inhibited inflammatory response in NAFLD via PGC‐1α activation. The above results demonstrate that ISL alleviates NAFLD through modulating miR‐138‐5p/PGC‐1α‐mediated lipid metabolism and inflammatory reaction in vivo and in vitro.
Dietary flavonoid narirutin as a prospective antagonist of oncogenic pri/pre‐microRNAs
Authors: Singh Shilpi , Srivastava Pratik Narain , Meena Abha , Luqman Suaib 
Published: January 2022

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in cancer progression via translational degradation in a sequence‐specific manner of the 3′‐untranslated region (3′UTR) of messenger RNA (mRNA). The involvement of miRNA in the biological progression of various cancer types is considered to be a potential target. Primary miRNA (pri‐miRNA) and precursor‐miRNA (pre‐miRNA) synthesize the miRNA by dicer‐catalyzed processes thus targeting pri/pre‐miRNA by phytochemicals is amongst the appropriate approaches for anticancer therapies. Flavonoids category of phytochemicals is well‐known for its chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive potential against multiple cancer types. However, the molecular interactions of flavonoids with miRNAs are not reported so far. Thus, this study aims to identify the promising flavonoids as the antagonist of miRNAs (pre‐miR21, pri‐miR‐208a, pri‐miR‐378a, pri‐miR320b, pri‐miR‐300, pri‐miR‐19b, and pre‐miR‐20b) using molecular docking simulations studies. Among the tested flavonoids, narirutin showed highest binding energy (−11.7 kcal/mol) against pri‐miR19b followed by pri‐miR‐378a (−11.4 kcal/mol) >  pri‐miR320b (−11.2 kcal/mol) =  pri‐miR‐300 (−11.2 kcal/mol) >  pri‐miR‐208a (−9.0 kcal/mol) >  pre‐miR‐20b (− 8.3 kcal/mol). The molecular dynamic simulation experiment confirmed that narirutin destabilizes the tertiary structure of pri‐miRNA in comparison to apo‐RNA. The finding indicates that narirutin binding with pre‐miRNA causes disruption of pri‐RNA structure that creates a loss of DICER‐pre‐miRNA interactions by hindering the pre‐miRNA synthesis, thereby affecting miRNA processing. Further pharmacokinetics and toxicity prediction revealed that it is non‐carcinogenic, non‐mutagenic, and does not inhibit the CYPs activity. Thus, narirutin could be a possible antagonist of oncogenic miRNAs, therefore could be useful for miRNA‐targeted cancer prevention and treatment.
The potential health benefits of aloin from genus Aloe
Authors: Xiao Jianbin , Chen Siyuan , Chen Youqiang , Su Jingqian 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe Aloe species is known for its medicinal and cosmetic properties. Aloin is an active ingredient found in the leaves of medicinal plants of the genus Aloe. Aloin has attracted considerable interest for its antiinflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities. However, since its clinical application is restricted by its unclear mechanism of action, a deeper understanding of its pharmacological activity is required. This review provides an overview of current pharmacological and toxicological studies published in English from February 2000 to August 2021. Herein, we summarized the sources and potential health benefits of aloin from a clinical application perspective to guide for further studies on the sources of aloin, aimed at efficiently increasing aloin production. Importantly, the function and mechanism of action of aloin remain unclarified. In future research, it is necessary to develop new approaches for studying the pharmacological molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of this compound against various diseases.