bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RCAN1-mediated calcineurin inhibition as a target for cancer therapy
Authors: Lao Mengyi , Zhang Xiaozhen , Yang Hanshen , Bai Xueli , Liang Tingbo 
Published: June 2022

AbstractCancer is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1), as a patent endogenous inhibitor of calcineurin, plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of cancers. Except for hypopharyngeal and laryngopharynx cancer, high expression of RCAN1 inhibits tumor progression. Molecular antitumor functions of RCAN1 are largely dependent on calcineurin. In this review, we highlight current research on RCAN1 characteristics, and the interaction between RCAN1 and calcineurin. Moreover, the dysregulation of RCAN1 in various cancers is reviewed, and the potential of targeting RCAN1 as a new therapeutic approach is discussed.
Assessment of Rice Sheath Blight Resistance Including Associations with Plant Architecture, as Revealed by Genome-Wide Association Studies
Authors: Li Danting , Zhang Fantao , Pinson Shannon R. M. , Edwards Jeremy D. , Jackson Aaron K. , Xia Xiuzhong , Eizenga Georgia C. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Sheath blight (ShB) disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, is one of the most economically damaging rice (Oryza sativa L.) diseases worldwide. There are no known major resistance genes, leaving only partial resistance from small-effect QTL to deploy for cultivar improvement. Many ShB-QTL are associated with plant architectural traits detrimental to yield, including tall plants, late maturity, or open canopy from few or procumbent tillers, which confound detection of physiological resistance.

Results
To identify QTL for ShB resistance, 417 accessions from the Rice Diversity Panel 1 (RDP1), developed for association mapping studies, were evaluated for ShB resistance, plant height and days to heading in inoculated field plots in Arkansas, USA (AR) and Nanning, China (NC). Inoculated greenhouse-grown plants were used to evaluate ShB using a seedling-stage method to eliminate effects from height or maturity, and tiller (TN) and panicle number (PN) per plant. Potted plants were used to evaluate the RDP1 for TN and PN. Genome-wide association (GWA) mapping with over 3.4 million SNPs identified 21 targeted SNP markers associated with ShB which tagged 18 ShB-QTL not associated with undesirable plant architecture traits. Ten SNPs were associated with ShB among accessions of the Indica subspecies, ten among Japonica subspecies accessions, and one among all RDP1 accessions. Across the 18 ShB QTL, only qShB4-1 was not previously reported in biparental mapping studies and qShB9 was not reported in the GWA ShB studies. All 14 PN QTL overlapped with TN QTL, with 15 total TN QTL identified. Allele effects at the five TN QTL co-located with ShB QTL indicated that increased TN does not inevitably increase disease development; in fact, for four ShB QTL that overlapped TN QTL, the alleles increasing resistance were associated with increased TN and PN, suggesting a desirable coupling of alleles at linked genes.

Conclusions
Nineteen accessions identified as containing the most SNP alleles associated with ShB resistance for each subpopulation were resistant in both AR and NC field trials. Rice breeders can utilize these accessions and SNPs to develop cultivars with enhanced ShB resistance along with increased TN and PN for improved yield potential.
Spring waters as an indicator of nitrate and pesticide pollution of rural watercourses from nonpoint sources: results of repeated monitoring campaigns since the early 2000s in the low mountain landscape of Saarland, Germany
Authors: Weber Gero , Kubiniok Jochen 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Spring waters, which are fed mainly by near-surface groundwater, provide a comprehensive picture of emissions of nitrate and other pollutants caused by the type and intensity of land use in the topographic catchment area. One aim of this study was to develop a model for predicting the contribution of nonpoint-source inputs to the nitrate load of small- and medium-sized watercourses based on the type of agricultural use in the catchment areas.

Methods
Fifty-five springs in the German Land Saarland and the adjacent Rhineland-Palatinate were monitored for pollutants during three monitoring periods of at least 12 months between 2000 and 2019. The catchment areas are representative of the natural regions in the study area and are outside the influence of settlements and other developments. In addition to nitrate and other physicochemical parameters, 25 agriculturally impacted springs were screened for pesticides and their metabolites.

Results
Since the first measurements were taken in 2000, the vast majority of agriculturally impacted springs have consistently exhibited high nitrate concentrations of between 20 and 40 mg/L NO3−. Springs not influenced by agriculture contained an average of 3.6 mg/L nitrate. The extreme values observed in the early 2000s decreased to the limit value of 50 mg/L, but most of the springs with moderate levels exhibited an increase to approximately 30 mg/L. The number of pesticidal agents detected in the spring waters demonstrated a clear correlation with the watershed’s amount of arable land and the nitrate content detected. Moreover, we found a highly significant correlation between nitrate content and the share of cropland in the catchment area. From this, we derived a regression model that could be used to quantify the share of nitrate pollution attributable to nonpoint-source inputs for larger catchments in the region under investigation.

Conclusion
Nitrate discharged from farmland has not decreased since the European Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) entered into force. At the historically extremely heavily polluted sites, measures have been implemented that have led to compliance with the limit value of the Nitrate Directive. However, below this limit, nitrate levels have increased significantly almost everywhere in the last two decades. We therefore recommend introducing stricter requirements for official water pollution control, such as the marine ecological target value.
rprimer: an R/bioconductor package for design of degenerate oligos for sequence variable viruses
Authors: Persson Sofia , Larsson Christina , Simonsson Magnus , Ellström Patrik 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
This paper presents a new R/Bioconductor package, rprimer, for design of degenerate oligos and PCR assays for sequence variable viruses. A multiple DNA sequence alignment is used as input data, while the outputs consist of comprehensive tables (data frames) and dashboard-like plots. The workflow can be run directly from the R console or through a graphical user interface (Shiny application). Here, rprimer is demonstrated and evaluated by using it to design two norovirus genogroup I (GI) assays: one RT-qPCR assay for quantitative detection and one RT‑PCR assay for Sanger sequencing and polymerase-capsid based genotyping.

Results
The assays generated were evaluated using stool samples testing positive for norovirus GI. The RT-qPCR assay accurately amplified and quantified all samples and showed comparable performance to a widely-used standardised assay, while the RT-PCR assay resulted in successful sequencing and genotyping of all samples. Merits and limitations of the package were identified through comparison with three similar freely available software packages. Several features were comparable across the different tools, but important advantages of rprimer were its speed, flexibility in oligo design and capacity for visualisation.

Conclusions
An R/Bioconductor package, rprimer, was developed and shown to be successful in designing primers and probes for quantitative detection and genotyping of a sequence-variable virus. The package provides an efficient, flexible and visual approach to degenerate oligo design, and can therefore assist in virus research and method development.
Comparison between erector spinae plane block and paravertebral block regarding postoperative analgesic consumption following breast surgery: a randomized controlled study
Authors: Elewa Ahmed M. , Faisal Mohammed , Sjöberg Folke , Abuelnaga Mohamed E. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Pain control following breast surgery is of utmost importance in order to reduce the chance of chronic pain development, and facilitate early rehabilitation. The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a recently developed regional anaesthesia procedure successfully used for different types of surgical procedures including thoracic and abdominal surgeries.

Methods
A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 90 patients who were scheduled for modified radical mastectomy (MRM). Patients were randomly categorized into groups I (women who underwent ESPB), II (women who underwent paravertebral block (PVB), and III (women who underwent general anaesthesia).

Results
The ESPB (4.9 ± 1.2 mg) and PVB (5.8 ± 1.3 mg) groups had significantly lower total morphine consumption than the control group had (16.4 ± 3.1 mg; p < 0.001). Notably, patients in the ESPB group had insignificantly lower morphine consumption than those in the PVB group had (p = 0.076). Moreover, patients in the ESPB and PVB groups had a significantly longer time to first required anaesthesia than those in the control group (7.9 ± 1.2 versus 7.5 ± 0.9 versus 2 ± 1.2 h, respectively; p < 0.001). The postoperative visual analog scale scores were lower in the ESPB and PVB groups than in the control group on the first 24 h after the procedure (p < 0.001).

Conclusion
ESPB and PVB provide effective postoperative analgesia for women undergoing MRM. The ESPB appears to be as effective as the PVB.

Trial registration
The study was registered before the enrolment of the first patient at the Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (www.pactr.org) database. Identification number for the registry is (PACTR202008836682092).
A poor outcome in non-occlusive thrombo-embolic limb ischaemia related to the dislocation of mural thrombus from an abdominal aortic aneurysm
Authors: Li Ying-Sheng , Li Ying-Ching 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Acute thrombosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with acute limb ischaemia is an unusual complication and is associated with high mortality. Dislocation of the intrasaccular mural thrombus could be one of the mechanisms. For the most part, acute limb ischaemia presents with absent pulses, compatible with the clinical findings, which include pain, paraesthesia, and paralysis. Herein, we report a rare condition with detectable distal pulses in advanced limb ischaemia due to poor perfusion caused by the dislocation of mural thrombus from an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Case presentation
A 74-year-old male patient with underlying hypertension and chronic renal disease presented at the emergency room with bilateral lower limb paralysis after falling on his back in the bathroom an hour prior. He reported numbness and weakness of his lower limbs, which was gradually worsening, over the past week. Physical examination showed cyanotic mottling of the lower limbs with paralysis. However, the dorsalis pedis pulse was intact. Computed tomography angiography showed a 7.3 cm abdominal aortic aneurysm containing highly irregular mural thrombus in the early phase, with slow perfusion of the contrast medium in the arteries below the bifurcation during the delayed phase. After traumatic spinal injury was excluded, an emergent endovascular aneurysm repair was performed. Although vital signs were initially stable post-surgery, both lower limbs were still paralysed and did not improve. He then experienced reperfusion injury with metabolic acidosis. There was no urine output despite intravenous hydration. Laboratory data included potassium 7.7 mEq/L, lactate 110 mg/dL, white blood cells 23,700/uL, and myoglobin 46,590 ng/mL. Even under critical medical care and continuous venovenous hemofiltration, his hemodynamic status worsened. He developed hypotension and needed endotracheal intubation because of loss of consciousness and respiratory failure. The patient finally died due to ventricular tachycardia even after several rounds of cardiopulmonary resuscitation with cardioversion.

Conclusion
The unusual clinical presentation of detectable lower limb pulses in advanced limb ischaemia showed that poor blood perfusion related to dislocation of mural thrombus in abdominal aortic aneurysm might mislead clinicians and delay accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Examining telehealth use among primary care patients, providers, and clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Der-Martirosian Claudia , Chu Karen , Steers W. Neil , Wyte-Lake Tamar , Balut Michelle D. , Dobalian Aram , Heyworth Leonie , Paige Neil M. , Leung Lucinda 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
At the onset of COVID-19, there was a rapid expansion of telehealth (video/telephone) visits to maintain delivery of primary care (PC) services at the Veterans Health Administration (VA). This study examines patient, provider, and site-level characteristics of any virtual and video-based care in PC.

Methods
Interrupted time series (ITS) design was conducted using VA administrative/clinical, electronic healthcare data, 12-months before and 12-months after COVID-19 onset (set at March 2020) at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (GLA), between 2019 and 2021. Patients with at least one visit to a VA PC clinic at GLA (n = 547,730 visits) were included in the analysis. The two main outcomes for this study were 1) any telehealth (versus in-person), as well as 2) video-based care (versus telephone). For the ITS analysis, segmented logistic regression on repeated monthly observations of any telehealth and video-based care was used.

Results
Percent telehealth and video use increased from 13.9 to 63.1%, and 0.3 to 11.3%, respectively, before to after COVID-19 onset. According to adjusted percentages, GLA community-based clinics (37.7%, versus 29.8% in hospital-based clinics, p < .001), social workers/pharmacists/dietitians (53.7%, versus 34.0% for PC clinicians, p < .001), and minority groups, non-Hispanic African Americans (36.3%) and Hispanics (34.4%, versus 35.3% for Whites, p < .001) were more likely to use telephone than video. Conversely, mental health providers (43.3%) compared to PC clinicians (15.3%), and women (for all age groups, except 75+) compared to men, were more likely to use video than telephone (all p’s < .001).

Conclusions
Since telehealth care provision is likely to continue after COVID-19, additional research is needed to identify which PC outpatient services are better suited for telephone (e.g., case management) versus video-based care (e.g., integrated mental health visits). Additionally, it is important to understand how all clinics can systematically increase access to both telephone- and video-based PC services, while ensuring equitable care for all patient populations.
Direct intracranial invasion of eccrine spiradenocarcinoma of the scalp: a case report and literature review
Authors: Kibe Yuji , Tanahashi Kuniaki , Ohtakara Kazuhiro , Okumura Yuka , Ohka Fumiharu , Takeuchi Kazuhito , Nagata Yuichi , Motomura Kazuya , Akahori Sho , Mizuno Akihiro , Sasaki Hiroo , Shimizu Hiroyuki , Yamaguchi Junya , Nishikawa Tomohide , Yokota Kenji , Saito Ryuta 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundEccrine spiradenocarcinoma (SC), also known as malignant eccrine spiradenoma, is a rare malignant cutaneous adnexal neoplasm arising from long-standing benign eccrine spiradenoma. Malignant skin tumors rarely show direct intracranial invasion. However, once the intracranial structure is infiltrated, curative excision with sufficient margins can become extremely difficult, particularly when the venous sinuses are involved. No effective adjuvant therapies have yet been established. Here, we report an extremely rare case of scalp eccrine SC with direct intracranial invasion, which does not appear to have been reported previously.Case presentationAn 81-year-old woman presented with a large swelling on the parietal scalp 12 years after resection of spiradenoma from the same site. The tumor showed intracranial invasion with involvement of the superior sagittal sinus and repeated recurrences after four surgeries with preservation of the sinus. The histopathological diagnosis was eccrine SC. Adjuvant high-precision external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) proved effective after the third surgery, achieving remission of the residual tumor. The patient died 7 years after the first surgery for SC.ConclusionsScalp SC with direct intracranial invasion is extremely rare. Radical resection with tumor-free margins is the mainstay of treatment, but the involvement of venous sinuses makes this unfeasible. High-precision EBRT in combination with maximal resection preserving the venous sinuses could be a treatment option for local tumor control.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome secondary to acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis in a child: a case report from the Tibetan plateau
Authors: Bazhu  , Shi Yanhui , Ren Shuang , Shu Liang , Li Qiang 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a disorder of reversible vasogenic brain oedema with acute neurologic symptoms. It is a rare but serious disease that affects the central nervous system. PRES is a rare complication of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). High altitude can accelerate vasogenic brain oedema by increasing cerebral blood flow (CBF), impairing cerebral autoregulation and promoting vascular inflammation. We report a case of PRES induced by acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis in a high-altitude environment.

Case presentation
A fourteen-year-old Tibetan girl presented with progressive headache with haematuria, facial swelling, dizziness and vomiting for 2 weeks as well as multiple episodes of tonic–clonic seizures for 14 h. She was diagnosed with APSGN based on laboratory tests and clinical symptoms. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) revealed bilateral frontal, parietal and occipital lesions that were compatible with the radiological diagnosis of PRES. The treatments included an antibiotic (penicillin), an antiepileptic drug, and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. Follow-up MRI obtained 1 week after admission and CT obtained 4 weeks and 6 weeks after admission demonstrated complete resolution of the brain lesions.

Conclusions
The case illustrates a rare occurrence of PRES following APSGN in a 14-year-old child in the Tibetan Plateau. The hypoxic conditions of a high-altitude setting might lower the cerebral autoregulation threshold and amplify the endothelial inflammatory reaction, thus inducing PRES in patients with APSGN. It is important to recognize the clinical and radiologic features of PRES, and adjuvant HBO therapy can promote rapid recovery from this condition in high-altitude areas.
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: characteristics and rapid diagnostic approach in the emergency department
Authors: Xu Jin , Zhao Na , Guan Hongzhi , Walline Joseph Harold , Zhu Huadong , Yu Xuezhong 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is a common type of autoimmune encephalitis. Patients with this condition are frequently very ill but are often misdiagnosed in the Emergency Department (ED). The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of anti-NMDAR patients in the ED and to identify any associations with a diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively obtained cohort of ED patients from May 2011 to December 2017. We identified patients diagnosed with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in this cohort and extracted key patient characteristics and clinical data, including patient gender, age, presentation, modified Rank Score (m-RS), laboratory test results, significant treatments, and mortality.

Results
Eighty-seven patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis were identified. 54 (62.1%) were female, 23 (26.4%) were < 18 years old, 14 (16.1%) had teratoma, and 45 (51.7%) had an m-RS ≥ 4. Fever, altered mental status, and seizures were the most common symptoms, with a > 50% incidence of each symptom in the cohort. The sensitivity of CSF oligoclonal band (OB) testing was 78.9%. 22 (25.3%) were admitted to the ICU, 20 (23.0%) patients were intubated, but only one patient died (1.1%). 47 (54.0%) were misdiagnosed prior to ED arrival. All patients underwent immunotherapy as first-line treatment for anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Conclusions
A majority of anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients presenting to the ED were female and were likely to be misdiagnosed prior to arrival. Patients with symptoms of fever, altered mental status, and seizures need a lumbar puncture, including CSF OB testing, for definitive diagnosis.
Emodin inhibits invasion and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via regulating autophagy-mediated degradation of snail and β-catenin
Authors: Qin Binyu , Zeng Zhili , Xu Jianliang , Shangwen Jing , Ye Zeng Jie , Wang Shutang , Wu Yanheng , Peng Gongfeng , Wang Qi , Gu Wenyi , Tang Ying 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Previous studies reported that emodin extracted from Rheum palmatum L. exerts antiproliferation and antimetastatic effects in a variety of human cancer types. However, the role of emodin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown.

Methods
EdU and colony formation assays were performed to evaluate the effects of emodin on proliferation. The mobility capacities of HCC treated with emodin were evaluated using wound healing assay. Transwell invasion and migration assays were performed to evaluate anti-migratory and anti-invasive effects of emodin on HCC. Annexin V-FITC/PI was performed to analyze the apoptosis. PI stain was performed to analyze cell cycle. RNA sequencing technology was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by emodin in HCC. The impact of emodin on autophagic flux in HepG2 cells was examined by mCherry-GFP-LC3 analysis. Western blot was used to assess the protein expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), autophagy, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Results
We found that emodin inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, emodin inhibited cell proliferation, induced S and G2/M phases arrest, and promoted apoptosis in HepG2 cells. The migration and invasion of HepG2 cells were also suppressed by emodin. Enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs involved in cell adhesion, cancer metastasis and cell cycle arrest. Moreover, western bolt results show that emodin-induced autophagy promotes Snail and β-catenin degradation. We also found that blocking autophagic flux after emodin treatment caused EMT reversal. Furthermore, the PI3K agonist Y-P 740 significantly reversed the phosphorylation levels of GSK3β and mTOR. These results indicated that emodin induced autophagy and inhibited the EMT in part through suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways.

Conclusion
Our study indicated that emodin inhibited cell metastasis in HCC via the crosstalk between autophagy and EMT.