bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heat Stress During Gametogenesis Irreversibly Damages Female Reproductive Organ in Rice
Authors: Shi Wanju , Yang Juan , Kumar Ritesh , Zhang Xinzheng , Impa Somayanda M. , Xiao Gui , Jagadish S. V. Krishna 
Published: June 2022

AbstractHeat stress during gametogenesis leads to spikelet sterility. To ascertain the role of female reproductive organ (pistil), two rice genotypes N22 and IR64 with contrasting heat stress responses were exposed to control (30 °C) and heat stress (38 °C and 40 °C) during megasporogenesis. Anatomical observations of ovule revealed greater disappearance of megaspore mother cell and nuclei at early stages, and during later stages mature embryo sac without female germ unit, improper positioning of nuclei, and shrunken embryo sac was observed in the sensitive IR64. Under heat stress, a decrease in sugar and starch, increase in H2O2 and malondialdehyde with lower antioxidant enzyme activities were recorded in pistils of both N22 and IR64. Lower accumulation of TCA cycle metabolites and amino acids were noticed in IR64 pistils under heat stress at gametogenesis, whereas N22 exhibited favorable metabolite profiles. At heading, however, N22 pistils had higher carbohydrate accumulation and better ROS homeostasis, suggesting higher recovery after heat stress exposure. In summary, the results indicate that heat stress during megasporogenesis leads to irreversible anatomical and physiological changes in pistil and alters metabolic signatures leading to increased spikelet sterility in rice. Mechanisms identified for enhanced heat tolerance in pistil can help in developing rice varieties that are better adapted to future hotter climate.
Subjective factors affecting prognosis of 469 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study of endoscopic screening
Authors: Nakamura Jun , Manabe Noriaki , Yamatsuji Tomoki , Fujiwara Yoshinori , Murao Takahisa , Ayaki Maki , Fujita Minoru , Shiotani Akiko , Ueno Tomio , Monobe Yasumasa , Akiyama Takashi , Haruma Ken , Naomoto Yoshio , Hata Jiro 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
To date, no in-depth studies have focused on the impact of various clinical characteristics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), including its association with subjective symptoms, on patient prognosis. We aimed to investigate the clinical factors that affect the prognosis of patients with ESCC and to clarify how subjective symptoms are related to prognosis.

Methods
We retrospectively evaluated the clinical records of 503 consecutive patients with ESCC from April 2011 to December 2019. Six established prognostic factors for ESCC (body mass index, alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking, sex, clinical stage, and age) and subjective symptoms were used to subgroup patients and analyze survival differences. Next, the patients were divided into two groups: a symptomatic group and an asymptomatic group. In the symptomatic group, differences in the incidence of subjective symptoms according to tumor size, tumor location, macroscopic tumor type, and clinical stage were examined. Finally, subjective symptoms were divided into swallowing-related symptoms and other symptoms, and their prognosis was compared.

Results
Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified sex [hazard ratio (HR) 1.778; 95% CI 1.004–3.149; p = 0.049], TNM classification (HR 6.591; 95% CI 3.438–12.63; p < 0.001), and subjective symptoms (HR 1.986; 95% CI 1.037–3.803; p = 0.0386) as independent risk factors for overall survival. In the symptomatic group, the mean time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 2.4 ± 4.3 months. The incidence of subjective symptoms differed by clinical stage, and the prognosis of patients with swallowing-related symptoms was significantly worse than that of patients with other symptoms.

Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that screening by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, independent of subjective symptoms (especially swallowing-related symptoms), may play an important role in the early detection and improvement of prognosis of ESCC, although further validation in a large prospective study is needed.
Equipment-free, unsupervised high intensity interval training elicits significant improvements in the physiological resilience of older adults
Authors: Sian Tanvir S , Inns Thomas B , Gates Amanda , Doleman Brett , Bass Joseph J , Atherton Philip J , Lund Jonathan N , Phillips Bethan E 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundReduced cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an independent risk factor for dependency, cognitive impairment and premature mortality. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a proven time-efficient stimulus for improving both CRF and other facets of cardiometabolic health also known to decline with advancing age. However, the efficacy of equipment-free, unsupervised HIIT to improve the physiological resilience of older adults is not known.MethodsThirty independent, community-dwelling older adults (71(SD: 5) years) were randomised to 4 weeks (12 sessions) equipment-free, supervised (in the laboratory (L-HIIT)) or unsupervised (at home (H-HIIT)) HIIT, or a no-intervention control (CON). HIIT involved 5, 1-minute intervals of a bodyweight exercise each interspersed with 90-seconds recovery. CRF, exercise tolerance, blood pressure (BP), body composition, muscle architecture, circulating lipids and glucose tolerance were assessed at baseline and after the intervention period.ResultsWhen compared to the control group, both HIIT protocols improved the primary outcome of CRF ((via anaerobic threshold) mean difference, L-HIIT: +2.27, H-HIIT: +2.29, bothp < 0.01) in addition to exercise tolerance, systolic BP, total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol andm. vastus lateralispennation angle, to the same extent. There was no improvement in these parameters in CON. There was no change in diastolic BP, glucose tolerance, whole-body composition or HDL cholesterol in any of the groups.ConclusionsThis is the first study to show that short-term, time-efficient, equipment-free, HIIT is able to elicit improvements in the CRF of older adults irrespective of supervision status. Unsupervised HIIT may offer a novel approach to improve the physiological resilience of older adults, combating age-associated physiological decline, the rise of inactivity and the additional challenges currently posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.Trial registrationThis study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov and coded:NCT03473990.
Acute effects of whey protein, alone and mixed with other macronutrients, on blood pressure and heart rate in older men
Authors: Oberoi Avneet , Giezenaar Caroline , Lange Kylie , Jones Karen L. , Horowitz Michael , Chapman Ian , Soenen Stijn 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Caloric supplements are increasingly used by older people, aiming to increase their daily protein intake. These high caloric drinks, rich in glucose and whey-protein in particular, may result in potential harmful decreases in blood pressure (BP). The effect of ingesting whey-protein with glucose and fat on BP is unknown. It has also been assumed that the maximum fall in systolic blood pressure occurs within 2 h of a meal.

Methods
This study aimed to determine in older men, the effects of whey-protein, alone and mixed with other macronutrients, on systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure and heart rate (HR) in older men for 3 h. Thirteen older men (age 75 ± 2yrs; body mass index (BMI) 25.6 ± 0.6 kg/m2) ingested a drink on separate study days: (i) 70 g whey-protein (P280); (ii) 14 g whey-protein, 28 g carbohydrate, 12.4 g fat (M280); (iii) 70 g whey-protein, 28 g carbohydrate, 12.4 g fat (M504); or (iv) a non-caloric control drink (C).

Results
SBP decreased after all three nutrient drinks compared to the C, with the greatest reduction after the M504 drink (P = 0.008). Maximal decreases in SBP (C: -14 ± 2 mmHg, P280: -22 ± 2 mmHg, M280: -22 ± 4 mmHg, M504: -24 ± 3 mmHg) occurred about 2 h after drink ingestion and this fall was sustained thereafter (120-180 min: P280 and M504 vs. C P < 0.05). Maximum DBP decreases and HR increases occurred after M504, with no differences between the effects of the P280 and M280 drinks.

Conclusions
The effects of whey-protein containing drinks to lower BP and increase HR appear to be primarily dependent on their energy content rather than macronutrient composition and may persist for at least 3 h after ingestion,. Pure whey-protein drinks may represent the best approach to maximize protein intake without increasing the potential for deleterious BP falls in older people.

Trial registration
ACTRN12614000846628, 14/03/2019.
Antenatal screening timeline and cutoff scores of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for predicting postpartum depressive symptoms in healthy women: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Tanuma-Takahashi Akiko , Tanemoto Tomohiro , Nagata Chie , Yokomizo Ryo , Konishi Akiko , Takehara Kenji , Ishikawa Tetsuo , Yanaihara Nozomu , Samura Osamu , Okamoto Aikou 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
It is worthwhile to identify women at risk of developing postpartum depression during pregnancy. This study aimed to determine the optimal time and cutoff score for antenatal screening for prediction of postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and to identify risk factors for PDS.

Methods
The target population was healthy pregnant women receiving antenatal care at a university hospital in Tokyo, Japan. During the first, second, and third trimesters, 3–4 days postpartum, and one month postpartum, they were asked to take the Japanese version of the EPDS questionnaire. The primary outcome of the study was PDS, defined as an EPDS score ≥ 9 at one month postpartum. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of EPDS scores at each antenatal screening time were calculated.

Results
From 139 pregnant women, 129 were successfully followed up throughout the study. The number of women with an EPDS score ≥ 9 during the first, second, and third trimesters, 3–4 days postpartum, and one month postpartum were 6/126 (4.8%), 9/124 (7.3%), 5/117 (4.3%), 17/123 (13.8%), and 15/123 (12.2%), respectively. Screening during the second trimester had the highest AUC to predict PDS (0.89) among antenatal screenings. The optimal EPDS cutoff score during the second trimester was 4/5 (sensitivity: 85.7%; specificity: 77.1%; PPV: 33.3%; NPV: 97.6%). An EPDS score ≥ 5 during the second trimester (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 15.9; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 3.2–78.1) and a family history of mental illness (aOR: 4.5; 95%CI: 1.2–17.5) were significantly associated with PDS.

Conclusions
Our study suggests that the EPDS score at the second trimester with the cutoff value of 4/5 may be adequate for initial screening for prediction of PDS. Women with an EPDS score ≥ 5 at the second trimester require more elaborate follow-up.
Analysis of the risk of complications during pregnancy in pregnant women with assisted reproductive technology: a retrospective study using registry linkage from 2013 to 2018 in Shanghai, China
Authors: He Mulan , Sun Xiaoxi , Wang Chunfang , Sui Yilun 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
To evaluate the differences in pregnancy outcomes between assisted reproductive technology (ART) patients and natural pregnant women in Shanghai, China in the past 6 years objectively. And to assess the feasibility of the research method of registry-database linkage in mainland China.

Methods
This retrospective study was conducted using registry-database linkage. A total of 8102 pregnancies with ART and 8096 parturients with spontaneous conception (SC) from 10 reproductive centers and 111 hospitals composed our retrospective study. The primary outcomes were the rates of obstetric complications (pregnancy-induced hypertention [PIH], gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM], placenta previa, mode of delivery, preterm birth [PTB], low birth weight [LBW], and macrosomia). The prenatal outcomes were compared between ART and SC parturients, frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) and fresh embryo transfer, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results
The final matching rate of the target population was 92% by using registry linkage. ART resulted in a higher rate of multiple birth, PTB, LBW, cesarean section, placenta previa and GDM compared with SC in the singleton cohort. In ART patients, pregnant women with FET had a significantly higher risk of PIH than those with fresh embryo transfer (14.1% Vs 9.3%, AOR1.528, 95% CI 1.303–1.793), but there was no difference between IVF and ICSI. FET is also related to the severity of PIH.

Conclusions
ART increased the rate of complications during pregnancy, the risk and severity of PIH in patients with FET was higher than that in patients with fresh embryo transfer. The registry-database linkage study is an objective and feasible research method in mainland China.
Impact of early tumor shrinkage on quality of life in patients treated with first-line cetuximab plus chemotherapy for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer: results of Phase II QUACK trial
Authors: Ooki Akira , Morita Satoshi , Tsuji Akihito , Iwamoto Shigeyoshi , Hara Hiroki , Tanioka Hiroaki , Satake Hironaga , Kataoka Masato , Kotaka Masahito , Kagawa Yoshinori , Nakamura Masato , Shingai Tatsushi , Ishikawa Masashi , Miyake Yasuhiro , Suto Takeshi , Hashiguchi Yojiro , Yabuno Taichi , Ando Masahiko , Sakamoto Junichi , Yamaguchi Kensei 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Although early tumor shrinkage (ETS) is a predictor of improved overall survival (OS), the association between ETS and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) remains unclear for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with first-line cetuximab plus chemotherapy.

Methods
The data were collected from a prospective trial that assessed HRQOL using the EORTC QLQ-C30. The impact of ETS on HRQOL was estimated using a linear mixed-effects model for repeated measures.

Results
ETS was achieved in 82 (64.1%) of 128 mCRC patients treated with first-line cetuximab plus chemotherapy, and these patients had a significantly longer OS than those without ETS (HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20–0.72; P = .002). Asymptomatic patients with ETS had a favorable OS, while symptomatic patients without ETS had a worse OS (2-year OS rates, 77.8% vs. 42.5%). Symptomatic patients with ETS had similar outcomes as asymptomatic patients without ETS (2-year OS rates, 64.1% vs. 67.0%). For symptomatic patients, ETS was associated with improved HRQOL scores between baseline and 8 weeks: the mean changes for patients with and without ETS were 5.86 and -4.94 for global health status (GHS)/QOL, 26.73 and 3.79 for physical functioning, and 13.58 and -3.10 for social functioning, respectively. The improved HRQOL was comparable to that of asymptomatic patients without ETS. For asymptomatic patients, ETS showed a decreased deterioration in HRQOL.

Conclusion
Our findings highlight the importance of ETS for HRQOL and prognostic estimates, and assessing ETS may provide clinically useful information for physicians and patients to make more informed decisions.
Real-life effectiveness of dupilumab in patients with mild to moderate bronchial asthma comorbid with CRSwNP
Authors: Minagawa Shunsuke , Araya Jun , Watanabe Naoaki , Fujimoto Shota , Watanabe Junko , Hara Hiromichi , Numata Takanori , Kuwano Kazuyoshi , Matsuwaki Yoshinori 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Dupilumab, an anti-IL-4α receptor antibody, is a new treatment for severe or refractory asthma. However, real-world evidence on the efficacy of dupilumab in patients with mild to moderate bronchial asthma is lacking.

Methods
We retrospectively evaluated the effects of dupilumab in 62 patients who received dupilumab for eosinophilic sinusitis comorbid with asthma at a single centre in Japan. Type 2 inflammatory markers, ACT, respiratory function tests, and forced oscillation technique (FOT) were analysed before, three months after, and one year after dupilumab administration, mainly in patients with mild to moderate asthma.

Results
FEV1, %FEV1, %FVC, treatment steps for asthma and ACT improved significantly after three months of dupilumab treatment. FeNO was markedly decreased, whereas IgE and eosinophil counts showed no significant changes. Pre- and post-treatment respiratory resistance (Rrs) and respiratory reactance (Xrs) correlated significantly with FEV1. Improvement in %FEV1 was associated with higher FeNO and higher serum IgE before dupilumab treatment.

Conclusion
Dupilumab treatment for sinusitis may improve respiratory functions, asthma symptoms, and asthma treatment reduction, even if the associated bronchial asthma is not severe.
Remote monitoring of cancer patients during the Covid-19 pandemic – an interview study of nurses’ and physicians’ experiences
Authors: Grøndahl Vigdis Abrahamsen , Helgesen Ann Karin , Holm Elisabet , Magnussen Jannik , Leonardsen Ann-Chatrin 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, remote monitoring of patients outside hospitals rapidly increased. Previous studies show that healthcare professionals’ competence in digitalization needs to be improved. Little is known about how Covid-19 has affected the use of remote monitoring of cancer patients. The purpose of the study was therefore to explore healthcare personnels’ experiences with remote monitoring of cancer patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Methods
The study had an explorative and descriptive design using semi-structured individual interviews for data collection. Data was analyzed by content analysis.

Results
A total of ten healthcare personnel working in the cancer department and out-patient cancer clinic in the hospital participated; four physicians and six registered nurses. Two categories and four subcategories were identified: 1) «Maintaining personalized healthcare services» comprising the subcategories a) «Adjusting services to patients’ health condition» and b) «Ensuring continuity»; and 2) «A supplement, but not a replacement» comprising the subcategories a) «Impact on interpersonal relations» and b) «The importance of clinical assessment».

Conclusions
This study indicates that remote monitoring through telephone was preferred by both healthcare personnel and patients. The nurses and physicians experienced a more frequent contact with their patients, but emphasized the importance of physical meetings for building relationship, and for thorough clinical examination. Our findings indicate a need to facilitate a work environment where healthcare personnel can be fast learners in using digital tools to provide best possible healthcare quality. Moreover, it is imperative to develop a workplace suitable for the use of digital technology for remote monitoring, and to provide digital tools that is easy to use for both healthcare personnel and patients.
Lactobacillus plantarum 17–5 attenuates Escherichia coli-induced inflammatory responses via inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathways in bovine mammary epithelial cells
Authors: Li Ke , Yang Ming , Tian Mengyue , Jia Li , Du Jinliang , Wu Yinghao , Li Lianmin , Yuan Lining , Ma Yuzhong 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundMastitis is one of the most prevalent diseases and causes considerable economic losses in the dairy farming sector and dairy industry. Presently, antibiotic treatment is still the main method to control this disease, but it also brings bacterial resistance and drug residue problems.Lactobacillus plantarum(L. plantarum) is a multifunctional probiotic that exists widely in nature. Due to its anti-inflammatory potential,L. plantarumhas recently been widely researched in complementary therapies for various inflammatory diseases. In this study, the apoptotic ratio, the expression levels of various inflammatory mediators and key signalling pathway proteins inEscherichia coli-induced bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) under different doses ofL. plantarum17–5 intervention were evaluated.ResultsThe data showed thatL. plantarum17–5 reduced the apoptotic ratio, downregulated the mRNA expression levels ofTLR2,TLR4,MyD88,IL1β,IL6,IL8,TNFα,COX2,iNOS,CXCL2andCXCL10, and inhibited the activation of the NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathways by suppressing the phosphorylation levels of p65, IκBα, p38, ERK and JNK.ConclusionsThe results proved thatL. plantarum17–5 exerted alleviative effects inEscherichia coli-induced inflammatory responses of BMECs.
Oxaloacetate Treatment For Mental And Physical Fatigue In Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long-COVID fatigue patients: a non-randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Cash Alan , Kaufman David Lyons 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
There is no approved pharmaceutical intervention for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Fatigue in these patients can last for decades. Long COVID may continue to ME/CFS, and currently, it is estimated that up to 20 million Americans have significant symptoms after COVID, and the most common symptom is fatigue. Anhydrous Enol-Oxaloacetate, (AEO) a nutritional supplement, has been anecdotally reported to relieve physical and mental fatigue and is dimished in ME/CFS patients. Here, we examine the use of higher dosage AEO as a medical food to relieve pathological fatigue.

Methods
ME/CFS and Long-COVID patients were enrolled in an open label dose escalating “Proof of Concept” non-randomized controlled clinical trial with 500 mg AEO capsules. Control was provided by a historical ME/CFS fatigue trial and supporting meta-analysis study, which showed average improvement with oral placebo using the Chalder Scale of 5.9% improvement from baseline. At baseline, 73.7% of the ME/CFS patients were women, average age was 47 and length of ME/CFS from diagnosis was 8.9 years. The Long-COVID patients were a random group that responded to social media advertising (Face Book) with symptoms for at least 6 months. ME/CFS patients were given separate doses of 500 mg BID (N = 23), 1,000 mg BID (N = 29) and 1000 mg TID (N = 24) AEO for six weeks. Long COVID patients were given 500 mg AEO BID (N = 22) and 1000 mg AEO (N = 21), again over a six-week period. The main outcome measure was to compare baseline scoring with results at 6 weeks with the Chalder Fatigue Score (Likert Scoring) versus historical placebo. The hypothesis being tested was formulated prior to data collection.

Results
76 ME/CFS patients (73.7% women, median age of 47) showed an average reduction in fatigue at 6 weeks as measured by the “Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire” of 22.5% to 27.9% from baseline (P < 0.005) (Likert scoring). Both physical and mental fatigue were significantly improved over baseline and historical placebo. Fatigue amelioration in ME/CFS patients increased in a dose dependent manner from 21.7% for 500 mg BID to 27.6% for 1000 mg Oxaloacetate BID to 33.3% for 1000 mg TID. Long COVID patients’ fatigue was significantly reduced by up to 46.8% in 6-weeks.

Conclusions
Significant reductions in physical and metal fatigue for ME/CFS and Long-COVID patients were seen after 6 weeks of treatment. As there has been little progress in providing fatigue relief for the millions of ME/CFS and Long COVID patients, anhydrous enol oxaloacetate may bridge this important medical need. Further study of oxaloacetate supplementation for the treatment of ME/CFS and Long COVID is warranted.
Trial Registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04592354 Registered October 19, 2020.

Graphical Abstract