bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Water Pollution on Human Health and Disease Heterogeneity: A Review
Authors: Lin Li , Yang Haoran , Xu Xiaocang 
Published: June 2022

Background: More than 80% of sewage generated by human activities is discharged into rivers and oceans without any treatment, which results in environmental pollution and more than 50 diseases. 80% of diseases and 50% of child deaths worldwide are related to poor water quality.Methods: This paper selected 85 relevant papers finally based on the keywords of water pollution, water quality, health, cancer, and so on.Results: The impact of water pollution on human health is significant, although there may be regional, age, gender, and other differences in degree. The most common disease caused by water pollution is diarrhea, which is mainly transmitted by enteroviruses in the aquatic environment.Discussion: Governments should strengthen water intervention management and carry out intervention measures to improve water quality and reduce water pollution’s impact on human health.
Quiet New Particle Formation in the Atmosphere
Authors: Kulmala Markku , Junninen Heikki , Dada Lubna , Salma Imre , Weidinger Tamás , Thén Wanda , Vörösmarty Máté , Komsaare Kaupo , Stolzenburg Dominik , Cai Runlong , Yan Chao , Li Xinyang , Deng Chenjuan , Jiang Jingkun , Petäjä Tuukka , Nieminen Tuomo , Kerminen Veli-Matti 
Published: June 2022

Atmospheric new particle formation (NPF) has been observed to take place in practice all around the world. In continental locations, typically about 10–40% of the days are so-called NPF event days characterized by a clear particle formation and growth that continue for several hours, occurring mostly during daytime. The other days are either non-event days, or days for which it is difficult to decide whether NPF had occurred or not. Using measurement data from several locations (Hyytiälä, Järvselja, and near-city background and city center of Budapest), we were able to show that NPF tends to occur also on the days traditionally characterized as non-event days. One explanation is the instrument sensitivity towards low number concentrations in the sub-10 nm range, which usually limits our capability to detect such NPF events. We found that during such days, particle formation rates at 6 nm were about 2–20% of those observed during the traditional NPF event days. Growth rates of the newly formed particles were very similar between the traditional NPF event and non-event days. This previously overlooked phenomenon, termed as quiet NPF, contributes significantly to the production of secondary particles in the atmosphere.
Influence of Multi-Scale Meteorological Processes on PM2.5 Pollution in Wuhan, Central China
Authors: Miao Yucong , Zhang Xinxuan , Che Huizheng , Liu Shuhua 
Published: June 2022

Heavy PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamics diameter less than 2.5 μm) pollution frequently happens in Wuhan under unfavorable meteorological conditions. To comprehensively understand the complex impact of both regional-scale synoptic forcing and local-scale processes within the planetary boundary layer (PBL) on air quality in Wuhan, this study analyzed long-term PM2.5 concentration measurement, near-surface and upper-air meteorological observations from March 2015 to February 2019, in combination with the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2). We found that in winter the day-to-day change of PM2.5 pollution level in Wuhan was governed by the synoptic warm/cold advection, in addition to the high emissions of pollutants. The synoptic condition can largely determine both the vertical development of PBL and horizontal transport of pollutants. When a high-pressure system is located to the north of Wuhan at the 900-hPa level, the induced warm advection above 1,000 m can enhance the thermal stability of lower troposphere and inhibit the development of daytime PBL, leading to a decreased dispersion volume for pollutants. Meanwhile, within the PBL the pollutants emitted from Henan, Shandong, and Anhui provinces can be transported to Wuhan, further worsening the pollution. Our results highlight the importance of coordinated pollution controls in Central China and adjacent north regions under the unfavorable synoptic condition.
Effect of Financial Development, Foreign Direct Investment, Globalization, and Urbanization on Energy Consumption: Empirical Evidence From Belt and Road Initiative Partner Countries
Authors: Ullah Atta , Kui Zhao , Pinglu Chen , Sheraz Muhammad 
Published: June 2022

This research aimed to determine the dynamic endogeneity nexus among energy consumption (EC), financial development (FD), foreign direct investment (FDI), globalization (GI), and urbanization (URBAN). The study used 64 countries’ annual panel data on “the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)” from 2009 to 2019. Moreover, it employed a two-step system GMM, robust and results, that indicates financial development and urbanization are positively correlated with energy consumption, suggesting that these two factors raise the energy demand. Contrastingly, globalization negatively impacts energy demand, implying that global connectivity is essential for BRI countries. Foreign direct investment (FDI) has a positive but insignificant connection with energy consumption. Additionally, the Granger causality test was employed to explore the causal association among the variables, and outcomes reveal a bidirectional causal connection between FD and energy consumption. The study also suggests sustainable energy policy implications, which will be helpful to policymakers and governments for ensuring a balanced, sustainable growth.JEL Code: P48; P25; Q4; F6; G00; E2
An Autophagy-Related Gene Signature can Better Predict Prognosis and Resistance in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Zhou Xuan , He Ying-Zhi , Liu Dan , Lin Chao-Ran , Liang Dan , Huang Rui , Wang Liang 
Published: June 2022

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a highly heterogeneous disease, and about 30%–40% of patients will develop relapsed/refractory DLBCL. In this study, we aimed to develop a gene signature to predict survival outcomes of DLBCL patients based on the autophagy-related genes (ARGs).Methods: We sequentially used the univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selector operation (LASSO), and multivariate Cox regression analyses to build a gene signature. The Kaplan–Meier curve and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were performed to estimate the prognostic capability of the gene signature. GSEA analysis, ESTIMATE and ssGSEA algorithms, and one-class logistic regression were performed to analyze differences in pathways, immune response, and tumor stemness between the high- and low-risk groups.Results: Both in the training cohort and validation cohorts, high-risk patients had inferior overall survival compared with low-risk patients. The nomogram consisted of the autophagy-related gene signature, and clinical factors had better discrimination of survival outcomes, and it also had a favorable consistency between the predicted and actual survival. GSEA analysis found that patients in the high-risk group were associated with the activation of doxorubicin resistance, NF-κB, cell cycle, and DNA replication pathways. The results of ESTIMATE, ssGSEA, and mRNAsi showed that the high-risk group exhibited lower immune cell infiltration and immune activation responses and had higher similarity to cancer stem cells.Conclusion: We proposed a novel and reliable autophagy-related gene signature that was capable of predicting the survival and resistance of patients with DLBCL and could guide individualized treatment in future.
Isolation, Identification, and Investigation of Pathogenic Bacteria From Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Naturally Infected With Plesiomonas shigelloides
Authors: Chen Huijie , Zhao Yuanli , Chen Kuangxin , Wei Yulai , Luo Hongrui , Li Yongming , Liu Fei , Zhu Zuoyan , Hu Wei , Luo Daji 
Published: June 2022

Various bacterial diseases have caused great economic losses to the high-density and intensive aquaculture industry; however, the pathogenic mechanism underlying the large-scale challenged to caused by many bacteria remain unclear, making the prevention and treatment of these diseases difficult. In the present study, we isolated a bacterial strain from Cyprinus carpio having a typical bacterial disease and named it Cc2021. Through subsequent morphological observations, a regression challenge, biochemical identification, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, we determined Cc2021 to be Plesiomonas shigelloides. Subsequently, we comprehensively investigated the pathogenicity of P. shigelloides in C. carpio through a regression challenge and assessed the underlying the pathogenic mechanism. Mortality results revealed that P. shigelloides is highly pathogenic and infects various tissues throughout the body, resulting in edema of the liver, spleen, and body and head kidneys. Histopathological analysis revealed obvious inflammation, bleeding, and necrosis in the intestine, spleen, and head kidney. The body’s immune tissues actively produce complement C3, superoxide dismutase, and lysozyme after a challenge to resist bacterial invasion. With regard to the underlying pathogenesis of P. shigelloides, comparative transcriptome analysis revealed 876 upregulated genes and 828 downregulated genes in the intestine of C. carpio after the challenge. Analysis of differentially expressed unigenes revealed the involvement of major immune pathways, particularly the TNF signaling pathway, interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. The present study provides new valuable information on the immune system and defense mechanisms of P. shigelloides.
Rituximab Therapy for Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid: A Retrospective Monocentric Study With Long-Term Follow-Up in 109 Patients
Authors: Bohelay Gérôme , Alexandre Marina , Le Roux-Villet Christelle , Sitbon Ishaï , Doan Serge , Soued Isaac , Shourick Jason , Rousset Laurie , Mellottee Benoît , Heller Michel , Lièvre Nicole , Zumelzu Coralie , Morin Florence , Grootenboer-Mignot Sabine , Gabison Eric , Caux Frédéric , Prost-Squarcioni Catherine , Musette Philippe 
Published: June 2022

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a heterogeneous group of rare, chronic, subepithelial autoimmune blistering diseases (AIBDs) with predominant involvement of mucous membranes that can be sight-threatening and life-threatening. Rituximab (RTX) has demonstrated its efficacy in severe MMP refractory to conventional immunosuppressants in small series that differed in RTX scheme, concomitant therapies, and outcome definitions. In a meta-analysis involving 112 patients with MMP treated with RTX, complete remission (CR) was reported in 70.5% of cases. Herein, we report the largest retrospective monocentric study on RTX efficacy in a series of 109 severe and/or refractory patients with MMP treated with RTX with a median follow-up period of 51.4 months. RTX was administered in association with immunomodulatory drugs (dapsone, salazopyrine) without any other systemic immunosuppressant in 104 patients. The RTX schedule comprised two injections (1 g, 2 weeks apart), repeated every 6 months until CR or failure, with a unique consolidation injection (1 g) after CR. The median survival times to disease control and to CR were 7.1 months and 12.2 months, respectively. The median number of RTX cycles required to achieve CR in 85.3% of patients was two. The larynx was the lesional site that took the longest time to achieve disease control. One year after RTX weaning, CR off RTX was obtained in 68.7% of cases. CR off RTX with only minimum doses of immunomodulatory drugs was achieved in 22.0% of patients. Further, 10.1% of patients were partial responders and 4.6% were non-responders to RTX. Relapse occurred in 38.7% of cases, of whom 91.7% had achieved CR again at the last follow-up. In MMP, CR was achieved in a longer time and after more rituximab cycles than in pemphigus, especially for patients with MMP with anti-type VII collagen reactivity. RTX with concomitant immunomodulatory drugs was not responsible for an unusual proportion of adverse events. This large study confirms that RTX is an effective therapy in patients with severe and/or refractory MMP, corroborating previous findings regarding the effects of RTX on AIBDs such as pemphigus.
Determining the Optimal (Neo)Adjuvant Regimen for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Breast Cancer Regarding Survival Outcome: A Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Cai Yu-Wen , Shao Zhi-Ming , Yu Ke-Da 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundThe optimal (neo)adjuvant regimen for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer regarding survival outcomes remains unclear.MethodsWe searched Web of Science, PubMed, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials systematically to find out randomized controlled studies, up to January 2022, that compared different anti-HER2 regimens in the (neo)adjuvant setting. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS). We used a Bayesian statistical model to combine direct and indirect comparisons and used odds ratios (ORs) to pool effect sizes and performed the surface under the cumulative ranking area (SUCRA) curves to estimate the ranking probabilities of various regimens. For survival outcomes, we performed two parallel analyses, one based on data from both neoadjuvant and adjuvant studies and the other specific to adjuvant studies. All statistics were two-sided.ResultsFifteen studies were finally enrolled. Regarding DFS, the overall analysis indicated that the top two regimens for HER2-positive breast cancer were chemotherapy plus trastuzumab with lapatinib, and chemotherapy plus trastuzumab with pertuzumab (SUCAR of 81% and 79%, respectively), with the OR of 0.99 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.59 to 1.54]; the parallel analysis specific to adjuvant trials indicated that the top two regimens were chemotherapy plus trastuzumab with sequential neratinib, and chemotherapy plus trastuzumab with pertuzumab (SUCRA of 80% and 76%, respectively), with the OR of 1.04 (95% CI, 0.63 to 1.73). The dual-target therapy that combines trastuzumab and pertuzumab showed the highest risk of inducing cardiac events, with an SUCRA of 92%.ConclusionsChemotherapy plus trastuzumab and pertuzumab might be the optimal regimen for HER2-positive breast cancer in improving the survival rate. However, the cardiotoxicity of this dual-target therapy should be taken care of.
Defining the Realized Niche of the Two Major Clades of Trichodesmium: A Study on the West Florida Shelf
Authors: Confesor Kristina A. , Selden Corday R. , Powell Kimberly E. , Donahue Laura A. , Mellett Travis , Caprara Salvatore , Knapp Angela N. , Buck Kristen N. , Chappell P. Dreux 
Published: June 2022

The cyanobacterium Trichodesmium plays an essential role supporting ocean productivity by relieving nitrogen limitation via dinitrogen (N2) fixation. The two common Trichodesmium clades, T. erythraeum and T. thiebautii, are both observed in waters along the West Florida Shelf (WFS). We hypothesized that these taxa occupy distinct realized niches, where T. thiebautii is the more oceanic clade. Samples for DNA and water chemistry analyses were collected on three separate WFS expeditions (2015, 2018, and 2019) spanning multiple seasons; abundances of the single copy housekeeping gene rnpB from both clades were enumerated via quantitative PCR. We conducted a suite of statistical analyses to assess Trichodesmium clade abundances in the context of the physicochemical data. We observed a consistent coastal vs. open ocean separation of the two clades: T. erythraeum was found in shallow waters where the concentrations of dissolved iron (dFe) and the groundwater tracer Ba were significantly higher, while T. thiebautii abundance was positively correlated with water column depth. The Loop Current intrusion in 2015 with entrained Missisippi River water brought higher dFe and elevated abundance of both clades offshore of the 50 m isobath, suggesting that both clades are subject to Fe limitation on the outer shelf. Whereas, previous work has observed that T. thiebautii is more abundant than T. erythraeum in open ocean surface waters, this is the first study to examine Trichodesmium niche differentiation in a coastal environment. Understanding the environmental niches of these two key taxa bears important implications for their contributions to global nitrogen and carbon cycling and their response to global climate change.
Deep Learning Models for Segmenting Non-perfusion Area of Color Fundus Photographs in Patients With Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion
Authors: Miao Jinxin , Yu Jiale , Zou Wenjun , Su Na , Peng Zongyi , Wu Xinjing , Huang Junlong , Fang Yuan , Yuan Songtao , Xie Ping , Huang Kun , Chen Qiang , Hu Zizhong , Liu Qinghuai 
Published: June 2022

PurposeTo develop artificial intelligence (AI)-based deep learning (DL) models for automatically detecting the ischemia type and the non-perfusion area (NPA) from color fundus photographs (CFPs) of patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of 274 CFPs from patients diagnosed with BRVO. All DL models were trained using a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) based on 45 degree CFPs covering the fovea and the optic disk. We first trained a DL algorithm to identify BRVO patients with or without the necessity of retinal photocoagulation from 219 CFPs and validated the algorithm on 55 CFPs. Next, we trained another DL algorithm to segment NPA from 104 CFPs and validated it on 29 CFPs, in which the NPA was manually delineated by 3 experienced ophthalmologists according to fundus fluorescein angiography. Both DL models have been cross-validated 5-fold. The recall, precision, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the DL models in comparison with three types of independent ophthalmologists of different seniority.ResultsIn the first DL model, the recall, precision, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC) were 0.75 ± 0.08, 0.80 ± 0.07, 0.79 ± 0.02, and 0.82 ± 0.03, respectively, for predicting the necessity of laser photocoagulation for BRVO CFPs. The second DL model was able to segment NPA in CFPs of BRVO with an AUC of 0.96 ± 0.02. The recall, precision, and accuracy for segmenting NPA was 0.74 ± 0.05, 0.87 ± 0.02, and 0.89 ± 0.02, respectively. The performance of the second DL model was nearly comparable with the senior doctors and significantly better than the residents.ConclusionThese results indicate that the DL models can directly identify and segment retinal NPA from the CFPs of patients with BRVO, which can further guide laser photocoagulation. Further research is needed to identify NPA of the peripheral retina in BRVO, or other diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy.
Prevalence and Predictors of Abdominal Aorta Calcification in Patients With Psoriasis—A Case Control Study
Authors: Ramos Sofia , Daya Sheetal , Crowther Nigel J. , Pillay Lushen , Tikly Mohammed , Goolam Mahyoodeen Nasrin 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundPsoriasis is associated with a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Caucasians, but only a few studies from sub-Saharan Africa have investigated the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patients with psoriasis. Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is a strong predictor of future cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in the general population. We investigated the prevalence and risk factors for AAC in a predominantly non-Caucasian cohort of South African patients with psoriasis.MethodsA cross-sectional case-control study of adult psoriasis patients (n = 69) and controls (n = 80), matched for gender, ethnicity and body mass index, attending tertiary Dermatology and Rheumatology clinics in Johannesburg, South Africa. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical and biochemical data were recorded. All participants underwent non-contrast abdominal CT scans. Images were assessed for AAC at the supra-coeliac aorta, supra-mesenteric aorta and aortic bifurcation using Horos DICOM viewer software.ResultsAbdominal aortic calcification at any site was more prevalent in the psoriasis than control group (47.8% vs 22.5%, p &lt; 0.005). The aortic bifurcation was the commonest site for AAC in both groups, but more prevalent in the psoriasis group (42.0% vs 21.3%, p &lt; 0.005). The psoriasis group was also more likely to smoke, have hypertension and type 2 diabetes (56.5% vs 25.0%, p &lt; 0.005; 72.0% vs 55.0%, p &lt; 0.005; 24.6% vs 3.80%, p &lt; 0.0005, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age, smoking and type 2 (T2DM) diabetes were independently associated with AAC (odds ratio (95% CIs): 1.16 (1.07, 1.20), 4.30 (2.15, 8.61) and 3.45 (1.09, 15.7) respectively), but psoriasis was not. Forward regression analysis demonstrated that smoking attenuated the association of psoriasis with AAC.ConclusionOur findings show AAC to be more common in psoriasis patients compared to controls. Age, T2DM and smoking were independent predictors of AAC. Smoking cessation is essential in psoriatic patients to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. The clinical utility of AAC detection by CT imaging to risk stratify for hard cardiovascular outcomes needs to be explored.
Association of Lung CT Findings in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) With Patients' Age, Body Weight, Vital Signs, and Medical Regimen
Authors: Al-Shudifat Abdel-Ellah , Al-Radaideh Ali , Hammad Shatha , Hijjawi Nawal , Abu-Baker Shaden , Azab Mohammed , Tayyem Reema 
Published: June 2022

ObjectiveThis study aimed to detect possible associations between lung computed tomography (CT) findings in COVID-19 and patients' age, body weight, vital signs, and medical regimen in Jordan.MethodsThe present cross-sectional study enrolled 230 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 in Prince Hamza Hospital in Jordan. Demographic data, as well as major lung CT scan findings, were obtained from the hospital records of the COVID-19 patients.ResultsThe main observed major lung changes among the enrolled COVID-19 patients included ground-glass opacification in 47 (20.4%) patients and consolidation in 22 (9.6%) patients. A higher percentage of patients with major lung changes (24%) was observed among patients above 60 years old, while (50%) of patients with no changes in their lung findings were in the age group of 18–29 years old. Results obtained from the present study showed that only patients with major CT lung changes (9.7%) were prescribed more than three antibiotics. Additionally, 41.6 % of patients with major lung CT scan changes had either dry (31.0%) or productive (10.6%) cough at admission.ConclusionSeveral factors have been identified by this study for their ability to predict lung changes. Early assessment of these predictors could help provide a prompt intervention that may enhance health outcomes and reduce the risk for further lung changes.