bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A systematic review and meta-analysis of blood interleukin-4 levels concerning malaria infection and severity
Authors: Kotepui Kwuntida Uthaisar , Thirarattanasunthon Phiman , Rattaprasert Pongruj , Kotepui Manas 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Interleukin (IL)-4 had been linked to malaria severity, but the findings are controversial, and the evidence is inconsistent and imprecise. In the current investigation, data on IL-4 levels in patients with severe and uncomplicated malaria were compiled.

Methods
The systematic review was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022323387). Searches for relevant articles on IL-4 levels in patients with severe malaria and studies that examined IL-4 levels in both uncomplicated malaria and healthy controls were performed in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus using the search strategy without limitation to publication years or language. The quality of all included studies was evaluated using The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement: standards for reporting observational studies. Qualitative and quantitative data syntheses were performed. The random-effects model, which weights each study according to its between- and within-study variance, was used to pool the mean difference (MD) of individual studies. The degree of heterogeneity was determined using Cochran's Q and I2 statistics. Additionally, meta-regression and subgroup analyses were perfomed to investigate possible sources of heterogeneity. The outliers were identified using the leave-one-out method and assessed publication bias using funnel plots, Egger’s test, and a contour-enhanced funnel plot.

Results
A total of 2300 studies were identified through database searches, and 36 were included for analyses. The meta-analysis results showed lower mean IL-4 levels in severe malaria (434 cases) than in uncomplicated malaria (611 cases) (P = 0.01, pooled MD: −3.36 pg/mL, 95% confidence intervals CI −5.55 to −1.16 pg/mL, I2: 98.15%, 11 studies). The meta-analysis results showed no difference in mean IL-4 levels between cerebral malaria (96 cases) and noncerebral severe malaria (108 cases) (P = 0.71, pooled MD: 0.86 pg/mL, 95% CI −3.60 to 5.32 pg/mL, I2 92.13%, four studies). Finally, no difference was found in mean IL-4 levels between uncomplicated malaria (635 cases) and healthy controls (674 cases) (P = 0.57, pooled MD: 0.79 pg/mL, 95% CI −1.92 to 3.50 pg/mL, I2: 99.89%, 11 studies).

Conclusion
The meta-analysis revealed lower IL-4 levels in patients with severe malaria than in those with uncomplicated malaria, though a trend toward comparable IL-4 levels between both groups was more likely because several sources of heterogeneities were observed. Based on the limited number of studies included in the meta-analysis, until additional investigations have been conducted, IL-4 consideration as an alternative prognostic factor for malaria severity is not warranted.
Preliminary outcomes of raltitrexed eluting bead-transarterial chemoembolization using Callispheres® beads for gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma liver metastasis
Authors: Bi Yonghua , Jiao Dechao , Wang Yang , Han Xinwei , Ren Jianzhuang 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) with Callispheres® beads (CB) is currently used in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, clinical data regarding DEB-TACE using raltitrexed-eluting CB for gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma liver metastases (GALM) treatment is limited. We aimed to report the preliminary outcomes of DEB-TACE using CB in unresectable GALM patients.

Methods
This retrospective study enrolled unresectable GALM patients who were treated with DEB-TACE using raltitrexed-eluting CB from October 2018 to October 2021. Totally, 25 patients, 18 males and 7 females, mean age 66.8±9.5 years, were continuously enrolled. Postoperative treatment response, survival rates, and complication were calculated during the procedure and follow-up.

Results
Twenty-four patients were technically successful, with a technical success rate of 96.0%. The 3-month overall response rate and disease control rate were 21.7% and 73.9%, and 6-month overall response rate and disease control rate were 30.0% and 65.0%. The median survival time from diagnosis of GALM was 31.3 months. The median survival time and median PFS from first DEB-TACE was 21.3 months (95% confidence interval 9.1–33.5) and 10.7 months (3.7–17.7), respectively. Main adverse events included abdominal pain (36.0%), fever (12.0%), and nausea/vomiting (28.0%) after DEB-TACE. No treatment-related deaths and grade 3 or grade 4 adverse events were observed.

Conclusions
DEB-TACE using raltitrexed eluting CB was demonstrated as a safe and efficient alternative choice for GALM.
Comparison of efavirenz levels in blood and hair with pharmacy refills as measures of adherence and predictors of viral suppression among people living with HIV in Nigeria
Authors: Nwogu Jacinta N. , Ngene Samuel O. , Babalola Chinedum P. , Olagunju Adeniyi , Owen Andrew , Khoo Saye H. , Kotila Olayinka A. , Berzins Baiba , Okochi Hideaki , Tallerico Regina , Gandhi Monica , Taiwo Babafemi 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Strategies to support adherence are constrained by the lack of tools to objectively monitor medication intake in low-resource settings. Pharmacologic measures are objective, but pharmacy refill data is more accessible and cost-efficient. This study compared short-term and long-term efavirenz (EFV) drug levels with pharmacy refill adherence data (PRA) and evaluated their ability to predict viral suppression among people living with HIV in Nigeria.

Methods
Paired hair and dried blood spot (DBS) samples were obtained from 91 adults living with HIV receiving 600 mg EFV-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) and EFV concentrations were measured via validated methods using liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry. PRA was estimated from pharmacy records, based on the number of days a patient collected medication before or after the scheduled pick-up date. PRA was categorized into ≤ 74%, 75–94% and ≥ 95%, defined as poor, medium and high adherence, respectively. HIV viral loads closest to the hair sampling time (within 6 months) were also abstracted. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analyses compared the ability of adherence metrics to predict viral suppression.

Results
Based on PRA, 81% of participants had high adherence while 11% and 8% had medium and poor adherence, respectively. The median (IQR) EFV concentrations were 6.85 ng/mg (4.56–10.93) for hair and 1495.6 ng/ml (1050.7–2365.8) for DBS. Of the three measures of adherence, hair EFV concentration had the highest Area Under Curve (AUC) to predict viral suppression. Correlations between EFV concentrations in DBS and hair with PRA were positive (r = 0.12, P = 0.27 and r = 0.21, P = 0.05, respectively) but not strong.

Conclusions
EFV concentrations in hair were the strongest predictor of viral suppression and only weakly correlated with pharmacy refill adherence data in Nigeria. This study suggests that resource-limited settings may benefit from objective adherence metrics to monitor and support adherence.
Development of hydrogel based on Carboxymethyl cellulose/poly(4-vinylpyridine) for controlled releasing of fertilizers
Authors: Mohamed Riham R. , Fahim Marie E. , Soliman Soliman M. A. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractA novel Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and poly (4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) hydrogel system is synthesized with different ratios, in the presence of cross-linkerN, N,- methylene bis-acrylamide (MBA). The hydrogel is characterized via FTIR spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The FTIR results showed a strong interaction between both CMC, P4VP and the loaded fertilizer. The water uptake of the hydrogel was evaluated by swelling tests under variations in pH, biodegradability was investigated in soil to simulate real-world conditions. To determine the best release behavior of urea and calcium nitrate from the hydrogel, fertilizers were loaded with different ratios onto the hydrogel during its formation. Fertilizers release was followed by Atomic absorption spectroscopy to study the release of calcium nitrate and urea. Release kinetic parameters were obtained based on different mathematical models as Zero order, First order, Korsmeyer–Peppas and Higuchi models. The suitable proportionality between the mathematical models used and the fertilizers release was determined based on the correlation coefficients (R2). According to Zero order model urea release showed independent concentration. Based on Korsmeyer-Pappas and Higuchi models with high n value and R2equals to 0.97. Compared to urea, Ca2+, Zero order and Higuchi have been ignored due to their poor correlation coefficients values as proportion with Ca2+fertilizer release.
Engineering astaxanthin accumulation reduces photoinhibition and increases biomass productivity under high light in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Cazzaniga Stefano , Perozeni Federico , Baier Thomas , Ballottari Matteo 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Astaxanthin is a highly valuable ketocarotenoid with strong antioxidative activity and is natively accumulated upon environmental stress exposure in selected microorganisms. Green microalgae are photosynthetic, unicellular organisms cultivated in artificial systems to produce biomass and industrially relevant bioproducts. While light is required for photosynthesis, fueling carbon fixation processes, application of high irradiance causes photoinhibition and limits biomass productivity.

Results
Here, we demonstrate that engineered astaxanthin accumulation in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii conferred high light tolerance, reduced photoinhibition and improved biomass productivity at high irradiances, likely due to strong antioxidant properties of constitutively accumulating astaxanthin. In competitive co-cultivation experiments, astaxanthin-rich Chlamydomonas reinhardtii outcompeted its corresponding parental background strain and even the fast-growing green alga Chlorella vulgaris.

Conclusions
Metabolic engineering inducing astaxanthin and ketocarotenoids accumulation caused improved high light tolerance and increased biomass productivity in the model species for microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Thus, engineering microalgal pigment composition represents a powerful strategy to improve biomass productivities in customized photobioreactors setups. Moreover, engineered astaxanthin accumulation in selected strains could be proposed as a novel strategy to outperform growth of other competing microalgal strains.
The impact of subthreshold levels of amyloid deposition on conversion to dementia in patients with amyloid-negative amnestic mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Kim Hyung-Ji , Oh Jungsu S. , Lim Jae-Sung , Lee Sunju , Jo Sungyang , Chung E-Nae , Shim Woo-Hyun , Oh Minyoung , Kim Jae Seung , Roh Jee Hoon , Lee Jae-Hong ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
About 40–50% of patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are found to have no significant Alzheimer’s pathology based on amyloid PET positivity. Notably, conversion to dementia in this population is known to occur much less often than in amyloid-positive MCI. However, the relationship between MCI and brain amyloid deposition remains largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the influence of subthreshold levels of amyloid deposition on conversion to dementia in amnestic MCI patients with negative amyloid PET scans.

Methods
This study was a retrospective cohort study of patients with amyloid-negative amnestic MCI who visited the memory clinic of Asan Medical Center. All participants underwent detailed neuropsychological testing, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and [18F]-florbetaben (FBB) positron emission tomography scan (PET). Conversion to dementia was determined by a neurologist based on a clinical interview with a detailed neuropsychological test or a decline in the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination score of more than 4 points per year combined with impaired activities of daily living. Regional cortical amyloid levels were calculated, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for conversion to dementia was obtained. To increase the reliability of the results of the study, we analyzed the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset together.

Results
During the follow-up period, 36% (39/107) of patients converted to dementia from amnestic MCI. The dementia converter group displayed increased standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) values of FBB on PET in the bilateral temporal, parietal, posterior cingulate, occipital, and left precuneus cortices as well as increased global SUVR. Among volume of interests, the left parietal SUVR predicted conversion to dementia with the highest accuracy in the ROC analysis (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.762, P < 0.001). The combination of precuneus, parietal cortex, and FBB composite SUVRs also showed a higher accuracy in predicting conversion to dementia than other models (AUC = 0.763). Of the results of ADNI data, the SUVR of the left precuneus SUVR showed the highest AUC (AUC = 0.596, P = 0.006).

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that subthreshold amyloid levels may contribute to conversion to dementia in patients with amyloid-negative amnestic MCI.
Multidomain trials to prevent dementia: addressing methodological challenges
Authors: Montero-Odasso Manuel , Zou G Y , Kamkar Nellie , Feldman Howard H. , Belleville Sylvie , Chertkow Howard , Nygaard Haakon B , Son Surim , Speechley Mark 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Multidomain trials to prevent dementia by simultaneously targeting multiple risk factors with non-pharmacological lifestyle interventions show promise. Designing trials to evaluate the efficacy of individual interventions and their combinations is methodologically challenging. Determining the efficacy is, nevertheless, important to individuals, payers, and for resource allocations to support intervention implementation.

Main body
The central rationale for seminal trials improving cardiovascular health or reducing falls risk in older adults is that multifactorial conditions may be amenable to improvement by simultaneously targeting multiple modifiable risk factors. Similar reasoning underlies lifestyle interventions to reduce dementia risk using combinations of physical exercise, cognitive training, diet, amelioration of vascular-metabolic risk factors, and improving sleep quality. Randomizing individuals with at least two modifiable risk factors to “standardly tailored” interventions to mitigate their risk factors, versus a comparator arm, will yield an unbiased estimate of the cumulative average effect of modifying more versus fewer risk factors. The between-group difference in the cognitive primary outcome will reflect both the main effects of the mitigated risk factors, as well as their synergistic effects. However, given the positive trial results, there are inherent challenges in quantifying post hoc which components, or combination of components, were responsible for improvements in cognition. Here, we elaborate on these methodological challenges and important considerations in using a standardly tailored design with two arms (one consisting of multidomain interventions tailored to participants’ risk profiles and another consisting of active control conditions). We compare this approach to fully factorial designs and highlight the disadvantages and advantages of each. We discuss partial solutions, including analytical strategies such as risk reduction scores that measure reductions in the number or severity of risk factors in each study arm. Positive results can support the causal inference that between-group differences in the primary cognitive outcome were due to risk factor modification.

Conclusion
Standardly tailored designs are pragmatic and feasible evaluations of multidomain interventions to reduce dementia risk. We propose sensitivity and exploratory analyses of between-group reductions in the severity of risk factors, as a methodology to bolster causal inferences that between-group differences in the primary cognitive outcome are due to the risk factors modified.
Condition assessment of different historic bridges using Non Destructive Techniques (NDT) with FTIR analysis in Izmir after the Samos Island earthquake
Authors: Kilic Gokhan 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
The study aimed to contribute to condition assessments of historic bridges in Izmir, Turkey and the estimation of their predictable functional lifetime after the Samos earthquake. This document is a summary of the study into the reliability of Non-Destructive Techniques (NDT) for testing the state of different historic bridges impacted by the October 30, 2020 Earthquake. Besides providing data on material characteristics, NDT can help identify hidden bridge structure defects, such as cavities and moisture. This study also used FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) spectral data analysis in conjunction with NDT as a multidisciplinary evaluation technique and demonstrates the value of this approach in the field. This study is of special relevance to bridge engineers.
The swarm Langmuir probe ion drift, density and effective mass (SLIDEM) product
Authors: Pakhotin I. P. , Burchill J. K. , Förster M. , Lomidze L. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractCurrent methods for estimating ion density on Swarm rely on the assumption of 100% O + and no along-track ion velocity flows. These assumptions are routinely violated, particularly on the nightside and during high-latitude and polar cap traversals, compromising the accuracy of the measurements. The use of faceplate current data along with the Langmuir probe ion admittance measurements, and orbital-motion limited (OML) theory, make it possible to relax some of the assumptions inherent in current ESA Swarm density estimates. This further yields along-track ion drift and effective ion mass estimates. This paper describes the theoretical basis for estimating revised ion density, providing a new estimate for effective ion mass, as well as an alternative way of estimating along-track ion drift. The complete Swarm historical data set has been generated and validated using empirical models (International Reference Ionosphere, and an empirical electric field model), as well as ground-spacecraft conjunctions. Case studies and statistical results reveal clear geophysical signatures in the new product of light ions at low- and mid-latitudes and along-track ion drift at high latitudes, and their response to space weather.
Graphical Abstract
A comparison between anorganic bone and collagen-preserving bone xenografts for alveolar ridge preservation: systematic review and future perspectives
Authors: Di Stefano Danilo Alessio , Orlando Francesco , Ottobelli Marco , Fiori Davide , Garagiola Umberto 
Published: July 2022

AbstractAfter tooth extraction, dimensional changes affect the alveolar socket, leading to loss in alveolar bone height and width. Histological modifications also occur, with initial formation of a blood clot that is replaced with granulation tissue and subsequently with a provisional connective tissue matrix. Spontaneous healing ends with socket filling with woven bone, which is gradually replaced with lamellar bone and bone marrow. Adequate alveolar ridge dimensions and bone quality are required to assure optimal stability and osseointegration following dental implant placement. When a tooth is extracted, alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) procedures are an effective method to prevent collapse of the post-extraction socket. Heterologous bone is widely chosen by clinicians for ARP, and anorganic bone xenografts (ABXs) made bioinert by heat treatment represents the most used biomaterial in clinical applications. Collagen-preserving bone xenografts (CBXs) made of porcine or equine bone are fabricated by less invasive chemical or enzymatic treatments to remove xenogenic antigens, and these are also effective in preserving post-extraction sites. Clinical differences between anorganic bone substitutes and collagen-preserving materials are not well documented in the literature but understanding these differences could clarify how processing protocols influence biomaterial behavior in situ. This systematic review of the literature compares the dimensional changes and histological features of ABXs versus CBXs in ridge preservation procedures to promote awareness of different bone xenograft efficacies in stimulating the healing of post-extraction sockets.
Mutation update of SERPING1 related to hereditary angioedema in the Chinese population
Authors: Wang Xue , Lei Shubin , Xu Yingyang , Liu Shuang , Zhi Yuxiang 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBackgroundHereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease characterized by recurrent attacks of severe swellings of the skin and submucosa. More than 900 variants of theSERPING1gene associated with HAE have been identified. However, only approximately 50 variants have been identified in the Chinese population. This study aimed to update the mutational spectrum in Chinese HAE patients and provide evidence for the accurate diagnosis of HAE.MethodsA total of 97 unrelated HAE patients were enrolled in the study. Sanger sequencing and multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis were used to identify the variants in theSERPING1gene. The variants were reviewed in a number of databases, including the Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD) (http://www.hgmd.cf.ac.uk/) and the Leiden Open Variation Database (LOVD,https://databases.lovd.nl/shared/variants/SERPING1). The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics-Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG-AMP) criteria was used to determine the pathogenicity of the variants.ResultsOf the 97 patients, 76 different variants were identified in 90 of them and no disease-causing variants were identified in the remaining 7 patients. Among the 76 variants, 35 variants were novel and submitted to ClinVar. Missense and in-frame variants were the most common variants (36.8%), followed by frameshift (28.9%), nonsense (14.5%), splice site (13.2%) variants, and gross deletions/duplications (6.6%).ConclusionsOur findings broaden the mutational spectrum ofSERPING1and provide evidence for accurate diagnosis and predictive genetic counseling.