bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Predictive Power of Pain Characteristics and Sleep Quality on Fatigue in Adolescents with Cancer
Authors: KUDUBEŞ ASLI AKDENİZ , BEKTAŞ MURAT , GERCEKER GÜLCİN ÖZALP 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Purpose
This study was conducted as descriptive, methodological, and cross-sectional research to determine the predictive power of pain characteristics and sleep quality on fatigue in adolescents with cancer.
Method
The study was conducted between November 2020 and April 2021 with 139 adolescents with cancer who reported pain. The study data were collected via an Adolescent Information Form, the Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool, the Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Patients Aged 13-18, and the Sleep Assessment Scale for Children with Cancer - Adolescent Form. Mean values, percentage calculations, Pearson correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis were used in the analysis of the data.
Results
There was a high level and negative correlation between pain characteristics (pain location, severity, and quality) of the adolescents participating in the study and their mean scores from the overall fatigue scale and its sub-dimensions and a high level and positive correlation with their mean scores from the overall sleep quality scale. Pain characteristics (pain location, severity, and quality) and sleep quality of adolescents with cancer explained 74% of fatigue.
Conclusions
Pain, sleep quality, and fatigue are symptoms that should be closely addressed in adolescents with cancer. Pain and sleep quality directly affect fatigue, and as sleep quality increases, fatigue decreases.
Health Literacy Among Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors; Exploring Associated Factors in a Nation-Wide Sample
Authors: Vandraas Kathrine , Reinertsen Kristin Valborg , Kiserud Cecilie , Bøhn Synne , Lie Hanne Cathrine 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background

Poor health literacy (HL) likely hampers health management and outcomes in cancer survivorship. Knowledge of associated factors is needed to identify at-risk sub-groups of survivors, but is currently scant. Here, we explore HL and associated factors in a nation-wide sample of long-term breast cancer survivors (BCSs).
Material and methods

All BCSs aged 20-65 years, diagnosed with early-stage BC in 2011-2012, were identified through the Norwegian Cancer Registry and invited to participate in the Survivorship, Work and Sex (SWEET)-study. HL was measured using The European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire-12 (HLS-EU-Q12) as a continuous and categorical variable. Associations between HL and sociodemographic-, physical- and mental health variables, including the most common late effects, were explored in uni- and multivariable linear regression models.
Results

The final sample consisted of 1355 survivors (48%). Median age was 60 years and the majority of survivors had high socioeconomic status (SES). Median HL sum-score corresponded to an intermediate HL level (36.2, SD 5.4), while 19.3% reported marginal or inadequate HL. Education, income, age at diagnosis, the personality trait neuroticism and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) remained significantly associated with HL in the multivariate model, explaining 12% of the variance in HL scores.
Conclusion

Low levels of HL were prevalent, potentially affecting the provision of effective survivorship care and BCS’s self-management abilities. Identifying individuals at risk of low HL based on knowledge readily available to clinicians remains challenging and warrants further investigation.
Is the short-term lethal effect of NO2 ignored?Focus on the relationship between short-term exposure to NO2 and tumor death in Shenyang, China
Authors: Yang Cheng , Xue Xiaoxia , Liu Shuai , Ma Xinyue , Xiong Lin , Zhou Baosen , Li Xuelian 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Although related studies have shown that the short-term exposure of NO2 is associated with all-cause and respiratory mortality, there is still no clear evidence for the effect of NO2 on tumor death. This study aimed to understand whether the lethal effect of NO2 air pollution was underestimated in China. We comprehensively estimated the association between mortality and NO2 concentration and also the population susceptibility differences for whole tumors(C00-D48), lung cancer(C34), gastric cancer(C16), liver cancer(C22), colorectal cancer(C18-C20), breast cancer(C50), thyroid cancer(C73), prostate cancer(C61), bladder cancer(C67) and leukemia (C90.1, C91-C95) in a typical old industrial city in the northeast of China. The generalized linear model showed that the increase of NO2 concentration was positively correlated with an increase of 0.95% (95% confidence interval, 0.33-1.57%), 1.86% (0.79-2.95%), 2.33% (0.38-4.32%), 2.55% (0.68-4.45%), 16.3% (4.01-30.04%), 11.29% (5.9-16.94%), respectively, in the mortality of whole tumors, lung cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia in the city of Shenyang. Population susceptibility differences were also significant for the short-term effects of NO2 on tumor mortality. Young and old persons suffering from leukemia were at more death risk from increased concentration of NO2 and most of this risk of death can be observed on lag0. However, young adults aged 15 to 65 with all tumors and thyroid cancer, were more susceptible to their effects. Women with total tumors, colorectal cancer, were more vulnerable to die from NO2 air pollution, and significant risk effects can be observed in lag0-lag6 and lag0/lag4/lag5, respectively. Since WHO has recommended a short-term (24-hour) nitrogen dioxide AQGs level of 25 μg/m3, which is more stringent than that of 80 μg/m3 in the Ambient Air Quality Standard of China. We suggest that the local government should seriously consider guiding legislation and policies of air pollution based on the new WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines, to protect public health with an adequate margin of safety.
The North-South divide in global air pollution: drivers and impacts
Authors: Zhao Alcide , Stevenson David , Heal Mathew , Bollasina Massimo 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
We used an Earth System Model to assess global air pollution changes and their impacts over the 1970-2010 period. We found emergence of a strong North-South divide driven by anthropogenic air pollutant emissions, with a secondary contribution from greenhouse gas increases. Increased concentrations of PM2.5 and O3 have respectively led to an additional 2.4 (95% confidence interval: 2.0-2.6) million and 0.8 (0.6-0.9) million premature deaths. Increases in O3 have also led to an extra 173±8 million tonnes annual staple crop losses at a cost of ~55 billion US$2010. Increased energy use dominates the worsening air pollution in global south regions, while technologies lowering emissions and mitigating impacts have been important in Europe, and to a lesser extent in North America. Reductions in energy-intensive sectors, not technologies alone, are required worldwide to protect global air quality, human health, and food security.
Examination of Patient Transfer Criteria to Higher Medical Institutions After Emergency Endoscopy at a Private Medical Facility Without Hospital Beds
Authors: Obata Kazuhiko , Uchiyama Kan , Hada Takenori , Murai Ryuzo 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background: Because the clinical course of gastrointestinal bleeding varies, urgent judgments regarding the severity of a patient’s condition, indications for endoscopic hemostasis, and transfer to a higher medical institution are needed at private medical facilities without hospital beds. The present study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of patients with vital sign fluctuations during emergency endoscopy for gastrointestinal bleeding and experiencing rebleeding within 30 days after initial endoscopy. We then investigated criteria for transferring patients to higher medical institutions based on the results.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the characteristics of 91 patients who underwent emergency endoscopy for gastrointestinal bleeding at our facility without hospital beds between January 2016 and September 2020. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 13 with vital sign fluctuations during emergency endoscopy and/or rebleeding within 30 days after an initial endoscopy as the required transfer group and 78 without either as the nonrequired transfer group.Results: No significant differences in age, sex, location, or endoscopic treatment were observed between the 2 groups. However, the prevalence of comorbidities was significantly higher in the required transfer group (P <0.001). Moreover, multivariate logistic regression analysis identified comorbidities (odds ratio [OR], 10.646; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.868–68.330; P = 0.001) as an independent risk factor for vital sign fluctuation and/or rebleeding.Conclusions: These findings suggest that comorbidity presence is a poor prognostic factor in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, for whom transfer to higher medical institutions needs to be actively considered.Trial registrationParticipants were retrospectively registered.
Tissue Distribution and Biomagnification of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Snakes From Paddy Fields in the Yangtze River Delta, Southeastern China
Authors: Jing Xiuming , Wang Xueqiu , Lv Hongjuan , Liu Futian 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
In many developing regions, the rapid development in industrialization and urbanization has caused adverse impact on the aqueous ecology and environment. However, there is limited information available on the tissue-specific burden and biomagnification of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in biota. In the present study, the tissue concentration and distribution of tri- to deca-BDEs were analyzed in terrestrial short-tailed mamushi (Gloydius Brevicaudus) and semi-aquatic red-backed rat snake (Elaphe Rufodorsata) from the Yangtze River (ChangJiang) Delta, Southeastern China. The total PBDE concentrations of liver, muscle and adipose tissues in two snakes ranged from 29.1-252.2, 10.5-48.9 and 4.36-106.4 ng/g lw, respectively. The congener patterns of PBDEs exhibited the significant difference between two snakes, which may be attributed to different feeding habits and dermal exposure. Tissue-specific burdens in snakes suggested that adipose tissue served as a dominant storage and sink for PBDEs (85.1% for red-backed rat snake and 80.0% for short-tailed mamushi, respectively) compared to liver (8.1% and 12.5%, respectively) and muscle (6.9% and 7.5%, respectively) tissues. Biomagnification potential of PBDEs was investigated via black spotted frogs-red-backed rat snake food chain. The biomagnification factors (BMFs) of tri- to deca-BDEs were in a range of 0.74 to 4.30. Tetra- to octa-BDEs generally exhibited biomagnification potentials through the frog-snake food chain. Moreover, parabolic relationship was observed between BMFs and log Kow of PBDE congeners, and it may be resulted from the combined effects of chemical’s hydrophobicity and molecular size. This research, thereby provides data support for biological monitoring being concerned about liver, muscle and adipose tissues of animals.
Protective Effect of Homogeneous Polysaccharide from Wuguchong(HPW) on Intestinal Mucositis Induced by 5- Fluorouracil in Mice
Authors: Shi Peng , Zhao Tianqi , Wang Wendong , Peng Fangli , Wang Ting , Jia Yong , Zou Linxuan , Wang Peng , Yang Simengge , Fan Yue , Zong Junwei , Qu Xueling , Wang Shouyu 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background: In hospitalized patients, drug side effects usually trigger off intestinal mucositis(IM), which in turn abates intestinal absorption and reduces the efficacy of treatment. It has been discovered that natural polysaccharides can relieve intestinal mucositis. In this study, we extracted and purified a homogenous polysaccharide of Wuguchong(HPW),one of traditional Chinese medicine, and explored the protective effect of HPW on 5-fluorouracil-induced IM. Methods and Results: Firstly, we identified the physical and chemical properties of the extracted homogeneous polysaccharides. The molecular weight of HPW was 616 kDa, which was composed of 14 monosaccharides. Then, a model of small intestinal mucositis induced by 5-FU (50 mg/kg) was constructed in mice to explore the effect and mechanism of HPW. The results showed that HPW effectively increased histological indicators such as villus height,crypt depth and goblet cell count. Meanwhile, it relieved intestinal barrier indicators such as D-LAC and DAO. Subsequently, western blot was used to detect the expression of Claudin-1, Occludin, PCNA, and inflammatory proteins such as NF-κB(P65), TNF-α, and COX-2. The figures also indicated that HPW could reduce inflammation and protect the barrier at the molecular level. Finally, we also investigated the influence of HPW on the content of SCFAs in feces of mice, a metabolite of intestinal flora. Conclusions: HPW, as a bioactive polysaccharide derived from insects, has protective effects on intestinal mucosa and can relieve intestinal inflammation caused by drug side effects, which deserves further development and research.
MED1, A Novel Binding partner of BRCA1, Regulates Homologous Recombination and R-Loop Processing
Authors: Honjoh Harunori , Tanikawa Michihiro , Hiraike Osamu-Wada , Oda Katsutoshi , Inaba Hirofumi , Kukita Asako , Kawata Yoshiko , Kusakabe Misako , Tsuchimochi Saki , Taguchi Ayumi , Miyamoto Yuichiro , Sone Kenbun , Tsuruga Tetsushi , Mori-Uchino Mayuyo , Matsumoto Yoko , Osuga Yutaka 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Homologous recombination (HR) is a major repair pathway of DNA double-strand breaks and is closely related to carcinogenesis. HR deficiency has been established as a therapeutic target. The aim of this study was to elucidate the functions of a novel HR factor, Mediator complex subunit 1 (MED1), and its association with BRCA1. Formation of the MED1/BRCA1 complex was examined by immunoprecipitation and GST-pull down assays. The transcription cofactor role of BRCA1 was evaluated using luciferase assays. The roles of MED1 on DNA damage response and HR were analyzed by immunofluorescence and HR assays. R-loop accumulation was analyzed using immunofluorescence. R-loop-induced DNA damage was analyzed by comet assays. Immunoprecipitation and GST-pull down assays demonstrated that MED1 is a novel binding partner of BRCA1, and binds to the BRCT domain. Luciferase assays showed that MED1 potentiated the transcription ability of BRCT by two-fold. In MED1-depleted cells, recruitment of HR genes, such as RPA and γH2AX, to DNA damage sites was severely impaired. HR assays showed that MED1 knockdown significantly decreased HR activity. R-loop nuclear accumulation and R-loop-induced comet tails were observed in MED1-depleted cells. We conclude that the transcription factor MED1 contribute to the regulation of the HR pathway and R-loop processing.
Groundwater Level Estimation in Northwest Region of Bangladesh Using Hybrid Locally Weighted Linear Regression and Gaussian Process Regression Modeling
Authors: Elbeltagi Ahmed , Salam Roquia , Pal Subodh Chandra , Zerouali Bilel , Shahid Shamsuddin , Mallick Javed , Islam Md. Saiful , I Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The knowledge about the role of the underlying variables on groundwater level (GWL) fluctuation at local scale in the drought-prone urban areas of Bangladesh is still not explored. To better insight into the relative contribution of underlying factors on GWL fluctuation, this study proposed a novel hybrid ensemble modeling framework based on locally weighted linear regression (LWLR) and four Gaussian Process Regressions (GPRs) e.g., poly kernel, Pearson universal kernel (PUK), radian basis function (RBF) and normalized poly kernel. The proposed framework has employed to predict GWL at six wells in the drought-prone local areas of North-western urban region of Bangladesh, where GWL is declining rapidly. The rainfall, temperature (Tave), soil moisture (SM), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), Nina3.4, and population growth rate for the period 1993-2017 were utilized as inputs to developed GWL models. The best input combination was explored using the best subset regression model and sensitivity analysis, and the optimal input combination was applied in LWLR and GPRs to estimate monthly GWL fluctuation. The hybrid LWLR-GPR-PUK model, on average, improves the prediction accuracy from 10 to 50% during the training stage and 20-70% during the testing stage compared to other models. The proposed modeling approach can act as a promising substitute tool to estimate GWL fluctuation, especially in drought-prone local areas in urban regions where groundwater data scarcity hinders the physical law-based model development.
Effect of Low-Dose 18F-FDG on Image Quality in Digital PET/CT
Authors: Shirakawa Yuya 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Patients in Japan undergoing PET/CT are injected with 3.7 MBq of 18F-FDG which is a standard based on outdated instrumentation. We investigated whether informative 18F-FDG-PET/CT images of tumor glucose metabolism could be acquired with lower 18F doses. MethodsThe background activity of a NEMA body phantom with 10–37-mm hot spheres containing 18F-FDG was set at 2.53 kBq/mL (= 3.7 MBq/kg dose; Hot/BG = 4; standard ), and 1.73 and 1.34 kBq/mL (= 2.5 and 2.0 MBq/kg doses, respectively). Images were reconstructed using TOF-3D-OSEM and a Gaussian filter (GF) (FWHM 4 mm) and Clear adaptive Low-noise Method (CaLM Mild). Image quality was evaluated as % background variability (NB,10mm), % contrast of 10-mm hot sphere (QH,10 mm), background coefficients of variation (CVbackground), ratios of QH,10mm to NB,10 mm (QH,10 mm/NB,10 mm), and recovery coefficients (RC). The detectability of 10 mm hot spheres was evaluated at each dose.ResultsThe NB,10 mm on images of 3.7 MBq/kg doses acquired for 270 sec was 5.5% (GF and CaLM Mild), which met the guideline standard (< 5.6%), and 6.9% and 7.6% (GF) at 2.5 and 2.0 MBq/kg respectively, on images acquired for 300 sec, and 7.1% and 7.4% (CaLM Mild), which exceeded the standard.The QH,10 mm indicated better contrast on images acquired for 120 sec (clinical standard), with CaLM Mild, than the GF. The CVbackground values for 3.7 MBq/kg dose equivalents were 9.9% (GF) and 10% (CaLM Mild) respectively, for images acquired for 270 and 300 sec, which met the guideline criterion (≤ 10%), and 11% and 12% (GF), and 13% (CaLM Mild) for 2.5 and 2.0 MBq/kg doses for images acquired for 300 sec. The QH,10 mm/NB,10 mm values at 2.0 MBq/kg for images acquired for 120 sec were 3.8 (GF) and 3.5 (CaLM Mild), which met the criterion (> 2.8), and the RCs of 0.73 (GF) and 0.98 (CaLM Mild) for the 10-mm hot sphere, also satisfied the criterion (> 0.38). Visual detectability at all doses met the criterion at 120 sec. ConclusionsThe quality of semiconductor digital PET/CT images was good at doses below the current standard.
DROSHA and DICER RNA products control BMI1-dependent transcriptional repression at DNA damage sites
Authors: Francia Sofia , Capozzo Ilaria , Modafferi Stefania , Iannelli Fabio , Gioia Ubaldo , Fagagna Fabrizio d'Adda di 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Genome integrity is safeguarded by the DNA damage response (DDR). Transcriptional modulation of genes around DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) is important for DNA repair. It has been shown that DSBs repress transcription of DSB-bearing genes in an ATM- and PRC1-dependent manner. However, DSB also induce local de novo transcription of non-coding RNA, which are processed by DROSHA and DICER into small DNA-damage-response RNA (DDRNA). Here we reconcile these apparently contrasting observations by showing that DROSHA and DICER inactivation prevents transcriptional repression of DSB-bearing genes by reducing PRC1 recruitment to DSB and consequent H2A-K119 chromatin ubiquitination. Indeed, DDRNAs generated at DSB associate with the PRC1 component BMI1 and inhibition of DDRNA function with antisense oligonucleotides is sufficient to reduce damage-induce transcriptional silencing in cis genes (DISC). We propose that DROSHA, DICER and DDRNAs control DISC at genomic lesion sites by favoring PRC1-driven chromatin ubiquitination.
Cloud Model Based on a Novel Analytic Hierarchy Process for Rockburst Liability Prediction
Authors: Liu Guoguo , Cheng Ping , Zhong Caiyin , Li Shaohong 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Rockburst is a common geological hazard in underground mining and excavating, constituting a serious threat to the safety of workers and equipment. Rockburst liability prediction is of crucial significance to the prevention of rockburst hazards. Multi-criteria decision-making approach is an effective tool to predict rockbursts. In this paper, five empirical factors (strength-stress ratio, Russenes criterion, brittleness index, strain energy storage index, and integrity index) were used to construct the standard of rockburst liability. A novel analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was proposed to determine the weight of these factors, and then a cloud model was established for rockburst liability prediction on this basis. In the new AHP, the random errors induced by the pairwise comparison matrices of decision-makers were corrected according to the Bayesian theories. Nine cases from engineering projects in China were collected to validate the proposed model for rockburst liability prediction, and the prediction results were consistent with the field status. The quantitative index (Euclidean distance) indicates that the novel analytic hierarchy process has better performance than the original analytic hierarchy process in the weight calculation of factors; the new proposed cloud model is also superior to the original cloud model and the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution model in the prediction of rockburst liability.
Metformin combats high glucose-induced damage to the osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells via inhibition of MAPK pathway mediated through NPR3
Authors: Zhang Yi-Lin , Liu Fen , Li Zhi-Bang , He Xiao-Tao , Li Xuan , Wu Rui-Xin , Sun Hai-Hua , Ge Shao-Hua , Chen Fa-Ming , An Ying 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background

High glucose-induced damage to the osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) has long been a challenge to periodontal regeneration for diabetic individuals. Metformin is an anti-hyperglycemic drug that exhibiting abundant biological activities associated with cell metabolism and downstream tissue regeneration. However, how metformin combats damage to PDLSC osteogenic potential under high glucose and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown.
Methods

Osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs was assessed by Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, ALP activity, Alizarin red staining and quantitative assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. RNA-seq analysis was performed to screen target genes of metformin, and the effects of target genes were confirmed using lentivirus transfection. Western blot analysis was also used to detect the protein level of underlying signaling pathways.
Results

Osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs under high glucose was decreased and metformin addition enhanced the capacity of differentiation. Furthermore, natriuretic peptide receptor 3 (NPR3) was upregulated in PDLSCs under high glucose and downregulated after metformin addition. Additionally, we demonstrated that upregulation of NPR3 compromised the metformin-enhanced PDLSC osteogenic differentiation through activating the MAPK pathway, and that inhibition of p38 MAPK or Erk1/2 pathway enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs with NPR3 upregulation.
Conclusions

The present study suggests that metformin may enhance the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs under high glucose via downregulation of NPR3 and inhibition of its downstream MAPK pathway. This is the first report identifying the involvement of NPR3-mediated MAPK pathway in the metformin-enhanced osteogenic differentiation, indicating that NPR3 antagonists, such as metformin, may be feasible therapeutics for periodontal tissue regeneration in diabetic individuals.