bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumors
Authors: Iwatsuki Masaaki , Harada Kazuto , Iwagami Shiro , Eto Kojiro , Ishimoto Takatsugu , Baba Yoshifumi , Yoshida Naoya , Ajani Jaffer A. , Baba Hideo
Published: September 2018

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare and mesenchymal in origin with a yearly incidence of 10‐15 cases per million people. If it is technically resectable, surgical resection is the mainstay of therapy regardless of tumor location,. Although complete (R0) resection can be achieved in up to 85% of patients with primary disease, approximately 50% of patients experience recurrence or metastases within 5 years of primary resection. Moreover, prior to 2000, the prognosis of patients with advanced, inoperable GIST was poor because the molecular mechanism had not sufficiently been elucidated, thus effective therapy was lacking. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib, which selectively inhibits tyrosine kinase KIT, has shown substantial clinical benefit for patients with GIST. In clinical trials, imatinib treatment resulted in response rates of 40%‐55% and longer progression‐free survival for patients with a KIT‐positive unresectable or metastatic GIST. Furthermore, recent clinical trials have shown that giving imatinib after curative resection for high‐risk cases prolonged recurrence‐free survival and overall survival in an adjuvant setting. Several clinical trials of imatinib treatment in a neoadjuvant setting are ongoing; however, in clinical settings, there are problems to resolve, such as optimal agents, duration of administration, and postoperative management. In this review, we discuss the application of surgical options, combined with adjuvant/neoadjuvant or perioperative imatinib treatment and their potential impact on survival for patients with primary, recurrent, or metastatic GIST.
Perioperative and prognostic implication of albumin‐bilirubin‐TNM score in Child‐Pugh class A hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sonohara Fuminori , Yamada Suguru , Tanaka Nobutake , Suenaga Masaya , Takami Hideki , Hayashi Masamichi , Niwa Yukiko , Sugimoto Hiroyuki , Hattori Norifumi , Kanda Mitsuro , Tanaka Chie , Kobayashi Daisuke , Nakayama Goro , Koike Masahiko , Fujiwara Michitaka , Kodera Yasuhiro
Published: September 2018

Background and Aim

A reliable classification for predicting postoperative prognosis and perioperative risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is required to make a precise decision for HCC treatment. In the present study, we assessed the perioperative and prognostic importance of indocyanine green (ICG) testing, tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) stage, albumin‐bilirubin (ALBI) grade, and ALBI‐TNM (ALBI‐T) score using consecutive resected HCC cases.

Methods

Between 1998 and 2011, 273 consecutive patients who underwent primary and curative hepatectomy for HCC were identified. Among these 273 cases, 235 Child‐Pugh class A patients were enrolled in the present study.

Results

Correlation analysis showed that the value of linear predictor for ALBI grade was significantly correlated with ICG 15‐minute retention rates (r = 0.51, P < 0.0001). Survival analysis for both recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) showed there were significant differences between the two groups stratified by stage or ALBI‐T score (stage, RFS: P = 0.01, OS: P = 0.003; ALBI‐T, RFS: P < 0.0001, OS: P < 0.0001). In addition, Cox proportional hazard model identified ALBI‐T score was a significant predictor for both RFS and OS (RFS, P = 0.001; OS, P = 0.004). Furthermore, ALBI‐T score could predict perioperative risk in hepatectomy such as longer operation time and excessive intraoperative blood loss.

Conclusions

This study showed a robust association of ALBI‐T score with postoperative HCC patient survival and perioperative risk in hepatectomy. ALBI‐T score can be used as a simple and powerful tool for assessing HCC patients with further study.
Quantitative discrimination of deformation in Fueguian crania
Authors: Lucea Alina , Salicrú Miquel , Turbón Daniel
Published: September 2018

Objectives

Artificial deformation of the cranium in humans has been related to powerful environmental‐cultural stimuli that modify vectors of growth and development when the cranium is still malleable. Osteological differentiation into deformed and nondeformed remains enables the morphological information of individuals that make up ethnic groups or populations to be separately contrasted, the invariant measurements of deformation to be identified, the information provided by archeological remains to be placed in a social context, the cranial variation to be related to genetic variation (individuals without deformation), and predictions to be made (in the absence of direct genetic information).

Methods

With samples of reduced size and many variables, we propose a decision rule based on: (a) pre‐selecting variables (Kruskal‐Wallis and Λ‐Wilks test); (b) applying logistic regression to obtain the optimal classification criterion; and (c) defining a multi‐criterion decision rule to bring about greater robustness.

Results

After applying the decision rule to a sample of 180 crania (71 from the Selknam, 74 from the Yamana, and 35 from the Alakaluf ethnic groups), it was possible to identify the Selknam men with frontal deformation and the Yamana women with flattening of the parietal regions at the height of the bregma.

Conclusions

From there on with the information provided by the graphical representation of the populations in the most informative dimensions and the homogeneity contrast between sexes, we related the frontal deformation in Selknam men to dragging firewood, vegetable matter, domestic utensils, and heavy pieces of meat from the hunt. On the other hand, the flattening of the parietal areas at the height of the bregma in Yamana women is related to loading and transporting vegetables and animals in baskets or leather sacks.
Coming to grips with economic development: Variation in adult hand grip strength during health transition in Vanuatu
Authors: Olszowy Kathryn M. , Little Michael A. , Lee Gwang , Pomer Alysa , Dancause Kelsey N. , Sun Cheng , Silverman Harold , Chan Chim W. , Tarivonda Len , Kaneko Akira , Weitz Charles , Koji Lum Jeffrey , Garruto Ralph M.
Published: September 2018

Objectives

To determine whether (1) maximal handgrip strength (HGS) is associated with inter‐island level of economic development in Vanuatu, (2) how associations between island of residence and HGS are mediated by age, sex, body size/composition, and individual sociodeomographic variation, and (3) whether HGS is predictive of hypertension.

Material and methods

HGS was collected from 833 adult (aged 18 and older) men and women on five islands representing a continuum of economic development in Vanuatu. HGS was measured using a handheld dynamometer. Participants were administered in an extensive sociobehavioral questionnaire and were also assessed for height, weight, percent body fat, forearm skinfold thickness, forearm circumference, and blood pressure.

Results

HGS was significantly greater in men than in women regardless of island of residence. HGS was also significantly positively associated with inter‐island level of economic development. Grip strength‐to‐weight ratio was not different across islands except in older individuals, where age‐related decline occurred primarily on islands with greater economic development. HGS significantly declined with age in both men and women.

Conclusion

HGS is positively associated with modernization in Vanuatu, but the relationship between HGS and modernization is largely due to an association of both variables with increased body size on more modernized islands. Further research on the role of individual variation in diet and physical activity are necessary to clarify the relationship between HGS and modernization.
A Supramolecular Approach to the Preparation of Nanographene Adlayers Using Water‐Soluble Molecular Capsules
Authors: Origuchi Sakura , Kishimoto Mai , Yoshizawa Michito , Yoshimoto Soichiro
Published: September 2018

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are excellent building blocks for the creation of two‐dimensional (2D) nanosheets. However, large PAHs tend to exhibit poor or no solubility in organic solvents and water. To overcome this issue, we employed water‐soluble micellar capsules consisting of V‐shaped amphiphilic molecules. Characteristic electrochemical behavior was observed in 0.1 m H2SO4 in the presence of the water‐soluble capsules containing PAHs, such as ovalene, circobiphenyl, and dicoronylene. Furthermore, under these conditions, PAHs were released from the capsules, resulting in the formation of a 2D adlayer of PAHs at the electrochemical interface. Finally, using electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy, we demonstrate that our molecular containers based on water‐soluble molecular capsules allow the facile preparation of 2D PAH adlayers in addition to structurally controlling nanostructure formation on Au surfaces.
Expansion of Interleukin‐22– and Granulocyte–Macrophage Colony‐Stimulating Factor–Expressing, but Not Interleukin‐17A–Expressing, Group 3 Innate Lymphoid Cells in the Inflamed Joints of Patients With Spondyloarthritis
Authors: Blijdorp Iris C. J. , Menegatti Silvia , van Mens Leonike J. J. , van de Sande Marleen G. H. , Chen Sijia , Hreggvidsdottir Hulda S. , Noordenbos Troy , Latuhihin Talia E. , Bernink Jochem H. , Spits Hergen , Rogge Lars , Baeten Dominique L. P. , Yeremenko Nataliya G.
Published: September 2018

Objective

Clinical trials of the anti–interleukin‐17A (anti–IL‐17A) antibody secukinumab have demonstrated a crucial role of the cytokine IL‐17A in the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis (SpA); however, its cellular source in this condition remains a matter of controversy. Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) have been recently identified as potent producers of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL‐17A and IL‐22, in a number of different tissues. This study was undertaken to characterize the presence and composition of ILCs, and investigate whether these cells are an important source of IL‐17A, in the synovial tissue (ST) of patients with SpA.

Methods

Matched ST, synovial fluid, and peripheral blood (PB) samples were obtained from SpA patients with actively inflamed knee joints. ILC subsets were characterized by flow cytometry. Gene expression analysis at the single‐cell level was performed directly ex vivo and after in vitro activation. An IL‐17A enzyme‐linked immunospot assay was used to detect IL‐17A–secreting cells.

Results

ILCs, and particularly NKp44+ ILC3s, were expanded in inflamed arthritic joints. Single‐cell expression analysis demonstrated that ST ILCs were clearly distinguishable from ST T cells and from their PB counterparts. Expression of the Th17 signature transcripts RORC, AHR, and IL23R was detected in a large proportion of ST ILC3s. These cells were capable of inducing expression of IL22 and CSF2, but not IL17A, in response to in vitro restimulation.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that absolute and relative numbers of ILC3s are enriched in the synovial joints of patients with SpA. However, these cells are not a significant source of IL‐17A in this disease.
Eponymous “valves” of the nasolacrimal drainage apparatus. I. A historical review
Authors: Yedavalli Vivek , Das Devsmita , Massoud Tarik F.
Published: September 2018

The nasolacrimal drainage apparatus (NDA) is of interest to anatomists, radiologists, and ophthalmologists alike, owing to its intricate luminal contour, complex surrounding structural morphology, and its clinical relevance. Here, we review the history of anatomical descriptions of so‐called luminal “valves” of the NDA, including the numerous historical figures whose eponyms adorn the NDA. By 1908, multiple false “valves” that are likely no more than mounds of mucosa along the NDA had been recorded. In the modern era, these have all been largely considered speculative in nature and function aside from the consistently described true valve of Hasner (plica lacrimalis). Back then, eight so‐called “valves” were believed to be identifiable. These were the “valves” of Foltz, Bochdalek, Rosenmüller, Huschke, Aubaret, Béraud or Krause, Taillefer, and Hasner or Cruveilhier or Bianchi. With the advent of detailed characterization through modern high‐resolution imaging techniques, such as digital subtraction dacryocystography (DS‐DCG), many of these valvular folds have come into question owing to their inconsistent identification. This historical review should be useful for greater understanding and accurate contextual interpretation of “valves” encountered on DS‐DCG studies, and in clinical management and therapeutic planning of patients prior to undergoing luminal procedures on the NDA. Clin. Anat., 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Distinctive pattern of AHNAK methylation level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the association with HBV‐related liver diseases
Authors: Sun Libo , Li Kang , Liu Guihai , Xu Yuan , Zhang Aiying , Lin Dongdong , Zhang Haitao , Zhao Xiaofei , Jin Boxun , Li Ning , Zhang Yonghong
Published: September 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between AHNAK methylation level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the progression of hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related liver disease. Bioinformatics methods were applied to evaluate the AHNAK methylation level in PBMC and T cells at different stages of HBV related liver disease, to investigate the correlation between AHNAK methylation and clinical features, as well as to compare the methylation site of AHNAK in cancer tissues and adjacent tissues. Subsequently, the differentially expressed gene analysis technique was used to analyze the liver disease‐related genes and immune‐related pathways in hepatitis B patients with different pathological changes. Finally, promoter methylation and mRNA expression of AHNAK gene in liver cancer and adjacent tissues were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q‐PCR), and the diagnostic value of AHNAK methylation level in hepatopathy was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The promoter methylation level of AHNAK gene in PBMCs decreased with the progression of HBV‐related liver disease, and showed significant difference among the patients with various HBV‐related liver diseases (P = 0.0001). The AHNAK methylation level in PBMCs and T cells was negatively associated with age, white blood cell count, CREA, drinking, and positively associated with APTT and HbsAg. Higher mRNA expression of AHNAK was found in liver cancer tissues than that of adjacent tissues (P < 0.001), and the methylation level in PBMC decreased with the progression of hepatitis B‐related liver disease. The area under the ROC curve (ROC) was 0.883 (P < 0.001) in diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 0.885 (P < 0.001) in diagnosis of compensatory liver cirrhosis, 0.955 (P < 0.001) in diagnosis of decompensated liver cirrhosis, 0.981 (P < 0.001) in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Our results revealed that AHNAK methylation level in peripheral blood decreases with the progression of hepatitis B‐related liver disease. This provided a potential differential diagnostic method for HBV‐related hepatopathies, and thus an early detective tool for liver cancer.
Prospective memory impairment following whole brain radiotherapy in patients with metastatic brain cancer
Authors: Cheng Huaidong , Chen Haijun , Lv Yue , Chen Zhendong , Li Chiang‐Shan R.
Published: September 2018

Objective

To investigate the prospective memory (PM) impairment following whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in cancer patients with brain metastases.

Method

Eighty‐one patients with metastatic brain cancer, agreeing to undergo WBRT, were enrolled and subjected to a battery of cognitive neuropsychological tests, including the mini‐mental state examination (MMSE), verbal fluency test (VFT), digit span test (DST), and event‐based and time‐based prospective memory (EBPM and TBPM) tasks, before and after radiotherapy.

Results

The patients with metastatic brain cancer after WBRT exhibited a significant decrease in the MMSE, DST, VFT, and EBPM scores (t = 6.258, 10.192, 5.361, −5.892, P < 0.01), but nonsignificant decrease in the TBPM scores (t = −1.172, P > 0.05).

Conclusion

There is significant EBPM impairment in cancer patients with brain metastases after WBRT, whereas that in the TBPM remained relatively unaffected. The result suggests that EBPM impairment may be as an early cognitive impairment marker in patients with BM who undergo WBRT.
Metal‐free, Visible‐Light‐Mediated Direct Csp2−H Radical Mono‐ and Bis‐trifluoromethylation of Coumarins and Bioactivity Evaluation
Authors: Yu Xiang , Dai Peng , Zhu Yu‐Chuan , Teng Peng , Zhang Wei‐Hua , Deng Chao
Published: September 2018

A clean, transition metal‐ and oxidant‐free photochemical protocol was described for the direct trifluoromethylation of coumarins with Togni reagent. The reaction proceeded smoothly under mild condition to afford regioselective 3‐trifluoromethyl coumarins, moreover novel bis‐trifluoromethylated coumarins were formed. Preliminary bioactivity evaluation on some products showed potential antifungal activities.
DATAM: A model‐based tool for dependability analysis
Authors: Lu XingHai , Shi XiaoHua , Wang WenRu
Published: September 2018

Dependability analysis is the main method to evaluate the design of safety‐critical systems, which is able to analyze the source of the faults and find them as early as possible. With the increasing system scale and complexity, Model‐Based Dependability Analysis (MDBA) has become the mainstream, so that it is crucial to provide powerful models that accurately reflect the real systems and easy to be built. However, modeling a system is error‐prone and it is difficult to verify the correctness of the model being built. Therefore, this paper proposes our dependability modeling tool called DATAM (Dependability Analysis Tool of AltaRica Model), which is based on AltaRica, a dataFlow language. We present a method for converting key elements of AltaRica into model/GUI components, thereby ensuring the consistency of the model with the modeling language. GUI‐based operations and rich custom components ensure ease of using DATAM. Besides, some components of the model can be edited directly through the AltaRica script and can be interchanged with GUI components. Finally, DATAM supplies varieties of reliability calculation functions. We demonstrate the ability of DATAM through a case study and compare the results with SimFia education version.
Joint sensing time and fusion rule threshold optimization for energy efficient CSS in cognitive radio sensor networks
Authors: Sharma Girraj , Sharma Ritu
Published: September 2018

Energy resources become precious when the secondary users (SUs) in cognitive radio (CR) network are battery operated, especially in cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS). So it becomes important to use their energy efficiently. In CSS, the number of cooperative users, fusion rule threshold, transmission power, and sensing time affects the energy efficiency (EE) of the CSS. In this paper, an iterative algorithm is proposed to determine joint optimal fusion rule threshold and sensing time that maximizes the EE of CSS. Results show that EE is maximum at optimum sensing duration τs0 = 0.841 ms and fusion rule threshold k0 = 4 at SNR = −18 dB. Maximum EE at optimal point is ξmax = 3.15 bits/Hz/J.
Effect of primary cores in continuous and discontinuous percolation transition of random graph
Authors: Ariapour Mohammad
Published: September 2018

Percolation describes the transition of clusters in a graph into extensive cluster upon the addition of links. The initial state of network may change macroscopic linkage in networks explosively where links are added competitively according to certain rules. In a previous study, authors used the product of sizes of clusters to create network and concluded that percolation transition is discontinuous. Recently, vast studies have picked that a few models present a discontinuous transition in merging clusters. Dissimilar to the continuous transitions, comprehending the essence of discontinuous transitions needs a deeper study of the system, which has not been performed yet. In this paper, we consider the cluster size during the links addition in the order parameter of transition models and find that discontinuous transitions are impelled by primary cores of networks. Moreover, the nature of transition can be determined by the main characteristic of whether the primary cores in network are homogeneous. We also find the necessary conditions for discontinuous transition, which can be used effectively in the explosive percolation model.
Morphological adaptations for relatively larger brains in hummingbird skulls
Authors: Ocampo Diego , Barrantes Gilbert , Uy J. Albert C.
Published: September 2018

A common allometric pattern called Haller's Rule states that small species have relatively larger brains and eyes than larger species of the same taxonomic group. This pattern imposes drastic structural changes and energetic costs on small species to produce and maintain a disproportionate amount of nervous tissue. Indeed, several studies have shown the significant metabolic costs of having relatively larger brains; however, little is known about the structural constraints and adaptations required for housing these relatively larger brains and eyes. Because hummingbirds include the smallest birds, they are ideal for exploring how small species evolve morphological adaptations for housing relatively larger brain and eyes. We here present results from a comparative study of hummingbirds and show that the smallest species have the lowest levels of ossification, the most compact braincases, and relatively larger eye sockets, but lower eye/head proportion, than larger species. In contrast to Passerines, skull ossification in hummingbirds correlates with body and brain size but not with age. Correlation of these skull traits with body size might represent adaptations to facilitate housing relatively larger brain and eyes, rather than just heterochronic effects related to change in body size. These structural changes in skull traits allow small animals to accommodate disproportionately larger brains and eyes without further increasing overall head size.
Ecological patterns in the skin microbiota of frogs from tropical Australia
Authors: Christian Keith , Weitzman Chava , Rose Alea , Kaestli Mirjam , Gibb Karen
Published: September 2018

The microbiota of frog skin can play an important role in protecting against diseases and parasites. The frog skin microbial community represents a complex mix of microbes that are promoted by the chemical environment of the frog skin and influenced by the animal's immediate past environment. The microbial communities of six species of frogs sampled from the campus of Charles Darwin University (CDU) were more similar within species than between species. The microbiota of the introduced cane toad (Rhinella marina) was most dissimilar among the species. Pairwise comparisons showed that the microbial communities of each species were different, except for the terrestrial Litoria nasuta and the arboreal L. rothii. The microbial communities of the six species were not related to ecological habit (arboreal or terrestrial), and neither was the alpha diversity of the microbes. The core microbes (defined as being on ≥90% of individuals of a species or group) were significantly different among all species, although 89 microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were core microbes for all six species at CDU. Two species, Rhinella marina and Litoria rothii, were sampled at additional sites approximately 10 and 30 km from CDU. The microbial communities and the core OTU composition were different among the sites, but there were nevertheless 194 (R. marina) and 181 (L. rothii) core OTUs present at all three sites. Thus, the core microbiota varied with respect to geographic range and sample size.
Simultaneous and Selective Imaging of Dopamine and Glutamate Using an Enzyme‐modified Large‐scale Integration (LSI)‐based Amperometric Electrochemical Device
Authors: Abe Hiroya , Iwama Tomoki , Yabu Hiroshi , Ino Kosuke , Inoue Kumi Y. , Suda Atsushi , Kunikata Ryota , Matsudaira Masahki , Matsue Tomokazu
Published: September 2018

Since neurotransmitters play critical roles in nervous systems, the imaging techniques that can visualize them are needed. This communication describes the development of a method for simultaneous imaging of dopamine (DA) and glutamate (Glu), typical neurotransmitters, using enzyme‐modified large‐scale integration (LSI)‐based amperometric devices, referred to “Bio‐LSI”. The DA was detected by using direct electrochemical oxidation while Glu was measured by using an indirect electrochemical reaction involving glutamate oxidase (GluOx)/horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and osmium (Os) polymer‐modified electrodes. The Os‐HRP polymer was modified on designated sensor electrodes through electrodeposition. The selective and simultaneous imaging of neurotransmitters such as DA and Glu was achieved by applying the enzyme‐modified Bio‐LSI.
Effects of fire location on the capacity of smoke exhaust from natural ventilation shafts in urban tunnels
Authors: Fan Chuangang , Chen Jian , Zhou Yang , Liu Xiaoping
Published: September 2018

Investigation of natural ventilation using shafts in tunnels has been receiving more attentions; however, analyses on how fire position influences the natural ventilation performance have rarely been addressed. This study investigated the influence of different fire positions between two shafts on natural ventilation effectiveness in a tunnel by large eddy simulation. The smoke movement characteristics were studied in detail, with systematically varying the fire position between two shafts and the longitudinal wind speed in the tunnel. The typical smoke characteristic parameters, such as temperature distribution, mass flow rate and CO concentration were emphatically investigated. Some special phenomena, such as plug‐holing and smoke bifurcation, were also discussed.
Length of hospital stay and dementia: A systematic review of observational studies
Authors: Möllers Tobias , Stocker Hannah , Wei Wenjia , Perna Laura , Brenner Hermann
Published: September 2018

Objective

Hospitalizations of people with dementia (PWD) are often accompanied by complications or functional loss and can lead to adverse outcomes. Unsystematic findings suggest an influence of comorbidities on the extent of differences in the length of hospital stay (LOS). This systematic review aimed to identify and evaluate all studies reporting LOS in PWD as compared to PwoD in general hospitals.

Methods

A systematic review of observational studies using PubMed and ISI Web of Knowledge. Inclusion criteria comprised original studies written in English or German, assessment of diagnosis of dementia, measurement of LOS, and comparison of people with and without dementia.

Results

Fifty‐two of 60 studies reported a longer hospitalization time for PWD compared to PwoD. The extent of the difference in LOS varied between and within countries as well as by type of primary morbidity (eg, injuries, cardiovascular diseases). The range of the LOS difference for studies without restriction to a primary morbidity was −2 to +22 days after matching or adjustment for a variable number and selection of potentially relevant covariates. For studies with injuries/fractures/medical procedures and infectious/vascular disease as the primary morbidity, the range was −2.9 to +12.4 and −11.2 to +21.8 days, respectively.

Conclusions

The majority of studies reported a longer hospitalization of PWD compared to PwoD. Length of hospital stay seems to be influenced by a variety of medical, social, organizational factors, including reasons for hospital admission, whose role should be explored in detail in further research.
Emotional distress mediates the relationship between cognitive failures, dysfunctional coping, and life satisfaction in older people living in sheltered housing: A structural equation modelling approach
Authors: Leung Phuong , Orgeta Vasiliki , Musa Amina , Orrell Martin
Published: September 2018

Objectives

Little is known about the relationship between cognitive failures, emotional distress, and life satisfaction in late life. Experiencing cognitive failures is a known risk for declining life satisfaction in older people, although the mechanisms that may explain cognitive failures remain unclear. This study investigated the associations between psychosocial factors, cognitive failures, and coping strategies and their influence on life satisfaction in older people living in sheltered housing.

Methods

A total of 204 older people living in sheltered housing in London were recruited (mean age = 75.08 years). We used structural equation modelling path analysis to test several hypotheses based on theories of emotional distress (anxiety and depression) and cognitive failures and their influence on life satisfaction.

Results

Self‐reported depressive symptoms (29.5%), anxiety symptoms (33%), and cognitive failures (41%) were common. The final model had a good fit (X2 = 2.67; DF = 2; P = 0.26; NFI = 0.99, CFI = 0.99; RMSEA = 0.04); analyses showed that both cognitive failures and dysfunctional coping were significantly associated and exerted a moderate effect on emotional distress. Cognitive failures and dysfunctional coping had an indirect effect on life satisfaction through emotional distress which directly decreased levels of life satisfaction (β = −0.70, P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions

This study found that experiencing emotional distress helped to explain the association and negative effects of cognitive failures and dysfunctional coping on life satisfaction in older people living in sheltered housing. These findings contribute to our understanding of the key mechanisms of experiencing cognitive failures in late life and can help guide future interventions of well‐being in later life.
Preconfigured patterns are the primary driver of offline multi‐neuronal sequence replay
Authors: Liu Kefei , Sibille Jeremie , Dragoi George
Published: September 2018

Spontaneous neuronal ensemble activity in the hippocampus is believed to result from a combination of preconfigured internally generated dynamics and the unique patterns of activity driven by recent experience. Previous research has established that preconfigured sequential neuronal patterns (i.e., preplay) contribute to the expression of future place cell sequences, which in turn contribute to the sequential neuronal patterns expressed post‐experience (i.e., replay). The relative contribution of preconfigured and of experience‐related factors to replay and to overall sequential activity during post‐run sleep is believed to be highly biased toward the recent run experience, despite never being tested directly. Here, we use multi‐neuronal sequence analysis unbiased by firing rate to compute and directly compare the contributions of internally generated and of recent experience‐driven factors to the sequential neuronal activity in post‐run sleep in naïve adult rats. We find that multi‐neuronal sequences during post‐run sleep are dominantly contributed by the pre‐run preconfigured patterns and to a much smaller extent by the place cell sequences and associated awake rest multi‐neuronal sequences experienced during de novo run session, which are weakly and similarly correlated with pre‐ and post‐run sleep multi‐neuronal sequences. These findings indicate a robust default internal organization of the hippocampal network into sequential neuronal ensembles that withstands a de novo spatial experience and suggest that integration of novel information during de novo experience leading to lasting changes in sequential network patterns is much more subtle than previously assumed.
Disparate forms of heterogeneities and interactions among them drive channel decorrelation in the dentate gyrus: Degeneracy and dominance
Authors: Mishra Poonam , Narayanan Rishikesh
Published: September 2018

The ability of a neuronal population to effectuate channel decorrelation, which is one form of response decorrelation, has been identified as an essential prelude to efficient neural encoding. To what extent are diverse forms of local and afferent heterogeneities essential in accomplishing channel decorrelation in the dentate gyrus (DG)? Here, we incrementally incorporated four distinct forms of biological heterogeneities into conductance‐based network models of the DG and systematically delineate their relative contributions to channel decorrelation. First, to effectively incorporate intrinsic heterogeneities, we built physiologically validated heterogeneous populations of granule (GC) and basket cells (BC) through independent stochastic search algorithms spanning exhaustive parametric spaces. These stochastic search algorithms, which were independently constrained by experimentally determined ion channels and by neurophysiological signatures, revealed cellular‐scale degeneracy in the DG. Specifically, in GC and BC populations, disparate parametric combinations yielded similar physiological signatures, with underlying parameters exhibiting significant variability and weak pair‐wise correlations. Second, we introduced synaptic heterogeneities through randomization of local synaptic strengths. Third, in including adult neurogenesis, we subjected the valid model populations to randomized structural plasticity and matched neuronal excitability to electrophysiological data. We assessed networks comprising different combinations of these three local heterogeneities with identical or heterogeneous afferent inputs from the entorhinal cortex. We found that the three forms of local heterogeneities were independently and synergistically capable of mediating significant channel decorrelation when the network was driven by identical afferent inputs. However, when we incorporated afferent heterogeneities into the network to account for the divergence in DG afferent connectivity, the impact of all three forms of local heterogeneities was significantly suppressed by the dominant role of afferent heterogeneities in mediating channel decorrelation. Our results unveil a unique convergence of cellular‐ and network‐scale degeneracy in the emergence of channel decorrelation in the DG, whereby disparate forms of local and afferent heterogeneities could synergistically drive input discriminability.
BET proteins regulate homologous recombination‐mediated DNA repair: BRCAness and implications for cancer therapy
Authors: Mio Catia , Gerratana Lorenzo , Bolis Marco , Caponnetto Federica , Zanello Andrea , Barbina Mattia , Di Loreto Carla , Garattini Enrico , Damante Giuseppe , Puglisi Fabio
Published: September 2018

Bromodomain and Extra‐Terminal (BET) proteins are historically involved in regulating gene expression and BRD4 was recently found to be involved in DNA damage regulation. Aims of our study were to assess BRD4 regulation in homologous recombination‐mediated DNA repair and to explore novel clinical strategies through the combinations of the pharmacological induction of epigenetic BRCAness in BRCA1 wild‐type triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells by means of BET inhibitors and compounds already available in clinic.

Performing a dual approach (chromatin immunoprecipitation and RNA interference), the direct relationship between BRD4 and BRCA1/RAD51 expression was confirmed in TNBC cells. Moreover, BRD4 pharmacological inhibition using two BET inhibitors (JQ1 and GSK525762A) induced a dose‐dependent reduction in BRCA1 and RAD51 levels and is able to hinder homologous recombination‐mediated DNA damage repair, generating a BRCAness phenotype in TNBC cells. Furthermore, BET inhibition impaired the ability of TNBC cells to overcome the increase in DNA damage after platinum salts (i.e., CDDP) exposure, leading to massive cell death, and triggered synthetic lethality when combined with PARP inhibitors (i.e., AZD2281). Altogether, the present study confirms that BET proteins directly regulate the homologous recombination pathway and their inhibition induced a BRCAness phenotype in BRCA1 wild‐type TNBC cells. Noteworthy, being this strategy based on drugs already available for human use, it is rapidly transferable and could potentially enable clinicians to exploit platinum salts and PARP inhibitors‐based treatments in a wider population of TNBC patients and not just in a specific subgroup, after validating clinical trials.
Does the Good Behavior Game evoke negative peer pressure? Analyses in primary and secondary classrooms
Authors: Groves Emily A. , Austin Jennifer L.
Published: September 2018

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a classroom management system that employs an interdependent group contingency, whereby students work as a team to win the game. Although previous anecdotal data have suggested that this arrangement may promote prosocial behavior, teachers may have concerns about its fairness and potential to evoke negative peer interactions (especially toward students who break the rules). We evaluated disruptive behaviors and social interactions during the GBG in a secondary classroom for students with emotional and behavioral disorders, as well as in a primary classroom for students with mild developmental disabilities. Results indicate that the GBG reduced disruptive behaviors; further, negative peer interactions decreased and positive interactions increased when the game was being played. Social validity results indicate that the majority of students thought the interdependent group contingency was fair.
Optical coherence tomography follow‐up of patients treated from periodontal disease
Authors: Fernandes Luana O. , Mota Cláudia C. B. de O. , Oliveira Hugo O. , Neves José K. , Santiago Leógenes M. , Gomes Anderson S. L.
Published: September 2018

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is one of the most important imaging modalities for biophotonics applications. In this work, an important step towards the clinical use of OCT in dental practice is reported, by following‐up patients treated from periodontal disease (PD). A total of 147 vestibular dental sites from 14 patients diagnosed with PD were evaluated prior and after treatment, using a swept‐source OCT and two periodontal probes (Florida probe and North Carolina) for comparison. The evaluation was performed at four stages: day 0, day 30, day 60 and day 90. Exceptionally one patient was evaluated 1‐year after treatment. It was possible to visualize in the two‐dimensional images the architectural components that compose the periodontal anatomy, and identify the improvements in biofilm and dental calculus upon treatment. In the follow‐up after the treatment, it was observed in some cases decrease of the gingival thickness associated with extinction of gingival calculus. In some cases, the improvement of both depth of probing with the traditional probes and the evidence in the images of the region was emphasized. The study evidenced the ability of OCT in the identification of periodontal structures and alterations, being an important noninvasive complement or even alternative for periodontal probes for treatment follow‐up.

OCT system being used in a clinical environment. Above OCT image (left) prior treatment and (right) 30 days after treatment.
Titania‐containing bioactive bone cement for total hip arthroplasty in dogs
Authors: Imamura Masashi , Goto Koji , Kawata Tomotoshi , Kataoka Masanao , Fukuda Chisako , Fujibayashi Shunsuke , Matsuda Shuichi
Published: September 2018

We developed a composite cement containing low‐content bioactive titania fillers dispersed among specific polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) polymers and investigated the mechanical properties and bioactivity of this titania bone cement (TBC) under load‐bearing conditions in cemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) in adult female beagles. TBC and PMMA bone cement (PBC) were compared using custom‐made prostheses. The dogs were killed 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The acetabulum was harvested to evaluate the osteoconductivity of the cement, whereas the femur was harvested for the push‐out test and histological analyses. The compressive strength of TBC was significantly higher than that of PBC (p < 0.001), whereas the flexural and tensile strengths, as well as fracture toughness, were equivalent. The bonding strength values for TBC and PBC were 72.9 and 58.0 N/mm at 1 month, 69.4 and 57.2 N/mm at 3 months, 106.1 and 85.0 N/mm at 6 months, and 114.3 and 100.7 N/mm at 12 months, respectively. Histologically, TBC was in direct contact with bone without intervening with fibrous tissue over larger areas and newly formed bone was observed along the cement. The excellent mechanical properties and apparent bioactivity of this novel bone cement indicate its potential utility in clinical practice. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1238–1245, 2019.
The study of the serum level of IL‐4, TGF‐β, IFN‐γ, and IL‐6 in overweight patients with and without diabetes mellitus and hypertension
Authors: Asadikaram Gholamreza , Ram Maryam , Izadi Alireza , Sheikh Fathollahi Mahmood , Nematollahi Mohammad Hadi , Najafipour Hamid , Shahoozehi Bidollah , Mirhoseini Mahboobeh , Masoumi Mohammad , Shahrokhi Nader , Arababadi Mohammad Kazemi
Published: September 2018

Background

Obesity increases the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension. We aimed to analyze the serum levels of cytokines that have relevance to the pathologies including, interleukin‐4 (IL‐4), transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), and IL‐6 cytokines of overweight men with DM and/or hypertension.

Methods

The study collected serum from 164 men. The sample population contained, 54 overweight men without DM or hypertension (control [CTL] group), 36 men with both DM and hypertension (DH group), 20 men with DM but no hypertension (D group), and 54 had hypertension without DM (H).

Results

The main results showed that the concentration of IFN‐γ in the DH group was significantly higher than the D, H, and CTL groups, IL‐6 in DH and D groups was significantly lower than the CTL group. The serum level of TGF‐β and IL‐4 cytokines did not show any significant differences across the four groups. Serum levels of IL‐6 were also significantly lower in untreated patients in D group than controls and in DH when compared with H groups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it appears that the proinflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokines either play a significant role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and DM or serve as markers for these pathologies. Accordingly, increased serum levels of IFN‐γ may participate in the pathogenesis of hypertension in the diabetic patients and decreased IL‐6 is associated with type 2 DM.
Cancer‐associated fibroblasts: Secretions, interactions, and therapy
Authors: Farhood Bagher , Najafi Masoud , Mortezaee Keywan
Published: September 2018

Tumor microenvironment (TME) could impose a great challenge for cancer targeted therapies. Immunosuppression within the TME creates a barrier between cancer cells and therapeutic approaches. A number of cells are hosted within this milieu, among them cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most abundant cell populations playing major roles in mediating an immunosuppressive TME. CAFs have cross‐talks with almost all cells within the TME for reprogramming them into being tumorigenic. This reprogramming reduces the pre‐existing tumor immunity and dampens the efficacy of chemotherapeutic approaches. CAFs would do this through releasing a myriad of factors to the TME making it an appropriate nest for tumor growth. The cells degrade and deposit extracellular matrix components, both of which are tumorigenic. Therefore, disruption of cross‐talks between CAFs with other cells within the TME would be a promising approach in cancer targeted therapies. This approach is applicable through dampening dominant signals mediated by CAFs. Another interesting approach would be reprogramming of CAFs toward their normal counterpart. This would need identification of different subtypes for these cells and their functions. More knowledge is also required about selective markers for each CAF subtype.
Therapeutic potency of oncolytic virotherapy in breast cancer targeting, current status and perspective
Authors: Ebrahimi Safieh , Ghorbani Elnaz , Shafiee Mojtaba , Ryzhikov Mikhail , Hassanian Seyed M , Azadmanesh Kayhan
Published: September 2018

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in women and presents a serious therapeutic challenge worldwide. Traditional treatments are less successful at targeting cancer tumors, leading to recurrent treatment‐resistant secondary malignancies. Oncolytic virotherapy (OV) is a novel anticancer strategy with therapeutic implications at targeting cancer cells by using mechanisms that differ from conventional therapies. Administration of OVs either alone or in combination with standard therapies provide new insights regarding the effectiveness and improvement of treatment responses for breast cancer patients. This review summarizes cellular, animal and clinical studies investigating therapeutic potency of oncolytic virotherapy in breast cancer treatment for a better understanding and hence a better management of this disease.
Identification of differentially expressed genes in synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in patients
Authors: Li Wen Chao , Bai De Lei , Xu Yang , Chen Hui , Ma Rui , Hou Wen Bo , Xu Rui Jiang
Published: September 2018

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are the common joints disorder in the world. Although they have showed the analogous clinical manifestation and overlapping cellular and molecular foundation, the pathogenesis of RA and OA were different. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of arthritis in RA and OA have not been investigated thoroughly. Thus, the aim of study is to identify the potential crucial genes and pathways associated with RA and OA and further analyze the molecular mechanisms implicated in genesis. First, we compared gene expression profiles in synovial tissue between RA and OA from the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Gene Expression Series (GSE) 1919, GSE55235, and GSE36700 were downloaded from the GEO database, including 20 patients of OA and 21 patients of RA. Diﬀerentially expressed genes (DEGs) including “CXCL13,” “CD247,” “CCL5,” “GZMB,” “IGKC,” “IL7R,” “UBD///GABBR1,” “ADAMDEC1,” “BTC,” “AIM2,” “SHANK2,” “CCL18,” “LAMP3,” “CR1,” and “IL32.” Second, Gene Ontology analyses revealed that DEGs were signiﬁcantly enriched in integral component of extracellular space, extracellular region, and plasma membrane in the molecular function group. Signaling pathway analyses indicated that DEGs had common pathways in chemokine signaling pathway, cytokine‐cytokine receptor interaction, and cytosolic DNA‐sensing pathway. Third, DEGs showed the complex DEGs protein‐protein interaction network with the Coexpression of 83.22%, Shared protein domains of 8.40%, Colocalization of 4.76%, Predicted of 2.87%, and Genetic interactions of 0.75%. In conclusion, the novel DEGs and pathways between RA and OA identified in this study may provide new insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms of RA.