bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The RareCyte® platform for next‐generation analysis of circulating tumor cells
Authors: Kaldjian Eric P. , Ramirez Arturo B. , Sun Yao , Campton Daniel E. , Werbin Jeffrey L. , Varshavskaya Paulina , Quarre Steven , George Tad , Madan Anup , Blau C. Anthony , Seubert Ronald
Published: October 2018

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can reliably be identified in cancer patients and are associated with clinical outcome. Next‐generation “liquid biopsy” technologies will expand CTC diagnostic investigation to include phenotypic characterization and single‐cell molecular analysis. We describe here a rare cell analysis platform designed to comprehensively collect and identify CTCs, enable multi‐parameter assessment of individual CTCs, and retrieve single cells for molecular analysis. The platform has the following four integrated components: 1) density‐based separation of the CTC‐containing blood fraction and sample deposition onto microscope slides; 2) automated multiparameter fluorescence staining; 3) image scanning, analysis, and review; and 4) mechanical CTC retrieval. The open platform utilizes six fluorescence channels, of which four channels are used to identify CTC and two channels are available for investigational biomarkers; a prototype assay that allows three investigational biomarker channels has been developed. Single‐cell retrieval from fixed slides is compatible with whole genome amplification methods for genomic analysis. © 2018 The Authors. Cytometry Part A published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
EMCloud: A hierarchical volunteer cloud with explicit mobile devices
Authors: Malhotra Amarjit , Dhurandher Sanjay Kumar , Gupta Megha , Kumar Bijendra
Published: October 2018

Today, the world is witnessing an exponential growth in the computational capabilities and storage capabilities of mobile devices. This has inspired application developers to create new and interesting applications for mobile devices. The applications have varied resource requirements and mobile devices are heterogeneous in their configurations. The idea of this research is to design a model for resource sharing among mobile devices so that any type of application can be run on a mobile device with the help of other such devices in close geographical proximity. A novel architecture for managing a group of volunteer nodes with unused or underused resources is designed and algorithms that are required for its operation are developed. The purpose of this research is to shift the focus towards futuristic computing paradigm where seamless resource sharing in the network would be feasible with explicitly all mobile nodes and without any dependency on fixed infrastructures. An extensive evaluation of the proposed Explicit Mobile Cloud (EMCloud) has been undertaken for mobile nodes in the network. It includes experience with a prototype that demonstrates EMCloud's performance. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art Serendipity, OpenNebula, and Eucalyptus prototypes in terms of success rate and average delay for different network density, mobility, network load, and extent of hierarchy.
Evaluating the ability of community‐protected forests in Cambodia to prevent deforestation and degradation using temporal remote sensing data
Authors: Singh Minerva , Evans Damian , Chevance Jean‐Baptiste , Tan Boun Suy , Wiggins Nicholas , Kong Leaksmy , Sakhoeun Sakada
Published: October 2018

Community forests are known to play an important role in preserving forests in Cambodia, a country that has seen rapid deforestation in recent decades. The detailed evaluation of the ability of community‐protected forests to retain forest cover and prevent degradation in Cambodia will help to guide future conservation management. In this study, a combination of remotely sensing data was used to compare the temporal variation in forest structure for six different community forests located in the Phnom Kulen National Park (PKNP) in Cambodia and to assess how these dynamics vary between community‐protected forests and a wider study area. Medium‐resolution Landsat, ALOS PALSAR data, and high‐resolution LiDAR data were used to study the spatial distribution of forest degradation patterns and their impacts on above‐ground biomass (AGB) changes. Analysis of the remotely sensing data acquired at different spatial resolutions revealed that between 2012 and 2015, the community forests had higher forest cover persistence and lower rates of forest cover loss compared to the entire study area. Furthermore, they faced lower encroachment from cashew plantations compared to the wider landscape. Four of the six community forests showed a recovery in canopy gap fractions and subsequently, an increase in the AGB stock. The levels of degradation decreased in forests that had an increase in AGB values. However, all community forests experienced an increase in understory damage as a result of selective tree removal, and the community forests with the sharpest increase in understory damage experienced AGB losses. This is the first time multitemporal high‐resolution LiDAR data have been used to analyze the impact of human‐induced forest degradation on forest structure and AGB. The findings of this work indicate that while community‐protected forests can improve conservation outcomes to some extent, more interventions are needed to curb the illegal selective logging of valuable timber trees.
Social density, but not sex ratio, drives ecdysteroid hormone provisioning to eggs by female house crickets (Acheta domesticus)
Authors: Crocker Katherine C. , Hunter Mark D.
Published: October 2018

Social environment profoundly influences the fitness of animals, affecting their probability of survival to adulthood, longevity, and reproductive output. The social conditions experienced by parents at the time of reproduction can predict the social environments that offspring will face. Despite clear challenges in predicting future environmental conditions, adaptive maternal effects provide a mechanism of passing environmental information from parent to offspring and are now considered pervasive in natural systems. Maternal effects have been widely studied in vertebrates, especially in the context of social environment, and are often mediated by steroid hormone (SH) deposition to eggs. In insects, although many species dramatically alter phenotype and life‐history traits in response to social density, the mechanisms of these alterations, and the role of hormone deposition by insect mothers into their eggs, remains unknown. In the experiments described here, we assess the effects of social environment on maternal hormone deposition to eggs in house crickets (Acheta domesticus). Specifically, we tested the hypotheses that variable deposition of ecdysteroid hormones (ESH) to eggs is affected by both maternal (a) social density and (b) social composition. We found that while maternal hormone deposition to eggs does not respond to social composition (sex ratio), it does reflect social density; females provision their eggs with higher ESH doses under low‐density conditions. This finding is consistent with the interpretation that variable ESH provisioning is an adaptive maternal response to social environment and congruent with similar patterns of variable maternal provisioning across the tree of life. Moreover, our results confirm that maternal hormone provisioning may mediate delayed density dependence by introducing a time lag in the response of offspring phenotype to population size.
Efficient Oxidation of Benzylic and Aliphatic Alcohols Using a Bioinspired Cross‐Bridged Cyclam Manganese Complex with H2O2
Authors: Zhang Zhan , Khrouz Lhoussain , Yin Guochuan , Andrioletti Bruno
Published: October 2018

The cross‐bridged cyclam manganese complex Mn(Me2EBC)Cl2 efficiently catalyzes the oxidation of benzylic and aliphatic alcohols at pH 3 in a mixture of acetonitrile and water at room temperature. The environmentally benign and high oxygen content oxidant H2O2 was adopted. Conversions of the alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds reached 98 % with good to excellent selectivity. In addition, several lignin model compounds were also catalytically oxidized under these conditions, with excellent conversion (up to 96 %) and selectivity (up to 99 %).
Metal‐Catalyzed Routes to Dibenzodiazepines (DBDAs) and Structural Analogues: Recent Advances
Authors: Aniban Xaiza , Mamidala Srikanth , Burke Anthony J.
Published: October 2018

It is common knowledge that the use of transition metals as catalysts has greatly revolutionized various coupling procedures to access heterocyclic compounds of significant industrial interest. Dibenzodiazepines (DBDAs) are a particularly important group of heterocyclic compounds, with considerable pharmaceutical applications. In this review, we look at some of the catalytic methods that have been developed during the last 10 years for the synthesis of these targets. Palladium catalysts have been frequently used for these transformations, and particularly for the Buchwald–Hartwig reaction which has been a key reaction in a number of synthetic pathways. Copper has also been frequently used, including some other metals like iron and molybdenum, but to a lesser extent. In most cases, the examples chosen are for the synthesis of DBDAs with interesting medicinal properties and will be of interest to medicinal chemists. It should also be mentioned that due to the structural characteristics of these compounds the potential for diversification – principally for functional group incorporation – is immense. Emerging and facilitating technologies have also been employed for the synthesis of these molecules and are reviewed here.
Preparation and Reactions of CF3‐Containing Phthalides
Authors: Mitobe Kana , Terashima Kyu , Kawasaki‐Takasuka Tomoko , Agou Tomohiro , Kubota Toshio , Yamazaki Takashi
Published: October 2018

We have demonstrated that reactions of aromatic 1,2‐diesters and the Ruppert–Prakash reagent (TMSCF3) afforded hitherto unknown phthalides 1 with both trifluoromethyl (CF3) and alkoxy groups at the 3 position, and their unique transformation was also investigated in detail to attain construction of a variety of very rare types of compounds, such as 1,3‐dihydroisobenzofurans 8 as well as indanones 9 with a CF3 moiety, whose behavior was completely different from the structurally similar compound 2a.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Modified Miuraenamides
Authors: Kappler Sarah , Karmann Lisa , Prudel Cynthia , Herrmann Jennifer , Caddeu Giulia , Müller Rolf , Vollmar Angelika M. , Zahler Stefan , Kazmaier Uli
Published: October 2018

Miuraenamides, secondary metabolites of the marine myxobacterium Paraliomyxa miuraensis do not only show a high structural similarity to other cyclodepsipeptides isolated from sponges or terrestrial myxobacteria but they also exhibit a similar mode of action. They accelerate nucleation and polymerization of actin, and therefore interfere with cell division processes, at concentrations in the low nanomolar range. A late stage peptide modification allows the synthesis of a library of (simplified) miuraenamide derivatives with different halogenation and substitution pattern. Detailed SAR studies indicate, that bromination of the central tyrosine is essential for good biological activity, while the side chain of the C‐terminal amino acid can be varied or can even be removed.
War experiences and emerging rights claims in postwar former Yugoslavia: The role of generalized conflict exposure and collective anomie
Authors: Spini Dario , Morselli Davide , Elcheroth Guy
Published: October 2018

Violent conflicts have often been observed to generate social environments in which human rights violations are more easily tolerated and legitimized. However, recent research has documented cases in which communities exposed to violence react with increased condemnations of human rights violations. In this article, we focus on the distinction between generalized and particularized violence. Our findings show that, in the postwar ex‐Yugoslavia context, when local communities have been exposed to violence that was generalized across different ethno‐national groups, they strongly condemn human rights violations. Multilevel structural equation models show that the relationship between generalized victimization and the condemnation of human rights violations is mediated by a collective sense of anomie. The processes that move from collective exposure to violence to the collective reaffirmation of human rights are more likely to unfold in communities where violence transcended group boundaries than in communities where particular groups were disproportionately affected by the violence.
Uranium transfer and accumulation in organs of Danio rerio after waterborne exposure alone or combined with diet-borne exposure
Authors: Simon Olivier , Gagnaire Béatrice , Sommard Vivien , Pierrisnard Sylvie , Camilleri Virginie , Carasco Loic , Gilbin Rodolphe , Frelon Sandrine
Published: October 2018

Uranium (U) toxicity patterns for fish have been mainly determined under laboratory-controlled waterborne exposure conditions. Because fish can take up metals from water and diet under in situ exposure conditions, a waterborne U exposure experiment (20 μg L−1, 20 d) was conducted in the laboratory to investigate transfer efficiency and target organ distribution in zebrafish Danio rerio compared with combined waterborne exposure (20 μg L−1) and diet-borne exposure (10.7 μg g−1). 233Uranium was used as a specific U isotope tracer for diet-borne exposure. Bioaccumulation was examined in the gills, liver, kidneys, intestine, and gonads of D. rerio. Concentrations in the organs after waterborne exposure were approximately 500 ng g−1 fresh weight, except in the intestine (> 10 μg g−1 fresh wt) and the kidneys (200 ng g−1 fresh wt). No significant difference was observed between waterborne and diet-borne conditions. Trophic U transfer in organs was found but at a low level (< 10 ng g−1 fresh wt). Surprisingly, the intestine appeared to be the main target organ after both tested exposure modalities. The gonads (57% at 20 d) and the liver (41% at 20 d) showed the highest accumulated relative U burdens. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:90–98. © 2018 SETAC
Sediment and biota trace element distribution in streams disturbed by upland industrial activity
Authors: Fletcher Dean E. , Lindell Angela H. , Seaman John C. , Stankus Paul T. , Fletcher Nathaniel D. , Barton Christopher D. , Biemiller Richard A. , McArthur J Vaun
Published: October 2018

Extensive industrial areas in headwater stream watersheds can severely impact the physical condition of streams and introduce contaminants. We compared 3 streams that received stormwater runoff and industrial effluents from industrial complexes to 2 reference streams. Reference streams provide a benchmark of comparison of geomorphic form and stability in coastal plain, sandy-bottomed streams as well as concentrations of trace elements in sediment and biota in the absence of industrial disturbance. We used crayfish (Cambarus latimanus, Procambarus raneyi, Procambarus acutus) and crane fly larvae (Tipula) as biomonitors of 15 trace elements entering aquatic food webs. Streams with industrial areas were more scoured, deeply incised, and less stable. Sediment organic matter content broadly correlated to trace element accumulation, but fine sediments and organic matter were scoured from the bottoms of disturbed streams. Trace element concentrations were higher in depositional zones than runs within all streams. Despite contaminant sources in the headwaters, trace element concentrations were generally not elevated in sediments of the eroded streams. However, element concentrations were frequently elevated in biota from these streams with taxonomic differences in accumulation amplified. In eroded, sand-bottomed coastal plain streams with unstable sediments, single snapshots of sediment trace element concentrations did not characterize well bioavailable trace elements. Biota that integrated exposures over time and space within their home ranges better detected bioavailable contaminants than sediment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:115–131. © 2018 SETAC
Evaluation of the DGT technique for predicting uptake of metal mixtures by fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) and yellow lampmussel (Lampsilis cariosa)
Authors: Philipps Rebecca R. , Xu Xiaoyu , Bringolf Robert B. , Mills Gary L.
Published: October 2018

Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) were assessed for their predictive capability of fathead minnow and yellow lampmussel bioaccumulation in copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) mixed metal exposures. Nine treatments with a matrix of 3 Cu and 3 Pb concentrations were utilized. Exposures were coupled, with organisms and DGT exposed in tanks for 6 days. The Cu measured in fish, mussel, and DGT was found not to be influenced by Pb treatment, whereas Pb accumulation was impacted by the interaction of Cu and Pb treatment. The Pb accumulation increased with increasing Cu concentration, which was attributed to the different speciation of Cu and Pb in the water where Cu binds preferentially to ligands, decreasing its bioavailability and concomitantly displacing Pb from complexing sites. The DGT values were significantly correlated with accumulated Cu and Pb in the fish, but not with Pb in the mussel. In addition, DGT was determined to better predict aquatic organism bioaccumulation of Cu than the inorganic Cu fraction calculated by the speciation model, because DGT accumulated not only inorganic metal fractions but also complexes of metal and organic matter. The present study provides insights into metal speciation in polluted environments, extends the understanding of using DGT as a tool for estimating metal bioavailability, and provides implications for the selection of geochemical modeling, biological sampling, and passive sampling techniques for monitoring trace metal contamination. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:61–70. © 2018 SETAC
Development and controlling factors of Upper Oligocene–Lower Miocene carbonate platforms and reefs in the Liyue Basin, South China Sea
Authors: Du Xuebin , Lu Yongchao , Li Xiangquan , Li Jiangtao
Published: October 2018

The architecture and distribution of Late Oligocene–Early Miocene carbonate platforms and reefs are studied for the first time, using reprocessed 2D seismic data in the Liyue Basin, southern South China Sea. The reef complexes developed at higher positions of fault block platform and horst platform. Fault block platforms are the most important for reef development. In addition, most reefs developed in the Northern I Sag, and a few developed in the Middle Uplift. The growth processes of reefs on the platform were subdivided into six reef‐building units and two building stages. The first stage, including units 1–3, displayed slow backstepping and rapid keep up. The second stage was a rapid backstepping process that included the reef‐building units 4–6. Palaeogeomorphology, sea‐level fluctuations, and later volcanic activities were the main controls for reef occurrence. Palaeogeomorphology provided the initial topography for reef growth, and sea‐level fluctuations in combination with tectonic activity influenced reef development including growth and changing facies. Later volcanoes have strongly destroyed the pre‐existing carbonate platforms and reefs. By comparing with the carbonate reservoirs properties of adjacent regions, it is considered there is great potential for oil and gas exploration in the Liyue Basin.
LXRα Promotes Hepatosteatosis in Part Through Activation of MicroRNA‐378 Transcription and Inhibition of Ppargc1β Expression
Authors: Zhang Tianpeng , Duan Jiangyan , Zhang Lei , Li Zhuoyu , Steer Clifford J. , Yan Guiqin , Song Guisheng
Published: October 2018

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major risk factor of many end‐stage liver diseases. Alterations in microRNA expression have been reported in patients with NAFLD. However, the transcriptional mechanism(s) of dysregulated microRNAs under the state of NAFLD is poorly described, and microRNAs that regulate the pathogenesis of NAFLD synergistically with their regulators remain unknown. Here we report that microRNA‐378 expression is significantly increased in fatty livers of mice and patients with NAFLD. Although microRNA‐378 locates within the intron of Ppargc1β (peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator 1‐beta), there was a significant uncoupling of Ppargc1β mRNA and microRNA‐378 levels in both sources of fatty livers. Further studies identified a full‐length primary transcript of microRNA‐378. LXRα (liver X receptor alpha) functioned as a transcription activator of microRNA‐378 and a repressor of Ppargc1β transcription. It is known that miR‐378 is an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and the function of Ppargc1β is opposite to that of miR‐378. GW3965 treatment (LXRα agonist) of murine hepatocytes and mice increased microRNA‐378 and reduced Ppargc1β, which subsequently impaired FAO and aggravated hepatosteatosis. In contrast, additional treatment of miR‐378 inhibitor or Ppargc1β, which knocked down increased miR‐378 or recovered expression of Ppargc1β, offset the effects of GW3965. Liver‐specific ablation of Lxrα led to decreased miR‐378 and increased Ppargc1β, which subsequently improved FAO and reduced hepatosteatosis. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that miR‐378 possesses its own transcription machinery, which challenges the well‐established dogma that miR‐378 transcription is controlled by the promoter of Ppargc1β. LXRα selectively activates transcription of miR‐378 and inhibits expression of Ppargc1β, which synergistically impairs FAO. In addition to lipogenesis, impaired FAO by miR‐378 in part contributes to LXRα‐induced hepatosteatosis.
Dynamic changes in serum chloride concentrations during worsening of heart failure and its recovery following conventional diuretic therapy: A single‐center study
Authors: Kataoka Hajime
Published: October 2018

Background and aims

Few data are available regarding the dynamic changes in the serum chloride concentrations in heart failure (HF) pathophysiology. The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in the serum chloride concentration under worsening HF and its recovery following conventional diuretic therapy.

Methods

Blood test data, including measurements of serum albumin/solutes and b‐type natriuretic peptide, at both worsening and recovery of HF status, were obtained from 47 patients with definite HF.

Results

Ambulatory patients with HF were enrolled and followed up at the outpatient clinic of Nishida Hospital between June 2003 and March 2009. From clinically stable to worsening HF, the serum sodium concentration increased from (mean ± SD) 139 ± 4.1 to 141 ± 5.07 mEq/L (P < 0.05, two‐way analysis of variance) and the serum chloride concentration increased from 101 ± 5.36 to 104 ± 5.44 mEq/L (P < 0.01) among all patients. After resolution of worsening HF by treatment with conventional diuretics, both the serum sodium concentration and serum chloride concentration decreased significantly to 138 ± 5.12 and 99.5 ± 5.33 mEq/L, respectively (P < 0.0001 for each). The absolute changes in the serum sodium concentration from clinically stable HF to worsening HF appeared to be lesser than those in the serum chloride concentration (1.70 ± 4.34 vs 2.72 ± 6.02 mEq/L, P = 0.079, t test), but this was not statistically significant. Absolute changes in the serum sodium concentration from worsening HF to its recovery following treatment with conventional diuretics were lesser than those in the serum chloride concentration (−2.87 ± 4.38 vs −4.45 ± 5.23 mEq/L, P = 0.0068, t test).

Conclusion

Under conventional diuretic therapy, greater changes occur in the serum chloride concentration than in the serum sodium concentration under HF state transitions, suggesting that chloride dynamics might contribute more to HF pathophysiology under such therapeutic circumstance.
RETRACTED: Multicenter randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of a cervical traction maneuver (Amr's maneuver) on the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage
Authors: Hamdy Amr , Azmy Osama , Lotfy Rehab , Attia Ahmed A. , Elsherbini Moutaz M. , Al Sawaf Ahmed , Soliman Mahmoud M. , Sharaf Marwa F. , Kamel Ahmed , Abd El‐Raouf Mohamed N. , Salem Sondos , Rasheed Mazen A. , Torky Haitham , Issak Emad R.
Published: October 2018

Objective

To assess the impact of a cervical traction maneuver (Amr's maneuver) used in conjunction with active management of the third stage of labor (AMTSL) on the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).

Method

The present multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in Cairo between March 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017. Women aged at least 18 years who had singleton pregnancies and were candidates for vaginal delivery were enrolled. After block randomization, AMTSL was performed for all participants. Following placental delivery, Amr's maneuver using cervical traction for 90 seconds was carried out in the study group. The primary outcome, incidence of PPH (>500 mL blood loss) within 6 hours of delivery, was compared between the study and control groups in an intention‐to‐treat analysis.

Results

There were 852 patients randomized to the study (n=426) and control (n=426) groups. The incidence of PPH was significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group (6 [1.4%] vs 19 [4.5%]; P=0.015). Absolute risk reduction of 3.1% (95% CI 0.8–5.6), relative risk reduction of 0.32 (95% CI 0.13–0.78), and number needed to treat of 33 (95% CI 129–18) were observed in the study group.

Conclusion

Amr's maneuver was effective in decreasing the incidence of PPH.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02660567
Dosage and composition of bioactive glasses differentially regulate angiogenic and osteogenic response of human MSCs
Authors: Qazi Taimoor H. , Berkmann Julia C. , Schoon Janosch , Geißler Sven , Duda Georg N. , Boccaccini Aldo R. , Lippens Evi
Published: October 2018

Vascularization of the fracture site and cell‐mediated deposition of the mineralized matrix are crucial determinants for successful bone regeneration after injury. Ceramic biomaterials such as bioactive glasses (BAGs) that release bioactive ions have shown promising results in bone defect regeneration. However, it remains unclear how the dosage and composition of bioactive ions influence the angiogenic and osteogenic behavior of primary human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Here, we show that exposure to ionic dissolution products from 1393 and 45S5 BAGs can evoke distinct angiogenic and osteogenic responses from primary MSCs in a dose‐ and composition‐dependent manner. Significantly higher concentrations of the pro‐angiogenic factors VEGF, HGF, PIGF, angiopoietin, and angiogenin were detected in conditioned media (CM) from MSCs exposed to 45S5, but not 1393, BAGs. Application of this CM to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) resulted in robust 2D tube formation in vitro. Osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was assessed by gene expression analysis and mineralization assays. Low concentrations (0.1% w/v) of 1393 BAGs significantly enhanced the gene expression of RUNX2 and ALP and induced an earlier onset of matrix mineralization compared to all other groups. We further tested whether simultaneous exposure to both BAGs would improve both angiogenic secretion and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, and did not find evidence to support this hypothesis. Our results provide evidence of BAG composition‐dependent enhancement of primary human MSCs' regenerative function, besides also underlining the importance of an in vitro evaluation of the dose–response relationship to translate BAG based approaches into safe and effective clinical therapies. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 2827–2837, 2018., 2018
Preparation of photothermal palmitic acid/cholesterol liposomes
Authors: Linsley Chase S. , Zhu Max , Quach Viola Y. , Wu Benjamin M.
Published: October 2018

Indocyanine green (ICG) is the only FDA‐approved near‐infrared dye and it is currently used clinically for diagnostic applications. However, there is significant interest in using ICG for triggered drug delivery applications and heat ablation therapy. Unfortunately, free ICG has a short half‐life in vivo and is rapidly cleared from circulation. Liposomes have been frequently used to improve ICG's stability and overall time of effectiveness in vivo, but they have limited stability due to the susceptibility of phospholipids to hydrolysis and oxidation. In this study, nonphospholipid liposomes were used to encapsulate ICG, and the resulting liposomes were characterized for size, encapsulation efficiency, stability, and photothermal response. Using the thin‐film hydration method, an ICG encapsulation efficiency of 54% was achieved, and the liposomes were stable for up to 12 weeks, with detectable levels of encapsulated ICG up to week 4. Additionally, ICG‐loaded liposomes were capable of rapidly producing a significant photothermal response upon exposure to near‐infrared light, and this photothermal response was able to induce changes in the mechanical properties of thermally responsive hydrogels. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1384–1392, 2019.
A novel patient‐specific three‐dimensional drug delivery construct for regenerative endodontics
Authors: Bottino Marco C. , Albuquerque Maria T. P. , Azabi Asma , Münchow Eliseu A. , Spolnik Kenneth J. , Nör Jacques E. , Edwards Paul C.
Published: October 2018

Evoked bleeding (EB) clinical procedure, comprising a disinfection step followed by periapical tissue laceration to induce the ingrowth of undifferentiated stem cells from the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone, is currently the only regenerative‐based therapeutic approach to treating pulp tissue necrosis in undeveloped (immature) permanent teeth approved in the United States. Yet, the disinfection step using antibiotic‐based pastes leads to cytotoxic, warranting a biocompatible strategy to promote root canal disinfection with no or minimal side‐effects to maximize the regenerative outcomes. The purpose of this investigation was to develop a tubular three‐dimensional (3D) triple antibiotic‐eluting construct for intracanal drug delivery. Morphological (scanning electron microscopy), chemical (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), and mechanical (tensile testing) characteristics of the polydioxanone‐based triple antibiotic‐eluting fibers were assessed. The antimicrobial properties of the tubular 3D constructs were determined in vitro and in vivo using an infected (Actinomyces naeslundii) dentin tooth slice model and a canine method of periapical disease, respectively. The in vitro data indicated significant antimicrobial activity and the ability to eliminate bacterial biofilm inside dentinal tubules. In vivo histological findings demonstrated that, using the EB procedure, the tubular 3D triple antibiotic‐eluting construct allowed the formation of an appropriate environment that led to apex closure and the ingrowth of a thin layer of osteodentin‐like tissue into the root canal. Taken together, these findings indicate that our novel drug delivery construct is a promising biocompatible disinfection strategy for immature permanent teeth with necrotic pulps. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1576–1586, 2019.
Construction and comprehensive analysis of dysregulated long non‐coding RNA‐associated competing endogenous RNA network in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Jiawu , Zhang Chengyao , He Weiyang , Gou Xin
Published: October 2018

Objective

This study aimed to assess the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)‐microRNA (miRNA)‐messenger RNA (mRNA) regulatory network in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) by gene expression analyses.

Materials and Methods

LncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA expression profiles in ccRCC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Differentially expressed lncRNAs, mRNAs (cut‐off: |log 2 [fold change, FC])| > 2.0 and adjusted P < 0.01) and miRNAs (|log 2FC| > 1.5 and adjusted P < 0.01) were unveiled using R. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify prognostic factors of ccRCC related to overall survival (OS). A protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed for differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) by Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING). Key hub genes were screened from top 300 DEmRNAs. LncRNA‐miRNA and miRNA‐mRNA regulatory network were constructed and combined into the competing endogenous RNA regulatory network. Gene ontology biological terms were screened by STRING; Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways were identified using the “clusterProfiler” package in R.

Results

A total of 2331, 1517, and 83 DEmRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs were identified, respectively. Eleven lncRNAs (AC016773.1, HOTTIP, LINC00460, NALCN‐AS1, PVT1, TRIM36‐IT1, WT1‐AS, COL18A1‐AS1, LINC00443, LINC00472, and TCL6), three miRNAs (hsa‐mir‐21, hsa‐mir‐144, and hsa‐mir‐155), and three mRNAs (COL4A4, NOD2, and GOLGA8B) were associated with OS. Specifically, four lncRNAs (PVT1, LINC00472, TCL6, and WT1‐AS1) and one mRNA (Collagen Type IV Alpha 4 Chain) were verified as independent prognostic factors by Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis. Eleven key hub genes were obtained by PPI analysis. “Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs),” “chemical carcinogenesis,” and “cytokine‐cytokine receptor interaction” were significantly enriched in the network.

Conclusion

The findings clarify the pathogenesis of ccRCC and might provide potential therapeutic targets.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Versus Elective Neck Dissection for Stage I to II Oral Cavity Cancer
Authors: Cramer John D. , Sridharan Shaum , Ferris Robert L. , Duvvuri Umamaheswar , Samant Sandeep
Published: October 2018

Objectives

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been shown to be an accurate technique for staging the neck in early‐stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) and has been incorporated in treatment guidelines as an option instead of elective neck dissection (END). However, utilization of SLNB in the United States remains unclear, and existing prospective studies did not directly compare survival between SLNB and END.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with stage I to II OCSCC (cT1‐2cN0cM0) who underwent staging of the neck in the National Cancer Data Base from 2012 to 2015. We compared the practice patterns and outcomes of patients who underwent SLNB versus END.

Results

We identified 8,328 eligible patients with a median follow‐up of 35.4 months. SLNB was used for 240 patients, or 2.9% of stage I to II OCSCC. Completion neck dissection was avoided in 63.8% of patients undergoing SLNB. SLNB was associated with reduced perioperative morbidity, with median length of hospital stay of 1.0 days versus 3.0 days after END (P < 0.001). Perioperative 30‐day mortality was 0% after SLNB versus 0.7% after END (P = 0.42). Overall 3‐year survival was 82.0% after SLNB and 77.5% after END (P = 0.40). After adjustment, overall survival was equivalent between patients who underwent SLNB versus END (adjusted hazard ratio 1.03, confidence interval 0.67–1.59).

Conclusions

SLNB for stage I to II OCSCC is associated with reduced length of hospital stay and equivalent overall survival compared with END. Despite these attributes, SLNB remains rarely used in the United States.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 129:162–169, 2019
Tinnitus and taste disturbances reported after myringoplasty: Data from a national quality registry
Authors: Berglund Malin , Suneson Petter , Florentzson Rut , Fransson Mattias , Hultcrantz Malou , Westman Eva , Eriksson Per Olof
Published: October 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

Postoperative tinnitus and taste disturbances after myringoplasty are more common than previously reported.

Study Design

This study was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the Swedish National Quality Registry for Myringoplasty.

Methods

The analysis was performed on extracted data from all counties in Sweden collected from database A from 2002 to 2012 and database B from 2013 to 2016. Tinnitus and taste disturbance complications 1 year after myringoplasty were analyzed in relation to gender, age, procedure, and success rate. In database A, physicians reported tinnitus and taste disturbances. In database B, patients reported the complications.

Results

A major difference was found when the complications were reported by physicians compared to when the complications were reported by patients. In database A, tinnitus was reported in 1.2% of the patients and taste disturbances in 0.5%. In database B, the frequencies were 12.3% and 11.2%, respectively. Tinnitus and taste disturbances were more frequent after conventional myringoplasty compared to those after fat grafting and were more frequent after primary compared to those after revision surgery when reported by physicians. Patients, however, reported the same frequency of tinnitus after fat graft myringoplasty compared to that after conventional myringoplasty (12.0% vs. 12.6%) and fewer taste disturbances after revision surgery. In follow‐up assessments, complications persisted after surgery over a long time period.

Conclusion

Tinnitus and taste disturbances are more common after myringoplasty when patients report their symptoms than when physicians report the symptoms.

Level of Evidence

2b Laryngoscope, 129:209–215, 2019
Percutaneous versus surgical tracheostomy: timing, outcomes, and charges
Authors: Yang Anthony , Gray Mingyang L. , McKee Sean , Kidwai Sarah M. , Doucette John , Sobotka Stanislaw , Yao Mike , Iloreta Alfred
Published: October 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

The purpose of this study was to compare timing of procedure, patient characteristics, outcomes, and charges for patients who underwent percutaneous versus surgical tracheostomy.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed for all patients who underwent tracheostomy in 2015 to 2016 in New York State. Patients were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification codes and stratified to the type of tracheostomy performed. The primary outcome of interest was mortality at index stay. Secondary outcomes of interest included length of stay and total hospitalization charges.

Results

Of the 8,682 patients, 2,488 (28.7%) underwent percutaneous and 6,194 (71.3%) underwent surgical tracheostomy. At hospitals where both procedures were performed, percutaneous tracheostomy patients were older, had more comorbidities, and had lower income (P < .05). Timing of the tracheostomy relative to admission did not affect the type of tracheostomy performed. While controlling for patient characteristics and complications during the visit, percutaneous tracheostomy was associated with increased mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03‐1.33, P = .0153) and increased hospital charges (OR: + 7.76%, 95% CI: 5.4‐10.11, P < .0001). Length of stay was not affected by procedure type.

Conclusions

Surgical tracheostomies are more commonly performed than percutaneous tracheostomies across New York State. Older, lower‐income, and sicker patients have a higher chance of receiving percutaneous tracheostomies. Percutaneous approaches were associated with statistically significant increased mortality and higher charges despite no difference in length of stay. Further studies are needed to determine if these differences in outcomes are clinically significant.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 128:2844–2851, 2018
Risk factors for thyroid surgery–related unilateral vocal fold paralysis
Authors: Chen Hung‐Chun , Pei Yu‐Cheng , Fang Tuan‐Jen
Published: October 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

We aimed to identify the risk factors for iatrogenic unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) caused by thyroid surgery, to allow the identification of patients requiring nerve‐protection procedures and monitoring technologies.

Study Design

Retrospective case study in a medical center.

Methods

Patients who underwent thyroid surgery from April 2011 to February 2016 and who were diagnosed with UVFP by laryngoscopy and laryngeal electromyography were included. Patient demographics, types of surgery, and characteristics of the thyroid lesions were analyzed.

Results

Sixty (2.1%) of 2,815 patients who received thyroid surgery developed UVFP. The risk of UVFP was higher in patients over 60 years old (odds ratio, 1.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.01‐3.26; P = .01). Involvement of the external branch of superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) occurred in 19 (31.7%) of the 60 UVFP patients, and was more likely to occurr in patients with diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 14.19; 95% confidence interval, 3.80‐52.94; P < .001). The incidence of UVFP and involvement of the EBSLN differed among surgery types, and was the highest among patients undergoing total thyroidectomy with neck dissection (TTND) (10/158, 6.3% and 5/158, 3.2%, respectively).

Conclusions

The risk of thyroid surgery–related UVFP is higher in older patients. EBSLN involvement is more likely in patients with diabetes mellitus. TTND is associated with higher risks of UVFP and EBSLN injury than other types of surgery, implying the need of intraoperative nerve monitoring in these high‐risk characteristics.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 129:275–283, 2019
Increasing wind erosion resistance of aeolian sandy soil by microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation
Authors: Tian Kanliang , Wu Yuyao , Zhang Huili , Li Duo , Nie Kangyi , Zhang Shican
Published: October 2018

Wind erosion of aeolian sandy soil can cause serious land degradation and other environmental problems, and thus its prevention and control is very important. However, there has not been a very effective way to prevent this severe wind erosion until now, and traditional measures such as mechanical methods, chemical sand‐fixing methods, and agronomic methods also have many disadvantages. The main objective of this study is to evaluate feasibility of microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) as a novel soil‐strengthening technique, to cement aeolian sandy soil, and reduce wind erosion risk. For this purpose, aeolian sandy soil was cemented withSporosarcina pasteuriithrough MICP technique, and the physical and mechanical properties and wind erosion resistance of cemented aeolian sandy soil were tested. The results show that wind erosion resistance of aeolian sandy soil can be effectively improved by sprayingS. pasteuriisolution and cementing solution (equal concentration of urea and calcium chloride mixture) into it from the surface, and the cemented aeolian sandy soil had good wind erosion resistance. Finally, morphology of precipitated CaCO3crystals was studied using scanning electron microscope, optical microscope, and X‐ray diffraction. The calcium carbonate crystals produced in aeolian sandy soil were calcite, and the calcium carbonate crystals had polyhedral, spherical, or flower clusters crystal morphology. The results of this study demonstrate an effective way to use MICP technology to cement aeolian sandy soil and prevent wind erosion, and provide a new way for wind erosion prevention.
Difference in wind erosion characteristics between loamy and sandy farmlands and the implications for soil dust emission potential
Authors: Wang Rende , Zhou Na , Li Qing , Chang Chunping , Guo Zhongling , Li Jifeng
Published: October 2018

Dust emission depends directly and indirectly on soil particle distribution, but little information is available that examines dust emission potential and its relationship with wind erosion for different soils. This study aimed to elucidate the difference in wind erosion characteristics between loamy farmland (LF) and sandy farmland (SF) and discuss the influence of this difference on dust emission potential. Field observations were conducted during 2012–2016 in Bashang district, North China. With increasing friction wind speed, the horizontal mass flux increased exponentially in LF but obeyed the power function in SF. The horizontal mass flux was higher in SF than in LF, but the gap narrowed from 766 times at friction wind speed of 0.3 m s−1 to 50 times at 0.6 m s−1. The dry aggregate size distribution of sediment in LF was finer than in SF. Fine particle content (diameter < 0.05 mm) in windblown sediment was much higher in LF (31.39%) than in SF (5.92%), which was influenced by parent soils. With height increasing, the mass percentage of sediment decreased more rapidly in SF than in LF, with 86% and 66% of sediment clustering at height 0–20 cm, respectively. Because the horizontal mass flux and dust content in sediment both increased more quickly in LF than in SF with increasing friction wind speed, the dust emission potential was larger in LF than in SF under strong winds. The adverse effect of dust emission in loamy soils on atmospheric pollution should receive more attention in strong wind erosion events.
Endoscopic training—is the future three‐dimensional?
Authors: Nassimizadeh Abdul , Zaidi S.M. , Nassimizadeh Mohammad , Kholief Amir , Ahmed Shahzada K.
Published: October 2018

Background/Objectives

Endoscopic surgery has a distinct disadvantage compared to direct vision: loss of binocular vision. Three‐dimensional endoscopy has been welcomed due to the promise of improving stereopsis.

Methods

Prospective randomized study of junior doctors with minimal endoscopic experience, using both two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional, zero‐degree, 4‐mm Storz endoscopes. Data was collected using validated, standardized training models, both objectively and subjectively. Paired comparisons between variables relating to the endoscopes were performed using Wilcoxon's tests. Operators were then split into groups based on their endoscope preference, with comparisons made using Mann‐Whitney tests for Likert scale responses, Kendall's tau for ordinal variables, and Fisher's exact tests for nominal variables.

Results

Reduction of field of vision of three‐dimensional endoscopy by 2%. Significant findings included decreased past‐pointing, improved depth and perception and image quality.

Conclusion

The use of an endoscopic endonasal approach with three‐dimensional technology has measurable advantages for novice users, and highlights potential tailoring of future surgical training

Level of Evidence

1b
Integration of aerial infrared thermography and in situ radon‐222 to investigate submarine groundwater discharge to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA
Authors: Kelly Jacque L. , Dulai Henrietta , Glenn Craig R. , Lucey Paul G.
Published: October 2018

The largest freshwater spring complex in the Hawaiian Islands discharges groundwater into Pearl Harbor, Oahu, which is the largest estuary in the islands. This discharge occurs as subaerial and submarine springs, as non‐point‐source (diffuse) seepage, and as baseflow to streams. We conducted airborne thermal infrared remote sensing surveys of sea surface temperatures and ocean‐based 222Rn surveys of surface and deep waters to evaluate the efficacy of combining these methods to locate and quantify these differing groundwater discharges to the harbor. High spatial‐resolution (≤ 3.2 m) sea surface temperature data were advantageous for identifying and differentiating point‐source and diffuse groundwater discharge. Surveys of surface waters for 222Rn confirmed point‐source and diffuse seepage zones identified from the sea surface temperature maps. The 222Rn mid‐ and deep‐water surveys were crucial for locating benthic seepage not detectable by the remote sensing method. Groundwater discharge estimates from radon time‐series data agreed with radon surface water survey estimates. Fresh groundwater discharge estimates were also of the same order of magnitude as previous hydrologic estimates of spring discharge. We produced linearly and highly correlated relationships between plume areas and groundwater discharge by combining the thermal infrared and radon techniques. Such relationships may provide a way to up‐scale local groundwater discharge assessments to a regional area.