bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Late Primary Palatoplasty in Skeletally Mature Patients: Obstacles and Outcomes
Authors: Vieira Pedro Henrique , Denadai Rafael , Raposo-Amaral Cesar Augusto , Sabbag Anelise , Monte Thais Miguel do , Raposo-Amaral Cassio Eduardo 
Published: April 2020

Background:
As the performance of late primary palatoplasty for skeletally mature patients remains controversial, there is little data available regarding speech outcomes for this patient population. The purpose of this study therefore is to identify and evaluate the impact of speech outcomes following late palate repair on skeletally mature patients.

Methods:
A retrospective study was performed on 19 consecutive skeletally mature patients who underwent late primary palate repair between 2010 and 2018. Speech assessment was performed preoperatively, between 3 and 6 months postoperatively, and then after 6 months postoperatively. Levels for hypernasality, oral pressure, and audible nasal air emission were scored and recorded.
Patients were stratified by age, gender, presence of postoperative fistula, and Veau cleft type, in order to determine the impact of each variable on final speech outcomes. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the preoperative speech assessment with the postoperative speech outcomes, and the Mann–Whitney test was used to analyze the impact of the above variables on final speech outcomes.

Results:
Our data showed overall postoperative speech improvement for all tested variables. Patients without postoperative fistula presented better results in oral pressure than those patients with postoperative fistula (P < 0.05). None of the other tested variables presented a significant negative impact on speech outcomes.

Conclusion:
Late primary palatoplasty significantly improves speech outcomes for skeletally mature patients. Fistula has a negative impact on oral pressure.
Floating Bone Phenomenon in Pierre Robin Sequence
Authors: Fontanari Marco , Vellone Valentino , Maffia Francesco , Papoff Paola , Cascone Piero 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
After a failed mandibular osteodistraction, the wrong positioned mandible of a few patients with Pierre Robin sequence returned in the most functional position and regained a proper symmetry, without external intervention. The study aims to explain this self-adjustment and introduce the floating bone phenomenon.
The inclusion criteria were severe micrognathia, Fast and Early Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis protocol, postoperative mandibular wrong positioning, presurgery, immediate postsurgery, and long-term computed tomography scan. Five patients were included. The considered parameters were the distance between mandibular dental centerline and midsagittal facial axis, the rotation of the mandibular body, the magnitude of elongation, and the lowering of the mandibular body.
Three patients went from a decentralization >4 mm in the activation phase to a normalization of the said value in the follow-up. In the same period, the interincisal point of 2 patients moved respectively from 0.5 mm on the left and 0.8 mm on the right to 1.2 mm and 1.6 mm on the right, respectively. The rotation of the mandibular body was meanly 25.6° among all patients. The mean value of the distraction was 14.1 mm. A difference of about 4.4 mm between the left and the right side was measured. The lowering of the mandible varied between 2.8 and 12.6 mm.
All patients improved their symmetry. Four of them improved in all the measured parameters, while 1 patient presented a worsening in the decentralization of the interincisal point.
The floating bone phenomenon could break new grounds in the management of patients with Pierre Robin sequence.
Anthropometric Analysis of Nasolabial Region and Age-Related Changes in Adult Women
Authors: Doğru Semahat , Deniz Mustafa , Uslu Ayşe Imge 
Published: April 2020

Purpose:
The nasal and labial characteristics along with the other facial characteristics are different between races. The purpose of this study is to identify nasal and labial features of Turkish women by anthropometric measurements and indices besides to detect variances with aging.

Methods:
The study was conducted with total 302 women volunteers whose ages were between 19 and 85. The women included were divided into 3 groups according to their ages; respectively young (ages between 19 and 44), middle-aged (45–59) and senior (>60). By using camera footages with the IT version 3.00 software program, anthropometric measurements of the nasolabial region was performed.

Results:
The mean nasal length of the included participants was measured as 38.56 ± 8.32 mm while mean nasal height was 50.05 ± 8.36 mm. Mean nasal root width was 13.24 ± 2.70 mm, mean morphological nasal width was 32.16 ± 5.80 mm and mean anatomical nasal width was 27.85 ± 4.92 mm. In addition, mean nasal depth was 19.55 ± 5.25 mm.
In the middle-aged group of participants, the nasal length was more than senior group (P < 0.05). Nasal root width was increased with aging (P < 0.05). Morphological and anatomical widths of the nose were increased with aging but increase rate was lower in the senior group (P < 0.05). The nasal depth was lower in the young group in comparison with middle-aged and senior groups (P < 0.05). When nostril types were analyzed; ratios of ‘teardrop’, ‘heart-shaped’, ‘annular’ and ‘triangular’ types were 51.65%, 0.99%, 6.95%, and 40.39%, respectively.

Conclusions:
To be acquainted with facial anthropometric features and measurements of nasolabial region which varies with races and aging; would have a significant importance in view of conserving the facial ratio and esthetics in the plastic and reconstructive surgery field.
Value-Based Analysis of Virtual Versus Traditional Surgical Planning for Orthognathic Surgery
Authors: Lin Lawrence O. , Kalmar Christopher L. , Vu Giap H. , Zimmerman Carrie E. , Humphries Laura S. , Swanson Jordan W. , Bartlett Scott P. , Taylor Jesse A. 
Published: April 2020

Background:
In orthognathic surgery, virtual surgical planning (VSP) is gaining popularity over traditional surgical planning (TSP); however, concerns about cost of VSP have slowed adoption of this technology. This study investigates the clinical value of VSP versus TSP over the entire clinical care continuum.

Methods:
Retrospective cohort study was conducted for patients undergoing maxillomandibular surgery between 2005 and 2016 at a tertiary pediatric hospital. Clinical value, defined as patient outcomes per unit cost, was analyzed between the 2 groups with appropriate statistics.

Results:
The VSP (n = 19) and TSP (n = 10) cohorts had statistically similar hospital lengths of stay, rates of complications, readmissions, and duration of postoperative orthodontic treatment (P = 0.518, P > 0.999, P > 0.999, P = 0.812, respectively). VSP maxillomandibular procedures trended towards shorter operative times (P = 0.052). Total hospital charges were statistically similar between the TSP and VSP cohorts (P = 0.160). Medication, laboratory and testing, and room charges were also statistically similar between the TSP and VSP cohorts (P = 0.169, P = 0.953, and P = 0.196 respectively).

Conclusions:
Indexed patient outcomes and costs incurred for maxillomandibular procedures were statistically similar between those utilizing TSP or VSP leading us to conclude that these 2 methods are associated with similar clinical value. This retrospective analysis should be followed with prospective data to give patients and insurers the best estimate of clinical value utilizing TSP and VSP.
Life on the battlefield: Valproic acid for combat applications
Authors: Russo Rachel , Kemp Michael , Bhatti Umar F. , Pai Manjunath , Wakam Glenn , Biesterveld Ben , Alam Hasan B. 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACT
The leading causes of death in military conflicts continue to be hemorrhagic shock (HS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Most of the mortality is a result of patients not surviving long enough to obtain surgical care. As a result, there is a significant unmet need for a therapy that stimulates a “prosurvival phenotype” that counteracts the cellular pathophysiology of HS and TBI to prolong survival. Valproic acid (VPA), a well-established antiepileptic therapy for more than 50 years, has shown potential as one such prosurvival therapy. This review details how VPA's role as a nonselective histone deacetylase inhibitor induces cellular changes that promote survival and decrease cellular pathways that lead to cell death. The review comprehensively covers more than two decades worth of studies ranging from preclinical (mice, swine) to recent human clinical trials of the use of VPA in HS and TBI. Furthermore, it details the different mechanisms in which VPA alters gene expression, induces cytoprotective changes, attenuates platelet dysfunction, provides neuroprotection, and enhances survival in HS and TBI. Valproic acid shows real promise as a therapy that can induce the prosurvival phenotype in those injured during military conflict.
Optimization of SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-QPCR without RNA extraction
Authors: Merindol Natacha , Pépin Geneviève , Marchand Caroline , Rheault Marylène , Peterson Christine , Poirier André , Germain Hugo , Danylo Alexis 
Published: April 2020

AbstractRapid and reliable screening of SARS-CoV-2 is fundamental to assess viral spread and limit the pandemic we are facing. In this study we evaluated the reliability and the efficiency of a direct RT-QPCR method (without RNA extraction) using SeeGene Allplex™ 2019-nCoV RT-QPCR and the influence of swab storage media composition on further viral detection.We show that SeeGene’s assay provides similar efficiency as the RealStar®SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR kit (Altona Diagnostics), and that RNA extraction is not necessary nor advantageous if samples are stored in UTM or molecular water but is recommended if samples are stored in saline solution and in Hanks medium.
Blind Uneven Proliferation of CD4+ T cells During Primary Infection Generates the Majority of the HIV Reservoir
Authors: Boshier Florencia A. T. , Reeves Daniel B. , Duke Elizabeth R. , Swan David A. , Prlic Martin , Cardozo-Ojeda E. Fabian , Schiffer Joshua T. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe HIV reservoir is a population of 1-10 million anatomically dispersed, latently infected memory CD4+ T cells in which an HIV DNA molecule is quiescently integrated into human chromosomal DNA. When antiretroviral therapy (ART) is stopped and HIV replication initiates in one of these cells, systemic viral spread resumes, rekindling progression to AIDS. Therefore, HIV latency prevents cure. The HIV reservoir contains clones: identical HIV sequences that are integrated within identical human chromosomal DNA locations. The presence of these clones demonstrates that proliferation of CD4+ T cells sustains infection despite ART. The reservoir has a precise structure consisting of a small number of large clones and a large number of small clones. However, the mechanisms leading to this structure have not been identified. We developed a mathematical model that recapitulates the profound depletion and brisk recovery of CD4+ T cells, reservoir creation, and viral load trajectory during primary HIV infection. We extended the model to simulate stochastically individual HIV reservoir clones and identified that uneven proliferation among clones during recovery from CD4+ lymphopaenia is sufficient to explain the observed clonal reservoir distribution. We project that within one month of infection 75-95% of reservoir cells are generated from cellular proliferation rather than denovo viral infection. Recent detection of HIV infected clones during the first 5 weeks of infection support our model’s predictions.
Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein glycan shield: implications for immune recognition
Authors: Grant Oliver C. , Montgomery David , Ito Keigo , Woods Robert J. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractHere we have generated 3D structures of glycoforms of the spike (S) glycoprotein from SARS-CoV-2, based on reported 3D structures and glycomics data for the protein produced in HEK293 cells. We also analyze structures for glycoforms representing those present in the nascent glycoproteins (prior to enzymatic modifications in the Golgi), as well as those that are commonly observed on antigens present in other viruses.These models were subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to determine the extent to which glycan microheterogeneity impacts the antigenicity of the S glycoprotein. Lastly, we have identified peptides in the S glycoprotein that are likely to be presented in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complexes, and discuss the role of S protein glycosylation in potentially modulating the adaptive immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus or to a related vaccine.The 3D structures show that the protein surface is extensively shielded from antibody recognition by glycans, with the exception of the ACE2 receptor binding domain, and also that the degree of shielding is largely insensitive to the specific glycoform. Despite the relatively modest contribution of the glycans to the total molecular weight (17% for the HEK293 glycoform) the level of surface shielding is disproportionately high at 42%.
Characterization of the oral microbiome of medically controlled type-2 diabetes patients
Authors: Almeida-Santos Ana , Martins-Mendes Daniela , Gayà-Vidal Magdalena , Pérez-Pardal Lucía , Beja-Pereira Albano 
Published: April 2020

AbstractType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease that is becoming a significant global health care problem. Several studies have shown that people with diabetes are more susceptible to oral problems, such as periodontitis and, although the causes are still inconclusive, the oral microbiota seems to be an important factor in this interaction. This study aimed to characterize the oral microbiome of a sample representing T2DM patients from Portugal and exploit potential associations between some microorganisms and variables like teeth brushing, smoking habits, and nutrient intake. By sequencing the hypervariable regions V3-V4 of the 16S rRNA gene in 50 individuals belonging to a group of diabetes patients and a control group, we found a total of 233 taxa, from which only 65% were shared between both groups. No differences were found in terms of alpha and beta diversity between groups or habits categories. Also, there were no significant differences in the oral microbiome profiles of control and diabetes patients. Only the classSynergistiaand the genusTG5, which are related to periodontitis, were statistically more frequent in the control group. This finding can be justified by the fact that these diabetic patients usually have their oral health under close medical control than an average healthy person, which in this study was represented by the control group.IMPORTANCEDiabetes has become a significant global health care issue as its incidence continues to increase exponentially, with type 2 diabetes being responsible for more than 90% of these cases. Portugal is one of the countries with a higher prevalence of diabetes in Europe. It has been reported that diabetic people have an increased risk of developing several health problems such as oral infections mostly caused by opportunistic pathogens. Some studies have pointed out a relationship between diabetes and oral microbiome. Therefore, the characterization of the microbial ecosystem of the mouth in reference groups is crucial to provide information to tackle oral health pathogen-borne conditions. In this study, we provide the first characterization of the oral microbiome of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients from Portugal, and therefore, contributing new data and knowledge to elucidate the relationship between diabetes and the oral microbiome.
Tasimelteon (HETLIOZ®) effective in the treatment of Jet Lag Disorder in an 8-hour phase advance; a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Polymeropoulos Christos M , Mohrman Michael A , Keefe Madison S , Brzezynski Jennifer L , Wang Jingyuan , Prokosch Lydia S , Polymeropoulos Vasilios M , Xiao Changfu , Birznieks Gunther , Polymeropoulos Mihael H 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundTravelers frequently experience Jet Lag Disorder (JLD) symptoms due to misalignment of the circadian rhythm with respect to the new time zone. In the JET8 Study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of tasimelteon (HETLIOZ®) in healthy participants using a laboratory model of JLD induced by an 8-h phase advance of the sleep-wake cycle. We hypothesized that tasimelteon treatment in participants experiencing JLD would cause increased sleep time, increased next-day alertness, and reduced next-day sleepiness.MethodsWe undertook a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 12 US clinical research sleep centers. We screened healthy adults ages 18-73 years, who were eligible for the randomization phase of JET8 if they typically went to bed between 21:00 and 01:00, slept between 7-9 hours each night, and slept at a consistent bedtime. We used block randomization stratified by site to assign participants (1:1) to receive a single oral dose of tasimelteon (20mg) or placebo 30 min before their 8-h phase-advanced bedtime. The primary endpoint was Total Sleep Time in the first 2/3 of the night (TST2/3), which was measured by polysomnography during the 8-h sleep episode, and assessed in the intent-to-treat population. The trial is completed and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT03373201.ResultsBetween October 16, 2017 and January 17, 2018, we screened 607 healthy participants for JET8, of whom 320 (53%) were assigned to receive tasimelteon (n=160) or placebo (n=160). Tasimelteon treatment resulted in increased TST2/3by 60.3 min (95%CI 44.0 to 76.7,P<0.0001) compared to placebo and had a highly significant benefit in secondary endpoints including TST of the whole night, next day alertness, next day sleepiness, and latency to persistent sleep.ConclusionA single dose of tasimelteon improves symptoms, including sleep and next day functioning in participants, following an 8-h phase advance of the sleep-wake cycle in a laboratory model of JLD simulating eastward trans-meridian travel.
Polygenic associations and causal inferences between serum immunoglobulins and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Chen Xu , Shen Xiaojun , Zhang Xuzhuo , Zhan Yiqiang , Fang Fang 
Published: April 2020

AbstractChronic inflammation might contribute to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the relationship between serum immunoglobulins and risk of ALS remains however unclear. In order to overcome limitations like reverse causation and residual confounding commonly seen in the observational studies, we applied molecular epidemiological analyses to examine the polygenic and causal associations between serum immunoglobulins and ALS. Summary statistics from the large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) among European ancestry populations (∼15000 individuals for serum immunoglobulins, and more than 36000 individuals for ALS) were accessed from different consortia. The relationships between three types of serum immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgG) and ALS were investigated in a discovery phase and then in a replication phase. Polygenic risk score (PRS) analysis was performed with PRSice package to test the polygenic association, and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed with TwoSampleMR package to infer the causality. An inverse polygenic association was discovered between IgA and ALS as well as between IgM and ALS. Such associations were however not replicated using a larger GWAS of ALS, and no causal association was observed for either IgA-ALS or IgM-ALS. A positive polygenic association was both discovered [odds ratio (OR) = 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-1.25, P=5.9×10−7] and replicated (OR=1.13, 95% CI: 1.06-1.20, P=0.001) between IgG and ALS. A causal association between IgG and ALS was also suggested in both the discovery (OR=1.06, 95%CI: 1.02-1.10, P=0.009) and replication (OR=1.07, 95%CI: 0.90-1.24, P=0.420) analyses, although the latter was not statistically significant. This study suggests a shared polygenic risk between serum IgG (as a biomarker for chronic inflammation) and ALS.
Effects of statins on lipid profile of kidney transplant recipients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Huang Xiu , Jia Yong , Zhu Xiaoyu , Zhang Yangyang , Jiang Lili , Wei Xuejiao , Zhao Dan , Zhao Xiaoxia , Du Yujun 
Published: April 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the benefits of statins on lipid profile in kidney transplant recipients via a meta-analysis.MethodsWe systematically identified peer-reviewed clinical trials, review articles, and treatment guidelines from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Wanfang, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), SinoMed (CBM), and Chongqing VIP databases from inception to April 2019. In the analysis, only randomized controlled clinical trials performed in human were included.ResultsEight articles were included in the analysis, involving 335 kidney transplant recipients who received statins and 350 kidney transplant patients as the control group. Results revealed that statins improved the lipid profile of kidney transplant recipients. Specifically, statin therapy significantly reduced total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, it had no effects on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides levels.ConclusionsThe present study provides valuable knowledge on the potential benefits of statins in kidney transplant recipients. This meta-analysis shows that statin therapy modifies the lipid profile in this patient population.
Robust neutralization assay based on SARS-CoV-2 S-bearing vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudovirus and ACE2-overexpressed BHK21 cells
Authors: Xiong Hua-Long , Wu Yang-Tao , Cao Jia-Li , Yang Ren , Ma Jian , Qiao Xiao-Yang , Yao Xiang-Yang , Zhang Bao-Hui , Zhang Ya-Li , Hou Wang-Heng , Yang-Shi  , Xu Jing-Jing , Liang-Zhang  , Wang Shao-Juan , Fu Bao-Rong , Yang Ting , Ge Sheng-Xiang , Zhang Jun , Yuan Quan , Huang Bao-Ying , Li Zhi-Yong , Zhang Tian-Ying , Xia Ning-Shao 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe global pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disaster for human society. A convenient and reliablein vitroneutralization assay is very important for the development of neutralizing antibodies, vaccines and other inhibitors. In this study, G protein-deficient vesicular stomatitis virus (VSVdG) bearing full-length and truncated spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated. The virus packaging efficiency of VSV-SARS-CoV-2-Sdel18 (S with C-terminal 18 amino acid truncation) is much higher than VSV-SARS-CoV-2-S. A neutralization assay for antibody screening and serum neutralizing titer quantification was established based on VSV-SARS-CoV-2-Sdel18 pseudovirus and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) overexpressed BHK21 cell (BHK21-hACE2). The experimental results can be obtained by automatically counting EGFP positive cell number at 12 hours after infection, making the assay convenient and high-throughput. The serum neutralizing titer of COVID-19 convalescent patients measured by VSV-SARS-CoV-2-Sdel18 pseudovirus assay has a good correlation with live SARS-CoV-2 assay. Seven neutralizing monoclonal antibodies targeting receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2-S were obtained. This efficient and reliable pseudovirus assay model could facilitate the development of new drugs and vaccines.