bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of probiotics combined with early enteral nutrition on endothelin-1 and C-reactive protein levels and prognosis in patients with severe traumatic brain injury
Authors: Wan Guohua , Wang Linlin , Zhang Guanhong , Zhang Jian , Lu Yanli , Li Jun , Yi Xinhao 
Published: December 2019

Objective To investigate the effects of probiotics combined with early enteral nutrition on levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), and inflammatory factors, and on the prognosis of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods We enrolled 76 adults with severe TBI. The patients were divided randomly into two equal groups administered enteral nutrition with and without probiotics, respectively. Demographic and clinical data including age, sex, Glasgow Coma Scale score, Sequential Organ Failure Score, Acute Physiology, Chronic Health Score, hospitalization, mortality, and infections were recorded. Results Serum levels of inflammatory factors gradually decreased with increasing treatment time in both groups. However, ET-1 at 15 days, and interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and CRP at 7 and 15 days decreased significantly more in the combined treatment group. Hospitalization duration and pulmonary infection rates were also significantly reduced in the combined compared with the enteral nutrition alone group. GCS scores at 15 days were significantly lower in the combined compared with the enteral nutrition group. Conclusion Probiotics combined with early enteral nutrition could reduce serum levels of ET-1, CRP, and IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, and could thus improve the recovery of patients with severe TBI.
Effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid for Chinese-Speaking International Students in Melbourne
Authors: Zhuang Xiao Yu , Wong Daniel Fu Keung , Ng Ting Kin , Poon Ada 
Published: December 2019

Purpose: Chinese international students have been widely reported to lack recognition of their psychological problems and to delay treatment until their symptoms become rather disabling. The present study pioneered to evaluate the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in improving mental health knowledge among Chinese-speaking international tertiary students. Method: A quasi-experimental design was adopted, whereby 202 Chinese-speaking international students in Melbourne were assigned to the MHFA condition or a control condition. All participants completed a standardized questionnaire before, at the end, and 3 months after training. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling. Results: The findings demonstrated that MHFA training might be effective in improving participants’ knowledge of mental disorders (i.e., recognition of symptoms, belief in helpful treatments, and understanding the biogenetic and psychosocial causes) and reducing stigma. Conclusions: The MHFA program has the potential to enhance mental health knowledge and promote help-seeking among Chinese-speaking international students.
Large choroidal excavation in retinitis pigmentosa: A case report
Authors: Iacono Pierluigi , Battaglia Parodi Maurizio , Parravano Mariacristina , Varano Monica 
Published: December 2019

Purpose: To report the morphological and clinical features of a case of retinitis pigmentosa with large choroidal excavation. Methods: The patient underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination including best-corrected visual acuity assessment, anterior segment and dilated fundus examination and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Results: A 41-year-old woman affected by retinitis pigmentosa with genetic confirmation with mutation in RDH12 gene had a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/50 in both eyes. Dilated fundus examination revealed waxy pallor of the optic disc, diffuse narrowing of the retinal arterioles and a generalized retinal pigment epithelium mottling with bony spicule associated with diffuse retinal atrophy. At the posterior pole, an extended bilateral chorioretinal atrophy was evident with a partial sparing of the macular area. On spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, a bilateral large choroidal excavation could be clearly detected and it was associated with a diffuse retinal thinning at the posterior pole and a partial sparing of the fovea. Conclusion: Large choroidal excavation has been rarely reported. Although the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to the formation of large choroidal excavation are still a matter of debate, a combination of primary degenerative-inflammatory factors could be retained responsible for the large choroidal excavation development.
Oral phospholipidic curcumin in juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis
Authors: Miserocchi Elisabetta , Giuffrè Chiara , Cicinelli Maria Vittoria , Marchese Alessandro , Gattinara Maurizio , Modorati Giulio , Bandello Francesco 
Published: December 2019

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of curcumin-phosphatidylcholine complex in children affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis–associated uveitis as an adjunctive treatment to chronic systemic immunosuppressive therapy. Methods: In this retrospective, longitudinal study, we treated patients affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis–associated uveitis with residual low-grade inflammatory activity in the anterior chamber with one tablet of curcumin-phosphatidylcholine complex per day, over a year. Low-grade inflammatory activity was characterized by flare 1+ at slit-lamp examination and 10–50 photon counts per ms) at the FC500 laser flare meter. Inactivity of uveitis was defined as complete disappearance of flare at the slit-lamp examination and values <10 ph/ms at laser flare meter. Conversely, recurrence of the uveitis was defined as a one-step increase from baseline in anterior chamber cells levels or laser flare meter measurements >50 ph/ms. Results: A total of 22 out of 27 patients (81%) achieved inactivity at the end of the study. Five patients (19%) did not show a significant reduction in anterior chamber flare, remaining stable throughout the follow-up. Only three episodes of flare-ups in three different patients were recorded. Overall, the treatment was well tolerated by all patients and no ocular discomfort, ocular side effects, or allergic reactions were registered. Conclusion: Adjunctive therapy with curcumin in patients affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis–associated uveitis improves mild chronic anterior chamber flare and presents a good safety profile. Despite being mild, anterior chamber inflammation should be minimized to avoid the development of sight-threatening complications in these patients.
Schistosomiasis on prostate biopsy, adenocarcinoma on transurethral resection of prostate specimens
Authors: Mukendi Alain Mwamba , Doherty Sean , Ngobese Lungile 
Published: December 2019

In bilharzia-endemic areas, schistosomiasis is a common infection. Prostate cancer is also a common urological condition affecting people in both bilharzia and non-bilharzia-endemic areas. The association of these familiar conditions is infrequent and the relationship between these entities still controversial. We are adding to the literature a rare case of prostatic bilharzia on needle biopsy, and the subsequent finding of prostatic adenocarcinoma on transurethral resection of prostate specimens. Level of evidence: 4
Myeloid cell–targeted miR-146a mimic inhibits NF-κB–driven inflammation and leukemia progression in vivo
Authors: Su Yu-Lin , Wang Xiuli , Mann Mati , Adamus Tomasz P. , Wang Dongfang , Moreira Dayson F. , Zhang Zhuoran , Ouyang Ching , He Xin , Zhang Bin , Swiderski Piotr M. , Forman Stephen J. , Baltimore David , Li Ling , Marcucci Guido , Boldin Mark P. , Kortylewski Marcin 
Published: December 2019

AbstractNF-κB is a key regulator of inflammation and cancer progression, with an important role in leukemogenesis. Despite its therapeutic potential, targeting NF-κB using pharmacologic inhibitors has proven challenging. Here, we describe a myeloid cell–selective NF-κB inhibitor using an miR-146a mimic oligonucleotide conjugated to a scavenger receptor/Toll-like receptor 9 agonist (C-miR146a). Unlike an unconjugated miR146a, C-miR146a was rapidly internalized and delivered to the cytoplasm of target myeloid cells and leukemic cells. C-miR146a reduced expression of classic miR-146a targets (IRAK1 and TRAF6), thereby blocking activation of NF-κB in target cells. IV injections of C-miR146a mimic to miR-146a–deficient mice prevented excessive NF-κB activation in myeloid cells, and thus alleviated myeloproliferation and mice hypersensitivity to bacterial challenge. Importantly, C-miR146a showed efficacy in dampening severe inflammation in clinically relevant models of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell–induced cytokine release syndrome. Systemic administration of C-miR146a oligonucleotide alleviated human monocyte-dependent release of IL-1 and IL-6 in a xenotransplanted B-cell lymphoma model without affecting CD19-specific CAR T-cell antitumor activity. Beyond anti-inflammatory functions, miR-146a is a known tumor suppressor commonly deleted or expressed at reduced levels in human myeloid leukemia. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas acute myeloid leukemia data set, we found an inverse correlation of miR-146a levels with NF-κB–related genes and with patient survival. Correspondingly, C-miR146a induced cytotoxic effects in human MDSL, HL-60, and MV4-11 leukemia cells in vitro. The repeated IV administration of C-miR146a inhibited expression of NF-κB target genes and thereby thwarted progression of disseminated HL-60 leukemia. Our results show the potential of using myeloid cell–targeted miR-146a mimics for the treatment of inflammatory and myeloproliferative disorders.
Stem cell mutations can be detected in myeloma patients years before onset of secondary leukemias
Authors: Sridharan Ashwin , Schinke Carolina D. , Georgiev George , Da Silva Ferreira Mariana , Thiruthuvanathan Victor , MacArthur Ian , Bhagat Tushar D. , Choudhary Gaurav S. , Aluri Srinivas , Chen Jiahao , Pradhan Kith , Xia Yu , Panjikaran Maya , Sims Gregory , Bhagat Chirag K. , Bender Ryan , Keeler Lauryn , Graber Armin , Heuck Christoph , Fletcher Frederick A. , Alapat Daisy , Weinhold Niels , Johnson Sarah K. , Wickrema Amittha , Barlogie Bart , Morgan Gareth J. , Shastri Aditi , Steidl Ulrich , Will Britta , Verma Amit 
Published: December 2019

Key Points
Leukemia-associated mutations can be detected many years before the onset of secondary leukemias in myeloma patients. Stem and progenitor cells can act as reservoirs of mutations before the onset of secondary MDS and AML after treatment of myeloma.
Capacitive Imaging Technique for the Inspection of Composite Sucker Rod
Authors: Wang Kefan , Yin Xiaokang , Li Chen , Li Wei , Chen Guoming 
Published: December 2019

AbstractComposite sucker rod has been extensively used due to its high strength, light weight and corrosion resistive nature. However, such composite sucker rod is difficult for conventional non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques to inspect because of its complex material and/or structure. It is thus useful to embark research on developing novel NDE technique to comply the inspection requirement. This work demonstrates the feasibility of using the capacitive imaging (CI) technique for the inspection of composite sucker rod. Finite element (FE) models were constructed in COMSOL to simulate the detection of defects in the glass-fiber layer and on the carbon core surface. An FE Model based inversion method is proposed to obtain the profile of the carbon core. Preliminary CI experimental results are then presented, including the detection of surface wearing defect in the glass-fiber layer, and obtaining the profile of the carbon core. A set of accelerated aging experiments were also carried out and the results indicate that the CI technique is potentially useful in evaluating the ageing status of such composite sucker rod. The CI technique described in this work shows great potential to target some challenging tasks faced in the non-destructive evaluation of composite sucker rod, including quality control, defect detection and ageing assessment.
Ag Nanoparticles Sensitized In2O3 Nanograin for the Ultrasensitive HCHO Detection at Room Temperature
Authors: Zhou Shiqiang , Chen Mingpeng , Lu Qingjie , Zhang Yumin , Zhang Jin , Li Bo , Wei Haitang , Hu Jicu , Wang Huapeng , Liu Qingju 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFormaldehyde (HCHO) is the main source of indoor air pollutant. HCHO sensors are therefore of paramount importance for timely detection in daily life. However, existing sensors do not meet the stringent performance targets, while deactivation due to sensing detection at room temperature, for example, at extremely low concentration of formaldehyde (especially lower than 0.08 ppm), is a widely unsolved problem. Herein, we present the Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) sensitized dispersed In2O3 nanograin via a low-fabrication-cost hydrothermal strategy, where the Ag NPs reduces the apparent activation energy for HCHO transporting into and out of the In2O3 nanoparticles, while low concentrations detection at low working temperature is realized. The pristine In2O3 exhibits a sluggish response (Ra/Rg = 4.14 to 10 ppm) with incomplete recovery to HCHO gas. After Ag functionalization, the 5%Ag-In2O3 sensor shows a dramatically enhanced response (135) with a short response time (102 s) and recovery time (157 s) to 1 ppm HCHO gas at 30 °C, which benefits from the Ag NPs that electronically and chemically sensitize the crystal In2O3 nanograin, greatly enhancing the selectivity and sensitivity.
BEST: a web server for brain expression Spatio-temporal pattern analysis
Authors: Guo Liyuan , Lin Wei , Zhang Yidan , Li Wenhan , Wang Jing 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Dysregulated gene expression patterns have been reported in several mental disorders. Limited by the difficulty of obtaining samples, psychiatric molecular mechanism research still relies heavily on clues from genetics studies. By using reference data from brain expression studies, multiple types of comprehensive gene expression pattern analysis have been performed on psychiatric genetic results. These systems-level spatial-temporal expression pattern analyses provided evidence on specific brain regions, developmental stages and molecular pathways that are possibly involved in psychiatric pathophysiology. At present, there is no online tool for such systematic analysis, which hinders the applications of analysis by non-informatics researchers such as experimental biologists and clinical molecular biologists.

Results
We developed the BEST web server to support Brain Expression Spatio-Temporal pattern analysis. There are three highlighted features of BEST: 1) visualization: it generates user-friendly visual results that are easy to interpret, including heatmaps, Venn diagrams, gene co-expression networks and cluster-based Manhattan gene plots; these results illustrate the complex spatio-temporal expression patterns, including expression quantification and correlation between genes; 2) integration: it provides comprehensive human brain spatio-temporal expression patterns by integrating data from currently available databases; 3) multi-dimensionality: it analyses input genes as both a whole set and several subsets (clusters) which are enriched according to co-expression patterns, and it also presents the correlation between genetic and expression data.

Conclusions
To the best of our knowledge, BEST is the first data tool to support comprehensive human brain spatial-temporal expression pattern analysis. It helps to bridge disease-related genetic studies and mechanism studies, provides clues for key gene and molecular system identification, and supports the analysis of disease sensitive brain region and age stages. BEST is freely available at http://best.psych.ac.cn.
Population size influences the type of nucleotide variations in humans
Authors: Subramanian Sankar 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundIt is well known that the effective size of a population (Ne) is one of the major determinants of the amount of genetic variation within the population. However, it is unclear whether the types of genetic variations are also dictated by the effective population size. To examine this, we obtained whole genome data from over 100 populations of the world and investigated the patterns of mutational changes.ResultsOur results revealed that for low frequency variants, the ratio of AT→GC to GC→AT variants (β) was similar across populations, suggesting the similarity of the pattern of mutation in various populations. However, for high frequency variants,βshowed a positive correlation with the effective population size of the populations. This suggests a much higher proportion of high frequency AT→GC variants in large populations (e.g. Africans) compared to those with small population sizes (e.g. Asians). These results imply that the substitution patterns vary significantly between populations. These findings could be explained by the effect of GC-biased gene conversion (gBGC), which favors the fixation of G/C over A/T variants in populations. In large population, gBGC causes highβ. However, in small populations, genetic drift reduces the effect of gBGC resulting in reducedβ. This was further confirmed by a positive relationship betweenNeandβfor homozygous variants.ConclusionsOur results highlight the huge variation in the types of homozygous and high frequency polymorphisms between world populations. We observed the same pattern for deleterious variants, implying that the homozygous polymorphisms associated with recessive genetic diseases will be more enriched with G or C in populations with largeNe(e.g. Africans) than in populations with smallNe(e.g. Europeans).
Stratified reconstruction of ancestral Escherichia coli diversification
Authors: Gonzalez-Alba José Maria , Baquero Fernando , Cantón Rafael , Galán Juan Carlos 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Phylogenetic analyses of the bacterial genomes based on the simple classification in core- genes and accessory genes pools could offer an incomplete view of the evolutionary processes, of which some are still unresolved. A combined strategy based on stratified phylogeny and ancient molecular polymorphisms is proposed to infer detailed evolutionary reconstructions by using a large number of whole genomes. This strategy, based on the highest number of genomes available in public databases, was evaluated for improving knowledge of the ancient diversification of E. coli. This staggered evolutionary scenario was also used to investigate whether the diversification of the ancient E. coli lineages could be associated with particular lifestyles and adaptive strategies.

Results
Phylogenetic reconstructions, exploiting 6220 available genomes in Genbank, established the E. coli core genome in 1023 genes, representing about 20% of the complete genome. The combined strategy using stratified phylogeny plus molecular polymorphisms inferred three ancient lineages (D, EB1A and FGB2). Lineage D was the closest to E. coli root. A staggered diversification could also be proposed in EB1A and FGB2 lineages and the phylogroups into these lineages. Several molecular markers suggest that each lineage had different adaptive trajectories. The analysis of gained and lost genes in the main lineages showed that functions of carbohydrates utilization (uptake of and metabolism) were gained principally in EB1A lineage, whereas loss of environmental-adaptive functions in FGB2 lineage were observed, but this lineage showed higher accumulated mutations and ancient recombination events. The population structure of E. coli was re-evaluated including up to 7561 new sequenced genomes, showing a more complex population structure of E. coli, as a new phylogroup, phylogroup I, was proposed.

Conclusions
A staggered reconstruction of E. coli phylogeny is proposed, indicating evolution from three ancestral lineages to reach all main known phylogroups. New phylogroups were confirmed, suggesting an increasingly complex population structure of E. coli. However these new phylogroups represent < 1% of the global E. coli population. A few key evolutionary forces have driven the diversification of the two main E. coli lineages, metabolic flexibility in one of them and colonization-virulence in the other.
The influence of dexmedetomidine and propofol on circulating cytokine levels in healthy subjects
Authors: Kallioinen Minna , Scheinin Annalotta , Maksimow Mikael , Långsjö Jaakko , Kaisti Kaike , Takala Riikka , Vahlberg Tero , Valli Katja , Salmi Marko , Scheinin Harry , Maksimow Anu 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background
Surgery and diseases modify inflammatory responses and the immune system. Anesthetic agents also have effects on the human immune system but the responses they induce may be altered or masked by the surgical procedures or underlying illnesses. The aim of this study was to assess how single-drug dexmedetomidine and propofol anesthesia without any surgical intervention alter acute immunological biomarkers in healthy subjects.

Methods
Thirty-five healthy, young male subjects were anesthetized using increasing concentrations of dexmedetomidine (n = 18) or propofol (n = 17) until loss of responsiveness (LOR) was detected. The treatment allocation was randomized. Multi-parametric immunoassays for the detection of 48 cytokines, chemokines and growth factors were used. Concentrations were determined at baseline and at the highest drug concentration for each subject.

Results
The changes in the concentration of eotaxin (decrease after dexmedetomidine) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF, increase after propofol) were statistically significantly different between the groups. Significant changes were detected within both groups; the concentrations of monocyte chemotactic protein 1, chemokine ligand 27 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor were lower in both groups after the drug administration. Dexmedetomidine decreased the concentration of eotaxin, interleukin-18, interleukin-2Rα, stem cell factor, stem cell growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor, and propofol decreased significantly the levels of hepatocyte growth factor, IFN-γ-induced protein 10 and monokine induced by IFN-γ, and increased the levels of interleukin-17, interleukin-5, interleukin-7 and PDGF.

Conclusions
Dexmedetomidine seemed to have an immunosuppressive effect on the immune system whereas propofol seemed to induce mixed pro- and anti-inflammatory effects on the immune system. The choice of anesthetic agent could be relevant when treating patients with compromised immunological defense mechanisms.

Trial registration
Before subject enrollment, the study was registered in the European Clinical Trials database (EudraCT number 2013–001496-21, The Neural Mechanisms of Anesthesia and Human Consciousness) and in ClinicalTrials.gov (Principal Investigator: Harry Scheinin, number NCT01889004, The Neural Mechanisms of Anesthesia and Human Consciousness, Part 2, on the 23rd of June 2013).