bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of ultrasound in a congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation in an adult
Authors: Xu Wen , Wen Qing , Zha Lijing , Liu Chunmei , Huang Pintong 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Introduction:
Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) is a rare developmental lung abnormality, that typically manifests in neonates and infants but rarely in adults. Ultrasound is an important method of diagnosing CCAM in neonates and infants; however, few articles have reported the value of transthoracic lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of CCAM in adults.

Patient concerns:
We present a case of a 34-year-old woman with a cavitary lesion in her left lower lobe, that suggested chronic inflammation.

Diagnosis:
The patient underwent ultrasound examination and contrast-enhanced ultrasound-guided transthoracic core biopsy; histology suggested the diagnosis of lung hamartoma. Surgical resection of the lesion followed by histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of CCAM.

Interventions:
The patient underwent transthoracic core biopsy under contrast-enhanced ultrasound guidance. A left lower lobectomy was then performed subsequently.

Outcomes:
The patient had a smooth recovery and remained asymptomatic during the 12-months of postoperative follow-up.

Conclusion:
We report a rare case of CCAM to suggest that transthoracic ultrasound combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound is a safe and effective method of diagnosing the subpleural lung malformations in adults, thereby avoiding multiple radiation exposures and associated complications.
Latent Class Analysis to Represent Social Determinant of Health Risk Groups in the Medicaid Cohort of the District of Columbia
Authors: McCarthy Melissa L. , Zheng Zhaonian , Wilder Marcee E. , Elmi Angelo , Kulie Paige , Johnson Samuel , Zeger Scott L. 
Published: December 2020

Objective:
To develop distinct social risk profiles based on social determinants of health (SDH) information and to determine whether these social risk groups varied in terms of health, health care utilization, and costs.

Methods:
We prospectively enrolled 8943 beneficiaries insured by the District of Columbia Medicaid program between September 2017 and December 2018. Participants completed a SDH survey and we obtained their Medicaid claims data for a 2-year period before study enrollment. We used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify distinct social risk profiles based on their SDH responses. We assessed the relationship among different SDH as well as the relationship among the social risk classes and health, health care use and costs.

Results:
The majority of SDH were moderately to strongly correlated with one another. LCA yielded 4 distinct social risk groups. Group 1 reported the least social risks with the most employed. Group 2 was distinguished by financial strain and housing instability with fewer employed. Group 3 were mostly unemployed with limited car and internet access. Group 4 had the most social risks and most unemployed. The social risk groups demonstrated meaningful differences in health, acute care utilization, and health care costs with group 1 having the best health outcomes and group 4 the worst (P<0.05).

Conclusions:
LCA is a practical method of aggregating correlated SDH data into a finite number of distinct social risk groups. Understanding the constellation of social challenges that patients face is critical when attempting to address their social needs and improve health outcomes.
Occult Pneumothorax Identification on Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma Examination in Children
Authors: Malek Daniel , Santillanes Genevieve , Hsiao Victor , Mailhot Thomas , Claudius Ilene 
Published: December 2020

Objective
Occult pneumothoraces (OPTXs) are defined by air within the pleural space that is not visible on conventional chest radiographs (CXR). The aim of this study was to understand how frequently the Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (eFAST) examination identifies occult PTX in a pediatric blunt trauma population as compared with a criterion standard of chest computed tomography (CCT).

Methods
This study is a secondary analysis of blunt trauma patients younger than 18 years who underwent CCT at Los Angeles County +USC Medical Center Emergency Department from October 2015 to April 2017. The eFAST examination was performed and documented by an emergency medicine resident with attending oversight or by an emergency medicine attending for each trauma. The eFAST results were reviewed for patients diagnosed with small or trace pneumothoraces identified on CCT.

Results
Of 168 pediatric trauma patients undergoing CCT, 16 had OPTXs not seen on CXR and 4 patients had a small/trace PTX without a corresponding CXR performed. None were identified on eFAST.

Conclusions
Although the sample size in this data set was small, our eFAST examinations identified none of 16 proven and 4 presumed OPTXs. The standard eFAST examination performed poorly in the detection of OPTXs in this single-center study of pediatric blunt trauma victims.
Patient and Visit Characteristics of Pediatric Patients With High-frequency Low-acuity Emergency Department Visits
Authors: Cohen Joanna S. , Berkowitz Deena , Nosker Lois , Shaukat Haroon , Kim Dana , Koutroulis Ioannis , Breslin Kristen A. 
Published: December 2020

Introduction
Pediatric patients account for a disproportionate number of low-acuity emergency department (ED) visits. The aim of this study is to describe pediatric patient and visit characteristics for high-frequency users for low-acuity visits.

Methods
This was a retrospective cohort study of children presenting to a tertiary care pediatric ED and an affiliated community ED, over a 2-year period, with at least 10 low-acuity visits. Twenty patients with the highest number of visits were classified as “superusers.” We analyzed patient data from the larger sample of high-frequency users and visit specific data from superuser visits. IBM SPSS Statistics 25 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) was used to perform descriptive statistics and to summarize demographic and visit specific variables.

Results
We identified 181 high-frequency users with a mean number of visits of 14.3 ± 4.3 and a subpopulation of 20 superusers accounting for 434 visits. The majority of high-frequency users (89%) identified as African American and had public insurance (96.1%). Many patients received primary care affiliated with the home institution. In the first year of the study, 50.3% of high-frequency users were infants younger than 1 year at the index visit and 47.4% of superusers were infants at the index visit.
Superuser visits were evenly distributed among seasons and the majority of visits occurred during the weekdays (70.7%). The majority of visits were for medical complaints (86.6%) and almost half (47.6%) resulted in some testing (24.9%) or treatment (30.6%); however, only 1.4% resulted in hospital admission.

Conclusions
In our sample, most high-frequency low-acuity ED patients were infants, African American and have public insurance. Many are seen during clinic hours and are paneled at affiliated clinics. Among superusers, the majority of the visits did not require any testing, intervention, or treatment.
Spatiotemporal changes in biodiversity by ecosystem engineers: how beavers structure the richness of large mammals
Authors: Gauvin Lindsay Y. , Gallant Daniel , Tremblay Eric , Berteaux Dominique , Lecomte Nicolas 
Published: December 2020

AbstractHigh levels of biodiversity may be needed to maintain ecosystem functioning. By creating niches for other species, ecosystem engineers have the potential to promote biodiversity, but it is unclear how this translates across spatiotemporal scales. We evaluated the long-term impact of ecosystem engineering by beavers (Castor canadensis) on the diversity of mobile species. We tested the hypothesis that the spatial distribution of engineered habitats in different states resulting from ecosystem engineering by beavers increases the biodiversity of large mammals across spatial scales. We tested a second hypothesis that engineered habitat in different states resulting from ecosystem engineering by beavers drive the diversity of large mammals. We compared the richness and composition of boreal mammals using camera traps between habitats with and without history of occurrence by beavers within a protected area, where trapping, hunting, and forest exploitation are prohibited. We found that unique species were mostly found in specific engineered habitats, with ponds and wet meadows showing more species than dry meadows. In addition to the increased diversity of dispersal-limited species, our results show that beavers promote the diversity of mobile species at both local and landscape scales, signaling the importance of niche creation in structuring animal communities across scales.
Pharmacologic inhibition of Protein Kinase C α and Protein Kinase C β halts renal function decline indirectly, by blunting hyperphagia, and directly reduces adiposity in the ZSF1 rat model of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Wang Ju , Casimiro-Garcia Agustin , Johnson Bryce G. , Duffen Jennifer , Cain Michael , Savary Leigh , Wang Stephen , Nambiar Prashant , Lech Matthew , Zhao Shanrong , Xi Li , Zhan Yutian , Olson Jennifer , Stejskal James A. , Lin Hank , Zhang Baohong , Martinez Robert V. , Masek-Hammerman Katherine , Schlerman Franklin J. , Dower Ken 
Published: December 2020

AbstractType 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications can have debilitating, sometimes fatal consequences. Despite advances that address some of the metabolic aspects of T2D, for many patients these approaches do not sufficiently control the disease. As a result, an emerging therapeutic strategy is to target the pathobiological mechanisms downstream of T2D metabolic derangement that can result in organ damage, morbidity, and mortality in afflicted individuals. One such proposed mechanism involves the Protein Kinase C (PKC) family members PKCα and PKCβ, which have been linked to diabetes-induced tissue damage to organs including the kidneys. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of dual inhibition of PKCα and PKCβ in the context of T2D, we have evaluated a potent and orally bioavailable inhibitor, herein referred to as Cmpd 1, in the ZSF1 rat model of leptin-receptor deficiency, obesity-driven T2D. Therapeutic dosing of Cmpd 1 virtually halted renal function decline but did so indirectly by blunting the hyperphagia response of these animals. Beyond this clear but indirect effect, Cmpd 1 had direct and prominent effects on body weight and in liver and inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) when administered to ZSF1 obese rats.
Illuminating endosomal escape of polymorphic lipid nanoparticles that boost mRNA delivery
Authors: Herrera Marco , Kim Jeonghwan , Eygeris Yulia , Jozic Antony , Sahay Gaurav 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTLipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) for the delivery of mRNA have jumped to the forefront of non-viral gene delivery. Despite this exciting development, poor endosomal escape after LNP cell entry remains an unsolved, rate-limiting bottleneck. Here we report the use of galectin 8-GFP (Gal8-GFP) cell reporter system to visualize the endosomal escaping capabilities of LNPs encapsulating mRNA. LNPs substituted with phytosterols in place of cholesterol exhibited various levels of Gal8 recruitment in the Gal8-GFP reporter system. In live-cell imaging, the results of the LNPs containing β-sitosterol (LNP-Sito) showed a 10-fold increase in detectable endosomal perturbation events when compared to the standard cholesterol LNPs (LNP-Chol), suggesting the superior capability of LNP-Sito to escape from endosomal entrapment. Trafficking studies of these LNPs showed strong localization with late endosomes. This highly sensitive and robust Gal8-GFP reporter system can be a valuable tool to elucidate intricacies of LNP trafficking and ephemeral endosomal escape events, enabling the advancement in gene delivery.
Broken, silent, and in hiding: Tamed endogenous pararetroviruses escape elimination from the genome of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris)
Authors: Schmidt Nicola , Seibt Kathrin M. , Weber Beatrice , Schwarzacher Trude , Schmidt Thomas , Heitkam Tony 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTBackground and AimsEndogenous pararetroviruses (EPRVs) are widespread components of plant genomes that originated from episomal DNA viruses of theCaulimoviridaefamily. Due to fragmentation and rearrangements, most EPRVs have lost their ability to replicate through reverse transcription and to initiate viral infection. Similar to the closely related retrotransposons, extant EPRVs were retained and often amplified in plant genomes for several million years. Here, we characterize the complete genomic EPRV fraction of the crop sugar beet (Beta vulgaris, Amaranthaceae) to understand how they shaped the beet genome and to suggest explanations for their absent virulence.MethodsUsing next- and third-generation sequencing data and the genome assembly, we reconstructed full-lengthin silicorepresentatives for the three host-specific EPRV families (beetEPRVs) in theB. vulgarisgenome. Focusing on the canonical family beetEPRV3, we investigated its chromosomal localization, abundance, and distribution by fluorescentin situand Southern hybridization.Key ResultsBeetEPRVs range between 7.5 and 10.7 kb (0.3 % of theB. vulgarisgenome) and are heterogeneous in structure and sequence. Although all three beetEPRV families were assigned to the florendoviruses, they showed variably arranged protein-coding domains, different degrees of fragmentation, and preferences for diverse sequence contexts. We observed small RNAs that target beetEPRVs in a family-specific manner, indicating stringent epigenetic suppression. We localized beetEPRV3 on all 18 sugar beet chromosomes, occurring preferentially in clusters and associated with heterochromatic, centromeric and intercalary satellite DNAs. BeetEPRV3 variants also exist in the genomes of related wild species, indicating an initial beetEPRV3 integration 13.4 to 7.2 million years ago.ConclusionsOur study in beet illustrates the variability of EPRV structure and sequence in a single host genome. Evidence of sequence fragmentation and epigenetic silencing imply possible plant strategies to cope with long-term persistence of EPRVs, including amplification, fixation in the heterochromatin, and containment of EPRV virulence.
Tissue heterogeneity is prevalent in gene expression studies
Authors: Sturm Gregor , List Markus , Zhang Jitao David 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundLack of reproducibility in gene expression studies has recently attracted much attention in and beyond the biomedical research community. Previous efforts have identified many underlying factors, such as batch effects and incorrect sample annotations. Recently,tissue heterogeneity, a consequence of unintended profiling of cells of other origins than the tissue of interest, was proposed as a source of variance that exacerbates irreproducibility and is commonly ignored.ResultsHere, we systematically analyzed 2,692 publicly available gene expression datasets including 78,332 samples for tissue heterogeneity. We found a prevalence of tissue heterogeneity in gene expression data that affects on average 5-15% of the samples, depending on the tissue type. We distinguish cases of severe heterogeneity, which may be caused by mistakes in annotation or sample handling, from cases of moderate heterogeneity, which are more likely caused by tissue infiltration or sample contamination.ConclusionsTissue heterogeneity is a widespread issue in publicly available gene expression datasets and thus an important source of variance that should not be ignored. We advocate the application of quality control methods such asBioQCto detect tissue heterogeneity prior to mining or analysing gene expression data.
Self-beneficial belief updating as a coping mechanism for stress-induced negative affect
Authors: Czekalla Nora , Baumann Janine , Stolz David S. , Mayer Annalina V. , Voges Johanna F. , Rademacher Lena , Paulus Frieder M. , Krach Sören , Müller-Pinzler Laura 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBeing confronted with social-evaluative stress elicits a physiological and a psychological stress response. This calls for regulatory processes to manage negative affect and maintain self-related optimistic beliefs. The aim of the current study was to investigate the affect-regulating potential of self-related belief updating after exposure to social-evaluative stress, in comparison to non-social physical stress or no stress. We assessed self-related belief updating using trial-by-trial performance feedback and described the updating behavior in a mechanistic way using computational modeling. We found that social-evaluative stress was accompanied by an increase in cortisol and negative affect which was related to a shift in self-related belief updating towards the positive direction. This self-beneficial belief updating, which was absent after physical stress or control, was associated with a better recovery from stress-induced negative affect. This indicates that enhanced integration of positive self-related feedback can act as a coping strategy to deal with social-evaluative stress.
Threat induces changes in cardiac activity and metabolism negatively impacting survival in flies
Authors: Barrios Natalia , Farias Matheus , Moita Marta A 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAdjusting to a dynamic environment involves fast changes in the body’s internal state, characterized by coordinated alterations in brain activity, physiological and motor responses. Threat-induced defensive states are a classic example of coordinated adjustment of bodily responses, being cardiac regulation one of the best characterized in vertebrates. A great deal is known regarding the neural basis of invertebrate defensive behaviours, mainly inDrosophila melanogaster. However, whether physiological changes accompany these remains unknown. Here, we set out to describe the internal bodily state of fruit flies upon an inescapable threat and found cardiac acceleration during running and deceleration during freezing. In addition, we found that freezing leads to increased cardiac pumping from the abdomen towards the head-thorax, suggesting mobilization of energy resources. Concordantly, threat-triggered freezing reduces sugar levels in the hemolymph and renders flies less resistant to starvation. The cardiac responses observed during freezing were absent during spontaneous immobility, underscoring the active nature of freezing response. Finally, we show that baseline cardiac activity predicts the amount of freezing upon threat. This work reveals a remarkable similarity with the cardiac responses of vertebrates, suggesting an evolutionarily convergent defensive state in flies. Our findings are at odds with the widespread view that cardiac deceleration while freezing has first evolved in vertebrates and that it is energy sparing. Investigating the physiological changes coupled to defensive behaviours in the fruit fly has revealed that freezing is costly, yet accompanied by cardiac deceleration, and points to heart activity as a key modulator of defensive behaviours.
Effect of human synovial fluid from osteoarthritis patients and healthy individuals on lymphatic contractility
Authors: Michalaki Eleftheria , Nepiyushchikh Zhanna , Bernard Fabrice C. , Rudd Josephine M. , Mukherjee Anish , McKinney Jay M. , Doan Thanh N. , Willett Nick J. , Dixon J. Brandon 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe lymphatic system has been proposed to play a crucial role in the development and progression of osteoarthritis (OA). The synovial fluid (SF) of arthritic joints contains mediators of the inflammatory response and products of the injury to articular tissues, while lymphatic system plays a critical role in resolving inflammation and overall joint homeostasis. Despite the importance of both the lymphatic system and SF in OA disease, their relationship is still poorly understood. Here, we utilized SF derived from osteoarthritis patients (OASF) and healthy individuals (HSF) to investigate potential effects of SF on migration of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs)in vitro, and lymphatic contractility of femoral lymphatic vessels (LVs)ex vivo. Both OASF and HSF treatments led to an increased migratory responsein vitrocompared to LECs treatment with media without serum.Ex vivo, both OASF and HSF treatments to the lumen of isolated LVs led to significant differences in the tonic and phasic contractions and these observations were dependent on the SF treatment time. Specifically, OASF treatment transiently enhanced the RFLVs tonic contractions. Regarding the phasic contractions, OASF generated either an abrupt reduction after 1 hr of treatment or a complete cease of contractions after an overnight treatment, while HSF treatment displayed a gradual decrease in lymphatic contractility. The observed variations after SF treatments suggest that the pump function of lymphatic vessel draining the joint could be directly compromised in OA and thus might present a new therapeutic target.
The local and global geometry of trabecular bone
Authors: Callens Sebastien J.P. , Tourolle né Betts Duncan C. , Müller Ralph , Zadpoor Amir A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe organization and shape of the microstructural elements of trabecular bone govern its physical properties, are implicated in bone disease, and can serve as blueprints for biomaterial design. To devise fundamental structure-property relationships, it is essential to characterize trabecular bone from the perspective of geometry, the mathematical study of shape. Here, we used the micro-computed tomography images of 70 donors at five different sites to characterize the local and global geometry of human trabecular bone, respectively quantified by surface curvatures and Minkowski functionals. We find that curvature density maps provide sensitive shape fingerprints for bone from different sites. Contrary to a common assumption, these curvature maps also show that bone morphology does not approximate a minimal surface but exhibits a much more intricate curvature landscape. At the global (or integral) perspective, our Minkowski analysis illustrates that trabecular bone exhibits other types of anisotropy/ellipticity beyond interfacial orientation, and that anisotropy varies substantially within the trabecular structure. Moreover, we show that the Minkowski functionals unify several traditional morphometric indices. Our geometric approach to trabecular morphometry provides a fundamental language of shape that could be useful for bone failure prediction, understanding geometry-driven tissue growth, and the design of complex tissue engineering scaffolds.