bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with lower incidence of premenopausal breast cancer in the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) Project
Authors: Gardeazabal I , Romanos-Nanclares A , Martínez-González MÁ , Castelló A , Sánchez-Bayona R , Pérez-Gómez B , Razquin C , Aramendia-Beitia JM , Pollán M , Toledo E 
Published: February 2020

AbstractObjective:Due to the growing interest in the role of dietary patterns (DPs) on chronic diseases, we assessed the association between a posteriori identified DPs in the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) Project – a prospective cohort study in a Mediterranean country – and breast cancer (BC) risk.Design:DPs were ascertained through a principal component analysis based on 31 predefined food groups. BC cases were initially identified through self-report or, if deceased, from death certificates or by notification by the next kin. Women reporting BC were asked to provide a copy of their medical report and diagnoses for confirmation purposes. We fitted Cox regression models to assess the association between adherence to the identified DPs and BC risk.Setting:Spanish university graduates.Participants:We included 10 713 young and middle-aged – mainly premenopausal – women.Results:After a median follow-up of 10·3 years, we identified 100 confirmed and 168 probable incident BC cases. We described two major DPs: ‘Western dietary pattern’ (WDP) and ‘Mediterranean dietary pattern’ (MDP). A higher adherence to a WDP was associated with an increased risk of overall BC (multivariable-adjusted HR for confirmed BC Q4 v. Q1 1·70; 95 % CI 0·93, 3·12; P for trend = 0·045). Contrarily, adherence to a MDP was inversely associated with premenopausal BC (multivariable-adjusted HR Q4 v. Q1 0·33; 95 % CI 0·12, 0·91). No significant associations were observed for postmenopausal BC.Conclusions:Whereas a higher adherence to the WDP may increase the risk of BC, a higher adherence to the MDP may decrease the risk of premenopausal BC.
Effect of instrumental support on distress among family caregivers: Findings from a nationally representative study
Authors: Kent Erin E. , Mollica Michelle A. , Dionne-Odom J. Nicholas , Ferrer Rebecca A. , Jensen Roxanne E. , Ornstein Katherine A. , Smith Ashley Wilder 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveA priority focus on palliative and supportive care is helping the 43.5 million caregivers who care for individuals with serious illness. Lacking support may lead to caregiver distress and poorer care delivery to patients with serious illness. We examined the potential of instrumental support (assistance with material and task performance) to mitigate distress among caregivers.MethodWe analyzed data from the nationally representative Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS V2, 2018). Informal/family caregivers were identified in HINTS V2 if they indicated they were caring for or making healthcare decisions for another adult with a health problem. We used the PROMIS® instrumental support four-item short-form T-scores and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) for distress. We examined multivariable linear regression models for associations between distress and instrumental support, adjusted for sampling weights, socio-demographics, and caregiving variables (care recipient health condition(s), years caregiving (≥2), relationship to care recipient, and caregiver burden). We examined interactions between burden and instrumental support on caregiver distress level.ResultsOur analyses included 311 caregivers (64.8% female, 64.9% non-Hispanic White). The unweighted mean instrumental support T-score was 50.4 (SD = 10.6, range = 29.3–63.3); weighted mean was 51.2 (SE = 1.00). Lower instrumental support (p < 0.01), younger caregiver age (p < 0.04), higher caregiving duration (p = 0.008), and caregiver unemployment (p = 0.006) were significantly associated with higher caregiver distress. Mean instrumental support scores by distress levels were 52.3 (within normal limits), 49.4 (mild), 48.9 (moderate), and 39.7 (severe). The association between instrumental support and distress did not differ by caregiver burden level.ConclusionsPoor instrumental support is associated with high distress among caregivers, suggesting the need for palliative and supportive care interventions to help caregivers leverage instrumental support.
Compact SIW directional filter using substrate integrated circular cavities
Authors: Bayati Mohammad Sajjad , Khorand Tahsin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn this paper, a novel directional filter (DF) is proposed and implemented using substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology which exhibits the advantages of compact size and simple structure. The proposed DF is realized by two half mode substrate integrated waveguides (HMSIWs) and two substrate integrated circular cavity (SICC) resonators operating in the TM110 degenerate modes in which an aperture is utilized to realize the coupling between HMSIWs and SICCs. Two slotlines with appropriate dimensions, etched on the top and bottom planes, are utilized in order to control coupling strength between two cascaded SICC resonators. The proposed two-circular cavity SIW DF at 12.3 GHz is designed and fabricated with a normal printed circuit board process. Measured and simulated results indicate that the DF has a 3.25% bandwidth, and the return loss as well as isolation are better than 10.5 and 15 dB, respectively.
Vitamin D deficiency and mortality among critically ill surgical patients in an urban Korean hospital
Authors: Lee Ji-hyun , Doo Seo-rin , Kim Dongha , Park Yoo-kyoung , Park Eun-jeong , Lee Jae-myeong 
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are exposed to various risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency in extended-stay patients may result in decreased muscle mass and increased fat tissue, which may impair rehabilitation and recovery. Our study aimed to evaluate the degree of serum vitamin D deficiency in critically ill surgical patients and its association with clinical outcomes. Clinical data from 186 adult male (n = 121; 65.1%) and female (n = 65; 34.9%) patients hospitalized in surgical ICUs at Ajou University Hospital from April 2015 to September 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. All adult surgical patients between the age of 18 and 88 years were enrolled. The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level of all patients was 17.8 ng/mL. A total of 120 patients (64.5%) with serum 25(OH)D levels < 20 ng/mL were classified as the deficiency group. A prolonged hospital stay was observed among the deficiency group but was not statistically significant ( p = 0.824). Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly correlated with age but inversely correlated with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, selenium, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein levels. There was no significant difference in mortality rates between the group with a vitamin D injection and the group without a vitamin D injection (14.6% vs. 16.9%, p = 0.074). Vitamin D deficiency was common in surgical ICU patients; however, vitamin D levels were higher in older patients. In conclusion, vitamin D deficiency was inversely associated with the SOFA severity score (correlation coefficient –0.165, p = 0.024) but was not associated with the length of hospital or ICU stay and mortality.
Optothermal dynamics in whispering-gallery microresonators
Authors: Jiang Xuefeng , Yang Lan 
Published: February 2020

AbstractOptical whispering-gallery-mode microresonators with ultrahigh quality factors and small mode volumes have played an important role in modern physics. They have been demonstrated as a diverse platform for a wide range of applications in photonics, such as nonlinear optics, optomechanics, quantum optics, and information processing. Thermal behaviors induced by power build-up in the resonators or environmental perturbations are ubiquitous in high-quality-factor whispering-gallery-mode resonators and have played an important role in their operation for various applications. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of laser-field-induced thermal nonlinear effects, including thermal bistability and thermal oscillation. With the help of the thermal bistability effect, optothermal spectroscopy and optical nonreciprocity have been demonstrated. By tuning the temperature of the environment, the resonant mode frequency will shift, which can also be used for thermal sensing/tuning applications. The thermal locking technique and thermal imaging mechanisms are discussed briefly. Finally, we review some techniques employed to achieve thermal stability in a high-quality-factor resonator system.
Default mode network alterations after intermittent theta burst stimulation in healthy subjects
Authors: Singh Aditya , Erwin-Grabner Tracy , Sutcliffe Grant , Paulus Walter , Dechent Peter , Antal Andrea , Goya-Maldonado Roberto 
Published: February 2020

AbstractUnderstanding the mechanisms by which intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) protocols exert changes in the default-mode network (DMN) is paramount to develop therapeutically more effective approaches in the future. While a full session (3000 pulses) of 10 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) reduces the functional connectivity (FC) of the DMN and the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, the current understanding of the effects of a single session of iTBS on the DMN in healthy subjects is limited. Here, we use a previously validated target selection approach for an unprecedented investigation into the effects of a single session (1800 pulses) of iTBS over the DMN in healthy controls. Twenty-six healthy subjects participated in a double-blind, crossover, sham-controlled study. After iTBS to the personalized left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) targets, we investigated the time lapse of effects in the DMN and its relationship to the harm avoidance (HA) personality trait measure (Temperament and Character Inventory/TCI). Approximately 25–30 min after stimulation, we observed reduced FC between the DMN and the rostral and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). About 45 min after stimulation the FC of rostral and dACC strongly decreased further, as did the FC of right anterior insula (AI) with the DMN. Also, we report a positive correlation between the FC decrease in the rostral ACC and the HA domain of TCI, indicating that the HA scores can potentially predict iTBS response. Overall, our results show the time lapse by which iTBS at left-DLPFC targets reduces the FC between DMN and the dACC and right AI, regions typically described as nodes of the salience network.
EMT transcription factor ZEB1 alters the epigenetic landscape of colorectal cancer cells
Authors: Lindner Pablo , Paul Sushmita , Eckstein Markus , Hampel Chuanpit , Muenzner Julienne K. , Erlenbach-Wuensch Katharina , Ahmed Husayn P. , Mahadevan Vijayalakshmi , Brabletz Thomas , Hartmann Arndt , Vera Julio , Schneider-Stock Regine 
Published: February 2020

AbstractEpigenetic deregulation remarkably triggers mechanisms associated with tumor aggressiveness like epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Since EMT is a highly complex, but also reversible event, epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation or chromatin alterations must be involved in its regulation. It was recently described that loss of the cell cycle regulator p21 was associated with a gain in EMT characteristics and an upregulation of the master EMT transcription factor ZEB1. In this study, in silico analysis was performed in combination with different in vitro and in vivo techniques to identify and verify novel epigenetic targets of ZEB1, and to proof the direct transcriptional regulation of SETD1B by ZEB1. The chorioallantoic-membrane assay served as an in vivo model to analyze the ZEB1/SETD1B interaction. Bioinformatical analysis of CRC patient data was used to examine the ZEB1/SETD1B network under clinical conditions and the ZEB1/SETD1B network was modeled under physiological and pathological conditions. Thus, we identified a self-reinforcing loop for ZEB1 expression and found that the SETD1B associated active chromatin mark H3K4me3 was enriched at the ZEB1 promoter in EMT cells. Moreover, clinical evaluation of CRC patient data showed that the simultaneous high expression of ZEB1 and SETD1B was correlated with the worst prognosis. Here we report that the expression of chromatin modifiers is remarkably dysregulated in EMT cells. SETD1B was identified as a new ZEB1 target in vitro and in vivo. Our study demonstrates a novel example of an activator role of ZEB1 for the epigenetic landscape in colorectal tumor cells.
Genetic history from the Middle Neolithic to present on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia
Authors: Marcus Joseph H. , Posth Cosimo , Ringbauer Harald , Lai Luca , Skeates Robin , Sidore Carlo , Beckett Jessica , Furtwängler Anja , Olivieri Anna , Chiang Charleston W. K. , Al-Asadi Hussein , Dey Kushal , Joseph Tyler A. , Liu Chi-Chun , Der Sarkissian Clio , Radzevičiūtė Rita , Michel Megan , Gradoli Maria Giuseppina , Marongiu Patrizia , Rubino Salvatore , Mazzarello Vittorio , Rovina Daniela , La Fragola Alessandra , Serra Rita Maria , Bandiera Pasquale , Bianucci Raffaella , Pompianu Elisa , Murgia Clizia , Guirguis Michele , Orquin Rosana Pla , Tuross Noreen , van Dommelen Peter , Haak Wolfgang , Reich David , Schlessinger David , Cucca Francesco , Krause Johannes , Novembre John 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe island of Sardinia has been of particular interest to geneticists for decades. The current model for Sardinia’s genetic history describes the island as harboring a founder population that was established largely from the Neolithic peoples of southern Europe and remained isolated from later Bronze Age expansions on the mainland. To evaluate this model, we generate genome-wide ancient DNA data for 70 individuals from 21 Sardinian archaeological sites spanning the Middle Neolithic through the Medieval period. The earliest individuals show a strong affinity to western Mediterranean Neolithic populations, followed by an extended period of genetic continuity on the island through the Nuragic period (second millennium BCE). Beginning with individuals from Phoenician/Punic sites (first millennium BCE), we observe spatially-varying signals of admixture with sources principally from the eastern and northern Mediterranean. Overall, our analysis sheds light on the genetic history of Sardinia, revealing how relationships to mainland populations shifted over time.
Altered chromatin landscape and enhancer engagement underlie transcriptional dysregulation in MED12 mutant uterine leiomyomas
Authors: Moyo Mthabisi B. , Parker J. Brandon , Chakravarti Debabrata 
Published: February 2020

AbstractUterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are a major source of gynecologic morbidity in reproductive age women and are characterized by the excessive deposition of a disorganized extracellular matrix, resulting in rigid benign tumors. Although down regulation of the transcription factor AP-1 is highly prevalent in leiomyomas, the functional consequence of AP-1 loss on gene transcription in uterine fibroids remains poorly understood. Using high-resolution ChIP-sequencing, promoter capture Hi-C, and RNA-sequencing of matched normal and leiomyoma tissues, here we show that modified enhancer architecture is a major driver of transcriptional dysregulation in MED12 mutant uterine leiomyomas. Furthermore, modifications in enhancer architecture are driven by the depletion of AP-1 occupancy on chromatin. Silencing of AP-1 subunits in primary myometrium cells leads to transcriptional dysregulation of extracellular matrix associated genes and partly recapitulates transcriptional and epigenetic changes observed in leiomyomas. These findings establish AP-1 driven aberrant enhancer regulation as an important mechanism of leiomyoma disease pathogenesis.
MAGNIMS consensus recommendations on the use of brain and spinal cord atrophy measures in clinical practice
Authors:   on behalf of the MAGNIMS study group, Sastre-Garriga Jaume , Pareto Deborah , Battaglini Marco , Rocca Maria A. , Ciccarelli Olga , Enzinger Christian , Wuerfel Jens , Sormani Maria P. , Barkhof Frederik , Yousry Tarek A. , De Stefano Nicola , Tintoré Mar , Filippi Massimo , Gasperini Claudio , Kappos Ludwig , Río Jordi , Frederiksen Jette , Palace Jackie , Vrenken Hugo , Montalban Xavier , Rovira Àlex 
Published: February 2020

AbstractEarly evaluation of treatment response and prediction of disease evolution are key issues in the management of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). In the past 20 years, MRI has become the most useful paraclinical tool in both situations and is used clinically to assess the inflammatory component of the disease, particularly the presence and evolution of focal lesions — the pathological hallmark of MS. However, diffuse neurodegenerative processes that are at least partly independent of inflammatory mechanisms can develop early in people with MS and are closely related to disability. The effects of these neurodegenerative processes at a macroscopic level can be quantified by estimation of brain and spinal cord atrophy with MRI. MRI measurements of atrophy in MS have also been proposed as a complementary approach to lesion assessment to facilitate the prediction of clinical outcomes and to assess treatment responses. In this Consensus statement, the Magnetic Resonance Imaging in MS (MAGNIMS) study group critically review the application of brain and spinal cord atrophy in clinical practice in the management of MS, considering the role of atrophy measures in prognosis and treatment monitoring and the barriers to clinical use of these measures. On the basis of this review, the group makes consensus statements and recommendations for future research.
Diversity of HLA Class I and Class II blocks and conserved extended haplotypes in Lacandon Mayans
Authors: Barquera Rodrigo , Zuniga Joaquin , Flores-Rivera José , Corona Teresa , Penman Bridget S. , Hernández-Zaragoza Diana Iraíz , Soler Manuel , Jonapá-Gómez Letisia , Mallempati Kalyan C. , Yescas Petra , Ochoa-Morales Adriana , Barsakis Konstantinos , Aguilar-Vázquez José Artemio , García-Lechuga Maricela , Mindrinos Michael , Yunis María , Jiménez-Alvarez Luis , Mena-Hernández Lourdes , Ortega Esteban , Cruz-Lagunas Alfredo , Tovar-Méndez Víctor Hugo , Granados Julio , Fernández-Viña Marcelo , Yunis Edmond 
Published: February 2020

AbstractHere we studied HLA blocks and haplotypes in a group of 218 Lacandon Maya Native American using a high-resolution next generation sequencing (NGS) method. We assessed the genetic diversity of HLA class I and class II in this population, and determined the most probable ancestry of Lacandon Maya HLA class I and class II haplotypes. Importantly, this Native American group showed a high degree of both HLA homozygosity and linkage disequilibrium across the HLA region and also lower class II HLA allelic diversity than most previously reported populations (including other Native American groups). Distinctive alleles present in the Lacandon population include HLA-A*24:14 and HLA-B*40:08. Furthermore, in Lacandons we observed a high frequency of haplotypes containing the allele HLA-DRB1*04:11, a relatively frequent allele in comparison with other neighboring indigenous groups. The specific demographic history of the Lacandon population including inbreeding, as well as pathogen selection, may have elevated the frequencies of a small number of HLA class II alleles and DNA blocks. To assess the possible role of different selective pressures in determining Native American HLA diversity, we evaluated the relationship between genetic diversity atHLA-A,HLA-BandHLA-DRB1and pathogen richness for a global dataset and for Native American populations alone. In keeping with previous studies of such relationships we included distance from Africa as a covariate. After correction for multiple comparisons we did not find any significant relationship between pathogen diversity and HLA genetic diversity (as measured by polymorphism information content) in either our global dataset or the Native American subset of the dataset. We found the expected negative relationship between genetic diversity and distance from Africa in the global dataset, but no relationship between HLA genetic diversity and distance from Africa when Native American populations were considered alone.
Development of Potent Forchlorfenuron Analogs and Their Cytotoxic Effect in Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Kim Kyu Kwang , Singh Rakesh K. , Khazan Negar , Kodza Arif , Singh Niloy A. , Jones Aaron , Sivagnanalingam Umayal , Towner Mary , Itamochi Hiroaki , Turner Rachael , Moore Richard G. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractForchlorfenuron (FCF) is a synthetic plant cytokinin widely used in agriculture to promote fruit size, that paradoxically inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion in human cancer cell lines. FCF has also been shown to affect HIF-1α and HER2, which are both known to play a crucial role in cancer cell survival. In this study, we have developed potent FCF analogs through structural modification of FCF, coined UR214-1, UR214-7, and UR214-9. Compared to parental FCF, these analogs are more effective in decreasing viability and proliferation in both ovarian and endometrial cancer cell lines. These FCF analogs also suppress HER2 expression at a concentration lower than that of FCF. In addition, we found that treatment with either FCF or its analogs decreases the expression of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), which is commonly upregulated in ovarian and endometrial cancers. Given the association between cancer behavior and HE4 production in gynecologic cancers, our findings may provide insight useful in the development of new treatment strategies for gynecologic cancers.
Neuropsychological outcomes of children with Optic Pathway Glioma
Authors: Papini Chiara , Dineen Robert A. , Walker David A. , Thomas Shery , Pitchford Nicola J. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractOptic Pathway Glioma (OPG) is a relatively common brain tumour in childhood; however, there is scarce understanding of neuropsychological sequelae in these survivors. In this study, 12 children with diagnosis of OPG before 6 years of age received a comprehensive standardised assessment of visual perception, general intelligence and academic achievement, using adjustments to visual materials of the tests, to examine the extent of concurrent impairment in these functional domains. Information about vision, clinical and socio-demographic factors were extracted from medical records to assess the associations of neuropsychological outcomes with clinical and socio-demographic factors. Children with OPG exhibited high within-patient variability and moderate group-level impairment compared to test norms. Visual perception was the most impaired domain, while scholastic progression was age-appropriate overall. For cognition, core verbal and visuo-spatial reasoning skills were intact, whereas deficits were found in working memory and processing speed. Visual function was associated with tasks that rely on visual input. Children with OPG are at moderate risk of neuropsychological impairment, especially for visual perception and cognitive proficiency. Future research should elucidate further the relative contribution of vision loss and neurofibromatosis type 1 co-diagnosis within a large sample.