bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The first Malaysian experience on totally endoscopic ear surgery
Authors: Misron Khairunnisak , Kamalden Tengku Mohamed Izam Tengku 
Published: November 2019

Introduction: Totally endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) is defined as exclusive application of endoscope transcanally in otologic surgery. This study is aimed to highlight indications and ear pathologies for TEES. In addition, intraoperative, early postoperative and delayed postoperative complications of TEES will be also described in this study. Methodology: This is a retrospective study of TEES performed by a single experienced and trained otologist in endoscopic ear surgery in a single institution between 1 July 2014 and 31 June 2018. A total of 43 patients were recruited in this study. Sociodemographic information, indications for TEES, ear pathologies, type of surgery performed and complications of TEES were analyzed. Results: The indications for TEES comprised middle ear lesion (65.1%), followed by second look surgery (14.0%), external auditory canal lesion (11.6%) and internal acoustic meatus lesion and surgery for conductive hearing loss which were 4.7%. Various external auditory canal pathologies encountered for TEES were ear canal osteoma (4.7%), acquired ear canal stenosis (2.3%) and tumor (4.7%). Regarding middle ear pathologies, limited atticoantral cholesteatoma accounted for most of the cases, 46.5%. Other middle ear lesions included adhesive otitis media (14.0%), recurrent cholesteatoma (14.0%), tumor (4.7%), otosclerosis (2.3%) and ossicular discontinuity (2.3%). Internal acoustic meatus lesion constituted 4.7% of cases. Some 4.7% of cases developed intraoperative complications, while early and delayed complications were 7.0%. Conclusion: TEES is a feasible surgical technique for diverse ear pathologies in the otologic specialty. It is also proven to be safe with good surgical outcomes.
Serum neurofilament light levels correlate with change of olfactory function in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Bsteh Gabriel , Berek Klaus , Hegen Harald , Buchmann Arabella , Voortman Margarete M. , Auer Michael , Wurth Sebastian , Zinganell Anne , Di Pauli Franziska , Deisenhammer Florian , Khalil Micheal , Berger Thomas 
Published: November 2019

Background Serum neurofilament light chain levels (sNfL) and impairment of olfactory function emerge as biomarkers in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the relation between sNfL and olfactory function in MS has not been investigated yet. Objective We aimed to determine whether sNfL levels correlate with olfactory function in relapsing–remitting (RR) MS. Methods We annually measured sNfL and olfactory function (Sniffin’ Sticks test: Threshold (T) and combined discrimination-identification (DI) score) in 80 RRMS patients and compared sNfL to T and DI scores. Results T scores significantly correlated with sNfL levels at simultaneous measurement (–1.5 points, 95% CI: –2.6–0.5 per 10 pg/ml sNfL increase; p < 0.001 per 10 pg/ml sNfL increase), but not at temporally distant measurement. Patients with ≥2 sNfL measures above the 75th percentile displayed significantly larger DI decrease (median 3.0 points, IQR 2.0–4.5) compared to patients with no or only one sNfL measure above the 75th percentile (0.0, IQR –0.5–0.5, p < 0.001 and 1.0, IQR 0.0–3.30, p = 0.008, respectively). 13–18% of the variance in T and 22% in DI decrease could be predicted from sNfL levels. Conclusions sNfL correlates with different qualities of olfactory function in patients with RRMS further strengthening the value of olfactory function as a biomarker of inflammation and axonal damage in MS.
Nipalarsite, Ni8Pd3As4, a new platinum-group mineral from the Monchetundra Intrusion, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Authors: Grokhovskaya Tatiana L. , Karimova Oxana V. , Vymazalová Anna , Laufek František , Chareev Dmitry A. , Kovalchuk Elena V. , Magazina Larisa O. , Rassulov Victor A. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractNipalarsite, Ni8Pd3As4, is a new platinum-group mineral discovered in the sulfide-bearing orthopyroxenite of the Monchetundra layered intrusion, Kola Peninsula, Russia (67°52′22″N, 32°47′60″E). Nipalarsite forms anhedral grains (5–80 µm in size) in intergrowths with sperrylite, kotulskite, hollingworthite, isomertieite, menshikovite, palarstanide, nielsenite and monchetundtraite enclosed in pentlandite, anthophyllite, actinolite and chlorite. Nipalarsite is brittle, has a metallic lustre and a grey streak. In plane-polarised light, nipalarsite is light grey with a blue tinge. Reflectance values in air (in %) are: 46.06 at 470 nm, 48.74 at 546 nm, 50.64 at 589 nm and 54.12 at 650 nm. Values of VHN20 fall between 400.5 and 449.2 kg.mm–2, with a mean value of 429.9 kg.mm–2, corresponding to a Mohs hardness of ~4. The average result of 27 electron microprobe wavelength dispersive spectroscopy analyses of nipalarsite is (wt.%): Ni 44.011, Pd 28.74, Fe0.32, Cu 0.85, Pt 0.01, Au 0.05, As 25.42, Sb 0.05, Te 0.39, total 99.85. The empirical formula (normalised to 15 atoms per formula unit) is: (Ni8.10Fe0.06)Σ8.16(Pd2.94Cu0.18)Σ3.12(As3.68Te0.03)Σ3.71 or, ideally, Ni8Pd3As4. Nipalarsite is cubic, space group Fm$\bar{3}$m, with a = 11.4428(9) Å, V = 1498.3(4) Å3 and Z = 8. The strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern of synthetic Ni8Pd3As4 [d, Å (I) (hkl)] are: 2.859(10)(004), 2.623(6)(313), 2.557(6)(024), 2.334(11)(224), 2.201(35)(115,333), 2.021(100)(044), 1.906(8)(006,244) and 1.429(7)(008). The crystal structure was solved and refined from the single-crystal X-ray diffraction data of synthetic Ni8Pd3As4. The relation between natural and synthetic nipalarsite is illustrated by an electron back-scattered diffraction study of natural nipalarsite. The density calculated on the basis of the empirical formula of nipalarsite is 9.60 g.cm–3. The mineral name corresponds to the three main elements: Ni, Pd and As.
Identification of specific B cell linear epitopes of mycoplasma hyorhinis P37 protein using monoclonal antibodies against baculovirus-expressed P37 protein
Authors: Zhu Hongzhen , Wei Yanwu , Huang Liping , Liu Dan , Xie Yongxing , Xia Deli , Bian Haiqiao , Feng Li , Liu Changming 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundMycoplasma hyorhinis(Mhr) is the etiologic agent of lameness and polyserositis in swine. P37 is a membrane protein of Mhr that may be an important immunogen and is a potential target for diagnostic development. However, there is little information concerning Mhr P37 protein epitopes. A precise analysis of the P37 protein epitopes should extend our understanding of the antigenic composition of the P37 protein and the humoral immune responses to Mhr infection. Investigating the epitopes of Mhr P37 will help to establish a detection method for Mhr in tissue and provide an effective tool for detecting Mhr infection.ResultsWestern blot and indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) confirmed that the expressed P37 protein was recognized by Mhr-positive porcine and mouse sera. Furthermore, the P37 protein was purified using affinity chromatography and used to immunize mice for hybridoma cell fusion. Four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) found to be positive for Mhr were detected in infected lung tissue. A panel of truncated P37 proteins was used to identify the minimal B cell linear epitopes of the protein based on these mAbs. The core epitope was determined to be206KIKKAWNDKDWNTFRNF222.ConclusionsIn this study, we identified 17 critical amino acids that determine the epitope of the P37 protein of Mhr. This study identified mAbs that could provide useful tools for investigating the Mhr P37 antigenic core epitope (amino acids 206–222) and detecting Mhr-specific antigens in infected tissue.
Multicentric experience with interferon gamma therapy in sepsis induced immunosuppression. A case series
Authors: Payen Didier , Faivre Valerie , Miatello Jordi , Leentjens Jenneke , Brumpt Caren , Tissières Pierre , Dupuis Claire , Pickkers Peter , Lukaszewicz Anne Claire 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
The sepsis-induced immunodepression contributes to impaired clinical outcomes of various stress conditions. This syndrome is well documented and characterized by attenuated function of innate and adaptive immune cells. Several pharmacological interventions aimed to restore the immune response are emerging of which interferon-gamma (IFNγ) is one. It is of paramount relevance to obtain clinical information on optimal timing of the IFNγ-treatment, −tolerance, −effectiveness and outcome before performing a RCT. We describe the effects of IFNγ in a cohort of 18 adult and 2 pediatric sepsis patients.

Methods
In this open-label prospective multi-center case-series, IFNγ treatment was initiated in patients selected on clinical and immunological criteria early (< 4 days) or late (> 7 days) following the onset of sepsis. The data collected in 18 adults and 2 liver transplanted pediatric patients were: clinical scores, monocyte expression of HLA-DR (flow cytometry), lymphocyte immune-phenotyping (flow cytometry), IL-6 and IL-10 plasma levels (ELISA), bacterial cultures, disease severity, and mortality.

Results
In 15 out of 18 patients IFNγ treatment was associated with an increase of median HLA-DR expression from 2666 [IQ 1547; 4991] to 12,451 [IQ 4166; 19,707], while the absolute number of lymphocyte subpopulations were not affected, except for the decrease number of NK cells 94.5 [23; 136] to 32.5 [13; 90.8] (0.0625)]. Plasma levels of IL-6 464 [201–770] to 108 (89–140) ng/mL (p = 0.04) and IL-10 from IL-10 from 29 [12–59] to 9 [1–15] pg/mL decreased significantly. Three patients who received IFNγ early after ICU admission (<4 days) died. The other patients had a rapid clinical improvement assessed by the SOFA score and bacterial cultures that were repeatedly positive became negative. The 2 pediatric cases improved rapidly, but 1 died for hemorrhagic complication.

Conclusion
Guided by clinical and immunological monitoring, adjunctive immunotherapy with IFNγ appears well-tolerated in our cases and improves immune host defense in sepsis induced immuno suppression. Randomized clinical studies to assess its potential clinical benefit are warranted.
CRL4 ubiquitin ligase stimulates Fanconi anemia pathway-induced single-stranded DNA-RPA signaling
Authors: Codilupi Tamara , Taube Doreen , Naegeli Hanspeter 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundDNA-crosslinking agents like cisplatin and mitomycin C (MMC) are indispensible for the treatment of many solid malignancies. These anticancer drugs generate DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) that cause cell death by blocking replication forks. Many factors counteracting ICL-induced DNA replication stress, including the Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway, are regulated by ubiquitination and, therefore, ubiquitin ligases are potential targets for the sensitization of cancer cells to crosslinking agents. In this study, we investigated the function of the CRL4 ubiquitin ligase in modulating the response of cancer cells to ICL induction.MethodsThe two cullin paralogs CUL4A and CUL4B, which form the CRL4 ligase scaffold, were depleted in cancer cells by small interfering RNA followed by analysis of the cellular and biochemical responses to ICLs elicited upon cisplatin or MMC treatment.ResultsWe report that the combined depletion of CUL4A and CUL4B weakens an FA pathway-dependent S phase checkpoint response. CRL4 positively stimulates the monoubiquitination of FANCD2 required for the recruitment of XPF-ERCC1, a structure-specific endonuclease that, in turn, contributes to the display of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) at ICLs. After CRL4 down regulation, the missing ssDNA results in reduced recruitment of RPA, thereby dampening activation of ATR and CHK1 checkpoint kinases and allowing for S phase progression despite ICL induction.ConclusionOur findings indicate that CRL4 promotes cell survival by potentiating an FA pathway-dependent ssDNA-RPA signaling platform installed at ICLs. The anticancer efficacy of crosslinking agents may, therefore, be enhanced by down regulating CRL4 activity.
Companion dog acquisition and mental well-being: a community-based three-arm controlled study
Authors: Powell Lauren , Edwards Kate M. , McGreevy Paul , Bauman Adrian , Podberscek Anthony , Neilly Brendon , Sherrington Catherine , Stamatakis Emmanuel 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Dog ownership is suggested to improve mental well-being, although empirical evidence among community dog owners is limited. This study examined changes in human mental well-being following dog acquisition, including four measures: loneliness, positive and negative affect, and psychological distress.

Methods
We conducted an eight-month controlled study involving three groups (n = 71): 17 acquired a dog within 1 month of baseline (dog acquisition); 29 delayed dog acquisition until study completion (lagged control); and 25 had no intentions of acquiring a dog (community control). All participants completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale (possible scores 0–60), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and Kessler10 at baseline, three-months and eight-months. We used repeated measures ANCOVAs to analyse data with owner age and sex included as covariates. Post-hoc tests were performed for significant effects (p < 0.05).

Results
There was a statistically significant group by time interaction for loneliness (p = 0.03), with an estimated reduction of 8.41 units (95% CI -16.57, − 0.26) from baseline to three-months and 7.12 (95% CI -12.55, − 1.69) from baseline to eight-months in the dog acquisition group. The group by time interaction for positive affect was also significant (p = 0.03), although there was no change in the dog acquisition group.

Conclusions
Companion dog acquisition may reduce loneliness among community dog owners. Our study provides useful direction for future larger trials on the effects of dog ownership on human mental well-being.

Trial registration
This trial was retrospectively registered on 5th July 2017 with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12617000967381).
Predictors of family focused practice: organisation, profession, or the role as child responsible personnel?
Authors: Skogøy Bjørg Eva , Ogden Terje , Weimand Bente , Ruud Torleif , Sørgaard Knut , Maybery Darryl 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundHealth professionals in Norway are required by law to help safeguard information and follow-up with children of parents with mental or physical illness, or who have substance abuse problems, to reduce their higher risk of psychosocial problems. Knowledge is lacking regarding whether organisation and/or worker-related factors can explain the differences in health professionals’ ability to support the families when patients are parents.MethodsEmploying a translated, generic version of the Family Focused Mental Health Practice Questionnaire (FFPQ), this cross-sectional study examines family focused practice (FFP) differences in relation to health professionals’ background and role (N = 280) along with exploring predictors of parent, child, and family support.ResultsWhile most health professions had begun to have conversations with parents on children’s needs, under one-third have had conversations with children. There were significant differences between nurses, social workers, psychologists, physicians, and others on seven of the FFP subscales, with physicians scoring lowest on five subscales and psychologists providing the least family support. Controlling for confounders, there were significant differences between child responsible personnel (CRP) and other clinicians (C), with CRP scoring significantly higher on knowledge and skills, confidence, and referrals. Predictors of FFP varied between less complex practices (talking with parents) and more complex practices (family support and referrals).ConclusionThe type of profession was a key predictor of delivering family support, suggesting that social workers have more undergraduate training to support families, followed by nurses; alternately, the results could suggest that that social workers and nurses have been more willing or able than physicians and psychologists to follow the new legal requirements. The findings highlight the importance of multidisciplinary teams and of tailoring training strategies to health professionals’ needs in order to strengthen their ability to better support children and families when a parent is ill.
A complete cross-over design evaluating canine acceptance of Carprieve® and Rimadyl® carprofen chewable tablets in healthy dogs
Authors: Dewsbury Diana M. A. , DeDonder Keith D. , Rezac Darrell J. , Cernicchiaro Natalia 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) affects nearly 20% of all dogs greater than one year of age. Clinical signs include pain, discomfort, lameness, and ultimately lead to disability. Although there is currently no known cure, there are many therapeutic options that can slow the progression and alleviate the associated signs. There is ample supportive evidence demonstrating the efficaciousness of carprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in managing signs of OA. Since the approval of the pioneer product (Rimadyl®, Zoetis; Kalamazoo, Michigan), the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has assented to several other generic, bioequivalent products. The objective of this 2 × 2 complete cross-over design was to assess the acceptance of two bioequivalent carprofen liver-flavored chewable tablets (containing 25 mg carprofen), Rimadyl® and Carprieve® (Norbrook Laboratories Limited; Newry, Northern Ireland) in 37 healthy purpose-bred dogs.ResultsOverall, 73.0% (27/37) and 70.3% (26/37) of dogs voluntarily accepted Rimadyl® and Carprieve®, respectively. Considering acceptability tests paired by individual dog, 64.9% of dogs (n = 24) voluntarily accepted both Rimadyl® and Carprieve® chewable tablets whereas 21.6% (8) of dogs denied or partially accepted both products offered. Three dogs (8.1%) fully accepted Rimadyl® but did not accept Carprieve®. Conversely, two dogs (5.4%) fully accepted Carprieve® but did not accept Rimadyl®. Canine acceptability did not significantly differ between Carprieve® and Rimadyl® carprofen chewable tablets (P = 0.65).ConclusionsUtilizing a 2 × 2 complete cross-over design, this study provides evidence that canine acceptability of a single-dose did not differ between Carprieve® and Rimadyl® chewable tablets.
Generic estimator of biomass concentration for Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae fed-batch cultures based on cumulative oxygen consumption rate
Authors: Urniezius Renaldas , Survyla Arnas , Paulauskas Dziugas , Bumelis Vladas Algirdas , Galvanauskas Vytautas 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
The focus of this study is online estimation of biomass concentration in fed-batch cultures. It describes a bioengineering software solution, which is explored for Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae fed-batch cultures. The experimental investigation of both cultures presents experimental validation results since the start of the bioprocess, i.e. since the injection of inoculant solution into bioreactor. In total, four strains were analyzed, and 21 experiments were performed under varying bioprocess conditions, out of which 7 experiments were carried out with dosed substrate feeding. Development of the microorganisms’ culture invariant generic estimator of biomass concentration was the main goal of this research.

Results
The results show that stoichiometric parameters provide acceptable knowledge on the state of biomass concentrations during the whole cultivation process, including the exponential growth phase of both E. coli and S. cerevisiae cultures. The cell culture stoichiometric parameters are estimated by a procedure based on the Luedeking/Piret-model and maximization of entropy. The main input signal of the approach is cumulative oxygen uptake rate at fed-batch cultivation processes. The developed noninvasive biomass estimation procedure was intentionally made to not depend on the selection of corresponding bioprocess/bioreactor parameters.

Conclusions
The precision errors, since the bioprocess start, when inoculant was injected to a bioreactor, confirmed that the approach is relevant for online biomass state estimation. This included the lag and exponential growth phases for both E. coli and S. cerevisiae. The suggested estimation procedure is identical for both cultures. This approach improves the precision achieved by other authors without compromising the simplicity of the implementation. Moreover, the suggested approach is a candidate method to be the microorganisms’ culture invariant approach. It does not depend on any numeric initial optimization conditions, it does not require any of bioreactor parameters. No numeric stability issues of convergence occurred during multiple performance tests. All this makes this approach a potential candidate for industrial tasks with adaptive feeding control or automatic inoculations when substrate feeding profile and bioreactor parameters are not provided.
Exploring the phenotype and genotype of multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae harbouring blaCTX-M group extended-spectrum β-lactamases recovered from paediatric clinical cases in Shenzhen, China
Authors: Patil Sandip , Chen Xiaowen , Wen Feiqiu 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundEmergence and spread of β-lactamase resistantKlebsiella pneumoniaehave posedaserious threat, especially in paediatric patients globally. The present study focuses on explore drug resistance profile and molecular characterization of carbapenemase and extended-spectrum β-lactamase producingK. pneumoniaeisolated from paediatric patients in Shenzhen, China.MethodsPresent study, a total of 31 isolates of multi-drug resistantK. pneumoniaewere collected from Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, China during Jan 2014 to December 2015. ESBLs production was confirmed by using the combination disc diffusion method followed by antimicrobial susceptibility. In addition, β-lactamase encoding genes were determined by PCR assay and sequencing. The genotypic diversity and phylogenetic relationship were determined by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) method and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).ResultsWe examined 31, uniqueK. pneumoniaeisolates collected from 2014 and 2015 in Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, China. All the 31 isolates 100% were resistant to ceftazidime, ertapenem, ampicillin, cefazolin and ampicillin-sulbactam followed by ceftriaxone 94% (n = 29), aztreonam 89% (n = 26), cefepime 84% (n = 26), nitrofurantoin 75% (n = 24), piperacillin 52% (n = 16), and levofloxacin 49% (n = 15). Of the 31 β-lactamase gene coding isolates,blaCTX-Mwas mainly detected in about 100% (n = 31), followed byblaKPC71% (n = 22),blaSHV61% (n = 19),blaNDM25% (n = 8),blaCYM13% (n = 4),blaOXA-489% (n = 3),blaGES9% (n = 3) andblaTEM6% (n = 2). Seventeen distinct sequences type were observed with ST20 being mostly identified 16% (n = 5). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing showed that identical profile for the isolates recovered from the Department of Intensive Care Unit and Department of Neurology of our hospital. Plasmid replicon typing result indicates the presence of IncFIS type as highest in all isolates as 61% (n = 19), followed by IncFIB 23% (n = 7), IncFIA and IncFIC 16% (n = 5) each.ConclusionOur study reports the occurrence and spread of extended β-lactamaseK. pneumoniaeST20 and ST2407 for the first time, in Shenzhen, particularly in paediatric patients. To prevent and control the infection by limiting the spread of infection-causing organisms it is very crucial to detect the presence of resistant genes at an early stage.