bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantitative EEG as a biomarker in mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies
Authors: Schumacher Julia , Taylor John-Paul , Hamilton Calum A. , Firbank Michael , Cromarty Ruth A. , Donaghy Paul C. , Roberts Gemma , Allan Louise , Lloyd Jim , Durcan Rory , Barnett Nicola , O’Brien John T. , Thomas Alan J. 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Objectives
To investigate using quantitative EEG the (1) differences between patients with mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB) and MCI with Alzheimer’s disease (MCI-AD) and (2) its utility as a potential biomarker for early differential diagnosis.

Methods
We analyzed eyes-closed, resting-state, high-density EEG data from highly phenotyped participants (39 MCI-LB, 36 MCI-AD, and 31 healthy controls). EEG measures included spectral power in different frequency bands (delta, theta, pre-alpha, alpha, and beta), theta/alpha ratio, dominant frequency, and dominant frequency variability. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to assess diagnostic accuracy.

Results
There was a shift in power from beta and alpha frequency bands towards slower frequencies in the pre-alpha and theta range in MCI-LB compared to healthy controls. Additionally, the dominant frequency was slower in MCI-LB compared to controls. We found significantly increased pre-alpha power, decreased beta power, and slower dominant frequency in MCI-LB compared to MCI-AD. EEG abnormalities were more apparent in MCI-LB cases with more diagnostic features. There were no significant differences between MCI-AD and controls. In the ROC analysis to distinguish MCI-LB from MCI-AD, beta power and dominant frequency showed the highest area under the curve values of 0.71 and 0.70, respectively. While specificity was high for some measures (up to 0.97 for alpha power and 0.94 for theta/alpha ratio), sensitivity was generally much lower.

Conclusions
Early EEG slowing is a specific feature of MCI-LB compared to MCI-AD. However, there is an overlap between the two MCI groups which makes it difficult to distinguish between them based on EEG alone.
Neoplastic pathology at the crossroads between neck imaging and cardiothoracic imaging
Authors: Melendez Patricia E. , Nguyen Trinh T. , Bhatt Alok A. , Kaproth-Joslin Katherine 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe thoracic inlet is located at the crossroads between imaging of the neck and the chest. Its location is an important anatomic landmark, serving as the central conducting pathway for many vital structures extending from the neck into the chest and vice versa. Many critical body systems, including the respiratory, lymphatic, neurologic, enteric, musculoskeletal, endocrine, and vascular systems, are located within this region. Neoplasms, both benign and malignant, can arise in any of the body systems located in this area. Due to the small size of this anatomic location, pathology is easily overlooked and imagers should be aware of the imaging appearance of these neoplasms, as well as which imaging modality is the most appropriate for neoplasm evaluation. This article will present an image rich, system-based discussion of the neoplastic pathology that can occur in this region. The anatomy of the thoracic inlet and the non-neoplastic pathology of the thoracic inlet have been covered in our companion article.
Exosomes derived from human umbilical cord MSCs rejuvenate aged MSCs and enhance their functions for myocardial repair
Authors: Zhang Ning , Zhu Jinyun , Ma Qunchao , Zhao Yun , Wang Yingchao , Hu Xinyang , Chen Jinghai , Zhu Wei , Han Zhongchao , Yu Hong 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Age and other cardiovascular risk factors have been reported to impair the activities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which will affect the efficacy of stem cell transplantation. The objective of the study is to investigate whether exosomes derived from human umbilical cord MSCs (UMSCs) could enhance the activities of bone marrow MSCs from old person (OMSCs), and improve their capacity for cardiac repair.

Methods
Exosomes extracted from conditioned medium of UMSCs were used to treat OMSCs to generate OMSCsExo. The key molecule in the exosomes that have potential to rejuvenate aged MSCs were screened, and the role of OMSC was tested in the mouse model of mycardial infarction (MI).

Results
We found the activity of senescence-associated β-galactosidase and the expression of aging-related factors such as p53, p21, and p16 were significantly higher in OMSCs than those in UMSCs. After treatment with UMSC exosomes, these senescence phenotypes of OMSCs were remarkably reduced. The proliferation, migration, differentiation, and anti-apoptotic and paracrine effect were increased in OMSCsExo. In vivo study, mice with cardiac infarction had significantly better cardiac function, less fibrosis, and more angiogenesis after they were injected with OMSCsExo as compared with those with OMSC. There was more miR-136 expression in UMSCs and OMSCsExo than in OMSCs. Upregulation of miR-136 by transfection of miR-136 mimic into OMSCs significantly attenuated the apoptosis and senescence of OMSCs. Apoptotic peptidase activating factor (Apaf1) was found to be the downstream gene that is negatively regulated by miR-136 via directly targeting at its 3′UTR.

Conclusion
Our data suggest that exosomes from young MSCs can improve activities of aged MSCs and enhance their function for myocardial repair by transferring exosomal miR-136 and downregulating Apaf1.
Current progress in stem cell therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Chen Shuai , Du Kechen , Zou Chunlin 
Published: July 2020

AbstractType 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is the most common chronic autoimmune disease in young patients and is characterized by the loss of pancreatic β cells; as a result, the body becomes insulin deficient and hyperglycemic. Administration or injection of exogenous insulin cannot mimic the endogenous insulin secreted by a healthy pancreas. Pancreas and islet transplantation have emerged as promising treatments for reconstructing the normal regulation of blood glucose in T1DM patients. However, a critical shortage of pancreases and islets derived from human organ donors, complications associated with transplantations, high cost, and limited procedural availability remain bottlenecks in the widespread application of these strategies. Attempts have been directed to accommodate the increasing population of patients with T1DM. Stem cell therapy holds great potential for curing patients with T1DM. With the advent of research on stem cell therapy for various diseases, breakthroughs in stem cell-based therapy for T1DM have been reported. However, many unsolved issues need to be addressed before stem cell therapy will be clinically feasible for diabetic patients. In this review, we discuss the current research advances in strategies to obtain insulin-producing cells (IPCs) from different precursor cells and in stem cell-based therapies for diabetes.
The impact of high intensity care around birth on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes
Authors: Bolbocean Corneliu , Shevell Michael 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
An equitable and affordable healthcare system requires a constant search for the optimal way to deliver increasingly expensive neonatal care. Therefore, evaluating the impact of hospital intensity around birth on long-term health outcomes is necessary if we are to assess the value of high intensity neonatal care against its costs.

Methods
This study exploits uneven geographical distribution of high intensity birth hospitals across Canada to generate comparisons across similar Cerebral Palsy (CP) related births treated at hospitals with different intensities. We employ a rich dataset from the Canadian Multi-Regional CP Registry (CCPR) and instrumental variables related to the mother’s location of residence around birth.

Results
We find that differences in hospitals’ intensities are not associated with differences in clinically relevant, long-term CP health outcomes.

Conclusions
Our results suggest that existing matching mechanism of births to hospitals within large metropolitan areas could be improved by early detection of high risk births and subsequent referral of these births to high intensity birthing centers. Substantial hospitalization costs might be averted to Canadian healthcare system ($16 million with a 95% CI of $6,131,184 - $24,103,478) if CP related births were assigned to low intensity hospitals and subsequently transferred if necessary to high intensity hospitals.
Avian Metapneumovirus subtype B around Europe: a phylodynamic reconstruction
Authors: Franzo Giovanni , Legnardi Matteo , Mescolini Giulia , Tucciarone Claudia Maria , Lupini Caterina , Quaglia Giulia , Catelli Elena , Cecchinato Mattia 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAvian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) has been recognized as a respiratory pathogen of turkey and chickens for a long time. Recently, a crescent awareness of aMPV, especially subtype B, clinical and economic impact has risen among European researchers and veterinarians. Nevertheless, the knowledge of its epidemiology and evolution is still limited. In the present study, the broadest available collection of partial G gene sequences obtained from European aMPV-B strains was analyzed using different phylodynamic and biostatistical approaches to reconstruct the viral spreading over time and the role of different hosts on its evolution. After aMPV-B introduction, approximatively in 1985 in France, the infection spread was relatively quick, involving the Western and Mediterranean Europe until the end of the 1990s, and then spreading westwards at the beginning of the new millennium, in parallel with an increase of viral population size. In the following period, a wider mixing among aMPV-B strains detected in eastern and western countries could be observed. Most of the within-country genetic heterogeneity was ascribable to single or few introduction events, followed by local circulation. This, combined with the high evolutionary rate herein demonstrated, led to the establishment of genetically and phenotypically different clusters among countries, which could affect the efficacy of natural or vaccine-induced immunity and should be accounted for when planning control measure implementation. On the contrary, while a significant strain exchange was proven among turkey, guinea fowl and chicken, no evidence of differential selective pressures or specific amino-acid mutations was observed, suggesting that no host adaptation is occurring.
Recombinant tandem epitope vaccination provides cross protection against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae challenge in mice
Authors: Xiao Jiameng , Liu Jianfang , Bao Chuntong , Zhu Rining , Gu Jingmin , Sun Changjiang , Feng Xin , Du Chongtao , Han Wenyu , Li Yang , Lei Liancheng 
Published: July 2020

AbstractActinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae/APP) is the pathogen that causes porcine contagious pleuropneumonia. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is divided into 18 serovars, and the cross protection efficacy of epitopes is debatable, which has resulted in the slow development of a vaccine. Consequently, epitope-based vaccines conferring Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae cross protection have rarely been reported. In this study, B cell epitopes in the head domain of trimeric autotransporter adhesin were predicted, and 6 epitopes were selected. Then, the predicted epitopes (Ba1, Bb5, C1, PH1 and PH2) were connected by linkers to construct a recombinant tandem antigen (rta) gene. The RTA protein encoded by the recombinant rta gene was expressed, and finally the ICR mice were immunized with the RTA protein with or without inactivated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (serovars 1 and 5b) and challenged with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae to evaluate the protective effect of the epitope-based vaccine and combined vaccine. The mice in the RTA-immunized group and RTA plus inactivated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae vaccine group had a significant improvement in clinical symptoms and a higher level of antibody in the serum than those in the control group. The RTA immune group had a 40% survival rate after Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection, whereas the combination of RTA and inactivated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae produced very strong cross immune protection in mice, at least 50% (RTA IB1 + C5) and at most 100% (RTA IB5 + C1), whereas no cross immunoprotection was found in the solo Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae immune group. Overall, the combination of the RTA protein and inactivated bacteria significantly enhanced the cross protection effects. This implies that RTA protein in combination with a suitable inactivated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae strain could be a candidate vaccine for porcine contagious pleuropneumonia.
Ulam–Hyers–Rassias stability for nonlinear Ψ-Hilfer stochastic fractional differential equation with uncertainty
Authors: Chaharpashlou Reza , Saadati Reza , Atangana Abdon 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWe consider a nonlinear Cauchy problem involving the Ψ-Hilfer stochastic fractional derivative with uncertainty, and we give a stability result. Using fixed point theory, we are able to provide a fuzzy Ulam–Hyers–Rassias stability for the considered nonlinear stochastic fractional differential equations.
Existence results of nonlocal Robin boundary value problems for fractional $(p,q)$-integrodifference equations
Authors: Soontharanon Jarunee , Sitthiwirattham Thanin 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe existence results of a fractional$(p,q)$(p,q)-integrodifference equation with nonlocal Robin boundary condition are investigated by using Banach’s and Schauder’s fixed point theorems. Moreover, we study some properties of$(p,q)$(p,q)-integral that will be used as a tool for our calculations.
A new approach for urinary vanillylmandelic acid determination using eVol microextraction by packed sorbent coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Xiong Xin , Zhang Yuanyuan 
Published: July 2020

AbstractVanillylmandelic acid (VMA) is one of the most important catecholamine metabolites, and it is usually used to aid in diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. A new digital control microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) procedure coupled to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method has been developed to determine VMA in human urine. We evaluated important parameters influencing MEPS efficiency, including stationary phase, extracting cycles, and sample dilution. In optimized MEPS conditions, Only 10 μL of sample volume and 3 min preparation time for one sample were needed. Chromatographic separation was achieved with a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) column using gradient elution. VMA was detected using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) with an electrospray source operating in negative ion mode. The method was validated for linearity, limit of quantification, accuracy, imprecision, matrix effect, and interference. Linearity was 0.5–100 μg/mL for VMA. Intra-assay, inter-assay, and total imprecision were less than 9.6%. Interferences precluding quantitation of VMA in dilute-and-shoot approach were reduced significantly using a MEPS approach. Method comparison of LC-MS/MS and homogeneous enzyme immunoassay was performed, and the reference interval was established. The developed MEPS-LC-MS/MS method certainly contributes to method robustness and makes it suitable for measurement of urinary VMA in routine clinical biochemistry laboratories.
Geological structures controlled the rupture process of the 2011 M9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake in the Northeast Japan Arc
Authors: Baba Kei , Yoshida Takeyoshi 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBy interpreting the 2D/3D seismic survey data acquired in the surrounding ocean areas of the Northeast (NE) Japan Arc, we clarified the detailed geological structure and demonstrated that the basic structure in the hanging-wall plate of the subduction system consists of many structural blocks (segments) separated by NW–SE trending large transcurrent faults (strike-slip faults). This structural configuration showed a close relationship with the distribution of foreshocks, mainshock, and aftershocks, coseismic slip models of the 2011 M9.0 Tohoku-Oki megathrust earthquake, coseismic slip area of M-7 class earthquakes, quasi-static slip rates, back slip rate, and seismic tomography images. In addition, the coseismic slip models revealed that the trenchward forearc of the structural blocks between the Offshore Hidaka tectonic line and the Honjo-Sendai tectonic line fitted well with the coseismic slip area of the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake. These findings suggest that the structural blocks bounded by these two tectonic lines slipped rapidly trenchward when the mainshock occurred. The M7 earthquakes were also concentrated along these two tectonic lines, thereby suggesting a close relationship between seismic activity and the inherited geological structure of the overriding plate in the NE Japan forearc.
Evaluation of the effect of high dose intravenous vitamin C on delayed allograft function in deceased donor kidney transplantation: a preliminary report
Authors: Borran Mina , Dashti-Khavidaki Simin , Alamdari Azam , Naderi Neda , Minoo Farzanehsadat 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Delayed graft function (DGF) can affect short- and long-term allograft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients. One of the pathophysiological pathways in the occurrence of DGF is ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). High dose intravenous vitamin C has proven efficacy in decreasing IRI consequences. Accordingly, we designed this study to assess the effect of high dose intravenous vitamin C on the incidence and duration of DGF.

Methods
This is a pilot, single-center, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. In the treatment group, kidney transplant recipients received vitamin C infusion at the dose of 70 mg/kg diluted in 0.45% saline, and in another study arm, only the diluent solution was administered. Data regarding allograft function and other clinical information was recorded.

Results
This preliminary study on 19 patients (9 cases in the vitamin C and 10 cases in the placebo group) showed that after administration of single, high dose vitamin C the incidence of DGF was not significantly different between the groups, but the duration of DGF was substantially shorter in the vitamin C group than the placebo group (7.33 ± 5.68 versus 19.66 ± 0.57 days; P = 0.02). Acute rejection episodes were more seen in the vitamin C group than in the placebo group. Although this data was not statistically significant (P = 0.37), it led to the termination of the study.

Conclusion
A high dose of intravenous vitamin C before allograft implantation was effective in decreasing DGF duration but not DGF incidence.

Trial registration
The trial was registered in the Iranian registry of clinical trials encoded IRCT20100111003043N13 on June 24, 2019.
Smaller cross-sectional areas of the hamstring tendon measured from preoperative ultrasonography are likely to need additional gracilis harvesting for double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions
Authors: Goto Kazumi , Hara Masahiko , Yamazaki Yoshiyuki , Urata Taihei , Shimizu Yuki , Shimizu Naofumi 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background/Purpose
Hamstring tendon autografts are commonly used for double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (DB-ACLR). If the volume of the semitendinosus (ST) tendon is insufficient, the gracilis (G) tendon is also harvested. Additional harvesting of the G autograft can affect patients’ short-term postoperative outcome, such as muscle recovery; thus, preoperative information about whether an additional G autograft is needed would be useful. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether preoperative measurement of the ST tendon using ultrasonography could inform the intraoperative decision to harvest the G tendon.

Methods
We enrolled 20 patients (13 men and seven women) who underwent DB-ACLR between October 2017 and March 2019. The mean patient age was 28.5 years. The ipsilateral ST tendon was measured using ultrasonography before surgery. Measurements included the diameter and breadth of the short-axis image. The cross-sectional area (CSA) was calculated from these measurements. During surgery, when two grafts with diameters of ≥ 5.0 mm could not be made, the G tendon was also harvested. Patients were categorized into two groups: the ST group where only the ST tendon was harvested, and the semitendinosus gracilis tendon (STG) group where the ST and G tendons were both harvested. The CSA value was compared between the two groups, and the cutoff value was calculated.

Results
In the ST group (n = 8), the mean diameter and breadth of the semitendinosus tendon were 4.21 and 2.34 mm, respectively. In the STG group (n = 12), the mean diameter and breadth of the ST tendon were 3.39 and 1.78 mm, respectively. The CSAs calculated for the ST group and the STG group were 7.74 mm2 and 4.79 mm2, respectively. A cutoff value of 7.0 mm2 was found to correspond to a specificity and sensitivity to harvest the G tendon of 87.5% and 75.0%, respectively.

Conclusions
The preoperative CSA of the ST tendon determined using ultrasonography can, therefore, be informative for deciding whether to harvest the G tendon for DB-ACLR. The results of this study provide valuable information for graft selection in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Level of Evidence
IV (Retrospective case series design).
Quantitative scintigraphy in discriminating sacroiliac joint physiological and pathological uptake
Authors: Abdelhai Shaimaa F. , Abdelhamed Heba M. , El-Shafey Abeer M. , Almolla Rania M. 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Bone scintigraphy is a highly sensitive diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging technique that uses a radiotracer to evaluate the distribution of active bone formation in the skeleton related to malignant and benign diseases, as well as physiological processes. Subjective increase of the radioactivity at the sacroiliac joint in cancer patients could indicate physiological, metastatic, or inflammatory (sacroiliitis) cause. In this single-center study, we aimed to settle the normal sacroiliac index (SII) in males and females and if it differs from side to other, as a more accurate quantitative method than qualitative one, and assess its validity in discriminating the cause in pathological increase.

Results
Sacroiliac index can differentiate physiological uptake at the SIJ from pathological uptake with a highly significant value (P < 0.001). Using SII at a cutoff value 1.17 had 100% sensitivity and specificity in differentiating between the two conditions. The normal SII in our institute ranged from 0.9 to 1.14 with no significant difference between right and left SIJs. The mean SII was 1.33 ± 0.11 in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 1.38 ± 0.1 in metastatic cases with no significant difference in SII between the two diseased groups (P = 0.49).

Conclusion
Bone scintigraphy is widely used in our institute and qualitative assessment of SIJ uptake is sometimes confusing. In this study, we assessed the normal SII range in physiological uptake and assessed a cutoff value (which is lower than other races) above which any increase in SIJ uptake is considered pathological. We could not confirm a cutoff value to discriminate between AS and metastatic affection of SIJ.