bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of JAB1 promotes malignant behavior and predicts poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Shen Qi , Shang Bin , Jiang Bin , Wang Yu , Wang Zhou , Chen Gang 
Published: February 2020

BackgroundThis study investigated the expression and biological function of JAB1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).MethodsThe expression of JAB1 in ESCC tissues and cells was measured using reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blot analysis. Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis was performed to explore the effect of JAB1 expression on the prognosis of ESCC patients. Furthermore, experiments were conducted in vivo and in vitro to determine the effect of JAB1 expression on the malignant behavior of ESCC cells.ResultsCompared with adjacent tissues, JAB1 was highly overexpressed in cancer tissues (P = 0.01). Univariate and multivariate analyses of clinical data indicated that patients with JAB1 overexpression had a worse prognosis (P = 0.001 and P = 0.049, respectively). Cell function experiments and tumorigenesis experiments in nude mice showed that the upregulation of JAB1 might promote malignant behavior, and vice versa.ConclusionsOverexpression of JAB1 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells, and was significantly associated with poor prognosis of ESCC patients. Therefore, JAB1 could be considered as a promising prognostic factor and a possible target for the specific therapy of ESCC.Key pointsIn this study, we found that JAB1 was highly overexpressed in cancer tissues, which could influence the malignant behavior of ESCC cells, and was significantly associated with poor prognosis of ESCC patients.
A de novo germline mutation of KIT in a white‐spotted Brown Swiss cow
Authors: Häfliger I. M. , Hirter N. , Paris J. M. , Wolf Hofstetter S. , Seefried F. R. , Drögemüller C. 
Published: February 2020

SummaryWhite‐spotting coat colour phenotypes in cattle are either fixed characteristics of specific cattle breeds or occur sporadically owing to germline genetic variation of solid‐coloured parents. A Brown Swiss cow showing a piebald pattern resembling colour‐sidedness was referred for genetic evaluation. Both parents were normal solid‐brown‐coloured cattle. The cow was tested negative for the three known DNA variants in KIT, MITF and TWIST2 associated with different depigmentation phenotypes in Brown Swiss cattle. Whole‐genome sequencing of the cow was performed and a heterozygous variant affecting the coding sequence of the bovine KIT gene was identified on chromosome 6. The variant is a 40 bp deletion in exon 9, NM_001166484.1:c.1390_1429del, and leads to a frameshift that is predicted to produce a novel 50 amino acid‐long C‐terminus replacing almost 50% of the wt KIT protein, including the functionally important intracellular tyrosine kinase domain (NP_001159956.1:p.(Asn464AlafsTer50)). Interestingly, among three available offspring, two solid‐coloured daughters were genotyped as homozygous wt whereas a single son showing a slightly milder but still obvious depigmentation phenotype inherited a copy of the novel variant allele. The genetic findings provide strong evidence that the identified loss‐of‐function KIT variant most likely represents a de novo germline mutation that is causative owing to haploinsufficiency.
The effect of laparoscopic salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy on ovarian reserve
Authors: Rodgers Rachael , Carter Jonathan , Reid Geoffrey , Krishnan Surya , Ludlow Joanne , Cooper Michael , Abbott Jason 
Published: February 2020

BackgroundSalpingectomy may damage ovarian reserve by direct vascular interruption to the ovary or thermal vascular injury from electrosurgery. It is plausible that this risk may increase in the context of salpingectomy conducted for ectopic pregnancy due to the distension of the fallopian tube and vascular changes associated with pregnancy.AimTo report anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations before and after laparoscopic salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy as an indicator of change in ovarian reserve.Materials and MethodsWomen aged 18–44 years scheduled for salpingectomy for tubal ectopic pregnancy were prospectively recruited. Serum AMH concentrations were measured immediately prior to surgery, then repeated four months post‐operatively. In all cases, salpingectomy was conducted laparoscopically using bipolar electrosurgery and mechanical scissors. A group of women scheduled for uterine curettage for first trimester miscarriage was recruited to ensure any observed change in AMH concentration in the women undergoing salpingectomy was secondary to surgery, rather than an effect of pregnancy.ResultsPaired pre‐ and post‐operative serum AMH concentrations were obtained from 32 women with tubal ectopic pregnancy. The mean age of the women was 33.6 ± 4.6 years. There was no significant difference in the median pre‐ and post‐operative AMH concentrations (13.00 pmol/L (range 5–67 pmol/L) vs 15.25 pmol/L (range 3–96 pmol/L), P = 0.575). Median AMH concentrations also remained stable in women experiencing a first trimester miscarriage (10.40 pmol/L (range 3.9–37.8 pmol/L) vs 13.67 pmol/L (range 2.8–30.5 pmol/L), P = 0.185).ConclusionLaparoscopic salpingectomy using electrosurgery and mechanical scissors does not damage ovarian reserve. AMH concentrations do not fluctuate from baseline in the first trimester of pregnancy.
A dysfunctional family environment and a high body fat percentage negatively affect telomere length in Mexican boys aged 8‐10 years
Authors: Licea‐Cejudo Roberto C. , Arenas‐Sandoval Laura K. , Salazar‐León Jonathan , Martínez‐Martínez Mónica V. , Carreón‐Rodríguez Alfonso , Pedraza‐Alva Gustavo , Pérez‐Martínez Leonor 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to determine whether a direct relationship existed between absolute telomere length (aTL), obesity and familial functionality in a group of Mexican children.MethodsWe recruited 134 children (52% boys) aged 8‐10 years during regular primary care check‐ups in 2016 and evaluated physical activity (PA), feeding practices, anthropometrics, body fat percentage (BF%) and family dysfunction. Optimised quantitative PCR determined aTL from genomic deoxyribonucleic acid isolated from saliva samples.ResultsBoys with a healthy BF% showed a higher aTL than their high BF% counterparts (P < .01). aTL was higher in children who performed PA than their sedentary counterparts (P < .05). Alarmingly, 90% of the children belonged to dysfunctional families and a dysfunctional family was correlated with a higher BF% (r = −.57). Negative correlations between the BF% and aTL (r = −.1765) and the BF% and time dedicated to PA (r = −.031) were observed in boys. On the contrary, we found a positive correlation between the aTL and weekly PA (r = .1938). These correlations were not observed in girls.ConclusionTelomere shortening was associated with a high BF% in boys, but not girls. Dysfunctional families were also a key factor. School PA programmes should be mandatory.
Social anxiety and perceptions of likeability by peers in children
Authors: Baartmans Jeanine M. D. , van Steensel Francisca J. A. , Mobach Lynn , Lansu Tessa A. M. , Bijsterbosch Geraly , Verpaalen Iris , Rapee Ronald M. , Magson Natasha , Bögels Susan M. , Rinck Mike , Klein Anke M. 
Published: February 2020

The current study aimed to investigate the discrepancy between self‐reported and peer‐reported likeability among children, and the relation with social anxiety, depression, and social support. In total, 532 children between 7 and 12 years completed questionnaires about social anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and social support, estimated their own likeability, and indicated how much they liked their classmates. Children with higher levels of social anxiety or depression overestimated their likeability less or even underestimated their likeability. Social anxiety symptoms, but not depressive symptoms, were significant predictors of the discrepancy. Social support was positively related to likeability and negatively related to social anxiety, but did not moderate the association between social anxiety symptoms and perception accuracy of likeability. These results are in line with cognitive theories of childhood social anxiety, and they stress the importance of using multi‐informant measures when studying the relation between social anxiety and social functioning in children.
Serum profiling identifies ibrutinib as a treatment option for young adults with B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Jordaens Stephanie , Cooksey Leah , Bonney Stephanie , Orchard Laurence , Coutinho Matthew , Van Tendeloo Viggo , Mills Ken I. , Orchard Kim , Guinn Barbara‐ann 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAcute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a haematological malignancy that is characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of immature lymphocytes. 80% of cases occur in children where ALL is well understood and treated. However it has a devastating affects on adults, where multi‐agent chemotherapy is the standard of care with allogeneic stem cell transplantation for those who are eligible. New treatments are required to extend remission and prevent relapse to improve patient survival rates. We used serum profiling to compare samples from presentation adult B‐ALL patients with age‐ and sex‐matched healthy volunteer (HV) sera and identified 69 differentially recognised antigens (P ≤ 0·02). BMX, DCTPP1 and VGLL4 showed no differences in transcription between patients and healthy donors but were each found to be present at higher levels in B‐ALL patient samples than HVs by ICC. BMX plays a crucial role in the Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) pathway which is bound by the BTK inhibitor, ibrutinib, suggesting adult B‐ALL would also be a worthy target patient group for future clinical trials. We have shown the utility of proto‐array analysis of B‐ALL patient sera, predominantly from young adults, to help characterise the B‐ALL immunome and identified a new target patient population for existing small molecule therapy.
Awareness of bone health risks in people with epilepsy and intellectual disability
Authors: Sawhney Indermeet , Zia Asif , Yazdi Bahar , Shankar Rohit 
Published: February 2020

Accessible Summary

There are worries about the impact of epilepsy and antiepilepsy drugs (AEDs) on bone health and the increased risk of fractures.

It is now considered important that people with epilepsy should be told about the long‐term effects of AEDs particularly risk of fractures.

People with intellectual disability are more prone to have seizures which do not respond fully to AEDs, on multiple AEDs and thus higher risk of fractures.

This is a small study to see whether people with intellectual disability and/or their carers are informed of the risks of AEDs and fractures including how to reduce them.

The study found that there is little evidence of people with intellectual disability and epilepsy and/or their carers being informed in spite of their increased risks.

AbstractBackgroundPeople with epilepsy (PWE) have a higher fracture risk than nonepilepsy populations. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) cause bone loss. Limited physical activity and poor dietary intake increase fracture risk in PWE. People with an intellectual disability have higher prevalence of epilepsy, likely to be on multiple AEDs, with poorer response, thus at a higher risk of sustaining fractures compared to general population. Ignorance of these issues can add to the risk. The study ascertains bone health knowledge in people with epilepsy and their carers.Materials and MethodsA literature search on intellectual disability, epilepsy, bone health and patient knowledge informed a codesign survey with a service user group. An easy read survey version was created. It was disseminated via NHS Trust clinicians to all service users and their carers receiving services from a specialist learning disability team (catchment population—1,000,000).ResultsThirty‐four carers and 23 service users of total 148 eligible (response rate 38.5%) responded to the questionnaires disseminated by clinicians. Approximately 50% of carers and 25% of people with epilepsy had awareness of the increased fracture risk. Less than 25% of the respondents associated AEDs to bone loss. Less than a third were aware of protective strategies to reduce fracture risk.ConclusionsThe survey showed significant knowledge shortcomings of both service user and carer groups of relationship between intellectual disability, epilepsy, its medications, fracture risk, and available risk reduction strategies. Clinicians need to be proactive in providing service users and carers with information around bone health and epilepsy.
A Troubling Presence: Indigeneity in English‐Language Canadian Sociology
Authors: Watts Vanessa , Hooks Gregory , McLaughlin Neil 
Published: February 2020

AbstractOver the past decade Canadian sociology has engaged in spirited debates on the sociology of sociological research, but it has barely begun to address its relation to Indigenous theorizing, scholarship, and politics. How does the discipline deal with the settler colonial history and current realities of Indigenous social lives, and where is the place in our field for Indigenous voices and perspectives? Drawing on Coulthard's politics of recognition and Tuck's damage‐centered research, we present here the first systematic empirical analysis of the place of Indigeneity in the Canadian Review of Sociology and the Canadian Journal of Sociology. We situate the presence of Indigeneity in Canadian sociology journals in the sociopolitical context of the time, and examine how imperialism, statism, and damage are oriented within the two journals. Most importantly, we challenge the silence in the discipline's intellectual frames and research programs with respect to Indigenous theorizing about the social world.
Expression and prognostic role of E2F transcription factors in high‐grade glioma
Authors: Yu Hai , Li Zhijin , Wang Maode 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIntroductionPatients with high‐grade glioma (HGG) suffered poor survival due to inherent or acquired therapeutic resistance and refractory recurrence. The outcome of HGG patients has improved little during the past decade. Therefore, molecular signatures are urgently needed for improving diagnosis, survival prediction and identification of therapeutic targets for HGG. E2F transcription factors (E2Fs), a family of transcription factors recognized as master regulators of cell proliferation, have been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of various tumor types.AimsTo investigate the expression of E2Fs and their prognosis value in high‐grade glioma (HGG).ResultsExpression of E2Fs was analyzed in 394 HGG samples from TCGA dataset. E2Fs were generally expressed in HGG. Except for E2F3 and E2F5, expression of E2Fs was significantly upregulated and linked with grade progression. E2F1, E2F2, E2F7, and E2F8 were highly correlated with aggressive proliferation oncogenes, as well as potential therapeutic resistance oncogenes. Elevated E2Fs (not E2F3) were associated with adverse tumor features and poorer outcome. E2F7 and E2F8 exhibited superior outcome prediction performance compared with other E2Fs. Additionally, E2F7 and E2F8 independently predicted poorer survival in HGG patients. Gene set enrichment analysis identified a variety of critical oncogenic pathways that were tightly associated with E2F7 or E2F8, including epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, NFκB, STAT3, angiogenesis pathways. Furthermore, elevated expression of E2F7 indicated worse therapeutic response of HGG to irradiation and silencing of E2F7 conferred higher cell‐killing effect when combined with irradiation treatment. Mechanically, E2F7 directly regulates the transcriptional activity of EZH2 via binding at the corresponding promoter area.ConclusionsE2Fs (except for E2F3 and E2F5) are highly expressed in HGG and indicate adverse outcome. E2F7 and E2F8 were identified as novel potential prognostic markers in HGG. E2F7 was further validated to be closely associated with radioresistance of HGG and a critical transcriptional regulator of EZH2.
Development and early outcomes of the national training initiative for transanal total mesorectal excision in the UK
Authors: Francis N. , Penna M. , Carter F. , Mortensen N. J. , Hompes R. ,   the ACPGBI Pilot National TaTME Training Initiative Steering Group
Published: February 2020

AbstractAimTransanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) has attracted substantial interest amongst colorectal surgeons but its technical challenges may underlie the early reports of visceral injuries and oncological concerns. The aim of this study was to report on the feasibility, development and the outcome of the national pilot training initiative for TaTME‐UK.MethodsTaTME‐UK was successfully launched in September 2017 in partnership with the healthcare industry and endorsed by the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland. This multi‐modal training curriculum consisted of three phases: (i) set‐up; (ii) selection of pilot sites; and (iii) formal proctorship programme. Bespoke Global Assessment Scoring (GAS) forms were designed and completed by both trainees and mentors. Data were collected on patient demographics, tumour characteristics and perioperative clinical and histological outcomes.ResultsTwenty‐four proctored cases were performed by 10 colorectal surgeons from five selected pilot sites. Median operative time was 331 ± 90 (195–610) min which was reduced to 283 ± 62 (195–340) min in the final case. Independent performance (GAS score of 5) was achieved for most operative steps by case 5. There was one conversion (4.2%), but no visceral injuries. Pathological data confirmed no bowel perforation and intact quality of the mesorectal TME specimens with clear distal margin in all cases and circumferential margins in 23/24 cases (96%).ConclusionThis exploratory study demonstrates acceptable early outcomes in a small cohort suggesting that a competency‐based multi‐modal training programme for TaTME can be feasible and safe to implement at a national level.
Do Cryptocurrencies Increase the Systemic Risk of the Global Financial Market?
Authors: Li Shiyun , Huang Yiping 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe advance of cryptocurrencies has sparked wide concern over their interplay with the existing global financial market. This paper analyzes the risk spillover relation between cryptocurrencies and major financial assets, and unravels how cryptocurrencies could influence global financial systemic risk. We find that cryptocurrencies function as a separate risk source from traditional assets. Major legislative, financial and technological events in the cryptocurrency market may affect risk spillover dynamics. Although the overall penetration of cryptocurrencies is not yet deep, introducing cryptocurrency can significantly increase the systemic risk to traditional markets during low risk level episodes.
Acute ethanol exposure rapidly alters cerebellar and cortical microglial physiology
Authors: Stowell Rianne D. , Majewska Ania K. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAlcohol use is highly prevalent in modern society and ramifications of alcohol abuse pose a large public health concern. Previous work investigating the effects of alcohol exposure on the brain has implicated microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), as critical participants in the brain's response to chronic and developmental ethanol (EtOH) exposure. As rapid sensors of their environment, microglia also have the capacity to rapidly respond to alcohol administration and to contribute to acute effects of alcohol on the brain; however, their acute responses have not been assessed. Here, for the first time, we have examined the acute response of microglia to alcohol intoxication in vivo utilizing two‐photon microscopy to assess the dynamics of these motile cells in both visual cortex and the cerebellum of mice. We found that microglia respond rapidly to EtOH exposure with fast changes in morphology, motility, parenchyma surveillance, and injury response. However, regional differences between the responses of cerebellar and cortical microglial populations indicate that subtle differences in microglial physiology may alter their vulnerability to acute alcohol intoxication. Our findings suggest that the longer‐term effects of repeated EtOH exposure on microglia may result from repeat acute alterations in microglial physiology by single exposure to alcohol which rapidly alter behavior in specific microglial populations.
Novalis's philosophical fictions: Love, reason, and the given from the Fichte‐Studies to the Hymns to the Night
Authors: Reid James D. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThis paper means to explore the relationship between Novalis's youthful engagement with the work of Fichte (with a nod to Kant's theory of practical postulates), on the one hand, and his late poetic work, the Hymnen an die Nacht, on the other. Against the grain of those who see in Hardenberg's development a promising young philosopher‐in‐the‐making who broke with philosophy in favor of mystical poetry, the present article hopes to show that Novalis's emerging views on such topics as reason, freedom, love, and the given (or Gegebenheit) in the Fichte‐Studien give rise to, or find themselves more adequately expressed in, the mature products of his late lyrical imagination.
Alkalinity movement down acid soil columns was faster when lime and plant residues were combined than when either was applied separately
Authors: Butterly Clayton R. , Costello Brendon , Lauricella Dominic , Sale Peter , Li Guangdi , Tang Caixian 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSubsurface soil acidity is a serious constraint to crop production and is inherently difficult to correct through conventional application of lime. Thus, new approaches to ameliorate subsurface soil acidity are needed. A column leaching experiment was established to determine whether the plant residues, when combined with lime, could facilitate lime dissolution and alkalinity movement down soil columns (10 cm in diameter × 45 cm long) to ameliorate acid subsurface soil layers. Five plant residues from canola (Brassica nappus L.), field pea (Pisum sativum L.), lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), oats (Avena sativa L.) and vetch (Vicia villosa L.) (C/N ratios of 52, 13, 16, 53 and 12, respectively) were mixed with soil (18 g dry matter kg−1) in the top of soil columns (0–10 cm) either limed (target pH 7 in CaCl2) or non‐limed and incubated for 3 months at 25°C. Soil columns were leached six times over the 3‐month incubation period and destructively sampled at 1 and 3 months for chemical analysis. The soil amended with plant residues created favourable pH gradients and facilitated downward movement of alkalinity when lime was added. However, net increases in pH in the 10–12‐cm layer after 3 months were only observed in two non‐legume residue‐amended treatments (canola and oat residues, 0.22–0.43 pH unit increase), but not in three legume residue‐amended treatments (field pea, lucerne and vetch residues), although those treatments had the greatest pH increase in the short term (1 month). In conclusion, surface incorporation of lime in combination with plant residues accelerated the amelioration of subsurface acidity in the immediate zone (10–12 cm) below the amended layer. Canola and oat residues were superior in terms of increased soil pH over a longer term (3 months), possibly due to their higher C/N ratios.Highlights
Can plant residues, combined with lime, facilitate alkalinity movement down soil columns?
Few studies have examined leaching, alkalinity movement and pH gradients using agricultural soils.
Lucerne and vetch had the greatest pH increase (1 month) but canola and oat persisted (3 months).
Alkalinity movement was faster when lime and plant residues were combined than when applied alone.