bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Altered resting‐state functional connectivity and effective connectivity of the habenula in irritable bowel syndrome: A cross‐sectional and machine learning study
Authors: Mao Cui P. , Chen Fen R. , Huo Jiao H. , Zhang Liang , Zhang Gui R. , Zhang Bing , Zhou Xiao Q. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder involving dysfunctional brain–gut interactions characterized by chronic recurrent abdominal pain, altered bowel habits, and negative emotion. Previous studies have linked the habenula to the pathophysiology of negative emotion and pain. However, no studies to date have investigated habenular function in IBS patients. In this study, we investigated the resting‐state functional connectivity (rsFC) and effective connectivity of the habenula in 34 subjects with IBS and 34 healthy controls and assessed the feasibility of differentiating IBS patients from healthy controls using a machine learning method. Our results showed significantly enhanced rsFC of the habenula‐left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and habenula‐periaqueductal grey (PAG, dorsomedial part), as well as decreased rsFC of the habenula‐right thalamus (dorsolateral part), in the IBS patients compared with the healthy controls. Habenula‐thalamus rsFC was positively correlated with pain intensity (r = .467, p = .005). Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) revealed significantly decreased effective connectivity from the right habenula to the right thalamus in the IBS patients compared to the healthy controls that was negatively correlated with disease duration (r = −.407, p = .017). In addition, IBS was classified with an accuracy of 71.5% based on the rsFC of the habenula‐dlPFC, habenula‐thalamus, and habenula‐PAG in a support vector machine (SVM), which was further validated in an independent cohort of subjects (N = 44, accuracy = 65.2%, p = .026). Taken together, these findings establish altered habenular rsFC and effective connectivity in IBS, which extends our mechanistic understanding of the habenula's role in IBS.
Detecting head and neck squamous carcinoma using a portable handheld electronic nose
Authors: van de Goor Rens M. G. E. , van Hooren Michel R. A. , Henatsch Darius , Kremer Bernd , Kross Kenneth W. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntroductionDetecting volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath enables the diagnosis of cancer. We investigated whether a handheld version of an electronic nose is able to discriminate between patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and healthy controls.MethodsNinety‐one patients with HNSCC and 72 controls exhaled through an e‐nose. An artificial neural network based model was built to separate between HNSCC patients and healthy controls. Additionally, three models were created for separating between the oral, oropharyngeal, and glottic subsites respectively, and healthy controls.ResultsThe results showed a diagnostic accuracy of 72% at a sensitivity of 79%, specificity of 63%, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.75. Results for the subsites showed an AUC of 0.85, 0.82, and 0.83 respectively for oral, oropharyngeal, and glottic HNSCC.ConclusionThis feasibility study showed that this portable noninvasive diagnostic tool can differentiate between HNSCC patients and healthy controls.
Autophagy in fibroblasts induced by cigarette smoke extract promotes invasion in lung cancer cells
Authors: Hou Hsin‐Han , Pan Huei‐Jyuan , Liao Wei‐Yu , Lee Chau‐Hwang , Yu Chong‐Jen 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe investigated the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on lung fibroblasts and found that the invasiveness of lung cancer cells was facilitated by the conditioned medium from CSE‐treated fibroblasts. CSE induced autophagy in fibroblasts and increased the expression of autophagy‐related proteins, including optineurin and Ras‐related protein Rab1B. Afterward, the fibroblasts produced high levels of interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), which promoted cancer cell invasion. The inhibition of either optineurin or Rab1B abrogated a rise in microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3 β and a decrease in p62 protein, as well as the production of IL‐8, in CSE‐treated fibroblasts. A three‐dimensional invasion assay using cancer cell spheroids revealed that the invasion of cancer cells alone and the fibroblast‐led cancer cell invasion were both enhanced by the conditioned media from CSE‐treated fibroblasts. These results suggest that cigarette smoke may induce autophagy and IL‐8 secretion in lung fibroblasts and modify the microenvironment to favor invasion of lung cancer cells.
Drug‐loading three‐dimensional scaffolds based on hydroxyapatite‐sodium alginate for bone regeneration
Authors: Liang Tingting , Wu Jingwen , Li Fuyao , Huang Zhu , Pi Yixing , Miao Guohou , Ren Wen , Liu Tiantao , Jiang Qianzhou , Guo Lvhua 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBone tissue engineering is a promising approach for tackling clinical challenges. Osteoprogenitor cells, osteogenic factors, and osteoinductive/osteoconductive scaffolds are employed in bone tissue engineering. However, scaffold materials remain limited due to their source, low biocompatibility, and so on. In this study, a composite hydrogel scaffold composed of hydroxyapatite (HA) and sodium alginate (SA) was manufactured using three‐dimensional printing. Naringin (NG) and calcitonin‐gene‐related peptide (CGRP) were used as osteogenic factors in the fabrication of drug‐loaded scaffolds. Investigation using animal experiments, as well as scanning electron microscopy, cell counting kit‐8 testing, alkaline phosphatase staining, and alizarin red‐D staining of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell culture showed that the three scaffolds displayed similar physicochemical properties and that the HA/SA/NG and HA/SA/CGRP scaffolds displayed better osteogenesis than that of the HA/SA scaffold. Thus, the HA/SA scaffold could be a biocompatible material with potential applications in bone regeneration. Meanwhile, NG and CGRP doping could result in better and more positive proliferation and differentiation.
Nitrogen-Containing Bisphosphonates Are Associated With Reduced Risk of Pneumonia in Patients With Hip Fracture
Authors: Sing Chor-Wing , Kiel Douglas P , Hubbard Richard B , Lau Wallis CY , Li Gloria HY , Kung Annie WC , Wong Ian CK , Cheung Ching-Lung 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT
The objective of this work was to study the risk of pneumonia and pneumonia mortality among patients receiving nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs), non-N-BP anti-osteoporosis medications, and no anti-osteoporosis medications after hip fracture. We studied a historical cohort using a population-wide database. Patients with first hip fracture during 2005–2015 were identified and matched by time-dependent propensity score. The cohort was followed until December 31, 2016, to capture any pneumonia and pneumonia mortality. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox-proportional hazards regression. Absolute risk difference (ARD) and number needed to treat (NNT) were calculated. We identified 54,047 patients with hip fracture. Of these, 4041 patients who received N-BPs and 11,802 without anti-osteoporosis medication were propensity score–matched. N-BPs were associated with a significantly lower risk of pneumonia compared with no treatment (6.9 versus 9.0 per 100 person-years; HR 0.76; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.83), resulting in an ARD of 0.02 and NNT of 46. A similar association was observed with pneumonia mortality (HR 0.65; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.75). When N-BPs were compared with non-N-BP anti-osteoporosis medications, the association remained significant. N-BPs were associated with lower risks of pneumonia and pneumonia mortality. Randomized controlled trials are now required to determine whether N-BPs, non–vaccine-based medications, can reduce pneumonia incidence in high risk groups. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Association of TLX1 gene polymorphisms with the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Han Chinese children
Authors: Mei Endian , Wei Xubin , Gao Jiadong , Tian Xiaolong , Li Wei , Liu Li , Qian Cheng 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundStudies on gene polymorphism association are centered on childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a common hematological malignancy in children younger than 16 years. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in some genes, such as ARID5B and CDKN2B, are associated with the risk of childhood ALL. T‐cell leukemia homeobox 1 (TLX1), a member of the HOX gene family, was identified based on its abnormal expression in T‐lineage leukemia. This study aimed to determine whether TLX1 is associated with B‐ALL and which SNP plays a significant role in ALL.MethodsA total of 217 cases of ALL and 241 controls were included in this study. Six tag SNPs (rs75329544, rs946328, rs12415670, rs2075879, rs17113735, and rs1051723) were selected, and genotyping was carried out on Sequenom MassARRAY platform.ResultsRs17113735 was possibly the risk locus associated with increased risk for ALL, whereas rs946328 was possibly associated with decreased risk for ALL. Moreover, rs17113735 was likely to be the risk locus for B‐cell ALL (B‐ALL), and rs2075879 was associated with decreased risk for B‐ALL (P < .05). All SNPs in the two sample types (ALL and B‐ALL samples) demonstrated linkage disequilibrium except between rs75329544 and rs2075879. Haplotype analysis showed no significant difference between the cases and controls in the two sample types.ConclusionTLX1 gene polymorphisms are associated with ALL (rs17113735 and rs946328) and possibly play a significant role in B‐ALL (rs17113735 and rs2075879). This work provides a reference for the diagnosis and therapy of this disease.
Can char carbon enhance soil properties and crop yields in low‐carbon soils?
Authors: Blanco‐Canqui Humberto , Kaiser Michael , Hergert Gary W. , Creech Cody F. , Nielsen Rex , Maharjan Bijesh , Easterly Amanda C. , Lawrence Nevin C. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractRestoring soil carbon (C) lost due to intensive farming is a long‐term endeavor under current conservation management practices. Application of coal combustion residue (293 g C kg−1) from a sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) processing factory, hereafter referred to as char, could rapidly restore soil C and productivity in degraded croplands, but data on this potential strategy are unavailable. We assessed the impacts of char application to two relatively low‐C soils (10.1 and 12.2 g C kg−1) and one relatively high‐C soil (17.3 g C kg−1) on soil C, soil physical and fertility properties, and crop yields in no‐till systems in the Great Plains after 2 yr. Char was disked to 15 cm soil depth at char‐C application rates ranging from 0 to 19.7 Mg C ha−1, corresponding to char application rates ranging from 0 to 67.3 Mg ha−1. The highest char rate increased C concentration in all soils but increased C stock only in low‐C soils. Char did not affect soil penetration resistance, available water, aggregate stability, most nutrients, and crop yields. Char application at high rates increased sulfate, Ca, Mg, and Na concentrations but did not influence other properties. Carbon recovery of the char applied at the highest rate varied among soils from 50 to 85%, but the mechanisms for such differences need further investigation. Short‐term duration, low char C concentration, and low application rates may explain the limited char effects. Overall, char application at 19.7 Mg char‐C ha−1 (i.e., 67.3 Mg char ha−1) increased soil C concentration but had negligible effects on other soil properties and crop yields after 2 yr.
Genetic architecture underlying changes in carotenoid accumulation during the evolution of the blind Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus
Authors: Riddle Misty R. , Aspiras Ariel C. , Damen Fleur , Hutchinson John N. , Chinnapen Daniel J.‐F. , Tabin Julius , Tabin Clifford J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCarotenoids are lipid‐soluble yellow to orange pigments produced by plants, bacteria, and fungi. They are consumed by animals and metabolized to produce molecules essential for gene regulation, vision, and pigmentation. Cave animals represent an interesting opportunity to understand how carotenoid utilization evolves. Caves are devoid of light, eliminating primary production of energy through photosynthesis and, therefore, limiting carotenoid availability. Moreover, the selective pressures that favor carotenoid‐based traits, like pigmentation and vision, are relaxed. Astyanax mexicanus is a species of fish with multiple river‐adapted (surface) and cave‐adapted populations (i.e., Tinaja, Pachón, Molino). Cavefish exhibit regressive features, such as loss of eyes and melanin pigment, and constructive traits, like increased sensory neuromasts and starvation resistance. Here, we show that, unlike surface fish, Tinaja and Pachón cavefish accumulate carotenoids in the visceral adipose tissue. Carotenoid accumulation is not observed in Molino cavefish, indicating that it is not an obligatory consequence of eye loss. We used quantitative trait loci mapping and RNA sequencing to investigate genetic changes associated with carotenoid accumulation. Our findings suggest that multiple stages of carotenoid processing may be altered in cavefish, including absorption and transport of lipids, cleavage of carotenoids into unpigmented molecules, and differential development of intestinal cell types involved in carotenoid assimilation. Our study establishes A. mexicanus as a model to study the genetic basis of natural variation in carotenoid accumulation and how it impacts physiology.
Clinical Potential of UTE‐MRI for Assessing COVID‐19: Patient‐ and Lesion‐Based Comparative Analysis
Authors: Yang Shuyi , Zhang Yunfei , Shen Jie , Dai Yongming , Ling Yun , Lu Hongzhou , Zhang Rengyin , Ding Xueting , Qi Huali , Shi Yuxin , Zhang Zhiyong , Shan Fei 
Published: June 2020

BackgroundChest computed tomography (CT) has shown tremendous clinical potential for screening, diagnosis, and surveillance of COVID‐19. However, safety concerns are warranted due to repeated exposure of X‐rays over a short period of time. Recent advances in MRI suggested that ultrashort echo time MRI (UTE‐MRI) was valuable for pulmonary applications.PurposeTo evaluate the effectiveness of UTE‐MRI for assessing COVID‐19.Study TypeProspective.PopulationIn all, 23 patients with COVID‐19 and with an average interval of 2.81 days between hospital admission and image examination.Field strength/Sequence3T; Respiratory‐gated three‐dimensional radial UTE pulse sequence.AssessmentImage quality score. Patient‐ and lesion‐based interobserver and intermethod agreement for identifying the representative image findings of COVID‐19.Statistical TestsWilcoxon‐rank sum test, Kendall's coefficient of concordance (Kendall's W), intraclass coefficients (ICCs), and weighted kappa statistics.ResultsThere was no significant difference between the image quality of CT and UTE‐MRI (CT vs. UTE‐MRI: 4.3 ± 0.4 vs. 4.0 ± 0.5, P = 0.09). Moreover, both patient‐ and lesion‐based interobserver agreement of CT and UTE‐MRI for evaluating the image signs of COVID‐19 were determined as excellent (ICC: 0.939–1.000, P < 0.05; Kendall's W: 0.894–1.000, P < 0.05.). In addition, the intermethod agreement of two image modalities for assessing the representative findings of COVID‐19 including affected lobes, total severity score, ground glass opacities (GGO), consolidation, GGO with consolidation, the number of crazy paving pattern, and linear opacities, as well as pseudocavity were all determined as substantial or excellent (kappa: 0.649–1.000, P < 0.05; ICC: 0.913–1.000, P < 0.05).Data ConclusionPulmonary MRI with UTE is valuable for assessing the representative image findings of COVID‐19 with a high concordance to CT.Evidence Level2Technical Efficacy Stage3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:397–406.
Lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon combination therapy may help shorten the duration of viral shedding in patients with COVID‐19: A retrospective study in two designated hospitals in Anhui, China
Authors: Zuo Yan , Liu Yunlei , Zhong Qi , Zhang Ke , Xu Yuanhong , Wang Zhongxin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractProlonged viral shedding may pose a threat to the control of coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19), and data on the duration of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) shedding are still limited, with the associated factors being unknown. All adult patients with laboratory‐confirmed COVID‐19 were included in this retrospective cross‐sectional study in two designated hospitals during 21 January 2020 to 16 March 2020 in Anhui, China. In all patients, data on the duration of SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA shedding were analyzed by reviewing all RNA detection results during hospitalization. In addition, demographic, clinical, treatment, laboratory, and outcome data were also collected from electronic medical records. Factors associated with prolonged viral shedding were analyzed with the Cox proportional hazards model. Among 181 patients, the mean age was 44.3 ± 13.2 years, and 55.2% were male. The median duration of viral shedding from illness onset was 18.0 days (interquartile range [IQR], 15.0‐24.0). Prolonged viral shedding was associated with longer hospital stays (P < .001) and higher medical costs (P < .001). The severity of COVID‐19 had nothing to do with prolonged shedding. Moreover, the median time from onset to antiviral treatment initiation was 5.0 days (IQR, 3.0‐7.0). Delayed antiviral treatment (hazard ratio [HR], 0.976; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.962‐0.990]) and lopinavir/ritonavir + interferon‐α (IFN‐α) combination therapy as the initial antiviral treatment (HR 1.649; 95% CI, 1.162‐2.339) were independent factors associated with prolonged SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA shedding. SARS‐CoV‐2 showed prolonged viral shedding, causing increased hospital stays and medical costs. Early initiation of lopinavir/ritonavir +  IFN‐α combination therapy may help shorten the duration of SARS‐CoV‐2 shedding.
Statistical modeling of frequency responses using linear Bayesian vector fitting
Authors: De Ridder Simon , Deschrijver Dirk , Spina Domenico , Vande Ginste Dries , Dhaene Tom 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis article presents a Bayesian extension of the vector fitting (VF) procedure for rational approximation of frequency‐domain responses. The proposed method treats the linear part of VF in a Bayesian way, while propagating distributions through the nonlinear part by sampling. As such, it is capable of providing data‐driven uncertainty information along with the rational fit. The Bayesian VF technique is applied to two realistic design examples, a double folded stub filter and a RAM memory channel, demonstrating its validity and highlighting three potential applications of this novel framework.
Boldine inhibits the alveolar bone resorption during ligature‐induced periodontitis by modulating the Th17/Treg imbalance
Authors: Cafferata Emilio A. , Castro‐Saavedra Sebastián , Fuentes‐Barros Gonzalo , Melgar‐Rodríguez Samanta , Rivera Felipe , Carvajal Paola , Hernández Marcela , Cortés Bastián I. , Cortez Cristian , Cassels Bruce K. , Vernal Rolando 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundDuring periodontitis, tooth‐supporting alveolar bone is resorbed when there is an increased expression of the pro‐osteolytic factor termed receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), which is responsible for osteoclast differentiation and activation. In periodontitis‐affected tissues, the imbalance between T‐helper type‐17 (Th17) and T‐regulatory (Treg) lymphocyte activity favors this RANKL overexpression. In this context, immunotherapeutic strategies aimed at modulating this Th17/Treg imbalance could eventually arrest the RANKL‐mediated alveolar bone loss. Boldine has been reported to protect from pathological bone loss during rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, whose pathogenesis is associated with a Th17/Treg imbalance. However, the effect of boldine on alveolar bone resorption during periodontitis has not been elucidated yet. This study aimed to determine whether boldine inhibits alveolar bone resorption by modulating the Th17/Treg imbalance during periodontitis.MethodsMice with ligature‐induced periodontitis were orally treated with boldine (10/20/40 mg/kg) for 15 consecutive days. Non‐treated periodontitis‐affected mice and non‐ligated mice were used as controls. Alveolar bone loss was analyzed by micro‐computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. Osteoclasts were quantified by histological identification of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase‐positive cells. Production of RANKL and its competitive antagonist osteoprotegerin (OPG) were analyzed by ELISA, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and immunohistochemistry. The Th17 and Treg responses were analyzed by quantifying the T‐cell frequency and number by flow cytometry. Also, the expression of their signature transcription factors and cytokines were quantified by qPCR.ResultsBoldine inhibited the alveolar bone resorption. Consistently, boldine caused a decrease in the osteoclast number and RANKL/OPG ratio in periodontal lesions. Besides, boldine reduced the Th17‐lymphocyte detection and response and increased the Treg‐lymphocyte detection and response in periodontitis‐affected tissues.ConclusionBoldine, administered orally, inhibited the alveolar bone resorption and modulated the Th17/Treg imbalance during experimental periodontitis.
Review of the present features and the infection control challenges of COVID‐19 pandemic in dialysis facilities
Authors: Lee Jia‐Jung , Hwang Shang‐Jyh , Huang Jee‐Fu 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe COVID‐19 has swept the world causing suffering, death, loss, and massive economy damage. The dialysis population is vulnerable and the dialysis facility is critical in maintaining operations and avoiding disease transmission. The present information regarding the clinical features of COVID‐19 infection in the dialysis population was collected, and the useful measures of COVID‐19 infection prevention and infection control in the dialysis facilities were summarized. Leadership, education, preparedness, management, and recovery phase were determined to be the critical procedures. It is hoped this updated interim review might provide information for medical professionals to take proactive action to best prepare and mitigate damage when facing the COVID‐19 pandemic challenge.
Influence of the surface etching on the corrosion behaviour of a three‐dimensional printed Ti–6Al–4V alloy
Authors: Fojt Jaroslav , Kacenka Zdenek , Jablonska Eva , Hybasek Vojtech , Pruchova Eva 
Published: June 2020

AbstractRecently, there has been an extension of three‐dimensional (3D) printing technology of metal materials in the medical field. Additive technology has made it possible to manufacture customized implants. However, 3D printing products often require surface treatment. The possible treatments include acid etching. This study investigated the effect of surface etching on the corrosion resistance of Ti–6Al–4V alloy concerning biological applications. The samples were etched in a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid. The corrosion behaviour was described by measuring the time dependence of polarization resistance in a saline solution and surface analysis. The results showed that etching creates a fluoride‐rich layer on the surface, which negatively affects the corrosion behaviour of the material for up to 24 hr. Cytocompatibility tests showed that the resulting layer does not affect the biocompatibility of the material.