bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Familial screening in case of acute myocarditis reveals inherited arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathies
Authors: Piriou Nicolas , Marteau Lara , Kyndt Florence , Serfaty Jean Michel , Toquet Claire , Le Gloan Laurianne , Warin‐Fresse Karine , Guijarro Damien , Le Tourneau Thierry , Conan Emilie , Thollet Aurélie , Probst Vincent , Trochu Jean‐Noël 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAimsSeveral data suggest that acute myocarditis could be related to genetic variants involved in familial cardiomyopathies, particularly arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, but the management of patients with acute myocarditis and their families regarding their risk for having an associated inherited cardiomyopathy is unclear.Methods and resultsFamilies with at least one individual with a documented episode of acute myocarditis and at least one individual with a cardiomyopathy or a history of sudden death were included in the study. Comprehensive pedigree, including genetic testing, and history of these families were analysed. Six families were included. Genetic analysis revealed a variant in desmosomal proteins genes in all the probands [five in desmoplakin (DSP) gene and one in desmoglein 2 gene]. In the five families identified with a DSP variant, genetic testing was triggered by the association of an acute myocarditis with a single case of apparently isolated dilated cardiomyopathy or sudden death. Familial screening identified 28 DSP variant carriers; 39% had an arrhythmogenic left ventricular (LV) cardiomyopathy phenotype. Familial histories of sudden death were frequent, and a remarkable phenotype of isolated LV late gadolinium enhancement on contrast‐enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance without any other structural abnormality was found in 38% of asymptomatic mutation carriers. None of the DSP variant carriers had imaging characteristics of right ventricle involvement meeting current Task Force criteria for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.ConclusionsComprehensive familial screening including genetic testing in case of acute myocarditis associated with a family history of cardiomyopathy or sudden death revealed unknown or misdiagnosed arrhythmogenic variant carriers with left‐dominant phenotypes that frequently evade arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy Task Force criteria. In view of our results, acute myocarditis should be considered as an additional criterion for arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and genetic testing should be advised in patients who experience acute myocarditis and have a family history of cardiomyopathy or sudden death.
Synthesis of Functionalized High‐Oleic Soybean Oil Wax Coatings and Emulsions for Postharvest Treatment of Fresh Citrus Fruit
Authors: Leyva‐Gutierrez Francisco M. A. , Fei Tao , Wang Tong 
Published: May 2020

AbstractHigh‐oleic soybean oil is chemically functionalized in order to mimic the structure and physical properties of hydrogenated castor oil (HCO). The resulting wax‐like material is evaluated for use as an alternative to other commercial wax coatings for the postharvest treatment of fresh citrus fruit. The racemic nature of the material inhibits ordered crystalline arrangement and negatively affects its relative crystallinity (17.7%), hardness (0.59 ± 0.04 mm−1), and melting profile (44–46 °C), with respect to HCO oil (37.7%, 5.33 ± 0.01 mm−1, 83–87 °C). Nevertheless, compounding the new material with carnauba wax (CAR) imparts a very attractive gloss and prevents moisture loss significantly better than polyethylene, shellac, and CAR‐based coatings. Compounding the hydroxy‐functionalized high‐oleic soybean wax may potentially reduce dependence on imported CAR and other ingredients used in citrus coating emulsion formulations.Practical Applications: The soybean oil‐derived material described in this contribution provides two key performance characteristics desired by citrus growers and packing houses: an efficient barrier to moisture loss and an attractive shine. The synthesis of the hydroxy‐wax is facile and mild, and the materials can be readily formulated into emulsions as required for fruit coating applications. Use of the formulated coating can be extended to other agricultural commodities such as avocados, melons, and stone fruit.
Electrorotation of leaky‐dielectric and conducting microspheres in asymmetric electrolytes and angular velocity reversal
Authors: Miloh Touvia , Nagler Jacob 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWe consider the central problem of polarizable and leaky‐dielectric uncharged spherical particle freely suspended in an unbounded nonsymmetric binary electrolyte, which is forced by an ambient time‐harmonic uniform electric field. Under the assumption of a “weak field,” we employ the linearized standard electrokinetic model of binary electrolytes to account for such anion/cation asymmetry. A simplified generalized asymmetric dipole‐term approximation, valid for a dielectric/conducting microsphere, is analytically derived for an arbitrary Debye scale and for any mismatch between ion diffusivities and valances. A two‐peak unified dispersion spectrum covering all range of practical frequencies (KHz to MHz), is found for the case of a rotating electric field (ROT). The angular velocity of a free polarized particle is composed of dielectrophoretic contribution, resulting from the electrical torque (dipole term) as well as from the induced electroosmotic (ICEO) flow field. The two effects usually act in opposite directions. Under ROT excitation, we obtain a cofield rotation at high frequencies (MHz) and a counter‐field behavior at low frequencies (KHz). The low‐frequency dispersion is generally governed by electric double‐layer charging and the high frequency by a Maxwell–Wagner relaxation process. ICEO generally dominates the low‐frequency cofield response; however, it can be shown that depending on the electrolyte asymmetry, yet another dielectrophoretic related switching (reversal) point might exist. Furthermore, for large frequencies and depending on the complex permittivity ratio between the particle and electrolyte, we find a second switching point. Explicit expressions for the above two frequency reversal values are obtained in terms of the problem physical parameters and are compared against experimental results. Finally, we provide an analytical solution for the ROT ICEO velocity field of a microsphere as a function of electrolyte asymmetry and Debye length and compare it with numerical simulations.
White blood cell counting at point‐of‐care testing: A review
Authors: Luo Jianke , Chen Chunmei , Li Qing 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWhite blood cells, which are also called leukocytes, are found in the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against infections and foreign invaders. Conventional methods of leukocyte analysis provide valuable and accurate information to medical specialists. Analyzing and diagnosing of a disease requires a combination of multiple biomarkers, in some cases, however, such as personal health care, this will occupy some medical resources and causes unnecessary consumption. Traditional method (such as flow cytometer) for WBC counting is time and labor consuming. Compared to gold standard (flow‐based fraction/micropore filtration) or improved filtration methods for WBC counting, this is still a lengthy and time consuming process and can lead to membrane fouling due to the rapid accumulation of biological materials. Therefore, the analysis of WBC counts requires more compact and efficient equipment. The microfluidic technologies, powered by different field (force, thermal, acoustic, optical, magnetic) and other methods for leukocyte counting and analysis, are much cost‐efficient and can be used in in‐home or in resource‐limited areas to achieve Point‐of‐Care (POC). In this review, we highlight the mainstream devices that have been commercialized and extensively employed for patients for WBC counting, Next, we present some recent development with regards to leucocyte counting (mainly microfluidic technologies) and comment on their relative merits. We aim to focus and discuss the possibility of achieving POC and help researchers to tackle individual challenges accordingly. Finally, we offer some technologies in addition to previous detection devices, such as image recognition technology and cloud computing, which we believe have great potential to further promote real‐time detection and improve medical diagnosis.
Longitudinal interference analysis of shale gas multi‐stage fracturing horizontal wells upon high‐precision pressure test
Authors: Gao Dapeng , Liu Yuewu , Pan Songqi , Wang Jue , Zhou Xinmao 
Published: May 2020

AbstractShale gas plays a crucial role in the national energy supply. However, fast pressure drop, production decline, and water resources pollution caused by well interference and fracture hits become more severe in multi‐layer mining shale gas fields. Such as, it is urgent to evaluate the interference of multi‐stage fracturing horizontal wells (MFHWs) between the upper and lower gas layers in Chinese Jiaoshiba shale gas field. Therefore, we put forward a comprehensive method to analyze the MFHW interference in this paper. The method contains bottom‐hole pressure response analysis (BHPRA) during neighboring well fracturing, BHPRA of well interference test, and production dynamic analysis. Our study indicates that longitudinal pressure interference exists between the Jiaoshiba upper and lower gas layers upon the apparent interference pressure response in a multi‐well test. However, MFHW interferences occur in the corresponding fracturing stages with shorter distance, and the interference strength is related to both well distance and fracturing scales. The Jiaoshiba upper gas layers can be developed to increase the gas production performance, but it is necessary to maintain a reasonable well spacing to avoid severe interference during the development.
A study of the mechanism of nonuniform production rate in shale gas based on nonradioactive gas tracer technology
Authors: Huang Shan , Li Wuguang , Wu Jianfa , Zhang Haijie , Luo Yuanping 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe performance of horizontal wells in shale gas is controlled by multiple factors, and there is a difference in gas production rate between different fracturing stages. However, the mechanism of the nonuniform gas production rate is still not clear. In this paper, a typical shale gas well in the Longmaxi formation was selected to conduct the performance evaluation based on the nonradioactive gas tracer technology. The gas production profile was obtained, and the production feature of each stage was analyzed. On this basis, the production differences between fracturing stages were compared in four aspects: reservoir physical properties, distribution of natural fracture, parameters of fracturing operation, and technology of temporary plugging re‐orientation. The effect of various factors on the contribution of each stage was analyzed. And then, the mechanism of the nonuniform gas production rate was clarified. Finally, relevance analysis was performed to determine the main controlling factors, and a mathematical model for characterizing the nonuniform gas production rate feature was established by adopting the nonlinear regression method. This study provides a reliable basis for optimal fracturing designing and reasonable production planning.
Aucuba japonica extract inhibits retinal neovascularization in a mouse model of oxygen‐induced retinopathy, with its bioactive components preventing VEGF‐induced retinal vascular hyperpermeability
Authors: Jung Eunsoo , Jung Woo Kwon , Park Su‐Bin , Kim Hyung Rae , Kim Junghyun 
Published: May 2020

AbstractNeovascularization in the retina is common pathophysiology of diabetic retinal microvasculopathy and exudative macular degeneration. Our study assessed the inhibitory activity of an ethanol‐based extract of Aucuba japonica (AJE) on abnormal angiogenesis in the retina with a hyperoxia‐induced neovascular retinopathy model. The inhibitory effects of aucubin, quercetin, and kaempferol, bioactive compounds, from A. japonica, on retinal vascular hyperpermeability were also examined. On the 7th postnatal day (P7), the C57BL/6 pups were exposed to a hyperoxic environment with 75% oxygen to develop the experimental angiogenesis in retinas. On the 12th postnatal day (P12), the pups were then returned to the normal atmospheric pressure of oxygen. From P12 to P16, the administration was intraperitoneal. The dose per day was 250 mg per kg weight. Retinal neovascularization was measured with retinal flat mounts prepared on P17. We also measured the vascular leakage mediated by the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in retinas. Mice treated with AJE had markedly smaller neovascular lesions, in comparison with vehicle‐administered mice. AJE downregulated the expression of both VEGF protein and mRNA. In addition, aucubin, quercetin, and kaempferol ameliorated VEGF‐induced retinal vascular leakage. The results of our study suggest that AJE is a potent antiangiogenic substance. AJE could also serve as a therapeutic agent for abnormal growth of vessels in the retina in patients with ischemic retinopathy. The bioactive compounds of AJE may be responsible for its antiangiogenic abilities.
Ethical surgical triage of patients with head and neck cancer during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Civantos Francisco J. , Leibowitz Jason M. , Arnold David J. , Stubbs Vanessa C. , Gross Jennifer H. , Thomas Giovana R. , Sargi Zoukaa , Casiano Roy R. , Franzmann Elizabeth J. , Weed Donald , Perez Cesar , Samuels Michael , Goodman Kenneth W. , Goodwin W. Jarrard 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundCoronavirus has serially overtaken our metropolitan hospitals. At peak, patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome may outnumber mechanical ventilators. In our Miami Hospital System, COVID‐19 cases have multiplied for 4 weeks and elective surgery has been suspended.MethodsAn Otolaryngologic Triage Committee was created to appropriately allocate resources to patients. Hospital ethicists provided support. Our tumor conference screened patients for nonsurgical options. Patients were tested twice for coronavirus before performing urgent contaminated operations. N95 masks and protective equipment were conserved when possible. Patients with low‐grade cancers were advised to delay surgery, and other difficult decisions were made.ResultsHundreds of surgeries were canceled. Sixty‐five cases screened over 3 weeks are tabulated. Physicians and patients expressed discomfort regarding perceived deviations from standards, but risk of COVID‐19 exposure tempered these discussions.ConclusionsWe describe the use of actively managed surgical triage to fairly balance our patient's health with public health concerns.
Long‐lasting efficacy and safety of lenalidomide maintenance in patients with relapsed diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma who are not eligible for or failed autologous transplantation
Authors: Ferreri Andrés J. M. , Sassone Marianna , Angelillo Piera , Zaja Francesco , Re Alessandro , Di Rocco Alice , Spina Michele , Fabbri Alberto , Stelitano Caterina , Frezzato Maurizio , Volpetti Stefano , Zambello Renato , Rusconi Chiara , De Lorenzo Daniela , Scarano Eloise , Arcari Annalisa , Bertoldero Giovanni , Nonis Alessandro , Calimeri Teresa , Perrone Salvatore , Cecchetti Caterina , Tarantino Vittoria , Steffanoni Sara , Foppoli Marco , Ciceri Fabio , Ponzoni Maurilio 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWe report final results of a phase II trial addressing efficacy and feasibility of lenalidomide maintenance in patients with chemosensitive relapse of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not eligible for or failed after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Patients with relapsed DLBCL who achieved at least a partial response to salvage chemoimmunotherapy were enrolled and treated with lenalidomide 25 mg/day for 21 of 28 days for 2 years or until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint was 1‐year PFS. Forty‐six of 48 enrolled patients were assessable. Most patients had IPI ≥2, advanced stage and extranodal disease before the salvage treatment that led to trial registration; 28 (61%) patients were older than 70 years. Lenalidomide was well tolerated. With the exception of neutropenia, grade‐4 toxicities occurred in <1% of courses. Three patients died of complications during maintenance and three died due to second cancers at 32 to 64 months. There were 13 SAEs recorded in 12 patients; all these patients but two recovered. Lenalidomide was interrupted due to toxicity in other 6 patients, and 25 patients required dose reduction (transient in 21). At 1 year from registration, 31 patients were progression free. After a median follow‐up of 65 (range 39‐124) months, 22 patients remain progression free, with a 5‐year PFS of 48% ± 7%. The duration of response to lenalidomide was longer than response to prior treatment in 30 (65%) patients. Benefit was observed both in de novo and transformed DLBCL, germinal‐center‐B‐cell and nongerminal‐center‐B‐cell subtypes. Twenty‐six patients are alive (5‐year OS 62% ± 7%). With the limitations of a nonrandomized design, these long‐term results suggest that lenalidomide maintenance might bring benefit to patients with chemosensitive relapse of DLBCL not eligible for or failed after ASCT. Lenalidomide was associated with durable disease control and was well tolerated in this elderly population. Further investigations on immunomodulatory drugs as maintenance in these high‐risk patients are warranted.
Knockdown of NEAT1 exerts suppressive effects on diabetic retinopathy progression via inactivating TGF‐β1 and VEGF signaling pathways
Authors: Shao Kan , Xi Liuqing , Cang Zhen , Chen Cheng , Huang Shan 
Published: May 2020

AbstractDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is complication resulted from Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Accumulating evidence has proved the functions of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the progression of DR. Recent reports exert the numerous regulatory functions of lncRNA nuclear‐enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) in various diseases. However, its implications in DR remain barely known. Therefore, this study was carried out to explore the role of NEAT1 in high‐glucose (HG)‐triggered injury of human retinal endothelial cells (hRECs). Here, we found the NEAT1 level was significantly elevated in patients with DR, in the retina of diabetic rats and mice. Meanwhile, hRECs under HG stimuli also exhibited an increase of NEAT1. Moreover, the loss of NEAT1 enhanced hRECs proliferation and repressed HG‐induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by an upregulation of Bcl‐2 and a downregulation of Bax. Subsequently, the knockdown of NEAT1 obviously reduced HG‐triggered oxidative stress injury in hRECs. It was reflected that intracellular reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde level induced by HG were repressed by NEAT1 downregulation, while superoxide dismutase activity was increased. In addition, decreased NEAT1 repressed the inflammatory processes effectively as indicated by the inactivation of inflammatory cytokines Cox‐2, interleukin‐6, and tumor necrosis factor‐α. Furthermore, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) and transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) expression in patients with DR, DR rats, and HG‐incubated hRECs was obviously increased. The silence of NEAT1 could reduce the enhanced expression of VEGF and TGF‐β1 induced by HG. Hence, we concluded NEAT1 might contribute to the development of DR through activating TGF‐β1 and VEGF.
Genetic testing costs and compliance with clinical best practices
Authors: Montanez Kathleen , Berninger Taylor , Willis Mary , Harding Aaron , Lutgendorf Monica A. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWe sought to determine the costs of genetic testing and compliance with published guidelines and clinical best practices at our institution. A cost analysis was performed comparing the costs of ordered tests to the cost of the recommended testing. This was an approved quality improvement project at a tertiary teaching hospital in California. We identified charts associated with the genetic testing billing codes for common genetic tests through our contracted laboratory (cystic fibrosis genotyping, Breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA 1&2), Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), factor V Leiden (FVL), prothrombin gene pathogenic variant, alpha‐thalassemia, hemochromatosis, and cell‐free fetal DNA). Charts were reviewed retrospectively by a licensed, certified genetic counselor to assess the compliance with published clinical practice guidelines identified on GeneReviews and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Tests were classified as: appropriate, misordered/not indicated, misordered/false reassurance, and misordered/inadequate. We performed a cost analysis for the recommended test changes. We reviewed 114 charts over a three‐month period. Forty‐four (38.6%) of the tests were misordered based on published clinical practice guidelines: 24 (21%) were misordered/not indicated, 8 (7%) were misordered/false reassurance, and 12 (10.5%) were misordered/inadequate. Costs of ordered testing ($75,177) were compared to recommended testing after review ($54,265), with a total cost savings of $20,912. In clinical practice, over one‐third of genetic tests reviewed were misordered. As these tests are a small fraction of all genetic tests at our institution, future studies should broaden the scope of testing evaluated to understand the magnitude of this problem and potential cost savings. Genetic counselor review and involvement in genetic test ordering can decrease inappropriate healthcare expenditures and improve patient care.
Endothelial cell aging detection by means of atomic force spectroscopy
Authors: Kolodziejczyk Agnieszka M. , Kucinska Magdalena , Jakubowska Aleksandra , Sokolowska Paulina , Rosowski Marcin , Tkacz‐Szczesna Beata , Komorowski Piotr , Makowski Krzysztof , Walkowiak Bogdan 
Published: May 2020

AbstractEndothelial cell aging is related to changes not only in cell phenotype, such as luminal changes, intimal and medial thickening, and increased vascular stiffness, but encompasses different cell responses to various substances including drugs or nanomaterials. In the present work, time‐ and dose‐dependent elasticity changes evoked by silver nanoparticles in endothelial cells in early (below 15) passages were analyzed. Silver nanoparticle concentrations of 3, 3.6, and 16 μg/mL were selected for elasticity measurements for long incubation (24 hours) and of 1 and 3 μg/mL for monitoring dynamic elasticity changes of 1‐, 3‐, and 6‐hour incubations. Surprisingly, a significant reduction in the cells elasticity modulus at lower number of passages exposed to silver nanoparticles used at 3 μg/mL for 24 hours was demonstrated. These results are in contrast to those obtained for endothelial cells in late (33‐43) passages that may result from cellular aging in response to nanosilver. Furthermore, for short incubation times (1 and 3 hours), SNP‐induced significant increase in the cell elasticity modulus was detected. In current work, we also attempted to answer the question whether the changes in cell elasticity were induced by the silver nanoparticles stabilized with polyvinyl pyrrolidone or by stabilizer itself. Elasticity measurements were supplemented by observations made with transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, which confirmed the presence of silver nanoparticles inside the cells and on the cell membrane. Additionally, activation of reactive oxygen species was detected for cells exposed to SNPs for 1 and 3 hours, which was accompanied by increased cell elasticity modulus suggesting a possible mechanism of observed phenomenon.