bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PP164 Improving Medical Diagnosis Through Advanced Data Analytics Tools
Authors: González-Barcina Imanol , de Vicuña-Meléndez Aitor García , Santorcuato Ana , Revuelta-Antizar Ivan , Rodríguez-Tejedor Santiago , López-Moreno Borja , Arana-Arri Eunate 
Published: December 2019

IntroductionCurrent clinical practice is based on guidelines and local protocols that are informed by clinical evidence. This means that clinical variability is reduced, but can lead to inefficient clinical decision-making, and can increase medical errors, decreasing patient's safety. The aim of the EXCON project is to investigate the innovative concept of Intelligent Clinical History (ICH), and to develop functional prototypes of high added-value in healthcare services.MethodsThe innovative EXCON project will take advantage of recent advances in technologies for coding, structuring and semantizing medical information. Thanks to this new structuring, the EXCON platform will be developed. Final users will be health professionals and other decision-makers. Doctors, nurses, epidemiologists and information specialists will be involved in the development and subsequent validation of the platforms.ResultsTo develop the ICH platform clinical data on a highly prevalent symptom with high variability in clinical practice, such as non-traumatic chest pain in emergency services, has been collected from different electronic medical record databases. The extraction of clinical data to implement new techniques of artificial intelligence requires tasks that must be automated, which today is difficult and tedious (data is often not computerized). Through techniques applied in EXCON, such as natural language processing, relevant clinical data have been extracted and a Decision Support System has been developed and validated. This tool optimizes resources and improves clinical management, reducing errors and increasing patient's safety.ConclusionsIn coming decades, patient management will be impacted by the application of new advanced data analytics tools. This will allow for safer and more efficient clinical management, decrease variability in clinical practice, and improve equity. That is why the development and assessment of these technologies is necessary.
Relevance of Relative Sea Surface Temperature for Tropical Rainfall Interannual Variability
Authors: Izumo Takeshi , Vialard Jérôme , Lengaigne Matthieu , Suresh Iyyappan 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe coupling between sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and rainfall is an important driver of tropical climate variability. Observations however reveal inconsistencies, such as decreased convective rainfall in regions with positive SST anomalies in the tropical Indian and Atlantic Oceans during and after El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. The upper troposphere warms during El Niño events, stabilizing the atmosphere. SST anomalies only account for the influence of the surface. Using theoretical arguments, we show that relative SST (RSST; defined as SST minus its tropical mean) anomalies, by also accounting for the influence of upper tropospheric temperature anomalies on gross moist stability, explain tropical convection interannual variations better than SST anomalies in observations and climate models. This relation further improves when RSST anomalies are weighted by the precipitation climatology to account for low and high‐precipitation regimes. Using RSST is thus essential to understand El Niño–Southern Oscillation teleconnections and interactions between modes of tropical climate variability.
Allo-HSCT recipients with invasive fungal disease and ongoing immunosuppression have a high risk for developing tuberculosis
Authors: Yang Apeng , Shi Jimin , Luo Yi , Ye Yishan , Tan Yamin , Huang He , Zhao Yanmin 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPatients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) are at high risk of acquiring tuberculosis (TB) due to a status of immunosuppression. We conducted a nested case control study to investigate the incidence and risk factors for TB after allo-HSCT. Between 2012 and 2017, 730 consecutive allo-HSCT recipients were enrolled, and 14 patients (1.92%) were diagnosed with TB. Relatively, 54 allo-HSCT recipients were selected as control. Patients who suffered TB had a significantly higher 3-year non-relapse mortality rate than the control group (30.36% vs 5.39%, P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, invasive fungal disease (HR 4.87, 95% CI 1.39–17.09), treatment with a relatively high dose of prednisone (HR 10.34, 95% CI 1.12–95.47) and treatment with tacrolimus (HR 4.79, 95% CI 1.18–19.44) were identified independent risk factors for TB occurrence post allo-HSCT (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, donor type, dose and type of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) administrated, as well as treatment intensity, did not alter the incidence of TB. Therefore, allo-HSCT recipients with unexplained fever, especially those who suffer from invasive fungal disease and ongoing immunosuppression with a relatively high dose of prednisone or tacrolimus, are at a high-risk of developing active TB. Closely Monitoring TB occurrence, making a timely diagnosis and administering the proper treatment may be beneficial to those high-risk patients.
Origin of the São Paulo Yellow Fever epidemic of 2017–2018 revealed through molecular epidemiological analysis of fatal cases
Authors: Cunha Marielton dos Passos , Duarte-Neto Amaro Nunes , Pour Shahab Zaki , Ortiz-Baez Ayda Susana , Černý Jiří , Pereira Bárbara Brito de Souza , Braconi Carla Torres , Ho Yeh-Li , Perondi Beatriz , Sztajnbok Jaques , Alves Venancio Avancini Ferreira , Dolhnikoff Marisa , Holmes Edward C. , Saldiva Paulo Hilário Nascimento , Zanotto Paolo Marinho de Andrade 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe largest outbreak of yellow fever of the 21st century in the Americas began in 2016, with intense circulation in the southeastern states of Brazil, particularly in sylvatic environments near densely populated areas including the metropolitan region of São Paulo city (MRSP) during 2017–2018. Herein, we describe the origin and molecular epidemiology of yellow fever virus (YFV) during this outbreak inferred from 36 full genome sequences taken from individuals who died following infection with zoonotic YFV. Our analysis revealed that these deaths were due to three genetic variants of sylvatic YFV that belong the South American I genotype and that were related to viruses previously isolated in 2017 from other locations in Brazil (Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia and Rio de Janeiro states). Each variant represented an independent virus introduction into the MRSP. Phylogeographic and geopositioning analyses suggested that the virus moved around the peri-urban area without detectable human-to-human transmission, and towards the Atlantic rain forest causing human spill-over in nearby cities, yet in the absence of sustained viral transmission in the urban environment.
Bleomycin hydrolase regulates the release of chemokines important for inflammation and wound healing by keratinocytes
Authors: Riise Rebecca , Odqvist Lina , Mattsson Johan , Monkley Susan , Abdillahi Suado M. , Tyrchan Christian , Muthas Daniel , Yrlid Linda Fahlén 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBleomycin hydrolase (BLMH) is a well-conserved cysteine protease widely expressed in several mammalian tissues. In skin, which contains high levels of BLMH, this protease is involved in the degradation of citrullinated filaggrin monomers into free amino acids important for skin hydration. Interestingly, the expression and activity of BLMH is reduced in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis, and BLMH knockout mice acquire tail dermatitis. Apart from its already known function, we have discovered a novel role of BLMH in the regulation of inflammatory chemokines and wound healing. We show that lowered BLMH levels in keratinocytes result in increased release of the pro-inflammatory chemokines CXCL8 and GROα, which are upregulated in skin from AD patients compared to healthy individuals. Conditioned media from keratinocytes expressing low levels of BLMH increased chemotaxis by neutrophils and caused a delayed wound healing in the presence of low-level TNFα. This defective wound healing was improved by blocking the shared receptor of CXCL8 and GROα, namely CXCR2, using a specific receptor antagonist. Collectively, our results present a novel function of BLMH in regulating the secretion of chemokines involved in inflammation and wound healing in human keratinocytes.
Passenger sequences can promote interlaced dimers in a common variant of the maltose-binding protein
Authors: Momin Afaque A. , Hameed Umar F. Shahul , Arold Stefan T. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe maltose-binding protein (MBP) is one of the most frequently used protein tags due to its capacity to stabilize, solubilize and even crystallize recombinant proteins that are fused to it. Given that MBP is thought to be a highly stable monomeric protein with known characteristics, fused passenger proteins are often studied without being cleaved from MBP. Here we report that a commonly used engineered MBP version (mutated to lower its surface entropy) can form interlaced dimers when fused to short protein sequences derived from the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) or the homologous protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2). These MBP dimers still bind maltose and can interconvert with monomeric forms in vitro under standard conditions despite a contact surface of more than 11,000 Å2. We demonstrate that both the mutations in MBP and the fused protein sequences were required for dimer formation. The FAK and PYK2 sequences are less than 40% identical, monomeric, and did not show specific interactions with MBP, suggesting that a variety of sequences can promote this MBP dimerization. MBP dimerization was abrogated by reverting two of the eight mutations introduced in the engineered MBP. Our results provide an extreme example for induced reversible domain-swapping, with implications for protein folding dynamics. Our observations caution that passenger-promoted MBP dimerization might mislead experimental characterization of the fused protein sequences, but also suggest a simple mutation to stop this phenomenon.
Colloidal Liquid Crystals Confined to Synthetic Tactoids
Authors: Gârlea Ioana C. , Dammone Oliver , Alvarado José , Notenboom Valerie , Jia Yunfei , Koenderink Gijsje H. , Aarts Dirk G. A. L. , Lettinga M. Paul , Mulder Bela M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWhen a liquid crystal forming particles are confined to a spatial volume with dimensions comparable to that of their own size, they face a complex trade-off between their global tendency to align and the local constraints imposed by the boundary conditions. This interplay may lead to a non-trivial orientational patterns that strongly depend on the geometry of the confining volume. This novel regime of liquid crystalline behavior can be probed with colloidal particles that are macro-aggregates of biomolecules. Here we study director fields of filamentous fd-viruses in quasi-2D lens-shaped chambers that mimic the shape of tactoids, the nematic droplets that form during isotropic-nematic phase separation. By varying the size and aspect ratio of the chambers we force these particles into confinements that vary from circular to extremely spindle-like shapes and observe the director field using fluorescence microscopy. In the resulting phase diagram, next to configurations predicted earlier for 3D tactoids, we find a number of novel configurations. Using Monte Carlo Simulations, we show that these novel states are metastable, yet long-lived. Their multiplicity can be explained by the co-existence of multiple dynamic relaxation pathways leading to the final stable states.
Environmental factors modulated ancient mitochondrial DNA variability and the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in the Basque Country
Authors: Laza I. M. , Hervella M. , Neira Zubieta M. , de-la-Rúa C. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAmong the factors that would explain the distribution of mitochondrial lineages in Europe, climate and diseases may have played an important role. A possible explanation lies in the nature of the mitochondrion, in which the energy generation process produces reactive oxygen species that may influence the development of different diseases. The present study is focused on the medieval necropolis of San Miguel de Ereñozar (13th–16th centuries, Basque Country), whose inhabitants presented a high prevalence of rheumatic diseases and lived during the Little Ice Age (LIA). Our results indicate a close relationship between rheumatic diseases and mitochondrial haplogroup H, and specifically between spondyloarthropathies and sub-haplogroup H2. One possible explanation may be the climate change that took place in the LIA that favoured those haplogroups that were more energy-efficient, such as haplogroup H, to endure lower temperatures and food shortage. However, it had a biological trade-off: the increased risk of developing rheumatic diseases.
Mechanistic Understanding of the Interactions of Cationic Conjugated Oligo- and Polyelectrolytes with Wild-type and Ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli
Authors: Zamani Ehsan , Chatterjee Shyambo , Changa Taity , Immethun Cheryl , Sarella Anandakumar , Saha Rajib , Dishari Shudipto Konika 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAn in-depth understanding of cell-drug binding modes and action mechanisms can potentially guide the future design of novel drugs and antimicrobial materials and help to combat antibiotic resistance. Light-harvesting π-conjugated molecules have been demonstrated for their antimicrobial effects, but their impact on bacterial outer cell envelope needs to be studied in detail. Here, we synthesized poly(phenylene) based model cationic conjugated oligo- (2QA-CCOE, 4QA-CCOE) and polyelectrolytes (CCPE), and systematically explored their interactions with the outer cell membrane of wild-type and ampicillin (amp)-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli). Incubation of the E. coli cells in CCOE/CCPE solution inhibited the subsequent bacterial growth in LB media. About 99% growth inhibition was achieved if amp-resistant E. coli was treated for ~3–5 min, 1 h and 6 h with 100 μM of CCPE, 4QA-CCOE, and 2QA-CCOE solutions, respectively. Interestingly, these CCPE and CCOEs inhibited the growth of both wild-type and amp-resistant E. coli to a similar extent. A large surface charge reversal of bacteria upon treatment with CCPE suggested the formation of a coating of CCPE on the outer surface of bacteria; while a low reversal of bacterial surface charge suggested intercalation of CCOEs within the lipid bilayer of bacteria.
Be and Bn stars: Balmer discontinuity and stellar-class relationship
Authors: Cochetti Y. R. , Zorec J. , Cidale L. S. , Arias M. L. , Aidelman Y. , Torres A. F. , Frémat Y. , Granada A. 
Published: December 2019

Context.A significant number of Be stars show a second Balmer discontinuity (sBD) attributed to an extended circumstellar envelope (CE). The fast rotational velocity of Be stars undoubtedly plays a significant role in the formation of the CE. However, Bn stars, which are also B-type rapidly rotating stars, do not all present clear evidence of being surrounded by circumstellar material.Aims.We aim to characterize the populations of Be and Bn stars, and discuss the appearance of the sBD as a function of the stellar parameters. We expect to find new indices characterizing the properties of CEs in Be stars and properties relating Be and Bn stars.Methods.We obtained low- and high-resolution spectra of a sample of Be and Bn stars, derived stellar parameters, characterized the sBD, and measured the emission in the Hαline.Results.Correlations of the aspect and intensity of the sBD and the emission in the Hαline with the stellar parameters and theVsiniare presented. Some Bn stars exhibit the sBD in absorption, which may indicate the presence of rather dense CEs. Six Bn stars show emission in the Hαline, so they are reclassified as Be stars. The sBD in emission appears in Be stars withVsini≲ 250 km s−1, and in absorption in both Be and Bn stars withVsini≳ 50 km s−1. Low-mass Be and Bn stars share the same region in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. The distributions of rotational to critical velocity ratios of Be and Bn stars corresponding to the current stellar evolutionary stage are similar, while distributions inferred for the zero-age main sequence have different skewness.Conclusions.We found emission in the Hαline and signs of a CE in some Bn stars, which motivated us to think that Bn and Be stars probably belong to the same population. It should be noted that some of the most massive Bn stars could display the Be phenomenon at any time. The similarities found among Be and Bn stars deserve to be more deeply pursued.
Implants Placement in Contact with Dental Tissue: A Potential Paradigm Shift? Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Labidi Amel , Bekri Sana , Mansour Lamia , Ghoul-Mazgar Sonia 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe aim of this study was to explore the literature for clinical and histological data of an unconventional treatment with implants placement in contact with dental tissue (IPICDT) and to try to clarify its indications and surgical procedure particularities.Relevant publications published until May 2019 on the IPICDT were thoroughly reviewed. Search strategy was developed using a controlled vocabulary combination.Medline’s exploration and manual research identified 397 articles; 15 of these were selected after screening. IPICDT was indicated in three clinical situations: impacted teeth, ankylosed teeth, or residual roots. Clinical and radiological follow-up were satisfied except for implants placed in contact with (and not through) roots. Histological analysis revealed different mineralized tissues formed on the implant surface: cementum on removed implants in human and osteodentin on implants placed in contact with animal teeth dentin and pulp. These findings were described as new concept of implants’ “Mineral integration.”According to this study, the follow-up results of implants placed in contact with roots were controversial. Some implants were stable and others were either removed or kept and disinfected after root extraction because of bacterial infection. However, implants placed through ankylosed or impacted teeth were stable. These findings suggest that the clinicians have to be cautious when applying this unconventional approach. Further studies are recommended to explore its long follow-up. It is also interesting to explore this technique in cases of syndromic dental diseases with several impacted teeth (such as cleidocranial dysplasia; or amelogenesis imperfecta).
Nonprescription Bleaching versus Home Bleaching with Professional Prescriptions: Which One is Safer? A Comprehensive Review of Color Changes and Their Side Effects on Human Enamel
Authors: Omar Farhana , Ab-Ghani Zuryati , Rahman Normastura Abd , Halim Mohamad Syahrizal 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Objectives This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of the professionally prescribed and nonprescription over-the-counter (OTC) bleaching agents.
Materials and Methods Extracted human upper central incisors were prepared and stained with red wine for 14 days before being subjected to four different bleaching agents: professionally prescribed opalescence PF 15%, VOCO Perfect Bleach 10%, nonprescription OTC Crest 3D Whitestrips, and Whitelight Teeth Whitening System. Colorimetric measurement was performed with Vita Easyshade Handheld Spectrophotometer, enamel surface microhardness measured using Vickers Hardness machine, and surface roughness was evaluated with profilometer, before and after bleaching. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) evaluation and atomic force microscopy were conducted postbleaching.
Statistical Analysis The data were analyzed with t-test, two-way ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, and Turkey’s test at a significance level of 5%.
Results All bleaching products have the same efficacy to whiten stained enamel. Opalescence PF 15% showed significant increase in the microhardness (92.69 ± 68.316). All groups demonstrated significant increase in surface roughness (p < 0.05). SEM evaluation showed that Opalescence PF 15% resulted in same microscopic appearance as unbleached enamel, while VOCO Perfect Bleach 10%, Whitelight Teeth Whitening System and Crest 3D Whitestrips demonstrated mild to moderate irregularities and accentuated irregularities, respectively.
Conclusion Professionally prescribed bleaching agent of Opalescence PF 15% is effective tin whitening the teeth, while the other bleaching products may be effective but also have deleterious effects on the enamel.
Apical Transportation and Centering Ability After Root Canal Filling Removal Using Reciprocating and Continuous Rotary Systems: A CBCT Study
Authors: Arruda Etienny da Silva , Sponchiado-Júnior Emílio Carlos , Pandolfo Mariana Travi , Fredson Márcio Acris de Carvalho , Roberi Garcia Lucas da Fonseca , Marques André Augusto Franco 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Objective To evaluate the apical transportation and centering ability promoted by reciprocating and continuous rotary systems after root canal filling removal.
Materials and Methods After obturation, 40 mesial root canals of mandibular molars were distributed into four groups (n = 20) for filling material removal: PTU group–F2 instrument (25.08) of ProTaper Universal system; R25 group–R25 instrument (25.08) of Reciproc system; X2 group–X2 instrument (25.06) of ProTaper Next system and X3 group–X2 instrument (25.06) of ProTaper Next system, followed by X3 instrument (30.07). Cone-beam computed tomographic analysis was performed before and after filling material removal for acquisition of apical images. Apical transportation (AT) and its direction, and centering ability (CA), were assessed using the equations AT = (X1–X2)–(Y1–Y2) and CA = (X1–X2/Y1–Y2 or Y1–Y2/X1–X2), respectively. Data were submitted to the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn multiple comparison tests (p < 0.05) for statistical analysis.
Results There was no statistically significant difference among groups for AT (p > 0.05), with a tendency toward transportation in the distal direction. Also, there was no statistically significant difference among groups regarding CA (p > 0.05).
Conclusions The different systems, including ProTaper Next, caused AT within the acceptable clinical limit after filling removal. In addition, none of the tested systems presented adequate CA.
Situs inversus totalis - a case report
Authors: Dutta Malamoni , Sarma Joydev 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSitus inversus is a congenital positional anomaly characterized by transposition of abdominal viscera and when associated with right sided heart (Dextrocardia) is referred to as Situs inversus totalis. It is not so uncommon congenital positional anomaly but can be a diagnostic problem at times. The case was detected in the Department of Anatomy, Gauhati Medical College during the routine dissection. Situs inversus was first described by Aristotle in animals and by Fabricius in humans. Its incidence has been reported between 1 in 4000 to 20,000 live births. The exact etiology is unknown but Autosomal recessive and X-linked inheritance have been reported. It can also occur in association with syndromes such as Kartagener syndrome or Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD). Many people with situs inversus totalis are unaware of their unusual anatomy until they seek medical attention for any condition.
Variant course of right vertebral artery - a case report
Authors: D. Nirmala , Gupta Anjali 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe Vertebral artery is the first branch of subclavian artery. It is an important source of blood supply to the brain. During dissection of an adult male cadaver, a unilateral variation in the course of Vertebral artery was found. The right Vertebral artery took origin from the subclavian artery and entered foramen transversarium of fourth cervical vertebra. An understanding of the variability of the Vertebral artery remains most important in angiography & surgical procedures where an incomplete knowledge of its anatomy can lead to complications.