bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical association of CXCR4 in primary tumor of papillary thyroid cancer and response to iodine-131 treatment
Authors: Sirakriengkrai Korrakode , Tepmongkol Supatporn , Keelawat Somboon , Techavijit Usanee 
Published: December 2020

Object
Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has an excellent prognosis. However, patients with such, if refract to radioiodine treatment, increase recurrent and mortality rates. Tumor aggressiveness in primary tumor of PTC expresses CXCR4 chemokine receptor. Thus, CXCR4 expression of the tumor may predict response to radioiodine treatment.

Materials and methods
Retrospective review of seventy-four PTC patients, treated with total/near-total thyroidectomy and radioiodine treatment at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital from January 2007 to 2013, were classified as non-radioiodine-refractory (non-RAIR) or RAIR treatment response. All histopathologic diagnoses were reviewed and paraffin blocks were retrieved for CXCR4 immunostaining, determined by automated digital imaging analysis for intensity and extension. The scores were compared between primary tumour and adjacent normal thyroid tissue as well as between the tissue of non-RAIR and that of RAIR. Factors determining type of RAI response were analyzed.

Results
CXCR4 immunostaining scores of PTC is significantly higher than normal thyroid [2.03 (0.52) and 1.48 (0.75)] [mean (SD)] (P = 0.0001). CXCR4 immunostaining scores in RAIR are potentially higher than non-RAIR [1.95 (0.54) and 2.13 (0.47) (P = 0.149)]. Odds ratio of CXCR4 immunostaining score for predicting RAIR treatment is 1.99 (P = 0.150). CXCR4 immunostaining scores positively associate with tumor size (R = 0.298, P = 0.01); whereas no significant association with other clinicopathologic factors.

Conclusion
Our data support the notion that CXCR4 are significantly expressed in PTC tumor over normal thyroid tissues. However, there is no clinical association with radioiodine treatment response.
Benefits of enhanced infection prophylaxis at antiretroviral therapy initiation by cryptococcal antigen status
Authors: Pett Sarah L. , Spyer Moira , Haddow Lewis J. , Nhema Ruth , Benjamin Laura A. , Najjuka Grace , Bilima Sithembile , Daud Ibrahim , Musoro Godfrey , Kitabalwa Juliet , Selemani George , Kandie Salome , Cornelius K. Magut , Katemba Chrispus , Berkley Jay A. , Hassan Amin S. , Kityo Cissy , Hakim James , Heyderman Robert S. , Gibb Diana M. , Walker Ann S. 
Published: December 2020

Objectives:
To assess baseline prevalence of cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) positivity; and its contribution to reductions in all-cause mortality, deaths from cryptococcus and unknown causes, and new cryptococcal disease in the REALITY trial.

Design:
Retrospective CrAg testing of baseline and week-4 plasma samples in all 1805 African adults/children with CD4+ cell count less than 100 cells/μl starting antiretroviral therapy who were randomized to receive 12-week enhanced-prophylaxis (fluconazole 100 mg/day, azithromycin, isoniazid, cotrimoxazole) vs. standard-prophylaxis (cotrimoxazole).

Methods:
Proportional hazards models were used to estimate the relative impact of enhanced-prophylaxis vs. standard-cotrimoxazole on all, cryptococcal and unknown deaths, and new cryptococcal disease, through 24 weeks, by baseline CrAg positivity.

Results:
Excluding 24 (1.4%) participants with active/prior cryptococcal disease at enrolment (all treated for cryptococcal disease), 133/1781 (7.5%) participants were CrAg-positive. By 24 weeks, 105 standard-cotrimoxazole vs. 78 enhanced-prophylaxis participants died. Of nine standard-cotrimoxazole and three enhanced-prophylaxis cryptococcal deaths, seven and two, respectively, were CrAg-positive at baseline. Among deaths of unknown cause, only 1/46 standard-cotrimoxazole and 1/28 enhanced-prophylaxis were CrAg-positive at baseline. There was no evidence that relative reductions in new cryptococcal disease associated with enhanced-prophylaxis varied between baseline CrAg-positives [hazard-ratio = 0.36 (95% confidence interval 0.13–0.98), incidence 19.5 vs. 56.5/100 person-years] and CrAg-negatives [hazard-ratio = 0.33 (0.03–3.14), incidence 0.3 vs. 0.9/100 person-years; P
heterogeneity = 0.95]; nor for all deaths, cryptococcal deaths or unknown deaths (P
heterogeneity > 0.3).

Conclusion:
Relative reductions in cryptococcal disease/death did not depend on CrAg status. Deaths of unknown cause were unlikely to be cryptococcus-related; plausibly azithromycin contributed to their reduction. Findings support including 100 mg fluconazole in an enhanced-prophylaxis package at antiretroviral therapy initiation where CrAg screening is unavailable/impractical.
Homonegativity, sexual violence and condom use with women in men who have sex with men and women in West Africa
Authors: Fiorentino Marion , Eubanks August , Coulaud Pierre-Julien , Couderc Clotilde , Keita Bintou D. , Anoma Camille , Dah Elias , Mensah Ephrem , Maradan Gwenaëlle , Bourrelly Michel , Riegel Lucas , Rojas-Castro Daniela , Yaya Issifou , Spire Bruno , Laurent Christian , Sagaon-Teyssier Luis 
Published: December 2020

Objective:
The study aimed to explore longitudinal interactions between homonegativity and sexual behaviors with female partners among HIV-negative West African men who have sex with men and women (MSMW).

Design and method:
The community-based cohort CohMSM ANRS 12324 – Expertise France enrolled MSM in Togo, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali. Sociobehavioral data were collected every 6 months. Using 30-month follow-up data, a multiprobit analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between psychosocial and behavioral variables ex-ante (t − 1) and ex-post (t).

Results:
MSMW (n = 326) accounted for half of all participants in CohMSM. They reported inconsistent condom use with women in 39% of visits. Perceived and internalized homonegativity at t − 1 tended to lead to sexual violence toward women at t (P < 0.1), which was associated with inconsistent condom use with them at t (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:
Given the high HIV prevalence in West African MSM, widespread condom-less sex with women in MSMW, and the aggravating effect of social and internalized homonegativity, more research in the MSMW subpopulation is needed to assess the risk of HIV bridging to women and to design support activities.
Neighborhood-level Racial/Ethnic and Economic Inequities in COVID-19 Burden Within Urban Areas in the US and Canada
Authors: Saha Sudipta , Feldman Justin M. 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTThe COVID-19 pandemic exhibits stark social inequities in infection and mortality outcomes. We investigated neighborhood-level inequities across cities in the US and Canada for COVID-19 cumulative case rates (46 cities), death rates (12 cities), testing rates and test positivity (12 cities), using measures that characterize social gradients by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic composition, or both jointly. We found consistent evidence of social gradients for case, death and positivity rates, with the most privileged neighborhoods having the lowest rates, but no meaningful variation in the magnitude of inequities between cities. Gradients were not apparent in testing rates, suggesting inadequate testing in the most deprived neighborhoods. Health agencies should monitor and compare inequities as part of their COVID-19 reporting practices and to guide pandemic response efforts.HIGHLIGHTSWithin urban regions with available data in the US and Canada, there were strong social gradients for case, death and positivity ratesThe most racially and/or economically privileged neighborhoods had the lowest ratesSocial gradients were similar for neighborhood-level measures of racial/ethnic composition, income, racialized economic segregation, and racialized occupational segregationTesting rates did not show consistent social gradients, which suggests that the most deprived neighborhoods have inadequate access to testing relative to their higher disease burden
Health Signatures During COVID-19: A Precision Fitness Case Study
Authors: Pollet Erin P. , Sathish Aishwarya , Maloney Zacharie , Long Byron L. , Brethen Jennifer , Qutub Amina Ann 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDStay-at-home orders have proven a controversial, while effective, method of SARS-CoV-2 containment. However objective measures of how the pandemic and stay-at-home orders are affecting the daily health of uninfected individuals have been lacking.METHODSWe investigated the effect of pandemic-related events on 61 individuals in San Antonio, Texas whose daily activity and sleep data were recorded via wearable activity trackers from April 2019 to August 2020. We assessed changes in six fitness metrics (steps walked, resting heart rate, sedentary minutes, wake duration after sleep onset, rapid eye movement (REM) duration, total sleep duration). Cluster analysis and time-course analysis identified trends in activity before, after and during stay-at-home orders. Quantitative measures of activities were compared to survey responses.RESULTSFour behavior patterns during stay-at-home orders were identified. Most individuals suffered declines in healthy habits compared to their daily activity in 2019 and early 2020 (e.g., up to −60% steps walked). Inflection points corresponded with key dates relevant to SARS-CoV-2 including the first reported case in the U.S. (Feb 29) and city-wide stay-at-home orders (Mar 23). Pre-existing conditions (diabetes, asthma) were associated with a steeper than average decline in sleep quality during stay-at-home orders. Unexpectedly, we also identified a group of predominately male individuals who improved their daily fitness during stay-at-home orders.CONCLUSIONSObjective measures of daily activity indicated most individuals’ fitness suffered at the onset of stay-at-home orders and slowly returned towards baseline. For a subset of individuals, fitness quantitatively improved – better sleep, more exercise, lower resting heart rate – during stay-at-home orders.
The Impacts of Testing Cadence, Mode of Instruction, and Student Density on Fall 2020 COVID-19 Rates On Campus
Authors: Stubbs Christopher W. , Springer Michael , Thomas Tasha S. 
Published: December 2020

We analyzed the COVID-19 infection rate among undergraduate students at 9 colleges and Universities in the greater Boston area and 4 comparison schools elsewhere, from Fall 2020. We assessed whether the cumulative rate of infection is dependent on the mode of instruction (in-person, hybrid, or remote), on the number and density of dorm-resident undergraduates, and/or on COVID-19 testing cadence. We limited our analysis to institutions that have implemented at least weekly PCR testing of dormitory-resident undergraduates. Our primary conclusions are that (i) the fraction of students that succumbed to a COVID-19 infection up through Nov 22, 2020 shows no correlation with either the total number of students on campus, or the fractional occupancy of dormitories, (ii) remote instruction vs. hybrid instruction has no significant measurable impact on cumulative infection rate, and (iii) there is evidence that testing 2 or 3 times per week is correlated with lower infection rates than weekly testing. These data are consistent with a hypothesis of students predominantly acquiring infection off-campus, with little community transmission within dormitory housing. This implies good student compliance with face mask and social distancing protocols.Significance StatementWe review the incidence of COVID-19 infection among under-graduate students for selected colleges and universities that conducted at least weekly COVID-19 testing during the Fall of 2020. We analyzed the infection-rate dependence on number of students on campus, dormitory residential density, instructional methodology (remote vs. hybrid), and testing cadence. This compilation of outcomes can help inform policy decisions for congregate settings.
A novel multi-omics-based identification of symptoms, comorbid conditions, and possible long-term complications in COVID-19
Authors: Barh Debmalya , Tiwari Sandeep , Andrade Bruno Silva , Weener Marianna E. , Góes-Neto Aristóteles , Azevedo Vasco , Ghosh Preetam , Ganguly Nirmal Kumar 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTTill date the comprehensive clinical pictures, comorbid conditions, and long-term complications of COVID-19 are not known. Recently using a multi-omics-based strategy, we have predicted the drugs for COVID-19 management with ∼70% accuracy. Here, using a similar multi-omics-based bioinformatics approach and three-ways of analysis, we identified the symptoms, comorbid conditions, and short, mid and possible long-term complications of COVID-19 with ∼90% precision. In our analysis (i) we identified 27 parent, 170 child, and 403 specific conditions associated with COVID-19. (ii) Among the specific conditions, 36 are viral and 53 short-term, 62 short to mid to long-term, 194 mid to long-term, and 57 are congenital conditions. (iii) At a cut off “count of occurrence” of 4, we found ∼ 90% of the enriched conditions are associated with COVID-19. (iv) Except the dry cough and loss of taste, all other COVID-19 associated mild and severe symptoms are enriched. (v) Cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, musculoskeletal, neuropsychiatric, kidney, liver, and immune system disorders are found as top comorbid conditions. (vi) Specific diseases such as myocardial infarction, hypertension, COPD, lung injury, diabetes, cirrhosis, mood disorders, dementia, macular degeneration, chronic kidney disease, lupus, arthritis etc. along with several other diseases are also enriched as top candidates. (vii) Interestingly, many cancers and congenital disorders associated with COVID-19 severity are also identified. (viii) Arthritis, dermatomyositis, glioma, diabetes, psychiatric disorder, cardiovascular diseases having bidirectional relationship with COVID-19 are also found as top ranked conditions. Based on the accuracy (∼90%) of this analysis, long presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in human, and our previously proposed “genetic remittance” assumption, we hypothesize that all the identified comorbid conditions including the short-long-mid and mid-long non-communicable diseases (NCDs) could also be long-term consequences in COVID-19 survivors and warrants long-term observational studies.
Indoxyl sulfate, a gut microbiome-derived uremic toxin, is associated with psychic anxiety and its functional magnetic resonance imaging-based neurologic signature
Authors: Brydges Christopher R , Fiehn Oliver , Mayberg Helen S , Schreiber Henry , Dehkordi Siamak Mahmoudian , Bhattacharyya Sudeepa , Cha Jungho , Choi Ki Sueng , Craighead W Edward , Krishnan Ranga R , Rush A John , Dunlop Boadie W , Kaddurah-Daouk Rima ,   for the Mood Disorders Precision Medicine Consortium
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundIt is unknown whether indoles, metabolites of tryptophan that are derived entirely from bacterial metabolism in the gut, are associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety.MethodsSerum samples (baseline, 12 weeks) were drawn from participants (n=196) randomized to treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), escitalopram, or duloxetine for major depressive disorder.ResultsBaseline indoxyl sulfate abundance was positively correlated with severity of psychic anxiety and total anxiety and with resting state functional connectivity to a network that processes aversive stimuli (which includes the subcallosal cingulate cortex (SCC-FC), bilateral anterior insula, right anterior midcingulate cortex, and the right premotor areas). The relation between indoxyl sulfate and psychic anxiety was mediated only through the metabolite’s effect on the SCC-FC with the premotor area. Baseline indole abundances were unrelated to post-treatment outcome measures, which suggests that CBT and antidepressant medications relieve anxiety via mechanisms unrelated to gut microbiota.ConclusionsA peripheral gut microbiome-derived metabolite was associated with altered neural processing and with psychiatric symptom (anxiety) in humans, which provides further evidence that gut microbiome disruption can contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders that may require different therapeutic approaches.
Factors affecting germination and establishment success of an endemic cactus of the Chihuahuan Desert
Authors: Ortiz-Martínez Eder , Golubov Jordan , Mandujano María C. , Arroyo-Cosultchi Gabriel 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSeed and seedling are the most critical stages of cacti life cycle. From the thousands of seeds produced in a reproductive season, only a small fraction gets to germinate, the rest gets lost due to predation or gets potentially buried in the seed bank. These early stages depend on facilitation by nurse plants for germination and seedling recruitment. In this paper, we aim to describe some aspects of the recruitment ofCephalocereus polylophus. We tested the viability of seeds with different storage times as an indicator of their potential to form a short-term seed bank. Through the analysis of seed germination and seedlings survival under the canopy of two nurse plant species and open areas, we aimed to assess the importance of facilitation for recruitment. A predator exclusion experiment was used to evaluate the intensity of herbivory on seeds and seedlings of different developmental stages. Seeds had germination rates above 90%, even after two years of storage. Seed germination was only registered under one of the two nurses. After two years, up to 19% of the seedlings planted under both nurse plants survived. Protection against herbivores increased survival chances from 30 to 52 % for all age-group seedlings. Considering that facilitation is a crucial interaction forC. polylophus, future conservation programs should include the protection of plant communities.
Rapid assembly of a polar network architecture drives efficient actomyosin contractility
Authors: Costache Vlad , Garcia Serena Prigent , Plancke Camille N. , Li Jing , Begnaud Simon , Suman Shashi Kumar , Reymann Anne-Cécile , Kim Taeyoon , Robin François B. 
Published: December 2020

SummaryActin network architecture and dynamics play a central role in cell contractility and tissue morphogenesis. Pulsed contractions driven by RhoA represent a generic mode of actomyosin contractility, but the mechanisms underlying (1) how their specific architecture emerges, and (2) how this architecture supports the contractile function of the network, remain unclear. Here, we combine quantitative microscopy, single-molecule imaging, numerical simulations and simple mathematical modelling, to explore the dynamic network architecture underlying pulsed contraction. We show that during pulsed contractions, two subpopulations of formins are recruited by RhoA from the cytoplasm and bind to the cell surface in the earlyC. elegansembryo:recruitedformins, a functionally inactive population, andelongatingformins, which actively participate in actin filaments elongation. Focusing on formin dynamics during pulses, we show that minority elongating formins precede recruited formins, a kinetic dynamics compatible with formins capturing and rapidly saturating barbed ends available for filament elongation. We then show that these elongating formins assemble a polar network of actin, with barbed ends pointing out of the pulse, pointing to a kinetic rather than mechanical control of network architecture. Finally, our numerical simulations demonstrate that this geometry favors rapid network contraction. Our results thus show that formins saturate available actin filaments barbed ends and convert a local, biochemical gradient of RhoA activity into a polar network architecture, thereby driving rapid and efficient network contractility, an important evolutionary feature in a metazoan with a rapid embryonic cell cycles.HighlightsThe formin CYK-1 drives actin network assembly during RhoA-driven pulsesThe process is extremely rapid, with a formin-based actin elongation rate higher than 1.3 μm·s-1A barbed-end saturation mechanism allows for responsive F-actin assemblyRapid and responsive F-actin elongation results in the assembly of aster-like polar actin networksNumerical simulations show network polarity drives very efficient network contractility
Genetic toolkit for sociality predicts castes across the spectrum of social complexity in wasps
Authors: Wyatt Christopher D. R. , Bentley Michael , Taylor Daisy , Brock Ryan E. , Taylor Benjamin A. , Bell Emily , Leadbeater Ellouise , Sumner Seirian 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMajor evolutionary transitions describe how biological complexity arises; e.g. in evolution of complex multicellular bodies, and superorganismal insect societies. Such transitions involve the evolution of division of labour, e.g. as queen and worker castes in insect societies. Castes across different evolutionary lineages are thought to be regulated by a conserved genetic toolkit. However, this hypothesis has not been tested thoroughly across the complexity spectrum of the major transition. Here we reveal, using machine learning analyses of brain transcription, evidence of a shared genetic toolkit across the spectrum of social complexity in Vespid wasps. Whilst molecular processes underpinning the simpler societies (which likely represent the origins of social living) are conserved throughout the major transition, additional processes appear to come into play in more complex societies. Such fundamental shifts in regulatory processes with complexity may typify other major evolutionary transitions, such as the evolution of multicellularity.
The variant Senescence-Associated-Secretory-Phenotype induced by centrosome amplification constitutes a pathway that activates Hypoxia-Inducible-Factor-1α
Authors: Wu Selwin K. , Ariffin Juliana , Picone Remigio 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTThe Senescence-Associated-Secretory Phenotype (SASP) promote paracrine invasion however may also suppress tumour growth, thus generating complex phenotypic outcomes. Although centrosome amplification can induce proliferation arrest, the subsequent fate of cells with centrosome amplification remains elusive. Here, we report that centrosome amplification induces a variant SASP, constituting a pathway activating paracrine invasion. The centrosome amplification SASP is non-canonical as it lacks detectable DNA damage or prominent NF-κB activation. Instead, involving Rac activation and reactive oxygen species production. Consequently, inducing hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and associated genes, which includes pro-migratory factors such as ANGPTL4. Since senescent cells also have poor fitness, it is tempting to speculate that centrosome amplification induced SASP is one explanation for why extra centrosomes promote malignancy in some experimental models but are neutral or inhibitory in others.
Mechanisms underlying neonate specific metabolic effects of volatile anesthetics
Authors: Stokes Julia , Freed Arielle , Pan Amanda , Sun Grace X , Bornstein Rebecca , Snell John , Park Kyung Yeon , Morgan Philip G , Sedensky Margaret M , Johnson Simon C 
Published: December 2020

AbstractVolatile anesthetics (VAs) are widely used in medicine, but the mechanisms underlying their effects remain ill-defined. Though routine anesthesia is safe in healthy individuals, instances of sensitivity are well-documented, and there has been significant concern regarding the impact of VAs on neonatal brain development. Evidence indicates that VAs have multiple targets, with anesthetic and non-anesthetic effects mediated by neuroreceptors, ion channels, and the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Here, we characterize an unexpected metabolic effect of VAs in neonatal mice. Neonatal blood ß-hydroxybutarate (ß-HB) is rapidly depleted by VAs at concentrations well below those necessary for anesthesia. ß-HB in adults, including animals in dietary ketosis, is unaffected. Depletion of ß-HB is mediated by citrate accumulation, malonyl-CoA production by acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and inhibition of fatty acid oxidation. Adults show similar significant changes to citrate and malonyl-CoA, but are insensitive to malonyl-CoA, displaying reduced metabolic flexibility compared to younger animals.