bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Important factors in left atrial posterior wall isolation using 28‐mm cryoballoon ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation—Block line or isolation area?
Authors: Nanbu Tadafumi , Yotsukura Akihiko , Suzuki George , Ishidoya Yuki , Sano Fumihiko , Yoshida Izumi , Sakurai Masayuki 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIntroductionLeft atrial (LA) roof ablation using the cryoballoon technique, combined with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), has been reported to be beneficial for ablation therapy in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Left posterior wall ablation also results in improved patient outcomes. However, the contribution of these techniques to the success of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) treatment of AF is not known. The present study examined the influence of the roofline block and isolation area on outcomes after CBA.Methods and ResultsWe enrolled 78 patients with persistent AF. LA roof ablation was performed using a 28‐mm cryoballoon with a single freezing of 3 minutes at each region (median number of freezes: 4) after PVI. After CBA, bipolar voltage amplitude mapping was performed during sinus rhythm using the NavX mapping system. Patients were divided into two subgroups according to the voltage and activation map: the roof‐conduction (n = 46) and roofline‐block groups (n = 32). Atrial tachyarrhythmia recurred in 20 patients of the conduction group and 4 patients of the roofline‐block group. The rate of 12‐month freedom from tachyarrhythmia after a single ablation procedure was 78% (95% confidence interval [CI], 60%‐89%) in the roofline‐block group and 45% (95% CI, 30%‐60%) in the conduction group (P = .048). Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that the isolated area was not a significant predictor of recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.86‐1.02; P = .15).ConclusionCreating a complete roofline block is the major factor predicting the maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with persistent AF.
Circular RNA circFOXO3 promotes prostate cancer progression through sponging miR‐29a‐3p
Authors: Kong Zhe , Wan Xuechao , Lu Yali , Zhang Yingyi , Huang Yan , Xu Yi , Liu Yajuan , Zhao Peiqing , Xiang Xinxin , Li Liang , Li Yao 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCircular RNA FOXO3 (CircFOXO3, also termed as Hsa_circ_0006404) is derived from exon 2 of forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) gene, and abnormal expression is shown in different diseases. However, whether circFOXO3 plays important roles in tumorigenesis and progression of prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. In this study, we found that circFOXO3 was up‐regulated in both PCa tissues and serum samples. Moreover, circFOXO3 was positively correlated with the Gleason score in PCa samples. CircFOXO3 was observed to be up‐regulated in Gleason score > 6 PCa samples compared with Gleason score = 6 PCa samples. Knock‐down circFOXO3 could remarkably inhibit PCa cell cycle, proliferation and promote cell apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, we demonstrated circFOXO3 could act as miR‐29a‐3p sponge to up‐regulate SLC25A15 expression by bioinformatics analysis, dual‐luciferase reporter assays and biotinylated RNA pull‐down assays. SLC25A15 could reverse the tumour suppressing roles of knock‐down circFOXO3 in PCa. Of note, we found that miR‐29a‐3p was down‐regulated; however, SLC25A15 was overexpressed in PCa samples compared with normal tissues. In conclusion, circFOXO3 acts as a miR‐29a‐3p sponge to exhibit oncogenic activity that affects the cell cycle and cell apoptosis in PCa through transcriptional up‐regulation of SLC25A15. Our analysis suggests circFOXO3 could act as promising prostate cancer biomarkers.
The efficacy and safety of pulse vs. continuous therapy for dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis
Authors: Gupta A.K. , Stec N. , Bamimore M.A. , Foley K.A. , Shear N.H. , Piguet V. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundOnychomycosis is a chronic, fungal infection of the nails. Complete cure remains challenging, but oral antifungal medications have been successful in managing the fungus for a significant proportion of patients. Treatment with these drugs can be continuous or intermittent, albeit the evidence on their relative efficacies remains unclear.ObjectiveTo determine the relative effectiveness and safety of pulse versus continuous administration, of three common oral therapies for dermatophyte onychomycosis, by conducting multiple‐treatment meta‐analysis.MethodsThis systematic review and network meta‐analysis compared the efficacy (as per mycological cure) and adverse event rates of three oral antifungal medications in the treatment of dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis, namely terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole. A total of 30 studies were included in the systematic review, while 22 were included in the network meta‐analysis.ResultsThe likelihood of mycological cure was not significantly different between continuous and pulse regimens for each of terbinafine and itraconazole. Use of continuous terbinafine for 24 weeks – but not 12 weeks – was significantly more likely to result in mycological cure than continuous itraconazole for 12 weeks or weekly fluconazole for 9–12 months. Rank probabilities demonstrated that 24‐week continuous treatment of terbinafine was the most effective. There were no significant differences in the likelihood of adverse events between any continuous and pulse regimens of terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole. Drug treatments were similar to placebo in terms of their likelihood of producing adverse events.ConclusionMore knowledge about the fungal life cycle and drugs’ pharmacokinetics in nail and plasma could further explain the relative efficacy and safety of the pulse and continuous treatment regimens. Our results indicate that in the treatment of dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis, the continuous and pulse regimens for terbinafine and itraconazole have similar efficacies and rates of adverse events.
GLUT1 expression in human papillomavirus‐positive anogenital lesions
Authors: Samama B. , Benardais K. , Lipsker D. , Boehm N. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundGLUT1, an ubiquitous glucose transporter in the mammalian cells, is upregulated in many tumours, including human papillomavirus (HPV)‐induced head and neck or cervical cancer.ObjectiveTo study in anogenital lesions whether or not GLUT1 expression correlates with genomic high‐risk HPV integration, the first step in neoplastic transformation.MethodsForty‐three HPV‐positive biopsies positive for either low‐risk or high‐risk HPV were selected. Paraffin sections adjacent to those tested for the presence of HPV were processed for GLUT1 immunocytochemistry. GLUT1 expression was analysed by two histologists, blinded to HPV type and status and then compared with HPV typing results.ResultsTwo main staining patterns were observed, either staining from the basal to the granular layer or staining of superficial layers only. The first staining pattern corresponded to lesions with high number of episomal HPV‐positive nuclei. Superficial staining was observed in lesions with low number of episomal HPV nuclei or when high‐risk HPV was integrated in the cell genome.ConclusionOur results show that GLUT1 overexpression correlates with the number of episomally infected cells in the lesion, but not with the type (low or high risk) of HPV.
Significance of the angiotensin I/angiotensin II/angiotensin‐(1‐7) axis in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis
Authors: Miziołek B. , Bergler‐Czop B. , Kucharz E. , Kotyla P. , Kopeć‐Mędrek M. , Widuchowska M. , Sieńczyk M. , Brzezińska‐Wcisło L. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystemic disease with an extensive microvasculopathy. Previously, disturbances in plasma levels of angiotensin II (Ang II) and its antagonistic angiotensin‐(1‐7) (Ang‐(1‐7)) were found in patients with SSc. Their significance in a pathogenesis of SSc stays unclear due to discrepancies of earlier studies.ObjectivesTo evaluate a significance of disturbances in production pathway of angiotensins in a development of SSc.MethodsThere were enrolled 27 patients with established SSc, 23 subjects with very early SSc and 23 healthy controls. The diagnosis of SSc was established in patients who met EULAR/ACR 2013 classification criteria. Very early SSc described patients with Raynaud's phenomenon having SSc‐specific antinuclear antibodies and SSc‐like abnormalities in nailfold videocapillaroscopy. Patients were submitted to evaluation of internal organ involvement and blood sampling to assay plasma levels of angiotensin I, angiotensin II and angiotensin‐(1‐7) with ELISA technique.ResultsPlasma level of angiotensin‐(1‐7) was significantly reduced in both SSc group (median = 47.2 pg/mL; P < 0.001) and ones with very early SSc (median = 102.7 pg/mL; P = 0.002) when compared to healthy controls (median = 176.1 pg/mL). A tendency to higher than in control group (median = 214 pg/mL) plasma level of angiotensin I was seen in SSc group (median = 392 pg/mL; P = 0.059). Differences in plasma level of angiotensin II were insignificant between all study groups. Those disturbances produced unfavourable angiotensin‐(1‐7)/angiotensin II (%) ratio in both groups of patients, which achieved statistical significance in subjects with established SSc (P < 0.001). Production pathway of angiotensins showed a dependence on a subtype of SSc, immune profile and a presence of interstitial lung disease.ConclusionsProduction of angiotensin‐(1‐7) was significantly reduced in both SSc patients and those ones with very early SSc, although a significant imbalance between angiotensin II and angiotensin‐(1‐7) occurred only in subjects with established disease.
Quantifying individual variation in reaction norms: Mind the residual
Authors: Ramakers Jip J. C. , Visser Marcel E. , Gienapp Phillip 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPhenotypic plasticity is a central topic in ecology and evolution. Individuals may differ in the degree of plasticity (individual‐by‐environment interaction (I × E)), which has implications for the capacity of populations to respond to selection. Random regression models (RRMs) are a popular tool to study I × E in behavioural or life‐history traits, yet evidence for I × E is mixed, differing between species, populations, and even between studies on the same population. One important source of discrepancies between studies is the treatment of heterogeneity in residual variance (heteroscedasticity). To date, there seems to be no collective awareness among ecologists of its influence on the estimation of I × E or a consensus on how to best model it. We performed RRMs with differing residual variance structures on simulated data with varying degrees of heteroscedasticity and plasticity, sample size and environmental variability to test how RRMs would perform under each scenario. The residual structure in the RRMs affected the precision of estimates of simulated I × E as well as statistical power, with substantial lack of precision and high false‐positive rates when sample size, environmental variability and plasticity were small. We show that model comparison using information criteria can be used to choose among residual structures and reinforce this point by analysis of real data of two study populations of great tits (Parus major). We provide guidelines that can be used by biologists studying I × E that, ultimately, should lead to a reduction in bias in the literature concerning the statistical evidence and the reported magnitude of variation in plasticity.
Automated Test Assembly with Mixed‐Integer Programming: The Effects of Modeling Approaches and Solvers
Authors: Luo Xiao 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAutomated test assembly (ATA) is a modern approach to test assembly that applies advanced optimization algorithms on computers to build test forms automatically. ATA greatly improves the efficiency and accuracy of the test assembly. This study investigated the effects of the modeling methods and solvers in the mixed‐integer programming (MIP) approach to ATA in the context of assembling parallel linear test forms and multistage testing (MST) panels. The results of two simulation studies indicated that the newly proposed maximin modeling method significantly improved the parallelism of the test information functions (TIFs) among assembled test forms while maintaining relatively high overall TIFs, and the newly proposed binary minimax method considerably reduced the overall discrepancies from the targets. A comparison of four freely available noncommercial MIP solvers from the utilitarian, as opposed to the benchmarking, perspective was also included in this study.
Use of fluid structure interaction technique for flash flood impact assessment of structural components
Authors: Kankanamge Sunindu L. , Mendis Priyan , Ngo Tuan 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPrediction of the initial impact force is a major task associated with flood damage assessment of structures subjected to flash flooding especially due to dam break and levee breach. Investigation of failure modes such as overturning and sliding due to soil scouring or erosion is not relevant if the structure first fails by the massive initial dynamic impact. Therefore, a careful assessment of the initial flood impact is critical for the design of structures and during the flood damage assessment process. In most of the past flood damage studies, total flood load acting on the structures was estimated by maximum velocities and water depths obtained from the two‐dimensional hydrodynamic models or the field data. The outcome of these results has shown potential uncertainty in current methods. We present a new approach to calculate the load on structural components impacted by a dam break wave, by modelling the three‐dimensional free surface fluid–structure interaction (FSI) using the incompressible computational fluid dynamics (ICFD) techniques. Two experimental datasets available in the literature are used to validate the results. Finally, we conclude that FSI/IFCD method can be used to accurately determine the initial impact force on structural components subjected to flash floods for flood damage assessment.
Evolutionary basis for the human diet: consequences for human health
Authors: Andrews P. , Johnson R.J. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe relationship of evolution with diet and environment can provide insights into modern disease. Fossil evidence shows apes, and early human ancestors were fruit eaters living in environments with strongly seasonal climates. Rapid cooling at the end of the Middle Miocene (15–12 Ma: millions of years ago) increased seasonality in Africa and Europe, and ape survival may be linked with a mutation in uric acid metabolism. Climate stabilized in the later Miocene and Pliocene (12–5 Ma), and fossil apes and early hominins were both adapted for life on ground and in trees. Around 2.5 Ma, early species ofHomointroduced more animal products into their diet, and this coincided with developing bipedalism, stone tool technology and increase in brain size. Early species ofHomosuch asHomo habilisstill lived in woodland habitats, and the major habitat shift in human evolution occurred at 1.8 Ma with the origin ofHomo erectus.Homo erectushad increased body size, greater hunting skills, a diet rich in meat, control of fire and understanding about cooking food, and moved from woodland to savannah. Group size may also have increased at the same time, facilitating the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next. The earliest fossils ofHomo sapiensappeared about 300 kyr, but they had separated from Neanderthals by 480 kyr or earlier. Their diet shifted towards grain‐based foods about 100 kyr ago, and settled agriculture developed about 10 kyr ago. This pattern remains for many populations to this day and provides important insights into current burden of lifestyle diseases.
NUDT1: A potential independent predictor for the prognosis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Shen Yuchen , Zhang Lei , Piao Songlin , Li Lili , Li Jianhao , Xia Yanyun , Li Jichen , Saiyin Wuliji 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectiveThe current study was aimed to investigate the association of nudix hydrolase 1 (NUDT1) levels with the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients.Material and MethodsWestern immunoblotting and qRT‐PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA levels of NUDT1 in 31 cases of OSCC and normal tissues. The paraffin‐embedded 62 cases of OSCC and 18 normal tissues were collected, and the pathological alterations were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The prognosis of all patients was followed up. Kaplan‐Meier method was used to analyze the survival rate, and Cox regression was used for multivariate analysis.ResultsBoth the protein and gene levels of NUDT1 were statistically increased (P = .0007 and P < .0001) in the OSCC tissue and had a significant association with the histopathologic grades of OSCC (P < .0001 and P = .0223). Immunohistochemistry detection of NUDT1 in 62 human OSCC tissues and 18 normal control tissues showed that NUDT1 expression was significantly increased in OSCC tissue and showed a strong association with histopathologic grades (P < .0001) and tumor stage (P = .005). Patients with high NUDT1 expression exhibited poorer overall survival rate (OS) and tumor‐specific survival rate (TSS) than those with low NUDT1 expression (P < .0001 and P = .0008), and NUDT1 was independent prognostic factors for OS and TSS (P < .0001 and P < .001).ConclusionThe expression level of NUDT1 might be used to predict the prognosis of OSCC patients.
Adaptation of aerobic training essentially involved autophagy, mitochondrial marker and muscle fibre genetic modulation in rat cardiac muscles
Authors: Gunadi Julia Windi , Tarawan Vita Murniati , Setiawan Iwan , Goenawan Hanna , Ratnawati Hana , Limyati Yenni , Adhika Oeij Anindita , Santoso Andreas Wardono , Lesmana Ronny , Supratman Unang 
Published: November 2019

AbstractInformation about the role of moderate acute treadmill training in modulating autophagy and mitochondrial markers that might be correlated with alteration of muscle fibre gene expression in rat cardiac muscles is very limited. In this present study, the researchers divided twenty male Wistar rats into four groups: sedentary control, 3, 6 and 15 days and subjected them to treadmill training with moderate intensity (20 m/min), 30 min each day. RNA was extracted from cardiac muscles and stored in temperature of −80°C. Specific primers were utilized for semi‐quantitative PCR. Treadmill training decreased autophagy‐related gene expression (LC3, p62) and upper stream signalling of autophagy (PIK3CA, Akt and mTOR) in 3 and 6 d, but stimulated gene expression of mitochondrial markers (PGC1α, Cox1, Cox2 and Cox4) in 15 days. αMHC gene expression increased while βMHC gene expression decreased in 15 days. In line with this, autophagy‐related genes increased in 3 and 6 days and returned to baseline in 15 days. The increment in mitochondrial gene expression might be correlated with shifting gene expression of αMHC and βMHC in 15 days. Taken together, acute adaptation in cardiac muscles is stimulated by genetic modulation of autophagy, mitochondrial marker and muscle fibre that may explain physiological cardiac adaptation after training. This study can be used as a reference for optimizing performance in period of cardiac muscle adaptation stimulated by treadmill training.
Influence of historical landscape on aquatic plant diversity
Authors: Jamoneau Aurélien , Bouraï Liess , Devreux Lise , Percaille Louise , Queau Audrey , Bertrin Vincent 
Published: November 2019

AbstractQuestionsThe historical composition of landscapes is recognized as an important factor for explaining plant diversity, because species assemblages are not only patterned by current ecological conditions, but also represent legacies of the past. Contrary to terrestrial ecosystems, the influence of history has rarely been considered for aquatic communities. Here, we examined the effect of past land use on aquatic plant communities of freshwater shallow lakes. We first aimed to identify the relevant scale for studying landscape effects on macrophyte communities and then to test the relative influence of environmental variables and past and recent land use on aquatic plant assemblages.LocationAtlantic coastline, southwestern France.MethodsWe surveyed shoreline macrophyte communities of 17 lakes and used species accumulation curves to estimate taxonomic richness. We used water chemistry and lakes’ morphological features as environmental variables and reconstructed land‐use occupancies of lakes’ watershed with aerial pictures of 1945, 1965, 1985 (past) and 2002 (recent). We examined landscape change with principal component analysis and taxonomic composition with non‐metrical multidimensional scaling. We then evaluated the relative influence of morphological, chemical, past and recent land‐use factors on taxonomic richness and composition with variation partitioning methods.ResultsWe found that the studied landscapes exhibit a trend toward an increase of urban and arable fields areas at the expense of semi‐natural ones. Water chemical composition and past land use of the whole watershed (particularly urban and semi‐urban areas) were strongly inter‐correlated, and explained the major part of the variation of taxonomic richness and composition.ConclusionsThese results underline the importance of historical factors in explaining aquatic plant diversity and suggest delayed responses of communities to anthropogenic pressures. Integrating historical factors in future analyses of aquatic ecosystems would thus greatly contribute to understanding ecological processes, and is crucial for the conservation and management of macrophyte communities.
Ready for change: Seed traits contribute to the high adaptability of mudflat species to their unpredictable habitat
Authors: Phartyal Shyam S. , Rosbakh Sergey , Ritz Christian , Poschlod Peter 
Published: November 2019

AbstractQuestionA better understanding of species distribution and establishment requires in‐depth information on their seed ecology. We hypothesised that seed traits of mudflat species may indicate a strong environmental adaptation in their highly specialised habitat. Furthermore, we asked the question, do seeds of mudflat species have a specific trait value to contribute high adaptability to small‐scale variation in their unpredictable habitat?LocationCentral Europe.MethodsSeeds of 30 typical mudflat species were used to measure 15 traits that govern seed dispersal (buoyancy and production), persistence (seed desiccation, mass and persistence in soil), and germination and establishment (germination response to different light, temperature and oxygen conditions). Cluster analysis and phylogenetic principal components analysis (pPCA) were conducted to define potential mudflat species functional groups as per their ecological optima.ResultsSeed production and seed mass displayed extremely high variation while seed buoyancy, desiccation and persistence in soil showed almost no variation. All study species produced buoyant, desiccation‐tolerant and long‐term persistent seeds. Germination and establishment traits also displayed similarity in their responses to different germination treatments as the majority (73%) of species has a moderate seed germination niche width. They germinated well under light/aerobic conditions irrespective to temperature fluctuations. The cluster analysis and pPCA separated species into three potential plant functional groups as ‘true’, ‘flood‐resistant’ and ‘facultative’, mudflat species.ConclusionModerate variation in the seed traits of mudflat plants suggests they employ different ecological strategies that seem highly predictive to the peculiarity of their specific micro‐habitats, which are largely controlled by the hydroperiod gradient. It implies that seed trait information, which further needs to be tested for their adaptability, can advance our understanding of how community composition at the micro‐habitat level depends on trait values of participating species.