bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Doping Polysulfone Membrane with Alpha‐Tocopherol and Alpha‐Lipoic Acid for Suppressing Oxidative Stress Induced by Hemodialysis Treatment
Authors: Kohlová Michaela , Rocha Susana , Gomes Amorim Célia , de Nova Araújo Alberto , Santos‐Silva Alice , Solich Petr , Branco da Silva Montenegro Maria Conceição 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe reduction of free radicals by bioactive membranes used for hemodialysis treatment is an important topic due to the constant rise of oxidative stress‐associated cardiovascular mortality by hemodialysis patients. Therefore, it is urgent to find an effective solution that helps to solve this problem. Polysulfone membranes enriched with α‐lipoic acid, α‐tocopherol, and with both components are fabricated by spin coating. The antioxidant properties of these membranes are evaluated in vitro by determining the lipid‐peroxidation level and the total antioxidant status of the blood plasma. The biocompatibility is assessed by quantifying the protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, complement activation, and hemolytic effect. All types of membranes show in vitro antioxidant activity and a trend to reduce oxidative stress in vivo; the best results show membranes prepared with a combination of both compounds and prove to be nonhemolytic and hemocompatible. Moreover, the membrane specific separation ability for the main waste products is not affected by antioxidants incorporation.
Measuring Medication Adherence in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review of Contributing Components in Rating Scales
Authors: Tosin Michelle H.S. , Stebbins Glenn T. , Goetz Christopher G. , Santana Rosimere F. , Leite Marco A.A. , Oliveira Beatriz Guitton R.B. 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundPoor medication adherence in chronic illnesses such as Parkinson's disease (PD) is a significant but potentially addressable issue if core components are systematically measured.ObjectiveTo assess whether rating scales used in PD adequately cover essential components of medication adherence.MethodsWe accessed 5 databases targeting articles published before October 2019 and using rating scales to measure medication adherence in PD. The ABC Taxonomy from the European Ascertaining Barriers to Compliance Consortium and World Health Organization recommendations were used as the evaluation standard of 5 essential adherence dimensions (patient‐based, health system–based, social‐based, therapy‐based, and health condition–based), 3 phases (initiation, implementation, and discontinuation), and 2 factors (intentional and nonintentional).ResultsWe screened 192 and selected 16 studies, collectively using 5 medication adherence rating scales. No scale covered all essential components of medication adherence (dimensions, phases, factors). The Morisky Medication Adherence Scales were the most frequently used (11 studies), but they measure only 2 dimensions and phases. The Stendal Adherence to Medication Score (used in 1 study) measured all phases but only 2 dimensions, and the Brief Medication Questionnaire (used in 3 studies) measured 3 dimensions and 2 phases. Distinctions between intentional and nonintentional factors were not completely considered in any scale.ConclusionsAlthough multiple studies target medication adherence in PD, the used scales did not measure all recommended components, highlighting the need to develop a sensitive, specific, and comprehensive tool for measuring medication adherence among patients with PD.
Pathogenic evaluation of synonymous COL4A5 variants in X‐linked Alport syndrome using a minigene assay
Authors: Horinouchi Tomoko , Yamamura Tomohiko , Minamikawa Shogo , Nagano China , Sakakibara Nana , Nakanishi Koichi , Shima Yuko , Morisada Naoya , Ishiko Shinya , Aoto Yuya , Nagase Hiroaki , Takeda Hiroki , Rossanti Rini , Ishimori Shingo , Kaito Hiroshi , Matsuo Masafumi , Iijima Kazumoto , Nozu Kandai 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundX‐linked Alport syndrome (XLAS) is a progressive, hereditary glomerular nephritis of variable severity caused by pathogenic COL4A5 variants. Currently, genetic testing is widely used for diagnosing XLAS; however, determining the pathogenicity of variants detected by such analyses can be difficult. Intronic variants or synonymous variants may cause inherited diseases by inducing aberrant splicing. Transcript analysis is necessary to confirm the pathogenicity of such variants, but it is sometimes difficult to extract mRNA directly from patient specimens.MethodsIn this study, we conducted in vitro splicing analysis using a hybrid minigene assay and specimens from three XLAS patients with synonymous variants causing aberrant splicing, including previously reported pathogenic mutations in the same codon. The variants were c.876 A>T (p.Gly292=), c.2358 A>G (p.Pro786=), and c.3906 A>G (p.Gln1302=).ResultsThe results from our hybrid minigene assay were sufficient to predict splicing abnormalities; c.876 A>T cause 17‐bp del and 35‐bp del, c.2358 A>G cause exon 29 skipping, c.3906 A>G cause exon 42 skipping, which are very likely to cause pathogenicity. Further, patients carrying c.2358 A>G exhibited a mild phenotype that may have been associated with the presence of both normal and abnormally spliced transcripts.ConclusionThe minigene system was shown to be a sensitive assay and a useful tool for investigating the pathogenicity of synonymous variants.
Uniform microwave heating system design and evaluation with an orthogonally slot‐loaded array waveguide
Authors: Ahn Seong‐Hyeop , Lee Wang‐Sang 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this article, we propose a 1‐kW 2.45 GHz microwave applicator with an orthogonally slot‐loaded array waveguide to improve the heating uniformity. In the conventional microwave applicator with rectangular waveguides, the heating uniformity is low due to various hot and cold spots. Using the proposed slot‐loaded array waveguide having horizontal and vertical slots, the proposed microwave applicator realizes a uniform temperature variation in the heating material and achieves an improved uniformity of up to 77.4% at 2.45 GHz compared to the conventional microwave applicator.
Superiorized method for metal artifact reduction
Authors: Humphries Thomas , Wang Boyang (Jessie) 
Published: June 2020

PurposeMetal artifact reduction (MAR) is a challenging problem in computed tomography (CT) imaging. A popular class of MAR methods replace sinogram measurements that are corrupted by metal with artificial data, typically generated from some combination of interpolation along with other heuristics. While these “projection completion” approaches are successful in eliminating severe artifacts, secondary artifacts may be introduced by the artificial data. In this paper, we propose an approach which uses projection completion to generate a prior image, which is then incorporated into an iterative reconstruction algorithm based on the superiorization framework. The rationale is that the image produced by the iterative algorithm can inherit the desirable properties of the prior image, while also reducing secondary artifacts.MethodsThe prior image is reconstructed using normalized metal artifact reduction (NMAR), a popular projection completion approach. The iterative algorithm is a modified version of the simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART), which reduces artifacts by incorporating a polyenergetic forward model, least‐squares weighting, and superiorization. The penalty function used for superiorization is a weighted average between a total variation (TV) term and a term promoting similarity with the prior image, similar to penalty functions used in prior image constrained compressive sensing (PICCS). Because the prior is largely free of severe metal artifacts, these artifacts are discouraged from arising during iterative reconstruction; additionally, because the iterative approach uses the original projection data, it is able to recover information that is lost during the NMAR process.ResultsWe perform numerical experiments modeling a simple geometric object, as well as several more realistic scenarios such as metal pins, bilateral hip implants, and dental fillings placed within an anatomical phantom. The proposed iterative algorithm is largely successful at eliminating severe metal artifacts as well as secondary artifacts introduced by the NMAR process, especially lost edges of bone structures in the neighborhood of the metal regions. In one case modeling severe photon starvation, the NMAR algorithm is found to provide better results.ConclusionThe proposed algorithm is effective in applying the superiorization methodology to the problem of MAR, providing better results than both NMAR and a purely total variation‐based superiorization approach in nearly all cases.
Separate N‐acetyl aspartyl glutamate, N‐acetyl aspartate, aspartate, and glutamate quantification after pediatric mild traumatic brain injury in the acute phase
Authors: Menshchikov Petr , Ivantsova Anna , Manzhurtsev Andrei , Ublinskiy Maxim , Yakovlev Alexey , Melnikov Ilya , Kupriyanov Dmitrii , Akhadov Tolib , Semenova Natalia 
Published: June 2020

PurposeTo separately measure N‐acetyl aspartul glutamate (NAAG), N‐acetyl aspartate (NAA), aspartate (Asp), and glutamate (Glu) concentrations in white matter (WM) using J‐editing techniques in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in the acute phase.MethodsTwenty‐four patients with closed concussive head injury and 29 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the current study. For extended 1H MRS examination, patients and controls were equally divided into two subgroups. In subgroup 1 (12 patients/15 controls), NAAG and NAA concentrations were measured in WM separately with MEGA‐PRESS (echo time/repetition time [TE/TR] = 140/2000 ms;

/

= 4.84/4.38 ppm,

/

= 4.61/4.15 ppm). In subgroup 2 (12 patients/14 controls), Asp and Glu concentrations were acquired with MEGA‐PRESS (TE/TR = 90/2000 ms;

/

= 3.89/5.21 ppm) and TE‐averaged PRESS (TE from 35 ms to 185 ms with 2.5‐ms increments; TR = 2000 ms) pulse sequences, respectively.ResultstNAA and NAAG concentrations were found to be reduced, while NAA concentrations were unchanged, after mild mTBI. Reduced Asp and elevated myo‐inositol (mI) concentrations were also found.ConclusionThe main finding of the study is that the tNAA signal reduction in WM after mTBI is associated with a decrease in the NAAG concentration rather than a decrease in the NAA concentration, as was thought previously. This finding highlights the importance of separating these signals, at least for WM studies, to avoid misinterpretation of the results. NAAG plays an important role in selectively activating mGluR3 receptors, thus providing neuroprotective and neuroreparative functions immediately after mTBI. NAAG shows potential for the development of new therapeutic strategies for patients with injuries of varying severity.
23Na‐T1 quantification with saturation recovery TrueFISP and variable flip angle GRE at 3T: A phantom study
Authors: Gomolka Ryszard S. , Ciritsis Alexander , Rossi Cristina 
Published: June 2020

PurposeThe aim of the current study was to compare the reproducibility of sodium (23Na)‐T1 estimation using a centric‐reordered saturation recovery (SR) true fast imaging with steady‐state precession (TrueFISP) and a variable flip angle (VFA) spoiled gradient echo (GRE). Additionally, we evaluated the effect of spatial averaging on 23Na‐T1 estimation by the two methods.MethodsMeasurements were performed in the phantom, consisting of 10 dm3 volume rectangular polyethylene container filled with distilled water solution of 0.6% NaCl + 0.004% CuSO4, using a dual‐tunable 23Na/1H coil at 3 Tesla. 23Na images were acquired for FOV = 384 × 384 mm2 and voxel size = 6 × 6 × 6 mm3 using: (1) TrueFISP: TR/TE = 900/1.5 ms, flip angle = 90°, bandwidth = 450 Hz/px, and (2) GRE: TR/TE = 30/1.5 ms, bandwidth = 350 Hz/px. 23Na‐T1 weightings were obtained with nonselective saturation prepulses delayed from the center of the k‐space acquisition by 25/40/60/130/280 ms (SR‐TrueFISP) and by applying different nominal flip angles: 10°/30°/50°/70°/90° (VFA‐GRE). Both sequences were acquired twice, applying 20 and 30 spatial averages. The resulting images were B1‐corrected with a double‐angle GRE method.ResultsImage acquisition varied from 5:41 to 9:37 for TrueFISP and from 12:48 to 19:12 min for GRE using 20 and 30 spatial averages, respectively. Higher averaging increased the acquisition time by 53% and mean SNR at scan < 10%, without an effect on 23Na‐T1 estimations with both methods (SR‐Truefisp |Δ| = 1.58 ms, VFA‐GRE |Δ| = 0.53 ms; for SNR P < .001). Overall, mean ± SD of 23Na‐T1 was found as 51 ± 3 ms with SR‐TrueFISP and 53 ± 2 ms with VFA‐GRE.ConclusionBoth SR‐TrueFISP and VFA‐GRE provided similar 23Na‐T1 estimates based on the phantom measurements with isotropic resolution.
Treatment and revaccination of children with paraneoplastic opsoclonus‐myoclonus‐ataxia syndrome and neuroblastoma: The Memorial Sloan Kettering experience
Authors: Patel Ami , Fischer Cheryl , Lin Yi‐Chih , Basu Ellen M. , Kushner Brian H. , De Braganca Kevin , Khakoo Yasmin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo review the treatment and revaccination of neuroblastoma‐associated opsoclonus‐myoclonus‐ataxia syndrome (OMAS) patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).ProcedureInstitutional Review Board approval was obtained for this retrospective study of patients with neuroblastoma‐associated OMAS followed at MSK from 2000 to 2016.ResultsFourteen patients (nine female) were 9‐21 (median 17) months old at diagnosis of neuroblastoma and OMAS syndrome. They had stage 1 (n = 12), stage 2B, or intermediate‐risk stage 4. Tumor histology was favorable in 11 patients, unfavorable in two, and unknown in one patient. No patient had amplified MYCN. All patients underwent tumor resection at diagnosis. Anti‐neuroblastoma treatment was limited to chemotherapy in one patient. Overall survival is 100% at 3‐16 (median 10) years. For OMAS, 13 patients received intravenous immune globulin (IVIg), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and rituximab, and one received ACTH and IVIg. Seven patients experienced OMAS relapse. For these relapses, five patients received low‐dose cyclophosphamide and two received rituximab. The mean total OMAS treatment was 20‐96 (median 48) months. Seven patients started rituximab ≤3 months from diagnosis and did not relapse. The other six experienced OMAS relapse. To date, six patients have been revaccinated at a minimum of 2 years after completion of OMAS therapy without OMAS recurrence.ConclusionsPatients with neuroblastoma‐associated OMAS had excellent overall survival. Early initiation of rituximab, IVIg, and ACTH may reduce risks of OMAS relapse. Revaccination can be resumed without exacerbation of OMAS. Further investigation with a larger cohort of patients is needed.
Associations of Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and gastric inflammation with pediatric asthma
Authors: Elias Nael , Nasrallah Elias , Khoury Camelia , Mansour Bshara , Abu Zuher Layaly , Asato Valeria , Muhsen Khitam 
Published: June 2020

AbstractObjectiveControversy exists regarding an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and asthma in children. We examined the hypotheses of inverse associations of H. pylori seroprevalence and pepsinogen (PG) levels, as markers of gastric inflammation, with asthma in children.MethodsA hospital‐based case‐control study was conducted among children aged 4.8 to 17.3 years in Israel. Confirmed asthma cases (n = 75) were recruited through a pulmonary clinic, and controls (n = 160) without asthma were enrolled. Using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays we measured the presence of H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, IgG antibodies to cytotoxin‐associated gene A antigen (CagA) (virulent factor), serum PG levels and exposure to other enteric pathogens (Shigella flexneri). Multivariable logistic regression models were applied.ResultsH. pylori IgG seropositivity was 25% and 40% among cases and controls, respectively (P = .03). H. pylori CagA IgG seropositivity was associated with reduced risk of asthma (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.33 [95% CI, 0.11‐0.95] but not for the CagA negative serology (adjusted OR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.32‐1.54]). Children who were H. pylori seropositive with a PGI:PGII of ≤6.78 (severe gastric inflammation) had a lower likelihood of asthma (adjusted OR, 0.31 [95% CI, 0.10‐0.89]) than did seronegative children. Exposure to Shigella flexneri did not differ between cases and controls, nor according to H. pylori seropositivity. Among the asthmatic children, pulmonary function did not differ according to H. pylori seropositivity.ConclusionsH. pylori infection and its related gastric inflammation may have a protective role in the risk of pediatric asthma and further research into a potential causal pathway is required.
β‐Strand‐mediated interactions of protein domains
Authors: Bhat Archana S. , Kinch Lisa N. , Grishin Nick V. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractProtein domains exist by themselves or in combination with other domains to form complex multidomain proteins. Defining domain boundaries in proteins is essential for understanding their evolution and function but is not trivial. More specifically, partitioning domains that interact by forming a single β‐sheet is known to be particularly troublesome for automatic structure‐based domain decomposition pipelines. Here, we study edge‐to‐edge β‐strand interactions between domains in a protein chain, to help define the boundaries for some more difficult cases where a single β‐sheet spanning over two domains gives an appearance of one. We give a number of examples where β‐strands belonging to a single β‐sheet do not belong to a single domain and highlight the difficulties of automatic domain parsers on these examples. This work can be used as a baseline for defining domain boundaries in homologous proteins or proteins with similar domain interactions in the future.
Spatial variability and possible cause analysis of regional precipitation complexity based on optimized sample entropy
Authors: Zhang Liangliang , Li Tianxiao , Liu Dong , Fu Qiang , Li Mo , Faiz Muhammad Abrar , Ali Shoaib , Khan Muhammad Imran 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSample entropy can be used to investigate the complexity of precipitation series. However, the randomness of similar tolerance selection may lead to inaccurate results. To solve this problem, the distinction degree theory was introduced to optimize the similar tolerance of sample entropy, and a specific reference frame for the optimization process was provided. The optimized sample entropy was used to study the spatial differences in precipitation complexity and the possible causes from the perspective of the monthly precipitation (MP) and extreme daily precipitation (EDP) in Heilongjiang Province, China. The results demonstrated that the MP and EDP in Heilongjiang Province both had unsteady complex fluctuation characteristics and the optimal similar tolerances of the sample entropy were 0.24 and 0.13 times the standard deviation, respectively. The complexity of the EDP was higher than that of the MP, and their fluctuation ranges were 1.641–2.268 and 0.433–0.870, respectively. The complexity of the MP in the study area could be spatially represented as a basic pattern, which gradually decreased from east to west. The spatial distribution pattern of the EDP complexity indicated that the northern part was higher than the southern part. Altitude was the common influencing factor of the MP and EDP complexities, and it had a greater impact on the spatial pattern of the EDP complexity. Potential factors influencing the spatial difference in MP complexity also included changes in precipitation intensity, water area and residential and industrial land areas. Except for altitude, industrial economic development level may also affect the complexity of the EDP. The results may improve the application of sample entropy in climate system complexity measurements and could provide guiding significance for revealing the spatial variation of precipitation complexity.
Surjectivity, Closed Range, and Fredholmness of the Composition and Multiplication Operators Between Possibly Distinct Orlicz Spaces
Authors: Chawziuk Tadeusz , Estaremi Yousef , Hudzik Henryk 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe give criteria for the closely related concepts of surjectivity, closed range, and Fredholmness of the composition and multiplication operators between possibly different Orlicz spaces over non-atomic measure spaces.
Sichelzellkrankheit
Authors: Distelmaier L. , Dührsen U. , Dickerhoff R. 
Published: June 2020

ZusammenfassungDer Begriff Sichelzellkrankheit umfasst eine Gruppe von Erkrankungen, die durch das Sichelzellhämoglobin (HbS) allein oder in Kombination mit anderen Varianten des β‑Globin-Locus verursacht werden. Hierbei besteht das Hämoglobin zu über 50 % aus HbS. Die Sichelzellkrankheit tritt überwiegend im Mittelmeerraum, dem mittleren Osten, in Zentralafrika, Indien und Amerika auf. Im desoxygenierten Zustand präzipitiert HbS, die Erythrozyten nehmen die typische Sichelzellform an und es kann zur Okklusion von kleinen Gefäßen kommen. Akut können Gewebeischämien mit Knochen- oder Organinfarkten auftreten, langfristig Organschäden. Bezüglich des Krankheitsverlaufs und der Komplikationen gibt es deutliche Unterschiede zwischen den verschiedenen Genotypen. Daher ist eine genaue Kenntnis der Erkrankung besonders wichtig. Hydroxycarbamid senkt die Mortalität und Morbidität bei Patienten mit Sichelzellkrankheit. Derzeit sind neue Medikamente und Therapieansätze wie die Gentherapie in Erprobung.
Live-born children after assisted reproduction in women with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Larsen Michael Due , Jensen Dorte Møller , Fedder Jens , Jølving Line Riis , Nørgård Bente Mertz 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Aims/hypothesis
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are among the most prevalent chronic diseases in women in the fertile years and women with diabetes may experience several reproductive issues. We aimed to examine the chance of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy and live birth after assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment in women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and whether obesity per se influenced the results.

Methods
This nationwide register-based cohort study is based on the Danish ART Registry comprising 594 women with either type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes from 2006 to 2017.

Results
Relative to women without diabetes, the adjusted OR (95% CI) of a live birth per embryo transfer was 0.50 (0.36, 0.71) in women with type 2 diabetes and 1.10 (0.86, 1.41) in women with type 1 diabetes.

Conclusions/interpretation
Our data on the efficacy of ART treatment in women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is the first in this field. When compared with women without diabetes, women with type 1 diabetes had an equivalent chance of a live birth per embryo transfer whereas women with type 2 diabetes had a reduced chance. The findings in women with type 2 diabetes did not seem to be driven by obesity per se as the same pattern was seen in both normal-weight and obese women.