bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reconstruction of massive tibial bone and soft-tissue defects by trifocal bone transport combined with soft-tissue transport: experience from 31 cases
Authors: Xu Yong-Qing , Fan Xin-Yu , He Xiao-Qing , Wen Hong Jie 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background The study was designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of trifocal bone transport (TFT) and soft-tissue transport with the Ilizarov technique for large posttraumatic tibial bone and soft tissue defects. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 31 patients with massive posttraumatic tibial bone and soft tissue defects from May 2009 to May 2016. All of the eligible patients were managed by TFT and soft-tissue transport. The median age was 33.4 years (range, 2-58 years). The mean defect of bone was 11.87cm ± 2.78cm (range, 8.2-18.2cm) after radical resection performed by TFT. The soft tissue defects ranged from 7cm x 8cm to 24cm x 12cm. The observed results included bone union time, wound close time and true complications. The Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) scoring system was used to assess bone and functional results and postoperative complications were evaluated by Paley classification. Results The mean duration of follow-up after frame removal was 32 months (range, 12-96 months). All cases achieved complete union in both the elongation sites and the docking sites, and eradication of infection. The mean bone transport time was 94.04 ± 23.33 days (range, 63.7-147 days). The mean external fixation time was 22.74 ± 6.82 months (range, 14-37 months), and the mean external fixation index (EFI) was 1.91 ± 0.3 months/cm (range, 1.2–2.5 months/cm). The bone results were excellent in 6 patients, good in 14 patients, fair in 8 patients and poor in 3 patients. The functional results were excellent in 8 patients, good in 15 patients, fair in 5 patients and poor in 3 patients. Conclusion The TFT in concert with soft-tissue transport technique can be used successfully to manage large tibial bone and soft-tissue defects. Soft-tissue transport can offer a feasible method for the defects with good soft tissue coverage on the bone ends. However, imprecision in the series results precludes a definitive conclusion, and comparative study is needed to assess whether soft-tissue transport is more effective than flap transfer for such soft-tissue defect.
Assessing Functional Diversity-Productivity Relationships in Temperate Forests in Northern Mexico
Authors: Vargas-Larreta Benedicto , López-Martínez Jorge O. , Corral-Rivas Jose Javier , Hernández Francisco Javier 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Studies on the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem productivity have suggested that species richness and functional diversity are the main drivers of ecosystem processes. There is no general pattern regarding the relationship found in various studies, and positive, unimodal, negative, and neutral relationships keep the issue controversial. In this study, taxonomic diversity vs functional diversity as drivers of above-ground biomass were compared, and the mechanisms that influence biomass production were investigated by testing the complementarity and the mass-ratio hypoteses.Methods: Using data from 414 permanent sampling plots, covering 23% of temperate forests in the Sierra Madre Occiental (Mexico), we estimated the above-ground biomass (AGB) for trees ≥7.5 cm d.b.h. in managed and unmanaged stands. We evaluated AGB-diversity relationships (species richness, Shannon-Wiener and Simpson indices), AGB-weighted mean community values ​​(CWM) of tree species functional traits (maximum height, leaf size, and wood density) and five measures of functional diversity (functional dispersion, functional richness, functional uniformity, functional diversity, and RaoQ index).Results: We reveal a consistent hump-shaped relationship between aboveground biomass and species richness in managen and unmanaged forest. CWM_Hmax was the most important predictor of AGB in both managed and unmanaged stands, which suggests that the mechanism that explains the above-ground biomass in these ecosystems is dominated by certain highly productive species in accordance of the mass-ratio hypothesis. There were no significant relationships between taxonomic diversity metrics (Shannon-Wiener and Simpson indices) or measures of functional diversity with AGB. The results support the mass-ratio hypothesis to explain the AGB variations.Conclusions: We concluded that diversity does not influence biomass production in the temperate mixed-species and uneven-aged forests of northern Mexico. These forests showed the classic hump-shaped productivity-species richness relationship, with biomass accumulation increasing at low to intermediate levels of species plant diversity and decreasing at high species richness. Functional diversity explains better forest productivity than classical diversity metrics.
Relationship Between Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Level and Helper T Cell 17/regulatory T Cell Balance in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: HAN Rong 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Objective To explore the correlation among the level of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein(COMP) as well as the balancing relationship of helper T cell 17(Th17) /regulatory T cells(Treg) of serum in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Methods 40 patients with RA in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from May 2019 to May 2020 were selected as RA group, while 40 healthy subjects were collected as a control group. After collecting their serum, the figure of Th17, as well as Treg cells, were encountered by flow cytometry(FC), and the proportion of Th17/Treg was counted. Cytometric was also used to detect serum interleukin(IL)-17, IL-10 and IL-6 concentration. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA)was also applied to track down the concentrations of COMP as well as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). All indicators above were considered among groups, and the interrelationship between COMP and the expression of various cells as well as related cytokines was analyzed. Results The concentration of COMP, Th17 and Th17/Treg in RA group were higher than those in the control group, while Treg was lower than that in the control group, and the variation was statistically weighty(P<0.05). The levels of IL-17, IL-6 and TNF-α in RA group were higher than those in the control group, while the concentration of IL-2 was smaller than that of the control group, the differences were statistically weighty(P<0.01). Interrelationship analysis displayed that COMP was undeniably correlated with Th17, Th17/Treg, IL-17, IL-6 as well as TNF-α levels(r =0.687, 0.478, 0.759, 0.903, 0.813, all P<0.01). There was a negative correlation between the levels of COMP and Treg, IL-2(r =-0.356, -0.455, all P<0.01). Conclusion Compared with healthy people, COMP in peripheral blood of patients with RA is abnormally high, and there is obvious T cell immune abnormality, suggesting that COMP may participate in the development of RA by regulating Th17/Treg balance.
Effects of a two-year health-enhancing physical activity program on skeletal muscle protein profiles in people with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Ossipova Elena , Idborg Helena , Fridén Cecilia , Jakobsson Per-Johan , Kosek Eva , Malm Christer , Nordgren Birgitta , Opava Christina , Tegner Yelverton , Vanluyten Jone , Korotkova Marina , Lundberg Ingrid 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) induces loss of muscle mass and impairments, which discourage physical activity. Consequently, RA is associated with decreased levels of exercise. Positive effects of exercise on physical and mental health without increasing pain or disease activity have been demonstrated but the influence of moderate-intensity physical activity on the molecular effects in skeletal muscle in people with RA remains unclear. In this pilot study we investigated the impact of a two-year health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) program on protein profiles in skeletal muscle biopsies from people with RA based on a unique set of interdisciplinary variables.
Methods

Six people with RA participated. Muscle biopsies were taken from m. vastus lateralis, and perceived disease impact, anthropometrics and physical capacity tests were assessed at baseline and year 1 and 2. Mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics and immunohistochemistry analysis were employed to examine molecular changes in the skeletal muscle in response to long-term HEPA.
Results

The study participants had moderate to low adherence to the HEPA program, the perceived disease impact and anthropometric parameters were not altered. Among the physical capacity tests, the Timed-stands test showed a significant improvement after one year. Mean pressure pain threshold was significantly reduced after 1- and 2-year HEPA participation. Proteome analysis of the muscle biopsies showed an up-regulation of proteins in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and predicted increased ATP production and improved muscle contractility in response to HEPA. Molecular pathways identified by proteome analysis revealed correlations to pain variables.
Conclusions

Our results indicate that long-term physical activity in people with RA may up-regulate proteins in the mitochondrial respiratory chain predicting increased ATP production and muscle contractility similar to what has been reported in healthy young men and might have a positive impact on muscle tissue by decreased muscle cell death.
Breast Cancer in Togolese Women: Immunohistochemistry Subtypes
Authors: ADANI-IFE Ablavi , AMEGBOR Koffi , DOH Kwamé , DARRE Tchin 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background
Molecular classification of breast cancer is an important factor for prognostic and clinical outcome. There are no data regarding molecular breast cancer subtypes among Togolese women. The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of ER, PR, HER2 and molecular subtypes of breast cancer receptor in Togolese patients and to establish the correlation between clinical and histological data and molecular types.
Methods
Clinicopathologic data of patients were collected from clinical records. Immunohistochemistry biomarkers (ER, PR and HER2) were assessed in patients who have been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer from March 2016 to March 2020 in the department of oncology. The analysis of variance and the Chi-square Test were used to analyze the data.
Results
A total of 117 cases were collected. Mean age of patients was 52.05 ± 12.38 with an age range of 30 to 85 years. Half of patients were over 50 years old and majority (70.9%) was postmenopausal. More than half of patients (52.1%) presented with T3-T4tumors.The most common histologic subtype of breast cancer was invasive ductal carcinoma of no special type (95.7%). Tumors grade 2 were predominant (51.3%) followed by grade 3 (42.7%). Advanced carcinomas were found in 69 patients (59%). The percentage of ER+, PR + and HER2 positive tumors was 50.4%, 37.6% and 15.4% respectively. The predominant molecular subtype was Luminal A (42.7%) followed by Triple negative (41.9%), Luminal B subtype (9.4%) and HER2 enriched (6%). There was significant association between tumor size and breast cancer subtypes (p = 0.026) but no correlation was found with age, stage, menopausal status and histologic grade.
Conclusion
Breast carcinoma in our patients are high grade tumors and are diagnosed at advanced stage. Luminal A and triple negative are the two predominant breast cancer subtypes in Togolese women. Consequently, Receptor testing availability should be a priority in order to offer the best breast cancer treatment.
A Microdose Clinical Trial to Evaluate 64Cu-NOTA-Trastuzumab as a Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Agent in Patients with Breast Cancer
Authors: Lee Inki , Lim Ilhan , Byun Byung Hyun , Kim Byung Il , Choi Chang Woon , Woo Sang-Keun , Kim Kwang Il , Lee Kyo Chul , Kang Joo Hyun , Seong Min-Ki , Kim Hyun-Ah , Noh Woo Chul , Lim Sang Moo 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biodistribution and safety of 64Cu-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (NOTA)-Trastuzumab, a novel 64Cu-labelled positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in patients with breast cancer.Methods: PET images at 1, 24, and 48 hours after injection of 296 MBq of 64Cu-NOTA-Trastuzumab were obtained on seven patients with breast cancer. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was evaluated in the tumors, including the primary tumor and metastatic lesions. The mean SUVmax (SUVmean) was evaluated in the normal organs including the blood pool, liver, kidney, muscle, spleen, bladder, lung, and bone. In addition, the internal radiation dosimetry was calculated using the OLINDA/EXM software. Safety was assessed by gathering the feedback of adverse reactions and safety-related issues within 1 month after 64Cu-NOTA-Trastuzumab administration.Results: The overall values of SUVmean in each normal organ decreased with time on 64Cu-NOTA-Trastuzumab PET images. The average values of SUVmean of the liver were measured at 5.3 ± 0.7, 4.8 ± 0.6, and 4.4 ± 0.5 on 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours after injection. The average values of SUVmean of the blood were evaluated as 13.1 ± 0.9, 9.1 ± 1.2, and 7.1 ± 1.9 on 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours after injection. The SUVmax of HER2-positive tumors showed relatively higher than that of HER2-negative tumors (8.6 ± 5.1 and 5.2 ± 2.8 on 48 hours after injection, respectively). Tumor to background ratios were calculated higher in the HER2-positive tumors than those of HER2-negative tumors. No adverse events related to 64Cu-NOTA-Trastuzumab were reported. The calculated effective dose with a 296 MBq injection of 64Cu-NOTA-Trastuzumab was 2.96 mSv. The highest absorbed dose was observed in the liver (0.076 mGy/MBq), followed by the spleen (0.063 mGy/MBq), kidney (0.044 mGy/MBq), and heart wall (0.044 mGy/MBq).Conclusions: 64Cu-NOTA-Trastuzumab showed specific uptake at the HER2-expressing tumors. It suggests that 64Cu-NOTA-Trastuzumab can be a feasible monitoring tool for HER2 tumor status in the patients with breast cancer with safe.Trial registration: CRIS, KCT0002790. Registered 02 February 2018, https://cris.nih.go.kr
Systemic Inflammation Causes Microglial Dysfunction with a Mixed AD-Like Pathology.
Authors: Bathini Praveen , Dupanloup Isabel , Zennaro Elena , Terrabuio Eleonora , Fisher Amrei , Babaliani Edona , Doucey Marie-Agnes , Alberi Lavinia 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the primary cause of cognitive deficit in elderly humans. Late-onset AD (LOAD) is sporadic, multifactorial, non-Mendelian accounting at present for 95% of the cases in contrast to the genetic form. Risk factors for sporadic AD include Gene: Environment interactions. There is increasing evidence that lifestyle and environmental stress such as infection and chronic inflammation are underlying culprits of neurodegenerative dementia. To date, very few mouse models reproduce the pathophysiological progression of sporadic AD, while the majority of studies have employed transgenic animals reproducing the familial form. Methods We have re-engineered the Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (PolyI:C) sterile infection model in wildtype C57Bl6 mice to obtain chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. We have conducted a cross-sectional analysis of aging PolyI:C and Saline control mice (3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 16 months), taking the hippocampus as a reference brain region, based on its vulnerability, and compared the brain aging phenotype to AD progression in humans with mild AD, severe AD and Controls (CTL). Results We found that PolyI:C mice display both peripheral and central inflammation with a peak at 6 months, associated with memory deficits. The hippocampus is characterized by a pronounced and progressive tauopathy. In PolyI:C brains, microglia undergo aging-dependent morphological rearrangements progressively adopting a phagocytic phenotype. Transcriptomic analysis reveals a profound change in gene expression over the course of aging, with a peak in differential expression at 9 months. We confirm that the proinflammatory marker Lcn2 is one of the genes with the strongest upregulation in PolyI:C mice upon aging. Validation in brains from patients with increasing severity of AD shows a general tendency of the genes to decline except for GFAP. Conclusions The PolyI:C model of sterile infection demonstrates that peripheral chronic inflammation is sufficient to cause neuropathological processes resembling a mixed-AD, with progressive tau hyperphosphorylation, changes in microglia morphology, and gene reprogramming reflecting the increased neuroinflammation and the loss of neuronal functionality seen to some extent in humans.
Communication Skills of Resident Physicians in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Habbash Asma Saad , Siddiqui Aesha Farheen 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Effective communication improves patient-physician relationship and the overall quality of care. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate communication skills of resident physicians at different health care facilities in Abha, Saudi Arabia.Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study on a total of 210 resident doctors.Results: The communication skills scores were nearly normally distributed with a mean score of 113.30 ± 32.25.In comparing the skills by various socio-demographic factors, it was noted that gender and age played a significant role in specific communication skills. There was significant difference in mean scores of younger and older physicians in domains of interpretation and clarification (p < 0.001), asking (p < 0.001), feedback (p < 0.01), punishment and reward skills (p < 0.001). In asking skills, there was significant difference in mean scores of male and females (p < 0.001). Residents in the specialty of Internal Medicine had significantly higher scores than other specialties (CI 95% = 107.74–127.07; p < 0.001). Fifth-year residents had significantly higher scores than those of other levels (CI 95% =123.94-142.05; p < 0.001). Residents with more than one year of experience after the basic degree had significantly higher scores than residents with lesser experience (CI 95% = 123.76–137.68; p < 0.001). Residents who had taken training in communication skills had higher scores than those who had no prior training (CI 95% = 112.78-124.48; p = 0.07). Conclusion:The resident physicians are lacking in communication skills. Results of this study point towards a lingering need to focus on training of physicians in effective communication and efforts should be made to include it as a core competency in medical curriculum.
Integrated analysis identifies hypertension-GWAS-loci regulated, differentially expressed genes in aorta and blood of aortic dissection
Authors: Cao Yu , Xiong Da , Li Kunlin , Dai Guolin , Li Yongwu , Zhong Minghua , Zhang Jinping , Jiang Lihong , Zhao Wei , Li Hongrong 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition caused by a tear in the intimal layer of the aorta. Hypertension is the most common risk factor of aortic dissection. However, only a small proportion of subjects with hypertension will develop aortic dissection. Genetic basis and effect genes determining the development and progression of aortic dissection remained to be identified. In this study, we attempted to recognize the underlying effect genes from reliable large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of hypertension.Methods: As most GWAS locus functions through its biological role in gene expression regulation, we initially converted the GWAS signals to transcriptomic profiles in aorta using the Functional Summary-based Imputation (FUSION) algorithm. The FUSION derived genes were then checked whether they were differentially expressed in aorta of subjects with and without aortic dissection.Results: We found 23 genes that were regulated by hypertension GWAS loci and were altered in aorta of dissection patients. In particular, the DCAF16 gene could be detected in blood, providing a possibility of non-invasive early detection or prediction of hypertensive individuals at risk of aortic dissection.Conclusions: Our analyses identified effect genes in aorta and provided a possibility of non-invasive early detection of aortic dissection.Trial registration: Retrospectively registered.
A Comparison of therapeutic strategies consisting of different combinations of surgery and/or radiotherapy in Pulmonary MALT-MZL: A population-based Analysis of SEER Data, 1992-2013
Authors: Du Xinyi , Quan Lin , Miao Yi , Cao Lei , Huang Rong , Liu Hailing , Fan Lei , Xu Wei , Li Jianyong 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background

Pulmonary marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type (MALT) is recognized as the most common type of primary pulmonary lymphomas. However, due to its relatively-low proportion, the studies focused on this patient population were limited. We aimed to reveal the status of surgery and radiotherapy in survival of pulmonary MALT lymphoma patients.
Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who were pathologically diagnosed as pulmonary MALT lymphoma between 1992 and 2013. Their treatment information was collected in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. According to the different treatments, they were divided into four groups: Both Surgery and Radiation(SR), Surgery(S), Radiation(R) and No Surgery Or Radiation(NSR). The further subgroup analyses were performed according to age of onset and clinical stages. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from diagnosis up to the date of death or the last follow-up of each patient. Survival curves constructed by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were utilized for comparison.
Results

There were 860 pulmonary MALT lymphoma patients were enrolled. The median OS was 55.0 months (0-256.0 months). The OS between patients who underwent surgery and/or radiotherapy(S/R/SR) or not(NSR)(473 VS 387) had shown a significant difference of each other(P < 0.0001), so did the comparison among the four subgroups(SR VS S VS R VS NSR, P < 0.0001). Although there wasn’t any statistical difference in the OS between SR and S groups (P = 0.1174), further analysis on the causes of death revealed that, additional radiation therapy may lead to good short-term efficacy, while elevated mortality associated with long-term pulmonary complications was noteworthy. In the subgroup analyses, patients in stage I-II and over 60 years old shared similar trends with total population involved in the study(P = 0.0001;P < 0.0001).
Conclusions

The present study confirmed the value of surgery and the possible effects of radiotherapy among patients with pulmonary MALT lymphoma by clinical data from a large number of samples. If the improved radiotherapy regimens are chosen or the pulmonary complications caused by radiotherapy are well-managed, chances will be high that extra benefits could be achieved by combining radiotherapy with the surgical-based therapy.