bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Establishment of epigenetic markers to predict irradiation efficacy against oropharyngeal cancer
Authors: Kurokawa Tomoya , Nakagawa Takuya , Matsusaka Keisuke , Fukuyo Masaki , Mima Masato , Misawa Kiyoshi , Rahmutulla Bahityar , Ikeda Jun‐ichiro , Hanazawa Toyoyuki , Okamoto Yoshitaka , Kaneda Atsushi 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIrradiation, or chemoradiotherapy, is a curative treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Its invasiveness, however, can often negate its efficacy. Therefore, developing methods to predict which patients would benefit from irradiation is urgent. Promoter DNA hypermethylation was recently reported to correlate with favorable OPSCC prognosis. It is still unclear, however, whether there is an association between promoter DNA methylation and response to irradiation. In this study, we analyzed DNA methylation in the specimens from 40 OPSCC patients who had undergone irradiation, using the Infinium assay. Our results showed significant correlation between high levels of promoter DNA methylation and better response to treatment (P < 0.01). We used the 10 most differentially‐methylated genes between responders and non–responders to develop a panel of predictive markers for efficacy. Our panel had high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy (92%, 93% and 93%, respectively). We conducted pyrosequencing to quantitatively validate the methylation levels of 8 of the 10 marker genes (ROBO1, ULK4P3, MYOD1, LBX1, CACNA1A, IRX4, DPYSL3 and ELAVL2) obtained by Infinium. The validation by pyrosequencing showed that these 8 genes had a high prediction performance for the training set of 40 specimens and for a validation set of 35 OPSCC specimens, showing 96% sensitivity, 89% specificity and 94% accuracy. Methylation of these markers correlated significantly with better progression‐free and overall survival rates, regardless of human papillomavirus status. These results indicate that increased DNA methylation is associated with better responses to irradiation therapy and that DNA methylation can help establish efficacy prediction markers in OPSCC.
The impact of oral health literacy and family cohesion on dental caries in early adolescence
Authors: Neves Érick Tássio Barbosa , Dutra Laio da Costa , Gomes Monalisa Cesarino , Paiva Saul Martins , de Abreu Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães , Ferreira Fernanda Morais , Granville‐Garcia Ana Flávia 
Published: February 2020

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the prevalence of cavitated dental caries and oral health literacy (OHL), family characteristics and sociodemographic factors in early adolescence.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted with 740 twelve‐year‐old students. The students' guardians provided information on sociodemographic data, and the students provided information on family characteristics and OHL. Two trained dentists examined the participants for dental caries and administered the Brazilian version of the Rapid Estimate of Oral Health Literacy in Dentistry (BREALD‐30). Control variables were selected using a directed acyclic graph. Descriptive analysis was performed; this was followed by robust Poisson regression analysis for complex samples to evaluate the association between dental caries and socioeconomic and family predictors (α = 5%).ResultsThe following variables were associated with a greater number of cavitated caries lesions: low level of education completed by the mother (RR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.12‐2.24), less privileged social class (RR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.28‐2.80), non‐White ethnicity (RR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.0‐2.48), larger number of residents in the home (RR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.25‐2.81), low level of OHL (RR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.28‐3.18), and the ‘connected’ (RR = 4.72; 95% CI: 1.17‐18.90), ‘separated’ (RR = 4.09; 95% CI: 1.05‐15.86) and ‘disengaged’ (RR = 4.20; 95% CI: 1.09‐16.18) types of family cohesion.ConclusionsA low level of oral health literacy, sociodemographic factors, and a low level of family cohesion are predictors of cavitated caries lesions in early adolescence.
MAIT cell activation in adolescents is impacted by bile acid concentrations and body weight
Authors: Mendler A , Pierzchalski A , Bauer M , Röder S , Sattler A , Standl M , Borte M , von Bergen M , Rolle-Kampczyk U , Herberth G 
Published: February 2020

Summary
Bile acids (BAs) are produced by liver hepatocytes and were recently shown to exert functions additional to their well-known role in lipid digestion. As yet it is not known whether the mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, which represent 10–15% of the hepatic T cell population, are affected by BAs. The focus of the present investigation was on the association of BA serum concentration with MAIT cell function and inflammatory parameters as well as on the relationship of these parameters to body weight. Blood samples from 41 normal weight and 41 overweight children of the Lifestyle Immune System Allergy (LISA) study were analyzed with respect to MAIT cell surface and activation markers [CD107a, CD137, CD69, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] after Escherichia coli stimulation, mRNA expression of promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein (PLZF) and major histocompatibility complex class I-related gene protein (MR1), the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-8 and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α as well as the concentrations of 13 conjugated and unconjugated BAs. Higher body weight was associated with reduced MAIT cell activation and expression of natural killer cell marker (NKp80) and chemokine receptor (CXCR3). BA concentrations were positively associated with the inflammatory parameters CRP, IL-8 and MIP-1α, but were negatively associated with the number of activated MAIT cells and the MAIT cell transcription factor PLZF. These relationships were exclusively found with conjugated BAs. BA-mediated inhibition of MAIT cell activation was confirmed in vitro. Thus, conjugated BAs have the capacity to modulate the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immune responses.
The amygdala via the paraventricular nucleus regulates asthma attack in rats
Authors: Chen Zhe , Liu Ni‐na , Xiao Jian , Wang Yue‐han , Dong Rong 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAimsThis study aimed to investigate the functions of the amygdala in rat asthma model.Main methodsWheat germ agglutinin‐horseradish peroxidase (WGA‐HRP) was used for tracing from the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) to the amygdala, and nuclear lesions were performed to observe changes in respiratory function and airway inflammation.ResultsThis study showed that the extracellular neuronal discharged in the medial amygdala (MeA) and central amygdala (CeA), and the expression of Fos significantly increased in asthmatic rat compared to control group. The distribution of Fos‐ and oxytocin (OT)‐positive neurons and Fos/OT dual‐positive neurons evidently increased in the PVN. WGA‐HRP was injected into the PVN for tracing, and Fos/HRP‐dual‐positive neurons were observed to be distributed in the MeA. By using kainic acid (KA) to injure the MeA and CeA in asthmatic rats, expiratory and inspiratory times (TE/TI) and airway resistance (Raw) decreased, and minute ventilation volume (MVV) and dynamic pulmonary compliance (Cdyn) increased accordingly. In the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the number of eosinophils and the concentration of IL‐4 were lower than those of the control group, and the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells was higher than that of the control group. In the PVN, the distribution of Fos‐, OT‐positive cells and Fos/OT double‐positive cells decreased compared with those of the control group. The activities of the MeA and CeA and of OT neurons in the PVN of the rats were correlated with the occurrence of asthma.ConclusionsAsthma attack could induce neural activities in the MeA and CeA, and OT neurons in the PVN may be involved in the process of asthma attack.
Catalyzing sustainable fisheries management through behavior change interventions
Authors: McDonald Gavin , Wilson Molly , Veríssimo Diogo , Twohey Rebecca , Clemence Michaela , Apistar Dean , Box Stephen , Butler Paul , Cadiz Fel Cesar , Campbell Stuart J. , Cox Courtney , Effron Micah , Gaines Steve , Jakub Raymond , Mancao Roquelito H. , Rojas Pablo T. , Tirona Rocky Sanchez , Vianna Gabriel 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSmall‐scale fisheries are an important livelihood and primary protein source for coastal communities in many of the poorest regions in the world, yet many are overfished and thus require effective and scalable management solutions. Positive ecological and socioeconomic responses to management typically lag behind immediate costs borne by fishers from fishing pressure reductions necessary for fisheries recovery. These short‐term costs challenge the long‐term success of these interventions. However, social marketing may increase perceptions of management benefits before ecological and socioeconomic benefits are fully realized, driving new social norms and ultimately long‐term sustainable behavior change. By conducting underwater visual surveys to quantify ecological conditions and by conducting household surveys with community members to quantify their perceptions of management support and socioeconomic conditions, we assessed the impact of a standardized small‐scale fisheries management intervention that was implemented across 41 sites in Brazil, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The intervention combines TURF reserves (community‐based territorial use rights for fishing coupled with no‐take marine reserves) with locally tailored social‐marketing behavior change campaigns. Leveraging data across 22 indicators and 4 survey types, along with data from 3 control sites, we found that ecological and socioeconomic impacts varied and that communities supported the intervention and were already changing their fishing practices. These results suggest that communities were developing new social norms and fishing more sustainably before long‐term ecological and socioeconomic benefits of fisheries management materialized.
Priority areas for conservation of and research focused on terrestrial vertebrates
Authors: Nori Javier , Loyola Rafael , Villalobos Fabricio 
Published: February 2020

AbstractEffective conservation policies require comprehensive knowledge of biodiversity. However, knowledge shortfalls still remain, hindering possibilities to improve decision making and built such policies. During the last 2 decades, conservationists have made great efforts to allocate resources as efficiently as possible but have rarely considered the idea that if research investments are also strategically allocated, it would likely fill knowledge gaps while simultaneously improving conservation actions. Therefore, prioritizing areas where both conservation and research actions could be conducted becomes a critical endeavor that can further maximize return on investment. We used Zonation, a conservation planning tool and geographical distributions of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles to suggest and compare priority areas for conservation and research of terrestrial vertebrates worldwide. We also evaluated the degree of human disturbance in both types of priority areas by describing the value of the human footprint index within such areas. The spatial concordance between priority conservation and research areas was low: 0.36% of the world's land area. In these areas, we found it would be possible to protect almost half of the currently threatened species and to gather information on nearly 42% of data‐deficient (DD) species. We also found that 6199 protected areas worldwide are located in such places, although only 35% of them have strict conservation purposes. Areas of consensus between conservation and research areas represent an opportunity for simultaneously conserving and acquiring knowledge of threatened and DD species of vertebrates. Although the picture is not the most encouraging, joint conservation and research efforts are possible and should be fostered to save vertebrate species from our own ignorance and extinction.
Investigating possible syndemic relationships between structural and drug use factors, sexual HIV transmission and viral load among men of colour who have sex with men in Los Angeles County
Authors: Quinn Brendan , Gorbach Pamina M. , Okafor Chukwuemeka N. , Heinzerling Keith G. , Shoptaw Steve 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIntroduction and AimsPast research investigating syndemic factors and HIV‐related outcomes has overlooked the impact of structural conditions on behaviours linked with HIV transmission and disease progression. Given prevalent substance use among our sample, we explored whether four structural conditions indicative of social marginalisation and previously correlated with increased risk for HIV infection demonstrated syndemic (additive/synergistic) effects on: (i) HIV viral suppression; and (ii) self‐reported involvement in sexual HIV transmission behaviours among a prospective cohort mostly comprising men of colour who have sex with men (MCSM; i.e. Latino/Hispanic and African American/black men) in Los Angeles County.Design and MethodsData were collected between August 2014 and March 2017. The structural conditions of interest were: current unemployment, recent (≤6 months) incarceration history, ‘unstable’ accommodation (past month) and remote (>6 months) contact with health‐care providers. Generalised estimating equations assessed possible additive effects of experiencing multiple structural conditions, and possible synergistic effects on the HIV‐related outcomes.ResultsOf 428 participants, nearly half (49%) were HIV‐positive at baseline. Involvement in sexual HIV transmission risk behaviours varied over follow‐up (22–30%). Reporting ≥2 structural syndemic conditions was significantly associated with reporting sexual HIV transmission risk behaviours among HIV‐negative participants, and detectable viral load among HIV‐positive participants. Frequent methamphetamine use was consistently associated with the HIV‐related outcomes across the final multivariate models.Discussion and ConclusionsWhen developing initiatives to address HIV transmission among marginalised sub‐populations including MCSM, we must holistically consider systemic and structural issues (e.g. unemployment and homelessness), especially in the context of prevalent substance use.
Raccoons foster the spread of freshwater and terrestrial microorganisms—Mammals as a source of microbial eDNA
Authors: Solarz Wojciech , Najberek Kamil , Wilk‐Woźniak Elżbieta , Biedrzycka Aleksandra 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAimThe aim of the study was to test the role of racoon (Procyon lotor), an invasive alien species, in the spread of microorganisms. We tested whether the spread of microorganisms can be detected by sampling microbial DNA sourced from the raccoon body, thus facilitating biodiversity research.LocationWarta Mouth National Park, western Poland.MethodsWe used the V4 hyper‐variable region of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene and Illumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing to identify microorganisms present on the body surface of raccoons.ResultsOut of 170 DNA samples, we obtained 15 PCR products that contained the target sequences of freshwater or terrestrial microorganisms. We found that raccoons carry and spread chlorophytes, alveolates, amoeboids and fungi on their body surface. We identified 16 different microbial organisms. The sequences of four organisms, Micronuclearia podoventralis (amoeboid), Parachloroidium lobatum and Jaagichlorella roystonensis (chlorophyta), and Mortierella polygonia (fungi), exhibited 100% identity to the best GenBank hit and were thus identified to the species level. The two chlorophyte species, Parachloroidium lobatum and Jaagichlorella roystonensis, are particularly noteworthy, as they were first described recently, in 2013 and 2019, respectively, and knowledge about their global distribution is very scarce.Main conclusionsWe demonstrated that raccoons may effectively spread terrestrial and aquatic microorganisms. By utilizing this novel source of microbial DNA, we also showed that mammals may be effective living samplers. This perspective is worth exploring, as in some cases it may efficiently reduce the burden required in traditional sampling and provide valuable insights into local biodiversity and distributions of species.
Beyond Reintegration: War Veteranship in Mozambique and El Salvador
Authors: Wiegink Nikkie , Sprenkels Ralph 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACTThis article proposes the concept of ‘war veteranship’ to better understand war veterans’ positioning in and engagement with post‐war societies and state‐building processes. The study is based on ethnographic research with former insurgent movements, specifically the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) in Mozambique and the Farabundo Martí Front for National Liberation (FMLN) in El Salvador. The concept of war veteranship allows for the exploration of trajectories of former combatants not necessarily, and certainly not exclusively, in terms of reintegration, but rather in relation to the manifold ways in which the status and connections associated with armed group participation may hold currency in the veterans’ lives, and particularly in relation to political processes. The article argues that war veteranship is best understood as a distinct type of post‐war citizenship. Integral to the political accommodations that shape post‐war societies, war veteranship involves the construction, negotiation and contestation of the societal status of different categories of war veterans. Drawing on the analyses of political struggles of war veterans in RENAMO and FMLN over two decades, this study's findings underscore the longue‐durée socio‐political relevance of war veteranship, extending above and beyond reintegration efforts.
Renal outcomes with the newer antidiabetes drugs: the era before and after CREDENCE
Authors: Rajani A. , Sahay M. , Bhattacharyya A. , Amar A. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration provided guidance for the evaluation of the cardiovascular safety of antidiabetes drugs. The newer antidiabetes drugs, approved after 2008, were therefore evaluated in long‐term cardiovascular outcome trials, designed and powered for the assessment of cardiovascular safety. Accordingly, the primary endpoint of these trials was a cardiac composite endpoint. Since 2008, the data from various cardiovascular outcome trials have been reported, including SAVOR‐TIMI 53 (saxagliptin), EXAMINE (alogliptin), TECOS (sitagliptin), CARMELINA (linagliptin), CAROLINA (linagliptin), ELIXA (lixisenatide), LEADER (liraglutide), EXSCEL (exenatide once‐weekly), SUSTAIN‐6 (injectable semaglutide), HARMONY Outcomes (albiglutide), REWIND (dulaglutide), PIONEER‐6 (oral semaglutide), EMPA‐REG OUTCOME (empagliflozin), the CANVAS Program (canagliflozin) and DECLARE‐TIMI 53 (dapagliflozin). Some of these trials subsequently also published data on renal outcomes, although these were secondary or exploratory analyses. Dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists had beneficial effects on albuminuria, while sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitors additionally showed a positive effect on ‘hard’ renal outcomes. In contrast to the cardiovascular outcome trials, the renal outcome trial of canagliflozin, CREDENCE, assessed a hard renal endpoint as its primary endpoint and showed positive effects on these hard renal outcomes. In this review, we aim to highlight the renal outcome data from the cardiovascular outcome trials and the CREDENCE trial and understand the differences between their results. The post CREDENCE era would appear to reinforce the position of sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitors as drugs providing cardiorenal protection, in addition to their anti‐glycaemic effects.
Eco‐genetic additivity of diploids in allopolyploid wild wheats
Authors: Huynh Stella , Broennimann Olivier , Guisan Antoine , Felber François , Parisod Christian 
Published: February 2020

AbstractUnderpinnings of the distribution of allopolyploid species (hybrids with duplicated genome) along spatial and ecological gradients are elusive. As allopolyploid speciation combines the range of genetic and ecological characteristics of divergent diploids, allopolyploids initially show their additivity and are predicted to evolve differentiated ecological niches to establish in face of their competition. Here, we use four diploid wild wheats that differentially combined into four independent allopolyploid species to test for such additivity and assess the impact of ecological constraints on species ranges. Divergent genetic variation from diploids being fixed in heterozygote allopolyploids supports their genetic additivity. Spatial integration of comparative phylogeography and modelling of climatic niches supports ecological additivity of locally adapted diploid progenitors into allopolyploid species which subsequently colonised wide ranges. Allopolyploids fill suitable range to a larger extent than diploids and conservative evolution following the combination of divergent species appears to support their expansion under environmental changes.
A phase 1, randomized, pharmacokinetic trial of the effect of different meal compositions, whole milk, and alcohol on cannabidiol exposure and safety in healthy subjects
Authors: Crockett Julie , Critchley David , Tayo Bola , Berwaerts Joris , Morrison Gilmour 
Published: February 2020

AbstractObjectiveThe pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of single oral 750‐mg doses of a plant‐derived pharmaceutical formulation of highly purified cannabidiol (CBD; Epidiolex in the USA and Epidyolex in Europe; 100‐mg/mL oral solution) were assessed in healthy adults following a high‐fat/calorie meal (n = 15), a low‐fat/calorie meal (n = 14), whole milk (n = 15), or alcohol (n = 14), relative to the fasted state (n = 29).MethodsBlood samples were collected until 96 hours postdose in each period and evaluated by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. PK parameters (maximum observed plasma concentration [Cmax], area under the plasma concentration‐time curve from time zero to the last observed quantifiable concentration, area under the concentration‐time curve from time zero to infinity [AUC0‐∞], and time to maximum plasma concentration [tmax]) of CBD and its major metabolites were derived using noncompartmental analysis.ResultsCBD exposure increased by 3.8‐fold for AUC0‐∞ and 5.2‐fold for Cmax when CBD was administered with a high‐fat/calorie meal versus fasted. To a lesser extent, a low‐fat/calorie meal enhanced CBD exposure versus fasted with a 2.7‐fold increase in AUC0‐∞ and a 3.8‐fold increase in Cmax. Similarly, when dosed with whole milk, CBD exposure increased versus fasted by 2.4‐fold for AUC0‐∞ and 3.1‐fold for Cmax. Modest elevations in CBD exposure occurred when it was dosed with alcohol: 1.6‐fold for AUC0‐∞ and 1.9‐fold for Cmax. No clinically relevant effect of any test condition on CBD tmax or t½ versus the fasted state was apparent. The same trend was seen for the CBD metabolites, except that 7‐carboxy‐cannabidiol tmax was considerably longer when CBD was administered with alcohol (14 vs 4 hours fasted). Inter‐ and intrasubject variability in PK parameters was moderate to high during the trial.SignificanceCBD and metabolite exposures were most affected by a high‐fat/calorie meal. CBD exposures also increased with a low‐fat/calorie meal, whole milk, or alcohol, but to a lesser extent. CBD was tolerated, and there were no severe or serious adverse events during the trial.