bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and Safety of Intra-articular Sacroiliac Glucocorticoid Injections in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Nam Bora , Kim Tae-Hwan , Lee Sung Won , Kim Hyunah , Kim Yun Jin , Jun Jae-Bum , Lee Seunghun 
Published: December 2020

Background/Aims
To assess the efficacy and safety of intra-articular sacroiliac glucocorticoid injection in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods
Patients with AS undergoing fluoroscopy-guided intra-articular sacroiliac glucocorticoid injection were enrolled between 2012 and 2018. Efficacy was assessed by numeric pain rating scale, acute phase reactants, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS). Patients who started biologics within 3 months despite the intervention were compared with those not starting biologics, hence: the nonbiologic group.

Results
A total of 96 patients were treated, with a total of 107 injections. After intervention, there were significant decreases in numeric pain rating scale (7.8 ± 1.8 vs. 3.3 ± 2.2, p < 0.001) and acute phase reactants level (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] 23.0 mm/h [10.0–47.0 mm/h] vs. 13.0 mm/h [4.0–27.0 mm/h], p < 0.001; C-reactive protein [CRP] 1.0 mg/dL [0.2–2.7 mg/dL] vs. 0.2 mg/dL [0.2–0.9 mg/dL], p < 0.001). Disease activity scores also decreased for BASDAI (6.2 ± 1.8 vs. 4.5 ± 2.5, p = 0.001), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (5.5 [4.1–7.0] vs. 1.8 [0.5–4.1], p = 0.001), ASDAS-CRP (2.9 ± 1.0 vs. 2.3 ± 1.3, p = 0.046), and ASDAS-ESR (3.7 ± 1.1 vs. 2.4 ± 1.3, p < 0.001). However, 12 patients (12.5%) started biologics within 3 months. These patients showed higher ESR (91.0 mm/h [IQR 21.0–113.0 mm/h] vs. 21.5 mm/h [IQR 9.5–43.0 mm/h], p = 0.010), CRP (8.0 mg/dL [IQR 1.11–17.1 mg/dL] vs. 0.8 mg/dL [IQR 0.2–1.8 mg/dL], p = 0.002), BASDAI (7.4 ± 1.2 vs. 5.9 ± 1.8, p = 0.027), and ASDAS-CRP (4.0 ± 0.5 vs. 2.8 ± 1.0, p = 0.004) than the nonbiologic group. There was no serious adverse event.

Conclusions
Intra-articular sacroiliac glucocorticoid injection can be a safe and effective treatment option for active sacroiliitis in AS.
In Vivo Ultrasound Imaging of the Spinal Cord and Subarachnoid Space at the C1-C2 Level in Healthy Adult Subjects
Authors: Beland Michael D. , McElroy Abigail W. , Brinker Thomas , Gokaslan Ziya L. , Klinge Petra M. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Ultrasound (US) imaging of the spinal canal is applied in early infants before formation of posterior spine bony elements. Here, we demonstrate for the first time in adult healthy subjects that excellent visualization of intrathecal structures at the level of C1-C2 is possible by transcutaneous US in flexion, extension, and neutral head positions through the soft tissue US window between C1-C2. We show with US that the posterior subarachnoid space increases significantly in head extension. Accordingly, C1-C2 US guidance can facilitate cervical myelography. In addition, we suggest that US of the C1-C2 spine level may offer an adjunct tool to diagnosing structural abnormalities in the setting of traumatic, congenital, or degenerative pathologies of the craniocervical junction.
Red Blood Cells Elicit Platelet-Dependent Neutrophil Recruitment Into Lung Airspaces
Authors: Arnold Stephanie , Shah Sajeel A. , Cleary Simon J. , O'Shaughnessy Blaze G. , Amison Richard T. , Arkless Kate , Page Clive P. , Pitchford Simon C. 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT
Hemolysis that occurs in intravascular hemolytic disorders, such as sickle cell disease and malaria, is associated with inflammation and platelet activation. Alveolar hemorrhage, for example following primary blast lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome, results in the escape of erythrocytes (RBCs) into alveolar spaces, where they subsequently lyse and release their intracellular contents. However, the inflammatory effects of RBCs in the airways are not fully understood. We hypothesized that RBCs in the airway induce an inflammatory response, associated with platelet activation. By instilling whole RBCs or lysed RBCs into the airways of mice, we have demonstrated that whole RBCs elicit macrophage accumulation in the lung. On the other hand, lysed RBCs induce significant inflammatory cell recruitment, particularly neutrophils and this was associated with a 50% increase in circulating platelet neutrophil complexes. Platelet depletion prior to lysed RBC exposure in the lung resulted in reduced neutrophil recruitment, suggesting that the presence of intracellular RBC components in the airways can elicit inflammation that is platelet dependent. To identify specific platelet-dependent signaling pathways involved in neutrophil recruitment, anti-P-selectin ligand and anti-PSGL1 blocking antibodies were tested; however, neither affected neutrophil recruitment. These findings implicate an involvement for other, as yet unidentified platelet-dependent signaling and adhesion mechanisms. Further understanding of how platelets contribute to lung inflammation induced by the presence of RBCs could offer novel therapeutic approaches to attenuate inflammation that occurs in conditions associated with alveolar hemorrhage.
SARS Coronavirus-2 microneutralisation and commercial serological assays correlated closely for some but not all enzyme immunoassays
Authors: Walker Gregory J , Naing Zin , Stella Alberto Ospina , Yeang Malinna , Caguicla Joanna , Ramachandran Vidiya , Isaacs Sonia R , Agapiou David , Bull Rowena A , Stelzer-Braid Sacha , Daly James , Gosbell Iain B , Hoad Veronica C , Irving David O , Pink Joanne M , Turville Stuart , Kelleher Anthony D , Rawlinson William D 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundSerological testing for SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies provides important research and diagnostic information relating to COVID-19 prevalence, incidence, and host immune response. A greater understanding of the relationship between functionally neutralising antibodies detected using microneutralisation assays and binding antibodies detected using scalable enzyme immunoassays (EIA) is needed in order to address protective immunity post-infection or vaccination, and assess EIA suitability as a surrogate test for screening of convalescent plasma donors. We assessed whether neutralising antibody titres correlated with signal cut-off ratios in five commercially available EIAs, and one in-house assay based on expressed spike protein targets.MethodsSera from individuals recovered from patients or convalescent plasma donors who reported laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=200), and negative control sera collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (n=100) were assessed in parallel. Performance was assessed by calculating EIA sensitivity and specificity with reference to microneutralisation.ResultsNeutralising antibodies were detected in 166 (83%) samples. Compared with this, the most sensitive EIAs were the Cobas Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (98%) and Vitros Immunodiagnostic Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (100%), which detect total antibody targeting the N and S1 antigens, respectively. The assay with the best quantitative relationship with microneutralisation was the Euroimmun IgG.ConclusionsThese results suggest the marker used (total Ab vs IgG vs IgA), and the target antigen are important determinants of assay performance. The strong correlation between microneutralisation and some commercially available assays demonstrate their potential for clinical and research use in assessing protection following infection or vaccination, and use as a surrogate test to assess donor suitability for convalescent plasma donation.
Feeding Experimentation Device version 3 (FED3): An open-source home-cage compatible device for measuring food intake and operant behavior
Authors: Matikainen-Ankney Bridget A. , Earnest Thomas , Ali Mohamed , Casey Eric , Sutton Amy K. , Legaria Alex , Barclay Kia , Murdaugh Laura B. , Norris Makenzie R. , Chang Yu-Hsuan , Nguyen Katrina P. , Lin Eric , Reichenbach Alex , Clarke Rachel E. , Stark Romana , Conway Sineadh M. , Carvalho Filipe , Al-Hasani Ream , McCall Jordan G. , Creed Meaghan C. , Cazares Victor , Buczynski Matthew W. , Krashes Michael J. , Andrews Zane , Kravitz Alexxai V. 
Published: December 2020

SummaryFeeding is critical for survival and disruption in the mechanisms that govern food intake underlie disorders such as obesity and anorexia nervosa. It is important to understand both food intake and food motivation to reveal mechanisms underlying feeding disorders. Operant behavioral testing can be used to measure the motivational component to feeding, but most food intake monitoring systems do not measure operant behavior. Here, we present a new solution for monitoring both food intake and motivation: The Feeding Experimentation Device version 3 (FED3). FED3 measures food intake and operant behavior in rodent home-cages, enabling longitudinal studies of feeding behavior with minimal experimenter intervention. It has a programmable output for synchronizing behavior with optogenetic stimulation or neural recordings. Finally, FED3 design files are open-source and freely available, allowing researchers to modify FED3 to suit their needs. In this paper we demonstrate the utility of FED3 in a range of experimental paradigms.In BriefUsing a novel, high-throughput home cage feeding platform, FED3, Matikainen-Ankney et al. quantify food intake and operant learning in groups of mice conducted at multiple institutions across the globe. Results include rates of operant efficiency, circadian feeding patterns, and operant optogenetic self-stimulation.HighlightsThe Feeding Experimentation Device version 3(FED3) records food intake and operant behavior in rodent home cages.Analysis of food intake includes total intake, meal pattern analysis, and circadian analysis of feeding patterns.FED3 also allows for operant behavioral assays to examine food learning and motivation.
Systems-informed genome mining for electroautotrophic microbial production
Authors: Abel Anthony J. , Hilzinger Jacob M. , Arkin Adam P. , Clark Douglas S. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMicrobial electrosynthesis (MES) systems can store renewable energy and CO2in many-carbon molecules inaccessible to abiotic electrochemistry. Here, we develop a multiphysics model to investigate the fundamental and practical limits of MES enabled by direct electron uptake and we identify organisms in which this biotechnological CO2-fixation strategy can be realized. Systematic model comparisons of microbial respiration and carbon fixation strategies revealed that, under aerobic conditions, the CO2fixation rate is limited to <6 μmol/cm2/hr by O2mass transport despite efficient electron utilization. In contrast, anaerobic nitrate respiration enables CO2fixation rates >50 μmol/cm2/hr for microbes using the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle. Phylogenetic analysis, validated by recapitulating experimental demonstrations of electroautotrophy, uncovered multiple probable electroautotrophic organisms and a significant number of genetically tractable strains that require heterologous expression of <5 proteins to gain electroautotrophic function. The model and analysis presented here will guide microbial engineering and reactor design for practical MES systems.
Trends in Phase II trials for cancer therapies
Authors: Azam Faruque , Vazquez Alexei 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundDrug combinations are the standard of care in cancer treatment. Identifying effective cancer drug combinations has become more challenging because of the increasing number of drugs. However, a substantial number of cancer drugs stumble at Phase III clinical trials despite exhibiting favourable efficacy in the earlier Phase.MethodsWe analysed recent Phase II cancer trials comprising 2,165 response rates to uncover trends in cancer therapies and used a null model of non-interacting agents to infer synergistic and antagonistic drug combinations. We compared our latest efficacy dataset with a previous dataset to assess the progress of cancer therapy.ResultsWe demonstrate that targeted therapies should be used in combination with cytotoxic drugs to reach high response rates. We identify 4 synergistic and 10 antagonistic combinations based on the observed and expected response rates. We also demonstrate that recent targeted agents have not significantly increased the response rates.ConclusionsWe conclude either we are not making progress or response rate measured by tumour shrinkage is not a reliable surrogate endpoint for the targeted agents.
Advanced in silico validation framework for three-dimensional Traction Force Microscopy and application to an in vitro model of sprouting angiogenesis
Authors: Barrasa-Fano J. , Shapeti A. , de Jong J. , Ranga A. , Sanz-Herrera J.A. , Van Oosterwyck H. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn the last decade, cellular forces in three-dimensional hydrogels that mimic the extracellular matrix have been calculated by means of Traction Force Microscopy (TFM). However, characterizing the accuracy limits of a traction recovery method is critical to avoid obscuring physiological information due to traction recovery errors. So far, 3D TFM algorithms have only been validated using simplified cell geometries, bypassing image processing steps or arbitrarily simulating focal adhesions. Moreover, it is still uncertain which of the two common traction recovery methods, i.e., forward and inverse, is more robust against the inherent challenges of 3D TFM. In this work, we established an advanced in silico validation framework that is applicable to any 3D TFM experimental setup and that can be used to correctly couple the experimental and computational aspects of 3D TFM. Advancements relate to the simultaneous incorporation of complex cell geometries, simulation of microscopy images of varying bead densities and different focal adhesion sizes and distributions. By measuring the traction recovery error with respect to ground truth solutions, we found that while highest traction recovery errors occur for cases with sparse and small focal adhesions, our implementation of the inverse method improves two-fold the accuracy with respect to the forward method (average error of 23% vs. 50%). This advantage was further supported by recovering cellular tractions around angiogenic sprouts in an in vitro model of angiogenesis. The inverse method recovered more realistic traction patterns than the forward method, showing higher traction peaks and a clearer pulling pattern at the sprout protrusion tips.
Using weapons instead of perfume – chemical association strategies of the myrmecophilous bugScolopostethus pacificus(Rhyparochromidae)
Authors: Brückner Adrian 
Published: December 2020

AbstractA vast diversity of parasites associate with ants. Living in and around ant nests these organisms must overcome ant colony defenses. As ant defensive behavior is mainly mediated by species-specific cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) or alarm pheromones, ant-associated parasites can either crack their hosts chemical communication code by modifying their own CHC-profiles or use pro-active strategies like chemical weaponry for distraction and repellency. While the chemical nature of ant-parasite interactions has been intensively studied for highly host specific parasites, the chemical-deceptive strategies of the rather rare ant-resembling Heteropterans are unknown. To gain insight into this system, I studied the bugScolopostethus pacificus(Barber 1918) which can be found near the nests of the ecologically dominant and aggressive velvety tree ant (Liometopum occidentale, Emery 1895). Using behavioral, chemical and molecular approaches I disentangled the relationship ofS. pasificusand its host ant. Chemical profiling of the bug and the ant revealed that the bug does not make use of CHC insignificance or mimicry, but instead uses a cocktail of volatile compounds released from its metathoracic glands that likely moderates encounters with its aggressive host. Feeding trials with armed and artificially disarmed bugs revealed a defensive function of the gland exudates. Targeted molecular gut barcoding showed thatS. pasificusdoes not feed onL. occidentale. These results suggest that chemical weaponry, rather than a chemical code-cracking CHC matching or chemical insignificance, enablesS. pasificusto get along with and live in close proximity to its host ant.
Fractional response analysis reveals logarithmic cytokine responses in cellular populations
Authors: Nienałtowski Karol , Rigby Rachel E. , Walczak Jarosław , Zakrzewska Karolina E. , Rehwinkel Jan , Komorowski Michał 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTAlthough we can now measure single-cell signaling responses with multivariate, high-throughput techniques our ability to interpret such measurements is still limited. Even interpretation of dose-response based on single-cell data is not straightforward: signaling responses can differ significantly between cells, encompass multiple signaling effectors, and have dynamic character. Here, we use probabilistic modeling and information-theory to introduce fractional response analysis (FRA), which quantifies changes in fractions of cells with given response levels. FRA can be universally performed for heterogeneous, multivariate, and dynamic measurements and, as we demonstrate, uncovers otherwise hidden patterns in single-cell data. In particular, we show that fractional responses to type I interferon in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells are very similar across different cell types, despite significant differences in mean or median responses and degrees of cell-to-cell heterogeneity. Further, we demonstrate that fractional responses to cytokines scale linearly with the log of the cytokine dose, which uncovers that cellular populations are sensitive to fold-changes in the dose, as opposed to additive changes.
Assessment of microbial communities in Nakivubo wetland and its catchment areas in Lake Victoria Basin, Uganda
Authors: Kanoi Bernard N. , Gamboa Maribet , Ngonzi Doris , Egwang Thomas G. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMicrobial community structure changes are key in detecting and characterizing the impacts of anthropogenic activities on aquatic ecosystems. Here, we evaluated the effect of river pollution of industrial and urban sites on the microbial community composition and distribution in the Nakivubo wetland and its catchment areas in Lake Victoria basin, Uganda. Samples were collected from two industrial and one urban polluted sites and the microbial diversity was analyzed based on a 16S rRNA gene clone library. Differences in microbial diversity and community structure were observed at different sampling points. Bacteria associated with bioremediation were found in sites receiving industrial waste, while a low proportion of important human-pathogenic bacteria were seen in urban polluted sites. WhileEscherichiaspp. was the most dominant genus of bacteria for all sites, three unique bacteria,Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Thermomonas sp., which have been reported to transform contaminants such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons (such as oils) by their metabolic pathways were also identified. Our results may serve as a basis for further studies assessing microbial community structure changes among polluted sites at Nakivubo Water Channel for management and monitoring. The diversity of natural microbial consortia could also be a rich bioprospecting resource for novel industrial enzymes, medicinal and bioactive compounds.
Demographic analysis of IsraeliCarpobrotuspopulations: management strategies and future directions
Authors: Bogdan Ana , Levin Sam C. , Salguero-Gómez Roberto , Knight Tiffany M. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCarpobrotusspecies are harmful invaders to coastal areas throughout the world, particularly in Mediterranean habitats. Demographic models are ideally suited to identify and understand population processes and stages in the life cycle of the species that could be most effectively targeted with management. However, parameterizing these models has been limited by the difficulty in accessing the cliff-side locations where its populations are typically found, as well as accurately measuring the growth and spread individuals, which form large, dense mats. This study uses small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, drones) to collect demographic data and parameterize an Integral Projection Model of an IsraeliCarpobrotuspopulation. We validated our data set with ground targets of known size. Through the analysis of asymptotic growth rates and population sensitivities and elasticities, we demonstrate that the population at the study site is demographically stable, and that reducing the survival and growth of the largest individuals would have the greatest effect on reducing overall population growth rate. Our results provide a first evaluation of the demography ofCarpobrotus,a species of conservation and economic concern, and provide the first stage-based population model of a representative of the Aizoaceae family, thus contributing to our global knowledge on plant population dynamics. In addition, we demonstrate the advantages of using drones for collecting demographic data in understudied habitats such as coastal ecosystems.
Temperature-induced compensatory growth inC. elegansis regulated by a thermosensitive TRP channel and influences reproductive rate
Authors: Sekajova Zuzana , Rosa Elena , Spagopoulou Foteini , Zervakis Panagiotis-Ioannis , Lind Martin I. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAnimals are often not growing at the maximum rate, but can compensate for a bad start of life by subsequently increasing growth rate. While this compensatory growth is widespread, its direct fitness consequences are seldom investigated and its genetic basis is unknown.We investigated the genetic regulation, as well as fitness and lifespan consequences of compensatory growth in response to temperature, usingC. elegansknockout of the thermo-sensitive TRP ion channel TRPA-1, involved in temperature recognition. We exposed juvenile worms to cold, favourable (intermediate) or warm temperatures in order to delay or speed up development.Wild-type worms initially exposed to cold temperature experienced slower growth but after being switched to a more favourable temperature, they expressed compensatory growth and caught up in size. Those initially reared at warmer temperatures than favourable experienced slower growth and attained smaller adult size after being switched to the most favourable temperature.Compensatory growth also altered the reproductive schedule. While rate-sensitive individual fitness decreased by cold juvenile temperatures, as a direct effect of the substantial developmental delay, once worms returned to more favourable temperature, they shifted their reproductive schedule towards early reproduction. Therefore, when focusing on the post-treatment period, the reproductive rate increased even though lifetime reproductive success was unaffected. Surprisingly, compensatory growth did not reduce adult lifespan. In contrast to the findings for wild-type worms, juvenile temperature did not induce compensatory or slowed-down growth in thetrpa-1knockout mutants.We thus show that thetrpa-1is involved in the network regulating temperature-induced compensatory growth inC. elegansand that this compensatory growth can influence the reproductive rate.