bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lung Asbestos Fibre Burden and Pleural Mesothelioma in Women with Non-occupational Exposure
Authors: Barbieri Pietro Gino , Somigliana Anna , Chen Yao , Consonni Dario , Vignola Roberto , Finotto Luigi 
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Background
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) due to environmental and familial (domestic) asbestos exposure is well recognized. However, information on cumulative asbestos dose in subjects affected by MPM is limited.

Objectives
To evaluate the residual lung asbestos fibre and asbestos body burden in women with MPM with past environmental and/or familial asbestos exposure.

Methods
We collected lung samples from autopsies regarding 15 non-occupationally asbestos-exposed MPM cases, divided in three groups: (i) familial exposure from the Fincantieri shipyards in Monfalcone (No. 7), (ii) environmental and familial asbestos exposure from the asbestos-cement plant Fibronit in Broni (No. 6), and (iii) environmental exposure from the Fibronit plant (No. 2). Asbestos body (AB) and fibres (AF) per gram of dry lung tissue were counted by optical and scanning electron microscopy, respectively, and expressed as geometric means and standard deviations (GM, GSD).

Results
GM/GSD of AB counts were 6123/9.6 (Group 1), 13 800/10.4 (Group 2), and 8400/1.1 (Group 3); GM/GSD of AF were 0.6/2.1 (Group 1), 7.9/2.1 (Group 2), and 6.0/2.3 (Group 3) million. Pleural plaques were observed in 12 cases.

Conclusions
Exclusive familial exposure to asbestos determined cumulative doses close to those observed in moderate occupational exposure circumstances. Our results also suggest that combined environmental and familial exposures may cause unexpectedly high cumulative fibre doses.
Prognosis for patients with cognitive motor dissociation identified by brain-computer interface
Authors: Pan Jiahui , Xie Qiuyou , Qin Pengmin , Chen Yan , He Yanbin , Huang Haiyun , Wang Fei , Ni Xiaoxiao , Cichocki Andrzej , Yu Ronghao , Li Yuanqing 
Published: January 2020

AbstractCognitive motor dissociation describes a subset of patients with disorders of consciousness who show neuroimaging evidence of consciousness but no detectable command-following behaviours. Although essential for family counselling, decision-making, and the design of rehabilitation programmes, the prognosis for patients with cognitive motor dissociation remains under-investigated. The current study included 78 patients with disorders of consciousness who showed no detectable command-following behaviours. These patients included 45 patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and 33 patients in a minimally conscious state, as diagnosed using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised. Each patient underwent an EEG-based brain-computer interface experiment, in which he or she was instructed to perform an item-selection task (i.e. select a photograph or a number from two candidates). Patients who achieved statistically significant brain-computer interface accuracies were identified as cognitive motor dissociation. Two evaluations using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised, one before the experiment and the other 3 months later, were carried out to measure the patients’ behavioural improvements. Among the 78 patients with disorders of consciousness, our results showed that within the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome patient group, 15 of 18 patients with cognitive motor dissociation (83.33%) regained consciousness, while only five of the other 27 unresponsive wakefulness syndrome patients without significant brain-computer interface accuracies (18.52%) regained consciousness. Furthermore, within the minimally conscious state patient group, 14 of 16 patients with cognitive motor dissociation (87.5%) showed improvements in their Coma Recovery Scale-Revised scores, whereas only four of the other 17 minimally conscious state patients without significant brain-computer interface accuracies (23.53%) had improved Coma Recovery Scale-Revised scores. Our results suggest that patients with cognitive motor dissociation have a better outcome than other patients. Our findings extend current knowledge of the prognosis for patients with cognitive motor dissociation and have important implications for brain-computer interface-based clinical diagnosis and prognosis for patients with disorders of consciousness.
Dissociation between frontal and temporal-parietal contributions to connected speech in acute stroke
Authors: Ding Junhua , Martin Randi C , Hamilton A Cris , Schnur Tatiana T 
Published: January 2020

AbstractHumans are uniquely able to retrieve and combine words into syntactic structure to produce connected speech. Previous identification of focal brain regions necessary for production focused primarily on associations with the content produced by speakers with chronic stroke, where function may have shifted to other regions after reorganization occurred. Here, we relate patterns of brain damage with deficits to the content and structure of spontaneous connected speech in 52 speakers during the acute stage of a left hemisphere stroke. Multivariate lesion behaviour mapping demonstrated that damage to temporal-parietal regions impacted the ability to retrieve words and produce them within increasingly complex combinations. Damage primarily to inferior frontal cortex affected the production of syntactically accurate structure. In contrast to previous work, functional-anatomical dissociations did not depend on lesion size likely because acute lesions were smaller than typically found in chronic stroke. These results are consistent with predictions from theoretical models based primarily on evidence from language comprehension and highlight the importance of investigating individual differences in brain-language relationships in speakers with acute stroke.
Metabolic lesion-deficit mapping of human cognition
Authors: Jha Ashwani , Teotonio Rute , Smith April-Louise , Bomanji Jamshed , Dickson John , Diehl Beate , Duncan John S , Nachev Parashkev 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIn theory the most powerful technique for functional localization in cognitive neuroscience, lesion-deficit mapping is in practice distorted by unmodelled network disconnections and strong ‘parasitic’ dependencies between collaterally damaged ischaemic areas. High-dimensional multivariate modelling can overcome these defects, but only at the cost of commonly impracticable data scales. Here we develop lesion-deficit mapping with metabolic lesions—discrete areas of hypometabolism typically seen on interictal 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET imaging in patients with focal epilepsy—that inherently capture disconnection effects, and whose structural dependence patterns are sufficiently benign to allow the derivation of robust functional anatomical maps with modest data. In this cross-sectional study of 159 patients with widely distributed focal cortical impairments, we derive lesion-deficit maps of a broad range of psychological subdomains underlying affect and cognition. We demonstrate the potential clinical utility of the approach in guiding therapeutic resection for focal epilepsy or other neurosurgical indications by applying high-dimensional modelling to predict out-of-sample verbal IQ and depression from cortical metabolism alone.
Reduced Modulation of Task-Related Connectivity Mediates Age-Related Declines in Bimanual Performance
Authors: Monteiro Thiago Santos , Zivari Adab Hamed , Chalavi Sima , Gooijers Jolien , King Brad (Bradley) Ross , Cuypers Koen , Mantini Dante , Swinnen Stephan Patrick 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAging is accompanied by marked changes in motor behavior and its neural correlates. At the behavioral level, age-related declines in motor performance manifest, for example, as a reduced capacity to inhibit interference between hands during bimanual movements, particularly when task complexity increases. At the neural level, aging is associated with reduced differentiation between distinct functional systems. Functional connectivity (FC) dedifferentiation is characterized by more homogeneous connectivity patterns across various tasks or task conditions, reflecting a reduced ability of the aging adult to modulate brain activity according to changing task demands. It is currently unknown, however, how whole-brain dedifferentiation interacts with increasing task complexity. In the present study, we investigated age- and task-related FC in a group of 96 human adults across a wide age range (19.9–74.5 years of age) during the performance of a bimanual coordination task of varying complexity. Our findings indicated stronger task complexity-related differentiation between visuomotor- and nonvisuomotor-related networks, though modulation capability decreased with increasing age. Decreased FC modulation mediated larger complexity-related increases in between-hand interference, reflective of worse bimanual coordination. Thus, the ability to maintain high motor performance levels in older adults is related to the capability to properly segregate and modulate functional networks.
Mortality, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Transmission, and Growth in Children Exposed to HIV in Rural Zimbabwe
Authors: Evans Ceri , Chasekwa Bernard , Ntozini Robert , Majo Florence D , Mutasa Kuda , Tavengwa Naume , Mutasa Batsirai , Mbuya Mduduzi N N , Smith Laura E , Stoltzfus Rebecca J , Moulton Lawrence H , Humphrey Jean H , Prendergast Andrew J ,   for the Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) Trial Team
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Background
Clinical outcomes of children who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–exposed in sub-Saharan Africa remain uncertain.

Methods
The Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) trial evaluated improved infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and/or improved water, sanitation, and hygiene in 2 rural Zimbabwean districts with 15% antenatal HIV prevalence and &gt; 80% prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) coverage. Children born between February 2013 and December 2015 had longitudinal HIV testing and anthropometry. We compared mortality and growth between children who were HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed through 18 months. Children receiving IYCF were excluded from growth analyses.

Results
Fifty-one of 738 (7%) children who were HIV-exposed and 198 of 3989 (5%) children who were HIV-unexposed (CHU) died (hazard ratio, 1.41 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.02–1.93]). Twenty-five (3%) children who were HIV-exposed tested HIV positive, 596 (81%) were HIV-exposed uninfected (CHEU), and 117 (16%) had unknown HIV status by 18 months; overall transmission estimates were 4.3%–7.7%. Mean length-for-age z score at 18 months was 0.38 (95% CI, .24–.51) standard deviations lower among CHEU compared to CHU. Among 367 children exposed to HIV in non-IYCF arms, 147 (40%) were alive, HIV-free, and nonstunted at 18 months, compared to 1169 of 1956 (60%) CHU (absolute difference, 20% [95% CI, 15%–26%]).

Conclusions
In rural Zimbabwe, mortality remains 40% higher among children exposed to HIV, vertical transmission exceeds elimination targets, and half of CHEU are stunted. We propose the composite outcome of “alive, HIV free, and thriving” as the long-term goal of PMTCT programs.

Clinical Trials Registration
NCT01824940.
Measurement of strontium in serum, urine, bone, and soft tissues by Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry
Authors: D’Haese Patrick C , Van Landeghem Glen F , Lamberts Ludwig V , Bekaert Vera A , Schrooten Iris , De Broe Marc E 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
To study the possible accumulation of Sr in chronic renal failure patients, methods were developed for the determination of the element in serum, urine, bone, and soft tissues by using Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum samples were diluted 1:4 with a Triton X-100–HNO3 mixture, whereas urine samples were diluted 1:20 with HNO3. Bone samples were digested with concentrated HNO3 in stoppered polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®) tubes, whereas soft tissues were dissolved in a tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution in water. For serum and urine we used matrix-matched calibration curves, whereas bone and tissue samples were measured against aqueous calibrators. Atomization was performed from the wall of pyrolytically coated graphite tubes for all of the matrices under study. Both inter- and intraassay CVs were &lt;6% (n = 12, n = 10, respectively), and the recovery of added analyte was close to 100% for all of the biological matrices under study. Detection limits were 1.2 μg/L (serum), 0.3 μg/L (urine), 0.4 μg/g (bone), and 2.2 ng/g (soft tissues), whereas the sensitivity determined by the slope of the calibration curve, i.e., the amount of Sr producing a 0.0044 integrated absorbance change in signal, was 2.4 pg, 2.4 pg, 3.9 pg, and 2.6 pg for these matrices respectively. We conclude that the present methods are precise and accurate and easily applicable for both routine use and research investigations. They will allow us to study the metabolism of the element in chronic renal failure patients and shed some light on the association that was recently noted between increased bone Sr concentrations and the development of osteomalacia in these individuals.
Short-term and long-term variability of plasma homocysteine measurement
Authors: Garg Uttam C , Zheng Zhi-Jie , Folsom Aaron R , Moyer Yvonne S , Tsai Michael Y , McGovern Paul , Eckfeldt John H 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Within-person and methodological variability of a given analyte are important elements in determining whether an individual has altered concentrations of that analyte. We report the short-term (1 month) within-person, between-person, and methodological variability of plasma homocysteine in 20 healthy participants from whom samples were drawn weekly for 4 weeks. The short-term between-person variance was high, whereas within-person and methodological variances were relatively very low, giving a high reliability coefficient (R) for homocysteine (R = 0.94). The long-term (30 months) reliability coefficient was 0.65, but was greatly influenced by an outlier (R = 0.82 with the outlier excluded). The data suggest that an individual’s plasma homocysteine concentration is relatively constant over at least 1 month, and a single measurement characterizes the average concentration reasonably well.
Assessing fluid and electrolyte status in the newborn
Authors: Lorenz John M 
Published: January 2020

AbstractFluid and electrolyte assessment during the first week of life is complicated by rapid changes in fluid and electrolyte balance during the transition from fetal to neonatal life and by the newborn’s small size. A physiologic decrease in extracellular water volume, as well as a transient increase in serum potassium and transient decreases in plasma glucose and total plasma ionized calcium concentrations must be taken into account. In general, the more immature the newborn, the greater the changes that can be expected. The use of plasma creatinine as an indicator of glomerular filtration rate is limited because it is a function of maternal renal function at birth and because of non-steady-state conditions in the immediate postnatal period. Guidelines for monitoring schedules are provided on the basis of these physiologic considerations and the author’s experience. Method of blood sampling and time to separation of serum are important considerations in interpreting results. Minimization of sample volume is critical to minimize blood transfusion requirements. Clinicians should be aware of the analytical error associated with these measurements in their own institutions. Reference ranges are provided.
Detection of intrauterine illicit drug exposure by newborn drug testing
Authors: Kwong Tai C , Ryan Rita M 
Published: January 2020

AbstractIdentification of intrauterine drug-exposed newborns with toxicological screening may have benefits including close follow-up of the infant by both medical and social services. Applying specific written guidelines to select newborns for drug testing decreases bias and protects the physicians and hospitals involved. All drugs reported as positive should be confirmed by an appropriate second test. Urine and meconium testing are the best current options for identifying drug-exposed neonates. Urine testing sensitivity is low because of problems encountered in urine collections and the high thresholds used in current urine assays. The disadvantage to meconium testing is the increased labor and time required to work with this material. Testing of newborn hair is unlikely to be widely used until technically less demanding assays become available. Testing of amniotic fluid or gastric lavage is still in the developmental stages. Adopting lower urine assay thresholds for newborn samples would increase sensitivity and would be an appropriate modification of current methodologies.
Determination of xylosyltransferase activity in serum with recombinant human bikunin as acceptor
Authors: Weilke Christian , Brinkmann Thomas , Kleesiek Knut 
Published: January 2020

AbstractXylosyltransferase (XT) is the chain-initiating enzyme of the biosynthesis of chondroitin sulfate. So far, XT activity has been detected by incorporation of [14C]xylose in chemically deglycosylated cartilage proteoglycan or silk fibroin. However, these acceptors allow no reliable determination in blood. We found that recombinant bikunin is an excellent acceptor for XT. The Michaelis–Menten constants for the xylosylation of silk, deglycosylated cartilage proteoglycans, and bikunin were 545, 155, and 0.9 μmol/L, respectively. With recombinant bikunin as acceptor, we developed a sensitive assay that allows a precise determination of XT activity in serum. We measured the serum XT activities of 500 blood donors and observed a considerable sex and age dependence. XT activities in men (0.77–1.50 mU/L) were ∼30% higher than in women (0.58–1.20 mU/L) and reached a maximum in donors of ∼40 years of age. During the menstrual cycle, serum XT activity showed a significant coincidence with the β-estradiol concentration, and in the first trimester of pregnancy we observed a strong increase in serum XT activity.
Comparability of a new turbidimetric digoxin test with other immunochemical tests and with HPLC—a multicenter evaluation
Authors: Scholer André , Boecker Jörg , Engelmayer Ulf , Feldmann Knut , Hannak Dieter , Kattermann Reinhard , Oellerich Michael , Raith Hannelore , Schlebusch Harald , Wieland Heinrich , Willems Dominique , Jarausch Jochen , Domke Ingrid 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
A new turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay for digoxin (Tina-quant® □a Digoxin, Boehringer Mannheim) was evaluated in seven laboratories. It can be performed without sample pretreatment with ready-to-use reagents on nondedicated analyzers in combination with routine clinical chemistry. The studies revealed a good analytical performance: lower limit of detection 0.12 μg/L (3 SD from mean of blank); linearity up to 7.5 μg/L; median between-run CVs 8.1% (0.6 μg/L), 2.8% (1.5 μg/L), 1.9% (3 μg/L); mean analytical recovery in control sera 98–102%; slopes from 0.97 to 1.09 and intercepts from −0.28 to 0.10 μg/L in comparison with four immunoassays; and a high resistance to common interferents. The test was more resistant to digoxin-like immunoreactive factor (DLIF) interference than other methods, showing cross-reactivity only in some intensive care patient samples. Among 192 patients in whom DLIF is expected (e.g., pregnant women, patients with renal failure, newborns), 90% of results were ≤0.26 μg/L digoxin. Cortisol showed no cross-reactivity and digoxigenin had a low reactivity. An interlaboratory survey revealed a good comparability of the Tina-quant □a test with the median of all methods (slope 0.99, intercept −0.06 μg/L). An HPLC method for digoxin based on isocratic separation of samples on an RP-18 column followed by detection by an immunoassay yielded a reasonable comparability with the immunochemical tests with noncritical samples. Divergent results of immunoassays caused by DLIFs or different cross-reactivities with digoxin metabolites or derivatives can be explained by the use of this HPLC method.
Combinations of β chain abnormal hemoglobins with each other or with β-thalassemia determinants with known mutations: influence on phenotype
Authors: Huisman Titus Hendrik Jan 
Published: January 2020

AbstractHematological and hemoglobin (Hb) data are presented for numerous patients with compound heterozygosities for different β chain variants and for a β chain variant with different β-thalassemia (β-thal) alleles. Considerable variations, which result from the type of β chain variant and β-thal mutation, can be noted. The comparison again emphasizes the importance of determining the diagnoses at the molecular level to aid the physician in the management of patients with different combinations of abnormalities. Simplification and commercialization of modern technology may make the introduction of this approach in some clinical chemistry laboratories possible.
Multicenter evaluation of a second-generation assay for cardiac troponin T
Authors: Baum Hannsjörg , Braun Siegmund , Gerhardt Willie , Gilson Georges , Hafner Gerd , Müller-Bardorff Margit , Stein Wolfgang , Klein Gerhard , Ebert Christoph , Hallermayer Klaus , Katus Hugo A 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
We report on the evaluation of the second-generation assay for cardiac troponin T (cTnT) on the Enzymun®system. This new assay is completely specific for the cardiac isoform of TnT, utilizing two cardiospecific monoclonal antibodies. The assay time is reduced to 45 min. The interassay precision shows a median CV of 5.5%; 20% interassay CV was found between 0.05 and 0.1 μg/L. The cardiosensitivity of the second-generation cTnT assay in patients with ischemic myocardial injury appears equivalent when compared with the first-generation assay. We found no falsely positive results in patients with skeletal muscle damage including multitraumas, surgery patients, and marathon runners who showed highly increased values with the unspecific first-generation assay. In Duchenne disease cTnT was still increased, but to a much lower extent. cTnT remains increased in renal failure, but to a lesser degree than with the first-generation assay. The cause of this increase remains unclear. Although a cross-reactivity of skeletal muscle TnT in the second-generation assay could be excluded by our findings, minor myocardial damage or expression of the cardiac isoform of TnT in regenerating muscles cannot be ruled out in those cases with apparently falsely increased cTnT values. The second-generation cTnT assay is a step forward in the combination of cardiosensitivity and cardiospecificity in biochemical markers for diagnosis of heart disease.
Evaluation of precipitation and direct methods for HDL-cholesterol assay by HPLC
Authors: Okazaki Mitsuyo , Sasamoto Keiko , Muramatsu Toshio , Hosaki Seijin 
Published: January 2020

AbstractHDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) values measured by precipitation (sodium phosphotungstate–MgCl2) and direct methods were compared with those obtained by HPLC with a new column (TSKgel Lipopropak) and an eluent (TSKeluent LP-1). The HDL-C values determined by the precipitation method were significantly (P &lt;0.001) lower than those by the HPLC method, whereas the HDL-C values by the direct method were slightly but significantly higher (P &lt;0.02) than those by the HPLC method. A quantitative HPLC analysis of the cholesterol concentration in HDL and non-HDL fractions in the supernatant of serum separated by precipitation reagents with different MgCl2 concentrations ranging from 7.3 to 44 mmol/L revealed that reagents with &gt;22 mmol/L MgCl2 precipitated part of HDL as well as non-HDL lipoproteins. The HPLC method providing quantitative and qualitative information with high precision was regarded as being a reliable approach for HDL-C assay. The HPLC can be also used to evaluate alternative methods for cholesterol assay.