bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Presentations, Causes and Outcomes of Drug-Induced Liver Injury in Egypt
Authors: Alhaddad Omkolthoum , Elsabaawy Maha , Abdelsameea Eman , Abdallah Ayat , Shabaan Ahmed , Ehsan Nermine , Elrefaey Ahmed , Elsabaawy Dalia , Salama Mohsen 
Published: March 2020

AbstractDrug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a frequent cause of liver injury and acute liver failure. We aimed to review all hospitalized DILI cases in a tertiary Egyptian center from January 2015 through January 2016. Cases with elevated alanine aminotransferase more than 3-fold and/or alkaline phosphatase more than 2-fold the upper limit of normal value were prospectively recruited and followed for one year. Drug history, liver biopsy whenever feasible and application of Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) were the diagnostic prerequisites after exclusion of other etiologies of acute liver injury. In order of frequency, the incriminated drugs were: Diclofenac (31 cases, 41.3%), amoxicillin-clavulanate (14 cases, 18.7%), halothane toxicity (8 cases, 10.7%), ibuprofen (4 cases, 5.3%), Khat (3 cases, 4%), tramadol (3 cases, 4%), Sofosbuvir with ribavirin (2 cases, 2.7%), and acetylsalicylic acid (2 cases, 2.7%) with one offending drug in 93.3% of cases. Forty-four cases (58.7%) were males; while 56 cases (74.7%) had HCV related chronic liver disease. Thirty-two cases (42.7%) presented with pattern of hepatocellular injury, while 23 cases (30.7%) were with cholestasis, and 20 cases (20.7%) with a mixed hepatocellular/cholestatic injury. One case received a transplant (0.75%), 7 cases died (9.3%), 23 cases (30.6%) developed liver decompensation (hepatic encephalopathy and ascites), and 44 cases completely resolved (58.7%). In conclusion, Diclofenac is the commonest offender in DILI occurrence in an Egyptian cohort. Age and prothrombin concentration were the only predictors of unfavorable outcomes of DILI.
Global proteomic analysis deciphers the mechanism of action of plant derived oleic acid against Candida albicans virulence and biofilm formation
Authors: Muthamil Subramanian , Prasath Krishnan Ganesh , Priya Arumugam , Precilla Pitchai , Pandian Shunmugiah Karutha 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCandida albicansis a commensal fungus in humans, mostly found on the mucosal surfaces of the mouth, gut, vagina and skin. Incidence of ever increasing invasive candidiasis in immunocompromised patients, alarming occurrence of antifungal resistance and insufficient diagnostic methods demand more focused research intoC. albicanspathogenicity. Consequently, in the present study, oleic acid fromMurraya koenigiiwas shown to have the efficacy to inhibit biofilm formation and virulence ofCandidaspp. Results ofin vitrovirulence assays and gene expression analysis, impelled to study the protein targets which are involved in the molecular pathways ofC. albicanspathogenicity. Proteomic studies of differentially expressed proteins reveals that oleic acid induces oxidative stress responses and mainly targets the proteins involved in glucose metabolism, ergosterol biosynthesis, lipase production, iron homeostasis and amino acid biosynthesis. The current study emphasizes anti-virulent potential of oleic acid which can be used as a therapeutic agent to treatCandidainfections.
A New Method for Fibrin-Based Electrospun/Sprayed Scaffold Fabrication
Authors: Al Kayal Tamer , Losi Paola , Pierozzi Silvia , Soldani Giorgio 
Published: March 2020

AbstractFibrin is an optimal scaffold for tissue-engineering applications because it mimics the extracellular matrix. Despite this interesting feature, fibrin gel owns only poor mechanical properties that limit its applications. Different approaches have been used for fibrin electrospinning, however all the methods investigated required washing steps, cross-linking agent treatment or immersion. The aim of this work was to produce a bilayered fibrin/polyurethane scaffold by combination of the electrospun method and the spray, phase-inversion method for the preparation of a fibrin nanostructured layer to be attached onto a poly(ether)urethane microporous support layer. The synthetic layer was obtained by the spray, phase-inversion technique onto a rotating metallic collector, while fibrinogen was processed to obtain a nanofibrous structure by electrospinning. Finally, fibrin polymerization was obtained by thrombin solution spraying onto the electrospun nanofibers. SEM analysis showed the formation of filamentous structure with diameter in the range of μm attached onto the synthetic layer. This scaffold could be applied in soft tissue regeneration such as wound healing or as drug delivery system.
Visualization of Endogenous Type I TGF-β Receptor Baboon in the Drosophila Brain
Authors: Lai Yen-Wei , Chu Sao-Yu , Li Jian-Chiuan , Chen Po-Lin , Chen Chun-Hong , Yu Hung-Hsiang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway is evolutionarily conserved and widely used in the animal kingdom to regulate diverse developmental processes. Prior studies have shown that Baboon (Babo), a Drosophila type I TGF-β receptor, plays essential roles in brain development and neural circuit formation. However, the expression pattern for Babo in the developing brain has not been previously reported. We generated a knock-in fly with a human influenza hemagglutinin (HA) tag at the C-terminus of Babo and assessed its localization. Babo::HA was primarily expressed in brain structures enriched with neurites, including the mushroom body lobe and neuropils of the optic lobe, where Babo has been shown to instruct neuronal morphogenesis. Since the babo 3' untranslated region contains a predicted microRNA-34 (miR-34) target sequence, we further tested whether Babo::HA expression was affected by modulating the level of miR-34. We found that Babo was upregulated by mir-34 deletion and downregulated by miR-34 overexpression, confirming that it is indeed a miR-34 target gene. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the baboHA fly permits accurate visualization of endogenous Babo expression during brain development and the construction of functional neural circuits.
Benchmarking the MinION: Evaluating long reads for microbial profiling
Authors: Leidenfrost Robert Maximilian , Pöther Dierk-Christoph , Jäckel Udo , Wünschiers Röbbe 
Published: March 2020

AbstractNanopore based DNA-sequencing delivers long reads, thereby simplifying the decipherment of bacterial communities. Since its commercial appearance, this technology has been assigned several attributes, such as its error proneness, comparatively low cost, ease-of-use, and, most notably, aforementioned long reads. The technology as a whole is under continued development. As such, benchmarks are required to conceive, test and improve analysis protocols, including those related to the understanding of the composition of microbial communities. Here we present a dataset composed of twelve different prokaryotic species split into four samples differing by nucleic acid quantification technique to assess the specificity and sensitivity of the MinION nanopore sequencer in a blind study design. Taxonomic classification was performed by standard taxonomic sequence classification tools, namely Kraken, Kraken2 and Centrifuge directly on reads. This allowed taxonomic assignments of up to 99.27% on genus level and 92.78% on species level, enabling true-positive classification of strains down to 25,000 genomes per sample. Full genomic coverage is achieved for strains abundant as low as 250,000 genomes per sample under our experimental settings. In summary, we present an evaluation of nanopore sequence processing analysis with respect to microbial community composition. It provides an open protocol and the data may serve as basis for the development and benchmarking of future data processing pipelines.
New embryological and palaeontological evidence sheds light on the evolution of the archosauromorph ankle
Authors: Blanco María Victoria Fernandez , Ezcurra Martín D. , Bona Paula 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe homology and evolution of the archosaur ankle is a controversial topic that has been deeply studied using evidence from both extinct and extant taxa. In early stem archosaurs, the astragalus and calcaneum form the ancestral proximal tarsus and a single ossification composes the centrale series. In more recent stem archosaurs, the centrale is incorporated to the proximal row of tarsals laterally contacting the astragalus. This bone is subsequently lost as an independent ossification before the last common ancestor of birds and crocodilians, but the evolutionary fate of this element remains mostly unexplored. Here, we integrate embryological and palaeontological data with morphogeometric analyses to test the hypothesis of loss of the centrale or, alternatively, its incorporation into the archosaurian astragalus. Our results support the latter hypothesis, indicating that the astragalus developed ancestrally from two ossification centres in stem archosaurs and that the supposed tibiale of bird embryos represents a centrale. This conclusion agrees with previous embryological studies that concluded that the tibiale never develops in diapsids.
A simple method to monitor hemolysis in real time
Authors: Van Buren Tyler , Arwatz Gilad , Smits Alexander J. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBlood damage (hemolysis) can occur during clinical procedures, e.g. dialysis, due to human error or faulty equipment, and it can cause significant harm to the patient or even death. We propose a simple technique to monitor changes in hemolysis levels continuously and in real time. As red blood cells rupture, the overall conductivity of the blood increases. Here, we demonstrate that small changes in porcine blood hemolysis can be detected through a simple resistance measurement.
RANKL and OPG and their influence on breast volume changes during pregnancy in healthy women
Authors: Wunderle Marius , Ruebner Matthias , Häberle Lothar , Schwenke Eva , Hack Carolin C. , Bayer Christian M. , Koch Martin C. , Schwitulla Judith , Schulz-Wendtland Ruediger , Kozieradzki Ivona , Lux Michael P. , Beckmann Matthias W. , Jud Sebastian M. , Penninger Josef M. , Schneider Michael O. , Fasching Peter A. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBreast cancer risk is reduced by number of pregnancies and breastfeeding duration, however studies of breast changes during or after pregnancy are rare. Breast volume changes – although not linked to breast cancer risk – might be an interesting phenotype in this context for correlative studies, as changes of breast volume vary between pregnant women. Serum receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and its antagonist osteoprotegerin (OPG) were measured prospectively before gestational week 12, and three-dimensional breast volume assessments were performed. A linear regression model including breast volume at the start of pregnancy, RANKL, OPG, and other factors was used to predict breast volume at term. The mean breast volume was 413 mL at gestational week 12, increasing by a mean of 99 mL up to gestational week 40. In addition to body mass index and breast volume at the beginning of pregnancy, RANKL and OPG appeared to influence breast volume with a mean increase by 32 mL (P = 0.04) and a mean reduction by 27 mL (P = 0.04), respectively. Linking the RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway with breast volume changes supports further studies aiming at analysing breast changes during pregnancy with regard to breast cancer risk.
Visuo-motor and interoceptive influences on peripersonal space representation following spinal cord injury
Authors: Scandola Michele , Aglioti Salvatore Maria , Lazzeri Giovanna , Avesani Renato , Ionta Silvio , Moro Valentina 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPeripersonal space (PPS) representation is modulated by information coming from the body. In paraplegic individuals, whose lower limb sensory-motor functions are impaired or completely lost, the representation of PPS around the feet is reduced. However, passive motion can have short-term restorative effects. What remains unclear is the mechanisms underlying this recovery, in particular with regard to the contribution of visual and motor feedback and of interoception. Using virtual reality technology, we dissociated the motor and visual feedback during passive motion in paraplegics with complete and incomplete lesions and in healthy controls. The results show that in the case of paraplegics, the presence of motor feedback was necessary for the recovery of PPS representation, both when the motor feedback was congruent and when it was incongruent with the visual feedback. In contrast, visuo-motor incongruence led to an inhibition of PPS representation in the control group. There were no differences in sympathetic responses between the three groups. Nevertheless, in individuals with incomplete lesions, greater interoceptive sensitivity was associated with a better representation of PPS around the feet in the visuo-motor incongruent conditions. These results shed new light on the modulation of PPS representation, and demonstrate the importance of residual motor feedback and its integration with other bodily information in maintaining space representation.
Two paralogous EcfG σ factors hierarchically orchestrate the activation of the General Stress Response in Sphingopyxis granuli TFA
Authors: de Dios Rubén , Rivas-Marin Elena , Santero Eduardo , Reyes-Ramírez Francisca 
Published: March 2020

AbstractUnder ever-changing environmental conditions, the General Stress Response (GSR) represents a lifesaver for bacteria in order to withstand hostile situations. In α-proteobacteria, the EcfG-type extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors are the key activators of this response at the transcriptional level. In this work, we address the hierarchical function of the ECF σ factor paralogs EcfG1 and EcfG2 in triggering the GSR in Sphingopyxis granuli TFA and describe the role of EcfG2 as global switch of this response. In addition, we define a GSR regulon for TFA and use in vitro transcription analysis to study the relative contribution of each EcfG paralog to the expression of selected genes. We show that the features of each promoter ultimately dictate this contribution, though EcfG2 always produced more transcripts than EcfG1 regardless of the promoter. These first steps in the characterisation of the GSR in TFA suggest a tight regulation to orchestrate an adequate protective response in order to survive in conditions otherwise lethal.
Using HJ-CCD image and PLS algorithm to estimate the yield of field-grown winter wheat
Authors: Zhang Peng-Peng , Zhou Xin-Xing , Wang Zhi-Xiang , Mao Wei , Li Wen-Xi , Yun Fei , Guo Wen-Shan , Tan Chang-Wei 
Published: March 2020

AbstractRemote sensing has been used as an important means of estimating crop production, especially for the estimation of crop yield in the middle and late growth period. In order to further improve the accuracy of estimating winter wheat yield through remote sensing, this study analyzed the quantitative relationship between satellite remote sensing variables obtained from HJ-CCD images and the winter wheat yield, and used the partial least square (PLS) algorithm to construct and validate the multivariate remote sensing models of estimating the yield. The research showed a close relationship between yield and most remote sensing variables. Significant multiple correlations were also recorded between most remote sensing variables. The optimal principal components numbers of PLS models used to estimate yield were 4. Green normalized difference vegetation index (GNDVI), optimized soil-adjusted vegetation index (OSAVI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and plant senescence reflectance index (PSRI) were sensitive variables for yield remote sensing estimation. Through model development and model validation evaluation, the yield estimation model’s coefficients of determination (R2) were 0.81 and 0.74 respectively. The root mean square error (RMSE) were 693.9 kg ha−1 and 786.5 kg ha−1. It showed that the PLS algorithm model estimates the yield better than the linear regression (LR) and principal components analysis (PCA) algorithms. The estimation accuracy was improved by more than 20% than the LR algorithm, and was 13% higher than the PCA algorithm. The results could provide an effective way to improve the estimation accuracy of winter wheat yield by remote sensing, and was conducive to large-area application and promotion.
Anticancer effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate nanoemulsion on lung cancer cells through the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway
Authors: Chen Bing-Huei , Hsieh Chia-Hung , Tsai Su-Yun , Wang Chian-Yu , Wang Chi-Chung 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEpigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a green tea–derived polyphenol, exhibits antitumor activities. An EGCG nanoemulsion (nano-EGCG) was prepared to improve the stability and reduce the side effects of EGCG for treatment of human lung cancer cells, and the antitumor effects were studied. The possible molecular mechanism underlying its antitumor effects on cultured human lung cancer cells was also elucidated. The antitumor effects of EGCG and nano-EGCG were determined using methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), colony formation, migration, and invasion assays. In addition, changes in the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway were investigated using Western blot analyses. AMPK inhibitors were used to determine the roles of the AMPK signaling pathway involved in the molecular mechanism of the nano-EGCG. Our results showed that both EGCG and nano-EGCG inhibited the growth of H1299 lung cancer cells, with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of 36.03 and 4.71 μM, respectively. Additionally, nano-EGCG effectively suppressed lung cancer cell colony formation, migration, and invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Nano-EGCG may inhibit lung cancer cell invasion through matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2- and MMP-9-independent mechanisms. Furthermore, the expression of several key regulatory proteins in the AMPK signaling pathway was modulated by nano-EGCG. Nano-EGCG may inhibit lung cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion through the activation of AMPK signaling pathways. This novel mechanism of nano-EGCG suggests its application in lung cancer prevention and treatment. Our results provide an experimental foundation for further research on its potential activities and effects in vivo.
Effects of modes of climate variability on wave power during boreal summer in the western North Pacific
Authors: Yang Sinil , Oh Jai-Ho 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis study investigates extremes of wave climate in the western North Pacific (WNP) as significant responses to modes of climate variability: the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Few studies have explicitly investigated significant wave height in this context, and hence, the aim of the present study is to investigate and quantify the responses to a simulated wave data set over the WNP from 1979–2009 by focusing on the combined influences of the ENSO and PDO during the boreal summer. We conducted a composite analysis of sea surface temperatures, sea-level pressure, and extreme anomalies of wave power density (Pw) on different phase combinations of the ENSO and the PDO, and also analyzed the effects of a latitudinal shift of the ITCZ for composite samples with respect to simulated tropical storm (TS) activities. The results demonstrate that the ENSO played a primarily positive role in intensifying anomalous wave climate, while the PDO had the opposite effect. The responses of the peak wave-period were linked to a strengthened anomalous low-pressure and a cooling of sea surface temperature anomalies. The PDO played a significant role in strengthening or weakening of the effects of the ENSO on Pw, thus confirming the findings of previous studies. We found that responses were dependent on whether ENSO and PDO were in or out of phase. These responses can be described by a strengthening of the southeast trade winds that blow across the equator with respect to a latitudinal shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Our findings contribute to the understanding of a relationship between modes of climate variability and TS activities with respect to the status of the ITCZ over the WNP, which can be relevant factors in the lifetime of wave power and related wave parameters in the WNP during the boreal summer.
Improved Prediction of Surgical Resectability in Patients with Glioblastoma using an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Marcus Adam P. , Marcus Hani J. , Camp Sophie J. , Nandi Dipankar , Kitchen Neil , Thorne Lewis 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn managing a patient with glioblastoma (GBM), a surgeon must carefully consider whether sufficient tumour can be removed so that the patient can enjoy the benefits of decompression and cytoreduction, without impacting on the patient’s neurological status. In a previous study we identified the five most important anatomical features on a pre-operative MRI that are predictive of surgical resectability and used them to develop a simple, objective, and reproducible grading system. The objective of this study was to apply an artificial neural network (ANN) to improve the prediction of surgical resectability in patients with GBM. Prospectively maintained databases were searched to identify adult patients with supratentorial GBM that underwent craniotomy and resection. Performance of the ANN was evaluated against logistic regression and the standard grading system by analysing their Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves; Area Under Curve (AUC) and accuracy were calculated and compared using Wilcoxon signed rank test with a value of p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. In all, 135 patients were included, of which 33 (24.4%) were found to have complete excision of all contrast-enhancing tumour. The AUC and accuracy were significantly greater using the ANN compared to the standard grading system (0.87 vs. 0.79 and 83% vs. 80% respectively; p < 0.01 in both cases). In conclusion, an ANN allows for the improved prediction of surgical resectability in patients with GBM.
Ultrafast in-gel detection by fluorescent super-chelator probes with HisQuick-PAGE
Authors: Brüchert Stefan , Joest Eike F. , Gatterdam Karl , Tampé Robert 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and immunoblotting (Western blotting) are the most common methods in life science. In conjunction with these methods, the polyhistidine-tag has proven to be a superb fusion tag for protein purification as well as specific protein detection by immunoblotting, which led to a vast amount of commercially available antibodies. Nevertheless, antibody batch-to-batch variations and nonspecific binding complicate the laborious procedure. The interaction principle applied for His-tagged protein purification by metal-affinity chromatography using N-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) was employed to develop small high-affinity lock-and-key molecules coupled to a fluorophore. These multivalent NTA probes allow specific detection of His-tagged proteins by fluorescence. Here, we report on HisQuick-PAGE as a fast and versatile immunoblot alternative, using such high-affinity fluorescent super-chelator probes. The procedure allows direct, fast, and ultra-sensitive in-gel detection and analysis of soluble proteins as well as intact membrane protein complexes and macromolecular ribonucleoprotein particles.