bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of muscle ultrasound for the evaluation of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: An observational cross‐sectional study
Authors: Rajabkhah Sahebeh , Moradi Kamyar , Okhovat Ali A. , Van Alfen Nens , Fathi Davood , Aghaghazvini Leila , Ashraf‐Ganjouei Amir , Attarian Shahram , Nafissi Shahriar , Fatehi Farzad 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIntroductionWe evaluated the association between muscle ultrasound, number of motor units, and clinical parameters, and assessed their utility for distinguishing amyotrophic lateral scleorisis (ALS) patients from healthy individuals.MethodsThree muscle pairs (abductor pollicis brevis, abductor digiti minimi, and tibialis anterior) of 18 ALS patients and 18 controls underwent muscle ultrasound (echointensity and thickness) and assessment of motor unit number index (MUNIX). The clinical and functional status of participants were also assessed.ResultsMean age of the patients was 53.8 ± 12.1 years, and score on the ALS Functional Rating Scale—Revised was 38.9 ± 4.1. Echointensity of all tested muscles of ALS participants was significantly higher than that of controls, but there was no significant difference in muscle thickness. Muscle echointensity correlated significantly with clinical and electrophysiological parameters.ConclusionEchointensity of muscles was highly associated with clinical scales and MUNIX, confirming its relevance as an ancillary diagnostic test in ALS patients.
Chronic immune polyradiculopathies: Three clinical variants of one disease?
Authors: Khadilkar Satish V. , Patel Riddhi , Shah Neha , Deshmukh Narayan D. , Patel Bhagyadhan A. , Mansukhani Khushnuma A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIntroductionChronic immune polyradiculopathies (sensory, motor, and mixed) are uncommon.MethodsIn this single‐center, retrospective study, the inclusion criteria for participants were progressive sensory ataxia and/or areflexic limb weakness; tibial somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) abnormalities of the N22 and P40 potentials with normal sensory and motor nerve conduction studies or root involvement, according to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); and albuminocytological dissociation.ResultsEight patients were included in our study. Two had weakness, two had sensory ataxia, and four had both weakness and ataxia. Patients with weakness had abnormal SSEPs and patients with sensory ataxia also had absent F waves. Electromyography showed chronic denervation. MRI scans confirmed thickening and enhancement of roots. The patients responded to corticosteroid treatment.DiscussionThe overlapping clinicoelectrophysiological findings and similarities in radiological and therapeutic responses suggest that these entities are clinical variants of the same disease. The terms CIS(m)P, CI(s)MP, and CISMP (for chronic immune sensory motor polyradiculopathy) could be used to denote the predominant clinical involvement.
Fatigue in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Authors: Gable Karissa L. , Attarian Hrayr , Allen Jeffrey A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIntroductionIn this study we aimed to better understand fatigue in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) as it relates to disease activity status.MethodsPatients with probable or definite CIDP were stratified into active CIDP or CIDP in remission. Assessments of fatigue, physical impairment, disability, sleepiness, sleep quality, and depression were collected.ResultsOf the 85 patients included in the study, 46 (54%) had active disease, whereas 39 (46%) were in remission. Fatigue was substantial in both groups, but was more severe in the active group. Use of sedating medications was a major contributor to fatigue. Sleep quality was poor in both groups, whereas depression more commonly affected those with active CIDP. Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment disability, poor sleep quality, and higher level of depression had the greatest effect on fatigue severity.DiscussionFatigue is common in CIDP regardless of the disease activity state. Minimizing sedating medications, improving sleep quality, and managing depression may improve CIDP‐associated fatigue.
Enhancement of photovoltaic efficiency through fine adjustment of indacene‐based non‐fullerene acceptor by minimal chlorination for polymer solar cells
Authors: Keshtov Mukhamed L. , Kuklin Sergei A. , Dou Chuandong , Koukaras Emmanuel N. , Singhal Rahul , Malhotra Prateek , Sharma Ganesh D. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractTwo non‐fullerene small molecule acceptors (NFSMAs, BThIND‐Cl and BThIND) with an A–D–A configuration containing indacenedithiophene donor core unit and terminal unit with IC (BThIND) and chlorinated IND were synthesized for their application as an acceptor in polymer solar cells (PSCs). Compared to BThIND, the chlorinated molecule BThIND‐Cl exhibits lower energy levels and red‐shifted absorption spectrum but also exhibits improved crystallinity and molecular packing. These two NFSMAs are used as acceptors along with a well‐known conjugated polymer PM6, that exhibits complementary absorption to both NFSMAs, and has suitable frontier energy levels (highest occupied molecular orbital at –5.47 eV and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital at 3.61 eV) as a donor, in fabricating PSCs. Having optimized the active layers, the PSC based on PM6: BThIND‐Cl showed higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 12.36% and a fill factor (FF) of 0.71 than that of PM6: BThIND counterpart (PCE = 8.04% with a FF of 0.66). Moreover, for the PM6: BThIND‐Cl based PSC a quite high open‐circuit voltage of 0.96 V was achieved in addition to a low energy loss of 0.53. Notably higher short circuit current and FF value were found for the BThIND‐Cl based PSCs that are attributed to originate from the measured high values of charge carrier mobilities (and more balanced), to an advantageous nanoscale morphology, and finally to increased efficiency of exciton dissociation as compared to BThIND counterparts. These results demonstrate that substitution of the single chlorine atom in the IC terminal unit of A–D–A NFSMA is sufficient to enhance the PCE of PSCs
Fundamentals and applications of nanoparticles for ultrasound‐based imaging and therapy
Authors: Li Lujing , Guan Yupeng , Xiong Haiyun , Deng Tian , Ji Qiao , Xu Zuofeng , Kang Yang , Pang Jun 
Published: July 2020

AbstractUltrasonography (US) is frequently applied in clinical imaging because of its inherent merits compared with those of other imaging methods. Nanoparticle (NP)‐based imaging and therapeutic modalities have been widely used because of their unique functionalities and high performance. The report is mainly about the classifications and applications of NPs for US‐based theranostic biomedicine. The US‐based applications include single‐modality US imaging, multimodality US imaging, high‐intensity focused US, US‐triggered drug release, US‐enhanced gene transfection, and US‐irradiated sonodynamic therapy. In addition, current challenges, including the biological effects and biosafety, are discussed in this interview. NPs have tremendous potential as a US‐based theranostic tool and have revealed a new direction in cancer therapy.
Clinical Outcomes of Enteral Feeding Protocol Via Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy: A Single‐Center, Retrospective Study
Authors: Noh Jin Hee , Na Hee Kyong , Ahn Ji Yong , Hong Suk‐Kyung , Kim Jiyoun , Yang Jina , Jung Hwoon‐Yong 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe development of the endoscopic technique has resulted in an increasing number of patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) insertion; however, the protocols for increasing the volume of feeding formula after PEG insertion have not been established. Therefore, we compared the clinical outcomes of patients receiving low‐ and high‐volume increase in enteral feeding formula.MethodsA total of 215 patients who underwent PEG insertion between January 2016 and March 2019 were included. They were divided into 2 groups according to the increase in volume of feeding formula: the low‐volume group (n = 135) received ≤150 mL/d, and the high‐volume group (n = 80) received ≥300 mL/d. Patient characteristics, procedure, and feeding‐related clinical outcomes were retrospectively reviewed using medical records.ResultsThe adverse events of the feeding protocol did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. The number of days needed to attain the calorie targets was significantly lower in the high‐volume group than in the low‐volume group (5.4 ± 3.0 vs 2.4 ± 1.5; P < .001). The duration of supplemental parenteral nutrition and the length of hospitalization were also significantly lower in the high‐volume group (3.9 ± 3.3 vs 1.2 ± 2.2; P < .001 and 5.8 ± 2.7 vs 4.6 ± 2.6; P = .007, respectively).ConclusionTo rapidly attain the calorie targets in appropriately selected patients with PEG insertion, a high‐volume increase in daily feeding can safely be recommended given the favorable outcomes.
Optimizing the investments in mobile networks and subscriber migrations for a telecommunication operator
Authors: Cambier Adrien , Chardy Matthieu , Figueiredo Rosa , Ouorou Adam , Poss Michael 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWe consider the context of a telecommunication company that is at the same time an infrastructure operator and a service provider. When planning its network expansion, the company can leverage over its knowledge of the subscriber dynamic to better optimize the network dimensioning, therefore avoiding unnecessary costs. In this work, the network expansion represents the deployment and/or reinforcement of several technologies (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G), assuming that subscribers to a given technology can be served by this technology or older ones. The operator can influence subscriber dynamic by subsidies. The planning is made over a discretized time horizon while some strategic guideline requirements are required at the end of the time horizon. Following classical models, we consider that the willingness of customers for shifting to a new technology follows an S‐shape piecewise constant function. We propose a mixed‐integer linear programming formulation, improved through several valid inequalities and a heuristic algorithm. We assess the formulation numerically on real instances.
miRNA profiling of biliary intraepithelial neoplasia reveals stepwise tumorigenesis in distal cholangiocarcinoma via the miR‐451a/ATF2 axis
Authors: Loeffler Moritz A , Hu Jun , Kirchner Martina , Wei Xiyang , Xiao Yi , Albrecht Thomas , De La Torre Carolina , Sticht Carsten , Banales Jesus M , Vogel Monika N , Pathil‐Warth Anita , Mehrabi Arianeb , Hoffmann Katrin , Rupp Christian , Köhler Bruno , Springfeld Christoph , Schirmacher Peter , Ji Junfang , Roessler Stephanie , Goeppert Benjamin 
Published: July 2020

AbstractDistal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA) is a biliary tract cancer with a dismal prognosis and is often preceded by biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN), representing the most common biliary non‐invasive precursor lesion. BilIN are histologically well defined but have not so far been characterised systematically at the molecular level. The aim of this study was to determine miRNA‐regulated genes in cholangiocarcinogenesis via BilIN. We used a clinicopathologically well‐characterised cohort of 12 dCCA patients. Matched samples of non‐neoplastic biliary epithelia, BilIN and invasive tumour epithelia of each patient were isolated from formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue sections by laser microdissection. The resulting 36 samples were subjected to total RNA extraction and the expression of 798 miRNAs was assessed using the Nanostring® technology. Candidate miRNAs were validated by RT‐qPCR and functionally investigated following lentiviral overexpression in dCCA‐derived cell lines. Potential direct miRNA target genes were identified by microarray and prediction algorithms and were confirmed by luciferase assay. We identified 49 deregulated miRNAs comparing non‐neoplastic and tumour tissue. Clustering of these miRNAs corresponded to the three stages of cholangiocarcinogenesis, supporting the concept of BilIN as a tumour precursor. Two downregulated miRNAs, i.e. miR‐451a (−10.9‐fold down) and miR‐144‐3p (−6.3‐fold down), stood out by relative decrease. Functional analyses of these candidates revealed a migration inhibitory effect in dCCA cell lines. Activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain‐containing protein 10 (ADAM10) were identified as direct miR‐451a target genes. Specific ATF2 inhibition by pooled siRNAs reproduced the inhibitory impact of miR‐451a on cancer cell migration. Thus, our data support the concept of BilIN as a direct precursor of invasive dCCA at the molecular level. In addition, we identified miR‐451a and miR‐144‐3p as putative tumour suppressors attenuating cell migration by inhibiting ATF2 in the process of dCCA tumorigenesis. © The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Thrombolytic therapy in preterm infants: Fifteen‐year experience
Authors: Grizante‐Lopes Priscila , Garanito Marlene Pereira , Celeste Daniele Martins , Krebs Vera Lucia Jornada , Carneiro Jorge David Aivazoglou 
Published: July 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo report a single‐center experience with thrombolytic therapy using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt‐PA) in preterm neonates with severe thrombotic events, in terms of thrombus resolution and bleeding complications.Study designThis retrospective study included 21 preterm neonates with severe venous thrombotic events admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, identified in our pharmacy database from January 2001 to December 2016, and treated with rt‐PA until complete or partial clot lysis, no‐response or bleeding complications. Our primary outcome was thrombus resolution.ResultsTwenty‐one preterm neonates were treated with rt‐PA for an average of 2.9 cycles. Seventeen patients (80.9%) had superior vena cava thrombosis and superior vena cava syndrome. All patients had a central venous catheter, parenteral nutrition, mechanical ventilation, and sepsis. Fifteen patients (71.4%) were extremely preterm, 11 (52.4%) were extremely low birth weight, and seven (33.3%) were very low birth weight. The patency rate was 85.7%, complete lysis occurred in 11 (52.4%) patients, and partial lysis in seven (33.3%). Minor bleeding occurred in five (23.8%) patients, three patients (14.2%) had clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding events, and major bleeding occurred in six (28%) patients.ConclusionIn this study, the rate of thrombus resolution in preterm neonates treated with rt‐PA were similar to the percentages reported in children and adolescents, with a high rate of bleeding. Therefore, rt‐PA thrombolytic therapy should only be considered as a treatment option for severe life‐threatening thrombosis in premature neonates for whom the benefits of the thrombolytic treatment outweigh the risks of bleeding.
Phase II study of reduced‐dose craniospinal irradiation and combination chemotherapy for children with newly diagnosed medulloblastoma: A report from the Japanese Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium
Authors: Okada Keiko , Soejima Toshinori , Sakamoto Hiroaki , Hirato Junko , Hara Junichi 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundStandard doses of craniospinal irradiation (CSI) are 23.4 Gy for patients with average‐risk and 36 Gy for those with high‐risk medulloblastoma (MB). We investigated whether intensified chemotherapy including intrathecal chemotherapy with simultaneous irradiation is able to reduce CSI dose to 18 Gy.MethodsNewly diagnosed average‐risk patients aged 3‐11 years and high‐risk patients aged 3‐18 years were eligible. Patients with Stage M1‐4 disease were classified as high‐risk MB and the others, including M0 patients with >1.5 cm2 postoperative residual tumor, were classified as average‐risk MB. Patients received chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, etoposide, cisplatin, and vincristine. Radiotherapy was started concomitantly with the second course of chemotherapy. Radiation doses were 50 Gy to the primary site and 18 Gy to the craniospinal axis. Average‐risk patients received five courses of chemotherapy. High‐risk patients received high‐dose chemotherapy consisting of thiotepa and melphalan following four courses of chemotherapy. All patients received intrathecal methotrexate.ResultsFrom 2006 to 2014, 48 patients (35 average and 13 high risk) who met the eligibility/exclusion criteria were enrolled. The 3‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) and 3‐year overall survival (OS) were 90.5% (standard error 5.2%) and 93.9% (4.2%), respectively, for average‐risk patients, and 100% and 100%, respectively, for high‐risk patients. There was no leukoencephalopathy or treatment‐related deaths. Two patients experienced secondary cancer.ConclusionsThese results suggest that CSI 18 Gy is adequate at least in a proportion of patients with MB treated with intensified chemotherapy including intrathecal methotrexate and simultaneous irradiation, though the results in high‐risk patients were only exploratory.
Do students notice stress in teachers? Associations between classroom teacher burnout and students' perceptions of teacher social–emotional competence
Authors: Oberle Eva , Gist Alexander , Cooray Muthutantrige S. , Pinto Joana B. R. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe goal of the present study was to investigate the link between elementary school teacher burnout and students' perceptions of teacher social–emotional competence (SEC). A total of 676 Grades 4–7 students in 35 classrooms rated their classroom teachers' SEC. In addition, teachers self‐reported their current level of experienced burnout at work (i.e., depersonalization and emotional exhaustion). Multilevel analyses revealed significant classroom‐level variability (i.e., 34%) in student‐ratings of teacher SEC. Teacher burnout significantly predicted student‐rated teacher SEC, over and above significant student‐level variables (school self‐concept, sense of autonomy in the classroom) and contextual variables (teacher age, school neighborhood income). Specifically, higher levels of teacher burnout were related to receiving lower SEC ratings by students. Teacher burnout explained a significant portion of the classroom‐level variability in student‐rated teacher SEC. The present study emphasizes the link between teacher burnout and the SEC. Furthermore, given that teacher reports (burnout) were linked to student reports (teacher SEC), these findings also suggest that students notice stress in their classroom teacher.
The Impact of a Comorbid Spinal Cord Injury on Cognitive Outcomes of Male and Female Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Mollayeva Tatyana , Sutton Mitchel , Escobar Michael , Hurst Mackenzie , Colantonio Angela 
Published: July 2020

IntroductionEvidence of the effect of comorbid spinal cord injury (SCI) on cognitive outcomes in persons undergoing rehabilitation following newly diagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI) is limited. We conducted a population‐based study to investigate this effect.ObjectiveTo compare cognitive outcomes in patients with TBI with and without a comorbid SCI.Setting/ParticipantsAdult patients diagnosed with TBI were identified and followed for 1 year through provincial health administrative data; those who entered inpatient rehabilitation were studied.DesignA retrospective matched cohort study using the National Rehabilitation Reporting System data of all acute care and freestanding rehabilitation hospitals in Ontario, Canada.Main MeasuresThe exposure was a comorbid SCI in patients with diagnosed TBI. Exposed patients were matched to unexposed (TBI‐only) on sex, age, injury severity, and income, in a ratio of one to two. Gain differences in the cognitive subscale of the Functional Independence Measure were compared between exposed and unexposed patients using multivariable mixed linear model, controlling for comorbidity propensity score, gains in motor function, and rehabilitation care indicators.ResultsOver the first year post injury, 12 750 (0.84%) of all TBI patients entered inpatient rehabilitation, of whom 1359 (10.66%) had a comorbid SCI. A total of 1195 exposed patients (65.4% male, mean age 50.9 ± 20.6 for male and 61.8 ± 21.8 for female patients) were matched to 2390 unexposed patients. Controlling for confounding, exposed patients had lower cognitive gain (beta −0.43; 95% CI −0.72, −0.15), for both male (beta −0.39; 95% CI −0.75, −0.03) and female (beta −0.51; 95% CI −0.97, −0.05) patients. The adverse effects of comorbid SCI were driven largely by lower gains in problem solving and comprehension.ConclusionsAdult patients with TBI and comorbid SCI showed a lower cognitive domain response to inpatient rehabilitation than patients with TBI alone. Identifying patients at risk for worse cognitive outcomes may facilitate the development of targeted strategies that improve cognitive outcomes.
Children and COVID‐19: Microbiological and immunological insights
Authors: Buonsenso Danilo , Sali Michela , Pata Davide , De Rose Cristina , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Valentini Piero , Delogu Giovanni 
Published: July 2020

AbstractSince its first description in China, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has spread worldwide being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. More than 10.3 million people have been infected and more than 506 000 people died. However, SARS‐CoV‐2 had a lower impact on the pediatric population. Only about 1% to 2% of infected people are children and few deaths under the age of 14 are described so far. In this article, we discuss microbiological and immunological characteristics of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in children highlighting the main differences from adult SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.
Insight into the pediatric and adult dichotomy of COVID‐19: Age‐related differences in the immune response to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection
Authors: Fialkowski Allison , Gernez Yael , Arya Puneeta , Weinacht Katja G. , Kinane T. Bernard , Yonker Lael M. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe difference in morbidity and mortality between adult and pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 infections is dramatic. Understanding pediatric‐specific acute and delayed immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is critical for the development of vaccination strategies, immune‐targeted therapies, and treatment and prevention of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. The goal of this review is to highlight research developments in the understanding of the immune responses to SARS‐CoV‐2 infections, with a specific focus on age‐related immune responses.
Value of Urine Peptides in Assessing Kidney and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Latosinska Agnieszka , Siwy Justyna , Faguer Stanislas , Beige Joachim , Mischak Harald , Schanstra Joost P. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractUrinary peptides gained significant attention as potential biomarkers especially in the context of kidney and cardiovascular disease. In this manuscript the recent literature since 2015 on urinary peptide investigation in human kidney and cardiovascular disease is reviewed. The technology most commonly used in this context is capillary electrophoresis coupled mass spectrometry, in part owed to the large database available and the well‐defined dataspace. Several studies based on over 1000 subjects are reported in the recent past, especially examining CKD273, a classifier for assessment of chronic kidney disease based on 273 urine peptides. Interestingly, the most abundant urinary peptides are generally collagen fragments, which may have gone undetected for some time as they are typically modified via proline hydroxylation. The data available suggest that urinary peptides specifically depict inflammation and fibrosis, and may serve as a non‐invasive tool to assess fibrosis, which appears to be a key driver in kidney and cardiovascular disease. The recent successful completion of the first urinary peptide guided intervention trial, PRIORITY, is expected to further spur clinical application of urinary peptidomics, aiming especially at early detection of chronic diseases, prediction of progression, and prognosis of drug response.