bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Myristoleic acid produced by enterococci reduces obesity through brown adipose tissue activation
Authors: Quan Lin-Hu , Zhang Chuanhai , Dong Meng , Jiang Jun , Xu Hongde , Yan Chunlong , Liu Xiaomeng , Zhou Huiqiao , Zhang Hanlin , Chen Li , Zhong Fei-Liang , Luo Zhao-Bo , Lam Sin-Man , Shui Guanghou , Li Donghao , Jin Wanzhu 
Published: November 2019

ObjectiveDietary fibre has beneficial effects on energy metabolism, and the majority of studies have focused on short-chain fatty acids produced by gut microbiota. Ginseng has been reported to aid in body weight management, however, its mechanism of action is not yet clear. In this study, we focused on the potential modulating effect of ginseng on gut microbiota, aiming to identify specific strains and their metabolites, especially long-chain fatty acids (LCFA), which mediate the anti-obesity effects of ginseng.DesignDb/db mice were gavaged with ginseng extract (GE) and the effects of GE on gut microbiota were evaluated using 16S rDNA-based high throughput sequencing. To confirm the candidate fatty acids, untargeted metabolomics analyses of the serum and medium samples were performed.ResultsWe demonstrated that GE can induceEnterococcus faecalis, which can produce an unsaturated LCFA, myristoleic acid (MA). Our results indicate thatE. faecalisand its metabolite MA can reduce adiposity by brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation and beige fat formation. In addition, the gene ofE. faecalisencoding Acyl-CoA thioesterases (ACOTs) exhibited the biosynthetic potential to synthesise MA, as knockdown (KD) of the ACOT gene by CRISPR-dCas9 significantly reduced MA production. Furthermore, exogenous treatment with KDE. faecaliscould not reproduce the beneficial effects of wild typeE. faecalis, which work by augmenting the circulating MA levels.ConclusionsOur results demonstrated that the gut microbiota-LCFA-BAT axis plays an important role in host metabolism, which may provide a strategic advantage for the next generation of anti-obesity drug development.
Meat fatty acid and purine derivatives in hair lambs in tropical climates
Authors: Campos Ana Claudia Nascimento , Evangelista Monalisa Eva Santos , Rocha Junior José Nery , Pinheiro da Silva Luciano , Bezerra Leilson Rocha , Oliveira Ronaldo Lopes , Furtado Rafael Nogueira , Carneiro Maria Socorro Souza , Souza Jocely Gomes , Pereira Elzania Sales 
Published: November 2019

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feed restriction and sex class on the intake and digestibility of nutrients as well as meat fatty acid profiles in Santa Ines lambs. Thirty lambs with initial body weights of 13 ± 1.49 kg and ages of 60 d were used in a completely randomized study with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement consisting of three feeding levels (0 or ad libitum, 30%, and 60% feed restriction) and two sex classes (15 intact male and 15 castrated male), comprising five animals in each treatment. The experimental trial lasted 100 d. Increased feed restriction levels resulted in lower intake (P < 0.001) and higher digestibility of nutrients. There were decreases (P < 0.05) in the excretion of nitrogen compounds and purine derivatives when feed restriction increased. The feed restriction decreased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of C18:2n6 and C18:3n3 in the meat but did not affect the C18:2c9t11. The ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids:monounsaturated fatty acid was higher in the 60% feed restriction. The results suggest that feed restriction improves nutrient utilization efficiency. The feed restriction up to 30% leads to a higher concentration of saturated fatty acids in meats.
Simultaneous measurement of net nitrogen mineralization and denitrification rates in soil using nitrification inhibitor 3,5-dimethylpyrazole
Authors: Zebarth B.J. , Burton D.L. , Spence J. , Khosa M.K. 
Published: November 2019

A practical means to quantify the response of the rates of net N mineralization and denitrification over a wide range of soil water contents is generally lacking. This study examined the potential to use a nitrification inhibitor (NI) assay system to simultaneously estimate the rates of net N mineralization and denitrification, and applied the NI assay to assess the effect of water content on net N mineralization and denitrification rates in two soils with contrasting soil texture. The compound 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (DMP) applied at a rate of 200 mg kg−1 was found to provide essentially complete inhibition of nitrification over the duration of the soil incubation for two soils with contrasting soil texture (clay loam vs. sandy loam) and over a range of soil water contents (35%, 55%, and 85% water-filled pore space). This allowed net N mineralization to be estimated as the accumulation of soil ammonium ([Formula: see text]) and of denitrification as the disappearance of added nitrate ([Formula: see text]). Addition of DMP resulted in a small increase in soil respiration rate but did not appear to influence the rate of net soil N mineralization. The NI assay provides a practical means to quantify the rates of net N mineralization and denitrification simultaneously over a wide range of soil water contents. The assay can be readily scaled up to routinely test multiple soils in an efficient manner, has limited material costs, and is also relatively simple to perform.
Epitaxial growth and in-plane dielectric properties of DyMnO3 by pulsed-laser deposition
Authors: Wang Weitian 
Published: November 2019

Perovskite manganites DyMnO3 thin film was grown epitaxially on LaAlO3 (110) substrate by using pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) technique. The film showed perfectly orthorhombic crystallization and was well-aligned with the substrates. The in-plane dielectric properties of DyMnO3 film were measured as functions of temperature (80–300 K) and frequency (120–100 kHz) by using parallel-plate interdigital electrodes (IDEs). Distinct transitions can be observed in the complex permittivity and loss tangent and the respective peaks shifted to higher temperatures as the measuring frequency increased. By the Arrhenius plots, the determined activation energy of the thermally activated dielectric relaxations was about 0.20 eV. According to the relationship of the real and imaginary parts of the complex permittivity, the in-plane dielectric properties of epitaxial DyMnO3 thin film can be described as the universal dielectric response (UDR) behavior.
PET Imaging of the EPR Effect in Tumor Xenografts Using Small 15 nm Diameter Polyethylene Glycols Labeled with Zirconium-89
Authors: Beckford Vera Denis R. , Fontaine Shaun D. , VanBrocklin Henry F. , Hearn Brian R. , Reid Ralph , Ashley Gary W. , Santi Daniel V. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
The goal was to develop and characterize a companion diagnostic for the releasable PEG40kDa∼SN-38 oncology drug, PLX038, that would identify tumors susceptible to high accumulation of PLX038. PEG conjugates of the zirconium ligand desferroxamine B (DFB) of similar size and charge to PLX038 were prepared that contained one or four DFB, as well as one that contained three SN-38 moieties and one DFB. Uptake and associated kinetic parameters of the 89Zr-labeled nanocarriers were determined in tumor and normal tissues in mice using μPET/CT imaging. The data were fit to physiologically based pharmacokinetic models to simulate the mass-time profiles of distribution of conjugates in the tissues of interest. The time–activity curves for normal tissues showed high levels at the earliest time of measurement due to vascularization, followed by a monophasic loss. In tumors, levels were initially lower than in normal tissues but increased to 9% to 14% of injected dose over several days. The efflux half-life in tumors was very long, approximately 400 hours, and tumor levels remained at about 10% injected dose 9 days after injection. Compared with diagnostic liposomes, the PEG nanocarriers have a longer serum half-life, are retained in tumors at higher levels, remain there longer, and afford higher tumor exposure. The small PEG40kDa nanocarriers studied here show properties for passive targeting of tumors that are superior than most nanoparticles and might be effective probes to identify tumors susceptible to similar size therapeutic nanocarriers such as PLX038.
MRAS
Variants Cause Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy in Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Higgins Erin M. , Bos J. Martijn , Dotzler Steven M. , John Kim CS , Ackerman Michael J. 
Published: November 2019

Background:

MRAS
was identified recently as a novel Noonan syndrome (NS)-susceptibility gene. Phenotypically, both patients with NS, harboring pathogenic
MRAS
variants, displayed severe cardiac hypertrophy. This study aimed to demonstrate both the necessity and sufficiency of a patient-specific variant (p.Gly23Val-MRAS) to cause NS through the generation and characterization of patient-specific, isogenic control, and disease modeled induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines.

Methods:

iPSCs were derived from a patient with a p.Gly23Val-MRAS variant to assess the effect of
MRAS
variants on pathogenesis of NS-associated cardiac hypertrophy. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing was used to correct the pathogenic p.Gly23Val-MRAS variant in patient cells (isogenic control) and to introduce the pathogenic variant into unrelated control cells (disease modeled) to determine the necessity and sufficiency of the p.Gly23Val-MRAS variant to elicit the disease phenotype in iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). iPSC-CMs were analyzed by microscopy and immunofluroesence, single-cell RNAseq, Western blot, room temperature-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and live-cell calcium imaging to define an in vitro phenotype of
MRAS
-mediated cardiac hypertrophy.

Results:

Compared with controls, both patient and disease modeled iPSC-CMs were significantly larger and demonstrated changes in gene expression and intracellular pathway signaling characteristic of cardiac hypertrophy. Additionally, patient and disease modeled iPSC-CMs displayed impaired Ca
2+
handling, including increased frequency of irregular Ca
2+
transients and changes in Ca
2+
handling kinetics.

Conclusions:
p.Gly23Val-MRAS is both necessary and sufficient to elicit a cardiac hypertrophy phenotype in iPSC-CMs that includes increased cell size, changes in cardiac gene expression, and abnormal calcium handling-providing further evidence to establish the monogenetic pathogenicity of p.Gly23Val-MRAS in NS with cardiac hypertrophy.
Looking Beyond Ruins
Authors: Cheng (鄭藝超) Christopher 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Many qiaoxiang in southern Fujian and Guangdong appear derelict, but documenting the material heritage and interviewing people about its social significance reveals another image. The homeland of Overseas Chinese was not only found to be significant for the diaspora but serves as an enduring reminder of a grassroots-based modernity in rural China. The qiaoxiang effectively became a transnational legacy of migration from southern China that has undergone the following stages of transformation: exodus-led emergence of a remittance landscape, sudden abandonment, and sometimes revival. Today, it has become a “repository” or “living museum” where tourists and scholars alike can visit and ponder how humans adapted to post-rural life.
Pregnancy Status, Risk Factors, and Opportunities for Referral to Care Among Reproductive-Aged Women With Newly Reported Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Tennessee
Authors: Oliver Cassandra , Black Jennifer , De Pont Shannon , Sizemore Lindsey , Wester Carolyn 
Published: November 2019

Objectives: From 2006 through 2012, the number of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections increased 364% among persons aged ≤30, including reproductive-aged women, in Central Appalachian states. Outreach to reproductive-aged women with newly diagnosed HCV infection affords a unique opportunity to provide counseling, further testing, and linkage to treatment. We modeled a centrally located statewide effort to reach this population and their health care providers to ascertain pregnancy status, HCV risk factors, and opportunities for linkage to additional services. Methods: Using the Tennessee Department of Health’s surveillance database, we identified women aged 18-45 residing in Tennessee with newly reported chronic HCV infection from May through October 2017. We contacted health care providers and patients to request information on pregnancy status and HCV risk factors as well as to provide linkage to treatment services. Results: Of 1548 women included in this study, health care provider or patient contact information was available for 1316 (85.0%) women. Of the 1316 women, 806 (61.2%) women had a health care provider or patient response, of whom 242 (30.0%) were pregnant. Of 296 patients contacted, 194 (65.5%) reported intranasal drug use, 193 (65.2%) reported having been incarcerated for more than 24 hours, and 180 (60.8%) reported injection drug use. Ninety-eight (33.1%) patients were referred for confirmatory testing, and 174 (58.8%) were referred to treatment. Conclusion: A high proportion of reproductive-aged women with newly diagnosed HCV infection were pregnant. Surveillance-informed outreach to this population was feasible and provided opportunities for counseling and linkage to confirmatory testing and treatment. Future studies should evaluate whether a similar model would enhance testing and linkage to care of HCV-exposed infants.
Appropriateness of Otic Quinolone Use among Privately Insured US Patients
Authors: Tran Phuong T. , Winterstein Almut G. , Wang Xi , Rhew Kiyon , Antonelli Patrick J. 
Published: November 2019

ObjectiveConsidering emerging safety concerns involving otic quinolones, we assessed the extent of otic quinolone use for questionable indications.Study DesignDescriptive cross‐sectional study of a national sample of privately insured patients.SettingOutpatient encounters in the United States.Subjects and MethodsChildren and adults with outpatient pharmacy‐dispensing claims for new prescriptions of otic or ophthalmic quinolones in 2017 were identified within the IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims & Encounters and the Medicare Supplemental Database. Each dispensing ≥30 days apart constituted a unique episode. Only claims with supporting ear‐related diagnoses on outpatient encounters ±3 days of dispensing were considered. Ophthalmic drops were excluded if eye‐related diagnoses were found ±30 days. Prescribing was classified as appropriate, questionable, or undetermined.ResultsWe found 214,897 episodes in 200,270 patients. Adults were twice as likely as children to have otic treatment with questionable indications (6.2% vs 3.0%). Sensitivity analyses with broader time windows to ascertain diagnoses showed similar proportions of questionable use. Otalgia and cerumen impaction constituted 90% of questionable indications. Family physicians (6.8%) and internists (8.0%) had higher percentages of questionable use than other specialties.ConclusionBased on the demonstrated risks of quinolone ear drops, opportunities exist to decrease otic quinolone use, especially in adults.
Baseline characteristics, diagnostic efficacy, and peri-examinational safety of IV gadoteric acid MRI in 148,489 patients
Authors: Braun Joachim , Busse Reinhard , Darmon-Kern Elisabeth , Heine Oliver , Auer Jonas , Meyl Tobias , Maurer Martin , Hamm Bernd , de Bucourt Maximilian 
Published: November 2019

Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations with intravenous (IV) contrast are performed worldwide in routine daily practice. In order to detect and enumerate even rare adverse events (AE) and serious adverse events (SAE), and to relate them with patients’ baseline characteristics and diagnostic effectiveness, high quantity sample size is necessary. Purpose To assess safety, diagnostic effectiveness, and baseline characteristics of patients undergoing IV gadoteric acid (Dotarem®) MRI in routine practice. Material and Methods Data from two observational post-marketing surveillance (PMS) databases compiled by 139 and 52 German centers in 2004–2011 and 2011–2013, respectively, were pooled, yielding data on a total of 148,489 patients examined over a 10-year period. Radiologists used a standardized questionnaire to report data including patient demographics, characteristics of MR examinations, and results in terms of diagnosis and patient safety. Results Overall, 712 AEs were reported in 467 (0.3%) patients, mainly nausea (n = 224, 0.2%), vomiting (n = 29, <0.1%), urticaria (n = 20, <0.1%), and feeling hot (n = 13, <0.1%). AEs were considered related to gadoteric acid in 362 (0.2%) patients. Higher frequencies of AEs were observed among patients with a previous reaction to a contrast agent (2.0%), liver dysfunction (0.7%), bronchial asthma (0.7%), and a history of allergies (0.6%). There were 49 SAEs in 18 (<0.1%) patients, including two children. No fatal SAE was reported. Examinations were diagnostic in 99.8% of all patients, and image quality was excellent or good in 97.7% of the patients. Conclusion Gadoteric acid is a safe peri-examinational and effective contrast agent for MRI in routine practice.
Response evaluation for immunotherapy through semi-automatic software based on RECIST 1.1, irRC, and iRECIST criteria: comparison with subjective assessment
Authors: Lai Ying-Chieh , Chang Wen-Cheng , Chen Chun-Bing , Wang Chi-Liang , Lin Yu-Fen , Ho Ming-Mo , Cheng Chi-Yuan , Huang Pei-Wei , Hsu Chao-Wei , Lin Gigin 
Published: November 2019

Background Pseudoprogression is difficult to diagnose in patients undergoing immunotherapy. Subjective response assessment is still common in clinical practice. Purpose To evaluate the differences between response evaluation criteria in solid tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), immune-related response criteria (irRC), and modified RECIST 1.1 for immunotherapy (iRECIST) through semi-automatic software, and to compare iRECIST-based response evaluation with subjective assessment. Material and Methods The best overall response of each patient based on RECIST 1.1, irRC, and iRECIST was determined on CT scans through semi-automatic software and the differences between the criteria were evaluated. Criteria-based response evaluation through semi-automatic software was compared with subjective assessment on radiology report by correlating the best overall response to overall survival. Results A total of 21 patients were included (five patients with melanoma, 12 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, and four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma). Two patients with progressive disease by RECIST 1.1 but non-progressive disease by irRC and iRECIST eventually experienced tumor response and had favorable outcomes, indicating pseudoprogression. The survival difference between patients with non-progressive disease and progressive disease was better stratified through iRECIST-based response evaluation ( P = 0.078) than that through subjective assessment ( P = 0.501). Conclusion Pseudoprogression in immunotherapy may be captured through semi-automatic software utilizing irRC or iRECIST criteria. iRECIST-based response evaluation may provide a better survival stratification compared with subjective assessment.
Risk factor analysis of axial symptoms after single-segment anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: A retrospective study of 113 patients
Authors: Wang Lin-Feng , Dong Zhen , Miao De-Chao , Shen Yong , Wang Feng 
Published: November 2019

Objective This retrospective study was performed to investigate the risk factors for axial symptoms (AS) after single-segment anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Methods One hundred thirteen patients with cervical spondylosis who had undergone single-segment ACDF from January 2012 to December 2015 were divided into those with and without AS (n = 34 and n = 79, respectively). Clinical data and radiological evaluation results were recorded. Results The occurrence rate of AS was 30.1% (34/113), and the average visual analog scale score was 4.5 points. Bony fusion was achieved in all cases during follow-up. There were no differences in age, sex, disease duration, diagnostic categories, operative segment, Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, or adjacent segment degeneration. However, cervical range of motion (CROM), cervical curvature, and disc space enlargement significantly differed between the groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that CROM, cervical curvature, and disc space enlargement were independently associated with AS. Conclusions AS after single-segment ACDF is not rare. Disc space enlargement is a risk factor for AS, while higher CROM and lordotic cervical curvature are protective factors. Excessive or insufficient disc space enlargement could increase the incidence of AS. Maintaining CROM within the normal range and restoring cervical lordosis might help to prevent AS.
Word-finding difficulty is a prevalent disease-related deficit in early multiple sclerosis
Authors: Brandstadter Rachel , Fabian Michelle , Leavitt Victoria M , Krieger Stephen , Yeshokumar Anusha , Katz Sand Ilana , Klineova Sylvia , Riley Claire S , Lewis Christina , Pelle Gabrielle , Lublin Fred D , Miller Aaron E , Sumowski James F 
Published: November 2019

Background: Persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) commonly report word-finding difficulty clinically, yet this language deficit remains underexplored. Objective: To investigate the prevalence and nature of word-finding difficulty in persons with early MS on three levels: patient report, cognitive substrates, and neuroimaging. Methods: Two samples of early MS patients ( n = 185 and n = 55; ⩽5 years diagnosed) and healthy controls ( n = 50) reported frequency/severity of cognitive deficits and underwent objective assessment with tasks of rapid automatized naming (RAN), measuring lexical access speed, memory, word generation, and cognitive efficiency. High-resolution brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) derived measurements of regional cortical thickness, global and deep gray matter volume, and T2 lesion volume. Relationships among patient-reported word-finding difficulty, cognitive performance, and neural correlates were examined. Results: Word-finding difficulty was the most common cognitive complaint of MS patients and the only complaint reported more by patients than healthy controls. Only RAN performance discriminated MS patients with subjective word-finding deficits from those without subjective complaints and from healthy controls. Thinner left parietal cortical gray matter independently predicted impaired RAN performance, driven primarily by the left precuneus. Conclusion: Three levels of evidence (patient-report, objective behavior, regional gray matter) support word-finding difficulty as a prevalent, measurable, disease-related deficit in early MS linked to left parietal cortical thinning.