bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The temporal and spatial expression of sclerostin and Wnt signaling factors during the maturation of posterolateral lumbar spine fusions
Authors: Rodriguez‐Feo John , Fernandes Lorenzo , Patel Anuj , Doan Thanh , Boden Scott D. , Drissi Hicham , Presciutti Steven M. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe bone healing environment in the posterolateral spine following arthrodesis surgery is one of the most challenging in all of orthopedics and our understanding of the molecular signaling pathways mediating osteogenesis during spinal fusion is limited. In this study, the spatial and temporal expression pattern of Wnt signaling factors and inhibitors during spinal fusion was assessed for the first time. Bilateral posterolateral spine arthrodesis with autologous iliac crest bone graft was performed on 21 New Zealand White rabbits. At 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, 4‐, and 6‐weeks, the expression of sclerostin and a variety of canonical and noncanonical Wnts signaling factors was measured by qRT‐PCR from tissue separately collected from the transverse processes, the Outer and Inner Zones of the fusion mass, and the adjancent paraspinal muscle. Immunohistochemistry for sclerostin protein was also performed. Sclerostin and many Wnt factors, especially Wnt3a and Wnt5a, were found to have distinct spatial and temporal expression patterns. For example, harvesting ICBG caused a significant increase in sclerostin expression. Furthermore, the paraspinal muscle immediately adjacent to the transplanted ICBG also had significant increases in sclerostin expression at 3 weeks, suggesting new potential mechanisms for pseudarthroses following spinal arthrodesis. The presented work is the first description of the spatial and temporal expression of sclerostin and Wnt signaling factors in the developing spine fusion, filling an important knowledge gap in the basic biology of spinal fusion and potentially aiding in the development of novel biologics to increase spinal fusion rates.
А kinеtiс аnаlysis fоr prоduсtiоn of саlсium bоrоgluсоnаtе frоm colemanite
Authors: Demir Fatih , Al‐Ani Anas Osamah Ali , Lacin Omer 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this paper, the kinetic model of colemanite dissolution in gluconic acid solutions was carried out in a batch reactor. The effects of the particle size, reaction temperature, stirring speed, gluconic acid concentration, and solid/liquid ratio on colemanite dissolution were experimentally studied. The empirical parameters were the gluconic acid concentration (0.05‐0.2 M), the temperature (20‐50°C), the solid/liquid ratio (0.05/500‐1.5/500 g⋅L−1), particle size (193.5‐1000 μm), and stirring speed (400‐700 rpm).The kinetic models for heterogeneous solid‐liquid reactions were used with the dissolution data in evaluating the kinetic. The dissolution of colemanite in gluconic acid solutions was controlled by diffusion through the product layer. The activation energy was found to be 8.39 kJ⋅mol−1. The rate expression associated with the dissolution rate of colemanite depending on the parameters chosen may be summarized as follows:
MiRNA‐620 promotes TGF‐β1‐induced proliferation of airway smooth muscle cell through controlling PTEN/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Chen Hui , Guo Su‐Xiang , Zhang Sai , Li Xiao‐Dan , Wang Hao , Li Xiao‐Wei 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAsthma is an inflammatory syndrome characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, bronchial inflammation, and airway remodeling. The hypertrophy and hyperplasia of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) are hallmarks of bronchial remodeling in asthma. In this study, the regulatory effects of microRNA‐620 (miR‐620) on ASMC proliferation and apoptosis in response to transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) stimulation was investigated. The expression of miR‐620 was significantly upregulated in TGF‐β1‐treated ASMCs compared with vehicle‐treated cells. Downregulation of miR‐620 suppressed the proliferation and increased apoptosis in TGF‐β1‐stimulated ASMCs. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was predicted and confirmed as a downstream target of miR‐620. PTEN was upregulated in miR‐620‐inhibitor transfected ASMCs, but decreased in cells delivered with miR‐620 mimics. Moreover, knocking down miR‐620 alone efficiently reduced the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT), decreased TGF‐β1‐induced proliferation and promoted apoptosis in ASMCs, whereas downregulation of PTEN in miR‐620 inhibitor‐transfected cells restored the activation of AKT, increased TGF‐β1‐triggered proliferation, and partially inhibited ASMC apoptosis. Taken together, the present study provided evidence that miR‐620 increased TGF‐β1‐mediated proliferation and suppressed apoptosis in ASMCs via the regulation of PTEN and AKT expression. These findings suggest that miR‐620/PTEN/AKT axis may be considered as a therapeutic target for asthma treatment.
Toward cross‐platform electronic health record‐driven phenotyping using Clinical Quality Language
Authors: Brandt Pascal S. , Kiefer Richard C. , Pacheco Jennifer A. , Adekkanattu Prakash , Sholle Evan T. , Ahmad Faraz S. , Xu Jie , Xu Zhenxing , Ancker Jessica S. , Wang Fei , Luo Yuan , Jiang Guoqian , Pathak Jyotishman , Rasmussen Luke V. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntroductionElectronic health record (EHR)‐driven phenotyping is a critical first step in generating biomedical knowledge from EHR data. Despite recent progress, current phenotyping approaches are manual, time‐consuming, error‐prone, and platform‐specific. This results in duplication of effort and highly variable results across systems and institutions, and is not scalable or portable. In this work, we investigate how the nascent Clinical Quality Language (CQL) can address these issues and enable high‐throughput, cross‐platform phenotyping.MethodsWe selected a clinically validated heart failure (HF) phenotype definition and translated it into CQL, then developed a CQL execution engine to integrate with the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) platform. We executed the phenotype definition at two large academic medical centers, Northwestern Medicine and Weill Cornell Medicine, and conducted results verification (n = 100) to determine precision and recall. We additionally executed the same phenotype definition against two different data platforms, OHDSI and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), using the same underlying dataset and compared the results.ResultsCQL is expressive enough to represent the HF phenotype definition, including Boolean and aggregate operators, and temporal relationships between data elements. The language design also enabled the implementation of a custom execution engine with relative ease, and results verification at both sites revealed that precision and recall were both 100%. Cross‐platform execution resulted in identical patient cohorts generated by both data platforms.ConclusionsCQL supports the representation of arbitrarily complex phenotype definitions, and our execution engine implementation demonstrated cross‐platform execution against two widely used clinical data platforms. The language thus has the potential to help address current limitations with portability in EHR‐driven phenotyping and scale in learning health systems.
Immunosuppression in Donation After Circulatory Death Liver Transplantation: Can Induction Modify Graft Survival?
Authors: Ig‐Izevbekhai Kevin , Goldberg David S. , Karp Seth J. , Foley David P. , Abt Peter L. 
Published: June 2020

Recipients of donation after circulatory death (DCD) LTs historically have an increased risk of graft failure. Antibody induction (AI) with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) or anti‐interleukin 2 receptor (anti‐IL2R) immunotherapy may decrease the incidence of graft failure by mitigating ischemia/reperfusion injury. A retrospective review of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database for LTs between 2002 and 2015 was conducted to determine whether ATG or anti‐IL2R AI was associated with graft survival in DCD. A secondary endpoint was postoperative renal function as measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate at 6 and 12 months. Among DCD recipients, ATG (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.71; P = 0.03), but not anti‐IL2R (HR = 0.82; P = 0.10), was associated with a decrease in graft failure at 3 years when compared with recipients without AI. ATG (HR = 0.90; P = 0.02) and anti‐IL2R (HR = 0.94; P = 0.03) were associated with a decreased risk of graft failure in donation after brain death (DBD) liver recipients at 3 years compared with no AI. When induction regimens were compared between DCD and DBD, only ATG (HR = 1.19; P = 0.19), and not anti‐IL2R (HR = 1.49; P < 0.01) or no AI (HR = 1.77; P < 0.01), was associated with similar survival between DCD and DBD. In conclusion, AI therapy with ATG was associated with improved longterm liver allograft survival in DCD compared with no AI. ATG was associated with equivalent graft survival between DCD and DBD, suggesting a beneficial role of immune cell depletion in DCD outcomes.
Scintillation imaging as a high‐resolution, remote, versatile 2D detection system for MR‐linac quality assurance
Authors: Alexander Daniel A. , Zhang Rongxiao , Brůža Petr , Pogue Brian W. , Gladstone David J. 
Published: June 2020

PurposeTo demonstrate the potential benefits of remote camera‐based scintillation imaging for routine quality assurance (QA) measurements for magnetic resonance guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) linear accelerators.MethodsA wall‐mounted CMOS camera with a time‐synchronized intensifier was used to image photons produced from a scintillation screen in response to dose deposition from a 6 MV FFF x‐ray beam produced by a 0.35 T MR‐linac. The oblique angle of the field of view was corrected using a projective transform from a checkerboard calibration target. Output sensitivity and constancy was measured using the scintillator and benchmarked against an A28 ion chamber. Field cross‐plane and in‐plane profiles were measured for field sizes ranging from 1.68 × 1.66 cm2 to 20.02 × 19.92 cm2 with both scintillation imaging and using an IC profiler. Multileaf collimator (MLC) shifts were introduced to test sensitivity of the scintillation imaging system to small spatial deviations. A picket fence test and star‐shot were delivered to both the scintillator and EBT3 film to compare accuracy in measuring MLC positions and isocenter size.ResultsThe scintillation imaging system showed comparable sensitivity and linearity to the ion chamber in response to changes in machine output down to 0.5 MU (R2 = 0.99). Cross‐plane profiles show strong agreement with defined field sizes using full width half maximum (FWHM) measurement of <2 mm for field sizes below 15 cm, but the oblique viewing angle was the limiting factor in accuracy of in‐plane profile widths. However, the system provided high‐resolution profiles in both directions for constancy measurements. Small shifts in the field position down to 0.5 mm were detectable with <0.1 mm accuracy. Multileaf collimator positions as measured with both scintillation imaging and EBT3 film were measured within ± 1 mm tolerance and both detection systems produced similar isocenter sizes from the star‐shot analysis (0.81 and 0.83 mm radii).ConclusionsRemote scintillation imaging of a two‐dimensional screen provided a rapid, versatile, MR‐compatible solution to many routine quality assurance procedures including output constancy, profile flatness and symmetry constancy, MLC position verification and isocenter size. This method is high‐resolution, does not require post‐irradiation readout, and provides simple, instantaneous data acquisition. Full automation of the readout and processing could make this a very simple but effective QA tool, and is adaptable to all medical accelerators.
Pelvic floor activation upon stimulation of the sacral spinal nerves in sacral neuromodulation patients
Authors: Vaganée Donald , Voorham Jeroen , Van de Borne Sigrid , Voorham‐van der Zalm Petra , Fransen Erik , De Wachter Stefan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPurposeTo assess the activation of the different parts of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) upon electrical stimulation of the sacral spinal nerves while comparing the different lead electrode configurations.Material and MethodsPFM electromyography (EMG) was recorded using an intravaginal multiple array probe with 12 electrodes pairs, which allows to make a distinction between the different sides and depths of the pelvic floor. In addition concentric needle EMG of the external anal sphincter was performed to exclude far‐field recording. A medtronic InterStim tined lead (model 3889) was used as stimulation source. Standard SNM parameters (monophasic pulsed square wave, 210 microseconds, 14 Hz) were used to stimulate five different bipolar electrode configurations (3+0−/3+2−/3+1−/0+3−/1+3−) up to and around the sensory threshold. Of each EMG signal the stimulation intensity needed to evoke the EMG signals as well as its amplitude and latency were determined. Linear mixed models was used to analyse the data.ResultsTwenty female patients and 100 lead electrode configurations were stimulated around the sensory response threshold resulting in 722 stimulations and 12 times as many (8664) EMG recordings. A significant increase in EMG amplitude was seen upon increasing stimulation intensity (P < .0001). Large differences were noted between the EMG amplitude recorded at the different sides (ipsilateral>posterior>anterior>contralateral) and depths (deep>center>superficial) of the pelvic floor. These differences were noted for all lead electrodes configurations stimulated (P < .0001). Larger EMG amplitudes were measured when the active electrode was located near the entry point of the sacral spinal nerves through the sacral foramen (electrode #3). No differences in EMG latency could be withheld, most likely due to the sacral neuroanatomy (P > .05).ConclusionsA distinct activation pattern of the PFM could be identified for all stimulated lead electrode configurations. Electrical stimulation with the most proximal electrode (electrode #3) as the active one elicited the largest PFM contractions.
Critical role of GRP receptor–expressing neurons in the spinal transmission of imiquimod‐induced psoriatic itch
Authors: Kiguchi Norikazu , Saika Fumihiro , Fukazawa Yohji , Matsuzaki Shinsuke , Kishioka Shiroh 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAimAmple evidence indicates that gastrin‐releasing peptide receptor (GRPR)–expressing neurons play a critical role in the transmission of acute itch. However, the pathophysiology of spinal mechanisms underlying intractable itch such as psoriasis remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine whether itch‐responsive GRPR+ neurons contribute to the spinal transmission of imiquimod (IMQ)‐induced psoriatic itch.MethodsTo generate a psoriasis model, C57BL/6J mice received a daily topical application of 5% IMQ cream on their shaved back skin for 7‐10 consecutive days. GRP+ neurons were inhibited using Cre‐dependent expression of Gi‐designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs), while GRPR+ neurons were ablated by intrathecal administration of bombesin‐saporin.ResultsRepeated topical application of IMQ elicited psoriasis‐like dermatitis and scratching behaviors. The mRNA expression levels of GRP and GRPR were upregulated in the cervical spinal dorsal horn (SDH) on days 7 and 10 after IMQ application. Either chemogenetic silencing of GRP+ neurons by Gi‐DREADD or ablation of GRPR+ neurons significantly attenuated IMQ‐induced scratching behaviors.ConclusionThe GRP‐GRPR system might be enhanced in the SDH, and itch‐responsive GRPR+ neurons largely contribute to intractable itch in a mouse model of psoriasis.
Boot camp–style teacher workshops to incorporate hands‐on activities in agricultural sciences
Authors: Kaur Jasleen , Kariyat Rupesh R. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractFood security is one of the most pressing concerns of our times. Despite the vast opportunities, there is a shortage of skilled professionals in the food, agriculture, and plant sciences. Although most programs focused on addressing this concern have targeted students, we have often overlooked another critical group—the teachers. To address this issue, we recruited high school teachers from the Pharr–San Juan–Alamo Independent School District (PSJA‐ISD) in South Texas to participate in a workshop at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and fostered their agricultural knowledge through boot camp–style intensive training by faculty members in food, agriculture, and plant sciences. Through this project, we seek to indirectly educate nearly 2,000 high school students and use these lesson plans as models for undergraduate education. Results from the teacher and student assistant evaluations show that our workshop structure and design is effective in serving the objectives and instigating interest among teachers who plan to incorporate these into their lesson plans. Student assistants involved in the project also describe it as an opportunity to improve their teaching and public speaking skills. Taken together, we suggest that in addition to planning student‐centered activities, the teacher‐centered activities should also take the center stage in our fight for better food security.
Characterization of three‐dimensional printed thermal‐stimulus polylactic acid‐hydroxyapatite‐based shape memory scaffolds
Authors: Singh Gurminder , Singh Sunpreet , Prakash Chander , Kumar Raman , Kumar Ranvijay , Ramakrishna Seeram 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe shape memory polymers have attained huge attention as smart materials owing to their enormous benefits in the context of the common class of thermoplastics. In this study, novel thermal‐stimulus‐based hydroxyapatite (HA) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds have been developed through three‐dimensional (3D) printing technology. Initially, the effect of various processing parameters, such as the proportion of HA in PLA and infill density, and level of stimulating temperature, on tensile, flexural, and compression strength of the developed composite scaffolds have been studied to understand their effects, through statistically assisted single and multiobjective optimization techniques. The shape recovery factor of the prestrained composite scaffolds has been assessed by providing thermal‐stimulus. Finally, the biological performance of the developed scaffolds has been evaluated through in vitro cell culture and wettability analysis. The morphological study of the composite scaffolds, at different stages, has been performed for understanding the effect of processing parameters on the mechanical, shape recovery effect, and biological responses. Overall, the results of the study highlighted that the 3D printed scaffolds possessed nearly 95.77% shape memory effect along with desirable mechanical, in vitro biocompatibility, and hydrophilic morphology suitable to be a potential candidate of fabricating customized biomedical devices with activated shape recovery abilities.
Review of habit reversal training for tic disorders
Authors: Liu Shijie , Li Ying , Cui Yonghua 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTTic disorders (TD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is often first recognized in children and adolescents and is characterized mainly by motor and phonic tics. Drug treatment of TD has been criticized because of serious side effects, and TD treatment emphasizes behavioral psychotherapy. This study reviewed the most common behavioral psychotherapy for TD: habit reversal training (HRT). We examined the contents, variation, curative effects, and premonitory urge control of HRT and other behavioral psychotherapies. The findings suggest that current understanding of HRT is insufficient and further studies are needed. First, studies of online guidance training are needed to implement technology that can help more patients. Second, the future integration of HRT and other technologies is important. Third, imaging techniques could be used to further explore the brain mechanisms underlying HRT. Research on HRT for TD in China is insufficient. We call on more Chinese researchers to study, investigate, and develop technology to promote the development of behavioral psychotherapy for TD in China.
Efficacy and brain mechanism of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for adolescents with mild to moderate depression: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Xiao Xue , Hou Xiaobing , Zhang Zhangjing , Li Ying , Yu Xue , Wang Yanhui , Tian Jing , Xu Ke 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundDepression is a common mental illness in childhood and adolescence, with an incidence of 4%–5%; it can lead to impairments in learning and social functioning. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a commonly used method of auricular acupuncture point stimulation, which is regarded as an effective treatment for adults with depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of taVNS for adolescents with mild to moderate depression.MethodsThis randomized controlled clinical trial will include 120 patients aged 12–16 years, all of whom are diagnosed with mild to moderate depression. Patients will be randomly assigned to a taVNS group and a drug control group (sertraline hydrochloride) at a ratio of 1:1. Patients will be evaluated using the 17‐item Hamilton Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Self‐Rating Depression Scale, Self‐Rating Anxiety Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores at baseline, as well as at the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 12th weeks. To investigate the underlying neural mechanisms of taVNS treatment from the perspective of the default mode network, multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; i.e., structural MRI [sMRI], resting state MRI [rsMRI], and pseudocontinuous arterial spin‐labeled [pcASL] MRI) will be used to compare cerebral images among groups. MRI data will also be collected from 40 healthy volunteers to assess whether the participants exhibit normal development of structural and functional components.DiscussionDepression is the most common mental disorder in adolescence. Drug treatment can improve depression symptoms; however, the side effects of drug treatments are often severe. This study proposes a simple physiotherapy that aims to treat adolescents with mild to moderate depression. The mechanism of taVNS in the treatment of depression will also be investigated. The results of this study will provide evidence to guide the application of taVNS in adolescents with depression.
Mass spectrometry characterization of anticoagulant rodenticides and hydroxyl metabolites
Authors: Fourel Isabelle , Berlioz‐Barbier Alexandra , Benoit Etienne 
Published: June 2020

RationaleAnticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are used worldwide for rodent population control to protect human health and biodiversity, and to prevent agricultural and economic losses. Rodents may develop a metabolic resistance to ARs. In order to help understand such metabolic resistance, mass spectrometry was used to position the hydroxylated group of hydroxyl metabolites of second‐generation ARs (SGARs).MethodsMost AR pesticides are derived from the 4‐hydroxycoumarin/thiocoumarin family. We used low‐resolution and high‐resolution mass spectrometry to understand the fragmentation pathways of the ARs and their respective metabolites, and to better define the structure of their tandem mass spectrometry product ions.ResultsSeven specific product ions were evidenced for five ARs, with their respective chemical structures. Those ions were obtained as well from the mass spectra of the hydroxyl metabolites of four SGARs, difenacoum (DFM), brodifacoum (BFM), difethialone (DFTL) and flocoumafen (FLO), with different positions of the hydroxyl group.ConclusionsThe differences in chemical structure between DFM on the one hand and BFM, FLO and DFTL on the other could explain the differences in bioavailability between these two groups of molecules. The defined product ions will be used to investigate the part played by the metabolic issue in the field resistance of SGARs.