bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Left ventricular mass reduction and hypertrophy regression following renal artery revascularization: a meta-analysis
Authors: Cuspidi Cesare , Tadic Marijana , Sala Carla , Quarti-Trevano Fosca , Gherbesi Elisa , Mancia Giuseppe , Grassi Guido 
Published: August 2020

Aim:
Few echocardiographic studies have focused on regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with renal artery stenosis after revascularization, with inconsistent results. We performed a systematic meta-analysis of these studies in order to offer a comprehensive information on this topic.

Methods:
The PubMed, OVID-MEDLINE, and Cochrane library databases were analyzed to search English-language articles published from 1 January 1990 up to 31 March 2020. Studies were identified by crossing the following terms: ‘renal artery stenosis’, ‘renovascular hypertension’, ‘fibromuscular dysplasia’, ‘renal artery stenting’, ‘renal artery surgery’ with ‘cardiac damage’, ‘hypertensive heart disease’ ‘left ventricular mass’, ‘left ventricular hypertrophy’, ‘echocardiography’.

Results:
A total of 726 hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis (mean age 61 years, 64% men, 98% treated, 10% with fibromuscular dysplasia) were included in 13 studies. Baseline and postintervention pooled mean LVM values were 220 ± 15 and 203 ± 19 g, respectively (SMD −0.24 ± 0.06, CI −0.37 to −0.21, P<0.0001); corresponding values for LV mass index were 129.0 ± 6 and 115 ± 7 g/m2, respectively (SMD −0.28 ± 0.04, CI −0.36 to 0.21, P < 0.0001). Renal revascularization was associated with a 40% lower risk of LVH. This trend was accompanied by a reduction in the number of antihypertensive drugs (SMD −0.27 ± 0.04, CI −0.37 to 0.17, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion:
The present meta-analysis suggests that renal artery revascularization added to antihypertensive therapy promotes a favourable effect on LV structure, as reflected by a significant decrease in absolute and indexed LV mass index as well by a lower risk of LVH. Limitations include: high prevalence of modest renal artery stenosis (≥50%); small sample of fibromuscular dysplasia; lack of randomized design of most studies.
Changes in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure following restoration of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Olbers Joakim , Östergren Jan , Rosenqvist Mårten , Skuladottir Helga , Klavebäck Sofia , Ljungman Petter , Witt Nils 
Published: August 2020

Objective:
The interplay between atrial fibrillation and blood pressure (BP) is insufficiently studied. In symptomatic patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, electrical cardioversion (ECV) is often used to restore sinus rhythm. In this prospective study, we investigated how restoration of sinus rhythm affected 24-h ambulatory BP.

Methods:
Ninety-eight patients with persistent atrial fibrillation were examined with 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring before and approximately a week after ECV.

Results:
Sixty-two patients remained in sinus rhythm at the time of the second ambulatory BP monitoring (AF-SR group), whereas 36 patients had relapsed into atrial fibrillation (AF-AF group). In the AF-SR group, there was a significant increase in mean systolic 24-h BP (5.6 mmHg), a significant decrease in mean diastolic 24-h BP (-4.7 mmHg) and accordingly, a significant 25% (10.4 mmHg) increase in mean 24-h pulse pressure.

Conclusion:
These findings may reflect the haemodynamic conditions that are prevalent in atrial fibrillation, ambulatory BP measurement bias in atrial fibrillation or a combination of both factors. From a clinical standpoint, our results suggest that an increased attention to BP is needed when sinus rhythm is restored, as underlying hypertension may be masked by BP changes during atrial fibrillation. From a general standpoint, it may be speculated that BP, as indicated by the relatively large difference in pulse pressure, may be inherently different in atrial fibrillation and may therefore not be interpretable in the equivalent manner as BP in sinus rhythm.
Dynamic expression of MMP28 during cranial morphogenesis
Authors: Gouignard Nadege , Theveneau Eric , Saint-Jeannet Jean-Pierre 
Published: August 2020

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a large family of proteases comprising 24 members in vertebrates. They are well known for their extracellular matrix remodelling activity. MMP28 is the latest member of the family to be discovered. It is a secreted MMP involved in wound healing, immune system maturation, cell survival and migration. MMP28 is also expressed during embryogenesis in human and mouse. Here, we describe the detailed expression profile of MMP28 inXenopus laevisembryos. We show that MMP28 is expressed maternally and accumulates at neurula and tail bud stages specifically in the cranial placode territories adjacent to migrating neural crest cells. As a secreted MMP, MMP28 may be required in neural crest–placode interactions.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Contemporary morphogenesis’.
Of mitogens and morphogens: modelling Sonic Hedgehog mechanisms in vertebrate development
Authors: Groves Ian , Placzek Marysia , Fletcher Alexander G. 
Published: August 2020

Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) Is a critical protein in vertebrate development, orchestrating patterning and growth in many developing systems. First described as a classic morphogen that patterns tissues through a spatial concentration gradient, subsequent studies have revealed a more complex mechanism, in which Shh can also regulate proliferation and differentiation. While the mechanism of action of Shh as a morphogen is well understood, it remains less clear how Shh might integrate patterning, proliferation and differentiation in a given tissue, to ultimately direct its morphogenesis. In tandem with experimental studies, mathematical modelling can help gain mechanistic insights into these processes and bridge the gap between Shh-regulated patterning and growth, by integrating these processes into a common theoretical framework. Here, we briefly review the roles of Shh in vertebrate development, focusing on its functions as a morphogen, mitogen and regulator of differentiation. We then discuss the contributions that modelling has made to our understanding of the action of Shh and highlight current challenges in using mathematical models in a quantitative and predictive way.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Contemporary morphogenesis’.
Implications of the school-household network structure on SARS-CoV-2 transmission under different school reopening strategies in England
Authors: Munday James D. , Sherratt Katharine , Meakin Sophie , Endo Akira , Pearson Carl A B , Hellewell Joel , Abbott Sam , Bosse Nikos I. ,   CMMID COVID 1-9 Working Group, Atkins Katherine E. , Wallinga Jacco , Edmunds W. John , van Hoek Albert Jan , Funk Sebastian 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundSchool closures are a well-established non-pharmaceutical intervention in the event of infectious disease outbreaks, and have been implemented in many countries across the world, including the UK, to slow down the spread of SARS-CoV-2. As governments begin to relax restrictions on public life there is a need to understand the potential impact that reopening schools may have on transmission.MethodsWe used data provided by the UK Department for Education to construct a network of English schools, connected through pairs of pupils resident at the same address. We used the network to evaluate the potential for transmission between schools, and for long range propagation across the network, under different reopening scenarios.ResultsAmongst the options evaluated we found that reopening only Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 (4-6 and 10-11 year olds) resulted in the lowest risk of transmission between schools, with outbreaks within a single school unlikely to result in outbreaks in adjacent schools in the network. The additional reopening of Years 10 and 12 (14-15 and 16-17 year olds) resulted in an increase in the risk of transmission between schools comparable to reopening all primary school years (4-11 year olds). However, the majority of schools presented low risk of initiating widespread transmission through the school system. Reopening all secondary school years (11-18 year olds) resulted in large potential outbreak clusters putting up to 50% of households connected to schools at risk of infection if sustained transmission within schools was possible.ConclusionsReopening secondary school years is likely to have a greater impact on community transmission than reopening primary schools in England. Keeping transmission within schools limited is essential for reducing the risk of large outbreaks amongst school-aged children and their household members.
Gastroenterology Procedures Generate Aerosols: an Air Quality Turnover Solution to Mitigate the Risk
Authors: Garbey Marc , Joerger Guillaume , Furr Shannon 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe growing fear of virus transmission during the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has called for many scientists to look into the various vehicle of infection, including the potential to travel through aerosols. Few have looked into the issue that gastrointestinal (GI) procedures may produce an abundance of aerosols. The current process of risk management for clinics is to follow a clinic-specific HVAC formula, which is typically calculated once-a-year and assume perfect mixing of the air within the space, to determine how many minutes each procedural room refreshes 99% of its air between procedures when doors are closed. This formula is not designed to fit the complex dynamic of small airborne particle transport and deposition that can potentially carry the virus in clinical conditions. It results in reduced procedure throughput as well as an excess of idle time in clinics that process a large number of short procedures such as outpatient GI centers.We present and tested a new cyber-physical system that continuously monitors airborne particle counts in procedural rooms and also at the same time it automatically monitors the procedural rooms’ state and flexible endoscope status without interfering with the clinic’s workflow. We use our data gathered from over 1500 GI cases in one clinical suite to understand the correlation between air quality and standard procedure types as well as identify the risks involved with any HVAC system in a clinical suite environment. Thanks to this system, we demonstrate that standard GI procedures generate large quantities of aerosols, which can potentially promote viral airborne transmission among patients and healthcare staff. We provide a solution for the clinic to improve procedure turnover times and throughput, as well as to mitigate the risk of airborne transmission of the virus.
Causal Evaluation of Laboratory Markers in Type 2 Diabetes on Cancer and Vascular Diseases Using Various Mendelian Randomization Tools
Authors: Jin Heejin , Lee Sanghun , Won Sungho 
Published: August 2020

AbstractMultiple studies have demonstrated the effects of type 2 diabetes (T2D) on various human diseases; however, most of these were observational epidemiological studies that suffered from many potential biases including reported confounding and reverse causations. In this article, we investigated whether cancer and vascular disease can be affected by T2D-related traits, including fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h postprandial plasma glucose (2h-PG), and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, by using Mendelian randomization (MR). The summary statistics for FPG, 2h-PG, and HbA1c were obtained through meta-analyses of large-scale genome-wide association studies that included data from 133,010 non-diabetic individuals from collaborating Meta-Analysis of Glucose and Insulin related traits Consortium studies. Thereafter, based on the statistical assumptions for MR analyses, the most reliable approaches including inverse-variance-weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, MR-Egger with a simulation extrapolation (SIMEX), weighted median and MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO) methods were applied to identify traits affected by FPG, 2h-PG, and HbA1c. We found that coronary artery disease is affected by FPG, as per the IVW [log odds ratio (logOR): 0.21; P=0.012], MR-Egger (SIMEX) (logOR: 0.22; P=0.014), MR-PRESSO (logOR: 0.18; P=0.045), and weighted median (logOR: 0.29; P<0.001) methods, but not as per the MR-Egger (logOR: 0.13; P=0.426) approach. Furthermore, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are affected by HbA1c, as per the IVW (beta (B): 0.23; P=0.015), MR-Egger (B: 0.45; P=0.046), MR-Egger (SIMEX) (B: 0.27; P=0.007), MR-PRESSO (B; 0.14; P=0.010), and the weighted median (B: 0.15; P=0.012) methods. Further studies of the associated biological mechanisms are required to validate and understand the disease-specific differences identified in the TD2-related causal effects of each trait.
How do socio-demographic status and personal attributes influence adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviours?
Authors: Uddin Shahadat , Imam Tasadduq , Khushi Matloob , Khan Arif , Ali Moni Mohammad 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis study assesses how socio-demographic status and personal attributes influence protection behaviours during a pandemic, with protection behaviours being assessed through three perspectives – social distancing, personal protection behaviour and social responsibility awareness. The COVID-19 preventive behaviours were explored and compared based on the social-demographic and personal attributes of individuals. Using a publicly available and recently collected dataset on Japanese citizens during the COVID-19 early outbreak and exploiting both Classification and Regression Tree (CART) and regression analysis, the study notes that socio-demographic and personal attributes of individuals indeed shape the subjective prevention actions and thereby the control of the spread of a pandemic. Three socio-demographic attributes – sex, marital family status and having children – appear to have played an influential role in Japanese citizens’ abiding by the COVID-19 protection behaviours, especially with women having children being noted more conscious than the male counterparts. Work status also appears to have some impact especially concerning social distancing and personal protection behaviour. Among the personality attributes, smoking behaviour appeared as a contributing factor with non-smokers or less-frequent smokers more compliant to the protection behaviours. Overall, the findings imply the need of public policy campaigning to account for variations in protection behaviour due to socio-demographic and personal attributes during a pandemic.
Single-cell nucleic acid profiling in droplets (SNAPD) enables high-throughput analysis of heterogeneous cell populations
Authors: Hyman Leland B. , Christopher Clare R. , Romero Philip A. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractExperimental methods that capture the individual properties of single cells are revealing the key role of cell-to-cell variability in countless biological processes. These single-cell methods are becoming increasingly important across the life sciences in fields such as immunology, regenerative medicine, and cancer biology. Existing single-cell analysis methods are often limited by their low analysis throughput, their inability to profile high-dimensional phenotypes, and complicated experimental workflows with slow turnaround times. In this work, we present Single-cell Nucleic Acid Profiling in Droplets (SNAPD) to analyze the transcriptional states of hundreds of thousands of single mammalian cells. Individual cells are encapsulated in aqueous droplets on a microfluidic chip and the content of each cell is profiled by amplifying a targeted panel of transcriptional markers. Molecular logic circuits then integrate this multi-dimensional information to categorize cells based on their transcriptional profile and produce a detectable fluorescence output. SNAPD analyzes over 100,000 cells per hour and can be used to quantify distinct cell types within populations, detect rare cells at frequencies down to 0.1%, and enrich specific cell types using microfluidic sorting. SNAPD provides a simple, rapid, low cost, and scalable approach to study complex phenotypes in heterogeneous cell populations.
Identification of novel alternative splicing events associated with tumorigenesis, protein modification, and immune microenvironment in early-onset gastric cancer
Authors: Zhang Jian , Goel Ajay , Zhu Lin 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundAlternative splicing (AS), e.g. tandem alternative polyadenylation (TAPA), has emerged as major post-transcriptional modification events in human disease. However, the roles of AS and TAPA in early-onset gastric cancer (EOGC) have not been revealed.MethodsThe global AS profiles of 80 EOGC patient samples from the European Nucleotide Archive (PRJNA508414) were analyzed. The EOGC-specific AS events (ESASs) were identified in both EOGC and adjacent non-tumor tissues. Functional enrichment analysis, Splicing network, Alternative Polyadenylation (APA) core factor network, and cell abundancy analysis were performed. Furthermore, the landscapes of AS events in the varied subtypes of EOGC patients, including various protein modifications and viral infections, were evaluated.ResultsOverall, 66,075 AS events and 267 ESASs were identified in EOGC. In these events, 4809 genes and 6152 gene isoforms were found to be aberrantly expressed in EOGC. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway analyses showed that significant pathway alterations might exist in these AS events, genes, and gene isoforms. Moreover, the Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis revealed that UBC, NEK2, EPHB2, and DCTN1 genes were the hub genes in the AS events in EOGC. The immune cell infiltration analysis indicated a correlation between the AS events and the cancer immune microenvironment. The distribution of AS events in varied EOGC subtypes was uneven. The numbers of AS events related to protein phosphorylation and glycosylation were 82 and 85, respectively, which suggested a high association between AS events and protein modification in EOGC.ConclusionThe study highlighted the vital roles of AS in EOGC, including modulating the specific protein modification and reshaping the cancer immune microenvironment, and yielded new insights into the diagnosis of EOGC as well as cancer treatment.
Developmental stage-specific changes in protein synthesis differentially sensitize hematopoietic stem cells and erythroid progenitors to impaired ribosome biogenesis
Authors: Magee Jeffrey A. , Signer Robert A.J. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractRibosomopathies encompass a collection of human genetic disorders that often arise from mutations in ribosomal proteins or ribosome biogenesis factors. Despite ubiquitous requirement of ribosomes for protein synthesis, ribosomopathies present with tissue- and cell-type-specific disorders, and blood is particularly affected. Several ribosomopathies present with congenital anemias and bone marrow failure, and accordingly, erythroid lineage cells and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are preferentially impaired by ribosomal dysfunction. However, the factors that influence this cell-type-specific sensitivity are incompletely understood. Here, we show that protein synthesis rates change during HSC and erythroid progenitor ontogeny. Fetal HSCs exhibit significantly higher protein synthesis than adult HSCs. Despite protein synthesis differences, reconstituting activity of both fetal and adult HSCs is severely disrupted by a ribosomal mutation (Rpl24Bst/+). In contrast, fetal erythroid lineage progenitors exhibit significantly lower protein synthesis than their adult counterparts. Protein synthesis declines during erythroid differentiation, but the decline starts earlier in fetal differentiation than in adults. Strikingly, theRpl24Bst/+mutation impairs fetal, but not adult erythropoiesis, by impairing proliferation at fetal erythroid progenitor stages with the lowest protein synthesis relative to their adult counterparts. Thus, developmental and cell-type-specific changes in protein synthesis can sensitize hematopoietic cells to impaired ribosome biogenesis.Key PointsFetal HSCs synthesize much more protein per hour than young adult HSCs in vivoFetal erythroid progenitors synthesize much less protein per hour than young adult erythroid progenitors in vivoDifferences in protein synthesis dynamics distinguish fetal and adult erythroid differentiationA ribosomal mutation that reduces protein synthesis impairs fetal and adult HSCsReduced protein synthesis impairs fetal but not adult erythroid progenitors
Alterations of the rewarding actions of amphetamine by prior nicotine and alcohol treatment: The role of age and dopamine
Authors: Stojakovic Andrea , Ahmad Syed Muzzammil , Lutfy Kabirullah 
Published: August 2020

AbstractRationaleNicotine and alcohol each can serve as the gateway to other drugs.ObjectiveThe current study was sought to determine if prior nicotine and alcohol exposure alters amphetamine reward and if age and dopaminergic neurotransmission are involved.MethodsMale and female adolescent and adult C57BL/6J mice were tested for baseline place preference, received six conditioning with saline/nicotine (0.25 mg/kg) twice daily followed by six conditioning with saline/ethanol (2 g/kg) in a counterbalance manner. Control mice were conditioned with saline/saline throughout. Finally, mice were conditioned with amphetamine (3 mg/kg) once in the nicotine-alcohol-paired chamber and then tested for CPP 24 h later. The following day, mice were challenged with amphetamine (1 mg/kg) and tested for CPP under a drugged state. Mice were then immediately euthanized, brain removed and nucleus accumbens isolated and processed for the expression of dopamine receptors and transporter, and glutamate receptors.ResultsWe observed a greater amphetamine-induced CPP in adolescent than adult mice but no change in state-dependent CPP between the two age groups. In contrast, amphetamine-induced CPP in mice with prior nicotine-alcohol exposure was greater in adult than adolescent mice under both drug-free and drugged states. The enhanced response in adult mice was associated with greater expression of dopamine-transporter, reduced D2 receptors, and increased D1 receptors with no changes in glutamate receptors.ConclusionsThese results suggest that prior nicotine and alcohol exposure differentially alters the rewarding action of amphetamine in adult and adolescent mice and alterations in dopaminergic neurotransmission may be involved in this phenotype.