bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pancreas Preservation in Modified Histidine-lactobionate Solution Is Superior to That in University of Wisconsin Solution for Porcine Islet Isolation
Authors: Sakai-Yonaha Mayuko , Miyagi-Shiohira Chika , Kuwae Kazuho , Tamaki Yoshihito , Nishime Kai , Yonaha Tasuku , Saitoh Issei , Watanabe Masami , Noguchi Hirofumi 
Published: February 2021

Background.
We previously reported that modified extracellular-type trehalose-containing Kyoto (MK) solution, which contains a trypsin inhibitor (ulinastatin), significantly improved the islet yield compared with University of Wisconsin (UW) preservation, which is the gold standard for organ preservation for islet isolation. In this study, we evaluated the efficiency of a modified histidine-lactobionate (MHL) solution in addition to UW or MK solution. The MHL solution has a high sodium-low potassium composition with low viscosity compared with the UW solution. Moreover, similar to MK solution, MHL solution also contains ulinastatin.

Methods.
Porcine pancreata were preserved in UW, MK, or MHL solution, followed by islet isolation. An optimized number (1500 IE) of isolated islets from each group were then transplanted into streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Results.
The islet yield before and after purification was significantly higher in the MHL group than in the UW group. On the contrary, the islet yield before and after purification was not significantly different between the MHL and MK groups. Preserving the porcine pancreata in MHL solution improved the outcome of islet transplantation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice compared with that in UW solution.

Conclusions.
Pancreas preservation with MHL solution preserves islet function better than UW solution. The effect of MHL solution is similar to that of MK solution, suggesting that MHL solution can be used as an alternative to MK solution for pancreatic islet transplantation.
Validation of Cognitive Impairment in Combination With Physical Frailty as a Predictor of Mortality in Patients With Advanced Heart Failure Referred for Heart Transplantation
Authors: Aili Samira R. , De Silva Ricardo , Wilhelm Kay , Jha Sunita R. , Fritis-Lamora Rodrigo , Montgomery Elyn , Pierce Rachel , Lam Fiona , Brennan Xavier , Gorrie Natasha , Schnegg Bruno , Jabbour Andrew , Kotlyar Eugene , Muthiah Kavitha , Keogh Anne M. , Jansz Paul C. , Hayward Christopher , Macdonald Peter S. 
Published: February 2021

Background.
The aim of this study was to validate our previous finding that frailty predicts early mortality in patients with advanced heart failure (AHF) and that including cognition in the frailty assessment enhances the prediction of mortality.

Methods.
Patients with AHF referred to our Transplant Unit between November 2015 and April 2020 underwent physical frailty assessment using the modified Fried physical frailty (PF) phenotype as well as cognitive assessment using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment to identify patients who were cognitively frail (CogF). We assessed the predictive value of the 2 frailty measures (PF ≥ 3 of 5 = frail; CogF ≥ 3 of 6 = frail) for pretransplant mortality.

Results.
Three hundred thirteen patients (233 male and 80 female; age 53 ± 13 y) were assessed. Of these, 224 patients (72%) were nonfrail and 89 (28%) were frail using the PF. The CogF assessment identified an additional 30 patients as frail: 119 (38%). Frail patients had significantly increased mortality as compared to nonfrail patients. Ventricular assist device and heart transplant-censored survival at 12 mo was 92 ± 2 % for nonfrail and 69 ± 5% for frail patients (P < 0.0001) using the CogF instrument.

Conclusions.
This study validates our previously published findings that frailty is prevalent in patients with AHF referred for heart transplantation. PF predicts early mortality. The addition of cognitive assessment to the physical assessment of frailty identifies an additional cohort of patients with a similarly poor prognosis.
Improving Liver Graft Function Using CD47 Blockade in the Setting of Normothermic Machine Perfusion
Authors: Garcia-Aroz Sandra , Xu Min , Ahmed Ola , Hollingshead Joshua , Wang Xuanchuan , Banan Babak , Khan Adeel , Kang Liang-I , Zhang Zhengyan , Upadhya Gundumi , Manning Pamela , Lin Yiing , Chapman William C. 
Published: February 2021

Background.
Toward the goal of using more livers for transplantation, transplant centers are looking to increase the use of organs from “marginal” donors. Livers from these donors, however, have been shown to be more susceptible to preservation and reperfusion injury.

Methods.
Using a porcine model of donation after circulatory death, we studied the use of antibody-mediated CD47 blockade to further improve liver graft function undergoing normothermic machine perfusion. Livers from 20 pigs (5 per group) were brought under either 30 or 60 min of warm ischemia time followed by the administration of CD47 monoclonal antibody (CD47mAb) treatment or immunoglobulin G control antibodies and 6 h of normothermic extracorporeal liver perfusion.

Results.
After 6 h of normothermic extracorporeal liver perfusion, CD47mAb-treated livers with 30 or 60 min warm ischemia time had significantly lower alanine transaminase levels and higher bile production compared with their respective control groups. Blockade of the CD47 signaling pathway resulted in significantly lower thrombospondin-1 protein levels, lower expression of caspase-3, and higher expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase.

Conclusions.
These findings suggested that CD47mAb treatment decreases ischemia/reperfusion injury through CD47/thrombospondin-1 signaling downregulation and the presence of necrosis/apoptosis after reperfusion and could increase liver regeneration during normothermic perfusion of the liver.
Childhood disadvantage, neurocognitive development and neuropsychiatric disorders: Evidence of mechanisms
Authors: Yu Jing , Patel Reeya A. , Gilman Stephen E. 
Published: February 2021

Purpose of review
Children living in socioeconomically disadvantaged households have excess risks of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric problems. The purpose of this review is to synthesize evidence for mechanisms that may contribute to these excess risks.

Recent findings
The majority of the 60 studies included in our review focused on children's neurocognitive development and behavioural problems. About half conducted mediation analyses of factors in the family and neighbourhood environments, including access to resources (e.g. cognitive inputs within the home environment) and exposure to stressors (e.g. negative parenting practices), as well as neurobiological embedding of childhood disadvantage. In addition, many studies conducted moderation analyses of factors that were hypothesized to interact with (i.e. exacerbate or mitigate) the harmful effects of childhood disadvantage.

Summary
Many of the factors that contribute to the excess risk of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric problems among children in disadvantaged households are potentially modifiable (e.g. cognitively stimulating materials, parental language input, cultural resources, parental stress and psychopathology, negative parenting, neighbourhood violence). If their causality is ultimately established, they could be targets for the prevention and reduction of disparities. The continued search for mechanisms should not detract from work to reduce and hopefully eliminate children's exposure to disadvantage.
The Functional Significance of Bacterial Predators
Authors: Hungate Bruce A. , Marks Jane C. , Power Mary E. , Schwartz Egbert , van Groenigen Kees Jan , Blazewicz Steven J. , Chuckran Peter , Dijkstra Paul , Finley Brianna K. , Firestone Mary K. , Foley Megan , Greenlon Alex , Hayer Michaela , Hofmockel Kirsten S. , Koch Benjamin J. , Mack Michelle C. , Mau Rebecca L , Miller Samantha N. , Morrissey Ember M. , Propster Jeff R. , Purcell Alicia M. , Sieradzki Ella , Starr Evan P. , Stone Bram W. G. , Terrer César , Pett-Ridge Jennifer 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPredation structures food webs, influences energy flow, and alters rates and pathways of nutrient cycling through ecosystems, effects that are well documented for macroscopic predators. In the microbial world, predatory bacteria are common, yet little is known about their rates of growth and roles in energy flows through microbial food webs, in part because these are difficult to quantify. Here, we show that growth and carbon uptake were higher in predatory bacteria compared to non-predatory bacteria, a finding across 15 sites, synthesizing 82 experiments and over 100,000 taxon-specific measurements of element flow into newly synthesized bacterial DNA. Obligate predatory bacteria grew 36% faster and assimilated carbon at rates 211% higher than non-predatory bacteria. These differences were less pronounced for facultative predators (6% higher growth rates, 17% higher carbon assimilation rates), though high growth and carbon assimilation rates were observed for some facultative predators, such as members of the generaLysobacterandCytophaga, both capable of gliding motility and wolfpack hunting behavior. Added carbon substrates disproportionately stimulated growth of obligate predators, with responses 63% higher than non-predators for the Bdellovibrionales and 81% higher for the Vampirovibrionales, whereas responses of facultative predators to substrate addition were no different from non-predators. This finding supports ecological theory that higher productivity increases predator control of lower trophic levels. These findings also indicate that the functional significance of bacterial predators increases with energy flow, and that predatory bacteria influence element flow through microbial food webs.
Detecting microstructural deviations in individuals with deep diffusion MRI tractometry
Authors: Chamberland Maxime , Genc Sila , Tax Chantal M.W. , Shastin Dmitri , Koller Kristin , Raven Erika P. , Parker Greg D. , Hamandi Khalid , Gray William P. , Jones Derek K. 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTMost diffusion MRI (dMRI) studies of disease rely on statistical comparisons between large groups of patients and healthy controls to infer altered tissue state. Such studies often require data from a significant number of patients before robust inferences can be made, and clinical heterogeneity can greatly challenge their discriminative power. Moreover, for clinicians and researchers studying small datasets, rare cases, or individual patients, this approach is clearly inappropriate. There is a clear and unmet need to shift away from the current standard approach of group-wise comparisons to methods with the sensitivity for detection of altered tissue states at the individual level. This would ultimately enable the early detection and interpretation of microstructural abnormalities in individual patients, an important step towards personalised-medicine in translational imaging. To this end, Detect was developed to advance dMRI-based Tractometry towards single-subject analysis. By: 1) operating on the manifold of white matter pathways; and 2) learning normative microstructural features to better discriminate patients from controls, our framework captures idiosyncrasies in patterns along brain white matter pathways in the individual. This novel approach paves the way from traditional group-based comparisons to true personalised radiology, taking microstructural imaging from the bench to the bedside.
Outcomes of Percutaneous Tracheostomy for Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Failure
Authors: Arnold Jason , Gao Catherine A. , Malsin Elizabeth , Todd Kristy , Argento A. Christine , Cuttica Michael , Coleman John M. , Wunderink Richard G. , Smith Sean B. ,   for the NU COVID Investigators
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundSARS-CoV-2 can cause severe respiratory failure leading to prolonged mechanical ventilation. Data are just emerging about the practice and outcomes of tracheostomy in these patients. We reviewed our experience with tracheostomies for SARS-CoV-2 at our tertiary-care, urban teaching hospital.MethodsWe reviewed the demographics, comorbidities, timing of mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, and ICU and hospital lengths-of-stay (LOS) in SARS-CoV-2 patients who received tracheostomies. Early tracheostomy was considered <14 days of ventilation. Medians with interquartile ranges (IQR) were calculated and compared with Wilcoxon rank sum, Spearman correlation, Kruskal-Wallis, and regression modeling.ResultsFrom March 2020 to January 2021, our center had 370 patients intubated for SARS-CoV-2, and 59 (16%) had percutaneous bedside tracheostomy. Median time from intubation to tracheostomy was 19 (IQR 17 – 24) days. Demographics and comorbidities were similar between early and late tracheostomy, but early tracheostomy was associated with shorter ICU LOS and a trend towards shorter ventilation. To date, 34 (58%) of patients have been decannulated, 17 (29%) before hospital discharge; median time to decannulation was 24 (IQR 19-38) days. Decannulated patients were younger (56 vs 69 years), and in regression analysis, pneumothorax was associated was associated with lower decannulation rates (OR 0.05, 95CI 0.01 – 0.37). No providers developed symptoms or tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.ConclusionsTracheostomy is a safe and reasonable procedure for patients with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 respiratory failure. We feel that tracheostomy enhances care for SARS-CoV-2 since early tracheostomy appears associated with shorter duration of critical care, and decannulation rates appear high for survivors.
Evaluation of COVID-19 as a risk factor for maternal-fetal and neonatal complications: protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort and case-control studies
Authors: Bezerra Priscila , de Siqueira Barros Nogueira Fernanda Gabriella , dos Santos Alan Chaves , Lima Anna katharina Souza , Ribeiro Davi Emanuel , Silva Barbosa Elias Almeida , dos Santos Suellen Casado , de Carvalho Clístenes Crístian 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundCOVID-19 in pregnant women has been suggested to impair maternal-fetal and neonatal outcomes. We then designed the present systematic review with meta-analysis to evaluate the repercussion of such disease over maternal fetal and neonatal mortality, need for intensive care, way of delivery, premature delivery, birth weight, Apgar score, presence of intrauterine growth restriction (IGR), and presence of amniotic fluid change.MethodsWe will conduct a computerized search through MEDLINE/PubMed, LILACS/BIREME, Web of science, Biorxiv, Medrxiv, and Embase on July 23, 2020. We will include cohort and case-control studies fully reported comparing pregnant women with COVID-19 with those not affected by the disease for maternal fetal and neonatal mortality, need for intensive care, way of delivery, premature delivery occurrence, birth weight, Apgar scores, presence of intrauterine growth restriction, and presence of amniotic fluid change. Three doubles of reviewers will perform in duplicate and independently all steps on screening, risk of bias judgments, and data extraction with ability to discuss disagreements with supervising authors. Pooled effects will be estimated by both fixed and random-effects models and presented according to qualitative and quantitative heterogeneity assessment. Sensitivity analyses will be performed as well as a priori subgroup, meta-regression and multiple meta-regression analyses. We’ll also evaluate the risk of selective publication by assessing funnel plot asymmetry and the quality of the evidence by the application of the GRADE recommendations.DiscussionThis systematic review with meta-analysis aims to assess the repercussion of COVID-19 in pregnant women over maternal-fetal and neonatal outcomes and to help clinicians and health systems improve such population outcomes throughout the current pandemic.Systematic review registrationThis review protocol was also submitted to PROSPERO registration on February 9, 2021.
Vaccine Rollout Strategies: The Case for Vaccinating Essential Workers Early
Authors: Mulberry N. , Tupper P. , Kirwin E. , McCabe C. , Colijn C. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn planning for upcoming mass vaccinations against COVID-19, many jurisdictions have proposed using primarily age-based rollout strategies, where the oldest are vaccinated first and the youngest last. In the wake of growing evidence that approved vaccines are effective at preventing not only adverse outcomes, but also infection (and hence transmission of SARS-CoV-2), we propose that such age-based rollouts are both less equitable and less effective than strategies that prioritize essential workers. We demonstrate that strategies that target essential workers earlier consistently outperform those that do not, and that prioritizing essential work-ers provides a significant level of indirect protection for older adults. This conclusion holds across numerous outcomes, including cases, hospitalizations, Long COVID, deaths and net monetary benefit, and over a range of possible values for the efficacy of vaccination against infection. Our analysis focuses on regimes where the pandemic continues to be controlled with distancing and other measures as vaccination proceeds, and where the vaccination strategy is expected to last for over the coming 6-8 months — for example British Columbia, Canada. In such a setting with a total population of 5M, vaccinating essential workers sooner is expected to prevent over 200,000 infections, over 600 deaths, and to produce a net monetary benefit of over $500M.
Regression QSAR Models for Predicting HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors
Authors: Xuan Christopher Ha Heng , Kion Lee Nung , Rahman Taufiq , San Hwang Siaw , Yam Wai Keat , Chee Xavier 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is a global pandemic that has claimed 33 million lives to date. One of the most efficacious treatment for naïve or pre-treated HIV patients is with the HIV integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs). However, given that HIV treatment is life-long, the emergence of HIV-1 strains resistant to INSTIs is an imminent challenge. In this work, we showed two best regression QSAR models that were constructed using a boosted Random Forest algorithmand a boosted K* algorithmto predict the pIC50values of INSTIs. Subsequently, the regression QSAR models were deployed against the Drugbank database for drug repositioning. The top ranked compounds were further evaluated for their target engagement activity using molecular docking studies and their potential as INSTIs evaluated from our literature search. Our study offers the first example of a large-scale regression QSAR modelling effort for discovering highly active INSTIs to combat HIV infection.
University Exams and Psychosocial Stress: Effects on Cortisol Rhythmicity in Students
Authors: Borghi Filipy , da Silva Priscila Cristina , Farias-Silva Elisângela , Canova Fernando , Souza Aglecio Luiz , Arouca Aline Barbedo , Grassi-Kassisse Dora Maria 
Published: February 2021

AbstractUniversity students often experience heightened stress during exam periods, which can trigger psychosocial stress and increase cortisol production. This study aims to investigate both the short- and long-term effects of exam-related stress on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, focusing on cortisol production and rhythmicity. Twenty-seven undergraduate students (18–24 years) from a biological sciences program participated in this study. Hair cortisol was measured for two months (October and November), while salivary cortisol was collected during final exams in November to assess cortisol rhythmicity. Saliva samples were taken five times per day across three consecutive days. Hair cortisol levels were significantly higher in November, reflecting increased chronic stress during exam periods. However, salivary cortisol maintained a normal circadian rhythm and preserved cortisol awakening response (CAR), despite elevated stress levels. The rhythmicity of cortisol production remained stable across the exam period, though an increase in cortisol before bedtime on the second and third days suggests heightened stress or anticipatory anxiety. Although university exams induce psychosocial stress, students demonstrated resilience in maintaining cortisol rhythmicity and CAR. These findings suggest adaptive stress responses in students, mitigating the risk of stress-related mental health issues. Further research using hair cortisol analysis could provide insights into cumulative stress exposure and aid in developing preventive mental health strategies for university students.
Single-cell transcriptomics reveal cell type-specific molecular changes and altered intercellular communications in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Huang Qiqing , Wang Jingshen , Shen Shaoran , Wang Yuanyuan , Chen Yan , Wu Shuangshuang , Xu Wei , Chen Bo , Lin Mingyan , Wu Jianqing 
Published: February 2021

AbstractChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and heterogeneous respiratory disease, the molecular complexity of which remains poorly understood, as well as the mechanisms by which aging and smoking facilitate COPD development. Here, using single-cell RNA sequencing of more than 65,000 cells from COPD and age-stratified control lung tissues of donors with different smoking histories, we identified monocytes, club cells, and macrophages as the most disease-, aging-, and smoking-relevant cell types, respectively. Notably, we found these highly cell-type specific changes under different conditions converged on cellular dysfunction of the alveolar epithelium. Deeper investigations revealed that the alveolar epithelium damage could be attributed to the abnormally activated monocytes in COPD lungs, which could be amplified via exhaustion of club cell stemness as ages. Moreover, the enhanced intercellular communications in COPD lungs as well as the pro-inflammatory interaction between macrophages and endothelial cells indued by smoking could facilitate signaling between monocyte and the alveolar epithelium. Our findings complement the existing model of COPD pathogenesis by emphasizing the contributions of the previously less appreciated cell types, highlighting their candidacy as potential therapeutic targets for COPD.
TheGossypium stocksiigenome as a novel resource for cotton improvement
Authors: Grover Corrinne E. , Yuan Daojun , Arick Mark A. , Miller Emma R. , Hu Guanjing , Peterson Daniel G. , Wendel Jonathan F. , Udall Joshua A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractCotton is an important textile crop whose gains in production over the last century have been challenged by various diseases. Because many modern cultivars are susceptible to several pests and pathogens, breeding efforts have included attempts to introgress wild, naturally resistant germplasm into elite lines.Gossypium stocksiiis a wild cotton species native to Africa, which is part of a clade of vastly understudied species. Most of what is known about this species comes from pest resistance surveys and/or breeding efforts, which suggests thatG. stocksiicould be a valuable reservoir of natural pest resistance. Here we present a high-qualityde novogenome sequence forG. stocksii. We compare theG. stocksiigenome with resequencing data from a closely related, understudied species (G. somalense) to generate insight into the relatedness of these cotton species. Finally, we discuss the utility of theG. stocksiigenome for understanding pest resistance in cotton, particularly resistance to cotton leaf curl virus.