bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Higher PGD2 production by synovial mast cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients compared with osteoarthritis patients via miR-199a-3p/prostaglandin synthetase 2 axis
Authors: Mishima Shintaro , Kashiwakura Jun-ichi , Toyoshima Shota , Sasaki-Sakamoto Tomomi , Sano Yutaka , Nakanishi Kazuyoshi , Matsumoto Kenji , Okayama Yoshimichi 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe previously reported that synovial mast cells (MCs) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) produced TNF-α in response to immune complexes via FcγRI and FcγRIIA. However, the specific functions of synovial MCs in RA remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate those functions. Synovial tissues and fluid were obtained from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients undergoing joint replacement surgery. Synovium-derived, cultured MCs were generated by culturing dispersed synovial cells with stem cell factor. We performed microarray-based screening of mRNA and microRNA (miRNA), followed by quantitative RT-PCR-based verification. Synovial MCs from RA patients showed significantly higher prostaglandin systhetase (PTGS)1 and PTGS2 expression compared with OA patients’ MCs, and they produced significantly more prostaglandin D2(PGD2) following aggregation of FcγRI. PGD2induced IL-8 production by human group 2 innate lymphoid cells, suggesting that PGD2-producing MCs induce neutrophil recruitment into the synovium of RA patients. PTGS2 mRNA expression in RA patients’ MCs correlated inversely with miRNA-199a-3p expression, which down-regulated PTGS2. RA patients’ synovial fluid contained significantly more PGD2compared with OA patients’ fluid. Synovial MCs might regulate inflammation in RA through hyper-production of PGD2following FcRγ aggregation. Our findings indicate functional heterogeneity of human MCs among diseases.
Comparison of clinical characteristics and disease outcome of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza
Authors: Brehm Thomas Theo , van der Meirschen Marc , Hennigs Annette , Roedl Kevin , Jarczak Dominik , Wichmann Dominic , Frings Daniel , Nierhaus Axel , Oqueka Tim , Fiedler Walter , Christopeit Maximilian , Kraef Christian , Schultze Alexander , Lütgehetmann Marc , Addo Marylyn M , Schmiedel Stefan , Kluge Stefan , Schulze zur Wiesch Julian 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWhile several studies have described the clinical course of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), direct comparisons with patients with seasonal influenza are scarce. We compared 166 patients with COVID-19 diagnosed between February 27 and June 14, 2020, and 255 patients with seasonal influenza diagnosed during the 2017–18 season at the same hospital to describe common features and differences in clinical characteristics and course of disease. Patients with COVID-19 were younger (median age [IQR], 59 [45–71] vs 66 [52–77]; P < 0001) and had fewer comorbidities at baseline with a lower mean overall age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (mean [SD], 3.0 [2.6] vs 4.0 [2.7]; P < 0.001) than patients with seasonal influenza. COVID-19 patients had a longer duration of hospitalization (mean [SD], 25.9 days [26.6 days] vs 17.2 days [21.0 days]; P = 0.002), a more frequent need for oxygen therapy (101 [60.8%] vs 103 [40.4%]; P < 0.001) and invasive ventilation (52 [31.3%] vs 32 [12.5%]; P < 0.001) and were more frequently admitted to the intensive care unit (70 [42.2%] vs 51 [20.0%]; P < 0.001) than seasonal influenza patients. Among immunocompromised patients, those in the COVID-19 group had a higher hospital mortality compared to those in the seasonal influenza group (13 [33.3%] vs 8 [11.6%], P = 0.01). In conclusion, we show that COVID-19 patients were younger and had fewer baseline comorbidities than seasonal influenza patients but were at increased risk for severe illness. The high mortality observed in immunocompromised COVID-19 patients emphasizes the importance of protecting these patient groups from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Exploring genetic alterations in circulating tumor DNA from cerebrospinal fluid of pediatric medulloblastoma
Authors: Sun Yanling , Li Miao , Ren Siqi , Liu Yan , Zhang Jin , Li Shuting , Gao Wenchao , Gong Xiaojun , Liu Jingjing , Wang Yuan , Du Shuxu , Sun Liming , Wu Wanshui , Tian Yongji 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMedulloblastoma (MB) is the most common type of brain malignancy in children. Molecular profiling has become an important component to select patients for therapeutic approaches, allowing for personalized therapy. In this study, we successfully identified detectable levels of tumor-derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients with MB. Furthermore, cfDNA from CSF can interrogate for tumor-associated molecular clues. MB-associated alterations from CSF, tumor, and post-chemotherapy plasma were compared by deep sequencing on next-generation sequencing platform. Shared alterations exist between CSF and matched tumor tissues. More alternations were detected in circulating tumor DNA from CSF than those in genomic DNA from primary tumor. It was feasible to detect MB-associated mutations in plasma of patients treated with chemotherapy. Collectively, CSF supernatant can be used to monitor genomic alterations, as a superior technique as long as tumor-derived cfDNA can be isolated from CSF successfully.
Speeding up quantum perceptron via shortcuts to adiabaticity
Authors: Ban Yue , Chen Xi , Torrontegui E. , Solano E. , Casanova J. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe quantum perceptron is a fundamental building block for quantum machine learning. This is a multidisciplinary field that incorporates abilities of quantum computing, such as state superposition and entanglement, to classical machine learning schemes. Motivated by the techniques of shortcuts to adiabaticity, we propose a speed-up quantum perceptron where a control field on the perceptron is inversely engineered leading to a rapid nonlinear response with a sigmoid activation function. This results in faster overall perceptron performance compared to quasi-adiabatic protocols, as well as in enhanced robustness against imperfections in the controls.
Inequality in the distribution of 137Cs contamination within freshwater fish bodies and its affecting factors
Authors: Ishii Nobuyoshi , Furota Toshio , Kagami Maiko , Tagami Keiko , Uchida Shigeo 
Published: March 2021

AbstractContamination of freshwater fishes with 137Cs remains as a serious problem in Japan, nearly 10 years after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, but there is limited information on the distribution of 137Cs contamination in fish bodies. The 137Cs distribution can be used for the estimation of internal radiation exposure through the consumption of fish and for the dose estimation of fish themselves. In this study, the 137Cs distribution in the bodies of 8 freshwater fish species was investigated as percentages of total body burden for fish inhabiting Lake Inba. Fish samples were caught in stake nets placed close to the shore approximately once a month. After the measurement of body length and fresh weight, the radioactivities of 137Cs in muscle, internal organs, spawn, milt and bone were assayed using high-purity germanium detectors. Analysis of all fish samples showed that the 137Cs distribution was highest in muscle (54 ± 12%), followed by internal organs (7.8 ± 4.6%), spawn (7.4 ± 5.4%), milt (3.2 ± 2.1%) and bone (1.2 ± 0.58%). Among fish species, the highest proportion of 137Cs in muscle was detected in largemouth bass (71 ± 1 3%), followed by snakehead (69 ± 14%), channel catfish (63 ± 17%), common carp (62 ± 14%), barbel steed (58 ± 6.5%), silver carp (57 ± 7.7%), bluegill (53 ± 4.7%), and crucian carp (50 ± 10%). These results suggested that the 137Cs in muscle was likely to be high in piscivorous fishes compared to omnivorous fishes, especially crucian carp. The proportion of 137Cs in muscle of crucian carp was not explained either by body length or fresh weight. However, a positive correlation was found between the proportion of 137Cs in muscle and the condition factor which was an indicator of nutritional status calculated from a length–weight relationship. This correlation implied that more 137Cs accumulated in muscle tissue of a fish species with high nutritional status. This is the first study to show that condition factor is more important than body length and wet weight in explaining the high proportion of 137Cs in muscle tissues, at least for crucian carp.
Corticosteroid responsiveness in patients with acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease admitted to the emergency department
Authors: Jang Hye Jin , Yong Seung Hyun , Leem Ah Young , Lee Su Hwan , Kim Song Yee , Lee Sang Hoon , Kim Eun Young , Chung Kyung Soo , Jung Ji Ye , Kang Young Ae , Kim Young Sam , Chang Joon , Park Moo Suk 
Published: March 2021

AbstractInterstitial lung disease (ILD), particularly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), has a poor prognosis. Corticosteroids are widely used in the treatment of acute exacerbation of ILD (AE-ILD). This study aimed to clarify the causes of AE-ILD, determine the efficacy of corticosteroids for treating AE-ILD, and detect differences in the mortality rate among subgroups of ILD. This was an observational retrospective single-center study. Patients with ILD who presented to the emergency department with acute respiratory symptoms from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018, were included. Patients with AE-ILD were classified into two groups depending on the prednisolone dose: low dose (0 to 1.0 mg/kg) or high dose (> 1.0 mg/kg). Mortality rates between patients with and without IPF were compared. This study included 182 patients with AE-ILD, including IPF (n = 117) and non-IPF (n = 65). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that corticosteroid dose (HR: 0.221, CI: 0.102–0.408, P < 0.001), initial P/F ratio (HR:0.995, CI:0.992–0.999, P = 0.006), and mechanical ventilation within 3 days of hospitalization (HR:4.205, CI:2.059–8.589, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for mortality in patients with AE-ILD. This study showed that outcomes improve with higher doses of corticosteroids (> 1 mg/kg prednisolone) in patients with AE-non-IPF-ILD. However, this was not the case in patients with AE-IPF.
A hierarchical deep learning approach with transparency and interpretability based on small samples for glaucoma diagnosis
Authors: Xu Yongli , Hu Man , Liu Hanruo , Yang Hao , Wang Huaizhou , Lu Shuai , Liang Tianwei , Li Xiaoxing , Xu Mai , Li Liu , Li Huiqi , Ji Xin , Wang Zhijun , Li Li , Weinreb Robert N. , Wang Ningli 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe application of deep learning algorithms for medical diagnosis in the real world faces challenges with transparency and interpretability. The labeling of large-scale samples leads to costly investment in developing deep learning algorithms. The application of human prior knowledge is an effective way to solve these problems. Previously, we developed a deep learning system for glaucoma diagnosis based on a large number of samples that had high sensitivity and specificity. However, it is a black box and the specific analytic methods cannot be elucidated. Here, we establish a hierarchical deep learning system based on a small number of samples that comprehensively simulates the diagnostic thinking of human experts. This system can extract the anatomical characteristics of the fundus images, including the optic disc, optic cup, and appearance of the retinal nerve fiber layer to realize automatic diagnosis of glaucoma. In addition, this system is transparent and interpretable, and the intermediate process of prediction can be visualized. Applying this system to three validation datasets of fundus images, we demonstrate performance comparable to that of human experts in diagnosing glaucoma. Moreover, it markedly improves the diagnostic accuracy of ophthalmologists. This system may expedite the screening and diagnosis of glaucoma, resulting in improved clinical outcomes.
Dmrt2 promotes transition of endochondral bone formation by linking Sox9 and Runx2
Authors: Ono Koichiro , Hata Kenji , Nakamura Eriko , Ishihara Shota , Kobayashi Sachi , Nakanishi Masako , Yoshida Michiko , Takahata Yoshifumi , Murakami Tomohiko , Takenoshita Seiichi , Komori Toshihisa , Nishimura Riko , Yoneda Toshiyuki 
Published: March 2021

AbstractEndochondral bone formation is fundamental for skeletal development. During this process, chondrocytes undergo multiple steps of differentiation and coordinated transition from a proliferating to a hypertrophic stage, which is critical to advance skeletal development. Here, we identified the transcription factor Dmrt2 (double-sex and mab-3 related transcription factor 2) as a Sox9-inducible gene that promotes chondrocyte hypertrophy in pre-hypertrophic chondrocytes. Epigenetic analysis further demonstrated that Sox9 regulates Dmrt2 expression through an active enhancer located 18 kb upstream of the Dmrt2 gene and that this enhancer’s chromatin status is progressively activated through chondrocyte differentiation. Dmrt2-knockout mice exhibited a dwarf phenotype with delayed initiation of chondrocyte hypertrophy. Dmrt2 augmented hypertrophic chondrocyte gene expression including Ihh through physical and functional interaction with Runx2. Furthermore, Dmrt2 deficiency reduced Runx2-dependent Ihh expression. Our findings suggest that Dmrt2 is critical for sequential chondrocyte differentiation during endochondral bone formation and coordinates the transcriptional network between Sox9 and Runx2.
Dynamic nanoimaging of extended objects via hard X-ray multiple-shot coherent diffraction with projection illumination optics
Authors: Takayama Yuki , Fukuda Keizo , Kawashima Motoki , Aoi Yuki , Shigematsu Daiki , Akada Tatsuki , Ikeda Takumi , Kagoshima Yasushi 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe quest for understanding the structural mechanisms of material properties and biological cell functions has led to the active development of coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) and its variants in the hard X-ray regime. Herein, we propose multiple-shot CDI, a full-field CDI technique dedicated to the visualisation of local nanostructural dynamics in extended objects at a spatio-temporal resolution beyond that of current instrumentation limitations. Multiple-shot CDI reconstructs a “movie” of local dynamics from time-evolving diffraction patterns, which is compatible with a robust scanning variant, ptychography. We developed projection illumination optics to produce a probe with a well-defined illumination area and a phase retrieval algorithm, establishing a spatio-temporal smoothness constraint for the reliable reconstruction of dynamic images. The numerical simulations and proof-of-concept experiment using synchrotron hard X-rays demonstrated the capability of visualising a dynamic nanostructured object at a frame rate of 10 Hz or higher.
Recent advances in the synthesis and applications of β-keto sulfones: new prospects for the synthesis of β-keto thiosulfones
Authors: Jannapu Reddy Raju , Haritha Kumari Arram , Kumar Jangam Jagadesh 
Published: March 2021

This review highlights recent developments relating to the preparation of β-keto sulfones and β-keto thiosulfones. And, also focused on widespread synthetic applications of β-keto sulfones for assembling many valuable carbo- and heterocycles.
Acoustic detection of unknown bird species and individuals
Authors: Ntalampiras Stavros , Potamitis Ilyas 
Published: March 2021

AbstractComputational bioacoustics is a relatively young research area, yet it has increasingly received attention over the last decade because it can be used in a wide range of applications in a cost‐effective manner. This work focuses on the problem of detecting the novel bird calls and songs associated with various species and individual birds. To this end, variational autoencoders, consisting of deep encoding–decoding networks, are employed. The encoder encompasses a series of convolutional layers leading to a smooth high‐level abstraction of log‐Mel spectrograms that characterise bird vocalisations. The decoder operates on this latent representation to generate each respective original observation. Novel species/individual detection is carried out by monitoring and thresholding the expected reconstruction probability. We thoroughly evaluate the proposed method on two different data sets, including the vocalisations of 11 North American bird species and 16 Athene noctua individuals.
Detectability of continuous gravitational waves from isolated neutron stars in the Milky Way
Authors: Cieślar Marek , Bulik Tomasz , Curyło Małgorzata , Sieniawska Magdalena , Singh Neha , Bejger Michał 
Published: March 2021

Aims. We estimate the number of pulsars, detectable as continuous gravitational wave sources with the current and future gravitational-wave detectors, assuming a simple phenomenological model of evolving non-axisymmetry of the rotating neutron star.
Methods. We employed a numerical model of the Galactic neutron star population, with the properties established by comparison with radio observations of isolated Galactic pulsars. We generated an arbitrarily large synthetic population of neutron stars and evolved their period, magnetic field, and position in space. We used a gravitational wave emission model based on exponentially decaying ellipticity (i.e. non-axisymmetry of the star) with no assumption of the origin of a given ellipticity. We calculated the expected signal in a given detector for a one-year observation, and assumed a detection criterion of the signal-to-noise ratio of 11.4, comparable to a targeted continous wave search. We analysed the detectable population separately in each detector: Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo, and the planned Einstein Telescope. In the calculation of the expected signal we neglect the frequency change of the signals due to the source’s spindown and the Earth’s motion with respect to the solar barycentre.
Results. With conservative values for the neutron star evolution (a supernova rate of once per 100 years, initial ellipticity ϵ0 ≃ 10−5 with no decay of the ellipticity η = thub ≃ 104 Myr), the expected number of detected neutron stars is 0.15 (based on a simulation of 10 M stars) for the Advanced LIGO detector. A broader study of the parameter space (ϵ0, η) is presented. With the planned sensitivity for the Einstein Telescope, and assuming the same ellipiticity model, the expected detection number is 26.4 pulsars during a one-year observing run.
Erythema gyratum repens – Kutane Paraneoplasie bei metastasiertem Adenokarzinom der Trachea
Authors: Oberndörfer F. , Mitteldorf C. , Tronnier M. 
Published: March 2021

ZusammenfassungDie Kenntnis über das Erythema gyratum repens als obligate kutane Paraneoplasie ist bedeutend zur Detektion viszeraler Malignome und stellt die Dermatologie als interdisziplinäres Fach heraus. Hier zeigen wir einen Fall eines 50-jährigen Patienten mit Erythema gyratum repens und einem metastasierten Adenokarzinom der Trachea.
Tiefe Trichophytie bei Tinea corporis
Authors: Mehwald-Göke M. , Kulberg A. 
Published: March 2021

ZusammenfassungMykosen sind weit verbreitete Infektionskrankheiten, die durch unterschiedliche Erreger hervorgerufen werden und sich im klinischen Alltag unterschiedlich präsentieren können. Je nach Manifestationsort und Erreger kommen entsprechend unterschiedliche Behandlungsoptionen in Betracht. Wir stellen im Folgenden einen Patienten mit einer ungewöhnlichen tiefen Trichophytie bei Tinea corporis und Onychomykose vor. Der Patient wurde topisch und systemisch mit Terbinafin behandelt.Diese Kasuistik ist insofern erwähnenswert, da es sich um eine durch zwei unterschiedliche Erreger hervorgerufene Mykose handelt, die möglicherweise durch den vorbestehenden Diabetes begünstigt wurde und eine besondere therapeutische Herausforderung darstellt.
Cytotoxic Agents in the Minor Alkaloid Groups of the Amaryllidaceae
Authors: Nair Jerald J. , van Staden Johannes 
Published: March 2021

AbstractOver 600 alkaloids have to date been identified in the plant family Amaryllidaceae. These have been arranged into as many as 15 different groups based on their characteristic structural features. The vast majority of studies on the biological properties of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids have probed their anticancer potential. While most efforts have focused on the major alkaloid groups, the volume and diversity afforded by the minor alkaloid groups have promoted their usefulness as targets for cancer cell line screening purposes. This survey is an in-depth review of such activities described for around 90 representatives from 10 minor alkaloid groups of the Amaryllidaceae. These have been evaluated against over 60 cell lines categorized into 18 different types of cancer. The montanine and cripowellin groups were identified as the most potent, with some in the latter demonstrating low nanomolar level antiproliferative activities. Despite their challenging molecular
architectures, the minor alkaloid groups have allowed for facile adjustments to be made to their structures, thereby altering the size, geometry, and electronics of the targets available for structure-activity relationship studies. Nevertheless, it was seen with a regular frequency that the parent alkaloids were better cytotoxic agents than the corresponding semisynthetic derivatives. There has also been significant interest in how the minor alkaloid groups manifest their effects in cancer cells. Among the various targets and pathways in which they were seen to mediate, their ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells is most appealing.
Is ProBNP a New Marker for Predicting Intrauterine Growth Restriction?
Authors: Eroğlu Hasan , Tonyalı Nazan Vanlı , Orgul Gokcen , Biriken Derya , Yucel Aykan , Yazihan Nuray , Uygur Dilek 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPurpose To evaluate the usability of first-trimester maternal serum ProBNP levels in the prediction of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Methods In this prospective study, blood samples taken from 500 women who applied to our polyclinic for routine serum aneuploidy screening between the 11–14th gestational weeks were centrifuged. The obtained plasma samples were placed in Eppendorf tubes and stored at −80+°C. For the final analysis, first-trimester maternal serum ProBNP levels of 32 women diagnosed with postpartum IUGR and 32 healthy women randomly selected as the control group were compared. FGR was defined as estimated fetal weight below the 10th percentile for the gestational age.Results The mean ProBNP levels were statistically and significantly higher in the women with intrauterine growth restriction (113.73±94.69 vs. 58.33±47.70 pg/mL, p<0.01). At a cut-off level of 50.93, ProBNP accurately predicted occurrence of IUGR (AUC+= 0.794 (95% confidence interval 0.679–0.910), p+= 0.001) with sensitivity and specificity rates of 78.1 and 69.0%, respectively. Conclusion First-trimester serum ProBNP level was significantly higher in women who developed IUGR compared to healthy controls. First-trimester ProBNP level can be used as a potential marker to predict the development of IUGR in pregnant women.