bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glomerular Volume and Clinicopathologic Features Related to Disease Severity in Renal Biopsies of African Americans and Whites in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Hughson Michael D. , Samuel Terence , Hoy Wendy E. , Bertram John F. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractContext.—African Americans have a 4-fold greater risk than whites for developing end-stage renal disease. Glomerulomegaly, possibly related to obesity, has been identified in high-risk populations and is suggested to be a marker for end-stage renal disease risk.Objective.—To investigate differences in glomerular size and patient clinical characteristics at the time of renal biopsy for the major diseases contributing to end-stage renal disease.Design.—Mean glomerular tuft volumes were estimated by the Weibel-Gomez method (1964) in native renal biopsies of 203 African American and 100 white patients 18 years of age and older by point counting on a stereologic grid. Glomerulosclerosis was graded on individual glomeruli from 0 to 4, and a glomerular sclerosis index was calculated for each biopsy. Relationships between the mean volume of nonsclerotic glomeruli, age, sex, race, sclerosis index, cortical fibrosis, estimated glomerular filtration rate, body mass index, and disease diagnosis were analyzed.Results.—Racial differences in mean volume of nonsclerotic glomeruli and body mass index were not significant in any disease category, and African Americans had more severe disease as determined by sclerosis index, cortical fibrosis, and estimated glomerular filtration rate only in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. For all patients, increased sclerosis index and cortical fibrosis and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate were best predicted by increased age (P &lt; .001).Conclusions.—For approximately the same severity of disease, African Americans were 10 years or more younger than whites with the difference being seen in all disease categories except membranous glomerulonephritis and diabetes. Glomerulomegaly relative to whites was not a distinguishing feature of African American renal biopsies.
Relevance of Specific Immunoglobulin M and Immunoglobulin G for Parvovirus B19 Diagnosis in Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Receiving Chemotherapy: Prospective Study
Authors: El Sayed Zaki Maysaa 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Context.—Immunocompromised patients suffer from prolonged viral infections often without detectable immune response. However, even if the immune response occurs, can it clear the virus completely?
Objective.—To detect parvovirus B19 DNA and its antibodies in bone marrow cells and in serum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving chemotherapy to highlight the relation of humoral immune response to the presence of viremia. Also, to evaluate the optimal diagnostic test(s) for a correct diagnosis of parvovirus B19 disease in immunocompromised patients.
Design.—Forty-eight children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving maintenance chemotherapy were included in the study in addition to 20 healthy children with matched age and sex. Study for parvovirus B19 was performed by serologic determination of specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG, and viral DNA was determined by PCR in both serum and bone marrow aspiration.
Results.—Parvovirus B19 DNA was detected in both serum and bone marrow in 20% of patients. Specific IgG was found in 40% and IgM in 26.7%. Two cases (10%) in the control group were positive for IgG. The agreement between IgG and positive results of PCR in the bone marrow was 33.3%, and the agreement for IgM and PCR in the serum was 33.3%.
Conclusions.—Parvovirus B19 is considered a common viral infection in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving chemotherapy. We must use our full potential to exclude such infection, which can mimic the side effects of chemotherapy in these patients. In immunocompromised patients, there are immunologic discrepancies in humoral immune responses for both IgM and IgG between individuals with parvovirus B19 persistence and healthy individuals, findings that may reflect both failed immunity and antigenic exhaustion. The contemporaneous determination of parvovirus B19 DNA by PCR in both bone marrow and peripheral blood and specific serologic markers appears to be the most appropriate diagnostic protocol for the correct laboratory diagnosis of parvovirus B19 infection in these patients.
Critical Values Comparison: A College of American Pathologists Q-Probes Survey of 163 Clinical Laboratories
Authors: Wagar Elizabeth A. , Friedberg Richard C. , Souers Rhona , Stankovic Ana K. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractContext.—Critical laboratory values are values that may be indicative of life-threatening conditions requiring rapid clinical intervention. Designation of critical values by clinical laboratories is required by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments and regulatory agencies. The development of critical values often involves consultation with clinical services. Also, questions are frequently asked about how critical values compare between institutions.Objective.—To examine and compare critical value ranges for selected common critical value analytes. Additional specific questions addressed the source of these values, the inclusion of specific items on a critical values list, and the procedures for establishing such lists.Design.—A total of 163 clinical laboratories provided critical values for potassium, calcium, magnesium, thyroid-stimulating hormone, hemoglobin, platelet count, and activated partial thromboplastin time. Collected data were subjected to analysis for statistical variation. A questionnaire regarding demographic characteristics, institutional practices, and critical values management was also completed by participants.Results.—There was slight variation in pediatric and adult critical values used by the central 80% of study laboratories. Three areas of interest were noted: (1) 27% of laboratories allowed nonpractitioners to accept inpatient critical value reports, (2) there was nonconsensus regarding the handling of outpatient critical values during weekday versus evening/weekend hours, and (3) only 56% of respondents had a written critical values policy or procedure.Conclusions.—Pediatric and adult critical values for the selected analytes were consistent in a comparison between the 163 clinical laboratories. Several weaknesses in current critical values management were identified. A consensus critical values list that may be of value to other institutions was assembled.
Phosphorylated Histone H3, Ki-67, p21, Fatty Acid Synthase, and Cleaved Caspase-3 Expression in Benign and Atypical Granular Cell Tumors
Authors: Kapur Payal , Rakheja Dinesh , Balani Jyoti P. , Roy Lonnie C. , Amirkhan Robin H. , Hoang Mai P. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractContext.—Granular cell tumors (GCTs) are classified as benign when none of the following features is present: spindling of the tumor cells, necrosis, diffuse pleomorphism, prominent nucleoli, high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, and mitotic rate &gt;2 per 10 high-power fields. It has been suggested that a GCT be classified as atypical when 1 or 2 of these features are seen and as malignant when 3 or more of these are present. In our practice, we do not classify GCTs as malignant in the absence of metastasis.Objective.—To compare immunohistochemical staining for phosphorylated histone H3 (PHH3), Ki-67 (MIB-1), p21, fatty acid synthase, and cleaved caspase-3 in histologically classified benign and atypical GCTs.Design.—We reviewed 25 cases of GCT from our archives and classified 14 as atypical based on histologic features. Immunohistochemical staining for PHH3, Ki-67, p21, fatty acid synthase, and cleaved caspase-3 was performed using standard methods. The number of positive cells for Ki-67, p21, and PHH3 was calculated in 10 consecutive high-power fields in a hot spot. Fatty acid synthase and cleaved caspase-3 cytoplasmic expression was graded from 1 to 3.Results.—Ki-67 and PHH3 scores were significantly higher in atypical GCTs. The expression of p21, fatty acid synthase, and cleaved caspase-3 was not significantly different between atypical and benign GCTs.Conclusions.—This study shows that histologic features are reliable in identifying GCTs that have a higher proliferative potential as shown by higher immunoreactivity for Ki-67 and PHH3. These immunostains may help in classifying GCTs in cases where a thorough histologic evaluation is precluded by the small size of a biopsy specimen.
The Face of Pathology in Afghanistan in 2006–2007
Authors: Deck John H. N. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe current state of the practice of pathology in Afghanistan is described on the basis of visits made by the author to a nongovernmental organization hospital in Kabul, for 6 months between October 2006 and March 2007, and a second visit for 6 weeks at the end of 2007.
The 2010 Haiti Earthquake: A Pathology Perspective Aboard the USNS Comfort
Authors: Hussey Sean M , Dukette Phillip J , Dunn Scott H , Evans Toinette J , Oakes Natalie Y , Gleeson Todd D , Donahue Timothy F 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort played an integral role in the initial phases of Operation Unified Response–Haiti following the devastating earthquake that struck near Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, on January 12, 2010. Deployed to Haiti from its home in Baltimore, Maryland, just 4 days after the earthquake, the USNS Comfort would become the region's primary tertiary casualty receiving center for 6 weeks. The pathology and laboratory department staff onboard the ship helped support the mission and experienced unique mass casualty/disaster relief scenarios while underway. This article reviews the accounts of the core laboratory, microbiology, anatomic pathology, and blood bank divisions on the USNS Comfort from the chaotic first few weeks to the final patient discharge 40 days after Operation Unified Response–Haiti began.
A Structural Investigation on Polystyrene with Cyclohexene Mid-Chain Group: Thermal Stability and Self-Assembly Kinetics in Nonpolar and Polar Aprotic Solutions
Authors: Orujalipoor Ilghar , Ide Semra , Bayarı Sevgi , Degirmenci Mustafa , Celik Omer 
Published: February 2021

This study was focused on cyclohexene (CH) mid-chain functional polymer of polystyrene (PSt-CH-PSt) because of its potential application in nanotechnology and its possible usage in hierarchical structures.
Molecular and nano scale structural characterizations and thermal behavior of the powder form PSt-CH-PSt functional polymer were carried out by FTIR, SAXS, XRD and DSC methods. Solutions of PSt-CH-PSt in tetrahydrofuran and chloroform were also investigated by SAXS and FTIR.
The stable one type nano particles which have oblate core-shell shape were determined in powder form and in solution of PSt-CH-PSt. The self-assembly kinetics of the polymer indicate that the mid chain part location in oblate core shell aggregations may be controlled by polar aprotic THF and nonpolar CLF solvent effects. Exponential decreasing in oblate shell volumes of PSt-CH-PSt nano globules in THF as a function of temperature was also determined by SAXS.
Analysis of the role of Frizzled 2 in different cancer types
Authors: Zhou Miaomiao , Sun Xuezhu , Zhu Yunhao 
Published: February 2021

Frizzled 2 (FZD2) is an important receptor in the Wnt pathway, which is highly expressed in malignant tumors and helps regulate multiple tumor behaviors. Its expression level is related to prognosis. Here, bioinformatic analysis was performed to understand the expression of FZD2 in different tumors. We examined FZD2 expression using pan‐cancer data of 33 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Differential expression analysis (Wilcoxon's test) was used to compare tumor and normal tissues. Univariate Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to compare gene expression and overall patient survival. COSMIC, cBioPortal, and CCLE were used to examine FZD2 mutations in human cancers. Dryness index was calculated using one‐class logistic regression (OCLR). Spearman's correlation was performed based on gene expression and dryness score and used to analyze the correlation between gene expression and stemness score, matrix score, immune score, estimated score, tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and drug sensitivity. STRING website was used to construct an FZD2 protein interaction network and identify genes that interact with FZD2. We report that FZD2 is highly expressed in most tumors, differing between cancer types. Expression was related to patient overall survival (OS), disease‐specific survival, disease‐free interval (DFI), mutations, drug sensitivity, tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint gene expression, immunotherapy indicators (TMB, MSI), and tumor cell stemness. FZD2 influenced drug sensitivities, including cobimetinib (r = −0.553, P < 0.001), selumetinib (r = −0.539, P < 0.001), bafetinib (r = −0.538, P < 0.001), tamoxifen (r = −0.523, P < 0.001), alvespimycin (r = −0.520, P < 0.001), and nilotinib (r = −0.502, P < 0.001). FZD2 has the most significant correlation with ROR2 (r = 0.4, P < 0.001), Wnt2 (r = 0.37, P < 0.001), and Wnt4A (r = 0.34, P < 0.001). The results confirm the importance of FZD2 expression in cancer prognosis and treatment, and provide new clues for treatment strategies.
Incorporating parotid gland inhomogeneity into head‐and‐neck treatment optimization through the use of artificial base plans
Authors: Sample Caleb M. , Wu Jonn , Thomas Steven , Clark Haley 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDespite a great improvement in target volume dose conformality made possible in recent years by modulated therapies, xerostomia remains a common and severe side effect for head‐and‐neck radiotherapy patients. It is known that parotid glands exhibit a spatially varying dose response; however, the relative importance of subregions throughout the entire gland has yet to be incorporated into treatment plan optimization, with the current standard being to minimize the mean dose to whole parotid glands. The relative importance of regions within contralateral parotid glands has been recently quantified, creating an opportunity for the development of a method for including this data in plan optimization. We present a universal and straightforward approach for imposing varying sub‐parotid gland dose constraints during inverse treatment planning by using patient‐specific artificial base plans to penalize dose deposited in sensitive regions. In this work, the proposed method of optimization is demonstrated to reduce dose to regions of high relative importance throughout contralateral parotids and improve predictions for stimulated saliva output at 1‐year post‐radiotherapy. This method may also be applied to impose varying dose constraints to other organs‐at‐risk for which regional importance data exists.
Incidence of and Risk Factors for Heart Failure in Patients With Psoriatic Disease: A Cohort Study
Authors: Koppikar Sahil , Colaco Keith , Harvey Paula , Akhtari Shadi , Chandran Vinod , Gladman Dafna D. , Cook Richard , Eder Lihi 
Published: February 2021

ObjectiveTo assess the incidence and risk factors for heart failure in patients with psoriatic disease and to describe their electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings.MethodsA cohort analysis was conducted involving patients with psoriatic disease followed prospectively from 1978 to 2018. Participants were assessed according to a standard protocol every 6 to 12 months. The primary outcome was the time to first event of heart failure, further classified into ischemic and nonischemic heart failure (secondary outcomes). The association between cardiovascular risk factors, measures of disease activity, and heart failure events was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings associated with heart failure events were described.ResultsA total of 1,994 patients with psoriatic disease were analyzed, with 64 incident heart failure events (38 ischemic, 26 nonischemic). The incidence rate of first heart failure event was 2.85 per 1,000 patient‐years. In all events, the most common electrocardiographic findings were atrial fibrillation (22%) and bundle branch blocks (29%). Echocardiogram revealed 37% reduced ejection fraction and 63% preserved ejection fraction. In multivariable analysis, independent risk factors for all heart failure events were ischemic heart disease, adjusted mean tender joint count, adjusted mean swollen joint count, adjusted mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate, adjusted mean C‐reactive protein level, and physical function (by Health Assessment Questionnaire) (all P < 0.05). Minimal disease activity state was protective for all heart failure (P < 0.05).ConclusionIncreased risk of heart failure is associated with a combination of known cardiovascular risk factors and measures of disease activity, particularly in nonischemic heart failure. The effect of inflammation on heart failure may be partially independent of atherosclerotic disease.
Synthetic Biological Approaches for Optogenetics and Tools for Transcriptional Light‐Control in Bacteria
Authors: Baumschlager Armin , Khammash Mustafa 
Published: February 2021

AbstractLight has become established as a tool not only to visualize and investigate but also to steer biological systems. This review starts by discussing the unique features that make light such an effective control input in biology. It then gives an overview of how light‐control came to progress, starting with photoactivatable compounds and leading up to current genetic implementations using optogenetic approaches. The review then zooms in on optogenetics, focusing on photosensitive proteins, which form the basis for optogenetic engineering using synthetic biological approaches. As the regulation of transcription provides a highly versatile means for steering diverse biological functions, the focus of this review then shifts to transcriptional light regulators, which are presented in the biotechnologically highly relevant model organism Escherichia coli.
Fast Nanoliter‐Scale Cell Assays Using Droplet Microarray–Mass Spectrometry Imaging
Authors: RamalloGuevara Carina , Paulssen Dorothea , Popova Anna A. , Hopf Carsten , Levkin Pavel A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn pharmaceutical research and development, cell‐based assays are primarily used with readout that rely on fluorescence‐based and other label‐dependent techniques for analysis of different cellular processes. Superhydrophobic–hydrophilic droplet microarrays (DMA) and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) have recently emerged as key technologies for miniaturized high‐throughput cell assays and for label‐free molecular high‐content drug profiling, respectively. Here, nanoliter‐scale cell assays are integrated on DMAs with MALDI–MS imaging (MALDI–MSI) approaches to a droplet microarray–mass spectrometry imaging (DMA–MSI) platform. Using A549 lung cancer cells, concentration‐response profiling of a pharmaceutical compound, the fatty acid synthase inhibitor GSK2194069, are demonstrated. Direct cell culture on DMAs enables combination of microscopy and high speed, high molecular content analysis using MALDI–MSI. Miniaturization of array spots down to 0.5 mm confining 40 nL droplets allows for MALDI imaging analysis of as few as ten cells per spot. Partial automation ensures a fast sample preparation workflow. Taken together, the integrated DMA–MSI platform that combines MALDI‐MSI, as a label‐free analytical readout, with the miniaturized droplet microarray platform is a valuable complement to high throughput cell‐based assays technologies.
Emerging Nanomedicine‐Enabled/Enhanced Nanodynamic Therapies beyond Traditional Photodynamics
Authors: Hu Hui , Feng Wei , Qian Xiaoqin , Yu Luodan , Chen Yu , Li Yuehua 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe rapid knowledge growth of nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology enables and promotes the emergence of distinctive disease‐specific therapeutic modalities, among which nanomedicine‐enabled/augmented nanodynamic therapy (NDT), as triggered by either exogenous or endogenous activators on nanosensitizers, can generate reactive radicals for accomplishing efficient disease nanotherapies with mitigated side effects and endowed disease specificity. As one of the most representative modalities of NDT, traditional light‐activated photodynamics suffers from the critical and unsurmountable issues of the low tissue‐penetration depth of light and the phototoxicity of the photosensitizers. To overcome these obstacles, versatile nanomedicine‐enabled/augmented NDTs have been explored for satisfying varied biomedical applications, which strongly depend on the physicochemical properties of the involved nanomedicines and nanosensitizers. These distinctive NDTs refer to sonodynamic therapy (SDT), thermodynamic therapy (TDT), electrodynamic therapy (EDT), piezoelectric dynamic therapy (PZDT), pyroelectric dynamic therapy (PEDT), radiodynamic therapy (RDT), and chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Herein, the critical roles, functions, and biological effects of nanomedicine (e.g., sonosensitizing, photothermal‐converting, electronic, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, radiation‐sensitizing, and catalytic properties) for enabling the therapeutic procedure of NDTs, are highlighted and discussed, along with the underlying therapeutic principle and optimization strategy for augmenting disease‐therapeutic efficacy and biosafety. The present challenges and critical issues on the clinical translations of NDTs are also discussed and clarified.
Recent Advances in Functional Materials through Cellulose Nanofiber Templating
Authors: Lamm Meghan E. , Li Kai , Qian Ji , Wang Lu , Lavoine Nathalie , Newman Reagan , Gardner Douglas J. , Li Teng , Hu Liangbing , Ragauskas Arthur J. , Tekinalp Halil , Kunc Vlastimil , Ozcan Soydan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAdvanced templating techniques have enabled delicate control of both nano‐ and microscale structures and have helped thrust functional materials into the forefront of society. Cellulose nanomaterials are derived from natural polymers and show promise as a templating source for advanced materials. Use of cellulose nanomaterials in templating combines nanoscale property control with sustainability, an attribute often lacking in other templating techniques. Use of cellulose nanofibers for templating has shown great promise in recent years, but previous reviews on cellulose nanomaterial templating techniques have not provided extensive analysis of cellulose nanofiber templating. Cellulose nanofibers display several unique properties, including mechanical strength, porosity, high water retention, high surface functionality, and an entangled fibrous network, all of which can dictate distinctive aspects in the final templated materials. Many applications exploit the unique aspects of templating with cellulose nanofibers that help control the final properties of the material, including, but not limited to, applications in catalysis, batteries, supercapacitors, electrodes, building materials, biomaterials, and membranes. A detailed analysis on the use of cellulose nanofibers templating is provided, addressing specifically how careful selection of templating mechanisms and methodologies, combined toward goal applications, can be used to directly benefit chosen applications in advanced functional materials.