bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy and preoperative predictive factors
Authors: Di Buono Giuseppe , Romano Giorgio , Galia Massimo , Amato Giuseppe , Maienza Elisa , Vernuccio Federica , Bonventre Giulia , Gulotta Leonardo , Buscemi Salvatore , Agrusa Antonino 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLaparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the standard technique for treatment of gallbladder disease. In case of acute cholecystitis we can identify preoperative factors associated with an increased risk of conversion and intraoperative complications. The aim of our study was to detect preoperative laboratory and radiological findings predictive of difficult LC with potential advantages for both the surgeons and patients in terms of options for management. We designed a retrospective case–control study to compare preoperative predictive factors of difficult LC in patients treated in emergency setting between January 2015 and December 2019. We included in the difficult LC group the surgeries with operative time > 2 h, need for conversion to open, significant bleeding and/or use of synthetic hemostats, vascular and/or biliary injuries and additional operative procedures. We collected 86 patients with inclusion criteria and difficult LC. In the control group, we selected 86 patients with inclusion criteria, but with no operative signs of difficult LC. The analysis of the collected data showed that there was a statistically significant association between WBC count and fibrinogen level and difficult LC. No association were seen with ALP, ALT and bilirubin values. Regarding radiological findings significant differences were noted among the two groups for irregular or absent wall, pericholecystic fluid, fat hyperdensity, thickening of wall > 4 mm and hydrops. The preoperative identification of difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy provides an important advantage not only for the surgeon who has to perform the surgery, but also for the organization of the operating block and technical resources. In patients with clinical and laboratory parameters of acute cholecystitis, therefore, it would be advisable to carry out a preoperative abdominal CT scan with evaluation of features that can be easily assessed also by the surgeon.
Comparative models disentangle drivers of fruit production variability of an economically and ecologically important long-lived Amazonian tree
Authors: Staudhammer Christina L. , Wadt Lúcia Helena O. , Kainer Karen A. , da Cunha Thiago Augusto 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTrees in the upper canopy contribute disproportionately to forest ecosystem productivity. The large, canopy-emergentBertholletia excelsaalso supports a multimillion-dollar commodity crop (Brazil nut), harvested almost exclusively from Amazonian forests.B. excelsafruit production, however is extremely variable within populations and years, destabilizing local harvester livelihoods and the extractive economy. To understand this variability, data were collected in Acre, Brazil over 10 years at two sites with similar climate and forest types, but different fruit production levels, despite their proximity (~ 30 km). One site consistently produced more fruit, showed less individual- and population-level variability, and had significantly higher soil P and K levels. The strongest predictor of fruit production was crown area. Elevation and sapwood area also significantly impacted fruit production, but effects differed by site. While number of wet days and dry season vapor pressure prior to flowering were significant production predictors, no climatic variables completely captured annual observed variation. Trees on the site with higher available P and K produced nearly three times more fruits, and appeared more resilient to prolonged drought and drier atmospheric conditions. Management activities, such as targeted fertilization, may shield income-dependent harvesters from expected climate changes and production swings, ultimately contributing to conservation of old growth forests where this species thrives.
Neuronal delivery of nanoparticles via nerve fibres in the skin
Authors: Katiyar Neeraj , Raju Gayathri , Madhusudanan Pallavi , Gopalakrishnan-Prema Vignesh , Shankarappa Sahadev A. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAccessing the peripheral nervous system (PNS) by topically applied nanoparticles is a simple and novel approach with clinical applications in several PNS disorders. Skin is richly innervated by long peripheral axons that arise from cell bodies located distally within ganglia. In this study we attempt to target dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, via their axons by topical application of lectin-functionalized gold nanoparticles (IB4-AuNP). In vitro, 140.2 ± 1.9 nm IB4-AuNP were found to bind both axons and cell bodies of DRG neurons, and AuNP applied at the axonal terminals were found to translocate to the cell bodies. Topical application of IB4-AuNP on rat hind-paw resulted in accumulation of three to fourfold higher AuNP in lumbar DRG than in contralateral control DRGs. Results from this study clearly suggest that topically applied nanoparticles with neurotropic targeting ligands can be utilized for delivering nanoparticles to neuronal cell bodies via axonal transport mechanisms.
Approximate conditional phenotype analysis based on genome wide association summary statistics
Authors: Wu Peitao , Wang Biqi , Lubitz Steven A. , Benjamin Emelia J. , Meigs James B. , Dupuis Josée 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBecause single genetic variants may have pleiotropic effects, one trait can be a confounder in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) that aims to identify loci associated with another trait. A typical approach to address this issue is to perform an additional analysis adjusting for the confounder. However, obtaining conditional results can be time-consuming. We propose an approximate conditional phenotype analysis based on GWAS summary statistics, the covariance between outcome and confounder, and the variant minor allele frequency (MAF). GWAS summary statistics and MAF are taken from GWAS meta-analysis results while the traits covariance may be estimated by two strategies: (i) estimates from a subset of the phenotypic data; or (ii) estimates from published studies. We compare our two strategies with estimates using individual level data from the full GWAS sample (gold standard). A simulation study for both binary and continuous traits demonstrates that our approximate approach is accurate. We apply our method to the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) GWAS and to large-scale cardiometabolic GWAS results. We observed a high consistency of genetic effect size estimates between our method and individual level data analysis. Our approach leads to an efficient way to perform approximate conditional analysis using large-scale GWAS summary statistics.
Risk of coronary heart disease among cancer survivors with different prediagnosis body mass index
Authors: Ko Ahryoung , Kim Kyuwoong , Son Joung Sik , Cho Yu Jin , Park Sang Min , Park Minseon 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAssociation between body mass index (BMI) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in cancer survivors is not clearly established. This study analyzed the prediagnosis BMI-CHD association by examining 13,500 cancer survivors identified from the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2009 including the patients who were free of cardiovascular disease at enrollment. The Cox proportional hazards model (adjusted for socioeconomic, health behavior, health status, and medical characteristics) was used for calculating hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for CHD in each prediagnosis BMI category among cancer survivors. Compared to cancer survivors with a prediagnosis BMI between 18.5 and 22.9 kg/m2, those with a prediagnosis BMI of 23.0–24.9 kg/m2 and ≥ 25.0 kg/m2 had significantly higher CHD risk (HR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.13–2.01 and HR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.04–1.84, respectively). Cancer survivors with a low prediagnosis BMI (< 18.5 kg/m2) also had significantly higher CHD risk (HR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.20–3.24) compared to those with a BMI of 18.5–22.9 kg/m2. Similar associations were found after stratifying analyses based on first cancer site and sociodemographic and medical characteristic subgroups. Our study suggests that prediagnosis underweight among patients with cancer is a predictor of CHD risk.
Water-flooding characteristics of lithologic reservoir in Ordos basin
Authors: He Jie , Liu Xiaodong , Zhu Xinyu , Jiang Tao , He Hui , Zhou Lin , Liu Qinghai , Zhu Yushuang , Liu Linyu 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDue to the poor situation of water-flooding mechanism research on Chang 4 + 5 reservoir of Ordos basin, the authors quantitatively studied the influence factors of water-flooding characteristics by sedimentology, casting thin sections, constant-speed mercury injection, scanning electron microscope as well as production records. The size and distribution of pore-throat were also found closely related with the water-flooding seepage law. The results show that the microscopic seepage paths of Chang 4 + 5 reservoir include uniform displacement, finger displacement and peak displacement, and their correspondent oil displacement efficiency reduces in turn under the same conditions. Reservoir heterogeneity, reservoir properties, distribution of pore structure and wettability play a decisive role in water-flooding efficiency. Generally, When the intra-layer range is greater than 4.65, the breakthrough coefficient is greater than 3.54, the coefficient of variation is greater than 0.7, the distribution frequency of inter-layer is greater than 0.5 per meter, and the distribution density is greater than 0.435%, the range between layers is greater than 6.86, the breakthrough coefficient is greater than 2.58, the coefficient of variation is greater than 0.51, and the thickness of inter-layer is greater than 7.54 m. the increasing trend of oil displacement efficiency will be obviously weakened.
Oral absorption and drug interaction kinetics of moxifloxacin in an animal model of weightlessness
Authors: Liang Dong , Ma Jing , Wei Bo 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTo investigate the effect of simulated weightlessness on the pharmacokinetics of orally administered moxifloxacin and the antacid Maalox or the antidiarrheal Pepto-Bismol using a tail-suspended (TS) rat model of microgravity. Fasted control and TS, jugular-vein-cannulated, male Sprague-Dawley rats received either a single 5 mg/kg intravenous dose or a single 10 mg/kg oral dose of moxifloxacin alone or with a 0.625 mL/kg oral dose of Maalox or a 1.43 mL/kg oral dose of Pepto-Bismol. Plasma concentrations of moxifloxacin were measured by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic data were analyzed using WinNonlin. Simulated weightlessness had no effect on moxifloxacin disposition after intravenous administration but significantly decreased the extent of moxifloxacin oral absorption. The coadministration of moxifloxacin with Maalox to either control or TS rats caused significant reductions in the rate and extent of moxifloxacin absorption. In contrast, the coadministration of moxifloxacin with Pepto-Bismol to TS rats had no significant effect on either the rate or the extent of moxifloxacin absorption. These interactions showed dose staggering when oral administrations of Pepto-Bismol and moxifloxacin were separated by 60 min in control rats but not in TS rats. Dose staggering was more apparent after the coadministration of Maalox and moxifloxacin in TS rats.
High-throughput measurement of fibroblast rhythms reveals genetic heritability of circadian phenotypes in diversity outbred mice and their founder strains
Authors: Kim Sam-Moon , Vadnie Chelsea A. , Philip Vivek M. , Gagnon Leona H. , Chowdari Kodavali V. , Chesler Elissa J. , McClung Colleen A. , Logan Ryan W. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCircadian variability is driven by genetics and Diversity Outbred (DO) mice is a powerful tool for examining the genetics of complex traits because their high genetic and phenotypic diversity compared to conventional mouse crosses. The DO population combines the genetic diversity of eight founder strains including five common inbred and three wild-derived strains. In DO mice and their founders, we established a high-throughput system to measure cellular rhythms using in vitro preparations of skin fibroblasts. Among the founders, we observed strong heritability for rhythm period, robustness, phase and amplitude. We also found significant sex and strain differences for these rhythms. Extreme differences in period for molecular and behavioral rhythms were found between the inbred A/J strain and the wild-derived CAST/EiJ strain, where A/J had the longest period and CAST/EiJ had the shortest. In addition, we measured cellular rhythms in 329 DO mice, which displayed far greater phenotypic variability than the founders—80% of founders compared to only 25% of DO mice had periods of ~ 24 h. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that genetic diversity contributes to phenotypic variability in circadian rhythms, and high-throughput characterization of fibroblast rhythms in DO mice is a tractable system for examining the genetics of circadian traits.
Osteoprotegerin is a marker of cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease stages 3–5
Authors: Marques Gustavo Lenci , Hayashi Shirley , Bjällmark Anna , Larsson Matilda , Riella Miguel , Olandoski Marcia , Lindholm Bengt , Nascimento Marcelo Mazza 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Osteoprotegerin (OPG), known to regulate bone mass by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and activation, might also play a role in vascular calcification. Increased circulating OPG levels in patients with CKD are associated with aortic calcification and increased mortality. We assessed the predictive role of OPG for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with CKD stages 3–5 over a 5-year follow-up period. We evaluated the relationship between OPG and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in 145 CKD patients (stages 3–5) in a prospective observational follow-up study. Inflammation markers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, standard echocardiography, and estimation of intima-media thickness in the common carotid artery, were assessed at baseline, and correlations with OPG levels were determined. The cutoff values for OPG were defined using ROC curves for cardiovascular mortality. Survival was assessed during follow up lasting for up to 5.5 years using Fine and Gray model. A total of 145 (89 men; age 58.9 ± 15.0 years) were followed up. The cutoff value for OPG determined using ROC was 10 pmol/L for general causes mortality and 10.08 pmol/L for CV causes mortality. Patients with higher serum OPG levels presented with higher mortality rates compared to patients with lower levels. Aalen–Johansen cumulative incidence curve analysis demonstrated significantly worse survival rates in individuals with higher baseline OPG levels for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, OPG was a marker of general and cardiovascular mortality independent of sex, age, CVD, diabetes, and CRP levels. When CKD stages were included in the multivariate analysis, OPG was an independent marker of all-cause mortality but not cardiovascular mortality. Elevated serum OPG levels were associated with higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk, independent of age, CVD, diabetes, and inflammatory markers, in patients with CKD.
A novel hyperthermophilic methylglyoxal synthase: molecular dynamic analysis on the regional fluctuations
Authors: Seo Gyo-Yeon , Lee Hoe-Suk , Kim Hyeonsoo , Cho Sukhyeong , Na Jeong-Geol , Yeon Young Joo , Lee Jinwon 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTwo putative methylglyoxal synthases, which catalyze the conversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to methylglyoxal, from Oceanithermus profundus DSM 14,977 and Clostridium difficile 630 have been characterized for activity and thermal stability. The enzyme from O. profundus was found to be hyperthermophilic, with the optimum activity at 80 °C and the residual activity up to 59% after incubation of 15 min at 95 °C, whereas the enzyme from C. difficile was mesophilic with the optimum activity at 40 °C and the residual activity less than 50% after the incubation at 55 °C or higher temperatures for 15 min. The structural analysis of the enzymes with molecular dynamics simulation indicated that the hyperthermophilic methylglyoxal synthase has a rigid protein structure with a lower overall root-mean-square-deviation value compared with the mesophilic or thermophilic counterparts. In addition, the simulation results identified distinct regions with high fluctuations throughout those of the mesophilic or thermophilic counterparts via root-mean-square-fluctuation analysis. Specific molecular interactions focusing on the hydrogen bonds and salt bridges in the distinct regions were analyzed in terms of interatomic distances and positions of the individual residues with respect to the secondary structures of the enzyme. Key interactions including specific salt bridges and hydrogen bonds between a rigid beta-sheet core and surrounding alpha helices were found to contribute to the stabilisation of the hyperthermophilic enzyme by reducing the regional fluctuations in the protein structure. The structural information and analysis approach in this study can be further exploited for the engineering and industrial application of the enzyme.
Quantum dot and electron acceptor nano-heterojunction for photo-induced capacitive charge-transfer
Authors: Karatum Onuralp , Eren Guncem Ozgun , Melikov Rustamzhon , Onal Asim , Ow-Yang Cleva W. , Sahin Mehmet , Nizamoglu Sedat 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCapacitive charge transfer at the electrode/electrolyte interface is a biocompatible mechanism for the stimulation of neurons. Although quantum dots showed their potential for photostimulation device architectures, dominant photoelectrochemical charge transfer combined with heavy-metal content in such architectures hinders their safe use. In this study, we demonstrate heavy-metal-free quantum dot-based nano-heterojunction devices that generate capacitive photoresponse. For that, we formed a novel form of nano-heterojunctions using type-II InP/ZnO/ZnS core/shell/shell quantum dot as the donor and a fullerene derivative of PCBM as the electron acceptor. The reduced electron–hole wavefunction overlap of 0.52 due to type-II band alignment of the quantum dot and the passivation of the trap states indicated by the high photoluminescence quantum yield of 70% led to the domination of photoinduced capacitive charge transfer at an optimum donor–acceptor ratio. This study paves the way toward safe and efficient nanoengineered quantum dot-based next-generation photostimulation devices.
The correction of conjunctivochalasis using high-frequency radiowave electrosurgery improves dry eye disease
Authors: Ji Yong Woo , Seong Hyojin , Lee Sujung , Alotaibi Mutlaq Hamad , Kim Tae-im , Lee Hyung Keun , Seo Kyoung Yul 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe aimed to determine the clinical impact of conjunctivochalasis (CCh) and its correction using high-frequency radiowave electrosurgery (HFR-ES), for signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED). Forty patients diagnosed with symptomatic CCh were prospectively enrolled. As a result, patients with CCh had moderate to severe DED and most of them exhibited meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Corneo-conjunctival fluorescein staining score (CFS) and all lid-parallel-conjunctival-folds scores (LIPCOFs) were positively correlated. Nasal LIPCOF significantly correlated with symptoms and tear volume. Central, temporal, and total LIPCOF significantly correlated with MG loss, MGD stage, and lipid layer thickness. Independent significant factors associated with total LIPCOF included CFS, tear break-up time, and MGD stage. One month following HFR-ES, CCh was completely resolved in all cases. Patient age and preoperative nasal LIPCOF were determinants of outcomes associated with postoperative improvements in symptoms. Ocular surface parameters significantly improved, but MGD-related signs did not. Collectively, CCh associated with MGD severity deteriorates not only tear film stability and reservoir capacity, leading to DED exacerbation. Therefore, CCh should be corrected in patients with DED and MGD. Younger patients with nasal CCh are likely to experience more symptomatic relief after HFR-ES. Particularly, management for MGD should be maintained after CCh correction.
Safety profiles of terahertz scanning in ophthalmology
Authors: Liu Yu-Chi , Ke Lin , Yang Steve Wu Qing , Nan Zhang , Teo Ericia Pei Wen , Lwin Nyein Chan , Lin Molly Tzu-Yu , Lee Isabelle Xin Yu , Chan Anita Sook-Yee , Schmetterer Leopold , Mehta Jodhbir S. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTerahertz (THz) technology has emerged recently as a potential novel imaging modality in biomedical fields, including ophthalmology. However, the ocular biological responses after THz electromagnetic exposure have not been investigated. We conducted a rabbit study to evaluate the safety profiles of THz scanning on eyes, at a tissue, cellular, structural and functional level. Eight animals (16 eyes) were analysed after excessive THz exposure (control, 1 h, 4 h, and 1 week after continuous 4-h exposure; THz frequency = 0.3 THz with continuous pulse generated at 40 µW). We found that at all the time points, the corneas and lens remained clear with no corneal haze or lens opacity formation clinically and histopathologically. No thermal effect, assessed by thermographer, was observed. The rod and cone cell-mediated electroretinography responses were not significantly altered, and the corneal keratocytes activity as well as endothelial viability, assessed by in-vivo confocal microscopy, was not affected. Post-exposed corneas, lens and retinas exhibited no significant changes in the mRNA expression of heat shock protein (HSP)90AB1), DNA damage inducible transcript 3 (DDIT3), and early growth response (EGR)1. These tissues were also negative for the inflammatory (CD11b), fibrotic (fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin), stress (HSP-47) and apoptotic (TUNEL assay) responses on the immunohistochemical analyses. The optical transmittance of corneas did not change significantly, and the inter-fibrillar distances of the corneal stroma evaluated with transmission electron microscopy were not significantly altered after THz exposure. These results provide the basis for future research work on the development of THz imaging system for its application in ophthalmology.