bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and outcome of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in critically ill patients with liver cirrhosis: an observational study
Authors: Lahmer Tobias , Brandl Andreas , Rasch Sebastian , Baires Gonzalo Batres , Schmid Roland M. , Huber Wolfgang , Mayr Ulrich 
Published: August 2019

AbstractInvasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is an important cause of morbidity/mortality in critically ill patients with endstage liver disease. Therefore, aim of this study is to predict the prevalence and outcome of IPA in critically ill patients with underlying liver cirrhosis and evaluation of the necessity Glactomannan (GM) screening in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in this cohort. In total 12 out of 84 patients (14%) had probable IPA. The mean optical density index (ODI) bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) GM index was 3.6 ± 1.5 (Range: 1.7–5.7). An overall sensitivity of 90% (95% CI 86–96%) and specificity of 85% (95% CI 81–88%) was found for the BAL GM in IPA. Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) as well the model of endstage liver disease (MELD) score were significantly higher in the probable IPA group as compared to the No IPA group (26 versus 21, p < 0.001 and 14 versus 10, p < 0.044). Length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay was significantly longer in probable IPA patients (16 versus 10 days, p < 0.027) and mortality rate was significantly higher in probable IPA patients (100% versus 65%, p < 0.001) as compared to No IPA patients. APACHE II and MELD score were independently associated with higher mortality rate using multivariate logistic regression (p = 0.025 and p = 0.034). In conclusion, IPA has a relevant impact on outcome. Screening for IPA is indicated, easy to perform and a necessity to improve outcome.
Bioinformatics Unmasks the Maneuverers of Pain Pathways in Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Gupta Aprajita , Puri Sanjeev , Puri Veena 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAcute Kidney injury (AKI) is one of the leading health concerns resulting in accumulation of nitrogenous as well as non-nitrogenous wastes in body and characterised by a rapid deterioration in kidney functions. Besides the major toll from the primary insult in the kidney, consequential extra-renal secondary insults endowed with the pathways of inflammatory milieu often complicates the disease outcome. Some of the known symptoms of AKI leading to clinical reporting are fatigue, loss of appetite, headache, nausea, vomiting, and pain in the flanks, wherein proinflammatory cytokines have been strongly implicated in pathogenesis of AKI and neuro-inflammation. Taking in account these clues, we have tried to decode the neuro-inflammation and pain perception phenomenon during the progression of AKI using the pathway integration and biological network strategies. The pathways and networks were generated using bioinformatics software viz. PANTHER, Genomatix and PathVisio to establish the relationship between immune and neuro related pathway in AKI. These observations envisage a neurol-renal axis that is predicted to involve calcium channels in neuro-inflammatory pathway of AKI. These observations, thus, pave a way for a new paradigm in understanding the interplay of neuro-immunological signalling in AKI.
The effect of γ-FeOOH on enhancing arsenic adsorption from groundwater with DMAPAAQ + FeOOH gel composite
Authors: Safi Syed Ragib , Senmoto Kiyotaka , Gotoh Takehiko , Iizawa Takashi , Nakai Satoshi 
Published: August 2019

AbstractArsenic contamination of groundwater is a serious concern worldwide. The research gaps in removing arsenic are selectivity, regeneration and effective removal rate at neutral pH levels. In this study, we discussed the reasons of the high arsenic adsorption from groundwater of our previously developed adsorbent, a cationic polymer gel, N,N-dimethylamino propylacrylamide, methyl chloride quaternary (DMAPAAQ), loaded with iron hydroxide. We used a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) to detect the iron contents in the gel and ensure its maximum impregnation. We found that the gel contains 62.05% FeOOH components. In addition, we used the Mössbauer spectroscopy to examine the type of impregnated iron in the gel composite and found that it was γ-FeOOH. Finally, we used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to examine the surface functional groups present in the gel and the differences in those groups before and after iron impregnation. Similarly, we also investigated the differences of the surface functional groups in the gel, before and after the adsorption of both forms of arsenic. To summarize, this study described the characteristics of the gel composite, which is selective in adsorption and cost effective, however further applications should be investigated.
Transcriptional alterations reveal Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-rice cooperation under salt stress
Authors: Chauhan Puneet Singh , Lata Charu , Tiwari Shalini , Chauhan Abhishek Singh , Mishra Shashank Kumar , Agrawal Lalit , Chakrabarty Debasis , Nautiyal Chandra Shekhar 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-SN13 and model crop rice (Oryza sativa) were chosen to understand the complex regulatory networks that govern plant-PGPR interaction under salt stress. During stress, inoculation with SN13 significantly increased biomass, relative water content, proline and total soluble sugar in rice while decreased lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage. Extensive alterations in gene expression were also observed in rice root transcriptome under stress in the presence of SN13. Rhizobacteria induced changes in expression of a considerable number of photosynthesis, hormone, and stress-responsive genes, in addition to cell-wall and lipid metabolism-related genes under salt stress as compared to salt stress or SN13 inoculation alone, indicating its potential role in reducing the harmful effects of salinity. To validate RNA-seq data, qRT-PCR was performed for selected differentially expressed genes representing various functional categories including metabolism, regulation, stress-response, and transporters. Results indicate qualitative and quantitative differences between roots responses to SN13 under stressed and unstressed conditions. Functional expressions of OsNAM and OsGRAM in yeast showed enhanced tolerance to various abiotic stresses, indicating crucial SN13-rice interaction in imparting beneficial effects under stress. This is first detailed report on understanding molecular mechanism underlying beneficial plant-microbe interaction in any economically important model crop plant under abiotic stress.
Comparing the Lifestyle Interventions for Prediabetes: An Integrated Microsimulation and Population Simulation Model
Authors: Khademi Amin , Shi Lu , Nasrollahzadeh Amir Ali , Narayanan Hariharaprabhu , Chen Liwei 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe developed a model to compare the impacts of different lifestyle interventions among prediabetes individuals and to identify the optimal age groups for such interventions. A stochastic simulation was developed to replicate the prediabetes and diabetes trends (1997–2010) in the U.S. adult population. We then simulated the population-wide impacts of three lifestyle diabetes prevention programs, i.e., the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), DPP-YMCA, and the Healthy Living Partnerships to Prevent Diabetes (HELP-PD), over a course of 10, 15 and 30 years. Our model replicated the temporal trends of diabetes in the U.S. adult population. Compared to no intervention, the diabetes incidence declined 0.3 per 1,000 by DPP, 0.2 by DPP-YMCA, and 0.4 by HELP-PD over the 15-year period. Our simulations identified HELP-PD as the most cost-effective intervention, which achieved the highest 10-year savings of $38 billion for those aged 25–65, assuming all eligible individuals participate in the intervention and considering intervention achievement rates. Our model simulates the diabetes trends in the U.S. population based on individual-level longitudinal data. However, it may be used to identify the optimal intervention for different subgroups in defined populations.
In vitro exercise model using contractile human and mouse hybrid myotubes
Authors: Chen Weijian , Nyasha Mazvita R. , Koide Masashi , Tsuchiya Masahiro , Suzuki Naoki , Hagiwara Yoshihiro , Aoki Masashi , Kanzaki Makoto 
Published: August 2019

AbstractContraction of cultured myotubes with application of electric pulse stimulation (EPS) has been utilized for investigating cellular responses associated with actual contractile activity. However, cultured myotubes derived from human subjects often exhibit relatively poor EPS-evoked contractile activity, resulting in minimal contraction-inducible responses (i.e. myokine secretion). We herein describe an “in vitro exercise model”, using hybrid myotubes comprised of human myoblasts and murine C2C12 myoblasts, exhibiting vigorous contractile activity in response to EPS. Species-specific analyses including RT-PCR and the BioPlex assay allowed us to separately evaluate contraction-inducible gene expressions and myokine secretions from human and mouse constituents of hybrid myotubes. The hybrid myotubes, half of which had arisen from primary human satellite cells obtained from biopsy samples, exhibited remarkable increases in the secretions of human cytokines (myokines) including interleukins (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL16), CXC chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL5, CXCL6, CXCL10), CC chemokines (CCL1, CCL2, CCL7, CCL8, CCL11, CCL13, CCL16, CCL17, CCL19, CCL20, CCL21, CCL22, CCL25, CCL27), and IFN-γ in response to EPS-evoked contractile activity. Together, these results indicate that inadequacies arising from human muscle cells are effectively overcome by fusing them with murine C2C12 cells, thereby supporting the development of contractility and the resulting cellular responses of human-origin muscle cells. Our approach, using hybrid myotubes, further expands the usefulness of the “in vitro exercise model”.
Structural design of microbicidal cationic oligomers and their synergistic interaction with azoles against Candida albicans
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Zhou Feng , Su Haibin , Zhang Yugen 
Published: August 2019

AbstractMembrane-disrupting synthetic antimicrobial polymers have been well developed as antimicrobial peptide (AMP) mimics to mitigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, synthetic polymers possess inherent drawbacks, being a mixture of different chain lengths, which restricts their clinical applications. In fact, synthetic oligomers with defined chain length and molecular structure could be better representatives of AMPs. Herein, a series of novel imidazolium-ammonium oligomers developed in this work exhibit excellent broad spectrum antimicrobial activity, specifically the salient structure dependent high efficiency against C. albicans. Moreover, synergistic effect emerged when the combined azoles and synthetic oligomers were applied against C. albicans. The detail structural coupling between azoles and oligomers was scrutinized through molecular dynamics simulations to unravel the interaction details with the atomistic resolution. The labile interaction between oligomer and azoles facilitated the transfer of drug into fungal cells, which can be a synergistic solution to prevent the development of resistance on C. albicans.
Berberine improved experimental chronic colitis by regulating interferon-γ- and IL-17A-producing lamina propria CD4+ T cells through AMPK activation
Authors: Takahara Masahiro , Takaki Akinobu , Hiraoka Sakiko , Adachi Takuya , Shimomura Yasuyuki , Matsushita Hiroshi , Nguyen Tien Thi Thuy , Koike Kazuko , Ikeda Airi , Takashima Shiho , Yamasaki Yasushi , Inokuchi Toshihiro , Kinugasa Hideaki , Sugihara Yusaku , Harada Keita , Eikawa Shingo , Morita Hidetoshi , Udono Heiichiro , Okada Hiroyuki 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe herbal medicine berberine (BBR) has been recently shown to be an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) productive activator with various properties that induce anti-inflammatory responses. We investigated the effects of BBR on the mechanisms of mucosal CD4+T cell activation in vitro and on the inflammatory responses in T cell transfer mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We examined the favorable effects of BBR in vitro, using lamina propria (LP) CD4+ T cells in T cell transfer IBD models in which SCID mice had been injected with CD4+CD45RBhigh T cells. BBR suppressed the frequency of IFN-γ- and Il-17A-producing LP CD4+ T cells. This effect was found to be regulated by AMPK activation possibly induced by oxidative phosphorylation inhibition. We then examined the effects of BBR on the same IBD models in vivo. BBR-fed mice showed AMPK activation in the LPCD4+ T cells and an improvement of colitis. Our study newly showed that the BBR-induced AMPK activation of mucosal CD4+ T cells resulted in an improvement of IBD and underscored the importance of AMPK activity in colonic inflammation.
The NRON complex controls circadian clock function through regulated PER and CRY nuclear translocation
Authors: Lee Yool , Shen Yang , Francey Lauren J. , Ramanathan Chidambaram , Sehgal Amita , Liu Andrew C. , Hogenesch John B. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractPost-translational regulation plays a central role in the circadian clock mechanism. However, nucleocytoplasmic translocation of core clock proteins, a key step in circadian timekeeping, is not fully understood. Earlier we found that the NRON scaffolding complex regulates nuclear translocation of NFAT and its signaling. Here, we show that components of the NRON complex also regulate the circadian clock. In peripheral cell clock models, genetic perturbation of the NRON complex affects PER and CRY protein nuclear translocation, dampens amplitude, and alters period length. Further, we show small molecules targeting the NFAT pathway alter nuclear translocation of PER and CRY proteins and impact circadian rhythms in peripheral cells and tissue explants of the master clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Taken together, these studies highlight a key role for the NRON complex in regulating PER/CRY subcellular localization and circadian timekeeping.
Welfare-improving enrichments greatly reduce hens’ startle responses, despite little change in judgment bias
Authors: Ross Misha , Garland Anna , Harlander-Matauschek Alexandra , Kitchenham Lindsey , Mason Georgia 
Published: August 2019

AbstractResponses to ambiguous and aversive stimuli (e.g. via tests of judgment bias and measures of startle amplitude) can indicate mammals’ affective states. We hypothesised that such findings generalize to birds, and that these two responses co-vary (since both involve stimulus evaluation). To validate startle reflexes (involuntary responses to sudden aversive stimuli) and responses in a judgment bias task as indicators of avian affective state, we differentially housed hens with or without preferred enrichments assumed to improve mood (in a crossover design). To control for personality, we first measured hens’ baseline exploration levels. To infer judgment bias, control and enriched hens were trained to discriminate between white and dark grey cues (associated with reward and punishment, respectively), and then probed with intermediate shades of grey. For startle reflexes, forceplates assessed responses to a light flash. Judgment bias was only partially validated: Exploratory hens showed more ‘optimism’ when enriched, but Non-exploratory hens did not. Across all birds, however, startle amplitudes were dramatically reduced by enrichment (albeit more strongly in Exploratory subjects): the first evidence that avian startle is affectively modulated. Startle and judgment biases did not co-vary, suggesting different underlying mechanisms. Of the two measures, startle reflexes thus seem most sensitive to avian affective state.
The WRB Subunit of the Get3 Receptor is Required for the Correct Integration of its Partner CAML into the ER
Authors: Carvalho Hugo J. F. , Del Bondio Andrea , Maltecca Francesca , Colombo Sara F. , Borgese Nica 
Published: August 2019

AbstractCalcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand (CAML), together with Tryptophan rich basic protein (WRB, Get1 in yeast), constitutes the mammalian receptor for the Transmembrane Recognition Complex subunit of 40 kDa (TRC40, Get3 in yeast), a cytosolic ATPase with a central role in the post-translational targeting pathway of tail-anchored (TA) proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. CAML has also been implicated in other cell-specific processes, notably in immune cell survival, and has been found in molar excess over WRB in different cell types. Notwithstanding the stoichiometric imbalance, WRB and CAML depend strictly on each other for expression. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which WRB impacts CAML levels. We demonstrate that CAML, generated in the presence of sufficient WRB levels, is inserted into the ER membrane with three transmembrane segments (TMs) in its C-terminal region. By contrast, without sufficient levels of WRB, CAML fails to adopt this topology, and is instead incompletely integrated to generate two aberrant topoforms; these congregate in ER-associated clusters and are degraded by the proteasome. Our results suggest that WRB, a member of the recently proposed Oxa1 superfamily, acts catalytically to assist the topogenesis of CAML and may have wider functions in membrane biogenesis than previously appreciated.
Non-professional phagocytosis: a general feature of normal tissue cells
Authors: Seeberg Jacob C. , Loibl Monika , Moser Fabian , Schwegler Manuela , Büttner-Herold Maike , Daniel Christoph , Engel Felix B. , Hartmann Arndt , Schlötzer-Schrehardt Ursula , Goppelt-Struebe Margarete , Schellerer Vera , Naschberger Elisabeth , Ganzleben Ingo , Heinzerling Lucie , Fietkau Rainer , Distel Luitpold V. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractNon-professional phagocytosis by cancer cells has been described for decades. Recently, non-professional phagocytosis by normal tissue cells has been reported, which prompted us to take a closer look at this phenomenon. Non-professional phagocytosis was studied by staining cultured cells with live-cell staining dyes or by staining paraffin-embedded tissues by immunohistochemistry. Here, we report that each of 21 normal tissue cell lines from seven different organs was capable of phagocytosis, including ex vivo cell cultures examined before the 3rd passage as well as the primary and virus-transformed cell lines. We extended our analysis to an in vivo setting, and we found the occurrence of non-professional phagocytosis in healthy skin biopsies immediately after resection. Using dystrophin immunohistochemistry for membrane staining, human post-infarction myocardial tissue was assessed. We found prominent signs of non-professional phagocytosis at the transition zone of healthy and infarcted myocardia. Taken together, our findings suggest that non-professional phagocytosis is a general feature of normal tissue cells.
Experimental test of the collapse time of a delocalized photon state
Authors: Garrisi Francesco , Massara Micol Previde , Zambianchi Alberto , Galli Matteo , Bajoni Daniele , Rimini Alberto , Nicrosini Oreste 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe investigate whether the collapse of the quantum state of a single photon split between two space-like separated places takes a nonvanishing time. We realize this by using a source of heralded single photons, then splitting the resulting single photon state and letting it propagate over distances much larger than the experimental time resolution times the speed of light c. We find no additional delay within our accuracy and set a lower limit for the speed of collapse of the quantum state to 1550c.
The role of the refractory period in diapause length determination in a freshwater crustacean
Authors: Ślusarczyk Mirosław , Chlebicki Wojciech , Pijanowska Joanna , Radzikowski Jacek 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe investigate here the mechanism of allochronic resumption of development by the dormant forms in organisms inhabiting temporary habitats. The cohorts of resting eggs of a short living freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna collected in two temporary waters at two occasions (spring and autumn) were exposed after different storage periods (0–16 weeks) spent either in wet or dry conditions to a given set of hatching stimuli announcing appearance of favourable conditions. Freshly formed resting eggs did not hatch or hatched occasionally. The resting eggs formed in autumn hatched more eagerly than the spring ones when exposed to favourable conditions after wet storage. The hatching proportion increased linearly up to 68–82% in autumn resting eggs while to 33–44% in the spring ones over 16 weeks of storage that might have covered several generations of the active forms. Dry storage of the resting eggs reduced their hatching proportion considerably. We suspect that the length variation of a refractory period (initial phase of developmental arrest when resting forms remain insensitive to hatching stimuli) followed by a reactivation period may constitute the simplest two-step physiological mechanism allowing staggering revival of the dormant forms in subsequent generations that maximise chances for survival in unpredictably changing habitats.
The burdens of tuberculosis on patients with malignancy: incidence, mortality and relapse
Authors: Shu Chin-Chung , Liao Kuang-Ming , Chen Yi-Chen , Wang Jhi-Joung , Ho Chung-Han 
Published: August 2019

AbstractPopulation with malignancy is growing worldwide; however, its tuberculosis (TB) burden including remains unclear regarding incidence, mortality, and relapse. We retrieved information and identified patients with malignancy and TB between 2000 and 2015 from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance reimbursement datasets, Taiwan cancer registry and death registration. We analyzed the incidence of new TB in patients with malignancy and their mortality as well as TB recurrence. During study period, we reviewed 1,105,009 patients after exclusion and among them, 19,906 had newly diagnosed TB. The TB incidence in cancer patients divided all TB events increased annually, from 3% in 2000 to 13% in 2015. The standard incidence rates (SIR) were highest in cancer of respiratory tract (5.45), hematology (3.70) and then head and neck area (2.58). The mortality directly due to TB was defined as 0.83% and all-cause mortality were approximately 10.5% at 3 months and 20.56% at 12 months. After completing TB treatment, recurrence was diagnosed in 626 (3.14%), and 1001 (5.03%) patients within the first and the first two years, respectively. In conclusion, the incidence of TB in patients with malignancy increase yearly as well as its proportion within overall cases. The twelve-month all-cause mortality during TB and the two-year recurrence are as high as 20.56% and 5.03%, respectively. It indicates the importance of this population in future TB control, especially for those with malignancy of respiratory tract, and hematology as well as head and neck area.